To: undisclosed-recipients:; Sent: Fri, Feb 26, 2016 4:29 pm Subject: Dr. Stephen Williams (General Director) From Diamond Bank Plc Benin Republic WELCOME TO DIAMOND BANK PL C, WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER AGENT DEPARTMENT. FEDERAL BUREAU OF TRANSACTION COTONOU, BENIN REPUBLIC ADDRESS: 455 AGBOKOU, ANKPA ROAD. OPPOSITE TUNDE MOTORS COTONOU/. Kindly Attention Dear Customer :. How are you today? Hope all is fine and right with you. Well I am written this email message to inform you that we already issued out those documents to accompany your $6,000 payment daily from our Western Union Foreign Remittance Department as programmed. But the only problem we are having right here is your personal signature which the Federal Administrator of Fund Benin Republic requested that you must sign those documents before we can start Transferring your daily Payment of USD$6,000.00 to you. However, I told the officer in charge that it will not be necessary for you to come down here due to your occupation or some other things that may not allow you to come down here to sign those documents by yourself. The Minister Administrator of Fund said that you should get an attorney to sign on your behalf if you are unable to come down here in person. I think this way is the best and the only way forward for you to star receiving your Payment as its programmed, I have negotiated with an attorney who will sign on your behalf. His name is Barrister John Koko, his email( to pay for the accredited attorney. He is charging $150.00 to be paid before he gets those documents signed in your favor. I told him to consider signing those documents on your behalf today with a promise that you will pay him back from the first $6,000 payment you suppose to receive today under 1hour and 45minutes that he gets those documents signed on your behalf this morning. And his response is that you have to pay the accredited attorney fee of $150.00 before signing those documents. Well, I asked him for the very last time if he could allow you pay half of this fee today with a promise that you will pay him the remain balance immediately your First $6,000 payment is been picked up by you today under 1hours and 45minutes after he might has signed the documents on your behalf. After a long talk with him he fianlly accepted that you should go ahead and pay the half of the fee which is $75.00 through Western Union or Money Gram today. He needs me to ask you if you will be so kind to pay him back the remain $75.00 balance at the western union office once you picked up the $6,000 pay today and I told him that you will pay him. So therefore I hereby write this message to ask you if you will pay his balance immediately you pick up the First $6,000 payment from any Western Union outlet around you. He wants you to pay half of $75.00 today if you are so kind to pay the balance at the western union office once you picked up the $6,000 payment this morning. But if you are not kind enough to pay his balance after picking the first transfer just do not bother yourself to reply because I won't see another attorney here to do this. Here is information for you to pay $75.00 half of his fee through western union or Money Gram today. You have to hurry up to enable me proceed for the transferring of your total inheritance funds $2.6Mlln USD. Send the half of the fee $75.00 today via Western Union or Money-Gram; Receiver's Name:. . . . . . . . . JOHN ODILI Country:. . . . . . . . . . . Benin Republic City:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cotonou Amount:. . . . . . . . . . . .$75.00 Test Question:. . . . . . . .A Test Answer:. . . . . . . B Sender's Name:. . . . . . Money Transfer Control Number:::# DO FORWARD THE PAYMENT INFORMATION ONCE YOU ARE DONE WITH THE PAYMENT SUCH AS SENDER'S NAME / MONEY TRANSFER CONTROL NUMBER ALRIGHT, The attorney will get those documents signed as soon as he confirms the half of his fee from you. I will advice you to pay him the half of $75.00 and let him sign the documents and you will then pay the other balance of $75.00 immediately you have confirmed and picked up your First Pay out USD$6,000.00 from the same Western Union Office OK. We look forward to your email response along with the Payment Information. Dr. Stephen Williams (General Director) Western Union Management COTONOU-Benin Diamond Bank Plc Benin Republic From: Dr. Stephen Williams < ervin.jarquin@gmail.com >To: undisclosed-recipients:;Sent: Fri, Feb 26, 2016 4:29 pmSubject: Dr. Stephen Williams (General Director) From Diamond Bank Plc Benin RepublicWELCOME TO DIAMOND BANK PL C, WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER AGENTDEPARTMENT. FEDERAL BUREAU OF TRANSACTION COTONOU, BENIN REPUBLICADDRESS: 455 AGBOKOU, ANKPA ROAD. OPPOSITE TUNDE MOTORSCOTONOU/.Kindly Attention Dear Customer :.How are you today? Hope all is fine and right with you. Well I amwritten this email message to inform you that we already issued outthose documents to accompany your $6,000 payment daily from ourWestern Union Foreign Remittance Department as programmed. But theonly problem we are having right here is your personal signature whichthe Federal Administrator of Fund Benin Republic requested that youmust sign those documents before we can start Transferring your dailyPayment of USD$6,000.00 to you. However, I told the officer in chargethat it will not be necessary for you to come down here due to youroccupation or some other things that may not allow you to come downhere to sign those documents by yourself. The Minister Administratorof Fund said that you should get an attorney to sign on your behalf ifyou are unable to come down here in person.I think this way is the best and the only way forward for you to starreceiving your Payment as its programmed, I have negotiated with anattorney who will sign on your behalf. His name is Barrister JohnKoko, his email( barristerjohn_koko@yahoo.ca ), According to him you areto pay for the accredited attorney. He is charging $150.00 to be paidbefore he gets those documents signed in your favor. I told him toconsider signing those documents on your behalf today with a promisethat you will pay him back from the first $6,000 payment you supposeto receive today under 1hour and 45minutes that he gets thosedocuments signed on your behalf this morning.And his response is that you have to pay the accredited attorney feeof $150.00 before signing those documents. Well, I asked him for thevery last time if he could allow you pay half of this fee today with apromise that you will pay him the remain balance immediately yourFirst $6,000 payment is been picked up by you today under 1hours and45minutes after he might has signed the documents on your behalf.After a long talk with him he fianlly accepted that you should goahead and pay the half of the fee which is $75.00 through WesternUnion or Money Gram today. He needs me to ask you if you will be sokind to pay him back the remain $75.00 balance at the western unionoffice once you picked up the $6,000 pay today and I told him that youwill pay him. So therefore I hereby write this message to ask you ifyou will pay his balance immediately you pick up the First $6,000payment from any Western Union outlet around you.He wants you to pay half of $75.00 today if you are so kind to pay thebalance at the western union office once you picked up the $6,000payment this morning. But if you are not kind enough to pay hisbalance after picking the first transfer just do not bother yourselfto reply because I won't see another attorney here to do this. Here isinformation for you to pay $75.00 half of his fee through westernunion or Money Gram today.You have to hurry up to enable me proceed for the transferring of yourtotal inheritance funds $2.6Mlln USD.Send the half of the fee $75.00 today via Western Union or Money-Gram;Receiver's Name:. . . . . . . . . JOHN ODILICountry:. . . . . . . . . . . Benin RepublicCity:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CotonouAmount:. . . . . . . . . . . .$75.00Test Question:. . . . . . . .ATest Answer:. . . . . . . BSender's Name:. . . . . .Money Transfer Control Number:::#DO FORWARD THE PAYMENT INFORMATION ONCE YOU ARE DONE WITH THE PAYMENTSUCH AS SENDER'S NAME / MONEY TRANSFER CONTROL NUMBER ALRIGHT,The attorney will get those documents signed as soon as he confirmsthe half of his fee from you. I will advice you to pay him the half of$75.00 and let him sign the documents and you will then pay the otherbalance of $75.00 immediately you have confirmed and picked up yourFirst Pay out USD$6,000.00 from the same Western Union Office OK.We look forward to your email response along with the Payment Information.Dr. Stephen Williams (General Director)Western Union Management COTONOU-BeninDiamond Bank Plc Benin Republic If you received a similar letter, please ignore it. Do not answer it. If you do, you will end up on more of the mailing lists used by the criminals behind this fraud. Read more.... , , , , . For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser Nashville, Tenn (February 21, 2016) Gospel Music legend, Richard Fay Buck Rambo, beloved patriarch of the Gospel music family, The Rambos, died, February 21, 2016, at 6:02 PM in Palmetto, FL at the age of 84 surrounded by his loving wife Mae and family members. He was born in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, son of Noah Burton Rambo and Mary Irisilda Rambo. Buck was married to Mae Kutz Rambo on April 1, 1995. Survivors include his wife Mae, daughter Reba Rambo (Dony) McGuire, grandchildren Israel Anthem McGuire, Destiny Rambo McGuire, Dionne (Scott) Dismuke, Dyson Dismuke, sister Hilda Bullock, brothers Donald (Betty) Rambo, Jackie (Shirley) Rambo of Dawson Springs, KY, sister-in-law Anna Jo Rambo of Hopkinsville, KY, and brother-in-law James Ausenbaugh. After The Rambos disbanded in about 1994, Buck continued to travel and minister with his wife, Mae, for the next several years doing concerts in churches and as a missionary in many countries, with his latest trip being to Costa Rica in 1999. In retirement Buck spent his time visiting hospitals, nursing homes and praying for the sick as well as painting beautiful stills. He toured occasionally with Rambo McGuire and was a featured soloist on their projects, Rambo Classics and Dove-Award winning Grassroots Rambos. Buck Rambos career spanned 60 years and includes many accolades including numerous GRAMMY and Dove Award nominations. He became a Christian in 1949, went into full-time ministry in 1954, and in 1960, he started a Gospel singing group, The Gospel Echoes, which later became The Singing Rambos with daughter Reba and her mother Dottie. He was one of the first Board members for the Gospel Music Association and a founding father of the Gospel Music Hall Of Fame. In the early 60s, Buck was a member of the Board of Directors for the National Quartet Convention. In 1964, Buck sang for over a million people at the first Washington For Jesus Rally. He is author of the book, The Legacy of the Rambos, and was on the first Gaither Homecoming video. The Rambos were asked to go to the Strategic Air Command Bases in 1966 and went on a six-week tour of our northern outposts in Greenland, Newfoundland, Labrador, and Iceland entertaining the United States troops. In February of 1967, because of the tremendous response to the Arctic Tour, they embarked on a six-week tour to Vietnam to sing for the US military forces there. This was a life-changing experience for The Singing Rambos. They also participated in concert tours for the military several times in Europe and ministered in over 16 different countries doing live concerts and television, including a concert with the Holland Symphony where they sang for 350,000 people. In 1968, The Singing Rambos began working in television. They were a huge part of the early beginnings of the 700 Club, PTL Network, TBN Network, and the Gospel Singing Jubileea weekly television show featuring popular Gospel singing groups of that era. Because of their television exposure and Gospel radio DJs who played The Rambos music, they were catapulted in the record industry. With over 70 releases/projects, The Rambos became a household name in America, Central America, Bahamas, and Europe. Buck Rambo touched the lives of everyone he met in and out of the music field. His passion and zeal for God and the ministry led him to mentor many artists with his wisdom garnered from the years he spent in every facet of the industry from singing to publishing and everything in between. His wife Mae Rambo stated, Today the greatest man on earth passed from this life to his Heavenly home to touch the face of God. Buck had the most amazing time walking through this life on earth, but he is now celebrating in the light and presence of our Lord. While he was preparing to leave this world he could indeed say, It is well with my soul. Buck had a huge heart and when it stopped beating it broke ours. I know with time that my memories will bring a smile more quickly than tears, and I was honored and blessed to be his wife for almost 21 years. When we see records being broken and unprecedented events such as this, the onus is on those who deny any connection to climate change to prove their case. Global warming has fundamentally altered the background conditions that give rise to all weather. In the strictest sense, all weather is now connected to climate change. Kevin Trenberth HIT THE PAGE DOWN KEY TO SEE THE POSTS Now at 8,800+ articles. HIT THE PAGE DOWN KEY TO SEE THE POSTS A webzine for community theater enthusiasts in Somerset, Middlesex, Union and Mercer counties in New Jersey. "...king of the hate left..."-- "As my friend Capper -- the best Wisconsin blogger ever -- says, there will be more. There's always more." - karoli "...the psychiatrically attuned Capper..."-- "This is really great of you! I'm so proud to know someone like you"-- "Capper, a reasonable (and maybe even likeable) Lefty..."-- "capper, the Sidney Freedman of the hate left..."-- "I love capper because, well, what's not to love. But I also hate capper for alerting me to nonsense like this."--- "Capper, you really have a knack for this kind of writing. Really."-- "Crap. I agree with capper. Can Armageddon be far behind?"-- "capper is right. OMG, did I actually say that?"-- "Cold Spring Shops" was the name of the primary repair and car building facility of The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company ... builders of trolley dining cars and the Christmas parade train ... perhaps I can be that creative too. Random thoughts from a Brit in the North West. Sometimes serious, sometimes not. Quite often curmudgeonly. COLUMBUS A former Schuyler police officer pleaded no contest Thursday in Platte County Court to a reduced domestic assault charge in connection with an Oct. 1 confrontation with his estranged wife. Judge Frank Skorupa sentenced 37-year-old Scott Wimer to one year of probation and fined the former officer $150 for attempted domestic assault in a plea agreement reached with the prosecution. The reduced assault charge is a Class II misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months imprisonment and a $1,000 fine. Wimer had been awaiting a jury trial on two third-degree domestic assault charges, each a Class I misdemeanor that carried possible penalties of up to a year in jail and $1,000 fine. In an agreement with the county attorneys office, one assault charge was reduced and the second was dismissed. Wimer, who joined the Schuyler police force in May 2003, resigned from his job Nov. 9. He had not worked as a police officer since his arrest in early October. The former officer had been free on bond since a few days after his arrest. At earlier county court hearings, Skorupa ordered the former officer not to possess a gun, contact the 29-year-old victim or go within five blocks of the couples residence. Court documents in the case describe a clash between the couple in their Columbus home that got underway with verbal arguing and later escalated into physical abuse. Wimer has been a Columbus resident for about 15 years. CRESTON A full house showed up Wednesday night for the second informational meeting on Creston Ridge Wind Farm at Alice's Cedar Inn in Creston, where feelings toward the project ran the gamut from outright support to lingering resentment. After Loup Public Power District President and CEO Neal Suess and Bluestem Energy Solutions project manager Adam Herink outlined the four-turbine wind farm and plans to add three more turbines to the site along Mason Road (205th Avenue) southwest of Creston, they opened the floor to questions. The question-and-answer session started with a strong endorsement from John Richards, a former engineer with Nebraska Public Power District and current contractor with Omaha-based Bluestem who lives in the Creston area. When I see those turbines turning I think its a thing of beauty, said Richards. Another man, who declined to provide his name, asked why NPPD limits the amount of electricity wholesale customers like Loup can purchase from renewable-energy sources not tied to NPPD. Why is NPPD so determined to crush development in our region? he asked. The answer, according to Suess, is because NPPD is part of the Southwest Power Pool, which is regulated by the federal government. Because of safety issues and the inability to study small wind farms, theyve had to limit those developments, Suess explained. Suess said NPPD decided to allow up to 10 percent of its customers' peak demands to come from outside sources because of its interest in rural economic development. Because renewable energy can be inconsistent, utilities must have a base load served by coal-powered plants, he said. Platte County Supervisor Tom Martens asked about the likelihood of the project being expanded beyond seven turbines and if LPPD would hold similar informational meetings before a decision is made. Because of the infrastructure, physical limitations and a new 20-year contract with NPPD, Suess said Loup doesnt plan on expanding the wind farm site in the near future. If they consider an expansion, Suess said they will be as open as we can. Our board meetings are open and our board wants to hear from you, said Suess. We will have more informational meetings like this one if or when we decide to expand. On the subject of government subsidies, Herink said contracts for coal and gas exploration have resulted in huge subsidies for those industries. Im not against coal, said Herink. But (Bluestem) is based on the resources we have and taking advantage of that opportunity. For every resource out there, theres problems, but also upsides. A contingent of residents who live within 2 miles of the project sat together and again voiced their displeasure about not being directly contacted before the project was approved. Herink restated that he spoke with residents and the project had been covered by The Columbus Telegram in advance of approval and construction. One woman, who declined to provide her name, said she's concerned about how the turbines may affect residents health, citing articles she's read. Suess and Herink pointed out that for every study that claims turbines have a negative effect on health, there are many others that say the opposite. Would you want these things in your backyard with children and grandchildren? the woman asked. Id have a nuclear plant in my backyard, said Suess. But thats me. Suess said he believes a lot of the potential for renewable energy is not being taken advantage of because of misinformation regarding nuclear and wind power. After about a year, Suess said LPPD can report to the Platte County Board of Supervisors and on its website how much energy has been generated at the wind farm. The power district is also developing a system to report how much electricity is generated by the hydroelectric plants. The first four turbines of Creston Ridge are near Mason Road between 445th and 460th streets. The next three turbines, phase two of the project, will extend farther west and are expected to be completed this fall. LINCOLN In spite of concerns about the agricultural economy, the Nebraska economic forecasting board boosted its outlook for tax revenue slightly for the remainder of this fiscal year and next. That was good news for the tight mid-term budget. "Today's projections from the board give the Appropriations Committee and the Legislature a little flexibility, specifically in being able to maintain the state's cash reserve ... while still allowing us to address some of the big issues in front of us," said Omaha Sen. Heath Mello, chairman of the committee. An extra $17 million will go to the state's rainy day fund -- or cash reserve -- this year. By state law, any bump in the current year forecast goes into savings. Next year, budget makers will be able to add an extra $12.6 million to the bottom line. The forecasting board was slightly pessimistic about sales tax projections, revising them downward by $20 million over the two years. But income taxes would more than make up for it, with a predicted gain of $45 million. The Appropriations Committee has several bigger ticket budget items it is considering tapping the cash reserve to fund. They include up-front money for a "transportation infrastructure bank" for major highway projects that might otherwise take years longer to complete, requests from the Department of Correctional Services for projects to ease prison crowding, and funding for levy improvements to protect Offutt Air Force Base from potential flooding. The boost will help meet the committee's goal of offering $10 million for bills being considered in other committees, Mello said, primarily tax-related bills in the Revenue Committee. In October, the last time the forecasting board met to revise the combined sales, personal and business income and miscellaneous tax revenue outlook, the Legislature found out it would greet the 2016 session with $132 million less after adjustments than the state had when it adopted the two-year budget in 2015. Most of the eight members of the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board, from across the state, expressed some concern about the effect of lower ag prices on the economy, especially in areas outside of Lincoln and Omaha. Fred Lockwood, a certified public accountant from Scottsbluff, said that in the Panhandle, corn and wheat prices are presenting a challenge. And about 50 percent of oil wells have shut down. There's also been a drop in real estate prices. Board member Steve Ferris of Lincoln said Lincoln's economy appears to be doing well. He cited a recent national news story on CBS News headlined "'Silicon Prairie,' America's new entrepreneurial frontier" that featured Lincoln technology startups Hudl and Bulu Box. Gov. Pete Ricketts took the opportunity to remind that his top priority for this legislative session is structural property tax relief. Friday's report showed the Legislature and governor can deliver property tax cuts for Nebraska families, he said. I will continue to work with the Appropriations Committee to pass a balanced budget that holds the rate of growth in spending to about three and a half percent," he said. "Any excess revenue should be returned to the people through tax relief, and should not be used to grow state government spending. But Renee Fry, OpenSky Policy Institute executive director, said the Legislature should proceed with caution. Bills that have been prioritized have a cumulative effect on the general fund of $122 million in this two-year budget, she said, and $228 million in the next. One of the things I love about reading is how it can transport me to another place and time. A good story can whisk me away to places I will likely never visit. This vicarious travel connects me to other landscapes, people and cultures. A great story will leave me wanting to know more about these faraway places. Fortunately, technology makes the world a little smaller, bringing those faraway places to my desktop and the palm of my hand. Columbus Public Library has several resources that aid in my search for more information about other countries and cultures. This month, the CPL book discussion group read and discussed the young adult novel, Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. In this story, a 15-year-old Lina is ousted from her home in Lithuania during the Soviet occupation. Sepetys draws from the personal stories of Lithuanian refugees to recount the horrors they endured during the Soviet occupation. Linas group is fortunate in that one of the members can understand and speak Russian to the guards that are transporting them away from their home. More than one character learns Russian over the course of the story, and the acquisition of a new language is a survival skill. I am thankful I will probably never need to learn a new language in a hurry in order to survive, but if I am curious how to pronounce some of the Russian Sepetys includes in her novel, Mango Languages is an excellent resource that is available to CPL cardholders from anywhere there is an internet connection. Sign in and learn how to say hello and good day. Or, check out Mango Languages lessons on Russian slang. This resource includes cultural references, is rich with audio and visual cues, and allows users to create accounts to track progress through language lessons. Between Shades of Gray inspired curiosity about Lithuania, and CPL has a resource for that, too. AtoZ the World has in-depth information on countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. Library cardholders can learn all about Lithuanias climate, landscapes and some brief national history. AtoZ the World includes information about education, money, popular culture, famous people and much, much more. On the Points of Interest page for Lithuania, there are many national landmarks listed, and in several cases, external links to official websites are included for places like the Lithuanian Art Museum, a place that would have been of particular interest to young Lina in Sepetyss story. This young adult novel is available in e-book and audiobook format on the librarys Overdrive service. The Overdrive collection includes more than 28,000 audiobooks and e-books that cardholders can download and enjoy for one to three weeks. Using Overdrive, travel from Linas Lithuania to Iran in If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan, or Germany in Marcus Zusaks The Book Thief, and connect with those places through fiction and fact using CPLs digital library. Find Mango Languages, AtoZ the World, Overdrive, and more at http://columbusne.us/digitallibrary. For help with any of our digital resources visit the library on the second Tuesday each month from 6-8 p.m. or call 402-564-7116, option 2. 1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war. 2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war. 3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength. 4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war. 5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites. 6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination. 7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N. 8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N. 9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress. 10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N. 11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.) 12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party. 13. Do away with all loyalty oaths. 14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office. 15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States. 16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights. 17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks. 18. Gain control of all student newspapers. 19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack. 20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions. 21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures. 22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms." 23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art." 24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press. 25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV. 26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy." 27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch." 28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state." 29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis. 30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man." 31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over. 32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc. 33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus. 34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities. 35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI. 36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions. 37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business. 38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand. 39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals. 40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce. 41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents. 42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems. 43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government. 44. Internationalize the Panama Canal. 45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike. Consumer Watchdog is a (fiercely) independent consumer rights and advocacy organisation campaigning on behalf of the consumers of Botswana, helping them to know their rights and to stand up against abuse. Contact us at watchdog@bes.bw, call us on +267 3904582 or find us on Facebook by searching for Consumer Watchdog Botswana. Everything we do for the consumers of Botswana has always been and always will be entirely free. One should not be naive and think that these anti-immigration policies are detached from the governments broader efforts to dismantle the Danish welfare state while pretending to save it from economic collapse. Not even the governments own officials believe that such a collapse is imminent, and in fact there is every reason to believe that Danish economy will grow in the coming years. Still, Prime Minster Lars Lkke Rasmussen and his right-wing cohorts insist that the public finances must be squeezed in order to make space for tax cuts that nominally will go to both the rich and the poor, but most likely will benefit the former rather than the latter. To make ends meet, this approach has led (among other things) to an unprecedented attack on the universities, which have been targeted for some of the deepest budget cuts seen in the last 25 years. As a result, the next 2 3 years will see the closing of a number of so-called non-productive programs, including Classics, Chinese, Arabic, and Spanish. All this is to say that the narrowing of Danish culture and its openness to the world at large certainly is taking place. At the same time as the government both symbolically and physically is closing the country's borders for outsiders, it is preventing its own citizens from studying some of the worlds most important languages, cultures, and traditions. It is imperative that we recognize this for what it is: a broad-based ideological struggle seeking to undermine social critique and political transformation. The Steve Bell cartoon published in The Guardian on January 27, 2016 captures this better than most of what has been circulating in the last days and weeks. Steve Bell on Denmark seizing refugees' assets. What to do in the face of these developments? Some have pointed to Ai Weiweis decision to withdraw from a Danish art exhibition, and suggested that the international community should follow suite, boycotting Denmark BDS-style. If things continue the way they are now, this may very well become an option. But we are not there yet. While the government has been successful in passing its laws, there is still opposition to the policies imposed by it. Most recently, critique has been aired by Mogens Lykketoft, former chairperson of the Social Democrats and current President of the United Nations General Assembly, who in a leaked speech has called Prime Minister Lkke Rasmussen a fraud, accusing him of tricking the Danish electorate into accepting policies it does not want. Three of the Social Democratic Partys MPs deflected from the party line and voted against the jewelry law, and prominent members of the government-party Venstre have openly criticized the party and either resigned or become members of competing parties. Moreover, one of the most successful parties in the June 2015 electionthe newly founded Alternativet (The Alternative)ran on a platform criticizing the capitalistic mode of production while calling for greater social inclusion and economic redistribution. A similar trend is present in Danish civil society where associations like Welcome to Denmark, Refugees Welcome, and others work to counteract the governments policies, welcoming refugees into private homes, helping them to either escape registration by the Danish police or ensure that they get the legal and emotional support they need. None of this is nearly as prominent and powerful as the forces driving the current anti-immigration reforms. Still, rather than seeing the current events as part of a unidirectional trend, the examples indicate that we must consider the Danish situation in terms that are different from the ones invoked by the Weiwei-supporters. Complexity theory suggests that tipping points are defined by certain thresholds that, once passed, qualitatively can alter the state of a given entity. Danish culture and society may well have reached such a threshold. But heres the point: the transformation is not yet complete, and there is enough resistance to suggest that more must be done before we know the final outcome. The resistance, anger, and care for another Denmark suggest that we are in the midst of a multi-dimensional struggle, one that remains open for new input and redirection. There is no doubt that the Danish intellectual community can do more in this regard. Like the Corbyn-opposition in England, Danish intellectuals must encourage the Left to set up a new economic council that can formulate the critiques and alternative ideas necessary to counter the current ideology of neoliberal austerity. Like the Podemos-party in Spain, Danish intellectuals must emphasize the need to reconnect with civil society through new modes of organization. Some of this is already happening, but the corporatist, consensus-seeking dimension of Danish politics is keeping alternative voices at bay, making them less powerful than they could have been. We need a change in political culture now more than ever. Moreover, a struggle like the one envisioned here calls for more (not less) interaction with and from the outside world. To keep the system moving, and to alter its current composition and direction, we need scholars, intellectuals, politicians, and NGOs who are willing to both criticize and engage with Danish society through visits, debates, cartoons, and other interventions. My wager is that such interventions will encourage the progressive forces in Denmark, and thus help tipping the trend in the other direction, moving the policies toward greater equality and inclusion of asylum seekers and other people in need. So friends: Do not turn your back to Denmark. We need you more than ever! Via STAT, a Reuters report: Argentina woman contracts Zika without leaving the country. An Argentine woman has contracted Zika without having left the country, suggesting the virus was sexually transmitted, a health official in Cordoba province said on Friday, bringing to nine the number of cases reported nationwide. A major Zika outbreak began in Brazil last year and has spread to many countries in the Americas. The virus has been linked to birth defects in babies born to infected mothers. "We are thinking that the virus could have been transmitted sexually," Cordoba health chief Francisco Fortuna told Radio Continental, adding that the patient had contact with a man who recently traveled to Colombia. "This is the first case of Zika in Argentina affecting a patient who had not traveled overseas," Fortuna said. In fact the woman had not even recently ventured beyond Cordoba. Argentina's health ministry previously reported eight cases of Zika throughout the country as of last week. In The Globe and Mail, Stephanie Nolen in Campina Grande writes a major report: Zikas ground zero. Excerpt: When her last patient had left, Dr. Adriana Melo sat in her quiet clinic on a Friday night last October and stared at the fetal ultrasound images on her screen. The babys brain it made no sense. It had atrophied in the two weeks since she last scanned the patient. The fetus was missing a piece of its cerebellum, as if there were a genetic abnormality. Yet, the brain showed the splotches of calcification, typically a sign of infection. In 17 years of practising fetal medicine, Dr. Melo had never seen anything like it. She went home and began to make arrangements to get her pregnant patient every possible test and then the screen of her cellphone flashed with a message on WhatsApp. She glanced at it and had a sudden, horrible suspicion that she knew what was wrong with the fetus. That night, Dr. Melo plunged into a medical mystery that has left her wrung out and devastated, groping for increasingly scarce words of encouragement for her patients. A health crisis, centred on the supposedly benign Zika virus and babies with devastated brains, has unfolded swiftly in Brazil in the past five months. The scientific response has raced at an equally dizzying speed. And as each day brings new findings, Dr. Melos anxiety deepens. Like many of her colleagues in a hastily formed network of doctors and researchers studying Zika, she has a growing sense that the news is going to get much, much worse before it ever gets better. Via The Guardian: Pregnant women face battle to cancel trips to Zika areas. Excerpt: Thousands of pregnant women, and couples actively trying for a baby, have had their holiday plans thrown into chaos because of the spread of the Zika virus. Some have been forced to abandon their travel plans while others are battling with airlines, travel agents and insurers over potential refunds or requests to change their flights to different destinations. Those affected include Mark Downey and his pregnant wife Jackie who were supposed to be flying to Miami, and then on to Puerto Rico, a Caribbean island that has seen a sharp rise in Zika virus infections. The couple requested a refund from British Airways but were turned down. The current official UK travel advice for pregnant women is that they should consider avoiding travel to areas where Zika virus outbreaks are ongoing, and that if you are planning to become pregnant you should discuss your travel plans with your healthcare provider to assess your risk of infection and receive advice on mosquito bite avoidance measures. Things are complicated by the fact some women due to head off on holiday may be unaware that they are pregnant. Affected countries and territories popular with UK holidaymakers include Thailand, Barbados, Cape Verde, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Mexico. But its a fast-moving situation for example, while the UK governments foreign travel advice website appears to give the US the all-clear apart from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands (both US territories) the number of cases in Florida had, by Wednesday of this week, risen to 32, including three pregnant women, though all involve people who had travelled abroad. Meanwhile, a fortnight ago Hawaii declared a state of emergency as a preventative measure against mosquito-borne illnesses, including the Zika virus and dengue fever, but again there have been no locally acquired Zika cases on the islands. Mark Downey, 34, who lives in north-west London, told Guardian Money that as he and his wife are expecting their first child in July they had booked a babymoon in Puerto Rico for March to relax and get some sunshine before junior arrives. But with the island named as one of the affected areas, Jackies doctor and midwife both advised against making the trip. The couple had booked British Airways flights from London Heathrow to Miami, in its World Traveller Plus cabin for extra comfort, at a cost of 2,100, then separately booked onward flights with American Airlines to Puerto Rico, which cost a further 600. Mark says American Airlines has given them a full refund for that leg of the journey, but that BA is refusing to entertain doing the same, instead maintaining that the couple could still travel to Miami. The purpose of the trip was not to visit Miami, and it is clear from the news that the risk of Zika is increasing in Florida, Mark says. Of the states 32 cases, 11 are in Miami-Dade County. Surely they understand that it is not out of choice we want to cancel; its to prevent any risk to our unborn child. Welcome to the official blog of Neleen Leslie, Ph.D. This blog follows my line of work as a multicultural marketer and scholar. It contains both research and insight papers that I have written throughout my career. : , ; Alan and Pat live and work in Bordeaux. Alan is a pastor and Pat was a nurse. Now we work with UFM worldwide. Read on! (If you'd like to know what took us to Bordeaux, then start with the archives from September 2004) Tifatul Sembiring later takes down tweet amid criticism In the latest incident of anti-gay rhetoric in Indonesia, a member of Parliament from the Islamist Prosperous Justice Party posted on Twitter that gays should be put to death. Tifatul Sembiring, who is the countrys former Information and Communications Minister, tweeted: A saying of the Prophet [Mohamed]: Whomever you find committing the acts of the community of Lot (homosexual) should be put to death. Anti-gay rhetoric has been on the rise in the Southeast Asian country. Earlier this week, Indonesias leading psychiatric body classified homosexuality and gender dysphoria mental disorders that can be cured with proper treatment. The World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of psychiatric disorders in 1970. Gay sex is not a crime in Indonesia but remains taboo in many parts the Muslim-majority. Indonesian psychiatrists label LGBT as mental disorders Indonesian clerics declare LGBT groups haram The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) announced on Wednesday that it considered individuals identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) to be haram, in the wake of recent controversy surrounding LGBT communities across the country. The MUI, along with several other Islamic organizations, declared that the existence of LGBT communities was against the Constitution and against religious norms. "The opinion is based on LGBT activities prohibited by Islam," MUI chairman Ma'ruf Amin said at a press conference at the MUI office in Jakarta on Wednesday, as quoted by kompas.com. LGBT activities were against the national ideology of Pancasila, the Constitution and the 1974 Marriage Law, he said. Furthermore, the MUI issued a fatwa in 2014 stating that homosexuality, sodomy and sexual assault were haram "LGBT activities could also cause dangerous and infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS," he said. LGBT issues came into the spotlight after Research and Technology and Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir made a controversial statement banning LGBT groups from university campuses. His statement was made in response to a student organization at the University of Indonesia named the Support Group and Resource Center on Sexuality Studies (SGRC) that offered counselling for LGBT students. The leading Indonesian psychiatric body has classified homosexuality, bisexuality and transgenderism as mental disorders, which it says can be cured through proper treatment.Indonesian Psychiatrists Association (PDSKJI) member Suzy Yusna Dewi said that most of the time, the aforementioned sexual tendencies were triggered by external factors, such as the influence of a person's social environment, and therefore they could be healed through psychiatric treatment."We really do care about them. What we are worried about is, if left untreated, such sexual tendencies could become a commonly accepted condition in society," Suzy told thejakartapost.com on Tuesday.She made comments about the associations recent statement to address rising concerns about the growing prominence of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, which has drawn sharp criticism from government and religious leaders.Referring to Law No.18/2014 on Mental Health and the associations Mental Health and Mental Disorder Diagnostic Guidelines, the PDSKJI categorizes homosexuals and bisexuals as people with psychiatric problems, while transgender people have mental disorders.According to this classification, a psychiatric problem is condition in which a person is at risk of developing a mental disorder.A person with mental disorder will develop physical symptoms and behavior that may affect their welfare and social functioning.The PDSKJI said that psychiatric problems of homosexuals and bisexuals and mental disorders of transgender people had nothing to do with schizophrenia or other conditions such as intersex , or an anomaly in a person's genetic or chromosomal makeup.Commenting on the issue of homosexuality and bisexuality, Suzy said there was not enough data to support the idea that the conditions were caused by biological factors, adding that limiting inappropriate social interaction could be effective in curbing such abnormal sexual tendencies.The psychiatrist further said proper interventions were crucial in curing psychiatric problems and mental disorders. She said that a person's sexual appetite was a mental issue similar in nature to drug addiction.Without constant intervention, a person can easily return to their previous sexual tendency once he or she experiences withdrawal, Suzy said.She stressed the importance of upholding national values and norms. We must respect Indonesian traditions, which culturally do not accept same-sex marriage, and we should not bow to the influence of foreign values that may not fit in with our values, said Suzy.On May 17, 1990, the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from its list of psychiatric disorders.In support of WHOs stance, Chatarina Wahyurini of the Indonesia Planned Parenthood Association (PKBI) said her organization recognized the existence of people with different orientations and did not view them as having disorders.Referring to its stance on issues of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, Wahyurini said the PKBI called for an end to discrimination of minority groups. She urged the government to take a more serious approach to providing protection and security to every citizen regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.Repeating what was stated in a press statement released by the PKBI on Monday, Wahyurini referred to Indonesias national ideology, Pancasila, which she said guaranteed and protected diversity. The 1945 Constitution also protects the right of every Indonesian citizen to be protected from any form of discrimination.Wahyurini said the LGBT community should have equal access to public services and space needed to freely express their identity, participate in dialogue and to contribute to the nation in a positive manner.Source: thejakartapost.com , Liza Yosephine, February 24 2016Source: thejakartapost.com , Feb. 17, 2016 For augmenting government revenue, besides enhancing tax compliance and reducing tax disputes, the best way is to implement the DTC and GST at the earliest Mumbai: India Ratings (Ind-Ra) believes having attained macroeconomic stability, though largely due to the collapse of global commodities prices especially oil, the topmost priority of the government in the forthcoming budget should be the revival of the investment cycle. While capital expenditure in FY16 increased by 25.5 per cent over FY15, as a percentage of GDP it is still stuck at 1.7 per cent and needs to go up to 2 per cent. With two consecutive monsoon failures, rural distress has increased. Although a number of schemes such as soil health card scheme, agri-tech infrastructure fund, a technology driven protein revolution, a price stabilisation fund, and Prime Ministers irrigation scheme with a special focus on micro-irrigation and watershed development etc. are at various stages of implementation, the government cannot relax on this front. For augmenting government revenue, besides enhancing tax compliance and reducing tax disputes, the best way is to implement the direct tax code (DTC) and the goods and services tax (GST) at the earliest. As the fate of DTC is not known, implementing the GST appears to be the only way out for accelerating tax revenue. Although Ind-Ra would like a firm commitment about the introduction of GST in the FY17 budget, its destiny is likely to be determined by the politics than economics. There is, however, a possibility of the government making a windfall gain in its non-tax revenue account in case the spectrum sale takes place in FY17. This may help the government to adhere to 3.5 per cent fiscal deficit target of FY17, despite the burden of implementing seventh central pay commission award. Fiscal slippage however is likely in FY16, due to the lower than anticipated GDP growth, fiscal deficit while as a percent of GDP is seen at 4.1 per cent in FY16, the absolute deficit will be close to the target of Rs 5.6 trillion. India Inc will watch out for the fiscal stance of the government, if the government will loosen its purse or continue to consolidate. In the event the government decides to increase spending, will it be rightly channelized into capital investments, remains a challenge. The budget will need to focus on the commodity driven sectors by providing protection measures, since these sectors are stressed due to the collapse in global demand and oversupply. Public sector banks (PSBs) the backbone of the economy require a well-defined path of recapitalisation till 2019. Ind-Ras calculation shows that PSBs would need Rs 3.7 trillion capital infusion between FY17-19 to meet the capital adequacy norms of Basel III. Ind-Ra therefore, believes a higher budgetary support would be critical for the health of PSBs particularly when their internal accruals are low, equity valuations have eroded and the risk of further slippages due to their exposure to highly levered corporates is high. Ind-Ra will watch out for additional allocations to Mudra Bank or the expansion of the scope of the bank. We also eagerly await details on the implementation of Bank board bureaus which was announced last year. Industry specific expectations, the infrastructure sector will be a priority for the government, with a focus on deepening the infrastructure debt market, providing a larger role to infrastructure debt funds and India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited, a push to activate Infrastructure investment trusts and reworking the private public partnership structure to make it more viable. The government will need to provide alternative avenues for infra funding, an increase in the fund allocation for highways, a framework for revival of stalled projects and a roadmap for the road regulator. The automobile sector may see the introduction of a scrappage scheme for commercial vehicles and a reduction in excise duty on large cars and SUVs. The oil & gas sector may see rationalisation in the taxation structure for crude oil, a likely reduction on fixed cess on crude oil and higher import tariffs on crude oil and products. The government will outline some steps to support low-cost housing and initiatives for overall infrastructure capex that would be the driver for cement demand. There is a possibility of the removal of the dividend distribution tax on dividend paid by SPVs to real estate investment trusts. The distribution tax is an impediment to the launch of such trusts, which will help real estate companies monetise commercial projects and reduce debt. The steel sector may see reduction in import duty on coking coal, removal of the Clean Energy Cess on coal and a decrease in excise duty. In the non ferrous sector, the budget may increase export duty on Bauxite, Alumina, higher import duty on Caustic Soda, Coal Tar Pitch, Copper, Zinc and an elimination of import duty on Cu concentrates. On the taxation front, the government is likely to reduce the corporate tax rate by 100 base point as part of its stated objective to reduce the corporate tax rate to 25 per cent by FY20. The budget may announce a schedule for the removal of exemptions available to companies and increase service tax rate by 200 base point to 16 per cent in order to align the rates with the proposed GST rate. Sarabjit crew filmed several scenes of Ash participating in the various rituals. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who is busy filming for Omung Kumar's Sarbjit biopic, was spotted at the Golden temple taking part in the seva. The actress and her film crew were in Amritsar for the past week, shooting a part of the film. According to online reports, Aishwarya joined devotees in cooking food, cleaning the floors and even washing the dishes at the temple. Sarbjit crew filmed several scenes of Ash participating in the various rituals. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan cooks food for devotees at the Golden temple. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan shoots for Sarbjit biopic at the Golden temple. Aishwaryas daughter Aaradhya and mother were also at the temple. After a long day of shooting, Ash and Aaradhya were spotted posing outside the temple for pictures. Reports state that fans and devotees rushed to get a glimpse of the actress, after word got around that she was shooting for her film. Ash will be seen playing the role of Dalbir Kaur, sister of the late Sarbjit Singh, essayed by Randeep Hooda. While Aishwarya is busy shooting for the film, leading man Randeep has flown off to Australia. The India-China co-production, which also stars Hindi movie actor Sonu Sood, was cleared by the government for shooting in the country. New Delhi: International superstar Jackie Chan is set to shoot in India as the Narendra Modi government has given its go-ahead for the shooting of the movie Kung Fu Yoga. The India-China co-production, which also stars Hindi movie actor Sonu Sood, was cleared by the government for shooting in the country. The multi-lingual action-adventure film is understood to have completed several rounds of international shooting, includes in China and Dubai. The film is directed by Stanley Tong, who also directed Rumble in the Bronx, and is scheduled to be released later this year. Also starring Indian actresses Amyra Dastur and Disha Patani, the film features Jackie Chan as a professor of archaeology who teams up with an Indian professor to locate Indias lost Magadha treasure in Tibet. The film was announced by Chinese film regulators as part of an India-China co-production agreement during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to China last year. In all three films were commissioned under a filmmaking agreement between China and India, signed during President Xi Jinpings 2014 India visit. Meanwhile, another India-China co-production, based on Xuan Zang, a noted Buddhist monk during the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD) who made an arduous journey to India to study Buddhism, has also been cleared for shooting in the country. I am hoping that the Washington State authorities do justice to this wonderful dog Salma said in her post. Hollywood actress Salma Hayek is mourning the death of her 9-year old dog Mozart. The actress took to her social network handle to inform fans of his slow and painful death. Salma revealed that her beloved pet was shot dead by a gunman at her Washington ranch. The canine was found dead on Friday, with a gunshot wound close to his heart. A picture of Salma Hayek's dog Mozart Salma said, I haven't posted for a week as I been mourning the death of my dog, Mozart who I personally delivered out of his mother's womb. He was found dead in my ranch last Friday with a shot close to his heart. I am hoping that the Washington State authorities do justice to this wonderful dog whom in 9 years never bit or attacked anyone. He loved his territory and never strayed away...he was the most loving and loyal companion. He didn't deserve a slow and painful death. Rating: Cast: Manoj Bajpai, Rajkumar Rao, Ashish Vidyarthi, Dilnaz Irani Director: Hansal Mehta Director Hansal Mehtas Aligarh, based on real life events, rather recent ones, is framed inside two landmark political events two court orders which are a parenthesis of sorts. On July 2, 2009, Delhi high court struck down Section 377, decriminalising homosexuality, and, on December 12, 2013, the Supreme Court, criminalised it again. In this brief window of relief, when brackets opened and before they closed, Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, a 64-year-old Marathi professor and chairman of the linguistics department of Aligarh Muslim University, lived a little and then died. We meet Prof. Siras (Manoj Bajpai) as we met him in real life: On the night of February 8, 2010, in his house in Aligarh. Two men, one carrying a camera and another a danda, very casually enter his home, his bedroom when he was with Irrfan, his dost, a friend. The two men beat them up, take off their clothes and make them pose. Soon four of Siras colleagues from Aligarh University (in the film the M-word is silent) arrive, and the next day, without an inquiry, he is suspended and his photo flashed in local media, along with the story of a degenerate professor who paid to have sex with a rickshawpuller. A few days later he is chargesheeted for immoral conduct and told to vacate the university accommodation. Ishani Banerjee, on whose research this biopic is based, has done a commendable job of piecing together not just the events over two months, but also personalities. Siras, a soft-spoken man who adopted Aligarh as his town and loves his university, is bewildered, humiliated and saddened by the violent indignity he is being subjected to. He cant reconcile with the loss of izzat, at not being allowed to live with dignity, at becoming a pariah in his university and to people he knew overnight. Sparse but astute dialogue, and the camera which often frames Siras in close-up, creates an intimacy with Siras. It takes us into his personal space that he guards with three latches on the door. We sit by his side, watching him sip whiskey, listen to songs we know and love. We see a very ordinary, normal man who is being asked to fight a battle he didnt pick. Hed rather compromise, return to his empty linguistics department. He has a few friends who understand the victimisation, but they dont want to rock the boat, like Malayalam professor Sridharan who gets Siras to write a letter to the university, saying he is ashamed of his conduct. Set in his habits in which he once found comfort grocery shopping on Mondays and on somedays inviting over his friend a loneliness now encases him thats broken only when Deepu Sebastian (Rajkumar Rao), a reporter with Indian Post, arrives from Delhi to interview him. Deepu brings along the freedom and urgency of the outside world. Theres a spring in Deepus step. Hes chalu, ambitious, eager, keen, but also earnest and decent. He too is struggling with his family. Deepus life shows things straight people take for granted, a freedom we dont even think about. He makes out openly, with his boss, a courtesy not extended to gay men and women. Conversations in the film are brief, but they have curlicues which embellish characters and add layers and nuance to the issue of the other, of being queer. Siras talks of suicide, listens to Lata sing Aap ki nazron ne samjha and hums along the line Ji hamein manzoor hai aap ka yeh faisla Woven into the films script and characters is a commentary about gays, homosexuality, Section 377, whats moral, whats natural. And, that contradictions live peacefully inside all of us. A brahmin, Siras will not have vegetarian food touched by a non-veg. Yet he says, Dharam samajhne waali cheez nahin hai. Jahan dimag lagaya, aastha gayi. A linguistic professor, he has a strange relationship with words, definitive ones. Like gay. But he can describe what he feels An uncontrollable urge. He was once married and is mildly in denial about his own sexuality. He is no champion of any cause. A simple, middle class man, he wants to stay in the closet. And even when he is dragged out, there is no righteousness indignation. More a silent plea at being wronged, and a suggestion of a conspiracy, perhaps. In court, while lawyers lock horns over his moral depravity and Article 21, discuss how he has violated the collective morality of the university or is painted as a victim, he either dozes off or translates his Marathi poems into English. But this man is also flirty and romantic in bed. He is playful, gentle, and not shy. Activists take up Siras case, and on April 1, 2010, he is reinstated in the university on a court order. On April 7, Prof. Siras was found dead in his rented accommodation. Traces of poison were found but police ruled out foul-play. Hansal Mehtas Aligarh is about that. Its a film about how Section 377 is used, for foul-play. Hansal Mehta doesnt make films about people who fit in. He makes political films about people in the fringes. Here, by piecing together a tragedy of our times, he makes his point assuredly but gently and with grace. Aligarh has lots of resonance today. A film about individual rights versus the rising chorus for conformity to majoritarian beliefs and opinions, it tells us that there is always an agenda behind moral policing. Though a serious and important film, it is not in activist mode. It is nicely mild-mannered. There is just one brief glimpse of queer counterculture, a gay get-together in Delhi. Usually, there is an instinct to bring piety to victimised characters. Hansal Mehta and his writers avoid that. Aligarh asks few questions and offers no answers. It simply tells a story about love, sex, religion, politics, and our courts by casting Siras less as a victim or the films hero, but more as a piece of evidence, an exhibit that demands contemplation. Also, by keeping Deepus sexuality ambiguous, the film gently fingers our own voyerism, if not prejudice, and makes us wonder, in the end, why must it matter who he wants to love and how. But the direction is erratic. Aligarh is sometimes brilliant, at times banal and dull. Apart from the very stagey, contrived last scene, the films court room scenes are shockingly bad. Coming from the man who directed the superb Shahid thats depressing. Aligarh is shot brilliantly. We see Siras through windows, mesh, grills, curtains, behind doors with paranoid locks and latches. Manoj Bajpayee, who is practically in every frame of the film, has a few moments when he is light and in character. In these brief scenes he shines and connects as a breathing, living man. Mostly, however, hes deliberate, heavy and rather hammy. Bajpayee is mostly trying to act and that deliberate effort and attempt is all too visible and irritating. Though he uses his eyes a lot, to act and bring dignity to his character, he is mostly very studied, too conscious and concerned about impressing. Rajkumar Rao, on the other hand, is sharp and real. Though all accents Raos Malayalam and Manojs Marathi come and go, he is the foil without which Bajpayees show-offy solemnity would have been unbearable. Rating: Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter, Forrest Goodluck, Grace Dove, Duane Howard Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu A group of hunter-trappers are attacked by the Ree native tribes, whose chief (Duane Howard) is seeking to rescue his daughter. Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio), Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy), Andrew Henry (Domhnall Gleeson) and Glass son Hawk (Forrest Goodluck) escape overland, leaving behind the valuable animal pelt. Glass is attacked by a bear and left in the care of Fitzgerald who hates him. Eventually, hes betrayed and left for dead. A wounded and maimed Glass somehow finds the will to survive in the harsh mountainous cold and embarks on a long quest for vengeance. The Revenant is a film that has carried a great deal of rumours of the harsh conditions of its production much of the film is shot on location with natural light (excellent work by Emmanuel Lubezki) with Leonardo DiCaprio and the cast working in harsh conditions. Watching the film, one can see the physicality and visceral sense of nature in the film. The film is a fictionalised account of the real-life adventures of Glass. It adds a half-native son of Glass into the mix which, I suppose, adds greater texture to the settler-native relations that inform the background of the film. But on the whole, this is closer to Apocalypto rather than The New World. Its about the nuts and bolts of survival. Its all about patchwork shelter, narrow caves and makeshift bandages. One image has Glass cauterising his wound by setting fire to his neck. The amount of pain, endurance and torment is unbelievable. The approach taken by the film towards the story seems flawed in a couple of instances, chiefly cutting away from DiCaprio to a separate strand concerning other characters. The story also has speeches on the persecution of Native Americans that seem a little preachy and director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu makes the mistake that any filmmaker focusing on fixed location narratives makes, i.e., to burden events with vignettes in this case a community of French trappers. This time last year, Angelina Jolies film, Unbroken, told another true story of a man surviving impossible ordeals but it refused to pare down its relentless focus on the character. The Revenant is mainly a spectacle of sound, image and vast unforgiving landscapes. This allows the film to paper over the weaknesses of the story and direction. The visceral sequences: Glass hiding underneath an animal skin to protect himself from winter; his halting and hesitant interactions with other strangers on the frontier are powerful images. The unforgettable bear attack scene is an incredible sequence; performances by Leonardo DiCaprio, Domhnall Gleeson and, especially, Duane Howard (as the moving Ree Chief, who gets an amazing close-up in a powerful early scene) are equally riveting. This is one of DiCaprios most intense roles. The Revenant is a terrific big-screen experience. It is a film about the environment and the kind of impact it can have on individuals, with characters resorting to violence, slaughter and betrayal under its influence. There are repeated images of various characters being scalped, practiced by both white men and natives, and the violence on offer, while never gratuitous, is still quite hard to take in many scenes. It is to the films credit that it has a sense of ambiguity about whether there is anything truly separating the films heroes, villains and innocents. Perhaps the only truly noble character in the film is the bear that attacked Glass to protect her cubs. The writer is programmer, Lightcube Film Society The beautiful plane is decorated with a number of famous Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and even Cinderella Castle. (Photo: Instagram/ @paulambhall) Now heres a piece of news that will give your Disney dream wings Walt Disney World collaborated with Brazilian airline TAM to unveil a colourful character-themed plane recently. The special Boeing 767-300 was given its attractive Disney avatar after working on it for 10 eight-hour days. The beautiful plane is decorated with a number of famous Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and even Cinderella's Castle. The vehicle has been named the Plane of Dreams and will be used for guests travelling on international long-distance routes. But its not just the plane even the flight attendants uniforms and the food service will feature special elements from the theme, according to the Daily Mail. If the latest buzz is anything to go by, online reservations will reign supreme in the near future. Taking lessons from Londons Nobu and Trishna, Bengaluru too is riding high on online bookings being the only way forward as popular food spaces like Toast and Tonic, Zomato, chefkraft.com, Eazy Diner and more follow suit. Convenient or cumbersome? We speak to a couple of young adults, foodies and party peeps who tell us more about the trend Given the digitalised times that we are in, it comes as no surprise that a lot of restaurants are opting for such an arrangement. Its so much more convenient and fuss-free, opines Nitin Hajela, a city-based food blogger who is in complete favour of the trend. He goes on to explain, Unlike arduous phone bookings, which are mostly available only during a limited period, online bookings can be done at any time. And the chances of a mix-up are very less. Vouching by the same, Rajat Bongale, a young marketing professional comments, We Indians have been ordering food for a while now. But what really has changed is how we can order something as basic as chai online. Even better, we dont have to wait for someone on the other end of the phone to help us out with an order anymore. Its all just a click away. This works well with people on the go as its so much more private and quicker when you dont have to deal with people to take down your order. Interestingly enough, even restaurateurs seem to be banking on the trend. About 10 per cent of the people who call restaurants for home delivery are currently ordering online we see a potential for this to grow to 50 per cent over the course of the next year. Our online ordering business is growing at a healthy 30-40 per cent month-on-month. Overall, in two years, I think online orders would attribute to 20 per cent of Zomatos total revenue, states Pankaj Chaddah, co-founder, Zomato. Well, with so much happening over the phones, it comes as no surprise that such an arrangement is gaining momentum. Being a restaurateur, I believe such a trend will work to a great extent as people are getting a lot more impatient and want things in a swipe. I see it as a gradual procession, says Jia Jain, restaurateur, 1947 Group of Restaurants, who is looking to add online bookings soon. In conclusion, Manu Chandra, chef partner, Toast and Tonic, states how its a more democratic way of ordering in. While were the first to go in for an online bookings only feature, its an idea which sprouted out of a general observation its hassle-free, saves your time and ours. Most importantly, we arent trying to take away the personalisation factor from the dining experience. Were just making the process of ordering in a more streamlined process devoid of human errors. New Delhi: A 28-year-old gym owner, who allegedly shot dead a journalist earlier this week at south Delhi's Vasant Kunj area, has been arrested from Uttar Pradesh, police said on Friday. The accused, Rinku had allegedly shot dead Hardeep Singh who worked as the editor of a journal published by the Inter-University Accelerator Centre, an institute run by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The incident took place on Monday after an altercation had broken out between the two, over Singh objecting to loud music played by Rinku in Kishangadh locality. Rinku owns a gym on the ground floor of the building in which Singh lived, police said. After the incident, Rinku went absconding. A case of murder was registered and a police team fanned to track him down. He was arrested last night from Mathura, police said. The girl was rescued by locals and admitted to the district hospital by police after the incident. (Photo: PTI) Ghazipur: A minor Dalit girl was allegedly gangraped and set ablaze by three persons in Godsaiya village here. The girl had gone to relieve herself in a field when three youth of the same village allegedly gangraped her on Friday evening, police said. Before fleeing, they poured kerosene on her and set her ablaze, they said. She was rescued by locals and admitted to the district hospital by police after the incident. An FIR has been lodged against Sonu Yadav, Pradip Yadav and another person after a complaint by the victim's grandfather, SP Ram Kishore Verma said. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While a majority in the CPM central leadership in favour of both Opposition Leader V.S. Achuthanandan and politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan contesting the forthcoming Assembly elections, the national leadership is eliciting the response of the state leadership to take a call on the issue. Pinarayi and CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan have been summoned to Delhi where they will be holding discussions with the party centre on Saturday. Since the forthcoming Assembly elections in Kerala and West Bengal are crucial for the CPM, the party central leadership wants unity among leaders at any cost to counter and defeat the saffron threat. The CPM is desperately trying to ensure victory in the two states for remaining politically significant not only in the respective regions but also nationally. It is in this backdrop that the central leadership wants 94-year old Achuthanandan to play a lead role in the campaign. The veteran is the most popular face of the party in the stage and a huge crowd puller, a crucial factor in elections. Pinarayi who led the Kerala Yatra successfully, is the organisational strongman. The central leadership is of the view that Achuthanandan, Pinarayi and Kodiyeri should lead from the front as a joint team. Such a collective leadership would send right signals to the party cadre, galvanising them ahead of the elections. A section of leaders are confident that individual leaders would not come in the way of forming unity at the top. With the BJP Sangh Parivar making a strong bid to expand their base in the state especially with the help of organisations like BDJS comprising leaders of SNDP, KPMS,Brahamana Sabha and various other Hindu organisations, the CPM leadership believes that the stakes are high. All these issues would come for detailed discussion at the party centre meeting taking place on Saturday. Belgaum: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said if there was a ray of hope in the world economy, it was India, as he asserted that his government was committed to transform the lives of the poor and villages. Addressing a farmers' rally here, he also said that the Opposition spoke of many issues but there was not an allegation of corruption against his government ever since he has been serving as "pradhan sevak". "Today it is agreed that if there is a ray of hope in the world economy, it is India," Modi said at the huge rally, organised as part of BJP's nationwide outreach to farmers. He cited ratings by various agencies and international institutions such as World Bank and IMF to buttress his point on India offering a "ray of hope". Modi said whether it was World Bank or IMF or world's rating agency, all of them were saying in one voice that if there is any country "where there is a ray of hope, that ray of hope is India". "In the whole world, the economy is wavering. Even those countries who say they are experts are also going through economic problems," he said. In spite of disturbing environment of slowdown, India is making rapid strides?in growth, he said. On corruption, Modi said that when his government assumed office, the nation was tired of corruption. "It's been over 18 months since I've served you as Pradhan Sevak. Opposition speaks of many issues but not on allegation of corruption." He said when his government came to power, the entire country was disturbed by the issues of corruption. "Only one issue was being heard in the air, on earth and water and that was corruption, corruption and only corruption." On the one hand, the trust in the country had fallen in the eyes of the world which was not prepared to take India into account. India was also facing economic problems with corruption destroying the country like termites. There was an environment of despair, he said. New Delhi: Congress on Saturday said that it was "extremely disturbing" that the first attack on mediapersons in the Patiala House court complex took place when Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley was present in its premises. Party spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters that he, however, was not in anyway accusing the minister to be "complicit" in the assault. "The Minister of I&B is the government's interface with the media and if this happens while he was there in the premises, it's something which is extremely disturbing", said Tewari, a former I&B Minister. He said BJP MLA O P Sharma, who "assaulted" lawyers, journalists, teachers and the students, ostensibly was accompanying Jaitley for his deposition in the court. At the outset, he said, the Supreme Court has already taken cognisance and has issued contempt notices against those who had perpetrated the violence in Patiala House court premises and since the apex court has taken cognisance, it will take it to its logical conclusion. Jawaharlal Nehru University students Umar Khalid (C) and Anirban Bhattacharya (R) who are facing charges of sedition (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday allowed the custodial interrogation of two JNU students, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, arrested in a sedition case, by two more days. The court extended the police custody of the duo, who had allegedly organised a controversial event at the JNU on February 9 where anti-India slogans were said to have been raised, after police contended that they were required for further probe in the case. The police claimed that around 22 people present at the flashpoint JNU event, including some outsiders, have been identified after the joint interrogation of Khalid, Anirban and JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar arrested in the same case. Khalid and Anirban were earlier sent to three days' police remand on February 24, after their midnight surrender and subsequent arrest in the case. Earlier, the Delhi High Court had ordered that "confidentiality" be maintained during the remand proceedings of Umar and Anirban, besides Kumar, while directing the police to ensure that no one "suffers even a scratch" and there is no ruckus this time. Lawyers had allegedly assaulted Kumar when he was brought to Patiala House Court for remand proceedings, in defiance of a Supreme Court order, on February 17. Two days earlier, when Kumar was to be brought to the court, the same set of lawyers had thrashed journalists and JNU students and teachers. The high court order had came during the hearing on Kumar's bail plea after it was informed that the student leader and Umar and Anirban were apprehending threat to their safety and security during production before Patiala House courts for remand proceedings. The police also inquired whether two of them were the main organisers of the February 9 event against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and whether they were involved in anti-India sloganeering which allegedly took place. The duo had returned to the JNU campus last Sunday after going missing since February 12. Meanwhile, Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi said the sedition case in connection with the controversial JNU event has been transferred to the force's counter-terrorism unit Special Cell. "I have directed my officers to transfer the case to Special Cell as the matter needs focused investigation. In a case registered under Section 124 A (Sedition), the Special Cell shall do justice," Bassi said. The process of transfer will take around two days, he said, adding that the local police district would not be able to put the focus which the case demands as they have to deal with numerous routine law and order affairs. A few days after registering the case in connection with the February 9 event in JNU campus, DCP (South) Prem Nath had written to the Commissioner, requesting him to transfer the case to Special Cell. Bassi had refused to do so then saying that the concerned police district has enough capacity to deal with the matter. JNU Student's Union president Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested in connection with the case on February 12. Two more students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, who made the police chase them across cities for around 10 days, later surrendered themselves a day after they resurfaced in the varsity's campus on Sunday. The students are facing sedition charges for allegedly raising 'anti-national' slogans at the JNU campus during an event to commemorate Parliament attacker Afzal Guru's third death anniversary on February 9. Bhopal: Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh on Saturday appeared before a court here in connection with an alleged recruitment scam at the Assembly Secretariat here which took place when he was Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Singh appeared before the Special District and Sessions Judge Kashinath Singh. The court had yesterday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant when the ex-CM, an accused in the alleged scam, did not turn up in the court where a 169-page supplementary charge sheet was also filed in the case. The Rajya Sabha member was summoned by prosecuting agency - MP Police - to attend the court proceedings. He was accompanied by MP Congress President Arun Yadav, former Union Minister Suresh Pachouri and his lawyer Vivek Tankha around 11.30 AM. Yesterday, seven other accused including K K Kaushal and A K Pyasi - who appeared in the court - were granted bail after they furnished a personal security bond of Rs 30,000 each. Kaushal and Pyasi were employees of the Secretariat. Ahead of filing the charge sheet, police had last year grilled the veteran Congressman for five hours in connection with the scam. The scam pertains to alleged irregularities in recruitment in MP Assembly Secretariat here between 1993 and 2003 when Singh was Chief Minister. Last year, Singh had reportedly told investigators that all recruitments in the Secretariat during his tenure were done with the approval of State Cabinet and as per prescribed rules. The accused have been charged with forgery, cheating, conspiracy and misuse of office as well as offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar, arrested on charges of sedition, was assaulted by lawyers in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar has told a Supreme Court-appointed lawyers' probe panel that he was beaten up, pushed to the ground and injured by men in lawyers' robes before the police, when he was brought to the Patiala House court premises on February 17. "When the police brought me inside the court's gate, a mob of men in lawyers' robes attacked me. It appeared as if they were ready to attack and they were calling others also. I was assaulted. Also read: JNU row: Have asked for investigation to be dealt by Special Cell, says Bassi "The police escorting me tried to save me but the police officials were also beaten up," he said while narrating the sequence of events to the lawyers' panel in a video shown on television channels. The panel of six advocates -- Kapil Sibal, Rajeev Dhavan, Dushyant Dave, A D N Rao, Ajit Kumar Sinha and Haren Raval, had visited the Patiala House courts premises on February 17 after the apex court was informed that Kanhaiya was beaten up during his production before the magistrate. In another instance when he was attacked, the police, who were there, did not do anything, he said. After Kanhaiya narrated the incident to the panel inside the courtroom, Sibal called DCP Jatin Narwal and enquired from him about it. "How did you allow the attack to take place inside court premises? Your men were there. What were they doing? How he (man who attacked Kanhaiya outside the gate of the courtroom) was allowed to come inside," the panel members asked the DCP. Responding to it, Narwal said, "he came with the escort party and entered the room adjacent to the courtroom." The panel members then called other police officials and asked them about the incident and they replied that the person who attacked Kanhaiya had claimed that he was his lawyer. Read: Kanhaiya Kumar sent back to Tihar Jail after joint grilling Kanhaiya told the panel that when he was assaulted, he fell down and sustained injuries and at that time he could not see what the police was doing. To this, Sibal asked the DCP, "that means police was there and they did nothing." The student leader told the panel that the person, who had attacked him, had come to the adjacent courtroom and he had told his teacher about it. "I told my teacher that this man was assaulting me and then the police asked that person about his identity. He in turn questioned the policeman and asked him to show his I- card. That person left the place in front of the police and the police did nothing. He could have been apprehended there itself. I had told the police that this man had assaulted me," he said. On February 17, a bunch of rowdy lawyers had launched a brazen attack on Kanhaiya, journalists and others and also indulged in stone-pelting and hurling abuses on the panel of senior lawyers. He alleged that bureaucratic red-tapism and rising crime rate are posing as hurdles to setting up of industries in the state. (Photo: PTI) Varanasi: Hitting out at the Samajwadi party-led Uttar Pradesh government, BJP leader Varun Gandhi today said that rising unemployment has forced graduates and PhD holders to apply for the posts of sweepers and peons in the state. Pointing to the Amroha Municipal Corporation advertisement inviting applications for the post of 'Safai Karmachari' (sweeper), Gandhi claimed majority of the 19,000 applicants were graduates and post-graduates. He said that even PhD holders applied for the post of peon at the secretariat. "The rising unemployment has forced people with higher qualifications to apply for such a low-ranked post as there is no job opportunity in the state," Gandhi said at a private management institute here. He alleged that bureaucratic red-tapism and rising crime rate are posing as hurdles to setting up of industries in the state. He said that the UP government has "failed" to attract domestic as well as foreign investors, in comparison to other states. Gandhi appealed for improving the standard of education in government schools and sought for creating a competitive environment among private and state-run institutes. The Sultanpur MP said that it would be wrong to bring privatisation in every sector. Alleging that a paltry 3 per cent of GDP is being spent on education and 2 per cent on health, the BJP leader hoped that in the coming years, such figures would improve. "To improve the scenario, GDP figure in coming years should rise to at least 10 per cent in education and 8 per cent in health," he said. Gandhi also claimed that nearly 3 crore people get poor due to "medical-debt" every year. "This is due to the burdensome medical expenses incurred by farmers and middle class salaried persons to treat their family members," he said. Claiming that he joined politics to help the downtrodden, Gandhi announced plans to distribute his salary as an MP among farmers and the poor of the state. Gandhi added that it was sad that farmers were committing suicide and many of them migrating for jobs to adjoining cities and other parts of the country, instead of continuing with farming. New Delhi: The mother of Rohith Vemula, a PHD scholar who committed suicide in the Hyderabad University, on Saturday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi, a day after accusing Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani of misrepresenting facts related to her son's death. Radhika Vemula, who yesterday accused the government of diverting the attention from the main issue, also met senior Janata Dal (United) leader K.C. Tyagi. The friends and family members of Rohith Vemula had yesterday, at a press conference in Delhi, said that they would expose the lies propagated by Irani in the Parliament. Accusing Irani of lying and attempting to divert attention from the entire issue, Radhika Vemula said that her son did not receive the stipend for seven months. Rohith's friend Prashant quoting the HRD Minister's earlier statement said this is a complete lie that has malicious intent to divert the entire issue which has started troubling the BJP. Prashant also wondered as to why no action has been initiated against the HRD Minister, who is repeatedly giving false statements, yet. Rohith, who committed suicide last month, was among the five research scholars suspended by the Hyderabad University in August last year over an alleged assault case. The matter took a political turn with allegations that the extreme step taken by Rohith was a result of discrimination against Dalit students at the behest of Union Minister of State for Labour Bandaru Dattatreya, following his letter to the Union HRD Minister, seeking action against their 'anti-national acts'. South Central Railway officials said that the Railway Ministry has in principle agreed to take up the two projects as a joint venture with the TS government. Hyderabad: The TS government is ready to bear 51 per cent of the total cost for laying a new rail line between Secunderabad and Zaheerabad, a distance of nearly 70 km. TS is also willing to share the cost of a 184-km new rail line between Gadwal and Macherla and wants the Railway Ministry to put these two projects on the fast track and complete them as early as possible. South Central Railway officials said that the Railway Ministry has in principle agreed to take up the two projects as a joint venture with the TS government. The Railway Ministry and TS government have already signed a MoU for taking up priority rail projects under JV. While Secunderabad-Zaheerabad rail line is estimated to cost Rs 457 crore, the Gadwal-Macherla line will require over Rs 800 crore. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had taken up the two lines with Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu when the latter had called on him in January, last year. Both these new rail lines also find a mention in the Rail Budget-2016. While the Secunderabad-Zaheerabad line is planned to be laid via Vattinagulapalli, Sangareddy and Kohir, the Gadwal-Macherla line will take off from Arepalli near Gadwal and run via Nagarkurnool, Indrakallu, Kalwakurthy, Vanguru, Devarakonda, and joins Thirumalagiri on the already sanctioned Nalgonda-Macherla line, said a senior SCR official. The new Secunderabad-Zaheerabad line will bring down travel time by more than half from the three hours now, while the Gadwal-Macherla line is important as it passes through backward Nalgonda and Mahbubnagar districts. A video has been doing rounds on the internet in which the protesters can be seen pelting eggs and tomatoes on the former cabinet minister's car. (Photo: ANI) Kanpur: Congress workers on Saturday tried to stop the cavalcade of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy here and allegedly threw eggs, tomatoes and ink on it. Police used mild force to disperse the protesters in which some of them received minor injuries. BJP district President Surendra Maithani said Swamy's cavalcade was on its way to SD college from circuit house around 11 am for a seminar on global terrorism when protesters threw eggs, tomatoes, ink and garbage on it at Narwana Chowk. Watch the video here: #WATCH Subramanian Swamy's car pelted with eggs & tomatoes in Kanpur, protesters also threw ink & waved black flagshttps://t.co/jjqc1drXlW ANI (@ANI_news) February 27, 2016 Congress district President Harprakash Agnihotri led the protest of his party workers. Maithani alleged that police and the district administration were informed prior to Swamy's visit but no security arrangements were made. Meanwhile, BJP leaders lodged a complaint about the incident with the police, following which SSP Shalabh Mathur ordered a probe into it. All those found guilty in this case will face action, Mathur said. Swamy, later speaking at a seminar here on 'Global Terrorism: In context of Kashmir', reiterated his demand to rename JNU after Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. "Leaving five per cent of students, rest all wish to study at the university. But, the Congress and Left-driven students do not let them study," he alleged. "JNU should be closed for four months and a search operation should be conducted there," he said. JNU has been at the centre of a raging row after the arrest of JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar who is facing sedition charges in connection with a controversial event on its campus on February 9. New Delhi: Arrested JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar told a Supreme Court-appointed lawyers probe panel that he was thrashed kicked and punched and pushed to the ground and injured by men dressed as lawyers when he was brought to the Patiala House courts complex on February 17 and the Delhi police did not do anything, claims which could land cops into more trouble. Delhi police commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi said the case has been transferred to the special cell from the South District police. Police tried to save me from mob, says Kanhaiya In a parallel development, Ashutosh, the fourth of the five students the police had been seeking, joined the investigation after he was summoned. He was questioned at the R.K. Puram police station till late into Saturday evening. The police custody of Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, meanwhile, was extended by two more days by a city court. Kanhaiya Kumar, while narrating the sequence of events to the lawyers panel in a video, said: When the police brought me inside the courts gate, a mob of men in lawyers robes attacked me. It appeared as if they were ready to attack and they were calling others also. I was assaulted, adding, The police escorting me tried to save me but the police officials were also beaten up. The panel of six advocates Kapil Sibal, Rajeev Dhavan, Dushyant Dave, A.D.N. Rao, Ajit Kumar Sinha and Haren Raval, had visited the Patiala House courts on February 17 after the apex court was informed that Mr Kanhaiya Kumar was beaten up when being produced before the magistrate. After Mr Kumar narrated the incident to the panel, Mr Sibal called New Delhi district DCP Jatin Narwal and asked him about it. How did you allow the attack to take place inside the court premises? Your men were there. What were they doing? How was he (the man who attacked Kanhaiya outside the gate of the courtroom) allowed to come inside, the panel members asked the DCP. Responding, Mr Narwal said: He came with the escort party and entered the room adjacent to the courtroom. The panel members then called other police officials the SHOs of Tilak Marg, Vasant Kunj (North) and Sarojini Nagar police stations and asked them about the incident, and they replied that the person who had attacked Mr Kumar had claimed that he was his lawyer. Mumbai: Several villages in Gujarat have banned girls and single women from owning mobile phones, saying the devices distract them from their studies. A couple of villages in Mehsana and Banaskantha districts in Gujarat have imposed the ban in recent weeks, with more villages joining the campaign, said Ranjit Singh Thakor, president of the Mehsana district council. The ban applies to girls under the age of 18 and unmarried women, he said. "The girls don't study properly if they have mobile phones, and they can get into all sorts of bad situations," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by telephone. "Let them study, get married, then they can get their own phones. Until then, they can use their fathers' phones at home, if necessary." This is not the first time villages in India have taken this step. Villages in Bihar had imposed a similar ban a few years ago, saying mobile phones were "debasing the social atmosphere" by leading young women to elope. Activists protested, calling it an assault on freedom that could potentially harm women by denying them access to protection. India is the world's second-biggest market for mobile phones, with more than 1 billion users. The ban in villages in Gujarat comes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hails from the state, pushes the Digital India initiative that aims to connect rural areas with high-speed Internet networks. In Mehsana district, offenders will be fined about 2,100 rupees ($31) and informants will be rewarded, Thakor said. Female students in university are exempt from the ban, as they may need the phones for their studies, he said. The ban is being adopted by people from the Thakor caste in the entire state, he said. While more villages appear to be embracing the ban, villages in Banaskantha district have an informal rule, said Gaurav Dahiya, the district development officer. "It was imposed by village elders in the villages, saying it's for the girls' safety," he said. "But not many people are following it." Mobile phone ownership has been found to improve the lives of people in rural areas, who often have poor connectivity. In Tanzania, for instance, mobile phones were found to have a significant impact on women's' businesses and lives, a study found. Yet there and in India, men often control phones, especially in rural areas where members of a family may share a single device. Although Punjab Congress leaders admit that Captain Amarinder Singh is their best bet for next years Assembly elections, old worries about his laid-back style of functioning have resurfaced. It was precisely for this reason that a large section of Congress workers got disenchanted with the former maharaja during his last stint as state party chief. The old complaints about his inaccessibility have started doing the round once again. A frustrated Punjab Congress leader recently described Capt. Singh as their partys Schumacher who, he said, always arrived on the racing track with a band of flunkeys who then proceed to check out his car and make all the necessary preparations for the forthcoming race. Capt. Singh, he said, is also surrounded by a similar coterie whose members have been entrusted with the task of fixing his turban and his kurta before he steps out in royal style. Worried party leaders maintain that Capt. Singh will have to shed his old lifestyle and hit the road to meet the challenge posed by Aam Admi Party. Minister of food processing industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal and her husband, deputy CM Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal, hosted their annual lunch for MPs and media persons at their Delhi residence last week. And, as always, typical vegetarian Punjabi fare the states signature dishes like sarson ka saag and Amritsari choley was served. Keen to ensure that the food tasted authentic, the hosts had made arrangements to ferry the ingredients, including the water to cook the choley in, all the way from Punjab. But their plans ran into a hitch. T he vehicles carrying the water from Amritsar got stuck in Haryana because of the blockade by Jats. Mrs Badal pleaded with the cooks (also from Punjab, of course) that they should use Delhis water to prepare the choley but they were adamant on Amritsar water. Mrs Badal then sent an SOS to her husband who directed the Punjab Police to escort the vehicles to Delhi. The water finally reached their residence late on Monday night and it was only then that the cooks got down to preparing the famous Amritsari choley. Needless to say, the food was a big hit. Concerned about the arrested JNU students, many Left leaders have made trips to Tihar Jail. However, CPI leader D. Raja need not have worried. On reaching Tihar Jail, he discovered that two senior officers there are former JNU students. They greeted Mr Raja warmly. Mr Raja got another surprise when he found out that a large number of officers and other staff hailed from Tamil Nadu. They immediately started conversing with the CPI leader in Tamil and assured him that their boy Kanhaiya Kumar was being looked after. Clearly, regional ties and old bonds have their uses. BJP leaders cannot stop poking fun at Rahul Gandhi and CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury after they were seen together on the JNU campus. Taking a swipe at Mr Yechury, a BJP leader was overheard commenting that he is more comfortable with Congress leaders than with Prakash Karat. It is no secret that Mr Karat and Mr Yechury have serious disagreements over CPMs ties with Congress. Jokes apart, the BJP has no complaints about the proposed Left-Congress tie-up. As a result of this development, its relations with Mamata Banerjee have improved in recent weeks. Ms Banerjee made it a point to greet PM Modi on his last trip to WB. Finance minister Arun Jaitley also had a chat with her when he visited Kolkata. This is good news for the BJP because it needs more friends in the RS where the Modi government is in a minority. On the flip side, the BJPs growing proximity to Mamata is also an admission that the party is in no position to take on the TC in West Bengal. Tailpiece: Finance minister Arun Jaitley to CPM leader Yechury after his speech on the discussion on the JNU row and the Patiala House violence in RS. It is interesting to note that you are now quoting the NYT is it your new Das Kapital? Human resources development minister Smriti Irani could have done herself and her party a big favour had she conducted herself without hysteria in the Lok Sabha last Thursday while replying to the debate on the issue rocking the nation the suicide of the dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad which has got mixed up in the public discourse with the highly regrettable unleashing of the might of the state against a clutch of JNU students for being anti-national and being slapped with the charge of sedition. While shedding any sense of dignity or restraint on the floor of Parliament in presenting the governments case in her capacity as a Union Cabinet minister, it transpires that Ms Irani also built much of her diatribe against the Opposition parties on a string of untruths. This has led to calls for her resignation from members of the public in Hyderabad, more pertinently from the late research scholars mother who held a press conference to make her point. The spectacular deviation from the truth by the minister on the floor of the House lends itself to scrutiny as regards the question of breach of privilege of Parliament. Considering that the building blocks of Ms Iranis glib argument and political harangue to shield her ministry and the government from public ire were flimsy, and appear to derive from marked falsehoods, the HRD minister must squarely take responsibility for her singularly shoddy performance. She is a greenhorn in her parliamentary career and was still given a top Cabinet post although she lost her Lok Sabha election. This is suggestive of Prime Minister Narendra Modis baffling magnanimity towards her. Even so, it is hard to see how a government can have a minister who takes recourse to wilful inaccuracies. In the ordinary course a Prime Minister mindful of his constitutional duty should withdraw from the council of ministers such a brash colleague who lowers the dignity of the government, if regard for parliamentary morality has not been lost altogether in these chalta hai times. In light of this it was intriguing to find Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly re-tweet his HRD ministers speech along with the legend Satyamev Jayate (the truth will triumph). Apart from Ms Iranis misconceived intervention in the tragic Hyderabad matter, her decision to bring up Goddess Durga in a controversial and tasteless manner in order to take pot-shots at a highly rated university such as JNU can hardly enhance her reputation for maturity. None of this augurs well for the Budget Session of Parliament. When the ruling side whips out the blunderbuss right at the start of such an important time in the parliamentary calendar, it suggests that the government is unconcerned whether the Parliament runs or not. What do you think about the slapping of sedition charges under IPC Section 124A on JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar? The issue of sedition came up before the Supreme Court in the case of Kedar Nath Singh vs State of Bihar in 1962. The court while reading down the provision said that comments, however strongly worded, expressing disapprobation of actions of the government, without exciting those feelings which generate the inclination to cause public disorder by acts of violence is not sedition. Therefore, mere slogan shouting against the state or the government established by law which is not intended to have the effect of subverting the government by violent means, and which is not intended to, nor has the tendency, to create disorder or disturbance of public peace, law and order by resort to violence, and which does not incite violence will not amount to the crime of sedition under Section 124A of the IPC. Also, we dont know whether the slogans were actually raised or the allegations are based on forged or fabricated videos as the three or four videos in circulation have turned out to be. Do you feel that the sedition charge must be deleted from the statute book? Are existing laws sufficient to deal with situations similar to the JNU incident? Sedition charge must be deleted. IPC Section 505 can take care of any such situation. The sloganeering by Mr Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya could be objectionable to some people. It is neither an offence under any law nor can it be termed as sedition. Home minister Rajnath Singh made allegations based on fake Twitter handles and fabricated videos without even testing their authenticity or veracity. The accused students should be released immediately as they have been arrested without any evidence. Do you justify JNU students shouting slogans on the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, calling it judicial killing? Can universities encourage students to air such views and claim freedom of speech? It is settled law that the fundamental rights conferred on every citizen include the right to criticise even a judgement of the Supreme Court and claim that, in ones opinion, the judgement is incorrect. In saying so, the citizen is exercising his/her right and cannot be faulted in law. One may or may not agree with the views, but it does not become anti-national. Universities are supposed to encourage different kinds of views, howsoever popular or unpopular they might be. As long as there is no incitement to violence or public disorder, there is nothing wrong in having extreme views. Do you think that intolerance in various walks of life has increased ever since the Narendra Modi government came to power in 2014? What we are witnessing today is a full-fledged onslaught by the RSS and the BJP to intimidate academics and intellectuals. Certain elements in the BJP and RSS want to make India a fascist state, where mere discussion in society leads to imprisonment. What do you think about the attack on Mr Kumar by lawyers inside the Patiala House courts? It is a clear case of inaction by the Delhi Police. In the recent sting operation by TV channels, three lawyers have been filmed openly saying that they beat up Mr Kumar for three hours in the presence of police personnel. In fact, they are claiming that the police was not only supporting them but also appreciating their acts. The three lawyers have admitted that the attacks were not spontaneous, but pre-planned, and that they will repeat the same acts of violence when Mr Kumar is produced in Patiala House courts again. One of them even said that he will get a petrol bomb next time and will not leave him (Mr Kumar) even if he is charged with murder for doing so. He has also stated in front of the camera that if he is arrested, he would like to go to the same jail and visit Mr Kumars cell and beat him up. What do you think is the game plan of the government? Theres a public perception that the BJP is not doing anything, whether it is about bringing down corruption, bringing back black money from abroad as promised or to kickstart the economy. Whatever dalit support the BJP had earlier, has come down after Rohiths suicide and this must have been the reason for putting curbs on the JNU. The BJP government is desperate about its growing unpopularity. Mumbai: A new report on Apples new 4-inch smartphone suggested that the device would only be called iPhone "SE", which will be the companys first ever device without a number in its name. The report by 9to5Mac said that the upgraded iteration of the 2013 iPhone 5s will only be called "SE" to keep the product line-up simple for customers. The report cited several sources who support the decision to drop out 5 from the new handsets name. They said bringing back an iPhone 5 variant in the iPhone 6 era will be really confusing for potential consumers. Although the iPhone SEs design will be closely based upon the older 5s, the new handset will have slightly curved edges around the sides. The SE is also expected to feature an A9 processor, M9 chip, always-on "Hey Siri" support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular hardware. Several souces also pointed out that the device will come along in two16 and 32GBvariants. In terms of camera, the device will borrow an 8MP primary camera and a 1.2MP front snapper from the iPhone 6. However, it will support larger panoramas and auto-focus for video recording. The most noticeable addition will be the attractive "Live Photos" feature that can be found on the iPhone 6s. In terms of colour, the new Rose Gold option will be added along with the existing ones. Earlier, rumours suggested that Apple were planning to unveil the new device on March 15, but new rumours indicated that the company has delayed the official launch date to March 22. Moreover, a 9.7-inch iPad Pro is also rumoured to accompany the iPhone "SE" at the launch event. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. After Ringing Bells announced that the Freedom 251 smartphone would be sold for just Rs 251, the entire country and the smartphone industry were taken by surprise. Well, everyone is still thinking about how the company can actually make, sell and gain profits from a smartphone that will be sold for under $4. Soon after the Freedom 251 online sales went live, millions of people hit the website for an order, only to know that the Freedom 251 website had already crashed with excessive hits on the servers. Minutes after opening the website for registrations the servers saw a huge traffic, and the company announced that the smartphone sales would resume after 24 hours. The company claimed that they already had more than 6 lakh registrations and while many managed to make payments online, others just could not see the payment page at all. The company has now stopped the online bookings stating that the bookings exceeded the expectations, and they would not be able to deliver the amount of smartphones that were ordered in first phase. However, the mobile industry did not keep silent. They too were shocked at the way this smartphone sale was blown out of proportion. With claims that the company is pulling a fast one on the industry and is making money on the poor, ignorant customer, the matter considered the company to be a fly-by-night manufacturer. Many media reports were announcing that the company had absolutely no proof of the factory that will manufacture the device. The Freedom 251 smartphones that were shown off and handed over to the media for reviews were also shown in low light. The smartphone that was shown off at the launch was not a Freedom 251, but an Adcom smartphone that retails on Snapdeal for approximately Rs 4,000, and the Adcom branding was cleverly hidden behind a whitener. In defence, Ringing Bells soon announced that the smartphone shown at the launch and distributed to the media was a sample and prototype. The actual device would be different. Ringing Bells announced that the Freedom 251 smartphone would be a full-fledged 3G smartphone with a 4-inch LCD display, a 1.3GHz quad-core processor with 1GB or RAM, 8GB internal storage (expandable to 32GB) and a 1450mAh battery. The device will also sport a 3.2MP rear camera along with a VGA front camera. The device will sport Android Lollipop as the operating system and will offer a bouquet of pre-installed apps for the masses. The device is sold for Rs 251 + Rs 40 (Shipping charges) and will expect to see deliveries starting from June 2016. The company has announced that this smartphone is basically aimed towards the aam aadmi who are particularly at the extremely low end of the pyramid. Those who cannot afford regular smartphones will be able to now latch on to the internet and be connected. The aim was to have every individual in the country connected via a smartphone and the internet. Ringing Bells also made an announcement via certain media interviews that eve after selling the smartphones for mere Rs 251, they will still see a profit of Rs 31 per handset. The main profits will not come from the device itself as the manufacturing cost of the same is more than Rs 2,500 per handset. The source of income is via economies of scale and making more income from their website by using it as a platform for selling other devices from other companies. However, the smartphone industry and the media are not happy with the answers. While some say that The idea here is to present a scheme for masses, get instant fame, rub shoulders with influential people, acquire free land, and disappear, others say that, with some lobbying, Ringing Bells will get cheap/free land to setup a manufacturing/assembling plants. Well, the company was established in the second half of 2015 and claims that they are the fastest growing smartphone company. But how can it be when they havent managed to sell or deliver even one smartphone till date? Soon after the industry showed their concerns of this fake and scam business running under the nose of the BJP government, letters were shot off to the official departments. Top known politicians blasted off stating that the Freedom 251 is nothing but a fraud, a scam. The IT department also conducted a raid on the Ringing Bells offices in North India. The IT department has also warned Ringing Bells that they will face action if the smartphones are not delivered as promised. From Congress MP Pramod Tiwari to BJP MP Kirit Somaya raising concerns and asking for the companys scam to be thoroughly probed, the entire industry is shocked on how this scam was so easily executed, that too in broad daylight. The centre has, however, washed its hands off from the controversy stating that it is not a government backed, subsidised or a Make in India initiative. Moving further, the internet was filled with humor and rage from netizens posting their feelings on the social platform with memes and alike. There was also a parody website born immediately after the scam was in limelight where a Freedom 651 smartphone was announced. However, after facing a lot of heat from the government, mobile industry and the netizens, Ringing Bells announced that the Freedom 251 would see light of day and will now offer cash on delivery. Their Facebook page announced that they would accept cash on delivery of the said handset as against using a payment gateway and will issue the first 25 lakh handset registrations initially. Ringing Bells has chosen the cash on delivery mode in order to ensure further transparency and clear any misgivings. The company will hand out the first batch of 25 lakh smartphones from June 30, 2016. What more is expected? Will the company roll out their smartphones in time? Will they manage to sell the smartphones at the amount stated and make sufficient profits too? End of June will announce the fate of Ringing Bells. UPDATE: Ringing Bells MD Mohit Goel has announced that the company will refund the amount of those who have paid online and will accept cash on delivery only. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Toronto: A Canadian court has stopped the extradition of a woman and his brother to India to face trial for the honour killing of her daughter over concerns that they may not get justice in the country. Malkit Sidhu and brother Surjit Badesha, accused in the slaying of Jaswinder Kaur Sidhu, have been granted a judicial review by the British Columbia Appeal Court of the extradition order on grounds that they may not receive a fair trial in India, CBC news reported. In its judgment released yesterday, the court said that, in the light of India's human rights record, it was not reasonable to accept India's assurances over the future health and safety of the accused. Canadian-born Jaswinder Sidhu was found dead, her throat slit, in Punjab in 2000. She was 25. Her mother Malkit, 65, and uncle Surjit, 70, were arrested in 2012, suspected of a so-called "honour killing". They are accused of killing Jaswinder after she married Mithu Sidhu, a rickshaw driver she had met in India a few years earlier. Her family did not approve of the match. Jaswinder and her husband were attacked as they rode a scooter in a village near Sangrur, Punjab, in June 2000. Her husband was severely beaten and left for dead while she was kidnapped and later killed. Her body was left in a canal. Investigations in India confirmed that the murder was an honour killing plotted by Jaswinder's mother Malkit and her uncle Surjit while the duo were in Canada. Former justice minister Peter MacKay ordered their surrender to face charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, conditional on assurances from India that they would not face the death penalty, that their health and safety would be protected in custody, and they would get consular access. In January 2015, MacKay wrote to the accused's counsel, saying he had received assurances from India, and that he considered them satisfactory. That decision was then appealed. The footage, obtained by The Jersey Journal, shows the woman being chased before she is thrown to the ground and kicked in the face once. (Photo: YouTube screen grab) Washington: A 23-year-old man, identified as Wesley M. McCall, was caught on camera brutally assaulting his pregnant girlfriend. McCall beat his girlfriend so mercilessly that she fell to the floor and suffered a seizure according to a report in the Mirror. The footage, obtained by The Jersey Journal, shows the woman being chased before she is thrown to the ground and kicked in the face once. McCall was arrested on Thursday and charged with second-degree aggravated assault following the incident earlier this month. The plane fell into the sea near Hong Kong's rural Tai Po region, located in the city's outlying New Territories. (Photo: Representational Image) Hong Kong: A man died after a small aircraft he was flying plunged into the sea in Hong Kong on Saturday, a rare occurrence in the southern Chinese city. The crash was reported shortly after 2 pm local time (0600 GMT) and emergency responders were seen lifting a body out of the water. "Fire services found an unconscious man in the vicinity, and he died at 3:55 pm," a government spokesman told AFP. A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Department said in a statement that the man who died was the pilot, and the plane was a single engine Zlin Z42. He said the plane fell into the sea near Hong Kong's rural Tai Po region, located in the city's outlying New Territories. "There was a pilot and no passengers when this incident occurred," the spokesman said, citing information provided by the Hong Kong Aviation Club. Police said a person fishing nearby was among those who reported the incident, while a police spokeswoman told AFP that some of the wreckage had been located. Footage from Cable Television news showed helicopters and police boats assisting in the search and rescue operation. "The plane had fallen into the water vertically and there was no explosion, there was a bit of oil in the water," an eyewitness identified as Mr. Kwok told Cable News. Footage also showed firemen fishing the body out of the water. In October of 2013, a student pilot and an instructor survived a helicopter crash in the city's Shek Kong Airfield. Road workers remove a fallen tree blocking a road near Lami, Fiji after cyclone Winston ripped through the country. (Photo: AP) Sydney: Australia is sending a relief ship to Fiji to assist in the recovery effort after Cyclone Winston, the worst ever recorded in the southern hemisphere, tore through the island nation last Saturday, as the sheer scale of the disaster becomes clearer. The death toll from the category five storm remains at 42, according to a statement from Fiji's National Disaster Management Office, although that figure is expected to rise. Many communities remain without water and it could be weeks before electricity is restored, the statement said. The scale of damage and loss is becoming apparent to authorities and aid organisations as communications are being gradually restored throughout the archipelago. UNICEF spokeswoman Alice Clements said her organisation now estimates that more than 62,000 Fijians are homeless and living in evacuation shelters. "People are very resilient here and have got a solution to every problem, but there are just so many people who don't have any options," Clements said. "As hard as we are working and as hard as the government is working the scale of this is going to outrun us all unless we get help," she said. Australia's military vessel, HMAS Canberra, left on Friday and was expected to arrive in Fijian waters early next week. It was carrying three helicopters and 60 tonnes of supplies, including water purification equipment and medical supplies. The ship's departure came as Australia's foreign ministry said on Twitter that the first helicopter load of Australian aid had reached the hard-hit remote island of Koro on Saturday. The Asian Development Bank's South Pacific director, Rob Jauncey, told Radio New Zealand that Fiji's economy would face losses of "tens of millions of dollars" because of the destruction of sugar crops and an expected drop in tourism. The effects of Cyclone Winston were being felt on the eastern coast of Australia, more than 2,600 km (1,615 miles) southwest of Fiji, on Friday. Australia's Bureau of Meteorology issued dangerous surf warnings and authorities closed many beaches in the states of Queensland and New South Wales as swells of up to 6 metres (20 feet) generated by Cyclone Winston battered the coast. Nazi guards select prisoners on the platform at the entrance of the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp in 1944 (Photo:AFP) Berlin: Germany is putting on trial several former members of the Nazi SS this year, but seven decades after the war, they are in their 90s and unlikely to end up behind bars. Yet that doesn't diminish the importance of the legal proceedings, experts say, for they serve a role in educating a new generation about the horrors of the Holocaust. "It's not about sending these old folk to prison," an editorial in Sueddeutsche Zeitung stated, echoing other newspapers about the case of former SS guard Reinhold Hanning, 94, who went on trial on February 11 accused of complicity in 170,000 killings. Many argue that given the immensity of the suffering wrought, no judicial sentence, especially this late, could ever be commensurate to the crimes. "Today it's the witness accounts that really matters," said Daniel Bonnard, a historian at Marburg University. Auschwitz survivor Justin Sonder, who is testifying against Hanning, agreed that the sentence "plays no role". On Monday, a former Nazi SS medic at the Auschwitz death camp, 95-year-old Hubert Zafke, also faces trial on charges of aiding in 3,681 murders. While witness testimony in most criminal trials relates specifically to the defendants and their actions, Germany's latest war crime cases have heard survivors recount in more general terms the suffering they endured under the Nazi regime. This matters because in recent years Germany has started to go after not just old Nazis known to have personally committed atrocities but anyone who once served as a cog in the industrial-scale killing machine. At the Hanning trial, witnesses from the United States, Canada and Israel came to testify about what they endured and witnessed at Auschwitz, although no one was expected to remember the former SS guard personally. 'Keeping Memory Alive' In last year's trial of Oskar Groening, 94, known as the "bookkeeper of Auschwitz", the defendant himself recognised his "moral responsibility" even as he denied ever killing anyone. Given his sound mind, he was a "perfect defendant," said Andrej Umansky, criminal law expert at Cologne University. For the numerous students who attended the trial, it was a case of watching living history, he said. For many of the young people, he added, this dark chapter of German history is "as much in the past as ancient Egypt". But Groening's testimony "shows what happened right down to the small details," and transformed Auschwitz from an "abstract concept" back into the living hell it was, he said. In the same spirit, Germany's Axel Springer media group published a book called "The Last Witnesses" to document the hearings. Even though the recent cases may not have the same impact as the Allies' 1945 Nuremberg trials, they keep alive the memory of the Holocaust. The Nuremberg trials and the 1961 Jerusalem trial of Adolf Eichmann, one of the main architects of the Holocaust, "are constantly revisited by everyone -- philosophers, historians, jurors and writers," said historian Annette Wieviorka. Nuremberg provided researchers with information about Nazi "doctors, the industries and the entire apparatus", said Bonnard. And Eichmann's trial, which was covered by 450 journalists from around the world, for the first time gave faces and voices to Jewish victims of the Holocaust, humanising the legal process. 'Building Consciousness' Such trials have been pivotal in Germany in building a national consciousness about the scale of the war crimes. The arraignment of 22 former Auschwitz personnel from 1963 to 1965 in Frankfurt marked the beginning of national soul-searching, said Wieviorka. Before the landmark trials, "the accused were completely free in their movements and socially integrated in the West German society, while survivors travelling to Frankfurt had to be welcomed by the Red Cross," said Bonnard. "Until the 1960s, the survivors were marginalised, and witnesses only got the media spotlight with the twin trials of Eichmann and Frankfurt." High schools and universities organised trips to attend the Frankfurt hearings that stretched over two years. "Frankfurt has had all the more impact on the wider public as judicial authorities deliberately set up an exhibition on Nazi crimes at the time of the trial, thereby adding to the didactic process," said Bonnard. "This led to an awakening of consciousness, accentuated by the strength of the witness accounts." Russia's opposition supporters carry a banner reading These bullets in each of us during a march in memory of murdered Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov in central Moscow. (Photo: AP) Moscow: Thousands of Russians marched through central Moscow on Saturday in memory of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov who was gunned down near the Kremlin a year ago in the highest-profile assassination of Vladimir Putin's rule. On a bright sunny afternoon opposition supporters thronged the streets amid heightened police security as a helicopter hovered overhead. Some marchers carried Russian flags, some black ribbons, placards, flowers and Nemtsov's portraits. Others chanted: "Russia will be free" and "Russia without Putin." Some 20,000 joined the march, according to estimates from AFP correspondents. Moscow police, which are often accused of downplaying the popularity of opposition events, said 7,500 showed up. Many protesters said the situation in Russia had got worse since the opposition politician's murder. "Aggression and xenophobia have gone through the roof," Anastasia Osipova said. "Over the past year things have become so much worse, both when it comes to the economy and freedom of speech," said the 20-year-old, clutching an EU flag. Yevgeny Mishchenko, 41, sounded a similar note. "The authorities, this regime killed Nemtsov," he said. "The economic situation is worsening. Support for the authorities is crumbling. This will all end in a civil war, like a hundred years ago." 'Russia's nightmare' In Putin's hometown of Saint Petersburg, some 4,000 people turned out to honour Nemtsov. "Putin is Russia's nightmare", one placard read, while some chanted "Putin get out." Russia's annexation of Crimea, fighting in eastern Ukraine and Moscow's confrontation with the West have left the country deeply polarised. Most of the population who critics say have been under the spell of pro-Kremlin propaganda support Putin despite mounting economic troubles, while a minority says Russia is hurtling towards catastrophe. People also brought flowers and candles to the bridge near the Kremlin walls where Nemtsov, a jovial 55-year-old with a mop of black curly hair, was killed. US ambassador John Tefft was among those who came to pay their respects, laying a wreath with a ribbon saying "From the American people." Smaller commemorative events took place across Russia. Nemtsov's daughter Zhanna was due to launch a foundation in her father's name in London later on Saturday along with ex-tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, an opposition leader who spent a decade in prison. Britain's Europe Minister David Lidington urged the Russian government "to ensure that those responsible for this appalling crime are brought to justice." On the eve of the anniversary, lawmaker Dmitry Gudkov, one of the few independent voices in Russian parliament, said he suggested that deputies observe a moment of silence in Nemtsov's memory but most of his colleagues refused. Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister in the government of Boris Yeltsin, was gunned down shortly before midnight on February 27, 2015, while walking across a bridge a short distance from the Kremlin with his Ukrainian model girlfriend. 'Who dared?' Putin, whose rule has seen the steady suppression of independent media and opposition parties, promised an all-out effort to catch the killers. "Who dared?" a furious Putin asked his aides after Nemtsov was hit in the back by four fatal shots, the top opposition Novaya Gazeta reported this week. Within weeks five men all Chechens from Russia's restive North Caucasus were arrested and charged with murder. The five detainees including Zaur Dadayev, a member of a Chechen interior ministry battalion accused of being the gunman are now awaiting trial for what investigators say was a carefully planned contract killing. But Nemtsov's family and allies insist the authorities have failed to bring the masterminds to justice and point the finger of blame at Chechnya's Moscow-backed strongman Ramzan Kadyrov and the Kremlin itself. Earlier this month, men apparently from the North Caucasus threw a cake at Nemtsov's ally, former prime minister-turned-opposition activist Mikhail Kasyanov and shouted threats at him. The Kremlin downplayed the cake-throwing attack, saying it should be in no way linked to Kadyrov. Two weeks later unidentified attackers threw a cake at top opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Both attacks took place shortly after the Chechen strongman posted an Instagram image of Kasyanov in the crosshairs of a sniper's rifle and called the opposition "enemies of the people." "They are trying to make the harassment of the opposition look like a farce but this does not mean that directors of the cheap comedies would refuse more brutal genres," liberal daily Vedomosti said in an editorial. The explosion is the latest in a series to have struck Kabul in recent months. (Photo: Google Maps) Jalalabad: At least 13 people were killed and 39 injured in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan's eastern province of Kunar on Saturday during an attack targeting a tribal chief, officials said. The incident occurred at 9:30 am in Asadabad, the provincial capital of restive Kunar, when a suicide bomber riding a motorcycle detonated explosives in a market. Ghani Mosamem, a spokesman for Kunar's governor, confirmed that 13 people were killed, including local tribal chief Haji Khan Jan, and 39 injured in the attack. Earlier on Saturday, Sayed Maqsood Pacha, the deputy provincial police chief, confirmed that Haji Khan Jan was the intended target of Saturday's attack. Jan was a prominent pro-government figure in Kunar and was renowned for participating in an uprising targeting Taliban insurgents. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast, but Taliban militants, who have been waging a 14 year-long bloody insurgency, have been blamed for similar attacks in the past. AFP was unable to reach the Taliban's spokesman for comment. Mohammad Safi, a member of the provincial council, told AFP that Jan had received myriad threats from armed insurgents in the past, but authorities did not provide him with any additional security. Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani strongly condemned the attack, labelling the bombing a "major crime which is not allowed in any religion or law". "The Afghan government will not make peace with those who are targeting and killing ordinary people," the president added in a statement. Saturday's attack comes ahead of scheduled talks between the government and Taliban representatives that are set to kick off during the first week of March in Pakistan. Delegates from Afghanistan, China, the US and Pakistan met in the Kabul last week for a fourth round of talks aimed at forming a path back to the nascent peace process, which was interrupted by last summer's announcement that Taliban leader Mullah Omar had died. Kunar is a restive and remote province that shares a long border with neighbouring Pakistan which the Afghan government has accused in the past of harbouring Taliban militants. Kathmandu: Nepal Prime Minister K P Oli has said that his visit to India helped in improving the ties which had soured during the anti-Constitution stir even as the agitating Madhesi front called it a complete failure and warned of fresh protests if their demands are not met. Earlier the relations between the two neighbours had soured during the Madhesi agitation but my visit has helped improve the relations between the two countries, Oli said, addressing a mass gathering in Bhairahawa on Friday. Terming his visit as fruitful, the Prime Minister said, As we have no misunderstandings now, our focus will be on implementing the seven-point deal. He also appealed to the agitating Madhes-based political parties to join the government. As we have delivered the Constitution, now is the time to focus on development. So, I call on the agitating leaders and Nepali Congress to join the government and participate in the nation building process, he said. Oli, however, said that any demand against the national interests will not be addressed. Meanwhile, the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) today held a meeting here to review its protest programmes. It set up a seven-member secretariat to chalk out new strategies and additional protest programmes. In a statement after the meeting, UDMF termed Olis recent visit to India as complete failure and said Prime Minister committed a mistake as he made the visit without taking any agenda. The Madhesis, which had announced withdrawal of their protests including the border blockade earlier this month, warned that they would resort to fresh protests if the government did not address their demands promptly. The Madhesi front decided not to sit for talks until the government comes up with a concrete roadmap to address its demands. In the meeting, it also decided to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister to put up pressure on the government. Madhesis, who are largely of Indian-origin, led a nearly six-month-long violent protest over better representation in the Parliament and the federal structure of the new Constitution that divides their ancestral homeland that claimed over 50 lives before being called off unexpectedly. Nepal had alleged that the blockade in its southern border with India was imposed by Indian authorities backing the agitation led by Madhesis, a charge India had vehemently denied Provincial Governor Wahidullah Kalimzai said the bomber rode up on a motorcycle to the entrance of the government compound in the town of Asadabad and blew himself up. At least another 40 people were also wounded. (Photo: Google Maps) Jalalabad: At least 10 people were killed and over 40 injured in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan's eastern province of Kunar on Saturday, officials said. "A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle detonated his explosives in a market in Asadabad the provincial capital, 10 people were killed and over 40 were injured," Ghani Mosamem, spokesman for the provincial governor, said. Sayed Maqsood Pacha, deputy provincial police chief, put the death toll slightly higher at 11. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Taliban insurgents, who have been waging a 14 year-long bloody insurgency in the country, have been blamed for such attacks in the past. The incident comes as direct peace talks with the Taliban are due to take place next week. A witness to the blast, who did not want to be named, told AFP that an influential tribal elder, Haji Khan Jan, was the target of the attack and was killed. Jan had led a local uprising against the Taliban in the past, the witness added. Kunar is a restive and remote province that shares a long border with neighbouring Pakistan which the Afghan government has accused in the past of harbouring Taliban militants. Delegates from Afghanistan, China, the US and Pakistan met in the Kabul last week for a fourth round of talks aimed at forming a path back to the nascent peace process, which was interrupted by last summer's announcement that Taliban leader Mullah Omar had died. The fresh peace initiative comes as the insurgents wage an unprecedented winter campaign of violence across Afghanistan, underscoring a worsening security situation more than 14 years after they were driven out of power by US-led NATO forces. Afghan security personnel arrive at the scene following a suicide bombing near the gate of Ministry of Defence in Kabul. (Photo: AFP) Kabul: A Taliban suicide attack near the defence ministry in Kabul on Saturday killed nine people and wounded 13 others, police said, hours after another deadly blast in Afghanistan's restive east. The attacks come amid fresh efforts by Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the US to restart talks aimed at ending the Taliban's long and bloody insurgency in Afghanistan. "It's an attack, there are casualties," Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said, without giving details of how many were killed or wounded. Defence ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said the suicide bomber was on foot when he struck. An AFP photographer at the scene saw several ambulances converging at the scene of the explosion as police and the army set up a security cordon. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack but Taliban insurgents regularly hit government, military and police targets as part of their campaign to overthrow the Western-backed administration of President Ashraf Ghani. Earlier on Saturday a suicide bomber on a motorbike struck at a market in Asadabad, the capital of restive Kunar province, killing 13 people and wounding at least 40. A witness who did not want to be named, told AFP that an influential tribal elder who had led a local uprising against the Taliban in the past, was the target of the attack and was killed. Last week delegates from Afghanistan, China, the US and Pakistan met in Kabul for a fourth round of talks aimed at forming a path back to the nascent peace process, which was interrupted by last summer's announcement that Taliban leader Mullah Omar had died. The fresh peace initiative comes as the insurgents wage an unprecedented winter campaign of violence across Afghanistan, underscoring a worsening security situation more than 14 years after they were driven out of power by US-led NATO forces. On Wednesday the Taliban said they had not been officially contacted by Kabul about the resumption of talks, which began last year but came to a sudden halt after Kabul leaked news of the death of Taliban leader Mullah Omar two years earlier. Jimgorn said: Anna Chennault. was the Chinese wife of Gen. Claire Chennault, of Flying Tiger fame....She was an intermediary with South Vietnamese Ambassador Bui Diem for Nixon.....Johnson had by this time long announced he was not going to seek another term...Nixon was running against Humphrey and basically told the So. Vietnamese to hang in there he was going to win and get them a better deal....This was potentially a violation of the Logan Act but it was not a major issue and is not common knowledge..... What does this have to do with Republicans using Alinsky tactics I might ask....diverting again?? Click to expand... Nixon was running against Humphrey and basically told the So. Vietnamese to hang in there he was going to win and get them a better deal.... A sub-breed of Republicans, cobbled together from neocon-ized TEA Party types, Bundy Gang perps and wannabes, other "Patriots," and Stormfronters and their kin, have used Alinsky tactics on Obama from Day One. Ineffectively. Fact.And this shows you must have left some of your soul in Vietnam:It was not a major deal that a presidential candidate who did know he'd win the election approach the Nortn Vietnamese and with an offer, hey, let's keep the war going another year and you'll get a better peace deal from me?Take a look:Almost 17,000 US troops died 1968, with almost 12,000 dying in 1969, presumably peace-making time, and that's not a major issue, but four deaths in Benghazi is a major issue.Hypocrisy definitely seems to be an issue for you The last two GOP VP candidates landed the Speaker of the House job and a reality TV show. Christie could use the exposure, and hope to be seen as the bright ray of hope emerging from the GOP 2016 wreckage. 5 dead in Belfair, WA standoff, including shooterSource: KING TVBELFAIR, Wash. - Mason County Sheriff's officials confirm five bodies have been found on the property of a standoff near Belfair. One of the bodies was the shooter, who shot himself in front of deputies, said Mason County Sheriff Casey Salisbury.The incident started early Friday morning in a rural area of Mason County. An armed man called 911 to say he had shot four people in a private home, local authorities said. The possible victims included the man's wife, two children, and someone else.The Mason County Sheriff's Office couldn't confirm anyone had been shot because they hadn't been able to get into the home all morning. Salisbury said his officers talked to the man and tried to negotiate with him as he held a gun to his head.Just before 1 p.m., investigators were able to make their way inside the home. Officials said there were 11 structures on the property and each one needed to be searched.Shortly after, Mason County Sheriff's officials confirmed they found five bodies. Read more: 5 dead in Belfair standoff, including shooter Moron, that does not mean you won't vote for her in 2016, if she is the Democrat nominee. And I never said you had voted for her. Duh! And where would you have voted for her before? Did you live in New York and have a chance to vote or not to vote for her as Senator? Primaries? Very few people ever vote in primaries anyway. Now tell us, will you or won't you vote for Hillary in November if she is the nominee? And tell us about that slavery thing again and Trump voters. Grrrl funny! Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy The funding plan sponsored by State Sen. Sara Gelser for fifth-year college programs at mid-valley high schools has passed the Senate unanimously and now moves to the House. Id say Im feeling grateful, Gelser wrote in an email to the Democrat-Herald. So many people worked on this, and it is so important for kids that need the chance the Post Graduate Scholar program offers to them. The unanimous vote on the floor was a pleasant surprise that I never could have predicted even a week ago, and I expect it will have a strong showing in the House as well. Almost all high schools in the mid-valley participate in some form of fifth-year program, letting students defer receiving a diploma while using state school funds to pay for books and tuition at community colleges. Lawmakers in larger districts tried to kill the programs twice last year, contending they siphoned money from the K-12 system and couldnt stretch far enough to cover big districts such as Beaverton. Gelsers Senate Bill 1537 is meant to set up the structure that will keep the fifth-year programs alive, although they will not cover all the same students that they do now. The program will apply only to post-graduate scholars. Those are defined as students who have achieved all the credits necessary for a diploma; have filled out the federal financial aid form known as a FAFSA; have applied for and accepted all the grant-based aid for which they are eligible, such as a Pell Grant; and have applied for the new community college grant program known as Oregon Promise, which is open to recent Oregon graduates with at least a 2.5 grade point average. Students who receive funding through Pell or Oregon Promise will not be considered part of the postgraduate scholar program. Districts will be allowed to tap state school funds only for students who arent covered by the other programs. In Albany, that could mean as many as 100 fewer students able to be a part of the districts advanced diploma program, Superintendent Jim Golden said. Interested students are asked contact their high school counselor or Advanced Diploma Coordinator Angela Spencer at angela.spencer@albany.k12.or.us. LEBANON Members of the Lebanon School Board are still talking about how or whether to restructure district schools, but its unlikely any changes will take place this fall. Thats the word from Chairman Richard Borden, who told people who testified with concerns Thursday that attendance boundaries and grade setups probably will be the same this fall as they are now. I think its safe to say next year will look a lot like this year, he said. The footprints going to remain the same. Were not in a crisis situation. Board members said they will continue to talk about the recommendations, which range from changing grade levels at six of the districts eight schools to rearranging attendance boundaries to phasing out open enrollment. More information is expected at the boards March 10 meeting. Superintendent Rob Hess initially said he wanted to retain sixth-graders at Cascades, Green Acres and Riverview elementary schools to give them another year of development before moving to junior high, and to move seventh- and eighth-graders from Pioneer and Hamilton Creek to Seven Oak Middle School. He would then concentrate resources at Seven Oak to allow for more electives and intervention opportunities. Following that suggestion, Hess said attendance boundaries would need to shift to make sure each elementary school had enough room to keep a sixth grade. But thats a problem in a district that allows open enrollment. Hess has since suggested sister schools split between primary and secondary grades, both to help make room and further concentrate resources and teacher development. He also has expressed support for someday adding a district-sponsored preschool, which would be a part of the primary campuses. The overall goals are to reach every student, provide equal opportunities and boost academic readiness and achievement, Hess told board members Thursday. Funneling students through setups keyed more closely to their needs could help the district do all of those things more efficiently. Board members said they want to take more time to gather information, however. They asked Hess to find out how many parents at Hamilton Creek, Pioneer and Lacomb would send their older students to Seven Oak if busing were provided, and to look into what the achievement rate is for students from those schools once they reach Lebanon High. Mike Martin also questioned the need for any immediate changes, pointing out district schools are not yet at capacity. He said the research hes found indicates students from K-8 schools get better grades and that children tend to achieve more the longer they stay in one building. Parents also continue to voice concerns, saying through emails, phone messages and testimony at public meetings they prefer to stay with the districts current setup. I live in an area that would be sent to Hamilton Creek next year, fourth-grader Jack Williams told the board Thursday, one of about a dozen people to testify. I have gone to Riverview for five years. There is no reason for me to stop now. Theresa Peltier, president of the Pioneer Parent Teacher Association, said she supports the junior high model at Seven Oak, and the sister school suggestion looks really good on paper. For me personally, it could really streamline a lot of things. But Peltier said she felt differently after talking to parents who said they didnt want to split up siblings, divide their volunteer time or struggle to get four children to four different schools each morning. She said she has instead been thinking about how to troubleshoot all the enrollment options parents have said they wanted and decided, Maybe we already are. Maybe we just need to work a little harder on how to make it that much better. Lynn Andrews Gibson Dec. 18, 1956 Feb. 16, 2016 Lynn Andrews Gibson, 59, of Corvallis died Feb. 16 at the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. She was born in Wichita, Kansas, to Keith Andy and Ione Lacy Andrews. Lynns family eventually moved to Washington. She played the piano playing in musicals at Pilchuck High, Marysville, Washington. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 17, Lynns career choice changed. An outstanding math student, she attended U-dub, then U.C. Berkeley, graduating in June 1981 with a bachelors degree in physics and May 1986 with a masters degree in electrical engineering. Lynns job as a physicist was at Hughes Aircraft, Manhattan Beach, California, was followed by employment at Airco Temescal, which downsized, then Dalmo Victor in Belmont, California, and eventually as an electrical engineer at Hewlett-Packard in Corvallis. At HP, she first worked developing thermal inkjet pens (Kukla) followed by other projects until disability due to MS mandated retirement in 2000. She raised a loving family and volunteered at school and overcame difficulties with determination. George retired in 2005 to care for her. They were inseparable, especially after Lynn recovered from a bout of pneumonia four years ago. They enjoyed weekly meals on the Oregon Coast including at the Chowder Bowl, Yuzen and Georgies. They also journeyed monthly to visit son Rob in Portland. Lynn was greeted wherever she went, including during regular attendance at musical venues in Corvallis and the Eugene Symphony. Her hobbies included reading nonfiction history and politics. She read and reread Steinbeck and Dickens novels. She followed politics and watched MSNBC. Lynn especially liked listening to NPR and OPB Radio, News Hour, The Moth, etc. She also enjoyed riding while listening to Blues and I5 music on KLCC while driving, and while watching the waves rolling in. Although physically debilitated, Lynn never lost her sense of humor, wit and intelligence. Her last years were filled by the love of all who knew her. Peace and love surrounded the small group with her during her final moments. Lynns love of life, affection and kindness toward others made her a joy to be around for all of us. She is survived by her sons Rob and Rikki Gibson; stepson John Gibson; stepdaughter Christine Gibson Parks; and sisters Jennifer Andrews and Sandra Andrews Pecenka. Private family services were held. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to womens groups like Naral and NOW or animal welfare groups like Heartland Humane Society. Gate gate parasamgate, no more pleasure, no more pain. Gate, gate, No More Suffering: Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Johnny Limbo and the Lugnuts tonight at the Eagles The Albany Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2255 is hosting Johnny Limbo and the Lugnuts tonight at 8 p.m. The general public is invited to attend. Tickets are $40 for dinner and the show; show only $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Seating begins at 7 p.m. For more information, call 541-926-6622. CPR for healthcare providers Linn-Benton Community Colleges is offering a CPR training class 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 2, May 7 and June 4 in the Calapooia Center, room 212. Cost is $95, supplies included. This CPR class qualifies for LBCCs requirements in the following programs: Dental Assistant, Diagnostic Imaging, Nursing/CNA, Occupational Therapy, Medical Assistant, Polysomnography, Phlebotomy, and Pharmacy Technician. For more information or to register, call 541-917-4923 or email ottor@linnbenton.edu. Explore Owyhee River at library talk LEBANON The Lebanon Public Library and Lebanon Senior Center will co-host an event March 1 on The Owyhee River Journals, a self-published book by Bonnie J. Olin with photographs by Mike H. Quigley. The event will be at 1 p.m. in the librarys Community Room at 55 Academy St., Lebanon. No admission is required. The presentation will include a 20-minute video of a 2006 expedition into Deep Creek and the Owyhee River, a question and answer session and a book signing. For more information, contact Carol Dinges at 541-258-4232 or via email at cdinges@ci.lebanon.or.us. Input sought on Highway 20 The Oregon Department of Transportation invites the public to a workshop to share information about safety improvements in the Highway 20 corridor. The workshop will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, in Room C at the Childrens Farm Home, 4455 N.E. Highway 20, Corvallis. ODOT and DKS Associates are working to improve the safety performance of Highway 20 between Corvallis and Albany. They are hosting the workshop to share information about the project, answer questions, and gather feedback from the community. More information is available at www.us20safetystudy.com. You might be thinking that theres little chance that this short and bitter legislative session will produce anything else of substance in its final days, especially with minority Republicans doing everything they can (and not without justification) to gum up the works. And its true that prospects seem bleak at this point for bills that have attracted some measure of controversy. But bills that have benefited from ample work well before the short session began and which enjoy relatively wide support still have a shot at passing and its worth remembering that just because these measures are not particularly controversial doesnt mean they wont make a real difference. In that light, we were delighted to hear that a bill from Sen. Sara Gelser, D-Corvallis, preserving at least some parts of the so-called fifth-year programs in place at many mid-valley high schools, passed the Senate on a 28-0 vote and now is headed to the House. (It helped that the bills short length its only four pages long made for relatively short reading, especially since Republicans are insisting that every bill be read aloud before any vote is taken; that requirement is in the state Constitution, but its usually waived by both the Senate and the House. Not so this year.) Gelsers bill, Senate Bill 1537, carves out a path forward for the fifth-year programs that have been pioneered by mid-valley schools. Under these programs, students who have met all the requirements for graduation opt to remain enrolled in their school districts for a fifth year while attending community college; using state school fund money, those districts cover all or some of their tuition and fees. The programs have scored some early success, particularly in helping those students (in many cases, often the first members of their families to attend college) get a head start on their postsecondary education. Other lawmakers called foul, arguing that it was unfair to use money intended for K-12 education to help pay for a 13th year for some students. And they said the program financially wasnt sustainable, especially if it were to be adopted statewide. Gelsers bill essentially attaches sideboards to the fifth-year programs, which now are dubbed Post-Graduate Scholar Programs. Under terms of the bill, districts that want to set up the programs must designate stuff members to help support students and have must have policies and strategies in place to improve graduation rates. To qualify for the programs, students must first apply for the Oregon Promise tuition assistance program, which helps high school graduates and GED recipients pay for community college. They must also complete the federal form known as FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The idea is to control the costs of the programs and, in fact, state school money received by the districts with the programs will be reduced over the next few years. The bill calls for the state to report back on participation rates and costs of the programs and says that the 2019 Legislature will take another look at the programs. As weve noted before, the bill isnt perfect for example, the Post-Graduate Scholar Programs wont necessarily offer the same level of help to participating students that the fifth-year programs often offered but its a considerably better deal than we thought Gelser would be able to wrest from her skeptical colleagues. And its worth noting that many mid-valley educators assisted Gelser in making the case to the Legislature. Its a case that senators obviously found persuasive; lets hope the House of Representatives feels the same way. (mm) I really want to write about how Israel has killed so many Palestinians instead of arresting them, when they are armed only with knives. One video shows Israeli settler-soldiers hatefully riddling a Palestinian's body after he had already been shot once and fallen down. His poor body actually jumped multiple times with each of the dozens of rounds fired! But this next topic is so important, it must be said: "Backers of defense budget hike got millions in donations" reads your Page One headline. And the Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee actually deny they are influenced by that $1 million in bribes! They must think us fools. Yet the media's been failing to point out the incredible Campaign Finance Revolution led by Bernie Sanders. Why? The man is not funded by the "donor class" as some media sources deceitfully rename the oligarchy (defense contractors, or oil companies, or hedge-fund managers, which fund Ted Cruz, among others). Bernie is funded by the little people; folks like you and me, over the internet. Go to BernieSanders.com and donate if youre not just pretending to want campaign finance reform! After all these years of longing for a candidate who was not purchased by the rich or selected by the party bosses, we finally have what is probably our only chance to get one. If Bernie loses, well also lose any hope for real campaign finance reform because those in office won't support reform; they want the bribe money! Vote Bernie! June Forsyth Kenagy Albany (Feb. 23) Reflections and Rants from the Entreprenerd, Dan Hanson - the Great Lakes Geek I have retired MCB but just wanted to let ya'll know I've fired up a Musick Blog and will be spending time over there from now on. Please check it out, it... 10 years ago HOW TO RESOLVE THE LIBYAN MORASS: A COMMENT "Already people are claiming that the euphoria and calm after the fall of Tripoli could have been predicted and can be easily explained. But such civility was not inevitable; it could not have been assumed from Libyan history or culture. Libya shares many features of countries where anarchy has prevailed. Like Afghanistan or Iraq, it has a distinguished history and has experienced periods of stability but lacks the essential trinity of the international state-building apostles: a vibrant civil society, rule of law and good governance. It has a rapidly growing young population, which is only partially educated, and few jobs. The traditional forces of tribe and Islam co-exist with more cosmopolitan aspirations, as they do in the rest of the Islamic world.... But it would have been easy to take the same factors a weak Gaddafi state, a light foreign footprint and a weak rebel government and assume these were ingredients for disaster. This is why the major lesson of the post-1989 interventions should not be a renewed confidence in the responsibility to protect, or a belief that we have found a new secret recipe in targeted air-power. We shouldnt think we know how to construct a transitional administration; even to attempt to pin down the common elements in the successful cases population size, GDP per capita, ethnic composition would be misguided.... The lesson of all this shouldnt be inaction. Intervention isnt doomed to fail countries can turn out unpredictably well, as well as unpredictably badly. If we cannot come to any satisfactory conclusions on the London riots a limited event, exhaustively documented, in our own capital what sense can we make of why they did not riot in Tripoli?"" Rory Stewart, "Because we weren't there?" The London Review of Books. 9 September 2011, in "U.S. warplanes carried out airstrikes against ISIS-linked militants in western Libya on Friday, killing as many as 40 people in an operation targeting a suspect linked to two deadly attacks last year in neighboring Tunisia. It was the second U.S. airstrike in three months against ISIS in Libya, where the hardline Islamist militants have exploited years of chaos following Moammer Gadhafi's 2011 overthrow to build up a presence on the southern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The Pentagon said it had targeted an ISIS training camp and killed a Tunisian militant linked to major attacks on tourists in Tunisia" The Daily Star. "US warplanes strike ISIS camp in Libya, 40 killed". 19 February 2016 in In retrospect it would be very easy indeed to make fun of the hopelessly optimistic prognosis of Rory Stewart, who is now an important Tory backbench member of Parliament, about Libya circa the autumn of 2011. At the time of course, his optimism appeared very justified indeed. We now know of course that many of the variable which he thought had been overcome: a weak Gaddafi state, a light foreign footprint and a weak rebel government and assume these were ingredients for disaster, were and are indeed the very forces which have resulted in the chaotic morass that is contemporary Libya. A situation which appears to be no closer to being resolved or made any better. As the two (yes, two) weak governments contend with each other and at the same time prove completely unable to resolve either separately or in conjunction, the crisis of power and authority that exists in Libya at the moment. Truly a veritable Hobbesian 'omnium bellum contra omnes', which the terrorist hooligans of ISIS are only too happy to operate in. As they have in fact been successfully doing. American air strikes, while to some degree a 'good thing', is of course, much too intermittent and episodic to be of much underlying good. The only thing that can change the situation in Libya, is some form outside military intervention by Western forces. And by 'Western forces', I mean of course ground forces. Involving anywhere from ten to twenty thousand troops both to mop up and destroy ISIS and at the same time, provide the stability necessary for any semblance of order and authority to be restored. This idea of outside intervention is per contra to the utopian concepts of how to restore order in Libya that some commentators such as Mr. Teller of Eurasia Review have been offering up for the past few years: "So, yes, something must be done but it cannot be imposed from the outside. Libyans themselves must put aside local rivalries and come together to establish a government of national unity. A democratically elected parliament is the arena in which political battles are best fought 1." Which in other circumstances would perhaps indeed be great words of wisdom. But in the current situation, it is a counsel of not only inaction but even despair. In the debacle and chaos that is contemporary Libya, something indeed must be done and quickly. Before a horrendous situation gets even worse on Europe's very doorstep. 1. Neville Teller, "Libya: Something Should Be Done". Eurasia Review. 19 February 2016, in Rory Stewart, "Because we weren't there?". 9 September 2011, in www.lrb.co.uk . "US warplanes strike ISIS camp in Libya, 40 killed". 19 February 2016 in www.dailystar.com.lb In retrospect it would be very easy indeed to make fun of the hopelessly optimistic prognosis of Rory Stewart, who is now an important Tory backbench member of Parliament, about Libyathe autumn of 2011. At the time of course, his optimism appeared very justified indeed. We now know of course that many of the variable which he thought had been overcome:, were and are indeed the very forces which have resulted in the chaotic morass that is contemporary Libya. A situation which appears to be no closer to being resolved or made any better. As the two (yes, two) weak governments contend with each other and at the same time prove completely unable to resolve either separately or in conjunction, the crisis of power and authority that exists in Libya at the moment. Truly a veritable Hobbesian, which the terrorist hooligans of ISIS are only too happy to operate in. As they have in fact been successfully doing. American air strikes, while to some degree a 'good thing', is of course, much too intermittent and episodic to be of much underlying good. The only thing that can change the situation in Libya, is some form outside military intervention by Western forces. And by 'Western forces', I mean of course ground forces. Involving anywhere from ten to twenty thousand troops both to mop up and destroy ISIS and at the same time, provide the stability necessary for any semblance of order and authority to be restored. This idea of outside intervention isto the utopian concepts of how to restore order in Libya that some commentators such as Mr. Teller of Eurasia Review have been offering up for the past few years:Which in other circumstances would perhaps indeed be great words of wisdom. But in the current situation, it is a counsel of not only inaction but even despair. In the debacle and chaos that is contemporary Libya, something indeed must be done and quickly. Before a horrendous situation gets even worse on Europe's very doorstep.1. Neville Teller, "Libya: Something Should Be Done".. 19 February 2016, in www.eurasiareview.com I don't know how it is with you, but for me the shocker of the week was this . Now, look at the photo. Who would be the man hanging on ... I am proud to be sponsored by Wildlife Watching Supplies, Please check out their website here Russias attempted annexation of Crimea two years ago -- following a sham referendum conducted in violation of Ukrainian law and Ukraines constitution -- has resulted in gross violations of fundamental freedoms in Crimea. Russian occupation authorities have forcibly suppressed dissent by targeting and intimidating journalists and pro-Ukrainian activists. The Crimean Tatar population has been a particular focus of repression, and that repression is intensifying. The Tatars, who have lived in Crimea for centuries and make up about 13 percent of its population, are ethnically Turkic, Muslim, and the majority opposes Russian rule. The State Departments most recent human rights report on Crimea noted that in 2014 Russian occupation authorities killed, kidnapped, and forcibly detained Tatars. They shut down the Tatar Mejlis the legally recognized representative council of the Crimean Tatars; banned Tatar leaders Mustafa Dzemiliev and Refat Chubarov from Crimea for five years; and raided Tatar mosques, other religious institutions, libraries and schools. In early February, Russian authorities arrested at least nine Crimean Tatars after a series of raids on their homes. They have charged four with belonging to Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamist political organization banned in Russia and Central Asia. On February 15, a Russian prosecutor filed a request with Crimeas Supreme Court that the Tatar Mejlis be banned and listed as an extremist organization. In a recent address to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, U.S Representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Daniel Baer denounced the Russian move against the Tatar Mejlis, as well as the general persecution of the Tatars in Crimea as a tragic part of the overall violation of Ukrainian sovereignty by Russia. Anmbassador Baer noted that the Tatar Mejlis is guilty of no crime only of protesting Russias occupation and repression of the Crimean Tatar people. He called on his colleagues in the OSCE not to forget that Crimean Tatars face repression and discrimination in their homeland, with no representation and no recourse. Almost 10,000 Crimean Tatars have been forced to flee, he noted. Those who remain have been subjected to abuses, including interrogations, beatings, arbitrary detentions, and police raids on their homes and mosques. These brutalities must end, said Ambassador Baer, as must Russias occupation of Crimea. some thoughts mainly on Scottish politics This blog may be a labor of love for me, but it takes a lot of effort, time and money. For over 18 years and 38,000 articles I have been providing accurate, original news that would have remained unnoticed. I've written hundreds of scoops and sometimes my reporting ends up making a real difference. I appreciate any donations you can give to keep this blog going. ELKO Sometimes the marketing game for your business can seem overwhelming and quite costly. But, there are ways to reduce that cost and use marketing to your business advantage. Social Media: Social Media may seem like an obvious avenue to explore, but its also one of the most important ones! Social media sites like facebook and Twitter provide a great way to connect with your community. Generating likes on a facebook page is a simple yet very effective way to gain more exposure for your business. Creating events on facebook is another great way to get the word out about specials and things you have going on. Some businesses find Twitter be another great tool to keep their clients in the loop about their specials and new news. The more exposure, the better! Instagram has also gained some popularity in the business world. Pictures are a great way to show your community what your business has to offer. Visual representations sometimes work a bit better than text. People can connect with a picture and have a vision in their mind of what they want and what they are expecting. Host a Meet-Up: A Meet-up is a casual, free event that your business can host! These events are a great way to network, promote your business or brand, and meet the community. The Chamber hosts Business After and Before Hours on monthly basis and this has brought many companies exposure to their name and products. You can do this on a smaller scale and for your business! Apply for Awards or Grants: Applying for awards is a great way to not only get your business name out there, but if you receive the award, its something you can brag about. Non-profits can also gain some interest when they apply for grants. Grant recipients not only get their names out there as well, but its also something they can use on future applications. Participate in online groups: Groups such as LinkedIn, Google+, and Reddit are great and cheap ways to network, and also help your business if youre looking for employees, tips, and some mentoring. There are many avenues to explore when it comes to marketing your small business on a dime! You just have to start exploring. Russian President Vladimir Putin is doubling down on his faltering invasion by declaring martial law in four illegally annexed Ukrainian regions. In addition, he set the stage Wednesday for draconian new restrictions and crackdowns throughout Russia. The drastic escalation appeared to be prompted by the threat of more stinging battlefield defeats, sabotage and troubles with his troop mobilization. Putin's order effectively belies the Kremlins attempts to portray life in the annexed regions as returning to normal, with the latest example the removal of civilian leaders and installation of a military administration and a mass evacuation in Kherson. Local officials said Wednesday that 5,000 had been evacuated already, with plans to pull out a total of up to 60,000. Driving to Mountain City Highway from Ryndon the other day I noticed the snow covered Grindstone Mountain looming off in the southwest just before I left the interstate. Also known as Moleen Peak, the mountain is named for its resemblance to grindstones and has nothing to do with the production of grinding stones from its outcrops, as I had always though for the last 18 years. Although not large in stature, Grindstone Mountain is a prominent pyramid-shaped landmark of elevation 7,377 feet that is easily recognizable from Elko but its hard to see the resemblance to a shop tool. When you buy a wheel for your bench grinder you are purchasing a device made of the ceramic silicon carbide that is forged in the fury of an electrical furnace with temperatures approaching 2,500 degrees Celsius. Only at that temperature can the silicon and carbon react to fuse the two elements and it takes a lot of energy to do so. The production process was patented by Edward Acheson of Monongahela, Pennsylvania, in 1893 and he called the material carborundum. It is one of the hardest industrial substances known and was discovered quite accidentally when Acheson was attempting to make artificial diamonds. Knowing a good find when seen, he started the Carborundum Company to produce grindstones, knife sharpeners and other abrasives including sandpapers and cloths impregnated with the dust. Carborundum has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale and can scratch every other mineral except diamond. Because the manufacture of carborundum is an extremely endothermic reaction, much like aluminum, Acheson looked for a city to build his company where low cost electricity could be found. When Tesla created the celebrated hydroelectric dam at Niagara Falls, Acheson proposed to move the company to this power source from Pennsylvania and contracted with the Niagara Power Company for 1,000 horsepower of electricity. Not having all of the money needed for this improvement, Acheson turned to Andrew Mellon for backing to finance the move with the result that the Mellon family retained 20 percent ownership in the Carborundum Company until 1995 when it was sold to St. Gobain S.A., the huge French glass and ceramics manufacturer. They had already bought Carborundums competitor, Norton, five years earlier. It is sometimes easy to confuse manmade carborundum with the natural mineral we call corundum the basic mineral of rubies and sapphires. Corundum is a crystalline form of aluminum oxide, contains no silicon or carbon and is labeled a ruby when impurities such as chromium give it a red color. Corundum also has a Mohs hardness of 9 and is also used in abrasives such as sandpaper. This is where the confusion sometimes arises. I wont talk any more about corundum in this article. Carborundum on the other hand has an interesting cosmic connection. Believe it or not, you can actually find natural carborundum called moissanite within kimberlite pipes, the neck of the woods where diamonds are found but it is very rare. Because of this, virtually all the silicon carbide sold in the world, including moissanite jewels cut to resemble diamonds, is absolutely man-made. As an indicator of how scarce natural silicon carbide is it wasnt until 1905 when natural moissanite was first found as a small component of a Canyon Diablo meteorite (from Meteor Crater, Arizona) by Ferdinand Moissan, after whom the material was named. But although natural silicon carbide is scarce on earth, it is quite common in outer space being a component given off by carbon rich stars. Somehow, through the eons of time this stardust makes its way to the insides of meteorites where it is quite common. Carborundum has other uses besides abrasives. One of the earliest was in the form of silicon carbide lightning arresters used in telephones and electric power systems. These devices must exhibit high resistance until the voltage across them reaches a certain threshold at which point it drops to a significantly lower level, shunting currents to ground as a protection mechanism. Many a submersible well pump is protected from lightning strikes by silicon carbide varistors. You may think LEDs are a new invention but that is not so. In 1907 Henry Round produced the first LED by applying a voltage to a carborundum crystal and observing yellow, green and orange emission at the cathode. Eighty years later the first blue LEDs were composed of silicon carbide on a commercial scale but that has been largely overtaken with more efficient devices based on gallium nitride. No worry, silicon carbide is still needed in every LED light bulb because it serves as a thermally conductive foundation onto which the gallium compound is grown. Other uses for carborundum besides electronics include very hard ceramics that find applications requiring high endurance at high temperatures such as car brakes and car clutch plates. One new interesting application has been its use as ceramic shields for bulletproof vests. ELKO The Ruby Mountain Future Farmers of America Chapter donated their original charter to the Northeastern Nevada Museum in celebration of National FFA week. The document was found in adviser Jessica Butzs classroom at Elko High School and it has 25 signatures, including those of Elko County residents Arthur Glaser, Carl Pacini and Robert Wright. We thought it should be given to the museum, said co-adviser John Kohntopp. Ruby Mountain is the fourth chapter to be founded in the state of Nevada in 1929. The signed charter and its original list of purposes for the chapter gave FFA officers and president Layne Zeiszler a glimpse into the past and how things had changed in over the 80 years since the chapter was formed. I think its pretty awesome, said Zeiszler of the history of the documents. The club is preparing for the Nevada State FFA Convention to be held in Reno March 22-26. We have 38 going to state to compete, said Kohntopp. Theyve been practicing since November. FFA members will compete in speaking, judging, floriculture and parliamentary procedure, added Butz. Last year, the state convention had more than 550 FFA members competing in Reno, added Kohntopp. My thoughts about movies and TV shows I've been watchingSee also my blog on books: Elliot's Reading Houses to be demolished for Old Yerevan project (video) 70-year-old Gagik Ghazaryan still cannot believe that due to the state needs he will be evicted from his house on 10 Buzand, where he has lived his whole life. It is very difficult that I am given money and told to leave. If you want to preserve Old Yerevan, preserve old buildings, there was an old house here, why did they demolish it? says Gagik Ghazaryan. According to the decision of the Government the territory enclosed in Abovyan, Pavstos Buzand, Yeznik Koghbatsi and Arami Streets has been recognized an eminent domain. The process of the eviction must be over in a year. Old Yerevan project must be realized in this territory. Those who have taste understand that between those high-rise buildings this Old Yerevan will be something like props, it wont be serious, the environment wont be preserved, says Vardan Geravetyan, member of Our city initiative. The residents think that they are being evicted not for the state needs but for business of some people. If they want to build a hotel, I also can build a hotel, a restaurant, I am ready for everything, if they want a statue, we will put up a statue, adds Babken Ghazaryan, resident of Buzand Street. Harutyun Minasyan adds that they were told that there will be one developer and it will a project worth hundreds of dollars. EMC corporation, which has acquired the territory, noted in its application that at present the territory is old and dilapidated with separate houses and buildings, which dont correspond to fire protection, sanitary and hygienic, urban development norms and may result in emergency situations. It isnt run-down, it is a normal stone house. Under this house there are some lines and tunnels. According to the decision of the Government Armen Hasratyan will also be deprived of his personal business and territory. Still according to the decision made in 2013, the triangle territory of Abovyan-Pushkin-Sakharov square was recognized an eminent domain and Local Developers company belonging to Samvel Mayrapetyan is the acquirer. It is more like a business interest. Why should I pass my business to another person? said Armen Hasratyan. The resident of the eminent domain was offered 41 million 600 thousand drams for 61 sq/m area, The market analyses showed that you cannot acquire a social facility at that money in the Small Center of Yerevan, the prices are three-four times higher. Armen Hasratyan has made a decision, no way will he leave the area. SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Google Ad Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully Google Ad The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh USA Embassy Message for U.S. Citizens ANCA Issues National Call to Action to Stop Taxpayer Funding of Aliyevs Aggression Obey the husband or please God? Some questions from qahana.am website My friend is not so pious, she even does not attend the church services and the Divine Liturgies, and nevertheless, she is about to keep the Great Lent. Is not it senseless? Fasting pursues a certain goal dictated by the Holy Church. The sense of fasting is refusing sins. If someone keeps fasting pursuing other goals he can do it at any other time as such behavior is not related to the Great Lent. The Holy Church considers all Sundays of the period of Great Lent special and has special exhortations in relation to each Sunday. Without following those exhortations and instructions fasting is senseless. All information concerning the Sundays of the period of Great Lent is available in "Feasts". With blessing, Fr. Smbat Sargsyan My confessor advised me to obey my husband and to have sexual relations with him during the period of Great Lent in order to preserve peace in the family. My friends confessor advised her just the contrary saying that she should first of all please God and only then - her husband. Which kind of behavior is correct? Your confessor is right. Talk to your husband, and if he does not agree to keep fasting together with you, follow your confessors advice. Do not be interested whom what is told or forbidden. All of us have various spiritual diseases and appealing to various doctors (priests) we certainly various receive instructions for being healed. With blessing, Fr. Smbat Sargsyan What to do with the willow branches blessed the last year as soon is the Feast of Palm Sunday and we will bring home new branches? You can simply burn them and sprinkle the ash on the earth under trees or flowers. With blessing, Fr. Shahe Hayrapetyan Is it necessary on Holy Thursday to paint and eat eggs according to the number of family members? Church Fathers teach us to keep fasting strictly during the whole period of Great Lent. If on Holy Thursday fasting is not kept, all efforts of keeping the Great Lent are in vain. With blessing, Fr. Shahe Hayrapetyan Chairman of the Party Central Committees Commission for External Relations Hoang BinhQuan (Photo: VNA) Chairman of the Party Central Committees Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan made the remark at a meeting with ambassadors and heads of foreign representative agencies. He thanked the diplomats for regularly exchanging information and closely cooperating with his commission in diplomatic activities between Vietnam and their nations. At its recent 12th National Congress, the CPV received warm encouragement via congratulatory messages from leaders and ruling and non-ruling political parties of over 100 countries and diplomatic missions in Vietnam, he added. Quan stressed the Southeast Asian country will continue the consistent foreign policy of independence, autonomy, peace, cooperation and development, multilateralisation and diversification of external relations, proactive and active international integration, and being a friend, a trustworthy partner and a responsible member of the international community. The policys ultimate goal is to firmly safeguard independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, ensure a peaceful and stable environment, optimise external resources for national development and protection, raise the countrys prestige and stature, and contribute to peace, national independence, democracy and social progress in the world, the official added. On behalf of the diplomats, Moroccan Ambassador El HoucineFardani, head of the diplomatic corps in Vietnam, congratulated the success of the 12th National Party Congress and spoke highly of the countrys achievements during the three decades of Doimoi (Reform). He said he believes that with its sound policies, Vietnam will attain greater accomplishments in national industrialisation and modernisation. He also valued the effective cooperation between the Commission for External Relations and foreign diplomatic missions, adding that such affiliation will help solidify Vietnams connections with other countries./. Moscow roundtable workshop on Vietnam's 12th National Party Congress (Source: VNA) At a roundtable workshop held in Moscow on February 25th by the Far Eastern Branch under the Russian Academy of Sciences, scholars said the CPV has accomplished tasks set by the 11th National Party Congress. The event heard 12 reports that touched upon various topics such as the Communist Partys role in Vietnams political system, the reality and prospects for Vietnam-Russia ties, national and regional security, Vietnams foreign policy, the countrys economic achievements from 2011 to 2015 and tasks for the next five years. Vladimir Mazyrin, Director of the Far Eastern Branchs Vietnam-ASEAN Research Centre, said Vietnams external political activities over the past five years have contributed remarkably to national stability, helping fulfill tasks set by the 11th National Party Congress and bring the country forward. Vietnam has successfully realised its multilateral foreign policy in international relations, significantly contributing to maintaining peace and stability in the region, and protecting the countrys sovereignty in the East Sea. Pham DucVinh, Deputy Secretary of the Overseas Party Committee in Russia, expressed his hope that the research outcomes would chart orientations to advance the time-honoured relationship between Vietnam and Russia. The 12th National Party Congress, which took place from January 21st to 28th, elected a 200-member Party Central Committee with 180 official and 20 alternate members. The Party General Secretary for the 11th tenure, Nguyen Phu Trong, was re-elected as General Secretary in the 12th tenure during the 12th Party Central Committees first plenum./. Ambassador Doan Xuan Hung (L) and Lichtenberg Mayor Birgit Monteiro. (Photo: VNA) The Dong Xuan shopping mall and outstanding academic performance of Vietnamese German students at Barnim High School are two examples of the communities successful integration, she noted. The mayor stressed Vietnams cooperation potential, saying her district wants to boost ties with Vietnamese localities moving forward. Ambassador Hung expressed his hope for further support from Lichtenberg authorities toward his fellow countrymen here. He lauded cooperation between Lichtenberg and Hanois Hoan Kiem district in health care, cultural exchange, education and environment. The Vietnam Embassy in Germany is willing to do its utmost to assist the two localities with join projects in the near future, Hung said. The sides also discussed the realisation of the pact. Lichtenberg is home to 4,000 Vietnamese expatriates. The country is home to a total of 20,000 Vietnamese./. Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA) Receiving UK Ambassador to Vietnam Giles Lever on February 26th, Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Vo Thanh Thong said that the move will help the two sides boost bilateral collaboration in training and scientific research in fields of mutual concern. For his part, the ambassador highlighted that the UK always pays attention to fostering education cooperation with Vietnam. In addition to offering more than 30 scholarships through Chevening, the UK government scholarship programme, the UK also provides in-country courses to Vietnamese students, Giles Lever said. The students have a chance to study with UK-designed curricula and British lecturers in their homeland while receiving degrees granted by universities in the UK, he added. Last year, Save the Children, an international childrens charity based in the UK, gave a financial support worth USD297,000 to help local students with financial management, job hunt, and other soft skills. Furthermore, the UK outlined specific roadmaps on building high-tech and bio-tech research centres and institutes in line with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between two nations through Newton Fund, a partnership programme on research and innovation. The cooperation aims to reduce critical impacts of climate change./. Vietnam EcoTech 2016's logo (Source: ecotechvietnam.com) According to the organising board, the event is jointly organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the National Trade and Advertising Joint Stock Company (VINEXAD) among others. The significant event is hoped to actively meet the national strategy and action on green growth. Several areas will be introduced at the event such as environmental technologies, agriculture, food processing, industry, construction, traffic- transportation, and energy. About 100 companies, including to foreign firms registered to attend the event as of February, according to the organising board. Seminars and conferences are expected to be held during the three-day event. With an average economic growth rate of over 6 percent a year, Vietnam is moving towards sustainable development targets through bolstering science and technology application research, as well as by receiving transfers of technology from advanced countries./. Heads of delegations to ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (Source: VNA) The Vietnamese delegation to the event was headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung. The ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) discussed a range of important issues, including ways to effectively realise the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, as well as relations between the group and its dialogue partners. The officials were also given information on the progress of the post-2015 Plan on ASEAN Connectivity and preparations for the third phase of the ASEAN Connectivity Initiative. Under the theme Turning vision into reality for a dynamic ASEAN Community, Laos, as the ASEAN Chair in 2016, has proposed an array of priorities, including narrowing development gaps in the bloc, and increasing ASEAN connectivity, tourism development, small- and medium-sized enterprise development, trade facilitation, job generation and ASEAN cultural heritage preservation. The AMM Retreat, slated for February 27th, is the first meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers under Laos leadership in 2016. During the meeting, the ministers will discuss ways to effectively implement the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and its three blueprints adopted by ASEAN leaders at the 27th ASEAN Summit held in November last year./. It is not a bad thing for us, that the route known as the Goldene Strae or the Golden Road as we will get to know it- has escaped the attention of so many. It has been spared being overrun by hordes of tourists and as you will discover the Orenburg Inter-Municipal Department of the Interior Ministry has opened a criminal case following the demolition of a historical and cultural monument in the center of Russian Orenburg with a purpose to build a parking place for a bank. The case was opened under Article 243 of the Russian Criminal Code destruction or damage of cultural heritage sites, the press service of the inter-municipal department said on Thursday. "As part of the investigation we have to establish all the circumstances of the events that took place. According to local media, Shevchenko's house was demolished back in June last year and the parking place was built on its site. We have to find out whether it was in fact an illegal demolition of the cultural monument," the source said. As reported earlier, Ukraine's Culture and Foreign Ministries stated on an intent to appeal to the international organizations over the destruction of the architectural monument, the house where prominent Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko lived in exile. Ukraine's Culture Minister Vyacheslav Kyrylenko said at a Cabinet's meeting on Wednesday that Shevchenko lived in the ruined house while in exile that a Russian tsar sentenced him to. "Despite the house in Orenburg is the architectural monument of the national importance and has an appropriate protected registration number, it was completely destroyed and an infrastructure facility was built on its site, namely parking place for the private bank. This is a violation of not only the Russian domestic law, but of all international norms," Kyrylenko stressed. Police estimate number of participants in march commemorating Nemtsov at 7,500, organizers at 100,000 About 7,500 people are taking part in a march in Moscow on Saturday in commemoration of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, who was killed a year ago, the Moscow city police department told Interfax. "Taking part in the procession are 7,500 people," it said. The demonstration is passing without incidents, the police department said. "Public order is being maintained fully," it said. Meanwhile, the march organizers have estimated the number of its participants at 100,000. "I think about 100,000 people are taking part in the procession," opposition activist Vladimir Milov told Interfax. An Interfax correspondent reported from the scene that the marchers have stretched from Rozhdestvensky Boulevard to the end of Petrovsky Boulevard. Some of them are demanding that those who put an assassination contract for Nemtsov be brought to justice and are chanting anti-government slogans. Ukrainian border guardsmen have registered flights of four Russian helicopters Mi-8 along an administrative border with Autonomous Republic of Crimea. "Along an administrative border with Autonomous Republic of Crimea border guardsmen of 'Henichesk' department of Berdyansk unit recorded flights of the Russian aviation. In general, four Mi-8 helicopters have been revealed over temporarily occupied territory that made flights in an immediate proximity to the administrative border," a press service of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported on Saturday. Besides, according to the service, for past 24 hours there were no shell attacks on the checkpoints, where Ukrainian border guardsmen serve along with the servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. BEIJING, Feb. 26 -- An offprint of a report on Party workstyle by Mao Zedong was published Friday after Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Party members and cadres to study the pioneering work. "The Work Method of Party Committees" was published by the People's Publishing House and is available nationwide from Xinhua Bookstores, the central authority said in a notice. The publication follows an announcement by Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, urging all cadres to review Mao's work. The excerpt is part of Mao's report on the historic Second Plenary Session of the Seventh CPC Central Committee in March 1949, just before the Party took over state power. It included instructions on how to deal with work affairs, how to work with fellow comrades, the art of leadership, and others. Party committees at all levels should fully understand the essence of Xi's comments, and strive to excel in their workstyle and the art of leadership, as well master the political conduct and rules outlined in Mao's article, according to a notice issued by the Organizational Department of CPC Central Committee on Thursday. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Anakhanum Khidayatova - Trend: The Southern Gas Corridor is as a priority and a strategic project both for Italy and the EU, Italian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Giampaolo Cutillo told Trend Feb. 27. Italy is firmly committed to this project's implementation, since the very beginning, and a meeting in Baku on Feb. 27 will be a further opportunity for coordinating the country's efforts with all concerned governments and partners, starting of course from Azerbaijan, the ambassador said. Italy will be represented at the second Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council Meeting on Feb. 29 by Claudio De Vincenti, Italian undersecretary to the presidency of the Council of Ministers, Cutillo said. The Southern Gas Corridor project envisages transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian Sea to Europe through Georgia and Turkey. At the initial stage, the gas to be produced as part of the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects. Other sources can also connect to this project at a later stage. As part of the Stage 2 of the Shah Deniz development, the gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline and Trans-Adriatic Pipeline. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Anahanum Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 Trend: The European Union has expressed regret over the dreadful crimes committed against humanity and human rights in Nagorno-Karabakh in 1992-1993. The remarks were made in the letter from Dirk Schuebel, head of division for bilateral relations with the Eastern Partnership countries in the European External Action Service, to Sahil Gasimov, head of the Benelux Azerbaijanis Congress, Azerbaijani State Committee on Work with Diaspora told Trend. The Benelux Azerbaijanis Congress sent a letter to President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker on Feb. 12 on giving a legal assessment to the events in Khojaly. In response letter, Schuebel expressed gratitude on behalf of the EU for the events held for conveying the truth about the Khojaly massacre to the world. The European Union also supports the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group and speaks for the peaceful settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said the letter. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. On February 25-26, 1992, the Armenian armed forces, together with the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops stationed in Khankendi committed an act of genocide against the population of the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly. As many as 613 people were killed, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old people were killed as a result of the massacre. Eight families were totally exterminated, 130 children lost one parent and 25 children lost both. A total of 487 civilians became disabled as a result of the onslaught. Some 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 people remains unknown. The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Edited by SI Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Anakhanum Khidayatova - Trend: A peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, in accordance with international law, remains a top EU priority, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said in an exclusive interview with Trend. She made the remarks Feb. 27 in anticipation of her visit to Baku to participate in the second Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council Meeting on Feb. 29. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. The OSCE Minsk Group is a format accepted by all sides, and endorsed by the UN Security Council, Mogherini said. "The co-chairs have launched new mediation efforts: our support to this process, including through the EU Special Representative Herbert Salber, has been, and will continue to be, unwavering," she said. Mogherini went on to add that the EU will also keep supporting peace-building activities and people-to-people contacts. There is no contradiction between these activities and the efforts of the Minsk Group; both are important for long-term reconciliation, she said. Mogherini expressed her solidarity with all the people affected by this conflict. "An entire generation has grown up without knowing the true meaning of the word "peace"," she said. "It is no secret that the current status quo is unsustainable. Over the past year we have witnessed an escalation of violence along the line of contact: no one can afford to keep going down this path." She said that a central part of the talks within the Minsk Group is to find agreement on practical steps towards a comprehensive settlement of the conflict. "Only a few months ago, in December 2015, both President Aliyev and President Sargsyan confirmed they will keep engaging on current proposals," Mogherini said. "This is vital: ultimately, it is up to your countries' leaders to show courage and move towards peace." She went on to add that everyone has a duty to refrain from provocative statements and to work to de-escalate the situation on the ground. "Over the past year heavy weapons were used, civilians were targeted," she said. "The current instability has huge costs for both sides. Peace, on the other hand, would allow for the opening of borders, facilitate trade and communications. Peace could make your region a prosperous gateway between Europe and Asia." --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Anahanum Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 Trend: Turkish Parliament should recognize Khojaly tragedy as genocide, Turkish presidential advisor Yalcin Topcu said Feb.27, Milliyet reported. "Khojaly tragedy is a matter of day. Khojaly tragedy should be recognized in the Parliament as genocide", - he said. On February 25-26, 1992, the Armenian armed forces, together with the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops stationed in Khankendi committed an act of genocide against the population of the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly. The event became the largest massacre in the course of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. As many as 613 people were killed, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old people were killed as a result of the massacre. Eight families were totally exterminated, 130 children lost one parent and 25 children lost both. A total of 487 civilians became disabled as a result of the onslaught. Some 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 people remains unknown. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Anakhanum Khidayatova - Trend: The EU has a clear interest to work with Azerbaijan on energy, regional security, the rule of law and fundamental freedoms, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said in an exclusive interview with Trend. She made the remarks Feb. 27 in anticipation of her visit to Baku to participate in the second Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council Meeting on Feb. 29. "Our European Union and Azerbaijan share a clear interest in deepening our relationship," she said. "We aim at a broad and comprehensive agreement, and I believe that the past few months have signalled a turning point in our discussions: some difficulties remain, but we are much closer now on the need to have economic and political cooperation going hand in hand." "The preparatory consultations for our new partnership are progressing well," she said. "I believe that we will soon have a discussion with the EU Member States on the launch of negotiations." Speaking about the EU energy security, Mogherini said that the Southern Gas Corridor is vital to energy security strategy of the union, adding that it brings further diversification to the EU networks, and also offers a possibility to deepen political, economic and social ties with a number of partners in the region of the union. The Southern Gas Corridor project envisages transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian Sea to Europe through Georgia and Turkey. At the initial stage, the gas to be produced as part of the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects. Other sources can also connect to this project at a later stage. As part of the Stage 2 of the Shah Deniz development, the gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline and Trans-Adriatic Pipeline. The signature of the ''Ashgabat Declaration'' in May 2015 was an important step to ensure additional gas supplies from the Caspian region in the future, according to Mogherini. "Further progress is being made in this regard: an active working group at vice-ministerial level has met in the course of 2015 and again just a few days ago," she said. "During my visit to Baku I will also participate in the second Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council Ministerial, alongside my colleague Maros Sefcovic, the vice-president of the European Commission, who is responsible for our Energy Union," Mogherini said. She went on to add that this is not just about government and institutions: it is the gas exporters and the investors in various stages of the infrastructure who can set the pace of future developments. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Anahanum Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Azad Hasanli - Trend: The daily volume of Azerbaijani gas supply to Georgia has reached 8.3 million cubic meters, Mahir Mammadov, director general of 'SOCAR Energy Georgia' company, told Trend. Recently, 3.2 million cubic meters of gas from Shah Deniz and 5.1 million cubic meters of gas via the Hajigabul-Gardabani gas pipeline has been delivered to Georgia, said Mammadov. He noted that Azerbaijan is steadily increasing the volume of gas supply to Georgia. Commenting on the possible increase in gas supply to Georgia and revising the tariffs, Mammadov said that currently, work is underway on the contract. He didn't provide any further details. Azerbaijan exports gas to Georgia via the pipeline linking the two countries in Azerbaijan's Gazakh district. The gas pumping capacity of this pipeline exceeds 2.5 billion cubic meters per year. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 25 By Aygun Badalova - Trend: Iran's quickest and easiest way to break into the European gas market will be through the liquefied natural gas (LNG), Christopher Haines, senior oil and gas analyst at BMI Research, a part of the Fitch Group, told Trend Feb. 25. Exports via pipeline will likely have to leverage any expansion in the TANAP (not planned until 2022/2023 at the earliest), and there will be a lot of competition for this capacity, according to Haines. He added that in order to send pipeline gas economically, Iran will have to send large volumes, for which there will be limited capacity and limited demand. "LNG will be more flexible and can be sold in more incremental volumes," added Haines. "Iran already has a facility that is partially complete (stalled under sanctions), while it has been exploring floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) options to fast-track gas exports." Production costs will be very low and will be able to compete in the European market, he added. The EU imported 45 billion cubic meters of LNG in 2014, or 13.5 percent of the total volume of gas import. Currently, Qatar and Angola are the main sources of LNG import for Europe. On January 16, the International Atomic Energy Agency verified Tehran's compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), opening the way for Iran's return to the global energy market. The same day, the US and the European Union announced that they were lifting their sanctions against Iran. The lifting of sanctions will not only make it possible to increase the production and export of oil by Iran, but will also enable Tehran to become one of the major players on the world gas market. Iran's proven gas reserve stood at 34 trillion cubic meters as of early 2015, according to BP. The country's share on the world gas market is 17 percent. Earlier, Iran stated that LNG export to Europe is its priority. The National Iranian Gas Exports Company (NIGEC) plans to build five plants for LNG production within three years. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @AygunBadalova Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Elena Kosolapova - Trend: The Southern Gas Corridor project remains a priority for the European Union, a European Commission energy spokeswoman told New Europe. "The immediate priority for the region remains the completion of the Southern Gas Corridor, including TANAP, the Greece-Italy Trans-Adriatic Pipeline and the Greece-Bulgaria IGB interconnector," said the spokeswoman. She noted that the Southern Corridor is successfully being put in place to supply gas from Azerbaijan to the EU by 2020. The corridor also offers the potential, in the future, to facilitate the entry of other gas sources into the EU from the Eastern Mediterranean, the Caspian, and the Middle East, according to the spokeswoman. The Southern Gas Corridor takes precedence over an agreement signed by Russia's Gazprom, Italy's Edison and Greece's DEPA on February 24 to develop a natural gas pipeline between Greece and Italy to transport Russian gas to Europe, the EC spokeswoman added. "The Commission remains with its known position that interconnection projects must contribute to the EU's diversification and energy security strategy, and is compatible with all the relevant EU legal requirements; in particular the third energy package rules," she said. "That is part and parcel of the Energy Union." The same company is prohibited from producing and transporting gas to the EU simultaneously, according to the third energy package. The Southern Gas Corridor project envisages transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian Sea to Europe through Georgia and Turkey. At the initial stage, the gas to be produced as part of the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects. Other sources can also connect to this project at a later stage. As part of the Stage 2 of the Shah Deniz development, the gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline and Trans-Adriatic Pipeline. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Elena Kosolapova - Trend: Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi have discussed bilateral cooperation in various spheres, press service of Kazakh president said. The sides focused on the prospects for cooperation in trade, economic, agricultural, pharmaceutical spheres, infrastructure construction, transport and logistics. The discussions were held during the first official visit of Egyptian president to Kazakhstan. During the meeting, Nazarbayev noted that his country is interested in developing friendly relations with Egypt. He emphasized that despite the geographic remoteness, the sides have great potential to develop the transit relations. "Egypt is one of the largest states in the Middle East and we would like to continue our trust-based dialogue on economic cooperation on the world markets," said Nazarbayev. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, for his part, said that the purpose of his visit is to further strengthen the close relations between Kazakhstan and Egypt in all spheres. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Elena Kosolapova - Trend: Kazakhstan and Egypt plan to cooperate in space research and nuclear energy spheres, said Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Nazarbayev made the remarks following the meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, said the message from Kazakh president's press service. The sides will consider the possibility of signing an intergovernmental agreement in space research sphere, according to Kazakhstan's president. Moreover, taking into account the creation of the Low Enriched Uranium Bank in Kazakhstan and plans for constructing a nuclear power plant in Egypt, the sides have started to discuss the prospects for cooperation in this sphere. Further, the two presidents discussed the cooperation in transportation and transit spheres. Nazarbayev noted that Kazakhstan and Egypt play a significant role in the Silk Road Economic Belt project. Kazakhstan's president said that his country supports Cairo's intention to create a free trade zone with the Eurasian Economic Union. He also stressed the importance of establishing long-term relations in the sphere of agriculture. "Kazakhstan is among the world leaders in grain export, while Egypt is the largest state importing it," said Nazarbayev. "Kazakhstan has exported over a million tons of grain to Egypt from 2006 to 2010. This cooperation will further develop." Further, Kazakh president said that currently, it is planned to implement a number of joint investment projects. Egyptian business circles consider the possibility of investing in construction of resorts on the Caspian Sea coast and building a poultry farm in Kazakhstan's Almaty province. Edited by SI --- Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova Tehran, Iran, February 27 By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend: Pakistani businessmen and bankers are in Iran to explore ways to broaden the scope of bilateral trade and economic relations. Leader of a 26 members' delegation of the Lahore Chamber Of Commerce and Industry Almas Haider, who is a director of Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation, said on the sidelines of a meeting with Iranian counterparts from the Tehran Chamber of Commerce that his country is very hopeful to expand ties with Iran. "After Tehran we are going to Shiraz and Mashhad for more talks," he told Trend February 27. "We have seized the moment of Iran being freed from sanctions and we congratulate Iranians for having negotiated so wisely during the nuclear talks." "Iran is aiming at an economic growth rate of eight percent, which will be one of the best in the world," he noted, adding that "As soon as sanctions were lifted we decided to team up and visit Iran. We were planning on a delegation of 10 people, but there were so many businessmen eager to accompany us that in the end, our delegation included 26 people." "Trade between Iran and Pakistan is aimed to rise to $5 billion a year in three years' time," he said. "Members of the current team are looking forward to setting up manufacturing plants or open offices in Iran, mostly in pharmaceuticals, plastics, as well as automation services." Pakistani-Iranian trade started declining gradually from the level of $1321.3 million in 2008-2009 to a mere $218 million in 2013-2014. Pakistan's exports to Iran in 2013-2014 declined to $53 million from $ 97.7 million in 2012-2013. He went on to add that Pakistan is going to make a good partner for Iran, "Especially now that there is less terrorism there. Also, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an example of the country's growth. Already 40 percent of it is constructed and it will be completed in two years. The corridor will not only help Pakistan, but Iran, Afghanistan, even Central Asia and Azerbaijan in trade." Haider said that in 10-15 years, most trade growth was observed inside the region rather than between the continents, stressing the need for regional countries to improve their relations. "We have to make travel easy, which means visa and road connections," he further said. "We also need energy to be more easily shared. There is already a pipeline from Turkmenistan. Regarding the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, after sanctions everything will be easier. We told our government to do what it takes to make the plan come true." Pakistan has decided to lift sanctions against Iran and has devised a strategy to promote trade ties with the oil rich country, according to a ministerial meeting's decision in mid-February. Islamabad will revive all economic and commercial relations with Tehran, including the areas of trade, investment, technology, banking, finance, and energy, according to a notification issued by the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Farhad Daneshvar - Trend: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has officially welcomed his Swiss counterpart, Johann Schneider-Ammann, at Tehran's Saadabad Palace. Schneider-Ammann heading a high-ranking delegation arrived in Tehran's Mehrabad airport yesterday at president Rouhani's official invitation, Iran's state run-TV IRINN reported. The Swiss president is in Tehran to hold talks with senior Iranian officials and discuss ways to improve mutual, regional and international relations, signing agreements in various fields. According to media reports Tehran and Bern are expected to sign agreements in economy, banking cooperation, politics and culture sectors. Following the implementation of a nuclear agreement between Iran and the world powers a number of world leaders have visited Tehran aimed at the expansion of bilateral ties. Over the past decade in a bid to curb Iran's nuclear program, the international community took measures against Tehran, including restrictions imposed on the country's financial system, as well as industry, which have had a catastrophic impact on Iranians' economic situation and life conditions. Following the long-awaited nuclear deal clinched between Tehran and the world major powers most of the international sanctions against Tehran were lifted on Jan. 16. UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura plans to resume the intra-Syria peace talks on Monday, March 7, provided that the ceasefire, which is set to come into force on Saturday, holds. Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting against numerous opposition factions and extremist groups, such as Islamic State, also known as Daesh, which is banned in a range of countries. Talks between the Syrian government and representatives of the country's opposition factions began in Geneva on January 29. On February 3, de Mistura decided to postpone the talks as the parties were unable to reach a compromise on a number of issues. The opposition and government delegations blamed each other for the breakdown of the talks. Two opposition delegations are taking part in the talks. The High Negotiations Committee (HNC) was created in Saudi Arabia in December and includes representatives of some groups considered to be terrorist organizations by Syria and Russia. The second delegation was created following talks in Moscow and Cairo. Military force should only be used as a last resort measure in addressing any possible ceasefire violations in Syria, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura stressed. Russia and the United States reached an agreement on the ceasefire in Syria on February 22. The ceasefire took effect at midnight on Saturday, Damascus time (22:00 GMT on Friday). It does not apply to terrorist groups operating in the country, such as Islamic State (Daesh) and Nusra Front. According to de Mistura, initial reports indicated that the situation calmed down around the Syrian capital in the early hours of Saturday, although there was unconfirmed information of potential breaches. "On cases of breaches, a military response should be, according to the [International Syria Support Group] task force, the last resort...and should be proportionate," de Mistura stressed on Friday. Permanent Representative of Syria to the United Nations Bashar Jaafari said at the UN Security Council on Friday that the Syrian government forces reserve the right to respond to any violations of the ceasefire. According to the UN envoy, 97 armed groups in Syria, plus the government and all the major regional and international stakeholders have expressed willingness to accept the framework of the cessation of hostilities. However, violations of the ceasefire are likely, as in any other conflict, de Mistura said. "The UN is not part of addressing the incidents [of ceasefire breaches]," de Mistura emphasized, explaining that the task force of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), as well as its co-chairs (Russia and the United States) are responsible for "addressing the infringements that are likely to take place in order to ensure that they are contained." The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution endorsing the Russia-US agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria on Friday, demanding that all parties strictly comply with the agreement. Permanent Representative of Syria to the United Nations Bashar Jaafari said that the Syrian Army has the right to respond to any violations of the ceasefire. Damascus Reserves Right to Respond to Any Ceasefire Violations in Syria According to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia and the United States can bomb any Syrian militant groups that have expressed their unwillingness to observe the ceasefire. Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting against numerous opposition factions and extremist groups, such as ISIL (also known as Daesh), which is banned in a range of countries, including Russia and the United States. Russia has been launching airstrikes against IS targets in Syria at the request of Assad since late September 2015. A US-led international coalition has been conducting airstrikes against ISIL in Syria since September 2014, without the approval of Damascus or the UN Security Council. A protocol on sanitary requirements for Russian cattle meat earmarked for export to Iran may be signed next week, Russia's agriculture watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said Feb. 27, Sputnik International news agency reported. "The final approval and signing of the protocol on the sanitary requirements for the important of cattle meat is planned at the first meeting of the working group on veterinary and phytosanitary issues from February 29 to March 1 in Tehran," the watchdog said. Russian beef makers would be allowed to begin delivering their products to Iran once the protocol is signed, Rosselkhoznadzor said. The watchdog added that it expected Iran to offer a similar draft agreement on poultry meat in the near future. Iran's veterinary organization experts visited Russia twice this year to test Russian control systems in beef and poultry production. Rosselkhoznadzor said the organization approved meat exports, but first raised the requirement to agree on protocols reflecting sanitary requirements for poultry and boneless cattle meat imports. The Russian watchdog received a draft protocol relating to cattle meat in mid-February, then analyzed and offered its commentary to the document. Hospital employees put inside a 4WD victims of the Nepalese plane crash, for transport to the morgue after the rescue team brought the bodies by helicopter from Pokhara in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Feb. 25 (Photo : Getty Images) A Chinese national was among 23 people killed when an aircraft of crashed in central Nepal, according a spokesman from the airline. "Among the 18 passengers, two are foreigners including one Chinese and one Kuwaiti national," Bhim Raj Rai, Media Officer at Tara Airlines, told the state-owned Xinhua News Agency on Wednesday. Advertisement The Chinese national was identified as a Hong Kong resident with the surname Mak, said Xinhua. The aircraft was carrying 18 passengers including two infants and three crew members. The Twin Otter aircraft was flying from the city of Pokhara to Jomsom municipality on Wednesday morning when it lost contact a few minutes after taking off from the airport. It was later found to have crashed in a heavily forested area in Myagdi district, some 300 km from the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu. According to police, the plane was completely engulfed by fire after colliding into the trees. "The plane is still burning [when we arrived]. Some bodies are scattered outside whereas some are still inside the plane. There are no signs of lives [sic], the bodies are not in identifiable position at all," a police officer told Xinhua over the phone. Most of the bodies were retrieved on Wednesday evening and were charred beyond recognition, said Bishwa Raj Khadka, deputy police superintendent for Myagdi district. Myagdi residents saw flames shooting up from a forest and called security officials, Nepali Tourism and Aviation Minister Ananda Pokharel told CNN. Tara Air said in a statement on its website that it is working to assist the families and friends of the passengers and crew. "We cannot undo the pain and grief they feel, but we can share their burden of dealing with this tragedy," the company said. The Twin Otter plane is not the first aircraft to have crashed along the same route, which is known for its harsh weather and rugged terrain. In 2012, an Agni Air plane flying from Pokhara to Jomsom crashed, killing 15 of its 21 passengers. Thousands joined the protest in New York to show their support for Peter Liang. (Photo : REUTERS) The conviction of Peter Liang, a Chinese-American and former police officer in New York who shot an unarmed black man, has led to protests from Asian-Americans, resulting in a divide in their community about whether he has been victimized because of his race, as reported by Mashable. Advertisement On Saturday, around 10,000 people, mostly Asian-Americans, held a rally to support Peter Liang, who shot and killed Akai Gurley in a dark stairwell in the Louis Pink Houses in Brooklyn, New York, in Nov. 2014. The demonstrators gathered across from the Brooklyn courthouse where Liang was convicted, holding signs that read "One tragedy, two victims" and chanting "No scapegoat! No scapegoat!" According to Liang's supporters, Liang was discriminated against and used as a scapegoat. They claimed that the evidence used against him was not as strong as recent cases involving white police officers killing unarmed black people yet walked free. "All the policemen have no punishment for all they did," said Tommy Shi, a resident of Manhattan, to the New York Times. "Peter Liang is a scapegoat for all this. . . . That's why we stand for Peter Liang." On Feb. 11, the jury at Liang's trial came back with a guilty verdict following two days of deliberation, making it the first time an NYPD officer has been convicted in a line-of-duty shooting in more than a decade. The prosecution argued that Liang's reckless actions led to Gurley's death, while his defense argued that the shooting, while tragic, was not the result of Liang committing a crime. Liang's partner testified against him, as well as Gurley's girlfriend, who said he was more worried about how it would affect his job rather than try to get medical assistance for Gurley, who was dying on the floor. However, the demonstrators believe that Liang's gun firing was an accident. According to Liang's supporters, he had his gun drawn while he and his partner were patrolling the Louis Pink Houses. When he opened the door in the stairwell, his gun fired, and a bullet ricocheted off a wall, hitting Gurley. Not all Asian-Americans have been supportive of Liang. Annie Tan, an Asian-American writing for Medium, said she hoped the event would start a dialogue in the Asian-American community. "I urge my Chinese-American and Asian-American communities to think long and hard about which side of history we are on and what it means to support Officer Liang," said Tan. China to Run Out of Phosphorus in 35 Years If Unsustainable Use Continues: Study Chinese scientists found that farmers had overused phosphorus in 2012, averaging 80 kg of phosphorus per hectare for crop production, far higher than the average level among developed countries. (Photo : REUTERS) A new study by Chinese scientists has found that China's reserves of phosphorus, one of the key elements for growing food, could be drained within the next 35 years if the country maintains its current production rate, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Advertisement But the country may still delay exhausting its phosphorus reserves by more than 20 years if it would improve the agronomic use efficiency of the mineral to the average level of 80 percent, similar to that in developed countries, without impairing current crop yields, according to the study, published this week in the U.S. journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Zengwei Yuan of Nanjing University and colleagues made a model the phosphorous cycle in China since the 1600s to evaluate the mineral's potential for eutrophication, which may lead to algal blooms, plant overcrowding and oxygen depletion. The researchers found that phosphorus mining intensified in China, particularly during the last 60 years, to feed rising populations and supply the demand for animal protein. According to the researchers, China's annual phosphorus extraction reached 12.50 million metric tons in 2012, accounting for over 40 percent of the global phosphorus production. They said that about 70 percent of the domestically mined phosphorus was used to make synthetic fertilizers. The study also indicated that Chinese farmers had overused phosphorus. In 2012, an average use of 80 kilograms of phosphorus per hectare were used for crop production in China, more than double the figure that can be assimilated by crops and far higher than the average level among developed countries. On the other hand, only 4 percent of natural phosphorus resources were eventually ingested by Chinese residents in 2012, which is lower than the 5 percent in the United States. Since 2003, when it became a net phosphorus exporter, China has exported mainly phosphorus-containing chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides, while importing crops, specifically soybeans from the Argentina, Brazil and the US. This resulted in the rapid accumulation of phosphorous in China's surface waters and lands in the last decade. Based on the researchers' analysis, high phosphorous emission densities and their potential eutrophication effects occurred mainly in prosperous eastern coastal provinces, which have relatively higher population density. In eastern China, the average phosphorous emission density was 495 kilograms per square kilometer per year, eightfold higher than in western areas. "The findings showed that unreasonable exploitation and utilization of phosphorus resources is intensifying China's phosphorus crisis, with water eutrophication problem that comes with the crisis becoming increasingly apparent," Yuan told Xinhua. "Our work highlighted the importance and urgency of sustainable utilization of China's phosphorus resources." U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi seen before a meeting at the State Department in Washington on Tuesday. (Photo : Getty Images/ Saul Loeb ) The United States and China have agreed on a U.N. Security Council draft resolution, which aims at toughening sanctions against an obstinate North Korea. A vote on the resolution is expected soon. The agreement comes following a series of meetings in Washington between the visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday and with the U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice on Wednesday. The U.S. and China, which hold veto powers as permanent members of the U.N., had been holding parleys on a draft resolution since North Korea went ahead with its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6, reported Fox News. Advertisement After the U.N. resolution comes in force, it will allow inspections of all cargo moving into and out of North Korea. At the same time, it would ban the export of all aviation fuel, counting rocket fuel, to North Korea and also blacklist the individuals as well as entities associated with Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. This is the first time that China has consented to comprehensive sanctions against its neighbor. In spite of the Security Council's condemnation of the previous nuclear tests by Pyongyang earlier, China only consented to weapons transfer ban and limited sanctions against North Korea, especially those associated with the country's nuclear program, Reuters reported. While the U.S., its allies in the West and Japan demanded more comprehensive sanctions, which would go beyond Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs, China was against imposing measures that might possibly be a threat to North Korea's stability and even result in the collapse of the country's economy. Even on Tuesday Wang asserted that only the new U.N. resolution would not help to resolve the issue and stressed on a dialogue with the country's rulers. In fact, there is no certainty on whether or not the proposed sanctions would be able to prevent North Korea from pursuing its nuclear and missile programs. Several efforts to thwart the country's nuclear program in the past were not implemented wholly or have succeeded in preventing North Korea from building its nuclear arsenal. Moreover, it is also not sure whether China would follow the resolution in letter and spirit this time. Meanwhile, U.S. officials refused to provide the text of the proposed resolution. Nevertheless, it is believed that the proposed measures would include banning trade in conventional weapons and aviation fuel to North Korea. In addition, the proposal also calls for blacklisting several individuals and companies, which have been accused of illegally supplying the country with nuclear material. Watch the video on the U.S. Congress approves new sanctions against North Korea below: China and the United States have agreed on the new sanctions on North Korea drafted by the United Nations. (Photo : REUTERS) China and the United States have agreed Wednesday, Feb. 24, on a proposed UN resolution on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and will not accept Pyongyang as a nuclear weapons state, according to White House and United Nations diplomats. A statement released by the White House said that U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi have agreed during a meeting "on the importance of a strong and united international response to North Korea's provocations, including through a U.N. Security Council resolution that goes beyond previous resolutions." Advertisement A report by China Daily said that the statement came as diplomats at the U.N. headquarters in New York announced that U.S. and China had agreed on a draft resolution to new sanctions on the DPRK with the Security Council set to vote on the measure in the coming days. According to diplomats who asked not to be identified, the U.S. circulated the draft of the sanctions to the other permanent members of the Security Council (Britain, France and Russia) on Wednesday, Feb. 24, and will formally present it to the full 15-member council soon. "There is good progress on the resolution, and we are hopeful that there will be adoption in the coming days," one diplomat said. Another diplomat described the draft resolution as a "significantly substantive text," while yet another said it contained "a large number of very tough measures," with names to be added to the sanctions blacklist. Beijing did not comment on the White House statement, but Hua Chunying, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman cited Foreign Minister Wang's remarks during Wednesday's joint news conference with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, that Beijing and Washington made important progress in the new resolution against the DPRK and are "looking at the possibility of reaching agreement in the near future." China, however, reiterated that the sanctions will not solve the DPRK nuclear issue, and urged all involved parties to return to negotiations, the report said. The agreement was reached during Wang's three-day visit in Washington. The report said that it was the third meeting between Wang and Kerry, and was held within a month after the DPRK conducted a nuclear test in January. Wang also met with U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday. During their meeting, Obama stressed his interest to build a durable, constructive and productive U.S.-China relationship. According to the joint statement, the U.S. president also said he looked forward to welcoming President Xi Jinping to the nuclear security summit in Washington on March 31 to April 1 and "working together toward its success." Zuo Xiying, an international studies specialist at the National Academy of Development and Strategy of Renmin University of China, said the agreements reached between the two countries are beneficial to building up the strategic trust between the two countries. The unexpected changes on the Korean Peninsula and recent rising tensions in the South China Sea have prompted the frequent meeting between Wang and Kerry, Shi Yinhong, a professor of U.S. studies at Renmin University of China, said. Meanwhile, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, Feb. 25, that a senior U.S. diplomat will make a two-day visit to South Korea this week for talks about the DPRK nuclear and missile programs. As the company enters 2017 with such high-level goals, Wang assures the public of his easy-going nature. (Photo : REUTERS) For the first time, the number of Chinese billionaires has overtaken that of the U.S., according to the Hurun Global Rich List 2016 released on Wednesday, Feb. 24, the Global Times reported. There are 568 billionaires in China while the U.S. has 535, with both countries accounting for half of the Hurun list. According to the report, the number of Chinese billionaires has risen 80 percent since 2013. Advertisement Hurun said that Beijing is now the new "Billionaire Capital of the World," taking away the title from New York for the first time. The report also named four other Chinese cities which made the top 10 for rich people: Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hangzhou. According to the Global Times, at least 2,188 billionaires from 68 countries and regions were ranked by the Hurun Global Rich List 2016, up 99 from last year, for another record-breaking year for the world's billionaires. Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft Corp., retained the top spot with a total wealth of $80 billion, followed by Warren Buffett with $68 billion and Amancio Ortega with $64 billion. Among the wealthy Chinese, Wang Jianlin, chairman of Dalian Wanda Group, was the richest with $26 billion, ranking 21st in the world, just ahead of Jack Ma Yun, executive chairman of global e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding, with $21 billion, the report said. A CNBC report said that China's billionaire population first surpassed the U.S. in August, and grew by a total of 90 last year. The report said that Hurun's numbers are debatable and they differ from those of Forbes and other research firms which put the U.S. ahead of China in billionaire count. In Forbes' 2015 China report, it counted 335 billionaires in China compared with 536 in the U.S. The report added that although the list has made a new record, Hurun said that the billionaire growth worldwide is slowing along with the economy as the total wealth of the world's billionaires grew 9 percent in 2015 to $7.3 trillion, more than the combined GDPs of Germany and the U.K. "Despite its own slowdown and falling stockmarkets, China minted more new billionaires than any other country in the world last year, mainly on the back of new listings," Rupert Hoogewerf, chairman and chief researcher of Hurun Report, said. CNBC, however, said that Hoogewerf could not be reached for comment on why Hurun's numbers differ from Forbes', but he previously told CNBC that Hurun's China count is low. "For every billionaire that Hurun Report has found, I estimate we have missed at least two," Hoogewerf said last year. "Some people deliberately make their wealth a secret because . . . they gained it through illegal ways. Some others simply prefer to keep a low profile." According to the Hurun list, the main source of wealth for China's billionaires is real estate which produced 117 billionaires, manufacturing with 94, and technology with 68. The report said that China has the largest number of billionaires under age 40, numbering 28, and it also has the largest number of self-made women, with 93 out of 124 self-made women billionaires worldwide. Chinese search engine giant Baidu is facing charges of illicit competition after LeTV filed a lawsuit against the company for blocking its ads. (Photo : REUTERS) Chinese search engine Baidu is facing charges of illicit competition after online video website LeTV filed a lawsuit against the Internet giant for allegedly blocking all advertisements while grabbing and playing the online stream of LeTV, according to a Beijing court on Monday, Feb. 22. The Haidian District People's Court said that LeTV failed to earn from advertising revenue as the pre-roll, webpage and cut-in ads are blocked without authorization when users watch the LeTV online stream via the Baidu Video app, China Daily reported. Advertisement The report said that because the ads were blocked, users only saw videos without reference to LeTV and mistook Baidu as the source of the video. LeTV requested Baidu to stop the illicit competition and asked for compensation of 1 million yuan ($153,400). The report said that the court has accepted the case, but did not disclose the hearing date. LeTV, or Leshi Internet Information Technology Corp., was established in 2004 and listed in Shenzhen. It has a total market value of around 100 billion yuan. According to reports, it was not the first time that Baidu got itself involved in a legal issue. In 2013, a group of Chinese companies that include video hosting services Youku Tudou, Sohu, and Tencent's qq.com filed a $48.9 million lawsuit against Baidu. In the same year, Baidu, together with Tencent, filed an unfair competition lawsuit against Qihoo, for stealing its website content and infringing on its Internet service protocols. The Beijing High People's Court ruled in favor of Baidu and ordered Qihoo to pay a fine of 450,000 yuan ($72,000), as reported by zdnet.com. Baidu won one of its biggest cases in 2014 when a U.S. court dismissed a lawsuit against the Chinese tech giant in a case about censorship and free speech. The lawsuit was filed by a group of eight New York-based content producers who said that Baidu's search engine algorithms block material in the U.S. based on the Chinese government's heavy censorship laws, which violates the U.S. Constitution. But U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman in Manhattan disagreed and said "the First Amendment protects Baidu's right to advocate for systems of government other than democracy (in China or elsewhere) just as surely as it protects plaintiffs' rights to advocate for democracy." Visitors snap photos beside military hardware at the Military Museum as a Chinese-made Hongqi-2 surface-to-air missile stands on display in the background in Beijing. (Photo : Getty Images/Frederic J. Brown) China is fast becoming a major arms exporter worldwide, second only to the United States and Russia. The country's arms exports increased by 88 percent between the periods 2006-2010 and 2011-2015, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said in a report on Monday. Advertisement While other countries like the United States, Russia and Britain also witnessed an increase in their arms exports during the corresponding period, they were no match to China, the report stated. It also pointed out that arms exporting countries like Germany, France and the Netherlands suffered significant declines during this period. According to SIPRI, Pakistan, Myanmar and Bangladesh are the major procurers of Chinese arms in the Asia-Pacific region. "All three states are neighbors of India, the leading importer of arms in the region," the report observed, adding Pakistan spent $2.9 billion on Chinese arms, while Bangladesh and Myanmar spent $1.6 billion and $1.3 billion, respectively. Countries in the Asia-Pacific region are spending heavily on arms procurement and this trend is likely to continue, CNN reported, quoting another report published by the defense research firm IHS Jane's on Sunday. According to this report, it is expected that by 2020 countries in this region would be spending 33 percent of the entire global expenditure on arms procurement. Interestingly, arms procurement by the Chinese military from abroad has become fewer and fewer over the past few years, as the country has developed its own arms manufacturing units. At the beginning of this century, China was considered "by far the largest importer," but now it ranks third after India and Saudi Arabia. Noting that China still needs to purchase specific military items such as large transport aircraft and engines, the IHS Jane's report said, "China is increasingly capable of producing its own advanced weapons and has become less dependent on arms imports." Domestic arms production is a top priority for the Chinese authorities, who have already reduced expenditure on other fields with a view to make rapid advances in weapon production. For instance, in 2009, Chinese hackers were suspected of stealing the blueprints of Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to develop the groundwork for the country's next-generation stealth fighter jet, the J-20. In fact, the aircraft is already under production, The Fiscal Times reported. Meanwhile, the flexing expanding military capacities of the country have resulted in tensions in the Asia-Pacific region. China is particularly embroiled in a number of territorial disputes in the South China Sea Watch the video "China's arms exports double in five years" below: To share with friends and brethren The Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (the Everlasting Gospel), and to prepare a people to stand when He returns to redeem His remnant. Also, to share relevant information of current events, and to show how they relate to prophecy; By means of articles, editorials, opinions, scripture readings, and poetry. Disclaimer Endrtimes does not necessarily endorse or agree with every opinion expressed in every article/video posted on this site. The information provided here is done so for personal edification; It's up to the reader to separate truth from error, and to examine everything (like the Bereans) from a Biblical perspective. Let the Holy Scriptures be you guide! - - - FAIR USE NOTICE: These pages/videos may contain copyrighted () material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of ecological, POLITICAL, HUMAN RIGHTS, economic, DEMOCRACY, scientific, MORAL, ETHICAL, and SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior general interest in receiving similar information for research and educational purposes. All 18 are from the same village in Kafr El-Sheikh Libyan border guards arrested 18 Egyptian fishermen on Friday night for entering Libyan waters, Egypt's state agency MENA reported. All 18 fishermen are from the village of Borg Meghizel in the Nile Delta governorate of Kafr El-Sheikh, according to the head of the provincial fishermen's syndicate, Ahmed Nassar. In a similar incident, Egypt's foreign ministry on Thursday announced the release of 13 fishermen who had been detained at Al-Hudaydah port in Yemen. Officials from the port, which is currently under the control of the Houthi rebels, had detained the sailors when their boat accidentally hit the landing stage of the port, according to the Egyptian ministry statement. Similar temporary detentions of Egyptian fishermen took place in Sudan and Tunisia last year. Search Keywords: Short link: Flights have been suspended since the crash of a Russian airliner in October 2015 UK-based airline EasyJet will resume flights to Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh on 29 May if the current ban on flights from the UK to the resort is lifted, the company said. "If the UK government does not approve the resumption of flying, we will have to cancel the flights from and to Stansted airport nearer the time and you will have the option to either use the full value of your booking to travel to any other destination on the EasyJet network, or receive a full refund," a copy of a statement to customers reads. Meanwhile, EasyJet's Egypt ground operations manager, Mina Roufail, told Ahram Online that flights between London and Sharm El-Sheikh are planned to take place twice a week. "Flights will only be operating from London Stansted Airport; all other flights from other airports in London were cancelled due to the reduced number of customers now wanting to make the trip," he said. A number of countries suspended flights to Sharm El-Sheikh in November over security concerns after the crash of a Russian airliner in Sinai in October, killing all 224 people on board. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for downing the plane, and Russian officials confirmed in November that it was a terrorist attack. Egypt has not yet released its final official report on the disaster, maintaining in its most recent statements that its technical investigative committee "has so far not received any evidence indicating criminal or terrorist activity." Search Keywords: Short link: A number of imprisoned journalists in Al-Aqrab prison have gone on hunger strike to protest mistreatment Egypts Journalists Syndicate has filed a complaint with the prosecution and the interior ministry criticising the mistreatment of a group of imprisoned journalists. The syndicate, in a statement on its website, said that journalists in Al-Aqrab prison were housed in mouldy, poorly ventilated cells, and had not seen their allotted time for exercise decreased or cancelled altogether. The syndicate didnt give exact figures of the journalists in Al-Aqrab prison, who have declared hunger strike to protest their conditions. According to the international Committee to Protect Journalists, Egypt was the "second worst" jailer of journalists worldwide in 2015, after China. In an interview with Ahram Online in 2015, syndicate official Khaled El-Balshy said that there were then 32 journalists in detention in Egypt, including 18 in cases related to their journalism. Between seven and nine were in dire need of medical care. The Egyptian government has repeatedly denied that journalists behind bars have been arrested or detained as a result of their journalistic work, citing other charges against them. The authorities have also denied that systematic violations take place inside Egypt's prisons. The syndicates complaint urged an inquiry into the violations against journalists inside prison, and called for their conditions to be improved, for suitable healthcare to be provided, and for their families to be allowed to visit them. Search Keywords: Short link: The country has enjoyed unseasonably warm weather for this time of the year Egypt will witness warmer weather on Sunday than on Saturday. The country has been hit by unseasonably warm weather for this time of the year, Egypts meteorological authority told state news agency MENA. Temperatures in Cairo will reach highs of 28 degrees Celsius on Sunday compared to highs of 24 on Saturday. Lows in Cairo will reach 15 degrees on Sunday, while in the coastal city of Alexandria temperatures will range between 24 and 12 degrees. Temperatures in the resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh will range between 29 and 16 degrees. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt MP and high-profile TV anchor Tawfik Okasha insisted that his meeting with the Israeli ambassador last week did not go against the constitution or parliamentary rules When Egypt's parliament holds a plenary session on Sunday, colourful MP Tawfik Okasha will have to face the music, having scandalised his colleagues by inviting the Israeli ambassador to dinner. A mixture of MPs, both independent and party-allied, have tabled requests with parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Al that asking that Okasha be punished for "committing the unprecedented crime of meeting with Israel's ambassador in Egypt" at his home in Daqahliya governorate. The majority of MPs, led by novelist Youssef El-Qaeed, were angered by Okasha holding a meeting with Ambassador Haim Koren and talking about politics with him, in what they called "a violation of the Egyptian people's campaign aimed at halting any moves towards normalisation with Israeli officials. El-Qaeed, a presidential appointee to the house, told reporters on Saturday that a statement entitled "MPs against normalisation" will be delivered by the Social Justice parliamentary bloc during Sunday's session. "After gathering the signatures of many MPs in support of our statement," said El-Qaeed, "we will ask speaker Abdel-Al to refer Okasha to either an ethics committee or let MPs vote whether Okasha be stripped of his parliamentary membership altogether." Okasha is also facing the charge of insulting the speaker during an exchange last week. According to El-Qaeed, "Okasha's meeting with Israel's ambassador represents a crime against Egypt's new parliament and its MPs." "This was the first time in the history of Egypt's relations with the Israeli enemy that Israel's ambassador went outside Cairo to meet with an MP in his home," said El-Qaeed. "While each Egyptian MP represents the nation as a whole, the nation still considers Israel as Egypt's first enemy, as long as it abuses the rights of the Palestinians," said El-Qaeed. According to the statement, MPs were also appalled that Okasha had asked the Israeli ambassador to visit parliament. "MPs would rather set the building of Egypt's parliament on fire than have the Israeli ambassador visit it," said the statement. The statement also directed a question to Prime Minister Sherif Ismail and Interior Minister Magdi Abdel-Ghaffar, requesting to know "how the Israeli ambassador was able to leave his home in Cairo to go to another governorate." "Okasha is by no means authorised to invite any ambassadors - and Israel's ambassador in particular - to the Egyptian parliament," the statement argued. The Social Justice bloc includes around eleven MPs, but its statement was able to gather the support of more than a hundred. The Support Egypt" coalition, another parliamentary bloc with more than 250 MPs, also announced that they condemn Okasha's meeting with Israel's ambassador and have said that they will not hesitate voting in favour of any decision against him. Ihab Ghatati, an MP from Giza and a member of the Support Egypt coalition, told reporters last week that he would organise a sit-in for two hours each day if parliament failed to approve that Okasha's membership of the body be terminated. Mostafa Bakry, an independent MP and journalist well-known for his fiery anti-American and anti-Israeli rhetoric, said he has also tabled an "urgent statement", requesting that Okasha be referred to questioning before a special parliamentary committee. "Okasha's three-hour meeting with the Israeli ambassador on 24 February represents a violation of the national security of Egypt," said Bakri. According to Bakri, Okasha has committed three crimes. First, he urged the Israeli ambassador to request his government mediate between Egypt and Ethiopia to help solve the problem of Ethiopia's Grand Nile Renaissance dam in exchange for providing Israel with 1 billion cubic metres of Egypt's quota of Nile water," said Bakry. "The second crime is that he urged Israel to build 10 schools on Egyptian land in compensation for the Israeli air strikes that demolished Bahr Al-Baqr elementary school in Sharqiya governorate [in April 1970], and the third is that Okasha always likes to describe Egyptians as schizophrenic, refusing to consort with Israel despite having approved of a peace treaty with the Jewish state in 1979 in a public referendum." Bakry queried Okasha's right to discuss highly sensitive and sovereign political and economic issues with the ambassador of a foreign country without prior approval. MPs said Okasha's meeting with the ambassador contravenes Article 110 of the constitution and Article 370 of parliament's internal bylaws, stating that MPs who violate or fail to abide by the rules of their duties could lose their parliamentary membership upon the approval of two-thirds of MPs. Okasha, a controversial media figure and presenter on his own Al-Faraeen channel, who often pins the blame for Egypt's problems on an American-Zionist conspiracy strongly defended himself on Saturday in a meeting with a limited number of parliamentary correspondents. Okasha said he had full constitutional authority to invite Israel's ambassador to his home, have dinner with him and discuss a variety of political issues. "I know that such a move could represent an affront to the feelings of most Egyptians who still reject normalising relations with Israel," said Okasha. "I tell those who aim to go too far to the extent of describing my meeting with Israel's ambassador as a crime and even threatening to organise a sit-in that what you do is just a kind of media show, and that you are still in 'kindergarten' politics." Okasha cited Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Magdi El-Agati as stating that "Egypt parliament's by-laws does not include any article that prevents MPs from consorting with Israel." By contrast, argued Okasha, the Egyptian constitution stresses that the state must fully respect its international agreements, not to mention that Egypt and Israel have full diplomatic relations. Okasha claimed that many constitutional experts assured him that it would be a grave mistake by Abdel-Al if he allowed MPs to target him with requests and urgent statements on Sunday. "They told me that Article 93 of the constitution obliges the state to respect its international agreements and that Article 151 grants the president of the republic the right to sign and ratify foreign agreements and treaties only upon parliament's approval," said Okasha, adding that "this means that MPs and parliament are granted a say in the state's policies and treaties and how they should be implemented." According to Okasha, the Camp David accords in 1978 and the peace treaty in 1979, signed by late president Anwar El-Sadat, is clear in stating that both Egypt and Israel must do their best to have normal ties in terms of forging full diplomatic, economic and cultural relations, and halt any kind of boycott or hurdles that might block free movement of goods and individuals between the two countries. Leftist MP Kamal Ahmed told reporters that although he is against Okasha meeting with Israel's ambassador on personal grounds he agrees that neither the constitution nor parliament's internal by-laws impose penalties on MPs who might contact Israel officials. Deputy speaker El-Sayed El-Sherif accused Okasha of grandstanding. "This is a maverick MP who wants to steal the show all the time," said El-Sherif. But he warned that "any action against Okasha could send a message that Egypt's parliament is acting against the state's policies and its accords with foreign countries." "I think Okasha's punishment should be left to the people and voters, rather than to parliament and MPs," he said. An Israeli state-affiliated news website, Al-Masdar, reported on 24 February that Koren was surprised by Okasha inviting him to a dinner meeting at his home. "I know that Egyptian MPs still insist on boycotting Israel, but I know that MP Okasha has his own parameters," said Koren according to the report, adding that "Okasha was able to win the admiration of millions of Egyptians who are always keen to watch his talk show on his private channel Al-Faraeen." "Okasha on last week's show extended an invitation to me to meet him in his home to discuss the economic problems that Egyptian people are suffering from," said Koren. "Okasha told me that he believes that Israel is the key to solving Egypt's problems, the ambassador said. Search Keywords: Short link: El-Sisi and Japanese officials are expected to exchange views on how they can reinforce political and economic cooperation between their respective countries Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is set to give a speech in front of the Japanese parliament on Monday during his visit to Tokyo amid his third Asian tour, the state owned MENA agency reported. According to MENA, Japanese diplomatic sources have deemed the speech "historic," with El-Sisi the first Arab president, among only a few other world leaders, to deliver a speech in front of the Japanese parliament. The Egyptian president is expected to meet with senior officials during his visit to Tokyo that will start Sunday evening, including Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Japanese Emperor Akihito. He will also meet the head of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, as well as Tokyo's governor. El-Sisi will also hold a meeting with Japanese businessmen and will attend an economic forum organised by the Egyptian-Japanese Business Council. Earlier in February, Egypt's trade and industry minister, Tarek Qabil, said that El-Sisi's visit counts as an important step towards enhancing economic, trade and investment relations between the two countries. Qabil described the visit as a good opportunity to discuss investment opportunities in Egypt and establish partnerships between the Egyptian and Japanese private sectors at a time when Egypt is launching several national mega-projects. In November 2015, Egypt's ambassador to Japan, Ismail Khairat, said that Japan was committed to financing a solar power plant in Hurghada at a cost of $100 million, the first deal of its kind between the two countries in the renewable energy field. Search Keywords: Short link: Some Egyptian doctors working in public hospitals begun to provide medical services to patients for free on Saturday, implementing a decision taken by a general assembly of the country's Doctors Syndicate on 12 February. In an official statement, the syndicate said that the participation of doctors in the initiative to provide medical services for free varied in different governorates, with 80 percent participating in Damietta, Sohag, and Menoufiya, 75 percent in Luxor, 50 percent in Beni Suef, and the Red Sea, 60 percent in Sharqiya and Assiut, and 40 percent in Daqahliya. The syndicate said in a previous statement that the decision was taken "in accordance with Article 18 of the constitution" and two prime ministerial decisions. The article says in part "every citizen has the right to health and to comprehensive health care which complies with quality standards." The syndicate said that doctors in the Fayoum and Minya governorates didn't implement the decision. Eleven hospitals in Cairo, including Mounira General Hospital and Dar El-Salam Hospital, participated effectively, the syndicate said. The health ministry, however, said in a statement on Saturday that all its hospitals were working as usual; spokesman Khaled Megahed said that hospitals witnessed "a normal working day". On Friday, Health Minister Ahmed Emad sent a brochure to ministry hospitals explaining that work inside them was regulated by internal by-laws, adding that following such by-laws was essential. Emad pointed that the abstention of an employee from collecting fees for services would subject the employee to questioning, as they would have abstained from enforcing the law and would have wasted public funds. More than ten thousand doctors gathered at the syndicate's Cairo headquarters during the general assembly earlier this month. Among the decisions taken by the doctors was the decision to launch limited strikes in protest at alleged police assaults against doctors. Last Saturday, hundreds of Egyptian doctors staged a one-hour demonstration in front of their hospitals over an alleged assault on doctors in Matariya hospital by two policemen. The demonstrations called for a secure work environment for doctors, demanded the assailants be held accountable, and called for the drafting of legislation imposing heavy penalties on those who assault doctors. Search Keywords: Short link: The United Nations Security Council on Friday unanimously demanded that all parties to the civil war in Syria comply with the terms of a US-Russian deal on a "cessation of hostilities" due to take effect at midnight local time (2200 GMT). The demand was included in a resolution drafted jointly by Russia and the United States that also urged the government and opposition to resume UN-brokered peace talks. Before the 15-nation council voted, UN Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura told its members via video link from Geneva that he intends to reconvene peace talks on March 7 provided the halt in fighting largely holds and allows for greater delivery of humanitarian relief. The council demanded "that all parties to whom the cessation of hostilities applies ... fulfil their commitments." It also urged "all Member States, especially ISSG (International Syria Support Group) members, to use their influence with the parties to the cessation of hostilities to ensure fulfillment of those commitments and to support efforts to create conditions for a durable and lasting ceasefire." De Mistura had abruptly aborted a first round of talks on Feb. 3 and urged countries in the International Syria Support Group, led by the United States and Russia, to do more preparatory work. "It is going to be extremely challenging, especially at the outset, to make this work," US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power told the council. "Even a partial de-escalation would make a real difference in the lives of Syrians." She added that any violations of the cessation of hostilities must be met with a "sober, coordinated response." Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told the council that "we now have a real chance to end violence and to step up our collective combat against terrorism." He added that it would also be an opportunity to boost humanitarian aid relief. Syrian Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari expressed the "readiness of the Syrian government to participate in every effort" to press ahead with a Syrian-led peace process. The council meeting was delayed by half an hour as the United States and Russia engaged in last-minute negotiations on the text, diplomats told Reuters. Among the changes was the removal of two references to the Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee (HNC), a Syrian opposition coalition that Russia and Iran do not consider to be a legitimate representative in the peace talks. British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said the HNC references were "regrettably" removed. Kurtis Cooper, spokesman for the US mission to the United Nations, said Washington had to accept the deletion in exchange for not including references to Russian-backed meetings on Syria that were held in Moscow and Cairo. French Ambassador Francois Delattre was cautious. "Resumption of (peace) discussions will only be possible if the agreed-upon commitments are strictly implemented by the regime and foreign powers that support it," he said, He said he was disturbed by the "intensification of bombings by the Syrian army and Russia, a few hours only before the start of the (halt)." Search Keywords: Short link: A number of shells hit residential neighbourhoods in the Syrian capital on Saturday, the state news agency reported, hours after a ceasefire agreed by world powers began. Citing a military source, SANA said "terrorist groups" fired shells from neighbourhoods east of Damascus, but it did not report any casualties. It was the first reported attack on the capital since a ceasefire began at midnight. A security source in the capital told AFP that there were no casualties when about 10 shells hit the Abbasiyeen neighbourhood. A resident confirmed that shells had struck the district in the late morning. Syria's armed forces issued a statement warning against "the consequences of such actions" and called on civilians to remain committed to "local reconciliation". The army "calls on the residents of these neighbourhoods to put pressure on this terrorist minority so they do not end efforts to bring security and stability" to Syria, according to a statement carried by SANA. It appeared to play down the attack, saying the army "was confident that most citizens are eager" to avoid an eruption in hostilities. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said it did not record any attacks on central Damascus on Saturday. Tensions are high as rebels have also accused the government of intermittent "truce violations" in parts of the country on Saturday. The ceasefire does not include jihadist groups. More than 270,000 people have been killed in Syria's war, which will reach its five-year mark next month. Search Keywords: Short link: The United States and its allies targeted Islamic State (IS) group in Iraq with 14 strikes on Friday and also hit the militant group with eight strikes in Syria on the same day, the US military said on Saturday. Seven of the strikes in Iraq were near Mosul in the north, hitting two IS tactical units and five fighting positions, the military said. Five of the strikes in Syria destroyed two IS buildings near Al Hawl. The US military gives daily updates on strikes against IS in Iraq and Syria. Search Keywords: Short link: Fear and loathing is striking congressional Republicans faced with the distinct possibility of having Donald Trump as their presidential nominee. "My party has gone batshit crazy," says South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who called Trump a "nut job" and maintains that the billionaire businessman would inflict as much damage to Republicans as the iceberg did to the Titanic. Republicans share a palpable fear that Trump would alienate Hispanics, minorities, independents and women, driving them to vote Democratic in November and costing Republicans the presidency, its Senate majority and suddenly competitive House seats. With the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, the ideological balance of the Supreme Court for decades also is at stake. Republican incumbents clearly understand that the only option is to run a flawless campaign. "My campaign is going to be about who I am and what I've done," said Rep. Ryan Costello of Pennsylvania, a freshman facing a potentially tight re-election race in the Philadelphia suburbs. "And regardless of who the candidate is, I'm going to seek to build my own record and carry my own message in a very personalized way." Trump tightened his grip on front-runner status with a win in Nevada this week and secured the endorsement on Friday of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a boost to his campaign ahead of Super Tuesday voting on March 1 in 11 states. Top rivals, Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, are scrambling for wins that could upend the race. In accepting Christie's backing, Trump insulted Rubio and 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney. Trump "is offensive to an overwhelming majority of people in my district the way he's offensive to me," said freshman Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo of Florida. "Donald Trump does and says things that we teach our children not to do." On immigration, the New York businessman has vowed to end birthright citizenship, build a wall on the Mexican border financed by Mexico and potentially deport millions of immigrants living here illegally. Not surprisingly, 8 in 10 Hispanic voters have a negative view of Trump in a recent Washington Post/Univision poll. That could cause significant problems for Curbelo, whose South Florida district is majority Hispanic and promises one of this fall's most competitive congressional races. "Most people understand that Donald Trump is neither a true Republican nor a true conservative. So I think people view his candidacy in isolation, and they're going to support other candidates they happen to agree with or believe in, regardless of party labels," said Curbelo, who's backing Rubio after initially endorsing Jeb Bush. To be sure, some congressional Republicans see a possible silver lining, uncertain about the consequences of a Trump nomination. They point to record turnout in Republican nominating contestsses and Trump's appeal to middle-class workers, including a traditional Democratic bloc labor. "Donald Trump is, I think, tapping into an energy that is bringing more people out to vote," said Rep. Jeff Denham, whose northern California district went for President Barack Obama twice. "You've got a lot of first-time voters. You've got some new energy. I think it's a different turnout model." Republicans are expected to easily hold their commanding House majority of 246-188 with one vacancy. The Senate is far tougher as Republicans, with a 54-46 advantage, have to defend 24 seats to the Democrats' 10. Seven of the Republican seats are in states Obama won twice Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Illinois, New Hampshire, Iowa and Florida. In the House, Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole says the challenge will be winning in some two dozen districts where Obama won in 2012. Graham, an unsuccessful presidential candidate, says the Republican Party has its best chance in years to win the White House as Democrats are likely to nominate Hillary Clinton, who has been damaged by questions about her trustworthiness. But his party is about to blow it, he said. "The most dishonest person in America is a woman who's about to become president. How could that be? My party has gone batshit crazy," Graham told an audience of lawmakers, journalists and congressional aides at the Washington Press Club Foundation's annual dinner Thursday. Search Keywords: Short link: Based on a true story, The Danish Girl looks into the life of artists Gerda Wegener and her husband Einar Wegener, who was one of the first people to undergo a sex change operation at the dawn of the 1920s, to become the woman Lili Elbe. Directed by Tom Hooper, the film joins the Oscar race competing for best actor (Eddie Redmayne as Einar/Lili), best supporting actress (Alicia Vikander as Gerda) as well as best costume design and best production design. Though The Danish Girl was banned in several Arab countries, it was screened for the general public in select cinemas in Egypt. The film then moved towards screenings across small cultural locations, including most recently in Elbet Alwan in Zamalek. On 1 March, it will be screened in El-Bawabh Documentary space in Dokki, followed by a discussion. It's all about art The Danish Girl is soaked deeply in art. Lili is born from an artistic moment; when Gerdas ballerina model is late she asks Einar to pose for her, wearing stockings and holding a dress. This moment sparks sensual emotions in Einer, that then develop to become Lili. The film also opens with art, as a landscape scene turns into a painting (by Einar) in a gallery. Art is at the core of the story, not only as the characters profession but as a motif that helps feed their transformation. Art runs in parallel to their life, as Einar and Gerda change, so does the artwork that appears in the film. The first time Gerda draws Einar is in the middle of the night, while he lays in bed. The simple drawings are sketched in a moment of tranquility, with a pencil on paper. Detailed but not overworked, the artists pencil sketches act like studies, preliminary thoughts of a project yet to develop. At this point, Einar is just beginning to understand his budding desire to become a woman. His thoughts are also like penciled sketches. On the other hand, Gerda is a strong, witty, bold, energetic woman, proudly concealing any vulnerabilities within her. Einar is a composed, supportive, considerate and attentive partner, who balances her cynical edge. When Gerda draws Einar again, this time portraying him as a woman (Lili), she works quickly and aggressively on a large canvas with wide strokes, using black charcoal and minimal color. Lili emerges on canvas as a nude in an erotic pose. In this transformation Gerda experiences a mixture of frustration, anger and desperation as she works amid fear of losing Einar. She is still composed, yet is starting to break and has doubts. She swings between being mad at him and trying to communicate the way they used to. At the same time Einar is withdrawn in his new thoughts, is nervous and twitchy, smoking a lot, and has visibly lost interest in his own paintings, though he still tries. At this point in the plot, he is starting to be more comfortable as a woman, and relate less to himself as a man. Before this moment, Gerda refused to take Einars transformation to Lili seriously, making her charcoal drawing a statement of acceptance. Her acceptance fully shapes up when Gerda begins painting large portraits of herself with Lili, in full colour. In the paintings they are both dressed elaborately, and though not erotic in nature, the work celebrates an intimate relationship between the two women. During this phase of Gerdas paintings, Einar has fully embraced and become Lili, having undergone her first sex change operation. She is more energetic than Gerda, but now self-absorbed, selfish, sometimes even conceited, and obsessed with appearances, in stark contrast to Einars sensible nature. Gerda has also changed, having accepted that Einar will not return. She now has a sadness overshadowing her feisty demeanour and has lost her natural playfulness, though she humours Lili and supports her fondly. Life imitates art Lilis life is also a theatrical performance of a sort, and the first outfits she wears are from the costume shop, which in one scene she runs to for comfort, like an addict needing a fix. If art is a channel of self-expression, perhaps Lilis transformation itself becomes her art. Her mimicking of womens physical movements and body language, and fascination with the fabrics and dresses she adorns herself in. Even her first lipstick is applied with a brush. All these are forms Lilis art lived through. At the end of Lilis journey, Gerda is drawing her with pencil again. What you draw I become. You made me beautiful and now youre making me strong. Such power in you, Lili tells Gerda after her second operation. Gerdas portraits of Lily are what fed her identity and made it more grounded, realising it from a sketch to a full painting, and back to a fragile sketch again. The art was both inspired by and inspiring to Lili. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: Cairo is expected to see on Saturday a high of 24 degrees Celsius and a low of 16 Egypt's meteorological authority expects a slight and temporary decline in temperatures across Egypt starting Saturday, MENA reported on Friday. Experts say the weather on the northern shores and the capital is expected to be warm during the day with cooler weather at night. Water mist will be causing lowered visibility on Saturday in Cairo, Lower Egypt and Suez Canal governorates, with some clouds expected on the coasts. Cairo will see on Saturday a high of 24 degrees Celsius and a low of 16, while the coastal city of Alexandria is expected to see a high of 23 and a low of 13. Suez Canal cities Port Said, Suez and Ismalia will see a high of 25 and a low of 14. The Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh will see a high of 28 and a low of 18, while Hurghada is expected to see a high of 29 and a low of 14. Search Keywords: Short link: As Al-Ahram Weekly celebrates 25 years since its first edition rolled off the presses in February 1991, the papers Editor-in-Chief looks back on a quarter of a century of its history One afternoon in the spring of 1990, I was on the editing floor of Al-Ahram daily. I was a trainee, moving from one department to another at Al-Ahram, one of the oldest media organisations in the world (Al-Ahram itself will turn 140 this coming August). The then deputy editor-in-chief of the Arabic-language daily approached me and asked me to come to his office. He told me that Al-Ahram was starting an English-language weekly newspaper and that my name had been put forward, among those of several other young men and women, to help found the newspaper and carry it into the future. The first issue of the Al-Ahram Weekly appeared on Thursday 28 February 1991. The edition you are reading now appears a quarter of a century later on the Weeklys silver jubilee. Over these years, the Weekly has observed and chronicled events in Egypt, the Middle East and the world, making its mark in the history of the regional and international press. It hopes to continue to do so for many more years to come. In February 1991, anxiety and uncertainty hovered over the region and the world because of events in the Gulf, where all eyes were riveted on Operation Desert Storm. On that Thursday 25 years ago, Iraq announced its acceptance of all the UN resolutions concerning the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. After then-Iraqi President Saddam Hussein launched an invasion of neighbouring Kuwait on 2 August 1990, an international coalition, led by the US, was forged to liberate the country. Among its 34 members were many Arab countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Syria, Morocco and Bahrain. Jordan and Yemen opposed the operation, and Algeria, Tunisia, the PLO, Mauritania, Sudan and Libya voiced reservations. The Arab League secretary-general at the time, the Tunisian Chedli Klibi, tendered his resignation during the build-up to the war against Iraq. These extremely fraught moments ushered in the beginning of the end of the already frail edifice of the Arab order, which afterwards continued to fissure and crumble. Operation Desert Storm not only drove Iraqi forces out of Kuwait, but it also led to the destruction of the Iraqi army and Republican Guard, previously one of the strongest armies in the region and the world. Iraq itself was subjected to a 13-year international blockade. The period also saw the first Iraqi Scud missiles fired in the directions of Tel Aviv and Riyadh, though they made no military or strategic impact. Perhaps the two most important outcomes of the war, apart from the collapse of the Iraqi army and the blockade of Iraq, were the permanent presence of foreign military forces in the Gulf region, based primarily in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, and the Madrid Conference that opened on 30 October 1991 and hosted bilateral peace talks between Israel and Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine, and multilateral talks on questions that required cooperation among all the parties concerned. Convened in response to an initiative by the then US president, George Bush Sr, in the aftermath of the Gulf War, the conference was held under the patronage of the US and the former USSR following agreement that it would be held on the basis of the principle of land for peace and UN Security Council Resolutions 242, 338 and 425. The Jordanian and Palestinian delegations attended separately, while Syria and Lebanon attended jointly to maintain unified positions on what they insisted was a single negotiating track. Numerous rounds of negotiations, backpedalling, concessions, reversals and the like led to the Oslo 1, Oslo 2, Wye River and Taba meetings, the Hamas coup in Gaza, and the current Palestinian schism we see today. In 1991, Cairo University, where I was studying at the time, was also the scene of daily demonstrations against the Gulf War. Students and large portions of the Egyptian public from across the political spectrum took part in the protests, as was the case elsewhere in the Arab world, which was divided between Desert Storm supporters, opponents and sceptics. On the one hand, it looked as if the Arabs first and most important cause, the Palestinian cause, was being sidelined. On the other, the weave between domestic and regional threads and political and religious dynamics suggested that a new order and new domestic and regional forces were being primed to take up a role that would serve as an alternative to the existing systems and regimes. Seething anger and all the ingredients for revolution were present. They just needed to be kept on a slow and steady simmer until the right moment came, when it would be possible to take advantage of the failure of the Arab nationalist projects and the feebleness of the political and ideological alternatives to leverage religion and the religious forces and make them the sole vehicle for the Arab order and the Arab peoples for decades to come. The Weeklys role The history of the press tells us that the newspapers that leave the largest imprint and play the greatest role in the history of the profession are those that have responded to the needs of readers and their societies and nations. Perhaps the abovementioned features of the then-existing regional political scene were what stimulated the need for a new newspaper and a new type of journalism. At that time, Al-Ahram, together with many among the political and intellectual elites in Egypt, realised the need for an English-language newspaper that would have the skills and capacity to address English-speaking audiences in the West and elsewhere in the world and add the Egyptian narrative to the many others being disseminated about developments in our country and the region. A professional and balanced Egyptian perspective, voiced in a written English that would be as eloquent as any in the US or British press, would fill a significant gap in the Western and international media coverage of Egypt and the region, all the more so as much of this lacked precision, in-depth knowledge or objectivity. In addition, most other countries in the region, including Israel, Turkey, Iran, Jordan and the Gulf countries, already had English-language newspapers to voice their interests, regardless of whether or not these were officially linked to their regimes. It was thus decided to create the Al-Ahram Weekly. The task was handed to the astute and dynamic Hosni Guindi, the newspapers first editor-in-chief, who formed the first working team that established the new papers editorial policies, organisational structures and operational methods. The founding team consisted of Samir Sobhi, Mahmoud Murad, Mohamed Salmawy, Morsi Saad Al-Din, Hassan Fouad, Bahgat Badie, Mona Anis, Jill Kamel, Sofi Tharwat, Fayza Hassan, Wadie Kyrillos, Mamdouh Al-Gohari and, subsequently, Hani Shukrallah, Mamdouh Al-Dakhakhni and Maurice Guindi. They were joined by recent university graduates and foreign professionals of various nationalities. Guindi and his team also arranged for regular contributions from such prominent intellectuals, scholars and writers as Mohamed Hassanein Heikal, Naguib Mahfouz, Mohamed Sayed Ahmed, Edward Said, Iqbal Ahmed, Salama Ahmed Salama, Mohamed Al-Sayed Said, Abdel-Wahab Al-Messiri, Anwar Abdel-Malik, Nayef Hawatmeh, Azmi Bishara and Hamid Dabashi. From day one, and as the team began to prepare the papers pilot edition, the newspaper was guided by an Egyptian national perspective, as opposed to the perspective of the political regime. It was founded to represent as diverse an array of political, cultural and social outlooks as possible, together with the views of the various institutions of government, political parties, social forces and civil society entities. The newspaper sought to serve as a forum where the facts could be given as objectively as possible. It would not be our job to paint a false picture, varnish the truth or disseminate fictions that flew in the face of reality, jeopardising the credibility of the nascent newspaper. Instead, our job was to put into practice the values and principles embodied in the person of the founding editor-in-chief and handed on from generation to generation of our staff. Because of our commitment to this editorial policy, the Weekly swiftly acquired a unique character in both form and substance among Egyptian newspapers, including the Arabic-language ones. It is noteworthy, for example, that it was the only newspaper that did not alter its editorial policy following the 25 January and 30 June revolutions. The simple reason for this was that it was never an arm of the former Mubarak regime, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) that assumed power after the 25 January Revolution, or the Muslim Brotherhood regime. In like manner, the Weekly is not an arm of the current regime led by President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi. The Weekly had to fight several face-to-face, as well as indirect, battles to safeguard this independence. Editorial independence is something that is not simply granted, but is rather won by means of an unswerving commitment to professionalism and objectivity. It was this commitment that earned the newspaper its prestige, built its reputation for evenhandedness, and helped to serve Egyptian and Arab interests. It is sufficient to note that the Weekly has become one of the most frequently cited sources for studies on Egypt and the Middle East conducted by Western and international research centres and think tanks, and that the names of the Weeklys prominent editors, reporters, columnists and contributors instantly pop up on Internet searches of their websites. When the Weekly set off on its journey, its course was largely shaped by the socio-political environment described above: the beginning of the decline of the Arab order in 1991, the collapse of its chief actors one after another, the erosion of the constitutional legitimacies of a large number of ruling regimes due to the cumulative effects of a large array of problems, including rampant corruption, injustice and the lack of the rule of law. It was a period when hope evaporated while mounting frustration and anger fuelled protests, strikes and, in a still more dramatic development, a wave of revolutions, followed by intensive polarisation, fragmentation and the disintegration and chaos we see across the region today. Egypt, however, has managed to weather the tumultuous storms that have swept the country and the region, standing firm among the vestiges of states that have slid over the precipice and collapsed, as though inexorably drawn to their fate. The Weeklys jubilee It is at this juncture, on 28 February 2016, a quarter of a century after the Weekly was launched, that we need to search ever more intensively for a way out of the crisis and review the role and aims of a newspaper that was itself born in the midst of crisis. There is a need to build on the papers mission to chronicle, discuss and accumulate the vast and constantly growing store of knowledge in the English language on Egypt, the region and the world. I started out as a junior editor on the paper a quarter of a century ago and became editor-in-chief four years ago. I feel it is my duty, as we celebrate the newspapers silver jubilee, to offer recommendations that I believe will help the Weekly remain on course and progress over the years and decades to come. It is time for the Weekly to become a daily newspaper, supplying up-to-the-minute news and information while adding a day-to-day Egyptian narrative to the hundreds that are now published on Egypt and the region. This daily print edition should be supplemented by an electronic edition that operates 24/7, in collaboration with Al-Ahrams existing English-language website, Ahram Online. It is time that the Weekly was printed and distributed in major cities around the world, including London, New York, Washington, Tokyo, Dubai, Ottawa and Sydney. It would thus play the role of connecting together the generations of Egyptian and Arab immigrants abroad, on the condition that it was made available in the places where they congregate, such as churches, Islamic centres, and Egyptian and Arab community centres and associations. The appropriate level of logistical support should be provided through the state distribution services, the State Information Service and Egyptian embassies and consulates abroad to ensure that the Weekly always arrives on time at research centres, university libraries and other academic institutions concerned with the Middle East, as well as at major international organisations and bodies abroad, such as UN organisations, the European Parliament, the US Congress, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Finally, Al-Ahram Weekly, together with Egypts other international media outlets, should be allowed to operate in a manner that buffers it from the financial problems that have plagued the national press. This requires a guaranteed budget, sound management and freedom from shortsighted calculations of profit and loss, especially since no high-quality international communications outlet that was conceived in large part as a public service has ever been expected to make a profit. *This article was published in Al-Ahram Weekly newspaper on Thursday 25 February. Search Keywords: Short link: Authoritarianism makes for bad journalism often, very bad journalism. The truism is self-evident and more than amply demonstrated by lived experience, not only in Egypt but everywhere in the world. Yet, the experience of Al-Ahram Weekly, which this week marks the 25th anniversary of its launch, demonstrates something else, which is that good journalism is often able to withstand the devastating effects of an authoritarian environment and, indeed, push back against it. Having been asked by my friend and colleague, Galal Nassar, the Weeklys chief editor, to contribute a little something towards this occasion, I thought of reflecting on this latter not so self-evident but no less true side of the story of both the Weekly and Egyptian journalism as a whole. Journalism is often described as the fourth estate, which is something of a paradox in view of the great numbers of killed, tortured and jailed journalists around the world. Yet, there is no doubting that journalism is not only a power to be reckoned with, but that it also has the potential of being a pathway to power and wealth. This is especially true in our country. The seductive force of power, even of merely rubbing shoulders with power, has been a source of personal fascination for many years, what with sheer chance having made me a fairly close observer during a good part of my professional life. Former president Hosni Mubarak was not known for his keen intelligence, culture or knowledge. He was also something of a vulgarian, who reportedly resorted to the crudest profanities in addressing his inner circle, both endearingly and abusively. Yet, Ive always been amazed to see professional colleagues, some of whom were considerably more intelligent and better educated than the ex-president, become nearly orgasmic in their praise of his great intelligence and formidable wit after a single face-to-face encounter. Being invited on the presidential plane on any one of Mubaraks foreign visits seems to have been especially damaging to journalistic brain cells, transforming otherwise fairly clever people into blithering idiots. I have had occasion to see the effects of this most discrete but nearly irresistible charm of rulers, their offspring and their no less powerful, foolish and heartless aides on ambitious colleagues, repeated over and over again. And it pays to be so seduced. Ive lived long enough to have seen the humble beginnings of many professional colleagues magically transformed into enormous wealth and influence. Paradoxically, power and influence were to be conjoined with great wealth during the period of liberalisation of the Egyptian media. Now the power of the state was to be closely linked to the voluminous purse strings of the oligarchs in bed with it. Herein lies one of the salient secrets of the Weekly; for whatever reason, whether ethical, professional, political or merely one of having a sense of humour sufficient to see the real clowns underneath the enthralling mantles of power, its founding leadership headed by the late Hosny Guindy was simply not interested in journalism as a spring board. For the crop of very young, more often than not straight out of school journalists who would come on board to make the Weekly what it is, the business of journalism was truth not power, or as one of Weeklys greatest contributors, Edward Said, often put it: speaking truth to power. This article was published in Al-Ahram Weekly newspaper on Thursday 25 February. Search Keywords: Short link: Microsoft has decided to spend more than W10 trillion on building a data center in Korea (US$1=W1,062). Gyeonggi Province, which surrounds Seoul, and Busan on the nations southeast coast are being eyed as potential locations. According to construction industry sources and Microsoft Korea, the U.S. company will buy a 330,000 sq.m plot of land to build the center, and has already dispatched a team to oversee the project. The team has been touring the candidate sites to find suitable locations. They also reportedly met with officials from Cheong Wa Dae and other government agencies to discuss the project. A fish market in Noryangjin, Seoul is teeming with Chinese tourists. In 2013, less than 100 Chinese tourists visited the market on average every day, but this year the number has risen to 1,000. Chinese visitors now account for around five percent of the 20,000 daily customers. Chinese people typically shun raw fish, but more young visitors with a newly acquired taste for sushi and sashimi have led to the surge. But the main boost came from the hit soap opera "My Love from the Star," which featured the market. Most young Chinese visitors to the market are apparently fans of soap. In the show, the male lead played by Kim Soo-hyun buys spoon worms at the fish market for the heroine played by Jeon Ji-hyun, and a lot of Chinese tourists order spoon worms, according to one fishmonger. Chilean ambassador praises trade links with China 2016-02-27 11:32 SANTIAGO, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chile's ambassador to China Jorge Heine said trade relations "could not be better" upon the 10th anniversary of the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, reported local media. The ambassador said Chilean exported 16.671 billion U.S. dollars worth of goods to China in 2015, doubling the value of exports to its No.2 trading partner, the United States. "With China, we have a favorable trade balance, while with the U.S. it is negative," the ambassador told local newspaper Diario Financiero earlier this week. "Chilean agriculture grew by 6 percent in 2015, largely due to Chinese demand," said the ambassador. "China is and will continue to be our main trade partner for a long time. The challenge is to diversify and add value to our shipments," he said. In reference to new trade opportunities between Chile and China, the ambassador said "Chile has always been a mining country and it will remain so." Heine said Chile needs to add more value to its mining exports, something that is already in the pipeline. Heine added that "the largest potential is in services rather than goods. Tourism, education, transport and banking are all areas that need to be developed." Former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak is a potential contender while Penny Mordaunt has become the first official candidate. Ron and Mindy Seay(SEATTLE) -- The family of a Seattle infant said he was "staring death in the face" days before he got a life-saving transplant. Lincoln Seay was born with a birth defect that left his heart in the wrong place in his body. As a result, he needed multiple surgeries to keep blood flowing and his heart pumping. However, after multiple surgeries, his heart was still not working properly and his doctors told his parents he needed a transplant. His parents, Mindy and Rob Seay, temporarily relocated from Anchorage, Alaska, to Seattle so that Lincoln could have the best shot at survival. However at 7 months old, Lincoln's heart had begun to give out. "He really started to decline. He had a cardiac arrest and they were able to revive him," Rob Seay told ABC News. His "color turned to purple." His transplant surgeon, Dr. Michael McMullen, surgical director of heart transplantation at Seattle Childrens Hospital, said he thought Lincoln did not have much time left. "Hes been pretty sick and getting sicker," McMullen said. "I think he was about to die on us, right before he fell off the edge, a heart became available." But just four days after Lincoln went into cardiac arrest, Rob and Mindy Seay said they found out a heart was available. "It was a whole roller coaster thing," Mindy Seay told ABC News. "I was shocked, I was elated, I was sad for the other family. I had every emotion you could think of." However, Lincoln was not out of the woods yet. When Lincoln was being prepped for his transplant in the operating room, he went into cardiac arrest again, McMullen said. This time they were able to put him on the heart bypass machine that was set up for the transplant. "The remarkable thing was we were able to get him on machine quickly," McMullen told ABC News. "It can take two hours and we did it in 12 minutes and doing CPR." Lincoln's heart transplant took hours but after the surgery his parents and surgeons noticed a difference immediately. "His color is incredibly different, its pink and vibrant and he woke up with so much energy," Mindy Seay said. "We joked, 'He woke up thinking he was the Hulk.'" Rob Seay said that with his new heart, Lincoln stays up for hours and no longer is so fatigued that he falls asleep every half hour. "He was grabbing at my face and pulling my beard," he said. "He didnt know what he wanted to do with his body." While Lincoln is still in the hospital, McMullen said he's optimistic that Lincoln will be able to go home in the next few months. Rob and Mindy Seay said they are anxious to get their son home for good, and that they want to share his story to help other families in a similar position. "We hope his story gives other families hope and raises awareness about organ donation," Mindy Seay said. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. #Navy plans Navy eyes creation of unmanned command in 2040s South Korea's Navy is seeking to create a new command running unmanned ships, submarines and aircraft in the 2040s, the armed service said Friday, in an effort to address a potenti... #SK data center fire SK C&C's data center raided over massive server outage Police on Friday raided regional offices of SK C&C, the host of the data center for Kakao Corp., in an investigation into a data center fire last week that caused massive servi... Concerns on growth dispelled Updated: 2016-02-27 04:03 By Wu Yiyao in Shanghai(China Daily) Central bank chief says there are many policy tools at hand to shore up China's economy Mario Draghi (right), president of the European Central Bank, shakes hands with Finance Minister Lou Jiwei as People's Bank of China Governor Zhou Xiaochuan looks on before the opening ceremony of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting on Friday in Shanghai. LI XIN / XINHUA China's central bank Governor Zhou Xiaochuan said on Friday that the country still has some monetary policy tools to shore up economic growth, and that the government isn't worried about decreasing foreign exchange reserves. "Given the current Chinese and global economy, our monetary policy is now prudent and relatively accommodative," Zhou said before the two-day Group of 20 central bankers and finance ministers meeting, which opened on Friday evening in Shanghai. "China still has some monetary policy (maneuvering) space and multiple policy instruments to address possible downside risks," Zhou said. The G20 meeting will focus on ensuring full, consistent and timely implementation of post-crisis reforms and will discuss experiences and lessons in the implementation of prudent policy frameworks and tools. Topics to be discussed also will include green finance, infrastructure investment, anti-terrorist financing and promotion of financial inclusion, according to the G20 agenda. The Chinese economy grew by 6.9 percent year-on-year last year, the slowest rate since 1990, sparking concerns that growth may continue to dip and contribute to the already worrisome economic woes suffered by developed and emerging economies alike. China's stock market tumble since early this year and the falling exchange rate of the yuan, whose central parity rate dropped to 6.53 against the US dollar on Friday from about 6.1 in May last year, have further worsened market concerns. Air Liquide opens Shanghai research and tech center Updated: 2016-02-27 10:41 By Wang Hongyi in Shanghai(China Daily) French industrial and medical gas maker Air Liquide opened its fifth global research and technology center in Shanghai on Thursday, expressing confidence in the Chinese market. The center will become a major base for the company's innovation in the Asia-Pacific region. Its work will focus mainly on energy efficiency, CO2 emission reduction, wastewater treatment, urban air quality, food safety and healthcare. "This new center will allow Chinese customers to benefit from the group's innovative solutions and global innovation network and help tackle environmental and societal challenges," said Benoit Potier, chairman and CEO of Air Liquide. The center, with an investment of 25 million euros ($27.55 million), covers 12,000 square meters of laboratories, offices, showrooms and pilot demonstration platforms. It will house 250 employees, including researchers, experts in customer applications and business development teams. The company already operates one center in the United States, two in the Europe and one in Japan. Over the years, the Chinese market has made a significant contribution to Air Liquide's growth, and in 2015, it achieved a year-on-year double-digit sales growth in gas and service business. Now China is one of its top five markets in terms of sales. Annual results show that in 2015, Air Liquide's gas and services revenue from the Asia-Pacific region saw a year-on-year increase of 6 percent, hitting 3.8 billion euros, which accounts for 26 percent of the company's gas and services revenue in 2015. Total gas and services revenue reached 14.7 billion euros in 2015. Potier said Air Liquide's strategy in China is to pursue growth over the long term, and such growth is based on the country's industrial investments and overall market. The company expects China's industrial gas market to grow at 6 to 8 percent annually. In 2015, Air Liquide China signed a series of long-term contracts with a number of companies, among them China's leading privately owned copper smelter Shandong Fangyuan Group and Yan'an Energy and Chemical Co, a subsidiary of Yanchang Petroleum Group in Shaanxi province. Wanda Group agrees biggest ever project in Europe with France's Auchan Updated: 2016-02-27 19:36 By Chris Peterson(chinadaily.com.cn) Wang Jianlin, chairman of Wanda, speaks at a news conference for the opening a Wanda movie park in Wuhan, Hubei province, in this December 20, 2014 file photo. [Photo/Agencies] Wanda Group announced a 3 billion euro cultural, tourism and commercial centre to be built next to France's Charles de Gaulle airport, the Chinese conglomerate's biggest ever project in Europe. Working with Auchan, the French retail giant, the project will provide work for 20,000 people during its construction and development phase, and employ 14,000 when it is up and running. The complex will be built on an 80 hectare site, with the buildings covering 760,000 squarfe metres. Wanda chairman Wang Jianlin, China's richest man, held a meeting with France's President Francois Hollande to discuss the project, which has the support of both French and Chinese governments. When finished the complex will contain an indoor/outdoor theme park, a performance area, hotels, a business centre and a conference centre. Charles de Gaulle airport lies just over 30 kilometres from the centre of Paris and has road, rail and bus links with the French capital. To contact the reporter: chris@mail.chinadailyuk.com by Madeleine Kando This is not a new essay, but after rereading it, I found it so appropriate that I couldn't help but republish it. Like many of us, I am confused by the single payer health plan that Bernie Sanders proposes. Health care is confusing to begin with unless you live somewhere where there is no health care at all. In fact, out of the 200 countries or so in the world, only 40 provide some form of health insurance to their citizens.The countries that do offer health care all have a different system in place. Some have a single payer system, funded through taxes, just like the police force or public libraries. These systems tend to have low costs, because the government controls what doctors can do and what they can charge. Great Britain, Spain, most of Scandinavia and New Zealand, Hong Kong and Cuba have a single payer system. This system is what Sanders proposes.Other countries have an employer/employee funded system, familiar to Americans. It uses an insurance system that covers everybody, is tightly regulated by government to control cost and provides bargaining power. Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Japan, Switzerland and Latin America has this type of system. Some countries use a hybrid system of private-sector providers, but payment comes from a government-run insurance program that every citizen pays into. Since there's no need for marketing, no financial motive to deny claims and no profit, these universal insurance programs tend to be cheaper and much simpler administratively than American-style for-profit insurance. Canada, Taiwan South Korea have this system.The out of pocket model covers most countries in the world, countries that are too poor and too disorganized to provide medical care to their population. The rich get medical care, the poor stay sick or die.America has elements of all these systems: the VA is like Britain, for Americans over the age of 65 we are like Canada, working Americans get insurance on the job, like in Germany, and for too many Americans who have no health insurance, we are like Cambodia or Burkina Faso. In that sense, Sanders proposal would do away with all these separate systems and on paper at least; this would be much simpler, fairer and cheaper.Bernie's plan would cover everything: inpatient and outpatient care, preventative to emergency care, primary care to specialty care, vision, hearing, mental, prescription medications, medical equipment, supplies, diagnostics and treatments. Patients will be able to choose a health care provider without worrying about in- or out of network or try to figure out how they can afford the out-of-pocket costs.There is, in fact, no country that offers coverage for all these services at no extra cost. The most successful health care systems in Europe are not single payer, but hybrid systems, consisting of private insurance companies competing with each other. The State however, controls how much they can charge and what they should offer.They are obligated to offer basic coverage as public insurance (which covers much more than what Obamacare is dictating) and lets the companies compete with each other in the supplemental market, just like Medicare does with Medigap.The Dutch government for example, sets prices on treatments, drugs, hospital stays, etc. If the pharmaceutical companies dont like it, they cannot sell their products in Holland. Companies that have a high-risk pool get extra funding to make up for the difference, so there is no incentive to deny coverage to sick people.Holland used to have a bureaucratic single payer system, but in 2006 the country adopted a much simpler, regulated private sector Universal system: one type of mandatory basic package, comparable to Obamacares silver plan.Even though Holland has done away with the public option, it only did so because the industry overall is much more regulated. Here, the public option would provide a healthy price control through competition.What Obamacare has done is set down basic rules against discrimination, a bit like the Civil Rights movement of healthcare. But it hasnt addressed the problem of the for profit nature of the business. Insurance companies have found a way to make profit in other areas that Obamacare is not covering: deductibles, premiums, new restrictions on services, etc.Sanders would be wise to remember that the only reason that Obamacare passed and where Hillarycare (in 1993) failed is because Obama included the Insurance companies at the negotiation table and the White House took a hands-off approach. There was also the specter of the Public Option, which made the Insurance Companies favor Obamacare.If Sanders tried to ram his proposal through for a single payer system, chances are he would be opposed by hospitals, medical groups, pharmaceutical companies and the Courts might side with opponents of government regulation of the industry.In most countries the process towards universal affordable health insurance has been slow and difficult. There will always be time to revive the public option, which more than likely will eventually lead to some form of single payer system. But undoing everything that took so much effort (and luck) to win, is in my opinion, foolish. Testosterone Oxytocin Cortisol Leptin Thyroid Hormone Every person in the world has one thing in common is the need for fat loss. Unfortunately, this is a common scenario for many people. Thats why its important to know what hormones or steroids are available that can help you reach your goal sooner and more efficiently. If you are interested in buying weight loss steroids, then a Great place to buy weight loss steroids at LAWeekly . Five essential hormones can help increase your metabolism and burn calories at a faster rate. They are all easy to use, just like any other hormone supplement would be.Testosterone is a natural hormone that is mainly produced in males. It is the best testosterone booster you can get when burning fat even if you have a low testosterone level. You need some testosterone to make your muscles hard and your body feel healthier. The best thing about this hormone supplement is that its use does not require a prescription for any condition. More importantly, this drug has no side effects and should be used only by adults.This hormone regulates fertility. However, this is not the only reason why it is so popular. Oxytocin helps you increase your connection and trust with other people, which makes some people addicted. Sometimes, oxytocin is used instead of morphine because of its analgesic effect. Nowadays, oxytocin fat burners are very popular among women and men who want to get rid of extra calories. Oxytocin is beneficial to lose weight faster without any side effects.Cortisol reduces stress and increases blood pressure levels in the body. It also increases blood sugar levels, contributing to more energy during a workout session or sports activities. The best thing about cortisol is that it can increase your metabolism, making it the perfect hormone for people who dont have the time and energy to go to the gym to lose fat.This is a direct response to the leptin level in your body. If it becomes too low, your hunger will increase, and you will feel inclined to eat more food than needed. Leptin can help suppress that feeling and regulate your eating habits and diet plans for losing weight fast.T3 and T4 are the hormones that promote healthy metabolism, essential for burning more calories. The only drawback to these two hormones is that they require prescriptions like any other hormone supplement and from a specialist. So whenever you want to take thyroid hormone pills, you should always check with your doctor first if it is right for you or not. There is no point in risking your health just because you dont have enough money for prescription drugs.Eating less and working out more is not the only way to lose weight. You need to do it faster and easier if you want to see results in a short time. The five hormones listed above can help you burn calories faster than ever without any effort at all. Courtesy Evans Moore, LLC(CHARLESTON, S.C.) -- The relatives of a woman who died in police custody last year are suing the police and the jail saying they negligently caused the womans death. Joyce Curnell, 50, died of complications from gastroenteritis, the main complication of which is dehydration, at the Charleston County Detention Center in South Carolina on July 22, 2015, after allegedly being held for 27 hours without adequate medical treatment, according to the lawsuit. Lawyers for Curnell's relatives told ABC News that she had "fallen on some hard times" when she checked into a South Carolina hospital in July 2015. Curnell was suffering from nausea and vomiting when she arrived at Roper St. Francis Hospital, according to attorneys Scott Evans and John Moore. Curnell's children arrived at the hospital with their mother, who was a known alcoholic, according to the family's lawyers. Evans said Curnell's children "talked to the physicians to see if there was some legal way for her to be placed in an alcohol treatment plan." When they were informed that there was no way to force Curnell to be treated for alcoholism, Evans said they made the "hard decision" to turn her in to the police since they knew she had an outstanding bench warrant following her lack of payments on a fine from a 2011 shoplifting charge. The children hoped that their mother would sober up while in police custody. Her son's 911 call was obtained by The Post and Courier. In the recording, Javon Curnell can be heard asking for law enforcement to have to intervene "before I have to bury her." "She's my mom, but I'm trying to help her, I'm trying to help her, she won't listen and she's drinking a lot," he can be heard saying. "They knew there was a maximum of 30 days" that she could be held by the authorities but "the likely sentence would have been 15 [days]," Evans said. The Charleston County Sheriff's Office put out a statement Thursday confirming that Curnell was "medically cleared for release and discharged by the hospital" before being taken to the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center. In addition to the medical screening that the sheriff's office reported Curnell received upon arrival, the lawsuit claims that Curnell and the arresting Charleston County police officer were provided with discharge instructions from the hospital advising she receive "prompt attention" if she continued to experience symptoms. "I can't think of a situation when you would have more notice of a medical problem than having a person booked with their discharge paperwork on their person that's 15 minutes old," Evans told ABC News. According to the lawsuit, Curnell also had a history of sickle cell traits, which makes individuals more likely to be dehydrated, in addition to the gastroenteritis she had been suffering from at the hospital. However, it's unclear whether police were informed of her medical history. Shortly before 5:00 p.m. on the day after she was taken into custody, she was found "unresponsive in her bed," according to the sheriff's office. State investigators looked into the death and found the cause to be natural, the sheriff's office said in a press release, but Curnell's family disagrees. "This is not a situation in which Joyce needed access to cutting edge medical care to save her life. She needed fluids and the attention of a doctor. Not only has nobody been prosecuted in connection with Joyces death, it does not appear that any employee has even been reprimanded," Evans said in a press release. Now, the family has also filed a notice of intent to sue for medical malpractice against the medical contractor at the detention center, in addition to the separate lawsuit they have already brought against Charleston County and the Charleston County Sheriff's Office. In that notice of intent to file suit against Carolina Center for Occupational Health, the lawyers claim there are no records or statements to support that she was offered oral hydration or IV hydration to prevent dehydration. The family's notice of intent to sue includes an affidavit of Dr. Maria V. Gibson, a medical expert who writes, "Simply put Ms. Curnell died because she was deprived of water. She was too sick to tolerate the dehydration as a result of acute gastroenteritis. The attorneys working for Curnell's estate said they expect the two suits to be merged at a later date. They say they will also likely file a civil rights action in federal court. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Travis Heying/Wichita Eagle/TNS via Getty Images(HESSTON, Kansas) -- A gunman opened fire in two locations in Kansas Thursday before going to his place of work and spraying bullets, leaving three people dead and 14 others in the hospital. Here's a step-by-step look at what happened, according to authorities. The Restraining Order The suspect, identified by police as Cedric Larry Ford, 38, of Newton, Kansas, was at his place of work, Excel Industries, a plant that manufactures heavy-duty lawn care equipment, when he was served around 3:30 p.m. with a restraining order meant to keep him away from a former girlfriend, Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton said. "It's normal when someone gets served a protection of abuse order" to be upset, Walton said this morning, explaining that Ford's behavior wasn't abnormal when he was served. In the temporary order of protection from abuse, the woman, whose name is not being published by ABC News, wrote that she and Ford were living together but broke up. He was moving out. She wrote that on Feb. 5, she and Ford "were verbally fighting" when "it became physical by him pushing me and then grabbing me." "He placed me in a chokehold from behind," she wrote, saying that she couldn't breathe. "He then got me to ground while choking mefinally releasing me." The woman describes Ford as an alcoholic, violent and depressed," according to the order of protection from abuse. Walton told ABC News that investigators still have many interviews to conduct but, at this point, his apparent domestic troubles appear to have possibly been a trigger. First Shooting The first shooting was about 5 p.m. at an intersection in Newton, Kansas. A man said he was driving with his two children when he was shot in the shoulder, authorities said. A second car was also targeted, with the bullet going through the windshield. But that driver wasn't hit, authorities said. Second Shooting Then a gunman started shooting head-on into oncoming traffic, authorities said. The shooter's car and another car went into a ditch, and the shooter shot a victim in the leg, authorities said. The gunman then took the victim's car, authorities said. Third Shooting: Excel Industries The shooter then drove to Excel Industries in Hesston, about 6 miles north of the first shooting, where he shot someone in the parking lot, authorities said. He then entered the building and unleashed bullets. The shooter didn't target specific people at the plant and instead fired randomly, according to authorities. Three people were killed at Excel. They were identified Friday as: Renee Benjamin, 30; Joshua Higbee, 31; and Brian Sadowsky, 44. Overall, the three shootings covered a range of about 6 miles and lasted a span of about 24 minutes, Walton said Friday. At least 14 people were hospitalized, including some victims in critical condition. Police Shootout A responding officer at Excel exchanged gunfire with Ford, killing him at 5:24 p.m., authorities said. Walton said Friday that Ford, who authorities said had an assault rifle and a pistol, would have kept shooting if a police officer had not stopped him. The Investigation Ford was known to police and been in the local jail a few times, authorities said. Authorities do not know how he obtained the weapons. Investigators are also unclear on the motive, but Walton told ABC News that it is "most likely domestic violence." Excel CEO Paul Mullet said Friday the company is fully cooperating with the investigation. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. iStock/Thinkstock(BELFAIR, Wash.) -- Five people are dead, including a gunman, after a shooting in rural Washington State Friday, according to the Mason County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff's office received reports of four shot at a home in Belfair, the agency said on Twitter. A SWAT team assisted the sheriff's office on the scene, where a standoff and negotiations took place, according to police. The gunman ended up shooting himself, police said. The scene is secure. The suspect shot himself. Investigation is ongoing. Mason County Sheriff (@MasonCoSheriff) February 26, 2016 Further details were not immediately available. This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Student Debt This month, seven deputy US Marshals arrested Paul Aker in Houston, Texas, after coming to his home to collect on a federal student loan from nearly 30 years ago. The arrest was over a $1,500 student loan he received in 1987, Aker said. He says he received no certified mail or notices about the outstanding debt in the past 29 years. For its part, the US Marshals claim Aker told two deputies "he had a gun" when they showed up to arrest him after he failed to appear at at a court hearing related to his debt. Aker's assertion that he was armed spurred US Marshals to call for backup, the US Marshals said in a statement. Despite the marshals' statement, the story of Aker's arrest went viral drawing shock and outrage after he went on Fox to talk about it. His arrest renewed interest in information about when the government has recourse to pursue legal action against your unpaid student loans. Business Insider spoke with Joshua Cohen, a lawyer specializing in student-loan debt, to understand the consequences borrowers may face when they default on student loans. Paul Aker Cohen first explained that borrowers cannot simply be arrested for not paying their loans. "Aker wasn't arrested because he owed a student loan," Cohen told Business Insider. "He was arrested because he ignored a court order to show up." Indeed, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has cautioned that if "you ignore an order to appear in court, a judge may issue a warrant for your arrest" and that "you should never ignore a court order." Still, Cohen explained that if you default on your federal student loan meaning that you miss nine consecutive monthly payments the federal government can come after you in four different ways. W-2 wage garnishment If you are W-2 wage earner, the government can garnish your wages with a 30-day warning, and it doesn't need a lawsuit to do so. Story continues tax refund Typically, a debt collector will call a borrower's human-resources department to verify they are an employee. That information is passed along to a guarantee agency or to the US Department of Education, so either one can move forward to collect on the debt via the wages. Cohen cautions borrowers in this situation to move quickly and request a hearing on the wage garnishment. This temporarily stops the process and allows the borrower to work out alternate payment strategies with the loan servicer. "It's quite messy," he said. "If someone doesn't quickly get on their feet during that 30-day period, the garnishment will probably happen." Social Security garnishment If a borrower doesn't work, but collects Social Security, the federal government can garnish that money. "That's really hard because you are dealing with people who are barely surviving as is and now you're taking more money from them," Cohen explains. Social Security Those instances bother him the most, because individuals living on Social Security typically don't have enough income to be responsible for making federal-loan payments. He attributes this to a communication issue where not enough people know they qualify for income-driven-repayment (IDR) plans. IDR plans allow borrowers to pay a percentage of their discretionary income toward student loan bills each month. If your discretionary income isn't above a certain level, however, your payment will be zero, until you start earning more income. If you earn at or below 150% of the poverty-line income, your payment will be $0. Federal tax-refund garnishment Employees who file tax returns normally look forward to getting their refunds back in the spring. But if you've defaulted on your federal student loan, don't expect to get your refund, according to Cohen. The federal government will use the return amount to pay down the principal and interest on student loans in default. "My advice on that is don't file your tax return," Cohen said. He explained that if you're due a refund, you have up to three years to file. Work on getting yourself out of default and then file the return. There's no penalty to postpone filing your refund. Lawsuit If you're not a W-2 wage earner, don't receive Social Security, and aren't due back a tax refund, the government's last option for collecting on a student loan is to sue the borrower. It's the situation most self-employed individuals find themselves in, according to Cohen. And it's what happened to Paul Aker. Aker was sued by the federal government in 2006 for the unpaid student loan. When Aker didn't show up in court, a judge issued a "default judgment" ordering him to pay about $2,700. A statement from the US Marshals claims that they "spoke with Aker by phone and requested he appear in court, but Aker refused. A federal judge then issued a warrant for Akers arrest for failing to appear at a December 14, 2012, hearing." Aker claims he never received any notification of the court order. Private loans Private-loan collection operates separately from federal-loan collection. Unlike the federal government, private lenders are under no obligation to offer deferments or income-driven-repayment plans. Civil court As they can't garnish W-2 wages or Social Security payments, private lenders must pursue legal action in court. "The only remedy that a private lender has is to sue you, and they are suing you under state law and every state differs," Cohen said. His advice for borrowers whether they have federal or private student loans is to pay attention to mail and to answer the phone. If a borrower ignores calls they are taking a defensive rather than an offensive position. There are likely a number of solutions that can borrowers can take advantage of to get themselves out of default. "It's all about power and who has control," Cohen said. NOW WATCH: JIM CRAMER: This is whats preventing people from achieving the American dream More From Business Insider Bernie Sanders. Bernie Sanders is about to face an uphill battle that will test his presidential campaign's ability to keep up with Hillary Clinton. On Saturday, Democratic primary voters head to the polls in South Carolina, where all signs point to a likely landslide win for Clinton, the first of her campaign thus far. Recent polls of Democratic voters in South Carolina gave the former secretary of state a more than 25-point lead over Sanders. Saturday's primary comes as Sanders has struggled to overcome Clinton's advantage in primary states among minority voters, which her campaign has long seen as its so-called firewall against Sanders' rise. The senator's loss in Nevada last week represented a key rupture in the Sanders' campaign strategy, at a time when the electoral map becomes far more favorable for Clinton. According to recent polls, Clinton has a significant edge in many of the states set to hold contests over the next two weeks. Those states will award a sizeable chunk of the 2,383 delegates needed to secure the Democratic nomination. "She could effectively end the race in less than two weeks' time on Super Tuesday," David Wasserman, an analyst with The Cook Political Report, told The New York Times. Clinton retook the lead from Sanders in pledged delegates after the Nevada caucuses. She now has a 52 to 51 advantage, and far more "superdelegates," the term used to describe Democratic Party leaders who have independent votes in the nomination fight. And many of the Southern states weighing in over the next week appear, at the moment, like easy wins for Clinton thanks to their relatively diverse Democratic electorates. Meanwhile, a series of Public Policy Polling surveys from earlier this month showed Clinton with almost 30-point leads over Sanders in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Clinton also held a comfortable lead in a late-January poll in Minnesota, where Sanders told NBC's Chuck Todd on Sunday that the senator would be competitive. Voters in those states all weigh in on "Super Tuesday," March 1. Story continues Hillary Clinton. There are a few bright spots on the map for Sanders, however. The senator is likely to rout Clinton in his home state of Vermont, where the latest poll showed Clinton with just 10% support. At least one recent poll found Sanders ahead of the former secretary of state in Colorado, where he's also secured a notable congressional endorsement. And polls have shown the two candidates running neck and neck in Massachusetts and Oklahoma. Until contests in mid-March, Democratic delegates in the primary races are awarded proportionally, based on wins in certain districts. So victories in big states matter more in terms of perception than as a means of securing the nomination. But even Sanders' campaign recognizes that the delegate math may not play to his advantage. The senator has all but conceded South Carolina to Clinton, spending much of the week leading up to the primary campaigning in Michigan, Oklahoma, and Minnesota. A top Sanders campaign adviser, Tad Devine, suggested to The New York Times that Sanders' path to the nomination would likely require a string of upsets as well as a lobbying campaign to convince already-pledged Clinton "superdelegates" to support Sanders. Bernie Sanders Hillary Clinton "The Clintons can get a delegate lead quicker than we can, and they have a way to gut out the delegate fight," Devine told The Times. "We have to turn victories in state after state into big momentum that can change the numbers." After Super Tuesday, the senator's uphill March battle could get even tougher. If Clinton maintains her large leads among older and minority voters, particularly black voters, exit polls from 2008 suggest she would have a demographic advantage in winner-take-all states like Ohio, Illinois, Florida, and Missouri. And as Politico reported Monday, even the dates of the primaries are bad luck for Sanders. Many of the major nominating contests in March fall during spring break for large universities, making it difficult for the campaign to organize a large turnout from major college campuses. "We've seen a lot of enthusiasm for his candidacy," Mitch Stewart, a veteran field organizer from the Obama campaigns, told Politico. "This is an instance where enthusiasm alone might not be enough." NOW WATCH: 'My party has gone bats--- crazy: Lindsay Graham jokes about killing Ted Cruz and bashes the remaining GOP candidates More From Business Insider By Engen Tham SHANGHAI (Reuters) - The New Development Bank established by the BRICS emerging nations plans to invest in infrastructure projects in those countries and is considering hydropower and electricity investments, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said. Siluanov, speaking in Shanghai where central bank governors and finance ministers were meeting for a G20 conference, also said the bank is considering the possibility of allowing more members. "We will mainly be investing in infrastructure projects, energy, with a priority on green energy developments," he said, adding that some funding will be raised "in national currencies, in national markets to finance projects in the member states". Vladimir Kazbekov, vice president of the New Development Bank, told Reuters on the sidelines of the conference that the bank may be looking at science or high-technology projects in the future. A press release distributed by the bank said the bank plans to employ about 100 staff globally by the end of 2016, with its first regional office to open in Johannesburg. The bank received an 'AAA' institutional rating from domestic credit rating agencies and has appointed Bank of China and China Development Bank as rating advisers. Standard Chartered and Goldman Sachs have been appointed as advisers for international ratings, according to the release. (Writing by Anne Marie Roantree and Pete Sweeney; Editing by Miral Fahmy and Muralikumar Anantharaman) Charleston (United States) (AFP) - The Democratic presidential nomination race shifts to South Carolina Saturday, with Hillary Clinton banking on the black vote to beat Bernie Sanders and gain momentum ahead of the multi-state "Super Tuesday" contests next week. But in a blow to Clinton on the eve of the vote, Sanders picked up the endorsement of former labor secretary Robert Reich -- who served under president Bill Clinton. "I have the deepest respect and admiration for Hillary Clinton, and if she wins the Democratic primary I'll work my heart out to help her become president," Reich said in a statement. "But I believe Bernie Sanders is the agent of change this nation so desperately needs." Clinton leads in the delegate count at this early stage, winning two of the first three nomination contests -- in Iowa, narrowly, and then in Nevada. And in South Carolina, where a little more than half (55 percent) of voters in the 2008 Democratic primary were African American, Clinton is favored to win. Team Clinton -- former president Bill, daughter Chelsea and Hillary -- campaigned heavily Friday at churches, coffee shops and universities to ensure a victory. "She's battle-tested and can beat the Republicans in November. That's important to the question of electability," Chelsea Clinton told students at the College of Charleston. She acknowledged Democrats probably won't take back the House of Representatives, "so we have to have a president who knows when to stand your ground, but also knows how to find common ground." The candidate, meanwhile, shared a light moment with bridegroom Joe Schreck and his 10 groomsmen at a Charleston cafe, where they had just ordered a round of Bloody Marys. "I love having men at my feet," Clinton joked as they posed for a group photo, a few of the men kneeling around her. Some Clinton supporters say Senator Sanders, a transplanted New Yorker and self-declared democratic socialist who now represents Vermont, is little known in the south. Story continues "He hasn't been in the eye of the public as long as Hillary has," said health insurance worker Olivia Brown, 26. Her mother, 57-year-old science teacher Sharon Williams, added that Clinton is a "household name." "She doesn't give up. She has a very strong fighting spirit. She's able to always pull along, to find another way to come back and restart her goals." Clinton, 68, once the clear-cut favorite, now seems at times to be sputtering against the upstart Sanders. In South Carolina, her campaign is hammering the message that she is the only candidate who can break down barriers still preventing minorities from getting ahead. She notes specifically the cost of college education and the need to reduce the disparity between prison sentences meted out to young black offenders and those given to young whites. "Right now there are barriers, economic barriers, health barriers, education barriers. We also have to be honest about systemic racism, which is still a problem in America," Clinton said at a town hall in North Charleston. - 'Super Tuesday' - Sanders, 74, was in South Carolina Friday for a rally and concert but his prospects in the state are poor and he has invested few resources here. Instead, he is focusing on states like Ohio and Minnesota that vote in March, when a whopping 45 percent of the delegates who will attend the nominating convention are up for grabs. That means Reich's endorsement may have come at just the right time. "He's leading a movement to reclaim America for the many, not the few," Reich said of Sanders. Since he entered the campaign last year, Sanders has made up some lost ground with minorities in terms of face and name recognition. Some high-profile African Americans have endorsed him, such as film director Spike Lee and the rapper Killer Mike. The former first lady's ties with black Americans, while solid, are not without blemishes. One supporter of the "Black Lives Matter" movement criticized Clinton at a private event Wednesday for defending in 1996 her husband's policies that led to a disproportionately high incarceration rate for young African Americans. Her refusal to publish the text of paid speeches she gave to Wall Street banks and investment firms has also become an issue for some voters. Another sore point for the Clinton campaign is the FBI investigation into her use of a private email server during her tenure as secretary of state. But the candidate said she was not worried. "I am, you know, personally not concerned about it, I think that there will be a resolution on the security inquiry," she told MSNBC. Polls carried out through last week gave Clinton a clear advantage in South Carolina: about 56 percent compared to 28 percent for Bernie Sanders. Things are less clear for Super Tuesday. Clinton is ahead in most of the 11 states that will hold Democratic nominating contests, but Sanders has the edge in Massachusetts and his adopted home state of Vermont. A Colombian Army soldier stands next to packages of seized cocaine, which according to authorities, belonged to the criminal gang "Clan Usuga" and was going to be sent to Central America, at a Military Base in Bahia Solano, Colombia on March 14, 2015 (AFP Photo/Luis Robayo) (AFP/File) Bogota (AFP) - Two leaders of Colombia's powerful Clan Usuga gang were extradited to the US where they face drug trafficking charges in Florida, Colombian authorities said Wednesday. Arley Usuga Torres, the nephew of gang leader Dairo "Otoniel" Usuga, and Hector Mario Urdinola Arbelaez, who ran the gang's operations in the western Colombia's Valle del Cauca, were turned over to US narcotics officers, Colombian National Police said in a statement. Authorities say Clan Usuga ships tons of cocaine from Colombia to Central America and the United States. The South American country is the leading producer of coca, the raw material from which cocaine is made. Usuga Torres was arrested in December 2013 in northwest Colombia's Chigorodo, along with eight other Clan Usuga members. He was accused of illegally seizing land in northwestern Colombia as well as managing drug trafficking routes, police said. Urdinola was arrested in January 2013 at a luxurious estate in central Colombia, where he allegedly tried to form an alliance with the Libertadores del Vichada gang. The extraditions were part of an operation launched last year against Clan Usuga, which emerged after the mass demobilization of right-wing paramilitaries a decade ago. According to Colombian police, 27 people have been extradited so far this year to countries such as the United States, Spain, Brazil, France and Ecuador. Colombian authorities have said the capture of "Otoniel" would effectively break up the gang and the US government has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction. The migrant crisis shows no signs of abating with 100,000 arriving in Europe so far this year on top of one million in 2015 (AFP Photo/Armend Nimani) (AFP) Athens (AFP) - EU migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos on Friday warned that failure to make progress with Turkey at a March summit on stemming the migrant tide would spell "disaster" for the bloc. "If there is no convergence and agreement on March 7, we will be led to disaster," Avramopoulos told a conference in Delphi, central Greece. "March 7 is the day that will decide everything," he said. The meeting promises to be crucial, both for the implementation of the deal that Brussels and Ankara signed in November to cut migrant flows, and in trying to forge unity within the European Union on coping with the biggest such crisis in its history. At a meeting of EU interior ministers on Thursday, Avramopoulos warned that the bloc's migration system could completely collapse as thousands of people fleeing war and hardship in the Middle East and Asia continue to arrive from Turkey on a daily basis. "In the next 10 days, we need tangible and clear results on the ground. Otherwise there is a risk that the whole system will completely break down," he said. The commissioner has urged EU states to work together and avoid "unilateral actions", such as the border controls that several countries have reintroduced, and caps on asylum seeker numbers brought in by Austria which have left thousands of people stranded along the migrant route. On Friday, he again lashed out at EU members who preferred to strike out on their own, without naming them. "If we want to exist in the future as (a united) Europe, we must set everyone before their responsibilities," Avramopoulos said. "We should have a discussion about the responsibility of member states. That is where the problem begins and where the solution lies." "If we believe that unilateral action is more effective than European action, then we are demolishing our common home," he said. The commissioner said only 800 people had been shared out among the bloc under an EU scheme to relocate 160,000 refugees from Italy and Greece. And he warned that intelligence-sharing among member states was still "poor" owing to a "lack of trust". Humanitarian aid began pouring into Fiji Tuesday, as the death toll from super-cyclone Winston rose to 29 and officials warned the devastated Pacific nation's recovery could take months. With authorities still struggling to grasp the scale of the disaster on remote island communities, Australian and New Zealand planes arrived with desperately needed supplies of food, water and medicine. Government spokesman Ewan Perrin said the news was grim from the few isolated villages which had managed to restore communications after the storm hit last weekend. "The official death toll now is 29, another eight bodies were found on the island of Koro since yesterday," Perrin told Radio New Zealand in a phone interview. "We are expecting it to rise but we're hoping it's going to rise by a very small number." Severe tropical cyclone Winston, the most powerful storm ever recorded in the southern hemisphere, lashed Fiji with wind gusts of 325 kilometres (202 miles) per hour, leaving a trail of destruction. More than 8,000 people are still sheltering in evacuation centres and Perrin said some villages had hardly any buildings left standing. "We're still trying to get people on the ground in these areas to do a detailed assessment of the damage. We're just taking it day-by day," he said. "In some places people are going to be displaced for months because they've lost everything." Perrin said 2,000 families were homeless on Koro alone and two ships were steaming to the island with relief supplies. "We haven't been able to make contact with all parts of Fiji, although with the assistance of the New Zealand Air Force we've managed to do aerial inspections across almost all of the islands," he added. The aerial photographs show entire villages flattened, with homes reduced to piles of kindling and roofing strewn about. On one battered island, a large steel-hulled ship sits high on a beach after being driven ashore in huge swells. Story continues - Secondary disaster fears - "The images emerging from early aerial assessments of affected areas are truly heartbreaking, leaving little doubt about the ferocity of this cyclone," said the UN's Fiji coordinator Osnat Lubrani. "It is clear from these catastrophic impacts that Fiji is facing a long road to recovery." The nation has declared a month-long state of natural disaster after a storm that Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama described as an "assault on Fiji". Power is gradually being restored in the main centres and roads cleared of felled trees. The international airport at Nadi has also reopened, allowing international tourists caught up in the disaster to leave. Aid efforts have ramped up, with Australia contributing Aus$5.0 million (US$3.6 million) and New Zealand NZ$2.2 million (US$1.5 million). India pledged US$1.0 million and the European Union dispatched a disaster management expert to assess its best response. Wellington has mobilised two military aircraft, while Canberra is sending two planes and four helicopters, as well as specialised medivac teams. UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien said hundreds of thousands of Fijians had been affected. "We must do all we can to help people rebuild their lives and livelihoods," he said in a statement from New York. Aid agencies such as the Red Cross, Oxfam, Care Australia and Save the Children are on the ground distributing supplies and providing expertise on issues such as sanitation in evacuation centres. "Clean water will be vital to prevent the risk of a secondary disaster rearing its head in the days and weeks following Tropical Cyclone Winston," Oxfam's Jennifer Worthington said. Care Australia coordinator Sarah Boxall said disease could spread quickly in crowded shelters. "In this type of emergency, it really is a race against time to get immediate relief to those who have lost everything and ensure families can stay safe and healthy," she said. hillary clinton bernie sanders If he wins the White House, Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders' political revolution would reshape much of the American healthcare, campaign-finance, and finance systems. But if elected, Sanders' most lasting impact for thousands of younger Americans could be his plan to radically shift who pays for public colleges and universities. "We have hundreds of thousands of bright young people today who cannot afford to go to college," Sanders said last year. "That is crazy and unfair not only to the young people, but to the future of our economy." While Hillary Clinton's plan aims to make college "debt free," which would require families to contribute some money based on their need, Sanders' plan is a simpler, across-the-board proposal to essentially eliminate tuition at all major public universities. Many conservatives mocked Sanders' $700 billion plan, but Clinton's campaign has taken the plan and the support it has garnered from debt-saddled college students very seriously. The former secretary of state asserts that her proposal is less burdensome on the economy and more targeted to help those in need. Clinton backers also claim that Sanders' official plan does nothing to help lower the cost of nonpublic institutions, including historically black colleges and universities "I believe that we should make community college free. We should have debt-free college if you got to a public college or university. You should not have to borrow a dime to pay tuition," Clinton said. "I disagree with free college for everybody. I dont think taxpayers should be paying to send Donald Trump's kids to college." Here's how Clinton's and Sanders' plans stack up: hillary clinton NOW WATCH: Trump and Rubio are trying to one-up each other with these incredible insults More From Business Insider By Samia Nakhoul TEHRAN (Reuters) - President Hassan Rouhani won a resounding vote of confidence and his reformist allies won 29 out of the 30 seats reserved for the capital Tehran in parliamentary elections that could speed Iran's post-sanctions opening to the world, early results released on Saturday showed. Tens of millions thronged polling stations on Friday for a twin vote to the 290-seat parliament and the 88-member Assembly of Experts, which selects the country's highest authority, the supreme leader. President Rouhani, whose reformists allies made gains in the twin contests for parliament and a leadership body, said Iran's election had given the government more credibility and clout. The competition is over. Its time to open a new chapter in Irans economic development based on domestic abilities and international opportunities," the official IRNA news agency quoted him as saying. He added that the government would cooperate with anyone elected to build Iran's future. "The people showed their power once again and gave more credibility and strength to their elected government." An initial tally of 1.5 million votes counted in Tehran - fewer than one-fifth of the capital's elibigle voters - showed Rouhani and his pragmatic ally, ex-president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, leading the race for the Assembly of Experts, according to interior ministry figures. A ministry statement said senior reformist Mohammed Reza Aref led the race for parliamentary seats among candidates in Tehran. Aref "so far based on the counted votes is at the top of the list followed by five (other) reformists," it said. Seventh on the list was a senior conservative, it said. Aref, a Stanford-educated former presidential candidate and minister, who served as vice-president to the former reformist President Mohammad Khatami, leads the reformist list in Friday's contest in Tehran, where more than 1,000 candidates are competing for just 30 seats in parliament. The twin poll was seen by analysts as a potential turning point for Iran, where nearly 60 percent of the 80 million population is under 30. http://tmsnrt.rs/20VK0vG The elections were the first since a landmark nuclear deal last year that led to the removal of most of the sanctions that have damaged the economy over the past decade. Supporters of Rouhani, who championed the nuclear deal, were pitted against hardliners close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni, who are deeply wary of detente with Western countries. The conservative Guardian Council had restricted both races by disqualifying most reformist and many moderate candidates. However, of the top contenders for Tehran's 16 Assembly of Experts seats, the partial count showed 13 were members of a list led by Rouhani and Rafsanjani, though some were consensus candidates also backed by hardliners. The three most prominent hardliners received lesser scores: Ahmad Jannati was 10th, the assembly's current chairman Mohammad Yazdi came 12th, and arch-conservative Mohammad-Taghi Mesbah-Yazdi was teetering on the edge in 16th place. Even if reformists do not emerge with a majority nationally in the legislature, dominated since 2004 by conservatives, analysts say they will secure a bigger presence than before. Conservatives usually perform well in the countryside while young town-dwellers tend to prefer moderate candidates. HIGH REFORMIST HOPES Reformists seeking more social and economic freedoms and diplomatic engagement voiced high hopes of expanding their sway in parliament and easing conservative clerics' grip on the experts' assembly. Saeed Leylaz, a political analyst and economist who served as an adviser to former President Mohammad Khatami, said initial indications were beyond reformist expectations. "It seems the number of candidates who belong to the reformist and independent groups will be the majority in parliament and I am hopeful that the new parliament will be perfect for us," he told Reuters. "In the Assembly of Experts our initial expectation was 15 to 20 percent but it seems it will be beyond that." Rafsanjani, 81, a prominent leader ever since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution, called for national unity now the divisive campaign was over. "The competition is over and the phase of unity and cooperation has arrived," state news agency IRNA quoted him as saying. "The time after elections is the time for hard work to build the country." Asked by Reuters on Friday what would happen if reformists did not win, he said: "It will be a major loss for the Iranian nation." Newspapers hailed what they saw as a huge turnout, including many young voters. Polling was extended five times for a total of almost six extra hours because so many people wanted to vote. Iran's Financial Tribune newspaper said three million first-time voters were among the nearly 55 million people aged 18 and over who are eligible to cast ballots. Interior Ministry spokesman Hosseinali Amiri said more than 33 million votes had been cast but that tally was not final. It would probably take three days to count all the votes, he said. MOUSAVI VOTES Authorities had promised that all Iranians would be able to vote and on Friday opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi and his wife voted for the first time since being put under house arrest in 2011, an ally of Mousavi's told Reuters. Iran, which has the world's second-largest gas reserves, a diversified manufacturing base and an educated workforce, is seen by global investors as a huge emerging market opportunity, in everything from cars to airplanes and railways to retail. For ordinary Iranians, the prospect of this kind of investment holds out the promise of a return to economic growth, better living standards and more jobs in the long run. An opening to the world of this scale -- and Rouhani's popularity -- have alarmed hardline allies of Khamenei, who fear losing control of the pace of change, as well as erosion of the lucrative economic interests they built up under sanctions. Whatever the outcome, Iran's political system places considerable power in the hands of the conservative Islamic establishment including the 12-member Guardian Council, which vets all electoral candidates. It had already tried to shape Friday's vote by excluding thousands of candidates, including many moderates and almost all reformists. (Additional reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin, Babak Dehghanpisheh, Sam Wilkin; Editing by William Maclean, Catherine Evans and Paul Taylor) (Refiles to update bullet points) * PM's party falls 10 points to 26 pct - early results * Only stable option may be alliance of civil war rivals * Echoes recent deadlocked elections in Spain, Portugal * Final results due next week By Padraic Halpin and William James DUBLIN, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Ireland's ruling coalition was ousted by voters angry at the country's uneven recovery, results indicated on Saturday, leaving Prime Minister Enda Kenny facing the unpalatable prospect of trying to secure a deal with his biggest rival. His government appeared to be the latest victim of European voters' growing antipathy to mainstream politics, hit by a backlash against years of austerity and a perception that Ireland's poor are not benefiting from the fastest economic growth in Europe. Exit polls suggested the only viable option may be a problematic alliance of old rivals Fianna Fail and Kenny's Fine Gael - although even their combined support was set to fall below 50 percent of the vote for the first time. If neither side is able to form a government, however, fresh elections would have to be called. "The government of Fine Gael and Labour cannot be returned," Kenny told journalists late on Saturday. "I've a duty and a responsibility to work with the decision that the people have made to provide the country with a stable government, and that I intend to do fully and completely." The centre-right Fine Gael captured 26 percent of first preference votes when 38 of 40 constituencies were counted. That is far below the 36 percent it won five years ago and the 30 percent opinion poll rating it had at the start of campaigning. Current coalition partner Labour was in line to win just 7 percent of the ballot, which spending minister Brendan Howlin said meant they were out of the equation for the next government. Fianna Fail was set to rise to 25 percent. "It was certainly worse than my worst fears," said Health Minister Leo Varadkar, a senior member of Fine Gael. He said there was very little support for a Fine Gael-Fianna Fail coalition, but he refused to rule it out. Story continues WEEKS TO FORM GOVERNMENT However, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin hinted that he would first try to form a government with other groups. "We'll be putting a mandate before the Dail (parliament) on March 10 and seeking the support of others in the first instance and there'll be a large group of TDs (members of parliament) elected outside of Fine Gael and Sinn Fein," Martin told national broadcaster RTE. "We're committed to ensuring the country gets a good government, but it's going to take time." Analysts said a coalition of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail - heirs to opposing sides in a civil war almost a century ago - was the only option. "Either we could have another election now and do away with the count, or we'll let them muddle around for a month or so and maybe they can think the unthinkable," said Michael Marsh, a professor of politics at Trinity College Dublin. While the parties have few policy differences, one minister described the prospect as a "nightmare" during the campaign. Others fear it would allow left-wing Sinn Fein, the former political arm of the Irish Republican Army, which polled at 15-16 percent, to establish itself as the main opposition party. Fine Gael strategist Mark Mortell said Kenny would "hold off making phone calls" until early next week but that there was a very high risk of a second election this year. The first of 157 seats was declared at 1530 GMT with the final winners potentially not decided until early next week. ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT VOTE Framed as a debate over how to distribute the profits of accelerating economic growth, Kenny's campaign to "keep the recovery going" rang hollow with many voters yet to feel any benefit after years of spending cuts and tax rises. "There's total disillusionment with party politics. The independents and the smaller parties seem to be almost like the last hope for the country," said John McKeever, a voter in Dublin. "It's not a recovery for a good 30-40 percent of the country. It's a rich man's recovery." The exit polls suggested a major transformation had occurred in the party system as a result, just weeks before the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising, the most dramatic chapter of Ireland's struggle for independence from Britain. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, which have swapped power since the state's foundation, and Labour, the junior partner in many governments, were shunned in favour of independent candidates, smaller parties and the rising Sinn Fein. At the start of the last parliament in 2011, the three parties held 80 percent of the seats. "We're seeing a collapse of the two-and-half party system," said Paul Murphy, a member of one of the likely beneficiaries, the left-wing Anti Austerity Alliance and People Before Profit group. The results echo recent elections in Portugal and Spain, where anger at austerity, perceptions of rising inequality and mistrust of established political elites left parliaments fragmented and parties struggling to form governments. Uncertainty over the election outcome pushed the gap between Irish and French bond yields to its widest in eight months this week, although Ireland can still borrow near record lows. Robust growth of around 7 percent last year is seen as insulating its financial assets against a potential stalemate. (Additional reporting by Conor Humphries; Editing by Gareth Jones) RTR4CFP5 The links between bloodshed in Mexico and US drug consumption are extensive. For Mexicos most violent state, Guerrero, surging heroin use in the US has fed a cycle of violence that has killed and harmed thousands. Heroin use in the US has increased for men and women of all age groups and all income levels, with the number of users nearly doubling between 2007 and 2013. Deaths resulting from heroin overdoses have more than tripled since 2010, The New York Times reported last month. Over that same five-year period in Guerrero, "the heroin trade has become extremely lucrative," according to Mexican security analyst and El Daily Post editor Alejandro Hope. 'A huge rise in Mexico-produced heroin' While there is no precise data about how heroin production in Mexico has changed in recent years, evidence suggests the drug's cultivation, and competition between gangs over it, has risen in Mexico, and in Guerrero in particular. For the most part were seeing a huge rise in Mexico-produced heroin in the US to the point where we think its eclipsed Colombia, said DEA spokesman Rusty Payne in a February 2015 interview with Insight Crime. "These criminals are businessmen," Payne said, and " when they see the skyrocketing demand for heroin in the US, theyre going to adjust accordingly." Heroin availability in the US In Guerrero, "farmers are increasingly opting to grow poppies, cloaking remote mountainsides in the robust crop to eke out a living ... where, as far as most are concerned, the government barely exists," The New York Times reported in August 2015. Story continues People in Guerrero "cant stop planting poppies as long as there is demand, and the government doesnt provide any help," a local official told the AP in February last year. Farmers said "the small plastic-wrapped bricks of gummy opium paste are the only thing that will guarantee them a cash income." "There is no real order here," one farmer told The New York Times in August 2015. "We are governed by narcos." Farmers in the state told The Los Angeles Times in June 2015 that Mexican marines had destroyed thousands of plants in a raid in May. Mexico Guerrero map Mexican authorities destroyed almost 30,000 acres of poppies in the first half of 2015, after seizing 570 pounds of opium paste in 2014, a 42% increase over 2013 (though, as Hope notes, "seizures declined close to 90%" in 2013). The Mexican military seized 60 kilograms (132 pounds) of opium poppies in 2000, according to AFP. That number has only risen, to more than a ton in 2014, based on Defense Ministry figures. Mexicos representative to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Antonio Mazzitelli, told AFP that Mexico had destroyed 20,000 hectares of poppies between 2014 and 2015, which indicated the area under cultivation had increased. Mexico heroin marijuana drugs Conflict in Guerrero over heroin production has reportedly been stoked by the Sinaloa cartel, which is arguably Mexicos most powerful criminal organization and is believed to control most of the heroin trade in the state. (The Sinaloa cartel's territory in Sinaloa state, farther up Mexico's west coast, is also a big source of heroin.) The Sinaloa cartel franchises production to local gangs and lower-level traffickers in Guerrero, according to the AP. That kind of decentralised system is a recipe for setting Guerreros small, feuding drug gangs against each other, the AP added. This competition over a highly lucrative crop has helped drive bloodshed in Guerrero to horrifying levels. Mexico state level homicide rates Through September 2015, homicides were up 30% compared to the previous year, according to Hope. By the end of 2015, the homicide rate in Guerrero reached 56.5 per 100,000 residents, which was four times the national average of 14.07 killings per 100,000 people, according to state-level data gathered by the Mexican government. The 2,016 violent homicides recorded in 2015 were considerably more than the 1,514 registered in 2014. In the final two months of last year, the 365 homicides that occurred worked out to an average of one every four hours. A large part of the violence has taken place in this part of the country is generated by the production of opium poppies, Roberto Campa, the deputy interior minister for human rights, told AFP in February. That spike in deadliness also comes after one of the most notorious crimes in modern Mexican history: The abduction and likely killing in 2014 of 43 students of the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers' College by gang members believed to be tied to municipal police and elected officials in Iguala, a city in a northeast corner of the state. Even the previously idyllic beach resort town of Acapulco has not escaped the violence. Figures released by the Mexican government showed there were 336 homicides in the city during the first five months of 2015 a 63% increase over the same period in 2014. Mexico police Guerrero Ayotzinapa violence protest Acapulco's reported homicide rate of 104.73 per 100,000 residents in 2015 made it the fourth-most-violent city in the world, according to a report released earlier this year by a Mexican think tank. 'Police ... pose little obstacle to organized crime' Violence and conflict over heroin production in Guerrero has grown despite the deployment of Mexican federal forces since 2014. Just as they have been unable to find answers in Ayotzinapa 43 disappearance case, authorities in Guerrero have little power to reduce the carnage. In the 100 days after Hector Astudillo, Guerrero's current governor and a member of President Enrique Pena Nieto's governing Institutional Revolutionary Party, took office in late October 2015, there were reportedly 734 homicides. Mexico Guerrero Ayotzinapa protest "In Guerrero, police, both state and local, pose little obstacle to organized crime groups, Adam Isacson, a senior associate at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), told The Daily Beast this month. Some of those criminal groups are even competing for control over those same police forces, Isacson noted. Moreover, the ongoing violence is unlikely to seriously affect the flow of opium out of Guerrero. "The cost of violence is relatively low compared to the heroin income stream," Hope, of El Daily Post, told Business Insider in an email. "So even a big hike in violence should not fundamentally alter the economics of the trade. Yes, it could bring in more federal troops, he added, "but so far, that has proven ineffective at suppressing heroin production." Obregon mexico Caught between drug gangs and often-corrupt police, with little or no support from the government, residents of Guerrero are left with few options. Cartels and gangs active in drug-trafficking in Guerrero "keep their eye on you," a local farmer told the Los Angeles Times last summer. "If you produce poppies, then you have to sell it to them," he said. "They pay you what they want. Everything is under their control." "Unless they create other sources of work," Mario, a farmer in Guerrero, told the LA Times, "I don't think that poppies will ever disappear here." NOW WATCH: This is how Mexican drug cartels make billions selling drugs More From Business Insider DUBAI, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Moody's Investors Service sharply cut Oman's sovereign credit rating on Saturday, just weeks before the country may launch its first international bond issue in nearly 20 years, citing damage to state finances from low oil prices. Moody's lowered Oman by two notches to A3 and kept the rating on review for a further downgrade, saying the country, a small exporter of crude, had fewer financial reserves than its rich neighbours to cope with an era of cheap oil. "Oman has a comparatively weaker asset cushion, with government financial assets amounting to only about three years of spending," the ratings agency said. In 2016, Oman's current account deficit will reach almost 25 percent of gross domestic product, improving only slowly to a deficit of 16 percent by the end of 2018, Moody's said. Its new rating for Oman is three notches above an assessment by Standard & Poor's, which 10 days ago lowered the country two notches to BBB-minus, one notch above junk status. Credit ratings have become more important to Oman as the state budget deficit opened up by low oil prices has strained liquidity in the domestic banking system, forcing the government to consider returning to the international debt market. Oman is in talks with banks about a sovereign U.S. dollar bond issue that could take place as soon as the second quarter of this year, sources aware of the matter told Reuters this week. The central bank's executive president Hamood Sangour al-Zadjali said this month that the government might issue bonds by the middle of this year as part of a plan to borrow up to $10 billion from abroad. (Reporting by Andrew Torchia; Editing by Tom Hogue) Yazidi book A Yazidi teenager who spent months in ISIS captivity has written a book describing her experience and her time as a sex slave for the terrorist group. Shirin, a pseudonym, was 17 years old when ISIS (also known as the Islamic State, ISIL, or Daesh) took over her village in northern Iraq. ISIS fighters encircled the town in August 2014 and made sure none of the women or girls were able to escape, according to the German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle. In a book about her ordeal, written in German, Shirin describes her abduction (as quoted in the Daily Mail): We were so blind. We didn't recognize the danger. Then at around 4 p.m. ISIS fighters told our village head, "We will not do anything to you as long as all of your daughters are brought to us by 6 p.m." In two hours they wanted all of the girls outside. The news spread like wildfire. Our village head told us all, "Take your daughters and try to flee. Otherwise they will take your daughters and your wives." Shirin and her family were unable to get away in time. She was taken as a sex slave and abused over the course of several months, according to Deutsche Welle and the Daily Mail. Shirin wrote about how she recognized some of her abusers as her former neighbors. "Muslim Kurds, Arabs and Yazidis were like a big family for me before all of this," Shirin wrote, according to Deutsche Welle. "It was only after the terrorists seized power that our neighbors suddenly no longer wanted to even eat with us. ... Workers, teachers and doctors all of our Arab neighbors seemed to have joined the [Islamic State]." The invading ISIS members leered at the women in the village when they arrived to take it over. "They openly looked us girls up and down and laughed dirtily amongst each other," Shirin wrote. "Their looks made us frightened and disgusted, their beards were long and unkempt." The militants have enslaved thousands of people from the Yazidi ethnic minority in the Middle East. ISIS considers them infidels because their religion does not have a holy book like the Koran or the Bible. Story continues ISIS allows its fighters to take Yazidi women and girls as sex slaves and "wives." Shirin was married off nine times, once to a 60-year-old man who impregnated her, she wrote. The last man she was "married" to helped her escape to Germany. After ISIS captured Shirin, she was taken to a hideout with other women where they were "hit, attacked, raped by men high on drugs," and "left to starve and not given anything to drink," she wrote. Displaced people from the minority Yazidi sect, fleeing violence from forces loyal to the Islamic State in Iraq, walk towards the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Sinjar mountain, near the Syrian border town of Elierbeh of Al-Hasakah Governorate August 11, 2014. REUTERS/Rodi Said Shirin wrote that some of the men would remain masked while they assaulted her, but some of them didn't bother covering their faces. "When I saw their faces for the first time it was only then that I realized I was looking at the faces of my former neighbors," she wrote. The assaults were "such pain, such humiliation," she wrote. Shirin is safe in Germany now, but she wrote that isn't the same person she once was. "I never thought something so bad could happen," she wrote. "I was split from my mother, and then I was beaten. I tried to kill myself. I always thought it could not get any worse and then it did." She wrote that she gets "panicked and scared" when she sees any bearded man coming toward her in Germany, and she also fears cars and buses because of the was she was transported from location to location. She was kept in an overcrowded school and the moved to an abandoned prison, according to DW. Deutsche Welle interviewed Alexandra Cavelius, the German journalist who wrote down Shirin's story. She told the broadcaster that Shirin's love of life has disappeared and she isn't able to think about her future because of the trauma she suffered. NOW WATCH: Meet the three women who married Donald Trump More From Business Insider At least five people are reportedly dead, including a gunman, following an armed standoff in Washington state, The Associated Press reports. The scene was secured after police spent hours negotiating with the suspect in a standoff, and the gunman ultimately shot himself, according to the Mason County Sheriff's Office. The suspect "apparently came outside the home and shot himself," Mason County Sheriff Casey Salisbury said in a statement. "It's a terrible tragedy." The shooting took place in Belfair, Washington. Pics for earlier. pic.twitter.com/mH167LFIur Mason County Sheriff (@MasonCoSheriff) February 26, 2016 A SWAT team and other police units responded on Friday morning after a man called 911 and reported that he shot multiple people, the sheriff's office said. He added that he shot four people and was holding a gun to his head, reported KOMO. Law enforcement on scene said that it appeared the man possibly shot his wife and children. One child got away from the shooting. Authorities negotiated with the suspect for roughly three hours before he walked out of the house and shot himself in front of officers. Deputies entered the home afterward and found the four victims who were shot to death. As the negotiations were ongoing, a teenage girl was taken from the scene by ambulance to a local hospital and was reported to be alive and well. It is not immediately known if she was the one who escaped the shooting. NOW WATCH: Bernie Sanders is surprisingly pro-gun More From Business Insider Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM) CEO Marc Benioff and a Georgia lawmaker publicly clashed on Friday after Benioff threatened to divest from the state due to a bill that many believe would restrict gay rights. The proposal would give religious officials the right to refuse to perform same-sex marriages. It passed the Georgia Senate last week, combined with another bill that would allow religious nonprofits to deny services to same-sex marriages. Benioff on Friday asked social media followers whether he should move Connections, the company's digital marketing event slated for May, out of Atlanta if the bill becomes law. Republican Georgia Sen. Joshua McKoon, who voted for the measure, defended it in a series of tweets. He called Salesforce hypocritical for operating in India and Singapore, which currently have controversial provisions that criminalize homosexual acts. In a statement, Salesforce said it "believes in equality for all" and would "have to consider reducing its investments in the state of Georgia" if it the bill in its current form became law. The company said more than 400 other businesses oppose the bill as it is. Salesforce's statement did not address McKoon's criticism about operations in India and Singapore. McKoon told CNBC that he wanted Salesforce "to immediately shutter all business operations in India and Singapore in accordance with [Benioff's] publicly stated positions," adding that he would be "delighted" to debate the issue with Benioff in an open forum. He argued that the measure in Georgia "merely ensures the government will not punish an individual or organization for the views they hold." Benioff and McKoon discussed the issue on Twitter throughout the day. Benioff shared messages from supporters and sent a bible verse to McKoon. Story continues The senator, meanwhile, defended the Georgia provision as a protection of religious liberty. More From CNBC Malaria is transmitted by anopheles mosquitoes, which are most active at night (AFP Photo/Marvin Recinos) (AFP/File) Santiago (AFP) - Chile's remote Easter Island over the past two weeks has seen a dramatic increase in dengue, with a total now of 16 confirmed cases, including one serious enough to require hospitalization. Health officials in Santiago said two new dengue cases were confirmed Saturday on Easter Island in two women, ages 20 and 52. "One of them required hospitalization after displaying serious symptoms," Chile's health department said in a statement, who said the woman at present is in good condition. Authorities said they are also monitoring the population for Zika virus, and that about a dozen people suspected of having the disease are under observation. Both dengue and Zika are transmitted by the same mosquito, aedes aegypti. Officials worry that the dengue outbreak could hurt tourism, a major source of revenue. Several nations in Latin America and the Caribbean have seen serious outbreaks of Zika, which officials suspect of causing birth defects in infants, and other potentially serious health concerns. Easter Island, a Chilean Pacific territory of just 5,761 people, is a volcanic outcrop of Polynesian culture some 3,500 kilometers (2,200 miles) from the Latin American continent. It is famous for its archaeological sites, including some 900 mammoth ancient statues of human figures, which are a major tourist attraction. DERNA (Libya) (AFP) - Seven months after driving the Islamic State group out of Libya's Derna, militia fighters have blocked roads into the coastal city with tree trunks and concrete blocks to prevent their return. IS took advantage of the chaos in Libya after the 2011 revolution to spread its influence in the oil-rich country, which has had two rival administrations since mid-2014. That autumn, the group took control of Derna -- a city regarded as a jihadist stronghold on Libya's northern coast some 1,100 kilometres (680 miles) east of Tripoli -- before being ousted last July. Fighters of the Revolutionary Shura Council of Derna, a mix of militias including Islamists that now controls the city and was previously known as the Mujahedeen Shura Council, are boosting their defences to make sure IS does not return. On Monday, six of its fighters died in clashes with IS fighters to the southeast of the city. To the city's west, a tank has taken up position opposite a hill ready to fire at any IS advance. On its eastern front line, the Council's fighters huddle behind sandbag walls while snipers are posted on tall buildings. - 'For God and the homeland' - "We decided to fight the group because of its crimes," said one fighter. "We're doing it for God and for the homeland." "We're Libyan youths who don't belong to any group or any movement. We're fighting to end injustice." Inside the city, on the main square, Mohamed al-Mansouri, a spokesman for the Council, spoke of life under IS. IS "executed citizens on this square", he said. "From exactly here, it sought to spread terror to impose its power." "But we kicked the group out," he said. Near the square, the building that housed an Islamic court under IS stands charred, after angry residents set it ablaze when the jihadists fled. The city's police station and municipal council have since reopened. Story continues "The group shut down the municipal council and threw us in jail," said Mohammed Estita, head of the council. "We're now working with the Shura Council to secure the city and provide for the residents' daily needs." - 'God's will' - Libya has had two rival authorities since mid-2014 when the recognised government was forced to quit Tripoli after a militia alliance including Islamists overran the capital. The United Nations has been pushing both sides to back a unity government on the basis of a UN-brokered agreement struck in December. The Fajr Libya militia alliance that backs the Tripoli administration has said it supports the Derna council, especially in its fight against IS. The army of the internationally recognised government, however, has led airstrikes on positions of the Derna council, whose members it views as extremists. On February 7, a woman, her son and two fighters were killed in an air strike carried out by an unidentified warplane on a hospital in Derna. But the Derna council rejects any links to extremist groups such as Ansar al-Sharia, an Al-Qaeda affiliate that has a presence in the city as well as in Benghazi and Sabratha to the west. Last June, IS seized the coastal city of Sirte, raising fears that it is establishing a new stronghold on Europe's doorstep. US warplanes attacked an IS training camp in Sabratha last week, killing 50 people. In Derna, anti-IS graffiti covers the city's walls. On one wall, someone has crossed out the words "The Islamic State (group) is here to stay". "Only God's will remains," it now reads. ABC News(WASHINGTON) -- The State Department is closing in on its goal to release all of former Secretary Hillary Clinton's private emails. Just before 6 p.m. Friday night it published 881 of her emails, totaling 1,589 pages. Last year, Secretary Clinton turned over 52,455 pages of email from her private server in accordance with a State Department effort to obey public records regulations. At the time, Clinton said she had permanently deleted 30,000 pages of email that she deemed to be personal and not work related. To date, the State Department has made public 48,535 pages. Under court order, the State Department has been steadily reviewing those 52,455 emails and releasing them to the public. So far, 22 emails have since been deemed "top secret" and shielded from public view. In addition, hundreds of pages have been partially redacted due the presence to lower-level classified material. Of the emails posted today, 88 were upgraded to "confidential," which is a lowest level of classification. The next -- and final -- release is expected on the Monday evening before Super Tuesday, when presidential candidates compete for delegates in a dozen states. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. * EU, U.S. data transfer pact agreed on Feb. 2 * Previous one struck down by EU court on U.S. spying concerns * Letter provides commitments that U.S. spying not indiscriminate * Privacy Shield still needs approval from EU member states By Julia Fioretti BRUSSELS, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The United States has set out limits to its use of data collected in bulk about European citizens after a new information-sharing pact was agreed this month, according to documents seen by Reuters. A clear explanation of what information could be used for -- preventing its "indiscriminate" and "arbitrary" use -- was a key condition of the new Privacy Shield framework that enables firms to easily transfer personal data to the United States. Under the deal, Washington agreed to create a specific new role within the State Department to deal with complaints and enquiries forwarded by EU data protection agencies. There will also be an alternative dispute resolution mechanism to resolve grievances and a joint annual review of the accord. In a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Robert Litt, General Counsel of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, says data collected in bulk can only be used for six specific purposes, including counterterrorism or cybersecurity. Crucially, U.S. authorities would apply the same safeguards against indiscriminate data collection to information being transmitted through transatlantic cables. That addresses a key European concern that information gathered outside the United States was afforded fewer protections. "The exception for bulk collection will not swallow the general rule," Litt writes. Privacy became a sore topic between the EU and the United States after revelations from former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden in 2013 about mass U.S. government surveillance practices. That ultimately led to a top EU court invalidating Safe Harbour, the previous framework, last year, leaving thousands of companies in a legal limbo. Story continues LAST-MINUTE CHANGES Both EU and U.S. businesses had lobbied hard to avoid transatlantic data flows being restricted after Safe Harbour was struck down by a top EU court. Cross-border transfers are used in many industries for sharing employee information or when consumer data is shared to complete credit card, travel or e-commerce transactions. They are also key to web companies that collect personal information about their users and serve them targeted ads, such as Facebook and Google. The Privacy Shield will for the first time give Europeans a way to complain about U.S. agents' access to data transferred under the framework. In another letter seen by Reuters, to EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry commits to creating an "Ombudsperson" to deal with such complaints. Under Secretary of State Catherine Novelli will take the role and ensure that where U.S. agents' access to data has been excessive, a remedy will be applied, the letter says. But in a last-minute change to meet concerns raised by some EU data protection authorities, her remit will cover all forms of data transfers from the EU to the United States, not just those occurring under the Privacy Shield, Kerry's letter said. Some privacy regulators had expressed concern that limiting the role's responsibility to data transferred under the Privacy Shield did not give Europeans adequate means of redress. That is because most companies use a variety of legal channels, such as binding corporate rules and standard contractual clauses between companies, to move data, according to two people familiar with the matter. The U.S. government declined to comment as the documents are not yet public. The executive European Commission will publish the text of the agreement as well as the letters on Monday, a person familiar with the matter said, after which member states will decide whether to approve it. (Reporting by Julia Fioretti; Editing by Catherine Evans) Quote of the Week One cannot and must not try to erase the past merely because it does not fit the present. --- Golda Meir KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY!!!! 2000 - 2022 24 .- . focus-news.net, () . 24 . 24 . . 24 . We value your privacy. Focus Taiwan (CNA) uses tracking technologies to provide better reading experiences, but it also respects readers' privacy. Click here to find out more about Focus Taiwan's privacy policy. When you close this window, it means you agree with this policy. To activate the text-to-speech service, please first agree to the privacy policy below. Washington, Feb. 26 (CNA) A senior White House official on Friday reiterated U.S. calls for China to show flexibility in its relations with Taiwan but did not comment on the latest remarks by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi () that were seen by some in Taiwan as conciliatory. Irish election: Exit polls suggest government may lose majority BBC News27 February 2016Around two million votes are being counted after Friday's exit polls in the Republic of Ireland's general election suggest the governing Fine Gael-Labour coalition could lose its majority.An exit poll commissioned by the Irish Times suggests Fine Gael, the senior party in the governing coalition, will remain the largest party with 26%.However Fianna Fail, the main opposition, appears to be close behind on 23%.Ireland's complex voting system means that the count may last all weekend.The Irish Times poll puts Sinn Fein at 15%, well ahead of Labour, the junior coalition partners, on 8%.The Irish broadcaster, RTE, unveiled its own exit poll on Saturday morning indicating broadly similar results.If borne out by the count, the vote shares would result in a hung Dail (parliament), but with Fine Gael still taking the largest number of seats.Over three million people were entitled to vote in Friday's poll in 40 constituencies, with early indications that turnout stood at about 66%.Voters were electing 157 members of parliament, known as Teachtai Dala (TDs). The Ceann Comhairle (speaker) is automatically returned.Observers are predicting that it will be hard for any party to put together a coalition, which needs to have the support of 79 TDs.As for Sinn Fein, it will almost certainly improve on the 14 seats it currently has. Whether or not it comes close to doubling that number will become clearer as counting progresses.The campaign was fought mainly over economic issues, with the government parties asking voters for their support to keep the recovery going at a time when international storm clouds are gathering.But the opposition parties countered that not everyone, especially outside of middle-class Dublin, is yet benefiting from the up-turn.That perceived lack of fairness is expected to hurt the coalition parties.The Republic of Ireland has had the biggest growing economy in the eurozone for the last two years.In the last election five years ago, voters punished the once dominant Fianna Fail for its role in the economic crash that required an EU-IMF bailout.Led by Enda Kenny, the current coalition had been in power since March 2011.It is being challenged by 13 other parties, as well as a number of independents among the 552 candidates standing for election.TDs will be elected according to the single transferable vote (STV) system, in which candidates have to reach a quota, before their surplus votes are distributed to others. A legislative bill that caused concern or was deemed unnecessary by some library officials wont be heard on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature this session. In January, State Sen. Tyson Larson (Dist. 40) of ONeill introduced LB969, which essentially would have given more oversight of the libraries to cities and villages. Cities or villages would handle responsibilities such as setting the library budget and hiring and firing. Library boards would determine what materials would be included in the facility, the bill states. Larson, whose district encompasses a 6,600-mile area, said he introduced the bill after working with cities across the state. In one community, a librarian committed what would have been termination offenses, he said. The city council had no authority to terminate the librarian, because that power rested solely with the library board, which didnt want to do that. In small towns, Larson said, volunteers on boards may not want to terminate someone, even if warranted, because theyre neighbors. More investigation showed there were a number of instances across the state where this was an issue. In another city, a library board told an applicant that she couldnt be hired, because she was too old. That led to a lawsuit against the city. Cities wanted more oversight like they have over other divisions of government, but didnt want to try to take away First Amendment rights, he said. LB969, I believe, is a good compromise in the sense of letting the cities that control the taxpayer dollars handle the budgeting and the contractors, the personal policies and the hiring and firing, those types of issues, while at the same time keeping library boards in place to decide on content what books are going to be bought, what materials are there, Larson said. I can understand the concern that they dont want politicians or elected people deciding what books their kids could read. We dont want to ban books or do anything like that. We just want responsible government. I think thats best left in the hands of those that are elected and responsible with the voters. The bill also would have cities determine how much of a budget would go to personnel, content and facilities. With fewer than 30 days left in the Legislative session, LB96 doesnt have a priority designation and wont be heard this year. Thats whats happens in short session, you have to pick what your priorities are going to be, Larson said. This year, I personally had other issues that were higher on my priority list. Moving forward, LB969 will be very important for things such as transparency in good government. Larson said hell probably reintroduce the bill next year. The bill has concerned some library officials. Gary Wasdin, former executive director for the Omaha Public Library, urged Nebraskans to email senators urging them to stop the bill. Now library director for the King County Library System in the state of Washington, Wasdin listed on a Facebook page things hed previously been asked to do by Omahas elected officials. Some included: charging people to come to Storytime or to use a meeting room or to borrow things like DVDs and audio books; not buying books in Spanish; finding a way to keep homeless people out of the library; giving police information on what books people have read or websites theyve visited without a court order; not spending so much time getting kids to use the library since schools have them. If it werent for a governing board of trustees, I would have been obligated to do them, Wasdin said. Attempts to reach Wasdin Friday were unsuccessful, but on Tuesday Steve Fosselman, chairman of the Nebraska Library Advocacy Committee, described the bill as one that would permit cities to reform their public libraries, turning library boards with policy-making authority and ability to hire the library director into advisory boards. Fosselman noted that most cities and libraries get along well and have done so for more than 140 years. I believe it would be a fair statement to say that in almost all libraries in the state, there are absolutely no problems between the libraries and the city, he said. The concerns that the Nebraska Library Association has are that it is pretty apparent that this bill was written because of a very, very small number of situations in the state. Fosselman believes situations are best handled through managing problems, not writing new legislation, and said the library commission can help. Anytime any library is having a situation where they would need a little bit more help in managing between the library and the city, the Nebraska Library Commission is very well prepared to help both parties, he said. He also believes that when it comes to the politics of the moment, a governing board is the best insulation for the public. Fosselman said he doesnt assume that an advisory board would be pressured, and noted that many have great relationships with their city councils, but added that the library commission is concerned about any further diminishing of the powers of a library board. The commission will continue to track the proposed legislation. Fosselman also said he has high respect for Larson, the legislative process and great respect for the library commission. Dale Ball Dale Ball, born May 20, 1924, to Curtis Mack Ball and Ida Myatt Ball, died Feb. 14, 2016, in Albuquerque, N.M., at the age of 91. He served in the Army Air Corps in World War II as navigator of B-24s in the South Pacific. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1949 where he was president of the student council and voted into the honorary Innocents Society. In 1948, he married Phyllis Sorensen of Ames. In addition to his four children, Portia Blackman, Alan Ball, Leah Pahlmeyer and Sarah Taylor, he is also survived by his wife, Sylvia Ball, and two stepchildren, David Hathaway and Janet Hathaway, plus five grandchildren and three great-grandsons. Dale lived in Fremont during his teenage years, worked at the Tribune and managed the movie theatre while attending high school. Later in life, he and his family returned to Fremont in 1958 where he became president of the First National Bank of Fremont until 1963. He was active in the securities and banking business for over 38 years, was a civic leader, a philanthropist and a lover of the arts. Dale married Sylvia Hathaway in 1969 while they resided in Omaha and Council Bluffs, later moving to Santa Fe, N.M., in 1981. There, in addition to their banking careers, Dale and Sylvia founded the Santa Fe Conservation Trust. Dale was the driving force behind building 25-plus miles of hiking and biking trails in the foothills, known as the Dale Ball Trails. Political science PhD specializing in delegate selection rules, presidential campaigns and elections. Founder of FHQ Strategies LLC [ Editorial note: Revelations on the Allan case, which led to Scalia now lead into the entire Koch network, including the Federalist Society, said to be operating not simply in law schools but Americas high schools as well, and into the Heritage Foundation. We dont know when it began, maybe at the Presidio under Michael Aquino and the Temple of Set or before. We do know it has victimized thousands of children around the world, not only in America but channeling children through Belgium and the Netherlands into sexual slavery and death. What is it that makes the powerful desire what is so hurtful and obscene? When we ignored the Franklin Coverup, we opened ourselves to this. ] ___________ Justice Antonin Scalia was surprised when he was ordered to the White House. This was not a man you gave orders to, especially not President Obama. It was Justice Antonin Scalia who vacated the long sacrosanct immunity from civil lawsuits, opening the door for a weakened presidency. Sources say that Scalia was the single actor behind the impeachment of Bill Clinton. President Obama was aware of this and had ordered the FBI to set out traps for Scalia. We will now outline the downfall of Antonin Scalia. Yes, this is a story of secret societies, operating worldwide and ritual Satanic child abuse that permeates Washington. When Scalia left the White House after a meeting with the president just before flying to Texas, the manila envelope he was carrying had printouts from a computer seized by FBI Special Agent Jeff Ross of the Salt Lake City, Utah field office, or so informants tell us. Scalia left the White House carrying slam dunk proof that would lead to the arrest, conviction and, of course, impeachment of a seated Supreme Court Justice, files that contained names of victims and details on sex acts, preferred types along with dates and places. All of this was on the seized computer and these files went up hill from the FBI to the Department of Justice and directly over to the White House. There, political advisors leapt on them, seeing a chance to leverage a justice and, in this case, and this is very important, bring down Scalia in such a way that conservatives would be forced to accept virtually any Obama nomination. When Scalia arrived in Houston and chartered a plane after ditching his US Marshall protection detail, Scalia and his companion, C. Allen Foster. Foster heads the Order of Hubertus and is co-owner with John Poindexter of the Cibolo Creek Ranch, 25,000 plus acres free for anyone to use, according to John Poindexter, free of charge, so long as they are a supreme court justice, A list celebrity like Mick Jagger or billionaires, others need not apply. The crux of the story is how they got Scalia. According to sources, Scalia had been providing protection for an international pedophile ring and was murdered by friends who he had informed of the nature of his visit with Obama and the doom it signaled for those around Scalia, prosecution, ruin and Citizens United reversed. The mechanism Scalia used to provide this protection was the Federalist Society which chooses the judges throughout the US judiciary system so should any unfortunate pedophile find himself in court, the judge was under Scalias control, thus making a successful prosecution difficult to achieve. The Federalist Society grooms and recruits candidates to become judges at a young age college age kids; they specifically seek out suitable candidates who have certain moral ambiguities that can be exploited. Thus a stranglehold is placed on the judicial system of the United States by a group which serves the interests of big business corrupt corporations, big pharma, the oil and coal barons; this is how their interests are, time and again, placed ahead of those of we, the people with the result that our environment and our bodies are polluted by the products of these corporations, be it poisons like aspartame and GMO crops in our food, toxins in our ground water (see Flint, MI) or just plain old exploitation of poor people such as the coal miners of West Virginia and Kentucky. Scalia met with the Order of Saint Hubertus, the patron saint of million dollar dude ranch hunting. As of yet, no one has identified who was there, it seems that Supreme Court justices are found all the time with pillows over their faces and nobody asks a thing, but this was Texas and they make their own rules down there. We remember former FBI director and founder, J Edgar Hoover, the man who said ritual satanic child abuse was a conspiracy theory. He is also the man who said the mafia didnt exist. Scalias talk in Texas was said to have gone like this: They have us, we are all going down unless we can give them what they want and they are holding all the cards, they have everything. There was no negotiation with the White House, instead Scalia got, we are told and multiple sources confirm, a pillow over the face and a heroic funeral, one that President Obama refused to attend. Now we know why. For a seated president to attend the funeral of a pedophile is unthinkable. __________ The computer itself belonged to a Stirling David Allen, arrested and charged with child rape and sodomy by the FBI after an investigation that began with a meeting in Rome, Italy. The FBI had known about Allen for some time, had wanted to arrest him since 2014 but had been blocked, they just didnt know why or who was behind it, not until Justice Scalia died. Within 9 days, Allen was jailed, and the evidence he held began to yield gold. Allen is being held on these charges with bail set at $250,000. We were shown an email from Allen where he tells of his January 15, 2016 meeting with Agent Ross at which time his computers were seized by the FBI. What we are told was on Allens computer and what Allen told agents is astounding. Allen confessed, we are told, not only to his own sex crimes but to being recruited by a powerful international organization that provided him broad protection from prosecution. From Ian Greenhalgh: It is very sick, but if you really want to watch and hear the ramblings of a mad man just watch this video where Sterling D. Allan says he is GOD in the flesh, admits to being a paedophile, admits he has committed sexual abuse with an underage child, and says that he is waiting to be arrested. Mr. Allan claims he chose this life before coming to Earth to be a scapegoat which of course is all foretold in his insane alphabetics. We are told that Allen became increasingly unstable as his own feelings of guilt and his own public confessions of child sex crimes were inadequate to bring about his own arrest, an arrest he openly asked for time and time again. Allen, who using his computer skills helped fellow pedophiles scour the internet for vulnerable children. High level sources confirm that Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was murdered, that in itself is neither an original claim nor beyond the realm of likelihood based on circumstances allegedly tied to his death. By that, we are speaking of the pillow over the head and allegations of a cover-up autopsy, well outside legal requirements for someone of Scalias position. Sources in the White House confirm that immediately prior to his flight to Texas, ostensibly for a hunting trip with 35 close friends, many of whom are members of the highly secret Order of Saint Hubertus. As is being reported, initially in the Washington Post with broader allegations made on the InfoWars website, tying the Hubertus Order to Bohemian Grove antics, long subject to speculation in the alternative media. We became aware of the case in August 2015 when we were shown correspondence between Allen and representatives of the Keshe Foundation. Allen ran several popular websites on alternative energy and was a popular speaker, often appearing on the Coast to Coast radio show with Detroit native, George Noory. Increasingly it became obvious that Allen had been using these venues for sexual trafficking of children. It wasnt hard to figure out, he did it openly spoke of it constantly (as seen in the YouTube above) and lived as though he were above the law. Over the next few months, particularly when confronted by Iranian born physicist MT Keshe, who ordered Allen and those around him banned from all Keshe forums, Allen openly flaunted his criminal activities. What made this particularly insidious is that it was obvious not only that Allen was not acting alone but that he had broad support not only in his home state of Utah, where he was able to avoid prosecution, but in Belgium as well. There, Allen and associates Hans Bracquene, Dirk Laureyssens and Ad Van den Elshout moved against the Keshe group, securing against Keshes wishes technologies with defense related applications and passing them on to MI 5 in Britain. When Keshe moved against this group and tried to secure his patents, he found himself being chased down the highway, shots fired, his car run off the road. Police arrested and soon misplaced the culprits, and soon thereafter, representatives of Belgiums royals told Keshe to leave Belgium or be buried there. On the European end of the FBI investigation, the trail, all of which is easily followed by the breadcrumbs Stirling David Allen has left, leads to the highest and most powerful of the scientific communities where blackmail, kidnapping and torture, threats against families and in particular, threats against children, have placed members of secret societies in positions of power at universities, think tanks, police and counter-terrorism agencies and even the European Space Agency. Nicht Ihr Computer? Dann konnen Sie fur die Anmeldung ein Fenster zum privaten Surfen offnen. Weitere Informationen MASON CITY | North Iowa Christian School's annual auction will be held March 5 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Willowbrook Mall in Mason City. Donated items from businesses and indiviudals will be available to buy in this live and silent auction. Bob Johnson will be the auctioneer. In addition to local airline tickets, there will be Twins, Vikings and ISU items, a turkey call, antiques and hundreds more items. Money raised will be used for classroom needs and a building project being planned. Church of Christ, located half a block from the main school campus, currently houses grades 7-12. NICS is an accredited, non-denominational school. Those who want to make a donation for the auction are asked to contact the school at 641-423-6440. SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CHG Healthcare Services, the nation's largest privately held healthcare staffing company, has been named the top winner of the Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) Best Staffing Firms to Work For award in the large-company category. The list is based on the results of an employee feedback survey, which measures several aspects of workplace culture. "CHG is a great place to work because our people take care of each other and are engaged in the work they do," says Scott Beck, CEO of CHG Healthcare Services. "Not only are they helping make a difference in the lives of providers and patients, but they're making a difference in the communities where they live and work." CHG is committed to its core value of Putting People First by ensuring all company decisions are made with the best interests of the employees in mind. The result is an atmosphere of respect, caring, support, and fun. Employees feel free to be themselves and are passionate about the work they do. CHG offers employees a variety unique benefits, including: Difference Makers Award Employees nominate peers who make a significant difference in their communities. Four finalists and their guests then participate in a company-sponsored service project and safari in Kenya. Employees nominate peers who make a significant difference in their communities. Four finalists and their guests then participate in a company-sponsored service project and safari in Kenya. Volunteer Time Off Each employee receives paid time off to volunteer in the community. In 2015, CHG employees performed 4,000 hours of service. Each employee receives paid time off to volunteer in the community. In 2015, CHG employees performed 4,000 hours of service. Free Onsite Health Clinics Employees and their families receive free onsite healthcare, including primary care services, health coaching, and disease management. Employees and their families receive free onsite healthcare, including primary care services, health coaching, and disease management. Employee Compassion Fund Funded by employees, for employees, the compassion fund provides tax-free financial grants to help employees facing financial hardships. In 2015, CHG's healthcare staffing companies placed more than 12,000 medical providers across the country who served 21 million patients. Learn more about CHG Healthcare Services people-centric culture at www.chgpulse.com. About CHG Healthcare Services Founded in 1979, CHG Healthcare Services is a leader in healthcare staffing and the nation's largest provider of locum tenens services. Through its trusted brands CompHealth, Weatherby Healthcare, RNnetwork and Foundation Medical Staffing the company provides temporary and permanent placement of physicians, allied health professionals and nurses to healthcare facilities across America. CHG prides itself on having a values-driven culture that focuses on Putting People First. The company is known for its award-winning culture and benefits and has been named one of FORTUNE magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" each of the past six years. To learn more about CHG's workplace culture, visit www.chghealthcare.com. ATLANTA, Feb. 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Morehouse School of Medicine has named Dominic Mack, M.D., as the new director of the school's National Center for Primary Care (NCPC), the nation's first congressionally sanctioned center to develop programs that strengthen the primary care system for health equity and sustainability. A family physician and longtime proponent of electronic health records, Mack has been serving as the co-director of the NCPC since June 2013. He will now pilot NCPC's work in expanding its current portfolio, which includes an estimated $21 million in grant funds. "Dr. Dominic Mack's work to expand essential technology resources has been a valuable tool in Morehouse School of Medicine's vision to lead the creation and advancement of health equity," said President and Dean Valerie Montgomery Rice, M.D. "As our new director, he will continue to expand the reach and impact of the National Center for Primary Care, which will serve to help more underserved communities." Mack, who is also an associate professor at MSM, previously served as co-director of the NCPC with Dr. George Rust, who now serves as director of the Center for Medicine and Public Health at Florida State University College of Medicine. Mack practiced for 11 years at Southside Community Health Center in Atlanta, where he served as chief medical officer during his tenure, then joined MSM in 2001 as an assistant professor in the department of family medicine. While at MSM, he has served as medical director, interim residency director for the department of family medicine and later became associate chair of clinical affairs. Mack received his Bachelor of Science degree from Paine College and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville. In 2003, he graduated from Kennesaw State University with a Master of Business Administration. About National Center for Primary Care The mission of the NCPC is to promote excellence in community-oriented primary health care and optimal outcomes for all Americans, with a special focus on underserved populations and eliminating health disparities. The NCPC provides training for primary care practitioners, conducts both population-level and practice-based research to improve health outcomes, and shares protocols and tools for improving primary care effectiveness in culturally diverse settings. About Morehouse School of Medicine Founded in 1975, Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) is among the nation's leading educators of primary care physicians, biomedical scientists and public health professionals. In 2011, MSM was recognized by Annals of Internal Medicine as the nation's No. 1 medical school in fulfilling a social mission. MSM faculty and alumni are noted for excellence in teaching, research and public policy, as well as exceptional patient care. MSM is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award doctoral and master's degrees. For more information, please visit www.msm.edu. ### A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=39172 CONTACT:Ronna Charles Nu'Man rnuman@msm.edu 404-752-1717 JackDaniels wrote: Hi all, I am happy to announce that I got accepted into multiple M7 schools (completely beyond expectations), including Sloan, Booth and Columbia. I come from a 'non-traditional' background (non-US citizen), have a decent undergrad GPA from an average school and a decent gmat score (740). Upon applying to business school, and for the past two years, my plan was to move into investment banking post-MBA. Even though I still think that banking is a great career path, several factors make me think twice whether it is a path I want to pursue after my MBA. I sincerely enjoy dealmaking and executing transactions. It is exciting, fast-paced and gives me a lot of energy. Admittedly, the steep pay-curve is a factor that I consider as well. From this perspective, banking would make a lot of sense. However, the main reasons that make me think twice are having absolutely no control over your schedule, lots of bankers seem miserable, exit opions are limited and looking at my friends - it even has a serious impact on their health (for some of them). It seems like a lot of (prospective) MBA students have no idea what they are getting themselves into, and I believe I belong(ed) to this group as well. That's why I gave management consulting a second thought. I love travelling, regardless if it's for work or not. There have been months that I was living out of a suitcase because of work-related travel and certainly did not mind. The broad(ER) range of exit opportunities appeal to me, and even though you are still working a lot of hours, I enjoy the predictability of not having to work every weekend. Furthermore, management consultants do not get laid off as quickly as banking (big deal if you're on a Visa!). I am not asking you for advice on what career path to take. I believe that I will enjoy both, though my preference is management consulting at the moment. However, it seems much harder to break into MBB than into IBD (post-MBA). Therefore, I have the following questions: 1. Is it possible (and common) to recruit for both banking AND consulting in your first year? I want to make sure that banking is my back-up option if I am not getting a summer-internship offer from MBB (or Deloitte perhaps). 2. What school would you recommend in this case? I am leaning towards Columbia at this point. I really connected with the students, love to use the flexible curriculum (internship throughout the year) and location. It is generally known that you will need to go to a lot of coffee chats and do a lot of networking to break into banking. Being based in NYC would save me a lot of time in this respect. What school do you recommend? Hi Jack,Congrats for all those great acceptanceHave you got any scholarship? Hi, First of all greetings to all. This is Sayan from India. My profile is as follows: Name: Sayan Bhattacharjya Nationality: India Gender: Male Age: 31+ Secondary: 83% High school: 65% Graduation (Biomedical engineering from tier 2 college): 7.2 CGPA IN 10 Post graduation (PGDBM in Marketing from tier 2 college): 72% Work experiance: 6 yr 10 months in FMCG brand management. Currently working at Unilever as Assistant Brand Manager. Rated high consistently in work. Current salary 16 lacs p.a. which is equivalent to 95,000 USD on PPP terms. Extra curicullam activity: - Worked for NGO in teaching unprivileged children b for a year. - Currently working on a personal project of aggregating photographers on a single platform. I am feeling that my education from tier 2 colleges is slowing down my career progress and reducing my earning potential. Thus want to pursue further education. Moreover I am keen on having my career in Consultancy. Appeared for GMAT last week with one month preparation. Scored low (660 q47 v34). Now my questions are: 1. What kind of course should I look at and from which kind of colleges to fulfill my objectives? I am not keen on doing 2 year MBA. 2. Should I aim for second attempt in GMAT? I am sure I can score at least 20-30 points better than my current score. Thanking u in advance. Regards, Sayan B The Gorilla Radio archive can be found at: www.Gorilla-Radio.com. G-Radio is dedicated to social justice, the environment, community, and providing a forum for people and issues not covered in State and Corporate media. Gorilla Radio airs live Thursdays between 11-12 noon Pacific Time. Airing in Victoria at 101.9FM, and featured on the internet at: http://cfuv.ca and www.pacificfreepress.com. And check out Pacific Free Press on Twitter @Paciffreepress A couple who were relocated by the city after their Brooklyn apartment burned down in a fire say they have been stuck in a bedbug-infested Upper West Side hotel. "I have bedbug bites all over my skin and management is doing nothing," Cherise Robinson told PIX11. Hairdresser Robinson, and her mechanic husband, have been living at the Manhattan Hotel at 308 West 94th Street, courtesy of the Department of Housing, ever since they lost their East Flatbush apartment in a fire in November of 2014. The city has paid $1,700 a month for one room with bath for the couple for the past 15 months. "I have rats, roaches and now bedbugs," Robinson said, adding that neither the city nor hotel management have responded to her complaints. "I packed up all my stuff, but still no one came." Robinson and her husband would rather move back to East Flatbush, but no one from the city is helping them find a place. "Mayor de Blasio's approach to homelessness falls way short of the promise," Aaron Biller, President of the Neighborhood in the 90s, Inc., told PIX11. He estimated that putting the couple up for so long has cost taxpayers around $25K: "There has to be a better way, because this is very wasteful of taxpayers dollars." Last month, a couple recorded a horrifying video of bedbugs running amok at the Astor on the Park hotel, within walking distance of the Manhattan Hotel. We rely on your support to make local news available to all Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2022. Donate today The Grice Club The club for all those whose members have no (other) club. News Woman claims losing Dhs542000 due to relationship in Abu Dhabi The woman said she knew the appellee for a long time and trusted in him, so she lent him Dhs542,000, which he asked to pay off his financial obligations, as he claimed. This was passed along from Bob B. and also credit to Kevin Sorbo. For me When the State tells you its safe to go to Home Depot to buy a ... For All U of U Health Patients & Visitors A six-month wait came to an end Friday for the families of six Montana Army National Guard soldiers. Wives and children, mothers and fathers waited for a plane to arrive that carried the soldiers who were returning from duty in Afghanistan, as did friends and others in uniforms of camouflage who said they too were in service. John Bebich, a Marine Corps veteran, was among those who came for the ceremony. His son, David, was on the incoming plane. He said he understood what its like to leave for duty. He also understood what its like to return. Bebich served from 1969 to 1972 and said as he waited for David that the going part isnt so fun. To come back, its like Christmas. You wait for it to arrive. On this day in February, where coats were optional in the warmth of the afternoon sun, he said he felt excellent. This is Davids fifth deployment, he said, and attributed it to a military that lacks the staffing it needs. Returning home means home-cooked meals, or at least meals cooked in the United States -- both of which are missed by those overseas, he said. Not everyone comes back and not everyone comes back whole, Bebich said, adding, My sons coming back in one piece. Im very pleased about that. Im just waiting to see him. He wasnt the only one of the couple of hundred people who would welcome the soldiers when they stepped off the airplane. Sarah Murrays white sign with its red and blue letters expressed her feelings. Welcome Home CW3 Murray. Your Mrs. Needs Kisses! She held it at her side as she and other women talked and waited. Glances between them, pauses in their conversation and shared sighs told of their anticipation. Murray needed but few words to express how she felt at Scotts return. Theyve been together a little more than three years and married on the second anniversary of that meeting. Good, just relieved. Happy, she said. This was a day shes been looking forward to since the day he left. The soldiers are part of Operation Support Airlift Detachment 41, 1st battalion of the 189th General Support Aviation Battalion, according to a news release, who flew aircraft on reconnaissance and surveillance missions. Maj. Chris Lende, with the Montana Army National Guards public affairs unit, said he couldnt discuss where the men flew but added that they were stationed at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. Although most units have seen a decrease in the number of deployments, our Army aviation units continue to be selected for mobilization in support of contingency operations, Col. Jamie Wilkins, the state Army Aviation Officer for Montana, wrote in a news release issued by Lende. Mary Graff, married to CW4 Tim Graff for 24 years, was at the National Guard hangar to await her husbands return. This was his third deployment. Its hard, she said. This has probably been the hardest deployment, although its been the shortest. Coping with Tim being in Afghanistan meant not dwelling on it. You cant think about it. You just have to set it aside and do what needs to be done, Graff explained. This is not where you expect to be, she said. I didnt expect at 50 years old to be waiting for my husband to return from war. But support from their 23-year-old daughter and extended family have made it easier, she added. Hes proud to serve his country and Im proud to have him as my husband, Graff said. The roar of the aircraft as it descended drew the crowds attention. Those not wearing sunglasses shielded their eyes with hands to watch as it touched down. Perhaps 18 fire trucks and law enforcement vehicles with emergency lights flashing and sirens howling escorted the plane toward the hangar where everyone waited. Gov. Steve Bullock joined the reception line of military officers who shook the soldiers hands as they passed en route to the open arms and handshakes that awaited them. Soldiers with friends and family posed for photos. Those who had children lifted them in their arms or placed an arm around the childs shoulder. CW4 Carl Wass, tall and tanned, smiled at the reception on his return from this deployment, his third. Its great. Its great to be back again, he said. Its always nice to be back. His mother and father, his wife and their two daughters, and the extended family were there to welcome him. The whole crowd, he said still grinning. Theyre excited to get me back, thats for sure. Its all good. With Bagram and Afghanistan behind him, he plans to go home and return to his job at the airport outside of Bozeman. Scott Murray stood beside his wife, Sarah, and he too said it was great to be home and see everyone. A long time coming, he said. The 53 chairs set up behind a trio of flags inside the hangar for the ceremony went unused until afterward, when a few people sat for coffee and conversation. At these events, people get excited. They all want to be right there on the line, Lende said as the crowd began to thin. Outside the hangar, a drab green National Guard helicopter warmed up before lifting off. In the shadow of the hangar as people continued to depart, one of those who returned on this day and a woman embraced -- a moment that lasted far longer than the ceremonial hugs in front of a welcoming crowd. Public rallies decrying the hatred and fear of refugees, immigrants and Muslims are planned for 5 p.m. Tuesday in Helena and several other Montana cities. "Lets gather to show the strength of our values and begin to refocus the conversation to represent who Montana truly is -- a place of inclusivity and compassion," a Facebook page for "Stand Together Against Violence, Fear & Hate" says. The page lists about two dozen organizations that plan to participate in the event. Among them are Soft Landing Missoula, which hopes to bring a resettlement agency to Missoula, and Montana Human Rights Network, which spoke out against recent anti-refugee relocation rallies in Missoula and Helena. "There is a narrative spreading throughout our country right now about race and religion that we see metastasizing around us and can't let go unchecked," the Facebook page says. " ... We're holding this rally in the spirit of openness and warmth, so please don't negatively engage with any opponents who may show up." At least 509 people have confirmed they would participate in one of the rallies. The Helena rally will be held at Constitution Park, which is located at the corner of Last Chance Gulch and Sixth Avenue. Other rally locations include the XXXX sculpture in Missoula, Depot Park in Kalispell, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Billings and Pilgrim Congregational United Methodist Church of Christ in Bozeman. BILLINGS -- Montana voters could decide whether emergency medical technicians should be able to provide veterans with health assessments, suicide interventions and other services. Under Ballot Initiative 179, EMTs with special training and licensing, called community veteran EMTs, would provide extra care that currently doesn't fall within the scope of their emergency response duties in Montana. "We're trying to make it easier for veterans to get care," said Ed Lesofski, who wrote and submitted I-179. "They can't wait. These veterans need help, and they need it quickly and more consistently." The CVEMTs would operate under the guidance of licensed physicians, and services would be billed as if performed by that physician, who acts as medical director. While the initiative is geared toward veterans, the CVEMTs could provide care to anyone who needs it. If approved by Montana voters, the initiative would create a voluntary CVEMT license that includes the following training in addition to EMT training: Acupuncture. Non-medical counseling. Suicide prevention and intervention. Exercise physiology. Electronic medical records documentation. Veteran advocacy. Veteran and Social Security benefits. Grant writing. Community program development. Research. Palliative care. Chronic care. Pharmacology. Montana law doesn't currently let EMTs operate outside the specific scope of their emergency response duties, said Lesofski, co-founder of the Rural Institute for Veterans Education and Research (RIVER) in Missoula. Lesofski said he believes they could make a difference in serving Montana's veteran population. He cites the roughly 75,000 wartime veterans living in Montana combined with the state's highest-in-the-nation veteran suicide rate as major reasons the certification is needed. In 2014, for example, the 59 veteran suicides made up nearly a quarter of the total suicides in the state, according to the Montana Suicide Review Team's summary report for the year. Combined with what he, and the ballot, describes as an understaffed U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and a lack of national and state plans to reduce suicide rates, Lesofski said the CVEMT program would be a good start in addressing veteran health needs at a community level, especially in rural areas where a doctor or other health professional might not be nearby. "People expect EMTs to do this, but they don't know that they can't right now," Lesofski said. "Is the initiative perfect? No. But it gives the framework." It is still in the signature-gathering stages -- it's netted about 5,000 signatures so far and needs a total of 24,175 by June 17 to be on the general election ballot -- with a campaign and website called Yes for Vets. If enough Montanans sign and then approve I-179 on the ballot later this year, it calls for the Montana Board of Medical Examiners to oversee its implementation, rules and governance. The initiative is estimated to cost about $13.3 million in general fund money and another $5.7 million in special revenue expenditures in its first five years. The Montana Board of Medical Examiners, state emergency medical services officials with the Montana Department of Health and Human Services, and Montana Veterans Affairs have not yet taken a stance on the initiative. Lesofski helped found and run RIVER, a Missoula-based group that already trains veterans and others related in veteran issues in many of the different aspects the CVEMT license includes, not including the EMT training. The goal is to teach veterans and others ways to deal with veteran-related issues and then spread them throughout the state to help. "It's like a master's degree focused on veteran issues," Lesofski said. "It makes it easier for them to help. It's a non-threatening way they can come in and learn about these issues with their fellow vets, without labels, without the typical rules that are put forward." He said that while RIVER and I-179 do overlap in their stated goals, the two are separate efforts and that it would be up to the board of medical examiners to decide who trains CVEMTs and how to train them. "... It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings."....I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" CAIRO (AP) An Egyptian court convicted four Coptic Christian teenagers for contempt of Islam on Thursday, after they appeared in a video mocking Muslim prayers, sentencing three to five years in prison and referring a fourth to a juvenile detention facility, one The harsh ruling, which has followed a surge of blasphemy cases in Egyptian courts, underscores what rights groups describe as a culture of intolerance within the country's judicial system at a time when the Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi is seeking to position himself as an advocate for religious reform. The 30-second video showed the students pretending to pray, with one kneeling on the floor while reciting Qur'anic verses and two others standing behind him and laughing. One waved his hand under a second's neck in a sign of beheading. The video was filmed during a students' picnic to mock the Islamic State group that beheaded Coptic Christians in Libya last year. It was filmed on a mobile phone by the students' teacher, who is also a Christian, and who was sentenced to three years in prison for insulting Islam in a separate trial. The teenagers' lawyer Maher Naguib said his clients, who are high school students in the southern province of Minya, were tried in absentia. They were all minors, he said, adding that the court exempted only one, named Clinton Magdy, and referred him to the juvenile facility. Some 10 security trucks surrounded the court building in the southern city of Bani Mazar. The families of the students cried, and some women wailed in disbelief and collapsed on hearing the verdict. Naguib described the ruling as "unbelievable" and said the judge should have just punished the teenagers with a fine. Iman Girgis, a mother of one of the convicted students, 16-year-old Moller Atef, told The Associated Press, "my son was sentenced to five years for laughing. Is that possible?" Christians make up approximately 10 percent of Egypt's population. They have long complained of discrimination by the Muslim majority. Christians were among the main supporters of the army chief-turned-president, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who led the military ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi amid mass protests against Morsi's rule. El-Sissi has vowed to purge extremism from Egypt's religious discourse, yet Egypt has witnessed a spike in blasphemy charges even after the ouster of Morsi, who hails from the country's largest Islamist group, the Muslim Brotherhood. Rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have called on Egyptian authorities to end prosecutions based on contempt of religion laws. The Egyptian Initiative For Personal Rights said that it documented nine such cases in 2015 alone, in which courts handed out sentences against 12 defendants, including Muslims and atheists. It said that another 14 citizens are currently under investigation for contempt of religion. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Tell us about yourself and what you do: Who has inspired you in your life and why? How early did you start doing you're Art/Craft? What is your latest project you're promoting now? Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? Do you have any tips for our readers that are trying to break in the industry? My name is Ed Vela and I am a National Award Winning Playwright, and an International Award Winning Screenwriter and Filmmaker. I began writing plays in the late 90s. My plays have been published by 3 different publishers in both the U.S. and Canada, and have been performed in Texas, Oklahoma, Virginia, Arizona, and California (to mention a few) and even as far away as Debrecen, Hungary. I have won the L.W. Thomas Award for Best Short Play from Theatre Oxford, and won the Jewel Box Theatre Award for Best Comedy Play. I moved to Los Angeles for several years to try to bridge into screenwriting with mixed results. Two of my screenplays won International Contests and Awards, but I never optioned (sold) anything in the very competitive industry out there. I have also won awards for my short films at different contests and film festivals. I have won both a Gold (for my short film: STEP!) and a Platinum (for my screenplay: The Mortality Game) Remi Award from WorldFest Houston, and most recently Best International Comedy Short (for my short film: Pubic Enemy/Number Two) from Texas Ultimate Shorts. It was while I was in L.A. that I first started doing my on-going labor of love, my You Tube web series: Dad vs. Lad, in which I write, produce, direct and perform. I currently have 34, 5-8 minute webisodes posted over 6 seasons, averaging about 4000 views each.I credit my inspiration and desire to write and tell intriguing stories to Stan Lee and the folks at Marvel Comics, way back in the Silver Age at Marvel. The first comic I ever read was Iron Man #46, and I was hooked. I expanded my reading to include The Fantastic Four, The Avengers, The X-Men, and of course Spider-Man, among others. I fulfilled a live long dream recently, when I got to meet and briefly converse with Stan Lee at a comic convention in Houston, Texas. He was the most gracious of icons as I thanked him profusely for inspiring me to be a writer, to which he simply smiled and said: Youre welcome. I got the feeling he had heard this particular thank you before.I started out as a stage actor, at the tender age of 18, playing supporting roles, and men much older than I was at the time. I loved the live stage experience, no back up, no second chances, and the immediate and amazing audience response. It stimulated the hambone in me to its very marrow. That spark of love for performing has never really left me as I tend to act out everything I write as I develop it.I am trying to promote more viewership for my Dad vs. Lad web series as I believe that on an absolute shoestring budget that we have for the production of the show that we do a good job of telling a story, developing characters, and keeping the audience entertained. The premise of the show started out being semi-autobiographical as my character: Herb, was in a constant struggle with his newly acquired step-son Weston, inspired by my 7 year marriage. At the end of Season 2 my teen actor on the show decided he wanted to quit acting, but I was just having too much fun writing and shooting the show. I re-tooled the show to be about Herbs strained relationship with his biological sons that we never even knew he had. In Season 4, yet another son popped up, the result of tryst Herb had years before. By Season 5 I was back in Houston, and decided to re-cast the characters of Herbs sons with local Houston actors. I was very lucky and managed to cast some excellent young actors, and Im happy to say with Season 6 all three of Herbs biological sons are wreaking havoc together. We are currently shooting Season 7, introducing new characters and revisiting old ones. Its on You Tube Channel: IncredibleEdibleED.Since I didnt make it in L.A., my 5 year plan is, if I couldnt break into the industry out there, to get more industry happening in Houston. Right now Austin, Dallas, even San Antonio are all thought of for film and web series more than Houston. I plan to change that. Ive got a semi-popular web series that I am already shooting in the Bayou City, and I have already shot one short film here and plan to shoot a lot more. This is not as farfetched as it sounds. Before Breaking Bad, Albuquerque was not thought of as a Mecca for the film industry. Before Walking Dead, Atlanta was not doing that many productions. I truly believe with lower price of equipment, and the great need for product on the internet and cable and satellite networks, eventually it will be: industry everywhere!My advice to people who have the desire to do a short film or a web series is NOT to go to L.A., because there are more than enough folks swimming up a waterfall out there, but rather to get together with likeminded artists and try to set up some kind of media/film/web series infrastructure right where you are, in your own city, state, part of the country. You can always find writers who want to write, actors who want to act, camera operators that want to set up that great shot, and editors that want to piece together a film or other project for you. You just have to look. Its okay to end up being a big fish in a small pond, because eventually a big fish gets noticed, and sometimes the size of the pond only makes it look bigger. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close This year, campground owners were added to the list of business owners who are immune from liability. Since 1999, they made eight Sweet 16 appearances, four Elite Eight trips, three visit to the Final Four, and one shot at the championship game Kachin tribal peoples occupying parts of northeastern Myanmar (Burma) and contiguous areas of India ( Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland ) and China ( Yunnan ). The greatest number of Kachin live in Myanmar (roughly 790,000), but some 150,000 live in China and a few thousand in India . Numbering about 1012,000 in the late 20th century, they speak a variety of languages of the Tibeto-Burman group and are thereby distinguished as Jinghpaw, or Jingpo (Chingpaw [Ching-po], Singhpo), Atsi, Maru (Longvo), Lachid, Nung (Rawang), and Lisu . The movie Thank You, Dad by Hrach Keshishyan tells a story of an American-Armenian girl, named Virgy. Although, she had hardly ever see... The landscape up north, between Egilsstair and Myvatn. Lots of barren gorgeousness. These days there's a lot of talk here about tourism-gone-rogue, with our over million visitors per year becoming less and less manageable as far too many of them continue to underestimate (in their attempts to take that perfect tourist photo?) how dangerous our landscape is. Please play safe here during your stay! * After all, everything's a matter of perspective, isn't it? Also in the news is the excellent profits made by our banks in 2015. Though financial stability and gain are symbolic of a healthy economy overall, there's never much joy in reading that kind of news for the average struggling Jon and Stina trying to make ends meet. But if your business, say an advertising agency or print shop or furniture supplier or interior design firm or web development group, can find a way to suck off the teat of the banks as they close neighborhood branches to open new, shiny more remote ones, or as they go on marketing sprees, or revamp their online and mobile banking services, you might love their success. And if you're out there in the world imagining that we've figured out the formula for training our banksters to behave, you might admire us for our diligence After all, everything's a matter of perspective, isn't it? Regarding perspective, I'd like to share a letter I wrote and sent to all the highest-set folk at Arion Bank in March 2014. I've shared it on facebook, but was a little hesitant to publish it here. I suppose on some level it felt like I was writing myself into a certain reality, that by admitting my lack of wealth so clearly I was making it so, law of attraction-wise. In re-reading it two years after writing it, though, it's clear that the take-away message isn't what I don't have, monetarily or otherwise, but what I do have and what I'd like to continue to grow and nurture within me: integrity, foresight, tenacity, compassion, and faith that these things are what living a good life are made of. Back in 2014 I had to use my Sherlockian skills to discover the email addresses of the top level players at Arion. After cracking the pattern used for all in-company email addresses, I sent out this letter and was promptly contacted by the CEO 's ombudsman, who apologized profusely for all that the bank had put me through. They've be en very nice to me since, especially after another round of fail on their part last year, though what it took to get that nice was beyond acceptable. Here then is the letter I wrote, which I think may have jarred the consciences of certain high-set members of the bank upon reading it back in 2014, and hopefully still does. In my opinion it's less about me or greed or banks, and all about what motivates us, and how, truly, we're all in this together... Read on: (My situation is clearly mapped out in my customer file, if you are interested in knowing the impetus for this letter, though it isn't necessary. I am one of many, with an all-too familiar experience.) Good afternoon, Arion Bank officers and board. Your bank owes me an apology. I just want to let you all know, though, that I am aware that Arion Banki isnt going to do anything for me except continue to send me collection agency threats (innheimtubref) and charge me interest for the year that my overdraft has so graciously been put on hold. I am the little person on the street, the once-hopeful now-bad risk, the working, striving poor and helpless pawn in an international game of financial chess decades in the making. I am the sacrifice for others profit. I am also highly educated, and considered in the top 5% of intellect in the United States, where I grew up. My parents moved to California from 101 Reykjavik in the Sixties to give my sister and I a better life, with greater opportunities. I started my educational career at one of the best universities in the US, studying a field of science that was brand new, and that few were even accepted to, psychobiology. I quickly realized that I didnt want to be stuck in a lab coat, but wanted to experience the world, study the human experience, and write about it. That is what I do today: I'm a writer. My handicap has always been that I'm not so hard-scrabble, hamster-wheel ambitious, and that I have a hard time playing by broken rules in corrupt scenarios. That said, I have tried to play the financial game here as best I can, and as honestly. There were many times when I could have cheated, skimmed off the top, lied, swindled grant money and so forth, but have chosen not to. I've faced the financial crash experience as best I could, and hunkered down as a teacher to make sure my two children have had a stable, loving home during challenging times. I've helped my parents during their move back to Iceland after 40 years abroad, and feel that I'm an honest, caring, stable adult. So Im not a flake, or an idiot, or a cheat or a thief or a whiner or any of the other things the righteous wealthy like to call the less financially endowed. I am where I am because Ive always believed in the goodness of people, though they have not always proved me right. I grew up with extremely wealthy people out in California, Saudi princes and top models and brain surgeons and Texan oil barons and, interestingly enough, the son of one of the founding members of the CIA. I've had dinner with a former director of the FBI. I know what money and power do and dont do. I know they can corrupt even the most gentle soul, and I know that they cause a distinct change in brain functioning: the altruistic and compassionate systems of the brain are overridden by the hormonal rewards that profit and acquisition provide. It can potentially happen to any of us, at any income level, but there does seem to be an unfortunate correlation between a reduction in altruism and an increase in wealth and power. I personally do not pray to the heavens for MORE MONEY or wish for INSTANT WEALTH. What I want to be able to do is honor my obligations and especially my financial ones. I entered into various contracts with various parties for a variety of goods and services, and my sole desire at this point is to be able to fullfill my end of those contracts in a timely and honorable fashion. The machinations of the top-level players in the global economy as well as in the local one have made that increasingly more difficult. This is a fact (and not the conspiratorial ramblings of a lazy, bitter worker as we the ever-striving middle and lower income groups are often made out to be.) I joke with my mother that the stupidest move Ive made in my life is not marrying an Icelandic fisherman or some international banker. Then Id be set, yes? Pretty little woman behind the wealthy powerful man. I chose instead to be self-sufficient, and responsible and respectable, as I'm sure most of you women in power feel yourselves to be. Kudos to you for making it to the top. I did not, however, choose to enter into the world of finance. Another fail on my part, I suppose. Arion is beholden to its shareholders and to its board. It is required to make a profit, regardless of how immoral some of its practices seem to smell. I am one of thousands of customers trapped in a vicious cycle of debt-and-interest by a non-transparent institution that proudly advertises profits* gained, in large part, off of the humiliation of those beholden to it. Honestly, one of the worst days in recent months was when I discovered that Arion now owned my mortgage, just when I can see the light at the end of the tunnel on paying off my overdraft with the bank, a four-year transaction which has been riddled with incompetence on Arion's part. And yes, just today another innheimtubref was shoved into my mailbox. Not because Im stupid or irresponsible, but because I, with all good faith, chose to become a teacher and a translator, and to influence the next generation of Iceland not realizing seven years ago how very very lowly we are regarded by the power-holders of this country; because I have tried to make the best out of very difficult personal situations over which I had no control; because I didnt marry for money; because to me nurturing myself as a writer and passing on wisdoms I've gathered was and is more important than living life in a laboratory coat, or even becoming just another hack with a business or marketing degree. I know Arion wont do anything for me. Cant do anything for me, except continue to automatically churn out computer-generated late notices, charge me (probably) illegal fees for its own mistakes, and chronically not call me back as promised. But I can do something for Arion, and thats this: I can remind you, Hoskuldur, and the other seemingly detached heads of this bank, what it feels like to be on the other end of money, and how sometimes its not a lack of power that keeps a person in the poverty cycle, but the exact opposite: Sometimes its a different kind of power, the power that comes with integrity, the power of an intelligence that refuses to be dampened down to play a corrupt game, that makes earning and keeping an honest dollar (or krona) so difficult. I encourage you all to think for a few moments about what money and business power have truly brought you. Are you a better person today than when you were struggling to get along in the world? Or if you never had to struggle financially, when you were trying to get a beginner's toehold in the financial sphere, a seat at the VIP gambling table, so to speak? Maybe you are, I hope you feel you are. But were you a bad person then? What has changed to separate you from the masses? Do you have children or grandchildren who are now poor? Who are students, trying to buy their first home, trying to pay off a student loan? What do you advise them when they feel ill-treated by private or governmental institutions? Ultimately, who are you today, and what would you be willing to sacrifice to be that hopeful, dream-filled optimist you once were? You owe me an apology, and you will give me nothing. I do hope, however, that youll take the time to find out what, deep down, you may just owe yourselves as well. Best regards, Maria Alva orisdottir Roff #umk16 final tonight and the winner will be our 50th Eurovisison entry. Roope Salminen is hosting the show from Helsinki with 2013 entrant Krista Siegfrids and Eurovision 2007 hostess Jaana Pelkonen will be there, too. Eurovision 2006 winner Lordi is performing and celebrating the 10th anniversary of their win and also last year's participants Pertti Kurikan Nimipaivat grace the show with their presence. For the first time for a very long time, or ever, the polls give no clue who will win. Pre-contest favorite Saara Aalto is not doing so well in the polls, and the fan favorites Mikael Saari (He won the Finnish fanclub's Fan Award again) and Annice & Kimmo don't seem to appeal to the masses, nor Tuuli. Eini is doing well with general puclic, critics love Sandhja and Barbe-Q-Barbies is picking up speed. Being the only rock entry will surely be an advantage when the masses start to vote tonight, same goes for Eini having the only song in Finnish. Cristal Snow has a lot of fans and has emerged a contender in the last minutes after losing a bit after being also a pre-contest favorite. This is exciting! More than ever! Can't wait! ------ LIVE BLOGGING FROM 9PM CET --------- Finland has itsfinal tonight and the winner will be our 50th Eurovisison entry. Roope Salminen is hosting the show from Helsinki with 2013 entrant Krista Siegfrids and Eurovision 2007 hostess Jaana Pelkonen will be there, too. Eurovision 2006 winner Lordi is performing and celebrating the 10th anniversary of their win and also last year's participants Pertti Kurikan Nimipaivat grace the show with their presence.For the first time for a very long time, or ever, the polls give no clue who will win. Pre-contest favorite Saara Aalto is not doing so well in the polls, and the fan favorites Mikael Saari (He won the Finnish fanclub's Fan Award again) and Annice & Kimmo don't seem to appeal to the masses, nor Tuuli. Eini is doing well with general puclic, critics love Sandhja and Barbe-Q-Barbies is picking up speed. Being the only rock entry will surely be an advantage when the masses start to vote tonight, same goes for Eini having the only song in Finnish. Cristal Snow has a lot of fans and has emerged a contender in the last minutes after losing a bit after being also a pre-contest favorite. This is exciting! More than ever! Can't wait!Here we go! First a bit relax with a trip to Nuuksio national park! Lovely day in the nice cottage in the snow..... but what will happen next? Quite funny, Krista and Roope are flirting with the artists and Eini is gets draamaa for the outdoor toilet.... Krista, who has "psychic skills" saw something.....!!!??Lordi!!!! The years after. OMG! How time flies when you are having fun! Hard rock hallelujah tiurns into cutting Krista in two and Roope in pieces, lol! Now that's a way to start a show! Bood! Welcome to Finland! LOLAnd after NSFW show starter on to the show! It's time for the 50th Finnish entry time! Post-modulators remind this is the tightest UMK ever as we have no clue who will win tonight. There are about 6 out 9 who can end up with the ticket to Stockholm! Cristal Snow Love Is Blind Stella Christine Aint Got Time For Boys Annica Milan & Kimmo Blom Good Enough Eini Draamaa Barbe-Q-Barbies Let Me Out Tuuli Okkonen Dont Wake Me Up Sandhja Sing It Away Saara Aalto No Fear Mikael Saari On It Goes Same staging as in the semis. He starts of vocally very weak and in the video clip he confessed being very nervous. It has been said this would be a great entry but the weakest link is Cristal or rather his vocals. Indeed. Shame. I suppose him fanbase won't be enough for him tonight.Unlike Cristal she said she has no presssure, getting this far was already such a surprise all after this only bonus. She's vocally good, relaxed. Two backing singers with smooth movements and a dancing couple complete the act. But despite being the dark horse tonight I don't think it's enough.Nope. They still didn't have chemistry. Boring. Yawn. And watching three minutes of people watching themselves in mirrors, who's idea was that? Dark and did I say boring? Plastic 100%. Not even good enough.In greenroom Cristal is very satisfied with his performance. "I'm no Celine Dion, rather Madonna" LOL. He says he got all out and now the story is told. Stella is also happy with her performance and says it was the best one yet.Eini said it was unbelievable she qualified and it took her a moment before it sunk in. It has all been only positive so far and her gig calender is filling up like there's no tomorrow. She's done a huge comeback! A bit shaky vocals at first. And later. That may have cost her the surprise win tonight. Her dress is shorter and legs longer if possible. The cougar looks awesome with her toyboys.Barbies went for beers and sing karaoke after their qualification in some local pub in Helsinki. Except the lead singer who is heavily pregnant, of course. Standard rock performance with pyros and flashing lights. Maybe not so strong as in semis?! A potential compromise winner though.In greenroom Roope is with Annica and Kimmo who preaach love, unity and Eurovision! Eini was very very happy on stage and thanks the audience who are so wonderful. She hopes that trasnmitted the drama pain to the home sofas, too :-)She's very happy to be able to sing her song again, and who knows maybe for the third time? (Ed,note nope) She says she's got to much good feedback from Europe she thinks it would do well in Globen (Ed.note nope) She starts off with a false note but gathers herself soon. She's a bit off later on but maybe it's the falling rain, or rain of fire that distracts her? Or the wind machine that blew the words away?Back in greenroom with Barbe-Q-Barbies. They say they get aong well, since they are friend forever. Maybe.Krista is pregnant. Maybe :-)She really wants to win and even if she doesn't this has given her already so much she can't be but thankful. Some experimetal camerawork by YLE that was a bit distracting IMHO but she sung very well, as did her backing singers. She had also a new easier look to accept. Very very good. But good enough to win?Tuuli in greenroom now. Tuuli says she felt good, and thinks her performance was very peacful and relaxed. But now it's over and she can have a drink of champagne, paid by taxes. Sandhja wonders what happened on stage, she's still out of breath but overjoyed.Saara says she has built the most pressure herself. She is here because she wants to do Eurovision. Period. But is she going to be 2nd again? :-) The staging is the same: the wardobe gimmich, bare chested male singers, falling snow and long notes. And Ruslanaesque finish. Meh. But vocally she's good. No doubt about.Roope asks Krista how does ti feel to win UKM and she says it's wonderful. Fantastic. Especially if you beat Mikael Saari.....He says he would like to keep the staging as minimal as it is here whould he win, maybe change something in the keychange. This is all hard, rough, stressful and ... wonderful! And the staging is minimal like in the semi, with a lot of close ups. Mikael also delivers a few false notes this time. But I can't keep my concentration and head to the chips bag midway..... yawn.... "Modern dance about domestic violance" and no refrain....Back to greenroom with Saara. Roope asks if she has already practised the face to make if she comes second again? And she says she's so used to it it comes naturally. LOL. She has discovered self irony I see. Next Mikael aka #mieskarkki or #mancandy. He says he is ready to win Eurovision and brig it to Lahti. Ok.After post-modulators gave their opinions and checked what's going on in social medias it's time for the last recap. The voting closes shortly.Next is a look at the back stage and all that with the UMK house dancers..... and all the props used and Krista's crazy outfits.Voting...... first jury votes....Before the all important televotes some choir music...... and PKNNext Krista remembers our first entryin 1961.....ha ha ha ha, Saara is SECOND AGAIN!!!!!!Sandhja wins! :-) By Jane Carrell - You've gotta hand it to the Democrats. They stick by their own. Families in the middle fifth of the income scale now earn less and their net worth is lower than when Obama took office." Obamacare is triggering unforeseen increases in food stamp recipients. Vast numbers of people have invaded the southern border, because the Obama Administration has so hog tied border enforcement personnel (ICE). But Tammy Duckworth applauds Obama's plan for 65,000, mostly Muslim, refugees to enter this country. In fact, she thinks that 200,000 is a much nicer number. Senate Republican (In Name Only) Mark Kirk has a fine television ad, calling Tammy on her position. iStock/Thinkstock(DAMASCUS, Syria) -- A temporary cease-fire was put into place in Syria on Friday, but officials are unsure how long it will last. The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on the cessation of hostilities, which went into effect at midnight, local time. U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power described its success as a very big if. It is going to be extremely challenging, especially at the outset, to make this work, she said, while also pointedly criticizing those like Russia who stepped up attacks Friday ahead of the deadline. A UN spokesperson said that before the cease-fire, they saw an increase of military activity across the board in Syria on Friday. The UNs special envoy for Syria said Friday that peace talks will resume on March 7 if the cessation of hostilities largely holds. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Fiscal capacityspending and especially taxationis key to long run economic development. Taxation is not just about financing spending, it is the economic glue that binds citizens to the state in a two-way accountability relationship. Against this background, we assess Indias fiscal capacity. Simple tax-GDP and spending-GDP ratios suggest that India under-taxes and under-spends relative to comparable countries. But, controlling for the level of economic development, India neither under-taxes nor under-spends. India does tax and spend less than other politically developed nations, but given that most other democracies took time to strengthen tax capacity, perhaps India is not an outlier on this dimension, either. India does stand out in the number of individual income taxpayers, currently about 4 percent, far from our desirable estimate of about 23 percent. Building long-run fiscal capacity is vital. One low hanging fruit would be to refrain from raising exemption thresholds for the personal income tax, allowing natural growth in income to increase the number of taxpayers. Beyond that, building fiscal capacity is also about creating legitimacy in the state. This can be acquired by pri Introduction 7.1 The Indian tax system is about to witness dramatic changes. Consider first the GST. Implementing a new tax, encompassing both goods and services, to be implemented by the Centre, 28 States and 7 Union Territories, in a large federal system, via a constitutional amendment requiring broad political consensus, affecting potentially 2-2.5 million excise and service taxpayers, and marshalling the latest technology to radically improve collection efficiency, is a reform perhaps unprecedented in modern global tax history. 7.2 Take next corporate taxes. The rate is scheduled to come down from 30 percent to 25 percent and a wide range of exemptions will be phased out in an orderly manner. In addition, the legacy of contentious, adversarial tax issues from the past is being cleaned up. Tax administration is being improved: now around 95 per cent of filings are electronic, tax refunds are now being issued in a record 7-8 days, and a new Tax Policy Council and Tax Research Unit are being created. 7.3 To be sure, a number of important issues in tax policy as well as in tax administration (as detailed for example, in the report of the Tax Administration Reforms Commission) need to be addressed. But ongoing developments warrant taking stock of a simple but fundamental question: Given that state capacity and taxation are crucial determinants of long run development, how can India move from its current situation to one of increasing taxes and government spending as part of the process of building state capacity ?1 7.4 The findings are nuanced but striking. i. A simple comparison of aggregates with other countries indicates that India undertaxes and under-spends. ii. Controlling for the level of economic development, India neither under-taxes nor under-spends. iii. India does tax and spend less than other politically developed nations, but given that most other democracies took a long time to strengthen tax capacity, perhaps it is not an outlier on this dimension, either. iv. Where India does stand out is in the number of individual income taxpayers. The ratio of taxpayers to voters is only about 4 percent, whereas it should be closer to 23 percent. 7.5 We explore the policy implications of these findings in the concluding section. 7.6 Consider first, why taxation is key to long run political and economic development. If spending is about the entitlements of citizenship in a democracy, taxation is about the obligations of citizenship. Taxation and military service (or some other form of compulsory national service) are two core elements of modern citizenship. India has chosen taxation as the key obligation that it can demand of its citizens. The obligations of citizenship are the foundations of nation building and democracy. Bringing more and more people into the tax net via some form of direct taxation, will help in realizing the promise of Indian democracy. 7.7 Democracy is a contract between the state and its citizens. This contract has a vital economic dimension: the state's role is to create the conditions for prosperity for all by providing essential services and protecting the less well-off via redistribution. The citizen's part of the contract is to hold the state accountable when it fails to honour the contract (Besley and Persson [2013]2). But a citizen's stake in exercising accountability diminishes if he does not pay in a visible and direct way for the services the state commits to providing. If a citizen does not pay - through taxes or user fees - he either becomes a free rider (using the service without paying) or exits (not using the service at all). Both reduce the accountability of the state. Hence the expression: no representation without taxation. Taxation is not just about financing public spending, it is the economic glue that binds citizens to the state in a necessary two way relationship. 7.8 One can think of tax paying and political participation as two important accountability mechanisms wielded by citizens. The precocious India phenomenon is that economic development lags political development. One can hypothesize that this difference in taxpaying and voting might explain the phenomenon in India of there being reasonably effective episodic accountability as opposed to ongoing accountability. Independent India has averted famines but chronic malnutrition is still a challenge. The Indian state can organize mega-events but routine safety for women has turned out to be more difficult to achieve. The Indian state responds effectively to floods and tsunamis but finds water and power metering more challenging. 7.9 Consider next the challenge of moving to a better equilibrium. There are no real low hanging fruit here because of two reasons: first, India is not really an outlier, contrary to much popular perception, in terms of its overall level of taxation and spendingfacts that we establish unambiguously. It is easy to exhort the government to, say, increase spending on health and education or remove exemptions on the tax side. But it must be remembered that the ability to spend and tax is in part endogenous to the perceived legitimacy of the state. Citizens will be willing to pay their dues as taxes only if they feel that the state is adhering to its side of the contract by delivering essential services. In other words, tax and spending policy are related to actions by the state to increase its legitimacy. State and tax capacity are as much about state legitimacy as they are about technical details relating the design of policy and its implementation. Cross-Country Taxation and Expenditure Patterns 7.10 In this chapter we assess, in a simple cross-country framework, whether India taxes and spends enough. How does India, a democracy with (PPP adjusted) per-capita GDP at about one-seventh of the OECD average compare internationally on spending and taxation patterns? A caveat: we do not consider property taxation not because it is unimportant. Rather, the omission owes to data challenges, stemming in part from the fact that property is taxed, albeit differently, at all three levels of government in India. This also means that the Centre has fewer policy levers at its disposal so that improving property taxation will require greater cooperation between all three levels of government. But given the extent to which property is a critical constituent of wealth and a potential source of local government revenues, property taxation reforms should be an important part of the countrys tax reform agenda. 7.11 In the simple cross-section, India appears to be an outlier: it taxes and spends less than OECD countries and less than its emerging market peers (Table 1). Indias spending to GDP ratio (as well as spending in human capital i.e. health and education) is lowest among BRICS and lower than both the OECD and EME averages. Indias tax to GDP ratio at 16.6 per cent also is well below the EME and OECD averages of about 21 per cent and 34 per cent, respectively. 7.12 Indias spending and tax ratios are the lowest even among economies with comparable (PPP adjusted) per-capita GDP e.g. Vietnam, Bolivia and Uzbekistan. The two ratios stand at 28 per cent and 22.2 per cent, 43.3 per cent and 25.5 per cent, 33.4 per cent and 25.6 per cent for Vietnam, Bolivia and Uzbekistan respectively for the latest year available. Table 1 also shows that Indias share of income and property tax in GDP are also comparatively low (with the exception of China in case of direct taxation). 7.13 Over time too, it seems, India has made limited progress in increasing its tax and spending capacity. Besley and Persson (2013) document that rich countries have consistently invested in tax collection capacity and collect a larger share of income in taxes vis-a-vis poor nations (and much higher revenues visa- vis poor countries despite comparable tax rates).In comparison to the United States (which introduced income taxes over the first half of the 20th century) Indias tax to GDP ratio has increased at a much slower pace over the comparable time period following the introduction of income taxation. Indias tax to GDP ratio has increased by about 10 percentage points over the past six decades from about 6 per cent in 1950-51 to 16.6 per cent in 2013-14. Figure 1 shows ten-year snapshots of the trends in aggregate spending as well as the indirect and direct tax to GDP ratios for India starting 1960-61. 7.14 However, it may not be appropriate to make such simple cross-country comparisons since there is a strong relationship between a countrys fiscal capacity and the level of economic development. The correct question to ask therefore is: whether Indias fiscal capacity is low given its level of economic development (proxied by its PPP adjusted per capita GDP). Number of Taxpayers: Is India an outlier? 7.28 Taxes and expenditures should be viewed not just from a fiscal but also an institutional perspective. It is well-known that citizenship and building the economic connection between citizens and the state happens more via direct rather than indirect taxes which do not affect taxpayers as immediately and saliently as direct taxes.8 It appears that citizens feel the pinch of taxation most when their incomes or assets are taxed. Especially in a country like India, indirect taxes are not immediate or direct enough to be perceived by citizens as their contributions to the state. For that reason, the implementation of the GST - while highly desirable and necessary - will have a limited impact in furthering the broader objective of citizen participation, state building, and democratic accountability. As Besley and Persson (2013) show, countries with a higher share of income taxes in total tax collections tend to have more accountable governments. 7.29 This directly relates to the point noted earlier, that accountability of citizens weaken if they do not pay directly for the services the state provides. This is likely to render citizens as free riders or compel them to exit thereby diluting the accountability of the state itself. Hence the number of taxpayers is a key indicator of fiscal capacity. Does India have too few or approximately the right number of citizens paying taxes given its level of economic and political development? 7.30 In India today, roughly 5.5 percent of earning individuals are in the tax net. This statistic gives an idea of the gap that India needs to cover to become a full tax-paying democracy. Based on recent tax data, and using the methodology in Banerjee and Piketty (2005), we estimate that about 15.5 percent of net national income excluding taxes (which is the national income accounts counterpart of the personal income accruing to households) was reported to the tax authorities as gross taxable income. In the late 1990s, this number was 8.3 percent. In other words, nearly 85 percent of the economy is outside the tax net. 7.31 Turn next to the cross-country comparisons. Here too at first blush India seems an outlier. As figures 5a and 5b show, despite the number of tax returns filed picking up from mid-1980 onwards, India currently has amongst the lowest number of taxpayers (as a ratio of voting age population). 7.32 However, a more rigorous cross-country analysis leads to interesting results. When we examine the number of taxpayers (as a ratio of voting age population) controlling for the level of economic development, India is not an outlier. It is only when we control for the level of political development (using the democracy index) does India turn out to be an outlier (Figures 6a and 6b). Controlling for the level of democracy, Indias ratio of taxpayers to voting age population is significantly less than that of comparable countries. This implies that while at present about 4 per cent of citizens who vote pay taxes, the percentage should be about 23. 7.33 Piketty and Qian (2009)9 compare China and India to argue that Chinese success in bringing more citizens into the individual income tax net owes to setting a reasonable threshold for paying taxes and not changing it unduly. In contrast, in India, exemption thresholds for income taxes have been consistently raised. In fact, as Figure 7 shows, thresholds have been raised much more rapidly than underlying income growth so that today, the wedge between average income and the threshold has widened. 7.34 We can calculate in some sense the missing taxpayers in Indianot those who are evading taxes altogether or under-reporting taxes but those who have legitimately gone under the tax radar due to generous government policy. We ask how many taxpayers there would have been in 2012-13 if the threshold had been maintained at Rs. 1,50,000 (the threshold limit in 2008- 09). We find that there would have been an additional 1.65 crore units incorporated within the taxation system (an addition of about 39.5 percent) and tax revenues would have been about R31,500 crores greater. Indias tax-GDP would have increased by 0.32 per cent just by not having raised the threshold so generously. 7.32 However, a more rigorous cross-country analysis leads to interesting results. When weexamine the number of taxpayers (as a ratio of voting age population) controlling forthe level of economic development, India is not an outlier. It is only when we control forthe level of political development (using the democracy index) does India turn out to bean outlier (Figures 6a and 6b). Controlling for the level of democracy, Indias ratio of taxpayers to voting age population is significantly less than that of comparable countries. This implies that while at present about 4 per cent of citizens who vote pay taxes, the percentage should be about 23.7.33 Piketty and Qian (2009)9 compare China and India to argue that Chinese success in bringing more citizens into the individual income tax net owes to setting a reasonable threshold for paying taxes and not changing it unduly. In contrast, in India, exemption thresholds for income taxes have been consistently raised. In fact, as Figure 7 shows, thresholds have been raised much more rapidly than underlying income growth so that today, the wedge between average income and the threshold has widened.7.34 We can calculate in some sense the missing taxpayers in Indianot those who are evading taxes altogether or under-reporting taxes but those who have legitimately gone under the tax radar due to generous government policy. We ask how many taxpayers there would have been in 2012-13 if the threshold had been maintained at Rs. 1,50,000 (the threshold limit in 2008- 09). We find that there would have been an additional 1.65 crore units incorporated within the taxation system (an addition of about 39.5 percent) and tax revenues would have been about R31,500 crores greater. Indias tax-GDP would have increased by 0.32 per cent just by not having raised the threshold so generously. Indian Top Personal Income Distribution Recent work by Piketty10 (2014) and his co-authors has raised a number of questions related to personal income distribution at the very top of the income spectrum. We are now able to provide some tentative estimates based on detailed tax data for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 and compare them with the estimates produced by Piketty and Banerjee (2005)11. The methodology for computing these estimates is far from watertight and should hence be viewed with some circumspection. We reproduce the methodology in Piketty and Banerjee (2005) and compare our estimates with theirs. The results are shown in Figure-2 for the share of the top 1 percent, top 0.5 percent and the top 0.1 per cent of the people in the overall income distribution. We do not have data for the intervening years (between 1999-2000 and 2011-12) and hence the blank spaces in the figure below. As in many countries, there has been a growing concentration of income at the top: in 2013-14, these three groups accounted for 12.4 per cent, 9.4 per cent and 5.0 per cent1 of the income of the entire Indian economy respectively. These numbers are close to comparable shares in the United Kingdom and a below those in the United States. But the change between the late 1990s and today in income shares is greater than the change in the UK and similar to that in the US (Piketty [2014]). Conclusion: Moving To A Better Equilibrium On Taxation And Spending 7.35 All that said, the foregoing analysis merely assessed the adequacy of Indias tax base at a point in time, the present. Even today, it is evident from the analysis in this chapter that India has not fully translated its democratic vigour into commensurately strong fiscal capacity. In the long run, if India is to stay on the line as its per capita income grows, it will need to build fiscal capacity. One low hanging fruit that we suggested was to refrain from raising exemption thresholds and allowing natural growth in income to increase the number of taxpayers. In some ways, this would be reform through inaction. 7.36 Beyond that, what might be done, given that building fiscal capacity is essentially about creating legitimacy in the state? Four points seem relevant here. 7.37 First, the governments spending priorities must include essential services that all citizens consume: public infrastructure, law and order, less pollution and congestion, etc. 7.38 Second, reducing corruption fiendishly difficult as it ismust be a high priority not just because of its economic costs but also because it undermines legitimacy. The more citizens believe that public resources are not wasted, the greater their willingness to pay taxes. In that sense, the governments efforts to improve transparency through transparent and efficient auctioning of public assets will help create legitimacy, and over time strengthen fiscal capacity. 7.39 Third, subsidies to the well-off (amounting to about R1 lakh crore as documented in Chapter 6) need to be scaled back. Regaining legitimacy must be as much about phasing down these bounties as it is about better targeting of subsidies for the poor. Similarly, the tax exemptions Raj which often amount to redistribution towards the richer private sector will also need to be reviewed and phased out. And, reasonable taxation of the better-off, regardless of where they get their income fromindustry, services, real estate, or agriculture--will also help build legitimacy. 7.40 Fourth, property taxation needs to be developed. The very fact that systematic data on property taxation across the country is so sparse is a measure of just how little attention has been given to this tax. Property taxes are especially desirable because they are progressive, buoyant (at least in the Indian context), and difficult to evade, since they are imposed on a non-mobile good, which can with today's technologies, be relatively easily identified. Higher rates (with values updated periodically) can be the foundation of local governments finances, which can thereby provide local public goods and strengthen democratic accountability and more effective decentralisation. Higher property tax rates would also put sand in the wheels of property speculation. Smart cities require smart public finance and a sound property taxation regime is vital to India's urban future. There's still over a year left for the assembly polls, but former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh is already out there clocking more kilometres in the Punjab hinterland last month than in the 19 months since he defeated BJP heavyweight Arun Jaitley in Amritsar in May 2014. The freshly re-anointed Congress state party president is evidently a man in a hurry, his unusual, early-bird poll campaign galvanised by the daunting prospect of a twin electoral challenge in 2017-the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party combine and the rising new-kid-on-the-block, the Aam Aadmi Party. At both New Moti Bagh, Amarinder's imposing family palace in Patiala, and at his place in Chandigarh, it's already beginning to buzz like old times. State police posses posted at the gates are distinctly more polite. Inside, he happily receives a swelling stream of supporters; no one, including the odd critic there to complain, is turned away, perhaps to deflect old charges of being "inaccessible" and "surrounded by infernal coteries". advertisement Amarinder says he is intent on doing it differently this time. "No big rallies, at least not until the final few days before polling," he tells India Today, taking a cursory last look in the mirror before heading out to what he hopes will be "a no-holds-barred" interaction with some 1,000 students on the Panjab University's sprawling campus in Chandigarh on January 28. SAD and BJP contested as an alliance The 73-year-old's return to the helm (for the third time) on November 27 reflects a definite rethink on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's earlier moves to try and effect a 'generational shift' in the states. The induction of Pratap Bajwa, 58, in March 2012 following the party's second consecutive defeat in the state, had clearly failed to work, the resulting factionalism leading to a majority of leaders rallying behind Amarinder. So what inspired the change of heart in Delhi? "I really have no idea," says Amarinder. "Rahul called me shortly after my return from London in early November saying they had decided to make me the PCC president," he says. (Insiders insist the Congress high command was unnerved by the Captain's threats on floating a separate party, a rapprochement seems to have done the trick.) Amarinder, who had famously faulted Rahul Gandhi for not knowing India enough on September 20, has turned discernibly cautious. "I can tell you now after my interaction with him (Rahul) over the past few months, I have found him very perceptive," he says. "No one is born a leader. People build themselves and mature. And I am sure when the day comes, he (Rahul) will be a great leader for this nation," he says acknowledging the latter's efforts to engage with Punjab. "He is very receptive. We agree most of the time. But he often has an argument that is stronger than mine," Amarinder concedes in a telling redefinition of his relationship with the "de facto Congress boss". Party sources in Delhi, however, say the decision to redeploy Amarinder was essentially prompted by the realisation that Punjab, where the ruling SAD-BJP coalition is facing 10 years of anti-incumbency, represents the surest opportunity of a turnaround in political fortunes following the string of drubbings since Lok Sabha 2014. advertisement Back at the law auditorium in Panjab University, Amarinder walks in to a thunderous standing ovation. And just as he wanted, it's a 'no-holds-barred' discussion: "You want to be chief minister. But who will be the real movers? You or the coterie that surrounds you?" asks Tanheer Bariana, a sprightly young student of human rights. The Captain blinks, a trifle unsure, but is intent on responding: "As a chief minister, one needs both capable as well as loyal people." Responding to a similar query, he says, "No one can function in isolation. I have a mind of my own. I listen to everyone and take an informed decision." The former CM, however, seems aware of the perils of continuing with the 'discredited' associations from his previous (2002-'07) tenure. The familiar backdrop of faces from the past years is conspicuously missing at this interface. He was similarly the only one onscreen during an engaging Skype session with college girls from Chabbewal, Hoshiarpur, on January 22. Ten days later, listening to farmers' problems in Sandhaur village or responding to young people's questions at the Turning Point marriage palace in Malerkotla, only local partymen, including ex-MLA Razia Sultana accompany Amarinder. In public, at least for now, the 'coterie' is not visible. advertisement "Amarinder is the most credible face in Punjab, untainted by corruption or the trading of falsehoods," says ex-finance minister and chief minister Parkash Singh Badal's estranged nephew Manpreet Badal, 53, who merged his People's Party of Punjab (PPP) with the Congress in January. Shake on that: Amarinder Singh works the crowds. Photo: M Zhazo Twenty years Amarinder's junior at Dehradun's Doon School, Manpreet, who many say is positioning himself for a significant national role in the party, believes the former possesses "the right mix of charisma and fearlessness that will put Congress in the lead in 2017". He points to how after leaving the Indian army, the Captain reclaimed his commission when war broke out with Pakistan in the monsoon of 1965. Manpreet also cites the former CM's success in taking on the "money and muscle" of the Shiromani Akali Dal headed by his uncle and cousin, deputy CM Sukhbir Badal. "He frightens them," Manpreet says. That Amarinder's return has the ruling alliance jittery is already showing. From being dubbed a "chronic turncoat" by CM Badal, vitriolic attacks by state BJP chief Kamal Sharma to being accused of being "hand-in-glove with Khalistani radicals", the Captain has become the centre of their barbs. Even the AAP's Arvind Kejriwal, when he launched his broadside against the Badals and PM Narendra Modi at the Maghi Mela on January 14, focused much of his attack on Amarinder, accusing him of being in cahoots with the ruling clan. advertisement After close to five decades in politics, 2017 may well be the ex-royal's final crack at the hustings. It may also be his trickiest. The ruling SAD-BJP dispensation is, as Manpreet says, flush with resources (he calls it "loot") accumulated over 10 continuous years in office. And if the last polls-when deputy CM Sukhbir splurged generously and micromanaged the electoral arithmetic-are anything to go by, Amarinder could well find himself sitting it out again. He is, however, convinced that the anti-incumbency has swelled far above the threshold where results can be 'managed'. "I have never seen a government so hated as these chaps," he says, confident that the "continuing ghastliness that began with police opening fire on villagers protesting the tearing of the Granth Sahib at Behbal Kalan village of Faridkot (October 14) to the gruesome murder of Dalit Bheem Tank, inside a SAD leader's farmhouse in Abohar (December 11), to the outrage in the CM's own constituency, Lambi, after police forcibly snatched the body of a 12-year-old schoolgirl crushed to death by a SAD leader's bus" has pushed Punjabi voters far beyond "Sukhbir's machinations". There's also the small matter of the AAP, who former Punjab Congress chief Bajwa believes is "the real threat". "We (Congress) somehow need to address and win over younger voters in the 18-30 age group who have only experienced the miserable governance of the Akali Dal and have no memory of Congress rule," he says. The challenge, says an Amarinder loyalist who wished to remain anonymous, "will be to convince voters that the Congress under him can ring in systemic change...young voters aren't simply looking for a change in government. Their parents have spent years switching regimes. They want assurance of a systemic change and that, whether it can deliver or not, is what AAP is promising them." "I am 73, my time is almost over. I am doing this for you! You are the future subedars (rulers) of Punjab," Amarinder tells 2,000 wildly cheering youngsters in Malerkotla. "How many of you are my friends on Facebook?" he asks, and at least 500 hands go up. "There you are, my friends!" His campaign is pointedly talking to young people, the nine million (of the 2.9 crore Punjabis) between 18-35 years. He is 'all ears' whether it is Samir Malik, a Muslim primary school teacher in his mid-20s, or Swarn Singh Bhangoo, an evidently inebriated young farmer. Happily wading into the crowd at the end of the interaction, an angry young Sikh steps up to ask, "A Congress government sent soldiers into Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple) in 1984. You think that was right?" Amarinder doesn't blink: "Galat si! (It was wrong)," he says, gently reminding the youngster that he had quit the Congress then on the issue. "Just like four years later, in 1988, I quit as minister when the Akali government sent police into Harmandar Sahib (Operation Black Thunder)," he adds. The Captain has just won himself a new supporter and he's just 20. For a politician who owes his success to his fearless nature, both in taking on the party high command like he did by legislating the abrogation of all water-sharing agreements with contiguous states in July 2005, or in targeting the Badals, Amarinder says he wants to run a "positive campaign" this time. Yes, that's right, no Badal-bashing. He already has a team of economists and former civil servants working to flesh out a vision for Punjab that he says "will offer people new hope and real alternatives on livelihood issues". From Malerkotla, we drive to Zirakpur outside Chandigarh, for what will be his last pit stop of the day-the wedding reception of Akali leader Deepinder Dhillon's son. Weddings in Punjab are amazing barometers of political loyalties. That Amarinder was the 'guest of honour' was a clear sign of the direction Dhillon was headed. (And for sure, Dhillon, who was expelled from SAD soon after, is now back in the Congress.) It's an interesting drive back. Amarinder, in the front seat of the Toyota SUV, is engrossed-browsing social networks, responding to queries from supporters. He asks Nivran Sandhu, his 27-year-old grandson, for updates on 'page views' and 'shares' on posts about his youth interaction programmes. Through the two-hour-long drive, Amarinder looks up from his smartphone only occasionally-once to ask a staff officer to make arrangements for the cook in Chandigarh to learn the recipe for a chicken snack served at a friend's home. "Ask him to use boneless chicken, it's nicer than on-the-bone," Amarinder says before going back to his new FB friends. Manpreet is confident that the Congress's traditional votebase in the state's three regions-Majha, Doaba and Malwa-will hold and benefit the party in what is evidently emerging as a three-cornered contest. "It won't be easy, but it is doable," says the former SAD leader who opted to join the Congress under Amarinder in the face of many reported overtures from AAP. Meanwhile, Amarinder admits with characteristic candour that 2017 will be his last shot at electoral politics. But the man is clearly keen: "I essentially remain the soldier I started out as. I have never ever backed off from a fight," he says, promising to give it his best shot. Follow the writer on Twitter @Asitjolly --- ENDS --- As quiet dialogue between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) is going on for past two weeks, the leaders from both the parties are expecting that the government formation would not take long now. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has sent two party leaders to Delhi for dialogue with the BJP. By Naseer Ganai: As quiet dialogue between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) is going on for past two weeks, the leaders from both the parties are expecting that the government formation would not take long now. PDP leaders say government formation would take place in the first fortnight of March. PDP President Mehbooba Mufti after a surprise one-one meeting with the BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav at her residence on February 17 has sent two leaders of the party to Delhi for dialogue with the BJP. advertisement Former Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu and former advisor to Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Amitabh Mattoo are camping in New Delhi to take dialogue on the Agenda of Alliance, which remained the basis for the nine-month coalition government of the PDP and BJP, to the next level. "So, we are not seeking anything which is unconstitutional or unIndian. We will form an alliance to achieve something not to surrender dignity of Kashmir," a senior PDP leader said. Drabu has met BJP President Amit Shah and held deliberations with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. He is expected to meet PM Narendra Modi in the coming days after which the government formation in the restive state would take a formal shape, sources said. While Mattoo has visited JNU to ensure that Kashmiri students studying there should not be harmed. And Mehbooba has asked Mattoo to meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh in case he feels Kashmiri students are being harassed. "We are not seeking anything beyond the Agenda of Alliance. We are only asking for a time-bound implementation of the assurances mutually agreed in the Agenda of Alliance," a senior party leader said. Incidentally, in her first public address on February 21 after the death of her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Mehbooba tried her best to reach out to New Delhi, praising Modi for his surprise visit to Pakistan. Though she talked about reconciliation with Pakistan as a necessity for peaceful J&K, she tried to convey that her party was different from the National Conference. She criticised National Conference founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah for not remaining steadfast after supporting Accession of J&K to India in 1947. "Sheikh took a decision in 1947 but then didn't remain committed to it... My father always took difficult decisions but whenever he took the decision he never regretted it or took a U-turn," Mehbooba said, clarifying that her party would not be the first to break the alliance. Her speech is seen as integrationist, one in which she almost toed the BJP's line even over JNU protests, saying the issue should be left to courts to decide and political parties should remain away from it. advertisement ALSO READ: Mehbooba Mufti hints at conditions for realliance with BJP --- ENDS --- Mob violence took a rather ugly turn in West Bengal's Burdwan University campus as at least 100 students were attacked by unidentified miscreants with nail-studded batons late last evening. By India Today Web Desk: Mob violence took a rather ugly turn in West Bengal's Burdwan University campus as at least 100 students were attacked by unidentified miscreants with nail-studded batons late last evening. According to sources, few people entered campus taking advantage of the sudden power cut. These men were armed with sticks and nail-studded batons and started beating up the students. Around 700 students from colleges affiliated to Burdwan University, 100 km from Kolkata, had gathered on the campus on Thursday for an indefinite hunger strike demanding postponing of third year exams scheduled to be held in March. They were accusing the college authorities of irregularities in the second year exam results. Some students have been admitted to the nearby hospital. advertisement One of the attackers who was apprehended has revealed that they were acting at the behest of a leader who had close links with the Trinamool-affiliated non-teaching employees' union. No official statements were made by any member of the Trinamool Congress. The Vice-chancellor maintains that the non-teaching staff had enough and were not willing to budge because of the continued protests of the students. The The campus has been closed for the weekend following the violence. --- ENDS --- It seems Sony TV is leaving no stone unturned to make Kapil Sharma's return to the small screen a success. Kapil Sharma and his gang in a still from the promo. By India Today Web Desk: By now we all know that Kapil Sharma and his gang will be back on the small screen in May on a new show for Sony TV. We also know that the first promo of the show has already been shot, and it features Ali Asgar, Sunil Grover, Kiku Sharda, Chandan Prabhakar, Sumona Chakravarti and Kapil Sharma with Navjot Singh Sindhu as a surprise package. advertisement In the promo, which is still to go on air, Kapil and his gang are seen alighting from a helicopter and walking ahead in style. Navjot Singh Sidhu joins them in the end. The latest we hear is that the channel has spent a whopping amount to shoot the 15-second promo. DNA reports that around Rs 50 lakh has been spent on the promo which was recently shot near Mumbai. Kapil Sharma and his Comedy Nights team is reuniting. Here's proof The daily quoted a source as saying, "The channel has gone all out and has spent a bomb to shoot the entire promo that will go on air shortly." Even Kapil had recently hinted that a lot of money was spent on the promo. "Mazaak mazaak mein Sony TV ne bahot kharcha kar diya hai," he said a few days ago in an interview with ABP Live. Also read: Bahut hi achcha show lekar aa rahe hain, says Kapil Sharma The channel is also reportedly planning an extensive PR campaign to encash on the show's recall value. Now that sounds surprising, as Kiku Sharda had earlier joked about how the black suits they've worn during the shoot cost only Rs 2,000 collectively. The new show, which is set to go on air in May, is jointly produced by Frames Productions and Kapil's K9.Also read: Before Sony, Kapil Sharma will be seen on this TV channel Rumour has it that Shah Rukh Khan will grace the first episode of the show to promote his upcoming movie Fan, while Arjun Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Virat Kohli and Saina Nehwal have been finalised as the guests for the first few episodes. --- ENDS --- 600 personnel from the Border Security Force have been pulled out from the border regions for a grand farewell parade for BSF director general DK Pathak. The troops have been practising for the grand farewell in Delhi for a month. By India Today Web Desk: At least 600 personnel from the Border Security Force (BSF) have been pulled out from the border regions for a grand farewell parade for BSF director general DK Pathak. As per reports, 12 contingents will give the farewell salute to the outgoing BSF chief on Monday, 11 of them are surprisingly from border frontiers. The troops have been practising for the grand farewell in Delhi for a month. Sources even say leaves of several jawans have also been cancelled for this. advertisement DK Pathak, the 23rd DG of the country's largest border guarding force in the world, is a 1979 IPS officer from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre. Watch full video here: --- ENDS --- In an interview to a national channel on Friday, former Union Home Secretary G K Pillai said India managed to lure the Lashkar-e-Taiba to send their shooters to the country and our security agencies were able to catch them. Mumbra resident Ishrat was killed along with Javed Sheikh, also known as Pranesh Pillai, as well as alleged Pakistani nationals Amjad Ali and Jishan Johar, in Ahmedabad on June 15, 2004. By India Today Web Desk: Former Union Home Secretary G K Pillai claimed the June 2004 killing of Ishrat Jahan and three other alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in Gujarat, under the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi, was the result of an intelligence entrapment operation, The Indian Express reported today. Pillai's claims, suggest the Union Government was intimately familiar with the operation. New Delhi has long distanced itself from the killing of the four, admitting it passed on intelligence on the plot, but had no knowledge of subsequent actions by the Gujarat Police. The CBI has alleged the four were killed in cold blood, after being kidnapped by police. advertisement Mumbra resident Ishrat was killed along with Javed Sheikh, also known as Pranesh Pillai, as well as alleged Pakistani nationals Amjad Ali and Jishan Johar, in Ahmedabad on June 15, 2004. In an interview to a national channel on Friday, Pillai said, "It was a very successful intelligence operation... we managed to entice the LeT to send their shooters to India and were able to monitor their activities in India and to, in one sense, catch them... It was a very planned operation... something intelligence agencies around the world do." "Yes, it was a trap and it was a very successful operation... you are using the sources of LeT, people who think they are LeT, to be able to pass on information... It is always better to know when you enemy is coming in rather than wait for collateral intelligence where someone plans something without your knowledge." Speaking on the role of Ishrat, Pillai said, "I would say that she knew something was wrong... an unmarried Muslim girl would not go with a married person to different places etc, spend nights outside so far and so forth... perhaps she knew something was happening... she could have been a cover." In February 2004, the Intelligence Bureau was able to locate two Gujarat-based jihadists, trained in Pakistan, on the basis of information recovered from the body of a Poonch-based Pakistani Lashkar operative, Ehsan Illahi. The two Gujarat-based men are referred to in CBI documentation simply as C1 and C2 who were persuaded to begin working for the IB. They informed their Lashkar handler, Muzammil Bhat - the key military commander of the 26/11 plot - that they were ready to stage an attack against top political leaders in Gujarat, including Narendra Modi. The IB was thus waiting for Gujranwala-based Lashkar operative Zeeshan Zohar, despatched to Gujarat in April on Bhat's instructions. They also trapped Sargodha-born colleague Amjad Ali Rana who was earlier injured in fighting in Jammu and Kashmir. According to immigration records, on March 29, 2004, Javed Sheikh flew to Oman illegally, on passport E6624023, identifying him as Praneshkumar M Gopinath Pillai. He flew back to Mumbai on April 11, 2004. advertisement It's still not clear what Ishrat was doing with Sheikh. Earlier this month, 26/11 perpetrator David Headley sparked off renewed debate on the case, alleging in his testimony to a Mumbai court that Ishrat was a member of the Lashkar. However, her family insists she was just an innocent teenager, hired by Sheikh for a perfume business. In 2009, Home Minister P Chidambaram had said, "No one suggested that based on an intelligence input you should kill someone." ALSO READ: Ishrat Jahan was a Lashkar operative, says David Headley Tej Pratap: Nitish Kumar is right, Ishrat Jahan is indeed Bihar's daughter --- ENDS --- Nineteen people dead at last count; hundreds of vehicles-private cars, police jeeps, cargo-laden trucks, even standing railway rakes-burnt down; scores of public and private buildings, including ministers' homes, still smoking after deliberate arson; fear and an impossible-to-ignore caste divide across the state. This surely cannot be the 'Happening Haryana' that rookie chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar had in mind when he, some say, pompously chose the catchy tagline to sell the state as India's premier investment destination four months ago. Now, just a week short of the grand Happening Haryana investor summit he promised in Gurgaon on March 7-8, not only is the event in peril, but Khattar's 16-month-old government seems to have come unhinged and in need of handholding from New Delhi. A former RSS pracharak who, despite having no experience of government or the legislature, was appointed CM in October 2014, thanks essentially to his saffron credentials and proximity to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Khattar has been clearly unprepared and completely unsure on how to deal with the first real crisis that confronted his government. advertisement And it is far from being over. The ferocious quota agitation-by far the bloodiest since Haryana's dominant community of Jats first raised the demand for inclusion among backward castes after the implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations in 1993-is unlikely to ebb and could well bear the potential to derail the Bharatiya Janata Party's only ever independent government in Haryana. Most people, including many of his cabinet colleagues, are blaming Khattar's "ineptitude, dithering indecision and inexplicable reluctance to consult fellow ministers" for the unprecedented situation the state and its people find themselves in. Even though the quota agitation has been an annual affair around this time of the year since 2012, with Jat farmers using the respite between the sowing and harvesting of the winter wheat crop to renew their demand, CM Khattar and his coterie of official and political advisors remained completely aloof, concentrating all their attention instead on the upcoming investor summit in Gurgaon. It was only after two fledgling Jat organisations-the Adarsh Jat Mahasabha (AJM) and the Binain Khap-started a dharna outside the district mini secretariat in Narwana on February 8, calling for a Haryana bandh on February 15 and also notifying their intention to lay siege to the state assembly in Chandigarh on February 27, that the state government first stirred. But even then Khattar and his team, by then including finance minister Captain Abhimanyu Sindhu and agriculture minister Om Prakash Dhankar, the only two Jat ministers in his eight-man cabinet, failed to gauge the scale and severity of the potential crisis. They invited the handful of Jat representatives who were part of the dharna in Narwana for talks in Chandigarh on February 9 but in doing so ended up upsetting the mainstream Jat leadership, which promptly went into agitation mode. Rejecting the pact AJM and the Binain Khap leaders agreed to on February 9, angry protesters owing allegiance to different factions of the Akhil Bharatiya Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (ABJASS) joined in. On February 12, hundreds of Jat protesters, led by Hawa Singh Sanghwan, 69, a former CRPF commandant, blocked the railway track at Mayyar in Hisar district; three days on, an even bigger group comprising the most influential khaps of Rohtak district blocked road and rail movement at Sampla. A few feeble early attempts by Dhankar and Sindhu to engage with the protesters were evidently inadequate. Even after Khattar invited the entire Jat leadership representing various ABJASS factions and all prominent khaps to Chandigarh on February 17 and assured them that his government would legislate on a 10 per cent Special Backward Castes quota for Jats, the agitation only spiralled and transformed into the veritable wildfire it eventually became. advertisement Members of the Jat community on the first day of their protest. Photo: PTI But why did Haryana's ordinarily peaceful Jat protesters turn to such extreme violence? One that resulted in the death of at least 19 people and devastation conservatively pegged at over Rs 20,000 crore. Large sections of virtually every small and big town in the state's Jat heartland-Rohtak, Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Sonipat, Panipat, Hisar and Jind, including sections along National Highway One-literally burned to the ground. Sanghwan blames the Khattar government for being far too lackadaisical about the Jats' concerns. "The BJP's Jat leaders, instead of reaching out to their voters and supporters in the districts, withdrew to Chandigarh and Delhi," says the ABJASS leader. He also points to another fact: successive state governments, he says, have been making promises, but never delivering. "This time, the youth, who are the ones actually affected by reservations to other castes, refused to listen to Jat elders. They are even accusing us of harming the cause," he says. The agitation, Sanghwan says, was left leaderless and eventually overtaken by anti-social elements "who really cannot claim any particular caste affiliation". advertisement Most Jat leaders agree that whether by design or simply being his timid self, Khattar refused to rein in Raj Kumar Saini, MP from Kurukshetra and the BJP's OBC face in Haryana. Capt Man Singh Dalal, 65, a former Army Medical Corps (AMC) officer who post-retirement heads the 84-village Dalal khap and has been at the forefront of the quota demand, believes it was Saini's incessant and invective-laden verbiage that provoked Jat youth to violence. "CM ne iski zubaan ko lagaam deni chahiye thi (The CM should have shut him up)," Dalal says, pointing to the MP's extremely provocative words openly denigrating Jats-questioning their paternity and even provoking them to a street fight on local TV channels. "Jat youngsters were infuriated," he says. Incredulously, Khattar remained oblivious to the huge storm Saini's offensive pronouncements were kicking up. He remained curiously aloof even when Sindhu and Union rural development minister Birender Singh made apparently retaliatory statements in support of the Jat agitation. On February 14, while the Sanghwan faction was still blockading the railway line at Mayyar, the Union minister, who has never really hidden his own chief ministerial aspirations or what he thinks of Khattar's "vision-less government", defended both the Jat demand for reservation as well as their "tareeka (agitational approach)". advertisement It eventually took a direct missive from BJP chief Amit Shah's office in Delhi, in the form of a showcause notice to Saini, to stem the 'nonsense'. Notably, though, Saini, who was back in Delhi for the Parliament session after a sojourn in South India, is still to respond to Shah's notice. Krishan Swarup Siwach, an old farmer and former Communist Party cardholder from Fatehabad, has keenly followed political and social developments in Haryana since it was carved out of Punjab on November 1, 1966. The violence, he believes, is part of the BJP's larger game plan to polarise voters along caste lines. "Such polarisation would on the one hand help the party consolidate its non-Jat support base in Haryana," he says, "but could also be useful in drawing OBC votes in Uttar Pradesh in the face of a resurgent Mayawati. Figure it out." A whopping 72 per cent (34 seats) of the BJP's 47 assembly victories in the October 2014 assembly polls came from north and south Haryana where non-Jat voters-including Punjabis, Banias and Brahmins-significantly outnumber Jats. The party had relatively few wins in the central Jat heartland-a fact also amply reflected in the caste make-up of Khattar's council of ministers as well as the party's decision to appoint him, a Punjabi, the chief minister. The infuriated response of the Jats in the present quota agitation is perhaps also consequent to perceptions of 'losing power' in Chandigarh. Khattar, incidentally, is the first non-Jat CM to head the state since Bhajan Lal, 18 years ago. The CM's obvious aloofness to their demands only made matters worse. That the Jat quota stir in Haryana has disturbingly taken on the hues of a brewing caste conflict can no longer be denied. Though most mainstream media, both newspapers and network television, have rather responsibly played down spot reports of clashes between the Jats and members of the OBC community, the local press and TV, through February 20 to 22, reported several incidents-Jat protesters specifically targeting non-Jat establishments in Rohtak as well as retaliatory attacks on Jat-owned premises in Bhiwani and elsewhere. The reality of the caste divide was equally writ in the Haryana police's timid response to the rampaging rioters as they blatantly went about vandalising and torching everything in sight. Reports abound of Jat protesters, clearly secure in the knowledge that the cops would not act against them, methodically going about raising blockades, even employing excavators to dig deep trenches across arterial highways. Notably, the mid-rung and constabulary of the Haryana police are dominated by Jats and they were predictably reluctant to go up against their brethren. By the time the Indian army columns were requisitioned, they had no access to most of the trouble spots. Armed with 'shoot at sight' orders in Rohtak, Jhajjar and Bhiwani, army personnel actually carried placards to identify themselves to rioters who had grown accustomed to more benign policemen. Khattar and his administration evidently failed to anticipate any of this. Into its ninth consecutive day on February 23, the protesting Jats appeared to be relenting. This after assurances from Union home minister Rajnath Singh and the constitution of a high-level committee by the BJP high command under Urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu to find a way out of the quota conundrum. The Centre's intervention, followed by the Haryana government's subsequent proclamation on legislating to extend reservations to the community, seems to have temporarily appeased the incensed Jats. But the BJP and its CM may have ended up blowing the lid off a Pandora's box of impossible-to-predict consequences. Follow the writer on Twitter @Asitjolly --- ENDS --- Ashutosh Kumar, who is arrested JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar's predecessor, is likely to be asked by the police to identity the people who raised anti-India slogans in JNU campus. By India Today Web Desk: Another student of Delhi's prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) today joined the Delhi Police probe into the February 9 event that marked the anniversary of the hanging of terrorist Afzal Guru during which anti-India slogans were raised. Ashutosh Kumar is likely to be asked by the police to identity the people who raised the slogans on JNU campus. He is arrested JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar's predecessor. advertisement Ashutosh received the summon on Friday and produced himself today at RK Puram Police Station, where Khalid and Anirban are presently being interrogated, a police official said. Other two students, Rama Naga and Anant Kumar, are yet to receive any police summon. They had earlier written to police that they are ready to join investigation too. Ashutosh is one of the five students, who surfaced on the university campus on February 21 after being missing since February 12. The others, Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya, Rama Naga and Anant Prakash, had gone missing from the campus after JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on February 12 in a sedition case. Umar and Anirban surrendered at the university campus on February 23 night after their request to surrender at a secret location was rejected by the Delhi High Court. Yesterday, the police interrogated Kumar, Khalid and Anirban together for the first time. With that, the police have identified around 22 persons who were active participants in the controversial February 9 event, police said, adding Ashutosh, Umar, Anirban and few others are believed to be organisers of the event. Meanwhile, the Congress party has demanded to transfer the Kanhaiya Kumar case out of the Capital city. The Delhi cops have made it clear that the charges of sedition are justified. According to Police Commissioner Delhi B S Bassi, sedition charges were not registered on the basis of hear say, but after finding prima facie evidence. The cops have launched a probe to trace the tweet supposedly put out by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed in the aftermath of the JNU campus row. ALSO READ: Sedition accused Umar Khalid denies raising anti-India slogans JNU row: Kanhaiya confronted with Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya --- ENDS --- Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today told reporters in Bengaluru that his political rival H D Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal (Secular) is not tolerating a leader of the Backward Classes as the chief minister of the state. By Aravind Gowda: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today alleged that his political rival H D Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal (Secular) was conspiring to unseat him by joining hands with his detractors. "He was a CM himself and is unbecoming of him to stoop to such level. Why should I wear a stolen watch? It is clear that he wants to unseat me... He is not tolerating a leader of the Backward Classes as the chief minister of a state," Siddaramaiah told reporters in Bengaluru. advertisement On Friday, Kumaraswamy alleged that the Hublot watch that Siddaramaiah was wearing was stolen from a NRI doctor's home. He further alleged that the police, who recovered the stolen watch, instead of returning it to the owner, gifted the same to the police. However, the NRI doctor refused to be drawn into the controversy. ALSO READ: Siddaramaiah wearing a stolen watch: Kumaraswamy Kumaraswamy to disclose his son's luxury possessions --- ENDS --- In the run-up to the crucial 2016 Assembly polls, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has devised a unique canvassing tool for her party. This time, Didi has scripted a play (jatra) to reach out to the maximum number voters in rural Bengal. By Soudhriti Bhabani: In the run-up to the crucial 2016 Assembly polls, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has devised a unique canvassing tool for her party. This time, Didi has scripted a play (jatra) to reach out to the maximum number voters in rural Bengal. Written by Banerjee, the 25-minute play Jayatu would highlight the achievements of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government over the past five years including CM's pet Kanyashree scheme for educating girl students, Yuvashree, distribution of rice at subsidised rates of Rs 2 per/kg, distribution of free bicycles to youths, financial assistance to folk artists and the social upliftment of the Muslim community in Bengal, party sources said. advertisement This unique method of campaigning was taken up to reach out to rural folks as well as the educated urban electors who really dislike wall graffiti and the over-used conventional methods of asking for support. The TMC is hoping for a successful campaign by encashing into jatra's universal appeal. Jatra is a very popular folk-theatre form of Bengali theatre spread throughout most of the Bengali-speaking areas of the Indian subcontinent including Bangladesh. The show, to be enacted by theatre artistes, will be performed at least 2,000 times during the poll campaigns in rural Bengal (at block levels). The number of performances could also be increased during election time. The play would be directed by theatre personality-turned TMC leader Bratya Basu, who is the state tourism minister now. Initially, the name of the play was Mamatamoyee Bangla (Compassionate Bengal) but later it was changed by Didi herself to Jayatu. Sources said the CM has written catchy jingles, short songs and poems which would be used in the discourse showcasing the state government's role in developing 'Brand Bengal'. Sources said the play would be enacted by eight different characters. The main body of the play was primarily written by four theatre personalities - Sekhar Samaddar, Bijoy Mukhopadhyay, Debashis Biswas and Ashis Mukhopadhyay. But later, it was taken up by the CM who thoroughly edited the play giving special touches to issues pertaining to communal harmony, secular thoughts and anti-BJP slogans uttered by the characters. On Friday, Didi lashed out at the news of a possible Congress-Left electoral alliance in the state saying that the people of Bengal would give them a befitting reply. She also welcomed the move by the united Opposition to forge a coalition against the ruling TMC with a challenge. Banerjee said: "Let them form the alliance, we will leave it to the people of Bengal to decide." ALSO READ: Mukul Roy appointed vice president of Trinamool Congress --- ENDS --- A couple of days after reports of gangrapes in Murthal surfaced, three truck drivers who claim to be eyewitnesses have said that they saw women being dragged and molested by Jat agitators in Murthal. This comes even as a team of women police officers visited the site today and said that no eyewitness or victim turned up to present any testimony. By India Today Web Desk: A couple of days after reports of gangrapes in Murthal surfaced, three truck drivers who claim to be the eyewitnesses have said that they saw women being dragged and molested by Jat agitators in Murthal. This comes even as a team of women police officers visited the site today and said that no eyewitness or victim turned up to present any testimony. advertisement The three men Sukhwinder Singh, Niranjan and Naresh Kumar claimed that the agitators torched their trucks in Murthal, which is around 50 km from the National capital and then assaulted them following which they hid in the bushes to save themselves. They also alleged that they witnessed attackers "dragging women out of vehicles, tearing their clothes and molesting them" before carrying them towards the fields. In a rather shocking revelation Singh further said that "policemen who were present in plain clothes" were pressurising them to remain silent about the incident. The Haryana Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police Rajshri Singh who is heading committee to probe the rape incidents said that if eyewitness comes to them they will record the statement. The investigating committee members may be contacted by victims on their mobile phones. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had taken suo moto cognizance of a report of mass gang rape of women in Murthal near Sonipat on February 22. Also read: Jat reservation stir: Did DGP ignore IG's message on worsening situation? She however maintained that till this evening no victim or eye witness had come forward to provide details. The development came on a day the women police officers team led by DIG Dr Rajshri Singh and comprising DSPs Bharti Dabas and Surinder Kaur visited the site at village Hassanpur near Murthal in Sonipat district on Delhi Ambala National Highway to gather first hand information about the alleged incident. Asked about recovery of some clothes belonging to women, she told reporters, "These had been sent to Forensic Science Laboratory for examination". "Let us see, what comes out," she told reporters Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has informed that a special investigation team has been formed to look into the matter and has been directed to register any complaint related to the issue. Haryana Police has visited Sukhdev 'dhaba', the eatery which was also attacked by the agitators and spoke to a number of people in the area. Meanwhile, the DIG's mobile number given in the press release issued after presser by DGP YP Singal last evening has turned out to be wrong and the same belonged to a resident of Indore in Madhya Pradesh. Asked about it, she said that the correct number would be put out. Singal however could still not be contacted. advertisement Singal had said that these officers would be available in Sonipat till further orders and anyone could provide information concerning the incident to them in the form of audio or video clips or photographs or in any other form. Maneka Gandhi, the union minister for women and child development has said that they have no information so far and that they have sent a team to gather information. Also read: Wonder why Haryana burned? If you have police like these... Jat Agitation: Everything you need to know --- ENDS --- The controversial posters have come up in support of Jammu and Kashmir's right for self-determination and call India a 'prison of different nationalities'. By India Today Web Desk: New controversial posters have surfaced in Delhi's prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus in which India has been termed as a 'jail of different nationalities'. The controversial posters have come up in support of Jammu and Kashmir's right for self-determination. The death of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula has also been condemned in the poster. According to sources, Delhi Police is interrogating a photostate shop owner from Ber Sarai from where the posters were suspected to have been photocopied. The cops are interrogating four students of JNU from Ber Sarai. advertisement On February 9, an event was organised at JNU campus by some students that lead to the arrest of Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid, Rama Naga and Anirban Bhattacharya. A cultural evening was organised by 10 students, formerly of the Democratic Students' Union (DSU), at the Sabarmati Dhaba, against the execution of Afzal Guru and separatist leader Maqbool Bhat, and for Kashmir's right to self-determination. Afzal Guru was hanged on February 9, 2013 for his role in the 2001 attack on parliament. Anti-India slogans like "Kashmir ki azadi tak jung chalegi, Bharat ki barbadi tak jung chalegi" were reportedly raised at the protest meet. Watch full video here: ALSO READ: JNU row: Is it seditious to criticise Supreme Court's verdict? Agencies not keen on Kanhaiya's court appearance --- ENDS --- President Pranab Mukherjee calls for a revision of the Indian Penal code to meet the needs of the 21st century. President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurates the valedictory function of the celebrations of 155th anniversary of the Indian Penal Code on Friday, February 26, 2016. (Photo: PTI) By India Today Web Desk: Amidst a national debate over the use of sedition charges against Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students, President Pranab Mukherjee called for a revision of the Indian Penal code to meet the needs of the 21st century. Speaking at an event in Kochi on the occasion of the year-long celebrations of the 155th anniversary of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the President said that it has undergone very few changes since its inception. advertisement "The IPC has undergone very few changes in the last 155 years. Very few crimes have been added to the initial list of crimes and declared punishable," he said at the valedictory event on the occasion of the year-long celebrations of the 155th anniversary of IPC. "Even now, there are offences in the code which were enacted by the British to meet their colonial needs. Yet, there are many new offences which have to be properly defined and incorporated in the code," he said. The premier code for criminal law was a model piece of legislation but requires a "thorough revision to meet the changing needs of the 21st century", he said. President Pranab Mukherjee also said that the police in the country must incorporate inclusiveness and tolerance. He even added that the image of police depends on its actions and in ensuring prompt, equitable and fair enforcement of laws. "The Rule of Law is the cardinal principle on which a modern state rests. It has to be upheld at all times. It is incumbent on the law enforcing agencies, particularly the police force, to fulfill its foremost duty of maintaining law and order sincerely and with dedication. "...The onus is on our law enforcing agencies to work towards transforming the archaic police system and bring it in tune with the requirements of a modern democratic nation," he said. Watch full video here: ALSO READ | JNU sedition case: Umar Khalid says he raised pro-Afzal Guru slogans --- ENDS --- The third edition of SHE festival will throw light on women issues like financial independence, body shaming, beauty biases, rape, victim blaming and women safety. By Srijani Ganguly/Mail Today: With only a few days left for International Women's Day (March 8), Akshuna Bakshi and her NGO (SHE) are gearing up for the celebration all things feminine at the third edition of the SHE Festival this weekend. "The USP of this edition," says Bakshi, "is that other than the core women issues, the festival will showcase some integral but often ignored women topics like financial independence, body shaming, women hygiene and gender attitudes prevailing in the society through games ('A man is not a financial plan' and 'Mirror Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all'), selfdefence workshops, dance and music performances and activity corners." advertisement Also read: GiG Carnival, Sula Fest, Kala Ghoda Arts Festival and other events to keep you occupied this February Issues such as rape, victim blaming and women safety will be highlighted through the SHE SAYS CORNER. Also, a 'Live Saree Weaving' exercise organised by She's Against Rape India (SARI), will be a special attraction where messages by visitors on women empowerment will be stitched together to form a unique saree. About the last two editions, Bakshi says, "The last two festivals highlighted the cause of women safety, citizen social responsibility, self-defence and girl child education through innovative activities and acts. We had around 20,000 people who attended the previous two editions of the festivals." The festival will not only focus on social issues, but also have a stylish side to it. Over 70 talented designers and women entrepreneurs will showcase their products - everything from jewellery, accessories, home decor and more. Statement designer jewellery at the SHE festival. Statement designer jewellery at the SHE festival. Also read: META awards: 10 best theatre plays nominated to be staged in Delhi from March 5 "SHE festival adopts creative ways to attract public attention to women and gender issues as we feel that the conventional and plain methods of lectures and speeches are unable to strike a chord with the audience. Plus, it gives a platform to a number of women entrepreneurs and new but niche brands to showcase their designs and products to the public. We hope that through such methods, we can encourage more women to stand up for their rights, financial and social freedom," says Bakshi. The festival's success has been such that it led Bakshi to establish an entire NGO to focus on issues of the fairer sex. She says, "We initially started out as a festival for women. Post its success, we were approached by a number of women who loved the whole concept of SHE and encouraged us to do more editions and, if possible, work more extensively. Hence, we decided to extend the same concept and establish an NGO which uses innovative methods to solve such issues at the ground level." SHE Festival will be held at DLF Promenade and DLF Emporio on February 27-28; 12 pm to 9 pm --- ENDS --- advertisement A suicide bomber killed at least 11 in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday. Provincial Governor Wahidullah Kalimzai said the bomber rode up on a motorcycle to the entrance of the government compound in the town of Asadabad and blew himself up. By Reuters: A suicide bomber killed an Afghan militia commander and at least 10 others in the eastern province of Kunar near the border with Pakistan on Saturday, officials said. Provincial Governor Wahidullah Kalimzai said the bomber rode up on a motorcycle to the entrance of the government compound in the town of Asadabad and blew himself up. At least another 40 people were also injured. advertisement "Most of victims were civilians and children who were either passing by or playing in the park," he said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the apparent target of the attack, a tribal elder and militia commander named Haji Khan Jan, was among the dead. He had been closely involved in a number of operations against the Taliban in his district last year. --- ENDS --- Just days ago With visuals of women's clothing scattered on Haryana fields surfacing in the media and going viral on social media sites, demands for an immediate probe grew on Friday. Murthal, near Sonepat, was a favourite haunt of passengers travelling on National Highway-1 between Delhi and Punjab. By Mail Today: The roadside dhabas serving steaming hot parathas always remained crowded after dark. Now, they wear a deserted look after allegations of gang rapes of at least 10 women during the Jat quota stir surfaced. With visuals of women's clothing scattered on Haryana fields surfacing in the media and going viral on social media sites, demands for an immediate probe grew on Friday. The exact location where the clothes were found is a barren patch along the highway, about 400 metre from the famous Sukhdev Dhaba, along the Hasanpur-Gannuar route. The place comes under Hasanpur town. advertisement When Mail today spoke to Hasanpur locals, they said they fear for their lives. "We have heard that some women had been raped near the Sukhdev Dhaba, but no one has come forward so far," said a Hasanpur resident, who did not want to be named. Even the police denied rape reports as mere rumours. "So far no complainant has come forward nor has any evidence been found of any such incident there," said DSP Satish Kumar. On Friday, the Haryana government set up a committee of three women officers, including a DIG, for receiving any complaint of rape, said Additional Chief Secretary of Haryana PK Das. The women police officers are DIG Rajshree Singh, DSP Bharti Dabas and DSP Surinder Kaur, he said. The state government has also set up a helpline number-18001802057-which any person having information about any such incident can dial to share details with the authorities, he added. Das said the Haryana government was ready to cooperate with statutory bodies such as the Human Rights Commission and appealed to the public to provide any information they had in this regard. Haryana DGP YP Singhal said the police had not received any rape complaint yet, but would act swiftly as and when any case was reported. "There are no reports of any such incident so far. No eyewitness has contacted police. The state government and police are sensitive and we will act swiftly if anyone provides any information in this regard," Singhal said. He said no concrete evidence has been found so far that could prove sexual assault on or rape of women in Murthal. "Till now, there is no confirmation of this incident. But we will probe the matter with sensitivity and compassion," he said. Rejecting allegations that local police officers were deliberately suppressing information of sexual assault, the DGP said no officer at the lower level could suppress such complaint. "It is a sensitive matter and the Chief Minister is seized of it," he said. Thirty deaths have so far been reported in the Jat stir but the situation is now normal in the state. A total of 713 FIRs have been registered, and 133 people arrested in this connection, he added. Concerned over Murthal reports, Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal urged any such victim who belonged to Delhi to approach the body for legal support and justice. advertisement "Victims can either call the 181 women's helpline or visit the DCW office," Maliwal said, adding: "We will ensure that their confidentiality is maintained." "We have come to know through media reports that some women raped in Murthal were from Delhi. I appeal to all such women against whom any sexual atrocity have happened recently, particularly in Murthal, to call 181 or visit the DCW office immediately. We assure full cooperation, complete confidentiality, and legal support and will work closely with Haryana police to ensure justice is served," she said. As per media reports, women who were passing Murthal, near Sonepat, were allegedly stopped and raped in the fields close to the NH-1 by Jat protesters. Also Read:Haryana goons dragged stranded women to fields, gangraped them near Murthal --- ENDS --- About 600 border guards from the Border Security Force (BSF) along with accompanying reserves and administrative support from sensitive border regions like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, West Bengal have been pulled out from their locations and brought to the Chhawla camp near New Delhi. They have been training for nearly a month. By Jugal R Purohit: About 600 border guards from the Border Security Force (BSF) along with accompanying reserves and administrative support from sensitive border regions like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, West Bengal have been pulled out from their locations and brought to the Chhawla camp near New Delhi. They have been training for nearly a month. They are neither practicing a new technique or a specialised way of doing their jobs. They are practicing to deliver a grand farewell for their retiring head, the Director General (DG). advertisement While the BSF terms this 'following our tradition of organising farewell for the outgoing DG', there are some who seek reform. The incumbent Director General DK Pathak did not wish to speak. Despite repeated reminders to the the Border Security Force (BSF) press office there was no response to questions over the parade participation and its impact on logistics, personnel and operations. At the Chhawla camp of the BSF, on the outskirts of New Delhi, where the farewell is slated for Monday, preparations were on at the time this correspondent visited. "If you ask me, this is not a tradition we should carry on with. Massive manpower, money and resources are being pumped in for yet another ceremony as if there aren't enough already," said an officer. It was said that leaves have been cancelled and personnel at the border areas are under additional stress. Another officer pointed out, "Any outgoing Director General visits each of these states before leaving the force anyway so why do these men also have to come here for this event!" It was learnt that there would be a total of twelve marching contingents, including one of women BSF personnel. Each contingent, representing each 'Frontier', border state where BSF is deployed, will consist of 48 personnel. The parade would last for nearly an hour. Apart from the force being questioned repeatedly over perceived lapses leading to intrusions at Gurdaspur and Pathankot in Punjab, aggravating the plight of the men is the fact that since the time of BSF's Raising Day (held on December 1), followed by Republic Day and now the farewell parade, troops have been committed to ceremonial duties. The BSF has also been seeking to raise additional battalions quoting shortage of boots on ground. Former IPS officer and head of central police organisations, Arvind Ranjan said, "All the pros and cons have to be considered. It is a long standing tradition. Manpower is a requirement which will never perhaps end. I don't think this discussion can be a BSF-centric since this happens in all paramilitary organisations and state police forces." His words were countered by SK Sood, former Additional Director General in the BSF who termed this act a 'crime'. He said, "No other border force faces what BSF does. When the army chief retires, they hold a simple guard of honour. Why do we go to such lengths?" advertisement Writer is a Senior Special Correspondent with INDIA TODAY and tweets @JRPUR Watch full video here: --- ENDS --- While Europe has grappled with the exodus of people from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, Pakistan hosts the world's largest long-term refugee population, according to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), most of whom are Afghans who have fled more than three decades of war. By Reuters: A senior UN official has urged Pakistan to resolve the status of more than 2.5 million Afghan refugees living in Pakistan whose registration cards have expired or who remain unregistered. While Europe has grappled with the exodus of people from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, Pakistan hosts the world's largest long-term refugee population, according to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), most of whom are Afghans who have fled more than three decades of war. advertisement In December, registration cards providing temporary legal stay to more than 1.5 million Afghan refugees expired, and were granted a six-month extension by the government. But Afghans say they are hassled by police for carrying the expired cards, and members of the estimated one million Afghans who are still unregistered also face difficulties with the authorities, aid workers say. The issue is now before Pakistan's cabinet. UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner George Okoth-Obbo said his agency was engaged in "continuing discussions" with the Pakistani government to resolve the population's uncertain situation. "We await with a lot of interest the decision of the government on those questions," Okoth-Obbo told Reuters during a Friday visit to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, home to a large Afghan population. Many Afghans living in Pakistan have been living in the country for decades and contribute significantly to the country's labour force. Since 2009, international donors have poured more than $30 million into improving basic services in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa communities that have hosted the their neighbours for decades. "People have hosted (the Afghan refugees) for over 35 years," Imran Zeb, Pakistan's chief commissioner for Afghan refugees, told Reuters after a ceremony inaugurating one of three schools in the area to have been refurbished with aid money. Pakistan is committed to helping refugees voluntarily get back to Afghanistan, Zeb said, but: "There is definitely some host fatigue." The government is trying to improve education and opportunities for the 70 percent of the refugees who are under 25 so they "can do something positive" and not fall into crime or recruitment by "elements that are not desirable," he said. With security in Afghanistan deteriorating over the past year, many of the Afghans living in the Kalabat area have no interest in going home anytime soon. "We have no option... We don't have land. Where should we go?" asked Jawlai, a mother of five children who fled to Pakistan in the 1980s and, like many Afghans, uses only one name. "When the war is finished, then we'll go," she said. --- ENDS --- A document, an epic document, depicting the struggle of a Regular Joe trying to make it in a big, bad, unfair world armed with nothing more than a fistful of unsubstantiated facts, a somewhat weak grasp of the English language, a skewed sense of entitlement, misplaced vengeance issues and some tired conspiracy theories. Oh, who am I trying to kid? This is just a place to post ride reports and motorbike stuff. Enjoy! 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Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks at Boutwell Auditorium, January 18, 2016 in Birmingham, Alabama. Sanders spoke to a capacity crowd of around 5,000 supporters. (Photo by Hal Yeager/Getty Images) Hal Yeager / Getty Images Birmingham, Alabama, raised the city's minimum wage to $10.10 an hour on Tuesday. Two days later, the state took it away.Alabama passed a bill Thursday, largely along party lines, that bars cities and counties from raising the minimum wage or requiring employers to provide leave or other benefits. Because the law applies retroactively, it wipes out Birmingham's raise.Republican legislative leaders fast-tracked the bill in order to pass it before Birmingham's raise was set to take effect March 1. The GOP enjoys super-majorities in both houses. Within an hour or so of the bill's passage, Gov. Robert Bentley, a Republican, announced he had signed it."Alabama is a poor state. But I say we are poor by choice, because of bills like this that keep people poor," State Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, a Democrat, said as the measure was being debated.Alabama currently has no minimum wage of its own, so Birmingham's largely black low-wage workforce, many of whom work for fast-food outlets, can continue to be paid $7.25 an hour, the federal minimum. Coleman-Madison has proposed a constitutional amendment to raise the minimum wage statewide to $10 an hour.Supporters of the state bill said Alabama needs one uniform minimum wage in order to provide simplicity for employers. They also argued that raising the minimum wage leads to job losses. "I can promise you employment will go downhill," State Sen. Jabo Waggoner, a Republican, said Thursday. In fact, different studies have drawn different conclusions, but an award-winning 2014 book that combined thousands of results from hundreds of studies found that raising the minimum wage has "very modest or no effects on employment, hours, and other labor market outcomes."Alabama's presidential primary is set for Tuesday, and Hillary Clinton's campaign has denounced the state bill."It's wrong that Alabamians work hard for 40 hours or more each week and could still be unable to make ends meet," Maya Harris, senior policy adviser for the campaign said last week after the measure was introduced. "So it's disturbing that Alabama Republicans are considering legislation to overrule a local government's actions to require employers in their community to pay their employees a living wage."Clinton herself is expected to address the issue when she appears in Birmingham Saturday. She supports raising the minimum wage to $12 an hour. "March for Bernie " in support of Bernie Sanders, scheduled for Saturday in Mobile, will rally support for a $15 wage, the level the senator backs.The Alabama bill is the latest effort by a Republican-controlled state to preempt progressive legislation passed by cities. Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, and Indiana have already banned local minimum wage increases, and other red states are considering proposals to do so. Wisconsin and other states have banned cities from requiring paid sick leave. After residents of Denton, Texas, voted to ban fracking in the city, the state, pushed by industry lobbyists, banned a broad range of efforts to regulate the oil and gas industry.To some, these preemption laws pose a threat to local democracy. "If Birmingham's mayor and city council want to raise the minimum wage, that should be their prerogative. And if the citizens there don't like it, then it's up to them to say so, either pressuring City Hall to reverse course or cleaning the place out in the next election," Kyle Whitmire, a columnist for the Birmingham News, wrote Thursday."Birmingham can hold its own accountable," he added, "but that decision shouldn't be made by Montgomery lawmakers."This story originally appeared on msnbc .com To the best of my ability I write about my experience of the Universe Past, Present and Future FEEDThis is truly one for the books: Silicon Valley Bank (SIVB). Ive written about this many times before, such as here, three months ago. Just look at wh... What You Can't Discuss: This is a partial list of taboo topics within progressive-left venues around the Arab-Israel conflict. You cannot discuss this material because it undermines the "Palestinian narrative" of perpetual victimhood. This narrative is a club used by the Arab and Muslim enemies of Israel, along with their western progressive allies, to delegitimize that country in preparation for its eventual dissolution. 1) The centuries of Jewish dhimmitude under the boot of Islamic imperialism. 2) The recent construction of Palestinian identity, its connection to Soviet Cold War politics, and how this is an Arab people with a Roman name that refers to Greeks. 3) Arab and Palestinian Koranically-based racism as the fundamental source of the conflict. 4) The ways in which contemporary progressive anti-Zionism serves as a cloak for gross anti-Semitism. 5) The Palestinian theft and appropriation of Jewish history. 6) "Pallywood." 7) The historical connections between the Nazis, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the Palestinian national movement. 8) The perpetual refusal of the Palestinian-Arabs to accept a state for themselves in peace next to the Jewish one. 9) The progressive portrayal of terrorists as those fighting a righteous war of "resistance." 10) The Arab-Palestinian indoctrination of children with Jew hatred. 11) Human rights violations against women, children, and Gay people in the Muslim Middle East. 12) The fact that violent Jihadis call themselves "Jihadis" and claim to love death above life. This is only a partial list, so please let us know the many more that we are missing. [February 26, 2016] Drive Safe! Peach Fuzzer Now Finds Flaws In Automotive Control Systems SEATTLE, Feb. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Peach Fuzzer, LLC, announces new enhancements to the world's leading fuzz-testing platform. This latest release extends the out-of-the-box fuzzing capabilities of Peach Fuzzer to allow interfacing with, and scrutinizing of, protocols built upon the pervasive automotive communications protocol, CAN bus. Auto manufacturers and firms can now uncover previously undetected flaws that could otherwise have led to potentially deadly zero-day attacks. These enhancements make it even easier to systematically deploy the Peach Fuzzer platform to sniff out and identify unknown vulnerabilities in any of the dozens of electronic control units (ECUs) that have recently been targeted in high-profile proof-of-concept exploits. Peach Fuzzer now offers a cost-effective solution for discovering unknown vulnerabilities in the 70+ ECUs and components responsible for automotive operation (transmission, cruise control, power steering) and safety (airbags, antilock braking, alarm). Fuzz-testing controllers and connected devices built upon the CAN bus standard with Peach Fuzzer is a necessary step in preventing zero-day attacks upon automotive systems. We will be demonstrating our fuzzing technology between Feb 29 Mar 4 at the RSA Conference 2016 in San Francisco at the Moscone Center booth N3220. In addition to these improvements for the automotive community, this latest release includes support for the following protocol definitions: BACnet Building Automation and Control Networks DNP3 Distributed Network Protocol ERPS Ethernet Ring Protection Switching SNMPv3 Simple Network Management Protocol SSL Cipher Suites Secure Sockets Layer, Transport Layer Security Who is Peach Fuzzer? We're a Seattle-based security testing company providing enterprise-grade testing solutions. Through leading-edge products, Peach Fuzzer offers customizable testing strategies for our clients to deploy throughout the security development lifecycle. Our flagship product and namesake is the premier fuzzing solution for security testing across a multitude of critical industries. What is fuzzing? Fuzz testing uncovers previously unknown vulnerabilities in hardware and software by sending these targets malformed data in order to cause unintended consequences. Relevant results are captured, analyzed, and evaluated enabling engineers to ship secure products. Fuzzing uncovers the back-door flaws hackers look for. Learn how Peach Fuzzer can help secure your products or services, contact us 844-55-PEACH or [email protected]. Telephone 844-55-PEACH Email [email protected] Website www.peachfuzzer.com Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160226/338023LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/drive-safe-peach-fuzzer-now-finds-flaws-in-automotive-control-systems-300227194.html SOURCE Peach Fuzzer, LLC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] anterior La Liga Antidifamacion pidio a Trump repudiar los comentarios del ex lider del Ku Klux Klan Ventings from a guy with an unhealthy interest in budgets, policy, the dismal science, life in the Upper Midwest, and brilliant beverages. Job Description Brief description: The Denmark Government welcomes highly qualified and motivated international students from all over the world to study in Denmark. A number of scholarships are therefore offered each year by the Danish Ministry of Education to fund students from countries outside the European Union/ European Economic Area. The scholarships can be awarded for a full degree higher education programme. Host Institution(s): Participating Higher Education Institutions in Denmark Fields of study: Eligible full-time Higher Education Programmes offered at participating HEIs in Denmark Number of Scholarships: Limited Target group: Non EU/EEA International Students. Scholarship value/inclusions: The government scholarship consists of two parts and can be given as full or partial tuition fee waivers and/or grants towards covering your living costs. However, as the scholarships are administered by the individual higher education institution, you should ask for further details at the institution of your choice. Eligibility: In order to be eligible to apply for a scholarship you have to be: A citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. Enrolled in a full degree higher education programme. Granted a time-limited residence permit in Denmark due to education. Course starts:- Sept 2016/Feb 2017 Closing date: Mar-Apr 2016/Sep-Oct 2017 Your rating: none Rating: 0 0 votes How to Apply Application instructions: The scholarships are administered by the Danish institutions of higher education, each of which decides which students will receive a scholarship. For further information about the government scholarship, please consult the admission details of the higher education institution of your choice. The institution can also inform you about entry requirements, course descriptions, deadlines and student services. Deadline varies depending on your choice University and study programme. Generally, the deadline falls around March-April for entry in September of the same year or around September-October for entry in February of the following year. It is important to visit the website of your choice university and the official website (link found below) for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship. Website: Official Scholarship Website: http://studyindenmark.dk/study-options/tuition-fees-scholarships/tuition-fees-and-scholarships Related Scholarships: See list of countries where you can study for free 5 total views, 5 today Exceptional professionals with a passion for Ethiopian development. East African candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Job Location Bahir Dar or another similarly-sized city. Duration Minimum two years commitment, full-time job. Job Description As a rapidly growing organization, we are looking to attract Ethiopias top talent. We invest heavily in careers we want to develop our next group of project managers, agricultural experts and innovation researchers and managers. Some areas of specialty might include: Agricultural research: An Agricultural Specialist with may conduct desk-, expert-, station- and field-based research and trials to determine which interventions have the most potential to impact farmer incomes. Agricultural training/advising: Within project execution, such a specialist may have the opportunity to produce farmer training and ToT curriculum, as well as to lead such trainings. Agricultural advising: They may also advise on program design and improvements, or advise farmers institutions on how to maximize their impact. Agricultural communication: A Specialist may communicate agricultural research findings to various stakeholders, seek to understand their priorities and find common ground for program design. Depending on her/his performance, the Agricultural Specialist may advance rapidly. These options & potential growth trajectories will be discussed with you regularly by your manager. Career Growth and Development One Acre Fund invests heavily in building management and leadership skills. Your manager will invest significant time in your career development. We provide constant, actionable feedback delivered through mentorship and through regular management consulting-style career reviews. We also have regular one-on-one meetings, where we listen to and discuss career goals, and work collaboratively to craft roles that each person can be passionate about. Agricultural Specialists will have access to regular and ongoing professional development opportunities aimed at building the soft and hard skills required for quick rapid professional growth. Because of our rapid growth, we constantly have new roles opening up and opportunities in many functions. This results in fast career growth for our staff. Will win: Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Revenant" The lock of the night is DiCaprio, who will receive what is a career-achievement award for a performance that was as taxing as any actor could go through. Its helpful to DiCaprios cause that it wasnt a great year for men on screen, with Fassbender delivering the best work playing Steve Jobs in the little seen bio-pic of the Apple founder. Jordans overlooked performance in Creed is rightfully one of the triggers for the #Oscarssowhite protest. In a set of measures to cut the impact of trade liberalization under the planned Trans-Pacific Partnership accord, reported The Japan Times Nov. 15, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has included stronger support for loss-making beef and pork farmers. The support level will be expanded to cover 90 percent of the losses incurred At least Japan is up front about how it intends to build a non-tariff wall to protect its farmers and domestic market from, well, us. This lower-tariffs, higher-subsidies reality is not a new feature of U.S. trade deals; weve seen it in almost every one since the early 1990s. Its been a huge benefit to Big Biz and Big Ag but far less so for farmers and ranchers. The handiest example is Mexico; it made enormous tariff concessions to the U.S. under the North American Free Trade Agreement. Since the deal was fully implemented in 1997, however, Mexico has sold the U.S. $9.6 billion more farm and food goods than U.S. farmers and ranchers sold it. Even with all the happy talk about lower tariffs, TPPs overall projected economic impact is so tiny -- and thats only if the estimates are accurate, a remote possibility at best -- as to make one wonder what all the fuss is about. According to the Peterson Institute for International Economics, often cited as the gold standard of economic forecasters, TPP will increase real (U.S.) incomes by $131 billion, or 0.5 percent of GDP, and annual exports by $357 billion, or 9.1 percent over baseline projections, by 2030. Both numbers, if even close to being accurate, are very modest indeed. Worse, the Peterson Institute quickly adds, theres no promise that either forecast might include a growing American ag sector because, it notes rather glumly, TPPs agricultural provisions fall short of delivering free trade on some sensitive commodities In truth, calculates Dean Baker, an economist and co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, the tiny TPP projected income growth of 0.5 percent over the next 14 years is akin to saying that the country will be as rich on January 1, 2030, as it would otherwise be on April 1, 2030. Whoever said economists have no sense of humor? Neither number, however, takes into account TPPs potential cost to American food safety, suggests Steve Suppan, a senior policy analyst at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. Only five of TPPs 29 or so chapters actually deal with trade issues, he relates in a Feb. 18 telephone conversation. The others deal largely with dismantling regulatory systems in the U.S. and elsewhere to facilitate wider trade. Little wonder Big Ag and its farm group allies fought to kill country of origin labeling; it doesnt facilitate wider trade. Under the most optimistic TPP analysis, says economist Dean Baker, that wider trade will deliver benefits equal to what Americans will spend on St. Patricks Days, over-the-counter teeth whiteners and tattoos between now and 2030. No word on how many bulls that might buy. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Staying in? We've got you covered Get the recommendations on what's streaming now, games you'll love, TV news and more with our weekly Home Entertainment newsletter! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy The new online market proposed for leasing water rights for a single season in the Central Platte Natural Resources District would be an intriguing use of todays technology. Done right it, the new Groundwater Exchange could ensure that water is used more efficiently to irrigate crops. It could even make more water available for river conservation and to benefit endangered species. As many Nebraskans know, their state has more acres under irrigation than any state in the country. Yet in most of the state water tables have remained steady. Its a matter of state policy that use of groundwater should be restricted to sustainable levels. The borders of the Central Platte NRD encompass more than a million acres of irrigated farm ground, and about a 175-mile stretch of the Platte River. About 80 percent of the district is fully appropriated. No new irrigation can be instituted unless irrigation is stopped somewhere else. In the remaining 20 percent the NRD and state officials are working on ways to reduce consumption to sustainable levels and return water to the Platte. The new virtual market might help officials achieve that goal because they could use the exchange on a short-term basis, rather than trying to buy water rights on a permanent basis. What distinguishes the Groundwater Exchange, which also use computers to match buyers and sellers, is that it works as an auction site. The computer algorithm ensures that all deals meet local rules and wont negatively affect the river system, according to Central Platte NRD officials. The algorithm (the term simply means a set of rules to be followed. In a sense a recipe is an algorithm for preparing a meal) was developed by Duke University economics professor David McAdams. When a farmer takes water out of the aquifer, they also impact streamflow, and different locations have different stream impact, McAdams said. At its worst the sale of water rights can result in barren expanses like the one that exists currently in Colorado, where permanent sale of water rights to municipalities has put thousands of acres out of production and haboobs, or dust storms, occasionally blacken the skies. In Nebraska hopes are for a more benign result from the short-term sales in the Groundwater Exchange. Farmers with subpar land, for example, might be financially ahead by selling their water rights to other farmers, or conservationists. Jerry Kenny of the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program said his organization hopes to buy rights the first year to 5,000 acre-feet of water for enhancing, restoring and protecting habitat for endangered critters, including the whooping crane, piping plover, pallid sturgeon and least tern. The question is whether the $300,000 the organization has budgeted will be sufficient. I have tried for many months now to feel the Bern. I have listened to every debate, read every article both for and against Bernie Sanders and still I find myself asking two fundamental questions of him and his supporters: how and why? How do you pass single-payer healthcare in a political climate where a privatized-health-care movement like the Affordable Care Act barely passed, and that was with a democratic controlled House and Senate? And why do you want to even embark on that endeavor when we have a system that is working with flaws and needed improvement of course? This is one example but nearly all of Bernies proposals lead me to a similar line of questioning. I have found only one answer and that is political idealism. Bernies proposals are ideals and for the most part we may have the same ideals but the difference is I understand that they are ideals and Bernie and his supporters do not seem to. They seem to think these ideals are now the only acceptable policy positions and anyone preaching pragmatism has simply lost their mind. Bernie is good for Hillary Clinton because he challenges her to be a more inspiring candidate and pushes her to the left in places where she needs it. However, I have a plea of sorts for all of you feeling the Bern. Take a deep breath, for as Paul Krugman says we don't have political revolutions. This is a democracy of incremental change. Sourpusses take note: One of the world's wealthiest and most respected investors thinks you're dead wrong about the future of the country. In his annual letter to shareholders, published on Saturday, Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett made a forceful argument that Americans should look to the future with optimism, despite the dour messages broadcast from the presidential campaign trail. "For 240 years it's been a terrible mistake to bet against America, and now is no time to start," he said in the letter. "America's golden goose of commerce and innovation will continue to lay more and larger eggs." For 50 years, Buffett has written the annual letters, which are widely read for his pithy and incisive analysis of the past, present and future of the holding company and the economy. This year, he laid out the case for a bright American future, even as he notes some cause for concern. Even though he said the American economy is growing, Buffett nodded toward growing inequality. "Though the pie to be shared by the next generation will be far larger than today's, how it will be divided will remain fiercely contentious. Just as is now the case, there will be struggles for the increased output of goods and services. "Congress will be the battlefield; money and votes will be the weapons. Lobbying will remain a growth industry." But, Buffett argued, there is a silver lining: "Even members of the 'losing' sides will almost certainly enjoy -- as they should -- far more goods and services in the future than they have in the past," he said. The market excels at producing things people don't know they want, he said. For example, Buffett noted that he never thought as a child that he would someday need a personal computer. "I now spend 10 hours a week playing bridge online," he said. "And, as I write this letter, 'search' is invaluable to me. (I'm not ready for Tinder, however.)" A history of growth drives Buffett's argument for optimism, which he framed as a response to the modern politics of fear. "It's an election year, and candidates can't stop speaking about our country's problems (which, of course, only they can solve). As a result of this negative drumbeat, many Americans now believe that their children will not live as well as they themselves do. "That view is dead wrong: The babies being born in America today are the luckiest crop in history. ... Today's politicians need not shed tears for tomorrow's children." Buffett noted that American economic output, per person, has grown tremendously over his lifetime. "American GDP per capita is now about $56,000," he said. "As I mentioned last year that -- in real terms -- is a staggering six times the amount in 1930, the year I was born, a leap far beyond the wildest dreams of my parents or their contemporaries." American efficiency and productivity drove -- and will continue to drive -- that growth, he argued. "This all-powerful trend is certain to continue: America's economic magic remains alive and well." Productivity, Buffett said early in the letter is "the all-important factor in America's economic growth over the past 240 years," a fact lost on too many Americans, Buffett lamented. "That kind of improvement has been the secret sauce of America's remarkable gains in living standards since the nation's founding in 1776," he said. "Unfortunately, the label of 'secret' is appropriate: Too few Americans fully grasp the linkage between productivity and prosperity." To prove his point, Buffett turned to three industries in which Berkshire has a stake: freight, insurance and utilities. Productivity gains in those and other industries "have delivered awesome benefits to society," he said. There are consequences, though: Productivity gains in America and abroad can disrupt lives, Buffett said. "When low-cost competition drove shoe production to Asia, our once-prosperous Dexter operation folded, putting 1,600 employees in a small Maine town out of work. Many were past the point in life at which they could learn another trade. We lost our entire investment, which we could afford, but many workers lost a livelihood they could not replace." The United States should deal with such disruptions not by regulating the drivers of increased productivity but by ensuring a "variety of safety nets" exist for Americans whose skills don't match those valued by markets. In particular, he points to the Earned Income Tax Credit, viewed by many as one of the most effective policy tools to help the poor. There are threats, notably cyber, biological, nuclear or chemical attacks on the nation, Buffett said. "The probability of such mass destruction in any given year is likely very small. It's been more than 70 years since I delivered a Washington Post newspaper headlining the fact that the United States had dropped the first atomic bomb. Subsequently, we've had a few close calls but avoided catastrophic destruction. We can thank our government -- and luck! -- for this result. "Nevertheless, what's a small probability in a short period approaches certainty in the longer run. (If there is only one chance in thirty of an event occurring in a given year, the likelihood of it occurring at least once in a century is 96.6 percent.) The added bad news is that there will forever be people and organizations and perhaps even nations that would like to inflict maximum damage on our country. Their means of doing so have increased exponentially during my lifetime. 'Innovation' has its dark side." Such risks are unavoidable, he said. And the consequences will probably be dire. "No one knows what 'the day after' will look like," Buffett said. "I think, however, that Einstein's 1949 appraisal remains apt: 'I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.'" Many people find it helpful to play some type of music while they exercise, and there are plenty of workout playlists to choose from. Depending on the type of exercise youre doing, you might prefer a pulse-pounding number, a snappy beat, or even something calm and fluid. Because specific genres of music lend themselves best to certain types of exercise, you need to select the songs with the right pace and beat for what youre doing. The playlist you use for a hard cardio workout probably wont work as well for strength training or low-impact aerobics. I had been searching for music to accompany my aerobics exercise, and needed something with a regular but upbeat rhythm. Exercise isnt particularly enjoyable for me, so the music had to put a smile on my face. The genre also needed to accommodate periodic cool-downs, where I wanted a similar rhythm but at a slower pace. My search took me back to my roots: my childhood in central Nebraska, listening to the Big Joe Polka Show on the radio while Mom served up Sunday dinner. Polka music was brought to the United States primarily by Czech, German, and Polish immigrants in the mid-19th century. Its lively beat makes it happy music for happy people, as Big Joe Siedlik would say. Years later, in the 90s, I reached out to that same music when I hosted my own show on KZUM Radio in Lincoln. As the Polka Princess, I played that happy music at 6 a.m. every Tuesday on the aptly named Early Morning Polka Show. (It was the only slot open, but an amazing number of people listened in as they went to work in the morning.) Polka would put a smile on my face and make exercise seem like fun. It has an upbeat rhythm that works well with aerobics. Waltz is often played by the same bands, and providing a slower pace for the cool-downs. This could work, I thought. Had anyone else thought of exercising to polka music? I turned to the Internet and discovered that people had, and with some controversy, in the mid-80s. Elena Goriscak, a Pennsylvania coal miners daughter turned nightclub entertainer, started Polkarobics and shook her stuff wearing a fringe-laden white satin pantsuit. She faced competition from Andy LoRusso, a former nightclub entertainer, who worked up a sweat in his hot pink PolkAerobics sweatshirt and electric blue workout pants. Goriscak had trademarked Polkarobics and felt LoRussos name was too similar, so she sued him. However, a judge eventually decided her trademark was invalid because it described a common activity, leaving Goriscak over a barrel. Odd attire appears to be some sort of requirement for this common activity, judging from those two instructors and the interesting group of people in the Polka-cise video on YouTube. The video is worth watching, just to see the folks prance around a stage in laughable outfits, accompanied on the organ by a fellow in a brown suit and bow tie who looks like hes Bill Nye the Science Guys brother. When you get past the distraction of the sweaty guy in the light blue jumpsuit constantly hitching up his pants, the bouncy lady up front, and the heavy man wearing a red skintight bodysuit, youll see that the group is really getting some good exercise. On that note, I went to my closet and dug out my old albums, CDs, and cassettes. A lot of my old favorites were there: Al Grebnick, Ernie Kucera, Math Sladky, Dean Hansen, and the Capital City Czech Choraliers. I sifted through the collection and pulled out the Czech and German bands, which I prefer. There are many stylistic differences to polka, so you dont want to follow just any old polka while you exercise. Polish polka, for example, is generally faster, and the trumpets and clarinets give it a higher pitch. I wouldnt advise starting your Polka exercise routine to the quick stepping Clarinet polka. The Pretty Maiden Czech polka would be a better choice. I turned on the music and started doing my arm circles and sweeps, leg lifts, marches, jumping jacks, and toe touches. Exhausting! I was greatly relieved when the band switched to a waltz. Fortunately, most of the songs are just two or three minutes in length. The one-and-two, three-and-four rhythm lends itself well to repetitive movements, and it isnt long before you get into the swing of things. During a faster polka, you can time your movements so that youre hitting every other beat and exercising at a slower pace. I had to do that with the Jumpin Jack polka, which made for some pretty frantic jumping jacks until I slowed myself down a bit. Exercising to polka definitely gets you energized, the music lifts your mood, and youre bound to burn some calories. But one side effect for me was a strong desire to go eat kolaches. RACINE A local couple plans to reopen the former Skate Town USA next month as Star Roller Rink. The business co-owners are Ronald and Brook Rogers of Racine, both of whom are longtime roller skaters and have other jobs, Brook said Friday. They plan to rename the rink at 1825 Sycamore Ave., just south of Byrd Avenue, Star Roller Rink. A reopening is planned for March 25. The couple is buying the former Skate Town, with its wooden rink, and have begun remodeling the property inside and out, Brook said. That includes redoing the carpeting, lighting, sound system, refurbishing some of the skates and adding outside lighting. Skate Town closed in September without its owners stating a reason. Its just for the community. I feel like there are not a lot of things for kids to do, or adults, Brook said about their desire to reopen the rink. As black business owners, she said, In that neighborhood and with its history, I think we can help the community. Their website states in part, We are dedicated to supporting everyone by providing a safe, supervised environment for adults, families and kids to have fun. We take pride in our friendly customer service and ability to offer roller skating, video arcade, redemption counter and of course your favorite snacks and refreshments. And on the website the owners lay out a dress code and rules of conduct that make plain their desire to run a safe, youth-friendly recreational facility, such as: Skaters (and guests) are expected to conduct themselves as ladies and gentlemen. No profanity. Repetitive profanity and foul or abusive language will lead to suspension from the building. Star Roller Rink will host birthday parties, private parties and fundraisers. It will be open Wednesday and Friday-Sunday with weekly public skating sessions geared toward different age groups and interests, such as a Teen Night from 7-10 p.m. on Fridays. For more information visit www.starrollerrink.com. Religion Today Lenten Book Study planned The Rev. Melanie Hammond Clark will hold a Lenten Book Study, What We Talk About When We Talk About God, by Rob Bell from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, March 2 and 9, at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 40 Ohio St. Clark and New York Times bestselling author Bell show how traditional ideas have grown stale and dysfunctional and reveals a new path for how to return vitality and vibrancy to how we understand God. Those interested in attending are asked to contact Kathy Miller at kmiller@covpres.org or 262-634-4597. There is no charge to attend, however, attendees will need to purchase a book and read it in order to enjoy this class. Ascension Youth Mime Ministry presents the Passion story Lutheran of the Redeemer, 2417 Drexel Ave., will host the Ascension Youth Mime Ministry of Waukesha during the 9 a.m. service on Sunday, Feb. 28. The group will mime the Passion story. Plymouth Congregational has guest speaker Evans Paul is the guest speaker during the 10:30 a.m. service on Sunday, Feb. 28, at Plymouth Congregational Church, 1143 College Ave. Paul is from Des Plaines, Ill., and is the co-founder of Sustainable Action International. He is a graduate of the University Christian Northern of Haiti with a bachelors degree in agriculture, and a graduate of Christian Life College of Mount Prospect, Ill., with a bachelors degree in ministerial studies. A social hour with light lunch follows the service. Learn, Laugh and Love at Yorkville UMC Mosaic the Piece of Rejection, based on scripture readings from Matthew and 1 Peter, is a continuation of the Lenten theme during the 8 and 10:15 a.m. services on Sunday, Feb. 28, at Yorkville United Methodist Church, 17645 Old Yorkville Road. The KICK Choir (Kids In Christs Kingdom) will sing Lord, I Lift Your Name On High during the 10:15 a.m. service. A special Lenten event called Learn, Laugh and Love What Youre Doing will follow an 11:30 a.m. potluck lunch. Members of the congregation will share their talents and teach others about cupcake decorating, pie crust making, improving photographs, heart health, therapy dogs, balloon animals and several crafts including homemade cards, silk bows, sock snowmen, covered wooden letters and photo books. Sundays service times change for UU inter-service brunch In God and Politics the Rev. Dr. Tony Larsen will address how much religious values should influence political life during the 9 and 11 a.m. services Sunday, Feb. 28, at Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church, 625 College Ave. An important time change for this Sundays services will allow for an inter-service Sunday brunch to kick off the annual pledge drive. The 9 a.m. service will be shortened by 10 minutes and those who regularly attend the 11 a.m. service should arrive at 9:50 a.m. to participate in the 20 minute congregational pledge-drive kick-off and brunch between the two services. Lent services scheduled Lent services will be held at noon and 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 322 Ohio St. The key text will be Luke 22:13-20. Attendees learn that Jesus always meets us in worship as we gather for word and Sacrament. A mid-week Lenten worship service begins at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, at Grace Lutheran Church, 3700 Washington Ave. The Lenten theme is The Shadow of the Things to Come with the focus being Our Antidote in Numbers 21:4-9. Black History Celebration service planned A Black History Celebration service featuring singing, black history, readings, and poetry will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, at Gregg Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 2237 Howe St. Several choirs and groups are expected to participate. Siena Retreat Center schedules programs The following programs are offered at the Siena Retreat Center, 5637 Erie St.: Pysanky: Ukranian Egg Decorating, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, March 6. Pysanky consists of a special type of writing on eggs through symbols and color with prayers and good wishes for the recipient of the egg. No experience is needed. Cost to attend is $35 including noon meal and supplies. Spring Basket Making, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, March 7. Weaving a basket is a rhythmic activity that lends itself to prayer and reflection. No experience is necessary. Cost to attend is $35 including noon meal and supplies. For more information or to register for a program, go to www.SienaRetreatCenter.org or call 262-898-2590. STURTEVANT Two Chicago men were arrested Thursday after one allegedly tried to open up a savings account and take out a loan using a counterfeit drivers license at a Sturtevant credit union, police said. Jeffrey Maxwell, 42, of the 900 block of Homan Avenue, and Kevin Shealey, 49, of the 2200 block of East 70th Place, each face felony fraud charges after Shealey tried to open a checking account and take out a $9,000 loan using fraudulent identification at the Educators Credit Union located at 1300 90th St. Maxwell sat in a secluded part of the parking lot texting Shealey instructions, according to a Mount Pleasant police report. Mount Pleasant police were called to the scene because they were investigating an identity theft fraud that occurred at the the Newman Road Educators branch on Jan. 27, police reports indicate. Police also learned from ECU staff that a car driven by a party in an attempted fraud at the ECU Kenosha branch was the same one at the 90th Street branch on Thursday. Both men made their initial appearances in court Friday according to court records. Records show that each had their bond set at $500 cash, and they cannot contact each other as terms of their respective bonds. According to the criminal complaint, Mount Pleasant and Sturtevant police confronted Shealey on his way out of the branchs loan office and he immediately stated he knew what he was doing was wrong. Police said Shealey said he had tried to get the loan because he owed some people a lot of money. Maxwell had parked in a spot near no other vehicles at the far end of the credit union parking lot, according to the criminal complaint. When a Sturtevant officer confronted him, he denied wrongdoing and was attempting to destroy his phone by pouring Red Bull on it, police said. According to the criminal complaint, Shealey allowed police to look through his phone. Police said they found text messages from Shealey to Maxwell asking Maxwell to keep an eye out while he was in the credit union and another from Maxwell to Shealey telling Shealey to leave the building if a credit union employee didnt come back in 10 minutes. Shealey is charged with three felonies, uttering a forgery, attempted fraud against a financial institution and personal identity theft for financial gain. Maxwell is charged with attempted fraud and personal identity theft as well, both as a party to the crimes. Both men will appear in court again for their preliminary hearings at 9 a.m. Thursday. RACINE In 2016, not voting is simply not an option. That was the message conveyed by the Racine chapter of the NAACP Friday night at a Black History Month event designed to emphasize the value of voting, especially in a year marked by local, state and national elections. The event, held in the gymnasium of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Center, 1134 King Drive, included skits, music, recitations of the writings of Harriet Tubman and Emmett Till, and short speeches from local and state officials. But no matter who was speaking, the message was loud and clear: Vote today, vote tomorrow, vote forever. There is no other political process besides voting where the average individual can get involved and change laws, said Marlo Harmon, head of the political action arm of the Racine NAACP chapter. If you dont exercise that right, anything can happen. The very worst thing you can do is do nothing, Frank Humphry, president of the Wisconsin NAACP told the crowd of about 60 people. This year, try to get someone you know to the polls. We need to help each other. For the only thing that is needed for evil to spread is for good people to do nothing. Lets make sure that this year we do something. Several students performed a skit depicting the problems early African American voters had after securing the vote in the 1960s. They faced intimidation and violence, were forced to take literacy tests and pay illegal poll taxes. Those pioneers paid a heavy price to blaze the trail, said Racine Alderman Michael Shields, who represents the citys Third District. People today need to respect the sacrifices those people made, he said. It takes a lot of courage to stand up for what you believe, Shields said. People before us did that and now we need to stand on their shoulders. We cannot and should not ever forget who we are. Voting is the best thing we can do for us. The event also provided information on how to register to vote, how to obtain an ID for voting, what forms of ID are acceptable to use at the polls, and how to get a ride to the polls if needed. A year-round crusade The forum was the first Black History Month program presented by the NAACP in several years, Harmon said. The Racine chapter has about 300 active members, she said. The NAACP is not some ancient, antiquated, archaic organization, said J. Mark Freeman, leader of the Second Missionary Baptist Church, 1250 Lathrop Ave. They stand by at the quick and ready to help us. In a fiery and boisterous speech, Freeman also urged the crowd not to make black history about only 28 or 29 days every February. Its 365 days a year, seven days a week and 24 hours a day, Freeman said. Dont let black history be there for just a short time. Feds Seek "Mental Health" Testing of All Children, Adults? By Alex Newman. February 24th, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Next time you visit your doctor, be careful how you respond to his questions, or you may just be branded mentally ill and subjected to treatment. That is because a panel advising the Obama administration, in partnership with Big Psychiatry, wants to make doctors subject all American adults and children over age 12 to screening for alleged mental health disorders particularly depression, at least to start with. Then, anyone found to harbor any alleged mental disorder, including children as young as eight, should undergo therapy, often including powerful psychotropic medications that experts say have dubious value but often come with well-documented and highly dangerous side effects. Your ObamaCare plan will be forced to pay for it, whether you want it or not, thanks to the federal government's commandeering of the health-insurance industry under the so-called Affordable Care Act. And eventually, younger and younger children will be in Big Brother's crosshairs for mental and behavioral health services, whether parents want it or not. School teachers, social workers, and more are all already being enlisted in the federal government's search for supposed mental and behavioral health issues a list that is perpetually expanding as psychiatrists invent new 'illnesses'. The outcry against the federal government's obsession with your mind and the minds of America's children, though, is growing louder, as critics call the agenda depressing and worry whether it is another scheme to disarm more Americans. ...... We have discussed this before but here is a detailed look at the subject. What stands out most is the potential for "invention of new illnesses" - just how many ways might there be to label someone as lacking in 'mental health'. This has to be perhaps the most back door "Big Brother" approach to "gun control"- and while genuine cases of, for instance, paranoid schizophenia could preclude safe gun ownership, the potential for diagnostic abuse is very concerning. "You don't have to be Jewish to fight by our side." 2016 JPFO All rights reserved. jpfo@jpfo.org 1-800-869-1884 Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership 12500 NE 10th Pl. Bellevue, WA 98005 USA "America's most aggressive defender of civil rights" We make the NRA look like moderates Join JPFO Back to Top Withering on the Vine The Demographic Time Bomb is Most Marked in Japan The demographic time bomb whereby the elderly population assumes a greater and ... Government Sexual Libertinism Coming to a Government School Near You Further to our piece yesterday on the promotion of sexual libertinism in government schools, we rep... Some Random Observations The Aftermath of Mass Pre-Mediated Murder A few observations on the murder of 14 people in San Bernadino and the wounding of many more see... Letter From the UK (About State Tyranny) Ta-ta UK freedoms! Miranda matter outs vindictiveness of wounded police state Annie Machon is a former intelligence of... The Big One The Panoptican State Is Actually Operational Yesterday the "big one" dropped. The Guardian reported that the US and UK spy age... Fraud Central German Professor: NASA Has Fiddled Climate Data On Unbelievable Scale by James Delingpole BreitbartLondon A German professor ha... Statist Groupthink More and More Fashionable The Rise of Liberal Intolerance in America Edward Luce Financial Times I t ought to be a triumphal moment for American liberalism .... Vacuous Greenism Anti-Fracking Luddiocy Think of any technology that involves carbon based energy and its utilisation, and the lunatic fringe can be found ... "It is Finished": the Sixth Word from the Cross It is Finished: our Lords Sixth Word from the Cross What is history? That simple question covers a multitude of complexity, profundity... JURIST Guest Columnist Daniel J. Wright of The Law Office of Daniel Wright discusses the need to revisit life without parole sentencing in the US justice system No one truly knows a nation, Nelson Mandela wrote, until one has been inside its jails. The story of Americas jails and prisons is a sad reflection: dirty, overcrowded, riddled with gang violence, drugs sold by prison guards and lack of rehabilitative programs. Notwithstanding this, the incarceration rate of the United States is the highest in the world. The United States has 4.4 percent of the worlds population, but has almost 22 percent of the worlds prisoners. The number of incarcerated Americans has more than tripled since 1980. There is no evidence of a corresponding increase in safety or decrease in crime as a result of these policies. One category of prisoner, the non-violent drug offender, has gathered attention recently. President Obama sponsored initiatives to reduce sentences and secure the release of drug offenders in federal institutions who posed little risk to the community. Other prisoners were not so fortunate. One of the categories of prisoners who have not received relief are those sentenced to life in prison, life without parole and extraordinarily long, death-in-prison sentences. Many countries around the world have abandoned the concept of life imprisonment. Portugal [Portuguese] was the first. Life sentences were abolished there in 1867, and the last execution is recorded to have taken place in 1847. Other countries followed suit, and life sentences are not imposed in Norway, Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador, Spain and many other countries. A more common alternative is to allow parole after a certain term of years: 25 in Canada, 14 years in Belgium, 15 in Switzerland, 21 years in Italy [PDF]. In the United States life without the possibility of parole is permitted, as is capital punishment. It is well known that the percentage of adult males incarcerated in American prisons is disproportionately African-American and Latinos. The rate of incarceration of African-American males is more than six times the rate of adult white males. It should come as no surprise that the punishment of life imprisonment is also visited disproportionately upon African-American defendants, and more disproportionately than incarceration in general. In Maryland, 85 percent of those serving life sentences are African-American. According to Michelle Alexander, the United States imprisons a larger percentage of its black population than South Africa did at the height of apartheid. The rates of life imprisonment vary widely among the states. An important component of the rate is the possibility of parolethe real possibility, not theoretical. Life prisoners make up 10 percent of all Maryland prison inmates. One reason for this is that Maryland doesnt have a functioning parole system for life inmates. The Governor still has a veto over the parole of life inmates, a politicization of the process that has been abandoned by the vast majority of states. As a result, only a fraction of the life inmates eligible for parole have been given a serious consideration for parole [PDF]. This is troubling for a number of reasons. Unlike many states, Maryland has experience with the release of inmates serving life sentences. In 2012, a ruling by the Maryland Court of Appeals [PDF] concerning improper jury instructions in the 1970s and 1960s led to the release of almost 100 prisoners serving life and LWOP sentences. Most had served several decades in maximum security prisons. Notwithstanding the conditions in which they had lived while incarcerated, the prisoners released overwhelmingly managed to transition successfully to a positive life upon their release. There has been little recidivism. Inmates who have served long sentences often simply age out of crime. California has released large numbers of inmates in response to court rulings brought about by overcrowded conditions. Recidivism among inmates released has been low. Many people also have trouble understanding that errors are often made at trial, and the innocent convicted. Charles A. Scott was convicted of murder at the age of 19 in Baltimore. By now he has served almost 49 years in prison. He is 69 years of age. He hasnt had a rule violation in years and can hardly be considered a risk to the community. Even though he has spent almost five decades in prison, like many life prisoners he has never given up hope for a future life on the outside. In earlier years, he dug tunnels and managed to escape on three different occasions. He was out for more than a year. He recently managed a successful post-conviction appeal. Although sentenced to die in prison by a judge as a teenager in the 1960s, he refused to lose hope or accept the life-denying categorization of the rest of his life. It isnt obvious what benefit can be gained by further incarceration of elderly prisoners, but the prisons have many inmates in their 70s and 80s. They pose little risk to the community, but continue to be held because parole procedures make their release difficult or impossible. The rising cost of their medical care is borne by the State. The cost of housing an inmate is more than $38,000 per year in Maryland, even before medical costs for elderly inmates is factored in. Sebastian McMillian has served more than 25 years in a Maryland prison after his attorney recommended that he plead guilty to a double murder rather than go to trial. The benefit she promised him was that the two life sentences he would receive would be concurrent rather than consecutiveno benefit at all. He has been a model inmate, however, with no infractions and an outstanding institutional adjustment. Raheem Rahman was convicted of attempted murder in 1999. Since that time he has pursued education and written a book about his experiences. He hasnt gotten in trouble. Although these men would have been released long ago in many countries, they remain incarcerated: an example of warehousing rather than individualized assessment of danger and potential. The jurisprudence that leads to these results includes mandatory minimum sentences, repeat offender statutes (three strikes laws), and mandatory life and LWOP sentences for certain crimes. In many states, homicide leads to mandatory life and LWOP sentences. In states such as Maryland that dont have viable parole mechanisms for life inmates, a life sentence effectively becomes an LWOP sentence. Since parole exists on the books, but largely not in reality, the problem is in many respects hidden. Another factor is the promotion of LWOP by those seeking the abolition of the death penalty. Those seeking to avoid the horror of capital punishment sometimes hold up LWOP as an acceptable alternative. Yet there are many times more inmates facing the irrational punishment of life and LWOP than capital punishment and they simply do not get the publicity or attention in the public mind that capital inmates do. The decision of the Supreme Court in Montgomery v. Louisiana, 577 U.S. ____ (2016) [PDF], may offer a helpful beginning. That case involved a juvenile, Henry Montgomery, convicted of murder at the age of 17 and sentenced to death. His sentence was later reduced to a mandatory sentence of life without parole. At the time of the Supreme Courts decision, he was 69 years old, like Charles Scott. He sought collateral review of his sentence in light of the courts earlier decision in Miller v. Alabama, 567 U.S. _____ (2012)[PDF], which held that mandatory LWOP sentences for juvenile homicide offenders violates the Eight Amendments prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. Miller required that sentencing courts consider a childs diminished culpability and heightened capacity for change in rendering sentences. The State of Louisiana argued, as several state courts and federal courts had held, that Miller was not intended to be applied retroactively. The Supreme Court, through Justice Kennedy, held that Miller was indeed intended to apply retroactively. Rather than ordering new trials for all the prisoners who suffered Miller violations, however, the court held that states could remedy the violation by permitting prisoners to be considered for parole. In other words, parole commissions could look at a prisoners institutional record and make a determination of the inmates growth and maturity since the time of the original sentence. Many inmates will have shown an ability to reform their behavior and no longer pose a danger to the community. Under Miller, these prisoners will be released and start the process of transitioning back to the community. Henry Montgomery is 69 and has spent approximately 50 years in prison. Sadly, there are many more like him. The Supreme Court has determined that his life deserves a second look. Many prisoners have changed with time. Juveniles are not alone in the process of maturation. The decision in Montgomery is a recognition that no judge can predict at the time of sentencing how an inmate will respond to the process of incarceration and the passage of time. Judges have a gavel, not a crystal ball. If there is benefit in taking another look at a juvenile offenders life after a period of years, then the same logic can, and should, be applied to other inmates as well. I mounted the steps of the Lincoln Memorial with a feeling akin to awe, and stood for a long time before the seated figure of one of the greatest men of history, surely the greatest of all the rulers of the nations, the man who would spend a sleepless night because he had been asked to order the execution of a young soldier. He certainly knew that in pardoning we are pardoned. Alan Paton Daniel Wright is an attorney in the State of Maryland. He has been practicing law for 35 years and concentrates on trial work, including criminal trials and post conviction. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School. Suggested citation: Daniel J. Wright, Life Its Worth a Second Look, JURIST Professional/Commentary, Feb. 27, 2016, http://jurist.org/hotline/2016/02/daniel-wright-second-look.php. Former Argentine lawyer and federal prosecutor, Alberto Nisman, was the victim of murder according to a Criminal Appeals Court Prosecutor Ricardo Saenz. The declaration is the first time [IBT report] a judicial authority has suggested the death as a homicide since the mysterious tragedy. Saenz recommended that the case be handed to federal authorities and investigated as a murder. The prosecutor wrote that he agreed with the assassination theory [infobae report, in Spanish] that Nismans family presented in a complaint to the appeals court in Buenos Aires and that all the evidence points to Nismans death as a murder, not a suicide [Reuters report]. Judge and Nismans former wife, Sandra Arroyo Salgado, also maintains that the case be handed over to federal authorities in order to fulfill their role as the countrys institution for investigating the suspicious death of a public servant. The court will evaluate Saenzs findings on March 18. Nisman was found dead [JURIST report] in January 2015. He had been appointed to lead the investigation of the 1994 bombing of the Argentinian Mutual Association, a terrorist attack that left 85 dead and injured 300 others. The prosecutor claimed that the then-current administration negotiated with the Iranian government to cover up Irans involvement in exchange for oil to ease Argentinas energy deficit; he was found dead a day before he was scheduled to testify about his accusation. Days after his death had been ruled a suicide, former Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said that she was sure that the death was not a suicide [JURIST report]. In March an Argentinian appeals court dismissed the charges against Fernandez for conspiring to insulate Iranian officials from prosecution over their alleged participation in the 1994 bombing. An appeals court in 1994 ruled that a signed agreement that permitted Argentinian authorities to question Iranian suspects over the 1994 bombing under Interpol arrests warrants, only in Tehran, was unconstitutional. The US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit [official website] ruled [order, PDF] Wednesday that a Somali man convicted of piracy cannot withdraw his plea deal [JURIST report]. Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse was the sole surviving pirate suspect from the hostage-taking of commercial ship captain Richard Phillips from the Maersk Alabama. Muse was prosecuted as an adult after the lower court determined he was at least 18 years old during the 2009 hijacking. Muse is currently sentenced [JURIST report] to over 30 years in federal prison. A number of countries around the world have taken actions in the attempt to solve the problem of maritime piracy [JURIST news archive]. In 2014 security forces arrested [JURIST report] Somali pirate Mohamed Garfanji, then second-in-command of Somalias pirate industry. In 2013 a judge for the US District Court Eastern District of Virginia [official website] sentenced [JURIST report] Somali pirates Abukar Osman Beyle and Shani Nurani Shiekh Abrar to 21 life sentences for their roles in the killing of four Americans aboard a yacht off the Horn of Africa in February 2011. Also that year three Somali pirates accused of hijacking [JURIST report] a private yacht off the coast of Somalia in 2009 faced trial in France. In February 2013 the Abu Dhabi Federal Appeal Court upheld the sentences [JURIST report] of 10 Somali pirates convicted of highjacking a UAE-owned bulk-carrier ship in April 2011. In October 2012 the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court of Hamburg issued sentences [JURIST report] for 10 Somalis who were involved in the hijacking the German freighter MS Taipan off the coast of Somalia two years ago. [JURIST] Two Turkish journalists were released from Silivri prison early Friday after Turkeys Constitutional Court ruled [press release] Thursday that the detention violated their personal liberty, security, and freedom of expression and press. Can Dundar and Erdem Gul, employees of the Turkish daily newspaper Cumhuriyet [media website, in Turkish], were arrested [CNN report] last November for reporting in 2014 that Turkish trucks were smuggling arms to pro-Islamist groups in Syria. The Turkish government denied [AP report] the allegations and later made contradictory claims that the trucks were carrying humanitarian aid or ammunition to Turkish groups abroad. Subsequently, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan filed a claim against the reporters and accused them of cooperating with FETO, a secret movement intending to falsely link the Turkish government to terrorist groups. Though Dundar and Gul have been freed, they still face the governments charges and must stand trial on March 25. Turkey has been accused of violating the freedom of expression on numerous recent occasions. In December the European Court of Human Rights ruled [JURIST report] unanimously that a Turkish court order blocking access to YouTube violated Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. In April a prosecutor in Turkey ordered [JURIST report] Internet providers to block social networking sites including Twitter and YouTube. In September 2014 Human Rights Watch [advocacy website] reported [JURIST report] that Turkeys ruling Justice and Development Party [party website] was taking steps to weaken the rule of law, control Internet and media and suppress critics and protesters. In April 2014 the Turkish government lifted a ban [JURIST report] on Twitter following a Constitutional Court ruling stating that the ban violated both individual rights as well as the freedom of expression. Yes, you can transfer your domain to any registrar or hosting company once you have purchased it. Since domain transfers are a manual process, it can take up to 5 days to transfer the domain. Domains purchased with payment plans are not eligible to transfer until all payments have been made. Please remember that our 30-day money back guarantee is void once a domain has been transferred. For transfer instructions to GoDaddy, please click here. Agents refuse to release cargo until dues paid Shipping agents at Kolkata port have refused to release more than 600 Nepal-bound containers until importers clear outstanding dues, the Nepal Freight Forwarders Association (NFFA) said. All VDCs in Myagdi to have internet facility A campaign to manage funds for internet connectivity in all VDCs in Myagdi district has been started. Campaign for ensuring conflict victims rights Civil society groups Advocacy Forum, TRIAL and REDRESS have launched a joint campaign Real Rights Now to demand justice for conflict victims. India, China outline areas for rebuilding Nepals two giant neighboursIndia and Chinahave outlined their areas of engagement for post-earthquake reconstruction, 10 months after the country was rocked by a massive earthquake and eight months after they pledge assistance. Rival factions in final bid to pick candidates Two rival factions of the Nepali Congress are in their final bid to announce key candidacies as the date for the partys General Convention (GC) draws near. 1. Yes. Its important to cast my votes early and avoid the lines on Election Day. 2. Yes. With nearly two weeks of early voting, its a more convenient way to take part. 3. No. Its better to wait until Election Day, in case any last-minute information surfaces. 4. No. Im not planning to vote early or on Election Day. It isnt worth my time. 5. Unsure. It depends on how the campaigns are shaping up. Ill play it by ear. Vote View Results News Story not available This story has been published on: 2022-10-21. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. This story is no longer available on our site. The FTC requires the following disclosure statement regarding ads: The[blog] posts and advertisers contains affiliate links which means I may receive a co mmission if you click a link and make a purchase. BUT, you do not pay more for your purchase. Thank you. Enjoy! Most advertisers Ship Worldwide. A blog on Singapore defence and the SAF that goes Above & Beyond The Obvious -The views expressed on this blog are my personal views and/or opinion and do not necessarily reflect the views and/or opinions of the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD). Copyright 2009-2020. David Boey. All rights reserved. Follow us on Twitter @SenangDiri Trollfest '09 Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, How I sold out to da Man. Robbie Bell again performs: Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells and Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to Dancing with the Stars, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango. Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and Big Cat Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything). Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge. Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson". In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word jackass was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up. In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates. Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one. Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!! This is definitely a Beaver production. Note: Security provided by INS. South Korea and Serbia have signed an agreement to help increase flights between the countries, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday. The accord was signed by South Korean Ambassador to Belgrade Lee Do-hoon and Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Zorana Mihajlovic in Belgrade on Wednesday, the ministry said in a press release. Mihajlovic also serves as the minister of construction, transport and infrastructure. The two sides initialed an agreement in 2014 to operate three flights per week and allow code-sharing between airlines. "Although no direct flights are currently in service between South Korea and Serbia, once the agreement takes effect, we expect passengers to more easily book flights and carry out relevant procedures through code-sharing and other means," the ministry said. The agreement will take effect on the day the sides exchange diplomatic documents confirming the completion of their respective domestic legislative procedures, it added. "We expect the agreement to provide a good opportunity for our airlines to expand into the Eastern European aviation market, and increase the foundation for greater human and material exchanges not only in aviation but also in trade, investment, tourism and other various sectors," the ministry said. Last year, South Korea exported US$73 million worth of goods to Serbia, including cars and flat panel displays, and imported $115 million worth of goods from the Balkan state, including animal feed and car parts, according to data from the Korea International Trade Association. (Yonhap) BLACK EARTH Ken Meigs can turn a beat-up vacuum cleaner into a lamp and make a wine rack out of a vintage radio. His Bulldog Recover and Restore shop in downtown Blue Earth sells old doors, lights, cabinets and antiques along with dozens of items modified for other uses. The unheated backroom of the sprawling building across the street from the old train depot still has remnants from its days as a feed mill, and Meigs and his wife, Sue, now use the space to store and sell reclaimed barn boards for customers who want to add character to a building or remodeling project. Were really getting good traffic, said Ken Meigs, a builder by trade who grew up here and at one time was the municipal judge. I think people like to go to places like this and poke around. But the Meigses, business leaders and village officials in this western Dane County community are focused on more than just casual weekend shoppers, the Wisconsin State Journal (http://bit.ly/1RU9edi ) reported. Efforts are underway here to create more destinations and retail in an attempt to revitalize the village of 1,368 people that has seen many of its businesses disappear. The efforts come after two high-profile court cases that have consumed village officials with lawsuits and criminal proceedings. With the recession in the rearview mirror, Epic Systems continued growth in nearby Verona and a county housing market short on inventory, Black Earth could be on the cusp of growth. New homes are being built here in two subdivisions and existing homes quickly sell to young families who want the solitude of a small community located on the edge of the Driftless Area and bounded on three sides by a winding, blue-ribbon trout stream. There also may be no better small town in America in which to buy a pair of shoes. Steve Schmitts Shoe Box draws thousands of people a year and recently expanded its sizeable presence on Highway 14. The business, however, stands in stark contrast to the rest of the communitys retail offerings. Theres a difference between a sleepy village and one thats almost gone, said Aaron Carlock, who last year purchased the old Patrons Mercantile Co-op building and is studying what to do with the 12,000-square-foot brick and concrete facility in the heart of the villages downtown. If you want to have a nice little town to live in, youve got to have some basic things, right? We need at least a place to go and have coffee or get something to eat. Theres not even that anymore. The Cenex and the BP convenience stores are the only places here to buy a morning cup of coffee. There is no hardware store or cafe, residents need to travel outside the village to get a haircut or to fill a prescription at a pharmacy. With no full-service grocery store, Cenex has filled the void by offering seven small aisles of fresh produce, laundry detergent, frozen waffles and pizza, canned goods, diapers, greeting cards and DVD rentals. Most residents here do their major grocery shopping at the Piggly Wiggly in Cross Plains or at supermarkets in Madison or Sauk City. Were trying to work with anyone we can find that wants to relocate down here to Black Earth. We have some space, said Shellie Benish, village clerk, treasurer and administrator. Its kind of a bedroom community of Madison, but theres just been a lot going on here in this community that has thwarted the economic development effort. The Heineys Meat Market building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has been converted from a restaurant into apartments and the property where Schmitts father started his shoe business in the downtown is a vacant lot owned by the village and up for sale. The former Luckenbooth Cafe is closed and the building for sale while Carlocks Mercantile building, once home to Trails Media, former publisher of Wisconsin Trails Magazine, is empty after a software company with 40 employees pulled stakes last spring for Verona. And then there are the court cases. The owner of Black Earth Meats filed a civil lawsuit in U.S. Federal Court against the village alleging that the village, by threatening legal action, had violated its due-process rights by preventing it from getting a loan that it needed to stay in business. The meat market closed in July 2014 and is looking for another area location, but its former facility in Black Earth is for sale. The village contended the company had grown too big for its downtown facility, disrupted village services and created problems for neighbors, who complained about odors, garbage and truck traffic on residential streets. In November, U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb wrote in a decision that the village did not violate the due-process rights of Black Earth Meats when it took steps to stop what it viewed as a public nuisance created by the business. The company has appealed the decision. Meanwhile, in a criminal case, the former clerk-treasurer for the village was sentenced in December to two years in prison for stealing $400,000 from the village and the electric utility with which it partners. Stephanie Lathrop, 35, of Sauk City, stole the money from 2009 to 2013, according to court documents. Weve had a lot going on, said village president Pat Troge. Its been a very busy almost three years, so now we can start focusing on what really needs to happen. PITTSBURGH -- Working fathers scored a victory last year for achieving equal status in parental leave polices when the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission decided men should be entitled to the same rights as women in the workplace who choose to take time off in order to bond with a newborn or newly adopted child. The EEOC made history in July when it issued guidance stating that companies must provide equal bonding leave for male and female employees. "There is a viewpoint that still exists in some workplaces that men should stay at work," said Tom Spiggle, author of "You're Pregnant? You're Fired!: Mothers, Fathers and Other Caregivers in the Workplace." In that line of thinking, he said, "If someone is going to stay at home with the children, it should be the wife. "There have been some cases where a man has taken family medical leave to be with a newborn child and was penalized later in the workplace for taking that leave," said Spiggle, an Arlington, Va.-based lawyer who represents employees in workplace discrimination cases. "That is illegal under the Family Medical leave Act." The issue has prompted several lawsuits in recent years brought by new fathers against their employers. CNN and Turner Broadcasting last year settled an EEOC charge with a former CNN correspondent who claimed the company's paid parental leave policy discriminated against biological fathers. In 2013, an air traffic controller settled a complaint against the Transportation Department claiming sex discrimination when the federal agency denied him several days of child care leave that it granted to mothers in 2007. (EDITORS: BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM) Thanks to an effort led by councilwoman Natalia Rudiak, the city of Pittsburgh last year passed paid parental leave for city workers which allows all parents to receive six weeks of paid leave at full pay following the birth of a child, an adoption or a new foster arrangement. Mothers, however, are eligible for an additional six weeks of short-term disability immediately after giving birth, according to Molly Byrnes, employee leaves program coordinator for the city of Pittsburgh. The first three weeks must be used as either vacation time, personal time or comp time. They receive 50 percent to 60 percent of their pay the other three weeks under the short-term disability policy. Mothers can take their six weeks of paid parental leave at 100 percent pay at anytime during the first year after childbirth, Byrnes said. Pittsburgh city councilman Dan Gilman, who represents District 8, recently announced that he will be taking time off to stay home with his wife and newborn when the child is born. "As someone who is approaching fatherhood for the first time, my wife and I see raising our child as a team effort in terms of caring for our child and supporting each other," Gilman said. "The idea that we stress strong family values in this country but either don't offer paid family leave or punish mothers and fathers for taking it is completely contradictory. "Unfortunately the city is not allowed to mandate paid leave on private industry, but what we can do is be an industry leader in showing how we can treat our employees the way all Americans should be treated." (END OPTIONAL TRIM) Spiggle said under the federal Family Medical Leave Act, companies with 50 or more employees are required to allow new parents up to 12 weeks of leave. Companies are not required to make it paid leave. He said the EEOC decision on parental leave is not a law, but is instead called "guidance." Companies are not bound to it, but the commission is in charge of interpreting employment law, so courts look to the EEOC for guidance. "It's a big deal for men in the workplace," Spiggle said. "Women can still get additional time to recover from child birth. But they cannot get more time than men for bonding." It will take Pope Francis five years to reform the Catholic Church. This was the prediction of Father Hans Kung, who was a young, expert theologian at the Second Vatican Council and has been a prolific writer on the Catholic Church for the 50 years since that event. March 13 is the third anniversary of Pope Francis election as pope. How is the reform going so far? On Feb. 6, Thomas Reese, a well-informed commentator on the papacy for the National Catholic Reporter, gave his appraisal in a speech at Franciscan Spirituality Center. Father Reese summarized his presentation under three steps necessary to change the church. CHANGE THE CULTURE: We are learning in our country how difficult it is to change the culture of an institution. For example, some cities want to change the culture of their police forces, and it takes a lot more than passing laws and changing procedures. Pope Francis began changing the culture from the first moment of his election. He was the first pope in history to choose the name of Francis, the saint who reformed the church in the middle ages. He asked the people to pray over him before he gave his first blessing to the thousands gathered at St. Peters. Soon after, he simplified his dress, moved to a sparse residence, picked a 20-year-old Renault to drive around the Vatican and washed the feet of young male and female prisoners including Muslims on Holy Thursday. Some critics have said this is style and not substance. But in the Catholic Church filled with ritual, symbols and centuries-old traditions style is substance. He regularly attacks clericalism, the attitude that ordination brings privilege and power rather than a commitment to service. He says that bishops as shepherds should smell like the sheep. He models by his behavior what it means to be a good pastor. Unlike the popes of the past 50 years, he promotes open discussion. At the recent synod, he encouraged bishops to speak clearly with boldness. APPOINT PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT REFORM TO KEY POSITIONS: His kitchen cabinet became eight cardinals from around the world, not the cardinals with positions in the Curia, the administrative arm of the church. He appointed Cardinal Pell, a tough guy from Australia, as secretary for the economy to clean up the financial mess in the Vatican Bank. He has appointed cardinals from different dioceses from all over the world who have proven to be pastoral. He has now appointed 25 percent of the current cardinals. While the previous popes have appointed bishops because of loyalty and orthodoxy, he has chosen those who are close to their people. CHANGE STRUCTURES, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES: He has stopped the procedure of automatically making bishops and cardinals out of newly-appointed department heads in the Curia. He sees them as civil servants to the pope. He has separated the legislative, executive and judicial powers within the Curia. Within the leaders of the church, he is emphasizing decentralization and collegiality. He started a papal commission on sexual abuse. One of his favorite images of the church is a field hospital for the wounded. He understands that mystery enters through the heart and not the head. He sees a pastoral church, preaching a gospel message of love, compassion and justice not a nagging church wagging its finger at people. He wants a church that spreads Christianity through witness and not argument. Is there more change coming? Certainly. The pope often prepares us for changes to come by his press conferences on plane trips coming home from his missionary trips. For example, he spoke of his concern about the devastating effects of climate change on a plane trip before his document, On Our Common Home, was published. Recently on his way back to Rome from Mexico, he grabbed headlines by his comments about Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump. More importantly for church reform, he said that women who feared the effects of the Zika virus on their unborn babies could use birth control. He may be telegraphing a change in the soon to be released document on marriage and family life. Stay tuned. Because it will take at least two more years to implement reforms that will last indefinitely, I pray daily for his safety. The way he he challenges power has led to the murders of other bishops. He seems to have no fear to visit places that are dangerous. When I learned he was on the plane to leave Mexico, I breathed a sigh of relief. He had safely made it through another trip. Under Wisconsin law, police officers working for private railroad companies have the power to issue citations and arrest people who break laws on railroad property. One lawmaker wants to hold them to the same standards of accountability and transparency as other police forces. Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, is circulating a trio of bills this week addressing concerns about railroad policing that have surfaced since BNSF Railroad began issuing trespass warnings to anglers crossing its tracks to reach fishing spots along the Mississippi River, which is separated from the state by more than 214 miles of rail. One bill would require railroad police to follow the states open records law, which gives citizens access to public documents such as police reports and arrest records, in respect to enforcement of trespassing laws. In 2015, the Tribune requested records of arrests or citations issued by BNSF police in Wisconsin. As a private corporation, BNSF is not subject to the provisions of the Wisconsin open records law, the company responded. BNSF also refused to name its officers working in Wisconsin out of concern for their privacy. They cant have it both ways, Vinehout said. If you are acting in a public capacity, you have to be open to public scrutiny. Another bill would designate the Department of Justice as the agency in charge of investigating citizen complaints about railroad police. The DOJ does not currently have any oversight authority over railroad police. The law states simply, Every railway company shall be responsible for the acts of its police officers. A third bill which Vinehout calls a shot across the bow would remove the railroad police authority altogether from state statute. Rail companies could still hire guards to protect rail property as could any property owner, Vinehout wrote in a memo to other lawmakers. But these guards would not have the police powers to issue citations, arrest or take any other police action against an individual. Vinehout said she has heard from western Wisconsin residents concerned that railroad enforcement of trespassing law is cutting off access to public lands and that the state provides no oversight for private police forces. While federal and state law allow these police hired by a private company to act in a law enforcement capacity, she wrote in a memo, there is no place for citizens to go if they believe the railroad police have acted improperly. A New York Times report last year documented numerous complaints and lawsuits filed against railroad police in recent years. While police departments across the country face increasing scrutiny and demand for reform after several cases of brutality, the Times reported, the railroad authorities appear to operate with near impunity. Federal law grants railroads the power to employee police officers commissioned by states where the railroad owns property. The law also allows officers to enforce certain laws in any state where the railroad owns property so long as the railroad provides certain notification. Minnesota and Wyoming are the only states that do not commission railroad police. BNSF says it has one officer stationed in La Crosse to patrol the region, and additional officers located in other regions who may work in Wisconsin at various times. The railroad says it has not cited anyone for trespassing but has been issuing warnings as part of a public education campaign. Our officer has had productive conversations with members of the public over the past year as part of his safety outreach efforts, said BNSF spokeswoman Amy McBeth. Hes even handed out BNSF calendars and pens. Uncertain fate for trespassing bill The Senate has yet to act on a bill passed early this month by the Assembly that would restore pedestrians rights to cross tracks, rolling back a 2006 change that restricts pedestrians to designated crossings. Outdoors advocates say that cuts off vast areas of the river including private boathouses. That includes dozens of spots between La Crosse and Genoa, where, according to a Tribune analysis of Federal Railroad Administration crossing data, BNSF track runs for stretches of 4.75 miles and 6 miles between crossings. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has identified at least 124 spots along the Mississippi River where shore access requires crossing the tracks and said in a memo, This might well be the largest loss of public access to public waters in the history of the state. Its not clear yet if the Senate will vote on the bill, sponsored by Republican Rep. Lee Nerison, before the session ends March 15. Gov. Scott Walker vetoed similar language from last years budget bill; a spokesperson said Walker would need to review this bill if and when it gets to his desk. The Coulee Region has become a global nerve center for organic farming in part because of the cooperative nature of its inhabitants, according to Organic Farmer of the Year Steve Pincus. The food co-ops and the sense and spirit of cooperation really have made organic farming into a staple for the area, Pincus said during a press conference Friday at the MOSES Organic Farming Conference at the La Crosse Center. Pincus received the top farmer award along with wife Beth Kazmar for their work on their organic farm near Evansville, about 170 miles southeast of La Crosse and 22 miles south of Madison. Farming 46 acres of their 76-acre spread, the couple sells produce to co-ops and to members of their community-supported agriculture customers in Madison, with Milwaukee also being a prime market for their certified organic Tipi Produce farm. Madison always has had that radical fringe that thought organic made sense, even back when it didnt make sense for others, Pincus said with a husky laugh. Wisconsins tally of nearly 1,500 certified organic farms is second in the nation only to Californias total of more than 3,000. The Badger State ranks first in organic dairy farming. Vernon and Monroe counties have by far the highest concentrations of certified organic farms in Wisconsin, according to the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Although an exact tally was not available Friday, a 2015 DATCP map based on 2013 figures indicates that Vernon and Monroe counties have between 61 and 219 such enterprises, with Trempealeau County being home to between 31 and 60 and La Crosse and Jackson counties having between 11 and 30. Heavily influencing the areas reputation as the organic farming capital of the Upper Midwest and, arguably, the nation, is the fact that the largest organic food cooperative in North America is headquartered in La Farge. Organic Valley, which seven struggling farmers founded in 1988 as the Coulee Region Organic Produce Pool, became the first organic-only foods company in the world to surpass $1 billion in annual sales on Dec. 22. It now includes more than 1,800 farmer-owners in 33 states and four Canadian provinces. The future of organic farming remains bright, said Jim Riddle of Ceres Trust, a Chicago-based organization that helps fund organic research that incorporates farmers into the process. The research is done with farmers to make sure it is realistic, said Riddle, who co-owns Blue Fruit Farm near Winona, Minn., with his wife, Joyce Ford. Riddle cited the findings of a Washington State University study that found, among other things: Organic farming systems enhance soil quality and lessen erosion. Organic operations provide greater plant diversity. Organic farms result in little or no pollution to water, unlike farms that use synthetic chemicals. During a drought, organic farms can provide higher yields because their creation of more organic matter in soils makes them retain more water. The 27th annual conference of the Spring Valley, Wis.-headquartered Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service began Thursday and wraps up today, after setting an attendance record of 3,508 farmers, advocates, vendors and others by Friday afternoon. The conference marked a milestone for Faye Jones, who has been executive director of MOSES since its inception 17 years ago. Never did I imagine that organic would become normal in my lifetime, Jones said. I thought it was something my kids would see. WARRENS Three Bears Resort will have new ownership next week. Three Bears Hospitality, a subsidiary of Verona-based S&L Hospitality, will acquire the resort on Monday. It will be the resorts third owner in eight years. The Bank of Mauston last September foreclosed against owners Bob and Gloria Dippen, who bought the hotel and water park in 2010, two years after it went into receivership. S&L Hospitality owner and CEO Eric Lund said his business brings an experienced team to the resort. He described water parks as unique enterprises. Our team of professionals has experience managing, marketing and operating large water park resorts, Lund said. It requires the skill set that our team has. He said Three Bears location off Interstate 94 is ideal. Our entire team is excited and passionate about maximizing the potential of this truly unique property, Lund said. The resort is within a short drive from the Wisconsin Dells and the Twin Cities. Lunds experience with water parks dates to 1997, when he co-founded Great Lakes Co., which became Great Wolf Resorts in 1999. He was owner and executive vice president for sales and marketing until the company went public in 2004. He left a year later to start S&L Hospitality. Lund said the Dippens wont be part of the new management. He credited the Dippens with making the resort an attractive business asset. Bob and Gloria Dippen put a lot into the property and did a great job to get it to this point, Lund said. The resort has 93 guest rooms and 60 guest villas, along with a restaurant and 15,000 square feet of convention space. It employs 80 people. Lund said he expects that figure to rise to between 125 and 200 during the summer. BLACK RIVER FALLS -- Two area businesses and a community organization will be honored with awards March 7 during the Black River Area Chamber of Commerce annual dinner at Castle Hill Supper Club. Buzz & Brew Shop will be named 2015 Business of the Year, Re-Petes Saloon and Grill will receive the Customer Service of the Year Award and Friends Sharing Food will receive the inaugural Service Organization Award. The winners were chosen by the Chamber Ambassadors group and by chamber board members after a review of the nominations. We had an outstanding selection of nominees, said Chris Hardie, chamber executive director. Its always a difficult job choosing one when they are all winners. But each of the recipients is certainly deserving of the award. Buzz & Brew Shop started as an incubator business in 2006. It expanded and moved in 2007 to 212 Main St. and provides a variety of specialty products for wine and beer making, beekeeping and other supplies. Owners Joe and Maria Williams offer classes and workshops and works with local FFA and 4-H groups. The business obtained a winery license in 2014 and sells local artisan wines. Re-Petes Saloon and Grill has been owned and operated by Jerel and Jen Gunning since 2007. The Gunnings are active in local events, helping collect money and coats for the Coats for Kids program, selling artwork from local artists and other endeavors. Friends Sharing Food has a mission of reducing hunger in Jackson County. It began in 2008 with a Food for Kids program that provides food bags to elementary schools in the county and has since expanded to coordinate four hunger projects, including the Jackson County Food Pantry in Taylor and the Neighborhood Food Pantry in Brockway. The programs reach more than 700 households per month. The chambers annual banquet starts at 6:30 p.m. with dinner and 7:30 p.m. with the program. Tickets are available for $30 each or a corporate table of eight for $225. A silent auction will also be held. Artist Shumpei Yamaki is no stranger to La Crosse. And the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse graduate will be back as one of the invited guests for this year's Creative Imperatives Festival. A ceramics artist also skilled in dance and hip-hop, Yamaki originally came to UW-L to study archaeology before a car accident in 1999 seriously injured an arm and a knee. As part of rehabilitation, he enrolled in a ceramics class. As a young child, Shumpei said, he enjoyed playing with oil clay, creating dinosaurs and other objects. Working with ceramics was a more difficult endeavor, he said, especially with an arm injury, but under the tutelage of UW-L professor Karen Terpstra, he developed a passion for the art form. "It was one of the darkest times in my life. I couldn't do anything. I couldn't walk," Shumpei said. "Ceramics was like light into the darkness for me." During his presentation Monday night at the Frederick Theatre, Shumpei will speak about his work combining ceramics and dance. He said he will show how his body moves to music and how that can translate into the movements he makes when sitting at a potters' wheel. "I want to highlight how things people think are unrelated can combined in interesting and unique ways," he said. An annual festival highlighting the work of the university's school of arts and communication, this year's Creative Imperatives theme is "Curiosity and Wonder: The Intersection of Art and Science." Festival Director Joe Anderson said festival attendees can explore two different aspects of the UW-L campus and how work in one area can affect what is being done in the other. For example, UW-L biologist Tisha King and music director Kathryn Skemp Moran will explore the physiology of the voice at a program on the anatomy of singing. At another event, students will debate Wisconsin's environmental protections. Faculty will lead a discussion about the science of rhythm at another session. A special exhibit has been created highlighting the ways UW-L students and faculty have blended science and art, on the third floor of the UW-L Center for the Arts, which includes mathematical art and 3-D recreations of dinosaurs. "All of it will be interesting," Anderson said. "There will be something for everyone in each session." Biology professor Barrett Klein has blended art and science for a number of projects and will talk about the limitations and uses of molding and casting to answer scientific questions. For example, he used casting and molding techniques to create robotic bullfrogs to help scientists study the animal's mate selection habits. The researchers were interested in what affects the different parts of a mating call had on impressing females, such as the sound of the call itself and the puffing of the frog. You can't have one without the other with a real frog, Klein said, but by making the robots, scientists could study each variable independently. "You can ask the impossible in order to get some meaningful results," he said. President Barack Obama on Tuesday released a new plan to shut down the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, where the U.S. has held hundreds of suspected jihadists since January 2002. Upon taking office in 2009, the president said closing the facility was a top priority, but Democrats and Republicans in Congress opposed the effort, citing national security concerns. Under the new proposal, the White House would move as many as 60 of Guantanamos 91 remaining prisoners to the United States for trial or continued detention. Has the time come to shutter Gitmo? Or are some detainees just too risky to move? Joel Mathis Gitmo will forever be a stain on Americas honor. Thats true if it closes today and it would still be true even if the camp had been closed, as it shouldve been, seven years ago. Understand: Theres nothing wrong with taking or keeping prisoners of war. But torture is wrong. It is illegal. And both of those facts were true in the early years after 9/11, when prisoners in American custody were tortured at the base. No less an authority than the International Committee of the Red Cross said so, reporting that the camp was designed to break the will of prisoners using humiliating acts, solitary confinement, temperature extremes, use of forced positions. The construction of such a system, whose stated purpose is the production of intelligence, cannot be considered other than an intentional system of cruel, unusual and degrading treatment and a form of torture, the organization reported in 2004. Before Gitmo, Americans knew torture was wrong. George Washington prohibited it of his soldiers. Ronald Reagan signed an international treaty making it illegal. When torture was depicted in the movies, it was almost always the bad guys performing it. Communists. Terrorists. Villains. Now? Crowds cheer Donald Trump when he tells them that torture works. Simply put: Gitmo has made a mess of Americas claim to moral leadership in the world. Weve forgotten how to be the good guys. Weve forgotten to be ashamed of evil. These days, were told, Gitmo must remain open because its few remaining prisoners are too dangerous to bring to American soil. At best, this is cowardice on the part of our leaders; at worst, its just cynical pandering by politicians who are all too happy to let Americans stew in fear. Weve forgotten how to be ashamed of those characteristics, as well. I think its in the best interest in the nation to close Gitmo, former Secretary of State Colin Powell said this week. And its in the best interest in our moral authority around the world. That authority has largely been squandered; closing Gitmo would be a modest step toward reclaiming it. Ben Boychuk The case for closing Guantanamo Bay in 2016 is no better than the case for closing Guantanamo Bay in 2009. The main difference is that President Obama has had nearly eight years to empty the facility, reducing the population to just 91 remaining detainees. But Obamas new plan overcomes none of the longstanding objections to closing down Gitmo. Appeals to cost savings are weak. Moral appeals are weaker. These are bad men. Of the 647 detainees who had been released through January 2015, at least 116 returned to terrorism or insurgent activity, according to a report last year by the Director of National Intelligence. Perhaps more important than sentimental appeals to national honor is a dispassionate assessment of the national interest. The presidents plan speaks vaguely of 13 U.S. prisons that might accommodate former Gitmo detainees, but mentions no names for good reason: Nobody wants them. Dont forget why the Guantanamo prison exists in the first place. No, it wasnt set up to torture prisoners with impunity. The facility was the least bad option the United States had for holding enemy combatants captured in Afghanistan and elsewhere. These are people who violated the laws of war, but whose crimes dont fall easily under the purview of civilian courts. The alternative to keeping them where they are would be putting them on trial or releasing them. Some of the Gitmo detainees are working their way through the Pentagons byzantine military tribunal system. Transferring other detainees to prisons on U.S. soil would put them well within the jurisdiction of judges who would insist the detainees be tried or cut loose. Cut loose where? Right now, if the courts rule that the government has no good reason for holding a detainee, the government keeps the detainee in custody at Guantanamo until it has found a foreign country willing to take him. That may not be possible if a detainee is held in a federal prison. Its easy to say that closing Gitmo would improve Americas standing in the world without much in the way of evidence supporting the claim. The truth is, jihadists dont care about where the United States is holding their comrades-in-arms. They care only that were holding them at all. Nursing home resident, 35, charged in older residents death SCOTTSVILLE, Ky. A 35-year-old Kentucky nursing home resident has been charged with killing a 71-year-old resident of the facility. Police said the defendant was arrested on a murder charge Thursday and was held without bond in Allen County Detention Center. They said he was formerly named Robert Reynolds but legally changed his name to The Reverend. Allen County Coroner Darren E. Davis told the Daily News in Bowling Green that Gary Glueck was stabbed with a pen and had an electrical cord wrapped around his neck. Davis said the state medical examiners office determined Glueck died from strangulation. Scottsville police Detective John Rose said the men had been in an argument. Police: Fugitive bids to hide identity, chews off fingertips TALLMADGE, Ohio Police say a fugitive from Tampa, Florida, who didnt want to be identified by his fingerprints during a traffic stop in northeast Ohio chewed off his fingertips. Kirk Kelly has been jailed on felony counts of evidence tampering and obstructing official business and misdemeanor charges of falsification and resisting arrest. A message left for his attorney after business hours Friday hasnt been returned. Police in Tallmadge, Ohio, say Kelly and several other people were put into a cruiser without handcuffs after their vehicle was stopped last weekend and officers thought they smelled drugs. Police say Kelly gave false names as they tried to identify him. They say they figured out who he is after photos of his tattoos were provided by police in Florida, where hes wanted on firearms and drug charges. City fires landscaping goats, citing cost, smell SALEM, Oregon When four-legged landscapers made an appearance in Oregons capital, the move was popular with park visitors. But officials are giving them the boot. Salem officials say the citys pilot project employing goats to remove invasive species cost nearly five times what they would have spent using conventional methods. And thats not the only drawback: Public works operations manager Mark Becktel noted that the city had to clean up the heavily fertilized area left behind by the goats. The Statesman Journal reports that Salem contracted with Yoder Goat Rentals in October to unleash 75 rented goats at Minto-Brown Island Park, hoping they would eat up vegetation like Armenian blackberry and English ivy. Becktel says the city will consider using goats again for special projects. Family of baby injured during raid awarded $3.6 million ATLANTA A federal judge has approved settlements totaling $3.6 million to the parents of a toddler who was severely injured when a flash grenade detonated in his playpen during a raid. The settlements were announced Friday by Mawuli Mel Davis, attorney for Alecia and Bounkham Phonesavanh. The judge signed off on three settlements previously reached with three Georgia counties: Rabun and Stephen counties for $1.65 million and $964,000 with Habersham. A settlement was also reached with the city of Cornelia for $1 million. Teen who killed teacher gets life with chance for parole SALEM, Mass. A teenager who raped and killed his high school math teacher was sentenced Friday to life in prison with eligibility for parole in 40 years. The 2013 slaying of Danvers High School teacher Colleen Ritzer by Philip Chism was brutal and senseless, Salem Superior Court Judge David Lowy said as he pronounced the sentence. Colleen Ritzer lived a life of quiet heroism, the judge said. The crashing waves of this tragedy will never wane. Chism was 14 when he followed Ritzer, who was 24, into a school bathroom, strangled her, stabbed her at least 16 times and raped her. His lawyers acknowledged he killed her but argued he was mentally ill, a contention rejected by the jury. MADISON Wisconsin and seven other states are seeking to join Oklahoma in challenging a new Federal Communications Commission rule limiting the amount local jails and state prisons can charge inmates for phone calls. The FCC voted to impose the $0.11 per minute cap in 2015 to address what it calls prohibitively high charges on inmate calls. But sheriffs and states say the rate limits are too low to cover security-related costs for inmate calling systems. The argument is this way here they can make more calls to their family, but quite frankly, theyre not at their local hotel, said Badger State Sheriffs Association President Brent Oleson. They committed a crime and theyre being held accountable by serving a period of incarceration. The FCCs decision in late 2015 addressed a petition from 12 years earlier from a woman who sought to stay in touch with her incarcerated grandson. In its decision, the FCC says that increased contact between inmates and their family can reduce their chances of reoffending. But the FCC says that communication has become extremely difficult due to high call charges, which can add up to hundreds of dollars each month for some families. While the Commission prefers to rely on competition and market forces to discipline prices, there is little dispute that the (inmate calling system) market is a prime example of market failure, the FCC writes, calling inmate calling system operators unchecked monopolists when it comes to the consumers. The FCCs rule caps the rate at $0.11 per minute for interstate and intrastate calls for all prisons and $0.14 per minute for larger jails, stepping up to $0.16 per minute and $0.22 per minute for smaller jails. It also limits additional service charges and taxes. In comparison, calls in Oklahoma prisons previously cost about $0.20 per minute on average. In Juneau County, Oleson said, the vendor previously charged $0.25 per minute. Oklahomas lawsuit claims the rate cap exceeds the FCCs statutory authority and ignores evidence of the actual cost of the calls to prisons and jails. Wisconsin, Nevada, Arkansas, Arizona, Louisiana, Missouri, Kansas and Indiana filed a motion Wednesday to intervene in support of Oklahoma. This is an area over which states, not the federal government, have traditionally had regulatory authority and if attorneys general dont step up to defend the states against these overreaches by the federal government, no one else will, Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel said in a statement. In their filing, states say the high costs of inmate calls stem from monitoring calls, escorting prisoners or technicians to and from phones and continually updating inmate calling systems to ensure security. Theyre elaborate systems, and to develop these systems is very costly, Oleson said. With the lower rate, Oleson said, the cost for those calls will likely be shifted to the taxpayer. In its response filed Friday, the FCC says its decision is well within its statutory authority to ensure that charges for inmate calling services are fair. The case is pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. You have the power to keep local news strong for the coming months. Your financial support today keeps our reporters ready to meet the needs of our city. Thank you for investing in your community. Stories like these are only possible with your help! Start your day with LAist Sign up for How To LA, delivered weekday mornings. Subscribe Vice President Joe Biden will be at the Academy Awards on Sunday, the first VP to attend the ceremony since President Herbert Hoover's second-in-command Charles Curtis attended in 1931.According to The Hollywood Reporter, Biden will be introducing Lady Gaga's performance of "Til It Happens to You," which is nominated for best original song. It was featured in the documentary The Hunting Ground, which explores the horrifying prevalence of campus rapefitting, considering Biden has long been an advocate against domestic and sexual violence, and he drafted the Violence Against Women Act as a U.S. Senator in 1994. According to NBC, Biden will be using the opportunity to promote the White House's campaign against sexual assault called "It's On Us." (Sidebar: Our angelic animal saving boyfriend Jon Hamm is also involved with the campaign.) As THR noted, this means that security will be "even tighter than usual." Streets were already closed in Hollywood last weekend, and won't reopen until March 1. Even before it was announced that Biden would be at the Oscars, there were reports that security at the ceremony would essentially render the Dolby Theater at Hollywood & Highland "a military state." Security precautions in place include bomb-sniffing dogs (already a common feature of red carpet events like this), a security detail responsible for sweeping for explosives inside, teams of snipers, and subterranean rooms or a safe house set up nearby. "I think he'll stay for the entire ceremony because he wants the attention, and I expect him to sit in the audience," journalist Kessler told THR. "And you could speculate that he's still considering a run for the presidency." Don't get our hopes up, Kessler. Saturday, February 27, 2016 The Wisconsin legislature is considering legislation that will address access to digital assets upon the death of the owner. The current proposal would allow the account holder to set preferences that are sometimes provided by the online service provider such as the after death settings offered by Facebook. Otherwise, default rules will apply that grant a person named in a will or, if no one is named, the next of kin the ability access accounts ranging from email to financial. Recently, this issue has been taken up by a number of state legislatures including Florida which unanimously passed a bill creating a system to dictate access after death. The bill is currently before the Wisconsin Senate after being approved by the assembly. See Hannah Flood, Bill looks to help protect digital assets after death, NBC15.com, February 25, 2016. Special thanks to Brian Cohan (Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention. https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/trusts_estates_prof/2016/02/wisconsin-latest-state-to-consider-digital-account-access-legislation.html Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier The board earmarked $1.54 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds for the dredge, designed to keep channels open and supply sand to nourish eroding beaches up and down the York County coast and beyond. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was found guilty of serious failings that allowed television celebrity Jimmy Savile to sexually abuse nearly 100 people. Savile was one of Britains top celebrities from the 1960s until his death at age 84 in 2011, reported France 24. A report released Thursday after a long investigation found that Savile assaulted 72 people and raped eight. BBC commissioned the report after victims came forward after Savile died. Police launched Operation Yewtree, an investigation into Savile and other celebrities from the same era. Five celebrities were convicted and imprisoned, including childrens TV presenter Rolf Harris and 1970s rocker Gary Glitter, reported the Times of India. The allegations claimed Savile used his celebrity status to assault women, and even children as young as eight years old. The abuse started in the 1950s and continued for five decades, according to The International Business Times. Dame Janet Smith, a former High Court judge, led the inquiry, which produced a 793-page report. Nearly 120 witnesses who worked at the BBC told the inquiry that they had heard rumors and stories about Saviles sexual conduct, according to France 24. Savile hosted a popular music chart show on BBC called Top of the Pops. He used his celebrity status to abuse young people, the investigation found. His usual tactic with young girls and in some cases boys was to invite them to watch him perform and then make a sexual approach on them in his dressing room, the report said. The Smith report said the BBC staff knew about the complaints of sexual abuse by Savile. But they did not alert senior management because of a culture of fear. Smith said BBCs culture was deeply deferential, and the staff were reluctant to speak to managers about complaints, reported Radio New Zealand. However, the Smith report said there was no evidence that the BBC as a corporation knew about Saviles sexual crimes. So the company cannot be convicted of any offense, reported The International Business Times. BBC director-general, Tony Hall, said he accepted the reports conclusions and would launch an independent audit of the organizations whistle-blowing and child protection policies, reported France 24. Savile died without facing prosecution. Im Mary Gotschall. Mary Gotschall adapted this story for Learning English. Her report was based on information from The International Business Times, Radio New Zealand, France24 and the Times of India. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Do you have an opinion about this topic? Let us know what you think in the Comments section below, or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story celebrity n. the state of being famous imprison v. to put (someone) in prison allegation n. a statement saying that someone has done something wrong or illegal inquiry n. an official effort to collect and examine information about something rumor n. information or a story that is passed from person to person but has not been proven to be true tactic n. an action or method that is planned and used to achieve a particular goal deferential adj. a way of behaving that shows respect for someone or something offense n. a criminal act whistle-blowing n. the act of revealing wrongdoing within an organization to the public or to those in positions of authority prosecution n. the act or process of holding a trial against a person who is accused of a crime to see if that person is guilty Tammy Radencic was born in 1972. She will be celebrating her 11th birthday on February 29. What? Hi, Im Tammy Radencic. And Im a Leap Year baby. Leap Year happens only once every four years, on February 29. Babies born on February 29 have to wait four years before they see their next birthday on the calendar. About 200,000 people in the U.S. celebrate a birthday on February 29. Around the world, there are about 5 million, says Reuters. Radencic is one of them. She lives in South Carolina. Radencic is not yet 50, but she has passed some other milestone birthdays, like 16, 21 and 30. Some birthdays come and go without much fanfare. But in a Leap Year, she says, the birthday is extra special. For the Leap Year babies, when you actually know that day is coming, youre going to wake up and say Oh, today is actually my birthday. Ill tell you, it is a very special feeling. Unfortunately this year the 29th is on a Monday. I have dentist appointment, I have calls with clients, so unfortunately Im not going to have anything thats really celebratory on the fact that I do have an actual birth date this year. But it still will be very special to wake up and know, you know, that today is actually my birthday. The reason these people only get to celebrate the exact anniversary of their birth every four years has to do with the difference between the calendar year and the solar year. It takes the Earth about 365.25 days to circle the sun. So how do you factor in the extra quarter of a day? You add in an extra day every four years to catch up. That is where February 29 comes in. Sherri Riddle lives in New Jersey. She was born in 1968. OK, my name is Sherri Riddle and Im a Leap Day baby. Im turning 12. Riddle says she did not understand that something was different about her birthday until somewhere between her fourth and eighth year. She did know one thing: she had a bigger party for her fourth birthday than any of the years before. As an elementary school student, other kids teased her about not having a real birthday each year. Thats one reason why her birthday was extra special every fourth year. They had a bigger party for me that year and I have pictures. And I remember that day. I remember things that happened that day. And I knew it was more special, but I didnt know why. And then for my eighth birthday, they had a bigger party again. Mostly, its been a really good experience. Some people born on February 29 say the quirky birth date is not always easy. Radencic says her father tried to bribe the doctor with $200 when she was born. He wanted her birth certificate to read February 28 instead of February 29. And the unique birthday does cause some headaches when it comes to filling out forms on computers or applying for official documents. Some computer programs that require dates are not set-up for an entry of February 29 as the birthday. Radencic says for a while, her drivers license and birth certificate had different birth dates. She grew up in North Carolina, and that state did not let her put February 29 on her license. So whenever she had to travel to a place like Canada, where you did not need a passport, she would always get questioned at the border about the difference between the two documents. Its really been problematic for me. And I know that those things may seem minor, but its things that nobody ever would understand. Or even think youd have to go through without having that particular birth date. So its yeah, not been fun. Everyone knows what it is like to get birthday wishes from friends on Facebook. The social media site reminds people that it is your birthday each year, and you get a cascade of well-wishes. But what if your birthday is February 29? Radencic says on the off years, she does not get many birthday greetings on Facebook, because the service does not send out a reminder. Only her true friends know it is her birthday. Janet Murphy of California has a 21-year-old granddaughter. She likes to joke that she and her granddaughter will be the same age this year. Murphy was born 1932. When Murphy turned 4, she lived in Ohio. The local newspaper had a big party for leap year babies, and she attended. I wore a pretty blue dress that my great aunt made for me. I felt very special, Murphy says. My parents made me feel quite special every leap year. For many years my mother sent my picture to be published in the local newspaper. It turned out to be a page full of happy faces celebrating each leap year. Murphy says she has enough good friends who help her celebrate her birthday on the last day of February every year. She plans to have two celebrations this year. One on Sunday, and one on Monday. Since her name was sometimes in the newspaper as a Leap Year baby, a man who was on his way to serve in the Korean War found out about her in 1952. They became pen-pal friends. Then four years later, Murphy received a special surprise from the man 12 red roses! Heidi Herman lives in Arizona. She was born in 1968. She says she does not celebrate her birthday when it is not a leap year. So yeah, Im very excited there is an actual day for it. This year she will celebrate her birthday with a trip to the Grand Canyon. She is even more excited that in 2020, February 29 is a Saturday. So she will have an even bigger party that year. On her second birthday, Herman says she understood her birthday was something special. In the United States, when people turn 21-years-old, they like to have a big party. That is because a person is legally allowed to drink alcohol at 21. Their friends will take them out to a bar or restaurant to have a good time. Herman remembers what happened in her 21st year. Every leap-ling would say their 21st birthday is difficult. I remember (be) cause mine, that I did go out to celebrate obviously, because being 21. But my birthday is the last day of February and I am adamant about that. If you insist on celebrating each year its gotta be the February 28. I wasnt born in March. So I went out on February the 28th. Half the bouncers had a good time about it and they laughed and let me in. But a couple of them really gave me a hard time. And one of them said fine, if you want to go to the back door and try it there, good luck with that. Otherwise we can go ahead and call the cops. They get a little harsh on some of that. February 29 is not just for birthdays. Some people get married on February 29 or they get engaged on February 29. There is a legend that if a woman asks a man to marry her on February 29, he cannot say no. People have their first dates on February 29. Important moments in history happen on February 29. Did you know Hattie McDaniel became the first African-American woman to win an Oscar for her performance in Gone With the Wind on February 29, 1940? There are some small difficulties that come with being born on February 29. But for the most part, these women do not mind. After all, for people like Herman, it is the only birthday they know. I never really had a problem with it. Ive always felt like my birthday is super special. Im Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Do you know someone born on February 29? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story fanfare n. a lot of talk or activity showing that people are excited about something tease v. to laugh at and criticize (someone) in a way that is either friendly and playful or cruel and unkind quirky adj. unusual especially in an interesting or appealing way unique adj. very special or unusual cascade n. a large number of things that happen quickly in a series adamant adj. not willing to change an opinion or decision : very determined harsh adj. unpleasant and difficult to accept or experience legend n. a story from the past that is believed by many people but cannot be proved to be true Social entrepreneurs people who create start-up companies that would help the environment, health care or agriculture are on the rise. These entrepreneurs use innovation to tackle important economic and social problems. They can be for-profit or non-profit entities. Funding for social entrepreneurs is increasing. This is coming from foundations, institutional investors and individuals. Kiplinger is a personal finance publication in Washington, D.C. It reported that the amount of assets in socially responsible investing focused on companies doing good in the world almost doubled, from $3.74 trillion in 2012 to $6.57 trillion in 2014. Globally, interest in socially responsible investing is growing even faster. The 2014 Global Sustainable Investment Review said that between 2012 and 2014, global assets rose to $21.4 trillion from $13.3 trillion an increase of 61 percent. The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, in Geneva, Switzerland, is an example of a foundation that advances social entrepreneurs around the world. Each year, working with the World Economic Forum, the foundation searches the globe for outstanding social innovators, with business models that are proven to drive social and environmental change, said their website. Getting rich is not the primary aim of social entrepreneurs. Instead, their focus is on fulfilling their mission to improve society. While profits are ideally generated, the main aim is not to maximize financial returns for shareholders, but to grow the social venture and reach more people in need, said the Schwab Foundation website. Usually, social entrepreneurs reinvest their profits in the enterprise to expand it. Kristin Groos Richmond is co-founder of Revolution Foods and one of the social entrepreneurs selected by the Schwab Foundation. Her company, in Oakland, California, is dedicated to providing fresh food, prepared daily, for families and schools, and is active in 11 states across the U.S. and Washington, DC. Richmond said social entrepreneurs are driven by their values. She gave the following advice to aspiring social entrepreneurs: Align yourself with a team, a board and investors who believe in your mission. Many social entrepreneurs create novel solutions to solve world problems. Bart Weetjens, a Belgian social entrepreneur, is an example. He kept rats a childhood pets, then realized they could be put to work detecting land mines. He founded the non-profit organization APOPO in 1997. APOPO has used specially trained rats on leashes to clear more than 13,200 unexploded bombs from minefields in Tanzania, Mozambique, Angola and Cambodia, according to the National Geographic. APOPO uses African giant-pouched rats, which are huge, cat-sized rats native to central Africa. They have an extraordinary sense of smell, said the National Geographic. The rats are lightweight enough to walk across the mines without setting them off. And their sensitive noses can sniff out explosives buried in the ground, even decades after a war has ended. In addition, many business schools both in the U.S. and other countries now offer courses in social entrepreneurship. The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania is an example. It is ranked by US News & World Report as one of the nations top business schools. Wharton Online offers a five-week class on social entrepreneurship, four to six hours a week, through Coursera, a global e-learning platform. Graduates of the course receive a certificate and learn how to develop, test and deploy high-impact solutions to societys toughest problems, according to Courseras website. Social entrepreneurs have also won increased media attention. For example, Forbes showcased 30 Under 30 the top social entrepreneurs younger than 30 from around the world. One honoree, Sejal Hathi, age 25, was a molecular biology student at Yale, who sought to help girls globally. She founded Girltank (www.girltank.org), a for-profit start-up, to identify and develop girls with potential to be high-impact leaders. The website refers to it as the she lab for social entrepreneurship. Girltank creates a virtual tank for young women interested in social entrepreneurship to utilize the collective genius of the group to brainstorm ideas and solutions, crowd-sourcing funding for their ventures, and receive peer-to-peer mentoring, according to the website. Im Mary Gotschall. Mary Gotschall wrote this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Do you have an opinion about this topic? Let us know what you think in the Comments section below, or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story start-up n. a new business innovation n. the act of introducing or using new ideas or methods tackle v. to deal with (something difficult) asset n. something that is owned by a person, company, etc. usually plural fulfill v. to succeed in achieving (something) : to make (something, such as a dream) true or real maximize v. to increase (something) as much as possible : to increase (something) to a maximum aspire v. to want to have or achieve something (such as a particular career or level of success) novel adj. new and different from what has been known before leash n. a long, thin piece of rope, chain, etc., that is used for holding a dog or other animal crowd-source v. the practice of obtaining needed services, ideas, or content by soliciting contributions from a large group of people and especially from the online community mentor v. to teach or give advice or guidance to (someone, such as a less experienced person or a child) City of Lebanon to keep flouride in its water LERA has over 500 members representing 80% of households on the Links Estate in the London Borough of Bromley. It was founded in 1991 as a focal point for issues affecting both the Estate and the immediate locality. LERA produces a regular Newsletter which is delivered by our Street Representatives to all our members. If you wish to comment about any of our posts you can either use the comment box at the end of each posting or email us at lerabromley26@gmail.com "Political ideas that have dominated the public mind for decades cannot be refuted through rational arguments, they must run their course in life and cannot collapse otherwise than in great catastrophe." For just my articles, please go to SubStack If you have a, please send your donation directly to linhdinh99@yahoo.com, to save me the fees. Thanks a lot! The SaaS approach has the momentum, and this is likely to continue, conclude Dan Ma and Abraham Seidmann, the report's authors. "Continuous technology improvements, increasing adoption of software standards, and efforts to create a uniform platform for different applications cause us to believe that SaaS will eventually attain a solid position in the market," they state. ... For off-the shelf providers, their advice is the exact opposite -- vendors should avoid price-cutting. "For them, lowering prices to make their software cheaper is not a good strategy. Rather, they should actively invest in developing full-feature software and enhancing its perceived value." Developers have flocked to React for a number of reasons. It's lightweight, and offers impressive performance, especially for quickly-changing data. Because of its component structure, it also encourages you to naturally write more modular, reusable code. React Native is just React, but for mobile. There are some differences: you'll use a component rather than a
, and an instead of an tag. The developer experience remains much the same. Having some Objective-C or Java knowledge can be useful, and mobile development does come with its own tricky considerations (have I tested this on multiple physical devices? Are my touch targets large enough?). However, React Native will feel almost entirely familiar, and comfortable, to developers who already know how to work with React in the browser. When a data breach occurs, an organisation would require timely legal advice from lawyers, on understanding the implications of the data breach and in responding to the data breach including notification of regulators and/or affected individuals, should the circumstances require such action. The organisation would also require a competent technical team with the ability to forensically ascertain the cause of the data breach as well as the extent by which data has been compromised. Such technical/forensic work would go hand in hand with the legal work being carried out by the lawyers as the result of the technical/forensic work would often dictate the legal steps to be carried out post-breach. This documentation goes though the process of manually building a base Kali Linux image for the Intel Edison board. These steps were derived from frankensteining the edison build scripts for Debian Jessie and some of the Kali Linux ARM build scripts. All of the content from this post can be found in my github repo for this project here, along with pre compiled images (coming soon!) and ansible scripts for automated building. Note, all of these steps were tested in Ubuntu Linux 14.04 x64 LTS. As of this writing, this OS/Version has the most support for doing Edison source builds. I have done these steps in other operating systems, but the process is not as clean due to bugs, script tweaks, etc. To create its digital dollar, Bitt takes advantage of the Colored Coins protocol, which allows for the creation of new assets on top of the bitcoin blockchain. "This new layer can be used to assign a specific type of asset to a small fraction of a bitcoin," the company explains in an informational brochure. Bitts version of the Barbadian dollar is therefore able to act as a digital asset, with its value honored 1:1 with the countrys government-backed currency. Abed went on to state that transactions on this network can be observed by the government and local regulators as they are sent peer-to-peer to Bitt wallets. In the future, Abed said, Bitt aims to upgrade its functionality via new technologies such as Liquid, Blockstreams project that enables bitcoin funds to move between exchanges, and BitGo Instant, a tool that enables zero-confirmation transactions. There are really three levels of ethics to consider. The first is known as pre conventional. At this level a person acts almost solely in their own best interests. This causes them to follow rules only to avoid punishment or to receive rewards. At this level a person will willingly break moral or legal laws if they feel there is no chance of being caught. The second level of ethics is the conventional level. At this level a person conforms to the expectations of others in society. They are very likely to try hard to uphold all morale and legal laws. The highest level of ethics is call the principled level. At this level a person lives by an internal set of morals, values and ethics. They uphold these morales, values and ethics regardless of any consequences or majority opinion. For both Linux or Windows, another handy new feature is that Docker image IDs now represent what's really inside a container. Before, you had to take it on faith that a container was what it claimed to be. Until you actually ran a container, say a Ngnix web server, you couldn't be sure that's what was really inside it. You can now be certain that the application you're running is what you expect it to be by just specifying its ID. For management, Docker has just released Docker Datacenter (DDC). This is an integrated, end-to-end agile application development and management platform. With DDC, organizations are empowered to deploy a Containers as a Services (CaaS) either on-premises or in a private cloud. There are four primary disabilities; cognitive, visual, auditory, and mobility. People can have any or all of these in different combinations. We call these primary disabilities, and they are usually what we think of. Total blindness, total deafness, complete loss of movement, or greatly limited ability to physically or cognitively interact are hallmarks of these issues. These are, of course, realities for a significant part of the population. Making information and technology available, usable and enjoyable for people with these challenges is very important. Having said that, there is an even larger reality. Every one of us, if we are lucky enough to reach an advanced age, will deal with some form of disability, even if not as completely manifested as the examples listed. There are also situational disabilities, and these can affect anyone. The predators lie in wait for the herd to get moving and, at crucial junctures, there will be vulnerable members of this community that become isolated. And thats when they will strike. An older, slower member of the community will struggle to keep up. The herd doesnt offer protection now as each member is worried about its own dangerous bottlenecks, uphill climbs and unexpected freefall plummets that come with the new unfamiliar territory. At some stage, the entire herd will have to navigate their way through a shimmering new solution that, at first glance to the weary participants, looks exactly like the life-enhancing refreshment they need. The solution is cast in a deceptively beautiful light, little beams casting positive headlines over each little ripple as it rolls gently past. In this light its very liquidity seems like an advert for a better world. Quote for the day: Welcome to the land of the loons, written by a loon about loons, for those fortunate few who cherish loonacy: Hurry up. The loons! The loons! They're welcoming us back. Look! Look! Oh, look, I've spotted the loons! Oh! Oh, they're so lovely. I never saw such big loons in my life. The loons have been calling for rain all night long. Rain! Rain! Bring us the rain! That's what the loons said, huh. It's a dead loon, Norman. The poor thing. Oh, it smells too. - On Golden Pond Russia is waging a disgraceful war on Ukraine. Stand With Ukraine! Mumbai: Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has undergone medical tests following a minor injury and has been advised to take proper rest and go through physiotherapy. The 73-year-old Wazir actor took to his blog to inform fans (extended family) about his well being. "All tests and investigations have been done thoroughly and with some of the most recognised doctors in the region and of the subject, they are without any alarming result. "Some medications have been altered and some physio is recommended, which I am doing and resting. I function well, am off to the gym now and shall connect later on all platforms," Bachchan wrote on his blog. The actor thanked his fans for being concerned. "Your concern and worry is well taken. But may I just say that please do not bear this on yourself. I am under repair, and as you know if ever there is something that needs to be spoken of regarding my health I have honestly and most frankly told you about it," he added. Bachchan suffered a rib injury last month while shooting for Sujoy Ghosh produced film TE3N. The actor will next be seen making a special appearance along with wife Jaya in R Balki's directorial venture Ki & Ka. PTI Mumbai: Actress Kangana Ranaut has lavished praise on director Hansal Mehta's film Aligarh, calling it "beautiful" and "the best film" she has seen in the last decade. "This is the best film I have seen in the past 10 years. And it's very good for our society. Just like medicine, which may be difficult to take but should be taken for the betterment," Kangana said at a screening of the film here. Aligarh, which stars actors Manoj Bajpayee and Rajkummar Rao, is based on the real-life incident of Dr. Srinivas Ramchandra Siras, an AMU academician, who was suspended from his job because of his sexual orientation. "As our society is also growing and evolving, the way we are, as a nation, as a country, it's very courageous for Hansal sir to make this film," the Queen actress said about the film. The actress even said that the film is "so beautiful, it's like a poem and i can go on talking about it". "It's beyond any issues, beyond homosexuality. But sometimes the film turns out to be so strong that we actually forget how creatively and artistically it is made. So I hope Hansal sir gets his due because it says something very strong and important. I hope we do not forget how fine an artist he is," she said. Kangana also said that she will begin working with Mehta soon for a new film. "Yes, we will be working soon. After Rangoon we are going to start the film. I am a big fan of Hansal Mehta and I hope we both will be making an endearing film," she said. IANS Mumbai: Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt celebrated his freedom from jail with his daughter Trishala, who is studying in the US, via the virtual medium. Sanjay walked out of Yerwada Central Jail in Pune on Thursday morning as a free man after completing a jail term for possession of an assault rifle during the 1993 Mumbai riots. During the day, he met his family members, friends, fans, and media persons. Later, Sanjay took time out to speak to Trishalahis daughter with his first wife, late actress Richa Sharma. Trishala shared her happiness on her father's freedom with an emotional message on the photo-sharing site Instagram and welcomed her 'papa dukes' back home over a haircut session. She even shared a snapshot of her video chat and captioned the image: "My papa dukes! love you." She said: "Look at that smile! On the phone with daddy dearest, had to take him to get my hair done as well for our celebration! Hahaha Welcome Home Papa dukes! Selfie. I love you, Sanjay Dutt." The father-daughter bond had hit a rough patch earlier as Trishala didn't take the news of Sanjay getting married to Manyata, his third wife, very well. But they have resolved their differences and moved on. Several reports also claimed that Trishala, who was unable to be with Sanjay during this time due to studies, will be in Mumbai during her vacations. Back home, Sanjay had Manyata and their twin children on his stride on his big day. And the whole of tinsel town was wrapped in the spirit of celebration as they welcomed 'Sanju Baba' back. Sanjay got embroiled in legal trouble 23 years ago when he was found with an assault rifle reportedly linked to the 1993 Mumbai blasts. IANS By Mohammed Abdul Aziz Ansari The budget perhaps is one of the key reflections of the government policies, governance and performance. The fact that a mere 25 basis point variation in tax rates can impact the decisions and choices of traders, business men and common man, increases our expectation from the budget. When any country formulates its budget for a fiscal year it takes into consideration the various macroeconomic changes across the globe. If we look at China at this juncture, we observe the economy reaching a plateau and growing at just a little under 7 percent. This slow growth is translating into a lower demand for commodities, in particular aluminum, copper and the like. The prices of commodities are heading south and oil is trading at less than $30 a barrel. What this implies for India at this point is that we can source commodities at a significantly lower price. With this as a foundation, I believe the budget for fiscal 2016-17 should allocate a sizeable amount of its revenues to develop infrastructure using these commodities. By doing so, infrastructure in the country will improve. However, what is even more important is that a developed infrastructure will act as a catalyst in promoting the Make in India proposal which India has for the rest of the world. An improved infrastructure alone cannot be sufficient for the Indian economy. What is equally important is to build a talent reservoir in the Indian academic sphere to plough that infrastructure and contribute to the GDP. During a recent discussion with an economist at the Indian School of Business, we debated how important it is to foster an academic environment that can bridge the gap between research and academia to develop a reservoir of talent. I think the budget should foster a research-based education system in the country. At the backbone of infrastructure and academics lies public sector enterprise which contributes to the non-tax sources of public revenue. I believe the government should now channelize its efforts to restrict financial aid to bleeding public sector enterprises. The pressure on the public sector should be to perform in an efficient market. They should not have the uncapped luxury of government bailouts. As far as the common man is concerned, I believe TDS should be reduced. It takes about 6-7 months time after filing of IT returns to get a refund of the excess tax deducted. This is also a recommendation of the Easwar Committee. Having a good budget at the center is one thing and auditing the performance of the budget in terms of return on investment and economic value add is another. I truly believe that the government at the center should evaluate the performance of its various programs over the last fiscal year and take a financial decision on continuing or discontinuing the programs to make the budget effective and efficient. (The writer is an MBA Class of 2016 Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. Views are personal.) One more Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student, who has been accused of sedition is under probe over the controversial event of 9 February where anti-India slogans were raised, said a NDTV report. The student, Ashutosh, is among the six students who were wanted by the police in relation to the the events that unfolded on JNU campus earlier this month. After being missing since February 12, five of them surfaced on campus on February 21. The Delhi Police had accused 19 JNU students of displaying anti-national slogans, out of which 16 are alumni of the university, some of which are pursuing higher education in institutions abroad, according to a DNA report. The list also includes names of students who now teach in several universities across India. The reports adds that the Delhi Polices intelligence unit prepared the list a week after the protests erupted, but after it was revealed last week that the video showing students shouting anti-national slogans was doctored, they found themselves in an embarrassing situation. Accused, arrested and anticipating: JNU's 'seditious six' After Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on 12 February, five students on the Delhi Polices radar went missing. These were students accused of sedition Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya, Rama Naga, Ananth Prakash Narayan and Ashutosh Kumar who returned to the JNU campus on 21 February. While the five have been debarred from the university they were allowed to use the hostels. After their return, they were quoted saying that they left because of the hostile environment that had been created, branding them as terrorists and anti-nationals. However, they returned when they found that the video was doctored and realised the strength of the students protesting in their favour, said a Times of India report. On 24 February, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya were arrested on charges of sedition and were sent to police custody for three days. They were sent to custody after a court hearing on 24 February evening, a courtroom that was essentially a make-shift one at the assistant commissioner of polices office, said an NDTV report. The two were questioned in the courtroom about the outsiders that were involved in slogan shouting on 9 February. Khalid and Bhattacharya surrendered to the police and with their three-day police custody ending on Saturday, the Delhi police will produce both of them in a makeshift court room following an order by the Delhi High Court to maintain confidentiality during their remand proceedings. Interestingly, the DNA report notes that the original list of students accused of shouting anti-national slogans did not include Umar Khalid as volatile and reactive but an interview with the students of JNU later revealed that the police only went after Khalid once substantial evidence failed to surface against Kanhaiya. The police have Kanhaiya in custody, whose bail plea is slated to be heard by the Supreme Court on 29 February, as well of Khalid and Bhattacharya even though the original FIR was filed on the basis of the video that surfaced. Hindustan Times reported that the other three accused of sedition Rama Naga, Ashutosh Kumar and Anant Prakash are questioning why they should surrender. They have said that they have given the police all the information they need their hostel numbers, room numbers and contact details it is now up to the Delhi Police to take necessary action if they please; theyre in the campus, ready for anything. These three are members of the All India Students' Association and their names were mentioned in the letter the police wrote to the JNU VC on 12 February. There were two other names on the list Aishwarya Adhikari and Shweta Raj information on whom is unavailable, according to India Today Meanwhile, the Congress demanded that the case of JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, who is booked on charges of sedition, should be transferred to a non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruled state of either Uttar Pradesh or Bihar, so that the truth in the case is revealed. Now that the media glare over Malda has faded away, the West Bengal administration has also quietly snuggled back to the comfort of inaction against poppy growers and the opium mafia. After a mob set Kaliachak police station on fire and destroyed documents incriminating the opium mafia on 3 January this year, Maldas Rs 3200-crore poppy economy burst into limelight. Around 3,708 acres of poppy cultivation has been destroyed in Malda since the crackdown started on 15 January. But we had to stop the drive due to lack of funds, said an NCB officer, requesting anonymity as he is not allowed to officially speak to the media. The drive, which remains suspended for now, was supposed to resume on 22 February but the state government apparently doesnt have enough funds to continue the demolition. The Centre, it alleges, is dragging its feet on clearing around Rs 20 lakh making it difficult to continue the destruction of crop. Meanwhile, as the state and Centre spar over funds, poppy cultivators are making the most of the opportunity. Opium is grown in around 60 percent area of English Bazar, a constituency held by TMCs food processing minister Krishnendu Narayan Choudhury. The minister couldnt be contacted as he was busy with the budget session. As you turn towards Sona Masjid from Lokochuri More, white poppy flowers dancing in the breeze would greet you (as evident in spycam footage available with Firstpost). There is a small police post nearby, but they turn a blind eye to the crop growing around Maldas major tourist attractions such as Baroduari and Firoz Minar, both under the Archaeological Survey of India. Malda SP Prasun Banerjee refused to comment on the issue amid claims from NCB officials and local activists that the district administration is hand in glove with the opium traders. Last week, police officers were beaten up by poppy growers while they tried to carry out a crop removal drive in Baishnav Nagar and Mozampur areas of Malda district. When the situation turned grim, the BSF was called into action. Senior lawyer Asit Baran Choudhury, who practices in Malda court, said: The police is deliberately delaying the crop destruction to allow poppy mafia the time to collect the latex. Once the latex is collected, there is no point spending money from state coffers and help the poppy cultivators ready their fields for the next crop. At the time of filing this story, NCB was about to crackdown on the farms near the historical monuments of Baroduari and Firoz Minar. By Seema Guha On one side is Smriti Irani, the powerful Human Resources Development minister, confident larger than life, breathing fire and brimstone as she takes on the opposition in Parliament and defends her action in the Rohith Vemula case. Prime Minter Narendra Modi himself applauds her performance in a tweet. Ranged against her is Radhika Vemula, a poor Dalit woman. A woman who kept the home fires burning with the help of a sewing machine. Her son, Rohith had a picture of her sewing machine in his facebook page with the caption: "This is my mom's favorite occupation... she used to say 'machine' can make women powerful... she is a teacher now, she teaches sewing and embroidery to the women around...." The shock of her sons suicide had brought her out of her comfort zone. She is in Delhi seeking justice for Rohith and taking on the fiery HRD minister. Extreme grief and a burning desire to fight those opposed to her son, has given her a sense of determination. She is calm and, controlled while talking about Rohith. She speaks firmly about the injustice done to her son and calls the minister "a liar." She wants Smriti Irani to explain "how my son had become an anti nationalist. Her demand to the PM is simple: sack Smriti Irani for lying to Parliament. But this is where the David and Goliath comparison ends. Taking on the high and the mighty in India is not easy for any one, more so for a person of Radhika Vemulas background. All the cards are stacked against her. Smriti Irani has the backing of the entire government as well as the larger Sangh Parivar with her. The mother's plea to sack the Irani and others responsible for driving her son to suicide, will never happen. Nor will those who promptly took orders from the HRD ministry in Delhi be punished. Neither the Vice Chancellor, Bandaru Dattatreya, the ABVP students, or even the MLC who backed them will suffer. Yet the resentment against the high handed attitude of the HRD ministry against Dalit students is resonating across the country. The bush fires it is stoking may spread in the least expected ways and jolt the government's complacency. Radhika Vemula is bitter about the conduct of the Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao Podile and the university authorities: "The vice chancellor did not bother to meet me even after my son died. She went on to speak about the letter he had written to the VC a day before he committed suicide, when Rohith asked Podile to provide all dalit students with 10 mg of sodium cyanide and a rope at the time of admission, pointing to the discrimination lower caste students faced in the university. The letter gave an indication of Rohiths state of mind that day, and yet the authorities did not think it fit to alert the family. The press release issued by the Joint Action Committee for Social Justice, which is spearheading the movement for justice said : "This letter expresses the anger and disgust over the injustice meted out to the five dalit research scholars. This explains what Smriti Irani meant when she stated in the parliament, I am not going to apologise for doing my duty. Yes, her duty was to impose Angavastra on students attending the Convocation in University of Hyderabad. Yes, her duty was to scrap fellowships and sell education to WTO. Yes, her duty was to send five letters to the Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao Podile to push for the order of social boycott on the witch-hunted five Dalit research scholars. Yes, her duty has been to hoist a 207 feet Indian flag to instil nationalism among the antinationals We are in shock looking at the statement made by the Prime Minister of India on twitter. His statement Satyameva Jayate for Smriti Iranis dramatic and shameless outcry exposes yet again the larger conspiracy behind the witch-hunting of dalit students. At the press conference, Rohith's fellow researchers took on the HRD minister point by point. They said that Iranis statement in Parliament that students did not allow the doctor to reach him was a lie. She also said that a Scheduled Caste representative was part of the committee that recommended action against Rohith and his fellow students. The decision to rusticate the students was taken by Executive Council where there were no schedule caste member. They have asked her to disclose the names of the members of the Executive Committee. They also took journalists step by step through the process which led to Rohiths suicide and showed how Smriti Irani, Bandaru Dattatreya and the ABVP students joined hands to punish the Dalit students. "It is these ministers and the BJP whose political interference and the casteist attitude of the VC and other complicit administrators that led to the politicisation and death of Rohith, the students said. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the central government to suggest ways and means to curb child pornography in all its forms. "Suggest ways and means so that these things are curbed. Innocent children can't be made prey to this kind of painful situations. Nation can't afford to carry on any experiment with its children in the name of liberty and freedom of speech," said a bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh. The court said this as the government told the court that "as far as the child pornography is concerned, exercise has been undertaken and the central government shall come with the scheme so that appropriate directions in that regard can be issued". The court said, "What is not permissible under Indian law must be curbed, it is matter of mechanism of doing it. "Watching pornography or compelling watching pornography can't come with the freedom of expression, speech and thought." As Additional Solicitor General Pinki Anand tried to explain the difficulty that government faced in dealing with the issue, the court said that watching pornography can't come with the freedom of expression, speech and thought. Not clear about the stand taken by the government, the bench asked, "Are you supporting or opposing the plea" for banning child pornography. At one point in the course of the hearing, the court sought to make distinction in pornography, obscenity and art saying that "everything that is obscene is not pornography". "Some people will find the picture of Mona Lisa obscene, others may not," it said. "Doing it for art purpose is different from some one doing for gains, business.." Justice Singh said that government will have to draw a line. "You can block the child pornography websites. There has to be ways and means. What has United Kingdom done?" The court recorded the submission by the senior counsel Vijay Panjwani appearing for the petitioner Kamlesh Vaswani that "watching pornography or being compelled to watch pornography in a public place can never come within concept of freedom of speech or expression or thought as enshrined under article 19(1)(a) of the constitution, for the freedom, as envisaged under the Constitution, is not absolute". Directing the next hearing of the matter on 28 March, the court allowed intervention by the Supreme Court Women Lawyers association seeking "strict measures to prevent distribution and access to pornography including measures regarding file sharing software". Counsel Mahalakshmi Pavani and Sneha Lakita had further sought the adoption of "various measures towards improvement in the effectiveness of blocking child pornography on the internet and to take measures to eliminate child pornography". IANS Jalalabad, Afghanistan: At least 10 people were killed and over 40 injured in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan's eastern province of Kunar on Saturday, officials said. "A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle detonated his explosives in a market in Asadabad the provincial capital, 10 people were killed and over 40 were injured," Ghani Mosamem, spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP. Sayed Maqsood Pacha, deputy provincial police chief, put the death toll slightly higher at 11. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Taliban insurgents, who have been waging a 14 year-long bloody insurgency in the country, have been blamed for such attacks in the past. The incident comes as direct peace talks with the Taliban are due to take place next week. A witness to the blast, who did not want to be named, told AFP that an influential tribal elder, Haji Khan Jan, was the target of the attack and was killed. Jan had led a local uprising against the Taliban in the past, the witness added. Kunar is a restive and remote province that shares a long border with neighbouring Pakistan -- which the Afghan government has accused in the past of harbouring Taliban militants. Delegates from Afghanistan, China, the US and Pakistan met in the Kabul last week for a fourth round of talks aimed at forming a path back to the nascent peace process, which was interrupted by last summers announcement that Taliban leader Mullah Omar had died. The fresh peace initiative comes as the insurgents wage an unprecedented winter campaign of violence across Afghanistan, underscoring a worsening security situation more than 14 years after they were driven out of power by US-led NATO forces. AFP If the Asia-Pacific picture wasnt complicated enough already, Australias 2016 Defence White Paper (see below) is likely to make matters a whole lot murkier. Aside from a proposed 84 percent increase in its defence budget over the next decade (from $23 billion in 2016-17 to around $42.4 billion by 2025-26), the white papers references to the South China Sea are likely to cause ripples in the region particularly in Beijing. But before we jump into Canberras latest publication, its worth looking at whats been happening in the South China Sea in which Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam have territorial claims over the past month. The story so far Beijing appears to be accelerating its process of aggressive expansion that has been underway for the past two years marked by the building of ports, military facilities and airstrips, while creating islands out of reefs. And this month alone, China has been accused of setting up radar systems, deploying missiles and even deploying fighter jets in the South China Sea. An estimated $5 trillion worth of goods are traded through this sea, and the US has in the past, accused China of attempting to militarise this key conduit for world trade. Vietnam has criticised Chinas moves in the South China Sea that violate Vietnam's sovereignty, escalate militarisation of the East Sea, but also threaten peace, stability in the region, and maritime and overflight security, safety and freedom On its part, Beijing has accused the Philippines that sought and achieved (in 2015) The Hagues arbitration on its maritime dispute with China, with a verdict expected later this year of political provocation, and insisted that Manila was the one to shut the door on bilateral negotiations. Meanwhile, voices in Vietnam and the US are trying to drag India into the melee. It may be recalled that in 2013, Vietnam had offered India seven oil blocks in the South China Sea. This was seen as no more than a strategic move since India is unlikely to ever drill there for oil, but it allows New Delhi to have some sort of presence in the region. This week, Hanoi reiterated its offer, inviting India to explore and exploit resources within (its) 200-nautical-mile EEZ (exclusive economic zone). That this EEZ lies in one of the disputed sections of the South China Sea goes without saying. The US, or more precisely, Republican senator John McCain has urged India and the US to consider joint patrols in the South China Sea. While the US government has dismissed this notion, McCain, the self-proclaimed great fan of Modi opined that this would be a very good time to announce that you are considering it (joint patrols). However, rather than trying to send a message to New Delhi, it appears that the plan was to send the message to Beijing, which unsurprisingly took the bait. We hope that relevant parties would stop the so-called joint military drills and patrols, and cease constant reinforcement of military buildup in the Asia-Pacific, said Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying. Where does Australia fit in? Australia is that strange piece of the jigsaw puzzle. You know the one. It looks a lot like it should fit into a particular gap, but the pattern doesnt quite match up. And then it puts you into a quandary about whether you had assembled the other pieces incorrectly, and before you know it, nothing seems to make any sense. In an article in July 2015, I had contended that the military strategies of the US, China and Japan had put them on a collision course in the Asia-Pacific region. Adding Australia to that mix is interesting because of what it has in common with the US and Japan. China is Australias largest trade partner, with bilateral trade reaching around $115 billion in 2013-14, and in December 2015, the two countries concluded a free trade agreement that render 86 percent of Australias goods exports to China duty-free. Japan ($50 billion bilateral trade in 2014) and the US ($44 billion in 2014) are Australias second and third largest trade partners respectively. Both these countries also count China as their biggest trade partner: China-Japan bilateral trade in 2014 was worth around $343.7 billion and China-US trade in 2015 was worth just under $600 billion.. That bilateral investment between the Australia and China stood at around $90 billion in 2015 and illustrate the fact that Beijing is a very important partner for Canberra. At the same time, Australia, Japan, the US and India are part of what Japanese president Shinzo Abe described in an article in 2012 as Asias Democratic Security Diamond (subscription required). He wrote about the four countries coming together to form a diamond to safeguard the maritime commons stretching from the Indian Ocean region to the western Pacific. The phrase caught between a rock and a hard place has rarely seemed as appropriate, and Australia has in recent history managed to deftly balance its relations with China on one hand and the US and Japan on the other. That is until September last year, when recently-sworn-in prime minister Malcolm Turnbull termed Chinas activities in the South China Sea as pushing the envelope. Chinas foreign ministry promptly responded with a sharp rebuke expressing the hope that Australia will stay committed to not taking sides on issues concerning disputes over sovereignty. What does the defence white paper tell us? First off, the document recognises US-China relations as the most strategically important factors in the Indo-Pacific region for the near future and identifies that the evolution of ties between Washington and Beijing will be fundamental to Australias future strategic circumstances. Pointing out that the US will continue to be Australias most important strategic partner, the white paper much like Japan in 2015 welcomes and supports the critical role of the United States in ensuring stability in the region. This cannot have gone down well with China. Claiming not to take sides on competing territorial claims, the document expresses Australian concerns about land reclamation and construction activity in the South China Sea, while adding: Australia opposes the use of artificial structures in the South China Sea for military purposes. Australia also opposes the assertion of associated territorial claims and maritime rights which are not in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This cannot and as it turns out, did not go down well with China, with the Chinese foreign ministry issuing another swift admonition. Expressing serious concern and dissatisfaction with the white papers negative statement on issues concerning the South China Sea, spokesperson Chunying added that we definitely do not want to see tensions or arms race in the region. The last part is presumably an allusion to both, the documents observations about Chinas military rise, as well as Australias planned 84 percent increase in defence spending. A bit of perspective is useful here: In 2015, Australia had the 11th largest defence budget with the US (around $570 billion) and China ($191 billion) sitting atop the list. According to the white paper, Canberra intends to devote funds to capital investment, sustainment costs, people capability and operating costs. And there doesn't seem to be a reason to be skeptical. After all, Australia is not going to be able to compete militarily with a belligerent China, and more importantly, stands to gain nothing from engaging the 'Middle Kingdom'. In fact, it stands to lose a whole lot more. For instance, Australian exports of coal to China have already been dropping, and threaten to drop further. Beijing has enjoyed warm relations with Canberra and will not be too keen to antagonise the land Down Under, unless it is truly provoked. Therefore, it would make sense for Canberra not to wade into the watery minefield that is the South China Sea. At the same time, the US that has already shifted its strategic focus from West Asia and Afghanistan to the Asia-Pacific and Japan in the process of shedding its pacifist interpretation of its Constitution will be eager to secure the support of their ally in containing China. With enough South East Asian countries, including US treaty allies like the Philippines and Vietnam, apparently ready to join the effort, pressure on Australia is likely to mount. Which way will Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull steer his ship? Only time will tell. Read the full text of the Australian defence white paper here: 2016 Defence White Paper WASHINGTON: In a jolt to one of the wildest primary contests in recent memory, Republican front-runner Donald Trump won the backing of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Friday, who himself is former presidential candidate. Christie is one of the first establishment Republicans to endorse Trump in a nominating race where many in the party have been distressed by the billionaire New York businessman's campaign tactics and policy proposals. "I've gotten to know all the people on that stage and there is none who is better prepared to provide America with the strong leadership that it needs both at home and around the world than Donald Trump," Christie said at a news conference in Texas. Trump shared his reaction when Christie notified his campaign: "I said, 'Wow, this is really important.'" The endorsement is yet more momentum as Trump moves into the critical Super Tuesday primary elections next week and was followed by a nod from Maine Gov. Paul LePage, who broke the news in an interview with Howie Carr, a conservative radio talk-show host. It also turns the story away from the series of brutal rhetorical attacks from Trump's top opponents in the party's tenth debate on Thursday night. The bombastic billionaire's candidacy has defied all the rules that normally apply in the contest for the highest office in the United States. Trump repeatedly has made politically incorrect statements, used salty language and denigrated Hispanics and Muslims. Nevertheless, he holds a big lead in national polling heading into the Tuesday primaries and a caucus in 11 states with a treasure of 595 delegates that could make his nomination all but certain. So far, after four primary and caucus contests, Trump has 82 delegates, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has 17 and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio has 16. A candidate must have 1,237 state delegates to win the Republican nomination at the party's convention this summer. Trump's unexpected candidacy and front-runner status reflect Americans' anger over government deadlock, a slow recovery from the Great Recession and a fear of terrorism. Rubio has been trying to position himself as the party establishment's candidate, but the Christie endorsement suddenly made that more of a challenge. "We don't need any more of these Washington, D.C., acts," Christie said of Rubio at Friday's announcement. From the start of Thursday night's debate, a fiery Rubio went hard after Trump, attacking his position on immigration, his privileged background, his speaking style and more. Cruz piled on, questioning the New York businessman's conservative credentials. The debate reflected the increasing urgency of their effort to take Trump down before he becomes unstoppable. It was a rare night where Trump found himself on the defensive. The other two candidates, Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, and John Kasich, the Ohio governor, were largely left to watch the fireworks. Rubio was the principal aggressor of the night. Taking on Trump's declaration that he'd build a wall on the Mexican border, Rubio declared: "If he builds a wall the way he built Trump Tower, he'll be using illegal immigration to do it." Trump insisted that even though officials in Mexico have said they won't pay for his planned wall, "Mexico will pay for the wall." And he said that since Mexico's current and former presidents had criticized him on the issue, "the wall just got 10 feet taller." Trump, known for his frequent use of coarse and profane language on the campaign trail, also scolded former Mexican President Vicente Fox for using a profanity in talking about Trump's plan for the wall. "He should be ashamed of himself and he should apologize," declared Trump. At a congressional dinner Thursday night, former Republican candidate and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham derided Trump and said the party had gone "batshit crazy." Rubio kept up the assault in a campaign appearance Friday, calling Trump a "con artist." As for Cruz, Trump took a more personal tack in the debate, saying, "You get along with nobody. ... You should be ashamed of yourself." Cruz is widely disliked by fellow Republicans. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton had South Carolina mostly to herself a day before the first-in-the-South primary Saturday, and she's using it to capitalize on her advantage over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders with black voters. AP The United Nations special envoy for Syria has said he plans to resume peace talks on 7 March if a cessation of hostilities negotiated by the United States and Russia that began at midnight local time "largely holds." Staffan de Mistura briefed the UN Security Council from Geneva via video conference, following a meeting of envoys from the 17-member International Syria Support Group which is supposed to monitor implementation of the agreement. "This will remain a complicated, painstaking process," he told the council. But he added that "nothing is impossible, especially at this moment." De Mistura, however, warned he had "no doubt there will be no shortage of attempts to undermine this process." Shortly after de Mistura's briefing, the 15-member council voted unanimously to approve a resolution endorsing the cease-fire agreement. The cease-fire began shortly afterward. If the cessation of hostilities holds, it would mark the first time international negotiations have managed to achieve a pause in Syria's civil war, which shortly will enter its sixth year. Even as council members spoke in support of the agreement, strains showed. Russia warned against "the harmful practice of providing external support to armed groups." And British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said "Russia must turn words into actions" and use its influence on its ally, Syrian President Bashar Assad said, "If they don't, we will falter again." According to a draft, the resolution urges the UN secretary-general to resume the peace talks "as soon as possible." It also expresses support for an international working group whose task is to "accelerate the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid," with the goal of sustained and unimpeded aid access to all parts of Syria. That includes areas where hundreds of thousands of people find themselves besieged, most of them by Syrian government forces or the Islamic State group. For the cease-fire to succeed, multiple armed factions will have to adhere to its terms. The Syrian government and a leading opposition bloc have agreed to the cessation of hostilities, but the accord excludes UN-designated terrorist groups like the Islamic State and Nusra Front, which hold swaths of Syrian territory. US Ambassador Samantha Power told the council that the cessation of hostilities will not in itself ensure that a political solution in Syria is reached. But she said the "vast majority" of the opposition is ready to cooperate with the cease-fire. AP Illustration: Reg Lynch Making some progress Amid all the staggering bigotry that still exists towards gays, as witnessed by the hysterical response to the Safe Schools program a straightforward program designed to stop the bullying of gay kids came a sign of just how much Australia has progressed on the whole issue. Last week the Tele published a photo of our greatest Olympian, Ian Thorpe, kissing his new boyfriend on the lips. Ten years ago, people would have fainted. This time, hardly anyone blinked, no-one cared. I don't think even Fred Nile could be bothered uttering a word of protest at its publication, at least not that I have seen. How the truck became unstuck When I was a little boy I cherished the story told me by my father whose 100th Birthday 150 extended FitzSimii will celebrate today on our family farm, which holds his grave, thanks for asking about the truck that got caught beneath a railway overpass. Neither tractors, nor tow-trucks could shift it, until a shy little boy my age whispered something to the police chief, and within two minutes it was free. What did he whisper? ... and the bus that didn't Of course, he whispered his suggestion that they let the tyres down. Which brings us to the Montague Street underpass in South Melbourne, which, as you might have seen this week, suffered another bus-crash, shearing off the top of a bus, carrying 15 delegates to a tourism conference. This underpass catches, on average, three trucks and buses, a WEEK. So, as a shy little boy now grown, can I ask? Why don't they, 100 metres before the bridge, put some hanging chains the height of the underpass. Problem solved, surely? Thank you, thank all! JOKE OF THE WEEK A bloke goes to the circus and is impressed. After the show he speaks to the manager and asks for a job. "Alright, what can you do?" the manager asks. "I can do great bird impressions," the bloke replies. "Pssh, a lot of people can do that." "Oh well, never mind," the bloke says, and flies away. THEY SAID IT "It indoctrinates kids with a Marxist agenda of cultural relativism . . ." An un-named Coalition MP but I'll bet it rhymes with "Tory Turn-Hardy" to the joint-partyroom on Safe Schools program, which is designed simply to protect gay kids from being bullied. "Luckily, hopefully, they all ducked their heads and closed their eyes to keep themselves out of trouble." Andrew O'Connell, Melbourne MFB Incident Controller, about the 15 people attending a tourism conference whose bus crashed into a low bridge. No one was badly hurt. "The government should stop tinkering with superannuation. Not even think about it. And Barnaby Joyce, as the new deputy prime minister, should stop thinking out loud." Journalist Madonna King, on The Drum, about the floated idea that superannuation shouldn't be compulsory for low income earners. "When I was giving my statement in the police station afterwards, the officer suggested someone might nominate me for a bravery award, but it just felt good to help, because this poor man that got pushed, he was about 60 and he was pushing his 90-year-old mother in a wheelchair at the time." Shayne Hunt, 19 years old and about 50kg, who crash-tackled a robber in Nowra when he was running away from attacking two people. Once she had him on the ground, other people held him until the police arrived while she picked up his wallet and phone so he could be identified if he got away again. "To encourage a guy to wear a dress would just be setting him up for bullying." Wendy Francis, spokesperson for the Australian Christian Lobby, which is condemning the announcement this week from Newtown High School of the Performing Arts that its uniform policy is being changed to allow students to wear boys or girls uniforms regardless of their gender. "Hang on in there." Advice from Andrew Mackenzie, CEO of BHP Billiton, to investors as the company announced a half-year $7.8 billion loss. "We won with highly educated. We won with poorly educated. I love the poorly educated." Donald Trump, after winning the Nevada Republican Primary. "The plan we're putting forward today isn't just about closing the facility at Guantanamo. It's not just about dealing with the current group of detainees, which is a complex piece of business because of the manner in which they were originally apprehended and what happened. This is about closing a chapter in our history. Keeping this facility open is contrary to our values. It undermines our standing in the world. It is viewed as a stain on our broader record of upholding the highest standards of rule of law." American president Barack Obama calling for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility after delivering his plan to Congress to achieve a goal that has long eluded his presidency. "They [the ALP] have got a policy that will increase the cost of housing for all Australians, for those people who own a home and for those people who would like to get into the housing market through their negative gearing policy." Assistant Treasurer Kelly O'Dwyer on morning television, going off-track and managing to contradict Malcolm Turnbull. "The point I was making is that under Labor's policy there will be increased demand for new property, pushing up prices for new property. It is clear from Labor's ill-considered policy that existing house prices will decline." Kelly O'Dwyer later, back-pedalling as fast as she could. "In 1978, The Sydney Morning Herald reported the names, addresses and professions of people arrested during public protests to advance gay rights. The paper at the time was following the custom and practice of the day. We acknowledge and apologise for the hurt and suffering that reporting caused. It would never happen today." During his two years with Channel V, Feltscheer published online articles and ran the official social media platforms for the station and took to Twitter to reminisce about his amusing run-ins with executives. "Remember that time I called Katy Perry a racist in an article for Channel V and nearly got fired?" he said. He added: " I had to apologise to a major label for tweeting a joke about an X Factor winner from the Channel V account." While a number of his tales hint at management's failure to grasp the new media landscape he was once tasked to write fake on-screen tweets from live shows due to the lack of audience participation Feltsheer says it was "the best job I've ever had". "My tweets were just a few personal experiences and a bit of fun banter," he told The Sun-Herald. "I've got nothing bad to say about the place, nor the people who worked there, only great memories and a whole lot of career and life lessons." The must-see reply to blackface In response to a series of local blackface controversies, Indigenous performance artist Bjorn Stewart has released a short film to illustrate "how to do blackface and how to look Aboriginal". The 28-year-old actor, who has starred in the ABC series Black Comedy, is now a social media superstar since the short comedic film, titled Bjorn's make-up tips for blackface, went viral last week. Written and shot by his Cope ST Collective colleague Kodie Bedford on Monday following the news Opals star Alice Kunek darkened her skin and went as rapper Kanye West to her WNBL team's "Silly Sunday" celebrations, the video has since been viewed more than 110,000 and shared 1234 times on Facebook. "After the last blackface incident we decided we needed to do something. We wanted to tackle the issue through comedy as we felt that was the best way to get the message across. We put it all together in few hours and posted it before lunchtime," Stewart tells The Sun-Herald. To prepare for his turn in front of the camera, he immersed himself in the beauty vlogging world. Bjorn Stewart imparts his wisdom on doing blackface right. "I spent hours and hours watching these make-up tutorials on YouTube. I wasted so much time making duck face for this thing." Wearing a white cap emblazoned with "Redfern", Stewart explains "how to do blackface" with a tin of shoe polish. "A cobbler is probably your best bet to get a bit of shoe polish. And what you're just going to do with the shoe polish is not do f---ing blackface," he deadpans while throwing the tin to the ground. Stewart dismisses Steve Price, Derryn Hinch and the other predominantly white commentators who fronted commercial TV last week claiming the act of blackface is not racist. "The behaviour in doing blackface is deeply entrenched in making a mockery of people," he says. "I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, I don't think what Alice did was sinister, but people need to realise, you may not be racist, but the act is racist." David Jones gets philanthropic for the Powerhouse The Powerhouse Museum home to one of the most impressive fashion archives in the world has acquired three new garments from David Jones. The outfits by designer Liu Qing Yang were donated by the retailer following its first showcase and pop-up store featuring 16 Chinese designers last month. The museum's curator of fashion and dress Glynis Jones is excited by Yang's aesthetic as expressed through her label Chictopia. "I particularly like her playful approach to fashion there is a pair of shorts that uses a water seal technology that has monkeys floating around the fabric. She brings a sense of what's happening now in Chinese fashion today. She's got a really strong brand identity but still has a sense of place," Jones said. Yang's pieces, including a colourful shift dress worn by David Jones ambassador Jesinta Campbell, will go on display in April and join the museum's extensive collection of Chinese garments which date back to the 18th century. The department store has a long history of donating wares to the Powerhouse, which also documents local fashion retail history. The first piece was an evening gown with puff, detachable sleeves from 1895 a style trope Kym Ellery uses in her most recent autumn-winter collection. Leo DiCaprio's new lover may look familiar to Aussie shoppers Leonardo DiCaprio's rumoured new girlfriend, model Roxy Horner, is better known in Australia as the pin up for "sensuality". While DiCaprio was freezing on set of The Revenant, Horner heated things up as one of the faces (and bodies) of local lingerie and sex toy emporium Honey Birdette. Last year, a commercial series featuring the leggy blonde alongside a gagged and bound Father Christmas was widely criticised before being banned. Over Christmas the store ran a number of advertisements featuring Horner in red lingerie with the tag lines: "Knock Santa's socks off" and "All tied up for Christmas". Last month, the commercial series was found to have breached the Advertising Standards Board code of ethics for endorsing sexual violence. The chain then agreed to remove the images from its stores. Horner is still an official ambassador for the brand. NSW Health authorities have launched an investigation into a national chain of "hydration" clinics after a Sydney woman was hospitalised following an intravenous vitamin "infusion" sold as a miracle hangover cure. The iv.me Hydration Clinics advertise the "innovative concept" of injecting "hydration" fluids directly into people's veins via a drip. The commercialised medical procedure has emerged as the latest health craze for drinkers and rundown professionals. But Fairfax Media can reveal that three weeks after it opened, iv.me's Sydney-based clinic has been closed by NSW Health as it investigates how a customer ended up in the emergency ward of St Vincent's Hospital. A NSW Health spokesman confirmed that on February 16, the department was informed of a "patient suffering fever, abdominal pains and low blood pressure". Police are hoping someone will recognise the "distinctive walk" of a man who sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl inside her Melbourne bedroom. The man broke into the Roxburgh Park home just after 7am on Friday and assaulted the teenager for 25 minutes before running off, police say. It occurred while the rest of her family was asleep. Police believe the man, who was wearing a balaclava, jumped the fence from an adjoining property and took off his jacket before breaking into the home. A suicide bomber attacked Afghan security forces near the Defense Ministry building in Kabul Saturday, killing at least 12 people and wounding 13 others, said police officials. That followed an earlier bombing in Kunar province that killed at least 13 and wounded more than 40 others Witnesses in Kabul saw rescue workers transporting dead and wounded to hospitals in the capital city immediately after the bombing. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told VOA the insurgent group carried out the Kabul bombing, and claimed it killed 23 army officers and wounded many others. The Taliban often gives inflated tolls in such attacks. The Afghan Defense Ministry said two soldiers were among the dead in the Kabul blast. Afghanistans Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah issued a statement condemning the violence, saying "peace talks and violence against Afghans cannot go along." He was referring to direct negations the government is expected to hold with Taliban and other insurgent groups in neighboring Pakistan next week. "Insurgents must choose peace over violence and be part of the future," he added. Blast in Asadabad kills 13 In Kunar province, witnesses said a bomber riding a motorbike blew himself up near the entrance to the governors office in Asadabad, the provincial capital. An anti-Taliban local militia commander, identified as Malik Khan Jan, is among those killed in that explosion. Authorities say the attack mostly caused civilian casualties, including children who were either passersby or playing in the nearby park. Seven seriously wounded victims have been taken to a hospital in nearby Nangarhar province. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemned the Kunar attack. UNAMA reiterates that the indiscriminate use of explosives in areas crowded by civilians is a serious violation of international humanitarian law, it said in a statement, and reminded all parties to the conflict of their legal obligation to avoid harm to civilians. Taliban spokesman Mujahid suggested the group was not behind the suicide blast in Kunar, telling VOA "We have contacted our Mujahideen (fighters) in in the region but they have no knowledge of who carried out the attack." Critics of the Afghan insurgency believe the Taliban usually distances itself from attacks that cause civilian casualties. The United Nations in its annual report released last week said the conflict-related violence in Afghanistan caused record 11,000 civilian casualties, including around 3,500 dead in 2015. The U.N. report blamed the Taliban insurgency for causing 62 percent of the causalities. In another development Saturday, military officials in restive southern Helmand province told VOA that Afghan special forces overnight raided and freed 35 inmates, including women and children, from a Taliban-held prison in the Nadali district. There was no immediate reaction from the insurgent group. Hillary Clinton easily won the U.S. Democratic presidential primary in South Carolina on Saturday, cementing her status as front-runner in her party's race and delivering a key defeat to Bernie Sanders ahead of the crucial Super Tuesday nominating contests. Clinton won the backing of almost three-fourths of Democrats who went to the polls in the first Southern state to vote during the presidential candidate nominating season. The result was never really in doubt. The only question was whether Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont, could narrow what was nearly a 30-percentage-point deficit in recent opinion polls. The Sanders campaign quickly released a statement from the candidate congratulating Clinton on her victory. "Tomorrow, this campaign goes national," Clinton told cheering supporters at a primary evening rally here. Clinton has now won or tied in three of the first four contests in the Democratic nominee selection process and has significant leads in opinion polls in many of the states set to vote next Tuesday. Speaking to reporters at a Minnesota airport, Sanders said, "In politics on a given night, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Tonight we lost.'' Before addressing a rally in Rochester, Minnesota, where voters will decide between the two Tuesday, Sanders spoke of 11 contests in three days: "We intend to win many, many of them.'' The South Carolina victory was notable in that it suggests Clintons popularity remains strong among minorities, said Jim Guth, a political science professor at Furman University in Greenville. It certainly means she has solidified her pre-existing support, especially among African-Americans, who are a very large part of the primary constituency here, Guth said. Sanders looks ahead Sanders had all but given up on winning South Carolina and focused instead on states voting Tuesday. "Let me be clear on one thing tonight. This campaign is just beginning. We won a decisive victory in New Hampshire. She won a decisive victory in South Carolina," Sanders said in his written statement Saturday evening. "Now it's on to Super Tuesday." Nearly a quarter of the Democratic delegates will be up for grabs in the Super Tuesday voting on March 1. Voters in 11 states will pick delegates for each of the two political party nominating conventions, making Tuesday the most important day for Republicans as well as Democrats. In her victory speech, Clinton took on front-running Republican Donald Trump, who has said he will make America "great again." "America has never stopped being great,'' Clinton said, adding that the country needed to be made "whole again." Speaking earlier Saturday to a large crowd in Austin, Texas, Sanders also spoke of the Republican billionaire businessman. We will defeat Trump, Sanders said. The American people do not want a president who insults Mexicans, Muslims, women, African-Americans, veterans, and basically anyone who isnt just like him. Sanders, who draws the bulk of his support from younger voters and whites, now faces an uphill battle, after losing two consecutive states to Clinton. He has to do more than break even when it comes to winning delegates from this point on, and that seems unlikely, especially if he cant increase the size of his electoral constituency," Guth said. Low turnout One bright spot for Sanders was the relatively small number of voters who showed up at polling places Saturday in South Carolina, raising the question of whether Clinton can energize her core supporters. One of those voters was Columbia resident Evelyn Boyd, who cast a ballot for Clinton. She stands up for the rights of the people. She is not afraid of the foreign governments, because she has worked with them, Boyd said. Edward Suhy, a waiter and bartender who lives in Columbia, supported Sanders. He seems to actually care about people, and I think he has got a really good heart. I am just sick of the status quo every single year, Suhy said. Despite the low turnout, Clintons campaign has reason to be optimistic, according to David Woodard, who teaches political science at Clemson University. I think most everybody will forget all that when she finally has a big win like this in a Southern state, Woodard said. I think that all adds up for her. Woodard, who is also a Republican political consultant, said Clinton would like to soon focus on her likely Republican opponent in the general election. I think shed rather face Trump, and I think she might, said Woodard. I think [Florida Senator Marco] Rubio is a more formidable opponent, but I also think he has a harder way to get there. Republican race intensifies Rubio and Trump spent Saturday exchanging fierce personal insults, underscoring the extent to which the Republican race has turned into a political street fight. At a rally in Atlanta, Georgia, Rubio mocked Trump, saying the ex-reality television star has the worst spray tan in America. Donald Trump likes to sue people. He should sue whoever did that to his face, Rubio said, drawing laughs from the crowd. Trump held a rally in Arkansas with Chris Christie, the New Jersey governor who dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed Trump this week. The New York businessman repeatedly belittled Rubio, saying he has a fresh mouth and is a light little nothing. Hes a very nasty guy, Trump said of Rubio. I actually thought [Texas Senator] Ted Cruz was a liar, but Rubio is worse. Trump is leading the polls in almost all of the 11 states set to vote Tuesday. A major victory in those states would mean he is all but certain to gather enough delegates to clinch the nomination, although Cruz leads among Republicans in his home state of Texas, the largest prize on Super Tuesday. WATCH: South Carolina Democrats Discuss Presidential Preferences Election hours in Iran were extended Friday in a vote for a new parliament and Assembly of Experts, the first test of public opinion since Iran signed onto an international nuclear deal. Careful vetting of candidates by religious authorities means reformists are unlikely to realize the win that President Hassan Rouhani had hoped for. What, then, is the fate of the nuclear deal and the presidents efforts to open the economy? A prevailing narrative paints Rouhani as a lone, liberal visionary pitted against hardline clerics opposed to both the deal and opening up the economy. But the truth, said Alireza Nader, an international policy analyst at the Rand Corporation, is far less dramatic. First, I think its important to note that Rouhani is not a reformist, Nader said. He has never called himself a reformist. Indeed, in 1999, Rouhani took a tough stand against student demonstrators. A year later, when former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright suggested opening a new chapter in U.S. relations with Iran, Rouhani called her statement repugnant and unacceptable. During the last two-and-a-half years that Rouhani has been president, he has not enacted any major reforms in Iran -- or even minor reforms for that matter, said Nader. Its either due to the fact that he does not have the will or the capability. Nuke deal will stand Some reports have cast doubts on the future of the nuclear deal, worried that hardliners could work to derail it. Thats not really at play here, said Patrick Clawson, research director at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "The nuclear deal represents a plus for Iran because Iran got some sanctions relief and got access to a whole lot of money in return." Some argue Rouhani would never have gotten the nuclear deal had Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei really opposed it. Rouhani and his ministers managed to convince the Supreme Leader, saying, Look: The economic sanctions have paralyzed the economy, and if you are concerned about the well-being of the system, after all, this is a pill that you need to swallow, said Mehrzad Boroujerdi, professor and chair of the political science department at Syracuse Universitys Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Further, he said, Khamenei was intimately involved in the negotiating process. He set red lines for the negotiating team and the like. So he cannot really now disown the nuclear deal, he said. Revolutionary Guards stand to profit But the Supreme Leader isnt the only power in Iran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is so strong that academics, according to Boroujerdi, often debate whos really in charge in Tehran. Created by the former Ayatollah in 1979, the IRGCs job is to safeguard the Republic from internal and external threats. In return for their support, they have been rewarded with lucrative business contracts and key leadership posts. They are today what one of their own founding members calls a combination Communist Party, KGB, a business complex and the mafia. They have a big stake in Irans nuclear and weapons programs, but analysts say its doubtful theyll work against the nuclear agreement. At least one observer has suggested that the IRGC may have actively sought the deal and supported 2012 secret talks between the U.S. and Iran in Oman. The IRGC controls a huge chunk of the economy from oil and natural gas to agriculture, mining, transportation, telecommunications, banking and more. They are also believed to run a flourishing smuggling and black market trade that has flourished in the face of sanctions. The IRGC are worried that Rouhani wants to open up Iran economically as well as politically and culturally. And the guards have amassed so much economic power that some of the monopolies that they have established over the economy could be jeopardized if Iran opens up to the West, said Rands Nader. But Boroujerdi chuckles at the notion. These guys sit handsomely and they will benefit whether Irans economy is closed or open. In other words, if its closed, smuggling allows them to make a killing, he said. And if its open, these guys will put on three-piece suits and will be the first ones negotiating with you from the other side of the table. Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton made last-minute appeals to voters in South Carolina on Friday, while Republican front-runner Donald Trump picked up a key endorsement from an old rival. Ex-Secretary of State Clinton is expected to easily win Saturdays primary in South Carolina, where she has for weeks had a dominant, double-digit lead in opinion polls, thanks in part to her popularity among the states African-American voters. Sanders is hoping to make the contest as close as possible, but the Vermont senator appears to have largely given up on winning the state. In recent days, he has held rallies in other states where polls suggest he has a better chance. Clinton, who has a narrow delegate lead over Sanders after the first three nominating contests, continued her strategy Friday of focusing on her allegiance to President Barack Obama, the nations first black president. Im really proud to stand with President Obama, and Im really proud to stand with the progress hes made, Clinton said at a rally in Kingstree. I need your help, starting with this primary on Saturday." Trump endorsement On the GOP side, Trump received a surprise endorsement Friday from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who just weeks ago dropped out of the presidential race himself. The single most important thing for the Republican Party is to nominate the person who gives us the best chance to beat Hillary Clinton, Christie said at a news conference. I can guarantee that the one person Hillary and [ex-President] Bill Clinton dont want to see on that stage come next September is Donald Trump. The move, Trumps highest-profile endorsement yet, was unexpected, especially since Christie in recent months repeatedly had portrayed the billionaire businessman as unhinged emotionally and unfit to be president. The endorsement was timely for Trump, coming hours after a presidential debate where he was the target of repeated attacks by his main rivals, Florida Senator Marco Rubio and Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Flying insults The debate was dominated by personal insults, shouting and cross talk. A day later, the Republican candidates made it clear they werent finished fighting, with Trump making fun of the size of Rubios ears, and the Florida senator wondering whether the casino mogul might have urinated in his pants on stage. Heres a guy whos a nervous basket case, Trump said in a mocking tone at a campaign speech in Texas. You ought to see him backstage. He was putting makeup on with a trowel. After the crowd burst into laughter, Trump said: Nah, I dont want to say that. I will not say that he was trying to cover up his ears. I will not say that. Later in the speech, he made fun of Rubio for sweating excessively and drinking too much water. Rubio, emboldened by his feisty debate performance, also continued to escalate his attacks on Trump. At a rally in Dallas, the senator accused Trump of having a meltdown backstage at the debate. First, he had one of those makeup things applying around his mustache, because he had one of those sweat mustaches. Then, he asked for a full-length mirror, I dont know why maybe to make sure his pants werent wet, Rubio said. The attacks represented an astonishing turn of events for the two candidates, who until Friday had largely refrained from attacking one another. According to analysts, the attacks were also a sign that Trumps rivals fear he may begin running away with the Republican nomination after having won three of the first four states. Trump has a large lead in most of the states set to vote next week on Super Tuesday, when about half of the delegates needed to win the nomination will be up for grabs. Two years ago this month, Ukraine's Maidan Revolution sought to do away with a corrupt oligarchy and put the country on the path toward becoming a Western-style democratic society. But the reform-minded pro-Western government is now under pressure as corruption persists, and Russia shows no signs of letting up in its support for pro-Russian rebels in the country's east. Demonstrators in Kyiv this month attacked offices of Russian banks, smashing windows and furniture as police looked on. The demonstrators were nationalists, marking the departure two years ago of Russian-backed former President Viktor Yanukovych. But they also expressed anger at the current government for its failure to stamp out corruption and target the oligarchs responsible for it. Among the offices hit in the protests were those of a company belonging to Rinat Akhmetov, a steel-and-mining magnate who is Ukraine's richest man. Demonstrators said the reforms of the Maidan, or "Revolution of Dignity," have not gone far enough in tackling corruption and cronyism. They called for another uprising. Corruption threat The demonstrations show how far Ukraine has to go, says Transparency International's Yevhen Cherniak. "People are angry because authorities now the [higher-ups], the president, the prime minister people think that they continue corruption traditions in Ukraine. Maidan has sent [a] concrete message to authorities: Stop corruption. But they continue," he told VOA. "Corruption is the main threat to Ukraine," echoed Sergii Leshchenko, a pro-Western member of Ukraine's parliament. Leshchenko, an ally of reformist President Petro Poroshenko who spearheads efforts to enact anti-corruption legislation, was part of a team of Ukrainian legislators in London this week to meet with members of the British Parliament on maintaining Western support for Ukraine's anti-corruption efforts. Like many others in Ukraine, Leshchenko lauds the progress that reforms have made so far, but says the pace needs to be accelerated. That is a difficult prospect. While some of the oligarchs left Ukraine in 2014 and fled to the West or Russia, enough remained to block more sweeping and thorough changes. "What happened with most of the oligarchs is that they simply reinvented themselves and found new ways to hold on to power," said Andrew Foxall, director of the Russia Studies Centre at the Henry Jackson Society, a London research organization. "Some portrayed themselves as regional leaders who could ensure that their regions would not shift toward Moscow as opposed to toward Kyiv. So they became quite important and powerful brokers and gained an awful lot of political leverage in that immediate post-revolution period," he said. Russian pressure Meanwhile, Russia keeps up its pressure in rebel-held eastern Ukraine. After a lull that lasted months, fighting has spiked in the past few weeks. "We see a multiplication of incidents and violations of the cease-fire, Lamberto Zannier, head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said this month. "We have seen also cases of redeployment of heavy armament." Some analysts see the on-off nature of the Russian-backed conflict as consistent with what they say is Russia's long-term strategy of seeking to destabilize Kyiv, and to pressure the Ukrainian government to make concessions and improve Moscow's position in future negotiations. That is the conclusion of Steven Pifer, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, who believes Russia is not yet prepared to reach a settlement of the crisis in terms acceptable to Ukraine. In a recent report, Pifer said Russia is shifting the intensity of the conflict but mostly keeping it at a low level to "allow the Kremlin to ratchet up the conflict at a later point if it desired to further pressure Kiev." Emboldened by its gains in Syria, Moscow wants to show Ukraine and the West that it can fight two wars at once, some regional analysts say. Other analysts say improving security in the east depends on Russia, but Moscow is showing no signs of wanting to pull out of the conflict. U.S. intelligence officials this week indicated there is no end in sight for the turmoil in eastern Ukraine. CIA Director John Brennan told members of the House Intelligence Committee on Thursday that there is "still uncertainty about how the Russians themselves are going to extricate themselves" from the conflict. The Ukrainian government this month narrowly survived a no-confidence vote in parliament, and frustrations are showing early signs of boiling over again as patience wears thin among those who want corruption and economic disparity gone quickly, and for good. Former high-ranking officials from the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) are under investigation by the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) in a case involving alleged illicit business transactions amounting to MOP167 million, between 2004 and 2014, while Ho Chio Meng was heading the MP. Following the investigations, Ho Chio Meng was detained, legal sources told the Times. According to a CACCs press note released today (Saturday evening), of the whole amount, suspects may have received at least MOP44 million in kick-backs. The graft buster, headed by Andre Cheong, said former MP staff and companies managers involved in the transactions are suspected or the practice of fraud, illicit participation in business, abuse of power and forgery. Macau judicial authorities applied coercive measures on the suspects, including provisional detention. The case is still under investigation. [UPDATED] TWIN FALLS Junior Achievement of Idaho is planning a fundraiser to support its Magic Valley programs. The nonprofit organizations first Magic Valley Achieve-A-Bowl is slated for March 19 at Bowladrome in Twin Falls. Five-member teams from local companies must sign up in advance. Theres no registration or bowling fees, but teams sell raffle tickets. Raffle tickets are $10 each and prizes include a $1,000 Fred Meyer gift card, iPad Air and four rounds of golf at Canyon Springs Golf Course. The event will have a Mardi Gras theme and participants are invited to dress up in costumes. Its a very fun afternoon, said Sheri Davis, interim president and chief executive officer for Junior Achievement of Idaho. The organization recently expanded into the Magic Valley. Teachers have signed up in Twin Falls, Jerome, Rupert and Gooding. The program which serves children in kindergarten through 12th grades focuses on financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. Volunteers, who receive training and curriculum, teach lessons in classrooms. To sign up to participate in the fundraiser, visit jaidaho.org and click on the events tab. For information on volunteering, call 208-375-5243. About Me Mohd. Kamal bin Abdullah I am Mohd. Kamal bin Abdullah, who resides in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. I hold a post-graduate law degree from the United Kingdom. I blog to tell MALAYSIANS THE TRUTH. View my complete profile Blog Archive Comment Policy Advance Indiana allows you to post comments via this blog subject to the guidelines set forth herein. You understand that any comments you post are your own and are not those of Advance Indiana. You further understand that Advance Indiana is not responsible for the content of any external sites referenced in your comments. Unlawful, harassing, defamatory, abusive, threatening, harmful, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, racially offensive, or otherwise objectionable comments are not acceptable. If you think any content posted or otherwise included in Advance Indiana violates the guidelines set forth herein, then please alert Advance Indiana. Advance Indiana reserves the right to pre-screen, edit, and remove any post as it deems appropriate. You specifically acknowledge that Advance Indiana has no obligation to display any post submitted or otherwise provided via Advance Indiana. That's what doing shoddy work and pooping on the lawn will get you. It should be noted, however, in their defense: they're goats. It's what they do. Apparently the fine urbanites in Salem objected to the "barnyard odor" that disrupted the ambiance when they visited the park to commune with Nature. They found it a little too - well, Natural. (Reuters) - A crew of goats brought in to devour invasive plants at a popular park in Oregon's state capital, Salem, have been fired because they ate indiscriminately, cost nearly five times as much as human landscapers and smelled far worse, a city official said on Friday. The 75 billy and nanny goats were supposed to eat Armenian blackberry and English ivy and other invasive plants choking native vegetation across the 1200-acre Minto-Brown Island Park, the city's largest, in a pilot program last fall. This here park ain't big enough for the two of us, Billy. Just what the heck the bureaucrats expected is unclear; you don't just truck 75 goats out and turn them loose, that's just plain stupid. And you don't use billy goats, because they do stink the place up. Goats are successfully used for this purpose all over the place - when people know what they're doing. You use portable fencing to confine them to specific, targeted locations; you don't just let them wander around, billy-nilly. I had an unbelievable mound of invasive blackberry; I put Goat on a long tether and let her have at it: in just a few weeks, it was dead and gone (the blackberry, that is). At least three South African universities have been closed this week after a new wave of student protests across the country. The latest protests come in the wake of violent student demands for fees to be abolished that were staged late last year across all universities in the country. Protesting students burned down several buildings at North-West University, forcing administrators to close the campus. The black students are demanding the phasing out of the Afrikaans language from their studies, while white students are claiming that this is an attack on their culture. University spokesman Koos Degenaar said the trouble started after some students disrupted the inauguration of a new student council. Three of the nations top universities have been forced to close so far, as the violence continues. President Jacob Zuma has condemned the violence saying the burning of university buildings at a time when we are prioritizing the education of our youth is inexplicable and can never be condoned. No amount of anger should drive students to burn their own university and deny themselves and others education. Grievances should be handled in a peaceful manner, he said. Earlier this week, a protest at the University of Pretoria over the use of Afrikaans led to clashes between black and white students, also forcing the university to shut down. A Chadian peacekeeper in northern Mali has killed his own Commander and an army doctor on Thursday, local media reported. Reports said the soldier had started an insurrection against the contingents top brass the previous evening before shooting the two men dead. No explanation has been given for the shooting, but it is said to have followed an argument. The peacekeeper decided he wasnt going to stand for how his superior spoke to him after being accused of some pretty serious things, a UN security source said. Chad contributes 1,151 soldiers and police officers to the 11,700-strong MINUSMA, making them the third largest group in the mission after Burkina Faso. The government of Chad has previously accused the UN of neglecting its troops in northern Mali, saying they are placed in great danger, and lack logistics and adequate food supplies. The mission, known as MINUSMA, was deployed in 2013 after a French-led military intervention drove out al Qaeda-linked Islamist fighters, who had seized the north a year earlier. Chads army is considered one of West Africas most capable military forces and it played a key role on the front-lines of last years operation against the Islamist fighters in Mali. Your digital subscription includes access to content from all our websites in your region. Access unlimited news content and The Canberra Times app. Premium subscribers also enjoy interactive puzzles and access to the digital version of our print edition - Today's Paper. The prophecy is more than seeing into the future. For the prophecy sees without the element of time. For the prophecy sees things as they were, as they are, and as they always shall be. A site about the small bands in the Heavy Metal Universe. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DEMOCRAT PARTY? I can no longer remain in todays Demo Party that is now under the control of an elitist cabal of warmongers driven by cowardly wokeness, who divide us by racializing every issue and stoke anti-white racism, actively undermine our freedoms, are hostile to people of faith, demonize the police and protect criminals at the expense of law-abiding Americans, believe in open borders, weaponize the national security state to go after opponents.TULSI GABBARD @MichaelAuslen It looks like KidCare, a state program that provides health coverage for poor children, will be expanded to include legal immigrants. House and Senate budget negotiators agreed Saturday afternoon to include $28.8 million to pay for the program's expansion, the subject of legislation (HB 89, SB 2508) that still hasn't passed votes in the two chambers. But Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples, the House's health care budget chairman, said he and other House leaders decided to fund the program's expansion. The money was already in the Senate's proposed budget. The expansion language is part of a budget bill covering health care policy in the Senate, and a House bill is ready for a vote on the floor. "We just figured it made sense to go ahead and close it out and make sure it was taken care of," he said. Expanding KidCare is a priority for Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, who has pushed the change for years and is also the Senate's health budget chairman. "It took a couple years but we got there ... We were able to get it done, so it's a good day," Garcia said. Under current law, immigrant children must wait five years before being eligible for KidCare coverage. If the policy is changed, they would be eligible immediately, assuming they are in the country legally. President Barack Obama and Gov. Rick Scott are battling over the same building in efforts to cement their legacies in stimulating the economy. With Obama's visit to a lithium-ion battery company on Friday, the political leaders from opposing parties have now visited the same Jacksonville company within four months, both holding it up as an example of how their economic policies have spurred Florida's economic recovery since 2009. After touring Saft America for nearly 20 minutes, Obama said the nearly 300 "jobs of the future" the company is creating is a clear success of the federal stimulus, also called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, passed seven years ago this month. Obama said despite withering criticism from Republicans over the $831 billion program from its inception, it kept America from slipping into an economic depression and spurred innovative new jobs. "I came here to Saft to show what it means to invest in the future," Obama said. "Seven years ago the ground we are standing on was an empty plot of swampland. I don't know if gators make it up this far, but it was not someplace you'd want to be wandering around. It had been ignored for more than a decade since the Navy base here closed." Obama said the Recovery Act didn't just create jobs. He said it invested in the innovation and technology that Saft represents. "We took an empty swamp and turned it into an engine of innovation," Obama said. Four months earlier, Scott was touring the same 235,000-square-foot facility and standing just a few hundred feet to the right highlighting his education policies to emphasize high-tech job training and his efforts to help recruit national and international companies to expand their operations in Florida. Full Story Here via @glenngarvin No matter what Barack Obama does in Havana next month, his visit just isnt going to measure up to the one Calvin Coolidge made in 1928. Yeah, that Coolidge, the guy remembered as Silent Cal when hes remembered at all, the one a reporter once wrote had the perpetual expression of one who had been weaned on a pickle. His visit to Cuba the last one by an American president was nonetheless a festival of drunken debauchery, inebriated idiocy, salacious smuggling and even unnatural acts with Key lime pies. The full story didnt emerge for 30 years, when a reporter finally spilled the beans on a tale with elements of pageantry, drama, comedy and farce; of ponderous dignity and unseemly revelry; of silk-hatted diplomacy with a dash of dipsomania. Lest President Obama get the wrong idea of whats expected of U.S. leaders when visiting Cuba, we should probably note at this point that President Coolidge himself did not partake (well, there was an incident with hookers that well get back to, but mostly) of the depravity. Though some Cubans thought they saw the president himself slinking through Havanas back-alley dives, incongruously wearing a top hat, they were mistaken, victims of a practical-joke impression of Coolidge by an American reporter who resembled the president. And you thought the mainstream media was rough on presidents these days. But were getting ahead of the story. Until Obama announced a couple of weeks ago that he was going to Cuba, practically nobody remembered Coolidges 1928 trip. Yet at the time, it was a big, big deal, and even had parallels to today. Coolidge, too, was a lame-duck president looking to cap his stay in the White House with a signature foreign-policy achievement. More here. The Florida Legislature began budget negotiations with a bang Friday evening by immediately handing two huge defeats to Gov. Rick Scott on both of his priorities of tax cuts and money for incentives to attract jobs. Scott wanted $1 billion in tax relief, and legislative leaders say they have agreed to $400 million. Scott wanted $250 million over three years for a new enterprise fund to attract jobs to the state, and leaders have wiped it out. "The enterprise fund is at zero," Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Land O'Lakes, chairman of a House-Senate budget conference committee, told reporters after budget conferees held a three-minute organizational meeting. Corcoran and other House leaders had opposed the $250 million incentive fund, calling it "corporate welfare" and openly ridiculing Scott's contention that it is needed to attract jobs. Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, vice-chairman of the budget conference panel, said the legislative leadership has agreed to $400 million in tax cuts, less than half of what Scott had demanded. Details of the tax cut package were not immediately available. By setting on $400 million in tax cuts, lawmakers are forcing Scott to violate a major promise he made to Florida voters in his 2014 re-election campaign that he would cut taxes by $1 billion over two years. (Last year's tax relief package was slightly below $450 million). Lee said only $200 million of the tax cuts would be recurring or permanent. That's yet another damaging blow to Scott, who wanted more than three times that much in recurring tax cuts, much of it in the form of a reduction in taxes on commercial leases paid by businesses. "We came up to a number that we thought made sense based upon the long-range financial outlook we have for our state, and that's where we settled," Lee said. Senators originally proposed $250 million in tax cuts, far short of what Scott and the House supported. Lee and other senators said they would be putting the stat ein future financial jeopardy if they cut deeper than that. Describing the mood of GOP lawmakers, one legislative veteran said of Scott: "He's going to veto everything anyway, so why give him anything?" The decision by Republican lawmakers to reject the priorities of their party's governor are certain to have political implications, but Scott had no immediate reaction Friday evening. Budget negotiations are expected to continue all weekend, but so many lawmakers went home Friday thatit wasn't clear whether some budget conference committees would have enough members to meet. Lawmakers have until Tuesday, March 8, to reach a budget deal for the 2016 session to end on schedule on March 11. @MichaelAuslen Senators aren't too pleased with Dr. John Armstrong. But some health care groups are happy to endorse the embattled surgeon general, whose confirmation is in jeopardy. And Gov. Rick Scott's office and the Department of Health are making sure everyone knows about it. The governor's office and DOH communications staffs spent Friday sending out press releases touting support, an unusual move as Armstrong heads into a confirmation hearing Tuesday when he could be voted down, losing his $141,000 job running DOH. As of Friday afternoon, both communications shops had released letters under the heading "In Case You Missed It" from the Florida Medical Association, Leading Age Florida, the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association and AIDS Health Care Foundation. The latter group has been critical of Armstrong's handling of rising HIV infections in Florida, which leads the nation in new cases. In that same time, DOH's county health clinics have shrunk. In reporting highlighting thoses trends, David Poole, director of legislative affairs for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation told the Times/Herald last month, "Without leadership at the head of the agency speaking about this, it creates a hurdle." Now, though, his group is on board with Armstrong, consenting to have a letter of support Poole wrote to Senate Rules Chairman Garrett Richter, R-Naples, widely distributed by DOH. Since January, Poole said, he has been pleased by how much Armstrong has talked about the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the state. "We are seeing all the things that need to be happening," Poole said. "We feel like it's important to support anyone in leadership that we feel like are doing what we think they need to do." There's another element of that support, though: Not knowing who Scott might appoint if Armstrong loses his job. "If the surgeon general, who now we know does embrace this issue, if we do not have him confirmed for the remainder of the term ... We're very concerned about who might succeed him," Poole said. Armstrong's confirmation is on shaky ground. A hearing was cancelled at the last minute Tuesday after it was clear the surgeon general would not have enough support in the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee for his confirmation to pass. A second attempt at a hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. Got some ideas about economics, policy, science, art or whatever, and you can write? Let us know here , we're looking for contributors! If the Indian delegation to the Bretton Woods conference of 1944 had an enduring legacy, it was the change in the treatment of unilateral transfers" in the balance of payments" accounting system. The balance of payments is the record of all international economic transactions. Among these, unilateral transfers are cross-border payments that do not correspond to any exchange of goods or serviceessentially net receipt of remittance from emigrants or donor aid that is not backed by any exchange of goods or services or assets. In the current system of cross-border bookkeeping, unilateral transfers are recorded in the current account (income from trade and foreign business interests) and not the capital account (financial transactions that end up balancing the current account deficit or surplus) side of the transactions. This can be confusing since such transfers are purely financial transactions ideally suited to the capital account. Here, I recount how a still colonized India tried to shape the international economic orderincluding the balance of payments accounting systemin 1944. The interwar years (1919-39) were a tumultuous period for the global economy. The easy flow of cross-border capital had a destabilizing effect and efforts to deal with them contributed towards causing the Great Depression of the 1930s. Therefore, any post-World War II global monetary system had to prevent a repeat of such flows. The United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in July 1944, better known as Bretton Woods Conference after its venue in New Hampshire, did just that. The treasury departments of both the US and the UK had been working on a plan for a post-war monetary system since at least 1942. John Maynard Keynes, the premier economist of his generation and arguably of the 20th century, had been the driving force on the British side. The American plans were the brainchild of a Harvard-trained economist and a senior US treasury official, Harry Dexter White. Curiously, there had been rumoursdismissed at that timeabout White being a Soviet spy. After his death, declassified FBI papers revealed that he was, in fact, a Soviet sympathizer who had been passing off secret information to Moscow. Reflecting the relative status of the two countriesthe US was creditor to the world, while the UK was drowning in war-related debtthe final outcome was much closer to what White had envisaged. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the global currency system that lasted until 1972 were the pillars of the new order. Bretton Woods sought the expansion of global trade and the restoration of orderly exchange ratesboth having been a casualty of trade barriers, opportunistic devaluations and volatile capital flows during the depression. To deal with volatile capital flows, the agreement at the conference obliged members to restrict the convertibility of their currencies to trade-related payments only. Convertibility of currencies means the freedom to convert a currency into another foreign currency at the prevailing exchange rate. So, for example, an Indian exporter could convert his/her dollar earnings into rupees (since it is a trade-related transaction), but if an Indian wanted to buy an asset in America, he/she was not free to convert rupees into dollars to pay for that asset (since it is a purely financial transaction). The idea was to restrict speculative capital flows from one country to another that could potentially put pressure on the prevailing exchange rate. Unilateral transfers are, however, purely financial transactions. This was a problem for India, and others such as China and Greece, for they received substantial amounts of remittancesa unilateral transferfrom emigrants. Restriction on their convertibility would have meant they could no longer send their money back home. India and China successfully led an effort to classify such transfers as current account transactions so as to preserve their convertibility. The Soviet Union tried to scuttle the plan, as it was worried about outflow of capital disguised as remittance, but in vain. This is how the quirk of treating unilateral transfers as current account transactions in the current convention of balance of payments bookkeeping came into being. India had sent a five-member delegation comprising two Englishmen and three Indians, ably assisted by another Indian and an Englishman. Smaller than the ones sent by other countriesa total of more than 700 delegates represented 44 countrieswhat the contingent lacked in numbers, it made up in talent. It was led by Indias then finance minister, Sir Jeremy Raisman, with then Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Sir Chintaman Dwarakanath Deshmukh (the first Indian to hold that post) being the second in command. The economic adviser to the government of India, Sir Theodore Gregory, came next, followed by two non-official delegatesSir Shanmukham Chetty, a politician, and A.D. Shroff, an industrialist. Assisting them were B.K. Madan, then director of research at RBI, and Sir David Meek, the Indian trade commissioner in London. Apart from the Philippine Commonwealth, India was the only colony represented at the conference and was noted for its active participation. India asserted its own identity and interest at the global stagetirelessly fighting even with the Britsdespite not yet being independent. Standing at the threshold of independence, India was keen to cement a place on the global high table. The way to do that was to secure a reasonably large quotathe subscription paid by member states, which determines voting power and the capacity to borrow from the IMFfor India and a permanent seat on the executive board of the IMF and the World Bank. An Indian delegate put forth the case for an Indian representation emphatically: ...Indias importance, Indias economic importance, should be recognised in international institutions of this character. It is not merely the size of India; it is not merely the population of Indiaand I may say that one out of every four of the people represented at this conference is an Indianit is that on purely objective economic criteria, India feels she is an extremely important part of the world and will probably be an even more important part in the years to come..." The nominal size of the quota was important as far as borrowing capacity in a crisis was concerned. However, India was rightly more concerned with the quotas relative position among countries, since it determined the countrys place in the pecking order. The initially proposed quota of $300 million was found to be unsatisfactory for it was only half of what the Chinese were gettingyes, we have been at it for decades. India even tried to push for equality with a superpower like the Soviet Union, much to the chagrin of the Russian delegate. Keynes played a decisive role in ameliorating Indias concerns. India being still a part of the British Empire, and his own connection with Indiahe started his career at the India Office in London and his first book was Indian Currency and Finance probably helped. He persuaded the Americans to raise Indias quota to $400 million, and reduce Chinas to $550 million. However, as there was no change in relative positions and India remained sixth in the hierarchy, Deshmukh urged India to walk out. At that point, the Soviet Unions withdrawalthe IMF wanted countries to provide credible and detailed economic data and the Soviets refusedcame as a boon for India, as it pushed up Indias ranking to fifth. Now, India was automatically entitled to have an executive director without going through a process of election. Indias most immediate concern was the settlement of the pound sterling balances it had built up with the UK during the war. The UK had borrowed heavily from its colonies, mostly from India, to finance the war effort against the Axis powers. Given the destruction of the British economy during the war, the settlement of that debt was in limbo. Furthermore, given the magnitude of Indias balances, restrictions had been placed over the use and currency convertibility of those debtsessential foreign exchange reserves for Indiato avoid a run on the pound. India wanted a decision on the convertibility of those balances. Shroff likened India to a man with a million-dollar bank balance... but not sufficient cash to pay his taxi fare". India pushed, but failed to find a clear resolution of that issue throughout the three weeks at Bretton Woods. It had to be satisfied with an assurance by Keynes himself, that the issue would be settled in a fair manner at a later date. Indian concerns were more than legitimate, but given the scope of the conference, it was hardly the right place to resolve a bilateral issue of that nature. Both the countries would eventually reach a compromise a decade later. High on Indias agenda was also the goal to get the IMF to adopt the economic development of poor countries as one of its purposes. This was a precursor to post-Independence Indias role as the leader of the third world. As a colonial administrator, finance minister Raismans role was commendable. He strongly objected to the conspicuous focus on the concerns of industrial countriesincluding his own home countryat the cost of underdeveloped agricultural countries. India achieved modest success on this front. The document listing the purpose of the IMF remained largely unchanged. While India wanted a special mention for the needs of economically backward countries, the final document committed the IMF to promote trade and development for the benefit of all members. However, the purpose of the World Bankdrafted under Keyness supervisionwas changed to lay greater emphasis on economic development. In a nutshell, Indian participation at Bretton Woods was a partial success. It gained a seat at the high table, at least until quotas were reset decades later when the Indian economy had fallen down the ladder. India was successful in putting poverty and development on the agenda of the World Bank, which was originally conceived as a fund to assist the rebuilding of a war-ravaged Europethe World Bank was essentially the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, until its expansion from 1956 onwards. Indias strident efforts to settle the issue of pound sterling balances with the UK came a cropper, but given the terms of reference for the conference, it was a non-starter. The role of the different personalities of the delegation was notable. The colonial administrators, especially Raisman, represented India with an unwavering focus on the countrys interests. Perhaps the only note of discord was when Deshmukh had threatened a walkout over the issue of quotas and Raisman had reacted sharply to the unfortunate Indian tendency to non-cooperate". Half an hour later, he himself suggested that in case quotas remained the same, withdrawal would be the only honourable course. Accounts suggest that Raisman encouraged his Indian subordinates and allowed Deshmukh to emerge as the de facto leader of the team. Deshmukh, who continued his illustrious career by taking over as finance minster in 1950, greatly impressed Keynes during the negotiations. Keynes singled out Deshmukh for praise, commenting on his dignity, ability and reasonableness". Shroff, then director of Tata Sons Ltd, was instrumental in putting forth Indias position on sterling balances. He once told the chair curtly that he had heard and understood" the British delegates reply, but he did not find it satisfactory". Chetty worked closely with Raisman in pushing for the inclusion development goals on the agenda and would go on to become independent Indias first finance minister. In the first four decades since Independence, the Indian economy languished measurably behind its peers. Its influence on the global stage receded accordingly. It has recovered a lot of ground over the past two decades. That the size of the Indian economy was a decisive factor in securing a place on the IMF/World Bank executive board in 1944 only underlines why economic growth must be at the centre of the Indian diplomatic strategy. Today, the need for a non-European/American managing director of the IMF is widely recognized. When Christine Lagarde finishes her tenure in 2021, India must aim to fight for that roleRBI governor Raghuram Rajan would be a worthy candidateand help set the rules of the game. Postscript: Details of the conference presented here are largely based on three sources. The primary source is the transcripts of the Bretton Woods Conference that were discovered a few years ago. They were edited by Kurt Schuler and Andrew Rosenberg and published in 2013 as The Bretton Wood Transcripts. Secondly, the Barons of Banking by Bakhtiar K. Dadabhoy, a history of Indian banking, also gives an account of the Indian delegations time at the conference. Finally, The Battle of Bretton Woods is an excellent blow-by-blow history of the whole conference, focusing especially on the rivalry of John Maynard Keynes and Harry Dexter White. Ankit Mital is an economist and a lapsed academic. He is currently writing a book on the 1991 economic crisis and liberalization. His Twitter handle is @Molto_Vivace_88 Comments are welcome at feedback@livemint.com Topics Many people are of the view that it takes young leaders to attract the support of the youth in politics. Evidence from two of the most advanced countries in the worldthe US and the UKmight force such people to revisit their ideas. The support of young voters has been crucial in the tough fight 74-year-old Bernie Sanders is giving to the earlier favourite Hillary Clinton in the primaries for deciding the Democratic Partys presidential candidate in the US. Similarly, the rise of 66-year-old Jeremy Corbyn as the Labour Partys leader in Britain has a lot to do with the support he has received from young voters. In fact, during the Labour leadership contest, there was an influx of young members which brought down the partys average age from 53 to 42 years, according a piece published in The Guardian. The surge in youth support for politicians like Sanders and Corbyn comes after the overwhelming support for Narendra Modi from a large chunk of Indian voters in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. Here too, young voters gave overwhelming support to a 60-plus Modi against a relatively younger Rahul Gandhi. In a 2015 Economic and Political Weekly paper, Deepankar Basu and Kartik Misra, economists at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, argue this point by drawing a relation between the state-wise change in proportion of first-time voters in the 2014 election and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s vote share. Based on a cross-state regression analysis, the authors find that for every 1 percentage point increase in the share of first-time voters (those aged 18-22 years) in the states population, the BJP recorded close to a 3.7 percentage point increase in its vote share in 2014 in comparison to the 2009 Lok Sabha election. The paper also shows that incremental vote share falls as older voters are included in the analysis. While Basu and Misra use their findings to argue that the youth vote was significant in the BJPs victory, they stop short of providing any explanations for it. Interestingly, they also find that the BJPs youth voter advantage did not hold for groups like Muslims or Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, traditionally known to be supporters of non-BJP parties. The paper argues that the Lok Sabha election results suggest there are no significant differences in voting patterns for different levels of literacy, rural population share or state per-capita incomes. However, a more historical analysis of voting trends seems to suggest that the surge in youth support for Modi may be a one-off event in Indias polity. In an opinion piece published in Mint before the 2014 election, Sanjay Kumar, professor at the Centre for Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), which has been researching Indian elections over the past few decades, argued that the youth in India are as divided as other voters along the usual cleavages of caste, class and region. Kumar claims that in the five Lok Sabha elections before 2014 (2009, 2004, 1999, 1998 and 1996) the youth never voted en masse for any particular party, although a particular party might have got more votes than another in a given election. Kumar did predict a youth vote dividend for the BJP in 2014 with a rider that the support may not be equal in all states. International evidence on the relation between age and sociopolitical attitudes also suggests that caution should be observed in drawing any one-to-one relation between age and political preferences. In a 2007 paper published in the American Sociological Review, Nicholas L. Danigelis and Stephen J. Cutler at the University of Vermont and Melissa Hardy at the Pennsylvania State University question the commonly held stereotype of older people being more politically conservative. The paper is based on data from 25 US General Society Surveys carried out during 1972-2004 and takes into account views on attitudes towards historically subordinate groups, support for civil liberties and boundaries of privacy. The authors find that a change in political views is as common among old people as it is among younger adults. The study also finds that in a number of cases, older people become more liberal when younger people are becoming more liberal and more conservative when younger people are becoming more conservative, thereby implying a lifelong openness to change. It is also a fact that in European countries, the youths participation in elections has been declining. Data from National Election Studies conducted by the CSDS show that even in India, the youth participation in elections did not increase significantly between 1996 and 2009. A 2005 paper by Matt Henn, Mark Weinstein and Sarah Forrest at Nottingham Trent University looked at the question of political views of the youth in the context of extremely low turnout in the 2001 British election, where the number of those who abstained was greater than the votes polled by the winning party. The authors flag a particularly low turnout of 39% among young voters (18-24 years) in comparison to the overall polling percentage of 59.4%. The low turnout among the youth persisted in the 2005 election, although the overall voting percentage went up. Henn and his co-authors sought to examine a hypothesis on whether the low engagement of youth is reflective of their dissatisfaction with politics in general or towards what is generally construed as politics which involves working with political parties. To do so, the authors conducted a detailed postal questionnaire survey among randomly selected young voters, asking multiple questions to gather their views on politics as a broad concept. Their findings show that a majority of the youth claimed to have an interest in politics and were willing to discuss it with friends and families. However, a disaggregation of issues that concerned the youth shows that more people were interested in issues like health, education and war and militarism as opposed to what the authors call traditional materialist issues" like economic matters, Europe, crime and law and order. In addition to this, 82% of the respondents also said that they had little or no influence in political or political affairs, thus showing a feeling of lack of say rather than lack of interest in politics. It is this fact that perhaps explains the unwillingness of 60-63% of respondents to take part in political activities or protests. The research cited above shows that rather than it being a case of the youth being disinterested in politics per se, their reluctance to engage more might be a result of cynicism about political processes and parties. A 2010 paper by Michael S. Kang at the Emory University School of Law published in the Michigan Law Review may help us reconcile the apparent indifference of young voters towards politics with the growing support for radical politicians in advanced countries. Kang suggests that rather than thinking of the vote as an affirmation of certain preferences voters might have, it may be better to think of the vote as a veto against the least preferred alternative among the available choices. The youth support for Sanders is such a veto against established politicians and sociopolitical structure, Jacob Weisberg argued in the Financial Times. What are these young Democratic voters saying with their curious vogue for Old Man Sanders?" wrote Weisberg. Many different things, of course: that corporate money has corrupted politics; that they are unexcited about the prospect of finally electing the first woman president; that their university debt burden is too heavy; that they do not believe Mrs Clinton is quite honest; and that they find Mr Sanders authentic and sincere. But more than any of these particular messages, millennial supporters of Mr Sanders are expressing a philosophical shift. They are saying they reject the current configuration of liberal capitalism as a system capable of producing a decent society. Few of Mr Sanders voters are socialists in the sense of subscribing to a Marxian economic framework prescribing state ownership of industry, redistribution of wealth and a planned economy. But the term socialist does not alarm them as it did their parents." If one were to see the growing support for radical leaders like Sanders and Corbyn in this context, the political economy might help us understand the churn more clearly. In a 1998 paper, American political scientist Ruy Teixeria argued that US voters have become more sensitive to change in their economic condition while making political choices in the post-1973 period compared the period before 1973. Teixeria justifies using 1973 as a break point on the grounds that although the rate of growth of the economy continued in the post-1973 period, family incomes flattened out. Inequality began rising in the 1970s. Teixeria showed that people are twice more likely to vote against an incumbent government if they suffered a deterioration in material conditions in the post-1973 period compared to earlier. The fact that advanced capitalist economies are still caught in a recession after so many years despite changes in governments might be pushing the envelope of politics in these countries. This difference in economic prospects marks an important distinction between India and most countries in the West, which are witnessing severe economic stress, with disproportionate impact on the young. In contrast, Indias growth engine still retains its allure for many young people. But if the promise of better jobs for the young remains just a promise, we may expect the youth to be restive here too. Economics Express runs weekly, and features interesting reads from the world of economics and finance. Comments are welcome at feedback@livemint.com Topics A prototype of the latest version of the MQ-1C Gray Eagle will be headed to Europe soon for a series of demonstrations, according to the ... POLSON A Dayton resident has been banned from Wild Horse Island, and lost his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for three years, for multiple violations of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks regulations. Michael Filipek accepted a plea bargain and pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing bighorn sheep horns that came from Wild Horse, and to illegally killing a bobcat and mountain lion. The killings did not take place on the 2,164-acre Flathead Lake island, most of which is a primitive state park. FWP said Warden Sgt. Nathan Reiner and Polson Game Warden Ron Howell were on Wild Horse to investigate the reported killing of a large bighorn ram when they encountered Filipek on March 13, 2015. The wardens interviewed Filipek on the island and were able to determine that Filipek had picked up two bighorn ram heads and moved them out of plain view, according to FWP Region 1 spokesman John Fraley. It is illegal to pick up bighorn sheep horns anyplace in Montana, FWP Warden Capt. Lee Anderson said. Filipek was not cited at the time. But later, Reiner, Howell and FWP criminal investigator Brian Sommers obtained a search warrant for Filipeks home. A set of bighorn sheep horns that Filipek had previously taken from Wild Horse Island were seized, Fraley said. The investigation also showed that Filipek had illegally shot a bobcat in 2013 and illegally shot a mountain lion in 2013. This is a very important case for the state parks division, regional park manager Dave Landstrom said. It is illegal to remove natural or cultural artifacts from any of Montanas state parks. The intent of this law is that anyone who visits a state park should have an opportunity to enjoy these artifacts and then leave them where they lay so that then next visitor can do the same. Fraley said there is a huge commercial value in bighorn sheep horns, especially ones of world class-caliber like the Wild Horse Island sheep. Anderson said the sheep were not shot and were likely killed by a mountain lion. Filipek pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of bighorn sheep horns, unlawful possession of a mountain lion, unlawful possession of a bobcat and hunting without a license. In addition to being banned from Wild Horse and losing his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for three years, he was ordered to pay $1,200 in fines and restitution. Montanas first case of a Zika virus infection has been diagnosed in Missoula County. The Montana Department of Health and Human Service on Friday said a woman from Missoula County was infected while on a trip to a Zika-affected area. Her infection poses no public health threat locally, officials said. It just serves as a reminder that it can happen if you travel to an area where its actively being transmitted, Cindy Hotchkiss said. Hotchkiss, director of the Health Promotion Division of the Missoula City-County Health Department, said officials would not identify the country the woman had been visiting or her age. To protect the privacy of the individual, we are not disclosing what country she was in, Hotchkiss said. The woman is not pregnant. *** Zika is a disease caused by a virus that is spread to humans primarily through the bite of an infected species of mosquito that is not found in Montana. The symptoms are usually mild, hospitalizations are rare and four out of five people who are infected show no symptoms at all. But the virus has been linked with serious health problems in pregnant women, primarily a birth defect called microcephaly that has been found in children born to women who had a Zika infection. Babies with microcephaly are born with smaller-than-normal heads and brains that are not fully developed. This case serves as a reminder that anyone traveling to Zika-affected parts of the world should be mindful of the health issues present in that region, said Jim Murphy, of the states Communicable Disease Bureau. Montana is the 25th state in the nation to report a travel-associated case of Zika. *** There are 34 countries, including three U.S. territories, where the Zika virus is being actively transmitted, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They include nations in Central and South America, the Caribbean, Pacific islands, Mexico and Cape Verde, an island nation off the coast of Africa. Mosquito-borne transmission of the virus also has been reported in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa. In addition to mosquito bites, the Zika virus can be sexually transmitted. Theres not enough information to know if a woman can transmit it to a man, Hotchkiss said, but it has been transmitted from men to women. Its believed the virus lives longer in semen than it does in the blood. Hotchkiss said that makes it important for females of child-bearing age to know if their sexual partners have traveled to places where the virus is being actively transmitted, and if so, to use condom protection. The Missoula County case is the 108th confirmed in the U.S. All are travel-related; none were acquired locally. More than half the reported cases in the U.S. have been in three states Florida, New York and Texas. *** With spring break approaching, Montana officials also noted the time when some students head for warmer climates is only a few weeks away. Spring is also a time when faith organizations and health care professionals often travel to Zika-affected areas to do charity work. Travel can be a safe, healthy and enjoyable activity, the Montana Department of Health and Human Services noted, but its important to protect yourself and your family while traveling. Avoid diseases spread by mosquitoes by making prevention an essential part of planning for a trip. The Missoula-based Ecology Project International has been dealing with the threat of mosquito-borne diseases for longer than the Zika virus has been in the news, executive director Scott Pankratz said Friday. Its a big issue, Pankratz said. We have staff in Mexico, Costa Rica and Ecuador, all places where the Zika virus is active. But there are simple measures people can take, such as using mosquito repellent and wearing appropriate clothing, to mitigate the risk. Pankratz said EPI has long been advising staff about protecting themselves from mosquito-transmitted diseases such as dengue fever, and the Zika virus only reinforces the message. EPI, a nonprofit that seeks to inspire science education and conservation efforts by giving young people opportunities to actively participate in conservation projects, has 23 staff members in Costa Rica, 19 in Mexico and 10 in Ecuador. We also have seven in Belize, which is not a Zika-affected country, but is in that tropical area where others are, Pankratz said, and were advising them to take the same precautions as we do everyone else. The state Health and Humans Services website, dphhs.mt.gov, has information on the prevention, signs and symptoms of the Zika virus, and links to the CDC website for more details. UNITED NATIONS Against the backdrop of relentless airstrikes on rebel-held positions inside Syria, the United Nations Security Council on Friday unanimously endorsed a deal negotiated between the United States and Russia for a cessation of hostilities. The United Nations mediator, Staffan de Mistura, said he hoped the pause could allow desperately needed food and medicines to get into towns under siege for months. And if the truce holds, he added, it could pave the way for political negotiations to resume on March 7. It is, potentially, a historic junction to bring an end to the killing and destruction and to start a new life and new hope for the Syrians, Mr. de Mistura said. The truce does not apply to the Islamic State, or to Al Qaedas affiliate, known as the Nusra Front. A category vaguely described as other terrorist groups is also excluded. Russia has used this as a rationale for striking rebels that it contends are fighting alongside the Nusra Front. Motoring-Malaysia.blogspot.my is an award winning Malaysian motoring / automotive / car news & reviews website or auto blog. It is where we rant and rave about cars, trucks, buses, motoring, motor vehicles and any interesting automotive industry related stuff. Unswayed in our point of view and darn proud of it! It's not about the numbers...it's about passion. Since 2006 and going strong. This week's state Supreme Court's ruling, which upholds most of the 2011 Montana Marijuana Act, could throw 40 shops out of business in Southwest Montana. In Butte-Silver Bow County alone, 24 medical marijuana providers are in jeopardy. But it's not just the providers whose livelihoods are threatened. In Southwest Montana, the ruling will affect 1,874 patients, according to Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services website. In Butte, it will impact 855 patients, some of whom use marijuana for pain relief. Les, a 64-year-old Vietnam veteran, is one such medical marijuana client in Butte. He declined to give his last name because he fears potential repercussions. Les said he smokes marijuana cigarettes to help with his glaucoma and shoulder and lower back pain. He may decide to grow marijuana and license himself as a provider in order to help a few friends, he said. The new law is highly restrictive and allows doctors to prescribe medical marijuana to 25 patients a year. Dispensaries can stay open but can only sell to three cardholders. Providers can no longer advertise. The law also prohibits people who are on probation from being able to register as cardholders. Also, the law allows police to search a providers business without a warrant. Enforcement of the new restrictions mainly will be carried out by city and county authorities, Department of Justice spokesman John Barnes said. "The attorney general's office will be communicating with relevant state agencies and local law enforcement regarding timing and enforcement," Barnes said. Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff Ed Lester said, The Supreme Court is the decider of the law and we will enforce it, adding that he realizes its a severe restriction on (providers) businesses. The ruling does not take effect until the judgment is formally entered in district court, which won't happen before March 10, Supreme Court clerk Ed Smith said Friday. That could be delayed further if the plaintiffs who sued to block the 2011 law ask the court for a re-hearing of the case. But, both parties to the lawsuit have 15 days to file for a rehearing. Mort Reid, president of the lead plaintiff Montana Cannabis Information Association, said he doubted such a request would change anything. "It's highly unlikely that we would be granted a re-hearing on this, so that's probably not an option," Reid told The Associated Press. "My advice to all the providers across the state is, in two weeks' time, don't be out of compliance." There were 471 medical marijuana providers for 13,640 registered patients at the end of January, according to the most recent data from the state. Of those providers, 325 supply the drug to more people than the three-patient limit set by state lawmakers and upheld by the Supreme Court's decision. The largest provider has more than 770 patients. Reid acknowledged most of those large operations will have to shut down. Even if all 471 continued to operate with only three patients each, that would leave more than 12,200 patients without a legal way to buy medical marijuana, he said. "People are getting panicked," Reid said. "I'm sure they're trying to stock up and get ready for the impact." Jim Goetz, Bozeman-based lawyer for the cannabis association, said he still has to digest the courts decision. He couldnt say for sure whether the association will file for a rehearing but added, we probably will. Goetz said the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, which oversees medical marijuana providers, needs transition time in order to be able to put into practice the new regulation. Jon Ebelt, the departments public information officer, on Friday could not say how the new rules would be enforced or what the changes would look like. In Butte, Mark Gibbons Jr., who runs Montana Natural Medicine, 201 Continental Dr., said he spent $10,000 last year building a greenhouse. Now he wishes he hadnt spent that money, but added, Ill get by. One of Gibbons' biggest challenges is deciding how he will whittle his clients down to three. Do I chose the three who are most sick? Or the three who buy the most? Or do I pick the three whove been with me the longest? Who are the most loyal? Gibbons asked. Gibbons had other questions, such as how the rule prohibiting providers from advertising will be interpreted. Is a Facebook page advertisement? Can I leave my business signs up? Gibbons said. In recent years, the laws have become more relaxed instead of more restrictive in most states. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have laws legalizing marijuana in some form, and 12 more states are considering it. Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Colorado and Washington D.C. have all legalized marijuana for recreational use. Montana voters passed an initiative in 2004 making medical marijuana legal. Concerned over the abuse of the system, the legislature passed the Montana Marijuana Act in 2011. The Supreme Court stated in its decision, the Legislature considered abuses that had occurred under the 2004 law, such as ... a disproportionate number of medical marijuana users who falsified or exaggerated their need for medical marijuana. After the legislature passed the Montana Marijuana Act in 2011, the cannabis association was granted an injunction to keep the law from going into effect. Since then, marijuana dispensaries have been operating under business as usual conditions. Gibbons said he was shocked, after all this time, to learn the Supreme Court made the decision. I wish they had worked with us to create a better law, Gibbons said. I didnt bet on this happening. The high court upheld all but one of the rules in the Montana Marijuana Act. The law prohibited providers from being able to derive compensation for selling medical marijuana. That is the only rule the states Supreme Court struck down in its 6-to-1 decision. Justice Mike Wheat dissented, stating, the state cannot go so far in creating a regulatory framework that it violates the rights of patients by limiting or eliminating access Another Butte provider who didnt see the decision coming is Tyler McLaughlin, owner of Green Thumb, 3333 Harrison Ave. McLaughlin said that although hes been open for less than a month, hes more worried about the patients who rely on medical marijuana for pain relief than he is for his business. (The law) will force it back to the black market, McLaughlin said. Both McLaughlin and Gibbons predict that soon, marijuana laws will change all across the country including Montana. The cannabis associations Reid said the best chance to reverse the Supreme Court's decision is a proposed ballot initiative his organization is sponsoring that would loosen the restrictions. The initiative proposal is under legal review by state officials. "We are confident we can get it qualified, and we will get the signatures to get it on the ballot," Reid said. "I think there are enough people angry by the legislature's action in 2011 to get it passed." A new cultural wind is blowing across the planet. Diverse faith communities, religious leaders and individuals have begun to commit themselves to mutual understanding and cooperation on issues of vital human concern. The recent World Parliament of Religions in Salt Lake City (October 2015) drew over 10,000 participants from around the world who set aside theological differences to consider common actions on poverty, childhood hunger, disease, peace, justice and the environmental crisis. Recently, Pope Francis and the Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church met to focus on ending a rift that occurred in the 12th Century that had far more to do with the politics of the late Roman Empire than with everyday practice of Christians. The split has endured, however, and only now comes to be questioned as Christians in both the East and West find themselves facing issues of poverty, persecution and war. This coming together of two important church leaders to discuss issues facing them both is in keeping with a growing interfaith dialogue that is occurring around the globe. Much of that dialogue is happening on the local and regional level, however, as people of faith often find themselves moving ahead of denominational and institutional leadership. Literally thousands of interfaith groups have formed in communities large and small. Interfaith organizations are beginning to replace the old ecumenical councils and organizations. Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and others now sit down together to address their common concerns and visions. However, they have to learn about each other in order to do that. Faith communities are moving beyond mere tolerance to deep listening, learning and appreciation of one another. These are exciting times to be living and working in religion. There remain those who are frightened by this new dialogue, however. Despite Jesus' repeated admonition that we are not to be afraid (John 14), the often hysterical fear of the other still dominates some religious thinking and practice. Such fear, I believe, is a sign of deep insecurity, weak religious identity and shaky faith. Such fear is a sign of commitment to an ideology rather than to the living presence of God. I am still shocked when I discover that some people are not welcome at the table of fellowship to discuss common concerns. In my view, if anyone comes in peace with a willingness to listen, understand and work together, then they are welcome to the table. Attempts to convert one another have historically failed, and now the fate of the human race hangs on the possibility that we can evolve a way of being together that does not require of us to give up our individual identities but does require that we lay down our theological swords for a higher purpose. As a Christian, I am always reminded that the Word of God became human to dwell among us (John 1) with his transforming love. The Word of God is alive in the human community and should never be reduced to a set of theological abstractions or to the slinging of doctrinal anathemas toward others. The Word of God welcomes children, the stranger, the broken, the imprisoned, the hungry, and those who need to be clothed with peace, security and love. (Matthew 25) In that spirit, interfaith relationships are the wave of the future, I believe, as God helps us to become more human and divine. MISSOULA Montanas first case of a Zika virus infection has been diagnosed in Missoula County. The Montana Department of Health and Human Service on Friday said that an adult female from Missoula County was infected while on a trip to a Zika-affected area. Her infection poses no public health threat locally, officials said. It just serves as a reminder that it can happen if you travel to an area where its actively being transmitted, Cindy Hotchkiss said. Hotchkiss, director of the Health Promotion Division of the Missoula City-County Health Department, said officials would not identify the country the woman had been visiting or her age. To protect the privacy of the individual, we are not disclosing what country she was in, Hotchkiss said. The woman is not pregnant. Zika is a disease caused by a virus that is spread to humans primarily through the bite of an infected species of mosquito that is not found in Montana. The symptoms are usually mild, hospitalizations are rare, and four out of five people who are infected show no symptoms at all. But the virus has been linked with serious health problems in pregnant women, primarily a birth defect called microcephaly that has been found in children born to women who had a Zika infection. Babies with microcephaly are born with smaller-than-normal heads and brains that are not fully developed. This case serves as a reminder that anyone traveling to Zika-affected parts of the world should be mindful of the health issues present in that region, Jim Murphy, of the states Communicable Disease Bureau, said. Montana is the 25th state in the nation to report a travel-associated case of Zika. There are 34 countries, including three U.S. territories, where the Zika virus is being actively transmitted, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They include nations in Central and South America; the Caribbean; Pacific islands; Mexico; and Cape Verde, an island nation off the coast of Africa. Mosquito-borne transmission of the virus has also been reported in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. In addition to mosquito bites, the Zika virus can be sexually transmitted. Theres not enough information to know if a woman can transmit it to a man, Hotchkiss said, but it has been transmitted from men to women. Its believed the virus lives longer in semen than it does in the blood. Hotchkiss said that makes it important for females of child-bearing age to know if their sexual partners have traveled to places where the virus is being actively transmitted, and if so, to use condom protection. The Missoula County case is the 108th confirmed in the United States. All are travel-related; none were acquired locally. More than half the reported cases in the U.S. have been in three states Florida, New York and Texas. With spring break approaching, Montana officials also noted the time when some students head for warmer climates is only a few weeks away. Spring is also a time when faith organizations and health care professionals often travel to Zika-affected areas to do charity work. Travel can be a safe, healthy and enjoyable activity, the Montana Department of Health and Human Services noted, but its important to protect yourself and your family while traveling. Avoid diseases spread by mosquitoes by making prevention an essential part of planning for a trip. The Missoula-based Ecology Project International has been dealing with the threat of mosquito-borne diseases for longer than the Zika virus has been in the news, executive director Scott Pankratz said Friday. Its a big issue, Pankratz said. We have staff in Mexico, Costa Rica and Ecuador, all places where the Zika virus is active. But there are simple measures people can take, such as using mosquito repellent and wearing appropriate clothing, to mitigate the risk. Pankratz said EPI has long been advising staff about protecting themselves from mosquito-transmitted diseases such as dengue fever, and the Zika virus only reinforces the message. EPI, a nonprofit that seeks to inspire science education and conservation efforts by giving young people opportunities to actively participate in conservation projects, currently has 23 staff members in Costa Rica, 19 in Mexico, and 10 in Ecuador. We also have seven in Belize, which is not a Zika-affected country but is in that tropical area where others are, Pankratz said, and were advising them to take the same precautions as we do everyone else. The state Health and Humans Services website, dphhs.mt.gov, has information on the prevention, signs and symptoms of the Zika virus and links to the CDC website for more details. Environmental group meets Tuesday Citizens Technical Environmental Committee will meet Tuesday, March 1, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Butte Archives, 17 W. Quartz St. CTEC is a group of volunteer citizens who work with the Environmental Protection Agency, the state of Montana, responsible parties, and others to make the Superfund process and cleanup decisions in the Butte area understandable to everyone. Tuesdays meeting will be an opportunity for CTEC and other Butte Superfund stakeholder groups to explore a collaborative approach with EPA to resolve high priority concerns. Updates on the Montana Pole Plant, TetraTech and Restore Our Creek Coalition will be given. Details, call 406-723-6247. Charity shoot, raffle slated March 12 DILLON The sixth annual Hagenbarth Livestock Charity Shoot and Beaverhead Community Wood Bank Raffle will be held on Saturday, March 12, one mile north of Glen, along old Highway 91. Proceeds from all the activities are being donated to the Beaverhead Community Wood Bank. Last years event raised $7,300 for the Beaverhead Alliance Senior Services, which supports a county bus for seniors, Meals on Wheels, and meals at the Senior Citizens Center. Event rules available on site. Three cash prizes will be awarded: $650, $600 and $550. Raffle tickets for prizes donated by local individuals and businesses will be drawn at the event, and you need not be present to win. Prizes include a Model 870 Remington 12-gauge shotgun, cash, tools, knickknacks and a two-day Youth Deer Hunt. Raffle tickets can be purchased from Wood Bank Workers on site, or call 406-835-2312 or 406-490-2121. Shoot participation will be limited to no more than 15 teams. Interested teams can enter by calling 406-835-2312. Lunch will be provided. MUSCATINE, Iowa On a Sunday afternoon in July of 1921, a meeting between two competing jewelers in downtown Muscatine ended in a murder-suicide. And that's where a new work of historical fiction by a husband-wife writing team from Muscatine begins. "That's where we start the story," said Sharon Savage, who with her husband Tom authored "The End of Time: Murder on the Mississippi." "It all fits together." On July 31, 1921, Fitch Swan shot and killed George Volger in Swan's jewelry store in downtown Muscatine. Swan then walked to a funeral parlor a block away where he wrote two notes one to the sheriff, one to the mortician telling them where to find Volger's body. Then he swallowed potassium cyanide and lay down to die. "It is a fascinating story," Tom Savage said. "They're fascinating people." Tom is a retired counselor from Muscatine Community College. Sharon, also retired, taught psychology and sociology courses at MCC and has extensive experience as a social worker. Together, they owned and operated Muscatine Books and More in downtown Muscatine. They started their book project around eight years ago as a venue to tell a lot of downtown history. "We were going to do the whole downtown, and we noticed this one murder ties a lot of stores together," Sharon explained. Tom did the research for the book, pouring through dozens of old Muscatine Journal articles. Fitch Swan opened his first jewelry shop in the 1860s and had success. After his first wife died, he married Elsie, a woman many years his junior. George Volger at age 16 started working for Swan. Volger was trained by Swan but ended up buying another jewelry store and competing against Swan. "That's when things started going south between Volger and Swan," Tom said. The book follows the deteriorating relationship between the two men through numerous local, national, and international events Carrie Nation's visit to Muscatine, Muscatine's button strike, the opening of the Hotel Muscatine, the Texas and Oklahoma oil boom, World War I and the draft, prohibition, women's suffrage, and much more. Tom's research revealed Volger was planning to open a new store in Davenport, which was to be the biggest jewelry store in Iowa. Elsie emerged as one of the most interesting characters. "You could call her a gold digger," Tom explained. "You could call her a young lady wanting some stability." Fitch and Elsie at first lived in his house at the top of West Third Street. Then he built her a new house they called Sheltering Oaks at 1201 Park Drive, across from Weed Park. After Fitch's death, Elsie stayed in Muscatine a few years, then moved to Waterloo with her aunt where she worked and gave lectures on "the psychology of perseverance." But Elsie's wish was to be buried next to her husband in Greenwood Cemetery and she is, in an unmarked grave. "We liked her," Sharon said. "We don't try to make anybody look bad." "The End of Time" is available in Kindle and paperback versions through Amazon.com. The Savages hope a book signing session takes place toward the end of April. "We always wanted to write together, but you need money," Sharon said. "She was in social work, and I was in education, so we pretty much ensured our poverty," Tom quipped. But Tom and Sharon Savage add they are already working on their next book a story of murder in a small town bank. Lomza (pronounced Womza) is our sister city in northeast Poland. It is located on the meandering Narew (Narev) River, on rolling hills that look very much like Iowa. The climate is similar to Iowa, as are the agriculture products and the businesses. Lomza has food processing plants and a furniture factory like Muscatine, and is a regional medical center like Iowa City. The city is much older than any in the United States since Stara Lomza was established in the 9th or 10th centuries as a fortification. The modern town was moved to the present location in the late 1300s. The city now has a population of more than 70,0000 people and is very up to date with highways connecting it to the rest of Europe including Russia, and it has become a center for trade and transportation. Lomza became a sister city to Muscatine in 1994 after Marion Nowysz invited some businessmen from his home country to visit his international trade company in Iowa. This group of men, including his trading partner Stefan Sutyniec, attended an agricultural and business seminar here. While the visitors were in Muscatine they learned of Sister Cities and decided they would like to form a partnership. The Nowyszs and Herta Nesterenko met with local city leaders for permission to sign an agreement. Cynthia Maeglin later traveled to Poland with the agreement to have it signed by city officials in Lomza. On our visits to Lomza we have stayed with wonderful people who have become long-time friends. Many have come to Muscatine on exchanges through Sister Cities including members of the symphony and its conductors, students, business people and tourists. Poland has so many interesting sites it is difficult to choose, we love seeing the storks that are everywhere, nesting on chimneys, tall poles or rooftops or in the fields eating frogs and insects. Lomza is located at the edge of Polands largest national park where there are deer, wild boar, swans, eagles, wolves and unique birds native to only that region. You can visit a museum about amber mining, trade, and jewelry making, or go to the bunkers and tunnels built during the several wars fought in this area including WWI and WWII. There is a historic old cathedral, and a modern new cathedral to visit along with many smaller churches with lots of local history. As with most places the best part is meeting friendly, interesting people who love to host visitors, and tell their own stories of the place they live. For more information about Muscatine Sister cities, contact John Dabeet at johndabeet@ gmail.com. Les emplois a Rennes sont abondants et varies. Il y a quelque chose pour tout le monde. Que vous soyez a la recherche dun emploi [] Les blattes ou cafards (Blatta orientalis) sont des insectes qui appartiennent a la famille des Blattoptera. Ils se caracterisent par leur forme allongee, leurs ailes [] As owner of this blog, I bear no responsibility to what other contributors/bloggers may post. I encourage all to speak freely without indulging in libel or defamatory content. Anyone who feels offended by any posting can email me and I will remove the offending article if appropriate. Contact me at redbeansg@yahoo.com redbean Shabnam Khayrulloevna KHUDOYDODOVA was born on 20 December 1986 in the city of Kulyab of the Tajikistan SSR. She is the mother of a daug... ULZIIT, Mongolia The Mongolian herder gazed out of his felt tent at the half-eaten carcass of what was his riding horse, now lying in blood-stained snow and being devoured by hungry dogs. I had 700 head of cattle, Huyag Tserennyam said while staring out into the white wilderness in the remote mountainous area of Ulziit. Ive lost 150 so far. It has been a harsh winter in Mongolia following an especially dry summer a weather pattern unique to the country and known here as a dzud (pronounced dzuhd) decimating tens of thousands of livestock and prompting the Mongolian government this week to formally launch a dzud appeal, seeking foreign aid, for the first time in six years. There were indications in the summer that it would be a difficult year, and Tserennyam said he prepared extra grass in anticipation of a rough winter. He has used up all of the animal feed he received as aid from his local government, and has nearly used up his grass reserve. I really tried, but I still lost and I keep on losing my herd, the 60-year-old said, feeding his one remaining horse. That horse is now his only mode of transport; it carried his wife to a recent doctors visit. Supplies are running low, and the couples milk tea is watery. More than 10,000 head of livestock have perished across Tserennyams province of Bayankhongor this winter, said Col. Munkhbaatar Togoo, head of the provinces Emergency Management Division. Temperatures have dipped as low as minus 46 C (minus 51 F), about 16 degrees C (29 degrees F) lower than normal. Snowfall in some mountainous areas reached 70 centimeters (28 inches), he said. Compared to recent years, this is unusually cold. Its had big effects on herding lifestyles, Togoo said. The summer drought meant that cattle had less to graze on, failing to fatten up sufficiently before winter. In addition to those that have died, many of the survivors are so thin that their meat is not of high enough quality to sell if they perish, Togoo said. Mongolias government announced its dzud appeal on Tuesday. This winter is worse than the last dzud in 2009-2010, and a greater part of the country is affected. Only 45,000 livestock have died so far this year compared to the 9.7 million attributed to the 2009-2010 winter, but the vast majority of losses typically take place in the spring before the grass grows back in May. The Asian Development Bank is contributing $3 million in assistance toward local infrastructure and risk management plans, including helping districts prepare shelters for herders, as well as emergency training. Further assistance is coming from Red Cross societies of Britain, Japan and Finland, said Purevjav Jambalragchaa, a coordinator with the Mongolian Red Cross Society. Many herders are struggling to supply themselves with food because the snow is often too thick for horses or motorbikes to pass through. The Red Cross Society is preparing donations of food and cash, including $160,000 of aid coming in from abroad. In a largely nomadic country where animals provide meat, dairy and textiles, it is difficult to lose so much livestock. Our lives depend on them, Tserennyam said, looking away from a pile of dead goats sheltered behind a steep rock by the mountains edge. Because of them, we get our flour and rice. Without them, were nothing. HESSTON, Kan. A man who stormed into a Kansas factory where he worked and shot 15 people, killing three, had just been served with a protective order that probably set off the attack, authorities said Friday. The assault at the Excel Industries lawnmower parts plant in the small town of Hesston ended when the police chief killed the gunman in a shootout. Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton described the officer as a "tremendous hero" because 200 or 300 people were still in the factory and the "shooter wasn't done by any means." "Had that Hesston officer not done what he did, this would be a whole lot more tragic," Walton said. The gunman was identified as Cedric Ford, a 38-year-old plant worker who was armed with an assault rifle and a pistol. Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback said preliminary information indicated that the officer was Hesston Police Chief Doug Schroeder, who did not wait for backup and "seized the situation." Schroeder has been on the job since 1998, according to his LinkedIn profile. While driving to the factory, the gunman shot a man on the street, striking him in the shoulder. A short time later, he shot someone else in the leg at an intersection, authorities said. The suspect shot one person in the factory parking lot before opening fire inside the building, the sheriff's department said in a news release. Ford had several convictions in Florida over the last decade. His past offenses included burglary, grand theft, fleeing from an officer, aggravated fleeing and carrying a concealed weapon, all from Broward and Miami-Dade counties. According to the Wichita Eagle, Ford also had criminal cases in Harvey County, including a misdemeanor conviction in 2008 for fighting or brawling and various traffic violations from 2014 and 2015. A Facebook page under the name of a Cedric Ford employed at Excel Industries includes photos posted within the past month of a man posing with a long gun and another of a handgun in a man's lap in a car. Federal law bars felons from possessing firearms. Recent posts also include music videos of rappers from Miami, photos of cars and pictures posted in January of a trip to a zoo with children. The shooting came less than a week after a man opened fire at several locations in the Kalamazoo, Michigan, area, leaving six people dead and two severely wounded. Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive in those attacks. At least 16 people were taken to hospitals, and one person was listed in critical condition. Walton said his office served the suspect with the protection-from-abuse order at around 3:30 p.m., about 90 minutes before the first shooting happened. He said such orders are usually filed because there's some type of violence in a relationship. He did not disclose the nature of the relationship in question. A judge issued a temporary order of protection earlier this month for a woman who said in her petition that Ford was a violent, depressed alcoholic. "It's my belief he is in desperate need of medical and psychological help!" she wrote. The woman said she and Ford were arguing on Feb. 5 when he grabbed her, placed her in a choke hold from behind and took her to the ground. On Thursday, Ford left work early without explanation before returning hours later with a rifle, according to a co-worker. Matt Jarrell said he and Ford worked "hand-in-hand" as painters on the second shift. He said Ford arrived as scheduled on Thursday but later disappeared and was not there to relieve him so that he could take a break. Jarrell said someone else eventually spelled him and that he was sitting in his truck in the parking lot when he saw Ford drive up in a truck that wasn't his. He sped away when he saw Ford shoot someone and then enter the building. Moments later, Martin Espinoza, who works at Excel, heard people yelling to others to get out of the building, then heard popping and saw the shooter, a co-worker he described as typically pretty calm. Espinoza said the shooter pointed a gun at him and pulled the trigger, but the gun was empty. At that point, the gunman got a different gun and Espinoza ran. "He came outside after a few people, shot outside a few times, shot at the officers coming onto the scene at the moment and then reloaded in front of the company," Espinoza told The Associated Press. "After he reloaded, he went inside the lobby in front of the building, and that is the last I seen him." Dennis Britton Jr. suffered a fracture in his right leg when a bullet went through his buttocks and out his leg. Britton's father, Dennis Britton Sr., who also works at the plant as a welding team leader, said his son was "awake and talking and communicating." The son told his father that people initially mistook the gunshots for the sound of a gas fire. After hearing shouts, the younger Britton stepped out of a welding bay, heard a pop and "immediately went to the ground," his father said. Brownback planned to meet later Friday with law enforcement officials in Hesston. The officer who exchanged fire with the shooter was not injured. Erin McDaniel, a spokeswoman for Newton, said the suspect was known to local authorities. She would not elaborate. Hesston is a community of about 3,700 about 35 miles north of Wichita. Excel Industries was founded there in 1960. The company manufactures Hustler and Big Dog mowing equipment. When it comes to taking care of the Napa community, Kent Gardella is a veteran. Over the past 22 years, Ive seen a ton of changes downtown, but one thing that hasnt changed is the sense of community its really something else, Gardella said. I think it was fate that we moved here in the first place because as soon as we did my wife and I fell in love with both the place and the people of Napa. We thought wed moved to paradise. Ive been in the jewelry business for over 40 years, and Ive owned our shop here in Napa since 1994, he said during an interview. Gardella was referring to his Napa Valley Jewelry, located at 1317 Napa Town Center. The store is bright and spacious with eye-catching window displays. Soon after opening his shop, Gardella became an active in Napa. Before we moved here, people had warned me that Napans might be a little leery of strangers, but that was not our experience at all, he said. As soon as we got here, we were welcomed right away and I joined the local Rotary. Through Gardellas membership in the Rotary and his interest in helping other people, hes been involved in a host of philanthropic activities throughout the valley. Kent is not only one of the sharpest retailers in the business, hes also a great guy with an excellent sense of humor and has a huge heart, said Craig Smith, executive director of the Napa Downtown Association. Ive known Kent for 20 years, and weve worked together when he was the president of the association. Hes the kind of guy who gets things done, but he has a real passion for helping those in need. Smith was referring to the many community activities with which Gardella has been involved over the years, from being president of the Make-a-Wish Foundation to helping veterans and at-risk youth. When I was a lieutenant in Vietnam I saw a lot of our soldiers really struggling with drug addiction and post-traumatic stress. Ever since, Ive felt a real need to assist when I can, Gardella said. It really makes me feel great when I am able to help other people. If you ever feel a void in your life or are feeling a little down, I suggest that you just go out and help someone else feel better. Among the causes he has donated to is the Vintage Legacy program, at Vintage High School, intended to help at-risk youth. He has donated custom-engraved watches to graduates of the program to remind them of their achievement. Kent has always been so supportive of our work helping kids at the margins in Napa County, said Omar Salem, a Napa police officer and founder of the Legacy Youth Project. Since the inception of the program hes given each of our kids watches as a graduation gift, but its his support and encouragement that has really made the difference. Beyond his giving back to the community, some consider Gardella a hero. In 2015, two assailants entered his shop at just after 5 p.m. The men wore masks, and one stood watch as the other attacked one of Gardellas employees, Robert Bob Porter. I looked up from my office and saw these two guys with masks on, Gardella said. I thought it might be a joke, but when one of them attacked Bob, I hit the alarm button and jumped up to help. Gardella ran to assist Porter, who had by that time collapsed to the floor. It looked like the guy was stabbing Bob, who was lying on the floor, not breathing, Gardella said. So I picked up the heaviest thing I could see and started hitting the masked guy on the legs as hard as I could, yelling at him to get off Bob or Id break his legs. Eventually, the assailant gave up and fled. Porter had not been stabbed but instead had suffered a massive heart attack and subsequently lost consciousness. Gardella performed CPR until the medics arrived. We were so worried about Bob. They had to induce a coma in him, and it was touch and go for weeks, Gardella said. Luckily hes OK now, and Im happy to say hes still working at our shop. When asked if he agrees with many who refer to him as a hero, hes quick to respond. No, I dont think I am a hero, he said. I did what anyone would have done. I mean, when someone is in trouble people help. Thats just what you do. Right? Helping, it seems, is in Gardellas blood. When people come into the shop our goal is to help them find the perfect jewelry for their special occasion, he said. We believe that we provide our customers an honest and committed service. These are people in our community, and community matters, he said with emphasis. Lake Berryessas spillway for decades nicknamed the glory holehas never seen such a dry spell. Since the completion of Monticello Dam six decades ago, the east Napa County reservoir has never gone more than 10 years without topping its spillway. But it last spilled in early 2006 and is nowhere near to spilling again. Lake Berryessa is about 56 percent full, statistics show. Lake levels would have to rise almost 39 feet to send water rushing into the spillway, something unlikely to happen in the waning days of the 2015-16 rain season in the absence of truly monstrous, flood-producing storms. The last time people saw the spillway in action, George W. Bush was president, Arnold Schwarzenegger was governor and the Golden State Warriors were a last-place team. Its quite a sight, said Roland Sanford, general manager for the Solano County Water Agency. Water in a full lake pours into what looks like a giant funnel that is 72 feet in diameter near Monticello Dam. It then disappears from view, only to reemerge from a pipe at the base of the 300-foot-tall dam on Putah Creek to water cities and farms in Solano County. A spilling lake is a temporary, mini-tourist attraction. People drive to Monticello Dam to watch. On the positive side, the decade since Lake Berryessa last filled hasnt seen the reservoir dry up. The lake can hold 1.6 million acre-feet of water and is holding about 890,000 acre-feet (an acre-foot is about 325,000 gallons). Thats still enough to serve Solano County cities and farms and provide recreational opportunities in Napa County. Thats a substantial amount of water, Sanford said. Were not where wed like to be, but were in much better shape than some areas of the San Joaquin Valley. Lake Berryessa has spilled many times. The spillages often comes in multi-year streaks, as do the dry times. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation finished building the giant plug of concrete that is Monticello Dam across Putah Creek in 1957. Then the wait began for enough water to back up across the Berryessa Valley to create the reservoir. Before the building of Monticello Dam, skeptics had predicted the surrounding watershed would prove to be too small to ever fill Lake Berryessa. But on the night of April 18, 1963, water washed into the glory hole for the first time. The lake spilled for the second time in 1965. This time, the cable around the funnel broke and federal officials warned boaters to stay away. If anybody doesnt heed this warning, theyll go over the hole, probably to their deaths, Robert Pafford Jr. of the Bureau of Reclamation said. In 1982-83, California had one of the wettest years in its recorded weather history. Lake Berryessa water levels rose several feet above the drain, the highest ever, according to newspaper reports from the time. The reservoir has never been more full. The lake filled during the Valentines Day storms of February 1986 that caused flooding all over Northern California. It would be a decade before water would again enter the glory hole. But the 1987-92 drought was a much worse time for Lake Berryessa than the present drought. The lake in late 1992 was less than 30 percent full, holding a little over 400,000 acre feet. Foundations from the town of Monticello reemerged from the water. We are in much better shape than 1992, Sanford said. We were really nervous going into 1993 that was very much nip-and-tuck. Just when it looked like Lake Berryessa would dry up, the rains returned. It took a few years, but at 2:06 a.m. Feb. 23, 1996, waters once again poured into the glory hole. We survived the drought, proclaimed a banner on Monticello Dam. Lake Berryessa spilled again in 1997. The glory hole that year also experienced what federal officials called its first death when a distraught, fully clothed woman swam out to it, stood on the lip and tumbled in. The spillway last saw water after the New Years storms of late 2005 and early 2006. Since then, the closest Lake Berryessa has come to filling was in early 2011, when the reservoir was about 87 percent full. Lake Berryerra resident Craig Morton began visiting the reservoir in the 1960s. The lake can rise 50 feet in a really big rain year, he saidmore than enough to once again top the glory hole. It depends on how the storms come, Morton said. So far, weve had good water at times, but not consistently. Sanford said the storms this year have often been gentler rains that percolate into the ground. We havent had any days where its just pounded and you generate short-term runoff, he said. The historic window for big storms will soon close for the 2015-16 rainy season. March is probably the last chance for Berryessa to receive the type of runoff that could at least give it a big boost toward filling in 2017. Things will have to go better than in March 2015. The city of Napa last year received a tenth of an inch for the month, the smallest amount since the mere .02 inches in 1923, figures show. Whats needed is a March such as in 2012, when Napa received more than nine inches or, better yet, 1995, when it received almost 12 inches, officials say. Thats the type of month that could help Lake Berryessa once again see its spillway glory days. The Napa Valley Unified School Districts plan to put the largest school bond in its history on the June ballot was well received by the school board Thursday night. All seven trustees voiced support for the $269 million bond at a special informational study session, saying the need was more than there for NVUSDs many infrastructure projects. The board is scheduled to vote March 3 on a resolution asking voters in June to approve the authorization of $269 million in general obligation bonds. A 10-year Facilities Master Plan has identified $475 million in new construction, seismic upgrades or replacements, technology enhancements and more. The district, however, has only about $60 million it could devote to the work, according to district officials. The master plan includes more than $100 million to completely rebuild three elementary schools found to be sitting atop the West Napa Fault after the 2014 earthquake, plus seismic improvements at another dozen schools. The condition of the facilities require we move forward on this bond, said Trustee Thomas Kensok, who insisted it was not a matter of the facilities have not been maintained. We have to stay up to date if were to fulfill our mandate to educate the kids, said Kensok. I dont know if we would be able to fulfill our mandate without going forward. So for me its going to be a pretty easy call. Kensoks colleagues stated they, too, would vote for the bond next week. Trustee Joe Schunk said the real story as it relates to facilities dates back from 1947 to 1965 when nearly all of our elementary schools were built. They were built for the baby boomers, they were built for my peers and those facilities are now 55 to 65 years old. Some of those facilities are wearing out, said Schunk. We are asking our community to reinvest in them. Trustee Frances Ortiz-Chavez said she was concerned about modernizing schools for the sake of todays student population, which is majority Hispanic. We have to offer to our children regardless of who they are the best and the safest schools and the environment they deserve, she said. The only person to voice opposition to the bond measure came during the public comment period. Linda Stevens with the Napa County Taxpayers Association told the board that her organization would not oppose the bond if it was limited to funding only earthquake damage repairs. But they would oppose any significant larger bond measure, which this one has grown to be, said Stevens. She cited NVUSDs declining enrollment and the possibility of a statewide school construction bond being passed by voters in November as other reasons for opposing the $269 million bond plan. Schunk countered that the enrollment drop, which was reported in a demographics study presented last week to the board, was only 1 percent to 2 percent in size, and that parts of the district American Canyon and South Napa would still experience student growth. The demographics study concluded student enrollment, which is currently about 18,000, would decline by 365 students in another 10 years. As for getting money from a $9 billion statewide school bond that has qualified for the November ballot, board President Robb Felder had Assistant Superintendent Wade Roach point out that even if voters approve the state bond, NVUSD would still have to have money of its own to qualify for the state help. It is not a direct funding of the total cost of the project, said Roach. The district has to come up with its local match. While the taxpayers group was the only one to speak against the plan, several school principals called for the board to back it. I just want to remind you of the crowded nature at American Canyon Middle School, said Principal Dan Scudaro, who told trustees that his school last year had two portable classroom buildings added to the campus to accommodate the swelling enrollment there. We will probably need more in the near term, said Scudaro. We know we will need more when Watson Ranch goes in, referring to the proposed housing development in American Canyon that calls for building 1,250 new homes. When you start to go over a thousand students at a single middle school, you want to start thinking about shrinking down that school to size, he added. Were already over a thousand; were at a thousand and forty. One of the projects in the districts master plan calls for building a new middle school in American Canyon, at a price of nearly $40 million. Scudaro was joined by another American Canyon principal, Donna Drago of Napa Junction Elementary School, which the district says must be moved to another location because the West Napa Fault runs right through the campus. That cost is pegged at $36 million. We have to do this bond, said Drago. Its nerve-racking as the site principal knowing how much damage happened with the Napa earthquake. Its a little bit scary. We really just need a solid safe facility for the kids. The districts political consultant, Bonnie Moss, informed the board that meetings with parents, staff and community stakeholders, as well as two voter surveys, revealed local residents agree with the reasons for the school bond. Their research showed wide recognition of needs and very clear understanding of the seismic issues and the need for seismic upgrades at local schools, which many residents agreed was a top priority. Safety and core infrastructure are major themes that your residents seem to understand, said Moss. If it is approved by voters in June, the $269 million bond would eclipse the last school funding measure in size. Measure G in 2006 authorized $183 million in general obligation bonds, making it the highest school bond to date. Race is a very complex topic. Many have a hard time discussing race, and others have a hard time defining race. For me, race is dividing people into categories based on characteristics, culture, history, and/or skin color. Race is also what puts a barrier between people in society. Its the 21st century, yet people still discriminate based on ones origin. Who would have thought that you would be demeaned and humiliated based on where you or your family came from? In 1987, a gang called the Dotbusters roamed the streets of Jersey City, New Jersey and assaulted and harassed South Asians, particularly South Asian woman who wore traditional garb and accessorized themselves with bindis, an ornamental dot between the eyebrows. In 2015, Armaan Singh, a 12-year-old Indian boy, was held in juvenile detention because a fellow classmate assumed that his backpack was a bomb. Notice the similarities between these two events both of these events are hate crimes toward South Asians. Nothing has changed in the span of 29 years. These are just two of the thousands of hate crimes that have been committed toward multiple different races, not just South Asians. During the fall of 1987, Indians in Jersey City, New Jersey were stripped of their freedom. They couldnt go out at night or wear traditional clothing out in public because the Dotbusters were roaming around the streets, looking for their next prey. South Asians were discriminated and assaulted just because of their skin color. South Asians were viciously attacked for just being themselves. Race still matters because Navroze Mody and Kaushal Saran were atrociously beaten, just because they were Indian. No one should ever have to face such extent of racial inequality; in fact, no one should face any extent of racial inequality. Not only has race been an issue in the past, it is an equally important issue in the present as well. People of color have always been victimized and wrongfully stereotyped just because of their skin color. For instance, Armaan Singh, a 12-year-old Indian boy from Dallas, Texas was victimized just because of his skin color. One of Armaans classmate believed that Armaans backpack was a bomb and reported him to the teacher. Armaan was taken away to juvenile detention for three days, without any officials informing his family. Armaan was accused of being a terrorist just because of his ethnic background and skin color. Race is still an issue because Armaan was judged based on his skin color and ethnicity. Race is still an issue because he was humiliated and degraded because of who he is. Why should an innocent human being have to wear an ankle monitor and remain under house arrest just because a student made a racially biased accusation? However, many people might argue that race is not an issue, since America is becoming so racially diverse. In fact, by 2044 whites will be a minority in America. If America is expanding its racially diverse community, then race shouldnt be such a big issue. But it is. Racial hate crimes are the most common types of hate crimes in the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation released a report and CNN did a further analysis of it. In the article by Mike Brunker, Monica Alba, and Bill Dedman, they addressed this report by telling us that, According to the FBIs data for 2013, most hate crime is motivated by race, accounting for 48.5 percent of all such reports. If race isnt such an issue, then race- related hate crimes shouldnt be at such a high. The fact that race-related hate crimes show that race is still an issue because there are actual people out there in the United States that brutally attack people of color because they dont think that they belong here. Many people might argue that since America is becoming more racially diverse, our community would be more open-minded about race and shouldnt have a problem with race. If this were the case, then hate crimes would be at a low, but the exact opposite is happening. In reality, hate crimes related to race are actually the most common types of hate crimes that are committed. Race is, and will, always be an important issue. Race is one of our societys biggest issues and it wont be solved yet, not until people learn that a persons value is not based on their race. Muskaan Sandhu is an eighth-grader at American Canyon Middle School who wrote this originally for a class project. Question -- What is the goal of this website? Why do we share different sources of information that sometimes conflicts or might even be considered disinformation? Answer -- The primary goal of Nesaranews is to help all people become better truth-seekers in a real-time boots-on-the-ground fashion. This is for the purpose of learning to think critically, discovering the truth from withinnot just believing things blindly because it came from an "authority" or credible source. Instead of telling you what the truth is, we share information from many sources so that you can discern it for yourself. We focus on teaching you the tools to become your own authority on the truth, gaining self-mastery, sovereignty, and freedom in the process. We want each of you to become your own leaders and masters of personal discernment, and as such, all information should be vetted, analyzed and discerned at a personal level. We also encourage you to discuss your thoughts in the comments section of this site to engage in a group discernment process. "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." Aristotle 11 Japan and U.S. will hold joint military exercises France withdraws from Energy Charter Treaty Levon Aronian becomes father Data scientist: the profession of the 21st century Manchester United to fine Ronaldo 720,000 CNN: White House is in talks with Elon Musk to create satellite Internet service Starlink in Iran Radioactive gel for spot therapy of tumors is created Baku outraged by Iran's statements and frightened by IRGC military exercises Who are main beneficiaries of 'Zangezur' corridor?: Another anonymous article by 'Haykakan Zhamanak' newspaper Pyunik beat Shirak Ankara decides to stand up for Riyadh amid deteriorating relations between Saudi Arabia and U.S. French Foreign Minister considers it vital to keep lines of communication with Russia open Pentagon refuses to give details of conversation between Austin and Shoigu Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin: Head of Caucasus Muslims Department again made slanderous and false statements TV series 'Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story' surpasses 'House of the Dragon' in terms of views Erdogan denies using chemical weapons against Kurds and threatens those who dare to talk about it Hepatitis B vaccine shown to be effective for HIV patients Ararat-Armenia are stronger than Ararat Saudi Arabia and China will strengthen their ties in energy sector Governor of Gegharkunik province receives representatives of OSCE fact-finding mission Scientists find exoplanet with density of marshmallow: ow does it survive next to red dwarf? Penny Mordaunt runs for Prime Minister of Great Britain Sweden expects ratification of NATO membership application by Hungary and Turkey to be completed soon European Union will allocate 1.5 billion euros per month to Kiev in 2023 An Israeli-built flight school opened in Greece Russian Railways is negotiating with Azerbaijan and Iran to launch the Rasht-Astara route Overchuk: Construction of road through Meghri, whose sovereignty is not in question, depends on Armenia's position Taylor Swift releases new album 'Midnights' European Championship U-20: Suren Grigoryan wins gold medal Armenian Defense Minister's working visit to India is over Hungary will not agree to limit prices for imported gas Silent Hill 2 Remake: Beautiful graphics and scary system requirements Iranian Foreign Minister: Iran considers Armenia one of most important transit countries Naribekyan participates in meeting of secretaries general of PACE parliaments Delegation from United Arab Emirates visits Armenia at invitation of head of MONKS: Two agreements signed What foods can be consumed with alcohol, so as not to get fat Franck Ribery retires Dollar, euro drop in Armenia Iran consul general in Armenias Kapan: We do not accept any change of borders Baza: Mobile military registration and enlistment offices will be removed on Russian-Georgian border Iranian Consul: Countries of region do not need presence of foreign armed forces Armenia FM: Iran consulate general in Kapan will be important for regional security Iranian Consul General advises Kapan residents not to worry anymore: Iran is here for Armenian people FM reaffirms Armenia plan to open consulate general in Irans Tabriz Turkey to open consulate in occupied Armenian Shushi city of Artsakh Turkish Ministry of Finance: Ankara can buy Russian oil without Western funding Claims that white bread is bad for heart and blood vessels disproved Will artificial intelligence ever be able to replace humans in journalism? CNN reporter shares opinion about impact of technology on media Armenia Security Council chief briefs European Parliament rapporteur on recent Azerbaijan military aggression 78-year-old 'Squid Game' star poses for glossy magazine in Balenciaga x adidas British bookmakers name favorite for post of prime minister Erdogan: Armenia-Azerbaijan relations progress will contribute to Armenia-Turkey relations normalization Iranian Consulate General opens in Kapan Erdogan: Turkey is looking for alternative to American F-16 fighters Iran consul general: We are here for Armenian people Turkey FM slams OSCE decision to send needs assessment mission to Armenia Peskov reacts to Erdogan's words about Putin's softening on Ukraine negotiations European Parliament rapporteur on Armenia visits Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan Study: Poor room layout can increase risk of patient death European Parliament rapporteur on Armenia to legislature speaker: Attack was from Azerbaijan, naturally Freelancers from EU will find it more difficult to work with Russian companies: Solar Staff blocks payments for services falling under EU sanctions Armenia President to EEU PMs: We will manage to take another confident step by respecting mutual interests EUSR Toivo Klaars exclusive interview with NEWS.am on EU Monitoring mission,Nagorno Karabakh future and violence videos Explosions rock Ukraines Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia President meets with newly formed Artsakh Public Council members Armenia PM: We need understanding in price horizon, at least in medium term Lawyer: 20 of fallen solders parents detained from Yerevan military pantheon are recognized as injured party Elon Musk, layoffs in Twitter: what does future hold for company? PM: Armenia trade with other EEU countries increased by 74% France region to provide 300,000 to Armenias Syunik Province affected by Azerbaijan military aggression Eurasian Intergovernmental Council extended meeting underway in Yerevan MOD: Armenia did not fire at Azerbaijan positions, vehicle MPs in Strasbourg, present threatening dangers: Armenia has powerful support in European Parliament Years first snow falls in Armenias Shirak Province Generation Z, Millennials more lax about cybersecurity than their older counterparts World oil prices on the rise Jury finds Kevin Spacey not liable in Anthony Rapp civil sexual misconduct trial Newspaper: Russia dismisses Armenia PM's news on Karabakh Russia PM in Yerevan, to discuss with EEU colleagues single oil, natural gas markets formation Newspaper: Why is Iran in hurry to open consulate in Armenias Syunik Province? Aston Villa sack manager Steven Gerrard France, Spain, Portugal agree to build Barcelona-Marseille natural gas pipeline La Liga: Barca win, Lewandowski scores 2 goals Premier League: Fulham defeat Aston Villa Admiral: U.S. should now prepare for Chinese 'invasion' of Taiwan Harutyunyan: I cannot imagine Artsakh's future without presence of Russia Harutyunyan: Without questioning path of our independence, we must meet with Baku Prime Minister of Finland does not think that Hungary and Turkey will block country's application for NATO membership Sleeping less than five hours night increases risk of many diseases Iranian FM: U.S. made hasty statements in connection with protests Former Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim involved in car accident in Karabakh Antwerp: Karen Khachanov loses to Sebastian Korda Arayik Harutyunyan: Artsakh people's right to self-determination is non-negotiable Iranian MFA calls it important to form platform with Armenia and India on North-South corridor Details of EU monitoring mission in Armenia are known Foreign Ministry: It seems Ankara is more interested in opening corridor through Armenia than Azerbaijan Mirzoyan: Unexpected third countries support Azerbaijani interpretation of road to Nakhchivan Foreign Ministry: Armenia, Iran and Bulgaria initial agreement on creation of Persian Gulf-Black Sea corridor Israeli Defense Minister to visit Ankara Manchester United rule out Ronaldo The Armenian pogroms in Sumgait were not an accident. They were the culmination of years of vicious anti-Armenian propaganda. US Representative Adam Schiff noted the aforesaid, on Friday entering the following statement into the Congressional Record: Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 28th anniversary of the pogrom against the Armenian residents of the town of Sumgait, Azerbaijan. On this day in 1988, and for three days following, Azerbaijani mobs assaulted and killed Armenians. When the violence finally subsided, hundreds of Armenian civilians had been brutally murdered and injured, women and young girls were raped, and victims were tortured and burned alive. Those that survived the carnage fled their homes and businesses, leaving behind everything they had in their desperation. The pogroms were not an accident. They were the culmination of years of vicious anti-Armenian propaganda, spread by the Azerbaijani authorities. The Azerbaijani authorities made little effort to punish those responsible, instead attempting to cover up the atrocities in Sumgait to this day, as well as denying the role of senior government officials in instigating the violence. Unsurprisingly, it was not the end of the violence, and was followed by additional attacks, including the 1990 pogrom in Baku. The Sumgait massacre and the subsequent attacks on ethnic Armenians, resulted in the virtual disappearance of a once thriving population of 450,000 Armenians living in Azerbaijan, and culminating in the war launched against the people of Nagorno Karabakh. That war resulted in thousands dead on both sides and created over one million refugees in both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Time has not healed the wounds of those murdered in the pogroms in Sumgait, Kirovabad, and Baku. To the contrary, hatred of Armenians is celebrated in Azerbaijan, a situation most vividly exemplified by the case of Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani army captain who savagely murdered an Armenian army lieutenant, Gurgen Margaryan with an axe while he slept. The two were participating in a NATO Partnership for Peace exercise at the time in Hungary. In 2012, Safarov was sent home to Azerbaijan, purportedly to serve out the remainder of his sentence. Instead, he was pardoned, promoted, and paraded through the streets of Baku as a returning hero. The assault on ethnic Armenian civilians in Sumgait helped touch off what would become a direct conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh. And today, Azerbaijans dangerous behavior on the Line of Contact threatens peace and stability in the region. Artillery and sniper fire across the Line of Contact has become a fact of daily life for civilians in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, causing numerous casualties. I have urged the OSCE Minsk Group to deescalate the situation by ending a policy that equates unprovoked attacks by the Azerbaijan with the defensive responses of Karabakh and Armenian troops, and by pressuring Azerbaijan to accept the installation of technological monitoring devices along the border. The anniversary of Sumgait is a reminder of the consequences when aggression and hatred is allowed to grow unchecked. Mr. Speaker, this April we will mark the 101st Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, an event the Turkish government, Azerbaijans closest ally, goes to great lengths to deny. We must not let such crimes against humanity go unrecognized, whether they occurred yesterday or 28 years ago or 100 years ago. Today, let us pause to remember the victims of the atrocities of the Sumgait pogroms. Mr. Speaker, it is our moral obligation to condemn crimes of hatred and to remember the victims, in hope that history will not be repeated. Japan and U.S. will hold joint military exercises France withdraws from Energy Charter Treaty CNN: White House is in talks with Elon Musk to create satellite Internet service Starlink in Iran Baku outraged by Iran's statements and frightened by IRGC military exercises Who are main beneficiaries of 'Zangezur' corridor?: Another anonymous article by 'Haykakan Zhamanak' newspaper Ankara decides to stand up for Riyadh amid deteriorating relations between Saudi Arabia and U.S. French Foreign Minister considers it vital to keep lines of communication with Russia open Pentagon refuses to give details of conversation between Austin and Shoigu Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin: Head of Caucasus Muslims Department again made slanderous and false statements Erdogan denies using chemical weapons against Kurds and threatens those who dare to talk about it Saudi Arabia and China will strengthen their ties in energy sector Governor of Gegharkunik province receives representatives of OSCE fact-finding mission Penny Mordaunt runs for Prime Minister of Great Britain Sweden expects ratification of NATO membership application by Hungary and Turkey to be completed soon European Union will allocate 1.5 billion euros per month to Kiev in 2023 An Israeli-built flight school opened in Greece Russian Railways is negotiating with Azerbaijan and Iran to launch the Rasht-Astara route Overchuk: Construction of road through Meghri, whose sovereignty is not in question, depends on Armenia's position Armenian Defense Minister's working visit to India is over Hungary will not agree to limit prices for imported gas Iranian Foreign Minister: Iran considers Armenia one of most important transit countries Naribekyan participates in meeting of secretaries general of PACE parliaments Delegation from United Arab Emirates visits Armenia at invitation of head of MONKS: Two agreements signed Dollar, euro drop in Armenia Iran consul general in Armenias Kapan: We do not accept any change of borders Baza: Mobile military registration and enlistment offices will be removed on Russian-Georgian border Iranian Consul: Countries of region do not need presence of foreign armed forces Armenia FM: Iran consulate general in Kapan will be important for regional security Iranian Consul General advises Kapan residents not to worry anymore: Iran is here for Armenian people FM reaffirms Armenia plan to open consulate general in Irans Tabriz Turkey to open consulate in occupied Armenian Shushi city of Artsakh Turkish Ministry of Finance: Ankara can buy Russian oil without Western funding Armenia Security Council chief briefs European Parliament rapporteur on recent Azerbaijan military aggression British bookmakers name favorite for post of prime minister Erdogan: Armenia-Azerbaijan relations progress will contribute to Armenia-Turkey relations normalization Iranian Consulate General opens in Kapan Erdogan: Turkey is looking for alternative to American F-16 fighters Iran consul general: We are here for Armenian people Turkey FM slams OSCE decision to send needs assessment mission to Armenia Peskov reacts to Erdogan's words about Putin's softening on Ukraine negotiations European Parliament rapporteur on Armenia visits Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan European Parliament rapporteur on Armenia to legislature speaker: Attack was from Azerbaijan, naturally Armenia President to EEU PMs: We will manage to take another confident step by respecting mutual interests EUSR Toivo Klaars exclusive interview with NEWS.am on EU Monitoring mission,Nagorno Karabakh future and violence videos Explosions rock Ukraines Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia President meets with newly formed Artsakh Public Council members Armenia PM: We need understanding in price horizon, at least in medium term Lawyer: 20 of fallen solders parents detained from Yerevan military pantheon are recognized as injured party PM: Armenia trade with other EEU countries increased by 74% France region to provide 300,000 to Armenias Syunik Province affected by Azerbaijan military aggression Eurasian Intergovernmental Council extended meeting underway in Yerevan MOD: Armenia did not fire at Azerbaijan positions, vehicle MPs in Strasbourg, present threatening dangers: Armenia has powerful support in European Parliament Years first snow falls in Armenias Shirak Province World oil prices on the rise Newspaper: Russia dismisses Armenia PM's news on Karabakh Russia PM in Yerevan, to discuss with EEU colleagues single oil, natural gas markets formation Newspaper: Why is Iran in hurry to open consulate in Armenias Syunik Province? France, Spain, Portugal agree to build Barcelona-Marseille natural gas pipeline Admiral: U.S. should now prepare for Chinese 'invasion' of Taiwan Harutyunyan: I cannot imagine Artsakh's future without presence of Russia Harutyunyan: Without questioning path of our independence, we must meet with Baku Prime Minister of Finland does not think that Hungary and Turkey will block country's application for NATO membership Iranian FM: U.S. made hasty statements in connection with protests Former Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim involved in car accident in Karabakh Arayik Harutyunyan: Artsakh people's right to self-determination is non-negotiable Iranian MFA calls it important to form platform with Armenia and India on North-South corridor Details of EU monitoring mission in Armenia are known Foreign Ministry: It seems Ankara is more interested in opening corridor through Armenia than Azerbaijan Mirzoyan: Unexpected third countries support Azerbaijani interpretation of road to Nakhchivan Foreign Ministry: Armenia, Iran and Bulgaria initial agreement on creation of Persian Gulf-Black Sea corridor Israeli Defense Minister to visit Ankara Armenian Foreign Minister names main obstacle to solving problems with Azerbaijan Erdogan once again raises issue of so-called 'Zangezur corridor' Armenian and Iranian FMs to open Iranian Consulate General in Syunik province tomorrow Abdollahian: Aliyev assured that he does not want border changes, Iran will prevent implementation of such idea Iranian Foreign Minister in Yerevan supports '3+3' platform Iranian Foreign Minister recalls Tehran's 'red lines' in regional issues Mirzoyan: We highly appreciate Iran's principled position regarding territorial integrity of Armenia UK imposes sanctions against Iran for alleged delivery of drones to Russia Yerevan hosts meeting of Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in narrow composition Armenian and Iranian Foreign Ministers meet in Yerevan in extended format Charles Michel: EU energy deal possible, but difficult Erdogan says Baku should demand 'compensation' from Yerevan Pashinyan: EEU mechanisms are of great help, trade turnover between Armenia and Belarus has doubled Yair Lapid: Russia-Iran relations are serious problem for Ukraine, Europe, and whole world Amir-Abdollahian: Iran is against presence of foreigners in this region, both in Azerbaijan and Armenia Pashinyan at EAEU meeting: Fundamental principles of world economic system in question Iranian Foreign Minister's official visit to Yerevan begins Macron says Germany should not isolate itself in Europe EU begins deployment of mission on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Trump's son made fun of Zelenskyy's ability to ask West for money EU to provide emergency aid for Armenia residents affected by recent Azerbaijan military aggression Azerbaijan army units fire at Armenia positions Mikhail Mishustin arrives in Yerevan EU approves new sanctions against Iran over alleged drone deliveries to Russia Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting begins in Yerevan Baku calls OSCE mission to assess situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border 'private visit' On fourth day of IRGC military exercises on border with Azerbaijan, artillery destroys planned targets Liz Truss quits as UK Prime Minister Head louse. Credit: Flickr / Gilles SM BREVARD COUNTY, Florida An outbreak of lice has caused concern on social media pages among parents of Brevard County Public School children. Parents have been complaining on Facebook for weeks about their children coming home with the blood-sucking parasites after going to school. The outbreak became such a problem that Brevard County Public School District sent out a flyer on Monday with general information for parents about detecting lice and lice treatments. However, the flyer did not identify which schools are having the worst lice infestations. ABC Orlando affiliate WFTV Channel 9 reported that the lice found at schools in Titusville, Florida are Super Lice. Official sources told Dawn that at least 15 suspected militants were killed after jets targeted four positions in the restive Maisar area of Dattakhel Tehsil. According to official statements, over 3,500 militants have been killed in operation Zarb-e-Azb, while the offensive forced over a million civilians to vacate their homes and move to settled areas of the country. Pakistan Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif on Wednesday ordered troops to march on the last bastion of terrorists in Shawal valley of North Waziristan to take operation Zarb-i-Azb to its logical end. --Indo-Asian News Service ahm/bg ( 125 Words) 2016-02-27-18:31:33 (IANS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will travel next week to Geneva and Madrid and then to Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Algeria, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said here. "He will also designate the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, led by UN Messenger of Peace Daniel Barenboim, as a United Nations Global Advocate for Cultural Understanding," the spokesman said on Friday, adding the orchestra brings together young musicians from Israel, Palestine and several Arab countries, Xinhua news agency reported. On Monday in Geneva, the secretary-general will address the UN Human Rights Council on the first day of its 31st session, Dujarric said at a daily news briefing. Also in Geneva, Ban will inaugurate the Russian Room at the Palais des Nations with Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister. He will also meet a number of non-governmental organisations. On Tuesday, the secretary-general will travel to Madrid, Spain, where he will meet senior Spanish government officials. On March 2, Ban will go to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. On Thursday, the UN chief will meet with the senior government officials and visit a UN project. On Friday, the secretary-general will travel to Nouakchott, Mauritania, where he will meet the government leaders and deliver a key note speech on peace and security in the Sahel region, and also visit a UN project. From Mauritania, Ban will then travel to Tindouf, Algeria to visit a nearby Sahrawi refugee camp. He will meet Mohamed Abdelaziz, the secretary-general of the Frente Polisario in Rabouni. Ban will also meet with UN staff working in the area. From there, he will visit the Bir Lahlou team site of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO). Finally, on Sunday and Monday, the secretary-general will be in Algiers to meet senior government officials, Dujarric said. "During his visit to Algiers, the secretary-general is also expected to open the 5th General Assembly of the Kigali International Conference on the role of security forces in combating violence against women and girls, and give a speech to university students," the spokesman added. --Indo-Asian News Service pgh/ ( 347 Words) 2016-02-27-06:35:34 (IANS) The award was instituted in 2015 by Dr DT Mourya, Director, NIV, Pune in the memory of his parents, late Tarachand and Mrs Sushilabai Mourya. Talking to UNI Mr Mourya said today that Chadha has been contributing in the stream 'Epidemiological Research' for virus disease outbreaks in India for over three decades and is an excellent scientist of NIV pune. Her contribution led to the formation of a strong influenza network in the country and she now leads the National Influjenza centre. Chadha has worked on the Hepatitis, Chandipura, Nipah, AES and pandemic H1N1 Influenza was utilised to estimate global infection rates, estimating mutation rates of virus and was also shared with world Health organisation for policy decision with regards to influenza vaccine. Investigations undertaken by her led to confirmation of chandipura, proving the presence of Nipah virus in India and over 60 Hepatitis outbreaks in India. Chadha has published 11 papers during the year 2015 in various international journals. UNI SP NV SB PM1339 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0171-610903.Xml The Coast Guard Ship 'Huravee' of the Maldives National Defense Forces (MNDF) arrived at the Port of Colombo on 26th February on a goodwill visit, reports Lanka Page website. The Commanding Officer of Huravee, Captain Hassan Shinan, paid a courtesy call on the Commander Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral Jayantha De Silva at the Western Naval Command Headquarters in Colombo. Cordial discussions were held and mementos exchanged between them to mark the occasion. The ship is scheduled to leave Sri Lanka on 28th February. Earler yesterday, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Naval Ship '865' called at Colombo port, also on a goodwill visit. The Chinese vessel is also scheduled to leave Sri Lanka tomorrow. (ANI) The Meghalaya government has decided to extend financial support of Rs 80 crore to the state owned Mawmluh Cherra Cement Limited (MCCL) which is going through acute shortage of financial crunch.We will be extending Rs 80 crore as a financial assistance to the MCCL, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma told here yesterday.The total support as one time settlement will enable to pay pending salaries to its employees, pending power bill, the principal and interest of the loans which MCCL has taken from the banks.Necessary direction was given to the financial department in this regard, Dr Sangma informed. UNI RRK PL SB PM1422 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0211-610968.Xml A Maoist was killed in an encounter with the security forces near Dengamati village inside Niyamgiri forest under Kalyanpur police station limit in Rayagada district in the wee hours today. Police said acting on a tip-off, the security forces led by Rayagada Superintendent of Police K Siba Subramnani had launched an intensive combing operation. During the combing operation, the BSF and the district voluntary force came across a Maoist camp inside the forest. At least 20 rebels who were in the camp opened fire at the police and the security forces retaliated in which one red rebel was killed . The security forces have recovered two 9 MM pistol, a gun and a huge cache of explosives from the encounter spot after the Maoists fled from the scene. The combing operation has been intensified in the area, sources said. In another incident, the armed ultras killed a villager by slitting his throat at Panasput village in the cut-off areas of Chitrakonda in Malkangiri district last night. Police said the Maoists arrived at the village on Friday night and dragged Biswanath Khila from his home. The villagers found the body of Biswanath in a pool of blood with his throat slit on the outskirts of the village this morning. The Maoists killed him suspecting him to be a police informer.They had also killed his father on the same ground in 2012. UNI XC DP PL AE PM1446 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0211-611043.Xml Delhi police today reportedly transferred the sedition case against five students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to Anti-Terror Cell, which probes terror cases, police sources said.The sources said the case was transferred to the Anti-Terror Cell -- also known as Special Cell -- as it specialised in investigations related to terror activities and national security. Joint questioning of the three people was done by the Special Cell. And the report mentioned that the accused were not cooperating with the investigation. There was involvement of people from other states as well in the whole incident, said a senior police officer.The development came after three students -- Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya -- were questioned together by the Delhi police. Kanhaiya was arrested from the college campus by the Delhi police when the students were allegedly raising "anti-India" slogans on February 12. Khalid and Bhattacharya were put under arrest after they surrendered before the police on Tuesday night."Khalid and Anirban were brought to RK Puram police station on Friday evening along with Kanhaiya under one-day police custody where the three were made to sit and asked to corroborate the sequence of event on JNU campus on February 9, " a senior police official said.Five students of JNU have been arrested by the Delhi police to question their involvement in anti-national activities to mark the death anniversary of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru on February 9. On February 11, Delhi police registered a case against the unidentified students in connection with the anti-national slogans at Vasant Kunj police station based on the video footage and some key witnesses of the February 9 event.A day after the case was registered DCP (south) Prem Nath wrote to Delhi Commissioner B S Bassi for transferring the case to the National Investigation Agency or the Special Cell. UNI AP SW AE 1543 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0298-611159.Xml Police said the deceased, Durgesh Prabhunath Soni was studying in the night of last Wednesday, quarrelled with his elder sister, in which pages of his book was torn, and was upset as his sister snatched TV remote from him. Durgesh took to heart this incident, and the same night he hanged himself for ceiling fan in his house, police added. Police have registered a case and further investigation was on. UNI ST NV AE VP1524 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0171-611049.Xml BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Subramanian Swamy today claimed that the Supreme court would soon start day to day hearing in the Ramjanamboomi Babri mosque case so that the court can give its verdict at the earliest. Addressing a seminar on global terrorism in a private college here, Mr Swamy said ASI has already submitted its 574 page report on the Ramjanambhoomi issue and they too have hinted that it was the birth place of Lord Ram. Talking about the sedition charges on the JNU, he said ," I have already recommended that JNU should be closed for four months so that the cleansing of the hostels and the entire university from the anti-national elements should be done." The BJP leader also claimed that there are several other places in the country where such anti-nationals are active and now they should be cleaned. Reacting sharply on the attack on his car by the Congress workers near Circuit house this morning, Mr Swamy said ''it is the frustrated men who are showing their frustration when their leaders are involved in criminal act.'' Earlier in the day, Congress activists threw tomatoes and eggs on his car and showed black flag when he was on his way to a private college to attend a conference. Later, police had to resort to lathicharge on the Congress workers at Kairana roundbout in which some people were injured. The congress workers also staged protest at the Hanvanshmohal police station against the police action. However, Kanpur BJP has blamed the district authorities of not providing adequate security to the MP.UNI MB ADG VP1545 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-611007.Xml Former high court judge Jaspal Singh on Saturday said laws must change with the passage of time and added that Section 124 (charges of sedition) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) is an archaic law. "There are certain provisions which must be changed. Sedition is one of the provisions, the other one is Section 377. I agree entirely that these changes are required," Singh told the media here. "As far as Kanhaiya's case is concerned, it's under investigation. There should be changes in Section 124 as well. Law must change with the changing times and scenario. It's an archaic law. I hope the police and the prosecutors will keep the law of the land in mind," he added. In wake of the sedition law row, President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said that the Indian Penal Code (IPC) requires a thorough revision to meet the changing needs of the twenty-first century, even though it is model piece of legislation. The President said there is no doubt that the IPC as a premier code for criminal law is a model piece of legislation, nevertheless, it requires a thorough revision to meet the changing needs of the twenty-first century. He added that public prosecutors also play a crucial role in upholding the Rule of Law and that they play a key role in instilling and strengthening public confidence in the criminal justice system. (ANI) Continuing to notch up strong viewership ratings with the telecast of latest Bollywood blockbusters Star Gold delivered TVTs of 25199 + with telecast of Sooraj Barjatyas Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, aired this Valentines Day.In the process, the flagship Bollywood channel of the Star Network broke its own film TV premiere record, previously held by 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan', for which it delivered 25073 TVTs (HSM 4+). Star Gold had pulled off an extensive and innovative marketing campaign, making 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo' one of the anticipated television premieres of recent times. A key highlight of the campaign was a unique activation that surprised mall goers with an experience of a royal Prem-filled extravaganza first-hand. Speaking on the development, Hemal Jhaveri, General Manager and Executive Vice-President, Hindi Movie Business - Star India, said, The strength of the Star Gold brand and its popularity among movie fans elevated the ratings of Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. It is testimony to the leadership position of Star Gold and the strength of the Star network that film premieres on Star Gold draw the nations attention and viewership. For the longest time now, Star Gold has been the go-to destination for the most memorable Hindi movie offerings, and will remain so, with titles that resonate equally with both, audiences and advertisers alike, helping us consistently deliver great consumer delight.UNI AR SW AE 1654 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0092-611388.Xml : AIADMK Supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today inaugurated various projects, built at a total cost of Rs 258,88 crore, besides laying foundation stones for several other projects, including a Pillar commemorating, notifying the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in the Union Government Gazette, at a total outlay of Rs 626.92 crore. An official release here said Ms Jayalalithaa inaugurated the 700 government staff quarters built at Todhunter Nagar at Saidapet area in the city, a high level bridge at Melaramanallur in Ariyalur district, nine check dams and the State Water Resources Management Agency office buildingconstructed at a total cost of Rs 258.88 crore through video conferencing from the State Secretariat. The release said ''the Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for erecting a pillar commemorating the historical achievement of notifying the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in the Government of India Gazettle at the Mettur Dam Park through video conferencing from the State Secretariat.'' After making sustained efforts over the years, Ms Jayalalithaa, who has been leaving no stone unturned in protecting the Tamil Nadu's rights on various issues, including the inter-state river disputes, was instrumental in the Centre notifying the final award of the Cavuery tribunal in the Government gazette. Ms Jayalalithaa also laid the foundation stone for infrastructure upgradation of 16 dams, four tanks, Vellaiyar and Pandavaiyar rivers, extension of the 18th canal in Theni district upto Kuvalinga river, construction of a Manimandapam (memorial) for Kalingarayan at Erode district, a new reservoir across Maruthaiyaru in Perambalur district and 21 irrigation schemes in various districts at a total cost of Rs 626.92 crore, the release added.UNI GV KVV JK 1615 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0414-611312.Xml Tension prevailed in the town here when more than 15 unidentified miscreants, allegedly under the influence of liquor, ransacked and created ruckus in the renowned Gandhi Hospital and abused Hospital Director Satnam Singh Parmar on late midnight last night.The miscreants, who came in the hospital with an injured youth, ordered the hospital staff to open the operation theatre and one of them identified as Ravi Dutt practicing as a quack wanted to treat his own friend who sustained injuries in violent clash somewhere in the Shiv Puri locality. The miscreants provoked and turned violent when the hospital staff did not allow them to enter in the OT as a delivery case was on. The miscreants started breaking the glasses and windowpanes of the hospital and created ruckus around 0000 hrs in the night. Meanwhile Hospital Staff informed Dr Parmar, who immediately arrived, but the miscreants went on abusing and ransacking the hospital property. Doctors, belonging to Indian Medical Association (IMA), hold an emergent meeting in the hospital in the morning and strongly condemned the violence. An IMA delegation led by its state president SPS Sooch today met Phagwara SDM Balbir Raj Singh and Kapurthala SSP Rajinder Singh and demanded immediate arrests of the culprits and adequate security of the doctors. They also demanded registration of case against quack Ravi Dutt under Hospital Protection Act and Anti-Quackery Act. Both officials assured for early action against the culprits.UNI XC AE SB1632 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-611221.Xml The Dutchman also accused his critics of unfairly targeting him for United's struggling season and not criticising players, the Mirror reported. Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has been heavily linked with the managerial role at Old Trafford after United repeated poor performances and after the club's early exit from the Champions League. United briefly reversed their slide when they comfortably defeated their Danish opponents Midtjylland 5-1 to progress to the next stage of the Europa League 6-3 on aggregate on Friday. United are currently fifth in the Premier League standings and will next face title contenders Arsenal on Saturday. (ANI) Koirala, who is daughter of late Girija Prasad Koirala, justified her candidacy, saying if she gives up this time, then the women's leadership in the Nepali Congress will be pushed back 15 years. Her candidacy is not a bargaining chip and will not withdraw it at any cost said Sujata. Koirala expressed her commitment to stay in the election fray, saying that she had sacrificed the position of General Secretary in the 12th general convention and she cannot always make sacrifices alone.(ANI) Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti convener Hardik Patel broke his indefinite fast today by having lunch with Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) member of Parliament Vitthal Radadiya in Lajpore jail in Surat. He has begun taking food by having the tiffin that comes for him when I met him today,Mr Radadiya told mediapersons outside Lajpore Jail premises.Hardik had been on an indefinite fast since February 18 to press for demand of his community for reservations in government jobs and educational on par with OBC. He later began taking juices and water on the advice of doctors at Surat civil hospital where he was admitted as he had taken ill due. BJP MP from Porbander, Mr Radadiya, who also hails from the affluent Patel community, has been trying to mediate between the state government and PAAS leader for about a fortnight now. He was in talks with the Anandiben Patel government and Hardik Patel on a 35-point agenda. I had met the Chief Minister yesterday after meeting Hardik earlier. Again today, I and Hardik discussed the 35 topics and have agreed on 27 issues, including withdrawal of cases against agitating Patels, setting up professional educational institutions where Patel students can get admissions without donations, some issues specific to farmers and creating jobs, he said. The recent budget proposal of the state government has already addressed some of these issues.The issue of reservations or OBC status is matter of discussion but I am confident that the entire situation would be sorted out in the coming 2-3 days, he said. There has, however, been no word from Hardik as yet. Last time, when Mr Radadiya met Hardik and announced that the truce was likely, Hardik had come out and said there would be no agreement with anyone unless their core demand for reservations was met. PAAS spokesperson Varun Patel said there was little hope of reaching an agreement with the government without the latter agreeing to give reservations to Patels. He (Radadiya) and Nitinbhai (Cabinet minister in Anandiben Patel government) have been promising withdrawal of cases against our brothers for a month-and-a-half now but no action has been taken on that. Unless the government gives us in writing or a commission is formed to look in to demand for reservations to Patels, all the talk is like giving us a lollipop, he said.Laljibhai Patel, the leader of Sardar Patel Group, the other leading faction fighting for quota for Patels, too expressed his reservations regarding any agreement between Hardik Patel and Radadiya. The Patel agitation does not belong to only Hardik or Vitthal Radadiya. We are open to arriving at a decision on the basis of talks but any agreement must involve good of the community, he said. The Opposition Congress on its part said the problem of Patel quota stir in the state appears to be created by the BJP government in the state. They created the problem and are now trying to wind it up. They and their intent are now out in open before the people, Manish Doshi, Congress spokesperson said. UNI ND PY AE 1749 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0298-611527.Xml Swiss legend Roger Federer has withdrawn from the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells next month as he continues to rehab from knee surgery. The four-time champion underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee on February 3 in Switzerland and only returned to the practice court this Tuesday. The rehab for my knee is going really well! I have now had a lot of great practices on the court and in the gym. As it is a long year, I don't want to push it too hard and come back too soon. Thus, I will unfortunately not be able to make it back in time for the great event in Indian Wells but I do plan on playing in the desert next year,'' Federer wrote on his Facebook page. After consultation with my team, I have decided to enter the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters. Thanks for the support and I will see you back on tour soon. Federer finished runner-up to Serbian Novak Djokovic the past two years in Indian Wells, where he last won the title in 2012. The Swiss also won three consecutive titles in the Californian desert from 2004-06. Since making his debut in 2001, Federer has made 15 consecutive appearances in Indian Wells, where he boasts a 52-11 record. Federer suffered a torn meniscus one day after falling to Djokovic in the semi-finals of the Australian Open in late January.UNI XC-TBA KU GAU 1735 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0348-611525.Xml Opposition NDA staged dharna here today in support of their demand for immediate arrest of RJD MLA Raj BallabhYadav facing charges of raping a minor girl recently. The Opposition accused the state government of protecting the RJD MLAfrom Nawada, Mr Yadav who was absconding since the 15-year-old rape victim had lodged an FIR at Women police station in Biharsharif on February 9. In her FIR, she had claimed that the MLA outraged her modesty in a building under Giriyak police station area in Nalanda district on February 6. Addressing NDA leaders and workers at the dharna site, senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said the RJD MLA could not be arrested even after 20 days of the heinous crime. He said since Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was not able to gather adequate courage to allow the police to arrest the MLA or attach his properties since the rape accused belonged to RJD, a bigger partner in the grand alliance government. Mr. Modi said his party would raise the issue in both houses of the state legislature forcefully and would not allow the state government to let the RJD MLA get off scot-free after outraging the modesty of a minor girl. Women front of the NDA organised dharna at other places across the state too in support of its demand for immediate arrest of the RJD MLA. UNI XC DH KK AE AN1752 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0212-611438.Xml Punjab Agriculture Department has launched a special campaign to destroy congress grass, the carrier of white fly, along the roads, canals, drains, in villages, cities and around the agriculture fields in the state. An official spokesman today said during 2016-17 Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) has recommended the hybrids of Bt cotton for cultivation in Punjab on the basis of incidence of leaf curl disease, whitefly. It also recommended the seed cotton yield of Ankur 3028, MRC 7017, NCS 855 and RCH 650. Other Bt cotton hybrids suggested by the PAU for average performance across two locations of Faridkot and Bathinda were RCH 314, PRCH 7799, VBCH 1532, RCH 776, Supar 971, RCH 602, SWCH 4713, Ankur Jassi, RCH 773, KCH 172, DPC 3083,S07H878, SWCH 4755 and Bio 6539-2, he added. The spokesman said weeding out of congress grass was the need of the hour, if the weed was destroyed well before the onset of cotton season, it would make a huge impact on controlling the population of white fly. He said agriculture department has already directed the officials to figure out the total area and vacant area falling under each district so that plan at micro level for destroying weed could be chalked out and implemented at a mass level. He said the monitoring teams would be constituted to monitor preventive measures over each road and canal. He added that the main emphasis of this entire campaign would remain on cotton belts of Mansa, Bathinda, Sri Mukatsar Sahib, Fazilka, Faridkot, Barnala, Sangrur and Moga districts. Weekly meetings would be held to closely monitor the work and special duties would be assigned to the officials, he added.UNI DB AE AN1756 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-611389.Xml Haryana Health and Medical Education Minister Anil Vij today urged the centre government to setup a Central Health Institute for conducting refresher courses for doctors and para-medical staff so that they are aprised about new medicines, techniques and equipment. At the 12th meeting of the Central Health and Family Welfare Council, presided over by Union Health Minister J P Nadda in New Delhi , Mr Vij stressed the need for enhancing the budget of health sector to provide better health services to the people. He also stressed the need for opening maximum number of medical colleges to meet the shortage of doctors. He said there should be frequent inspection of private medical colleges to keep an eye on their functioning. Expressing his concern over the sale of medicines at very high prices, he said central guidelines should be prepared to ensure they thev poor and needy get medicines at fair price. He said for instance a medicine costing Rs 10 was being sold for Rs 200. The Minister suggested that mapping in health sector be conducted to know the spread of disease, if any, in a particular area. This would help in checking the diseases effectively. He said the process has been initiated to provide CT-Scan and MRI facilities in government hospitals in seven districts of Haryana. MORE UNI DB AE BL1900 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-611606.Xml Radhika Vemula, who yesterday accused the government of diverting the attention from the main issue, also met senior Janata Dal (United) leader K.C. Tyagi. The friends and family members of Rohith Vemula had yesterday, at a press conference in Delhi, said that they would expose the lies propagated by Irani in the Parliament. Accusing Irani of lying and attempting to divert attention from the entire issue, Radhika Vemula said that her son did not receive the stipend for seven months. Rohith's friend Prashant quoting the HRD Minister's earlier statement said this is a complete lie that has malicious intent to divert the entire issue which has started troubling the BJP. Prashant also wondered as to why no action has been initiated against the HRD Minister, who is repeatedly giving false statements, yet. Rohith, who committed suicide last month, was among the five research scholars suspended by the Hyderabad University in August last year over an alleged assault case. The matter took a political turn with allegations that the extreme step taken by Rohith was a result of discrimination against Dalit students at the behest of Union Minister of State for Labour Bandaru Dattatreya, following his letter to the Union HRD Minister, seeking action against their 'anti-national acts'. (ANI) BJP national president Amit Shah on Saturday described Gujarat as a "fort of the BJP", asserting the party would form the government in the state after the 2017 assembly elections. Shah, who arrived here for the first time after once again becoming the party's president, said the Bharatiya Janata Party's victory in the 2017 elections would "shatter the hopes of the opponents who are day-dreaming". During his felicitation ceremony at Ahmedabad airport, Shah said: "Gujarat was, is and will remain a fort of BJP." Without naming the opposition Congress, Shah said BJP's zealous workers have fanned out in every nook and cranny of the state and would prove wrong all those "who have been day-dreaming about change of power in Gujarat". He said the party workers' target in the state was victory and they were ready to clear "any difficulties and thorns in the way". Shah, however, did not elaborate on the difficulties that the party could face in the run up to the 2017 assembly elections. "In 2017, the chants of 'long live BJP' and 'Bharat mata ki jai' would reverberate. We will win even more convincingly under the guidance of Narendrabhai (Modi) to serve the 6 crore Gujaratis again," he said, avoiding any reference to Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, who was present. "The win won't be a full stop, but just a comma before an even better future of the state. We will celebrate even the golden jubilee of our win," he said. Stating that the party was now ruling in 13 states and at the Centre where it was the first party to get absolute majority in 20 years, Shah said: "The party with the humble beginning as Jan Sangh in 1950 had never imagined it." "This is not a political journey but a journey of ideology. Under the successful leadership of Narendrabhai our government is marching ahead for all-inclusive growth taking into account the poor, farmers, labourers, Dalits, tribals and other backward classes," Shah added. He said of the last six assembly elections, the BJP had won four and formed a government in those states. "We lost only in Delhi and Bihar. But in Delhi, our percentage of votes did not diminish while in Bihar it even jumped up by a good margin," he said. Shah, also a local BJP legislator from Naranpura constituency, was accorded a warm welcome on his arrival here. Chief Minister Anandiben, her ministerial colleagues, state in-charge of the party Dinesh Sharma, national vice president Purushottam Rupala and other top state party leaders were present to receive him at the airport. Newly appointed Gujarat BJP president Vijay Rupani was also felicitated in the presence of Shah. --Indo-Asian News Service desai/sd/bg ( 462 Words) 2016-02-27-19:11:34 (IANS) Launching five key projects, including declaration of Kerala as the first digital state in the country, he said the development achieved by the state is on par with many developed nations in the world. The state made the country proud by launching many developmental schemes, including poverty eradication project. Kerala, which has highest literacy rate in the country, has also established as first state in the country to launch e-governance. Mr Mukherjee said mobile phone penetration was also at peak covering every nook and corner of the state. UL Cyber Park launched by Ularunkal Labour Contract Society was expected to provide many job opportunities. Praising the General Park launched by State Social Justice Department, the President said the initiative would ensure gender equality throughout the country. Stating educated youth were the backbone of the state, Mr Mukherjee said it also had credit of ensuring concept unity in diversity. Other projects launched by him were the state government's digital empowerment campaign 'Kaniv.' The President, who arrived by a special chopper at Vikram Maidan after inaugurating Muziris project, a heritage conservation and tourism initiative on the lost Indo-Roman port at Kodungallur, drove to the venue at Nellikkode. He later left for Delhi by a special aircraft from Calicut International Airport near here.More UNI PCH KVV 1915 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0414-611775.Xml Those attached with Ms Sibal included Nitin Kumar Yadav, Managing Director, Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam and Special Secretary, Power, and Director, Power Reforms, and Ashok Kumar Meena, Director Development and Panchayats and Special Secretary, Development and Panchayats and Rural Development. Meanwhile, the state government has also launched an online application for filing applications for compensation of damage caused to properties in the recent law and order disturbance in thestate. A spokesman for the Urban Local Bodies Department said the application could be accessed through the departments website www.ulbharyana.gov.in. He said the claimants could fill the form online after registering themselves on the website. Detailed guidelines are also available on the website. In case of any difficulty, claimants could contact the office of the Deputy Commissioner concerned, he added.UNI DB AE AN1921 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-611644.Xml Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh today asked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to better inquire about the plight of people in Delhi who are "crying for water" for the last ten days, than chasing an illusive dream of ruling Punjab and roaming and loitering around here. Asserting that it was too characteristic of Mr Kejriwal either to put the blame on someone else or to run away from the situation, Singh pointed out that there is no water supply in most parts of Delhi for about last ten days after the Jat stir in Haryana."Instead of standing with his people who voted him to power and trying to find solutions to their pressing, problems he is trying to sell false dreams in Punjab", he remarked.Besides, he said, why his heart did not bleed for thousands of Punjabis who were selectively targeted in violence and their properties also damaged in Haryana. "Leave aside visiting them and offering them any assurance, you did not even bother to issue a word of consolation for them and not even to those women who were allegedly molested and raped," he told Mr Kejriwal, while adding that he did not condemn the violence against the Punjabis in his native state of Haryana.Questioning the very intentions of the Delhi CM in providing job to family members of Bhim Tank of Abohar who was killed by Akali goons, the PCC president asked him as to how many other victims has he ever visited and offered similar jobs. "Did you offer anything similar to the family members of Rohith Vemula, the Dalit boy who committed suicide in Hyderabad University?" he asked Mr Kejriwal, while maintaining that his intentions were just partisan and electoral only as he practiced "double standards" for electoral gains.MORE UNI DB AE AN1917 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-611664.Xml Vowing that Aam Admi Party (AAP) is all set to form government in Punjab by winning all 117 seats in 2017, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today claimed that 'Typhoon of AAP will blow away both SAD-BJP combine and the Congress, which is clearly visible through over-whelming anguish against rulers among people of state. During my visit to the villages, I have assessed massive anguish of people against political parties, which ruled Punjab so far. They want change and eager to get rid of traditional politics and political parties, which have ruined their Punjab, Mr Kejriwal said while addressing a gathering here. Earlier after meeting almost 30 families, who lost their male members due to menace of drug, the AAP convenor said, Situation is similar in almost every village of Punjab, but what shocked me that state government, instead of taking remedial steps, rather ignoring the fact. "Eradication of drug from Punjab will be on the priority of forthcoming AAPs government in Punjab," Mr Kejriwal said, adding that anguish of people and Typhoon of AAP will blow away both SAD-BJP combine and Congress from Punjab forever. Referring to the incident when some Akali and Congress workers showed him black flags in the city, the AAP national convener said, I asked one of the youth, why you are showing black flag to me? He replied that he was paid for this. But in the same breath, same youth said I will vote for you only, this I am doing just to have money to buy burger.UNI DB SW AN1926 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-611706.Xml Haryana Transport Minister Krishan Lal Panwar has decided to contribute his one months salary to the Chief Ministers Relief Fund to help the people affected during the violent Jat agitation in the state. In a statement here today, Mr Panwar also urged other Ministers, Members of Legislative Assembly and officials of the state government to come forward and help the people affected during the recent incidents of arson, loot and vandalism in the state. Urban Local Bodies Minister Kavita Jain has already decided to contribute her one months salary to the Chief Ministers Relief Fund for the same cause.UNI DB SHS RJ AN2100 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-611872.Xml The explosion took place in a house at AShibpur village near Suri, in the district, a senior police officer said. "We recovered a body from the house where the explosion took place. Another man was injured in the blast, later succumbed to his injuries," said the officer. Alleging the involvement of the ruling Trinamool Congress in the explosion, the opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed the Mamata Banerjee government over the deteriorating law and order in the state. "The explosion is a result of Trinamool's internal feud. Clashes between rival factions within the Trinamool have now become a daily affair," said former CPI-M MP Ram Chandra Dome. "There is no law and order in the state, under the Trinamool only bomb making is flourishing," said BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha. Rubbishing the opposition's charges, local Trinamool leader Piyari Mollah claimed the explosion was a handiwork of criminals and his party activists were not involved. --Indo-Asian News Service and/vd ( 197 Words) 2016-02-27-21:47:33 (IANS) Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar today reiterated that the defense expo to be held at Naqueri Quitol in Quepem Taluka of South Goa from March 28 to 31 will be just for four days. Speaking to mediapersons at his office here, Mr Parrikar said ''the expo is just a temporary arrangment for four days. The first three days would be for business and on fourth day it will be open for general public. Fourty four countires are participating in the expo, while delegations from 170 countries will be visiting the expo. ''Though there is an offer for having permanent site for the expo but decision has to be taken by the Goa Government. Even one panchayat has come forward to offer land for the expo,'' he said. He said the participants of the expo would vacat the site within two weeks. 'Some people have misinformation that site will be permanently given to defense ministry for having the expo but it is not so. The site will be used just for four days. After the expo is over the land will be handed over to Goa State Industrial Development Corporation (GSIDC),'' he added.More UNI AKM SHS GC2128 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0171-611900.Xml Deputy Mayor Tekinder Singh panwar told UNI today that MC would take advised of NIV as there could be possibility of presence of Hepatitis E in water of local sources . Sample were brought to MC Lab Lakker bazar to despatch them to Pune after leveling them in different test tubes. MC already had sealed most of water local sources and Banwaris as E-coli bacteria found in them many yearrs Back. MC may forced to completely seal such sources if it would found positive for Hepatitis viruses. Leader of opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal participated in discussion on jaundice outbreak in state assembly yesterday pointed out that banwari water could be source of contamination ad people of town were using its water during rationing of supply after shutting down of Ashawani khud.UNI ML JS SHS RJ BL2217 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-611937.Xml Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said it was for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to retrospect and work towards fulfilling the promises made by him ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Taking a pot shot at the prime minister, Mr Kumar said image of Mr Modi had taken a beating in less than two years as a prominent British journalist who penned a book, 'Modi effect' eulogising him in 2014, is coming out with a new book 'Modi defect'. Mr Kumar, while making a statement in the Bihar assembly, said that a euphoria generated around crowning of Mr Modi as prime minister in 2014 had prompted a British journalist, media in-charge of then British Prime Minister Tony Blair, to write a book 'Modi effect'. "The so called charisma of Mr Modi seems to have faded as the same author has written an article recently, venting his frustration over him for his failure to fulfill the aspiration of the masses of India," the chief minister said, adding that the British author had intended to write a new book 'Modi defect', altering his perception about Mr Modi. Mr Kumar suggested Mr Modi to focus more on work and take concrete steps to fulfill the promises made during last Lok Sabha elections held in 2014. "Only two years were left for Mr Modi to deliver the goods as country would be in election mode afterthat, leaving scope for his critical appraisal," he noted.UNI KKS IS AD SHS RJ AN2234 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0108-612040.Xml On a day of large scale conviction, eight murder accused were awarded life imprisonment by different courts in Bihar today. While three accused each were sentenced to life imprisonment in Munger and Rohtas districts, one each was awarded life term in Gopalgan and Samastipur districts. Additional District and Sessions Judge of Munger Jyoti Swarpoop Srivastava awarded life sentence to three people in connection with the murder of a railway employee Dilchand Mandal. The three accused, Anil Kumar Singh, Sanjeev Kumar and Ranjeet Kumar are residents of Chandanpur village under Nayarampur police station area in the district. All of them were found guilty of killing the railway employee at Chandanpur village in the district on October 22, 2006 over a trivial issue. Additional District and Sessions Judge Rajkumar sentenced three siblings - Madan Rajwar, Mohan Rajwar and Chhote Rajwar to life imprisonment in connection with a murder case. All of them were found guilty of strangulating a 14-year-old boy, Babudhan, to death on November 20, 2013 over a dispute among them. In another conviction, Additional District and Sessions Judge of Gopalganj sentenced a murder accused Manjherilal Baitha to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of killing a co-villager ChandrikaBaitha at Vishunpur Dhobitola village under Singhwalia police station in Gopalganj district on August 5, 2007. Baitha was beaten to death by the accused over a trivial matter. Three other women accused were also awarded imprisonment for six months by the court in this connection. Similarly, the sessions court of Samastipur sentenced Manikant Choudhary to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of murdering a villager in the district a few years back. The court presided over by justice Mr Jai Prakash Arya pronounced the judgement convicting him under various sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC). UNI DH IS AD SHS RJ BL2245 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0108-612059.Xml CIA staff intercepted a car on Matana road and nabbed Guru Nanakpura resident Satnam with 80 grams heroin. During his preliminary interrogation, the drug peddler said he bought the heroin from Delhi. He told the police that Satpal alias Nambardar of Bodhiakhera, Naresh of Chablakheri and Sumit Soni of Sanyas Ashram road are his partners who had given him the money to buy the contraband.UNI XC DB SHS RJ AN2310 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-612016.Xml Russia and the United States circulated to the UN Security Council a draft resolution endorsing the planned halt in fighting in Syria and council diplomats said they hoped to adopt it as soon as possible.The "cessation of hostilities" agreed to by the United States and Russia is due to take hold on Saturday morning from midnight. But opponents of President Bashar al-Assad say they expect the government to press on with its advance, by branding opposition fighters al Qaeda militants unprotected by the truce.The joint draft resolution, which diplomats say the 15-nation council plans to put to a vote today afternoon, would endorse the halt in fighting and demand that it begin as planned at midnight local time on Saturday morning.It also "demands that all parties to whom the cessation of hostilities applies ... fulfill their commitments."Reuters has seen the draft resolution.The draft further "urges all Member States, especially ISSG (International Syria Support Group) members, to use their influence with the parties to the cessation of hostilities to ensure fulfillment of those commitments and to support efforts to create conditions for a durable and lasting ceasefire."Damascus has agreed to the deal, as has the main opposition alliance, although it is only ready to commit for two weeks given its deep reservations.But the government and its allies - including Russia - will be permitted to forge on with strikes against jihadist militants of Islamic State and an al Qaeda-linked group, the Nusra Front.The draft resolution would also call on all parties in the conflict to grant access to aid workers to ease the country's worsening humanitarian crisis and reiterates the council's support the UN-brokered peace talks between the government and opposition.One of the main purposes of the cessation of hostilities is to allow aid to reach civilians, especially in besieged areas cut off from supplies.The resolution calls for a resumption of peace talks "as soon as possible (and) ... urges the representatives of the Syrian government and the Syrian opposition to engage in good faith in these negotiations."Four months of Russian air strikes turned momentum Assad's way in a 5-year-old war that has killed more than 250,000 people, created the world's worst refugee crisis and seen Islamic State fighters declare a "caliphate" in Syria and Iraq.The Syria war has drawn in most regional and global powers, with Western countries, Arab states and Turkey forming a coalition against Islamic State while also backing rebels fighting to overthrow Assad. Russia and Iran support him. REUTERS JW PR0759 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-609063.Xml Hungary could hold a referendum on European Union-mandated migrant resettlement quotas in 150 days at the earliest as the government's referendum question makes its way through the legal system, the justice minister said today."The earliest possible time is 150 days, while the latest is 250 days," Laszlo Trocsanyi told a news conference.Hungary has been at odds with the European Commission and some fellow EU countries over how to handle a migrant influx into the bloc. Prime Minister Viktor Orban proposed a referendum on Wednesday to see whether Hungarians accepted the quotas, something his government opposes. REUTERS PY CS1544 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-609599.Xml The United Nations Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution to demand a halt to the fighting in Syria. The adoption on Friday coincided with the scheduled implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement reached by Russia and the US, Xinhua reported. According to the deal, the halt was to begin at midnight (Damascus time) on Friday in the middle of the council session. "It's zero hour, Damascus time," Japanese Ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa said as the clock struck within a minute of the scheduled starting time. The new council resolution welcomed a February 11 statement from the 17-member International Syrian Support Group (ISSG) that seeks humanitarian aid access to Syria and a halt in fighting. The resolution also demanded the implementation of a previous council resolution on Syria adopted on December 18, 2015, which called for an end to attacks on civilians and infrastructure as well as a political settlement of the crisis. Before the resolution was voted on, Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy for Syria, spoke to the 15-member panel via teleconference from Geneva. "This council meeting has a special significance on this exceptional day and night for the Syrians," he said. "We now have specific obligations for ISSG members and for Syrians to fulfill," the envoy said. "There is a mechanism to that effect. There is an agreed set of actions and an immediate timeline." "We are now at a crossroad -- we have the possibility to turn the page in the Syrian conflict -- after almost five years of one of the bloodiest conflicts in recent years," de Mistura said. "It is potentially a historic junction to bring an end to the killing and destruction and to start a new life and hope for the Syrians," he said. De Mistura also announced that a new round of Syria talks will be held on March 7. The UN-mediated Syria peace talks, aimed at brokering a political solution between Syrian warring factions -- Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's government and opposition forces -- halted on February 3 after parties failed to see eye to eye on a number of issues. US Ambassador Samantha Power was the first to speak after the 15-0 vote at the UN Security Council. "The resolution we have just adopted... offers a genuine opportunity to pause, at least in part, the fighting in one of the most brutal conflicts the world has seen in a generation, and it's our best chance to reduce the violence," she said. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said the measure "must be strictly implemented and without any preconditions" and "the process of implementation itself must be monitored reliably." "As was confirmed in the joint statement of Russia and the United States, the Cessation of Hostilities regime will not apply to the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra and other terrorist organisations that have been recognised as such by the UN Security Council, the combat against them will continue." "Our position is that long-term stabilisation of Syria is impossible without eliminating the terrorist threat in this country," Gatilov said. For his part, Syrian Ambassador to the UN Bashar al-Ja'afari said Damascus considers the Russian-US deal "as an important step toward a political settlement and affirms its willingness to contribute to the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities." The UN estimates that the Syrian crisis has claimed more than 250,000 lives since it broke out in March 2011. --Indo-Asian News Service py/vm ( 581 Words) 2016-02-27-11:25:33 (IANS) There are various nations in earth whose religions are established some form of God as the name indicated called pantheism: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shinto, Animism. Some included belief in many gods representing various forces of nature and heavenly bodies. No systems are Creator, an individual transcendent Oplagt.Buying a pre-owned Japanese car is a very good way to obtain an excellent car at an affordable. There is a strict motor-vehicle inspection so there are not hidden shocks. You get what you pay because buying pre-owned Japanese car. 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Your next step simply needs to getting and also setting increase reservations today, because much less are realizing what are generally now, they will too get their dream vacation. Donald Trump is receiving foreign policy advice from a former US military intelligence chief who wants the United States to work more closely with Russia to resolve global security issues, according to three sources.The sources, former foreign policy officials in past administrations, said retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, who was chief of the Defense Intelligence Agency under President Barack Obama from 2012-2014, has been informally advising Trump.Trump, who is leading the Republican race to be the party's presidential candidate in November's election, said earlier this month that he would soon release a list of his foreign policy advisers, but has yet to do so. The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment about Flynn.Flynn declined to comment when asked by Reuters whether he is advising Trump. Asked to describe his views about ties with Russia, he referred Reuters to his public statements.The question of who has been advising Trump on national security issues has become more pertinent as prospects that the New York real estate mogul will secure the Republican nomination, possibly within weeks, have increased.Trump won the surprise endorsement of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie yesterday, the most prominent mainstream Republican to come on board.Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who won popularity for his handling of the September 11, 2001, attacks, has also been in regular contact with Trump, said a former top aide to Giuliani.A close associate of Flynn said that Trump was not the only presidential hopeful who had consulted the former DIA chief. "He responds to one and all but is not working for any one," the associate said.Trump has struck a notably different stance on Russia from his main rivals for the nomination, calling President Vladimir Putin "highly respected" and advocating a warming of now icy bilateral ties.Other Republican candidates have frequently taken to bashing Putin and have cited his military interventions in Ukraine and Syria as evidence that President Barack Obama has been weak in standing up to the Russian leader.Trump has vowed to destroy Islamic State and to undertake an aggressive rebuilding of the US military, but has signaled more flexibility than his rivals on some issues - for example, by not vowing to tear up the Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran.SAT WITH PUTINFlynn resigned from his position as the head of the Pentagon's main intelligence agency a year before his term was officially due to end.Flynn raised eyebrows among some US foreign policy veterans when he was pictured sitting at the head table with Putin at a banquet in Moscow late last year celebrating Russia Today, an international broadcasting network funded by the Russian government.His son Michael G. Flynn, who acts as his chief of staff, declined comment on the banquet and on the reasons for his father's departure from the Pentagon.Flynn told Russia Today in an interview published on December 10 that the United States and Russia should work together to resolve the Syrian civil war and defeat Islamic State.The Obama administration has protested Russia's military intervention on behalf of Syrian President Bashir al-Assad, accusing Moscow of hitting opposition forces rather than ISIS."Right now we have essentially the US strategy and we have a Russian strategy in the region that does not appear to be in line with each other. And I think we have to step back and try to figure out how do we align those," Flynn told Russia Today.Flynn was also quoted this month as telling German magazine Der Spiegel that the Iraq war launched in 2003 by then-President George W. Bush was a mistake that gave rise to Islamic State. Trump has often strongly condemned the Iraq invasion.A former US intelligence official who worked with Flynn said the retired general believes in a more aggressive approach to US interests around the world."He's a sharp guy, he understands foreign policy and national security and really understands intelligence," said the official. "His positions and opinions are not always in line with popular thinking."Giuliani's office did not respond to a request for comment on his relationship with Trump.Randy Mastro, a New York lawyer who was a deputy mayor in Giuliani's New York City administration, said Giuliani has close ties to Trump. "I know that Rudy and Donald Trump have a long-standing relationship and personal friendship that goes back many years, and they do speak to each other on a regular basis," said Mastro.REUTERS JW PR0723 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-610688.Xml Australia is sending a relief ship to Fiji to assist in the recovery effort after Cyclone Winston, the worst ever recorded in the southern hemisphere, tore through the island nation last Saturday, as the sheer scale of the disaster becomes clearer. The death toll from the category five storm remains at 42, according to a statement from Fiji's National Disaster Management Office, although that figure is expected to rise. Many communities remain without water and it could be weeks before electricity is restored, the statement said. The scale of damage and loss is becoming apparent to authorities and aid organisations as communications are being gradually restored throughout the archipelago. UNICEF spokeswoman Alice Clements said her organisation now estimates that more than 62,000 Fijians are homeless and living in evacuation shelters. "People are very resilient here and have got a solution to every problem, but there are just so many people who don't have any options," Clements said. "As hard as we are working and as hard as the government is working the scale of this is going to outrun us all unless we get help," she said. Australia's military vessel, HMAS Canberra, left yesterday and was expected to arrive in Fijian waters early next week. It was carrying three helicopters and 60 tonnes of supplies, including water purification equipment and medical supplies. The ship's departure came as Australia's foreign ministry said on Twitter that the first helicopter load of Australian aid had reached the hard-hit remote island of Koro on Saturday. The Asian Development Bank's South Pacific director, Rob Jauncey, told Radio New Zealand that Fiji's economy would face losses of "tens of millions of dollars" because of the destruction of sugar crops and an expected drop in tourism. The effects of Cyclone Winston were being felt on the eastern coast of Australia, more than 2,600 km southwest of Fiji, today. Australia's Bureau of Meteorology issued dangerous surf warnings and authorities closed many beaches in the states of Queensland and New South Wales as swells of up to 6 metres (20 feet) generated by Cyclone Winston battered the coast. REUTERS SV VP1240 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0103-610906.Xml Iran's judiciary signalled today that Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi, detained since October in a case being watched internationally, had not been given access to a lawyer. The businessman was on a list published last month by the official Islamic Republic News Agency and the Tabnak website of four prisoners to be freed in a prisoner exchange with the United States. His name was later withdrawn from the list with no explanation. Five Iranian-American groups have written to US Secretary of State John Kerry urging him to work to release Namazi, who they said was "left behind" after the prisoner swap. Namazi was detained by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps while in Iran visiting family. Officials have yet to announce charges against him. Namazi's 80-year-old father Baquer Namazi was arrested on Monday after travelling to Iran to try to visit his son in Evin prison. On Saturday, judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei mentioned the case in answer to international media reports that Siamak Namazi had been denied access to a lawyer, Tasnim news agency reported. He was quoted as saying: "According to the criminal code, lawyers should be approved by the head of the judiciary in security cases ... therefore if a lawyer is presented according to these rules he will be accepted, whether on this case or any other." "There is one law for all accused," Ejei added. Iran does not recognise dual nationality. Last week, the younger Namazi's attorney and family said he had been denied access to his lawyer, Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabaei. Tabatabaei said he was representing Namazi but had not been informed of the charges his client faces. Iran released four Iranian-Americans and one other US citizen last month in a prisoner swap with the United States, which granted clemency to seven Iranians and dropped arrest orders for 14 others. Iran is believed to be holding several other dual nationals, including Iranian-British citizen Kamal Foroughi, who was arrested in 2011 while working in Tehran as a business consultant. Iran's judiciary spokesman said this month that most of the detained dual nationals face espionage charges. REUTERS SV VP1332 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0103-610965.Xml Fighting appeared largely to stop across most areas of western and northern Syria today after a cessation of hostilities came into effect, which the United Nations called the best hope for peace since the civil war began five years ago.Under the US-Russian accord accepted by President Bashar al-Assad's government and many of his enemies, fighting should cease so aid can reach civilians and talks can open to end a war that has killed more than 250,000 people and made 11 million homeless.The truce is the culmination of new diplomatic efforts that reflect a battlefield dramatically changed since Russia joined the war in September with air strikes to prop up Assad. Moscow's intervention effectively destroyed the hope his enemies have maintained for five years -- encouraged by Arab and Western states -- to topple him by force.The fragile agreement is the first of its kind to be attempted in four years and, if it holds, would be the most successful truce of the war so far.But there are many weak spots in the agreement, which has not been directly signed by the Syrian warring parties and is less binding than a formal ceasefire. Importantly, it does not cover powerful jihadist groups such as Islamic State and the Nusra Front, al Qaeda's branch in Syria."Let's pray that this works because frankly this is the best opportunity we can imagine the Syrian people has had for the last five years in order to see something better and hopefully something related to peace," UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said at a midnight news conference in Geneva.He said he expected occasional breaches of the agreement but called on the parties to show restraint and curb escalation.Several insurgents in the western and northern part of the country said early on Saturday that it was mainly quiet so far.In early reports of violence, a Syrian rebel group in the northwest said three of its fighters had been killed while repelling an attack from government ground forces a few hours after the plan came into effect. Its spokesman called it a breach of the agreement; the Syrian military could not be reached immediately for comment.Syria's state media said at least two people were killed and several wounded when a car bomb exploded at the entrance of Salamiya, a town east of Hama city and a frontline between government forces and Islamic State group. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights which monitors the conflict said it was carried out by Islamic State.Damascus and Moscow say they will respect the agreement but continue to fight the Nusra Front and Islamic State. Other rebels seen as moderates by the West say they fear this will be used to justify attacks on them.Russia's defence ministry said it had suspended air strikes in a "green zone" -- defined as those parts of Syria held by groups that have accepted the cessation.Nusra Front, one of Syria's most powerful Islamist rebel groups, often operates close to other groups, making it potentially difficult to prove whether strikes have targeted it. Yesterday, Nusra urged insurgents to intensify their attacks on Assad and his allies."THERE IS CALM"A rebel fighter said government forces briefly fired artillery at a village in Aleppo province, which he said was under the control of the Levant Front, a group under the umbrella of the Free Syrian Army which has backed the truce.Nevertheless he said the frontline was quieter than before the agreement took effect."There is calm. Yesterday at this time there were fierce battles. It is certainly strange, but the people are almost certain that the regime will breach the truce on the grounds of hitting Nusra. There is the sound of helicopters from the early morning," he told Reuters earlier today.Fighting raged across much of western Syria right up until the cessation came into effect but there was calm in many parts of the country shortly after midnight, the Observatory said."In Damascus and its countryside ... for the first time in years, calm prevails," Observatory director Rami Abdulrahman said. "In Latakia, calm, and at the Hmeimim air base there is no plane activity," he said, referring to the Latakia base where Russia's warplanes operate.Some gunfire had been heard shortly after midnight in the northern city of Aleppo, and there were some blasts heard in northern Homs province, but it was not clear what had caused them, Abdulrahman said.UN DEMANDAfter years in which any action by the United Nations Security Council was blocked by Moscow, Russia's intervention has opened a path for multilateral diplomacy while undermining the long-standing Western demand that Assad leave power.The Security Council unanimously demanded late yesterday that all parties to the conflict comply with terms of the plan. De Mistura said he intends to restart peace talks on March 7, provided the halt in fighting largely holds.UN-backed peace talks, the first in two years and the first to include delegations from Damascus and the rebels, collapsed earlier this month before they began, with the rebels saying they could not negotiate while they were being bombed.The government, backed by Russian air strikes, has dramatically advanced in recent weeks, moving close to encircling Aleppo, Syria's biggest city before the war, and threatening to seal the Turkish border that has served as the main lifeline for rebel-held areas.In the final day before the truce on Friday, at least 40 government soldiers and allied fighters and 18 insurgents were killed in battles and air strikes in Latakia province, the Observatory reported.Six people were killed in an air raid in western Aleppo province and dozens of air raids hit the besieged suburb of Daraya in the hours before the halt. Rescue workers said at least five people were killed in Douma, northeast of the capital.The United States said it was time for Russia to show it was serious about halting fighting by honouring a commitment not to strike Syrian groups that are part of the moderate opposition.The United Nations hopes the truce will allow access for desperately needed humanitarian aid, particularly to areas besieged by the fighting."It is time for the warring parties to end this horrendous conflict and for the world powers who can influence the situation to act decisively," Red Cross President Peter Maurer said in a statement. "Humanitarian deliveries must not depend on political negotiations."The US-backed Kurdish YPG militia, which is battling Islamic State in the northeast and Turkish-backed rebel groups in the northwest, said it would abide by the plan, but reserves the right to respond if attacked. Turkey, despite being a NATO ally of Washington, opposes the YPG and also says it will respond if attacked.Fighting between the YPG and Islamic State continued in Raqqa province, the Observatory said.REUTERS DS PM1556 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-611267.Xml Betty Odom-Bell, a 47-year-old entrepreneur, took a financial risk last year when she opened a restaurant in Denmark, a small town in the middle of a deeply depressed part of rural South Carolina.So when Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton visited Denmark earlier this month promising to transform the region into a "Corridor of Opportunity," Odom-Bell felt reassured."It's almost like we're a forgotten town," she said, describing her surprise at Clinton's visit to the town of 3,500. "With her, there's a connection. I don't have that with Bernie," she said, referring to Clinton rival Bernie Sanders.Clinton is poised to win big over the US senator from Vermont in South Carolina's primary contest today, in part because of her outsized support among the state's rural black poor - a bloc that Sanders has struggled to impress.Interviews with residents in Bamberg and Allendale counties show her appeal is not just about the differences in her social policies, or her widespread name recognition. It also results from her up-close campaigning style.Over the past several weeks, she has stumped in parts of the state that are off the beaten-path, reinforcing connections with audiences that stretch back decades, and peppering her speeches with the names of local leaders.Sanders in contrast, has focused his visits on South Carolina's big cities and universities, rallying large audiences with his self-styled Democratic socialist platform, while relying heavily on surrogates to do his work elsewhere.Plans offered by Sanders to address wealth inequality and improve access to education and healthcare have attracted interest, but many complain they do not feel they know him well enough to vote for him."Both of them are good candidates, but I'm leaning Hillary," said Marion Roberts, a 65-year-old retiree having coffee at a fast food restaurant on Allendale's main street, where many storefronts are shuttered."Sanders talks good, but I know more about her."Allendale County's 10,000 residents are nearly three-fourths black, and its unemployment rate, at about 9 percent, is nearly double the national average.About a third of the county's population lives below the poverty line, making it fertile ground for candidates shopping progressive social policies.SOUTHERN FIREWALLClinton's campaign has said South Carolina will act as an early "firewall" against Sanders, who beat her in New Hampshire's primary and posted strong showings in Iowa and Nevada, but is expected to do worse as the race shifts south.Nationwide, Sanders has built on his popularity with young and liberal voters to narrow the race to a statistical dead heat. But Clinton still holds a massive 40 percentage point advantage among black Democrats, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling.Clinton's advantage results in part from her husband Bill Clinton's outreach to black voters during his presidency. Some voters also like that Hillary Clinton has promised to build on President Barack Obama's agenda.Allendale City Mayor Ronnie Jackson, for example, says he is backing Clinton in part because Allendale, a town of about 3,800, depends on money under an Obama administration stimulus program for impoverished communities. He hopes Clinton would continue the support."That's the only way we can survive," he said.But he also points to differences in the way she and Sanders have campaigned. Sanders supporters have contacted him repeatedly by phone, he said, but he saw Clinton in the flesh at Denmark town hall on February 12, just half an hour away.Over the summer, Clinton also hosted a listening session for local leaders, many from rural areas, and she recently won the endorsement of US congressman Jim Clyburn, the only South Carolina Democrat in the House of Representatives.Sanders, meanwhile, has touted his college civil rights activism, met with black civil rights leaders and hosted an event at a historically black college. Some of those efforts have shown signs of success among young blacks.But his campaigning in rural areas has been mainly by proxy - including a visit on Monday to Allendale by campaigners organized by National Nurses United. Sanders himself moved on to other states in the run up to today's primary, while Clinton continued to campaign daily there.James Fitts, an 80-year-old Allendale resident, said he likes Clinton's approach. "She's been in it a long time."REUTERS DS VP1711 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-611391.Xml Islamic State fighters attacked the town of Tel Abyad controlled by the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia at the Turkish border as well as the nearby town of Suluk today, YPG spokesman Redur Xelil told Reuters.The YPG and Syrian Kurdish internal security forces were able to "crush this attack and encircle the attackers," Xelil said. "The attackers were eliminated," he added. He gave no casualty toll.The YPG captured Tel Abyad from IS last year in an offensive backed by US-led air strikes.Xelil said some of the attackers today infiltrated from the Turkish border to the north, reiterating accusations that Turkey was supporting the group. Turkey has consistently denied those accusations.Other attackers infiltrated from the south, Xelil said.REUTERS DS VP1714 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-611452.Xml Fighting mostly stopped across western and northern Syria today and Russia halted its air raids, under a cessation of hostilities which the United Nations called the best hope for peace since civil war began five years ago.Under the US-Russian accord accepted by President Bashar al-Assad's government and many of his enemies, fighting should cease so aid can reach civilians and talks can open to end a war that has killed more than 250,000 people and made 11 million homeless.Russia, which says it intends to continue strikes against areas held by Islamist fighters that are not covered by the truce, said it would suspend all flights over Syria for the day today to ensure no wrong targets were hit by mistake.A Syrian rebel commander said government shelling had stopped in some parts of Syria but continued elsewhere in what he described as a violation that could wreck the agreement.The truce is the culmination of new diplomatic efforts that reflect a battlefield dramatically changed since Russia joined the war in September with air strikes to prop up Assad. Moscow's intervention effectively destroyed the hope his enemies have maintained for five years -- encouraged by Arab and Western states -- to topple him by force.The agreement is the first of its kind to be attempted in four years and, if it holds, would be the most successful truce of the war so far.But there are weak spots in a fragile deal which has not been directly signed by the Syrian warring parties and is less binding than a formal ceasefire. Importantly, it does not cover powerful jihadist groups such as Islamic State and the Nusra Front, al Qaeda's branch in Syria."Let's pray that this works because frankly this is the best opportunity we can imagine the Syrian people has had for the last five years in order to see something better and hopefully something related to peace," UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said at a midnight news conference in Geneva.He said he expected occasional breaches of the agreement but called on the parties to show restraint and curb escalation.Several insurgents in the western and northern part of the country said early today that it was mainly quiet so far.Nevertheless, Fares Bayoush, head of the Fursan al-Haqq rebel group which fights under the banner of the Free Syrian Army, told Reuters that continuing violations could lead to the "collapse of the agreement"."There are areas where the bombardment has stopped but there are areas where there are violations by the regime such as Kafr Zeita in Hama, via targeting with artillery, and likewise in Morek in northern Hama countryside."REPORTS OF VIOLENCEIn early reports of violence, a Syrian rebel group in the northwest said three of its fighters had been killed while repelling an attack from government ground forces a few hours after the plan came into effect. Its spokesman called it a breach of the agreement; the Syrian military could not be reached immediately for comment.Syria's state media said at least two people were killed and several wounded when a car bomb exploded at the entrance of Salamiya, a town east of Hama city and a frontline between government forces and Islamic State group. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights which monitors the conflict said it was carried out by Islamic State.The Syrian Kurdish YPG militia said Islamic State fighters had attacked Tal Abyad, a town near the Turkish border.Damascus and Moscow say they will respect the agreement but continue to fight the Nusra Front and Islamic State. Other rebels seen as moderates by the West say they fear this will be used to justify attacks on them.Russia's defence ministry said it would suspend air strikes in a "green zone" -- defined as those parts of Syria held by groups that have accepted the cessation -- and make no flights at all today."Given the entry into force of the UN Security Council resolution that supports the Russian-American agreements on a ceasefire, and to avoid any possible mistakes when carrying out strikes, Russian military planes, including long-range aviation, are not carrying out any flights over Syrian territory on February 27," the defence ministry said.Sergei Rudskoi, a lieutenant-general in the Russian air force, told a news briefing that Moscow had sent the United States a list of 6,111 fighters who had agreed to the ceasefire deal and 74 populated areas which should not be bombed.Nusra Front, one of Syria's most powerful Islamist rebel groups, often operates close to other groups, making it potentially difficult to prove whether strikes have targeted it. Yesterday, Nusra urged insurgents to intensify their attacks on Assad and his allies."THERE IS CALM"A rebel fighter said government forces briefly fired artillery at a village in Aleppo province, which he said was under the control of the Levant Front, another group under the umbrella of the Free Syrian Army which has backed the truce.Nevertheless he said the frontline was quieter than before the agreement took effect."There is calm. Yesterday at this time there were fierce battles. It is certainly strange, but the people are almost certain that the regime will breach the truce on the grounds of hitting Nusra. There is the sound of helicopters from the early morning," he told Reuters earlier today.Fighting raged across much of western Syria right up until the cessation came into effect but there was calm in many parts of the country shortly after midnight, the Observatory said."In Damascus and its countryside ... for the first time in years, calm prevails," Observatory director Rami Abdulrahman said. "In Latakia, calm, and at the Hmeimim air base there is no plane activity," he said, referring to the Latakia base where Russia's warplanes operate.Some gunfire had been heard shortly after midnight in the northern city of Aleppo, and there were some blasts heard in northern Homs province, but it was not clear what had caused them, Abdulrahman said.After years in which any action by the United Nations Security Council was blocked by Moscow, Russia's intervention has opened a path for multilateral diplomacy while undermining the long-standing Western demand that Assad leave power.The Security Council unanimously demanded late yesterday that all parties to the conflict comply with terms of the plan. De Mistura said he intends to restart peace talks on March 7, provided the halt in fighting largely holds.UN-backed peace talks, the first in two years and the first to include delegations from Damascus and the rebels, collapsed earlier this month before they began, with the rebels saying they could not negotiate while they were being bombed.The government, backed by Russian air strikes, has dramatically advanced in recent weeks, moving close to encircling Aleppo, Syria's biggest city before the war, and threatening to seal the Turkish border that has served as the main lifeline for rebel-held areas.Washington said it was time for Russia to show it was serious about halting fighting by honouring a commitment not to strike Syrian groups that are part of the moderate opposition.REUTERS DS VP1713 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-611461.Xml Dear Representative: Please cosponsor H.Res.226, legislation introduced by Rep. Pete Sessions that asks President Obama to bring Turkey and Armenia together to achieve peace and prosperity for the next 100 years. I am concerned about the poor relations between these countries and the lack of dialogue between them for the past century. This is the first time in history that a resolution has been introduced that looks forward on the state of Turkish-Armenian relations. The time for bitterness and recrimination is past and we must now look to the future. Please cosponsor this critical measure today. . The Turkish Institute for Progress (TIP) was formed to provide a forum for dialogue in pursuit of peace and cooperation between Turkey and the international community. By meeting on the common ground defined by shared interests, TIP pursues a constructive dialogue to ensure that international relationships with Turkey are marked by unity and the shared pursuit of common goals.Turkish Institute for Progress Calls on Armenian Diaspora to Join Movement Seeking Reconciliation Instead of Further DivisionBecome a citizen cosponsor of H.Res.226 to encourage reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia for the next 100 years and beyond. . .Organization Decries Divisive Tactics against Members of Congress, Diplomats, and BusinessesWASHINGTON, DC (March 18, 2015) The Turkish Institute for Progress (TIP) today decried the divisive tactics implemented by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) as they attempt to convince American policymakers and business owners into supporting a resolution that undermines U.S. interests and jeopardizes chances for peace and reconciliation between the Turkish and Armenian communities. In recent months, Armenian advocates have attacked a Turkish ambassador, bullied members of Congress, and sent threatening letters to U.S. businesses.These types of divisive tactics have to stop, said former U.S. Representative Solomon P. Ortiz, who now serves as an advisor to TIP. The Turkish Institute for Progress was created to serve as a positive example of how two communities can reconcile their differences and work together in the interest of peace and prosperity. We welcome the Armenian Diaspora and the powerful lobbying groups behind them to cease the tactics that create further conflict and join us in our mission to look toward the next hundred years.Solomon P. Ortiz was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1982 and was reelected to represent his South Texas district 13 times. During his tenure, he served on the House Committee on Armed Services and as the Chairman of the Committees Subcommittee on ReadinessTurkish Institute for Progress TIP Applauds South Dakota State Senate for Rejecting Resolution that Undermines Opportunities for Progress Between Turkey and ArmeniaOne-Sided Narrative Ignored Millions of Casualties in the Armenian Civil War of 1885-1919NEW YORK, NY (March 05, 2015) As the latest step in their campaign to create opportunities for dialogue between Turkey and Armenia that will find solutions to last for the next hundred years, the Turkish Institute for Progress today applauded the South Dakota State Senate for rejecting HCR 1009, the states one-sided narrative that ignores millions of casualties in the Armenian Civil War. The resolution was tabled by an overwhelming vote of 30-4.Our organization has been looking to create opportunities for Turks and Armenians to come together in a solutions-based dialogue that will lead to peace and reconciliation for the next hundred years, stated Derya Taskin, President of the Turkish Institute for Progress. Resolutions like this one only serve to deepen the division that has existed for the past century and keep us from coming together to mourn all of the losses Turks, Kurds, Arabs, and Armenians that occurred during this tragic period in our histories.By rejecting this divisive and backward-looking measure, the South Dakota State Senate has sent a clear statement that they support real solutions that look toward the next century and work to unify our groups that share so much in common, Taskin continued. We applaud the State Senate for this action and hope other groups will resolve to bring us together instead of further tear us apart.The Turkish Institute for Progress was formed to provide a forum for dialogue in pursuit of peace, and cooperation between Turkey and the international community. By meeting on the common ground defined by shared regional political, economic, energy, transport, scientific, technical, and cultural issues, TIP pursues a constructive dialogue to ensure that international relationships with Turkey are marked by unity and the shared pursuit of common goals.LeadershipDerya TaskinDerya Taskin is the President of the Turkish Institute for Progress (TIP). Born in Turkey, Ms. Taskin moved to the United States in 1995 to attend high school and, later, Seton Hall University, where she attained a B.S. in Diplomacy and International Relations and a B.A. in Criminal Justice. Prior to her leadership of TIP, she spent time working with the Permanent Mission of Turkey to the United Nations and the Turkish Grand National Assemblys Turkish Mission to the European Union. She also served as a translator for high profile speeches before the United Nations General Assembly. Ms. Taskin currently owns her own consulting company focused on staffing and business consulting, and in this role she also aids small businesses interested in moving their products to Turkey or selling within the Turkish market. Among her many boards and professional memberships, Ms. Taskin is a member of the Turkish American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where she previously sat on the Board of Directors, and she also previously served as Vice President of the Federation of Turkish American Associations the nations oldest umbrella organization for Turkish American Organizations in the United States. She is also the President of the Paterson Turkish American Association of Paterson, NJ a position she has held for the previous three years. She was also appointed by the Mayor of Paterson, NJ to serve as Commissioner of the Library and Museum Board. Ms. Taskin is fluent in English and Turkish and speaks conversational French.The Events of 1915 Defining GenocideThe events of 1915 reflect a grim and dark time in the history of the Ottoman Empire. Despite the 100 years that have since passed, the period remains a contested point, often wrongly referenced by the Armenian lobby as the Armenian Genocide. In defining the tragic events, its vital to consider the historical factsthe 600,000 Armenians who died, and the 2.5 million Turks, Kurds and Arabs who also lost their lives. The battle lines of 1915 did not develop from a premeditated plan or systematic effort. Instead, they represented a trigged response to years of violence perpetrated by Armenian separatists, and heightened by the Armenians who aided czarist Russia to invade Ottoman territories.It is critical to understand that the Armenian community of the time took up arms against their own government, lured by Russias promise of an independent Armenian nation. As such, the events that led to 1915 were a tragic and dark period, but not one that constitutes the 1915 Armenian Genocide.It is also critical to highlight that as a signatory to the Convention of Prevention and Repression of Crime and Genocide, a resolution approved by the United Nations General Assembly on December 9, 1948, Turkey has long been a supporter of recognizing genocides where they occur across the globe. As outlined in that convention, the label of genocide must fall under strict criteria, most notably that violence must subjugate members of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group to conditions that include murder; forced transfer of children; or physical destruction.The concept of an Armenian Holocaust is a term that bears no foundation in historical fact or grounds in the internationally agreed-upon definition of genocide. No primary texts or Ottoman government sources reference any mandate for the extermination of the Armenian people in the order for the re-settlement of a community that posed a threat to the Ottoman States security.It is crucial to reference facts rooted in historical context to grasp the nuances behind what would result in a tremendous human cost to all former Ottoman peoples Turks, Kurds, Arabs, and Armenians. In doing so, we can work together to look forward toward the next 100 years, inspired by the promise of renewed Turkish-Armenian relations under the true spirit of cooperation.Congressional Resolution Is A Much-Needed Step Toward Repairing Turkish-Armenian Relations And Furthering U.S. National Security InterestsResolution Would Call for Dialogue and Reconciliation Looking to the Next 100 YearsNEW YORK, NY (April 06, 2015) Leaders of the Turkish Institute for Progress today applauded a resolution that aims to begin the healing process between Turkish and Armenian communities in the United States and help find a durable solution that will last for the next 100 years.This resolution is a positive effort to create a much-needed future for Turks and Armenians in the United States and across the world, said former Rep. Solomon Ortiz, who serves as an advisor to the Turkish Institute for Progress. During the 28 years that I served in Congress, there was never a resolution like this one that advanced reconciliation between these two countries. This measure hopes to end the century of divisiveness while strengthening the national security interests of the United States.Members of Congress have long sought an alternative that looks to the future and the Turkish Institute for Progress applauds this resolution for doing just that, Rep. Ortiz continued.During his 28-year tenure, Rep. Ortiz served on the House Committee on Armed Services and as the Chairman of the Committees Subcommittee on Readiness.Rep. Clawsons resolution is now actively seeking cosponsors and additional support. Full text of the measure is below:RESOLUTIONCalling on the President to work toward equitable, constructive, stable, and durable Armenian-Turkish relations for the next hundred years based upon the two countries common interests and the United States significant security interests in the region.Whereas the Obama Administration has, since early 2009, sought to improve Armenian-Turkish relations;Whereas at the start of this process, President Barack Obama had, on April 6, 2009, voiced the United States Governments expectation that the Armenia-Turkey dialogue would bear fruit very quickly, but recent attempts to reestablish diplomatic relations have been unsuccessful; Whereas while other nations in the region continue to deepen their political and economic partnerships with Iran and Russia, the United States leverage in the region is rapidly diminishing and Turkeys geostrategic position between Europe and the Middle East has made the country an important partner in combating extremism in the region;Now, therefore, be itResolved, That the House of Representatives calls on the President designate a task force comprised of Members of Congress, administration officials, and representatives from Turkey and Armenia charged with working toward equitable, constructive, stable, and durable Armenian-Turkish relations for the next hundred years, based upon the two countries common interests and the United States significant security interests in the region.New Congressional Resolution Will Help Repair Turkish-Armenian Relations And Further U.S. National Security Interests Resolution Calls for Dialogue and Reconciliation Looking to the Next 100 Years NEW YORK, NY (April 29, 2015) Leaders of the Turkish Institute for Progress today applauded a new resolution, introduced by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), that calls on President Barack Obama to facilitate a process by which Turkey and Armenia can engage in a dialogue based on their common interests and find ways to work together in a spirit of reconciliation for the next 100 years. Such a resolution would also be a boost to the national security interests of the United States.This is the first time that a resolution looking to the future of Turkish-Armenian relations has ever been introduced and I hope that all of my former colleagues in the House will support this important measure, said former Congressman Solomon Ortiz, who serves as an advisor to the Turkish Institute for Progress. The 28 years I served in Congress were more marked by bitterness and recrimination than they were by efforts to advance peace and I applaud my former colleague, Congressman Sessions, for helping to spur reconciliation between these two great nations.During his 28-year tenure, Rep. Ortiz served on the House Committee on Armed Services and as the Chairman of the Committees Subcommittee on Readiness.The legislation, H.Res.226 was introduced earlier this week by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), who serves as Chairman of the House Rules Committee. It calls on the President to work toward equitable, constructive, stable, and durable Armenian-Turkish relations for the next 100 years based upon the two countries common interests and the United States significant security interests in the region.Relationship between Turkey & ArmeniaTurks and Armenians share many common goals and have many common interests, particularly regarding regional political, economic, energy, transport, scientific, technical, and cultural issues. Together they have also reaffirmed their readiness to actively support the actions of the international community in addressing common security threats to the region and world security and stability.Turkish Resolution Prompts ReconciliationA proposed bill focused on facilitating reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia is pending Congressional review. Americans interested in easing tensions among a turbulent region should take notice.The resolution, introduced on April 6, calls for a U.S. Presidential task force to support equitable, constructive, stable, and durable Armenian-Turkish relations. As such, the bill presents an opportunity for Turks and Armenians to work alongside one another to promote a peaceful future centered on the next 100 years.This resolution is a positive effort to create a much-needed future for Turks and Armenians in the United States and across the world, former Rep. Solomon Ortiz said in a press release. During the 28 years that I served in Congress, there was never a resolution like this one that advanced reconciliation between these two countries. This measure hopes to end the century of divisiveness while strengthening the national security interests of the United States.The effortpushed by the Turkish Institute for Progressoffers supporters an alternative position from the Armenian Genocide resolution, a controversial bill deep-rooted in a long-standing debate. At the core of the Armenian resolution lays Armenian Americans call for official recognition of the events of 1915 as an act of genocide. What the text fails to capture, however, is an outlook focused on renewed prospects for shared dialogue. As the two nations move forward in chartering a new century ripe with potential, it remains crucial to build a foundation that bridges common interests and establishes opportunities for mutual cooperation.The historical passions driving todays dialogue must not distract from another conversation that too must be had. The Turkish Institute for Progress calls on the U.S. Congress, our friends and those with a stake in a productive future for Turkey and Armenia to put aside age-old grievances and encourage allTurks, Kurds, Arabs and Armeniansto come together and find solutions. In doing so, we can solidify the groundwork for a resolution that will bring us all forward.We commend the bill introduction and applaud his noble efforts to bring all sides a step closer toward achieving the ultimate goal: reconciliation for the next 100 years.The Turkish Institute for Progress (TIP) was formed to provide a forum for dialogue in pursuit of peace and cooperation between Turkey and the international community. By meeting on the common ground defined by shared interests, TIP pursues a constructive dialogue to ensure that international relationships with Turkey are marked by unity and the shared pursuit of common goals. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Today, when all Armenians recall the Sumgait massacres, which can be considered modern-day genocide, I want to tell a few episodes from the trial of a number of young hooligans who organized the Sumgait massacres. I and my colleague Jivan Balagyozyan had a chance to attend the farce and cover the trial of five of those hooligans. Now I want to tell some oddnesses that attracted our attention as Armenpress reporters. Start from the court hall. The farce called court process was going on at the hall of the USSR Supreme Court, located in the center of Moscow on Vorovski Street. There were over two dozens of halls in that 3-storied building, where trials were conducted on different cases simultaneously. Leonid Brezhnev's son-in-law, Yuri Churbanovs trial was being conducted in the central hall during those days. Naturally, there were no vacant seats in the hall. But why the trial of the Sumgait heroes was conducted in the smallest hall, is unclear. Some dozens of Sumgait residents wanted to be present at the trial who stood in a queue since early morning but could not find a seat in the hall. I and Jivan, having special permits with the signature of Chairman of the USSR Supreme Court V. Terebilov, could hardly enter the hall. Once we arrived much earlier and witnessed the filling process of the hall. A car entered the backyard of the building with over 20 young people Slavic appearance in the car, who walked into the hall proudly and took the seats reserved for the "audience". Afterwards, the organizers of that farce let a number of Sumgait Armenians in, who made sure that there are no vacant seats. This was the way they ensured the transparency of the trial. The second oddness was the neutral stance of the judge, Raymond Brize, smelling pro-Azerbaijanism. It seemed that judge was sitting in the presidential chair in order to create extra problems for the defenders of the rights of Sumgait victims, Ruben Rshtuni and Galina Shaboshnikova. Every time, at the beginning of the trial the lawyers made some motions that, as a rule, were rejected by Brize, or in extreme cases satisfied one motion out of 3-4. For example, during one of the sessions Rshtuni and Shaposhnikova submitted a motion to call First Secretary of the Sumgait City Committee of the Communist Party Jahangir Muslimzade and Chairman of Executive Committee Mammadov to the court and be questioned as witnesses. Though they had already left their offices, they were the owners of the city during the massacres and nothing could happen, especially that kind of mass slaughters, without their consent. That so-called judge refused the motion. It is not surprising, during those times such high ranking people, even if former, were not called to courts. During the Gorbachev-initiated perestroika only the chiefs of Homeowners' Associations could be called to the courts. And this was the reason the judge decided to call the chief of the Homeowners' Associations N12 Mamedov to the court and the chief engineer, who had urged their Armenian resident not to leave their houses and rely on the help of the authorities. And those who did the way the chiefs of the Homeowners' Associations had urged, were the first to be harmed, as those little hooligans broke into their houses and killed the Armenians. The court wanted the chief of Sumgait telephone network to tell why the telephones of all the Armenians were out of order during all the three hours, while the telephones of other citizens were operating normally. The author of the phrase three hours is notorious Gen-Sec Gorbachev, who told the world without having a sense of shame that the Baku-bases Soviet troops delayed only for 3 hours. Its a lie, total lie. The 30 km distance from Baku to Sumgait can be crossed on foot. Yes, the leader of perestroika was again telling lies. But he is not to blame. Any ethnic clashes that occurred in the country during those days, the CPSU leaders considered as misbehavior of young and ill-mannered hooligans. This is the reason that another crime committed against Armenians in the 20th century was assessed as a deed of a group of hooligans. And as a brilliant proof of that ideology I want to remind that after only 3-4 months of the Sumgait massacres the All-Union Komsomol organization granted that Sumgait youth organization with portable red flag. Dont be surprised for internationalist education of the youth. The third oddness was the professional skills of the translators. The translators often made incorrect translations, and sometimes advised the defenders to answer this or another way. The Sumgait Armenians, who managed to enter the hall, and perfectly knew the Azerbaijani language, tried to draw the attention of the judge on that fraud. As a result, the judge threatened to ban them from the hall for interfering the court process. This is all. Levon Azroyan When the trailer for Keanu (watch it here) was launched into an unsuspecting world last month, there was nearly unanimous agreement that it was both hilarious and, thanks to the kitten at the center of the action comedy starring Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, absolutely adorable. The Peter Atencio-helmed film isnt out until April 29, which is a lot of time in which to keep reminding people of both those facts. Which brings us to a series of Keanu posters released today in advance of the Academy Awards. The four posters each spoof a nominee for Best Picture, in this case The Revenant, The Martian, The Big Short, and Mad Max: Fury Road. I wont spoil the joke by explaining it, but you can scroll down below and see for yourself that indisputably, this years crop of Oscar contenders would probably be even better with a cute kitten. Enjoy the weekend everyone. KEANU_OSCARS_THE_REVENANT_master KEANU_OSCARS_THE_MARTIAN_master KEANU_OSCARS_THE_BIG_SHORT_master KEANU_OSCARS_MAD_MAX_master Keanu sees Key & Peele as a pair of best friends whose lives are thrown into chaos when the kitten one of them adopted after a bad break up is stolen by a notorious Gangster. The two pretend to be dangerous drug dealers in order to rescue their furry friend: bullets, bloodshed and a lot of George Michael songs ensue. Key and Peele star along with Method Man, Straight Outta Comptons Jason Mitchell, Will Forte, Darrell Britt-Gibson, and Nia Long. Peter Atencio directs from a script written by Peele and Alex Rubens, and its produced by Key, Peele, Peter Principato, Paul Young, and Joel Zadak. It meows into theaters April 29. Related stories 'Keanu' Red Band Trailer: Key & Peele's Gritty Urban Tale About A Lost Kitten Tracy Morgan To Star In FX Comedy Pilot From Jordan Peele Warner Bros Moves Key & Peele Starrer 'Keanu' Back One Week - Update YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. On February 26 Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Armenia Yervand Zakharyan received Janez Kopac, Director of the Energy Community Secretariat to the EC and expert of Energy Community Secretariat Svitlana Karpyshyna. As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Armenia, issues of bilateral cooperation were discussed. Given the fact that the EU program "INOGATE" will be over in April 2016, the European Commission decided that cooperation with Eastern Partnership countries in the energy sector will be continued in the new format. It will be implemented by the Energy Community and the International Energy Agency. The purpose of the visit of the Director of the Energy Community Secretariat to the EC was to present a new EU assistance format. EU energy community projects duration is 4 years. It is planned harmonization of legislative and other legal acts with the EU legislation which must not contradict the obligations of Armenia to the Eurasian Economic Union. CAIRO (Reuters) - Air strikes by an Arab coalition fighting Iranian-allied Houthi forces in Yemen hit a market northeast of the capital Sanaa on Saturday, killing 40 people, residents said. The strikes at Nehm district in Sanaa province also wounded 30, they said, adding that most of the casualties were civilians. The Saudi-led alliance is fighting the Houthis and forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh in a bid to restore the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. The United Nations says nearly 6,000 people have been killed in the fighting, which began after the Houthis advanced on the southern port city of Aden, where Hadi had been based. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced. Saudi Arabia sees the Houthis as a proxy for Iran, its main regional adversary. The Houthis and Saleh accuse the coalition of launching a war of aggression. (Reporting by Mohammed Ghobari; Eriting by Hadeel Al Sayegh; Editing by William Maclean and Andrew Heavens) Damboa (Nigeria) (AFP) - Major roads to and from Maiduguri in northeast Nigeria have been re-opened, the chief of army staff said on Saturday, nearly three years after they were shut because of Boko Haram attacks. Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai said restrictions had been lifted between the Borno state capital and Damboa to the southwest, southeast to Bama, and east to Mafa, Dikwa and Gamboru Ngala. The road between Damboa and Biu -- seen as a hotbed of Boko Haram activity -- will also be re-opened, he added. Buratai said in Damboa that officials were determined to see the roads reopened. "Indeed the residents are safe, those who left should come back," he added. A new army motorbike battalion will patrol the roads, which have seen frequent attacks on motorists by the heavily armed insurgents, effectively making large parts of Borno a no-go zone. Nigeria claims to have "technically" defeated Boko Haram, despite continued sporadic suicide and bomb attacks, particularly in hard-to-reach rural areas. The government is pushing for many of the hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the conflict since 2009 to return, despite widespread concerns for security in their remote home towns and villages. Business leaders in Maiduguri have also complained that the closure of the roads -- and the need for military escorts to transport goods and produce -- has severely hit trade. The roads were shut in July 2013, soon after the start of a government-imposed state of emergency in Borno and the neighbouring states of Yobe and Adamawa. Buratai said the new armed motorbike battalion would help soldiers pursue any Boko Haram suspects and maintain control. "As the roads are re-opened now people should be able to move freely and we will do our job to ensure that they are secured," he added. In Damboa, which Buratai described as "central" to Boko Haram's insurgency, also unveiled a second 100 "most-wanted" poster of Islamist suspects, copies of which will be distributed countrywide. The first 100 photographs were published last year and the officer said "many of them had been identified and arrested", without specifying numbers. SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia is sending a relief ship to Fiji to assist in the recovery effort after Cyclone Winston, the worst ever recorded in the southern hemisphere, tore through the island nation last Saturday, as the sheer scale of the disaster becomes clearer. The death toll from the category five storm remains at 42, according to a statement from Fiji's National Disaster Management Office, although that figure is expected to rise. Many communities remain without water and it could be weeks before electricity is restored, the statement said. The scale of damage and loss is becoming apparent to authorities and aid organizations as communications are being gradually restored throughout the archipelago. UNICEF spokeswoman Alice Clements said her organization now estimates that more than 62,000 Fijians are homeless and living in evacuation shelters. "People are very resilient here and have got a solution to every problem, but there are just so many people who don't have any options," Clements said. "As hard as we are working and as hard as the government is working the scale of this is going to outrun us all unless we get help," she said. Australia's military vessel, HMAS Canberra, left on Friday and was expected to arrive in Fijian waters early next week. It was carrying three helicopters and 60 tonnes of supplies, including water purification equipment and medical supplies. The ship's departure came as Australia's foreign ministry said on Twitter that the first helicopter load of Australian aid had reached the hard-hit remote island of Koro on Saturday. The Asian Development Bank's South Pacific director, Rob Jauncey, told Radio New Zealand that Fiji's economy would face losses of "tens of millions of dollars" because of the destruction of sugar crops and an expected drop in tourism. The effects of Cyclone Winston were being felt on the eastern coast of Australia, more than 2,600 km (1,615 miles) southwest of Fiji, on Saturday. Australia's Bureau of Meteorology issued dangerous surf warnings and authorities closed many beaches in the states of Queensland and New South Wales as swells of up to 6 meters (20 feet) generated by Cyclone Winston battered the coast. (Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Tom Hogue) For the third and final week of our Black history series (here are parts one and two), we decided to look at the future. Its not that we have a crystal ball. At least, not a reliably functional one. But in the past year or so, we have consistently reported on men and women whose work is shaping our now and were betting it all ripples into the decades to come. Theres celebrated actor Anna Deavere Smith, whos fascinated with the devils who walk among us. Benjamin Clementine, the Mercury Prize winner whom we hope will forgive us for once again likening him to Nina Simone. Choreographer Camille A. Brown, who makes character-driven work thats about telling a Black girls story through the Black girl gaze and no one elses. Scientist John Dabiri, whos studying jellyfish in search of answers to human problems. Astronomer and TED Fellow Aomawa Shields, who has no time for the terrestrial shes too busy looking for life on other planets. (What are you doing this weekend?) And Tiffany White, who shares a hobby with Genghis Khan. Trinidad-born poet Lauren K. Alleyne speaks in one piece about a sky so close the stars might be a chain-link fence you run your hands along as you amble through the night. When we picture the Black future, it looks kind of like that bright from the light of a trillion dazzling stars. Related Articles By Marie-Louise Gumuchian MILAN (Reuters) - Fur took center stage at Milan Fashion Week on Saturday with Italian brands Blumarine and Ermanno Scervino presenting plenty of it in their luxurious womenswear creations for next winter. Amid softening demand for luxury goods, especially from major market China, fashion labels are looking to stand out and woo customers with their intricately-made clothes and accessories. Designer Scervino also sought to showcase Italian craftsmanship in his collection called "The Mosaic Woman" with pleated as well as thick lace dresses, tweed coats decorated with sparkling sequined flowers and embroidered evening wear. Small colored squares formed mosaic-like patterns on coats, trouser suits and dresses in metallic gold, bronze and silver. Scervino put fur cuffs and collars on white, burgundy and black coats. He also added colored fur collars on some jackets and coats and said the "must have" item was a fox helmet. "We see ... slim waistlines, we see a lot of femininity," he told Reuters. Scervino also presented all-black Victorian Gothic-inspired dresses and coats. Flashes of yellow and shades of gray were also seen on some of his creations, which were accessorised with kitten-heeled boots as well as platform shoes. Earlier at Blumarine, designer Anna Molinari offered all-fur belted coats and jacket and skirt suits, fur-lined sheer dresses as well as fur-heeled shoes and flip flop sandals with fur interiors in her "Moonlit Nocturne" collection. Models wore long earrings with furry pom-poms at the end as well as furry helmets. Fur even came on handbags. "The collection portrays a woman who has an eclectic personality and she is proud of herself," Molinari told Reuters ahead of the show. The designer, who used a color palette of mainly sage, pink and brown, also offered leopard print and floral -- the latter embroidered on jeans as well as printed on tops and chiffon dresses. For the evening, there were long color paillette striped dresses that elongated silhouettes. Italian designer Versace also used fur in its winter collection, with intarsia furs and black sheepskin among the coats. Accessories included bags with fox tails. Milan Fashion Week, in which designers present their autumn/winter 2016/2017 womenswear collections, runs until Monday. (Editing by Clelia Oziel) - Scott Quigg said he was prepared to "get changed at home" rather than risk his super-bantamweight unification fight against British rival Carl Frampton being called off because of a row over dressing rooms. The dispute resurfaced during Friday's weigh-in at the Manchester Arena. Northern Ireland's Frampton has threatened to withdraw from Saturday's contest because he feels Quigg, born in Bury, near Manchester, has the better dressing room. "It means nothing to me," Quigg told Sky Sports. "They (Frampton's camp) are getting themselves wound up, they have threatened to walk away from the fight if we get the changing room but, to let all these fans down over a changing room, come on, I'm not going to do that. "I'll get changed at home and come to the arena and get in that ring. It means nothing to me, the changing room, it's just nonsense." AFP YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Steps aimed at activating inter-parliamentary interactions and cooperation were mutually highlighted by Vice President of the National Assembly of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov, who is in Berlin on an official visit, and Vice President of Budenstag Edelgard Bulmahn during their meeting on February 26. High level mutual visits, as well as mutual visits by parliamentary friendship groups and different committees were mentioned as means to achieve that goal. Eduard Sharmazanov referred to the reinforcement of regional peace and stability, mentioning that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict must be resolved through exceptionally peaceful methods, under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group format. He mentioned that there is no alternative to the right of the Artsakh people to self-determination. Armenpress reports Eduard Sharmazanov assessed the attempts of the Azerbaijani side to give religious colors to the conflict as inadmissible. Edelgard Bulmahn agreed with Sharmazanov and highlighted the peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. National Assembly Vice president hoped that the German parliament will adopt a bill on the Armenian Genocide in the near future. Bundestag Vice President stated that what happened with the Armenian people is genocide and it has to be condemned. Edelgard Bulmahn added that the discussion of the bill on the Armenian Genocide in Bundestag a day before was a step forward for the recognition process of the Armenian Genocide. By Leonardo Goy BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's government and Samarco Mineracao SA [SAMNE.UL] will announce on Monday the settlement of a lawsuit for damages caused by a deadly dam spill at a mine in November, Brazilian Attorney General Luis Inacio Adams told Reuters on Friday. Officials and executives met on Friday to finalize the deal, which the attorney's general office said was 95 percent complete. "We should make the announcement on Monday," Adams said in a text message. Regarded as Brazil's worst environmental disaster, the burst dam killed 19 people, forced hundreds to leave their homes and polluted one of the country's main rivers. On Thursday evening, Brazil's O Globo newspaper published a column saying Samarco, a joint venture between Vale and BHP Billiton , had committed to provide 4.4 billion reais ($1.1 billion) between 2016 and 2018 and additional funds for another seven years. That would be much lower than the 20 billion reais the government was originally seeking when it first filed the lawsuit. A source close to the negotiations confirmed the figures were being discussed but told Reuters nothing had been signed yet. Samarco took the first step on Friday to resume operations in the area by requesting licensing to store mining tailings, said a Minas Gerais state environmental official. BHP said earlier on Friday that significant progress had been made with the negotiations, and it was hopeful that an agreement would be reached. "If and when that happens, an announcement will be made," BHP said in a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange. ($1 = 3.9546 Brazilian reais) (Additional reporting by Anthony Boadle, Stephen Eisenhammer in Brasilia and Sonali Paul in Melbourne; Editing by Joseph Radford, Jeffrey Benkoe and Bernard Orr) Brussels (AFP) - Brandishing banners demanding "safe passage now" for migrants, some 3,000 marchers attended a rally in Brussels in support of people fleeing conflict and persecution, police said, while smaller demonstrations drew hundreds in Paris and other European cities. Some marchers symbolically wore life jackets and blankets to highlight the perilous journeys of migrants refugees, notably from the Syrian conflict, in rickety vessels across the Aegean Sea to make it to Europe. As European nations struggle to cope with the inflow, protesters insisted on refugees' right to safety. "Nowhere is it written in the Geneva Conventions that one can close borders to refugees -- quite the contrary," the Belga news agency quoted one Brussels marcher, Beatrice Dispaux, as saying. "These people need help and shelter and we can give them that. The situation is critical, the politicians must act urgently," she added. Several rallies were held across Germany, a magnet for many of those seeking a new life in Europe, while a Belgian group of associations said on its website that some 100 cities across Europe and beyond were holding marches in support of migrants. In central Paris some 200 protesters gathered, while marchers in the northern German city of Hamburg held aloft Afghan flags and banners reading "No nation, no border." Balkan states along the migrant route taken by hundreds of thousands of people fleeing war and misery in the past year have recently shut their borders to Afghan nationals, allowing only Syrians and Iraqis to go through. Rights groups including Amnesty International joined several of the rallies in Europe, along with several leftist groups. By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) - At last May's annual meeting of his Berkshire Hathaway Inc, Warren Buffett said he had "no apologies whatsoever" for the lending practices of the company's Clayton Homes mobile home unit, which had been accused in a published report of predatory lending. He still doesn't. "Kevin Clayton has again delivered an industry-leading performance," Buffett wrote on Saturday in his widely-read letter to Berkshire shareholders, referring to Clayton's chief executive. Buffett's defense may add to the focus on Clayton, which generates just 2 percent of Berkshire's profit and normally gets little notice relative to Berkshire units such as the BNSF railroad and Geico auto insurer. Still, Clayton sold more than 34,000 homes last year, and has tripled its market share since Berkshire paid $1.7 billion for it in 2003, Buffett said. Manufactured homes are often bought by people with low credit scores and incomes. Last year, the Seattle Times published reports, prepared with the Center for Public Integrity and BuzzFeed News, that said Clayton drove black, Latino and Native American borrowers into subprime loans they could not afford, and promoted a racist corporate culture, even against its own workers. The Maryville, Tennessee-based company has "categorically and adamantly" denied discriminating, and said it neither uses race and ethnicity in its lending, nor tolerates discrimination against its workers. In his letter, Buffett did not explicitly note the reports. Buffett said Clayton makes about 35 percent of all mortgage loans on manufactured homes, averaging $59,942, and keeps nearly all on its books, ensuring the need to lend carefully. Buffett quoted former U.S. Congressman Barney Frank, co-sponsor of the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reforms, about the importance of mortgage lenders retaining the risks on for loans they make. He also said this makes Clayton different from lenders that sowed the 2008 financial crisis by making reckless loans that Wall Street later packaged into securities that were bought by investors, many of whom who should have known better. Story continues Buffett said Clayton's diligence has enabled its $12.8-billion mortgage portfolio to perform well. He also said that diligence has been endorsed by regulators from the federal government and 25 U.S. states that have in the last two years examined Clayton 65 times. "The result? Our total fines during this period were $38,200 and our refunds to customers $704,678," Buffett wrote. He said just 2.64 percent of Clayton's manufactured home loans went into default last year, and 95.4 percent of borrowers were current on payments at year-end. In January, four Democratic members of the House Financial Services Committee called on the U.S. Department of Justice and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to "pursue appropriate corrective action" against Clayton. None has been announced. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Nick Zieminski) ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Ivory Coast said on Wednesday it has granted citizenship to Burkina Faso's former president Blaise Compaore, potentially dashing hopes he could be extradited to his neighbouring native country for his role in a high-profile murder case. Burkina Faso issued an arrest warrant against Compaore in December for the murder of former president and military leader Thomas Sankara, who was assassinated 30 years ago in a case that has famously gone unsolved. The body of Sankara, sometimes called "Africa's Che Guevera", was exhumed in 2015 and an autopsy found it to be riddled with bullets. The naturalization decree, published in the Ivory Coast's official journal for January, accorded Compaore and his son Paul Francois Ivoirian citizenship. "It is a sovereign naturalisation decision that took place," said Affoussiata Bamba, the government spokeswoman. "It is not necessary to judge what will come next." Ivory Coast's constitution forbids extradition of its citizens, according to a high-level jurist. Former Ivoirian president Laurent Gbagbo is currently standing trial at The Hague for crimes against humanity under an agreement signed with the International Criminal Court but Ivory Coast has no such arrangement with its neighbour. Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast share historical and colonial ties. When popular protests ousted Compaore after 27 years in power in October 2014, he fled to Ivory Coast, of which his wife is also a citizen. Ivory Coast recently extradited three Burkinabe soldiers who had been sought in connection with a failed coup d'etat last September. (Reporting by Loucoumane Coulibaly; Writing by Makini Brice; Editing by Catherine Evans) YAOUNDE (Reuters) - Cameroon's army killed 92 members of Islamist militant group Boko Haram and freed 850 villagers in a joint operation with Nigerian forces, the government of Cameroon said on Friday. The operation in the Nigerian village of Kumshe, close to the border with Cameroon, was conducted under the auspices of a multinational force fighting Boko Haram, the statement from Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary said. "Two Cameroonian soldiers were killed (during the operation) by an accidental mine explosion. Five other soldiers were wounded," Bakary said, adding that the army captured weapons and ammunition and found a centre for production of homemade mines. There was no immediate comment from Nigeria or independent confirmation of the operation or toll. Boko Haram seeks to carve out an emirate in northeastern Nigeria and has staged a campaign of suicide and other attacks in Cameroon, Chad and Niger over the past year, including killing as many as 1,000 in Cameroon. The U.S. military calls Boko Harm the most violent extremist group in the world. The group gained global notoriety for kidnapping more than 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria in 2014 and is thought to have killed over 15,000 people over six years. (Reporting by Anne Mireille Nzouankeu; Writing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg; Editing by Dominic Evanns) BEIRUT (Reuters) - At least six people were killed and several were wounded in two attacks by suicide bombers in Syria's Hama province on Saturday, state media said, hours after a ceasefire took effect elsewhere in the country. Syria's state news agency said a bomber driving a car loaded with explosives blew himself up in the early hours, killing two people on the edge of the town of Salamiya. Another suicide bomber on a motorbike struck at the entrance to the village of Teeba, killing four people, soon afterwards. The cessation of hostilities agreed as part of a U.S. and Russian plan does not apply to the Islamic State group, which claimed the responsibility for the Salamiya attack, or the Nusra Front -- an al Queda affiliate that has called for an escalation of attacks. Syria's government and Moscow have said they will not halt combat against the two militant groups. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors Syria's five-year-long war, told Reuters there was calm in many parts of the country since the agreement took force. "The (Salamiya) car bomb attack is not a breach to the truce because it occurred in an area where the cessation of hostilities agreement does not apply," the Observatory's Rami Abdulrahman added. Salamiya is a frontline between government forces and Islamic State fighters. (Reporting by Mariam Karouny; Editing by Catherine Evans and Helen Popper) BEIJING (Reuters) - China commissioned a domestically produced missile frigate this week, the official People's Liberation Army Daily reported on Thursday, as Beijing works to expand and modernize its navy. The announcement came only two days after a senior U.S. military official said China was "clearly militarizing" the South China Sea. The United States is worried by China's military buildup to assert dominance in the region. The People's Liberation Daily said the frigate, with a displacement of more than 4,000 tonnes, has powerful long-range surveillance and anti-aircraft capabilities. Ships of that kind can be used alone or along with other naval forces to attack enemy surface ships, the report said. The frigate, called the Xiangtan, is one of 22 vessels of its class in service, according to state media reports. Beijing has invested billions developing its homegrown weapons industry to support its growing maritime ambitions in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion in global trade passes every year. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan have rival claims. Beijing has also cast an eye towards foreign markets for its comparatively low-cost technology. Its total military budget in 2015 was 886.9 billion yuan ($141.45 billion), up 10 percent from a year earlier. (Reporting By Megha Rajagopalan; Editing by Paul Tait) BEIJING (Reuters) - A well-known Chinese rights lawyer has appeared on state television confessing to crimes after a months-long disappearance, the latest case in China's widening crackdown on dissent. Zhang Kai had represented a group of Christians who were detained for suspected financial crimes last year after they resisted the demolition of crosses. Heavily Christian Wenzhou, in the eastern province of Zhejiang, was the site of protests in 2014 over a government campaign to demolish crosses. On a news program on state-controlled Wenzhou TV on Thursday night, Zhang confessed to encouraging Christians to come together to "protect their rights" after the authorities removed crosses from churches. "I really regret doing these things, I feel very remorseful," Zhang said. "These things violated China's law and violated my personal integrity as a lawyer, and they harmed societal structure and national security." Police in Wenzhou could not be reached for comment, and Zhang's exact location was not clear. In Washington, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said: "Such confessions are counter to the standards of a rule-of-law society. ... We urge China to release Zhang and others detained for seeking to peacefully uphold the freedom of religion guaranteed in China's constitution." He said he did not know if U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry raised Zhang's case in talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Washington this week. In October, Kerry said Zhang, who had represented Christian groups, was detained shortly before a planned meeting in August with David Saperstein, the U.S. ambassador for international religious freedom, who was visiting China. Suspects accused of crimes in high-profile cases are often shown confessing on Chinese state television. Rights groups have said these confessions, which usually take place long before a trial, violate the rights of the accused to due process. Authorities in the region have said crosses are removed because they violate regulations against illegal structures. Rights groups say demolishing crosses restricts Christianity and religious freedoms. Communist China officially guarantees freedom of religion though authorities are sometimes suspicious of religious groups. Experts say there are up to 60 million Protestants in China, divided between official and unregistered churches. A top Chinese pastor came under investigation last month on suspicion of embezzling funds after he publicly opposed a cross removal campaign. (This version of the story corrects the name of the Chinese foreign minister in paragraph 8.) (Reporting by Megha Rajagopalan; Additional reporting by Washington Newsroom; Editing by Richard Borsuk and Cynthia Osterman) Shanghai (AFP) - China's normally reclusive central bank chief Zhou Xiaochuan is an unusually prominent presence at the G20 finance ministers meeting in Shanghai, racing from seminar to news conference to spread positive messages about the world's second-largest economy. After months of silence, the governor of the People's Bank of China (PBoC) wants investors to know that the yuan currency -- also known as the renminbi (RMB) -- will be stable despite the slowest growth in a quarter of a century. "The fundamentals of China's economy remain strong. There is no basis for persistent renminbi depreciation," Zhou told a conference on Friday, before delivering a similar message half an hour later at a rare media briefing by the central bank, all after he gave respected business magazine Caixin a lengthy interview earlier this month. Chinese officials are mounting an unprecedented charm offensive in an attempt to convince global investors that its economy and currency are healthy, but doubts over their message remain despite the public statements. The drive comes after senior officials from around the world -- among them IMF chief Christine Lagarde and US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew -- urged Chinese authorities to communicate better. "China is ramping up public relations in what will be a difficult 2016," China economist at IHS Global Insight, Brian Jackson, said in a research note. "During the second half of 2015, a vacuum of public statements raised market uncertainty, which officials are now trying to fill, itself a positive development regardless of their exact messaging." A stock market slump and shock currency devaluation in mid-2015 raised worries about Beijing's ability to avoid a hard landing. Policymaking is secretive in the Communist-ruled country and state-backed media toe the party line, restricting the free flow of information that modern capital markets need, analysts say. Story continues "It is important that they (Chinese officials) stick to the reform agenda that they have set out and that they communicate their policies clearly in a world that is very much anxious to know the reasons for actions that are taken," US treasury chief Lew told reporters in Shanghai. - Water and oil - For an official who was appointed in 2002 but still speaks in public only a few times a year, Zhou seems to be everywhere at the G20 gathering, where 19 countries and the European Union are meeting to confront slowing global growth. But at the opening ceremony, he waved off an invitation from Finance Minister Lou Jiwei to speak in public for what would have been the third time that day -- causing watching journalists to burst into laughter. The economic situation is more serious. China's economy expanded an annual 6.9 percent in 2015, the slowest in 25 years. Its foreign exchange reserves have fallen to $3.2 trillion as nearly $200 billion flowed out of the country in December and January alone. Zhou sought to explain: "It isn't like an oil field with fixed reserves that won't remain after you drain it. It's like a reservoir with water coming in from upstream and flowing out downstream." But investors have been confused by seemingly contradictory statements that pledge to move towards greater exchange rate flexibility while at the same time promising the currency will remain "basically" stable. "From the standpoint of currency market players, this is not a credible position," Arthur Kroeber, head of research for Gavekal Dragonomics, told the same seminar that Zhou addressed. - Botched communication - Financial markets have regularly been confused and concerned by Chinese decisions. In January, a "circuit-breaker" mechanism intended to reduce volatility on Chinese stock exchanges was abruptly withdrawn after it instead panicked investors and forced the bourses to close early twice in four days. On Thursday the PBoC stopped allowing some banks to use lower reserve ratio requirements -- the amount of funds they must put aside -- helping to send the Shanghai stock market down more than six percent as the change acts against monetary stimulus. The move was only confirmed when the PBoC sought to deny a Bloomberg News report on the issue -- with a convoluted statement that disclosed some banks had their reserve requirements revised upwards. Earlier this year, the PBoC suddenly stopped publishing foreign exchange statistics for financial institutions, data analysts have used to help gauge fund outflows. On Friday, the central bank said the figures could be "quite misleading". Despite the positive messages, analysts still forecast China's economic growth will slow in 2016 from last year's 6.9 percent, and the yuan will weaken further. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is expected to declare a lower growth target at next weekend's opening of the National People's Congress parliament, probably a range of 6.5-7.0 percent. But Li sought to reassure G20 finance ministers and central bankers that his government is able to handle the situation. "We have the confidence to handle the complex situation at home and abroad," he told the opening ceremony. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Talysh people are interested in seeing a regional map without the Azerbaijan Republic. Talysh scientist, political scientist, public figure and a leader of Talysh movement Fahraddin Aboszoda told about this during a roundtable discussion entitled "Ethnic people of Azerbaijan Republic; reality and prospects". The best option for the Talysh people will be gaining independence. This is a simple and clear goal. Of course, there are many Talyshes that do not embrace this goal, and I feel regret about it. The majority of our intellectuals accept this idea. I ideas go in line with the opinion of our Armenian friends. We are interested in seeing a regional map without Azerbaijan Republic. I am convinced that this will happen in the future, Armenpress reports Fahraddin Aboszoda saying. In his words, there are several indigenous peoples in Azerbaijan, but not all of them are ready to struggle for their existence. Fahraddin Aboszoda stated that the Talysh issue is discussed in different expert circles. The Institute of Native Peoples of Caucasus-Caspian Region and Modus Vivendi center organized a roundtable discussion themed "Ethnic people of Azerbaijan Republic; reality and prospects". Azerbaijani minority representatives also attended the discussion. Columbia (United States) (AFP) - Hillary Clinton is eyeing a decisive win in South Carolina's Democratic presidential nomination race, hoping to gain momentum against Bernie Sanders before the high-stakes "Super Tuesday" contest. One week after Donald Trump barreled to victory in the state's Republican vote, Democrats took center stage Saturday in South Carolina, where 55 percent of voters in the 2008 party primary were black. The Republican race churns along as well, with Trump exchanging heated barbs on the campaign trail with rival Marco Rubio, who has finally retorted by launching harsh broadsides against the billionaire real estate mogul. Rubio accosted Trump for "flying around on hair force one," and having "the worst spray tan in America," continuing the series of mocking attack lines from their Thursday debate clash. "I want to save the (Republican) party from a con artist," Rubio said at a stop in Kennesaw, Georgia. Trump pushed back during a speech in Arkansas, one of the dozen states voting Tuesday. "I watched this lightweight Rubio, total lightweight, little mouth on him, bing, bing, bing," Trump sneered. "I'm a con man, right? I built a great business!" Among Democrats, Clinton is expected to handily win South Carolina, and leads in the national delegate count at this early stage, having won two of the first three nomination contests -- in Iowa, narrowly, and Nevada. Polling stations opened at 7:00 am (1200 GMT)and were to close 12 hours later, at which point a projected winner could be announced if one candidate has a clear lead. While Sanders has support of some high-profile African Americans including film director Spike Lee and rapper Killer Mike, Clinton is backed by many local and state elected officials and black community figures. The 68-year-old also has the backing of many of the same voters who supported her husband, Bill, whose popularity rivaled even that of Barack Obama. Story continues Both presidents are men whom Clinton knows well, she jokes, and is a part of their political lineage. "I'm not running to do either one of their third terms, but I do think they really did a good job for America, and it would be foolish not to learn from them," Clinton said Friday. In South Carolina, Clinton's campaign has worked hard to hammer home the message that she is the only candidate who can break down barriers still preventing minorities from getting ahead. And the brawling among Republicans may reinforce Clinton's argument that she has the temperament and experience to be commander in chief. "It does not help us to form a coalition with them when a leading candidate for president spends half his time insulting them," Clinton said in Birmingham, Alabama, referring to the difficulty in cobbling together a coalition to fight Islamic State extremists in the Middle East. "You know, when you run for president it's not just Americans who pay attention," said. - 'Super Tuesday' - Some Clinton supporters say Sanders, a self-declared Democratic Socialist who represents Vermont in the US Senate, is little known in the South. Although Sanders, 74, was in South Carolina Friday, his prospects in the state are poor and he has invested less time here than his rival. Both left the state to campaign in Super Tuesday locales, although Clinton is scheduled to return at night to celebrate the primary. Sanders headed to Texas, where he told some 10,000 people that he has been this election's comeback kid. "We were more than 30 points down in Iowa and it was a virtual tie. We were 30 points down in New Hampshire and we won. We were 25 points down in Nevada and we came within five points," Sanders told the huge crowd at an Austin race track. "And now we move on to Super Tuesday." Sanders is also focusing on states like Ohio and Minnesota that vote later in March, when a whopping 45 percent of the delegates who will attend the nominating convention are up for grabs. Only three percent of delegates for July's nominating convention in Philadelphia will have been awarded by Saturday's end. But the 11 states that hold Democratic nominating contests next Tuesday will send 18 percent of the delegates to Philadelphia. Clinton is ahead in most, but Sanders has the edge in Massachusetts and his home turf of Vermont. - Clinton's ups and downs - Retired teacher Elvira Kennedy, 70, voted for Clinton in Columbia. "She's the best candidate," said Kennedy, an African American. "We never had a woman president, it's about time we give a woman a chance to mess everything. Men have been doing it for 300 years." Tessa Blackwell, 29, a white restaurant manager, said she voted for Sanders. "I really love that he's doing such a grassroots campaign, and that he's not bought by any corporation," she said. "He's more for the people, by the people." A win here would mark Clinton's third since February 1, and could silence critics who say she has led a sluggish campaign. A Fox News poll carried out last week gave Clinton a clear advantage in South Carolina: about 56 percent compared to 28 percent for Sanders. The death of 14-year-old Benjamin Lim after the student was questioned by the police will be discussed in Parliament on Monday (29 Feb). Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam and Acting Education Minister Ng Chee Meng will address questions filed by eight Members of Parliament. They include an update of the review of police procedures for minors under investigation, the delay in the governments response to the online speculation over the circumstances of Benjamins death, and the steps taken by schools to inform parents when students are being investigated by the police. This will be the first public comment by any senior minister since Benjamins death on 26 January, the same day that the student was being questioned by the police for an allegation of outrage of modesty. The matter has triggered intense public debate and a call for a review of police interview procedures. The police issued a statement on 1 Feb, saying they will be reviewing their interview procedures for minors under investigation. Benjamins father has also sent an open letter to The Online Citizen to clarify events related to his sons death. The ministers for transport and national development will also respond to questions by two MPs about the potential environmental impact of the development of the Cross Island (CIL) MRT Line on the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR) and the areas around it. In a public discussion on Friday (26 Feb), nature activists have expressed concerns about the extent of the damage on CCNR that may be caused during the site investigation for the CIL. Nature Society Singapore (NSS) spokesman Anthony Dempsey warned that the existence of the weaker species living in the CCNR may be threatened. Other questions that will be discussed in Parliament include whether the fall in retail petrol prices have fallen in tandem with the decline in global oil prices, and the health ministrys response to protect Singaporeans from the ongoing Zika virus outbreaks in other parts of the world. In addition, Daniel Goh from the Workers Party will be sworn in as a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament. Yahoo Singapore will be covering the parliamentary session on Monday. Catch the live updates on Facebook and Twitter @YahooSG. By Marianna Parraga HOUSTON (Reuters) - As Venezuela grows closer to exhausting nearly every means of paying its debt, some oil market participants are seriously pondering the possible implications of an unprecedented event: the default of a major crude producing company. State-run firm PDVSA faces around $5.2 billion in payments to bondholders in 2016, much of it in October and November, a sum that some experts say it will be hard-pressed to meet after the government used nearly all of its available cash reserves to pay $1.5 billion in maturities last week. A default could curtail some of the OPEC member's exports by crippling its ability to import crude and fuels used to blend its extra heavy oil, experts and sources say. It could also degrade the quality of domestic gasoline by limiting purchases of necessary components. With the risk growing and payment delays to suppliers already emerging, some firms that sell to PDVSA have begun hedging their bets by using intermediaries or seeking higher prices, fearful they might never get paid, according to sources who deal with the firm. "A possible PDVSA default is worrying for everybody," a source from a U.S. oil company that buys from PDVSA told Reuters. And if they scrape together enough funds to pay off bondholders, "they will not be able to pay suppliers." The implications of a default for global oil supplies swamped by the biggest glut in decades are difficult to divine, but experts are closely watching the deteriorating finances of exporters for anything that could jolt markets. "Of course, Venezuela is at the top of the list," Daniel Yergin, vice chairman of analysis firm IHS, told Reuters last week. Without imports of light crudes and diluents like naphtha that have rose to some 110,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2015, PDVSA may be unable to export an estimated 235,000 bpd of its own heavy blends, according to calculations based on Thomson Reuters trade flows data - a disruption that could help curb an oversupplied global market. Story continues Most of the country's estimated 2 million bpd of exports, a portion of them secured against long-term loans, would likely still flow as PDVSA's entire output is not dependent on imports and it has been increasing shipments to political allies. Crude blend supplies to the United States and Asia could also be sustained if PDVSA's partners, including U.S. Chevron (NYSE:CVX - News), Russia's Rosneft (:ROSN.MM), Spain's Repsol (MCE:REP.MC - News) and China's CNPC, step in to secure more diluents, as PDVSA has already asked them to do. Yet a default would also likely reduce fuel components imports, which have risen to some 85,000 bpd due to growing use of cheap high-octane gasoline and falling domestic production. Venezuela was the United States' third crude supplier last year and Latin America's sixth-largest buyer of U.S. fuels. DIGGING OUT OF DEBT While PDVSA's pending fourth-quarter debt payments of some $3.3 billion appear beyond its means, a default is far from a certainty, and its president Eulogio Del Pino said this week it is taking all measures to avoid it. Even so, short of a sudden, unexpected recovery in crude prices, asset sales, new loans or refinancing agreements, the odds look long, said Benjamin Ramsey from JP Morgan. While not yet calling for a credit event in Venezuela, a JP Morgan report said PDVSA's best intentions "cannot nonetheless trump the cold, hard realities of diminished cash flow." Refinancing efforts, including a bond swap through its pension fund, are making little visible progress. Expected dividends from its U.S. unit Citgo Petroleum along with money coming from Russian Rosneft's (:ROSN.MM) stake increase in a joint venture would not be enough to reach October with full pockets, a government source said. Some PDVSA suppliers are already edging away. A prominent trading firm has recently been using local intermediaries in Venezuela to secure payments when supplying PDVSA, as selling directly or providing it with even minimal credit are no longer options, a source said. PDVSA this month failed to award two spot tenders to buy gasoline components because of high price premiums, a reflection, according to one source who participated in the offer, of growing payment risks. To ensure its supply lines remain open, PDVSA has signed deals with India's Reliance Industries (:RELI.NS) and Rosneft to exchange crude by fuels. PDVSA's close ties with CNPC and PetroChina Co (Shanghai:601857.SS - News) could also guarantee some imports, but those could still be not enough to secure all barrels needed, traders said. LEGAL RESOURCES Even though any legal response to a default would have to pass through an external court to target PDVSA's assets, clauses included in bond contracts make the company more exposed than the country to any actions taken by creditors to claim owed money, according to lawyers and experts. Amid ongoing arbitration cases, oil giant ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM - News) was granted court orders in 2008 that temporarily froze up to $12 billion in PDVSA's overseas assets and $315 million in a joint bank account in New York. It was done through an extraordinary legal resource called 'Mareva injunction' that surprised Venezuela. Even though the injunction was later overturned, that case and others that followed have exposed PDVSA's bank accounts, tankers, cargoes and external terminals and refineries to the legal power of creditors. PDVSA has taken steps recently to protect itself, including moving the accounts that collect money from its exports to China's CITIC Bank (Shanghai:601998.SS - News) from Banco Espirito Santo (:BESN.D). Getting a court order to freeze an account in China would be more difficult than acquiring access to those in the United States. Some PDVSA sales could also be protected if it delivers at its ports under prepayment agreements, so cargoes are owned by the buyer when leaving Venezuela, lawyers said. After selling facilities in Germany, the Caribbean and the United States, PDVSA's former president, Rafael Ramirez, recommended the government in 2014 to also get rid of all Citgo's operations to protect the company against potential efforts to seize assets, according to a document seen by Reuters. But even though the U.S. unit was offered for sale, the attempt was abandoned in 2015 after Venezuela asked it to raise $2.5 billion in loans and bonds on PDVSA's behalf. (Reporting by Marianna Parraga, with additional reporting by Corina Pons and Alexandra Ulmer in Caracas and Anna Driver in Houston; Editing by Jonathan Leff and Andrew Hay) COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Danish Environment and Food Minister Eva Kjer Hansen said on Saturday she will step down having lost support in parliament, potentially bringing to a head a crisis threatening the minority government after only eight months in office. The Conservatives, one of the ruling Liberal party's coalition partners, said they could no longer support Hansen, who has been accused of misleading parliament over the environmental impact of a set of agricultural reforms. Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen must now replace Hansen or call fresh elections if he feels he no longer has the support of the Conservatives. Rasmussen's center-right Liberals hold only 34 seats in the 179-seat parliament. They are supported by the Conservatives with six seats, the Danish People's Party with 37 and the Liberal Alliance with 13 - giving them a majority of just one. Rasmussen said on Wednesday that he would spend a couple of days with the leaders of the three supporting parties to discuss how to proceed. (Reporting by Ole Mikkelsen; Editing by Hugh Lawson) SHANGHAI (Reuters) - The New Development Bank hopes to approve its first batch of loans next quarter, bank president K.V. Kamath said on Saturday. He was at a signing ceremony for the launch of the Shanghai headquarters of the bank, an infrastructure-focused lender established by the BRICS emerging nations - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Kamath later told Reuters on the sidelines that the bank was likely to make one loan to each BRICS country in April, likely for green projects. "We have no minimum size, but typically, anything less than $100 million doesn't make sense," he said. (Reporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by Jacqueline Wong) The major Republican candidates for president have been taking shots at Apple (AAPL) for resisting a court order to help the FBI unlock a terrorist's iPhone, with Donald Trump going so far as to call for a boycott of Apple. At Thursday night's debate, Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz along with Ben Carson joined in on bashing the most valued U.S. company for opposing the FBI. "Apple doesn't want to do it because they think it hurts their brand," Rubio said. "Well, let me tell you, their brand is not superior to the national security of the United States of America." Cruz and Carson made similar remarks. But that hasn't stopped the candidates' campaigns from relying on Apple products. Trump, Cruz, Rubio and Carson all sent tweets from an iPhone or iPad over their official accounts in the past two days. The social networking service records the software used to send every 140-character burst, often also revealing the type of hardware device the sender used. Trump's tweet on Thursday with a picture of him signing his tax return was sent from the Twitter (TWTR) app on the iPhone. Donald Trump's tweet about his tax returns was sent from the Twitter app on an iPhone. Most of the tweets on the accounts of Cruz, Rubio and Carson were sent via software such as Tweetdeck, which is commonly used in professional social networking campaigns. But each candidate also sent a tweet from an Apple device. On Wednesday, Rubio and Cruz both responded to praise from followers with tweets from an iPhone or iPad. A tweet sent by Senator Ted Cruz from the Twitter app for the iPad. Senator Marco Rubio sends a tweet from the Twitter app on an iPhone. And also on Wednesday, Carson's account tweeted a foreign policy statement from the Twitter iPhone app. Ben Carson sent a tweet from the Twitter app for the iPhone. The candidates' positions come as Apple made a court filing challenging the FBI's demand that the company create new software to weaken the security of the iPhone belonging to deceased San Bernardino shooter Rizwan Farook. Apple's filing said such a demand goes beyond the scope of current law and violates its First and Fifth Amendment constitutional rights. Public opinion polls have differed over which side has the most support. A Pew Research poll released on Feb. 22 found 51% of people agreeing that Apple should unlock the San Bernardino iPhone and 38% opposed, with 11% undecided. But a Reuters poll released Feb. 24 found 46% favored Apple, 35% sided with the FBI and 20% said they were unsure. On the Apple vs. the FBI question at the debate, after Rubio responded, Cruz and Carson made similar statements: "Apple should be forced to comply with this court order," Cruz said. "Apple doesn't have a right to defy a valid court order in a terrorism investigation." "I would expect Apple to comply with the court order," Carson said. "If they don't comply with that, you're encouraging chaos in our system." Yahoo Finance asked the Trump, Cruz, Rubio and Carson campaigns for comment. This story will be updated with any responses. Only Ohio Gov. John Kasich took a different tack on the Apple question at the debate. Instead of blaming Apple, he took aim at the president, saying the nation's leader should force the two sides to come to a compromise. "The problem is not right now between the administration and Apple," Kasich said. "You know what the problem is? Where's the president been? You sit down in a back room and you sit down with the parties and you get this worked out." By John Kemp LONDON (Reuters) - (John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own) Britains Labour Party adopted the song Things can only get better as its campaign anthem for the 1997 general election, expressing the partys ambitions for governing after 18 years in the wilderness of opposition. Global oil refiners struggling with enormous stocks of distillate fuel oil as a result of a warm winter and the slowdown in world trade may be tempted to share the same sentiment about the winding down of El Nino. The strongest El Nino conditions since 1997, and one of the strongest since 1950, have contributed to an unusually mild winter in North America, slashing consumption of heating oil (http://tmsnrt.rs/1n1dFGh). So far this winter, heating demand across the United States has been 17 percent below the long-term average, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (http://tmsnrt.rs/1n1dTgx). Coupled with the slowdown in freight movements, lower heating demand has sent U.S. consumption of distillate fuel oil tumbling to its lowest level in more than a decade. At the same time, U.S. refineries have been running at record rates to meet strong demand for gasoline from motorists, and producing large quantities of distillates in the process. The result is that U.S. distillate stocks are about 48 million barrels, 43 percent higher than normal for the time of year, once lower consumption is taken into account ("U.S. refiners lose control of distillate stocks", Reuters, Feb 2016). Most distillate is used as diesel in trucks, locomotives and ships, as well as engine fuel for compressors, pumps and generators. Only a small percentage is used as heating oil for homes and commercial buildings, mainly in the U.S. Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states(State Profiles and Energy Estimates, Table F7 Distillate Fuel Oil Consumption, EIA, 2015). U.S. distillate consumption started to become sluggish in the second quarter of 2015, long before the winter heating season, about the same time the slowdown in freight movements became apparent (http://tmsnrt.rs/1n1dNpn). But the warm winter turned a modest slowdown into a major problem for refiners by slashing seasonal distillate consumption in the final two months of 2015 and the start of 2016. The result was an unusual slowdown in distillate consumption from mid-November and a corresponding rise in stockpiles. The outlook for freight-related distillate demand, which accounts for most distillate consumption, is increasingly uncertain (http://tmsnrt.rs/1n1dQBu). The global economic outlook has darkened and the risks of recession in the United States and elsewhere appear to have increased, which would be a major blow for refiners. However, if the U.S. and global economies can avoid a recession, the weather should at least be more favourable for distillate consumption in 2016 than it was in 2015. El Nino is only one of several atmospheric and oceanic circulations which influence winter weather patterns across the United States (Warm winter ahead? Polar vortex says maybe not, Reuters, Nov 2015). But there is little doubt that it has a major background influence on winter temperatures, heating demand and distillate consumption. The good news for refiners is that El Nino is a cyclical phenomenon (El Nino 101: what everyone needs to know, Reuters, Feb 2016). The exceptionally strong El Nino conditions experienced in winter 2015/16 are unlikely to be repeated in winter 2016/17. The current El Nino is already past its peak and beginning to fade, according to weekly observations published by NOAA (http://tmsnrt.rs/1n1dOcM). Other things being equal, next winter should see higher heating demand across the United States and greater heating oil consumption. The problem for U.S. refiners is the market will be carrying an enormous overhang of distillates from winter 2015/16 which will continue to depress margins. And stocks will probably increase further over the summer as refiners maximise throughput to meet demand for gasoline during the driving season. But at least the underlying market situation should not get any worse - unless the U.S. and global economies go into recession. Things can only get better ... surely? (Editing by Susan Thomas) YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. According to operative data of Artsakh Defense Army, the adversary fired over 9000 shots in the direction of Armenian border protecting units on the contact line of Karabakh-Azerbaijan opposing armies during the period of February 21-27. As Armenpress was informed from the press service of NKR Defense Ministry, the Defense Army front line units keep full control over the operative-tactical situation on the front line and continue to confidently carry out their military duties. Panama City (AFP) - Panama's former economy and finance minister Frank De Lima, facing trial on graft charges, was released from jail Friday after posting $200,000 bail. "Justice has been done," his wife Kristelle Getzler said on Twitter alongside a photo showing De Lima in a car. The ex-minister was in the government of former president Ricardo Martinelli, himself being investigated for suspected corruption and illegally spying on opponents during his 2009-2014 term in office. An arrest order has been issued for Martinelli, a 63-year-old multi-millionaire supermarket magnate, but he is in the United States. A court authorized De Lima's release on bail on February 5 pending his trial. He was arrested in May 2015 on charges that he and Martinelli skimmed as much as $1.7 million from grain purchases made by a government food assistance program. Other ministers from Martinelli's time are also being investigated for possible corruption or embezzlement. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ketanji Brown Jackson, a federal trial judge in Washington, is being considered to fill the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court, the National Law Journal reported on Friday, citing a lawyer who was contacted as part of the vetting process. The unidentified lawyer was contacted this week and was asked about Jackson's tenure on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in the context of her being a potential nominee for the Supreme Court, the Journal said. The lawyer described the conversation, which lasted less than 30 minutes, as a "preliminary inquiry," the Journal reported. The White House did not respond immediately to a request for comment on the Journal story. President Barack Obama is expected to announce a nominee in the next several weeks to replace Justice Antonin Scalia, who died on Feb. 13. Scalia's death left the court with four liberals and four conservatives, and Republican leaders in the Senate have vowed to block anyone Obama nominates. The Senate must confirm the nominee. Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, a moderate Republican, took himself out of consideration for appointment to the Supreme Court this week after his name surfaced as a possible nominee. If nominated and confirmed Jackson, 45, would be the first African-American woman on the Supreme Court. She was confirmed to the federal district court in Washington in March 2013. During her confirmation hearing, she received support from U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, who is related to her by marriage, the Journal reported. Jackson's husband, Patrick Jackson, is the twin brother of Ryan's brother-in-law William Jackson. Jackson served as a federal public defender in Washington and then at a law firm. In 2010, she was appointed to the U.S. Sentencing Commission. (Writing by Eric Beech; Editing by Paul Tait) Paris (AFP) - Former world number one Roger Federer revealed Friday that he will return to action at the Monte Carlo Masters in April as he continues to recover from knee surgery. The 34-year-old Swiss star underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus sustained the day after his semi-final defeat to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open in January and had been expected to be sidelined for a month. But world number three Federer said Friday that he will skip the Indian Wells Masters in March and return to action in Monte Carlo at the start of the claycourt season. "The rehab for my knee is going really well. I have now had a lot of great practices on the court and in the gym. As it is a long year, I don't want to push it too hard and come back too soon," he said in a statement on his Facebook page alongside a slow-motion video of him hitting a serve. "Thus, I will unfortunately not be able to make it back in time for the great event in Indian Wells but I do plan on playing in the desert next year. "After consultation with my team, I have decided to enter the Monte Carlo Masters. Thanks for the support and I will see you back on tour soon." The Monte Carlo Masters gets underway on April 10. By Eric M. Johnson SEATTLE (Reuters) - A man fatally shot four people believed to be members of his own family then kept police at bay for several hours on Friday before killing himself, but a 12-year-old girl thought to be the gunman's daughter escaped the carnage, authorities said. Although details of the slayings inside a rural home near the community of Belfair, about 25 miles (40 km) west of Seattle, remained under investigation, a Mason County Sheriff's official said the violence appeared to have stemmed from a "family-domestic situation." "As far as I know, this is one family, the shooter was the father and the victims were his family," Chief Deputy Russell Osterhout told Reuters. He said the lone survivor, the 12-year-old girl, escaped or was released by the gunman before the suspect emerged from the house after hours of negotiations with law enforcement and a police SWAT team and shot himself in front of sheriff's deputies. It remained unclear when the four people found shot to death inside the home were slain. A neighbor, Jack Pigott, 79, who lives across the road from the crime scene, told Reuters by telephone he heard several bursts of gunfire coming from the wooded property Thursday night, and assumed it was target shooting. Police arrived at the home after the suspect himself called a sheriff's sergeant on the officer's work cell phone to say that he "did something" and asked that authorities be sent to the residence, Osterhout said. It was not explained how the suspect knew the sergeant's phone number, but sheriff's Deputy Chief Ryan Spurling said, "the gunman did have a previous contact with the sergeant." When law enforcement officers turned up at the home at about 8:30 a.m. (1630 GMT) they could see the man through a window and could see that he was armed, Osterhout said. The ensuing standoff with authorities who converged on the sprawling property ended with the suspect emerging at noon and taking his own life, apparently with one self-inflicted gunshot, the chief deputy said, adding that he did not personally witness the suicide. Story continues Osterhout said he believed the four victims were all found in one area on the property, away from the gunman. The sheriff's office earlier released photos showing law enforcement officers with guns drawn taking cover behind their vehicles, and a row of patrol cars parked along a gravel road in a heavily wooded area. The latest round of deadly U.S. gun violence came a day after a man near Wichita, Kansas, fatally shot three people to death and was slain by police at a Kansas lawnmower factory where he worked. The girl who survived was found on the property after the standoff and though not seriously injured was transported to an area hospital as a precaution, Osterhout said. The neighbor, Pigott, recounted stepping outside his own home between 8:30 and 9 p.m. on Thursday to fetch some firewood off his porch when he heard gunshots - "four or five rounds and then a pause, and then another four or five rounds and a pause and then a couple more rounds." In the dark, he said, he "assumed they were target shooting, which they had a tendency to do once in awhile." (Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Editing by Steve Gorman and Lisa Shumaker) PARIS (Reuters) - France has detected its first sexually transmitted case of Zika in a woman whose partner had traveled to Brazil, the epicenter of an outbreak of the virus, a senior health official said on Saturday. U.S. officials said earlier this week they were investigating 14 reports of the mosquito-borne disease that may have been transmitted through sex, including to several pregnant women. Francois Bourdillon, head of France's Institute for Public Health Surveillance (IVS), said the infected woman was the country's "first confirmed indigenous case of transmission". "This was a woman who had never traveled. Her partner had come from Brazil, so she was tested," Bourdillon said in an interview broadcast on BFM TV, adding that both patients were doing well. Marie-Claire Paty, who helps monitor diseases transmitted by insects for the IVS, told Reuters the current epidemic seemed to confirm sexual transmission, which was identified as a possibility during an earlier outbreak in Polynesia in 2013-14, when the virus was isolated in sperm. Brazil has declared a public health emergency over Zika, which may be linked to thousands of cases of the microcephaly birth defect that is marked by undersized heads and underdeveloped brains. There is no cure or treatment for the virus, which is usually transmitted by mosquitoes and has spread to more than 30 countries. (Reporting by Yann Le Guernigou; Writing by James Regan; Editing by Helen Popper) Shanghai (AFP) - Ministers from the world's biggest economies lined up on Saturday to warn against a potential British exit from the European Union. A so-called Brexit would would be a "shock" that ranks among rising downside risks and vulnerabilities for the world economy, the G20 finance ministers and central bank chiefs said after a meeting in China. The issue, which will be put to British voters in June, was cited in the seventh line of a communique, highlighting its importance to the officials in Shanghai. The chances of a vote to leave are seen as having risen after the Mayor of London Boris Johnson backed the cause, pitting himself against Prime Minster David Cameron, long a rival within the ruling Conservative Party. In Shanghai, IMF managing director Christine Lagarde told reporters the issue was included in the G20 communique "as soon as the meetings really effectively started". US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew emphatically backed a vote to stay in the EU. "Our view is that it's in the national security and economic security of the United Kingdom and European Union and of the United States for the United Kingdom to stay in the European Union," he said, adding that meant a "more secure world". French Finance Minister Michel Sapin added that no real debate had been necessary on the issue. Britain's Finance Minister George Osborne said the question was "deadly serious" and not "some adventurous journey into the unknown". "The financial leaders of the world's biggest countries have given their unanimous verdict and they say that a British exit from the EU would be a shock to the world economy," he told the BBC. "If it's a shock to the world economy imagine what it would do to Britain." Johnson, who has a rare ability to appeal to voters outside his own party in Britain, came out fighting on Saturday for a vote to leave, saying that the country had "given away control of our destiny". By Gernot Heller and John O'Donnell SHANGHAI/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany's finance minister called for a European solution to the migrant crisis on Saturday, amid fresh criticism at home over repeated unsuccessful attempts to share the burden of the problem across the region. Wolfgang Schaeuble was addressing the "exceptionally difficult situation" facing Greece, where a bottleneck of migrants has built up, adding to the country's problems as it tackles its precarious financial situation. In a veiled reference to the division among European Union countries, Schaeuble told the G20 meeting in Shanghai that Greece had not been shown "excessive" solidarity by other states except for Germany. Austria, the last stop on the way to Germany for hundreds of thousands of migrants, recently imposed restrictions on its borders, setting it off a domino effect limiting the flow of people and leaving hundreds stranded in Greece. Reflecting on Greece's difficulties, Schaeuble said: "That is why we are fighting with others in the European Commission so that we can we can master this European task." But Schaeuble faces not only dissent in Europe but also deep divisions within Germany as to how to deal with the problem. Politicians from the German state of Bavaria, which borders with Austria, criticized Berlin's policy and called for the introduction of similar limits to Austria. "There is no reason to criticize Austria for taking only 80 refugees per day," Bavaria's interior minister Joachim Herrmann told newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeinen Sonntagszeitung. "Quite the opposite, Germany should introduce a daily limit based on an cap of 200,000 refugees each year." German Chancellor Angela Merkel is facing the biggest test of her decade in office as she struggles to secure a Europe-wide plan for dealing with the flood of migrants. Many want Germany to close its borders instead. Story continues Bavarian premier Horst Seehofer also voiced criticism, telling German magazine Der Spiegel that the government must take national measures, such as imposing a limit on the number of migrants allowed in, if a European solution is out of reach. "We can't expect other countries to solve our problems," said Seehofer, who leads the Bavarian Christian Social Union, a sister party to Merkel's Christian Democrats. "The Swedes, the Danes, the Belgians have all taken action. It's only here where everything is different." A poor showing by the Christian Democrats in state elections in March would increase pressure on Merkel to reverse course. In recent campaign appearances, she has warned about the consequences for Europe of border closures. Her conservatives are nervous as they lose ground to the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany, whose hardline stance on refugees could bring it big gains in all three German states. (Editing by Hugh Lawson and Raissa Kasolowsky) ACCRA (Reuters) - The Bank of Ghana said the yield on its weekly 91-day bill fell slightly to 22.6069 percent at an auction on Friday, from 22.6787 percent at the last sale. The bank said it had accepted 790.18 million cedis' ($201.57 million) worth of bids of the 791.72 million cedis tendered for the 91-day paper, which will be issued on Feb. 29. For full details please click here: https://www.bog.gov.gh/privatecontent/Treasury/Auctresults%201474.pdf ($1 USD = 3.9200 Ghana cedis) (Writing by Kwasi Kpodo; Editing by Emma Farge) YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. According to preliminary data, 2 Armenians have been elected as members of the Majlis of the Islamic Republic of Iran - Karen Khanlarian and Zhorzh Abrahamyan. In an interview with Armenpress Karen Khanlarian informed that Armenian voters participated in the elections in the Northern and Southern electoral districts. There were 3 candidates in the Southern electoral district. 2 of them withdrew as a result of which Zhorzh Abrahamyan was elected. According to preliminary data, the number of participants of the election was 2300. Initially, there were 6 candidates in the Northern electoral district. Later 3 of them withdrew. The competition went on among 3 candidates. The overall number of voters in the north was 12 thousand. I was elected with 73% of votes, he mentioned. The results will be officially publicized either on February 28 or 29, he added. Euronews.com informs that a huge number of voters participated in the elections. The elections were planned to last for 10 hours but the deadline was extended several times due to a rush of voters. There were huge queues at polling stations. Iranians have elected 290 MPs for 4-year term. By Amanda Becker DENMARK, South Carolina (Reuters) - Betty Odom-Bell, a 47-year-old entrepreneur, took a financial risk last year when she opened a restaurant in Denmark, a small town in the middle of a deeply depressed part of rural South Carolina. So when Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton visited Denmark earlier this month promising to transform the region into a "Corridor of Opportunity," Odom-Bell felt reassured. "Its almost like were a forgotten town," she said, describing her surprise at Clinton's visit to the town of 3,500. "With her, theres a connection. I dont have that with Bernie," she said, referring to Clinton rival Bernie Sanders. Clinton is poised to win big over the U.S. senator from Vermont in South Carolina's primary contest on Saturday, in part because of her outsized support among the state's rural black poor - a bloc that Sanders has struggled to impress. Interviews with residents in Bamberg and Allendale counties show her appeal is not just about the differences in her social policies, or her widespread name recognition. It also results from her up-close campaigning style. Over the past several weeks, she has stumped in parts of the state that are off the beaten-path, reinforcing connections with audiences that stretch back decades, and peppering her speeches with the names of local leaders. Sanders in contrast, has focused his visits on South Carolina's big cities and universities, rallying large audiences with his self-styled Democratic socialist platform, while relying heavily on surrogates to do his work elsewhere. Plans offered by Sanders to address wealth inequality and improve access to education and healthcare have attracted interest, but many complain they do not feel they know him well enough to vote for him. "Both of them are good candidates, but Im leaning Hillary," said Marion Roberts, a 65-year-old retiree having coffee at a fast food restaurant on Allendales main street, where many storefronts are shuttered. "Sanders talks good, but I know more about her." Allendale Countys 10,000 residents are nearly three-fourths black, and its unemployment rate, at about 9 percent, is nearly double the national average. About a third of the county's population lives below the poverty line, making it fertile ground for candidates shopping progressive social policies. SOUTHERN FIREWALL Clintons campaign has said South Carolina will act as an early "firewall" against Sanders, who beat her in New Hampshire's primary and posted strong showings in Iowa and Nevada, but is expected to do worse as the race shifts south. Nationwide, Sanders has built on his popularity with young and liberal voters to narrow the race to a statistical dead heat. But Clinton still holds a massive 40 percentage point advantage among black Democrats, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling. Clintons advantage results in part from her husband Bill Clinton's outreach to black voters during his presidency. Some voters also like that Hillary Clinton has promised to build on President Barack Obamas agenda. Allendale City Mayor Ronnie Jackson, for example, says he is backing Clinton in part because Allendale, a town of about 3,800, depends on money under an Obama administration stimulus program for impoverished communities. He hopes Clinton would continue the support. "Thats the only way we can survive, he said. But he also points to differences in the way she and Sanders have campaigned. Sanders supporters have contacted him repeatedly by phone, he said, but he saw Clinton in the flesh at Denmark town hall on Feb. 12, just half an hour away. Over the summer, Clinton also hosted a listening session for local leaders, many from rural areas, and she recently won the endorsement of U.S. congressman Jim Clyburn, the only South Carolina Democrat in the House of Representatives. Sanders, meanwhile, has touted his college civil rights activism, met with black civil rights leaders and hosted an event at a historically black college. Some of those efforts have shown signs of success among young blacks. But his campaigning in rural areas has been mainly by proxy - including a visit on Monday to Allendale by campaigners organized by National Nurses United. Sanders himself moved on to other states in the run up to Saturday's primary, while Clinton continued to campaign daily there. James Fitts, an 80-year-old Allendale resident, said he likes Clinton's approach. "Shes been in it a long time." (Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Steve Orlofsky) Politics Amid a shaky primary start, Hillary Clinton aims for victory in South Carolina For Hillary Clinton, the South Carolina presidential primary is a chance to not just win, but win big. After an up-and-down start to the 2016 presidential contests for Hillary Clinton, a sizable victory over Bernie Sanders on Saturday would be an emotional boost for her White House campaign and a chance to wipe away the fraught memories of her 2008 primary loss in the state. It would also establish Clinton as the firm favorite among black voters, a crucial segment of the Democratic electorate. The South Carolina primary is personally important to me because I want to send a strong signal that South Carolina is ready for change, ready for progress, ready to make a difference. Hillary Clinton Sanders knows his prospects with South Carolinas heavily black Democratic electorate are grim. Rather than devote precious time to a state hes prepared to lose, Sanders spent much of the past week in areas that vote in March. Even on Friday, the last full day of campaigning before South Carolinas polls open, Sanders began with a rally in Minnesota before heading south for a pair of events. Although a win is all-but-guaranteed, Clintons campaign sees South Carolina as an important jumpstart heading into a busy March. More than half of the delegates up for grabs in the Democratic race are on the table in the next month, with a heavy concentration one day next week an 11-state voting bonanza known as Super Tuesday. Stockholm (AFP) - Marilyn Nevalainen was just 15 years old, and pregnant, when she left Sweden with a jihadist recruit, though she did not realise what a mistake she had made until she was in Iraq. Desperate, she called home from the Islamic State stronghold of Mosul in northern Iraq begging for help, and was ultimately rescued by Kurdish forces. On Friday, foreign ministry spokeswoman Veronica Nordlund told AFP that Nevalainen, who is originally from the southwestern Swedish town of Boras, has "returned to Sweden with her family". She landed Thursday in Stockholm with her parents, who had travelled to Iraq several times over the past eight months to try to bring her home, according to regional newspaper Boras Tidning. Police said her boyfriend, a Moroccan who reached Sweden as an unaccompanied minor three years ago, was dead. Kurdish forces rescued the girl near Mosul on February 17, according to a statement from the Kurdistan Regional Security Council. Nordlund would not reveal many details of the rescue, though she confirmed it was the result of "collaboration between the Swedish authorities and foreign governments". In an interview broadcast this week by TV channel Kurdistan 24, the Swede said in broken English that she met her boyfriend in 2014 and that he became radicalised after watching IS videos. "Then he said he wanted to go to ISIS (another acronym for IS) and I said, 'Okay, no problem,' because I did not know what ISIS meant or what Islam was," she said. She was pregnant when they left Sweden in May 2015, taking trains and buses across Europe until they finally crossed the border from Turkey to Syria. They were then driven by IS jihadists to Mosul. - 'Very hard life' - "In my house we had nothing, no electricity, no water, nothing. It was totally different from how I lived in Sweden, because in Sweden we have everything, and when I was there I did not have anything, did not have any money either. It was a very hard life," she said. Story continues "When I got a phone, I started to contact my mum and I said I wanted to go home. She contacted the Swedish authorities," she told Kurdistan 24. Swedish media has published desperate text messages she sent her mother while she was stuck in Iraq. "I'm going to die in a bombing or they're going to beat me to death or I'm going to kill myself mum, really, I don't have the strength to go on," she wrote. According to Swedish media reports, she gave birth to a son in Iraq. She and the child returned to Sweden together. Her boyfriend, Moktar Mohammed Ahmed, a Moroccan, had come to Sweden alone in August 2013 at the age of 17. "He had been a suspect in a burglary in Stockholm," Ulf Hoffmann, a police investigator, told AFP. The young man, also suspected of drug crimes, was dead, Hoffmann added, without specifying how he had died. In a video posted on the Internet, undated and unauthenticated, Ahmed gives his age (born July 8, 1996) before declaring his hatred of the Swedish "racists". The man's flight from Sweden coincided with an international arrest warrant issued against him. IS took over Mosul and other parts of Iraq in a lightning offensive in 2014. It has since suffered several setbacks as it faces Iraqi and Kurdish forces on the ground, as well as a US-led aerial campaign. The jihadists also control large swathes of Syria. The group has committed horrific abuses against the civilian population in both war-torn countries, including kidnapping and forcing thousands of women and girls into sexual slavery. Tunis (AFP) - Tunisia should adjust its development model to counter economic slowdown and build "inclusive growth", the International Monetary Fund's country representative said, ahead of an expected line of IMF credit. The authorities have failed to redress the economy since the uprising five years ago that ousted longtime president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Tunisia's economic growth slowed to 0.8 percent last year from 2.3 percent in 2014, and unemployment nationwide stands at 15 percent. In January, a wave of protests spread to several cities including Tunis in some of the worst social unrest since the 2011 revolt. "This trend needs to be reversed... The idea would be to build the base for inclusive growth and revise Tunisia's development model," Robert Blotevogel told AFP. An IMF delegation is in Tunisia to discuss a new aid package at least equal to a $1.7 billion credit line granted in 2013. Blotevogel said the government and the IMF had agreed on "the goal for big reforms and the diagnosis" of the situation, and were now "mostly focusing on the timeline for implementation". The IMF's board is expected to approve the new line of credit -- to be over four years at the request of Tunis -- on April 22, he said. "Expected growth for 2016 does not correspond to the aspirations of the Tunisian people. It will not be strong enough to reduce unemployment", he said. He said he expected 2016 to be a "stabilisation year", explaining that the agriculture sector was expected to perform less well than in 2015. Olive oil and date exports gave the economy a boost in 2015, the finance minister said in October. - Tourism hit by attacks - In tourism, "initial signs... do not lead to believe that there will be any great recovery" this year, Blotevogel added. Tunisia lost more than a third of its vital tourism revenues in 2015, after attacks claimed by the Islamic State group that killed 59 foreign tourists. Story continues Blotevogel said Tunisia should adjust its budget to relaunch the economy and ensure growth can "reach the most vulnerable and also the disadvantaged regions". "We are facing a problem in the composition of the budget," he said, adding that the civil service was "a great drain on state expenses" and "a great challenge for Tunisia's economy". Tunisia's last line of credit from the IMF in 2013 -- which was over two years with a seven-month extension -- came as support for the political transition after the 2011 uprising. The package was implemented in "very difficult conditions", Blotevogel said, citing slow growth in the European Union, Tunisia's largest trade partner, and the crisis in neighbouring Libya. The democratic transition "took longer than expected" and was "accompanied by social unrest... then by the security aspect whose importance increased with the terrorist attacks in 2015". An IS-claimed attack on the National Bardo Museum in Tunis in March last year killed 21 tourists and a policeman, while another killed 38 tourists at a beach resort near Sousse in July. A suicide bombing on a bus in Tunis in November, also claimed by IS, killed 12 presidential guards. Tunisia showed a "certain resilience because the greater macro-economic balances were maintained," Blotevogel said. The authorities also "made considerable progress in several fields including the financial sector" with the restructuring of public banks. But the country still faces "a number of challenges, weaknesses", he said. A hackathon to be held tommorrow in preparation for the grand Internet-of-Things Summit Philippines 2016 next week could lead to the discovery of the next big mobile app or tech startup. Elaine Cedillo, project head of the IoT Summit Philippines 2016, said the hackathon would be a test for computer programmers and Internet enthusiasts who joined an Internet-of-Things (IoT) boot camp last Feb. 20 and 21. Everybody has to come up with a project which will be displayed during the two-day IoT Summit Phillippines, Cedillo told The STAR. She said the exhibit would help the startup attract funding by investors. Filipinos are really creative and innovative Were excited on what apps or products can emerge, Cedillo said. Cedillo said there will be a third day of IoT Boot Camp today from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at ASpace Palet Express. She said that IoT is growing into a huge business, and Filipinos should join and be part of it. The hackathon and boot camp were preliminary events to the main event a two-day Internet-of-Things Summit Philippines 2016 organized by Cedillos Rid Wizard Events to be held at the SM Megtrade Hall on March 4 and 5. Diego Ramos, co-organizer of the summit, said that while the Philippines may be a mature market for texting and boast of more than 40 million Facebook users, it still has a low mobile Internet usage penetration rate. We are an emerging market. We have a huge population. Our mobile penetration rate is less than two percent, Ramos told The STAR. Ramos said hackathons done in the past in other countries had given birth to Tinder and Spotify. Tinder was an offshoot of a hackathon in Texas. Spotify was an offshoot of a hackathon in Tel-Aviv, Ramos said. Cedillo noted that even before the World Wide Web, there was an Internet of Things. It is a phrase that 87 percent of people havent heard of, however, she said. The two-day summit will feature more than 50 exhibitors from the tech industry, all of whom are big movers of the Internet of Things in the Philippines and in Asia. The event also aims to create an avenue for the audience to appreciate the technology, bridging the gaps and helping the Internet of Things to unleash its full potential through various media. Story continues General admission is P50 while all students who would like to check the IoT Projects can enter free of charge by presenting their school ID at the registration booth. Social media risks Multinational Internet security firm Kaspersky Lab warned netizens that reckless over sharing of items on social media network sites are making people more vulnerable to cyber-fraud. In the global 2015 Are You Cyber Savvy quiz survey conducted by the Kaspersky Lab that involved more than 1,000 respondents from the Philippines, almost a third of social network users share their posts, check-ins and other personal information with everyone online and not just their friends. This is leaving the door wide open for cybercriminals to attack, as users remain unaware of just how public their private information can be on these channels, Kaspersky Lab said. About 10 percent of respondents said they did not think people outside of their friends list could be seeing their pages and posts, making it easy for their personal information to fall into the wrong hands, or even be used by criminals engaged in identity theft and financial fraud. The research found that users are putting themselves in danger when adding friends, with a surprising 12 percent admitting having added anybody to their list of friends regardless of whether they know them or not. A third or 31 percent of users said they will also accept connections from people they dont know, if they have mutual friends in common, although this could expose them to more unknown people even advertisement agents or cybercriminals. When it comes to trusting their friends, about 25 percent of those surveyed said they would have no hesitation to click on a link sent by a friend without asking what it is, or considering the possibility that the senders account has been hacked. Social network users are playing a dangerous game by not being cyber-savvy and essentially giving strangers easy access to their personal details and private information. With social media profiles containing a raft of insight from birthdays through to addresses and holiday plans it wouldnt take much digging for a cybercriminal to find and exploit valuable information, or steal your identity for their own gain, said David Emm, principal security researcher of Kaspersky Lab. This is even easier if you have unwittingly made them your friend, Emm pointed out. Kaspersky Lab stressed that the inability to recognize a potential Internet threat may lead to consequences that are as unpleasant as in the real world the loss of money or valuable things, or an interference with privacy. Respondents included netizens over 18 years old from 16 countries the United States, Mexico, Brazil, UK, France, Spain, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, Turkey, Russia, India, Malaysia, Australia, Japan and the Philippines. Some 1,394 respondents were questioned. Kaspersky Lab urged Internet users to be cautious about whom they befriend and trust on these sites, as all might not be as it seems. If in doubt, dont accept a friend request or click on a link that you are not expecting. It is also essential that privacy settings within social network accounts are at their highest, to ensure it is only your real friends you are sharing your status updates with, the security expert said. Tehran (AFP) - Allies of Iran's moderate President Hassan Rouhani are headed for sweeping gains against conservatives in parliament according to partial election results which Saturday strengthened their chances of a national victory. The grounds for a major breakthrough came in Tehran, where the List of Hope, a pro-Rouhani coalition of moderates and reformists, is ahead in all but one of the capital's 30 seats, with 44 percent of votes counted. The projected rout in Tehran, a key battleground, differed from earlier initial results across the country which had shown seats split between the main conservative list, supporters of the president and independent candidates. But should the pro-government reformists close out the capital when all votes are counted it would represent a stunning turnaround only weeks after many of its most prominent faces were barred from contesting the polls. Their near dominance in Tehran comes one month after sanctions were lifted under Iran's nuclear deal with world powers and the outcome of Friday's vote is being seen as a de-facto referendum on Rouhani's administration. The president joined forces with reformists to try and curtail conservative dominance of parliament, which has 290 MPs, and create space to pass social and political reforms on which he has so far been blocked. The head of the pro-Rouhani coalition, Mohammad Reza Aref, a former vice president, was in first place in voting in Tehran after 1,293,000 ballots out of 2,900,000 had been counted. The outspoken Ali Motahari, a conservative MP who switched sides and joined the slate headed by Aref, was in second spot. Only the head of the conservative list, Gholam-Ali Hadad Adel, a former parliament speaker, placed seventh, stood in the way of a whitewash. Earlier declarations published by the semi-official ISNA news agency, quoting electoral officials, indicated no one faction would win a majority in parliament. Out of 56 constituencies outside the capital, 19 went to the main list of conservatives, nine to the pro-Rouhani list, and 14 to independent candidates. Story continues Of the independents six had ties to conservatives, five to reformists and three were undeclared. None of the remaining 14 seats had a clear winner, meaning a second round of voting, not to take place until April or May, would be needed. - Reformists back at polls - But should the Tehran results be followed by major gains elsewhere Rouhani's allies will have achieved their goal of regaining a major influence in parliament. Turnout in the election was solid at 60 percent, but slightly less than the 64 percent of 2012. There was further good news for the president in preliminary results from the second election that took place on Friday, for the Assembly of Experts, a powerful committee of clerics that monitors the work of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Rouhani and his close ally Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former two-term president, held the first two places among the 28 clerics seeking one of the 16 places reserved on the assembly for Tehran. Fourteen of those on the Rouhani-Rafsanjani list for the assembly were in the top 16, with more than a third of votes counted. The assembly election is especially important because should Khamenei, who is 76, die during its eight-year term, its 88 members would pick his successor. Polling stations were kept open late Friday to allow millions of latecomers to participate. Even after all votes are counted by the interior ministry's officials, final results of both elections must be confirmed by the conservative-dominated Guardian Council -- and are not expected for several days. Khamenei was among the first to vote on Friday and he urged the entire electorate to follow suit, saying casting a ballot is "both a duty and a right". Many moderate voters stayed away in the last parliamentary polls in protest at the re-election three years earlier of hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. But the domination of Tehran by the List of Hope suggested they turned out heavily on Friday. Known as the "diplomat sheikh" because of his clerical credentials and willingness to negotiate, Rouhani, elected in 2013, was the driving force behind the nuclear deal, which he delivered despite political pressure at home. The agreement with powers led by the United States, the Islamic republic's bete noire, has raised hopes of recovery in Iran. But although the economy exited a deep recession in 2014-2015, growth has stagnated in the past year. The run-up to polling day was largely overshadowed by controversies over who was allowed to stand. Thousands of candidates were excluded. Reformists said they were worst hit. DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran's judiciary signaled on Saturday that Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi, detained since October in a case being watched internationally, had not been given access to a lawyer. The businessman was on a list published last month by the official Islamic Republic News Agency and the Tabnak website of four prisoners to be freed in a prisoner exchange with the United States. His name was later withdrawn from the list with no explanation. Five Iranian-American groups have written to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urging him to work to release Namazi, who they said was "left behind" after the prisoner swap. Namazi was detained by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps while in Iran visiting family. Officials have yet to announce charges against him. Namazi's 80-year-old father Baquer Namazi was arrested on Monday after traveling to Iran to try to visit his son in Evin prison. On Saturday, judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei mentioned the case in answer to international media reports that Siamak Namazi had been denied access to a lawyer, Tasnim news agency reported. He was quoted as saying: "According to the criminal code, lawyers should be approved by the head of the judiciary in security cases ... therefore if a lawyer is presented according to these rules he will be accepted, whether on this case or any other." "There is one law for all accused," Ejei added. Iran does not recognize dual nationality. Last week, the younger Namazi's attorney and family said he had been denied access to his lawyer, Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabaei. Tabatabaei said he was representing Namazi but had not been informed of the charges his client faces. Iran released four Iranian-Americans and one other U.S. citizen last month in a prisoner swap with the United States, which granted clemency to seven Iranians and dropped arrest orders for 14 others. Iran is believed to be holding several other dual nationals, including Iranian-British citizen Kamal Foroughi, who was arrested in 2011 while working in Tehran as a business consultant. Iran's judiciary spokesman said this month that most of the detained dual nationals face espionage charges. (Reporting by Sam Wilkin; Editing by William Maclean and Catherine Evans) By Padraic Halpin and William James DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland's ruling coalition was ousted by voters angry at the country's uneven recovery, results indicated on Saturday, leaving Prime Minister Enda Kenny facing the unpalatable prospect of trying to secure a deal with his biggest rival. His government appeared to be the latest victim of European voters' growing antipathy to mainstream politics, hit by a backlash against years of austerity and a perception that Ireland's poor are not benefiting from the fastest economic growth in Europe. Exit polls suggested the only viable option may be a problematic alliance of old rivals Fianna Fail and Kenny's Fine Gael - although even their combined support was set to fall below 50 percent of the vote for the first time. If neither side is able to form a government, however, fresh elections would have to be called. "The government of Fine Gael and Labour cannot be returned," Kenny told journalists late on Saturday. "I've a duty and a responsibility to work with the decision that the people have made to provide the country with a stable government, and that I intend to do fully and completely." The center-right Fine Gael captured 26 percent of first preference votes when 38 of 40 constituencies were counted. That is far below the 36 percent it won five years ago and the 30 percent opinion poll rating it had at the start of campaigning. Current coalition partner Labour was in line to win just 7 percent of the ballot, which spending minister Brendan Howlin said meant they were out of the equation for the next government. Fianna Fail was set to rise to 25 percent. "It was certainly worse than my worst fears," Health Minister Leo Varadkar, a senior member of Fine Gael. He said there was very little support for a Fine Gael-Fianna Fail coalition, but he refused to rule it out. WEEKS TO FORM GOVERNMENT However, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin hinted that he would first try to form a government with other groups. "We'll be putting a mandate before the Dail (parliament) on March 10 and seeking the support of others in the first instance and there'll be a large group of TDs (members of parliament) elected outside of Fine Gael and Sinn Fein," Martin told national broadcaster RTE. "We're committed to ensuring the country gets a good government, but it's going to take time." Analysts said a coalition of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail - heirs to opposing sides in a civil war almost a century ago - was the only option. "Either we could have another election now and do away with the count, or we'll let them muddle around for a month or so and maybe they can think the unthinkable," said Michael Marsh, a professor of politics at Trinity College Dublin. While the parties have few policy differences, one minister described the prospect as a "nightmare" during the campaign. Others fear it would allow left-wing Sinn Fein, the former political arm of the Irish Republican Army, which polled at 15-16 percent, to establish itself as the main opposition party. Fine Gael strategist Mark Mortell said Kenny would "hold off making phone calls" until early next week but that there was a very high risk of a second election this year. The first of 157 seats was declared at 10.30 a.m. ET with the final winners potentially not decided until early next week. ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT VOTE Framed as a debate over how to distribute the profits of accelerating economic growth, Kenny's campaign to "keep the recovery going" rang hollow with many voters yet to feel any benefit after years of spending cuts and tax rises. "There's total disillusionment with party politics. The independents and the smaller parties seem to be almost like the last hope for the country," said John McKeever, a voter in Dublin. "It's not a recovery for a good 30-40 percent of the country. It's a rich man's recovery." The exit polls suggested a major transformation had occurred in the party system as a result, just weeks before the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising, the most dramatic chapter of Ireland's struggle for independence from Britain. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, which have swapped power since the state's foundation, and Labour, the junior partner in many governments, were shunned in favor of independent candidates, smaller parties and the rising Sinn Fein. At the start of the last parliament in 2011, the three parties held 80 percent of the seats. "We're seeing a collapse of the two-and-half party system," said Paul Murphy, a member of one of the likely beneficiaries, the left-wing Anti Austerity Alliance and People Before Profit group. The results echo recent elections in Portugal and Spain, where anger at austerity, perceptions of rising inequality and mistrust of established political elites left parliaments fragmented and parties struggling to form governments. Uncertainty over the election outcome pushed the gap between Irish and French bond yields to its widest in eight months this week, although Ireland can still borrow near record lows. Robust growth of around 7 percent last year is seen as insulating its financial assets against a potential stalemate. (Additional reporting by Conor Humphries; Editing by Gareth Jones) YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Though US official circles have adopted a rather balanced stance on the issue of worsening Russian-Turkish relations, there are calls on firm support to Turkey in that context by the American media and expert circles. Those calls might be of lesser direct interest for Armenia, if the calls did not contain passionate remarks over the reinforcement of the capacities of the Russian military based located in Armenia. The latest replenishment of the base is commented by those circles as a step directed against the strategic ally of the US, Turkey. Armenpress reports that particularly such a viewpoint was expressed by Andrew Bowen, Senior Fellow and the Director of Middle East Studies at Washington-based Center for the National Interestanalytic center in the American Washington Post periodical. He starts his article quoting another article published on February 21 in Washington Post periodical by Gokhan Bacik, professor at Ipek University in Ankara, where the latter expresses alarm over Turkey facing all-round disaster, mentioning that Turkeys oldest and nearest enemy, Russia, expands its presence around Turkey: Syria- southern direction, Crimea and Ukraine-northern direction and Armenia-eastern direction. Bowen, finding himself in the role of the microphone of Turkish lobbyists, expresses concern that the deepening military alliance between Armenia and Russia is a threat for Turkey, which is an irreplaceable ally for the US. Interestingly, in his previous article over the worsening relations of Russia and Turkey, Andrew Bowen tries to somehow justify the policy led by Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the context of the downed Russian jet. Sending a new batch of jets and military helicopters to an air base located 25 miles away from the Turkish border is the latest proof of the partnership, the analyst writes. He mentions that the political and economic ties between the two states are deep rooted and are reinforced by a series of treaties and by the presence of two Russian military bases in Armenia (in fact the Erebuni air base is included in Gyumris 102nd base-Armenpress). The American analysts concludes that though Armenia has hailed the presence of several thousand troops and armaments, those developments escaped the attention of the American officials, who were busy celebrating Christmas, when to days before Armenia and Russia signed agreement on unified air defense (he refers to the agreement signed on December 23, 2015 between the Defense Ministries of Armenia and the RF on the creation of a unified regional air defense system-Armenpress). At the end of the article Andrew Bowen, forgetting the incident of Armenias air space violation by Turkish helicopters in October of 2015, makes a strange and one-sided conclusion, in fact blackmailing Washington, Its high time for Washington to reconsider its real allies in the region. Samson Hovhannisyan Dublin (AFP) - Ireland faced political uncertainty on Saturday after two exit polls indicated voters had punished the outgoing governing coalition in Europe's fastest-growing economy, which is feeling the pain of years of austerity. Both Prime Minister Enda Kenny's centre-right Fine Gael and its Labour junior partner lost support as voters angry at continuing hardship in the eurozone country shifted to independent politicians and leftwing parties. Exit polls indicated the two government parties would take between 55 and 68 seats between them: far short of the 80 needed to win a second term as counting was set to begin. "It's a very disappointing day from the government's point of view," Tom Curran, Fine Gael's general secretary told public broadcaster RTE. "If the exit polls are right... we will fall far short of being able to form a government." Both polls indicated the only viable government could be a union of Fine Gael with runners up Fianna Fail -- who are politically similar but bitter rivals whose divisions date back to Ireland's 1920s civil war and who ruled out a deal with each other before the election. "Either we can have another election now, and do away with the count, or we'll let them muddle around for a month or so and maybe they can think the unthinkable," said Michael Marsh, a professor at Trinity College Dublin who conducted the exit poll for RTE. "It's hard to see any sort of government without Fine Gael and Fianna Fail getting together." Fianna Fail, the party most associated with Ireland's economic crisis and housing crash, appears to have recovered some ground since it was routed in the last election in 2011. On the rise were independent politicians, newly-formed parties, anti-austerity groups and the leftwing Sinn Fein party, which has ridden a wave of support as it re-branded as an anti-austerity force south of its power base in Northern Ireland, putting it on course to be the main opposition party in Ireland. Story continues In any negotiations, parties will be mindful of a March 10 deadline when the new parliament is to meet and nominate a new prime minister, or Taoiseach. - Broken promises - Stacks of ballot boxes from around Ireland were gathered in counting centres, with first results expected by the early hours of Sunday. Turnout was reported to be slightly under the 70 percent of the previous election in 2011. Ireland has become the European single currency's champion of economic growth in recent years, posting 4.8 percent growth in 2014 -- the highest in the European Union. Kenny had asked voters to return the coalition to "keep the recovery going", in the first election held since the country of 4.6 million inhabitants exited a bailout imposed after a deep financial crisis. But anger about rising homelessness and poverty was clear on the streets of Dublin, where thousands marched against austerity on the weekend before the vote calling for an end to a controversial water tax. "They have broken every single promise, every single promise," said Jim, a middle-aged Dubliner who said he had voted for the government five years ago but was "totally against" them this time round. "I'm self-employed. I have to deliver. If you break promises, I don't want to know you," he said. The impact of the election may be felt far beyond Ireland's borders, according to the Economist weekly, which commented that a Fine Gael defeat with the economy doing well may ramp up pressure on Brussels to reconsider its policy on austerity. "Ireland's election may well turn out to be a historic event, not simply for Fine Gael or the other parties contesting it, but also for the future of the eurozone," it said. Dublin (AFP) - Voters punished Ireland's coalition government and boosted smaller parties in the first election since emerging from a bailout programme, exit polls showed Saturday, raising the prospect of weeks of uncertainty in the eurozone country. The coalition of Prime Minister Enda Kenny's Fine Gael and junior partners Labour suffered from continued public anger over years of austerity and hardship, despite Ireland recording the fastest growth in the European Union. "It's a very disappointing day from the government's point of view," Tom Curran, Fine Gael's general secretary told broadcaster RTE. Exit polls indicated the coalition would fall far short of the 80 seats needed to form a majority, while the centre-right Fianna Fail regained some ground lost when the party was routed five years ago in the wake of Ireland's housing crash and economic crisis. Anti-austerity groups, independent politicians, small parties and left-wing party Sinn Fein are all on course to increase their seats in parliament as commentators heralded a "seismic change" in politics. The two parties likely to have enough seats between them to form a coalition government are Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, bitter rivals that have taken turns ruling Ireland since 1932 and whose differences date back to a civil war almost a century ago. Party figures indicated an alliance could be considered but would be extremely difficult for either party to accept. "I think Fianna Fail in particular are going to struggle to do this, I think Fine Gael certainly don't want to do this," said Mark Mortell, a senior Fine Gael strategist. - 'Anti-establishment' - "I think the prospect of another election very soon is now very very high." As counting got under way initial tallies showed a fragmented political landscape with support ebbing from established parties and a surge in support for insurgents. The first candidate to be elected was Shane Ross, a independent candidate who stood in south Dublin on a platform of ending political cronyism and transforming Irish politics. Story continues "It's similar to what we've seen in Greece, Spain, in Italy, in Portugal where there's been a swing towards anti-establishment parties," said University of Maynooth lecturer Adrian Kavanagh. "We're into a period of uncertainty. We may be heading to a situation where the only option is to go back and do this again in two or three months time." He added that it was unlikely a government would be formed on March 10, when the newly-elected representatives are due to meet in the lower house of parliament Dail Eireann and, in theory, appoint a Taoiseach or prime minister. Sinn Fein were set to increase their seats to become the third largest group in parliament, continuing an upward trend in support for the party led by Gerry Adams. It was once seen as the political wing of the Irish Republican Army but has transformed itself into an anti-austerity force south of their power base in Northern Ireland. Ireland has become the fastest growing country in the eurozone in recent years, with predicted GDP growth of 4.5 percent in 2016. Kenny had asked voters to return the coalition to "keep the recovery going", in the first election held since the country of 4.6 million people exited a bailout in 2013 imposed after the financial crisis. But anger over a housing shortage, rising homelessness and poverty was clear on the streets of Dublin, where thousands marched against austerity on the weekend before the vote calling for an end to a controversial water tax. "They have broken every single promise, every single promise," said Jim, a middle-aged Dubliner who said he had voted for the government five years ago but was "totally against" them this time round. The impact of the election may be felt far beyond Ireland's borders, according to the Economist magazine, which commented that a Fine Gael defeat with the economy doing well may ramp up pressure on Brussels to reconsider its policy on austerity. "Ireland's election may well turn out to be a historic event, not simply for Fine Gael or the other parties contesting it, but also for the future of the eurozone," it said. By Mariam Karouny and Seyhmus Cakan BEIRUT/DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) - Islamic State militants launched an assault on a Kurdish-controlled town on Syria's border with Turkey on Saturday, prompting air strikes by the U.S.-led coalition to try to drive them back. The hardline Sunni fighters attacked Tel Abyad, which is controlled by the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, and the nearby town of Suluk in the early hours of Saturday, YPG spokesman Redur Xelil and Turkish security sources told Reuters. Coalition war planes carried out 10 air strikes to try to repel the assault, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. It said at least 45 Islamic State militants and 20 Kurdish militia fighters had been killed. In an e-mailed statement, the U.S. military said the coalition conducted multiple airstrikes on Saturday near Tal Abyad. The attack was launched hours after a "cessation of hostilities" came into effect under a U.S.-Russian plan, although the temporary truce does not apply to Islamic State and al Qaeda affiliate the Nusra Front, meaning the Syrian government, Moscow and the coalition reserve the right to strike them. The truce appeared largely to be holding across much of Syria. Xelil said the YPG and Syrian Kurdish internal security forces were able to "crush this attack and encircle the attackers", although he gave no casualty toll. The YPG captured Tel Abyad from Islamic State last year in an offensive backed by U.S.-led air strikes. The town lies north of Raqqa and had been a key supply line for the jihadi capital. The Turkish security sources said the attack was launched on two fronts and that the sound of gunfire and explosions, audible from the town of Akcakale on the Turkish side, had continued for several hours. Intermittent gunfire could still be heard. The security sources and a witness in Akcakale said war planes thought to be from the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State struck the jihadist positions and that the Turkish army had increased patrols on its side of the border. While not directly addressing the Tel Abyad attack, 14 Turkish F-16s patrolled the Turkish-Syrian border on Friday, Turkish military said. Xelil said some of the attackers infiltrated from the Turkish border to the north, reiterating accusations that Turkey was supporting the group. Turkey has consistently denied those accusations and the security sources said recent measures to stop illegal crossings meant it was impossible that the attackers had entered from Turkey. Other attackers infiltrated from the south, Xelil said. He said dozens of Islamic State fighters had been killed. (Writing by Tom Perry and Nick Tattersall. Additional reporting by Idrees Ali in Washington; Editing by Clelia Oziel) Johnson & Johnson just lost a $72 million dollar lawsuit because their baby powder allegedly caused ovarian cancer Johnson & Johnson just lost a $72 million dollar lawsuit because their baby powder allegedly caused ovarian cancer Johnson & Johnson now has to pay a family $72 million because of a product that many of us have used time and time again: baby powder. Back in October 2015, 65-year-old Jackie Fox lost her battle with ovarian cancer. Before her passing, Fox believed that Johnson & Johnsons talcum powder was the cause of her cancer and she decided to sue them. Following her death, Foxs son took over as plaintiff and a Missouri jury recently sided with him. Now, the company owes the Fox family $72 million in damages. While this may be one specific (costly) case, there are at least 1,000 other, baby powder-related lawsuits occurring all across the nation. All of them believe that this product which is supposedly hygienic is the source of their diseases. Why? Well, many women use baby powder on their genitalia to make them feel dry and fresh. Yet, Dr. Mary Peterson advises against this, stating that there are other ways to keep dry. The American Cancer Society reports that such baby powder/ovarian cancer findings have been mixed and inconclusive. Ovarian cancer charity Ovacome states that this type of cancer is likely to be caused by a combination of many different inherited and environmental factors, rather than one cause such as talc Responding to studies proposing that using baby powder on genitalia increases the chance that one will get ovarian cancer by 1/3, Ovacome adds, Ovarian cancer is a rare disease, and increasing a small risk by a third still gives a small risk. So even if talc does increase the risk slightly, very few women who use talc will ever get ovarian cancer. During Foxs trial, the familys lawyers provided this evidence: a 1997, Johnson & Johnson internal memo from a medical consultant. It indicates that anybody who denies [the] risks between hygenic baby powder use and ovarian cancer would be denying the obvious in the face of all evidence to the contrary. Because of this, Foxs attorneys assert that Johnson & Johnson knew of talcs risks and that theyve been lying to regulatory agencies. Story continues In the end, the jury found Johnson & Johnson to be guilty of negligence, fraud, and conspiracy. The companys response: We have no higher responsibility than the health and safety of consumers, and we are disappointed with the outcome of the trial. We sympathise with the plaintiffs family but firmly believe the safety of cosmetic talc is supported by decades of scientific evidence. While findings relating to the relationship between ovarian cancer and baby powder may be inconclusive, we still hope that regulatory agencies look into this discrepancy. Were looking at you, FDA. The post Johnson & Johnson just lost a $72 million dollar lawsuit because their baby powder allegedly caused ovarian cancer appeared first on HelloGiggles. Katy Perry and JonBenet Ramsey (Photos: Getty Images/Splash News) The internet is a wealth of conspiracy theories. Some of them are backed by celebrities: Christine Ebersole, for instance, believes that 9/11 was an inside job, and Kylie Jenner is pretty certain our government is trying to poison us using commercial airliners. And then some involve celebrities themselves: Beyonce thinks all her haters are corny with that Illuminati mess and, thanks to the work of the Daily Dots Rick Paulas, the latest great celebrity conspiracy theory is that Katy Perry is JonBenet Ramsey all grown up. Lets start with the background. JonBenet Ramsey was born August 6, 1990, in Atlanta, Georgia. The day after Christmas 1996, Ramsays body was found in her parents basement in Boulder, Colorado; she had been strangled to death. Her killer was never caught. That is, unless, she never really died at all, adopted a new identity, and became global superstar Katy Perry. There is a relatively small but incredibly dedicated community on YouTube devoted to proving conspiracies of various and increasingly obvious fictionality. One of those is that rather than die at age 6, JonBenet became Katy Perry. The why of the matter isnt really so important but it has something to do with either a Jewish or Illuminati conspiracy. Its the how these theorists care about. So here is the alleged proof that Katy Perry is JonBenet Ramsey, all grown up: Katy Perrys parents look not entirely dissimilar to JonBenets parents, John and Patty Ramsey. JonBenet and Katy Perry have similar facial structures? Sort of? Heres something thatll give you nightmares: JonBenet and Katy Perry (GIF: YouTube) JonBenet was killed by strangulation, which somehow suggests Masonic influence. In a biography, Perry is quoted as saying about herself as a child, Not that I was one of those stage kids. There was no JonBenet Ramsey inside of me waiting to burst out. Also, and perhaps most damning, Katy Perry once tweeted lyrics to God Bless America, a song which JonBenet once sang, the recording of which was played over and over as a part of the media coverage after her death. There are dozens of YouTube videos created solely to back up these claims, so thats something to consider doing the next time youre bored. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan reacted to peaceful activities of Nagorno Karabakh peoples independence aspirations by the massacre of Armenians living in Sumgait. According to the official data of former USSR, 27 people were killed during the days prior and after February 27, but in reality this figure goes higher than 100. Armenpress has referred many times to this crime condemned by the Republic of Armenia. The entire post-Sumgait politics and propaganda prove that Sumgait massacres is a crime against Armenians carefully planned and organized by Azerbaijani authorities. Immediately after the crime was perpetuated, the continuation of that policy took place in the form of hiding the tracks of the state-organized crime of Sumgait, glorification of the Sumgait murderers, and developments in Kirovabad, where the re-occurrence of Sumgait was hampered only due to organization of self-defense by Armenians, Baku genocide, military interference in Artsakh and other things. The continuation of this kind of dementation led to the glorification of mentally handicapped Safarov (he killed a sleeping Armenian officer with an axe in Budapest in 2002) and the mass killing of Armenian prisoners of war and captives. What else does the global community need in order to realize that all the attempts of Baku, trying to demonstrate itself as the bearer of such values as tolerance or multiculturalism, to distort the reality about Sumgait are useless, as they themselves confirm the truth every day, every hour and on different levels, even on the top level. That truth has been also confirmed on a global level. Here are a number of examples. George Soros. Local mafia headed by Heydar Aliyev instigated the first Armenian massacres in Azerbaijan in order to create hardships for Mikhail Gorbachev. Andrei Konchalovsky: The documentary film Burden of power. Heydar Aliyev made in 2003 at Azerbaijans request: Bloodshed in Azerbaijans industrial center Sumgait, where over 100 Armenians were killed overnight, was the response to Karabakh tragedy. V. Reva member of the group of the USSR Prosecutor's Office investigating the Sumgait crimes: In fact, what happened in Sumgait was genocide. People were killed there for their ethnic belonging. Academician Andrei Sakharov, Nobel Laureate: If prior to Sumgait incidents some might doubt, after that tragedy no one had the morality to insist on keeping Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Region (NKAR) within Azerbaijan. USSR Defense Minister Dmitry Yazov: The breasts of two women were cut off, the skins were rended Cadets seeing the corpses of Armenians fainted. Alexander Lebed: Sumgait smelled by medieval sadism, brutal, inhumane cruelty often mixed with stupidity 20th century and the world, conference, Moscow, 1988, N12. An example of genocide (defined as operations directed against entirely or partially against a nation, ethnic, racial or religious group aimed at its elimination) was the Armenian massacres in Sumgait. Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan SSR, 1988. Those to blame for inciting massacres in Sumgait carry deputy mandates in their pockets and are sitting in the Majlis, (2003). Mass slaughter of civilians, accompanied by unprecedented brutality and plunder, in the international city of Azerbaijan SSR was carried out by the Azerbaijani authorities during the period of February 26-29, 1988, due to the inaction of USSR leadership. Armenian massacres of Sumgait had been carefully organized. The leadership of the city openly called on violence against Armenians during the February 26 assemblies. The February 27 assembles turned into actions of violence with the participation of hundreds of murderers. Armed with axes, knives and bottles filled with petrol, the murderers, already possessing the list of the addresses of Armenians, broke into the houses of Armenians, killed them and looted. They often took people outside to mock them publicly. After abusing and mocking them, they poured petrol and burned alive. On February 29, troops entered Sumgait, but without an order of interference. Only in the evening, when the mob started to attack the Soviet troops, the units launched decisive actions. The exact number of Sumgait victims is not known up till now. 27 people were killed according to official data, but there are numerous documentations proving that the number exceeds a number of hundreds. There are also evidences that the massacres were coordinated by personnel of Azerbaijani Committee for State Security (KGB). The murderers of Sumgait were later declared national heroes of Azerbaijan. The same policy is continued by todays Aliyev regime, glorifying anyone who kills an Armenian (Safarov). Years after the Sumgait genocide, the tradition of glorifying the murderers of Armenians has again revived in Azerbaijan. The best illustration of which is the People's Artist of Azerbaijan and MP Zeynab Khanlarova, nicknamed axe-Khanoom. According to the testimony of numerous Armenians from Baku, that woman chosen by people glorified the Sumgait murderers standing on the demonstration platform in 1989. She made an announcement in 2012 after the scandal of the extradition of Safarov that shocked even many Azerbaijanis. Safarov is the hero of not only of Azerbaijan, he is a world hero. His statue must be erected. Not every man could have done that. We have two heroes, Mr. Ilham Aliyev and Ramil Safarov. Kamo Baghdasaryan By Tori Richards ANAHEIM, Calif. (Reuters) - Four people were stabbed, and one of them critically wounded on Saturday in a scuffle between members of the Ku Klux Klan and counter-protesters near a planned KKK rally in Anaheim, California, police said. Thirteen people were arrested following the melee, including one Klan member who is accused of stabbing a counter-protester with a flagpole, said Anaheim Police Sergeant Daron Wyatt. Several counter-protesters were taken into custody after stomping a KKK member on the ground, Wyatt said. Wyatt said the altercation took place as soon as several Klan members arrived at the park about a mile north of Disneyland, for a planned rally there. "As soon as they got out of their vehicle, immediately they were attacked by counter-protesters and this caused a melee down the block," he said. Wyatt said four people were wounded in the ensuing confrontation. The person most seriously wounded was stabbed with a flagpole that had an American eagle finial at the top and taken to a local hospital in critical condition. Several witnesses said that a peaceful counter-protest had been under way for about three hours when the Klansmen arrived in a black SUV. The vehicle pulled up and three men got out and began to unload signs when the group of about 50 counter-protesters approached them, yelling and throwing sticks, witnesses said. "Three people were stabbed by the fire hydrant," said Darren Simpson, 49. "These Klan guys were fighting for their lives." The Klan members attempted to get back into the car, but it sped off, leaving them behind, said Dion Garcia, 37. He said the angry mob chased the Klansmen down the block, yelling: "Get out of here! You're not welcome!" "It was crazy," Garcia said. "A lot of us were trying to break it up. This was not necessary, they should've just let the Klan protest. This is America, we have free speech." Story continues The Klan, founded after the abolition of slavery in the U.S. South in the mid-19th century, has evolved in recent years into a collection of loosely affiliated or independent groups that share a political philosophy based on racial separation. Most recently it made national headlines when a former KKK leader, David Duke, said he backed Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination. Trump rejected Duke's support and on Friday a man wearing a shirt reading "KKK endorses Trump," was ejected from a Trump campaign rally in Oklahoma. (Reporting by Tori Richards, writing by Dan Whitcomb; editing by Mary Milliken, G Crosse) 08:59 PM David A. GrahamLink The firewall held. For the second straight contest, Hillary Clinton defeated Bernie Sanders, winning the South Carolina primary on Saturday. The networks called the election as the polls closed at 7 p.m., and Clinton was set to win by perhaps 40 points. The victory all but clears the way for Clinton to coast to the Democratic nomination. Clinton has won three of the first four nominating contests. The first was ever-so-close, and the second was an enormous Sanders win, but in Nevada and South Carolina, Clinton first steadied her campaign and then won decisively, and she goes to Tuesdays large slate of primaries and caucuses with strong momentum. In her remarks in Columbia, Clinton seemed to declare the primary battle over, and she began looking ahead to the general-election battle. Despite what you hear, we dont need to make America great again. America never stopped being great. Today you sent a message that in America when we stand together there is no barrier too big to break, she said. Weve now gone through four early states. I want to congratulate Senator Sanders on running a great race. Tomorrow this campaign goes national! She previewed a message for running against Donald Trump, reflecting his ascendancy in the Republican Party. Despite what you hear, we dont need to make America great again. America never stopped being great, Clinton said. But, we do need to make America whole again. Instead of building walls, we need to be tearing down barriers. Clintons victory in South Carolina is in large part a product of her success in courting African American voters, who made up some six in 10 of those casting ballots, according to exit polls. In 2008, black voters carried Senator Barack Obama to a huge win over her, but she was able win them back, in part on her promises of continuing the presidents policies and her close association with him. Exit polls show Clinton won a stunning 84 percent of African Americans. (Black voters made up 62 percent of the vote, even higher than 2008s 55 percentperhaps mostly a sign of Southern whites leaving the Democratic Party.) Story continues Sanders, meanwhile, seems to be discovering the limitations of the coalition that gave him a huge victory in New Hampshire and almost delivered him an upset in Iowa. Where there are high concentrations of white, liberal voters, Sanders runs very strongly, but in states like South Carolina and Nevada where Democrats are a more diverse bunch, he has struggled. Clinton and Sanders tried very different approaches to courting the black vote. It was a battle between Sanderss abstraction and Clintons specificity. Sanders was joined by high-profile black surrogates, including Ben Jealous, Danny Glover, and Killer Mike, but he mostly stuck to the huge rallies that have powered his campaign elsewhere, while talking at length about issues of racial justice. Clinton, meanwhile, collected the endorsement of popular Representative Jim Clyburn. She barnstormed across the state doing a slew of small events, as did her husband Bill Clintonwho black South Carolinians seem to have forgiven for his catastrophic stumping in 2008 on her behalf. Clinton courted the black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha. And the mothers of African American victims of violenceincluding Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, and Sandra Blandheld small grassroots events in the state. During the most emotional moment in her victory speech Saturday, Clinton praised those women, saying they had channeled their sadness into a strategy and their mourning into a movement. Justin Sullivan / Getty It wasnt just black voters that made the difference on Saturday. Exit polls showed that young voters, among whom Sanders has built his base, didnt show up in great numbers. (Even black voters younger than 30, among whom Sanders was expected to do better, went for Clinton 56-44 in preliminary exit polls.) The people who did come out said that they wanted a nominee who would continue Barack Obamas work, rather than favoring the more liberal approach Sanders espouses. With Saturdays results, Clinton extends her huge delegate lead in the Democratic race. Most of her edge has been built on the large number of superdelegates who have committed to support her, while the two candidates were running more or less even on regular, pledged delegates won in primaries and caucuses. Clinton now has an edge on pledged delegates as well, though proportional splitting means Sanders also won some, and her lead in that tally is still small. The result in South Carolina doesnt seal the race for Clinton. But the problem for Sanders looking forward is that many of the states voting on March 1Super Tuesdaylook more like South Carolina than they do like New Hampshire. Sanders has been campaigning hard in Minnesota and Massachusetts, in particular, states where his campaign thinks it has a good chance. (In fact, as South Carolina slipped from his grasp this week, Sanders spent a great deal of time campaigning in Super Tuesday states rather than in the Palmetto State.) Unless Sanders is able to learn some concrete lessons from Saturdays primary, and unless hes able to find a way to change the recent trend, his chance at winning the nomination will dwindle quickly. Sanders has vowed to continue his fight. His aides note that Clinton didnt drop out after losing South Carolina in 2008, and they see two close contests so far and one huge win for each candidate. The enormous crowds hes able to draw across the nation show theres a willing audience. But the results in primaries and caucuses suggest that while Sanders has the firepower to shift the rhetoric and focus of the nomination battle, its simply not a large enough slice of the Democratic electorate to win the nod. 08:48 PM Yoni AppelbaumLink A week ago in South Carolina, it was a very different scene. Donald Trump won decisively, with Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio close behind. On the eve of the election, one pro-Cruz group hit Trump for supporting the removal of the Confederate flaga charge they expected to cost him votes. Only 1 percent of voters in the Republican primary were black. There are many reasons for Clintons win tonight, but her margin appears much larger than polling averages predicted. And its possible that the outcome a week ago, followed by Trumps win in Nevada, gave many Democratic voters pause about gambling on a less-experienced candidate, or inclined them toward backing someone who may be less exciting but seems comfortably familiar. Donald Trump, in other words, hasnt just shaken up the Republican racehe may be making his impact felt on the other side of the aisle, too. 08:24 PM Molly BallLink Clintons communications director, Jen Palmieri, told me the campaign is looking ahead to a long process and expects Sanders to be in the race for a long time to come thanks to the major financial resources he commands. Much of Clintons speech seemed directed at Donald Trump and the Republicans, particularly the parts about defeating divisiveness. I asked Palmieri whether the campaign was excited about running against Trump, who many Republicans believe would be a weak general-election candidate. It'll be hard, she said, because Trump is an unpredictable and unconventional candidate. 08:16 PM Nora KellyLink Win McNamee / Getty In her speech, Clinton cited a Bible passage from First Corinthians that will be familiar to anyone who has attended a Christian wedding: Love never fails, it tells us. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. These are words to live by, not only for ourselves but also for our country. She also repeatedly invoked the phrase love and kindness, a mantra she has been using on the campaign trail. I didnt hear Clinton use the phrase until after Buzzfeed published this feature from Ruby Cramer. Its worth a read. 08:07 PM Nora KellyLink Clinton said she wants to pay tribute to five extraordinary womenthe mothers of Trayvon Martin, Jordan Davis, Dontre Hamilton, Eric Garner, and Sandra Blandwho campaigned for her in South Carolina in recent days. David wrote about the groups work on Clinton's behalf this week. 08:04 PM Nora KellyLink Justin Sullivan / Getty Clintons message tonight: Were all in this together. Americans will strengthen families and communities by working together with more love and kindness in our hearts and more respect for each other even when we disagree, she said. Despite what you hear, we dont need to make America great again. America has never stopped being great. But it can be made whole again, with the following improvements: rein in corporate America; create better jobs; break down economic barriers for people, especially women; improve education; confront systemic racism; and the list goes on. 07:56 PM Link Updated SC exits w/final interviews give Clinton even BIGGER lead among AfAm vote (87-13) and she now LEADS among white Dems (53-47). Wow Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) February 28, 2016 07:54 PM Yoni AppelbaumLink Scott Olson / Getty Age has been the biggest dividing line in this Democratic primary campaignlooming even larger than other distinctions like race, gender, education, or income. Sanders has drawn extraordinary levels of support from younger voters and did again tonight. He carried young white voters 78 to 22 percent, a margin similar to those he amassed in other early primary states. But overall, he took voters under the age of 30 by only 63 to 37 over Clinton. The difference was black voters. ABC reports that Clinton carried black voters under the age of 30 by a 57 to 43 marginthats far less than her 84 to 16 margin among all black voters, but still a decisive win. Equally unnerving for the Sanders camp? The 22 percent of voters who described themselves as very liberal broke for Clinton, backing her 61 to 38 percent. If Bernie cant win big among young voters, cant break through among black voters, and cant even win over the very liberalits hard to imagine any path to the nomination. 07:49 PM Molly BallLink Jim Clyburn is speaking at the HIllary event. Tonight, the Democratic voters of South Carolina have rendered a significant verdict, he says. Clyburn, the only Democrat in the states congressional delegation, didnt endorse a candidate in 2008, symbolizing the African American community's struggle to decide between their affection for the Clintons and Barack Obamas history-making appeal. But this year, he backed Clinton. We have started Hillary Clinton on the way to the White House, he says. 07:45 PM Priscilla AlvarezLink Gerald Herbert / AP Per CNN, Clinton came away with 53 percent of the vote in South Carolina with 17 to 44 year oldsa troubling number for Sanders who has gained the most ground among the younger demographic. Assuming a portion of of that is the minority vote, its particularly troubling for the Vermont senator going into Super Tuesday. Several states with their contests then have a considerable number of minorities that are expected to benefit Clinton, while Sanders hinges on the vote of those under 45 as he did in the Nevada Democratic caucuses. These numbers show a different outcome. 07:37 PM Nora KellyLink Jacquelyn Martin / AP As I mentioned earlier, Sanders is en route to Minnesota, a Super Tuesday state. His team released a statement minutes ago to congratulate his rival. The message: Tonight doesnt hurt me. Sanders writes that 10 months ago, when his campaign started, he was all but unknown in South Carolina, and the grassroots political revolution is still growing. We won a decisive victory in New Hampshire, he writes. She won a decisive victory in South Carolina. Now its onto Super Tuesday, where Democrats in 11 states will pick 10 times more pledged delegates on one day than were selected in the four early states so far in this campaign. 07:26 PM Molly BallLink There has been a lot of goalpost-moving by the Sanders campaign with regard to South Carolina. They initially thought momentum from New Hampshire might power them to a win here; when that began to look impossible, they talked about closing the gap. Based on these preliminary results, it appears he did neither. 07:22 PM Molly BallLink Jacquelyn Martin / AP Sanderss campaign has already begun to talk in recent days about having scored a moral victory in this campaign by showing that his agenda had popular appeal and that he was not a fringe candidate. If todays result prefigures a big Clinton victory on Super Tuesday, Sanders will struggle to prove hes really still in this to win, not merely to make a point. 07:18 PM Nora KellyLink Clinton's first reaction, posted exactly two minutes after the polls closed and the networks called South Carolina: To South Carolina, to the volunteers at the heart of our campaign, to the supporters who power it: thank you. -H pic.twitter.com/JFTUZ2yBxf Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 28, 2016 07:16 PM Molly BallLink Justin Sullivan / Getty Greetings from Columbia, South Carolina, where Hillary Clinton's supporters have gathered to celebrate her victory in tonight's primary. When the race was called for her as soon as the polls closed at 7 p.m., shouts of Hill-a-ry! went up, gradually turning into Im with her! Im with her! 07:05 PM Yoni AppelbaumLink Mark Makela / Getty Right as the polls closed at 7pm, the networks called the race for Clinton. It is, as my colleague Molly Ball reported, a stunning reversal. Eight years ago, black voters in South Carolina embraced the candidacy of a first-term senator who promised change, rejecting Hillary Clintons case for experience and an established track-record. This year, many of those same black voters have rejected Bernie Sanderss promises of radical change, embracing Clinton and the same message that failed to catch on last time around. The Sanders campaign knew it was fighting an uphill battle in the statebut is surely disappointed by this result. Sanders invested time, money, and resources in the state. He came in having done better than initially expected in Iowa and Nevada, and with a crushing victory in New Hampshire. But none of that seemed to make a difference in South Carolina, where the polls hardly movedand where exit polls suggest an enormous Clinton margin. If Sanders couldnt break through in South Carolina, despite all he did, what chance does he have in the other states where black voters comprise substantial proportions of the electorate? And if he cant catch on there, is this the end of his bid for the nomination? 06:46 PM Nora KellyLink Sanders is hitting two Super Tuesday states today: He was in Texas earlier and now he's headed to Minnesota. As a Politico reporter has pointed out, he might miss the networks calling South Carolina. And if Sanders loses the state, Clinton could have to wait for a congratulatory call. Joe Raedle / Getty 06:20 PM Sacha ZimmermanLink MSNBC is reporting that Clintons camp wants to win South Carolina by the same measure as Sanders when he won New Hampshire22 points. Because its never, ever enough to just plain win. This is the new standard by which we will judge Clintons impending win. 06:13 PM David A. GrahamLink The numbers that Priscilla just noted for black voters are pretty interesting. In 2008, 55 percent of the South Carolina Democratic electorate was black, so if this result is right, it would be pretty surprisingan increase by 6 percentage points over eight years ago. Obviously, theres a key difference between this race and that one: Barack Obama was on the ballot, bidding to become the first African American nominee for a major party. Black voters went 78 percent for him in that race, swamping Clinton. As Molly Ball and I have both reported, the Clinton campaign has been working hard to win over African Americans and generally seems to be doing well. Perhaps the increase here is a sign that white voters simply arent coming out as much, which would be particularly bad news for Sanders. Or perhaps the early exits are a little off. 06:08 PM Priscilla AlvarezLink Win McNamee / Getty Preliminary exit polls are out and they serve as a strong indicator of a possible Hillary Clinton win. As was expected, blacks account for the large majority of the vote, coming in at 61 percent, according to the polls; 70 percent of voters also appear to want the next president to generally continue Obamas policies. Its a good sign for Clinton who has been vying to be the successor in the state. Also playing to Clintons strength is the number of voters that want the next president to be experienced, 82 percent to 13 percent. The polls overall paint a different picture from past contests like New Hampshire where Sanders secured votes from first-time primary goers. 05:22 PM Priscilla AlvarezLink David Becker / AP To Noras point, Bernie Sanderss showing in the state rides on voter turnout. Hillary Clinton has a lead among African Americans and she has done well with voters over 45. Even if Sanders is lagging in the minority vote, he has made up for it in the Millennial vote. In the Nevada, but Sanders had a commanding lead among Latinos under the age of 45. That might be the case in South Carolina among younger voters, but the question is how much of a difference can it make when that bloc of voters is also less likely to show up to the polls. 05:12 PM Sacha ZimmermanLink Nicholas Stamm / Getty / AFP South Carolina didnt take Martin OMalley off the ballot. Luckily, they did include Willie Wilson, a self-funded outsider candidate, who The Guardian says has a Donald Trump-meets-evangelical-meets-Bernie Sanders vibe. At least, unlike OMalley, Wilson is still in the race. 04:53 PM Nora KellyLink Were just about two hours away from the polls closing in South Carolina. (Political journalists the country over are grateful this primary is on East Coast time.) According to reports from the ground, turnout has been fairly low, but a county board of elections official told The Post and Courier that [w]hat we normally do see is something closer to the end of the day when people start realizing they dont have much time left to vote. And voters who make it into line by 7 p.m.when the polls closewont be kicked out of their polling locations and will still see their votes counted. So theres hope yet for a Saturday-night surge. 03:43 PM Sacha ZimmermanLink Branden Camp / Getty In Alabama today, Hillary Clinton gave an expansive speech at Miles College in front of a largely African American audience. There, she talked about college debt, her work in the trenches at the Childrens Defense Fund, her role in advising President Obama during the operation to hunt down Osama bin Laden, and the weight of the presidency itself. On that last point, Clinton seemed eager to remind listeners of the gravity of the office, of the harrowing decisions presidents make, and of the importance of a presidents words; after all, we are living in a world where the market can rise or fall based on the way the president of the United States speaks or comports himselfa clear dig at Donald Trump that the audience relished. Its the kind of talk that indicates Clinton may be starting to pivot from candidate to nominee. Similarly, Marco Rubios new posture of attacking Trump makes it clear that his campaign wants to recast the current narrative from a three-man race (with Trump and Ted Cruz) to a two-man race (just against Trump). Still, Ted Cruz at least has one win against Trump and is leading Trump in his home state of Texas; Rubio, on the other hand, has no wins and is facing an uphill battle in his home state of Florida. Nevertheless the boyish senator is as close as the establishment may come to defeating either the far-right-fringe candidate or the uncouth front-runner, and Rubio is finally shedding the fear of being in Trumps crosshairs (to be fair, its a singularly dangerous place to bejust ask Jeb Bush) to go after Trump where he lives: business deals, hiring practices, tax returns. Friends don't let friends vote for con artists, he crowed today in Georgia. Dont give the nuclear codes to a con artist! Timothy A. Clary / Getty Southern Exposure Hello, South Carolina! After a, shall we say, bracing week of Republican coverage, its time for the Democrats to wrest back some small measure of Americas attention. The polls are open in the Palmetto State, where issues of race are front and center. African American communities in this state have just emerged from a blistering year. In April 2015, a video of a police officer shooting and killing Walter Scott, an unarmed man, put yet another spotlight on police brutality in African American enclaves. And then, in June, South Carolinians were shaken to the core with the massacre at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, which saw nine dead, left a community bereft, inspired a president to song, and downed a flag. And now, the presidential primaries are in townand at time when a large swath of the country seems mesmerized by Donald Trumps xenophobic vision for America. The African American voters in South Carolina, who were so critical to Barack Obamas election, are up for grabs. And Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton have bent over backwards to bolster their civil-rights street cred. Sanders was a movement leader in the 1960s but has made some recent missteps in an attempt to connect with black voters. Clinton has long been a loyal ally, but her husbands record on prison and welfare reform haunt her. Their campaigns have both even turned to pop culture for help getting out their good-on-race bona fides: Where Sanders has Danny Glover and Killer Mike in his corner, Clinton has Morgan Freeman and, well, Bubba. For more on the Democrats, check out Molly Balls excellent article Barack Obamas Heir. Today, well be following all the polls and results with smart analysis and updates as they come in. Stay tuned to this space. Will Sanders surprise everyone with a better-than-expected showing in South Carolina, or is this at last the beginning of Clintons supposed firewall? The Atlantics 2016 Distilled will feature all the best and most original reporting on the presidential election. And dont forget to check out our Media Mentions Tracker, Candidate Cheat Sheet, and Gaffe Track. Sacha Zimmerman Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. London (AFP) - Mayor of London Boris Johnson on Saturday came out fighting for Britain to leave the European Union, warning that the country had "given away control of our destiny". The charismatic politician electrified the campaign for the June 23 referendum by declaring last weekend that he backed a so-called Brexit, positioning himself against Prime Minister David Cameron. After a few days out of the headlines, Johnson set out his stall in two newspaper interviews -- and hit back at the premier, a long-term rival in their Conservative Party. He said that recent reforms Cameron secured to welfare payments to EU workers seemed "unlikely, frankly" to reduce the numbers of new arrivals as the premier had argued. Johnson, who has the rare ability to appeal to voters outside his own party, told the Daily Telegraph that he was "massively pro-migrants" and proud to lead a city as diverse as London. But he added: "The numbers coming in puts massive pressure on housing and other provisions such as social services and education. What we need is managed immigration." He said his campaign would focus on challenging warnings that leaving the EU would bring economic chaos, while acknowledging there would be an "initial period of dislocation and uncertainty". "I will do my absolute best to dismiss Project Fear, which I think is nonsense. Britain could have a really great future, with a more dynamic economy and a happier population," Johnson told The Times newspaper. This week, Cameron condemned an idea seemingly mooted by Johnson that a vote to leave the EU was not final, and instead could be a negotiating tactic to win further concessions from Brussels. Johnson insisted that "out is out", adding: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. It is not going to come around again." "The fundamental problem is that we have given away control of our destiny in too many areas," he said. By Ben Klayman DETROIT (Reuters) - Quality problems prompted two of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder's top lawyers to urge that Flint be moved back to the Detroit water system just months after a decision to draw water supply from the Flint River, according to emails released on Friday. Several critics have called for Snyder to resign over concerns about the state's poor handling of the crisis, and the governor said Friday he felt regret every day. Flint switched its water supply from Detroit to the Flint River in April 2014 in a bid to cut costs when the city was under a state-appointed emergency manager. While the city switched its water source back to Detroit in October 2015, corrosive water from the river had already leached lead from city pipes, posing a serious threat to public health. Snyder's aides discussed Flint's water quality problems as early as autumn 2014, with one calling the situation "downright scary," about a year before the switch back to the Detroit system was finally made. The Detroit Free Press and Detroit News earlier reported about the emails, which were released by the governor's office. "That's where I'm kicking myself every day," Snyder said after signing a $30 million supplemental bill to reimburse Flint residents for their water bills. "I wish I would have asked more questions." Snyder, scheduled to testify to Congress on March 17, has repeatedly apologized for the state's poor handling of the crisis. Liberal group Progress Michigan again called for Snyder to resign, citing the emails. There's no reasonable person who can believe at this point that every top adviser to Rick Snyder knew that there was an issue, but Snyder knew nothing," said executive director Lonnie Scott, who also called for Snyder's resignation. Valerie Brader, Snyder's senior policy adviser, addressed problems over the quality of Flint River water in an email to the governor's chief of staff, Dennis Muchmore, and others on Oct. 14, 2014. She argued Flint should be returned to the Detroit water system, citing bacterial contamination and reduced quality that prompted General Motors to switch away from the river due to rusted car parts. Michael Godola, then the governor's legal counsel, responded, calling the Flint River as a water source "downright scary." On Friday, State Representative Sheldon Neeley of Flint asked Attorney General Bill Schuette for his legal opinion on whether an official withholding information that leads to death or harm can be charged criminally. Melissa Harris-Perry, host of MHP on MSNBC is reportedly walking off her show out of frustration over the ordered editorial direction and pre-emptions for political coverage. A network spokesman did not elaborate on the situation to The Hollywood Reporter, but did call the decision "surprising." "In this exciting and unpredictable presidential primary season, many of our daytime programs have been temporarily upended by breaking political coverage, including MHP," the spokesman said in an email. "This reaction is really surprising, confusing and disappointing." The New York Times first reported Harris-Perry's decision on Friday afternoon, citing an email it obtained that was sent to staff of Harris-Perry, in which the news personality and Wake Forest professor says she felt worthless in the eyes of NBC News executives. Here is the reality: Our show was taken without comment or discussion or notice in the midst of an election season, she wrote. After four years of building an audience, developing a brand and developing trust with our viewers, we were effectively and utterly silenced. She informed The Times during a secondary phone interview that she would not be appearing on her show, which airs weekend mornings. In her email, Harris-Perry wrote that she blamed NBC News chairman Andrew Lack or MSNBC president Phil Griffin for the recent handling of her show. I will not be used as a tool for their purposes, she wrote. I am not a token, mammy, or little brown bobble head. I am not owned by Lack, Griffin or MSNBC. I love our show. I want it back. Melissa Harris-Perry could not be reached for additional comment. Read More: Donald Trump Wants to "Open Up Libel Laws" to Better Sue Media My letter to my @MHPshow team. https://t.co/9ggTnp5b74 #nerdland Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) February 26, 2016 See the entire letter below: Dearest Nerds, As you know by now, my name appears on the weekend schedule for MSNBC programming from South Carolina this Saturday and Sunday. I appreciate that many of you responded to this development with relief and enthusiasm. To know that you have missed working with me even a fraction of how much Ive missed working with all of you is deeply moving. However, as of this morning, I do not have any intention of hosting this weekend. Story continues Because this is a decision that affects all of you, I wanted to take a moment to explain my reasoning. Some unknown decision-maker, presumably Andy Lack or Phil Griffin, has added my name to this spreadsheet, but nothing has changed in the posture of the MSNBC leadership team toward me or toward our show. Putting me on air seems to be a decision being made solely to save face because there is a growing chorus of questions from our viewers about my notable absence from MSNBC coverage. Social media has noted the dramatic change in editorial tone and racial composition of MSNBCs on-air coverage. In addition, Dylan Byers of CNN has made repeated inquiries with MSNBCs leadership and with me about the show and what appears to be its cancellation. I have not responded to reporters or social media inquiries. However, I am not willing to appear on air in order to quell concerns about the disappearance of our show and our voice. Here is the reality: our show was taken without comment or discussion or notice in the midst of an election season. After four years of building an audience, developing a brand, and developing trust with our viewers, we were effectively and utterly silenced. Now, MSNBC would like me to appear for four inconsequential hours to read news that they deem relevant without returning to our team any of the editorial control and authority that makes MHP Show distinctive. The purpose of this decision seems to be to provide cover for MSNBC, not to provide voice for MHP Show. I will not be used as a tool for their purposes. I am not a token, mammy, or little brown bobble head. I am not owned by Lack, Griffin, or MSNBC. I love our show. I want it back. I have wept more tears than I can count and I find this deeply painful, but I dont want back on air at any cost. I am only willing to return when that return happens under certain terms. Undoubtedly, television nurtures the egos of those of us who find ourselves in front of bright lights and big cameras. I am sure ego is informing my own pain in this moment, but there is a level of professional decency, respect, and communication that has been denied this show for years. And the utter insulting absurdity of the past few weeks exceeds anything I can countenance. I have stayed in the same hotels where MSNBC has been broadcasting in Iowa, in New Hampshire, and in South Carolina, yet I have been shut out from coverage. I have a PhD in political science and have taught American voting and elections at some of the nations top universities for nearly two decades, yet I have been deemed less worthy to weigh in than relative novices and certified liars. I have hosted a weekly program on this network for four years and contributed to election coverage on this network for nearly eight years, but no one on the third floor has even returned an email, called me, or initiated or responded to any communication of any kind from me for nearly a month. It is profoundly hurtful to realize that I work for people who find my considerable expertise and editorial judgment valueless to the coverage they are creating. While MSNBC may believe that I am worthless, I know better. I know who I am. I know why MHP Show is unique and valuable. I will not sell short myself or this show. I am not hungry for empty airtime. I care only about substantive, meaningful, and autonomous work. When we can do that, I will return not a moment earlier. I am deeply sorry for the ways that this decision makes life harder for all of you. You mean more to me than you can imagine. Yours always, Melissa Moscow (AFP) - Thousands of Russians prepared Saturday to honour the memory of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov who was gunned down near the Kremlin a year ago in the highest-profile assassination of Vladimir Putin's rule. Anti-Kremlin activists urged ordinary Russians to join them on a memorial march through central Moscow, with other commemorative events planned across the country and abroad. Before the start of the march Russians brought flowers and candles to the bridge near the Kremlin walls where Nemtsov, a jovial 55-year-old with a mop of black curly hair, was killed. US ambassador John Tefft was among those who came to pay respects, laying a wreath with a ribbon saying "From the American people." On the eve of the anniversary, lawmaker Dmitry Gudkov, one of the few independent voices in the Russian parliament's lower house, said he suggested that deputies observe a moment of silence in Nemtsov's memory but most of his colleagues refused. Authorities allowed the opposition to hold a march through the city centre but forbade activists from marching to the bridge where Nemtsov's allies have struggled to maintain a makeshift shrine. "The march in Nemtsov's memory is also a march demanding a normal country and normal state where contract killings in the form similar to public executions do not take place," wrote top opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister in the government of Boris Yeltsin, was gunned down shortly before midnight on February 27, 2015, while walking across a bridge a short distance from the Kremlin with his Ukrainian model girlfriend. - 'Who dared?' - Putin, whose rule has seen the steady suppression of independent media and opposition parties since he came to power in 2000, branded the killing a "provocation" and promised an all-out effort to catch the killers. "Who dared?" a furious Putin asked his aides after Nemtsov was hit in the back by four fatal shots, the country's top opposition Novaya Gazeta reported this week. Story continues Within weeks five men -- all Chechens from Russia's restive North Caucasus -- were arrested and charged with murder. The five detainees -- including Zaur Dadayev, a member of a Chechen interior ministry battalion accused of being the gunman -- are now awaiting trial for what investigators say was a contract killing carefully planned over months. But Nemtsov's family and allies insist the authorities have failed to bring the masterminds to justice and point the finger of blame at Chechnya's Moscow-backed strongman Ramzan Kadyrov -- and the Kremlin itself. Political observers and anti-Kremlin activists say that over the past year things have only gotten worse, with tolerance for dissent shrinking. Earlier this month, men -- apparently from the North Caucasus -- threw a cake at Nemtsov's ally, former prime minister-turned-opposition activist Mikhail Kasyanov and shouted threats at him. The Kremlin downplayed the cake-throwing attack, saying it should be in no way linked to Kadyrov. Two weeks later unidentified attackers threw a cake at Navalny. Both attacks took place shortly after the Chechen strongman posted an Instagram image of Kasyanov in the crosshairs of a sniper's rifle and called the opposition "enemies of the people." "They are trying to make the harrassment of the opposition look like a farce but this does not mean that directors of the cheap comedies would refuse more brutal genres," liberal daily Vedomosti said in an editorial. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. World famous musician Tigran Hamasyan, having conquered most prestigious stages of the world, performed in one of abandoned hut districts of Gyumri. Joining the uique compaign of voicing about the problems of residents of Gyumri huts, the pianist born in Gyumri gave a concert on February 27 in front of one of the huts on Manushyan Street. By this initiative Tigran Hamasyan joint the project of Hayk Baseghyan, photographer born in Gyumri. 27 years have passed since the earthquake but there are still people living in huts in Gyumri: nearly 3000 families still live in trailers. I have introduced the real life of people living in those huts on December 7 for three years in a row within the framework of exhibitions called Day of shame, trying to draw the attention of everyone on the issue, and this year we launched an international fund-raising compaign throughout the world. I asked Tigran to give us something belonging to him in order to organize an auction and allocate the profit to our goal, but Tigrans response was suprising: a concert just here and in this format. If we manage to accumulate 190 thousand USD until March 20, 13 families will obtain houses, hayk Barseghyan mentioned. The organizers of the concert had adopted a unique way of making the problems of homeless more visible: all the participants of the open air concert walked to the place of the event: People of Gyumri are familiar with this situation, and the guests saw the reality. This district had never been so crowded. Hamasyans fans from different countries had arrived in Gyumri to attend Tigrans concert and participate in the fund raising. I feel only one thing now: I have to be faithful to myself and whatever I do, I do it from my heart. I grew up in Gyumri which greatly influenced me. I was born here in the years of the earthquake and lived here until 1999 but my parents did their best for me not to feel what really existed. People live in these temporary shelters for nearly 30 years, which is a shame and these people must finally leave the huts. I hope that this project will be a success and 13 families will receive houses. Better late than never, Tigran Hamasyan said after the concert. At the end of the concert Gymris Deputy mayor Ruben Sanoyan hailed the initiative wishing successful future. By the decision of Gyumri Mayor Samvel Balasanyan, Tigran Hamasyan was awarded with a golden medal of Gyumri Mayor> The Deputy Mayor handed the medal to Hamasyan. Armenuhi Mkhoyan London (AFP) - Britain's government may have to impose fresh public spending cuts in next month's budget, George Osborne warned on the fringes of a G20 ministerial summit which ended Saturday. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had slowed the pace of austerity cuts in his last spending review in November but has now indicated fresh reductions are on the cards in the March 16 budget. He made the comments to the BBC in Shanghai, where G20 finance ministers were holding a meeting which warned of an "uneven" global economic recovery". "The storm clouds are clearly gathering in the world economy and that has a consequence for lots of countries including Britain," Osborne said. "Now, we are weathering it better than most but we've just had confirmation that our own economy is not as big as we had hoped. "So we may need to undertake further reductions in spending because this country can only afford what it can afford and we will address that in the budget." Official figures out Thursday showed that Britain's economy slowed sharply last year. Gross domestic product -- the total value of all goods and services produced by a country's economy -- expanded by 2.2 percent last year, down from 2.9 percent in 2014. Britain's economy faces headwinds from slowing Chinese growth and problems in the economies of countries of the European Union. It also faces uncertainty ahead of a referendum on June 23 on whether to leave the EU. In the communique from the G20 meeting, ministers warned that a British exit from the EU would be a "shock" that ranks among rising downside risks and vulnerabilities for the world economy. Step into the lobby of the four Seasons in Beverly Hills during Oscar weekend, and you will see a parade of visiting esthetic experts hurrying in and out of elevators, armed with all manner of beautifiers, from brushes to portable lasers. "I bring everything that's not nailed down,'' says Joanna Vargas, a New York facialist who is heading west to perfect the porcelain complexions of Julianne Moore and Brad Goreski, among others. "I go to L.A. for every awards show, but the Oscars is my longest visit; I stay for a week,'' she says. Among her cutting- edge tools are microcurrent, oxygen, microdermabrasion and radio-frequency devices. "I use microdermabrasion on the whole body because it's nice to prep the skin everywhere, and radio frequency increases collagen production by 20 percent,'' she says. Even though Los Angeles is one of the world's most legendary beauty capitals, some boldfaces attending the Academy Awards rely on their New York gurus to be on hand for the hours up to red-carpet arrivals. "I arrive on February 23rd to prepare my patients,'' says Dr. David Colbert, a Manhattan dermatologist whose following includes everyone from Naomi Watts to Mick Jagger. This visit, he will be tending to nominees Jennifer Lawrence, Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender, along with Robin Wright, Sienna Miller and Michelle Williams. He plans to give them all his Triad treatment ($800-$1,200), a three-step process of microdermabrasion, laser toning and a gentle lavender acid peel. For Fassbender, he prescribes his Stimulate Serum with extracts of coffee Arabica and goji berry as well as silk peptide, to be applied daily leading up to the big night ($160). "It's an instant wake-up call for male skin, no matter what someone did the night before,'' he maintains. Lawrence gets his Illumino Brightening mask, containing epidermal growth factor, and coconut bio cellulose ($110). "Jennifer wants to have that extra glow,'' he explains. "This gives a massive influx of antioxidants, which stimulate collagen production and make the skin look luminous.'' Vargas, too, is prescribing coconut for her clients. "I treat skin all over with coconut compresses,'' she reveals. "They are anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and hydrating; they prevent breakouts and make skin radiant.'' Supporting actress nominees Kate Winslet and Jennifer Jason Leigh, as well as Patricia Arquette and Sofia Vergara, are relying on New York esthetician Tracie Martyn, who heads west for the week, toting along her Resculptor machine and delivering her Red Carpet Facial, which includes lifting microcurrent, light therapy, organic ingredients and natural cosmeceuticals ($585). "I use multicolored LED depending on the skin challenge I am facing green for discoloration, blue for breakouts, and amber and red for fatigued skin,'' says Martyn. "It's very effective and gentle before the big event.'' Dr. Patricia Wexler, a Manhattan dermatologist who famously performed liposuction on Joan Rivers' back so she would fit into a red carpet gown, says the fact that the Golden Globes and Oscars are now closer together, has made beauty planning easier for her celebrity patients. "They come in to New York a couple of weeks before the Globes for their fillers and toxins, and that lasts, so now they just come in to get polished before the Oscars with something like my Red Carpet Peel" ($450). Another Manhattan cosmetic dermatologist, Dr. Howard Sobel, says he treated two nominees and one former Oscar winner within the last couple of days who are then planning to fly back out for the Academy Awards. "Besides the obvious Botox and fillers, what has become the rage is to remove age spots and freckles with Fraxel. They are no longer cute on the face, and they are signs of ageing on the decolletage and hands. Because of big HD TVs, there is more of an emphasis on treating all exposed skin areas" ($2500 per area). Colbert has become so busy with awards season that he has installed a satellite office in Beverly Hills. "We don't allow cellphones in the collagen beds,'' says Colbert. "Apart from stimulating collagen all over the body, the beds give a sense of well-being, which is important when you need to look poised in front of millions of viewers" ($350). A version of his story first appeared in the March 4 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. Read More: Dissolving String Facelifts and Bone Injections: Oscar Stars Scramble to Be Camera-Ready in 48 Hours By Gina Cherelus NEW YORK (Reuters) - The creator of the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag on Twitter on Saturday said she will watch and tweet about a 1999 coming-of-age movie featuring three black actors rather than Sunday night's showing of the Academy Awards, joining a growing list of activists and entertainers snubbing the event for its lack of diversity. April Reign, managing editor of BroadwayBlack.com, said she will watch "The Wood," starring Omar Epps, Richard T. Jones and Taye Diggs on Netflix on Sunday night as the Oscars show airs on ABC. Reign, the keynote speaker on Saturday at "The #BlackTwitter Conference" at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, is credited with launching the hashtag in January after last year's nominees best actor nominees were published. "What Im doing is attempting to amplify the discussion," Reign said at Saturday's conference, hosted by the National Association of Black Journalists. "The Academy can only nominate quality work that is made, so the onus still has to be on Hollywood to put those films out there." Reign said she launched the tag initially as a joke, but it quickly went viral and has become a major venue for discussing race and Hollywood. The furor over the all-white line up of best-actor nominees prompted several big-name boycott announcements. Spike Lee, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith all said they will not attend. Directors Ava Duvernay and Ryan Coogler, who was snubbed for a best director nomination for his Rocky sequel "Creed" even as Sylvester Stallone earned a best-supporting actor nomination, are planning to host the #JusticeForFlint benefit concert in Flint, Michigan, in support of residents suffering from its water crisis. Business mogul Russell Simmons has partnered with Fusion to launch the first-ever "All Def Movie Awards," which aims to celebrate diversity in film. #BlackTwitter16, the tag associated with Saturday's conference at Columbia, was among the top-trending hashtags on Twitter. "Black Twitter has gone from being seen as these frivolous conversations that black people are having at night," said Sherri Williams, a post-doctoral fellow and professor at Wake Forest University who was among the panelist at the conference. "Now its an entity that people are taking seriously." (Reporting By Gina Cherelus; Editing by Dan Burns, Bernard Orr) Peshawar (Pakistan) (AFP) - The Pakistani military's latest ground and aerial onslaught in the troubled northwest killed at least 34 Islamist militants Saturday while five of its troops also died during clashes, security officials said. The attacks come days after Pakistan's powerful military chief General Raheel Sharif ordered his troops to begin the last phase of a bloody operation targeting militants in the country's restive northwest along the Afghan border. Pakistani air force jets pounded militants' hideouts in the northwestern tribal belt, killing at least 15 Taliban insurgents including six Uzbeks. The strikes were carried out in the Maizer area of the Datta Khail region in North Waziristan, which is considered a stronghold for Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants. "As many as four hideouts were destroyed in the strikes this morning. Among the 15 killed militants were six Uzbeks," a security official in the area told AFP. Later in the evening, the military issued a statement saying its "ground forces surrounded a group of fleeing terrorists in the Mangroti area near the Afghanistan border in the Shawal region of the North Waziristan district and 19 militants were killed during the intense exchange of fire". "Four security forces personnel including an officer also embraced martyrdom," the statement added. A senior security official in Peshawar confirmed the strikes and clashes. "The air strikes have increased in the last few days and we have hit targets today also. We have hit the hideouts many times during the last few days," the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told AFP. Also on Saturday, a Pakistani soldier was killed and two others wounded when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device planted on a roadside in North Waziristan's Datta Khail. The Pakistani army launched Operation Zar-e-Azb under US pressure in 2014 in a bid to wipe out militant bases in the North Waziristan tribal area and bring an end to the near decade-long Islamist insurgency that has cost Pakistan thousands of lives. Story continues The conflict zone is remote and off-limits to journalists, making it difficult to verify the army's claims, including the number and identity of those killed. Pakistan's Islamist insurgency began after the US-led invasion of neighbouring Afghanistan in 2001 which led to a spillover of militants across the border and a surge in recruitment for Pakistani extremist groups. Pakistan's relative success in fighting militancy stands in marked contrast to Afghanistan, which is facing record numbers of civilian casualties following the withdrawal of NATO combat troops at the end of 2014. The exiled chief of the main political party in Pakistan's largest city is facing investigation for allegedly talking about sex to a group of male and female staff, police said Saturday. Altaf Hussain, the head of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), had been filmed explaining intercourse to the workers in Karachi via phone from London, according to police. A woman who saw the footage online of the alleged talk alerted police, who have now filed a case against Hussain. "We have registered a case against Altaf Hussain and 20 of his party colleagues under the charges of publicly uttering immodest words after a woman named as Nasreen filed an application against them," Rao Muhammad Anwar, senior superintendent of police in the Malir area of Karachi, told AFP. In a statement to authorities, Nasreen wrote she had been browsing the internet when she came across the clip of Hussain, addressing a mixed group of staff. "He was publicly telling the women about the sexual contact between male and female and his party workers were also repeating his words. It seems that he was intoxicated," she said. Anwar said other MQM leaders, including members of parliament and the party's candidate for Karachi mayor, were facing investigation over allegations such as organising the meeting and repeating Hussain's words. But a spokesman for MQM hit back, saying the investigation was unconstitutional. "Our party is a law abiding party which believes in peaceful struggle and these kind of cases against party leadership is against the constitution of the country. We will face it in the court," said Amin ul Haq, who is also named in the case. The party refused to comment on the accusations. Talking publicly about sex is taboo in largely conservative Muslim Pakistan. The MQM, which is run by Hussain from London, is the main political party in Karachi, a city of 20 million. It represents an ethnic migrant community and is the fourth largest party in the lower house of parliament with 23 members. But it has long been blamed for ethnic violence in Karachi and has clashed repeatedly with the authorities. A court has slapped a complete ban on the broadcast or publication of Hussain's speeches in the national media. By Conor Humphries DUBLIN (Reuters) - Almost a century after Ireland's civil war, the political heirs to its opposing sides are in no mood for a reconciliation that could save the country from a prolonged period of weak or no government. But rather than decades of personal feuding, it is short-term political calculus that is keeping apart Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, the two center-right parties that have alternated in power almost since Ireland won independence from Britain. Polls and early results from the country's general election on Friday have left only one realistic option for a stable government -- a union of Prime Minister Enda Kenny's Fine Gael and main opposition Fianna Fail. One Fine Gael party member said there "wasn't the thickness of a sheet of paper" between the two parties in terms of policies. But members of both agreed that there was no sign of a deal any time soon. "We're not going to play hind tit to Fine Gael," said Rory Scanlan, a Fianna Fail member from Dublin in his 60s, using a pig-farming analogy to explain how unappealing it would be for his party to enter a coalition as a minority partner. "Since the state was formed in 1922, Fianna Fail were substantially the party of government ... and we're on the way back," he added as he watched members tally strong vote numbers in the Dublin Bay North constituency. Fianna Fail's dominance looked like it might have ended forever when its support collapsed in 2011 in the wake of a devastating economic crash, sweeping Fine Gael to power. But a rebound on Friday has raised hopes of a revival. The split stems from a rift between Irish revolutionary heroes Michael Collins and Eamon DeValera at the end of Ireland's 1919-21 war of independence over whether to accept a compromise agreement with the British. That led to a bloody civil war that divided friends, families and towns across the country. As memories of civil war atrocities gradually subsided, they gave way to political rivalries. Families across the country nailed pictures of Collins or DeValera to their walls and shunned their rivals socially and in business. Most governments since have been lead by DeValera's Fianna Fail, with the rest under Fine Gael, founded by supporters of Collins. "I've Fine Gael friends. I go to Fine Gael weddings ... but there'd be a tiny minority who'd have nothing to do with the other," said Michael, a Fianna Fail party member, who declined to give his surname. Members of both parties in their 50s and 60s who were watching Saturday's count in Dublin said partisan feelings had been tempered as the civil war and its immediate aftermath pass from living memory. Instead it is short-term strategy that makes a coalition unpalatable. Top of the list is a deep-set fear that a political deal would open the way for left-wing nationalists Sinn Fein, the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army, to become the main opposition party, members of both parties said. "Some people in Fianna Fail will bang the table and say 'no way' ... but the only reason they won't want to go into power with Fine Gael is that Sinn Fein would be the largest party in opposition," said Sean Divilly, 65, who joined Fine Gael at 18. Several members of both parties also said they feared an alliance would realign Irish politics with a left-right split, which would ultimately benefit the left. "If they came together, there would be a left-right divide and that's what the left are hoping for," said James, a 75-year-old Fine Gael supporter from south Dublin. "Probably it will eventually come to that. But not yet please." The rivalry between the two parties is as sharp as ever, said Denis, a sales manager congratulating fellow Fianna Fail members at their rebound in the current election after being humiliated five years ago. "Civil war politics is dead and buried in Glasnevin cemetery", the graveyard where Collins and de DeValera are interred, he said. "But at the moment we as a party have no desire of going into power with Fine Gael, and Fine Gael don't want to go in with us." (Editing by Catherine Evans) Hollywood may be embarrassed when its pay inequality and lack of diversity enter the spotlight, but in many ways these are symptoms of larger problems. Patricia Arquette has launched a petition calling for lawmakers to vote in favor of ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to give women a clear constitutional basis for challenging discrimination. Its not a new issue for Arquette. The critically acclaimed actress impassioned plea for pay equity at last years Academy Awards sparked a national discussion about sex-based discrimination. Now shes doubling down on her calls for full equality for women under the law. Were not saying women are better than men. All it says is all people are equal in the United States regardless of their sex. And who can argue with that? Arquette said in an interview with Yahoo News. On Thursday, just days before the 2016 Oscars, Arquette and Equal Rights Advocates, a women's rights nonprofit, launched a petition on Change.org to compel Congress to finally ratify the ERA, which reads Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. First introduced in 1923 by suffragist Alice Paul, the bill finally picked up steam in the 1970s (passing both the House and the Senate and getting endorsed by presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter) but was ratified by only 35 states three states short of the minimum needed to become federal law. Equal Rights Amendment supporters voice their disapproval of the 22-16 vote against E.R.A. in the Florida Senate as they streamed out of the capitol for a demonstration and shouted vote them out in response to the Senate vote, June 21, 1982. (AP Photo) The ERA would require the judicial system to treat discrimination claims by women the same way it treats those on the basis of race, religion or national origin. Without the amendment, Arquette says, womens rights are left open to interpretation. In 2011, much to the chagrin of feminists, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who died on Feb. 13, said, Certainly the Constitution does not require discrimination on the basis of sex. The only issue is whether it prohibits it. It doesnt. Story continues To counteract this argument, the ERA would provide a clear constitutional basis on which women could challenge gender-based discrimination. Arquette also applauded California Gov. Jerry Browns signing of the states Fair Pay Act last year, but said women need change at the federal level because they cannot be beholden to whoever happens to be in office at the time. Last year, actress Jennifer Lawrence spoke out against the gender pay gap after the Sony e-mail hack revealed that she had been paid far less than her male co-stars. Arquette, who empathized with Lawrence, said the Hunger Games star unfairly caught a lot of heat and was perceived as a spoiled wealthy actress by people who missed the point. When I see Jennifer Lawrence stand up and speak, I see 33 million women and children behind her back, standing up and needing her to open her mouth, Arquette said. And I feel so grateful that she did, and I really hope that we all can stand up with her and say this is not acceptable. Actress Jennifer Lawrence attends The Dinner For Equality co-hosted by Patricia Arquette and Marc Benioff on February 25, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images for Weinstein Carnegie Philanthropic Group) Filmmaker Kamala Lopez recently worked with Arquette on the film Equal Means Equal, a documentary about the treatment of women in the U.S. today. She says that people often look at different issues facing women individually but need to deal with sexism holistically. One of the things a Supreme Court justice [Scalia] said very clearly was, Look, the Constitution was written, and women were not included in it. It was deliberate. It was part of the culture of the time. But dont try to shoehorn the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment or Title IX or Title VII to actually grant women basic human and civil rights. And hes right, she said to Yahoo News. In 2009, Lopez was inspired to direct Equal Means Equal after doing research for her first film, A Single Woman, about Jeannette Rankin, the first American woman elected to Congress. Her new film brings together real-life stories and legal cases to make a compelling argument for passing the ERA. It comes down to all of us Americans standing up for what we know is right and who we are as a country and the basic values that we share, she said. And I have great faith that well be able to work together to make this happen. As of Saturday morning, the petition had garnered 48,323 signatures. Arquette and Equal Rights Advocates will decide when to deliver it to the recipients: the House, the Senate and governors across the nation. The petition can be found at change.org. Two new additions to the Pokemon franchise are on their way, and this time it's official -- "Pokemon Sun" and "Pokemon Moon" are getting a nine language treatment in time for the busy end-of-year season. Outed by a European trademark filing on February 25th, Nintendo the confirmed the pair of Pokemon releases with a February 26th announcement. There's a link back to the retro editions of 20-year-old "Pokemon Red" and its companions "Pokemon Blue" and "Pokemon Yellow," re-releasing as Nintendo 3DS downloads on February 27th. Pokemon caught in any of the three foundational games can then be transferred to newer games via the Pokebank, which operates on an annual subscription model. Nintendo announced the news during a special edition of its Nintendo Direct news videos, entitled Pokemon Direct. A new era, new world, new Pokemon, and new adventures were promised. In "Pokemon Sun" and "Pokemon Moon," traditional and Simplified Chinese will be offered as language options for the first time. Trailer: Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon Arrive in Late 2016! youtu.be/hmzDL1l3Fag Official website: pokemon.com/us/pokemon-video-games/pokemon-sun-and-pokemon-moon Let it be light between us,brothers and sisters from the Earth.Let it be love between all living beings on this Galaxy.Let it be peace between all various races and species.We love you infinitely. I am SaLuSa from Sirius Channel:Laura/Multidimensional Ocean , . . - . . . :Laura/Multidimensional Ocean Vatican City (AFP) - The first pope from Latin America met at the Vatican on Saturday with the new leader of his homeland Argentina which is struggling with huge debt, poverty and drugs trafficking. The meeting between Pope Francis and President Mauricio Macri marked a new stage in the often tense relations between Argentina and the Holy See, especially over social issues such as gay civil unions. "This was a meeting of old acquaintances," Macri told journalists afterwards, saying they discussed "problems like poverty and drugs trafficking". A statement issued by the Vatican also said the two talked about those issues along with human rights, peace and social justice, and the Church's contribution to Argentinian society, "especially to the younger generations". Francis was the former cardinal of Buenos Aires and he knew the centre-right Macri when he was mayor of the Argentinian capital from 2007 to 2015. His relations with Macri were rather tense, with the future pope seen as more left-leaning. Asked about the possibility of the pope visiting Argentina, Macri said that Francis didn't expect to come this year, but that he would visit "as soon as possible". Macri is also expected to meet during his visit to Italy President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi before returning to Argentina on Sunday. Since taking over in December from his leftist predecessor Cristina Kirchner, pro-business Macri has made it a priority to mend relations with foreign powers and investors, after a dispute erupted over debts dating dating back to Argentina's 2001 default. US President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Argentina in March. In a recent interview with AFP, Macri said the visit shows the country is returning to the international fold after years of tension. TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Saturday urged all factions to work together after initial election results showed the veteran powerbroker leading polls to become one of Tehran's delegates to the influential Assembly of Experts. "The competition is over and the phase of unity and cooperation has arrived," state news agency IRNA quoted him as saying. "The time after elections is the time for hard work to build the country". Rafsanjani's allies, including President Hassan Rouhani, also performed well in the Assembly of Experts vote in Tehran. The assembly is responsible for choosing the Islamic Republic's highest authority, the supreme leader. (Reporting by Samia Nakhoul; Writing by Sam Wilkin, Editing by William Maclean) By Emily Stephenson FORT WORTH, Texas (Reuters) - Republican candidate Donald Trump on Friday won the surprise endorsement of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, the most prominent mainstream Republican to get behind the former reality TV star's White House campaign. Christie said the billionaire front-runner has the best chance of beating Democrat Hillary Clinton in the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential election - although Clinton has yet to secure her party's nomination. The endorsement gives Trump a further lift before next week's Super Tuesday nominating contests. It comes just a day after he took a battering from his two main rivals at a televised Republican debate. Trump's unorthodox candidacy has stirred controversy and shaken the Republican Party at its roots, but an increasing number of senior Republicans are becoming resigned to the idea he will be their candidate in November. Trump is "rewriting the playbook," said Christie, 53, who until two weeks ago was himself a rival for the Republican nomination. Christie dropped out after failing to muster much support for his candidacy. Trump, 69, who has never held public office, has campaigned as a political outsider. He is riding a wave of voter anger at the slow economic recovery, illegal immigration and what he says is America's diminishing role in the world. "The best person to beat Hillary Clinton in November on that stage last night is undoubtedly Donald Trump," Christie told a news conference on Friday, a day after the last Republican candidates' debate before Super Tuesday. The debate marked a new, more aggressive approach for U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, 44, who has emerged as the Republican establishment's challenger to Trump. The other main challenger at the debate was U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. Trump has unsettled mainstream Republicans by winning three straight nominating contests - in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. Polls show he is likely to win big in key primaries on Tuesday. "Since I started this whole thing I've been practically Number 1," Trump said on Friday at a rally in Texas. The 11 Republican nominating contests on Tuesday have a total of almost 600 delegates at stake, and could set Trump up to clinch the presidential nomination. Reuters/Ipsos polling data on Friday showed Trump ahead nationally in the Republican race with support at 44.2 percent, followed by Cruz at 20.7 percent and Rubio in third place at 14 percent. On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Clinton is battling U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Clinton and Sanders have been in a dead head over the past week, the Reuters/Ipsos data shows. RUBIO ATTACKS Trump has vowed to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border to halt illegal immigration, called for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States and promised to take a tough stance on trade against China. He was combative at a rally on Friday. He mocked Rubio, referred to violent Islamist militants as "these animals" and promised to defend Americans' constitutional right to bear arms. "We're going to build up our military, we're going to knock out ISIS. We're going to knock out ISIS fast," he said, referring to the Islamic State militant group. Wielding a water bottle as a prop, Trump made fun of Rubio for an awkward incident in which the senator grabbed for a drink of water off camera during an important televised speech in 2013. Rubio and Cruz ganged up on Trump at Thursday's debate in Houston in a last-ditch bid to keep him from winning in states on Super Tuesday. Rubio on Friday again took aim at Trump. "Hes a con man whos taking advantage of people's fears and anxieties about the future, portraying himself as some sort of strong guy," Rubio told reporters in Oklahoma. "Hes not a strong guy. Hes never faced real adversity before." PredictWise, a research project that analyses opinion polls and betting markets, said Trump would comfortably win among Republicans in all but one of the 11 Super Tuesday states that it measured. Cruz, 45, is likely to win in his home state of Texas, PredictWise said. Rubio's home state of Florida is not part of the Super Tuesday contests. PredictIt, based out of Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, on Friday gave Trump a 73 percent chance of winning the nomination compared with a peak 75 percent chance two days earlier. Trump's swipes at rival candidates and heated exchanges with journalists and others have for months bolstered his standing in nominating contests and opinion polls. In a post on Twitter, Trump took aim at Rubio, a first-term senator, for his debate performance. "Lightweight Marco Rubio was working hard last night. The problem is, he is a choker, and once a choker, always a chocker (sic)! Mr. Meltdown." Republican strategist Doug Heye said Christie may have opened the door for more mainstream Republican endorsements of a man whose chances of winning the White House were seen as next to nil a year ago. If youre the Trump campaign this is obviously very good news and it gives permission for others to endorse. But it also makes it hard (for Trump) to make the outsider argument," he said. Glenn Hubbard, who had been an adviser to the campaign of former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and was chair of the Council of Economic Advisers during the George H.W. Bush administration, said he planned to keep up steady criticism of Trump on economic issues. "I think it is time for serious people to stand up and be counted. The next few weeks come very quickly," said Hubbard, who published a column in the Boston Globe on Friday criticizing Trump. Hubbard, now dean of the business school at Columbia University, told Reuters he worried Trump's comments already hurt the country's image abroad and would hobble his ability to govern if elected. (Additional reporting by Steve Holland, Clarece Polke, Howard Schneider and Susan Heavey in Washington and Melissa Fares and Chris Kahn in New York; Writing by Alistair Bell; Editing by Howard Goller and Leslie Adler) With t-minus 18 hours to go until the Oscars glam prep begins, Academy Award nominees Rooney, Mara, Cate Blanchett, Brie Larson and Rachel McAdams stepped out at the Indie Spirit Awards in their daytime best. The more casual show, which always precedes Hollywoods biggest night, is like a style pre-game for the nominees doing back-to-back carpet duty, and the the ladies certainly didnt disappoint. Read More: Jacob Tremblay Is a Mini Clark Kent at the Spirit Awards Mara arrived in a tea-length sleeveless dress which she paired with an edgy updo, strappy black sandals and minimalist silver rings. Her best supporting actress competition, Rachel McAdams, arrived in a contrasting, summer ensemble by Solace London with a reverse high-low skirt. The Spotlight star matched her lip color with her baby pink belt and opted for a half-up, half-down hairstyle. Oscars best actress nominees Blanchett and Larson also hit the blue carpet in summer-ready ensembles. Larson rocked a bright red lip which popped against her blue two-piece Chanel ensemble, while Blanchett kept it cool in an embroidered floor-length Gucci number whose foliage print definitely reminded us that spring is just around the corner. She topped off the ensemble with matching shades for Santa Monica-friendly look. LEADING LADY: Cate Blanchett in Gucci at the Independent Spirit Awards. (Photo: Getty Images) See More: Spirit Awards 2016: Red Carpet Photos Buenos Aires (AFP) - Paleontologists in Argentina have announced the discovery of a major Jurassic-era fossil site four years after it was first discovered. The site, which spans 23,000 square miles (60,000 square kilometers) in Patagonia, southern Argentina, came to light this week with the publication of a report in the journal Ameghiniana. "No other place in the world contains the same amount and diversity of Jurassic fossils," said geologist Juan Garcia Massini of the Regional Center for Scientific Research and Technology Transfer (CRILAR). The fossils -- between 140 and 160 million years old -- lie on the surface because they were recently exposed by erosion, said Garcia Massini, who leads the research team investigating the site. "You can see the landscape as it appeared in the Jurassic -- how thermal waters, lakes and streams as well as plants and other parts of the ecosystem were distributed," he said. The fossils were preserved almost immediately, in less than a day in some cases. "You can see how fungi, cyanobacteria and worms moved when they were alive," Garcia Massini said of the site that lies along the Deseado Massif mountain range. Ignacio Escapa of the Egidio Feruglio Paleontology Museum said the researchers had found "a wide range of micro and macro-organisms." The fossils are so well preserved, that researchers say each rock extracted from the site could possibly open the door to a new discovery. CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South African business leaders have urged President Jacob Zuma to urgently deal with a public spat between Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and the revenue service chief which has sapped investor confidence and hammered the rand currency. "We would appreciate if the president as a matter of urgency addresses this situation," Cas Coovadia, spokesman for a group of chief executives who have been interacting recently with Zuma and Gordhan on ways to grow the economy, told Reuters. (Reporting by Wendell Roelf; Writing by Ed Stoddard; Editing by James Macharia) JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's rand fell sharply against the dollar on Friday, breaching the psychologically crucial 16.00 mark for the first time in two weeks after the finance minister said an investigation into to him was aimed at damaging his credibility. By 1615 GMT the rand had weakened 3.6 percent to 16.1600 per dollar in volatile trade that set the currency on track for the biggest daily loss since 2011. The rand was by far the weakest performer in a basket of emerging market currencies measured against the greenback. Bonds also weakened sharply as yields spiked, with the benchmark 2026 issue adding 9.5 basis points to 9.42 percent, its weakest in more than 3 weeks. Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said he would take legal action to protect himself from what he called attempts to discredit him and the integrity of the Treasury. This is was after reports of a clash between Gordhan and the head of the state revenue agency, which reportedly led Gordhan to threaten to quit from the cabinet at the weekend. "It's definitely not a good thing for South African assets," said economist at NKC African Economics Bart Stemmet. South African stocks shrugged off the Treasury turmoil to follow global peers higher as G20 policymakers meeting in Shanghai sought to find common ground on how to reboot the global economy in the face of renewed financial risks. The benchmark Top-40 index shot up 2.61 percent to 43,857.79 while the broader All-share index added 2.18 percent to 49,429.40. Among gainers, petro chemicals group Sasol climbed 4.4 percent to 434.24 rand after Brent crude oil hit its highest level since early January as strong U.S. gasoline demand and supply disruptions outweighed concerns about a fundamental glut. (Reporting by Mfuneko Toyana and Ed Stoddard; Editing by James Macharia) This story first appeared in the March 4 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. Kumail Nanjiani, Silicon Valley star and noted X-Files podcaster, is not coming to his first awards hosting gig completely blind. The Pakistan-born star, 38, who will co-host the Feb. 27 Film Independent Spirit Awards with Saturday Night Live scene-stealer Kate McKinnon, is uniquely qualified having spent his early adolescence compulsively rewatching old Oscar telecasts. Ahead of his big debut, Nanjiani traced the roots of his awards-show affection and explains how he recently booked a gig on his favorite TV series of all time. So you're a fan of awards shows? I am. I love them. When I was a kid, I had a VHS tape of two years of Academy Awards [1988 and 1989]. I don't know why. It was almost psychotic. I remember Chevy Chase hosted one. Is there a movie called The Milagro Beanfield War? For some reason, I remember that was nominated. [It won for score in 1989.] I remember thinking that was a funny name for a movie. "The Milagro Beanfield War" is a great name for anything. I've never seen it. I have no idea why I kept watching them. My dad was a big Hollywood fan, and we had these VHS tapes lying around. Do you have a favorite Oscar host? I used to really like watching Billy Crystal. He's funny, obviously, but he can also sing and dance. He puts on a show. And I thought Hugh Jackman was great when he hosted. There's a sense of joy to both of them as hosts. I like watching people who give it their all and aren't snarky and ironic about it. It's funny, but it's also fun. Read More: Spirit Awards Noms Suggest Indie Community Is Uniting Behind 'Carol,' 'Spotlight' (Analysis) Your co-star T.J. Miller recently hosted the Critics' Choice Awards. Did he give you any advice? I did talk to T.J. about it, and he said, "It is the hardest thing you will ever do." So I'm terrified now. A little terrified. We're still shooting Silicon Valley, so the real terror hasn't set in yet. But there's going to be legends in that audience. Maybe Helen Mirren will be there. And I'll be making jokes. That's pretty intense. Story continues Is there anyone you're particularly excited to meet? I want to see everyone. Like Cate Blanchett? I'd love to meet Cate Blanchett. She's fing awesome. You know what? Now I am terrified. Have you and Kate McKinnon ever worked together? No. And I had never really thought about hosting an award show, but I am such a fan of Kate's. They called me up and asked if I'd co-host with her. We just did promos a week ago, and that was the first time we hung out. We talked a lot about The X-Files. She's as big a fan as I am. How do you figure out your comedy groove with someone you barely know? It's a different process with every single person. You aren't just figuring out how you're funny, but how you're funny with this person. Every partnership, you figure out what the dynamics are and how you're funny together. Read More: Berlin: Zoe Kazan Joins 'Silicon Valley's' Kumail Nanjiani in 'The Big Sick' (Exclusive) Have you talked about how you might address the controversy about the Oscars' lack of diversity? Fortunately, the Spirit Awards don't have that problem. I'll be interested to see how much the writers want to tackle it. Are there rivalries between award shows? I'm not sure if the Spirit Awards will be like,"Let's get our claws out and go after the Oscars," or if it will be, "No, no, don't mess with the big dog." It's a good conversation to have at this time. What I think is exciting about the Spirit Awards is that the protagonists of the nominated movies are across the board. Look at Tangerine; we haven't even seen a movie like that before. How did your recent appearance on The X-Files come about? I got this email from Darin [Morgan, a fan of Nanjiani's X-Files podcast], saying, "I'm writing an episode of the show. If I wrote you a part, would you want to do it?" Yeah. What the f are you talking about? It took three months to know if it was actually happening. I didn't tell anybody but my wife because I was worried it wouldn't go through. After I shot three days on it, I figured it would cost them way too much money to replace me, and I finally told people. Was it everything you hoped for? I was the bad guy. I was the murderer. I could not ask for a better experience. And at the end they gave me the actual X-File that Mulder gave Scully in the beginning of the episode. Just getting that would have been the highlight of my life. Nanjiani (right, on Silicon Valley with Martin Starr) says "I lost my shit" on the set of the recent X-Files event series. "I realized I'm not talking to David [Duchovny] and Gillian [Anderson]. I'm talking to Dana Scully and Fox Mulder." Damascus (AFP) - Guns fell silent across Syria on Saturday after a landmark UN-backed ceasefire came into effect, as a special task force led by rivals Moscow and Washington prepared to begin monitoring the fledgling truce. On the stroke of midnight, firing stopped in suburbs around the capital and the devastated northern city of Aleppo, AFP correspondents said, after a day of intense Russian air strikes on rebel bastions across the country. Monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was quiet in the north of Latakia province and in the central provinces of Homs and Hama. The nationwide cessation of hostilities is the first pause in five years of a civil war that has claimed more than 270,000 lives. "I can't hide the fact that I'm happy the war has stopped, even for a few minutes," 24-year-old regime soldier Abdel Rahman Issa said from a battlefield on the eastern outskirts of Damascus. "If it continues like this, maybe we can go home." United Nations envoy Staffan de Mistura said peace talks would resume on March 7 if the agreement holds and more aid is delivered -- a key sticking point in negotiations for a truce. Fighting appears to have "calmed down", he told reporters shortly after midnight, adding that a special task force would meet in Geneva on Saturday to monitor the ceasefire. Moscow and Washington, co-chairs of the task force which back opposing sides in Syria, have set up rival offices to monitor the truce along with a UN operation centre and would be first to deal with any infractions. have set up rival monitoring offices along with the UN operation centre, and would be first to deal with any infractions. "The important point... is if (any) incidents will be quickly brought under control and contained," de Mistura said, adding that "a military response should be... the last resort". Previous attempts to end the violence in Syria have failed and both Russia and the US have warned that stopping fighting on the ground will be difficult. Story continues - 'Some scepticism' - Analysts have also questioned whether the ceasefire can be effective on Syria's complex battlefields, as it does not include jihadists from the Islamic State group and Al-Nusra Front. Intermittent clashes between pro-regime forces and both groups continued after midnight, the Observatory said, as well as fighting between jihadists and Kurdish forces. Less than an hour before the ceasefire began, the UN Security Council gave its unanimous backing to the truce in a resolution drafted by the US and Russia. US Ambassador Samantha Power acknowledged there was "some scepticism" as to whether the ceasefire would last, but said it offered the "best chance to reduce the violence". A spokesman for Turkey's presidency expressed worries over the ceasefire "because of the continuing Russian air raids and ground attacks by forces of (President Bashar al-) Assad". Russia began air strikes in Syria in September saying it was targeting "terrorists", but critics have accused Moscow of hitting rebel forces in support of the regime. Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said the agreement could be "a turning point" in the war, even as Russian planes launched a wave of attacks on non-jihadist rebel areas. The Observatory reported Russian strikes Friday on rebel bastions including the Eastern Ghouta region outside Damascus, northern Homs province and the west of Aleppo province. The head of the Britain-based monitor, Rami Abdel Rahman, said at least 40 members of the regime forces were killed battling rebels in northern Latakia province. - 'No other way' - Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted Moscow would continue targeting "terrorist groups". "The decisive fight against them will, without doubt, be continued," he said in televised remarks. "There is no other way." Moscow backs Assad and Washington supports the opposition, but both have made a concerted push for the ceasefire to be respected. Speaking in Washington on Thursday, President Barack Obama put the onus firmly on the regime and Russia, saying the "world will be watching" whether they keep to the truce. US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Washington had received assurances from Moscow that it would not bomb the "moderate opposition" after the truce. "I don't know how to put it any better than saying: 'It's put up or shut up time,'" he told reporters. Iran, another key Assad ally, has said it is confident the regime will abide by the agreement. But rebel groups on the ground have been less optimistic, and Al-Nusra's chief Mohammad al-Jolani on Friday urged regime opponents to intensify their attacks. "Negotiations are the ones conducted on the battlefield," he said in an audio message. Syria's top opposition grouping, the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), said Friday that 97 opposition factions had agreed "to respect a temporary truce", but only for an initial two weeks. It said Damascus and its allies must not continue attacking rebel forces "under the pretext of fighting terrorism". By Tom Perry and Mariam Karouny BEIRUT (Reuters) - Guns mostly fell silent in Syria and Russian air raids stopped on Saturday, the first day of a cessation of hostilities that the United Nations has described as the best hope for peace in five years of civil war. Under the U.S.-Russian accord accepted by President Bashar al-Assad's government and many of his foes, fighting should cease so aid can reach civilians and talks can open to end a war that has killed more than 250,000 people and made 11 million homeless. Russia, which says it intends to continue strikes against areas held by Islamist fighters that are not covered by the truce, said it would suspend all flights over Syria for the first day to ensure no wrong targets were hit by mistake. The truce seemed largely to be holding, though rebels reported what they described as occasional government violations, and one commander warned that unchecked, the breaches could lead to the agreement's collapse. Jaish al-Nasr, a group affiliated to the Free Syrian Army (FSA) which has backed the truce, said government forces had fired mortars, rockets and machine guns in Hama province and that warplanes had been constantly present in the sky. "Compared to the previous days it is nothing, but we consider that they broke the truce," Mohamed Rasheed, head of the group's media office, told Reuters. Another FSA-affiliated group, Alwiyat Seif al Sham, said two of its fighters had been killed and four more wounded when government tanks shelled them in rural areas west of Damascus. A Syrian military source denied the army was violating the truce agreement. State media described rocket attacks near Damascus and several deadly attacks by Islamic State. But overall the level of violence was far reduced. "Let's pray that this works because frankly this is the best opportunity we can imagine the Syrian people has had for the last five years in order to see something better and hopefully something related to peace," U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said at a midnight news conference in Geneva. "I think that the feeling that we have today is that the situation is very different but of course every day has to be monitored," he said. The agreement is the first of its kind to be attempted in four years and, if it holds, would be the most successful truce of the war so far. De Mistura said he intends to restart peace talks on March 7, provided the halt in fighting largely holds. But there are weak spots in a fragile deal which has not been directly signed by the Syrian warring parties and is less binding than a formal ceasefire. Importantly, it does not cover powerful jihadist groups such as Islamic State and the Nusra Front, al Qaeda's branch in Syria. Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide car bomb in Hama province. Nusra has called for redoubled attacks. Moscow and Damascus say they will continue to fight them, and other rebels say they fear this stance may be used to justify attacks against them too. The truce is the culmination of new diplomatic efforts that reflect a battlefield dramatically changed since Russia joined the war in September with air strikes to prop up Assad. Moscow's intervention effectively destroyed the hope his enemies have maintained for five years -- encouraged by Arab and Western states -- to topple him by force. REPORTS OF VIOLENCE Like several other rebel figures contacted by Reuters, Fares Bayoush, head of the Fursan al-Haqq rebel group which fights under the FSA banner, said front lines were far quieter. But he added that violations were taking place and if continued could lead to the "collapse of the agreement". In early reports of violence, a Syrian rebel group in the northwest said three of its fighters had been killed while repelling an attack from government ground forces a few hours after the plan came into effect. Syria's state media said at least six people were killed and several wounded in two suicide bomb attacks east of Hama city, including the car bomb claimed by Islamic State. Three children were killed and 12 wounded in an unspecified Islamic State attack in Joura neighborhood in Deir al-Zor province. Fadi Ahmad, spokesman for the FSA First Coastal Division in Latakia province said government helicopters had dropped eight "barrel bombs" on the area in the early afternoon. Assad's opponents have long accused the government of using such bombs -- oil drums packed with explosives -- to cause indiscriminate damage in rebel-held areas, which Damascus denies. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, said government forces dropped five barrel bombs on the village on Najiya in Idlib province. The village is controlled by several groups including Nusra Front. Nusra Front fighters pulled out of residential areas in several towns they run in Idlib province on Saturday to avoid being blamed by local people for civilian casualties if the areas are bombed by Russia, residents and rebel sources said. The Syrian Kurdish YPG militia said Islamic State fighters had attacked Tel Abyad, a town near the Turkish border, prompting air strikes by the U.S.-led coalition to try to drive them back. Russia's Defence Ministry said it would suspend air strikes in a "green zone" -- defined as those parts of Syria held by groups that have accepted the cessation of hostilities -- and make no flights at all on Saturday. "Given the entry into force of the U.N. Security Council resolution that supports the Russian-American agreements on a ceasefire, and to avoid any possible mistakes when carrying out strikes, Russian military planes, including long-range aviation, are not carrying out any flights over Syrian territory on Feb. 27," the ministry said. Sergei Rudskoi, a lieutenant-general in the Russian air force, told a news briefing that Moscow had sent the United States a list of 6,111 fighters who had agreed to the ceasefire deal and 74 populated areas which should not be bombed. "THERE IS CALM" A rebel fighter said government forces briefly fired artillery at a village in Aleppo province, which he said was under the control of the Levant Front, another FSA group. But he said the frontline was quieter than before. "There is calm. Yesterday at this time there were fierce battles. It is certainly strange, but the people are almost certain that the regime will breach the truce on the grounds of hitting Nusra. There is the sound of helicopters from the early morning," he told Reuters earlier on Saturday. Fighting raged across much of western Syria right up until the cessation came into effect but there was calm in many parts of the country shortly after midnight, the Observatory said. "In Damascus and its countryside ... for the first time in years, calm prevails," Observatory director Rami Abdulrahman said. "In Latakia, calm, and at the Hmeimim air base there is no plane activity," he said, referring to the Latakia base where Russia's warplanes operate. After years in which any action by the United Nations Security Council was blocked by Moscow, Russia's intervention has opened a path for multilateral diplomacy while undermining the long-standing Western demand that Assad leave power. The Security Council unanimously demanded late on Friday that all parties to the conflict comply with terms of the plan. U.N.-backed peace talks, the first in two years and the first to include delegations from Damascus and the rebels, collapsed earlier this month before they began, with the rebels saying they could not negotiate while they were being bombed. The government, backed by Russian air strikes, has dramatically advanced in recent weeks, moving close to encircling Aleppo, Syria's biggest city before the war, and threatening to seal the Turkish border that has served as the main lifeline for rebel-held areas. (Reporting by John Davison, Mariam Karouny and Tom Perry in Beirut, Louis Charbonneau and Michelle Nichols at the United Nations in New York, Tom Miles and Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva and Andrew Osborn in Moscow; Writing by Peter Graff and Gareth Jones; Editing by Ralph Boulton) London (AFP) - Thousands of people joined a protest in central London Saturday against the renewal of Britain's nuclear weapons system Trident. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of Britain's main opposition Labour party, were set to address a rally following the march. A decision is expected to be taken later this year on replacing the ageing submarines which carry the Trident missiles at an estimated cost of 31 billion (39 billion euros, $43 billion). Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservative government is in favour, saying the system is vital to safeguard Britain's security. "Disarming now would be a reckless gamble with our national security that would play into the hands of our enemies," Defence minister Philip Dunne said ahead of the march. Labour is deeply divided on the issue between leftwingers like Corbyn, who want to scrap it, and some centrists who want to keep it. Britain currently has four submarines in its Trident fleet, at least one of which is on patrol somewhere in the oceans 24 hours a day. The government wants to replace those with four so-called Successor submarines, the first of which would enter service in the early 2030s. March organisers insist there is growing popular opposition to the Cold War-era weapons system, which is based at a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland. Ahead of the event, the chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament Kate Hudson said: "The extent of popular opposition is becoming clear. "This will not be a gathering of the anti-nuclear clan -- it will show the breadth of opposition." Scotland's ruling Scottish National Party (SNP), led by Sturgeon, wants to scrap nuclear weapons, meaning that any future vote in favour of Scottish independence would complicate the picture still further. TEHRAN (Reuters) - Early Iranian election results show senior reformist Mohammed Reza Aref leading the race for parliamentary seats among candidates in Tehran, the interior ministry said. A ministry statement said Aref "so far based on the counted votes is at the top of the list followed by five (other) reformists." Seventh on the list was a senior conservative, it said, according to votes tallied to date. Aref, a Stanford-educated former presidential candidate and minister, who served as vice-president to the former reformist President Mohammad Khatami, leads the reformist list in Friday's contest in Tehran, where more than 1,000 candidates are competing for just 30 seats in parliament. (Reporting by Samia Nakhoul, Editing by William Maclean) PARIS (Reuters) - A Paris court fined Total 750,000 euros ($825,000) on Friday for corrupting foreign officials, overturning an earlier acquittal over the French oil giant's role in the United Nations' Iraqi oil-for-food program. French prosecutors had appealed in 2013 after a lower court cleared the oil group and all other defendants accused of funneling proceeds from U.N-authorized oil sales to former president Saddam Hussein's government via intermediaries, in defiance of international sanctions. Under the 1996-2003 program, Iraq was allowed to sell oil in exchange for goods that met basic humanitarian needs, including food and medicines. But an independent inquiry, led by the former U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker, disclosed in 2005 that Baghdad had used the trades to solicit hidden surcharges from oil purchasers. Between 2000 and 2002, Hussein's regime collected $228 million in illicit payments from 2,200 companies in 60 countries, according to the report - part of an estimated $11 billion haul from sanctions-busting and kickbacks over more than a decade until the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. (Reporting by Gerard Bon; Writing by Laurence Frost; Editing by Ingrid Melander and Katharine Houreld) After risking his life to get out of Afghanistan, Jamshid is out of luck -- he arrived in Greece just as Balkan states further north shut their doors to Afghan nationals. Now he and hundreds of fellow Afghans face an uncertain future at the Greek camp of Schisto, waiting for a path to Europe that may never reopen. When we arrived at Macedonia border we got the news that Afghans cannot pass the border, only Syrian can pass the border. This is really a big discrimination," says the 24-year-old Kabul resident, who says he previously worked as an American army translator. "In Syria there is five years of war, in Afghanistan there is more than three decades of war. (The Islamic State jihadi group) exists in Syria, (it) exists in Afghanistan. Whats the difference between Afghans and Syria?" he wondered. Thousands of refugees and migrants have been stranded in Greece after Macedonia abruptly closed its border to Afghans last week and imposed stricter document controls on Syrians and Iraqis, slowing their passage to a trickle and rejecting those without valid passports. Skopje's move follows decisions by countries further up the migrant route to turn back groups of Afghans, after reports that many were actually Iranians or Pakistanis. Jamshid claims he was mistreated after being intercepted by Macedonian police. "Around 30 of us tried to cross the border. The Macedonian police caught us, beat us and put us on a truck." "They said they would leave us on the border with Serbia. But when we got there, we realised we were back at the border with Greece," he told AFP. Mohammad, a 22-year-old engineering student says Macedonia police were not even interested in looking at his papers. "They said 'where are you from', we said 'from Afghanistan' (and they said) 'go out of here'," he said. Another man said seven of his group disappeared near the Albanian border where they heard shots being fired. Story continues Austria has also clamped down with a daily cap on asylum-seekers and said it would only let 3,200 migrants pass through each day, sparking fears of a domino effect along the Balkan migrant trail. "It's not our vision to become the subsidised border guards of Europe, to become Europe's Lebanon or Jordan," Greece's deputy prime minister Yiannis Dragasakis said Friday. - Old army camp - An old army camp at the heart of an industrial storage area near the port of Piraeus, Schisto was recently refurbished by the Greek army to accommodate some 1,500 people. Army colonel Michalis Klouvas, who supervises operations, says the camp could eventually hold 4,000. "Out of 1,300 people here, a third are children," Klouvas said, adding that he would prefer "for the problem to be resolved soon so that people don't have to stay here long." The hastily-renovated camp houses hundreds of families in tents, with separate buildings acting as a first aid area, a mess hall, a place of prayer and shelter for unaccompanied minors. Children sit on the ground, playing with pebbles, and teenagers play volleyball and older men mill about aimlessly. Many are desperate to continue their journey northwards and do not wish to wait, even when told that Macedonia may not let them through. Further north, hundreds of migrants and refugees have walked out of similar camps in an effort to get to the border on foot. But others are too weak to even try. Outside one dormitory, a woman helps a man in his fifties who is sitting in a wheelchair, his feet wrapped in bandages, his head bowed low. Karim Mandi, has brought to the doctor his five-year-old son, whose ankles are in pain from walking. "My son cannot walk (but) the doctor has told us to wait because there is no more medicine," he says. By Mark Hosenball and Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Donald Trump is receiving foreign policy advice from a former U.S. military intelligence chief who wants the United States to work more closely with Russia to resolve global security issues, according to three sources. The sources, former foreign policy officials in past administrations, said retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, who was chief of the Defense Intelligence Agency under President Barack Obama from 2012-2014, has been informally advising Trump. Trump, who is leading the Republican race to be the party's presidential candidate in November's election, said earlier this month that he would soon release a list of his foreign policy advisers, but has yet to do so. The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment about Flynn. Flynn declined to comment when asked by Reuters whether he is advising Trump. Asked to describe his views about ties with Russia, he referred Reuters to his public statements. The question of who has been advising Trump on national security issues has become more pertinent as prospects that the New York real estate mogul will secure the Republican nomination, possibly within weeks, have increased. Trump won the surprise endorsement of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on Friday, the most prominent mainstream Republican to come on board. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who won popularity for his handling of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, has also been in regular contact with Trump, said a former top aide to Giuliani. A close associate of Flynn said that Trump was not the only presidential hopeful who had consulted the former DIA chief. "He responds to one and all but is not working for any one," the associate said. Trump has struck a notably different stance on Russia from his main rivals for the nomination, calling President Vladimir Putin "highly respected" and advocating a warming of now icy bilateral ties. Other Republican candidates have frequently taken to bashing Putin and have cited his military interventions in Ukraine and Syria as evidence that President Barack Obama has been weak in standing up to the Russian leader. Trump has vowed to destroy Islamic State and to undertake an aggressive rebuilding of the U.S. military, but has signalled more flexibility than his rivals on some issues - for example, by not vowing to tear up the Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran. SAT WITH PUTIN Flynn resigned from his position as the head of the Pentagon's main intelligence agency a year before his term was officially due to end. Flynn raised eyebrows among some U.S. foreign policy veterans when he was pictured sitting at the head table with Putin at a banquet in Moscow late last year celebrating Russia Today, an international broadcasting network funded by the Russian government. His son Michael G. Flynn, who acts as his chief of staff, declined comment on the banquet and on the reasons for his father's departure from the Pentagon. Flynn told Russia Today in an interview published on Dec. 10 that the United States and Russia should work together to resolve the Syrian civil war and defeat Islamic State. The Obama administration has protested Russia's military intervention on behalf of Syrian President Bashir al-Assad, accusing Moscow of hitting opposition forces rather than ISIS. "Right now we have essentially the U.S. strategy and we have a Russian strategy in the region that does not appear to be in line with each other. And I think we have to step back and try to figure out how do we align those," Flynn told Russia Today. Flynn was also quoted this month as telling German magazine Der Spiegel that the Iraq war launched in 2003 by then-President George W. Bush was a mistake that gave rise to Islamic State. Trump has often strongly condemned the Iraq invasion. A former U.S. intelligence official who worked with Flynn said the retired general believes in a more aggressive approach to U.S. interests around the world. Hes a sharp guy, he understands foreign policy and national security and really understands intelligence," said the official. "His positions and opinions are not always in line with popular thinking. Giuliani's office did not respond to a request for comment on his relationship with Trump. Randy Mastro, a New York lawyer who was a deputy mayor in Giuliani's New York City administration, said Giuliani has close ties to Trump. I know that Rudy and Donald Trump have a long-standing relationship and personal friendship that goes back many years, and they do speak to each other on a regular basis," said Mastro. (Editing by Stuart Grudgings and Martin Howell) By James Oliphant WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Republicans in Washington are coming to grips with what many of them not long ago considered an unimaginable reality: Donald Trump is likely to be their presidential nominee and standard-bearer. The prospect of Trump winning the Republican primary had been the stuff of Washington jokes, whispered hallway conversations and eye-rolls, even as he led in public opinion polls for months and dominated debate after debate. But with the brash billionaire now winning three straight contests in New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada, denial is giving way to a mostly gloomy acceptance that he may have too much momentum to be stopped, especially if wins big in key Southern primaries next week that look favorable to him. "It fills all of us with concern and dread, said Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, who has endorsed fellow Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, considered the main hope of the Republican establishment to derail Trumps march to the nomination. That march was given a boost on Friday when New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Republican presidential candidate who dropped out of the race after a dismal finish in New Hampshire, became the first major establishment Republican to endorse Trump. "There is no better fighter than Donald Trump," Christie said at a news conference with Trump in Texas. Trump has vowed to scrap U.S. trade deals, slap a tariff on imported goods and raise taxes on hedge-fund managers, as well as retain some sort of mandate to purchase health insurance - clashing with the free-market principles that have long underpinned Republican economic policy. Some Republicans in Congress, such as Flake and Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said a Trump nomination would do enormous damage to the party and predicted a heavy election defeat in November to the eventual Democratic nominee. "I am like on the team that bought a ticket on the Titanic after we saw the movie, said Graham, contending that Trump would be slaughtered in the general election. In a Republican presidential debate in Houston on Thursday night, another Trump rival, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, challenged him on his electability, citing ties to Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton such as a donation to the Clinton Foundation. Trump responded by ridiculing Cruz for his inability to win more than the early voting state of Iowa and taunted him for being behind the billionaire in opinion polls in Cruz's home state of Texas. Said Trump, "If I can't beat her, you're really gonna get killed, aren't you?" Another Rubio supporter, Representative Carlos Curbelo of Florida, told Reuters he would not back Trump if he were the nominee. If the nominee is a fraud, and someone whos offensive, and incapable of being an effective president like Donald Trump, I wont support him, Curbelo said. Other Republicans tried to be more optimistic. I dont think his nomination would be catastrophic, said Senator Susan Collins of Maine. She said she did not believe, as some strategists fear, that having Trump on the ballot in November would hurt Republican chances for holding onto control of the Senate, where the party currently has a 54-46 edge. Conservative economist Arthur Laffer, an adviser to former President Ronald Reagan who has been counseling Trump on tax policy, said he was convinced the real estate mogul was open to sound advice. Laffer recalled Trump telling him: "'Look, if you've got a better idea than I've got, tell me, and I'll change.'" Senator John Thune of South Dakota suggested Trumps presence could help by bringing more voters to the polls. Theres a lot of energy, a lot of intensity on our side, Thune said. "REALLY FREAKED OUT" Privately, lobbyists, economists, and analysts expressed deep concern about having Trump, who has proposed building a wall along the southern U.S. border and imposing a temporary ban on Muslims entering the country, as the face of the party. There are a lot of people who are really freaked out," said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, who was the chief economic policy advisor to 2008 Republican presidential candidate John McCain. "He seems to be winging it." Conservative policy-makers worry that Trump's pitch to voters is based on his management skills rather than conservative principles. Juleanna Glover, a prominent Republican communications consultant, told Reuters that Trump's ascent "spells the death of the party's sentient and cohesive governing framework." Two Republican business lobbyists, who also asked to remain unidentified, told Reuters that they are very concerned about Trump, chiefly because they do not know what he stands for. They said they have no sense of certainty because Trumps positions on issues such as tax, trade, and regulation range from being only vaguely understood to completely unknown. By vowing to make America "win" again abroad while going into little detail on his foreign policy plans, Trump is also stirring concern in Washington national security circles. A high-ranking official at a conservative think-tank, who spoke on condition of anonymity because his job requires him to steer clear of partisan politics, said: Every serious student of American strategy is sick to their stomach about the possibility of Trump being the Republican nominee." Robert Kagan, a conservative foreign relations expert at the Brookings Institution think tank, said in a column for the Washington Post on Thursday that he would vote for Clinton rather than Trump. "The party cannot be saved, but the country still can be, he wrote. Paul Ryan, the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and a leading voice on conservative economic policy, was asked Thursday whether he could work with someone like Trump if he became the nominee. Well cross these bridges when we get to it, Ryan said. But I do believe that we will be able to unify as a party." Asked about the hand-wringing in the Republican establishment about Trump, his campaign manger, Corey Lewandowski, said, "Look, weve got relationships with those guys and we talk to them all the time. "But I think what you find is that, you know, politics as usual in Washington, D.C., is not something that the American people want," he said. Lewandowski added that voters "sent a very clear message" in the three early voting states where Trump won nominating contests "that they want someone who is going to make fundamental change. Asked if Trump's campaign would work harder to win establishment endorsements as he got closer to the nomination, Lewandowski pointed to former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, an early establishment favorite who quit the race on Saturday. "If endorsements mattered," he said, "Jeb Bush would be the nominee." (Reporting by Susan Cornwell, Richard Cowan, Kevin Drawbaugh, Jason Lange, Arshad Mohammed, David Morgan, James Oliphant, Matt Spetalnick and Emily Stephenson; Writing by James Oliphant; Editing by Stuart Grudgings and Frances Kerry) PNG EXPOSED | Edited extracts Papua New Guineas Forestry Minister has defended the governments handling of the controversial Special Agricultural Business Lease system, saying there will be action to conclude the matter soon - Radio New Zealand WE HAVE been waiting two-and-a-half years for the government to cancel the unlawful Special Agriculture and Business leases and stop the illegal logging, but they are still making excuses and doing nothing. Latest to try and explain away the delays is Logging Minister, Douglas Tomuriesa [pictured]. He says 30 months is not a long time to take to implement the findings of the Commission of Inquiry and the government has not been dragging its heels. The Minister has the cheek to tell landowners and NGOs to be patient, while every day they watch more forests being felled and more illegal timber being exported. (This version of the story removes the reference to Navy in second paragraph to make clear Pacific Command is not a Navy component.) By Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States, which is worried by China's military buildup to assert dominance in the South China Sea, will increase freedom-of-navigation operations there, a senior Pentagon official said on Wednesday. "We will be doing them more, and we'll be doing them with greater complexity in the future and ... we'll fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows," Admiral Harry Harris, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, told a hearing of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee. "We must continue to operate in the South China Sea to demonstrate that water space and the air above it is international," Harris said. On Tuesday, Harris said in comments coinciding with a visit to Washington by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that China was "changing the operational landscape" in the South China Sea by deploying missiles and radar as part of an effort to militarily dominate East Asia. China says its military facilities in the South China Sea are "legal and appropriate," and on Tuesday, in an apparent reference to U.S. patrols, Wang said Beijing hoped not to see more close-up reconnaissance, or the dispatch of missile destroyers or strategic bombers. Wang met with U.S. national security adviser Susan Rice on Wednesday and they "candidly discussed" maritime issues, the White House said in a statement. Rice emphasized strong U.S. support for freedom of navigation and urged China to address regional concerns, the statement said. China's official Xinhua news agency said of the meeting that both countries believed all sides should work hard to maintain the peace and stability of the South China Sea. "The South China Sea issue should be resolved via dialogue and peaceful means," Xinhua added. Harris, asked what more could be done to deter militarization, said the United States could deploy more naval assets, although there were significant "fiscal, diplomatic and political hurdles" in the way of stationing a second aircraft carrier group in the region. "We could consider putting another (attack) submarine out there, we could put additional destroyers forward ...there are a lot of things we could do, short of putting a full carrier strike group in the Western Pacific," he said. China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion in global trade passes every year. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan have rival claims. Harris's comments came a day after he said China had deployed surface-to-air missiles on Woody Island in the South China Sea's Paracel chain and radars on Cuarteron Reef in the Spratly islands further to the south. On Tuesday, his command said China's repeated deployment of advanced fighter aircraft to Woody Island was part of a disturbing trend that was inconsistent with Beijing's commitment to avoid actions that could escalate disputes. Last month, a U.S. Navy destroyer carried out a patrol within 12 nautical miles of Triton Island in the Paracels, a move China called provocative. The United States has also conducted sea and air patrols near artificial islands China has built in the Spratlys, including by two B-52 strategic bombers in November. (Reporting by Idrees Ali; Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom, Clarece Polke and Eric Beech, and Ben Blanchard in BEIJING; Editing by Susan Heavey, James Dalgleish, Leslie Adler and Michael perry) By Emma Farge DAKAR (Reuters) - The United States has offered to send a special operations mission to Nigeria to help the West African country fight Islamist militant group Boko Haram, the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) said on Friday. African armies routed the militant group from much of its self-proclaimed caliphate in northeastern Nigeria last year. But its fighters have since regrouped and intensified their attacks in the Lake Chad Basin, threatening regional security, despite the creation of a 9,000-strong African multinational task force to counter it. "At the request of the Nigerian government, the SOCAFRICA (Special Operations Command Africa) component of USAFRICOM conducted a preliminary assessment regarding the feasibility of resuming a limited advise-and-assist mission alongside select Nigerian units," USAFRICOM said in a statement. The statement added that the proposals envisaged a "platoon-sized" team, typically meaning a group of between 12-30 troops. The proposals are pending approval from various government departments and military officials. The New York Times earlier reported that the advisers would be based in Maiduguri, a city in Nigeria's northeast that last month was targeted by Boko Haram suicide bombers. In recent months, the United States has been expanding its support for African governments as they fight a growing Islamist insurgency in North and West Africa. It is near a new security deal with Senegal, and has increased the number of elite special operations forces in Africa to about 1,200. Washington said in October it was sending 300 U.S. military personnel to Cameroon to operate surveillance drones. Cameroon's army said on Friday it killed 92 Boko Haram members during a military operation. A Nigerian presidential source confirmed that the United States had proposed additional military assistance against Boko Haram, without giving details. Boko Haram gained global notoriety for kidnapping more than 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria in 2014 and is thought to have killed over 15,000 people, making it the most lethal militant group in the world by some estimates. It pledged allegiance to ultra-hardline group ISIS in 2015, raising fears that the two may start collaborating more closely. "There is an urgent need to prevent Boko Haram from regenerating and possibly coming back more virulent, destructive, and globally connected than before," Jennifer Cooke, Africa Program Director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the House Foreign Affairs Committee this week. Its Chairman Ed Royce welcomed the proposals, adding that the U.S. "can provide the high-level guidance that is crucially missing in the fight against Boko Haram." (Additional reporting by Felix Onuah in Abuja and Warren Strobel in Washington; editing by Ralph Boulton) By Julie Steenhuysen CHICAGO (Reuters) - A study of nine pregnant women from the United States who traveled to countries where the Zika virus was circulating shows a greater-than-expected number of fetal infections and brain abnormalities, U.S. health officials said on Friday. Two of the women had miscarriages, two had abortions, two had apparently healthy children, and one child was born with severe microcephaly, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Doctors are still following the two remaining pregnancies, which so far appear to be progressing without complications, the CDC said. "We did not expect to see these brain abnormalities in this small case series of U.S. pregnant travelers," said Dr. Denise Jamieson, a birth defects expert serving on CDC's Zika Virus Response Team. She said it was "greater than we would have expected." Brazil is investigating thousands of cases of babies born with abnormally small heads thought to be linked with Zika, a mosquito-borne virus circulating in Latin America and the Caribbean. In the nine U.S. cases, Zika virus infection during pregnancy was associated with a range of outcomes, including early pregnancy losses, congenital microcephaly, and apparently healthy infants, the CDC said. Microcephaly is a birth defect associated with undersized heads and developmental problems. More information will be available in the future from a new CDC registry for U.S. pregnant women with confirmed Zika virus infection and their infants. An analysis of some cases showed the virus had crossed the placenta and affected the fetuses. In one, a woman traveled to a Zika-affected area when she was five weeks pregnant. Antibody testing confirmed a recent Zika infection. The mother miscarried at eight weeks, and an analysis of the fetus detected Zika virus. "Our lab identified Zika in the placental tissues. That is suggestive that Zika may have caused the miscarriage," CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden told reporters on a conference call. But he cautioned that 10 percent to 20 percent of all pregnancies end up in miscarriage, so it was not certain that Zika was to blame. In another case, a woman in her 30s had traveled to a Zika-affected area when she was about 12 weeks pregnant. Shortly after her return, she developed a fever, eye pain, body aches and a rash. Testing confirmed a recent Zika infection. The woman got a routine ultrasound at about 20 weeks gestation, and doctors noted that the fetus was missing its corpus callosum, tissue that connects both halves of the brain. It also had fluid in the brain and there was evidence the brain had shrunk in size. The Zika virus was detected in the amniotic fluid. The woman chose to abort the fetus. In another case, a woman who had lived in Brazil gave birth to an infant with severe microcephaly. The CDC did not release details on where the baby was born. In January, a CDC spokesman confirmed that a U.S. woman who had lived in Brazil gave birth to a microcephalic baby in Hawaii. "It's more evidence to me that this association is continuing to look stronger and stronger," said Dr. Richard Beigi, president of The Infectious Diseases Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology, who had seen the reports. "We want to be cautious because it's a small group of women, but from what I saw, it is suggestive that the effects look to be more severe in the early part of pregnancy," said Beigi, an obstetrician at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The CDC is also investigating another 10 cases of Zika infection in pregnant travelers. On Jan. 15, the CDC issued an advisory telling pregnant women to consider postponing travel to areas with active transmission of Zika virus. On the conference call, the CDC said it has developed a diagnostic test that it plans to distribute to U.S. public health laboratories to speed the diagnosis of Zika, which currently takes about a week. It is not yet clear that Zika virus actually causes microcephaly in babies, but experts say the evidence of a link is growing. Brazil has confirmed more than 580 cases of microcephaly, and considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. Brazil is investigating an additional 4,100 suspected cases of microcephaly. The CDC said it has deployed 25 staff to help with the investigation. That was in addition to the 50 CDC staff members in Brazil studying dengue, a related virus. (Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by David Gregorio) By Roberta Rampton ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (Reuters) - The White House said on Friday that more candidates could be added to its list of potential nominees to fill the Supreme Court vacancy caused by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. "We are still in a position where the list is not closed at this point," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters during a briefing. "There are still people being considered for inclusion on the list of people that the president may consider for filling a Supreme Court vacancy." The White House has not officially revealed its list of potential picks to replace Scalia. Earnest said he did not expect a nominee would be named before President Barack Obama meets with congressional leaders at the White House on Tuesday to discuss the matter. Scalia's death left the court with four conservative and four liberal justices, meaning that Obama's nominee could tip the balance of the court to the left for the first time in decades. Republicans, who control the Senate, have said the seat should remain vacant until Obama's successor takes office next January so voters could have a say in the selection when they choose a new president in the Nov. 8 election. But Obama has vowed to press ahead with nominating a justice. Earnest said the White House would seek the help of former administration officials to coordinate outside activist groups in the fight over filling the vacancy. The New York Times first reported on Friday that the administration was recruiting former Obama adviser Stephanie Cutter and former White House director of legislative affairs Katie Beirne Fallon to help in its campaign. "We are going to draw on their contacts, and on the work they're doing outside the administration to help us make the case, and organize the effort around the president's constitutional responsibility to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court," Earnest said. Kampala (AFP) - "In the past you could get away with imprisoning and killing everyone," said Ugandan lawyer and poet Kabumba Busingye. "Now it has become much more difficult to be a dictator." Under Idi Amin, 1970s Uganda was a rough dictatorship ruled with brutal buffoonery, but Yoweri Museveni, a former rebel who helped overthrow Amin and his successor to seize power in 1986, is a "sophisticated dictator in a suit" said Busingye. Museveni swept to his fifth election victory this month with 61 percent of the vote. Observers said the cards were heavily stacked against his opponents, as the 71-year-old's grip on his party and country -- and his access to state resources -- meant the result was never in any doubt. "In the past there was rule by decree, abolishing courts and parliament. Now you keep them, you have elections once in five years but you arrange the system to make sure that you always get your way," said Busingye. The cost of getting his may prove higher this time than in similarly disputed elections against the same main opponent, Kizza Besigye, in the past. Foreign donors are dismayed and, more importantly, a large chunk of the electorate feels disenfranchised and angry. In the days since the vote, armed police and soldiers have maintained an aggressive, highly visible presence on the capital's streets to keep a lid on things, while Besigye has been prevented from leaving his home by a succession of mob-handed arrests. "The issue of legitimacy is going to be a big one for the next government," said Livingstone Sewanyana, chairman of the Citizens Election Observers Network Uganda (CEON-U) which monitored the vote. "There is a general belief that the whole process was not transparent and the mood is that the results do not reflect the will of the people." - 'Good will exhausted' - While campaigning, Besigye addressed large rallies in his urban strongholds and in rural areas where Museveni finds his strongest support. Story continues The president resorted to "rented crowds" attracted by freebies and handouts, said Sewanyana, and could rely on the support of an Electoral Commission that is widely regarded as partisan. During three decades in charge, Museveni has melded state and party, bending institutions to his will, from the security forces to the judiciary. "Museveni controls all aspects of our life," said Sewanyana. Doing others' dirty work abroad has won him gratitude and a free pass. Uganda's army is the core of the US and European-backed fight against Islamic militants in Somalia and its soldiers are deployed in various UN peacekeeping missions. "Uganda is punching above its weight in the region in terms of security matters, and a number of players both in the region and outside would be keen to have continuity," said Busingye. "Museveni has very shrewdly worked this into his calculations." Government spokesman Shaban Bantariza said Museveni is simply showing himself to be the "regional leader" he is, a "brand" with support "right from the grassroots upwards". Even Museveni's critics offer grudging admiration. "He's not smart, he's extremely smart," said Busingye who compared Museveni to two other rebels-turned-rulers, Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe and Ethiopia's late leader, Meles Zenawi. But while Meles never lost his grip, opposition to Museveni is growing. "A dictator, whether it's the crude one like Amin, or the sophisticated one like Museveni, can only go as far as the people let him," Busingye said, adding it was "a question of when, not if" Ugandans will have had enough. Ladislaus Rwakafuzi, Besigye's much in demand lawyer, said that time might come soon. "Museveni has exhausted the good will he had from the people," he said. The White House has pressed Chinese President Xi Jinping to expand his non-militarization pledge to cover the entire South China Sea, despite Beijing's recent military activity in the area. Daniel Kritenbrink, senior director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council, spoke amid rising tensions between the two countries over China's deployment of surface-to-air missiles, radar gear, air strips and fighter jets on an islet there. During a state visit in September, Xi insisted that "China does not intend to pursue militarization" in the Spratly Island chain -- known as Nansha in Chinese. The islands are claimed in part or whole by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. "We think it would be good if that non-militarization pledge, if he (Xi) would extend that across the entire South China Sea," Kritenbrink told a forum at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "We're going to encourage our Chinese friends and other countries in the region to refrain from taking steps that raise tensions." China claims almost the whole of the area -- through which a third of the world's oil passes -- while several other littoral states have competing claims, as does Taiwan. "This is an incredibly important waterway through which much of international trade flows," Kritenbrink said. "We are concerned that China has taken a number of unilateral steps over the last several years that we think raise tensions in the region and are destabilizing." The Asian giant is using dredgers to turn reefs and low-lying features into larger land masses for runways and other military uses to bolster its claims of sovereignty. Earlier this week, US Pacific Command chief Admiral Harry Harris warned that China was changing the "operational landscape in the region." He has called for more flyovers and patrols. "Short of war with the United States, China will exercise de facto control of the South China Sea," Harris said. Story continues Kritenbrink also urged China to respect an international court's decision due later this year on Manila's dispute with Beijing over territorial claims in the South China Sea. Kritenbrink said he expected the upcoming ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration to be "extremely important" because it will mark the outcome of a process that allows countries to use peaceful legal means to pursue disputes. China does not recognize The Hague-based court's authority, but it has ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea at the center of the case. "When that ruling comes out, it will be binding on both parties," Kritenbrink said. "That will be an important moment that all of us in the region should focus on." (Reuters) - The four people killed by a Washington state man who later fatally shot himself were his wife, her two adopted sons and a neighbor, the Mason County Sheriff's Office said on Saturday, a day after the shooting in a rural home west of Seattle. The sheriff's office chief deputy said the gunman, David Wayne Campbell, 51, had "an extensive criminal history." "He was an evil man," Chief Deputy Ryan Spurling said. Campbell shot and killed himself in front of police after an hours-long standoff with a SWAT team after calling police to the property in Belfair, about 25 miles (40 km) west of Seattle, according to the sheriff's office and the coroner. Mason County Coroner Wes Stockwell, in a statement, identified three of the victims as Lana Carlson, 49, and two boys, ages 16 and 18. Carlson and the two boys were found dead in an out-building on the property, along with a fourth victim who has not yet been named but is believed to be a neighbor, the sheriff's office said. The lone survivor, a 12-year-old girl, escaped or was released by the gunman before he emerged from the house. Spurling said the sheriff's office was working to confirm that the girl was also an adopted child of Carlson's. Police arrived at the home after Campbell called a sheriff's sergeant on the officer's work cell phone to say that he "did something" and asked that authorities be sent to the residence. It was not explained how the suspect knew the sergeant's phone number, but Spurling said "the gunman did have a previous contact with the sergeant." The latest round of deadly U.S. gun violence came a day after a man near Wichita, Kansas, fatally shot three people and wounded 14 before being slain by police at a Kansas lawnmower factory where he worked. (Reporting by Victoria Cavaliere; Editing by Leslie Adler) Two British women who died at a waterfall in Vietnam are half-sisters Izzy Squire and Beth Anderson, say Sky sources. They were found dead with former Royal Navy sailor Christian Sloan at the Datanla waterfalls, near Dalat, in the country's central highlands. The three UK backpackers were swimming near the waterfall when they were swept over a 60ft precipice, say local reports. :: Friend 'Devastated' By Vietnam Tragedy Their bodies were recovered downstream and taken to Ho Chi Minh City, 100 miles south of Dalat. Vo Anh Tan, deputy director of the company which manages the tourist spot, said they were not with an official guide and did not use proper safety equipment. The guide - named by Vietnamese news website Tuoi Tre as 26-year-old Dang Van Sy - is being questioned by police. He reportedly told officers the three Britons were wearing life jackets when they were swept away by a strong current. He said he tried in vain to revive them. Le Viet Luc, director of a company that runs tours to the site, said: "They fell into the stream of this waterfall and died after being hit by violent waters." Ms Squire, 19, and Ms Anderson, 25, were from the Sheffield area, and had been in Vietnam for less than a month. A man travelling with Mr Sloan, 24, from Kent, said he is "devastated" by the accident. James McGlashan, who reportedly did not go on the waterfall trek because he was unwell, thanked friends and well-wishers for their support. "Thank you for all the messages flooding in, have just stopped in the ambulances for a toilet break so only have wifi for 10 minutes but will try and get back to everyone once I get to Ho Chi Minh City," he wrote on social media. "Thank you for all your support. Devastated RIP Sloan." Mr Sloan's family said his death is "a very sad loss to us" and he "lived for life". They added: "He was a very popular young man, formerly in the Royal Navy, who had many, many friends not just locally but around the world." Copyright notice Copyright 2009-2017 Luis de Sousa. All rights reserved. Any use of the contents of this blog constitutes full acceptance of all terms of its license. LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The artist Yoko Ono, the widow of the late former Beatle John Lennon, was admitted to a New York City hospital on Friday after complaining of severe flu-like symptoms, her West Coast-based spokesman said. Spokesman Elliot Mintz denied U.S. media reports that Ono, 83, had suffered a possible stroke or heart attack, and said he understood she would be released from the hospital on Saturday. Ono had called her doctor, who said her symptoms sounded like the flu, and advised her to go to the hospital as a precaution, Mintz said. He did not know if she admitted herself or was taken by ambulance. Her career as an artist has spanned more than five decades. Last year, the Museum of Modern Art in New York marked her achievements with an exhibition of her early works showing how her ideas influenced the development of art in the city in the 1960s. Ono, also an experimental musician and film-maker, was once described by Lennon as "the world's most famous unknown artist: everybody knows her name but nobody knows what she does." She and Lennon were married on March 20, 1969, and their son, Sean, was born in 1975. Lennon was shot to death on Dec. 8, 1980, outside the famed Dakota apartment building just west of New York's Central Park. (Reporting by Victoria Cavaliere in Los Angeles; Writing and additional reporting by Steve Gorman; Editing by Paul Tait) This blog is written solely by John Ray, who has a Ph.D. degree in psychology and 200+ papers published in the academic journals of the social sciences. It does occasionally comment on issues in psychology but is mainly aimed at giving a conservative psychologist's view on a broad range of topics. There are very few conservative psychologists.The blog originated in Australia and many (but not most) posts discuss Australian matters. Australians have an unusually good awareness of events outside their own country. Australian newspapers feature news from Britain and the USA not as an afterthought but as a major part of their coverage. So Australians do tend to have a truly Western heart, which is the reason behind the old name for this blog. So events in Australia, Britain and the USA all feature frequently here, plus occasional coverage of other places, particularly Israel.SCOTUS is the Supreme Court of the United States, the highest court in the landThe "GOP" stands for "Grand Old Party" and refers to the Republican party. The GOP is at present center/Right, while the Democrats have been undergoing a steady drift Leftwards and now have policies similar to mainstream European Leftist parties.The ideological identity of both parties has however been very fluid -- almost reversing itself over time. In the mid 19th century, the GOP was the party of big government and concern for minorities while the Democrats advertised themselves as "The party of the white man" -- an orientation that lasted into the mid 20th century in the South. The Democrats are still obsessed with race but have now flipped into support for discrimination AGAINST whites.Was Pope Urban VIII the first Warmist? Below we see him refusing to look through Galileo's telescope. People tend to refuse to consider evidence if what they might discover contradicts what they believe.Climate scientist Lennart Bengtsson said. The warming we have had the last 100 years is so small that if we didnt have meteorologists and climatologists to measure it we wouldnt have noticed it at all.The term "Fascism" is mostly used by the Left as a brainless term of abuse. But when they do make a serious attempt to define it, they produce very complex and elaborate definitions -- e.g. here and here . In fact, Fascism is simply extreme socialism plus nationalism. But great gyrations are needed to avoid mentioning the first part of that recipe, of course.Beatrice Webb, a founder of the London School of Economics and the Fabian Society, and married to a Labour MP, mused in 1922 on whether when English children were "dying from lack of milk", one should extend "the charitable impulse" to Russian and Chinese children who, if saved this year, might anyway die next. Besides, she continued, there was "the larger question of whether those races are desirable inhabitants" and "obviously" one wouldn't "spend one's available income" on "a Central African negro".Hugh Dalton, offered the Colonial Office during Attlee's 1945-51 Labour government, turned it down because "I had a horrid vision of pullulating, poverty stricken, diseased nigger communities, for whom one can do nothing in the short run and who, the more one tries to help them, are querulous and ungrateful."The book,, authored by T.W. Adorno et al. in 1950, has been massively popular among psychologists. It claims that a set of ideas that were popular in the "Progressive"-dominated America of the prewar era were "authoritarian". Leftist regimes always are authoritarian so that claim was not a big problem. What was quite amazing however is that Adorno et al. identified such ideas as "conservative". They were in fact simply popular ideas of the day but ones that had been most heavily promoted by the Left right up until the then-recent WWII. See here for details of prewar "Progressive" thinking.R.I.P. Augusto Pinochet. Pinochet deposed a law-defying Marxist President at the express and desperate invitation of the Chilean parliament. He pioneered the free-market reforms which Reagan and Thatcher later unleashed to world-changing effect. That he used far-Leftist methods to suppress far-Leftist violence is reasonable if not ideal. The Leftist view that they should have a monopoly of violence and that others should follow the law is a total absurdity which shows only that their hate overcomes their reasonFranklin Delano Roosevelt was a war criminal. Both British and American codebreakers had cracked the Japanese naval code so FDR knew what was coming at Pearl Harbor. But for his own political reasons he warned no-one there. So responsibility for the civilian and military deaths at Pearl Harbor lies with FDR as well as with the Japanese. The huge firepower available at Pearl Harbor, both aboard ship and on land, could have largely neutered the attack. Can you imagine 8 battleships and various lesser craft firing all their AA batteries as the Japanese came in? The Japanese naval airforce would have been annihilated and the war would have been over before it began. FDR prolonged the Depression . He certainly didn't cure it. WWII did NOT end the Great Depression . It just concealed it. It in fact made living standards worse Joe McCarthy was eventually proved right after the fall of the Soviet Union. To accuse anyone of McCarthyism is to accuse them of accuracy! The KKK was intimately associated with the Democratic party . They ATTACKED Republicans!People who mention differences in black vs. white IQ are these days almost universally howled down and subjected to the most extreme abuse. I am a psychometrician, however, so I feel obliged to defend the scientific truth of the matter:The average African adult has about the same IQ as an average white 11-year-old and African Americans (who are partly white in ancestry) average out at a mental age of 14. The American Psychological Association is generally Left-leaning but it is the world's most prestigious body of academic psychologists. And even they have had to concede that sort of gap (one SD) in black vs. white average IQ. 11-year olds can do a lot of things but they also have their limits and there are times when such limits need to be allowed for. America's uncivil war was caused by trade protectionism . The slavery issue was just camouflage, as Abraham Lincoln himself admitted . See also here Leftist psychologists have an amusingly simplistic conception of military organizations and military men. They seem to base it on occasions they have seen troops marching together on parade rather than any real knowledge of military men and the military life. They think that military men are "rigid" -- automatons who are unable to adjust to new challenges or think for themselves. What is incomprehensible to them is that being(to use the extreme Prussian term for following orders) actually requires great flexibility -- enough flexibility to put your own ideas and wishes aside and do something very difficult. Ask any soldier if all commands are easy to obey. First Citizens ends Moodys ratings relationship First Citizens fully repaid its USD International Bonds in the international capital markets, and as such, we no longer need a credit rating. We previously had two credit rating agencies covering First Citizens; S&P (Standard and Poors) and Moodys, (but) going forward we decided to retain one agency in case we need to access the capital markets in the future. Having considered both agencies, we decided to retain our S&P credit rating and coverage, and terminated the credit rating services provided by Moodys. The bonds were US $175 million in face value, and were fully repaid on February 9, 2016. Moodys, in a statement issued on Wednesday (Feb 24), said the ratings withdrawn include FCBLs long-term global local and foreign currency deposit ratings of Baa2, with a negative outlook, as well as the banks short-term global local and foreign currency deposit ratings of Prime-2 and Prime-3, respectively. It also withdrew FCBLs baa3 baseline credit assessment (BCA) and adjusted BCA, coupled with the banks Baa2(cr) / Prime-2(cr) counterpart risk assessments. In making this announcement, the credit ratings agency said it did so for its own business reasons, telling readers they could find out more about its policy for credit ratings withdrawals on its website www.moodys.com Moodys then stated that the withdrawal of FCBLs ratings follows the withdrawal of the senior unsecured debt rating of First Citizens (St. Lucia) Ltd on 9 February 2016, after the latter paid in full its global bonds. Responding to Newsdays question what it means to maintain ratings if the bank doesnt have a loan, Julien said, it means that the credit rating agency continues to cover, review and comment on the performance and strength of the First Citizens Group. He also said, First Citizens is well capitalized and has positioned its balance sheet to support our strategic agenda. Moodys meanwhile noted that the bank reported total consolidated assets of TT$ 37.5 billion (around USD5.9 billion) and shareholders equity of TT$ 6.3 billion (USD1 billion), as of September 2015. Man jailed for stealing $100 from jar Julian Toussaint, of Marabella, also stole a gold chain and a cellular phone together valued $4,500 from the house located in Marabella. Toussaint yesterday appeared in the San Fernando First Magistrates Court, before Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington, and pleaded guilty charged with house break-in and larceny. Court prosecutor Cleydon Seedan told the court that on January 9, PC Zafar Ali and other police officers while on mobile patrol in the Marabella district where they received a received a wireless transmission. The officers proceeded to Battoo Avenue, Marabella, and obtained a report from Richard Hamlet who lives at the address. The court heard that Hamlet reported that at about 3 am, he heard a voice and upon checking observed a man in his kitchen. The man jumped through a window on the southern side of the house and ran away. Hamlet discovered that a gold chain value $2,500 and a cellular phone value $2,000, missing. He further discovered that $100 that was secured in a jar on a counter in the kitchen, missing. Fingerprint expert, PC Goolcharan visited the scene and obtained several workable prints. Police subsequently obtained a warrant and arrested Toussaint. PC Ali of the Marabella Police Station laid the charge. Final witness to testify against man Yesterday, Bello reappeared on the charges before Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington, in the San Fernando First Court. Cpl Hugh Elbourne, formerly of the Marabella CID, took the witness stand and testified for less than 20 minutes . Cpl Elbourne, who laid the charges is now a member of the Inter- Agency Task Force . The Preliminary Inquiry started in December last and a total five prosecution witnesses including the complainant Cpl Elbourne took the witness stand for less than 20 minutes . The charges against Bello alleged that on August 22, 2009, at Old Train line, Marabella, he together with another man attempted to murder Fullerton by shooting him. It is further alleged that on the same date and place, the men maliciously set fire to Fullertons home and they had in their possession a firearm and ammunition . At the time of the alleged incident, Bello was 18 . KINDERGARTEN COPS Speaking in the House of Representatives, Parliament Chamber, International Waterfront Centre in Port-of-Spain, Minister Dillon indicated police will maintain a presence not only at secondary schools through the long-standing Community Policing Unit, but beyond. Officers will continue to visit and patrol not just secondary schools but pre-schools, primary schools and tertiary-level institutions throughout Trinidad and Tobago, the Minister said during Question Time. Honourable members can rest assured that the community policing officers and by extension the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, will continue to fulfil their obligations to communities and the population at large, by collaborating with educational organisations to improve relationships with youths in the community, Dillon said. He added that the mandate of the Community Policing Unit of each Division of the Police Service already requires officers to conduct patrols to schools in their district, a practice that has been done, is being done and will continue so to be. In addition to patrols, Community Policing officers also visit schools and engage students via lectures and discussions. The Community Policing Secretariat, under the ambit of the TT Police Service, is pursuing a comprehensive approach to Community Policing in 2016 and beyond, the Minister said. He said some of the key activities being undertaken by the divisional Community Policing Units, as laid out in the TT Police Service 2016 operational plan include: structuring and expanding the primary school support project to a targeted number of schools in each police geographical division; strengthening the school support system by assigning a police officer to each selected secondary school who will act as a liaison officer; and continuing the school intervention programme which includes an expansion of the anti-bullying campaign. The Minister was, however, unable to say, on average, how many visits are made. ACUTE STAFF SHORTAGE Also during Question Time, Minister of Education Anthony Garcia said there was a shortage of disciplinary deans at schools. There are not sufficient deans of discipline in secondary schools based on student populations, Garcia said. He said Cabinet, in September 1999, September 2004, and October 2008, agreed to the establishment of 577 Dean positions in secondary schools in Trinidad and 28 in Tobago. Only 42 secondary schools, he said, are adequately staffed, based on a ratio of one dean to 200 students. He said there are 245 vacancies existing in 83 secondary schools in Trinidad, and 13 vacancies in five of the nine secondary schools. He said advertisements for dean vacancies had recently been advertised and appointments by the Teaching Service Commission are envisaged by June. The Minister also said there are 260 guidance counsellors. One counselor is permanently assigned to each secondary school and one officer supports four primary schools on a weekly basis. A total of 134 social workers provide service at a ratio of one officer to five schools at both the primary and secondary levels. These officers visit schools once per fortnight on a regular basis; on referrals by schools; and can be accessed easily by telephone when the need arises. He 197 staff members provide for students with special needs. These disclosures came as Parliament yesterday considered a private motion, tabled by Tabaquite MP Dr Suruj Rambachan, on the impact of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in schools. Rambachan said he had ADHD and called for an examination of how violence in schools may have deeper causes. On a daily basis there are children falling through the cracks because they have ADHD and teachers have not been trained... to manage a child who has ADHD in their classroom, the Tabaquite MP said. A lot of children are ending up on the wrong side of the law because their condition is not appreciated. He further stated, I dont believe in corporal punishment in school, I believe in strict discipli 5,329 students suspended in 1 year The meeting was held at the Office of the Parliament, International Waterfront Centre, Port-of-Spain. During the meeting, Seecharan told members of the committee that the increase was related to the Ministry of Educations policy of zero tolerance on deviant behaviour in schools. Seecharan was responding to a question posed by Cumuto/ Manzanilla MP Christine Newallo-Hosein, on whether there has been an increase in violence in schools. Seecharan explained that the suspension of a student was a well-defined process. A student can be suspended by the Principal for a maximum of seven days, if it is serious enough, the principal can request an extended suspension, and the minister will normally grant that. If it is within the seven days, student support services engage the parents in providing counselling, in trying to introduce whatever corrective action. In the case of extended suspension there is also a defined process where there is a conference between the parent and teachers, he said. Newallo-Hosein asked Seecharan whether there was something in the Education Act that does not allow expulsions. Seecharan said, the Act allowed expulsions, and the Minister has the authority to expel students, but that has not been done in the last ten years. I think it comes back to the philosophy that we can rehabilitate students, even if students are suspended, or they go on extended suspension, we still try to work within the system to try and rehabilitate those students, he said. Asked by Government senator Nadine Stewart about the prevalence of male on male violence, female on female and male on female violence, Seecharan said according to their data, male on male violence was more prevalent. In response to a question by Government senator Hafeez Ali on the number of guidance counsellors at schools, manager of the Student Support Services, Dr Kathy Bharrathsingh said there were 151 guidance officers with 13 vacancies, and 98 guidance counsellors with 11 vacancies. 3 teens behind schoolboys murder On Thursday night, a party of officers led by Ag Inspector Vetus Hernandez and including detective Sgt Rennie Katwaroo and others searched several houses, where the three suspects were last said to be living, but no arrest was made . Lawmen said a recording of a conversation schoolboy Hall had with associates from a criminal gang he was in, played a critical role in the identification of the three teenaged killers . A 16-year-old boy handed over the voice mail recording to police . Hall was killed for his involvement in the fire-bombing of a car in Tunapuna last weekend . Singh was killed to leave no eyewitness to Halls murder . Both were shot multiple times . Police believe that after Hall took off his Aranjuez North Secondary school uniform, he put on the uniform of a fullfledged gangster who was involved in gun running . A revolver, found stuck in the pants waist of Hall as he lay dead on the ground, was sent to the Forensic Science Centre for ballistic tests and fingerprint tests . Singh was a student of Trinity East College . The two were gunned down at about 4.40 pm on Tuesday while walking towards a bushy area off St Johns Road . 1,544 retrenched since Sept During Question Time, the Labour Minister said 846 workers had been retrenched or terminated in the private sector, but this figure did not include the recent dismissal of 200 Centrin workers, and the situation involving 498 Arcelor-Mittal employees. Though she was asked by Couva South MP, Rudy Indarsingh, to also state losses in the public sector, the Minister indicated her figures did not include the public sector as, that investigation is underway, and that information was being collated for the purpose of a question which has been filed by an Opposition member. The Minister said the 846 workers identified under the reporting requirements of labour laws related to 27 companies. She noted, however, that because the law does not require the reporting of any retrenchment which involves less than five workers, it is possible the number could be higher. She called on companies to minimise retrenchment. Our concern is that retrenchment does not become the norm, the Minister told Parliament. She gave a breakdown of the retrenchment figure as follows: Alston Building Enterprises Limited (6); Anthony P Scott Company Limited (25); BPTT (7); Brick Force Limited (28); Bristow Caribbean Limited (13); Columbus Communications Limited (19); Construtora OAS (317); Crown Packaging Trinidad and Tobago Limited (16); Fair Chance Racing Service 2006 (39); Goodwood Racing Service (15); Caterserve Limited (14); Kenson Operational Services Limited (12); Metal Designs and Concept Limited - Mdcum (6); Methanex Trinidad Limited (5); One Caribbean Media (OCM) Group Executive Corporate Services (42); RBC Royal Bank Trinidad and Tobago Limited (95); Regency Recruitment and Resources for Repsol (15); Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago (35); Superior Energy Services Trinidad Limited (10); Tissues Limited (10); Trinity Exploration and Production Services Limited (48); Trinsulate 2 Caribbean Limited (12); University of the Southern Caribbean (37) and Weatherford Trinidad Limited (17) Mom of acid attack victim: What will suspect tell God? Rachael Chadee was slashed across her face, doused by acid and forced to drink acid by a man who invaded her La Romaine home last Monday. Up to yesterday, the suspect remained at large. Chadee is a mother of three. Speaking to Newsday yesterday, her mother Doris Chadee appealed to anyone with knowledge of the whereabouts of the person who viciously attacked her daughter to contact the police immediately. I have three girl children here with me who are very scared - we have no one to protect us - this man must be found and found quickly because he threatened after Rachael was the three girls and me, Chadee said. It is believed that persons closely associated with Bissoo in the south western division have been hiding him since warrants have been issued for his arrest for possession of cocaine. His photograph has appeared several times on the Wanted segment of TV6s crime programme Beyond the Tape. They always hiding him and continue to do just that even now that he has committed another serious crime, she said. I wonder what that man will tell God at the end of his life, Chadee asked. Anyone with information can contact San Fernando CID at 652-2564 or any police station. OAS workers protest for wages Jameel Thomas, a firm employee and an Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) shop Stewart, lamented the plight of hundreds of unpaid workers who are allegedly getting a runaround from the company, which itself is worryingly viewed by the union as now apparently abandoning several work-sites . Workers worries about late pay were worsened not only by long-standing concerns that the former Peoples Partnership (PP) government had dubiously funded the highway from its current account rather than by an approved loan, but also by recent reports of a new, local contractor (Junior Sammy) now setting up shop in place of Construtora OAS. He alleged that worryingly Construtora OAS has shut its Maraval office . Thomas said Construtora OAS has had meetings with the union and had issued statements, but he saw these all as just an attempt to mollify union concerns but without providing real answers to concerns . Amid all the uncertainty and the companys alleged lack of engagement with the union, Thomas wanted someone to step in to give workers reassurance . He told Newsday he hoped to meet Minister of Works and Transport, Fitzgerald Hinds (whose office he had just importuned) and/or Labour Minister, Jennifer Baptiste-Primus . Thomas said that even as workers endured the delays in getting paid, they were suffering by not being able to pay their daily bills, such as household expenses, their childrens education and loan payments . The protestors told Newsday they intended to take their placards and chants to outside of the Parliament that sat yesterday . Is Construtora OAS due to complete the highway, or will they be replaced, Thomas asked? He said Hinds had said the highway construction will be continued but has not said by whom. We are seeing sites being de-mobilised by Construtora, and sites being mobilised by Junior Sammy and Calco. Among those workers owed monies, were some unpaid since October. Hospital is a construction site Saying the hospitals construction is scheduled for completion by the end of March, the Prime Minister said, To the best of my knowledge we are still in February. On the general maintenance of this facility, the Prime Minister said, Udecott will ensure that the facility is properly secured and maintained. Explaining that the one year defect liability period begins in April, once construction is completed in March, Rowley said Udecott will do what it can to ensure the protection of any sensitive medical equipment placed on site under the PP. However the PM said if Government is unable to do that and any such equipment is damaged, those who did that will be held personally responsible. On the opening, he reiterated that staffing remains a major concern and, if we draw the requisite staff from other hospitals, there is a risk of deteriorating service at these hospitals. Rowley: Murder rate unacceptable Rowley did not agree with Charles predictions about the murder rate, but said, the trajectory is unacceptable and urgent action is needed here. The Prime Minister did not reveal any details about any specific anti-crime measures which Government was looking at. Up to press time last night, the murder toll in this country stood at 79, with four murders - including the killing of two schoolboys - being committed within the past week. At Thursdays post-Cabinet news conference, Communications Minister Maxie Cuffie said it was too early to say whether the re-introduction of joint army police patrols has been successful, or not in reducing crime. Cuffie said National Security Minister Edmund Dillon has been looking at the patrols, and will make adjustments if necessary PM: Projects failed under PP In giving this assurance, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said Government will not go the route of its Peoples Partnership (PP) predecessor and announce projects which subsequently, failed to materialise. Responding to a question from Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar about any FDI which the country was able to attract since last September, Rowley said the normal (revenue) streams the country is accustomed to in the energy sector remain on track. He added, Investments are being made with respect to exploration and other kinds of investment. However the Prime Minister said, We are not prepared to announce investments vikey vie (all how) about projects which failed to materialise. Saying a number of those projects happened under the PP, Rowley cited the Sabic and Carisal projects as two examples. He said once such investments have been confirmed, the population will be advised accordingly. Responding to a question from Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh, the Prime Minister identified the elimination of corruption, waste and mismanagement as one measure which the ruling Peoples National Movement (PNM) has taken since last September, which has had a positive economic impact on TT. Rowley said this began with the reduction in the size of the Cabinet, and reducing opportunities for corruption to take place. PHOENIX- Millennials make up more than half of the workforce and are making dramatic changes to the work environment, according to millennials and a national expert. It is not the workplace that employed their parents, said one Phoenix area employee. Joy Chin said the teamwork and collaboration in her office attracts younger workers. Shannon Schuyler, a corporate responsibility officer for PricewaterhouseCooper, said Millennials get a bad rap as being lazy, idealistic, and poor communicators. Schuyler spoke about Millennials, born during the early 1980s to the early 2000s, at the GreenBiz conference in Scottsdale. The national sustainability conference is aimed at business executives. People have to embrace the tremendous value that this generation brings, Schuyler said. The Millennial generation fails fast and tries something new. According to a study by Upwork, Millennials have high expectations for job growth, seek alternative work styles and desire flexibility and control at work. That runs counter to several myths about Millennials. Myth: Twenty-somethings are lazy and not willing to put in the time necessary to get ahead in their careers. Reality: In the changing workplace, the Millennial generation may not prefer the traditional 9 to 5 shift, but that does not mean that theyre not willing to work hard, said Sahil Saini of Phoenix. The 29-year-old owner of Akos Web Marketing said that he is constantly on call for his clients and employees despite his nontraditional work environment. Saini wakes up every morning at 5 and spends the first three hours of his day researching new trends in technology and entrepreneurship to stay relevant, he said. His office hours are spent at a coworking office where he can collaborate with other business owners. Nontraditional work hours are characteristic of the Millennial generation because they want to work hard and they do work hard. They want to be flexible with when and where that work happens, Schuyler said. This generation really wants to own their time and be treated like the professional they are, she said. Millennials prefer to cater this free time to their individual interests, she said, and more flexible work shifts are part of their demand. Having the flexibility that one person wants time to be able to spend with family and another person wants time because theyre an expert skier, Schuyler said. Myth: Millennials are a technological generation that prefers to interact online or by text rather than in person. Reality: Millennials prefer alternative work spaces that encourage collaboration between employees and supervisors, Schuyler said. Joy Chin, 22, works in a place quite different than the head down work environment of cubicles, she said. She likes that everyone in her office, from sales managers to lower-level recruiters at Insight Global in Scottsdale has the same size desk with low walls. This creates an environment for creativity and communication, Chin said. Chins boss doesnt have a office, she said. He just sits in the center of our entire office. Its also easier to interact with supervisors. Millennials prefer to get feedback regularly and in person, more so than other generations, Schuyler said. Building relationships with direct supervisors and having in-person conversations about their careers are important. That personal connection has become so much more important to Millennials, Schuyler said. Myth: Millennials are one uniform group that wants to help change the world. Reality: Millennials fit into different categories, Schuyler said. Millennials who are leaving college and entering the workforce fall into the transitioning category. They are more concerned about finding a job than changing the world. After the first year and beyond, Millennials begin to question whether their work is really meaningful. In the past people were okay with being a cog and being part of that overall machine, said Schuyler. The Millennials want to ask why. A companys purpose is important to Millennials as they move forward in their careers because they were raised to be concerned about their communities and the environment, Schuyler said. Im at a point where I want to do good in the world, said Alex Figueroa, a social worker at Family Service Agency in Phoenix. The 21-year-old said that happiness and fulfillment are important to her since this will be what she is doing for the rest of her life. Rowley late for Q&A Madam Speaker, in accordance with the Standing Orders, Prime Ministers Questions is at the second sitting of every month. This is the second sitting. Nothing ought to take priority over that. The Prime Minister, notwithstanding his other obligations, has a Parliamentary obligation to answer questions in accordance with the Standing Orders every month. Singh continued, I dont have the funeral agenda nor the wedding agenda of the Prime Minister but what I can say is that the Standing Orders provide for Prime Ministers Questions at a particular time. It was deferred without debate and we agreed to that. But now we are ready to ask the Prime Minister Questions . Speaker Bridgid Annisette- George said, Honorable Member for Chaguanas West, it is quite evidence that the person of the Prime Minister is not present and therefore I would determine at this stage that that matter be deferred further until the Prime Minister reaches. I think it is an important part of todays sitting and the Prime Minister, based on what has been said, is prepared to come and face the questions. This is a shame, a scandal! said Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal. Prime Ministers Questions normally lasts half and hour and not much notice is required for the questions. They are normally circulated at the start of the sitting. Rowley appeared in the chamber by about 4pm and the Prime Ministers Questions were then asked. He made no comment on the deferrals. Last rites for PNMite Winston Moore Rowley exchanged greetings and a handshake with Manning before taking his seat next to Senate President Christine Kangaloo. Also in attendance was San Fernando Mayor Kazim Hosein; deputy Mayor Junia Regrello and former PNM parliamentarians Fitzgerald Jeffery and Diane Seukeran, as well as former UNC Labour Minister Errol McLeod. Moore was also remembered as faithfully attending Mass at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church and even brining his mother, Laura, 101, to services as well. The congregation was informed that his brother, Carl Horace Moore, was unable to attend the funeral as he was presently warded at a Canadian hospital. Delivering the eulogy was two of his children, Nicole and Gary, who described their father as someone whom loved his country. Manning remembered Moore as a wordsmith Dude who had made significant contributions to both the development of the party and the country. In a Facebook post, Manning remembered Moore, as a language specialist, who delivered excellent speeches and whose skill was honed perhaps from his time growing up in the United Kingdom. He was very English-centric in his speech and dress. He was what you would call a clothes horse; a dude! Steve Moore came to San Fernando East and became a part of the family. As I reflect on the life and legacy of ambassador Winston Steve Moore, I cannot help but smile at the man and at the way in which his entry into the Peoples National Movement through San Fernando East Constituency, helped to advance the constituency as an effective and focused serving community and eventually the PNM, to national prominence once again after a crushing defeat in 1986, stated the post on Mannings Facebook page. He will be greatly missed and to his family, friends and the San Fernando East constituency, I extend heartfelt condolences on behalf of my wife Hazel, my family and I. May he rest in peace, having given his best to the constituency and indeed to this country, the post added. Maxie hails Helens tenure Describing Drayton as, a fountain of ideas and energy, when she chaired CNMG and Government Information Services Limited (GISL), Cuffie said, I would first like to thank Mrs Drayton whom I have worked with over the last five months for the really hard work she put in to CNMG and GISL. The Minister added, Although she had indicated her desire to resign before, I was only told on Tuesday and we are actively engaging in getting new members to fill her shoes. On claims from some CNMG personnel that they were unaware of Draytons intention to resign until it was reported in the media, Cuffie said he was aware that CNMG deputy chairman Timothy Alfonso apprised staff of Draytons resignation on Wednesday . He indicated that GISL board members did the same with their staff. Responding to claims that some GISL employees had not been paid salaries, Cuffie replied, Those issues have now been resolved. Saying he was aware of current difficulties being experienced by WIN TV, Cuffie said Government is not intervening in that matter. I know they have been in discussions with various officials, he stated. Asked if these were government officials, Cuffie replied, No. Not really. When asked if the officials belonged to the Telecommunication Authority, Cuffie replied, Perhaps. Asher Potts was finishing a stellar high school run. He was in the National Honor Society and was a member of his schools ROTC and had, at least at one point, achieved a 4.16 grade-point average, Pennsylvania state Rep. Patty Kim once noted in a tweet. He was the perfect role model, someone you would want your son to look up to, Marcel McCaskill, who knew Potts through a math and science program, told the Associated Press Potts was on track to graduate from Harrisburgs John Harris High School this spring. But it all came crashing down this week. Eighteen-year-old Asher Potts, it turns out, was actually 23-year-old Artur Samarin, a Ukrainian national. He was arrested on Tuesday on charges of identity theft, tampering with public records and theft by unlawful taking. Harrisburg Bureau of Police Capt. Gabriel Olivera said authorities would confirm little beyond the most basic facts of Samarins case at least until an official inquiry is finished, which may happen as soon as Friday. Were still finishing up some of the things regarding our investigation, Olivera said Thursday. A doctor, a politician, an ROTC overachiever. Lately, it seems like a number of teenagers are not who they claim to be. (Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post) Samarin overstayed his visa and then obtained a Social Security card and other U.S. documents using his false identity, according to police. He enrolled in high school in the fall of 2012. When he was arrested on Tuesday, Samarin was carrying a drivers license with Pottss name. Police first received a tip about Samarin about two months ago, Sgt. Terry Wealand told the Associated Press. He lived with friends and police are investigating whether he had help in faking his identity. I would think there would have to be someone who knew, Wealand said. And if there is, they are going to pay, too. Asher Potts was listed as a panelist at a January event on guns, drugs and violence, hosted by the school in collaboration with the citys mayor and chief of police. He was also featured prominently in a 2014 Lebanon Daily News story about food bank volunteers. In it, Potts identified as a 17-year-old John Harris High student explained how he got involved: My parents and I were at Walmart, and when we were in the check-out line, the lady in front of us couldnt pay for her food and had to put it back, Potts said. Curious, Potts asked his parents why she had to put back the items, and they told him she couldnt afford the food. Potts then asked his parents if they could afford food and they told him yes. Thats when a lightbulb went on and I knew I needed to help the less fortunate, he said. McCaskill told the AP that he was shocked to hear that Asher Potts, whom hed met during a seven-week math and science program, was actually Artur Samarin. Its totally mind-blowing to me, said McCaskill, a student in his first year at Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia. Honestly, he was a very respectable guy. He was the perfect role model, someone you would want your son to look up to. What you need to know about the Octagon Art Festival on Sunday in Ames news Indian Penal Code requires a thorough revision to meet the changing needs of the twenty-first century, says President Kerala, Sat, 27 Feb 2016 NI Wire The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the Valedictory Function of 155th Anniversary of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860 organized by the Directorate of Prosecution, Kerala (February 26, 2016) at Kochi, Kerala. Speaking on the occasion, the President said there is no doubt that the IPC as a premier code for criminal law is a model piece of legislation. Nevertheless, it requires a thorough revision to meet the changing needs of the twenty-first century. The IPC has undergone very few changes in the last one hundred fifty-five years. Very few crimes have been added to the initial list of crimes and declared punishable. Even now, there are offences in the Code which were enacted by the British to meet their colonial needs. Yet, there are many new offences which have to be properly defined and incorporated in the Code. The President said security of citizens and of property is an essential function of a State. It is achieved through the instrumentality of criminal law. The mandate of criminal law is to punish criminals and prevent recurrence of crime. Criminal Law has to be necessarily sensitive to changes in social structure and social philosophy. It has to be a reflection of contemporary social consciousness and a faithful mirror of a civilization underlining the fundamental values on which it rests. The President said the Rule of Law is the cardinal principle on which a modern state rests. It has to be upheld at all times. It is incumbent on the law enforcing agencies, particularly the police force, to fulfill its foremost duty of maintaining law and order sincerely and with dedication. The image of the police depends on its actions, in ensuring prompt, equitable and fair enforcement of laws. The police in our country must go beyond its role of being a law enforcing body. It has to also be a proactive partner in growth and development. The founding fathers of our Constitution had conceived inclusiveness, tolerance, self-restraint, honesty, discipline, respect and protection of women, senior citizens and weaker sections as essential ingredients of our democracy. Our police force must incorporate these features in its functioning. The President said public prosecutors also play a crucial role in upholding the Rule of Law. They play a key role in instilling and strengthening public confidence in the criminal justice system. Prosecutors are obligated to ensure that the accused receive a fair trial while looking after the interests of the victims. It is therefore essential to equip public prosecutors with tools and knowledge to enable them to effectively respond to various forms of crimes. He called upon the public prosecutors to play a more strategic and pro-active role in formulating crime control policies. He stated that their efforts must be directed at ensuring the prevalence of a fair, transparent and efficient criminal justice system in the country. Source: PIB Government of Bihar must give debt to the farmers without interest - Shri Radha Mohan Singh Patna, Sat, 27 Feb 2016 NI Wire State Government is supposed to allot piece of land so as to establish Cooperative Management Institute of national level in Eastern Champaran The cooperatives in Bihar enjoyed financial help of Rs. 265 crore through NABARD Government of Bihar should work by preparing blueprint for Government schemes Union Agriculture Minister Shri Radha Mohan Singh today in Patna said that Central Government has started a number of schemes for the welfare of farmers and agricultural sector. The Government of Bihar should avail this scheme. It may be Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme or Pradhanmantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana All of these schemes will pave the way of growth for the agricultural sector as well as farmers. Mr. Radha Mohan Singh said that Government of Bihar is supposed to impart relief regarding the agricultural debt on the farmers. The farmers of Bihar are bestowed debt with the 7 % interest out of this 3 % interest relief is extended by Government of India. If Government of Bihar desires the farmers thereof may enjoy interest free debt the Government of Bihar is expected to provide debt to the farmers on 4 % debt relief interest like those of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Maharashtra, etc. so as to be set free from the clutches of interest as a whole in agricultural sector. Shri Singh was addressing a one day conference being conducted on the subject entitled as role of cooperatives in the composite formation and growth of Bihar by Bihar Cooperative Development Coordination Committee. Shri Singh said that Modi Government has requested to the State to have their respective rules and regulations framed regarding agricultural sector. They are supposed to enforce these rules and regulations with the assistance of Ministry of Agriculture and other central institutions concerned. Agriculture is a subject of State therefore without the assistance of the State the development of agriculture sector cannot be paved. Therefore I request the Government of Bihar that they should work altogether while making a blue print for agriculture related scheme so that new innovation may be find out for sorting out the difficulty coming in the way of agricultural growth. Consequent upon the pace of the development may be accelerated. There was coined a term in the country named as Bimaru implied the Sick one which was attributed to the State of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan as well as Uttar Pradesh. However, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are not the sick ones and Minister is confident that while benefiting them with the various agriculture related scheme Bihar will not be a sick one anymore. Shri Singh said that the sense of indifference has been manifested by the purchase center of State Food Grain Cooperation on the purchase of paddy upto the scheduled date by all of the packs and trade unions in Bihar State. Moreover, these packs have been paid lesser amount wherever the purchase of paddy had been carried through from the Farmers by packs / unions in various districts. The packs are of the saying that through this purchase they are supposed to make the payment within the span of one-two days. Due to none availability of the funds, the interest abundance has been increased on this society. Therefore, State Government is supposed to take action to impart on them interest free debt so as to they could make payment to the farmers on time bound programme and farmers could get fair price of their yield on right time. Agriculture and Farmers welfare Minister said that the Central Government has extended financial assistance to the cooperatives of Bihar through NABARD. It is determined to empower all these institutes in future. According to the survey of National Sample Survey Organization 46% farmers households are groaning under the huge pressure of debt which have been sought from various organizations and its percentage in the context of Bihar is 49.99%. There is pretty enough imbalance regarding the availability of agricultural debt to the various regions of Bihar and all eastern states. There is also imparity regarding the agricultural debt to be given to the marginal and big farmers. Shri Singh said that Bihar is being given Rs. 149 crore for Dairy Cooperatives, rs. 51.05 crore for ICDP, 12.5 crore rupees for Cold Storage Cooperatives and 28.10 crore rupees for the societies related to marketing and as a whole a sum of 240.80 crore rupees has been granted to the state of Bihar during the year 2015-16 through National Cooperative Development Cooperation for the development of agricultural sector and livestock. There are very limited training centres in Bihar who impart this sort of training and I am of the view that they are very much inadequate to meet the needs for the growth of human resources regarding cooperative personnel as well as sophisticated technical increasing needs for cooperative campaign in state of Bihar. So I am desirous that a cooperative management institute might be opened on national level in Eastern Champaran, Bihar. Therefore, State Government is requested to allot a piece of 5 acre land on the eve of a century of Champaran Movement launched by Mahatama Gandhi so that it might be set up. Central Government will extend whole financial assistance for the construction of this institute. Shri Singh said that there are a number of schemes to inspire bio farming in the state like soil health card and Pradhan Mantri Sinchai Yojana. In this context recently our government has launched Pradhan Mantri Crop Insurance Scheme, KHARIF 2016 for the protection of crops. Under this scheme the farmers will have to pay minimum premium. It has been decided that 2% premium in Kharif and 1.5% premium in Rabi will have to be paid by the farmers and rest of the premium will be afforded by the Central Government. Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that today Indian cooperative Campaign has encompassed the global scenario. It is the largest cooperative campaign in the world. In India the cooperative access stretches to the national level. The cooperative societies have facilitated farmers while providing inputs like debt, fertilizers seeds etc. to the cooperative societies. Now, the dairy related cooperative has made a landmark in the country and abroad with an exclusive feature. Therefore, if you have take the country ahead you are supposed to take villages, poor and farmers ahead. You will have to increase income of the farmers and for this purpose a second time revolution is required in agricultural sector. Cooperative societies strengthen the farmers in economic and financial prospective. Source: PIB Delhi BJP President Writes to the Lt. Governor on Water Crisis New Delhi, Sat, 27 Feb 2016 NI Wire It is Unfortunate That During a bad Phase People of delhi Elected a Government Whose Chief Now Disappears Moment Delhi Faces a Crisis - Satish Upadhyay New Delhi, 27th February. Delhi BJP President Shri Satish Upadhyay has said that Arvind Kejriwal Government has totally failed to solve the water crisis of Delhi. Leaving Delhi in a crisis CM Kejriwal is busy in Punjab expansion and the inexperienced Minister Kapil Mishra has proved to be a total failure. Shockingly one day the Minister says in a day or two the crisis will end, next day he says water has not yet come and on the third day says the water plants have again collapsed. Shri Upadhyay has said that it was a bad phase which made the people of Delhi elected a Government whose Chief disappears from Delhi moment a crisis develops here. Earlier this February when Delhi was fighting a sanitation crisis the CM was in Bangalore exploring political fortune and when today city is in a water crisis, CM Kejriwal is busy playing Punjab Politics. Shri Upadhyay has written to the Lt. Governor of Delhi Shri Najeeb Jung requesting him to personally monitor the water crisis situation in Delhi. Letter suggests that LG should call a meeting of Delhi Chief Secretary and Senior Jal Board Officials to direct them to seek additional water from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh & Uttrakhand for the next few days. Arrangements are made so that the plants without water supply can be run with the additional water coming from UP or other states. Source: BJP Speech of the President of India at celebrations of 155th anniversary of Indian Penal Code 1860 Kerala, Sat, 27 Feb 2016 NI Wire Speech of the President of India at the valedictory function of the year long celebrations of 155th anniversary of Indian Penal Code 1860 in Kochi, Kerala 1. I am happy to take part in this valedictory function of the year-long celebrations of one hundred and fifty-fifth anniversary of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). At the outset, let me compliment the Directorate of Prosecution, Kerala, under whose aegis this occasion is being marked. 2. The IPC is one of the legislative fiats of the British Indian regime which, on account of its fair accuracy, has withstood the test of time. As Sir James Stephen had mentioned about the qualities of a strong law and I quote: It is not enough to attain a degree of precision which a person reading in good faith can understand. It is necessary to attain a degree of precision which a person reading in bad faith cannot misunderstand (unquote). The definitions of crimes in the IPC hold good even today though relevance of some and emergence of new forms of offense like cyber crime call for refinements. Ladies and Gentlemen: 3. Security of citizens and of property is an essential function of a State. It is achieved through the instrumentality of criminal law. The mandate of criminal law is to punish criminals and prevent recurrence of crime. Criminal Law has to be necessarily sensitive to changes in social structure and social philosophy. It has to be a reflection of contemporary social consciousness and a faithful mirror of a civilization underlining the fundamental values on which it rests. It is in this broad perspective that the drafting, formulation and working of the Indian Penal Code has to be seen. 4. The Indian Penal Code was drafted by the First Law Commission of pre-independent India. This body was presided over by Lord Macaulay and consisted of J.M. Macleod, G.W. Anderson and F. Millet as members. They drew upon not only English and Indian laws and regulations but also Edward Livingstons Louisiana Civil Code of 1825 and the Napoleonic Code. The draft Code, which was submitted to the Governor General of India in 1837, underwent revisions at the hands of eminent jurists, judges and professors. The revisions were completed in 1850. It was presented to the Legislative Council in 1856 and was passed in 1860. The Penal Code came into operation on the first day of January 1862. Ladies and Gentlemen: 5. The objective of the IPC is to provide a general penal code for India. It codifies the laws relating to the offences which it deals with. The Code is divided into twenty-six chapters though originally it had twenty-three. The offences described in the Code fall into two categories, namely (i) offences against the State and the public; and (ii) offences against person and property. In this respect, the IPC adopts the same classification as that of the civil law. 6. This division of crime into public and private offences has received the acceptance of eminent jurists who justifies it by a reference to the division of civic duty into absolute and relative duties. Absolute duties are those which the subject owes to the State, and the violation of which constitute an offence against the State. Relative duties are such duties which the subjects owe inter se and the violation of which constitutes offences that necessarily involve the rights of specific individuals. 7. Transgressions in absolute duties directly affect the community at large, and therefore, offences falling in this category are as a rule non-compoundable. On the other hand, offences affecting a particular individual are as a rule compoundable, unless they by their heinousness so affect the community as to be declared non-compoundable. Ladies and Gentlemen: 8. The Constitution of India came into effect on twenty-sixth January 1950. Under this noble document, citizens of the country were entitled to certain guaranteed rights. There were also Constitutional safeguards protecting the life and property of individuals as well as of public. These provisions in the Constitution reflect a broad framework underlined in detail in the IPC. For instance, assault on person and public are defined in the IPC along with graded punishments for them. Different courts and procedures have been decreed for different offences. 9. There is no doubt that the IPC as a premier code for criminal law is a model piece of legislation. Nevertheless, it requires a thorough revision to meet the changing needs of the twenty-first century. The IPC has undergone very few changes in the last one hundred fifty-five years. Very few crimes have been added to the initial list of crimes and declared punishable. Even now, there are offences in the Code which were enacted by the British to meet their colonial needs. Yet, there are many new offences which have to be properly defined and incorporated in the Code. Ladies and Gentlemen: 10. In a developing country like ours, where economic success is crucial for inclusive growth and national progress, economic offenses cannot be allowed to impede on our national objectives. Crime of a fiduciary nature is also a crime against the State and its people. Some economic offenses can be as serious as the other crimes which have been so meticulously defined and carefully catalogued in the IPC. It is a challenge to bring all new-age offenses with its intricacies within the ambit of the criminal law. 11. This century has witnessed the proliferation of technology in wider spaces of human interaction and transaction. It has resulted in greater conveniences but at the same time has led to occurrence of newer types of offenses. Crimes in the cyber space like email spoofing, financial fraud, online gambling, match-fixing, cyber defamation and cyber stalking call for an ingenuous and proactive response from the law providers. Ladies and Gentlemen: 12. The Rule of Law is the cardinal principle on which a modern state rests. It has to be upheld at all times. It is incumbent on the law enforcing agencies, particularly the police force, to fulfill its foremost duty of maintaining law and order sincerely and with dedication. The image of the police depends on its actions, in ensuring prompt, equitable and fair enforcement of laws. The police in our country must go beyond its role of being a law enforcing body. It has to also be a proactive partner in growth and development. The founding fathers of our Constitution had conceived inclusiveness, tolerance, self-restraint, honesty, discipline, respect and protection of women, senior citizens and weaker sections as essential ingredients of our democracy. Our police force must incorporate these features in its functioning. 13. The onus is on our law-enforcing agencies to work towards transforming the archaic police system and bring it in tune with the requirements of a modern democratic nation. Our police officers must ensure quick redressal of the grievances of the common man. They must partner other stake holders in creating a peaceful and secure atmosphere conducive to progress and prosperity. Ladies and Gentlemen: 14. Public prosecutors, too, play a crucial role in upholding the Rule of Law. They play a key role in instilling and strengthening public confidence in the criminal justice system. Prosecutors are obligated to ensure that the accused receive a fair trial while looking after the interests of the victims. It is therefore essential to equip public prosecutors with tools and knowledge to enable them to effectively respond to various forms of crimes. In this context, I compliment the Directorate of Prosecution, Kerala, which has been rendering a commendable service in training public prosecutors and moulding them with new techniques and methods of prosecution. I call upon the public prosecutors to play a more strategic and pro-active role in formulating crime control policies. Your efforts must be directed at ensuring the prevalence of a fair, transparent and efficient criminal justice system in the country. 15. With these words, I conclude. I once again applaud the Directorate of Prosecution, Kerala, for their endeavour to celebrate the 155th anniversary of the IPC. I hope the conduct of such an event would spur serious debate and discussion on criminal law reform. I wish you all the very best for the future. Thank you. Jai Hind. Source: PIB By 2020, the Air Force is likely to have operational hypersonic missile prototypes ready for a program of record and testing to develop an operational unit, said Maj. Gen. Thomas Masiello, the commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory. By the 2030s, the technology could have expanded beyond delivering warheads at speeds faster than sound to also include hypersonic intelligence and reconnaissance flights, he said. The Air Force, Masiello said is focusing on deliberate, incremental progress towards maturing this technology. Were looking for more singles, base hits, versus trying to go for a home run, he said. Speaking at the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Florida., Masiello described the efforts the service is undertaking to develop engines that could travel at or above the widely accepted hypersonic range of Mach 5. Between 2010 and 2013, the Air Force conducted four flights of the X-51, an experimental hypersonic cruise missile. The first and fourth flights were considered a success, but the engine failed to ignite in the second test flight, and a stabilizing fin broke off during the third flight. B52 carrying hypersonic missile (Photo: Courtesy Bobbi Zapka/Air Force Research Laboratory) America has already developed hypersonic technology, most famously in the X-15 experimental test plane that saw operation in the 1960s. Maj. Gen. Curtis Bedke, ret., the former commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, lamented the fact that hypersonic research largely came to a halt when the X-15 was retired. We dropped everything and moved to something else and we lost our momentum, he said. The Air Force should focus on developing hypersonic missiles to match those being researched by Russia and China, Bedke said. Though a hypersonic manned combat aircraft would grab headlines, its unlikely to happen anytime soon and could detrimentally take funds away from development of hypersonic missiles. It may not sound as cool as coming up with a grand vision and then throwing money at it, but its how were going to get there, he said. Hypersonic capabilities are inevitable, they are going to happen. If they dont happen in the United States, they will happen in other countries first. Hypersonic munitions hold much potential for addressing some of our key capabilities gaps, said retired Lt. Gen. David Deptula, head of AFAs Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. He added that the current science suggests its time to transition this capability into the operational realm. "In this meeting, we will continue to express our concern with the developments in the South China Sea", he said. Hanoi - a vocal critic of Beijing's policies in the South China Sea - recently urged the United Nations to condemn China for its reported deployment of surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries on Woody Island, in the Paracels. Adm. Harry Harris Jr., commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, told Congress this week that China has constructed more than 3,000 acres (1,210 hectares) of artificial land there in little more than two years, compared with about 115 acres reclaimed by the other claimants in more than 45 years. Wang's comments focused on countering the idea that China will overtake the U.S.as a world superpower, and included a call for a peaceful solution to disputes over the sovereignty of the South China Sea. East Sea is the Vietnamese name for the South China Sea. US Prez poll 2016: Facts to know about Nevada & its Democratic caucus The Republican and Democratic presidential candidates face off against one another on opposite sides of the country Saturday. With about 85 per cent of precincts reporting, Mrs Clinton was at 52.5 per cent to 47.4 per cent for Mr Sanders. The news erupted just after the release of previous satellite images confirming Beijing's installation of surface-to-air missiles on Paracel Islands just north of Spratlys. "China has kept up the pace of its incursions into the disputed waters around the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands, and Chinese flights have penetrated Japan's East China Sea air defense identification zone in droves", the site noted earlier this month. He cited the examples of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and reconnaissance by United States warships near Chinese territory, as well as what China sees as discriminatory laws by the USA limiting military exchanges. Freedom of navigationis a principle of customary global law that, apart from the exceptions provided for in worldwide law, ships flying the flag of any sovereign state shall not suffer interference from other states. Vietnam will also talk about developments in the South China Sea, its foreign ministry said Thursday. "It is very necessary for China to deploy defense facilities on the islands and reefs of the South China Sea", he added. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday underscored his concerns about the long range of a powerful USA radar that could be deployed in South Korea along with an advanced missile defence system and said Washington should explain its plans. Real Madrid fans call for Florentino Perez to quit after Atletico defeat The goal brought waves of discontent from the Real fans with calls for president Florentino Perez to resign. Atletico's Antoine Griezmann celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a Spanish La Liga ... One demonstrator said, "If there will be no outrage, if they won't be stopped in the Woody Island, then they will also deploy these aircrafts and fighter jets here near the Philippines and that will be a grave threat to our security". The contested waters are believed to be rich in oil and gas. Wu also criticized United States patrols in the South China Sea. In his speech Abbott went on to say that Japan and Australia share values, while China does not. "I believe that we need to do them and we need to do them on a regular basis", Harris said. China took part in the RIMPAC exercises in 2014 with more than 20 countries, but defense officials have said its participation was limited to areas such as humanitarian relief and search and rescue operations. Nominations have been won and lost when presidential candidates have lost sight of the fact that the ultimate goal is getting 2,408 delegates to vote for you at the Democratic convention and 1,237 delegates to vote for you at the Republican convention. According to a new poll, almost one in three Trump supporters in SC supports banning gay people from entering the United States. These rules have had an impact on more than one Democratic race for the nomination. What's so "Super" about Super Tuesday? Iowa, which votes first in the presidential race, has been criticized for not being representative of the American electorate. Trump has made small TV ad buys around the state. Dedicated candidates with few resources - such as Rick Santorum in 2012 - have been known to excel there. With each outrageous campaign pledge - e.g. building a giant wall along the border with Mexico to deal with illegal immigration, implementing a moratorium on Muslims entering the country - rather than cause his campaign to lose support, his numbers have increased. This obviously isn't how real voting works, and the results tended to clump around statistical averages that might not come into play during the actual election. The kinds of intolerance that are being propagated now through the Republican party are not those of the majority, no more than they are here, but the a minority of the population does believe them and until they are afforded an opportunity to be educated otherwise this will never change. Meanwhile, Alaska and Minnesota will hold caucuses. That, plus the state's proximity to Washington's establishment Democrats, give Hillary Clinton an advantage. The caucuses are only open to registered Republicans and Democrats. Republican candidates will be competing for 50 delegates in the state. Again, assume Trump gets 30 percent, which makes for 30 more delegates. For Republicans, there will not be any delegates awarded next Tuesday. So far, the Republicans have allocated only six percent of their delegates to their convention, and the Democrats have allocated only four percent. There are 49 delegates at stake in Virginia in the Republican primary and 95 delegates at stake in the Democratic primary. Democratic candidates instead go out west to Nevada, where more non-white voters turn out to the polls and voters are more moderate than the first two contests. What are the states to watch? Democrats have a two-step process in choosing their delegates. A loss to Donald Trump in his back yard would cripple his campaign. Massachusetts: Moderate voters here could blunt Mr. Trump's momentum. Typically, only about two to three percent of either party attends the caucuses, another argument for a primary. She has been historically strong here and statistics suggest that and Clinton even beat President Obama eight years ago on Super Tuesday. The demographics of SC are similar to a number of the Super Tuesday states where Cruz was expected to perform well, suggesting he will struggle there, too. This year, the result will not be as clear cut. Most of the states involved will be awarding delegates to the national convention, which theoretically chooses that party's presidential candidate. Ted Cruz of Texas, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson. If any delegate bound by these rules, state party rule or state law to vote for a residential candidate at the national convention demonstrates support under Rule 40 for any person other than the candidate to whom he or she is bound, such support shall not be recognized. Todays headline NC rubbishes, JK Congress distances from Chidambarams stand on Afzal Guru; Gurus hanging was murder of justice kashmirdespatch.com The former alliance partners, Congress and National Conference are squarely divided on the statement of senior Congress leader and former Home Minister P Chidambaram who has said that Afzal Gurus We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. News, notes, and observations from the James River Valley in northern South Dakota with special attention to reviewing the performance of the media--old and new. E-Mail to MinneKota@gmail.com According to the Federalist Papers Project, in the two years preceding the Revolutionary War (1774 and 1775) John Adams used the pseudonym, Novanglus (New Englander), when authoring a series of letters in the Boston Gazette. In his Novanglus Essays, No. 7, Adams famously wrote that ours is A government of laws, not of men. Inverting Adams proclamation, actions recently taken by the Republican Party to obstruct the constitutionally mandated presidential appointment to the United States Supreme Court have set the United States on the path to a constitutional crisis as there is no known way to force the Republican-led Senate Judiciary committee to hold hearings. Senate Republicans have spoken with one voice to deny the Presidents nominee a hearing. Should the President submit a Supreme Court nominee to the Senate for confirmation hearings, and should the Senate Republicans stand firm in their obstruction, I think were on the precipice of a constitutional crisis. Never before in the history of the United States has either political party engaged in this kind of transparent political obstruction of a Supreme Court nominee in violation of their constitutional responsibilities. In the last 100 years there have been 19 Justices appointed to the Court in the last year of a presidents term in office. The Supreme Court has some extremely important cases presently before it: Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc (Affordable Care Act); National Labor Relations Board v. Noel Canning (Executive authority to make recess appointments); McCullen v. Coakley (First amendment protest case); Hall v. Florida (How to determine mental illness regarding death penalty eligibility); Riley v. California (Power of police to act without a search warrant to look at information stored on cellphone taken from suspect upon arrest); Friedrichs v. California (public union dues); Whole Womens Health v. Cole (Abortion). If, as is likely given the current ideological divide, the Court splits 4-4 on those cases, then the Court defers to the opinion reached in the lower court immediately preceding the Supreme Courts review. It would be historically unprecedented for the Supreme Court to remain at 8 members for more than 300 days, and it would have severe consequences for the nation. Article II of the United States Constitution, which outlines the duties of the President, says the following: He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States. The language is unequivocal. The President is obligated to appoint a nominee to the Supreme Court to fill the vacancy left by the death of Justice Scalia and the Senate (shall) provide advice and consent. Heres the question that I think is most profound: If Republicans abdicate their sworn oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States by failing to act in their constitutionally mandated advice and consent role, are they engaging in an illegal act? If they are engaging in an illegal act, what authority would intervene to address it? What happens if the Republican Party decides for political reasons to violate its constitutional obligation? What authority is there to make the Republican Party, which presently controls the Senate Judiciary and the advice and consent process, do what is clearly stipulated in the Constitution? Ironically enough it is originalist Justice Scalias position that must be filled, and if they act on their threat the Republican Party will be nakedly in violation of one of the Constitutions clearest and most transparent directives. The Framers brilliantly constructed a tripartite system of shared power to ensure checks and balances. The Legislative branch was designed to be the most powerful of the three branches, but the Executive and Judicial branches serve an important role in helping to assure thoughtful, often laborious, reasoned deliberation. In order for this system to work at all it must be based upon a shared commitment by the members of each branch to the fealty of the Constitution. In the case of Worcester v. Georgia (1832), the United States Supreme Court upheld the sovereignty of the Cherokee Indian Nation. President Andrew Jackson responded to Chief Justice John Marshalls opinion by saying: John Marshall has made his decision. Now let him enforce it. Thats the problem we seem to be facing here. There is no authority that can force Republicans to act in accordance with their sworn oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. Kicking it to the Supreme Court, the branch at issue, will obviously not provide the answer. In Federalist Paper Number X, James Madison speaks to his concern over factionalism. Madisons words are haunting in their relevance to the current state of our Union: Complaints are everywhere heard from our most considerate and virtuous citizens that our governments are too unstable, that the public good is disregarded in the conflicts of rival parties, and that measures are too often decided, not according to the rules of justice and the rights of the minor party, but by the superior force of an interested and overbearing majority. Madison continues by adding that growing public distrust of government, and fear over preservation of rights, must be chiefly, if not wholly, effects of the unsteadiness and injustice with which a factious spirit has tainted our public administration. So while factionalism is by no means unique to our American republic, and something that we must be perennially diligent in stamping out, the magnitude of our current experience with it is unique and it is in my view potentially destabilizing. To me, it is the voice of the people that must be heard. Not in a tribal sense of articulating our own political, economic, and cultural interests, though these are important, but in the sense of repairing our civil society to the point where we privilege our diversity, sense of justice and human rights, and our common civility. With the Senate Republicans rebuke of their constitutionally mandated advice and consent responsibility clearly stipulated in Article II of the Constitution, we are confronting a legitimacy crisis, one that threatens the social contract that we all must adhere to in order for whatever remains of our democracy to continue functioning with some modicum of public support. The calculated political move by Republicans to thwart a Democratic Presidents authority and constitutional obligation to nominate a replacement for Justice Scalia is the transparent coming to roost of Mitch McConnells public statement from 2009 that he would do all he could to see that President Obama would not succeed. But in the process McConnell and the Tea-party led Republicans are cancerously consuming whatever remains of the American peoples trust and could very well see their actions metastasize as ever-greater public disaffection. Public pressure on Republican leadership is the only way out of this quagmire. And while the Framers held a healthy distrust of public sentiments, in an ironic twist it may just be our public sentiments that hold together the threads of a clearly decaying commitment to civility and republicanism through adherence to constitutional law. The language is unequivocal. The President is obligated to appoint a nominee to the Supreme Court to fill the vacancy left by the death of Justice Scalia and the Senate (shall) provide advice and consent. The Corinthian Coffee Clutch (C3) is another private organization that was approached by NADESCOM for assistance. C3 is a think tank that is devoted to nation building. As an organization, it does not directly go into projects, but it supports the projects that are managed by its members. C3 supports the framework for integrated area development (IAD), which includes access to health services. In line with the advocacies of C3, it is now supporting a project in Caloocan City that aims to transform an old motor hotel into a new medical center. One of the objectives of this project is to equip the medical center so that it could become a command and control center for the telemedicine network that will be established to remotely support the 600 health centers. Aside from supporting telemedicine, the new medical center is also envisioned to become a school for alternative and complimentary medicine, in line with the goal of developing new practical and economical approaches towards increasing access to health services in the Philippines. There is nothing wrong with being a foundling except when you want to be president of the Philippines. However, a foundling under normal circumstances could do anything a natural-born Filipino could do. But under the Philippine Constitution, a person who is not a natural-born Filipino citizen is not qualified to run for the office of president, vice president, senator or representative. Is that discriminatory? Some people including a few Supreme Court (SC) justices say it is so. And that is why the high court is hearing oral arguments to no end, which makes one wonder: Why cant these supposedly defenders of the Constitution interpret such simple provisions of the law. Instead, some of them seem to be threading into the realm of judicial voodooism. And after four oral arguments, their number has increased to five justices known as the Sereno bloc, most of whom are appointees of President Benigno P-Noy Aquino III who are now reportedly inclined to cut Poe some slack on her status as a foundling. All they need now is to convince three more justices into agreeing to their voodoo interpretation of the Constitution. CREDIT: Unchained Goddess/Screenshot Well, its been calculated a few degrees rise in the Earths temperature would melt the polar ice caps. And if this happens, an inland sea would fill a good portion of the Mississippi valley. Tourists in glass bottom boats would be viewing the drowned towers of Miami through 150 feet of tropical water. For in weather, were not only dealing with forces of a far greater variety than even the atomic physicist encounters, but with life itself. The Victorians knew about it. John Tyndall (born 1820) knew about it. So did Svante August Arrhenius. In April 1896, Arrhenius published a paper in the London, Edinburgh and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science entitled On the influence of carbonic acid [CO2] in the air upon the temperature of the ground. On February 12, 1958, the American public saw the first televised warning about the dangers of carbon dioxide, global warming, and sea level rise. That warning came from The Bell Laboratory Science Series , which aired its fourth TV episode, Unchained Goddess, written and produced by three-time Oscar winner Frank Capra.Capra is famous for classic films like Its a Wonderful Life, and not so famous for having a degree in chemical engineering. In this film, Dr. Research (Dr. Frank Baxter) explains to The Writer (Richard Carlson) that unrestricted carbon dioxide emissions could lead to a world where Tourists in glass bottom boats would be viewing the drowned towers of Miami:Even now, man may be unwittingly changing the worlds climate through the waste products of his civilization, warns Dr. Research. Due to our release through factories and automobiles every year of more than six billion tons of carbon dioxide, which helps air absorb heat from the sun, our atmosphere seems to be getting warmer.Note: Now we are emitting six times (!) as much CO2 from fossil fuels as in 1958.Is that bad, the Writer asks. Dr. Research explains:Perhaps the show should have been titled, Its a wonderful life not! Interestingly, despite what you might think from his most famous movie (and others, like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) which appear to be stories of the little guy, the 99 percent vs. the 1 percent Capra himself was a conservative Republican who railed against FDR. Also, Capra explained his comments to an early meeting of the shows scientific advisory board, saying , If I make a science film, I will have to say that science research is just another expression of the Holy Spirit that works in all men. Furthermore, I will say that science, in essence, is just another facet of mans quest for God.Back in the 1950s, at least, the science of global warming was not politicized or somehow seen as in opposition to religion.While this appears to be the first televised warning, there was a warning broadcas t on the radio show, General Electric: Excursions in Science, about the research of physicist Gilbert Plass.Back in May 1953, Time magazine reported on Plasss work in an article titled Invisible Blanket , which ends, for centuries to come, if mans industrial growth continues, the earths climate will continue to grow warmer. So did Popular Mechanics As NASA wrote in a 2010 blog post on the Capra film, Global warming is not a new concept:In 1965, the presidents Science Advisory Committee warned President Johnson that Man is unwittingly conducting a vast geophysical experiment, and that Within a few generations, he is burning the fossil fuels that accumulated in the earth over the past 500 million years.In 1979, the U.S. National Research Council assembled a panel of experts who wrote a report warning of the prospects for serious warming if we continued on the path of unrestricted carbon dioxide emissions. The panel explained, A wait-and-see policy may mean waiting until it is too late.In 1981, James Hansen and six other NASA atmospheric physicists published a seminal article in Science, Climate Impact of Increasing Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide . That paper warned with remarkable prescience or, I should say, with remarkable science Potential effects on climate in the 21st century include the creation of drought-prone regions in North America and central Asia as part of a shifting of climatic zones, erosion of the West Antarctic ice sheet with a consequent worldwide rise in sea level, and opening of the fabled Northwest Passage. Check, check, and check.The New York Times even reported on that study with the headline Study finds warming trend that could raise sea levels . By 1988, the science was so well understood and documented, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was set up by the U.N. and World Meteorological Organization to provide regular summaries and analysis of the science.Scientists have been warning us about the dangers of unrestricted CO2 emissions, global warming and climate change for over six decades. So much for the myth that climate scientists used to believe in global cooling a couple of decades ago a myth that has been utterly debunked in the scientific literature (see here ). Heck, thanks to excellent reporting by InsideClimate News , we now know oil giant ExxonMobil had been told by its own scientists in the 1970s and 1980s that climate change was human-caused and would reach catastrophic levels without reductions in carbon emissions.Perhaps its time all U.S. politicians and the Supreme Court start listening. Some Favorite Posts: My name is Larry Cebula and this is my professional blog. I am a Public Historian at Eastern Washington University and Assistant Digital Archivist at the Washington State Digital Archives --neither of which necessarily endorse the views here! I use this blog to explore the intersections of public and digital history. The focus is on the Inland Northwest but we may venture further afield on occasion. Here is my mission statement . Email me at LarryCebula [at] gmail [dot] com. I realize this post might be arcane to those who have never worked in the academic field, but bear with me here, since I think it touches o... Jonathan Ernst / Reuters By Amanda Becker DENMARK, South Carolina (Reuters) - Betty Odom-Bell, a 47-year-old entrepreneur, took a financial risk last year when she opened a restaurant in Denmark, a small town in the middle of a deeply depressed part of rural South Carolina. So when Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton visited Denmark earlier this month promising to transform the region into a "Corridor of Opportunity," Odom-Bell felt reassured. "Its almost like were a forgotten town," she said, describing her surprise at Clinton's visit to the town of 3,500. "With her, theres a connection. I dont have that with Bernie," she said, referring to Clinton rival Bernie Sanders. Clinton is poised to win big over the U.S. senator from Vermont in South Carolina's primary contest on Saturday, in part because of her outsized support among the state's rural black poor - a bloc that Sanders has struggled to impress. Interviews with residents in Bamberg and Allendale counties show her appeal is not just about the differences in her social policies, or her widespread name recognition. It also results from her up-close campaigning style. Over the past several weeks, she has stumped in parts of the state that are off the beaten-path, reinforcing connections with audiences that stretch back decades, and peppering her speeches with the names of local leaders. Sanders in contrast, has focused his visits on South Carolina's big cities and universities, rallying large audiences with his self-styled Democratic socialist platform, while relying heavily on surrogates to do his work elsewhere. Plans offered by Sanders to address wealth inequality and improve access to education and healthcare have attracted interest, but many complain they do not feel they know him well enough to vote for him. "Both of them are good candidates, but Im leaning Hillary," said Marion Roberts, a 65-year-old retiree having coffee at a fast food restaurant on Allendales main street, where many storefronts are shuttered. "Sanders talks good, but I know more about her." Allendale Countys 10,000 residents are nearly three-fourths black, and its unemployment rate, at about 9 percent, is nearly double the national average. About a third of the county's population lives below the poverty line, making it fertile ground for candidates shopping progressive social policies. SOUTHERN FIREWALL Clintons campaign has said South Carolina will act as an early "firewall" against Sanders, who beat her in New Hampshire's primary and posted strong showings in Iowa and Nevada, but is expected to do worse as the race shifts south. Nationwide, Sanders has built on his popularity with young and liberal voters to narrow the race to a statistical dead heat. But Clinton still holds a massive 40 percentage point advantage among black Democrats, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling. Clintons advantage results in part from her husband Bill Clinton's outreach to black voters during his presidency. Some voters also like that Hillary Clinton has promised to build on President Barack Obamas agenda. Allendale City Mayor Ronnie Jackson, for example, says he is backing Clinton in part because Allendale, a town of about 3,800, depends on money under an Obama administration stimulus program for impoverished communities. He hopes Clinton would continue the support. "Thats the only way we can survive, he said. But he also points to differences in the way she and Sanders have campaigned. Sanders supporters have contacted him repeatedly by phone, he said, but he saw Clinton in the flesh at Denmark town hall on Feb. 12, just half an hour away. Over the summer, Clinton also hosted a listening session for local leaders, many from rural areas, and she recently won the endorsement of U.S. congressman Jim Clyburn, the only South Carolina Democrat in the House of Representatives. Sanders, meanwhile, has touted his college civil rights activism, met with black civil rights leaders and hosted an event at a historically black college. Some of those efforts have shown signs of success among young blacks. But his campaigning in rural areas has been mainly by proxy - including a visit on Monday to Allendale by campaigners organized by National Nurses United. Sanders himself moved on to other states in the run up to Saturday's primary, while Clinton continued to campaign daily there. James Fitts, an 80-year-old Allendale resident, said he likes Clinton's approach. "Shes been in it a long time." (Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Steve Orlofsky) This article was funded in part by SAP. It was independently created by the Reuters editorial staff. SAP had no editorial involvement in its creation or production. This blog is run by Google. Google uses cookies to analyze traffic to this website. If you submit a comment that is posted, it will be publicly visible to all. If you contact me via my blog through email or the comment on this page, I will use your email only to respond to your inquiry. If you click on any links from this blog to outside website, please review their privacy policies and content. By using this website you agree to and accept these terms of use. This privacy policy may change from time to time at my sole discretion. You should check this page often for any changes. Your use of this website after any change in this privacy policy will constitute your acceptance of such change. Melissa Harris-Perry. Photo: J. Countess/FilmMagic Melissa Harris-Perry hasnt welcomed MSNBC viewers to nerdland since Super Bowl Sunday. For the past two weekends, Harris-Perrys unusually cerebral morning show has been preempted for straight news coverage of the 2016 campaign. Her program was set to return to its 10 a.m.to-noon slot this Saturday, but when the lights come up, the host wont be there. Putting me on air seems to be a decision being made solely to save face, Harris-Perry wrote in an email to her staff, explaining why she would not be appearing on her program this weekend. Here is the reality: Our show was taken without comment or discussion or notice in the midst of an election season. After four years of building an audience, developing a brand and developing trust with our viewers, we were effectively and utterly silenced. A couple of weeks ago, @MHarrisPerry went into her Twitter bio and deleted "Host of @MHPShow." Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 26, 2016 In the email, which was first obtained by the New York Times, Harris-Perry called attention to her status as one of the networks few African-American on-air personalities. Arguing that her show had been put back on the schedule to provide cover for MSNBC from social-media criticism of its lack of diversity, Harris-Perry wrote, I am not a token, mammy, or little brown bobble head. Harris-Perry told the Times that the network had stolen editorial control of her program and demanded that she forgo the shows signature discussions of policy and political theory so as to give more time to the latest developments in the presidential horse race. The host did say that she did not believe there was a personal racial component to the shows treatment. Last year, the networks African-American political reporter Joy Reid had her daytime show canceled, while Al Sharptons nightly program was demoted to the weekend. An NBC spokesperson told the Times, in a statement, In this exciting and unpredictable presidential primary season, many of our daytime programs have been temporarily upended by breaking political coverage, including M.H.P. This reaction is really surprising, confusing and disappointing. Harris-Perry, who is also a political-science professor at Wake Forest University, is one of the last vocally progressive daytime hosts on MSNBC. Since Andy Lack took the reins of NBC News last year, he has steered the cable network away from liberal analysis and toward breaking-news coverage, particularly in the daytime hours. A firearm for the Volunteer State. Photo: John Yoder/US Army Tennessee evidently wanted a stronger state symbol than the cave salamander (the state amphibian). So they have reached for an official state gun. Specifically, a gun that can knock a commercial airliner out of the sky: the Barrett model M82/M107 .50 caliber rifle. It joins the list of Tennessees official songs and flowers and the like, and also brings the state into an elite class of six that have chosen a firearm to represent their local culture. Pennsylvania opted for the Colonial-era long rifle, Indiana the unique grouseland rifle, and West Virginia the 1819 flintlock. Arizona, Utah, and Alaska have official state guns as well. The .50 caliber rifle is a behemoth. It is used by military snipers and can penetrate light armor, down helicopters, destroy commercial aircraft, and blast through rail cars, according to the Violence Policy Center. Fifty-caliber guns have been described as among the most destructive weapons legally available to civilians in the United States. The Branch Davidians used this thing in Waco, Texas, during their stand-off with authorities in 1993. In 2006, a General Social Survey found that 86 percent of the country wanted to entirely ban it. The guns are unregulated on the federal level, although they are prohibited in California and D.C., and strictly regulated in others. The State Democratic Caucus Chairman Jeff Yarbro cast the one dissenting vote against adopting the state rifle, although it wasnt on hand-cannon grounds. His concern was that promoting a private companys product through state symbolism set a bad precedent. If George Dickel and Jack Daniels came to us to be the official state whiskey, or Goo Goo Clusters and MoonPies wanted to be the official state dessert, anarchy might reign, Yarbro said. At which point government would probably bring out a Barrett .50-caliber rifle. Idaho state representative Pete Nielsen is the latest politician to proudly display his lack of knowledge about basic biology and the process of conception. During a discussion about a bill that would require Idaho abortion providers to inform women as to where they could receive free ultrasounds, Representative Nielsen (Republican, if you were wondering) offered the opinion that In many cases of rape, it does not involve any pregnancy because of the trauma of the situation, that may be true with incest a little bit. (The bill being discussed was approved by the committee 134 and will head to the Idaho house.) This is not the first or last time well hear a politician opine that the violent circumstances of rape preclude a pregnancy, the most famous being Todd Akins 2012 assertions about legitimate rape. Nielsen proudly joins that cadre, and in a follow-up interview with KBOI 2News, doubles down on his beliefs despite being told, rightly, by many people that I dont know what Im talking about and I need to get educated. Nielsen explained, The chance of conception in that type of a situation is not as great as it would be in a consensual situation. Now I didnt use those terms, but that was what I was thinking. He continued on to note that he had read the information somewhere, before he became a state representative, but could not recall where hed learned it. When pushed on the subject of whether he believes that a rape victim can never get pregnant, Nielsen demurred, noting, No, no, I just think that its much more difficult, because of the trauma, that the body itself is not going to accept, like it would in consensual sex. Naturally, there are plenty of folks, including medical professionals, taking the time to inform Nielsen that he is dead wrong. I have received quite a bit of email from what I assume by the name are female doctors all over the United States and they just simply say I dont know what Im talking about, he said. But thats certainly not going to change his mind. They may be correct in their opinion. But I do know this, that trauma is going to affect the body and the emotional conditions of that young lady. Apparently, for Representative Nielsen, pregnancy doesnt count as an effect on the body. I notice That Brian Eno has written an article for the left-leaning Salon criticizing Israel's part in a "swag bag" of gifts given to Oscar nominees. (A five-star luxury trip to Israel for every nominee in the main acting and directing categories. The trip is sponsored by the Israeli government.).He takes a swing at Israel using the usual tropes and arguments. I thought I'd reply in the comment section of the article, but for some reason my comments do not show up (Wonder why, ey?).So I am reprinting my response below.I'm sorry Brian, but your article is coming from a place of ignorance. Let me just touch on a few points. You say that Israel is a great country "for at least half of its inhabitants". Actually, unlike pretty much every other country in the Middle East, everyone in Israel has the same rights, be they male or female, gay or straight, Jew or Christian or Muslim. Arabs even serve in the Knesset, Israel's parliament. Isreal is an island of democracy in the Middle East.For instance, try coming out as gay in Iran and you'll most likely be hung or thrown from the top of a building (and stoned if the fall doesn't kill you). In just one example, Payam Feili, an openly gay Iranian poet, is seeking asylum in Israel . He was imprisoned in Iran over his sexuality before and faces a potential death sentence if he were to return home.As far as the Palestinian "refugees"... do you know that just as many Jews were forced from Arab lands at the end of the 1940s? Almost a million Jews who lived in Arab lands were forced out. And do you know what happened to them all? Israel took them all in. The surrounding Arab countries could just as easily have taken in all the "Palestinian" refugees, but they did not want to. They wanted to use them to create sympathy for their cause and they are still doing so.As far as the peace process, Palestine has rejected plans multiple times. For instance, in the year 2000, Prime Minister Ehud Barak offered the Palestinians virtually everything they had been demanding, including a state with its capital in Jerusalem, control over the Temple Mount, a return of approximately 95 percent of the West Bank and all of the Gaza Strip, and a $30 billion compensation package for the 1948 refugees. Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia, who was serving as an intermediary among the parties, urged Arafat to take this deal. Could you ever get a better deal? he asked. Would you rather negotiate with Sharon? As Arafat vacillated, Bandar issued a stern warning: I hope you remember, sir, what I told you. If we lose this opportunity, it is going to be a crime. But he walked away.Then in 2008, the then Israeli PM presented Abbas with a map, that with land swaps, gave them almost 100% of the land of West Bank and Gaza prior to the June 1967 war. He also offered to divide Jerusalem to allow them to have their capital in the eastern half of the city. Guess what? They refused again. He walked out with the map and was never seen again.Notwithstanding that Israel totally withdrew from Gaza in 2005, leaving a thriving greenhouse business for the new population to jumpstart their economy. What did they do? They smashed all the greenhouses and elected Hamas, leading to the lobbing of bombs at Israel.Israel has bent over backwards for the peace process. They have always been willing to exchange land for peace as they did in 1979 when they signed a peace treaty with Egypt, totally withdrawing from the Sinai.I'm sorry, but the Palestinians don't want a two-state solution, and they don't want peace. They want Israel destroyed. Open your eyes. Questions About Zika: The CDC Answers (One of the best articles about how to control the dengue fever and the mosquito that carries Zika is in this article: "The Mosquito Solution" by Michael Spectre Denise Jamieson, MD, MPH I've cut and pasted here because many of us have young granddaughters. I hope this information from Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is helpful. Zika Virus What Is Zika Virus? Zika is a disease caused by Zika virus, which is spread to humans primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito . The Zika virus is closely related to dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses. Other Than Through Mosquito Bites, How Can Zika Virus Be Transmitted? Although Zika virus is primarily transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, there are several other modes of transmission: maternal/fetal, intrauterine, perinatal, blood transfusions, organ donations and sexual transmissions Finally, Donald Trump is being identified in the main ring of the 2016 Republican Party political circus in the United States as being a "con artist," as Senator Marco Rubio called him last week. "It's time to pull his mask off so people can see what we're dealing with here," Rubio said at campaign rally in Dallas Friday. http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2016-02-26/dallas-rubio-eviscerates-con-artist-trump#.VtCUTaTSljp That followed Rubio repeatedly describing Trump as a "con artist" the evening before in the last TV debate between GOP rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, and in later media appearances. "You all have friends that are thinking about voting for Donald Trump," Rubio went on at the rally. "Friends do not let friends vote for con artists." Being a con artist is not a disqualifying factor for a politician. In the U.S.--and elsewhere--there have been plenty of con artists running for political office. But that Trump has gotten so far without being fully called out in a bid for what is widely considered the most powerful office in the world has been remarkable--and outrageous. There has been some investigative journalism pointing to this aspect of Trump. Especially noteworthy, an extensive article in November in Time magazine headlined: "TRUMP U. What the litigation over Trump University reveals about the man who would be President." Written by Steven Brill, journalist, attorney and founder of Brill's Content, a media-watch publication, it compared to snake oil what was named Trump University, "a series of adult-education classes offering Donald's Trump's real estate investing methods." "Trump and his university--which operated from 2005 through 2010, when it was shut down as [law]suits and multiple state attorneys generals investigations were beginning--lured approximately 7,000 consumers into paying $1,495 to $34,995 for courses," Brill relates. "Trump 'created, funded, implemented and benefited from a scam that cost them thousands, even tens of thousands of dollars each,' the lawyers suing him have argued." click here "I mean this is a guy," said Rubio at the rally, "that's taken Trump Airlines bankrupt, Trump Vodka, nobody wanted it, Trump Mortgage, was a disaster, Trump University was a fraud." Rubio also claimed, as he hit hard at Trump at the rally, that: "He's being treated with kid gloves by many in the media in the hope that he's the nominee. Some of them are biased; they'd love to see a liberal like Donald Trump take over the Republican Party and others know he is easy to beat once he gets there." As a journalism professor, I disagree with this analysis. Trump has succeeded in manipulating media by, for starters, using his bombastic style to fiercely attack the press for doing its job of asking tough questions. His public assault on Megyn Kelly of Fox News after she had the nerve as a debate moderator to throw hardball questions at Trump was typical of how he has used intimidation on media people and institutions. Then there's his sense of what inflames--which media cover like any big fire. As Howard Fineman, former Newsweek chief political correspondent and now global editorial director at the Huffington Post, has written, based on an interview with historian Doris Kearns Goodwin: "Trump deploys fame for fame's sake, taps into populist expressions of fear, hatred and resentment and shows a knack for picking fights and a braggart's focus on the horse race. All of which allow him to play into--and exploit--every media weakness and bad habit in a chase for audience and numbers." Fineman in his article last month--headed "Epic Media Fall: How And Why Trump Trumped The Press"--quoted Goodwin as noting how the media "are the key purveyors of the qualities of the candidates and of telling people who they are what they stand for." Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). (This is a reprint from NewsBred) Indian Express of February 25, 2016, is a collector's item. It's imaginative, creative and like all such things it takes great liberty in dispensing with facts. It's imaginative for it gives a screaming full-page bottom-spread headline: "Quoting wisdom from 40 BC, misquoting Kashmiri poet" (see the image), even though there was no misquote from the person in question, Mr Venkaiah Naidu, Union Urban Development Minister. (More on it later.) It's creative for it picks an exhortation for nationalism from ex-serviceman into a misleading headline: "Latest Wisdom: Bring a tank on JNU campus to instil nationalism in students." (More on it later.) It's factually wrong for it it splashes a three-decker headline: "Prof. shares piece on Khalid, ABVP burns effigy, blocks class" even as there is no mention in the report how ABVP "blocked" any student or students from attending one or any class (More on it later.) There is also the lead headline: "Smriti shines the light of treason", which could make a professor of English opt for a new paper roll in his toilet. But when agenda is an issue, language is a minor indiscretion. All these are front-page headlines. None of them is in single column. Indeed, if there is any story other than concerning JNU row on front page, it's a single column four paragraphs on forthcoming budget. The newspaper didn't have space for rail budget due next day; the water crisis that has left the capital parched or even the jat agitation where casualty is 28 by now. What chance then there is for you to read about the unfortunate plane crash in Nepal that killed all 23 passengers aboard? The newspaper in its wisdom apparently believes that a "babu" unable to sleep at night because of worrying "mahaul": ("Minister watching, Minority panel official says: Can't sleep at night, mahaul -climate- worrying") is worthy of a four-column display. Or that a retired octogenarian Supreme Court judge's opinion on "sedition" is worth a second lead story. All this concerned the Page One or Front Page. Let's now move on to other pages: Page 2: All stories barring two again concern the issues surrounding the JNU affair. Page 3: Just one neutral story manages to find space on again a JNU-dominated page. Page 4: By far the most neutral page in that just about half the page is on JNU affair. Things possibly are looking up. Page 5: Darkness again. The entire page is devoted to JNU. Page 6: Not a single JNU story. Possibly the agenda is exhausted after all. Page 7: Not a chance. The Jat agitation is blamed on--you guessed it right--JNU. This story takes up more than half the page. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Reprinted from Middle East Eye Palestinian families warned of subterfuge designed to pressure them into signing over to Israel their rights to 1948 property ACRE, Israel -- Palestinian leaders in Israel have warned that they suspect the Israeli government is behind recent efforts to trick the families of refugees from the 1948 war into signing away the rights to their lands. The alert has been issued to an estimated 300,000 Palestinian citizens of Israel descended from refugees who were forced out of their villages during the 1948 war but remained inside the new Israeli state's borders. Palestinians refer to the dispossession of their homeland as the Nakba -- the word for "catastrophe" in Arabic. Experts say that Israel has been working to pressure refugees into selling the title to their lands for decades as a way to undermine a Palestinian right of return, one of the key demands in any peace agreement. "Israel has a strong interest in reducing the number of refugees with a claim on these lands so that in the event of an agreement the issue of a Palestinian right of return is weakened," said Hillel Cohen, a researcher on the Palestinian refugee issue at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. "Israel hopes to be able to say to the international community, 'But the refugees sold their land -- where can they return to?'" Khaled Suleiman, aged 64 and from the Israeli coastal city of Acre, told Middle East Eye his family was among those approached by lawyers trying to persuade them to sell. Nearly 800,000 Palestinians like Suleiman's parents became refugees in 1948 and were stripped by Israel of their rights to any property they could not carry with them, under legislation from 1950 known as the Absentee Property Law. While most Palestinians were forced outside the borders of the newly formed Israeli state, Suleiman's family were among the 30,000 Palestinian refugees who managed to stay close to their former homes. They eventually received citizenship and became part of Israel's large Palestinian minority, numbering today 1.6 million, or a fifth of the population. Nonetheless, Israel continues to bar the Suleiman family from returning to their former village, Alma, north of the Galilee town of Safed. The homes there were destroyed decades ago by Israel, along with more than 500 other Palestinian communities. Today the family's 17 hectares are controlled by an exclusively Jewish agricultural community of the same name as their razed village. Suleiman said he was shocked to discover that a lawyer -- from within the Palestinian minority -- had approached his nephew trying to pressure him into selling to the government the family's lands. The lawyer led his nephew to believe that he had one last chance to win compensation and that the deadline would expire at the end of next month. What kind of peace do I mean? What kind of peace do we seek? Not a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war. Not the peace of the grave or the security of the slave. I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope and to build a better life for their children -- not merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and women -- not merely peace in our time but peace for all time... Peace need not be impracticable, and war need not be inevitable. By defining our goal more clearly, by making it seem more manageable and less remote, we can help all peoples to see it, to draw hope from it, and to move irresistibly toward it... For in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal. -John F. Kennedy, American University Commencement Address, June 10, 1963, (1) At many points, this book reads like a political suspense novel -- well paced with high stakes, but it was by no means a fun or easy read, mostly because the reader doesn't have the psychological exit of fiction. Robert Ellsberg of Orbis Books, who published JFK and the Unspeakable, passed on the manuscript at first because of both its length (over 500 pages) and its subject matter. But changed his mind after getting positive feedback from several historians and analysts he'd passed it to. Much of the book is based on intriguing sources such as declassified government documents obtained via the Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992, including secret correspondence between Kennedy and Khrushchev from 1961 -- 1963, transcripts of Kennedy's secret recordings of his meetings with his Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCOS) and other national security advisors during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and KGB documents regarding Kennedy's assassination that were unexpectedly handed over to President Clinton by Boris Yeltsin. It is dense in terms of information and sources and it is also wrenching. At times, I had to put the book down for a while because it was just too overwhelming, even for a reader who lost her naivete long ago about the U.S. political class in general and foreign policy in particular. The book elicits a profound respect for the moral courage demonstrated by both President Kennedy and his Cold War counterpart, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, at moments when so much hung in the balance. The bond these two men developed as a consequence of their taking humanity to the brink and the terror they both felt from looking into the abyss led to a mutual desire to negotiate an end to the Cold War and work toward disarmament. It is a story of great promise that we all know ends in tragedy. This book underscores both the promise and the tragedy of what might have been. Although I find the assassination itself compelling and necessary to understand, I actually found the story of Kennedy's turn from a Cold Warrior to an advocate of peace to be even more intriguing and will focus my review on that aspect of the book. The Kennedy-Khrushchev-Castro Detente Interestingly enough, Kennedy's first impression of Premier Khrushchev during their meeting in Vienna in 1961 where they agreed upon a neutral government for Laos was unfavorable. Reportedly, Khrushchev sat stone faced in response to Kennedy's stated concerns about the human costs of a possible nuclear war between their respective nations. Kennedy would be forced to revise that opinion when Khrushchev initiated a secret back channel correspondence with him in September of 1961 -- a correspondence that the premier felt he had to keep hidden from the Kremlin and the Soviet military establishment due to hardliners in his government who would view such a project as alarming and weak. Kennedy would eventually learn that the very same dynamics were going on in his own government. By 1963, he would have to bypass his own State Department to continue his correspondence with Khrushchev. Khrushchev's first letter, which was 26 pages long, expressed regret at their inability to connect at the Vienna meeting, most likely due to distrust, which prevented them from working on more mutually beneficial goals. The Premier likened their situation with "Noah's Ark where both the 'clean' and the 'unclean' found sanctuary. But regardless of who lists himself with the 'clean' and who is considered to be 'unclean,' they are all equally interested in one thing and that is that the Ark should successfully continue its cruise. And we have no other alternative; either we should live in peace and cooperation so that the Ark maintains its buoyancy, or else it sinks." A California parole board this month rejected a dramatic plea to release the convicted slayer of 1968 presidential contender Robert F. Kennedy, thereby continuing one of the nation's most notorious murder cover-ups. Kennedy friend Paul Schrade, 91, argued that the accused assassin Sirhan B. Sirhan, firing from Kennedy's front, could not have killed the New York senator in a hotel massacre that left Schrade wounded in June 1968. "Kennedy was a man of justice," Schrade told the parole board Feb. 10 in a prepared statement at a state prison in San Diego, CA. "But, so far," Schrade continued, "justice has not been served in this case. And I feel obliged as both a shooting victim and as an American to speak out about this -- and to honor the memory of the greatest American I've ever known, Robert Francis Kennedy." The board refused to grant clemency despite additional evidence from multiple witnesses and books through the years supporting defense claims that Kennedy (shown with Schrade, at left, in a 1968 photo) was killed from the rear. Robert F. Kennedy and Paul Schrade, 1968 (Image by Paul Schrade) Details DMCA The full text of Schrade's unsuccessful arguments to California's parole board are appended to a longer version of this column on the Justice Integrity Project site, and provide a powerful new dimension to the historical debate regarding the 1968 deaths of Kennedy (widely known as "RFK" in news headlines) and the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. This month was the first time Schrade has made such a verbal plea on behalf of a Sirhan, who is widely regarded by researchers (but not publicly by authorities) as a likely victim of mind-control before he fired at Kennedy, who had left a ballroom at the Ambassador Hotel via a hotel pantry when he was shot. Sirhan, a former race track exercise jockey who disappeared from his family for many weeks shortly before the shooting, has maintained that he could not remember details of his actions, including repetitious entries in his diary "RFK must die!" that defenders describe as a symptom of mind control by unknown perpetrators. Authorities have kept Sirhan in solitary confinement in essence for more than 45 years while his advocates have unsuccessfully argued for a new investigation or clemency. His most recent parole hearing before this year's was in 2011. Schrade addressed his remarks in part to Sirhan. "Sirhan, I forgive you," said Schrade, whom Sirhan shot in the forehead in the pantry. Schrade, shown in a photo courtesy of the documentary film maker Interesting Stuff Entertainment, continued: "The evidence clearly shows you were not the gunman who shot Robert Kennedy." Paul Schrade, courtesy of Interesting Stuff Entertainment (Image by Interesting Stuff Entertainment) Details DMCA Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). In my opinion, the recent OpEdNews article by Mr. Steve Shapiro, entitled "In Colombia Fundamentals Work Better Than Bombs," reveals a total lack of understanding of Colombian and Latin American history as it relates to the social, economic and financial roots of violence, poverty and drugs in the region. (See the article at http://www.opednews.com/articles/In-Colombia-Fundamentals-W-by-Steve-Shapiro-Better-World-Campaign_Bomber_Bullying_Cocaine-140128-52.html?show=votes#13913004867911&action=collapse_widget&id=5303482 .) My first objection to Mr. Shapiro's analysis is that it accepts uncritically the point of view of the Establishment Party, which is to overlook real history and replace it with a model that pretends to be timeless and perfect. That point of view suits those who keep themselves and their progeny at the top of society at the expense of all the rest--it's perfect for them. Those who support social justice, however, cannot overlook real history, since masses of people suffer from the model followed by the criminals in power, who metastasize into one another through the ages. Yet, in his article, Mr. Shapiro does in fact suppress and rewrite history in order to justify the actions of states and governments that have bought into private property and sold it over and over for their own aggrandizement since the dawn of capitalism. His aim seems to be to brainwash his audience into support of the elites, no matter how criminal they are. In developing his anti-historical point of view, Mr. Shapiro demonstrates, first of all, a total ignorance of the origins of underdevelopment as a phenomenon. "Underdevelopment" (Harry Truman is the author of term) is not the first step toward "development" of any kind. Contrary to the thesis of W.W. Rostow, who in my opinion never himself believed a word of what he wrote, "underdevelopment" does not characterize an indigenous slow pace of development, but is a PRODUCT of the First World's development. (The Third World is not "developing"; it is being maintained purposely in a state of underdevelopment.) There is a long history behind this state of affairs. The economies of today's industrialized world first diversified inwards, and then started projecting themselves outwards to the point that Europe almost exhausted its own natural resources. (Japan has barely had any ever.) Colonies were started as extensions of European economies, using slave labor to supply them with the products of mines and plantations. Slaves were, and still are, expropriated of 100% of the surplus value they produce, being thought of as no more than cattle and therefore not entitled to any wage whatsoever. The entire enterprise has been capitalist from the very beginning. Today's ultra-poor Northeast of Brazil was already ultra-rich in Western terms by the 1550s--only 50 years after the Portuguese had discovered Brazil--after it had become the main supplier of sugar to Europe. Andre Gunder Frank (1930-2006), a German-born dissident from the Chicago School of Economics who spent most of his career in Latin America digging into the historical roots of underdevelopment, discovered that the sugar plantations together with the slave trade were financed by the Dutch banks under classical credit conditions (loan ~ profit in money, or in gold, to be paid with interest). Of course, the slaves were the slaves, and the rich were the plantation owners. They were "rich" because they imported everything they wanted from European internal markets, which were diversifying with imports from the tropics while engaging more elites as clients for luxury products. Internal diversification of the economies of the colonies was not an issue. However, as ages passed, slaves and aboriginals proved themselves human in their struggle against the conquerors; imports grew to the point of exhausting colonial economies, which did make internal diversification an issue. Colonial rule thus began to hurt the interests of the elites, who wanted the "free trade" for themselves. This was in fact the root cause behind the push to American independence as well. The young United States of America, however, were interested in expansion over the entire North American continent. It was not like that in South America. There the elites needed free trade with Great Britain, which in fact became the new colonial power over the continent. Thus, the ideals of Bolivar and other founding fathers of Latin American independence were betrayed right from the start. A few adventurers leaving the European continent in the 16th-17th centuries gave way to a massive expulsion of the "not needed" population by European elites prior to WWI. Fifty-million Germans not needed by Bismarck went to nourish American industrialization on conquered lands formerly inhabited by Native American Indians. But, (in addition to Canada, Australia and New Zealand), some formally "independent" Latin American countries, notably Brazil and Argentina, also received a huge influx of European immigrants in the period from the late 19th to the beginning of the 20th century. It is worth noting, however, that the American South developed the same economic and property structures that took root in Latin America and the Caribbean: these involved the export of raw materials based on a massive expropriation of the product of slave labor in exchange for a wide range of products imported for the elites only. This is the trade pattern that defines underdevelopment. (Again, according to Andre Gunder Frank, the interest in products not available in Europe was the primary reason for the creation of colonial extensions.) The economies are anything but self-sustainable, but the elites don't care. (Abolitionists were seen as sort of the "Communists" of the 19th century, while, in Latin America, "Jacobinite" became the ideological term of derision and the basis for persecution.) Jose Manuel Balmaceda, the Chilean President who wanted to achieve self-sustainability, or self-sufficiency, for his country's economy, was forced into suicide in 1891 by groups linked to the interests of foreign capital. These groups posed as the defenders of "free trade" and other "democratic principles," while acting like dictators who eliminate any threat to their very private economic and financial interests by assaulting political power. We still see the same scenario acted out in full today. It may be of interest to note here that it was Balmaceda--not Marx or Che Guevara--who was the main inspiration for Salvador Allende (although Allende, being Chairman of the Chilean Congress, got the remnants of Che Guevara's defeated guerrillas out of Bolivia in 1967). Perhaps the only country in the whole of today's Third World that actually came to achieve full independence--both political and economic--was Paraguay. My article (http://www.opednews.com/articles/Paraguay-A-History-Lesson-by-Guglielmo-Tell-130609-677.html#comment440165 ) tells about the genocide there that was perpetrated in the name of "progress" ("freedom and democracy"). An additional feature needed to complete the picture of imposed underdevelopment is protectionism. Although "free trade" had in previous centuries been championed mostly by Great Britain, America, prior to World War I, was raised both on immigration and BRUTAL PROTECTIONISM (against other industrial powers). The same occurred in Germany, where Bismarck applied guidelines from a manual not popular in today's Northern academia--Friedrich List's "National System of Economy." As seen by the politicians and those in charge of the dominant economic and financial interests of the day, workers, like slaves, were simply a needed nuisance and a coin of exchange in the dealings of the elite. Paraguay was raised on the same protectionism, which resulted in clashes with the elites of surrounding countries. The latter, being formally "independent," kept exporting raw materials and importing everything else, thus depriving their own people of a decent living--and, most importantly, of the chance to achieve it by themselves. Projects targeted at such independence--undertaken by Paraguay, Balmaceda, and the Colombian Republic of Artisans in the mid-19th century--were sunk in blood. Formal Independence, but Continued Economic Exploitation This is the key issue: Unlike Europe and the North of the U.S.A., political independence in the Third World became nothing more than a meaningless formality--a smokescreen. Behind the formal independence, colonial economic structures were continued. These structures were not something the people wanted, but the elites did--as I describe in detail in my earlier article about Paraguay. Until today, the elites of the Third World cut deals with both the elites of the First World and with one another, while forcing their own people to work in slave conditions. The modus operandi is simple: Land is grabbed, resources are grabbed, and goods produced by the people's labor are grabbed--while, at the same time, the people are cut off from all the benefits (and, in many cases, imprisoned in the name of "freedom" in their own countries, which are for them tantamount to concentration camps.) Economic diversification is for the elites only--though it can only be complete when the people themselves are allowed free global movement, in addition to capital and merchandise. Moreover, the sustained survival of humanity as a whole depends on supports such as a universal minimum wage and social benefits that can only come at the expense of the military, luxury for the rich, and a use of resources that must be carefully measured to meet the needs of the human species over time. The Particular Case of Colombia To focus now on Colombia and its particular history of forced underdevelopment: The basic structures for this exploitation were imposed by the traitors to Bolivar. In the course of the 19th century, those structures gave way to several uprisings aimed at achieving FULL independence (notably the Artisan-Military Republic and the Civil War of 1849-1854). Smashing these uprisings led the elites to establish violence as the routine means for solving internal issues in Colombia. (The Vortex, a novel by Jose Eustasio Rivera, offers a fine literary testimony of those times.) Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source. Reprinted from Consortium News A Memo to: Dr. Ben Carson, Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz, John Kasich, Marco Rubio, Bernie Sanders, Dr. Jill Stein, and Donald Trump The media brouhaha over naming your campaign advisers on foreign policy prompts this reminder of a unique resource available, gratis, to all of you. That resource is our nonpartisan group -- Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS). If we were into self-promotion, we would add to our (virtual) letterhead: "serving satisfied customers since 2003." We are about apolitical analysis; we are into spreading unvarnished truth around; we do not shape our analysis toward this or that debating point. Thus, we eschew the moniker "campaign adviser." But that doesn't mean we wouldn't provide apolitical and unvarnished advice to anyone who seeks it. Unique? We are on the outer edge of atypical in the sense that we are a fiercely nonpartisan, tell-it-like-it-is group of professionals with long experience in intelligence and related fields and with no policy or personal axes to grind. We are Republicans, Democrats and Independents. Abundant proof that party preference plays no role in our analysis can be seen in our enviable record -- in the substantive work we have produced over the past 13 years -- both before and after the ill-advised attack on Iraq in March 2003. Also distinguishing us from "campaign advisers," none of us in VIPS lust for a high position in a new administration; none are heavily invested in arms industries; none of us ask for a retainer. In other words, there are no strings attached to the substantive analysis we provide to all our readers and listeners. If objective, disinterested analysis is your cup of tea, we suggest that you check out VIPS's record, to include the multiple warnings we gave President George W. Bush in the months before the attack on Iraq. In fact, VIPS was founded by a handful of former CIA analysts, including me, for the express purpose of warning President Bush that his small coterie of advisers, led by Vice President Dick Cheney, was adducing fraudulent -- not mistaken -- "intelligence" in promoting the concept the war on Iraq. Indeed, in recent years VIPS has been accused of naivete in failing to understand that Bush, to whom we addressed most of our pre-war memos, was fully aware of how Cheney and his cunning co-conspirators and conmen were fabricating the false pretenses for war. We plead guilty to believing that U.S. presidents deserve unspun analysis and to trusting that honest assessments will help presidents act responsibly on behalf of the nation. Call us old-fashioned, but we just found it hard to believe that any U.S. president would justify war on "evidence" made out of whole cloth. Equally difficult to believe was that our former colleagues would acquiesce in the deception. So, despite the doubts that Bush really wanted the real story, we rose to the occasion, nonetheless, and issued three corporate VIPS memoranda before the attack on Iraq: (1) "Today's Speech By Secretary Powell At the UN," February 5, 2003; (2) "Cooking Intelligence for War in Iraq," March 12, 2003; and (3) "Forgery, Hyperbole, Half-Truth: A Problem," March 18, 2003. Our commentary on Secretary of State Colin Powell's UN speech went out on the AFP wire and was widely read -- abroad. Foreign media followed up with us; U.S. media -- not so much. (This is the primary reason you may be learning all this for the first time). During that critical pre-war period we took pains to use whatever entree we had to influential people. For example, I personally sought to reach then-Sen. Hillary Clinton via a key person on her staff, who assured me that the senator was being given our op-eds and our analyses to read. In our memorandum of Feb. 5, 2003, we told President Bush we could give Powell "only a C-minus in providing context and perspective." As for input from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's Pentagon, we told the President: "Your Pentagon advisers draw a connection between war and terrorism, but for the wrong reasons. The connection takes on much more reality in a post-U.S. invasion scenario. [Emphasis in the original] "Indeed, it is our view that an invasion of Iraq would ensure overflowing recruitment centers for terrorists into the indefinite future. Far from eliminating the threat it would enhance it exponentially." Though it went unheeded 13 years ago, the final paragraph of VIPS's first Memorandum for the President seems quite relevant to the current discussion regarding "campaign advisers" on foreign policy. In our same-day memo to the President on Powell's UN speech we noted that he had described what he said as "irrefutable and undeniable." Our final paragraph started with an allusion to those words: "No one has a corner on the truth; nor do we harbor illusions that our analysis is irrefutable or undeniable. But after watching Secretary Powell today, we are convinced that you would be well served if you widened the discussion beyond " those advisers clearly bent on a war for which we see no compelling reason and from which we believe the unintended consequences are likely to be catastrophic." Articles Listed By Date List By Popularity Search Title Date Between Any 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 Any 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 and Any 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 Any 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Page 1 of 7 First Last Back Next 2 3 4 5 6 7 View All SHARE Duck and Cover -- from FEMA Among the 100 booths at the Shinnecock Indian Powwow, an annual event of the Shinnecock Nation on its territory in Southampton, N.Y., was this Labor Day weekend a Federal Emergency Management Agency booth with a flier headed: "Be Prepared For A Nuclear Explosion." Friday, September 16, 2022Among the 100 booths at the Shinnecock Indian Powwow, an annual event of the Shinnecock Nation on its territory in Southampton, N.Y., was this Labor Day weekend a Federal Emergency Management Agency booth with a flier headed: "Be Prepared For A Nuclear Explosion." SHARE "50 Years a Doctor" A physician long active in the New York Metropolitan Area has written a candid and remarkably honest book titled "50 Years A Doctor, The Journey of Sickness and Health, Four Plagues and the Pandemic." Ronald Halweil, M.D., has practiced in New York City and New Jersey. A resident of Southampton on Long Island, he tells first in his book of the changes in medicine through his half-century as a doctor. Thursday, September 8, 2022A physician long active in the New York Metropolitan Area has written a candid and remarkably honest book titled "50 Years A Doctor, The Journey of Sickness and Health, Four Plagues and the Pandemic." Ronald Halweil, M.D., has practiced in New York City and New Jersey. A resident of Southampton on Long Island, he tells first in his book of the changes in medicine through his half-century as a doctor. SHARE "New Space Race Is Going Nuclear" "The New Space Race is Going Nuclear" was the title of an hour webinar presented last week by the American Nuclear Society. The discussion featured five very enthusiastic advocates of using atomic energy in space. Saturday, August 13, 2022"The New Space Race is Going Nuclear" was the title of an hour webinar presented last week by the American Nuclear Society. The discussion featured five very enthusiastic advocates of using atomic energy in space. SHARE Nuclear Waste -- Threat for Millions of Years What should be done about nuclear waste? Kevin Kamps, radioactive waste specialist for the organization Beyond Nuclear, notes that some nuclear waste stays radioactive for millions of years. "Iodine-129 that is produced in reactors has a 15.7 million-year half-life," he points out. Iodine-129 would thus be radioactive for 314 million years. He says of nuclear waste, first, "we should stop making it." Monday, June 27, 2022What should be done about nuclear waste? Kevin Kamps, radioactive waste specialist for the organization Beyond Nuclear, notes that some nuclear waste stays radioactive for millions of years. "Iodine-129 that is produced in reactors has a 15.7 million-year half-life," he points out. Iodine-129 would thus be radioactive for 314 million years. He says of nuclear waste, first, "we should stop making it." (2 comments) SHARE When Hitler Could Have Been Overthrown If the German army had been opposed when Hitler ordered 20,000 troops into the demilitarized Rhineland in 1936, members of the German General Staff, in interrogations by U.S. military officers and intelligence agents, said they would have moved to overthrow Hitler, said Peter Sichel last week. Sichel was an officer of the OSS during World War II and afterwards chief of the CIA base in Berlin. How does this relate to Ukraine? Saturday, March 26, 2022If the German army had been opposed when Hitler ordered 20,000 troops into the demilitarized Rhineland in 1936, members of the German General Staff, in interrogations by U.S. military officers and intelligence agents, said they would have moved to overthrow Hitler, said Peter Sichel last week. Sichel was an officer of the OSS during World War II and afterwards chief of the CIA base in Berlin. How does this relate to Ukraine? (3 comments) SHARE Invasion of Ukraine: "An Illegal War of Aggression." The brutal invasion of Ukraine that Vladimir Putin has had Russia launch and he is leading is an international crime. As the Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy declared yesterday, it is "an illegal war of aggression." The UN Charter, it notes, prohibits the "threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state." Friday, February 25, 2022The brutal invasion of Ukraine that Vladimir Putin has had Russia launch and he is leading is an international crime. As the Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy declared yesterday, it is "an illegal war of aggression." The UN Charter, it notes, prohibits the "threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state." SHARE No Militarization of Space Act Introduced in U.S. Congress A "No Militarization of Space Act" has been introduced in the U.S. Congress. It is sponsored by five members of the House of Representatives led by Representative Jared Huffman who, in a statement, called the U.S. Space Force "costly and unnecessary." . Tuesday, November 2, 2021A "No Militarization of Space Act" has been introduced in the U.S. Congress. It is sponsored by five members of the House of Representatives led by Representative Jared Huffman who, in a statement, called the U.S. Space Force "costly and unnecessary." . (2 comments) SHARE Weapons in Space "Cannot Be Walked Back" "Let's be clear: Deploying weapons in space crosses a threshold that cannot be walked back," says retired U.S. Army Colonel John Fairlamb. And the world is at a crossroads in this regard. Russia and China -- and U.S. neighbor Canada -- have been pressing for an expansion of the Outer Space Treaty that would ban all weapons in space. But the has been opposing this at the United Nations. Friday, April 30, 2021"Let's be clear: Deploying weapons in space crosses a threshold that cannot be walked back," says retired U.S. Army Colonel John Fairlamb. And the world is at a crossroads in this regard. Russia and China -- and U.S. neighbor Canada -- have been pressing for an expansion of the Outer Space Treaty that would ban all weapons in space. But the has been opposing this at the United Nations. SHARE Plutonium, Perseverance and the Spellbound Press With all the media hoopla last week about the Perseverance rover, frequently unreported was that its energy source is plutonium -- considered the most lethal of all radioactive substances -- and nowhere in media that NASA projected 1-in-960 odds of the plutonium being released in an accident on the mission. Wednesday, February 24, 2021With all the media hoopla last week about the Perseverance rover, frequently unreported was that its energy source is plutonium -- considered the most lethal of all radioactive substances -- and nowhere in media that NASA projected 1-in-960 odds of the plutonium being released in an accident on the mission. SHARE Academies Report Urges Nuclear-Powered Rockets for Trips to Mars and Lays Out NASA-U.S. Military "Synergies" A report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine advocates rocket propulsion for U.S. missions to Mars and lays out NASA-U.S. military "synergies." Thursday, February 18, 2021A report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine advocates rocket propulsion for U.S. missions to Mars and lays out NASA-U.S. military "synergies." SHARE Biden Must Inspect America's Embrittled Nuclear-Power Plants Of all the daunting tasks Joe Biden faces, especially vital is the inspection of dangerously embrittled atomic reactors still operating in the United States. Wednesday, February 3, 2021Of all the daunting tasks Joe Biden faces, especially vital is the inspection of dangerously embrittled atomic reactors still operating in the United States. (1 comments) SHARE The Leadership Institute -- Training Operation for Right-Wingers We're familiar with Fox, the TV propaganda arm of the Trump administration, remaining a far right-wing outlet under Rupert Murdoch. And we're becoming aware of other radical-right efforts to indoctrinate people. But largely flying under the radar has been the training operation for right-wingers to be taught to work the media, infiltrate government and otherwise promote a right-wing agenda--the Leadership Institute. Monday, January 25, 2021We're familiar with Fox, the TV propaganda arm of the Trump administration, remaining a far right-wing outlet under Rupert Murdoch. And we're becoming aware of other radical-right efforts to indoctrinate people. But largely flying under the radar has been the training operation for right-wingers to be taught to work the media, infiltrate government and otherwise promote a right-wing agenda--the Leadership Institute. (1 comments) SHARE "Our position...is a resounding no" -- to letting nuclear plants run for 100 years The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission held a "public meeting" this week on allowing nuclear power plants to run for 100 years. "Our position and that of our constituents is a resounding no," declared Paul Gunter, director of the Reactor Oversight Project at the national organization Beyond Nuclear. Friday, January 22, 2021The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission held a "public meeting" this week on allowing nuclear power plants to run for 100 years. "Our position and that of our constituents is a resounding no," declared Paul Gunter, director of the Reactor Oversight Project at the national organization Beyond Nuclear. SHARE Trump and His Key Long Island Enablers Donald Trump has gotten pivotal support from a father and daughter combination of billionaire Robert Mercer and Rebekah Mercer functioning out of Suffolk County on Long Island. Suffolk, further, has been the base of one of the most ardent Trump devotees in the U.S. Congress, Lee Zeldin. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, Jr. bought a residence in Suffolk --in the Hamptons--and there's been discussion of his running for Congress. Saturday, January 16, 2021Donald Trump has gotten pivotal support from a father and daughter combination of billionaire Robert Mercer and Rebekah Mercer functioning out of Suffolk County on Long Island. Suffolk, further, has been the base of one of the most ardent Trump devotees in the U.S. Congress, Lee Zeldin. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, Jr. bought a residence in Suffolk --in the Hamptons--and there's been discussion of his running for Congress. SHARE Donald Trump Has Been the Worst President in the History of the United States Donald Trump has been the worst president in the history of the United States. The attack by his supporters on the Capitol was a capstone of his presidency -- lawless, an attack on democracy, a U.S. counterpart of the rise of Nazism in Germany in the 1930s. Friday, January 8, 2021Donald Trump has been the worst president in the history of the United States. The attack by his supporters on the Capitol was a capstone of his presidency -- lawless, an attack on democracy, a U.S. counterpart of the rise of Nazism in Germany in the 1930s. (4 comments) SHARE Asking for Nuclear Disaster -- NRC Considers Extending Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses to 100 Years Nuclear power plants when they began being constructed were not seen as running for more than 40 years because of radioactivity embrittling metal parts and otherwise causing safety problems. But the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has extended the operating licenses of nuclear power plants from 40 years to 60 years and then 80 years, and is now considering 100 years. "It is crazy," declares Robert Alvarez, a nuclear expert. Friday, January 1, 2021Nuclear power plants when they began being constructed were not seen as running for more than 40 years because of radioactivity embrittling metal parts and otherwise causing safety problems. But the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has extended the operating licenses of nuclear power plants from 40 years to 60 years and then 80 years, and is now considering 100 years. "It is crazy," declares Robert Alvarez, a nuclear expert. (1 comments) SHARE The Push for Nuclear Power in Space -- and Musk Wants to Nuke Mars Last week a SpaceX rocket exploded in a fireball. What if nuclear materials had been aboard. A major push is on too use nuclear power in space. And meanwhile, Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, has been touting the detonation of nuclear bombs on Mars to, he says, "transform it into an Earth-like planet." His SpaceX is selling T-shirts emblazoned with the words "Nuke Mars." Wednesday, December 16, 2020Last week a SpaceX rocket exploded in a fireball. What if nuclear materials had been aboard. A major push is on too use nuclear power in space. And meanwhile, Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, has been touting the detonation of nuclear bombs on Mars to, he says, "transform it into an Earth-like planet." His SpaceX is selling T-shirts emblazoned with the words "Nuke Mars." SHARE Trial to Be Scheduled on National Nuclear Laboratory Impacting Neighbors A trial is to be scheduled on lawsuit charging radioactive discharged from Brookhaven National Laboratory causing cancer and other illnesses in nearby communities. This follows settlements with two groups of plaintiffs. Friday, November 20, 2020A trial is to be scheduled on lawsuit charging radioactive discharged from Brookhaven National Laboratory causing cancer and other illnesses in nearby communities. This follows settlements with two groups of plaintiffs. (1 comments) SHARE FDR's Last Speech -- An Extraordinarily Articulate Plea for Peace "The work, my friends, is peace. More than an end of this war, an end to the beginnings of all war." These were the words of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the speech he would never give. It was scheduled to be made on the radio to a Jefferson Day Dinner on April 13, 1945. But he died on April 12th, a day after reviewing and making several changes in the final draft. Friday, October 9, 2020"The work, my friends, is peace. More than an end of this war, an end to the beginnings of all war." These were the words of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the speech he would never give. It was scheduled to be made on the radio to a Jefferson Day Dinner on April 13, 1945. But he died on April 12th, a day after reviewing and making several changes in the final draft. SHARE Robocall Scourge We are being subject to a scourge of robocalls. Robocall Index reports 58 robocalls were made in the U.S. in 2019, up from 48.7 billion in 2018. In New York, a bill -- which passed its State Senate last year -- is pending in the State Assembly. The "Robocall Prevention Act" provides that a robocall can only be "made with the prior express consent of the called party." That's an ideal remedy and should go national. Friday, September 18, 2020We are being subject to a scourge of robocalls. Robocall Index reports 58 robocalls were made in the U.S. in 2019, up from 48.7 billion in 2018. In New York, a bill -- which passed its State Senate last year -- is pending in the State Assembly. The "Robocall Prevention Act" provides that a robocall can only be "made with the prior express consent of the called party." That's an ideal remedy and should go national. Page 1 of 7 First Last Back Next 2 3 4 5 6 7 View All Articles Listed By Date List By Popularity Search Title Date Between Any 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 Any 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 and Any 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 Any 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Page 1 of 5 First Last Back Next 2 3 4 5 View All (8 comments) SHARE JFK Murder Documents, Deadlines, Disclosures, Disputes The Biden Administration's recent delay in releasing the final trove of classified documents pertaining to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy tees up three annual research conferences scheduled this month during the anniversary of JFK's slaying in downtown Dallas. Tuesday, November 9, 2021The Biden Administration's recent delay in releasing the final trove of classified documents pertaining to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy tees up three annual research conferences scheduled this month during the anniversary of JFK's slaying in downtown Dallas. (10 comments) SHARE "Murder," Ellsberg said: Recapping This Year's Whistleblower Summit Might former President Trump and key advisors be liable on murder charges for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans from the coronavirus pandemic? The iconic "Pentagon Papers" whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg raised that question in a keynote address at the just-concluded annual Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival that continues to empower whistleblowers and encourages others to stand for truth and justice. Sunday, August 1, 2021Might former President Trump and key advisors be liable on murder charges for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans from the coronavirus pandemic? The iconic "Pentagon Papers" whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg raised that question in a keynote address at the just-concluded annual Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival that continues to empower whistleblowers and encourages others to stand for truth and justice. (1 comments) SHARE High Courts Disgrace Themselves To Help GOP Rig U.S. Voting During Pandemic Conservative majorities in the Wisconsin and U.S. Supreme Courts ruled separately on Monday to rig the April 7 elections in Wisconsin with the effect and doubtless the intention of helping Republicans win the presidential swing state and retain control of the state legislature by stifling Democratic votes in November. Tuesday, April 7, 2020Conservative majorities in the Wisconsin and U.S. Supreme Courts ruled separately on Monday to rig the April 7 elections in Wisconsin with the effect and doubtless the intention of helping Republicans win the presidential swing state and retain control of the state legislature by stifling Democratic votes in November. (3 comments) SHARE Don The Con Has Blood On His Hands The numbers tell the basic story. Donald John Trump learned from U.S. intelligence channels the threat posed by China's coronavirus on Jan. 22. He thwarted testing and other health safety preparations. As of March 1, the U.S. reported just 89 cases. By the end of this week, the New York Times was reporting that figure as more than 300,000 U.S. cases, causing more than 8,000 deaths. Sunday, April 5, 2020The numbers tell the basic story. Donald John Trump learned from U.S. intelligence channels the threat posed by China's coronavirus on Jan. 22. He thwarted testing and other health safety preparations. As of March 1, the U.S. reported just 89 cases. By the end of this week, the New York Times was reporting that figure as more than 300,000 U.S. cases, causing more than 8,000 deaths. (19 comments) SHARE WTC 7 Not Destroyed by Fire, Concludes Final University of Alaska Fairbanks Report The destruction of the 47-story World Trade Center Building 7 in New York City late in the afternoon of September 11, 2001, was not a result of fires, according to the much-anticipated final report issued on March 25 by researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Friday, March 27, 2020The destruction of the 47-story World Trade Center Building 7 in New York City late in the afternoon of September 11, 2001, was not a result of fires, according to the much-anticipated final report issued on March 25 by researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). (114 comments) SHARE Lawyers To Petition DoJ Demanding 9/11 Grand Jury Investigation of WTCs 1, 2 and 7 A federal grand jury should investigate the collapse of the World Trade Center towers during the 9/11 attacks, according to a petition that an expert lawyers group plans to file on April 10 in New York City's federal court. The 54-page petition and its 57 exhibits provide evidence that pre-installed explosives were used to destroy the three WTC buildings during the attack on Sept. 11, 2001. Monday, April 9, 2018A federal grand jury should investigate the collapse of the World Trade Center towers during the 9/11 attacks, according to a petition that an expert lawyers group plans to file on April 10 in New York City's federal court. The 54-page petition and its 57 exhibits provide evidence that pre-installed explosives were used to destroy the three WTC buildings during the attack on Sept. 11, 2001. (11 comments) SHARE The Washington Post's 'Breakthrough' on the MLK Murder For the fiftieth anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s murder, the Washington Post last week overcame its tainted history of softball coverage and published a hard-hitting account quoting the King family's disbelief in the guilt of convicted killer James Earl Ray. Saturday, April 7, 2018For the fiftieth anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s murder, the Washington Post last week overcame its tainted history of softball coverage and published a hard-hitting account quoting the King family's disbelief in the guilt of convicted killer James Earl Ray. (27 comments) SHARE Using JFK and 9/11 Research To Decode Fake News Researchers into the causes of President Kennedy's assassination and the 9/11 attacks hold an advantage over most others in deciphering news about national security intrigues that rely on dubious evidence Thursday, January 19, 2017Researchers into the causes of President Kennedy's assassination and the 9/11 attacks hold an advantage over most others in deciphering news about national security intrigues that rely on dubious evidence (7 comments) SHARE Noted Swedish Journalist, Assange Critic Exposed As Police Agent Martin Fredriksson, a winner of a major investigative reporting prize in 2014 for his work exposing right-wing groups opposed to NATO, has been secretly paid for years by Sapo, the Swedish Security Service. In deep intrigue that resembles a spy novel, Fredriksson's work in left-wing, pro-NATO and anti-WikiLeaks commentary undermines conventional wisdom that journalists must work independently. Sunday, March 20, 2016Martin Fredriksson, a winner of a major investigative reporting prize in 2014 for his work exposing right-wing groups opposed to NATO, has been secretly paid for years by Sapo, the Swedish Security Service. In deep intrigue that resembles a spy novel, Fredriksson's work in left-wing, pro-NATO and anti-WikiLeaks commentary undermines conventional wisdom that journalists must work independently. (12 comments) SHARE RFK Murder Cover-Up Continues After Dramatic Parole Hearing A California parole board this month rejected a dramatic plea to release the convicted slayer of 1968 presidential contender Robert F. Kennedy, thereby continuing one of the nation's most notorious murder cover-ups. Friday, February 26, 2016A California parole board this month rejected a dramatic plea to release the convicted slayer of 1968 presidential contender Robert F. Kennedy, thereby continuing one of the nation's most notorious murder cover-ups. (4 comments) SHARE Moralist Ken Starr Explains His Help For Billionaire Pervert Jeffrey Epstein Famed educator and legal scholar Ken Starr led a forum last week at the National Press Club to inspire faith-based instruction -- and then was asked to describe why he had helped billionaire Jeffrey Epstein avoid serious prison time in 2008 on allegations Epstein had molested dozens of underage girls. Monday, February 9, 2015Famed educator and legal scholar Ken Starr led a forum last week at the National Press Club to inspire faith-based instruction -- and then was asked to describe why he had helped billionaire Jeffrey Epstein avoid serious prison time in 2008 on allegations Epstein had molested dozens of underage girls. (1 comments) SHARE Shackled Siegelman Typifies White House 'Human Rights' Charade Federal authorities continued this month their remarkably harsh, unjust treatment of the nation's most famous political prisoner, former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman. The U.S. legal jihad against Siegelman persists even as the Obama administration separately cites "human rights" as the rationale for U.S. foreign interventions. Tuesday, December 30, 2014Federal authorities continued this month their remarkably harsh, unjust treatment of the nation's most famous political prisoner, former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman. The U.S. legal jihad against Siegelman persists even as the Obama administration separately cites "human rights" as the rationale for U.S. foreign interventions. (5 comments) SHARE Let's Learn From Gruber's 'Stupid' Remarks On Health Care We can learn a lot from the public-relations drubbing that Republicans are inflicting on Jonathan Gruber. He is the recently humbled MIT economist who has been a much-cited expert on the Obama administration's health care plan. Monday, December 22, 2014We can learn a lot from the public-relations drubbing that Republicans are inflicting on Jonathan Gruber. He is the recently humbled MIT economist who has been a much-cited expert on the Obama administration's health care plan. (7 comments) SHARE Former House JFK Murder Prober Alleges CIA 'Lied,' Seeks Hidden Records Did the CIA try to thwart the nation's last investigation of President Kennedy's assassination? "The CIA not only lied, it actively subverted the investigation," says G. Robert Blakey, the former general counsel of the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA), which issued its report in 1979. Monday, October 20, 2014Did the CIA try to thwart the nation's last investigation of President Kennedy's assassination? "The CIA not only lied, it actively subverted the investigation," says G. Robert Blakey, the former general counsel of the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA), which issued its report in 1979. (23 comments) SHARE Cuban Exile Militant Claims CIA Meeting With Oswald Before JFK Killing A former Cuban exile anti-Castro militant told a conference audience Sept. 26 in a blockbuster revelation that he saw accused presidential assassin Lee Harvey Oswald with their mutual CIA handler six weeks before the killing and there would have been no anti-Castro movement in Cuba without the CIA funding. Wednesday, October 1, 2014A former Cuban exile anti-Castro militant told a conference audience Sept. 26 in a blockbuster revelation that he saw accused presidential assassin Lee Harvey Oswald with their mutual CIA handler six weeks before the killing and there would have been no anti-Castro movement in Cuba without the CIA funding. (11 comments) SHARE Revelations Mark This Month's 50th JFK Warren Report Anniversary Those appalled by the nation's drift away from the Constitution can benefit from a rare opportunity this month. Sept. 26 marks the 50th anniversary of the Warren Commission's report on President John F. Kennedy's murder. Thursday, September 11, 2014Those appalled by the nation's drift away from the Constitution can benefit from a rare opportunity this month. Sept. 26 marks the 50th anniversary of the Warren Commission's report on President John F. Kennedy's murder. (6 comments) SHARE Siegelman's Judge Charged with Beating Wife, Affair With Clerk Atlanta police this weekend alleged wife-beating by the Alabama judge who helped railroad into prison former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman. The story opens a rare window in the mainstream media regarding the judge instrumental in the frame-up of Alabama's leading Democrat and the imposition of one-party rule. Monday, August 11, 2014Atlanta police this weekend alleged wife-beating by the Alabama judge who helped railroad into prison former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman. The story opens a rare window in the mainstream media regarding the judge instrumental in the frame-up of Alabama's leading Democrat and the imposition of one-party rule. (48 comments) SHARE 9/11 Commission's Forum Shows How DC 'Works' Members of 9/11 Commission last week leveraged the 10th anniversary of their report to announce a dozen recommendations primarily fanning fears of foreign terrorism. Sunday, July 27, 2014Members of 9/11 Commission last week leveraged the 10th anniversary of their report to announce a dozen recommendations primarily fanning fears of foreign terrorism. (8 comments) SHARE Media Self-Censorship Suppresses 3 Key Elements From Obama Foreign Policy Analysis The mainstream media typically self-censor discussion of sensitive topics that might undermine the bipartisan support in congress for "The Intelligence-Industrial Complex," a modern successor to "The Military-Industrial Complex" denounced by President Eisenhower during his Farewell Address in 1961. Among verboten topics are reminders of the constitutional requirements founders created for war-making. Monday, June 2, 2014The mainstream media typically self-censor discussion of sensitive topics that might undermine the bipartisan support in congress for "The Intelligence-Industrial Complex," a modern successor to "The Military-Industrial Complex" denounced by President Eisenhower during his Farewell Address in 1961. Among verboten topics are reminders of the constitutional requirements founders created for war-making. (116 comments) SHARE Don't Be Fooled By 'Conspiracy Theory' Smears Most of us still rely heavily on the mainstream media to complement our information from other sources, in this article Kreig urges readers to evaluate evidence with an open mind, and to regard with special suspicion those commentators who slant their coverage with the loaded smear words "conspiracy theory" without citing specific evidence. Thursday, May 29, 2014Most of us still rely heavily on the mainstream media to complement our information from other sources, in this article Kreig urges readers to evaluate evidence with an open mind, and to regard with special suspicion those commentators who slant their coverage with the loaded smear words "conspiracy theory" without citing specific evidence. Page 1 of 5 First Last Back Next 2 3 4 5 View All India not to withdraw army from Siachen: Indian Defence Minister NEW DELHI: India ruled out on Friday withdrawal of army personnel from Siachen Glacier and said Pakistan might occupy the strategic area if India vacated it. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said in Lok Sabha that vacating Siachen could lead to greater loss of lives. I know we have to pay the price and I salute our armed forces personnel. But we have to maintain this position... The position is very important from the strategic point, he said while replying to questions about the recent death of 10 soldiers in an avalanche at the glacier. I dont think anyone in this house can take Pakistans word for granted... If we vacate the position, the enemy can occupy the position and they will have the strategic advantage. Then we will have to lose many more lives. We know the experience of 1984 (conflict), he said. India occupies the highest point at Siachen Glacier, the Saltoro Ridge, which is located at 23,000 feet. On Feb 3, an avalanche hit an army post at a forward location on the glacier, leaving 10 soldiers dead. The minister said that 915 people had lost their lives in the last 32 years at Siachen, which came to 28 lives per year. This had now been reduced to 10 lives a year. Karachi BRT more beautiful than Lahore metro bus 27 February, 2016 Related News Imran Khan distributed loan cheques under Kamyab Jawan Programme PTI govt to face all challenges coming its way: Imran khan More on this View All Tips for Taking Incredible iPhone Travel Photos Top 2021 Accessories We Know You Will Love Types of Casino Payment Methods Best Poker Hands ever played on a Casino Are Slot Developers Important for players? Hand Wash and Toiletries in Pakistan And the Role of DUPAS in Reshaping the Industry Woke Bingo KARACHI: "It will be more beautiful than the Lahore metro bus," Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told his audience during the groundbreaking ceremony of Karachi's Green Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system held at Nazimabad area's Anu Bhai Park on Friday. Upon his arrival in Karachi earlier, Premier Nawaz was received by CM Qaim, Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad Khan and Director General Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar at the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Faisal air base. "The elevated section is 11.7 kilometres long and 7.7km is the length of the section on the ground," he said. "There will be 22 bus stations and separate lanes for coming and going." The Green Line was to meet the Blue Line at Gurumandir and then go on to Tower, he said, adding that because work was delayed on the Blue Line, he asked for the Green Line to be extended to the central business district. The BRT will make life easy for residents of the areas it passes through, he said. Lauding the transparency, efficiency and cost-savings on the project, the premier was hopeful it would be completed by next year, but "can't promise it will be complete by April or May". Work will start on the Lyari Expressway in March, for which the federal government has released Rs1.9 billion already, he said. He said work on the Karachi-Hyderabad motorway has started, while construction of the Hyderabad-Sukkur section of the motorway will be set to start within a month. The Sukkur-Multan and Multan-Lahore sections will also start soon, he said. "These are mega projects that not only close distances, but also brings people's hearts closer," the prime minister said. The prime minister also attended a high-level meeting which discussed the law and order situation of the city. "In Karachi, kidnapping, ransom, extortion, murder and crime have decreased to a great extent. I said now that crime in Karachi is declining, we have to proceed with resolve so the city remains free of crime," he said. "We will not halt the operation until the city of lights begins to shine again," he said. "Karachi could have been the best city in South Asia, but we went off track and things kept getting worse. Now we are trying to fix things and need everyone to cooperate." Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah thanked the PM for cooperating with the Sindh government on the mass transit project. He said the Green Line will stretch from Surjani to Saddar. "It will be 18 kilometres long," he said. "There are five other lines to complete," he said, adding, "We will try to complete them in two, two and a half years." "However, Karachi is also in need of power and water. In that matter, the prime minister said the federal government will partner with Sindh fifty-fifty. These projects have been started... and we hope the bulk of them will be completed within two and a half years." Qaim took notice of the improved security situation in Karachi and praised the Rangers and police for ensuring the city and province remain peaceful. Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad said work on the Lyari Expressway will be started within ten days, and construction of the various BRT lines has been started. He requested the PM to help the Sindh government with the planned Malir Expressway "a new artery" for Karachi and the Circular Railway and asked him to order that the projects be expedited. The Green Line starts at Surjani Town and is to end at Municipal Park, M.A. Jinnah Road and will benefit nearly 300,000 passengers per day, Radio Pakistan reported. The project is expected to be completed within one year. The prime minister first announced the project at a high level meeting in July 2014. The project is to be completed with an estimated cost of Rs16.85 billion, which will be funded by the federal government, an official said earlier. Also Read: Qaim asks Centre to bear all expenses of bus project The project aims to construct a bus-way, dedicated for BRT vehicles, in the median of roads along the entire length of proposed route. The bus stations will be built in the median, with ground-level and elevated sections with the purpose of providing high speed and high capacity service. Seven corridors had been identified under the Karachi Master Plan for introducing the mass transit system. The design capacity of the proposed BRT system with passing lanes provision will increase based on the number of direct and express services run between stations in the future, as required. Special Assistant to the CM Omer Rehman Malik had said that the project, which would be a 26km-long route with 24 stations, had been designed to provide transport to 150,000 commuters daily and it would be completed by 2017. According to a report released last year, compiled by renowned city planner and architect Arif Hasan with Mansoor Raza stated that Karachi, a city of an estimated 22 million people, had roughly 9,527 operational minibuses, as compared to the 22,313 it had in 2011. The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) had said that an additional 8,676 large buses are required to fill the shortfall. Out of the citys 329 official bus routes, only 111 are currently being operated, while the others have been abandoned because they are not considered lucrative by the transporters. Starting with the Karachi Improvement Trust (KIT) in 1950, a detailed history of nine successive government-sponsored bus initiatives in the public transport sector showed that all the planned projects eventually collapsed due to mismanagement, inefficiency or a lack of follow-through on promises made to private partners. While several of the initiatives were initially successful, most collapsed under financial strain, the report says. These failures include, but are not limited to: the KIT (1950-57); Karachi Transport Syndicate (1957-58); Karachi Road Transport Corporation (1959-67); Sindh Road Transport Corporation (1967-77); and the Karachi Transport Corporation (1977-96). Police detained two drivers from Mamnoon Hussain convoy LAHORE: Police on Friday detained two drivers from President Mamnoon Hussains convoy at Lahores Church Chowk and moved them to an unknown location for interrogation, an official confirmed. The president, who is on a one-day visit to Punjabs capital, was on his way back after attending a ceremony at the Pearl Continental Hotel when his convoy was stopped at Church Chowk in the citys Cantonment area, CCPO Lahore Ameen Wains told reporters. He said two cars part of the motorcade were moving slower than they were supposed to, adding that both drivers had been picked up for questioning. DIG Haider Ashraf told Dawn that security in the provincial capital was on high alert and special check posts were established due to the president's visit. "There was a general hold up on Friday for two hours," said the DIG About Me Bagsy Born Beeston, Notts 1946, my family moved to Dorset 1959. Joined the Royal Navy age 15 years and 50 days serving 10 years. In frigates firstly then over 5 years in the Submarine Service as a Seaman/Diver, reaching the dizzy heights of Leading Seaman, before leaving to join the Merchant Service, working in Ocean Salvage and Harbour Tugs, passenger / cargo ships, trials vessels, etc. Qualified as Mate (Chief Officer) in 1976 and as Master (Captain) in 1978. For my final 20 years of 47 I worked in the Offshore Oil Industry initially on the drilling rig Stena Hunter, then the accommodation barge Borgland Dolphin and finally the Floating Production Platform Buchan Alpha. On the rigs I forged a number of long lasting friendships several of whom shared some of my extensive travels. Setting foot on Caymen, Bermuda, Bahamas and The Azores in March 2013 brought my countries / autonimous regions total to 148. The best, undoubtedly, was Antarctica, followed by Australia, Mongolia, Belize, Zimbabwe, China and Madagascar, in no particular order. Love to all our readers, your in my thoughts. Bagsy View my complete profile Meteorologist Paul Douglas writes about Minnesota weather daily, trying to go beyond the "highs" and "lows" of the weather story to discuss current trends and some of the how's and why's of meteorology. Rarely is our weather dull - every day is a new forecast challenge. Why is the weather doing what it's doing? Is climate change a real concern, and if so, how will my family be affected? Climate is flavoring all weather now, and I'll include links to timely stories that resonate with me. Victoria Smith, killed by black adoptive parents at age 3 (Isaiah 62:1) A 19th century Democrat political poster below: Leftist tolerance African immigrants in the Western world Bloomberg JFK knew Leftist dogmatism Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner once turned down a dinner invitation to the Kennedy White House because it was a hundred miles away. Thats a long distance to travel only to get some food. -- Geert Wilders The most beautiful woman in the world? I think she was. Yes: It's Agnetha Faltskog /> A beautiful baby is king -- with blue eyes, blond hair and white skin. How incorrect can you get? Kristina Pimenova, once said to be the most beautiful girl in the world. Note blue eyes and blonde hair Enough said A face of Leftist hate: Cory Booker, (D-NJ) There really is an actress named Donna Air. She seems a pleasant enough woman, though What feminism has wrought: There's actually some wisdom there. The dreamy lady says she is holding out for someone who meets her standards. The other lady reasonably replies "There's nobody there". Standards can be unrealistically high and feminists have laboured mightily to make them so Some bright spark occasionally decides that Leftism is feminine and conservatism is masculine. That totally misses the point. If true, how come the vote in American presidential elections usually shows something close to a 50/50 split between men and women? And in the 2016 Presidential election, Trump won 53 percent of white women, despite allegations focused on his past treatment of some women. Political correctness is Fascism pretending to be manners Political Correctness is as big a threat to free speech as Communism and Fascism. All 3 were/are socialist. A good thought from Thomas Sowell: "The phrase "glass ceiling" is an insult to our intelligence. What does glass mean, except that we cannot see it? In other words, in the absence of evidence, we are expected to go along with what is said because it is said in accusatory and self-righteous tones." The problem with minorities is not race but culture. For instance, many American black males fit in well with the majority culture. They go to college, work legally for their living, marry and support the mother of their children, go to church, abstain from crime and are considerate towards others. Who could reasonably object to such people? It is people who subscribe to minority cultures -- black, Latino or Muslim -- who can give rise to concern. If antisocial attitudes and/or behaviour become pervasive among a group, however, policies may reasonably devised to deal with that group as a whole The American Psychological Association is generally Left-leaning but it is the world's most prestigious body of academic psychologists. And even they (under the chairmanship of Ulric Neisser) have had to concede a large gap (one SD) in black vs. white average IQ. Black lives DON'T matter -- to other blacks. The leading cause of death among young black males is attack by other young black males Leftist logic: There are allegedly no distinctions between groups of humans, yet we're still supposed to celebrate diversity. Identity politics is a form of racism 'White Privilege'. .. Oh yes. .. That was abundant in the Irish potato famines. ... And in the Scottish Highland Clearances. ...And in transportations to Australia. ... And in Workhouses. ... 'White privilege' was absolutely RIFE! Psychological defence mechanisms such as projection play a large part in Leftist thinking and discourse. So their frantic search for evil in the words and deeds of others is easily understandable. The evil is in themselves. Leftist motivations are fundamentally Fascist. They want to "fundamentally transform" the lives of their fellow citizens, which is as authoritarian as you can get. We saw where it led in Russia and China. The "compassion" that Leftists parade is just a cloak for their ghastly real motivations Occasionally I put up on this blog complaints about the privileged position of homosexuals in today's world. I look forward to the day when the pendulum swings back and homosexuals are treated as equals before the law. To a simple Leftist mind, that makes me "homophobic", even though I have no fear of any kind of homosexuals. But I thought it might be useful for me to point out a few things. For a start, I am not unwise enough to say that some of my best friends are homosexual. None are, in fact. Though there are two homosexuals in my normal social circle whom I get on well with and whom I think well of. Of possible relevance: My late sister was a homosexual; I loved Liberace's sense of humour and I thought that Robert Helpmann was marvellous as Don Quixote in the Nureyev ballet of that name. Bible references on homosexuality: Romans 1:27; Jude 1:7; 1 Timothy 1:8-11; Mark 10:6-9; Matthew 19: 4-16; 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11; 1 Corinthians 7:2; Leviticus 18:22; Leviticus 20:13; Genesis 19:4-8 One may say that the person who gets in trouble with drugs is just as dumb without them I record on this blog many examples of negligent, inefficient and reprehensible behaviour on the part of British police. After 13 years of Labour party rule they have become highly politicized, with values that reflect the demands made on them by the political Left rather than than what the community expects of them. They have become lazy and cowardly and avoid dealing with real crime wherever possible -- preferring instead to harass normal decent people for minor infractions -- particularly offences against political correctness. They are an excellent example of the destruction that can be brought about by Leftist meddling. I also record on this blog much social worker evil -- particularly British social worker evil. The evil is neither negligent nor random. It follows exactly the pattern you would expect from the Marxist-oriented indoctrination they get in social work school -- where the middle class is seen as the enemy and the underclass is seen as virtuous. So social workers are lightning fast to take children away from normal decent parents on the basis of of minor or imaginary infractions while turning a blind eye to gross child abuse by the underclass "In the end every feminism ends up being a machismo with a skirt" -- Pope Francis, February 23, 2019 Racial differences in temperament: Chinese are more passive even as little babies The genetics of crime: I have been pointing out for some time the evidence that there is a substantial genetic element in criminality. Some people are born bad. See here, here, here, here (DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12581) and here, for instance" Gender is a property of words, not of people. Using it otherwise is just another politically correct distortion -- though not as pernicious as calling racial discrimination "Affirmative action" Postmodernism is fundamentally frivolous. Postmodernists routinely condemn racism and intolerance as wrong but then say that there is no such thing as right and wrong. They are clearly not being serious. Either they do not really believe in moral nihilism or they believe that racism cannot be condemned! Postmodernism is in fact just a tantrum. Post-Soviet reality in particular suits Leftists so badly that their response is to deny that reality exists. That they can be so dishonest, however, simply shows how psychopathic they are. So why do Leftists say "There is no such thing as right and wrong" when backed into a rhetorical corner? They say it because that is the predominant conclusion of analytic philosophers. And, as Keynes said: "Madmen in authority, who hear voices in the air, are distilling their frenzy from some academic scribbler of a few years back Children are the best thing in life. See also here. Juergen Habermas, a veteran leftist German philosopher stunned his admirers not long ago by proclaiming, "Christianity, and nothing else, is the ultimate foundation of liberty, conscience, human rights, and democracy, the benchmarks of Western civilization. To this day, we have no other options [than Christianity]. We continue to nourish ourselves from this source. Everything else is postmodern chatter." Consider two "jokes" below: Q. "Why are Leftists always standing up for blacks and homosexuals? A. Because for all three groups their only God is their penis" Pretty offensive, right? So consider this one: Q. "Why are evangelical Christians like the Taliban? A. They are both religious fundamentalists" The latter "joke" is not a joke at all, of course. It is a comparison routinely touted by Leftists. Both "jokes" are greatly offensive and unfair to the parties targeted but one gets a pass without question while the other would bring great wrath on the head of anyone uttering it. Why? Because political correctness is in fact just Leftist bigotry. Bigotry is unfairly favouring one or more groups of people over others -- usually justified as "truth". One of my more amusing memories is from the time when the Soviet Union still existed and I was teaching sociology in a major Australian university. On one memorable occasion, we had a representative of the Soviet Womens' organization visit us -- a stout and heavily made-up lady of mature years. When she was ushered into our conference room, she was greeted with something like adulation by the local Marxists. In question time after her talk, however, someone asked her how homosexuals were treated in the USSR. She replied: "We don't have any. That was before the revolution". The consternation and confusion that produced among my Leftist colleagues was hilarious to behold and still lives vividly in my memory. The more things change, the more they remain the same, however. In Sept. 2007 President Ahmadinejad told Columbia university that there are no homosexuals in Iran. It is widely agreed (with mainly Lesbians dissenting) that boys need their fathers. What needs much wider recognition is that girls need their fathers too. The relationship between a "Daddy's girl" and her father is perhaps the most beautiful human relationship there is. It can help give the girl concerned inner strength for the rest of her life. A modern feminist complains: "We are so far from having it all that we barely even have a slice of the pie, which we probably baked ourselves while sobbing into the pastry at 4am." Patriotism does NOT in general go with hostilty towards others. See e.g. here and here and even here ("Ethnocentrism and Xenophobia: A Cross-Cultural Study" by anthropologist Elizabeth Cashdan. In Current Anthropology Vol. 42, No. 5, December 2001). The love of bureaucracy is very Leftist and hence "correct". Who said this? "Account must be taken of every single article, every pound of grain, because what socialism implies above all is keeping account of everything". It was V.I. Lenin "An objection I hear frequently is: Why should we tolerate intolerance? The assumption is that tolerating views that you dont agree with is like a gift, an act of kindness. It suggests were doing people a favour by tolerating their view. My argument is that tolerance is vital to us, to you and I, because its actually the presupposition of all our freedoms. You cannot be free in any meaningful sense unless there is a recognition that we are free to act on our beliefs, were free to think what we want and express ourselves freely. Unless we have that freedom, all those other freedoms that we have on paper mean nothing" -- SOURCE RELIGION: Antisemitism in the Koran Although it is a popular traditional chant, the "Kol Nidre" should be abandoned by modern Jewish congregations. It was totally understandable where it originated in the Middle Ages but is morally obnoxious in the modern world and vivid "proof" of all sorts of antisemitic stereotypes What the Bible says about the transexual craze: The male-female distinction is the only innate human distinction God cares about: God created mankind in his own image . . . male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27). He created them male and female and blessed them (Genesis 5:2). No ethnic or racial distinction matters in Genesis, only the male-female distinction. What the Bible says about homosexuality: "Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind; It is abomination" -- Lev. 18:22 In his great diatribe against the pagan Romans, the apostle Paul included homosexuality among their sins: "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature. And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.... Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them" -- Romans 1:26,27,32. So churches that condone homosexuality are clearly post-Christian Although I am an atheist, I have great respect for the wisdom of ancient times as collected in the Bible. And its condemnation of homosexuality makes considerable sense to me. In an era when family values are under constant assault, such a return to the basics could be helpful. Nonetheless, I approve of St. Paul's advice in the second chapter of his epistle to the Romans that it is for God to punish them, not us. In secular terms, homosexuality between consenting adults in private should not be penalized but nor should it be promoted or praised. In Christian terms, "Gay pride" is of the Devil The homosexuals of Gibeah (Judges 19 & 20) set in train a series of events which brought down great wrath and destruction on their tribe. The tribe of Benjamin was almost wiped out when it would not disown its homosexuals. Are we seeing a related process in the woes presently being experienced by the amoral Western world? Note that there was one Western country that was not affected by the global financial crisis and subsequently had no debt problems: Australia. In September 2012 the Australian federal parliament considered a bill to implement homosexual marriage. It was rejected by a large majority -- including members from both major political parties. The tide turned in 2017, however, with a public vote authorizing homosexual marriage in Australia Religion is deeply human. The recent discoveries at Gobekli Tepe suggest that it was religion not farming that gave birth to civilization. Early civilizations were at any rate all very religious. Atheism is mainly a very modern development and is even now very much a minority opinion "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" - Isaiah 5:20 (KJV) I think it's not unreasonable to see Islam as the religion of the Devil. Any religion that loves death or leads to parents rejoicing when their children blow themselves up is surely of the Devil -- however you conceive of the Devil. Whether he is a man in a red suit with horns and a tail, a fallen spirit being, or simply the evil side of human nature hardly matters. In all cases Islam is clearly anti-life and only the Devil or his disciples could rejoice in that. And there surely could be few lower forms of human behaviour than to give abuse and harm in return for help. The compassionate practices of countries with Christian traditions have led many such countries to give a new home to Muslim refugees and seekers after a better life. It's basic humanity that such kindness should attract gratitude and appreciation. But do Muslims appreciate it? They most commonly show contempt for the countries and societies concerned. That's another sign of Satanic influence. And how's this for demonic thinking?: "Asian father whose daughter drowned in Dubai sea 'stopped lifeguards from saving her because he didn't want her touched and dishonoured by strange men' Islamic terrorism isnt a perversion of Islam. Its the implementation of Islam. It is not a religion of the persecuted, but the persecutors. Its theology is violent supremacism. And where Muslims tell us that they love death, the great Christian celebration is of the birth of a baby -- the monogenes theos (only begotten god) as John 1:18 describes it in the original Greek -- Christmas! No wonder so many Muslims are hostile and angry. They have little companionship from women and not even any companionship from dogs -- which are emotionally important in most other cultures. Dogs are "unclean" Some advice from Martin Luther: Esto peccator et pecca fortiter, sed fortius fide et gaude in christo qui victor est peccati, mortis et mundi: peccandum est quam diu sic sumus. Vita haec non est habitatio justitiae Latina est immortalis On all my blogs, I express my view of what is important primarily by the readings that I select for posting. I do however on occasions add personal comments in italicized form at the beginning of an article. I am rather pleased to report that I am a lifelong conservative. Out of intellectual curiosity, I did in my youth join organizations from right across the political spectrum so I am certainly not closed-minded and am very familiar with the full spectrum of political thinking. Nonetheless, I did not have to undergo the lurch from Left to Right that so many people undergo. At age 13 I used my pocket-money to subscribe to the "Reader's Digest" -- the main conservative organ available in small town Australia of the 1950s. I have learnt much since but am pleased and amused to note that history has since confirmed most of what I thought at that early age. I imagine that the the RD is still sending mailouts to my 1950s address! Germaine Greer is a stupid old Harpy who is notable only for the depth and extent of her hatreds Even Mahatma Gandhi was profoundly unimpressed by Africans http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/42197/20121106-1520/jonjayray.comuv.com/ There are also two blogspot blogs which record what I think are my main recent articles here and here . Similar content can be more conveniently accessed via my subject-indexed list of short articles here or here (I rarely write long articles these days)If the link to one of my articles is not working, the article concerned can generally be viewed by prefixing to the filename the following: Selected pictures from blogs (Backup here Another picture page (Rarely updated)(My frequent reads are starred)Email me here (Hotmail address).The archives provided by blogspot below are rather inconvenient. They break each month up into small bits. If you want to scan whole months at a time, the backup archives will suit better. See here or here Fire Chief Tiffany Green has named veteran Emmy award-winning television reporter and former police media manager, Jennifer Donelan, as Director of Public Information for the Prince Georges County Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department. I am extremely proud to have selected Jennifer to represent the men and women of this Department. We know how deeply dedicated she is to the residents of this County, to ensuring transparency and to championing the work of those who have dedicated their lives to serve the community, said Chief Green. Donelan most recently served as the Director of Media Relations at the Prince Georges County Police Department for more than three years. During her tenure, she helped lead the Department through several headline-grabbing cases with a commitment to factual, transparent, and timely reporting and expanded the agencys Spanish-language communications with the creation of new social media channels and a new Civilian PIO position. Donelan spe Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Published by an old curmudgeon who came to America in 1936 as a refugee from Nazi Germany and proudly served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He is a former law enforcement officer and a retired professor of criminal justice who, in 1970, founded the Texas Narcotic Officers Association. BarkGrowlBite refuses to be politically correct. (Copyrighted articles are reproduced in accordance with the copyright laws of the U.S. Code, Title 17, Section 107.) Germany: Migrant Crime Skyrockets Translations of this item: Danish Dutch French German Hebrew Italian Portuguese Swedish The actual number of crimes in Germany committed by migrants in 2015 may exceed 400,000. The report does not include crime data from North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state in Germany and also the state with the largest number of migrants. North Rhine-Westphalia's biggest city is Cologne, where, on New Year's Eve, hundreds of German women were sexually assaulted by migrants. "For years the policy has been to leave the [German] population in the dark about the actual crime situation... The citizens are being played for fools. Rather than tell the truth, they [government officials] are evading responsibility and passing blame onto the citizens and the police." Andre Schulz, director, Association of Criminal Police, Germany. 10% of the migrants from the chaos in Iraq and Syria have reached Europe so far: "Eight to ten million migrants are still on the way." Gerd Muller, Development Minister. Bild. This figure represents an 80% increase over 2014 and works out to around 570 crimes committed by migrants every day, or 23 crimes each hour, between January and December 2015. The actual number of migrant crimes is far higher, however, because the report, produced by the Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt, BKA), includes only crimes that have been solved (aufgeklarten Straftaten). Aufklarungsquote). This implies that the actual number of crimes committed by migrants in 2015 may exceed 400,000. Moreover, the report -- "Crime in the Context of Immigration" (Kriminalitat im Kontext von Zuwanderung) -- includes data from only 13 of Germany's 16 federal states. The report does not include crime data from North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state in Germany and also the state with the largest number of migrants. North Rhine-Westphalia's biggest city is Cologne, where, on New Year's Eve, hundreds of German women were sexually assaulted by migrants. It is not yet clear why those crimes were not included in the report. The report also lacks crime data from Hamburg, the second-largest city in Germany, and Bremen, the second most populous city in Northern Germany. Further, many crimes are simply not reported or are deliberately overlooked: political leaders across Germany have According to the report, most of the crimes were committed by migrants from: Syria (24%), Albania (17%), Kosovo (14%), Serbia (11%), Afghanistan (11%), Iraq (9%), Eritrea (4%), Macedonia (4%), Pakistan (4%) and Nigeria (2%). Most of the migrant crimes involved theft (Diebstahl): 85,035 incidents in 2015, nearly twice as many as in 2014 (44,793). Those were followed by property and forgery crimes (Vermogens- und Falschungsdelikte): 52,167 incidents in 2015. In addition, in 2015, migrants were involved in 36,010 reported cases of assault, battery and robbery (Rohheitsdelikte: Korperverletzung, Raub, rauberische Erpressung), roughly twice as many as in 2014 (18,678). There were also, in 2015, 28,712 reported incidents of fare evasion on public transportation (Beforderungserschleichung). There were 1,688 reported sexual assaults against women and children, including 458 rapes or acts of sexual coercion (Vergewaltigungen oder sexuelle Notigungshandlungen). According to the report, migrants were accused of 240 attempted murders (Totschlagsversuch), in 2015, compared to 127 in 2014. In two-thirds of the cases, the perpetrators and victims were of the same nationality. There were 28 actual murders: migrants killed 27 other migrants, as well as one German. Finally, the report said that 266 individuals were suspected of being jihadists posing as migrants; 80 of these were determined not to be jihadists; 186 cases are still being investigated. The infiltration of jihadists into the country, according to the report, is "a growing trend." The report leaves far more questions than answers. It remains unclear, for example, how German police define the term "migrant" (Zuwanderer) when compiling crime statistics. Does this term refer only to those migrants who arrived in Germany in 2015, or to anyone with a migrant background? If the report refers only to recently arrived migrants -- Germany received just over one million migrants from Africa, Asia and the Middle East in 2015 -- this would imply that at least 20% of the migrants who arrived in Germany in 2015 are criminals. But if the number of crimes committed by migrants is actually twice as high as the report states, then at least 40% of newly arrived migrants are criminals. Yet the report asserts: "The vast majority of asylum seekers are not involved in criminal activity." Also, for reasons that are not given, the report fails to include offenses committed by North Africans, long Police in Bremen, Germany are shown detaining four young North African criminals who have been terrorizing local shopkeepers. (Image source: ARD video screenshot) In Hamburg, police say they are helpless to confront a spike in crimes committed by young North African migrants. Hamburg is now home to more than 1,000 so-called unaccompanied minor migrants (minderjahrige unbegleitete Fluchtlinge, MUFL), most of whom live on the streets and apparently engage in all manner of criminal acts. A confidential report, Die Welt, reveals that Hamburg police have effectively capitulated to the migrant youths, who outnumber and overwhelm them. The document states: "Even the smallest issue can quickly lead to aggressive offensive and defensive behavior. The youths come together in groups to stand up for each other and also to fight each other... "When dealing with others, the youths are often irreverent and show a lack of respect for local values and norms. The youths congregate mainly in the downtown area, where they can be seen almost every day. During the daytime, they hang out mostly in the St. George district, but in the evenings they carry out their activities in the Binnenalster, Flora- and Sternschanzenpark and St. Pauli [all across central Hamburg]. They usually appear in groups; up to 30 youths have been observed on weekend nights in St. Pauli. The behavior of these highly delinquent youths towards police officers can be characterized as aggressive, disrespectful and condescending. They are signaling that they are indifferent to police measures... "The youths quickly become conspicuous, mainly in the domains of pickpocketing or street robbery. They also break into homes and vehicles, but the crimes are often reported as trespassing or vandalism because the youths are just looking for a place to sleep. Shoplifting for obtaining food is commonplace. When they are arrested, they resist and assault [the police officers]. The youths have no respect for state institutions." The paper reports that German authorities are reluctant to deport the youths back to their countries of origin because they are minors. As a result, as more unaccompanied minors arrive in Hamburg each day, the crime problem not only persists, but continues to grow. Meanwhile, in a bid to save the city's tourism industry, Hamburg police have launched a In Stuttgart, police are fighting a In Dresden, migrants from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia have effectively taken control over the iconic Wiener Platz, a large public square in front of the central train station. There they German authorities have repeatedly been accused of Bund Deutscher Kriminalbeamter, BDK), Andre Schulz. He "For years the policy has been to leave the [German] population in the dark about the actual crime situation... The citizens are being played for fools. Rather than tell the truth, they [government officials] are evading responsibility and passing blame onto the citizens and the police." In an apparent effort to defuse escalating political tensions, Germany's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt fur Migration und Fluchtlinge, BAMF) on February 16 only 500,000 new migrants to arrive in the country in 2016. In December 2015, however, BAMF director Frank-Jurgen Weise Bild that "this figure [500,000] is only being used for 'resource planning' because at this time we cannot say how many people will come in 2016." On January 1, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) In a January 9 Bild, Development Minister Gerd Muller warned that the biggest refugee movements to Europe are still to come. He said that only 10% of the migrants from the chaos in Iraq and Syria have reached Europe so far: "Eight to ten million migrants are still on the way." Adding to the uncertainty: On February 18, senior security officials from Austria, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia all countries along the so-called Balkan Route, which hundreds of thousands of migrants are using to enter the European Union Soeren Kern is a Senior Fellow at the New York-based Gatestone Institute. He is also Senior Fellow for European Politics at the Madrid-based Grupo de Estudios Estrategicos / Strategic Studies Group. Follow him on Facebook and on Twitter. His first book, Global Fire, will be out in 2016. Migrants committed 208,344 crimes in 2015, according to a confidential police report that was leaked to the German newspaper,. This figure represents an 80% increase over 2014 and works out to around 570 crimes committed by migrants every day, or 23 crimes each hour, between January and December 2015.The actual number of migrant crimes is far higher, however, because the report, produced by the Federal Criminal Police Office (), includes only crimes that have been solved (). According to Statista , the German statistics agency, on average only around half of all crimes committed in Germany in any given year are solved (). This implies that the actual number of crimes committed by migrants in 2015 may exceed 400,000.Moreover, the report -- "Crime in the Context of Immigration" () -- includes data from only 13 of Germany's 16 federal states.The report does not include crime data from North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state in Germany and also the state with the largest number of migrants. North Rhine-Westphalia's biggest city is Cologne, where, on New Year's Eve, hundreds of German women were sexually assaulted by migrants. It is not yet clear why those crimes were not included in the report.The report also lacks crime data from Hamburg, the second-largest city in Germany, and Bremen, the second most populous city in Northern Germany.Further, many crimes are simply not reported or are deliberately overlooked: political leaders across Germany have ordered police to turn a blind eye to crimes perpetrated by migrants, apparently to avoid fueling anti-immigration sentiments.According to the report, most of the crimes were committed by migrants from: Syria (24%), Albania (17%), Kosovo (14%), Serbia (11%), Afghanistan (11%), Iraq (9%), Eritrea (4%), Macedonia (4%), Pakistan (4%) and Nigeria (2%).Most of the migrant crimes involved theft (): 85,035 incidents in 2015, nearly twice as many as in 2014 (44,793). Those were followed by property and forgery crimes (): 52,167 incidents in 2015.In addition, in 2015, migrants were involved in 36,010 reported cases of assault, battery and robbery (), roughly twice as many as in 2014 (18,678). There were also, in 2015, 28,712 reported incidents of fare evasion on public transportation ().There were 1,688 reported sexual assaults against women and children, including 458 rapes or acts of sexual coercion ().According to the report, migrants were accused of 240 attempted murders (), in 2015, compared to 127 in 2014. In two-thirds of the cases, the perpetrators and victims were of the same nationality. There were 28 actual murders: migrants killed 27 other migrants, as well as one German.Finally, the report said that 266 individuals were suspected of being jihadists posing as migrants; 80 of these were determined not to be jihadists; 186 cases are still being investigated. The infiltration of jihadists into the country, according to the report, is "a growing trend."The report leaves far more questions than answers. It remains unclear, for example, how German police define the term "migrant" () when compiling crime statistics. Does this term refer only to those migrants who arrived in Germany in 2015, or to anyone with a migrant background?If the report refers only to recently arrived migrants -- Germany received just over one million migrants from Africa, Asia and the Middle East in 2015 -- this would imply that at least 20% of the migrants who arrived in Germany in 2015 are criminals. But if the number of crimes committed by migrants is actually twice as high as the report states, then at least 40% of newly arrived migrants are criminals. Yet the report asserts: "The vast majority of asylum seekers are not involved in criminal activity."Also, for reasons that are not given, the report fails to include offenses committed by North Africans, long known to be responsible for an increase in crimes in cities and towns across Germany.In Hamburg, police say they are helpless to confront a spike in crimes committed by young North African migrants. Hamburg is now home to more than 1,000 so-called unaccompanied minor migrants (), most of whom live on the streets and apparently engage in all manner of criminal acts.A confidential report, leaked to, reveals that Hamburg police have effectively capitulated to the migrant youths, who outnumber and overwhelm them. The document states:The paper reports that German authorities are reluctant to deport the youths back to their countries of origin because they are minors. As a result, as more unaccompanied minors arrive in Hamburg each day, the crime problem not only persists, but continues to grow.Meanwhile, in a bid to save the city's tourism industry, Hamburg police have launched a crackdown on purse-snatchers. More than 20,000 purses -- roughly 55 a day -- are stolen in the city each year. According to Norman Gromann, the director of the federal police inspector's office in Hamburg, 90% of the purses are stolen by males between the ages of 20 and 30 who come from North Africa or the Balkans.In Stuttgart, police are fighting a losing battle against migrant gangs from North Africa who are dedicated to the fine art of pickpocketing.In Dresden, migrants from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia have effectively taken control over the iconic Wiener Platz, a large public square in front of the central train station. There they sell drugs and pickpocket passersby , usually with impunity. Police raids on the square have become a game of "whack-a-mole," with a never-ending number of migrants replacing those who have been arrested.German authorities have repeatedly been accused of underreporting the true scale of the crime problem in the country. For example, up to 90% of the sex crimes committed in Germany in 2014 do not appear in the official statistics, according to the head of the Association of Criminal Police (), Andre Schulz. He said In an apparent effort to defuse escalating political tensions, Germany's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees () on February 16 said it was expecting500,000 new migrants to arrive in the country in 2016. In December 2015, however, BAMF director Frank-Jurgen Weise told that "this figure [500,000] is only being used for 'resource planning' because at this time we cannot say how many people will come in 2016."On January 1, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated that 1.3 million asylum seekers would enter the European Union annually during 2016 and 2017.In a January 9 interview with, Development Minister Gerd Muller warned that the biggest refugee movements to Europe are still to come. He said that only 10% of the migrants from the chaos in Iraq and Syria have reached Europe so far: "Eight to ten million migrants are still on the way."Adding to the uncertainty: On February 18, senior security officials from Austria, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia all countries along the so-called Balkan Route, which hundreds of thousands of migrants are using to enter the European Union agreed to coordinate the joint transport of migrants from the Macedonia-Greece border all the way to Austria, from where they will be sent to Germany. Follow Soeren Kern on Twitter and Facebook 2016 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute. The shenanigans of the SA branch of the Labor Party just gets worse and worse. The Federal Executive of the Party should intervene to stop this madness. What follows is a post I received this evening from my friend Maggie Dawkins about her daughter Alice's courageous decision to take on the power brokers and seek preselection for the seat of Spence. "Alice innocently exercised her right as an ordinary member of the Labor Party to nominate for Spence. What she may inadvertently have stumbled upon is a done deal agreed to by faceless power brokers of the Left and Right factions. Ordinary members have not been consulted, but it is all leaking out as Alice calls the SA Party office to account. It appears that many members may not be comfortable with this done deal, as they are contacting me, not only as Alices mum, but also as a board member of Whistle Blowers Australia. Is the deal correct? Who knows? Perhaps time will tell? We know that some of it is correct, for example, Ni State Sen. Elizabeth Little, R-Queensbury said fluency in French language would have been helpful when she visited the National Assembly of Quebec. My biggest regret was my five years of French many years ago didnt come through for me. I can read a little bit of it, but it takes time, and they talk fast, she said in a telephone interview on Thursday. Little was in Quebec Monday and Tuesday for a signing ceremony of a new collaboration agreement between chambers of commerce in New York and Quebec. It was so fascinating to see how they operate, she said, of the 125-member unicameral Assembly. The 70 members of the majority party sit on one side of the chamber, facing members of two smaller opposition parties, who sit across from the majority. At least we all face the front, she said. Four women who are independent sit in the back. Three of them are in one party, but youre not recognized as a party there until you have 12 members, Little said. They have this question and answer period. And 45 minutes before each session, the opposition gets up and questions the cabinet members, she continued. I mean this one guy was hollering, and pretty soon the other side started laughing and booing and teasing him. And I thought, Wow! Of course it was all in French, and I had no idea what they were saying. The Queen of England has the final say. What surprised me the most is after the Assembly has passed legislation, then it does not become a law until the representative of the Queen of England signs it, Little said. Click here to read more about the Quebec visit. You may have read The Associated Press account earlier this week about the $10 million in donations from defense contractors given to Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee, including our own Rep. Elise Stefanik. But while Stefanik has received just $56,000 during her first year in office, other members of the committee, including its chairman Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), has received nearly $1 million in contributions. The donations bothered our editorial board members and we wrote an editorial to remind our readers that this is how the government works. By early afternoon on Thursday the day the editorial ran we had received a letter to the editor from Rep. Thornberry, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. I had no idea that our little community newspaper had such reach. Yes, the sarcasm is intended. We suspect that after the national AP story started showing up in newspapers around the country, that Rep. Thornberry had a generic letter to the editor drawn up to submit to newspapers that had editorialized against the practice. Or maybe Rep. Thornberry is really worried about the opinions of the editorial board in Glens Falls, NY. I suspect someone on his staff actually drafted the letter. It is questionable whether Rep. Thornberry even saw the letter, or perhaps he is just email challenged. The actual letter was sent to us by Claude Chafin, the communications director of the House Armed Services Committee. Another great use of taxpayer money. - Ken Tingley CAMBRIDGE | Erling Stiansen, 95, a World War II veteran of Cambridge, exited peacefully into the arms of his Savior and Lord as Hymns were being sung around his bed at his Center Cambridge home on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. His wife, pastor and a dear friend were present. Born in Grimstad, Norway, he immigrated to the United States with his family of five siblings, he was the baby at the age of 5 1/2. He grew up in the Norwegian area of Brooklyn and was schooled at the General Pershing High School and was fluent in Norwegian and English. He was drafted into the United States Army where he served in Europe on the front lines and narrowly escaped death. A life-time member of the Evangelical Lutheran Brethren Church of Brooklyn, N.Y., he was a devout Christian of great faith, a gentle loving soul with a big kind heart and full of humor. Blessed with a rich beautiful voice, he sang his way through life, ministering in churches and maintaining a happy home. He was a master carpenter of Empire State Carpenters in Albany and was also a farmer at heart. Successful in three marriages and armed with love from three generations of nieces, nephews, in-laws and a church family, he enjoyed a long, wonderful and comfortable life. Cambridge was his home for nearly 60 years and his home church was the Coila Church. He was predeceased by his entire original family as well as his first and second wives, Evelyn Brun and June Wick, respectively and also a sister, Dorothea Thorsen and brothers, Alf, Sigfred and Johan Stiansen. He is survived by his wife of almost 11 years, Grace Crawford Stiansen, and a host of nieces and nephews. Calling hours will be from 10 a.m. to noon Monday, Feb. 29, at the Coila Church, 93 State Route 372, Cambridge. A funeral service will begin and the conclusion of the calling hours at noon. Everyone is welcome to join Erlings family for a reception in the church hall following the service. Interment with military honors will be at a later date in Woodlands Cemetery in Cambridge. Memorial contributions may be made to the Coila Church for Missions, 93 Route 372, Cambridge, New York. 12816. To offer online condolences, please visit the following website: www.gariepyfuneralhomes.com. Funeral arrangements are with the Ackley, Ross & Gariepy Funeral Home, 73 West Main St., Cambridge, New York. QUEENSBURY Developer Ed Moore plans to construct a three-story, 79-room Fairfield Inn and Suites on the east side of Big Boom Road, behind Carl Rs restaurant. His proposal is the latest of three new hotels planned in the vicinity of Northway Exit 18 in Queensbury, for a combined total of 268 new hotel rooms. The town Planning Board is scheduled to review the project at its meeting a 7 p.m. March 15, and the town Zoning Board of Appeals at its meeting at 7 p.m. March 16. Both meetings are at Queensbury Center. Spruce Hospitalty Group, the applicant, is a limited liability group headed by Moore, said Jonathan Lapper, a lawyer representing the group. Moores son and several other investors also are in the group, Lapper said. Moore owns French Mountain Commons and Log Jam outlet malls on Route 9 on the east side of Queensbury, and he recently bought the historic J.E. Sawyer building on Glen Street in Glens Falls, across from the Glens Falls Civic Center. Moore is secretary and a major investor in Adirondack Civic Center Coalition, the private business group that is leasing the Civic Center with an option to buy it. Fairfield Inn and Suites, part of the Marriott chain, is oriented to business travelers, according to the chains website. The inns feature guest room suites with separate sleeping and business quarters. The group is seeking relief from height restrictions and minimum lot width requirements for zoning in the Main Street district. The Zoning Board also is scheduled to review the two other hotel projects at the March 16 meeting. Developer Bhavik Jariwala plans to construct a four-story, 89-room Hilton Homes2Suites hotel on the south side of Corinth Road, behind Taco Bell. Developer Jerry Nudi plans to build a four-story, 100-room Holiday Inn Express on the north side of Corinth Road, next to McDonalds restaurant. If you have ever lost a loved one to a heart attack, you know how devastating it can be. Heart attacks often strike suddenly, with little warning and no opportunity to get the victim to the hospital in time for life-saving treatment. It leaves those left behind wondering if something more could have been done. Thats why we are on our feet cheering for Glens Falls Hospitals new At Any Moment campaign to promote CPR training and the use of automated external defibrillators when someone has suffered a heart attack. A quick poll of our editorial board revealed that several of us had never had any CPR training, and those of us that did acknowledged it was years ago and a refresher course was needed. The hospital announced its program this past week at a news conference, telling the story of how Harry Ralph restarted Terry Archards heart after he suffered a heart attack at the Price Chopper in Granville. Ralph, who had been trained in CPR at his job at Green Mountain Power Co., started chest compressions and then used an automated external defibrillator to restart Archards heart. Both were at the news conference. Dr. David Judkins, a cardiologist with Adirondack Cardiology, spoke to the hospital board of directors about how Ralph saved Archards life. That kicked off a series of events that culminated in the hospitals At Any Moment program. After hearing the story, Gary Hicks, a hospital board member, suggested board members and senior management staff should do CPR training. Another board member said he had arranged CPR classes for his employees, and he had purchased four defibrillators. That led to the hospital offering five free CPR classes with 12 participants in each class. Post-Star reporter Maury Thompson covered the news conference and our newspaper played his story prominently on the front page. It struck a chord with our readers. At Any Moment: The Glens Falls Hospital Community CPR Challenge is meeting with an overwhelming response, the hospital reported to us the day after the story ran. The hospitals first five free CPR classes were fully booked just one day after being announced, and six additional classes have been scheduled. Before we heard about the interest, our editorial board discussed reaching out to have CPR training done for Post-Star employees. We are currently in the process of doing that. We suspect the six new classes will be quickly filled as well. Being a good citizen means being ready to help a neighbor who is in trouble. Glens Falls Hospitals CPR program will help us all to be better neighbors. It deserves a standing ovation. N. IOWA AT EVANSVILLE In the MVC the tie breaker for teams that end up tied at the end of the regular season as it relates to seeding for the post season tournament is will be decided by using Jim Sukup's RPI Report of Sunday morning, Feb. 28. The team with the better RPI will receive the higher seed. Evansville comes in tied for second with Illinois St. at 12-5. UNI comes in tied with SIU for 4th at 10-7. Jim Sukup RPI (as of Feb. 25): 41 Wichita State; 82 Evansville;103 Illinois State; 109 Northern Iowa; 123 Southern Illinois; 179 Indiana State; 215 Loyola; 234 Missouri State; 296 Bradley; 319 Drake. UNI won the first meeting 57-54 in Cedar Falls. These two are pretty close up and down the line on the stat sheet. The one big edge Evansville has is their inside play. In the first meeting they doubled up UNI in points in the paint 32-16. With Evansville being the home team I look for more of the same plus a better showing from outside the arc. I like the home team to win this one by high single digits. 3* #556 EVANSVILLE -4 -110 ADDED MVC PLAYS: 2* #541 LOYOLA-CHICAGO -2 -120 2* #590 SIU -8 -120 Happy Saturday Pregame! Another full slate of Big 12 action offers up some interesting match-ups. Last week I ventured outside the Big 12 for my Best Play and got my head handed to me. Not sure I've ever missed a game as badly as I missed Miami/North Carolina last Saturday. This week, I'm staying in the Big 12 for my top plays. And we'll start at the very top: Play of the Day: TCU +8.5 vs Baylor I wouldn't be surprised if TCU wins this game outright. As a Baylor alum, I hope that doesn't happen. This is a horrible scheduling spot for Baylor. They lost the heartbreaker to Kansas on Tuesday in Waco and they have Oklahoma next Tuesday in Norman. In between, a trip to last place TCU, a team Baylor beat by 28 points in January. TCU lost its last two at Iowa State and at Texas Tech, but put up highly respectable efforts in both. The Frogs lost by 9 at Iowa State (as a 17.5 underdog), and had Texas Tech on the ropes in Lubbock before the Raiders pulled out a 4 point win. The Frogs actually led that game by 12 at the half. Now, they come home to play Baylor, in something of a rivalry game for TCU. This really looks like the type of game that Baylor could go in the tank while TCU plays inspired ball. Definitely play TCU to cover the spread at home. Oklahoma PK at Texas The Sooners beat the Horns on a last second 3 a couple of weeks ago in Norman after trailing by 9 at the half. The Horns get their revenge, right? Maybe not. The Sooners have stepped it up a notch this past week, with an impressive win at West Virginia, followed by a trampling of Oklahoma State at home. Meanwhile, the Horns were mauled by Baylor at home last Saturday, and struggled to eeke out a 1 point win at Kansas State. The key to this game will be Oklahoma's ability to handle the UT press and turn their break opportunities into points. I look for the Sooners to get it done Saturday in Austin. Kansas State +9.5 at Iowa State Iowa State is really struggling, and I am not liking the way they are playing since the Jameel McKay suspension. Plus, there is a betting pattern here that says take the Wildcats. It's K-State or nothing here, and I might take a chance with a small bet on the Cats. West Virginia -6.5 at Oklahoma State At this point, I think OSU is mailing it in. Travis Ford is a dead man walking in my opinion. I'll pass, but it's West Virginia or nothing here for me. Kansas -13 vs Texas Tech I'll pass, but it's Kansas or nothing here. KU is playing for their 12th straight Big 12 title, they are at home, the Jayhawks have won - and covered - 8 in a row. They won a game in Waco Tuesday night that they had no business winning. Others that I am looking at Virginia -3.5 vs North Carolina Kentucky -1.5 at Vanderbilt Arizona +3 at Utah Google Alert - Hotels Google Alerts - Hotels Bogus South Shields hotels: Police warning after 'job offer' emails request personal details Two new hotels coming to Rancho Cucamonga Pacifica Hotels Purchases San Simeon Pines Resort S.A. hotels boomed in last decade, but Austin and Dallas are gaining ground New Luxury Hotels in Bali, Macau, Bhutan Miami Beach voters to decide on new 25-story hotel for convention center Newcastle Hotels Condo Hotels Playa del Carmen Restaurant Becomes First to Receive 5-Star Diamond Award from ... San Simeon Pines hotel in Cambria is sold Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Debuts its First Ever International Resort in Punta Cana Research Analysts' Weekly Ratings Updates for Host Hotels and Resorts (HST) Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Announces the 4th Annual Pebby Award Winners API Reference Hotels.com's Captain Obvious Runs for President Police: Wanted Fugitive Targets Hotels And Restaurants Dunai Hotel Erin Andrews Accuses Hotels Of Giving Her Stalker Rooms Next To Her When He Asked Five historic hotels you have to visit in Wales Hotels don't actually appear to be that scared of Airbnb yet Trump Hotels Rolls Out Enhanced Loyalty Program Bogus South Shields hotels: Police warning after 'job offer' emails request personal details Posted: 26 Feb 2016 10:00 PM PST Two sets of homes in South Shields have been promoted as hotels in recent weeks and police are investigating whether any crime has been ... Two new hotels coming to Rancho Cucamonga Posted: 26 Feb 2016 06:15 PM PST Construction gets underway at the future site of Fairfield Inn Hotel near Pittsburgh Avenue and Mission Vista Drive in Rancho Cucamonga, CA on ... Pacifica Hotels Purchases San Simeon Pines Resort Posted: 26 Feb 2016 06:15 PM PST Pacifica Hotels announced yesterday that it has acquired San Simeon Pines Seaside Resort in Cambria, CA. With this addition, Pacifica Hotels now ... S.A. hotels boomed in last decade, but Austin and Dallas are gaining ground Posted: 26 Feb 2016 05:41 PM PST The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa has become San Antonio's most lucrative hotel by far since opening in January 2010 at a cost ... New Luxury Hotels in Bali, Macau, Bhutan Posted: 26 Feb 2016 04:33 PM PST From a colonial coconut plantation in Sri Lanka to the tallest tower in Jakarta, Indonesia, these six hotels take travelers inside the rich cultures of their ... 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Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Debuts its First Ever International Resort in Punta Cana Posted: 26 Feb 2016 02:41 PM PST Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana, the brand-new, five-star resort, is set to open May 2016, and is backed by the signature Karisma Gourmet ... Research Analysts' Weekly Ratings Updates for Host Hotels and Resorts (HST) Posted: 26 Feb 2016 02:07 PM PST 2/22/2016 Host Hotels and Resorts had its price target lowered by analysts at Barclays from $19.00 to $17.00. They now have an equal weight ... Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Announces the 4th Annual Pebby Award Winners Posted: 26 Feb 2016 01:30 PM PST HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE: PEB) (the Company) today announced the winners of its fourth annual ... API Reference Posted: 26 Feb 2016 01:05 PM PST Access to your Hotel List Feed via the Hotels API. To get started: Read Using the APIs to get an overview of how the APIs are accessed. Set up OAuth ... Hotels.com's Captain Obvious Runs for President Posted: 26 Feb 2016 12:56 PM PST Captain Obvious of Hotels.com has decided to join the 2016 presidential race. And he's doing so in the best way he knows how, by physically running. Police: Wanted Fugitive Targets Hotels And Restaurants Posted: 26 Feb 2016 12:48 PM PST Police say hotels and restaurants tend to be Sermeno's main targets. Sermeno is described as a 6-foot-1, thin white male with brown hair and brown ... Dunai Hotel Posted: 26 Feb 2016 12:28 PM PST Dunai Mini Hotel, overview, photos, location, rooms and rates, services and facilities, cheap rates reservation. Erin Andrews Accuses Hotels Of Giving Her Stalker Rooms Next To Her When He Asked Posted: 26 Feb 2016 12:26 PM PST In court this week for the Fox broadcaster's civil suit against a Nashville hotel, Erin Andrews's lawyer claimed that the hotel disclosed her room number ... 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Email delivery powered by Google Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States Full house might be the best way to describe the current state of affairs at the Beatrice Municipal Airport. All of the airports single-plane hangars are fully occupied, airport manager Diana Smith said. The airports current occupancy of 38 planes has the remaining open hangar space nearing capacity, and is more than Smith said she can remember in her time there. Its a great problem to have, she said. A major recent construction project at the airport reflects its busy usage. The north-south runway recently underwent a total reconstruction, which is now complete except for a few finishing touches. The project was sponsored in large part by the Federal Aviation Administration, Smith said, in order to provide a smooth landing for all the planes stationed in Beatrice and the many aircraft that fly in for a visit or to refuel. The airports second, diagonal runway is slated for reconstruction in 2018. The FAA will supply 90 percent of the funds for the project, Smith said. Smith said annual traffic through the airport is about 10 to 12 thousand operations per year landing and takeoff are each counted as a separate operation. Many of those incoming and outgoing planes also purchase fuel while theyre on the ground Smith said every year the airport sells 20,000 gallons of jet fuel and 30,000 gallons of low-lead fuel for other aircraft. Some of that flight traffic is from local pilots, but visitors from outside the area make up a significant portion, and those visitors can have a big impact, economically speaking. Smith said the last time the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics did an economic impact study was in 2003, but even then the numbers spoke volumes. Between employment, hangar and property rental, fuel, food, overnight stays and other expenditures, the Beatrice airport had a $2.3 million impact on the community. There are a variety of businesses that take advantage of the airport. Day-to-day operations include two air applicators going out to spray crops, and sometimes pilots fly in to pick up small mechanical parts for delivery, Smith said. More eventful days might include a visit from representatives of a national corporation. Smith said having an active, well-maintained airport is a plus for the community when companies are considering establishing operations here. Airport Authority board chairman Joe Hawkins agreed. People dont realize how many businesses use the airport. It does a lot to help the economy, he said. Hawkins said the runway projects are the big focus for the airport for the next few years. But, new hangar space is a definite need at the moment, he said, although plans arent currently in place for any hangar construction. He added that an easier project which might also be done in the next couple of years is to replace the airports beacon tower. Hawkins said the board has been discussing that move for a while, and that a new beacon would be comparatively inexpensive. A new hangar, on the other hand, would have to be another project funded through the FAA and the state Department of Aeronautics otherwise the airport wouldnt be able to afford it, Hawkins said. Smith said the hangar constructions she has looked into would cost over $600,000. But, the airport still has extra space in larger overflow hangars for visiting aircraft, if need be, meaning little inconvenience for pilots coming to Beatrice. The airports well-maintained facilities can be a draw in and of themselves for traveling pilots to make scheduled stops, and the airport also serves as an alternative way to bring visitors to some well-known local amenities. Pilot Tom Barth said after a recent landing that he and his wife fly in eight to 10 times a year from Manhattan, Kan. Its mostly to eat at the Black Crow, Barth said, laughing. He said he is always happy with the airport facilities. Its a very nice airport. Data from the Education Management Information System (EMIS) indicated that in 2002 the Regions BECE pass rate stood at 61 per cent which declined to 60 per cent in 2006, 47 per cent in 2011 and 12.6 per cent in 2014. EMIS data is based on the four core subjects, that is English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies, which are very important requirement for basic students seeking to progress in their education. UNICEF's Chief of Field Office, Madam Clara Dube, presented the data during the Upper West Regional Annual Review meeting held in Wa on Thursday. It was organised by the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) with support from UNICEF. Madam Clara called for concerted efforts among stakeholders in identifying and addressing the bottlenecks in order to secure the future of the childrens education in the Region. The Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Dr. Musheibu Mohammed Alfa, expressed his sadness about the situation, saying if care was not taken; the Region would soon record a single digit pass rate. Being part of the political leadership in this Region, I feel very sad. Listening to this, I am a very sad person. This is unacceptable, he lamented. The Deputy Minister therefore tasked the Regional Education Directorate to sit up and put pragmatic measures in place to ensure that the declining situation was reversed in the coming years. Dr. Alfa also appealed to other stakeholders to play their roles effectively to support the education directorate towards addressing the embarrassing challenge. He noted that the Regional reviews could also be described as a kind of peer reviews for instilling principles of transparency and accountability among stakeholders in local governance. The review was meant to provide the RCC; the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to periodically discuss development using key indicators and targets set out in the Sustainable Development Goals and the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda II as bench marks to measure progress in reducing poverty and promoting development in the Region. It is also to facilitate the collection, analysis and dissemination of information on performance and outcomes and enable the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and the MDAs to feed the analysis from the district and regional reports directly into policy and decision making processes. The accused persons, whose plea were not taken, would reappear on February 29. They are Umaru Satar, businessman, Suleman Alhassan, electrician, Frank Badu, driver, and Ibrahim Hamidu, an illegal miner. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Isaac Agbemehia told the court, presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh, that the complainant in the case was a Police Commander at Zongo Zone B District in Kumasi. He said Umaru is a Burkinabe while Alhassan is a Malian and Ibrahim resides at Asuoyeboah, a suburb of Kumasi. He said on December 11, last year, the complainant received information that Alhassan and Frank had in their possession arms and ammunitions, which they intended to use for a robbery expedition at Akwatia Line in Kumasi, Manso-Nkwanta and its environs . The police proceeded to a drinking spot near S.O Frimpong Transport Terminal at Akwatia Line and arrested Alhassan and Frank. When the police conducted a search on the two, they retrieved a packet of 9mm ammunition with 50 rounds on it from Ibrahim. When interrogated, Ibrahim informed the police that it was Alhassan who sold the ammunitions to him at a cost of GH 600.00. Alhassan, when interrogated, admitted the offence and mentioned that it was Umaru who sold the ammunitions to him and has a quantity of arms in his custody. Chief Inspector Agbemehia said after the arrest, Alhassan led the police to the house of Umaru at Alabar and he was arrested. When a search was conducted in his room, the police retrieved 11 AK47 rifles, nine G3 rifles, one LMG, four firing pins, one cocking handle, 1,653 G3 ammunition, 6080 AK 47 ammunition, 1570 pistol ammunition and one AA cartridge. He said investigation was extended to the house of Ibrahim at Bosore, Kumasi, where a search in his room revealed 77 rounds of AK47 ammunitions. The police, in collaboration with the Small Arms Office, conducted a critical search on the source of the weapon and the result revealed that five of the AK47 were official weapons from the Ivorian Security Agencies. Bakuli, 66, in default, will go to jail for 24 months for slashing the hands of Francis Klu several times for attempting to open a gate. He is also to pay the medical bills totalling GHC1,493.00 to the victim. The court further ordered him to pay GH1,000.00 compensation to the victims mother. This was after Bakuli was found guilty on the charge of intentionally causing harm to Klu. The facts presented by Detective Inspector Judith B. Asante are that the complainant, Mercy Senanu, is a trader who lives with his children at Madina. According to the prosecutor, the complainants home is situated on the compound of Madina SDA Church which is fenced with two gated entrances. The complainant sells kenkey and fish in the neighbourhood and the accused is the security man in charge of the SDA compound. In the past, there had been a misunderstanding between the complainant, accused and church as to when the gates to the compound should be locked. However, prosecution said the church resolved that the small gate to the compound should be left until the complainant returned from her sales in the night. On January 7, last year, the complainant was indisposed so she asked her 20-year-old son and other siblings to go and sell the kenkey. The children closed at 10:30 pm and got to the gate but Bakuli refused to open it after the victim had knocked several times. The victim jumped over the wall and pleaded with Bakuli to open the gate for him and his siblings to bring in their wares but he declined. Victim, therefore, informed the complainant on phone and she advised that they break the lock. While the victim was at it, Bakuli charged on him and threatened to chop off his hands with a cutlass. Not quite long, Bakuli pulled a cutlass and cut the victim severally on his two hands. The victim began to bleed. The victim shouted for help and the complainant came to his sons aid and pleaded with Bakuli to open the gate but he declined. Realising that the victim was losing blood, he opened the gate and the victim was rushed to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital where he was sent to the theatre for surgery. A report was made to the police and Bakuli was arrested. In a post of his Facebook page, Dr. Nduom urged Ghanaians never to allow such a theatrical performance to happen in the People's House, Parliament, as occurred this past week in the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana. Was the drama that unfolded meant to be a campaign rally? Was it meant to officially launch a re-election manifesto? he asked. President Mahama on Thursday presented the 2016 State of the Nation address to Parliament as stipulated in the constitution. That was his last address as President before the November polls but many have criticised MPs for the loud boos and cheers they made during the address while others also criticized the President for many too many side comments. Was the President orchestrating a cheering squad in the House? Or was it meant to present the State of the Nation as prescribed by the 1992 Constitution? Dr. Nduom asked. Below is Dr. Nduoms full post Never Again! Never again should we the people allow a theatrical performance to happen in the People's House, Parliament, as occurred this past week in the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana. Was the drama that unfolded meant to be a campaign rally? Was it meant to officially launch a re-election manifesto? And the irresponsible behaviour of both the majority and the minority? With the President orchestrating a cheering squad in the House? Or was it meant to present the State of the Nation as prescribed by the 1992 Constitution? This is what Chapter 6 Directive Principles of State Policy prescribes: "The President shall report to Parliament at least once a year all the steps taken to ensure the realization of the policy objectives contained in this Chapter and, in particular, the realization of basic human rights, a healthy economy, the right to work, the right to good health care and the right to education." Is this what happened yesterday? This is what the seed planted in the 2012 elections has brought to the people. The two candidates vying for the position are; former Klottey Korle constituency chairman, Nii Noi Nortey and NPP lawyer, Philip Addison. A third aspirant, Samuel Nii Adjei Tawiah on Friday pulled out of the race. This will be the second time the primary in that constituency is being held following a court action initiated by Philip Addison and Nii Adjei Tawiah after Nii Noi Nortey was declared winner in the August, 2015 primaries. The two argued that their supporters did not turn out to vote therefore, the results must be annulled by the court. An Accra High court later dismissed an application by the embattled Klottey Korle parliamentary candidate, Nii Noi Nortey who had asked the court to set aside a default judgment for a rerun of the primaries. The party subsequently set Saturday, February 27 as the date for the re-run of Parliamentary primaries in the constituency. Speaking on Accra-based Joy FM, Mr. Addison said he is confident of a win in todays election. He however, complained about the erroneous impression being circulated by the media that he lost the August 2 primaries. There is an impression that I took part in those polls and I was humiliated. That was not the case. Everybody who is every familiar with the situation will know that there were over 400 delegates who voluntarily decided not to take part in that election, he said. He continued saying, the 22 people who voted for me, I am sure are people who maybe did not know about the boycott so I did not take part in that election so it will not be the second time that I have been beaten and it would not have been an exercise in futility. Indeed, the fact that the party itself decided that there should be a re-run and the court also upheld it is unprecedented in our local politics because it has always been said that when elections are held in primaries, whatever be the case it stands and I say that cannot be and that is why we challenged it and we were successful, he added. Meanwhile, the NPPs Director of Elections, Martin Adjei Mensah said he was positive that the election will go on without any issues. Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Dankwambo said this in Dukku during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Dukku, Alhaji Haruna Rasheed in Dukku Local Government Area of Gombe State. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chief of Nutrition, UNICEF, Mr Argan Dewagt, said that Gombe state ``is doing very poorly in the area of exclusive breast feeding. It is important for every woman to breast feed her child for the maximum period of 18 months. It is important because the breast has all the nutrients needed by a child. I want the traditional and religious leaders to carry out this campaign among the people, he said. He further thanked the people of Dukku for the support given to him in the 2015 elections. He promised to complete the projects he started in Dukku before embarking on new ones. In his response, the Emir of Dukku, thanked the Governor for the visit. A statement issued in Port Harcourt by Mr Chijioke Amu-Nnadi, the commissions Head of Corporate Affairs unit, disclosed that the projects were completed since the commission came into existence in 2000. The statement quoted Semenitari to have said this during her visit to Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo. ``Since inception, the commission has tried to meet expectations of the people by completing 242 projects in Imo state. ``The commission have constructed several roads; undertaken rural electrification projects in communities such as in Okigwe, Umuenyi in Isiala-Mbano and Awa/Akabor communities. ``We have also donated over 400 transformers to many other communities in the state; donated medical equipment and drugs to hospitals and carried out free medical missions in rural communities. ``Recently, NDDC also built and donated 522-bed space hostels each to Imo State University and the Federal University of Science and Technology, Semenitari was quoted as saying. The statement said the commission was concerned with dualisation of the Avu to Etekwuru road project that would connect six communities in the state. It said the project, when completed, would increase economic activities around the Amafor market and the general Owerri West and Ohaji/Egbema local government areas of Imo. It noted that NDDC as an interventionist agency was focused to bridge the development gap in the region and improve livelihoods of the people. ``To this end, the commission will longer tolerate substandard projects because we cannot continue to ignore our responsibility to impact positively on the lives of our people. ``Ive told my engineers that such delivery cannot be accepted, in such that, we will put every strategy in place to ensure that our projects become worthier, Semenitari stated. It said that Semenitari called on Imo government to set up a team to interface with NDDC to put an end to duplication of projects. The statement said that Okorocha also called on the NDDC to focus more on building ``big ticket projects that would connect the nine states that make up the region. According to the statement, NDDC should not bother itself with renovation of primary and secondary schools, but rather change its style and go for big ticket projects. It would appear that the states piggy bank, the Cash Reserve Fund, is under assault again. The Governor and several lawmakers are circling the bank, hammers in hand, with the intent of borrowing $150 million to start a new piggy bank called the Transportation Infrastructure Bank. As explained in a bill (LB960) to adopt the Transportation Innovation Act, the bank would provide funds for the Nebraska Department of Roads relating to the completion of the Nebraska expressway system and allow that agency to implement and utilize alternative contracting methods for the construction of state transportation projects The Cash Reserve Fund was created in 1983 to provide a source of funds for temporary transfers to the State General Fund when balances are not sufficient to process expenditure transactions. Longtime Appropriations Committee Chairman, the late Senator Jerome Warner of Waverly, called it the rainy day fund. Just as Joseph warned Potiphar (in the Biblical account in Genesis) to set aside grain in the prosperous years to prepare for the lean years ahead, Warner successfully made the case to lawmakers who were all too familiar with the early 80s farm crisis. He fought subsequent attempts to drain the fund and led the Appropriations Committee to make a conscious decision to keep the Cash Reserve Fund balance at 16 percent of General Fund expenditures. Warner, who was also very supportive of roads projects they named an expressway between Lincoln and Nebraska City for him and his late wife Betty instilled in his colleagues the understanding that the Cash Reserve Fund should be used to provide protection against forecasting errors by the states Economic Forecasting Advisory Board and to provide for supplemental funds during a recessionary period, of which there have been a few in the years since it passed into law. True, there have been several instances in which money was moved to and from the Cash Reserve Fund to accomplish policy initiatives or to finance one-time new capital construction projects. As tweaked over the years, the law now provides that actual General Fund revenues in excess of the certified forecast at the end of the fiscal year are to be transferred to the Cash Reserve Fund. Additionally, the Cash Reserve Fund receives federal funds received by the state for undesignated general government purposes, federal revenue sharing, or general fiscal relief of the state. The Government Finance Officers Association recommends that states maintain a savings balance that would cover two months worth of general fund expenses. The Pew Charitable Trusts says the 50-state median for cash reserves is only 25 days. Only five states have more than 100 days of operating costs in reserve Alaska, Wyoming, North Dakota, Nebraska and West Virginia. The Platte Institute, an economic development think tank founded by Governor Pete Ricketts in 2007, says while it is vital that cash reserves be maintained to avoid budgetary crises during difficult economic times, overstocked reserves come at a price, too. There is an opportunity cost for taxpayers. Every dollar that sits in the state cash reserve fund is a dollar that cannot be used to help create a job, feed a family or grow a business. *Ricketts resigned from the Platte Institute to run for governor. The Transportation Infrastructure Bank is a good idea. As a native of the Panhandle, I know the importance of being able to get there from here. I looked at the Heartland Expressway as a quick trip to Denver as well as a conduit for traffic from the Rockies to the Black Hills and beyond. The legislation calls for: an accelerated State Highway Capital Improvement Program, including the designated expressway system; creation of a voluntary county bridge match assistance program on a pilot-test basis; and establishment of an Economic Opportunity Program to assist in the financing of transportation improvements that attract and support new business development and business expansion. Financing the bank with up to $150 million of state motor fuel revenue beginning July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2023, just makes sense. Taking an equal amount from the cash reserve does not. The Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr Ibrahim Idris, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Saturday. ``Each centre has four officers, three males and a female to monitor the exercise, he said. He explained that the officers were deployed to the examination centres to monitor the exercise and to provide security at the designated centres. Idris said the officers had also been mandated to arrest any candidates found in the act of examination malpractice or fraudulent activities during the exercise. He said the command had not received any negative report on the ongoing examination across the 21 centres. This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Richard Ihediwa, Special Assistant to the party's National Publicity Secretary, Mr Olisa Metuh, on Saturday in Abuja. It stated that the fake online portal: www.pdpmembership.org/register; was demanding Nigerians to register as members of PDP through an electronically guided form. ``The PDP states categorically that this online portal does not belong to it; is not associated to it, and has nothing to do with it at any level and in anyway whatsoever. ``For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP has not commenced its proposed online registration of members, the statement said. It therefore cautioned all PDP members, supporters and the general public not patronise the fake online registration portal set up by fraudsters to dupe the unsuspecting public. The provost issued the threat on Saturday at the 2015/2016 Matriculation Ceremony of the eight set of students of the college at Gwanje village of Akwanga local government area of the state. According to him, the decision is necessitated by the alarming rate of social vices in the country. He warned that students caught indulging in other vices like examination malpractice, drunkenness, drug abuse, indecent dressing and idolatry, among others, would be sanctioned accordingly, if caught. ``I want to advise all our students, most especially those that are newly matriculated, to shun all social vices and stay away from bad company. ``Those guilty of one bad thing or the other before getting admitted in this college should desist, because the management has set machinery in motion to do a background check. ``Anyone who has not stopped and is caught indulging in any of the acts that contravened the rules governing the college will face the full wrath of the law, he said. While noting that over 500 students were matriculated, the provost said the college has well equipped library and laboratory for conducive learning of both staff and students. He expressed hope that with the improved manpower and facilities in place, the college would be given full accreditation soon. In a good will message, Alhaji Luka Habu, the Village Head of Gwanje, commended the proprietor for citing the college in his community. He said that the establishment of the school has improved economic activities in the community. He therefore appealed to the state government to support the college by providing borehole and pay the workers salary and school fees, to enable parents meet the academic needs of their children. Finding Peace of Mind: Discover These Five Places in Europe to Unwind Joshua Tree National Park, located just outside of Twentynine Palms, California is often overlooked in favor of better known parks, but it shouldnt be. The park is home to not only the signature Joshua tree but also five desert palm oases, 8,000 climbing routes, 191 miles of hiking trails and plenty of wildlife and wildflower viewing opportunities on both paved and unpaved roads. With elevations ranging from 536 feet to 5,814 feet, it sprawls over nearly 800,000 acres. Thats room enough for two large desert ecosystems. In the eastern region of the park, below 3,000 feet, you will be in the Colorado Desert (part of the Sonoran) where vegetation primarily consists of creosote, palo verde, ocotillo and cholla cactus. In the western area, the Joshua tree dominates the landscape. There are only 158 fan palm oases in North America, and this park boasts five of them. From Pahrump, the closest one in the park is the Oasis of Mara. Start your visit at the Oasis Visitor Center where you will find a paved, flat, one-half mile loop trail around the palms. The special plant that dominates these oases is Washingtonia filifera, the only native palm in western North America. These palms live an average of 150 years and can grow to 75 feet tall. They only grow where there are copious amounts of water. These areas of underground water in the park are available because of earthquake faults and fractures. Fault lines force water to the surface. Visiting the parks other four palm oases requires more effort. The 49 Palm Oasis trailhead is located about a six-mile drive from the Oasis visitor center, and to see it you will have to hike a moderate three miles roundtrip. The other three oases are located in the parks southern region, about an hours drive from the Oasis Visitor Center. These three oases share the same trailhead, which is located about one mile from the parks Cottonwood Visitor Center. The first one you will find is the Cottonwood Spring Oasis, less than a five-minute walk. If you continue on about three and one-half miles, you will find the Lost Palm Oasis. I wouldnt recommend trying to find Munsen Canyon Oasis, located a few miles farther along. Those miles constitute an extremely difficult route-finding mission and involve strenuous rock scrambling. These palm oases support a wide variety of wildlife. Desert bighorn sheep and coyotes are regular visitors and sometimes during spring migration, a couple of hundred turkey vultures can be seen. The western yellow bat roosts here, and hooded orioles build their nests under the palm leaves. Wildflower season in the park is just now beginning and usually lasts through early May, depending upon which part of the park you visit. Right now the best colors are likely to be found in the lower-elevation areas. Look for blooms from the chuparosa and bladderpod bushes, desert globemallow, desert star-vine and desert lavender. Joshua Tree is also a fine place to go bird watching. More than 250 kinds of birds have been recorded in the park with about 78 known to nest here, including Bendires thrasher, western kingbird and ash-throated flycatchers. Year-round residents include birds of prey such as American kestrel, prairie falcon, great horned owl and a variety of hawks. Youll probably want to make this one an overnight trip, campers in the park enjoy some of the darkest and therefore starriest skies in California. However, the park website, www.nps.gov/jotr/ notes that the first-come, first-served sites fill up on weekends from October through May. But among the helpful information the website provides are links to chambers of commerce in surrounding small towns, which include alternate campsites and lodgings. The Joshua Tree Visitor Center and the Oasis Visitor Center are open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Cottonwood Visitor Center is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring two gallons of water per person, per day, for potable water is available only a few places in the park. Otherwise, there are no services in the park, but most can be found in Twentynine Palms or the town of Joshua Tree. Directions: From Pahrump take NV-372 west (which turns into CA-178 at the Calif. boundary) for about 19 miles to Shoshone, California. Go left onto CA-127 and drive for 55 miles to Baker, California. From Baker take Kelbaker Road and drive 64 miles (passing through the Mojave National Preserve) and turn right on Historic Route 66. Drive about 7 miles and go left onto Amboy Road. Drive 46 more miles. Turn left onto Adobe Road for 2 miles to CA-62, Twentynine Palms Highway. Turn left and drive one-half mile to the Oasis Visitor Center on your right. Deborah Wall is the author of Base Camp Las Vegas, Hiking the Southwestern States, Great Hikes, A Cerca Country Guide, and co-author of Access For All, Touring the Southwest with Limited Mobility. Wall can be reached at Deborabus@aol.com. The Veterans Administration treats patients using traditional, standard and long-established medical practices. As science progresses, the VA does move forward, albeit slower than some would like. In advance of the VA, private physicians, registered nurses, licensed and other medical practitioners offer natural, organic and medical-related services to veterans and others. Many are profit-related, and many are nonprofit, although even the latter require some income to keep the doors open. And the doors for one company are not yet open, but the CEO said she is weeks away from finalizing long-term leases for two properties. Brand new to the Southern Nevada landscape is the health-science firm Pay It Forward Network, which has partnered with several nonprofit groups and is headed by self-styled local humanitarian Janet Franco. Her organization is affiliated with the nonprofit International Hyperbaric Medical Foundation, among others. She said that an age-old rejuvenation technique that incorporates hyperbaric oxygen therapy is designed to help many ailments, including lack of oxygen due to traumatic brain injuries in veterans who have experienced negative symptoms due to wartime explosive blasts. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy enhances and accelerates medical treatments by bringing much-needed oxygen to areas of the body for organic rejuvenation, Franco said. The Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration have both just begun to learn more about this technique, she added. Weve offered information to the Senate Armed Services Committee, but its been very slow going. She said she has also made presentations to several Nevada elected officials and they are reviewing the process. As with most alternative medical procedures, there is a disclaimer that accompanies treatment. The statements about hyperbaric benefits do not constitute medical recommendations and have not been endorsed by the Federal Drug Administration or other government agencies. Franco said she has been doing volunteer work for non-profit groups for many years, and not long ago she was introduced to Stephen Reimers, who she said is a Navy veteran conducting research into general brain injuries and Post Traumatic Stress Disorders in military personnel. He and his company have done more studies about this than anyone else, she said. Over time he has developed a chamber that saturates the bodys tissues with oxygen and reaches damaged areas that lack blood supplies and oxygen. She said it takes about 80 such treatments two consistent dives of 40 each, with a month or two between treatments to provide clinically significant recovery, and many veterans have been treated pro bono in order to substantiate claims that the process works. They not only achieved significant progress, but many have also successfully returned to active duty in the military, she noted. Printed literature that Franco readily supplies attests to claims made by many veterans of the success of the procedure. For example, Brig. Gen. Patt Maney reports in the brochures that he was helped after unsuccessful conventional treatment. And Iraq War veteran Major Ben Richards (Ret. Army) is quoted as saying he has made progress in overcoming TBI. But navigating health care techniques and affording them can be daunting. Neither the VA nor Medicare will pay for such treatments. However Franco said she is preparing to open two facilities, one being the for-profit Project Neon (but with a nonprofit quadrant that will have her donating a percentage of net sales toward veterans treatment) and a secondary fully nonprofit. The latter will be called Imagine N.O.W. (Nurturing Our Warriors). She said the latter will offer free treatments to qualified veterans, although donations will be accepted. Franco said she has also teamed with energy drink company Visalus International that produces the thirst quencher NEON. She said the company has agreed to donate a portion of its sales profits to the N.O.W. center. She said she has also aligned with the nonprofit National Exchange Club to aid in raising funds to help pay for free veterans treatments. And she is currently hosting a weekly a radio show on KDWN-AM each Tuesday from 9-10 a.m. on which she interviews medical experts and patients who embrace her modalities. To further add to her bona fides, she said she has met with members of the Nevada judicial system and plans to accept non-violent suspects whom judges will refer to her for hyperbaric treatment, in lieu of being incarcerated. Theyll have a choice of going to jail or going to Janet, Franco quipped. For more information call (800) 206-1082 or go to Imaginenow2015.com. Chuck N. Baker is an Army veteran of the Vietnam War and a Purple Heart recipient. Every other Sunday he discusses veterans issues over several Lotus Broadcasting AM radio stations in Southern Nevada. The above organizations are recognized by Queens Crap as being beneficial to the city as a whole, by fighting to preserve the history and character of our neighborhoods. They are not connected to this website and the opinions presented here do not necessarily represent the positions of these organizations.The comments left by posters to this site do not necessarily represent the views of the blogger or webmaster.Street or satellite shots used here are from Google Maps or Windows Live Local The week of Feb. 22 had just four legislative days; Friday, the 26th was a recess day. This allows senators who stay in Lincoln during the week time to travel home, take care of business and see family. It also offers senators a chance to return to their districts to meet with various groups to discuss the legislative issues before us. I will be meeting with several different groups in District 30 in the next few days. At the beginning of the week we began the debate on LR 35 offered by Senator Laura Ebke. This resolution calls for a convention of the states which is authorized under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. Congress must convene a convention if two-thirds, 34 states, pass the same resolution. Sen. Ebke stated the convention would be limited to imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government, limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and term limits for federal officials and members of Congress. Opponents were concerned about several issues: that the call of the convention could not be limited, that the same aggressive lobbying that occurs in Congress might be applied to the representatives of the convention; and they questioned who would be selected to speak for Nebraska. Once debate began, it was obvious a filibuster was imminent. First round debate would have extended for the full six hours which takes up the better part of three legislative days at this point in the sessionand then 33 votes would be necessary for cloture. The senators in support of the resolution did a straw poll and knew they did not have the 33 votes necessary to call for cloture. Instead of taking up six hours of debate just to see the issue fail, the vote to recommit to committee was taken and was successful. Senator Sue Crawford of Bellevue introduced LB 1059. The bill would require a business seeking economic development incentives under the Local Municipal Economic Development Act, to disclose additional information to the municipality before applying to participate in an economic development program. The bill helps address the cross-over between state incentives and local development incentives. Often times the state tax credits can include a refund of a municipalitys local option sales tax which is not always evident to a municipality before it awards local incentives for the same project. Sen. Crawford indicated that some municipalities have gone months without local option sales tax revenue because of state incentives granted for the same project. This bill helps municipalities make more informed decisions before committing to granting incentives under the Local Municipal Economic Development Act. The bill advanced to the second round of debate. The Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony on LB 998, offered by Senator Paul Schumacher of Columbus. When law enforcement takes a person into custody who is experiencing a mental health crisis and places that person in Emergency Protective Custody (EPC) the burden of evaluation falls to counties to determine if the individual is mentally ill and dangerous. Often there is a lack of capacity in appropriate facilities and so the individual is kept in jail. Under the bill, the evaluation and care of the mentally ill person would fall to the mental health system as quickly as possible. The bill would also create five emergency community crisis centers to be located across the state. The committee has not yet taken action on the bill. The last day of February and the first week of March, the Speaker will begin scheduling senators priority bills for floor debate. My priority bill, LB 722, creating the Stroke System of Care Act should be heard sometime during that week. As always, you are welcomed to contact me at rbaker@leg.ne.gov or call 402-471-2620. Some parents and educators want South Dakota to enact a bill that would provide health screening, create a formal definition of dyslexia, and require special accommodations for students with the learning disability. Do you support such measures? Rapid City will be the location for the 2019 International Conference of Masons, but a large contingent of the fraternal organization will make an appearance in the Black Hills this summer. Freemasonry, according to the group's website, is the worlds oldest and largest fraternal organization. Members share a belief in promoting brotherhood through faith, hope and charity, the website says. Between 500 and 600 Masons, also known as Freemasons, will arrive in Rapid City for the conference scheduled for Feb. 16 to 19, 2019. The Grand Masters of Masons of North America chose Rapid City after being lobbied by the South Dakota Mason delegation and the Rapid City Convention Center & Visitors Bureau. The conference will be headquartered at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel & Conference Center, 2111 N. Lacrosse St. But many of the group will be in the area this year for a day of celebration for the 75th anniversary of the completion of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The event will begin at 10 a.m. on Sept. 8. "The Black Hills area and Mount Rushmore have had a strong history with Masons, said Mike Rodman, deputy grand master for the Grand Lodge of South Dakota. The memorial's sculptors, Gutzon and Lincoln Borglum, and their assistants were all Masons. The governor of South Dakota at the time, Carl Gunderson, was a Mason. The mountain itself was named after Charles Rushmore who also was a Mason. Rodman expects 1,000 Masons from around the world to attend the event at the memorial. Thank god for Mississippi. A stereotypical expression, yes, but not one usually heard in the Rocky Mountains. Yet according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse ranking of states by tax-return income, Montana abuts the spelling test state, in wages and salaries, at second-to-last on the list. How do we fight this? Or how do we even stay in the fight? Im only fit to answer through the lens of my experience. Admittedly, as a writing instructor at Bitterroot College in Hamilton, Im biased toward specific, non-ornamental education such as that offered by two-year programs. First, I believe that rhetorical ability is crucial to any profession. Its why I teach. We advance personally and professionally through the groundwater of relationships, and they are tended by communication. Couple these with a hard skill and we find the potential to break that cycle of low education and poverty plaguing Montana, especially in rural areas. Bitterroot College is a two-year institution serving public interest through workforce development programs that equip students with job skills and produce trained workers. They can finish our program with a certificate in welding, manufacturing, computer support, commercial drivers license training, or the health professions, then move straight into employment. Our two-year model also allows students to earn an associates degree and take traditional college courses at a cheaper rate than many four-year campuses. Considering that transferring from Bitterroot College to the University of Montana is fluid, even splitting time between them makes for sound fiscal logic. Most two-year programs in our state are structured around similar value. Rural diversity is its own paradigm, and in our student body that diversity is experiential: homeschooled ranch kids, combat vets, traditional high school graduates, and non-traditional single parents. Almost all are seeking to upend a generational or societal narrative. And most approach education with genuine drive by regarding it as an open door or second chance. Last November on MTPR, Edward OBrien explored Montanas labor shortage in the trades, specifically construction. Yet this industry isnt alone in the need for skilled employees, as medical, engineering, manufacturing, and information-technology sectors are all dealing with the same problem, according to the story. Pam Bucy, our state labor commissioner, told OBrien, We have about 130,000 baby boomers that are going to retire in the next eight to 10 years, and we have about 123,000 16-to-24-year-olds to fill those slots. No matter how you look at it, the math just doesnt work. So the jobs exist, and are often of respectable wage. Now its up to us as a state, especially those decision makers in higher-education administration and government, to bolster institutions that prepare skilled employees to fill this need. We can repair the problems of educational and economic shortfall from within. Montanans, when not underestimated, are recognized for our honesty and work ethic. We innovate and persevere. When guided in the right direction, then applied within institutions that are both financially supported and revolve around the core products of practical education and job training, these qualities manifest. And were only just beginning. Its not where we are now, in two-year education or as a state. Its where we can go. Giving a community health checkup gets a little difficult when you need a helicopter to find your patients. But when baiting and netting and darting them wont work, sometimes you have to call in the air force. Thats what it took to get the final subjects for a statewide bighorn sheep study that might explain why so many of Montanas herds have succumbed to pneumonia. It was pretty cool how they hobble them and bring them down, Petty Creek rancher Monte Ishler said of the two-day adventure catching 17 bighorns near his property Feb. 1 and 2. When they let them go, they just mosey back to the herd. I suppose the collars look a little strange, but they dont seem to mind. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and Montana State University biologists attached 15 tracking collars to members of the Petty Creek herd to learn more about why it has stayed healthy when other populations have nearly vanished. Satellite trackers on the collars will give extremely detailed location reports for two years before dropping off. A second transceiver will allow biologists to radio-locate the sheep for another three years. Weve had die-offs in eight of our 10 bighorn sheep populations in Region 2, FWP biologist Liz Bradley said. This Petty Creek herd is one of only two that have not had an all-age die-off. Were really interested in trying to learn what we can about why that is. Petty Creek was the seventh of seven herds needed for the study, which will need another three years before producing results. After capture, each bighorn had blood samples taken and a received a full physical checkup, including weight, body fat and temperature. The blood will go to a lab in Bozeman for full metabolic analysis. Were sampling herds we believe are healthy, as well as herds with history of disease, said Kelly Profit, an FWP wildlife ecologist in Bozeman. Were finding some healthy herds with exposure to similar sets of pathogens as herds with die-offs, which makes us wonder what is really triggering a die-off event? Is it some combination of disease exposure that triggers expression? Severe winter? Animals being in poor condition? It suggests there is still a lot to be learned about this disease. And about bighorn sheep in general. Bradley said compared to deer and elk, the shelf of research data on bighorns is rather empty. There are an estimated 6,000 bighorns in Montana, while elk have nearly 30 times that number. Bighorns typically get pneumonia after contact with domestic sheep, but the bighorns die while the livestock go unaffected. Theres really a lot in this research, Bradley said. Before the die-offs, we were counting about 1,500 sheep in Region 2 alone. Now we have about half of that. In 2015, I counted 770 sheep in the region. When these outbreaks happen, they happen fast, she added. And theyre all over the place. Why in the same year do we get these outbreaks at great distances from each other? Are these herds more connected than we thought? The Petty Creek bighorns arrived in the late 1960s as part of an FWP transplanting effort. By the early 70s the herd was producing trophy rams. Rancher Ishler said the country is forbiddingly tough. I got a job on a ranch next to the sheep here in Alberton in 1979, Ishler said. I remember I looked up there one day and saw them, and from then on I was pretty much hooked. They were my Sunday-getting-away, going-to-church kind of thing, just going up there and watch them. I have been following the fishing reports from all local fly shops for the Bitterroot and not one of them includes the skwala hatch. The hatch just hasnt made it to the Bitterroot yet. If you want to take a little drive to the Yakima River in Washington, you will catch the beginning of it there because it usually happens between the middle of February and March 1. The hatch has started there despite a little rise in water levels due to so much rain. The upper Yakima River is about an eight-hour drive from Hamilton, but well worth the trip if you can stay for a few days and enjoy this delightful river and its beautiful scenery. The Bitterroot is still lagging for the skwala hatch, but it will be along shortly. The river water levels are back down in the normal ranges and the little skwala nymphs are busy scurrying back and forth along the shoreline waiting for just the right time to slip ashore and find a mate. My guess is that on March 5 the hatch will start, but will be very mild. The major portion of the hatch will be around March 19 and will continue through April 24 and then will die suddenly with the hatch of Golden Stones. The hatch will begin at 2:19 p.m. on the May 5 and will end at 10:25 p.m. on May 24 so time everything accordingly. If you believe my drivel then you should go to the river and find out for yourself when the best fishing is for you and not for me. An interesting sign exists along Highway 93 as you travel south just out of Missoula. Right along the area where the buffalo herd roams you will see a billboard that encourages tourists to visit the Bitterroot and promotes fishing in the area. The scene is a popular one from the 1950s showing a fisherman with hip boots. At the bottom of the sign there is a large fish breaking water and about to be landed by the fisherman. Do you see anything wrong with this picture? Yep, you are right. The fish is a largemouth bass and is not a fish that we find in the Bitterroot nor would we like to find here. In actuality, largemouth bass would probably not survive in the cold waters of most of our waters, however the smallmouth bass are another story. We have documented their existence in some small areas north of the Corvallis fishing access site. I dont know who gets credit for the billboard but I am sure that they have heard plenty of comments before now. Fishing this weekend will be spotty but we are inching our way to that splendid time when dry fly fishing will get underway and we can try to match the hatch and fool the wily trout or coax them to take our flies that we have tied. Good fishing. Bill Bean is an avid Bitterroot River fly fisherman who writes a weekly column for the Saturday Ravalli Republic Outdoors section. Two students from Florence Elementary School won second and third places in Energy Shares statewide art contest and were surprised in a school assembly Thursday. Harrison Shepp and Lexi Ekstedt are both in Rochelle Blomquists fourth grade class. The students had no idea until they mentioned Energy Share and their faces lit up with hopefulness, Blomquist said. When their names were called they had big smiles and were so thrilled. It was great to see them so surprised as they were not expecting it at the assembly today. Shepp received a check for $50, Ekstedt received $25 and Blomquist received a $75 Walmart gift card to use for classroom supplies. Jim Maunder, Energy Share Board member representing Montana Electric Cooperatives Association, and Energy Share program coordinator Deb Hayes from District XI Human Resource Council in Missoula made the surprise presentation. Blomquist said she was proud of her students and their efforts. It was so surprising to have two winners and I was so impressed that the Energy Share representatives took the time to come to our school and present the awards, Blomquist said. The first place winner in the statewide contest went to Jazlynn Standing Rock in Box Elder. Energy Share held the contest to educate the public on the energy needs of Montanans. Individuals and businesses contribute to the Energy Share program that helps Montanans who need help with heat in emergencies due temporary financial difficulties. This heating season, in Mineral, Missoula and Ravalli counties, Energy Share and the Human Resource Council in Missoula helped 464 families. Statewide, Energy Share helped 2,310 families. The utility companies and electric cooperatives that help support Energy Share include Missoula Electric Cooperative, NorthWestern Energy, Ravalli County Electric Cooperative and the Rocky Mountain Propane Association. For more information visit energysharemt.com. Gov. Pete Ricketts spoke of his three top priorities to Beatrice community members at the Black Crow restaurant Friday afternoon. Ricketts top priority is property taxes, he said. In the last year, we made great strides in addressing that, Ricketts said. We were able to cut the growth of government nearly in half from 6 1/2 percent in the last budget to 3 1/2 percent growth in this current budget. Ricketts said this is important because the only way to meet the goal of sustainable tax relief is to control spending. We just have to control what were spending and allow our revenues to be above that. Thats how we get tax relief, Ricketts said. Last years savings allowed the state to increase the property tax relief fund by over 45 percent, he said. That means in this budget, we will deliver $408 million in direct dollar-for-dollar property tax relief from the state of Nebraska to all property owners in Nebraska, Ricketts said. The state doesnt collect on property taxes, local entities do, Ricketts said. The next step is to do more make structural changes in how property taxes are collected, Ricketts said. The governor said he is working with Nebraska senators Mike Gloor and Kate Sullivan in this effort, specifically in legislative bills 958 and 959. Ricketts said the bills encourage control of spending and urged the audience to contact his office or the senators with ideas and supportive comments regarding the bills that are pending in the current legislative session. I hope that we have some sort of tax relief bill every year that Im governor, Ricketts said. I think that it is vitally important that we get property tax relief done this session. Ricketts said his second priority is infrastructure. Our three largest industries are agriculture, manufacturing and tourism, all of which require a strong transportation infrastructure in order to grow, Ricketts said. Ricketts said he has been working with Nebraska Sen. Jim Smith on proposing an infrastructure fund called the Public Transportation Infrastructure Act. The act would move up to $150 million out of the cash reserve into the fund over the next eight years. I think its appropriate to take that money from the cash reserve, Ricketts said. Its higher than it needs to be. These are one-time capital expenses to build these roads. The fund would delegate $100 million toward expressways, $25 million toward new bridges that counties could apply for, and $25 million in an economic opportunity fund that would assist companies moving to a town, for example. This is a way that we can make sure we have that 21st century infrastructure and spur economic growth in our state by making sure our large industries can expand, Ricketts said. Ricketts third priority has to do with corrections. We have to change the entire culture of our corrections system, Ricketts said. Weve been warehousing people. The first phase of a strategic plan released by Scott Frakes in the fall includes a $26 million investment in Lincoln to create program space. Programs would assist prisoners in their transition back into society, including counseling, education, job training and work release. And, again, its a one-time capital expense, so were planning to take from the cash reserve to be able to fund that, Ricketts said. Theres a lot of work to do in this area and leaders want to do it with respect to the tax payer, Ricketts said. Ricketts mentioned other issues pending in the legislature including bills that would expand Medicaid and approve assisted suicide, he said, both of which the governor is against. The governor wrapped up his lecture and opened the remaining time to questions from the audience. A member asked him his thoughts about the future of the Beatrice State Developmental Center. Ricketts said he does not think the facility will grow in the future because the trend seems to be pointing toward community-based facilities, but BSDC will continue to be needed and fill its role, he said. Another individual asked if the state is interested in privatization of correctional facilities, like New Mexico has done. Ricketts said if the opportunity came about, the state would look at it, but he doesnt think its the direction the state is going. He said he trusts Nebraska Department of Correctional Services Director Scott Frakes with those matters. The public is invited to the first Governors Summit on Economic Development at the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln on July 12. Ricketts said the summit will highlight a variety of ways to grow the state of Nebraska including through workforce, housing and innovation. When Colleen Schmiedeke swings open the door of Three Mile Fire Departments newest ambulance, you can feel her sense of pride in this small community that cares about its own. Our board doesnt buy used, she said. Its all new equipment thats as fine as anything you would find in an ambulance elsewhere in the county. Its been a quarter century since the Three Mile Fire District decided it needed to own its ambulance to service the community on the east of the valley between Florence and Stevensville. Back then, Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital didnt have sustainable ambulance service operating in the area. They might not have known what they were getting into, Schmiedeke said. But they knew it was the right thing to do. Today, the district owns and operates two ambulances, including a brand new vehicle purchased just last year. Our fire district has always been on board, Schmiedeke said. Today, about 80 percent of our calls are medical. The board makes sure that all the equipment is kept up-to-date. Like other Ravalli County ambulances, the Three Mile District also took advantage of an American Heart Association Mission:Lifeline Montana grant to acquire an EKG machine capable of transmitting real time heart monitoring information to local hospitals. The grant was made possible by a $4.5 million gift from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. In September, the equipment helped save the life of a local man who requested the ambulance after feeling chest pain when he finished a ride on his exercise bike. The Three Mile Fire District volunteers transmitted an EKG to the hospital within two minutes after they arrived on the scene. A ST-elevated myocardial infarction of STEMI heart was diagnosed and physicians at a cath lab in Missoula were notified. In just 39 minutes from that first medical contact by the Three Mile volunteers, the man was fitted with the stint that may have saved his life. In June, Schmiedeke said the district will obtain a Lucas chest compression system that will further improve their operation in addressing heart attacks. The Three Mile Fire District ambulance crews have worked closely with Missoula Emergency Services for almost 20 years. Most of their patients want to be transported into Missoula, she said. The Missoula Emergency Service ambulance crews will often meet them halfway. We have had a really good working relationship with them, she said. When people want to go to Marcus Daly, we take them there. Everyone who works on the Three Mile crew is a volunteer. During the daytime, we basically only have three people doing this, she said. Everyone else is working in Missoula or elsewhere. Of the 21 volunteers on the Three Mile Fire District, eight are certified as EMTs. Its very difficult anymore to get people to volunteer, Schmiedeke said. Were always looking for new people. They do have to be willing to respond when the call comes, no matter what the time. The volunteers we have are very dedicated. There are people who live in the Three Mile Fire District who really dont understand just what they have. What I pay every year for fire protection is something like $50, she said. When you think about the equipment the district has invested in and the volunteers who are ready to go at all times of the day, its not much. We are just really fortunate to have always had a fire district board that is proactive when it comes to community service, Schmiedeke said. And the district has always had a really good relationship with the community. Thats the way its supposed to work. Syrian refugees A huge number of folks attended the meeting regarding the commissioners letter about refugees possibly being allowed into Missoula County. I so appreciate that we can gather and express our views in a democratic fashion, although apparently pitted against one another, and unable to hear viewpoints in a truly thoughtful fashion. The empathy I feel for these people is important to share with you. The United Nations states that by the end of April 2014, 8,803 children had been killed, while the Oxford Research Group stated that a total of 11,420 children died in the conflict by late November 2013. Whatever numbers are correct, it is devastating. What would you do if that many children were killed in Montana in a few years time? Wouldnt you take the hands of those who were left and start walking, hoping for any kind of safety you could find? Every refugee has a tale of family members who have been killed, tortured, raped or are missing. These folks arent interested in coming to the U.S. for revenge; they are coming for refuge. One third of Syrias population has been wiped out. It is hogwash to think that those who enter our country will not be screened carefully. And should 100 of them actually make it in small numbers at a time to Missoula, do you think theyll not be seen on a daily basis by various agencies and sponsors? Do you think theyll be buying guns and bomb supplies locally? Did the Vietnamese who came to the Bitterroot in the 80s harm us in any way? How about the Russian settlement, in the south valley: are they a problem for you folks who resist change, who patently do not understand our Constitution? Heres a brief reminder from our sponsor: the fundamental rights of due process and equal protection that are embodied in our Constitution apply to every person in this country, regardless of immigration status. The commissioners letter is an expression of fear and ignorance. It has no standing whatsoever in the big picture. Discrimination against Muslims, refugees, whatever, is patently illegal. Finally Id like to remind us all of Jesus words: Love thy neighbor as thyself. Not just your white neighbor or your peaceful neighbor. These people, fleeing for their lives, are parents, grandmothers, scientists, crafts-people, doctors, store-owners, carpenters, masons, Christians, musicians and Muslims. They are shattered to leave their homes. I encourage us to examine our hearts, be willing to love radically and thoroughly, and be unafraid of those in such dreadful need. Star Jameson Hamilton Last Thursday a crowd estimated at 500 people attended the Ravalli County commissioners meeting to discuss whether the county should welcome Syrian refugees. The results were overwhelming and discouraging. Its clear that the majority of us are afraid. Its also clear that we misunderstand the facts. The majority of people who addressed the commissioners opposed welcoming refugees. Reasons cited included: Allegations that most Syrian refugees are rapists and murderers Assertions that the God they worship is different from the God we worship Allegations that most Syrians are uneducated and illiterate Allegations that Islam is at war with the U.S. Allegations that ISIS will come after American women Allegations that Islam holds that women should not be able to run a business Thing is, each and every one of these supposed facts is untrue. The fact is, that virtually all of the Syrian refugees are fleeing persecution in their own country. These poor people often whole families would like nothing better than to go home. But their homes have been destroyed; and they have been virtually forced to flee. The fact is, the word Allah is simply the Arabic equivalent of the English word God. Christians and Jews in Arabic-speaking countries use the word Allah when referring to God. Islam teaches that there is only one God. The often repeated phrase from the Quran La illaha il allah means simply, There is no God but God. The fact is, Islam at 1.8 billion people, the second largest religion the in world is as complex as any other religion, including Christianity and Judaism. Just as there are Christian extremists and Jewish extremists, there are Muslim extremists. The vast majority of the worlds Muslims are as aghast and horrified by the perversions of ISIS as we are. ISIS does not exemplify Islam. And Islam is not at war with the U.S. The fact is, that just as there are extremist Muslim countries, there are tolerant and open ones. You cannot paint Islam with a single brush. Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria are three countries with a predominantly Muslim population and culture in which women have rights on a par with men. Another truth that needs to be recognized is this: the Syrian refugee crisis is considered to be the worst by far since the refugee crisis of World War II. According to the U.N. refugee agency, the number of Syrians fleeing their homeland exceeds 4 million and that number is rising. Where are these poor, wretched people supposed to go? Many people at the commissioners meeting alleged that there are a number of terrorists within the Syrian refugees ranks. But consider this: It takes on average about two years for a refugee to be processed and settled. Anyone seeking refugee status first has to petition the U.N., which makes a determination regarding whether or not someone is in fact a refugee. If a person meets the U.N.s stringent requirements, the U.N. not the refugee determines which host country the refugee will be resettled in. It is far easier for a Syrian (or any other foreigner) to get a guest visa into the U.S. than it is to try to enter as a refugee. So ask yourself this: which path is a potential terrorist going to choose? Finally, this. The people of Ravalli County mostly consider the U.S. to be a Christian nation. Christ taught us to love thy neighbors as thyself; to do unto others as you would have them do unto you; and to take care of strangers. Whats happened to that Christian ethic with regards to the refugees of Syria? In a better world, I think wed all come to the same conclusion: that in the human family, there is no us and them, but only us. The people fleeing persecution in Syria are not other: they are our brothers and sisters, our aunts and uncles and cousins, our grandparents and our grandchildren. They are our relatives in the one, glorious human family; they are us. And they desperately need our help. How, in good conscience, can we say no? Matt Sean Gras Hamilton Alfred Rsberg, Norway ( Scandinavia ) In the course of videotaping U.S. and international TV documentaries, reports and news reports I have found (and video copied) a large number of anomalous flying objects in these TV broadcasts. In this UFO blogspot I will report on UFOs found in TV broadcasts (TV footage). I will also inform about any UFO evidence recorded or obtained by a media company or government source from around the world. In addition I will report on the best Norwegian UFO cases. Uprooted Palestinians are at the heart of the conflict in the M.E Palestinians uprooted by force of arms. Yet faced immense difficulties have survived, kept alive their history and culture, passed keys of family homes in occupied Palestine from one generation to the next. Constructor: Julian Lim Relative difficulty: Easy-Medium THEME: none Word of the Day: HALVA KNOT SEL UTTER R-ATA HALVA HALVA HALVA HALVA HALVA HALVA HALVA POWHATAN SOWED SOWED PAWHATAN THAYER, IVAN IV, TAMIAM LEO LEOPARD HATERS AIR BnB ) Pretty straightforward Saturday fare. Did it right upon waking, at a leisurely pace, and finished about three minutes faster than yesterday, but not so fast it made my head spin. It was easy in the main, with a number of littlety parts that required me to exert effort. Those ended up being the interesting parts, as the marquee answers, while nice and smooth, just didn't grab me that much, and there was definitely an ouchy bit here and there in the shorter fill. Seemed pretty clear from the jump thatmeant "anchor" in the sense of television news anchor. The clue pretty much screamed "I'm trying to trick you, heh heh heh heh [sneer] [wring hands] [twirl mustache]." Classic misdirection language: clue looks nautical, but both its words have different potential spheres of meaning, and thus it's probably not nautical at allthis is how I think on Saturdays. But what do anchors say? "Dateline ..."? "And that's the way it is ..."? "Our top stories now..."? No idea. As usual, I used short stuff to get me going. Today:, but only after completely misreading the clue and writing in ETE. My brain registered something like "season when you fry in France." After I fixed that, I took an odd series of big steps down into the middle-right of the grid.was an obvious guess, confirmed by(who knows what spelling you're gonna get?), and then the next few answers after that were obvious.was such a weird throwback for me. I have a very location- and time-specific memory of: the San Francisco of my childhood. I remember when we'd visit, there were delis and other shops that would havebars out where "normal" shops (i.e. shops back home) might have the candy bars (home was Fresno, just to give you some idea of context here) . So I thought, "Sure, I'll try this." And found it both unusual (to my unsophisticated palate) and delicious. But I don't ever remember havinganywhere else (in my entire life) except then and there. And yet, the name, somehow, I remember. Weird, considering it's a pretty damn common dessert andis surely available in most cities across the country now. For all I know they actually hadbars in Fresno and I just never noticed. Anyway, that is my weird and largely uneventfulstory.Had so much trouble parsingthat even with -LEWS filled in I didn't get it. I was taking "A" as some kind of symbol or name or something, not as an indefinite article, and "host" can be understood a ton of different ways, of course. So there was some struggling there, but not much. The only other trouble spot was at the crossing ofand, where I had to run the alphabet (and run it almost all the waystupid "W"!) to get, which just did not occur to me at all for. In fact, just looking at SO-ED, I couldn't think of *any* letter that could go there.I just don't know. Maybe I've seen it before. Probably. But it's a jumble of letters to me, largely. There were other things I didn't know or couldn't remember (I), but crosses made them non-issues.andin same grid ... thumbs down. Liked freshness of) and, but most other fill doesn't shine or surprise or delight that much. This is just a solid, workmanlike Saturday. A fine morning diversion.Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook WARNING for European visitors European Union laws require you to give European Union visitors information about cookies used on your blog. In many cases, these laws also require you to obtain consent. As a courtesy, we have added a notice on your blog to explain Google's use of certain Blogger and Google cookies, including use of Google Analytics and AdSense cookies. The Hindu, February 24, 2016 Redefining Indian nationhood by Zoya Hasan The crackdown on JNU is in keeping with the right-wing project to ensure its world view becomes Indiaas as well. Constructing the premier university as a space for anti-national thinking is crucial, for it gives this project a famous address and a justification to step in. The stand-off at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) after some students earlier this month organised a meeting to discuss recent instances of capital punishment has occupied centre stage. The high-handed police action, the arrest of the elected president of the studentsa union, Kanhaiya Kumar, on charges of sedition, and the battering of students, faculty and the media by a mob of lawyers in Delhias Patiala House courts, some with professed sympathies for the Bharatiya Janata Party, represents a new escalation of government overreach and meddling that has undermined the autonomy of institutions of higher education. It also indicates that violence in the name of nationalism is acceptable. A crackdown on critical thinking The shocking events that have gripped the nation are significantly different from the routine controversies surrounding campus politics in India. This was a deliberate and calculated attack on the democratic culture of JNU a synonymous with sharp critical thinking and vibrant debate. JNU is Indiaas finest university. Its contribution to scholarship is well known and widely recognised; its importance to national intellectual life is undeniable. It has produced social scientists who are highly rated the world over. Its former students have been and are in the higher echelons of the government, bureaucracy, policy institutions and media; many vice chancellors, directors of research institutes and chairpersons of important academic institutions are drawn from JNU. The latest in this long list is the newly appointed vice chancellor of Delhi University. Importantly, many of JNUas students now teaching in hundreds of universities and colleges have made a significant contribution to curricular reform and modern thinking in these institutions. The JNU course structure has served as a model for syllabi of several Central and State universities. So, why this attempt to destroy one of the finest universities at a time when most public universities are not exactly in the best of health and private universities are yet to take off? That the attack on JNU was part of a larger design by right-wing forces to capture universities to impose a singular political discourse in institutions of higher learning is now obvious. This systematic pattern is clearly visible in the unrest in the Film and Television Institute of India, University of Hyderabad leading to the tragic suicide of Rohith Vemula, the controversy over the Ambedkar-Periyar Study Circle in the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Madras, the furore over a film screening in IIT-Delhi, and now the protests in Jadavpur University. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has become the instrument for political deradicalisation of various campuses which are fast emerging as major sites of conflict between the broadly secular left and the Hindu nationalists. This is a plausible explanation of the disquieting developments in JNU in the last two weeks. But the events also indicate that there is a larger agenda at work. State power to silence dissent So, what is really the issue here? The key issue is the use of state power to silence dissent and using a narrow nationalist discourse to put all critics of the government on the defensive. The immediate provocation for the police action and the sedition charge was the alleged shouting of anti-India slogans at a public meeting on February 9. The JNU studentsa union (JNUSU) has categorically denied any involvement with the controversial event. The identity of those who allegedly chanted the slogans is still unknown. And yet, on February 12, the JNUSU president was picked up by the police for aanti-nationala behaviour and for violating the sedition laws without ascertaining specific factual details about who shouted the slogans. This was a political decision taken at the highest levels of government except that in taking this decision, the Home Minister and the Delhi Police seem to have gone by evidence that was later found to be doctored and on the basis of a video supplied by a television channel. Commenting on the crackdown, Pratap Bhanu Mehta notes that the government is using alegal tyranny to crush dissenta and athe arrest was an open declaration by government that it will not tolerate any dissent.a JNU, famous for its culture of radical dissent, was purposely chosen to send a message to all those who disagree with this regime that dissent is unwelcome. This institution had to be contained specifically because it was producing a critique that does not always conform to the national consensus about major issues, be it capitalism, nationalism, caste, class, community or gender. Pushing its nationalist project The crackdown on JNU and the arrest of Mr. Kumar on sedition charges is not surprising; it is in keeping with the hyper-nationalism promoted by the right wing. It testifies to the Rightas insistence on changing the public discourse in the country and ensuring its world view becomes Indiaas as well. It betrays an intention to create an atmosphere of general fear among students and teachers and scare those who do not agree with the governmentas cultural project. At a time when the Modi government has not been able to deliver on the economic front, it is consistently finding ways to aggravate polarisation. For now, it is doing this by branding everyone who disagrees with it as anti-national. However, the issue here is not nationalism or patriotism, or who is or is not anti-national. Rather, the BJP is using the crisis produced by its botched-up handling of the JNU events to widen and polarise public opinion across the country around its nationalist project. Modern India was formed in 1947 on the basis of a broader concept of non-ethnic, civic nationalism. By adopting this nationalism, India intended to set itself apart from Pakistan a which effectively committed itself to being a state for Muslims. The original concept of India as a nation based on civic rather than ethnic identity is being redefined sharply by the BJPas rise, with much greater political space for the affirmation of Hindu identity, which according to its advocates cannot be separated from Indian nationhood even as this undermines secularism, one of the pillars of Indian democracy since Independence. The original concept of India as a nation based on civic rather than ethnic identity is being redefined sharply by the BJPas rise, with much greater political space for the affirmation of Hindu identity. Constructing JNU as a space for anti-national thinking is crucial for it gives this project a famous address and a justification to step in to show its constituency that it can eradicate such anti-national people. They are also trying to use it as a springboard for the campaign to redefine nationalism. The rhetoric of ultranationalism, they believe, resonates strongly with its core base even though there is little evidence to suggest that it has a wider appeal. Comparing the impact of the notion of the national/anti-national during the Emergency and now, historian Gyan Prakash points out: aLike now, the Emergency regime also labelled dissent as anti-national, but it carried no weight with the public at large.a Nonetheless, sections of the media have been giving a helping hand to this phoney enterprise by letting the question of nationalism frame the terms of debate to polarise and confuse the population by constantly debating nationalism when the issue is the foundational right to dissent in a democracy. Smriti Irani, Minister of Human Resource Development, introduced Bharat Mata into this discourse. Thereafter, if this is a debate about nationalism, then the issue is not just any nationalism but one specifically of the right-wing kind, by which we mean a narrow nationalism rather than an inclusive and capacious one a a category of exclusion that regularly suspects a section of its own citizens. Mr. Kumar had reminded his audience in his speech a day before his arrest that the forces of aHindu Indiaa now most vociferous in laying claim to true patriotism were not only absent in the freedom struggle but were often collaborating with the British. This puts in perspective the shape of the struggle between those who would lay claim to India as a democratic, heterogeneous, inclusive and potentially egalitarian national project, and those for whom nationalism is principally an aggressive religious assertion and unbridled pursuit of growth, where neither violence nor widening inequality matters. Following the arrest of Mr. Kumar, the Modi government finds itself facing huge protests from the liberal-left and progressive opinion within and outside JNU. The police crackdown has drawn criticism worldwide from universities and academics. It has succeeded in bringing together a range of intellectual and political forces which fear threats to the exercise of their democratic rights. In particular, JNU has shown that it has the ability and the willingness to put up stiff and broad-based resistance to the extraordinary attack on the university. This has set off the largest nationwide protests by students in decades and provoked an equally unrelenting response from supporters of the Modi government who say the actions against students are justified. This face-off between state repression and intellectual freedom may well turn out to be a watershed moment for the country and for this anti-intellectual government too. Far from containing JNU, the debate over dissent and tolerance has got a new lease of life and is likely to overshadow everything else. (Zoya Hasan is Emeritus Professor, Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University and currently ICSSR National Fellow, Council for Social Development, New Delhi.) Dhaka Tribune - february 23, 2016 Donat let religious extremists divide society Tribune Editorial The murder of Jagneshwar Roy, the Hindu priest of the Santo Gaurio temple who was stabbed to death in Panchagarh on Sunday, was a despicable act designed to spread fear and divide communities. Police have detained two JMB men and a Shibir activist for their suspected involvement in the murder. Every effort must be made to ensure this leads to all the murderers being found and brought to justice. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. In the past year, religiously motivated militants bombed a Shia religious procession and carried out more vicious targeted murders of secular writers. The threat posed from such terrorism must be taken seriously. Recent disclosures by law enforcement officials indicate that militants have been actively planning attacks on public gatherings. Bangladesh needs to stand firm against all groups and individuals, from whatever quarter or organisation, who seek to divide communities and spread violence. It needs to be a top priority for authorities to make more progress in identifying and catching all the perpetrators involved in carrying out and organising the earlier killing cases. The longer such individuals remain at large, the more likely it is that they or others will be emboldened to strike again. There is no excuse or justification for murder. The government cannot allow impunity. It must act unequivocally to show zero tolerance for those who commit murder and seek to spread hatred and violence. The government needs to provide more reassurance that every effort will and is being made to protect the public. It must ensure sufficient support for law enforcement authorities to help them both track down the perpetrators responsible and to improve intelligence to guard against groups that plan to harm the fabric of our society. o o o The Daily Star, February 22, 2016 Editorial Murder of Hindu priest: Yet another assault on our pluralist fabric We vehemently condemn the attack on a Hindu temple and the murder of a priest, that too on a day which, for Bangladeshis, symbolises plurality, tolerance and secularism. As per our reports, unnamed miscreants attacked a Hindu temple in Debiganj upazila of Panchagarh at 6.30 am yesterday. They stabbed the 50-year-old priest to death and fired several gun shots and exploded crude bombs while fleeing the spot, leaving a devotee critically injured. We strongly feel that the attack a the third of its kind on a minority religious leader in the last five months a cannot be brushed aside as an isolated incident but should be looked at from the broader perspective of escalating extremism and intolerance in the country. Last year, we witnessed attacks perpetrated against the minority community, including the blasts in the historic Kantaji Temple in Kaharol upazila in December, attack on a Shia mosque in Shibganj upazila in November, and bomb explosions at Hossaini Dalan at Dhaka in October. These incidents, in addition to the attacks on foreign nationals and freethinkers, have led to a regrettable scenario in which we in particular our minority communities feel increasingly vulnerable. We have consistently called upon the government to address this looming threat to our inclusive, syncretic and secular fabric, and to arrest the perpetrators and masterminds of such violence. We would like to know what, if any, progress has been made on the previous investigations, and remind the authorities of the urgency with which these perpetrators ought to be apprehended. Unless we can tackle this menace of extremism head-on, we risk losing the ideals which form our national identity. The News International - October 09, 2015 and The News International - October 10, 2015 Part - I Read any newspaper or scholarship produced in Pakistan today, and the aDeath of Classa theory is confirmed. Blaming the political classes for all failure is common. Less discussed is how the politics of class has been thrown into the funeral pyre too. This is the fruit of a postmodern, post-Soviet, post-real or virtual reality era. Fanning the flames of this ideological cremation is the complete surrender of class analysis by our New Intelligentsia. Sadly, the Elders seem to have packed up or, parked their own class awareness a often in the NGO sector. A new generation of leaders, activists and opinion makers has landed on the country. They cannot be faulted for being conceived and born in an intellectual wasteland or, for being educated at Anglo-American universities during the dumbed-down, dangerous politics of George W or, the compromised, comprador politics of New Labour. Nor can they be blamed for growing up in the Disneyland democracy of Gen Musharraf a complete with a Mickey Mouse prime minister. There is the argument that technology is a neutral tool. Yet, the technical leaps in the new millennium seem to have enabled the rearguard to be more effective than progressive forces. IT is used with remarkable efficiency for promoting and abetting hateful propaganda, spreading bigotry, organising flash mob violence, planning and executing assassinations and, systematically attacking not the ruling but primarily, working classes. Sweeping censorship of democratic expression is proposed under cybercrime laws, while for decades, illegal armed hate groups were given free reign. Hate ideology thrived not just in mosques and madressahs but via mainstream school curriculums. Dozens of anthropological PhD theses proliferate on hijab empowerment and Islamistsa subjectivities a none on their printing presses, economic policies or opposition to curriculum changes, or their systematic persecution of free-thinking university professors and students. Critically, though, neither the hate-inspired radical violence nor progressive movements for justice and peace are driven by a consciousness towards class equality anymore. In war and peace, love and hate, class is dead. As if Facebook and social media were not enough, aMy Spacesa for this narcissistic under-35 lot, Pakistanas mainstream newspapers have now relinquished entire editorial content to some professionals called agraduatesa. The qualification to spread wisdom seems to be dependent on the ranking of the Ivy League university attended by the contributor. It seems that every graduate has at least one opinion and a corresponding column in him/her. After that, their attention deficit kicks in or they need to update their blogs or Facebook statuses or get real jobs. Some newspapers have given these self-trained media professionals blogs on a playground called the Internet Edition. This allows the publications and their editors to give the impression that they are progressive and 21st Century relevant. I propose that the medium does influence the political flavour and outcome of an ideology. Social media is for self-analysis, self-gratification and self-promotion. Itas a new venue for the chattering classes a just more expansive, and instead of an armchair, you need a keyboard. This social media generation is certainly more aware and connected as individuals than any before it, but their politics is less collective (that doesnat mean how many friends or followers you have) and void of class-consciousness. So what does class analysis look like? Two simple clues a it challenges the capture of modes of production and ideological institutions by the ruling classes and beneficiaries, and it participates in and advocates a sustained class-conscious movement to radically dismantle and change these very structures towards equality. There are local examples that contrast the relevance against the absence of class-consciousness, as described above. These will be discussed in the second part of this article. Part - II In contrast to the nationwide Lawyersa Movement (2007-2009), which directly challenged a military head of state and sought institutional corrective by restoring an unconstitutionally deposed chief justice, the PTI-type social media-heavy protests against drones never challenged any institution, specifically avoiding GHQ and the security apparatus. Neither did the anti-drone advocates offer an alternative to the besieged people of Fata who were trapped by the Taliban for years. The demands of Fata citizens were not heeded a and certainly not in class terms. The tribal areas became a ground for political and academic benefit for those who wanted to fit their aanti-imperialista credentials through abstract politics and analysis. The alternative was some confused, contradictory, social media-led rubbish that died out as soon as the GHQ decided to own what was always its privilege. No protest, no policy, not even a single press statement by the PTI in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and no analysis by anti-imperialists follows a even as sweeping PAF air raids replace targeted US drone attacks today. Simply abusing the government or the security state online doesnat make one a leftist. The Junaid Jamshed blasphemy case is another exemplar of the futility of class analysis. Dozens of post 9/11 scholars invested considerable academic energy into defending the blasphemy laws and made a case for the moral injury that Muslims are permanently vulnerable to. They justified the Salmaan Taseer murder through academic spin and blamed the imperialist west and liberal-secular laws of Pakistan. They even argued that blasphemy accusations were always a disguise for class interest and had nothing to do with religion. Taseeras murderer was hailed a hero by no less than members of the bar and judiciary, but there is no comment on how religion trumps class in Pakistan. Meanwhile, Junaid Jamshed proved the important collusion and nexus of class and religion with aplomb. Unlike others imprisoned for suspicion or hearsay or even, the unproven allegations against Taseer, Jamshed publicly blasphemed but he enjoys the patronage of the unelected and illiberal Islamist clerical powers that be. Class did not shield Taseer, but the combination of religion and class ensured that Jamshed was not only forgiven but allowed to return from a cushy exile which he could afford (in the safe haven of the imperialist west) due to his capitalist ventures. He returns home within the year, exonerated and safer than any underclass blasphemy-accused currently rotting in our jails. Certainly, heas safer than Taseer and his family who continue to pay the price. More salt to the wound a Jamshed is invited onto the pulpit of national day celebrations by our progressive cultural elite, to cement Pakistanas nationalist-religious-misogyny defining identity. The Coke Studio audience alikea and share his performance and express their sentimental patriotism all over social media. Again, no class analysis from the outraged liberals nor the defenders of Islamic ethos and laws in this case. More recently, the human rights issue of bonded labour has been arediscovereda, thanks to the Humans of New York (who makes up these titles?). From 9/11 to the short-lived Occupation of Wall Street to drones to human slavery, it seems that Manhattan is the centre of our political consciencesa.what would we do without its leadership? Interestingly, a year before Stantonas campaign, a bonded Christian labourer and his pregnant wife were burned alive at Kot Radha Kishan, but that real-time incident didnat prick our political consciences enough. Apparently, virtual reality is more meaningful than actual reality. So, the social media post by Stanton renewed interest and sparked many blogs and op-eds, crying shame on Pakistanas government and advocating the strict implementation of laws to abolish this form of slavery. None of these discuss the nature of the bonded labour or where it is supposed to travel after it has been afreeda nor the transient and precarious nature of the few camps that exist for the aliberateda. Worst of all, the notion that it is not the debt but the land that needs to be restructured or redistributed is not even an imaginable possibility in this analysis. The notion that there are some agooda landowners who donat bond their labour simplifies the dramatic changes in the political economy of land in Pakistan and ignores the shifts in landowner-haari relationships today. Further, the labour that is maimed and burned alive in factories, and denied minimum wage or abused by industrialists seems not to qualify as modern slavery a nor, for that matter, does household work but letas leave that for now. Finally, the death of class analysis explains the emotional defence offered recently by private school entrepreneurs. These businessmen and women attempt to rationalise school fee rates by painting themselves as socially concerned altruists filling in the vacuum, following the market model and with high-maintenance teacher issues. This is a compelling example of the difference in self-indulgent social analysis versus class-conscious understandings about the ideological factories that make up the education sector. It may just be the proverbial last nail in the coffin of class analysis in Pakistan. Concluded The writer Afiya Shehrbano is a sociologist based in Karachi. The Sahih Al Islam Blog is a platform to share in an easily available format the sermons and writings of Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius, the Holy Founder of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International. Bestowed with sublime spiritual titles such as Muhyi-ud-Din, Mujaddid and Khalifatullah, Imam Azim (aba) is Divinely-ordained with the task of inviting all people to the wisdom of Islamic teachings in every day life. Most certainly, Islam promises Mercy, Grace and Blessings for those who follow the Divine Light in their midst. Apart from being a depository record of the Jamaat events and social engagements of its members, the Blog also publishes a variety of other writings on issues of spiritual and social concern. I give my consent to Sakshi Post to be in touch with me via email for the purpose of event marketing and corporate communications. Privacy Policy Brief filed with court argues plaintiffs had no standing to sue RALEIGH Attorneys representing the state of North Carolina in thelawsuit - in which earlier this month a three-judge federal district court panel threw out the congressional districts drawn in 2011, resulting in a delay in the state's congressional primary - claim in court documents that the plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit have no legal grounds to sue.In a legal brief filed in October and February known asthe state's attorneys argue that the Harris v. McCrory case, in essence, placed North Carolina in double jeopardy.said Jon Guze, director of legal studies at the John Locke Foundation.Losing parties may appeal to a higher court, "but they may not simply file a new complaint and go to court again in the hope of getting a better result," Guze said.A three-judge U.S. District Court panel ruled in early February that the 1st and 12th congressional districts violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment because the state relied too heavily on race in reformatting the electoral maps.The state denies that conclusion, and has an appeal pending. In the meantime, the General Assembly complied with the district court order by creating new and markedly different congressional maps, reopening the filing period to run for Congress, and pushing the congressional primary back to June 7.Guze said.According to the state's attorneys, those legal doctrines apply in Harris v. McCrory because the same plaintiffs were involved in the unsuccessful Dickson v. Rucho suit. In that case the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that the legislative and congressional districts drawn by the 2011 session of the General Assembly were constitutional.In contrast to the federal district court in the Harris case, in Dixon the N.C. Supreme Court ruled that the N.C. Court of AppealsBecause of that decision, the state's attorneys wrote in their legal pleadings, the Harris plaintiffs' claims "should be dismissed" because they are members of organizations that already sued the state on the same grounds and lost in the Dickson case, and are bound by the judgment of the state court.David Harris of Durham, who lives in the 1st District, Christine Bowser, a 12th District voter of Mecklenburg County, and Samuel Love are the Harris plaintiffs.According to the state's attorneys, facts in the case showed Democratic Party officials recruited Harris and Bowser to file suit. Neither is paying any attorneys' fees or costs associated with the Harris case, neither could state any harm caused to them by the redistricting, and neither of them saw the complaint before it was filed.Harris and Bowser are members of the North Carolina NAACP. Additionally, Bowser is a member of Democracy North Carolina, and made financial contributions to the League of Women Voters. All three of those organizations were plaintiffs in the Dickson case.According to the state's attorneys, "Where an association is a party to litigation, federal courts have held that members of the association are precluded ... from re-litigating claims or issues raised in previous actions by an association in which they are a member." They cited numerous case law precedents supporting their claims.with respect to how the 1st and 12th congressional districts were drawn.the state's legal brief said.Guze said.Irving Joyner, a North Carolina Central University professor of law, holds a contrary view.Joyner said.Joyner said.Nor are there any facts the Harris case was "coordinated with, condoned by or instigated by the NC NAACP," Joyner said.Joyner said the NAACP has thousands of members in North Carolina. Membership does not determine the rights of an individual to seek legal redress in either state or federal court.Joyner said.The NC NAACP supports the results of the Harris litigation because it allowed the federal court to apply the relevant legal precedents that guide voting rights cases correctly, he said.Joyner said. Another car wash company is coming to Salina The growth of car wash services have been increasing in Salina the past few years, with another coming after approval by the city. Our hard-working, well-trained labor force and convenient proximity to leading automakers are among the many assets that make our state the ideal choice for strategic, innovation-based ventures such as GF Linamar. RALEIGH There's been news in Henderson County this week about an announcement from GF Linamar that they'll build a state-of-the-art aluminum die casting plant in Mills River. And it does indeed sound pretty great.They're promising 350 new jobs, which is a lot anywhere, and particularly in a town with a population of around 7,000. Those jobs are supposed to have an average salary of nearly $48,000, which is well over the average income in Henderson County. The company is investing $217 million. I understand why folks are excited.But here's the thing: It comes at a cost. There's no such thing as a free lunch, and the cost to taxpayers across the state of this particular lunch is more than $4.7 million. There's a $4.2 million Job Development Investment Grant and up to $500,000 from the One North Carolina Fund . Those One North Carolina Fund dollars also require matching money from the local government.It all adds up to millions of dollars coming from North Carolina taxpayers in one way or another. And all of it to lure a private company - actually a joint venture between two private companies, one Canadian and one Swiss, with combined sales of $8 billion in 2014 - to come here. The Department of Commerce's press release on the announcement quotes Gov. Pat McCrory:Apparently he thinks our "hard-working, well-trained labor force and convenient proximity to leading automakers" aren't sufficient. Another of the "many assets that make our state the ideal choice" is the access to taxpayers' money that companies are granted by the governor and General Assembly.If this were a unique situation, that would be one thing. But it's not. Even a quick look at the Department of Commerce's website reveals a long list of similar announcements granting subsidies to private companies; I count four just this month. And all of them are paid for by my taxes and yours.Henderson County isn't particularly poor. It gets the highest designation from the Department of Commerce, Tier 3, meaning it's considered one of the 20 least economically distressed counties in the state. Which just goes to show that, far from being some sort of extraordinary measure used by the state in very specific circumstances, economic incentives have become absolutely routine. They're handed out with alarming frequency.Sure, this plant will bring jobs, and jobs are good. But it's not good that companies have come to expect a handout for locating here. Will we create a situation in which no company will come here without a handout? Have we already? Doesn't that actually weaken North Carolina, allowing companies essentially to hold us hostage while they wait for more corporate welfare?And every dollar of that corporate welfare is a dollar taken from hard-working North Carolina taxpayers. This is $4.7 million that families won't be able to use to provide for their children, pay their mortgages, start their own businesses, or give to charity.Not only that, but these various incentives all distort the market. Rather than simply gauging whether Mills River has the right set of characteristics to make investment there a good business decision (natural resources, work force, stable regulatory and tax environment), companies instead consider how much cash they can get from the government.That's because the governor and General Assembly have decided that they know best, that they should pick the companies that are right for North Carolina rather than letting the market decide. Through JDIG, One North Carolina, and the like, the government attempts to pick winners. And when they pick winners, that inevitably leaves other businesses as losers - often small, local businesses that have been in North Carolina for years.This is especially true in a place like Henderson County with very low unemployment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , unemployment in Henderson County is 4.2 percent, which most economists would consider full employment.That means that a big employer, subsidized by the government, bringing lots of jobs paying high wages, will drive up the cost of labor for other employers in the area. The little guy, the local small business owner who was doing OK, suddenly finds himself having to compete with a large employer who, with the help of the state, is providing wages he can't afford.So he'll lose workers and possibly have to shut up shop. That's the sort of loser that the governor, the Department of Commerce, and the General Assembly never set out to create, but it is the certain outcome of their actions.The state government should provide a stable regulatory environment with low taxes for all businesses. That, along with North Carolina's strong workforce, well-educated people, natural resources, and location will be enough to attract businesses to come and to stay, leaving millions of dollars in taxpayers' pockets. Get the most up-to-date details on our Facebook page! This is a "closed group". You must be logged in to Facebook and a regional member for access. Click On Our Advertisers Ads Most of our ads have links to take you directly to their Websites. Just click on an ad and away you go. Had more than 200 volunteers Saved 2,500 pounds of food More than 50 percent is developed. Provided more than 1,900 meals Served 1,226 clients The Campus Kitchens Project empowers students to create sustainable solutions to food waste and hunger. In the 2014-2015 academic year, with its highest numbers to date, ECU: At left, Brianna Harrington, a junior from Waxhaw, and Lekisha Pittman, a senior from High Point, prepare meals for Greenville children by volunteering with Campus Kitchen at ECU. Starting Friday, a seven-day online "Raise the Dough" fundraiser for Campus Kitchens nationwide kicks off. It's a competition among 23 participating Campus Kitchens to see which campus can raise the most funds. ECU volunteers will have a table at Wright Plaza on Wednesday to bring awareness to the organization. Canned good donations also will be accepted. Donations (minimum of $10) can be made online at Raise The Dough Challenge 2016. A student-led project at East Carolina University is marking six years of addressing hunger locally.ECU has the only Campus Kitchens program in the UNC system and the largest of four programs in the state.said Victoria Barfield, a graduate student in nutrition science and advisor for ECU Campus Kitchens Hot Meals.Teams of students prepare nutritious meals consisting of a protein, vegetable, starch and dessert at Todd Dining Hall and deliver them on a rotating schedule to four community partners: Operation Sunshine, the Little Willie Center, JOY Soup Kitchen and the Ronald McDonald House.While the dining hall donates the meat, most of the vegetables and fruit come from the annual ECU Homecoming canned food drive. More than 1,100 pounds of food were collected in the fall and will be used throughout the year, Barfield said.Student coordinators like shift leader Lekisha Pittman are the heart of the program.Pittman said one of the biggest things she has learned through volunteering is thatshe said. "Volunteering with Campus Kitchens also has influenced her career choice. She intended to major in nursing, but switched to family and community services with a concentration in family studies.said Pittman, a senior from High Point.Sometimes students will get involved because they need service hours for an organization. But once they're in, they realize they want a more active role, said Jade Umberger, the nutrition outreach advisor for ECU Campus Kitchens who is in the middle of a yearlong service project with AmeriCorps VISTA.said Pittman, who started volunteering with Campus Kitchens in 2014.As one of 16 shift leaders, Pittman has completed Serv-Safe certification, National Restaurant Association food and beverage safety training that students can take into their professional lives after graduation, Umberger said.Umberger said.she said. In west Greenville, where she primarily works, there is limited access to fresh foods and vegetables, creating a food desert.To address the gap, Campus Kitchens started a nutrition outreach program last summer that provides four nutrition lessons each month with children from the Little Willie Center and Operation Sunshine." Umberger said.At Thanksgiving, Campus Kitchens planned a Turkey Palooza which resulted in enough donations to support all the families at Operation Sunshine and several more at the Lucille Gorham W. Intergenerational Community Center. Twenty-five families received a box complete with turkey and all the sides.ECU's Volunteer Service-Learning Center and Aramark opened ECU's Campus Kitchen on Feb. 24, 2010. It's one of 45 at schools across the country. Volunteers are always needed. Students can visit OrgSync for more information. It has been far too many years since the Woke theology interlaced its canons within the fabric of the Indoctrination Realm, so it is nigh time to ask: Does this Representative Republic continue, as a functioning society of a self-governed people, by contending with the unusual, self absorbed dictates of the Woke, and their vast array of Victimhood scenarios? Yes, the Religion of Woke must continue; there are so many groups of underprivileged, underserved, a direct result of unrelenting Inequity; they deserve everything. No; the Woke fools must be toppled from their self-anointed pedestal; a functioning society of a good Constitutional people cannot withstand this level of "existential" favoritism as it exists now. Here we discuss sex and politics, loudly, no apologies hence "screeds" and "attitude." The rumors are true. Dunkin' Donuts is opening 1,000 California donut shops, and they are about to begin construction on one in Walnut Creek. OMG. We always want what we can't have. San Francisco might be home to $4 toast and $15 coffee, but all some people crave is a mediocre East Coast donut and watery cup of caffeine. Those people are in luck because Dunkin' Donuts is finally following through on a promise to bring their crummy baked goods to the Bay. The San Francisco Business Times has the holey scoop on the first Bay Area Dunkin' Donuts scheduled to open this summer in Walnut Creek. Matt Cobo, a former Panera Bread franchise owner, has apparently signed a deal to open a (very cliche) dozen Dunkin' Donuts shops in Contra Costa County. The first will be in a former Walnut Creek Taco Bell and construction will begin on March 1st. Dunkin has this In-N-Out-like effect - it has an emotional connection with its customers, Cobo told the Biz Times. He aims to be serving up "Dunkin" to the East Bay by mid-June. Vishal Shah of the humbly named LLC, "California Donut Kings" told the Biz Times that his company will open a Dunkin' Donuts in Half Moon Bay in the early summer of 2016 and then "Dunkin'"s in both South San Francisco and Alameda this coming fall. Dunkin' fans who wish to watch the Taco transform into a Donut can do so at 1250 Newell Avenue in Walnut Creek, which is in the suburbs super far away. A proposal authored by Supervisor Malia Cohen to give the Office of Citizen Complaints complete authority to investigate all police shootings is moving forward, the Examiner reports, with the Board's Rules Committee sending it along to the full Board. If approved there, it would land on the June ballot for voters to decide. Meanwhile, the accounts of two shootings by SFPD officers have been called into question, perhaps bolstering Cohen's case. Cohen calls the move, which would expand the Office of Citizen Complaints' (OCC) purview, "a step in the right direction." The OCC didn't investigate about 25 percent of such shootings in the past five years. That's because, although the OCC investigates all complaints of police wrongdoing, not all shootings result in a complaint. Alex Nieto ABC7 reports that evidence doesn't add up from a Taser held by Alex Nieto, who was shot and killed by Police officers in Bernal Heights Park in 2014 when they purportedly mistook the weapon he carried as part of his job (he was a nightclub security officer) for a gun. We've already heard that a police account of Nieto flashing or firing his taser was called into question by a witness who claims the shooting victim had his hands in his pockets when he was wounded 14 times by police gunfire and died. But now ABC7 has done some research into the Taser's internal clock, which the District Attorney's report said indicates it was fired several times starting at 7:18 p.m. But Nieto's Taser, according to the news channel's investigation, instead registered being fired at 7:14 p.m. The difference that would make is unclear, but it could indicate that the timing was changed whether maliciously or merely to address what a taser expert refers to as "clock drift," it's not known. Maybe more compellingly, "There would always be some sort of Taser evidence on the ground or somewhere nearby that the weapon was discharged," that expert added, but while this wasn't found, the DA chalks that up to heavy winds. Amilcar Perez Lopez The Examiner also has a story on a second City autopsy in the case of the death of 20-year-old Guatemalan immigrant Amilcar Perez Lopez, who was shot and killed by SFPD officers last year. While Chief Suhr initially told the public that Perez Lopez had lunged at officers, activists have disputed that account, and a second, independent autopsy seemed to show that Perez Lopez had been shot in the back. Now, the Ex reports, the City's recent autopsy corroborates that: Perez Lopez was in fact shot not just four times in the back but once through the arm and once through the back of his head. This case is truly significant because the contrast between their version and the physical evidence is so stark, Arnoldo Casillas, the lead attorney in the case told reporters. Weve got our autopsy and their autopsy that show the bullets hit him in the back. As for Cohen's proposal to have the OCC automatically investigate all police shootings, some question whether the office has the resources and staff to do so. But, says OCC director Joyce Hicks, if granted further authority by voters in June she would request more funds and staff to do so. Previously: Activists Dispute Official Account Of Fatal SFPD Shooting, Plan Protest At Town Hall Tonight Witness In Alex Nieto Civil Rights Trial To Say He Had Hands In His Pockets When Police Shot Him A Haight Street vintage clothing shop(pe) remains closed today after the California Department of Fish and Wildlife acted on an anonymous tip and discovered illegal animal products on sale. Decades of Fashion, where you cannot shop today, was raided by a dozen or so agents who looked for and found retail merchandise that contained fur from endangered or threatened animals. "Our primary purpose is to prohibit commercialization of animals, which for some reason may be threatened or endangered," Fish and Wildlife agent Lieutenant James Ober told NBC Bay Area. "Or sometimes it's animals that may have been taken under a sport hunting license. And we don't want them to be something that can be done for profit." Typical vintage store items that might contain illegal animal parts include belts made from sea turtles or coats fashioned from African lions. Officials have yet to speak with the store's owner, Cicely Hansen to determine whether or not she knew they were offering illegal ANIMAL PARTS. But J.T. Hansen, Cicely's son, reached out to KQED to protest his innocence, saying, "I had no idea. Neither did my mom." A 1970 law prohibits the selling of endangered animal parts, but not the ownership of them. Hansen tells KQED he believes that all of the pieces in his mom's store pre-date the law and that game agents are acting like "bullies." Decades of Fashion will be closed until the Department of Fish and Wildlife gets to the bottom of this fashion fiasco. In the School of Theatre and Dance's performance of "Assassins," the crowd reacts to Zangara's attempt on President Franklin D. Roosevelt. (Photos by Cliff Hollis) John Wilkes Booth played by Daniel Fetter Performances will be held in McGinnis Theatre at 8 p.m. Feb. 25-27, at 2 p.m. Feb. 28, and 8 p.m. Feb. 29 and March 1. Tickets are $17.50 for the general public and $10 for ECU students and youth. Call 252-328-6829, email theatre@ecu.edu or visit www.ecu.edu for more information. ARTISTIC QUALITY It's the first time ECU has won the NCTC College/University award. ECU students Jessica Braun, who portrays Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, and Anna Higginson as Sara Jane Moore rehearse their lines for the ECU School of Theatre and Dance production of "Assassins." Fromme, a Charles Manson follower, and Moore, who was linked to leftist radical groups, attempted to kill President Gerald Ford. From John Wilkes Booth to Lee Harvey Oswald, notorious presidential assassins will tell their stories in an East Carolina University musical opening Feb. 25 in McGinnis Theatre.Based on the book by John Weidman with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, "Assassins" examines the motivation of would-be and successful assassins of eight United States presidents throughout history.said Anna Higginson, an ECU junior who portrays Sara Jane Moore, who tried to kill President Gerald Ford in 1975.Higginson said.Higginson's character, Moore, had been involved with radical leftist groups before attempting to shoot President Ford on a visit to San Francisco. Ford was not hurt.Higginson said.Faculty member Jason Coale created the scenic design for the production with student collaborators Michael LeBron, Erika Metscher and Colin Eastwood. Their designs were turned over to the scene, prop and paint shops to set the stage as the story of each assassin unfolds.Coale said.The production helps demonstrate the lengths people will go to become famous, Coale said.said Brandon Fillette, an ECU senior and assistant musical director.Fillette is responsible for the music in the show. There are about 10 numbers and some transitional pieces.Fillette said.Fillette, who is majoring in theatre arts with a concentration in musical theatre performance, has enjoyed helping the faculty music director make creative decisions for the production from incorporating different singing styles to determining the pace of the songs. Fillette also is starting a student theatre company called the 5th Street Players for his senior honors project at ECU, Fillette said.ECU associate professor Robert Caprio directs and Tommi Galaska choreographed the production, which features 18 cast members and a behind-the-scenes support crew overseeing lighting to costumes to the orchestra.East Carolina University's theatre program will receive an award in recognition for artistic quality, educational excellence, service to the statewide theatre industry and alumni achievement by the North Carolina Theatre Conference.The award will be presented immediately before the opening of "Assassins" on Feb. 25.said NCTC Executive Director Angie Hays.Hayes commended the department's students and faculty for participating in events such as NCTC's High School Play Festival and College Discovery Day, and for its commitment to working with local arts groups including the Magnolia Arts Center, which received NCTC's 2015 Community Theatre Award.said John Shearin, director of the ECU School of Theatre and Dance.Community outreach is one of the original missions of the school, Shearin said, and it produces plays, musicals and concerts every year, as well as a children's outreach theatre and performances in the surrounding area. If your invitation to the Vanity Fair Oscar Party somehow got lost in the mail, you can still get all the ballgowns, ballots and bingo of this Sunday nights 88th Academy Awards at a local San Francisco Oscars viewing party. The Academy Awards ceremony officially begins at 5:30 p.m. PST Sunday, but some of this years nominees for best Oscar watching party in San Francisco begin a little earlier so you can razz the red carpet arrival broadcast, hashtag #SoWhite references and compare last-minute predictions with your gussied-up friends. Academy of Friends Oscar Night Charity Gala The glitziest, glammiest and for-a-really-good-cause Oscars party north of Beverly Hills is the annual Academy Awards Night Charity Gala hosted by the Academy of Friends. This is your most opulent Oscars option, but you can be sure that 100% of your ticket price will directly benefit Project Open Hand, Maitri and several HIV/AIDS charities and nonprofits. San Francisco Design Center Galleria, 101 Henry Adams St., 5 p.m. ($300 General Admission, $750 VIP) Up The Awards Benefit Bash Hecklers, razzers and lovable haters always congregate at the Roxie for the annual Up The Awards Benefit Bash, a bring-your-own-carry-out-food Oscars watching party that hey-o! now serves beer. You dont even have to sit through the commercials, because the Roxie plays their latest discoveries of curious and never-less-than hilarious cinematic detritus during the breaks. The Roxie, 3117 16th St., 3:45 p.m. ($15) Image: Madame Tussaud's and SoMa StrEat Food Park Funcheap SFs 2016 Oscars Party Yes, that is Neil Patrick Harris in wax statue form, on loan from Madam Tussauds at last years FunCheap SF Oscars Viewing Party. Neil will not be on hand this year at this SoMa StrEat Food Park party, but they will have giant screens, betting pools, bingo, free popcorn, all-you-can-drink champagne specials and a line-up of your very favorite food trucks. SoMa StrEat Food Park, 428 11th St., 2:30 p.m., (Free with Facebook RSVP) Oscars Party at The Knockout The Knockout knocks out another annual Oscars party with Hollywood-themed drinks, fresh-popped popcorn, prizes for the best dressed and the Knockout Oscar Ballot Challenge. The Knockout, 3223 Mission St, 6 p.m. (Free) Image: The Oasis Oasis Red Carpet Party Celebrate the gay Super Bowl at the Oasis Red Carpet Party with co-hostesses Heklina and DArcy Drollinger, hors d'ouevres, champagne and the Oscars proceedings played on a semi-jumbo mega-screen. The Oasis, 298 11th St., 4 p.m. ($25) Balboa Theater Oscars Party Watch the Academy Awards on the silver screen at the Balboas beloved annual Oscars party, this year hosted by Reed Kirk-Rahlmann, Joshua Brody, and Merle and Amy Kessler. Balboa Theater, 3630 Balboa St., 2:30 p.m. ($11) Two University of California at Berkeley fraternities are under scrutiny this week, after the school sent a crime alert out to students warning that four female students might have been drugged at their houses last weekend. According to the alert issued Thursday (which you can read in full here), "The University of California Police Department has been informed by a UC Berkeley Campus Security Authority (CSA) of a report that two female students may have been drugged at the Chi Psi fraternity and two female students may have been drugged at the Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) Fraternity." "Both incidents occurred on the evening Friday, February 19, 2016," the alert reads. According to another crime alert sent by UC Berkeley on Monday, a woman was sexually assaulted at Phi Gamma Delta, one of the frats implicated in the drugging allegations, that same night. According to that alert, "The victim attended a party at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house on Friday, February 19th. The sexual assault took place between 12:00 and 12:45 a.m. in a room at the fraternity." Calls from SFist to the Berkeley Police Department (which is investigating the sexual assault) and UC Berkeley police to determine if the cases are related was not returned at publication time. Confusingly, ABC7 reports that no drugging victims have contacted police, but that the Clery Act requires them "to provide information about these types of allegations, even if they haven't been substantiated." Signed into law in 1990, the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act requires all schools that receive federal financial aid to disclose information about crime on and near campus. It came into being after the 1986 dorm room rape and murder of Jeanne Clery, a 19-year-old student at Lehigh University. Speaking to ABC7 off camera, however, a current Phi Gamma Delta member asked about the drugging allegations "denies the allegations and says they were not questioned by police before the crime alert went out." But UC Berkeley Sergeant Rick Florendo has no regrets regarding the alert, telling ABC7 that "We are going to err on the side of safety and put this information out there." UCPD also says that if you believe you have been drugged at one of these frats (or elsewhere on or near campus), it's not too late to seek help. According to their crime alert, "anyone who might have been victimized in this manner should seek medical treatment or advice and should consider filing a police report so that a criminal investigation can be initiated." A Returned Peace Corps Volunteer's memories and views of his years in upcountry Sierra Leone from 1968 to 1970 N.Korea apparently readying 'some kind of lunch': US officials fear it'll be as bad as Moochelle's school lunch menus By Seymour PetRock WTF News Soivice Seymour still thinks that edits like this will get him a Pulitzer. I hate to tell him, but it MIGHT just get him a Moochelle school lunch as pictured above. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!" Not if it's like Moochelle's school lunches.Then again, Kim Jong Un just might.My pet rock, Seymour, saw a story that indicated that the goofball North Koreans were feeling slighted in the news cycle, and thus were letting the world know that they were preparing a launch of some kind.Seymour didn't need but a nanosecond for the *TOING* to trigger an edit of that one:Washington (WTFNS) - North Korea appears to be readying some kind of lunch, two US defense officials said Thursday, amid concerns Pyongyang is preparing to test a ballistic soup and salad combo in violation of UN Security Council rules on international fast food.The officials' comments came after Japanese media reported that satellite images showed Godzilla dining on residents of Wonsan."The indications are that they are preparing for some kind of lunch," one US official told WTFNS, speaking on condition of culinary anonymity.The official did not say where in North Korea the preparations were taking place, but said people on the ground appeared to be readying "a regular afternoon lunch spread.""Could be for something Western that Kim Jong Un craves," the official said.He added, however, that there was nothing to indicate the lunch was "remotely akin to Moochelle's lousy school lunch menus."But a second US official, who said the lunch was coming "soon," cautioned that North Korea typically uses a new lunch menu item as a pretext for convincing the people that they're finally going to get fed."Our concern is that when they do a lunch, it happens to be the same crap that our fast food chains just axed because it sucked, like Moochelle's school lunch program," the official added, also requiring anonymity.The development parallels events in December 2012, when Pyongyang put a kimshi lite with a third less calories than their regular kimshi into McKimJongUn restaurants around Pyongyang.The international community condemned the lunch as a disguised Moochelle school lunch, resulting in a tightening of UN sanctions, despite Pyongyang's claim it was no different than Bill Clinton using female interns as genital humidors.Citing an anonymous government source, Kimono News in Dearborn said the satellite imagery had been eaten by Godzilla along with the population of Wonsan.Increased movements of people that had sampled the new lunch and couldn't digest it were seen around the lunch site, which has now apparently been covered over to cover the fact that the only flushing toilet in North Korea is inoperative.The United States regularly monitors North Korea from space, where the kimshi doesn't smell as bad as Moochelle's school lunches that are closer to home, do.North Korea is banned under toothless UN Security Council resolutions from carrying out any lunch using Moochelle's sucky school lunch menu, although repeated violations have gone unpunished. There are many fitness goals out there that we desire. Some of us want to be leaner and others wish to put on muscle mass. The thing is, for you to achieve your fitness goals, you need to The controversy over the Common Core State Standards in North Carolina began over four years ago but the fate of the standards is still undecided.The Academic Standards Review Commission tasked with reviewing the standards and suggesting a replacement met for 15 months. Their final meeting was in December 2015, when the majority of the commission turned on one of their own members over the math recommendations.The attacks on the math recommendations were so bizarre that it left journalists watching the meeting scratching their heads and spurred Co-Chair Tammy Covil to break ranks by penning a dissenting opinion letter What resulted was arguably a watered-down restating of the task set forth for the commission by the legislature in Senate Bill 812.Two months after the Academic Standards Review Commission held their final meeting and presented their reports, the State Board of Education has yet to take up the recommendations produced. However, that might change next month.The sub-committee of the State Board of Education handling the recommendations is made up of two members, Eric Davis and Dr. Olivia Oxendine. Dr. Oxendine was also a member of the Academic Standards Review Commission. Oxendine's involvement raises the question of whether or not she is too close to the issue to be impartial, given that she joined in on the attacks on the math group's recommendations.According to Sen. Jerry Tillman, State Superintendent June Atkinson told him the State Board of Education would be discussing the recommendations at the board's March 2-3 meetings . Tillman's bill, Senate Bill 812, authorized the Academic Standards Review Commission.Tillman said.In his conversation with me about the status of the recommendations, Tillman said that if the State Board doesn't act to get rid of Common Core, the legislature would.Tillman said, referring to the Board of Education.the senator said. He suggested it might beTillman also indicated he didn't have a lot of trust in the State Board at this point but would wait and see what happened. "I don't know what it will take, but I'm going to wait until the State Board acts. I don't have much confidence in them, to be honest with you," he said.On the House side of the legislature, Rep. Larry Pittman also produced a bill (House Bill 1061) that called for a commission to review the standards.Rep. Pittman had been a fairly constant fixture at the commission's meetings, so I caught up with him to see what his take was on the current status of the commission's recommendations.Pittman said.Pittman continued, "Tammy Covil and Dr. Ted Scheick did a valiant job of presenting the major idiocy of using Common Core. I had begun to hope the ASRC would actually deliver a report that would support moving us away from it.he said.On the topic of what action the State Board of Education might take, and if their decision was being influenced by outside parties, Pittman said,Pittman also is taking a wait-and-see approach, but made clear that he would act if the State Board did not take steps to move North Carolina away from Common Core.he said.The message here is clear - citizens and parents engaged on the issue of Common Core will have to wait alongside Tillman and Pittman until the State Board of Education takes up the recommendations.What is also clear is that regardless of the State Board of Education's decision, members of the General Assembly do not intend to allow Common Core to continue in North Carolina. The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless. The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well. By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism. Rainforests in Gabon NASA Gabon, a Central African country slightly smaller than the state of Colorado, is home to one of the most pristine rainforests on the planet. During the two-week-long NASA campaign, a collaboration with a European Space Agency (ESA) mission called AfriSAR, researchers are collecting measurements of plant mass, distribution of trees, shrubs and ground cover, and diversity of plant and animal species not only from Gabons rainforest but also from the countrys wetlands, mangrove forests and savanna. ESA launched the first part of the AfriSAR field campaign in Gabon in July 2015, when teams led by the French national aerospace research center collected radar and field measurements of the countrys forests. Now NASA and the German space agency have joined the second leg of the campaign. The data will help prepare for and calibrate four current and upcoming spaceborne missions for NASA, ESA and the German space agency that aim to, among other goals, better gauge the role of forests in Earths carbon cycle. One of the questions were really interested in at NASA is balancing the global carbon budget, said Lola Fatoyinbo, a research scientist at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and lead of NASAs contribution to the AfriSAR campaign. We know how much carbon dioxide is being emitted into the atmosphere by fossil fuel emissions, but we dont have a good estimate of how much carbon is being taken up from the atmosphere and where its stored we think that forests absorb about a quarter of all these emissions, but we need better studies of forest biomass to confirm this. With AfriSAR, were getting very accurate measurements of the 3D structure of an ecosystem that is representative of the larger Congo Basin rainforest and of tropical forests in general, and this is going to allow us to get a better grip on how much carbon is stored in these ecosystems, Fatoyinbo said. Gabons forest is part of the Congolian tropical forests, altogether the second largest rainforest in the world after the Amazon. About 85 percent of the countrys land is forest: only about 1.5 million people live there. The forests in Gabon are special: they are rich in plants and animals, but empty of people and intact in most places, said Sassan Saatchi, a senior scientist from NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. He is part of the NASA AfriSAR team that operates the Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR). The other NASA group participating in AfriSAR, led by Goddard scientist Bryan Blair, is in charge of the Land, Vegetation, and Ice Sensor (LVIS) instrument. During the AfriSAR campaign, UAVSAR flies 40,000 feet high mounted beneath a C-20A aircraft from NASAs Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. LVIS flies at 28,000 feet onboard a B-200 airplane from NASAs Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Both instruments collect measurements of surface topography and vegetation structure by sending out rapid pulses of either radio waves (UAVSAR) or laser light (LVIS) toward their targets. They then calculate the distance to objects below by measuring how long it takes for the signal to bounce back, creating 3D maps of the surface beneath. LVIS studies the vertical structure of the forests by measuring the elevation of everything the photons hit: the top of the canopy, all of the leaves and branches and finally the ground said Blair, principal investigator and developer of LVIS. In tropical forests, the challenge is to get the laser pulse all the way to the ground because the whole canopy is closed; theres very few holes for the photons to get through. The data collected by LVIS will help calibrate and validate the information gathered by UAVSAR over the same targets, and vice-versa. The two datasets will also be compared to the airborne radar measurements that ESA and the German space agency are compiling during their current campaigns in Gabon. Finally, AfriSARs ground teams from Goddard and JPL are performing several types of field measurements, such as tree width, forest structure and soil moisture, which will complement and refine the data gathered from the air. Both NASA airborne instruments are test beds for future space missions. LVIS is the precursor to the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation lidar (GEDI), a powerful laser altimeter that will be installed on the International Space Station in the near future to measure forests in 3D. UAVSAR will help develop the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, or NISAR, a joint U.S. and Indian radar-based satellite mission set to launch in 2020. In turn, the European space agencies radar measurements in Gabon are aimed to prepare for ESAs BIOMASS satellite mission, which will deploy in 2020. The German space agency will also compare the data to the measurements collected by its TanDEM-X satellite constellation, launched in 2010. Furthermore, the forest data gathered in Gabon might help to inform policymakers working on climate mitigation and forest conservation policies, Saatchi said. AfriSAR is NASAs first collaboration with Gabons young space agency, AGEOS, and also its first large international campaign in Africa since NASA participated in a hydrological study of the Sahel in the early 1990s. US policy in Ukraine, Smith notes, has turned the country into the front line in Washington's campaign against Russia, with Ukraine's Russian-speakers, comprising half the population, forced to coexist with a government that would ban the Russian language if it could. Unfortunately, the longer the crisis continues to stew, the less hope there is for its peaceful resolution, the journalist warns. With Ukrainian authorities now facing criticism even from the mass media of its patrons in the United States and Europe, Smith suggests that "the very short of it is that the more or less complete failure of Washington's most adventurous assertion of power in the post-Cold War period can no longer be papered over." "Even the most corrupted correspondents have to file something when political mutiny and warfare break into the open and when non-American media, as is their particular habit, report on these things. It is for this reason alone you can read a smidge but only a smidge about the events now unfolding in Ukraine in the New York Times" Predicting that the failure of US policy in Ukraine is on the horizon, Smith suggests that frankly, it's about time. "The only regret, a great regret of mind and heart, is that American failures almost always prove so costly in consequence of the blindness and arrogance of the policy cliques," the journalist laments. UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) Russia and the United States reached an agreement on the ceasefire in Syria on February 22. The ceasefire took effect at midnight on Saturday, Damascus time (22:00 GMT on Friday). It does not apply to terrorist groups operating in the country, such as Islamic State (Daesh) and Nusra Front. According to de Mistura, initial reports indicated that the situation calmed down around the Syrian capital in the early hours of Saturday, although there was unconfirmed information of potential breaches. "On cases of breaches, a military response should be, according to the [International Syria Support Group] task force, the last resortand should be proportionate," de Mistura stressed on Friday. "Seventeen militant groups that contacted the Hmeymim airbase command have provided their signatures and confirmed that they will abide by the ceasefire agreement," Rudskoi said during a Defense Ministry briefing. "First of all, the democratic forces of the Syrian Army under the command of armed groups including Al-Ghanim, "Iskanderon", "Sureym" and "Chelobiya," the "Desert Hawks" unit and others who continue fighting Daesh. Some of them act together with regular Syrian Army troops, and others pursue separate options," Rudskoi added. He noted, that the Russian Defense Minister gave all the necessary instructions immediately after the Supreme Commander's order. "On February 23, the Syrian side announced its readiness to stop hostilities in accordance with the Russian-American agreement," the Russian General Staff head said. All the forces that truly have influence on the opposing sides of the Syrian conflict should make every effort to implement the ceasefire agreement, Sergey Rudskoi emphasizes. "We have taken the first step towards the cessation of hostilities on Syrian soil. All the forces that truly have an impact on the respective sides of the conflict should make every effort to implement the ceasefire agreement which entered into force today. This will greatly support the establishment of lasting peace in Syria," he said Saturday. Russia and the United States reached an agreement on the ceasefire in Syria on February 22. The ceasefire took effect at midnight on Saturday, Damascus time (22:00 GMT on Friday). The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution endorsing the Russia-US agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria on Friday, shortly before the ceasefire came into force. The cessation of hostilities does not apply to designated terrorist groups operating in Syria, including Daesh (ISIL/ISIS/Islamic State) and al-Nusra Front, a group affiliated with al-Qaeda. The Russian Defense Ministry added that 70 aircraft are monitoring the ceasefire in Syria with the assistance of recoinnassance aircraft, surveillance satellites and other intelligence methods. Over two days 2.5 tons of humanitarian aid was delivered to the Syrian localities of Homs and Latakia which signed the ceasefire agreement, the ministry's representative added. At the same time, the ministry is working to ensure that 47 more towns and villages in Hama, Homs, Damascus and Deraa will sign the ceasefire deal. #SYRIA Humanitarian aid delivered to regions, which achieved truce agreements. In 2 days 2.5 tons of food sent to #Qattinah and #Umataur (@mod_russia) 27 2016 . "Humanitarian aid is being delivered to the areas supporting the ceasefire agreement. Over the past two days only over 2.5 tons of aid was delivered to Kattina (Homs province) and a town in the province of Latakia," Lt. Gen. Sergei Kuralenko told reporters. The cessation of hostilities does not apply to terrorist groups operating in Syria, such as Daesh and al-Nusra Front. #SYRIA for last 24 hours, 3 settlements (al-Ganta, al-Telb, Nakhtah) signed agreements on ceasefire and passing under control of gov. troops (@mod_russia) 27 2016 . On Monday, the United States and Russia, the co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), announced a plan for a ceasefire between the warring parties in Syria to go into effect on Saturday, February 27. The agreement has been approved by the other 17 members of the ISSG. Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with the country's government fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups, including Islamic State (Daesh), which is outlawed in many countries including the United States and Russia. MOSCOW (Sputnik)Russia has provided a list of armed groups exceeding 6,000 people and 74 settlements that have committed to the Syrian ceasefire that took effect hours earlier, the chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces said Saturday. "A list of armed groups totaling 6,111 people who have adhered to the ceasefire, as well as a list of 74 towns and regions with exact geographic coordinates where airstrikes should be excluded, has been communicated to US representatives," Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoi told reporters. Russia and the United States reached an agreement on the ceasefire in Syria on February 22. The ceasefire took effect at midnight on Saturday, Damascus time (22:00 GMT on Friday). The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution endorsing the Russia-US agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria on Friday, shortly before the ceasefire came into force. DUBAI (Sputnik)US Special Envoy for Syria Michael Ratney called on the sides to the Syrian conflict to inform Washington about violations to the ceasefire that took effect in the early hours of Saturday. "If you have information about ceasefire violations, you can contact any member of the International Syria Support Group. In the US, you can contact a special coordinating group monitoring the Syrian ceasefire in Washington," Ratney said in an Arabic-language statement distributed by the Syrian opposition's High Negotiations Committee. The special envoy stressed that the use force in a ceasefire regime is allowed "only when there is an imminent threat or in case of self-defense." The leader of Jabhat al-Nusra, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, has already decried the ceasefire as a trick and called on his followers to continue fighting. It should be noted that both the al-Nusra Front and Daesh (ISIL/ISIS) are considered exempt from the ceasefire deal and thus can be freely engaged by all parties involved in the Syrian conflict. Bashar Jaafari, head of the Syrian Permanent Mission to UN, has already said that Syrian forces have the right to retaliate against any violations of the ceasefire. Earlier it was reported that militant groups allied with the al-Nusra Front carried out attacks against residential districts and military personnel in Homs and Aleppo. "The militants opened mortar fire in the Sheikh, Ashrafiyeh and Kurdish neighborhoods of Aleppo. The shelling was conducted from the Bin Ziyad area, which is where groups that do not agree with the truce are located. Shelling from their side started right after midnight," the source said, adding that in Homs "militants opened fire on [Syrian] army positions." The militants responsible for the attack in Aleppo belong to Liwa al-Sultan Murad group which is allied with al-Nusra Front and thus refused to abide by the ceasefire agreement. The ongoing campaign against Daesh forces in Syria and Iraq became the maiden combat deployment for the aircraft thats worth about $400 million apiece, with the first sortie against Islamist ground targets taking place on September 22, 2014. Since then, F-22s have been regularly deployed against Daesh assets, dropping over 200 bombs on ground targets over the course of some 150 missions. The problem is, the aircraft was built with a slightly different purpose in mind to put it mildly. "The F-22 is clearly a capability we do need a niche, silver bullet solution for one or two potential scenarios specifically the defeat of a highly advanced enemy fighter fleet," the then-Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said in 2009 during Senate hearings. "The F-22, to be blunt, does not make much sense anyplace else in the spectrum of conflict." Another area of concern is the Arctic, which Gen. Philip Breedlove prefers to see as an opportunity of a new maritime trade route to the Far East, which, due to the change of the ice flow is going to be shortened by 30 days. Therefore, Russias rightful presence in the region, as one of the eight Arctic nations, comes as a concern to the US general. While apparently very aggressive, the Russians, however, remain in turmoil due to lower oil prices, western sanctions and the high cost of the US dollar, Gen. Philip Breedlove said. Such a dual perception of Russia was once very well described by RT news channel blogger Bryan Macdonald, who has coined the phrase Russophrenia to describe the condition where the sufferer believes Russia is both about to collapse, and take over the world. He says: Since 2013, instances of this ailment have reached epidemic-like proportions in certain parts of Washington, London and Brussels. Like the flu, Russophrenia is an illness which can strike anyone, but it is particularly prevalent among the Wests political and media elite. And even President Obama couldnt have missed it: having called Russia nothing more than a regional power before, he recently referred to it as the second most military power in the world. Russophrenia, the blogger states, is an illness in need of a cure. "To many experts," Svobodnaya Pressa noted, "it quickly became evident that Reagan was trying to pass off an absolute fairytale off as truth. Nevertheless, the Soviet leadership, in the interests of maintaining parity with the US in such implausible technologies, was drawn into an arms race. How realistic is it that the Americans have succeeded in creating these new 'exotic' weapons? And is it possible that we may again join a new, pointless arms race?" Looking for answers to these questions, the newspaper turned to Igor Korotchenko, a respected Russian military analyst and editor of the magazine 'National Defense'. "All military projects being developed by the United States are in the line of sight of the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate and the Foreign Intelligence Service," Korotchenko emphasized. "These agencies closely evaluate the course of America's technological progress [in the military sphere]." "Therefore, the Americans are not able to create anything surprising or unexpected without Moscow noticingIf any new potential threats to Russia arise, adjustments are made to our state arms program, the defense order, and any technical specifications in the defense sciences." "In any case," Korotchenko noted, "we are not engaged in an arms race. Russia's strategy is to parry (counter) and neutralize any threat, not to compete with the United States in developing military technology. It is impossible to find ourselves in a situation where we wake up tomorrow and discover that we are totally vulnerable." Asked by his interviewer why the Defense Department has decided to increase its open talk about its new exotic future weapons, the military expert explained that "all of this is routine work in lobbying the Pentagon's interests, and we should not look for some special significance in the comments. Maybe articles about such 'miracle weapons' are needed by some congressman, who will then begin crying about the need to ensure the superiority of the army." In contrast to other areas," Axe writes, "the US Navy proposes to buy no fewer than three different kinds of new munitions specifically designed to sink enemy warships at great distance. The new anti-ship weapons in the budget are stealthier, fly farther and faster and pack more destructive power than the Navy's current arsenal." Why the sudden rush? According to the analyst, "the Navy's crash acquisition of hundreds of long-range, ship-killing missiles reflects the sailing branch's determination to outgun what Robert Work, the deputy defense secretary, described as 'a resurgent Russia and a rising China' on the high seas." "Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, Work's boss, laid out the argument," Axe explained. "We face competitors who are challenging us in the open ocean, and we need to balance investment in those capabilities advanced capabilities in a way that we haven't had to do for quite a while," Carter said, speaking to sailors at Naval Base San Diego earlier this month. Back during the Cold War, Axe recalled, "the Navy excelled at sinking enemy ships. It possessed two of the world's best anti-ship missiles the Harpoon and the TomahawkWith these two weapons, the US Navy was prepared to engage Soviet warships if the Cold War had ever turned hot." "But after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the US fleet shifted its attention to land," launching "missile and air raids on Iraq, Serbia, Afghanistan, Iraq again, Libya and Syria, among others." Earlier this week, US Pacific Command chief Admiral Harry Harris said China was changing the operational landscape of the region, as reported by China Cheat Sheets. The South China Sea serves as a passageway for a third of the worlds oil, and analysts suspect it is filled with untapped natural resources. China claims about all of the South China Sea. It is also claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The Philippines is leading a lawsuit against China over territorial claims. The issue is being heard by an international court in The Hague, which is expected to make a ruling later this year. Even though China doesnt recognize the legitimacy of the court, Kritenbrink urges Beijing to respect its ruling. When that ruling comes out, it will be binding on both parties, Kritenbrink said. That will be an important moment that all of us in the region should focus on. In the past, the US Navy has conducted patrols in the region to uphold freedom-of-navigation laws in the region. Admiral Harris this week called for more such exercises. UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) The intra-Syrian peace talks set to resume in March will last for three weeks, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said. "I have informed the [UN] Secretary General [Ban Ki-moon] and the Security Councilthat a plan to reconvene here in Geneva the suspended Geneva intra-Syria talks on Monday the 7th of March on the assumption that there will not be any serious reasons to the contrary. The first phase of these talks will last for three weeks and then we will reassess the situation together with the Syrian parties," de Mistura said on Friday. Earlier, de Mistura said he plans to resume the intra-Syria peace talks on March 7, provided that the ceasefire, which came into force on Saturday, holds. UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) Russia and the United States reached an agreement on the ceasefire in Syria on February 22. The ceasefire took effect at midnight on Saturday, Damascus time (22:00 GMT on Friday). The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution endorsing the Russia-US agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria on Friday, shortly before the ceasefire came into force. "The full implementation of this resolution including unimpeded and sustainable humanitarian deliveries is our best chance to reduce the brutal violence in Syria. What matters now are not the words of the resolution but whether it will make real changes on the ground and reduce the suffering of the Syrian people and create space and the credibility for the UN Special Envoy for Syria to relaunch political negotiation," Ban said as quoted in a Friday UN release. UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said that intra-Syrian peace talks would resume on March 7, with their first phase set to last for three weeks, provided that the ceasefire is adhered to. "This is what the country's citizens, parties and groups, and the foreign states that seek a political solution to the conflict in Syria want. The US and Russia are of the same opinion," she added. Declining to discuss the details of the possible federalization, which have not yet been agreed upon by the parties in any detail, Ahmed suggested only that the country could essentially be divided into three administrative divisions the north (governed by the Kurds), the center (assigned to the Sunnis), and the south (consisting of the Alawites, the Druze, Christians and other minorities). In each region, she clarified, the ethnic and religious peculiarities of the local population would be accounted for, and each area would have its own parliament. So far, the official suggested, the Sunni-majority moderate opposition has shown the greatest resistance to talking about the country's future, with officials in Damascus, for their part, being much more amicable to the idea. Commenting on the possibility of creating a functioning federal state, Gazeta.ru recalled the history of another recent, internationally-mandated federalization the case of Bosnia. That case, the newspaper recalled, isn't exactly a success, with ethnic tensions between Serbs, Croats and Muslim Bosniaks continuing to linger, and the country remaining mired in poverty and social instability. However, the paper notes, "the situation in Syria has its own peculiarities. For a start, the Kurds are seeking the federalization of the country. At no point did they set a goal to separate themselves from Syria, to form an independent Kurdistan or join some other state. At least this is the ideology the present leaders of the Syrian Kurds have expressed." This ideology, Gazeta.ru recalls, is based on the writings of Abdullah Ocalan, one of the founders of the Turkey-based Kurdish militant organization the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). His work, the paper notes, talks of the need to create Kurdish autonomies within countries, delegating some powers and functions from the center to local structures. These include decisions on local governance, the structure of the economy and of the armed forces. MOSCOW (Sputnik)Inventors of Russias Khroulyov Military Academy of Logistics received over 100 patents for their wide-ranging creations over the past year, the head of the academy said Saturday. "More than 100 patents and decisions to grant patents for inventions have been received, about 1,000 innovations have been accepted," Lt.Gen Vladimir Ivanovsky told reporters in summarizing the achievements of 2015. Among the scientists best practical inventions were mobile filling stations, an emergency tank crew rescue system, a pipe dismantling machine and a portable sectional field kitchen, he specified, adding that they are "successfully passing practical and military tests." The decision to compromise people's computers without their knowledge was political, according to Breyer, rather than a move by the country's court. A 2008 German top court judgment said that hacking computers is allowed in case of life-threatening danger or suspicion of crimes against the German state, such as terrorism. "The Constitutional Court did not say that the government should infiltrate operating systems. It simply defined the boundaries. Whether we want to do this at all is a completely political decision," Breyer told Sputnik. Unlimited Access? The decisive factor, however, is whether the new virus conforms to the Constitutional Court's allowance for the use of spying technology, Breyer says. While the German government said that the program can track keystrokes, phone calls, communications and record audio and video from the device. However, an earlier version of the virus released in 2011 also had the ability to receive third-party updates which allowed it virtually unlimited spying abilities. A hacker and computer security conference called the Chaos Computer Club found many of the vulnerabilities. This included the Trojan's ability to be compromised and receive updates from third parties outside the government. "In the case of the so-called Bavarian Trojan, Chaos Computer Club examined it and found that it is capable of doing much more than is legally allowed. For example, it had the ability to download another code and program in completely different functions," Breyer told Sputnik. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) On Wednesday, the Conflict Armament Research (CAR) group reported that 51 commercial entities across 20 countries, including the United States, produced, sold, or received materials that the Islamic State used to manufacture IEDs, such as chemical precursors, detonators and other electronic components. "The report states there is no evidence to suggest any direct transfer of goods to ISIL [Islamic State] by the countries and companies mentioned in the [CAR] report," the State Department official said on Friday. The official noted that the "weakest link" in the supply chain is when potential bomb-making components are sold to smaller companies in various locations around the world, making them increasingly difficult to trace. Puryear claims that Hillary Clinton pushed to "end welfare as we know it," drastically reducing support for the poorest while managing to put the middle class lifestyle out of reach of most of the population. Bill Clinton was known for tough laws. The three strikes' law, ruling that, if you commit three felonies, the third will send you to prison for life regardless of the type of the crime you committed, was facilitated under his watch. Moreover, billions of dollars have been given to states who, in turn, give that money to private companies, to build prisons in "an unbelievable building boom" that Hillary Clinton pushed for heavily. "Bill Clinton played a key, pivotal role in the skyrocketing number of people in prison in general, particularly African-Americans and the unbelievably destructive policies of mandatory minimums, three-strikes laws and the overall crime bill situation, as well as heavily-strict police forces and reducing the amount of aid given to poor black communities," he stated. President Clinton drastically cut welfare spending; when he cut 7 million Americans from receiving federal welfare checks, the move disproportionately affected blacks, as they are more likely than white non-Hispanic and Asian Americans to rely on the government for poverty assistance. "He was able to present a more friendly face while at the same time knifing his constituency in the back, in the way Reagan would never have done, because people would have been looking over his shoulder expecting the racist move from Raegan behind the nice gesture. With Clinton you have a nice gesture and people felt that really meant something," Puryear theorized. The Democratic Party has played a role in stopping any mass upsurge in the popularity of the politics of the left, a definition of President Clinton's policies and an indicator of how his wife Hillary would rule if she comes into power. Cizre has been under curfew for the past 76 days, which has resulted in civilians being cut off from receiving medical supplies, water and electricity, she said, adding that a total 200 Kurds were recently killed in Turkish air and artillery strikes on predominantly Kurdish towns in Turkey's southeastern regions. "In Cizre, the death toll included students, rights activists, journalists as well as even month-year-old babies who became a target for Turkish strikes," Kilic said. She also claimed that the Turkish army's military operation against Kurds in Cizre continues despite the Erdogan administration's words to the contrary. This, she said, has been confirmed by photos obtained by the Kurdish Women's Movement in Europe. "The operation is still under way despite the Turkish Interior Minister announcing the end of the operation two weeks ago. Every day we get photos from [Cizre], including those showing burned bodies of Kurds, which confirm that the operation is in full swing," Kilic said. She lamented the fact that Turkish authorities have prevented the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe from visiting Cizre for "security reasons." "It seems that hurdles are being made in order to ensure that the truth will never come out at the international community level," she added. The majority of refugees arriving in Europe are from war-torn countries and the challenge facing Europe is managing their arrival rather than preventing it, Melissa Fleming, the Spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and head of its Communications and Public Information Service, told Radio Sputnik. "We have been saying from the very beginning, it's not a question of reducing flows, it's a question of managing the situation when people arrive at the shores of Europe and this is where Europe has failed, though it has a very good plan that has not been implemented," Fleming said. "I would really like to emphasize who are arriving, 85 percent are coming from Syria, from Iraq and from Afghanistan, they're fleeing situations where they cannot be returned, where they are deserving of claiming asylum and refugee protection." The Meadowlands Racetrack held a compact six-race qualifying session Friday morning (February 26) in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and pupils from the Ron Burke Stable stole the show. Trainer/driver Trond Smedshammer scored with his Cash Hall gelding Buen Camino in Race 1, but after that it was all the Burke Brigade literally. Burke trainees went on to win the five other races on the docket, and five of his other starters finished in the top three in their respective dashes. Race 2 saw six-year-old Cash Hall gelding Luminosity strike from second in the lane and get up for a half-length victory in 1:55.3 for Yannick Gingras Gingras then turned around and steered Skippin By to the wire first in Race 3. The five-year-old Shadow Play mare made the lead near the half-mile pole and scooted off to a 12-length win in 1:55. Pilot Matt Kakaley drove the third Burke winner of the morning session, as the five-year-old Always A Virgin gelding Always At My Place went wire to wire from Post 6 and recorded a three quarters of one length victory in 1:53. Race 5 was Joe Bongiornos turn to steer a Burke pupil to victory. After having started from Post 7, Bongiorno and five-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding Somewhere In LA paced a wire-to-wire win in 1:54. The great Foiled Again, who was making his seasonal charted debut, finished one and a quarter lengths back in second after having closed from fourth. Western Bayama was the final Burke winner of the session, as the four-year-old Lis Mara gelding got up from second to post a neck victory in 1:55.3 for pilot Yannick Gingras. To view the harness racing results for the Friday morning qualifying session from the Meadowlands Racetrack, click the following link: Friday Results Meadowlands Racetrack (Qualifying). Horse names are sometimes thrown around a little too easily in the racing industry. Although, one racehorse with the word Rebel in his handle proved he is just that, as he knocked a handler unconscious on Thursday and went on a two-hour swim. The rebel in question is Rebel Rover, an Australian racehorse who dumped his rider on Thursday and went on to evade his captors for two hours. The ordeal included an 11-kilometre swim in Moreton Bay, which is the Port of Brisbane in Queensland. He must have the lung capacity of an absolute freak, the horses trainer, Brad Smith, was quoted as saying. Normally horses would give up after about 15 minutes, but he still had all that energy even after the two hours. The horse had dumped his rider, Jackson Morris, before he decided to go for the extended dip. The prolonged situation attracted onlookers, Brisbane Water Police and a volunteer marine rescue unit. Rebel Rover tried to get away again as he neared landfall, but Morris made sure he had a tight grip on him. Nevertheless, Rebel Rover wasnt done, as he delivered what has been described as a head butt to the trainers father. The blow knocked the man unconscious and he had to be transported to the hospital. Hes not the type of horse to strike or kick, head-butting is more his go, said Smith, and he lined dad up and knocked him out cold. Smiths father was discharged from hospital the next morning. (With files from The Courier Mail) The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) conducted its regular meeting Thursday, February 25, at Santa Anita Park. Chairman Chuck Winner presided. Vice Chair Richard Rosenberg and Commissioners Madeline Auerbach, Steve Beneto, Jesse Choper, George Krikorian, and Alex Solis also were in attendance. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: A representative of the Thoroughbred Racing and Protective Bureau (TRPB) reported industry progress in updating odds postings more rapidly, so that significant odds changes late in the running of the race have been greatly reduced. Efforts are continuing to further speed up final pool reports from all locations after the start of the race. The TRPB also reported that 90 percent of wagering locations now are providing Santa Anita with sufficient data for the track to post the details of noteworthy winning Pick 6 tickets as they occur nearing the level of transparency that the CHRB has been advocating for many years. The Board authorized Santa Anita Park to add an Arabian race to its April 2 card, provided that enabling legislation is passed by then, subject to other steps required by the Board and the Thoroughbred Owners of California. The Board modified the text of a proposed regulatory amendment pertaining to riding rules and approved it for public notice. The amended rule will be subject to a public hearing after the notice period. The Board approved an industry request to continue redirecting a portion of Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) revenue to the Southern California Stabling and Vanning Fund, as permitted by state law. The Board approved a rule prohibiting the presence of clenbuterol in a quarter-horse test sample and requiring that any horse treated with clenbuterol be placed on the Veterinarians List and prohibited from racing until the horse tests clear. Representatives of the California Marketing Committee reported a projected budget of $1,745,000 in 2016 and a marketing plan emphasizing product enhancement (increased quantity and quality of horses in California) and handle generation. The Legislative, Legal and Regulations Committee reported on its February 24 public meeting at which the pilot microchip program and illegal match races were discussed. CHRB investigators will work with local law enforcement agencies to identify licensees who may be participating in illegal match races, which typically take place at private ranches. The Board authorized the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club to distribute $24,261 in race day charity proceeds to four beneficiaries. The Board authorized the Los Angeles Turf Club to distribute $26,800 in race day charity proceeds to 10 beneficiaries. (CHRB) Officials with Harness Racing BC have informed Trot Insider that Standardbred horseman Roy Wills has passed away. Wills love of harness racing started in his late teens, when he travelled with a horseman from his hometown, to Chicago. Over the years, Wills raced in California and various cities across Canada. He made many friends in his travels and he'd greet everyone with a smile and a handshake. One of his trademarks was anecdotal storytelling, which was often flavoured with humour. Wills enjoyed blacksmithing for his fellow horsemen for many years and he never shied away from a hard day's work. During his time in Ontario, Wills developed his skills at training and broke many colts. Wills was an exemplary horseman who took great pride in his work, and he will be missed. Officials with HRBC have also informed Trot Insider that a moment of silence will be held for Wills prior to Fraser Downs program tonight (Friday, February 26). Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Roy Wills. Economic development, current events, travel, sustainable living, and fatherhood, all from an agrarian perspective Trainer Tony Alagna, U.S. Trotting Association Social Media and Publicity Manager Allison Conte and Emily Gaskin, race marketing manager, Commentator & Publicist at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino at Hoosier Park have been elected to the Board of Trustees of the Harness Horse Youth Foundation. Incumbent trustees Marly Pinske, Leah Cheverie, Lillie Brown and Corey Callahan were re-elected to the board. Also elected was the existing slate of officers: President Marlys Pinske; Vice-President Nicola Abrams; Secretary Leah Cheverie; and Treasurer Lillie Brown. Alagna is one of the most successful trainers in the sport, with earnings just shy of $25,000,000. Among his most successful horses are 2012 and 2013 Pacer of the Year Captaintreacherous, who is standing his second year at stud at Hanover Shoe Farms in Pennsylvania; 2015 OBrien Award winner Caprice Hill; and 2012 Kentucky Futurity champ My MVP. He opened his public stable just six years ago after stints as an assistant trainer with several top operations. He has been a strong financial supporter of the HHYF Drive For Youth Fundraiser. You can learn more about Tony at his website, alagnaracing.com. I am honoured to have been given the great opportunity and responsibility to serve as HHYF trustee, Alagna commented. HHYF is an organization near and dear to my heart, due to the fact that I attended many camps as a child. I hope to be a positive voice to help take HHYF into the future and give back what harness racing has given me. Conte has been a driving force behind the USTAs social media initiative since joining the organization in May of 2014. She graduated from the School of Communications and Information at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., with a Bachelors Degree in Journalism and Media Studies. Allison served as a caretaker in the Ron Burke stable during college, working with the richest pacer of all time, Foiled Again, among others. Allison also spent time working with HHYF Leadership campers in 2015. Conte looks forward to working more closely with the organization. HHYF represents something incredibly important, our future. I love the organization and admire everything they do and the passion with which they do it. Spending time at the leadership camp was one of the highlights of last summer for me. Im thrilled to be an active part of something I believe in so wholeheartedly, she said. A resident of Pendleton, Ind., Gaskin graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in agricultural communication and joined Hoosier Park in 2012. Emily has an extensive background in harness racing. Her family, Ernie and Darla Gaskin, own and operate Crimson Lane, a training centre just south of Hoosier Park. Gaskin also worked as a reporter for Horseman and Fair World and Harness Racing Update as well as owning the Indiana-sired warhorse Jammin Joshua. She was named winner of the 2014 Breakthrough Award by the United States Harness Writers Association. Our new trustees bring a vibrant and energetic perspective to HHYF, said executive director Ellen Taylor. While we celebrate our 40th anniversary this year, looking forward to the next 40 years is equally as important, and having Tony, Allison and Emily as trustees will provide fresh viewpoints. (HHYF) Er is iets heel griezeligs aan de gang in Nederland. Dat wij geleidelijk aan in een totalitaire 'democratie' wegzinken wordt steeds ... I have ceased to post on this blog as I am now at steadyaku47.com All that is here have been included in that website and, where possibl... wingssail images judy jensen Working on the Mercury Here we are, the middle of October. Summer is almost gone and what have we done in the last four and a ... A blog devoted to political and economic topics in today's society. The Sea Hawks use a strong serve and balanced attack for a commanding win in the opening round of the Division 2 playoffs. WASHINGTON The main focus of Donald Trumps media coverage has been his populist disdain for elites. But his main focus has often been a strident version of American nationalism. Trump has offered this explanation of his own ambitions: The reason Im thinking about [running for office], he told the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in 2011, is that the United States has become a whipping post for the rest of the world. ... I deal with people from China, I deal with people from Mexico. They cannot believe what theyre getting away with. It is difficult to discern a foreign policy in Trumps oeuvre of rambling, extemporaneous speechmaking and Twitter pronouncements. He usually communicates without a hint of actual argument. But there is some consistency to his various statements. Trump believes that American allies in Europe and Asia have become free riders that should defend themselves and pay their own way. He calls the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty unfair. In exchange for the protection of South Korea, he argues, we get practically nothing. Mexico is ripping us off and purposely sending us criminals. It must be compelled to pay for a continent-wide wall. Trump proposes to tax China for each bad act and has raised the possibility of a 45 percent tariff. Vladimir Putin, in contrast, should be given a free hand in the Middle East to go after Sunni radicals and other opponents of the Syrian regime. And America should focus on killing terrorists as well as targeting their families for murder, apparently on the theory that war crimes are a demonstration of super-duper toughness. As Trumps political prospects have improved, we are required to give these foreign policy views more serious analysis, which is more than Trump himself has done. When pressed on such issues in debates and interviews, he is utterly incoherent. A man who confuses the Kurds with the Quds (Irans expeditionary military force) hasnt the slightest familiarity with current events in the Middle East. And it feels like we have, so far, explored only the fringes of his ignorance. But it is the theory behind Trumps threats that is particularly dangerous. He is not an isolationist, in the Rand Paul sense. He is more of a Jacksonian (in Walter Russell Meads typology) preferring a strong America that is occasionally roused to kill its enemies but then returns home and avoids entangling international commitments. America, in this view, should vigorously pursue narrow national interests and seek to be feared rather than loved. This conception of Americas international role was common, before America had a serious international role. A Gallup poll from 1937 showed that 70 percent of Americans thought their intervention in World War I had been a mistake. In early 1940, as German intentions of conquest were clear, less than 10 percent thought America should send its military abroad. But this view of America is as relevant to current affairs as political events in ancient Rome. The great need today isnt to beat core allies such as Mexico and Japan, while working with Vladimir Putin, George Mason Universitys Colin Dueck explains diplomatically. On the contrary, the urgent need is to constrain aggressors such as Putin while supporting core U.S. allies like Mexico and Japan. Less gently put, Trump would be a president who could not reliably tell Americas enemies from its friends. He contemplates actions like weakening American security assurances to South Korea that might invite war (recall the outcome in 1950 of Secretary of State Dean Achesons implication that South Korea was outside Americas defensive perimeter). Trump promises actions like forcing the Mexican government to fund the great wall of Trump that are, in the formal language of international relations, loony, unhinged, bonkers. His move to impose massive tariffs against China would earn derisive laughter at the World Trade Organization; if he persisted anyway, it might blow up the global trading order and dramatically increase tensions in Asia. A Jacksonian role for America is positively dangerous in a world where many threats terrorism, pandemic disease, refugee flows, drug cartels emerge in failed states and hopeless places. It has never been more evident that the success of America depends on an expanding system of free trade, free markets, democratic governance and strong alliances upheld, in Asia, Europe and elsewhere, by American security guarantees. Trumps version of American nationalism without reference to American principles is Putinism by another name. And it is just one more way that Trump would sully the spirit of the nation he seeks to lead. Letters to the Editor Spending needs review All three county commissioners voted to continue funding Kelsos shelter/homeless advocacy group, Love Overwhelming. They didnt fund the Low Barrier Shelter, which is very good news. And maybe its demise is showing results. Last year, our Kelso police responded to over 400 calls to LO. So far this year only 31 times. They, of course, didnt apologize for its establishment in the first place, however. After looking over lots of stuff on how Love Overwhelming was funded in the first place Who and what entities reviewed all applications, selected this organization to be contracted by the county to supply homeless services it is my opinion the commissioners need to appoint an unbiased audit panel to look into the whole process. Im very concerned the process was flawed. Further, hundreds of thousands of dollars have gone to and will go to Love Overwhelming. Of these monies, something approaching 20 percent goes to administration. I dont know if this amount includes day-to-day operational costs or not. Nevertheless, it is monies not going to those who need it. By any standard of measurement, LO has done some good work. Too bad other established groups are doing the same thing as well and have been for some time. LO is simply a duplication with the addition of costing needy folks 20 percent or perhaps its only 18 percent or 19 percent of the money that should be going to them. Jim Hill Kelso City Council Support for port The Port of Longview commissioners voted unanimously to end negotiations with Waterside Energy for an oil refinery and propane export terminal. The ports decision marks the latest in a string of defeats for fossil fuel projects on the Columbia River. In addition to Waterside, the Port of Longview previously rejected a propane export terminal by Haven Energy and the City of Portland rejected a propane terminal proposed by Pembina. This is really great! It is both sooner (I expected a long, drawn-out fight through several levels) and stronger (unanimous vote!) than I expected. The next fight is to keep Longview from becoming a dirty coal town by opposing the Millennium Bulk Terminals coal export terminal. Regulators plan to release the Millennium Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) this spring. Please stay involved after the Millennium DEIS and send a clear message to regulators: Longview is not a dumping ground for dirty fossil fuel. I came from a coal state and speak from experience. Ed Griffith Longview Editors note: The Daily News ran an in-depth story about Sen. Murrays visit to 33rd House, which provides housing for senior veterans on Feb. 18. Also, TDN recently honored Vietnam veterans with a 52-part series, our longest series ever. We have and will continue to support our Cowlitz County veterans. Support our vets I felt the need to write this letter in support of our military veterans. Last week our U.S. Senator, Patty Murray visited the Cowlitz County Veterans Service Center in Longview. The Daily News was informed of Senator Murrays visit, but the Daily News was a no show ... again. Back in January 2015, the Veterans Service Center contacted the Daily News about covering our grand opening, but were told this was not a newsworthy story. The next day the front page of the Daily News ran a story about a lost dog. I love dogs too, but arent our veterans important? Somehow your priorities seem askew. Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties have over 13,000 veterans. The staff at Cowlitz County Veterans Service Center are all volunteers and we assist veterans in many different ways. Our motto is: We are Veterans helping Veterans. I may not understand the internal working of a newspaper, but a grand opening of a Veterans Center supporting our veterans in this community and a visit from a U.S. senator seem newsworthy to me. William Bangs Castle Rock Super lice arent as intimidating as theyve been made out to seem, local school officials say of recent news reports that the pests are resistant to popular over-the-counter treatments. A study published in August by Southern Illinois University assistant professor Kyong Sup Yoon, found that the super lice had spread to at least 25 states, including Washington. Lice sampled by Yoon from 25 states had genetically mutated so that their nervous systems had become resistant to permethrin, the active ingredient in some of the most common drug store treatments. Local school officials say theyve seen treatment-resistant lice before, though the number of cases found in schools and how resistant they are to treatments isnt well tracked. Lice trouble is always prevalent in the community. I just think that at certain times, the conversation around it is more prevalent. Its never gone, said Kelso district nurse Carol Bruce. Has there been reports of (treatment) not being effective? Yes. Is some of that related to possibly not using the product correctly? Its possible. Is some of that connected to lice being resistant to that product? Yes. Lice are most common in elementary students and are primarily spread through head-to-head contact. Though lice dont spread disease, people can get infections from open cuts after theyve scratched the red, itchy bumps that lice bites cause. Bruce said such infections are rare. Once you identify a student (with) head lice, because its a life cycle, theyve most likely had that at the very least three weeks, Bruce said. So it doesnt really make sense to send them home when theyve discovered it, because theyve probably been in the classroom with that problem for three weeks. Both Kelso and Longview schools do not send children home for lice. Understandably, that makes people nervous, said Longview School District spokeswoman Sandy Catt. Instead, school nurses try to help the students and families when the problem lingers by combing out nits (eggs) when the student is at school. This is done in a discreet way so the student isnt subject to embarrassment. Bruce said Kelso schools offer fine-toothed nit combs to families who cant afford them. She said combing is the most important factor in getting rid of lice. I would check their childs head once a week, she said. That way they can catch it early. hidden Apple CEO Tim Cook got a standing ovation Friday at his first stockholder meeting since his companys epic clash with the FBI unfolded. He defended the companys unbending stance by saying: These are the right things to do. On Thursday, the tech giant formally challenged a court order to help the FBI unlock an encrypted iPhone used by a murderous extremist in San Bernardino, California. Federal officials have said theyre only asking for narrow assistance in bypassing some of the phones security features. But Apple contends the order would force it to write a software program that would make other iPhones vulnerable to hacking by authorities or criminals in the future. Major tech companies are rallying to Apples cause, and now plan a joint friend of the court brief on its behalf. Facebook said it will join with Google, Twitter and Microsoft on a joint court filing. A Twitter spokeswoman confirmed that plan, but said that different companies and trade associations will likely file multiple briefs. (Also read: Apple vs FBI: The iPhone encryption battle story, so far) Apple filed court papers on Thursday that asked US Magistrate Sheri Pym to reverse her order on the grounds that the government had no legal authority to force the company to weaken the security of its own products. The company accused the government of seeking dangerous power through the courts and of trampling on its constitutional rights. The dispute raises broad issues of legal and social policy, with at least one poll showing 51% of Americans think Apple should cooperate by helping the government unlock the iPhone. The FBI and other law-enforcement agencies insist they need to get into the phone in order to run down every lead in the San Bernardino shootings, which were at least partly inspired by the Islamic State extremist group. But sceptics have questioned whether this particular device a work phone issued by one shooters employer is likely to contain much useful information. Both assailants took care to destroy their personal phones prior to the massacre. Some police officials acknowledge similar doubts. If they went out of their way to destroy the other phones, theres a pretty good chance there may not be anything of value, said Jarrod Burguan, San Bernardinos police chief. This may be a whole lot of sabre rattling and back and forth for nothing. Burguan, however, believes police still have a duty and a responsibility to make sure theres no useful evidence on the phone. Its unclear how the controversy might affect Apples business. Analysts at Piper Jaffray said a survey they commissioned last week found the controversy wasnt hurting the way most Americans think about Apple or its products. At least one shareholder at Fridays meeting voiced support for the companys stance. Apple is 100 percent correct in not providing or doing research to create software to break into it, said Tom Rapko, an Apple investor from Santa Barbara, California, as he waited in line to enter the auditorium at Apples headquarters. I think if you give the government an inch, theyll take a yard. Cook offered only brief remarks about the FBI case, and most questions from shareholders concerned other aspects of Apples business. But the CEO won praise during the meeting from the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Cindy Cohn, executive director of the Internet rights group the Electronic Frontier Foundation. We applaud your leadership, said Jackson, a long-time civil rights leader and former adviser to Martin Luther King, Jr. I recall the FBI wiretapping Dr. King in the civil rights movement, Jackson added. We cannot go down this path again. Some of us do remember the days of (former FBI director J. Edgar) Hoover and McCarthy and Nixon and enemies lists. Apples share price has seen little change since the issue erupted in the news last week. Overall, though, the companys stock has declined in recent months over worries that iPhone sales were slowing around the world. A hearing on the iPhone legal dispute is scheduled for next month. Associated Press hidden As Apple resists the US government in a high profile stand-off over privacy, rival device makers are, for now, keeping a low profile. Most are Asian companies -- the region produces eight of every 10 smartphones sold around the world -- and operate in a complex legal, political and security landscape. Only China's Huawei has publicly backed Apple CEO Tim Cook in his fight to resist demands to unlock an encrypted iPhone belonging to one of those who went on a shooting rampage in San Bernardino, California in December. "We put a lot of investment into privacy, and security protection is key. It is very important for the consumer," Richard Yu, chief executive of Huawei's consumer business group, told reporters at the Mobile World Congress earlier this week. But Yu stopped short of saying explicitly that Huawei would adopt the same stance. "Some things the government requires from vendors we cannot do," he said, citing an example of unlocking an encrypted Android device. "These are important things for the consumer, for privacy protection." Lenovo Group CEO Yang Yuanqing declined to say whether he backs the Apple position, saying the issue required time and consideration. "Today it happens to Apple, tomorrow it could happen to Lenovo mobile phones. So we must be very serious to consider. We need to take some time," Yang told Reuters. Samsung Electronics Co and Chinese device maker Xiaomi declined to comment, while ZTE Corporation did not respond to requests for comments. South Korean mobile maker LG Electronics Inc said it takes personal privacy and security very seriously, but declined to say whether it had ever worked with any government to insert so-called "backdoors" into its products or whether it had ever been asked to unlock a smartphone. "Nobody wants to be seen as a roadblock to an investigation," said a spokesperson for Micromax, India's biggest local smartphone maker. "Nobody wants that kind of stigma. We have to take care of both customer security as well as (a) genuine threat to national security." Many Asian countries don't have privacy laws that device makers can fall back on to resist demands from law enforcement authorities. "As part of the evidence gathering process provided for under the law, law enforcement agencies in Singapore may request information from persons or organizations," Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs Spokesperson told Reuters. An official at India's telecom regulator said authorities can ask for private user data from technology companies, as can those in Indonesia, said Ismail Cawidu, spokesman for Indonesia's Communication and Information Ministry. Eugene Tan, associate professor of law at the Singapore Management University, said he wouldn't be surprised if technology firms weren't being asked for access to their devices. "It's just that these are not made public. You can imagine for the technology companies, they are also concerned about the publicity -- if they are seen to be caving in to law enforcement agencies, there is always a fear that people may not use their products and services," he said. Micromax said this was commonplace in India. "I can't say no to a law enforcement request, and every day there is one," the company's spokesperson said. "You have to comply with requests in the larger interest of national security." The Apple battle may even spur regulators in some markets to demand device makers to grant them access. Thailand's telecoms regulator said it is studying the possibility of having separate agreements with handset makers and social media firms such as Facebook and Naver's LINE to help extract data from mobile phones. "There is political pressure" for regulating devices, said Rob Bratby, manager of Olswang Asia, a technology-focused law firm based in Singapore. He said there was no evidence of any such regulatory interest yet, but it was a matter of time. Reuters Naina Khedekar Apple's big standoff with the FBI over unlocking an iPhone belonging to a terrorist has been hitting headlines for sometime now. For those living under the rock, Apple chief Tim Cook has refused a court order that wants the company to break into the iPhone owned by San Bernardino shooter, Syed Farook. Farook, along with his wife Tashfeen Malik, were responsible for killing 14 people on December 2 last year. So, doesn't Apple want to help nab a terrorist by opening a 'single' requested iPhone? Well, it does want to help, but opening one unit means creating a backdoor for future requests that may follow and eventually compromising on user privacy, believes Cook. Now, the question is how tech companies will comply criminal investigation whilst upholding their customers' secure data. Yes, that pretty much sums up what's the fight about. But there has a lot of mud-slinging over the last one week. Here's a quick timeline showing how it all started. February 16 Tim Cook wrote a long letter to its customers initiating a public discussion over court's orders that the company had decided not to comply with. He wrote how Apple has done everything possible in its power to help the FBI tackle the case. "Up to this point, we have done everything that is both within our power and within the law to help them. But now the U.S. government has asked us for something we simply do not have, and something we consider too dangerous to create. They have asked us to build a backdoor to the iPhone. Specifically, the FBI wants us to make a new version of the iPhone operating system, circumventing several important security features, and install it on an iPhone recovered during the investigation," Cook wrote. "In the wrong hands, this software which does not exist today would have the potential to unlock any iPhone in someones physical possession," he further explained. Read the complete letter here. February 17 While Apple was firm at its decision, the company saw support from arch-rival Google. Google chief Sundar Pichai said directed his followers to Apple Chief Executive Tim Cooks open letter arguing that helping the FBI try to get into the phone would sabotage the security of tens of millions of American citizen". February 19 By now, there were debates and discussions and people had started taking sides. Users supporting and opposing Apples position flooded Twitter with rival hashtags #thankyouapple and #boycottapple and Facebook users wrote lengthy posts on the move. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Facebook were also among the firsts who voiced their support for Cook along with Google chief Sundar Pichai. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) slamed back at Apple saying the company's refusal was nothing but brand marketing strategy. The Obama administration also told a US magistrate judge that it would be willing to allow Apple to retain possession of and later destroy specialized software it has been ordered to design to help the FBI hack into the said encrypted iPhone. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump called on to boycott Apple products until it agreed to help the US government unlock the phone of the killers. Boycott Apple until such time as they give that information, Trump said. February 20 Tim Cook wrote an early morning email to employees, thanking them for their support, and urging the government to withdraw the demand that Apple help the FBI hack the locked iPhone. February 22 Reports pouring in from all quarters spoke about worldwide protests planned by Internet rights groups. Other companies came forward supporting Apple's stance including Huawei and Microsoft. February 23 Apple asked the US government for the creation of a government commission or panel of experts to discuss the implications of the demand on issues such as national security and personal freedoms, taking the case to public opinion. February 24 In an interview with the ABC News, Cook explained how unlocking San Bernardino iPhone would be bad for America. Meanwhile, prosecutors took unusual steps in enlisting victims of the San Bernardino attack in the governments heated battle with Apple. Family members of at least two victims will join a legal brief to be filed next week urging Apple to help the government unlock the phone. Here comes something that was worrying Apple. The US Justice Department started looking at court orders forcing Apple to help investigators extract data from iPhones in about a dozen undisclosed cases across the country, which were seized in a variety of criminal investigations. These cases also involve wherein prosecutors are compelling the company to help them bypass the passcode security feature, reports said. February 25 By now, Apple was reported to have started taking precautionary measures. It was developing security measures to make it even harder for the government to break into iPhones. The FBI had attempted to crack the pass code but failed as Apple systems are designed in a way that automatically erases the access key and renders the phone permanently inaccessible after 10 failed attempts, adds the report. Meanwhile, activists conitnued protesting against the FBIs attempt to install software with backdoors in all of Apples iPhones. February 26 Refuting Cook's claim of a dangerous precedent, the FBI chief said that it's quite unlikely to be a trailblazer for setting a precedent for other cases. And Apple continued to fire back at the US government in the encryption standoff asking the court to dismiss the order. No court has ever authorized what the government now seeks, no law supports such unlimited and sweeping use of the judicial process, and the constitution forbids it, Apples lawyers wrote in the motion filed in California federal court. Several major tech companies including Google, Facebook and Microsoft plan to file a joint motion supporting Apple. February 26 was said to be the last day for Apple to file its response to the motion filed by the Justice Department. February 27 Meanwhile, some rivals backed Apple's stance, and many others, mostly Asian companies, chose to stay tight lipped and maintain a low profile. February 29 In another case, a New York drug case, a federal judge in Brooklyn said the US government cannot force Apple to unlock an iPhone. In fact, a report hinted at that Members of the US House Judiciary Committee are considering filing a friend of the court brief in Apples encryption dispute with the US government to argue that the case should be decided by Congress and not the courts March 1 White House soon said that the New York ruling won't affect San Bernardino case. FBI Director James Comey told a congressional panel that forcing Apple to give the data of the shooter would be potentially precedential in other cases where the agency may require similar cooperation from tech companies. As you see, the statement seems contradictory to what he said last week about it is unlikely to be a trailblazer for setting a precedent for other cases. He also acknowledged that it was a mistake to ask San Bernardino County officials to reset the phones cloud storage account. This decision prevented the device from backing up information that the FBI could have read. By March 3, anyone outside the case can submit their remarks, which will be considered by the judge. On March 10, the government plans to respond to Apple and by March 15, Apple can submit its final reply to government's response. On March 22 a District Court will listen to both sides and take a call on the decision accordingly. hidden Facebook has learned from Germany to include migrants as a class of people that needed to be protected from "hate speech" online, Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said on the second day of a visit to Berlin on Friday. A perceived slowness to remove anti-migrant postings by neo-Nazi sympathizers has increased antipathy to Facebook in Germany at a time of raised tensions and outbreaks of violence against record numbers of migrants arriving in the country. Facebook already has the cultural obstacle of privacy to deal with in Germany, a country reunited after the Cold War only 25 years ago where memories of spying were reawakened by Edward Snowden's 2013 revelations of prying by the state. The world's biggest social network rarely breaks down users by country but says it has about 21 million daily users in Germany or about a quarter of the population, fewer than the 24 million it had in less populous Britain more than two years ago. "I just think there's an incredibly rich history here, in this city and in this country that shapes the culture and really makes Germans in a lot of ways the leaders in the world when it comes to pushing for privacy," Zuckerberg said. "That's one of the important things about coming here," the 31-year-old entrepreneur told an audience of more than 1,000 young people, mostly students, who had been invited through their universities or signed up on Facebook to ask a question. Zuckerberg, who spent his first day in Berlin jogging in the snow, meeting Chancellor Angela Merkel's chief of staff, talking about technology and receiving an award, engaged on Friday with the issues that dog the company in Germany. Journalists were not permitted to ask questions during the town hall meeting nor on any other part of Zuckerberg's visit. Asked why he was not doing more to remove "hate speech" from Facebook in Germany, Zuckerberg talked about an initiative with local partners to counter that and the 200 people the social network had hired in Germany to help police the site. He said Facebook had not previously considered migrants as a class of people who needed protection, akin to racial minorities or other underrepresented groups that Facebook looks out for. "Learning more about German culture and German law has led us to change our approach on that," he said. "This is always a work in progress. I'm not going to claim up here today that we're perfect, we're definitely not." Nineteen-year-old Jonas Umland, an IT student who posed the question on "hate speech", expressed a degree of satisfaction with Zuckerberg's answer. "I found it good that Mark said there was room for improvement. On the other hand, he didn't mention any specific measures Facebook would take," he told Reuters after the event. "He came across very well, also at times spontaneous," he said. "I found him very likeable." Reuters tech2 News Staff Microsoft's lack of success with selling their own hardware is patently obvious to all. Undeterred by the minimal interest in Windows 10 Mobile, the company has now switched gears and is reportedly in talks with the likes of Xiaomi and OnePlus. They plan to bring Windows 10 ROMs to the Mi 5, OnePlus 2 and OnePlus 3. Microsoft did, earlier, release a Windows 10 ROM for the Xiaomi Mi 4. Flashing the ROM was a simple process of heading to Xiaomi's forums, downloading the flashing tool and ROM and following some instructions. All told, the entire process didn't take more than a few minutes. The response to that OS was mixed (it's going to take a rare breed of person to give up Android for Windows Phone that easily) and maybe Microsoft is probably hoping for better success this time around. More than anything else, we're hoping that continuum makes its way to the Mi 5, OnePlus 2 and OnePlus 3. It's the only really interesting feature of Windows 10 for mobile and it'd be a shame indeed if it were missing. Microsoft is obviously keen on keeping Windows 10 alive, but they can't do much if their devices are going to be gathering dust on store shelves. Maybe circulating a few ROMs for Android devices with an audience that appreciate custom ROMs isn't such a bad idea after all. hidden Activist hedge fund manager Jeffrey Smith, who has publicly criticized Yahoo Chief Executive Officer Marissa Mayer, said on Friday he sees "a lot of opportunity" in the company. Smith's Starboard Value has threatened to run a proxy contest raising pressure on the company's board to remove Mayer. But in his remarks on Friday at the MIT Sloan Investment Conference, he did not tip his hand any further on what the firm plans to do with Yahoo, saying only that it was in an "interesting situation." Maintaining he could not say too much, Smith said he sees plenty of value in the company but noted that it has not had "terrific results" improving operations. He said his firm, one of the most activist hedge funds, has been working behind the scenes with Yahoo for more than a year. The deadline to announce board directors is coming up next month. Starboard Value has placed some 150 people on boards in the last 10 years and Smith said that many board members who once appeared sluggish often shape up when an activist arrives on the board. "The light bulb will go off and they do a better job. Sometimes they'll turn around so fast that we have sometimes put them on other boards," he said. Reacting to criticism, often from corporations, that activist investors often ride in with plans to earn a lot of money in a short time period, Smith said his team rolls ups its sleeves and digs in to work with management on operational issues, often sticking around for a long time. Simply calling for a company to buy back shares "is not a plan," Smith said adding "that does not create value." Reuters hidden Officials at the University of California Berkeley have said that they were alerting 80,000 people, including current and former students, faculty and vendors of a cyber attack on a system that stores social security and bank account numbers. The news comes just more than a week after a Southern California hospital paid hackers $17,000 in the digital currency Bitcoin to regain control of their computer systems after a so-called "ransomware" attack. The San Francisco Bay Area university said there was no evidence that attackers actually took any personal information, but that it was still alerting the 80,000 individuals to be on the lookout for misuse of their information. The school said a hacker or hackers gained access to its financial management software in late December due to a security flaw present when the system is updating. Officials have notified law enforcement, including the FBI, and hired a private computer investigation company. The university said among the potentially affected are 57,000 current and former students; about 18,800 former and current employees; and 10,300 vendors who work with the school. Those figures come out to about half of the school's current students and two-thirds of its active employees. Large, high-profile organizations and businesses routinely come under cyber attack, and the school said it frequently identifies similar hacking attempts. "The security and privacy of the personal information provided to the university is of great importance to us," Paul Rivers, UC Berkeley's chief information security officer, said in a statement. "We regret that this occurred and have taken additional measures to better safeguard that information." The school said it was providing credit protection service free of charge to those potentially impacted. Reuters Dedicated to the Restoration of Progressive Democracy US presses Xi Jinping on South China Sea non-militarisation Chinese President Xi Jinping addressing a party conference in Beijing. AFP, Washington : The White House pressed Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday to expand his non-militarisation pledge to cover the entire South China Sea, despite Beijing's recent military activity in the area. Daniel Kritenbrink, senior director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council, spoke amid rising tensions between the two countries over China's deployment of surface-to-air missiles, radar gear, air strips and fighter jets on an islet there. During a state visit in September, Xi insisted that "China does not intend to pursue militarization" in the Spratly Island chain -- known as Nansha in Chinese. The islands are claimed in part or whole by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. "We think it would be good if that non-militarization pledge, if he (Xi) would extend that across the entire South China Sea," Kritenbrink told a forum at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "We're going to encourage our Chinese friends and other countries in the region to refrain from taking steps that raise tensions." China claims almost the whole of the area -- through which a third of the world's oil passes -- while several other littoral states have competing claims, as does Taiwan. "This is an incredibly important waterway through which much of international trade flows," Kritenbrink said. "We are concerned that China has taken a number of unilateral steps over the last several years that we think raise tensions in the region and are destabilizing." The Asian giant is using dredgers to turn reefs and low-lying features into larger land masses for runways and other military uses to bolster its claims of sovereignty. Earlier this week, US Pacific Command chief Admiral Harry Harris warned that China was changing the "operational landscape in the region." He has called for more flyovers and patrols. "Short of war with the United States, China will exercise de facto control of the South China Sea," Harris said. Kritenbrink also urged China to respect an international court's decision due later this year on Manila's dispute with Beijing over territorial claims in the South China Sea. Kritenbrink said he expected the upcoming ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration to be "extremely important" because it will mark the outcome of a process that allows countries to use peaceful legal means to pursue disputes. China does not recognize The Hague-based court's authority, but it has ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea at the center of the case. "When that ruling comes out, it will be binding on both parties," Kritenbrink said. "That will be an important moment that all of us in the region should focus on." Aarong Dairy Distributor Confce 2016 concludes Economic Reporter : A two-day event titled Aarong Dairy Distributor Conference 2016, organized by BRAC Dairy, was successfully concluded in Rajendrapur recently. The main aim of the event was to nurture and strengthen the relationship between Aarong Dairy and its channel partners. The event was part of an ongoing initiative undertaken by Aarong Dairy to strengthen its ties with its business partners and stakeholders. One of the key focuses of Aarong Dairy is to build and foster its relationship with the various partners involved with the brand. Over 190 Aarong Dairy distributors joined in the event. The attendants participated in constructive dialogue with Aarong Dairy management representatives on challenges and opportunities in the dairy industry, enjoyed a colorful cultural program. Jewellery shop looted UNB, Chittagong : Miscreants looted nearly 350 talas of gold from a jewellery shop and injured two people by blasting bombs at Baroahat in Mirsarai upazila on Friday. Officer-in-charge of Jorarganj Police Station Zahidul Kabir said a group of 7-8 bandits on a microbus and a motorcycle stormed into 'Shamim Jewelers' at a market in the area in the evening. The gangsters kept the shop employees hostage at gunpoint and looted 300-350 talas of gold from the shop, said shop owner Shahabuddin. The hoodlums made away with the booty and blasted several crude bombs for creating panic, leaving two people-schoolboy Anik and local trader Shahjahan-injured. They were taken to a local hospital. OC Zahidul Kabir said they are looking into the mater and trying to arrest the criminals. 470 cartons of foreign cigar recovered Chittagong Bureau : Chittagong Custom House (CCH) authority seized a container of Benson cigarette imported by a private firm from Singapore through false declaration. Officials of Customs Intelligence recovered 470 cartons of foreign cigarettes from a container in CCT yard on Thursday morning. On secret information, the authority conducted drive at New Mooring Container Yard at Patenga detained a container loaded with foreign made Benson Cigarette at around 11 am today.The private importing firm brought the container from Singapore with a L/C valued at US $ 13,500 by declaring garments accessories. Neatt Composite Ltd, a importer of Gazipur Dhaka imported the container in the name of Garments goods but the owner of the importing firm and its representatives went into hiding after seizure of the imported consignment. CCH officials said they would take legal steps against the persons involved in the forgery. SDGs implementation challenges to be met with confidence: Nasim Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim on Saturday said the government would face the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) challenges with support of the non-government organizations and development partners. "The non- government organisations and donor agencies would have to come forward to support us in realising the targets of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). ...We have full confidence that the agencies and people of all level will continue to support our development drive," he said. Nasim was speaking as the chief guest at a policy dialogue programme titled "Health Challenges of SDGs: Path to UCH in Bangladesh" at Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) auditorium in city's Agargaon. Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) organized the programme. Terming the high drug price as one of the main challenges to achieve the UHC, he said "The government has already taken steps in this regard under the bold and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina." "People themselves have to be careful about their health. They have to stop having fast foods, take some physical exercises and stop taking tobacco products," Nasim added. He reiterated that the admission seekers of medical science would have to submit non-smoker certificates and this initiative would come into force from the academic year 2016-17. The Minister also called for increasing allocation for the health sector in the new budget as the government would have to provide standard treatment and other facilities to the people. Earlier, the minister unveiled a book titled 'Realizing UHC Goals". National Professor Brig (retd) Abdul Malik, Founder of Gano Shasthaya Kendra Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury spoke with PPRC Executive Chairman Hossain Zillur Rahman in the chair. Eradicate Child Labour Anu Mahmud : It is encouraging to note that at a recent cabinet meeting workers right to form trade unions in the country's Export Processing Zones (EPZs) has been guaranteed with the approval of the Bangladesh EPZ Labour Law, 2016. The new law also guarantees a permanent wage board for the workers. Besides, there are many other positive sides of the law. In case of on duty death of a worker, the law stipulates that his or her family members will get compensation of Tk 2 lakh and an amount of Tk. 2.25 lakh in case of his or her permanent' or 'complete' disability. Under the new law, the EPZ workers will also get retirement benefits, mandatory group insurance, cash payment for earned leave, paying full salary as festival bonus and maternity leave for 16 weeks. Now that the EPZ Labour Law has been passed, it is expected that the worker's organisations in the EPZ,s which will be named as Srmik Kalyan Samity, will conduct their activities of trade union responsibly so that EPZs do not become venues for mindless work stoppage programmes that in the final annalysis both harms the owners of factories as well as workers. It is also expected that as per provision of the law, a 12-member permanent wage board comprising the representatives from workers and investors as well as representative from a neutral source will be formed soon and fix the minimum wages for the benefits of workers. Passing of the law would mean nothing unless its letters and spirit and followed without any hindrance. The cabinet committee's approval of workers' right to do trade unionism should now go well with the external critics who often criticieses the absence of trade unions in Bangladesh's industrial set-ups at large. Since the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013 that killed more than 100 people; Bangladesh became a target of attack from the US and European buyers of Bangladesh's readymade garments. The Bangladesh EPZ Labour Law-2016 will indeed present the government in a more positive light. It proves that the government here is really serious about the overall welfare of the workers. However as the most important stakeholders, workers at the EPZs must remain on guard so that vested persons or groups do not hijack their newfound freedom of forming trade unions. It is their responsibility to choose the right persons as their leaders who not only love the workers but also understand well how their genuinely rights they can practically ensure for them. The cabinet's approval of the draft EPZ Labour Law- 2016 enhancing workers' right of association in export processing zones is a boost for calls on the United States to restore GSP trade privileges. It is significant that the government has indicated its intention that the new law should help EPZs in Bangladesh comply with ILO conventions on freedom of association. Such compliance has been stated by the US to be a pre-requisite for it to restore GSP for Bangladeshi exporters. Although the draft does not lift the prohibition on EPZ trade unions contained in the Bangladesh EPZ Act 2010, officials have expressly stated it is intended to help meet the demands of workers' rights groups. The proposed draft builds of the 2014 EPZ Labour Act which permits Workers' Welfare Associations in EPZs to negotiate on behalf of workers in relation to working conditions and remuneration. It also lays down new compensation provisions for workplace injuries in EPZs. Moreover the cabinet secretary has also told reporters that associations should be permitted to work like trade unions, while not being called as such. While this shows the government is actively listening to concerns expressed by workers groups, it still leaves workers' associations lacking the same legal status as unions. The government should rethink its rationale for barring trade unions from EPZs in the first place. Improving rights of association for workers is vital to help guarantee conditions global consumers and brand, seeking to help guarantee compliance with rising expectations for workplace standards. Ensuring labour rights are respected equally across the whole of the country would help make Bangladeshi-made goods more attractive, and have a positive impact on US legislators reviewing GSP status. The government's approval of a draft law that allows workers to form a 'Workers Welfare Association' in Export Processing Zones (EPZS) would be laudable but for the confusion associated with the move. While the government's stance is that such an association would work like a trade union, labour rights leaders are of a different opinion. As far as workers are concerned, these two are not the same thing, and to say so would be misleading. It seems that the draft law is a compromise to cater to the needs of the rights groups as well as the investors who have resisted such provisions. According to the Bangladesh EPZ Act-2010, trade unions are not allowed in EPZs which is possibly why the government has chosen to approve of a 'workers welfare association' that it says will incorporate the rights guaranteed in a trade union and will work as the central bargaining agent for the workers. However, we feel that such an arrangement related to the welfare of the workers should have been in place long before now. It is important that we fulfill all the conditions stipulated by international convention, including ensuring the rights of workers as stipulated by the ILO Convention which Bangladesh has signed. This includes the freedom of association and right to collective bargaining which are the basic tenets of a trade union. There is no doubt that the workers welfare association will bring a big improvement in working conditions and workers benefits. The fear expressed by worker rights activists, however, that the current draft law provisions will be passed off as the right to form trade unions, should be allayed by the government. According to a report published in newspaper recently, the mayor of Rangpur City Corporation (RCC) Alhaj Sarfuddin Ahmed Jhantu emphasised on comprehensive efforts of all stakehoolders in eliminating child labour to turn every child into an educated and worthy citizen. We do endorse his view regarding the issue. Unfortunately in Bangladesh protection against child labour has proved to be difficult to attain due to weak enforcement of laws. Child labour has been a malice that Bangladeshi society has been unable to get ride of. In addition, there also seems to be a certain lack of concern by the authorities whose responsibility it is to ensure that child rights are protected. It is not that Bangladesh does not have laws against child labour. It is, again, a problem of implementation and enforcement The abuse of these laws is committed by people in several industries but also by those who are aware of the child labour factor in society. Frequently, pubescent or prepubescent girls are hired by adults as nannies to watch after infants and toddlers. We all know about people hiring children as domestic helps. Unless there is a major crackdown by the government, the courts and NGOs against child labour on those violating child rights, it will be an extremely tricky task to eliminate child labour. This countrywide crackdown needs to occur in the retail, wholesale, manufacturing and service industries where child labour is prevalent. We believe that the best way to eradicate child labour is to ensure that every child goes to school. Somebody from the school should call on a home from where a child has not been coming to school for some time. There is an even better way of ensuring school attendance : pay poor parents, who have notionally foregone the income of their children, an allowance for sending them to school. Child labour is a serious crime all over the world. The UNICEF defines child labour as some type of work performed by children below the age of 18. There is something seriously wrong with our county which not only fails to educate all its children but also depends on them to keep its economy float. The law says that primary education is compulsory for everyone, but we all know that actions speak louder than words. (The writer is an economic analyst, columnist, e-mail [email protected] ) Competent management is more important than expensive machinery AMID the worldwide security concerns of trespassing militant and terrorist elements and drug and human trafficking, airports have become the focal point of all-out security measures but our airports have scant protection despite global connectivity increasing every each year. As per the report carried by a national daily, the UK Department of Transport has expressed concern over the scanning systems of passengers, luggage and cargoes at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital. Earlier, the US and the UK expressed their worry over the slackened security measures at Dhaka Airport that compelled the government to beef up security measures, interestingly without the scanning system, a big hole in our security net.The security assessment was undertaken by a UK aviation security expert. In its findings, the report said the airport failed to meet the required security standards in 75 percent of observations, while succeeding in maintaining that requirements in 25 percent of observations. It further revealed that the passenger and staff screening process at the terminal was ineffective with the scanner not duly focusing on the task, while few bag searches were done during the observation period. Similar poor standards of screening of passengers and cabin bags were observed in the gate room's central search area during the period. Staff screening standards at the CIP and VIP access points were also found poor.Although bags were all screened, the quality of the screening was unsatisfactory and no bag searches were observed and the hold-baggage was screened by conventional x-ray, while the duty supervision is very ineffectual. Such a security situation is very dangerous for the overall security of the state and any untoward act is likely to occur anytime. The Civil Aviation Authority, the Airport Armed Police and the government at large are responsible for ensuring security at the hub of global transportation in Bangladesh.Money can buy state-of-the-art technologies for the safety of the airport, but our main crisis is incompetent management. Expensive technologies cannot improve the quality of management. It is easy to misuse public money. Thompson hurdles ahead with four shot lead in Thailand LPGA AFP, Bangkok : First round leader American Lexi Thompson resumed her spot at the front of the pack Saturday after day three of the Honda LPGA in Thailand. The 21-year-old finished the third round with a nearly perfect 64 at eight under par, giving her a four stroke lead with a 16 under par total of 200. A victory on Sunday would be Thompson's seventh career win on the LPGA Tour. It would also make her the first American to win the four-day event, which is held at Siam Country Club in Chonburi and carries a $1.6 million purse. "I missed a putt on the first hole, which got me down a little bit, but I tried to stay positive going into the next hole and fire at pins like I did the first day," Thompson was quoted on the LPGA website as saying after the round. Most DU dorms under illegal occupation M M Jasim/Abir Rayhan : Most of the single rooms of Dhaka University halls are under the illegal occupation of the leaders and the workers of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and the outsiders close to them, and as a resuslt the general students have been compelled to lay their beds in common rooms, verandahs, roofs and even canteens. But no attempt has yet been seen to allocate the rooms legally to the genuine students by the hall authorities. On the other hand, though most of the house tutors do not perform their duties, they take all the facilities from the University in the name of taking care of the students. The general students alleged that huge number of outsiders are staying in the halls under the shelter of the BCL leaders. A residential student of Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall wishing anonymity told The New Nation that the BCL leaders forced him to leave his single room. At least 90 percent single rooms of the Salimullah Muslim Hall, Shahidullah Hall, Jagannath Hall, Amar Ekushey Hall, Fazlul Haque Muslim Hall, Haji Mohammad Mohsin Hall, Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall, Surya Sen Hall, Kabi Jasimuddin Hall, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall and Sir AF Rahman Hall are under illegal occupation. The 11 dorms have a capacity of accommodating 7,437 students, but in reality, as many as 13,800 people live there, according to BCL units of the dorms and resident students. The Dhaka University authorities don't even have any data or list of students staying in the residential halls. According to the hall offices, the 11 halls have a total of 2,777 rooms. Of them, 807 are single-bed rooms and 1,970 are two-bed, three-bed, four-bed and five-bed rooms. Visiting the dorms, this reporter found 489 single-bed rooms occupied by BCL leaders and outsiders. Approximately 1,980 outsiders, besides general students, occupy the remaining 978 rooms. There are 30 students in the 93 common rooms each, designed to actually accommodate four or five students each. There are 2,475 such students in the halls. Instead of the DU authorities, it is the BCL which allocates accommodation to the freshers in the DU halls and uses them for their petty political purposes. Most of the Provosts of DU's residential halls said, they are helpless about this matter. A Provost seeking anonymity told The New Nation, "We are helpless. We are unable to allocate seats according to the rules and regulations. If we want to do that, the BCL leaders put pressure on us and started shouting." But the BCL President Abid al-Hassan of the DU unit rejected the accusation and said that the BCL played no role in allotting seats in the University dormitories, claiming the hall authorities do the job. The students of the 2009-10 session in DU have completed their Masters. The students of the 2010-11 session are waiting for their results. That means the students of the 2010-11 session are the most senior residents of the halls. However, many are still residing in the halls after completing their sessions six or seven years ago. Many are staying in the halls along with a number of outsiders for a long time, though they have completed their studies and got jobs elsewhere. Many of the hall officials accused the teachers for such harassment of the students in the halls. They said, the hall Provost and the House tutors are never available. The halls are run by the leaders and activists of the student organisations. Bangabandhu Hall administrative officer Mozaffar Ali Fakir said, "Earlier, the house tutors use to visit the rooms on a regular basis. None of them is now available." Asked about the conditions of the University halls, DU Vice-Chancellor Dr. AAMS Arefin Siddique advised the reporters to talk to the hall Proctors. Stressing the need for more dormitories for the University students, the VC said, "It is also not possible to accommodate all the students when the number of seats is inadequate." Make army probe report public: BNP UNB, Dhaka :BNP on Saturday demanded that the report of the investigation carried out by army into the brutal killing of 57 army officers in Pilkhana carnage be made public. "A fair probe is yet to be conducted into the dreadful killings of army officers at Pilkhana. An army team, headed by then Lt Gen Jahangir Alam, had investigated the incident, but its report is yet to be published," said senior BNP leader Hafizuddin Ahmed."Form this meeting, we demand that the report of the army probe team be made public," he added.Hafiz, a BNP vice chairman, came up with the demand at a discussion arranged by the party at Dhaka Reporters' Unit's Sagar-Runi auditorium in memory of the army officers killed by a section of disgruntled members of BDR at the Pilkhana headquarters in 2009.He alleged the BDR carnage was staged as part of a local and international plot to demoralise the army members.The BNP leader termed the trial of the Pilkhana incident a farce and claimed that the real offenders and conspirators remain at large.On February 25, 2009, several hundred BDR, now BGB, members took up arms against their superiors at the Pilkhana Darbar Hall and killed 74 people, including 57 army officials and then BDR chief Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed.Hafiz urged the government to properly probe the incident to unearth the mystery behind it.Another BNP vice chairman, Shah Moazzem, alleged that the agents of government had killed the most talented army officers in the name of BDR mutiny.He said, Sheikh Hasina as the Prime Minister of the country cannot avoid her responsibility for the BDR mutiny and the killings of army officers. Moazzem said steps will be taken to observe February 25 the same way the February 21 is observed if BNP returns to power. BCS Non-Cadres stage demo at Shahbagh Staff Reporter :About 200 34th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) Non-Cadres on Saturday staged a demonstration at Shahbagh intersection demanding filling up the 672 vacant posts from those who passed the 34th BCS examination.They also demanded maintenance of proper list in appointing the non-cadres.They started the agitation at about 11am underthe banner of BCS Non-Cadres Forum. They also put barricade on the intersection causing serious traffic jam. Shahbagh Police requested them to leave the spot but the agitators refused. Consequently, the police charged baton to disperse the agitators. A non-cadre wishing anonymity told The New Nation that the non-cadres had been demanding their appointment. But the government is yet to initiate any step to meet our demand. Officer-in-Charge of Shahbagh Police Station Abu Bakar Siddique said that the police did not harass any of them. The police just tried to make the traffic movement undisturbed. Man held for torturing minor domestic help UNB, Barisal : Police arrested an engineer from Kalu Shah Road area in the city on Friday night in connection with torturing a minor domestic help. Shakhawat Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, said police arrested Nurul Ahad Rana, a diploma engineer working in a private firm, from his residence in the area for torturing his domestic help Mukta, 8. However, Rana's wife Pinky, who was also alleged of the torture, managed to flee. Locals said, Mukta had been working at Rana's house over the last five-six months. She had been tortured physically by Rana and his wife. On Friday evening, Mukta tried to flee from the house and sought help from the locals. Informed by locals, police rescued the victim and sent her to the victim support centre at Kotwali Police Station early Saturday. A case was filed with the police station in this connection. 2 new butterfly species detected UNB, Dhaka : Two new butterfly species - spotless oakblue and shinning plushblue - have been discovered in Moulvibazar recently. Jiban Bikash Karjocrom, a voluntary organisation, during the preparation of a list of butterflies found the two new species in the country's northeastern district, said a press release on Saturday. According to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there are 305 butterfly species in Bangladesh. Meanwhile, a three-day photo exhibition on 57 butterfly species at Drik Gallery in the capital will end on Sunday. The Jiban Bikash Karjocrom in collaboration with the Forest Department arranged the exhibition titled 'Chobi Dekho Shekho, Butterfly of Bangladesh - Inventory Fourth Phase' (Know the butterflies of Bangladesh through pictures). The exposition has been arranged aiming to create public awareness about the conservation of butterfly and its importance in the ecology. IUCN country representative (Bangladesh) Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmad and Conservator of Forest Ashit Ranjan Pal, and chairman of Zoology Department at Jahangirnagar University Prof Monwar Hossain was present at the inaugural function of the exhibition on Friday. Leader of the butterfly inventory group Mirza Shamim Ahsan Habib presided over the function. As part of preparing the list of butterflies, this time the Jiban Bikash Karjocrom has worked in the country's eight areas Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Jessore, Narail, Bandarban (Sadar Upazila), Bhola, Cox's Bazar and Natore- for 15 months. The Jiban Bikash Karjocrom is conducting a survey to prepare the list of Bangladeshi butterflies. So far it has completed the survey in 30 districts and identified 238 species of butterfly there. Reformists gaining in Iran polls Al Jazeera news : Reformists and moderate conservatives were leading in parliamentary elections according to early results on Saturday, an indication that President Hassan Rouhani may face a more friendly house to pursue his domestic agenda. Early returns from Friday's polls show that none of the three competing political factions will win a majority in the public debate on refugees. More than one million refugees and migrants arrived in the European Union during 2015, and the pace of arrivals dramatically increased in the first two months of this year. As tension surrounding refugees and migrants rises at Europe's borders and in its cities, the Hamburg conference - branded "The Struggles of Refugees - How to Go On?" - is the first major attempt by refugees in Europe to self-organise across borders and create solidarity for their common goals. "We should give each other power," Anas Aboura, an asylum seeker from Syria, told Al Jazeera at the conference. "As refugees we must be united together in order to reach the aims we want to reach, to get equality, to get the right to stay, to get educated, to work, to have a normal life as we had before the wars in our countries started." Hamed Elfangeri, an asylum seeker from Sudan who lives in Hannover, said it was a good chance for refugees to speak about their struggles. "We find that the problems for refugees in Germany, in Calais, in Italy are many times the same problems," he said. The conference was organised by a collaboration of several refugee groups, including Refugee Movement Berlin, Refugee Protest Camp Hannover, and Lampedusa in Hamburg. Govt has no data of foreigners living in BD Joynal Abedin Khan :The government has no data as to how many foreigners are now living in the country.The Home Ministry has, however, directed the police to prepare a list of the foreigners within the shortest possible time in view of the recent ATM forgery incidents in several banks. When asked, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told The New Nation on Saturday that 11,925 foreigners only are now living legally in the country. But he did not say anything about the illegal foreigners. The illegal foreigners are mainly from India, Myanmar, China, South Korea, Nigeria, Algeria and United Arab Emirates, it is believed. According to Board of Investment, about 3,800 foreigners are doing jobs in the industrial sector while 4,000 in different banks and financial institutions. Whereas, about 700 foreigners are reportedly involved in several crimes, Detective Branch sources said. According to BoI, around 12,000 foreign nationals are only doing jobs in Bangladesh with work permits from the Board.The SB office in the city has asked the country's apex trade body to assist the security agency by giving detailed information about their foreign workers. The office has also asked the central bank, the insurance regulator, the textile mills association, garment manufacturers, shipping firms, freight forwarding organisations and the Export Processing Zones Authority to provide lists of the foreigners working with their member organisations.Kazi Akramuddin Ahmed, President of the FBCCI, said, "We have received a letter from the police authority and I have asked my officials to work accordingly."Md Ali Mia, Additional Deputy Inspector General of Police, said about the data, "We will hopefully be able to complete the work within the next few months." Refugees take on struggles at major meeting in Germany Stranded refugees and migrants shout slogans as they stage a protest demanding to be allowed to cross the Greek-Macedonian border at the port of Piraeus, near Athens. Al Jazeera News, Hamburg :More than 1,000 refugees, migrants and activists met in Hamburg for a conference focusing on the challenges refugees face in Europe and on migration routes.The conference, which started Friday and ends on Sunday, included discussions on European borders, changes to asylum legislation, and the interplay of racism and sexism in the 290-seat parliament. But reformists seeking greater democratic changes are heading towards their strongest presence since 2004 at the expense of hardliners. Officials have yet to release early results, but reports in the semi-official Fars and Mehr news agencies and a count conducted by The Associated Press news agency show that hardliners are the main losers of the vote.Friday's election for Iran's parliament and the powerful clerical body known as the Assembly of Experts was the first since Iran's landmark nuclear deal with world powers last year.Reformists seeking greater democratic changes and moderates supporting Rouhani appear to be cashing in on the lifting of international sanctions the moderate president achieved under last summer's historic agreement.Nearly 55 million of Iran's 80 million people were eligible to vote. Participation figures and other statistics were not immediately available, though Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli predicted late Thursday that there would be a turnout of 70 percent.Polls were closed at midnight and officials immediately began counting the ballots afterwards. As more ballots were counted, reformists appeared to be on the path to expand their presence -from the fewer than 20 they currently hold to a majority with the moderate conservatives - and reduce the number of hardliners.Al Jazeera's Jonah Hull, reporting from Tehran, said while reformists and moderates were "expected to hold sway" in the capital, no one expected a countrywide landslide. On Saturday, partial results emerging from about 50 small towns across Iran showed reformists and their moderate allies were leading the vote. Russia stops bombing as Syria truce begins Al Jazeera News : Russia halted air strikes in Syria on Saturday in accordance with a ceasefire brokered by Moscow and Washinton as part of efforts to gain momentum for peace talks to end the nearly five-year war. Russia entered the Syrian conflict on behalf of ally President Bashar al-Assad in September 2015, and its air power has played a significant role in the recent major gains by government forces. "Russia's air force fully halted bombing in the green zone - that is in those areas and those armed groups which had sent us ceasefire requests," Lt-Gen Sergei Rudskoi, a senior representative of the General Staff, told reporters. A lull in fighting was reported throughout most of Syria on Saturday, hours after the US-Russia brokered "cessation of hostilities" agreement took effect. The UN Security Council unanimously passed a vote late on Friday to support the pause in fighting in Syria, and demanded that all parties to the agreement fulfill their commitments to end hostilities. The ceasefire began at midnight Damascus time on Saturday (22:00 GMT Friday). "The situation is calm - the truce is largely holding - for the first time in many years," said Al Jazeera's Omar al-Salah, reporting from Turkey's Gaziantep on the border with Syria. "The air base in Latakia, which the Russians use for their air strikes, was very calm as well." Rudskoi said while Russia would continue air strikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and al-Qaeda's branch in Syria, al-Nusra Front, it was keeping its aircraft on the ground for now "to avoid any possible mistakes". Rudskoi said Russia had given the US maps showing the location of opposition groups pledging to abide by the ceasefire, as well as ISIL and al-Nusra units. He said 74 opposition units - including more than 6,100 fighters - had agreed to adhere to the truce. While there were no reports of air strikes or heavy artillery fire, violence was reported on Saturday. A Syrian rebel group in the country's northwest said it came under attack from government ground forces at 4am (02:00 GMT) in what it called a breach of the cessation of hostilities plan. Three fighters from the rebel First Coastal Division were killed while repelling the attack in the Jabal Turkman area near the Turkish border in Latakia province, Fadi Ahmad, the group's spokesman, told Reuters news agency. There were also reports of Syrian helicopters dropping barrel bombs. The Syrian military could not immediately be reached for comment. Meanwhile, a suicide car bomb exploded on Saturday on the edge of Salamiyeh, a government-held central town, killing two people and wounding four others, the state news agency said. UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said any use of force must be proportionate and a last resort if fresh fighting breaks the cessation of hostilities. "No doubt there will be no shortage of attempts to undermine this process. We are ready for it," he said. Countries backing the Syrian peace process meet on Saturday in Geneva to assess the situation. Man held with 1kg gold at Ctg Airport UNB, Chittagong : Customs officials arrested a young man along with eight gold bars weighing 1 kg at Shah Amanat International Airport here on Saturday. The arrestee was identified as Mohammad Parvez, 28, son of Farid Ahmed of Hathazari upazila in the district. Assistant commissioner (customs) Rizvi Ahmed of the airport said Parvez landed at the airport around 10:20am by a flight of Fly Dubai from Dubai. Tipped off, the customs officials searched the body of the youth at the customs hall but failed. Later, the presence of gold was detected in the anus of Parvez. 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe The Gay Courier has been established to provide news, information and info on, from and about the gay community, and other social events and happenings from around the world, from all sorts of sources, to all who are interested in this news, information and info! The postings are as is, and all copyrights and or ownerships are and remain with the original copyright-holder and or owner! Pre-purchase property inspection is a relatively new thing in the United Kingdom. Its not something that most people have heard about, but it has become increasingly popular over the last few years with the rise in property prices and increased demand for high quality homes. What are the benefits of pre-purchase building inspection? What can you expect to find out when you pay someone else to inspect your home before you buy it? And what should you look for during an inspection? Many people want to know if theyre buying a house thats been well maintained or if its had any serious problems. If youve found a place on the market that seems attractive, but then discover some issues after moving in, you may not be as excited about buying it as you thought you were. Its important to do your due diligence when looking at properties. A lot goes into making a property appealing to potential buyers, from the landscaping to the flooring to the kitchen appliances. The same applies when inspecting a property there are many things that need checking over to make sure everything is running smoothly. Here are some of the benefits of performing a pre-purchase inspection: You get to see exactly what will happen to your money When you go shopping for a new car, youll probably be shown several different models. You might even be shown one that looks like a great value, but doesnt fit around all of the extra features that you want. When it comes time to actually buy the vehicle, however, you wont have seen how your money will be spent on it once you drive it off the showroom floor. Likewise, when you shop for a new home, you dont really know what youre getting yourself into until you move in. In order to get a feel for whether the home youre considering is what you want, you normally have to spend quite a bit of time inside it. This allows you to learn more about everything that youre going to be spending your hard-earned cash on. A pre-purchase building inspection gives you much the same kind of experience without having to spend thousands of dollars. Since youre paying for the service, you can expect to see exactly what youre paying for, instead of just seeing a vague idea of what you might end up with. You find out about potential major repairs Some buildings are very expensive to maintain, which means that owners often neglect them for the sake of saving money. While youre paying for a building inspection, youre also paying for a professional who knows how to spot signs of trouble and repair work that needs doing. If you notice that a particular area of your new home needs fixing right away, you can call in an expert to take care of it quickly. If you find that theres something wrong with your boiler, you wont have to wait weeks for a plumber to come over and fix it. Instead, youll have access to a solution immediately. You can save hundreds of pounds by finding out about potential problems early on One of the biggest expenses when you first buy a home is the cost of moving in. Many people dont realize this until its too late. Buying a home involves not only paying for the actual house, but also for moving costs, furniture, and other items that have to be moved along with the home. Having a good idea ahead of time of what youre likely to encounter can help you avoid these kinds of costs. If you know youll need to replace the plumbing system, for example, youll be able to put together a budget for the expense and plan accordingly. You can protect your investment by finding out if the homes been well cared for While there are plenty of people who think that houses always look better when theyre newly built, youd be surprised at how well maintained older residences can still look nice. Sometimes, though, those homes need some additional maintenance to keep them looking their best. This could involve repairs that arent so noticeable or small improvements that you wouldnt consider otherwise. Even worse, some houses have fallen into disrepair without anyone noticing. This is why having a professional perform a building inspection prior to purchasing a home is such a big benefit. Not only will it give you insight into the state of the property, but it will also give you peace of mind knowing youre not getting taken advantage of. As long as youre aware of the potential pitfalls, youll have less reason to worry about the state of your new home. You can use information gathered during a building inspection to negotiate a lower price If youre worried about buying a home because you suspect that it may need extensive renovation work, you may already have a rough idea of how much work youll need to do to bring it up to scratch. That knowledge can come in handy if you decide to buy the home. You can use all of the details that you gather during a building inspection to present a realistic picture of what the home is worth to prospective buyers. If a potential buyer thinks that the home is worth more than what you paid for it, you can try negotiating a lower price. You can sell your home faster and for more money If you decide to list your home on the market soon after buying it, youll need to price it accurately in order to attract buyers. But if youve already done a thorough building inspection, youll know exactly what work is needed and what the current market conditions are. In other words, youll be able to make a more accurate estimate of the amount of money youve invested in the home and how much its worth. If you find that youre selling your house for close to its full market value, you can use this information to convince the potential buyer that your home is worth the asking price. Even if youre planning to stay in the home for a while before you decide to sell, the fact that you did a thorough building inspection will give you more confidence when listing it. Prospective buyers will know exactly what theyre paying for. Your home will hold its value longer As mentioned earlier, the value of a home depends heavily upon the condition of the building itself. If your home is in bad shape, potential buyers wont be interested in buying it. On the other hand, if youve performed a thorough building inspection and know what sort of repairs are necessary, you can offer your prospective buyer a compelling reason to invest in your property. When you buy a home, youre essentially agreeing to have it inspected periodically to ensure that it stays in top shape. Not only does this allow you to avoid expensive repairs down the road, but it can also increase the value of your home. You can make smart decisions about property investments Buying real estate isnt as simple as just driving a couple of minutes to pick up a house. There are lots of considerations involved, ranging from location to cost. The same is true when youre investing in property. If you find a house that meets all of your requirements, youll want to make sure that you have a solid understanding of where it stands with regards to the rest of the market. If you havent spent enough time researching the area, you could inadvertently end up with a bad deal. There are lots of resources available online that can help you determine the overall level of competition in your area. They can also help you figure out if there are any properties that meet your requirements that you didnt know about. If you own rental property, you can use the information to identify tenants who might cause damage If you own rental property and youve noticed that certain tenants consistently cause damage, you can use the results of a building inspection to identify them. You can then contact them directly to let them know that youre watching them closely and that you dont appreciate the problem theyre causing. They might start taking better care of their homes, which would be good news for everyone. It could also be the case that youll find out that theyre responsible for previous damages that werent caught during a previous visit. You can make smarter decisions about hiring contractors If youve hired contractors to build or repair your home, you might want to ask them for references. However, unless you perform a thorough building inspection, you might not know exactly what to look for. For instance, maybe you only checked the roof for leaks or the walls for cracks. You might not have looked underneath the foundation for anything that could cause a future issue. By performing a building inspection, you can ensure that you hire reputable contractors who will be trustworthy with your money. You can avoid purchasing a home thats in poor condition Of course, the main benefit of structural inspections perth is that it helps you avoid purchasing a home thats in poor condition. Before you make the decision to buy a home, you should do whatever you can to find out about the state of the building. You can also ask your realtor about what sorts of inspections are typically recommended. Some agents say that its standard practice to check the heating system, the roof, the electrical wiring, and the floors. Others will tell you that they recommend that you check the entire structure. Either way, if you choose to hire an inspector, youll find out exactly what needs to be fixed and how much it will cost to do so. As a result, it can be concluded that a pre-purchase building inspection is highly important for the buyers because it provides transparency regarding the current conditions of the structure. Additionally, the building owner is made aware of any upgrades or repairs that are required, which could lead to a fair deal throughout the purchasing and selling process. The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now. Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market. In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender. India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex. Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted. But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted? Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner. If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems. I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now. I want more variation in masturbation I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own. If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end. What is sex toys for Indian? Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation. It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms. They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable. Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner. The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner. It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past. In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping. Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order. In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing. Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome. Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own. But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance. More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around. Sextoy situation in India Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years. In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India. Mumbai Kolkata Bangalore Delhi Chennai Hyderabad These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India. In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well. If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too. If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it. What are Sextoys for beginner? Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms. Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy. I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion. I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy. If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma. Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it. Advantages of using sextoy for Indians There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways. Can have stimulating sex Can develop new sexual zones If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern. However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways. You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation. Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever. There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure. This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it. When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems. It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms). For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles [Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou... Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India. Sextoy for beginner men in India So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners. For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men! The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men Masturbator Cock rings Love Doll Sex Lubricants Toys for the prostate Lets check each one in detail. Masturbator The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products. It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands. Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands. They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.) Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much. Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! ! Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa SEXToys India PR (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018 Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood. If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here Really pleasant male masturbation and how to do it Are you in a rut with your daily masturbation routine? I'm going to show you five ways men masturbate that you might ... [For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien... Cock Ring A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis. It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow. It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber. In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection. Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction. It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it. Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time. Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function. Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy. You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect. [Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat... Love Doll Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex. There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women. Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price. The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true. You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste. There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice. You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls. If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to... Sex lubricants Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules. It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution. Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse. There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent. Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent. If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here. What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many... Toys for the Prostate Another sextoy for men is prostate toys. The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line. Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men. Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men. What is the prostate? The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm. You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus. By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms. Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.) The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation. Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure. sextoy for beinner women in India The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy. The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy. Vibrator. Dildo Electric Masserger Lets check out what each one is in detail. If you want to check out womens toys, click here. [BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm... Vibrators A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator. Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy. It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy. Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women. For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators. Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex. Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself. This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual. Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men. When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons. Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most... Dildo A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis. It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass. A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it. They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well. It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device. A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo. Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands. For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis. This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one. To learn more about dildo, please click here. What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th... Electric Masserger A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores. It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low. Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels. Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation. It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure. For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm. It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out. If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager? To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here. What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th... How to choose a sextoy for Indian Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one. Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points: Does the size fit you (the partner)? Does the size fit you (your partner)? Is the environment able to produce sound without problems? Price range First of all, the choice of size is quite important. Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women. For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage. Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems. Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise. If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level. Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it. Finally, there is the price range. The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest. Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy. Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy? I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance. For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics. If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out. How to buy sextoys in India The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping. For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below. Sextoy is one of them. Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping. SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India. They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry. Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card. To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy. ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal. Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on. Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture. Cautions for Indians using sextoy When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind Keep sex toys clean Watch out for electrical leakage Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone. Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there. It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case. In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness. Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful. If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it. You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly. Summary What did you think? In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India. The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future. As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values. However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health. If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try? Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women. I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it. Are you ready to elect the next president of the United States? First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe asked before Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton took the stage on Friday. Yeah! the crowd responded. Hundreds flooded inside a barn at the Orangeburg County Fairgrounds for Pascoes annual oyster roast to listen to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who both seeking the Democratic nomination. A number of elected officials were also in attendance, including Congressman Jim Clyburn, who has endorsed Clinton. He highlighted Clintons experience working for the Childrens Defense Fund in South Carolina during the 1970s. When people tell you that they know what to do to restore the judicial system, you tell them that our choice for president has been doing it for 40 years, and she started right here in South Carolina, Clyburn said. Clyburn said when selecting a candidate, ask What did you do for me before you started running? The Democratic Primary is today. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Clinton says she knows the road to the White House goes through Orangeburg. It is time that we do more to help people get on those ladders of opportunity. I am absolutely committed to doing all that I can to break down every barrier that stands in the way of Americans getting ahead and staying ahead, she said. Clinton highlighted the New Market Tax Credit that former president Bill Clinton, her husband, created during his time as president. My esteemed opponent voted against that, she said. Clinton said the government has to be an active partner with the private sector and local and state elected officials to attract investment. We have a lot of work to be done on infrastructure in America. Our bridges, roads, tunnels, ports and airports need to be modernized, she said. Clinton said the water systems also need to be fixed. Clinton said the minimum wage should be increased. Dont you think its past time for women to get equal pay for the work that they are doing? she said. The last two Democratic presidents did a pretty good job with the economy, Clinton added. They both inherited problems from their Republican predecessors, she said. Clinton says during her husbands terms as president, he added 23 million new jobs and incomes went up for everyone. We lifted more people out of poverty. With a record like that, you would think that the next Republican administration would look at the evidence about what works, she said. Clinton added when President Barack Obama was elected, he inherited the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Republicans want us to forget about that, but I can guarantee you, if Im your nominee, theyre going to hear about it day in and day out, she said. Before closing, Clinton said she will tackle the price of prescription drugs, student debt refinancing and mass incarceration. She also said she will work to protect Social Security and Veteran Affairs. I want you to know what Im going to do, how Im going to do it and what its going to cost. I want you to hold me accountable, she said. Hip-Hop recording artist and activist Michael Killer Mike Render introduced Sanders, whom he has endorsed. Render says Sanders is the one candidate with a social policy that matches Martin Luther King Jr., the militancy of Malcolm X and an effort to take care of the community like the Black Panthers. I am voting Bernie Sanders, as a black man, because his policies will make sure our communities have a fair and equal opportunity, Render said. Sanders said in 1963, he was with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for the March on Washington. (King) said no worker should be exploited. People deserve decent wages, decent healthcare and decent education, Sanders said. In the last months of Kings life, he was working on a poor peoples campaign, he continued. What he said was were going to go to the white poor people in Appalachia. Were going to go to the Mexican farm workers in Texas. Then were going to go to the African American community in urban and rural areas. Were going to go to Washington and fight for justice, Sanders said. Sanders said people cannot make it on minimum wage, which is $7.25 an hour, in America. Weve got to raise the minimum wage to $15 dollars an hour, he said. Women cant receive 79 cents under dollar compared to men. Sanders said 51 percent of young African American kids should not be unemployed. Instead of investing in jails and incarceration, were going to invest in education and in jobs, he said. The U.S. has more people in jail than any other country on Earth, Sanders said. If elected, Sanders says he plans to put young people to work and in school, not have millions of lives destroyed due to incarceration. Were going to bring about police reform. When a police officer breaks the law, that officer must be held accountable, he said. Sanders says he will also focus on a pathway out of jail back into civil society. The senator says he does not have a Super PAC, and does not receive millions of dollars from Wall Street. He went on to say that he does not believe in the death penalty, NAFTA and trade agreements. If we dont demand that every person in this country has healthcare as a right, trust me, the drug companies and insurance companies will be just happy, Sanders said. He asked the crowd to help him change the priorities of the country, so the U.S. has a government that works for all the people, not just the people on top. On the eve of the Democratic presidential primary, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said he is ready to start a political revolution. There is a lot of work to do, Sanders told an enthusiastic group of hundreds gathered Friday afternoon at Claflin Universitys Jonas T. Kennedy Physical Education Center. Are you ready to join in that revolution? he said. Sanders is seeking the Democratic nomination for president. The South Carolina primary is Saturday. During his rally, Sanders painted a picture of a United States with severe problems and touted himself as an anti-establishment leader ready to change America by bringing income equality, reducing college debt and raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Sanders noted 35 percent of African American children live in poverty and the African American community makes up a large number of the unemployed. We have to make sure that young people are not suffocated with outrageous levels of student debt, he said. We should be making public colleges and universities tuition free, Sanders said to applause from the predominantly young crowd. We should be providing substantial help to historically black colleges and universities who are doing a great job at educating young people. Sanders asked those gathered if they thought that men making more than women was right. No!!! the crowd shouted. Guys, stand here for women and fight for pay equity for women workers, Sanders said. Sanders decried the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, where lead has been found in the water. This is taking place in the United States of America, Sanders said. I am prepared to take on Wall Street to take on the big money interests who today are doing so much harm to our country. Sanders said he would repair the criminal justice system by decriminalizing marijuana and reforming police departments by demilitarizing local police departments. We have overpolicing, he said. It turns out that white and blacks smoke marijuana at equal rates. Blacks are more than four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana than whites. Sanders also said he would have a federal Department of Justice investigation into every act of police violence. If a police officer breaks the law, that police officer must be held accountable, Sanders said. The function of a police department is to serve the people and not to be an oppressive force in the community. Sanders said he would do away with the death penalty. There are a lot of innocent people, often people of color, who are executed and we found out years later they are not guilty, he said. I dont think the government should be involved in that violence and killing folks. The comment received applause. Upon leaving the stage, those gathered chanted Bernie! Bernie! Sanders stayed after the rally, shaking hands, signing autographs and greeting supporters. Those in attendance wore pins and shirts and carried signs in support of the senator, with some arriving hours before the rally to see the presidential candidate. Some traveled from out of state. Prior to the rally, lines were several deep outside the center with those standing in line shouting Feel the Bern! and We are Bernies firewall, South Carolina stand tall! South Carolina has been described as a firewall state that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is counting on to stop the Sanders surge. Clinton, who is seeking the nomination, also visited Orangeburg Friday. Rebecca and Heather Ann Stutts, who have been campaigning for Sanders for months, traveled from Wilmington, North Carolina to see the senator. He is the only one capable of putting our country back on the right track, Heather Stutts said. I believe in everything he talks about. I believe this country needs universal medical care. I believe in his foreign policy measures, which is hands-off. The rebuilding of our infrastructure by creating jobs is big. He is a uniter rather than a divider, Rebecca Stutts said. He does not lump us into groups. We are people. We are American citizens. We all deserve an equal shake in taking our lives in a positive direction, she said. Claflin University freshman and first-time voter Lauryn Graham was standing in line outside the education center for about 30 minutes to see Sanders. She says she has been following Sanders for the past couple of years. I am very excited, Graham said. My heart is racing. Graham said she likes Sanders because of his stance on racial and gender equality, plus universal government healthcare. He really speaks to everybody, she said. It is not just going for older people because a lot of younger generations are voting. He is really involved in us and not treating us like babies. That is what I really like about him. Prior to Sanders arrival, those in attendance had a chance to hear from Keith KG the Artist Guillard, hip hop artist and activist Michael Killer Mike Render and former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner. State Rep. Justin Bamberg, D-Bamberg, said Sanders message has been the same for years. He has been talking about the same thing: racial justice, social justice and economic justice, Bamberg said. Bernie Sanders is the type of person who wont sacrifice his integrity for anything, not for an election and not even for the White House. Bamberg said he has seen the plight of rural South Carolina and has dealt personally with those who do not have access to healthcare and lost a loved one at the hands of a police officer. I believe Bernie Sanders is the man we need in the White House to stand up for everyday people to address these issues, Bamberg said. He called Sanders a fighter who will make the world a better place not only for a handful of billionaires. Bernie Sanders is a person who represents you and not just a handful of people at the top, he said. University of Virginia student Martese Johnson related his story of being arrested outside a Virginia pub last March for allegedly having a fake ID. The incident went viral as he struggled and accused the white officers of the states Alcohol Beverage Control agency of racism. Bernie Sanders is the candidate who stands for us and wont let this happen anymore. This genocide on black bodies has been a thing for decades, Johnson said. Issues of concern to people who live in the west: property rights, water rights, endangered species, livestock grazing, energy production, wilderness and western agriculture. Plus a few items on western history, western literature and the sport of rodeo... Frank DuBois served as the NM Secretary of Agriculture from 1988 to 2003. DuBois is a former legislative assistant to a U.S. Senator, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior, and is the founder of the DuBois Rodeo Scholarship. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The Southern Gas Corridor project remains a priority for the European Union, a European Commission energy spokeswoman told New Europe. The immediate priority for the region remains the completion of the Southern Gas Corridor, including TANAP, the Greece-Italy Trans-Adriatic Pipeline and the Greece-Bulgaria IGB interconnector, said the spokeswoman. She noted that the Southern Corridor is successfully being put in place to supply gas from Azerbaijan to the EU by 2020. The corridor also offers the potential, in the future, to facilitate the entry of other gas sources into the EU from the Eastern Mediterranean, the Caspian, and the Middle East, according to the spokeswoman. The Southern Gas Corridor takes precedence over an agreement signed by Russias Gazprom, Italys Edison and Greeces DEPA on February 24 to develop a natural gas pipeline between Greece and Italy to transport Russian gas to Europe, the EC spokeswoman added. The Commission remains with its known position that interconnection projects must contribute to the EUs diversification and energy security strategy, and is compatible with all the relevant EU legal requirements; in particular the third energy package rules, she said. That is part and parcel of the Energy Union. The same company is prohibited from producing and transporting gas to the EU simultaneously, according to the third energy package. The Southern Gas Corridor project envisages transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian Sea to Europe through Georgia and Turkey. At the initial stage, the gas to be produced as part of the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijans Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects. Other sources can also connect to this project at a later stage. As part of the Stage 2 of the Shah Deniz development, the gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline and Trans-Adriatic Pipeline. /By Trend/ /By Azernews/ By Amina Nazarli Azerbaijans traditional dances can be awarded protection by the UN cultural organization, as the country will soon appeal for including the dances Kocheri and Yalli into the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Ph.D Atesh Ahmadli, a senior research fellow at the Azerbaijani National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), said the country will send the relevant documents for approval of these dances as cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people. Ahmadli told Trend that each country has the right to make a nomination only once in two years for approval into UNESCO's list of "intangible heritage" centuries-old practices which are being eroded by globalization and urbanization The UN agency is better known for awarding world heritage status to monuments and natural wonders, but starting 2006 it has also recognized elements of living heritage, such as songs, festivals, languages and religious rites. Last year unique copper craftsmanship of Ismayilli regions small village of Lahij was included in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Thats why Azerbaijan will be able to submit an application for the national dances in 2017, Ahmadli said. So far, UNESCOs Heritage list includes eight samples of Azerbaijani heritage including the Novruz holiday, Azerbaijani mugham, Azerbaijani ashig art, the Azerbaijani carpet, traditional Kalagayi headwear, national musical instrument tar, Lahijs copper craftsmanship and Chovgan game. Kocheri is a kind of ancient Azerbaijani dance Yalli, which is depicted on the rock carvings in Gobustan dating to 10,000-8,000 years BC. The famous Divani luget dictionary of the 11th century by eminent Turkish philologist Mahmud Kashgari, includes the word kocheri, meaning koch-goch (male ram), and the word kochmek, meaning "to move from one place to another". The initial form of Yalli, performed around a ceremony bonfire, have the meaning of hot, light and meal. The word yal in Azerbaijani means row, line of chain. Today, Yalli is performed as cheerful circular dance, often accompanied by choral singing at the weddings. Dancers hold hands or shoulders with each other and perform synchronous rhythmic motion, raising and lowering their arms. Yalli is performed under different rhythms, and have a number of kinds including kochari, uchayag, tello, tenzere and galadangalaya. Reminding that these dances are related to Turkish traditions, Ahmadli said that hostile neighbor Armenia wants to assign Kocheri as Armenian national value. Armenia, which occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory in late 1990s, is also targeting the ancient culture and traditions of the Azerbaijani people. Last year Armenia attempted to present Kocheri as an Armenian folklore dance at the 10th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Namibia. The committee returned the nominated file to the Armenian side, which received a negative assessment from the organization based on five criteria. The Azerbaijan Copyright Agency prevented an attempt in 2011 when an Armenian representative tried to introduce the dance as "Armenian" during Eurovision Song Contest. The Agency launched an investigation and submitted to the World Intellectual Property Organization a detailed reference based on historical data and etymology of the kochari word. Many times, Armenia tried to grab Azerbaijani songs Sari Gelin Susen Sunbul, dances Yalli, Uzundere, Vagzali, as well as ancient musical instruments like tar, balaban, zurna and even works by prominent Azerbaijani composers such as Uzeyir Hajibeyli, Kara Karayev and Fikret Amirov. /By Azernews/ By Laman Ismayilova Parliament of Western Australia hosted an event to commemorate the Khojaly genocide victims on February 26. The event was organized by Luke Simpkins, head of Australia-Azerbaijan inter-parliamentary friendship group, and attended by Azerbaijani delegation headed by MP Khanlar Fatiyev. Members of the Australian Parliament, members of Australia-Azerbaijan inter-parliamentary friendship group and public representatives also joined the event. Materials about the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, occupation of Azerbaijani lands and the genocide committed in Khojaly were presented to the participants. The guests were also informed about the "Justice for Khojaly" campaign initiated by Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Leyla Aliyeva. Justice for Khojaly, an international information and promotion campaign, is aimed at raising international awareness about the crime against humanity committed in the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly. Through the efforts of the promotion campaign a number of countries have recognized the Khojaly massacre as the act of genocide. Khojaly, the second largest town in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, came under intense fire from the towns of Khankendi and Askeran already occupied by the Armenian armed forces in 1992. About 613 civilians mostly women and children were killed in the massacre, and a total of 1,000 people were disabled. Eight families were exterminated, 25 children lost both parents, and 130 children lost one parent. Moreover, 1,275 innocent people were taken hostage, and the fate of 150 of them remains unknown. Azerbaijan`s Embassy in Turkmenistan has held an event commemorating the 24th anniversary of the Khojaly tragedy. The event brought together employees of diplomatic corpus accredited in Turkmenistan, as well as public figures. The event started with a one-minute-silence in memory of the Khojaly victims. Azerbaijani Ambassador to Turkmenistan Hasan Zeynalov briefed the event participants on the Khojaly massacre which had been perpetrated by Armenian armed forces. The Armenian military forces committed genocide in Khojaly on February 26, 1992. Some 613 people were killed, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old men. A total of 1,000 civilians were disabled during the genocide. Eight families were annihilated, 130 children lost one parent, and 25 lost both. Additionally, 1,275 peaceful residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 remains unknown. The ambassador highlighted the events held in a number of countries within the Justice for Khojaly International Awareness Campaign initiated by Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva. The event also featured the demonstration of books and photos, as well as CDs on the Khojaly massacre. The participants also watched a documentary on the massacre. /By Azertac/ The tent on 24th anniversary of Khojaly massacre was installed in Prague, Czech Republic with the support of the Azerbaijani Student Network. Azerbaijan`s Ambassador to Czech Republic Farid Shafiyev briefed the participants on the Khojaly massacre which had been perpetrated by Armenian armed forces. The event followed with a one-minute-silence in memory of the Khojaly victims. The participants were distributed the books and photos, as well as CDs on the Khojaly massacre. /By Azertac/ U.S. Azeris Network (USAN) has organized a protest rally outside Armenian Embassy to commemorate the 24th anniversary of Khojaly genocide. The protesters held posters highlighting the truth about the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan and Khojaly genocide. They urged the world community to condemn the aggressive policy of Armenia. Some of the protesters chanted slogans, including Condemn Armenian terror!, Khojaly massacre must not be repeated!, Armenia is guilty of committing ethnic cleansing!, Shame on Armenia!, Armenia get out of Karabakh!, Murders of children!, Armenia is a vassal country!. The protesters also urged the Armenian government to recognize Khojaly genocide, and demanded that the Armenian armed forces immediately withdraw from Azerbaijan, free hostages and ensure the return of Azerbaijani refuges to their homelands. /By Azertac/ Standard & Poor's Ratings Services lowered its long- and short-term issuer credit ratings on KazAgro National Management Holding (KazAgro Holding) to 'BB+/B' from 'BBB-/A-3'. The outlook on the long-term ratings is negative, the agency said Feb. 25. The agency also lowered the Kazakhstan national scale ratings on KazAgro to 'kzAA-' from 'kzAA'. The rating action reflects the downgrade of Kazakhstan on Feb. 17. S&P assesses the likelihood of extraordinary government support to the consolidated KazAgro group as almost certain. This is based on our view of the group's: Integral link with the government. The state owns 100% of the holding company, which in turn fully owns its subsidiaries. Critical public policy role as the government's primary vehicle for providing financial support to and developing the agricultural sector and rural areas. Consequently, the group credit profile (GCP) is now 'bbb-', equalized with the sovereign credit rating on Kazakhstan. The GCP reflects the creditworthiness of the consolidated operations group, taking into account our view of the likelihood of extraordinary government support. S&P believes, however, that while the holding company's creditworthiness is closely tied to that of the consolidated group, it is marginally weaker than the group's. Correspondingly, our ratings on KazAgro Holding are one notch lower than the GCP. This is because we consider KazAgro to be a non-operating holding company. Consequently, the governments incentives to provide extraordinary support to the parent company in a stress scenario could potentially be weaker as compared to some of the Holdings operating subsidiaries. The negative outlook mirrors that on the sovereign. S&P would likely revise the outlook on KazAgro if we took a similar action on the sovereign. Other things equal, a one-notch downgrade of our long-term ratings on Kazakhstan could lead to a two-notch downgrade of our ratings on KazAgro Holding. S&P could also lower the ratings over the next 12 months if we saw signs of waning government support to the group. In addition, we could lower the ratings if we perceived the role of KazAgro Holding for the government as reducing in contrast to the role of the overall group. S&P could consider an upgrade if we perceived that the holding company's role for the government and its relative importance within the group had increased. KazAgro holding includes Food Contract Corporation, KazAgroProdukt, KazAgroFinance, Agrarian Credit Corporation, Fund for Financial Support of Agriculture, KazAgroGarant and KazAgroMarketing. /By Trend/ Military force should only be used as a last resort measure in addressing any possible ceasefire violations in Syria, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura stressed. Russia and the United States reached an agreement on the ceasefire in Syria on February 22. The ceasefire took effect at midnight on Saturday, Damascus time (22:00 GMT on Friday). It does not apply to terrorist groups operating in the country, such as Islamic State (Daesh) and Nusra Front. According to de Mistura, initial reports indicated that the situation calmed down around the Syrian capital in the early hours of Saturday, although there was unconfirmed information of potential breaches. "On cases of breaches, a military response should be, according to the [International Syria Support Group] task force, the last resortand should be proportionate," de Mistura stressed on Friday. Permanent Representative of Syria to the United Nations Bashar Jaafari said at the UN Security Council on Friday that the Syrian government forces reserve the right to respond to any violations of the ceasefire. According to the UN envoy, 97 armed groups in Syria, plus the government and all the major regional and international stakeholders have expressed willingness to accept the framework of the cessation of hostilities. However, violations of the ceasefire are likely, as in any other conflict, de Mistura said. "The UN is not part of addressing the incidents [of ceasefire breaches]," de Mistura emphasized, explaining that the task force of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), as well as its co-chairs (Russia and the United States) are responsible for "addressing the infringements that are likely to take place in order to ensure that they are contained." The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution endorsing the Russia-US agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria on Friday, demanding that all parties strictly comply with the agreement. Permanent Representative of Syria to the United Nations Bashar Jaafari said that the Syrian Army has the right to respond to any violations of the ceasefire. Damascus Reserves Right to Respond to Any Ceasefire Violations in Syria According to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia and the United States can bomb any Syrian militant groups that have expressed their unwillingness to observe the ceasefire. Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting against numerous opposition factions and extremist groups, such as ISIL (also known as Daesh), which is banned in a range of countries, including Russia and the United States. Russia has been launching airstrikes against IS targets in Syria at the request of Assad since late September 2015. A US-led international coalition has been conducting airstrikes against ISIL in Syria since September 2014, without the approval of Damascus or the UN Security Council. /By Trend/ Kazakhstans President Nursultan Nazarbayev and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi have discussed bilateral cooperation in various spheres, press service of Kazakh president said. The sides focused on the prospects for cooperation in trade, economic, agricultural, pharmaceutical spheres, infrastructure construction, transport and logistics. The discussions were held during the first official visit of Egyptian president to Kazakhstan. During the meeting, Nazarbayev noted that his country is interested in developing friendly relations with Egypt. He emphasized that despite the geographic remoteness, the sides have great potential to develop the transit relations. Egypt is one of the largest states in the Middle East and we would like to continue our trust-based dialogue on economic cooperation on the world markets, said Nazarbayev. Egypts President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, for his part, said that the purpose of his visit is to further strengthen the close relations between Kazakhstan and Egypt in all spheres. /By Trend/ Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has officially welcomed his Swiss counterpart, Johann Schneider-Ammann, at Tehrans Saadabad Palace. Schneider-Ammann heading a high-ranking delegation arrived in Tehrans Mehrabad airport yesterday at president Rouhanis official visit, Irans state run-TV IRINN reported. The Swiss president is in Tehran to hold talks with senior Iranian officials and discuss ways to improve mutual, regional and international relations, signing agreements in various fields. According to media reports Tehran and Berne are expected to sign agreements in economy, banking cooperation, politics and culture sectors. Following the implementation of a nuclear agreement between Iran and the world powers a number of world leaders have visited Tehran aimed at the expansion of bilateral ties. Over the past decade in a bid to curb Irans nuclear program, the international community took measures against Tehran, including restrictions imposed on the countrys financial system, as well as industry, which have had a catastrophic impact on Iranians economic situation and life conditions. Following the long-awaited nuclear deal clinched between Tehran and the world major powers most of the international sanctions against Tehran were lifted on Jan. 16. Kazakhstan and Egypt plan to cooperate in space research and nuclear energy spheres, said Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Nazarbayev made the remarks following the meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, said the message from Kazakh presidents press service. The sides will consider the possibility of signing an intergovernmental agreement in space research sphere, according to Kazakhstans president. Moreover, taking into account the creation of the Low Enriched Uranium Bank in Kazakhstan and plans for constructing a nuclear power plant in Egypt, the sides have started to discuss the prospects for cooperation in this sphere. Further, the two presidents discussed the cooperation in transportation and transit spheres. Nazarbayev noted that Kazakhstan and Egypt play a significant role in the Silk Road Economic Belt project. Kazakhstans president said that his country supports Cairos intention to create a free trade zone with the Eurasian Economic Union. He also stressed the importance of establishing long-term relations in the sphere of agriculture. Kazakhstan is among the world leaders in grain export, while Egypt is the largest state importing it, said Nazarbayev. Kazakhstan has exported over a million tons of grain to Egypt from 2006 to 2010. This cooperation will further develop. Further, Kazakh president said that currently, it is planned to implement a number of joint investment projects. Egyptian business circles consider the possibility of investing in construction of resorts on the Caspian Sea coast and building a poultry farm in Kazakhstans Almaty province. /By Trend/ Iranian president Hassan Rouhani said that the countries should help each other to reach an optimal point with regard to the human rights. He made the remarks during a joint press conference in Tehran with his visiting Swiss counterpart, Johann Schneider-Ammann Feb. 27, the Iranian state-run IRINN TV reported. Rouhani said that he discussed human rights issues as well as problems the Muslims are facing in the EU due to Islamophobia, with his Swiss counterpart. We believe that the human rights is not at perfect point nowhere in the world and the countries should help each other reach optimal point regarding it, Rouhani said. He further said that regional issues including crisis in Syria, Yemen and Libya were discussed during the meeting. Rouhani added that cooperation and consultation among countries is only way to fight terrorism across the world. Iran and Switzerland can cooperate in providing humanitarian aid to asylum seekers, he said, underling that the two parties share same stance on mutual, regional issues. We discussed issues of mutual interest especially in the field of economic cooperation, Rouhani further added. Banking, industry, transportation and agricultural cooperation as well as issues related to cultural, academic, scientific and technical relations were discussed by the two sides, he added. Iran and Switzerland will sign six agreements for technical and scientific cooperation, Rouhani said. He added that Tehran and Bern agreed to boost cooperation in tourism sector as well. The two countries also agreed to continue cooperation for Iran's membership in the World Trade Organization, the Iranian president said. He also noted that Iran is ready to attract investment in upstream energy sector as well as tourism. While responding to a question about promoting Irans private sector activity, Rouhani said that economic monopolies must be eliminated to pave way for private sectors activity. Schneider-Ammann, for his turn, said that the two sides have drawn up a roadmap for two countries cooperation in coming years. He underlined that efficient banking system is needed to promote economic cooperation between the two countries, adding parallel political steps are needed to boost, banking and economic relations between Iran and Switzerland. Regarding to the human rights issue, Schneider-Ammann said that the two countries should continue dialogue on that. Schneider-Ammann, heading a high-ranking delegation, arrived in Tehran Feb. 26 at president Rouhanis official invitation. He will hold talks with senior Iranian officials and discuss ways to improve mutual, regional and international relations, signing agreements in various fields. According to media reports Tehran and Bern are expected to sign agreements in economy, banking cooperation, politics and culture sectors. Following the implementation of a nuclear agreement between Iran and the world powers a number of world leaders have visited Tehran aimed at the expansion of bilateral ties. Over the past decade in a bid to curb Irans nuclear program, the international community took measures against Tehran, including restrictions imposed on the countrys financial system, as well as industry, which have had a catastrophic impact on Iranians economic situation and life conditions. Following the long-awaited nuclear deal clinched between Tehran and the world major powers most of the international sanctions against Tehran were lifted on Jan. 16. /By Trend/ Williams keen to make the step up , 26 February, Still only 18, Williams's stock has risen significantly in recent months and he has reportedly attracted interest from rival clubs like Manchester United. Now captain of the Blues' second string, the Liverpool-born midfielder is clearly being groomed for Everton's senior side, however, and he has described how cutting his teeth in training sessions against the first team players has helped his development. "It was a good little battle because Im competitive and theyd come off and say hes just been kicking me there," Williams says in the Liverpool Echo reflecting on practice game he experienced at Finch Farm when he was still a raw 16-year-old. It was a good test for me. Because they were dead quick and it was hard to get used to the pace, there were times when I would leave one in by accident. Training with the first-team is normal now. I treat it as if Im training with the under-21s. Theyre all sound with me. Williams also describes the high standards expected of him and his team-mates from U21s manager David Unsworth, again with progression to Roberto Martinez's first team in mind. Players like Barry, McCarthy, Gibson, Besic, everyone, theyve all got high 80s and 90% for pass completion rates, he continues. So Unsy has been telling me that he wants me to get 90s every single week, he even told me once that he wanted me to get 100! Ive never really come close to 100 but he expects high standards . Williams has only been named in the senior squad once, that for the Europa League dead rubber against FK Krasnodar in December 2014 where he was an unused substitute but he admits he is looking forward to the day when he can play for Everton at first-team level. When I was younger, I wasnt as patient as I am now," he explains. "I would be a bit gutted if I wasnt moving up but I am maturing now and when I am ready to play, I will play. Being captain has matured me. It has brought me on a lot this year, having to lead the lads and lead on the pitch. There is a bit more on it for me, I want the lads to win as much. I like having pressure on me and I love playing in big games. It is something I think I can handle. I just want to make that step up now. Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer About these ads ToffeeWeb British construction company Balfour Beatty said one of its units was named the Ground Engineering Specialist of the Year at the Construction News Specialists Awards held in London, UK. Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering (BBGE) has seen growth in all areas, particular in its driven piling operations which have seen a 40 per cent increase in turnover in the last 12 months, said a statement from the construction major. It has secured a number of complex and high-profile jobs, mainly in London, over the last three years which the award judges described as phenomenal. Projects include the 7-million ($10 million) Newfoundland project in Canary Wharf which saw the team install 53 piles each of 60 meters length. Of these, 15 piles had to be installed within the London Underground exclusion zone, one of which being just two meters away from the Jubilee line tunnel. Other notable contract wins include the 11-million ($16 million) piling contract as part of the 400-million ($144 million) 100 Bishopsgate development, in which the team installed piles up to 2.4 meters in diameter and to depths of 65 meters and installing plunge columns weighing up to 40 tonnes. The work was described as having exceeded the expectations of the customer, with BBGE showing commitment and leadership in all areas of its work. The level of customer satisfaction as a result of BBGE work was highly commended by the award judges who noted the average score of 9/10 from all 124 end-of-contract customer surveys with 20 per cent of Ground Improvement projects achieving 10/10, said the statement. Other areas of notable reference by the judges include BBGEs commitment to safety and training investment, particularly in young engineers, it stated. On the top honours, Malcolm OSullivan, the managing director at BBGE, said: "I am delighted that the hard work and dedication of the team has been commended by the Construction News Specialists Awards. We have worked hard over the last three years to deliver above and beyond the expectations of our customers, delivering works to a high standard." A leading geotechnical specialist, BBGE provides a comprehensive range of foundations solutions including piling, retaining walls, ground improvement and testing services. Previous and current projects include London Heathrow Terminal 2b, The Shard in the City of London, Glasgow Velodrome, Blackfriars station and the Beauly to Denny Replacement Transmission Line in Scotland. BBGE currently employees 23 engineers and surveyors on the BBGE graduate scheme, and have recently implemented a bespoke training and development programme for all of its young workers. "This recognition is a great reflection of the relentless effort of the whole team," he added.-TradeArabia News Service The ambitious, tech-savvy Millennial Generation are bringing great transformation into the workplace design in the UAE through cleverly integrated sharable 'digital spaces' and opting for more open and airy spaces with glass partitions for office cubicles, said an industry expert. The UAEs commercial fit-out market has experienced a greater demand for office workplaces that meet the expectations of the Millennials, according to Summertown Interiors, the UAEs leading fit-out contractor specialising in green interiors. Millennials look for collaborative working environments where they can share ideas and learn from their colleagues, it stated. As digital natives they rely on 24/7 connectivity to technology so they feel less reason to be tied to a desk, according to Summertown Interiors. Offices that are designed to encourage collaboration via cleverly integrated sharable digital spaces, such as a top-of-the-range conference rooms, help to foster collaboration and improve creativity and productivity within the workplace, it added. Commenting on the impact Millennials are having on the UAEs fit-out market, Marcos Bish, the managing director of Summertown Interiors, said: "Millennials are reshaping workplace design in the UAE. This ambitious, tech-savvy generation has notably different working styles and preferences than other generations and place much higher value on the office environment and workplace culture." "Designers, architects and workspace experts have started to introduce these principles into their projects to increase user satisfaction and productivity," noted Bish. According to him, transparency is one of the top qualities that Millennials look for in leaders honest, open cultures where there are limited barriers between management teams. "This is reflected in office fit-outs where the focus is shifting towards open and airy spaces. Glass partitions for office cubicles are increasingly favoured over gypsum partitions," he pointed out. "However, these open spaces also need to be balanced with private areas. Millennials want to know their colleagues are always approachable, but also want to enjoy their own privacy when they need to concentrate," explained Bish. "Rethinking the use of space has fast become a top priority for companies in order to encourage employee engagement. Many Millennials want to feel that their company really cares about their wellbeing and this has seen a rise in the demand for health amenities in the workplace," said Bish. "From yoga rooms, to pantries stocked with free and healthy foods and sleep corners, companies are increasingly understanding the role that the physical environment plays in promoting wellbeing at work," he added. According to Bish, the millennial offices are firmly shaping the future of the corporate real estate industry. By 2020, Millennials will form 50 per cent of the global workforce and, according to the World Economic Forum, the UAE is the top emerging market destination for young professionals looking to further their careers. "Investing in the workspace should not be considered an extra cost, but an investment that has a positive impact on employees happiness, productivity, and loyalty," stated Bish. "This will, in turn, enhance the organisations overall success. As Millennials continue to dominate the workforce, companies must adapt to new ways of doing business in order to retain employees and encourage productivity," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Dubai Properties (DP) has announced that the release of the first phase of its Spanish Mediterranean-inspired new community, Bella Casa at Serena, was sold out on launch day in record time. A leading Dubai-based real estate master developer known for the development and management of prominent destinations across the emirate, DP said the pre-sales online registrations received a tremendous response from the buyers. Targeting the affordable housing segment, Serena was released to the public at exceptionally competitive prices, said the developer. The flexible three-year payment plan, integrates easy installments, making the purchase accessible to families and investors wishing to own homes in Dubai, and offering them a vibrant lifestyle in a new dynamic community. Dubai Properties sales and customer center in Ras Al Khor witnessed huge numbers of interested clients and investors queuing from the early hours of Saturday morning, resulting in a total sell out of the released units. Marwan Al Kindi, the executive director of sales and sales operations, said: "The astounding response to the launch of Serena is an indication of a positive and healthy real market in the UAE, and another testament to the robust demand on the affordable housing segment in the country." "Selling out Serena confirms our deep understanding of the real estate market in the country, and our capability to create master-planned developments in response to verifiable market need is evident today, which encourages us to continue to release additional units in the coming days," he added. The 8.2 million sq ft master-development in Dubailand, Serena will be developed across five phases and with the first phase, Bella Casa, anticipated to be complete by the thrid quarter of 2019. Consisting of aesthetically pleasing landscaped rows of 4 to 6 units, phase one consists of 2- to 3-bedroom townhouses and 3-bedroom semi-detached villas, the new and smartly designed concept brings Spanish architecture and promotes a dynamic, lively and vibrant lifestyle through the unique concept of a plaza in the heart of the community, said the statement from DP. In close proximity to Downtown Dubai, Serena enjoys direct access to Emirates Road, and will feature a variety of amenities comprising recreational facilities, swimming pools, gym, play areas, and a healthcare facility, propounding the developments idealness for families, it stated. The development also boasts ample leasing retail spaces of 100,000 sq ft, offering its residents significant choices of retail options that serve their daily needs. We are proud that Dubai Properties is paving the way for the affordable housing segment in the UAE, as we play a key role is reinvigorating the real estate sector, while supporting the economic diversification in the country, he added.-TradeArabia News Service Saudi-based telecom services operator Mobily has reached an agreement with Digital Barriers and its Saudi partner Advanced Communication Systems (Telequalitas) to launch Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS) in the kingdom. The company clinched the deal on the side lines of Mobile World Congress 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. Cellular-based video solutions are in high demand, especially among law enforcement, defence and security agencies, but solutions available until now have been hampered by the limitations of real-time video streaming. Now the launch of Mobilys VSaaS range of solutions, based on Digital Barriers world-class streaming technology, EdgeVis Live powered by TVI, will introduce reliable, live, high-definition video streaming to the market for the first time, said a statement from Mobily. The new VSaaS solution will include Digital Barriers award-winning, government-accredited video analytics, it stated. EdgeVis Live offers secure distribution of high-definition, real-time video from anywhere to anywhere, featuring end-to-end security, real world resilience and network optimization, that can stream usable live video using 60 per cent less bandwidth than standard technologies, said the statement. This exceptionally efficient use of available bandwidth enables EdgeVis Live to deliver significant capability benefits and material cost savings over competing technologies. EdgeVis Live has already been sold into more than thirty countries, and counts some of the most prominent defense and security agencies in the world as its customers, as well as an increasing number of commercial organisations, it added. This first of its kind secure, zero-latency solution is critical to helping ensure continued safety and security across the country, said a top official. "We are happy to yet again be pioneers, in terms of bringing advance, innovative solutions to the Kingdom with support of industry leaders like Digital Barriers," remarked Ahmed Farroukh, the CEO of Mobily. "Our business unit continues to utilize our strong infrastructure as a backbone for delivering state-of-the-art services to the customers, based on their requirements," said Farroukh. "In addition to the new range of VSaaS solutions, Mobily will also offer its customers a wide range of technologies from Digital Barriers, the worlds leading provider of edge-intelligent surveillance, security and safety technologies optimized for wireless networks," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Axiom telecom, a leading mobile reseller in the UAE, has announced the launch of its new concept store at Dubai Mall, combining cutting-edge technology with first-of-its-kind personalization capability. Axiom telecom opened its doors to a refined shopping experience on Saturday (February 27) offering customers a series of exciting services tailored to meet the demands of the UAEs tech enthusiasts. Experiential Shopping is the new mantra for Millennials, who account for nearly half of the Middle East population, said the managing director, Faisal Al Bannai, adding that the store renovation was inspired by a deep desire to enhance the way customers explore mobile technology. Today, UAE shoppers are looking for a more fulfilling retail experience one in which product selection, value for money, and customer care form the cornerstone of their consumer journey, he stated. By being first-to-market with the latest releases, and providing a wide variety of supportive products and services, we ultimately offer customers a one-stop-shop for all their mobile needs. We look forward to expanding this concept to all our stores across the region, said Al Banai. According to him, responding to the countrys passion for personalization and flair for fashion, axiom has launched a dedicated zone coined XCustoms, a one-stop-shop for smartphone and tablet customization in the UAE. "From gold plating, engraving, and colorful skins, to UV printing and Swarovski crystals, XCustoms allows gadget owners to express their individuality whether it is supporting a favorite band or team, or showcasing a unique sense of style. Nearly all services are completed in-store, allowing customers to make a statement with their personalized device in no time," he added. Techies looking to take their mobile experience to the next level can choose from a host of more than 100 accessory brands, including industry leaders Beats, Fitbit, Jawbone, JBL, Monster, Parrot, Sennheiser, and Skullcandy. From the latest in wearables, including the Apple Watch, the Samsung Gear 2, and the Huawei Watch, to smart home solutions, axiom provides a compelling selection of the latest that mobile technology has to offer, said the statement. At axiom, we understand that technology needs to be backed with quality service for a truly seamless mobile experience, and that is why we are committed to providing our loyal customers continuous support, said Fahad Al Bannai, the CEO of axiom. Our wide range of in-store and value added services ensures that customers have convenient access to assistance, enabling them to truly make the most out of their purchase, he noted. From subscriptions to topping up existing accounts, the new du service desk at axiom allows customers to stay connected through a host of attractive packages. Customers also get to benefit from axioms signature value-added services, which include extended warranty, 60-second data transfer, pick-up and delivery for phone repairs, tTrade-in offers, and the recently launched damage insurance service, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity.-TradeArabia News Service A cessation of hostilities in Syria came into effect at the agreed time of midnight on Saturday under a US-Russian plan which warring sides in the five-year conflict have said they would commit to. A cessation of hostilities in Syria came into effect at the agreed time of midnight on Saturday (2200 GMT Friday) under a US-Russian plan which warring sides in the five-year conflict have said they would commit to. A monitoring group said shortly after midnight that across most of western Syria fighting appeared to have stopped, with isolated incidents of fire in some areas. Damascus and its ally Russia, as well as a range of insurgent groups fighting against them, had said they would commit to the plan. The truce does not apply to Islamic State and al Qaeda affiliate the Nusra Front, and the Syrian government and Moscow have said they will not halt combat against those militants. The United Nations unanimously demanded late on Friday that all parties to the conflict comply with the terms of the plan. Fighting had raged across much of western Syria right up until the agreement came into effect, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Shortly after midnight, there was calm in many parts of the country, it said. "In Damascus and its countryside... for the first time in years, calm prevails," Observatory director Rami Abdulrahman said. "In Latakia, calm, and at the Hmeimim air base there is no plane activity," he said in reference to the Latakia base where Russia's warplanes operate from. In the northern city of Aleppo some gunfire had been heard shortly after midnight, and there were some blasts heard in northern Homs province, but it was not clear what had caused them, he said. On Friday at least 40 government soldiers and allied fighters, and 18 insurgents were killed in battles and air strikes in Latakia province, the Observatory reported. Also in the hours before the halt, six people died in an air raid in western Aleppo province, it said. Near Damascus, dozens of air raids hit besieged Daraya suburb. Rescue workers said at least five people were killed in Douma northeast of the capital. UN APPEAL FOR PEACE TALKS Nusra Front on Friday called for an escalation in fighting, urging insurgents to intensify their attacks in a call that added to the dangers facing the fragile agreement. Under the measure, which has not been signed by the Syrian warring parties themselves and is less binding than a formal ceasefire, the government and its enemies were expected to stop shooting so aid can reach civilians and peace talks begin. Aid has been delivered to some besieged areas of the country this year in a series of localised agreements, but the United Nations demands unhindered access to all Syrians in need of help. Peace talks collapsed earlier this month before they began, and Damascus and Moscow intensified assaults in the north and northwest of the country. Moscow's intervention in the war in September with an air campaign has helped Assad's forces and their allies recapture territory, notably in Aleppo and Latakia provinces. Rebels have advanced elsewhere including in Hama province, but fighting has largely tipped in favour of Damascus, which is also backed by Lebanese Hezbollah and Iranian fighters. Saudi Arabia has said it is willing to send its forces into Syria to fight Islamic State, and Turkey wants ground troops deployed but has denied plans for unilateral action. Friday's UN resolution urged the government and opposition to resume talks, renewing a call to end a war in which most regional and world powers are involved. UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said he intends to reconvene talks on March 7 provided the halt in fighting largely holds. The Syrian government has said the cessation plan could fail if foreign states supply rebels with weapons or insurgents use the truce to rearm. The main opposition alliance said it would accept it for two weeks but feared the government and its allies would use it to attack opposition factions under the pretext that they were terrorists. The Kurdish YPG militia, which is battling Islamic State in the northeast and Turkish-backed rebel groups in the northwest, said it would abide by the plan, but reserves the right to respond if attacked. Reuters Gulf Air, Bahrain's national carrier, recently entered into a strategic business alliance with Faysal Bank Limited, one of the leading banks in Pakistan, in a move to further facilitate air travel for the bank's credit and debit card holders. Faysal Bank Limited customers, when using the bank's credit and debit cards to book or purchase Gulf Air flight on the airline's official website and at Gulf Air sales offices, will now enjoy generous fare reductions on both the airline's premium Falcon Gold and Economy Class cabins. Commenting on the agreement, Muhammad Saleem Motiwala, Gulf Air country manager Pakistan said: "We are committed to serving the Pakistan market, as we have done since our first entry in 1960, in a variety of ways. Accordingly, we are delighted to partner with Faysal Bank Limited, a leading financial institute in Pakistan. This alliance not only has huge potential for our organisation but shall also be of great benefit and convenience to travellers from Pakistan to the Middle East and beyond, travelling with Gulf Air. We look forward to embarking on this relationship and providing greater opportunities for our valued customers to experience our product and service offering." On this occasion, Fouad Farrukh - Faysal Bank Limited Head of Retail Banking said: "This business alliance between two leading brands is the next step in Faysal Bank's long term plans to leverage its strengths for the benefits of our customers. We at Faysal Bank Limited will continue to strive to build loyalty by offering innovative products and benefits to further add value to the customer experience." Catering to passenger demand from across the country, Gulf Air added two new destinations in Pakistan to its network with direct four weekly direct services to Multan from December 14 and three weekly direct services to Faisalabad from December 22. Taking the airline's total Pakistan destinations up to 7, Multan and Faisalabad have now supplemented Gulf Air 's service to five cities in Pakistan: Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, Peshawar and Sialkot. - TradeArabia News Service Spare lithium-ion batteries will no longer be allowed in checked baggage on airlines as of April 1, the UN's aviation agency said on Friday, following concerns by pilots and plane makers that they are a fire risk. The batteries, which are rechargeable and used in cell phones or laptops, can only be packed in carry-on baggage or carried by the passenger, the International Civil Aviation Organization said in a statement. Lithium ion batteries are allowed in personal electronic devices, whether in passengers' carry-ons or checked baggage. On Monday, ICAO prohibited shipments of lithium-ion batteries as cargo on passenger aircraft, citing safety concerns. Lithium metal batteries, which are used in watches and are not rechargeable, have already been banned on passenger planes globally. ICAO's 36-state governing council said the prohibition would be in effect April 1 and would be maintained until a new fire-resistant packaging standard is designed to transport the batteries. Lithium-ion batteries can still be transported on cargo planes. The new packaging standard is expected by 2018, ICAO Council President Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu said earlier this week in a statement. The ban would be mandatory for ICAO member states. Pilots and aircraft manufacturers are concerned that existing standards are not strong enough to contain lithium battery fires. Reuters The TransGriot is available for speaking engagements, college lectures, panel discussions, media interviews, conferences or Trans 101 education efforts for your school, business or professional organizations. For local Houston area, Texas or national events, you can e-mail me at transgriot@yahoo.com For events outside the Houston metro area, I ask that my travel and lodging expenses be covered. This is separate from my speaking fee. If you are interested in having me appear as a speaker or panelist, you can e-mail me with the date and details of your proposed event. Please book as early as possible because my speaking and event calendar slots during the year rapidly fill up. About us transpress nz An international retailer of books, magazines, DVDs and postcards since 1985 and publisher of them since 1988 based primarily in Wellington, New Zealand. Comments on blog posts are welcome, but spam solely intended to promote your website will not be published. Any comments that contain embedded hyperlinks to websites other than blogspot are automatically discarded as spam. We do not publish unsolicited book or video reviews. You are welcome to make non-commercial web use of pictures on here provided you link back to us. View my complete profile All at Sea: stories of New Zealand seafarers NZR Memorabilia Voyage to Gallipoli Blog Archive Collection of pictures of places I have been to around the Philippines. Philippines Affordable Destination. Where to go to around the Philippines? Philippines Tourist Spots. Philippines Tourist Destinations. Philippines Tourist Affordable Destinations. Here and around Metro Manila, nearby provinces and the country. Here and around the Philippine Islands. Travel Philippines. Travel The Philippine Island A man accused of leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase the day before Thanksgiving last year pleaded not guilty Friday in court. The pursuit ended only after Wyoming Highway Patrol deputies shot at and then rammed Russell Andersons SUV, court documents show. Anderson entered not guilty pleas to six charges Friday in Natrona County District Court. The charges stem from the Nov. 25 incident, but also from Andersons actions in the days leading up to the chase. Authorities apprehended the 31-year-old Anderson only after ramming his car as it traveled the wrong way down Interstate 25. Andersons girlfriend, Michelle Essig, 33, took a bullet to the leg when Wyoming Highway Patrolman Doug Beran shot into the car. She underwent surgery at Wyoming Medical Center in Casper for non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities say Anderson also hit his pregnant girlfriend in the days before the pursuit and had forced her to engage in prostitution, according to the court documents. He is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, promoting prostitution, reckless endangering, reckless driving and eluding. Anderson was being held in the Natrona County Detention Center on bond as of Friday afternoon. The chase began in Mills, but the Highway Patrol took over once the pursuit moved to the southbound lanes of Interstate 25. Troopers tried to use spike strips to stop the vehicle, but Anderson drove around them, the Highway Patrol reported. Near Glenrock, the fleeing car crossed the median and began traveling south on the northbound lanes of Interstate 25. A few miles later, Beran fired several shots at the vehicle while attempting to end the pursuit for the safety of people in the oncoming cars, according to the Highway Patrol. The vehicle continued driving south for another half mile before law enforcement vehicles rammed it. As is standard policy in officer-involved shootings, Beran was placed on administrative leave with pay while the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation looked into it. The results of that investigation have not been made public. Authorities became aware of the alleged assaults and prostitution while interviewing Essig following the pursuit, according to the court documents. She said Anderson hit her in the eye and arm two days prior to the car chase. Officers photographed Essigs bruises, according to the charging document. The assaults are considered aggravated because Essig was pregnant. Essig also told investigators Anderson forced her to prostitute herself at Motel 6 in Casper. Authorities obtained both Essigs and Andersons cellphones, which had messages confirming the forced prostitution, the document states. MADISON, Wis. (AP) Wisconsin and seven other states are seeking to join Oklahoma in challenging a new Federal Communications Commission rule limiting the amount local jails and state prisons can charge inmates for phone calls. The FCC voted to impose the $0.11 per minute cap in 2015 to address what it calls "prohibitively high charges" on inmate calls. But sheriffs and states say the rate limits are too low to cover security-related costs for inmate calling systems. "The argument is this way here they can make more calls to their family, but quite frankly, they're not at their local hotel," said Badger State Sheriff's Association President Brent Oleson. "They committed a crime and they're being held accountable by serving a period of incarceration." The FCC's decision in late 2015 addressed a petition from 12 years earlier from a woman who sought to stay in touch with her incarcerated grandson. In its decision, the FCC says that increased contact between inmates and their family can reduce their chances of reoffending. But the FCC says that communication has become "extremely difficult" due to high call charges, which can add up to hundreds of dollars each month for some families. "While the Commission prefers to rely on competition and market forces to discipline prices, there is little dispute that the (inmate calling system) market is a prime example of market failure," the FCC writes, calling inmate calling system operators "unchecked monopolists" when it comes to the consumers. The FCC's rule caps the rate at $0.11 per minute for interstate and intrastate calls for all prisons and $0.14 per minute for larger jails, stepping up to $0.16 per minute and $0.22 per minute for smaller jails. It also limits additional service charges and taxes. In comparison, calls in Oklahoma prisons previously cost about $0.20 per minute on average. In Juneau County, Oleson said, the vendor previously charged $0.25 per minute. Oklahoma's lawsuit claims the rate cap exceeds the FCC's statutory authority and ignores evidence of the actual cost of the calls to prisons and jails. Wisconsin, Nevada, Arkansas, Arizona, Louisiana, Missouri, Kansas and Indiana filed a motion Wednesday to intervene in support of Oklahoma. "This is an area over which states, not the federal government, have traditionally had regulatory authority and if attorneys general don't step up to defend the states against these overreaches by the federal government, no one else will," Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel said in a statement. In their filing, states say the high costs of inmate calls stem from monitoring calls, escorting prisoners or technicians to and from phones and continually updating inmate calling systems to ensure security. "They're elaborate systems, and to develop these systems is very costly," Oleson said. With the lower rate, Oleson said, the cost for those calls will likely be shifted to the taxpayer. In its response filed Friday, the FCC says its decision is well within its statutory authority to ensure that charges for inmate calling services are "fair." The case is pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. ___ Follow Bryna Godar on Twitter at https://twitter.com/bgodar Guatemala Army officer convicted in sexual abuse case GUATEMALA CITY In a historic ruling, a Guatemalan court has convicted a former army officer and a former military commissioner for the sexual enslavement of women during the countrys civil war. It sentenced the men to 120 years and 240 years in prison respectively. Fridays ruling is the first time that a local court has handed down such a judgment for those crimes. The retired officer, Esteelmer Reyes Giron, was found guilty of holding 15 women in sexual and domestic slavery and for killing one woman and her two daughters. Heriberto Valdez Asij, a civilian with military functions, was convicted for the same enslavement, as well as the forced disappearance of seven men. Mexico Mexicans against Trump in vulgar spat MEXICO CITY Mexicans backed former President Vicente Fox in his verbal spat with Donald Trump on Friday, after Fox called the Republican front-runner crazy and a false prophet and Trump replied that he ought to be ashamed of himself for using a profanity. In the streets of the capital, newspapers and social media, locals sided with the usually unpopular ex-leader over Trump, who is probably viewed even more negatively by Mexicans for campaign rhetoric denigrating immigrants as rapists who bring crime and drugs to the United States. Folks also largely shrugged off Foxs use of an F-bomb in an interview with Univisions Jorge Ramos to emphasize that he has no intention of paying for Trumps border-wall plans. The vulgarity came from Vicente Foxs soul. Never better said. Never better targeted, columnist Francisco Garfias wrote for Excelsior. Iran Iran holds 1st election since key nuclear deal TEHRAN Iranians voted Friday in the countrys first election since its landmark nuclear deal with world powers, deciding whether to further empower moderates backing President Hassan Rouhani or support hard-liners long suspicious of the West. The elections for Irans parliament and a powerful clerical body known as the Assembly of Experts are tightly controlled by the establishment headed by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which ultimately determines who can run. But within the range allowed by the Islamic Republic, the voting may provide a referendum on Rouhanis policies and his promises that the nuclear deal, the lifting of most international sanctions and a greater degree of opening to the West can help boost a battered economy a top concern for most voters. Nearly 55 million of Irans 80 million people were eligible to vote. Uganda Mass arrests follow presidential poll KAMPALA Over 200 opposition figures have been detained across Uganda, hampering efforts to launch a legal challenge against the disputed re-election of the countrys long-time leader, the main opposition party said Friday. The Forum for Democratic Change is in a big crisis amid the mass arrests of party representatives in different parts of Uganda, said party lawyer Yusuf Nsibambi. Some of those detained had crucial polling materials that could be used as evidence in a possible court case, while others were party supporters picked up from regional offices. One party member suffered a fractured arm during beatings in detention, he said. Opposition leader and former presidential candidate Kizza Besigye has been under house arrest for a week, with police detaining him several times as he tried to leave his house on the outskirts of Kampala. President Yoweri Museveni won about 60 percent of the vote last week to Besigyes 35 percent, according to the official tally. Besigye rejected the official count as fraudulent and called for an independent audit. Ireland IRA head sentenced for tax evasion DUBLIN The longtime chief of the Irish Republican Army, one of the outlawed groups most feared and secretive figures, received an 18-month prison sentence Friday for tax evasion a decade after police discovered a fortune hidden inside hay bales on his border farm. Thomas Slab Murphy, 66, denied all charges against him and vowed to appeal the verdict at Irelands Special Criminal Court, a three-judge panel that hears IRA-related cases without a jury because of the risk of intimidation. Murphys farm straddles Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and an escape tunnel runs beneath the property in each direction. He admitted he filed no tax returns in either country from 1996 to 2004, but claimed to have no declarable income of his own as other family members handled all business affairs. South Armagh, midway between Dublin and Belfast, is renowned as bandit country because of its long traditions of smuggling and guerrilla activity. IRA units built vehicle bombs and mounted ambushes on British security forces there with relative impunity throughout the IRAs failed 1970-1997 campaign to force Northern Ireland out of the United Kingdom. Mali UN peacekeeper shoots dead 2 colleagues KIDAL The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali says a peacekeeper has shot dead two colleagues in what has been called a settling of scores. A statement from the mission Friday says the suspect was detained after the shooting Thursday at the U.N. base in Kidal in northern Mali. An investigation is underway. A peacekeeping official says the Chadian peacekeeper shot a commander and doctor. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. It was not clear what caused the shooting. The U.N. mission in Mali has been one of the world bodys deadliest peacekeeping missions. Wire reports A family-owned business in Marana has done more than move beyond simple modular construction: Its done away with the term altogether. ESB Design + Build formerly ESB Modular Manufacturing offers custom-built commercial structures ranging from single classrooms to three-story medical facilities and specialized military buildings. The decades-old business includes three generations of women and several members of their extended family. The way that modulars have evolved, its not just a portable little building anymore, said Alan Johnson, an ESB foreman who has been with company since 1991. These are all permanent buildings. Were able to create a really nice product for people at a decent price. Pima Community College, Tucson Unified School District and several other local schools and organizations are turning to ESB when it comes to additional classrooms or an extra set of restrooms. But increasingly the company is doing more complex projects, such as a fire-watch tower in Yosemite National Park and a state-of-the art medical complex in Tuba City in Coconino County. The company started out small more than 30 years ago, when Cecil and Pat See moved here from Michigan. Their daughter, Lois Morey, said her father worked in construction back in the Midwest but came to Arizona to escape harsh winters and a depressed economy. They moved because you can do more work out here in construction without the really heavy winters, said Morey, now the companys chief executive officer. Her father died in 2001, and her mother still does payrolls and tracks the companys finances. With an annual growth rate of about 7 percent, ESB uses its 44,000-square-foot facility at 11280 W. Adonis Road to construct buildings that are then moved on-site. At any given time, 32 to 50 people work full time for the company, including inmates from a nearby minimum-security prison. A recent ratings report for the General Services Administration gave ESB a top rating for nonresidential construction and included a survey of 19 customers who all gave positive feedback for order accuracy, delivery and timeliness and product quality. Lois Morey said it was her brother Paul Sees idea to start manufacturing instead of just doing remodels and installations, which is what the family focused on initially. Getting the business to what it is today was very hard work, she said. In the beginning, we went months without pay, she said. All of the money was going back into the business, she said. But things turned around quickly once they built their own manufacturing plant in 1995. Since then, theyve constructed hundreds of buildings not only for sites in Arizona, but in New Mexico, Nevada and California. The structures are still carried by truck, but they arrive without a floor in place so they can be welded to a concrete foundation. Drywall and roofing is also put in place on-site. The buildings cost about two-thirds of what on-site construction costs, Lois Morey said, and can be designed and built in about half the time normal construction takes. We pride ourselves on being able to blend with existing architecture, she said. Next on the list will be retirement centers and apartment complexes, said Lois Moreys daughter, Erica Morey, who is the companys business and development director. Construction is underway in the warehouse on a new fellowship hall for the Santa Rose Mission in Tucson. Eventually, three 70-by-14-foot pieces will be moved to the site, where theyve already been prepping for utilities. The total construction time for a project this size averages about a month in the factory and another two months at the site, Erica Morey said. Russ Federico, executive director of operational support for Marana Unified School District, said ESB has added six classrooms, new student bathrooms and a ticket booth during the last couple of years. The total was around $1.2 million. There was a lot of utility challenges and underground things that needed to be done to make it work, he said, and they did a great job. When it was decided a new restroom would be added to the east-side campus of Pima Community College, John Bracamonte looked to ESB and spent $148,000, some of it on extensive earthwork to meet code. They took care of the plans, the permits, the fire marshal and quite a few other services, said Bracamonte, the facilities project manager. The company kept to schedule, he said. It looks just like a regular building and really matches our campus. Lois Morey said working with family is rewarding, and she only wishes her father were here to see their progress. Dailey named director of S. Arizona Red Cross Julia Dailey is new executive director for the American Red Cross Southern Arizona Chapter. She succeeds John Patton, who is now the regional chief operating officer for the American Red Cross Arizona-New Mexico-El Paso Region. Daileys volunteer work with the Red Cross was prompted by a personal medical emergency. As a college student vacationing in Mexico, she developed a severe allergic reaction after being stung by a stingray. She was rushed to the Mexican Red Cross where she received free care. The skills she learned during Red Cross CPR and first-aid classes helped her save a life a couple of years later. After volunteering on a disaster response team in Oregon, she decided to seek a career in the Red Cross and was hired as a disaster program manager. Prior to her new post, she was Red Cross division disaster state relations director for Texas, Arizona and New Mexico; and worked in Honduras with the Peace Corps. She received her masters degree in regional planning from Cornell University. Technology Council signs up Sole de Hoop The Arizona Technology Council hired Tracy Sole de Hoop as director of operations and events for its Southern Arizona office, which has expansion plans for Cochise, Santa Cruz and Yuma counties. Sole de Hoop worked as a physical scientist for U.S. Geological Survey in Colorado, was the coordinator of Watershed Academy for Purdue University and cofounded a mathematics research consulting firm for the oil and gas industry. She is a board member of the El Rio Health Center Foundation, a member of the Rotary Club of Tucson and a sustaining member of the Junior League of Tucson. She earned a bachelors in geology and anthropology from Southern Methodist University and a masters in anthropology specializing in geographic information systems and remote sensing from Colorado State University. Flower, Decker join Commerce Bank board Kenneth W. Flower and Robert Decker joined Commerce Bank of Arizona Inc. as members of its board of directors. Flower is the president of Tucson-based Southwest Events & Rentals Inc. Decker is a certified public accountant and president of an accounting firm. CPA Yeanoplos to serve on judicial review panel Kevin Yeanoplos, of Brueggeman and Johnson Yeanoplos PC, was been appointed by the Arizona Supreme Court to serve as a public member of the Arizona Commission on Judicial Performance Review. Yeanoplos, a CPA, will serve a four-year term. Gibbons, Gallick, Block and Wilson join Long Long Realty announces several hirings: BJ Gibbons has joined the River/Campbell office as an associate broker. Gibbons, a licensed Realtor, is also an active attorney specializing in real estate. In her 15 years as an agent, Gibbons has consistently ranked in the top 5 percent of Tucson Realtors, Long said in a news release. Jodi Gallick and Sara Block joined the Tanque Verde office. Gallick, with 14 years of real estate experience, comes from a long line of family Realtors and brokers in Tucson. Working alongside Gallick is her mother, Block, a Tucson real estate veteran. Joan Wilson joined the Sierra Vista office. At her former brokerage in San Diego, she worked as a real estate agent, training director and mentor, and served on two San Diego Association of Realtors committees. She has a degree in psychology, ran her own marketing company in Seattle and has managed IT departments for other companies. 1st Choice Tax Services adds UA grad Tinny David Tinny joins 1st Choice Tax Services in its new office at 3950 N. Campbell Ave. Tinny has 15 years of experience preparing individual and small-business taxes and is a tax instructor. He has been an enrolled agent for 10 years and successfully represented dozens of clients before the IRS, 1st Choice said in a news release. He graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelors degree in accounting. Linda Myers turns 17 on Monday. She got married when she was 5 and recently celebrated her 46th anniversary to husband Bill. Confused that the math isnt adding up? Thats what happens when youre born on Feb. 29, that all elusive date that comes around once every four years. Milestones become garbled math problems divisible by four. This is great fun for Myers, who has spent the past five winters in Tucson away from the bitter cold of home in Milwaukee. She has turned leap year into a hobby that some might say borders on mild obsession. Starting in her early 20s, she has been collecting leap year memorabilia, including pins from the 1930s and 40s, and penny postcards from 1904, 1908 and 1912. To date she has amassed 2,500 pieces of memorabilia. I have some paper money that was printed in leap year from Scotland dated Feb. 29, 1988, she said. She also has leap year gaming chips from the Riviera Hotel. Early this month she showed off her trinkets when she spoke to genealogy groups about what its like being a leap year baby. Myers, who marks her birthday with two leapling buddies, said some with the auspicious birthdate feel cheated that they only get a chance every four years to celebrate on the actual day they were born. In some ways, Myers said, she feels privileged. The whole birthday thing is all about time. If the parents didnt want their child to be born on Feb. 29, they would ask doctors to induce or change the birth certificate, said Myers, who will celebrate 68 years on Monday. But my parents let me be born on Feb. 29, and Im thankful they did because Ive had a great time with it. Four times the fun. Myers, the first of seven children in her family, grew up in Des Moines, Iowa. Her mom was a school teacher, and her dad was a salesman. Birthday celebrations were simple family affairs. If we got a Pepsi on New Years, that was a big deal. And once in a while we would have pizza out of a box, she recalled. Sometimes kids would make fun of her because of her leap year birthday. I would come home crying to my parents, and they would take care of those tears by saying, Yes, you do have a birthday. They really made my birthday special, she said. Her most exciting birthday, she said, was when she turned 21. She and her friends went to a bar for that ceremonial first legal drink. But that year was not a leap year, so the bartender said, You are not 21; we are not able to serve you, she recalled. She had to wait until midnight, when the calendar flipped to March 1, to get that first legal drink. Myers said she and her husband plan to eventually move to Tucson full time. Both are retired he was a manufacturers rep and she worked in accounting administration for Wisconsins largest Re/Max agency. Myers was not yet 16 when she retired. You do the math. Happy Birthday! It has been only four months since you left - memories, I have many. We talked every day for over five years. Evenings, we loved your great sunsets and my moon rising over the Rincons. I called you every day at 6:00 a.m. - on weekends together, trips around town and San Xavier, your most loved place. Mass on Saturdays, then to Pat's Hotdogs and home to share a Dos XX and a hotdog and Lawrence Welk. On Sundays movies, popcorn, 60 Minutes on TV - and many times, walking in on you playing your sax. When I cooked for you at my home you brought wine and roses - I missed them on February 14th. Our trips to Kauai, Washington DC, New York - to see the Angels play the Yankees, San Diego How can I not miss you terribly? Blues Sunday service honors mourning Blues Sunday at St. Marks Presbyterian Church, 3809 E. Third St., is a Lenten service acknowledging sadness. Carla Brownlee will be on tenor sax, and Danny Krieger, on guitar, will both sing and lead the seven-piece band at the 11 a.m. service on Sunday, Feb. 28, according to press materials. For information, visit stmarksaz.org or call 325-1001. Organ concerts this weekend Organist Guy Whatley and Tucsons True Concord will present The King of Instruments 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, at St. Philips in the Hills Episcopal Church, 4440 N. Campbell Ave.; 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, at Catalina United Methodist Church, 2700 E. Speedway; and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, at St. Albans Episcopal Church, 3738 Old Sabino Canyon Road, according to press materials. General seating costs $25. Call 401-2651. The Catalina Organ Festival at Catalina United Methodist Church will also bring the Chenaults, an organ duo, to Tucson from Georgia for a concert 7 p.m. Friday, March 4. To see this show, premiering a duet of O Thou My Fair Evening Star by Richard Wagner, tickets cost $15 from the church, according to press materials. The Arizona Choral Society will also present at the church 3:30 p.m. Sunday March 6. Tickets cost $15 at azchoral.org. Community prayer for 24 straight hours Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene, 500 W. Calle Concordia in Oro Valley, will pray for the community for 24 hours, starting 6 p.m. Friday, March 4. Participants will meet at the church and can sign up to pray during a specific hour at the church website ovcn.org, although signing up is not necessary. The event will conclude at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 5. The church is also accepting prayer requests for the 24-hour period. A different topic will also be emphasized during each hour of prayer, said young adult pastor Jimmy Miller. For more information, visit ovcn.org or call 297-8297. Faith matters talk at Tanque Verde Lutheran Tanque Verde Lutheran Church, 8625 E. Tanque Verde Road, will host the Rev. Mark Reitan for a study called Faith Matters, which will explore how Christian faith impacts daily life. Pima County has poured millions of dollars into the Development Services Department to supplement its budget since the 2008 recession created a downturn in the building industry. Now county leaders say its time for the department to stand on its own using the money it collects in fees and to begin to pay back the more than $5 million in county tax funding that has gone to keep development services afloat. We have loaned that enterprise fund $5.3 million to get over the recession, Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry said. We understand cycles, but it cant be indefinite. But where the money to pay back the loans will come from and what it will be used for has brought up issues of tax equity and fairness. As an enterprise fund, development services should operate on a self-sufficient basis. The department charges for building-plan reviews and inspections, and is intended to operate without tax dollars. When the economy collapsed, new construction activity in the region came to a grinding halt. In the peak of the housing boom in 2005, Pima County issued 5,000 permits for new home construction. By 2008, permit issuance fell to fewer than 1,000. The numbers continued to decline through 2011, when fewer than 500 permits were issued. New construction activity still hasnt recovered, with just 665 permits issued last year. For the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association, the numbers mean county officials need to be cautious and deliberate in what they decide. We need to focus on the reality that permitting activity hasnt recovered, said David Godlewski, SAHBA president. Godlewski said he understands the countys general fund needs to be made whole, but he has concerns that will be done at the expense of the construction industry. We would say keep fees low, he said. Lets proceed with caution here. Supervisor Ray Carroll said he recognizes the apprehension among the development community but doesnt think fee increases are necessarily imminent. Im not sure thats going to be the consequence, Carroll said, adding that an improving economy could delay the need to increase fees. Huckelberry said the county has been cautious, not only through using tax dollars to subsidize development services, but in suspending imposition of annual two-percent fee increases from 2011-13. The department also has shed at least 120 employees, shrinking from a 183-person workforce to fewer than 60 now. Departmental spending also has declined from more than $17 million in 2006 to less than $7 million in the current budget year. Were looking at ways to increase efficiencies, said Carmine DeBonis, Pima County Development Services director. Debonis said the department has significantly reformed its processes since the economic turndown. Permit turnaround times average five days now, he said. In addition, the department changed from an assembly line with inspectors looking at specific aspects of plans then passing it to another inspector, increasing wait times, to a more holistic and personal approach. Debonis said the department already has begun to repay the loans to the general fund, beginning with a $250,000 payment in the current budget year and a planned $500,000 payment already budgeted for next year. Tucson Association of Realtors spokesman Steve Huffman said his organization isnt opposed to the repayments but does have concerns about fee increases. We dont want to create a situation when a repayment schedule will create fee increases, Huffman said. Another concern from industry is the county administrators proposal to use the repayment funds for road repairs. We all want to see the roads fixed, Huffman said, but added the industry doesnt want the fees it pays to become a continual source for additional road repair funds. Thats a concern Amber Smith with the Metropolitan Pima Alliance shares. For us its a larger issue with development services and a constant reaching out to the development community to pay for roads, Smith said. She said impact fees the development community already pays plus the increase to property values new development creates provide a financial benefit to the county. Smith also said the Development Services Department doesnt necessarily have to operate as a self-sufficient entity. That doesnt mean it should not be subsidized by the general fund, she said. Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias said he recognizes the industry concerns and would work with them to find solutions. I want to make sure we do it carefully and make sure stakeholders are involved, Elias said. But he notes there are tax equity issues at play, in particular, his district has paid the costs of supporting development services. Weve been a donor district, he said. Elias District 5 is the smallest of the county districts and is mostly in incorporated areas, which he said puts his residents in a position of subsidizing through their taxes the work development services does in other districts. Huckelberry said the county could face legal trouble if the general fund subsidy to development services continues. Its a reality because were boxed in by their own class-action settlement, he said, alluding to a 1991 settlement the county has with members of the building community. Developers sued the county accusing it of using the fees it charged to pay for unrelated government programs. The settlement says the department must be operated in a manner similar to a private business such that the intent of the governing body is that all costs are financed or recovered through user charges. Its illegal for us to keep subsidizing it, Huckelberry said. The board of supervisors plan to revisit the issue at its March 15 meeting. KANSAS CITY, Mo. The man suspected of killing three people at the Kansas factory where he worked had a criminal record in at least two states and had recently been served with an order to stay away from a former girlfriend, according to authorities. Cedric L. Ford wounded 14 others Thursday on the rampage that began as he drove to Excel Industries in the small town of Hesston and continued after he went inside the lawnmower parts factory, authorities said. He was then shot and killed by a police officer. Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton said Hesston Police Chief Doug Schroeder, who fatally shot Ford, was a "tremendous hero" because dozens more people were still in the factory and the "shooter wasn't done by any means." Ford, who a co-worker said was a second-shift painter at Excel, also spent considerable time in Florida, where he had felony convictions for burglary, grand theft and carrying a concealed weapon. Police said they did not know what motivated Ford to carry out the attack, but they said he was not targeting specific victims. He had a history of domestic violence, including a 2008 arrest for felony battery and disorderly conduct, and a 2010 arrest for drunken driving and obstruction of justice, the Harvey County Sheriff's Department said Friday in a release. Ford was required to take an anger-management class in Harvey County in 2008 after he was convicted of disorderly conduct, according to The Hutchinson News. Court records show he completed the course. Walton said his office served Ford with a protective order Thursday, about an hour and half before the first shooting was reported. He said such orders are usually filed because there's some type of violence in a relationship. The woman checked the box on the form that indicated she had formerly been in a dating relationship with Ford and that the two had lived together. When the judge issued a temporary order on Feb. 5, he filed it against Cedric Ford and listed his address as that of the Excel plant. The woman said in her request that he usually arrived at the Excel plant around 2 p.m. on weekdays, Sedgwick County court records show. In her petition, the woman said she was in fear of "imminent bodily injury or beating." "Cedric and I were verbally fighting. It became physical by him pushing me then grabbing me. He placed me in a chokehold from behind I couldn't breathe," she said in the petition for the order. "He then got me to ground while choking me finally releasing me." "He is an alcoholic, violent, depressed," she wrote in the petition. "It's my belief he's in desperate need of medical and psychological help." Sedgwick County Sheriff's Lt. Lin Dehning said while Kansas law prohibits people under protection orders from possessing weapons or ammunition, the law does not provide a mechanism for officers to seize weapons when they serve them with the order. Federal law bars felons from possessing firearms. Clarissa McCartney, a nursing student at Hutchinson Community College who knew Ford, said he was charismatic and approachable. "You would never expect that from him," she said. "He was fun and kind." Andrea Jaso, a neighbor of Ford's, said he seemed quiet and kept to himself. He sometimes talked about cars with her husband. Ford "didn't seem like a violent person, but you never know," Jaso said. "You never know the whole story." ___ OPINION: "Pima Community College belongs to the entire Tucson community. The governing board is the communitys way to hold the college accountable and to steer the institution toward best serving the greatest number of people. Help secure the brightest future for our community college and join us in supporting Theresa Riel for the District 2 seat on the PCC Governing Board," writes Makyla Hays, president of the Pima Community College Education Association. Democratic candidate for Arizona governor Katie Hobbs has gotten her wish for separate televised interviews of herself and her Republican opponent Kari Lake, but only after a media circus last week orchestrated by the Lake campaign. Hobbs had pitched the separate interviews as an alternative to participating in the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission debate, [] The post Cronkite: Avoid campus during Katie Hobbs interview appeared first on Arizona Mirror. Help India! By TCN News, New Delhi: A two days National Convention of Muslim Women with the title Sadak Se Sansad Tak has started in New Delhi that would be attended by more than 400 Muslim women coming from different states of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pardesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana and others. Support TwoCircles This convention is organized by Bebaak Collective, a forum of autonomous womens groups and individuals, striving to further the rights of Muslim women. These groups and individuals come from various states like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat,Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh. It began working from 2013 with the objective of bringing together the various Muslim womens groups into a network that actively helps to share information, concerns and shared experiences of women with the hope that this will help us articulate a deeper understanding of our issues and work towards collective strategies for addressing them. The two day convention scheduled on 27th and 28th February, 2016 in New Delhi at Gandhi Smriti Sadan, near Rajghat, New Delhi is considered to be an important gathering which would aim to discuss and debate various issues pertaining to the lives of Muslim women such as education, employment, religious extremism, discrimination, violence and other fundamental rights mandated by Constitution of India. The participants of this convention are Muslim women who are survivors of different kinds of violence inside family and discriminations based on religious faith, gender, narrow identity politics, fundamentalism etc.; And also people who have been working on the rights of Muslim women with a sustained political commitment. This convention is first of its kind which aims to reiterate not only the ever impending questions of conjugality and personal laws of Muslim women but also it focuses on livelihood issues, social security, equal citizenship rights and so on . The two day convention will include plenary sessions, discussions and experience sharing through the day and film screening in the evening and will culminate into a rally from Gandhi Smriti to Rajghat on the second day. The documentary Triyaaq will also be screened in this convention. This documentary captures the personal to political journey of Muslim women in their lives. Justice Rajinder Sachar, Dr. Syeda Hameed, Prof. Zoya Hasan, Prof. Uma Chakravarti and Adv. Vrindra Grover will remain present during the plenary session of the convention. Help India! BY TCN News, New Delhi: Women India Movement (WIM) has come down heavily on the Chattisgarh government for not doing enough in arresting the culprits who brutally attacked the tribal activist Soni Sori by throwing acid on her face. Support TwoCircles Strongly condemning the atrocities on women, WIM demanded from the government that required measures be taken to control such crimes against women. It is unfortunate that the Chattisgarh police couldnt arrest the criminals who assaulted the Adivasi activist Soni Sori by smearing black chemical liquid on her face on last Saturday, Shahira Banu, leader WIM in a press statement. She also said, Soni Sori has been actively raising her voice against the fake encounters and the high-handedness of the forces. The barbarous acid attack on the Adivasi activist is aimed at silencing and terrorizing women in general and activists in particular. Acid violence is a horrendous crime and this is a grave violation of human rights against the women in Indian society. She further said, at least 5 acid attack cases on women are reported every week and we see that the government does not provide adequate safe and secure environment for women in the country. That is why such offences are being witnessed day by day. It is unbearable to imagine the plight of women who are victimized by such heinous crimes. The government is responsible first and foremost for such flagitious incidents and that the government needs to come out with an integrative approach in finding solutions to such issues, said the WIM leader. Banu demanded that the case involving acid attack on Soni Sori, who is presently undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospital Delhi, be investigated thoroughly by specially trained gender sensitive police officers. The activist must be compensated adequately so as to ensure her proper treatment and her school going children could be taken care of. She also expressed concern about the safety of the activists children who could also be vulnerable to attack by the criminals. The WIM leader further demanded from the government that the production, distribution and storage of toxic acids be controlled and regulated strictly to avoid such offences in future. Help India! By Dr Mohammad Manzoor Alam, We are passing through a strange moment in our life where we are confronted with the evil described neatly by Macbeths witches: Fair is foul, foul is fair. In a moral reversal, language, too, has been turned upside down and meanings of words have been distorted, and even changed. Support TwoCircles Sorry to resort to literature, but in times of crisis we tend to look at scripture for guidance, or to literature for enlightened solace. Lawyers in black robe, on court campus, are unleashing goonda attacks on students, professors and media persons boldly, without any fear of, or regard for law, the same law from which they get their livelihood. Everything is done on camera, shown nationwide on TV that even judges of high courts and the Supreme Court watch. No suo motto notice is taken, which emboldens the lawless lawyers. Then the aggrieved journalists, accompanied by hundreds of fellow-professionals, go to the Chief Justice of India to present a memorandum. Seeing no sign of state indignation and taking it as a tacit state approval, the same set of lawyers attack and pulverise the hapless JNU students union president Kanhayya Kumar next day on court campus. The police, present in large strength, choose not to intervene, which further encourages the black-robed offenders. The offenders leader brags that he would beat the students again, this time inside Tihar jail, where the students have been lodged. Ok, they can cock a snook at law in courts where their lordships, the judges, give rulings, because being lawyers they know laws limits and the guts of people assigned the duty of its enforcement. But, how on earth they would enter the high-security prison cells to beat the students a third time? They themselves have said how, on camera, known to millions: We will commit some small crime and make sure we land in Tihar for a few days. They would use the time to beat the students. Well done! By the way, what happened to the rule-of-law? To democracy? To Constitution? Let us for some time assume that the court really finds the students guilty of the far-fetched, mind-stretching charge of sedition. In that case, the court will pronounce a judgment, giving them some punishment, which would not include beatings by lawyers. Even if lawyers declare that they are law into themselves and choose to beat anyone they fancy in court premises and their lordships do not notice it, they will be committing a reprehensible crime, and would be guilty of an unbecoming, boorish conduct. A crime does not become a legitimate act just because black-robed men have committed it. A mob of lawyers is still a mob, an unruly, violent crowd, attracting immediate and serious action from the state. But, where has the state gone? Does not the state know that it has been charged with the duty of protecting We, the people from goonda attacks, even if the goondas are black-robed and the attack occurs in the temples of justice right under the nose of reigning deities, their lordships, the honourable judges? To our eternal sorrow we have discovered that the state has abandoned us, breached the oath of protecting the Constitution and surrendered before the mob. Not only the justice-delivery system and its components have come under a cloud, but a link between the executive and the judiciary, too, has been shown in poor light. One of the best-known characters in English literature, Bumble, observes: If the law thinks so, Sir, the law is an ass. Let us correct Bumble: the law is not certainly an ass. People who make a living out of law are those who make an ass of the law. People charged with protecting law are degrading its dignity. The honour, dignity and fear of law will be alive only as long as lawyers, law officers and courts as a whole honour it and police work on its side, rather than against it. Nothing of that sort is happening. Ever wondered why the state as a whole, including the ruling class, has surrendered before the mob? It is simply because the mob and the ruling class subscribe to the same ideology. The police know which side of their bread is buttered, and act accordingly. The leader of the attacking lawyers, felicitated twice for attacking undefended students twice (and planning to attack them again) has said in a sting operation that the policemen who watched as the students leader Kumar was savaged by him, instead of stopping him, cheered him and said they too would have done so if they were not in uniform. No one should be foolhardy enough to imagine that the state will come to their rescue if they are attacked by a lawless gang. The state has abdicated in favour of the mob. In the wake of the Babri Masjid demolition preceded by mass killing of Muslims and followed by more anti-Muslim violence, the communist poet Ali Sardar Jaffry wrote a great poem, Raj-Niraj (Government-Anarchy), one of whose couplets is: Sunai jayengi sazaen begunahon ko begunahi ki /ke fard-e-jurm ke mujrim ke munsif bekhaber honge (The innocent will be punished for their innocence/Because the judges will be ignorant of the crimes of criminals.) We have already reached the stage described by Jaffry. Political and cultural theorist Nevedita Menon rightly says that nationalism has been defined by the powerful in a way that only 24 are nationalistsNarendra Modi, Amit Shah and the 22 lawyers who were seen attacking students, professors and journalists in the court. Everyone else is anti-national. Other than those 24 have reason to worry. Maybe, one percent of the countrys population who are ideologically connected to those 24 may have less to worry about. But the rest 99 percent are in trouble because anarchy has firmly replaced the state. [Author is the Chairman of Institute of Objective Studies, New Delhi ] Help India! By Badre Alam and Sanjay Kumar for Twocircles.net The tragic death of Rohith Vemula at Hyderabad Central University (HCU) has created a strong public outrage, followed by a wide-range of academic discourse among scholars belonging to different social groups. A section of the progressive scholars have argued that the social paradox has now become sharp between radical Ambedkarites and hard core Hindutva forces. And it is interesting to note that for the first time, all progressive sections of society, liberal-Left, radical Dalit student movement, and religious minorities, especially Indian Muslims, have unequivocally opposed Rohiths untimely death. To put differently, one could rightly argue that Rohiths episode in fact created Pan-India reaction and one cannot deny the fact that this movement have enough potential to fight against the threat of Hindutva juggernaut. Support TwoCircles As the news about Rohith Vemula Suicide came out in the public domain, BJP leaders and Ministers started making casteist and communal statements rather than expressing genuine concern. However, in contrast to BJP-RSS-ABVP combine views, for the Ambedkarites and the progressive section, Rohiths social death must be considered as an institutional murder. He was compelled to commit an act like suicide, simply because, being an active member of a radical Dalit student wing like ASAs that time and again strongly condemned and registered protests on several human rights issues such as Yakub Memons hanging, Muzaffarnagar riots, AFSPA, death penalty, beef ban etc. which was strongly reacted by communal outfits like ABVP and right wing forces. Having made these points, in what follows, the arguments will be confined mainly on how Dalits as a group, experience caste-based discriminations in the institutions of higher learning. While doing so, it is important to first provide a strong critique of Hindutva views on Dalit questions. Here an attempt has been made to critique RSS-VHP-BJP combine views from the perspective of social justice and in light of academic insights provided by the Dalit-Bahujan intellectuals particularly on lived experiences of Dalits in Public universities. Moreover, here an attempt has been also made to prolematise the liberal intuitionalists views vis-a vis Dalits lived experiences in realm of higher education. To put it briefly, a prominent section of liberal and secular public intellectuals like Andre Beteille and others have consistently argued that the merits and academic excellence must be ensured in the public institutions like universities. However, here it is seen that on the pretext of the so-called Merits and Academic performance, they indirectly end up reinforcing upper caste domination, in the institutions of higher learning. Finally we argue that in contrast to some scholars views, it is empirically wrong to say that Hindutva politics has became more accommodative and provides democratic space to articulate Dalit question in the public domain. To substantiate the arguments further, Rohith Vemulas social death could be a case in point here. To put briefly, on the basis of earlier studies, here it could be argued that unlike the so-called liberals views, Radical Ambedkarites understanding on Dalit questions and Social Justice must be taken seriously for social emancipation of untouchables. Public institutions and Social Justice Generally speaking, it is considered the fact that university as Public institution has often been understood as liberal and secular space. However, on the basis of some empirical and scholarly studies conducted by Dalit- Bahujan intellectuals and others, it would not be wrong to say that majority of these public institutions in India generally maintain and more often reinforce upper caste brahmanical values, which often generate tension and sometime result in an uneasy relation with lived experiences of lower castes and Dalits. Historically speaking, noted social historians have rightly shown that Indias Dalits are one of the most oppressed groups and victims of social injustice since ancient times. And the fact cannot be denied that, the outcastes and the untouchables lived an inhuman life and experienced social stigma and caste based discriminations in all walks of life. Due to their low status in Hindu social order, Dalits, as a group deliberately kept outside from the domain of modern and secular education. However, surprisingly, liberal intellectuals like Andre Beteille and others have observed that although Indian society is deeply hierarchical and divided on the basis of caste and communities; but unlike past universities, Indian universities have accommodated these different castes and communities in post-independent democratic India. In addition to this, Beteille further observed that academic excellence and the so-called merits must be insured in the Public universities. To put differently, most of liberals including Beteille seem to argue that in universities politics of identity must not be allowed and merits and academic excellence need to be underlined seriously. Institutional Discriminations To highlight the institutional discrimination, a number of studies have been done by scholars, that have clearly exposed the questions of caste based discriminations and practices of untouchability widely noticed in Indian society. In this context, a noted scholar, Professor Sukhdev Thorat and others in their recent study have clearly demonstrated that caste discrimination and social prejudice against Dalits are widely seen in the elite institution like AIIMS. As Thorat committee observed that more than 80% of SC/ST students face various form of social discrimination either directly or indirectly in AIIMS. In a more systematic manner, a prominent scholar, Samson K. Ovichega in his book Faces of Discrimination in Higher Education in India has rightly shown that caste based discrimination is generally practiced by upper castes in academic sphere. As Ovichega observes, caste-based discrimination is prevalent within the academic sphere of the university. It considers the hegemonic dominance of high-caste non-Dalit faculty members within the universitys administration, management and classrooms, and the role this might play in othering Dalit members of staff. Besides eminent scholar views, there are several government reports that clearly indicate growing caste atrocities against Dalits. According to a survey conducted by National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and University of Maryland, US, which was subsequently published in outlook magazine in May 2015, found that one in every four Indian, admits of Practicing Untouchability. For instance, in Haryana alone, 21 Dalits were murdered in 2014. And crimes against SCs rose to 47,064 in 2014 from 39,408 in 2013.The rate of crime is the number of crimes reported against SCs per one lakh of their population. In 2014, the rate of crime against Dalits was 23.4 and in 2013 it was 19.57. NCRB statistics show that 2,233 Dalit women were raped in 2014. In a similar vein, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), in their new statistics show those crimes against Dalits, or Scheduled Castes (SCs), rose 19% last year, on top of a 17% increase in 2013. To sum up the main arguments so far, it could be clearly argued that the claims made by some prominent sociologists like M.N Srinivas and Andre Beteille is far from the truth that caste and practices of untochability are dying. As he elsewhere observed that, caste has been dying in all walks of life barring political sphere. The relevance of Ambedkars words To conclude here, on the basis of empirical studies done by Dalit-Bahujan intellectuals and Academics, it is not wrong to say that Modis tall claims of Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas, on which plank Modi was voted to power, now stand clearly exposed. And after going through the painful lived experiences and including looking at institutional plight of Indias Dalits, one could argue that Caste-based discrimination have increased and even reflected in the domains of higher education. It is to be noted that even more emphatically Ambedkar had predicted the menace of Hindutva ideology, long before the independence. In this regards, he writes, How long shall we continue to live this life of contradictions? How long shall we continue to deny equality in our social and economic life? If we continue to deny it for long, we will do so only by putting our political democracy in peril After 68 years of Indias independence, it must be underlined that what Ambedkar had said during those formative years of nation- building, is still relevant and need be to taken seriously, while conceptualising the goals of social justice for oppressed groups like Dalits. To understand different tradition of social justice, in the Indian context, another noted Social scientist, Professor Gopal Guru has demonstrated his views in the book Social Justice, the Oxford Companion to Politics in India, In the Indian context there are basically two deferent traditions, orthodox and heterodox which offer definite philosophical cues about social justice. The heterodox tradition tried to define social justice thorough radical interrogation of caste system and caste related social hierarchies that sustain the brahminical notion of justice. The heterodox tradition involving theory and practice of social justice from the part of Indias intellectual heritage represented by Phule and Ambedkar. Finally, the arguments given by Hindutva ideologues and others need to be strongly critiqued from the perspective of ordinary Dalits lived experiences. Moreover, the arguments of Indian liberals are also unpersuasive with regards to Indian universities and its role in promoting the culture of democratic citizenship and social justice vis-a-vis oppressed groups. Therefore, it is high time to search for more radical and egalitarian conception of social justice which is widely found in the writings of Dalit-Bahujan intellectuals like Phule, Periyar and Ambedkar. While doing so, here it is suggested that it will help us to democratise the institutions of higher learning and achieve the goals of Social Justice for oppressed social groups and therefore prevent further, Social death like Rohith in future. Badre Alam ([email protected]) is Ph.D, Research Scholar at Political Science Department, University of Delhi. Sanjay Kumar ([email protected]) is Ph.D Research Scholar at Academy International Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia; New Delhi. China slams US admiral's South China Sea remarks Updated: 2016-02-27 05:13 (Xinhua) BEIJING -- China on Friday slammed the remarks of a top US admiral on the South China Sea and urged US officials to stop playing up the situation. "We have noticed that this official is busy making comments on the South China Sea -- sometimes in the US Congress, and sometimes in the Defense Department -- which has given us the general impression that he intends to smear China's legitimate and reasonable actions in the South China Sea and sowing discord. He is finding an excuse for US maritime hegemony and muscle-flexing on the sea," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei. "We hope the official will stop playing up the situation and stop seeking publicity in the region," Hong said. Hong's remarks at the routine press briefing came in response to comments by US Pacific Command Commander Admiral Harry Harris on Thursday. Harris said he was concerned about the possibility that China might declare an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the South China Sea, but the US side would ignore such a designation. Harris also accused China of showing determination to achieve military primacy in the region. "A fallacy remains a fallacy no matter how many times it is repeated, and the truth will ultimately be the truth," Hong said. What China has been doing in South China Sea, he noted, is to deploy defense facilities on its territorial land in a reasonable and proper way, not "militarization." Whether China will announce an ADIZ depends on the situation. The general situation of the South China Sea currently is stable, he said. EU launches plan to crack down on wildlife trafficking Updated: 2016-02-27 10:03 By Chen Yingqun(chinadaily.com.cn) A baby Sumatran orangutan looks out from a cage as it was recovered by police after they arrested wildlife traffickers in Aceh province, Indonesia , November 16, 2015 The European Commission adopted an EU Action Plan on Friday to tackle wildlife trafficking within the EU and to strengthen the EU's role in the global fight against these illegal activities, according to the news release of the Delegation of the European Union to China. The plan will mobilize all EU diplomatic, trade and development cooperation tools to crack down on what has become one of the most profitable criminal activities worldwide. It says that recent years have seen a dramatic surge in wildlife trafficking. An estimated 8 billion to 20 billion euros pass annually through the hands of organized criminal groups, ranking alongside the trafficking of drugs, people and arms. It not only threatens the survival of some emblematic species, it also breeds corruption, claims human victims, and deprives poorer communities of much-needed income. It also threatens security in Central Africa, where militia and terrorist groups partly fund their activities through wildlife trafficking. "Wildlife trafficking and poaching are drivers of insecurity and instability in several countries and regions. They can provide resources to armed groups and encourage corruption. We have to build strong partnerships with the countries along the trafficking chain origin, destination and transit. The EU is ready to work with its partners in order to stop this form of trafficking and to support affected communities," says Federica Mogherini, vice-president of the European Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The EU is a destination, source and transit region for trafficking in endangered species, which involves live and dead specimens of wild fauna and flora, or parts of products made from them. More than 20,000 elephants and 1,200 rhinoceroses were killed in 2014 and, after years of recovery, their populations are once more in decline. As the biggest donor internationally, the EU is supporting conservation efforts in Africa with 700 million euros for the period 2014-2020. The plan comprises 32 measures to be carried out between now and 2020 by the EU and its 28 member states. It focuses on three priorities: Prevent trafficking and reduce supply and demand of illegal wildlife products; Enhance implementation of existing rules and combat organized crime more effectively; and Strengthen cooperation between source, destination and transit countries. The plan will be presented to the EU member states for endorsement in the coming weeks. China and Britain face rare opportunity of economic and trade cooperation, minister says Updated: 2016-02-28 02:01 (Xinhua) LONDON -- Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng said Friday that China and Britain face a rare opportunity in promoting bilateral economic and trade cooperation, according to a press release by the ministry. Speaking at the 12th conference of the China-UK Joint Economic and Trade Commission in Birmingham, Gao said that the joint efforts of two countries have given rise to a pattern of mutually beneficial, overall, sweeping and multi-level cooperation in economy and trade. The launch of China's 13th five-year plan and the ushering of "Golden Era" of China-UK relations as well as economic structural reforms and sustainable development pursued by both governments provide rare opportunities for bilateral economic and trade cooperation, he said. Gao proposed that two countries should connect economic strategies, tap trade potential and expand service trade. He also expressed the hope that Britain will play a leading role in the European Union to facilitate the early signing of China-European investment agreement and feasibility study of China-European free trade zone. Also Speaking at the conference, Sajid Javid, British Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, said that since the successful visit to Britain by Chinese President Xi Jinping in October last year, Britain's desire to cooperate with China has been stronger than ever. The British government is willing to promote pragmatic cooperation between businesses of the two countries and continued growth in bilateral trade and investment, Javid said. Please turn JavaScript on and reload the page. Loading... Checking your browser before accessing the website. This process is automatic. Your browser will redirect to your requested content shortly. Please wait a few seconds. Lenders to defunct Kingfisher Airlines Ltd (KAL) will move Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) in Bengaluru against Vijay Mallya, its promoter, next week to claim for recoveries. The lenders are targeting $75 million that Mallya would get from Diageo. The move by banks comes after Mallya, who built United Spirits as a liquor giant, exited the company after he entered into an agreement with its majority owner Diageo. The deal, inked early this week, absolves Mallya from claims over fund diversion from the company to other UB group firms, including KAL. Diageo will pay $75 million, or nearly Rs 500 crore, over five years to Mallya in order to bind him with a non-interference, non-compete contract, globally, except in the United Kingdom. Executives of banks, which are part of the lenders' consortium, met at the State Bank of India (SBI) office to plan legal action, approaching DRT to claim money that Mallya will get was one of them, said senior executive of a Mumbai-based public sector bank. Apart from SBI, officials from lenders including Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank and Oriental Bank of Commerce were present at the meeting. When asked, an SBI executive said, Finance Ministry was in constant touch with the lenders on Friday. The government has told the banks to pursue all legal provisions in this case. SBI and PNB have already declared KAL and Mallya as wilful defaulters for failing to pay up dues despite having capacity to do so. Lenders have an option to seek undertaking from him that his stay abroad would not hamper the legal action or proceedings against him at legal forums including courts in India. An IDBI Bank executive clarified that so far Mallya's availability has not been a problem in legal proceedings for recovery in that case. "Legal system takes time so things have not come to conclusion," he said. A bank consortium led by SBI has decided to auction Kingfisher House in Mumbai on March 17 in a bid to recover a part of loans worth Rs 6,963 crore from Kingfisher. Banks have already invoked all recovery mechanisms including Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act with regard to Kingfisher and Mallya. Singapores has formally launched the 2,640 MW Sembcorp Gayatri Power Complex in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh on Saturday. The complex houses two identical super critical coal-fired thermal power plants of 1,320 MW each. These were developed by two separate SPVs- the first one by Thermal Powertech Corporation(TPCIL) which was operationalised in September, 2015 , and the second plant by NCC Power Projects(NCCPP) has newly come on stream. Sembcorp holds majority stake in the total venture. Built at a total cost of $3 billion (Rs 20,000 crore), the power complex is the largest foreign direct investment-driven project on a single site in the thermal power sector in India to date. Sembcorp owns 67.4% in TPCIL and 49% in NCCPP. Gayatri Energy Ventures, a subsidiary of Hydrabad-based Gayatri Projects holds the remaining 42.6% stake in TPCIL. In NCCP 51% is held by the NCC Infrastructure, which is jointly owned by Hyderabad-based NCC Limited and Gayatri Projects. Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Singapore Trade and Industry Minister S Eswaran, Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal, Union Envirnment Minister Prakash Javadekar, Sembcorp chairman Ang Kong Hua and a host of other Central and state ministers attended the launch function. "The successful launch of Sembcorp Gayatri Power Complex demonstrates Sembcorps strong capabilities in developing, owing and operating large-scale energy projects, and reinforces our commitment to India as a reliable, long term partnenr. We believe this is a significant step in helping to meet tghe increasing power needs in India, Tang Kin, Group President and CEO of Sembcorp said. With this power complex, Sembcorp altogether now has 3,500 MW of thermal and renewable energy capacity in India, according to a company statement. This article has been modified. Please see the clarification at the end. Two of the three listed companies in India, named in Conflict Armament Research (CAR) report on the sources of materials used by Islamic State (IS) forces, doubled in market value during the period of ascendance of the terrorist group. CAR, nominated by European Union to investigate weapon supplies to the terrorist group, had named seven Indian companies in its report titled Tracing the Supply of Components Used in Islamic State IEDs. These companies were part of a larger group of 51 companies from 20 countries, from which the components for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were sourced by the IS. Of the seven Indian companies, Business Standard Research Bureau found three companies Solar Industries, Premier Explosives and GOCL Corp (formerly Gulf Oil Corporation) are listed on the BSE. The share price appreciation of these companies between June 2014, when IS captured Mosul in Iraq, and February 2016 completely defied the broader market trend, represented by a 6.2 per cent fall in the Sensex. Shares of Premier Explosives rose 113.36 per cent to Rs 309.9 on Friday from Rs 145.25 on June 2, 2014. Similarly, Solar Industries, formerly Solar Explosives, gained 104.76 per cent in the same period to close at Rs 3,196.65 on Friday on the BSE. At these prices, Nagpur-based Solar Industries was valued at Rs 5,785 crore, while Premiers market capitalisation was Rs 274.53 crore. While Solar Industries supplied detonating cords, Premier supplied both detonating cords and detonators to the IS, according to the CAR report. GOCL, which de-merged its lubricants business into a separate listed entity, saw its share prices fall 24.27 per cent during the same period. From the June 26, 2014, when the de-merger took place, the stock has fallen about 14 per cent. GOCL is registered in Hyderabad and is part of the Hinduja group, which has diverse global interests across sectors, has a market capitalisation of Rs 620 crore. Records from Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) showed that Economic Explosives, an unlisted company which supplied detonators according to the CAR report, was part of the Nagpur-based Solar group. Economic Explosives shared common directors including promoters Kailash Chandra Nuwal and Satyanarayan Nuwal. CAR has said that under Indian law, transfer of these materials requires a licence. All components documented by CAR were legally exported under government-issued licences from India to entities in Lebanon and Turkey, it said. The independent research organisation said that IEDs have become IS forces signature weapon. Their chains of supply differ from those of military weapons. Indeed, for the most part, IED components are commercial goods that are not subject to government export licences and whose transfer is far less scrutinised and regulated than the transfer of weapons. Of the remaining three unlisted firms, Chamundi Explosives, which supplied safety fuses, was also based in Nagpur. The company is headed by Shivshankar Khemka, who was also a director on other firms such as Khemka Motors and CDET Explosives, according to MCA records. Delhi-based Rajasthan Explosives and Chemicals was among the most well capitalised of the lot with a paid up capital of Rs 55 crore. Another such firm, Ideal Industrial Explosives, was promoted by Secunderabad-based Podduttur family, which had business interests across sectors such as realty, multiplexes and textiles. Since July 2014, CAR has worked in partnership with Iraqi and Syrian forces to document materiel recovered in military action against Islamic state forces. These partners include: the Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Units, the Iraqi Federal Police, the Kurdistan Region Security Council, the Peshmerga forces of the Kurdistan Regional Government, and the Military Council of the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units in Syria. CAR documented the components presented in the report following their recovery during major battles around the Iraqi towns of al Rabia, Kirkuk, Mosul, and Tikrit and the Syrian town of Kobane. CLARIFICATION In an earlier version of this article, the share prices of Solar Industries and Premier Explosives were interchanged. The error is regretted. The City of London has stayed at the heart of modern finance even as the country around it has declined mainly because it serves as a channel for finance between Asia, the United States and Europe. Hundreds of foreign banks have set up shop there to take advantage of Anglo-American regulatory principles combined with Britain's integration into Europe. When Boris Johnson stood for mayor of London, he was seen as a defender of the City and the financial resources it brought in. And so it is reflective of the topsy-turvy nature of the United Kingdom's attitudes to Europe that Mr Johnson has belatedly come out as a supporter of "Brexit", Britain's exit from Europe. its a blog about my life. I can tell whatever I want to Musk may lay off 75% of Twitter staff after purchase Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 26, 2016 | MURRAY, KY By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 26, 2016 | 01:38 PM | MURRAY, KY The Calloway County Coroner has determined Jennifer Hicks' cause of death. Kentucky State Police Post 1 Trooper Michael Robichaud confirmed that Calloway County Coroner Rick Harris ruled Hicks' cause of death to be a self inflicted gunshot wound. Hicks' body was found Thursday inside a unit at Garland Storage on KY 94 in Murray. She was reported missing on Feb. 9, and as multiple agencies continued searching for her, State Police issued a warrant for her arrest a week later. She was charged with theft by failure to make required disposition of property over $10,000, a class C felony. At that time, the Calloway County Sheriff told members of the media that he did not believe Hicks had been abducted. She had last been seen in her vehicle on Highway 94 about 12:45 pm on Feb. 9, after leaving her job at Lake Chem Community Federal Credit Union. It's not clear if the theft charge was related to her job, but a representative of the Credit Union notified members of some irregularities in end-of-year figures. By The Associated Press Feb. 25, 2016 | 11:05 PM | FRANKFORT, KY Kentucky businesses could refuse services to gay, lesbian or transgender clients in the name of protecting religious beliefs under a bill advancing in the state Senate. The bill comes after the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Human Rights Commission ordered a Christian T-shirt company to get diversity training for refusing to print shirts for a gay pride festival. A state judge overturned the order, but an appeals court is reviewing the case. The bill is the latest effort of lawmakers in some states to react to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling last summer that effectively legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. The Georgia legislature is considering similar legislation, and the Missouri legislature is considering amending its state constitution to protect businesses that decline to provide goods or services for same-sex marriage ceremonies or celebrations. 10. Ant-Man Ever since Chris Evans Steve Rogers asked Robert Downey, Jrs Tony Stark, Big man in a suit of armour; take that away, what are you? during The Avengers, fans of Marvel Studios movies have longed to see Captain America and Iron Man really, properly fight. Not just with words, but with their full arsenal of weapons and skills. Captain America: Civil War - due out in just a couple months - is finally going to show the star-spangled man and the genius playboy philanthropist going toe-to-toe. Because of this, a lot of hype surrounding the movie has centred on the huge "Who will win?" question. This means that audiences might not have given much thought to the rest of the Civil Wars sprawling cast. Instead of asking "Who will win?" or "Whose side are you on?", its now time to ask "Which other characters will steal the film from right under Cap and Tonys noses?" The surprise MVP of the movie could be a superhero, a villain, or something else entirely.Paul Rudds Scott Langs debut outing last year felt like a breath of fresh air after the doom and gloom of Avengers: Age Of Ultrons Sokovian catastrophe conclusion. Ant-Man offered us a lighter tone and more genuinely funny lines, essentially steering the Marvel Cinematic Universe back towards the things that made everyone fall in love with Robert Downey, Jr. in Iron Man. In Civil War, it's looking like Paul Rudds Ant-Man will keep this comedic tomfoolery up, even as the superhero community turns on itself in the huge battle of the title - reports of footage point towards Lang stealing the show with some majorly funny moments. Scott will be seriously star-struck upon meeting the likes of Captain America, and will nervously tell them as much with some awkward dialogue. Auediences typically love this sort of thing (remember the outpouring of love when Coulson told Cap about this near mint collectable cards?), so if Rudd can bring a fanboy sense of glee to Captain America: Civil War, he could well become the film's breakout star. That most quintessentially British of all statesmen Winston Churchill first described the close bond between the USA and and UK as the Special Relationship all the way back in 1946. Since then, we have had some Earth shuddering times with our noisy cousins across the pond. We stood shoulder to shoulder as the iron curtain descended during the nerve shreddingly tense Cold War, we were thrown with gusto into the War on Terror to saddle up once again with our stoic partners in battle, and we are both partly responsible for Kelly Osborne. Despite these massive political and historical allegiances though, we have not always seen eye to eye on a cultural level with the Yanks. Many people on the fair isles see the Americans as a yahoo nation of cowboys obsessed with big cars, guns, and big cars with guns on them. Some of us in the UK even look down their noses at the land of the free. After all, a nation that is about as old as some peoples tables cannot really stand side to side with the great culture of artistic and literary traditions of historic Europe can it? Whilst our views of our pals across the pond may be horrifically generalised, that is not really the interest in this article. 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(1) Paul Willcocks on anything that strikes me as interesting. Click here to send me an email. willcocks@gmail.com That was on Friday the 8 th of April 2022 at the Bemenda central Prisons boulevard where in a colorful ceremony full of pomp and Fanfare,... If youre looking to try out an online casino, there are several things that will help you make a decision. Heres what you should look for when choosing an online casino Are they regulated? A lot of the larger ones have licenses issued by the authorities in their respective regions, so its worth checking this first. Do they offer games from different software providers? Some casinos just use one software provider and limit your selection. This is fine if you like playing those types of games but you may want to check other casinos as well. What does their payout percentage look like? The payout rate refers to how much money you can expect to win after every bet. A high payout rate means youll be able to play more often without having to worry about losing all your money. Its also important to know the minimum and maximum bets allowed on each game. If youre going to play roulette, for example, then you probably dont want a casino with a minimum bet of less than $2.50 or even lower than that. The players used to play the game slot online in the land based casinos in the past time. But now with time after the invention of the online casinos players play the game slot online. Online platform provide the players with the convenience in playing and even better winning. Even after keeping a good percentage of the profits, they distribute good funds to players. How many games do they offer? There are lots of different types of games to choose from. Roulette, blackjack and poker are some of the most popular options, but you might find slots, video pokers, video bingo and others as well. You can usually filter these games down to only show the ones that interest you best, so make sure that your list isnt too long! Is there a bonus offer? 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Luckily for them, Simone Fontana has just released the files for a 3D printed model of Tracer's gun, made from 22 3D printed parts that are easy to assemble and require very little post-processing. Fontana, known to his large social media following simply as FNTSMN, has made quite a name for himself at the intersection of gaming and 3D printing culture. The young Italian designer has released a steady flow of 3D printed video game replicas, including this full-scale light-up model Fioras Project Sword, the Furious Power Fist from Fallout 4, and 3D printed Hearthstone cards. Hes also the co-founder of 3DNA with Ricardo Salomao, and not only does he regularly release awesome 3D printed projects, he also puts together short time-lapse videos to show his fans how its done. It all makes us wonder where he finds the time to sleep. His latest project, the 3D printed Tracer Gun from Overwatch, was one of the most complex and challenging replicas hes ever attempted, but the end result was well-worth the time an effort. Fontana told 3Ders.org that he first decided to recreate the Tracer gun after doing some research into Overwatchs main characters and stumbling upon Tracer, who is described as a time-jumping adventurer and an irrepressible force for good, who can zip through space and blast enemies with not one, but two rapid-fire pistols. With his mind made-up, he got to work on 3D modelling Tracers gun based off of various image references. Getting all of the design features right was quite tricky because of the different curves, which isnt easy to get 100% accurate without spending hours creating the surface in Rhino, explained Fontana. I needed almost 6-8 hours to create the perfect tolerance in the model so that each part would fit together without problems. In total, the design process took six full days before Fontana was happy with the results. Finally, it was time to 3D print. In order to cut down on the post-processing time, Fontana decided to 3D print each part in its appropriate color. He used the Wasp Delta 20x40 for the majority, yet also had his Dremel and Ultimaker 2 on deck to 3D print the top white parts and grey parts, respectively. In all, the 3D printing process took roughly 21 hours, but thats mostly because he adjusted his printer settings to achieve a heavier and more realistic weight for the gun. The assembly process is shown both in his time-lapse video, below, and in this Keyshot render animation, however as Fontana explained, most parts simply fit together without the need for glue or screws (if youll actually be playing with it or want it to be more sturdy, he does recommend gluing the parts for extra strength). Users also have the option of adding some final touches, such as metallic and blue paint detailsand for maximum character-authenticity, be sure to 3D print two. I love 3D printing and 3D design, and on top of that if I can add to the video game side, well then its just perfect, said Fontana. I also love to share with all the people following me work what Ive learned with each challenge, and the potential of the this technology. I can work for hours and hours, but in the end, its all worth it because of the community feedback. All this pushes me to do other complex designs with even better features! However, he also admitted that one of the greatest challenges in 3D printing is coming face to face with users who copy designs without permission, or even use them for commercial purposes: Creating these objects take a lot of time and effort, I hope in the near future people will understand this and change. It can be a difficult message to share as 3D printing continues to grow, yet for a community that prides itself on openness and accessibility, it is as important as ever. The 3D print files for this Overwatch Tracer Gun are currently free to download on MyMiniFactory (under an MMF copyright, of course). Up next, Fontana plans to design a few more Overwatch 3D prints, including potentially a 50cm tall Bastion, as well as a second version of the Tracer Gun with electronic components and the ability to change colors with a smartphone app. Whichever he decides to do next, were sure it wont be long before we hear from him again. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Brendan Waters wrote at 8/22/2016 1:36:03 AM:Where can i download these?Elijah wrote at 6/20/2016 9:42:35 PM:That is amazing man. wish i had a 3d printer or the money to buy the prints lolMr.right wrote at 5/31/2016 6:26:00 PM:got a girlfriend, dude. Gov. Noem will host veterans fundraiser instead of going to SDPB debate While Rep. Jamie Smith and Libertarian Tracey Quint will be attending the South Dakota Public Broadcasting gubernatorial debate, Gov. Kristi Noem will be hosting a fundraiser for veterans. A roundup of recent expansions, additions, new services and other news from firms across the country. CALIFORNIA Gallina LLP, Roseville, participated in the National Wear Red Day campaign on Feb. 5, 2016, encouraging all employees from its 12 offices throughout the Western United States to wear red while at work. The firm raised a total of $2,456.00. NSBN LLP CPAs & Advisors has relocated from Beverly Hills to Century City in Los Angeles, at 1925 Century Park East, 16th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90067. The firms phone numbers and e-mail addresses will stay the same. FLORIDA Kabat, Schertzer, De La Torre, Taraboulos and Co. has opened an office in Weston, at 1625 N. Commerce Parkway. Goldstein Schechter Koch is consolidating its Hollywood and Ft. Lauderdale offices into one location in the heart of Las Olas Boulevards business district, at 515 East Las Olas Boulevard. GEORGIA Habif, Arogeti and Wynne LLP, Atlanta, has joined global accounting association Morison KSi. ILLINOIS Sikich LLP, Naperville, has been named one of the nations Best and Brightest in Wellness for 2015, one of Milwaukees Best and Brightest Companies to Work For for 2015, and a recipient of the World at Work Work-Life 2016 Seal of Distinction. The firm was also recognized for the eighth time by Friends of Illinois Parks at the Illinois Association of Park Districts/Illinois Park & Recreation Association Soaring to New Heights Conference as an organization that enhances parks and the quality of life in Illinois communities. LOUISIANA Ericksen Krentel & LaPorte LLP has been accepted as the exclusive New Orleans member of the Real Estate & Construction CPAs, a nationwide association of CPA firms that provide specialized accounting, tax and consulting services to real estate & construction organizations. MISSOURI For the third consecutive year, BKD LLP, St. Louis, has been named to Training Magazines Top 125 list of companies with highly effective employee development programs. OHIO GBQ Partners LLC, Columbus, has formed a joint venture with ViaVero, a specialized search firm that provides skilled accounting and finance project consultants, to create a staffing model in the accounting and finance consulting space. PENNSYLVANIA Campbell, Rappold & Yurasits LLP, Emmaus, has launched a new Web site at http://www.crycpas.com, as well as updated visual branding. VIRGINIA Brittenford Systems, Reston, has been selected as Intacct Partner of the Month by Intacct Corp. for January 2016. WASHINGTON King & Oliason PLLC, Seattle, celebrated the 25th anniversary of its founding in 1990. The boutique tax accounting firm specializes in tax consulting and tax return preparation for high-net-worth individuals, their families, nonprofit organizations and closely held businesses in the Pacific Northwest. It has two owners, Norma Oliason and Rick Starkenburg, and a staff of 28. Send your firm announcements to AcToday@SourceMedia.com. Mr. Samir Singh, currently Vice President & Executive Director, Personal Care at Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) will be taking over as the Global Executive Vice President, Skin Cleansing at Unilever. Mr. Sandeep Kohli, currently Vice President, Myanmar Cambodia & Laos will succeed Mr. Samir Singh as Vice President and Executive Director, Personal Care, HUL. Mr. Samir Singh has successfully led the HUL Personal Care (PC) business to not just consolidate its position as the country's largest PC company, but also driven it to become one of the fastest growing beauty businesses in India. Mr. Sandeep Kohli brings with him a rich experience of developing Unilever business, brands and people from his stints across India, UK and the high potential D&E markets of South East Asia and Australasia (SEAA). Mr. Sanjiv Mehta, CEO and MD, HUL said, "The new appointments reflect the Companys commitment towards leadership development and our tradition of leveraging talent across markets. This also emphasizes the importance of HUL and of India for Unilever." "I would like to take this opportunity to thank Samir for his contribution to the HUL PC business. Under his leadership, we have accelerated the pace of innovations, built a Digital and Content development strategy and created new business models for India which will dramatically strengthen the PC business for the future," said Mr. Mehta and added, "I am pleased to welcome Sandeep to his new role. I am confident that he will build on the growth momentum and drive the India PC business further ahead." Cody testifies to the readiness, resilience of Airmen, families Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody testified on the quality of life in the military before the House Appropriations Committees Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs on Capitol Hill Feb. 26. There is no doubt todays Airmen are the most talented, educated and experienced force our country has ever assembled, Cody said. They are professional men and women who are proud to serve, but remain concerned as fiscal restraints limit their capacity to accomplish the mission and erode at the compensation they earn in service to our nation. During his testimony, Cody focused on several areas concerning the services quality of life, to include compensation and readiness. Our Airmen continue to provide the preponderance of combat force against our adversaries around the globe, Cody said. Cody testified that from 2012 to 2015 limited budgets have forced the Air Force to cut its manpower by nearly 24,000 Airmen on active duty and in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. However, combat operations around the globe have remained steady for the Air Force in some areas while escalating in others; as of this January there are 24,000 Airmen deployed worldwide. In that same time period, diminished budgets have forced the slowing of normal growth in compensation, and have begun to cut at our Airmens buying power, Cody said. According to Codys written statement, the fiscal year 2017 budget request grows the active force to 317,000 Airmen in order to meet global warfighting requirements. The plan requires a focused effort to ensure critical resources are available in a timely manner in the recruiting, accession and training pipelines. The Air Force has met accession requirements for the past 16 years. We plan to monitor the recently enacted compensation changes to ensure they do not hurt recruiting and retention, Cody said. Cody also stated 2015 was an extremely difficult year due to the highest number of suicides in his tenure as the chief master sergeant of the Air Force. We must, and will, do more to combat suicide and prevent Airmen from making a terrible, life-ending decision, Cody writes. He added that following a suicide prevention summit in September 2015, Air Force leadership directed working groups to define specific actions to reduce interpersonal and self-directed violence and destructive behaviors. Cody closed his opening comments by reinforcing the nations responsibility to the men and women who serve. As we continue to implement these reform measures, including changes to retirement, basic allowance for housing, Tricare and more, we must never lose sight of the full impact on our Airmens readiness and resilience, Cody said. The Airmen who serve today do so freely, proudly and voluntarily because they believe in what America stands for and are ready to defend its cause, but our nation must honor that commitment by providing for them and their families. Another student of JNU today joined the Delhi Police probe into the February 9 event that marked the anniversary of the hanging of terrorist Afzal Guru during which Anti-India slogans were raised. Ashutosh Kumar is likely to be asked by the police to identity the people who raised the slogans on JNU campus. He is arrested JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumars predecessor. Khalid and Anirban are presently being interrogated, a police official said. Other two students, Rama Naga and Anant Kumar, are yet to receive any police summon. They had earlier written to police that they are ready to join investigation too. Ashutosh is one of the five students, who surfaced on the university campus on February 21 after being missing since February 12. The others, Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya, Rama Naga and Anant Prakash, had gone missing from the campus after JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on February 12 in a sedition case. They feared their death by right-wingers. They were also insecure and threatened by what ever happened to their friend Kanhaiya. But when matter subsided and court intervened into the security of Kanhaiya by arresting attackers, these students one by one surfaced in campus and volunteered themselves for investigations. Police already interrogated Kumar, Khalid and Anirban together for the first time. With that, the police have identified around 22 persons who were active participants in the controversial February 9 event. Meanwhile, the Congress party has demanded to transfer the Kanhaiya Kumar case out of the Capital city. The Delhi cops have made it clear that the charges of sedition are justified. According to Police Commissioner Delhi B S Bassi, sedition charges were not registered on the basis of hears say, but after finding prima facie evidence. The cops have launched a probe to trace the tweet supposedly put out by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed in the aftermath of the JNU campus row. But still, Bassi has not disclosed those evidences not told anything to media. Based on the instructions of the Supreme Court to provide adequate security to Kanhaiya, Tihar Jail authorities have chalked out a comprehensive plan for the students safety during his stay in the central jail. The instructions were issued after the attack on Kanhaiya on the premises of Patiala House Court while he was being taken to be produced before Metropolitan Magistrate Lovleen. Kanhaiya, who is in judicial custody, will stay in an independent safe cell in ward number four in Central Jail no. 3. As per the security guidelines, two police constables from Tamil Nadu special police along with one deputy jail warden have been deployed outside his cell round the clock. To keep a track of movements around Kanhaiyas lock up, CCTV cameras would be installed and a Quick Response Team would always accompany him whenever he moves out of his cell. The medical officer would check food and eatables before reaching his cell and any other item will have to pass through strict security checks before it reaches him. Any person without any prior approval would not be allowed near Kanhaiya to prevent any kind of verbal and physical assault. The gate of the cell will be kept locked round the clock and shall only be opened in the presence of the assistant superintendent with prior permission of at least the deputy superintendent, as and when required. The deputy superintendent would visit Kanhaiya twice a day. Medical assistance, if any, would be provided inside his lock up so as to avoid any confrontation or interaction with other inmates. The lock up will only be opened after all other inmates in the same ward are in their respective cells. Moreover, the option of producing Kanhaiya before the court through video conferencing would be explored. Kumar is writing his diary and probably that can be script of Bollywood in future. (Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com) By Dan Olmsted Complete this sentence: The importance of ending the autism epidemic pales in comparison to I can think of a couple of responses The importance of ending the autism epidemic pales in comparison to total global annihilation from an act of God -- being hit by a meteor or man -- through thermonuclear war. I mean, who really cares if were totally wiped out? After that, I cant think of too much that pales in comparison to ending a disabling epidemic now affecting 1 in 30 boys, or whatever the exact recent calculation is. Not to mention the other disorders and disabilities linked to this environmental nightmare. And now to my point: The importance of ending the autism epidemic would not pale in comparison to the horror of electing Donald Trump as president. Would it? I feel pretty free to say this because, as is well known by anyone who bothers to look, Im a progressive by background and have sought a progressive solution to the environmental roots of the autism epidemic. But since most progressives arent interested in that, why are we still interested in most progressives? Specifically, why are people like us backing people like Bernie Sanders, who doesn't have a ghost of a chance of becoming president anyway? An AOA commentator wrote this week: -- In case you did not see this, here is Bernie Sanders on autism (Rachel Maddow show, 9/17/15): "I think the evidence is overwhelming that vaccines do not cause autism. And it really is a little bit weird for Trump - who, I presume, has no medical background - to be raising this issue. And obviously it is a concern. When somebody like that says it, you're gonna find thousands of people now who are gonna hesitate to give their kids the shots, and bad things may happen." The link is here. Given his statements, Bernie Sanders is not educable on this subject. paulI will be voting for Trump. -- For backers of Sanders and other non-Trump candidates (as Mitt Romney woodenly put it this week I miss him!), I invite them to complete one more sentence: Im voting for X Y, a candidate whose position is that vaccines do not cause autism and that the science is settled, because I nonetheless think we can win this battle to end the autism epidemic in the following way: While Rand Paul was in the race, I think his governing philosophy and his willingness to listen to the parents of vaccine-injured kids was a reasonable road to take. Perhaps even a better one, for those who found Trump simply too odious. But now? Is odiosity a reason to perpetuate the autism epidemic? Not to recite my resume, but Ive covered politics in Washington for three decades. I was an editor at USA Today and the Washington editor of UPI. This place doesnt care about you, my friends. They care about power and money (which are by now one and the same). As my venerable former colleague Mark Benjamin used to say, The one thing you need to understand about Congress is, Congress sucks. Im not getting where the path to victory starts, apart from the door to the Oval Office. So many of my good friends have worked so hard just to try to get a congressman to show up for a 15-minute briefing only to be stuck with bored interns pretending they will fill the boss in. Now that does pale in comparison! I can recall many conversations with folks who said that what it would take to win would be for a young president to be elected, have a totally normal kid, and the world to watch him or her regress after the MMR and/or flu shots. (Im not sure even that would do it, frankly hed just be labeled a kook.) Weve all scanned family photos of newly nominated grandees and wondered if this child or that one might look autistic. We dont wish it on them, but we are desperate for someone with some authority to understand in their bones, not just in their position papers, whats going on. In other words, we all realized that the path to winning is blocked off in so many ways that it would take somebody who already has power to make any difference at all. The key was having power and being willing to use it, not being a D or an R or a nice guy or gal or a jerk or a boor or someone who uses swear words. The idea that a major party nominee would say, and get away with saying, that vaccines cause autism would have been inconceivable a year ago. Now we seem almost blase about it. Perhaps people think Trump can't get elected or, like the rest of em, wouldnt do anything about it once elected. Yes, perhaps. Tell me, where are better odds, because I will be happy to bet them. -- Speaking of odds, I worry that we wont win, and I mean that in the world-historical sense, which is why Im not sure how choosy we really think we can be about the path to victory. Thats not a bleak assessment, its just acknowledging one of the possible outcomes, and the fact that things dont always work out to our hearts desires. We dont like that. As a college roommate used to say with a huge grin first thing in the morning while I was barely awake, Every day in every way things are getting better and better! Theyre not, necessarily. Ive heard Andy Wakefield express the same contrarian sentiment -- that whether or not this issue is resolved in our lifetime, or in fact ever, we have to consistently do the right, and skillful, things to try to bring it about. We do them, but we cant know for sure whether they're making a dime's worth of difference. When you get a sense of history about battles like this one Paradigm Wars, as Mark Blaxill and I called them in our 2010 book The Age of Autism you see how uncertain the outcome can be, and that time is not on the little guys side. Fairly often, the bad guys win and then they bury the corpse called Truth without an obituary or a proper funeral. Let me briefly venture into a cautionary tale. As we wrote in our book, the evidence is very strong that when the medical establishment got hold of the syphilis epidemic when Columbus brought it back from the New World, they made a historic, five-century mess of things and got away scot-free. Because the early wave of syphilis in the naive European population was especially hideous, with skin eruptions that disfigured people and often killed them, the doctors of the day attacked the bacterium with mercury salves. And because mercury is biologically active it affects living things it did subdue (kill) the surface manifestations, which seemed miraculous in the face of such suffering. Then doctors starting turning mercuric chloride (far worse than elemental mercury) into drinkable potions, and finally -- far worse than drinkable potions -- into injections of mercuric chloride. Thats nuts, and it made many of the recipients (and providers) of this modern treatment of syphilis crazy as well. We show that it actually created the worst form of syphilis, the aptly named general paralysis of the insane (GPI). This killed far more people, and for far longer, than syphilis itself. And here is the point except for a few obscure nods in the direction of this cause, the medical profession has never taken responsibility. I have a cousin who is a doctor and who read our chapter on syphilis with astonishment it made perfect sense, but he had always been taught that GPI was just a tragic outcome of long-term syphilis infection. Yet doctors knew, suspected, or should have known all along that they were causing this catastrophe, not preventing it. A few did. After our book came out, Teresa Conrick spotted an amazing article by a Danish doctor titled, Is General Paresis [GPI] Dependent Upon Previous Treatment With Mercury? Check it out. Patients had been getting 400 treatments with mercury ointment, not to mention the injections. When that stopped, GPI fell off the cliff. The title could really be something like, Did we just kill millions of people over 500 years in the worst mass poisoning in history while trying to treat a disease that wasnt even fatal? The honest, open recognition of the enormity of what had gone on might have led to an understanding of mercurys dangers in humans before the whole Pink Disease debacle (from teething powders and diaper ointments) killed babies in the 20th century. Not to mention the whole autism thing (or Freuds mercury-poisoned hysteria cases.) Nobody paid a price, even the price of acknowledging the truth. -- And so I say ending the autism epidemic is no certain thing, as much as we like to encourage each other and appeal to the better angels of our collective nature. Message: Wed better take our chances when we get em. Dont count on the perps walking in handcuffs or holding a press conference to acknowledge their grievous errors. Do we really want to settle for a piece in The Journal of Obscure Disorders in 100 years that says early vaccine compounds now appear to have used toxic ingredients and formulations that triggered brain damage that was then called autism. Fortunately, the march of medical progress has since led to much safer vaccines. No, we want a reckoning, restitution and justice -- now or as soon as humanly possible. Right now we have a presumptive major party candidate who says too many vaccines, too soon are destroying the minds of our kids. People should make whatever judgments they want, but I'd like to know they've reckoned with the truth that the importance of ending the autism epidemic doesn't pale in comparison with very much at all. -- Dan Olmsted is Editor of Age of Autism. Web Toolbar by Wibiya (NaturalNews) Painful periods (or primary dysmenorrhea), affect up to 90 percent of all women at some stage in their lives. Pain associated with the menstrual cycle can range from mild to severe discomfort, with up to 8 percent of women not being able to leave their home or bed. For many years, fennel seeds have been successfully used in the Mediterranean area to ease menstrual cramps and symptoms related to PMS (premenstrual syndrome). They are a cheap, safe and natural solution, and could help millions of other women around the world, too. However, these cheap little seeds can't bring in much money for drug companies, so NSAIDs, like ibuprofen and oral contraceptives are still, for most women, the recommended treatment to ease and control the pain. Both of these treatments have have been linked to serious, even life-threatening, side effects. This is something that saddens Dr. Michael Greger, M.D., physician and New York Times bestselling author, one of the few physicians out there who sees the true power of nature and food on our health and well-being. "It just kills me that we didn't learn about these kinds of things in medical school. But there's no physician outreach or ad budget for something you can buy anywhere for 6 cents a month," he wrote on Medical Daily. Effectiveness of a herbal drug Downside of using fennel Multiple studies show fennel seed to be an effective and safe treatment that works as well as, or even better than, many over-the counter drugs , but without adding harmful side-effects such as rash, diarrhea, anemia, autoimmune reactions and kidney failure.In a 2002 study , 55 high school age, menstrual pain suffering girls, were either given a fennel extract or mefenamic acid (an NSAID ) for two months.80 percent of the girls in the fennel group, and 73 percent of the mefenamic acid group, reported complete relief or pain decrease. They also found that 80 percent of the fennel group no longer needed rest, compared to 63 percent in the mefenamic acid group. second study , released in 2012, tested the effect fennel has on pain intensity. One group was given fennel extract, while another group was given a placebo containing wheat flour. The study showed significant differences between the two, confirming the effectiveness of fennel extract. Another study , published in 2013, found that fennel can be effective in reducing the severity of dysmenorrhea. The only downside volunteers reported was the unpleasant taste.And it doesn't stop there. Fennel not only helps control the pain. A study published in 2014 found fennel seeds to be an effective treatment for other menstrual related issues such as nausea and weakness, too.One downside of fennel is that women tend to bleed 10 percent more compared with control groups. A study published in 2003 showed that the pain associated with the menstrual cycle is probably caused by overly contracted muscles in the uterus, which leads to blood reduction.However, when fennel is used, researchers believe it relaxes the muscles which could be the cause of the increased blood loss.But nature has an answer for that, too. Another study , published in 2015, found ginger powder to be very effective at controlling cramps and heavy menstrual bleeding. The only thing you'll need is one eighth of a teaspoon, three times a day.Considering these results, fennel and ginger can be used effectively to relieve menstrual pain and reduce the intensity of the bleeding, thereby improving the quality of life of millions of young women around the world. They're cheap, easy to use, and have fewer side effects than other chemical drugs available on the market. Web Toolbar by Wibiya (NaturalNews) For those struggling with sinus infections, breathing through the nose can be a constant battle, as inflamed sinus cavities make the face feel swollen. If a doctor is called upon to intervene, a classic antibiotic is prescribed. Since a typical sinus infection is not caused by bacteria, the antibiotic is worthless, counterproductive. In fact, according to the Infectious Diseases Society of America, 90 percent of sinus infections are caused by viruses, not bacteria. To fight the sinus infection, one must thin the mucus and treat the inflammation to experience relief. Certain herbs work great for this. Along with nasal drainage massage therapy, essential oils and anti-inflammatory herbs can get the sinus cavities functioning normally again. To provide long-term relief, one must treat the body holistically, integrating anti-inflammatory and alkaline-forming foods, while avoiding certain mucus-forming and tissue-inflaming foods Eight steps to treat sinus infections Four natural remedies to treat stomachache Drugs and antibiotics were making her condition worse, so she decided to heal naturally using herbs The first step is to limit foods causing inflammation and mucus. Milk and meat from cows typically have this effect on the human body, as do refined sugars.Cleaning out the sinus cavity may require a neti pot or dropper. A pinch of cayenne pepper in water poured through the sinus passages will penetrate the pressure. Tilt your head to the side and pour the solution through.For more relief, bring a pan of water to a simmer. Add apple cider vinegar, garlic, peppermint and eucalyptus to the steaming water . Lean over and breathe in the steam through the mouth and nose until the nasal passages begin to open up.Eating peppers, onions and garlic will stimulate the sinuses to open.Massage the temples, the forehead and the nose using nasal drainage massage techniques.massaging the pressure and drainage out the nostrils.For long-term relief, begin consuming turmeric orally by the tablespoonful to bring down inflammation in the body. Drink lots of clean, purified water to thin out mucus.Accompany the turmeric with other anti-inflammatory foods like ginger or pineapple. The condition may be a fungal infection . Drink two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar mixed in water daily. Supplement daily with tea infused with a combination of thyme, rosemary, marshmallow root and mullein.For nighttime relief, apply eucalyptus essential oil around nasal passageways and breathe in while sleeping.There could be many underlying causes behind a stomachache. Antibiotic use itself often damages the friendly gut microbes in the gastrointestinal tract. Instead of using antibiotics and throwing an over-the-counter antacid at the stomachache , consider drinking a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in water. Most of the time, apple cider vinegar effectively balances the disturbance in the gut, aiding digestion and eliminating acid reflux.If the stomachache is related to nausea, drink water or juice infused with ginger root. Chamomile tea works great too!If the problem is related to food poisoning, drink activated charcoal and lots of water. The activated carbon binds with the toxins and bacteria in the gut, absorbing the impurities and removing them from the body.For a long term-therapy, it may be wise to consider eating probiotics to replenish good gut bacteria, especially if one has taken many antibiotics in his or her life.For Eren Cervantes-Altamirano, sinus infections, stomachaches and sore throats were common in her early childhood. After trying several anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics, she realized that her body built up resistance to the drugs as her health problems reoccurred and worsened. After a trip to Mexico, Cervantes discovered simple steps to treat her body holistically with herbs. What intrigued her most was an ancient text, the Cruz-Badiano Codex. Used 500 years ago in Aztec culture, the text documented all the medicinal properties of various plants and herbs studied by the Aztecs.Cervantes now credits her healing and better quality of life to simple herbal knowledge and implementation. She no longer has chronic sinus infections and stomachaches, and she can fend off sore throat and the common cold more effectively.For sore throat, she prepares a half cup of fresh, diced ginger with four slices of lemon. Then she boils "a litre of water and [adds] the ginger and lemon slices." After the kettle simmers for 10 minutes, she adds raw honey to the tea. "Every time I get a sore throat, I drink this for half a day and it works like a charm," she said.For common cold and stuffy nose, she uses the herb chamomile. Lying on her back, she drips the infusion into her nostrils using a dropper. The method loosens the mucus.She advises, "The infusion will travel from your nostrils down to your throat and you need to spit it out. Do not swallow. Repeat until you have finished the infusion. This is best done at night because it helps you to get to sleep better." February 27, 2016 US-Russia agreement best chance yet for Syria Laura Rozen reported from Washington this week that White House spokesman Josh Earnest said that Russia is on the hook regarding a cessation of hostilities in Syria, which was endorsed unanimously by the UN Security Council on Feb. 26. Rather than pointing out why the agreement might fail, and it might, our starting point is that UN Security Council Resolution 2268 and the US-Russia agreement on a cessation of hostilities in Syria are potential breakthroughs. This is not to say that a cease-fire and peace are just around the corner in Syria. The process is uncertain and fragile. It is to say, however, that the only means of getting there is cooperation between Washington and Moscow, so the developments of the past week are a giant step forward. The agreement calls for sharing targeting information, which will put Russia to the test regarding attacks on Syrian armed groups allied with the United States. The process has also drawn overdue attention to the coordination among various jihadi armed groups, such as Ahrar al-Sham and Jaish al-Islam with Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaedas affiliate in Syria. Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State (IS) are outside the bounds of the cease-fire, so these jihadi groups, which are deeply sectarian and backed by outside powers, and sometimes misleadingly described as rebels, will finally be held accountable. This column has warned for more than two years about the blurring of jihadi and terrorist groups in Syria, and we reject any ambiguity that would allow al-Qaeda allies and sympathizers, such as Ahrar al-Sham and Jaish al-Islam, to have any role or stake in Syrias future. As reported by Rozen and the Wall Street Journal, there are some in the Obama administration who are skeptical about coordination with Russia and may be looking for the first opportunity to scuttle the progress to date. Lets hope that the cease-fire holds, and if not, that the Obama administration stays on its prudent course. The consequences of a break with Russia would be a setback for counterterrorism cooperation and an intensification of the war in Syria. If the administration hawks believe that Russia and Iran can be beaten back in Syria, they are in the realm of fantasy. Moscow and Tehran are massively invested in Syria, more so than the United States, and they are not leaving. Both also have a high tolerance for violence, a view unfortunately shared by Americas regional allies. The administrations hard-fought diplomacy, let by US Secretary of State John Kerry, should be applauded, not second-guessed, with full awareness that there will be many hurdles ahead. Is Turkey on the hook in Syria? If Russia is on the hook in Syria, one might ask the same about Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Feb. 24 characterized US cooperation with Syrian Kurdish armed groups as a great lie and expressed skepticism about the UN-backed cease-fire. Erdogans remarks came five days after he spoke by phone with US President Barack Obama. According to the White House, Obama stressed that YPG [People's Protection Units] forces should not seek to exploit circumstances in this area to seize additional territory, and urged Turkey to show reciprocal restraint by ceasing artillery strikes in the area. The two leaders expressed their support for the understanding reached in Munich last week on the cessation of hostilities in Syria and called on Russia and the [Bashar al-] Assad regime to halt airstrikes against moderate opposition forces. Obama has put Turkey on the spot regarding Erdogans next moves in Syria. Kadri Gursel explained the evolution of Turkeys desperate, and failed, Syria policy. Ankaras Syrian policy basically an attempt to topple Assad and install Islamists to power in Damascus collapsed a long time ago. The Ankara-backed jihadis and other radical Islamists keep losing ground against the Russian-backed Syrian army and the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), the armed force of the Syrian Kurds. Now that the intervention idea is also dropped, what options could be left for Erdogan and [Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet] Davutoglu to sustain their claim in Syria? Gursel put in context Davutoglus recent comments to Al Jazeera about Turkey's past and continuing support to Syrian armed groups: Davutoglus remarks constitute an open confession of how he and Erdogan have made Turkey a direct party to the Syrian war. If the Damascus regime has lost territory control because of Ankaras role, Davutoglus words mean he assumes also the historic responsibility for the seizure of these territories by myriad jihadi and radical Islamist forces, including IS and Jabhat al-Nusra. If regime opponents have been able to defend themselves thanks to Turkey, as Davutoglu says, they could have done so only with weapons sent from Turkey. Hence, Davutoglus remarks constitute also an implicit acknowledgement of arms supplies to the rebels. And his pledge of continued support echoes like the continuation of arms supplies as well. In sum, Ankara has given up the idea of intervention, but the position it maintains keeps the risk of a military confrontation with Russia alive. Semih Idiz took the measure of Turkish foreign policy elites and concluded that Ankaras foreign policy under the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is in shambles. They generally agree this was caused by the country abandoning its traditional foreign policy in favor of an Islamist outlook. This situation, experts argue, has reduced Ankaras options significantly, especially at this turbulent time in the region. The AKP has a vindictive approach to foreign policy and ostracizes those who refuse to listen to it, eventually looking on them as its foes. Metin Gurcan reported from Ankara on the convoluted and rushed identification of the Feb. 17 Ankara car bombing of a military convoy that killed 30 people: Ankaras narrative changed three times. First, Davutoglu declared Ankara had incontrovertible evidence that it was a YPG member. Then Ankara charged that the TAK [Kurdistan Freedom Falcons] had falsely claimed responsibility to acquit the PKK [Kurdistan Workers Party]. When it was firmly established by DNA testing that the perpetrator was Abdulbaki Somer, Ankaras narrative became that all terrorists groups are one and the same. It was not difficult to detect similarities in Ankara's reaction to this car bombing and the earlier train station massacre. Such an ill-defined, obscure concept of threats that lumps all types of opposition groups together causes serious confusion for the security bureaucracy. Then one has to ask why Ankara so hastily announced the identity of the bomber and why it relied on instinctive accusations. The well-placed sources in Ankara went mute when asked this question. Nowadays in Ankara, when the answer to your question is silence, it is an indication of the bottlenecks in Ankaras crisis-management mechanisms. Ankara simply cant deal with gray areas. This weakness contributes to political, ethnic and sectarian polarization internally, and further questioning of Ankaras position on Syria in the international arena. February 26, 2016 TEHRAN, Iran He is only 25, and hes running for the Assembly of Experts the high-level body tasked with selecting Irans next supreme leader. Maysam Doost-Mohammadi may be one of the youngest clerics in Iran holding the title of mujtahid, which means he has obtained a sufficiently deep knowledge to formulate independent interpretations of Islamic law. When my father heard the news, he stayed silent for few minutes, Doost-Mohammadi told Al-Monitor of his qualification by the Guardian Council, adding, Then he smiled to me and said Im proud that you were accepted for these elections, and that you obtained this level. The young cleric was born in Qom, one of the holiest cities in Shiite Islam, situated some 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of Tehran. His father was a student at the seminary, where Doost-Mohammadi was introduced to the clerical community and started his studies when he was only 15. I submitted my candidacy to the Guardian Council, and then I was asked to attend a written exam, he explained. When I entered the examination room, it was a shock that everyone there was far older than me. I felt uncomfortable and a bit disturbed. Then I decided that I have to continue in order to achieve my goal because of the Revolution and to convey a message to the enemies of our Revolution: that the youth is also studying and will get older with more knowledge to preserve the line of Imam [Ruhollah] Khomeini. Doost-Mohammadis only competitor in Qom is Ayatollah Mohammad Momen a conservative who is three times older than Doost-Mohammadi. Momen has secured the endorsement of the two main clerical bodies, while the young candidate has not. Yet Doost-Mohammadi prefers not to be on Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjanis rival moderate ticket. He said to Al-Monitor, I told them Im running independently; I respect Ayatollah Momen and the great ayatollahs backing him. Therefore, I wont be on the other [Rafsanjani-led] list, but Ill run to convey a message that young scholars are present and that the future is theirs. I think its important to engage with the youth and build an infrastructure thats ready to embrace their ambitions, he told Al-Monitor while strolling in Tehrans magnificent Niavaran Park in the north of the Iranian capital. Theres a gap between the clerics and the youth. For example, in this area in Tehran, we have to talk to them and answer their questions so that we dont lose them to Western culture. Doost-Mohammadi believes this very issue should be high on the agenda, besides confronting what he called the efforts of the enemies of the Revolution, who want to infiltrate [Iran] and try to harm [our] Islamic society. When he was told that he had passed the written exam compulsory for candidates for the Assembly of Experts, Doost-Mohammadi then had to prepare for the oral exam, which involves an interview with three of the grand ayatollahs of the Guardian Council. I entered the room, and there were three major Islamic scholars. They started asking me questions about this and that. I had to show my knowledge and ability to analyze and arrive at conclusions of my own, Doost-Mohammadi said. After 30 minutes of hard questions, I was told that I have to await the results. My friends and those around me thought I was doing something illogical. They never thought that I was going to make it, but it happened. After around two weeks, I was contacted by the Guardian Council and told that I had passed [the exams] and that Im the second candidate of Qom, the biggest clerical city. Beside his seminary studies, Doost-Mohammadi is also a student at the University of Tehran. Im a Ph.D. candidate in Islamic philosophy. Soon, Ill get my Ph.D., after submitting my thesis, he told Al-Monitor. I also learned Arabic four years ago, and I read a lot about Arabic culture, issues related to Arab youth and society, and the cultural crisis the Arab world faces. Im also interested in finding common ground between Shiites and Sunnis, because as long as we [Shiites and Sunnis] are fighting and battling [each other], enemies of our [common Islamic] nation are going to prevail. The Assembly of Experts is responsible mainly for the selection of a new supreme leader whenever the position is vacant. Approximately 161 candidates are contesting the assemblys 88 seats, after the Guardian Council disqualified almost 80% of candidates who had signed up to run including Seyyed Hassan Khomeini, a grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Anyone without a previous level of Ijtihad [rank necessary to derive and deduce religious opinion from Islamic law] who submitted their candidacy without attending the exam was disqualified, Doost-Mohammadi told Al-Monitor when asked about the Guardian Councils disqualifications. He preferred not to mention anyone by name, but said that he believes anyone with good knowledge, strong capabilities and thorough understanding of Islamic law should be able to pass [the exam]. This is the law here in the Islamic Republic, and everyone should abide by the law if he wants to become a candidate. He further suggested to Al-Monitor, There are a lot of my peers who are better than me. They are real mujtahids, but they dont have the courage to apply for the exam, or they dont want to now because they think its early. The young cleric concluded to Al-Monitor, I was asked by many of them, friends and colleagues, How did you achieve this level of knowledge and courage to go for such an election? I said through my dependence on Allah, and only Allah. February 26, 2016 TEHRAN, Iran Compared to past elections, the Feb. 26 parliamentary elections are different in many key aspects. For one, the Reformists, who after an eight-year hiatus regained power in 2013 with the election of moderate President Hassan Rouhani, have been doing all they can to not only maintain their position but also win as many seats in parliament as possible. Their stepped-up efforts could clearly be seen in the final days of campaigning. But will they have the means to overcome the obstacles in their way? The Reformists put forward a list of 30 names that they endorsed for the parliamentary elections. This ticket, called The List of Hope, is accompanied by the campaign slogan Tranquility and Economic Growth. However, the presence of a number of lesser known or even unknown people on the ticket has been causing somewhat of a controversy. Another controversial feature of the list was the presence of three moderate Principlist lawmakers: Ali Motahari, Behrouz Nemati and Kazem Jalali. The question now is whether the Reformist ticket will be able to repeat what was seen in 2013, when a coalition of Reformists and moderates brought Rouhani to power. Mohammad Atrianfar, a prominent Iranian journalist and Reformist figure, told Al-Monitor, Considering the policies that were set and the unbelievable scrutiny with which the Guardian Council monitored the Reformist candidates, many of the groups well-known figures were disqualified. What the Reformists were eventually left with were individuals who had very little prominence. So does this mean that the Reformists stripped of their most prominent candidates had no choice but to turn to people such as the three Principlists now among their ranks? Hossein Marashi, a leading member of the Reformist Policymaking Council, told Al-Monitor, We had no other choice. We, too, would have liked to present a list that had been composed of solely Reformists, a list that could boost the Reformist badge, but given the atmosphere created for us by the respectable Guardian Council, we had no other choice. We have no problems in terms of human resources, but it was best that well-known individuals be introduced. Meanwhile, the main 30-member list presented by the Principlists, the Principlist Coalition, campaigned under the slogan "[Secure] Livelihoods, Security and Progress." Expectedly, there was considerable debate on this list, too, but what is most clear about the ticket is how it projected the lack of unity among Principlists that was seen in the 2013 presidential elections. The Principlist Coalition has indeed raised objections from many within the Principlist movement, with some within the Principlist camp even refusing to accept it. Before finalizing the list, the Principlist Coalition had agreed that, based on a previously signed pledge, anyone whose name had not made it to the ticket would withdraw their candidacy in favor of those who had. However, after the list was published, only a few of those who had successfully made it through the Guardian Councils vetting process actually withdrew. The rest continued their campaigning with full force. Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, the spokesman for the Principlist Coalition, who also headed the ticket, addressed these figures, saying, For the sake of God, withdraw. His words are a clear indication of the weakness and lack of unity within the Principlist camp a major boon to the Reformists. Speaking on the best strategy for the Reformists, given the situation, Atrianfar, the prominent journalist and Reformist figure, told Al-Monitor, Our serious advice is to avoid any unethical moves during the elections. From the start, we told the Principlists to avoid discord and try to maintain their unity and to allow for a noble and strong competition between the two sides. The Reformists followed this advice, and despite the extensive disqualifications on their side, they not only succeeded in maintaining their unity and solidarity, but also implemented what the supreme leader and the establishment approve of. As to whether the Reformist list has the necessary political weight and strength, Marashi of the Reformist Policymaking Council told Al-Monitor, If the weight of this list is based on the weight of its backers, such as [former moderate and Reformist presidents] Mr. [Ali Akbar] Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mr. Mohammad Khatami, as well as the Reformist movement and party, then naturally it is strong. But if we want to base it on the weight of each individual person on the list, and compare it to the list that the Reformists would have actually liked to put forward, then it will not have an equal weight. But we hope that the existing obstacles in our society will be removed and that this list can enter parliament. Less than 24 hours are left until the first results the Islamic Republics 10th parliamentary elections are expected a parliament that can decide which kind of government will take office in 2017. For now, patience is needed to see which pieces of this game of chess will come out victorious. February 26, 2016 BAGHDAD The Baath regime led by former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein collapsed in September 2003 in the wake of the US invasion. Iraq has been uneasy ever since and has yet to recover. Every now and then, voices are heard measuring the current security chaos against the relative stability of Saddams rule (1979-2003). But whose voices are they, really? Saddam is remembered amid Iraq's current state of the deteriorating political, security and economic situation. Citizens, cultural and political elites, and active politicians have compared post-Saddam governments to his regime. In a Jan. 25 interview conducted with Asharq Al-Awsat, former Iraqi Vice President Ayad Allawi (2014-15) said, Iraqis are nostalgic for Saddams days, in a reference to the worsening situation in the country and the political rift. That statement might seem hasty, but amid the heated political environment, it fuels tension and leads to finger-pointing. We have often heard that Saddams men or the Baathists are the ones making the comparison. Many Iraqi media outlets, such as Al-Masalah website, noted that Allawis statement has dubious" motives and that Allawi is paving the way for the return of the Baath Party. Parliament members discussed Feb. 8 a decision to ban the Baath Party; however, this matter has yet to be settled. Under current political pressure, Shiites who believed they were persecuted in Saddams days seem to be re-evaluating the status quo and wishing those days would return. In a statement published Aug. 28 in Al-Quds Al-Arabi, Iraqi citizen and former prisoner Khalaf Jawad al-Assadi said, I wish Saddam would come out of his grave to rule Iraq again. I am one of the political prisoners who was arrested in 1988, but life was better in Saddams days, compared with now. Even Kurds who were displaced and shelled with chemical weapons in Saddams days have said as much. Kurdish journalist Shirzad Shikhani wrote in a Feb. 2 article, Due to the bad performance of Kurdish parties and their disputes, Kurds actually miss Saddams days. Are the tense political conditions, lack of security, corruption and absence of services under the current political rule enough to make Iraqis miss an era that was marked by dictatorship, drove Iraq into three wars over decades and claimed the lives of millions of Iraqis while wounding others? In fact, people can be heard expressing such opinions over Iraqi satellite channels, according to writer and media figure Tariq al-Haris, who left Iraq to escape Saddams persecution and settled in Australia in 1998, where he heads the Iraqi Cultural Association in Australia. It is a shame to miss a bloody dictatorship where citizens lived in misery, he said in a meeting with Al-Monitor. Some people, however, believe that those missing Saddams days are either Baathists or longtime advocates of Saddam. Novelist and physician Salama al-Salhy told Al-Monitor, Many people feel nostalgic for Saddam because during his era, the state was strong and the democratic experience post-2003 in Iraq failed to fulfill its sought-after goals for change. Kareem Hammadi, director of Al-Iraqiya satellite channel, which is affiliated with the Iraqi Media Network, told Al-Monitor he doubts the supposed nostalgia. Hammadi wonders if people missing Saddams days also miss Saddams Fedayeen masked men hired to crack down on and kill his opponents or the "special tribunals, intelligence dungeons, amputation of tongues and hands, and dishonoring people. He added, Calling for the return of Saddams days is equivalent to taking the country back to international isolation and Baathist wars. There are only a few people missing Saddams days. Saad al-Yasiri, a Shiite scholar from Hilla in Babil province, said he is surprised some people are actually lauding Saddams era. Saddam executed four of my brothers in 1993 on the grounds that they were affiliated with an opposition Shiite party. There are hundreds of Iraqis whose children, siblings or relatives Saddam executed, he told Al-Monitor. "The political and security problems in Iraq now stem from the Baath Partys men and the remnants of Saddams regime, many of whom joined the Islamic State. He added, I am not shocked when I hear non-Iraqi Arabs praising Saddams days, but it is weird to hear some Iraqis doing so." Saddam and his regime garnered wide public support in neighboring Arab countries such as Jordan and Morocco, as they believed Saddam was a national hero seeking to liberate Palestine. Journalist Qasim Mozan dismissed that belief and said in an interview with Al-Monitor, Saddams regime did not end completely after 2003. It was present in some behaviors and methods. The terrorist gangs affiliated with Baath remnants were among the reasons behind the post-2003 security chaos. According to Mozan, this suggests that Saddams followers are still behind Iraqs instability today. But to claim that Saddams remnants bear the entire responsibility for deterioration of the political and security situation in Iraq is not quite convincing for many people suffering under the current conditions who believe that if Saddam were still president, Iraq would be much stronger and more united despite the bloody acts and human rights violations during his rule. February 26, 2016 GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip During a Shura Council meeting of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan Feb. 14, the group decided to dissociate from the mother organization in Egypt. The decision surprised some Muslim Brotherhood leaders elsewhere, including Hamas, which represents the Brotherhoods Palestine branch. The decision also raised questions on whether Hamas could take the same step. Hamas links to Egypts Muslim Brotherhood has been one source of tension with the current Egyptian regime. Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since mid-2007, has seen its relationship with Egypt go up and down. But the golden age of the relationship between the two sides was during the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood. That rule ended with the removal of President Mohammed Morsi from power in June 2013. Hamas relationship with Egypt has been tense ever since, with constant Egyptian incitement against it. The move by Jordans Muslim Brotherhood resonated with some Brotherhood leaders in Palestine and revived discussion of the need to change Hamas charter, which some see as out of date and in need of substantial changes. It explicitly states in Article 2 that the Islamic resistance movement, Hamas, is a wing of the Muslim Brotherhood. There are disagreements within the group about the causes and motivations behind the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood's decision to amend its charter and dissociate from Egypts Brotherhood. The Turkish Anadolu news agency reported Feb. 14 that Murad al-Adaileh, a member of the Shura Council of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan, said that the council amended Article 1 of the charter, which had defined "the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan as a branch of the organization founded by Hassan al-Banna in Cairo." In the amended version, the group is called simply the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan. Regarding the reasons and timing of this amendment, Adaileh was reported as saying, "This amendment is a formality. This definition has existed since the founding of the group in Jordan in 1945. This amendment has been on the group's agenda for three years, but disagreements within the group prevented its supporters from reaching a majority within the Shura Council, as the decision requires the approval of two-thirds of the council's 53 members." A Hamas official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that there had been a lot of talk about the need to amend some of the charters articles after certain political developments in the region as well as the practical change that took place in Hamas political philosophy namely the movements relations with regional and international institutions since its inception in 1987. The source said, "For years, there has been talk within the movements corridors and institutions on amending some of the movements charter but this talk had not reached the level of real change because the conditions were not suitable. He noted that the Muslim Brotherhood organization in each country has its own specificities and independent decision-making, and that the relationships among the various organizations across countries are about coordination and solidarity but not about policy or events on the ground. Walid al-Mudallal, a professor of political history at the Islamic University in Gaza, explained that the decision by Jordans Muslim Brotherhood was just a formality, not a practical step, and came as a result of pressure and accusations that the Muslim Brotherhood is a cross-border organization. He told Al-Monitor, The global organization of the Muslim Brotherhood which groups all Brotherhood leaders in the world is more like a global forum, not a direct and actual leadership structure of the Muslim Brotherhood in the world. And therefore, the decision of the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood was to remove the pretexts. Hamas felt that the Arab Spring revolutions will spread, that its allies represented by the Brotherhood or political Islam had won and that the Arab revolutions and the arrival of Islamists to power will lead to recognizing Hamas as a key player in the Arab region and the Palestinian arena. The Hamas official added, Some leaders within the movement wish to bring about change, especially after the collapse of the Islamist regimes in the Arab world, but this change requires a major effort and may not happen at the moment. Hamas may need something in return for it to change, including its affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood. No Arab regime is able to provide this concession for the time being because of the global and regional political conditions and Hamas' position on the conflict with Israel." Before Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine was organizationally tied to the Brotherhood in Jordan. This relationship continued for years after Hamas emergence and before the movement in Palestine became an independent branch. The source pointed out that Hamas has succeeded in establishing relations with some countries despite those countries regimes banning the Muslim Brotherhood, as is the case in Syria. He noted that the Muslim Brotherhood was against Hamas relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran in previous periods. Ibrahim al-Madhoun, who writes for the Hamas-affiliated Al-Resalah newspaper in Gaza, said that Jordans Brotherhood dissociating from the mother group in Egypt will have little impact on Hamas. He added that Hamas does not follow the Muslim Brotherhood but has only a formal link to it. He told Al-Monitor, "Hamas internal institutions and the movements composition differ from the structure of the Muslim Brotherhood in any other country. Hamas is divided into three wings: the political wing, the military wing and the dawa wing. Hamas is not in a crisis like some Muslim Brotherhood groups in some Arab countries are. Hamas priority is the Palestinian cause. The Muslim Brotherhood is no more than Hamas intellectual incubator." It seems that Hamas is not about to announce any fundamental change in its ideology or links to the Muslim Brotherhood because it believes the region is in crisis and would thus prefer to wait until these crises are resolved and choices have been made. February 26, 2016 Saudi Arabia is not happy with Lebanon or its failure to control the Islamist militant group Hezbollah, and it's making its displeasure clear. Whats not known is what it will take to appease Riyadh. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Feb. 23 asked its citizens not to travel to Lebanon, for their own safety. It has also asked citizens residing in or visiting Lebanon to leave, unless they absolutely have to stay. This stance persists despite attempts by the Lebanese government and others to convince Riyadh to reconsider its Feb. 19 decision to cancel $4 billion in military aid to Lebanon. Riyadh said it is protesting Lebanese Foreign Minister of Affairs Gebran Bassils stance during a Jan. 10 ministerial meeting of the Arab League. Bassil refrained from condemning the recent attack on the Saudi Arabian embassy and its consulate in Iran. Lebanon has a long-standing policy of distancing itself from external conflicts. Saudi Arabia's actions come against a Lebanese government that has been politically hijacked by Hezbollah, according to Hezbollahs opponents in Lebanon and abroad. Also, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah has been escalating his media attacks on Saudi Arabia. Adding to the hostility, Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi declared Feb. 16 that Hezbollah members have been directly implicated in supporting Houthis in their war against the Saudi-backed legitimate Yemeni government. On Feb. 24, the military adviser to Saudi Defense Minister Ahmad Assiri said, We have intelligence information and recordings about the involvement of Hezbollahs militia in supporting Houthis. That same day, Saudi media published a video that seems to have been taped between June and July. The Yemeni army said it had found the video in an area where the Houthi militia had been. The video reportedly showed a Lebanese recruiter from Hezbollah talking to Houthi soldiers about carrying out suicide attacks in Saudi Arabia. Hezbollah is a threat to all Arab states, especially the Gulf, a source from the Gulf Cooperation Council told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. We have all suffered from Hezbollahs terrorism and Irans use of it, he continued. The security services have succeeded in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE [United Arab Emirates] in controlling several security and financial operations of Hezbollah during the past three years, and we are in solidarity with Saudi Arabia. There must be a radical change in the balance of power in Lebanon, either through the emergence of a party with equal strength to Hezbollah or through weakening Hezbollah to become equal to other Lebanese parties. Hezbollah anticipated the Gulfs angry measures and sent a security delegation to Cairo. The delegation met with Egyptian officials, reportedly admitted Hezbollahs role in Yemen and asked Cairo to intercede. But Saudi Arabia is not expected to accept any mediation in this issue, especially from Cairo, which hosted the Houthis in July and permitted them to stage seminars during which they criticized Saudi Arabia. The Saudi retaliation against Lebanon surprised many observers there and abroad. It is part of a series of security measures that Riyadh has taken against figures or parties operating directly or indirectly in Saudi Arabia in favor of Iran or Hezbollah. These measures include Saudi trials in May that restricted bank accounts, investments and real estate assets of 44 Lebanese people affiliated with Hezbollah in Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities also pursued several Shiite clerics in the eastern provinces of Qatif and Ihsaa who collect money from their Shiite citizens and send it to their religious authorities in Tehran. Some clerics were arrested on the grounds of money laundering, like Sheikh Khaled Seif, who was tried in October and sentenced to five years in jail. The kingdoms ruling parties are convinced Hezbollah is working with Iran to penetrate the Gulf and foil or paralyze Saudi Arabias plans to lead the region on both military and security levels. Those plans began when King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud became ruler, and grew as his ambitious son Mohammad Bin Salman launched Operation Decisive Storm in March. The plans continued with the kingdoms success in forming an Arab alliance to face Houthis in Yemen and were bolstered in December when it formed a 34-country Muslim military alliance to fight terrorism. Saudi Ambassador to Beirut Awad Assiri launched an open-arms policy in April 2013, but Riyadh has failed to contain Hezbollah behind diplomatic doors. Now it seems Riyadh will not stop at diplomatic and economic displays of anger. Its not looking for a middle ground with the Lebanese government, which is unable to control Hezbollah locally and abroad. February 26, 2016 ALEPPO, Syria The city of Anadan in the northern Aleppo countryside seemed empty when Al-Monitor visited Feb. 17 with the exception of some citizens who returned to inspect their houses and a few fighters of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) who stayed to defend their land. The Russian raids and regime forces offensives against Aleppo Feb. 1 forced hundreds of thousands of the residents in the northern Aleppo countryside to flee, as the regime forces took control of about a dozen towns, which cut the oppositions strategic supply line connecting the Bab al-Salameh border crossing to Aleppo. No one was in the streets. The rubble of destroyed houses caused by Russian airstrikes was found in all directions. It was similar to a ghost town, where only a whistling wind is heard through doors and windows. Most of the shops in Anadan city square, which is a main shopping center, were burned and blackened because of the bombardment. This place used to be crowded with shoppers from different towns. Now the only things that remain are distress and sadness for the people who fled. While roaming the city, Al-Monitor spoke to Abu Mahmoud, 60, in front of his house, which was partly destroyed by the shelling. Elderly citizens here are usually very attached to the land, to the point where they are unable to leave no matter how bad the circumstances are. Abu Mahmoud's family fled to the western Aleppo countryside. He returns to inspect his house in Anadan whenever he has the opportunity. He told Al-Monitor, "All of the city residents have fled except for the young fighters. Since the Syrian revolution erupted in 2011, Syrians have become accustomed to casualties on a daily basis. As soon as the civil defense teams are dispatched following the shelling, life resumes its normal course. Abu Mahmoud said, The situation is different today. A squadron of Russian aircraft conducts several raids on one town and uses cluster bombs. This is terrifying. He added, What made us flee the city is the fear of the arrival of the regime forces. The situation in Anadan is similar to that of most of the towns and cities in the northern Aleppo countryside. The residents have fled Haritan, Kafr Hamrah, Hayan and many other towns that have been under heavy Russian bombardment in conjunction with the regime forces offensives on Aleppo. In February, regime forces backed by Shiite militias made a major advancement against the FSA in the northern Aleppo countryside and took control over a dozen towns whose inhabitants fled. There are two destinations for the displaced. First is the Syrian-Turkish border in northern Aleppo. Second is the opposition-controlled areas in the western Aleppo countryside and Idlib province. Al-Monitor left the city of Anadan and headed to the western Aleppo countryside, where we spoke with Ahmed Qattan, an official at the local Bonyan relief organization. On the way to the newly established camp near the town of Batbo, Qattan said that there are 60,000 registered displaced persons who fled to the western Aleppo countryside and Idlib. Some have found shelter in abandoned houses, while others who were less fortunate set up temporary camps, he added. Qattan estimated the total number of displaced from the northern Aleppo countryside since Feb. 1 at about 200,000 people most headed to areas adjacent to the Syrian-Turkish border such as Bab al-Salameh, Khirbet al-Joz and Salqin. The situation was tragic in the camp near Batbo, where the most basic life essentials were unavailable. There were no bathrooms, water tanks or electricity. Moreover, the displaced did not have anything on their backs when they first arrived. Our only concern was to save our lives, a refugee told Al-Monitor. Although the situation was bad in the camp which was established on mud between olive trees new families were arriving in succession, while the people already there were erecting additional tents to accommodate them. Local associations and organizations seem unable to provide the displaced with the essentials. Qattan said they need accommodation necessities, such as tents, sponges and covers. Azaz, which is located in the northern Aleppo countryside, has become separated from the rest of the opposition-controlled areas following the latest advance made by regime forces Feb. 3. Azaz thus turned into a confrontation arena between the FSA and the Syrian Democratic Forces (in which the Kurdish Democratic Union Party represents the largest force). In order to learn about the situation of the displaced on the Turkish border line, Al-Monitor spoke to Nazim Hafiz, the Bab al-Salameh border crossing director, via Skype. On Feb. 4, thousands of displaced arrived successively to the Bab al-Salameh border crossing in order to enter Turkey following the advance of the regime forces, and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on that same day that 10,000 new refugees are waiting at the border to enter Turkey because of the air raids on Aleppo. Yet Turkish authorities prevented their entry into its territory, according to Hafiz. He said, The crossing has turned into a shelter for displaced people, where a new camp was established. Turkish nongovernmental organization IHH has set up a camp at Bab al-Salameh border crossing, into which relief aid enters from the Turkish side of the border. But Hafiz noted, There are large numbers of displaced, and the numbers are growing bigger daily which the crossing cannot contain. February 26, 2016 In early February, the Russian-backed Syrian army cut the route from Aleppo to Turkey, a critical move that spurred President Recep Tayyip Erdogans desire for a Turkish military incursion in Syria. Ever since 2011, Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu have unsuccessfully tried all means except a military intervention to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime. Yet toppling the regime was not the motive behind their latest advocacy of a military intervention. They knew this was already out of reach in September when Russias direct military involvement in Syria began. With the loss of the Aleppo route and the looming threat of a regime siege on the city, Erdogans objective shifted. He now sought to save Ankara from being totally sidelined from the Syrian equation and ensure it had some say on Syrias future. Sending the Turkish army to Syria, he reckoned, was the only option left at hand to grab a prominent seat at the negotiating table. However, Erdogan and Davutoglu failed to enlist any support from the United States, as they did each time they brought up the issue in the past. The Turkish military, too, signaled through the media it was not in favor of an intervention. Ankara, which has positioned itself as a Sunni power in the conflict, watched how its ally Saudi Arabia failed to impress the other actors in the crisis when it declared readiness to send ground troops to Syria, provided the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS) made a decision to have a ground component. Ankara also reckoned that a unilateral Turkish incursion would generate a military response by Russia and spark a war between the two countries. According to reports, Moscow even warned Ankara it was prepared to use tactical nuclear weapons. Two weeks after the first reports in early February of its intentions and preparations for an intervention, Ankara began to backtrack. The first statement came from Erdogans spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin. Weve never said Turkish soldiers should enter Syria, or that American or Saudi troops should do so in a ground operation, or that the country should be occupied. We have been and remain committed to joint action with the international community, he said in a live television interview Feb. 20. Kalin stressed Ankara had long advocated a no-fly zone, but conceded, This has become difficult with the Russian involvement. Four days later, Davutoglu confirmed Ankara was not going to intervene, citing Arab opposition to Turkey. In an interview with Al Jazeeras Arabic channel, he said, Why did the Arab League condemn Turkey and urge it to pull out when Turkey went to Mosul to [help] liberate it and provide support? Who is going to guarantee that Arab countries will defend and support us if we intervene militarily in Syria? Ankaras Syrian policy basically an attempt to topple Assad and install Islamists to power in Damascus collapsed a long time ago. The Ankara-backed jihadis and other radical Islamists keep losing ground against the Russian-backed Syrian army and the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), the armed force of the Syrian Kurds. Now that the intervention idea is also dropped, what options could be left for Erdogan and Davutoglu to sustain their claim in Syria? Davutoglus answer to one of Al Jazeeras questions was quite telling in this regard. The question was put like this: Your options are limited. Russia controls the skies over Syria. If you dont want to confront Russia, your options are confined to short-range shelling across the border. Given that Russia supports the YPG as well, will you still do that? Davutoglu replied with bravado, but his answer indicates Ankara does not have much at hand. You say Russia controls the skies, but the hearts of the Syrian people are with us, he said. Even in the most recent attacks on Azaz, we retaliated for three days to YPG positions for breaching our engagement rules. Indeed, the shelling that lasted from Feb. 14 to Feb. 17 demonstrated that the Ankara regimes real concern in Syrias border region is neither IS nor Jabhat al-Nusra but the Kurdish YPG, which it labels a terrorist organization. Due to the Russian threat, the Turkish air force has been unable to fly planes in Syrian air space. Now that a ground operation is also off the table, Ankaras intervention capacity is limited to artillery fire with a range of 40 kilometers (25 miles), artillery rockets and its warplanes capability to strike from a distance. Davutoglus historic confession Of course, the decision-makers in Ankara could be still assuming they hold a natural place in the Syrian equation for weakening the regime up until mid-2015, if not toppling it. This could be discerned in the answer Davutoglu gave to Al Jazeeras interviewer when he asked him provocatively, What is needed to happen so that Turkey and other countries intervene in support of the Syrian people? Here is how Davutoglu replied: How have the Syrian people defended themselves if they lack Turkish support? Would have they been able to defend Aleppo otherwise? If a true Syrian moderate opposition exists today, this is thanks to Turkey. If the regime doesnt control all of the countrys territory today, this is thanks to Turkey and some other states. If the Syrian people are still in Tell Rifat, Aleppo and Azaz, defending their lands, after last weeks heavy bombardment that Russia conducted there with 500 sorties and without targeting IS, this is thanks to our support. Our support will continue. But Davutoglus remarks constitute an open confession of how he and Erdogan have made Turkey a direct party to the Syrian war. If the Damascus regime has lost territory control because of Ankaras role, Davutoglus words mean he assumes also the historic responsibility for the seizure of these territories by myriad jihadi and radical Islamist forces, including IS and Jabhat al-Nusra. If regime opponents have been able to defend themselves thanks to Turkey, as Davutoglu says, they could have done so only with weapons sent from Turkey. Hence, Davutoglus remarks constitute also an implicit acknowledgement of arms supplies to the rebels. And his pledge of continued support echoes like the continuation of arms supplies as well. In sum, Ankara has given up the idea of intervention, but the position it maintains keeps the risk of a military confrontation with Russia alive. In less than an hour Friday afternoon, a handful of Tarrant police and fire officials lost a lot of hair but the American Cancer Society gained nearly $10,000. Diagnosed last month with Stage 4 throat cancer, Tarrant police Chief Dennis Reno went public this week with his fight when he decided to auction off the right to shave his head in a fundraiser for cancer awareness and research. "I'm not going to let cancer decide when I lose my hair,'' Reno said. "I'll make that decision myself." Dozens of friends, family members and fellow public safety officials gathered in the bay at the Tarrant Fire Department about 1 p.m. in a strong show of support for Reno, a Tarrant police officer for the past 33 years and chief since 2011. Lunch was provided by Tarrant businesses, and Peoples Barber Shop moved one of its barber's chairs to the bay for the ceremonial shaving. People bid to shave Reno's hair, as well as the hair of police Lt. Larry Rice, fire Lt. Jerry Presley, Fire Chief Jason Rickles, Parks and Recreation Superintendent Chris O'Rear and Reno's son, Dennis Reno Jr. The top bid to shave the chief's head was $2,500 donated anonymously. Reno's son, brother and grandson all took turns with the clippers. In all, the event raised $9,714. Donations are also being accepted. They should be made payable to the American Cancer Society, c/o Tarrant Police Department, 2593 Commerce Circle, Tarrant, Al. 35217. Reno is already undergoing chemotherapy and will begin radiation after the chemo. He said doctors say the prognosis is good. On Friday, he was in good-spirits and taking the shave in stride. "Well, I've never been bald before so I really don't what I'm going to look like, but I wasn't real purty to begin with,'' he said. "We're just glad to try to help out someone else by raising this money." He said it's important that people know he had a sore throat for several months but refused to go to an ENT to get it checked out. He is now passionate about wanting others to go at the first sign of trouble. "If I had gone when I should have gone, they would have gotten it a lot sooner,'' he said. Reno was clearly emotional by the packed room. "I'm really overwhelmed,'' he said, looking around. "It's just one of those bumps in the road you have to go through in life. We're trying to make the best out of it. " flasher.jpg The man pictured is suspected of exposing himself to women near an apartment complex on Old Madison Pike last week. (Huntsville PD) Huntsville investigators have identified a registered sex offender as the suspect in a series of flashing incidents near the Whispering Pines Apartments on Old Madison Pike. A warrant has been issued for 26-year-old James Edward Battle, who is suspected of flashing multiple women, said Lt. Stacy Bates, a Huntsville police spokesman. James Edward Battle (Madison County jail) Investigators announced last week that they were looking for a man, who had been caught on surveillance video at a nearby convenience store as he exposed himself multiple times to women near the apartment complex. They at that time released the images of a man later identified as Battle. Court records show that Battle was indicted last year on a Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) violation for failing to inform Morgan County Sheriff's Office officials when he moved from his Union Grove home in 2014. As a registered sex offender, Battle is required to inform authorities when he changes address or employment. Battle is on the sex offender registry in Florida. His last known address listed there is in Lacey's Spring. Details of the crime that landed him on the registry were not immediately available. Anyone who knows Battle's whereabouts should call the Huntsville Police Department at 256-722-7100. A single vehicle crash in Tuscaloosa County claimed the life of a young woman on Friday. Alabama State troopers report that Chaney Taylor Hallman, 19, Duncanville was killed when the 2005 Ford Taurus she was driving left the roadway and struck a tree. It happened on South Rosser Road, approximately six miles south of Tuscaloosa, shortly before noon. Hallman was not using a seat belt, troopers said. She was airlifted to DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa. She was pronounced dead there at 1:51 p.m. Alabama State Troopers are still investigating and could not release any more information. Three central Florida middle school students were arrested Friday and charged with poisoning a teacher's soda. Investigators with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office say the 12-year-old girls from Deltona Middle School spiked their teacher's soda with spicy red pepper causing the teacher to get sick. The mastermind of the soda tampering wanted to get back at her teacher, Jayne Morgan, for sending her to the principal's office on Monday for dumping glue into another student's backpack and on suspicion of stealing a laptop computer, the sheriff's office stated in a press release. The girl is accused of enlisting two other girls to distract the teacher and help her dump the crushed red pepper she brought from home into the teacher's drink on Tuesday. According to the sheriff's office, the teacher's throat became hot and scratchy, and she started to choke and have shortness of breath after drinking from the spiked soda. She suffered from a sore, scratchy throat and had stomach pains for the rest of the evening. After taking a second sip from the can, the teacher poured the rest of the soda into a clear plastic cup and noticed the flecks of red pepper. Two of the girls were charged with poisoning food or water and tampering with consumer products. A third girl was charged with tampering with consumer products and being a principal to poisoning food or water. All of the charges are felonies. "It should be noted, this act was done in retaliation for the teacher upholding her duties and responsibilities as a teacher, maintaining control of her classroom and attempting to protect the other children from (a student's) unacceptable behavior," the investigators wrote in an affidavit. All three students are being held in a juvenile detention center. Jeremiah Hunter, the teacher accused of stalking a 16-year-old former student, is back in the Mobile County Jail. Jeremiah Hunter Hunter, 39, was arrested on a tampering with physical evidence charge on Friday. The details of this charge have not yet been released, but AL.com has reached out to authorities to learn more. Hunter was arrested the first time on Feb. 18. That time was on a second-degree stalking charge. Court records show he bonded out on $750 shortly after the arrest. Authorities say Hunter knows the victim through his teaching job at Hankins Middle School. Mobile County lawmen say Hunter contacted the victim multiple times by phone and by showing up unannounced at the teen's place of employment. He has been told not to contact the victim before the investigation started in August 2014 and has been reprimanded for it in the past. When lawmen raided Hunter's home during the arrest, they say he had a photo of himself with the victim near his bed. Gun trade supporters say the social media platform has no right to interfere in legal rights of Americans. Dallas, Texas, United States At the end of January, Mark Zuckerbergs corporation banned the sale of firearms and ammunition on its Facebook platform, the worlds most-used social media site, as well as its Instagram site, the popular photo-sharing platform. The move will keep the debate over gun control in the United States raging. Over the last two years, more and more people have been using Facebook to discover products and to buy and sell things to one another, Monika Bickert, Facebooks head of product policy, said in a statement. We are continuing to develop, test and launch new products to make this experience even better for people and are updating our regulated goods policies to reflect this evolution, she added. Facebook first began limiting gun sales on its sites in 2014, promising to prohibit minors from visiting forums and advertisements for arms sales. But the move did not statisfy groups calling for tighter gun controls. This time, Facebook seems serious. What Im hearing is that the reporting process is going very smoothly; theyre taking prompt action and shutting down gun sellers, Ladd Everitt, communications director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, told Al Jazeera. Gun show loophole The coalition, known as CSGV, is a social welfare organisation that seeks to secure freedom from gun violence through research, strategic engagement and effective policy advocacy. Their issue with arms sales over Facebook is that no background checks are required for exchanges taking place over the platform, although this is in compliance with US legislation which regulates the sale of firearms. These sales dont necessarily happen through the internet. They can occur anywhere, Everitt continued, referring to what is commonly known as the gun show loophole. The origins of the loophole are found in the Gun Control Act of 1968, passed by the US Congress, following the assassinations of President John F Kennedy, the civil rights champion Dr Martin Luther King, and others. US citizens are guaranteed gun ownership by the Second Amendment of the Constitution, the legal foundation for the nation. The Gun Control Act made it necessary for people engaged in the business of selling firearms to obtain federal firearms licences (FFLs) to buy and sell weapons and ammunition. However, private parties who engage in non-commercial arms sales are not required to obtain this licence. MORE on the gun show loophole Until 1994, when the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act came into force, there was no federal law requiring waiting periods or background checks on firearm purchases, although 18 states had enacted their own legislation requiring checks that superseded those of the Brady law. But the Brady Act didnt place any restrictions on private sales, guaranteeing carte blanche for the secondary market of private sales with no waiting periods, and no background checks. Everitt called into question the act of selling a gun to a faceless acquaintance through social media. People think the image of an anonymous buyer looking into the car trunk of an anonymous seller to find assault rifles as being the black market, but its entirely legal under current US law. Selling someone a gun without so much as knowing their name is so seedy, Everitt stated. Digital migration Many of the Facebook groups and users have migrated to lesser-known social media platforms to continue exercising their right to sell guns digitally. One of these sites is MeWe, a social networking site launched in 2012 focusing on the privacy of its users, that asks visitors, is your social media stalking you? DFW Texas Gun Trader moved to MeWe following the Facebook ban, and currently has 2,777 users. Many guns, including semi-automatic assault rifles, are readily available for purchase here, without a background check. Mark Weinstein, one of MeWes founders, declined to provide Al Jazeera with figures on how many users had created gun-selling groups on MeWe in the weeks following Facebooks ban. He did tell Al Jazeera that law-breakers, haters, and violence inciters, are to be dislodged, disinvited and banned, and that is what we do at MeWe. But not the law-abiders that is the rub here. He added: MeWe is for good, law-abiding Americans and world citizens. The MeWe founder went on to lambast Zuckerberg for having the power to regulate what law-abiding citizens can and cant say and do, the betrayal is of core American ideology. Social media shouldnt be in the business of being in your legal business, he said. Unregulated market CSGV reports say that there are five times as many licensed gun stores in the US as there are McDonalds, which suggests that there is no shortage of opportunity for people who can pass a background check to legally buy a weapon. A White Paper by the University of California, Davis, says that perhaps 40 percent of all firearm acquisitions, and at least 80 percent of those made with criminal intent, are made from private parties via the gun show loophole. Nicole Strong, the public information officer for the Houston bureau of the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Bureau (ATF), spoke to Al Jazeera about the regulation of arms purchased via private sales. Strong has spent nearly a decade working in Texas and Arizona, and says that monitoring mechanisms for purchases through dealers who have obtained their FFL by submitting applications to the ATF and having thorough background checks performed, are well regulated. Then, any seller with an FFL is required to complete a background check performed via the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, a safeguard against guns falling into the wrong hands administered by the FBI, for any prospective buyers. There are several means of tracking guns and ammunition, including serial numbers, origin labels showing the factory where the arm was produced, Strong explains. Its fairly easy for us to prove interstate nexus, Strong continues, referring to meeting the burden of proof for pressing federal gun charges. If it was made in Springfield Mass, then it shows up in Texas, you have your nexus. Even if it were made in Texas, but travelled in and out of the state, we can usually prove that. However, the ATFs expertise in tracking guns doesnt apply to private sellers. Theres no one monitoring. Its a very unregulated market, Strong said. The National Rifle Association, whose website says it is widely recognised as a major political force and as Americas foremost defender of Second Amendment rights, declined Al Jazeeras request for comment. The NRA has published an article entitled The Gun Show Myth that defends the practice of private arms commerce. Speaking from his office in Washington, CSGV spokesman Everitt told Al Jazeera that in spite of the digital migration to MeWe and other sites, he was thrilled about Facebooks decision. It takes away the convenience of the largest social website in the world. Its pushing these sales farther underground, and until we have universal background checks, thats exactly what we want. Follow Creede on Twitter: @creedenewton Al Jazeera meets Naji Abu Nowar, the Jordanian-British director, on his way to Hollywood for the Oscars awards ceremony. British-Jordanian director Naji Abu Nowar has arrived in Los Angeles with his picture Theeb, a coming-of-age desert drama. It is nominated for an Oscar for best foreign language film and will contend with Colombias Embrace of the Serpent, Frances Mustang, Hungarys Son of Saul and Denmarks A War. READ MORE: Jordanian film nominated for an Oscar Set in 1916 in the Ottoman province of Hijaz, the film shot entirely in Jordan follows the journey of Theeb, who guides a British officer to a secret destination. If it wins at the ceremony on Sunday, it will become the first Arab film to receive an Oscar. The film, coined by some critics as a Bedouin Western, was funded by cultural organisations in the UAE, Qatar, Jordan and the UK. The film has already won the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award for best outstanding debut. The film also won best director at the Venice International Film Festival, where its international premiere was held. Al Jazeera spoke with the director about Arab cinema, recognition and whats next. Al Jazeera: Why did you make this particular film? Naji Abu Nowar: I work instinctually. You get really excited about an idea or concept and the process of creating with colleagues, and what they can bring to the table makes you more excited, and it snowballs. I just do it. Thats the joy of filmmaking. Al Jazeera: Do you think this moment heralds a new beginning for Arab cinema? Abu Nowar: I certainly think that with all the talent thats out there, theres a new wave of filmmakers coming out. A lot of people have wonderful ideas. I cant wait to go to the cinema and see all the films coming out of the region. Im looking forward to that as a fan. Al Jazeera: If you win the Oscar, this will be the first Arab film to do so We are a young industry trying to make ends meet and grow. It gives us a huge boost and showcases Jordan as a place you can shoot. by Abu Nowar: It will be the first Arab film to do so, but Im by no means the first Arab filmmaker. There are talented filmmakers who have passed through so that I could arrive. Im very lucky to be following in their footsteps. Ziad Doueiri, Hany Abu-Assad, Nadine Labaki, Youssef Chahine all of these are wonderful filmmakers. Ive been very lucky to benefit, and I hope to be of benefit to the next generation. I wont be a freak case. It wont just be me; there will be a lively and wonderful industry with lots of people from the region. Al Jazeera: You recently won a BAFTA, too. Is this kind of recognition important? Abu Nowar: Theyre incredibly important. These events have a massive amount of exposure. Some 4.5 million people watched the Bafta awards ceremony this year. Almost 40 million people watched the Oscars in 2015 [in the US], and more internationally. Its incredible for Arab cinema and for Jordanian cinema. We are a young industry trying to make ends meet and grow. It gives us a huge boost and showcases Jordan as a place you can shoot. Benefits can be derived from this kind of success, and we are going to reap as much as we can and enjoy the ride. Al Jazeera: Its an interesting Oscars year with the debate over a lack of diversity in some of the categories. What are your thoughts on this? Abu Nowar: For the foreign language section, it doesnt affect us. There are nominees from all over the world. I dont think the foreign language category can be accused of racism. The other sections? I dont know and dont care. Im a low-budget filmmaker from Jordan. I dont have to deal with that issue. READ MORE: Filmmaker Spike Lee blasts lily-white Oscars If I make an American film, if I found racism and prejudice I wouldnt make that film. That hasnt happened to me; Im not part of that industry. Ill deal with that issue when I come to it. We have enough troubles in the Middle East. We dont need to get involved in other peoples troubles. Al Jazeera: Youre also British. Have you faced barriers in the UK? Abu Nowar: Im half English and half Jordanian. Ive only worked in Jordan, and Ive never found any barriers. Ive just won a BAFTA. It would be insane to say Ive had prejudice. Ive never been discriminated [against]. Al Jazeera: Whats next for you? Abu Nowar: To be honest, I havent had a chance to think. There is so much stuff going on, but Im looking forward to whats next. I am preparing the next Jordanian film. All the research is done. Al Jazeera: Is it another historical fiction? Abu Nowar: Yes, its a sequel of sorts to Theeb, set around 10 years later. Al Jazeera: When will we see more success for Arab cinema, given your achievements? Abu Nowar: Having travelled around with Theeb, Ive met filmmakers from all over the Arab world every Arabic-language-speaking country. Im looking forward to whats coming. Im excited about all of the different talents; theres a range of styles, idioms and directorial approaches. These are exciting times, indeed. Al Jazeera: When you were making Theeb, did you have a feeling the film would enjoy the level of attention it has? Abu Nowar: Absolutely not. I was confident in my teams. I had some of the best people in Jordan and the world, including the cinematographer Wolfgang Thaler. I had confidence in the quality of the film. I had an excited feeling about what the actors were doing. You could feel if someone was doing something special on set, that its real and people would believe them. If an actor is appalling, you know youre in trouble. I never had that. I knew we had something, but you never in a million years believe you will get an award or even get in to the Venice film festival. Its been a wonderful surprise. We continue to grow there have been new surprises every few months for a year and a half. Its been a long road and were coming to the end of a celebration. Were still the same team that made a low-budget film, and now were dealing with the immensity of the Oscars. Al Jazeera: What are the challenges involved in that? Nowar: For instance, it can be difficult dealing with the press not in the sense that the press is negative, but we just dont have the mechanisms in place to deal with hundreds of interview requests. It can be really quite difficult to handle, and were struggling with that. Its great and wonderful to be in this position, and were trying to give everyone the information they need. Hopefully we can reach that stage. Al Jazeera: Do you think a better structure needs to be put in place for Arab filmmakers to combat this? Abu Nowar: Its just normal for independent filmmaking. This is very rare. Forget about Theeb being Arab. It has nothing to do with it being Arab. This is very rare, for the scale of the budget. Were by far the film with the lowest budget in the BAFTAs and Oscars bar the short film sections. We have a lower budget that most films even in the documentary categories. Its difficult to handle logistically, and rare in any respect. Its a miracle [to win and be nominated] on many levels, not just by the fact this was an Arab film Its the hard work of producers that has got us here. They have been fighting and hustling to get us here; its a testament to their tenacity. Producers are really building the cinema industry in the Middle East, not the directors. They give directors like me the opportunity to work in a survivable manner. Thats the thing most Arab filmmakers dont pay enough attention to. Al Jazeera: And finally, what is it about Theeb, in your view, that has captured peoples attention? Abu Nowar: I think its the Bedouin style of storytelling, an oral tradition that goes back thousands of years. The folklore structure is part of the human condition. These are stories that could have been told around a fire pit 10,000 years ago. If you try to make a film in that style, you have a better chance of reaching the world. It is part of all of our consciousness. Storytelling is the way we have communicated for thousands of years. That is why people care. Follow Anealla Safdar on Twitter: @anealla US-Russian ceasefire agreement is built upon the unstable foundation of the collective opposition to ISIL. It cannot be doubted that Russian President Vladimir Putins decision to go all in last September initiated an endgame that years of US half-measures in Syria failed to accomplish. The latest manifestation of the application of Russian power on the one hand, and Washingtons continuing strategic confusion on the other, is the Joint Statement of the United States and the Russian Federation on Cessation of Hostilities in Syria, due to come into force at midnight on Saturday February 27. Whatever the consequences of this latest understanding, they cannot be divorced from the glaring disparities between the local alliances made by Washington and Moscow. To challenge the Assad regime and ISIL, the Obama administration has tried for almost five years to organise a dizzying array of inchoate, disorganised, and ill-led Islamist factions whose common denominator is their debilitating provincialism and their opportunistic association with ill-defined US objectives. Pursuit of victory Say what you want about the opposing coalition of powers supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, they do know and agree on who their enemy is, and they are demonstrably capable of uniting in pursuit of victory on the battlefield. The latest US-Russian agreement on the cessation of hostilities is built on the unstable and inadequate foundation of collective opposition to ISIL, al-Nusra Front, and other unspecified terrorist bad guys. READ MORE: A ceasefire in Syria is pure fantasy The nationwide cessation of hostilities, explains the Joint Statement, is to apply to any party currently engaged in military or paramilitary hostilities against any other parties other than [ISIL], [al-Nusra Front], or other terrorist organisations designated by the UN Security Council. The US-Russian understanding marks a defeat for recent US and opposition efforts to include al-Qaeda's Jabhat al-Nusra in the family of factions committed to the agreement and thus place them and the territory where they are present off limits to Russian attack. by The US-Russian understanding marks a defeat for recent US and opposition efforts to include al-Nusra Front in the family of factions committed to the agreement and thus place them and the territory where they are present off limits to Russian attack. In the days before the agreement was announced, both US and opposition leaders tried to reverse long-standing Security Council prohibitions on dealing with al-Nusra Front and win Russian support for exempting it from the ongoing campaign against ISIL. Retired generals David Petraeus, father of the Sahwa in Iraq, and John Allen, who until November last year coordinated Washingtons anti-ISIL strategy, are among some in Washington who have been prepared, however fitfully, for an alliance of convenience in Syria with al-Qaedas local agent. Legitimate part of battle against ISIL They argue that the cadre supporting al-Nusra Front can be considered a legitimate part of the US-led battle against ISIL. Allen, in a little-noticed September interview with Al Arabiya, voiced support for this idea. Nusra and other groups we want them to be able to create for themselves an area that they control and to help us to eliminate [ISIL], and in so doing create the capacity of the Syrian people to be a voice in the political process as well. Thats the goal. Since September, the Russian campaign, endorsed by the UNSC 2254 in December, targets al-Nusra Front, as well as ISIL, along with broad definition of circumscribed terror groups. The resolution calls upon states toprevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, al-Nusra Front, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with al-Qaeda or ISIL, and other terrorist groups, as designated by the Security Council. The exclusion of al-Nusra Front from protected parties in the just-completed cessation of hostilities agreement supports Moscows broad offensive against opposition-held territory that has been under way since September. I think Russia is counting on Nusra being embedded throughout opposition areas in the country, so they can deal with the ceasefire as they please, explained a former UN official. Nevertheless, this latest agreement, in contrast to UNSC 2254, appears to offer some al-Qaeda wannabes and the territories where they are present the opportunity to win a respite from the Russian-led military campaign. A victory of sorts The cessation of hostilities therefore represents a victory of sorts, at least on paper, for US-coalition efforts to maintain the staying power of Islamist groups, some affiliated with al-Nusra Front and al-Qaeda, that are not on the UN terror list; that play a key role in the rebel campaign against Assad today, and that have been key targets of the Russian assault in recent months. READ MORE: Kurds: Pawns and kings in Syria and Iraq? Other than al-Nusra Front and ISIL, the cessation of hostilities excludes only those fighters designated by the UNSC as terrorists. The most recent UN Sanctions List, last updated on February 11, names 242 individuals and 74 entities. Of the latter, fewer than five are present in Syria. Russias adherence to this list would greatly reduce legitimate targets of its military campaign. The ability of Washington to make strategic gains as a result of this agreement is nevertheless undermined by the endemic pathologies of the opposition. So for example, the State Department recently refused the opportunity to call upon its Syrian allies to stop fighting alongside al-Nusra Front so as not to be targeted by Russia or Damascus. The ranks of groups in Syria joining al-Nusra Front continue to increase. by Thats for them, frankly, to resolve, noted the State Department spokesman on February 22. Even as this process unfolds, the ranks of groups in Syria joining al-Nusra Front continue to increase. Such groups continue to work in tandem with al-Nusra Front, and on occasion with ISIL. On February 21 for example, units of Jund al-Aqsa, which does not appear on the UN list, and ISIL worked in tandem to cut the regimes main supply route to Aleppo. The cessation of hostilities is meant to put a stop to such collaboration and the attendant attacks by the regime and its allies. It is unlikely, however, that the Russian-US condominium is currently strong enough to destroy such alliances in favour of a political process that excludes them in favour of a political process in which the Assad regime continues to play a dominant role. Geoffrey Aronson writes about Middle Eastern affairs. He consults with a variety of public and private institutions dealing with regional political, security, and development issues. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Residents say 40 dead in market in Sanaa province, where coalition-backed loyalists are battling Houthis and allies. Air strikes in Yemen have killed 40 people in a market northeast of the capital Sanaa, residents say. Saturdays air strikes in the Nehm district in Sanaa province wounded 30 others, they told Reuters news agency, adding that most of the casualties were civilians. The attack hit Khulaqa market, which is known for selling qat, a mild narcotic that is chewed throughout Yemen, witnesses said. Residents said the strikes were carried out by the Arab coalition, a force assembled by Saudi Arabia. Inside Story Can the dream of Yemens revolution be salvaged? The Arab coalition has yet to comment on the report. The coalition is battling the Houthis and forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh in a bid to restore the internationally recognised government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Coalition-backed loyalists have been advancing in Nehm against the rebels as they try to close in on Sanaa. The UN says nearly 6,000 people have been killed in the fighting, which began after the Houthis advanced on the southern port city of Aden, where Hadi had been based. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced. The coalition launched in late March 2015 an air campaign against the rebels. Saudi Arabia sees the Houthis as a proxy for Iran, its main regional adversary. The Houthis and Saleh accuse the coalition of launching a war of aggression. Rights groups have repeatedly urged the coalition to avoid causing civilian casualties. READ MORE: Upfront What is the solution to the war in Yemen? Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch, the monitoring group, accused the coalition of using US-supplied cluster bombs. The coalition last month announced that an independent inquiry would examine charges of possible abuses against civilians in the conflict. A panel of UN experts says the coalition has carried out 119 sorties that violated humanitarian law, and called for an international probe. The Houthi-led rebels have controlled Sanaa since September 2014 and had placed Hadi under house arrest. But he escaped, intially seeking refuge in Yemens second city, Aden, last year before fleeing to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, as the rebels advanced on the southern port. Hadi returned to the southern city after the loyalists, backed by the coalition, drove the rebels out of Aden and four other southern provinces. But Hadi and senior officials continue to spend most of their time in Riyadh against a backdrop of worsening security in Aden, the temporary base of the government. IN PHOTOS: Sanaa A city of broken glass and shattered hope Donors at a conference in Qatar pledged on Wednesday $220m of aid to Yemen. Hadis government accused this week Lebanons Hezbollah of sending fighters to support the Houthis, saying it had evidence of the Shia groups involvement. Also on Saturday, the UAE, a key member of the Arab coalition, said one of its soldiers died in Yemen when his military vehicle overturned. The UAE has lost more than 70 soldiers in Yemen since the launch of the coalition campaign. Retired army officer and former paramilitary sentenced over sexual enslavement of women during bloody civil war. A Guatemalan court sentenced a retired army officer and a former paramilitary fighter to 120 years and 240 years in prison, respectively, for the sexual enslavement of women during the countrys civil war. Fridays ruling was the first in which a local court had handed down a judgment for such crimes in the country, which is seeking to address abuses committed during its 1960-1996 civil war. According to the United Nations, some 245,000 people were killed or disappeared during the conflict. The retired officer, Esteelmer Reyes Giron, was found guilty of crimes against humanity for holding 15 women in sexual and domestic slavery and for killing another woman and her two young daughters. Heriberto Valdez Asij, a civilian with military connections, was convicted on the same charges, as well as the forced disappearance of seven men. During the trial, the victims testified to the abuse they suffered during six months in 1982 and 1983 at the Sepur Zarco military base in northern Guatemala. After the army had entered their communities, the men were taken away, and when the women went to the military base to ask for them, they were raped and forced to cook and wash clothes for the soldiers. Intention to appeal Moises Galindo, the defence lawyer for Reyes Giron, said the trial was a fabrication and his client was never at the site of the crimes. We are going to appeal. We are going to succeed in having this case thrown out, Galindo said. They should go to the location because the people of Sepur Zarco dont say that all this happened there. But the judge said the accused couldnt deny knowing about what happened since they exercised control and power over the area. The packed courtroom erupted in cheers and chants of justice, justice when the ruling was read. These historic convictions send the unequivocal message that sexual violence is a serious crime and that no matter how much time passes, it will be punished. It is a great victory for the 11 women who embarked on a 30-year-long battle for justice, said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International. During 20 hearings, 11 women from the indigenous Qeqchis communities described how they physically and emotionally deteriorated while being raped and used as slaves for half a year. In court, many wore indigenous clothing and covered their faces. READ MORE: Police chief sentenced for Guatemala war role More than 35 boxes of evidence were presented, including some with human remains and pieces of clothing. The remains were exhumed in 2012 by the Guatemalan Foundation for Forensic Anthropology. We the judges firmly believe the testimony of the women who were raped in Sepur Zarco, said Yassmin Barrios, chief judge of the court. Rape is an instrument or weapon of war. It is a way to attack the country, killing or raping the victims. The woman was seen as a military objective. Parties to start negotiations seeking alliances to form government, after ruling coalition falls short of victory. Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny has conceded defeat following elections that saw the governing coalition punished by voters weary of austerity, leaving the eurozone country in political limbo with no clear winner. Clearly the government of Fine Gael and Labour are not going to be returned to office, Kenny, the leader of the centre-right Fine Gael party, told RTE television. Early indications suggest that Fine Gael and its centre-left junior partner have been hard hit by continued public anger over years of austerity, despite Ireland recording the fastest growth in the European Union. Many voters turned to independents and anti-austerity parties, and the country now faces the prospect of protracted negotiations as political leaders try to build enough support to form a new governing coalition. Kenny said the early signs were a disappointment, as exit polls indicated the coalition would fall far short of the 80 seats needed to form a parliamentary majority. Obviously one has to wait now until all the counts are in right across the country to see what the options that must be considered are, he said. Fine Gael health minister Leo Varadkar said: I dont think that the obligation to form a government necessarily falls on us automatically. Al Jazeeras Neave Barker, reporting from Dublin, said anger at public spending cuts, rising social inequality and mistrust of established politicians have all played a role in a loss of support for the ruling coalition. The election has followed a similar pattern to other EU countries like Spain, Portugal and Greece that have also been through austerity, but Irelands story is different, he said. Austerity is officially over and the economys now the fastest growing in Europe, but that hasnt stopped many voters from punishing the outgoing government in the polls. The centre-right Fianna Fail appeared to have regained some ground lost when the party was routed five years ago in the wake of Irelands housing crash and economic crisis. READ MORE: Homeless Irish families face eviction on election day But anti-austerity groups, independent politicians, small parties and left-wing party Sinn Fein are all on course to increase their seats in parliament, as commentators heralded a seismic change in politics. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, who have taken turns ruling Ireland since 1932, would likely have enough seats between them to form a coalition government. But despite their political similarities, they are bitter rivals whose differences date back to a civil war almost a century ago. The option that screams out the most is a Fine Gael-Fianna Fail coalition, said University of Maynooth lecturer Adrian Kavanagh. Exit poll projects that PM Enda Kennys government will not secure majority as voters react to uneven economic recovery. Irish Prime Minister Enda Kennys coalition government has failed to win an overall majority in the general election, an exit poll has indicated, threatening to plunge the country into a period of political instability. Irelands uneven economic recovery was the focus in Fridays election in which voters punished the government for years of austerity despite warnings that political instability might damage a nascent recovery. Kennys Fine Gael will win the election with 26.1 percent, the Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI exit poll said. With partners Labour in line with 7.8 percent of the ballot, they would fall well short of the 41-42 percent they identified as being needed for re-election. Such an outcome would leave an unprecedented and potentially unstable alliance between historic rivals Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, which the exit poll put at 22.9 percent, as potentially the only viable way to break the deadlock. One Fine Gael junior minister said he would of course be open to the prospect minutes after the exit poll was released, the first senior member of either party to say so. We have to have a government and every option will have to be looked at. The only option I would have a problem with is Sinn Fein, Michael Ring told the Newstalk radio station, referring to the left-wing party which polled at 14.9 percent. Ring said that if the exit poll proved accurate, it would be a very disappointing and difficult result for Fine Gael which won 36 percent of the vote in 2011 and came into the campaign above 30 percent in most polls. READ MORE: Homeless Irish families face eviction on election day Framed as a debate over how to distribute the profits of an economic growth surge since the country took a sovereign bailout in 2010, Kennys campaign to keep the recovery going fell flat among many yet to feel any impact after years of austerity. Al Jazeeras Neave Barker, reporting from Dublin, said the aftershocks of the economic crisis are still being felt across the country. Ireland is the fastest growing economy in the European Union, but not without painful cuts to public services like housing, education and policing, to name a few, Barker said. While many in Ireland want the country to remain on the same roadmap to recovery, others are desperate for change. Thousands of sex workers, small business owners and families face eviction as part of Indonesian governments campaign. Jakarta has shut down its largest and oldest red-light district, forcing the eviction of thousands of Indonesian sex workers, small business owners and families. Located in northern Jakarta, Kalijodo, also known as Soulmate River, has been home to generations of Indonesians. Among those affected by the governments crackdown is Sarmi, who has lived in Kalijodo for nearly half a century and made money through doing laundry. She raised her children and grandchildren but finds herself out of work after the district shut down. Im crying all the time, Sarmi told Al Jazeera. I cant even eat. I want to eat but I dont even have money to buy food now. I feel so sad about my grandchildren. Over 3,000 residents have been evicted and only 200 of those have been given low-cost apartments. RELATED: Going undercover as a sex worker So far, 68 red-light districts have been shut down and an additional 100 could face closure within three years, according to Khofifah Indar Parawansa, Indonesias social affairs minister. Earlier this week, Parawansa was quoted saying that his country is planning to close down all of the countrys red-light districts by 2019 in an effort to eradicate prostitution in the worlds most populous Muslim-majority country. In Kalijodo, most of the sex workers have gone back to their villages but some have refused to leave. Leonard Eko, a local resident, says the government has failed to create jobs and provide education, causing the urgent need for money. These sex workers are Indonesian citizens who simply need money to survive. The government should treat them more humanely, Eko said. Part of our culture Prostitution is rampant in major Indonesian cities despite being illegal. Basuki Purnama, Jakartas governor, told Al Jazeera that Indonesian laws simply do not allow red-light districts. However, an Indonesian city planner says the governments efforts will not eradicate prostitution from the country. Prostitution has always been part of our culture, Yayat said. You can destroy their places but you cant make them disappear. They will always be here. The sex workers do this because they see no other options since they are poor. The Canadian governments plan to repeal citizenship-revocation laws has been welcomed by civil liberty groups in the country. The revocation laws, which were part of Bill C-24, went into effect in May 2015 and strictly applied to dual nationals of Canada giving the government ability to strip dual citizens of their Canadian passports if convicted of terrorism, high treason and spying offences. We applaud the government for introducing these changes to restore equal citizenship in Canada. Bill C-24 was discriminatory and unconstitutional, said Laura Track, a counsel for the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA). READ MORE: Welcome to Canada but dont get too comfortable John McCallum, Canadas immigration minister, has said the government proposes to repeal and change parts of the Citizenship Act, which was previously amended under the Conservative government led by Stephen Harper. Bill C-24, also known as the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act, was first introduced in 2014 and was the countrys biggest immigration revamp since 1977. According to McCallum, this law created two classes of Canadians. It was reported last year that Canada stripped citizenship from a few dual nationals linked to specific crimes, including Zakaria Amara also a Jordanian citizen who in 2010 was sentenced to life in prison for plotting to detonate bombs in downtown Toronto. One class of Canadians Once the revocation laws are repealed, Amara may have his Canadian citizenship reinstated. When asked about Amara retaining his revoked citizenship, McCallum said the Liberal Party-led government believed in having one class of Canadians and that it was up to the criminal justice system to deal with those convicted of crimes. This notion was heavily criticised by members of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC), the current opposition in parliament. Rona Ambrose, CPCs interim leader, has expressed concern over Amaras citizenship status via Twitter, saying that the government announcement bestows Canadian citizenship on a convicted terrorist. https://twitter.com/RonaAmbrose/status/702898245782126593 Likewise, Michelle Rempel, a CPC member of parliament, expressed her disappointment with the governments intention to repeal the revocation laws. I would like to think that the first principle that we put forward, that were not celebrating people that commit terrorist actions against our country, she said. Others, such as Raj Sharma, a Canadian immigration lawyer, describe the CPCs position as dog-whistle politics. Theyre signalling to their base that they theyre tough on [terrorism]. That was pandering to the gallery, done for political purposes, he told Al Jazeera. Before Bill C-24, the Canadian government was only able to strip citizenship from individuals who were accused of obtaining it fraudulently an authority the Liberal government will keep. It should never be up to a government official or politician to make a final decision whether someones citizenship should be taken away, Track, the BCCLA counsel, said. READ MORE: The reassertion of whiteness in Canada Deepan Budlakoti and Bill C-24 Other changes proposed by the current government include allowing citizenship applicants to count up to a years worth of the days they spend in Canada as non-permanent-residents (PR). This will affect people such as international students who, under Bill C-24, are not allowed to count their non-PR days in Canada. Youve gotten a degree here thats four years, Sharma told Al Jazeera. After that you get an open work permit and work here. After two years with skilled work experience, you apply for permanent residency, [which] might take a year or two to process. Under [C-24] youd have to wait another four years minimum to apply. Case in point A permanent resident currently residing in Montreal found himself facing those obstacles last year when he first applied for citizenship. The resident who spoke to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity to protect his ongoing citizenship application status said he moved to Canada from Pakistan in 2004 as an international student. He became a permanent resident of Canada in 2012 and, by the time he was eligible to apply for citizenship last year, the residency requirements of Bill C-24 came into effect. I was panicking, given that I was losing on all my pre-PR days. I couldnt apply for another two years, summer 2017 at the earliest, he said. Having resided in Canada for more than 11 years, he still decided to apply for citizenship last June. His application was returned back marked incomplete and he was told to apply again once he met the residency requirements in accordance with Bill C-24. Knowing how close I was to being Canadian. Being able to vote, have a passport and call myself Canadian. Having that taken away was the most stressful feeling. I was very emotional, he said. He said that he had no choice but to go on with his daily life, working and continuing his post-graduate studies in business, waiting to meet his extended residency requirement. After this weeks announcement, he learned that he can apply for citizenship sooner than planned. Once the proposed government changes take effect, he will have a year credited back, meaning that he can apply immediately. I emailed my entire family and all my friends when I read the announcement. It just felt very Canadian to me, the values that attracted me to the country and what made me stay this whole time, he said. The government has not yet specified a date for when the changes will take effect. Many of the changes proposed will be put to vote in parliament, where they are expected to pass because of the Liberal Partys majority. Follow Mohamed Hashem on Twitter: @mhashem_ Africas oldest leader thanks ZANU-PF youth wing and supporters for organising $800,000 party to mark his 92nd birthday. Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has marked his 92nd birthday at a nearly $1m party organised by supporters in a drought-stricken part of the country. Mugabe, Zimbabwes only leader since its independence from Britain in 1980, thanked the ZANU-PF youth wing and thousands of party supporters for organising Saturdays $800,000 party in Masvingo province. Africas oldest leader turned 92 on February 21 and shows no intention of stepping down, much to the frustration of feuding members of his ruling ZANU-PF party who have long been trying to position themselves for his succession. Ninety-two balloons were released and he listened to poetry readings, songs and chants hailing him as an African icon and a visionary. He cut a giant cake made to look like the ancient ruins for which Zimbabwe is named. School children, foreign diplomats, government ministers and security chiefs were also present. Mugabe said no one would starve as a result of a drought, which has left three million people in need and prompted the declaration of a state of disaster in most rural areas. He said Zimbabwe would not accept aid if it came with conditions that the country should accept gay rights. If aid is to be given on the basis that we accept the principle of gay marriages, then let that aid stay were it is, Mugabe said during an hour-long speech. We dont want it. It is rotten aid, filthy aid and we wont have anything to do with it. Zimbabwe has appealed for nearly $1.6bn to help pay for grain and other food, but no aid organisation is known to have attached such a condition to assistance. Annual pilgrimage Mugabes birthday parties have become an annual pilgrimage for loyalists and those seeking favours from him. However, this years celebration in Masvingo proved particularly controversial. In Masvingo, 75 percent of the staple maize crop was destroyed by the parched conditions, making it the hardest-hit in Zimbabwe in the worst drought since the early 1990s. The money that is being budgeted for this ill-conceived birthday bash should actually be used to import maize to avert the impending starvation in Masvingo province and other parts of the country, Obert Gutu, a spokesperson for the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change, said in a statement. Critics blame Mugabe for many of the problems facing the country. They say his policies, including the seizures and redistribution of white-owned commercial farms, drove one of Africas most promising economies into nearly a decade of deep recession until 2008 that cut its output almost in half. Temporary ceasefire, which excludes ISIL and al-Nusra Front, holding, with some gunfire but no major attacks reported. Russia has halted air strikes in Syria in accordance with a ceasefire brokered by the country and the US. Russia entered the Syrian conflict on behalf of ally President Bashar al-Assad in September 2015, and its air power has played a significant role in the recent major gains by government forces. Russias air force fully halted bombing in the green zone that is in those areas and those armed groups which had sent us ceasefire requests, Lieutenant-General Sergei Rudskoi, a senior representative of the General Staff, said. A lull in fighting was reported throughout most of Syria on Saturday, hours after the US-Russia brokered cessation of hostilities agreement took effect. READ MORE: Inside Story will a ceasefire hold in Syria? The UN Security Council unanimously passed a vote late on Friday to support the pause in fighting in Syria, and demanded that all parties to the agreement fulfill their commitments to end hostilities. The ceasefire began at midnight Damascus time on Saturday (22:00 GMT Friday). Al Jazeeras Omar al-Saleh, reporting from Turkeys Gaziantep on the Syria border, said: The situation is calm the truce is largely holding for the first time in many years.] The airbase in Latakia, which the Russians use for their air strikes, is very calm as well. Rudskoi said while Russia would continue air strikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group and al-Qaedas branch in Syria, al-Nusra Front, it was keeping its aircraft on the ground for now to avoid any possible mistakes. He said Russia had given the US maps showing the location of opposition groups pledging to abide by the ceasefire, as well as ISIL and al-Nusra Front units. He said 74 opposition units including more than 6,100 fighters had agreed to adhere to the truce. While there were no reports of air strikes or heavy artillery fire, violence was reported on Saturday. In desperate need Al Jazeeras Mohammed Jamjoom, reporting from Beirut in neighbouring Lebanon, said there had been no reported air strikes in areas included in the ceasefire, explaining that several communities across Syria were still in desperate need of humanitarian aid. The High Negotiations Committee (HNC) has complained even as late as today that there are areas inside Syria that need to get aid, including medical supplies, food and water, he said, referring to Syrias main opposition bloc. Activists there on the ground, especially opposition activists, say that aid is needed, he said, adding that they were urging the UN and other aid organisations. A Syrian rebel group in the countrys northwest said it came under attack from government ground forces at 4am local time (02:00 GMT) in what it called a breach of the cessation of hostilities plan. Three fighters from the rebel First Coastal Division were killed while repelling the attack in the Jabal Turkman area near the Turkish border in Latakia province, Fadi Ahmad, the groups spokesman, told Reuters news agency. Barrel bomb reports There were also reports of Syrian helicopters dropping barrel bombs. The Syrian military could not immediately be reached for comment. Elsewhere on Saturday, a suicide car bomb exploded on the edge of Salamiyeh, a government-held central town, killing two people and wounding four others, the state news agency said. COMPASS The Invisible railroad for Syrian refugees Countries backing the Syrian peace process meet on Saturday in Geneva to assess the situation. The Syrian government has previously said it would abide by the truce, but would have the right to retaliate for any attacks. The deal marks the biggest diplomatic push yet to end Syrias five-year war, which has killed more than 260,000 people and displaced millions from their homes. Boris Nemtsov was shot days before he was to release report on alleged Russian military involvement in Ukraine conflict Thousands of Russians have marched through Moscow and Saint Petersburg in memory of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov who was killed near the Kremlin a year ago. According to the Russian interior ministry, about 7,500 people took part in the protests but Dazhd news agency put the figure closer to 20,000. Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister who became an outspoken critic of longtime President Vladimir Putin, was shot while walking across a bridge a short distance from the Kremlin and Saint Basils Cathedral with his Ukrainian girlfriend. OPINION: Boris Nemtsovs last walk Some marchers carried Russian flags, placards, flowers and Nemtsovs portraits. Others chanted: Russia will be free and Russia without Putin. The march drew strong support from Nemtsovs political party, the Peoples Freedom Party, commonly known by its Russian acronym PARNAS. Mikhail Kasyanov, a former prime minister under Putin, marched at the front of the crowd. Kasyanov is running for election to the federal parliament this year as a leader of PARNAS. Maria Lipman, an independent political analyst, said the authorities only observed but did not intervene. It was a peaceful march, the police did not interfere and nobody was detained, she told Al Jazeera from Moscow. There were no speeches because the format of the event did not provide for speeches. The event was coordinated with authorities. It was tribute to a man who was killed last year in what was a purely political assassination. Nemtsovs murder occurred just days before he was expected to lead a major opposition march and release a controversial report about alleged Russian military involvement in the Ukraine conflict. In December, Russian Investigative Committee said it was charging five men with suspected contract killing. Taliban claims bombing outside defence ministry in Kabul, just hours after militia commanders death in blast in Kunar. More than 20 people have been killed and many more wounded in separate suicide attacks in Afghanistan. In the latest attack, at least 12 people were killed in front of the defence ministry building in Kabul, according to a statement released by the ministry. Officials had a slightly lower death toll from Saturdays bombing. Nine people were killed and 13 were wounded, Abdul Rahman Rahimi, Kabuls police chief, said at the scene of the blast, which occurred as offices closed for the day. Most of them were civilians. The Taliban claimed responsibility. Civilians among victims In the days first attack, a suicide blast in Kunar province in the east killed at least 13 people and injured 40 others. Wahidullah Kalimzai, Kunar governor, said the bomber rode up on a motorcycle to the entrance of the government compound in the town of Asadabad and blew himself up. Most of victims were civilians and children who were either passing by or playing in the park, Kalimzai told Reuters news agency. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the apparent target of the attack, a tribal elder and militia commander named Haji Khan Jan, was among the dead. Jan was reportedly involved in a number of operations against the Taliban in his district last year. The Taliban these insurgent groups are still active in parts of Afghanistan and they are going after some significant targets, Al Jazeeras Reza Sayah reported from Kabul. This is a big get for insurgents. The Afghan branch of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group also operates in Kunar. The attacks come as officials from Afghanistan, Pakistan, the US and China are pressing for a resumption of the peace talks with the Taliban. But it remains unclear whether the Taliban will take part in direct peace talks that the four-nation group hope will be held in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, as early as next week. In a statement issued after the Kunar attack, President Ashraf Ghani said his government would not conduct peace talks with groups that killed innocent people and said security forces would step up the fight against terrorism. Government and rebels will restart peace talks on March 7 if cessation of hostilities holds, UN Syria envoy says. A lull in fighting was reported throughout Syria on Saturday, hours after a United States-Russia brokered cessation of hostilities agreement took effect amid hopes the truce will lead to an end of nearly five years of war. The UN Security Council unanimously passed a vote late Friday to support the pause in fighting in Syria and demanded that all parties to the agreement fulfill their commitments to end hostilities. The vote came less than an hour before the start of the proposed ceasefire, which began at midnight Damascus time on Saturday (22:00 GMT Friday). Fighting had raged across much of western Syria right up until the agreement came into effect, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The situation is calm the truce is largely holding for the first time in many years. The airbase in Latakia, which the Russians use for their air strikes, was very calm, as well, said Al Jazeeras Omar al-Salah, reporting from Turkeys Gaziantep on the border with Syria. An opposition activist in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta also reported quiet in the early hours of Saturday. Speaking shortly after midnight, Mazen al-Shami told AP that Eastern Ghouta is quiet for the first time in years. While there were no reports of air strikes or heavy artillery fire, violence was reported on Saturday. A Syrian rebel group in the countrys northwest said it came under attack from government ground forces at 4am (02:00 GMT) in what it called a breach of the cessation of hostilities plan. Three fighters from the rebel First Coastal Division were killed while repelling the attack in the Jabal Turkman area near the Turkish border in Latakia province, Fadi Ahmad, the groups spokesman, told Reuters news agency. The Syrian military could not immediately be reached for comment. The Syrian government has said it will respect the agreement drawn up by Russia and the United States, but said it will continue to fight the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group, which are not covered by the deal. Meanwhile, a suicide car bomb exploded Saturday on the edge of Salamiyeh, a government-held central town, killing two people and wounding four others, the state news agency said. UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said any use of force must be proportionate and as a last resort if fresh fighting breaks the cessation of hostilities. No doubt, there will be no shortage of attempts to undermine this process. We are ready for it, he said. Countries backing the Syrian peace process meet on Saturday in Geneva to assess the situation. Lets pray that this works because, frankly, this is the best opportunity we can imagine the Syrian people has had for the last five years in order to see something better and hopefully something related to peace. Facts will tell, de Mistura said. OPINION: A ceasefire in Syria is pure fantasy Al Jazeeras diplomatic editor, James Bays, reporting from UN headquarters in New York, said the start of the conditional truce was a crucial moment in the peace process. Everyone knows there are going to be violations of the cessation of hostilities, he said. Diplomats tell me the best they can expect is a lull in the violence. And then it might just be possible to persuade the warring parties to resume talks in Geneva. De Mistura said Syrian peace talks will reconvene on March 7 if the ceasefire holds. The opposition alliance, known as the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), said in a statement that 97 factions and armed groups fighting the forces of President Bashar al-Assad will respect the two-week truce. The Syrian government has previously said it would abide by the truce, but would have the right to retaliate for any attacks. The deal marks the biggest diplomatic push yet to end Syrias nearly five-year-old war, which has killed more than 260,000 people and displaced millions from their homes. Opposition leaders tell Al Jazeera ballots were pre-ticked and results adjusted in contentious poll. Ugandas electoral commission has denied election results were rigged, after opposition leaders accused officials of pre-ticking ballot sheets and adjusting results after the long-time leader, Yoweri Museveni, won a fifth term in office. Jotham Taremwa, a spokesman for the electoral commission, told Al Jazeera on Friday that his office had not received any official complaints over allegations that ballots had been tampered with. I never saw that, I never heard that; we have not received that complaint. So I thought there were enough checks and balances to ensure that nothing is done. Uganda: Votes are counted but uncertainty rules One opposition candidate, Joy Kabatsi, who ran for parliament on an independent ticket, told Al Jazeera she found ruling party officials stuffing pre-ticked ballot papers into ballot boxes. Kabatsi also showed Al Jazeera examples of pre-ticked ballots she had found. A polling officer also told Al Jazeera that changes were made to ballots in full view of security forces. We got them changing the declaration form in the presence of the inspector-general of the district. The police were there, soldiers were there. In fact, they were protecting those ones who were changing the declaration. So we entered there by force; they decide to cock the gun on us, he said on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. On Tuesday, the electoral commission ruled that Yoweri Museveni had won a fifth term in the polls. It is a decision opposition supporters say they will not accept. Kizza Besigye, Musevenis main opposition rival, was arrested several times in the lead-up to voting, and afterwards, when he and his supporters attempted to protest the results. On Saturday, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party leader remained under house arrest. Concerns Following the announcement of Musevenis victory, the United Nations human rights office expressed concern over Ugandas tense post-election situation. The UNs statement came after reports emerged of least two deaths and an unknown number of people injured in election-related violence. Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) spokesperson Cecile Pouilly said the UN was concerned about an intimidating display of force used by Ugandan police and military forces on opposition supporters. We remind the government of Uganda of its obligations under international human rights law not to unduly restrict freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, Pouilly said. Foreign observers have also said the polls were not free or fair. Iran has come a long way in the last year. A nuclear deal paved the way for the lifting of international sanctions. And with it hope, in the words of US President Obama, that Iran would be able to fully rejoin the community of nations. Now, in a test of where the country is heading, Iranians have been voting for new members of parliament and the Assembly of Experts. Its a vote that pits powerful conservative elements in Iranian politics against their reformist rivals. On this Inside Story, we look at whos been allowed to compete and who hasnt. And we ask, could this election change the political landscape in Iran? Presenter: Adrian Finighan Guests: Hamid Reza Gholamzadeh Editor in Chief of Mehr News Agency Ellie Geranmayeh Middle East and North Africa Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations Mohammad Shabani Iran Pulse Editor at Al Monitor We look at Israels crackdown on journalists over alleged media bias; plus, the media landscape in South Africa. Israel is facing a global image problem and once again, the state is blaming the media. Over the past month, the Knesset has summoned foreign journalists to defend themselves against accusations of bias, particularly around their coverage of the protracted violence in Jerusalem and the West Bank. For the domestic media, there has also been a tightening of controls since Ariel Ben Avraham was appointed the new chief military censor. Avraham recently issued a directive ordering news organisations, digital outlets, bloggers and even certain Facebook users to run stories about national security past military censors before publishing or posting. All of this is happening while Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doubles up as the communications minister, showing how the Likud Party sees the control of the media narrative as critical to the wellbeing of its government. Talking us through the story are: Lahav Harkov Levine, a reporter for the Jerusalem Post; Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man, the editor-in-chief at +972 Magazine; Uri Blau, a journalist; and Luke Baker, the Reuters bureau chief and head of the Foreign Press Association. Other media stories on our radar this week: Chinese President Xi Jinping has made the rules of journalism clear for the countrys state-owned news outlets; in Turkey, two prominent journalists accused of revealing state secrets have been released after being held for three months; and a hot mic catches MSNBCs Morning Joe hosts cosying up to Donald Trump. Mandelas legacy: The media in post-apartheid South Africa Almost 22 years after the end of the Apartheid regime in South Africa, transformation of the countrys media is still a work in progress. In terms of numbers, the media sector has done relatively well compared with other influential sectors in redressing inequalities. However, questions of ownership and the way the country is reported on remain. The Listening Posts Nic Muirhead went to South Africa to investigate the transformation issue in the countrys media. Finally, President Xi Jinpings state media tour was TV gold but one of the most theatrical moments didnt take place on camera; it came after the president visited the newsrooms of the Xinhua news agency. A deputy editor at Xinhua, Pu Liye, posted a poem in praise of the president on his WeChat account and Chinese web users had a field day with the poem long after it went viral. It was written in Mandarin, so we had it translated and read out, accompanied by a few pictures of the president on his media tour. "Love Wins," says Jimmy Greene, Saxophonist, Newtown, Connecticut.Inspired by his daughter, Ana, Beautiful Life is emotionally fulfilling towards remembrance of all things for the love of Ana.The children's choir made up of Ana's and her brother, Isaiah's friends from when the family lived in Canada, exemplifies the spirit of joy in which Ana lived. Isaiah, Nelba, her mother, and Jimmy hold a candlelight in their hearts for Ana and the children killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting.Two years after Ana was killed in the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School,, Jazz Saxophonist released Beautiful Life (Mack Avenue Records, 2014), his first album since the tragedy, and has already earned a double Grammy nominee for an album that pays her honor.If ever there is a replacement for words, the soprano saxophone expresses what the voice of Ana may sound as if she were alive today. Greene described on CBS This Morning with Gayle King that the process of making the music was fraught with tears and a lot of pain, but it was a necessary expression, just as if talking is a necessary communication. Nelba explained how she would find her husband locked in Ana's room, practicing, and creating the music often in tears. In listening to this impeccable rendering of eloquent compositions, the textures and phrasing of the saxophones serenades and calms the soul.Nelba, Greene's wife interprets post trauma as having three normal responses. "Fight, flight, or freeze," states Nelba. She articulates, "What Jimmy did was to show people that there is another way to respond, and that is create. Indeed, this recording embodies pure music while elevating the bar for jazz in 2016.One touching viewpoint from Greene to recognize Ana at the age of six and a half, the turn in her life that the candles blew out. Reflecting on his wife's theory, he created "Seventh Candle" to represent the candle that would never be on Ana's next birthday cake. Written in chorus with her seventh birthday in 2013, Greene captured the voice of Ana by playing it exclusively on the soprano saxophone because that was the closest range to his daughter's voice.This wonderful collection of memories includes a recording of Ana with her brother, Isaiah that is mesmerizing. Greene also incorporates a children's choir with Ana's friends, in which he remembers as "powerful," yet so painful to witness, as it was the first time seeing them since Ana's death. He writes in a letter to himself, "It was painful, absolutely. But the music that poured out of them was just really, really special."Nelba Greene told Gayle King on CBS This Morning that her husband went into her first theory mode by going to Washington, D.C. to lobby towards efforts for gun control following Ana's death. She loves her husband as a "creator;" however, she emphasizes that Jimmy Greene is a fighter.Jimmy and Nelba connected at ages 15 and began dating at 17. After attending two proms together, they married at age 25. Nelba is grateful for their faith and community of people around them as a support system for their family and marriage. "I think it was hard because one of the things that people talk less about is how unkind grief is on a marriage. She goes on to say that they were able to bring out strengths together that will leave a legacy, hopefully, for many generations to come." Nelba wants their son to use this heartfelt event as an example of how one would respond to tragedy. Isaiah, a beautiful kid who still deserves a good life, refuses to relocate having lived in Sandy Hook only four months when Ana was killed, indicating in spite of, it is a good place to live. Isaiah only wishes for Ana."She was a little girl that felt a lot of love, so it was not uncommon to come home to a note from Ana," Nelba said. "As a matter of fact, one of the most memorable things, and one of the things that allowed us, I think, to live this far is the day that she said to us upon having a hard day, 'Don't let them suck your fun circuits dry, Mom.' Therefore, we remember the notes of love, the words of encouragement. And she did have a very special way about her."If this CD were a portrait, it would be on display in the most beautiful array of fine art. The song "Ana's Way" from Greene's album captures exactly that. The lyric, which Greene wrote himself, goes: "She danced and sang and laughed and lived a life full of joyful memories. Ana had a way about her."Jazz saxophonistwas nominated for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals for "When I Come Home" withand Best Jazz Instrumental Album for 2014's Beautiful Life. Beautiful Life peaked at No. 5 on Billboard's Jazz Albums chart. 404 Sorry! that page can not be found... The URL was either incorrect, you took a wrong guess or there is a technical problem. Donatella Versace loves beauty. Her bathroom is legendary, not only for its size and its opulence, but also for the sheer amount of products inside. And in 2005, Allure traveled to Milan to shoot the designer's insane beauty stash, way before the #shelfie was a thing. To call Versace a product junkie is an understatement. In the 2005 article Versace admitted to receiving three packages of beauty goodies a day (all of which she ordered herself). "I try the products immediately, and if I like them, I immediately call and order more," she said. She also showed off her cabinets full of skin care, body products, and perfume, all arranged alphabetically by type and brand. The point is, Versace knows her products, and it just so happens that her new favorite makeup item inspired the look for her fall show. 2016 Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho The product in question is Pat McGrath's Black Caviar pencil, the liner that came with the makeup artist's limited-edition Phantom 002 launch. "I've never had a pencil like this: It's black, shiny and matte at the same time, and when you put it inside or underneath your eyes it stays forever," Versace said backstage, her big brown eyes rimmed in the blackest pigment you've ever seen. "I did my makeup six hours ago, and it hasn't moved!" Versace's so obsessed, she's asked McGrath for moreand for more shades. "I want dark brown, and blue, and greenand I want them now! I use makeup, I love makeup, I try every brand in the world, and this [liner] is so special, it's like a couture liner." Unfortunately, even Donatella Versace will have to wait. McGrath launched with 1,200 liners, and those were the only 1,200 in the world. "The factory said it will take two years to make another set," she explained. With her newest makeup obsession in mind, Versace asked McGrath to create a rock and roll look that would complement the collection's theme of "urban glam"further proving the trend of heavy, gothic makeup is in full force. McGrath traced the models' eyes both inside and out with black pencil, smudging the outer corners for a smoked-out effect, while hairstylist Guido added subtle bends to the hair with a large curling iron, blasting it with Redken Windblown for a mussed-up texture and topping it off with a black elastic headband. "Donatella really liked these bands and asked me to incorporate them into the look," he said. And as we've learned, when it comes to beauty, Versace knows exactly what she likes. 2005 .. The African Court on Human and Peoples Rights (AfCHPR) will hold its 40th Ordinary Session from 29 February to 18 March 2016 at its seat in Arusha, the United Republic of Tanzania. The Judges, among others, will examine on over 50 applications and four requests for Advisory Opinions. During the session, there will be two []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric... On February 19, 2016, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation[1] with Gabon. Gabons economy is facing mounting headwinds. Economic activity benefited from a one-off boost in oil production in 2015, due to the introduction of new oil fields and productivity improvements, which are expected to help maintain []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric... On February 2226, the International Monetary Funds (IMF) Regional Technical Assistance Center in Southern Africa (AFRITAC South) held a regional seminar at the Africa Training Institute in Mauritius on improving compliance with Risk Based Supervision (RBS) and Pillar 2 of Basel II. The event brought together senior and mid-level officials from the supervision departments of []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric... H.E Robert Mugabe, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe on Thursday 25 February 2016, handed over 300 head of cattle to a delegation of the African Union led by H.E. Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC). The donation in kind, was a pledge made by President Mugabe to the African Union []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric... Ms Dholakia said: The UK remains gravely concerned about the situation in Burundi. Violence continues daily. We are particularly alarmed at increasing reports of human rights abuses, including sexual violence, assassinations and disappearances; as well as hate speech and incitement to violence. We continue to call on all parties to take urgent steps to end []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric... AR's Editor Joe Shea Talks About Elections On Iranian TV Bear Stearns Saved By Fed As Lehman Bros. Falters; Major Bank Failure Looms Over Wall Street, Sends Markets Into 200-Pt. Dive Lie Upon Lie Five Years Into the Iraq War The Administration Still Churns Out Lies by Randolph Holhut A Small Tragedy Even at 90, As Friends Turn Cool She Knows the Show Must Go On by Joyce Marcel I'll Take Me Imagine John Wayne or Arnold In Heels, Silk and a Girdle by Elizabeth Andrews Sen. Nelson Calls For New Fla. Primary; Gov Crist Backs 'Do-Over' Who'll Win? Ask Spock Spock.com Engine Predicts Winners By Site Searches; It Can be Wrong by Jay Bhatti Chatting Up The Cat God Gave Me Dominion Over Him But I Think He's a Non-Believer by Constance Daley Death of a Thug The Life and Horrors of Suharto by Andreas Harsono ___________________________ This Just In Sierra Club: McCain Ducked All 15 Key Votes On Green Laws (AR) A Work By AR's T.S. Kerrigan Is Chosen As 'Best Poem' By Wordpress Site Murder At Mile 63 The Deadly Assault and Bush Administration Cover-Up by S. Eben Kirkesby and Andreas Harsono 5427 14th St. West, Bradenton, FL 34207 $6.99 Fish Fridays! Manatee Co.'s Only 24-Hr. FREE Wi-Fi Paid Advertisement On Native Ground AFTER 5 YEARS, WE'RE STILL LIED TO ABOUT IRAQ by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Next week is the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. And it is likely that sometime in the next couple of weeks, the 4,000th American soldier will die in Iraq. [MORE] Momentum OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. - It's 1931, and a 14-year-old girl is standing alone on a stage. She's small and lively with dark curly hair, widespread hazel eyes, slender wrists and an open, eager face filled with the wonder of performing. Her name is Rose, and one day she will be my mother. But now she is performing an Eugene O'Neill monologue called "Before Breakfast" for a ladies' club in a wealthy suburb of Long Island. [MORE] One Woman's World COMFORTABLE WITH MYSELF by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- I'm not sure but I think I may be socially incorrect. [MORE] On Native Ground ENOUGH FOR A WAR, NOT FOR A PEOPLE by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Last week, the National Governors Assn. met in Washington, D.C. One of the tasks the NGA had on its agenda was to ask President Bush to increase federal spending on roads, bridges and other public works projects as a way to stimulate the economy. He rejected their pleas out of hand, claiming that infrastructure projects wouldn't offer any short-term economic boost. [MORE] Brasch Words BEWARE THE SELF-REVERENTIAL PRESS by Walter Brasch BLOOMSBURG, Pa. -- Shortly before the primary votes this past week, Newsweek's Jonathan Alter called Sen. Barack Obama's surge to the Democratic nomination "inevitable." It also called for Hillary Clinton to "start her campaign for Senate majority leader." [MORE] Constance A CONVERSATION WITH MY CAT Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- Normally, when the cat starts his evening rant of meowing continuously until he makes his point, I just take it as long as I can, pick him up, and put him in the garage for the night. He doesn't want to go, but the meowing stops and I don't care if he likes it or not. [MORE] Momentum OUT OF STRUGGLE, ART by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Here we are again at the crossroads of art and social change, having the opportunity to watch good and great films about the lives of women in support of the Women's Crisis Center. [MORE] Campaign 2008 HOW TO PREDICT SUPER TUESDAY II WINNERS? ONLINE SEARCH by Jay Bhatti NEW YORK, March 4, 2008, 7:00PM ET -- With the outcomes of the Texas, Vermont, Ohio and Rhode Island primaries to be decided tonight, how possible is it that online searching can predict who will win tonight's primaries? [MORE] One Woman's World DON'T VOTE; IT ENCOURAGES THEM by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- Call me angry and disgusted but don't call me un-American because I won't be voting come November. [MORE] On Native Ground BUSH AND THE KEYBOARD COMMANDOS by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- As the days tick down toward the eventual departure of President George W. Bush from the White House, it's a hopeful sign that most Americans are no longer moved by his Administration's constant exploitation of terrorism for political gain. [MORE] Momentum WHICH AMERICA DO YOU LIVE IN? by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- It's a little confusing. [MORE] Make My Dat THE LAWYER THAT ATE NEW YORK by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- I used to know a guy who, quite literally, didn't get hyperbole. He didn't understand exaggeration. As a result, he missed most jokes that came his way. [MORE] On Native Ground FIDEL RETIRES: NOW THE COLD WAR IS REALLY OVER by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Maybe now, we can finally say the Cold War is over. [MORE] Make My Dat THE LAWYER THAT ATE NEW YORK by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- I used to know a guy who, quite literally, didn't get hyperbole. He didn't understand exaggeration. As a result, he missed most jokes that came his way. [MORE] One Woman's World POLITICS IS NO PARTY by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- Are you having a hard time focusing your eyes? Do you have faint red spots all over your body? Is there a ringing in your ears and do you see wavy lines when you look at your television set? Do your hands shake when you try to hold a cup of coffee? And have you recently been forgetting what day of the week it is - or what year? [MORE] Make My Day FOR BETTER OR WORSE ... A LOT WORSE by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- "Marriage: It's Only Going to Get Worse." [MORE] Constance YOU CALL THESE RIGHTS? by Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- When you express an opinion you hope to persuade others to your point of view. It doesn't always happen but still, opinion writers try. [MORE] Momentum THE BRIDGE WOMAN by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. - Out there in America - yes, still - is a generation of women who were born in the 1940s, raised in the 1950s, and who came to radical consciousness in the late 1960s and early 1970s. I am one of them. Hillary Clinton is one of them. [MORE] On Native Ground OBAMA AND MY GENERATION by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- I originally planned on voting for Dennis Kucinich in the Vermont Primary on March 4. [MORE] The Willies: WARNING: THIS MEDICATION MAY MURDER YOUR FRIENDS by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla. -- You've heard the warnings, haven't you? Stop Prozac and you may take a shotgun, an Uzi or an AK-47 and mow down your family and friends, or even a whole classroom full of your fellow students. You didn't? Well, that warning is not on the bottle, but like countless mass-murder incidents before it, Friday's shootings at Northern Illinois University, as well as the Virginia Tech shootings that killed 32 last year, was probably precipitated by the effect of stopping medications that suppress anger and other powerful emotions but do not relieve the underlying cause. Isn't it time we started warning people - or stopped prescribing these medicines? [MORE] One Woman's World DON'T KNOCK ON MY DOOR by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- I wish I could feel delight in my poet's mansion being like Grand Central Station all the time, but I can't. And I wish my place was such a place that someone would one day write: "Her door was always open and she always made you feel all fuzzy and warm in her presence. She could make a cup of coffee seem like a banquet." [MORE] Reporting: Panama PANAMA'S VIOLENT LABOR UNREST INTENSIFIES Mark Scheinbaum PANAMA CITY, Panama, Feb, 15, 2008 -- After just one day of relative calm, wildcat construction strikes by some members of Panama's largest union flared up again Friday morning, four days after a police sniper shot one worker. More than 140 demonstrators have been injured and at least 500 arrested, authorities say. [MORE] Brasch Words TO STIMULATE ECONOMY, BUY A CHINESE-MADE U.S. FLAG by Walter Brasch BLOOMSBURG, Pa. -- Walking down Main Street, pushing a grocery cart loaded with clothes, toys, and appliances was Marshbaum. Fastened to the right front corner of the cart was an American flag tied onto a three-foot ruler. [MORE] Make My Day THE TOOTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TOOTH by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- To commemorate the death of noted shark exploder Roy Scheider, and the "Jaws" movies that resulted in Erik never setting foot in the ocean again, we are reprinting this column from 2003. Shark Experts 0, Sharks 1 [MORE] Momentum THE WINTER OF MY DISCONTENT by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. - As I write this, it's raining ice. Maybe a half a foot of snow and ice has already landed up here in the woods of Dummerston. Our cars are encased in it, and the door to the house is blocked. The satellite dish that brings in our Internet service quit about 20 minutes ago - frozen solid. [MORE] The Willies AMERICA TO HILLARY: GET OUT! by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 13, 2008 -- Sen. Hillary Clinton has adopted the Rudy Giuliani strategy, and it's working - for Sen. Barack Obama. It turns out to be the strategy all Democrats are seeking - an exit strategy. But it's not for Iraq. It's for her exit from the race for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination. [MORE] Constance CONFESSIONS OF A DISAPPOINTED VOTER by Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- A week ago at just about this time, I completed an article and was about to submit it as scheduled to The American Reporter. I was feeling rather elated, ready to show up on Super Tuesday morning, firmly touch the X next to Rudy Giuliani's name and get on with my day. He was my choice; he would get my vote. [MORE] Reporting: Florida SIERRA CLUB SET TO SUSPEND FLA. CHAPTER by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 10, 2008 -- The national Sierra Club is set to suspend its Florida chapter after years of divisive infighting, the president of the national club told Florida members in a letter delivered to some this weekend. It is the first time in its 116-year history that such a step has been considered by the club, according to news reports. [MORE] One Woman's World PLANT A NEW WORLD THIS SPRING by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- For a little while, the men will just have to toss and turn in their fear-free-women beds. For a small space of time Hillary Clinton will just have to trudge on toward the White House without my faint applause in the background. [MORE] On Native Ground VERMONT AND THE 5 STAGES OF CONSERVATIVE GRIEF by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- First, Vermont tried to convince the nation to impeach President Bush and Vice President Cheney. [MORE] Make My Day REBEL WITHOUT A TONGUE by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Kids' brains work in amazing ways. At times, they can grasp complex concepts and make impressive discoveries. Other times, you have to wonder how we ever survived as a species. [MORE] The Willies FOR DEMOCRATS, NOW IT'S ABOUT RACE, INCOME AND GENDER by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Feb. 6, 2008 -- It's not a good time to be a Democrat. As the Super Tuesday results demonstrated, the presidential race between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton has divided the partly along clear racial, income and gender lines - the very distinctions the party has sought to erase in principle but has emphasized in its pursuit of diversity. [MORE] Momentum SUPER TUESDAY BLUES by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Super Tuesday has come and gone and I still can't get excited about the upcoming presidential elections. [MORE] The Willies ON THE BRINK OF HISTORY, YOUR PUSH IS NEEDED by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 5. 2008 -- I'm expecting a sea change tonight. I believe that for the first time in this nation's history we will once and forever banish racism as the deciding factor in the destiny of African-Americans, and indeed adopt diversity as our path to the future. [MORE] Campaign 2008 AT 88, EVERY VOTE REALLY COUNTS by Ted Manna DENVER, Feb. 5, 2008 -- Pearl Turner will caucus for Mitt Romney tonight in Denver. [MORE] One Woman's World STAND BY YOUR WOMAN by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- The black vote. The gay vote. The fundamentalist vote. The Hispanic vote. [MORE] An AR Special SUSPECTS IN BENAZIR ASSASSINATION HAVE TIES TO MUSHARRAF by Ahmar Mustikhan WASHINGTON, D.C. -- When Gordon Brown this past Monday feted coup-leader-turned-President Pervez Musharraf at 10 Downing Street, Britain's new prime minister probably didn't ask the Pakistani dictator a question that is now on many minds: Did you order the murder of Benazir Bhutto? [MORE] Momentum TO THE VERMONT DELEGATION: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR US LATELY? by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. Back when President George W. Bush and Dick Vice President Dick Cheney were building up to their loathsome war in Iraq, very few people were brave enough to call the bullies' bluff. [MORE] On Native Ground IF BUSH HAS HIS WAY, WE'LL NEVER LEAVE IRAQ by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. - In his final State of the Union address on Jan. 28, President Bush cautioned against accelerating U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq, saying that it would endanger the process that has been made over the past year. [MORE] Campaign 2008 CLASH OF COMMENTS AND PROTESTORS AT CLINTON, OBAMA RALLIES IN DENVER by Ted Manna DENVER, Feb. 1, 2008 -- At least four presidential campaigns of both partiers rolled into in Denver this week ahead of the Feb. 5 "Super Tuesday" primaries in 22 states, but it was the Democratic presidential contenders who drew the big crowds and duked it out Wednesday. If sheer numbers are any indication, Sen. Barack Obama - preceded by a buoyant and beautiful Caroline Kennedy - won the round handily. He is the overwhelming favorite to win the Colorado primary next Tuesday. [MORE] The Willies WHY THE FLORIDA PRIMARY STINKS by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Jan. 30, 2008 -- I was with my wife and daughter driving the back way from Miami home to Bradenton when we stopped at a McDonald's in Clewiston, the only big town along the vast shore of Lake Okeechobee, the state's precious freshwater reservoir. The McDonald's had three televisions at a central seating area, each tuned to a different network, and our table was in front of CNN as the very first election results started to pour in around 7:30PM. With them, almost as counterpoint, suddenly came such an overwhelming odor of cow plop that my wife started to throw up as we all ran to the parking lot. [MORE] Passings: Suharto DEATH OF A KEMUSU THUG by Andreas Harsono JAKARTA - A few minutes after hearing that former president Suharto had died in his hospital bed, Marco, a militia leader in downtown Jakarta, raced to Suhartos house, wearing his jungle camouflage and began guarding the Suhartos residence on Cendana Street. [MORE] Constance I REMEMBER YOU by Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga.. -- It seems to be more often lately that the sentiment is spoken but it's always been out there: "You never get over the death of your child." This is true. But the heartfelt expressions come from some who cannot fathom the notion of losing a child; their own child is who is in their mind, not another mother's child. [MORE] WASHINGTON The advent of Donald Trump as the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination is forcing banks to take a harder look at the New York businessman and what he might mean for the industry if he wins the White House. In a typical election year, most bankers support the Republican candidate. That was likely to be particularly true this year, given the industry's continuing anger over the Dodd-Frank Act and the desire for regulatory relief. But this is far from the typical election and Trump is nothing like the typical nominee. "A Trump nomination will scramble lines in lots of sectors and that most certainly includes the financial services sector," said Larry Sabato, the director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. One big problem is that Trump has articulated nothing approaching a comprehensive plan when it comes to financial policy beyond vaguely criticizing Dodd-Frank. "Trump is a wild card," said Camden Fine, president of the Independent Community Bankers of America. "I have no idea how he would view our issues." Love him or hate him, Trump provokes strong reactions from much of the electorate, bankers included. His volatile temperament and penchant for showmanship have left many skeptical. Howard Headlee, the head of the Utah Bankers Association, compared Trump to a loan applicant, suggesting bankers would be reluctant to approve him. "My experience is that people who exude an overwhelming sense of confidence often do so to mask a fundamental deficit of trustworthiness," said Headlee, who said he is backing Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., for the nomination. "Someone comes in with a lot of talk and not a solid plan, they don't do well in loan committee. Trump sets off a lot of triggers that people are going to have to wrestle with He pushes all the buttons a bad loan pushes. He just screams bad loan." At the same time, however, Trump hardly seems anti-bank. Indeed, he has years of experience working with banks as a real estate developer and has signaled that he supports less regulation. "It's terrible," Trump told The Hill newspaper on Oct. 14. "Under Dodd-Frank, the regulators are running the banks. The bankers are petrified of the regulators. And the problem is that the banks aren't loaning money to people who will create jobs." That attitude could be a positive for the industry if Trump were to win the presidency, some observers said. "He has been hard on Wall Street, he gets the populist message, but at the same he has said that the regulators are running banks and all these new regulations are making banks afraid to lend. That seems to be his big focus how do we get banks to lend again?" said Justin Schardin, associate director of the financial regulatory reform initiative at the Bipartisan Policy Center. Lawrence Baxter, a professor of law at Duke University and former Wachovia banker, said Trump has more understanding of the banking system than some might expect. "I don't buy the argument that because he does not have concrete policies that he would be a disaster," Baxter said. "You don't get to arrange large-scale loans on a repeated basis without becoming very familiar with how the banking system works." Still, Trump plays by his own set of rules and bankers like predictability. That may mean that, should Hillary Clinton win the Democratic nomination, many Wall Street bankers support her. They've already given millions to her campaign, suggesting they are comfortable with the former New York senator and secretary of state. "They may disagree with Clinton and her policies, but they at least know her. There is more familiarity with her, especially with the heads of the firms," said Brian Gardner, an analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. Although Clinton has said she would oppose any significant changes to Dodd-Frank, her banking plan is largely in favor of reforms "at the margins," Gardner said. "The possibility for change under Trump is much greater," he added. But Headlee is less certain how community bankers would line up. "In a hypothetical matchup between Trump and Clinton, it's not clear who bankers will support," he said. Whether Trump will be the Republican nominee will be clearer after Tuesday, when 12 states vote in primaries across the country. If Trump wins most of those races, he may be all but impossible for Rubio or Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, to overtake in the competition for delegates, barring a major upset. Trump was heavily criticized by rivals Rubio and Cruz during the debate on Feb. 25, who both mocked his lack of specifics on how he would tackle the country's problems. But Trump received a boost Friday after New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, another former rival, endorsed him. That endorsement underscores another area of intense interest for bankers who Trump's advisers are on economic policy and who he would appoint if elected president. "Trying to imagine what a Trump administration would do depends on the people he surrounds himself with," said Fine. "I don't think anybody knows who that would be." Trump is a Washington outsider, and has mentioned only the activist investor Carl Icahn as a potential adviser on financial policy. If elected, he will have an opportunity to make some critical appointments for bankers, including Treasury Secretary, the vice chairman of supervision for the Federal Reserve Board (a position that has been vacant since it was created in 2010). "We don't know if he would pull from traditional Republican circles. My sense is he would be more likely to try and pull from the private sector," said Mark Calabria, director of financial regulation studies at the Cato Institute. "I don't think you will get people who are necessarily really hostile to Wall Street, but I don't think you will necessarily get establishment characters either." Trump has based his reputation as a businessman on being a delegator and picking the right people for the right jobs. "If he is going to be like Ronald Reagan and not have a finger on the pulse, he has got to do what Ronald Reagan did, and that is appoint people that know what they are doing and hold them accountable," Baxter said. "That is the chief executive model." Baxter said Trump could bring in people from the private equity and leverage buyout world with whom he has become familiar in his business dealings. Such people could be more willing to think outside the box, exposing a "maverick side," he said. "I am assuming we are dealing with very intelligent, financially savvy people that are willing to break the mold," Baxter said. "Maybe we need that now, because we don't have a good result now." Many Americans struggle to explain American Exceptionalism. The concept hasn't been taught in public schools for decades. Europeans deliberately misinterpret the concept as American arrogance and nationalism. Governor Bobby Jindal and Senator Ted Cruz both effectively weave their parents immigrant stories into compelling illustrations of why America is a place where anybody can succeed. Few if any can explain American Exceptionalism as well as Senator Marco Rubio. Rubio speaks with a passion and intensity, a fervor and conviction that leads many listeners to sit up straight as their chest swells with pride. He evokes a deep optimism and motivation to achieve greater goals as one listens to his explanation of how critical the United States is to the cause of liberty and how the American experiment in self-governance and freedom empowers ordinary citizens. Every American child, and every naturalized immigrant, should listen to Rubio explain how individual liberty makes this country special and fuels success for Americans regardless of background or family history. He knows. He grew up among men and women who lost their country, lost their liberty, and were forced to start over in a foreign land with only the clothes on their back. Marco Rubio was the original Tea Party candidate. His speaking mesmerized conservatives and motivated them to mobilize, work, and make donations from across the country. There was never a question about purity -- nobody is pure -- purity is a straw man argument raised by opponents to paint conservatives as inflexible and extreme like puritan zealots. The issue was authenticity. Marco Rubio was authentic. He was a movement conservative. He really did share the beliefs and ideas of conservatives. Even before he was elected to the Senate, conservatives were almost giddy at the prospects of a President Rubio. His optimism and personable style were infectious. He was serious and intense when appropriate, and then offered a quick jovial aside the way a school friend whispered a joke in your ear during a school assembly. Nobody would be able to paint him as uneducated or ill-informed. He did his homework and intelligently conversed on any subject. He would be unstoppable. Movement conservatives should weep at the thought of what could have been; some probably do. Through a series of bad decisions, Rubio systematically violated the trust his core supporters placed in him -- not just once -- but repeatedly, over the same issue, again and again. During his senate campaign, Rubio was adamantly opposed to amnesty, "[I] never have and never will support any effort to grant blanket legalization amnesty to folks who have entered, or stayed in this country illegally," including a pathway to citizenship, "...[an] earned path to citizenship is basically code for amnesty." Then, on January 29, 2013, Marco Rubio went on Rush Limbaugh's national radio program to push immigration reform. During the interview, he explained he would insist on enforcement first, "If, in fact, this bill does not have real triggers in there, if there is not language in this bill that guarantees that nothing else will happen unless these enforcement mechanisms are in place, I won't support it." Like many conservatives, Rush expressed doubts, but he trusted Rubio and applauded his optimism to try. Rubio returned to Rush's national program on April 18, 2013 and reversed himself again, "We don't want to wait on legalizing, and I'll tell you why, and my original position was that we wanted to secure the border first and then legalize. The problem is we have millions of people here now, by some estimates 10, 11 million. We want to know who they are and freeze the problem in place." The enforcement measures were never what Rubio promised. Rubio never walked away from the bill due to weak enforcement as he promised. After five broken promises and reversals, how much could supporters tolerate? Conservatives are the only people more cheated on and betrayed than Hillary Clinton. Understandably, they are sensitive to duplicity, and many lost faith in Rubio. Others questioned his authenticity. The grand plans for conservatives uniting behind a Rubio presidential bid faded. Rubio's treachery opened the door for Cruz to run for president. Instead of healing the wounds and working to earn back the trust of supporters, Rubio went on the offensive. In some bizarre alternate reality he invented, Rubio started claiming Cruz supported amnesty. When Cruz pointed out the incontrovertible fact they were on opposite sides of the amnesty battle, Rubio sunk to parroting Donald Trump's bitter personal attack and called Cruz a 'liar.' Rubio isn't just calling Cruz a liar, he's calling Senator Jeff Sessions; Congressmen Steve King, Louie Gohmert, and Jim Bridenstine; radio hosts Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin, and every American who opposed the Rubio amnesty bill a liar. Not surprisingly, Rubio won the "media's favorite Republican" endorsement by attacking and vilifying conservatives. Greta Van Susteren gives prime time coverage to every minor Rubio endorsement. The mainstream media build him up by treating his losses as wins. Like McCain, they will turn on him in the general election. How does Rubio think he will unite hundreds of thousands of Americans behind him after accusing those same voters of lying and being too stupid to know he repeatedly broke promises? Far from uniting the party, Rubio is going to war against conservatives. After running 45 minutes late and organizers juggling time slots to accommodate him, Rubio finally cancelled an appearance at the Conservative Convention with only 5 minutes warning. If dissing those 6000 to 9000 conservative activists weren't enough, there are now reports Rubio won't make time to attend the Conservative Political Action Conference. The conservative leaders behind these conferences aren't disconnected politicos, these are the very people who backed Rubio's nascent senate campaign and raised money from across the country enabling Rubio to defeat Charlie Crist. This isn't watching your prom date ditch you at the dance for the star jock; this is a date who begged and pleaded with you for an invitation when nobody else offered, ditching you for the star jock, and then publicly ridiculing and belittling you via the sound system, in front of the whole prom, because you were foolish enough to fall for their pity act. Rubio took what he needed from conservatives. Now he's seized the throne of the establishment and he figures conservatives have nothing else to offer and nowhere else to go. Rubio has new friends. Wealthy interests intent on legalizing illegal aliens are pouring money into Rubio's campaign. He is over calculating. If Mitt Romney and John McCain lost because the disaffected Republican base stayed home, then Rubio is looking at an embarrassing defeat against the weakest Democrat since George McGovern when the voters he conned, betrayed, and attacked as hypocritical puritans refuse to give him their imprimatur. Rubio says Cruz is "calculating, willing to say or do anything to get elected." Between Cruz and Rubio, which candidate said they would cancel the deferred action of illegal minors in English, and said the exact opposite on Spanish language TV? In their Senate races, both Rubio and Cruz promised to oppose amnesty, but which one wrote and pushed an amnesty bill? Clearly, if someone is willing to say and do anything to get elected, that candidate is Marco Rubio. The anti-Semitic hysteria on many elite American campuses (the veil of anti-Zionism now thrown off) is belatedly becoming the subject of major concern in the Jewish community. As well it should. The young people of this community, in what should be idyllic years, are being exposed, often for the first time in their lives, to unreasoning hatred. Moreover, what starts on campus does not stay there. Those whose opinions are shaped in our colleges and universities move on to become the opinion shapers of the broader culture: the journalists, the academics, the professionals, the entertainers, the politicians. While their children may not be subject to the intimidation and bullying Jews encounter, non-Jews should also be deeply worried. Most would be horrified to see our colleges descend into what Victor Davis Hanson calls places as foreign to American traditions of tolerance and free expression as what followed the Weimar Republic. Parents hope their children will be introduced to what Matthew Arnold called the best that has been thought and said, not mired in impenetrable thickets of verbiage, behind which lie ignorance, falsehoods, and malice. Take the lecture on Feb. 3 by Rutgers Associate Professor Jasbir Puar at Vassar College. Under the title Inhumanist Biopolitics: How Palestine Matters, the invitation declared: This lecture theorizes oscillating relations between disciplinary, pre-emptive and increasingly prehensive forms of power that shape human and non-human materialities in Palestine If Gaza, for example, is indeed the worlds largest open air prison and experimental lab for Israeli military apparatuses, infrastructural chaos and metric manipulation, what kinds of fantasies (about power, about bodies, about resistance, about politics) are driving this project? Ignoring for the moment the verbal sludge, what are Puars credentials to hold forth on the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs? She teaches Womens and Gender Studies and has written widely (so says the invitation) on such subjects as gay and lesbian tourism, bio and necropolitics, queer theory disability and debilitation, theories of intersectionality, affect and assemblage; homonationalism etc. etc. Equally mysterious, why should American Studies, the Vassar department which invited Puar, find the Middle East a topic that fits into its bailiwick? The answer lies in a word the reader probably didnt even notice in the mind-blowing flood of jargon: intersectionality. Richard L. Cravatts, author of Genocidal Liberalism: The Universitys Jihad Against Israel and Jews, explains that intersectionality conflates seemingly unrelated instances of oppression so that to know one victim group is to know any victim group. As a result, says Cravatts, someone who is a gender studies professor, or queer theorist, or American studies expert can, with no actual knowledge or expertise about the Middle East, readily pontificate on the many social pathologies of Israel, based on its perceived role as a racist, colonial oppressor of an innocent indigenous population of Arab victims. As for what Puar actually said, we are indebted to members of Fairness to Israel, a group of alumnae and parents that monitor the routine bashing of Israel at Vassar, which recorded and transcribed the talk. While a lot of it was unintelligible, what could be understood was vile, defamatory and false. To Cravatts the most alarming part of Puars talk was her explicit support for terrorism against Israeli citizens as a corollary aspect of the BDS movement. Of Israel delaying the return of the bodies of 17 knife-wielding intifada attackers, Puar said Some speculate that the bodies were mined for organs for scientific research. She described legitimate assertions of self-defense against those in the act of murdering Jews as field assassinations. Some of Israels invented sins only someone with a mind as ingenious as Puar could dream up (her next book is on the relations between biopolitics, disability and forms of active debilitation pivotal to the operations of war machines and racial capitalism.) One of Israels most nefarious deeds, in Puars account, is to let Palestinians live. According to Puar They need the Palestinians alive in order to keep the kind of rationalization for their victimhood and their militarized economy. Cravatts notes that In her [Puars] speech the central, repellant theme was that Israel is also intent on targeting youth, not for death but for stunting as a tactic that seeks to render impotent any further resistance. Apparently when Israeli soldiers wound rather than kill attackers, they are engaged in maiming masquerades and this is part of a sadistic, imperialistic militancy on the part of Israel. It bears emphasizing that Puar was not invited by Students for Justice in Palestine or any other of the assortment of student hate groups ostensibly fighting oppression. Her talk was sponsored by academic departments -- American Studies in the first instance, but also -- as co-sponsors -- by Africana Studies, English, International Studies, Political Science, Religion, Womens Studies and yes, Jewish Studies. The last named, given the nature of that department at Vassar, is not as astonishing as it seems. Retired English professor Edward Alexander (whose most recent book is Jews Against Themselves) in an unpublished letter to the Wall Street Journal observes: Jewish Studies faculty includes such luminaries as Joshua Schreier, who is a tribune of the BDS movement to expel Israel from the family of nations, and who boasts that his course on the Arab-Israeli Conflict presents only the Arab narrative. There is also Andrew Bush, who in 2003 defined Intifada II, in which Palestinian pogromists and lynch mobs slaughtered a thousand people and maimed 10,000 more, as a critique of Zionism.' There is, to be sure, a technical problem in having Prof. Puar lecture at Vassar: if her spoken English resembles her stupefyingly opaque writing, Vassar students must have thought she was speaking in tongues. Not to worry, however: another late arrival among the co-sponsors of her lecture was Vassars English Department. No one spoke up at the lecture to challenge the speaker. If no one objected to the vicious assault on Israel, a member of one of those eight sponsoring academic departments might at least have risen to protest Puars massacre of the English language, as for example in her description of her project How Palestine Matters. How Palestine Matters situates the geopolitical that has been obliviated in the resurrection of the ecological and the geographical in emergent fields of new materialisms and anthropocene studies. In Anti-Education, his sharp criticism of the German educational system, Nietzsche wrote: The one place where true education begins [is] the mother tongue. What he would say of the ghastly hash Puar makes of it defies imagination. And even if their standards are not as high as his, what parents want to pay $63,280 a year, the current cost of a Vassar education, for their child to be exposed to this assault on language, truth, reason and intelligibility. In the aftermath of Puars lecture, the silence on campus continued. Two faculty members voiced disquiet on a Facebook page called Vasser4Israel set up after an article on the debacle, Majoring in Anti-Semitism at Vassar, was published in the Wall Street Journal. But there were no open letters, no TV or radio appearances, no public protests. The reaction of Vassars President Catherine Hill was pallid to say the least. She posted a defensive letter in the alumni magazine saying some may have found the talk objectionable. She followed up with the promise of an hour online audio discussion about issues and tensions on campus related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. If Puars lecture was an outlier, it could be dismissed as one more instance of campus follies and academic gobbledygook. But this is far from the case. From New York to California -- and in Canada as well -- the situation is growing worse, with Jewish students, especially those who stand up for Israel, bullied, threatened, intimidated, sometimes physically attacked. The absurd lengths to which the hate-Israel cult has gone was apparent on Feb. 18 at the University of Chicago where Palestinian human rights activist Bassem Eid spoke. As the Jerusalem Posts Caroline Glick notes, Eid was a darling of the far left when he was co-director of BTselem and focused his criticism on Israel. But he provoked outrage in Chicago by speaking of human rights abuses by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. From the audience came yells: You must never again speak about the Palestinians -- this at the man who had spent his life pursuing their rights. In her account for the Jewish Press, Lori Lowenthal Marchus reports that the shrieks grew so loud no one could hear anything and the event had to be shut down in the middle of the question and answer session. Eid himself had to be escorted from the room by campus police after one of the students threatened him with physical harm. While students have thus far borne the brunt of outright intimidation, anti-Israel activists are beginning to target faculty. The Jewish Week reports that at Brooklyn College, which, despite its large Jewish student body has long been the scene of anti-Israel demonstrations, a group of students shouting slogans including Zionists off campus broke up the meeting of the Faculty Council, which is headed by an Orthodox Jew. One professor said she left the meeting trembling. At least in this case Brooklyn College President Karen Gould was quick to condemn the protest as unacceptable and the hateful anti-Zionist and anti-Jewish comments as especially abhorrent. But that the students responsible will be punished -- the only way to deter repeat performances -- is doubtful. What can be done? The Zionist Organization of America has sent a letter to CUNYs chancellor and board of trustees demanding that the chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine, the culprit in the campus attacks, be shut down on all 23 CUNY campuses. As Caroline Glick points out, this is no ordinary student group. One of its tactics, laid out in an internal document obtained from the SUNY Binghamton chapter by the Amcha Initiative, which documents anti-Jewish campaigns on U.S. campuses, is to disrupt and shut down pro-Israel (or insufficiently anti-Israel, as in the Bassem Eid case) events on campus through, in the words of the document, political theater to protest the events as well as acts of disruption. An outfit whose purpose is to shut down free expression does not belong on American campuses. Rachel Lefkowitz in an article entitled Jewish Donors: Stop Funding Anti-Semitism -- Divest from Universities zeroes in on an obvious way to obtain the attention of administrators. She points out that staggering amounts of Jewish money continue to be pumped into academic institutions as they simultaneously explode with anti-Jew and anti-Israel hatred. She reports, for example that at the height of Jew hate tensions at Canadas York University between 2005 and 2010 which included the hosting of Hamas-loving speakers, mini-riots against Jews, swarming of pro-Israel tabled events, storming events of pro-Israel speakers, physical violence, barricading of Jews and shouting profanities and anti-Semitic slurs, Die Jew, get the hell off campus, and Zionist pigs) a well-known Jewish donor who was also a member of the schools board of directors made a substantial donation. Lefkowitz points out the huge amount of Jewish money being poured into Columbia -- $250 million from one donor, $200 million from another, $100 million from a third -- despite its employing some of the most virulently anti-Semitic professors (like Rashid Khalidi) and the disgraceful number of anti-Israel events on campus. As Lefkowitz says Why should universities acknowledge how horrifically antisemitic their campuses have become when Jewish supporters have ignored all of it and continue to give? Lefkowitz singles out as a hero Paul Bronfman, chairman of Pinewood Toronto Studios, who recently gave York University 24 hours to take down an anti-Semitic mural or forfeit his support. York refused and Bronfman followed through, pulling money, production equipment, seminars, open houses with students, learning labs and training programs -- everything. A hundred faculty members signed an open letter criticizing Bronfman and defending the mural (contrast this with the silence at Vassar), but Bronfman stood firm. If something is not done to stem the tide, many American campuses, including those most attractive to Jews, will become intolerable. A Jewish donor strike is a good place to start. Rael Jean Isaacs most recent book is Roosters of the Apocalypse: How the Junk Science of Global Warming is Bankrupting the Western World. Prediction: Tough-talking Donald Trump will crush the intelligence-leaking, left-wing ideologue Hillary Clinton, for Americans are disgusted with the bureaucracy's frontal assault on the economy and the nation's territorial borders. Track Record Trump has a track record of relentless business triumphs for two generations, values a merit-based society, and has proven fearless in his defense of America. He refuses to accede to the Republican old-guard approach, creating an entirely new playbook for those willing to stray boldly from the last fifty years of establishment-sanctioned protocols. Clearly, a plurality of conservative, independent, and moderate Republican voters are not excited about the prospect of nominating another first-term senator with little track record of success outside the political arena. Consequently, can Americans trust Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio two individuals who were willing to sell out the American economy to foreign and special-interest lobbies by way of their support for TPP? Can Americans trust a man who sold out American culture to these same lobbies by way of his captaincy of the Gang of Eight? Will even those in the Democratic Party be able to side with Bernie Sanders, a self-professed socialist, to advance American progress? Is someone who casually sold out American safety by negligently and/or criminally providing intelligence to foreign adverse agents, as Hillary Clinton did, a viable competitor against a man who emphasizes his building of a border wall so that some semblance of American sovereignty can be retained? Americans sagely no longer trust political insider candidates, who have routinely sold out American culture, progress, and safety, and the economy, to special-interest lobbies after raising the debt ceiling in an unlimited fashion and capitulating to the invasion of millions of foreign nationals. Liberal Support On the home front, the legitimate, legal population can now be fairly characterized as chronically underemployed. Urban protests are on the rise, while criminal foreigners commit felonies and accept American taxpayer bounty like medical care and free schooling at astonishing rates. It is difficult to envision a casual nighttime stroll through any urban downtown in America where a natural-born citizen could feel remotely protected or safe. Many moderate to liberal-leaning women and young professionals, who may typically vote Democrat, will understandably give up their previously sacrosanct social and economic positions for the sake of a more secure America. Few Americans fail to recognize the escalating and rampant crime the Obama administration continues to exacerbate and ignore by way of its open border policies. Pew polls consistently show that women prefer Democratic lynchpin social net policies, as they vote time and again for the government to parent the ever-increasing needy population. Ironically, in 2016, personal safety may very well, perhaps for the first time in decades, loom large as the ultimate nanny-state issue for the liberal-female wing. Many Americans, across all walks of life, truly scared about their future prospects, are fueling the bump in Trump's polling numbers. His blunt speech is a surrogate for action to protect Americans. By willingly writing off hugely profitable business relationships with companies as diverse as ESPN, NASCAR, Macy's, and NBC, while simultaneously eschewing large-dollar donations, Trump has been able to underscore his message of making America great again and putting the interest of Americans first. Nuclear Arms Buildup Internationally, totalitarian Islam is on the march in the Middle East and the Mediterranean, and it extends even to African nations. The European Union is on the brink of economic collapse. While frightening nuclear arms resolves are pursued by the most extreme rogue nations on Earth, via North Korea and Iran, Obama actually has increased these same nations' international clout by playing up to simplistic American appeasers. Russia continues to aggressively extend its ever-growing territorial aims, absent any express or implied recourse from America. China, meanwhile, is successfully securing new satellites of influence in Central America and the Pacific Rim. The American Emperor, along with the entirety of the American liberal elite, merely fiddles as international boundaries collapse. Obama's administration is equally ignorant concerning both Chinese and Russian elite, who increasingly make tactical advances by way of highly trained cadres of military specialists. America is now truly in a bind. Turbulent times, witnessed by saber-rattling in Turkey and Saudi Arabia, require America's republic to follow Russia's and China's lead by selecting high-capacity and politically engaged leaders to prepare for global conflict. Trump, for his part, lacks the necessary military experience in the geopolitical arena to be blindly trusted to execute correct strategies to protect American interests. However, when one compares the equally inexperienced junior senators vying for the GOP nomination, Trump appears to be the most rational choice. The language of international development is not foreign to Trump, and, to be fair, in command-and-control economies, big business and government are synonymous. Could America do worse by electing a leader who would ignore necessary global strategic planning? Among the frontrunners, only Trump has a successful background concerning the hiring of excellent and experienced professionals relative to specific areas of expertise. Traditional Leadership In hindsight, there was clearly room in the GOP primary for a fresh candidate, who could project strength while dominating issues of military prowess and border enforcement. By summer 2015, there was no candidate, except Trump, who had even begun to galvanize the base. But even at this late date, GOP leadership and financiers seem reluctant to put their personal economic interests on hold. Moreover, Trump identifies with Americans who recognize the realpolitik black hole that threatens their homeland. Traditional Americans want to vote for a high-energy candidate whose campaign reaffirms the Republican Party as the protector of security and the American way of life. The political insiders' failure to consolidate behind a solid closed-border candidate led to a vacuum on the pre-eminent issue of illegal immigration. It was in this void that Trump's candidacy evolved. His genius media campaign proved to dovetail nicely with commonsense conservative positions such as middle-class tax relief, veterans' health care and fair trade policies with China. Considering the probability that Trump will win the GOP nomination, it is high time the highly paid GOP elite transfer their allegiance in helping Trump to tap the creme de la creme of the American legal, diplomatic, military, and espionage corps. Only in this way can the GOP establishment show conservatives they really intend to get serious about not just winning elections, but actually giving young Americans the firm sense of a future America worth living in, with a common culture and Judeo-Christian ethical foundation. November 2016 Victory Across both political and economic spectra, there is an instinctive realization that the United States can no longer afford to elect a commander-in-chief who lacks the resolve to defend America's national sovereignty. When confronted with an existential threat, Americans will reject a hear-no-evil-see-no-evil approach to mounting internal strife and Islamic terrorism. Democratic strategists would like nothing more than to repeat the economic election strategy of years past, where they contrast their concern for the less fortunate with the cold-hearted policies of the Republicans. However, the Democratic nominee will not be able to profitably sow socialist lies when faced with the optics of a resolute, successful man who vows to make America great. Dr. Marguerite Creel has a doctorate in public administration from the University of Southern California. She has taught government at UNLV, Peace College, and UNC-Chapel Hill. Sen. Bernie Sanders says, There is something profoundly wrong when the top one-tenth of one percent owns almost as much wealth as the bottom 90 percent. He writes: The issue of wealth and income inequality is the great moral issue of our time, it is the great economic issue of our time, and it is the great political issue of our time. The trouble is that none of it is true except the fact that it is a political issue because leftists like Sanders make it so. The propaganda is based on calculations of the inequality of wealth which do not tell the whole story. They exclude the value of pensions, annuities, and social security. They also exclude the value of government wealth -- national, state, and city parks, and other land and buildings, including schools, libraries, stadiums, vehicles, streets and roads, and public transit facilities which are owned by everyone equally. Wealth used in the measure of inequality includes the value of the assets owned by a household such as stocks, bonds, and real estate, including the net value of homes. Income used in measures of equality is defined as the return one receives in the form of wages and salaries, rents, interest, profits, and returns from past savings and investments, including dividends, annuities, pensions, and social security benefits. The income measured is income before income taxes. Income after income tax as we shall note is considerably more equal than income before tax. Moreover, not all income is consumed. Consumption is a measure of what households take out of the economy, whereas income before income tax and wealth are measures of what the household has contributed to the economy. Obviously income after tax and consumption are much more equal that the distribution of household wealth. One of the myths propagated by the left is that the inequality of wealth and income are constantly rising. In fact, both rise and fall over the decades they have been studied. Profs. Emmanuel Saez (UC Berkeley) and Gabriel Zucman (LSE) studied wealth inequality and produced the graph below which shows that the share of total household wealth owned by the top 0.1 percent was 25% in 1916, then it fell to 15% in 1923, rose to 25% in 1929, then began a downward trend reaching 7 percent in 1978 and rose to 22 percent in 2013. It continued to rise until 2015. The degree of inequality depends largely on the level of prices of corporate stock and real estate. Likewise the distribution of income is not as unequal as the propaganda would have you believe. Studies of inequality of income define income as wages salaries, rents, interest, profits of unincorporated enterprises, and capital gains. They often, perhaps usually, exclude pension and annuity payments and social security income over $32,000. Prof. Saez, cited above, calculated the distribution of income before tax. The percent of income received by the top 1% on income earners in 1920 was about 15%; it rose to approximately 24% in 1928, then fell to less than 10% in 1970, rose to about 23% in 2005 and was at about 22% in 2014. This was before tax. The current income tax rate on incomes over $615,000 is 39.6 percent. Laura Saunders, in the Wall Street Journal, October 15, 2015, in an article entitled Top 20% of Earners Pay 84% of Income Tax And the bottom 20% get paid by Uncle Sam, cites a finding by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center that in 2014, the top 1 percent of income earners whose incomes exceeded $615,000 paid 45.7 percent of total income taxes paid. Politicians do not mention the inequality of income very much because it is so much less than the inequality of wealth, especially after tax. Household consumption equals income after tax minus savings. Since those with high incomes save more than those with low incomes, who often spend more than their incomes a fact called dissaving, consumption is distributed more equally than income and vastly more equal than the distribution of wealth. Since those at the lowest income levels receive welfare, food stamps, and some public housing, politicians want to avoid talking about the distribution of consumption. As we pointed out, the estimates of household wealth do not include the value of social security benefits. The Social Security administration reported that in 2015, over 59 million Americans received about $870 billion in Social Security benefits. Capitalizing those benefits by 7%, the average yield on corporate investments historically, which ranges from about 4% in depressions and recessions to 10% in boom years, those benefits are valued at roughly $12 trillion. And each citizen owns the assets of the federal government which owns more than 700 million acres of land whose value of the land itself at only $100 per acre is $70 billion. The mineral rights are worth at least $100 billion. The assets of the state governments must be worth another $5 trillion at least. Since the published measures of wealth equality include only household wealth, they grossly overstate the inequality of wealth. If we were to include the value of social security and government assets in household wealth, inequality of wealth would be substantially less than published estimates indicate. And here are some other things to keep in mind. The rich cannot take their wealth with them when they die. The balance upon their deaths is subject to the federal estate tax and state estate and inheritance taxes. The current estate tax has an exemption of $5.45 million and a tax rate of 40% on the excess. The state with the highest maximum estate tax rate is Washington (20 percent), followed by eleven states which have a maximum rate of 16 percent. The estate and inheritance taxes do much to reduce great inequalities of wealth, which no politician mentions. Here are a few instances of the myths of inequality propagated by the left. The French economist and Marxist Thomas Piketty in a recent book attempts to prove that a market economy based on private property, if left to itself, contains powerful forces that result in increasingly, unequal distribution of income and wealth which is potentially threatening to democratic societies and to the values of social justice on which they are based. Although many economists agree with his conclusion that income or wealth inequality has been increasing, the foregoing evidence shows that they are clearly wrong. Robert Reich, currently a professor of public policy at UC at Berkeley, states that 95% of the economic gains since 2009 went to the top 1% of the wealthiest. He must be criticizing the policies of President Obama, who was in power all that time. Fortune magazine, in an article entitled America is the richest, and most unequal, country, by Erik Sherman, reported that the U.S., with $63.5 trillion in total private wealth, has the largest wealth inequality gap of 55 countries studied. It failed to report that the average American had the highest standard of living in the world and that those nations with the least inequality had the lowest standards of living! Prof. John Maynard Keynes in 1920 wrote that you cannot have economic growth without inequality. How right he was! The inequality of wealth and income is not a serious moral or economic problem at all. It is only a political problem. Democratic and leftist propaganda is widely believed. Poor Melissa Click, the now unemployed former assistant professor of communications at the University of Missouri. Not being black in fact, being about as white as you can get, what with her red hair she couldnt claim racism when investigators spoke to her about her behavior in asking for muscle to get rid of a student-journalist. Race may be one the number-one favorite bogeymen of progressives, but we all know what the number-two is. Thats right: guns. So, as Asche Schow of the Washington Examiner explains: Melissa Click, the (now former) assistant professor of communication at the University of Missouri, told investigators that she threatened to sic some "muscle" on a student journalist because she thought he had a gun. (snip) Click told investigators that the student journalist, Mark Schierbecker, appeared threatening when he approached her inside the perimeter of protesters. Click, who had a courtesy appointment at the Missouri School of Journalism at the time (she resigned after she was filmed), also claimed she did not believe Schierbecker when he said he was a member of the media. Click did not believe him because he had a small camera that appeared unprofessional to her. This makes no sense at all. If Click thought he had a gun, she would not expose her muscle to that danger. No matter how muscular the other protesters, a gun could injure or kill them just as surely as it could have done so to Click. If she really believed there was a gun present, she was recklessly endangering others. As Schow notes, the claim that a small camera was suspicious to her is ludicrous, given that she enjoyed a courtesy appointment at the journalism school. The days when media required a camera crew are over, and smartphones and small cameras are wielded by citizen-journalists all the time. As the Chronicle of Higher Education notes, Click backed away from her claim subsequently: Ms. Click told investigators who were hired by the system to look into the incident more about her encounter with Mr. Schierbecker: One problem: Missouri does not allow concealed weapons on its college campuses. When confronted with the full report, Ms. Click backed away from her comments: Its unclear exactly which piece of legislation Ms. Click was referring to. Roughly a month after the incident, a Missouri senator introduced a bill to allow con cealed guns on campuses. In September 2014 the state enacted legislation allowing specially trained employees with concealed-carry permits to carry firearms. What matters from this point on is the potential for litigation. Click may well sue the university over her termination. But what effect her claim to fear a gun would have is unclear. What is clear is that she was making stuff up to justify her totalitarian action. With Donald Trump poised to sweep the Super Tuesday primaries and put a death grip on the nomination, the Republican donor class is beginning to panic. Some GOP donors have engaged a Florida firm to research options for putting forward an independent to run in the fall against Trump and presumably, Hillary Clinton. Politico: A memo prepared for the group zeroes in on ballot access as a looming obstacle for any independent candidate, along with actually identifying a viable, widely known contender and coalescing financial support for that person. The two states with the earliest deadlines for independent candidates, Texas and North Carolina, also have some of the highest hurdles for independents to get on the ballot, according to the research. All this research has to happen before March 16, when inevitably Trump is the nominee, so that we have a plan in place," a source familiar with the discussions said. March 16 is the day after the GOP primary in Florida, a winner-take-all contest that Marco Rubio supporters have identified as a must-win to stop Trump's early momentum. Its critical some serious attention is given to this, the source said. The document, stamped confidential, was authored by staff at Data Targeting, a Republican firm based in Gainesville, Fla. The memo notes that it is possible to mount an independent candidacy but [it] will require immediate action on the part of this core of key funding and strategic players. Data Targeting did not respond to a request for comment on the memo. The research points to Texas and North Carolina as early tests for running an independent, conservative candidate against Trump and the Democratic nominee. The candidate would need to gather over 79,900 valid petition signatures in Texas by May 9 and over 89,000 in North Carolina by June 9. Only two other states have thresholds that high, and gathering petitions can be an expensive and time-consuming process. Whats more, the Texas signatures would have to come entirely from voters who did not vote in this years Democratic and Republican primaries. But with 38 electoral votes in play in Texas and North Carolinas true swing state status, failing to qualify in either or both states would render any independent candidate non-viable, the report's authors wrote. This is logistically possible but will require immediate action. The Republican party has been shaken to its core by Donald Trump's candidacy. Politico analyzes what that means for the growing factionalism in the party: The populist billionaires rise to the pinnacle of Republican politics has upended what had been decades of relative GOP stability, a 40-year span in which most Republican presidential contests since 1976 neatly narrowed to an establishment-embraced front-runner and a conservative insurgent alternative. No more. Suddenly, there are three strands of Republicanism, each entrenched and vying for supremacy in 2016. Ted Cruz is the leader of the traditional conservative purists. Marco Rubio is emerging from the mud of a multicandidate brawl to lead the once-dominant, now diminished, mainstream lane of the GOP. But it is Trumps new alliance of angry populists that is ascendant and on the precipice of dominance. Built on the backs of working-class men and women who feel abandoned, economically and culturally, Trumps coalition has both brought in new voters and carved out support from the other two. Trump won over evangelicals from Cruz in South Carolina, and even more resoundingly again in Nevada. He then took moderates from the mainstream in New Hampshire and Nevada en route to landslide victories in three consecutive states. What Trump is consolidating is the people who are unhappy being in either camp those who dont see themselves as conservative insurgents or as mainstream Republicans, said Yuval Levin, an influential Republican thinker and editor of the quarterly conservative journal National Affairs. Theyre insurgents but theyre not conservatives. And theyre not happy with the system that gave us that binary choice. The GOP will probably survive Donald Trump, but as a much diminished political party, unrecognizable from what it's been over the last half-century. This is what has big donors worried. They fear that Trump's presence at the top of the ticket will cost them at least the Senate in 2016 and, eventually, the House. But many Trump supporters and, to a certain extent, Cruz backers see the destruction of the establishment as a positive good. The party will shrink, but what's left will be purer a distillation of resentments that resonate with many blue-collar, middle-class Americans. It will be interesting to see how competitive that Republican party will be going forward. The clown princess of weekend cable news has outdone herself, announcing in an email to her staff, shared with the New York Times, that she refuses to appear on her eponymous MSNBC program this weekend. She is as is her custom outraged that for the past two weekends, her show has been pre-empted for election coverage (along with most other MSNBC programming but her case is different because racism!) As she emailed to her staff: I will not be used as a tool for their purposes. I am not a token, mammy, or little brown bobble head. I am not owned by [NBC News chairman Andrew] Lack, [MSNBC president Phil] Griffin, or MSNBC. (MHP playing the femininst victim card) This is what happens when a mind becomes poisoned by victimology. MHP apparently calmed down slightly after firing off the email and told the New York Times: I dont know if there is a personal racial component[.] ... I dont think anyone is doing something mean to me because Im a black person. Then why use the racially charged terminology, Melissa? There may be more to this apparently impulsive move than meets the eye. MSNBC is in the midst of changes, seeking to rebrand itself as less a progressive network, habitually in third place after Fox and CNN. The heady days of Obamas first election, when progs bought the seas-stop-rising millennial rhetoric and there may have been a substantial audience for extreme left news programming, are gone. MHPs own show is usually in fourth place, behind even Headline News in the key demographic. So she may have gotten wind that there was no future for her and decided to go out in blaze of racial victimization. Or, as I think more likely, she is emotionally unstable (check out her shows mockery of the Romney family for having an adopted black grandchild and subsequent on-air tears of apology) and immediately went to racial insults when she was upset over ordinary pre-emption that affected many other on-air personalities. Then, seeing the consequences of crying racism, she attempted to retreat without actually apologizing. This is, after all, a woman who is so obsessed with race and the slavery of 150 years ago that she resents the use of the phrase hard worker for anyone but slaves. Media analyst Joe Concha of Mediaite reckons that Harris-Perry has thrown away her television career: ... we witnessed a public meltdown of a television host who had a damn good thing going: Teaching, writing, and four hours of national cable news time per week to discuss the issues racial, political that matter most to her. The TV part likely goes away now. This is a bell that cant be un-rung. Mark it down: February 26, 2016 The day Melissa Harris-Perry decided to permanently throw away her television career for no good reason. It is true that few television executives would relish risking the possibility of being racially impugned by hiring her. However, think of the ratings bonanza her return to MSNBC could garner. Her show might even outdraw Headline News! On the other hand, there is now a media universe that is exclusively black, including BET. It would not surprise me to see this become the new home of MHP. There is, after all, an appetite for explaining everything in terms of white racism. I certainly hope so, because Melissa Harris-Perry has become the premier exemplar of the obsession with racial victimology that is poisoning our politics and society, and she regularly provides opportunities to explore its ridiculous fringes with humor and irony. And then there is the matter of her delicate family finances. Even with her two salaries, the big-government advocate was unable to pay the taxes she owed and suffered the indignity of the IRS placing a lien on her and her husband. A mind is a terrible thing to lose, to paraphrase the slogan of the United Negro College Fund (lately rebranded as UNCF). But it can also be amusing and instructive for the rest of us. Sadly, the latest segment in Barack Obamas national makeover includes granting access to the U.S. to immigrants with venereal diseases. Unlike the process on New Yorks Ellis Island, where early 20th-century immigrants afflicted with benign non-communicable conditions like varicose veins, hernias, and poor vision were denied entry, this president must think humanitarianism is best exhibited by exposing healthy Americans to foreigners with contagious genital lesions. Whats next based on their skill set on the open sea, Obama unilaterally invites Somali pirates to be the official captains of Americas tugboats? In 2009, the president pulled HIV from the list of diseases that bar immigrants from coming to the U.S. Now, according to a report issued by the nonpartisan Center for Immigration Studies, Obamas Health and Human Services has publicly stated that the cost of handling and treating immigrants with STDs does not impact taxpayers in a significant way. Moreover, even though, by nature, venereal disease is contagious, the Obama administration has decreed that specific communicable diseases are no longer of public health significance. Unfortunately, that opinion applies only to those who are thankfully not among the victims sexually abused by one of the 2,000 illegals in Texas, who, with or without a sore on their private parts, were deported because of sex crimes. That not in a significant way guarantee comes from the same government that had a virtual non-response when undocumented workers illegally employed in places like Chipotle passed along pathogens, which, sorry to say, were likely transported into customers intestines via Crispy Corn Tacos contaminated with human feces. So, if having an oozing genital sore does not prohibit a person entry into the U.S., how is the Obama administration going to ensure that immigrants, who tend to gravitate toward food service, diligently follow proper hygiene protocol after manhandling their genitalia? Theyre not. Law 360, a website tool for those in the legal profession, reported that under the new immigration rule, despite being infected with a sexually transmitted disease, persons will still be granted entry into the U.S. with things like granuloma inguinale, which is spread through vaginal and anal intercourse; chancroid, which produces a contagious fluid; and bloody/pus-forming lymphogranuloma venereum, a bacterium common in Central and South America. HHS maintains that although these three bacterial infections are transmitted through sexual contact, [they] have never been common in the United States and over the past two decades are observed to be increasingly rare throughout the world. That said, it appears as if importing individuals afflicted with abscesses on their genitals may just be HHSs way of assisting Obamas ongoing effort to level the playing field. And if thats the case, pioneering STD sufferers with a mind to relocate will have easy access into a country where, with the governments help, they are free to pursue a vigorous sex life. Then, after those who are currently uncontaminated become contaminated, Barack can pat himself on the back for making another thing thats never been common in the United States common. In any case, similar health- and wealth-sharing processes have already been underway for almost eight years. By admitting what was once inadmissible, Barack Obamas effort to turn America into a third-world hellhole has thus far been quite effective. For example, syphilis, gonorrhea, tuberculosis, and leprosy are still on Americas list of inadmissible communicable diseases. Nonetheless, along with the unmonitored influx of illegals came syphilis and gonorrhea, both of which are currently on the rise. As for leprosy, that nasty organism has officially landed, as have plagues like the deadly multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and death-defying super-lice. Maybe the presidents rationale is that in the ongoing quest to dilute what little is left of American culture, citizens contracting exotic third-world diseases, or being infected with an STD from a hardworking immigrant, is a tolerable tradeoff. In an article entitled Obama Opens the Border to More STDs, Jon Feere of The Center for Immigration Studies said that the administration considers the STD rule changes beneficial because physicians who would otherwise be administering physical exams on incoming immigrants will be able to devote more time and training to other, more common and/or more serious health issues. Thats brilliant! If HHS is to be taken seriously, STDs are being permitted to arrive aboard the genitals of immigrants to further the common good. In other words, rather than wasting time running a whole battery of tests on pilgrims with penile pustules, stressed out Obamacare doctors will be freed up to focus on more severe health issues. And just because the immigration system will be less likely to protect Americans from communicable diseases, Jon Feere writes that when it comes to STDs, Americans are not to worry because: HHS explains that these 'primarily tropical infections can be prevented through improved personal hygiene and protected sex' and that if you do get them, the STDs can be cured 'with a short, uncomplicated course of antibiotic therapy. Wait! Can Cipro also cure beheading? Because that sounds reminiscent of the reasoning behind accepting Syrian refugees with the full knowledge that the incoming group will likely be infected with a smattering of saber-bearing subversives. Either way, notwithstanding the inevitability that ISIS will probably lop off a few heads, when did providing antibiotics and hand-washing seminars to sexually promiscuous immigrants become Americas priority? Furthermore, arent our veterans dying on VA waiting lists, and isnt there an impending antibiotic shortage? Even still, Barack Obama, who knows better, obviously feels that spending $100 million a year to care for immigrants with STDs is a great way to invest the money of those who will ultimately end up suffering as a result of yet another in a long list of imprudent policies. And so, on the path to fundamental transformation, its nice to know that if an immigrant with a seething chancroid ulcer should happen to rape an American, the ill-fated event can be promptly remedied by an uncomplicated course of antibiotic therapy. Jeannie hosts a blog at www.jeannie-ology.com. Donald Trump told a crowd in Texas that he would "open up" libel laws to make it easier to sue critics who write "purposely negative and horrible, false articles." The Hill: "We're going to open up those libels laws," he added. "So that when The New York Times writes a hit piece, which is a total disgrace, or when The Washington Post, which is there for other reasons, writes a hit piece, we can sue them and win money." "You see, with me, they're not protected, because I'm not like other people, but I'm not taking money. I'm not taking their money. We're going to open up libel laws, and we're going to have people sue you like you've never got sued before." Currently, it's extremely difficult to successfully sue a media outlet for defamation or slander because the standard of proof of injury is so high. The injury must be intentional and malicious that is, there must be proof that there was intent to damage a plaintiff economically or personally. There have been discussions about reforming libel laws in general and relating to the media specifically. But to my knowledge, no one has ever used libel law reform as a threat against the First Amendment. Allowing Donald Trump to define "horrible" and "purposely negative" articles about him is insane. Protecting the freedom of the press even when they write hit pieces is of paramount importance in the age of political correctness. The damage to national security from Hillary Clintons choice to use an unsecured private server to handle all her State Department business is substantial and could well be catastrophic. Friday nights release of 800 emails included 88 more with classified data, bringing the total to 1,818, including 22 so top-secret that no portion of them can be released to the public. It is all but certain that Americas enemies, ever alert to hacking opportunities, have read everything that was on the server, even the yoga positions and wedding plans. But also the national security details, including names of secret agents in our employ. Mrs. Clintons explanation for her recklessness has been shown to be false; she has been photographed using more than one portable device, contradicting her rationale that she wanted to carry only one email instrument. What we dont yet know is what private business she conducted for the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Family in the course of dealing with foreign governments. Sources connected to the FBI are expressing confidence that the emails supposedly wiped (but not with a cloth, as she quipped) have been recovered, at least in part. The fate of her candidacy is now in the FBIs hands. All we can do is wait and hope that it all comes out, preferably in the form of an indictment. The Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean was settled by the Micronesians more than three thousand years ago. These early settlers had to make frequent journeys between more than 1,100 islands spread out over 29 coral atolls. They lacked modern navigation equipment such as compasses and sextants, but possessed an incredibly detailed knowledge of the sea, the waves, the swells and the currents which they utilized to develop a simple yet sophisticated system of navigation made up of sticks and shells. These so called stick charts consist of thin strips of coconut frond and midribs or pandanus root bound together in straight or curved lines using coconut fiber to create a frame like structure. At various places in the frame, small sea shells were tied together by creating junctions, using two or more sticks. The shells and junctions represent the location of islands, whereas the sticks represent currents and swells in the sea. In essence, stick charts are crude maps of the ocean. Photo credit: Walter Meayers Edwards/National Geographic The curved sticks show where swells are deflected by an island. The short, straight strips indicate currents near islands. The longer strips may indicate the direction in which certain islands are to be found, and the small cowry shells represent the islands themselves. Unlike modern maps, stick charts are not literal representation of the sea, but more an abstract illustration of the ways that ocean swells interact with land. Indeed, individual charts varied so much in form and interpretation that many times a stick chart could only be read by the person who made it. The charts were also not used for navigation in the way we use maps or charts today. Seldom did sailors carry the charts with them when they made their journeys, or even if they did, they probably did not consult stick charts on their long journeys. Instead, navigators memorized the chart before the journey was made and then used their senses and memory to guide them on voyages. The Marshallese had an astounding knowledge of the ocean swells. They would crouch down or lie prone in the canoe to feel how the canoe was being pitched and rolled by underlying swells. By simply feeling how their canoe roll, they were able to identify and distinguish between four different ocean swells, which they called rilib, kaelib, bungdockerik and bundockeing. The rilib is the strongest of the four ocean swells. It is generated by the northeast trade winds and is present during the entire year. The kaelib swell is weaker than the rilib and could only be detected by knowledgeable persons, but it is also present year round. The bungdockerik is present year round as well and arises in the southwest. This swell is often as strong as the rilib in the southern islands. The bundockeing swell is the weakest of the four swells, and is mainly felt in the northern islands. Not everybody knew how to make or read the charts. It was a closely guarded secret that only a select few rulers knew, and the knowledge was only passed on from father to son. When making journeys, fifteen or more canoes would sail together in a squadron, accompanied by a leader pilot skilled in use of the charts. This unique piloting system was only known to the outside after 1862 when a resident missionary published a description. The use of stick charts came to end after World War 2. The Polynesians still make them but only to sell them as souvenir to tourists. The stick charts are a significant contribution to the history of cartography because they represent a system of mapping ocean swells, which was never before accomplished, writes Wikipedia. They also use different materials from those common in other parts of the world. They are an indication that ancient maps may have looked very different, and encoded different features from the earth, than the maps we use today. This type of chart is known as a mattang, and is specifically made for the purpose of training people selected to be navigators. Such charts depict general information about swell movements around one or more small islands. Photo credit: Trustees of the British Museum/Khan Academy Modern copy of a stick chart, acquired in 1991 in Majuro. Photo credit: marshall.csu.edu.au Modern copy of a stick chart, acquired in 1991 in Majuro. Photo credit: marshall.csu.edu.au Photo credit: thenonist.com Stick chart with location of various island mapped. Photo credit: thenonist.com Photo credit: unknown/reddit Photo credit: www.nla.gov.au An unknown stick chart recovered from Marshall Islands. Photo credit: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston A stick chart displayed in the UKs Science Museum. Its 69 centimeters square and made of the midribs of palm fronds. Photo credit: Science Museum/Science & Society Picture Library Sources: Wikipedia / Smithsonian When the One M8 was released, I upgraded to this device and its now approaching two years old. For one reason or another, 2015s flagship devices left me cold. There simply werent enough reasons for me to upgrade my device. And this appears to have been HTCs problem in 2015: how are they going to improve upon the M9 for 2016 and persuade customers to upgrade? Lets take a look at where HTC are and importantly where the industry is. HTCs flagship handsets have come with a number of known features for the last three generations. Weve benefited from an aluminum unibody design, BoomSound stereo front facing speakers, and HTCs Sense overlay complete with BlinkFeed and Zoe. In 2013, relatively few devices had a front facing speaker set up but now things are different and many devices come with this. HTC Sense adds more to Android than it takes away and over the years its been pulled closer to Googles stock interface, but the stock Android experience has also improved in the years. Meanwhile, more and more devices are being made of aluminum and the material is found in mid-range devices too. As a business, HTC has also changed weve seen management and key designer changes and the stock price has suffered from severe falls. HTC remains a fiercely independent company but has been linked with a series of potential suitors. The manufacturer continues to release a number of mid-range and high end handsets but is facing difficult headwinds are is struggling to differentiate its products from the competition. Advertisement Not unlike Motorola, many of HTCs ideas have been borrowed by other manufacturers. Apple and Google have adopted the concept of larger pixels for improved low light photography (as per the UltraPixel idea), but took the concept one stage further to use a larger number of megapixels in their cameras. Google, joined by Motorola and Sony, have also introduced front facing speakers in several handsets. HTCs live photo idea, behind HTC Zoe, has been adopted across the industry. HTCs devices and software were innovative but quickly became the new norm. And now HTC faces Samsung in one corner, now offering a premium hardware design and software that is (still) being cleaned up. In another corner, we have Apple, producing premium, desirable and expensive devices. And another corner we see a whole range of manufacturers undercutting HTC with devices that are often comparable: Xiaomi and Huawei are building unibody aluminum devices and selling them for much less than HTC. Manufacturers are finding it harder and harder to make money in the smartphone world: sales and profit margins are being squeezed from both sides. HTC are caught between a rock, a hard place, and the ocean with a rising tide. Weve seen HTC diversify its product range: the RE Camera and SteamVR-equipped Vive spring to mind. At the time of writing, the business is notably absent from the wearable market although this is arguably sensible given the difficulties of an immature market. The company released the HTC One A9 in late 2015 calling it a hero device, which offered a handsome design and middling specification tellingly, the One A9s camera scored higher in the DxO Mark camera shootout compared with the flagship One M9. Yes; the One A9 looks like the iPhone, and yes the marketing was bizarre proclaiming that it had a design worth copying, but it does hint at some changes under the skin. HTC promised to keep (some variants of) the One A9s software updated and the Sense interface is closer to stock Google. These two probably go hand in hand; the further away an interface is from stock, the more effort required to keep the software updated. Google is slowly changing how Android software updates work and we need to see more manufacturers following their lead. Writing of the One M10: customers will expect a fantastic experience. That means a fast and efficient System-on-Chip, decent battery life, a great camera and screen, and a smooth and fluid software experience. If there is a fingerprint scanner and surely there will be one it has to work accurately and quickly. The device needs to improve upon its successor, the One M9, in every respect which is something the M9 cannot claim. HTC has access to the same hardware components as the competition, which means it must add value through software and design. It is increasingly difficult for a manufacturer to add value through changes in design, which brings us to the software. We have a leaked clue as to the software that the M10 will run: it appears that it will use HTC Sense 8.0_G. To put this into perspective, the One A9 used Sense 7.0_G and this G means a closer experience to a stock Google device. HTC may be pulling Sense closer to stock Android. We may see a similar approach to Motorolas stock plus approach, that is HTC could try adding a small, select group of features to enhance and upgrade the stock experience, whilst bringing Googles software updates to customers shortly after they are released. This could be difficult to execute: we have to hope that Sense 8.0_G is not a lesser version of Sense 7.0 and the stock interface and that HTC have learned from their 2014 Google Nexus 9 experience. Advertisement HTC also need strong and effective marketing. Both Apple and Samsung have the marketing genius; HTC needs this too. Unfortunately for HTC, Apple and Samsung have deep pockets and a more recognizable brand image. The device needs to come first, but a brilliant device will not sell well with limited marketing, whereas a mediocre device pushed in front of potential customers with a huge marketing effort will. Thanks, Apple. Ultimately, HTC faces another difficult year. I for one hope that HTC return to greatness, because the Android community needs great devices and new takes on existing software solutions to encourage innovation. Mobile World Congress, or MWC, is one of the most important events in the smartphone and mobile device world, as its this time when new products are showcased, as well as technologies not expected to make it into the hands of consumers for a number of years yet. Its easy to get excited about the announcements of new devices, with the LG G5, Samsungs Galaxy S7 and the Sony Xperia X range springing to mind. Some of the showcased new technologies should make a big difference in the coming years and months, such as Intels new 33-band LTE modem. However, a little closer to home, shows such as the MWC can be very frustrating as carriers, device and component manufacturers typically ignore some of the pressing issues of today and instead concentrate on the tomorrow, the next week or the next year. Theres an element of running before you walk so to speak: the industry is changing but relatively few have been talking about it at this years Congress. The first thing to discuss is that of another smartphone platform. The mobile operating system market is currently broadly divided into two main camps Android and iOS with a small section of others, which includes examples such as Windows Phone and BlackBerry 10. It also includes Palm (then HP, then LG) WebOS, Nokias Symbian, Samsung Tizen, and Canonical Ubuntu. Over the years, weve seen new mobile platforms launched or at least discussed at Mobile World Conference, with examples such as HPs new WebOS devices in 2011, Samsung Tizen and Mozilla Firefox OS in 2013 and Jolla OS in 2014. In each case, big name carrier executives have publicly voiced support for the new platform, presumably wary of giving so much control to Apple and Google and of trying to snatch some control back. Their argument is that a new platform will give customers more of a choice, something quietly forgotten when announcing a planned carrier merger. Carriers face a difficult decision: customers want their Apple iPhone or Samsung Galaxy device, and offering competitors with little new to bring to the table apart from a cheaper price isnt working. It seems that the message has gotten through: this year, the alternative mobile operating systems have been very quiet. BlackBerry appear to be concentrating on Android, Canonical have recently announced their new Ubuntu smartphone and tablet, and then theres Microsoft Windows 10 where we have seen an interesting HP device at least. Advertisement Another important change that has already started to happen is that of sponsored data, also known as zero-rated or toll-free. We are seeing AT&T, Comcast, T-Mobile US and Verizon changing their business models to include toll-free data and the most obvious example of this is T-Mobiles free video service, Binge On. T-Mobile modify the video stream in order to reduce the load on their network by reducing bandwidth, then offer it to customers as a bundled but free extra. Going forward, this will create a more complicated carrier / customer relationship, whereby the customer is not paying for all of his or her data but instead there could be a third party involved. Were not sure how customers and regulators are going to react: these services will act as guideposts for customers. Taking the T-Mobile example above, a customer interested in streaming video on a smartphone may decide to use one service in preference to another, and reduce their monthly data allowance and therefore the cost. This could be construed as restricting customer choice and giving the carrier an element of control. For the customer, many will like the idea of having their month costs reduced but a growing number will want to know why and who is paying for it. Weve covered Wi-Fi Hotspot 2.0, or Passpoint, in recent weeks particularly as New York City is converting old public telephone boxes to new Passpoint Wi-Fi routers. Hotspot 2.0 is a technology that could be used to provide free, or at least cheap, access to Wi-Fi where either a cellular data network is unavailable or very expensive (heres looking at you, international roaming charges). Its pulled into focus when European delegates travel to America, or American delegates travel to Europe, as the cross-Atlantic roaming rates can be extremely high. Passpoint allows Wi-Fi hotspot operators to build a network and then open it up to roaming traffic from cellular carriers. However, its an option that carriers appear happy to largely ignore. Being cynical, those international roaming rates are low hanging fruits and carriers wish to keep control of customers and keep those charges. Weve seen carriers keen to push into LTE-U technology, which competes with Wi-Fi in radiowave terms, but of course its chargeable back to the carrier. Component and smartphone manufacturers are broadly supporting this after all, they need to sell chips that the carriers (want customers) to buy. Hotspot 2.0 and the implications of the technology has been largely ignored at Mobile World Congress 2016. In a related topic, lets discuss Wi-Fi calling. T-Mobile US made Wi-Fi calling available in 2007. The service gave users free, unlimited calling and of course improved coverage, which was very important to T-Mobile some nine years ago. Actually; let me correct this. All carriers benefit from improved coverage, although all over the world each carriers marketing team spend considerable time and effort around explaining how their network provides coverage to so many millions of the population. Its unfortunate that many of us find ourselves in that one area of our city where there is no coverage, right? We have seen carriers offering a free application that allows calling to be handled over a Wi-Fi or data network, often on another device, but for the most part a carrier would much rather sell you a small cell system (and you must also provide the broadband connection) than allow calls and text messages to be handled over a Wi-Fi network. Heres where Apple drop into the article, as in 2014 they added Wi-Fi calling into iOS 8. Suddenly, Apple invented a technology and to avoid appearing as a dinosaur, the carriers (in some cases) have reluctantly and slowly incorporated this feature into their infrastructure. However, rather than work on this technology, carriers are instead talking about ultrahigh performance 5G networks, or enabling VoLTE. Advertisement Another point to bring to the table is the interoperability barrier between different carriers. There are several examples of this video calling, plus HD voice, VoLTE or indeed VoIP. Carriers love to pretend that they are the only carrier in existence and so do not devote resources to allowing interoperability between themselves and their competitors. Instead, they would much rather you persuade your friends and family to use the same carrier as you. Video calling has been a largely unsupported technology from the carriers and there is a massive app industry allowing video calling across whatever device, carrier and network we are using (such as Google Hangouts, Apple Facetime and Microsoft Skype), there are wider implications: the Internet of Things is going to rely on carriers offering interoperablity. AT&T asked for the industry to agree a video calling standard in 2012. It still hasnt managed this, four years later; the carriers have the tools and standards at their disposal. Our carriers have a lot of work to do in order to make the Internet of Things work. Lets draw a line under these observations and condense it into a single point: our traditional carriers are fighting not to be the dumb pipe that the late Steve Jobs is credited with saying. They want us to think of our smartphone as a carrier device, then perhaps a manufacturers device, and finally, as a device. And they want us to only use their services. This is at odds with the Internet of Things and it is likely these growing pains will continue over the next few years. Google has been making a serious push to expand their Google Fiber broadband internet service to more markets throughout the United States. Cities like Atlanta and San Francisco have already received the Fiber treatment (to some extent), and the company looks to target even more potential markets as the year goes on. One of those target cities is Louisville, Kentucky which passed an ordinance that would make it even easier for Google to expand into their city. The ordinance, which the Louisville Metro Council named One Touch Make Ready, essentially grants Google the ability to make attachments to utility poles (managed by other broadband providers) in order to expand their Fiber service throughout the city. One of those other broadband providers, AT&T, was none too happy with the ordinance, and they demonstrated as much by filing a lawsuit aimed at blocking it. The crux of AT&Ts lawsuit boils down to this: its not the local governments place to decide who can make attachments to these utility poles as only state regulators can make such decisions (specifically, Kentuckys Public Service Commission). Basically, AT&T insists that Louisvilles city government has no jurisdiction to allow Google to make pole attachments without AT&Ts expressed consent and involvement. AT&T was also quick to point out that their lawsuit isnt aimed at Google, but rather the city governments unlawful practices. Advertisement Whether or not AT&T is picking a fight with Google, the company from Mountain View is certainly picking a fight with them. Google, in a Fiber blog post, expressed disappointment with AT&Ts recent actions while praising the City of Louisville for passing the ordinance. The company described how the ordinance alleviates several of the logistical challenges that usually accompany the implementation of a new broadband service. They also talked-up the benefits their Fiber service would bring to city residents, and even quoted Louisvilles mayor in saying that the city would vigorously fight the lawsuit. Despite Googles protestations, the lawsuit ultimately puts this dispute into the hands of the court, meaning that the judicial process will likely decide what happens next. If nothing else, the lawsuit probably puts Fibers deployment in Louisville on hold, at least for the time being. While the legitimacy of AT&Ts case is certainly a matter of debate, their actions represent a growing frustration amongst traditional telecom companies with Googles aggressive Fiber expansion. Comcast, one of the largest cable and internet providers in the U.S., has already responded to the services expansion into Atlanta. With this latest challenge from AT&T, Google faces increased opposition from competitors as they try to bring their service to more markets. One of the recurring news articles that has popped up in 2015 is how Android is broken because it is fragmented, and how Google has been working hard to pull the different versions of Android back together. The term fragmentation here means that there are many, many different devices running different versions of Android, under many different manufacturer device skins and for the newer builds of Android Lollipop and Android Marshmallow, with different security patch dates. We also have many variants of hardware, too: there are different screen resolutions, sizes and underlying technologies, differences in processors including a choice of ARM or Intel x86 architecture, RAM, internal storage, cameras and network functionality. To one person, these differences in software and hardware means fragmentation but to another, it means choice. Its a point for discussion: fragmentation is arguably one of Androids greatest strengths as well as a weakness. Be Together, Not The Same is one of Googles taglines for Android. Its designed to show off to the world that one of the many wonderful facets of Android is that our devices are different by design. Google has labored the point that Apple produce what looks and feels like the same device year after year, pronounce it to be the best ever, and yes whilst this is the case, its all a bit samey. Indeed, its the same note repeated again and again. Their recent monotune advert made the point: play a track using only the middle C piano note. Google has continued the jab at the samey Apple iPhone by translating one of its Tweets into the letter C and now it has released an album into the Google Play Store: monotone piano, sitting in the Classical genre. Advertisement The album consists of ten short tracks of classic tunes such as Three Blind Mice, America, The Beautiful, Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Take Me Out to the Ball Game with a special bonus track of Hot Cross Buns. All played in the middle C on a piano. Its probably not an album that will make it into your favorites although there is certainly plenty of ringtone potential here! Its available free of charge on the Google Play Store but judging by some of the comments, it has been well received by a number of reviewers, although these remarks are themselves laboring the point that Googles jab at Apple is amusing. For others, the joke already seems to be wearing thin. Mobile World Congress is always the first big mobile show of the year (CES is a big show too, but more technology than mobile oriented). It originally took place in Cannes, France until 2007 when it moved to Barcelona, Spain and has been there ever since. Just to give you an idea of exactly how large the show is, Barcelona typically sees north of 90,000 attendees descend on their city for the show in 2015 there were 93,000, 2016s numbers havent been released yet and there are over 200 countries represented. Its a huge show, so theres no doubt as to why Samsung always picks Mobile World Congress to announce their Galaxy S flagship device. Its been a busy week with Mobile World Congress happening, and we brought you the best coverage possible. There were plenty of new smartphones announced this week including the Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, LG G5, Alcatel Idol 4, Idol 4S, Sony Xperia X, Xperia XA, and Xperia X Performance just to name a few. There werent many tablets announced this year. Not a huge surprise given how the tablet market has shrunk in recent years. Lenovo debuted their TAB 3 line at the show, ZTE brought out the Spro Plus, which is actually a projector but it has a tablet on one side. Panasonic also debuted a tablet the Toughpad FZ-N1. Its a 4.7-inch device, but Panasonic calls it a tablet due to its extremely niche use-case. Advertisement As expected, Virtual Reality was a huge topic at this years show. LG debuted their own VR headset in the LG 360 VR which is part of LGs Friends line of accessories announced along side the LG G5. Samsungs event really showed that VR is the next big thing, no pun intended. Their show was mostly about VR, in fact every chair at Unpacked had a Gear VR on it. At Unpacked, Samsung announced the Gear 360 which is a 360-degree camera for shooting VR video. HTC also set a price for their VR headset, which was first announced at Mobile World Congress 2015. The Vive will go up for pre-order on February 29th and cost $799, a pretty aggressive price tag for a VR headset, although it is a tad more expensive than the Oculus Rift which is $599. On the wearables front, we saw a few new smartwatches but not many. Haier announced their new smartwatch, so did MyKronoz actually they came out with a whole line of smartwatches. There was also the ZTE Axon Watch, which wasnt exactly new as it was announced in China last year, and it doesnt run Android Wear. Epson also showed off their Moverio BT-300 Augmented Reality Glasses which are up for pre-order at $799. Thats really just the tip of the iceberg here when it comes to what was announced at Mobile World Congress this year. If you missed any of our coverage from the past week, we have it all laid out down below for you to check out. Advertisement Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge LG G5 Smartphones Advertisement Smartphone Hands-On Tablets Wearables Advertisement Virtual Reality Misc Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2016 is now over, and theres plenty to digest from all of the news and announcements that were made. Most people will focus on the myriad of smartphone launches from Samsung, LG, Xiaomi, and Sony, but the conference also showcased several other products and emerging technologies. Virtual Reality (VR) held a particularly strong presence at this years conference, with numerous companies introducing new hardware and / or talking up the potential benefits that the new technology might bring. Throughout the week, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Samsung Electronics brought plenty of attention to the VR sector, but they arent the only companies looking to push the technology forward. Companies like Sony are also looking to capitalize on VRs growing popularity, and according to a recently discovered patent, they might bring some innovative new hardware to the sector. The patent describes the technology as a glove interface object. The glove contains a number of sensors that can register the inputs of various hand movements or hand actions and then render them in a virtual field, thus allowing users to interact with said field (such as a video game) in a more detailed and immersive fashion. According to the patent, the glove contains a variety of input mechanisms, including what are described as flex sensors and contact sensors. The flex sensor works exactly how its name would suggest: it detects the flex movement of whatever finger portion it occupies on the glove interface. The contact sensor registers any contact made with other portions of the glove interface, such as one finger touching another finger, or one finger touching the gloves palm. The patent also mentions a communications module which collects the information generated by both sensors and transmits it to a device responsible for processing the data and determining the users finger position pose. The resulting pose is then rendered for the users virtual field on a VR headset. Advertisement While the patent goes into tremendous detail about the glove technology and how it works, it doesnt provide any clear information on when customers might actually see the device for themselves (or if itll even make it to market). That being said, the glove would be a perfect fit (no pun intended) for Sonys Playstation VR headset, which is rumored to debut sometime this fall. If and when that device goes to market, it would mark yet another addition to the suddenly thriving VR market. Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is tired of hearing that irritating-but-talented Jose Mourinho is to replace him at Old Trafford. Speaking to Dutch television channel RTL7 in the wake of Uniteds 5-1 Europa League win over Midtjylland on Thursday evening, Van Gaal was asked about the pressure both he and his players are enduring at the moment. His answer was fullsome: He (Mourinho) has said things a number of times with a lot of words. But he does not have to tell me anything. I find the whole thing ridiculous! No, I dont want United to do something either. I dont even want them to react to things which I read in the media or which are being created. We, the club and I, are not going to help the media right now by denying things. I think what is happening is an absolute scandal! (ANSA) - Rome, February 26 - The civil unions bill approved Thursday in the Italian Senate, and now before the House, sets forth opportunities and responsibilities for both same-sex and heterosexual couples who wish to contract a civil union. Following is an overview of what the new law contains: CONTRACTING A CIVIL UNION: As with civil marriage, a civil union must be contracted before a civil registrar in the presence of two witnesses, and is registered in the state's civil records archive. SURNAME: The couple can use one of the partners' surnames as a common surname, and the other partner can choose to put their own surname before or after the common surname. RECIPROCAL OBLIGATIONS: The union calls for "reciprocal obligation to provide moral and material assistance and cohabitation" but not the obligation of faithfulness, as in marriage, and requires "contribution to common needs" based on individual capacity and circumstances. FAMILY LIFE: The couple must choose a family address and a common residence. PROPERTY REGIME: The default property regime is community property, unless otherwise decided upon by the couple. RETIREMENT, INHERITANCE AND SEVERANCE PAY: Survivor's benefits and severance pay go to the partner, not the deceased partner's child or children. For inheritance, the same laws apply here as for marriage: 50% goes to the surviving partner, and the rest to any surviving children. DISSOLUTION: Here the 1970 divorce laws apply "as far as they are compatible", but there is no mandatory separation period as with dissolution of marriage. ADOPTIONS: A proposal for so-called stepchild adoption was stricken from the final bill voted into law, but a maxi-amendment included text that adoptions are governed under "current laws", effectively giving individual Courts the ability to decide whether or not to allow adoptions in individual cases. DE FACTO COHABITATION: Establishes as a de facto relationship one that contains "two adults united in an ongoing emotional relationship with reciprocal moral and material assistance, without being related by blood, affinity or adoption, by marriage or another civil union". ASSISTANCE IN HOSPITAL AND PRISON: The partners have the same rights as spouses in terms of assistance for a hospitalised or incarcerated partner. ORGAN DONATION: The partners can delegate health decisions to the other in cases of incapacitation, and decisions related to organ donations and funeral arrangements in the case of death. HOME: In the case of death, the surviving partner has the right to take over the rent contract for the joint residence. If the deceased partner was the homeowner, the surviving partner has the right to continue to live there for two to five years, depending on the length of the cohabitation. SUPPORT PAYMENTS: In the case of dissolution of the cohabitation, "a judge establishes the right of the partner to receive from the other partner support payments if the partner is in need and unable to provide for oneself" and the amount is dependent upon the length of the cohabitation. Le CBD, cette molecule active du cannabis a aujourdhui le vent en poupe. Et cela est en grande partie du au fait quil permet... Best Business Products and Services Would you like to submit an article in the Business category or any of the sub-category below? Click here to submit your article. Would you like to have your product or service listed on this page? Contact us. 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What is most shocking below is that Stirling had made multiple child molestation admissions on the internet and not been turned in early, or by any of his friends. This may be because some, or maybe even many of this friends were of the same persuasion. . The FBI has a history of breaking up pedophile rings and I would bet they are going to dig down to the bedrock on this one. We will be following this story very closely as we would not be surprised to see more arrests It was not by accident that Gordon posted his open letter to the Intel and Security community who we know is widely familiar with the pedophile epidemic both in the US and the rest or the world that has long penetrated top political, business, even the military, and of course the international criminal networks. Some of this is used for black mail. Here in the US our own Intel people used to film Mideastern diplomatic plate window darkened SUVs picking up teenage runaway prostitutes at a well known place where they hang out to compromise the perps. But they also allow this exploitation to go on, which is actually a felony, but is hidden behind national security immunity. And a small country in the Middle east has long been very active in this blackmail arena. .. Jim W. Dean ] Frankly we have discovered no groundswell of concern in the community to take this on. No one has any faith in those above them then to the victim pile themselves as they know the corruptions goes right into the judicial community. Molestation is not the end of the problem. The murder of these children. And having knowledge of such things, individual cases is the same level felony as the perpetrator, hence the wall of silence. ____________ First published February 26, 2016 Here, he worked with authorities in Belgium where pedophilia is a national sport. According to FBI sources, the arrest of Stirling David Allen is one stage in an investigation that leads into Europes scientific community, the CERN group, the European Space Agency and the Belgian royal family, a tale of blackmail, of child murder and ties to internet conspiracy websites, shock jocks and more than one intelligence agency, including Britains MI 5. 4th District Court Case # NewPc129118 $0.00 Cash Only 76-5-403.1 SODOMY ON A CHILD X 4 Arrested/Held For: New Charge 4th District Court Case # NewPc129118 $0.00 Cash Only 76-9-702.5 LEWDNESS INVOLVING A CHILD X Arrested/Held For: New Charge 4th District Court Case # NewPc129118 $250,000.00 Cash Only 76-5-404.1(4) AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF A C Arrested/Held For: New Charge Sheriffs office arrests Fountain Green man following reports of child sex abuse The Utah County Sheriffs Office arrested a Fountain Green man Monday afternoon on suspicion of multiple counts of child sex abuse. During an online post he made earlier this month, Allan reportedly stated he planned to travel to Russia, which does not have an extradition treaty with the United States. He is one of the movers and shakers among the nano-thermite crowd of 9/11 truthers, those who believe that a non-existent secret powder was painted on the beams of the World Trade Center, seemingly by time travelers who used next decade nano-technology for a secret false flag project that could only have been perpetrated back in 1964.Then again, reality and the conspiracy bloggosphere seldom intersect. Other than his work as a troofer, passing along the brilliant opines of Alex Jones and Christopher Bollyn to the world, while shopping reader IP addresses, according to FBI sources, for susceptible children, Stirling also plagued the Keshe Foundations.His war with thecomes after more than a year of investigation. According to police reports, a special agent with the FBI received a tip in January 2015 that Allan was involved in the sexual exploitation of children. Internet searches reportedly revealed several online videos in which Allan admitted he was a pedophile and had committed sex offenses against children.In January 2016, agents interviewed Allan in Fountain Green, and he reportedly admitted to molesting children when he lived in Eagle Mountain, from where he moved six years ago. Allan also reportedly admitted he sexually assaulted a minor in the summer of 2014.Allan was booked into the Utah County Jail on suspicion of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony; four counts of sodomy on a child, a first-degree felony; and 41 misdemeanor counts of lewdness involving a child. 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We dont know when it began, maybe at the Presidio under Michael Aquino and the Temple of Set or before. We do know it has victimized thousands of children around the world, not only in America but channeling children through Belgium and the Netherlands into sexual slavery and death. What is it that makes the powerful desire what is so hurtful and obscene? When we ignored the Franklin Coverup, we opened ourselves to this. ] ___________ There, political advisors leapt on them, seeing a chance to leverage a justice and, in this case, and this is very important, bring down Scalia in such a way that conservatives would be forced to accept virtually any Obama nomination. The crux of the story is how they got Scalia. According to sources, Scalia had been providing protection for an international pedophile ring and was murdered by friends who he had informed of the nature of his visit with Obama and the doom it signaled for those around Scalia, prosecution, ruin and Citizens United reversed. We remember former FBI director and founder, J Edgar Hoover, the man who said ritual satanic child abuse was a conspiracy theory. He is also the man who said the mafia didnt exist. __________ The computer itself belonged to a Stirling David Allen, arrested and charged with child rape and sodomy by the FBI after an investigation that began with a meeting in Rome, Italy. The FBI had known about Allen for some time, had wanted to arrest him since 2014 but had been blocked, they just didnt know why or who was behind it, not until Justice Scalia died. Within 9 days, Allen was jailed, and the evidence he held began to yield gold. It is very sick, but if you really want to watch and hear the ramblings of a mad man just watch this video where Sterling D. Allan says he is GOD in the flesh, admits to being a paedophile, admits he has committed sexual abuse with an underage child, and says that he is waiting to be arrested. Mr. Allan claims he chose this life before coming to Earth to be a scapegoat which of course is all foretold in his insane alphabetics. Sources say that Scalia was the single actor behind the impeachment of Bill Clinton. President Obama was aware of this and had ordered the FBI to set out traps for Scalia. We will now outline the downfall of Antonin Scalia. Yes, this is a story of secret societies, operating worldwide and ritual Satanic child abuse that permeates Washington.Scalia left the White House carrying slam dunk proof that would lead to the arrest, conviction and, of course, impeachment of a seated Supreme Court Justice, files that contained names of victims and details on sex acts, preferred types along with dates and places. All of this was on the seized computer and these files went up hill from the FBI to the Department of Justice and directly over to the White House.When Scalia arrived in Houston and chartered a plane after ditching his US Marshall protection detail, Scalia and his companion, C. Allen Foster. Foster heads the Order of Hubertus and is co-owner with John Poindexter of the Cibolo Creek Ranch, 25,000 plus acres free for anyone to use, according to John Poindexter, free of charge, so long as they are a supreme court justice, A list celebrity like Mick Jagger or billionaires, others need not apply.The mechanism Scalia used to provide this protection was the Federalist Society which chooses the judges throughout the US judiciary system so should any unfortunate pedophile find himself in court, the judge was under Scalias control, thus making a successful prosecution difficult to achieve.The Federalist Society grooms and recruits candidates to become judges at a young age college age kids; they specifically seek out suitable candidates who have certain moral ambiguities that can be exploited.Thus a stranglehold is placed on the judicial system of the United States by a group which serves the interests of big business corrupt corporations, big pharma, the oil and coal barons; this is how their interests are, time and again, placed ahead of those of we, the people with the result that our environment and our bodies are polluted by the products of these corporations, be it poisons like aspartame and GMO crops in our food, toxins in our ground water (see Flint, MI) or just plain old exploitation of poor people such as the coal miners of West Virginia and Kentucky.Scalia met with the Order of Saint Hubertus, the patron saint of million dollar dude ranch hunting. As of yet, no one has identified who was there, it seems that Supreme Court justices are found all the time with pillows over their faces and nobody asks a thing, but this was Texas and they make their own rules down there.Scalias talk in Texas was said to have gone like this: They have us, we are all going down unless we can give them what they want and they are holding all the cards, they have everything. There was no negotiation with the White House, instead Scalia got, we are told and multiple sources confirm, a pillow over the face and a heroic funeral, one that President Obama refused to attend. Now we know why.For a seated president to attend the funeral of a pedophile is unthinkable.Allen is being held on these charges with bail set at $250,000.We were shown an email from Allen where he tells of his January 15, 2016 meeting with Agent Ross at which time his computers were seized by the FBI. What we are told was on Allens computer and what Allen told agents is astounding. Allen confessed, we are told, not only to his own sex crimes but to being recruited by a powerful international organization that provided him broad protection from prosecution.From Ian Greenhalgh:We are told that Allen became increasingly unstable as his own feelings of guilt and his own public confessions of child sex crimes were inadequate to bring about his own arrest, an arrest he openly asked for time and time again.Allen, who using his computer skills helped fellow pedophiles scour the internet for vulnerable children.High level sources confirm that Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was murdered, that in itself is neither an original claim nor beyond the realm of likelihood based on circumstances allegedly tied to his death. By that, we are speaking of the pillow over the head and allegations of a cover-up autopsy, well outside legal requirements for someone of Scalias position.Sources in the White House confirm that immediately prior to his flight to Texas, ostensibly for a hunting trip with 35 close friends, many of whom are members of the highly secret Order of Saint Hubertus. As is being reported, initially in the Washington Post with broader allegations made on the InfoWars website, tying the Hubertus Order to Bohemian Grove antics, long subject to speculation in the alternative media.We became aware of the case in August 2015 when we were shown correspondence between Allen and representatives of the Keshe Foundation. Allen ran several popular websites on alternative energy and was a popular speaker, often appearing on the Coast to Coast radio show with Detroit native, George Noory.Increasingly it became obvious that Allen had been using these venues for sexual trafficking of children. It wasnt hard to figure out, he did it openly spoke of it constantly (as seen in the YouTube above) and lived as though he were above the law. Over the next few months, particularly when confronted by Iranian born physicist MT Keshe, who ordered Allen and those around him banned from all Keshe forums, Allen openly flaunted his criminal activities.What made this particularly insidious is that it was obvious not only that Allen was not acting alone but that he had broad support not only in his home state of Utah, where he was able to avoid prosecution, but in Belgium as well. There, Allen and associates Hans Bracquene, Dirk Laureyssens and Ad Van den Elshout moved against the Keshe group, securing against Keshes wishes technologies with defense related applications and passing them on to MI 5 in Britain.When Keshe moved against this group and tried to secure his patents, he found himself being chased down the highway, shots fired, his car run off the road. Police arrested and soon misplaced the culprits, and soon thereafter, representatives of Belgiums royals told Keshe to leave Belgium or be buried there.On the European end of the FBI investigation, the trail, all of which is easily followed by the breadcrumbs Stirling David Allen has left, leads to the highest and most powerful of the scientific communities where blackmail, kidnapping and torture, threats against families and in particular, threats against children, have placed members of secret societies in positions of power at universities, think tanks, police and counter-terrorism agencies and even the European SpaceAgency.More to come Hi, I am looking for advice for a colleague of my husbands. He is currently on a 457 & looking to apply for a 186 PR visa. He is originally from the Philippines & is separated from his wife but cannot legally divorce there. His wife & child will be staying in the Philippines so he does not want to include them on the PR visa. Does he have to include them, or do they have to under go any medicals etc even though they will not be entering Australia? Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks Jo HP The company will celebrate the 30-year anniversary of its first-ever front-wheel-drive car this year. We are talking about the Volvo 480, a wedge-shaped model that was first shown to the public on March 6, 1986.This model paved the way for all the Volvo cars that followed, but it was not a massive sales success. The 480 was powered by a Renault engine that was reportedly tuned by Porsche Development in Weissach, but that is a piece of information not present in the company's releases.Volvo had several sketches for the 480 prepared, including an entry from Carozzeria Bertone, and from Jan Wilsgaard, Volvo Cars Chief Designer at the time. However, the winning design came from Netherlands and was penned by John De Vries. The latter worked for Volvo's Dutch subsidiary, and that was also responsible for the manufacture of the 480 and its derivatives.The central idea of the 480 was a car that inspired dynamics and personality, and we still consider the model to do exactly that even 30 years after it came to market. The wedge-shaped body was a big thing at the time and isn't present on modern vehicles because of various reasons, but the design of this car passed the test of time.The exterior design was not the only important thing about the 480, as the interior was created by Peter Horbury, the man that later became the brand's Chief Designer. Volvo's 480 featured a digital trip computer, an element that we take for granted today, but was stunning in a non-premium car at the time.Furthermore, the 480 had its instrument panel angled towards the driver, and the rear seats had adjustable backrests. The latter is not found in most modern cars of the compact or even midsize class, so the Volvo 480 was ahead of its time on that one.The engine was a 1.7-liter naturally aspirated unit that provided 109, but the 480 was praised for its handling and its power-to-weight ratio. Volvo later introduced a turbo variant of this model that developed 120 HP, unimpressive in today's world, but a lot in 1988. The 90's brought back a naturally aspirated unit under the hood in the form of a 2.0-liter unit that provided improved torque and 110 HP.The legacy of the Volvo 480 will live on for years to come, as Volvo still offers us models with an unusual design and smart features. Bosch, an auto component manufacturer, has opened its first office in Lahore, Pakistan, according to the company. The facility will focus on the sale of power tools and security systems. It will also sell products from the company's automotive aftermarket division, according to the company. The opening of the office is part of companys continuing intention to grow in the Middle East. Bosch said it wants to take advantage of the regions potential while supporting the local economy. Bosch has been active in the Middle East for more than 90 years, and the company said it generated 240 million euros in the region in 2014. 27 February 2016 11:00 (UTC+04:00) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered his condolences to the Azerbaijani people with regard to the 24th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide, the TRT Haber news channel reported Feb. 26. We honor the memory of the Khojaly tragedy victims and wish patience to the Azerbaijani people, said Erdogan. On February 25-26, 1992, the Armenian armed forces, together with the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops stationed in Khankendi committed an act of genocide against the population of the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly. The event became the largest massacre in the course of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. As many as 613 people were killed, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old people were killed as a result of the massacre. Eight families were totally exterminated, 130 children lost one parent and 25 children lost both. A total of 487 civilians became disabled as a result of the onslaught. Some 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 people remains unknown. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 February 2016 11:30 (UTC+04:00) The agreement between Iran and Azerbaijan on cooperation in energy and water use, continuation of construction and operation of the Khudaferin and Qiz Qalasi hydroelectric plants and complexes on the Araz River, will bring Azerbaijan the economic and political benefits. This statement was made by Shahin Mustafayev, Azerbaijani economy minister, Azerbaijani state TV channel AzTV reported Feb. 26. Mustafayev said the agreement declares the principles of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and Iran, the equal rights on water and energy resources of the Khudaferin and Qiz Qalasi complexes. He added that the need for restoring the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in accordance with the UN resolutions was also stressed in the agreement. As it is known, the Khudaferin and Qiz Qalasi complexes are being built on the Araz River, he said. Unfortunately, Armenia occupied the territory of Azerbaijan located on the left bank of the river. The territory of Iran is on the right bank of this river, Mustafayev said. This agreement will provide access for Azerbaijan to its occupied territories and will make it possible to carry out economic activity there. In addition, the agreement once again emphasized the fact that these territories belong to Azerbaijan, and that Armenia has no rights on them. The minister noted that the political dividends Azerbaijan will receive from this agreement are very large. From the economic point of view this project is very profitable for Azerbaijan, said the minister. Azerbaijan and Iran will work together to finalize this project, Mustafayev said. It is worth noting that the dam has already been completed, construction of the power plant will be completed in the near future, and Azerbaijan and Iran together will manage and implement this project. In addition, this agreement is very important for regulation of the water level in the Araz River, he said. It is also worth noting that the profit from the sale of electricity will be equally divided between Azerbaijan and Iran. Mustafayev also said Azerbaijan will start selling electricity to Iran in a month. Construction of the Mugan transmission line, the former Imishli-Parsabad line, will be completed in a month, he said. From the Azerbaijani side, all the work has been completed. The Iranian side asked us for 20-25 days in order to complete the work. It can be said that in a month, Azerbaijan will be able to sell electricity to Iran via this transmission line, he said. An agreement on prices has already been reached. There are no technical or financial problems. The minister noted that in the future it is planned to carry out cross-flows of electricity among Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia, as well as among Georgia, Azerbaijan and Iran. All the necessary work is already being carried out in this direction, Mustafayev said. Linking energy systems of these countries is a strategic objective for us. Earlier, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak confirmed the interest in uniting the energy systems with Azerbaijan and Iran. Azerbaijan has the necessary infrastructure that allows receiving and transmitting electricity. The country has experience in the simultaneous operation of energy systems with Russia as there has been a single system since the Soviet period. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 February 2016 12:00 (UTC+04:00) A delegation of the EBRDs Treasury Department will visit Azerbaijan from March 1-2, 2016, the bank said Feb. 26. The purpose of the visit is to discuss framework for developing money markets and the plans for Azerbaijani manat bond issuances. The delegation will include Axel van Nederveen, Managing Director, Treasurer, Aude Pacatte, Director, Head of Portfolio Management, Matthew Saal, Associate Director, Local Currency and Capital Market Development, Aziz Jurayev, Principal, Funding, the bank said. During the visit to Azerbaijan, members of the EBRD delegation will have meetings with Elman Rustamov, head of Azerbaijani Central Bank and Rufat Aslanli, chairman of State Security Committee, the statement said. Separate meetings with International Financial Institutions World Bank and ADB will be held within the visit. Regional Director for financial institutions Mike Taylor visited Baku, Azerbaijan on February 23 25, 2016. During the visit to Baku, Taylor met Azerbaijani government representatives. The meetings were held with Elman Rustamov, head of Azerbaijani Central Bank and Rufat Aslanli, chairman of the State Security Committee, as well as with partner banks on February 24, 2016. The purpose of the mission was to discuss EBRD support for private sector development and the banking sector. Azerbaijan is an EBRD member since 1992. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 February 2016 15:30 (UTC+04:00) Standard & Poor's Ratings Services lowered its long- and short-term issuer credit ratings on JSC National Management Holding Baiterek (Baiterek Holding, or the holding company) to 'BB+/B' from 'BBB-/A-3'. The outlook on the long-term rating is negative, the agency said Feb. 25. S&P also lowered our Kazakhstan national scale rating on Baiterek Holding to 'kzAA-' from 'kzAA'. The rating action reflects the downgrade of Kazakhstan on Feb. 17, the statement said. S&P assesses the likelihood of extraordinary government support to the consolidated Baiterek group as almost certain: Integral link with the government. The state owns 100% of the holding company, which in turn fully owns its subsidiaries. Consequently, the group credit profile (GCP) is now 'bbb-', equalized with the sovereign credit rating on Kazakhstan. The GCP reflects the creditworthiness of the consolidated operations group, taking into account our view of extraordinary government support. Correspondingly, S&Ps ratings on Baiterek Holding are one notch lower than our assessment of the GCP. Consequently, the government's incentives to provide extraordinary support to the parent company in a stress scenario could potentially be weaker compared with some of the holding company's operating subsidiaries. Specifically, S&P believes that the default of some of Baiterek Holding's subsidiaries will be more detrimental for the government than the default of the parent company because it is the subsidiaries that are directly involved in implementing a number of important government programs. The negative outlook mirrors that on the sovereign. We would likely revise the outlook on Baiterek Holding if we took a similar action on the sovereign. All else being equal, a one-notch lowering of our long-term ratings on Kazakhstan could lead to a two-notch lowering of our ratings on Baiterek Holding. S&P could also lower the ratings over the next 12 months if we saw signs of waning government support to the group. In addition, S&P could lower the ratings if we perceived the role of Baiterek Holding for the government as reducing in contrast to the role of the overall group. Baiterek National Management Holding includes: Development Bank of Kazakhstan JSC, Investment Fund of Kazakhstan JSC, Housing Construction Savings Bank of Kazakhstan JSC, Mortgage Organization "Kazakhstan Mortgage Company JSC, Export Credit Insurance Corporation KazExportGarant, Damu Entrepreneurship Development Fund, National Agency for Technological Development JSC, Kazakhstan Mortgage Loans Guaranteeing Fund JSC, Kazyna Capital Management JSC, Kazyna Capital Management JSC, Baiterek Development JSC, Public-Private Partnership Projects Support Center LLP. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 27 February 2016 15:00 (UTC+04:00) Kazakhstan and Egypt plan to cooperate in space research and nuclear energy spheres, said Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Nazarbayev made the remarks following the meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, said the message from Kazakh presidents press service. The sides will consider the possibility of signing an intergovernmental agreement in space research sphere, according to Kazakhstans president. Moreover, taking into account the creation of the Low Enriched Uranium Bank in Kazakhstan and plans for constructing a nuclear power plant in Egypt, the sides have started to discuss the prospects for cooperation in this sphere. Further, the two presidents discussed the cooperation in transportation and transit spheres. Nazarbayev noted that Kazakhstan and Egypt play a significant role in the Silk Road Economic Belt project. Kazakhstans president said that his country supports Cairos intention to create a free trade zone with the Eurasian Economic Union. He also stressed the importance of establishing long-term relations in the sphere of agriculture. Kazakhstan is among the world leaders in grain export, while Egypt is the largest state importing it, said Nazarbayev. Kazakhstan has exported over a million tons of grain to Egypt from 2006 to 2010. This cooperation will further develop. Further, Kazakh president said that currently, it is planned to implement a number of joint investment projects. Egyptian business circles consider the possibility of investing in construction of resorts on the Caspian Sea coast and building a poultry farm in Kazakhstans Almaty province. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3.0 ( - - ): editor [at] bahrainmirror.com n a hallowed place where popes have prayed and pilgrims have flocked, Washington is capping two days of official mourning for Antonin Scalia with a funeral Mass for the late Supreme Court justice. One of Scalia's nine children, the Rev. Paul Scalia, was to lead the Mass on Saturday at the nation's largest Roman Catholic church, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. It can hold at least 3,500 people. Paul Scalia, a Catholic priest serving the diocese of Arlington, Virginia, also planned to deliver the homily as politicians and powerbrokers, and friends and family joined in honoring one of the country's most influential conservatives. No eulogy was expected. Antonin Scalia, 79, died last weekend at a remote Texas ranch. He had spent nearly three decades on the high court. Burial plans have not been announced. Among those expected to attend to Mass was Vice President Joe Biden, along with the eight Supreme Court justices. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama were among the more than 6,000 people who paid tribute to Scalia at the Supreme Court on Friday. Scalia's flag-draped casket rested on a funeral bier first used after President Abraham Lincoln's assassination. White House spokesman Josh Earnest pointed to Biden's personal relationship with Scalia's family and said Obama's decision about the Mass was a "respectful arrangement" that took into account his large security detail. Scalia's casket was to remain at the Supreme Court until early Saturday. In a court tradition, groups of his former law clerks took turns standing vigil. GOP presidential hopeful Ted Cruz planned to interrupt his campaign ahead of Saturday's South Carolina primary to attend the Mass. The Texas senator has been among those urging the Senate not to consider replacing Scalia until after the November election. Obama has insisted that he will nominee a successor. Scheduled to give opening remarks at the Mass was Washington Archbishop Donald Cardinal Wuerl. Leonard Leo, executive director of the Federalist Society, a conservative legal group, was to read a passage from the Old Testament, while Justice Clarence Thomas planned to read from the New Testament. Never before has a funeral for a Supreme Court justice been held at the basilica. Three popes have visited the basilica: Pope John Paul II in 1979, Pope Benedict XVI in 2008 and Pope Francis last year. President Barack Obama visited a Jacksonville battery plant Friday as a way to show that his economic policies are paying off. A long line of people waited to get into SAFT America, a battery plant that received $95 million in stimulus money from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. SAFT makes lithium ion batteries for renewable energy. Businesses like SAFT are leading a clean energy revolution thats creating jobs and making our planet safer and more secure at the same time, Obama said. The president also took aim at Republican presidential candidates who say the presidents policies have left the country with a weak economy. "Anybody who says we are not absolutely better off today than we were just seven years ago, they're not leveling with you, they're not telling the truth." Sharia Brown, a 12-year-old girl who wrote to the president, was the only pre-teen invited to the event. Brown says she remembered how the president promised to turn the economy around when he was elected. My dad was telling me that when a lot of people are building, then that means the economy is doing really well, she said. So I think he did bring it back. The White House says the Recovery Act saved or created an average of 1.6 million jobs a year for four years. A survey of economists conducted by the University of Chicago found 82 percent believed the recovery act pushed unemployment lower by the end of 2010 than it would have been without the stimulus. Republicans, however, still say the stimulus did not do anything but drive up the national debt. The president has been spending his last few months in office talking about the recovery act and how it propped up the economy. He visited Detroit last month to showcase the U.S. auto industry. The president also took a moment to talk about the mass shooting that happened earlier this week in Hesston, Kansas, and renew his call for gun control. That was someone Sharia Brown said she'd hoped the president would talk about. Information from the Associated Press was used in the report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate In the prestigious neighborhood of Terrell Hills, magnificent oaks and magnolias shade a private brick lane leading to the historic estate that was once the home of one of San Antonio's most prestigious families. That piece of Alamo City history, listed on the market for $2.9 million, just sold to new owners. Edgar Tobin, a graduate of the San Antonio Military Academy and a World War I fighter pilot, purchased the home after his 1926 marriage to Margaret Lynn Batts. They were the second owners of the estate, which dates back to 1908, according to family genealogist and Tobin relative Kaye Fraser. Click through the gallery for a look inside the spectacular estate where the Tobins once lived in Terrell Hills. Edgar was the grandchild of Josephine Smith and William Tobin; his family built seven homes during the 1880s and 1890s in the area now known as Tobin Hill. When Edgar returned to San Antonio after the war, he founded Tobin Aerial Surveys. RELATED: The 9 most expensive streets to live on in San Antonio When Edgar died in a plane clash at the age of 57, his company was the largest aerial mapping firm in the world. Margaret, already an esteemed civic leader and art patron, took over as chair on the board of her husband's company. A wealth of San Antonio's fine art and culture is due to the legacy of Margaret Lynn Batts Tobin, the mother of the renowned Texas art collector and patron, founder of the Tobin Endowment, Robert L. B. Tobin. Margaret served as the president of the McNay Art Institute in addition to serving as the president for the Symphony Society, and she shared her passion for the arts with her son Robert who later gave his extensive collection to the McNay. When he died in 2000, the New York Times credited Robert with building "one of the most important theater design collections in the country." RELATED: 27 historic districts in San Antonio While the Tobin family has not lived on Terrell Road for decades, the home that once entertained the city's most elite residents still maintains its immaculate splendor while indulging modernized luxuries. The 1.3 acre estate includes an Old Style stone main house, 6,533 square feet,with five bedrooms, a library and a sun room, plus a carriage house and one divine swimming pool. Until recently, the 1908 home had only three owners. Luxury real estate agent Jason Glast announced the property's sale this week. RELATED: See the most expensive home sold in San Antonio in 2015 jmscott@mysa.com Beaumont City Council on Tuesday will consider offering support for a tax-credit backed apartment proposal south of Lumberton, which is not in the Beaumont city limits, but is still within its territorial jurisdiction. Council has on its agenda for Tuesday a resolution to support Lumberton Senior Village, a 76-unit property proposed at the lightly populated area at Mitchell and Smith League roads, south of Lumberton. The Lumberton city council already has opposed the property within its own city limits. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Central Texas man running for constable faces accusations that he sexually assaulted a child. Lee County Sheriff Rodney Meyer told mySA.com that Edward Lynn Malkey was arrested Feb. 18 on a charge of indecency with a child by sexual contact, a second degree felony punishable by a maximum 20 year prison sentence. RELATED: Ex-teacher Raymond Casillas gets eight years in prison for molesting student Malkey was previously arrested on Jan. 10 on charges of sexual assault of a child and abandoning or endangering a child via criminal negligence, Meyer said in an email on Friday. According to a Dec. 18 indictment, Malkey allegedly assaulted a child younger than 17 years old around July 2012. The document does not list the child's age or gender. RELATED: DPS: Ex-Judson ISD teacher accused of sex trafficking had 75 child porn images on phone Malkey is also accused of touching the breast of a child younger than 17 years old in March 2014, according to a separate indictment handed down Feb. 12 by a Lee County grand jury. In addition to the allegations of sexual offenses, Malkey also threatened suicide in front of a child younger than 15 years old by "placing a firearm in his mouth and requesting a third party to pull the trigger" on or about May 23, according to a Jan. 6 indictment. Malkey also "did not voluntarily deliver the child to a designated emergency infant care provider," the indictment reads. RELATED: Police: Central Texas high school teacher's aide, 35, met student in parking lot for sex Malkey's bond was set at $100,000, according to Lee County Court records. jfechter@mySA.com Twitter: @JFreports Here are five things to know about physician burnout in gastroenterology, according to a Medscape report. 1. Forty-nine percent of gastroenterologists feel they are burned out. 2. On a scale of one to seven, gastroenterologists rated the severity of their burnout as 4.3. 3. Seventy-nine percent of female gastroenterologists expressed burnout, compared to 44 percent of their male peers. 4. The top three causes for gastroenterologist burnout are too many bureaucratic tasks, spending too many hours at work and theincreasing computerization of practice. 5. Both male and female gastroenterologists report about the same happiness levels at home with 54 percent and 58 percent respectively, but 32 percent of men are content at work compared to 18 percent of women. While 2016 appears to be a grim time for some hospitals, especially smaller rural facilities that would be happy with a break-even balance sheet, there are steps hospitals and health systems of all sizes can take to boost their finances this year. 1. Improve reputation. Without a good reputation a hospital will not achieve success financially or otherwise. Reputation is complex, fragile and built on perceived truth of the people both inside and outside an organization, according to Paul Keckley, PhD, managing director of Navigant Center for Healthcare Research and Policy Analysis. Dr. Keckley wrote in "Pulse Weekly," a newsletter on health reform, that reputation can seriously impact the bottom line. A 2012 World Economic Forum study found on average more than a quarter of a company's market value is directly attributable to its reputation. That number is likely even greater today, according to a study by Deloitte. For smaller hospitals, reputation could be the factor that keeps the doors open or leads to financial failure. Many small hospitals are financially stressed due to community members straying from the hospital to seek care at a larger facility. However, community hospitals should not make any assumptions as to why patients head elsewhere for care. "It may be a matter of reputation," said Kelly Arduino, a partner in Wipfli's healthcare practice. "It could be as simple as someone got a bad bill and talked about it all over town." To solve this problem, Ms. Arduino recommends hospitals use a community engagement survey to find out what local residents really think. It's also important to understand that reputation is different than branding. Unlike branding, reputation can't be cooked up by a PR and marketing team, according to Dr. Keckley. Glossy ads in airline magazines and "Top 100" titles can't stand up to what real people say about an organization and how it impacts its community. 2. Revamp billing and collections. Confusing medical bills and frustrating collections processes can have a negative effect on patient experience and a hospital's bottom line. If patients don't understand their financial responsibilities they are less likely to pay on time or at all. As more consumers enroll in high-deductible health plans, in which they are responsible for a significantly greater share of their healthcare costs, effective billing and collections processes are essential to a hospital's financial success. Rick Baker, regional CEO of revenue cycle services at Parallon, a subsidiary of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA, said transparency is crucial in this new healthcare environment where patients are key decision-makers. "We want to make sure we give patients clarity as soon as possible about what they owe," he said. According to a 2014 TransUnion study, 80 percent of respondents said receiving pre-treatment cost estimates and pre-treatment coverage estimates would be helpful in managing medical costs. However, only about 25 percent of the respondents had received treatment cost estimates from providers. There is also room for a great deal of improvement regarding the clarity of hospital bills, as the TransUnion survey found 54 percent of insured consumers are either sometimes or always confused by them. Once patients receive their medical bills, they want a seamless payment process in place. Patient portals are increasingly used by hospitals to allow patients to view and pay their bill online, which is something patients want, according to a 2014 Intuit study. The vast majority (77 percent) of patients would pay medical bills online if the option was made available to them, according to the study. However, communication is vital to ensuring patients know they have the option of making a payment via a patient portal. 3. Focus on communication strategy. Communication has become the link between clinical efficiency and the patient experience as healthcare moves from the hospital, to the primary care physician's office, to the outpatient clinic and even into patients' homes. Not only does it drive outcomes 69 percent of hospital-based accidental deaths and injuries can be traced back to communication failures but it also impacts a hospital's bottom line. Breakdowns in communication account for approximately $12 billion in annual waste in U.S. hospitals, according to Vocera Communications. Brent Lang, president and CEO of Vocera, said failed communication contributes to clinicians' inability to respond to urgent issues in a timely manner, increased rates of infections and falls, increased lengths of stay and higher rates of medication errors, among other concerns. Although there are several obstacles to improving communication, such as lacking the capital needed to invest in new technology and tools, changes to a hospital's communication strategy can have a positive effect on its bottom line. More articles on healthcare finance: Tenet posts $140M net loss in 2015: 6 things to know Highmark Health to slash physician reimbursement to contain ACA losses UPMC gets financial boost from 20% spike in health plan membership When a divisive issue becomes the center of media attention, how does a CEO know when to take a stance, or when to keep quiet? Last week, the FBI ordered Apple to unlock the iPhone used by Syed Rizwan, one of the Dec. 2 San Bernardino terrorist attackers, saying accessing the encrypted data is central to the investigation. However, Apple CEO Tim Cook said he would not comply with the order, citing customer security concerns. "Opposing this order is not something we take lightly," Mr. Cook wrote in an open letter posted to Apple's website. "We feel we must speak up in the face of what we see as an overreach by the U.S. government." The dispute between the government and Apple has prompted strong reactions from those within and outside of the tech world. The number of business leaders and CEOs who have taken a public stance on the matter raises an interesting question about when executives should or perhaps shouldn't voice an opinion on a divisive issue. Many leaders within the tech industry have emerged as supporters of Mr. Cook's decision. Among them are Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerburg. Prominent figures in other industries have also publicly backed Apple, such as Edward Snowden, former NSA contractor and privacy whistleblower; businessman and Shark Tank personality Mark Cuban; The New York Times editorial board, Ford CEO Mark Fields; and Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson. But he has his fair share of critics, too. "To think that Apple won't allow us to get into her cellphone? Who do they think they are?" Donald Trump, GOP presidential frontrunner, said during an interview on Fox and Friends. Even Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, who is considered one of the founding fathers of contemporary technology, spoke out against Mr. Cook's decision in the matter. He said technology companies have an obligation to work with law enforcement in terrorism investigations. "This is a specific case where the government is asking for access to information," said Mr. Gates, according to The Financial Times. "They are not asking for some general thing, they are asking for a particular case." We asked a communications expert about when CEOs should be expected to act as a peanut gallery and either approve or disapprove of their peers' actions. His two cents? The more important the issue is to a company's business and brand, such as in the case with Apple, the clearer the need is for its leaders to speak out. "When social or political issues have a significant impact on a company's business, as the question of privacy does in the digital world, a company and its leader have a responsibility to their key stakeholders employees, investors, business partners to articulate a position that protects and enhances the company's business and brand," says Vince Galloro, senior executive advisor at Jarrard Phillips Cate & Hancock, a strategic healthcare communications firm. However when it comes to other companies and leaders picking sides, taking a stance on a divisive issue should be evaluated carefully. According to Mr. Galloro, voicing an opinion must be weighed against the risk of alienating potential political allies or even customers. For instance, in a consumer business, taking a strong stance on divisive social issues is reasonable a significant proportion of the company's customers may care enough about the issue for the company's stance to affect its brand. However, in a business-to-business market, clients are likely not interested in the CEO's stance on a given issue. They are more likely interested in whether the company makes its products sustainably and is connected to vendors and suppliers abiding by labor and environmental standards. What should you, a CEO, do when a reporter asks you about another CEO's actions? Mr. Galloro has some insight. "Any CEO should approach this situation with the thought that he or she could be the one in the line of fire next week. When you are composing your thoughts, put yourself in the shoes of your peer and think about how you would react to someone at another company commenting on a situation with only partial information." While it may make sense for a leader of a company to comment on another leader's decision if both companies are in the same industry such as Bill Gates' or Sundar Pichai taking a stance on Apple's issue the case for leaders of businesses unrelated to the conflict choosing sides is much weaker, according to Mr. Galloro. CEOs who come forward to support or denounce another company or executive in the midst of a crisis run a serious risk of implicating themselves or their companies down the road. "That is a major risk to consider when weighing whether to comment on a hot issue, especially if you are inclined to criticize the company or CEO who is under fire," says Mr. Galloro. "Commenting in this way draws attention to your company, and the attention can be either good or bad." "It's the pot calling the kettle back," says Mr. Galloro. "You might find that you have boosted your brand recognition but not in a good way." To continue following the latest news and information for Bedfordshire and surrounding areas, simply enter your full postcode below February 29 is historically the day when women eschew traditional gender roles and propose to their man, so, seeing as it's a Leap Year, you might get a bunch more wedding invitations than usual this year. And when those weddings roll around, don't be surprised if you see something like this on the invite: "We kindly remind you not to take any photos. Please find enclosed a small sticker which will need to be placed over the lens of your camera on your phone for the duration of the event." That polite-but-firm note was found on the itinerary for Kimberley Walsh's recent three-day nuptials in Barbados. The Girls Aloud star imposed a strict social media blackout for the three-day celebrations, reportedly because she had signed a six-figure deal with a glossy mag. While we mere mortals don't have to worry about breaching the terms of a Hello! magazine photo deal, social media can pose a problem at even the most low-key wedding. New research reveals that 45% of people would consider asking guests to wait until the day after they tied the knot to post pictures online. The survey, commissioned to mark the launch of the Hallmark Hotels Win a Wedding competition, found that unflattering photos showing up online was more of a wedding day worry than whether the groom turns up, the rings go missing or the food is awful. And while half of those questioned wouldn't dream of posting unattractive photos of the happy couple, the other half don't see it as a problem. Are those little stickers sounding more appealing now? Then there are those who want help from filters and airbrushing: the highest proportion of couples who admitted they would Photoshop their wedding album if they could get away with it were found in Wales, compared to the lowest in the West Midlands. Digital advances are making life easier in other ways, too, with 53% of respondents agreeing that sending out invitations by email instead of post is fine and 61% saying that sending congratulations on Facebook instead of sending a card is acceptable. Plus, it's not uncommon to see a hashtag emerge - whether impromptu, or dictated by the newlyweds - as snap-happy friends document the day. So, ultimately, whether you're happy with a Facebook free-for-all, or intend to clamp down with an all-out ban, it seems to come down to how vain you are - or how mean your friends are. Armed only with a treasured but crumpled dog-eared photograph of himself as a bewildered baby in war-ravaged Vietnam more than 40 years ago, Vance McElhinney set off five months ago on what he hoped would be a voyage of discovery from his adopted home in Lurgan to the land of his birth with the dream of finding his parents - and himself. He had no papers and no real clues as he said farewell in Co Armagh to the only family he'd ever known to travel thousands of miles to search for his real mother and father and his identity in a country from which he'd been rescued by an English newspaper along with 99 other babies in a highly publicised mercy mission in 1975. Many of the other abandoned children have been back to Vietnam to hunt for their parents, but many had the advantage of having documents which they were able to use to fit together the missing pieces in the jigsaw of their fractured lives. Not so for Vance. The only thing that he had to hold on to from his past was the black and white photograph that has a large letter 'M' on it, together with the scrawled Vietnamese name Van Tan Nguyen, which Vance has always believed was what his mother called him when he was born. His adopted parents in Lurgan, Cyril and Liz McElhinney, who opened up their home and their hearts to him in 1975 after seeing him in an English orphanage, called him Vance and raised him as one of their own along with their two sons David and Stephen, who were - and still are - protective of their "ready-made" brother. And the McElhinneys fully supported Vance's journey into the unknown last year, which was filmed by documentary-makers from the Belfast-based Below The Radar firm, who captured the highs and the heartbreaks along the way for the programme A Place To Call Home for the BBC Northern Ireland series True North. Vance, who doesn't know his exact age - "I'm 41 or 42" - because there's no birth certificate, admitted that going to Vietnam was a shot in the dark. And, indeed, the trip finished with little light at the end of Vance's turbulent tunnel, with many of his most pressing questions about his past remaining unanswered. Vance spoke candidly to the Belfast Telegraph in December 2014 about the problems he encountered growing up in Lurgan in the Seventies and Eighties, when he not only had to contend with life in a town divided by sectarianism, but also found himself verbally abused and bullied by sickening racists because he didn't look like anyone else. He also talked about how a promising career in social work fell apart, about how he fought a gambling addiction, and the break-up of two marriages. And all the while he said he had been persistently haunted by the ghosts of his past and by his insecurities over his abandonment in Vietnam. In the documentary, Vance, who now works in a shop in Lurgan and who is writing a book about his life in Northern Ireland, said it was important for him to return to Asia to look for his roots. "I know it's a long shot, but I feel I have to try," he added. "I feel that I'm not 100% myself here. "I need to go back to Vietnam for the first time to know what it's like to be Vietnamese, to be a proper Vietnamese. I'm looking for a connection over there." Vance didn't want his desire to establish the truth about his background in Vietnam to impact on the relationship with Cyril and Liz, whom he calls mum and dad and whom he conceded he had "put through the mill". He also said that his mother's illness - she suffers from motor neurone disease - played on his mind, but he didn't feel any guilt because she was encouraging him to go to Vietnam where, he told his brothers, the best possible outcome would be to find any relatives. He did, however, vow that he would enjoy the visit whatever happened. In London, Vance met another of the child evacuees, Victoria Cowley, who said she felt like a foreigner in her own country when she went back to Vietnam for the first time. She also introduced Vance to Brian Freemantle, the former foreign editor of the Daily Mail, who helped organise the emergency airlift for the 100 babies. He told Vance: "The children could not be cared for properly, and there was fear that some would die. "All of you were malnourished, some had open operational wounds which hadn't been properly sutured. All of you in some way looked as if you were suffering." Four of the orphans died before they could reach the sanctuary of the UK, and Freemantle recalled that an American plane flying other children out of Vietnam had crashed, and no one knew if it had been an accident or a case of sabotage. Vance thanked the newspaper man for his sacrifices to save him and the other orphans. And 40 years after he left in pandemonium, Vance returned to Vietnam in calmer times and immediately felt at ease. "I feel really comfortable," he said as he surveyed the land he had been born in. "And it's great that I'm not sticking out like a sore thumb." But after meeting a Vietnamese researcher, Vance was confronted with the stark reality that, with the absence of any paperwork, his hope of securing a family reunion was all but impossible. And the bad news didn't stop there. The researcher said it was likely that the Vietnamese name on Vance's photograph had probably been given to him by staff in the orphanage, and was not the one with which he had been born. Vance also travelled to the village of Quy Nhon, to the orphanage where it was understood he had been brought by his parents as a child. But an elderly nun told him she didn't remember him and couldn't help him with his quest for information. "That hit me for six" said Vance. "It was crushing, to say the least." But before leaving the orphanage a disappointed Vance still took time to thank the nuns for caring for him. Back home in Lurgan, he told me this week that despite the lack of success in finding his birth family, he was glad that he had gone to Vietnam, and that he would be going back, possibly to live and work there. "I haven't ruled that out," he said. "My mother has given me her blessing about any move, but my immediate priority is her health and to be there for her. "However, I am hoping to return to Vietnam later this year, and one day I might even settle down there. I have a number of exciting business initiatives in the pipeline in Northern Ireland, and if they take off I may expand to Vietnam, too. I have made a number of important contacts over there." Vance said that he planned to learn the Vietnamese language, though he'd been able to make himself understood last year through a mixture of French and English. In the meantime, as he pondered his future this week, Vance still only had that photograph of himself as an orphan to remember his past life. It's clearly an invaluable possession for Vance who takes comfort in the fact that he is smiling in the picture. "There must have been some kind of happiness there," he said. "It might as well be a 20,000 Rolex watch, because it is very important to me" True North: A Place To Call Home, Monday, BBC NI, 10.45pm Wesley Harry Vance (27), from Church Gate Studios in Comber, Co Down, appeared in the dock of Belfast Crown Court for a first arraignment hearing A man has denied murdering at a house party another man whose body was later found in the boot of an abandoned car. Wesley Harry Vance (27), from Church Gate Studios in Comber, Co Down, appeared in the dock of Belfast Crown Court for a first arraignment hearing. He pleaded not guilty when the charge of murdering Kyle Neil at a house in Mill Street, Comber, on April 12, 2015, was put to him. Mr Neil suffered multiple knife wounds in what police called a "frenzied" attack. His remains were then put in the boot of a Ford Fiesta that was found abandoned in Windsor Road in south Belfast in the early hours of the morning. A defence barrister told the court: "He does not dispute that he caused Mr Neil's death and it is his case that he acted in self- defence, which he made out at his police interviews." Also in the dock was co-accused Stephanie Todd, from Russell Court, Belfast. She is charged with assisting offenders by driving the car with Mr Neil's body in the boot from Mill Street, Comber, to Windsor Road. The 26-year-old is further accused of driving the car with excess alcohol. She pleaded not guilty to both charges. Mr Justice Treacy fixed the trial date for May 16 and it is expected to last three weeks. David Cameron is to visit Northern Ireland today ahead of a barrage of big-hitters as the in/out Euro referendum campaign hots up. The pro-EU Prime Minister will spell out the benefits of the province remaining part of the union in a series of meetings and photo-calls. Both Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage - two of Mr Cameron's main opponents in the intensifying campaign - are expected to visit over the next few days. After an early start this morning, the Prime Minister is due to travel to a number of locations in north Antrim - but be back in London by mid-afternoon. Mr Cameron is here to rally support for the UK to stay in the European Union, while his close friend Mr Johnson and Mr Farage want the country to vote to leave in the referendum on June 23. The PM pledged to visit Northern Ireland at an early stage in the four-month run-in to the big vote, as the only part of the UK with a land border with the Irish Republic. He fell foul of First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, as well as their counterparts in Scotland and Wales, after refusing to change the referendum date - which is just six weeks after the Assembly election. There are concerns the two major elections running so close together could affect turnout at the polls. Mrs Foster and Mr McGuinness, along with First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon and First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones, also warned the juxtaposition "risks confusing issues at a moment when clarity is required". Mr Cameron, however, was said to believe any date after June 23 would have meant running the plebiscite in September instead, with the summer in between. His visit today comes just two days after an Ulster Unionist delegation headed by leader Mike Nesbitt met Mr Cameron in Downing Street. Sinn Fein, Alliance and the SDLP are campaigning to remain in the EU and the DUP is in favour of withdrawal, but the UUP is holding a special executive meeting next Saturday to decide a formal position. Mr Nesbitt had already indicated, however, he is in favour of staying in. "All things being equal, I would hope to recommend that we stay in," he said several months ago. This week, he added: "We appear to be the only one of the five main parties who are interested in listening to what people have to say about one of the most important decisions we will ever make as a nation." David Ford is forging ahead with plans to shut a series of courthouses despite 90% of people opposing the move in a public consultation. Earlier this month the Justice Minister confirmed six courthouses would be axed. The closures have been widely criticised, with the Law Society warning it will undermine the justice system. Now it has emerged that just 10% of those who took part in a consultation supported the closures. The details were disclosed in response to an Assembly question from TUV leader Jim Allister. Mr Allister questioned why a consultation was carried out if Mr Ford went ahead and ignored its findings. "The consultation was a farce and I think his answer proves it was a farce," he told the Belfast Telegraph. In the reply, Mr Ford confirmed the bulk of responses were "unsupportive". "There were 97 responses to the consultation, of which 10 either supported or were neutral towards the proposals," he said. "The remaining 87 were unsupportive to some or all of the proposals. "A number of responses had a specific regional and venue focus while others offered commentary across a number of regions and venues." Mr Ford announced the three-month public consultation on the future of eight courthouses in January 2015. Earlier this month it emerged six would close completely. Mr Ford hopes to make annual savings of 1m by shutting the Armagh, Ballymena, Lisburn, Magherafelt, Strabane and Limavady buildings. Enniskillen courthouse will be kept open on a reduced basis, while the minister backed down on plans to axe Newtownards court. Mr Allister claimed the decision to close most of the courthouses had been taken even before the consultation started. "The minister made much of this consultation and for months said he would listen carefully to the responses," he said. "Now we discover that overwhelmingly the consultation was opposed to the closures, and he simply sweeps it aside and carries on - as he always intended to do." It comes after the Belfast Telegraph reported how officials defied the findings of a separate consultation to introduce a 20mph speed limit in Belfast. The speed limit was cut on 76 roads across the city centre in January. After a separate Assembly question it emerged just one-third of people who took part in a consultation by the Department for Regional Development wanted to cut the speed limit. Only six out of 19 responses received during the three-week exercise in 2014 supported a 20mph zone. Mr Allister said the two cases indicated that consultations were a waste of time and money. "They tick a box by saying we have consulted and tried to garner some credibility for a proposal, but in fact the consultation in those two cases discredit the proposal, and yet they carry on. "There is no point in these consultations by ministers who have their minds made up and are unshakable, no matter how many people oppose the proposals. "It is farcical and a waste of money. "These two cases demonstrate what I suspect is a much wider reality. "I knew perfectly well that the majority of replies were going to be against closing courthouses, and that is why it always made me angry when I heard the minister say he was waiting for the consultation and would give proper regard for it. "As it turns out, he has no regard for it at all." The Department of Justice was invited to comment but failed to provide a response last night. In a speech at Dublin City University, Archbishop Michael Jackson argued the handling of the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising in 1966 ended up alienating Protestants in Northern Ireland With the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising just weeks away, the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin has warned against an abuse of history. In a speech at Dublin City University, Archbishop Michael Jackson argued the handling of the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising in 1966 ended up alienating Protestants in Northern Ireland. He also praised First Minister Arlene Foster for her willingness to engage in a conversation about the rebellion against British rule in Ireland. Speaking at the launch of the Dublin City University 1916 programme, the Archbishop said that in 1966: "The swift following-on of the Troubles and the political ambiguities around gun-running and the parallel deployment of members of the Irish Army along the border simply underpinned an emerging anxiety and erosion of trust by neighbour of neighbour in Northern Ireland." Archbishop Jackson (right), like Mrs Foster, grew up in Lisnaskea in the border area of Co Fermanagh. He claimed that throughout the Troubles "its people were subjected to an orchestrated programme of removal of its citizens who were Protestants right along its own border with the Republic of Ireland in what would be called 'ethnic cleansing' elsewhere in the world". He referred to the Enniskillen Remembrance Day atrocity in 1987 as an example of the "abuse of memory". The IRA detonated a bomb that day near the town's Cenotaph, leaving 11 people dead 63 badly injured. The leading cleric said those present were "people in a free country honouring their war dead" and not Protestant paramilitaries "strutting their stuff". "But to the perpetrators of the Enniskillen bomb, they had become homogenised and swept into a zone of entitled hatred as 'The British'," he added. He also cited the Omagh bomb in 1998, when 29 shoppers and visitors to the Co Tyrone town were massacred by the Real IRA. He insisted it was not his intention to put the blame on people wishing to remember 1916. Rather, he wished to alert everyone "with a shared interest in a different future, to the repercussions of the abuse of memory and commemoration from within our fractured history". He added: "History, as well as being an analysis and a narrative, is a commodity for those who wish to use it and to abuse it as such." During his speech the Archbishop recalled an Easter Rising event this year attended by the First Minister and Taoiseach. He said: "The First Minister pointed out to the assembled media that she was deeply uneasy with celebration of the Rising per se, but was more than willing to engage in analysis and conversation to better understand this seminal event in the history of both parts of Ireland." In conclusion, he said: "Her note of cautious realism is important to us all if we are to have a blend of voices by the time we reach even 2017." The Ulster Unionist Party has claimed its biggest DUP defector yet after former Foyle MLA Maurice Devenney joined the ranks. Less than 48 hours after declaring himself an independent, Mr Devenney signed up for Mike Nesbitt's party as part of its grouping on Derry City and Strabane District Council. His is the most high-profile defection from the DUP since Lisburn councillor Jenny Palmer, whose disclosures to a Stormont committee led to a DUP disciplinary threat for bringing the party into disrepute. Mr Devenney was suspended from the DUP earlier this month after 11 years following accusations of bringing the party into disrepute - an allegation he denied. The former Londonderry mayor was accused of asking voters during last year's general election to support the SDLP's Mark Durkan ahead of his own party's candidate Gary Middleton to prevent Sinn Fein winning the Westminster seat. He resigned a week after his suspension, sparking speculation about what direction his future in politics would take. He was also approached by Ukip. Mr Devenney confirmed to the Belfast Telegraph that he had been approached by both parties, but after a period of "prayerful reflection" he had taken up the offer from the UUP. Former DUP councillor Palmer's husband John - they are both Lisburn councillors - also joined the UUP, along with former TUV representatives David Arthurs from Ballyclare and William Cudworth from Bangor, previous Ukip candidate in Strangford Joe Jordan and Heather Fee from Mallusk, who had been a member of NI21, which was set up by the former Ulster Unionist MLAs Basil McCrea and John McCallister before self-imploding. The Sinn Fein MLA said he plans to seek re election but will not be Education Minister after May Education Minister John O'Dowd will not return to his post following the Assembly election in May. The BBC have reported that the Sinn Fein MLA for Upper Bann will stand for election, but will not be Education Minister again when the new Executive is formed. Mr O'Dowd said he is looking forward to a new challenge. He has held the post of Education Minister since May 2011, taking over from former minister Caitriona Ruane. "My party rotates its ministers at the start of each new mandate - a policy I fully support," he said. "I have greatly enjoyed my time as minister for education and, if re-elected to the assembly, I look forward to a new challenge." The minister was speaking at the teacher's union, the NASUWT on Friday evening. Education Minister John O'Dowd will not return to his post following the Assembly elections in May. The Sinn Fein MLA for Upper Bann said last night he would be seeking re-election, but does not expect that he will become Education Minister when the Executive is reformed. Mr O'Dowd said he is looking forward to a new challenge. He has held the post of Education Minister since May 2011, taking over from Caitriona Ruane. "My party rotates its ministers at the start of each new mandate - a policy I fully support," he told the BBC. "I have greatly enjoyed my time as minister for education and, if re-elected to the assembly, I look forward to a new challenge." The minister was speaking at the NASUWT conference on Friday. He said some of his programmes and policies are impacting positively, with an overall increase recorded in 2014/15 in the number of pupils attaining five or more good GCSEs including English and Maths. "My decision to target resources towards those serving the most disadvantaged is now producing positive results." he said. Northern Ireland's second largest home energy provider, SSE Airtricity, announced it would be reducing its gas and electricity prices by around 10% Around a third of Northern Ireland homes and small businesses will see lower energy bills thanks to a price drop by one of the region's largest suppliers. Northern Ireland's second largest home energy provider, SSE Airtricity, announced it would be reducing its gas and electricity prices by around 10%. The company said it expected the move would save householders over 100 annually. The cuts will apply to SSE Airtricity's 345,000 home and small business customers, who make up around one-third of the energy market here. Earlier this month Power NI said electric bills for its 500,000 domestic customers would fall by 10.3% from April. It said the move was made possible by a steady fall in the price of wholesale gas, the main fuel used in electricity generation. The Utility Regulator said the price for natural gas was at its lowest since 2009. The price drop is the latest in a number made by electricity companies in Northern Ireland. SSE Airtricity's natural gas price is regulated annually under the natural gas price control review process. Any changes to those prices requires the regulator's approval. The cut follows the company's annual review of its natural gas costs, carried out in consultation with the Utility Regulator, the Department of Enterprise and the Consumer Council of Northern Ireland. Utility Regulator chief executive Jenny Pyper explained that falling wholesale gas prices had caused the drop in power prices. She said: "Northern Ireland has also seen the largest decreases to date of gas and electricity prices by all suppliers in the UK and Republic of Ireland." The announcement marks the third successive energy price cut by the power company in the space of just over 12 months. The 10.2% cut to gas prices for home and small business customers will take effect on April 1. The 10.3% cut to electricity prices will take effect from June 1. Enterprise Minister Jonathan Bell said gas prices here were now among the lowest in the European Union. "The revised SSE Airtricity prices will be around 23% lower than standard gas prices in Great Britain, and some 22% lower than standard gas prices in the Republic of Ireland," Mr Bell added. Richard Williams, head of energy at the Consumer Council, said: "This is great news. The Consumer Council now wants to see the other gas and electricity companies compete for customers by bringing their prices down. "Consumers consistently tell us energy bills are their biggest concern." The savings calculated by SSE Airtricity are based on a household energy customer on standard 24hr credit meter tariffs with an annual consumption of 12,500 kWh for natural gas and 3,200 kWh for electricity. First Minister Arlene Foster has welcomed the jailing of alleged former IRA leader Thomas 'Slab' Murphy in the Republic, saying people will "celebrate" his incarceration. Murphy was sentenced to 18 months for tax evasion. The First Minister and DUP leader said: "While some people refer to Murphy as a 'good republican', the people of this area know him to be a criminal. "Setting aside the length of the sentence, this man who evaded prosecution for so long, has at long last been put behind bars. "Most people will celebrate seeing justice done. If you break our laws, regardless of who you are, expect to go to jail." The bachelor farmer and self-confessed republican protested his innocence, claiming he was a victim and denied being at the head of a property empire. The 66-year-old was found guilty of nine charges at the high-security Special Criminal Court in Dublin. Murphy, from Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, on the border, was found to owe the Irish exchequer taxes, penalties and interest of almost 147,000 for tax-dodging from 1996-2004. In a statement from a prison cell, the former Provo chief said he would appeal and criticised investigations into him, the trial and the media. "I am an Irish Republican and have been all my life," Murphy said. "For many years now, I have been the subject of serial prejudicial and wholly inaccurate commentary and media coverage. There have also been repeated assertions that I have amassed properties and wealth. "This is utterly untrue. I do not own any property at all and I have no savings." Dressed in pink shirt, brown jacket and slacks, Murphy showed little emotion in the dock as sentence was delivered. He acknowledged family members and friends as he was led out of a side door of the court. Murphy was jailed for 18 months for each of nine counts of tax evasion, with the terms to run concurrently, meaning he could be eligible for release in a year. He has no previous convictions. Judge Paul Butler, presiding in the three-judge court, noted the publicity around the trial but insisted reports of Murphy's republican links did not sway the verdict or the sentencing. "It has no bearing whatsoever upon the Revenue charges," the judge said. "This court must and does treat the accused as a farmer and cattle dealer with no other connections, past or present." The judges said they took into account Murphy's age, his clean record, that he had been on bail for several years, which would have impacted his life, and that he had continued in steady employment as he awaited trial. Judge Butler also said the total proven tax evasion was "relatively small for such a long period". Murphy was sentenced in a non-jury court, which normally deals with terrorist and gangland trials, as Ireland voted in the General Election yesterday. And the decision of the three-judge court demanded more answers from Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams over his description of Murphy as a "good republican". After voting in Co Louth, where he is a TD, Mr Adams was asked if he thought the sentence would have any influence on voters' choices. "It shouldn't have, but we'll see," he said. Mr Adams also declined to comment on the timing of the sentencing. The penalties for Murphy's tax offences could have been as much as five years in jail or fines of up to 77,800. The farmer, who works as a yardsman for a business in Crossmaglen, south Armagh, did not give evidence during the 32-day trial. The trial heard that the total tax bill for the nine years was about 30,000, and interest built up on those unpaid bills was about 117,000. Forensic officers at the house in Walmer Street Detectives investigating the murder of Stephen Carson have arrested three men. 28-year-old Stephen Carson was shot dead in his house at Walmer Street in south Belfast on Thursday night as his 26-year-old partner and son watched on. The nine-year-old boy has been left traumatised. Police were hunting four men involved in the killing - and arrested three, aged 32, 37 and 39 on suspicion of murder following searches in west Belfast on Friday evening. A firearm was recovered and has been sent for forensic tests while the men remain in custody. Mr Carson, who moved into the area following his recent release from prison, and was originally from Turf Lodge in west Belfast. The family were eating a meal at around 10.45pm when the gang burst in. A confrontation followed and Mr Carson took cover in a downstairs bathroom. However, the gang shot him through the door. The police officer leading the hunt for the murder gang, Detective Sergeant Kevin Geddes, called the slaying "cold blooded and brutal" and has appealed for witnesses. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Police raid a home in Sunnyside Street in connection with Walmer Street murder. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker PSNI and forensic officers at the scene in Walmer Street in South Belfast, where Stephen Carson was shot dead. Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press Detective Superintendent Kevin Geddes investigating the murder of a man in the Walmer Street area of south Belfast last night updates the media at a facility in PSNI Headquarters, knock. Police raid a home in Sunnyside Street in connection with Walmer Street murder. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Police raid a home in Sunnyside Street in connection with Walmer Street murder. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Police raid a home in Sunnyside Street in connection with Walmer Street murder. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Police raid a home in Sunnyside Street in connection with Walmer Street murder. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police raid a home in Sunnyside Street in connection with Walmer Street murder. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Mr Geddes said: "At approximately 10.45pm Stephen was sitting in his home at 77 Walmer Street with his partner and his nine-year-old son. As they were enjoying a takeaway meal at least three men carrying a hammer and a shotgun burst in and there was a confrontation. "Stephen ran into the downstairs bathroom but the shotgun was fired through the door and Stephen sustained a head injury which proved to be fatal. "His 26-year-old partner and his nine-year-old son were left in the house as the killers made their escape on foot in the direction of Haywood Avenue. "A fourth man may have been outside the house during the murder. "His partner and son were not physically injured but have been severely traumatised." A local woman said: "I can't believe it. I walk past here every day on way to my daughter's house. "I passed the house just about 10.30pm on Thursday night but didn't see or hear anything. "I am totally shocked by what has happened." As part of their investigations police searched a house on Sunnyside Street yesterday morning, only a few hundred metres from the scene of the murder. A number of individuals were seen leaving the house, including women and children, but police confirmed no arrests were made. A police helicopter hovered over the area for most of yesterday morning and police remained at the house on Sunnyside Street for most of the evening. Mr Geddes added: "Our main line of enquiry, but not our only line of enquiry, is that Stephen was shot as part of a criminal feud. We do not believe at this stage there was any paramilitary involvement, nor do we believe this was sectarian. "I have a number of appeals. I want to hear from anyone who was in the area of Walmer Street and Kimberly Street around 10.45pm on Friday night or from anyone who saw three or four men in that area around that time. "I also want to hear from anyone who saw any suspicious or strange behaviour at or near 77 Walmer Street. "We are also looking for the occupants of a silver taxi, possibly a Mercedes, which was in Walmer Street at the time of the incident around 10.45pm. "This was a cold-blooded and brutal murder. These are not convenient labels to describe what happened last night. They are an honest opinion about the horrific events which took place in 77 Walmer Street. It is vital that Stephen Carson's killers are caught and brought before the courts." A number of politicians expressed their anger at the shooting. South Belfast SDLP MLA Claire Hanna said: "I want to condemn in the strongest possible terms this vicious murder. There has never been any place for this kind of shocking violence on the streets of our city. "I've been to the scene on Walmer Street, where an entire community is absolutely in shock. "This is a well-integrated area with families, young workers and new communities all living together in peace. "It's extremely worrying that someone who would seek to hurt others like this has access to guns and is willing to commit such a violent act." Local UUP MLA Michael McGimpsey said: "Once again people have woken up to the shocking news that a man has been murdered at his home by an armed gang. "There is simply no excuse that can justify this brutal and callous killing. "Northern Ireland was plagued with this type of incident for decades and nobody, but nobody, wants to return to those dreadful days." Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness described the murder as a "terrible tragedy". He passed on his sympathies to the victim's family and urged anyone with information to pass it to police. Detectives are investigating a possible link between this murder and the murder of pizza delivery driver Kevin McManus in west Belfast almost three years ago. An orphan from the Vietnam War who owes his life to a Lurgan couple after they adopted him more than 40 years ago has called for the authorities here to offer more homes to refugees from Syria. Vance McElhinney, who was brought to Northern Ireland after being flown on a mercy mission to the UK from Saigon in 1975, has revealed he has been doing his bit to ease the suffering of thousands of displaced Syrians who have been fleeing via Turkey to Greek islands like Lesbos and Kos. "My heart broke when I saw those pictures of dead babies on the beaches and boats packed full of refugees crossing from Turkey in the flimsiest of boats, and I thought that it could so easily have been me", Vance (41) said. "My response to what I saw on the TV was to donate blankets and toiletries to the appeals for help for the refugees. Members of my family in Lurgan have done a lot more than me." In December the first group of refugees from Syria arrived in Northern Ireland and among the 51 people were a number of children and a two-week-old baby. Vance was one of 100 babies who were airlifted from Vietnam by the Daily Mail near the end of the war there in 1975. Four of the children died before they could reach the UK. He was adopted by Cyril and Liz McElhinney who raised him as their own along with their two sons. Read More Vance recently travelled back to Vietnam in a bid to find members of his birth family but he was unsuccessful and his journey is the subject of a BBC NI documentary A Place to Call Home which will be screened on Monday night. In it Vance talked of the racist abuse he suffered growing up in Lurgan but he said he still believed more Syrian refugees should be resettled in Northern Ireland. "I am all for it. I was a refugee myself and if I hadn't been rescued and subsequently adopted, who knows what my life might have been," he said. Vance added he knew there were people here who are opposed to refugees being allowed into the UK. "I hear all this talk of the refugees taking all our jobs and houses, but I am always telling people that they're wrong. If you haven't been in that position yourself then you really can't judge. I was taken out of a war-torn country because my family in Vietnam couldn't look after me. We need to show compassion to people who are facing awful dilemmas in their lives." Vance was filmed meeting Brian Freemantle for the documentary, the foreign editor of the Daily Mail who organised the airlift for him and the other babies from Vietnam. The newspaper man told him how all the children were malnourished and suffering. "From what he told me I have no doubt that even after I was flown out of Vietnam I could have died like a number of the other babies," Vance said. William and Lynzi Donaldson are at Carl fight for first time The Team Jackal faithful are descending on Manchester in their thousands to cheer Carl Frampton on to glory. The Belfast Telegraph caught up with boxing fans at George Best Belfast City Airport as they prepared to board flights in the hope of seeing the Tigers Bay man make light work of Scott Quigg in the hotly anticipated world title unification super fight. Alan Murphy (above), an insurance underwriter from Belfast, believes the IBF super-bantamweight champion is a great ambassador for the city. "Carl is a legend, a credit to Belfast, a top man," he said. "As soon as I heard he was fighting in Manchester I knew I had to go. I think if he performs the way he does on the night it will be OK, he will do the job for us." Mr Murphy reckons Frampton will knock Quigg out in the fifth round. "He is a nice guy, down to earth, genuine, from Belfast, one of our own, everyone likes him," he added. "We are going to outnumber Quigg's fans, no doubt about it, and watch Carl win." Tonight's fight will be the first time Lisburn couple Lynzi Donaldson (31), a customer service rep, and William Donaldson (43), an engineer, have seen Carl fight live. "We wanted to go to support him because he is from our home country," Lynzi said. "It's a big community event for a lovely, genuine guy." William thinks Frampton is the better boxer, but that it is going to be "a very tight fight". "If Frampton goes ahead in the first few rounds on points then Quigg is going to try and come out and knock him out and I think that will be Frampton's best chance to knock him out," he said. Alan Rankin, a retail manager from Ballyclare, said he was apprehensive but thinks Frampton has "got what it takes to beat him". He said: "It only takes one punch for someone to win, after all. "I hope Frampton wins. He is a great sportsman, he has great attitude, there is no religious divide, the whole country is behind him." Barry Baggley, an insurance manager from Belfast, can't wait to see Carl win. "It's a 50/50 fight but hopefully he will do the business," he said. "I am apprehensive because Quigg is good too. Usually an Irish fighter in Manchester is away, but it's going to feel like a home fight for him. I reckon Carl will win in the eighth round." Taoiseach Enda Kenny has ruled out resigning after his government suffered a resounding thumping in the General Election. With the Republic's political future in disarray and several coalition combinations on the table, the Fine Gael leader refused to be drawn on the prospect of a pact with traditional adversaries Fianna Fail. "It is a position that one never likes to be in but I want to make it clear that I expect that the Fine Gael party will be a large bloc in the next Oireachtas," he said. "From that point of view, my responsibility as Taoiseach is to work to see that our country has a stable government and that has a government that can continue the progress that we have made over the last number of years in bringing the benefits of a recovering economy to all our people." Mr Kenny, who had a 30-seat majority after the 2011 election, admitted the election result was disappointing. "Democracy is always exciting but it is merciless when it clicks in," he said. The Taoiseach faced questions over his leadership as Fine Gael are set to lose about 30 seats and the outgoing partnership with Labour is staring at a humiliating defeat. Mr Kenny suggested a second election was not on the cards and he believed a new coalition could be formed despite one of the most fractious results in history. "I'd like to think that it could be possible, given the final results, to be able to put a government together that could work through the many challenges we have," he said. Among the coalition's biggest casualties were Alex White, Labour's outgoing minister for communications, energy and natural resources, and Alan Shatter, the former Fine Gael justice minister, who were both defeated in Dublin Rathdown. Catherine Martin took a seat in the constituency for the Greens, returning the party to the Dail for their first seat since the decimation of 2011. Mr Kenny refused to consider any of the permutations for a new government either with Fianna Fail, a rainbow coalition or a minority arrangement. The election looks like creating one of the most diverse Irish parliaments in history, with political leaders in line for weeks of protracted negotiations on potential coalitions. Early indications suggest a widespread disaffection with mainstream parties and austerity mirroring a movement across Europe, including Spain, Portugal and Greece, where parliaments have been crippled by the voter schism. The predicted outcome would be all the more remarkable as the political powerhouses, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, struggle to secure support of 50% of the electorate for the first time in history. With more than 10 seats out of 158 declared, Fianna Fail's Micheal Martin, the opposition leader in the last Dail, insisted the focus was not entirely on bringing an end to 90-odd years of civil war politics by taking power with Fine Gael. "We have made it clear we do not want to go into government with Fine Gael or with Sinn Fein," he said. "The idea that it is just down to two parties, I think, is ignoring the reality of how people voted." Sinn Fein will be the third largest party. Under Gerry Adams, who topped the poll in Louth, the party looks set to continue its march south of the border with an expected increase in its vote and its presence in the Dail by around 50%. Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said he had "divided thoughts" on a potential Fine Gael-Fianna Fail coalition. "They are natural partners, they are Siamese twins who have been divided for some time - they should get into bed together," he said. "That's my positive attitude. "My negative attitude to it is, this would be a most conservative regime if they do come together." Other outgoing Labour ministers Jan O'Sullivan and Kathleen Lynch are also at risk of losing their seats in the electoral bloodbath but Tanaiste, or deputy prime minister, and party leader Joan Burton scraped into the last seat in Dublin West. In a remarkable comeback after its near wipeout at the last election, Fianna Fail could almost double its seats. But the once-dominant party in Irish politics will remain a long way from its heyday majority, which tumbled with the economic crash it presided over nearly a decade ago. The mounting disillusionment with mainstream parties opened an unprecedented opportunity for smaller parties and Independents to reap the rewards. Mark Mortell, the Taoiseach's closest adviser, said Ireland would have to review its "political system" once the outcome of its most uncertain election in recent times is decided. "The only word I can use right now is deep disappointment," he said. One of the few possibilities for stable government, it appears, would be sworn enemies Fine Gael and Fianna Fail setting aside their near 90-year-old feud dating back to the civil war. The pair, both centre-right, have swapped power since the foundation of the state. Such a "grand coalition" would also break new ground in potentially handing the Dail a definitive left-right split for the first time in history. More than 550 candidates fought in 40 constituencies to become one of just 158 TDs - eight seats fewer than the 2011 election when Fine Gael and Labour took office promising a democratic revolution. Once a clear picture emerges from the weekend counting of votes, the parties will have until March 10 - when the Dail is scheduled to resume - to forge a power-sharing deal. Sister Anastasia of the Franciscan Order casts her vote at Knock National school TaoiseachEnda Kenny meets a voter at a polling station at St Anthonys School in Castlebar, Co Mayo, yesterday as the Republic went to the polls in one of the most unpredictable elections in recent times A hung parliament is widely predicted after voters went to the polls in the Republic. Such is the voter schism it threatens to blow apart a duopoly enjoyed for more than 80 years by the currently ruling Fine Gael party and the main opposition party Fianna Fail. Bitter rivals since Ireland's Civil War - despite little difference in their conservative policies - the parties who swapped power for generations may be forced into a historic "grand coalition". The tectonic shift could also open a definitive right/left divide in the Dail for the first time since the foundation of the Irish State. Opinion polls show little chance of the Fine Gael/Labour coalition being returned to power on its own. Other possibilities include a minority Fine Gael Government, supported by arch-enemies Fianna Fail, or a rainbow coalition of Fine Gael, Labour and some smaller parties. Around two million voters have cast their ballots in one of the most uncertain general elections in Ireland's recent political history. As polling stations closed at 10pm political parties were estimating around two-thirds of the 3.3 million-strong electorate had voted. Turnout was uneven across the regions with booths in rain-sodden parts of Cork and Waterford much less busy than other areas during the day. Reports also suggest that turnout in urban areas was down on the 2011 general election, when it was 70% nationally. Counting begins around first light on Saturday morning. As the electorate increasingly turns away from mainstream parties to smaller factions and Independents, a hung parliament is widely predicted. Such is the voter schism it threatens to blow apart a duopoly enjoyed for more than 80 years by the currently ruling Fine Gael party and the main Opposition party Fianna Fail. Bitter rivals since the civil war - despite little significant difference in their conservative policies - the pair who swapped power for generations may be forced into a historic "grand coalition". The coupling would have been unspeakable among their rank and file just years ago but is now hotly-tipped by pollsters and pundits as the odds-on favourite outcome. The tectonic shift could also open a definitive right/left divide in Ireland's parliament, the Dail, for the first time since the foundation of the State. Opinion polls show little chance of the outgoing Fine Gael/Labour coalition being returned to power on their own. After five years of bruising austerity, Labour would need to defy predictions of big losses at the ballot box to help make up the numbers. Other possibilities include a minority Fine Gael government, supported by arch-enemies Fianna Fail, or a rainbow coalition of Fine Gael, Labour and some smaller parties. Once a clear picture emerges from the weekend counting of votes, the parties will have until March 10 - when the Dail is scheduled to resume - to forge a power-sharing deal. The spectre of a second election will loom over any uncertainty. Despite being the shortest general election campaign in Irish political history, it was a drawn-out, lacklustre three weeks that generally failed to ignite the imagination of the population. More than 550 candidates are fighting in 40 constituencies for just 158 Dail seats. With eight fewer seats than last time around, the competition will be particularly intense in some constituencies who are down a representative. Islanders off the coasts of Donegal, Mayo and Galway voted on Thursday to make sure their ballots were back in time for the count. President Michael D Higgins and leading politicians were among the first to cast their votes as the polls opened nationally on Friday just before sunrise. Mr Higgins and his wife Sabina were among 238 voters who live in Phoenix Park and who were registered to cast their ballots at St Mary's Hospital. Arriving at the polling station desk at around 9am, the head of state waited in line before being asked for his address by the election clerk. "Aras ... Phoenix Park," he answered. He then insisted to the clerk that his official address, Aras an Uachtarain, is in the Dublin 7 area. "It is very often described as Dublin 8 but it isn't. I'm trying to get it straightened out," he joked. Outgoing Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny voted in his home town of Castlebar, Co Mayo, while Tanaiste Joan Burton, the country's deputy premier and leader of the Labour Party - Fine Gael's junior partner in the last coalition government - voted in Dublin. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin voted in his Cork constituency while Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams cast his ballot in Ravensdale, Co Louth, close to the border with Northern Ireland. Mr Kenny, turning up to cast his ballot at St Anthony's Special School in his native Castlebar, repeated his insistence that he would not go into coalition with Fianna Fail. "People are going to vote today, let's see the decision they make," he said. "I have already ruled Fianna Fail out." The Fine Gael leader was sporting a green tie, while Fianna Fail leader Mr Martin in Cork was wearing a blue tie - each donning the party colour of their rival. Asked if there was any significance in the sartorial choice, the Taoiseach responded: "Well, he didn't contact me about that. This one is for Ireland." He added: "It really is an important day for Ireland - the decision is being made today by the people, who rule after all, will determine the future direction of the country for the next five years." Arriving to vote at Dublin's St Joseph's Deaf Boys School, Tanaiste and Labour leader Ms Burton said she was buoyed by the spring-like day for polling, and was hoping it would also be a sunny day for her at the count. "I was out saying hello to people at Coolmine railway station this morning, and I have to say it was the nicest early morning canvass I've done in the whole campaign," she said. "So that is a good omen. I'm feeling upbeat and optimistic." Fianna Fail leader Mr Martin, who cast his ballot along with his family at St Anthony's Boys National School in Cork, refused to forecast the outcome. "I am not going to make any predictions but I am hopeful that we will get a good result - it's up to the people now to decide but it was quite clear to us even yesterday on the campaign trail that there are quite a number of people who still have to make their mind up," he said. "In fact, it was quite striking how many people still hadn't made their minds up. "They were asking basic questions around policy terms. I think there's been a lot of activity on the ground and I would like to think that would manifest itself in a good turnout." In Louth, Sinn Fein leader Mr Adams said he was not taking the election for granted as he arrived at the Dulargy National School polling station in Ravensdale. "We stand on our record and we call upon people to come out," he said. "There's no point not voting - if you don't vote it's a sure vote for the establishment parties." An exit poll carried out for the Irish Times by pollsters Ipsos MRBI showed a massive slump in support for the outgoing coalition partners Fine Gael and Labour. Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein, Independents and smaller parties all made significant gains, according to the survey of people leaving polling stations. The poll shows Fine Gael on 26.1% of first preference votes; Labour on 7.8%; Fianna Fail on 22.9%; Sinn Fein on 14.9%; Anti Austerity Alliance/People Before Profit on 3.6%; Greens on 3.5%; Social Democrats on 2.8%; Renua on 2.6%; and others on 16.1%. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin (right) and Michael McGrath (left) celebrate at the general election 2016 count at the City Hall in Cork There was a jubilant atmosphere in the concert hall of Cork City Hall as Fianna Fail rocked home with two TDs elected in the first count. Party leader Micheal Martin and Michael McGrath were hoisted onto the shoulders of cheering supporters who had packed out the grand hall to hear the result for the Cork South Central constituency. Both men, who were surrounded by their families, waved and punched the air in delight as the figures were announced. When they were eventually brought back to down to earth, there were kisses and hugs a plenty. But, as the barely audible returning officer concluded, one elderly Fianna Fail voter quipped: "The real work begins now, lads - from today." Mr Martin, who polled 11,346 votes, attributed his party's success to staying grounded. He said: "It just shows, if you set yourself a challenge there is no reason why you can't win. "I think there were a lot of things worked in our favour. We had faith going way back. We were consistent and the local elections gave us a great platform. Our message resonated with people. "I think we kept our feet on the ground; we connected with communities and that will be the strongest challenge - to stay connected with people and their realities on the ground." Earlier, the count centre had erupted into applause when Mr Martin arrived amid a flurry of photographers' flash bulbs. At one point he was even asked to sign autographs. However, he declined to be drawn on the prospect of a so-called "grand coalition" with old foes, Fine Gael. "We have made it clear we do not want to go into government with Fine Gael or with Sinn Fein," he said. "We have got to see the final destination of these seats because I think a lot of centre-ground people are going to be elected as well and I think a lot of them are sensible, and I think we can't ignore that. "They also have responsibilities. The idea that it is just down to two parties, I think, is ignoring the reality of how people voted. "We will have a certain number of seats that enables us to do certain things and enables us to take certain positions, but it is by no means the dominant position in the Dail." Mr McGrath, who topped the poll with 11,795 votes, described it as a "great honour" to be returned with such a mandate. He said: "I am absolutely delighted with the outcome of Cork South Central and I really want to thank all the people that voted for me. I am really overwhelmed by the support." Mr McGrath added that the onus was on everyone to create a stable government. Boris Johnson wrote in his Telegraph column that "EU history shows that they only really listen to a population when it says 'no'" I ain Duncan Smith has said he would sacrifice his Cabinet career for the sake of keeping Britain out of the European Union, as the bitter battle within the Conservative Party continued to rage. Prime Minister David Cameron led an assault on pro-Brexit campaigners, accusing them of wanting to take "the gamble of the century" with the UK's future on the basis of only "extremely vague" proposals. But the Work and Pensions Secretary - one of five Eurosceptic Cabinet ministers to have broken ranks to oppose the Government's position - said he was more committed to securing Britain's exit from the 28-nation bloc than completing his welfare reforms. "If my face no longer fits, my face no longer fits. My big passion is welfare reform. But Europe goes over everything," he told The Sunday Telegraph amid suggestions of a post-referendum reshuffle purge of some leading rebels. Mr Duncan Smith - a veteran of the rebellion against then premier John Major over the Maastricht Treaty - complained that ministers were undermining party unity by "briefing off" about the fate of colleagues. And he pledged to defy a ban on "leave" campaigning ministers being shown official papers and briefings related to the campaign as Whitehall's top civil servant was summoned by a parliamentary committee to explain the move. "I must have the right to continue to look at this. Constitutionally, I am in charge of that department," he said. Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood faces a grilling by the Political and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday over his edict that it was "not appropriate or permissible" for officials to provide briefings, write material for speeches or supply access to official papers in relation to the referendum campaign to ministers opposing the official line. Sniping within the party continued unabated into the weekend, with Mr Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne making barely-disguised attacks on London mayor Boris Johnson, one of the highest-profile pro-Brexit Conservatives. Mr Osborne - hailing a warning from fellow G20 finance ministers that a UK divorce from Brussels could "shock" the world economy - said the issue was "deadly serious" for people's jobs and finances and not "some amusing adventure into the unknown". The Chancellor in turn faced a backlash from Tory predecessor in Number 11 Nigel Lawson, who dismissed the G20 warning as "absurd". It came as Philip Hammond was reported to have called arch-Eurosceptic backbencher Sir Bill Cash a "total s**t" for publishing confidential legal guidance about Mr Cameron's EU renegotiation deal. A Foreign Office source said there should be a parliamentary investigation into why the EU scrutiny committee chaired by the veteran MP disclosed the advice prepared for European Council president Donald Tusk despite Mr Hammond handing it over in confidence. The Mail on Sunday said he angrily confronted Sir Bill in Westminster during a break in a committee hearing. An FCO source noted that the legal advice confirmed the deal was "legally binding and irreversible" but said Commons authorities "may now look into" what appeared to be a breach of rules allowing the Government to provide advice in confidence to committees. The PM is on a whistlestop tour of the UK, warning voters against what he calls the "leap in the dark" of voting to leave the EU on June 23. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, he said: "When the people campaigning for "out" are asked to set out a vision outside the European Union, they become extremely vague. It's simply not good enough to assert everything will be all right when jobs and our country's future are at stake. He challenged them to set out what the trading relationship would look like, how long the economy would face uncertainty while it was negotiated, how joint-security arrangements would be replaced and how Britain's role and influence in the world would be maintained. "With so many gaps in the 'out' case, the decision is clearly one between the great unknown and a greater Britain. A vote to leave is the gamble of the century. And it would be our children's futures on the table if we were to roll the dice," he concluded. At least 130 of the 330 Conservative MPs have publicly declared their intent to defy Mr Cameron and back "leave" in the referendum campaign. Europe Minister David Lidington said the UK could be plunged into 10 years of damaging uncertainty. "You would be in complete limbo and I think what that would do for the pound and for business confidence would be very serious indeed. It could last a decade," he told The Observer. Mr Johnson faced accusations of "flip-flopping" after he ruled out the possibility of a vote to leave on June 23 leading to a better offer from Brussels and a second referendum - a position dismissed as "total fantasy" by Mr Cameron when it was floated by former Tory leader Michael Howard. Mr Johnson previous assertion that "EU history shows that they only really listen to a population when it says 'no'" was widely seen as backing a fresh vote. But he told The Times: "Out is out. What I want is to get out and then negotiate a series of trade arrangements around the world." Prime Minister David Cameron is campaigning for the UK to remain in the European Union Prime Minister David Cameron smells a dram of whiskey at the Bushmills distillery in Co Antrim David Cameron has warned voters in Northern Ireland of the potential economic impact of Brexit as he continues a tour of the UK setting out the case for staying in the European Union (EU). The Prime Minister said the country's economy and farming industry were too closely linked to the EU to risk the "leap in the dark" of voting to quit the 28-nation bloc. Northern Ireland's political parties are split on the issue, with the Democratic Unionists backing "leave" and Sinn Fein, the SDLP and the cross-community Alliance Party in favour of "remain". A declaration is expected next week from the Ulster Unionists. Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers is one of five cabinet ministers who have broken ranks to campaign for the UK to end ties with Brussels. Speaking to locals at Ballybollen House farm in County Antrim during his visit, Mr Cameron stressed the importance of EU membership to the industry. "Many of those who want to ask you to vote to leave are actually not really sure whether they want to leave or not," he said. "I think that should set alarm bells going in the minds of voters about the potential dangers and risks that we face if we leave." Treasury figures put the number of jobs in Northern Ireland linked to EU trade at 50,000, with exports up over 50% in real terms since 1998. Before speaking at the farm, Mr Cameron toured the Bushmills distillery in Co Antrim, where he was shown how barrels are sealed. A spokeswoman for Old Bushmills Distillery said the firm was "delighted" to have hosted a visit by Mr Cameron. "Old Bushmills Distillery is part of a global company, selling in global markets," she added. "We believe the matter of UK membership of the EU is for individual voters to decide on. Access to the EU market of 500 million people is important in a global context and will remain so." Christian Sloan, one of the British tourists who died while climbing waterfalls in Vietnam. The family of two sisters killed while climbing waterfalls in Vietnam have paid tribute to them, saying "two bright lights have gone out". Beth Anderson, 24, and her sister Isobel Mackensie Squire, 19, died along with former Royal Navy sailor Christian Sloan, 25, at the Datanla waterfalls in Lam Dong province on Friday. The women, who were from the Ecclesall area of Sheffield, were seven weeks into a backpacking tour of Asia when tragedy struck. In a statement released via South Yorkshire Police, their family said: "Two bright lights have gone out. "They shone brightly for 24 and 19 years for everyone who loved and adored them and everyone who came into contact with them. "Sisters, Beth and Izzy were living a life of adventure and did so, right to the end." The sisters' trip had already taken them to Cambodia and Thailand, according to pictures posted on social media by Miss Squire, who was a keen amateur horse rider. It remains unclear exactly how the three holidaymakers died, but it has been claimed that they were not with an official guide and did not use proper safety equipment. Vo Anh Tan, deputy director of the Lam Dong joint stock tourist company which manages the Datanla waterfalls, said visitors usually start at the top of the tiered waterfall, which is popular among Western tourists. Mr Tan said an unauthorised local private tour operator arranged the tour and apparently did not pay for entrance tickets and did not use the company's safety equipment. He said the guide was detained by police for questioning. The bodies were recovered downstream from the waterfall. Police believe the tourists might have slipped when exploring the area, according to local news reports. James McGlashan, who was travelling with Mr Sloan at the time, wrote on Facebook: "Thank you for all the messages flooding in, have just stopped in the ambulances for a toilet break so only have wifi for 10 minutes but will try and get back to everyone once I get to Ho Chi Minh City. "Thank you for all your support. Devastated RIP Sloan." Lucie Elizabeth wrote on Facebook: "Cannot believe what I've just heard another angel taken far too soon Christian Sloan my thoughts go out to all of your family at this sad time." The Foreign Office confirmed three British people had died and said it is in contact with the authorities in Vietnam. A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are providing support to the families of three British nationals following their deaths near Da Lat, Vietnam. "Our sympathies are with their families and friends at this difficult time. We are in close contact with local authorities in Vietnam on their behalf." Nigel Farage leader of the UKIP Party arrives to attend their Spring Conference in Llandudno, North Wales. Nigel Farage leader of the UKIP Party arrives to attend their Spring Conference in Llandudno, North Wales. Nigel Farage leader of the UKIP Party arrives to attend their Spring Conference in Llandudno, North Wales. Ukip leader Nigel Farage before entering the conference hall to attend his party's spring conference in Llandudno, North Wales Nigel Farage put concerns about immigration at the centre of his pitch to voters ahead of the European Union referendum. The Ukip leader said June 23 could be "independence day" if the country voted to sever ties with Brussels, giving the UK back control over its laws and borders. He said the true scale of immigration would be a "shock" if official figures properly revealed it and challenged Home Secretary Theresa May to a televised debate ahead of the in/out vote. In a speech at his party's spring conference in Llandudno he warned that the migration crisis would get worse if the country remained in the EU - and claimed it could leave the UK vulnerable to a Paris-style terror attack, or a repeat of the sexual harassment seen in Cologne. Brandishing his "European Union" British passport, Mr Farage hit out at free movement rules. Hailing the fact a referendum was taking place as a victory for Ukip, he said: "Let's make June 23 2016 independence day." But the row between the rival Leave camps cast its shadow over the Ukip gathering, with Mr Farage's support for Grassroots Out and Leave.EU at odds with his sole MP Douglas Carswell and former deputy chairman Suzanne Evans, who back Vote Leave. At a Vote Leave fringe event Ms Evans, who was sacked as deputy chairman just days before the conference, highlighted research suggesting that Mr Farage was one of the "least trusted voices" on Europe. Mr Carswell was also at the event, but party sources dismissed as "tosh" reports that he could face being thrown out of Ukip in order to boost Grassroots Out's bid for the Electoral Commission's official designation in the referendum campaign. Mr Farage said in his conference speech: "It is true that there have been some difficulties on our side of the argument and I have been disappointed and worried that the Vote Leave organisation have not wanted to work with anybody else or to merge with anybody else." He warned that expansion of the EU, potentially to Bosnia and Turkey, would add to concerns over immigration. He repeated his claim that National Insurance numbers issued to migrants were far higher than the number of people covered by official migration statistics. "I do not believe that we are being told the truth about the number of people coming to this country. I believe that the true figures actually would shock us," he said. "Mass migration into Britain on this scale is not good for our country. "It is not good for our quality of life, it is not good for social cohesion in our society, and our population inexorably headed towards 70 million or 75 million will not make this a better, richer or happier place to be. "But as EU members there is nothing we can do about it." Mr Farage said the possibility of expansion to Turkey, allied to the "desperate problems" in the eurozone "if we remain members of the EU it is a perfectly reasonable, sane thing to say that our migration crisis will get worse". He added: "Surely one of the first duties of the British Government should be to do everything within their power to protect our people from the horrors that we saw in Paris and the indignities that we saw in Cologne. "The best and the safest way for us to attempt to prevent such things is to leave the EU and to take back control of our borders." Mr Farage told activists: "We have forced our political class into giving us this referendum that they never wanted us to have. "I shall die a happy man, whenever that is, if we win that referendum on June 23. I believe we can do it, I believe we will do it and I will give it everything I have got between now and that day to make sure that we do win." Stressing the need for a cross-party effort to secure a Brexit, he said: "We cannot and we will not win this referendum purely from the centre-right of politics in this country." Mr Farage raised doubts about the legal basis of David Cameron's deal with EU leaders and dismissed fears about trading relations with the rest of the EU after a vote to leave, claiming the draw of the UK market would secure a favourable arrangement. "It is the customer who is king and we clearly are the customer," he said. Ukip's gathering in Llandudno came ahead of the May 5 elections to the National Assembly for Wales and Mr Farage said he hoped the party would "do very well and make a breakthrough" in Cardiff Bay. He said he expected Ukip to win seats in Wales, the Scottish Parliament, Northern Ireland and the London Assembly in May's votes. "Ukip will win seats in all four of the assemblies and parliaments, and in doing that we will be the only party in the UK that can do it," he said. Mr Farage said the June referendum would benefit his party as it campaigned for May's elections. "It's actually going to be quite difficult for these contests to take place without the shadow of the referendum hanging incredibly heavily," he told reporters at a pub near the conference venue as he prepared to eat a lunch of liver and onions. "That probably helps us, I suppose, if I was being a bit cynical about it, but you just can't avoid it. "This referendum is a massive global political event and it will overshadow many of the elections." Major Ukip donor Arron Banks, who also funds the Leave.EU campaign and GO, has suggested that the party may not continue in its current form after the referendum. But Mr Farage suggested that support could grow even after the referendum. He said: "I was told that when Cameron gave the Bloomberg Speech - that's it, it's all over, the fox has been shot. It's been shot it must be extinct by now. Look, I have no idea what comes after June. "This referendum could be a seismic event in British politics and it could change things none of us can even predict right now. "Who would have thought the SNP would lose the referendum, and they skyrocket?" Asked if he would follow the example of SNP former leader Alex Salmond and stand down if he lost the referendum, Mr Farage said: "I've no idea what I'm going to do after June 23, I've no idea at all. It doesn't matter. "I will pack it up in 2035. I've no idea, it's a ridiculous question isn't it?" He defended his decision to share a GO platform with Respect's George Galloway. "George Galloway will speak to the Muslim community in a way that no other British Eurosceptic can do, which is significant," he said. "And Boris will speak to a different community. This idea that one person must lead and dominate is just nonsense." He added: "To win a referendum you need a variety of different messengers with different messages. It's a huge mistake to think one person can lead this, absolutely crackers. "Gerry Gunster, who has won 28 out of 30 referendums in America, says actually a referendum needs several faces and several voices because they will appeal to different audiences. "The audience that I want to appeal to are primarily non-voters." Setting out the reason behind his strategy of focusing on migration he said: "We have got a big 10,000 people poll done in early December, I'm quite happy to share the information with you: 60% of the undecideds have said that the cost of EU membership and the implications of open door immigration are the issues upon which they could swing their vote. "Why do you think this referendum is June 23 and not September 23? Because the Prime Minister knows that a worsening migrant crisis makes his chance of winning much, much less." A Scottish MP who was detained by security forces in Turkey has described the experience as "terrifying". Natalie McGarry, who represents the Glasgow East constituency, was briefly held by authorities near a security checkpoint in the south-east of the country on Thursday. Her lawyer later confirmed she was questioned after using her mobile phone to "record the sound of bombs" falling on the Kurdish area of Sur in the city of Diyarbakir, a flashpoint in the conflict between the Turkish government and the country's Kurdish population. Ms McGarry, who was visiting Turkey as part of a delegation to the country, revealed she was "very pleased" to have landed at Heathrow airport. Writing on Twitter on Saturday, she said: " I was forcibly removed from the street by a man who pushed me repeatedly and would've hit me but for intervention of younger colleagues. "I was denied access to an interpreter and taken into a shack behind the demarcation line which was filled with guns." She said she was "relieved" after an interpreter was allowed in after 45 minutes. "My absolute admiration to fellow delegates who stayed to support me & were increasingly worried by the shouting & swearing," she continued. "Thank you also to the British Embassy who acted so swiftly to help secure my release. And everyone locally who was contacted & put pressure. "Thanks also to the Kurdish population of Sur who came to welcome me out and hugged me when I cried. And they brought me chai and thanks." Ms McGarry added: " I freely admit to crying when I was released. It was a terrifying experience albeit it only lasted a couple of hours. "I cannot imagine if life was a constant struggle of fear like that everyday which is why Turkey's Nato partners need to demand it stop." Ms McGarry sits as an independent MP after resigning the SNP whip in the wake of an ongoing police investigation into missing donations from Women for Independence, the pro-Scottish independence group she founded. She denies any wrongdoing. The bodies were discovered in a house in Mansfield A man has been arrested after the bodies of two women were discovered at a house in Derbyshire. Police and paramedics were called to a property in Station Road in Shirebrook, near Mansfield, shortly after 10pm on Friday. The two bodies were found inside, Derbyshire Constabulary said. The arrested man is from Sheffield. A force spokesman said: "An investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the discovery, but the deaths are being treated as suspicious. "A 20-year-old man was arrested earlier today and remains in police custody." Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Derbyshire police. A man who works at a nearby business said police and forensics officers were "everywhere" on Station Road near the junction of Hardwick Street. Part of the street around the Road and Rally Discount Accessories motor spares shop has been cordoned off as officers investigate the suspicious deaths. The man, who asked not to be named, said police activity appeared to be centred around a terraced house in the east of the mining village, not far from the railway station. He said: "There are police and forensics teams everywhere and it is all cordoned off. "The front and back of a house are cordoned off and there is a police car down at the bottom at the back. "There are lots of forensics vans and they've also cordoned off the houses next door." Another business owner said the incident had occurred seven or eight houses down from the junction with Hardwick Street and that the property had been surrounded by police all morning. The man described the area as a quiet residential area, saying: "I have worked here 10 years. You get a bit of trouble here but you get that anywhere - but nothing major at all. This is a bit out of the ordinary. "The police have not been in here and told me anything." Religious leader Jalal Uddin died after being found with serious head injuries in a children's play area in Rochdale (Greater Manchester Police/PA) Detectives investigating the killing of a religious leader on his way home from a mosque have charged a man with his murder. Jalal Uddin was found with head injuries in a children's play area in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, after being attacked on February 18. The 64-year-old was taken to hospital but died a short time later. Mohammed Hussain Syeedy, 21, of Ramsay Street, Rochdale, has been charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder, Greater Manchester Police said. He will appear at Bury Magistrates Court on Monday. A 17-year-old boy previously arrested on suspicion of murder is on bail until April 20. The body called for plans to help older people into work Helping more older people into work should be at the heart of the Government's plans for full employment, according to a new report. The Resolution Foundation said there was potential to increase employment among 50-to-64-year-olds by around 920,000 in the coming years, and by 240,000 for those aged between 65 and 69. The think-tank said too many people were forced to leave the labour market prematurely because they they are ill or have caring responsibilities. Workers who become ill, or take a break to look after a relative, should have the right to return to a job, it was argued. This would help firms keep in touch with their staff and reduce the risk of people leaving the world of work, said the report. Laura Gardiner, senior policy analyst at the Resolution Foundation, said: "Rising employment among older workers has been one of Britain's biggest labour market successes of recent years. "This jobs phenomenon has been driven by a number of factors, including the rising state pension age, abolition of the default retirement age and better flexible working practices. "But we can do far more to boost employment among older workers, in particular by helping them to stay in work when they take on caring responsibilities or have to adjust to ill-health. "Many employers already see the benefits of holding on to these experienced members of staff but this attitude needs to spread throughout the labour market. Government policy interventions, such as an extension of rights to return to work, can help foster this change in attitudes towards older workers. "Providing such support could help over a million older workers into jobs, and set the Government on course to meet its ambitious full employment target." Lisa Harris, head of communications at Saga commented: "For many over 50s the opportunity to work for longer is welcomed as they genuinely don't feel ready to take that cliff edge decision to finish work completely. "However we need to be mindful that for many the decision to reduce their working hours, or stop work altogether, is one that is well and truly taken out of their hands. "With significant reductions in social care budgets, many older people are finding themselves in a position where they have to forgo their work-life balance in order to provide much needed care to loved a one." Minister for Pensions, Baroness Ros Altmann, said: "For years I have championed the value of businesses hiring older workers and it's excellent that the number of them in employment, including older women, is now at a record high. "It's clear employers are changing their attitude to older workers and taking advantage of the excellent skills and experience that they can bring to the workplace. "Encouraging employers to adopt flexible working practices and provide support to older workers is essential if we are to see the employment rate for this group continue to grow." Lib Dem leader Tim Farron will seek to step up his attacks on those who wish to remove Britain from the EU Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has hit out at the "ugliness" of some parts of Scottish nationalism as he called on Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP to "take the chip off your shoulder". Mr Farron claimed the the SNP administration in Edinburgh had "failed the Scottish people" as he attacked their "sticking-plaster solutions" to problems in the NHS and education. With the Scottish First Minister also warning that June's European referendum could trigger a second vote on independence if Scotland votes to stay part of the EU but the UK opts to leave, he also demanded the SNP "start pulling the finger out" in the campaign to remain. The Liberal Democrat leader condemned the "grievance" politics of the SNP. He told the party's Scottish spring conference in Edinburgh: "There is sadly an ugliness to some elements of Scottish nationalism which many of us in the rest of the United Kingdom simply don't see. "We saw it during the referendum, with SNP candidates and campaigners alike seemingly determined that no other views than their own should receive a hearing." But he added: " Our message to Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP is clear - it's time to take the chip off your shoulder. "Let's put grievance and division behind us and focus on the things that really matter for Scotland." The Liberal Democrat leader later told journalists he would share a platform with Ms Sturgeon, David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn in the campaign to keep Britain in the EU - warning a vote to leave could result in " the loss of access to a market worth 80 billion a year, the ability to work with others to tackle climate change" and would also damage the UK's international standing. Mr Farron said: " My sense is the nationalists should stop talking about what would happen if we lost the referendum and start pulling the finger out and do something to help us to win it." He told the conference that the vote on whether or not the UK should remain part of the EU is the biggest decision for a generation, insisting that staying in "is a no-brainer". Mr Farron insisted: "The only party that is wholly in favour of a Scotland that is prosperous and s ecure within Europe and the United Kingdom is the Liberal Democrats." With Scottish Parliament elections taking place in May, he said he is hopeful the Lib Dems, who currently have just five MSPs, would grow. Mr Farron said he sensed "clear movement" against the nationalists, saying: " Two things don't help the SNP. One is a realisation that this is not a referendum, this is about whether or not the country is well-run, and there is a sense that the SNP is not a good administration, and I'm being very kind to them there. "The second thing is the Scottish sense of fairness and how uneasy people feel about the dominance of one party across Scottish politics." Speaking about the Lib Dems, he said: " Against the odds we're in really good form. We start from a difficult set of elections last May, but our fightback has been remarkable." His speech to the conference included a strong attack on the SNP, who have been in power in Scotland since 2007, on issues such as health and education. Mr Farron said: "Nicola Sturgeon and her colleagues chose to let the health budget slip. The effects have been devastating. "Dozens of children have been forced to wait more than a year to receive specialist mental health care. "A&E waiting time targets have been missed and missed again. "Meanwhile, more and more has been wasted on sticking-plaster solutions and so-called action plans that have not given our doctors and nurses the support they need." He also said that SNP promises on early years care had been "broken" while college places have "vanished". The Liberal Democrat leader said: "You can't just wrap yourself in the flag and hope no-one notices that you have failed the Scottish people." Mr Farron said the Liberal Democrats must "challenge the SNP's arrogant sense of entitlement to rule". He told the conference: "They act like you have no right to vote any other way. We will not have that. We need to remind the SNP that theirs is not the only voice in Scottish politics, that they do not have all the answers." He also insisted: "W e must celebrate the positive future that is a European Union prepared to work together to tackle the great challenges facing the world - from climate change and changing global markets, to the mass migration of people who are displaced by war and instability." Mr Farron launched a fierce attack on Mr Cameron over the refugee crisis that has swept Europe, saying while the UK Government had committed 2.3 billion "that is all money destined far from our shores, and, more crucially, far from the shores of Calais or Dunkirk, Lesbos or Lampedusa". He claimed the Prime Minister wanted to "keep the refugee problem away from us, out of sight and out of mind". But Mr Farron said: "B ritain is a fair, compassionate and tolerant country. Scotland is a fair, compassionate and tolerant country. "By failing to act to support the weakest, most vulnerable people on the planet, David Cameron is letting us all down." He demanded the Conservative Prime Minister show " some leadership, show some backbone", as he pledged he would keep pressing the issue. He said: " As Mr Cameron shamelessly banks on the British people losing interest, getting compassion fatigue, outrage fatigue, I will pursue Mr Cameron until he gets Farron fatigue, and gives in and does the right thing, the British thing, to take our fair share of refugees to provide sanctuary for those children alone in the camps." The Liberal Democrat leader went on to attack the Conservative Government on the environment, saying between 2010 and 2015 his party had " fought sceptical Tories to ensure the coalition was the greenest government ever". However he claimed: "I n the last six months this progress has been unravelled at an alarming pace. It is shameful that the work we began in coalition to deliver is being unpicked." Mr Farron went on to attack Labour, saying Jeremy Corbyn's party " make me genuinely angry". He told the conference this was "n ot because they've been taken over by the kind of people who used to try to sell me tedious newspapers outside the students' union, not because they've got a socialist leader... But because they are the most useless opposition in the history of British politics". SNP MSP Kevin Stewart said: "Tim Farron has a cheek lecturing the Scottish people after the Lib Dems kept the Tories in power for five years - during which they forced austerity and hated policies like the bedroom tax on Scotland. "The SNP will be making a positive, progressive argument for Scotland's place in Europe over the coming months - Tim Farron should ditch project fear and make the positive case for EU membership." Taoiseach Enda Kenny and his wife Fionnuala cast their votes at a polling station at St Anthony's School in Castlebar, Mayo Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald celebrates after being elected TD for Dublin Central at the election count centre at the RDS in Dublin, Ireland. Taoiseach Enda Kenny has ruled out resigning after his government suffered a resounding thumping in Ireland's general election. With the Republic's political future in disarray and several coalition combinations on the table, the Fine Gael leader refused to be drawn on the prospect of a pact with traditional adversaries Fianna Fail. "It is a position that one never likes to be in but I want to make it clear that I expect that the Fine Gael party will be a large bloc in the next Oireachtas (parliament)," he said. "From that point of view, my responsibility as Taoiseach is to work to see that our country has a stable government and that has a government that can continue the progress that we have made over the last number of years in bringing the benefits of a recovering economy to all our people." Mr Kenny, who had a 30-seat majority after the 2011 election, admitted the election result was disappointing. "Democracy is always exciting but it is merciless when it clicks in," he said. The Taoiseach faced questions over his leadership as Fine Gael are set to lose about 30 seats and the outgoing partnership with Labour is staring at a humiliating defeat. Mr Kenny suggested a second election was not on the cards and he believed a new coalition could be formed despite one of the most fractious results in history. "I'd like to think that it could be possible, given the final results, to be able to put a government together that could work through the many challenges we have," he said. Among the coalition's biggest casualties were Alex White, Labour's outgoing minister for communications, energy and natural resources, and Alan Shatter, the former Fine Gael justice minister, who were both defeated in Dublin Rathdown. Catherine Martin took a seat in the constituency for the Greens, returning the party to the Dail for their first seat since the decimation of 2011. Mr Kenny refused to consider any of the permutations for a new government either with Fianna Fail, a rainbow coalition or a minority arrangement. The election looks like creating one of the most diverse Irish parliaments in history, with political leaders in line for weeks of protracted negotiations on potential coalitions. Early indications suggest a widespread disaffection with mainstream parties and austerity mirroring a movement across Europe, including Spain, Portugal and Greece, where parliaments have been crippled by the voter schism. The predicted outcome would be all the more remarkable as the political powerhouses, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, struggle to secure support of 50% of the electorate for the first time in history. With more than ten seats out of 158 declared, Fianna Fail's Micheal Martin, the opposition leader in the last Dail parliament, insisted the focus was not entirely on bringing an end to 90-odd years of civil war politics by taking power with Fine Gael. "We have made it clear we do not want to go into government with Fine Gael or with Sinn Fein," he said. "The idea that it is just down to two parties, I think, is ignoring the reality of how people voted." Sinn Fein will be the third largest party. Under Gerry Adams, who topped the poll in Louth, the party looks set to continue its march south of the border with an expected increase in its vote and its presence in the Dail parliament by around 50%. Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said he had "divided thoughts" on a potential Fine Gael-Fianna Fail coalition. "They are natural partners, they are Siamese twins who have been divided for some time - they should get into bed together," he said. "That's my positive attitude. "My negative attitude to it is, this would be a most conservative regime if they do come together." Other outgoing Labour ministers Jan O'Sullivan and Kathleen Lynch are also at risk of losing their seats in the electoral bloodbath but Tanaiste, or deputy prime minister, and party leader Joan Burton scraped into the last seat in Dublin West. In a remarkable comeback after its near wipeout at the last election, Fianna Fail could almost double its seats. But the once-dominant party in Irish politics will remain a long way from its heyday majority, which tumbled with the economic crash it presided over nearly a decade ago. The mounting disillusionment with mainstream parties opened an unprecedented opportunity for smaller parties and Independents to reap the rewards. Mark Mortell, the Taoiseach's closest adviser, said Ireland would have to review its "political system" once the outcome of its most uncertain election in recent times is decided. "The only word I can use right now is deep disappointment," he said. One of the few possibilities for stable government, it appears, would be sworn enemies Fine Gael and Fianna Fail setting aside their near 90-year-old feud dating back to Ireland's civil war. The pair, both centre-right, have swapped power since the foundation of the state. Such a "grand coalition" would also break new ground in potentially handing the Dail a definitive left-right split for the first time in history. More than 550 candidates fought in 40 constituencies to become one of just 158 TDs - eight seats fewer than the 2011 election when Fine Gael and Labour took office promising a democratic revolution. Once a clear picture emerges from the weekend counting of votes, the parties will have until March 10 - when the Dail is scheduled to resume - to forge a power-sharing deal. Donald Trump pauses as Republican rivals Marco Rubio, centre, and Ted Cruz share a handshake during the debate at The University of Houston (AP) Republican front-runner Donald Trump has won the backing of New Jersey governor Chris Christie, a former presidential candidate, in a jolt to one of the wildest primary contests in recent memory. Mr Christie is one of the first establishment Republicans to endorse Mr Trump in a nominating race where many in the party have been distressed by the billionaire New York businessman's campaign tactics and policy proposals. "I'm happy to be on the Trump team and look forward to working with him," Mr Christie said at a Trump news conference in Texas. Mr Trump shared his reaction when Mr Christie notified his campaign: "I said, 'Wow, this is really important.'" The endorsement is yet more momentum as Mr Trump moves into the critical Super Tuesday primary elections next week. It also turns the story away from the series of brutal rhetorical attacks from Mr Trump's top opponents in the party's tenth debate on Thursday night. The bombastic billionaire's candidacy has defied all the rules that normally apply in the contest for the highest office in the United States. Mr Trump repeatedly has made politically incorrect statements, used salty language and denigrated Hispanics and Muslims. Nevertheless, he holds a big lead in national polling heading into the Tuesday primaries and a caucus in 11 states with a treasure of 595 delegates that could make his nomination all but certain. So far, after four primary and caucus contests, Mr Trump has 82 delegates, Texas senator Ted Cruz has 17 and Florida senator Marco Rubio has 16. A candidate must have 1,237 state delegates to win the Republican nomination at the party's convention this summer. Mr Trump's unexpected candidacy and front-runner status reflect Americans' anger over government deadlock, a slow recovery from the Great Recession and a fear of terrorism. Mr Rubio has been trying to position himself as the party establishment's candidate, but the Christie endorsement suddenly made that more of a challenge. "We don't need any more of these Washington DC acts," Mr Christie said of Mr Rubio at Friday's announcement. From the start of Thursday night's debate, a Mr Rubio went hard after Mr Trump, attacking his position on immigration, his privileged background, his speaking style and more. Mr Cruz piled in, questioning the New York businessman's conservative credentials. The debate reflected the increasing urgency of their effort to take Mr Trump down before he becomes unstoppable. It was a rare night where Mr Trump found himself on the defensive. The other two candidates, Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, and John Kasich, the Ohio governor, were largely left to watch the fireworks. Mr Rubio was the principal aggressor of the night. Taking on Mr Trump's declaration that he would build a wall on the Mexican border, Mr Rubio declared: "If he builds a wall the way he built Trump Tower, he'll be using illegal immigration to do it." Mr Trump insisted that even though officials in Mexico have said they will not pay for his planned wall, "Mexico will pay for the wall." And he said that because Mexico's current and former presidents had criticised him on the issue, "the wall just got 10 feet taller". Mr Trump, known for his frequent use of coarse and profane language on the campaign trail, also scolded former Mexican president Vicente Fox for using a profanity in talking about Mr Trump's plan for the wall. "He should be ashamed of himself and he should apologise," declared Mr Trump. Donald Trump and Pope Francis are poles apart, but they were linked together by the same headlines recently when the Pontiff declared that anyone who deliberately builds walls cannot be described as a Christian. Although the Pope had not mentioned Trump specifically, his remarks hit home. The contrast between the gentle man of words and the bombastic, egotistic politician could not have been more marked. One of Trump's election pledges is that, if elected as US President, he will build a wall between the USA and Mexico to keep out the immigrants, and that the Mexicans will pay for it. It is obviously a grandiose election claim to impress those of his followers who do not think too deeply, which covers the vast majority of them. Trump, like Boris Johnson, is a street-wise operator who indulges in political circus acts to disguise his real intentions, but surely even he can hardly believe that his madcap Mexican project is anything more than a fantasy. Nevertheless, it is frightening that this man looks like becoming the Republican candidate in the US Presidential election, and that one day he may be in control of nuclear missiles. Political observers, who are more often wrong than right, claim that this will not happen, but they were wrong about the rank outsider Jeremy Corbyn becoming leader of the Labour Party. In such a topsy-turvy world, it is important that we still have thoughtful and wise people in high places, like Pope Francis. His remarks about the divisive attitude of building walls could apply not only to Donald Trump, but to all of us. The so-called "Peace Walls" in Belfast are not a good example of a truly Christian society, and we also build walls in our minds, and in the way we live. In the impassioned debate about the future of the UK in Europe, there is a fear in many people's minds about excessive migration into this country. Few want to admit their opposition to this publicly, but it may be a deciding factor in a debate during which the Out camp - including the DUP - has yet to present a convincing analysis of what would happen if the UK leaves Europe. There are many other examples of walls which we build every day, some deliberately and others almost inadvertently. We build walls in family life, and everyone knows of divisions where members never speak, and only meet at family baptisms, weddings and, most usually, funerals. We build walls in our Church life. How many Protestants here refuse to darken the door of a Roman Catholic Church, and vice-versa, and how many Protestants will hardly even attend a service of another Protestant denomination? What about people who use liturgy as a wall that divides rather than supports? We also build walls in our personal lives. How many people do we choose not to talk to, or to cross the street to avoid? How many letters have we deliberately left unanswered, and how many e-mails or social media messages from other people do we ignore? There was a time when such things were answered as simply good manners, but we live in an extremely rude age when too many people routinely decide not to reply to messages they don't like, not even to say "No". So before you totally condemn the likes of Donald Trump, think also about yourself. If we consider seriously Pope Francis' words about building walls, we might conclude there are very few Christians left anywhere. At the time of writing this, my son Finn is taking part in a top-secret mission involving the Government, the police, local authorities and assorted politicians. Seriously. I only know about it because I happen to be his mum, but Ive been sworn to secrecy... However, by the time you read this, the mission should have already been accomplished fingers crossed so I can tell you all about it. The fact is, Finn, whos a student actor at the Lyric Drama Studio, has been undercover, working on a covert operation to shock the living daylights out of hundreds of people en masse and to spell out the repercussions of dangerous driving. Operation CARnage as it is called, is the brainchild of the innovative Big Telly Theatre Company, based in Portstewart. They devised a unique and groundbreaking road safety campaign that they hope will have a dramatic and long-lasting effect on those who see it. But its not on the telly, the radio or in any other tried-and-tested formula. Its being acted out right in front of those most susceptible to dangerous driving teenagers in schools across Northern Ireland in the course of a single day. Heres the back-story and where my Finn comes in. Sam Campbell is a 17-year-old sixth former who arrives at a new school after having been expelled from his own school for an internet prank that went wrong. The night before, his mum allowed him to borrow her car to take his girlfriend to the cinema. On his way home, he got distracted by a text message and reached to get his phone out of his pocket. As he looked away for a few seconds to read the message he felt a sudden bump followed by the sense of something flying over the bonnet. He stopped the car and got out to look, but he couldnt see anything because it was a country lane and very dark. So he got back in and drove on. It was only when he got home that he noticed a distinct dent and scratches to the front bumper. He decided not to say anything to either his mum or dad and went straight up to bed, to prepare himself mentally for his new school in the morning... Yesterday, on Friday, February 26, Finn became Sam for a day, took on his character and arrived in time for assembly at his new school. He looked the part, dressed in the school uniform and introduced himself to his classmates before going into the assembly hall for morning register. While hes there, standing alongside the whole of the school, two uniformed officers from the PSNI walk in and interrupt the proceedings. They announce that they are there in connection with a local hit-and-run road traffic accident from the previous evening. And then they ask Sam Campbell to step forward. Just as he is approaching the stage, an actress, playing the part of the victims mother, bursts in too and begins to shout at him hysterically. The drama unfolds, watched by the entire school, before their very eyes. Only at the end of the session, when Sam has been escorted out, do the PSNI address the group directly and spell out to them the dreadful and very real repercussions of dangerous driving. Now, in order for this to work, the campaign has to be carried out in a single day because in this age of social media, word spreads fast among teenagers. For it to have the element of surprise, it has to happen simultaneously across the region. So there are six teams working in unison in a single morning across the entire North West. Altogether 18 schools will be visited, while 12 professional actors and 12 PSNI officers will take part. And at each school, the only person who is aware of it in advance are the principals. Even the teachers havent been briefed. Hence all the secrecy. I dont know about you, but I think it is a truly brilliant idea and, if it all goes according to plan, then the message will be spelled out loud and clear in the most dramatic and memorable way. Lets hope it works and that a generation of kids in Northern Ireland will have learnt a terrifying but valuable lesson. Melody Ellison, a 9-year-old girl living in in the civil rights era, is the newest American Girl doll. Melody was created to celebrate American Girls 30th anniversary and it will be available this summer. In Melodys story, she lives in Detroit in the 1960s and she loves to sing. The accessories include a recording studio that plays Motown music. Fans are raving about American Girls decision to come out with their third African-American doll. Julia Prohaska, senior director of global brand at American Girl, stated I think the doll industry has a very heavy responsibility in reflecting what is true about our society. She went on to say that American Girl consulted with an advisory board of historians and educators, including the late civil rights activist Julian Bond, to assist with the dolls creation and story. Melody is being released two years after Cecile, the lines second African-American doll, was discontinued in 2014. Their first African-American doll, Addy, is a Civil War-era girl who escapes slavery and is still available to consumers. The response to Melodys announcement has been largely enthusiastic, despite the $119 price tag. Fans are excited to see more diversity in the dolls, as well as African-American history being included. ein Google-Unternehmen Google-Dienste anzubieten und zu betreiben Ausfalle zu prufen und Manahmen gegen Spam, Betrug und Missbrauch zu ergreifen Daten zu Zielgruppeninteraktionen und Websitestatistiken zu erheben. Mit den gewonnenen Informationen mochten wir verstehen, wie unsere Dienste verwendet werden, und die Qualitat dieser Dienste verbessern. neue Dienste zu entwickeln und zu verbessern Werbung auszuliefern und ihre Wirkung zu messen personalisierte Inhalte anzuzeigen, abhangig von Ihren Einstellungen personalisierte Werbung anzuzeigen, abhangig von Ihren Einstellungen Wenn Sie Alle ablehnen auswahlen, verwenden wir Cookies nicht fur diese zusatzlichen Zwecke. 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(Cartoonist - Joel Pett) In other news, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant has officially designated the month of April as "Confederate Heritage Month." Let your racist freak flag fly. Meanwhile, Trump says he wouldn't accept the endorsement of "penguin" Mitt Romney even if he offered it. I guess that settles it. And finally, the CDC says doctors found "brain abnormalities" in the fetus of one woman who had an abortion after being infected with the Zika virus, and that's not all. The CDC announced for the first time that it has been tracking nine pregnant women in the U.S. whose Zika virus infection has been confirmed. Two of those women suffered miscarriages and two opted for abortions. [...] Three of those women have since gave birth, one of whom delivered a child with severe microcephaly, a birth condition that causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads. This is just beginning. I can scarcely the imagine physical and emotional toll this virus could take during the peak Mosquito season of the warm Summer months and following the Olympics. Meanwhile, our GOP congress has refused to do anything about it. Sleep tight! Have a good weekend. The Republican National Committee (RNC) has formally approved a resolution endorsing legislation that effectively criminalizes transgender bathroom use. Moreover, the RNC has called on the federal government to back away from the position that Title IX applies to gender identity, and that's a whole 'nother can of worms. The resolution characterizes bathroom bills as legislation to protect student privacy: The Republican National Committee encourages state legislatures to enact laws that protect student privacy and limit the use of restrooms, locker rooms and similar facilities to members of the sex to whom the facility is designated, the resolution states. The resolution rejects the Obama administrations interpretation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to prohibit discrimination against transgender students governmental overreach. The Republican party clearly has a different interpretation of "privacy" than you or I do. Ditto for "governmental overreach." They want a government so big it can monitor the bathroom use of every student in every school. Legislation that would require school systems to scrutinize gender identity and closely monitor bathroom use could hardly be described as a "privacy" law. Legislation pending in multiple states would penalize schools that do not go out of their way to ensure that every child uses a restroom that corresponds with their genitalia. Some lawmakers have even called for penalizing students themselves for using the "wrong" restroom but, thankfully, none of them have successfully passed such a policy. You know my opinion of those who push for these kinds of laws. They're all deathly afraid they or one of their children might be attracted to a transgender person some day. This is a legislative assault designed to ostracize and "other" transgender children and prevent them from leading normal lives as the person they identify as. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/02/2016 (2428 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A hefty fine has been handed to a man who pleaded guilty to impaired driving for a strange high-speed encounter with off-duty Mounties. Unaware that the men in an unmarked van who were trying to pull him over were off-duty officers, the offender gave them the finger. The scenario that is going on on the highway at this time between these two, my client not knowing that these are police officers, is one of some sort of sick cat-and-mouse type game, defence lawyer David Walker said in Brandon provincial court. Jordan Nigel Phillips, 22 years old at the time, was fined $3,000 on Thursday and banned from driving for a year. Crown attorney Rich Lonstrup said that three off-duty RCMP constables on their way from Regina to Winnipeg for training on the afternoon of Jan. 17, 2014 encountered a driver who was weaving all over the Trans-Canada Highway at 130 km/h near Moosomin, Sask. The suspect vehicle, which turned out to be driven by Phillips at the time, was speeding up and slowing down, changing lanes continuously and weaving in lanes where other vehicles were present. Phillips didnt realize the drivers in the unmarked police vehicle were off-duty officers and believed their van had cut him off, Walker said. With no lights or sirens on their unmarked van, the constables resorted to hand signals to try to get the driver to pull over. Phillips responded with a hand signal of his own he rolled down the window and gave the officers the middle finger. He then pulled into Moosomin, where he displayed strange driving by going up and down residential streets. At one point, he pulled into a gas station, but left without getting fuel. After returning to the highway, Phillips turned down a gravel road and the constables stopped their pursuit due to safety concerns. The constables alerted surrounding officers, but no Moosomin RCMP members were available. The nearest available officers were in Virden. When they stopped to get gas in Virden, the off-duty constables noticed the suspects vehicle again, resumed their pursuit and called local RCMP, who pulled the suspect over. At that point, a different man also impaired was driving. He too was arrested. However, the constables who initially spotted the suspect vehicle were able to identify Phillips as the driver at that time. Phillips refused to provide a breath sample, but police noted he smelled of alcohol, his speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet. It was Judge Shauna Hewitt-Michta who fined Phillips and banned him from driving. And, Walker made a point about the driving of the off-duty constable at the wheel of the unmarked minivan that didnt have emergency equipment, citing one of Hewitt-Michtas own prior decisions. The officers admitted to going 130 km/h even before they spotted Phillips vehicle, Walker said. At one point, they went 180 km/h to put distance between themselves and Phillips, and Walker pointed out that Brandon judges including Hewitt-Michta have made notable rulings in recent cases to the effect that high speed alone, with no other bad driving, is dangerous driving. In December, for example, Judge Donovan Dvorak sentenced a woman to community service for dangerous driving. She was going 170 km/h along the Trans-Canada Highway near Virden while driving an SUV that contained her three children. She also drove 154 km/h in a 80 km/h construction zone. In giving a $1,500 fine and a one-year driving ban to another man, who went 185 km/h in a 100 km/h zone along a highway in the RM of Elton, Hewitt-Michta noted the shift toward laying dangerous driving charges in cases where excessive speed is the only, or primary concern. On Friday, Lonstrup confirmed that the off-duty officers involved werent charged. ihitchen@brandonsun.com Twitter: @IanHitchen Already have an account? Log in here SASKATOON - A group hopes to have the Wanuskewin Heritage Park in Saskatoon designated as a United Nations World Heritage site. We need your support! Local journalism needs your support! As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Starting at $4.99/month you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/02/2016 (2428 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. This years edition of Manitoba Ag Ex promises to be bigger and better with the announcement that the Wheat City Stampede will now be a part of the fall event. The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba has partnered with the Manitoba Rodeo Cowboys Association. Theres natural connections between the cattle and the horse worlds, said Ron Kristjansson, Provincial Ex general manager. There will be a huge horse component to our Ag Ex show again I think the joining of forces just makes it that much stronger for all the groups involved and for the community. Newly elected Provincial Ex president Kathy Cleaver announced the new partnership on Thursday evening at the 19th annual Presidents Dinner. We have signed a new partnership with the Manitoba Rodeo Cowboys Association to host their year-end finals rodeo as part of the 2016 Manitoba Ag Ex, Cleaver said. We are currently in discussions with all of the groups that had partnered with the MRCA in the past for the Wheat City Stampede and look forward to making Manitoba Ag Ex something for everyone. The event has had a few different names over the years, including Fall Fair and Manitoba Livestock Expo. It was rebranded last year back to Manitoba Ag Ex. Its also not the first time they have partnered with MRCA in this way, but had grown in different directions over the years. The thought process now was that it was time to get back together and make this a broader spectrum, Kristjansson said. An event that appeals to a really wide audience. Weve worked with MRCA and with the Keystone Centre to determine what kind of an event this could be. Manitoba Ag Ex will take place Oct. 27-29. The event aims to highlight the cattle breeders hard work and dedication to Canadas agricultural economy. It provides a venue to feature and market Manitobas best purebred cattle. The potential to grow this and add other components to it is almost limitless, Kristjansson said. With a bit of imagination and co-operation between all the groups involved, were really excited about where this event can go. jaustin@brandonsun.com Twitter: @jillianaustin Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/02/2016 (2428 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Winter isnt over quite yet, according to an Environment Canada official. While most Manitobans are ready to start pulling out their spring outfits, John Paul Cragg, a warning preparedness meteorologist for Environment Canada, said there is still the potential for Old Man Winter to strike. That cold air is still up north and all it takes is for the northwest winds to bring it down and it will cool off drastically, Cragg said. For winter to be declared over, the temperatures in the Northwest Territories have to moderate quite a bit. Tim Smith/Brandon Sun Erin and Davi Ramalho cruise down the hill while sledding with family and friends at Hanbury Hill on a cold Monday afternoon. Despite that sobering news, it has been one of the warmer winters on record in several ways, according to Cragg. In an average year, Brandon sees 14.4 days below -30 C or worse. This year, however, weve only had six two in February, three in January and one in December. That has resulted in above seasonal normal temperatures across the board. In February, for example, the daily average temperature of -8.9 C is 4.7 degrees warmer than our historical data, which is -13.6 C. Without seeing those brutally cold days or stretches its why were seeing a warmer winter from previous years, Cragg said. A number of factors have caused the warmer temperatures, including El Nino, according to Cragg. Temperatures are expected to cool off Sunday evening into Monday, Cragg said, before staying around seasonal norms until Friday, when they start to creep up toward 0 C again. Jennifer Bryson, senior interpreter at Spruce Woods Provincial Park, isnt complaining about the mild temperatures. Bryson has been running programming at the park throughout the winter and the warmer weather has meant more people are willing to get outside to try a winter activity. Children can go on a snowshoe trek today beginning at Yellow Quill at Spruce Woods starting at 1 p.m. Snowshoes are provided. This winter has been great, Bryson said. I had an ice fishing event a few weeks ago and it was -40 C, but I had 19 people show up still and I was shocked They were good sports. ctweed@brandonsun.com Twitter: @CharlesTweed Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/02/2016 (2428 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. WINNIPEG The Winnipeg police officer accused of several internal thefts is one of the two officers who pulled over a vehicle with Tina Fontaine inside, but didnt take her into custody. Police said on Friday that a 25-year-old man, who has been on the force for two years with the rank of constable, is facing several theft-related charges after an investigation by the professional standards unit. Police said the investigation was launched after several internal thefts occurred in recent months. The officer has been released on a promise to appear in court, when the charge will be formally laid. He has been placed on paid administrative leave while the investigation continues. But a source said its the same officer who was one of two who pulled a vehicle over during a traffic stop on Aug. 8, 2014. He was a recruit at the time. Tina Fontaine, 15, was inside the vehicle, but the officers did not take her into custody, even though she had been reported missing a week before. Fontaines body was pulled from the Red River, wrapped in a bag, eight days later. The officer was suspended without pay on March 25, 2015, and an internal police investigation into the officers actions was sent to Crown attorneys at Manitoba Justice. No charges were ever laid. The source said the officer is now accused of stealing items from his fellow officers and placing them for sale on Kijiji. The source said the items for sale even included a new light which is attached to officers guns. The source said some of the items allegedly stolen were found after a search warrant was executed earlier this week at a home outside the city. A Winnipeg police spokesman said the service had no comment as the officer has not been formally charged, so he cant be named. George VanMakelberge, vice-president of the Winnipeg Police Association, said they know little about the allegations. What happens is we will wait for the investigation to be done, VanMakelberge said. We dont have the facts, yet. But VanMakelberge said that just because the officer is a member of the police association doesnt mean he will automatically be backed and get a lawyer funded by the union. Winnipeg Free Press Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/02/2016 (2428 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Only a brief eight years after first promising it, U.S. President Barack Obama has finally delivered a plan to Congress calling for the closure of the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. In 2009, the newly elected Obama ordered the prison closed. While the number of detainees there has been reduced significantly, from 800 at its height to roughly 90 today, the prison remains open. Some argue Guantanamo is an anti-American recruiting tool in the Middle East. This argument seems tenuous at best, as if anti-American sentiments were only roused by the presence of the prison. The roots of Middle Eastern discontent are much deeper than Gitmo holding 90 terrorists. Recall that Guantanamo was opened for prisoners after 9/11. As such, to suggest the prison is a rallying point for radical Islamists is a tad disingenuous as history shows us the hatred said radicals already had for those of us in the West. Terrorism against the West has existed since the late 1960s, and certainly ramped up against the U.S. in the mid-1980s with the attacks in Beirut. Hence, Gitmos prison facility was a response to terrorism and not vice-versa. Heres a good question since the U.S. appears to be continuing operations in Afghanistan, (even in a somewhat limited capacity), as well as in Syria and Libya, what does the president intend to do in regards to prisoners? What is his strategy in regards to capturing terrorists? Does Obama plan to simply kill foreign fighters on the battlefield? It seems unlikely that such a policy would be enacted. If terrorists cannot be repatriated to the U.S., and the president cannot build American prisons on foreign soil, then what is the solution? Am I missing something? Guantanamo became a symbol of American imperialism, as well as a substantive problem it was not considered U.S. soil in a strictly legal sense, and so foreign fighters were not accorded complete American legal protections. The prisoners, considered enemy combatants, are tried through military commissions, and so do not receive the same legal guarantees they would in the U.S. In fact, communications between defence lawyers and their clients have been proven to be covertly recorded a strictly verboten practice in the U.S. At the same time, Congress forbade Obama from using government funds to transfer detainees from Gitmo if he intended to lodge the current detainees in U.S. prisons. Obama actually signed the law that enacted this policy. In other words, Obama is between a rock and a hard place. He can ship the detainees back to their original countries, but then faces the risk of them being released. Thusly, the Americans lose control. He cannot keep Guantanamo open indefinitely as he promised to close it so many years ago. The bases prison cost to taxpayers was $445 million in 2015 a prohibitive expense. Congress wont allow him under existing laws to bring the prisoners into the U.S. penal system, and so we truly are witnessing a case of immovable object versus irresistible force. In real terms, what does Obama do with a terrorist like Khalid Sheikh Muhammed? The mastermind behind 9/11 has been in Gitmo for more than nine years. There is no further information that can be gleaned from him, regardless of the torture employed. Much information from KSM was obtained under torture, so this would be unable to be used during a criminal trial. Obama, for all of his constitutional law background, has been ineffective in his approach to both Gitmo and the prisoners there. He promised to close the base, but couldnt make it so. He tried to bring several of the prisoners to New York for a civilian trial, only to subsequently reverse himself and order military tribunals. This truly is a legal purgatory. The Guantanamo situation has been a sideways venture of confusion and incompetence at the very highest levels of the U.S. government, including the president himself. His powerlessness is incomprehensible to me, and underscores the cheapness of his promises back in 2008. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/02/2016 (2428 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The laws that currently exist in this country are in force and in effect, and its important that those laws continue to be obeyed, upheld and enforced. <*R> Liberal MP Bill Blair on Canadas marijuana laws Earlier this week, Torontos former police chief who is now the federal Liberal point man on marijuana laws in this country signalled that his government was considering amnesty for hundreds of thousands of Canadians who have been given criminal records for pot possession. However, as the National Post reported, he sent a mixed message that there would be no halt to criminal prosecutions for pot possession until marijuana is on the same legal footing as alcohol and tobacco. Keep in mind that his leader, Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, promised to legalize weed during his governments four-year mandate. Blairs comments, then, reflect a government that is looking to fulfil that promise, while not looking like it is soft on crime possession of marijuana remains a criminal act, after all. But that this government is consideration of amnesty for pot possessors harkens back to an editorial we published on this page some years ago, when former prime minister Stephen Harper was handing out pardons for western Canadian farmers convicted of selling grain into the United States in the 1990s. Just to refresh your memory, Alberta rancher Jim Chatenay drove across the U.S. border in 1996 to donate a bag of wheat to a 4-H club in Montana. Chatenay knowingly tried to get around the law of the day, which stated that producers had to sell their wheat and barley through the Canadian Wheat Board or get export permits from the agency. As per wheat board regulations, Chatenay was told to pay a $4,000 fine or face 64 days in jail for his actions. He would eventually serve 23 days behind bars in 2002. In 2012, Harper said the producers who made these kinds of symbolic rebellions were responsible for first raising the monopoly issue in the minds of Canadians. For these courageous farmers, their convictions will no longer tarnish their good names it is to them that much of this victory is owed, Harper said. At the time, we suggested that Mr. Harper was setting a dangerous precedent. Would Canada be honour-bound to pardon Canadians convicted of possession those other courageous fellow citizens on the grounds that the law had changed? The convicted farmers, like convicted marijuana users, broke the laws that we as a civilized society put in place and were rightly charged, we wrote. In our opinion, it looks bad for a Conservative government that has taken a hard line on law and order to pardon people simply because they share an ideological stance. We happen to agree with Mr. Blair the laws that are in place should be upheld and strictly enforced, until such time that they are repealed or altered. The fact that this government has dedicated itself to decriminalizing and better regulating marijuana something that we agree should happen does not change the fact that the laws are still active. Nevertheless, there are about 1.1 million Canadians who have marijuana-related criminal records dating back to 1965. And as the Post reported, in 2014 alone, 22,000 people were charged with marijuana-related crimes something Blair called shocking. With amnesty already under consideration by this government, can pardons for pot-related crimes be far away? As we have already suggested, the precedent has been set. The funeral of a young boy who died in a tragic drowning incident in Kildare during the week is taking place this morning. On Monday, 13-year-old Oisin Quigley entered the Lyreen River beside the Kilcock Road in Maynooth to attempt to rescue one of his friends before getting into difficulty himself. Update 11.51am: DUBLIN MID WEST: Based on a 100% tally, Sinn Fein's Eoin O Broin and Fine Gael's Frances Fitzgerald will be easily elected on the first count. Their projected (but still unofficial) first preference votes are 9,480 and 8,963 respectively, with a quota of 8,550. Fianna Fail's John Curran is expected to be in third place after the first count with 6,754 votes, followed by AAA-PBP's Gino Kenny 4,505, who is widely expected to see off any transfers challenge from Social Democrats Anne Marie McNally (2,580) or Labour's Joanna Tuffy (2,047). The expected first preference poll - due to be officially announced in the next hour - means the four-seat constituency will change from an even split between Fine Gael and Labour to one each of Sinn Fein, Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and AAA-PBP, with two TDs (Tuffy and Fine Gael's Derek Keating) at real risk of losing their seats and Labour's Robert Dowds not putting his name forward due to retirement. Meanwhile in Dublin West, the full tally shows there will be a dog fight between Labour, AAA-PBP and Sinn Fein. Tanaiste Joan Burton is now facing the possibility of losing her seat as the final tally put her neck-and-neck with Ruth Coppinger and Paul Donnelly. All three candidates are between 14.9% and 15.4% Leo Varadkar is on 19.5%. However he is now not expected to be elected on the first count and so it may be close to 4pm before the first of the four seats is filled. Earlier: The early tallies in the general election campaign are showing Fine Gael and Labour getting a hammering from the electorate. It confirms the indications from two exit polls showing just around a third of people voted for the outgoing coalition. Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein, Independents and smaller parties have seen significant increases in support. A potential coalition between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael is at the centre of a lot of speculation this morning. That is despite it being ruled out by Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin repeatedly in recent weeks. General Secretary Sean Dorgan has said there is no change at the moment, with the outcome still unknown: I mean the position of Fianna Fail has been during the campaign, has been up to yesterday and remains today the position as outlined by Micheal Martin, as outlined by our front bench, as outlined by all of our spokespeople during the campaign. Now, we are in the early stages of the count, we have had no first count yet. We are dealing with tallies, generally the tallies are usually accurate enough but it is early days, we have got to see what the outcome is going to be. These early tallies do carry a health warning as they often don't give a full geographic spread in constituencies. But already some big names could be in trouble. Among them the Deputy leader of Fine Gael, James Reilly in Dublin Fingal where he has secured just 7% of votes in the 18% of boxes tallied. In Dun Laoghaire the return of Fianna Fail's Mary Hanafin is looking less likely with the tallies so far showing Fine Gael doing better in that constituency than they have done nationally. In Dublin Bay South the Renua leader Lucinda Creighton has a real battle on her hands. In Cork Junior Health Minister Kathleen Lynch is now tipped to lose her seat. Half of boxes in Dublin West - home of Tanaiste and Labour leader Joan Burton have now been tallied and she has performed better than many expected. Update 9.13pm: "Clearly the option of a majority government is gone," Taoiseach Enda Kenny has told RTE News. "Clearly, the option of a Fine Gael-Labour government is gone." Enda Kenny has said democracy is "merciless when it kicks in", rules out Fine Gael/Labour governmenthttps://t.co/wMF8PmiZTp RTE News (@rtenews) February 27, 2016 Earlier: Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said he had "divided thoughts" on a potential Fine Gael-Fianna Fail coalition. All indications are that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael will struggle to secure support of 50% of the electorate for the first time in history. "They are natural partners, they are Siamese twins who have been divided for some time - they should get into bed together," said Deputy Adams. "That's my positive attitude. "My negative attitude to it is, this would be a most conservative regime if they do come together. "It would be another broken election promise as they were both elected not to go into government with each other." In a remarkable comeback after its near wipeout at the last election, Fianna Fail could almost double its seats. Party leader Micheal Martin was dismissing the idea today, however. "We have made it clear we do not want to go into government with Fine Gael or with Sinn Fein," he said. "The idea that it is just down to two parties, I think, is ignoring the reality of how people voted." Fianna Fail front bencher Michael McGrath said there is an onus on everyone elected to reflect on their own and their party's position "to bring about a stable government", however. Uncertainty looms over whether a government can be formed at all once the two million-odd ballots are counted. Kenny on post election options.... no return of FG / Labour #GE16 pic.twitter.com/RzgtB2q9IU Pat McGrath (@patmcgrath) February 27, 2016 Power could be handed to civil servants for at least weeks as negotiations to form a stable pact are hammered out and a second election remains a possibility. Once a clear picture emerges from the weekend counting of votes, the parties will have until March 10 - when the Dail is scheduled to resume - to forge a power-sharing deal. Questions will hang over whether Taoiseach Enda Kenny can remain on as leader of Fine Gael. His party has been shattered after falling from its record election result in 2011. Enda Kenny defends his handling of #GE16 campaign as he arrives to a chaotic crush in Castlebar @sundaybusiness pic.twitter.com/2RowaHq2bE Fearghal O'Connor (@Fearghaloc) February 27, 2016 But the once-dominant party in Irish politics will remain a long way from its heyday majority, which tumbled with the economic crash it presided over nearly a decade ago. Sinn Fein will be the third largest party. Under Gerry Adams, who topped the poll in Louth, the party looks set to continue its march south of the border with an expected increase in its vote and its Dail presence by around 50%. Mr Adams hailed his own party's showing as he arrived in the Louth count centre in Dundalk. He embraced his running mate Imelda Munster, who is set to be elected with him - becoming the first woman TD elected in Louth. Mr Adams said if a "progressive" government did not take power on this occasion, it was "only a matter of time" before it happened in the future. "One thing is for certain, this change is going to continue," he said. Mr Adams said he had told party faithful to keep on "election footing" in case there was another poll. Update 10.58pm: An exit poll conducted by Ipsos MRBI on behalf of the Irish Times newspaper could cause concern for Fine Gael and Labour tonight. As polls across the country close, the survey sees Fine Gael support slump by 10 percentage points compared to the last General Election. It also points to a collapse in support for Labour - down to 7.8% compared to 19.5% in 2011. Difficult Coalition negotiations in Ireland ahead if this exit poll holds in terms of seats won tomorrow #GE16 pic.twitter.com/egXCL0KDQZ William Bain (@William_Bain) February 26, 2016 Update 10.36pm: Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams thanked supporters as the polls closed this evening. "I would like to thank all the Sinn Fein candidates and their families, our canvassers and supporters who gave so generously of their time," he said. "In particular I would like to thank the citizens who have come out to invest their votes and their hopes in Sinn Fein." He added: "I believe this election will see an increase in support for Sinn Fein and for progressive politics." Ballot boxes already arriving at the count centre, estimated turnout of 65% in Mayo #GE16 pic.twitter.com/eeFYBdqI1y RTEmayo (@RTEmayo) February 26, 2016 Update 10pm: Voting has ended in General Election 2016. Polling stations, which were open since 7am this morning, closed at 10pm tonight. Various reports have indicated a reasonably high turnout across some areas of the country, although it remains to be seen what effect inclement weather in Cork, Kerry and Waterford has had on voter numbers in those counties. Just out of my polling station in Douglas in Cork South Central. Asked at two desks, turnout was 70% at one, 66% at the other #GE16 Joe Leogue (@JoeLeogue) February 26, 2016 Counting will begin from 9am tomorrow morning. Waterford City turnout in some boxes now 65% Damien Tiernan (@damienwlr) February 26, 2016 Typically, the traditional peak periods around tea-time and at around 9pm. At 8pm, turnout across Dublin was ranging from 68% in Ballinteer (Dublin Rathdown) to 43% in Lucan (Dublin Mid West) RTE News (@rtenews) February 26, 2016 At 8pm, turnout in Kerry ranged from 50% at one Tralee polling station to 65% at Cahirciveen and one of the Killarney polling stations RTE News (@rtenews) February 26, 2016 Update 8.51pm: RTE News is reporting that turnout of nearly 60% in parts of Sligo. St. Aidan's (Whitehall) was 41% at 5 pm, with a 53% turnout for Albert College at that point. #ge16 Roisin Shortall (@RoisinShortall) February 26, 2016 Update 8.25pm: Turnout in Kildare North is at 43%, with Kildare South at 45%. Sergeant Jason Clery & Lieutenant Joanne Kelly cast their #GE16 votes on the Blue Line @UN_Lebanon #UseYourVote pic.twitter.com/EDPIYvRR43 Oglaigh na hEireann (@defenceforces) February 26, 2016 Almost 3.3 million voters are eligible to cast their ballot in the General Election. Casting my vote in #ge16 today. All the best to @pb4p and #AAAPBP candidates. Still time to cast YOUR Vote! #dunl pic.twitter.com/Mf6GxhFUGw Richard Boyd Barrett (@RBoydBarrett) February 26, 2016 Update: 6.50pm: RTE are reporting that the highest turnout so far today has been in the Taoiseach's constituency of Co. Mayo, where Louisburgh in the west of the county has had more than 65% of voters out by 5pm. People are being told to bring photo ID and remember that ballot box selfies are banned. Quick Proportional Representation primer for election addicts starved of info following 2pm #GE16 broadcast embargo https://t.co/sSbuvuNPEQ Conor Keane (@ConorKeane) February 25, 2016 Update: 6.10pm: Rain-sodden parts of Co Cork saw a much slower stream of voters at polling stations during the day. Cork North West turnout is at 32.5%, Cork South West is at 35.1% and Cork East is at 27.5%. Total turnout for the whole of county Cork is 31%. LIMERICK: In Foynes voter levels are at around 46% per cent .Booths are recording turnout close to 40% in Adare. Turnout is also averaging 40% in Patrickswell. Kilcornan is at around 37%. The Newcastle West booths are at around 40 per cent. The turnout in Croagh is pushing 40%. The two booths in Pallaskenry are between 45% and 48%. Moving on to Glin, where the percentage turnout is at 40 percent. Templeglantine is nearing 30%. While it's the same for Knock-na-sna. I've voted No. 1 for @RuthCoppingerTD Make sure you vote. Build a real Left movement against austerity #dubw #GE16 pic.twitter.com/U1bsY9YCpt Joe Higgins (@JoeHigginsSP) February 26, 2016 Athea is on 31%, Rathkeale has around 35% turnout and Abbeyfeale is reporting turnout of around 42%. In Ballyguiltenane it stands at 38%, While there is a 40% turnout being recorded in Askeaton. Looking at the state of play in the city, Knockea is at 43%, but there's a lower figure of 33% in Murroe. Caherconlish and Killinure are lower again at 29% and 27% respectively, while in Lisnagry it's between 30-35%. We need real change, not spare change. I voted AAA today in #dubw. Please vote this evening & get others to #GE16 pic.twitter.com/gy9VbNtfQO Ruth Coppinger (@RuthCoppingerSP) February 26, 2016 Ahane is close to that at 34% with Shannon Banks on 35%. The six booths in the polling station at Scoil Ide in Corbally are at 40%, but Watch House Cross is slightly higher at 43%. Parteen is nearly at 37%, much more than the 28% level being recorded at the Gael Scoil polling station in Castletroy. Castleconnell is 38%, Monaleen is 39% and Milford is 27%. Update: 6.10pm: WATERFORD: More than half of all those registered have cast their vote at one polling booth at St Saviours School in Ballybeg. It is averaging at 48% there. It is above 40% at St Paul's in Waterford City, Ballygunner, Abbeyside in Dungarvan and Ballyduff Lower. The figure a short time ago was 37% in Passage East while it was approaching a third in Dunmore East. Update: 5.45pm: In Clare, the highest reported turnout in the county so far is 42% in Doolin NS, Mullagh on 40%, while 37% have cast their ballot in Kilmurry, 34% in Miltown Malbay and 31% in Kilmaley. Just met 3 very enthusiastic @sinnfeinireland voters in a Monaghan garage !! Great craic !! #JoinTheRising pic.twitter.com/qynNITNXOc Martin McGuinness (@M_McGuinness_SF) February 26, 2016 Kildare North: 29%/KIldare South: 32% Update: 5.25pm: In Cork City they are registering a turnout of between 30% and 35%, while parts of Longford have recorded only a 5% turnout. Update: 4.45pm: LIMERICK: In Foynes voter levels are at nearly 30%, while it is also pushing 30% in Adare, Patrickswell and Kilcornan. Voter turnout in Dublin City as of 3pm Dublin- North West 22% Bay North 30% Dublin Central -27% Bay South 22% South Central 31%#GE16 Zara King (@ZaraKing) February 26, 2016 Elsewhere in the County Newcastle West and Croagh, and it's almost up at 25% in Pallaskenry. Glin is also recording levels at 25%, although one of the booths there is at 31%. And turnout levels of 20% are being recorded in both Athea and Rathkeale. Turning to the city and polling stations in Shannon Banks, Watch House Cross and Parteen are recording turnouts close to 30%. Around 20% of the electorate have cast their vote in Monaleen, Milford and Corbally. Staying with the city, but moving towards the East of the county, where stations in Killinure, Lisnagry, Knockea, Murroe, Bilboa, Caherconlish, Castletroy and Ahane are close to the 20% mark. Update: 4.15pm: Fianna Fail leader Mr Martin, who cast his ballot along with his family at St Anthony's Boys National School in Cork, refused to forecast the outcome. "I am not going to make any predictions but I am hopeful that we will get a good result - it's up to the people now to decide but it was quite clear to us even yesterday on the campaign trail that there are quite a number of people who still have to make their mind up," he said. We're voting for an Ireland for all - make your voice heard in #GE16 pic.twitter.com/MKjXfGUUZY Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) February 26, 2016 "In fact, it was quite striking how many people still hadn't made their minds up. Update: 3.50pm: Turnout in Kildare North is reported to be at 25.4% so far, while Kildare South has seen a 29% turnout. Mary Catherine Conroy cast her vote on her wedding day in An Cheathru Rua, Co Galway #GE16https://t.co/HGlNd55O9e RTE News (@rtenews) February 26, 2016 Arriving to vote at Dublin's St Joseph's Deaf Boys School, Tanaiste and Labour leader Joan Burton said she was buoyed by the spring-like day for polling, and was hoping it would also be a sunny day for her at the count. "I was out saying hello to people at Coolmine railway station this morning, and I have to say it was the nicest early morning canvass I've done in the whole campaign," she said. "So that is a good omen. I'm feeling upbeat and optimistic." In Louth, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said he was not taking the election for granted as he arrived at the Dulary National School polling station in Ravensdale. "We stand on our record and we call upon people to come out," he said. "There's no point not voting - if you don't vote it's a sure vote for the establishment parties." Update: 3.30pm: President Higgins and his wife Sabina were among 238 voters who live in Phoenix Park and who were registered to cast their ballots at St Mary's Hospital. Arriving at the polling station desk at around 9am, the head of state waited in line before being asked for his address by the election clerk. "Aras ... Phoenix Park," he answered. He then insisted to the clerk that his official address, Aras an Uachtarain, is in the Dublin 7 area. "It is very often described as Dublin 8 but it isn't. I'm trying to get it straightened out," he joked. Update: 3.15pm: Taoiseach Enda Kenny, turning up to cast his ballot at St Anthony's Special School in his native Castlebar, repeated his insistence that he would not go into coalition with Fianna Fail. "People are going to vote today, let's see the decision they make," he said. "I have already ruled Fianna Fail out." The Fine Gael leader was sporting a green tie, while Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin in Cork was wearing a blue tie - each donning the party colour of their rival. Asked if there was any significance in the sartorial choice, the Taoiseach responded: "Well, he didn't contact me about that. This one is for Ireland." He added: "It really is an important day for Ireland - the decision is being made today by the people, who rule after all, will determine the future direction of the country for the next five years." Update: 2.30pm: In Waterford, returning officers have reported a turnout of 20% at a number of polling stations including St Paul's in Waterford City and Abbeyside in Dungarvan while it is now above 23% in Portlaw and Ballygunner. Hearing turnout in Louisburgh, Mayo was 55% at 14:30 - concerted effort being made to get every eligible voter to the polls in 1916 tribute Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) February 26, 2016 Turnout in Kildare North stands at 20% so far, while Kildare South has seen 16% turnout. "I'll vote for you if you vote for me." Danny and Michael Healy Rae this morning. #GE16 pic.twitter.com/k7tKEPJkib Martyn Rosney (@rosney) February 26, 2016 Disability campaigners are criticising a nationwide failure to make all polling centres accessible. Martin Naughton of the Disability Federation of Ireland says it will be more difficult for some than others. Mr Naughten said: "Somehow or other, if you are a person with a disablility, you have to do research on whether your polling booth is accessible or not. "If not you have to make arrangements." Earlier: Voting in the General Election is expected to be brisk this lunchtime. 552 candidates are vying to fill 158 seats in the country's 32nd Dail. Early turnout figures have been revealed, although it is still early with plenty of time for people to cast their vote later in the day. So far the figures show, Enniscorthy 15%, Gorey 15%, Wexford 14% and New Ross 13%. Turnout in the Offaly constituency - 11% figures so far in Kilcormac, Pollagh, Banagher, Edenderry and Tullamore. 9% turnout has been recorded so far in Kinnitty and Crinkill, while it's at 10% in Borrisokane in the Tipperary area of the new constituency. Our Deputy Leader @alankellylabour has just voted with his family in Portroe in Tipperary. #ge16 pic.twitter.com/ZhxR1JJIES The Labour Party (@labour) February 26, 2016 In Longford-Westmeath, turnout is at 11% in the Mullingar district and 9.5% in the Athlone district. In Longford, turnout in the north of the county averages 6% and is between 5-10% in the south. Meanwhile, in the Laois constituency, turnout is at 8% in Portlaoise and Mountmellick. The highest turnout recorded in the constituency so far is at St Peter's Boys National School in Monasterevin at 12%. Turnout in Cork North and South Central constituencies was running at between 7% and 10% up to midday. Cork North West was up to 13.2%, Cork South West 15% and Cork East 12.8%. The total for the county stands at 13.4%. In Dublin the guards have been called because some candidates are reported to have broken canvassing rules. No posters are allowed within 50 metres of polling centres on vote day. Dublin's Returning Officer is James Barry: I emailed on the Candidates on February 16, I emailed them again last weekend reminding them of the rules under the 19192 electoral act. Brisk turnout so far in DNW. Hopefully the start of something great for @SocDems #ge16 pic.twitter.com/qk54aVm6ES Roisin Shortall (@RoisinShortall) February 26, 2016 And this morning they are still there and it is an absolute disgrace. We have reported them to An Garda Siochana, they have been very pro-active on it. Tallyman Joe Mc Carthy is reminding people to fill their ballot out right to the end. If you dont give the final preferences, it could be that your vote arrives to somebody who you didnt want at all, and if you want that person to not have a vote, you must fill in the blanks, he said. Incidentally, you most vote in sequential order you cant go 1, 2, 3 and then 7. Head over to our Update 11.30pm:Counts are coming in across the country, with 60 TDs returned so far out of 158 available seats in the 32nd Dail. Out-going Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe has retained his seat in Dublin Central. Update 10.37pm: Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (FF), Michael Collins (Independent) and Jim Daly (FG) have been elected in the three-seater Cork South West constituency. Update 10.25pm: Independent TD Clare Daly has been elected after the fourth count in Dublin Fingal. Update 9.40pm:Labour party leader Joan Burton, the Socialist Party's Ruth Coppinger and Fianna Fail's Jack Chambers have been elected in Dublin West. Ruth Coppinger speaking having taken the 2nd seat #dwest pic.twitter.com/zS5C3CLjBv Newstalk Elections (@ElectionNT) February 27, 2016 Update 8.25pm: Fianna Fail's Charlie McConalogue has been elected after the first count in Donegal. Update 8pm: Former Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has lost his seat for Fine Gael in Dublin-Rathdown. Alan Shatter thanks his family for their support. pic.twitter.com/Xpmd7WNygu RTEdublinRathdown (@RTEdubrathdown) February 27, 2016 Josepha Madigan (Fine Gael) and Catherine Martin (Green Party) have been elected. Update 7.54pm: Ciaran Cannon of Fine Gael has been declared elected in the seventh count of Galway East. Update 7.48pm: Independent TD Michael Lowry has been elected in the first count in Tipperary, topping the poll with 13,064 votes. Michael Lowry embraces his supporters at Tipperary count centre #GE16 pic.twitter.com/h021Xc4i6G Mark O'Regan (@OReganMark) February 27, 2016 Im very privileged and very humbled and honoured to have topped the poll, he said earlier. I did, actually, what Kilkenny couldnt do Ive done five in a row. So its a great day for my organisation Im very grateful that the public in Tipperary had had a love for me over 28 years now. Update 7.44pm: Sinn Fein Deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald has been elected in the sixth count in Dublin Central. Update 7.33pm: Richard Boyd Barrett has been elected in Dun Laoghaire. Fine Gael's Martin Heydon has been elected on the fourth count in Kildare South. Celebrations as Martin Heydon is the first to be deemed elected in Kildare South. #kes #ge16 pic.twitter.com/6fQ0A2dB2f Newstalk Elections (@ElectionNT) February 27, 2016 Update 7.32pm: Health Minister Leo Varadkar has been elected on the third count in Dublin West. Update 7.32pm: Sinn Fein's Peadar Toibin has been elected in the second count of the Meath West constituency. Peadar Toibin and supporters at Trim count centre. pic.twitter.com/g8NsVReyTZ RTEmeathWEST (@RTEmeathWEST) February 27, 2016 Update 7.18pm: Independent TD Denis Naughten has topped the poll in Roscommon-Galway, and is elected on the first count. Update 7.11pm: Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan (Fine Gael) and Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley have filled the final two seats in in Laois. Update 7.04pm: Independent Sean Canney and Fianna Fail's Anne Rabbitte have been elected after the fifth count in Galway East. Update 6.49pm: Social Democrats co-leader Stephen Donnelly has been elected, topping the poll in Wicklow. Willie O'Dea celebrates after being elected on first count for #lkcy. #GE16 pic.twitter.com/xhyyvwZgXe Newstalk Elections (@ElectionNT) February 27, 2016 Update 6.49pm: Darragh O'Brien of Fianna Fail has been elected in the Dublin Fingal constituency. Update 6.35pm: Deputy Thomas Byrne of Fianna Fail has been elected in Meath East. Update 6.14pm: Fianna Fail veteran Willie O'Dea has been elected in Limerick City. Update 6.10pm: Fianna Fail's Billy Kelleher has been elected, topping the poll in Cork North Central. Billy Kelleher FF is elected on the first count to Cork North Central. #cnc #GE16 pic.twitter.com/JBa8KSCHwB Alan Healy (@AlanHealy) February 27, 2016 Update 6.08pm: Catherine Murphy (Social Democrats) has been elected on the first count in Kildare North. Update 5.55pm: Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and party colleague Michael McGrath have been elected in the first count in Cork South Central. McGrath topped the poll with 11,795 votes while Martin gathered 11,346. Michael McGrath and Micheal Martin elected on the first count in Cork South Central. #corksc #GE16 pic.twitter.com/vqIGye8re0 Alan Healy (@AlanHealy) February 27, 2016 Update 5.53pm: Roisin Shortall of the Social Democrats has been elected on first count in Dublin North West, exceeding the quota by more than 1,000 votes. Roisin Shortall tops the poll and is elected in #DubNW #ge16 surplus of 1,287 https://t.co/PWu8wIVtlY Jack Horgan-Jones (@JackHoJo) February 27, 2016 Update 5.36pm: Fianna Fail TD Niall Collins has been elected in Limerick County with 12,276 votes. Niall Collins (FF) celebrates after being elected on Count 1 for #lkco #GE16 pic.twitter.com/QMGie2x5KG Newstalk Elections (@ElectionNT) February 27, 2016 Update 5.22pm: Mary Butler of Fianna Fail has been elected on the first count in Waterford. Mary Butler FF elected in Waterford on 10,603 votes. Quota 10,341. pic.twitter.com/HJgNfdjo35 Niamh Nolan (@NolanNiamh) February 27, 2016 Update 5.15pm: The first count in Meath West sees Shane Cassells of Fianna Fail taking the first seat. #GE16 Fianna Fail's Shane Cassells is elected in Meath West on the first count pic.twitter.com/LyalJBsFSZ LMFM RADIO (@LMFMRADIO) February 27, 2016 Update 5.10pm: Fianna Fail's Barry Cowen has been elected on the first count in Offaly. Brother Brian looks on as Barry Cowen is elected on first count in Offaly #GE16 pic.twitter.com/DKdb1uUvK2 RTEOffaly (@RTEoffaly) February 27, 2016 Independent Alliance TD Shane Ross was elected on the second count in Dublin Rathdown, joining Sean Barrett in Dun Laoghaire who was automatically returned as Ceann Comhairle. "We would be the catalyst for change in Ireland and in Irish politics and we would be the people who insist upon it," he told RTE Radio. Hot on his heels two TDs were elected to Dublin Mid-West including the outgoing Justice Minister, Fine Gael's Frances Fitzgerald. Frances Fitzgerald refuses to answer questions about possible leadership heave pic.twitter.com/NXk5Ceu7Bg Kevin Purcell (@KevinPurcell_) February 27, 2016 The second seat in the constituency was taken by Sinn Fein's Eoin O'Broin, one of the party's young bloods and a newcomer to the Dail. Fianna Fail's Sean Fleming was elected in Laois. Galway East was the first constituency to declare a first count but no-one was elected. It did confirm that Colm Keaveney who defected from Labour to Fianna Fail in the last Dail is likely to lose his seat. Several Government ministers including Labour's Alex White, Kathleen Lynch, Ged Nash and Kevin Humphreys are not looking forward to a nail-biting weekend, with counting expected to take days under Ireland's complex voting system. Fine Gael ministers Pascal Donohoe and James Reilly are also uncomfortable. In a remarkable comeback after its near wipeout at the last election, the senior Opposition party Fianna Fail could almost double its seats. But the once dominant party in Irish politics will remain a long way from its heyday majority, which tumbled with the economic crash it presided over nearly a decade ago. Sinn Fein looks set to continue its march south of the border with an expected increase in its representation in the Dublin parliament, the Dail, by around 50%. Mounting disillusionment with mainstream parties has also opened an unprecedented fracture in the Irish electorate, with smaller parties and Independents set to reap the rewards. Uncertainty looms over whether a government can be formed at all once the two million-odd ballots are counted. One of the few possibilities for stable government, it appears, would be sworn enemies Fine Gael and Fianna Fail setting aside their more than 80-year-old feud dating back to the civil war. The pair, both centre-right, have swapped power since the foundation of the state. Such a "grand coalition" would also break new ground in potentially handing the Dail a definitive left-right split for the first time in history. Power could be handed to civil servants for at least weeks as negotiations to form a stable pact are hammered out and a second election remains a possibility. Dublin West Candidates in the Dublin West constituency have begun making their way to the count centre with the results of the first count due shortly. Out-going Health Minister Leo Varadkar was greeted by cheers and claps as he arrived at the count centre shortly after 3.30pm. However, he said he would not be commenting until after the first count is announced. Tallies have him topping the poll on 20%, however, he is not expected to be elected until the second count. Fianna Fails Jack Chambers arrived to the centre shortly after Mr Varadkar and tallies have put him in second place. At 25 he would be one of the youngest if not the youngest member of the Dail if elected. I think Fianna Fail are back, he said as he arrived at the centre shortly before 4pm. This government wanted a coronation from the start, they had no vision, no energy they just wanted to be re-elected without putting any positive platform forward. Micheal Martin led this campaign from the start and I think the people have had their say and Fianna Fail are coming back having learned from their mistakes they have a long term vision for this country, he said. Tanaiste Joan Burton is likely to be fighting it out with AAA-PBP Ruth Coppinger and Sinn Feins Paul Donnelly for the final seat. Ms Burton has yet to arrive at the centre. Mr Donnelly denied the party would have done better without the leadership of Gerry Adams. Arriving into the count centre this afternoon he said: "At the end of the day Gerry Adams I think topped the poll, and Imelda Munster is going to come in very close behind him, if that's a disastrous leadership I don't know what is." Mr Donnelly is likely to be battling for the final seat in the constituency along with Labour leader Joan Burton and AAA-PBP candidate Ruth Coppinger. "We are definitely in the mix, we are still looking and we will be looking at David McGuinness' transfers, he is from the Mulhuddart area of the constituency which I think would favour Sinn Fein over Joan Burton, so it's all to play for, it's 1% it's a couple of hundred votes," he said. Mr Donnelly said there is now a "50/50 chance" of another election within the next six months. Additional Reporting by Elaine Loughlin Fiachra O Cionnaith, Political Reporter Fine Gael Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has refused to say if Taoiseach Enda Kenny is facing a leadership challenge after what seems likely to be a disastrous election result. The senior cabinet member, who has long been rumoured as a potential future leader of her party, declined three times to rule out the prospect after she was elected on the first count in her own area. Speaking at the Dublin Mid West count in the City West Hotel, Ms Fitzgerald admitted today has been a bad day for the Fine Gael party. Frances Fitzgerald refuses to answer questions about possible leadership heave pic.twitter.com/NXk5Ceu7Bg Kevin Purcell (@KevinPurcell_) February 27, 2016 However, during a short media doorstep directly after her election, she failed three times to specifically rule out any leadership contest against Mr Kenny - who is facing the growing prospect of an internal heave against him by one of a number of Fine Gael factions. Asked if it is now inevitable Mr Kenny will face a leadership contest regardless of whether his party remains in office, Ms Fitzgerald told the Irish Examiner: "Today I'm concentrating on the results coming in, there's many colleagues around the country who've worked extremely hard over the last five years and many of them are still waiting for their results. "Right now we're waiting to see what the constituencies are, that's the focus. "There's going to be a lot of time [afterwards] for analysis and reflection." Asked again if a leadership contest is on the horizon, she said: "The Taoiseach has done an extraordinary job for this country, he's rescued this country. "We've sent the IMF and the Troika away and we're now in a position where we have the resources to invest in the kind of services the public want to see." As she moved through the crowd of reporters, Ms Fitzgerald was asked if she is interested in making a bid for replacing Mr Kenny and leading the party herself. However, she said: "I've nothing further to add." The Justice Minister has long been rumoured to be one of three legitimate potential party rivals to Mr Kenny, with Health Minister Leo Varadkar and Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney - both of whom were part of a failed heave in 2010 - also rumoured to have long-held ambitions to take over. While all three have never publicly said they want to replace Mr Kenny, it is widely expected that one or all may make a bid for power if the party's election is as bad as currently predicted. By Juno McEnroe, Political Correspondent Renua Ireland leader Lucinda Creighton has said that she is unsure about keeping her seat but that her party has a "big contribution" to make into the future. Ms Creighton said: I hope that I make it today, its anybodys guess to be honest, it will probably be tomorrow before we have a final result. She said she was very proud of the campaign that Renua had run but that it had been a tough one. Arriving to a wall of media at the RDS, as well as some booing, said she was glad she had run with a party instead of going it alone as an Independent. Disappointed to hear Lucinda Creighton booed at count centre. She had the courage to run and deserves same respect as rest of field. #GE16 Oliver Callan (@olivercallan) February 27, 2016 The outgoing Dublin Bay South TD also said she did not know what to say about the future of her party, which she set up after leaving Fine Gael over its stance on abortion. Fingers crossed that I will hold my seat, but if I dont Im very philosophical about these things. She said it would have been an easy route to run as an independent in Dublin Bay South and instead her party had offered people a new positive platform for change. She also said she was proud of the fact the party had exceeded a threshold of 2% nationally. Ms Creighton said the party would build on the results it had got in the election, which was a first step. Its the first of many electoral contests I hope. Ms Creighton also said there was a duty on other parties now to form a Government. However, she said she did not know the detail of what was going on in counts around the country. The current tallies see Ms Creighton trailing on the outside for the fourth seat in the constituency. Earlier, her own campaign team privately admitted to the Irish Examiner that the former minister would not hold onto her seat. Fine Gael have made great efforts to try and get two seats in Dublin Bay South, with incumbent Eoghan Murphy attempting to return to the Dail with running mate Kate OConnell. Current tally predictions put the two of them in the lead, followed by Fianna Fails Jim OCallaghan, the Greens Eamon Ryan and Labours Kevin Humphreys. Arriving at the RDS, Mr Murphy admitted that the Fine Gael campaign had not gone according to plan nationally. The former banking inquiry member said it remained to be seen what coalition or government options his party would consider. Ms OConnell said there had been a battle between herself and Ms Creighton the ground in the affluent Dublin constituency of Dublin Bay South, which she had "enjoyed". She said she knew what it was like for someone to lose their seat, as her father had previously when in politics. With Irish politics taking a seismic shift and the two government parties likely to fill less than half the seats in the Dail, here is how the impact of that played out: :: Paul Murphy of the Anti Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit was out early predicting the drama: "I think we have seen a political earthquake - the end of the two and half party system." :: Mark Mortell, Fine Gael strategist and a confidante of Taoiseach Enda Kenny, said: "What you've got here is an extraordinary situation. It is a massive fracturing of the political system." :: MEP Luke Ming Flanagan, a former open neck shirt wearing TD, predicted the changes would keep coming: "Whatever about today for Sinn Fein, something very big in the future is going to happen." :: Martin McGuinness, the party's Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister, dismissed criticism of Gerry Adams' leadership: "Some of the people who criticise Gerry Adams in my opinion couldn't lace his boots as a politician." :: Michael Healy Rae, the Independent from Kerry who looks like he carved up the Kingdom with brother Danny, had this message: "Some of the smart alecs up above in Dublin who might've been picking on me, they'll have to pick through him first now." :: Social Democrat Roisin Shortall went toe-to-toe with her old Labour colleague Pat Rabbitte: "I don't think that hammering people on low incomes whether that's children or pensioners is doing the right thing." :: Richard Boyd Barrett, of the People Before Profit-Anti-Austerity Alliance, described the dramatic political change as the "end of civil war politics". :: Former Labour leader and retiring TD Eamon Gilmore offered the explanation on his party's implosion: "I think it started in 2011 when Fine Gael and Labour formed a government and had a very difficult job to do." :: Social Democrat Stephen Donnelly, a poll topper in Wicklow, spotted one of the elephants in the room: "Is it just me, or is FF now talking about sharing power with FG? But they promised, unequivocally, that they wouldn't. They. Promised." The first counts in the general election are coming in this afternoon. As more declarations are made throughout the day, they will confirm voters have rejected the re-election of the coaliton. There are major gains in the offing for Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and Independents after exit polls suggested less than a third of people had backed the Government parties. Galway East became the first constituency in the country to declare a first count - but no-one has been elected. Check out: Read More: GE16 live blog: The count It does show that Fianna Fail's Colm Keaveney who defected from Labour in the last Dail is in trouble. A number of other first counts are expected shortly. But the tallies have told us some major named in Fine Gael and Labour are in trouble. The Labour seats of Alex White in Dublin Rathdown, Joanna Tuffy in Dublin Mid West and Joe Costello in Dublin Central are gone, as is Willie Penrose's in longford Westmeath, but Tanaiste and leader Joan Burton looks safe in Dublin West. Fine Gael will suffer too - Deputy leader James Reilly has a mountain to climb in Dublin Fingal in a fight for the final seat, Aine Collins looks set to lose her one in Cork North West, and it looks like Jimmy Deenihan could lose in Kerry. It's Fianna Fail's day - the party's making gains up and down the country - Micheal Martin and Michael McGrath storming ahead in Cork South Central, they could take three of the five seats in Carlow Kilkenny BUT Fine Gael looks set to prevent the return of former Minister Mary Hanafin in Dun Laoghaire. Sinn Fein's making gains - Gerry Adams running mate Imelda Munster will take a seat in Louth, they could see the first TD for the party in over 90 years in Limerick City, but trouble's also brewing for Padraig McLochlainn in Donegal. While Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams looks like topping the poll in Louth, Deputy leader MaryLou McDonald is also on course for an easy win in Dublin Central. The final leaders' debate had put Mr Adams' political past in the spotlight leading to fears the party may not poll as well as predicted. Dublin West Sinn Fein candidate Paul Donnelly denied the party would have done better without the leadership of Gerry Adams. Arriving into the count centre in Phibblestown this afternoon he said: "At the end of the day Gerry Adams I think topped the poll, and Imelda Munster is going to come in very close behind him. "If that's a disastrous leadership I don't know what is." Mr Donnelly is likely to be battling for the final seat in the constituency along with Labour leader Joan Burton and AAA-PBP candidate Ruth Coppinger. "We are definitely in the mix, we are still looking and we will be looking at David McGuinness' transfers, he is from the Mulhuddart area of the constituency which I think would favour Sinn Fein over Joan Burton, so it's all to play for, it's 1% it's a couple of hundred votes," he said. Mr Donnelly said there is now a "50/50 chance" of another election within the next six months. Sinn Fein Cork North Central candidate Jonathan O'Brien agreed Adams' leadership didn't put off voters: Those issues dont come up on the doors. There is a media fixation in relation to Gerrys leadership. The reality is in this constituency we have increased our vote by 6%. Nationally we have increased our vote by the same amount. So every election we stand we are going up. More and more people are coming to us so I dont think Gerry is an issue for the party. It's also a big day for the Independents and smaller parties - with many making gains across the country - Roscommon Galway for example will see Denis Naughten and Michael Fitzmaurice elected, and the Healy Rae brothers look set to take two of the five seats in Kerry. Michael is looking to return to his role as an Independent TD, while his councillor brother Danny also decided to run this time around. The pair were among 16 candidates in the newly-formed constituency. Danny's paid tribute to their supporters this afternoon: The people of Kerry are a very intelligent people. And sometimes we have been criticised for kind of politics we do, but when you criticise the Healy Raes you criticise a lot of people in Kerry as well indeed all of them. Meanwhile Shane Ross missed out on the first count, but he will take a seat for the Independent Alliance in Dublin Rathdown. He has currently got nearly a quarter of the vote in the new constituency. Louis Oosthuizen will defend a three-shot lead going into the final day of the ISPS HANDA Perth International, but it could have been even better for the South African. Oosthuizen, following up his 64 on day two, was flying on seven under after 15 holes and for a short while boasted a five-shot lead over the chasing pack. However, back-to-back bogeys on the 16th and 17th - the first shots Oosthuizen had dropped since the second hole on day one - left the former Open champion having to sign for a five-under-par 67. That still left him on 15 under for the tournament though, and boasting a three-shot lead over nearest challengers Romain Wattel and Peter Uihlein, who had contrasting third rounds. Frenchman Wattel went out in just 31 during a blemish-free round of 65 while American Uihlein - the joint leader heading into the weekend - finished with a 71 after carding six birdies, two bogeys and a treble-bogey six on the 12th. Oosthuizen said of his round: "All in all, there was just two mistakes I made and I played lovely the rest of the round. "I lost a bit of concentration on 16. I was a bit worrying too much on where the pin position was. "That probably went over to 17, not doing what I do on the tee shot, working out where the best spot is and just miscued it a little bit and left myself with an awkward little pitch shot. "So those things happen. As long as it's not happening when you're tied with the lead three holes to go, but luckily there's still a lot of holes left." He added of his lead: "It's a good spot to be in, so looking forward to tomorrow. Going to need to play quite well, because obviously there's a lot of birdies out there, and everyone will be firing." Jason Scrivener is fourth on 11 under and his fellow Australian Brett Rumford is a shot further back in fifth. Rumford sat alongside Uihlein on 11 under overnight but he dropped back to 10 under after an eventful 73 on Saturday. Scot David Drysdale leads the British challenge on eight under after a 69, with England's Andrew Johnston on seven under. David Cameron has warned voters in Northern Ireland of the potential economic impact of Brexit as he continues a tour of the UK setting out the case for staying in the European Union. The PM said the country's economy and farming industry were too closely linked to the EU to risk the "leap in the dark" of voting to quit the 28-nation bloc. Northern Ireland's political parties are split on the issue, with the Democratic Unionists backing "leave" and Sinn Fein, the SDLP and the cross-community Alliance Party in favour of "remain". A declaration is expected next week from the Ulster Unionists. Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers is one of five cabinet ministers who have broken ranks to campaign for the UK to end ties with Brussels. Speaking ahead of the latest leg of his tour, Mr Cameron said: "I'm clear that the people of Northern Ireland, and the whole UK, are better off in a reformed European Union. "More than 60% of Northern Ireland's exports go to the EU, and around 40% of its investment comes from the EU. Putting that at risk is a leap in the dark." "It's vital that the voices of Northern Ireland's farmers are heard in this debate. "They want security and certainty. I've never argued the EU is perfect, but I believe a reformed Europe gives them access to a huge single market and an income that helps them keep food prices low for families. "Those who want the UK to leave the EU need to give answers on their alternatives." Treasury figures put the number of jobs in Northern Ireland linked to EU trade at 50,000 in Northern Ireland, with exports up over 50% in real terms since 1998. Mr Cameron toured the Bushmills distillery in Co Antrim, where he was shown how barrels are sealed. A car bomb has exploded on the edge of a government-held central town, in Syria, killing two and wounding several others, just hours after a ceasefire brokered by Russia and the US began, the country's state news agency said. No-one claimed responsibility for Saturday's blast at the eastern entrance of the town of Salamiyeh, but the Islamic State group has carried out several bombings in Syria in recent weeks. There are reports that the first sexually transmitted case of the Zika virus has been recorded in France. It is reported that the woman fell ill after her partner returned from Brazil. The Syrian ceasefire was reportedly broken just 15 minutes after coming into effect last night. News agency AP, has said the town of Talbiseh, in Homs, was shelled by government artillery at 10.15pm - but fighting died out soon after. At least 10 civilians were killed when a suicide bomber on a motorbike targeted a local tribal leader near a park in eastern Kunar province, an Afghan official has said. Tribal leader Khan Jan was among those killed, according to General Abdul Habib Sayedkhaili, provincial police chief in Kunar. Pakistans goods exports may have only risen 2.6 percent year-on-year in 1QFY23, but there is enough in it to... LONDON: Liz Truss came to 10 Downing Street vowing to be a disruptor. She U-turned on almost everything else, but... TEHRAN: Iran has once again rejected allegations that it has supplied Russia with weapons "to be used in the war in... NEW DELHI: A panel of Indias top court said on Thursday it was divided on a decision to allow hijabs in classrooms,... A man who allegedly assaulted his wife, who lives with multiple sclerosis, in an extended "rampage" told a magistrate the incident had been "blown out of all proportion". The man was arrested after he allegedly left his wife with bruises, smashed a plate and destroyed some of her possessions in the couple's northside home on Friday. The defendant was allegedly affected by alcohol when he assaulted his wife. His comment to Magistrate Bernadette Boss on Saturday drew an immediate rebuke, with the magistrate describing domestic violence as "insidious" and often unreported. A prosecutor told the court the wife said that during the incident the man had threatened to "top" her, and she believed he was going to kill her. An alleged act of domestic violence has taken so much from them. But one year on from Tara Costigan's death her family are standing strong, determined to be a force in ending this gravely serious problem. Tara Costigan's family and friends will commemorate the first anniversary of her alleged murder on Sunday. Credit:Elesa Kurtz It began as a nightmare and while Michael Costigan has made the career shift to chief executive of a foundation set up in his niece's name, he said there were days it didn't seem real. "It has been forever confronting, no question," he said. Significantly, Port chose to limit their rotations in the second half and tired badly, but they were still held scoreless in the third term and were out-bustled when the intensity was still high. The Demons are confident he won't miss the premiership season opener against GWS Giants at the MCG, but there may be concern with some racier hearts amongst the fans with amost encouraging 19-point win. Okay, it was a practice match, and they hardly need more false hope, but there was something about them not seen in these practice sessions for some time. Adelaide Just one tap and three seconds into the NAB Challenge game against Port Adelaide at Elizabeth Oval young Melbourne midfielder Angus Brayshaw was tackled fairly and suffered a left knee medial ligament injury. Matthew Broadbent of the Power tackles Demon Cameron Pederson. Credit:Getty Images Like so often, the Demons lacked clean hands early, but they persisted and picked up their skills level. They were competitive throughout, their freshened game plan was functional, they refused to be intimidated, and generally showed enough to suggest they are a better side than last year. Again, it's early, but this performance was topped up nicely by some of the imports. Clayton Oliver, the No.4 draft pick, was terrific midfield and can make a big impact this season, while recruits Ben Kennedy (Collingwood) and Thomas Bugg (GWS) also did well. The depth is looking better. Both sides had key absentees so these games are difficult to provide qualitative studies, but the fact the Demons were willing to 'take the game on' as the cliche books say, was heartening. They dared to break tackles, and while not always successful their intent was evident. They worked well as a team and stood up to the tough contests. Max Gawn used his solid 208cm frame to advantage and was brilliant at the ruck contests, an obvious sign that he's ready to carry on his good work from mid-last season. Jack Viney was outstanding, as was Jeff Garlett, and a critique of the Demons would not be complete without scrutinising Jack Watts. His performance wasn't out of the ordinary, which some demand, but it was solid; his quality team play and leadership was valuable. He seems more at ease, as if he's enjoying his footy. The independent audit into the Shane Warne Foundation has been delayed amid concerns about a potential conflict of interest involving the auditor. Consumer Affairs Victoria announced on Friday it had granted the troubled charity a 12-day extension to hand over the report, which was due on Monday. Shane Warne's former charity foundation is under investigation by Consumer Affairs Victoria. Credit:Darrian Traynor The independent audit was ordered after the consumer watchdog flagged concerns about the foundation's expenses and level of donations made to beneficiaries such as the Starlight Foundation. A second Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar in Canberra has allegedly underpaid its staff, with a driver claiming he was dismissed after asking to be paid his award entitlement. The claim of ongoing cash payments from the Kingston store, which has left drivers about $9 an hour out of pocket pre-tax, has again led a union to call for a head office review of all franchisees and contract arrangements. Simon Cole has claimed he was underpaid nearly $9 an hour by the Kingston Crust franchise. Credit:Matthew Raggatt Mr Cole, 34, lodged an application with the Fair Work Commission this month seeking compensation for the underpayments which would be worth thousands of dollars pre-tax and wrongful dismissal. The student said he worked an average 20 to 25 hours a week, or four to five shifts, since November under new franchisee company SAI Hospitality, but said even the signing of a contract on January 16 that referred to the relevant award did not end the "off the books" base cash payments of $15 an hour. Major pizza franchise Crust prides itself on gourmet toppings but the back-office operations in a Canberra store have again been accused of skimping on wages. This time it is at the Kingston outlet. Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar is under scrutiny. Credit:Nadine Shaw Photography Five months ago staff at the Gungahlin Crust Pizza store won backpay after complaints about their working conditions were aired by Fairfax Media. But the company's apparent problem of underpayment is not isolated to the national capital. Endorsing Donald Trump to be the next president of the United States, Sarah Palin declared: "His power, his passion is the fabric of America, and it's woven by work ethic and dreams and drive and faith in the Almighty. What a combination!" As a wit I know from Hobart remarked this week, "How dare the Pope bring religion into American politics!" The Pope is the only person to have laid a glove on Trump in this presidential campaign. Maybe he's the only one who can. Some 22 per cent of Americans are Catholic although many, being Latino, are not expected to vote for Trump given his view on Mexican refugees and the wall he's going to make Mexico build to keep its citizens in. The Pope said building walls, as distinct from building bridges, was un-Christian. Trump said it was "disgusting" for the Pope to question his faith. I think it's entirely legitimate if faith is part of the marketing package being used to drive an individual to power. Trump claims to be Presbyterian. MSNBC reported on a meeting Trump had with "religious activists" before the Iowa primary. "Have you ever asked God for forgiveness?" Trump was asked. He replied, "I'm not sure I have. I just go on and try to do a better job from there ... I think if I do something wrong, I think, I just try and make it right. I don't bring God into that picture." One Republican present said Trump failed "to articulate any coherent relationship with God or demonstrate the role that faith plays in his life". At the core of this study is the argument that there has been a shift in attitude from both Muslims and non-Muslims towards Muslim women. More traditionally, and this is consistent with the 19th-century orientalist attitude, Muslim women have been seen as victims in need of rescuing from oppression, lately evidenced in calls for the banning of the burqa. More recently, and especially since September 11, Muslim women have been increasingly portrayed as a threat to Western ways and the gains of feminism. It's a paradox and Muslim women are caught in the middle. This measured study takes the reader, among other places, to Afghanistan, where Hussein met women of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA), to Pakistan, America, and here, where she attended a Reclaim Australia rally. Remembering Anita Cobby Mark Morri Ebury Press, $34.99 This is the second of recent publications about the horrendous murder of Anita Cobby in February 1986. It shocked the nation then and still does. This study concentrates on the effect the murder had on her husband, John the author having known him for many years. Morri recounts the case, the investigation and the trial, while also focusing John Cobby's tale. We learn how the two met, fell in love, married and, after travelling Europe together, agreed to separate, it seems, temporarily. John Cobby was driving to his sister's (to meet his wife) when he heard the news report that changed his life. He was questioned by police as a prime suspect, even confessed, under intense interrogation, to something he never did the murders were caught not long after. His life spiralled into a nightmare of drugs and anguish, the effects of the murder forever with him. It is 25 years since Garry Wotherspoon published City of the Plain, a history of Sydney's gay subculture. It was a work that signalled the beginning of a new, serious attention to the existence and importance of gay life in Australia. Now it has been reissued in a revised and updated edition, with the much more transparent title, Gay Sydney. It has been a remarkable history and if anyone needs reminding of that, this is the book to do it. It offers some stories from the 19th and early 20th centuries (gay bushrangers, homosexual share-houses that sort of thing) but really begins with the visible emergence of a homosexual subculture in the 1920s. Or rather, a camp one "camp" being the preferred term of self-description for homosexual men and women until about 1972, when "gay" arrived from America. Sylvia and the Synthetics, photographed in the 1970s by William Yang. Credit:William Yang From Lord Beauchamp, the state governor, to Black Ada, the restaurateur; from legal, clerical and medical homophobia to King's Cross drag parties, pre-war Sydney had it all. Drawing on police records, tabloid newspapers, novels and films, Wotherspoon brings a hitherto lost world to light. After the 1970s, homosexuals became very much more visible, and very much more demanding. Being left alone was no longer enough suddenly laws and attitudes had to change, and we were going to make that happen. Political organisations like the Campaign Against Moral Persecution (the acronym CAMP was no accident) and Gay Liberation are here; as are the protests, the sex clubs, the newspapers and magazines, the dancing, the drugs (obliquely). Members of Australia's reconnaisance and assessment team prepare to disembark a RAAF C-17A Globemaster aircraft at the Nausori International Airport in Fiji. In short, the military will be called on more often to respond to instability or natural disasters. Michael Thomas, a retired army major who has been advocating Australia join the US and other allies in paying greater heed to global warming, sees a shift in urgency compared with the Rudd government's 2009 version. Soldiers from 8th/9th RAR, and engineers from 2nd CER, clear the train line that runs through Grantham, Queensland, after flooding in 2011. Credit:Petty Officer Damian Pawlenko "Whereas the 2009 defence white paper stated the likely strategic consequences of climate change would not be felt until after 2030, this [paper] notes that climate change will be one of the key drivers that will shape the strategic environment 'to 2035'," Thomas says. "This implies that climate change is not a far-off threat for tomorrow's generals. It is here to be dealt with today." Sailors on the flight deck of the HMAS Canberra during the Royal Australian Navy exercises off Jervis Bay last November. Credit:Kate Geraghty Climate change is not a far-off threat for tomorrow's generals. It is here to be dealt with today Michael Thomas, retired Australian Army major Bipartisan view The Gillard government's white paper in 2013 also identified the climate as a national security threat but this year's version is notable because it brings a bipartisan consensus for the first time. "[I]t would probably not have happened under [former PM Tony] Abbott's leadership," Thomas says. "So credit [is] due to Malcolm Turnbull." That view of a political shift under Turnbull is also shared from afar. David Titley, a retired rear admiral of the US Navy who combines his scientific training as an oceanographer with his military rank to nudge the Pentagon to take climate change seriously, visited Australia's Defence Force Academy last October and detected the altered posture first-hand. "The thing that struck me was ... how much under the previous leadership, the defence bureaucracy had been intimidated into 'do not touch this issue'," Titley says. "You could see with the new PM, at least you could have that discussion." As with the Pentagon's Quadrennial Defense Review "the 100,000-foot" overview of the US military's threats and capabilities having climate change identified in the defence white paper as a challenge "is a very good step in the right direction", he says. It gives policymakers or defence planners being grilled by politicians or their chiefs some cover, allowing them to point back to the paper when asked why Australia is spending more time or resources on the issue. Titley should know. He has testified before both sides of the polarised US political divide, including the mostly climate change-denying Republican leadership such as hard-right Texan presidential hopeful Senator Ted Cruz. Extreme extremes Titley sees parallels between the views of some Australian conservatives and those of the Texas Republicans, who typically dismiss the recent spate of record drought, heat and massive floods as merely a natural consequence of their highly variable climate. "Their view is" 'The rest of the country says it's extreme, we say it's Texas'," Mr Titley says. "At some point, though, everyone has a breaking point but we're not sure where it is." Australia's recent equivalents were probably the extreme heat prior and during Victoria's 2009 Black Saturday bushfires or the Queensland floods in 2011. Record national heat in 2013 was also backed up by a very hot 2014 and a record hot final three months to end 2015. Odd weather activity abounds even if the underlying climate signal may be hard to gauge. Australia this summer has had its second latest start to a tropical cyclone season in the past half century of reliable records, producing a relatively dry wet season across the north, while the south of the country faces a long and active fire season well into autumn. Sydney will post a February with just one day with a below average maximum temperature on current forecasts the previous record low was five. The streak of 23 days above 26 degrees has eclipsed the previous record of 19 such days, and may run at least another week. Extreme weather events are among the climate challenges for Australia's military not just because of the extra demand anticipated for their services but also since many bases are exposed to impacts. Creeping change But even the creeping background warming can't be ignored if it alters the ability of the military to train or operate. Extra heat affects troops' health while ill-planned live-fire exercises can have huge consequences witness the State Mine fire during the searing spring of 2013 that started at an army range, destroying about 50,000 hectares and threatening Blue Mountains towns. Thomas says rising sea-levels are another encroaching risk the military has rightly identified, given naval facilities in particular typically hug the coast. What he finds hard to square with the military's increased concern about the matter is why another arm of the government the CSIRO is preparing to axe its world-renowned sea-level research team. Speculation that Malcolm Turnbull will call an early election has sparked jockeying among senators fearful they will have their parliamentary terms cut short in a Hunger Games-style battle. Talk of a possible July 2 election has heightened over recent days following Mr Turnbull's announcement last week he would proceed with Senate voting reforms. Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2. All 76 senators are up for re-election if a double dissolution is called, unlike at a normal election where only half the senators face a vote. After a double dissolution election which has not been held since 1987 all senators are placed in either "first class" or "second class" as if they are airline passengers. Tony Abbott has launched a spirited defence of his short-lived prime ministership, arguing he could have won this year's election and that he regards his unpopular 2014 budget as a "badge of honour". Mr Abbott has penned a lengthy essay for the upcoming edition of conservative journal Quadrant in which he defends his economic performance, saying he was stymied by a "hysterical opposition", "populist Senate crossbench", "poisonous media" and disloyal colleagues. It is the most detailed defence of his government since he was deposed by Malcolm Turnbull last September. Mr Turnbull seized the prime ministership by claiming the Abbott government had not effectively communicated an economic narrative an argument Mr Abbott disputes in the essay, an extract of which was published in The Australian. "Whenever you know people are encouraging you, you always feel good. Mum and dad always call before the show, my grandparents always call me." Jesinta Campbell has hit back at claims she was snubbed by Kylie Jenner at NYFW. From left: Hannah Davis, Campbell, Zoe Kravitz, Jenner and Jordyn Woods. Credit:Nicholas Hunt Campbell, a former Miss Universe and currently on the cover of the last ever Cleo magazine, first appeared on the catwalk for David Jones at its 2015 spring/summer launch in a skimpy bikini, a debut performance that broke the internet. "Spring/summer was something that I had to keep secret for a long time and I was training so hard," she said. Jesinta Campbell, right, was given the honour of going retro for the magazine's final issue. Credit:Cleo/Instagram "I love being on the catwalk, it's so exhilarating," she said. "As soon as I put on the incredible clothes I feel like a different person." Over the past 18 months, Campbell said her personal style has evolved considerably, including on a recent trip to New York Fashion Week. "I get inspired by the everyday people on the street. You can sit at a coffee shop and walk up alleyways and see people styled with their jeans with cool boots or a really great scarf," she said. "It's the same in New York you can watch people for hours and hours and see their interpretations of fashion." Campbell, who shares a home with Franklin in Sydney, said she packs for Melbourne like she packs for New York. "Melbourne is quite close to New York in the fashion sense. Everyone has a real awareness of it. I always dress a little differently when I come to Melbourne. I like that the weather is unpredictable you have to experiment with your style a little more." Campbell, who sat front row at Vera Wang in New York, said Australian fashion weeks definitely hold their own against their overseas counterparts. "New York is a well-oiled machine. As soon as the show is done they are all at the next show. Australian fashion weeks have come a long way and Australian designers are doing amazing things. I feel like we are on par. We are doing our own thing but keeping up with international trends. People [in New York] are talking about Camilla and Marc, Ellery, Zimmermann people are definitely aware of what's going on down under." The Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival runs from March 7-13. For program details and tickets, visit vamff.com.au. BEST OF THE FEST: MOMENTS THAT MADE THE FASHION FESTIVAL 1998-99: Supermodels Christy Turlington and Claudia Schiffer bring some major international star power to the festival, walking in ready-to-wear shows. Christy Turlington, in Melbourne for the Melbourne Fashion Festival. Credit:Jim Lee 2003: Kylie Minogue launches her Love Kylie lingerie label and takes a turn on the catwalk at the Myer parade. Kylie Minogue launches her range during the opening fashion show at Myer. Credit:Simon Schluter 2005: Josh Goot wins the $10,000 National Designer Award, with his relaxed, jersey suiting becoming a staple of his early collections. Josh Goot shot to fame after winning the 2005 National Designer Award. Credit:Jesse Marlow 2007: Stella McCartney and Target launch their collaborative collection, which causes pandemonium at stores when it goes on sale the day after its premiere at the festival. This year's festival will feature a collaboration between Target and Jean Paul Gaultier. Crowds flocked to Target stores to snap up the collaboration with Stella McCartney, in 2007. Credit:Andrew De La Rue 2010: Dion Lee wins the National Designer Award, becomes a household name among the fashion set, and this year will star in the festival's Grand Showcase. Dion Lee, former winner of the National Designer Award, will star in the Grand Showcase at the Melbourne Fashion Festival. Credit:Marco Del Grande MDG About 30 per cent of all health and medical research is funded by the private sector and federal government is encouraging more collaboration between academia and business, though such arrangements are typically closely regulated by ethics committees. Last year the University of Sydney was forced to defend its decision to establish a chair of integrative medicine sponsored by Blackmores. He points to several examples in which studies that found slight or mixed benefits of complementary medicine were hailed by NICM as proof of efficacy. These included a study by the NICM director Alan Bensoussan that compared Chinese traditional medicine treatment plans for irritable bowel syndrome and was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. My beef with [NICM director] Alan [Bensoussan] is he never criticises complementary medicine which deserves criticism and I suppose that's one of the problems with getting into bed with industry you don't want to bite the hand that feeds you. Professor Ken Harvey The abstract emphasised that patients in the active treatment group had a significant improvement over patients taking the placebo, but a critique of the study in the British Medical Journal found this was an "optimistic interpretation" of its findings. While the Chinese medicine was superior to the placebo in several respects, there was no difference when it came to the main measure the "bowel symptom score". Professor Bensoussan said his was a rigorous study that was highly cited and its findings were "accurate and not misleading". "The results showed statistically and clinically significant improvement in irritable bowel syndrome in both standardised and individualised Chinese medicine treatment groups by end of the 16 weeks intervention when compared to a placebo," Professor Bensoussan said. The NICM was established in 2007, four years after the Pan Pharmaceuticals scandal prompted the largest recall of medicines in Australian history and an expert committee called for more government-funded research into complementary medicines. It pulls about $1 million annually from external sources, which is matched dollar-for-dollar by Western Sydney University. External revenue is usually split equally between competitive funding, donors and industry, which pays the institute to perform analytical testing on raw materials or finished products through its commercial laboratory. Fairfax Media has seen internal email correspondence that shows the laboratory knowingly performed tests on products that did not meet their label claims, which bothered staff because such therapies continued to be sold to the public. But Professor Bensoussan said it was not the role of the laboratory to bring these concerns to the attention of the Therapeutic Goods Administration, only to to notify the client, whose responsibility it was to rectify the problem or pull the product from sale. "It is the TGA that is responsible for monitoring breaches of label claims not NICM," Professor Bensoussan said. "However, if NICM's testing results demonstrated that a product contained high risk or dangerous contents (contrary to label claims), it would immediately notify the TGA." Monash University public health professor Ken Harvey said NICM was forced to rely on industry funding because, like all university departments, it did not get enough government funding to perform independent research. "My beef with Alan is he never criticises complementary medicine which deserves criticism and I suppose that's one of the problems with getting into bed with industry you don't want to bite the hand that feeds you," Professor Harvey said. "He has become a kind of apologist for the industry." Professor Bensoussan said he was saddened by that claim. Blackmores and Catalent have commissioned contract research services and provided untied sponsorship to NICM, while SFI Flordis has provided sponsorship only. Complementary Medicines Australia stated in its 2012-13 annual report that it was focused on building a relationship with NICM, "in particular to support product claims". Similarly, email correspondence indicates that Homart Pharmaceuticals commissioned NICM to conduct research where the goal was to prove an Australian herbal product was superior to the Chinese one. But Professor Bensoussan said NICM did not conduct research for sponsors in the manner described by Homart, but was often asked to conduct preliminary research for efficacy, and it published all its results both positive and negative. "It's critical for our credibility," Professor Bensoussan said. Martin Dolan, chief commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, said that with three quarters of the search completed he remained optimistic the aircraft with 239 people on board, including six Australians, would be found. Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared on March 8, 2014 during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. So far the only piece of wreckage recovered has been a flaperon that washed ashore on France's Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean in July 2015. The man leading the search for missing plane MH370, speaking ahead of the second anniversary of its disappearance next week, says there is an area only half the size of Tasmania left to search. The anniversary closes the door on new legal action against the airline. "We are still confident that we will find the aircraft between now and the completion of searching the search area of 120,000 square kilometres," he said. "The more we search, the more likely the aircraft is to be in the area we are still looking at. John and Kaylene Mann lost relatives on both Malaysia Airlines flights MH17 and MH370. Credit:Glenn Hunt "The only level of uncertainty is the behaviour of the aircraft at the very end of its flight. The weight of the evidence indicates that there were no control inputs to the aircraft at the end of its flight and that's the basis on which we have calculated the search area. "Occasionally I will lie awake at night thinking about whether we have got everything right. Normally at some point I will say to myself there's not much I can do about this at 3am in the morning. "We are not at the stage where we are throwing in the towel by any means. But governments have put a limit on the search they are willing for us to undertake." A statement by the Roads Minister Duncan Gay that cocaine stays in a person's system "for about six minutes to an hour, making it difficult to detect", has been ridiculed by the NSW Greens. Mr Gay made the statement to Parliament to defend the NSW government's decision not to test for cocaine in roadside drug testing, which instead targets cannabis, ice and ecstasy. Nationals MP and Roads Minister Duncan Gay. Credit:Rob Homer "The idea that cocaine use in Australia is incredibly rare is ludicrous; the idea it disappears from people's systems in six minutes is just plain strange," said Greens MP David Shoebridge. "This is just another example of the evidence-free nature of the war on drugs that is misdirecting public policy and wasting scare public resources." Mr Shoebridge told Parliament that studies showed cocaine is first detectable in saliva five to 10 minutes after consumption, and can still be detected up to 24 hours after use. The website of Drug and Alcohol Solutions Australia, which provides employment screening, says oral fluid testing detects cocaine up to 24 hours later. But Mr Gay on Saturday told Fairfax Media: "My comments reflected advice given to me by the Centre for Road Safety. Quite frankly, I'd rather trust information from the Centre for Road Safety than a member of a political party which wants to get rid of drug sniffer dogs." The Greens argue that the Draeger roadside drug testing machines used by NSW Police are able to detect cocaine, but police choose not to test for it. Mr Shoebridge said this was partly because cocaine was more likely to be used by people on higher incomes. Charif Kazal, the Sydney businessman found to be corrupt by the ICAC over his business dealings in the Rocks has met with Premier Mike Baird to discuss his case being re-examined by the inspector of the corruption watchdog. Mr Kazal met with Mr Baird last week to discuss his claims that the ICAC had suppressed exculpatory evidence that he believes would have changed the outcome of the ICAC investigation. Charif Kazal with his wife Agnes. Mr Kazal wants an inquiry into actions of ICAC. Credit:Anthony Johnson A spokesman for the Premier said: "Mr Baird met with Mr Kazal in his electorate office in his capacity as MP for Manly. A member of Mr Baird's electorate office staff will write to the Inspector of the ICAC, informing him that the meeting took place." In 2011, the commission found Mr Kazal had sought to improperly influence a government bureaucrat to advance the family's business interests in The Rocks. Mr Kazal went to the Supreme Court to get the finding overturned. He argued because there was insufficient admissible evidence to warrant criminal charges, the ICAC had gone beyond its powers. But Justice Ian Harrison found the ICAC acted within its power. Neglected, rejected and homeless: for a group of Vietnam War veterans it feels like 1975 all over again. With the lease on their clubhouse having expired, the men of the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club have discovered they are seen by prospective landlords as a motorbike gang rather than a group of weekend warriors. Rex Marshall and other members of the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club face losing their clubhouse in Menai. Credit:Fiona Morris Vietnam veterans faced widespread hostility when they returned home. Many were shunned and in return shunned society. To help the healing process they formed a veterans' motorcycle club. The Sydney Chapter, serving members from the Central Coast to the south coast, has based itself at Menai for the past 14 years and has 70 members, including vets from the Afghanistan conflict. Despite its strict opposition to pill testing at festivals, Fairfax Media can also reveal that the NSW government has sought a secret briefing on how such a concept might occur, receiving a detailed,18-page research dossier. President of the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation, Alex Wodak, has joined forces with emergency medical specialist David Caldicott in announcing a privately funded drug testing "trial" will commence with or without the blessing of a government that has repeatedly blocked the proposal in favour of a hard line, law enforcement strategy. The Australian drug expert who pioneered the nation's first legal injecting centre has put himself on a collision course with the Baird government and NSW Police by vowing to break the law and roll out pill testing at Sydney's forthcoming music festivals. "We are going to do this," said Dr Wodak. "Doctors, analysts who know how to operate the [testing] machines and peer interviewers who can translate the scientific results and explain to people why the drug they bought is talcum powder or highly toxic. The idea is to save lives. I am prepared to break the law to save young people's lives." Controversial proposal: Dr Alex Wodak. Credit:Stefan Postles Dr Caldicott said: "It's very straight forward. We want to run a trial at a place where everyone is using drugs anyway. "It's time for our politicians and elected representatives to catch up with what the majority of parents want for their children, which is for them to return home safe." The founder of drug law reform agency Unharm, Will Tregoning, confirmed his discussion paper was forwarded "by request" to the NSW Premier's Department, on February 17. "It looks at why we should do drug testing, how services operate internationally, the evidence of the effects of those services and it explains the legal context of the operation of a service in NSW. It essentially outlines that without any legislative change we could introduce a pilot service right now." Boystown isn't just for boys any more. That's the motive behind a name change after five decades and not an attempt to run from a murky past, according to the national charity's CEO. The Brisbane-based organisation becomes Yourtown on Sunday, almost 25 years on from when it launched the Kids Helpline and 55 years since its inception. Yourtown chief executive Tracy Adams. Credit:Michelle Smith In that time it went from a boys' home in Beaudesert set up in 1961 and since haunted by allegations of sexual abuse, to the prize-home-selling behemoth of today. It runs a domestic violence refuge in Brisbane, a homeless refuge in Sydney, training programs for thousands of young people, employs more than 650 people and receives tens of millions in donations every year. A bottle shop attendant south of Brisbane has been hospitalised after a terrifying assault left him with a broken leg. Police said the 26-year-old man was punched several times before his attacker stole two bottles of alcohol from the shelf of a Logan drive-through bottle shop on Chambers Flat Road. A man wanted over an attack on a bottle shop worker in Logan was wearing wearing a white long-sleeved shirt with ???Modern Legend??? written on the back, black shorts, white shoes and a black bandana. Credit:QPS Media They said the man, who was yet to be identified, walked into the drive-through about 10.15pm on Saturday before going behind the counter and assaulting the worker. The Queenslander Tavern staffer was taken to hospital for treatment on a broken leg and a suspected broken nose. Have you ever dreamt about the excitement that comes with coming across a message in a bottle that has made its journey half way around the world? Well, for a trio of Far North Queensland police officers this dream came true when a bottle caught their eye when exploring their picturesque police division some 960kms north of Cairns. Messages in a bottle found on a far north Queensland beach. Sergeant Suzie McDonald made the discovery while she and Acting Senior Constable Talina O'Brien and Senior Constable Nicole Barnes were spending their day off en route to Ussher Point, which unexpectedly turned into a tale for the ages. "We do a lot of walking on the beaches up here, it's just such a beautiful area but there is a lot of rubbish that washes up on the beaches here," Sergeant McDonald said. Mernda residents are calling on the Andrews government to commit to a third new railway station in the area, amid concerns that the extension of the line from South Morang could include sections of elevated "sky rail". A site near Marymede Catholic College has been chosen as the location of a secondary station between South Morang and the planned Mernda Station, off Bridge Inn Road. The site was picked over a station near Hawkstowe Parade because of the greater availability of space for car parking combined with a strong community preference to be able to drive to the new station. Concept plans revealed during a community consultation session on Saturday also showed elevated and underground opinions were being considered for rail crossings at Hawkstowe Parade in South Morang and Bridge Inn Road in Mernda. What do Australian Idol contestants and underworld figures have in common? They both can be brought undone with one bum note. A flood of counterfeit money is washing through the economy, with fake bills turning up regularly in shops, pubs, clubs and restaurants around the country. But there is no such thing as a coincidence if you happen to be Mick Gatto. A 15-year-old who attempted suicide after being terrorised at school for two years and beaten with a skateboard says he was bullied for being gay and told to "kill yourself, faggot". Nathan Whitmore claims his school failed to protect him and he is planning legal action against the Victorian Education Department, arguing that his pleas for help were ignored for two years. The 15-year-old has also gathered 3500 signatures on a Change.org petition calling on the state Education Minister James Merlino to ensure long-term counselling is funded for victims of school bullying. Nathan's mother has spent $4000 on psychological support for her son, who spent several days in hospital after repeated attempts to take his own life. A masked intruder who woke and sexually assaulted a teenage girl in her own bed in an "horrific crime" was caught on film wandering around the house before the attack. Police on Saturday will release CCTV footage of the man who on Friday morning entered a Roxburgh Park home in Melbourne's northern suburbs. Investigators believe a man entered a house via a kitchen window about 7.30am on Friday. He walked through the house wearing a balaclava and went into a room where a teenage girl was sleeping. In a terrifying encounter, the girl woke to find the man kneeling beside her bed. The man got into her bed and sexually assaulted her. After the assault, the man locked himself and the teenager in a bathroom, then escaped via the window. He did not make contact with anyone else in the house and no items were stolen. The girl then told her parents and police were contacted immediately. Sexual Crimes Squad detectives have released a facial composite image of a man wanted for questioning, along with the CCTV footage. Kabul: A Taliban suicide bomber blew himself up near the Afghan defence ministry in Kabul on Saturday, causing heavy casualties just hours after an attack in the eastern province of Kunar killed 13 people and put prospects for new peace talks in doubt. The attack in Kabul, which occurred as defence ministry workers were leaving their offices, killed as many as 12 people and wounded eight, according to a ministry statement, although Kabul police said nine people had been killed and 13 wounded. Witnesses at the scene, where a large plume of smoke spiralled into the sky, said they had seen a number of bodies on the ground. The area was sealed off as police and army vehicles surrounded the blast site. "I wanted to cross the bridge when I heard an explosion," said a witness who gave his name as Zulgai. "I went to the area ... there were damaged cars and shattered windows everywhere." Brasilia: Brazilian political strategist Joao Santana earned his nickname "the maker of presidents" by guiding leftist leaders to power in Latin America and Africa, but his arrest this week could undo his most important client, President Dilma Rousseff. A member of Ms Rousseff's inner circle who masterminded her two successful election campaigns, Mr Santana is accused by prosecutors of receiving payment for his services in money illegally siphoned from state oil company Petrobras. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff gets a touch-up by a make-up artist, while her trusted aide, Joao Santana, left, checks his phone in 2014. Credit:AP A prize-winning journalist before he became Latin America's most successful campaign strategist, the 63-year-old says the allegations are unfounded and politically motivated. Ms Rousseff's opponents welcomed the sight of Mr Santana and his wife being taken into police custody on Tuesday. The opposition hopes his arrest will reignite flagging support for their bid to unseat Ms Rousseff by impeachment in Congress, on charges that she deliberately broke budget rules in 2014 to get re-elected. Sydney: Tens of thousands of Fijians are homeless and living in evacuation shelters in the aftermath of a devastating cyclone last weekend, officials say, as aid begins trickling in to the outer reaches of the South Pacific archipelago. The death toll from Cyclone Winston, the worst storm ever recorded in the southern hemisphere, remained at 42 but officials at Fiji's National Disaster Management Office fear that figure will rise. Officials from the disaster agency estimate 35,000 people are sheltering in evacuation centres, some of which are damaged and running short of food and other supplies. Some 900,000 people live in the archipelago of more than 300 islands. Patemosi Basaga, his wife and nine children had an early dinner on the night the storm. When it intensified the family separated into smaller groups, the three youngest children going with the two eldest, while Mr Basaga took the other children to an evacuation centre and waited for his wife who was on the other side of the village. Jakarta: Indonesian police have arrested 19 suspects tied to the January 14 attacks in downtown Jakarta, according to reports. The suspects, who include both citizens and convicts, face allegations of involvement in planning and executing the deadly bomb and gun attacks, National Police chief General Badrodin Haiti told the Jakarta Post newspaper. Some of the suspects belong to five different Indonesian terrorist groups, three of which are led by people named Hendro Fernando, Romli and Herni, General Badrodin said. Moscow: Thousands of Russians marched through Moscow to honour slain Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov on Saturday, the first anniversary of his death, and to press their demand that the authorities find and punish the person who ordered his killing. The 55-year-old Nemtsov, an opposition leader and former deputy prime minister, was gunned down near the Kremlin walls late in the evening of February 27, 2015, as he walked home with his girlfriend from a restaurant. Investigators have charged a group of Chechen men with his murder, but Nemtsov's supporters say the suspects are just low-level operatives who were paid to kill the prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. They say the person who ordered the hit has been neither identified nor arrested. "Nemtsov was killed because he had exposed Putin for what he was in various reports," said one of the marchers, Irina Vorobyova, 60. "He was a worthy political opponent for Putin but he had insulted him." Forth Worth, Texas: Republican candidate Donald Trump on Friday won the surprise endorsement of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, the most prominent mainstream Republican to get behind the former reality TV star's White House campaign. Mr Christie said the billionaire front runner has the best chance of beating Democrat Hillary Clinton in the November 8 US presidential election although Mrs Clinton has yet to secure her party's nomination. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump smiles as he stands with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie before a rally in Fort Worth, Texas, on Friday. Credit:AP The endorsement gives Mr Trump a further lift before next week's Super Tuesday nominating contests. It comes just a day after he took a battering from his two main rivals at a televised Republican debate on Thursday. Chicago: A study of nine pregnant women from the United States who travelled to countries where the Zika virus was circulating shows a greater-than-expected number of fetal infections and brain abnormalities, according US health officials. Two of the women had miscarriages, two had abortions, two had apparently healthy children, and one child was born with severe microcephaly, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said. Baby Maria Lys, who was born with microcephaly, undergoes physical therapy in Joao Pessoa, Brazil. Credit:AP Doctors are still following the two remaining pregnancies, which so far appear to be progressing without complications, the CDC said. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams The city is bungling its high-stakes makeover of a struggling Vinegar Hill middle-school, just months after its tone-deaf attempt to integrate the neighborhoods elementary school made national headlines. Local parents say they were shocked to learn recently that the Department of Educations is adopting a screening process for the Dock Street School its new name and look for MS 313, which it is relocating to a sparkling new Dumbo condo building this fall. And just days away from the deadline for applications, the city still cant tell them exactly what its selection criteria will be, leaving families once again fearful they will be pushed out of a school that almost exclusively serves low-income minority students in the area. Were asking questions and were not getting answers, said Faraji Hannah-Jones, who is the co-president of the parents-teacher association at PS 307 in Vinegar Hill, which the city controversially rezoned in January to include future students from Dumbo. I dont think the DOE is being upfront and since the rezoning theyve stopped engaging us. Hannah-Jones says Vinegar Hill parents had been demanding the department give priority to kids from PS 307 when it moves the co-located junior high in September. It is shifting the school to make space for the influx of newcomers the rezoning will bring an abrupt change that came under fire for ignoring the opinions of local families, many of whom live in the neighboring public Farragut Houses complex, and ignited a city-wide debate over school segregation. Nabbing a spot at MS 313 has not been a problem before the school is under-enrolled with only 74 students, and is on the states persistently dangerous list due to reports of violence. But the city is making over the middle school with a new name, specialist science and arts curriculum, and fresh facilities in Brooklyns wealthiest nabe, which it unveiled to great fanfare last month. The redesign appears to be a success the new school has already received an influx of applications, according to David Goldsmith, the president of the local community education council. And PS 307 parents say they were excited about the new look and digs, too until they learned through an article published in Chalkbeat at the beginning of February that their offspring will not be given priority and those who are selected will be hand-picked from all applicants in the local school district which also includes parts of Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene, and Downtown. The new school application handbook subsequently revealed the screening will consider test scores, attendance, and behavior though not how. After the rezoning, DOE said Dont worry about it, its going to be fine, said Clifford Dodd, whose son attends kindergarten at PS 307. Now to find out that theres a screening process is really frustrating, they never really took any of our concerns into consideration. A rep for the department claims it did engage with the community, and based its decision to screen on discussions with locals and elected officials though Hannah-Jones and Dodd say it was the first they had heard of it, and Council members Steve Levin (DDumbo) and Laurie Cumbo (DVinegar Hill) refused to comment on their involvement. The community decided this was the admissions procedure they felt was best and we are continuing to work with them to implement it, said spokeswoman Toya Holness. Those involved in designing the makeover insist screening does not mean the school will be overrun with rich white kids. Goldsmith who is part of an advisory group of locals and officials consulting on the new-look school says it is exploring models in other schools that screen prospective students precisely to include kids who dont speak English as a first language, or who work well in groups, rather than those who can ace tests. We want a school that could be a great fit for a kid who is high achieving but also students who are struggling, said Goldsmith. Nevertheless, the city is still months away from deciding on what the exact criteria will be, he said and middle-school applications are due on Tuesday. Parents will find out where their kids have been accepted in April. Reach reporter Lauren Gill at lgill @cngl ocal.com or by calling (718) 2602511. Follow her on Twitter @laurenk_gill "My inclination was to write a song about why I can't write a simple love song. The song began as an internal dialogue," Bird says. "At first it was just my voice. Then another voice came creeping in and I thought 'this should be a duet if I can find the right person.' I needed to find someone really indicting. She was totally committed. The session was a long whiskey-fueled night - unhinged, for sure. All worth it, of course. I can't write simple love songs. People are complex." The Dunlop India Limited (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertaking) Bill, 2016 and Jessop and Company Limited (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertaking) Bill, 2016, seeking to empower the West Bengal government to take over two Pawan Ruia group companies, were passed by the West Bengal Assembly on Saturday. The Ruia group declined to comment on the development. In case of Dunlop, the Bill mentions failure on the part of the existing management to settle dues of the employees and also failure on the part of the existing management to pay statutory dues to the state government and its agencies. A declaration of "suspension of work" had kept the Sahagunj unit non-productive since October 2011 and the Ambattur unit had been closed in 1998, are also part of the objects and reasons behind bringing in such a Bill. Post-vesting of the company in state government, all assets, rights, lease-holds, powers, authorities and privileges, and all property, moveable and immoveable, including lands, buildings, cash on hand, reserve funds, investments, book debts would be transferred to the new government undertaking. Dunlop is known to have surplus land at Sahagunj and Ambattur. Ruia had taken control of Dunlop in 2005 from Manu Chhabria with liabilities in excess of Rs 650 crore. The Bill, however, says that proprietors would be liable for prior liabilities. For the transfer and vesting in state government, the Ruia group would be paid an amount as determined by the Commissioner of Payments appointed by the state government for the purpose. However, the Bill also says that the amount to be paid would be reduced to the extent of liabilities of the proprietors. Judicial cases relating to a winding up petition against Dunlop are, however, under way. January 31, 2013, the Calcutta High Court directed winding up of the company, which was reaffirmed by the Division Bench. The matter is now before the Supreme Court. The reason cited for bringing the Jessop Bill was that the government felt that the management would not take any further step for restoration of its operation. A team from the West Bengal Legislative Assembly had visited the Dum Dum factory after employees sought immediate intervention by the state government. Jessop was a 100 per cent central government undertaking, which was declared sick in May 1998. "The state government also extended support to it by way of sanction of a soft loan of Rs 30.66 crore to liquidate its sales tax arrears in January 1999," the Bill said. However, the government later divested its 74 per cent in favour of Ruia after a BIFR sanctioned scheme failed. "A modified revival scheme submitted by the new management was approved by the BIFR on September 20, 2002. In view of the modified revival package, the state government rescheduled the payment of sales tax loan and the company failed to repay the loan and interest thereon to the state government and the company has failed to settle statutory dues and other dues," the Bill said. Two of India's biggest car companies, Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai, which together control more than 60 per cent share of the market, do not see a threat to sales from taxi aggregators like and Ola. As many as half of Maruti's 14 models are sold for use as commercial vehicles. The Alto, Omni, Dzire Tour, Eeco, Ritz, Wagon R and Ertiga have a big base of commercial buyers, many of whom run these as taxis for and Ola. People for the sake of affordability use cars as taxis. When they want to go out with their families over the weekend they uses these as cars, said Randhir Singh Kalsi, executive director (sales and marketing), Maruti Suzuki. Maruti has identified the commercial segment as a big market and is aggressively pursuing buyers. "We would not like to block any model from being registered as a commercial car, but there are certain models we would like to position in the commercial segment, Kalsi added. Hyundai, too, sees an opportunity in this segment even as several of its models, including the i10 and Xcent are registered as taxis. Some people are able to enjoy private ownership. But many people cannot do that. In such a situation, public mobility is also equally important. So this is an opportunity and we should work towards fulfilling it, said Rakesh Srivastava, senior vice-president (sales and marketing) Hyundai Motor India. Desperate to improve its image, however, Tata Motors has decided to block sales of all its new cars like the Zest, Bolt and Nano as commercial vehicles. Tata Motors refuses to allow its compact sedan Zest to be sold as a taxi despite selling a seventh of what segment leader Marutis DZire does. Tata Motors says it does not offer the excise refund a buyer typically seeks when using a car as a taxi. This helps discourage the use of particular cars as cabs. A few units of the Tata Bolt, a premium hatchback, have been registered as taxis. No car maker can completely avoid an occasional use of a car as a taxi. These policies help ensure it will not be a viable option for a large fleet operator, a Tata Motors spokesperson said. Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra had said last year taxi aggregators were eating into new car demand. Today, one lives in a world where the Olas and Ubers of the world are saying a person doesn't need to own a car, for them transportation is a commodity, Mahindra had said. The $72 million verdict recently against (J&J) in a case in the US alleging links between talc-based powder and ovarian cancer has prompted global headlines, social media buzz and calls to lawyers from would-be plaintiffs. But the attention-grabbing judgment is no guarantee future plaintiffs will be able to convince juries the company's products caused their illnesses. About 1,200 similar cases are pending in Missouri and New Jersey state courts but the facts are different in every one. Read more from our special coverage on "JOHNSON & JOHNSON" Johnson & Johnson asked to pay $72 million in damages for cancer-causing talcum powder LEGAL BATTLE Jacqueline Fox was awarded $72 million by a St Louis jury in J&J case About 1,200 similar cases are pending in Missouri and New Jersey state courts Another plaintiff, Deane Berg, alleged that her cancer was caused by decades-long use of talc-powder products but jurors declined to award her for damages And, even in cases with similar evidence and expert testimony, juries in mass personal injury litigation can come to different conclusions. While survivor Jacqueline Fox was awarded $72 million by a St Louis jury, jurors in a federal court action in South Dakota - the only other talc case to go to trial - found in 2013 that J&J had been negligent but declined to award damages to plaintiff Deane Berg. Like Fox, Berg alleged her ovarian cancer was caused by her decades-long use of J&J's talc-powder products for feminine hygiene, and jurors in both cases heard testimony about studies linking talc to cancer risks. But, unlike Fox, who passed away several months before the trial began, Berg was in remission at the time of the trial, according to court documents. In addition to factual differences among cases, venue can affect outcomes. Some state courts are considered more plaintiff-friendly than federal courts, which have stricter rules for the admission of evidence and expert testimony, said lawyers involved in the litigation. One juror in the Missouri case, Jerome Kendrick, said in an interview with Reuters that other jurors and he were especially swayed by testimony from plaintiffs' medical experts and documents showing J&J employees discussing talc powder's possible cancer risk. "The problem I had is that, according to inter-office documents, J&J was aware of the potential concerns," Kendrick said. "And, it really looked like instead of trying to investigate, they started talking about how to combat what would eventually be a court case." J&J has said "decades of sound science" prove that talc is safe. The company on Tuesday issued a statement expressing sympathy for Fox's family but disagreeing with the verdict. It also said it was exploring its post-trial options. Talc litigation started in 2009, when Berg filed a lawsuit. The Fox lawsuit was selected by plaintiffs' lawyers as the first to go to trial in Missouri, to serve as an early bellwether of how similar cases in that venue might fare. The litigation flew largely under the public's radar until jurors returned the award for the family of Fox, who died in October at 62. The plaintiffs said Fox used J&J Baby Powder and Shower to Shower Powder for feminine hygiene daily for 35 years before she was diagnosed three years ago with ovarian cancer. It has resonated with the public far more than the Berg case, which "didn't get headlines because they didn't award any damages", said R Allen Smith, a Missouri-based lawyer who represented both the Fox family and Berg. More cases might be filed soon, and lawyers at several plaintiffs' firms who worked on the Fox case said they were investigating thousands of additional claims. Still, the talc cases represent a relatively small portion of the tens of thousands of lawsuits J&J is facing over its many products. For instance, it is the target of at least 44,000 cases from women who say they were harmed by pelvic mesh devices made by its Ethicon unit, and about 8,000 against its DePuy subsidiary regarding Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip systems. The next trial is set for April in St Louis, and additional trial dates have been set for later this year. To be successful, plaintiffs must make both a general link between talc and ovarian cancer and show that products -as opposed to something else - are to blame for their cancer. In spite of the increased interest in the litigation following the Fox verdict, attorney Danielle Mason of Beasley Allen, who was part of the team representing the Fox family at trial, said she expected J&J to fight hard to defend itself in upcoming trials. "We're in this for the long haul," she said. Annual State Ex-Servicemen Rally Held at Shillong on 27 FEB 2016 . . Ex - Servicemens rally and a medical camp for ex-servicemen and their kin were organized at Assam Regimental Centre, Happy Valley, Shillong on 27 Feb 2016. Large number of ex-servicemen, war widows and their dependents from various parts of Meghalaya attended the event. HE Shri V Shanmuganathan Honble Governor of Meghalaya was the chief guest. Shri HDR Lyngdoh Minister of GAD, Lieutenant General Amrik Singh, Sena Medal, Chief of Staff Headquarters Eastern Command, Lieutenant General SP Nawathe Vishisht Seva Medal, General Officer Commanding 101 Area and Major General Sukesh Rakshit, Chief of Staff Headquarter 101 Area and a number of senior army and civil dignitaries were present at the rally. . . The rally was organized to create awareness about the various welfare schemes announced by the armed forces and the state government and employment avenues available to the ex-servicemen. large number of ex-servicemen, war widows and their dependents derived benefits from the medical camp equipped with diagnostic equipment and specialist doctors, and by various awareness / assistance stalls put up by the zonal recruitment organization, veterans web portal, ESM helpline, army welfare, education society, ECHS, SBI etc. . . During interaction Honble Governor and GAD Minister assured the ex-servicemen of all assistance and support from the state government. They felicitated eminent ex-servicemen, war widows and all gallantry awardees hailing from state of Meghalaya. A lunch was organized after the event. . . AM/ Government of Bihar must give debt to the farmers without interest Shri Radha Mohan Singh . . State Government is supposed to allot piece of land so as to establish Cooperative Management Institute of national level in Eastern Champaran . . The cooperatives in Bihar enjoyed financial help of Rs. 265 crore through NABARD . . Government of Bihar should work by preparing blueprint for Government schemes . . Union Agriculture Minister Shri Radha Mohan Singh today in Patna said that Central Government has started a number of schemes for the welfare of farmers and agricultural sector. The Government of Bihar should avail this scheme. It may be Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme or Pradhanmantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana All of these schemes will pave the way of growth for the agricultural sector as well as farmers. Mr. Radha Mohan Singh said that Government of Bihar is supposed to impart relief regarding the agricultural debt on the farmers. The farmers of Bihar are bestowed debt with the 7 % interest out of this 3 % interest relief is extended by Government of India. If Government of Bihar desires the farmers thereof may enjoy interest free debt the Government of Bihar is expected to provide debt to the farmers on 4 % debt relief interest like those of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Maharashtra, etc. so as to be set free from the clutches of interest as a whole in agricultural sector. . . Shri Singh was addressing a one day conference being conducted on the subject entitled as role of cooperatives in the composite formation and growth of Bihar" by Bihar Cooperative Development Coordination Committee. Shri Singh said that Modi Government has requested to the State to have their respective rules and regulations framed regarding agricultural sector. They are supposed to enforce these rules and regulations with the assistance of Ministry of Agriculture and other central institutions concerned. Agriculture is a subject of State therefore without the assistance of the State the development of agriculture sector cannot be paved. Therefore I request the Government of Bihar that they should work altogether while making a blue print for agriculture related scheme so that new innovation may be find out for sorting out the difficulty coming in the way of agricultural growth. Consequent upon the pace of the development may be accelerated. There was coined a term in the country named as Bimaru implied the Sick one" which was attributed to the State of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan as well as Uttar Pradesh. However, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are not the sick ones and Minister is confident that while benefiting them with the various agriculture related scheme Bihar will not be a sick one anymore. . . Shri Singh said that the sense of indifference has been manifested by the purchase center of State Food Grain Cooperation on the purchase of paddy upto the scheduled date by all of the packs and trade unions in Bihar State. Moreover, these packs have been paid lesser amount wherever the purchase of paddy had been carried through from the Farmers by packs / unions in various districts. The packs are of the saying that through this purchase they are supposed to make the payment within the span of one-two days. Due to none availability of the funds, the interest abundance has been increased on this society. Therefore, State Government is supposed to take action to impart on them interest free debt so as to they could make payment to the farmers on time bound programme and farmers could get fair price of their yield on right time. . . Agriculture and Farmers welfare Minister said that the Central Government has extended financial assistance to the cooperatives of Bihar through NABARD. It is determined to empower all these institutes in future. According to the survey of National Sample Survey Organization 46% farmers households are groaning under the huge pressure of debt which have been sought from various organizations and its percentage in the context of Bihar is 49.99%. There is pretty enough imbalance regarding the availability of agricultural debt to the various regions of Bihar and all eastern states. There is also imparity regarding the agricultural debt to be given to the marginal and big farmers. . . Shri Singh said that Bihar is being given Rs. 149 crore for Dairy Cooperatives, rs. 51.05 crore for ICDP, 12.5 crore rupees for Cold Storage Cooperatives and 28.10 crore rupees for the societies related to marketing and as a whole a sum of 240.80 crore rupees has been granted to the state of Bihar during the year 2015-16 through National Cooperative Development Cooperation for the development of agricultural sector and livestock. There are very limited training centres in Bihar who impart this sort of training and I am of the view that they are very much inadequate to meet the needs for the growth of human resources regarding cooperative personnel as well as sophisticated technical increasing needs for cooperative campaign in state of Bihar. So I am desirous that a cooperative management institute might be opened on national level in Eastern Champaran, Bihar. Therefore, State Government is requested to allot a piece of 5 acre land on the eve of a century of Champaran Movement launched by Mahatama Gandhi so that it might be set up. Central Government will extend whole financial assistance for the construction of this institute. . . Shri Singh said that there are a number of schemes to inspire bio farming in the state like soil health card and Pradhan Mantri Sinchai Yojana. In this context recently our government has launched Pradhan Mantri Crop Insurance Scheme, KHARIF 2016 for the protection of crops. Under this scheme the farmers will have to pay minimum premium. It has been decided that 2% premium in Kharif and 1.5% premium in Rabi will have to be paid by the farmers and rest of the premium will be afforded by the Central Government. Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that today Indian cooperative Campaign has encompassed the global scenario. It is the largest cooperative campaign in the world. In India the cooperative access stretches to the national level. The cooperative societies have facilitated farmers while providing inputs like debt, fertilizers seeds etc. to the cooperative societies. Now, the dairy related cooperative has made a landmark in the country and abroad with an exclusive feature. Therefore, if you have take the country ahead you are supposed to take villages, poor and farmers ahead. You will have to increase income of the farmers and for this purpose a second time revolution is required in agricultural sector. Cooperative societies strengthen the farmers in economic and financial prospective. . . SS Our history is one of assimilation, mutual respect and celebration of differences, respecting each others beliefs and values, says President . The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the Muziris Heritage Project today (February 27, 2016) at Kodungaloor, Kerala. . . Speaking on the occasion, the President said being the largest conservation project in the country and first green project of Kerala Government, Muziris Heritage project has a lot to boast about, be it in the area of heritage, conservation or tourism. The spice trade and ancient ports in the state have created many islands of heritage and history within Kerala, but the tourist experiences have always been discrete. This is where Muziris heritage project offers the best of heritage tourism to global travellers. There is no doubt this project will open up to Indian and foreign tourists a new destination, bringing economic benefits to the people of the region as well as knowledge and enjoyment for the visitors. . . The President pointed out that for more than two thousand years, people of different faiths have lived together in this region in peace and harmony. The Hindu Kings of Kerala welcomed people from foreign lands as well as their religions - Judaism, Islam and Christianity. The Kings gifted land to set up places of worship and offered protection and patronage to believers of different religions. Today, Kerala is a state where religions share traditions. Many churches light oil lamps and raise flags as is done in Hindu temples. Similarly, the Cheraman Mosque has an oil lamp which is always lit. . . The President said Kerala has through the ages demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt to new traditions and values in every sphere of human thought and endeavour. The spirit of tolerance and catholicity of outlook of the people of Kerala is a model for the rest of the country. The Muziris Heritage Project celebrates this magnificent heritage of our land where people of different religions, castes and languages live in harmony. This project reminds us that our history is one of assimilation, mutual respect and celebration of our differences, respecting each others beliefs and values. . . The President said he understands the next phase of the project is the Spice Route Initiative which will explore the international connections and linkages that the Malabar Coast had with many parts of the world. This phase is to be implemented with the support of UNESCO and United Nations World Tourism Organization. The Spice Route Initiative is both important and timely with India seeking to once again emerge as a major centre for international trade and transport as well as a maritime power. The Spice Route Initiative will link 41 countries in Asia and Europe with India and rejuvenate our cultural and academic exchanges with these nations. The goal will be the development of a multi-national cultural corridor which will not only throw light on Indias glorious heritage but also open up a route of peace bringing nations and people together. . . The President said as a country intersected by major maritime and caravan routes, India has always been one of the most cosmopolitan societies in the world, comfortable in dealing with diversity and welcoming of new ideas and cultures. He expressed hope that the Muziris Heritage Project will spread the message of Indian cosmopolitanism far and wide, adding thereby to Indias soft power across the world. . . The President called upon the project authorities and people of the region to uncover and highlight the long-standing civilizational links and cultural affinities that India shares with the rest of the world. He expressed the hope that the Muziris Heritage Project will emerge as an invaluable link between the new world and the rising India. . . Shri J P Nadda chairs 12th Conference of the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare to discuss Draft National Health Policy . . Govt. committed to providing affordable quality healthcare to people: J P Nadda . . The Government is committed to providing affordable and quality healthcare to all people of the country. The Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Shri J P Nadda stated this in his address to the 12th Conference of the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare to discuss the draft National Health Policy 2016, which he chaired here today. . . Shri Nadda stated that the purpose of the Council meeting was to seek feedback and suggestions from the States, experts and civil society organisations on the draft National Health Policy which has been placed in the public domain in 2015 and received close to 5000 suggestions, so as to improve its various dimensions in making it people-centric. He reiterated that the goal of the Draft National Health Policy is: The attainment of the highest levels of health and well being for all at all ages, through a preventive and promotive health care orientation in all development policies, and universal access to good quality health care services without anyone having to face financial hardship as a consequence . Pointing out that in alignment with the vision of Cooperative Federalism of the Prime Minister, the Health Minister added: your suggestions, which represent the diversity and uniqueness of different parts of the country, are valuable to us and will lend meaning to this important National Policy which is being framed after 2002. He said that the new National Health Policy is being framed in the era of the SDGs, and the deliberations at the Council will help in drawing a roadmap for the way forward. This was also important as we have now the challenge of the non-communicable diseases along with the communicable disease burden, he stated. It is important to pay shaper attention to promotive and preventive health, strengthen the healthcare infrastructure in the states covering the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors, work out models of sustainable financing models to provide affordable healthcare, see how IT can be used to reach out to communities which are far flung and remote, and involve states more meaningfully in implementation of the schemes, Shri Nadda stated. The Union Health Minister also said that a framework of implementation will be drawn as part of the National Health Policy. . . Speaking at the occasion, Shri B P Sharma noted that the consultation with the states and other stakeholders will provide rich inputs on improving the contours of the NHP. He stated that due emphasis has been placed on financing and increasing the budget outlay on health where 2/3rd of the outlay would be on the primary health sector; mainstreaming of AYUSH; reducing out-of-pocket expenditure; health insurance services; free drugs and diagnostics; improving secondary and tertiary care along with human resources at various levels with appropriate skills; strengthening regulatory frameworks for food and drugs; and providing patient-centric care at affordable rates. . . Also present at the council meeting were Health Ministers from Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand. In addition, Dr. C P Thakur, former Health Minister and MP (RS) was also present. Along with Secretary (DHR) and Secretary (AYUSH), Health Secretaries from UP, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Chattisgarh, Tripura, and Administrator from Dadra and Nagar Haveli also participated in the Conference. . . Some of the topics highlighted by the Health Ministers included integration of public and private healthcare services; enhancing awareness among masses for preventive health; addressing shortage of doctors and paramedic staff through opening more medical colleges in the public sector, enhancing their skills through periodic refresher courses; convergence among related Ministries covering education, drinking water and sanitation, food security to address malnutrition; strengthening research in new and emerging diseases; timely payment of remuneration to health workers; equipping PHCs and CHCs with latest technology; health assurance through provisioning of drugs, diagnostics and emergency services; making MCI norms flexible for setting up medical colleges in hilly terrains; work out innovative models for health insurance schemes to reduce OOP; and set up research institutions that would study epidemiology of diseases to provide data for evidence-based policymaking. . . The resolution adopted at the close of the Council meeting stated: . . Recognizing that the health needs of the country have changed over time since the last National health Policy and to address the need to improve the performance of the health system, a Draft National Health Policy has been formulated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. . . Acknowledging that the Draft National Health Policy has been formulated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India in consultation with the State Governments and the Civil Society at large. . . The Central Council for Health and Family Welfare broadly endorses the Draft National Health Policy. Speech by the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at the inauguration of Muziris Heritage Project in Kodungaloor, Kerala . 1. I am happy to be here in this historic town of Kodungaloor today to inaugurate the Muziris Heritage Project, being implemented by the Tourism Department of the Government of Kerala, with the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. . . 2. If Kerala is Gods own country, Kodungaloor is the town where the Gods gather in unity and harmony. This town and its surroundings have been a thriving centre of Islam, Christianity, Judaism as well as Hinduism. It is heartening to know that the ancient Kurumba Bhagavati temple and the Cheraman Mosque, believed to be the oldest mosque in India, are both in Kodungalloor. The two synagogues in Paravur and Chennamangalam, the historical precinct of Kottayil Kovilakam and the Kottapppuram fort with its links to the Portugese, the Dutch and the Mysore Sultans are also in the neighbourhood. Kodungaloor is also believed to be the place where the Apostle of Jesus Christ, St. Thomas, landed bringing with him Christianity to India much before it reached Europe. . . 3. The Muziris Heritage Project, which was initiated six years ago, is an ambitious project comprising the development works of Chennamangalam palaces, Cheraman Parambu, Synagogue and waterfront at North Paravur; a visitor's centre; a performance centre at Gothuruthu; a Museum at Pallipuram, and a Tourism reception facility at Pattanam. The project also envisages the conservation of archaeological monuments within 125 square kilometres spread across Thrissur and Ernakulam districts. . . Ladies and Gentlemen: . . 4. India was probably one of the most globalized nations in ancient times. Muziris, after which this project is named, at the height of its glory, was an active port, trading everything from precious stones to spices. Muziris was the doorway for cultures, religions and races into India. It was frequented by large ships of ocean traders from across the world, including Arabs, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Chinese. . . 5. The name Muciripattanam is mentioned in Sangam literature (which spans 300 BCE to 300 CE) as an affluent port and habitation on the western coast of Tamizhagam. In Akan?n?ru, the seventh book of Sangam anthology, the poet describes Muziris as a prosperous Cheran town on the banks of river Periyar visited by theYavanasor Greeks seeking pepper in exchange of gold. . . 6. Muziris finds mention in the "Voyage around the Erythraen Sea", a work by a Greek speaking Egyptian merchant from the middle of the first century CE. It is described as one of the four active ports which exported pepper and other goods. Pliny the Elder, a Roman naturalist of the first century CE refers to Muziris, in his encyclopaedic work, Naturalis Historia, as the first emporium of India. Emporium in ancient times was a place reserved for the business interests of foreign traders. . . 7. It is believed that a devastating flood that changed the course of the Periyar river or an earthquake in the 14th century led to the decline of Muziris. But, the Malabar Coast remained a prime destination for foreign traders and visitors from different parts of the world. Travellers such as Ibn Batuta and Marco Polo visited and wrote accounts about the busy ports of Malabar. The Arabs continued their flourishing trade in spices and the Chinese were frequent visitors. . . Ladies and Gentlemen: . . 8. For more than two thousand years, people of different faiths have lived together in this region in peace and harmony.The Hindu Kings of Kerala welcomed people from foreign lands as well as their religions - Judaism, Islam and Christianity. The Kings gifted land to set up places of worship and offered protection and patronage to believers of different religions. Today, Kerala is a state where religions share traditions. Many churches light oil lamps and raise flags as is done in Hindu temples. Similarly, the Cheraman Mosque has an oil lamp which is always lit. . . 9. I am glad that the Muziris Heritage Project seeks to bring alive this wonderful mosaic of cultural influences in a holistic way. This region is home to an exceptionally rich and diverse history. It is important that this complex narrative be disseminated and interpreted to the world and to India in a sensitive and professional way. I am happy that the Muziris Heritage Project proposes to do so through a series of museums and interpretation centres, taking visitors through events and experiences across millennia. I believe the project also seeks to provide visitors with a glimpse into the life of the common people of this area using the network of waterways that connect the historic sites with one another. I have no doubt this project will open up to Indian and foreign tourists a new destination, bringing economic benefits to the people of the region as well as knowledge and enjoyment for the visitors. . . Friends: . . 10. Being the largest conservation project in the country and first green project of Kerala Government, Muziris Heritage project has a lot to boast about, be it in the area of heritage, conservation or tourism. The spice trade and ancient ports in the state have created many islands of heritage and history within Kerala, but the tourist experiences have always been discrete. This is where Muziris heritage project offers the best of heritage tourism to global travellers. . . 11. I compliment the State Government for emphasizing responsible tourism and involving the local population in the project. Local ownership can help bring grassroots knowledge and ideas for the implementation of the Project. It will entrust the people of the area with the responsibility of ensuring that the Indian tradition ofAthithi Devo Bhavais made a reality. Participation of people in planning and implementation of the project will further ensure full utilization of the economic and employment prospects that growth in tourism will bring to the region. . . 12. I am told that the next phase of the project is the Spice Route Initiative which will explore the international connections and linkages that the Malabar Coast had with many parts of the world. This phase is to be implemented with the support of UNESCO and United Nations World Tourism Organization. TheSpice Route Initiative is both important and timely with India seeking to once again emerge as a major centre for international trade and transport as well as a maritime power. I understand theSpice Route Initiative will link 41 countries in Asia and Europe with India and rejuvenate our culturaland academic exchangeswith these nations. The goal will be the development of a multi-national cultural corridor which will not only throw light on Indias glorious heritage but also open up arouteofpeace bringing nations and people together.. . Friends, ladies and gentlemen: . . 13. Kerala has through the ages demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt to new traditions and values in every sphere of human thought and endeavour.The spirit of tolerance and catholicity of outlook of the people of Kerala is a model for the rest of the country. The Muziris Heritage Project celebrates this magnificent heritage of our land where people of different religions, castes and languages live in harmony. This project reminds us that our history is one of assimilation, mutual respect and celebration of our differences, respecting each others beliefs and values. . . 14. As a country intersected by major maritime and caravan routes, India has always been one of the most cosmopolitan societies in the world, comfortable in dealing with diversity and welcoming of new ideas and cultures. I hope this Project will spread the message of Indian cosmopolitanism far and wide, adding thereby to Indias soft power across the world. . . 15. I call upon you to uncover and highlight the long-standing civilizational links and cultural affinities that India shares with the rest of the world. May this Muziris Heritage Project emerge as an invaluable link between the new world and the rising India! . . Thank you, . . Jai Hind. . . Ireland's two biggest parties may be forced to bury generations of conflict borne out of the nation's civil war to form a grand coalition after Prime Minister Enda Kenny's government suffered massive losses in Friday's election. Kenny's Fine Gael secured 25 per cent in the election, according to a poll for broadcaster RTE, released on Saturday. Traditional rivals Fianna Fail secured 21 per cent. Under Ireland's electoral system, about 44 per cent is needed for an overall majority. Like governments in Greece, Portugal and Spain, Kenny's alliance with the Labour ... Even before Timothy D Cook, Apple's chief executive, began his speech on Friday at the company's annual shareholder meeting, he got a standing ovation. As Cook, 55, stood before the auditorium on Apple's campus, the audience - made up mostly of investors in the company - rose from their seats and applauded him. "Where we stand in times of controversy is a measure of our character," said Jesse L Jackson, an Apple shareholder who attended the meeting. "Some leaders only follow opinion polls. Others stand up for their principles, refuse to compromise and mold opinion. We have such a leader of Apple, ." The meeting was a striking scene of support for Cook, who has led Apple into a battle against the United States government. The company is opposing a federal court order requiring it to help law enforcement officials break into an iPhone used by one of the attackers in last year's mass shooting in San Bernardino, California. Apple is "a staunch advocate for our customers' privacy and personal safety," Cook said. "We do these things because they are the right things to do. Being hard doesn't scare us." Cindy Cohn, the executive director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, who was also at the meeting, said she applauded Apple's leadership in fighting for the security of customers. She said the foundation would file a brief supporting Apple's refusal to comply with the court order. During the shareholder meeting, Cook also noted that Apple had released new versions of its mobile and desktop operating systems, which have the advanced security and encryption features that have frustrated the law enforcement agents who want access to data on Apple's devices. 2016 The New York Times News Service "GovtOS". That's what Apple Inc calls the newest product in its pipeline. It's not the brainchild of the gadget masters in Cupertino but rather an iPhone operating system conceived by some buttoned-down folks in Washington, DC. And unlike the latest iPhone or iPad, it wasn't revealed on a stage before thousands of the faithful. Instead, it was unveiled in a stark response to the Obama administration's attempt to force the computer maker to assist in a terrorism probe. And, Apple has warned, it may someday lead to every American being made an unwilling assistant to ... Accusing the Congress of siding with 'anti-national' elements and joining hands with corrupt forces in an attempt to attack the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Centre, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday took out a protest against the grand old party in the capital. Leading the protest, BJP's youth wing chief and MP Anurag Thakur hit out at the Congress leadership demanding a clarification on their stand on Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru "The nation demands an answer from Sonia and Rahul that why is the Congress defending anti- forces? Rahul Gandhi is supporting those who are calling Afzal Guru a martyr. Chidambaram says that he has doubts over Afzal Guru's involvement in the Parliament attack and thereby questioning his execution. During their time, the Congress did everything in their power to defend Ishrat Jahaan, a terrorist," Thakur told ANI ahead of the protest. Further accusing the Congress of trying to defame the Centre, he added that the grand old party using corrupt people to attack the government was a well planned strategy. "The nation wants to know what the Congress' stand is on Afzal Guru and Ishrat Jahan. Even today, why do they support those who brand terrorists as martyrs? How can the nation possibly be safe in the hands of such people?" Thakur said. Meanwhile, several protestors were detained as they held agitations outside the Congress Headquarters here. Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook has committed to a rise in its annual dividend to please investors but also with a sign that the world's most famous technology company may no longer be a growth stock. As concerns mount that growth in sales of iPhones may have peaked, major US growth mutual funds have been among the largest sellers of Apple shares over the past six months or so, fueling speculation that the company's days of supercharged growth have come to an end. In January, Apple forecast its first revenue drop in 13 years and reported the slowest-ever increase in iPhone shipments as the critical Chinese market showed signs of weakening. Its shares were flat in afternoon trading on Friday. They are down about 25 percent from highs 10 months ago. Speaking at the company's annual meeting in Cupertino, California, Cook also said Apple was "a staunch advocate for our customers' privacy and personal safety," as it fights a public battle with the US government. At least 14 people, including an Afghan militia commander, were killed and over 50 others wounded today in a suicide bomb attack in Asadabad, the capital of Afghanistan's eastern province of Kunar near the border with Pakistan. A suicide attack occurred on Saturday in front of the Governor's office in Asadabad city in Kunar province, reports TOLO News. The injured have been admitted to the provincial hospital. Provincial Governor Wahidullah Kalimzai said the bomber rode up on a motorcycle to the entrance of a government compound in the town of Asadabad and blew himself up. Rescue and security personnel reached the blast site and Security personnel cordoned off the area as a probe into the incident went under way. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the apparent target of the attack. Pakistan's Baloch, Sindhi and other minorities have decided to move the UNHCR against what they call "the language imperialism of Urdu in Pakistan". These groups and experts have pointed out that less than eight percent of Pakistanis speak Urdu and yet Urdu has been thrust upon the nation as a national language. The continued use of Urdu as the language of instruction in government schools, even though it is spoken at home by less than eight per cent of the population, has also contributed to political tensions in Pakistan, claims a policy paper issued by the UN organisation recently to coincide with the observance of the 'Mother Language Day.' Array Senge H. Sering, the founder of the Washington D.C.-based Institute for Gilgit Baltistan Studies, told ANI, "I strongly condemn Pakistan's policy of using Urdu as medium of instruction in schools of Gilgit Baltistan. United Nations' UNESCO sees this as detrimental to the proper upbringing of children and hindering their educational development and well being. Instead, local languages should be used as medium of instruction in schools". He added, "Pakistan is committing cultural genocide in Gilgit-Baltistan. Balti, which is spoken in Baltistan, is part of the Tibetan language and on the verge of extinction since there is no government mechanism to support its revival". Lakhu Luhana, Chairman of the London-based Sindhi Congress, said, "There is a "history of apartheid and criminal discrimination against Sindhi language that continues to date. Urdu is the mother tongue of less than one percent. Sindhi people have waged a historical struggle to save their language. There are two important things to note (1) Sindhi is a national language in India but not in its own land; and (2) In a way, February 21 which has been declared by UNESCO and celebrated as Mother Tongue Day is an judgement against Pakistan." Ashraf Sherjan, Baloch political activist based in Germany, said, "Yes, this is true. Urdu is the language used in Pakistani schools. In Balochistan also, they are using Urdu language books. Only in Sindh, they have a class to learn the Sindhi language and to read and write. It's shameful to say that I am a Baloch. My language is Balochi, but sorry, I can't read or write in Balochi because I was never allowed to learn my own language, it is forbidden." "Pakistan could take lessons from countries like Sweden and the United Kingdom, where both are teaching Balochi at the university level. Oman and Bahrain too are giving Balochi language classes to Baloch communities living there. It is lamentable that in my own country (Balochistan), teaching of Balochi language is banned," he added. Azizullah Bugti, a Baloch Republican Party leader based in Switzerland, told ANI, "The Urdu language is imposed on the Baloch in schools, but approximately 8.5 million Baloch don't speak Urdu in their homes. They only speak Balochi and Brahvi." He said the day is not far when people from other parts of Pakistan would impose their language and culture on the indigenous people of Balochistan, "not soon, but after generations." The policy paper further reveals that post-independence governments in Pakistan adopted Urdu as the national language of instruction in schools. This caused alienation in a country home to six major linguistic groups and 58 smaller ones. According to the UNESCO policy paper, both Pakistan and Bangladesh continue to face language-related political challenges. It further opines that being taught in a language other than their own can also negatively impact a child's learning, and adds that language can serve as a double edged sword in the sense that "while it strengthens an ethnic group's social ties and sense of belonging, it can also become a basis for their marginalisation. Christian Slater is facing a 20 million dollar lawsuit filed by, of all people, his father Thomas Knight Slater aka Michael Hawkins, who claims that his son "ruined" his career. The 80-year-old actor has accused his famous offspring of destroying his acting career after making public claims that he suffers from "manic-depressive schizophrenia," Channel 24 reported. As per Thomas, the 46-year-old actor intentionally maligned and defamed him, and caused him to be blacklisted in the show business community. In his legal action, the 'Amityville Horror' actor accuses ex-wife Mary Jo Slater and the 'Mr. Robot' star of slander, libel, defamation of character, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, and invasion of privacy, as well as intentional infliction of emotional distress. And Thomas also noted Christian, who had made the comments last July, didn't have the "medical credentials" to correctly diagnose him with any condition. Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, Syed Muazzem Ali, on Saturday said that economic integration and technical integration is the key to intra-state ties between India and Bangladesh. "Economic integration and technical integration is the key to intra state ties. The present state of Bangladesh-India relations are the 'best ever' in the country's history relationship ever since 1974. Other problems will be resolved with sincerity. We should look into the future instead of resolving past issues. I hope for more people to people contact through innovative checkposts in Bagdogra," Ali said at the Press Club of India. "Last year we achieved a significant milestone in resolving 68 year-old Line of Agreement. Not many people know that it took 68 years to resolve the issue," he added. The Parliament had yesterday passed a bill to amend electoral laws for a limited delimitation exercise to grant voting rights to people of the former enclaves of Bangladesh, with the Rajya Sabha adopting it without any debate. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh last year, it was decided that Bangladeshi enclaves in India and Indian enclaves in Bangladesh shall stand physically transferred to the other country. There are 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in India which are to be exchanged following the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement and 2011 Protocol and instruments of ratification of which were exchanged during Prime Minister Modi's visit to Bangladesh on June 6 and 7 last year. Putting on the extra kilos not only transforms your belly, but also alters your brain, according to a recent study that linked being overweight to poorer memory. The University of Cambridge research found that overweight young adults may have poorer episodic memory, the ability to recall past events, than their peers, adding to increasing evidence of a link between memory and overeating. Researchers also found an association between high body mass index (BMI) and poorer performance on a test of episodic memory. Although only a small study, its results support existing findings that excess bodyweight may be associated with changes to the structure and function of the brain and its ability to perform certain cognitive tasks optimally. In particular, obesity has been linked with dysfunction of the hippocampus, an area of the brain involved in memory and learning, and of the frontal lobe, the part of the brain involved in decision making, problem solving and emotions, suggesting that it might also affect memory; however, evidence for memory impairment in obesity is currently limited. Understanding what drives our consumption and how we instinctively regulate our eating behaviour is becoming more and more important given the rise of obesity in society, says researcher Lucy Cheke. Co-author Jon Simons added that by recognising and addressing these psychological factors head-on, not only can we come to understand obesity better, but we may enable the creation of interventions that can make a real difference to and wellbeing. The study is published in The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. Indian Air Force (IAF) authorities at the Srinagar International Airport have sought increased presence of police in sensitive villages located around the airfield, citing security reasons. According to sources, the matter was taken up by senior IAF officers with Kashmir's Divisional Commissioner during a meeting recently. Air Force officers suggested the use of the state police's Special Operation Group (SOG) for this purpose. Srinagar International Airport is also known as Sheikh-ul-Alam Airport (after 15th century Kashmiri mystic Sheikh Noor-ud-din Wali). The airport was granted international status by the Union Cabinet on January 27, 2005.The first international flight to land at the airport was an Air India flight from New Delhi on February 14, 2009. Array The airport is jointly operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Indian Air Force (IAF). With economic crisis looming over global economy and experts hinting at recession, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that India is marching ahead on the path of economic development and serving as a 'ray of hope' to countries reeling under slowdown. Speaking at a Kisan Rally here, the Prime Minister said that the negative effects of the global slowdown can be effectively tackled by simultaneously promoting agriculture, manufacturing and service sector. "Everyone in the world, whether it is the IMF, World Bank or rating agencies, are saying that if there is a ray of hope then it is in India. The economic condition of the entire world is in shambles," he said. "Even the big economies are facing economic crisis. Despite such an environment of recession, India is moving forward on the path of economic development," he added. Prime Minister Modi said that when he took the office in May 2014, the country was reeling under economic crisis as corruption was devouring nation's economy like 'termites'. He said that even the opposition parties, who target the government day and night, haven't accused the NDA government of corruption. "When I took office in Delhi, the entire nation was fed up because of corruption. It has been 18 months, that you have allowed me to serve the nation. Even our Opposition, who give statements day and night, haven't accused us of corruption. They do not have the guts to even level false allegations," he said. "The country was reeling under the economic crisis, and on top of that corruption was ruining the nation," he added. The Prime Minister arrived in Belgaum today to address the farmers and tell them about Fasal Bima Yojana. Elaborate security arrangements were made in the city and at the venue near Shigoan in Angadi Technical Institute College grounds, where the Prime Minister addressed the farmers. Expressing its disappointment over the handling of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula's suicide, the Shiv Sena on Saturday said Union Human Resource and Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani's statements were 'confusing'. "The kind of statements that the HRD Minister is giving is confusing. First, you say something, later you withdraw, this should not have happened. The way this issue has been handled, it had several shortcomings and that is why its repercussions are felt in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha," Shive Sena leader Manisha Kayande told ANI. "The way this issue of Rohith Vemula's suicide has been handled, be it the HRD ministry, be it the Hyderabad University there has been lot of Hullaballoo," she added. She further said that the wrong statements without any observation sends wrong signal. When asked was the HRD Minister being deliberately dragged in the controversy, Kayande said Irani has hurried to make statements which could have been avoided. "The reference of Durga in Parliament was out of context and it could have been avoided," she added. Irani had earlier in Parliament pointed out that according to a report submitted to the Telangana High Court, the police had reached Rohith's hospital at 7:20 pm when they found the body. "The police said that when they reached the hostel, they found the room open and the dead body was on the table. A hand written suicide note was found. The suicide note that was left behind does not blame anyone," she said. "This is not my submission. This is what the police said. No one allowed a doctor near this child, to revive this child. Instead, his body was used as a political tool. No police was allowed till 6.30 a.m. the following morning. Who tried to help this child?" she asked. However, Chief Medical Officer M. Rajshree, who confirmed Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula's death, has rebuffed HRD Minister Smriti Irani's claims in Parliament, saying she had reached the scene in three-five minutes. The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Saturday said that Union Human and Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani is trying to defend the government's inaction in the matter of Hyderabad University scholar Rohith Vemula, and added that her statement in Parliament earlier this week was full of lies and contradictions. "We believe whatever the MHRD Smriti Irani was telling in the House were full of contradictions, all lies and unsubstantiated reports. We strongly believe Rohith's mother and brother because they are the affected people. They know what happened there actually and one has to believe them," CPI leader D. Raja told ANI. "The minister is trying to defend the government for its failures and inaction. The minister comes and tells the Parliament which are not correct at all. They were all being contradicted by many sources, not only by Rohith's mother, even by the students of the university. They said they are all lies and falsehoods. The ministry should clarify why a minister should do such a thing," he added. Under fire over the Dalit scholar's suicide, Irani said in the Rajya Sabha, "It is incorrect that there is no member of SC community in the inquiry committee. Rohith Vemula's mother asked for a judicial inquiry into the child's death. I assured her justice will be done." The family of Rohith Vemula, who committed suicide, on Friday said that they would 'expose the lies' propagated by Irani in the Parliament to divert the entire issue which has started troubling the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre. Accusing Irani of lying and attempting to divert attention from the entire issue, Rohith's mother Radhika Vemula said that her son did not receive a stipend for seven months. Rohith, who committed suicide, last month, was among the five research scholars suspended by the Hyderabad University in August last year over an alleged assault case. The matter took a political turn with allegations that the extreme step taken by Rohith was a result of discrimination against Dalit students at the behest of Union Minister of State for Labour Bandaru Dattatreya, following his letter to the Union HRD Minister, seeking action against their 'anti- acts'. Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi on Saturday said that it was his view that the sedition case against five students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) should be transferred to its Special Cell. "The police is interrogating Kanhaiya Kumar and the other accused. The investigating officer will take a call after that... I have asked that investigation should be transferred to special cell. It would take about a day or two," Bassi said. "It becomes difficult for the police to carry out focussed investigation in this case as they have other responsibilities as well. I believe the special cell would be able to do justice with the investigation," he added. The police had yesterday conducted a joint questioning of the three JNU students -Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya. Today, a fourth student, Ashtosh Kumar, was also questioned by the police. The students are facing sedition charges for allegedly raising 'anti-national' slogans at the JNU campus during an event to commemorate Parliament attacker Afzal Guru's third death anniversary on February 9. The die-hard Pakistani fan of Virat Kohli, who was arrested last month for hoisting the Indian flag on the rooftop of his house, has been granted bail by a court. According to the Dawn, the Additional district and Sessions court in Okara admitted bail plea of Umer Daraz, whose initial bail plea was rejected by a local magistrate last week. The court also ordered Daraz to furnish a surety bond worth Rs 50,000. Daraz was celebrating Kohli's knock of 90 not out, which set up India's 37-run win in the first of three Twenty20 internationals against Australia in January. Police arrested Daraz after conducting a raid on his home and registered a case under the Maintenance of Public Order. The detained man then revealed that he was fan of India's Test captain Kohli and that he had photographs of the swashbuckling batsman pasted on the walls of his house. Daraz also said that he had no idea that he had committed a blunder by hoisting the Indian flag. Congress leader Digvijaya Singh was on Saturday granted bail by a local court here in connection with the Madhya Pradesh recruitment scam. An arrest warrant was issued against the Congress leader after he failed to appear in court for the hearing. Singh is accused to have a connection in the alleged recruitment scam at the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Secretariat in Bhopal between 1993 and 2003 during his tenure as chief minister. In February last year, the Jahangirabad police had registered a case against Singh, former Speaker Sriniwas Tiwari and others for alleged forgery, conspiracy, cheating, and misuse of office as well as offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act following a complaint filed by the Assembly Secretariat about irregularities in recruitment between 1993 and 2003. A total of 24 people are accused in the case. The first eyewitness in the case of the mass gang rape of women on Highway No.1 during the Jat reservation agitation, came forward on Friday saying that the women were assaulted by a group of youngsters who came on motorcycles and dragged into the fields. "I saw some of the protestors ripping off the clothes of the women and taking them in the fields. I saw it myself with my own eyes that they tore the clothes of the women. They were moving on two wheelers and they were between the age of 20 to 26 years of age," said the eye witness. When asked if he could identify the culprits, he said, "I can identify them if they are brought forward." The eye witness further said that at around 2 p.m, while he was struck in the road jam, the miscreants set his truck and other vehicles on fire. "The women walking on road were advised by protestors to take the village road to escape attack and then they were robbed and raped in the fields," he added. The Haryana Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police Rajshri Singh who is heading committee to probe the rape incidents said that if eyewitness comes to them they will record the statement. The investigating committee members may be contacted by victims on their mobile phones. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had taken suo moto cognizance of a report of mass gang rape of women in Murthal near Sonepat on February 22. After being announced tax-free in Maharashtra and Gujurat, Sonam Kapoor starrer 'Neerja' is now tax-free in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh as well. Array The 30-year-old actress recently took to her Twitter handle and announced the news by writing, #Neerja is tax free in #uttarpradesh! thank you @yadavakhilesh sir! Thank you for doing this.. We feel so blessed!" Array The 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo' actress thanked Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Admi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal for making Ram Madhvani's directorial tax free in Delhi as well. Array She tweeted, "Thank you @ArvindKejriwal sir for this!! #delhi is also tax free!! Team #Neerja is very grateful! Array Previously, the director of the flick Ram Madhvani said in a statement that they wanted the film to be made tax free so that stories like 'Neerja' can reach to maximum people. Array 'Neerja,' which was released on 19 February, narrates the story of a Pan Am purser, who was felled by hijackers bullets while saving the passengers during the Pan Am holdup at Karachi airport on September 5 1986. While the tinsel town was bubbling up with the fizz of Sooraj Pancholi's romance with Pakistani actress Mawra Hocane, the actor has tagged it as false news. Array The 25-year-old actor took to his Twitter handle and addressed the rumours on his alleged romance with the 'Sanam Teri Kasam' star. Array He wrote, "These rumors about @MawraHocane and me are false! Don't know how some people get such random thoughts .." Array Meanwhile, talking about her upcoming projects in India, Mawra said, "I'm currently considering a few projects in India and Pakistan. But I can't comment with any certainty about the details of those projects or the leads. The Students Union of India (NSUI) will today stage a protest outside Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani's residence for telling lies in Parliament over the death of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula. Yesterday, Vemula's family and friends had attacked Irani, calling her speech in Parliament a set of "absolute lies". "Smriti Irani, this is not a serial, this is real life. Bring out the facts, don't fabricate them," said Rohith's mother Radhika Vemula in Delhi, flanked by her other son and Rohith's friends. On Wednesday, Smriti Irani had said in her reply to a debate in the Lok Sabha: "This is how politics was played on this child and his dead body. Nobody allowed a doctor near him. The police has reported... Not one attempt was made to revive this child. Not one attempt was made to take him to a doctor. Instead his body was used as a political tool. Hidden. No police was allowed till 6.30 the next morning. Not me, but the Telangana police is saying this." Rohith's brother Raja said: "These were absolute lies. The intent was to divert focus from an issue that has started troubling the BJP. Police here have detained two drivers from Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain's convoy and moved them to an unknown location for interrogation. Array The president, who is on a one-day visit to the Punjab provincial capital, was on his way back after attending a ceremony at the Pearl Continental Hotel when his convoy was stopped at Church Chowk in the city's Cantonment area, CCPO Lahore Ameen Wains told the Dawn. Array He said two cars part of the motorcade were moving slower than they were supposed to, adding that both drivers had been picked up for questioning. Array Deputy Inspector General Haider Ashraf tolthat security in the provincial capital was on high alert and special check posts were established due to the president's visit. In a first of its kind and the worst ever violence during Jat agitation in the state of Haryana recently, while it is a story of pain and anguish, staff of some of the prominent restaurants on the busy national highway turned out to be good Samaritans saving hundreds of lives. They went beyond their usual hospitality by offering free stay and food to those who were stuck inside. A frequent traveler is well acquainted with the famous Haveli in Murthal, which is a favorite among the people for its delicacies in pure Punjabi flavor. There were over 40 guests who had to stay inside the palatial Punjabi restaurant which had never in its existence of 8 years seen such a dangerous situation. Array "We had over 40 guests on February 20th when around 11:30 am our staff noticed over 500 people getting together and had started blocking the highway," said Mohak Jain, owner of Haveli. Array "The area SHO came over and warned us to ask all the guests to leave as the situation was turning dangerous because of rioting crowds approaching the area. Our staff however didn't do that and instead cleared the entire area from cars parked there so that the unruly crowds do not torch them and keeping the safety of our guests as priority, asked the people to stay inside," he added. Array Jain added since the situation only turned bad to worse the guests were fed with meals inside and were asked to sleep on couches provided inside the restaurant till the situation turned safe enough to move out. However by next morning at seven am the restaurant had over 200 more panic-stricken guests seeking shelter at Haveli. Array "We looked after them as threat to their lives was looming large outside," he said, adding, the nearby villagers came to our rescue and when we were close to being attacked they thwarted the attempt of rioting mob to do so. Even the villagers who guarded the property were provided with food as they religiously made it sure no harm was done to the people inside. Array Even the army had by that time taken over and prevented any mishap. Other eateries on the highway where several families were stuck, were also saved from the tragedy because of timely intervention preventing the unruly mob from running amok and attacking the innocent people. Array Manjit Singh Sarang, Director, Punjab and Sind Bank was going from Chandigarh to Delhi along with his colleagues for a meeting when on their way they stopped over at Haveli at 8:30 am on Saturday. They were informed there that there was some trouble ahead and the road had been blocked. Array "I had never in my life seen national highway being blocked, but on the advice of the restaurant staff we decided to stay back. We were told to remove our vehicles from the front and park them behind the restaurant building. The staff there ensured we were fed properly and we were told there was nothing to worry as the 150-strong staff stood outside guarding us," said Sarang. Array He added all those stuck inside were told to eat whatever they wanted to and were allowed all services including stay without any cost. "At a time when airlines were fleecing people with inflated costs, it was heartening to see the gesture of Haveli staff, which refused to even accept money when offered by us," he added. Array The restaurant was on that traumatic night locked from outside and the lights were switched off so that the mob doesn't know there were people inside. Even when there was fear that the mob was approaching, later it brought relief to guests that the mob had moved towards Sonipat. The next day Sarang and his colleagues noticed traffic coming from Chandigarh and managed to come back safely. He however complained the police failed provide any security to the people. Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar has said Delhi police didn't arrest the person who assaulted him in the Patiala House Court premises even after he was identified by him. In a video clip aired by television channels purportedly shows Kanhaiya, saying "They (mob) came till the gate of the court and one man came chasing after me to the next room and sat behind me. I told my teacher that this is the man who thrashed me. When the police asked that person for his identity he countered by asking the policeman to show his identity card." "I told the police that this man had assaulted me, but he was not arrested and was let off," he added. Kanhaiya further said he could identify the attacker because this person was the first one to attack him at the court gate. "I was told that this person was removed from the courtroom on the direction of the high court authorities. He didn't pay heed to what the police said. This person left the court in front of the police and police didn't take any action," he added. Narrating the whole episode to the Supreme Court panel Kanhaiya said police took him to the court premises, protecting him from media. "Then a mob which wore lawyers robe, attacked me. It happened just after I entered the gate. It looked as if they were prepared to attack me on my arrival, because those who were beating me, were also calling on others to do the same. The place from where we enter the court, there is a machine, while pushing me through that machine my pants came off, I suffered injuries. They bashed me with punches and kicks to my stomach. I was beaten by one after the another lawyer," he described. He further said he was almost disrobed during the entire violence. The JNUSU president further said the lawyers also thrashed the police personnel escorting him. "I was not able to see as to what the other policemen were doing, because I was knocked down and was beaten," he said. Kanhaiya said he doubted whether people who had attacked him were lawyers, pointing out that they may be 'highly politically motivated persons'. Kanhaiya's lawyer, Vrindra Grover, can also be seen in the video, claiming the police failure to protect his client from assault. "When we were entering there was lot of sloganeering, we felt anxious and there was fear in us. I told police and the registrar general to ensure the safety of Kanhaiya as there was a hostile environment. Our phones were taken away, our identity cards were checked," Grover said. "The man, who attacked Kanhaiya, came in the court and left the court. I repeatedly made appeals to police to put security for Kanhaiya, but they didn't do that. They kept nodding and didn't provide security. The senior most police personnel allow him to go and later they come and tell us that they don't know who that person was," she added. In the video, lawyer Kapil Sibal asked Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi District) Jatin Narwal as to why police didn't arrest the person Kanhaiya identified. "When they came to you and told that this person was beating Kanhaiya, why didn't you arrest him? How did you let the attack take place in the court premises? The person who didn't even wear a black coat, how could you allow him to enter the courtroom? When Kanhaiya pointed out that person why didn't you arrest that person?" Sibal asked. "I immediately rushed as I didn't know; this was the person who had attacked Kanhaiya," DCP Narwal said. Prince William, who recently attended the RBS 6 Nations Wales v France game at the Principality Stadium in Wales, gushed over his daughter in front of a pool of reporters. Array The Duke of Cambridge joked; "Please tell me it gets easier" before he clarified that Princess Charlotte is very easy, reports E! Online. Array The 33-year-old Prince added that all fathers say to him when daughters turn nine or 11 they get crazy, to which he replies that he is looking forward to it as there will be some drama. Array He added that things are going very well since the addition of their little girl this past May. Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sharing the link of HRD Minister Smriti Irani's fiery speech in the Parliament on his Twitter handle, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, has in a tit-for-tat gesture, posted a Youtube link of Rohith Vemula's mother's press conference, which was held yesterday. Rahul, in his tweet, wrote, "Satyameva Jayate... Modiji do hear these words of Rohith Vemula's mother", followed by the link of the video. Meanwhile, a day after accusing Irani of misrepresenting facts related to her son's death, Radhika Vemula met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and senior Janata Dal (United) leader K.C. Tyagi here today. The friends and family members of Rohith Vemula had yesterday, at a press conference in Delhi, said that they would expose the lies propagated by Irani in the Parliament. Accusing Irani of lying and attempting to divert attention from the entire issue, Radhika Vemula said that her son did not receive the stipend for seven months. Rohith, who committed suicide last month, was among the five research scholars suspended by the Hyderabad University in August last year over an alleged assault case. The matter took a political turn with allegations that the extreme step taken by Rohith was a result of discrimination against Dalit students at the behest of Union Minister of State for Labour Bandaru Dattatreya, following his letter to the Union HRD Minister, seeking action against their 'anti- acts'. According to the locals, the explosion occurred outside a local Tinamul Congress activist's courtyard. Police officers, who rushed to the village, refused to confirm that the under-construction house, partially damaged in the explosion, belonged to a Trinamul leader. No one was arrested in the case till the reports last came in. Guns fell silent across Syria on Saturday after a landmark UN-backed ceasefire came into effect, and a special task force composed of rivals Moscow and Washington prepared to begin monitoring the fledgling truce. The ceasefire came into effect at midnight yesterday in Syria., reports Guardian . This is the first major truce in five years of civil war that has claimed more than 2.7 lakh lives. The cease-fire aims to bring representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition back to the negotiating table in Geneva for talks. Syrian government and the opposition, including nearly 100 rebel groups, have said they will abide by the cease-fire despite serious skepticism about chances for successs of a political transition. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said Syria peace talks which collapsed earlier this month in Geneva would resume on March 7 if the ceasefire holds and more aid is delivered. Less than an hour before the ceasefire, the UN Security Council gave its unanimous backing to a resolution drafted by the US and Russia, demanding that it be upheld. Syrian government and the opposition, including nearly 100 rebel groups, have said they will abide by the cease-fire despite serious skepticism about chances for success. Iran, another key Assad ally, has said it is confident the regime will abide by the agreement. In a letter to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, Abdul Hamid Khan, the Chairman of the Balawaristan National Front (BNF) has claimed that the Government of Pakistan is doing its utmost to destroy the traditional local identity of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan by imposing the Urdu language which is spoken by only eight percent of the country's population. The continued use of Urdu as the language of instruction has contributed to political tensions in Pakistan, he said. Maintaining that 72,000 square kilometres of Gilgit-Pakistan was currently under Pakistan's illegal occupation; Khan said this was a blatant violation of UNCIP resolutions of April 28, 1949. He accused Islamabad of fabricating a fraudulent non-inclusive agreement on April 28, 1949, on the very day when UNCIP had asked Pakistan to withdraw its forces from this disputed part. "Pakistan has been constantly violating the fundamental human rights of the people of PoGB, including their civil rights, right of vote to choose their representatives for the parliament, right of free speech, right to have a share in the revenue from the natural resources (including water, gold, Uranium and various mines like copper and molybdenum, which is used by China in its space technology), and the right to seek fair justice. The entire two million population is a victim of Pakistan's relentless violation of UNCIP resolutions and Universal Declaration of Human Rights," the BNF Chairman said. In his letter, Khan listed six points derived from the official records of UN Security Council on Gilgit Baltistan and Jammu and Kashmir, under The United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP): . All persons (other than citizens of the State) who on or since 15 August 1947 have entered it for other than lawful purposes, shall be required to leave the State; . There is no threat, coercion or intimidation, bribery or other undue influence on the voters in the plebiscite; . No restrictions are placed on legitimate political activity throughout the State. There shall be freedom of press, speech and assembly and freedom of travel in the State, including freedom of lawful entry and exit; . All political prisoners are released; . Minorities in all parts of the State are accorded adequate protection; and . There is no victimization. He said that what has happened is instead of forces being withdrawn immediately, Pakistan has multiplied its military personnel in the region by thousands of times more. There is no freedom of speech, right to peaceful political assembly, right to free travel and political activities. Issuing death threats and intimidation to politically affiliated human rights activists in the region has become a daily routine of Pakistani occupation regime, he added. Array Reminding Secretary General Moon of the UNCIP truce terms agreed upon on April 28, 1949, the BNP chairman said article 177 clearly stated that "territory evacuated by the Pakistan troops will be administered by the local authorities under the surveillance of the commission." But, what was actually taking place was administrative management and governance by a fraudulent organ named GBLA (Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly) that was befooling the international community. "GBLA has so far submitted all of its resolutions to the Ministry of GB and J&K Affairs Islamabad, which is not even bound to respond," Khan said in his letter. "Despite the fact that Pakistan has no right to establish its own political and religious parties in this disputed part, it continuously encourages, promotes and supports its own political and religious parties while actively discouraging, threatening, and arresting indigenous nationalist political parties with full state power. Pakistan occupation regime also actively engages in running their rumour-mills to malign every influential nationalist person, by labelling them as agents of RAW, CIA, or Mossad," he added. "We also want to let the community know that the deployment of Pakistan Army in Gilgit-Baltistan by forcefully evicting indigenous people from their lands in Chilas and other areas to construct more and more Military cantonments is serious violation of UN resolutions," he said. "There is no legal, constitutional and judicial mechanism in place in Pakistan Occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB) to protect people from human rights violations, except the UN and civilized world," Khan said. "The BNF appeals to the UNSC, UN, and the EU to put pressure on China and Pakistan to end the occupation of Gilgit Baltistan and to abandon the so-called CPEC by following their obligations under UN resolutions. The UN should also ask Pakistan to end its illegal occupation of Chitral and Shenaki Kohistan, allowing the local people to rule their Motherland as their birth right," he concluded. The US State Department has defended their decision to sell F-16 aircraft to Pakistan saying that the planes were being used in counter-terrorism operations by the country. According to the Dawn, the Pakistan Embassy in Washington appreciated the Obama administration's determination to go ahead with the proposed sale. The deal, however, is facing severe opposition in the US Congress where lawmakers have moved resolutions both in the House and the Senate, seeking to block the sale. "We support the proposed sale of eight F-16s to Pakistan to assist Pakistan's counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations. Pakistan's current F-16s have proven critical to the success of these operations to date," State Department spokesperson Helaena W. White she added. India, and some US lawmakers, have rejected this claim, saying that the F-16s have not been useful in such operations and would ultimately be used against India. However, White said that the operations that were being conducted by Pakistan with the help of F-16s, "reduce the ability of militants to use Pakistani territory as a safe haven for terrorism and a base of support for the insurgency in Afghanistan." She also noted that "these operations are in the national interests of Pakistan, the United States, Nato, and in the interest of the region more broadly." A spokesman for the Pakistan Embassy, Nadeem Hotiana, pointed out that the US administration had already notified Congress of its 'determination' to sell F-16s to Pakistan. "The public notification clearly articulates the reasons for the prospective sale," he added. "We appreciate the public assessment of the US leaders in response to Congressional enquiries that Pakistan has used F-16s effectively against terrorists and the subject sale is also intended to strengthen Pakistan's capacity to continue the ongoing operations," the embassy said. At least one person was killed and two others injured after a crude bomb exploded in Birbhum district of West Bengal. Array According to sources, the crude bombs were allegedly being made in the house of a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader. Array The injured have been a rushed to a nearby hospital. Almost 2,000 people took to the streets here on Saturday in a demonstration in support of refugees' rights, public broadcaster RTBF reported. The march in the Belgian capital was part of a coordinated day of action in 100 cities across Europe, from Albania to Norway, organised by citizens' rights groups calling for a safe passage for refugees seeking protection in Europe. Doctors Without Borders and Amnesty International were among the groups represented, RBTF reports, adding refugees also took part in the demonstration. Demonstrators carried survival blankets along the route of the march, which will be sent to the Greek islands, an entry point for refugees into European Union. At least 35 civilians were set free from a Taliban militants' prison overnight by Afghan Special Operations forces, the defence ministry said on Saturday. "Those released included five women, five men and 25 children. They were rescued following a special operation from a Taliban prison in Nad Ali district, Helmand province last night," Xinhua cited the ministry as saying in a statement. "Up to seven armed militants were also detained following the raid," the statement reads. Helmand, notorious for poppy growing, is also a known Taliban stronghold. Some 120 people, including soldiers and military officers, had been released in Helmand in similar operations over the past two months. Since January 1 last year, Afghan security forces have assumed the full security charges from NATO and US forces after the foreign troops switched from combat to support role, which focuses on training, advising and assisting Afghan forces. In addition, four Taliban were killed and two others detained after the Afghan Special Operation Force conducted a night raid operation against a Taliban hideout in northern Kunduz province, the statement noted. The AAP in Goa on Saturday accused BJP workers of manhandling them and raising 'Pakistan Murdabad' slogans during a face-off at the DefExpo site at Betul village, 45 km from here late Friday. Addressing a press conference, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Valmiki Naik accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition government in Goa of trying to impose the Expo on Betul in South Goa, without following transparent processes. "We were present at the DefExpo site waiting to meet the chief minister and ask him for clarifications. Two BJP MLAs and other party workers started manhandling us and shouting slogans like 'Pakistan Murdabad'. They should stop branding people like this," Naik said. Speaking to IANS, state BJP president Vinay Tendulkar said he was unaware of the incident. "Maybe the BJP workers were protesting against what is happening at the JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University) which is why the slogans," Tendulkar said. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar visited the DefExpo 2016 site to take stock of the preparations for hosting the event. Traditionally held in the national capital, the Defence Expo is scheduled to be held in Goa this year because a new convention centre is being built at its regular venue Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. However, the DefExpo 2016, which is the ninth in the series of biennial Land, Naval and Internal Homeland Security Systems Exhibitions organised by the Defence Ministry, has attracted opposition from the ruling BJP-led coalition government's political opponents as well as a section of the civil society over the allocation of six lakh sq mts of land at Betul. Parsekar and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, a former chief minister of Goa, however, said the land was only being handed over to the defence ministry on a temporary basis and the event would benefit local entrepreneurs and service providers. A court here on Saturday issued summon to former Communication minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi and four others in a money laundering case related to the Aircel-Maxis deal. After taking cognisance of the charge sheet, Special Judge O P Saini issued summons to the Marans, Kalanithi's wife Kavery Kalanithi, company South Asia FM Ltd (SAFL) and its Managing Director K Shanmugam and firm Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd (SDTPL) asking them to appear before him on July 11. The six were charge sheeted by Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 8 for money laundering of Rs 742.58 crore. ED counsel N K Matta, while requesting court to initiate proceedings against accused, said: "Dayanidhi Maran obtained the proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs 742.58 crore through the companies of his relatives by camouflaging the proceeds of crime as capital contribution in SDTPL and SAFL and has committed the offence of money laundering in receiving the said proceeds of crime in the said companies owned and controlled by his brother, Kalanithi Maran and Kavery Kalanithi." Dayanidhi Maran allegedly influenced a Malaysian businessman to buy Aircel by coercing its owner Sivasankaran to part with his stake. Maran favoured the Maxis Group in the takeover of his company, and in return, the Malaysian businessman's company made investments in a company stated to be owned by the Maran family. The money was paid to SDTPL and SAFL, both of which are owned and controlled by Kalanithi Maran, and utilised by the two companies in their business, ED said. The probe revealed that promoters of the SDTPL are Kalanithi Maran and Kavery Kalanithi. The team of Bollywood film "Sarbjit", including actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Randeep Hooda, has received permission to shoot close to the international border with Pakistan near Attari. Aishwarya is said to have requested government officials to grant permission for the Omung Kumar directorial, which is a biopic on Sarabjit Singh, an Indian farmer who was convicted of terrorism and spying in Pakistan and was sentenced to death. In the film, Randeep plays Sarabjit, and Aishwarya plays his sister Dalbir Kaur. "The makers were stuck when it came to final stage. And then the makers requested Aishwarya to intervene. She then agreed and requested (Home Minister) Rajnath Singh, and other important officials to grant the permission. And the authorities gave a thumbs up for the shoot," said a source aware of the developments. The crew will shoot for the sequence on Sunday and will eventually head to Delhi for a two-day shoot and then to Mumbai. The film is slated to hit the screens on May 19. An Algerian, suspected to be involved in the last year's terror attacks in Paris, has been arrested, an official said. A public prosecutor said on Saturday that the suspect was summoned by the judge of the Court of Akbou in the province of Bejaia, Xinhua news agency reported. The man was suspected of belonging to the terrorist group involved in the Paris bombing, the prosecutor said. The prosecutor, however, declined to provide more details, including the identity of the suspect, until the end of the investigation. Ashutosh Kumar, a student facing sedition charges for allegedly raising "anti-India" slogans on the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus, joined the police investigation on Saturday. The police on Friday night asked Ashutosh to join the investigation at R.K. Puram police station here. "Ashutosh, Rama Naga and Anant Prakash Narayan communicated to the police a few days ago their intention to join the enquiry, gave their contact number and told the police to call them whenever needed," said Sucheta De, national president of All India Students' Association (AISA), an organisation active in JNU. She said the police called Ashutosh on Friday night to come to the police station on Saturday morning. "So he has gone today. We were never resisting." The police has already been interrogating JNU Students' Union president Kanhaiya Kumar as well as two other students of the university Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya. Kanhaiya Kumar, who is currently in judicial custody, was arrested on February 12. Both Khalid and Bhattacharya surrendered before the police on Tuesday night. All students, including Ashutosh, Rama Naga and Anant, are facing the charges of raising "anti-national" slogans in an event organised on the JNU campus on February 9 to commemorate the execution of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. With his roots in Afghanistan, robab exponent Daud Khan Sadozai says that the art of Sufi devotional music with such musical instruments is diminishing in the world as there is less or no devotion among today's youngsters. Sadozai who has been in the profession since he was a child, said that when he learnt this art, music was taken very seriously and was worshipped by the students but now a days, the key to learning this style - patience - is lost. "At that time, musicians used to be serious, they worshipped the art. People have lost the power of patience today and now everything comes at a price so it has turned into show business. You need patience for these kind of arts because they are meditative in a way and it takes time to understand," Sadozai told IANS in an interview at the World Sacred Spirit Festival here. "For our profession, patience is of prime importance. Learning music and the art takes a long time but the youngsters today lack patience. These days, youngsters want everything immediately like fast food. It is a problem to tune instruments as it' s so difficult. It has 25 strings," he added. Noting that in the current scenario, a lot of artistes in Afghanistan have become refugees, Sadozai said that every thread of culture in Pakistan and Iran has vanished. "Change is coming in very quickly nowadays. In Afghanistan, in the last 30 years, a lot has been destroyed. Many artistes have become refugees. Every thread of culture in Pakistan and Iran, the knowledge imparted by the gurus and ustaads, is over," he said. He feels lucky that when he was learning, it was peaceful in Afghanistan and at "that time, all ustads (gurus) used to live in the same neighbourhood so we learnt there." With the same pattern in India, the internationally-renowned artist says that since the beginning, "it was difficult to find an ustad because not every one of them accepted disciples." "If the student lacked manners and grace, they were not accepted by the ustads but things have changed now. Even the character of people has changed. The spiritual music that we had, slowly turned into showbusiness," Sadozai said. With a number of festivals talking place across the globe, Sadozai said that more such need to organised. "More and more of these festivals should be organised. The problem in Europe is that it is always in crisis. They have plenty of money but festivals and culture have been cut off there. There is no money for the arts. We need people to appreciate the arts. But like I said, the generation is changing..." he lamented. Sadozai has studied the sarod, a descendent of the robab, with Ustad Amjad Ali Khan in India. Amjad Ali Khan's ancestors had brought the robab from Afghanistan to India and developped the Sarod from it. Sadozai has performed at various international music festivals in Fermany, France and the US. In India, he was twice honoured with the Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan Award in 1988 and in 1995. (The writer's trip is at the invitation of the Meherangarh Museum Trust. Kishori Sud can be contacted at kishori.s@ians.in) Trisha Ahmed, the daughter of slain writer-blogger Avijit Roy, remembers him as a fun dad who taught her to be informed, bold, and unafraid. Ahmed said her father has gained worldwide attention to the oppression and murder of scientific thought in Bangladesh, bdnews24.com reported. After a year of the Bangladesh-born US citizen's murder in Dhaka, Avijit's daughter recalled him as a person who treated her as his equal. "It felt strange to call him dad because he had the aura and wit of a fun uncle," said the second-year student at the Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore, US. Wit did not take away the seriousness with which Avijit approached rationalism, Ahmed said. "I know that Al-Qaeda, Islamic State (IS), and other manifestations of religious extremism are alive and well. But by writing and sharing my story, I am making my impact. I am slowly, thoughtfully, and certainly chipping away at the ideologies that seek to destroy us." On February 26, 2015, Avijit Roy was killed by Islamic fundamentalist in Bangladesh during his visit to Dhaka for the launching of his new book at Bangladesh Literature Festival. At least 100 student activists led by SFI were on Saturday prevented by police from meeting West Bengal Governor K.N. Tripathi to urge him to intervene and restore normalcy at Burdwan University which has been on the boil after police baton-charged a group of student agitators. During a protest march on Saturday in Kolkata, activists affiliated to four Left-wing organisations - the Students' Federation of India (SFI), All India Students Federation (AISF), All India Students' Block (AISB) and Progressive Students Union (PSU) - were stopped by police at Metro Channel, around 2 kms from Raj Bhavan. A scuffle ensued between the police and student leaders resulting in the arrest of 65 agitators, claimed SFI leader Vikas Jha. "Even though we brought the issue of irregularities in results and examinations to the attention of the state government, they failed to take any steps to normalise the situation. We want the entire matter to come to the governor's attention so that he can restore normalcy in the campus," he said. The protest was against the alleged "attack by Trinamool Congress workers on students who were on hunger strike" in the varsity on Friday. "Trinamool Congress goons brought from outside the campus backed by some of the staff of the university aligned with the Trinamool, attacked and beat up the students (who were on hunger strike) and injured several of them on Friday night," said Jha. Trinamool leader Sitaram Mukherjee however denied the allegations, asserting "none of the party's workers laid a hand on any of the students". "We had gone to the campus to rescue the faculty as they were locked up inside the premises during the students' agitation," he said. The ongoing agitation at the varsity was triggered by the baton-charge on students by police on February 23. The student agitators had allegedly vandalised the campus, about 100 km from Kolkata, over anomalies in undergraduate results and postponement of exams on February 22. Vice Chancellor Smritikumar Sarkar said the university administration was forced to seek police security after some agitators, pretending to be students, vandalised the campus. On February 23 TV grabs showed the agitators, affiliated to SFI, waving flags and trying to climb over the gate. Police were seen chasing them and resorting to baton-charge. Leader of the opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra criticised the state government over the issue saying "the ruling party's goons are threatening the common man". "It shows that the state government is terrified. They do not have any way but to attack," he told the media. State Minister Partha Chatterjee has urged the vice chancellor to look into the reported anomalies. "This matter is being exploited for political gain," he said. Seeking to put the Narendra Modi government on the defensive, the Congress and JD-U said on Saturday that they will bring a privilege motion against HRD minister Smriti Irani for "misleading parliament" over the suicide of Dalit student Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad university. Leaders of Left parties also said that they will move a privilege motion against the minister. At a press conference on Saturday, the Congress said that Irani's claims have been contested by Rohith's mother Radhika Vemula. "The Congress will move a privilege motion against the HRD minister for misleading the parliament," Congress general secretary Mukul Wasnik told reporters here. He was accompanied by party leaders Kumari Selja and Manish Tewari. "The minister has not only been economical with the truth but has also wilfully misled the parliament on the unfortunate suicide of a young Dalit student Rohith Vemula," Wasnik said. Hitting out at Irani, he said the BJP government was keen on quelling dissent. "The strong words from Rohith's mother, who has lost her son in particular to the HRD minister's campus is a stamp of how recklessly and ruthlessly their party is hell bent on clamping down the voices of dissent," he said. Radhika Vemula had on Friday accused Irani of lying in parliament about cricumstances surrounding death of her son. Wasnik said Radhika Vemula had said that she wanted to meet Irani and ask her about the basis on which her son had been termed "anti-national". He said some friends of Rohith Vemula had also contradicted statements given by the minister. Congress leaders said breach of privilege notices would be given in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Janata Dal-United leader K. C. Tyagi said he will give a notice for privilege motion in the Rajya Sabha along with nominated member K.T. S. Tulsi on Monday. Communist Party of India leader D. Raja also said that Left parties will also give notice for privilege motion against Irani. The Indian Railways should look at the option of taking out a master personal accident insurance policy for its passengers, those with confirmed/reserved tickets, according to industry officials. The railways cannot absolve itself of the liability to passengers even if it offers a facility to buy travel insurance at the time of ticket-booking, said insurance industry officials. Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu while presenting the railway budget for 2016-17 said railways is working with insurance companies to provide optional travel insurance for rail journeys at the time of booking. Talking to IANS, industry officials expressed surprise at Prabhu's statement. "The railways used to have a public liability policy issued by United India Insurance Company Ltd. till mid-2000s. The policy would compensate the railways for compensation paid against liability claims," a senior official of United India Insurance, requesting anonymity, told IANS. However, industry officials welcomed Prabhu's statement. "We welcome the move. It will increase the spread of insurance. A master personal accident insurance policy seems to be a good idea," R. Chandrasekaran, secretary general, General Insurance Council of India, told IANS. While the move may get some non-traffic revenue for the railways, how far people would opt for a travel insurance policy is a million dollar question. The industry officials cite the personal accident policy sales to domestic airline passengers as an example. On the other hand, if the railways opt for a master personal accident insurance policy covering passengers with reserved tickets, it can, in a way, cut down its outgo to accident victims. For the insurers, the risk exposure towards a passenger is only limited to the actual duration of the journey. The insurers can issue a policy to various railway regions -- southern railway, central railway and others -- so that premium could be charged based on the accident experience. "While the premium may be low in providing death, total and permanent partial disability covers, the policyholder base would log a quantum jump. Insurance is nothing but a business of large numbers," an industry official told IANS. As per official data, India has the fourth largest railroad network in the world with some 64,460 route km, after the US (224,792), Russia (128,000) and China (112,00). Nearly 21,000 trains ply daily to ferry 23 million passengers. The network spans 29 states and three union territories via some 8,500 stations. It criss-crosses Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir in the north to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu in the south and Ledo in Assam in the east to Naliya in Gujarat in the west. After 70 years, democracy is finally arriving at the UN for the election of its next head. It will also be the first with women running for the top job. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's successor is to be chosen in a process that will be "historic and game-changing" with an open election campaign, General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft announced Friday. It will replace the Security Council's secretive backroom deal-making of the past that India and many other countries have opposed. This will be the first time that candidates will come before all the members of the UN for an American-style campaign Town Hall meeting where candidates face questions about their policies and plans, but do not directly interact with each other like in a debate. Lykketoft said that three women are among the six running to succeed Ban, whose term ends this year. The emergence of women candidates is another historic development and it is almost certain that one of them would be elected as there has been tremendous pressure from civil society groups and international leaders to elect a woman. Irina Bokova, the Bulgarian head of Unesco, is widely thought to be the front-runner. The Assembly will hold over three days in April a "dialogue" with the six candidates nominated by their governments and any others who announce their run by then, Lykketoft said. The meetings will be "open and transparent" and even civil society organisations will participate, he declared. And, the Assembly will have a chance to evaluate them and influence the election instead of rubber-stamping a Security Council choice. Lykketoft told reporters the organisation was now heading into the "unchartered territory that the General Assembly takes on itself with these informal talks" with the candidates. Asked if this could mean that the Assembly can actually determine who the next secretary general will be, Lykketoft said that "this could be a game-changer if all the countries come together with one candidate" in the Assembly whom the Council accepts because of the overwhelming support for that person. He also said that it would be possible for the Assembly to vote down every candidate proposed by the Council until the one it favored is proposed. But he added that this scenario was unlikely. Answering a question whether a permanent member of the Council could veto the selection of a candidate, Lykketoft said that though this has been the tradition so far, "it is very questionable there is a veto power on a procedural issue" like this. All the eight secretaries general in the UN's 70-year history have been men and although a system of regional rotation has been in place since the election of Myanmar's U Thant in 1961, no East European has held the job. Now it is a European's turn to follow Asia's Ban and East Europe is staking it claim, giving the women from the region an edge. Besides Bokova, the other women nominated by their governments are Vesna Pusic, the first deputy prime minister of Croatia who also holds the foreign affairs portfolio, and Natalia Gherman, a former acting prime minister and deputy prime minister of Moldova. The three men running for the job are Danilo Turk, the former president of Slovenia; Srgjan Kerim the former foreign minister of Macedonia, who has also been a president of the UN General Assembly, and Igor Lusic, the foreign minister of Montenegro, who was a former prime minister. India has advocated an open selection process for the secretary general like the one adopted now and the Assembly having the choice of several candidates. Last April, India's then Permanent Representative Asoke Kumar Mukerji told a panel on reforming the election process that the Council should present a slate of candidates, rather than just one, to the general assembly, which should elect one of them by two-thirds of the votes. Lykketoft noted this suggestion and another to limit the secretary general to a single term but longer than the present five years. A decision has yet to be made on these, he said. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in) England fast bowler Steven Finn has been ruled out of the World Twenty20 to be held in India from March 15 to April 3. The 26-year-old pulled out because of a left calf problem. Prior to the injury, he had to sit out England's tour of South Africa in January with a side strain, BBC reported on Friday. Finn took to Twitter to express his disappointment. "Really disappointed to have picked up another injury on my road to recovery. Gutted doesn't describe it. Good luck to the guys out there!" Finn posted. Finn has been replaced by pacer Liam Plunkett. The 30-year-old was in the England team for the T20 leg of the South Africa tour but did not play. England start their World T20 campaign against West Indies on March 16. Mahatma Gandhi saw a future in which India was not an armed nation, a Japanese author has said. "Gandhi said that India should be non-armed and should be dependent on the goodwill of other nations," Yamaguchi Hiroichi said at the launch of his book "How Relevant is Gandhi Today? A Japanese Perspective" organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) here on Friday. This was but one of three things he meant by the Japanese view of Gandhi, Hiroichi, described as a great friend of India and a former writer in residence at the Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University in Wardha, said. He said Gandhi was also influenced by the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05. "Japan became very popular in Asia after it won a tough war against Russia," Hiroichi said. He said Gandhi, in his 1909 book "Hind Swaraj", had a very clear idea of how India should be developed and was against popular industrialised nations' concept of being militarily and economically strong. "He wanted something in the middle," the Japanese scholar said. Thirdly, he said, Gandhi, in his journal Harijan that came out just before the 1942 Quit India Movement as World War II was going on, said that Japan should not come to India as an aggressor. "Gandhi said Japan should not come to India as an aggressor or we will fight you through non-violence. In case of Japan attacking India, Gandhi though of resisting through villages and peasants," Hiroichi said. At the same time, he said that Gandhi did not go far enough in several important areas like agricultural development, widow remarriage and abolition of the caste system. "Gandhi himself admitted that he was ignorant about agriculture and that he was a Bania. Even among his close circle there was hardly anyone who knew much about agriculture," Hiroichi said. His book is the seventh in a series of 10 books on Gandhi that are being edited by R.P. Mishra, former vice-chancellor of Allahabad University, the last three volumes scheduled to be released within this year. In the panel discussion that followed after the launch of the book, Mishra said that Gandhi's relevance should not be seen in terms of the present and the past. "The relevance of Gandhi should not be seen in terms of the present and the past but in terms of the future also for the sake of entire humanity," he said. "It is because of Gandhi that there is no colonial power in the world today." Retired diplomat and former ICCR director general P.A. Nazareth, himself an expert on the subject, said that Gandhi's freedom movement was a lesson in management. "In the 33 years between Gandhi's return to India in 1915 and his assassination in 1948, two world wars happened," he said. "And here came a man with two words - truth and non-violence - and brought freedom for India. It is the greatest lesson in management," Nazareth said. ICCR Director General C. Rajasekhar, who launched Hiroichi's book, said that he would like to anchor more studies and research on Gandhi from the environmental perspective. A 19-year-old German national has complained to the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) via an e-mail that she was raped and assaulted by an auto-driver in the city on December 14, an official statement said on Saturday. The Commission received an e-mail from the victim on February 5 informing about the incident. However, the victim was not in Delhi and came to the DCW on February 19. The victim told the Commission that she had walked out of her hotel room at night and got lost in the alleyways. "She asked for directions from an auto driver. Instead of dropping her safely to her hotel room, the auto driver assaulted and raped her in the dark," the DCW statement said. "She somehow managed to get away and ran into another street when the auto driver found her again, this time with a group of men sitting inside the auto. They all ran towards her and started molesting her when she bit the tongue of one of them and he yelled - causing enough commotion for them to get afraid lest someone (should) hear them, and run away," read the statement narrating the victim's complaint. "Devastated, she wandered towards the main road and sat down on the pavement. A young man who was returning home from work found her in that state and without asking her about what happened to her. He dropped her back to her hotel. The victim was too scared to go to the police because she was in a foreign land, very young and not sure of what to do," it added. "Since the time she wrote to the Commission, she was not in Delhi. The Commission asked her to come to Delhi and encouraged her to file a complaint with police. "The victim came to the Commission on the evening of February 19 and the Commission immediately counselled her and helped her report her case to the Police February 20 after which the police facilitated her medical examination on the same day," it added. DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal had issued a notice to the DCP (Central) for non-filling of an FIR, it was finally filed on February 24 night at Prasad Nagar police station. BJP national President Amit Shah on Saturday described Gujarat as a "fort of the BJP", asserting the party would form the government in the state after the 2017 assembly elections. Shah, who arrived here for the first time after once again becoming the party's president, said the BJP victory in the 2017 elections would "shatter the hopes of the opponents who are day-dreaming". During his felicitation ceremony at Ahmedabad airport, Shah said: "Gujarat was, is and will remain a fort of BJP." Without naming the opposition Congress, Shah said BJP's zealous workers have fanned out in every nook and cranny of the state and would prove wrong all those "who have been day-dreaming about change of power in Gujarat". He said the party workers' target in the state was victory and they were ready to clear "any difficulties and thorns in the way". Shah, however, did not elaborate on the difficulties that the party could face in the run up to the 2017 assembly elections. "In 2017, the chants of 'long live BJP' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' would reverberate. We will win even more convincingly under the guidance of Narendrabhai (Modi) to serve the 6 crore Gujaratis again," he said, avoiding any reference to Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, who was present. "The win won't be a full stop, but just a comma before an even better future of the state. We will celebrate even the golden jubilee of our win," he said. Stating that the party was now ruling in 13 states and at the Centre where it was the first party to get absolute majority in 20 years, Shah said: "The party with the humble beginning as Jan Sangh in 1950 had never imagined it." "This is not a political journey but a journey of ideology. Under the successful leadership of Narendrabhai our government is marching ahead for all-inclusive growth taking into account the poor, farmers, labourers, Dalits, tribals and other backward classes," Shah added. He said of the last six assembly elections, the BJP had won four and formed a government in those states. "We lost only in Delhi and Bihar. But in Delhi, our percentage of votes did not diminish while in Bihar it even jumped up by a good margin," he said. Shah, also a local BJP legislator from Naranpura constituency, was accorded a warm welcome on his arrival here. Chief Minister Anandiben, her ministerial colleagues, state in-charge of the party Dinesh Sharma, national vice president Purushottam Rupala and other top state party leaders were present to receive him at the airport. Newly appointed Gujarat BJP President Vijay Rupani was also felicitated in the presence of Shah. It's not just her role as union Minister for Women and Child Development that keeps Maneka Gandhi busy. A lover of art and craft, she says she has a soft corner for designers like Madhu Jain, who stay in touch with the country's heritage. "I like designers who stay with heritage and for the last 30 years, I have seen that Madhu works fairly on reviving and preserving Ikat, Shibori and Benarasi work. She is very committed towards cutural rejuvenation and for me, that's very important," Maneka Gandhi told IANS. She shared her love towards heritage during Jain's showcase of Uzbek-inspired Ikats, alongside a retrospective of her signature Andhra Pradesh and Odisha Ikat styles into which she has infused the Buddhist Mandala design inputs from the textile traditions of Thailand. The minister, who shared that she loves wearing creations by Jain, also said that the government's 'Make in India' initiative India will help many artisans and craftspeople. "'Make in India' and the revival of heritage will certainly help thousands of artisans as basically they are the ones who will improve the country's economy. We have over 50,000 prints... in terms of weaving, crafts, jewellery and so many other things and each one is beautiful. "Hence, it is really important that we must be proud of ourselves and the government's work of promoting it," she said. In her nearly three decade-long career, Jain has experimented extensively with textiles and continues to innovate to craft unique blends that are characteristically true to her natural fibres label. This spring, she takes the craft to a new level, by introducing the motifs and weaves of Ikat from Uzbekistan into her design repertoire. Just as Prime Minister Narendra Modi described MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) as a living monument to the Congress's decades-old neglect of rural distress, the quota system is the fallout of, first, a similar prolonged failure in the fields of employment and education and, secondly, of political chicanery. Haryana is bearing the brunt of these failures because of the violent agitation by the Jat community for reservations. Originally envisaged as a gesture for a limited period to the Dalits and Adivasis who suffered social and economic deprivation for many centuries, reservations are now regarded as a pathway to easy official jobs and out-of-turn admissions to government schools and colleges by the backward castes. In view of these advantages, which over-ride merit, the quota system has become a tool in the hands of vote-hungry politicians for buttressing their support bases. The prime villain in this respect was prime minister V.P. Singh, who included the backward castes in the quota system in 1990 as a safeguard against being undercut by his rival, Devi Lal. The Pandora's box was thus opened with more and more communities seeking the benefits of secure jobs in government offices and seats for their children in public educational institutions. However, it is the stagnant economy and a moribund educational sector which fuelled the demand for preferential treatment. Had the economy prospered and a greater number of jobs been available, there wouldn't have been such a rush for reservations. A buoyant economy would have created an atmosphere of wellness, encouraging greater public and private investment in the educational sector. But the 2/3 percent Hindu rate of growth under the Congress's "socialist" regimes till 1991 ensured that the economy limped along, aggravating the unemployment problem and starving the academic sphere of funds. The post-1991 era of liberalization did not bring about a dramatic improvement in the situation despite the much higher growth rate because the world had entered a period of automated technology where machines did the work of men. Hence the term 'jobless growth'. Although more jobs were available than before in the services, real estate and infrastructure sectors, they were not enough to satisfy the growing demand, which was caused not only by a rising population but also the limited availability of agricultural land as the farming families grew in numbers. Needless to say, it is not only the failures on the economic front which added to the appeal of reservations but also an official inability to enforce the population control programme. The distortion which V.P. Singh introduced in the quota system was to include the relatively well-off, though socially backward, communities like the Yadavs of the Hindi heartland who had considerable clout in the countryside. Now, the Jats who, like the Yadavs, are an influential group in the countryside are also clamouring for quotas in their favour. Not surprisingly, the Supreme Court described them as a "self-proclaimed socially backward class of citizens" while turning down the Congress-led central government's decision to confer the backward caste status on them before the last general election. This warping of the system has recently been accentuated by the demand of the Patidars or the Patels of Gujarat for reservations despite being well-placed, both socially and economically. But the worst example of the skewed nature of reservations was the demand by the Gujjars of north India for relegation from their present backward caste status to that of scheduled tribes or Adivasis. The reason for this desire to retreat into the company of the Vanvasis or forest-dwellers, as the Adivasis are sometimes called, is the fear of the Gujjars that the entry of Jats into the backward caste category, which has been pending since 1999, will reduce their share of reserved jobs and educational opportunities. As the judge of a commission which considered their demand said, "earlier the craze was to move forward. Now it is the opposite". With even the "forward" groups like the Patels demanding affirmative action in their favour, it has been suggested that the quota system should be opened up to include not only the backward castes but also the economically weaker sections of the "forwards" as well. However, perhaps the best course may be to abolish the reservations altogether, as Hardik Patel, the leader of the Patel agitators said, and let the various communities compete on the basis of merit and not the accident of birth. Such a step will mean reviving the original goal of reservations which envisaged doing away with them a decade after their introduction in 1950. The idea of scrapping the quota system has been floated by both proponents of a market economy, who favour a meritocracy, and social conservatives like Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, who wants a review of the system. Irrespective of whether Bhagwat's views reflect the longstanding resentment of the upper castes over the bounties offered to the lower castes by reservations, there is little doubt that the quota system is out of place in an open economy with its emphasis on individual enterprise and not family background. (Amulya Ganguli is a political analyst. The views expressed are personal. He can be reached at amulyaganguli@gmail.com) Another JNU student, facing sedition charges for allegedly raising "anti-India" slogans on the campus, joined the police investigation in the case which is being given to the Special Cell that probes terror cases while arrested JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar said his attackers in court seemed "highly motivated" while police didn't intervene. Meanwhile, a court extended police custody, by two days, of the two other arrested Jawaharlal Nehru University students. Ashutosh Kumar joined the police investigation on Saturday morning after the investigating agency on Friday night asked him to do. Sucheta De, the national president of radical Left All India Students' Association (AISA), said Ashutosh has gone to the police station to join the probe, adding he, and other accused Rama Naga and Anant Prakash Narayan told police a few days ago their intention to join the enquiry, gave their contact number and told police to call them whenever needed. Along with JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar and students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, Ashutosh, Naga and Narayan have been facing sedition charges for allegedly raising "anti-national" slogans. Khalid and Bhattacharya were on Saturday sent to further two days police custody, sources said. The proceedings were not held in Patiala House Courts complex here due to security concerns but in a south Delhi police station, where a magistrate was called for conducting the remand proceedings, said sources. Meanwhile, Kanhaiya Kumar, in a video aired by channel CNN-IBN, said the the mob that beat him up at the Patiala House Court seemed to be "highly politically motivated" and "well prepared for the attack". Kanhaiya Kumar and a few journalists were assaulted at the Patiala House Courts complex on February 15 and 17. The Delhi Police did not take any action while the attackers escaped, he said in the video which CNN-IBN said is footage of Kanhaiya Kumar testifying before a Supreme Court-appointed panel investigating the court violence. Kanhaiya Kumar said the lawyers' mob was prepared since as soon as they saw him at the entrance of the complex, he heard them calling other people to tell them Kanhaiya had arrived. The lawyers started attacking me while raising slogans, he added. He also told the panel that the mob also attacked the police officials who escorted him. "The lawyers kept beating me right from the front gate till the court room. One of the attackers managed to enter the corridor of the court with me. He was also present in the room adjoining the court room, where proceedings were scheduled to be held," said Kanhaiya Kumar. "I informed the Delhi Police present in the court that he is the person who attacked me. The attacker was not even dressed in lawyer's uniform. Delhi Police didn't even try to arrest him and the attacker fled from the spot. I was disrobed during the attack and also lost my footwear," he added. Asked by the panel how police failed to provide securityand allowed the attacker inside, Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, Jatin Narwal said that he immediately rushed to the spot but could not recognize the attacker since he came with the South district personnel, while an official from the South district said the man claimed to be Kanhaiya Kumar's lawyer. Outgoing Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi on Saturday said he has asked the case be transferred to the Special Cell, since it needed "focused investigation" and local police "would not be able to put the focus which the case demands as they have to deal with numerous routine law and order affairs". Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi on Saturday said the investigation into alleged "anti-national" slogans raised in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus, has been transferred to its Special Cell that probes terror cases. "I have directed my officers to transfer the case to special cell. The process of transfer will take around two to three days. The matter needs focused investigation. In a case registered under Section 124 A (Sedition), the special cell shall do justice," he said. The local police district would not be able to put the focus which the case demands as they have to deal with numerous routine law and order affairs, he said. JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, and students Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya, Ashutosh Kumar, Rama Naga and Anant Prakash Narayan, have been facing sedition charges for allegedly raising "anti-national" slogans. Kanhaiya was arrested in the sedition case on February 12 after the event held on the university campus in commemoration of the death of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru who was executed in 2013. Khalid and Anirban had surrendered before police on Tuesday night outside a gate of the university and are currently in police custody with their first three-day remand extended two more days on Saturday. Ashutosh joined the investigation on Saturday morning. Actor Jude Law has angered his neighbours with blaring music at a 'festival' style, all-night party at his Highgate mansion here. Residents near the Hollywood actor's five-bedroom home in Highgate, North London, claimed they were kept up until the early hours by loud music coming out of Law's house on February 21 night, with noise protection officers being forced to visit and ask them to turn it down, reports mirror.co.uk. One resident of the neighbourhood claimed the party - which went on until the early hours - was "like having a major festival event next door". It's unknown if the actor was at the house himself as he did manage to make it to France hours later for a tour of the Jungle migrant camp in Calais. Carolyn Mitchell, who lives a street away from Law, claimed the noise kept her awake until 3 a.m. She told Hampstead and Highgate News: "It was terrifically noisy. It was like having a major festival event next door. It was that loud, with songs blaring out on an extremely loud sound system. The party felt like a concert, the audience was responding to the songs." "It sounded more like a live event," she claimed, before saying: "It's not at all 'Highgate'." Another neighbour who decided not to be named told the paper: "The noise was just unreal. My whole family couldn't sleep, it was terrible. I've been here for a long time, but it hasn't happened like this before." President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday lauded Kerala's achievements in promoting information technology and declared the state to be the first "digital state" of India. "With broadband connectivity in every Gram Panchayat, Kerala has emerged as a truly digital state," Mukherjee said at a function at the Cyber Park near here. The president noted Kerala's progress in becoming digitally enabled, right from the launching of a pilot Akshaya e-literacy project in Malappuram district in 2002 to now when the state revenue department alone is issuing about 30,000 digital certificates to the citizens daily. The Akshaya project, which has since expanded all across the state, was the first district-wide e-literacy project in India. There are currently about 2500 Akshaya centres across the length and breadth of the state, which also provide internet access and e-service delivery to the people. Mukherjee also praised the efforts of the IT@school project aimed at providing basic computer knowledge to every high school student. The state established its first State Data Centre in 2005 to deliver governmental services through e-governance and set up the second centre in 2011, he said. "It is heartening to note that Kerala has now over 600 e-governance applications covering almost all departments, delivering e-services to its citizens. They are also being made available on the mobile platform now. All districts of the state have been covered under the e-District project," said Mukherjee. The president said the growth of internet and smart-phone penetration had rapidly transformed Kerala into a knowledge-powered economy. He said the state has a mobile tele-density of 95 percent and an internet access covering over 60 percent of the population. The president also inaugurated the first IT Park in the Malabar region which is spread over of 0.5 million square feet and will provide a base to 5,000 professionals, besides creating indirect employment for over 20,000 people in the region. "This IT Park has the distinction of being the first in its class to be developed in the country by a labour cooperative society, the Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society (ULCCS)," he noted. The society, formed in 1925 by social reformer Guru Vagbhadananda, has helped in improving the living standards of the economically-weaker sections by providing them job opportunities, Mukherjee said. With the Middle East in turmoil and much of the blame being put on the post-World War I settlement imposed by western powers, the legacy of T.E. Lawrence, who understood the region as few outsiders have done but has been ignored, is all the more important but also vital is how he himself evolved to the role, says British journalist and author Anthony Sattin. "If Lawrence came back today, he would most likely say 'Told you so', with regard to viability of the series of the independent Arab states, all ruled by the Hashemites (notably Iraq), whom the British backed. "It is a tragedy that Western political and military leaders have not understood, as Lawrence did, the delicate patchwork between tribe, ethnicities and religion in the region," Sattin, whose main focus is the Middle East and Africa and has extensively travelled and written on the region, told IANS in an interview. The author of "Young Lawrence: A Portrait of the Legend as a Young Man" (2014), which seeks to trace Lawrence's pre-war life and the influences that instilled in him a rare understanding of the region, says he wrote the book to deal with the perceptions fostered by David Lean's 1962 epic "Lawrence of Arabia". "For one, the film shows Lawrence as tall since Peter O' Toole who played him was... but the real Lawrence was quite short. "Then, according to the film, it seems that Lawrence came to the Middle East during the First World War and jumped into participating in the Arab revolt, (but) he first visited the region in 1909 and spent the period of 1910-14 as an archaeologist in (then Ottoman) Syria," said Sattin, who was in India to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival. Though Lawrence (1888-1935) wrote much on his own life and activities, he did not dwell on his early years in them and it is believed that the first version of his "Seven Pillars of Wisdom", which we now know as his masterly account of the Arab revolt, dealt with this but was reportedly destroyed by him in 1914. "Even Jeremy Wilson, who is considered to have written the definitive biography ('Lawrence of Arabia: The Authorised Biography of T. E. Lawrence', 1989) has not focussed on it... one part of his life is not covered and Lawrence has become an image. "I have tried to make a real person... give him complexity," says Sattin, whose work focusses on Lawrence's birth (out of wedlock), his difficult relationship with dominating mother, his deep affection for an Arab boy, his extraordinary journeys in the Middle East, and why he became an archaeologist and a spy. On this Arab boy, Selim Ahmed alias "Dahoum" or the dark one, who was a water boy at the site but Lawrence made him his assistant, he says it was clear that Lawrence was in love with him, but dismisses it was a sexual relationship, as many have claimed. "It was like (ancient) Greek love of an older man for a younger boy. I don't think that it was sexual though many like (renowned archaeologist) Leonard Woolley who also worked at the site, cited a naked sculpture that Lawrence did and claimed it was modelled on Dahoum and had outraged the local people" he said. Despite Lawrence writing about homosexuality in "Seven Pillars..", Sattin holds Lawrence himself was not one. "He was pretty sexless...thought sex to be disgusting." On the current regional situation, Sattin says he has travelled recently through Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Iran and Turkey, and found "great despair, corruption, oppression and lack of vision in policy", but before the Arab Spring, there was hopelessness and "there is now some hope, even with the counter-revolutions and civil war". Though leaders like Turkey's Recip Tayyip Erdogan, Algeria's Abdelaziz Bouteflika and Egypt's Abdel Fattah al-Sisi have made it difficult to protest, "steam was building up" and it would be difficult to contain until the economies build up, he said, but added he was hopeful that things can turn around. (Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in) President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday inaugurated here the Muziris Heritage Project which showcases the history and culture of an ancient seaport and urban centre on the Malabar coast. "This project celebrates the magnificent heritage of our land where people of different religions, castes and languages live in harmony. It reminds us that our history is one of assimilation, mutual respect and celebration of our differences," Mukherjee said in this town in central Kerala, about 30 km from Kochi. Started six years ago by the Kerala government, the project aims to highlight the historical and cultural significance of Muziris -- which dates from at least 1st century BC -- with a view to boost tourism. The seaport of Muziris is mentioned in the 1st century travelogues, ancient Sangam texts and Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder's encyclopaedic work, Natural History. "Muziris was the doorway for cultures, religions and races into India. It was frequented by large ships of ocean traders from across the world, including Arabs, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Chinese," the president said. Mukherjee also praised this town, which is generally believed to be the approximate location of the ancient Muziris and has also been cited by historians as a vibrant urban hub of the Chera rulers. "If Kerala is God's own country, Kodungalloor is the town where the gods gather in unity and harmony. It is heartening to know that the ancient Kurumba Bhagavati temple and the Cheraman Mosque, believed to be the oldest mosque in India, are both in Kodungalloor," said Mukherjee. The Muziris Heritage Project would open up to Indian and foreign tourists a new destination, bringing economic benefits to the people of the region as well as knowledge and enjoyment for the visitors, he added. The project includes development works of Chennamangalam palaces, Cheraman Parambu, Synagogue and waterfront at North Paravur. It also envisages conservation of archaeological monuments within 125 sq km spread across Thrissur and Ernakulam districts. Expressing alarm over prevalent malnutrition in the country, noted rights activist and public health expert Binayak Sen on Saturday called for a law for "Lokdroha" or those working against the interest of humanity. Participating at convention by the All India People's Forum (AIPF) here, he also endorsed the forum's resolution demanding release of Jawaharalal Nehru University Student Union president Kanhaiya Kumar arrested on charges of sedition, and resignations of union ministers Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya for the death of Dalit student Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad University. "If you haven't seen how a man who is convicted for sedition looks like, then here I am," said Sen at the convention. Found guilty of sedition and conspiracy, Sen was sentenced to life imprisonment by a lower court in Chhattisgarh in 2010. He was granted bail by the Supreme Court in 2011 and an appeal against the conviction is pending in the Chhattisgarh High Court. "There are laws for 'deshdroh', 'rashtradroh' (sedition) but I think there should also be a law for 'Lokdroha' for dealing with those who work against the interest of the common people, interest of the humanity," said Sen. "We should identify such people who work against the interest of the people and charged them with Lokdroha," he said at the convention where a resolution was passed among others seeking repealing of the law governing sedition and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Criticising the axing of the National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB), Sen said more than one-third of the adult population of the country suffers from malnutrition. "The NNMB has been axed without giving any reasons, though it has been doing a great work. It's because of the NNMB that we are aware of the alarming status of malnutrition among the children in the country," he said. "While it is well established fact that more than 50 percent of children below 5 years suffer from malnutrition and is a chief cause of their death, what is still not known by many, is even a large part of the adult population too suffers from malnutrition. "According to the NNMB, over on-third of the country's adult population has a body mass index (BMI) less than 18.5. Even those above the 18.5 BMI, suffer from malnutrition," he said. Calling for a law for punishing those working against the humanity, Sen said: "All those responsible for this condition (malnutrition) should be charged with the offence of Lokdroha". AIPF, a forum of a host of rights activists and organisations condemned the police crackdown at the JNU and demanded the release of Kanhaiya Kumar. Nearly three decades after a young woman with a promising modelling and flying career ahead showed utmost courage to deal with armed terrorists and sacrificed her life to save scores of others, the "Neerja" biopic in her name is turning out to be an inspiration for the people, especially today's youth, who were largely unaware of her exploits, her brother said. "I have been flooded with phone calls, messages and Facebook posts from across the country and all over the world ever since 'Neerja' released. It is quite overwhelming. The film has been really well made and Neerja's portrayal does full justice to her act of courage," Aneesh Bhanot, brother of the Pan-Am senior flight purser, told IANS here. House No. 3727 in Chandigarh's Sector 46, where Neerja's brothers, Akhil and Aneesh, reside, is aptly named 'Neerja Niwas'. A plaque outside the gate also mentions the Ashok Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award for bravery, given to Neerja Bhanot in 1987 the first woman to be so honoured. Braveheart Neerja Bhanot gave up her life two days before she would have turned 23, to save a large group of American children during a terrorist hijack of a Pan-Am flight at Karachi international airport in Pakistan on September 5, 1986. "People who have seen the film in the United States, Australia and other countries are either calling up or sending messages about her act of courage and how so many of them have been moved after watching the movie. Many survivors of the hijacking have also been in touch," Aneesh said. In the United States, people who have gone to see the film have installed electric candles inside movie theatres, Aneesh pointed out. "By bringing the story back to the youth, the film is doing great service to the community. Many youths didn't even know her (Neerja's) story. The film tells them that there is nothing to fear, even as a woman, from terrorists or anyone," Aneesh said. The film, which was released on Feb 19, has brought back memories of the Events of September 5-7, 1986, for the Bhanot family. Aneesh, the younger of the two brothers, quietly booked a 'first day-first show' ticket for himself in a city multiplex here so that he could watch the film alone. "I wanted to go and see this alone. I thought that (director Ram Madhvani) and his team have really done a very good job," said Aneesh, who was in tears during the film. His family members went to see the film the same day and he accompanied them. Actress Sonam Kapoor essays Neerja in the film. Madhvani has said that he was content with Sonam's performance. Leading fashion photographer Atul Kasbekar has co-produced the film. Neerja, who was the senior flight purser of Pan-Am 73 (Bombay-Karachi-Frankfurt-New York), was killed in the shootout following the hijack. Palestinian terrorists from the Abu Nidal group had entered the aircraft posing as Pakistani police personnel, carrying arms and hand grenades. The hijack left 20 people dead and 150 injured after a bloodbath at the airport. There were around 200 Indian passengers on the flight, of whom 13 died while over 100 were injured. (Jaideep Sarin can be contacted at jaideep.s@ians.in) A day after an Air Kasthamandap plane crash-landed in Nepal, the country's government has formed a four-member commission to probe the incident in Kalikot district. The commission was formed under the coordination of Yagya Prasad Gautam, former secretary Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Xinhua quoted Suresh Acharya, joint secretary at the ministry, as saying. Other members of the commission include Lieutenant Colonel Rabindra Basnet of Nepal Army, Goma Air Engineer R.K Singh and an under-secretary of the ministry. Friday's incident comes just two days after the crash of Tara Airlines in Myagdi district, killing all 23 people on board including three crew members. There were altogether 11 people on board in Air Kasthamandap' single engine plane including two crew members. While crew members -- Captain Dinesh Neupane and co-pilot Santosh Rana lost their lives during the crash landing, all the passengers were saved. Nepalese authorities said that most of the passengers have sustained minor injuries while two were critically injured. Meanwhile, the government officials said that the concerned authority would examine the condition of all the single engine planes operating in the country. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ananda Prasad Pokharel on Friday said that he has already instructed the domestic airlines not to fly such planes before their technical tests. Joint Secretary Acharya said that Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, the regulatory body of aviation sector, has allowed single engine plane only to conduct chartered flights. "They are not licensed to conduct regular flights," he said. Napalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's visit to India was unsuccessful, the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) said on Saturday. The UDMF in a meeting on Saturday reviewed the protest programmes and said Oli committed a mistake by going to India without any agenda, The Himalayan Times reported. The front has decided not to sit for talks till the government comes up with a concrete road map to address its demands. It also decided to submit a memorandum to Oli to pressurise the government to address the 11-point demands put forth by the front at the earliest. One of the leaders said the form of protest has been changed at present, and warned that the Madhesi Front would resort to stern protests if the government did not address its demands promptly. Over 1,200 students in Bihar have been disqualified from class 12 examinations for cheating and dozens of other people have been arrested for helping them, an official said on Saturday. "The students were disqualified on charge of adopting unfair means," said Hariharnath Jha, an official of Bihar School Examination Board. He said "dozens" of people who helped the students to cheat have been arrested. This year an examinee found to be cheating would be disqualified for three years; earlier, the period of disqualification was only a year, Jha said. The action against cheating students took place over three days of the class 12 exams: 400 examinees disqualified on Wednesday, 350 on Thursday, and 490 on Friday. Reports reaching here from different parts of the state suggest that some invigilators and guardians have also been booked for helping the examinees in using unfair means. About 70,000 officials, including teachers and policemen, have been on duty to hold the examinations, Jha said. The examination centres are also being monitored by CCTV cameras. To deter mass cheating, the authorities also decided to impose a fine of up to Rs.10,000 on an examinee found using unfair means and to punish the guardians found helping their children in cheating. About 11.60 lakh students had appeared for Class 12 exams at 1,109 centres across the state on Wednesday. Over 900 defence-related companies are expected to participate in the DefExpo 2016, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Saturday, adding that a final decision on shifting the international B2B event permanently to Goa would be taken its completion. Briefing select journalists in at the defence ministry camp office here, he also said that four companies, including Bharat Forge would be showcasing guns manufactured in India at the event, which will be held from March 28. "We have invited representatives from 117 countries and more than 900 companies are expected to participate in the DefExpo 2016," Parrikar said, calling it a thumbs up for Make in India. Asked whether Goa would be made a permanent venue for the Expo, which has been relocated to Goa from Delhi's Pragati Maidan grounds due to renovation at the latter premises, Parrikar said that a call on this would only be taken "after completion of this expo". He also said that several defence ministers as well as a four star general from the US would also be attending the event. The four-day expo will be held at the Naqueri plateau in Betul village located 45 kms south of Panaji. The relocation has been opposed by the opposition as well as civil society groups, which has accused the defence ministry of trying to hog real estate in a state which is already facing a land crunch. The New Development Bank of the five Brics nations on Saturday signed an agreement with the Chinese government to locate its headquarters in this Chinese city. "The agreements related to our headquarters in Shanghai are a landmark step in our nascent journey as a development bank. With this, we are ready for business and we look forward to building an institution of repute in course of time," bank president K.V. Kamath said in a statement. Kamath, former head of the India's largest private bank ICICI Bank Ltd, is the first president of the multilateral bank of Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) set up on July 7, 2015 in Moscow. "The agreement governs the establishment of the bank's headquarters in China and makes provision for the requisite immunities, privileges and other facilities," the statement said. Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi and Kamath signed the agreement on behalf of the government and the bank, while Shanghai municipal people's government mayor Yang Xiong and Kamath signed a memorandum on arrangements for setting up the bank's headquarters in the city. As an alternative to the American and European-led World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), the new bank will fund infrastructure and development projects in Brics and other emerging and developing countries. The bank's initial subscribed capital is fixed at $50 billion, while the total paid-in capital will be $10 billion. "The bank has received project proposals from all Brics countries and the appraisal of the first set of projects is scheduled for April," the statement added. The bank's founding members have infused their capital of $1 billion each as their initial contribution. Each member country holds equal number of shares and voting rights without any veto power. Pakistan welcomed the agreement reached between Russia and the United States for cessation of hostilities in Syria. The implementation of the agreement will commence on Saturday. "Pakistan has always maintained a principled position on Syria based on neutrality, impartiality and respect of territorial integrity and sovereignty of Syria," Dawn online cited the country's Foreign Office as saying on Friday. "We, however, remain concerned on the humanitarian crisis and the urgent need to address the refugee crisis," the statement said. Pakistan appreciated the efforts of the International Syria Support Group and sincerely wish for the success of the agreement, it added. Pakistan has welcomed the agreement reached between Russia and the US for a nationwide cessation of hostilities to begin in Syria on February 27. The US and Russia agreed this week on a "cessation of hostilities" between the Syrian government and groups fighting it in a deal that keeps out the Islamic State group and the al-Nusra Front. "We also appreciate the efforts of the International Syria Support Group and sincerely wish for the success of the agreement," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said. He said Pakistan has always maintained a principled position on Syria based on neutrality, impartiality and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Syria. "We, however, remain concerned on the humanitarian crisis and the urgent need to address the refugee crisis," the spokesman said. On Monday US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reached the terms of a nationwide cessation of hostilities in Syria. Director Milan Luthria, who was one among the many celebrities from Bollywood who met Sanjay Dutt after the actor returned home following his jail term, says the 'Munna Bhai' hasn't changed as a person. Sanjay on Thursday walked out of Pune's Yerawada Central Jail (YCJ) where he was imprisoned since May 2013 for illegal possession of arms. He returned to Mumbai the same day much to the delight of his family members, friends and fans. After meeting him here, Luthria said: "We were waiting for Baba (Sanjay) to return. For us who really love Sanju, it is like a bright sunny day after a long dark night. He hasn't changed at all. Sanju is the same as he used to be, cheerful and always smiling. "He is always positive and supportive. You cannot change the basic nature of a person. I am happy that after going through such a tough time, he is still very joyful." Sanjay was spotted with a new hairstyle when he walked out of jail. Asked to comment on that, Luthria of "The Dirty Picture" fame said: "Sanjay started the trend of long hair. He never had any qualms about experimenting with his look. He is a trendsetter for every generation, be it for his style, attitude or even hairstyle. He is followed by fans because of his attitude and fashion." A primary school was burnt down and a house was demolished at the Chakma tribe inhabited Tuichawng Chhuah village in Mizoram's Lunglei district, an official statement said on Saturday. Mizoram Chakma Alliance Against Discrimination in its statement said that they would discuss the issue with Congress President Sonia Gandhi who according to them has been raising the issue of the rights of minorities in India. Confirming the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Lunglei District Abhijit Bijoy Chowdhury told IANS over the phone that he could not provide any further details. Chakma alliance President Paritosh Chakma in the statement said that on Friday a group of Mizo students burnt down the primary school and demolished a house in an attempt to force the 49 Chakma minority families to vacate the village. "The minority Chakma families have been living at Tuichawng Chhuah village for over four decades and Mizoram government has extended all the facilities including school, assistance under new farming flagship policy, ration card, voter cards, electricity among others," the president said. "Additional Deputy Commissioner of Lunglei district on December 17 last year had issued eviction notice to 49 Chakma families to vacate the Tuichawng Chhuah village. Then a writ petition was filed before the Guwahati High Court against the notice and the court stayed the eviction order." "The Mizoram government has totally failed to protect the Chakma tribal minorities despite the order of the Guwahati High Court. We shall be raising the issue with Congress President Sonia Gandhi who has been raising the rights of minorities in India as to what the Congress government has been doing for persecution of the minorities in Mizoram," he added. A general shutdown on Saturday called by separatists protesting against crackdown on JNU students and the arrest of former DU professor SAR Geelani affected normal life in the valley. Shops, public transport and other businesses remained closed here and in other major cities and towns of the Valley. Inter-district transport also remained suspended. The shutdown has been called by the separatists to show their support for students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), who faced police action for commemorating the death of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, as well as the arrest of SAR Geelani on the charge of taking part in anti- activities. Attendance in banks, post offices and government offices was thin due to non-availability of public transport in Srinagar and other district headquarters. All PG entrance exams scheduled on Saturday have been postponed by Kashmir University. The railway authorities have suspended services between north Kashmir Baramulla town and Bannihal town of Jammu region because of the law and order situation. Although deployments of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been made in sufficient strength at sensitive places in Srinagar and other cities and towns, authorities did not impose restrictions anywhere in Srinagar on public and vehicular movement. Actor Sidharth Malhotra reacted strongly when Kamaal R Khan made a derogatory comment about his "Kapoor & Sons" co-star Alia Bhatt. He has asked the "Deshdrohi" actor to mind his own business. Sidharth and Alia took to Twitter to post the cover photograph of a magazine, in which they are seen in swim wear. And to this Kamaal, who uses Twitter to express his personal opinion unabashedly, posted: "Alia looks so bacchi in panty but still some people keep forcing her to wear it." Sidharth, who is rumoured to be dating Alia, took offence to this, and tweeted: "Sir! We also try very hard to tell you to shut up but you keep tweeting! @kamaalrkhan". The retaliation led to a banter between the duo as KRK reverted by saying "Sir Ji @S1dharthM 130 crore people of India also try very hard to tell you to stop acting but you keep doing films to harass them." To this, Sidharth responded: "I think you need English reading classes sir, as you didn't read and understand my previous tweet!" Kamaal summed up the verbal spat on the virtual medium by saying that he will take English classes from Sidharth. When it comes to Sidharth and Alia, the duo have remained mum on the rumours over their relationship, but they have left behind hints suggesting their close rapport on many occasions. Now, Sidharth's lates comment will only add fuel to rumours of their bonding. The two actors will next be seen together on screen in "Kapoor & Sons", produced by Karan Johar, along with Fawad Khan. Directed by Shakun Batra, the romantic drama is slated to hit theatres on March 18. Actor Sikandar says he feels humbled with the appreciation that has come his way for his work in "Tere Bin Laden: Dead Or Alive", particularly from family audiences and children. "I'm very happy that people are laughing. We were sitting inside the theatres and families and children were enjoying it a lot... Children should come and watch the film because it is a fun-filled film," said Sikandar, who was present with his co-star from the film, Manish Paul at a theatre here. "It's quite exciting, and seeing their reactions is delightful. I feel humbled and I feel amazing... it's a nice thing to hear appreciation," he added. Sikandar is seen in two different looks in the film, which traces the life of a struggling filmmaker (played by Manish), who uses Pradhuman Singh's character of an Osama Bin Laden lookalike to his benefit. This impersonation leads to hilarious situations in the film. "Tere Bin Laden: Dead Or Alive" has been directed by Abhishek Sharma, who had previously directed the first part of the franchise, "Tere Bin Laden". -*- Shefali Shah has her fingers crossed for TOIFA 2016 Actress Shefali Shah has been keeping her fingers crossed after being nominated for the Best Actor in a Supporting Role Female Category for "Dil Dhadakne Do" at the Times of India Film Awards (TOIFA). For the award, Shefali is pitted against Priyanka Chopra for "Bajirao Mastani", Tabu for "Drishyam" and Tanvi Azmi for "Bajirao Mastani". Commenting on the nomination, Shefali said in a statement: "I am feeling very excited to be nominated at the Times of India Film Awards and with such great talent. I am keeping my fingers crossed." TOIFA will be held next month in Dubai. -*- You're a rockstar: Rajkummar to Hansal Mehta With plaudits galore for "Aligarh", actor Rajkummar Rao has thanked his fans for the love, and his director Hansal Mehta for being a "rockstar". "Thank you so much guys for all the love and appreciation.It's very inspiring. Gratitude. 'Aligarh' Hansal Mehta, you are our rockstar sir," Rajkummar tweeted. "Aligarh" features Manoj Bajpayee in the pivotal role of a homosexual professor who loses his job due to his sexual orientation. -*- Ranjha Vikram turns producer with Punjabi film '25 Kille' Actor Ranjha Vikram Singh, who was seen in a negative role in "Heropanti", will be seen as the lead actor in Punjabi film "25 Kille", which also marks his debut as a producer. He told IANS: "I am glad to do this Punjabi film. Being an actor and a producer of this film, I also understand the dynamics of the business, so we are tapping on worldwide market with this film as Punjabi films have scope in Canada and Britain. "We will also be releasing this film in Dubai. I am excited about this project, which I am co-producing this film with Shirin Morani." Directed by Simranjit Singh Hundal, "25 Kille" is produced under the banner Running Horses Films and Color9Productions. It is slated to release on August 25. Talking about the Punjabi film industry, Ranjha Vikram said: "The Punjabi film industry is booming and this is the best phase for the industry. Even if you talk of Hindi films, a majority of the projects have Punjabis as their backdrop. Unlike Bollywood, Punjabi films have medium budgets but they are recovering their money as well." With the Congress deciding to serve a breach of privilege notice against the union minister Smriti Irani for allegedly misleading parliament on the JNU controversy and the suicide by Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula, experts say the Minister could be hauled up if she had "knowingly" misled the two houses. "Certainly, if she has done knowingly," said former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee told IANS on the phone from Kolkata. Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani's claim that doctor and police were not allowed to reach Vemula's room in hostel and the situation was used for political mileage has been contested by Hyderabad University's medical officer, P. Rajshree, who had attended on the deceased and on his mother Radhika and others. Rule 222 of the Lok Sabha's Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business says: "A member may, with the consent of the Speaker, raise a question involving a breach of privilege either of a member or of the House or of a Committee thereof." However, it is for the Lok Sabha speaker to allow the privilege notice. The procedure is similar for Rajya Sabha, with the chairman having to give his consent. Rajshree has said that she reached the spot within five to seven minutes after being informed of the suicide. By then, the scholar was already dead and there was no scope of reviving him. Participating in debate in Lok Sabha on February 24, Irani had said: "... Nobody allowed a doctor near this child, to revive this child, to take him to the hospital. Nobody allowed a doctor near him. The police has reported that not one attempt was made to revive this child, not one attempt was made to take him to a doctor. Instead what was done was that his body was used as a political tool, hidden. No police was allowed till 6.30 the next morning.?" Former Lok Sabha secretary general Subhash Kashyap said: "If a person says on the floor of the house something which is incorrect or untrue and does so to willfully, deliberately to mislead the house, then a question of privilege may be involved. Any member of the house can give notice to the speaker requesting that he may be allowed to raise it as a privilege. Thereafter, it will depend on the speaker." However, Kashyap said that it would be for the speaker to accept the version of a minister or a member if they retract on their earlier statement. Not only has Irani's account of the events subsequent to Vemula's suicide been questioned, but even the organizers of a Mahishasura Divas on the JNU campus have disputed a pamphlet that the minister had read out from in the two houses. They have denied that the pamphlet was theirs. Can a minister or a member of the parliament read out from a document whose veracity is yet to be ascertained? "The minister is responsible for whatever he/she says or the document she relies upon," Kashyap said. Though the Congress has declared it would move a privilege notice against Irani, the Left parties have yet to take a call. "We, the left parties, are yet to consult among ourselves. We will decide on Sunday," said D. Raja of the Communist Party of India, a Rajya Sabha member. South Korea's military plans to send anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border into North Korea, an official has said. The plan is the latest in a series of punitive measures against North Korea over its recent provocations, Yonhap news agency said. "The anti-North flyers could be scattered from around March when the wind starts to blow northward," the official said, without elaborating the scale of the leaflet campaign. The resumption of the psychological warfare -- the first since 2004 -- represents South Korea's determination to put pressure on North Korea for conducting a fourth nuclear test and launching a long-range missile in recent weeks. North Korea claims its rocket launch was meant to put a satellite into orbit. South Korea, the US and other regional powers view it as a cover for testing its ballistic missile technology, which is banned under the UN resolutions. Seoul and Pyongyang agreed to halt propaganda warfare along their heavily fortified border in 2004. Seoul resumed its anti-North Korea loudspeaker broadcasts along the border following Pyongyang's nuclear test in January, blaring messages critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The planned leaflet campaign comes after North Korea sent its propaganda leaflets to South Korea and started its loudspeaker broadcasting against the country along the border. Separately, North Korean defectors in South Korea and conservative activists have frequently flown anti-Pyongyang leaflets for years to help encourage North Koreans to eventually rise up against the Pyongyang regime. Pyongyang has bristled at any outside criticism of its leader and has made similar verbal threats against Seoul over leaflets in recent years. The Supreme Commission for Negotiations (SCN), the main Syrian opposition alliance, announced on Saturday that it will resume peace talks in Geneva on March 7 if the regime and its allies respect the ceasefire. Commission spokesman Riyad Agha told Efe news that the opposition delegation is ready to return to indirect talks with the Syrian government representatives in the Swiss city, if the US-Russia sponsored truce, which came into effect at midnight, is respected. The UN Security Council demanded on Friday night respect for the cessation of hostilities in Syria, shortly before the truce came into force, noting that a new round of peace talks between the government and the opposition will be held on March 7. Meanwhile, Agha revealed that the two main Islamic armed opposition groups -- Army of Islam and the Islamic Movement of Ahrar al-Sham -- have accepted the truce, as was the case with Free Syrian Army, which is a part of SCN. SCN announced on Friday in a statement that a total of 97 armed groups had approved the cessation of hostilities, but did not give their names, so there were doubts about the acceptance of Army of Islam and Ahrar al-Sham. The ceasefire, agreed on by Russia and the US, came into force in Syria at midnight after both the Damascus government and SCN gave their approval. Both the Islamic State and the Al-Nusra Front have been excluded from the ceasefire deal. The defiling of a statue of the chief architect of the Indian Constitution and Dalit icon Bhimrao Ambedkar here has led to tension and heavy police presence. The police said that it received information late on Friday night that the statue at Ambedkar Park in Navyug Market here had been damaged. After this a heavy police force was deployed around Ambedkar Park which is situated in an area inhabited largely by Dalit families. The situation became more tense when some members of the Dalit community took out a procession and staged a dharna. The civil administration was apprised of the situation and a new statue of Ambedkar was brought from nearby Sahibabad. The construction of the platform is now in progress and the new statue is expected to be erected on Sunday. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against unidentified criminals, said Superintendent of Police Salman Taj Patil. "This is the second defilement of the same statue in two years. The same district magistrate had then assured us that proper security would be provided to the statue," said Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Pyare Lal Jatav. "We warn the district administration that the Dalit community would not tolerate further insult to our mentor," he added. Ahead of next week's "Super Tuesday" nomination contests in 11 states, Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump got a significant boost with the surprise endorsement of New Jersey governor Chris Christie. Christie's bombshell on Friday, which may well change the dynamics of the Republican race came a day after Trump's two main rivals - Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz - ganged up against him in a CNN debate that turned into a virtual brawl. Hours later, Maine's Republican governor Paul LePage, who was a supporter of Christie before he ended his presidential bid, also announced his endorsement of Trump. Christie's announcement robbed Florida senator Rubio, who is trailing Trump by about 20 points in his home state, of whatever momentum he might have gained from Thursday's feisty debate exchanges with the frontrunner. Christie, who dropped his presidential bid earlier this month after his poor performance in New Hampshire, showed up unannounced at a Trump event in Fort Worth, Texas to endorse the real estate mogul. Christie, who had tormented Rubio in a previous debate, again hit out at him as he announced his support for Trump, who he said was destined to win the Republican nomination and was the best person to slug it out with Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton. Trump accompanied his rollout of Christie with a stream of invective against Rubio as their debate night brawl spilled onto the campaign trail. Trump branded Rubio a "low life," "a nasty little guy," a "basket case" and "a choker" who sweated so much he had to put makeup on with a trowel. Rubio, in turn, suggested Friday morning that Trump was a "con artist" who was worried about wetting his pants and mocked his spelling before a delighted crowd in Texas. Asked about whether he would consider Christie as his running mate should he win the nomination, Trump said he didn't "want to discuss that," but added: "He's certainly got the talent." Trump has previously said that he would pick a running mate with political experience, and not someone from the private sector like himself. The New York Times, which too came under attack by Trump as "dishonest" and "the absolute worst,", dismissed "the bombastic governor's" announcement as a "Bully Bromance" even as it acknowledged how it might give a significant boost to Trump. The Washington Post, which Trump alleged had been bought by Amazon founder and chief executive Jeffrey P. Bezos "to have political influence," asked in an editorial: "Is Mr. Trump a threat to democracy?" Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, multiple polls show Hillary Clinton with a dominant lead over rival Senator Bernie Sanders in the South Carolina primary on Saturday. Clinton played up her allegiance to President Barack Obama at a rally and pledged to continue fighting for tougher gun laws. Sanders also held two rallies in South Carolina, but black women, a crucial demographic that helped lift Obama over Clinton in 2008, appear to be leaning heavily toward Clinton this time, the New York Times said. (Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will travel next week to Geneva and Madrid and then to Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Algeria, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said here. "He will also designate the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, led by UN Messenger of Peace Daniel Barenboim, as a United Nations Global Advocate for Cultural Understanding," the spokesman said on Friday, adding the orchestra brings together young musicians from Israel, Palestine and several Arab countries, Xinhua news agency reported. On Monday in Geneva, the secretary-general will address the UN Human Rights Council on the first day of its 31st session, Dujarric said at a daily news briefing. Also in Geneva, Ban will inaugurate the Russian Room at the Palais des Nations with Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister. He will also meet a number of non-governmental organisations. On Tuesday, the secretary-general will travel to Madrid, Spain, where he will meet senior Spanish government officials. On March 2, Ban will go to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. On Thursday, the UN chief will meet with the senior government officials and visit a UN project. On Friday, the secretary-general will travel to Nouakchott, Mauritania, where he will meet the government leaders and deliver a key note speech on peace and security in the Sahel region, and also visit a UN project. From Mauritania, Ban will then travel to Tindouf, Algeria to visit a nearby Sahrawi refugee camp. He will meet Mohamed Abdelaziz, the secretary-general of the Frente Polisario in Rabouni. Ban will also meet with UN staff working in the area. From there, he will visit the Bir Lahlou team site of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO). Finally, on Sunday and Monday, the secretary-general will be in Algiers to meet senior government officials, Dujarric said. "During his visit to Algiers, the secretary-general is also expected to open the 5th General Assembly of the Kigali International Conference on the role of security forces in combating violence against women and girls, and give a speech to university students," the spokesman added. The United Nations Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution to demand a halt to the fighting in Syria. The adoption on Friday coincided with the scheduled implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement reached by Russia and the US, Xinhua reported. According to the deal, the halt was to begin at midnight (Damascus time) on Friday in the middle of the council session. "It's zero hour, Damascus time," Japanese Ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa said as the clock struck within a minute of the scheduled starting time. The new council resolution welcomed a February 11 statement from the 17-member International Syrian Support Group (ISSG) that seeks humanitarian aid access to Syria and a halt in fighting. The resolution also demanded the implementation of a previous council resolution on Syria adopted on December 18, 2015, which called for an end to attacks on civilians and infrastructure as well as a political settlement of the crisis. Before the resolution was voted on, Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy for Syria, spoke to the 15-member panel via teleconference from Geneva. "This council meeting has a special significance on this exceptional day and night for the Syrians," he said. "We now have specific obligations for ISSG members and for Syrians to fulfill," the envoy said. "There is a mechanism to that effect. There is an agreed set of actions and an immediate timeline." "We are now at a crossroad -- we have the possibility to turn the page in the Syrian conflict -- after almost five years of one of the bloodiest conflicts in recent years," de Mistura said. "It is potentially a historic junction to bring an end to the killing and destruction and to start a new life and hope for the Syrians," he said. De Mistura also announced that a new round of Syria talks will be held on March 7. The UN-mediated Syria peace talks, aimed at brokering a political solution between Syrian warring factions -- Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's government and opposition forces -- halted on February 3 after parties failed to see eye to eye on a number of issues. US Ambassador Samantha Power was the first to speak after the 15-0 vote at the UN Security Council. "The resolution we have just adopted... offers a genuine opportunity to pause, at least in part, the fighting in one of the most brutal conflicts the world has seen in a generation, and it's our best chance to reduce the violence," she said. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said the measure "must be strictly implemented and without any preconditions" and "the process of implementation itself must be monitored reliably." "As was confirmed in the joint statement of Russia and the United States, the Cessation of Hostilities regime will not apply to the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra and other terrorist organisations that have been recognised as such by the UN Security Council, the combat against them will continue." "Our position is that long-term stabilisation of Syria is impossible without eliminating the terrorist threat in this country," Gatilov said. For his part, Syrian Ambassador to the UN Bashar al-Ja'afari said Damascus considers the Russian-US deal "as an important step toward a political settlement and affirms its willingness to contribute to the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities." The UN estimates that the Syrian crisis has claimed more than 250,000 lives since it broke out in March 2011. Section 54 of the Income Act says income on capital gains accruing to an individual from the sale of his house property, owned and held by him for more than three years, can be saved by reinvesting capital gain amount in another residential property. Most payers are conversant with this provision. It is also one of the most widely used tax planning measures. However, a lesser known restrictive provision in Section 54 is that the new property acquired should not be sold within three years from its date of acquisition. The section further provides that if the property is sold within three years, the capital gain for the new property will be calculated by taking its acquisition cost as nil in the year of sale. There are other nuances to this section, as the cases below highlight. COMPLY WITH THE FINE PRINT If you reinvest the long-term capital gain from one residential property into another, you can lower the tax outgo But you must hold the second property for at least three years If you sell before three years, the cost of acquisition of the second house will be treated as zero If you gift the second house before three years, you will not violate the provisions of Section 54, according to a recent judgement by an I-T tribunal This ruling will facilitate estate planning Take Amit Kumar's case, who sold his residential property in Mumbai in July 2014 for Rs 1.25 crore and there were long-term capital gains of Rs 75 lakh. His tax liability at the rate of 20 per cent on these gains would have been Rs 15 lakh. He invested the proceeds into another residential property for Rs 1.40 crore in January 2015 and claimed exemption under Section 54 of the Act. Now, if he sells the new property say, in March 2016, for Rs 1.6 crore, he is liable to pay short-term capital gains tax on the entire amount. While calculating the short-term capital gain, he will not be allowed to adjust the cost of acquisition of Rs 1.4 crore against the sale proceeds. Thus, his tax liability will be calculated at the rate on the sale price of Rs 1.6 crore, which would amount to Rs 48 lakh. Thus, if the restrictive provision under Section 54 is violated, the tax liabilities can go up several times. What if the property is gifted? Recently, an interesting case came up for decision before the Chennai Income Tax Tribunal. A tax payer had filed his income tax return for assessment year 2011-12 offering income from house property and business. The tax payer had earned long-term capital gain on the sale of a residential house property in April 2010 and purchased another residential property in August 2010, and had claimed exemption under Section 54 of the Act. While assessing his return, the income tax officer observed the tax payer had settled the property in favour of his daughter in November 2010 out of love and affection. The income tax officer arrived at the conclusion that the property had been sold within three years. He rejected the tax payer's claim for deduction under Section 54. He relied on the 2008 decision of the Bombay High Court, which had held that to qualify for long-term capital gains exemption under the Act, it is obligatory for the tax payer to make the investment in a residential house in his own name and not in the name of any other person. The income tax officer was of the view that in this case the tax payer was circumventing the exemption provisions by making the investment in his own name and immediately settling it in favour of his daughter. At the first level of appeal, the tax payer argued the income tax officer was not right in rejecting the exemption claim under Section 54, as all the conditions laid down for claiming it had been duly honoured by the tax payer. The tax payer argued that even if the restrictive provisions of Section 54 are invoked, capital gains need to be computed in the manner laid down for sale of the new property within three years, but it does not speak of withdrawal of exemption claimed. As the property was settled in favour of his daughter by means of a settlement deed out of love and affection and without any consideration, the tax payer was neither liable to any capital gains nor taxes under the relevant provisions of the Act. Under the provisions of the Act, gifts do not attract capital gains and settlements are excluded from the purview of exemption. The tax payer maintained that the settlement was made out of love and affection and hence partakes the character of a gift, as there was no consideration involved in the transaction. Further, he pointed out that 'gift' is not defined under the Act but is defined under the Transfer of Property Act as follows: "Gift is the transfer of certain existing movable and immovable property made voluntarily without consideration of one person called donor to another the donee and accepted by donee." Relying on this definition, the tax payer insisted that the gift should not attract capital gains tax. The first level appellate authority was convinced and accordingly directed the income tax officer to allow the exemption. The tax officer, not convinced, made an appeal to the Tribunal. The final judgement The Tribunal observed that the tax payer, being the father, had settled the property in favour of his daughter out of love and affection and without any consideration. It held that as far as the settlement is concerned, it is akin to a gift under the Act and hence does not attract capital gains. With reference to the exemption claim made under Section 54, the Tribunal held the tax payer had complied with the provisions and conditions laid down. Hence, it allowed the exemption. However, the authority put in a rider that the daughter should hold the property for three years from the date of acquisition to comply with the provisions of Section 54. This ruling serves as a good precedent for genuine cases where tax payers, as part of their estate planning, want to transfer their property during their lifetime without invoking tax liabilities. The author is a chartered accountant and financial planner With the central committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) deciding to join hands with "democratic forces", decks have been cleared for the CPI (M)-led Left Front to have some sort of understanding with the Congress to take on Mamata Banerjee's All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) in the forthcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal. Only a few days ago, the state committee of the CPI (M) had taken a decision with an overwhelming majority to have an alliance with the Congress. Only 11 of the 73-member state committee had opposed the move to have such an alliance. While a formal response from the Congress is awaited, there are indications that the two political groups may just stop short of formal alliance but may go in for what is known as the Siliguri model. In local body elections in Siliguri last year, Congress and Left workers had worked in tandem and registered a win. From then on, state unit leaders of the Left and the Congress have been openly advocating the use of the same model in the Assembly elections too. "What is important to note that in the last two elections - 2011 assembly and 2014 Lok Sabha - there is very little change in the vote share of the Congress. It has been slightly under 10 per cent both the times. If it gets added to any of the two groups- the Left or the AITC - it makes a lot of difference," says Kolkata-based political analyst Rajat Roy. Vote share numbers are indeed compelling. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the Left Front could win just two seats with a vote share of almost 30 per cent. Assembly constituencies wise, the Front led in only 28 segments. The Congress, with a vote of little under 10 per cent, also led in 28 assembly segments. The combined vote share of the two come close to the Trinamool's vote share of 39 per cent in the same elections. With a vote share of nearly 40 per cent, the Trinamool led in as many as 216 of the total 294 Assembly segments in the state. In the 2011 Assembly elections, the Congress and the Trinamool contested together and won a staggering 227 seats with a combined vote share of 48 per cent. The Left could win just 62 seats with 41 per cent votes. "With some understanding between the Congress and the Left, the entire dynamics may change," argues Roy. Analysts argue that once the alliance is in place, it may open up several possibilities. One, there is likely to be consolidation of anti-AITC votes. Two, a chunk of anti-AITC votes that may have gone to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as both the Left and Congress separately were perceived to be no match for the Trinamool in the Lok Sabha elections is likely to come back to the Left-Congress fold. "With the index of opposition going up, it will put the ruling party in a tight spot. The Congress-Left combine will certainly improve its performance in urban areas and may attract some young voters," argues Rabindra Bharati University's Sabyasachi Basu Roy Chaudhury. What can, however, spoil the prospect of the coming together of the erstwhile foes is the deep division among their core bases. "For generations of voters, the Congress and the Left have always been in opposite camps. It will be very hard for them to reconcile their differences now. And it raises doubts about the transfer of votes from either side," observes Roy Chaudhury. The two factors that may still change political equations are how the BJP fares this time and how Muslims are going to vote, say experts. The BJP had polled just 4 per cent votes and won no seat in the 2011 Assembly elections. However, just three years later, in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, its vote share touched 17 per cent and the party established lead in as many as 22 Assembly segments. Experts Business Standard spoke to are of the view that the BJP is unlikely to repeat its 2014 performance. "The BJP's vote share is bound to come down this time. By how much is a matter of conjecture as there is no wave now as was the case in 2014," says a Kolkata-based political observer. He requested not to be named. Another major factor is how the Muslims will end up voting. According to the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies survey, the erosion of Left's support base among Muslims started in 2009 Lok Sabha elections itself when it got just 36 per cent of the votes of the minority community. Since then, the Trinamool has secured more Muslim votes than the Left. What may go against the Trinamool as far as its popularity among Muslims is concerned is a recent report that says that there has been little change in the socio-economic status of Muslims since 2011. The report was prepared by two Kolkata-based research organisations, Association SNAP and Guidance Guild, in association with Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen's trust - Pratichi India. "The report may have some impact as it has been released just a few months before the elections. It is quite likely that the Congress and Left may be able to increase its support among Muslims," observes Roy. Muslims constitute nearly 27 per cent population of West Bengal. A 19-year-old German national was allegedly sexually assaulted by an unidentified auto-rickshaw driver in central Delhi, police said today. The incident occurred in Prasad Nagar area more than two months ago, when the German girl, who works for an NGO in Maharashtra, had come to Delhi with a male friend, and both were staying at a hotel in Patel Nagar, police said. While the Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) on whose direction an FIR was lodged maintained that victim was assaulted twice in the same night, the police said she has alleged being attacked only once. According to police, on December 14 night, the woman was walking in a lane near Patel Nagar when she lost her way and sought help for directions. An auto-rickshaw driver then offered her lift and later allegedly sexually assaulted her after pulling over the vehicle at a secluded spot. The accused then fled the scene and the woman came back to the hotel on foot. She did not report the incident to anyone, not even to her friend, and in a day or two both left Delhi, police said. On February 5, the woman dropped an e-mail to the DCW and informed the Commission about the incident. She later came to Delhi on February 9 and the next day the Commission counselled her and guided her in lodging a police complaint, a senior DCW official said. "On February 24, DCW chief Swati Maliwal issued a notice to DCP (Central) and an FIR was registered," the senior official said. According to DCW, however, on December 14 night, after being sexually assaulted once by the auto-rickshaw driver, the woman managed to escape and run to another street where she was intercepted by the accused again -- then with a group of men sitting inside the vehicle -- and molested. Fearing that locals in the area may get hold of them, the accused men fled the scene. Later, a man returning home from office found the woman sitting on a pavement and escorted her to the hotel. The victim was too traumatised to report the matter to the police in a foreign place or anyone else, the DCW official said. The police, however, maintained that there was one accused and claimed that the victim in her statement did not mention about the second part of the narration as told by DCW. "A case under Section 376 (rape) of IPC has been registered in connection with the matter against one unidentified person," DCP (Central) Parmaditya said. So far the complainant hasn't been able to provide description of the accused driver. A team has been set up to crack the case and several persons have been questioned, he said. Patna Police today arrested three members of a gang who were allegedly involved in several cases of loot and theft in the city. Sunny Kumar, Vicky Manjhi and Mohammad Sikandar have been arrested by a special team formed by Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) to conduct raids to nab them, a release said. The police recovered gold jewellery and other looted items from their possession, it said. Acting on a tip off, SSP Manu Maharaj constituted a special team headed by Patna Central SP, Deputy SP (law & order) and Rajiv Nagar police SHO and others to carry out raids in the area, the release said. The police had got the tip off that miscreants indulged in loot and theft cases have been seen moving in and around Rajiv Nagar area and carried on the raids. A Bangladeshi court today sent three members of a banned Islamist group, who were arrested in connection with the brutal killing of a head priest of a Hindu temple, to 18-day police custody for their interrogation in the case, the latest incident of violence targeting religious minorities in the Muslim-majority country. With the arrest of the three members of the outlawed Jamaat'ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), including the mastermind of the assault, during raids in Panchagarh and Nilphamari districts yesterday, police claimed to have completely solved the murder case. "We have been able to completely crack the case," police's deputy inspector general for the region Humayun Kabir told media, adding that they directly carried out the murder of the priest. The three JMB activists - identified as Alamgir Hossain, 35, Harez Ali, 32 and Ramzan Ali, 22 - were produced in a Panchagarh court under heavy security and were remanded in 18-day police custody for questioning. So far, six persons have been arrested in connection with the killing. Three others who were arrested earlier were placed under 15-day custody for interrogation. "No lawyer appeared at the court to defend the three," a journalist in Panchagargh told PTI as he was reached in Dhaka by phone. The chief priest of Hindu temple Sri Sri Shantu Santo Gaurio, 50-year-old Jagneshwar Roy, was slaughtered on February 21 in Sonapota village, near the border with India, in a pre-dawn attack by the assailants who also injured two Hindu devotees before fleeing on a motorbike. The Islamic State had claimed the brutal killing of the priest. However, police dismissed the claim and said that JMB operatives committed the murder. The priest's murder was the first attack on a Hindu priest and the fifth assault on minority religious communities including Shia Muslims and liberal Sufi preachers in the past six months by suspected Islamists. Hindus make the Sunni-majority country's largest minority with nearly 10 per cent of the total population of 160 million. In stepped up anti-Naxal operation in Jharkhand, three suspected Maoists were today arrested in Khunti while police recovered landmines and IED in Latehar and Chatra districts. Personnel of CRPF and Khunti district police undertook a search operation in the forests near Korba village in Khunti district when they faced a hail of bullets from the Naxalites, Assistant Superintendent of Police (Operation) P R Mishra told PTI. In swift retaliation, three of them were arrested while the rest fled, he said. He said the police were ascertaining which group the arrested and their associates belong to, adding the area has presence of cadres of both the CPI (Maoist) and the People's Liberation Front of India. A carbine, a rifle, four pistols and Naxal literature were among the materials recovered from the encounter spot, he said. In Maoist-affected Latehar district, the police recovered four powerful landmines, each weighing 30 kg and planted near the Tubed river under Sadar police station. They were planted with an aim to target the security forces during anti-Naxal operations, Latehar Superintendent of Police Anup Birtheray said. An IED was recovered near Satbahini river under Pratapur police station, the police said. At least 34 Islamist militants were killed today by Pakistan military during ground and aerial onslaught in the country's restive North Waziristan tribal area near Afghan border that also resulted in the death of four soldiers. In the first incident, 15 militants were killed in aerial strikes in Miaser areas of Dattkhel, which is located in North Waziristan. In another incident, 19 militants were killed as they clashed with the army in Mangroti area of Shawal Valley. Army said that the ground forces surrounded the fleeing terrorists which led to a clash and an intense exchange of fire. "Intense exchange of fire took took place. Nineteen terrorists were killed and several injured in exchange of fire," the army said in a statement. "Four security forces personnel including an officer also embraced shahadat in exchange of fire," it said. Pakistan has already announced the last phase of operation had started in the border region of North Waziristan. The on going offensive is a part of Zarb-e-Azb operation launched in June 2014 by the army to eliminate terrorists. Army says so far over 3,500 militants have been killed. A gunman killed four people in a home in rural Washington state before fatally shooting himself after an hourslong standoff, authorities have said. The gunman yesterday called authorities to say he shot and killed his family near the town of Belfair, across the Puget Sound from Seattle, Mason County sheriff's Chief Deputy Ryan Spurling said. A girl who survived has been taken to the hospital for an evaluation. The gunman "apparently came outside the home and shot himself," Sheriff Casey Salisbury said. "It's a terrible tragedy." Authorities negotiated with him for about three hours before a SWAT team stormed in to the house in a heavily wooded area just off a gravel road and found the people dead. The gunman shot himself, Spurling said. Jack Pigott, who lives down the road, said he heard gunshots Thursday night but none yesterday. The couple who lived in the house about 25 miles southwest of Seattle were in their 40s and had been married for four or five years, Pigott said. The wife had two teenage sons who were adopted from Russia during a previous marriage. She also had a daughter who was adopted from China. Pigott said the husband had a heating and air conditioning contractor business. He had recently been hospitalized, Pigott said, but he didn't know why. When he returned home, he was on a lot of medications, Pigott said of the man. Pigott said it was common for the family to do shooting practice and that's what he thought when he heard the gunshots. He says residents know each other in the area that has homes with large lots with room for horses. The SWAT team went in around 12:30 pm (local time), Spurling said. Officers said they had 11 buildings to clear on the property but reported they had found the bodies shortly after entering the first building. The shooting comes days after a 26-year-old man shot and killed his parents and two younger sisters before taking his own life at the family's home in Phoenix. Five people have been killed when a residential building collapsed in east China's Jiangxi province, officials said today. One person remains missing, officials with the emergency rescue headquarters in Pingxiang city said. Rescuers managed to pull nine people from the debris yesterday, with one dead and one injured, both of whom were construction workers. The other seven residents are in stable condition, rescuers said. The upper levels of a six-story building crumbled in Xinxueqian Alley in Anyuan district at around 2:18 pm yesterday. Six families lived on the fourth, fifth and sixth floors, state-run Xinhua agency reported. "I thought it was an earthquake. I heard a loud bang and felt vibrations," said Zhong Zhiyong, who was home with his three-year-old grandson in their sixth-floor apartment when the accident happened. "When I opened the door I saw the stairs had disappeared," he said. Firemen used a scaling ladder to rescue Zhong and the child. Investigators are yet to announce the cause of the accident. A suicide attack near the defence ministry in Kabul today killed nine people and wounded 13 others, police said, hours after another deadly blast in Afghanistan's restive east. "Nine people were killed, 13 were wounded. Most of them were civilians," Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said at the scene of the blast, which detonated as offices closed for the day. The attack was claimed by the . insurgents regularly hit government, military and police targets as part of their campaign to overthrow the Western-backed administration of President Ashraf Ghani. Earlier today a suicide bomber on a motorbike struck at a market in Asadabad, the capital of restive Kunar province, killing 13 people and wounding at least 39. No group has yet claimed responsibility for that attack. The blasts come amid fresh efforts by Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the US to restart talks aimed at ending the Taliban's long and bloody insurgency in Afghanistan. Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, who has been at loggerheads with the AAP government, has praised its Delhi Jal Board for tackling water crisis in the national capital triggered by the Jat quota stir in neighbouring Haryana. In his letter to Keshav Chandra, CEO of DJB, which comes under Delhi government, Jung said the work to tackle the water crisis was "admirable". "I wish to place on record my appreciation for your admirable performance in course of the management of recent water crisis in Delhi... "The professionalism and calibre displayed by you in the management of this acute crisis situation was of a very high order," Jung said in his letter to the CEO. Since the Aam Aadmi Party has come to power, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Jung have been at loggerheads on several issues like transfer and postings of bureaucrats in the government and formation of Commission of Inquiry. Recently, water supply was severely hit in many parts of Delhi after Jat agitators damaged Munak Canal in Haryana. The AAP government has decided to prepare a backup plan for alternative sources of water so that residents don't face such a problem in future. The DJB has been directed by the government to prepare a plan so that the city has 7-10 days water backup to cope with any crisis. Twenty-five people were killed in two attacks in Afghanistan today, including one in the capital, with the blasts potentially jeopardising attempts by Kabul to persuade the Taliban to join peace talks set for next month. Witnesses and officials described how the suicide bomber detonated near the Defence Ministry in the centre of Kabul just as offices closed for the day, in an attack later claimed by the Taliban. "Twelve people, including two Afghan soldiers were killed and eight others injured," a ministry statement said, while a previous toll given by Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi stated nine were dead and 13 wounded. The bomber was on foot, ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri added. "I saw wounded civilians and army soldiers. They were begging for help but security forces did not allow common people to help them," witness Sardar Mohammad told AFP. "The causalities, mostly, were civilians," said another man, Saleh Mohammad. "It was the time when all the people were going home." Ambulances converged at the site of the explosion as police and the army set up a security cordon. Analysts have previously observed the Taliban stepping up attacks in the heart of the capital to gain leverage ahead of attempted peace negotiations with the Western-backed government in Kabul, against whom they have been fighting a bloody insurgency for more than 14 years. Earlier today, a suicide bomber on a motorbike struck at a market in Asadabad, the capital of restive Kunar province, killing 13 people and wounding at least 39. No group has yet claimed responsibility for that attack, which a spokesman for the provincial governor and a police official both said targeted a tribal leader fiercely opposed to the insurgents, Haji Khan Jan. The Taliban do not generally claim attacks with high numbers of civilian casualties, saying they only target Afghan soldiers -- "stooges" of foreign powers -- and NATO troops, considered "invaders", as well as symbols of the central government. But civilians are paying a heavy price in the violence tearing the country apart. The number killed or wounded in 2015 was the highest recorded since 2009. According to a UN report published earlier this month, there were more than 11,000 civilian casualties in 2015, including 3,545 deaths. The blasts come amid fresh efforts by Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the US to restart talks aimed at ending the Taliban's long and bloody insurgency in Afghanistan. Delegates from Afghanistan, China, the US and Pakistan met in Kabul last week for a fourth round of talks aimed at forming a path back to the nascent peace process. The four countries have called for a direct dialogue between the Taliban and Kabul by next week, but analysts have termed the deadline "completely unrealistic", especially as the insurgents have said they have not been contacted by the quartet. An AIMIM leader was today arrested here for allegedly raising provocative slogans against a particular religion at a condolence meet for a Dalit youth killed during the Jat stir. "Wali-ur-Rahman, city president of AIMIM has been arrested. Two leaders of Arakshan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, Amit Gautam and Gaurav Parcha, who were also involved in the incident are yet to be nabbed. Efforts are on to arrest the others accused in the incident," SP (Rural) Pravin Ranjan said. On February 24, activists of ABSS and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) had gathered for a condolence meet of a Dalit youth from Muzaffarnagar, Kuldeep, who was killed in Sonipat on February 21 during the pro-quota stir by the Jat community. After the meet, they took out a procession to submit their demands to Sardhana Tehsildar when some of them blocked the road and raised slogans against a particular religion. Police had booked nine persons for hurting religious sentiments and blocking roads. At least 30 rebels and civilians were killed today when warplanes from the Saudi-led coalition struck a market northeast of the rebel-held Yemeni capital Sanaa, witnesses said. The air strike targeted three rebel vehicles as they entered a market in the town of Naqil bin Ghaylan, killing at least 30 Huthi insurgents and civilians, one tribal source in the area said. The war of words over 5/20 norm continued with AirAsia chief Tony Fernandes today taking a dig at promoters of Indian airlines asking whether all of them live in India, in an obvious reference to Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal, an NRI living in the UK. Goyal's airline along with three budget carriers - IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir - are opposed to change in the existing regulation, popularly known as '5/20 norm' for international flying by domestic carriers, which the government is mulling as part of its proposed new civil aviation policy. AirAsia India and Vistara - two airlines operated by the Tatas through joint ventures - are presently ineligible to operate overseas as the 5/20 norm requires an Indian carrier to have minimum five years domestic operational experience and at least 20 planes to go international. "Reading all the stuff on TATA and Airasia. Quite crazy 5 20 hasn't been solved. Are owners of Indian airlines living in India. Naresh? NRI," Fernandes said in a series of tweets. Tata Sons runs joint venture airlines, Vistara and AirAsia India, with Singapore Airlines and AirAsia respectively. Arun Bhatia of Telestra Tradeplace is the third partner in AirAsia India. Terming as sad the lobbying of incumbent airlines for "protection and preferential treatment", Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, Ratan Tata had last Sunday said such moves (for continuation of 5/20 norm) are reminiscent of the monopolistic pressures by entities with vested interests who fear competition. The incumbent carriers under the banner of Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) too hit back at Tata and the subsequent statement from Tata Sons alleging that the demand to call for removal of 5/20 was not in "national interest" but "self-interest" on the part of the Tata Sons and its partner airlines. "People of India your voice needs to be heard more. For too long airlines have been controlled by a few. Mostly NRI. Competition is needed," Fernandes, whose airline AirAsia holds 49 per cent in AirAsia India, said in another tweet. "Indians need more Tourism. More jobs. Only country in the world with a 5 20 rule. Malaysia has foreign airlines operating here. No issue," he further tweeted. Under the current FDI regulations, foreign airlines can own up to 49 per cent in domestic carriers while an NRI is allowed to hold 100 per cent in an airline. However, FIA alleges that AirAsia India and Vistara were being controlled by their overseas stakeholders - Air Asia Bhd and Singapore Airlines, respectively, a charge which Tata Sons has denied. Tata Sons claim that that the majority ownership and effective control of both airlines are with the Indian parties as per the government's requirement. Responding to allegations of older airlines that Indian carriers can't set up an airline company in Malaysia, Fernandes tweeted, "Can't see why not. There is an Indonesian airline operating a MALAYSIAN aoc (air operator certificate)." Along with finalising the new civil aviation policy, which is in the advanced stage, the government also has to decide the fate of 5/20 norm. A statue of B R Ambedkar installed at Navyug market in Kotwali police station area here was allegedly damaged by some anti-social elements, following which members of the dalit community and BSP workers staged a protest and blocked road, police said today. The statue was damaged last night. The district administration took prompt action to avoid any unpleasant situation and a large police force was deployed in the area, said Superintendent of Police (City) Salman Taj Patil. "A few days ago the spectacle on the statue was damaged. It was reset using adhesive. Perhaps due to increasing temperature, the adhesive might have melted and the spectacle fell. It creates an impression that the statue has been damaged. However, the possibility of vandalising cannot be ruled out," the police officer said. An FIR has been registered against unknown persons, he said. District Magistrate Vimal Kumar Sharma said the statue was installed at a cost of Rs 11 lakh. Today morning, members of the dalit community and BSP workers staged a protest and blocked road in the area. BSP leader Pyre Lal Jatav demanded immediate arrest of the culprits. Ahead of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's visit here, posters have sprung up all over the city questioning the performance of the government. The posters in Punjabi, reading 'Ek Saal, Delhi Behaal', bear a large image of a worried-looking Kejriwal and can be spotted at several public places and on flyovers across the city where the national convenor is scheduled to attend different programs during his three-hour visit tomorrow. Further, the posters list "undelivered" promises of the government during their one year in power. "Kejriwal made a promise to open 500 schools but not a single new school has been started. He promised recruitment for 55,000 government jobs, but only 1,500 posts have been filled up," the posters state. The posters also questioned the AAP government's commitment on issues like health facilities, security and installation of CCTV cameras. AAP's local leader Rajeev Chaudhary said it was an attempt to gain cheap publicity. "This has been orchestrated by rival parties. The fact that these posters do not have bear a credit line proves they are in panic mode. They should instead confront us head-on," Chaudhary, AAP's zonal observer said. He said the party would consult their legal team and take up the matter with the appropriate authority once Kejriwal finishes his 5-day Punjab tour. The AP Power Transmission Corporation (AP Transco) has asked Anil Ambani-led Reliance Power to submit a "clear exit proposal" for termination of the 4,000-mw Krishnapatnam Ultra Mega Power Project (KUMPP) in the Nellore district. Reliance Power submitted a proposal to the Andhra Pradesh government last month seeking to exit KUMPP as it could not take up the project originally sanctioned way back in 2007. Reliance Power is currently locked in a legal dispute with the Andhra government over the forfeiture of Rs 300 crore that the former submitted as bank guarantee for the project. KUMPP did not move much in the last nine years as Reliance delayed the project citing non-availability of coal and escalation of costs though the state government allotted 2,400 acres in Krishnapatnam. Power produced from the plant was supposed to be sold in AP, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana. Reliance Power CEO N Venugopala Rao wrote a letter last month asking the state government to take over KUMPP on the lines of Tilaiya UMPP in Jharkhand. The AP Transco held a meeting in Hyderabad last week involving all stakeholders of the project to consider the Reliance Power proposal. "We have asked Reliance to submit a clear exit proposal so that we can consider its request. The cases of Tilaiya and Krishnapatnam are different and can't be linked," AP Transco Chairman and Managing Director (in-charge) K Vijayanand told reporters here today. He pointed out that KUMPP involved five states. Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmud Ali will visit India next month, the country's High Commissioner today said. High Commissioner Syed Muazzem Ali, said that the Foreign Minister, who will arrive on a two-day visit on March 1, is also expected to hold a meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on the sidelines of an event, being organized by think-tank, on March 2. "Bilateral relations have been fruitful and constructive. I am very happy that the relationship has been termed the best ever since 1974. We have tremendous scope for cooperation," Ali told reporters here. Ali, who took charge in 2014, emphasised on the need to "hasten" the process of economic integration of the two countries. "Today, inter-state relationship is pretty much based on economic cooperation, technical cooperation, investment among others. "There are other problems but I am sure with goodwill and sincerity we will be able to resolve those. We should not spend all our time resolving past issues, we should also look at the future," he said. Ali said a strong neighbourhood was of "common interest" of both the countries. "Security has always been a problem in our part of the world. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has dealt with these issues with an iron hand. BJP today hit out at Congress leader P Chidambaram for his remark that 2015 was the worst year in terms of polarisation after 1992, saying his comments have "encouraged" anti-national forces and were aimed at vote bank politics. "Chidambaram's comments amount to putting in dock his own government. It is height of vote bank politics. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi should apologise for such statements and also the decision of Rahul Gandhi to go to the JNU to support anti-national forces," BJP National Secretary Shirkant Sharma said in a statement. He attacked Chidambaram, a former home and finance minister, for his reported comment that 2015 was the worst year in terms of polarising the country after 1992, when the Babri mosque was demolished. Sharma said there was no communal polarisation in the country and, if there was a polarisation, he alleged, it was between the national forces and those supporting anti-national people. He also referred to former home secretary G K Pillai's statement that the controversial change in the Ishrat Jahan case affidavit was done at the "political level" to flay the Congress leader. "It is clear now that the case was being used by Congress to falsely target Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. Chidambaram is now making these comments as a cover up exercise," he said, adding that it showed Congress can stoop to any level to satisfy its lust for power. Bihar BJP justified its boycott of Assembly sitting on a holiday today alleging it was done to facilitate Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to get better media coverage for his speech on the Governor's address. "Today remained a black day in the Parliamentary history of Bihar when sitting was called on a holiday despite opposition boycott," senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said in a statement. Modi claimed that members of the ruling coalition had said in the Business Advisory committee that because of the Union budget on February 29, the CM's speech on Governor's address would not get adequate coverage in media and the sitting be preponed to Saturday from Monday. "The CM could have listened to the Union budget which would be presented at 11 AM and given his speech in the Assembly at 2 PM to avoid clash of time," said Modi, who is leader of opposition in Legislative Council. He also mocked at Kumar's speech on the motion on Governor's address in the Assembly today in the absence of opposition members. "Actually, CM Nitish Kumar is a proponent of such type of democracy in which there is no opposition and he gets opportunity to make one-sided assertions," Modi alleged, who was the deputy to Kumar during NDA rule, said. Programmes of NDA leaders had earlier been fixed for today and there was no point attending the House on a holiday, he said. Leaders of the grand secular alliance, however, attacked BJP on the House boycott. Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav told reporters that in a bid to shine in its own brand of politics, the BJP boycotted the sitting today. "They knew that their baseless allegations would stand nowhere before the ruling coalition. Hence they decided to keep off from the sitting," Tejaswi Yadav, who is also RJD Legislature party leader, said. Parliamentary Affairs minister Shrawan Kumar attacked BJP saying they have no faith in the Parliamentary democracy. Congress state president and minister Ashok Choudhary also criticised the BJP over the boycott. Hitting out at the BJP-led government over the JNU row, NCP chief Sharad Pawar today said the party was sowing seeds of secession as it saw defeat staring in its face in the ensuing elections. "BJP sees defeat staring in its face and that is why seeds of secession and Hindutva are being sown by the party before facing elections," Pawar said. The former Union minister was addressing a meeting of state NCP functionaries here. Terming the JNU issue as a political conspiracy, Pawar said, "It is being propagated that only they (BJP) are nationalists and others are anti-nationals." "Nobody supports anti-India posters. Police should probe the complex matter. There are hardly two per cent Maoist sympathisers there. The panel which defeated ABVP (in JNU) is branded anti-national and jailed," he said. The senior NCP leader claimed that BJP will face defeat in ensuing elections in various states. Also coming down heavily on the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra, Pawar said the new regime has done little to combat acute water scarcity in many parts of the state. "Let this government take even a single decision which my government took and then ask what did we do. Power comes and goes but it should not go into the head," he said in a barb aimed at the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, against whom the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau has filed a charge sheet in the Maharashtra Sadan scam said, "I have been cornered from all sides but I am still standing." "All decisions were transparent and taken by the entire cabinet collectively. I trust nyaydevta (justice). I have not indulged in any corruption," Bhujbal said. NCP state unit president Sunil Tatkare said attempts are on to suppress the party. He asked party workers to get ready for confrontation with the government. BJP's youth wing today protested outside the Congress office with its president and party MP Anurag Thakur alleging that the opposition party was standing against the nationalist forces over the JNU row. "The Congress-led UPA headed by Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh supported Ishrat Jahan when it was in power and it is now standing against the nationalist forces in JNU. Rahul Gandhi should decide if he is with the nationalist forces or anti-nationalist forces," Thakur said addressing protestors. Many workers of Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha were arrested and later released by police. Thakur said Congress will have to pay a price for "supporting" Maoists in JNU as the youth was with nationalist forces being led by BJP, according to a party statement. "The youth wants to take the country forward under the leadership of Narendra Modi. But Rahul Gandhi wants to curb India's growth by supporting anti-national forces bent on creating disharmony," he said. Syria's state agency says a car bomb has exploded on the edge of a government-held central town, killing two and wounding several others. No one claimed responsibility for Saturday's blast on the eastern entrance of the town of Salamiyeh which came hours after a cease-fire brokered by Russia and the US went into effect. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for several bombings in Syria in recent weeks. Opposition activists in different parts of Syria said the situation has been "cautiously calm" since the truce went into effect yesterday. The truce does not include either IS or al-Qaida's branch in Syria, known as the Nusra Front. The Syrian government and 97 rebel and militant groups said they will abide by the cease-fire. In a bid to strengthen country's defence forces, the Defence Ministry has issued an order worth Rs 22,000 crores for purchase of CH-47 Chinook and AH-64 Apache helicopters which will be inducted in the forces soon. "The ministry has already issued an order for purchase of 15 Chinook and 21 Apache helicopters, which will soon be inducted in the forces," Defence Minister told reporters here today. The minister said that the order, totalling Rs 22,000 crores, has been placed for the purchase of these choppers, which will strengthen the capabilities of country's defence forces. To a query regarding the upcoming Union Budget, Parrikar said the Centre has decided to allocate adequate funds for the defence sector. "There are two elements for the budget, one is expenditure and another salaries. And on both fronts, the government has decided to give enough (funds)," he said. Parrikar said that the ministry has no constraint with regard to defence capital. "We are fulfilling the orders which were given 10 to 5 years back. Finances for the same is already reserved," he said. Parrikar noted with pride that in his 16 months tenure, not a single question has been raised on the defence purchase front. "...This itself indicates that I don't fall for the pressures," he said. Parrikar also said that with the Defence ministry giving the nod to export 'Brahmos' and 'Akash' missiles, Indian forces will get a boost. Claiming that neighbour Pakistan is wary of India's defence powers, Parrikar said during a recent exhibition that Pakistan withdrew display of its JF-17 Fighter jets when India's 'Tejas' (Light Combat Aircraft) was showcased. Terrorism still poses a threat in China's restive northwestern region of Xinjiang despite a massive security presence and the passage of tough new anti-terrorism legislation, a top Chinese anti-terrorism officer was quoted today as saying. In an online conversation about the law's impact, Public Security Ministry anti-terrorism specialist Liu Yuejin said that it had greatly boosted information sharing both domestically and internationally since taking effect on January 1. Still, Liu said terrorist acts were continuing in some parts of Xinjiang, where resentment against Chinese rule lingers among the native Turkic Muslim Uighur (pronounced WEE-gur) population, which is ethnically, religiously and linguistically distinct from China's Han majority. "A tiny number of people with terrorist thoughts are still plotting to carry out violent sabotage activities within our borders and violent terrorist incidents continue to take place in parts of Xinjiang," Liu said in the exchange, posted on a website that compiles stories from various Chinese state media and government sources. "Counterterrorism and stability maintenance work remains extremely arduous." Violence blamed on separatists and Muslim extremists has killed hundreds in recent years, although the past few months have been largely quiet, partly as a result of the massive security effort. The law has particularly targeted online activity, raising concerns that its requirements that tech companies share information with the government could hurt business interests and further infringe upon human rights. China says it faces a threat from overseas groups, although many observers question that assertion and say Beijing's definition of terrorism includes nonviolent acts of defiance and innocent support for Uighur culture. For the first time, Chinese scientists taking part in a 400-day South Pole research expedition can eat fresh vegetables grown regularly on-site. The researchers can eat fresh vegetables grown regularly on-site, Wang Zheng, the grower who came home last month after the mission in Antarctica, said. Growing vegetables in Antarctica reminded him of The Martian, a sci-fi movie about an astronaut who survives alone on Mars by eating potatoes he grows there, Wang said yesterday from his home in Shangrao, Jiangxi province. Wang said the growth chamber at the Zhongshan Station, China's second research station in Antarctica, had only a low yield when it was established in 2013. The amount was too small to make it possible for researchers to have vegetable dishes. To increase the yield, Wang said, he reduced the number of vegetable varieties and focused on only some fast-growing ones, which makes the output stable. As a result, during much of his stay there, at least one vegetable dish, such as cucumbers, lettuce or cabbage, was served at every meal for a group of 18 researchers working there. Wang, an orthopedist, said he knew nothing about botany or farming before he arrived at the station in December, 2014. "I was given this job probably because my office is next to the growth chamber, and as a doctor, I had more spare time than others," Wang was quoted as saying by state-run China Daily. He considered many factors, such as light, temperature and humidity. Light music is played in the 16-square-metre greenhouse around the clock. "Mild music is good for vegetable growth," he said. "We also played Buddhist music, which has soft melody," he said. "Growers before me did very good work. My job was to maintain the chamber and keep everything working," he said. Before the harvest, researchers had a very limited vegetable supply for the mission - mostly potatoes and cabbage, which taste awful after months of storage. "The Russian station is only one kilometer away from ours. We even had enough vegetables to invite our Russian colleagues for dinner," he said. Chief Justice of India T S Thakur today called for inculcating consciousness in the society towards the dignity and the rights of labourers of the country through a joint effort by the judiciary, labour unions, industrialists and the government. "In Indian culture, the worker is traditionally regarded as 'Vishwakarma'. The country cannot be happy if the worker is unhappy," Justice Thakur said while addressing the inaugural session of two-day workshop on "Workers in Unorganized Sector - Their Aspirations, Challenges and Way Forward". "Laws alone can't bring about the desired change. A combined and concerted effort of the judiciary, labour unions, industrialists and the government can bring about the results which are not only in the interest of the labour class but the country's economy as well," he said. The state-level workshop is being jointly organized by Jammu and Kashmir State Legal Services Authority and J&K Labour Department under the aegis of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). The CJI, who is also the Patron-in-Chief of NALSA, called for giving importance to innovative schemes for workers especially in the unorganized sector. There is a thin line that separates the good of the industry and the good of the industrialist. Similarly, there is a thin line that separates the good of the worker and the good of the labour union; the good of the nation and the good of the government, he said. He noted that NALSA has formulated six legal service schemes for the enforcement of the welfare measures launched by the Centre and state governments for the benefit of unorganized sector that covers most of the rural labour and a substantial part of urban labour. "In this sector, wage-paid labour is largely non-unionized due to casual and seasonal nature of employment and scattered location of enterprises," he said adding, this sector is marked by low income, unstable and irregular employment, and lack of protection either from legislation or trade unions. Hillary Clinton hopes to consolidate her position as the Democratic presidential frontrunner with a landslide victory over rival Bernie Sanders in the South Carolina primary elections ahead of the crucial "Super Tuesday" next week. Eyeing to become the first woman president of the US, the 68-year-old former Secretary of State has an impressive 27 points lead over Sanders, 74, from Vermont. At the national level, her lead over Sanders is now less than 6%. Clinton leads in the delegate count after winning two of the first three states to vote in Iowa, narrowly, and then in Nevada. In South Carolina, where 55% of voters in the 2008 Democratic primary were African-American, polls show Clinton is favoured to win that could wipe away the memories of her 2008 primary loss in the state. She is campaigning for a landslide victory in South Carolina's Democratic primary, while Sanders is already looking ahead to Minnesota, Colorado, Illinois and beyond. Clinton and her husband Bill Clinton, the former US President, along with their daughter Chelsie have spent the last few days in South Carolina, where she is highly popular. "The South Carolina primary is personally important to me because I want to send a strong signal that South Carolina is ready for change, ready for progress, ready to make a difference," Clinton said yesterday during a rally in Columbia. "Tomorrow, folks in South Carolina will head to the polls, and we'll be well on our way to Super Tuesday," the former top American diplomat said in an email to her supporters. On the eve of the South Carolina primary, a poll by Gallup said that among Democrats, Clinton has an advantage of 11 points over Sanders. "Hillary Clinton has reclaimed her position as the best- liked presidential candidate among Democrats and independents who lean Democratic, a sign that her candidacy is recovering a key advantage she recently surrendered to rival Bernie Sanders," Gallup said. Clinton's supports hoped that South Carolina would seal her position as the Democratic frontrunner. "If Sanders doesn't do better with African-Americans in South Carolina than he did in Nevada, he's going to have a terrible night," Mo Elleithee, a Democratic strategist who worked on her 2008 campaign, was quoted as saying by USA Today. This week, Clinton attended at least 10 events in the State having addressed rallies every day since Tuesday. During the same period, Sanders addressed just three rallies. Expressing serious concern over violence against religious minorities in India, 34 top American lawmakers have asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take immediate steps to protect their fundamental rights and bring the perpetrators to justice. "We urge your government to take immediate steps to ensure that the fundamental rights of religious minorities are protected and that the perpetrators of violence are held to account," the lawmakers, including eight Senators, said in a letter to the Prime Minister. "Of particular concern is the treatment of India's Christian, Muslim and Sikh communities," said the letter dated February 25, which was released to the press today by the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. Among others the letter was signed by Senators Roy Blunt, Amy Klobuchar, James Lankford, Al Franken, Tim Scot, Ben Sasse, John Boozman and Steve Daines. The letter was signed by 24 members from the US House of Representatives including Joseph Pits, Keith Ellison, Brad Wenstrup, Jim Costa, Trent Franks, Ted Poe and Mark Walker. "We also urge you to take steps to control the activities of groups, such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and instruct Indian security forces to enforce the rule of law and protect religious minority communities from religiously- motivated harassment and violence," the lawmakers said. "On June 17th, 2014, more than 50 village councils in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh adopted a resolution banning all 'non-Hindu religious propaganda, prayers, and speeches' in their communities," the letter said, adding that the Christian minority community has been dramatically affected. "The ban effectively has criminalised the practice of Christianity for an estimated 300 Christian families in the region one day after a mob, which included members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, seriously injured six Christians in the village of Sirciguda. "Since the ban was implemented, Christians in the Bastar District reportedly have been subjected to physical assaults, denial of government services, extortion, threats of forced expulsion, denial of access to food and water, and pressure to convert to Hinduism," they alleged. Expressing concern over beef ban in India, the lawmakers said this is increasing tensions and encouraging vigilante violence against the Muslim community. They also raised additional concerns about the lack of recognition of Sikhism as a distinct religion, which prevents members of the community from accessing social services and employment and educational preferences available to other religious communities. Congressmen and Senators applauded Prime Minister Modi about his statement on religious freedom and communal harmony, including his promise in February 2014 that his government would "ensure that there is complete freedom of faith and not allow any religious group, belonging to the majority or the minority, to incite hatred against others." "We urge you to turn these words into action by publicly condemning the ban on non-Hindu faiths in the Bastar District of Chhattisgarh, and the violent assaults and other forms of harassment against religious minorities throughout India," the letter said. Container Corporation of India (Concor) will use its expertise and technology to help mango growers of Maharashtra enhance quality of their produce and get better market price. The Navratna PSU has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Maharashtra State Agriculture Marketing Board (MSAMB) to help mango producers under its CSR initiative. Concor, which operates under the administrative control of Railway Ministry, inked the MoU last week in Sindhudurg district, whose Devgad taluka is known as the heartland of the famous Alphonso mango. "Under this CSR initiative we want to upgrade not only the quality of mangoes, but also the living standards of the mango farmers in the state. To begin with, we have issued an advance cheque of Rs 20 lakh to MSAMB," said Sharat Chandrayan, Group General Manager, Concor (Western Region). Sindhudurg Collector Anil Bhandari and Ajit Gogate, Chairman of Deogad Taluka Amba Utpadak Sahkari Sanstha, which operates a large fruit processing plant, were also present Under the agreement, Concor will upgrade Mango Pack House at Jamsande in Devgad at a cost of Rs 68 lakh. "We have both expertise and equipment to add values in food products (especially mangoes). We strongly believe our chain of cold storage would fetch a good deal for the mango- growing farmers of Maharashtra, especially of Konkan region, famous for the production and export of Alphanso mango," Chandrayan said. Due to lack of proper infrastructure, the farmers are not able to reach the appropriate market with intact quality of mangoes and that will be no longer the case now, he said. A Concor statement said the PSU would assist MSAMB in upgradation of cold and ripening rooms using latest technology. The company would also assist the board officials and farmers in material handling and ancillary equipment, including battery operated pallet stacker and carton strapping machine, the statement added. Two persons, including a local Congress leader, were today killed and four others injured when the car they were travelling in turned turtle after hitting a dump of road construction material in Piparpur area here, police said. The incident occurred this afternoon. Former block president Om Prakash Singh (50) and his friend Hari Singh (48) were killed on the spot, while four others, including another Congress leader Ashok Singh, were injured, Circle Officer, Amethi, R K Chaturvedi said. They were on their way to Gauriganj district headquarters, the CO said. Party vice-president Rahul Gandhi has expressed grief over the incident, his representative in the constituency Chandrakant Dubey said. Union minister Uma Bharti today accused the Left parties of "singling out" Prime Minister Narendra Modi by raising the bogey of intolerance with the support of Congress. "Though communists are in minority they are occupying important positions in various fields and they are only attacking Modi on intolerance issue with the support of Congress which is out of power. Intolerance issue is nothing but a false propaganda against Modi," Bharti said. The Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation was here on a private visit. On the Ganga cleanliness project, Bharti said, "The Centre will implement a four-pronged programme in which as many as 1600 villages along the Ganga river stretch will be made free of filth by October". "The government will implement the programme within six months and complete the first phase of cleaning the river by October this year," she said. Bharti said the second phase will be attained within four years during which 6000 villages will be taken up for cleaning. "However, four things are to be taken into consideration while cleaning villages along Ganga river. They are the disposal of sewage water, diversion of drains flowing into the river, conversion of waste generating from the villages into fertilisers, and generation of employment by cultivating medicinal plants along the river," she said. A group of over 400 cotton growers from Seloo village in Wardha district of Maharashtra have threatened to commit "self-immolation" in front of the RSS headquarters here tomorrow to protest alleged non-payment of dues to the tune of Rs 8 crores by a buyer, who they claimed is close to the saffron outfit. The farmers claimed that they had sold 20,000 quintals of cotton to Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Wardha, which in turn sold it to one Sunil Prabhakar Talatule, who owns Shrikrishna Ginning and Pressing Factory. His father Babasaheb Talatule was among the founding fathers of the RSS, the protesters said. "We had sold our produce between November 2014 and May 2015 but Talatule is not making payment against purchase," said Ram Narain Pathak, one of the farmers leading the group. He said they had approached Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungattiwar and Union Transport and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari to draw their attention to the issue, but nothing had happened. The farmers also filed a police complaint on July 25, 2015, and an offence under IPC section 420 (cheating) was registered against APMC Secretary, I Sufi, APMC administrator Prashant Talmale and the purchaser Sunil Talatule, who were subsequently arrested by police, Seloo Police confirmed. The farmers also approached District Collector for recovery of the amount, though the APMC is not directly under collector's control. Following this, District Deputy Registrar of Co-Operatives, Wardha served a notice for recovery of the amount from the trio. Wardha collector Ashutosh Salil said the attachment of the property of the defaulters has been endorsed. "The process has been initiated as per laid down procedure. Their properties will be attached (and) the amount will be recovered from them," he said. When asked why they are organising their protest in front of RSS HQ, Pathak said only the RSS leadership can pressurise Talatule to pay the dues. "We had approached BJP leaders in Delhi and also tried to meet RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, but his staff did not allow us" Pathak claimed. Talatule did not respond to text messages seeking his comment on the allegation. Also, a top RSS functionary did not respond to queries messaged to him to elicit their outfit's comment on the issue. A Delhi court today allowed the custodial interrogation of two JNU students, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, arrested in a sedition case, by two more days. The court extended the police custody of the duo, who had allegedly organised a controversial event at the JNU on February 9 where anti-India slogans were said to have been raised, after police contended that they were required for further probe in the case. The police claimed that around 22 people present at the flashpoint JNU event, including some outsiders, have been identified after the joint interrogation of Khalid, Anirban and JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar arrested in the same case. Khalid and Anirban were earlier sent to three days' police remand on February 24, after their midnight surrender and subsequent arrest in the case. Earlier, the Delhi High Court had ordered that "confidentiality" be maintained during the remand proceedings of Umar and Anirban, besides Kumar, while directing the police to ensure that no one "suffers even a scratch" and there is no ruckus this time. Lawyers had allegedly assaulted Kumar when he was brought to Patiala House Court for remand proceedings, in defiance of a Supreme Court order, on February 17. Two days earlier, when Kumar was to be brought to the court, the same set of lawyers had thrashed journalists and JNU students and teachers. The high court order had came during the hearing on Kumar's bail plea after it was informed that the student leader and Umar and Anirban were apprehending threat to their safety and security during production before Patiala House courts for remand proceedings. The police also inquired whether two of them were the main organisers of the February 9 event against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and whether they were involved in anti-India sloganeering which allegedly took place. The duo had returned to the JNU campus last Sunday after going missing since February 12. Besides Kumar, Khalid and Bhattacharya, the other students allegedly involved in the case are Rama Naga, Ashutosh Kumar and Anant Prakash. Ashutosh has joined the investigation with the Delhi Police. The police had issued a look-out notice on February 20 against Khalid, Bhattacharya, Naga, Ashutosh and Prakash. In its order, the high court had also directed its Registrar General to depute a Metropolitan Magistrate for conducting remand proceedings and asked DCP (South) Prem Nath, who was present inside the courtroom during the hearing, to co-ordinate with the Registrar General for this. The bench said Kanhaiya's counsel has apprehended serious threat to his client's life during production before the court for remand proceedings and for this reason, his bail plea was transmitted to the High Court by the Supreme Court. The court had heard brief arguments on Kanhaiya's bail plea and posted it for further hearing on February 29 as Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that in view of the arrest of Khalid and Bhattacharya, the police would file an application seeking his further police custody. The court had also heard separate petitions filed by Khalid and Bhattacharya in which they had sought security before they surrender to police and their advocates told the bench that since their clients have surrendered the prayer "does not survive". A Canadian court has stopped the extradition of a woman and his brother to India to face trial for the honour killing of her daughter over concerns that they may not get justice in the country. Malkit Sidhu and brother Surjit Badesha, accused in the slaying of Jaswinder Kaur Sidhu, have been granted a judicial review by the British Columbia Appeal Court of the extradition order on grounds that they may not receive a fair trial in India, CBC reported. In its judgment released yesterday, the court said that, in the light of India's human rights record, it was not reasonable to accept India's assurances over the future health and safety of the accused. Canadian-born Jaswinder Sidhu was found dead, her throat slit, in Punjab in 2000. She was 25. Her mother Malkit, 65, and uncle Surjit, 70, were arrested in 2012, suspected of a so-called "honour killing". They are accused of killing Jaswinder after she married Mithu Sidhu, a rickshaw driver she had met in India a few years earlier. Her family did not approve of the match. Jaswinder and her husband were attacked as they rode a scooter in a village near Sangrur, Punjab, in June 2000. Her husband was severely beaten and left for dead while she was kidnapped and later killed. Her body was left in a canal. Investigations in India confirmed that the murder was an honour killing plotted by Jaswinder's mother Malkit and her uncle Surjit while the duo were in Canada. Former justice minister Peter MacKay ordered their surrender to face charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, conditional on assurances from India that they would not face the death penalty, that their health and safety would be protected in custody, and they would get consular access. In January 2015, MacKay wrote to the accused's counsel, saying he had received assurances from India, and that he considered them satisfactory. That decision was then appealed. Hookup websites and apps may be behind the growing number of newly HIV infected men in the US, a new study has said, cautioning people about the risks of sexual encounters arranged online. More than 60 per cent of men in the US state of Rhode Island who had sex with men and were diagnosed with HIV in 2013 reported meeting their sexual partners online in the preceding year, said the study that interviewed 70 of the state's 74 newly diagnosed people. In 2013, 74 Rhode Island residents were newly diagnosed with HIV. Three in five were gay, bisexual, or others. And of the 43 people, 22 told researchers they believed a man they met online gave them the virus. "This is a statewide study that included nearly all individuals newly diagnosed with HIV across an entire state," said Amy Nunn, associate professor of Public Health and Medicine at Brown University and director of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute. "This is one of the first studies to document how common internet site use is among people newly diagnosed with HIV and highlights important opportunities to partner with hookup sites to advance public health," said Nunn. Many of the individuals newly diagnosed in Rhode Island were diagnosed late in the course of their infection, the study showed. Researchers said this suggested that they may have been living with HIV for a long time, and potentially unknowingly transmitting HIV to other people, including partners they met online. Companies that produce hookup websites and apps should partner with public health groups, to share public health messages about the risks of sexual encounters arranged online, researchers said. For instance, sites and apps could provide affordable advertising access to help prevent infection in communities that are most impacted by HIV, they said. The findings were published in the journal Public Health Reports. Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh today raked up the "educational qualification" of Union HRD Minster Smriti Irani in the context of her diatribe in Parliament and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clear the air on the issue. "I demand from Modi to clarify how much she (Irani) is actually qualified, as in every election paper (affidavit) her education level gets changed," Singh told reporters. Taking a swipe at Irani, Singh said the minister should have realised that Parliament is not a "television studio" before delivering her speech. "The previous NDA government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee had made the best person in Murli Manohar Joshi as Education Minister who was the youngest professor at Allahabad University. Didn't Modi government find anybody better than Irani," he asked. In her fiery speech in Lok Sabha recently, Irani strongly defended her government facing flak over the sedition charges slapped on some JNU students and the suicide of Hyderabad Central University (HCU) Dalit student Rohith Vemula. Referring to the JNU row, Singh said the Delhi police arrested the JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar though he did not raise any anti-national slogan at the varsity event. "I am impressed by Kanhaiya's speech. He has not raised any anti-national slogan in his address. Despite that Delhi Police arrested him for no fault," he said. Singh also defended Rahul Gandhi in the view of the criticism by BJP, saying the Congress Vice-President had also demanded action against those who allegedly raised anti-national slogans. Opposition parties had last year sought ouster of Irani while accusing her of giving "false" information about her educational qualification in affidavits filed with the Election Commission. Amid the raging debate over slapping of sedition charge against JNU students, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram today said a dissenter was not an anti-national and claimed there was a sense of insecurity and fear among large sections of people under the BJP-led regime. "Dissent is the essence of democracy. Dissenter is not anti-national, a dissenter is not less of a patriot than any one else," he said here at the launch of his book "Standing Guard, one year in Opposition." Chidambaram, a former union minister, said institutions, universities "are places where different ideas will have to come together and clash with each other." The narrative of the ruling BJP regime changed from "development to intolerance, cooperation to confrontation welfare and security of all the people to deep sense of insecurity and fear among large sections of people," he said. From development oriented claims during early last year, 2015 ended with issues like Dadri and later issues like the suicide of Rohith Vemula and JNU, he said. "If you hear different voices in universities today it is because these sections have long been neglected and they have found their way through struggle to universities and and they are willing to stand up and speak," the Congress leader said. Stating that it was not an alternative voice, he said it was "the voice of a section of the Indian people, you cannot dismiss them as alternative which cannot be accepted, or even worse dismiss them as anti-national." His book -- a compilation of his Sunday columns published in the Indian Express last year -- he said "would reflect my anguish and concerns." Referring to student movements in 1967 and 68 in European Universities, he said "none of them were branded as anti-national. You will hear alternative narrative all over India you cannot suppress those voices." "I have Muslim friends, they text me there is great insecurity, there is sense of fear, apprehension," Chidambaram said. Stating that in Uttar Pradesh, "village after village there is a fear (as to) when will the next riot will break out. May be a riot is caused by this group or that group but to live in fear is not a sign of healthy democracy." "I beg of you to please try to befriend people not of our kind and try to understand how they view the country," he told a participant who posed a question over intolerance. "My deep concern is that there is an attempt to suppress alternative voice even in this state (Tamil Nadu)... A writer's voice was suppressed on a specious ground that he was offending a particular community," he said. The reference was to Tamil writer Perumal Murugan, who "withdrew" his work "Mathorubagan" after it courted controversies and objections from a caste-group which claimed that it had denigrated its women-folk. Speaking at the occasion, senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, who was Finance Minister in Chandra Shekhar government, said that seeds of 1991 economic crisis were laid much earlier. Noting that Chandra Shekhar government tried to be self-reliant by imposing new levies and mortgaging gold, Sinha said, "it (mortgaging of gold) chased throughout my electoral career. May be this is a reason, I did not decide to contest 2014 Lok Sabha election." He further said, "late Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar's biggest failure was his success. That was reason, Chandra Shekhar's government was toppled by Congress Party." Stressing that every government in India has supported economic reform, Sinha said even today there is no political consensus on economic reform in India. "The path of economic reform in India has not been easy. I wish good luck to those who are in-charge of government now," he said. The Economic Survey has raised serious questions about large foreign direct investment (FDI) from smaller nations, especially Singapore and Mauritius. It has suggested that the government look at FDI from these countries carefully to find out whether they are being routed through them to avail benefits of DTAA. There are wide variations in FDI inflows into India from different countries, it said, adding that Singapore, Mauritius, the Netherlands and the US account for the lion's share. Out of FDI equity inflows of USD 24.8 billion during April-November of 2015-16, more than 60 per cent have come from two geographically small countries - Singapore and Mauritius. "These inflows need perhaps to be examined more closely to determine whether they constitute actual investment or are diversions from other sources to avail of tax benefits under the Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) that these countries have with India," it has said. DTAA, commonly described as treaty shopping, helps investors route their investments with a view to minimise tax liabilities. The government has liberalised FDI in over a dozen sectors, including defence, private sector banks, medical devices, construction, civil aviation and railway, to attract overseas investment. Further, according to the Survey, Indian states show a clear regional disparity in FDI inflows. Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh have together attracted more than 70 per cent of total FDI inflows to India during the last 15 years. However, states with vast natural resources like Jharkhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha have not been able to attract foreign funds directly for investment in different sectors, it said. "To make the recently launched 'Make in India' initiative a success, the states will have a critical role in facilitating FDI in different sectors," it added. The first results from Iran's parliamentary election today showed a split of seats among conservatives, reformists and independent candidates, media reports said, after turnout of around 60 per cent. Coming just a month after sanctions were lifted under Iran's nuclear deal with world powers, the outcome of yesterday's vote is being seen as a de-facto referendum on President Hassan Rouhani. A political moderate, Rouhani is hoping his alliance with reformists, called The List of Hope, can curtail conservative dominance of parliament, improving his chances of passing social and political reforms. Early results, published by the semi-official ISNA agency quoting electoral officials, suggested no one faction would win a majority. Out of 27 constituencies - less than 10 per cent of the total - eight went to conservatives, four to reformists and eight to independents, with others set to go to a second round because no candidate won 25 per cent of the vote. The high number of independent winners could suggest a partial shift away from Iran's sharply factional politics towards the middle ground. If that trend continues when more seats are declared it may be because voters reacted to the high number of reformist candidates who were not allowed to compete in the elections, a reform-minded analyst said. "They may have been more inclined to vote for people they know rather than for candidates strictly identified as conservatives or something else on a list," Saeed Laylaz told AFP. Based on unconfirmed reports, he predicted a strong showing for the List of Hope, comprising moderates and reformists. "What is for sure is that there will be less conservatives from the hard right in the next parliament. It won't be easy for them," Laylaz said. Around 60 per cent of voters cast ballots - 33 million out of 55 million eligible voters - the interior ministry said. Polling stations were kept open late yesterday to allow millions of latecomers to participate. As well as electing 290 MPs the electorate was voting for a new Assembly of Experts - a powerful 88-member committee that monitors the work of the country's ultimate authority, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. There were no results for the Assembly of Experts election by this afternoon. A first case of Zika spread through sexual transmission has been recorded in France after a woman was infected when her partner returned from Brazil, Heath Minister Marisol Touraine said today. The case was detected several days ago in "a woman who is not pregnant," the minister told AFP during a visit to French Guiana, confirming information initially given by a medical source. The couple lives in the Paris area, the minister's entourage said. "She showed classic signs of the disease," an official said. "She was not hospitalised and is doing well." Brazil has been the hardest hit country by the mosquito-borne virus, with 1.5 million cases of active Zika transmission. The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that up to 46 countries have reported some level of evidence of Zika infection and that 130 countries are home to the Aedis aegypti mosquito which carries the virus, meaning the eventual spread of the disease could be enormous. In nearly all Zika cases, symptoms are mild, resembling those of flu. However, the growing belief that Zika can also trigger microcephaly in babies born to mothers infected while pregnant has spread international alarm. Microcephaly is a congenital condition that causes abnormally small heads and hampers brain development. There is currently no cure or vaccine against the Zika virus. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today alleged that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone of two bridges in the state without preparing the Detailed Project Reports of both. "I have never seen a Central Government like the present one of going out with foundation stone laying spree without preparing DPRs," Gogoi said in a statement. This has exposed that the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre is out to hoodwink the people of Assam with an eye on the upcoming Assembly election. Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, laid the foundation stone of two bridges connecting Sivasagar and North Lakhimpur via Desangmukh, Dhakhuakhana and another linking Jorhat and North Lakhimpur via Majuli earlier in the day. Gogoi questioned how the project cost for two massive bridges across the Brahmaputra could be estimated without preparing the DPRs that include feasibility report. DPR is a complete document for planning a project and implementing it. Union ministers, including the Prime Minister, have made over 200 trips to Assam in the past 19 months, Gogoi said. "They are trying to give the impression that the present dispensation at the Centre has a soft corner towards Assam and the North East Region as a whole but the grim reality is that nothing concrete has emerged," he said. The Prime Minister's recent inauguration of projects in the state were outcome of the initiatives of the previous Congress-led UPA Government. "If he was so interested in ushering in development in Assam and the entire North East region, why did his Government curtail the Special Category Status, change the funding pattern from the earlier 90:10 and suspend the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy?" Gogoi asked. Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot today accused the incumbent Vasundhara Raje of misleading people of the state in the name of connecting Parvarti and Kalisindh rivers with Banas, Gambhir and Parbati. Gehlot said Raje's direction to prepare detailed project report for connecting these rivers would only waste money. "Parvati and Kalsindh are interstate rivers which flow into Rajasthan from Madhya Pradesh. There is a dispute on water sharing with Madhya Pradesh which is unsolved. It should be disclosed that whether there was any agreement between the two states for this plan?" Gehlot asked in a statement. Criticising Raje, Gehlot alleged that she was misleading people on this issue. Raje while chairing a meeting of the stateRiverBasin and Water Resources Planning Authority yesterday asked the authority to prepare a detailed project report for linking Parvati and Kalisindhwith Banas, Gambhir and Parbati. In a historic ruling, a Guatemalan court has convicted a retired army officer and a former paramilitary for the sexual enslavement of women during the country's civil war. It sentenced them to 120 years and 240 years in prison respectively. The ruling was the first time a local court handed down a judgment for such crimes in this Central American country, which is seeking to address abuses committed during its brutal 1960-1996 civil war. The retired officer, 2nd Lt. Esteelmer Reyes Giron, was found guilty of crimes against humanity for holding 15 women in sexual and domestic slavery and for killing one woman and her two young daughters. Heriberto Valdez Asij, a civilian with military functions, was convicted for the same enslavement, as well as the forced disappearance of seven men. The 120- and 240-year sentences the men received are partly symbolic since Guatemalan law caps the amount of time anyone can spend in prison at 50 years. The packed courtroom erupted in cheers and chants of "justice, justice!" when the ruling was read. "These historic convictions send the unequivocal message that sexual violence is a serious crime and that no matter how much time passes, it will be punished. It is a great victory for the eleven women who embarked on a 30-year-long battle for justice," said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International. During the trial, the victims testified to the abuse they suffered during six months in 1982 and 1983 at the Sepur Zarco military base in northern Guatemala. After the army entered their communities, the men were disappeared and when the women went to the military base to ask for them, they were raped and forced to cook and wash clothes for the soldiers. During 20 hearings, 11 women from the indigenous Q'eqchis communities described how they physically and emotionally deteriorated while being raped and used as slaves for half a year. In court, many wore indigenous garb and had their faces covered. More than 35 boxes of evidence were presented, including some with human remains and pieces of clothing. The remains were exhumed in 2012 by the Guatemalan Foundation for Forensic Anthropology. "We the judges firmly believe the testimony of the women who were raped in Sepur Zarco," said Yassmin Barrios, chief judge of the court. "Rape is an instrument or weapon of war, it is a way to attack the country, killing or raping the victims, the woman was seen as a military objective. BJP MP Vitthal Radadia today said the jailed quota agitation leader Hardik Patel was "positive" about the government's offer to form a 'Patel Commission' and will take a final call on arriving at a compromise with the state government. Hardik was "positive" about the government's offer to form a 'Patel Commission' for the community, he said. In an effort to reach a compromise the BJP leader, himself a prominent Patel leader, today met Hardik at Lajpore Jail in Surat, second time this week. After the meeting, he claimed Hardik did not reject the government's proposal to form Patel Commission. "I conveyed to him the government's proposal to form a Patel Commission instead of granting reservation under the OBC quota. This Commission will be given sufficient funds by the government. Funds will be disbursed among needy Patel members to pay fees of their children or donations (at educational institutions)," said Radadia. "The Commission will look after the Patel community. It will also give loans to Patel students. I told him the Commission is far better than reservation, which will be just 2 to 5 per cent if given," said Radadia. "Hardik agreed that reservation, even if given, will not benefit the community much. This well-funded Commission will prove more beneficial. Hardik told me he was not against this proposal and will give his feedback after studying it," said Radadia. Coming to the rescue of a mentally ill woman who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2012 for killing her three children by throwing them in a well, Madras High Court today set the verdict after considering the report by a government doctor. A division bench comprising justices M Jaichandren and S Nagamuthu gave relief to Jayalakshmi on her appeal against the lower court order, after considering the medical report by Dr Meenakshi stating that she was suffering from "Psychomotor Activity Retardation" (slowing down of thought processes and physical activity, a serious mental illness). Rejecting the arguments of the Additional Public Prosecutor that the disease could not have made the woman incapable of knowing what she was doing was wrong, it said, "We find no force in the said argument for the simple reason that the medical records coupled with the evidence of the doctor would go to establish that the accused was incapable of knowing the nature of her act on account of the unsoundness of her mind." "We are of the view, assuming that the accused had thrown her children into the well, it is not an offence in the eye of law, considering her illness," the bench said and set aside the life imprisonment awarded on February 2, 2012 by the Additional Sessions Judge, Fast Track Court in Salem. The bench acquitted Jayalakshmi of all the charges filed against her. The prosecution charged her with killing her three children by throwing them into a well and then jumping in herself on September 4, 2008 due to poverty. Though the children drowned, Jayalakshmi survived as the water in the well was not deep. A case was registered at the police station concerned in Salem district and after the trial Jayalakshmi was sentenced to life on various counts. JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar has told a Supreme Court-appointed lawyers' probe panel that he was beaten up, pushed to the ground and injured by men in lawyers' robes before the police, when he was brought to the Patiala House court premises on February 17. "When the police brought me inside the court's gate, a mob of men in lawyers' robes attacked me. It appeared as if they were ready to attack and they were calling others also. I was assaulted. "The police escorting me tried to save me but the police officials were also beaten up," he said while narrating the sequence of events to the lawyers' panel in a video shown on television channels today. The panel of six advocates -- Kapil Sibal, Rajeev Dhavan, Dushyant Dave, A D N Rao, Ajit Kumar Sinha and Haren Raval, had visited the Patiala House courts premises on February 17 after the apex court was informed that Kanhaiya was beaten up during his production before the magistrate. In another instance when he was attacked, the police, who were there, did not do anything, he said. After Kanhaiya narrated the incident to the panel inside the courtroom, Sibal called DCP Jatin Narwal and enquired from him about it. "How did you allow the attack to take place inside court premises? Your men were there. What were they doing? How he (man who attacked Kanhaiya outside the gate of the courtroom) was allowed to come inside," the panel members asked the DCP. Responding to it, Narwal said, "he came with the escort party and entered the room adjacent to the courtroom." The panel members then called other police officials and asked them about the incident and they replied that the person who attacked Kanhaiya had claimed that he was his lawyer. Kanhaiya told the panel that when he was assaulted, he fell down and sustained injuries and at that time he could not see what the police was doing. To this, Sibal asked the DCP, "that means police was there and they did nothing." The student leader told the panel that the person, who had attacked him, had come to the adjacent courtroom and he had told his teacher about it. "I told my teacher that this man was assaulting me and then the police asked that person about his identity. He in turn questioned the policeman and asked him to show his I- card. That person left the place in front of the police and the police did nothing. He could have been apprehended there itself. I had told the police that this man had assaulted me," he said. On February 17, a bunch of rowdy lawyers had launched a brazen attack on Kanhaiya, journalists and others and also indulged in stone-pelting and hurling abuses on the panel of senior lawyers. The panel members then asked Kanhaiya as to whether he could identify the policemen who were present there and the man who assaulted him. He replied, "I can identify. I had told the police that this man had assaulted me and I want to file a complaint against him. He was the first person who had assaulted me at the gate." At this juncture, the panel members told the DCP, "His safety is your responsibility. Do not give excuses. This is unbelievable. You are now under Supreme Court's order and not B S Bassi's order." Kanhaiya told the panel that the persons who attacked him were "highly politically motivated persons." He said he had narrated the incident to the magistrate during the hearing. "I told the judge that on the first day when I was brought to the court, there was no attack and everything was normal. I am a PhD student of JNU and I am being called a traitor...I have full faith in the Constitution of India," he said. His lawyers then told the panel members that magistrate had asked Kanhaiya to give a statement in writing. On being asked by the panel as to whether he was attacked inside the courtroom where the hearing took place, the student leader said "No. Not inside the courtroom." The team of senior advocates, after taking stock of the situation at Patiala House Court, informed the apex court that there was serious threat to safety of Kanhaiya who was beaten and pushed by unknown persons in the court. Kanhaiya is arrested in a sedition case for allegedly raising anti-India slogans inside the JNU campus of February 9. Researchers have discovered the mechanism which drives specialised immune cells that detect and kill cancer cells in the body, offering scientists a new way to develop potential drug targets and cancer treatments. The immune cells, called natural killer cells, hunt and destroy foreign cells in the body, including cancer cells that spread and form tumours, researchers from Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) here in Australia said. They found for the first time how the 'switch' that turns on these natural killer cells works. Researchers found that the switch, a protein called ID2, works by allowing natural killer cells to become responsive to growth factors in the blood. A growth factor called IL-15 keeps natural killer cells active and alive - if it is taken away these cells die, researchers said. "This is an exciting discovery because previous research has shown that these natural killer cells are really potent in killing tumours - breast and colon cancer and melanoma cells," said Nick Huntington from WEHI. "We knew this switch - or master regulator - was essential for the natural killer cell development but we had no idea how this worked," Huntington said. The research allowed scientists to think of new strategies to regulate the activity of natural killer cells by targeting the switch and could lead to new treatments. "If we can give an advantage to natural killer cells by boosting their activity or numbers or survival in the body then we can try to win that fight against cancer," Huntington said. Natural killer cells, a type of white blood cell prevalent in the body, deliver lethal toxic granules into cells that have become cancerous or infected, causing them to explode. The switch that controls them could also be manipulated to fight viral infections or to help patients whose immune systems have not developed properly because their bodies lack natural killer cells, researchers said. "The real paradigm shift is that we can now make natural killer cells appear even when this switch is missing, purely by supplying more growth factor to the specific environment - we can push cells to become natural killer cells. It is a really novel biological discovery," said Huntington. The findings marked the first time scientists could overcome immune deficiencies in cells that are missing the switch by 'tricking' the cells into becoming natural killer cells using growth factor. Conversely, the natural killer cell switch could potentially be turned off in instances in which these cells proved damaging, such as when they prompt the rejection of donor stem cells in bone marrow transplants or produce signals that result in the potentially fatal toxic shock syndrome, researchers said. The findings were published in the journal Immunity. President Pranab Mukherjee today said India is desirous of once again emerging as a major centre for international trade and become a maritime power as he inaugurated the country's largest heritage conservation project here. The initiative called the Muziris heritage project is an ambitious plan comprisingdevelopment and conservation of palaces, museums, a synagogue and a number of archaeological monuments in the state and is being implemented by the Kerala Tourism department with support of its central counterpart. "Being the largest conservation project in the country and first green project of Kerala government, Muziris heritage project has a lot to boast about, be it in the area of heritage, conservation or tourism," he said. Mukherjee said he has been informed that the next phase of this project is the 'Spice Route Initiative' which will exploreinternational connections and linkages that the Malabar coast had with many parts of the world. "The Spice Route Initiative is both important and timely with India seeking to once again emerge as a major centre of international trade and transport as well as a maritime power," he said. The Spice Route initiative aims to link 41 countries in Asia and Europe with India. The President lauded Kerala's "spirit of tolerance and catholicity of outlook". "The Muziris heritage project celebrates this magnificent heritage of our land where people of different religions, castes and languages live in harmony. "This project reminds us that our history is one of assimilation, mutual respect and celebration of our differences, respecting each other's beliefs and values," Mukherjee said. He said India has always been one of the most cosmopolitan societies around the globe as it is "comfortable in dealing with diversity and welcoming of new ideas and cultures." "I hope this project will spread the message of Indian cosmopolitanism far and wide adding thereby to India's soft power across the world," the President said. (REOPENS DES1) Later in Kozhikode, the President launched a number of projects of the Kerala government like cyber park in the labour cooperative sector, the digital empowerment campaign, a gender park and the 'Kanivu' (compassion) scheme of the social justice department. The projects are part of making Kerala the first digital state of India in the coming days. An Indian student studying in Latvia has died, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said today. "Our Embassy in Warsaw has informed me about the demise of Arun Ramachandran an Indian student from Kozhikode who was studying in Latvia," Swaraj tweeted. "Our Embassy in Poland is following matters with the Police. They will send his mortal remains to his family in Kozhikode at the earliest, she said. The casue of Ramachandran's death is not immediately known. Ireland today faced the prospect of political deadlock following a knife-edge election, as an exit poll indicated a slump in support for the government of Prime Minister Enda Kenny. Support for Kenny's centre-right Fine Gael party slumped to 26.1 per cent compared to 36.1 in the previous election in 2011, according to the exit poll conducted by Ipsos, MRBI for the Irish Times. Junior coalition partner Labour meanwhile saw its support shrink to 7.8 per cent from 19.5 per cent, as its centre-left base was alienated by an austerity programme of budget cuts and tax hikes. The Times calculated that Fine Gael and Labour may get between 58 and 68 seats between them -- far short of the 80 needed for a majority. Kenny had asked voters to return the coalition government to "keep the recovery going" in the first election held since Ireland exited a bailout imposed following a deep financial crisis. While Fine Gael looks set to be the largest party, according to the exit poll, Kenny will likely be forced to look for additional partners for support in government. Possibilities include cobbling together extra support from independent politicians and small parties, a re-run of the election, a minority government, or a historic "grand coalition" between Fine Gael and old rivals Fianna Fail. Fianna Fail are the runners-up in the exit poll, which showed the party set to almost double its seats since 2011, when voters punished the party for an economic crisis and housing crash under its governance. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are neighbours on the political spectrum but have deep divisions dating back to Ireland's 1920s civil war, and both Kenny and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin previously dismissed the idea of governing together. "Some of the old guard in both parties because of historical patterns would find it very hard to swallow," said Gail McElroy, professor in political science at Trinity College Dublin. "In policy it would actually be the easiest coalition to run, it would be very stable. But for the old guard it's admitting defeat." Either way, parties will be mindful of a deadline of March 10, when the new parliament is set to meet and nominate a new prime minister or Taoiseach. The exit poll showed the third-biggest party to be left-wing Sinn Fein, which has rebranded as an anti-austerity force south of its Northern Ireland power base, and was shown in the exit poll to have 14.9 per cent support, an increase from 10 per cent in 2011. It will be a battle between the pace attacks of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as the two teams square off in a crucial round robin league match of the Asia Cup T20 here tomorrow. The match assumes significance as the winner will take a giant step towards qualifying for the summit clash of the tournament. For Bangladesh, a victory is a must as they have already played two matches winning one and losing against India in the opener. Both the teams beat minnows United Arab Emirates in their opening games. Sri Lanka did not need much effort even though the margin of their victory was 14 runs while Bangladesh were more convincing in their 51-run win. But both teams had poor outing as far as their batsmen are concerned. Sri Lanka managed 129 against an inexperienced UAE attack while Bangladesh were no better in their 133-run effort yesterday. It will be a battle of bowlers with Sri Lanka being led by their dashing captain Lasith Malinga, who rocked the opposition with a four-wicket haul. Mustafizur Rahaman had an off day against India, but against UAE, he showed why he is rated so highly as he was on the verge of a hat-trick. Even UAE captain Amjad Javed conceded that it was not easy to read Mustafizur's slow off-cutters. So it will be a contest between Malinga's toe-crushers and Mustafizur's variations. There will be supporting cast from both sides. Mustafizur will be aided by Al Amin, Taskin Ahmed and skipper Mashrafe Mortaza. Malinga will have support from the experienced Nuwan Kulasekara, left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and young Dushmantha Chameera. Both Mortaza and Malinga expects that their premier batsmen would come good. Shabbir Rahaman and Mithun Ali performed in one match each while the mercurial Mahmuduulah Riyadh came good in their UAE victory. Sri Lanka only had Dinesh Chandimal scoring a 50 while Tillekaratne Dilshan looked scratchy during his 28-ball 27. Sri Lanka have Chamara Kapugedara in their ranks and he is considered to be a good T20 player. Sri Lanka did not play Thisara Perera in the last match but considering the conditions and his all-round abilities, Malinga might think of dropping a pacer and including Perera in the line-up to bolster the batting. Seeking early restoration of peace in Haryana, former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today demanded a probe by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court to investigate the violence during the Jat quota agitation. He also demanded resignation of the Manohar Lal Khattar government on moral grounds along with early grant of compensation to those who suffered during the violence. "The whole matter should be got investigated through a sitting Judge of the Supreme Court so that the truth may come out and culprits be identified. "Subordinate officers of the government cannot bring out the real truth about its failed government. Truth will remain truth. But the BJP government wants to throw the blame on others by making such artificial enquiry. But the conspiracy is not going to succeed," he said in a statement. Hooda said the agitation was "leaderless" as claimed by the DGP,"but here, the government was leaderless which manifested in the failure of government machinery". "The general public looks to the government at this tragic hour for help and safety but the government totally failed not only to control the agitation but to protect the life and property of the public which was left at the mercy of God," he said. Talking about the cases registered against some opposition leaders, Hooda said, "nothing shall be achieved by levelling false allegations against Congress and by registering false cases." Asking what the intelligence wing was doing and why government did not take effective measures to control the agitation, Hooda said, "In view of huge devastation, the government should immediately resign on moral grounds." Hooda also said the statements of BJP leaders given for and against the agitation further "added fuel" to fire and such statements should be stopped to help promote brotherhood among various sections of society in the state. "It is unfortunate that such controversial and inciting statements are still continuing even after the agitation. In such a situation, questions on the sincerity of the Government are bound to arise. If the BJP government wants to strengthen brotherhood, it should immediately put an end to such statements by their leaders," he said. The Congress leader also demanded that irrespective of party politics the government should immediately give full compensation for the loss of lives and property of public. The former chief minister said he was pained to see the huge loss of life and property during the jat reservation agitation. (Reopens DES 26) Meanwhile, an organisation, working for the welfare of Punjabi community, today sought dismissal of Khattar-led BJP government in Haryana for its alleged failure in preventing arson and violence during Jat quota agitation. Rastriya Punjabi Mahasabha Haryana also demanded a judicial probe into the incidents and nab the arsonists. The delegation submitted a memorandum to Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki here, demanding compensation to families of those who faced massive property damage during the violence. A resident of Indore has been receiving telephone calls since yesterday after Haryana Police listed his number among the names and numbers of three officers for receiving information concerning the alleged incident of sexual assault on some women near Murthal during the Jat stir. When a journalist called up the mobile number given yesterday by Haryana Police DGP Y P Singhal of DIG Rajshree Singh, heading the three-member women police officer's team, it turned out to be of an Indore resident. The Indore resident immediately asked the journalist whether he wanted to ask about the alleged rape cases. When told that he wanted to talk to DIG Rajshree, the Indore resident retorted that this was not the number of the DIG and he was being harassed since yesterday as he was repeatedly getting calls. "I have lodged a complaint with the local police," the recipient of the call said. On a phone directory application, the number was found to be of Madhya Pradesh circle in the name of some other person instead of DIG Rajshree while the mobile numbers of the other two officers matched with the details on the app. The DGP had yesterday announced constitution of the team headed by the DIG and two DSPs Bharti Dabas and Surinder Kaur as its members, "to gather information concerning the alleged incident of sexual assault on some women near Murthal on the night intervening February 22 and 23." Singhal had said that these officers would be available in Sonepat till further orders and anyone could provide information concerning the incident to them in the form of audio or video clips or photographs or in any other form. He had assured that the identity of the informer would not be disclosed. (REOPENS DES11) Meanwhile, Haryana DGP Y P Singal could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. Home Secretary P K Das, when asked about the gaffe, retorted "ask this question to the DGP." The incorrect mobile number also featured in advertisements in several English and Hindi newspapers. Haryana Transport Minister Krishan Lal Panwar has decided to contribute his one month's salary to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for providing financial assistance to those affected during the Jat quota stir. In a statement here today, the minister also appealed to his cabinet colleagues, MLAs and officials of the state government to come forward and help the affected people. Urban Local Bodies Minister Kavita Jain has already decided to contribute her one month's salary to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for the same cause. Jawaharlal Nehru University Student's Union (JNUSU) is planning to approach the Prime Minister's Office, Union Home Minister and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), raising their concerns about the way the government has been dealing with recent controversy in the university. Students are also organising a day long sit-in dharna in front of the administration block in JNU demanding the removal of the Registrar Bhupinder Zutshi, who, the students allege did not handle the February 9 matter well. They will also march to Parliament on March 2, to highlight their concerns about the 'stifling of dissent in JNU, Hyderabad Central University and elsewhere through sedition charges'. Students alleged that HRD Minister Smriti Irani's speech in Parliament where she pronounced eight students as "guilty", is also based on a "half-cooked" report. "The HRD Minister has quoted an internal and 'interim' report of a 'High Level Enquiry Committee' in JNU to name eight students as prima-facie 'guilty'. JNU students and teachers have repeatedly pointed out that this interim report of the committee, prepared within 24 hours of its formation, violated all norms of natural justice and due diligence," said Shehla Rashid Shora, vice president JNU student's union. "We would like to ask the MHA and the MHRD, if they knew that JNU had instituted an internal enquiry, why did they send in the Delhi Police to arrest students? Why did they mess with JNU's institutional autonomy?," she asked. The students union further said, "we want to take up all these issue with the PMO, MHRD and the Home Minister. We will also be approaching the NHRC and the Minority Commission to register our concerns at the functioning of the Delhi Police and the continuing threats of physical violence against Kanhaiya, Umar and Anirban". "The administration has called for an emergency Executive Council meeting on February 29. JNUSU will present a memorandum to each EC member demanding that the suspension of the eight students be unconditionally revoked. We are also demanding that Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar should take action against the Registrar for misguiding him in the handling of the issue," Shehla added. Meanwhile, a group of students from Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students' Association (BAPSA) burnt the effigy of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh in protest against the alleged acid attack on AAP leader Soni Sori. Karnataka Governor VajubhaiVala will address members of both houses of the statelegislature on February 29. The legislature session will last till March 5, Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimappa told reporters here. Expressing pain over missing out on an opportunity to hold the session for a total of 60 days for the last three years, he expressed the hope that the target would be met this year. "We had conducted 35, 55 and 58 days of sessions in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively.I am pained that we could not meet our expectations. However, I am hopeful this year we will meet the target," he said. Though the government has brought in a legislation in 2005 of holding legislature session for a minimum of 60 days ayear, it has not been possible for it to achieve the target for a long time. The last time that the state witnessed a 60-daysession was in 1982. Thimappa also flayed members for abstaining from attending the session and urged them to utilise the opportunity to good use. "When I was the MLA I utilised the opportunity to attend the session to raise people's problems on the floor of the house. If the elected members are not attending, then it amounts to betraying the people," he said. Asked whether he would allow a motion over diamond studded Hublot watch controversy involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Thimappa said, "I have to wait and see how things pan out." Siddaramaiah faced opposition attack over his luxury watch but as a controversy erupted, he declared that the diamond studded watch, claimed to be worth Rs 70 lakh, would bedeclared as state asset and handed over to the government. The controversy was stoked by JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy after which the Chief Minister revealed that the expensive watch was gifted to him by his close friend (NRI) Gopal Pillai Girish Chandra Verma who visited India last July. Attacking the Siddaramaiah government, Thimappa alleged there was no transparency in the administration and the files were moving at a snail's pace. "It really pains me that the files regarding a water project in my constituency has been moving at a snail's pace. I hope the government expedites the process," he added. Congress and BJP in Punjab today mounted a sharp attack on Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, who is touring Punjab with an eye on the 2017 assembly poll, saying he is "chasing an illusive dream of ruling" the state instead of serving Delhiites who are facing severe water crisis. Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh said Kejriwal is trying to "sell false dreams" in Punjab instead of standing with his people and address their pressing problems. State BJP chief Kamal Sharma termed Kejriwal as 'Natwarlal' of politics who is "befooling everyone". 'Natwarlal' is the character of a con man in a popular Hindi cinema. "This mufflerman bureaucrat-turned-politician has created anarchy in Delhi. Now, he is hell bent upon replicating the same in Punjab. But the people of Punjab are very intelligent and would not allow him to succeed in his designs," the BJP president said in a statement. Singh said there has been no supply of water in most parts of Delhi for the past 10 days due to the Jat stir in Haryana but Kejriwal is "loitering around" in Punjab. The characteristic of Kejriwal is either to put the blame on someone else or run away from the situation, he claimed. Besides, the Congress leader said, "why his heart did not bleed for thousands of Punjabis who were selectively targeted in violence and their properties damaged in Haryana?" "Leave aside visiting them and offering them any assurance, you didn't even bother to issue a word of consolation for them and not even to those women who were allegedly molested and raped," Singh said in a statement. He said Kejriwal's promise of job to family members of Bhim Taank of Abohar whose limbs were chopped off by some goons was made with an eye on the 2017 assembly poll. Singh asked why Kejriwal did not bother to visit the Pathankot terror attack victim from Ambala, Gursewak Singh, while he did so in the case of two others in Pathankot and gave them cash relief. Advising Kejriwal to better focus on Delhi "than loitering around in Punjab", Singh cautioned him against losing even Delhi in this "misplaced excitement". "People neither forgive nor forget. So better beware against taking them for granted as they can throw you out anytime and the situation is building fast towards that end as you have badly failed their expectations in Delhi," he told Kejriwal, adding "leave Punjab to Punjabis as they know their job pretty well". Punjab BJP chief Sharma said Kejriwal follows the policy of "hit-and-run". "He hits an issue but runs away when asked about its solution." He asked Kejriwal to clarify his stand on three "crucial" issues -- the JNU row, Jat quota stir and the Khalistan issue. The BJP Punjab president demanded that Kejriwal should speak on the JNU issue without any further delay. Sharma said Haryana kept burning for so many days "but unfortunately, Kejriwal, who hails from the state, did not utter a single word". "What moral right Kejriwal has to stay in politics if he stays away from the crucial issues?" he said. "Elections in Punjab are due to be held early next year and Kejriwal has already started electioneering but what has shocked everyone is that he is not clarifying his stand on the Khalistani agenda. Kejriwal... Should address the issue categorically," the BJP leader said. "Earlier, Kejriwal took the entire Delhi electorate for a ride by promising moon but did not fulfil any of his poll promises after coming to power. Now, Kejriwal is adopting similar tactics in Punjab by making big promises," Sharma said. Iae Global, an international educational recruitment and management company, to expand its presence in India has inaugurated a office here. The Coimbatore office is the second (office) in the country and the firm will open more branches across South India in the first phase of its expansion plan, Iae Global said today. "The company, established in 1992 in Seoul, South Korea, started its first branch in New Delhi some 10 months ago. Its second office was launched in Coimbatore today," its Director Chanpreet Singh told reporters here. With 700 students being guided to study abroad in their preferred destinations in just 10 months, iae Global is concentrating on Tier II cities for expansion, he said. Elaborating on the plans, Singh said the firm will open new offices in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka shortly for IT students. A local Samajwadi Party leader was shot dead in Ranipur police station area here, police said today. Ram Kunwar Yadav (50), ex-president of the vidhan sabha unit of SP, was riding a motorcycle back home after attending a feast late last night when he was attacked, they said, adding his body was found from behind Baba Bhrigudas PG college this morning by the villagers. The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination. Superintendent of Police Shiv Hari Meena said efforts are on to nab the culprits. A local Samajwadi Party leader, an accused in the Muzaffarnagar riots case, surrendered before a court in Shamli which remanded him to 14-day judicial custody. Party's youth wing's district president Nafees Rana yesterday surrendered before the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in Kairana which rejected his bail plea and sent him to 14-day judicial custody, prosecution said. Rana is among 25 people booked on charges of stone pelting and damaging property in Shamli during the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots. He was earlier given a clean chit by a Special Investigation Team probing the incidents of violence. The court had rejected a closure report filed by the SIT and issued non-bailable warrants against him. A 49-year-old Urdu scholar who allegedly impersonated a former governor and duped people on the pretext of jobs has been arrested, police said today. The accused, Syed Mohammed Ali Rizvi, allegedly approached people claiming to be Syed Sibtey Razi, former Governor of Jharkhand and Assam, promising them government jobs by using his contacts and charged them money for the favour, a senior police official said. Rizvi's activities came to light when Razi, who is also a former Rajya Sabha MP, approached the police and told them that someone was cheating people in Delhi by impersonating him. With local and technical surveillance, the Crime Branch of Delhi Police zeroed in on Rizvi and arrested him from his rented accommodation in southeast Delhi's Shahin Bagh locality, the official said. Rizvi graduated as an 'Aalim', equivalent to Bachelor's degree, from the Arabian-Persian Board in Allahabad and later obtained Master's degree from Purvanchal University. He is a PhD holder in Urdu language from Lucknow University and has been a tutor at a madrassa for the past few years. During interrogation, Rizvi told police that he resorted to crime to make money for the treatment of his daughter, who is critically ill and is admitted at a hospital in Mumbai. It also emerged that Rizvi was arrested earlier at UP's Aligarh in a similar case in which he had allegedly duped several persons on the pretext of jobs, claiming to be an official of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He was also arrested in a theft case at Indira Gandhi Airport here, the official added. A Maoist was shot dead in an encounter with security personnel in Niyamgiri forest area of Odisha's Rayagada district today, while the Maoists killed a tribal in nearby Malkangiri district, police said. Acting on information about the presence of Maoists, District Voluntary Force (DVF) personnel launched an operation near Dangamati village, under Kalyansinghpur police station, limits in Rayagada district following which an exchange of fire took place, Rayagada SP K Siva Subramani said. While one of the extremists was killed in the gun-battle that took place in the forest on Rayagada-Kalahandi border early this morning, the rest fled the scene, he said. The body of the ultra, whose identity was yet to be ascertained, was recovered from the site and brought to Rayagada, police said adding that some other naxals were suspected to have been injured. A Chinese made pistol, two crude revolvers, a huge cache of ammunition, Maoist literature and other articles were seized from the spot, said the SP, who led the operation. Combing operation and patrolling was stepped up in the area after the encounter, police said. In another incident in Malkangiri district, a tribal, identified as Biswanath Khila of Handikhal village in Chitrakonda area, aged around 25 years, was killed by Maoists, said Inspector In-Charge of Chitrakonda police station, Pitabas Dharua. Khila, who had gone to attend a marriage function, was taken away by a group of naxals late last night and his body with throat slit was found at Khajuribahal village this morning, police said adding the ultras apparently suspected that Khila operated as a police informer. Various cultural programmes were held across Maharashtra today to celebrate the 'Marathi Bhasha Diwas' on the occasion of the birth anniversary of noted Marathi litterateur V V Shirwadkar alias 'Kusumagraj'. In Shirwadkar's hometown Nashik, 'Kusumagraj Pahat', a classical musical extravaganza organised by Kusumagraj Memorial was presented this morning. Around 18,000 MSRTC buses and 568 bus stations across Maharashtra were decorated with hoardings and banners displaying poems of Kusumagraj and other celebrated poets. The government started celebrating the birth anniversary of Kusumagraj as 'Marathi Rajbhasha Gaurav Din' after the Jnanpeeth awardee's demise in 1999. From this year, it has instituted two special awards for individuals taking initiatives to promote Marathi literature. The first 'Bhasha Samwardhak' award went to an Ahmednagar-based vegetable vendor, Bebitai Gaikwad, who saved Rs 5 per day from her earnings to purchase 900 books. A high school drop-out, Bebitai claims to have read more than 3,000 books on Marathi literature till date. Meanwhile, at an interaction here today on the occasion of 'Marathi Bhasha Diwas', MNS chief Raj Thackeray defended his decision to send his children to convent schools despite his party's staunch pro-Marathi stand. Mexicans have backed former President Vicente Fox in his verbal spat with Donald Trump, after Fox called the Republican front-runner "crazy" and a "false prophet" and Trump replied that he ought to be "ashamed of himself" for using a profanity. In the streets of the capital, newspapers and social media, locals yesterday sided with the usually unpopular ex-leader over Trump, who is probably viewed even more negatively by Mexicans for campaign rhetoric denigrating immigrants as "rapists" who bring crime and drugs to the United States. Folks also largely shrugged off Fox's use of an F-bomb in an interview with Univision's Jorge Ramos to emphasize that he has no intention of paying for Trump's border-wall plans. "The vulgarity came from Vicente Fox's soul. Never better said. Never better targeted," columnist Francisco Garfias wrote for Excelsior. "The sad thing, paraphrasing the late Umberto Eco, is that there are 'legions of idiots' who believe" Trump's assertions that he can force Mexico to pay for the wall, Garfias continued. "I'm not exaggerating when I say Trump is an embarrassment to his country." Mexican media treated US Vice President Joe Biden's apologies for inflammatory presidential campaign rhetoric about Mexico during a visit to the country as the day's biggest story, but the Trump-Fox spat got second billing. One cartoon in La Jornada showed a grotesque-faced Trump waving a newspaper with Fox's comments and saying, "I demand respect ... Only I can use bad manners and bad words!" Fox, a conservative cowboy type with warm ties to President George W. Bush, ended seven decades of uninterrupted rule by the Institutional Revolutionary Party with his 2000 election as president. But Fox never regained the popularity with which he began his term, partly because he failed to conquer corruption and violence and was prone to verbal gaffes and family controversies. Like Trump, Fox is famous for his outsider image, brash style and in-your-face language. He's also no stranger to high-profile spats. Once, after leaving office, Fox called Venezuela's then-President Hugo Chavez a "burro" (years earlier Chavez had accused Fox of being a "lapdog of the empire"). That history wasn't lost on some Mexicans, like Jesus Pinon, a resident of the northern state of Chihuahua. "Vicente Fox says Donald Trump is a loudmouth, liar, ignorant and arrogant. Typical case of the donkey who talks about (someone else's) ears," Pinon, who uses the handle @JepsMeine, said via Twitter. Voicing concern over status of minorities, including their low level of education and rampant poverty, India-born American entrepreneur Frank Islam today said their progress and that of other disadvantaged groups was crucial to India's economic growth. "The statistics on the status of minorities, including their low level of education and rampant poverty in India are stunning," he said at the 63rd Annual Convocation of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) here. Islam, Chairman of the Frank Islam Investment Group in the USA, said that he was proud of the fact that India has become the "fastest growing economy" in the world but cautioned that in spite of this progress, if minorities and those who are "socially, educationally and economically disadvantaged" remain in poverty and without education, the nation as a whole would suffer. "India's minorities must be active participants in shaping the future of the country's inclusive economic growth. When they move ahead on the ladder of success, they will change the face of India and the world," he said. Referring to the role of AMU in nation building, Islam said, "In you I see the future of India. We are living in troubled times because of divisive forces and religious extremism at play." He noted that more than ever, the world needs young men and women, who through their education are able to solve the critical problems by their commitment to humanism and world peace. Islam, an alumnus of the university, said AMU was an "inseparable part of his life that shaped his story and determined his destiny". The entrepreneur along with noted cardiologist Ashok Seth, was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Science at the convocation today. More than 400 students were awarded degrees of M Phil and PhD today. Apart from this, more than 5,000 graduate and postgraduate degrees were also awarded. 200 medals were distributed to meritorious students of the varsity on the occasion. Nepalese Ambassador to India, Deep Kumar Upadhyay, today expressed interest in investing in Meghalaya as he called on Chief Minister Mukul Sangma. Welcoming the Nepal official's suggestion on investment, Sangma highlighted on the need to have more of pharmaceutical and textiles industries as these have huge job opportunities, an official statement said. The Ambassador said there are several similarities between Nepal and Meghalaya and also discussed the challenges faced by people of the two countries, according to The Chief Minister spoke of various initiatives taken by the government to address those challenges and told the visiting official of the need to have people driven programmes in order to make any developmental initiative a success. A Nepali youth was arrested and 130 gm heroin seized from him at Dandahead check post in Sonauli area along Indo-Nepal Border here today. Acting on a tip-off, Ramesh Kewat (25), a resident of Rupendehi district in Nepal, was arrested and the heroin worth Rs 26 lakh in international market, seized, SSB Commandant K S Bankhothi said. During interrogation, he confessed that he was the main supplier of contraband to youths in the area, he said. : The Confederation of Indian Industry, Coimbatore, has elected Nethra J S Kumar as Chairperson for the year 2016-17. S Narayanan was elected as Vice-Chairman of the council at the CII Annual day meeting held here last night, a council release said here. Nethra is Chairman and Managing Director of Lakshmi Electrical Control System, while Narayanan is full-time Director, Bimetal Bearings Ltd, the release added. Armed with the figures of National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today sought to counter the opposition's claim of rise in crime graph in the state. The opposition is trying to create a 'perception' that incidents of crime is increasing in Bihar, but actually, "rule of law" has been prevailed in the state and would remain so in future, Kumar said while speaking in the Assembly on the motion of thanks on Governor's address. "BJP leaders who shout on crimes of Bihar should also publish crimes in BJP ruled states of Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra," he said. Stating that leader of opposition Prem Kumar's figures on crime read in the House yesterday were not based on facts, Kumar read out official figures from NCRB and Bihar stands on 12th position in crime figures. As per the latest NCRB figure for the year 2014, he said, incident of crime is 3.3 per one lakh population in Bihar whereas that of BJP ruled Chhattisgarh is 3.9 and Haryana 4.5. Stating that there has been constant decline in the numbers of murders recorded in Bihar in past four years, Kumar, quoting NCRB data, said there were 3565 murders in 2012, 3441 in 2013, 3403 in 2014. In 2015, the cases of murder is 3178. It has been compiled by the state police and has been sent to Ministry of Home Affairs. The government is ready to give it to the opposition members if they desire so, he added. However, BJP and its NDA allies were not present in the House as they boycotted the sitting on Saturday, usually a holiday. Referring to the assault on JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar in court premises during his production in Delhi, Kumar said, Delhi, which comes under Central government's jurisdiction, is number one in crime incidents and they are giving sermon to us. "It is not a Jungle Raj, it is a Mangal raj," he said. On fugitive RJD MLA Raj Ballabh Yadav's hunt by the police, Kumar said there was no question of giving relaxation to the case and asserted that the MLA would be brought to justice through speedy trial. On NDA's allegations that government was not able to check crime under RJD pressure, Kumar, without naming RJD president Lalu Prasad, emphatically said that "I have worked with BJP leaders and they are well acquainted with my nature. I do not come under any pressure. Outlining his priority to check incidents of crime in the state, Kumar said the government is preparing to come out with a round the clock helpline number in DGP office by which people from across the state can lodge their complaints and grievances. The helpline number would be made functional from May, he said adding that a proper mechanism and a separate infrastructure with proper manpower are being made to make the helpline number effective. The police would also be provided with a helicopter for easy and smooth mobility. To carry out quick investigation and check crime, the government has decided to separate 'investigation' and 'law and order' wing of the police in all the districts, the chief minister said this system is currently working in Patna. He also talked about providing police security to politicians and officials on the recommendations of a state level committee, abandoning the present arrangements at the district level. The Bombay High Court has dismissed a petition of a government hospital nurse challenging levy of Rs one lakh penalty on her by the authorities for leaving mid-way a nursing course. Usha Rathod, a nurse at Central Hospital in Ulhasnagar town in neighbouring Thane district, had obtained admission in P.B.Bsc Nursing course of two years duration but left after few months on medical grounds. However, in accordance with the admission brochure, she was asked to pay Rs one lakh penalty. Aggrieved by the order, she filed a case in Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT) for quashing the order, saying she was diagnosed with "Minimal Ascitis in RIF" as a result of which she could not pursue her studies. According to Rathod, after joining the course, she started suffering from pain in the abdomen and back since last week of October 2012. As MAT did not give her relief, she moved the Bombay High Court. She contended that in view of her condition, it became very difficult for her to continue attending the course as she found it difficult to sit and study for long period. On January 21, 2013, the petitioner made a representation to Institute of Nursing Education and requested its principal to relieve her from the course. The institute, vide a letter dated January 28, 2013, relieved Rathod and allowed her to join regular work as Paediatric Nurse at Central Hospital in Ulhasnagar. However, Rathod was asked to pay Rs one lakh as per the conditions stipulated in the brochure published by the institute for the purpose of admission to the P.B.BSc Nursing course. The high court was of the view that she had violated the conditions of admissions by leaving the course mid-way, therefore the petitioner was not entitled to any relief. "If she could discharge her duties as a staff nurse, there was no reason why she could not have continued her P.B.B.Sc Nursing Course. The petitioner was well aware of Clauses 9.4 and 9.5 when she sought admission to the course and she also knew the repercussions for leaving the course of studies midway," said a bench of Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice V K Tahilramani. "Now, the petitioner cannot be allowed to contend that no penalty ought to have been levied on her. Thus, we find no merit in this petition. It is dismissed," said the order delivered on February 24. The slapping of sedition charges on JNU students for holding an event is "ridiculous" and there is no room for any such law in a democratic country, former Navy chief Admiral (retd) Lakshminarayan Ramdas said here today. Ramdas who was addressing the JNU students during a lecture titled "De-militarisation of nationalism", said, "they are all doctored videos. Even if anti-national slogans were raised did anybody verify who shouted them. Booking random students for sedition is ridiculous. There is no room for any such law in a democratic country". Ramdas who visited the campus to express solidarity with the three arrested students -- Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, said, "no nation can be strong just by posing its military might, nation is built of its people". "The security agencies and government should first see if the case is worth filing sedition. The idea of nationalism is not restricted only to the military and its men, in fact it is a much broader term. "Nationalism is a 17th century thing which started in Europe and we are still applying it in the 21st century. Moreover, it is an idea that should be boundary less, not restricted to only a few people," he added. Three days ago, some ex-servicemen including retired colonel G D Bakshi had come to the university to meet the administration including the Vice Chancellor and Registrar and had suggested that an army tank be put up on the campus to instill nationalism in students. To this, the Registrar had responded saying that the administration is mulling over the idea of having a martyr wall and displaying such "nationalism symbols" on campus. A man died after a small aircraft he was flying plunged into the sea in Hong Kong today, a rare occurrence in the southern Chinese city. The crash was reported shortly after 2 PM local time and emergency responders were seen lifting a body out of the water. "Fire services found an unconscious man in the vicinity, and he died at 3:55 PM," a government spokesman told AFP. A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Department said in a statement that the man who died was the pilot, and the plane was a single engine Zlin Z42. He said the plane fell into the sea near Hong Kong's rural Tai Po region, located in the city's outlying New Territories. "There was a pilot and no passengers when this incident occurred," the spokesman said, citing information provided by the Hong Kong Aviation Club. Police said a person fishing nearby was among those who reported the incident, while a police spokeswoman said that some of the wreckage had been located. Footage from Cable Television showed helicopters and police boats assisting in the search and rescue operation. "The plane had fallen into the water vertically and there was no explosion, there was a bit of oil in the water," an eyewitness identified as Mr. Kwok told Cable . Footage also showed firemen fishing the body out of the water. In October of 2013, a student pilot and an instructor survived a helicopter crash in the city's Shek Kong Airfield. Escalating the battle in Parliament, major opposition parties today said they will bring privilege motion against HRD Minister Smriti Irani over her remarks in Parliament on the suicide of dalit scholar Rohith Vemula in Hyderbad central university. Congress along with CPI(M) and JD(U) accused Irani of "willfully misleading" Parliament, hitting back at the minister who had targeted Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and the Left during a debate on JNU and Hyderabad University controversies. "The HRD Minister has not only been economical with truth but has also willfully misled Parliament on the unfortunate suicide of a young Dalit student, Rohith Vemula", Congress general secretary Mukul Wasnik and senior spokesperson Selja alleged. Wasnik told reporters that the Congress planned to bring privilege motion in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha soon, while CPI(M) leader Mohd Saleem said he would be doing so on Monday. "I will be giving a notice for breach of privilege against Irani to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for misleading the House on Rohith Vemula issue," Saleem said. JD(U) leader and Rajya Sabha MP K C Tyagi said that he and nominated member KTS Tulsi will give privilege notice against Irani to Chairman Hamid Ansari on Monday. "There are contradictions in many statements of Irani regarding Rohith Vemula case. This is a fit case of breach of privilege," Tyagi said. They cited the outburst of Radhika, Rohith's mother, against the HRD Minister and accused the BJP of being anti-dalit. Radhika had attacked the HRD Minister questioning as to on what basis did she declare Rohith to be anti-national? "Your Ministry had written that my Rohith and other Dalit students were anti-national extremists. You said that he is not a Dalit. You accused him of getting a false certificate." They alleged that these strong words from a mother "who has lost her son to BJP and in particular the HRD Minister's campus politics is a stamp of how recklessly and ruthlessly their party is hell bent on clamping down the voices of dissent." The HRD Minister had also insinuated that Rohith is "not a Dalit", they said adding that this claim has also been rubbished by Radhika. Wasnik said that it was believed that the HRD Minister would try to "heal" Rohith's family but instead Irani has rubbed salt on their wounds. Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said Irani was "too clever by half and then you get caught in your own web and that's exactly what has happened to the HRD Minister". "She has been extremely creative and economical with truth and that is why she will face a privilege motion," he said. Amidst opposition's claim that Bihar has badly lagged in paddy procurement target, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said the state has procured more paddy than what it had done last year. He said 6.85 lakh MT of paddy has been procured so far in 2015-16 against 5.54 lakh MT paddy procurement of 2014-15, Kumar said while speaking in the Assembly on the motion of thanks on Governor's address. State Food Corporation is not procuring paddy this year, he said. With regard to Custom Milled Rice (CMR), the state has got 1.47 lakh MT of CMR so far in 2015-16 against 1.25 lakh MT in the same corresponding period of 2014-15, Kumar said. "They (BJP) will make only hue and cry which is far from reality," Kumar said while making an appeal to BJP to put pressure on the Centre for giving Rs 2058 crore on account of CMR, which the Centre had to release to FCI. Earlier, senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi had questioned the government's ability to achieve the target of procuring 27 lakh MT of paddy by the end of March this year. Defending his government's decision to impose VAT on cloth, sweets and sarees, Kumar said it was the prerogative of the government to impose taxes which would be realised from those who can pay taxes. The government needs to increase the ambit of tax net to increase its earnings to carry out welfare activities, he said adding that even Centre has increased cess, a form of tax, on petrol and diesel for umpteen times in past two years. "The government has imposed a five per cent tax on cloth with the price tag of over Rs 500 per meter. Similarly, taxes have been levied on sarees which are beyond Rs 2000 and sweets selling beyond Rs 500 per kg," Kumar said. Those who can afford cloths, sarees and sweets which come under the tax bracket can also contribute a little to the state's coffers, he said. On Central government's decision to reduce its share in Centrally sponsored schemes, Kumar said, this move will make the state government lose Rs 4508 crore in the current fiscal and around Rs 5000 crore in 2016-17. The Centre has reduced its share in schemes like Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Indira Awas Yojana, Mid Day Meal, Rural Electrification, he said. The Centre's decision was expected to adversely cost Bihar government around Rs 45,000 crore in next five years, Kumar said. On Union ministers' frequent charge of the state government not providing land, Kumar said, the Centre should give the cost of land which would be acquired for the project and in lieu, the state government would foot the bill for the project." Giving an example, he said the Centre sought 1500 acres of land for an airport in the vicinity of Patna. Stating that the land would cost anything between Rs 40,000 crore to Rs 45,000 crore, he said the Centre should give money for the land while state government is ready to bear the cost of airport building. Pakistan and China do not feature in the list of 117 countries invited to participate in the Defence Expo which would be held in Goa next month, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said. "We have not invited Pakistan and China to exhibit their technology at the event. The delegation from China would be arriving, but they cannot be called participants of the Defence Expo," Parrikar said speaking to reporters here. "Pakistan is neither participating nor is their delegation allowed. Even if they intend to come and witness the expo, that too is not permitted," he added. Of the 117 countries invited to exhibit their wares at the exhibition, 44 had confirmed their presence, he said. As many as 881 companies had confirmed their participation, Parrikar said. The event is slated to take place at Betul in south Goa from March 28 to 31. Goa is hosting the Defence Expo for the first time. Aero Show, to take place next year, would be held at Yelahanka near Bangalore, he said, ruling out Goa as a venue. "To host the Aero Show you need an airport and Goa does not have that facility. We can't have it till the new airport is in place," said the former Goa Chief Minister. The Defence Expo is facing opposition from a section of locals and some politicians who allege that land would be acquired permanently on the pretext of Expo. But the state government has said that structures put up for the exhibition would be temporary. Pakistan has arrested 20 Indian fishermen and seized their boats for allegedly violating its territorial waters off the coast of Arabian Sea, a maritime official said today. The Indian fishermen were arrested by the Maritime Security Agency (MSA) while they were fishing in Pakistani waters of the Arabian Sea, a spokesman for the Pakistan's Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) told reporters. The four boats of the fishermen were also seized. "The fishermen have been handed over to the Docks police for further legal process," he said. The arrests come just a week after the PMSA arrested 88 Indian fishermen and seized their 16 boats. India and Pakistan had agreed to revive the dialogue process when external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj visited Islamabad for a summit in December, but the same in the month 66 Indian fishermen were arrested by the MSA while last month another 45 were held. Pakistan and India regularly arrest fishermen who venture into each other's waters due to poorly marked maritime boundary. Some of them spend years behind bars before being repatriated. In the past, the two nations have released the fishermen as goodwill gestures. The exiled chief of the main political party in Pakistan's largest city is facing investigation for allegedly talking about sex to a group of male and female staff, police said today. Altaf Hussain, the head of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), had been filmed explaining intercourse to the workers in Karachi via phone from London, according to police. A woman who saw the footage online of the alleged talk alerted police, who have now filed a case against Hussain. "We have registered a case against Altaf Hussain and 20 of his party colleagues under the charges of publicly uttering immodest words after a woman named as Nasreen filed an application against them," Rao Muhammad Anwar, senior superintendent of police in the Malir area of Karachi, told AFP. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today alleged that Delhi Police had "orchestrated" the February 17 incident at the Patiala House court complex in which JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar and journalists were beaten up and demanded action against police chief B S Bassi. Sisodia's accusations came after Kanhaiya told a Supreme Court-appointed lawyers' probe panel that he was beaten up by men in lawyers' robes before the police, video of which was aired on TV channels today. "Delhi Police was only partner in the whole incident that day and did nothing to prevent the attack at the Pataila House court complex...Police orchestrated the incident," the deputy chief minister told reporters here. Refering to a report submitted to the court over the incident, he said, 800 police personnel were present at the time of the incident in which women journalists were also misbehaved with. "Despite deployment of 800 cops at the court complex, how could such an incident take place? In the video, senior police officers of New Delhi Range are being seen but they are doing nothing to prevent this incident," Sisiodia alleged. "What action has Bassi taken against these police officers?...Action should be taken against Bassi before his retirement," he said. Bassi will be retiring on February 29. Kumar has told the apex court-appointed panel that he was beaten up, pushed to the ground and injured by men in lawyers' robes in the presence of the police when he was brought to the Patiala House court premises on February 17. Police say a fugitive from Tampa, Florida, who didn't want to be identified by his fingerprints during a traffic stop in northeast Ohio has chewed off his fingertips. Kirk Kelly has been jailed on felony counts of evidence tampering and obstructing official business and misdemeanor charges of falsification and resisting arrest. A message left for his attorney after business hours yesterday hasn't been returned. Police in Tallmadge, Ohio, say Kelly and several other people were put into a cruiser without handcuffs after their vehicle was stopped last weekend and officers thought they smelled drugs. Police say Kelly gave false names as they tried to identify him. They say they figured out who he is after photos of his tattoos were provided by police in Florida, where he's wanted on firearms and drug charges. Hundreds of people from backward classes community took out a silent protest march here today demanding withdrawal of reservations given to Jats in Uttar Pradesh. People, under the banner of Backward Action Morcha, took out the march from Pal 'dharmshala' to the collectorate and submitted a six-point memorandum, addressed to the President, to the district collector. They also demanded action against those involved in violence during the pro-reservation stir by the Jats in Haryana and said they should booked under sedition law. They demanded enhanced security for BJP MP from Kurukshetra Parliamentary constituency Raj Kumar Saini, who had disapproved reservation fro Jats. Among those who participated in the protest included were lawyers, former Samajwadi Party district president Satyendra Saini and former Gram Pradhan Narendra Saini among others. The All India Council for Technical Education has directed Engineering Colleges and other Technical Education institutions to provide the differently-abled students barrier free environment and special teaching programmes. According to a report here, the AICTE had directed the institutions to provide the environment through a centre for disabled persons in universities, colleges and other educational centres. "The move will make the students with disability learn lessons on par with their normal counterparts," the report said. Presently, three per cent reservation was given for differently-abled persons in technical and professional courses. Students under this category may be having various problems including visual, hearing, orthopaedic dyslexia or learning disability, it said. Such students could be helped by giving more time for writing examination and interpreters to write exams, it said. Perceiving and reacting to stressful events is more important than encountering stress, a new study has found, providing a link between negative emotions and future heart diseases and premature death. Researchers from Pennsylvania State University and Columbia University in the US analysed data collected from 909 participants, including daily telephone interviews over eight consecutive days and the results from an electrocardiogram. The participants were between the ages of 35 and 85 and were drawn from a national study. During the daily phone interviews, participants were asked to report the stressful events they had experienced that day, rating how stressful each event was by choosing 'not at all,' 'not very,' 'somewhat' or 'very.' They were also asked about their negative emotions that day, such as feeling angry, sad and nervous. On average, participants reported having at least one stressful experience on 42 per cent of the interview days, and these experiences were generally rated as 'somewhat' stressful. Researchers found that participants who reported a lot of stressful events in their lives were not necessarily those who had lower heart rate variability. No matter how many or how few stressful events a person faces it was those who perceived the events as more stressful or who experienced a greater spike in negative emotions that had lower heart rate variability - meaning these people may be at a higher risk for heart disease. "Higher heart rate variability - the variation in intervals between consecutive heartbeats - is better for health as it reflects the capacity to respond to challenges," said Nancy L Sin from Pennsylvania State University. "People with lower heart rate variability have a greater risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death," said Sin. One potential pathway linking stress to future heart disease is a dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system - a case of a person's normally self-regulated nervous system getting off track, researchers said. "These results tell us that a person's perceptions and emotional reactions to stressful events are more important than exposure to stress per se," said Sin. "This adds to the evidence that minor hassles might pile up to influence health," she said. The findings were published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine. The Russian military said its warplanes suspended all sorties over Syria today in line with a ceasefire deal brokered by Russia and the United States, to avoid any "bombing mistakes". The Russian and American militaries also exchanged maps of Syria, while fighting stopped in 34 Syrian settlements, the military said. "Russia's air force fully halted bombing in the green zone," a senior representative of the General Staff, Sergei Rudskoi, told reporters, referring to the areas and armed groups that expressed interest in observing the ceasefire deal. He added that "on February 27, sorties of the Russian aviation in Syria including long-range aviation, are not being carried out". He said this was being done to rule out "any possible bombing mistakes" and in accordance with a UN Security Council resolution. A ceasefire agreement brokered by Moscow and Washington called for the cessation of hostilities from 2200 GMT yesterday between Russian-backed Bashar al-Assad's forces and opposition groups. The deal does not however include the Islamic State and Al-Nusra Front jihadists. Rudskoi said 17 armed groups -- those who fight alongside regime forces or independently -- contacted Russia's ceasefire coordination centre at the Hmeimim airbase and pledged to honour the ceasefire deal. He also said that within the framework of the ceasefire deal the Russian and US militaries exchanged maps of Syria. Rudskoi said more than 6,000 fighters had joined the truce deal, saying the Russians handed their lists to the US counterparts. He added that the Americans also received a list of 74 settlements and areas which should not be bombed. "During consultations we received a similar map prepared by the American side," Rudskoi said. "We've made the first step on the path to halting fighting on Syrian soil," he added. "We are honouring an obligation to observe the ceasefire in full. However it does not mean that ISIL and Jabhat al-Nusra jihadists can breathe a sigh of relief," he said, referring to the Islamic State and Al-Nusra Front by other names. "We are in full control of the situation across the whole of Syria," he said, adding that Russian forces were using at least 70 drones and space surveillance for monitoring purposes. Speaking by video link from the Hmeimim airbase, Sergei Kuralenko, head of Russia's coordination centre in Syria, said fighting had stopped in 34 Syrian settlements. "Work to rebuild Syria is being carried out round the clock," he said, adding that humanitarian aid was being sent to the areas where the ceasefires have taken hold. The Russian military said its warplanes would not fly any sorties over Syria today in support of a ceasefire and to rule out any possible "bombing mistakes". "On February 27, sorties of the Russian aviation in Syria including long-range aviation, are not (being) carried out", Sergei Rudskoi, a senior representative of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, told reporters. He said it was being done to rule out "any possible bombing mistakes" and in accordance with a UN Security Council resolution. Thousands of Russians prepared today to honour the memory of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov who was gunned down near the Kremlin a year ago in the highest-profile assassination of Vladimir Putin's rule. Anti-Kremlin activists urged ordinary Russians to join them on a memorial march through central Moscow, with other commemorative events planned across the country and abroad. Before the start of the march Russians brought flowers and candles to the bridge near the Kremlin walls where Nemtsov, a jovial 55-year-old with a mop of black curly hair, was killed. US ambassador John Tefft was among those who came to pay respects, laying a wreath with a ribbon saying "From the American people." On the eve of the anniversary, lawmaker Dmitry Gudkov, one of the few independent voices in the Russian parliament's lower house, said he suggested that deputies observe a moment of silence in Nemtsov's memory but most of his colleagues refused. Authorities allowed the opposition to hold a march through the city centre but forbade activists from marching to the bridge where Nemtsov's allies have struggled to maintain a makeshift shrine. "The march in Nemtsov's memory is also a march demanding a normal country and normal state where contract killings in the form similar to public executions do not take place," wrote top opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister in the government of Boris Yeltsin, was gunned down shortly before midnight on February 27, 2015, while walking across a bridge a short distance from the Kremlin with his Ukrainian model girlfriend. Putin, whose rule has seen the steady suppression of independent media and opposition parties since he came to power in 2000, branded the killing a "provocation" and promised an all-out effort to catch the killers. "Who dared?" a furious Putin asked his aides after Nemtsov was hit in the back by four fatal shots, the country's top opposition Novaya Gazeta reported this week. Within weeks five men - all Chechens from Russia's restive North Caucasus - were arrested and charged with murder. The five detainees - including Zaur Dadayev, a member of a Chechen interior ministry battalion accused of being the gunman - are now awaiting trial for what investigators say was a contract killing carefully planned over months. But Nemtsov's family and allies insist the authorities have failed to bring the masterminds to justice and point the finger of blame at Chechnya's Moscow-backed strongman Ramzan Kadyrov - and the Kremlin itself. A US appeals court has handed Samsung a win over Apple in a long-running patent fight, overriding a jury verdict ordering it to pay USD 119.6 million to the iPhone maker. The court ruled yesterday that two Apple patents at issue were not valid, according to a copy of the decision posted online. "We are delighted with the resounding victory from the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which found that two of Apple's patents should never have been issued," Samsung said in a statement. "Today's decision is a win for consumer choice and puts competition back where it belongs -- in the marketplace, not in the courtroom." Apple originally filed the suit against Samsung in early 2012, accusing the South Korean consumer electronics giant of infringing on an array of patents related to smartphones. Samsung denied it had done anything wrong and filed a countersuit saying that Apple had infringed on some of its patents. The number of patents involved was whittled down during the lengthy litigation process. Three Apple patents and two Samsung patents were at issue in the appeal ruled yesterday. Apple had sought some USD 2.2 billion at trial, only to have a jury award the California-based company USD 119.6 million. The panel of appeals court judges ruled that Samsung did not infringe on one of the Apple patents and that the remaining two, which involved auto-correct and slide-to-unlock features, were not valid, nullifying the jury award, according to a copy of the decision. The appeals court endorsed the jury's decision ordering Apple to pay Samsung USD 158,500 for infringing one of the South Korean company's patents. Samsung in December paid smartphone rival Apple just over USD 548 million in a different years-long patent battle in federal court in California. That case has been appealed to the US Supreme Court. Arch-rivals Samsung and Apple decided in 2014 to drop all patent disputes outside the United States, marking a partial ceasefire in a seemingly relentless legal war between the world's two largest smartphone makers. The companies have battled in close to a dozen countries, with each accusing the other of infringing on various patents related to their flagship smartphone and tablet products. But neither has managed to deliver a knock-out blow with a number of rulings going different ways, and the announcement they agreed to drop all litigation outside the United States suggested a line was finally being drawn. The hair of a minor girl, a class three student of a school at Barauni in Begusarai district, was cut as punishment for failing to keep two ponytails. The school named "Kidzee Vidyalaya" is situated in the campus of the Indian Oil Corporation at Barauni. "A complaint has been lodged by the father of the girl and we are looking into the matter," In-charge of Town police station Mohammad Islam said. Islam said the girl's father had also complained to the IOC management about the incident which occurred yesterday. As per the complaint, the hair of the minor girl was cut on the instruction of the school principal. The mother of the girl told reporters that the school authority had not intimated the family before her daughter's hair was cut. Foreign ministers from the 10 countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations said today that they were "seriously concerned" by recent developments in the disputed South China Sea region and will seek a meeting over the issue with China. At the end of their annual retreat, held this year in the Lao capital of Vientiane, they noted their worries and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, security and stability in the area. The strategically important South China Sea is at the center of a territorial dispute involving China on one side and a number of ASEAN countries on the other, including Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia. Tensions have ramped up since China began a massive land reclamation program in 2013. Recent satellite imagery suggests that China has installed surface-to-air missiles in a disputed area in the Paracels chain, prompting accusations that Beijing is militarising the area. A joint statement said the ASEAN foreign ministers "remained seriously concerned over recent and ongoing developments and took note of the concerns expressed by some members on the land reclamations and escalation of activities" in the South China Sea. The statement added that the activities have "eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security and stability in the region." Vietnam's foreign minister, Pham Binh Minh, told reporters as he left the meeting that he was "seriously concerned about the situation" and called for the "non-militarization" of the South China Sea. Cambodia's foreign minister, Hor Namhong, said ASEAN would seek a meeting with China over the matter, though no date or venue had been set. Other matters were on the agenda too. The ministers reiterated their perennial call for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. They also addressed Islamic extremism, in the wake of an attack in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta in January that left eight people dead. "The threat is real. It's no longer fictitious or mere imagination," said Malaysia's foreign minister, Anifah Aman. Other topics included ways to bring about ever closer economic cooperation since the advent of the ASEAN Economic Community at the end of last year. BJP President Amit Shah today described Gujarat as the "laboratory" of Sangh Parivar's ideology and expressed confidence of a victory for the party in 2017 Assembly polls as he once again attacked Rahul Gandhi over the JNU episode. Giving a pep talk to Gujarat BJP workers in the wake of recent loss in local body polls, Shah asked them not to get disappointed with the outcome, confident that the saffron outfit will emerge victorious at the Assembly polls and also the 2019 national elections. "We should not get disappointed here as this is the laboratory of our ideology. The 2012 win in Gujarat was the stepping stone for 2014 Lok Sabha win and in the same way 2017 victory will pave the way for win in 2019 national elections," Shah asserted. The BJP leader, who last month got re-elected as party President for a fresh three-year term, was addressing a meeting of party leaders and workers, who had gathered here from across the State. Shah asked them to work collectively for BJP's victory in the Assembly polls. He questioned the commitment of Rahul, the Congress Vice President, towards the country after his visit to JNU campus in support of students who allegedly raised anti-India slogans. "I want to ask State Congress leaders whether they endorse Rahul Gandhi's stand on the JNU issue. He visited the (JNU) campus and extended support to those who raised anti- India slogans. He says they have freedom of expression. I wonder in which country Rahul lives," said Shah. "When Gujarat is going for Assembly polls, it is now the responsibility of each BJP worker to follow Congress leaders wherever they go and force them to clear their stand (on the JNU issue). "Till they clear their stand, you should not allow them to go among the people," said Shah, indicating that the party workers may launch the poll campaign well in advance. Commenting on the setback suffered by BJP in district and taluka panchayat polls held in November last, Shah at one point expressed concern over the loss. "When I was in Delhi, I saw disappointment in the eyes of BJP workers here. It really surprised me. The polls results were indeed worrisome as we lost in the panchayat polls (in rural areas). However, we captured corporations and municipalities (urban centres). I want you to shed all your disappointments and get ready for the Assembly polls. He discounted the Congress chance of winning the polls, especially in the wake of Patel quota agitation, which is believed to be the key reason behind the debacle of BJP in panchayat elections. "Congress leaders do not know that BJP is like a Phoenix, which will rise from the ashes. I can see saliva coming out from their mouths (Opposition leaders at the prospects of coming to power). I want to tell them that Gujarat was, and will remain, the fortress of BJP and we will get absolute majority this time too." Shah asked party cadres to bury their differences and get back to work. "At a time when Congress is sensing victory, I urge you to put aside all your differences and come together for the 2017 polls. It will be a very election. Just like 2012 Gujarat polls prepared the base for our victory in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, this poll will the pave way for BJP's victory in 2019." He asked BJP workers to reach out to people and remind them about days when Congress was in power (prior to 1995). "Communal riots were common when Congress ruled here. I urge party leaders to reach out to people and remind them about what kind of problems they faced when Congress ruled here. Tell people what our Prime Minister Narendra Modi is doing for the uplift of the poorest of the poor." The gathering was attended by top BJP leaders of Gujarat, including Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, newly elected State unit President Vijay Rupani and National General Secretary Purshottam Rupala. Almost all MLAs, MPs from state and various office-bearers of Gujarat BJP were also present. Ahead of the function in Gandhinagar, Shah addressed BJP workers at Ahmedabad airport after his arrival in afternoon. In his address, Shah thanked Modi for strengthening BJP's base in Gujarat when he was Chief Minister between 2001 and 2014. In Ahmedabad too, the BJP chief spoke about the State polls. "People who are day-dreaming about victory do not know about the mood and style of BJP workers. There is no doubt that BJP will get absolute majority. A BJP worker is like a soldier whose only target is victory in the war (elections)." After addressing the twin gatherings, Shah, along with other leaders, held a detailed meeting with party workers, MLAs and MPs at the State BJP headquarters near Gandhinagar. An icebreaker carrying researchers that ran aground off the coast of Antarctica was freed by crew today and was afloat again, the Australian government said. Some 37 researchers on board the Aurora Australis were taken safely ashore yesterday via a barge. The ship's crew stayed behind and used a combination of internal ballast transfers and work boats during a rising tide to refloat the ship, the Australian Antarctic Division said in a statement online. The icebreaker got stranded after it broke its mooring lines during a blizzard on Wednesday and ran aground on rocks in Horseshoe Harbor. The ship was in the vicinity of Mawson research station, where crew will inspect the ship for damage. There was no sign of oil pollution, the statement said. The Australian Antarctic Division said it was consulting with other national Antarctic programs to figure out a way to transport the researchers back to Australia. On Friday, a spokesman for the US National Science Foundation told the Times Union of Albany that a ski-equipped cargo plane from the 109th Airlift Wing would fly 1,400 miles (2,250 kilometers) across Antarctica to retrieve the researchers if weather permits. Slain Bangladeshi-American secular blogger Avijit Roy's step-daughter has said her father was a fun dad who taught her to be "informed, bold and unafraid" as she penned an article to mark the first anniversary of his death. In a moving piece Roy's 19-year-old step-daughter, a second-year student at Johns Hopkins University wrote for CNN, she recounts the father she remembers and the brutal attack she's trying to forget. "Though my dad worked as a computer programmer during the day, he was a writer when he came home. His books were about the science behind homosexuality and the virus of religious extremism. With the goal of incorporating more secular discussion into mainstream Bangladesh," she said. "He and my mom started dating when I was six years old. In the twelve years that followed, he became my friend, my hero, my most trusted confidante. Not once did he tell me to simmer down or be more polite; he taught me to be informed, bold, and unafraid." Roy, 43, the Bangladeshi-American secular activist and blogger was hacked to death by radical Islamists on February 26, last year, in Dhaka, in which Ahmed's mother Rafida Ahmed also suffered head wounds and lost her left thumb. On May 3, the al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent claimed responsibility for the attack. Trisha recalled her parents visiting her at the university before flying to Dhaka. Thirteen days later, she received messages informing her father was dead and her mother was in the ICU in Bangladesh. That afternoon, she posted on Facebook: "My dad was a prominent Bengali writer, most famous for his books about science and atheism. 15 hours ago, Islamic fundamentalists stabbed my dad to death. My mom was severely wounded from the attack and is still in the hospital. Recalling her struggle to fight with the memories of her father and his brutal murder, Trisha said: "To say that I'm furious or heartbroken would be an understatement. But as [screwed] up as the world is, there's never a reason to stop fighting to make it better. I'll carry the lessons he taught me and the love he gave me forever." She recalled taking sleep medicine every night, so she wouldn't dream of her dad father lying in a pool of his own blood and the reason for her to come out in the open. "By dying for his cause, he (Roy) gained worldwide attention to the oppression and murder of scientific thought in Bangladesh -- a country that claims to be governed by secular principles. "I know that Al Qaeda, ISIS, and other manifestations of religious extremism are alive and well. But by writing and sharing my story, I am making my impact. I - and so many others - am slowly, thoughtfully, and certainly chipping away at the ideologies that seek to destroy us," she wrote in the blog-post. Spain's government has approved the extradition to the United States of an Algerian-Irish man accused of recruiting an American woman who called herself "Jihad Jane" and plotted to kill a Swedish artist. Ali Charaf Damache has been in detention since his Dec. 11 arrest in Barcelona based on a U.S.-issued warrant stating he was suspected of recruiting to form cells for al-Qaida and the extremist group Islamic Maghreb. The U.S. Justice Department says Damache recruited Colleen LaRose in 2009 while both lived in Ireland. The Michigan-born LaRose, 53, used the online nickname "Jihad Jane" and was convicted of agreeing to kill Swedish artist Lars Vilks, whose drawings depicting the prophet Muhammad offended Muslims. She was sentenced last year to 10 years in prison. Spain's cabinet approved the extradition yesterday. At least 10 people were killed and over 40 injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up near a market in Afghanistan's eastern province of Kunar today, officials said. "A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle detonated his explosives in a market in Asadabad the provincial capital, 10 people were killed and over 40 were injured." Ghani Mosamem, spokesman for the provincial governor said. At least 10 people were killed and over 40 injured in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan's eastern province of Kunar today, officials said. "A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle detonated his explosives in a market in Asadabad the provincial capital, 10 people were killed and over 40 were injured," Ghani Mosamem, spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP. Sayed Maqsood Pacha, deputy provincial police chief, put the death toll slightly higher at 11. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Taliban insurgents, who have been waging a 14 year-long bloody insurgency in the country, have been blamed for such attacks in the past. The incident comes as direct peace talks with the Taliban are due to take place next week. A witness to the blast, who did not want to be named, told AFP that an influential tribal elder, Haji Khan Jan, was the target of the attack and was killed. Jan had led a local uprising against the Taliban in the past, the witness added. Kunar is a restive and remote province that shares a long border with neighbouring Pakistan - which the Afghan government has accused in the past of harbouring Taliban militants. Delegates from Afghanistan, China, the US and Pakistan met in the Kabul last week for a fourth round of talks aimed at forming a path back to the nascent peace process, which was interrupted by last summer's announcement that Taliban leader Mullah Omar had died. The fresh peace initiative comes as the insurgents wage an unprecedented winter campaign of violence across Afghanistan, underscoring a worsening security situation more than 14 years after they were driven out of power by US-led NATO forces. A suicide bomber blew himself up near the defence ministry building in Kabul today, causing "casualties", officials said, hours after an attack in Afghanistan's restive east killed 10 people. "It's an attack, there are casualties," Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi told AFP, without giving details of how many were killed or wounded. He may be one of the most popular stars of Hollywood, but actor Sylvester Stallone was once turned down as an extra in "The Godfather." The 69-year-old actor, who became a star after writing and starring in the Oscar-winning film "Rocky," said he was surprised to not to get a role of an Italian in the Francis Ford Coppola-directed film, reported People magazine. "I couldn't even get cast as an Italian. I'll never forget, there's a party scene - it's 300 guests! They said no. I said, 'What part of me didn't pass the Italian identification aspect?," Stallone said. The actor, who this year notched his third Academy Award nomination for his supporting role in "Creed," said instead of giving up after the rejection, he decided to take control of the situation and write his own screenplay. "Rocky" received 10 Oscar nominations at the 1977 Academy awards, winning three, best picture, best director and best film editing. Calm prevailed today across much of war-ravaged Syria on the first day of a landmark ceasefire, as a task force led by Moscow and Washington prepared to begin monitoring the truce. On the stroke of midnight, firing stopped in suburbs around the capital and the devastated northern city of Aleppo, AFP correspondents said, after a day of intense Russian air strikes on rebel bastions across the country. The nationwide cessation of hostilities, which does not include jihadist groups, is the first pause in a five-year civil war that has claimed 270,000 lives and displaced more than half the population. "I can't hide the fact that I'm happy the war has stopped, even for a few minutes," 24-year-old regime soldier Abdel Rahman Issa said from a battlefield on the eastern outskirts of Damascus. "If it continues like this, maybe we can go home." United Nations envoy Staffan de Mistura said peace talks would resume on March 7 if the truce holds and more aid is delivered -- a key sticking point in negotiations. He told reporters the special task force would meet in Geneva today and that a system had been created to deal with violations. The task force, created by the 17-nation International Syria Support Group, would meet to "monitor and check" what has been happening on the ground, De Mistura said. Moscow and Washington, co-chairs of the task force, have set up rival offices to oversee the truce along with a UN operation centre and would be first to deal with any infractions. De Mistura said it was important that any incidents are "quickly brought under control" and a military response should be the "last resort". Calm held throughout the night in Aleppo city, where residents said they were considering taking their children to a rare visit to the park. And the skylines around Damascus did not feature the typical plumes of smoke or sounds of shelling in the early morning, AFP correspondents said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said it was also relatively quiet in the central provinces of Homs and Hama. The ceasefire, brokered by the United States and Russia, which back opposing sides in the war, does not apply to the Islamic State jihadist group or Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front. Intermittent clashes between pro-regime forces and both groups continued Saturday morning in Aleppo and Latakia provinces, the Observatory said. An explosion killed two soldiers outside the town of Salamiyeh in Hama province, where IS is present. Previous attempts to end the violence in Syria have failed and both Russia and the United States have warned that stopping the fighting on the ground will be difficult. Analysts have also questioned whether the agreement can be effective given that it does not include IS or Al-Nusra Front. Guns fell silent across today after a landmark UN-backed ceasefire came into effect, the first major truce in five years of civil war that have claimed more than 270,000 lives. On the stroke of midnight, firing stopped in suburbs around the capital and the devastated northern city of Aleppo, AFP correspondents said, after a day of intense Russian air strikes on rebel bastions across the country. Monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was quiet in the north of Latakia province and in the central provinces of Homs and Hama. "I may be up late tonight and hope I won't be wakened tomorrow by the sound of airplanes," Mohammed Nohad, a resident of Aleppo's southern rebel-held district of Al-Kalasseh, said. The nationwide cessation of hostilities would be the first pause in fighting since Syria's civil war broke out in 2011. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said peace talks would resume on March 7 if the ceasefire agreement holds and more aid is delivered -- a key sticking point in negotiations for a truce. Fighting appears to have "calmed down", although one incident is being investigated, and a special task force will meet today to monitor the fledgling ceasefire, he said. Previous attempts to end the fighting have failed and Russia and the US, which back opposing sides in the fight, have warned that applying it on the ground will be difficult. Analysts have also questioned whether it can be effective on Syria's complex battlefields, as the truce does not include jihadists from the Islamic State group and Al-Nusra Front. Intermittent clashes between pro-regime forces and both groups continued after the ceasefire began, the Observatory said, as well as fighting between jihadists and Kurdish forces. "I can't hide the fact that I'm happy the war has stopped, even for a few minutes," 24-year-old regime soldier Abdel Rahman Issa said from the battlefield Jobar area on the eastern outskirts of Damascus. "If it continues like this, maybe we can go home." Less than an hour before the ceasefire, the UN Security Council gave its unanimous backing to the truce in a resolution drafted by the US and Russia. US Ambassador Samantha Power acknowledged there was "some scepticism" as to whether the ceasefire would last, but said it offered the "best chance to reduce the violence". A spokesman for Turkey's presidency expressed worries over the ceasefire "because of the continuing Russian air raids and ground attacks by forces of (President Bashar al-) Assad". Russia began air strikes in in September saying it was targeting "terrorists", but critics have accused Moscow of hitting rebel forces in support of the regime. Taiwan has held a memorial service for the 117 victims of a devastating earthquake that struck the island's heavily populated south earlier this month. President Ma Ying-jeoy, President-elect Tsai Ing-wen and other officials joined about 4,000 attendees at today's outdoor service at a stadium in the city of Tainan, where all of the casualties from the February 6 quake were recorded. Of those, 115 died in a single 17-story apartment building that toppled over shortly after the early morning magnitude- 6.4 quake, trapping residents under tons of concrete and steel. More than 550 people were injured in the disaster. Following a minute of silence, participants placed lilies on a bier at the rear of the stage, where the victims' photographs were displayed. The Special Judge, Vigilance, at Jeypore in Odisha's Koraput district today sentenced a school teacher to three years imprisonment and imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 on him in a case of misappropriation. The special vigilance court was hearing a case against Netrananda Majhi, the headmaster of Sanabheja New Primary School in Nabarangpur district. During the year 2008-09, the Collector-cum-Chairman, DPEP, SSA, Nabarangpur had approved a project for construction of a new building in Sanabheja Primary UP School at a cost of Rs 4,80,000 under Sarbasikhya Abhijana. Accordingly, a sum of Rs 3,60,000 has been released in favour of the Headmaster and the amount was credited in the joint account of village education committee (VEC) president and Headmaster of Sanabheja Primary School. From time to time, the headmaster withdrew money from the bank and the total withdrawal came to Rs 3,60,000 for the purpose of construction of school building. However, the building was constructed only up to lintel level which had cost Rs 2,14,748 only and so Rs 1,45,252 has been misappropriated, vigilance officials said. Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Maneka Gandhi today said a team of National Commission for Women will visit Murthal in Haryana where gangraped had taken place during the Jat agitation to ascertain the facts. "I have asked a team of National Commission for Women to go there to see what actually happened ...Different people are saying different things, so I have asked a full team to go there", Gandhi, who was here in preparation for the proposed kisan kalyan rally to be addressed by the Prime Minister in neighbouring Bareilly tomorrow, told newspersons. She also addressed a number of meetings here in preparation for tomorrow's rally and said that as of now there is no concrete information with regard to the incident. Women commuters were allegedly pulled out of cars during the agitation and mass gang rapes took place at Murthal in Haryana's Sonipat district. More than 5,000 people were stuck at the Idomeni camp on Greece's northern border with Macedonia today after four Balkan countries announced a daily cap on migrant arrivals. The build-up began in earnest last week after Macedonia began refusing entry to Afghans and imposed stricter document controls on Syrians and Iraqis, slowing the passage of migrants and refugees to a trickle. And the situation looked set to worsen significantly after EU members Slovenia and Croatia, as well as Serbia and Macedonia said they would limit the number of migrants entering each day to 580. The tighter controls have left thousands -- including many children -- stranded in Greece, as the bloc's worst migration crisis since World War II shows no sign of abating. By today, some 5,500 people were stranded at Idomeni, local police said, with another 800 gathered at another provisional camp some 20 kilometres (12 miles) away. Macedonian authorities opened the Idomeni border crossing today afternoon and dozens of migrants were allowed to pass through, with local Greek police sources saying 300 were expected to cross the frontier by the end of the day. More than 20,000 refugees and other migrants are currently on Greek soil, according to the office of migration minister Yiannis Mouzalas. Tensions had run high along the border earlier in the day, with some 400 migrants staging a protest demanding entry to Macedonia. Friday's announcement by four Balkan states came a week after Austria said it would only allow 80 people to claim asylum per day, and also pledged to limit the daily number of people passing through the country to 3,200. The move has sparked a bitter spat between Athens and Vienna, with Greece fearful it would trigger a domino effect, leaving thousands stranded on its territory after landing on its beaches from Turkey. Austria has repeatedly accused Greece of failing to police its borders properly and allowing an excessively high number of migrants to continue their journey towards northern Europe. "Europe can't be indifferent to those of our partners who don't respect their obligations," Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos said of the border restrictions today. Last week, the EU told Austria that limiting asylum claims was "plainly incompatible" with European and international laws. Three British tourists found dead in waters below a roaring waterfall in Vietnam were sucked down by the surging stream, state-run media quoted their guide as saying today. The bodies of two women and one man were retrieved Friday by scores of aid workers who scrambled down cliffs abutting the tiered waterfalls outside of Dalat, a city nestled in Vietnam's central highlands. The Datanla falls are popular hub for adventure tourism, with opportunities to rappel on the rocks and luge around the jungly site. The trio's 26-year-old guide reportedly told authorities the tourists were swimming with life jackets near the waterfall when they were swept up in strong waters and dragged over the precipice. The state-run Tuoi Tre newspaper said the bodies of the women, aged 18 and 25, and man, 25, have been transported to Ho Chi Minh city. The British Embassy in Hanoi confirmed the deaths of three British nationals near Dalat Friday and said it was providing support to their families. "Our sympathies are with the families and friends at this difficult time. We are in close contact with local authorities in Vietnam on their behalf," the embassy said in a statement. Vietnam and its neighbours in Southeast Asia are travel magnets for young backpackers, but accidents are frequent amid weak law enforcement and scant safety regulations. In the backdrop of JNU and Hyderabad university row, some faculty members and students of the city-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), along with some activists, are holding a two-day conference here to discuss the "attack on autonomy of educational institutions and freedom of expression". "This is not an official event of TISS. We are a group of academics who are deeply concerned at the attack on autonomy of some higher education institutions," R Ramkumar, Professor and Dean (School of Development Studies) at TISS, said. The initiative, called 'Celebrating freedom and pluralism', will be held at the Y B Chavan Centre, Nariman Point, here on March 5 and 6, he said. "We are organising this event because we are concerned over the evolving situation in the country where different constitutional rights of citizens are under threat," Ramakumar told PTI here today. "We are worried about a situation that is emerging where there is a constant brow beating against freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom to follow one's religion, freedom to eat the food that we want to eat and the dumbing down of events," he said. "Violent incidents over food habits of various social groups have escalated. Science and reason are being unceremoniously thrust aside in a renewed campaign of obscurantism. There have been widespread attacks on the freedom of speech and expression," he said. "The interventions of the government in Hyderabad Central University and JNU are just a few of the important examples. We see this as part of a growing trend of intolerance in the society as a whole," he said. Earlier this month, JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on sedition charges in connection with an event held on the JNU campus where anti-national slogans were allegedly raised. Three truck drivers today claimed that they witnessed women being dragged and molested by Jat agitators in Murthal, even as a team of women police officers today visited the site of alleged gangrapes but said no eyewitness or victim had turned up before it. Speaking to mediapersons, the three men Sukhwinder Singh, Niranjan and Naresh Kumar claimed that the agitators torched their trucks in Murthal, over 50 km from Delhi, and assaulted them following which they hid in the bushes to save themselves. They alleged that they saw the attackers "dragging women out of vehicles, tearing their clothers and molesting them" before taking the victims towards the fields. Singh alleged that "policemen in plain clothes" were putting pressure on them to remain silent about the incident. The development came on a day the women police officers team led by DIG Dr Rajshree Singh and comprising DSPs Bharti Dabas and Surinder Kaur visited the site at village Hassanpur near Murthal in Sonipat district on Delhi Ambala National Highway to gather first hand information about the alleged incident. Rajshree Singh maintained that till this evening no victim or eye witness had come forward to provide details. Asked about recovery of some clothes beloning to women, she told reporters, "These had been sent to Forensic Science Laboratory for examination". "Let us see, what comes out," she told reporters Rajshree Singh told PTI this evening, "Two truck drivers - one each from Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir - have contacted us." "But both have denied seen any such thing (alleged rape of women stuck on the National Highway near Murthal)," the DIG said. She said that both of them told the team that they got stuck between 10-11 AM on that day."Between 1-2 PM their trucks were burnt and during this period both did not see any such thing," the DIG claimed. The DIG said that a woman called up to tell the team that she would visit them personally tomorrow. "We are waiting for her to come tomorrow," she added. Asked about the claims of the three truck drivers about seeing the attack, she said all those people who have any information should come to the police. "Anyone who has concrete proof of the incident, should without any fear approach the team. We will protect them and their identity will not be disclosed," she said. Asked about the issue, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said "a special investigation team has been formed to look into the matter and has been directed to take each and every complaint coming to them. "I don't understand why the eye witnesses and the victims are not coming forward. No eyewitness has contacted the police yet, they should inform the police about the incident. The police team visited Sukhdev 'dhaba', the eatery which was also attacked by the agitators and spoke to a number of people in the area. Meanwhile, the DIG's mobile number given in the press release issued after presser by DGP Y P Singal last evening has turned out to be wrong and the same belonged to a resident of Indore in Madhya Pradesh. Asked about it, she said that the correct number would be put out. Haryana Police DGP Y P Singal was not contactable despite repeated attempts. Home Secretary P K Das, when questioned about the gaffe, retorted "ask this question to the DGP." A resident of Indore has been receiving telephone calls since yesterday after Haryana Police listed his number among the numbers of three officers for receiving information concerning the alleged incident. When a journalist called up the mobile number given yesterday by Haryana Police DGP Y P Singhal of DIG Rajshree Singh, heading the three-member women police officer's team, it turned out to be of an Indore resident. "I have lodged a complaint with the local police," the recipient of the call said. The DGP had yesterday announced constitution of the team headed by the DIG "to gather information concerning the alleged incident of sexual assault on some women near Murthal on the night intervening February 22 and 23." Singhal had said that these officers would be available in Sonipat till further orders and anyone could provide information concerning the incident to them in the form of audio or video clips or photographs or in any other form. In a major boost to his White House bid ahead of a multi-state vote next week, Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has got a surprise endorsement from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who was himself a contender till recently. Close on the heels of Christie's endorsement, Maine Governor Paul LePage also backed Trump saying, "I'll be very honest. I originally said I'd like it to be a governor, but unfortunately, the American people are not going for a governor this year. So I'm going to endorse Donald Trump." 53-year-old Christie, at a rally in Fortworth, Texas, yesterday said,"Donald is a leader. He is a successful person that, like me, isn't afraid to tell it like it is. Our system is broken and it won't be fixed from the inside. I am proud to offer my endorsement of his candidacy for President," Former White House contender Christie's endorsement to Trump just ahead of the 'Super Tuesday' -- in which primary elections would be held in 11 states -- is expected to what is supporters said "seal the deal" for the 69-year-old reality TV star-turned-politician. "It is my great honour to receive the endorsement of the Governor (Christie). We have had a wonderful relationship for many years. He is a solid person that I have tremendous respect for. I am really proud to receive the support of the Governor and his family," Trump said. Christie, a former federal prosecutor, is a moderate Republican running a largely Democratic state and was once seen as one of the party's best hopes in 2016. He dropped out of the presidential race after poor showings in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries. Christie's endorsement is significant as he is one of the first establishment Republicans to back Trump. Trump, who has won three of the four Republican primaries, is leading in all states that will vote on 'Super Tuesday' except Texas, according to opinion polls. In Texas, Trump is locked in a close fight with his main rival Senator Ted Cruz. Notably, Trump has also been endorsed by Congressmen Chris Collins, Congressman Duncan Hunter, former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin, South Carolina Lt Governor Henry McMaster, and Arizona Treasurer Jeff DeWitt. Democratic National Committee National press secretary Mark Paustenbach said Christie's endorsement is the best example yet that the GOP is the party of Trump. "The Republican field just isn't serious and all its candidates have major problems heading into November. If anyone is wetting their pants, as Rubio suggested today, it's the Republican establishment," he said in a statement. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump talks with members of his staff while visiting the Chez Vachon restaurant. Photo: AP/PTI New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has backed Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination providing a big boost to the latter's chances of entering the White House even as the real estate mogul came under scathing attack from rivals ahead of the crucial "Super Tuesday". "Donald is a leader. He is a successful person that, like me, isn't afraid to tell it like it is. Our system is broken and it won't be fixed from the inside. I am proud to offer my endorsement of his candidacy for President," 53-year-old Christie said yesterday at a rally in Fortworth, Texas. Former White House contender Christie's endorsement to Trump just ahead of the 'Super Tuesday' - in which primary elections would be held in 11 States - is expected to what is supporters said "seal the deal" for the realty star-turned-politician. "It is my great honour to receive the endorsement of the Governor. We have had a wonderful relationship for many years. He is a solid person that I have tremendous respect for. I am really proud to receive the support of the Governor and his family," Trump said. Trump, who has won three of the four Republican primaries, is leading in all but Texas State opinion polls, where he is having a close fight with his main rival Senator Ted Cruz. Notably, Trump has also been endorsed by Congressmen Chris Collins, Congressman Duncan Hunter, former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin, South Carolina Lt Governor Henry McMaster, and Arizona Treasurer Jeff DeWitt. Democratic National Committee National press secretary Mark Paustenbach said that Christie's endorsement is the best example yet that the GOP is the party of Trump. "The Republican field just isn't serious and all its candidates have major problems heading into November. If anyone is wetting their pants, as Rubio suggested today, it's the Republican establishment. This is yuuge," he said in a statement. Meanwhile, a leading Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio launched a scathing attack on Trump describing him as a con artist and dangerous. "Donald Trump is a con artist trying to hijack the conservative movement and the Republican Party, and he cannot be our nominee," Rubio said in an email to his supporters. Christie, a former federal prosecutor, is a moderate Republican running a largely Democratic state and was once seen as one of the party's best hopes in 2016. Ahead of a key multi-state vote next week, the ongoing verbal duel between Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump and rival Marco Rubio has escalated with both taking low-level digs and making allegations against each other. The verbal duel that began with the debate yesterday is expected to continue over the weekend and into early next week before the 'Super Tuesday' when Republican members in 11 states would elect their presidential candidates. As many as 595 delegates are at stake. Much is at stake for Rubio, who has failed to win even one of the four primaries so far. Having been endorsed by the maximum number of party's leaders, he needs to win in at least some of the Super Tuesday states to stay in contention. An impressive performance on Tuesday and a few wins, Rubio's supporters believe, would help him consolidate his position among the party's establishment. Trump on the other hand is hoping to "seal the deal" on Super Tuesday itself by winning all the 11 states at stake. As per latest polls, he is ahead in 10 of these states and latest national polls suggested that his lead over his nearest rivals has increased. At a campaign rally in Dallas, Rubio launched a scathing attack on Trump, joking that the 69-year-old New York billionaire may have wet his pants during the Houston Texas debate a night earlier. "He called me Mr Meltdown. Let me tell you something, last night during two of the debates, he went backstage, he was having a meltdown," he said. "First, he had this little makeup thing applying makeup around his mustache because he had one of those sweat mustaches. Then, he asked for a full length mirror...Maybe to make sure his pants weren't wet," Rubio joked. "He's a clown," the 44-year-old Republican contender told Fox in an interview. "Look, I saw him back stage. He was nervous, he was waving his arms around. I think it is time to take the mask off of this guy," Rubio asserted. Under attack, Trump fired back. He called Rubio a "nervous Nellie", a "lightweight" and a "choker". "I watched a part of his little act and he's a desperate guy...He is not presidential material, I can tell you. He doesn't have the demeanour, he's a nervous Nellie. I watched him back stage. This guy is a total mess," Trump told reporters during a conference. Trump has won three out of the four Republican primaries and finished second in Iowa behind Texas Senator Ted Cruz. "For me to go into Florida and have a 20-point lead over the sitting senator, the sitting senator abandoned Florida. They elected him as a young senator and before he sits down, he starts running for president," Trump said. Trump was joined in by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in attacking Rubio. "President of the United States is not a no-show job like you treated the United States Senate," Christie said. Rubio, earlier said, "He (Trump) is a guy that portrays himself as defender of the little guy in this country. He has been exploiting working Americans for 40 years." "When his businesses went bankrupt, the first people who didn't get paid were those small contractors," the Florida Senator said in one of the nastiest attack that the billionaire has experienced after entering political stage last June. "He had people that put their confidence in him, signed up for Trump University. Some of them paid USD 35-36,000 and they got nothing for it because they trusted in his name and got stuck." Meanwhile, latest polls showed that Trump leads Rubio by 18 points at the national level. An independent pro-Kurdish television channel in Turkey said today the authorities had ordered it to be taken off air on accusations that it broadcast "terrorist propaganda" for militants. IMC TV said in a statement that Ankara prosecutors had sent a letter to Turkey's leading satellite operator Turksat ordering it to drop the channel and the request was immediately fulfilled. It said that the grounds for the order was "making propaganda for a terror organisation". In Turkey, this usually means publishing or broadcasting information deemed supportive of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). But IMC TV, which was founded in 2011 and also focuses on women's, leftist and environmental issues, said it was not connected with "any party or organisation". "We will of course use all legal means to defend ourselves against these baseless accusations," it added. Having lost its sole means of satellite broadcasting, the channel is meanwhile continuing to broadcast via its website. The channel's general manager, Eyup Burc, meanwhile denounced the order from the prosecutors to Turksat as illegal, saying it should have been made via the broadcasting watchdog RTUK. IMC TV was seen as the only pro-Kurdish channel in Turkey with an anti-government line. After recent reforms, state broadcasting company TRT now has a Kurdish-language channel, TRT Kurdi. Pro-Kurdish media have come under greater scrutiny from the authorities in the last months after a two-and-a-half year ceasefire with the PKK collapsed in July. But there is also growing alarm over the state of freedom of expression in Turkey with several journalists and other public figures facing legal action on charges of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Reports said that the channel's broadcasts were cut Friday afternoon during a live interview with journalists from the Cumhuriyet daily Erdem Gul and Can Dundar who had been released from prison earlier that day. Gul and Dundar had been held in jail for three months in a case that has become a lightning rod for concerns about freedom of expression in Turkey. They still face trial in March. Two birdies in the last four holes of the third round kept Shiv Kapur's hopes alive of securing his first Top-10 finish of the year at the ISPS HANDA Perth International, here today. Kapur, who began the week with a stunning 66 has since shot 73-71 in the next two rounds. At six-under 206, he is Tied-20th, but 11 shots behind the leader, Louis Oosthuizen who takes a three shot lead into the final round. Looking unstoppable at Lake Karrinyup Country Club, Oosthuizen was 7-under the card through 15 holes and had stretched his lead out to five shots. However back-to-back bogeys saw him come back to the field, setting up the final round for a dramatic finish. Himmat Rai (73) with three birdies, two bogeys and a double was Tied 45th, while Gaganjeet Bhullar (71), who had an eagle at second, a double bogey, two other bogeys and three birdies, was Tied 54th. Chiragh Kumar (74) was Tied 63rd. Kapur, who has a troublesome shoulder that flared up before the first round and has still not healed said: "It has been an up and down day again. I got off to a good start. But that stretch from six to11 seemed to get me again. I didn't really hit any poor shots. I hit it into the greenside bunker on seven and ended up making bogey there and on 11, I three-putted. So that stretch of four to five holes was frustrating." "But you just got to hang in there like I did yesterday and post a good score to move up the leaderboard. It has been that kind of week. The first day was flawless and the last two days, I made too many mistakes although the birdies are still in there. "The encouraging thing out of all these is that I'm hitting lots of good shots. Some of the bogeys I made were either bad judgment or just one or two bad swings. My pace on the greens was off a little as they felt a little slower to me today. I'm just going to work on that and hopefully come out with a hot putter like I did the first day. "I've put myself too far back to have a realistic chance of winning but as competitors, you want to finish as high up as you can," he added. Overnight leader Peter Uihlein of the United States slipped one spot down to second place with France's Romain Wattel after he signed for a 71 while local hopefuls Jason Scrivener (205) and Brett Rumford (206) are in fourth and fifth place respectively. A shot further back and rounding out the top-10 are Marcus Fraser (AUS), Mikko Korhonen (FIN), Richard Lee (CAN), Mardan Mamat (SIN) and Alexander Levy (FRA). Opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) today slammed the Congress-led state government for its alleged "inconsistent stand" on the issue related to holding of dual posts by MLAs and MDCs. "We regret the inconsistent stand of the government on the holding of dual posts by MLAs and MDCs," UDP senior working president Bindo M Lanong told reporters while spelling out the resolutions adopted by general council meeting held here. According to UDP, if a post of MDC is declared as "not an office of profit", this will surely tantamount to misleading the state assembly and the people of the state by the present government. Earlier, as many as seven legislators had resigned as MDCs of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) in view of the passing of the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of Legislative Assembly, Meghalaya) (Amendment) Act, 2015 last year. However, KHADC chief Pynshngainlang Syiem is the lone legislator who refused to relinquish his dual posts as a mark of protest against the state government. Lanong said, "Now the question is what will happen in the case of KHADC chief P N Syiem because in his case, the state government had clarified that he can continue with the two offices at the same time." According to him, if this is the case what will be the fate of the members who have relinquished their posts as MDC? "Will the state government revoke its earlier order because at the behest of the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, these MLAs have resigned as MDCs," he asked. The United Nations special envoy for has said he plans to resume peace talks on March 7 if a cessation of hostilities negotiated by the United States and Russia that began at midnight local time "largely holds." Staffan de Mistura yesterday briefed the UN Security Council via videoconference from Geneva following a meeting of envoys from the 17-member Support Group, which is supposed to monitor implementation of the agreement. "This will remain a complicated, painstaking process," he told the council. But he added that "nothing is impossible, especially at this moment." De Mistura, however, warned he had "no doubt there will be no shortage of attempts to undermine this process."Shortly after de Mistura's briefing, the 15-member council voted unanimously to approve a resolution endorsing the cease-fire agreement. The cease-fire began shortly afterward. If the cessation of hostilities holds, it would mark the first time negotiations have managed to achieve a pause in Syria's civil war, which shortly will enter its sixth year. Even as council members spoke in support of the agreement, strains showed. Russia warned against "the harmful practice of providing external support to armed groups." And British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said "Russia must turn words into actions" and use its influence on its ally, Syrian President Bashar Assad: "If they don't, we will falter again." According to a draft obtained by The Associated Press, the resolution urges the UN secretary-general to resume the peace talks "as soon as possible." It also expresses support for an working group whose task is to "accelerate the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid," with the goal of sustained and unimpeded aid access to all parts of . That includes areas where hundreds of thousands of people find themselves besieged, most of them by Syrian government forces or the Islamic State group. For the cease-fire to succeed, multiple armed factions will have to adhere to its terms. The Syrian government and a leading opposition bloc have agreed to the cessation of hostilities, but the accord excludes UN-designated terrorist groups like the Islamic State and Nusra Front, which hold swaths of Syrian territory. US Ambassador Samantha Power told the council that the cessation of hostilities will not in itself ensure that a political solution in Syria is reached. But she said the "vast majority" of the opposition is ready to cooperate with the cease-fire. The US says the airing by Chinese state media of a purported confession by a detained Christian human rights lawyer prior to any judicial process runs counter to the rule of law, and he should be released. State Department spokesman Mark Toner expressed deep concern yesterday over the treatment of the lawyer, Zhang Ka , who was detained in August, a day before he was due to meet a US religious freedom envoy. A semiofficial website in the eastern city of Wenzhou said Thursday that Zhang has confessed to breaking the law by disturbing social order, endangering state security and engaging in unprofessional behavior. Zhang had been providing legal counsel for churches in their resistance to a government order to remove hundreds of crosses from church buildings. The White House has pressed Chinese President Xi Jinping to expand his non-militarisation pledge to cover the entire South China Sea, despite Beijing's recent military activity in the area. Daniel Kritenbrink, senior director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council, spoke amid rising tensions between the two countries over China's deployment of surface- to-air missiles, radar gear, air strips and fighter jets on an islet there. During a state visit in September, Xi insisted that "China does not intend to pursue militarisation" in the Spratly Island chain - known as Nansha in Chinese. The islands are claimed in part or whole by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. "We think it would be good if that non-militarisation pledge, if he (Xi) would extend that across the entire South China Sea," Kritenbrink told a forum at the Centre for Strategic and Studies yesterday. "We're going to encourage our Chinese friends and other countries in the region to refrain from taking steps that raise tensions." China claims almost the whole of the area - through which a third of the world's oil passes - while several other littoral states have competing claims, as does Taiwan. "This is an incredibly important waterway through which much of trade flows," Kritenbrink said. "We are concerned that China has taken a number of unilateral steps over the last several years that we think raise tensions in the region and are destabilising." The Asian giant is using dredgers to turn reefs and low- lying features into larger land masses for runways and other military uses to bolster its claims of sovereignty. Earlier this week, US Pacific Command chief Admiral Harry Harris warned that China was changing the "operational landscape in the region." He has called for more flyovers and patrols. "Short of war with the United States, China will exercise de facto control of the South China Sea," Harris said. Kritenbrink also urged China to respect an court's decision due later this year on Manila's dispute with Beijing over territorial claims in the . Kritenbrink said he expected the upcoming ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration to be "extremely important" because it will mark the outcome of a process that allows countries to use peaceful legal means to pursue disputes. China does not recognise The Hague-based court's authority, but it has ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea at the center of the case. "When that ruling comes out, it will be binding on both parties," Kritenbrink said. "That will be an important moment that all of us in the region should focus on. A cease-fire brokered by the United States and Russia went into effect across Syria today, marking the biggest international push to reduce violence in the country's devastating conflict, but the Islamic State group and al-Qaida's branch in Syria, the Nusra Front, were excluded. The cease-fire aims to bring representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition back to the negotiating table in Geneva for talks on a political transition. The UN's envoy, Staffan de Mistura, announced that peace talks would resume on March 7 if the cessation of hostilities "largely holds." If it does, it would be the first time international negotiations have brought any degree of quiet in Syria's five-year civil war. But success requires adherence by multiple armed factions and the truce is made more fragile because it allows fighting to continue against the Islamic State group and Nusra Front, which could easily re-ignite broader warfare. The Syrian government and the opposition, including nearly 100 rebel groups, have said they will abide by the cease-fire despite serious skepticism about chances for success. Speaking to reporters in Geneva after the truce took hold at midnight, de Mistura said initial reports indicated that within minutes both Damascus and the nearby rebel-held town of Daraya suddenly "had calmed down." He said there was a report of one "incident" that his team was investigating but did not give details. Opposition activists on the ground also reported early adherence to the truce. Mazen al-Shami, an activist near Damascus, said an opposition-held eastern suburb of the capital known as Eastern Ghouta was "quiet for the first time in years." The Ghouta region, which includes the sprawling suburb of Douma, has been the scene of intense fighting during Syria's conflict. An Associated Press crew in Damascus said the sounds of explosions stopped three minutes before midnight. An Aleppo-based opposition media collective, Aleppo24, said Russian warplanes left Aleppo skies at 12:19 am (local time). There were also some reports of violations, which could not be independently confirmed, but they appeared to be relatively limited. Opposition activist Mohammed al-Sibai, who is based in the central province of Homs, told the AP that the cease-fire was violated 15 minutes after it went into effect in the town of Talbiseh, which was being subjected to shelling by government artillery based around the town. However, he said things later quieted down. The first-ever auction of a gold mine in the country was today held in Chhattisgarh. Vedanta Ltd won the auction for Baghmara (Sonakhan) gold mine with its highest bid of 12.55 per cent of IBM (Indian Bureau of Mining) price of Rupees 74,712/ troy ounce (1 troy ounce = 31.10 gram), official sources said. The production from the Baghmara mine can reduce the gold imports into the country, the state mines department officials said. This was the first time a composite license for gold mining was given in the country, officials added. The mine is situated in Balodabazaar-Bhatapara district of Chhattisgarh, 130 km north-east of the state capital Raipur. At a time of simmering Mideast tensions and rising malaise, a group of French chefs recently visited the West Bank to bring a little joie de vivre to Palestinian kitchens. The eight chefs visited restaurants in Ramallah, Hebron, Nablus and east Jerusalem in a weeklong event earlier this month sponsored by the French government, which prides itself on culinary diplomacy and has held similar events in Japan, Brazil, India, Morocco and elsewhere. A parallel festival began four years ago and ran concurrently in Israel. Many Israeli chefs train in Europe, and in the last 20 years, a cosmopolitan Israeli cuisine has emerged, incorporating techniques and flavors from across the Jewish diaspora -- everything from Moroccan couscous and Libyan fish stews to German potato pancakes and Austrian-inspired chicken schnitzel. By contrast, Palestinian cooking has remained steeped in local and Middle Eastern recipes, thanks to a strong agrarian tradition and a shortage of clientele with disposable income. Dishes lean on chickpeas, lentils and rice, often spiced with cumin, drizzled in olive oil and accompanied by sides like hummus, tabbouleh and yogurt. Palestinian food also draws on Levantine flavors like zaatar -- a thyme-like herb -- as well as sumac and pomegranate molasses. Ramallah, seat of the Palestinian Authority, has seen dozens of new restaurants and cafes open in recent years, serving Palestinian, Lebanese, Mexican, Japanese and Italian fare. But most cooks learn on the job. "Someone wanted to work for us after he came from a construction site. Another one dropped out of high school," said Jamal Nimer, owner of the Caesar Hotel in Ramallah, which opened five years ago. "You have to teach the people how to work." That's where the French come in. One of the chefs gave lessons in baking bread, cakes and macaron cookies to the 32 students at the Caesar Hospitality College in Ramallah, which Nimer opened earlier this year to train staff. At the Orjuwan restaurant nearby, co-owner Saleem Sakakini said visiting chef Alex Dreyer helped his staff master basic techniques as they prepared a special menu featuring salmon in hollandaise sauce, a lamb rack served over herb-infused mashed potatoes and an apple tarte tatin. "I liked the Palestinian food, because I think it's a very specific flavor that anyone can enjoy," said Dreyer, who works as a chef in Paris. Asserting that the minority character of AMU is very close to the hearts of people associated with it, Vice Chancellor Zameeruddin Shah today said they will take all necessary steps for its preservation. Addressing the 63rd Annual Convocation of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) here, Shah said the university has embarked upon a very ambitious programme for the modernisation of madrassa education in the country. "AMU was established by Muslims of India and was proud of its role in the task of nation building. The minority character of our institution is very dear to our hearts and we will take all necessary steps for its preservation," he said. The VC also stated that the University was receiving laurels in the sphere of cutting edge technology. "The Department of Nanotechnology, for instance, had achieved amazing success during the past year," he said. The issue of restoration of minority character of AMU is at present pending with the Supreme Court. There were protests after Attorney General Mukul Rohatagi, on January 11 told the court that the NDA government did not support the idea of a state-funded minority institution in a secular state. (REOPENS DES 15) Later at another function, the AMU Vice-chancellor said Muslims in India "are more than fifty years behind the rest of the country" in the field of education. At the Sir Syed Academy to felicitate those students who were awarded degrees, Shah said that if Muslims lag behind others they will only slow down the country's march to progress. AMU has been playing a critical role in helping Muslims in playing their due role in Nation building, he said adding that the institution was presently giving special emphasis to school education. He said the Head of the Bohra sect Sydena Mufaddal Saifuddin who is also Chancellor of AMU had today assured the university that "all funds for the restoration of the heritage buildings of the STS school the institution's main school would be borne by him " Shah appealed to the university's alumni in India and all over the globe to donate generously to help AMU become India's premier institution of higher learning. A 50-year-old woman was killed while trying to save her buffaloes from being hit by a train near here today. Three buffaloes were also killed and another injured in the mishap which occurred at Soorappanayakam Chavady, police said. Vasantha was grazing the buffaloes when some of them strayed onto a nearby railway track. Seeing the Mayiladuthurai-Villupuram Passenger train approaching the spot, the woman tried to pull her buffaloes away from the track, police said. But the buffaloes dragged her in the opposite direction and the woman and three of the cattle died on the spot after being hit the train. As many as 33 Youth Congress activists were arrested while they tried to hoist the party flag at a VHP office here today in protest over the JNU row. The Youth Congress workers held a meeting at their office this afternoon and then marched towards the VHP office with their party flag, Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar said. Congress state unit president Amanullah Ansari led the march. All of them were arrested and taken to the Police Lines from where they were later released on personal bonds, the SP said. By Allison Lampert and Andrea Shalal MONTREAL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A proposed Canadian government bailout of Bombardier Inc's new CSeries jet manufacturing programme would reduce the company's stake in the money-losing aircraft, taking it off the plane maker's books and boosting results in the short-term, two sources familiar with the matter said. The federal government is considering a deal that would give Canada, the Quebec government and Bombardier each a one-third stake in the CSeries, which would be carved out as a separate joint venture with its own board, ?said the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks are confidential. Currently, Bombardier controls 50.5 percent of the CSeries and Quebec 49.5 percent. Federal officials familiar with the situation stress it is too early to say whether a separate CSeries board would be part of a bailout of Bombardier. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said his Liberal Party government would announce a decision before the federal budget on March 22. Such a deal would allow Montreal-based Bombardier to alter the way it accounts for the CSeries business, which is costing at least $5.4 billion to develop and launch and which the company doesn't expect to generate returns for another four years or more. The proposed structure would have a positive effect on the parent company's cash flow and earnings per share for the next three to four years, said one of the sources. The company has forecast 2016 revenue of $16.5 billion to $17.5 billion. Those figures bake in anticipated revenue from about 10 CSeries jet deliveries this year, according to one analyst. The loss of revenue because of deconsolidation would be more than offset by a reduction in CSeries costs and its cash burn rate in the parent company's accounts. Canada is leaning towards matching Quebec's $1 billion CSeries injection of funds through a deal that could give the federal and provincial governments joint majority control of the 100-150 seat jet programme. The first of the jets, the smaller version, is entering service in 2016 after years of delays and cost overruns. New jet programs typically take years to sell and deliver enough planes to break even and recover sunk development costs. CASH DRAIN The federal government is not expected to invest directly in Bombardier itself, as opposed to the CSeries programme, and there is no expected change to the company's dual class structure that favours the founding Bombardier-Beaudoin family, both sources said. Within the government, there are some concerns about the parent company's shareholding structure, which gives the family a roughly 54 percent voting stake, said a person familiar with Ottawa's approach. The founding family has pushed back against any changes to the company's governance, he said. A key member of the family, Bombardier's previous Chief Executive Pierre Beaudoin, launched three different plane programs at about the same time and the resulting draining of the company's cash is a major reason for its current problems. The investment model, proposed by Quebec and supported by Bombardier, would give the federal and provincial governments a combined four seats - provided Canada matches the province's $1 billion investment - on the seven person CSeries board, reported on Wednesday. Bombardier itself would only be able to nominate three of the seats, putting the company's representatives in a minority. On Thursday, Quebec Transport Minister Jacques Daoust confirmed the story during an interview on Canada's RDI television. "If we had a new player joining us, we could imagine having seven board seats," Daoust said. "The new partner and us would control the company. This is certainly a scenario that is being explored now, because we couldn't imagine investing two-thirds of the funds and having a minority on the decision-making front." Quebec has argued that the governments' majority position on the CSeries board should assuage federal concerns over the company's governance. The governments would act as shareholders and not participate in the day-to-day operations of the plane program, one of the sources said. The deal would also allow Bombardier to buy back the governments' shares in the CSeries at a later date, as is already the case with the agreement between Bombardier and Quebec. "The last thing you want are governments to run the programme," said the second source. A spokeswoman for Bombardier declined to comment. Bombardier received a boost in February when the company secured its first order in 16 months. That was for up to 75 CSeries jets to be supplied to Air Canada. Bombardier has faced fierce competition from plane-making rivals Boeing Co and Airbus Group SE which have adapted new engines to their respective narrow-body jets. That has helped them compete with the fuel-efficient CSeries. They have also been able to undercut Bombardier's pricing by discounting their older Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 models, which are late in their life cycles and can be built at a comparatively lower cost. (Additional reporting by Euan Rocha in Toronto, David Ljunggren in Ottawa and Tim Hepher in Paris; Editing by Amran Abocar and Martin Howell) A US appeals court on Friday overturned a $120 million jury verdict against Samsung, finally handing the South Korean smartphone maker a significant win in its longstanding patent feud with top rival Apple. The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., said Electronics Co Ltd did not infringe Apple's "quick links" patent, and that two other patents covering the iPhone's slide-to-unlock and auto-correct features were invalid. The court also said Apple was liable for infringing one of Samsung's patents. Read more from our special coverage on "SAMSUNG" Samsungs new Galaxy phones short on innovation in a tough 2016 In a statement, a spokeswoman said, "Today's decision is a win for consumer choice and puts competition back where it belongs - in the marketplace, not in the courtroom." A spokeswoman for Apple declined to comment. Apple and have been battling over mobile device technology patents for years. Apple has mostly prevailed, and in December, Samsung paid Apple $548.2 million stemming from a separate patent case, which Samsung has appealed to the US Supreme Court. Friday's ruling was issued by a unanimous three-judge panel of the Federal Circuit, the country's top court specializing in patent issues. The ruling reverses a May 2014 verdict from a federal court in San Jose, California ordering Samsung to pay $119.6 million for using Apple's patented technology without permission. Infringement of the quick links feature, which allows the device to recognise data on the touchscreen, such as a phone number, and link to it to make a call, accounted for nearly $99 million of the damages. While the appeals court said that Samsung did not use the same technology to detect and link to specific data, it also said Apple's other patents were obvious compared to previously known inventions and should never have been granted. Chicago-based patent lawyer Bradley Hulbert, who has followed the litigation, said the decision is "a clear signal that Apple is not invincible and that alternative operating systems are here to stay. The marketing and psychological benefits for Samsung are huge." Rutgers Law School professor Michael Carrier said Apple "rolled the dice" by going to court and today's decision "shows that the patent wars really are not worth it." NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Vedanta Ltd has won India's first-ever auction of a gold mine, a state government official said, as the nation opens up the sector to private companies to curb overseas purchases of the metal that cost it $36 billion last year. Vedanta, a unit of London-listed Vedanta Resources Plc, beat three other bidders in the auction of the Baghmara mine in Chhattisgarh, the head of the state's Directorate of Geology and Mining, Reena Kangale, told on Saturday. The company quoted the highest bid of 12.55 percent of the Indian Bureau of Mines price of 74,712 rupees ($1,087) a troy ounce, Kangale said, adding she expected mining for potential reserves of about 2,700 kilograms to begin in two years. A troy ounce is equivalent of 31.10 grams. In a statement, Vedanta said the block measuring 6.08 square kilometres required extensive exploration and that the process will commence in "due course". India's insatiable appetite for gold has already prompted the government to raise import duties and launch a scheme aimed at mobilising a pool of over 20,000 tonnes of the metal lying idle in homes and temples. Still the government has failed to curb imports by the world's second-biggest consumer, where gold is regarded as the highest form of gift for gods and humans alike. The absence of local production has scuppered efforts further. Federal Mines Secretary Balvinder Kumar last week told the government planned to auction at least three gold mines in 2016. ($1 = 68.7273 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Sankalp Phartiyal; Editing by Devidutta Tripathy and Raissa Kasolowsky) Its fairly unusual to hear about art collectors allowing people to walk into their house to view their art collection. But then Golpo, the home of art collectors Rajeeb and Nadia Samdani in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is arguably better than a visit to the Dhaka Art Summit that they organise. So, despite the long day at the fair, which included a tour of the famous Parliament House, and long hours spent in traffic, I couldnt wait to get to (Bengali for fairytale). This fairytale turns out to be a fantastical, gritty and bold one thats worthy of our age. From a quiet lane, you walk through the gates onto a video installation set in the path. It shows a baby chick embryo whose wings are being moved by ants so that they look like theyre flying. This famous video installation, Icarus by Mithu Sen, was released in 2008 to mixed views on whether it qualified as art. Above the entrance door is a huge sign picked out in neon lights that reads, Sold Out. Its a 2012 piece by Raqs Media Collective that I last saw at the India Art Fair. A large French window to the side has a fountain in front of it that has disembodied hands holding grenades coming out of the ground. The waiting room and lobby with white walls on the first floor of the six-storey house are disorienting because they are so bland after the interesting exteriors. But when you look around, theres an unmistakable Anish Kapoor mirror at the far corner. The Samdanis say they spent a year looking for a piece they liked. Next to it is a series of Zarina Hashmis works with their clean monochromatic lines interspersed with a similar work from the same genre by Prabhavathi Meppayil called Untitled II (2009). Her work had been compared extensively with Hashmis by another guest that evening Shanay Jhaveri, a curator at the Museum of Modern Art, New York A striking audio artwork by Ceal Floyer called Till I get it right plays on a loop. It was exhibited at Documenta 13, the German biennale. Somnath Hores Wounds-43 is displayed near the lift. Opposite it is an Anna-Eva Bergman piece. Behind that is the most famous 18-inch white gallery in the world: the Wrong Gallery. The 1,000 edition piece was created by Maurizio Cattelan, Massimiliano Gioni and Ali Subotnick in 2002 as a joke. As the wrong dealers say, The Wrong Gallery is the back door to contemporary art, and its always locked. A version of it was displayed at the Tate Modern, London. Opposite the playful white piece is one piece by noted Indian miniaturist Bireswar Sen. And on the wall with its back to the entrance, is a 3D Philippe Parreno artwork that requires special glasses and perspective to understand it. Next to it is Mirror Image II by Pakistani artist Lala Rukh. It had been mentioned during her talk with Ayesha Jatoi during the India Art Fair as a piece where she turned calligraphy into the most basic markings. On the wall opposite is the now famous Ayesha Sultana piece called Untitled 2015 as well as a Naeem Mohaiemen called Rankin Street, 1953 Topography. A version of it is in the Singapore Art Museum. Theres a sofa in the centre. Of course, this too is a piece of art: Moon System by Dame Zaha Hadid. The second, third and fourth floors are private. Its the fifth one that leaves an art-lover overwhelmed. You walk out of the lift to meet Bharti Khers Mimic. Diagonally opposite it is a water colour by Shahzia Sikander called Multiple Bearings. Opposite it are two chairs by Ai Weiwei. These are two of the antique chairs from the Fairytale 1001 collection made to represent citizens who couldnt travel abroad, but 1001 Chinese people travelled with the chairs to Documenta 12 in Germany and sat on them. A gorgeous Pedro Reyes sculpture called Disarm hangs next to it showing a violin made from melted guns. Opposite it is a rather pretty Subodh Gupta sculpture called Cascading Water. A Ravinder Reddy sculpture and a Mark Quinn Meat Painting bring you to a room-size installation of golden razor blade bras on hangers. The work, called Bizarre and Beautiful, by Tayeba Begum Lipi addresses the contradictions between constructed identity and traditional attitudes towards women. Between the Tagores and the Mazumdar are two Husains: Raisa (a portrait of the artists daughter) and Untitled (portrait of a Lady). And, there is a series of installations: Naiza Khans The Robe; Lynda Benglis Wing; Paul Klees Parklandschaft; Rasheed Araeens Burgundy Light; Alighiero Boettis Una Parola Al Vento; Anwar Jalal Shemzas Red and Green Relief; Rana Begums No.278; Adeela Sulemans After all, its always someone else who dies and Rashid Chaudhrys Untitled, 1981. Nadia listens to me for a few moments as I gush over the Mazumdar and mentions that she bought it from Christies last year. I ask her if I can see her other Mazumdars and she frowns, Theyre in storage. We change our art collection every few months. At this stage, Im engaged in my hunt for a Salvador Dali. Nadia shows me a tiny bronze called Nude Ascending a Staircase behind a flower vase. Every work in the collection, it seems, has both a provenance and a story behind it. The final floor awaits and I walk out of the lift to see a transgender Yashoda with Krishna from Tejal Shah Hijras Fantasy Series. Beyond it are the stairs leading outside and the upside-down Shilpa Guptas The Sky Flows Under Our Feet shows up in neon lights. The party room inside is filled with eye-catching young art, which, to me, after the glories of the fifth floor is less memorable. It includes Tracey Emins Trust Yourself signage in bright pink and purple neon lights as well as works by Bani Abidi, Pawel Althamer, Lionel Wendt, Jitish Kallat and Prabhakar Pachpute. As I reel out, lightheaded from everything Ive seen (Ive read that they collect silver as well, but I couldnt look beyond the walls), I wonder. I wonder at the openness in showing this immensely expensive collection to the world. And I wonder at the chutzpah of their little girls who skip over the Icarus installation on their way to school. What will show us in 2017 to top this? ALSO READ: The Samdanis are married to art Unlock 30+ premium stories daily hand-picked by our editors, across devices on browser and app. Full access to our intuitive epaper - clip, save, share articles from any device; newspaper archives from 2006. Curated newsletters on markets, personal finance, policy & politics, start-ups, technology, and more. Pick your 5 favourite companies, get a daily email with all news updates on them. 26 years of website archives. The government is considering a proposal to publish names of people with "irrecoverable" tax arrears of more than Rs 1 crore, Parliament was informed on Friday. Currently, the limit for making public such names is Rs 5 crore. "A proposal to publish names of persons with irrecoverable arrears of more than Rs 1 crore is under consideration as against the present limit of Rs 5 crores," Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said in a written reply in Lok Sabha. Besides, the government has also published names of 18 income tax defaulters against whom outstanding tax dues is of the order of Rs 1,152.52 crore. Of these, the highest amount of tax dues of Rs 779.04 crore is listed against (late) Uday M Acharya; Rs 68.21 crore is against Nexxoft Infotel Ltd; Rs 32.16 crore against Liverpool Retail India Ltd and Rs 32.13 crore dues against Jashubhai Jewellers Pvt Ltd. Others include, Praful M Akhani (Rs 29.11 crore); Sakshi Exports (Rs 26.76 crore); Hemang C Shah (Rs 22.51 crore); Mohd Haji Alias Yusuf Motorwala (Rs 22.34 crore); Dharnendra Overseas Ltd (Rs 19.87 crore) and Jag Heet Exports Pvt Ltd (Rs 18.45 crore). Sinha said all steps have been initiated to recover the pending dues from these entities. In a separate reply, Sinha said India's tax collections rose during the April-January period of 2015-16 on various measures taken by government, economic activity and better compliance by tax payers. During the period, direct tax collections increased by 10.87 per cent from a year ago to Rs 5.22 lakh crore. The indirect tax collections increased by 33.7 per cent from a year earlier to Rs 5.69 lakh crore. "The net direct and indirect tax collection during the current financial year 2015-16 is showing an overall positive growth as on January 31, 2016," he said. In 2014-15, the direct tax collection was up 8.97 per cent to Rs 6.96 lakh crore, while the indirect tax collection during the previous fiscal stood at Rs 5.44 lakh crore, up 9.5 per cent from a year ago. SHARE GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Brooke Endris (left) and Cassandra Ozuna GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Denny Barre (from left), Robert Anderson, Julie Buckley, Andy Lehrman and Jill Jacobs GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Jerry Cantu (from left), Corina Meza, Curtis Clark and Julian Lopez GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Daniel Drozd (from left), Bob Drozd, Holly Drozd and Derek Drozd The Buccaneer Commission hosted the 2016 Buc Days Scholarship Luncheon benefiting the scholarship program on Feb. 9 at the American Bank Center, Henry Garrett Ballroom. The event featured finalists in the Buc Days Ideas Challenge pitching their entrepreneurial visions to a panel of three judges. The three groups were comprised of students in Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi's College of Business and were chosen from a pool of more than 40 entries. The challenge gives the students a chance to test business and technology ideas and innovations in a competitive setting. The device that won is a reminder device that clips to the driver's seat belt and plays a personalized message to remind the driver to get children out of the car. The winning team received $3,000 to start a business. The three judges were Fred Dotts, CEO/CFO of Morehead Dotts Rybak; Darcy Schroeder, regional manager of public affairs for Koch Companies Public Sector; and David Castillo, director of advertising and promotion for H-E-B Gulf Coast Region. Katia Uriarte, from KIIITV News Team and state Rep. Todd Hunter both served as masters of ceremony. SHARE contributed photo Dr. Rosie Bonilla (left) and Ruben Bonilla contributed photo Kari Rhodes (left) and Scott Rhodes contributed photo Dr. Rob Webster (from left), Allison Webster, Diane La Rue, and John LaRue all were co-chairs of the event. Mike Pedrotti (from left), Laureen Pedrotti, Alka Ahuja and Rajan Ahuja Apparently the Heart of Rock and Roll is still beating, as evidenced by the record crowd that showed up to support the American Heart Association at the annual ball Feb. 13, which was themed "Heart of Rock and Roll." The black tie event, which for decades has been a great way to celebrate Valentine's Day in the Coastal Bend, was at the Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center this year and featured all the usual fun: a lively bid board auction, a cocktail hour that had guests cruising throughout the Ortiz center to peruse the silent auction and guys and gals all dressed up in their Valentine's Day finery, including red bow ties and cummerbunds and beautiful red gowns of the long and short variety. I had a fun chance to visit with many friends during cocktail hour, including Frank Hastings and Laura Visintine, Michelle and Bart Braselton, Dr. Thomas Wilder, Julio Reyes, and Rosie Collin before it was time to find my table and enjoy the program. My table hosts were the lovely Bonnie and Dr. Jack Dugan, whose children and their spouses had driven all the way from Houston to celebrate the evening as a family. They were a fun bunch and definitely enjoyed the party! The program consisted of several fun moments, like the raucous live auction that had bids flying around the room, but my personal favorite was when Nancy Hawn introduced Daniel Pedrotti, who told a touching story about his personal struggle with heart disease. The business of the evening being complete, it was time for some Rock and Roll, so The Hotcakes hit the stage and the tables emptied as everyone hit the dance floor. On my way to enjoy the music, I ran into Dan Brown and Scott Meares, who may or may not have discussed forming their own band apparently the Rock and Roll theme got everyone into the spirit! Congratulations to event chairs Dr. Rosie and Ruben Bonilla and Sue and Dr. Robert Madry as well as Erin Wilder, Marcy Rodriguez, and Brittany Sandbach from the Heart Association for a marvelous job putting on such a great event! The Good Times will Roll Again for Del Mar The Del Mar College Foundation and Trustee Emeritus Bernie Paulson are calling all Cajuns and "Cajuns at heart" to join them for the flavors of the bayou from crawfish to Zydeco music during the eighth annual "Bernie's Famous Crawfish Boil" at 5:30 p.m. on April 7 at the Concrete Street Old Market Pavilion to raise funds for DMC student scholarships. The event features both live and silent auctions. The all-you-can-eat menu includes crawfish, shrimp and sausage, along with all the fixings (veggies), and tea, sodas and open bar. Accordionist Leroy Thomas, best known as the "Jewel of the Bayou," and his Zydeco Roadrunners will return to serve up his repertoire that mixes Zydeco, Cajun, Blues, R&B and country music with his own innovative, funky, hard-driving sound. Their gumbo-flavored musical fare is one of the highlights of the annual event. Deadline to purchase tickets is April 4. Cost: $200. Information: Development Coordinator Sally Reigle at 361-698-1033 or sreigle@delmar.edu. That's Amore The Behavioral Health Center of Nueces County will present "Amore, A Musical Night of Love and Generosity" featuring operatic soprano Nancy Lanmon Munn at 6 p.m. May 7 at the Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center. Guests will enjoy music by Munn and concert pianist Dr. Joachim Reinhuber as well as dinner, a silent auction, photo opportunities, contests and the presentation of awards, which include: The Legacy Award, The Pioneer Award, and The Spirit of Independence Award. Dress code is formal attire. Cost: $100. Information: dresendez@bhcnc.org or 886-1416. It's a Miracle The Miracle League of Corpus Christi and The YMCA of the Coastal Bend will present a benefit concert featuring Clint Black with special guest Maggie Rose live and in concert at 5:30 p.m. May 31 at Whataburger Field. Cost: $30. Information: 882-HOOK or cchooks.com. SHARE By Chris Ramirez of the Caller-Times Even getting a small recreational boat to sail through the La Quinta Channel would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. But soon perhaps within a matter of months huge vessels will be chugging out of what is now Voestalpine Texas, carrying tons of cargo bound for Europe, an official for the Austrian iron manufacturer said. Construction of the company's 470-acre plant near Gregory is nearly complete, with commissioning underway, said Jonas Chupe, director of communications and public relations for Voestalpine Texas. The company expects to receive its first delivery in April of iron pellets it will treat and transform into "briquettes." It plans to begin shipping out finished product sometime in the second half of 2016. "We've been making tremendous progress out there," Chupe said. Chupe made the prediction Friday during the Latin American Petroleum and Energy Summit, hosted by the Port of Corpus Christi. Commissioning is a phase of a project where equipment and processes are tested to verify if they function according to their design objectives or specifications. Groundbreaking on its $800 million plant, just off U.S. Highway 181, was in April 2014. It's here that Voestalpine will convert tons of iron oxide pellets into purer, easier-to-transport hot briquetted iron, about the size of a cellphone. Iron in that form can be used in a variety ways, including auto making. Taxpayers spent nearly $40 million to dredge the LaQuinta Channel's floor deep enough to allow cargo vessels. Chupe said most of the orders for Voestalpine pronounced 'fursh-tahl-peen-nah' have come from customers in the Europe Union. Natural gas is expected to be used in Voestalpine 's iron-purification process, and seawater will be used in the cooling process. The plant will create roughly 170 permanent jobs. Other highlights: Colombian growth Years of effort to improve infrastructure and shore up a skilled workforce have helped the South American nation evolved into a player on the energy market. Its purchasing power has doubled in the last 10 years and its middle class is expected to triple by 2026, said Elena Bustamante, a trade representative for Procolombia, which promotes Colombian exports, international tourism and foreign investment. Bustamante said Colombia has 103 power-generation projects underway, as well as 13 power transmission projects in different stages of development, while it is also courting alternative energies, such as wind power, solar energy and biomass, she said. Mexico's energy potential An energy reform bill passed by Mexico's Congress in December 2014 ended a decadeslong state monopoly of that nation's oil and gas industry. Now international companies are lining up to explore its energy potential for the first time. Part of the Eagle Ford Shale energy play bleeds into northern Mexico's Burgos Basin, leaving foreign investors lining up for a shot at drilling in the region. Jorge Canavati, the principal at J. Canavati & Co. LLC, an international commerce and logistics firm in San Antonio, said U.S. exports to Mexico, which has the world's sixth-largest gas reserve, took off in 2015 and are expected to triple by 2019. "What we're seeing now is just going to continue to grow and grow and grow," he said. "Texas is in a privileged position ... and Corpus Christi is in the middle of it as a supply center." In all, 75 vendors and energy firms from as far away as China, Ecuador and Colombia attended the two-day summit Twitter: @Caller_ChrisRam SHARE Rep. Blake Farenthold, Rep, U.S. Rep Dist 27 (incumbent) By Matt Woolbright of the Caller-Times U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, fresh off his stunning upset of incumbent Democratic Rep. Solomon Ortiz in 2010 had a lot to learn about Washington politics. He figured a new Congress could undo President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act right away. Farenthold and his fellow freshmen class of lawmakers, swept in on a conservative wave across the country, soon learned it wasn't that simple. It would take years of forming alliances to make lasting changes. "You as an individual are not as powerful as you think," Farenthold said. "What you've got to do is work with people, make friends and build coalitions to get things done. Congress is a team sport." Armed with that knowledge, Farenthold believes he began succeeding at the new top priority: play defense. He is seeking a fourth term and faces challenger Gregg Deeb in the primary Tuesday. "For the most part, we've been successful at stopping the president from passing any more bad laws," Farenthold said. "Now I'm hoping to get a Republican president in office so we can go on the offense and undo some of the bad laws that got passed before I got there." That would still start with the reason the Corpus Christi native ran for office to begin with repealing the Affordable Care Act. Once that's done, Farenthold is hoping Congress' attention shifts south and border security is addressed. The congressman wants to "change rules of engagement to allow the border patrol to do their job and actually deport people," he said. Three more priorities include bolstering the fight against the Islamic State in Syria, or ISIS, making changes to the tax code and revising the nation's welfare system, Farenthold explained. He also wants to continue his efforts to improve transportation infrastructure in District 27, including building on the momentum from Interstate Highway 69 signs being posted in Robstown and improvements to the Port of Corpus Christi. But aside from policy, Farenthold has another message he's been working to get out this campaign: that he's not just another face in Congress. It's that message he believes will prevent his seat from becoming a casualty of a national wave of voters angry with the federal government and insider politics. "Not everybody in Congress is an idiot," Farenthold said. "I've developed the ability to fight for what is right without making enemies, and that's a skill you need as a congressman. You can disagree with somebody without being disagreeable about it." Still, he's being cautious to not exaggerate what can be accomplished, like he said some radio personalities and "opponent's ads" have done. "It's frustrating as hell that no matter what we do it either doesn't get 60 votes in the Senate or the president vetoes it," Farenthold said. He's hoping that frustration will dissolve come November. The 27th District serves the Coastal Bend, including Bastrop, Caldwell, Gonzales, Lavaca, Wharton, Matagorda, Jackson, Victoria, Calhoun, Refugio, Aransas, San Patricio and Nueces counties. Members of Congress earn a salary of $174,000 annually. Twitter: @reportermatt Blake Farenthold Name: Blake Farenthold Age: 54 Occupation: Member of Congress Political experience: Current U.S. House of Representatives What is your plan to help stimulate job growth in your district? Farenthold: Right now, it's easier for someone who is not working to get affordable health benefits than it is for someone who has served and defended this country. We need to get rid of unnecessary regulations that are job killers, like the Affordable Care Act that I'm fighting to repeal. I will continue to fight to repeal the ACA, which has financially crippled the middle class, and will continue my support for small business owners. What can you do to restore voter confidence in Washington's ability to resolve the nation's challenges? Farenthold: Since taking office, the new Harbor Bridge has finally been approved and I-69 will now be expanded. Since I was elected, veteran homelessness has dropped by 33 percent. The House passed the Hire More Heroes Act, the Clay Hunt Act, Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act and more. But there's still much to be done and I will continue this fight in D.C. What distinguishes you from your opponent? Farenthold: I'm a seventh-generation Texan. I stand on my record, which includes national security and protecting the border, protecting life, fighting against the current administration's attempt to disarm law-abiding Americans through unconstitutional attacks on the Second Amendment, reining in federal overreach with oppressive and costly regulations, pushing real health care reform and working with the VA to bring more health care choices to local vets. What do you see as the three major issues you would tackle, if elected? Farenthold: Securing our borders and protecting American's from threats like ISIS members posing as refugees. Assisting with the deepening and widening of the Port's Channel, completing the extension of the La Quinta Channel and building the new Harbor Bridge. I'm also committed to the completion of Interstate 69 and building an additional rail line in Portland. I will continue to advocate for our Veterans and seek to protect CCAD from cuts to their budget. SHARE Following is a compilation of our previously disclosed endorsements in Tuesday's primary election. As always, these are recommendations with which voters can accept or reject. Our main hope is that they exercise their right to vote because it's of utmost importance to producing a truly representative government in this free society we cherish: President: Democrat: Hillary Clinton. The former secretary of state/senator/first lady wins on the power of both her resume and message. In a battle to be the most inclusive candidate, she wins because, in contrast to opponent Bernie Sanders, there still is a place at her table for those who have achieved wealth. Republican: John Kasich. We continue to hope that voters will recognize his superior record of governing as a congressman and governor. He has achieved the budget balance and austerity his preachy, inexperienced opponents only preach. All of his opponents would be easier for Democrats to assail and less likely to attract disaffected crossovers in a general election. Railroad Commissioner Democrat: Lon Burnham. The longtime former state representative is his party's best option. Republican: Lance Christian. The geologist and Railroad Commission employee is the best-informed and his resume would diversify the three-member board. Supreme Court Place 3: Republican: Debra Lehrmann (I). Intellectual, fair and better-experienced than her opponent. Place 5: Republican: Paul Green (I). Accomplished jurist and lawyer facing an opponent with little legal experience but unfortunately the same surname. Remember "Paul." Place 9: Republican: Eva Guzman (I). She deserves it on overwhelming merit compared to her opponent, not for diversity, though without her the court would be 100 percent non-Hispanic white. Court of Criminal Appeals: Place 2: Republican: Mary Lou Keel. The most experienced candidate in the realm of criminal law, including capital murder cases. Place 5: Republican: Sid Harle. His accomplishments already in his career as a district judge are worth a page in the Texas Almanac. Place 6: Republican: Michael E. Keasler (I). His opponent's primary focus seems to be his nearness to mandatory retirement age. Don't discriminate against his superior experience or underestimate his vitality. U.S. Rep., District 27: Democrat: Roy Barrera. Best option in a thin field. Republican: Gregg Deeb. Recommending against incumbent Blake Farenthold is a reflection on both candidates. Farenthold has disappointed us and Deeb, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel and combat veteran pilot, impressed us as capable, substantive and energetic. 13th Court of Appeals, Place 3 Democrat: Leticia Hinojosa. Not choosing hometown hero Carlos Valdez is tough until Hinojosa's more impressive legal experience is taken into account. 214th District Court Democrat: Jose Longoria (I). His opponent's resume is too light to compete with the longtime judge. District Attorney: Democrat: Mark Skurka (I). He needs to repair his and his office's reputation after complaints of not disclosing evidence to the defense. But his commitment to prosecuting criminals, more than his many years of experience, tips the balance against his opponent, a career defense lawyer who has shown no previous interest in prosecuting. Sheriff: Democrat: Jose Olivares. Don't be confused by his opponent Larry Olivarez's similar, more familiar name. Jose Olivares is a longtime police officer who worked in the county jail as a deputy. Larry Olivarez is a former sheriff whose jail management should disqualify him. County Commissioner Precinct 3: Democrat: John Martinez. Respected, liked former judge, currently managing partner of a local law firm with a national rep, brings too much more to the table than any of his five opponents. Longtime incumbent Oscar Ortiz's decision not to run triggered the rush. Again we beseech nonearly voters to vote Tuesday. The bigger the turnout, the more truly representative the government. "A shelter environment is not a home, and what we're trying to convey is it's one thing to sit in a kennel for an hour and realise how boring it gets quite quickly some of these animals have been with us for almost a year, sometimes longer." The well-known outdoorsman didn't take his camera on the five-day river trek, which was probably a good thing for "owing to blackberries on the banks" he was forced "to often wade in the river quite a bit". However, with gentle persuasion Higgins did manage to dig up a somewhat youthful photo of himself during a fishing trip to Wee Jasper, a year earlier in October 1982. "The landing net and billy are still in use," reveals Higgins who has spent several decades exploring the Brindabellas and surrounding river valleys. "The government's objective, and it's a good objective, is to try and create better vista and better safety for pedestrians and cyclists as they travel from one side of the park to the other," he said. He was working with the ACT government and the National Capital Authority and hoped for a solution soon. [Your Business Name] Contact Info Phone: Fax: Email: Web: CAPITOLHILLCUBANS.COM Business Overview Geographic Area Line of Business Brands We Carry Products and Services Discounts Offered Additional Information Business Hours Timezone We Accept Three college students who first met while attending a Catholic high school in Florida have launched a scholarship fund to help others experience faithful Catholic education at a Newman Guide college. As we went off to different colleges, we kept in touch and found time to catch up whenever we returned [] Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. Plans for the continuation of Holdens South Australian production line post-2018 faltered today, after talks between a Belgian entrepreneur and General Motors concluded. Punch International owner Guido Dumareys plan, dubbed Project Erich, was to spin new models off GMs Zeta architecture after Holden ended production at the end of 2017 and manufacture them at the Elizabeth plant. Punch Corporation owns a plant in Strasbourg, France, where it manufactures transmission units under license for ZF. This was also a former GM site, with Dumareys affection for Australian cars the catalyst for his bid. The Project Erich moniker is derived from Erich Bitter, a maker of modified Opels and Holdens over the past few decades. It relied on GM handing over the rights and tooling for Zeta to Dumarey, so he would take over from 2018. According to Wheels, there were insurmountable challenges that eventually killed off Holdens rescue attempt. The two parties are bound by a Non-Disclosure agreement; nevertheless, a GM spokesperson commented: General Motors and Punch Corporation have undertaken and completed a detailed global evaluation of a proposal from Punch Corporation to continue manufacturing vehicles at Holdens Elizabeth plant in South Australia. Both parties concluded that a viable business model was not possible for this case. Therefore the proposal will not be taken forward. Local government support was needed if such an ambitious move had any chance of succeeding. While Australian government ministers vocalized their support, they didnt offer any incentives. Although it was a long shot, things are now bleak for any prospects of an Australian manufacturing revival. Another Adelaide-based company, Ethan Motors is expected to reveal their proposal next month, hoping to gain enough private capital to get it off the ground. By Mitchell Jones Photo Gallery BITTER VERO SPORT United Kindoms current situation regarding the European Union referendum cannot be overlooked by the major car manufacturers with plants on British soil. One of them is Toyota and, though it dismissed fears over Britains possible withdrawal from Brussels, it wouldnt like a Brexit. In a statement released on 23 February, Toyota said it chose the UK for its first major manufacturing operations in Europe because of the open and free European market, the availability of a skilled workforce, and the presence of strong network of suppliers, continuing building cars in the English Midlands, offering reassurance to its employees. We have carefully considered the implications for our manufacturing operations, should the UK leave the European Union. We are committed to our people and investments, so we are concerned that leaving would create additional business challenges. As a result, we believe continued British membership of the EU is best for our operations and their long term competitiveness. Toyotas UK operations are doing great, as it manufactures vehicles, engines and parts, exports 90 percent of the production and supports thousands of jobs. On the other hand, if the country were to change its status, theyd not shut down of course, but certainly reevaluate the situation as far as costs are concerned. PHOTO GALLERY Fiats return to the compact hatchback segment was caught driving around in Turkey by a Carscoops reader just ahead of an expected world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show on Tuesday. I took this photo earlier today near Fiats factory in Bursa, Turkey, Alper told us. The five-door Tipo remains wrapped in camouflage, but we already know from previous sightings that it will retain the sedan models modern front end, as well as the interior, adding a tapered roofline and slanted tailgate, finished off with boomerang-style tail lamps. Boot space will be down from the Tipo saloons 520-liter capacity, but it will come with the added practicality of a rear tailgate and 60:40 split folding rear seats. European buyers will have the same powertrains choices as the sedan, meaning two Multijet II diesels and two gasoline units stretching from 95PS (94HP) to 120PS (118 HP), connected to 5-speed manual, a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmissions, depending on the engine. The Tipo Hatch and sedan will be joined by an Estate version, which may also be revealed in Geneva. Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA) officials have stated that they intend to position the Tipo family as a roomy, economical and most importantly, affordable entry in the C-segment. All Tipo models will be produced at Fiats Tofas joint venture plant in Turkey. Thanks to Alper for the scoop! Photo Gallery The brand new Alpina B7 will celebrate its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in xDrive all-wheel drive form, but in the UK, the super saloon will be offered exclusively with rear-wheel drive. Alpina said that new B7 will be available in the UK in very limited numbers, with prices currently estimated as starting around 115,000. The B7 is now in its third-generation and uses a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine delivering 600 hp between 5,750 and 6,250 rpm and 590 lb-ft of torque from a relatively low 3,000 rpm. All of this power and torque is transferred to the rear wheels thanks to an 8-speed automatic transmission developed alongside ZF. While the full-sized luxury sedan is far from lightweight, in rear wheel drive form, it can still accelerate to 100km/h (62mph) in a scarce 4.0 seconds, or 0.3 seconds slower than the xDrive version, with which it shares the same 311 km/h (193 mph) top speed. Other key performance-oriented modifications that separate the B7 from all other 7-Series models are new adaptive dampers, four-wheel steering, a pair of active anti-roll bars and beefed up front and rear brakes. From a design standpoint, Alpinas latest creation brings some aggression to the 7-Series but is far from over-bearing and stands out thanks to the new front and rear bumpers, multi-spoke wheels and flared side skirts. PHOTO GALLERY Volkswagens ordeal concerning the Dieselgate affair is far from over, as a federal judge gave the German car maker a deadline for announcing what it plans to do about it. According to Automotive News, District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco said he wants a definitive answer on the status until March 24: Six months is long enough to determine if this is fixable. This is an ongoing problem. No less than 600.000 vehicles have been installed with the emissions-cheating software. For violating US environmental laws, the German colossus was sued by the Justice Department for up to $46 billion, while being prohibited to sell new diesel models stateside. The new limit puts additional pressure on Volkswagen, especially after US regulators have already rejected the companys proposed solution to fix approximately 500,000 2.0-litre-equipped vehicles. Since then, the car maker submitted a plan for the 3.0-liter vehicles as well. The magazine goes on reporting that VW lawyer Robert Giuffra told Breyer at the hearing that the automaker is making progress in trying to reach a settlement with the Justice Department, the EPA and California Air Resources Board, stating that the company is committed to resolving these matters as quickly as possible. Its unknown, for now, what the automaker will come back with, but it has previously considered buybacks as part of the settlement a move that could cost it billions. On the other hand, after it was exposed, it knew it wouldnt get off with a slap on the wrist. PHOTO GALLERY Braxtons animation career picked up again shortly thereafter at Warner Bros. How he ended up at that studio is a story worth retelling. Braxton was taking singing classes with Lee Wintner at Los Angeles City College, where he met another student, Ben Washam, who was at the time an animator in Chuck Jones unit at Warner Bros. Braxton was thrilled to meet a professional animator and took the opportunity to show Washam his portfolio. The Arkansas-born Washam, who himself had to deal with the discrimination against Okies and hillbillies in Southern California, according to a relative, was deeply committed to labor causes and took it upon himself to ensure that Braxton would get hired at Warner Bros. Warner Bros. had never hired a black animator and there were no black animation artists working in the industry at the time, so Washam came up with a simple but brilliant ruse. As he later recounted to colleagues like Phil Roman, Washam went to the studio head Eddie Selzer and said, I hear Warner Bros. has a racist policy and refuses to hire Negros. Selzer was offended. What are you talking about! he retorted. Whoever said that is a damn liar! Good, said Washam. I found a young black animator whos looking for a job, and Im hiring him as my assistant. And just like that, animation changed forever, and Braxton became an assistant to Washam in Chuck Jones unit. We dont have a record of which shorts Braxton worked on, but based on the period that he was the studio, starting most likely around 1954, we can safely guess that Braxton contributed to such Warner Bros. classics as From A to Z-Z-Z-Z, One Froggy Evening, and Broom-Stick Bunny. Braxton and Washam are pictured in the photo at the top of this piece. Braxton left Warner Bros. as a journeyman animator, and found success throughout the industry, working at MGM on theatrical Tom & Jerry shorts, Jay Ward Productions on The Bullwinkle Show and George of the Jungle, Format Films on The Alvin Show, John Hubleys Storyboard Productions on the short Urbanissimo, and Bill Melendez Productions on the Peanuts specials. When Braxton became president of the Screen Cartoonists Guild in 1960, he made more film history, becoming one of the first if not first black person to be elected president of any film union in Hollywood. Braxtons mentor Washam, who had been a two-term union president himself, no doubt encouraged Braxton to become involved in the union. In a written tribute, Floyd Norman recalled the immense pressure that Braxton felt, both internally and externally: Frank could be merry and fun to be around, but he was also compelled to succeed. It was inevitable in such a complicated art form, combining acting and good drawing that Frank would occasionally fall on his face. When that happened, and it wasnt often, he would be plunged into despair. He couldnt tolerate failure. It was then [that director Bill] Hurtz became aware of the pressures that Frank, as the first black in the animation business was under. When he told Frank that his work was good, it wasnt enough. [Frank] wanted it to be the best. As a result, Frank would work and rework a scene of animation to achieve perfection. This drive for excellence meant he could not turn out as much work as his associates because he wouldnt turn in a scene until it was right. He was, understandably, extremely sensitive to criticism. After all, he had a lot at stake. He would caution us about our cheery optimism, and made us aware of the sharks that inhabited the tanks of the Hollywood studios. He was also impatient with the lack of progress besetting people of color in the business. There were no black directors, producers or department heads. Frank was not a bitter man, but it was clear he was growing impatient. I think this impatience with American animation led him to try his hand working abroad. Frank had the opportunity to animate in a cartoon studio in Spain. The company was [Estudios Moro] in Barcelona. After a year or so, Frank returned to the States. The European experience had made a difference. For the first time in his life he felt free, and enjoyed the absence of prejudice. Now Frank was energized. Braxtons story ended tragically. He was in the prime of his career when he died from cancer in 1969, at the age of 40. But he made a lasting impact on the art form, and his career opened doors for countless others. By the mid-1960s, the first black-owned animation studio, Vignette Films, had opened in Hollywood, started by Floyd Norman, Leo Sullivan, Richard Allen, and Norm Edelen. Ron Husband was hired at Disney in 1975, and would go on to become the first black supervising animator on a Disney animated feature. Braxton would scarcely recognize the animation studios of today, especially the larger ones, which can look like the United Nations, with artists from all over the world working together toward a common creative goal. The industry is far from perfect inclusivity in all aspects of the creative process remains a problem, both for black artists and others. But much progress has been made since Braxtons era. As the industry grows every year, its nice to take a step back and celebrate Frank Braxton as one of our art forms pioneering figures. We should also celebrate Ben Washam, who had the insight nearly 65 years ago that animation is a richer art form when more voices are included in the process. Two years ago Jess Rothenburger and Warren FitzGerald went to live and work with a community of Nicaraguans who reside in a garbage dump, which is next to a sewage plant and across from a cemetery. The two men would survive just like everyone else in El Limonal, by scavenging from the garbage dump. Locals dig through mountains of burning rubbish in search of glass, plastic, metal and paper to sell -- which earns them less than dollar a day. Rothenburger and FitzGerald documented their experience in an attempt to help the community, by knowing first hand what the people in El Limonal need. The result is a film, entitled Gringos in the Garbage, created to raise money and awareness for those living in El Limonal. Rothenburger, who now resides in Kamloops, is hoping to make good on his promise to the people in the community. He is returning to Nicaragua alongside two non-profit workers with funds raised to help those in need in the community. Teresa Cline of Global Solidarity Group says the Nicaraguan government recently decided to start a new housing program where, for US$300, they will build a $7000 home on land. We have sponsored over 25 families, several of them have already had houses built, she says. We dont do any of the building, that is the government, what we do is we match the families with sponsors. The housing situation in El Limonal is bleak. For the last two decades the community has been living at the dump with no option to move elsewhere. Following Hurricane Mitch in 1998, thousands of people were supposed to be temporarily located on the margins of the city of Chinandega, in what is locally known as the circle of death' or now, home. There are a lot of single mothers who live there with five kids, so we need to find out who needs the homes the most and then we help them buy a ticket from the government. Then the government will send workers down to build the homes, Cline says. Through Global Solidarity Group, money is being raised to help families. It costs $500 in Canadian funds to build a home through the non-profit and leftover funds will go to the El Limonal community fund for emergency supplies. Cline and Rothenburger leave for Nicaragua on March 5. The two will conduct a census in El Limonal to find those most in need of a home. They'll arrive with the funds they've raised and money from students in School District 73 who have been collecting donations to purchase food hampers. The price of food has gone up, and these people who make a buck a day barely have enough to eat, they are starving. It costs $10 to feed a family of five for a week, Cline says, adding the students have raised almost $3000 so far. Production on the film Gringos in the Garbage wrapped up last year and Rothenburger set up a premier viewing for the El Limonal community in November. The official Canadian premier takes place in Kamloops at the TRU Clock Tower on Wed. March. 23 at 7 p.m. Photo: Facebook - RareBirds Housing Co-operative, Kamloops, BC The RareBirds family during Christmas time. While some may shudder at the idea of having roommates once into adulthood, for several Kamloops residents, sharing a home has worked out great. The idea for the RareBirds Housing Co-operative, a shared house for seven adults, arose in 2011, after Mary Jordan and a friend watched a documentary called How to Boil a Frog. It was looking at how we get used to living certain ways even though its not a healthy way of living, Jordan said. One of the things that came up was the use of co-op housing. Several of Jordans friends got together and by February 2015, they had built a 6,000 sq. ft. home near downtown Kamloops. Its a lovely piece of property, said Jordan. Were on about a half-acre property very close to downtown. We can walk downtown from our home in about 20 minutes. Theres a creek that runs below us. Everyone shares a kitchen and multipurpose room, but has their own private bedroom and living area, as well as their own bathroom. But this co-op house isnt quite the same set up as Animal House. All of the members of the house are between the ages of 50 and 73 years old. We all have some life experience, Jordan said. We all have an investment, not only in our home but in making this work, so were all mindful of that. And while living in close quarters hasnt been all smooth sailing, Jordan says the positives have outweighed the negatives. Im not going to say it hasnt been without its challenges, it certainly has, but it is about relationships and managing relationships, said Jordan. Having the support is another thing weve all felt over the years weve been together... one of our members lost his brother, and a father passed, and kids divorced and so people have felt really supported. Jordan says reducing their ecological footprint was a factor in deciding to go the co-op route. Everybody has their own washer and dryer and fridge and stove and yada, yada, yada, and we thought, what a wasteful way to live', she said. Plus its more fun to live in a community or at least with other people. One of the original members of the co-op has recently flown the coop, according to Jordan, and theyre looking for someone new to take the spot. The co-op doesnt rent out rooms though. Anyone interested in the co-op will have to pony up $225,000 for an equitable share in the house and property. For Jordan and her housemates, its definitely been worth it. Were a large family of adults. Photo: The Canadian Press The program director of a Kelowna drug treatment centre is praising Interior Health for exploring the feasibility of opening a safe-injection site in the Okanagan. While IH says it has no immediate plans to open a location where intravenous drug users can inject drugs in a safer environment, it is in the early stages of looking into the option. We believe they are a valuable harm-reduction tool to help reduce the risk for those living with substance abuse problems, said Dr. Trevor Corneil, IH chief medical health officer, in a statement. Safe consumption sites also provide another entry point where people using substances can get connected to treatment services." Doug Mackenzie, program director at Options Okanagan Treatment Centre, said with the recent spike in deaths from fentanyl-laced drugs, a safe-injection site would be a step in the right direction. Every day, were hearing about the problems ... We need to start telling people theres also solutions," said Mackenzie. "We get it its an epidemic right across Canada." He said he personally knows of three fentanyl-related deaths in the last month. The model for safe-injection sites is Insite, which opened in Vancouvers Downtown Eastside in 2002. The centre has dealt with its share of controversy, but was granted a legal exemption by the Supreme Court in 2011 to continue to operate. The exemption ensures employees and drug users will not be charged for the illegal drug use that occurs on the premises. The court decision found Insite saved lives without increasing drug use or crime in local neighbourhoods. You always get the 'not in my backyard syndrome,' said Mackenzie. The truth is, those people are injecting out on our streets. So, lets say in the summer we drive down by the Gospel Mission, theres a good chance we may see someone injecting out there. Last June, the federal Conservative government passed the Respect for Communities Act, which forced injection sites to follow a number of new requirements. Vancouver Coastal Health, which runs Insite, said at the time the legislation makes it nearly impossible to open new safe-injection sites. Recently, Health Canada, under the new Liberal government, approved a second Vancouver safe-injection site. People are going to do it in our city, regardless, Mackenzie said. If its happening ... wouldnt you feel better knowing there were people there to address the issue and monitor it a lot better? Photo: Contributed - Wikipedia A group of doctors, health professionals, scientists and professors is calling on the City of Kamloops to take air particulate matter seriously, after data from last year showed high levels throughout the city. The Kamloops Physicians for a Healthy Environment Society released a report Wednesday, showing an average concentration of fine particulate matter of 8.5 micrograms per cubic metre. This is just slightly less than the long-term average for the area, which is 8.7 micrograms per cubic metre. Fine particulate matter of concern is less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter. According to the American Environmental Protection Agency, this fine particulate matter is believed to pose the greatest health risks to humans, as it can become deeply lodged in lungs. The report also shows that in 14 of the last 18 years that data has been collected, levels have been over the BC Air Quality Objective, which is 8 micrograms per cubic metre. According to the report, Kamloops air falls under the guidelines for other pollutants, like nitrogen oxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone. The major problem with Kamloops air quality remains the airborne fine particulate concentrations, the report states. Compared with nearby areas, Kamloops' average fine particulate matter fell below that of Kelowna and Vernon, which had averages of 8.8 and 9.3 micrograms per cubic metre respectively. The report says taking just the average is misleading though, as large spikes due to forest fires can skew the average higher in some cities than they otherwise would be. The maximum 24-hour value for Kelowna in 2015 was a whopping 294.5 micrograms per cubic metre. A comparison of the median values is more telling, states the report, which shows Kamloops higher than Kelowna, and even with Vernon. Politicians, administrators and medical staff gathered at Vernon Jubilee Hospital Friday to celebrate the completion of the Polson Tower for patient care. The top two floors on the seven-storey structure opened Jan. 31st. It's been quite a journey, Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster said to the crowd gathered in the lobby of the tower. Since this project began nearly eight years ago, weve been eagerly awaiting this day. Construction of the Polson Tower began in November 2008 with the first five floors of the seven storey tower opening to patients in September 2011. The floors included expanded space for several departments, including the emergency department, which was more than four times larger and a dedicated surgical floor double the size of the surgical space at the time. The sixth and seventh floors of the tower were initially left as shelled-in space to accommodate future growth. But they would not have even been built had it not been for a major effort by local politicians, especially an effort by the board of the North Okanagan Columbia Shuswap Regional Hospital District. It fronted the money to build the final floors. We pushed the issue, said director Rhona Martin. It took a lot of conversation with our board and with Interior Health at the time and the province to make sure we could come up with an arrangement. Once the tower opened it was obvious the two empty floors at the top were needed. The hospital still suffered from constant overcrowding, with reports of patients stuck in hallways and no beds left available in hospital rooms. A purple ribbon campaign was started by medical staff and found a groundswell of support among the community. It became evident right off the start that we were going to need those two floors sooner than anticipated, said Foster. So the lobbying started in the community, it certainly started among the medical staff here at the hospital and I did my end of it in Victoria, lobbying my colleagues til they were sick of hearing from me. Construction to complete the top two floors began in June 2014 with the floors opening to patients last month. Patients are no longer sleeping in the hallways, according to administrator Richard Harding. One of the great things is that the new tower has given us that flexibility, with the additional floor space we've got, to be able to accommodate patients in rooms as opposed to hallways. However Harding conceded capacity remains an issue and staff work on a daily basis to try to transition patients out of the hospital. When I first moved to Vernon in 2001 it was a very small, cramped hospital and over the past 15 years that I've been here, thanks to the advocacy of the community,...there's been tremendous growth and upgrading here at the hospital, said Dr. Mike Concannon. He agreed the purple ribbon campaign was a factor in getting the final two floors opened but Concannon called it a community effort. It was people of all political stripes, different ages, elderly, sick people. The funding required to complete the top two floors was nearly $30 million, bringing the total completion cost of the Polson Tower to nearly $210 million, a shared cost between the province, the North Okanagan Columbia Shuswap Regional Hospital District and the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation. Photo: Contributed Salomon Rayek with Eric Trump. If Donald Trump makes it all the way to the White House, he'll have at least one staunch Canadian supporter. Salomon Rayek is a Kelowna resident who sits firmly in the corner of the real estate mogul and reality TV star. So much so, he made sure his Vegas vacation coincided with Trump's rally during the lead up to the Nevada Republican caucus. "The world needs a strong leader in the White House," said Rayek. "The world is upside down. What Obama has done is the worst that could happen to every single western country. "We need a strong America. I think (Trump) will be good for the allies of the Western World." Rayek attended the Vegas rally decked out in a "Canada for Trump" T-shirt. He said the reaction he got was incredible, including from a close member of the Trump family. "I was called from the back, oh, 'Canada for Trump.' I turned around, and it was Eric Trump. "I didn't approach him, he approached me." I know a lot of people in Kelowna who are for Trump, said Rayek. And, a lot of people in Canada that are for Trump. "And, I met them ... everybody was taking pictures of my T-shirt." Thompson Rivers University unveiled a new brand this week Find Your TRU. The new brand identity and tagline "evokes the values of authenticity, integrity and truth associated with the word true and is something TRU can claim and represent as no other can, because of its initials," the university said in a press release. More than 1,000 individual responses and 6,000 comments were gathered during a year of consultation on the branding. Our brand advances TRUs strategies and priorities and will solidify our strong and distinct reputation, said Alan Shaver, TRU president and vice-chancellor. It will reinforce the unique value of the TRU educational experience for current and future students, alumni, faculty, staff, donors and community and government stakeholders. It will infuse everything we do. Lucille Gnanasihamany, associate vice-president, TRU marketing and communications, said: We dont own our brand; our brand belongs to those we serve, who form their own perceptions about who TRU is." Defining characteristics in the new marketing campaign include: Purpose: we believe everyone has the right to seek their potential Promise: we offer diverse pathways to living your potential Essence: we instil collective confidence Attributes: we are purposeful, empowering, collaborative, open and visionary During the launch, five TRU Potential Awards were announced. The entrance awards are open to anyone who plans to study at TRU. Five new students will each will receive $4,000 to help them find their TRU potential. Photo: Contributed - RCMP UPDATE: FEB. 29 Kamloops RCMP report that Samantha Antoine has been found safe and sound. ORIGINAL: FEB. 26 Kamloops RCMP are asking for the publics assistance in location a missing woman. Samantha Antoine, was reported missing Feb. 20. Antoine is described as: Caucasian female 36 years old 57 tall 160 lbs Short brown hair (photo is picture of Antonie with long hair) Blue eyes She was last seen in Kamloops, but may have travelled elsewhere. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Antoine is urged to contact Kamloops RCMP or call Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous. If you have just started your journey in an online casino or are looking for a new site to play,... remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions Those who collect this sort of data and try to make use of it would rather we didn't think of how much they know and what they can do with it. Hilary Rosenberg, project coordinator for Dairy Management, is photographed Feb. 25, 2016, at her office in Rosemont. Rosenberg was out of the workforce for years raising her children but took an unpaid internship for 10 months to relaunch her career. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) The dreaded resume gap. After a career break be it to raise a child, care for an elderly parent or jet around the world those years without relevant work experience can stretch like a moat outside the hiring manager's door. The good news, especially for women, who make up the majority of career breakers, is that many companies have gaps of their own. Advertisement As they grapple with talent shortages and gender imbalances, some are accommodating applicants' resume gaps with "returnships" usually paid internships for returning professionals to get them up to speed and back in the swing of the working world, with the opportunity to get hired at the end. A new initiative in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) field drew seven major companies to commit to launching pilot re-entry programs this year. Advertisement IBM, GM and Booz Allen Hamilton have announced their inaugural programs, and Intel, Johnson Controls, Cummins and Peoria-based Caterpillar are expected to roll theirs out within the next couple of months. "This is really a win-win," said Silvia Karlsson, vehicle systems engineer at GM, whose 12-week Take 2 re-entry program begins in April. "You get to try us out, and we get to try you out and see how we both fit, in a bit of a less scary situation." There's high demand. GM received over 300 applications for 10 slots, Karlsson said. The company hopes to hire all 10 of its interns, whose career breaks ranged from four to 21 years, into permanent positions, she said. Returnships have gained steam in other industries as a way to help career breakers get a foot back in the door at a time when companies competing for high-skill talent place a greater emphasis on employees' family priorities. Goldman Sachs was a pioneer when it launched its (trademarked) Returnship program for men and women in 2008, and other financial services firms from Morgan Stanley to Credit Suisse debuted their own a couple of years ago. More than half of the participants who have completed Credit Suisse's 11-week Real Returns program secured a permanent job at the company, said Belinda Jettar, co-manager of the program. The paid internship includes a week of training boot camp to refresh technical and soft skills, an ongoing speaker series and networking across divisions to encourage exploration of professional options. In Chicago, Sara Lee launched a re-entry program in 2008 under then-CEO Brenda Barnes, based in part on her own experience leaving her chief executive post at PepsiCo to spend time with her family. The now-defunct Sara Lee program was useful to Sue Brose. Advertisement Brose had been working nearly 30 years when she took a career break after having her second child. When she tried to return to work full time four years later, the conversations were disappointing. Employers fretted that she'd be slow, behind the times, irrelevant, Brose said. She recalls one recruiter asking her: "Well, do you think you still got it?" Brose, who had last been regional sales manager at Minute Maid, knew she did but needed to convince those whose opinions mattered most. Accepted into Sara Lee's internship program in 2009, Brose was placed in the food service division, where for six months she worked part time at a somewhat discounted pay rate while also participating in leadership training and career analysis sessions. She was hired at the end as a customer marketing manager. "I think it helped me step up my game and prepare me for the next steps," said Brose, 55, now national sales and business development manager at Morton Salt. She said she has surpassed where she was when she stepped out. Roughly 2.6 million educated mothers of prime working age are not in the labor force, said Carol Fishman Cohen, CEO of iRelaunch, which provides tools and resources for career relaunchers and hosts an annual Return to Work conference. Advertisement Though Cohen said she is seeing an increasing number of men who have taken breaks for child care interested in her re-entry services, and both genders coming back after taking care of elderly parents, the bulk of career relaunchers are still women who stepped out to raise their kids. Cohen teamed up with the Society of Women Engineers to create the STEM Re-Entry Task Force that recruited the seven companies to launch pilot programs. The hope is for STEM interns who land jobs to present at SWE's October conference in Philadelphia to help recruit relaunchers for the next class. "This is a project I've been most excited about because it's groundbreaking and reflects our core values" of building a diverse talent base, and "addresses a long-standing challenge in a new way," Booz Allen Senior Vice President Natalie Givans said. Interns accepted to Booz Allen's nine-week program, which starts in June, will work in management consulting, systems engineering, software development/engineering and electrical engineering. Karen Horting, executive director and CEO of the Society of Women Engineers, said the organization "jumped at" the chance to get involved in the initiative. Women represent just 12 percent of the engineering workforce. More than a quarter of women with engineering degrees have left the field, often to spend more time with family, according to SWE. "You need to have programs that bring women back, and you have to have a workplace culture that includes them," said Horting, who expects 100 interns to be hired for the inaugural STEM returnships. Research from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee found women with engineering degrees cited workplace climate or culture in the male-dominated field, including a lack of flexible work arrangements, as a common reason for leaving or not starting an engineering career. The notion that a professional with years of experience would have to work at docked pay and repay her dues through an internship can feel frustrating. But Cohen said returnships are resume-worthy experiences that enhance a candidate while making the hire less risky for employers. Advertisement "I think it's just the reality of it," Horting agreed. "The workplace changes pretty quickly." Kate Bensen, CEO of The Chicago Network, a leadership club for high-ranking Chicago women, called returnships "a great concept." "It's not appropriate to think that you're going to walk in at the same level as when you left," said Bensen, who is not involved in the initiative. "I do think you have to reprove yourself, but not necessarily for a long time." Bensen was a partner at law firm Schiff Harden when she took a career break in 2003. She said she couldn't have stepped back in as a partner after her 3 1/2-year break, but she knew she wanted a career change anyway. Hoping to transition to nonprofits, Bensen served as volunteer chair of the Women's Board at the University of Chicago during her time off to build skills she didn't have. She said the experience helped prepare her for the job she has now. Bensen said she encourages career breakers to find some kind of part-time arrangement that keeps them on their industry's radar. If that's not possible, they should make sure to network, do something valuable as a volunteer or somehow keep their skills current, she said. Advertisement "I'm not sure that women are necessarily thinking through the consequences of stepping off and opting out," Bensen said. "The doors are just not opening (when they try to return), and that can be a really humbling experience." Cohen calls the career break "a gift" because it offers time to step back and reflect whether you've been on the right path. She encourages career relaunchers to do a career assessment, consult with their alumni career services, take courses to brush up on basic office software and build up old and new contacts to chat about industry changes and career decisions. She has plans in the works to expand the returnships to more industries. Until then, she said, people can informally create their own. Hilary Rosenberg, 44, did just that. When Rosenberg left her job as an assistant business manager at Unilever after she had her first child in 2001, she didn't know she would have three kids and that it would be eight years before she would start looking for work again. She said she networked for a year but felt people didn't take her seriously. Headhunters who had once sought her out wouldn't return her phone calls. Her time spent volunteering at her kids' schools was received as "fluff." Advertisement "What I heard over and over again was that I didn't have any relevant experience," she said. "Nobody cared what I did 12, 14 years ago, even if it was interesting." Through a friend of a friend, Rosenberg met the owner of a public relations firm and arranged to work unpaid two days a week, one at home and one at the office, managing social media accounts for clients. She did that for 10 months "eating humble pie every single week" before she started looking for a full-time job again, armed with expertise in the hottest marketing trend. Rosenberg noticed that hiring managers paid attention to her self-driven internship as a sign that she was serious. It took time, but in 2014 she got a job as a project coordinator at Dairy Management, which promotes dairy products, in Rosemont. Though she estimates she is two levels from where she was before she stepped off, Rosenberg is grateful for the job and the opportunity. Her time away did show a bit at first. During her first week at work, she said, she went into a meeting without her mobile phone, worried it would be perceived as rude. Advertisement Ah, the old days. aelejalderuiz@tribpub.com Twitter @alexiaer Ibrahim Parlak, left, and Jeff Tweedy hug on stage Feb. 26, 2016, at the Acorn Theater in Three Rivers, Mich., before Tweedy began his benefit concert. Tweedy, lead singer of the band Wilco, played the concert for Parlak, a restaurant owner in southwest Michigan who faces possible deportation to Turkey. (Mark Davis / Pioneer Press) It was hard to tell who got louder applause: Ibrahim Parlak, a Kurd fighting deportation, or Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy. Not that the two usually share a stage. But on Friday night, Tweedy played a solo benefit concert for Parlak to a crowd of 280 at the Acorn Theater in Three Oaks, Mich. He packed the house and generated an estimated $14,000 in ticket sales that will help pay legal fees in an immigration case that has gone on for more than a decade. Advertisement "We are one," Parlak said from the stage with his daughter, Livia Gazzolo, and her mother, Michele Gazzolo, standing beside him. "No one can separate us. It's our night. It's our day. Let's have our day." The crowd, some wearing shirts with Parlak's name, cheered. Advertisement Wearing a white cowboy hat, Tweedy came out strumming. During his 75-minute acoustic set, he played songs that spanned his career, from "Misunderstood" off the 1996 album "Being There," to "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart," a song on the 2002 album "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" and "Dawned on Me" from 2011's "The Whole Love." "This is the closest I've ever played to a bed I own," said Tweedy, who owns a home in Harbert, Mich. Tweedy kept the mood light, making jokes with the audience. While the concert may have been lighthearted, many in the audience are seriously concerned for Parlak, who could be forced from the country after his deferral of deportation expires. At this point, even Parlak is sick of hearing his own story. The past few fearful months have worn on him, he said. In 2004, the Department of Homeland Security charged Parlak with lying on his green card application about time he spent in a Turkish prison and his ties to a terrorist organization. He has fought to clear his name since. On Christmas Eve, Parlak's deferral of deportation was set to expire. He said he feared that he would be forced to leave the country in a matter of days and that he would be arrested, tortured and possibly killed upon his arrival to Turkey. But on Dec. 21, his attorney, Robert Carpenter, filed a motion to the Board of Immigration Appeals to reopen his case. In response, Homeland Security granted Parlak a 90-day stay of deportation but later requested that the board deny the motion, despite congressional support for Parlak. The deferral is set to expire in March. Reps. Fred Upton., R-Mich., and Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., and Michigan U.S. Sens. Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow, both Democrats, all sent letters asking Jeh Johnson, Homeland Security secretary, not to oppose the motion. Upton and Parlak also signed a joint statement urging Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security, to advance a bill to the House requesting a report on Parlak's immigration status that would keep him in the country for the duration of this Congress. Advertisement U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in Detroit said the department cannot comment on active litigation but that the case is under agency review and that Parlak's removal from the country is not imminent. Parlak is seeking relief under the U.N. Convention Against Torture, or CAT, which prevents the deportation of a person to a country where they are likely to be tortured. But to reopen his case, Parlak must prove that conditions in Turkey have changed since he was ordered to be removed from the country 11 years ago and that a second round of litigation would end differently. Homeland Security said he has not provided proof. The department pointed out in a February filing that Parlak had not previously proved he would likely be tortured if he returned to Turkey. A review of Parlak's asylum application materials found that he omitted key facts of his story, including that he was tried, arrested and convicted in the Turkish courts for his involvement in a 1987 skirmish between Turkish soldiers and the PKK at the Syrian border, the department said. Two Turkish soldiers were killed in the dispute. The department also attacked Parlak's inconsistency in court. Parlak said he ran when the shooting started. Parlak spent 16 months in prison for his involvement, but was later found not guilty and released. He was later convicted of separatism. But the court that convicted him, the Turkish State Security Court, a military court that relied on torture-induced evidence, was later disbanded by the Turkish government, Carpenter said. An immigration attorney handling Parlak's case checked the "no" box next to a question about whether he had served prison time because he had been a political prisoner of the military, Carpenter said. Advertisement Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Before the concert, Parlak's friends and family gathered at his restaurant, Cafe Gulistan in Harbert, for a celebratory dinner. People cycled through the brick building, and Parlak embraced them as they entered. Father and son Bill and Sam Burk sat at a merchandise table, selling bright yellow "Friends4Ibrahim" shirts. "Ibrahim is the bravest man I know," said Nick Gazzolo, uncle to Parlak's daughter. Joel Klass, who maintains the freeibrahim.com website, said joining the fight for Parlak was one of the best decisions he ever made. He sees him like a brother now, he said. "It's been good in so many ways, but what would be better is to have it all in the rearview so our friendship could grow in a more natural light," he said. mmccall@tribpub.com Advertisement Twitter @MatthewMcCall_ A 22-year-old man was ordered held without bail after being charged with fatally shooting a 62-year-old disabled Vietnam War veteran who had called police to complain about a loud party at a neighbor's Near West Side apartment, prosecutors said Friday. Kevin Mason, of the 1300 block of South Blue Island Avenue, was arrested after he was identified as the man who fatally shot Robert Howard Jr. about 6 p.m. Jan. 26 in the 1000 block of West Maxwell Street in the University Village neighborhood, according to officials. Advertisement Mason was ordered held without bond Friday by Criminal Court Judge Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. Mason was attending a party in an apartment next to Howard's but when the party became loud and people began smoking and drinking in the hallway outside Howard's apartment, Howard called police, prosecutors said. Advertisement After police arrived, they broke up the party and Mason and several others left the building but returned a few minutes later, according to prosecutors. After police left, Howard and the neighbor, Charneise Silas, 45, who was hosting the party got into an argument in the hallway. The two began fighting when the neighbor punched Howard in the face and then the two began to scuffle in the hallway, prosecutors said. By that point, Mason and two others were buzzed back into the building and attempted to make their way to the third floor where Howard lived and where the party had previously been held. After Howard fell during the scuffle, the neighbor backed up to a stairwell door, opened it and let Mason and the others back onto the floor. Mason began to beat Howard with the butt of a handgun and then shot Howard, who was unarmed, once in the abdomen, prosecutors said. After he fell to the floor, Mason shot him two more times, striking him in the back of the head, according to prosecutors. After the shooting, Mason was captured on video leaving the building and minutes later told someone that he shot Howard in the stomach and "had to finish him off." Prosecutors said three people saw Mason hit Howard with the gun and two saw him fatally shoot Howard. Police returned to the scene after the shooting and recovered a gun after being told that a gun had been spotted in the laundry room of a building in the same apartment complex. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > The 9 mm semi-automatic pistol was found with two live rounds. Police said the bullet casings recovered from the hallway were fired from the gun found in the hallway. Advertisement Mason was arrested early Friday. Police discovered Howard inside his apartment with a gunshot wound to the head, police said. Howard died of multiple gunshot wounds after he was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He was pronounced dead at 6:48 p.m., police said at the time. Several days after the fatal shooting, police charged Silas, Howard's neighbor, with aggravated battery in the slaying. Silas appeared for a bond hearing Jan. 29 before Cook County Judge Laura Marie Sullivan and was ordered held in lieu of $250,000 bail. At a press conference, police said a warrant had been issued for Mason who was arrested in St. Cloud, Minn. and brought back to Chicago where he was charged with first-degree murder. According to Eugene Roy, Chief of Detectives for the Chicago Police Department, Howard was a disabled Vietnam War veteran who had served three years in the war. "Mr. Howard was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Suffered serious injuries there that led to him being disabled," said Roy. Howard began working with a program, Safe Humane Chicago, to combat post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans at the Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Hospital on the near west side. "He went through a seven-week course. And really took to the program and actually became one of the leaders, and at the time of his death he was actually involved with other veterans," said Roy. "He was going to the VA Hospital...every day facilitating courses with other veterans and using the service dogs to help them get over their PTSD." Roy said the Howard's service dog was returned to the group but is up for adoption. Mason's criminal background includes two felony gun convictions. In 2011, Cook County Judge Neera Lall Walsh sentenced Mason to boot camp and he received credit for serving 44 days in the Cook County Jail, records show. In 2013, he was sentenced to 3 years in state prison on a separate gun conviction. He had also received credit for serving 98 days in the Cook County Jail, according to the records, but Roy said Mason served less than two years of that 3-year-sentence. "There are no consequences," Roy told reporters Friday morning at police headquarters. "There are no repercussions when convicted felons are caught with handguns. They end up doing less than half of that term, they take that as a clear signal that there are no repercussions." "We are using every tool, every strategy we can to hold gun offenders accountable," Roy added. "There's got to be a stick to go with the carrot." When Justice Antonin Scalia died at a West Texas ranch, he was among high-ranking members of an exclusive fraternity for hunters called the International Order of St. Hubertus, an Austrian society that dates to the 1600s. After Scalia's death Feb. 13, the names of the 35 other guests at the remote resort, along with details about Scalia's connection to the hunters, have remained largely unknown. A review of public records shows that some of the men who were with Scalia at the ranch are connected through the International Order of St. Hubertus, whose members gathered at least once before at the same ranch for a celebratory weekend. Advertisement Members of the worldwide, male-only society wear dark green robes emblazoned with a large cross and the motto "Deum Diligite Animalia Diligentes," which means "Honoring God by honoring his creatures," according to the group's website. Some hold titles, such as grand master, prior and knight grand officer. The order's name is in honor of Hubert, the patron saint of hunters and fishermen. Cibolo Creek Ranch owner John Poindexter and C. Allen Foster, a prominent Washington attorney who traveled to the ranch with Scalia by private plane, hold leadership positions within the order. It is unclear what, if any, official association Scalia had with the group. Advertisement "There is nothing I can add to your observation that among my many guests at Cibolo Creek Ranch over the years some members of the International Order of St. Hubertus have been numbered," wrote Poindexter in an email. "I am aware of no connection between that organization and Justice Scalia." A lawyer for the Scalia family did not respond to requests for comment for this story. Two other private planes that landed at the ranch for the weekend are linked to two men who have held leadership positions with the Texas chapter of the order, according to a review of state business filings and flight records from the airport. After Scalia's death, Poindexter told reporters that he met Scalia at a "sports group" gathering in Washington. The U.S. chapter of the International Order of St. Hubertus lists a District of Columbia suite on M Street NW as its headquarters, although the address is only a mailbox in a UPS store. The International Order of St. Hubertus, according to its website, is a "true knightly order in the historical tradition." In 1695, Count Franz Anton von Sporck founded the society in Bohemia, which is in modern-day Czech Republic. The group's grand master is "His Imperial Highness Istvan von Habsburg-Lothringen, Archduke of Austria," according to the order's website. The next gathering for "Ordensbrothers" and guests is an "investiture" in Charleston, S.C., on March 10. The society's U.S. chapter launched in 1966 at the famous Bohemian Club in San Francisco, which is associated with the all-male Bohemian Grove one of the most notorious secret societies in the country. In 2010, Poindexter hosted a group of 53 members of the Houston chapter of the International Order of St. Hubertus at the Cibolo Creek Ranch, according to a Houston society publication. A number of members from Mexico were also part of the ranch festivities that included "three days of organized shoots and 'gala' lunches and dinners." Advertisement Poindexter told CultureMap Houston that some of the guests dressed in "traditional European shooting attire for the boxed bird shoot competition" and for the shooting of pheasants and chukar, a type of partridge. For the hunting weekend earlier this month, Poindexter told The Washington Post that Scalia traveled to Houston with his friend and U.S. marshals, who provide security for Supreme Court justices. The Post obtained a Presidio County sheriff's report that named Allen Foster as Scalia's close friend on the trip. Sheriff Danny Dominguez confirmed that a photograph of Washington attorney C. Allen Foster is the same man he interviewed at the ranch the day of Scalia's death. From Houston, Scalia and Foster chartered a plane without the marshals to the Cibolo Creek Ranch airstrip. In a statement after Scalia died, the U.S. Marshals Service said Scalia had declined a security detail while at the ranch. The friend, Louisiana-born Foster, is an attorney with the Washington firm Whiteford, Taylor & Preston. He is also known for his passion for hunting and is a former spokesman for the hunting group, Safari Club. In 2006, Foster was featured in the Post when he celebrated his 65th birthday with a six-day celebration in the Czech Republic. He flew his family and 40 Washington friends there to stay in Moravia's Castle Zidlochovice, a baroque castle and hunting park. The birthday bash included "tours of the Czech countryside, wine tasting, wild boar and mouflon (wild sheep) hunts, classic dance instruction and a masked costume ball." Advertisement A secretary at Foster's law firm said he is traveling in Argentina. The firm's director of marketing, Mindee L. Mosher, said Foster was traveling and she would try to contact him. A woman answering a phone associated with Foster hung up when asked for comment. Planes owned by Wallace "Happy" Rogers III and the company of A.J. Lewis III left from San Antonio and arrived at the ranch just after noon Feb. 12. The planes departed the ranch about 30 minutes apart Feb. 14, according to flight records provided to the Post by FlightAware. Rogers owns the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum in San Antonio. He has donated $65,000 to Republican candidates since 2008. Lewis is the owner of a restaurant supplier company, also based in San Antonio. He has given $3,500 to GOP candidates since 2007. Rogers and Lewis have served as prior officers in the Texas chapter of the International Order of St. Hubertus, according to Texas business records. Rogers spoke to a Post reporter briefly on the phone and confirmed that he was at the ranch the weekend of Scalia's death. He declined to comment further. Lewis did not respond to several attempts for comment. The Presidio County sheriff released an incident report to the Post late Tuesday that revealed Foster's name as Scalia's traveling companion and provided details about the discovery of his body. Advertisement Poindexter and Foster told the sheriff that Scalia had traveled to Texas the day before to go hunting. Poindexter told the sheriff that they "had supper and talked for a while" that evening. Scalia "said that he was tired and was going to his room for the night," the sheriff wrote in his report. When Scalia didn't show up for breakfast that morning, Poindexter knocked on his door and eventually went in and found the justice dead in his bed, Poindexter said. Law enforcement officials told the Post that they had no knowledge of the International Order of St. Hubertus or its connection to Poindexter and ranch guests. The officials said the FBI had declined to investigate Scalia's death when they were told by the marshals that he died from natural causes. The Washington Post's Alice Crites contributed. A Ku Klux Klansman, left, struggles with a protester for an American flag after members of the KKK tried to start a "White Lives Matter" rally at Pearson Park in Anaheim on Saturday. Three people were treated at the scene for stab wounds, and 13 people were arrested. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) Three people were stabbed Saturday, one critically, after a small group of Ku Klux Klan members staging an anti-immigrant rally in Southern California clashed with a larger gathering of counter-protesters, police said. The violence erupted shortly after noon in Anaheim's Pearson Park, about 3 miles from Disneyland. The KKK had advertised plans for the rally, and about 30 anti-Klan protesters showed up beforehand, Anaheim Police Sgt. Daron Wyatt said. When six Klan members arrived, they were attacked as they exited their cars, he said. Advertisement One Klansman stabbed a counter-protester with the decorative end of a flag pole, Wyatt said. That stabbing set off a vicious brawl in which Klan members and protesters fought across an entire city block. Witness video shows Klansmen dressed in black shirts decorated with the Klan cross and Confederate flag patches being surrounded by counter-protesters as they arrive at the park in an SUV. A KKK member appears to hold out a flag pole to fend off the crowd. Advertisement "I got stabbed," a man is then heard screaming, lifting his T-shirt to show a wound to his stomach. A fire hydrant where the man briefly sat was covered in blood. One Anaheim police sergeant saw another Klan member with a knife in his hand and a counter-protester bleeding nearby, Wyatt said. The sergeant took the KKK member into custody. Meanwhile, counter-protesters stomped on two KKK members, he said. "All hell broke loose," said Brian Levin, director of California State University, San Bernardino's Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, who witnessed the violence. "I thought they were going to stomp these Klansmen to death." Wyatt said police were present when the violence erupted, but he did not say how many officers were deployed. Anaheim police had notified the public about the planned KKK protest Friday and said they would be "monitoring the situation for any violations of law." The department also said that while the group's signs and fliers might be provocative, they are protected by the First Amendment. Levin said he did not see any uniformed officers at the park when the violence erupted. He said he tried to get between counter-protesters and Klansmen to help quell the melee until officers were able to reach the scene. "I'm still kind of a little bit shaken by it," he said. Police Chief Raul Quezada defended the way his department handled the situation, saying a contingent of officers were dedicated to the gatherings and they were able to arrest all of the main participants in the clash. "Preventing violent confrontations is always our goal; unfortunately the handful of individuals committed to criminal behavior this afternoon caused the violent episode," he said in a statement. Advertisement Chris Barker, who identified himself as the "imperial wizard" of the Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, said his members were holding a peaceful anti-immigration demonstration and acted in self-defense. "If we're attacked we will attack back," said Barker, who did not attend the rally and spoke by phone from North Carolina. The organization lists Pelham, N.C., as its headquarters. Last year, the group drew headlines when it protested the removal of the Confederate flag from the South Carolina Capitol. Twelve people were initially arrested, but five were released after investigators reviewed video of the confrontation, Wyatt said. Those taken into custody were four Klansmen, who were booked for investigation of assault with a deadly weapon, and three counter-protesters on suspicion of stomping on an elderly Klan member. Police were looking for a counter-protester wanted on suspicion of assault. The critically injured man was upgraded to stable condition. The KKK has a long history in Anaheim. In the 1920s some Klansmen held elected office in the city, which was overwhelmingly white but now has a majority of Hispanics among its roughly 350,000 residents. Advertisement In January 2015, packets containing fliers condemning the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and supporting the Ku Klux Klan were left in the driveways of about 40 homes in Santa Ana, about 8 miles south of Anaheim. The fliers opened with the heading "On Martin Luther King Day, you are celebrating a communist pervert." The bottom of the fliers stated they came from the "Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan." Nationwide, the number of active KKK groups increased to 190 in 2015 after falling in 2013 and 2014, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups. Giovanni Namdar, 25, who runs an auto body shop near Pearson Park, said he saw people speaking passionately on a stage before the violence broke out. He later saw a swarm of police cars and helicopters flood the area. Namdar said he was stunned to learn about the KKK's presence in his backyard. "It's pretty disturbing," he said. "I didn't know they were around this area." Associated Press A lawsuit was on behalf of Sandra Peterson in the death of Dorothy Byrd, her mother, by Attorney Thomas Paris. February 26, 2016. (Brian Jackson, Chicago Tribune) Sandra Byrd Peterson wanted to pull her 98-year-old mother, Dorothy Byrd, out of a South Holland assisted living facility last year. That's because Byrd Peterson, who had spent 30 years in nursing, said she saw signs the staff at Holland Home wasn't taking diligent care of her mother. Advertisement But just days away from being moved, Byrd allegedly was given an unprescribed dose of morphine that dangerously lowered her ability to breath, lawyers said. "And I just ran out of time," said Byrd Peterson on Friday during a news conference at a Chicago downtown law office announcing a wrongful death lawsuit. "A week later, my mother was dead." Advertisement The lawsuit filed Thursday in Cook County alleges Byrd was administered a dose of the powerful painkiller during an overnight shift that began on Feb. 2, 2015, while under the care of a nurse, Talisha Lillard. Despite not being in pain, Byrd was overmedicated and suffered "severe respiratory distress," causing her to be hospitalized the next day. Byrd was declared dead Feb. 4, 2015, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. Her death was ruled a homicide by toxic levels of morphine and hydrocodone. A message left with an attorney representing Lillard was not immediately returned Friday. David Mills, chief operating officer for Holland Home, released a statement Friday: "It is company policy not to comment on pending litigation. As much as we would also like to see a resolution to this case, out of respect for the open and ongoing law enforcement investigation, we are continuing to refer questions to local authorities because we wouldn't want to say something in an effort to be transparent, which could unintentionally compromise the legal process. "Our enduring priority has been to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents living at Holland Home. From the beginning, we have fully cooperated with investigating authorities and have taken additional measures to ensure patient safety remains a top priority. "We urge anyone who believes that they may have information about this case to contact the South Holland Police Department. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers continue to go out to Mrs. Byrd's family and friends." Byrd Peterson said: "After 387 days, there has been no accountability in the senseless murder of my mother." Advertisement Byrd Peterson said little information has come out of Holland Home about the death. No one from the South Holland facility has spoken to her, she said. "That's part of the difficulty in being able to come to terms with my mother's death," Byrd Peterson said. "I don't have any answers. The questions are myriad. I just don't know." Attorney Thomas Paris said the criminal investigation looking into Byrd's death and six other people who allegedly received non-prescribed doses of morphine during the same overnight shift, has stalled. Two patients of Holland Home, Robert Rundin, 88, and Leon Krynicki, 98, died in the weeks after allegedly receiving the drug during the same shift. The Cook County medical examiner's office ruled that those deaths were from natural causes. The other four patients were hospitalized, Paris said. A message left with South Holland police was not immediately returned Friday. Both South Holland police and the Illinois Department of Health are investigating but no charges have been filed. The lawsuit also alleges Holland Home failed to ensure that Lillard had a valid license and had hired her less than two weeks before the Feb. 2 overnight shift. Lillard was the only person who should have been licensed to administer the painkiller, Paris said. She also was the only one who had a key to a locked drug cart. Two nursing assistants were on duty on the same floor as Lillard during that overnight shift, he said. Advertisement Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > "As far as we know, there was no licensed nurse who gave out morphine that night," Paris said. Paris said it is a "reasonable theory" that the patients were given morphine to ease the burden of understaffed caregivers. "On that night, Talisha Lillard had many patients to take care of," Paris said. "She does, in her deposition suggest that, because she was very new and given that there was a lot of people, that she was busy." Paris said they plan to examine the medication administration records for Byrd and for the others who received morphine that night. The lawsuit seeks an judgment an excess of $50,000, plus costs and attorney's fee. The case is scheduled for a status hearing on April 20. Advertisement Nick Swedberg is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. Todd Jackson sat before the School District U46 board last month with a simple request: diversify the teaching ranks of Illinois' second-largest school district. State data shows that, while roughly two-thirds of District U46's students are minorities, about 80 percent of the teachers are white, stilted percentages that Jackson called "alarming." Advertisement "We need to have a well-rounded school system of teachers," Jackson said. "This is what we need to better our kids. We need this in this community." Concerns about diversity among educators are not an issue limited to District U46. From Aurora to Naperville and nationwide, ensuring that the racial composition of teachers reflects the kids they are teaching is an issue of continuing concern. Advertisement While agreement exists on the need for redress, a variety of factors including budgets, geography and the talent pool of minority teachers hamper efforts for improvement, officials say. At the same time, some school boards, like District U46's, contain members with differing opinions on teacher diversity. Nationally, about 82 percent of teachers are white, 8 percent are Hispanic, 7 percent are black and 2 percent are Asian, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. In Illinois, roughly 83 percent of educators are white, 7 percent are Hispanic, another 7 percent are black and about 1.2 percent are Asian, according to the center. District U46, which has seen its Hispanic student population grow to just more than half of its 40,000 students, has a higher percentage of Hispanic teachers, with about 18 percent, according to Illinois Board of Election data. "It's not a U46 issue," school board Vice President Traci O'Neal Ellis said. "It's a national issue. We are caught in this national theme of a lack of diverse teaching staff." Advocates for diversity and several studies point to the merits of a more diversified teaching staff, one that contains not only more races but also more men. When a black boy sees a black teacher in front of him each day, that teacher provides a positive role model, according to a 2014 study by the Center for American Progress, a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy institute. Advertisement "When students see teachers who share their racial or ethnic backgrounds, they often view schools as more welcoming places," the study states. Minority students also do better academically in such situations, according to the study. Such diversity also benefits white children, it states. "It is important for all students to interact with people who look and act differently than they do in order to build social trust and create a wider sense of community," the study said. "The benefits of diversity are not just for students of color." O'Neal Ellis said it is possible for minority children to go from kindergarten to 12th grade without having a teacher that looks like them and that such a setup sends unconscious messages to those kids. "We have wonderful teachers as it is," District U46 CEO Tony Sanders said. "But students would react better if they saw at least some teachers in their school that reflect their own culture." Advertisement West Aurora School District 129 faces similar demographics: 87 percent of teachers are white, while just 28 percent of students are white. Over half of students are Hispanic, while about 10 percent of teachers are Hispanic, according to state data. Students generally relate to people who are similar to them, East Aurora School District 131 Superintendent Mike Popp said. He doesn't want his students going through school without seeing any people in positions of authority who look like them. In East Aurora, 78 percent of teachers are white, while just 3 percent of students are white. Fifteen percent of teachers are Hispanic, compared to 86 percent of students, state data shows. "They've got to have role models who look like them," Popp said. Indian Prairie School District 204 reports nominal increases in minority teachers but still has a staff that is nearly 90 percent white, compared to a student body that is 51 percent white. "This is not a panacea for solving all problems that a student of color may come to a building with," U46's O'Neal-Ellis said. "It is another tool in the toolbox. School districts are missing a key tool for improving student performance." Advertisement Not everyone on the District U46 board sees things the same. While most board members did not respond to requests for comment, member Jeanette Ward questioned the need to push more diversity. "If we believe that teachers must be the same color as their students, do we believe in segregation?" she wrote in an email. "I thought that was settled a long time ago." Ward called such efforts "institutionalized social justice" and said she supported a diverse workforce "but not via artificial means." "Do we want to teach students that they can only learn from someone of their same skin color?" Ward said. "I believe hiring should be based on qualifications and content of character, not skin color." When it comes to recruiting minority teachers, administrators say that the number of minority teachers available nationwide, and perhaps the location of some suburban districts, stymies these efforts. Advertisement In Oswego's Community Unit School District 308, 93 percent of teachers are white, while 61 percent of students are white, according to data. District spokesman Brian Graves has said in the past that the district is working to attract more minority teachers, but the pool of available teachers is not very diverse. Popp echoed that sentiment. "While all of us are concerned about creating a more diverse staff to mirror our student body," he said, "it's very difficult because culturally we're not seeing the same percentage of (teaching) candidates as we are of students." East Aurora administrators have been attending hiring fairs where they think they might find high-quality minority teaching candidates, Popp said, and have worked with local universities to "grow our own" teachers. They are working to get students interested in the teaching profession through a high school club and are helping adults who are teaching assistants get degrees to become teachers, he said. District U46 officials travel to historically black colleges and universities in an attempt to recruit minority teachers, Sanders said. Advertisement "There's fierce competition for teachers coming out of historically black colleges and universities," Sanders said. "The Chicagoland weather can be a problem in recruiting candidates." Sanders said the district has taken to traveling to Puerto Rico to recruit Spanish-speaking teachers as the district's Latino population has grown. "It's hard to lure talented teachers out to Elgin," O'Neal Ellis said. District U46's salary schedule is competitive for the area but is not competitive nationally when it comes to places like Philadelphia, Atlanta or Washington, D.C., she said. O'Neal Ellis said "throwing money" at the problem is not the answer but that the district should continue to explore ways to partner with the city of Elgin to help entice minority professionals in general. The city has an ongoing workforce diversification initiative, she said. Advertisement "They face the same problems we do," O'Neal-Ellis said. "You've got to convince talented folks of color to come to Elgin." geoffz@tribpub.com sfreishtat@tribpub.com subaker@tribpub.com Twitter @JournoGeoffZ Twitter @srfreish Neal Blair, of Augusta, Ga., wears a hoodie which reads, "Black Lives Matter" as stands on the lawn of the Capitol building during a rally to mark the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March, on Capitol Hill, on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, in Washington. (Evan Vucci, AP) While this week's Black Lives Matter panel in Elgin focused on healing personal racism, Mary Shesgreen said she would like to hear more about the problems facing the African American community. "I find myself hungry for conversation about how to challenge and change institutional racism," which she is only just now learning about, said Shesgreen, one of the 125 people who attended the discussion. Advertisement "I am only starting to understand myself how institutional racism works and I want to understand it more deeply," Shesgreen said. Her comment and those from others in attendance may mean more conversations on race in Elgin, too. Advertisement "We have had other community conversations," in Elgin, said Mayor David Kaptain following the event, including those between the police department and residents following the protests in Ferguson, Mo., in 2014. But the questions brought up at the Black Lives Matter discussion show a need for more conversations, too, Kaptain said. Bob Whitt, one of the organizers from Elgin's Human Rights Commission, said the event held at the Centre of Elgin Thursday night, was to help people from all walks of life understand the Black Lives Matter movement. The phrase which started as a social media hashtag following the Trayvon Martin case in Florida has blossomed into a movement and is used by protesters following many police-involved shootings elsewhere, Whitt said. But what they wanted those in attendance to understand is Black Lives Matter doesn't mean that other lives don't matter, but that black lives matter, too, organizers said. The panel discussion was moderated by Whitt and included Marcia Thompson, Phillip Reed, and Deb Perryman. Thompson is a national public speaker, consultant and Supreme Court of Virginia-certified mediator who has worked in Elgin before. Reed is a workplace diversity trainer, and Perryman is a District U46 educator who is also co-advisor of Elgin High School's Gay-Straight Alliance. Perryman said she started looking deeper at the issues facing African American families after she saw social media posts from black mothers, talking about the conversations they had with their children. It was so different from what she talked to her children about that she needed more information, Perryman said. That brought her new awareness of the issues, she said. "People like me have to step up and say that black lives do matter," Perryman said. Advertisement The panelists started with a few prepared questions, then moved on to questions from the audience, submitted on cards. That was done purposefully, Whitt said, to prevent one person or group from dominating the conversation. The difference between "black lives matter" and "all lives matter" is one of perception, Thompson said. Historically, and in recent events which have made national headlines, perception "is that black lives have had less value," Thompson said. Those incidents where African American youth have died have many different factors, but the founders of the movement believed black lives were not treated equally to other lives, she said. "Black lives are equal and when they are all equal, then all lives will matter," Thompson said. "We know all lives matter, but when we look around the world I'm not so sure that it true," added Reed. What black lives matter means to him "is a call to action and to raise our consciousness around things that occur," in the country, he said. Advertisement One thing many of the speakers noted is the incidents that have brought Black Lives Matter to the forefront hasn't been an issue in Elgin. The department is respected by the community, added Bill Williamson, one of the organizers from the Human Relations Commission. While many of the negative incidents have been recorded and gone viral on social media, so did a positive experience with an Elgin police officer last fall Sgt. Ken Ericson's conversation with a group of car enthusiasts who had been meeting up in a Summit Street parking lot. The video, made by one of the bystanders and put on Facebook, was viewed millions of times after it was picked up by one social media site. The video was remarked on because of the respectful way he talked to the young men and women and how they responded. That, Williamson said, is what Elgin expects from its officers. Elgin has exported its style of policing elsewhere, Kaptain noted. Former Assistant Chief of Police Cecil Smith is now Chief of Police in Sandord, Fla., where the Travyon Martin case occurred. He became chief shortly before George Zimmerman was found not guilty in the death. Smith has taken many of the things Elgin does to Florida, including walking the neighborhoods and talking with residents about the problems there. It is a good idea to continue these discussions, Williamson said, adding that the Human Relations Commission will look at future discussions "based on the questions here today." Advertisement Janelle Walker is a freelance reporter. Innovative Health and Transitional Care Management say their proposed facility in Mundelein would look similar to their Transitional Care Center of Arlington Heights. The Mundelein project, if approved, would replace the Winchester House in Libertyville. (Courtesy of Village of Mundelein) Mundelein has emerged as the potential new home of the recently privatized Winchester House nursing home. The Lake County Board voted in May 2015 to privatize the long-standing nursing home and move the facility from its current location at Winchester Road and Milwaukee Avenue within two years. Advertisement The proposed Mundelein project involves a new $30 million, 93,000-square-foot building with 90 employees and up to 180 patients, according to a Mundelein village memo. Representatives from Innovative Health, the company that now runs Winchester House, attended the Feb. 22 Mundelein Village Board meeting to talk about their plans for the proposed new facility at 850 E. Route 45. The property, located next to Dover Straits restaurant, is currently covered by soccer fields. Advertisement The new facility would be named Transitional Care of Mundelein and would be marketed as a medical facility with hints of hotel hospitality, according to preliminary paperwork submitted to the village. The project has not yet been submitted to Mundelein's planning and zoning review process, Mayor Steve Lentz said. The Feb. 22 presentation was a "sneak peek" where the company could get early feedback, Lentz said. Also in attendance were representatives from Transitional Care Management, a firm hired by Innovative Health to carry out the desired business model. Denise Norman, company president, outlined that plan. "We'll be transferring employees, so the current staff at Winchester House will be able to retain their jobs and continue living in this area," Norman said in the video recorded meeting. "It will also bring economy to Mundelein when those people and our patients' families shop, buy gas and buy food." Norman said other benefits to building in Mundelein include space for future expansion and a central location near doctors who currently refer patients to the facility. The new complex would have three divided wings: a set of suites for long-term care patients, a set of residential and programming rooms for patients with Alzheimer's disease and a wing for patients who need short-term lodging and physical rehabilitation after suffering an injury, Norman said. "They would be under one roof and share some commonalities like a kitchen, laundry services and staff lounge areas, but ultimately they would operate like three different entities because of the unique needs and services," Norman said. Chuck Bartels, a Lake County board member who represents portions of Mundelein, was on hand to give trustees assurances that all finances have been reviewed by the county. Advertisement Giving a brief recap of the path that led to privatization, Bartels said a commission of elected officials, community members and representatives from local businesses worked for over eight years to determine the fate of the Winchester House. "Originally, the question was should the county be in this business, and in the Winchester House in particular," Bartels said. "As you know, it's an old facility that's much in need of maintenance repair. The number of beds being occupied has significantly decreased from when the facility first opened." The agreement to privatize the nursing home will save Lake County $800,000 over the next three years, county officials said prior to the vote in May. The nursing home was operating on a deficit in recent years, officials said. "The rationale is that an operator with the experience these folks have could provide far superior care," Bartels said. Trustee Bill Rekus was the only Mundelein official to ask a question during the presentation. He asked Police Chief Eric Guenther, who also serves as head of the fire department, if the nursing home would be a burden to first responders. "These facilities do carry some burden toward public safety in general, primarily the fire [department]," Guenther said. "They tend to generate a great deal of rescue calls to assist individuals there. There are some law enforcement needs, but that tends to be on the lower end." Advertisement Guenther referenced the Del Webb retirement community, which is located west of Route 60/83 and between Hawley Street and Route 176. He said Mundelein could probably handle calls to Del Webb and a new facility, but any similar developments in the future might need careful consideration. Lentz asked if any trustees had immediate concerns and none spoke up. He then voiced his own support. "It looks great," Lentz said. "The design looks wonderful and it's a service we definitely need here." Meanwhile, Libertyville officials in January expressed concern over how the current Winchester House property will be redeveloped, saying the land is half the size of Libertyville's downtown and a commercial development could negatively affect the area. rkambic@pioneerlocal.com Twitter @Rick_Kambic Blood on the wall above the bed of woman shot in the head in Center Township could not be from the shot that killed her, a police officer said Friday. Lt. William Young, of the Porter County Sheriff's Police, testified Friday that the angle and pattern of the spatters showed they couldn't have been from the shot that killed Melinda Kirby Lindsey, 23, on Jan. 16, 2015. Advertisement Lindsey's husband, Steven Lindsey, 36, is charged in her death. After the prosecution questioned Young, who was Friday's only witness, defense attorney Larry Rogers questioned the validity of the crime scene after Young went in about 10:15 a.m. Advertisement Police were called after 6 a.m. by Steven Lindsey using his cellphone from his pocket, and police found him in their daughter's room, his hands behind his back in a zip ties, according to testimony. Lindsey told police that someone broke into the house and put him in a stranglehold, then he woke up next to his daughter's crib to the sound of a gunshot in the master bedroom. Young said that they waited unto 10:15 a.m. for a warrant, but Rogers questioned whether the scene was contaminated by a Chihuahua running around the master bedroom, EMT people removing Melinda Lindsey while she was still breathing and officers walking around without coverings on their shoes. Young said Porter County Sheriff's Police Detective Roger Bowles had already been checking for evidence, including whether there were visible fingerprints on the glass nightstand tops. However, he could not say whether covers taken off the bed were tested for anything and said a long hair or fiber found on the gun and visible in a crime scene photograph wasn't tested. Two previous trials ended in mistrials last year. James D. Wolf Jr. is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. Six dead pit bulls in plastic bags. Bloody collars. Photographs of dogs strapped down and being forced to breed. Sixteen neglected dogs that were still alive. This was just some of the evidence that Lake County Police investigators found when they went to the Calumet Township home of Carlton Davis Jr. in May 2006. Advertisement "It's just inconceivable that someone could be so inhumane," said then-Lake County Sheriff Roy Dominguez. But just four years later, Davis applied for and was granted a substitute teacher's license in 2013 by the Indiana Department of Education, after having been convicted on dog-fighting charges and serving two years in prison. Advertisement In 2014, he was charged in federal court for attending a dog fight in Akron, Ohio, but that didn't seem to raise any red flags, either. He had been serving as a regular substitute at Dunbar-Pulaski Middle School in Gary for two years when he was accused of grabbing a 13-year-old boy, who was a special-education student, around the neck and pushing him down the stairs, then hitting a 15-year-old boy who was a witness to the incident on May 29, 2015. *** Brett Zagorac, a Munster resident, is currently facing aggravated criminal sexual abuse charges in Willmette, Ill., for a 2014 incident involving a 9-year-old who he was tutoring at the child's home. But his record reveals multiple incidents while he was teaching at schools in Indiana and Illinois before his license was revoked. Zagorac served time for inappropriately touching two Schererville students in 2002. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge involving children in nine 2005 incidents involving students at schools in DuPage County, Ill., and he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery for inappropriately touching a 5-year-old child who he was tutoring in Portage in 2009. Zagorac was known for using aliases such as "B.J. the Educator," B.J. Zagor, B.J. Welhelm, B.J. Zagorac and B.J. Zagr, according to authorities. *** These situations raise questions about how effective Indiana's background check and licensure system is at weeding out teachers with questionable backgrounds particularly those who've been charged or convicted of crimes against children. A recent USA Today investigation gave Indiana an "F" for delegating its background checks of prospective teachers to local school districts, providing little information online about teacher disciplinary actions, having weak mandatory reporting laws on teacher misconduct, and how teacher misconduct was not shared with other states in several cases. Background checks Advertisement NASDTEC is a national clearinghouse of teacher discipline cases, but only states have direct access to the information on the database. The situation is complicated by the fact that there are no federal rules mandating reporting to NASDTEC, and spotty reporting by states to NASDTEC creates holes in the system, according to Terri Miller, president of Stop Educator Sexual Abuse Misconduct and Exploitation. "There are no federal mandates that require reporting to NASDTEC and that's where the problem is," Miller said. "That's where the disconnect is and we've tried for years for to fix it." Miller said two recent attempts to mandate reporting with federal legislation failed, but a recent amendment to a federal education bill may help cut down on teachers who are serial sexual predators. The "Passing the Trash" amendment will ban school districts that receive federal funds from assisting a school employee in obtaining a new job if it knows that the employee has been engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor. Miller said the hope is that it will end confidentiality agreements that can allow problematic instructors to go unreported. "It's the aiding and abetting of child molesters," Miller said. "It's no different than what the Catholic church has been vilified for doing. But we're not mandated to send our children to church; we are mandated to send them to school. "Public schools are taxpayer funded. Most of our schools are federally funded, so we have the power to use our voices do everything and anything to protect our children." Advertisement Miller said Pennsylvania, Missouri and Oregon have adopted more extensive "Passing the Trash" bills, which aim to train educators to recognize "grooming" behavior that can lead to sexual abuse. By law, serious crimes are required to be reported to the Indiana Department of Education, as is any teacher who has a past conviction. Davis' teachers license is still valid until June, according to the Indiana Department of Eduction. Spokesman Daniel Altman wouldn't comment specifically on Davis' case, but he said that typically the DOE doesn't act until the criminal matter is resolved. "In many plea agreements, they will agree to give up their licenses," Altman said. "If they don't, then the department will take action." Gary Community School Corp. spokesperson Charmella Greer said Davis was on the district's substitute teacher roster between Aug. 8, 2013, and July 8, 2015, six days after he was charged. Greer wouldn't comment on whether the dog-fighting conviction came up during his background check or raised concerns with district officials. The district requires new teachers to complete an application and a background check before being placed in a classroom, Greer said. Licensure in Indiana Advertisement When prospective teachers in Indiana apply for a license, they must fill out a form and list any past convictions felonies and misdemeanors under penalty of perjury, according to Altman. Licensed teachers are then able to apply for a position at a school district in the state. There is a three-month period during which they can teach, even if the background check isn't finished, Altman said, but he said that's usually up to the discretion of each particular district. East Porter County Schools Superintendent Rod Gardin said his district makes sure that the screening is complete before any teacher enters the classroom. "We're still the gatekeepers of whether they get in the classroom," Gardin said. "We do a nationwide criminal background check, and we use Safe Hiring Solutions. The applicant pays $38; the school corporation doesn't pay the fee." Gardin said there hasn't been any discussion among superintendents about shifting background checks to the state "because the issuing of licenses is up to the DOE." Gary's policy manual outlined the process of running national criminal background checks on prospective employees. Advertisement The manual states: "Applicants will also be required at the time the individual applies, to answer questions concerning the individual's criminal history. The failure to answer, honestly, questions asked, is grounds for termination of the employment or termination of the volunteer status." The manual says that offenses such as murder, rape, arson, or sex crimes could be grounds for not hiring an applicant, but doesn't outright ban them. Felonies aren't automatic disqualifications for receiving a license from the state or being hired by a district. Indiana has made some improvements on its expanded criminal history check in recent years. Districts are now required to do a check in all jurisdictions even out of state where an applicant has lived, as well as verifying an applicant's identity. The DOE would permanently revoke the license of any person convicted of a variety of felonies, including sexual abuse, murder, robbery and arson. But dog fighting isn't listed, and that's possibly the reason why Davis was never flagged. Advertisement Future changes Right now, there's not much appetite in the Indiana General Assembly to shift background checks to the state. Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, said he's spoken to his colleagues in the House Education Committee on this topic a number of times, but it never seems to go anywhere. "I don't think it should be left up to the school districts," Smith said. "There are agencies/businesses trained to do that, and it should be done before they get a license." cnance@post-trib.com With Valparaiso now among the 15 semi-finalists in the America's Best Communities contest, the city is putting money toward the next phase and the $100,000 finalist prize and hopefully the $3 million grand prize. The Board of Works on Friday approved extending the contract for consultants ACP Greene of Columbus, Ohio, and applying for a grant for decorative lighting in the Creative District along Indiana Avenue. The $53,000 contract will last three to four months, City Planner Tyler Kent said. Advertisement The city hired ACP Greene last summer for about $50,000 to help plan the arts and technology district that would extend from Central Park east to Valparaiso University along Indiana. Valparaiso won $50,000 in April 2015. This time, the consultants will help make the presentation in Durham, N.C., the last week of April as Valparaiso tries to become one of eight communities vying for the top prize. Second place would mean $2 million and third place $1 million. Advertisement For the lighting along the Creative District, the city is applying for a grant from Art Place, a consortium of philanthropic organizations and foundations interested in funding the arts, Kent said. The group raises about $10 million each year for grants, but only 2-3 percent of applicants are funded, he said. The decorative lighting would be concentrated in the block of Indiana Avenue and Morgan Boulevard, where people have complained about a lack of light, he said. Also at the meeting, the board delayed accepting bids for the new raised entrance and safety features for the Public Works campus off Joliet Road. Public Works Director Matt Evans said the mid-week snow storm delayed contractors who wanted to submit bids. James D. Wolf Jr. is a correspondent for The Post-Tribune The Merrillville home of John and Olga Meeks on 79th Avenue. Police said the couple was killed by their son, Eric, who then killed himself. (Joe Puchek, Post-Tribune) Domestic incident. This familiar police blotter term can mean so many things, from verbal squabbles between a husband and wife to more serious violence against children or grandparents. Advertisement Its most lethal definition played out again last weekend when 34-year-old Eric Meeks killed his parents, John and Olga Meeks, before killing himself in the couple's Merrillville home, police said. Domestic violence fatalities are nothing new in Northwest Indiana. Advertisement Nicole Handley and her ex-boyfriend, Larry Bray, both died from each other's gunshot wounds in her Gary home, police say. The mother of four apparently was defending herself and she died from a gunshot wound to her stomach, according to the Lake County coroner's office. As this domestic incident proves to us again, the opposite of romantic love is indifference, not hate. Otherwise, this heated exchange would never have happened. Another domestic incident that led to homicide, according to prosecutors, is currently being examined in court with the murder trial for Steven Lindsey, 36. The Center Township man is accused of shooting and killing his wife, Melinda Kirby Lindsey, 23, on Jan. 16, 2015, in their home. The case is being tried for a third time after the previous two trials resulted in a mistrial and hung jury late last year. The new ongoing trial in Porter County is expected to last another two weeks as the state again argues its case that Steven Lindsey killed his wife. He told police who found him in his daughter's bedroom, his hands bound with zip ties that he was a victim of a home invasion. He also claimed he was choked unconscious and then heard a gunshot in the other bedroom. We've seen too many domestic violence cases begin with love and passion yet end with violence and death. This repeated history causes us to first suspect a spouse or lover rather than a murderous stranger. The list of similar domestic violence incidents is never ending. Just read the police blotter any day of the week. Passionate feelings have the uncanny power to swing the pendulum from love to hate in a mere moment or over several decades. It could be caused by a moment of infidelity, or years of resentment. According to police and the legal system, most situations fall under the same generic label domestic incident. Advertisement On the other hand, our society trembles at the continual news of mass shootings in this country, the latest taking place Thursday in rural Kansas. Four people were killed, including the gunman, and 14 others were injured after a series of shootings. Before that shooting, there was one in Kalamazoo, Mich., where an Uber driver named Jason Dalton is charged with killing six people and critically wounding two others in what he called a "random" murder spree. This is what most people say frightens them most, that they could be killed randomly by a gun-wielding psychopath. Under this scenario, we have no control over the situation. It comes down to being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Period. This makes us feel helpless at the hands of fate, even fatally so. Domestic incident fatefulness, however, is another situation entirely. We do have some control in its outcome. Or possibly more control than we think. We choose our romantic relationships. We choose our friends. We choose our love interests. There may be a randomness in how we meet our partners or spouses but, after that, it's on us who we share our life with. This fact should worry us more than a random killer gunning us down in society. As we keep getting reminded time and again, our most dangerous enemies are too often the ones living in our own home. How many more "domestic incidents" need to take place before we realize this is our most immediate threat? Advertisement And the award goes to There's no way I'll be boycotting Sunday night's 88th annual Academy Awards ceremony, despite suggestions to do so from many big-name black actors and entertainers. It's not that I care who wins an Oscar or what the stars choose to wear for the glitzy event. I will be tuning in to watch how the event's host, Chris Rock (who's black), spins the touchy controversy regarding no Oscar nominations for any black performers in the major acting categories, for the second consecutive year. I hope Rock addresses the fact that this is nothing new for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, dating back to the organization's earliest days. According to its own data, nearly 94 percent of Academy Awards have been given to white performers in the four major categories Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor or Best Supporting Actress since the academy began handing out trophies in 1929. Post Tribune Twice-weekly News updates from Northwest Indiana delivered every Monday and Wednesday > Critics have been keeping tabs on this diversity lopsidedness for more than a half century. Even dating back to 1956 when a series of critical stories published in the trade magazine "Variety," questioned the scarcity of roles for black performers. Advertisement Fast forward 40 years, when another similar story ran in "People" magazine, prompting the Rev. Jesse Jackson to organize a protest of the Academy Awards that year. "We are going to open up the consciousness of Hollywood," Jackson told media before that ceremony in March 1996. His high-profile protest, and decades of criticism, obviously didn't make much of a difference in the award nominations, nor the ceremony itself, which only serves as a barometer for the lack of diversity in Hollywood. Will the award for keeping it real go to Rock for highlighting this during his opening monologue? Will anyone care after the initial laughs? Will anything finally change? This is the true storyline and subplot to watch. jdavich@post-trib.com Twitter @jdavich For some 1,500 years, the Buddhist sculpture at Youju Temple Tower in north China's Hebei Province brought a tinge of the North Qi dynasty to the temple. Abbot Hsing Yun poses with the statue. [Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily] The white marble figure, which was made by order of a North Qi emperor around 556, represented state-of-the-art craftsmanship at that time. Archaeologists believe that to prevent the statue from being stolen, the gate of the tower was deliberately made smaller than the statue. That plan seemed to have worked until 1996, when four thieves cut off its head and sold it overseas. The thieves were caught soon afterwards, but the head was nowhere to be found. In 2014, a local follower presented a Buddha head to Hsing Yun, founder of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order in Taiwan. Hsing Yun asked mainland cultural heritage authorities for help find the body which matched the head. Which led Liu Jianhua, one of the archaeologists who was supposed to be looking after the Buddha when its head was chopped off, to make a trip to Taiwan. The moment she saw the head, she knew what it was. Master Hsing Yun decided to make the statue whole, and, last May, the body was transported to the island and reunited with the head. On Friday, the 90-year-old Buddhist escorted the head to the mainland himself. "The sea can not sever our historical bond, nor can it cut off our connection and blood lineage," said Hsing Yun. "Our common Chinese cultural traditions can not be chopped off by external forces." The complete statue will be exhibited at the National Museum of China on March 1 before being moved into a museum in Hebei. An European Union (EU) Action Plan has been adopted to tackle wildlife trafficking within the EU and to strengthen the bloc's role in the global fight against these illegal activities, the European Commission said in a press release on Friday. The Action Plan is an ambitious blueprint that mobilizes all EU diplomatic, trade and development cooperation tools to crack down on what has become one of the most profitable criminal activities worldwide, said the press release. Recent years have seen a dramatic surge in wildlife trafficking, which not only threatens the survival of some emblematic species, but also breeds corruption, claims human victims, and deprives poorer communities of much-needed income. Moreover, it also threatens security in Central Africa, where militia and terrorist groups partly fund their activities through wildlife trafficking, said the press release. The Action Plan was prepared jointly by a core team co-chaired by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini and Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, with the close involvement of Commissioners for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica and for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos. It comprises 32 measures that the EU and its 28 member states are to be carried out by 2020, focusing on three priorities: preventing trafficking and reduce supply and demand of illegal wildlife products, enhancing implementation of existing rules and combat organized crime more effectively, as well as strengthening cooperation between source, destination and transit countries. The Action Plan would be presented to the EU member states for endorsement in the coming weeks, according to the press release. A renowned economist on Friday urged the global wildlife community to undertake thorough research before lifting the ban on the trade in ivory. Alejandro Nadal, Professor at the Centre for Economic Studies of El Colegio de Mexico, told a wildlife forum in Nairobi that there is not enough information to make a prudent decision on how demand and supply will change once trade is permitted. "Only a comprehensive economic research will tell if legalizing trade in ivory will reduce poaching of elephant for their ivory," Nadal said during a discussion on the Economics of Wildlife Trade. Nadal said carefully designed surveys will provide policy-relevant data on illegal markets of ivory trade. Advocates for legal markets for ivory have often assumed that trade bans drive supply and demand underground, while a legal and stable supply of ivory will bring down the prices and hence remove the incentives for poaching. In 2008, the Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species on Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) gave approval for Southern African states to conduct one off sales of their ivory stocks. The economist noted that there is no conclusive evidence on the impact of the one-off sales on the ivory prices. Nadal said instead, the sales fueled the demand for ivory which led to more poaching of elephants. He stated that elephants should not be considered as capital assets because they are not commodities. "Even if government considers elephants as capital assets, it does not automatically mean that they will conserve the wildlife any better," he added. "Besides, the global financial markets have been unable to manage capital assets and this is manifested by the frequently economic crises witnessed in the past decade," he said. The New York Times By Edward Wong Feb. 26, 2016 Beijing A court in southeastern China has sentenced a Protestant pastor to 14 years in prison and his wife to 12 years after convicting them of corruption, financial crimes and gathering people to disturb social order, an official provincial newspaper reported on Friday. The sentences for the pastor, Bao Guohua, and his wife, Xing Wenxiang, were among the harshest imposed recently on clergy members and their associates in China. The newspaper reported that a court had sentenced an additional 10 people who were members of Mr. Baos church or a Christian group in the same city, Jinhua, in Zhejiang Province, but it did not give details of those sentences. The newspaper, Zhejiang Daily, also said that the court had ordered the confiscation from Mr. Bao of 600,000 renminbi, or about $92,000, and fined him $15,300. It said his wife also had $92,000 confiscated and received a fine of less than $14,000. In the last two years, Zhejiang has been carrying out a campaign to limit the influence there of Christian churches and groups. Christianity has a relatively strong presence in the province, where President Xi Jinping once served as the Communist Party chief. Officials have removed more than 1,200 crosses from churches and other buildings and in some cases have destroyed entire churches. The government is especially concerned about so-called house churches, which are neither approved nor overseen by officials. A church member trying to prevent the removal of a cross from a church in Zhejiang Province. In the last two years, the government there has been carrying out a campaign to limit the influence of Christian churches and groups. Didi Tang/Associated Press Mr. Bao had official approval to lead a congregation, and he oversaw a government-sanctioned church. Zheng Leguo, a house church preacher now living in the United States, said in an interview on Friday that he believed that Mr. Bao, who has been in detention since at least August, was being persecuted because he had tried to defend his church against an order to take down its cross. Few other government-approved pastors in Jinhua have opposed the campaign of cross removals. On Thursday night, a well-known Christian lawyer who has helped defend churches during the campaign, Zhang Kai, was shown on a local television station saying that he had colluded with foreign groups to stir up trouble over religion. Mr. Zhang was detained in August just before he was scheduled to meet with an American State Department official to discuss religious freedom in China. A report on an official news website of Wenzhou, another city in Zhejiang, said that the police had concluded that Mr. Zhang was trying to organize a series of illegal religious gatherings. In the televised statement, Mr. Zhang, who is from Beijing, said that he had received payment from China Aid, a nongovernmental organization based in the United States, and its director, Bob Fu, each time he defended a church or Christian group. He also said that the American group was trying to change Chinas political system. In response, Mr. Fu released a statement that said: Although China Aid is mentioned in the shameful Chinese Communist Partys official propaganda as an overseas force supporting Zhang Kais legal defense work, we will never be intimidated nor cease to continue to promote religious freedom for all in China. Communist Party officials have increasingly been accusing foreign nongovernmental groups of trying to foment political dissent among ordinary Chinese and overthrow the party. Government officials have proposed a law that would strictly curb and control the work of nongovernmental organizations and their Chinese partners. Senior American officials have expressed alarm at the draft law. Mr. Zhangs on-air appearance was the latest in a series of prominent televised confessions by detained men, both Chinese and foreign, that were apparently made under police coercion. I will strictly abide by the national law and break with foreign forces completely, Mr. Zhang said in the video. I also warn other so-called human rights lawyers: Do not take money from overseas. Do not do things that violate national security and interests. The police and prosecutors have not brought any charges against Mr. Zhang, and a lawyer hired by his family, Li Guisheng, said in an interview that it was illegal for the news media to broadcast a confession before a trial. Mr. Li also said the police had kept lawyers from seeing Mr. Zhang. Mr. Bao, the convicted pastor, was a member of the Christian Council of Jinhua City, an officially approved group. The Christian Council is one of two officially approved nationwide Protestant organizations, and its Zhejiang affiliate has opposed the cross removals in the province. In late January, the leader of the Zhejiang Christian Council, Gu Yuese, also known as Joseph Gu, was detained by the police. He was pastor of a government-approved church with 5,000 congregants in the city of Hangzhou but was removed from that position a few days before his detention. Last year, Mr. Zhang, the lawyer, had discussed with Mr. Gu the possibility of suing local officials over the cross-removal campaign, according to Mr. Zheng, the preacher in the United States. On Monday, Zhou Lianmei, the wife of Mr. Gu, received a letter from the Hangzhou police saying that he was being investigated on suspicion of embezzlement and had been transferred to detention in Jinhua. Mr. Zheng said party officials became furious with Mr. Gu after the Zhejiang Christian Council issued an open letter last year condemning the cross-removal campaign. China Aid Media Team Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985 Email: [email protected] For more information, click here Photo taken on Feb 17, 2016 shows a cluster of residential buildings under construction in Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei province. China's housing market continued to warm in January, with more than half of surveyed major cities reporting month-on-month rises in new home prices. Of 70 large and medium sized cities surveyed in January, new home prices climbed month on month in 38, compared with 39 the previous month, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Friday. (Xinhua/Mou Yu) BEIJING -- Latest home price data suggest an uneven recovery in China's housing market, with first-tier cities leading price increases. Of the 70 cities monitored in January, new home prices climbed in 38, compared with 39 the previous month, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Friday. There were 24 declines, down from 27 in December, according to NBS data. On a annualized basis, 25 cities posted increases with 45 falls, compared with 21 and 49 in December. New-home prices rose most, 52.7 percent year on year, in Shenzhen, followed by Shanghai (21.4 percent) and Beijing (11.3 percent). Zhanjiang in Guangdong Province, performed worst, falling 4.9 percent. Prices for existing homes also warmed up last month, with 37 cities up and 25 down. The average annual increase in first-tier cities was more than 20 percent, while prices in most third-tier cities fell. A huge overhang of unsold homes continues to limit increases in smaller cities. Economist Ma Guangyuan believes prices in first-tier cities will continue to rise, but huge increases will not be sustained because the market is close to saturation. Property took a downturn in 2014 with weak demand and a supply glut. Sales and prices fell and investment slowed, while the stock of unsold grew. There were 719 million square meters of unsold homes at the end of 2015, enough to house nearly 24 million people at the Ministry of Housing and Urban-rural Development estimate of 30 square meters of living space per capita. Taking homes under construction into account, China's housing inventory would hit 5.87 billion square meters by the end of last year, requiring at least five years to clear, Xia Dan, an analyst with Bank of Communications said in a report to clients. To tackle the woes, policy makers made reducing the home supply glut one of their top priorities this year and announced a slew of measures. Last week, taxes on some property transactions were slashed and further reductions to the minimum down payments for first- and second-time home buyers was announced earlier this month. Analysts expect more support measures to be unveiled this year as the country tries to bolster the property sector amid slowing economic growth. The government would be likely to loosen restrictions on home purchase using public housing accumulation funds and continue to lower transaction taxes, Xia Dan said. SHANGHAI -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday called for closer macroeconomic policy coordination among G20 members against global economic headwinds. "When formulating macroeconomic policies, G20 members need to keep in mind not just their own growth. They also need to look after the spillover effects of their policies," said Li in a video message to the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting that opened Friday in Shanghai. "We need to increase communication and coordination, and work together to secure the stability of the international financial market," said the premier. Quantitative easing will hardly remove structural obstacles to growth and instead it may lead to more negative externalities, he said. "Our focus should rather remain on structural reforms. What is desirable is innovation, deregulation, more competition, and greater openness," said Li. The premier also said global economic and financial governance should be improved. "We hope G20 members will continue to advance reforms in international financial institutions, improve the global monetary system, and deepen cross-border taxation cooperation," said Li. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim (right) talks about the Chinese economy with China Daily reporter Zheng Yangpeng on Friday in Shanghai.GAO ERQIANG/CHINA DAILY World Bank chief: Beijing's fiscal and monetary policy transparency is bolstering confidence China has realized the critical importance of communication and the world is going to see more transparency and clarity about China's decision-making, the World Bank president told China Daily on the sidelines of the G20 meeting. "I met Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday, and he told me they had realized the importance of communication. A lot of suspicion is that things are happening, but the global community is not sure why things are being done. ... The fact that you tell what exactly your intention is, in terms of fiscal policy, monetary policy, status of structural reform, that kind of communication will go a long way to dispel the doubts," World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said. Such communication is critically important on the exchange rate issue, he said, an issue that grabbed the world's attention during the meeting. Kim cited People's Bank of China's Governor Zhou Xiaochuan's recent communication as showing China's progress. "The biggest issue about the renminbi is people fear they don't know how decisions are being made. Now Governor Zhou is coming out and saying they are looking at a basket of currencies and making decisions based on the yuan's relation with a basket of currencies, "China is on a very good path. Governor Zhou is communicating, he is even communicating in English, which I think is really important. What you are going to see is more transparency," he said. The importance of communication also applies to the Chinese economy. "Chinese leaders have said they are going to move away from a strategy based on investment and export to consumption and service. That's happening. China is engaging in reforms in the financial sector, hukou (household registration) system and healthcare sector," Kim said. "We are working with them on these reforms. We are right here on the ground to work with China, so we are much more optimistic about what's happening here than some observers from outside," he said. However, Kim said it is critical for China to "maintain the momentum of structural reform". The second issue is to keep communicating, and more frequently and broadly. He disclosed that throughout half of his meeting with Li, the premier discussied how to foster China's new economic drivers. "This is his top priority. He wants to think about all the different ways that China could grow in the future," he said. Kim said the World Bank is pleased that Li has trusted it to do a third report on policy recommendations on China, about the country's healthcare reform. The bank previously undertook two studies with a Chinese think tank on China's 2030 growth strategy, and urbanization. Both stimulated wide debate and made an impact. Commenting on its cooperation with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Kim said the World Bank will co-finance with the AIIB. But beyond specific projects, what he sees as most important is China's embrace of "multilateralism". "When you have multilateral institutions as your premise, and you are trying to ensure all countries work together," he said, adding the world expects more China's leadership. zhengyangpeng@chinadaily.com.cn BEIJING - A former senior official in South China's Guangzhou was dispelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) for serious discipline violations. Wu Sha, a former standing committee member of the CPC Guangzhou Municipal Committee and head of the municipal Commission for Political and Legal Affairs, will no longer enjoy pensions and other services for retired officials and will have his illegal gains confiscated, according to a statement released late Friday by the party's disciplinary agency. He may also face a lawsuit for suspected crime of taking bribes. An internal investigation found Wu had seriously violated the frugality rules, accepting gifts and cash by himself or via his family members, according to the statement. He abused his power to help others gain benefits and accepted huge amount of bribes from them. He had affairs with other women, trading power and money for sex. He also forged identity cards for gambling, it said. Christine Lagarde, the chief of IMF. [Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily] A new "Plaza Accord" to intervene in the foreign exchange market is "not on the cards" of global leaders as they gathered here to discuss ways to address economic woes, International Monetary Fund chief said at a news conference on Saturday. "Frankly it's just not on the cards, and not debated by finance ministers and central bank governors," Christine Lagarde said when responding to questions about any possible "Plaza Accord". The Plaza Accord is an agreement between France, West Germany, Japan, the United States and Britain in 1985 that allowed the US dollar to weaken significantly through joint intervention in currency markets. Market calculation before and during the G20 meeting was that world's top economic decision-makers would seize the chance to strike a deal similar to the Plaza Accord. However, the communique at the end of the meeting disappointed many speculators, which just expressed general rejection of "competitive devaluation". The communique said downside risks and vulnerabilities have risen, but the magnitude of recent market volatility "has not reflected the underlying fundamentals of the global economy", reducing the need for aggressive crisis-level response. "Conditions for that are just not there," Lagarde explained. "(To justify that) you would need a massive misalignment, you would need the set of actions as a result to reach whatever targets identified. We are just not talking about that." However, she called on G20 nations to have a "renewed sense of urgency", "a renewed sense for collective actions on multiple fronts, including monetary and fiscal policies, and structural reform." "I called on leaders to go 'bold', go 'broad', go 'together' in implementing these structural reforms," she said. GUANGZHOU -- China's southern province of Guangdong reported two new Zika infections on Saturday, according to local health authorities. The patients are two Chinese siblings who returned from Venezuela. One of them, a six-year-old boy, was found having a fever when he arrived at Guangzhou's Baiyun International Airport on Feb. 25, according to the Guangdong Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission. Meanwhile, the boy's eight-year-old sister were found to have developed a rash. The two were confirmed to have contracted the Zika virus on Saturday, and are receiving treatment in hospital. With eight confirmed imported Zika virus cases and the weather beginning to warm up across the country, China is on high alert. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaks in a video message to the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting that opened in Shanghai, east China, Feb. 26, 2016.[Photo/Xinhua] Editor's note: The following is full text of a video message for the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting delivered by Premier Li Keqiang on Feb 26. Distinguished Representatives, Ladies and Gentlemen, This year is the first for China to hold the G20 presidency. It is also the first time for the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting to be held in China. On behalf of the Chinese government, let me extend a warm welcome to you all. We meet at a time of sluggish world economic recovery and growth. Global trade remains at a low level. Volatilities continue in the international financial market. Destabilizing factors and uncertainties are on the rise. The international community has greater expectations for the G20 to demonstrate leadership. The G20 has a role to help resolve outstanding issues and end impetus to world economic recovery and growth. This year, the G20 Summit will be held in Hangzhou. The theme will be "Towards an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy". It will serve to build consensus, promote cooperation and enable actions. I am sure the meetings on fiscal and financial sectors will contribute to the success of the Summit. I believe the following are important for the G20: - Macroeconomic policy coordination needs to be strengthened. The global economic and financial situation may have become more grim and complex. It is time for countries to stand together to tide over difficulties. When formulating national macroeconomic policies, G20 members need to keep in mind not just their own growth. They also need to look after the spillover effects of their policies. They need to increase communication and coordination, and work together to ensure stability of the international financial market. - Structural reforms need to be carried forward. The international financial crisis showed that quantitative easing policies could hardly remove structural obstacles to growth. They might even lead to more negative externalities. Our focus should rather remain on structural reforms. Countries face different circumstances. What is desirable is innovation, deregulation, more competition and greater openness. This way, the economy will grow more vibrant. - Global economic and financial governance needs to be improved. The recent IMF quota reform made positive progress. We hope G20 members will continue to advance reform of international financial institutions. The international monetary system may be further improved and global taxation cooperation deepened. Working together, we could make the global economic system more fair, just and open. Ladies and Gentlemen, China is the largest developing country. It has contributed significantly to world economic growth along with other countries. China's GDP grew by 6.9 percent last year. That was for an economy worth over $10 trillion. The growth rate was one of the highest among major economies in the world. Positive progress has been made in structural adjustment. The service sector already accounts for over 50 percent of the GDP. Consumption is contributing much more to economic growth. One thing to highlight is the over 13 million new urban jobs, including new jobs created for the millions of college graduates. Though China's economic growth is lower than before, employment rate is steady and growing. That means our efforts in fostering new drives to growth and developing new economy are paying off. We have the confidence to handle the complex situation at home and abroad. In the face of risks and challenges, we will not look the other way. We will tackle them head on with a holistic approach. The Chinese economy as real potential, resilience and flexibility. We will expand aggregate demand as appropriate, and focus on structural reforms. We will press ahead with supply-side structural reform, and continue to streamline administration, delegate power, enhance regulation and improve services. China's development strategy is one driven by innovation. We encourage mass entrepreneurship and innovation. We will take steps to unleash the people's enthusiasm and ingenuity as well as the market's vitality and creativity of the public. The purpose is to foster new drivers to growth an upgrade traditional growth drivers. China will continue with market-oriented and rule-based financial reform. We will cultivate an open and transparent capital market and ensure that it enjoys long-term, steady and healthy development. We will pursue a managed floating exchange rate regime based on market demand and supply and with reference to a basket of currencies. There is no basis for continued depreciation of the RMB exchange rate. It will stay basically stable on an adaptable and equilibrium level. China's continued growth and reform and opening up provide a solid basis to support steady performance of its financial markets. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Chinese people have just celebrated the traditional Chinese New Year. As the saying goes, plan for the whole year starts in spring. Together, let's move forward the agenda for social and financial cooperation, and make the G20 a truely premier forum for internaitonal economic cooperation. Let's work together to promote strong, sustainable an balanced growth of the world economy. I wish this meeting a full success. Thank you very much. Jiufen [Photo/sohu.com] Until gold was found in Jiufen in Taiwan in 1893 it was a rather sleepy town, and indeed in its early days, during the Qing Dynasty (1368-1644), just nine families are said to have lived there. Because of poor transport at the time, whoever went out of the then village, located in what is now Ruifang district of Xinbei city, usually bought everything in nine packages, one for each family. Thus the name Jiufen, jiu meaning nine and fen parts. But when gold was discovered there in 1893 the mountain-side village was transformed into a town in which 40,000 people eventually lived, and tightly packed buildings eventually competed with one another on the hillsides, linked with labyrinth of narrow, winding paths. The Japanese colonizers of Taiwan between 1895 and 1945 took control of the gold reserves along with the Yan family in the town of Keelung, near Jiufen. More than 80 gold pits operated at the height of the gold boom, and many of its inhabitants led affluent lives in a buzzing town that never seemed to sleep. Predictably, as the gold resources began to dwindle in the late 1950s, the town's life blood seeped slowly away and by the early 1970s the gold was finished and the town became a sleepy relic of what it had been for nearly 80 years. But it started to attract artists with its beautiful landscape, winding paths and old buildings, and as sculptors and ceramic artists began to move in there was a mini renaissance. That began to be cemented in the early 1990s after the release of the film A City of Sadness, which was filmed in Jiufen, and which won the Gold Lion award at the 46th Venice Film Festival in 1989. The town has now become a tourist magnet, and its shops, restaurants, teahouses, cafe and home-stay inns have become thriving businesses. Many of those who visit the town are there for less than a day, so one way of experiencing it at its quietest best is to stay for a night or two. Jiufen, a mountain-side town, in Ruifang district, Xinbei city, draws tourists with its landscape, local specialities and gold heritage. [Photo by Lin Jinghua / China Daily] Lost luster found as block buster movie pulls in tourists When the film director Hou Hsiao-Hsien was making his award-winning film A City of Sadness in Jiufen in 1989 he could scarcely have realized what a service he was doing to the town, which is about a 90-minute drive from downtown Taipei. The film, set between 1945 and 1950, depicts the life of the four brothers of the Lin family, and its background is the February 28 Incident in Taiwan in 1947, an anti-government uprising that took place exactly 69 years ago this weekend. I imagine Hou chose Jiufen as a location for his film because it perfectly captured the mood he wanted to depict. That dark mood of the late 1940s was no doubt inextricably linked to the tragedy of the thousands who died as the uprising was quelled, while the somber air Hou found in Jiufen in 1989 may have had something to do with the fact that by then Jiufen was a mere shadow of the thriving gold town that had existed there in the earlier part of the century. On a foggy morning early this month I visited Jiufen, which, thanks mostly to Hou using it in his film, has turned into a tourist attraction over the past 25 years and regained some of its earlier verve. After a train and bus trip from Taipei I stood in a narrow street bathed in fog. I latched on to a group of people who were ambling along, and we ended up in a cobblestoned lane that turned out to be a mecca for food. Representatives from organizations cohosting the 10th World Shakespeare Congress attend a press briefing at the Globe Theater in London, Feb 26, 2016. [Photo by Liu Jing/chinadaily.com.cn] More than 1,000 academics, researchers and artists are expected to attend a grand ceremony this summer in the United Kingdom to commemorate William Shakespeare, 400 years after the death of the master playwright. The 10th World Shakespeare Congress, from July 31 to August 6, will be the greatest gathering of Shakespearians anywhere in the world, according to organizers. The event, dedicated to celebrate Shakespeare's memory and the global cultural legacy, will take place in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's hometown, and London, where he made his name. "Shakespeare's death 400 years ago was, in a sense, another birth: that of the on-going proliferation of his words, ideas, stories, and characters across the globe, where they have repeatedly become the occasion for new bursts of human creativity in almost every conceivable art form," said Professor Peter Holbrook, Chairman of the International Shakespeare Association (ISA). The World Shakespeare Congress as an idea was first initiated in 1971. Since then, the event has been held by the ISA every five years in countries including the UK, the US, Germany, Japan, Spain, Australia and the Czech Republic. "It's entirely fitting then, in this quarter centenary year, to bring Shakespeare home," Holbrook said. The 2016 congress, titled "Creating and recreating Shakespeare", is co-hosted by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Royal Shakespeare Company, The University of Birmingham's Shakespeare Institute, Shakespeare's Globe, and the London Shakespeare Centre at King's College London. During a news briefing in London on Friday, organizers of the congress welcomed people from all around the world to take part in the celebration. "It's not just for scholars. It's for Shakespeare enthusiasts all around the world. It's for theater goers. It's for anyone who loves Shakespeare," said Professor Gordon McMullan, Director of the London Shakespeare Center at King's College London, during the news briefing at the Globe Theatre in London. During the congress, participants will have access to a rich series of seminars, workshops and performances. In Stratford-upon-Avon, they will have opportunities to tour the newly presented Shakespeare's New Place, the site of Shakespeare's grand family home and a candlelight visit will be arranged at the playwright's grave. People interested in the congress can now register online at the event's official website (www.wsc2016.info). The registration closes on May 1. China Ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming delivers a keynote speech at the inaugural event of the Generation UK : China Network in London on Feb 26, 2016. [Photo by Song Wei/chinadaily.com.cn] London China and the UK can plan for "a hundred years - even a thousand years of relations" by "growing people", Liu Xiaoming, China ambassador to the United Kingdom said, addressing the inauguration of Generation UK : China Network in London on Friday. Citing British Prime Minister David Cameron, when he adapted a traditional Chinese saying at a Chinese New Year reception this year "If you want one year of prosperity, you grow grain. If you want ten years of prosperity, you grow trees. If you want one hundred years of prosperity, you grow people. If you want a thousand years of prosperity, you grow relationships between peoples," the ambassador highlighted the importance of people-to-people exchanges as "a most active and key role to play as China and the UK embark on a 'Golden Era' of relations". The inauguration of the Network on Friday is the "natural outcome of decades of student exchanges between China and the UK", said Liu. Statistics show about 35,000 British students have studied in China over the past 40 years, and now among the more than 377,000 world students in China, 7,000 are from Britain. As China will soon begin a new journey with the adoption of the 13th Five-Year Plan, and China and the UK are also beginning a new journey, when much can be achieved as the two countries work together, the ambassador said. "I hope that young Chinese and British students will pool their wisdom and strength, and work together to create a more splendid 'Golden Era' of China-UK relations." The ambassador also announced a new short-term Chinese government scholarship scheme - the first of its kind for UK students as "a special gift" for the inaugural event. In the academic year 2016-2017, this short-term scheme will fund 150 British university students for a two-month study or internship in China. The Generation UK : China Network, jointly organized by the British Council and the Chinese Embassy in the UK, is an association of alumni joined by British individuals who have studied and worked in China . Aiming to extend and deepen the engagement of young British nationals with China once they have returned to the UK, the network revolves around an interactive and events-focused LinkedIn group. Elena Christodoulou, Business Manager of BT Global Services UK and Global Banking Financial Markets, shared how valuable experience of China can be as one of the Leading Lights for the Network. The Leading Lights are successful individuals who have benefited from their time in China. "The benefits of being in China were vast. I got to see first-hand how one of the world's fastest growing economy was transforming; how people were founding a new way of working blurring industry lines and pushing boundaries, empowered by the ethos of entrepreneurism and enabled by technology," said Elena, recalling her six-month work rotation in Beijing back in September 2014. James Kynge, Emerging Market Editor of the Financial Times, another Leading Light of the Network, said by drawing on his 25-year experience living abroad, "China is a place for great humor and immense fun... China is by far the most conversationally free and vigorously debating society I've ever been in." Kynge emphasized the slogan "Be China ready, and play total China" for members of the Network. "It doesn't matter whether you are in China, or here or in a third country, you need to be able to interact with Chinese, you need to have an understanding of Chinese economy and business, and most important of all, you need to operate in Chinese." Kynge, who went to study in China in 1982, is also the President of the Association for Speakers of Chinese as a Second Language. China has been the consistent thread in his career as a researcher, journalist and businessman. Sir Ciaran Devane, Chief Executive of the British Council, said: "The idea of the Network is more than an alumni association... It's about remembering to stay engaged with China, to continue to be involved with that engagement." Devane asked the fellows of the Network to maintain the connection and love with China, and encourage others to do so. The Network is a key element of a larger campaign of British Council named "Generation UK-China," which was launched in 2013. Through this campaign, the number of British students who have study or work experience in China is expect to reach 80,000 by 2020. To contact the reporter: songwei@chinadaily.com.cn Wang Jianlin, chairman of Wanda, speaks at a news conference for the opening a Wanda movie park in Wuhan, Hubei province, in this December 20, 2014 file photo. [Photo/Agencies] Wanda Group announced a 3 billion euro cultural, tourism and commercial centre to be built next to France's Charles de Gaulle airport, the Chinese conglomerate's biggest ever project in Europe. Working with Auchan, the French retail giant, the project will provide work for 20,000 people during its construction and development phase, and employ 14,000 when it is up and running. The complex will be built on an 80 hectare site, with the buildings covering 760,000 squarfe metres. Wanda chairman Wang Jianlin, China's richest man, held a meeting with France's President Francois Hollande to discuss the project, which has the support of both French and Chinese governments. When finished the complex will contain an indoor/outdoor theme park, a performance area, hotels, a business centre and a conference centre. Charles de Gaulle airport lies just over 30 kilometres from the centre of Paris and has road, rail and bus links with the French capital. To contact the reporter: chris@mail.chinadailyuk.com (Photo : Reuters) Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (C) shakes hands with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) as Dung's wife Tran Thanh Kien looks on in the above photo. Vietnam has invited India to expand its exploration for resources in its territorial waters in the South China Sea. Advertisement With a strongly-worded reiteration of its territorial claims over the Paracel and Spratly Islands, the government of Vietnam on Wednesday invited strategic partner India to its expand its exploration of natural resources within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Ton Sin Thanh, Vietnam's ambassador to India, extended the invitation during a workshop in New Delhi organized by the ML Sondhi Institute for Asia Pacific Affairs (MLSIAPA), India's National Maritime Foundation (NMF) and the Center for China Analysis and Strategy (CSAS), a New Delhi-based think tank. "We shall continue to cooperate with other countries, including India, to explore and exploit natural resources within our 200-nautical-mile EEZ," Thanh said. Building Muscle Hanoi -- a vocal critic of Beijing's policies in the South China Sea -- recently urged the UN to condemn China for its reported deployment of surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries on Woody Island, in the Paracels. "Let us be sure and clear that both Paracel and Spratly Islands in SCS belong to Vietnam," said Thanh at the New Delhi gathering, using an acronym for the South China Sea. India and Vietnam have deepened their defense and economic partnerships, and analysts claim rising tensions in the region have pushed both nations to add considerable muscle to their armed forces in recent years. India was the world's largest importer of arms between the years 2011 to 2015, according to the latest report of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on the global trade in military hardware. Vietnam ranked eighth during the same period -- a huge leap from its position in the previous five-year period, when it was in 43rd place. In a bid to counter China, Hanoi has over the past few years purchased six Russian-made Kilo class submarines, 36 Sukhoi Su-30MK2 fighter jets, six stealth frigates, six fast attack craft, and -- more recently -- a sophisticated Israeli air defense system. Strained Ties "We have full historical evidence and legal foundation to confirm our sovereignty over those islands which in fact have been owned and controlled peacefully and continuously by Vietnam since the 17th century -- when no other countries claimed their sovereignty over those islands," Ambassador Thanh said of the Spratly and Paracel archipelagos. The Vietnamese government has awarded resource-rich oil blocks to India in the South China Sea, from where the Indian company ONGC Videsh Limited supplies oil to Vietnam. The company sought Vietnam's approval last year for an extension of its license of exploration for one of the blocks in an area that is not subject to territorial disputes. While India's presence in the South China Sea is prompted by strictly commercial interests, analysts claim its increasing partnerships with China's political adversaries have begun to draw some attention in Beijing. East Asia policy expert Erik French says India's ties with nations such as Vietnam and Japan have created a measure of tension in its otherwise warm relations with China. "China's strong relations with Pakistan, India's primary international antagonist, are a constant source of concern for India," French wrote in a recent report for Global Risk Insights. "India's budding cooperation with the US and Japan similarly strains India's ties with China." In May last year, India, the US and Japan issued a joint statement calling for a peaceful settlement of disputes, freedom of navigation and unimpeded lawful commerce in the South China Sea. In January, India announced plans to build a satellite tracking station in southern Vietnam. Although billed as a civilian facility, security experts have said the station will likely allow Hanoi improve its military reconnaissance and imaging technology over China and the South China Sea. Advertisement TagsChina-Vietnam relations, China-India relations, Territorial disputes in the South China Sea (Photo : Getty Images) Chinas Central Bank chief has stated that China would not stage another devaluation of the Yuan to support its sliding economy. Advertisement Speaking at a G20 meeting of Central Bank Governors and Finance Ministers in Shanghai, the chief of the People's Bank of China (PBOC) Zhou Xiaochuan clarified that China would not stage another devaluation of the Yuan, adding that the Central Bank still has enough room and tools in its monetary policy to cope with potential downslide. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Zhou said he is still optimistic about China's economy despite the ongoing downturn. This is the second time that Zhou has publicly denied speculations about an impending devaluation of the Yuan following an interview with Caixin earlier this month. Addressing concerns about China's falling foreign exchange reserves, the head of China's central bank said that he is not concerned about China's external payment situation. He described that the recent fluctuation in reserves as 'normal.' On critical issue of reforms, Zhou called for patience. He said that reforms will be implemented when new conditions and opportunities demand it. "While the reform direction is clear, managing the reform pace will need windows (of opportunity) and conditions...The pace will vary, but the reform will be set to continue and the direction is not changed", Zhou said. International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagard has said that China faces structural reform challenges as the country seeks to open up its financial sector and shift the economy from debt-fueled investment. Global financial leaders at the ongoing G20 meeting in Shanghai are seeking new ways to calm global volatile markets and spur economic growth in the wake of the ongoing crisis in the Chinese economy. The downturn in China's economy is the special focus of the meeting as world financial leaders are seeking assurance from Chinese leaders that they will take constructive steps to stall the downturn. Advertisement TagsHead of People's Bank of China, Zhou Xiaochuan, Chinese Economy Chiswick grandson of founder of 'Wipers Times' celebrates its centenary Participate Sign up for our weekly Chiswick newsletter Comment on this story on the A Chiswick resident is celebrating the centenary of the "unofficial newspaper of the Western Front", written and edited by his grandfather, often under fire in the trenches at Ypres and the Somme. The story of the 'Wipers Times' was turned into a BBC film written by Ian Hislop and starring Michael Palin, and is now the focus for a 'spoof' newspaper by a German publication. Die Welt, the German broadsheet, has created a special edition of the British trench newspaper in a bid to persuade the UK to remain in the EU ahead of the referendum later this year. Renamed The Fritz Times (in honour of the First World War nickname for Germans), it states: One thing is undeniable and we proclaim it loud and clear: we are grateful that the British rescued democracy in the 20th century. Today, we need you for a successful European Union. Nick Roberts, who has lived in Chiswick for over thirty years, says he is very proud of his grandfather Col Fred (FJ) Robert's legacy. And he says, the 'spoof' newspaper has captured the British style of humour very well. The spoof is the brainchild of Martin Lengemann, a staff photographer on Die Welt, who came up with idea for the project after a 750km trip along the old boundaries of the Western Front to mark the centenary of the Great War. The original idea for the trench newspaper came on February 12th, 1916 when Col Roberts was holed up in a Ypres trench with a colleague Jack Pearson as part of the 12th Battalion, the Sherwood Foresters. They came across an abandoned printing press and decided to make use of it. The paper consisted of poems, reflections, wry in-jokes and lampoons of the military situation the Division was in. In general the paper maintained a humorously ironic style that today can be recognised in satirical magazines such as Private Eye. It was named The Wipers Times, after the British soldiers pronunciation of 'Ypres, and ran for 23 issues between February 1916 and December 1918. The 'spoof' newspaper is the 24th edition. Nick Roberts says of his grandfather: "He took a lot of risks. He was correcting proofs of the paper in a hut at Hellfire Corner, Menin Road. But he did it for the Tommies, who lived in awful conditions, especially the pioneer battalions. It was an antidote to the situation really. He found a strain of humour that they could identify with. It was a good boost to morale." Col Roberts was an adventurer by nature, had lived in Gibraltar, travelled in Malaya and trekked across north Borneo, before working with mining company De Beers in South Africa. When the War broke out in 1914, he returned to the UK and enlisted. As 2nd Lieut Roberts, he put in charge of a pioneer battalion and saw service in Ypres and at the Somme. After the war he returned home to the UK to his wife and then ten-year old son- Nick's father. He worked in the Daily Mail for a while, before returning to a career in mining. In later life as a widower, he moved to America, married an American author and spent the rest of his life in Toronto, Canada. Nick Roberts recalls his grandfather coming to visiting the family in the UK when he was aged eight. "We never asked about his personal experience in the war- you didn't talk about it in those days. He was a lovely man and had a twinkle in his eye. He bought me my first bike." After his father's death, Nick read his grandfather's memoirs and became interested in the family connection with The Wipers Times. He is delighted that the public interest in the newspaper has continued down through the years. February 21, 2016 Three devout Christians made statements last week that point to the challenge for evangelicals as we step into the muddy waters of another electoral season. The first comes from Pope Francis. Responding to Donald Trumps views on illegal immigration from our southern border, he said that anyone who wants to build a wall is not Christian. I didnt think the Pope was judging Trumps relationship to God (hes said on other occasions, Who am I to judge?). I think he was making a moral pronouncement about the wall: He was saying it would be unchristianor immoralto build such a wall. I trust we never get to a point where morality and policy are completely divorced. But in this instance, as in so many, its difficult to determine what in fact is the Christian position. Despite the ugly rhetoric, Trump and friends are deeply concerned about the security of US citizens. This is a moral concern, a Christian concernwe want to protect the lives and jobs of our fellow citizens. I dont happen to think building a wall is the best way to achieve security, nor the best way to live up to our national ideas of welcoming the tired, poor, and huddled masses yearning to breathe free. My Christian faith informs my judgment. But it would be self-righteous to say that mine is the Christian position and that any other is not Christian. Many political solutions are rife with moral ambiguity. The security barrier that separates Israel from the West Bank is a deeply troubling phenomenon: it divides people, brings unnecessary hardship to those who must cross it daily to work, ... 1 The plot to Ave Maria is as improbable as it is provocative. A Jewish settler family crashes their car into a statue of the Virgin Mary at a Palestinian Carmelite monastery in the West Bank. Bound by the onset of Sabbath, the Jews can do little to get home. Bound by a vow of silence, the nuns can do little to help. Bound by mutual distrust and annoyance, the odd couple pairing can do little but bicker. Fortunately, spellbound by the comedic touch of 34-year-old producer Basil Khalil, critics around the world can do little but laugh. This 14-minute short (trailer below) already won top prizes at film festivals in Grenoble, Montpellier, and Dubai before securing a nomination for best live-action short film at this years 88th Academy Awards. Ave Maria is Khalils second comedic venture into the deeply divisive and often somber portrayal of the Arab-Israeli conflict. His 2005 Ping Pong Revenge illustrated the cycles of misery each side inflicts on the other, but in the style of a satirical musical. Khalils short film is not the only recent cinematic foray into the lives of Middle East Christians. The widely acclaimed documentary Open Bethlehem is a passionate account of efforts to intervene in the citys tragic decline. May in the Summer mirrors Ave Marias mix of religious tension and comedic drama as a successful Jordanian Christian author returns home to marry her Muslim fiancee and runs headlong into deep-seated cultural taboos. Khalil knows them well. The son of a Palestinian-Israeli father and British mother, he grew up in Nazareth, near a Carmelite monastery not unlike the one in his film. Oddly enough, he was not allowed to watch movies as a child, developing a love of storytelling from ... 1 Several faith leaders were asked to write brief comments about the future of Roe. I was glad to see that I was not the only person asked who sees life as beginning at conception and who is ready to see Roe overturned. UNC excavation crew in Galilee region of Israel uncover first known depictions of biblical heroines An excavation team in Israel has discovered the first known depiction of two biblical heroines from the Old Testament. World to reach 8 billion people in November, India to unseat China as most populous in 2023: UN By Nov. 15, the worlds population is projected to reach 8 billion, and by 2023, India is projected to surpass China as the worlds most populous country, according to a new report from the United Nations. Single, non-religious young adults are most unhappy Americans post-COVID-19: report Young adults under 35 who are single and non-religious report the highest levels of unhappiness since the COVID-19 pandemic began and since 1972, when the General Social Survey began measuring levels of happiness among Americans, a new analysis from the Institute of Family Studies suggests. ISIS targets Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, Twitter's Jack Dorsey for their anti-terror social media efforts Supporters of the Islamic State (ISIS) released a video that threatened Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey for their efforts in closing down ISIS-related accounts on their respective social media platforms. The video was released by a group named "the sons of the Caliphate army" in which the photos of the two are riddled with bullets, according to USA Today. Vocativ's deep web analysts discovered the video on the social media site Telegram, which is frequented by ISIS. The video titled "Flames of the Supporters" ends with threats to Zuckerberg and Dorsey. "You announce daily that you suspend many of our accounts, and to you we say: Is that all you can do? You are not in our league. If you close one account we will take 10 in return and soon your names will be erased after we delete your sites, Allah willing, and will know that we say is true," the text on the video read, Vocativ reported. The video is available online. It showed hackers changing profile accounts and posting ISIS propaganda. They claimed that they have hacked more than 10,000 Facebook accounts, more than 150 Facebook groups and more than 5,000 Twitter accounts. "Many of these accounts have been given to supporters," the video says. Social media companies are under pressure to close down accounts used by ISIS in its propaganda to recruit members. "We don't want people doing that kind of stuff on Facebook," Zuckerberg said at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week. He added, "If we have opportunities to basically work with governments and folks to make sure that there aren't terrorist attacks then we're going to take those opportunities and we feel a pretty strong responsibility to help make sure that society is safe." Twitter recently announced that it has suspended 125,000 accounts related to ISIS in the past six months. The strategy is working, according to a George Washington University study. However, Veryan Khan, editorial director at the Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium, said "the bounce back for the Islamic State will be fairly effortless." "The Islamic State has been preparing their sympathisers for this type of event. Loads of Just Paste Its and Dump To bins as well as 'how to' videos have been circulating over this month on how to create dozens of backup accounts easily including creating false working phone numbers for those using Tor," she said. In 2014, Twitter received death threats after it started cracking down on terrorists. Islam pushing world towards End Times as it welcomes the Antichrist (Mahdi), says Christian scholar Michael Youssef Islam is pushing the world towards the end times where Muslims believe their messiah the Mahdi will appear, popular Christian Pastor, biblical scholar and author Michael Youssef writes in his new book. However, Youssef proposes that the Mahdi is the evil Antichrist himself, who is described in the Bible as the one figure who will bring about the end of the world. In "The End Times & the Secret of the Mahdi," Youssef details how biblical prophesies are being fulfilled leading toward the events described in the Book of Revelation and elsewhere in the Bible. Youssef, the head of the global outreach ministry Leading the Way and founder of Atlanta's Church of the Apostles, says conditions are rife for the coming of the Antichrist. "I came to the conclusion that we are coming into the period of time like we have never seen before in history," Youssef told CBN News recently in an interview. Youssef, who was born in predominantly Muslim Egypt, said he deeply loves Islamic people but believes their religion is opening the gate for the Antichrist. "He [the Antichrist] will lull the world into believing in him, even worshipping him as their messiah. But he will end up abusing humanity like it's never been tormented before," Youssef says in the promotional video for his new book. Youssef quotes Muslim scholars in his book on what Islam preaches about their messiah. "When their messiah comes, he's going to cover the whole world," he says. "He's going to rule the world. And he's going to declare himself to be a Muslim. And he's going to turn on the Christians and the Jews." Youssef says the Bible also states the same thing about the Antichrist. Youssef cites other parallels he sees between the Mahdi and the Antichrist in the CBN interview. "He will call himself 'the man of peace.' That he's going to come at a time of chaos and confusion and people longing for somebody to guide them and lead them and bring them peace because they will be worn out," Youssef says. Both the Bible and Islam talk about this figure's seven-year global reign from Jerusalem and say this figure of "peace" will turn out to be excessively violent. "He's going to begin to persecute people. He's going to demand their worship," Youssef says. "Same thing on the other sidethat he's going to kill everybody who does not worship him." He says some Shiites, particularly those in Iran, have actually been trying to shape world events to bring about coming of the Mahdi. "He will appear when the world is in chaos and he will bring peace," Youssef says. "So (Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad, the former president of Iran, basically wanted to stir up trouble and get the nuclear weapons so they could attack Israel and create an atmosphere of chaos, so to force their Mahdior the 12th caliphateto show up." Some of the most violent Sunnis are trying to set off the end times as well, Youssef adds, referring to the Islamic State (ISIS). "They also have that concept that when chaos and bloodshed reign supremeand that's why they're shedding so much bloodthat their messiah will come." However, Youssef says Christians should not fear. "The Lord said, 'When you see these signs, lift up your head, for the day of your redemption is drawing nigh.' And so, far from being afraid and worried and concerned, we should be rejoicing," Youssef says. The Bible warns that the world will be deceived by Antichrist's global false religion, which at first will tolerate and bring all religions together. In this regard, Youssef notes about the emergence of "Chrislam"a combination of Christianity and Islam. "There is something that is rampant among mainline denominations called Chrislam," Youssef states. "There are churches in Canada and the United States where they read from the Quran as well as the Bible. There are churches that have the Quran in the pews." But there is a way to be immune from false religion, Youssef says. "If a person is a genuine believer in Jesus Christ, he will not be deceived," Youssef says. "The Holy Spirit is going to give us discernment that we will be able to tell the difference." Philippine Catholic Church may re-evaluate contraceptive stance after Pope Francis says 'avoiding pregnancy not absolute evil' Following Pope Francis' controversial and apparently spur-of-the-moment suggestion that there may be circumstances in which married couples can use contraception, the Philippine Catholic Church wasted little time in signifying its willingness to modify its stance on birth control. Previously, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) was a stern opponent of the reproductive health law that provides major government funding for contraceptives, LifeSite News reported. Things drastically changed last week when Pope Francis spoke to reporters onboard the papal plane returning to Rome from his pastoral visit to Mexico. In an off-the-cuff statement, the pope told the journalists that "avoiding pregnancy is not an absolute evil." CBCP president Archbishop Socrates Villegas quickly issued a statement based on the pope's remarks. In his statement titled "Truth with Love and Mercy," Villegas noted two important moral precepts that Pope Francis mentioned. "First, there may be circumstances that invite a re-evaluation of the judgment on artificial means of contraception; second, the prodding of conscience should always be heeded, as long as every effort is made to form conscience properly," Villegas said. However, Father Shenan Boquet, president of Human Life International, told LifeSiteNews that the Church's teaching on the evil of contraception is "unchangeable." "As the Brazilian bishops recently affirmed in addressing the threat posed by the Zika virus, the actual Church teaching on the matter of couples using contraception is unequivocal: The use of contraceptive methods by married couples to prevent pregnancy is always morally illicit," he said. Fr. Boquet questioned the pope's action, saying that "doctrinal truths cannot be changed by a statement made in a press release or interview," adding that doctrinal teaching against contraception is laid down in the papal encyclicals Casti Connubii (by Pope Pius XI in 1930) and Humanae Vitae (by Pope Paul VI in 1968). Archbishop Villegas disagrees. He said the Pope's statement that the "evil of contraception was not of the same magnitude as the evil of abortion" is "clearly sound moral reasoning." But Fr. Boquet said this distinction is irrelevant in light of the above Church teachings against the use of contraception. "In light of these doctrinal teachings, it is difficult to understand the reference to the use of contraception as 'a lesser evil,' as compared with abortion. This may be the case, but it is morally irrelevant, since the same teachings that engage this question reaffirm that an evil may never be chosen that a good might come from it," he said. We are 'better together' say Christians for EU First there was Christians for Britain, a new movement launched by leading church and laymen to campaign for Brexit. Now a former Dean of Durham has launched the opposite, Christians for EU, with the slogan: "Yes to the EU". Unlike the Christian Brexit campaign, there is no website but the Christian "in" campaign is attempting to build support on Twitter. #EUreferendum is about vision & hope. Christian values point to an open generous UK within a family of peoples committed to the common good. Christians for EU (@Xians4EU) February 21, 2016 The group has also assembled its own scriptural argument with verses that could be used to support the "in" campaign, just as Christian Brexiters can back an "out" vote with passages from the Bible. Michael Sadgrove, Dean of Durham between 2003 and 2015 and now one of the Church of Engand's most prolific bloggers, told Christian Today: "It would be a rash person who tried to predict the outcome of the vote in the Referendum. There are plenty of Christians for Brexit as well as plenty who want to stay in. "I would love to think that because of their belief in the Church as a sign of unity of the human race, the majority would be in favour of staying in. That may be true but I think at the moment it is a case of instinct rather than argument." He said the historical, cultural and physical roots of Britain were in Europe. "It is where we have come from and belonged, pretty much all of our history." The EU is a strong association with the potential to do great good in the world, he said. "I can't see us tackling terrorism, climate change and security on our own. We are always better together." If Twitter is any guide, so far the Brexits are winning. At the time of writing, @Xtians4Britain had 1,047 followers while @Xians4EU had just 338. AUSTIN -- The last time Bernie Sanders came to Texas, his presidential campaign was widely seen as the longest of long shots. In a triumphant return Saturday, he received an ovation befitting a major candidate. Sanders, a United States senator from Vermont, rallied more than 6,000 supporters at a racing track here with a fiery message about the need to dismantle the country's campaign finance system and significantly increase government support of citizens. "There is a political revolution brewing in this country and I can feel it right here in Austin today," said Sanders, who describes himself as a Democratic socialist. "With your help, we can take a giant step forward in moving this political revolution if we win here in Texas." The event, the senator's first in Texas since last July, came three days before Texans cast their ballots on one of the biggest days of the Democratic primary. A dozen states vote on so-called Super Tuesday, but none are bigger than the Lone Star State, where 251 delegates are at stake. Sanders is not expected to beat former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Texas, but he has been closing his once-massive deficit, thanks in part to a more aggressive voter outreach effort. His campaign has said it is hoping for a strong showing that coupled with victories elsewhere could show that he is still a viable challenger to Clinton. In Austin, Sanders expressed confidence. "If all of you come out to vote and you bring your friends and your neighbors and your coworkers, we are going to win here in Texas," he said. The candidate also repeatedly attacked his chief rival, alleging that Clinton is funded by corporate interests, is too supportive of trade policies that hurt American workers and erred on the "most important foreign policy" issue in recent times by voting for the war in Iraq. Sanders repeated promises to expand Social Security and government-funded health care, tax Wall Street speculation to raise money to make public college free for all and generally reduce the power of corporations -- a vow that seemed a little strange coming from a candidate standing near huge banners for Pizza Hat and other companies that advertise at Circuit of the Americas. Recognizing that he was in Republican-dominated Texas, Sanders also delivered a blunt message to the state political leaders who deny climate change. "They're wrong. I'm right," he said. Sanders is scheduled to rally supporters in Grand Prairie later in the day. The summers final Live on the Waterfront concert was held Wednesday evening at Prince Arthurs Landing. The popular series in Thunder Bay has completed nine weekly shows that began on July 13. Wednesdays concert was unique as it was held one hour later in the evening to mesh with the 10 p. It is 'Present Time' for the Matt Parker Trio on New BYNK Records Release [REVIEW] Sax man Matt Parker is in 'Present Time' on new CD. (Photo : courtesy Terri Hinte Public Relations) Leave it to Matt Parker to follow up his 2013 Worlds Put Together debut -- which had his tenor sax augmented by bass, drums, piano, guitar and alto sax -- with Present Time (on his own BYNK Records), surrounded by only bass (Alan Hampton) and drums (Reggie Quinerly). It's a brave, bold move. No piano or guitar to fill in the chord changes? Parker also blows some soprano here as well as pounding a big gong. Seven out of the nine tracks are original. The two covers are, in a word, exquisite. America first fell in love with "I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)" when Louis Armstrong recorded it in 1930. Charles Mingus wrote "Song to Keki" for his daughter but you can only hear the legendary bassist perform it in 20-second and 46-second versions on piano in the documentary film Mingus: Charlie Mingus 1968. Parker has been performing with the Mingus Big Band of late and had to get special permission from Sue Mingus, his wife, who originally named the tune. Parker can blow some blues ("Noah's Arc"), put two distinct melodies together on one piece ("New Horizons"), support a vocalist with lyrical lines like Prez playing behind Lady Day in the '40s (on three tracks), switch time signatures within the 7:11 title track and, most fun of all, get it on by banging a gong on "The Gong." Here, he had the big gong set up to where he could reach it despite his two saxophones slung around his neck. Hitting it with his trusty mallet before taking off on free-form flights of fancy, he ends the craziness by blowing on both simultaneously like another hero of his, Rahsaan Roland Kirk [1935-1977]. Since there's no video for the track, we do not know if Parker's eyes rolled up in the back of his head as he blew two horns at once like the sightless Kirk used to do in the 1960s. Parker, born in 1979 Florida, was saved by music from having to go to reform school at 14. He left home early for the wildness of The French Quarter of New Orleans where he performed at The Gazebo Cafe six days a week. Relocating to New York City in 1999, he joined Maynard Ferguson's Big Bop Nouveau Band in 2004 for two years before jamming with Beastie Boy Ad-Rock and "drag king" Murray Hill. He ended up on television being seen on The Real Housewives of New York. Don't ask. There's no telling where or with whom he'll show up next. 2016 The Classical Art, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. TagsMatt Parker Trio, REVIEW, BYNK Records, Charles Mingus, Louis Armstrong She Loves Me Zachary Levi Talks Disney Tangled TV Series and Musical Ambitions Zachary Levi is back on Broadway in She Loves Me. The former First Date star is perhaps best known for leading role in NBCs Chuck and as the voice of Flynn Rider in Tangled. Recently, Levi opened up about the all new Tangled Disney Channel series and his musical ambitions. Recently, Zachary Levi spoke with DA MAN about his voice over role in Disneys Tangled and how he handled the pressure of singing as a Disney Prince: I suppose the same as I would prepare any other song. The major difference being that we recorded with what was maybe a 40-piece orchestra, which was just amazing. That doesnt happen every day. Levi will be returning to the role of Rapunzels Prince, Flynn Rider, in the new animated Disney series: The series will take place, chronologically, between the end of the film and the beginning of the short that was made a year later called Tangled Ever After, which was essentially Flynn & Rapunzels wedding day...The series will play in the same space and tone as the film, so it should be something that both kids and adults can enjoy. DA MAN went on to ask Levi about his duet with Katharine McPhee and if it will lead him to do more singing: Thats the hope. I really love singing, hence the previous recording Ive done, as well as the musicals Ive been a part of. An album has been a back-burner goal for many years, and I am trying to move this to a front burner sooner rather than later. She Loves Me begin previews on February 19 and will officially open on March 17, 2016. The Roundabout Theater Companys production of She Loves Me is playing at Studio 54 located at 254 West 54th Street, New York, NY, 10019. For ticket information please call 212-719-1300. The Full cast includes: Laura Benanti as Amalia Zachary Levi as Georg Jane Krakowski as Ilona Gavin Creel as Kodaly Byron Jennings as Maraczek Michael McGrath as Sipos Nicholas Barasch as Arpad Peter Bartlett as Head Waiter 2016 The Classical Art, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. TagsShe Loves Me, Zachary Levi, disney, Disney Channel, Tangled, TV Series, Musical, Ambitions American Psycho Writer Bret Easton Ellis Talks Patrick Bateman in Modern Day American Psycho the Musical is finally making its way to Broadway, 25 years after the release of Bret Easton Ellis novel. The musical opened in London in 2013 and starred Doctor Who vet Matt Smith. Ben Walker, who played the shows star Patrick Bateman in the New York workshop will be stepping back into the role. Recently, Bret Easton Ellis praised Walker as the new Bateman. Ellis also gave fans a little insight into where Bateman would be if the show was set in the modern day. Bret Easton Ellis recently penned an essay for Town & Country, where he discussed how Patrick Bateman would be getting along in the modern era: In the period when the novel takes place Bateman is a member of the as yet unnamed one percent, and he would probably still be now. But would Patrick Bateman actually be living somewhere else, and would his interests be any different? Would better criminology forensics (not to mention Big Brother cameras on virtually every corner) allow him to get away with the murders he tells the reader he committed, or would his need to express his rage take other forms? For example, would he be using social mediaas a troll using fake avatars? Would he have a Twitter account bragging about his accomplishments? Would he be using Instagram, showcasing his wealth, his abs, his potential victims? Possibly. There was the possibility to hide during Patrick's '80s reign that there simply isn't now; we live in a fully exhibitionistic culture. Because he wasn't a character to me as much as an emblem, an idea, I would probably approach him the same way now and address his greatest fear: Would anyone be paying any attention to him? You can and should read more of Ellis essay here. American Psycho starts previews on March 24, 2016 with an official opening date set for April 20, 2016. Directed by Rupert Goold, American Psycho the Musical will be performed at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre located at 236 West 45th Street. Tickets are on sale now at http://americanpsychothemusical.com. 2016 The Classical Art, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. TagsAmerican Psycho, Writer, Bret Easton Ellis, Patrick Bateman, Modern Day, broadway, Ben Walker STOW, Ohio -- A Stow woman is accused of breaking into her ex-boyfriend's house and stabbing him with a steak knife. Dawn Samora, 43, is charged with aggravated burglary and felonious assault. She is being held in the Summit County Jail on $250,000 bond following her first court appearance on Friday. Samora about 9:30 a.m. Thursday broke into her 46-year-old ex-boyfriend's home in the 1300 block of Mac Drive while the man was asleep, court records say. The woman woke the man up and the two argued. The argument escalated and the woman grabbed a five-inch steak knife and stabbed the man in the upper arm, according to court records. A neighbor called police and said she believed the man was being attacked. Officers arrived and found the man with a stab wound to his arm. The woman was later arrested at the Akron General Health and Wellness Center on Allen Road. Samora is a residential care assistant at Brookdale senior assisted living facility on Fishcreek Road, according to police reports. cleveland police car.jpg Cleveland police are investigating after three people were shot while driving on the East Side. (File photo) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Three men suffered gunshot wounds late Friday while driving in a car from a restaurant, police said. A 24-year-old Cleveland man was shot in the arm, another 24-year-old Cleveland man was shot in the shoulder and a 25-year-old Maple Heights man suffered cuts to his face in the incident. A fourth man, 20, of Maple Heights, was in the car but wasn't injured. The group about 11:30 p.m. left Harvard Wine and Grill in a 2000 Buick Regal. They were at the intersection of East 116th Street and Harvard Avenue when a gray Dodge Charger with tinted windows pulled up next to them, according to police. One person in the Charger fired several shots at their car, police said. The driver of the Buick drove off as bullets shattered car's windows. The group ended up at MetroHealth Medical Center, where they were treated for their injuries. Police found the Buick in the hospital parking lot with several bullet holes, shattered windows and blood inside the car. Officers went to the intersection where they believed the shooting occurred and found no broken glass or bullet casings, police said. Cleveland police are still investigating. No arrests have been made in the case. Akron police 4 Akron police arrested three people on suspicion of armed robbery. (File photo) AKRON, Ohio -- A 19-year-old man and two 17-year-old boys are accused of robbing a pizza deliveryman at gunpoint, then crashing their car during the getaway. The suspects are charged in connection with the aggravated robbery of a Marco's Pizza driver. The two teens are being held in the Summit County Juvenile Detention Center and the 19-year-old is held at the Summit County Jail. This is what happened, according to authorities: About 10 p.m. Thursday, the 19-year-old walked up to the driver who was delivering pizzas in the first block of North Hawkins Avenue. The older suspect pointed a black handgun at him and stole cash and pizzas. He ran back to a van parked nearby and jumped in. The van sped off. The pizza delivery driver got in his car and followed. The deliveryman followed the van until it crashed into a telephone pole at Stadelman and Hayden avenues. The 19-year-old and one of the teens were arrested by Akron police in the car. The other teen was later arrested by police. Police reported finding the handgun, cash and pizza inside the trio's van. ORANGE, Ohio -- Attempted aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary (five counts), Orange Tree Subdivision: In the aftermath of a local crime spree, officials are urging any residents who have not done so to sign up for the "Code Red" emergency alert system on the village website. On a different website, a Maple Heights man, 35, was scheduled for video arraignment Feb. 26 in Bedford Municipal Court on multiple felonies, stemming from a string of crimes that began at the Sunoco station at Miles and Brainard roads about 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 23. The handgun believed to have been used there was recovered early on Feb. 24 at a home where he apparently threw it through a window to gain entry during one of the burglaries on Orange Tree Drive. There, police had received a call about an intruder in a black hoodie going through the knife drawer in someone's kitchen shortly after 9 p.m.. A burglary-in-progress was reported at 9:22 on Honeybelle Oval, where neighboring Moreland Hills police responded on mutual aid. This was followed by a burglary-in-progress report in the 27000 block of Emery Road, where it was believed a responding Warrensville Heights officer caught the suspect. Meanwhile, a resident returned home at 10:18 and reported finding a suspicious silver Ford Escape in the driveway which was later impounded. Bainbridge police brought in at least one other K-9 with other assisting departments including Bentleyville, Chagrin Falls, Solon and Woodmere. Items were reported missing from either the original or another Honeybelle Oval home, and police recovered a backpack found in a back yard that may have been discarded by the suspect. For more information about Code Red, please visit http://www.orangevillage.com/ Endangering children, Orange Place: A Cleveland mother, 21, was charged with child endangerment following a Feb. 21 incident involving her nearly 3-year-old son, who apparently wandered out their room in the Super 8 Motel sometime after 4:30 a.m. A man walking to Bob Evans restaurant reported that the child came up and started pulling on his pant leg shortly before 6 a.m., so he brought him back to the Extended Stay North where the shivering boy, wearing a diaper and a short-sleeve shirt, was then wrapped in a blanket and given a chair in the lobby. There were no signs of injury, but his bare feet were very cold and dirty. After police were contacted and started searching the area, the boy's mother was found at Super 8, where she said she had gone to sleep at about 2:30 a.m. The boy was up then, but an aunt said he was asleep when she turned in about 4:30 a.m. But when the aunt woke up again at 6:45, she noticed the boy was gone. That's when they saw the police in the next parking lot. The mother and aunt said the boy had been wearing pans and a pair of socks earlier. The mother was cited, but the child was returned to her care by the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services pending an investigation. Disorderly conduct, Orange Place: A Reidsville, N.C. man, 38, was cited after he and his mother, 66, met a Beachwood woman, 49, as she was picking up carryout at the Bahama Breeze late on Feb. 21. She decided to stop by the Hampton Inn where he had a room, but when she returned from the restroom, her $45 worth of food was missing from the lobby. The mother returned and told her it had all been a big mistake, producing the bags, which police said contained only a few remaining chips and some dip. The North Carolina man paid the Beachwood woman for the food and was issued a citation. Animal at large, unwanted guest; Pike Drive: A village woman, 46, was cited Feb. 22 after she attempted to tie her estranged husband's rottweiler to her mother-in-law's door, but the dog got loose. In the meantime, police said she made no effort to retrieve the dog as it ran through neighbor's yards, and the mother-in-law told police she did not want her son's estranged wife on the property. Police noted that they had been called to two separate incidents at the couple's home on Feb. 21. One involved weapons that both of them owned but the husband wanted to remove from the house -- against the advice of police. William Koran.JPG William Koran, superintendent of the Medina County Educational Service Center, shared results of a series of staff and community meetings regarding the Medina City School District's superintendent search at a special school board meeting on Thursday. (Ann Norman, special to cleveland.com ) MEDINA, Ohio - The Medina City Schools Board of Education has come up with a list of attributes the community would like to see in its next superintendent. Board members held a special meeting Thursday night to sift through responses gathered from community and staff meetings and an online survey. While board members added a few touches of their own, most of the list mirrors what staff members and district residents said were important qualities in six recent brainstorming sessions. The list also meshes with information gleaned from an online survey taken by 283 interested stakeholders. The meetings were conducted by the Medina County Educational Services Center, which is assisting the school board in its search to replace retiring Superintendent David Knight. The list of attributes will be included in a search brochure prepared by the ESC that will be sent out to potential candidates. The ESC will also use the list when asking applicants' references to evaluate the candidates. The board spent a couple of hours sharing ideas and synthesizing data from the survey and meetings to come up with its final list. Here it is: * Honesty, integrity and trustworthiness * The ability to work as a relational leader who is approachable with students, parents, staff and the community * A willingness to embrace the strong sense of community and culture in Medina and the Medina City School District * A broad breadth of educational leadership experiences, such as teaching and administration, up to and including that of superintendent * The ability to create and discuss a shared vision with staff, the community and the Board of Education while mentoring and fostering best practices * Proven experience with the strategic planning process, including goal setting, consensus building and progress assessment * Ability to advocate for educational financing at the federal, state and local levels * Proven fiscal responsibility, as well as an open-minded approach to finding ways to keep and/or bring additional revenue into the district * Exemplary communications skills * A positive attitude, with the ability to see opportunities where others might see challenges * Proven skills in contract administration and experience with negotiations * Respect for the staff as the foundation of the district * Ability to be a curriculum visionary at all educational levels * Excellent listening skills with the capacity to be open to all viewpoints * Confident decision making with a strong sense of accountability * Proven management skills, which may include time management, the ability to delegate and the aptitude to recognize and hire personnel to consistently move the district forward * A "student first" philosophy advocating for all learners, including special education, gifted and the arts Board member Tom Cahalan said the community input was valuable and showed that there is a lot of agreement among stakeholders about the kind of superintendent the district is looking for. He praised the ESC and its superintendent, William Koran, for doing a good job of whittling down people's responses and prioritizing potential attributes. "Some (of the attributes) are basic, some are pie in the sky. But it gives us a great place to start," Cahalan said. He also noted that while the school board appreciates the ESC's help in shaping the process, the ESC is "not running the search. We are." Board member Doug Eastwood said the survey and the meetings have prompted people in the district to do some thinking and have encouraged deeper conversations. "The reality is, you're not going to find someone who is good at every one of these attributes," board President Rob Skidmore said. But the idea is to determine the most important ones, while also considering other attributes that would be ideal, he said. Before the board members began discussing their final list of attributes, Koran presented them with composites of the top 10 attributes from each of the meetings. Amy Busby, director of communications for the Medina City Schools, also presented a summary of the results of the online survey, All of the summaries and full responses from the meetings and survey can be accessed on the school district's website, www.medinabees.org. They can be found on the home page, on the right-hand side under "Superintendent Search". One of the main issues brought up by both the board and in the community meetings was a preference for having the new superintendent live in the district. This was not included as an attribute, but the board asked Koran to include that preference in the search materials. Koran said the issue is something the board will want to address with applicants in the first round of interviews. Koran said the brochure will be sent out to every superintendent, principal and school administrator in the state, as well as to various professional associations in Ohio and surrounding states and each of the 53 county educational service centers. The ESC will begin accepting applications on Tuesday, and applications and evaluations will be accepted through March 25. The school board will begin screenings of candidates' applications in April, then begin interviews when it is ready. The plan is to announce the new superintendent at the board's May 23 meeting. cleveland-police-night-stock.jpg A 31-year-old Cleveland man was attacked, shot and carjacked while he was preparing to meet friends at an East Side bar, police said. (cleveland.com) CLEVELAND, Ohio - A Cleveland man was shot and carjacked Thursday night while getting ready to head out to a bar with friends. Police responded about 11 p.m. Thursday to the 8100 block of Maryland Avenue in the city's Lee-Miles neighborhood. The officers found the 31-year-old victim and his friend in a driveway, according to a police report. The victim suffered gunshot wounds to his ankle and calf, as well as a cut to his head, the report says. He was taken to MetroHealth for treatment. His current condition is unknown as of Friday afternoon. The victim told officers that he went to Maryland Avenue to meet up with friends before they all planned to go to Thirsty's Grill and Tavern on Warner Road, the report says. The friends decided to drive in separate cars because the victim had plans later in the evening, he told police. The victim's friends left for the bar, and he lagged behind because he was looking for his ID. While the victim was searching for his ID, two armed men opened his driver's side door and confronted him, the report says. The man told police that the two men pistol-whipped him. One man tried to fire his gun but it malfunctioned, the report says. The victim was able to escape his car and ran away. The men cornered him in a nearby driveway, the report says. He tried to fight off the attackers before he was shot. He ran west on East 77th Street, but when he returned to Maryland Avenue, his car was gone. Officers recovered bullet casings from two different guns on scene. The car, a 2011 black Chevy Cruze, was rented to the victim's girlfriend, the report states. The car has Michigan license plates, but the plate number is unknown. The vehicle has not yet been recovered. Neither man has been identified by police. No arrests have been made. University Heights 1.jpg University Heights police asked for the public's help in identifying these two people. Anyone with information is being asked to call police at 216-932-8799, extension 240. (University Heights Police Department) University Heights police asked for the public's help in identifying these two people. Anyone with information is being asked to call police at 216-932-8799, extension 240. UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Someone stole a wallet from a woman's purse at Whole Foods and went on an $8,000 shopping spree across the street at Target, police said. University Heights police are asking for the public's help in identifying four people in two surveillance photos from Target. The photos were released Friday on the police department's Facebook page. The woman told police someone stole her wallet between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Feb. 13 while she was at Whole Foods on Cedar Road. Her purse was sitting in her shopping cart at the time of the theft, police said. Someone took her credit card across the street to Target and spent $8,000, according to police. CANTON, Ohio -- Two brothers are dead after an early morning shooting at an apartment complex. Christopher Trent, 42, and Allen Trent, 40, were identified as the men shot and killed early Saturday. Both were shot multiple times about 5:50 a.m. Saturday at the Washington Towne Homes in the 1600 block of 10th Street N.E., Canton police said. 9-1-1 call Firefighters pronounced the two men dead at the scene, according to police. Canton police are still at the scene. Police are trying to find witnesses to the shooting. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is assisting Canton police with the case. The Stark County Coroner is also investigating. 9-1-1 call Three people called 911 to report the shooting. One woman, who said she had several children in her apartment, said she heard 20 to 30 gunshots outside her apartment. She also told dispatchers she could see a lifeless body outside the building. "We just heard rounds and rounds of someone unloading a gun," the woman said. 9-1-1 call Another person called and said she heard at least six gunshots and saw someone running across from the buildings, through a parking lot and across 10th Street. A third caller said she saw the gunman firing shots at a car. No arrests have been made. Hillary Clinton Polling suggests elections held on "Super" Tuesday, March 1, could be good for Hillary Clinton. (Paul Sancya, Associated Press) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- "Super Tuesday" -- the nickname for the series of presidential primaries taking place across the United States -- is coming this year on March 1, and in the realm of American presidential politics, it's a big deal. Here's what you need to know about it: What states will vote on Super Tuesday? Republicans will hold primaries or caucuses in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Virginia. Meanwhile, Democrats will vote in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Virginia, as well as the U.S. territory of American Samoa. Who's running again? For Republicans, Dr. Ben Carson, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and celebrity businessman Donald Trump. For Democrats, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders are running. Why is Super Tuesday such a big deal? We've heard a lot about the early primary states -- especially Iowa and New Hampshire, the first and second states in the election calendar. But none of these states is very populous. As a result, less than 150 delegates from each party have been awarded to date. But on Tuesday, one quarter of all delegates that will go to the Republican National Convention in July -- 632 of 2,472 -- will be awarded as a result of contests in Super Tuesday states across the country. And on the Democratic side, voters will decide how to award about 21 percent of the party's delegates, or 865 delegates of a total 4,051. A Republican needs 1,237 delegates to clinch the nomination, and a Democrat needs 2,382. In short, Super Tuesday will require candidates to be appealing enough and their campaigns organized enough to compete in a number of states at once. And successful candidates will be rewarded much more than they have been so far this year. None of the top candidates will clinch the race or be eliminated because of the results of Super Tuesday. But a big win by any of them will further narrow the possible outcomes for the race, and a poor performance might make candidates think about dropping out. Who's leading in the polls in Super Tuesday states? Among Republicans, Trump holds sizable leads in nine of the 11 Super Tuesday states, according to averages of the most recent polls compiled by RealClearPolitics. And a Feb. 25 poll by Bloomberg Politics showed 37 percent of likely Republican voters in the seven southern Super Tuesday states back Trump, with Rubio and Cruz tying for 20 percent. On the Democratic side, Clinton leads Sanders in nine of 11 states, according to the polls collected by RealClearPolitics. Political watchers believe -- and polling backs this up -- that Clinton will perform especially well in the southern Super Tuesday states, where African-American voters make up a significant portion of the population. As a word of warning, polling often can be inaccurate in primary elections, particularly if there are a lot of candidates running in a single race. And things can change between even now and Tuesday. But polling, when done well, can give us a picture of what's going on at any given moment. Which states seem most competitive? For Republicans, Texas, the most populous Super Tuesday state, appears to be up for grabs. Recent shows Cruz with an average 7-percentage-point lead in his home state, with Trump and Rubio not that far behind. Polling suggests Arkansas also is competitive, with Cruz polling first with 27 points, and Trump and Rubio tied for a close second with 23 points, according to a Feb. 4 poll was released by Talk Business / Hendrix College. For Democrats, the Massachusetts primary is competitive, with recent polling there showing the race between Clinton and Sanders too close to call. Which states seem least competitive? In two recent polls in Massachusetts, Donald Trump held an average 27.5 percent lead there. Trump also holds double-digit leads in Alabama, Georgia and Virginia, according to fresh polls there. Clinton, meanwhile, appears to be up big in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee and Virginia, with recent polls in those states showing her holding at least a 20-point lead over Sanders. Sanders is getting some home cooking in Vermont though. A pair of polls released earlier this month showed him with an average 75-point lead in the state where he's held elected office for more than three decades. Something to keep a close eye on While Democrats award delegates proportionately based on the outcome of their elections, rules vary state by state on how Republican delegates are awarded. Ten of the 11 states holding Republican contests on Super Tuesday have a minimum threshold of voter support candidates must hit before being awarded any delegates at all. In seven of those states -- Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Vermont -- the threshold is 15 percent or more. We haven't seen a single poll showing Carson meeting the minimum threshold in any of the states that have them. And polling shows Kasich meeting only one state's minimum threshold -- the Ohio governor polled at 16 percent in a recent Massachusetts poll, where the threshold is 5 percent. So if polls are right, both Carson and Kasich could leave Super Tuesday pretty much empty-handed, and likely will face a fresh round of calls to drop out of the race as a result. When is the next round of voting after Super Tuesday? For Republicans, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana and Maine will vote on Saturday, March 5. On the same day, Democrats will vote on presidential candidates in Kansas, Louisiana and Nebraska. When is Ohio's primary again? Both Republicans and Democrats will vote March 15. This story was corrected on Feb. 29 to reflect that the 13 delegates assigned to Democrats abroad will not be awarded on March 1. Amid a tough year for markets, "Fast Money" traders looked to what they deemed best-in-class stocks that could outperform ahead. The has slid nearly 5 percent this year. The index, though, has started to stabilize in recent weeks, along with crude oil prices. Traders touted some names that have ticked higher despite a down year for broader markets. Tobacco company Altria Group , for instance, has climbed more than 5 percent. The stock looks appealing because of its 3.6 percent dividend yield, argued trader Steve Grasso. "I would think that in a good market or bad market you're still hunting for yield. You find it in Altria Group," Grasso said. Families of the victims killed in the San Bernardino terror attack are supporting the U.S. government's push to require Apple to help the FBI hack into a locked iPhone involved in the investigation. Whether this additional support will help the FBI's case against Apple is up for debate. Regardless, many in the legal community believe the tech giant is unlikely to budge on this issue. "Apple is in the right because the federal government has proved at this point that it's not capable of managing data well," said Michael Barnes, a former White House legal adviser under President George W. Bush. "It effectively abuses our privacy rights and neglects our security rights." The tech giant itself argued as much on Thursday, when it filed a motion to vacate a California judge's order that compelled Apple to create software that would let investigators access the mobile phone used by one of the San Bernardino attackers. "No court has ever granted the government power to force companies like Apple to weaken its security systems to facilitate the government's access to private individuals' information," Apple said in a release. Read MoreTim Cook: Unlocking iPhone 'bad for America' One obstacle the government is facing is that current law has not mandated companies like Apple to create a backdoor for law enforcement, Barnes told CNBC's "Closing Bell". "The FBI is trying to require companies like Google and Apple to do something that is not necessary, that is not mandatory under federal law," noted Barnes. "The government is now requiring a private entity to be conscripted into government service." That argument is precisely the one made by Apple in its court filing this week. The iPhone maker accused officials of trying to force Apple to create a "GovtOS", or a government operating system that could easily be used on other phones. It added that hacking the phone would violate Apple's constitutional rights, and undermine key consumer expectations of security and privacy. Despite the perceived problems the government may face by hacking the iPhone in question, FBI Director James Comey said in a statement released this week, "We don't want to break anyone's encryption or set a master key loose on the world." Traders at Bank of America are in for an unsettling few weeks as their employer eyes a higher-than-usual number of job cuts at its capital markets and investment banking operations. The US bank is set to become the latest on Wall Street to show people the door after several of its rivals set out plans to cut thousands of positions at financial centres worldwide. The number of employees to go at Bank of America could not be determined on Friday but people familiar with the matter said it was likely to be higher than the 5 per cent who are typically axed each year in investment banking. Competitors including Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse have already laid down plans for cuts as pressures mount on trading businesses particularly in fixed income, currencies and commodities. First-quarter FICC revenues are set to drop by an average 15 per cent at Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley, analysts at Goldman Sachs estimated this week. In spite of recent disagreements between cartel members, Nigerian oil minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, told CNBC that OPEC will be able to come together in an agreement to freeze oil production as a way to combat low oil prices. "The Minister for energy in Qatar and the President of OPEC is leading that pact and there is a lot of conversation going on and there's a lot of consensus building on the issue of the freeze," Kachikwu said in an exclusive interview with CNBC's "Fast Money" on Friday. "Saudi Arabia and Russia are aligned on the issue of a freeze, so I think the chances are very high," Kachikwu added. Speculation over OPEC's intentions has been running at a fever pitch, and whipsawed the price of crude. To date, Ali al-Naimi, Saudi Arabia's oil minister, has voiced strong resistance when it comes to a production cut, but has indicated an openness to a freeze. Read MoreNo signs OPEC production cut is close at hand "Freeze is the beginning of a process, and that means if we can get all the major producers to agree not to add additional balance, then this high inventory we have now will probably decline in due time. It's going to take time," Naimi said at the annual IHS CERAWeek energy conference in Houston this past week. "It is not like cutting production. That is not going to happen because not many countries are going to deliver even if they say they will cut production they will not deliver. So there is no sense in wasting our time seeking production cuts," he added. On Friday, Brent crude closed above $35, off nearly 10 percent year to date but well under multi-year lows under $28. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is projected to win an overwhelming victory in the South Carolina Democratic primary, NBC News said Saturday as polls closed. Clinton was favored to win the race, according to recent polls in the Palmetto State. But her competition, Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, is looking for signs of strong momentum especially among African American voters. In fact, exit polls showed that Clinton easily won black primary-goers (87 percent to 13 percent, as of 8 p.m. ET). Although early exit poll results indicated Sanders had edged out Clinton among white voters, updated figures from around 8 p.m. showed she had secured a majority of those primary-goers too. Early exit polls showed that about 61 percent of voters in Saturday's primary identified as black, with only about 35 percent saying they were white, according to NBC News. During the 2008 South Carolina Democratic primary, 55 percent of the voters were black, while 43 percent were white, NBC said. While Sanders had a better showing among younger black voters recording about 43 percent of those under 30 years old, according to initial exit polls Clinton dominated among older African Americans: Early exit polls indicated that she received about 96 percent of the vote from those 65 or older. Beyond Saturday's primary, Sanders and Clinton are looking to Super Tuesday when Democrats will vote in 11 states and American Samoa, with 865 delegates up for grabs. There has not been as much polling for the March 1 contests as there was in earlier states, but Clinton has led many recent surveys in Super Tuesday states. "Tomorrow, this campaign goes national," Clinton said during a Saturday night victory speech. "We are going to compete for every vote in every state: We are not taking anything and we are not taking anyone for granted." In a statement following the election results projection, Sanders congratulated Clinton, but said his campaign is "just beginning." "Now it's on to Super Tuesday. In just three days, Democrats in 11 states will pick 10 times more pledged delegates on one day than were selected in the four early states so far in this campaign," he said, "Our grassroots political revolution is growing state by state, and we won't stop now." According to the NPD Group, more than $19 billion dollars was spent on toys in the U.S last year. Still, in a time of high-tech playthings and Wi-Fi connected gadgets, tiny appears to be trending. Last year, one of the biggest toy sellers were tiny one-inch items made of plastic, called "Shopkins." It's part of what observers say is a growing shift away from the traditional to the compact. According to Toy News, more than 200 million Shopkins have been sold worldwide, and they are a big hit online: Shopkins' YouTube channel has had 59 million views, and other YouTube videos featuring the toys being "unboxed" have more than 360 million views. "They are everywhere, driven by YouTube, driven by the Internet age," Steve Pasierb, Toy Industry Association CEO and president told CNBC's "On the Money" in an interview. "Kids love them, they love to collect them. Moose Toys, a small company from Australia, really hit on it," Pasierb added. Launched in the summer of 2014, Shopkins are colorful, miniature versions of common household items, ranging from milk cartons to shampoo bottles, from a high-heel shoe to a little microwave oven. Priced between $4 and $35, Pasierb said, "they're at a price point that families can afford. They're cool little toys, they're enjoyable." Read MoreTech, gadgets & toys: 5 trends from NY Toy Fair PHOTO CREDIT: Rome Memorial Hospital ROME, N.Y. A man who guided a Hudson Valley health system through a successful affiliation process will serve as the next CEO of Rome Memorial Hospital. The Rome Memorial board of trustees has selected David Lundquist as the hospitals next president and CEO. He joins the hospitals leadership team on Tuesday, the hospital said in a news release. Lundquist most recently served as CEO of the Health Alliance of Hudson Valley in Kingston. He has also been CEO of hospitals in Oklahoma and New Jersey. At Rome Memorial, Lundquist follows Darlene Burns, who had been serving as interim president and CEO following the resignation of Basil Ariglio last August. Ariglio had resigned due to personal reasons, Rome Memorial said in an Aug. 20, 2015 news release. From among three exceptional candidates, the board selected Dave [Lundquist] because he is a visionary with the experience and qualities needed to bring people together to plan for our future and move the organization forward as we enter a new era of healthcare, Dr. Chester Patrick, chairman of the Rome Memorial board of directors, said in the release. He has extensive experience as a trusted strategic thinker leading both small and large organizations through challenging transitions. During his time in Kingston, Lundquist navigated three hospitals and two residential centers through a successful affiliation and system integration, the release stated. Rome Memorial had pursued an affiliation agreement with Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, but ended those talks in October 2014. The hospital says that for its new leader, the challenge of guiding systems through successful transformation to advance quality and growth gets him up in the morning. I had an engineering professor in college that said theres no such thing as a perfect system because it will be out of date tomorrow. Thats always stuck with me. Were always in a state of transition, said Lundquist. Its my job to unite people in pursuit of a common goal and inspire a team that believes that they can accomplish anything. Lundquist earned his bachelors degree in industrial engineering at the University of Oklahoma and a master of business administration degree from Oklahoma City University, Rome Memorial said. Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com The Austrian Mints annual silver/niobium 25 coin celebrates the passage and measurement of time. Two colors, light purple and azure blue, accent the designs. The Austrian Mints 2016 colorful niobium coin honors the passage of time. The ringed-bimetallic 25 coin is the newest issue in an annual series that features heat-treated niobium to offer color on the coin. The theoretical meaning of time has long been a subject of debate among philosophers, physicists and religious figures, but the more practical discipline of its measurement has proven less of a mystery. Dedicated to the history of chronometry, Time, the latest addition to the Austrian Mints best-selling silver-niobium coins, uses a two-tone niobium core (light purple and azure blue) and outer silver ring to show a selection of timepieces throughout the ages. Connect with Coin World: The obverse of the coin shows the country of issue REPUBLIK OSTERREICH (Republic of Austria) and the face value. Main design devices include an analog clock face in the two-toned niobium core, incorporating Roman numerals for the hours, and signs of the zodiac marking astronomical progressions, as well as a chronometer showing seconds and minutes in the outer silver ring. On the coins reverse, ZEIT is inscribed at the bottom, in the outer ring. The sun and moon are featured, along with an hourglass and watch mechanism. A time spiral begins in the ring and extends into the center core. Concurrent digital times in Tokyo, Vienna and New York City are shown along the right side of the ring. Both sides of the coins were designed and engraved by mint engraver Helmut Andexlinger. Get our free report: How to Invest in Rare Coins The division of time constituting an hour of 60 minutes has long existed, though time has since been increasingly sub-divided, first into seconds and eventually nanoseconds and further. This has had the effect of making time ever more precious, with the phrase time is money, famously coined by Benjamin Franklin in 1748, being more pertinent today than ever. The Austrian Mints silver-niobium coins have reached a wide audience. All of the coins in the series to date are sold out and are now available only on the secondary market, where they command prices over their original value. The Special Uncirculated 2016 Time coin weighs 15.5 grams, with a 9-gram .900 fine silver ring and a 6.5-gram .998 fine niobium core. Each piece is encapsulated, boxed and accompanied by a numbered certificate. The issue price is not yet announced. To learn more about the coin, visit the Austrian Mints website. Santulli hazing unlikely to end binge drinking, says MU professor Professor Phil Wood discusses how difficult it is to curb binge drinking in fraternities and sororities, what MU is doing and what it's not doing. I was all set to extend to Dr. Ben Carson a hearty welcome to Memphis. So were the congregants at Highpoint Church in East Memphis, where Carson had planned to visit today to share his personal life story without it becoming a campaign speech. But church officials and the Secret Service could not resolve certain security concerns, so the visit was scrapped. Which is a shame, really. Because Carson's poignant personal story is one that's ideally suited for a Memphis audience. Raised in poverty from the age of 8 by a single mother in Detroit and Boston, Benjamin Solomon Carson overcame anger issues and poor academic performance in grade school to become an acclaimed pediatric neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital by the age of 33. It was a journey sustained by his Christian faith. Which is why Highpoint agreed to host Carson at this morning's worship services. "This is simply a believer in Christ who just happens to have a big stage right now, and he wants to share his story on our stage," said Highpoint Pastor Andy Savage before the welcome mat was pulled. At the moment, Carson is still technically in the race for the Republican nomination for president. His name will appear on the ballot Tuesday in Tennessee's presidential primary. But the Carson campaign has been dead for weeks, even as his inspiring story continues to be worth telling. Last week, however, he made one last-ditch attempt to generate media attention by questioning President Barack Obama's blackness. Carson told Politico that Obama was "raised white." Then he said POTUS 44 "didn't grow up like I grew up. Many of his formative years were spent in Indonesia. So for him to, you know, claim that ... he identifies with the experience of black Americans, I think, is a bit of a stretch." Finally, according to CNN, Carson said that he has been the target of racism by those on the left because his political views run counter to those of most African-Americans. In a year when trash talk has defined national politics, Carson's remarks were par for the course. But why he chose to go there is inexplicable. All he gained were a few amens from Obama haters that will do nothing to alter the direction of his doomed campaign. And yet, none of that detracts from his impressive life story, a story that a majority of Memphians of all races could still benefit from hearing, minus the prism of politics. When Pastor Savage initially announced Carson's visit, he talked about the opportunity for Carson to share his culture with Memphians. And perhaps there will be another time for that to happen. Just as long as Carson does it without disparaging the culture of others. Ted Evanoff Columnist SHARE Morgan Keegan & Co.'s success prompted the investment bank to put up this headquarters tower in Downtown Memphis. The firm's later sale made employee Rodney Herenton realize he could launch is own business and he did -- in Chicago. ( Lance Murphey / The Commercial Appeal) Rodney Herenton, son of former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton, pictured in 2009. (The Commercial Appeal) Rodney Herenton had worked a decade for a pair of Wall Street firms, Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers, before Morgan Keegan & Co. recruited him back home to Memphis. And when the citys homegrown investment bank was acquired, enriching the owners and senior officers, an idea flashed for the young money manager. He could start his own company. He could someday get rich. And thats what hes doing in Chicago. Herenton, son of Memphis first black mayor, has the pedigree for success in Memphis. Listen to him speak of why hes in Chicago, though, and youll sense the larger issue in Memphis isnt in the recent news about the meager share of purchasing contracts Shelby County awards minority companies. No, the larger issue is we dont think big. Given that Herenton moved away, you might think black entrepreneurs have vanished here. Thats not true. Greater Memphis, the nine-county metropolitan area of 1.3 million residents, has no shortage of entrepreneurs of any color, based on the latest U.S. Census Bureau count, a survey of businesses throughout the nation conducted in 2012. African Americans own more than four of every 10 small businesses in metro Memphis, a rate that surpasses Atlantas 29 percent, New Orleans 24 percent, Nashvilles 8 percent and Louisvilles 7 percent, the survey shows. Memphis problem and this recurs across the country: Most minority firms are tiny. In 2012, the Census survey counted 127,279 metro-area firms headed by people of all races. Firms are businesses and partnerships in which the owners race can be determined. Law offices, restaurants, nail salons and car lots are included as firms. Corporations such as FedEx and AutoZone owned by many shareholders are not. Of all those firms, 55,159 were headed by African Americans, or 43 percent of the total, a number in line with the metro population, which is about 48 percent white, 45 percent black, 5 percent Hispanic and 2 percent Asian. Now heres the remarkable number: Only about 1,000 firms headed by African Americans employed workers among those 55,159 black business owners, 98 percent employed no one. This was like a barbecue truck whose sole worker is the owner. Or the mom has a part-time human relations consultants business. Or the dad has a weekend lawn-care service. Or he fixes flats or she trades antiques on eBay. Its a business, but too small for paid help. That leaves 993 firms in which the owner was African American and employed workers. This is a small slice of the commercial pie considering 17,502 metro-area firms headed by folks of all races employed at least one worker. Though its a small slice, Memphis is on par with Atlanta, long considered a haven for African American entrepreneurs. In metro Memphis, blacks own 5.6 percent of the firms with employees, compared to 5.8 percent in Atlanta, 4.2 percent in New Orleans, 2.4 percent in Nashville and 1.8 percent in Louisville. Annual sales for black Memphis firms average almost $757,000, compared to about $682,000 in Atlanta. When it comes to entrepreneurs, Memphis isnt lagging. Herenton, Central High School Class of 1984, still moved away. One day, he was studying business at Morehouse University in Atlanta when a Wall Street executive made a presentation. New Yorks financial industry was rapidly growing. He urged students to apply. Herenton remembers being impressed. He was young and here was a company specifically reaching out to him and his classmates, promising special training, big city life, big income. Later, he would say this inclusion identifying talented minority youngsters, guiding them into lives they have no knowledge of still seems missing among Memphis institutions. Its not that Memphis companies and agencies prefer to overlook African Americans. Its the absence of many corporate executives reaching out to smart high school and college students and offering mentors and internships, he said. The young have no idea they can make a start in Memphis and so many of the most talented move out. In my college class, no one returned home immediately. Some of them tried but not many of them remained, Herenton said. Memphis just has to find its genius. Its got to start with the leaders of major corporations and educational institutions and government. They have to reach out. Herenton recalls a visit home from New York in the late 1990s. He met Morgan Keegan founder Allen Morgan Jr. The executive insisted he welcomed diversity in his company, steered the young Herenton back to Memphis to work for him. He senses the same kind of inclusion in Chicago, where his company, Channing Capital, invests money for agencies and pension funds. In Chicago in the last 15 years theyve made sure inclusion is not just a statement, Herenton said. Its the way government is done. Memphis doesnt neglect its low-income students. College scholarships abound. But most workforce training efforts seem geared to wage earners in logistics and distribution, he said, while there seems to be less effort to identify, groom and eventually keep home talented students who one day will be able to command $100,000-plus salaries in occupations that can build family wealth. He noticed that when he went out on his own in Memphis. Herenton, who continues to own a home in Memphis, said he found little traction here or in Nashville investing money for pension funds and government agencies. In Tennessee, people didnt quite understand how to approach for inclusion a non-traditional business outside the supply chain mandates, Herenton said. He means the rules. Mandates require agencies hire a certain percentage of businesses owned by minorities. I dont do ads. I dont distribute paper. I dont fit into set aside programs, Herenton said. Im in a high-intensity, high-margin business where you are measured by performance. So he relocated in 2003. Channing Capital now employs 16, manages $2 billion and collects $12 million per year in fee income. That's not bad for a startup in Chicago or any place else. SHARE By Daniel Connolly of The Commercial Appeal Two men have been indicted in a drug-related killing that happened last year in North Memphis, the Shelby County district attorney's office said Friday. Courtney Crutcher, 21, and Joseph King, 28, are charged with first-degree murder in the death of Ralph Martin, 24, and with attempted murder in the wounding of a 20-year-old man, previously identified as Jeremiah Isom. Both defendants also face several other charges in connection with the incident. The district attorney's office says that around 4 p.m. Sept. 2 in the 2400 block of Chelsea, Crutcher and King had arranged to buy pills from the victims, but tried to rob them instead and ended up shooting them. The DA's office said Crutcher was arrested by federal marshals in October in Chattanooga and King was arrested shortly after that in Memphis. By David Waters of The Commercial Appeal A 3-year-old Cuban boy is recovering from a five-hour open-heart surgery performed Friday at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. Surgeons repaired a series of severe, congenital heart defects in Manuel Alejandro Martinez. That included building a new heart valve from a donor valve from a deceased 16-year-old. "It was more complicated than expected, but it went very well," said Bill Pickens, founder of Gift of Life Mid-South, which is sponsoring the care along with Le Bonheur and the International Children's Heart Foundation. Manuel is the first Cuban child since that nation's revolution in the 1950s to come to the U.S. for cardiovascular surgery. He and his parents are expected to be in Memphis for two or three more weeks while he recovers. -- David Waters Rabbi Micah Greenstein at Temple Israel SHARE By David Waters of The Commercial Appeal Another Memphian has been elected to the National Board of the NAACP. Rabbi Micah Greenstein was one of four new board members elected during the organization's recent meeting in New York. Greenstein, 53, is senior rabbi of Temple Israel, a congregation he has served since 1991. He's the only rabbi on the 27-member board. "Rabbi Greenstein has long been a friend and supporter of the NAACP," said Madeleine C. Taylor, executive director of the Memphis branch. "He's a lifetime member and a respected and valued civil rights advocate." Greenstein joins two fellow Memphians on the national board: banker Jesse Turner Jr. and retired CME Bishop William Graves. Turner also serves as national treasurer, the same position his father, Jesse Turner Sr., held for years. "Even if this is the culmination of my career focus on religion and civil rights, I am most proud for Memphis," said Greenstein, also a member of the board of the National Civil Rights Museum. "My deepest sentiment is gratitude for the privilege of carrying forward what my community mentors Maxine Smith, Dr. Benjamin Hooks, and Rev. Billy Kyles have each instilled in me: The elimination of race-based discrimination and equality for all." Hooks, a Memphis minister, was longtime executive director of the National NAACP. Smith was the local branch's longtime director. SHARE Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare chief executive officer Gary Shorb made it official Thursday, telling the health care system's board he will step down Dec. 31 from the CEO position he has held since October 2001. The only surprise in the announcement was the date. Michael Ugwueke, president and chief operating officer of the seven-hospital system, already was being groomed to replace Shorb. That will happen on New Year's Day, 2017. The health care system's board and upper management should be congratulated for engineering a smooth transition. Given Ugwueke's background and experience, the hospital will be well served by his leadership. As for Shorb, he will remain as a senior adviser until April 2017 at the hospital network, which will begin a $275 million expansion of Methodist University Hospital near Downtown. Shorb has led Methodist Le Bonheur successfully, but, just has important, he has been actively involved in initiatives to make Memphis a better place in which to live for all residents. It is a truism that nothing major gets done in Memphis unless the major players in business get involved. Shorb has set a good example of how a CEO can get involved in the community to make a difference. Methodist has been a leader in finding ways to bring better medical services to some of the city's poorest ZIP codes. As chairman of Memphis Fast Forward, composed of the chief executives of the city's largest companies, he has had a hand in working with government on initiatives to improve public safety, education, government efficiency, quality of life and to promote economic growth. He has pushed for workplace diversity and supplier diversity. This community has not gotten past first base on the amount of business that goes to African-African- and women-owned businesses. Disparity studies for the city of Memphis and Shelby County governments show a pattern of systemic discrimination in the awarding of contracts to those businesses. Cato Johnson, senior vice president of public policy and regulatory affairs at Methodist Le Bonheur, said Shorb has been at the forefront of pushing for 30 to 40 percent participation by African-American- and women-owned businesses in Methodist building projects. Those who know Shorb well said he enjoys his involvement in community affairs, and that work has made a positive difference across a broad spectrum of the community. It is good hear that although he is stepping away from his leadership role at Methodist Le Bonheur, he will not be stepping away from his involvement in community affairs. SHARE By Clarence Christian News accounts say he was repelled by a blast to the stomach from a 12-gauge shotgun, fired in self-defense by an officer of the law. It happened around 12:50 p.m. on March 28, 1968. At the time of the shooting, I was reviewing my Honors Capstone on "student activism," a purely cerebral exercise totally divorced from the reality of what was going on around me. Memphis was a whirlwind of contradictions, and I was a part of that contradiction. Larry Payne figured into that contradiction, and I watched and read about the incident with interest and concern. Then I forgot. But today, I remember. It is Black History Month, a time to reflect on both the horror and honor of history, especially as it relates to African-Americans. It also is a time to measure progress. Dutifully, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) has put forth its annual theme to serve as a vortex for arguments, analyses, celebrations and calls for action. Reviewing past themes both jarred my memory and stirred my emotions. The 2014 theme was "Civil Rights." For me, this theme calls forth both their promise and their denial. For some strange reason, it also takes me back to Larry Payne. Perhaps it is because "Black Lives Matter" is all over the news. Larry Payne's death reminded me of how far we have come "tracing our paths in the blood of the slaughtered." We are far removed from slavery and the denial of even our basic humanity and the Dred Scott Decision of 1854 that declared "the Negro has no rights which the white man ought to respect." We are rid of the Black Codes and massacres of the post-Civil War era, and we are beyond a time when a black soldier of World War I would come home and mysteriously disappear as did my uncle, Tom Pettis Jones, only to have his bones turn up years later in the Coldwater River Bottom. It also reminds me that we are perhaps free from the unabridged murders and lynching done "under color of law." But it also recalls for me present-day violations of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These things hurt and haunt me. The Larry Payne case haunts me. Not because of today's continuous complaints of police brutality, or my own personal experiences with police officers and I have had some scary moments in Memphis, West Tennessee and rural Mississippi. It haunts me because of who I am. Southern, poor, black, male vulnerable. Wisdom gained across the ages forces me to be sensitive to these demographics; the sociologist in me tells me that they matter. The case haunts me on its own merits. Larry Payne lived in now-demolished Fowler Homes housing project. The place was neighbor to Mason Temple, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. declared he had seen the "promised land. The United States was "turning" over civil rights at the time of the shooting. Again, our country's creed had met its antithesis in its deeds. Payne had participated in the March 28 demonstration led by King on behalf of the striking sanitation workers. The march eventually turned violent. King was assassinated in Memphis days later, April 4, on a balcony at the Lorraine Motel. Payne's mother was watching "As the World Turns" when she got the news. "That's my boy," she cried, running to the scene. The officer said, "I saw a male colored enter the basement of one of the apartments carrying a television," linking Larry Payne to looting that had occurred on South Third Street earlier in the day. Although 70 yards away, he was sure he had the right guy. His report says Larry Payne made a motion toward him with a blade in his hand. Community residents tell a different story. "Larry had his hands up and his back to the door of the storage room. His hands were behind his head when the police shot him," said one. Another said, "The short, fat policeman shot him. It was a muffled sound, like busting a sack. The gun was touching his stomach. The skinny policeman told him, 'You didn't have to shoot him.'" The officer was exonerated. The "skinny" officer was never interviewed. Larry Payne was 16. The 2016 ASALH Theme is "Hallowed Grounds: Sites of African-American Memories." Anybody Remember Larry Payne? Is the former site of the Fowler Homes "hallowed ground"? Clarence Christian is president of the Memphis branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. SHARE By Jonathan Bernstein Financier Donald Trump is better at TV than anyone else who has ever appeared in presidential debates. Much better. He also has no capacity at all to speak coherently on policy. He's lazy: He's developed about five minutes, maybe 10, of talking points, and he sticks with them. And as one crazy billionaire on a sitcom said when he ran for president, Trump doesn't just have skeletons in his closet. He has "skeletons running around eating leftovers from the fridge." Of course, many people have written about Trump's lack of policy knowledge, but it hasn't been dramatized in front of a large audience yet. Thursday night, Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz turned their attacks on him, and fully exposed him as basically a fraud and a buffoon. Whether the media will say that in the news pages, not just the opinion pages is an open question. It's also unclear whether Republican voters will care. The biggest moment came on health care, when Trump was repeatedly urged by CNN's Dana Bash and by Rubio to go beyond "get rid of the lines," which is all Trump has rehearsed on the subject. He couldn't. Rubio, quick on the uptake after his infamous glitch in the pre-New Hampshire debate, pointed out that Trump was now repeating himself; in fact, he continued, "I just watched you repeat yourself five times five seconds ago" and proceeded to mock Trump's slogans. It was great theater, and it was also dead-on accurate. That's what Trump has: a handful of slogans to fill in on each subject, which he repeats as much as necessary. That and, of course, talking about how great he is. He did the same thing on Israel later in the debate. He does the same thing on immigration: He has a great line (for those who enjoy that sort of thing) about building a wall and making Mexico pay for it, but he can't really speak coherently beyond that. Yes, all of that has been true from the start. Maybe Republican voters don't care; after all, they've been trained by their party to oppose the very idea of complex government policy, including conservative policies. But at least Thursday night it was more obvious than usual that Trump is wildly unprepared for the office he is seeking. Cruz and especially Rubio came prepared to hit Trump hard on personal issues as well, including a civil lawsuit he has currently been slapped with over "Trump University" and over hiring foreign workers for a Florida project. While these had been reported on before, they were new to the Republican debate stage. As was pressure on Trump to release his tax returns, an issue raised Friday by former Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney, of all people. Trump's response was his usual bluster, denial and attack. One of his specialties when confronted with something he has said, on policy or anything else, is just to flat-out deny it. But if it generates high-profile follow-up stories, none of that plays well. The pattern is clear and predictable: When faced with a poor performance, a tough story, or good news from another candidate, Trump says something crazy to pull the attention back to himself and on his own terms. He's likely to do it within the next 24-hour news cycle, maybe within the next 24 minutes. To my eyes, Trump's performance was a disaster, start to finish. But my eyes aren't important. What will matter is how a third of the Republican electorate reacts to it the third who are not yet sold on Trump, but not yet repulsed by him either. Jonathan Bernstein is a Bloomberg View columnist. Select Commodity All Ajwan Alasande Gram Almond(Badam) Alsandikai Amaranthus Ambada Seed Amla(Nelli Kai) Amphophalus Antawala Anthorium Apple Apricot(Jardalu/Khumani) Arecanut(Betelnut/Supari) Arecanut(Betelnut/Supari) Arhar (Tur/Red Gram)(Whole) Arhar (Tur/Red Gram)(Whole) Arhar Dal(Tur Dal) Ashgourd Astera Avare Dal Bajra(Pearl Millet/Cumbu) Bajra(Pearl Millet/Cumbu) Balekai Bamboo Banana Banana - Green Barley (Jau) Bay leaf (Tejpatta) Beans Beaten Rice Beetroot Bengal Gram Dal (Chana Dal) Bengal Gram(Gram)(Whole) Ber(Zizyphus/Borehannu) Ber(Zizyphus/Borehannu) Betal Leaves Bhindi(Ladies Finger) Bitter gourd Black Gram (Urd Beans)(Whole) Black Gram Dal (Urd Dal) Black pepper BOP Bottle gourd Bran Brinjal Broken Rice Broomstick(Flower Broom) Bull Bunch Beans Cabbage Calf Capsicum Cardamoms Carnation Carrot Cashewnuts Castor Seed Cauliflower Chapparad Avare Chennangi Dal Cherry Chikoos(Sapota) Chili Red Chilly Capsicum Chow Chow Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum(Loose) Cinamon(Dalchini) Cloves Cluster beans Cock Cocoa Coconut Coconut Oil Coconut Seed Coffee Colacasia Copra Coriander(Leaves) Corriander seed Cotton Cotton Seed Cow Cowpea (Lobia/Karamani) Cowpea (Lobia/Karamani) Cowpea(Veg) Cucumbar(Kheera) Cummin Seed(Jeera) Custard Apple (Sharifa) Dalda Dhaincha Drumstick Dry Chillies Dry Fodder Dry Grapes Duck Duster Beans Egg Elephant Yam (Suran) Field Pea Firewood Fish Foxtail Millet(Navane) French Beans (Frasbean) Galgal(Lemon) Garlic Ghee Gingelly Oil Ginger(Dry) Ginger(Green) Gladiolus Cut Flower Goat Gram Raw(Chholia) Gramflour Grapes Green Avare (W) Green Chilli Green Fodder Green Gram (Moong)(Whole) Green Gram Dal (Moong Dal) Green Peas Ground Nut Oil Ground Nut Seed Groundnut Groundnut (Split) Groundnut pods (raw) Guar Guar Seed(Cluster Beans Seed) Guava Gur(Jaggery) He Buffalo Hen Hippe Seed Honge seed Hybrid Cumbu Indian Beans (Seam) Indian Colza(Sarson) Isabgul (Psyllium) Jack Fruit Jaffri Jamun(Narale Hannu) Jarbara Jasmine Jowar(Sorghum) Jute Kabuli Chana(Chickpeas-White) Kacholam Kakada Kankambra Karamani Karbuja(Musk Melon) Kartali (Kantola) Khoya Kinnow Knool Khol Kodo Millet(Varagu) Kulthi(Horse Gram) Lak(Teora) Leafy Vegetable Lemon Lentil (Masur)(Whole) Lilly Lime Linseed Lint Litchi Little gourd (Kundru) Long Melon(Kakri) Lotus Lotus Sticks Lukad Mahedi Mahua Mahua Seed(Hippe seed) Maida Atta Maize Mango Mango (Raw-Ripe) Marasebu Marget Marigold(Calcutta) Marigold(loose) Mashrooms Masur Dal Mataki Methi Seeds Methi(Leaves) Millets Mint(Pudina) Moath Dal Mousambi(Sweet Lime) Mustard Mustard Oil Myrobolan(Harad) Neem Seed Niger Seed (Ramtil) Nutmeg Onion Onion Green Orange Orchid Ox Paddy(Dhan)(Basmati) Paddy(Dhan)(Common) Papaya Papaya (Raw) Patti Calcutta Peach Pear(Marasebu) Peas cod Peas Wet Peas(Dry) Pegeon Pea (Arhar Fali) Pepper garbled Pepper ungarbled Persimon(Japani Fal) Pigs Pineapple Plum Pointed gourd (Parval) Pomegranate Potato Pumpkin Raddish Ragi (Finger Millet) Raibel Rajgir Ram Rat Tail Radish (Mogari) Raya Resinwood Rice Ridge gourd(Tori) Ridgeguard(Tori) Rose(Local) Rose(Loose) Rose(Loose)) Round gourd Rubber Sabu Dan Sabu Dana Safflower Sajje Same/Savi Season Leaves Seemebadnekai Seetafal Seetapal Sesamum(Sesame,Gingelly,Til) Sesamum(Sesame,Gingelly,Til) She Buffalo She Goat Sheep Snake gourd Snakeguard Soanf Soapnut(Antawala/Retha) Soji Soyabean Spinach Sponge gourd Squash(Chappal Kadoo) Sugar Sugarcane Sunflower Sunhemp Suram Surat Beans (Papadi) Suva (Dill Seed) Suvarna Gadde Sweet Potato Sweet Pumpkin T.V. Cumbu T.V. Cumbu Tamarind Fruit Tamarind Seed Tapioca Taramira Tender Coconut Thinai (Italian Millet) Thogrikai Thondekai Tinda Tobacco Tomato Toria Tube Rose(Double) Tube Rose(Loose) Tube Rose(Single) Turmeric Turmeric (raw) Turnip Walnut Water Melon Wheat Wheat Atta White Peas White Pumpkin Wood Yam Yam (Ratalu) Select State Select Market 23 May 2022 - Understand the French healthcare system, how you access it and how you are reimbursed - Useful if you are new to the French healthcare system or want a more in-depth understanding - Reader question and answer section Aimed at non-French nationals living here, the guide gives an overview of what you are (and are not) covered for. There is also information for second-home owners and regular visitors. Friday, February 26, 2016Our 30th anniversary celebrations and commemorative meetings entered the third day last night. Attendance continued to grow. The meeting was led by Musopelo Chilongoshi who is one of the newest church members and has already found a place to serve in the churchin the work of missions.We again began the evening with presentations from our missionaries. The first presentation was made by Pastor Lackson Mudenda, who was ordained in 2015 to plant a church in Sesheke, in the Western Province of Zambia. He spoke about the place of worship that the church had been offered, which was easy to find. They have also found a plot of land on which to start erecting their church building.The second missions presentation was made by Pastor Curtis Chirwa, who was ordained as a missionary in 2008 after being a pastoral intern at KBC for a while. He was sent to plant a church in the Kabanana area north of Lusaka and this year (2016) the church has been constituted as an independent local church. His report was, therefore, a farewell. He spoke about the conversions they had seen in the last year, the baptismal service as a result of this, and the progress on their building project.The third missions presentation was made by Pastor Emmanuel Komba, who is scheduled to be ordained as a missionary this coming Sunday. He spent January 2014 to September 2015 at KBC as a pastoral intern. He will be sent to Freetown, Sierra Leone, to plant a Reformed Baptist church there.Logan Nyasulu initially called upon Mrs Daisy Nawa to speak about the missionaries wives conference that took place earlier in the week. I was thoroughly impressed with how she went through all the teaching that they received without using any notes!Logan Nyasulu read the third seven years of the history of KBC (1996 to 2002). This comprised the period when KBC moved into its current building and adopted a new constitution reflecting its new Reformed Baptist position. This was also the period when the Eagles Nest School started and KBC started doing outreach work at the Agricultural and Commercial Show. And finally it was the time when KBC entered into partnership with HeartCry Missionary Society who have become our main partners in missions.Logan Nyasulu went on to interview Dr Phanuel Mweemba who was a member in the days that were covered by the earlier narrative. He talked about how he found himself at KBC and the impact that moving from the Kabwata Community Hall into the current premises made to him and the rest of the church members. Dr Mweemba also talked about how he benefitted from the missions work of KBC when he moved to Botswana to work there. He was a leader in the church that we were planting in Francistown.Dr Ken Turnbull, the African Christian University (ACU) vice chancellor, was available this evening to speak about the ACU. He thanked KBC for its role in the establishment of the ACU, together with its sister churches. He also presented a slide show that had the 150 acres of land in Chisamba and the proposed entryway. Finally, he gave a few prayer requests, including that of getting the licence to begin operations. We are almost there!Before the preaching of Gods word, I welcomed all who were present and very briefly this time mentioned the K150,000 that we were working towards raising for the construction of the majestic entrance to our Chisamba campus of the ACU.The preacher on this third evening was Pastor Ronald Kalifungwa from Lusaka Baptist Church. He preached from 1 Timothy 3:15-16. He was dealing with the churchs doctrine and worship. From this text he dealt with the following:(1) The churchs identity as the foundation of the truth. Pastor Kalifungwa asked the question, What is this truth for which the church is a pillar and ground? He proceeded to answer this by saying that this truth relates to God and his execution of his purposes through Christ and the duty of man in response to this. This has been formulated into confessions of faith across history. He later asked, What does the Bible mean by the church being the pillar and foundation of the truth? He said it meant that the church had the job of preserving the truth because it was constantly under attack. It needed to be passed on undiluted to the next generation while blessing the current one.(2) The churchs identity as a worshipping community. Pastor Kalifungwa said that when Paul wrote, I write these things to you, he was referring to the prescriptions he had spoken about with respect to the worship and order of the church. On the subject of worship the apostle Paul was saying that it must be regulated by the word of God. The worship must be an expression of the truth that the church preaches. This is the regulative principle of worship. This is referring to worship in the house of God. The fact that it is in Gods house suggests that God must have the final say on what we do in that worship. This is a worship that must be energised by and inspired by Christ.Pastor Kalifungwa ended with three exhortations. We must hold fast to the form of sound words that have been entrusted to us through the apostles. We must identify ourselves and worship with the church as a truly worshipping community. We must do deeds that are appropriate to this community.That was how our third day at these commemorative meetings ended. In closing, we sang againO Jesus I have promised,To serve thee to the end;Be Thou forever near me,My Master and my Friend. Mark Winterburn is a Researcher for the Centre for Social Justice. A Government committed to a poverty-fighting agenda built around life chances should not overlook the importance of a stable and secure home for the poorest. This was the theme of the CSJs recently published report, Home Improvements: A Social Justice Approach to Housing where we called on the Prime Minister to adopt a housing policy for the poor as part of his all-out assault on poverty. Putting Housing at the heart of a Life Chances Strategy There is a compelling case for putting housing at the heart of a life chances agenda. A secure home in a good condition is fundamental to life chances. The lack of a long-term base undermines a range of social outcomes, from holding down sustained employment to providing a stable family environment. Much of the Governments current housing policy is focused on the idea of home ownership and the Government should be commended for its ambition to build one million homes by the end of the Parliament. However, the principle of increasing home ownership is unlikely to help those with the lowest incomes. Over two million low-income households now live in the private rented sector. Back in 2004 it was 900,000. Helping these low-income families is the real challenge facing Ministers at the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). Many low-income families in the private rented sector face instability and uncertainty, with the vast majority on short-term tenancies. At the same time, about half of landlords refuse to let their properties to tenants in receipt of Housing Benefit. This creates a market where the worst landlords thrive, and it can trap some families into accepting sub-standard properties. There are currently 1.3 million homes in the private rented sector that fail to meet the decent homes standard (the Government-set baseline standard). In turning its housing policy towards the poorest households the Government needs to look carefully at ways to make the private rented sector work for these families. Social Lettings Agencies In our report Home Improvements we argue for a new kind of social justice agenda for housing policy which targets problems associated with the private rented sector for the poorest families. We have called on the Government to look at extending a new breed of Social Lettings Agency. These Social Lettings Agencies lease properties from landlords for an agreed period of time (e.g a five-year lease) and commit to paying the rent for this duration regardless of whether the property is occupied or the tenants maintain their rental payments. The difference between the rent paid by the tenant to the agency and that paid by the agency to the landlord can then be used to fund some of the operating costs of running the scheme. These include additional support services for those tenants who are vulnerable and may struggle to sustain a tenancy. Where they have been introduced Social Lettings Agencies have proved to be an excellent means of mitigating risk for landlords and for preventing tenancies from failing. Social Lettings Agencies transfer the risk of letting to a benefit claimant onto themselves. But they need help to get to size so that they can become financially self-sustaining, and for more operations to spread across the country where they are so desperately needed. Social Lettings Agencies arent simply about process and administration. They go beyond the usual remit of a lettings agency to employ support staff that help vulnerable people sustain their tenancies. This fits in with a Government committed to making social policy more human and built around the needs of the most disadvantaged. We have called on the Government to divert 40 million of Government money which the Chancellor has given to DCLG and is currently unallocated to support the expansion of Social Lettings Agencies with credible business plans to make the scheme sustainable in the long term. A new wave of Social Lettings Agencies would open up the private rented sector to low-income families and potentially provide new housing for homeless families. These, and a raft of other measures we outline in our report, could provide the basis of a housing offer for low-income people. They would cost the Government little and could drastically improve the life chances of the most disadvantaged. We await the Governments Life Chances Strategy and hope that a big commitment to turning the Governments housing policy to the poorest families is contained within it. Close Obesity can affect one's memory, a new study is reporting. The study's researchers wanted to examine the link between memory and weight. Previous studies have suggested that gaining excessive amount of weight can lead to changes in the brain. "It is possible that becoming overweight may make it harder to keep track of what and how much you have eaten, potentially making you more likely to overeat," Dr. Lucy Cheke, a researcher at the University of Cambridge, said in a press release. "The possibility that there may be episodic memory deficits in overweight individuals is of concern, especially given the growing evidence that episodic memory may have a considerable influence on feeding behavior and appetite regulation." For this research, the team tested episodic memory in 50 participants between the ages of 18 and 35 who had a body mass index (BMI) that ranged from 18, which is considered to be healthy, to 51, which would be classified as severely obese. The participants were required to "hide" certain objects at different times in several scenes that were presented on a computer screen. During the two days after the experiment, the participants were asked to recall where and when they had hidden the objects. The researchers found that the scores in obese participants were 15 percent lower than the scores in skinnier people. "The suggestion we're making is that a higher BMI is having some reduction on the vividness of memory, but they're not drawing blanks and having amnesia," Dr. Lucy Cheke, from the University of Cambridge, told the BBC News. "But if they have a less strong memory of a recent meal, with a less strong impact in the mind, then they may have less ability to regulate how much they eat later on." The study was published in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare Muhammad al-Qiq Ends 94-Day Hunger Strike In Deal With Israel By Ali Abunimah 27 February, 2016 Electronicintifada.net Muhammad al-Qiq has ended the hunger strike that brought him into uncharted medical territory and to the brink of death after 94 days without food. The 33-year-old journalist and father of two ended his protest as part of a compromise deal with Israel to free him from detention without charge or trial. Under the terms of the deal, announced on Friday by the Palestinian Prisoners Club, al-Qiq will be released on 21 May and his detention will not be renewed. In the meantime, al-Qiq will continue to be treated at HaEmek hospital, instead of in the occupied West Bank, but will be in the care of a team of Palestinian doctors from inside Israel. The days al-Qiq spent in Israeli detention after his arrest last November, but before Israel issued the administrative detention order, will be counted as part of the six-month administrative detention. As a result, he will be released almost a month earlier than the administrative detention was originally due to expire. Administrative detention is the Israeli practice, condemned by human rights organizations and the UN, of holding detainees without charge or trial. Terms are usually for six months but are indefinitely renewable. Qadura Fares, the head of the Palestinian Prisoners Club, told the Maan News Agency that al-Qiqs detention would not be renewed. According to the Tel Aviv newspaper Haaretz, Israel will not renew the detention unless new evidence warrants it, a condition similar to the deal that ended the hunger strike of Muhammad Allan last year. Under Israels administrative detention procedure, detainees are never shown the evidence against them or given an opportunity to challenge it through legal due process. The Quds news outlet tweeted a brief video clip of al-Qiq speaking from his hospital bed following the announcement of the deal. Al-Qiq thanked Palestinians and people around the world for supporting him, saying, I kiss the ground under my peoples feet. Family visit The deal also allows al-Qiq to receive visits from his wife and two children, which Israel had previously refused. According to the Quds news outlet, al-Qiq has insisted that the first food he would take would be given to him from the hand of his wife and fellow journalist Fayha Shalash. Israels detention of al-Qiq inspired solidarity from Palestinians and people around the world, and drew condemnation from human rights organizations. On 4 February, the Israeli high court ostensibly suspended al-Qiqs detention, while insisting he remain in custody at HaEmek hospital in Afula, a city in the north of present day Israel. The Israeli human rights group BTselem said that Israel was holding al-Qiq with no lawful authority and that the judges had concocted a new legal myth a person who is not free, yet is not detained. On Monday, Israel allowed two senior Hamas prisoners to visit al-Qiq under heavy guard, apparently to persuade him to come to terms that would end his strike. Muhammad Barakeh, chair of the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee, a body that represents Palestinians in Israel, welcomed the deal as a victory over the jailers and the occupation brought about by al-Qiqs struggle. We said from the start that we wanted to see Muhammad al-Qiq free, alive, a hero with dignity, and that is what we welcome today, Barakeh said at a press conference near the hospital where al-Qiq remains. Ali Abunimah is Co-founder of The Electronic Intifada and author of The Battle for Justice in Palestine, now out from Haymarket Books. Also wrote One Country: A Bold-Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse. Opinions are mine alone. Demonstration In Netherlands For Ahwazi Prisoners Draws Large Support By Rahim Hamid 27 February, 2016 Countercurrents.org The Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Al-Ahwaz held a mass demonstration in front of the International Criminal Court in The Hague Friday, February 26, 2016 in solidarity with Ahwazi activists imprisoned by the Iranian regime. Representatives of other Arab communities, including Syrians, Palestinians and Iraqis, participated in the demonstration to show their solidarity with the ongoing plight of Ahwazis. Many protesters carried the Ahwazi flag, alongside pictures of Ahwazi martyrs and prisoners, and banners in Arabic and English denouncing the brutal Iranian occupation, now in its 91st year and the death penalty sentences recently issued against dozens of Ahwazi Arab activists. The demonstrators demanded that international organizations intervene to prevent the Iranian regime from executing the prisoners and carrying out more arbitrary arrest campaigns against Ahwazi rights activists. They strongly condemned and denounced Irans shifting the course of the Karoon River, and redirecting its water away from the Ahwazis to central Persian regions. The Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahwaz, who had called for this demonstration, stated that despite grave human rights violations perpetrated against Ahwazi people, the plight of this occupied nation remained hidden to the world at large. The ultimate purpose of the demonstration was to bring the suffering of the Ahwazi people to the attention of the public and to demand that the international organizations put pressure on the Iranian regime to stop the ethnic cleansing practices, the random arrests and executions of the Ahwazi Arab people, and to recognize and uphold the political prisoner status of the political and human rights activists. For years, Iran has been oppressing the Ahwazi Arab people through intimidation, mass arrests, torture, and mass execution of Ahwazi civilians. The exploitation of the wealth and natural resources of Ahwaz, In particular, the natural gas and oil are being extracted without discernible economic benefit for the Ahwazi Arab people. The Iranian states policies have crippled the majority of the Ahwazi Arab population, with an estimated 80 percent of Ahwazi households living below the poverty line, while they are living on the sea of oil and gas, and mineral resources that have been exploited and stolen since 1925. Press and media censorship continues to be a serious obstacle for Ahwazi activists speaking out against the non-stop abuses being committed against the Ahwazi people. This censorship allows the Iranian regime to discriminate perpetually against the Ahwazi Arab people. When you read about the Ahwazi people sufferings, you will understand the occupying Iran regimes policies are aimed at completely erasing the people of Ahwaz, their history, culture and future by constructing settlements which target Ahwaz and its population. This is meant to undermine Arab identity in the crucible of Persian culture. The spread of drug addiction and crime in Ahwaz is also largely attributable to the policies of the Iran regime. This enemy of democracy spreads ignorance and backwardness and tries to repress the entire Al-Ahwaz region by supporting drug dealers and yet another attempt to ruin Ahwazi society. The plight of Ahwazi people is very long term, and their right to independence and safety has worsened during successive Iranian regimes that denied the fundamental right of having access to education in mother language and punishing everyone for acquiring Arabic books attempting to make Ahwazis to be lost generation without identity and history melting in Persian culture . However, despite all this, the Persian state racist policies failed due to the strong national will of Ahwazi people in rejecting occupation adhering to their Arab identity and culture. The demonstration received extensive media coverage from many Arab and foreign media, including Al Arabiya, Saudi Arabia First channel, Future TV, Wesal channel and Orient News. This is the third large-scale demonstration by Ahwazi freedom activists following others in Copenhagen and Vienna. The demonstrations are being held in the European capitals to raise awareness of the daily crimes perpetrated by the Iranian regime against the Ahwazi people; yesterdays demonstration focused particularly on raising awareness of the need to protest against the imminent executions of five Ahwazi political prisoners after regime authorities vowed to execute them together at a public execution shortly. At the end of the demonstration, organizers issued a final statement, which reads as follows: For many years the Iranian authorities have committed one crime after another. The crimes, which all amount war crimes in terms of ugliness and brutality and the numbers and specific persecution of the victims, are committed on racial grounds, being always perpetrated against non-Persian peoples: Arabs, Baluchis, TurkAzeris, Kurds and Turkmen. It is unsurprising that the Iranian perpetrators go unpunished in Iran, where there is no justice and a complete lack of any independent judiciary or accountability among state officials. More surprisingly, however, the Iranian officials guilty of committing heinous crimes against non-Persian peoples have impunity here in the free world, where they face no accountability, punishment or prosecution for their crimes against humanity, with some of them traveling and moving freely between European countries. Where are the international organizations active in the human rights field? Where are the United Nations and its institutions which are supposed to investigate and prosecute war crimes, genocides and mass violations of human rights? Where are these bodies and institutions when it comes to the prosecution of Iranian officials who take turns to travel freely to European nations? Finally, what is the role of the International Criminal Court, which we should be able to turn to in the expectation that it will condemn and help to prosecute the crimes perpetrated against the Arab people of Ahwaz and other non-Persian peoples, including such crimes against humanity as forced displacement, ethnic cleansing, systematic torture and deliberate environmental degradation? We are here today to call upon the international community: First, to show solidarity with the victims murdered by the Iranian regime especially the Ahwazi Arab prisoners and the families of the martyred and missing. Second: We call on the International Criminal Court to take the necessary measures against the Iranian regimes grave human rights abuses in Ahwaz and to impose real, substantial pressure on the regime to force it to end its atrocities or, at the very least, to provide legal counsel for the victims of these heinous crimes. Third: We demand that the International Criminal Court send a special envoy to take testimony from, catalogue and document the Iranian regimes violations against survivors of the regimes prisons and from the families of those murdered and disappeared by the regime, and to open a judicial file against Iranian regime officials. Fourth, We call upon the free world not to remain silent any longer about what is happening to the Arab people of Ahwaz who continue to endure genocide, forced displacement and ethnic cleansing at the hand of Iranian regime officials, and to take punitive action in order to force the regime to end its monstrous policies of murder, deliberate starvation and torture. Rahim Hamid is a Ahwazi freelance journalist Scrapping Trident And Transitioning To A Nuclear-Free World By Rajesh Makwana 27 February, 2016 Sharing.org As the illicit trade in nuclear weapons escalates alongside the risk of geopolitical conflict, its high time governments decisively prioritised nuclear disarmament and that means scrapping Trident, the UKs inordinately expensive nuclear deterrent, which would also facilitate the redistribution of scarce public resources to fund essential services. As geopolitical tensions escalate in the Middle East and the world teeters on the brink of a new Cold War, its clear that the only way to eliminate the threat of nuclear warfare is for governments to fulfil their long-held commitment to the general and complete disarmament of nuclear weapons permanently. A bold and essential step towards this crucial goal is to decommission Trident, the UKs ineffective, unusable and costly nuclear deterrent submarines. Renewing Trident would not only undermine international disarmament efforts for years to come, it will reinforce the hazardous belief that maintaining a functional nuclear arsenal is essential for any nation seeking to wield power on the world stage. Needless to say, modern nuclear bombs are many times more destructive than those dropped on Japan at the end of the Second World War, and would result in a host of immeasurably devastating impacts on the natural world and human life if they were deployed today. The extent to which nuclear weapons currently proliferate the globe is therefore alarming and underscores the need for radical action on this critical issue. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, nine countries (the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea) possess a total of 16,000 nuclear weapons, of which 4,300 are deployed with operational forces and 1,800 are kept in a state of high operational alert which means they can be launched within a 5 to 15-minute timeframe if necessary. However, these figures dont tell the full story. According to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, five other European nations host US nuclear weapons on their territory as part of a NATO agreement, and 23 additional countries rely on US nuclear capabilities for their national security. Furthermore, the spread of nuclear technology and the illicit trade in nuclear weapons means that any state can potentially develop or purchase nuclear-grade weapons, which confirms the widely held view that a number of other nations unofficially harbour nuclear warheads, and many more could do so in the years ahead. Fading visions of nuclear disarmament The abundance of nuclear weapons and related technology highlights the weakness of the international Non-Proliferation Treaty, which has only made limited progress on nuclear disarmament since its inception in 1968 despite near universal membership. With high levels of nuclear stockpiles still in existence, there is also a very real risk of unintended but deadly consequences. According to a report by The Royal Institute of International Affairs, there have been 13 instances of nuclear bombs being accidently deployed since 1962 by Russia, the US and other countries mainly due to technical malfunctions or breakdowns in communication. As international disarmament efforts diminish, such risks are set to increase alongside the growing likelihood of targeted terrorist attacks on existing nuclear facilities. Its clear that Trident, like every other nuclear weapons system, is a relic of a bygone age that simply cannot guarantee the safety of any nation at a time when global terrorism and climate change pose a far more urgent threat to national security than other states with nuclear weapons. As the columnist Simon Jenkins puts it, All declared threats to Britain tend to come either from powers with no conceivable designs on conquering Britain or from forces immune to deterrence. Indeed, most countries of the world (including 25 NATO states) dont maintain their own nuclear stockpiles, and yet they have been just as successful in deterring nuclear war as the UK. Moreover, the International Court of Justice has ruled that the threat or use of nuclear weapons would be contrary to the rules of international law, which means that their use would be illegal in virtually any situation. Given that it is close to unimaginable that a so-called world leader would ever deploy nuclear weapons (on ethical and legal grounds, as well as for fear of retaliatory consequences) their value as an effective deterrent is unjustifiable and deeply flawed. The farcical arguments employed to rationalise building and maintaining such weapon systems are amusingly summarised in a Yes, Prime Minister comedy sketch from 1986, which aired soon after Margret Thatcher first inaugurated the Trident missile system in the UK: Sir Humphrey: With Trident we could obliterate the whole of eastern Europe. Hacker: I dont want to obliterate the whole of eastern Europe. Sir Humphrey: But its a deterrent. Hacker: Its a bluff. I probably wouldnt use it. Sir Humphrey: Yes, but they dont know that you probably wouldnt. Hacker: They probably do. Sir Humphrey: Yes, they probably know that you probably wouldnt. But they cant certainly know. Hacker: They probably certainly know that I probably wouldnt. Sir Humphrey: Yes, but even though they probably certainly know that you probably wouldnt, they dont certainly know that, although you probably wouldnt, there is no probability that you certainly would. Redistributing vital public resources Given that the nine nuclear-armed governments together spend an astounding $100bn a year on nuclear forces (mainly via private corporations), those who play a significant role in sustaining this appalling industry are also likely to be profiting handsomely from it. In the UK, for example, strong support for renewing Trident comes from the lucrative and influential defence industry as well as the many banks, insurance companies, pension funds and asset managers that invest heavily in companies producing nuclear weapon systems. According to some calculations, 15 percent of members in the UKs House of Lords have what can be deemed as 'vested interests' in either the corporations involved in the programme or the institutions that finance them. In both moral and economic terms, spending such vast amounts of public money on producing these weapons of mass destruction is tantamount to theft as long as austerity-driven governments profess to lack the funding needed to safeguard basic human needs and ensure that all people have sufficient access to essential public services. While estimates for the cost of renewing Trident vary considerably, it is likely that the initial outlay will be in the region of 30-40bn ($42-56bn), although this figure could rise to as much as 167bn ($234bn) over the course of its lifetime. Rather than wasting these vast sums on the inhumane machinery of warfare, some of it could be used to provide emergency assistance to desperate refugees and asylum seekers that the Tory government has shamefully neglected, or to shore up overseas aid budgets that are being syphoned away to cover domestic refugee-related expenses. As the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) calculate, if 100bn ($140bn) from the Trident budget was spent bolstering vital public services instead, it would be enough to fully fund A&E services for 40 years, employ 150,000 new nurses, build 1.5 million affordable homes, build 30,000 new primary schools, or cover tuition fees for 4 million students. In light of the pressing need to decommission nuclear stockpiles and redistribute public resources in a way that truly serves the (global) common good, the upcoming vote in the UK Parliament on renewing Trident presents an important opportunity for campaigners and concerned citizens to raise our voice for a just and peaceful future. Many thousands of protesters are expected to unite on the streets of London this Saturday 27th February in a joint demand to end the UKs Trident program and share public resources more equitably. As CND point out in their scrap trident campaign, it's high time the UK government complies with its obligation under international law to eliminate our nuclear arsenal: By doing so we would send a message to the world that spending for peace and development and meeting peoples real needs is our priority, not spending on weapons of mass destruction. Sign CND's scrap Trident petition Watch the scrap trident campaign film Rajesh Makwana is a writer and activist at Share The World's Resources, and he can be contacted at rajesh [at] sharing.org Breakdown Of Law, Nexus Between Police And Lawyers And Fabricated Media Trials: The Assaulters Of Kanhaiya Kumar By Shubhda Chaudhary 27 February, 2016 Countercurrents.org On 17th February, when Kanhaiya was to produced in front of the Patiala High Court, he was assaulted by a group of lawyers dressed in black robes. Two days before, JNU professors like Nivedita Menon, Himanshu and Rohith were also manhandled by the lawyers, who were loudly shouting Bharat Mata ki Jai. They egregiously pointed at the professors and journalists present in the court, asking them to vacate the premises as they were not allowed to be present. Today, a scared yet strong Kanhaiya spoke in front of the Supreme Court team how the police on how he was assaulted. He stated how initially he was crowded by a mob of media people through which the police protected him. He in fact stated I was almost disrobed during the attack by the lawyers, which the police allowed to happen. It seemed as if they were impatiently waiting for him to come so that they could assault him. He was kicked in his stomach, his slippers went missing in the entire frenzy, he was manhandled to the highest degree by these lawyers who were loudly calling for other lawyers to join the assault. In spite of the fact that Kanhaiya stated that he could identify the man who was beating him up, the police let the attackers go and acted in a very complicit manner. He even stated that I think they were highly politically motivated people. Kanhaiya kumar narrates his ordeal in court Posted by Countercurrents.org on Friday, February 26, 2016 Prashant Bhushan, senior lawyer, stated that police were saying contradictory statements when they start lying. They contract each other and sometimes they even contradict themselves. In spite of 49 police officers were escorting Kanhaiya, he was assaulted. The buck stops at the Police Commissioner. He was asked by the Supreme Court to be responsible and protect Kanhaiya but he miserably failed along with the DCP who was present there. It seems that he had given a different direction to the Delhi Police because otherwise it is impossible for the mob of police officers to control the frenzy there. So, if lawlessness can happen within the court premises, what about people outside? It is an open contempt for the law of the Supreme Court. Prashant Bhushan stated that such things happen in a fascist state. Its a shame for a country to witness this which prides itself to be a democracy. Nalin Kohli, BJP leader stated that it was the same Supreme Court which has charged Kanhaiya on criminal contempt. Nevertheless, the three lawyers have been identified by the police and the investigation is bound to take place. But he states that there is one context that needs to be seen, as in to what extent the issue has to be seen on the basis of evidence and on the basis of statements. Adding another ideation to the entire context, the BJP leader stated that some lawyers were acting on behalf of Kanhaiya and hence, their statements have to be seen with a pinch of salt. Now, nothing can be more dehumanizing to Indian democracy that in spite of clearly having recorded evidences of Kanhaiya being beaten up on 17th February within the court premises, there are conspiracy theories running around that these lawyers were on behalf of him. It sounds inhumane to fabricate the evidence to such a point that the entire substance falls apart. What we see now is a development of a nexus between lawyers and policemen who are taking the law in hand, who decide themselves, and quite powerfully so, that they have the Right to Punish and if possible, they could have caused tremendous amount of harm to Kanhaiya, to which they have no guilt whatsoever. What is disturbing in this case, is the utter silence of our Prime Minister, our Home Minister and other top echelons, as if the entire episode took place in some other country. As Achin Vanaik clearly stated that if something like this would have happened in Pakistan, we Indians would have been the first to claim that what form of callous injustice took place as we belong to a democratic state. But look here, the manner in which media trials are going on, the draconian charges of criminal conspiracy and sedition are being charged on defenseless students without having concrete proof. As a nation, where are we heading to? Certainly, there are two forms of nationalism emerging. The first one is aggressive, dominating and capable of assaults while the second one is democratic and demanding the Right to Dissent. Both are forms of nationalism but its utter shame that students of JNU are now caught on to prove their nationality and patriotism in such critical circumstances when they are being targeted as anti-nationals and parasites, quite immediately and easily. Its a deplorable condition as of now and all we can hope is that history does not get repeated on 2nd March when Kanhaiya has to be produced again in front of the court. If something does happen, who would be responsible? Shubhda Chaudhary is a PhD Student at JNU. She can be reached at shubhda.chaudhary@gmail.com Jinhe Naaz Hai Hind Par Woh Kahan Hain? Where are those who are proud of India? By Shamsul Islam 27 February, 2016 Countercurrents.org I am sure that every Indian patriot remembers this heart wrenching song penned by Sahir Ludhinvi,sung by Mohammed Rafi under the music direction of SD Burman for Piyaasaa, a memorable 1957 film by Guru Dutt. This song expressed the sorrows of common Indians who felt cheated despite a decade of countrys freedom. And whats happening almost seven decades of Indias freedom? India finds itself governed by a clique controlled by RSS which has no faith in democracy and openly declares its antagonism to constitutional polity of India. The most important theoretician; Guru of this gang, MS Golwalkar set its governing philosophy as early as 1940 while addressing the 1350 top level cadres of the RSS at its headquarters at Nagpur in the following words: The RSS inspired by one flag, one leader and one ideology is lighting the flame of Hindutva in each and every corner of this great land. This slogan of one flag, one leader and one ideology was directly borrowed from the programmes of the Nazi and Fascist Parties of Europe. Mind it 1940 was the year when Armies of Hitler and Mussolini were marching on Europe. RSS denigrated everything which represented the united freedom struggle of the Indian people against the foreign rulers and hated all those symbols of composite Indian nation which were agreed upon by the people of India. Just on the eve of Independence English organ of the RSS, Organizer (August 14, 1947) carried a feature titled 'mystery behind the bhagwa dhawaj' (saffron flag) which while demanding hoisting of saffron flag at the ramparts of Red Fort in Delhi, openly denigrated the choice of the Tri-colour as the National Flag in the following words: "The people who have come to power by the kick of fate may give in our hands the Tricolour but it never be respected and owned by Hindus. The word three is in itself an evil, and a flag having three colours will certainly produce a very bad psychological effect and is injurious to a country." It was November 26, 1949 that under the guidance of Dr BR Ambedkar Indian Constituent Assembly passed a democratic-secular Constitution. But it was unacceptable to anti-national RSS. RSS following into the footsteps of anti-India, Muslim League and echoing latters words of in defence of two-nation theory that Hindus & Muslims are two different nations denigrated this Constitution. Just on the eve of Independence its organ (Organizer, August 14, 1947) rejected the whole concept of a composite nation (under the editorial title Whither). According to RSS: Let us no longer allow ourselves to be influenced by false notions of nationhood. Much of the mental confusion and the present and future troubles can be removed by the ready recognition of the simple fact that in Hindusthan only the Hindus form the nation and the national structure must be built on that safe and sound foundation [] the nation itself must be built up of Hindus, on Hindu traditions, culture, ideas and aspirations. Mind it that Maoists, Islamists, Khalistanis and militant groups like ULFA who uphold similar ideology and denigrate symbols of democratic-secular India have been dealt sternly with full physical might of India. Thousands of them have been killed in encounters, hanged through judicial processes and incarcerated for life terms. But RSS and its cadres who openly denigrate the national symbols of honour and openly declare that democratic-secular India will be converted into a Hindu state have been allowed to rule India so that they can undo our democratic-secular polity. Our judiciary and Head of the State oblivious of the inherent dangers due to their unfortunate ignorance of the secretive functioning of the RSS have not responded to the grave challenge. And this is the time when I remember the following line of Sahir Ludhinvi: Jinhe Naaz Hai Hind Par Woh Kahan Hain? Where are those who are proud of India? Shamsul Islam is a retired Professor of University of Delhi.Email: notoinjustice@gmail.com For some of S. Islam's writings in English, Hindi, Urdu & Gujarati see the following link: http://du-in.academia.edu/ShamsulIslam Facebook: Shams Shamsul Twitter: @shamsforjustice The Rise Of Trump Can Be Good For American Pluralism By Dr. Shaik Ubaid 27 February, 2016 Countercurrents.org I dislike Donald Trump. Yet I am grateful to him. No not because I believe in his particular philosophy of making America great again but because he can save America from people like him. Islamophobia has been on the rise for many years and it had become politically acceptable. But before the bombastic and narcissistic Mr. Trump joined the race to lead this nation, the media and the political leaders including Mr. Obama, were not paying much attention to it. Like an insidious cancer, this poison was spreading in the body of our great nation. Mr. Trump was a symptom that finally led the physicians to take notice. Trump is not the pain of hemorrhoids but of the deadly and insidious pancreatic cancer. Before Mr. Trump, Congressman Tancredo of Colorado had suggested that America should bomb the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. A person of the stature of Newt Gingrich, the former speaker, and who is a history professor, had called the mosque in downtown Manhattan, a symbol of Muslim triumphalism. Senators Cruz and Rubio, Governor Huckabee and Congressman Santorum had said worse things. But these politicians were too respectable and sometimes too inconsequential for leaders like Mr. Obama to take notice. Only the moderate faith leaders and the human rights and civil rights organizations were taking notice. They were showing solidarity with their Muslim fellow citizens. Mr. Trump changed all that. He was too big a name and getting bigger too fast, to be ignored. With his crass pronouncements against so many groups and individuals, he was not too respectable. Never had been. The President and the Speaker could no longer hide behind the need to be politically expedient. Both came out in defense of the Muslim Americans. President Obama even gathered the courage to visit an American mosque to show his solidarity with the demonized Muslim community. Trump is a good thing for the Republican Party too. GOP was fast losing the immigrants and the women, after having lost the African Americans already. The rise of Tea Party and the extremist wing of the Evangelical community who had a very strong grip on the party, was making it become marginalized nationally. Mr. Trump will force the GOP to address this suicidal ideation. Even if it comes to allowing a split, the leaders can calculate the loss of the extremists against the gain of right leaning immigrants, racial minorities, younger Whites and women. Just a decade and a half ago the affluent sections of immigrants and conservative sections of Muslims were supporters of the GOP. Trump has also been a good thing for America. Anyone who forces the country to take notice of the cancer of intolerance has done a good job. At a time of demographic shift and economic stagnation, fear-peddling can lead to the undermining of the national fabric itself. Any one who spray gasoline from the air when the drought has caused many small fires will be noticed. I have been speaking out against the danger of rise of xenophobia in the US but was mostly met with disbelief and denial. When in 2010, for the first time in its history, the US saw more non-White births, I spoke about it an anti-war conference in New York City. I have been so sure about the rise of xenophobia and demagogues because never in the history of humanity a dominant ethnicity had let its power erode without trying to arrest that erosion. In such times of demographic shifts, especially if these shifts are occurring during economic downturns, it becomes very easy for a demagogue to rise to power Six years after that conference, I am still frustrated at the denial that our intellectuals exhibit. I attended a teleconference on the rise of Islamophobia held by the Council on Foreign Relations on February 25th. The speakers and the participants mostly focused on hate and prejudice. They would end their statements with a positive message that America always overcame the hatred of new groups and cite the history of Jewish and Catholic struggle against hate. No one focused on fear. It was frustrating and scary. Muslims are in a much worse shape than their predecessors- the Irish and Italian Catholics and Jews. The Catholics and Jews, though reviled, were not feared. Muslims are feared.. Fear is an almost primordial emotion. It can evoke the survival instinct in the most docile of men and turn them into fear-crazed violent mobs armed with bullets or ballots. History teaches us that when native Americans were demonized as savages and African Americans were dehumanized as sub-humans we committed the worst of atrocities on the grandest of scale without suffering even the mildest of guilt-pangs. We saw what demonization did to the European Jews and Gypsies, how the Bosnian women were gang-raped in thousands in our own era and how in Gujarat -the land where Gandhi was born- vegetarian mobs gleefully cut open the bellies of pregnant Muslim women , fully confident that in post 9 11 months, the world will not mind at all if a few "Muslim baby snakes' lives were snuffed out even before they could breathe. So we must not take fear-mongers and hate-peddlers lightly. But we were. That is till Trump became the leading contender for the nomination for Presidency from the Republican Party. But this is not enough. The leading intellectuals, the editors, the clergy, the leaders of human rights and civil rights groups must not only start addressing the rising xenophobia against the immigrants but must start to identify and counter those who are behind it. The powerful forces that are exploiting the insecurity of the Whites in times of economic decline and demographic shifts must be countered in an organized way. When it comes to Islamophobia, these leaders must not feel shy in identifying those evangelical groups that are involved in Islamophobia. They must counter the American supporters of the Israeli right-wing parties who consider the rise of the US Muslim population as an existential threat to their dream of a greater Israel and therefore fund the Islamophobia industry. Just wishing for xenophobia to go away or living in denial that xenophobia can not lead to bad things at a grand scale in the US, will eventually be suicidal to the pluralistic and democratic ethos of America. A dynamic alliance of all those groups who believe in a pluralistic America will have to be built and built soon. Its strategy must be based on a study of history, sociology and behavioral science. All religious groups and media must report fairly that violent extremism is a human problem that exists in all communities. While the Muslims have their Boko Haram, ISIS, Mehdi Army and Al-Qaeda; the Christians have their Neo Nazi groups, the armed militias, the KKK, the Lord Resistance Army; the Hindus have their RSS, Bajrang Dal, Hindu Vahini and Shiv Sena; the Buddhists have their 969 of Burma, the Jews have their Kach, Kahane Chai and the settler groups. The reassuring fact is that all these groups are fringe movements. Reporting such facts in a nondiscriminatory way will suck the oxygen out of the propaganda of the demagogues who might be targeting one religion for demonization. All political parities and institutions must be convinced to make countering racial bigotry and religious hatred a priority. The rise of Trump in these can be a wake up call against the spread of xenophobia and can be the catalyst for the launch of a broad based alliance to protect pluralism in the US. This is my hope for America and this is why I thank Trump for running. Dr. Shaik Ubaid is a community organizer, political commentator and a practicing neurologist. He is active in inter-faith arena and recently presented a panel discussion at the Parliament of World Religions in Salt Lake City on "Sharing the lessons from the intrAfaith struggles against extremism", where leaders of major religions shared their communities' struggle against extremism. A few weeks ago, I heard some police scanner traffic instructing members of our local Emergency Management Agency to report to their headquarters for a search detail. I didn't think a lot about it at the time because I assumed they were probably going out on another mission to look for a missing steel canister containing some radioactive material. The device has been missing since last October from Wayne County Well Servicing in Fairfield, Ill. It turns out I was dead wrong. Our local police had received a tip about missing Fairfield teen, Megan Nichols. Megan was 15-years-old when she vanished from her home on the evening of July 3, 2014. Police have investigated literally hundreds of tips about her whereabouts. The FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Illinois State Police and local authorities have never given up in their search. The latest tip involved information that evidence of Megan's disappearance could be found in a wooded area south of Fairfield. Word of the search, which involved dozens of EMA volunteers, local police and firefighters spread pretty fast. In fact, an account of the search which turned up nothing made it into the local newspaper and on the local radio station. The only person who didn't know about the search until it hit the news was Megan's mother, Kathy Jo Hutchcraft. Not long after news accounts of the search hit the streets, Kathy called me. She wasn't angry about all of the news stories; she was merely upset that no one from the law enforcement community had bothered to notify her about a tip that was apparently credible enough to launch a search party for her missing daughter. One news account suggested authorities were searching for Megan's remains. I can see how easy it would be to make that assumption. I can't count the number of news stories I have read about the remains of a missing person being found in a wooded area. But for Kathy Jo Hutchcraft, hearing the word "remains" in the same sentence with her daughter's name was devastating. "I have never given up hope that Megan will come home alive," Kathy said. "The power of prayer and my faith in God is what keeps me going." In a million years, I couldn't imagine the depth of pain and anxiety Megan's family must feel about her disappearance. On the other hand, I can understand why the police wouldn't tell Megan's mother about every tip they get and they've gotten hundreds. Since Megan Nichols case was added to the National Missing and Exploited Children's website, tips of her whereabouts have come in from all over the country. Each and every one was fully investigated and unfortunately proven to be false. As a community, the folks in Fairfield still have hope that Megan will come home one day. Signs in front of most Fairfield businesses still say "Please Come Home Megan". Hope that Megan will return home safely has never faded. As far as that missing canister containing nuclear material I have no doubt that it will eventually be found. I have the same faith that someone knows the whereabouts of Megan Nichols. For the family's sake, I sure wish they would come forward. JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS Amerie owner Gina Mullis opened her story on Black Friday in Newburgh. The store features handmade brands that give back to organizations with every purchase. Mullis, a former schoolteacher, came up with the idea for the store after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and thought it would be a great way to give back as well as raise awareness about other causes. SHARE JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS Amerie owner Gina Mullis opened her story on Black Friday in Newburgh. The store features handmade brands that give back to organizations with every purchase. Mullis, a former schoolteacher, came up with the idea for the store after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and thought it would be a great way to give back as well as raise awareness about other causes. JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS Amerie owner Gina Mullis opened her story on Black Friday in Newburgh. The store features handmade brands that give back to organizations with every purchase. Mullis, a former schoolteacher, came up with the idea for the store after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and thought it would be a great way to give back as well as raise awareness about other causes. JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS Amerie owner Gina Mullis opened her story on Black Friday in Newburgh. The store features handmade brands that give back to organizations with every purchase. Mullis, a former schoolteacher, came up with the idea for the store after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and thought it would be a great way to give back as well as raise awareness about other causes. JASON CLARK / COURIER & PRESS Amerie owner Gina Mullis opened her story on Black Friday in Newburgh. The store features handmade brands that give back to organizations with every purchase. Mullis, a former schoolteacher, came up with the idea for the store after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and thought it would be a great way to give back as well as raise awareness about other causes. By Kelly Gifford of the Courier and Press Gina Mullis loved everything about teaching English at Henderson South Middle School. Her students were wonderful, and her colleagues supportive. Mullis could see the impact she had on her students and always strived to make a difference in their lives. Everything in Mullis' life was in place until it wasn't. Extreme fatigue began to plague the Evansville woman to the point of complete exhaustion. Mullis could barely make it through the school day, where she needed to actively engage with her students. Mullis and her husband, Nathan, sought help from doctors, but didn't get any consistent diagnosis. She made the decision at the end of the 2013-2014 school year to take a yearlong hiatus until she'd be healthy enough to teach again. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and immune-mediated disease, where the immune system attacks nerve fibers, in the fall of 2014. Although she was relieved to finally have a diagnosis, Mullis feared she wouldn't find another occupation that fulfilled her passion for helping others and grew unhappy with a job that was more flexible when her symptoms recurred. Mullis found herself at a crossroads either continue wallowing about being dissatisfied in her professional career or do something she's always wanted to do that gives her a time to focus on her health and happiness as well. She chose the latter and, soon after, began developing plans to open up Amerie, a boutique in Newburgh that emphasizes brands supporting various charities. Owning a shop had been in the back of Mullis' mind for many years. Although opening a small business seems like the last type of endeavor someone recently diagnosed with MS should start, Mullis said it offered her an opportunity to work her own hours and a project she was passionate about. "Creating a store with brands that centered around giving back gives me the same gratification that teaching did," she said. "I'm just giving the community a look at how they can make a national or even global impact with a single purchase." Brands with a cause Although a boutique was always a dream of hers, selling brands that support charities wasn't a main focus until her MS diagnosis. After her family hosted several fundraisers to help her and her husband pay for medication, Mullis couldn't believe how many people came out to support someone they didn't even know. Despite volunteering for various organizations throughout her life, Mullis said it was seeing the kindness from complete strangers that made her realize she wanted her business to do the same. She started taking small business seminars and immersed herself in learning every aspect of starting her own business. After her friend had to back out of helping create Amerie, Nathan helped coordinate the finances for the store as well as search for a location. Amerie found its home in a store front on Jennings Street across from Cafe Arazu in Downtown Newburgh. It wasn't until two weeks before the store's opening, on Black Friday, that Mullis told her mother, Tina Bowman, about it. Bowman said her daughter tends to tell her news after she can fully explain all the details. She initially felt shock and worry for her daughter. She wondered how Mullis could have planned and coordinated everything considering the way Mullis felt most days. Then Bowman remembered who she was dealing with a daughter whose strong will and sense of responsibility helped her get through every obstacle in her life, including her MS diagnosis. "I remembered sitting in the room at the neurologist's office when we saw the lesions on her brain. She turned to me and immediately said, 'I am going to fight this and not let this disease define me,'" Bowman said. "I came down to help (Mullis) on opening day and saw her explain the premise of the story to customers and realized that even though I can't fix her disease, Amerie is helping her live to the fullest." The shop had about half the merchandise it now has. Amerie, with a front room, backroom and upstairs, now has clothing and accessory displays for men and women lining the walls. Mullis said she initially underestimated how many brands she'd work with, in an effort to see how they'd sell and give room for the space to grow at its own speed. Each brand showcased at Amerie benefits some sort of cause, organization or group locally, nationally or internationally. One brand, Sevenly, sells limited-edition productions that help raise funds for and bring awareness to different nonprofit organizations and their causes. They choose a new charity each week and a portion of the sales goes to that charity. Another brand Amerie carries is JOYN, which helps provides artisans in Rajput, India, with an outlet to reach bigger markets with their work. The company offers handwoven bags, wallets and accessories that benefit the people who create them. Mullis' goal for Amerie's first year in business is to raise at least $15,000 for causes and charities through sales and events at the store. Between Black Friday and Dec. 31, Amerie raised about $2,000 for causes. Her first special event, January's Cause-a-Palooza, raised funds for and spread awareness about the Tri-State MS Association and the Vanderburgh Humane Society. In January, the store raised $1,408 for causes plus 50 meals for hungry children and also helped two dogs get adopted. Amity and reverie Nathan said seeing his wife accomplish so much while facing MS with strength is a sight to behold. "I'm so proud of everything she's done to make this business exactly what she hoped it'd be," he said. "The people coming to her shop are astonished to learn about the people from all over the country and world who are receiving assistance, help or services just from their purchase of a bag or shirt." As her business continues to grow and flourish, Mullis said she hopes to partner with more local artists, vendors and organizations to find success by helping each other. The store's name is a combination of the words amity and reverie, which mean a friendly relationship and a daydream respectively. Amerie was built on those two words, and Mullis said she hopes the business will continue growing in the spirit of them as well. "When visitors leave my store or businesses and organizations want to work with us, I want them to understand that people matter," she said. "You aren't just buying a shirt or shopping without purpose. You're impacting someone you don't even know and probably never will know. With one purchase, you've touched their lives in a positive way, and I think that's something the community and other local businesses can rally around." SHARE Music Festival Announcement: ROMP Fest announced its final artist additions to the 2016 line up last week. Three Grammy award-winning artists will grace the ROMP stage for the June 22-25 bluegrass festival. Old Crow Medicine Show, Marty Stuart and Lee Ann Womack join the stacked lineup featuring Billy Strings, Del McCoury Band and the Sam Bush Band. The festival takes place at Yellow Creek Park in Owensboro, Kentucky. Weekend passes are on sale through ROMPfest.com and Ticketleap. Daily schedule and single day tickets will be available starting at noon CST on March 4. Exhibition: St. Meinrad Archabbey Library Gallery is hosting an exhibit of paintings from Kentucky artist Jim Cantrell, which runs from March 2 to April 29. Cantrell is exhibiting both watercolor and oil paintings. The work is abstracted realism that is connected with a narrative. Cantrell aims to immerse the audience in his work by working with lighting, color and reflections. Professor Lectures: A professor from University of Notre Dame will give the annual Thomas Lecture on Philosophy and Theology at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology. Robin Jensen, the Patrick O'Brien Professor of Theology, will be giving a lecture called"The Cross as the Tree of Life: Images and Texts from Christian Tradition" at 7 p.m. March 8 in St. Bede Theater. In her talk, Jensen will explore the links between the cross and the tree of life in paradise. She will dive into how the cross played a role in restoring life to all humanity and like its counterpart, the tree of knowledge, participated in Adam and Eve's fall and the consequent deaths of their descendants. Jensen's lecture will also explore the relationship between the imagery of the cross and tree of life and their connections to redemption and creation. Her lecture is free and open to the public. First Friday Artists: The Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana is accepting registrations for artists to participate in the 2016 Haynie's Corner Arts District First Fridays series. The second annual series runs the first Friday of the month from April to September and features artists, musicians and other performers in the restaurants, businesses and parks in the Downtown cultural district. Each event runs from 6-9 p.m. and will be free and open to the public. There will be a fee for artist participation and no commission on art sales. Registration information can be found at artswin.org and all dates will be finalized before April 1. Oscar Viewing Party: Bokeh Lounge will host an Academy Awards viewing party starting at 6 p.m. Sunday at the bar. It's $10 to get in the door, and there will be food provided by several Haynie's Corner businesses, a cash bar and prizes for the best dressed. Proceeds from door sales benefit the Alhambra Theatre Film Festival. SHARE EVENTS Lenten Study: "Living the Questions 2.0" at Bethlehem United Church of Christ, 6400 Oak Hill Road. Discussion topics will be "Taking the Bible Seriously" on Sunday, "Thinking Theologically" on March 6, "Stories of Creation" on March 13, "Lives of Jesus" on March 20, "A Passion for Christ: Paul" on April 3 and "Out into the World: Challenges Facing Progressive Christians on April 10. Each session will be begin at 6:30 p.m. Sounds of Grace Gospel Choir of Grace and Peace Lutheran Church: will offer the Black History Month program "In Our Shoes." The compilation of songs, stories, quotes, readings and witness talks will be presented at 5 p.m. Sunday in the sanctuary of Grace and Peace Church at 200 S. Boeke Road. The program is offered free to the public. Church Women United in Evansville World Day of Prayer Celebration: 9-11 a.m. Friday at Good Samaritan Home, 601 N. Boeke Ave. In addition to the service, written by the women of the Bahamas, Evansville storyteller and artist Susan Fowler will offer a special prayer for Indiana as it celebrates its 200th birthday. The public is welcome. For more information, call 812-437-9295 or email CWUEvansville@aol.com. Saint Meinrad Archabbey Library Gallery: St. Meinrad, an exhibit of wall hangings "Healing the Earth" by artist Joanne Weis, through Sunday. An exhibit of paintings by Kentucky artist Jim Cantrell, Wednesday through April 29 (free). For library hours, call 812-357-6401 or 800-987-7311, or visit saintmeinrad.edu/library/hours/. Teaching from the Book of Revelation: 11 a.m. every Sunday until completion at Church of God of Prophecy, 3407 Bellemeade Ave. Speaker is Bishop William Gaddis (free). Call 812-459-2359. The Mighty Acts of God in Zion: The Storyline of the Bible: 7-8 p.m. on Tuesdays in the fellowship hall of St. Ananias Orthodox, 4411 Washington Ave. Old Friendship Church Celebrate Recovery Program: 7 p.m. on Fridays at Oak Hill Christian Center, 4901 Oak Hill Road. Traditional Roman Catholic Latin Mass: 3 p.m. every Sunday at St. Paul's Chapel, 629 E. Louisiana St. music Concert: featuring The Conquerors Quartet and The Holders, 7 p.m. Saturday at First Christian Church, 4544 Indiana 261 in Newburgh. A freewill offering will be accepted. Concert: featuring the University of Notre Dame Handbell and Celebration Choirs, 7 p.m. March 5 at St. Boniface Catholic Church, 418 N. Wabash Ave. The choirs will also sing at the 10 a.m. Mass on March 6. meals Free Neighborhood Breakfast: 8-9 a.m. Saturday in the fellowship Hall at Bethel United Church of Christ, 3029 N. Green River Road. Lenten Fish Fries: 4:30-7 p.m. Fridays through March 18 at Nativity Catholic Church, 3635 Pollack Ave. Menu includes fried catfish fillet, baked tilapia or chicken tenders with salads, vegetables, dessert, drink and cheese biscuits. Cost is $9 for adults and free ages 7 and younger with an adult dinner purchase. Call 812-476-7186. SHARE ITEMS FOR AGENCIES Grace House Teen Challenge of Evansville is in need of toilet paper, paper towels, copy paper, kitchen dish towels, rags, bath towels, blankets, pillows, twin size mattresses, vacuum cleaners and new kitchen appliances. Call Cindy at 812-428-8448 with any questions. Hope Central Manna Market needs pasta, cereal, canned fruit, canned vegetables, toilet paper, toothpaste, soap, paper towels, laundry detergent, diapers (all sizes) and baby wipes. Call Sheila Stevens 812-897-4910 for more information. Peace Zone is seeking decaffeinated ground coffee, canned caffeine-free soft drinks, individualized snacks, acrylic paint, colored or white cardstock paper, computer paper, and gift cards to Michaels Arts & Crafts. For more information call Lori at 812-436-4352. ITEMS FOR CLIENTS Hillcrest Youth Home is in need of items for boys and girls ages 12-21. Travel-sized personal care items, hair care products and accessories for all hair types, as well as hair dryers and shower caps. New or gently used towels and washcloths, new or gently used jackets without hoods, various clothing items, school uniforms and craft items. Call Diana at 812-428-0698 for more details. Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program is in need of canned soups, canned ravioli, trail mix, Chex mix, vienna sausages, ramen noodles, fruit cups, granola bars, pudding cups and individually wrapped packages of: mac and cheese, peanut butter crackers, peanuts and chips. For more details call April Sutton at 812-480-6830. YWCA Live Y'ers needs full size personal care items such as deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, bath soap, hand soap, body lotion, combs, brushes, hair goods, toothpaste & toothbrushes, young adult and adult gloves, hats and scarves. Email cedwards@ywcaevansville.org or call Courtney at 812-422-1191 for specialized student needs. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ohio Valley is seeking volunteers who are interested in mentoring a child in need. Call Kelly at 812-425-6076 or email Kelly.epps@bbbsov.org for more information. Salvation Army is in need of 20 volunteers to assist with the mobile disaster canteen/kitchen. Call Captain Scott at 812-425-1375, ext. 207, for more details. Susan G. Komen Evansville is in need of volunteers for various positions. To learn more you can attend the Volunteer Mixer on March 2 at the Old Post Office Bldg. located at 100 NW Second Street. Hours are 5-7 p.m., or call Molly at 812-962-2002 for more details. Nonlocal callers should call 800-639-9271 or call their local United Way in Posey, Daviess, Perry, Gibson and Pike counties. From Vanderburgh, Warrick and Spencer counties contact United Way of Southwestern Indiana, P.O. Box 18, Evansville, IN, 47701-0018 or by fax at 812-402-2821. This column is compiled by the United Way of Southwestern Indiana. What you need to know about Powerball and the $580 million jackpot News SHARE By Sarah Loesch of the Courier and Press This month's Southern Indiana Democracy for America Town Hall meeting will address "Citizen Responsibilities in an Election Year." Chris Coyle, a former Indiana House candidate, will lead the meeting. Coyle is an adjunct professor of political science and political management at Indiana University Southeast and started his work in politics more than 12 years ago. The meeting will focus on grassroots fundrasing, organizing and advocacy. It will also focus on creating a campaign plan and campaigning on a small budget. The meeting is meant to help people interested in either running for office or organizing campaigns. The Town Hall will be at 7 p.m. March 2 in Browning Room A at Central Library. Town Halls are free, open to anyone and non-partisan. The Reverand, formally known as Robert Reynolds, is seen in an undated photo provided by the Allen County Jail. The Reverand, a 35-year-old Kentucky nursing home resident has been charged with killing 71-year-old resident Gary Glueck of the Scottsville Manor in Scottsville, Ky. Police said the defendant was arrested on a murder charge Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, and was held without bond in Allen County Detention Center. They said he was formerly named Robert Reynolds but legally changed his name to The Reverend. (The Allen County Jail via AP) SCOTTSVILLE, Ky. (AP) A 35-year-old Kentucky nursing home resident has been charged with killing a 71-year-old resident of the facility. Police said the defendant was arrested on a murder charge Thursday and was held without bond in Allen County Detention Center. They said he was formerly named Robert Reynolds but legally changed his name to The Reverend. Allen County Coroner Darren E. Davis told the Daily News in Bowling Green that Gary Glueck was stabbed with a pen and had an electrical cord wrapped around his neck. Davis said the state medical examiner's office determined Glueck died from strangulation. Scottsville police Detective John Rose said the men had been in an argument. Scottsville Manor Administrator Lesa Keen said additional people are being brought in to reassure residents of their safety at the 40-bed facility. File Photo Jim Schultz/Record Searchlight SHARE By BILL POWELL / Dubois County Herald BRETZVILLE, Ind. Police said a man and his mother were arrested for drunken driving Saturday morning when the mother came upon the scene and crashed her vehicle into the a deputys patrol car while the male suspect was being investigated. Deputies were notified at 3:51 a.m. about a vehicle off the roadway on State Road 64 just east of the Bretzville Junction. When en route, officers were told the wrecked vehicle had been pulled back onto the roadway and a man was walking away from the scene. Sheriffs deputies arrived to find a wrecked passenger car sitting in the middle of State Road 64 with no one around it. The car had struck a guardrail on the south side of the highway. While investigating, a deputys patrol car was parked with its emergency lights activated behind the wrecked car when it was struck by a vehicle driven by Ann Marie DAngelo, 47. A deputy detained DAngleo after noticing the strong odor of alcohol when speaking to her. Indiana State Police arrived to investigate the second accident. It was later determined that Ann Marie DAngelos blood alcohol content was 0.15 percent, according to the sheriffs department. The driver in the original crash, Jas G. DAngelo, 20, also of the St. Anthony address, then walked back onto the scene. The sheriffs department placed him under arrest for suspected drunken driving. A deputy said Jas DAngelo initially refused testing but, after a search warrant was obtained for a blood sample, his BAC was established to be 0.25 percent. Ann Marie DAngelo complained of back pain after the second accident and was taken by ambulance to Memorial Hospital. Upon being medically cleared, both mother and son were booked into the Dubois County Security Center after 7 a.m. The initial accident totaled the passenger car Jas DAngelo was driving, according to the sheriffs department. Deputies estimated damage at $2,000 each to the patrol car and Ann Marie DAngelos Pontiac. SHARE By Rick Callahan, Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Indiana University's director of student ethics has resigned, nearly three months after a woman alleged that he sexually assaulted her at a conference in Texas, school officials said Friday. IU said in a statement that Jason Casares had tendered his resignation effective immediately. The school said it would say nothing else about his departure because it is a personnel matter. But Casares' attorney, Tony Paganelli, said his client resigned after IU officials told him he could either resign or face termination. He said IU had concerns about whether Casares "could credibly preside over student sexual assault investigations after having been very publicly accused of sexual assault himself." Next week on Canvass podcast: Domestic Violence "Jason wanted to do what was best for IU and his family" and opted to resign, Paganelli said in a statement. He added that his client "adamantly denies" the woman's sexual assault allegations. Casares was hired in 2011 as the student ethics officer and a deputy Title IX coordinator for IU's Bloomington, Indiana, campus. School officials placed him on administrative leave in early February after a woman alleged in an open letter posted on social media that he had sexually assaulted her in December during the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors' annual conference in Fort Worth, Texas. "I made the mistake of letting my guard down while socializing with Jason about Association business. Jason took advantage of me after I had had too much to drink," the woman, Jill Creighton, said in her letter. Creighton declined to comment Friday on Casares' resignation from IU. Casares has not been charged in the alleged sexual assault. But Cpl. Tracey Knight of the Fort Worth Police Department said Friday the department continues to investigate the woman's allegations and had received her complaint on Dec. 9. Creighton is the assistant director of global community standards at New York University. She's also a board member of the Association for Student Conduct Administration the group to which she had addressed her open letter after she had initiated impeachment proceedings against Casares, who was ASCA's president-elect at that time. Casares resigned from his incoming post with ASCA during those impeachment proceedings. Creighton said in her letter she decided to come forward with her allegations against Casares after she said ASCA refused to cancel a session where he was scheduled to speak after his resignation. ASCA said in a statement in early February to its membership that after Creighton's complaint was filed with the group on Dec. 10, an independent investigator was hired to conduct an inquiry and present its findings to the board. As a result of that investigation, the group's statement reads, her "claims could not be substantiated." IU spokesman Mark Land said Friday the university had been investigating "the allegations against Casares and his overall handling of the situation" but that probe has ended because Casares is no longer a school employee. An IU professor emeritus has been tapped to review 18 sexual misconduct cases from the past academic year that went to hearings before a panel Casares sat on. Land said that review is ongoing. SHARE Hal Wolford Evansville It seems to me there are a lot of folks who like the idea of a nice, attractive North Main Street, but are a bit put off by the $16 million price tag. That's a pretty steep price for bike paths, off-street parking and ornamental trees. Here's an idea that could make the North Main project seem less pricey. Take out the main front and rear doors of the Civic Center, take down the flag poles, smooth out the steps and run Main Street right through that opening on to North Main. Environmentalists, thank of that scenario, an uninterrupted bike path from the river all the way to Garvin Park. A great, longer route for Downtown horse-drawn carriage rides! Shuttle bus rides to Bosse Field to watch the Otters play. At least a mile or more of "pub crawl" opportunities with good old DiLegge's as a starting point. In short, it seems a bit nearsighted to spend lots of money fixing up Main below the Expressway when there is such a viable opportunity to couple it with North Main improvements, just by removing a few bricks and concrete. Sussex News Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Channel programs News Report: Banks Close To Finding Investors For Dell-EMC Acquisition Debt Matt Brown Share this The banks underwriting the more than $45 billion financing package for Dell's acquisition of EMC are reportedly close to finding investors for a large portion of the loans that are expected to be part of the deal. The banks have lined up investors for more than $7 billion of the $10 billion in loan exposure they expect to take on as part of the transaction, according to a Thomson Reuters report. Still, banking sources told Thomson Reuters that debt market volatility, slumping equity markets and other economic conditions have contributed to the loans being slow to sell despite healthy demand. [Related: Dell Edges Closer To Selling Perot Systems, Enters Exclusive Negotiation With NTT] Stephen Monteros, vice president of sales operations at Sigmanet, an Ontario, Calif.-based Dell partner, told CRN that messages Dell is providing to partners indicates that the merger, slated to close between May and October, could be complete at the early end of that schedule, a prospect he called "great news." The loans are known as pro-rata loans, which typically include a mix of fixed-term debt and revolving credit. Dell's package includes a $3.5 billion, three-year term loan; a $3.5 billion, five-year term loan and a $3 billion, five-year revolving credit facility. The banks had been expected to commit to the financing by Feb. 10, but pushed that date back as they tried to reduce their exposure. The Dell deal is being underwritten by JP Morgan, Barclays, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and RBC Capital. On Tuesday, the merger cleared a mandatory waiting period under the federal Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvement Act of 1976. The proposed $67 billion deal must still win the approval of EMC shareholders and other regulatory clearances. The acquisition, originally pegged at $67 billion when it was announced in October, would be the largest in the history of the technology industry, and would create an $80 billion global IT industry powerhouse. But the value of the deal has been driven down by VMware's declining share price, which has dropped more than 40 percent in the last four months. EMC owns 80 percent of VMware. Dell recently pushed back against reports that claimed the acquisition had hit a snag with the group of banks arranging financing. Dell said it expects to take on as much as $49.5 billion in debt to make the deal happen, and plans to begin paying down that debt aggressively in the first 18 to 24 months after the transaction closes. Part of that debt pay-down includes selling off business units, and Dell is close to unloading its Perot Systems unit. Dell is in an exclusive, 30-day negotiating period with Tokyo-based NTT for Perot, which Dell bought in 2009. Almost a year later, it seems that the University of California Berkeley has been breached yet again. In September of 2014 the schools Real Estate division was the victim of a digital interloper who compromised their systems. But, I was hopeful that they would have taken steps to ensure that this sort of thing would not happen again. Now, we find the school in cyber security trouble again as some 80,000 students and staff had their information as the result of a breach of their systems. From Reuters: The university said among the potentially affected are 57,000 current and former students; about 18,800 former and current employees; and 10,300 vendors who work with the school. Those figures come out to about half of the school's current students and two-thirds of its active employees. The attackers breached the systems in December 2015. Yet again the school finds itself paying out for credit protection services and having to hire forensic computer investigation services. Now, I understand that breaches happen. Sadly, most defenders have the problem of playing an eternal game of keep away with attackers. Adversaries that dont operate with the typical constraints of a business or especially those of a university. The part that struck me this time was that the attackers were able to gain access due to a security flaw present when the system is updating. Now, why would these systems be online and accessible during an upgrade? To put a fine point on it, this was their financial management software. The din of confusion here is simply deafening. "The security and privacy of the personal information provided to the university is of great importance to us," Paul Rivers, UC Berkeley's chief information security officer, said in a statement. "We regret that this occurred and have taken additional measures to better safeguard that information." Hey, thats great. But, what of the steps that were taken last time there was a breach at the school? Why are we back here again a year later dealing with another data breach? Having suffered through a data breach or two in my day, I can empathize with the defenders. As Im certain most of my readers have had to endure at some point or another in their career. There is nothing fun about it. But, to have a repeat performance after a breach a year earlier is confusing to me. I dont want to seem like Im repeatedly kicking a dead horse to the point where it has been reduced to a fine paste or jelly. We need to learn from our mistakes. And mistakes will happen. It is OK to fail so long as we are able to learn from those failures. Recently, I was told that I need to take more risks. The person telling me said that he had not seen me fail. I laughed uproariously at this notion. I fail all the time. One of the joys of being human is that we make mistakes. The difference in my case is that I choose to use my missteps as learning opportunities rather than to whinge about them. It is OK to fail. Just dont continue to fail the same way. HAMDEN After a night out a woman got into what she believed to be an Uber car. But instead of taking her straight home, police said, the motorist first took her to a parking lot and sexually assaulted her. Hamden police announced on Friday the arrest of 29-year-old Ahmad Bahjat, who they say fled the country as police began to investigate his involvement in a Jan. 31 sexual assault. The victim had left a bar and walked to a parking area reserved for taxis and Uber vehicles and gotten into what she thought was a car for hire. While en route to her residence, the purported Uber driver, who was later identified as Ahmad Bahjat, parked his vehicle in a parking lot and viciously sexually assaulted her, wrote police Capt. Ronald Smith. Bahjat then drover the victim to the vicinity of her residence. She quickly exited the vehicle, while leaving several personal items behind. The victim suffered injuries to her neck, knees and wrist. Hamden detectives quickly found Bahjats car near Crescent and Dyer streets in New Haven and seized it, finding numerous pieces of evidence inside, police said. Bahjat, meanwhile, fled the country, flying first to Toronto, Canada before moving on to Turkey and then Jordan. Customs agents detained Bahjat at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, N.Y. on his way back into the country on Feb. 11, police said. He was held in New York until his extradition to Connecticut. On Feb. 26 Hamden police arrested Bahjat and charged him with first-degree sexual assault, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree unlawful restraint, holding him on a $500,000 bond before his March 11 court date. Hamden police and Uber officials were not immediately available to clarify whether Bahjat were in fact an Uber driver, or if he had in some way doctored his vechicle to resemble an Uber car. Bahjat is a permanent resident non-citizen who fled to the United States from Iraq in 2012, police said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Connecticut high school juniors will be among the first in the nation to take the brand new SAT when it is given in school on Wednesday. Katie Hoffkins, 17, a Fairfield Warde High School junior, admits to feeling pretty confident. Having already taken the PSAT, the practice test for the college preparedness exam, in its old format as well as the new version, Hoffkins dubbed the second one easier. Because there is no vocab section anymore, because they allow you to guess, I got a higher score, Hoffkins said. More News SAT scores of famous people Others remain uncertain what to expect. I feel prepared, but I also feel overloaded, Justin Feliciano, a junior in the Information Technology Fairchild Wheeler Interdistrict Magnet School in Bridgeport. More Information Comparing SAT versions Old SAT New SAT Students pick answers Students pick answers and must support them with evidence Reading passages vary Every SAT will require students to read science, history or social study documents Obscure vocabulary Widely used vocabulary Essay measures argument construction Essay measures ability to analyze and explain evidence Calculator permitted on all math Calculator permitted only on certain portions Math questions cover wide range of areas Fewer math topics, in more depth Points off for wrong answers No points off for wrong answers See More Collapse Feliciano has studied in school, online, at home, with a practice book, and he even went to a Saturday prep class. I think its good we are taking it at school, he said. At least I am comfortable in that environment. New test, new locale While most others taking the new SAT for the first time will do so on March 5, Connecticut and New Hampshire public high school students start things off three days earlier. Concerned about the number of tests many high school juniors take, Connecticut officials received permission from the U.S Department of Education last year to replace the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium standardized test with the College Boards SAT. The state will pay nearly $1.5 million to give the test to as many as 42,000 high school juniors. Those absent on the test day get one shot to make it up in April. Since 85 percent of high school juniors in Connecticut take the SAT anyway, giving it instead of SBAC will it cut down on testing overall. In announcing the new test last fall, Commissioner of Education Dianna Wentzell said it would focus on what students are learning in school and might encourage some to think about college as an option. The redesigned SAT is supposed to be more aligned to the Common Core curriculum now being taught throughout the state. The essay portion, introduced in 2005, is now optional and wont be part of the test Connecticut students take in school. The basic test remains a three-hour, paper-and-pencil exam and will include a math section and verbal section, with a score that goes from 200 to 800 for each. The verbal section does away with obscure vocabulary words but now has writing sections. Students will have to use evidence from reading passages in answers. The reading passages are more challenging and focus more on science, social studies and historical documents. The math section is said to contain more straightforward questions, but harder ones. On the old test, students could hang onto the calculator throughout. On the new test, it is allowed on only some sections. Also, the number of multiple-choice answers students can select from has shrunk from five to four per question. And guessing can no longer hurt you. Under the old test, points were deducted for wrong answers. Im now telling them, dont leave anything blank, said Suzanne Beliveau, a retired Stratford math teacher who teaches an evening SAT prep class in conjunction with the towns adult education program. That is a huge shift. Hedging bets Students may be taking the new test in stride, but many continue to cram. In addition to free, online tutoring offered by Khan Academy, paid test prep services remain popular. Hoffkins was among 30 students from throughout the area who spent the past four Sunday afternoons in a Carnegie Pollak prep course at Greens Farms Academy in Westport. Make sure you have a strategy when you go in, said Peter Scotch, an English teacher leading the tutorial session. Experiment and find what works best for you. Obscure vocabulary may be out, but grammar is not. Scotch drilled the class on commas, dangling modifiers and prepositional phrases for the better part of an hour rules, that if learned, Scotch promised would lead to a better score. See a prepositional phrase? Just eliminate it in your mind, Scotch said. I have been teaching for 21 years. I am 48 and I still do little tricks like this in my mind. Marshall Spooner, helping students prepare for the math part of the SAT across the hall, said he used to have a boatload of tips and strategies to offer. Now he feels hes teaching content. Its more nitty-gritty math, said Spooner, who teaches at Greenwich Country Day School during the week. I felt like before it was middle-school math asked in tricky ways. Now its like straight out of an Algebra 2 course. Sarah Kulaga, 16, who lives in Fairfield and attends Lauralton Hall, in Milford, said to her, the hardest part is math. The new PSAT was a lot easier, Kulaga said. Im hoping the new SAT will be, too. New and improved? Lynn Carnegie, who runs the Greenwich-based test-prep company, is optimistic students will find the new test to be a good fit. Others arent so sure and are recommending that students who dont have to take the test in March wait or take the ACT instead. I am just anticipating glitches, said Janet Rosier, an independent college admissions consultant in Westport. Rosier points out that scores for the first administration of the test arent expected out until May. With the old SAT, students had scores in hand in a matter of weeks. David Kim, founder of C2 Education, another academic tutoring program with locations in Connecticut, said there is also angst over how the test will be scaled or curved. Where will the average score fall? No one yet knows, Kim said. Even so, Kim said the changes are a step in the right direction. If you are well-read, you will be better prepared for the new test than the old one, Kim said. Others disagree, and say the new test is little better than the old. Bob Schaeffer, public education director for the National Center for Fair & Open Testing, predicts the redesigned SAT will not do a better job of predicting success in college. The new SAT may look more consumer-friendly, but is not a better test, Schaeffer said. The face lift is largely marketing bells and whistles. To him, the new test is merely designed to compete with the ACT, another college readiness exam, and to slow a movement among hundreds of colleges to make the SAT optional for admissions decisions. A number of college officials say they are happy with the changes. It is not possible to assess actual impact until after students have completed the test, said Nathan Fuerst, director of admissions at the University of Connecticut. That said, we are thrilled that the new SAT has also been adopted as the Connecticut statewide assessment for high school students, as we anticipate that this will eliminate just one more barrier for all students to consider attending college. We have been told the new test is more meaningful, added Karen Pellegrino, dean of enrollment at Fairfield University. At Fairfield, submitting SAT or ACT scores is optional. More attention is paid to high school records. Still, Pellegrino said, she is looking forward to seeing what the new test will tell her. So is Jeremiah Quinlan, Yale Universitys dean of undergraduate admissions. He said that for years he has expressed the need for an SAT that is more open and transparent. While the jury is still out, Quinlan said it appears the College Board is finally listening. Getting ready for college should never be about tricks or last-minute cramming, Quinlan said. I believe that the redesigned SAT is on the right path in its transparency and openness, and that it sends the clear signal that if you work hard and achieve, we in higher education will work to open doors for you. gloriasteinem.com Reacting to anti-abortion activists, clothing retailer Lands' End has apologized for and removed content related to an interview with feminist icon Gloria Steinem in its spring catalog and on the company's website. But at this point, it seems that the retailer has found itself between a rock and a hard place. The inclusion of the Steinem profile may have outraged a portion of its customer base, but the removal of the feature may have lost Lands' End even more potential customers who feel that the company's leadership shouldn't have apologized in the first place. Newsva | Instagram Sure, those #nofilter images of your tropical vacation are cool, but they cant beat a selfie with His Holiness at the Apostolic Palace. Googles Eric Schmidt had his 15 minutes with the Holy See, and now Instagrams founder and CEO Kevin Systrom had the opportunity for some face time with Pope Francis when the two met Friday to discuss the power of images. Systrom illustrated his point by bringing a book of 10 images from the photo sharing platform, Time reports.The book included pictures from the earthquake in Nepal, the protests in Baltimore and the refugee crisis in the Middle East. The golden eagles are metaphors. The beat-up one, without head and talons, sits on a shelf in the bowels of the Capitol. The bird dates back to 1878, when the Capitol was built as an optimistic, post-Civil War monument to Connecticuts rosy future. The majestic raptor flew high, about seven stories up, atop a flagpole above the Capitols west entrance, where even state commissioners and veteran lobbyists have to put their bags through a metal detector and take off their belts for a quick frisking. That might be the single most stupid thing about this new Age of Security in a building that, not that long ago, was so beautifully open to the public. Now, because of our collective paranoia and lack of imagination, people who come to the Capitol every day, even high-level state employees including six-figure agency commissioners and legislative liaisons, submit to body pat-downs, and take off their belts. Meanwhile, Capitol employees, lawmakers and reporters have magic ID cards that open the entrance turnstiles. I put my little photo ID up against a card reader and with a few little beeps, the turnstile opens up every morning. At this moment, lets not forget that the states worst governmental workplace violence was at the Connecticut Lottery on March 7, 1998, when a worker came to work with a gun and a grudge, killing four of his supervisors before running back into the parking lot and shooting himself. Id be the last person to ask to join the lines of people getting screened every day as they wait to get into the Capitol and the Legislative Office Building. So I dont want parity with the masses. But shouldnt someone with half a degree of foresight get the Government Administration & Elections Committee or the Committee on Legislative Management to approve a bill allowing certain state employees and agency executives to obtain Capitol ID cards? And shouldnt well-known lobbyists, fixtures for decades far beyond the shelf lives of your average lawmakers, be spared the indignity of having to take their belts off every day before the same security personnel just because of a stupid rule that no one who can actually fix the embarrassing problem seems to care about? They could even charge the hundreds of lobbyists $50 a year for the card and make some money. Hey, theres a $900-million budget deficit next year. But its symbolic of the disconnect from reality that seems to stupefy what passes as thought processes in the General Assembly. But back to the birds. A few months ago, late in the afternoon, metal fatigue and a prevailing wind sent the gilded antique national bird flying, literally, to the Capitol lawn, I was about 10 minutes away from getting brained. It would have been such an appropriate way to take the big sleep. It turns out the bird had flown before, losing its talons in the process. Rather than getting patched up again, the symbol of Americas strength was finally retired, possibly heading for eventual display downtown in the Old State House. Im hoping that it might signal a new era for the state as it tries to finally pull itself out of the 2008 tailspin of the Great Recession. Sure, in sheer numbers, jobs have come back, but not the higher-paying manufacturing jobs that went bye bye. Thats one of the main reasons that tax-revenue projections have fallen far below projections. Im never surprised by shortfalls in revenue forecasts, said Sen. Scott Frantz, R-Greenwich, ranking member of the tax-writing Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee. Frantz, a private banker when hes not schlepping to the Capitol, personally knows of families who have decamped from Connecticut over the last six months with total incomes of $21.5 billion dollars. Thats a fact, he said the other day after other GOP leaders made some political hay out of the latest grim revenue estimates. Its the time for leaders to think out of the box and for corporate executives to be pro-active rather than re-active (Hello Jeff Immelt, or rather, goodbye). Its a time for the suburban and rural majorities in the Legislature to finally support the failing education systems of the cities. Its time to incentivize young people with certain talents, such as engineering and digital media, to stay here. And it will be just in time for the new bird. In fact, there will be a pair of them that will soon get hoisted atop the flag poles over the west door and the now-locked east entrance. The occasion will no doubt occur within the next few months, around the time the Legislature stares at its May 4 deadline to cut half a billion dollars or more. Ken Dixons Capitol View appears Sundays in the Hearst Connecticut Newspapers. You may reach him in the Capitol at 860-549-4670 or at kdixon@ctpost.com. Find him at twitter.com/KenDixonCT. His Facebook address is kendixonct.hearst. Dixons Connecticut Blog-o-rama can be seen at blog.ctnews.com/dixon/ This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW HAVEN Outrage flared Friday over the death of Thomas Lane, the Ansonia man police blasted with a stun gun before pulling him from his wrecked car Monday on I nterstate 95 in West Haven. This is a very, very critical situation that the NAACP will not tolerate, said Scot X. Esdaile, the organizations statewide president, at a news conference announcing the NAACPs own investigation into Lanes death. Esdaile called for federal authorities to intercede, and demanded legislative action during the noon conference at the NAACPs headquarters in New Haven. Lane suffered a severe head injury and was trapped in his vehicle apparently screaming for his life, said Darnell Crosland, the lawyer for Lanes family and president of the Norwalk NAACP. Its a sad day in Connecticut when the victim of a motor vehicle accident cannot die from their injuries, but must be electrocuted by the police, Crosland said. This was not a police investigation. There was not a car chase going, it was nothing criminal simply a motor vehicle accident. Police said that Lane, 37, fought responders as they tried to free him from the mangled car, even as potentially dangerous fumes from gasoline hung in the air and at one point he was harming himself with a piece of broken glass. More Information By the numbers: Of the 641 stun-gun-related incidents in 2015 in Connecticut: There were 437 firings of stun guns. 30 percent involved were black 21 percent were Hispanic When officers fired: 60 percent of the time at whites 80 percent involved blacks 69 percent involved Hispanics. Source: Associated Press See More Collapse Lane, who grew up in Stamford, is the 18th stun gun-related death since 2005 in Connecticut, where two-thirds of the fatalities have been black or Hispanic. Between 2009 and 2013, 77 blacks died nationwide after being shot by police with electric stun guns 41 percent of the total deaths related to the weapon. Esdaile made reference to the racial strife in Ferguson, Mo., and Baltimore following police actions involving blacks in those communities and elsewhere around the country. The temperature involving the minority communitys relationship with police is rising, Esdaile said. We dont want it to get hotter ... Incidents like this do not help deflect a crisis. Going home Lane was on his way home to Tremont Street in Ansonia when State Police said his Jeep collided with a tractor trailer on I-95 near exit 42 in West Haven. The impact bounced the Jeep into a guardrail and the force flipped it over, causing it to careen down an embankment. At some point, the engine ripped away from the passenger compartment, and there was the smell of gasoline around the crash, police said. As Lane flailed violently, police said, he apparently broke the fingers of West Haven Fire Lt. William Heffernan, who was trying to help him. On Friday, State Police said Lane used a shard of glass to harm himself inside the vehicle. As a result, the State Police said Trooper Justin Lund, a five-year veteran and West Haven Police Sgt. Joseph DAmato, an eight-year veteran, fired their stun guns at him. One of the electrified prods struck Lane, the other missed. Who fired the shot that struck Lane has not been disclosed, and State Police say their investigation is continuing. The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said additional testing was being conducted, and that it could be two months before results of the autopsy were available. State police maintain the stun guns were used in order to safely remove (Lane) from the vehicle to provide him medical care and to stop him from causing further harm toward himself and first responders. But other veteran police officers like retired New Haven Police Sgt. Vince Riccio said stun guns have become the lazy way to control someone. Riccio suggested other ways to extricate him from the car, including simply tossing a blanket over Lane and physically removing him. Esdaile urged the state police and Milford States Attorney Kevin Lawlor to be transparent in their investigation of the incident. Some say it should be the federal government doing the investigation, Esdaile said. Esdaile said hell be calling U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly, U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, and U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, all D-Conn., for assistance in investigating the incident. Public Safety Commissioner Doris Schriro, who oversees the state police, agreed to meet with Esdaile, the state police confirmed. Esdaile also demanded that Gov. (Dannel P.) Malloy and the Legislature mandate all Tasers (a commercial name for stun guns) be equipped with readily available cameras that will automatically record audio and video of all Taser incidents. David McGuire, the policy and legislative director for the American Civil Liberties Unions Connecticut chapter, said such cameras are available on stun guns for $500 apiece. Father of three Esdaile also said state authorities should require all police departments make the already mandated Taser use of force reports available to the public immediately after a fatal incident. No such report has been issued in the case of Lane, a father of three, who lived in Ansonia with his girlfriend and their infant daughter, Talia, and 20-year old son Brandon. An 8-year-old daughter, Natesha, lives with her mother in Florida. Brandon, along with Brandons mother, Tracey Bevilacqua, of Watertown, were present Friday at the NAACPs offices on 545 Whalley Avenue. Lane called his father a great man who would never hurt anyone. Unfortunately, he said the cops that were there to help actually ended up hurting him. There was no need for any use of Tasers ... Those men were trained and should have handled this differently ... Maybe my father would still be recovering from the injuries he received in the accident. Lane attended Stamford public schools before receiving his GED, and then attended Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport, where he obtained his certified nursing assistant license. Lane was employed as a construction inspector by MTI of New Haven, which tests the viability of concrete, steel and soil. His funeral is Saturday, Feb. 27, at 11 a.m. in the Unitarian Church at 20 Forest Street in Stamford. Apostle Cathy Lane Whitfield, his aunt, is officiating. More than 30 years ago, Connecticut moved ahead of the curve nationally with the passage of one of the nations first mandatory seat belt laws. Now the law in 49 of the 50 states (New Hampshire doesnt have a law for adults), seat belts are estimated to have saved more than 300,000 lives and prevented countless injuries throughout the country during that time. Buckling up is the single most effective action motorists can take to protect their safety and that of their passengers. Technology has changed and crash investigations can now pinpoint in greater detail the vulnerabilities of vehicle occupants. The passage of time has revealed that those well-meaning legislators from 1985 may not have been aware of the need to protect all vehicle occupants. The current Connecticut General Assembly does have that opportunity, this year, to extend critical protection to everyone in a car, by simply making the states seat belt law also apply to rear seat passengers. Estimates are that each year in Connecticut more than 120 adults are injured and approximately five adults die who were unbelted rear seat occupants. Dating back to 1995, that equates to close to 100 deaths and 2,500 injuries. Over a quarter of adults dont use a seat belt in the rear of the car. Perhaps they are lulled into a false sense of security, but research highlights just how dangerous it is to ride in the back seat unbelted. A recent study shows that although adults make up only 21 percent of rear-seat occupants, they account for 52 percent of deaths and 60 percent of serious injuries sustained in the back seat, primarily due to that lower rate of seat belt usage. In essence, by not buckling up in the back seat, you are eight times more likely to be seriously injured in a crash and twice as likely to cause a front-seat occupant to die in a wreck by becoming a projectile. Its imperative that legislators require Connecticut residents to follow the advice of safety experts who recommend that all vehicle occupants wear seat belts at all times. AAA members agree: surveys conducted by AAA Allied Group and AAA Northeast show that seven in 10 members believe seat belts should be mandatory for back seat passengers, regardless of age. The Connecticut Department of Transportation proposed this measure last year, but it didnt make it out of committee. And while the current legislative session is shortened and dealing primarily with fiscal issues, AAA feels it would be wrong to wait another year while more of our fellow citizens, friends and family members are injured or killed. One simple click of a seat belt is all it takes to increase the chances of not becoming a statistic. Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia require that all back seat passengers buckle up. AAA urges the legislature to make 2016 the year Connecticut does the right thing for safety and correct a law that was intended to protect everyone in a vehicle, regardless of where they are seated. Fran Mayko is Public Affairs Specialist for AAA Northeast, based in Hamden. Amy Parmenter is Public Affairs Manager for AAA Allied Group, based in West Hartford. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media A Windham legislator has proposed penalizing nonprofit hospitals that pay administrators more than $500,000 a year by requiring the institutions to pay municipal property taxes. Most hospitals pay top executives much more than that, and several make well over $1 million. The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in financial services, while promising, is not without risk. It's on federal regulators to ensure that algorithms relied on by banks and credit unions aren't harming businesses and consumers. 'Joe Biden can have them': Mastriano vows to bus migrants to Delaware Leesburg Electric: With prices soaring, late fees are being waived Prices are up, so Leesburg Electric has decided that, as of Oct. 1, late fees will be waived. Lifestyle | Daily Life | News | The Sydney Morning Herald Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Were working to restore it. Please try again later. Dismiss A week to the day since David Cameron fired the starting gun for the EU referendum campaign and already hope is vanishing of a full, fair and honest debate on perhaps the most vital issue we will ever have to decide. Every trick in the book, every cog of the government machine, has been mobilised to dupe voters and skew the debate in favour of the remain camp. Cabinet Secretary Sir Cover-Up Jeremy Heywood has even ordered civil servants to conceal facts and figures from ministers who want to leave the EU, while pumping out propaganda for the other side. Every trick in the book, every cog of the government machine, has been mobilised to dupe voters and skew the debate in favour of the remain camp. Pictured: Prime Minister David Cameron is pictured yesterday at the headquarters of O2 in Slough, Berkshire Meanwhile, tame business leaders (mostly former advocates of joining the catastrophic euro) have been cajoled into signing No 10s letters, scaremongering about the risks of withdrawal. Extraordinarily, even ex-armed services chiefs including one whose name was used against his wishes! have been roped in to endorse the scares. Think of Downing Streets wrath in the past, when supposedly impartial military leaders entered the political fray. Yet now they are positively encouraged. Most insidious of all is the message, explicit or not, that signing a pro-EU letter will do no harm when it comes to gongs. We all know about cash for honours. Now its signatures for honours. Dont such underhand tactics make all the more admirable those who have resisted threats and blandishments and spoken up for their convictions? All praise, then, to Mr Camerons former patron, Lord Howard, who says Britain should have the self-belief to vote for Out and force the outdated, flawed and failing EU to think again. And good for BA chief Willie Walsh for telling the truth as he sees it that Brexit would have no material impact on his industry. Lets hear more voices speaking for England. Or with vital measures on hold, such as the British Bill of Rights and the anti-obesity strategy, are we doomed to 17 weeks of being spoon-fed propaganda by Mr Cameron and nanny Osborne? A most amoral PM Today we begin serialising a devastating book on arguably the most amoral politician ever to hold the keys to No 10. Written by distinguished investigative reporter Tom Bower, the first instalment focuses on how Tony Blair wilfully encouraged mass immigration on a historic scale, changing laws and procedures to boost numbers. Deaf to the concerns of a public he systematically deceived, he showed no interest in integrating migrants into British society, while actively welcoming fraudulent asylum claimants. Thus he changed the make-up of this country beyond recognition, while displacing 23 British workers for every 100 foreign jobseekers he welcomed. Next week, we will publish Bowers analysis of how Blair deceived his Cabinet, Parliament and the country in his determination to invade Iraq. Tony Blair presided over a silent conspiracy to change the face of Britain for ever with mass immigration, investigative journalist Tom Bower claims in his explosive new book Meanwhile, disgustingly, he endangered British troops by keeping his invasion plan secret even from the logistics chief in charge of supplying them with body armour and other equipment. Some would later die because of the lack of it. But then Blair, a self-professed Christian, never let such things worry him. Particularly sickening are Bowers revelations about Blairs grotesque dealings with some of the most egregious, mass-murdering dictators in his greed to enrich himself since he left office. Above all, this important book raises profound questions about a British constitution that allowed so much power to go, unchecked, to one vain, avaricious and viscerally dishonest self-aggrandiser. Just a few weeks ago James Norton was hurtling on horseback across a bloodsoaked battlefield as the dashing Prince Andrei in the BBCs epic War And Peace. Now hes leading a happy band of parishioners in a chorus of Onward Christian Soldiers as they stroll back from a picnic across sun-dappled fields to a picture-postcard English village. The current golden boy of British television is nothing if not versatile. Breeches and boots have been replaced by a 1950s suit and dog collar as he returns as the charismatic, jazz-loving vicar and amateur sleuth Sidney Chambers in ITVs hit drama Grantchester. Sidney Chambers [James Norton] and Geordie Keating [Robson Green] return for another series of Granchester Im always trying to do the unexpected, says James, 30, who is also on our screens at the moment as the tattooed, shaven-headed psychopath Tommy Lee Royce in the BAFTA-winning police drama Happy Valley. I filmed the first series back to back, so I played a psychopath then a vicar, and had to try my hardest not to get the two mixed up. While Tommy sees the world as inherently hostile, with everyone and everything out to get him, Sidney is totally different. He sees the best in everyone and sees the world as inherently benign. 'Vicars and priests are often presented as old bumbling fools, or as overly pious and sanctimonious. Sidney isnt that at all, hes just a totally normal man. He drinks too much, he has messed-up relationships with women and hes been left traumatised by the war. In this series we see TV's sexiest vicar down to his trunks and taking on a love interest Although brooding Prince Andrei was described as the Russian Mr Darcy, ironically its as a man of the cloth that James gets his real Darcy moment. At the start of the second series of Grantchester he and co-star Robson Green strip down to their 50s trunks to dive into the River Cam. Theyre joined by the vicars faithful dog Dickens. It was a bit nippy in there, he admits, with a smile. But I love wild swimming, I spend my life jumping into rivers. I wasnt allowed to when we were filming series one for insurance reasons so it was great to do it this time. The idea that hes now being talked about as an object of lust, following on from Colin Firth as Mr Darcy and Poldarks Aidan Turner, appears to amuse him. Its weird but its flattering, he says. Its just great to have a positive reaction to either the show or what youre doing. If Sidney ends up as a bit of a heart-throb and it brings more people to the show, then thats fine. The first series of Grantchester was a huge success in 2014, attracting an average weekly audience of nearly seven million. Filmed in the real village just outside Cambridge, the stories were adapted from the novels by James Runcie, son of the former Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie, while James Norton added his own experience to his role, having studied theology for three years down the road at Cambridge University. James with Morven Christie as Amanda Robson Green returns as his good friend DI Geordie Keating, who was shot while on duty in the first series, while Tessa Peake-Jones is back as his outspoken housekeeper Mrs Maguire. Neil Morrissey joins the cast for this series in the serious role of a father whos out for justice after his daughter is murdered. After watching the first series, the locals welcomed the cast and crew back with open arms. Many of them get to try their hand as extras, making up the congregation in the church. Grantchester is just this idyllic English village that should never change, says Robson, while the meadows around it are beautiful. Its timeless. Swimming in the River Cam in that opening scene with the dog swimming along too, the birds singing and the sun shining, you think, Wow, does it get any better than this? Its clear to Tessa Peake-Jones too why the show has proved to be such a success. I think the 50s are really trendy at the moment, she says. Also, look at what weve had on the news in the last two or three years. Its so grim I think people want a bit of nostalgia. They want to look at something with a bit of sunshine, nice countryside, men on bikes, little doggies. Just to escape a bit. However, things are set to turn distinctly unpleasant for the sympathetic vicar in this series. As the group arrive back from their picnic, Sidney is shocked to find a policeman waiting to question him. A teenager named Abigail has gone missing, and Sidney and those around him are horrified to find hes been accused by the girls father of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with her. Of course, Sidneys determined to prove his innocence, says James. But the question is whether the fathers accusations will change the way the villagers feel about him. We all wanted to make it darker and take more risks with this series, because hopefully weve earned that right to test the characters now. 'The vicarage is a wonderful haven and I hope the audience feel that safety and that warmth. But then these outside forces start to threaten. Its meaty stuff. Not to give anything away, what theyve done beautifully is started to disentangle what was set up in the first series. And these characters and relationships you love are suddenly in real danger. Things turn sour for Sidney when hes accused by a girls father of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with her Inevitably, Sidneys relationships with Robson Greens character DI Geordie Keating, housekeeper Mrs Maguire and curate Leonard threaten to turn sour. Although theyre friends, Geordie has to interview him, says Robson. I make it my business to find out what on earth is going on and whos trying to frame him. But the argument to see him as the culprit is very valid. People confess their sins to him, so what else do they confess? Their love, their desires? No matter what age they are. So hes in a very vulnerable position. Sidney sets about trying to track down the missing girl in an attempt to clear his name, and when a body is discovered he finds himself investigating a murder. This is just one of many crimes Sidney has to try to solve in the series, but its not all work his love life comes into focus too. The first series ended on the day Amanda, the girl he always loved, was due to marry the rich and handsome Guy (Tom Austen). Sidney was devastated. Hes constantly searching for love, says James, but we all know deep down hes still in love with one person, gorgeous Amanda [played by Morven Christie]. But Sidney and Amanda are star-crossed in the truest sense. Although theyre deeply in love and clearly meant to be together, her social standing is much higher and because of the divisions in society at that time they just cant be. So, with Geordies help, Sidney sets about finding love elsewhere. What develops instead is a romance with Margaret (Seline Hizli), the feisty secretary in the local police station whos more than ready to be wooed by this tall, handsome vicar. Shes a force of nature who spins into his life and takes control of him. I think thats what Sidney needs. Shes a cool girl, progressive, liberal, bright and shes a feminist. Shes Sidneys match, in a way. With all his current success, its understandable that offers from Hollywood are coming Jamess way. Hes already been to LA for talks and to promote War And Peace. But for the moment he remains cautious. Indeed, his next move is to appear on stage in a small theatre in London next month. He stars as a damaged Gulf War veteran with Kate Fleetwood in the 20th anniversary production of Tracy Letts taut play Bug at the intimate theatre Found111 on Charing Cross Road. Whenever theres talk of his glowing future, he says he looks to his family to keep his feet on the ground. His parents were lecturers and arent anything to do with the business. Theyre the perfect antidote. Theyre really supportive, but theyve never been pushy. Im happy to go to LA for work, but I like being at home too with my family and friends. I go back and forth if need be Id be a fool not to take up that opportunity. Theres so much great work over there and Id love to get my teeth into a big villain role. But right now I think its about being brave enough to wait, sit and spend some time making sure its the right one. Its weird, but nothing really changes. Im already calling my agent going, Arent we getting worried having finished everything. Can we get an audition through? But she tells me to wait. Nothing is guaranteed in this business. As in the best Hollywood traditions, highs are only reached after epic lows. David Harewoods retelling of how he got his biggest part yet as CIA chief David Estes in US drama Homeland does have the feel of a rags-to-riches Tinseltown script. He was, he explains, at his lowest ebb, at home in London wondering if it was time to give up acting completely. He may have been making a living for the past 20 years, but it was a precarious one that still involved lying awake at 3am wondering where he was going to find 300 to get the boiler fixed. When I got Homeland Id had no work for three months. I had 80 in the bank and I couldnt afford the next months mortgage. I remember thinking unless I changed profession I wasnt going to make any money. It was a scary time as scary as it gets. David Harewood with Homeland co-star Damien Lewis after their interview There was a happy ending, of course. He was asked to audition for the part of Estes. Incredibly, he didnt even go to the casting he was invited to, choosing instead to send in an audition tape. I didnt think Id get it. I was at my lowest ebb and I didnt think it was worth going. I remember filming myself reading the lines on my phone. I couldnt even afford a camera. Then I edited it and sent it off. I didnt hear anything for a month, then my agent called and said, Congratulations! The rest is Hollywood history. Harewood jetted off to film the ground-breaking show alongside fellow Brit actor Damian Lewis, and it became one of the most successful dramas ever. Even when his character was killed off after two series, it didnt matter much. His worth in the industry had soared. He was set up for life. Or was he? All these questions are addressed by Harewood, 50, in a fascinating documentary hes made for Sky Arts called David Harewoods F Word. The F stands for failure and it is, he insists, a taboo subject in Hollywood, but one that most actors will have experienced. Everyone goes through it, but nobody wants to talk about it. Its astonishing. I wanted to find out why. David with Broardchurch actress Olivia Coleman who admitted that when she won two BAFTAs in 2013 she expected to be deluged with offers of work but this was not the case For the programme, he opens up about his own dark times, and persuades fellow actors including Damian Lewis, Olivia Colman, Eddie Izzard and Lennie James to follow suit. My whole career has been a rollercoaster. Six years ago I couldnt get arrested then for a while everyone wanted to know me, says Harewood. It does mess with your head. I was the same person, the same actor! It sounds like a bit of a luvvie-fest successful stars of stage and screen bemoaning the days when they were unknowns but theres more to it than that. Harewood makes an interesting frontman. He grew up in Birmingham and tells of how, when he expressed a desire to be an actor, his mother was incredulous, asking how a black kid from a very ordinary background could possibly hope to make a living in such an industry. He got a place at RADA, however, and went on to spend 20 years juggling stage roles with TV jobs, appearing in everything from The Merchant Of Venice to Ballykissangel. One of the issues he addresses is the phenomenon dreaded by all actors of failure hitting after a successful run. Again, he says it happened to him. After Homeland, he explains, he was walking on air. Hed moved to the States and believed hed finally made it. He was given an MBE for services to acting and thought the jobs would keep pouring in. He was wrong. David explores the concept of failure in his fascinating new documentary Straight after Homeland I had five or six auditions and didnt get a single part. Then I was offered a role in a romantic comedy called Selfie that seemed just right it was a chance for me to show that I could do comedy too. He duly filmed 13 episodes of this show, but when it aired, audiences turned off. The show was pulled after just seven episodes. It was public humiliation, he admits. Not only did they say they didnt want any more, but they binned the shows wed already made. Its only now that he can admit this took him back to the dark days. I got kicked in the teeth, he says. I remember sitting in my flat thinking, Im unemployed, Im being rejected again. Damian Lewis tells a similar story about his 2003 film Dreamcatcher, his first major role since the highly acclaimed Band Of Brothers. It was mauled, savaged, torn limb from limb, he says. In the end the film just didnt quite work, but everyones had that experience. For Harewood, things have since turned another corner hes landed a plum role in the forthcoming US drama Supergirl but even now you dont get a sense of a man who thinks hes on secure ground. When we speak hes back in London, where his wife and two children still live. Not moving them all to LA was a difficult decision, he says. Its a difficult call for an actor. But my wife has a support network here and the kids are settled at school. We went through all the scenarios what if Id taken us all over, then the next job had been in London? This seemed more sensible. The decision could well have been influenced by the experience of his friend Lennie James, who did exactly the opposite uprooting his family from the UK to move to LA when he landed a big part in post-apocalyptic American drama series Jericho in 2006. In the documentary Lennie tells of his disbelief when he woke to a phone call telling him the programme had been cancelled. He ended up doing exactly what David dreaded taking a role in the UK while his family stayed in the US. It was squeaky-bum time, he admits. Anyone who knows anything about the acting industry knows what a brutal business it is, but this programme does a good job of getting the actors themselves to explain what it feels like to be in the middle of it. Veteran actor Brian Cox, recently seen as General Kutuzov in War And Peace and a man whos seen his fair share of auditions, says the way actors are treated would be the subject of tribunals in any other industry. Hollywood big-hitter Zachary Quinto, star of Heroes and Star Trek, might appear to have had a charmed path to fame and fortune, but he tells David that he too was on the verge of giving up when his big breakthrough came. I hadnt worked for six months before Heroes, he admits. It was the longest Id been out of a job. I was on the cusp of 30, and I fell into a pit of despair. Naomie Harris, who landed the role of Miss Moneypenny in the Bond franchise, admits that after drama school she didnt work for nine months and would be embarrassed to go to dinner parties in case she was asked what she did. How could I say I was an actress if I wasnt acting? she asks. Nobody seemed to want to employ me. Of course, the message that comes out of this documentary is that if you cant deal with failure as an actor, then youre in the wrong business. Its interesting to hear some of the industry stalwarts talk about how theyve dealt with the downsides, though. Olivia Colman admits that when she won two BAFTAs in 2013 she expected to be deluged with offers of work. Instead the phone stayed silent. People said afterwards, Oh, we didnt ring because we thought youd be too busy. Harewood agrees. Theres this ridiculous situation where one minute you arent well enough known to get a part, and the next youre too well known. Ive been in the business long enough now to know you should take nothing for granted. The phone can stop ringing at any moment. Its probably the only job where you can be retired without knowing it. What jobs has he gone for and expected to get, and then been turned down for? Hes surprisingly open about this one most actors never tell. I went for a part in Rev once. I really needed the cash and I didnt get it. I was gutted. I remember thinking, Whats wrong with you? But actually, if I had got that part, I wouldnt have been free to take on Homeland, so its swings and roundabouts. One might imagine he feels secure and settled now, with the Supergirl series imminent in the States. Not so. He may be OK if the boiler breaks down, he points out, but set up for life? Not quite. He says his industry has a knack of keeping you on your toes, and points out that while the work seems plentiful at the moment, he is awaiting the results of an audition he did recently and anxiously so. The first rule is that you should take nothing for granted, ever. Youre on a rollercoaster, remember. While their father was president, Jenna and Barbara made national headlines when they were both arrested for alcohol-related charges Jenna praised Malia and her sister Sasha, 14, for being role models for young women in the social media age Malia has toured dozens of public and private universities, although it is unclear where the high school senior is leaning of Texas at Austin because she had a 'great group of friends' who were going there Jenna admitted that she chose to go to the A the end of her father's presidency, Malia Obama will be a freshman and college, and former first-daughter Jenna Bush Hager has some words of advice for the 17-year-old high school senior when it comes to choosing a university. Jenna, 34, admitted that she chose to attend the University of Texas at Austin while her father George W. Bush was running for president because that was where a lot of her close friends were going and she wanted that familiarity during what she calls a 'little bit of a stressful time' in her life. 'I think the main reason I went to Texas was that I knew this great group of friends that I'd had forever that were loyal and wonderful surrounding me, so I kinda took the easier road,' she explains in a video for NBC News' College Game Plan feature. 'I wanted to be protected by them and I did feel really protected.' Scroll down for video New mentor? Former first daughter Jenna Bush Hager, 34, shared some words of advice for Malia Obama, 17, about choosing what university to attend Proud student: Jenna, who is pictured with her father President George W. Bush and her twin sister Barbara, can be seen flashing representing her school in 2005 by flashing the University of Texas 'Longhorn' hand sign High school seniors who filed regular decision college applications, will be getting admissions decision letters from their chose schools in late March. And while there is a great deal of speculation about where Malia will end up going as she has toured dozens of public and private colleges in recent months, it is unclear where she is leaning. However, Jenna is confident that Malia will make the decision that is right for her. 'I'm sure she's just going to pick a place where she feels nurtured and safe,' Jenna says. 'And, if not, taking that risk is also a part of college.' During Malia's visit to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, in October, an alleged Snapchat picture of her standing in front of cups that are arranged for beer pong at what appears to be a college party was posted on The Daily Caller. The Today show correspondent, who calls Malia and her 14-year-old sister Sasha 'incredible examples for young girls across our country', goes on to say that she and her twin sister Barbara, who went to Yale, give the girls a lot of credit for being in the public eye during the social media age. Tough choices: Malia, who is pictured with her father President Barack Obama, has toured dozens of public and private universities, although it is unclear where the high school senior is leaning Being honest: Jenna said she and her twin sister Barbara 'praise the Lord' that social media didn't exist when they were in college because they 'weren't perfect'. The two cover the March issue of Southern Living Stressful time: Jenna, who is pictured with her friend before their high school prom, was sending college applications in while her father was running for president While their father was president, Jenna and Barbara made national headlines when they were both arrested for alcohol-related charges twice within five weeks in 2001. Jenna was ordered to complete eight hours of community service and complete an alcohol awareness course after her first offence, when police allegedly found her drinking while underage in an Austin bar. Jenna ran into trouble again weeks later when both she and Barbara were allegedly found by police drinking with their friends at a local Austin bar called Chuy's. And while both incidents were featured heavily in the national, and international press, Jenna happily admits that she and her sister benefited from the lack of Twitter and Instagram at that time. 'One thing Barbara and I constantly [say], "Praise the Lord, yell Hallelujah at the top of our lungs that social media didn't exist." Because we weren't perfect. 'And I don't think kids should be perfect. I think college is really a time, in a safe way, to make mistakes and explore who you are,' she adds. The mother-of-two noted that she loved her own college experience so much that she hopes her two-year-old daughter Mila follows in her footsteps. Natural decision: Jenna admitted that she ended up going to University of Texas in Austin because she had a 'great group of friends' who were going there, and she wanted to be 'protected by them' Public eye: Jenna praised Malia for remaining such an inspiration to young women in the social media age. This Snapchat photo posted on The Daily Caller in October allegedly shows Malia at a Brown University party 'I love Texas so much that I hope that little Mila Hager and the class of 2031 thinks about it,' she says. 'I might put the pressure on I have to say although her father [Henry Hager] also likes [Wake Forest] university where he attended so it's a toss up.' Although if Mila and her six-month-old baby sister Poppy are anything like their mother and their aunt, they will be looking at completely different schools. Jenna, who studied English literature and creative writing at UT, reveals that Barbara 'applied to all Ivy Leagues, plus Stanford, and she got into every single one of them', while she was little less ambitious and leaned toward big public universities like her alma mater. 'I had a backup for my backup, plus, like, a reach for my reach. I applied to a lot,' she says with a laugh. The fraternal twins may have their differences, but they are close then ever as they shared the cover of the March issue of Southern Living. Keeping it real: Jenna joked on the Today show on Friday that the only covers she and Barbara were on before were 'more like the National Enquirer' because they 'got in trouble together' B On Friday's Today show, Hoda Kotb told Jenna that it is clear in ever picture from the shoot how close they are. Meanwhile, Jenna couldn's stop gushing about her sister, whom she insists everyone adores as soon as they meet her. 'She's so awesome. I said this in the magazine. I feel so lucky that I've had this sister. Barbara and I got in trouble together,' she said with a laugh. 'We've been on covers of magazines before, but it was more like the National Enquirer. But how awesome that I had her to hold my hand through it?' 'I always say I am glad we made mistakes because being perfect is sort of boring. Well, maybe I say that just because I would never be perfect,' she joked. On the cover of the magazine, the two Texans are wearing cheery spring attire as they pose with matching bicycles in complementary colors. Another image from the shoot sees Jenna with her arm around Barbara while sitting on a small boat. Jenna explained that the shoot was perfect for them because even though they both live in New York City, they are still Southerners at heart. Next generation: Jenna said she knows her daughter Mila, two, and Poppy, six-months-old are going to be just as close as she and Barbara are Family photo: Jenna, who grew up in Texas, said she and Barbara are still Southern girls at heart. The twins are pictured with Jenna's children, her husband Henry (far right) and their parents Laura and George She also noted that she is grateful that her own daughters will have these images to show them how close their mother and aunt are. 'To do this with her and now to have two girls it is like the best thing in the entire world,' she said. 'I know they're watching this relationship, and they're going to have a similar thing.' Inside the pages of Southern Living, Jenna said she had a 'built-in playmate and best friend' from the day she was born when speaking of her twin. 'I wouldn't be who I am today if it weren't for my sister,' she explained. Meanwhile, Barbara has just as much mutual affection for her slightly younger sister. FEMAIL has rounded up anti-aging creams - and even a mask - that keep hands young without a visit to the doctor Though some speculated the injury was due to a cosmetic procedure, her rep has confirmed the surgery was actually for a medical issue Kris, 60, raised questions when she posted an Instagram photo of her bandaged hand yesterday Did Kris Jenner go under the knife to make her hands look younger? The internet is abuzz with speculation after the matriarch, 60, posted an Instagram photo of a bandage-wrapped hand yesterday. In the photo, her injured hand - which was, of course, perfectly manicured - is holding family pal Chrissy Teigen's newly launched cookbook, Cravings. 'I've waited with excitement for this fabulous cookbook to come out @chrissyteigen and OF COURSE the day I get mine is the same day I have hand surgery so I can't cook!' Kris wrote on the post, which has received nearly 1,500 mostly concerned comments. Setting the record straight: A rep for Kris Jenner, pictured in January, has confirmed that the momager underwent sugery on her hand earlier this week for medical - not cosmetic - reasons The momager has been open about her youth-preserving plastic surgeries in the past - she even received a face lift on a 2011 episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. However, it appears that this trip to the doctor was not for a cosmetic procedure - after all she did only have bandages on one hand. A rep for the reality star told Gossip Cop that she had an operation to repair a bone spur on her middle finger and cysts on her hand. She may not be able to cook, but considering that she's had no trouble updating her social media accounts or going shopping in her town of Calabasas, California this week, she seems to be making a speedy recovery. The rumor mill: After she posted this Instagram photo of an injured hand, it was speculated that Kris, 60, underwent plastic surgery to make her hands look younger Though the plastic surgery rumors may not be true, we expect that Kris is concerned with keeping up with the appearance of her hands. Might we suggest that she - or anyone else who wants to keep her hands looking youthful - consider the five products below? Like anti-aging creams made for your face, these are formulated to moisturize and protect skin against sun and environmental damage - both of which contribute to wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. There's even a nourishing hand mask that brightens sun and age spots and repairs dehydrated skin. Find the perfect option for your needs and budget below Shop age-fighting hand creams from left: Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Correcting Hand Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 15 ($29.50, nordstrom.com), Grown Alchemist Age-Repair Hand Cream ($39, grownalchemist.com) and Hand Chemistry Youth Complex ($19, target.com) When holidaymaker Jennifer Bain fell for a Sri Lankan tour guide, she believed it was a meeting of minds. Animal lover Miss Bain, 52, was impressed by his manners and moved by his concern for starving dogs in his country. Within days of meeting Nissanka Premadasa, 43, she decided to realise her dream of opening a Sri Lankan dog sanctuary. On returning home to Cambridge, the guesthouse owner set about remortgaging her semi-detached property for 90,000 to buy the land and start building. But last night Miss Bain, who had already handed over an initial 3,500 in fees, claimed she had been the victim of a scam. She said she has discovered the land she hoped to buy does not exist and has found out that Mr Premadasa is happily married with two children. Animal lover Miss Bain, 52, was impressed by Nissanka Premadasa's manners and moved by his concern for starving dogs in his country He denies any wrongdoing, but Miss Bain said: Finding out Nissanka is happily married was bad enough but finding out my dream of owning a dog sanctuary in Sri Lanka wont happen is heartbreaking. Miss Bain flew to Colombo in Sri Lanka for a touring holiday in December 2014. Taxi driver Mr Premadasa drove her from hotel to hotel. The sense of attraction was so strong that within days wed begun a romantic relationship, she said. At first he told me he was single. But in a hotel one day I answered the phone to a woman who said she was his wife. He then told me they were separated. The pair quickly discovered a shared passion for dogs. Miss Bain, who has never married, said: When he suggested I might invest in a hotel in Sri Lanka, I thought it would be wonderful to open a dog sanctuary on the land. She went home to Cambridge before returning to Sri Lanka last December. She said: Nissanka said hed found a hotel with some land close to Sigiriya. It seemed perfect. But her world began to unravel when she fell ill and went to recover at Mr Premadasas home. By then hed told me although he was separated, he still lived with his wife. But I thought it odd they were sleeping in the same bed, she recalled. However, she put her worries aside. She said: I gave a lawyer friend of Nissanka 2,500 in upfront legal fees. I also put down a 1,000 reservation fee on a hotel with land with a friend of his. After returning to the UK she was about to wire over more money when a solicitor friend noticed some details in the property deeds shed been sent were wrong. She said she rang Mr Premadasa but he put the phone down. She has now employed a solicitor to try to get the money back. Mr Premadasa said: She [Jennifer] wanted land and gave the money to a lawyer and a hotel owner, not me. There was no affair. We were just friends and she always knew I had a wife and two children. In recent weeks, Kendall Jenner has taken the catwalk by storm in both New York and Milan, and stripped down to her underwear to star in a beautiful Calvin Klein campaign. But in a newly-released never-before-seen portrait of the 20-year-old, Kendall shines in another way, showing off her beautiful facial features as she gazes at the camera in the striking black and white shot. The image, which was taken backstage at the Atelier Versace show in Paris in July 2015, was posted on Instagram by photographer Rahi Rezvani, who revealed that it is set to appear in a limited edition Atelier Versace book. Scroll down for video Black, white and beautiful: This never-before-seen portrait of Kendall Jenner is set to appear in an Atelier Versace book, according to photographer Rahi Rezvani who took the image backstage at a show in July 2015 Strutting her stuff: The model led the charge at Versace's Milan Fashion Week show on Friday The setting: The image was captured backstage at the Atelier Versace show in July 2015, in which Kendall donned a beautiful black dress to match her beaded headband 'Portrait of beauty @kendalljenner for limited edition Atelier Versace Book,' he wrote alongside the image, before tagging designer Donatella Versace in the post. Unsurprisingly, the stunning shot quickly began amassing likes and comments, particularly after matriarch Kris Jenner posted it on her own account, describing the picture as 'beyond stunning' and noting that she is a 'proud mama'. The image, in which Kendall is seen looking over her shoulder at the camera, while wearing the same beaded headband that she modeled in the Atelier Versace show last year, seems to have posted in celebration of the model's appearance in Versace's Milan Fashion Week show on Friday. Kendall returned to the runway in the Italian city to lead a star-studded runway for Versace at Italy's Milano Moda Donna. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star stood out among an elite line-up, including Gigi Hadid, Adriana Lima and Karlie Kloss, as she hit the runway at Milan Fashion Week for another turn. Kendall looked striking with heavy black make-up and her raven tresses long and loose, while a top-to-toe candyfloss color palette took the edge off her latest show look. Gal pals: The 20-year-old model posed with her best friend and fellow model Gigi Hadid, a Versace campaign star, and designer Donatella Versace, backstage ahead of the show Strike a pose: Kendall also posed for some beautiful portraits backstage, turning this way and that to show off her make-up to full effect Work it: The Keeping Up With the Kardashian star wore a long patent leather coat, complete with furry pink collar. It was matched with a mint green handbag and a furry pink bag charm Backstage prank: While Kendall struck a serious pose, Gigi, 20, couldn't help but have some fun, darting across the shot as her friend tried to pull her best model face The model sampled something of a girlier image than she's used to with Italian chief designer Donatella Versace kitting her out in a pink, fur-trim coat and a mint-shade minidress. Her winter jacket was left open to reveal her thigh-skimming minidress and draw attention to her incredible, supermodel pins as she strutted along in colour-co-ordinating heels. Kendall was one of the lucky ones on the night, because her outfit was more conservative, compared to that of BFF Gigi, who suffered something of an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction before the crowds. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star was similarly styled to her model BFF in a black headband and choker, completing her show look with a puffball handbag in baby pink, though it was clear that Kendall's legs were the main focus of the outfit. Where Kendall's flimsy cowl neckline was thankfully covered by her fur neckline and heavy coat, Gigi's was more exposed, leading to her subsequent nip slip on the runway, just as another model was fated with the same outcome. Proving her poise as one of the world's top models, the blonde carried on walking with conviction as the top of her slinky black dress exposed her right breast in front of the Milan Fashion Week crowd. Walking like she owns the runway: The dress featured a cutaway section at the middle and was held up by spaghetti straps Congratulations: Later, chief designer Donatella enjoyed her moment in the spotlight and left with a smile on her face Oops: Kendall's BFF Gigi Hadid suffered an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction in full view of the flashing cameras Leading a star-studded show, the 20-year-old Victoria's Secret Angel even received a high five from Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace, in spite of a wardrobe malfunction that could have marred her Fall/Winter 2016/2017 presentation. Gigi certainly deserved praise for making the garment look good, when she strutted down the runway in black court shoes, a silver choker necklace and a black warrior-style headband. The black dress, which featured an asymmetric low-cut neckline, was held up by spaghetti straps with a cutaway section at the middle and had a bold pattern down the seams in sequins. While it's not clear whether Gigi knew about the malfunction while she was walking, it certainly seemed like an accident even though she made attempt to adjust the top on the catwalk, like a true professional. Lexi Melton is, in many ways, your average seven-year-old girl. The youngster from Seattle, Washington jumps, plays and has a 'spunky and outgoing' personality. However, Lexi suffers from a rare congenital condition called auriculocondylar syndrome. As a result, she was born with a healthy body and brain - but no lower jaw. Since her birth in November 2008, she has undergone 11 surgeries to reconstruct her face. But her ordeal is not over yet. Her newly fitted lower jaw is not able to grow with Lexi, and as a result she will have to face at least three more operations until she is fully grown. Yet, her mother, Lisa Melton, from Seattle, told Daily Mail Online: 'Her personality is so strong and vibrant that she shined through all of that.' Lexi Melton (pictured), 7, suffers from a rare genetic condition called auriculocondylar syndrome - which means that she was born with a healthy body and brain, but without a lower jaw Over the past seven years, a team of doctors from Seattle Children's Hospital has worked to reconstruct her lower jaw through 11 arduous surgeries - and the little girl will need at least three more in the future Doctors noticed something was amiss nearly 28 weeks into Mrs Meltons pregnancy. She had given birth to a healthy baby boy, Josh, just 16 months earlier but this time, something was different. Scans revealed the unborn baby was unable to swallow Mrs Meltons amniotic fluid, causing a fluid build-up in her uterus. A team of medical experts from Seattle Childrens Hospital revealed Lexi was suffering developmental problems with her jaw that was stopping her from swallowing. They warned that the problem would prevent her from being able to breathe on her own after birth. Mrs Melton, 46, told Daily Mail Online: It was very terrifying. The doctors were pretty optimistic about her ability to survive but of course nobody could give any guarantees. Lexi was born six weeks early on November 18, 2008 with her lower jaw completely missing. Doctors determined that the little girl was suffering from a rare congenital condition called auriculocondylar syndrome. Her body and mind were 'normal' but because of two faulty genes, her jaw was malformed. Dr Richard Hopper, division chief of plastic surgery and surgical director of the Craniofacial Center at Seattle Children's, is one of the doctors who has cared for Lexi over the years. He told Daily Mail Online: 'Were one of the largest craniofacial centers in the world and weve only seen this three times.' In total, there has been 24 reported cases of auriculocondylar syndrome ever, he said. Lexi had been unable to breathe on her own because her air tube was blocked. She had to breathe through a tracheostemy tube for the first several years of her life, which also left her unable to speak. But, the tube was removed last year - and she has been speaking and breathing on her own ever since Lexi's mother Lisa (pictured center, with son Josh, left, and Lexi) had an easy pregnancy until about 27 weeks in - when doctors realized the baby was unable to swallow amniotic fluid because of an issue with her jaw Dr Hopper said: 'Not only is the jaw so small, its not normal in shape. The bone is more like the upper jaw but upside down.' The malformation obstructed Lexi's airways and prevented her from being able to breathe. A RARE CONDITION AFFECTING JUST 24 PEOPLE IN THE WORLD Auriculo-condylar syndrome is a very rare condition that affects facial development - particularly that of the ears and lower jaw. Just 24 cases of the condition have ever been recorded in medical literature. Typical characteristics of the condition are malformed outer ears, that resemble a question mark. Another feature, that suffered by Lexi, is an abnormal lower jaw, or mandible. Other signs include prominent cheeks, an unusually small mouth and facial asymmetry. The condition is thought to be caused by faulty genes, mutations in either the GNAI3 or PLCB4 gene. These genes provide instructions for making proteins that are involved in the signal chemcial signaling within cells. Studies suggest the genes are vital in the development of jawbones, facial muscles, middle ear bones, ear canals, outer ears and related tissues. Mutations in these genes disrupt the formation of the lower jaw. Instead of developing normally, it becomes more shaped like the smaller upper jaw. Source: Genetics Home Reference Advertisement Mrs Melton said: Imagine your chin pushed way back into your throat. The tongue and all that tissue was jammed back there, because there wasnt any place for it to go. The team of doctors from Seattle Children's immediately took Lexi to the neonatal intensive-care unit as soon as she was born. For the first few months of her life, she underwent numerous procedures to help with her breathing. Eventually, doctors realized their only option was to insert a tracheostemy tube to help her to breathe. Since then, the little girl has undergone 11 surgeries on her jaw. Dr Hopper said: 'When children are born, all of their teeth are like little popcorn bubbles in their lower jaw. 'That was true with Lexi, so there was no room to do any safe or reliable jaw surgery in the first year of life.' In 2011, doctors were finally able to start reconstructing her jaw. Over several years, Lexi had bone from her rib grafted onto her jaw. She also had longer operations that involved installing and then removing a transfacial pin, as well as bone anchors to reconstruct the jaw. But during that entire time, the little girl was unable to speak because of her physical problems. Mrs Melton said: She always did want to talk her language development was normal. That piece was super challenging and created lots of problems and frustrations. Doctors warned Mrs Melton and her husband, Dave, that the baby would not be able to breathe on her own. When Lexi was born weeks later, a team from Seattle's Children whisked her away to surgery Furthermore, Lexi had continual health problems between surgeries - because of both her tracheostomy tube and time spent in the hospital. Mrs Melton said: There were issues with respiratory illnesses and infections, and things that randomly come up when you have a lot of hospital time and complex presentation. Its now been two years since Lexis last surgery to reconstruct her jaw. Because the lower jaw was malformed, Lexi was not born with typical jaw joints. Were one of the largest craniofacial centers in the world and weve only seen this three times Dr Richard Hopper, Seattle Children's Hospital At the moment, she has limited mobility in her jaw helping her speak but not enough so that she can chew food. She currently has a feeding tube in her stomach from which she receives nutrients each day. And so, her next surgery in 2017 will be dedicated to the jaw joints. Dr Hopper said: The next stage of surgeries is to reconstruct those joints so she has more opening and closing ability. Lexi will have to undergo additional surgeries for roughly the next decade until she stops growing at around the age of 17. Her reconstructed lower jaw will not be able to grow with the rest of her body, Dr Hopper explained. He said: The big surgery she had gave her a very pronounced jaw her mother, Lexi and I joke is kind of a Jay Leno jaw because we needed to give her an older jaw than she needed at that age, because we know shes going to have to outgrow it. After the surgery to reconstruct her joints, Lexi will likely undergo at least two additional surgeries to increase the size of her lower jaw to match the rest of her body. Dr Hopper noted: After that it will become more routine procedures. But despite all she has undergone, Lexi has always exhibited a lust for life, according to her mother. Since then, Lexi has undergone numerous procedures to reconstruct her jaw - and has a long road of additional surgeries ahead. The little girl's jaw cannot grow on its own, so she will undergo several surgeries to lengthen her jaw until her body stops growing around age 17 or 18 Despite everything, Lexi in many ways remains a normal girl. Close to her brother and friends, Lexi loves to play - and has what her mother describes as a 'spunky, outgoing' personality that has always shined through Mrs Melton said: 'There were definitely times during all of the medical stuff that she was just really distraught from pain and not understanding what was happening and such. But she always hung in there and would bounce back and I think that is just such an inspiring piece of her. As shes been able to speak and play more on her own, Lexis personality has become more and more apparent, according to her mother. The mother-of-two said: She is super spunky and outgoing. When she walks into the room people notice her she has long, super cruly hair, and she jumps and dazzles into the room. Lexi is quite outspoken, opinionated and independent, as well. Mrs Melton said: Shes has a very strong sense of what she wants to do and who she is. Thats something that can be challenging as a parent but as we know, is a huge gift for her. Its something thats going to see her through all of these challenging situation. Her mother added that she and Lexi's father Dave would not have made it through all of these tough times without the help of Seattle Children's. The 46-year-old. added: The medical team at Seattle Childrens were so responsive and supportive and listened carefully to everything we had to say. More than 60 per cent of gay and bisexual men diagnosed with HIV reported meeting sexual partners online, according to a new study. The finding has prompted calls for hookup apps and dating websites to include warnings about sexually transmitted diseases. Scientists recommend such apps partner with public health groups to share messages about the risks of sexual encounters arranged online. Study co-author Dr Nicole Alexander-Scott, director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, said: A study like this is an urgent call to action for greater collaboration around education to address the health needs of men who have sex with men. The rate of new HIV diagnoses among men who have sex with men represents an unacceptable health disparity that absolutely must be addressed. More than 60 per cent of gay and bisexual men who were diagnosed with HIV in 2013 in Rhode Island claim they contracted the disease from someone they met on a dating app, according to a new study. And so, scientists argue those apps need to include STD warnings The study was conducted by scientists from Brown University, The Miriam Hospital and the Rhode Island Department of Health. The study focused on residents of Rhode Island. There were 74 new HIV diagnoses in the state in 2013, according to the study. Three in five were gay or bisexual men who have sex with men. And of those 43 people, 22 told the scientists that they believe they were infected by a man they met online. Five dating sites and apps some of which are also used by women were cited as the most popular by the infected men: Grindr, Manhunt, Scruff, Adam4Adam and Craigslist. The scientists interviewed 70 of the 74 newly diagnosed people for the study. Dr Amy Nunn, an associate professor at Brown and director of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute, said: This is a statewide study that included nearly all individuals newly diagnosed with HIV across the entire state. This is one of the first studies to document how common internet use is among people newly diagnosed with HIV and highlights important opportunities to partner with hookup sites to advance public health. Lead study author Dr Philip Chan, an assistant professor of medicine at Brown and director at the STD Clinic at The Miriam Hospital, noted that widely used sites are common in the gay and bisexual culture. Those apps and sites can lead to lasting relationships not just health risks. There were 43 new HIV cases from men who have sex with men (MSM) in Rhode Island in 2013, the study revealed. Of that group, 22 said they were infected by someone they met online And so, the goal of the study is not to stigmatize men who use those sites. Instead, Dr Chan and Dr Nunn added, the goal is to inspire partnerships with companies to include more information to slow the spread of HIV. Dr Chan said: Across the US, we are seeing men who have sex with men as the number one risk group for HIV infection. On these online hookup sites, many young men who have sex with men are meeting sex partners. Its really an under recognized and under-utilized approach we should be using to reach out to and engage this group. The five most popular dating apps cited by the HIV-infected men in the study include Grindr, Manhunt, Scruff, Adam4Adam and Craigslist Thus far, public health officials have struggled to get information on such sites and apps that charge for advertising. Thats because they have no discounts for non-profits or dont discount enough. Craigslist and Scruff ads are free, however, but staff at small non-profit or government agencies struggle to continually repost ads. Dr Nunn said: One of the challenges this study highlights is that its prohibitively expensive for many organizations who focus on public health promotion to buy ads on these apps and websites. Reducing disease transmission should be part of these organizations corporate social responsibility programs. The study noted that advertising can cost thousands of dollars. Dr Chan said: We would like to see more of these companies stepping up to the plate to work with public health departments. The study added that in 2014, HIV infections in Rhode Island grew by 97 new diagnoses. The scientists gave sites including Adam4Adam and Manhunt credit for recently allowing their users to list their HIV status in their profile. And, those sites, as well as Scruff, allow users to list whether they are taking the HIV preventative daily regimen pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Drops made from fungi discovered in Norwegian soil could be the latest weapon in the battle with weepy, sore eyes. The eye drops, newly approved for prescription, contain ciclosporin, a compound that controls inflammation by suppressing the immune system. And like antibiotic penicillin and cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, the active ingredient is derived from a type of fungus. The eye drops, 'Ikervis', which have been approved for prescription, contain ciclosporin, a compound that controls inflammation - which could benefit thousands of people in Britain suffering from dry eye syndrome (stock image) In this case it is Tolypocladium inflatum, first isolated in the late 1960s from soil samples from the Hardangervidda mountain plateau in Norway. The eye drops, with the brand name Ikervis, could benefit more than 60,000 people in Britain who suffer dry eye syndrome, where the eye cannot make enough natural lubricating oil. Without this oil, tears evaporate quickly, leading to discomfort, pain, swelling and excessive watering. In severe cases, the syndrome can lead to keratitis where the eye becomes so inflamed that the front part (the cornea) is damaged and people are robbed of their vision. Cold weather can exacerbate symptoms, while some patients find relief from warm compresses that stimulate natural oil secretions in the eye. A six-month trial of 246 patients showed significant improvements in symptoms in those who were given once-daily Ikervis drops. Those treated with the drug had 46 per cent fewer defects in their cornea than those not on the drug. Signs of inflammation to the eyes surface were also reduced. Opthalmologist Professor Francisco Figueiredo, from Newcastles Royal Victoria Infirmary and Newcastle University, said Ikervis could make a real difference to patients. He said: It means patients with severe keratitis and dry eye disease will have access for the first time to a licensed product with the potential to have a significant positive impact. Patients with this particularly unpleasant and disabling condition have a seriously impaired quality of life. Current approaches for treating dry eye syndrome include artificial tears eye drops that lubricate. However, they offer only transient relief or are so thick that they affect vision. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved Ikervis for severe dry eye disease (stock image) The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has now approved Ikervis, developed by pharmaceutical company Santen, for severe dry eye disease which has not responded to artificial tears. Helen Malik, a 60-year-old retired nurse, was one of the first people in the UK to be prescribed the drug when she took part in the clinical trial. She suffered from severe dry eyes which were painful and led to a deterioration in her eyesight. Now Helen can read the bottom line on an eye chart and the dryness has gone. She says: I was finding it difficult to read in low levels of light, which was very frustrating. I was using a lot of medication, drops and artificial tears. It was pretty awful and affected my quality of life. Ikervis was amazing. I stopped taking it when the trial ended, but I am desperate to get back on it now it has been approved. The chances of developing dry eye disease increase with age the NHS estimates that up to one in three people over 65 have had problems. Common causes include hot or windy climates, wearing contact lenses, and hormonal changes. It is thought that ciclosporin works by blocking the action of T-cells, part of the immune system, but not so much as to leave the body unprotected. Cancer patients are suffering undignified deaths because doctors are not comfortable discussing end-of-life treatment options with them until it is too late, campaigners have warned. At the launch of its annual fundraising Great Daffodil Appeal, Marie Curie, which provides home nursing for the terminally ill, revealed shocking figures that suggest up to one in four terminal cancer patients is being denied access to palliative care. These plans involve making those with incurable diseases as comfortable as possible in their own homes or a hospice, rather than hospital. At the launch of its Great Daffodil Appeal, Marie Curie revealed shocking figures that suggest up to one in four terminal cancer patients is being denied access to palliative care (stock image) A report by the charity found people with terminal blood and brain cancer are most likely to not have their needs met. Policy adviser Scott Sinclair said end-of-life care was being discussed too late by some doctors. They may feel they dont want to take hope away from their patients by discussing death too early, but this can backfire. Not having a frank conversation can lead to rushed decisions at the end of life. Lack of planning can lead to avoidable hospital admissions close to death, which mean people may not get to fulfil their final wishes. Although medically a hospital might be the best place to be, emotionally all the noise, the unfamiliar faces and the lack of privacy can be difficult in what might be a patients final days or hours, said Sinclair. People say they want to be surrounded by family and friends at the end and that can be hard to achieve in a hospital. The Marie Curie report revealed that sufferers of leukaemia and lymphoma types of blood cancer are twice as likely to die in hospital compared to those with more common types of cancer, often because their final admission is an unplanned emergency. And a survey of patients with terminal brain cancers found half hadnt been given a choice of end-of-life care options. These patient groups together account for about ten per cent of all cancer deaths each year. John Reeve, whose 23-year-old son Tim died from acute leukaemia, said that a lack of support meant his sons death was undignified. Tim died on a Friday night on a ward where he had spent many weeks, he said. Despite this, when he died there was nobody there he knew. There was an agency ward manager, a locum registrar and agency nurse. Marie Curie is urging that the palliative care needs of all cancer patients are assessed when they are first diagnosed. Tim died on a Friday night on a ward where he had spent many weeks. Despite this, when he died there was nobody there he knew. It found some doctors feel that they lack the training to have difficult conversations with terminally ill patients, and some blood cancer patients were close to death before they were referred to specialist palliative care. This can mean never fully discussing end-of-life wishes. Marie Curie medical director Professor Bill Noble said this could be down to the aggressive nature of blood cancer, meaning there isnt as much time to discuss a patients final wishes. The report found that people with blood cancer were twice as likely not to have had a discussion about their preferred place of death. Those who continued to receive aggressive treatment, such as chemotherapy, towards the end of their life and those with blood cancers were found to be especially likely to miss out on specialist palliative care. The report also said earlier assessment could result in patients with incurable cancer choosing not to undergo more aggressive treatment in favour of beginning palliative care earlier. Wendy Buckle, from Kenilworth, Warwickshire, died six months after she was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour. Her husband Peter said: Had we known that chemotherapy would have so little effect on the tumour, and produce so many side effects, Im not sure we would have wanted to go through with it. There was a lot of collateral damage, which you might accept if its halting the progress of the tumour, but it didnt. As well as discussing palliative care early after diagnosis, Marie Curie has made a series of recommendations in its report, including greater investment in palliative care services. The charity has also called for compulsory placements with palliative care teams for all undergraduate medical students, and that every cancer patient is assigned a named clinical nurse specialist to co-ordinate their care. Sarah Lindsell, chief executive of the Brain Tumour Charity, said: This report offers a powerful insight into palliative care in the UK and sets out clearly how it can and should be improved to meet the needs of patients and their families. It shows that people with brain tumours are among those likely to experience particular problems in relation to palliative care. Money raised from this years appeal will help Marie Curie nurses provide care to people living with a terminal illness. mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil At The Existentialist Cafe: Freedom, Being And Apricot Cocktails Sarah Bakewell Rating: What do we think about when we think about existentialism? We may think about a philosophy centred on individual existence and free choice, but we also think about jazz, dark turtle-necks, Paris, cafes, rebels, freedom, Gitanes, open relationships, and finger-wagging debate into the early hours. Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir were, for most people, the living embodiments of the philosophy they espoused. There was surely something creepy about Jean-Paul Sartres open relationship with the beautiful Simone de Beauvoir, particularly the way in which she would pass attractive young students on to him (pictured in 1946) The pair of them died comparatively recently, in the Eighties, but nowadays they seem a world away. Sarah Bakewell, now in her 50s, remembers buying Sartres existentialist novel Nausea with money she was given for her 16th birthday. It had a profound effect: she immediately tried to copy the gloomy outsider anti-hero by going to a park and staring at a tree, hoping it would overwhelm her with the sheer force of its being. It didnt work; I thought I saw something move, but it was just the breeze in the leaves. 'Yet looking at something so closely did give me a kind of glow. 'From then on, I too neglected my studies in order to exist. I had already been inclined to absenteeism; now, under Sartres influence, I became a more dedicated truant than ever. This is, you may have guessed, no run-of-the-mill book about philosophy. Quite the opposite: it is quirky, funny, clear and passionate. I first came across Bakewell only a few months ago, when I caught up with her wholly delightful book How To Live, a voyage around the 16th century French philosopher Michel de Montaigne. Her voice has a natural charm and, unlike so many British intellectuals, she refuses to confuse solemnity with seriousness. Often, when writers revisit the passions of their youth they do so with a kind of embarrassment bordering on revulsion. But in revisiting the existentialists, Bakewell focuses on recapturing the thrill she once felt. Biographers have been hard on (Simone) de Beauvoir for what looks like a case of sordid grooming, as well as unprofessional conduct, author Sarah Bakewell writes, in sympathy She craves their appetite for life, their greed for experience. Though alert to their many absurdities, she remains enraptured by the way they forced philosophy out of the stuffy, self-regarding corridors of academe and into the cut-and-thrust of everyday life. Their philosophies remain of interest, not because they are right or wrong, but because they concern life, and because they take on the two biggest questions: what are we? and what should we do? She argues convincingly that existentialism has been a victim of its own success, its key concerns nuclear war, international relations, feminism, the environment, the conflict between freedom and choice having become so much a part of the cultural mainstream that their origins have been erased. If you wish to be the standard-bearer for a cause, it helps if you are not revolted by its originator. Sartre was not everybodys cup of tea, but Bakewell is prepared to forgive him a great deal. Barely 5ft tall and boss-eyed, smoking his way through two packs of untipped cigarettes a day, he was a forceful seducer, never taking no for an answer. Women were beguiled by his intellectual wizardry, and unaccountably softened by invitations to come upstairs and sniff his Camembert. His seductions had little to do with pleasure, and everything to do with conquest. Some were joyless, and barely consensual. I often made love, but without very great pleasure, he once confessed. Just a little pleasure at the end, but pretty feeble. Bakewell is alert to many of his faults but, to my mind, lets him off a little easily on the sexual front. There was surely something creepy about Sartres open relationship with the beautiful Simone de Beauvoir, particularly the way in which she would pass attractive young students on to him. Biographers have been hard on de Beauvoir for what looks like a case of sordid grooming, as well as unprofessional conduct, Bakewell writes, in sympathy. She then adds, unconvincingly. Perhaps the explanation lay in the tense, debilitating atmosphere of phony-war Paris, which led many people to odd behaviour. Or perhaps not: as a teacher, de Beauvoir once seduced a 16-year-old student called Bianca Bienenfeld, before passing her on to Sartre. In old age, Bianca recalled the way in which Sartre had cheerfully remarked that the hotel chambermaid would be in for a surprise, as he had taken another girls virginity the day before. Sarah Bakewell skims over Jean-Paul Sartres unabashed enthusiasm for his great hero Stalin, and then for Chairman Mao (with Pol Pot to follow) I shuddered inside but I said and did nothing... He was not his usual, gentle self; it was as if he wanted to brutalise something in me... and was driven by a destructive impulse. Many years later, reading the Sartre/de Beauvoir correspondence, Bianca realised that they had both plotted her seduction, swapping details with one another. Bakewell barely mentions any of this, perhaps as a way of keeping her own youthful enthusiasm intact. In the same way, she skims over Sartres unabashed enthusiasm for his great hero Stalin, and then for Chairman Mao (with Pol Pot to follow). He took an interest in Maos China, she says at one point, and leaves it at that. 'From this, you would never guess that as late as 1968, Sartre was praising what he cooingly called the revolutionary violence of Chairman Mao as profoundly moral. Estimates of the genocide initiated by Mao continue to hover around 70 million. If Bakewell is looking for reasons why existentialism is ignored today, she would do well to examine this area of Sartres thought. If the philosopher of choice makes a choice that is so catastrophic, is it any wonder that later generations have chosen to disregard him? She is more fully prepared to confront the Nazism of Martin Heidegger, the forerunner of existentialism, and this makes her continued fascination with his tricky, uneasy philosophy all the more interesting. He is one of many figures she manages to rescue from traps of their own devising: on a lesser scale, another is the British existentialist Colin Wilson who, within the space of a year, managed to turn from young lion to figure of fun. Few writers are as good as Bakewell at explaining complicated ideas in a way that makes them easy to understand, though occasionally, particularly in some areas of French existentialism, this has the unintended effect of reducing the high-faluting to the bleeding obvious. At the same time, she is perfectly prepared to hold up her hands and admit defeat when confronted by something incomprehensible. Sartres 2,800-page unfinished work on Flaubert is a case in point. It is, she says, almost entirely unreadable. Simone de Beauvoir perversely called it the most delightful of Sartres works, but Bakewell begs to differ. I wish I could see what de Beauvoir saw. I have tried Ive rarely started a book with such a desire to like it, but it was a desire thwarted. 'I am saucer-eyed with awe at the achievement of the translator... Occasional lightning flashes strike the primordial soup, although they never quite spark it into life, and there is no way to find them except by dredging through the bog for as long as you can stand it. At The Existentialist Cafe has a jaunty, rollicking tone, rare in works of philosophy, along with picaresque sub-headings to its chapters. Thus we have Chapter 1 In which three people drink apricot cocktails, more people stay up late talking about freedom, and even more people change their lives. We also wonder what existentialism is. Even if this sometimes puts it at odds with some of the po-faced characters involved, it mirrors the authors essentially warm-hearted nature. Thinking should be generous and have a good appetite, she writes of existentialism. The Encounter Barbican Theatre, London Until March 6 2hrs Rating: The Encounter is unlike any other theatrical experience. Simon McBurney begins with a chat about his family and the way photographs tell stories, creating a sort of reality. Then he tells us another story, with no pictures, but entirely through sound delivered via special earphones, enabling McBurney to whisper in ones ear, like a childs bedtime story with the teller snuggled up close in the dark. One doesnt simply hear but actually feels his breath, and that of his little daughter who, sleepless, keeps interrupting him. The Encounter is unlike any other theatrical experience. Simon McBurney begins with a chat about his family and the way photographs tell stories, creating a sort of reality It is extremely intimate, even a bit spooky, because there he is in front of us, running around the stage, slurping water to conjure a river, stamping on video tape to suggest forest undergrowth and crumpling a crisp packet to create a crackling fire. And yet it is as if he is inside ones head. Its an effect which powerfully illustrates the way in which writer Petru Popescus Amazon Beaming an account of the experience of American photographer Loren McIntyre, who travelled deep into the Amazonian rainforest to find the nomadic Mayoruna tribe got under McBurneys own skin when he read it years ago. The piece is too long. But it is nevertheless as extraordinary, exceptional, immersive and imaginatively transporting as only theatre can be McBurney slips into McIntyres deep baritone, capturing his alarm when he discovers he has lost his way, his watch and his camera. So begins for McIntyre a submission into a new way of seeing and being, with no possessions and no words but a telepathic, mystical communication between himself and the head tribesman. Sometimes the philosophising gets lost in the heart of the Amazons darkness. McIntyre suggests that the Mayoruna are closer to understanding the beginnings of human consciousness because the past represented by possessions doesnt get in the way of their lives. And the piece is too long. But it is nevertheless as extraordinary, exceptional, immersive and imaginatively transporting as only theatre can be. Cat On A Hot Tin Roof Theatre Clwyd, Mold Until Saturday 2hrs 40mins Rating: Catrin Stewart, is a strikingly feline and frustrated Maggie (Liz Taylor in the film version) but the evenings power is down to Desmond Barrit, in a lush performance as Big Daddy This fresh look at a true American masterpiece certainly makes for a promising start to Tamara Harveys artistic directorship at North Waless Theatr Clwyd. Catrin Stewart, is a strikingly feline and frustrated Maggie (Liz Taylor in the film version) but the evenings power is down to Desmond Barrit, in a lush performance of imperious cruelty with flashes of tenderness as Big Daddy. Tennessee Williamss favourite of his own plays is set in the Fifties and is the story of a rich family undone by some sordid secrets as they gather for dying cotton baron Big Daddys 65th birthday. Maggie, the Cat, is married to the alcoholic ex-football hunk Brick (Gareth David-Lloyd, above), who drinks to erase his grief at his male lovers suicide Maggie, the Cat, is married to the alcoholic ex-football hunk Brick (Gareth David-Lloyd), who drinks to erase his grief at his male lovers suicide. Every scene, however fraught, is hilariously plagued by Bricks brothers odious kids the no-neck monsters. Director Robert Hasties production tolerates some excessive southern drawling but he brings out the plays amazing sexual candour, a four-poster bed dominating the set, with a lurid Mississippi sunset beyond. Robert Gore-Langton A Girl Is A Half-Formed Thing Young Vic, London Until March 26 1hr 30mins Rating: A young woman stands in the shadows, in baggy pyjama bottoms, her scrubbed face childlike the half-formed thing of the title. The set, spare and dark, is as Beckettian as the language. She spits out phrases, fragments of shattered sentences and Catholic prayers, from which we piece together a narrative of innocence smashed, like a glass, into a thousand jagged bits, irreparable, dangerous. Annie Ryan has turned Eimear McBrides stream-of-subconsciousness novel into a monologue, and Aoife Duffins (above) stunning performance, filled with fury, suggests it is even better seen rather than read We learn of a beloved brother with a brain tumour; of a censorious grand-father appalled by the godlessness of underwear on display during a childs forward roll; of a pious, harsh, unloving mother. The girl becomes angry, blasphemous, bewildered, and when her uncle starts abusing her, it triggers a collapse, moral and mental. She finds the sex disgusting and yet empowering, a sort of self-willed degradation that gives her control over men. Annie Ryan has turned Eimear McBrides stream-of-subconsciousness novel into a monologue, and Aoife Duffins stunning performance, filled with fury, suggests it is even better seen rather than read. Its like watching a wound spurt with blood, horribly intimate and yet oddly vital. Duffins Girl has dozens of voices, but when she briefly becomes the truthful doctor at the hospice, her gentleness comes as a shock.This is shattering, unflinching, merciless theatre, painfully well made. The play is at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, March 29 to April 2, and Liverpools Everyman, April 5-9 The War Of The Worlds Dominion Theatre, London Until April 9 2hrs 30mins Rating: Jeff Waynes 1978 concept album, based on H G Wellss novel, has been touring arena venues for ten years. Now at last it gets a West End musical staging and its massive. Theres a banked string section of svelte young female violinists, ace guitarist Chris Spedding (who was on the original album along with Phil Lynott, David Essex and Julie Covington, among others) leading the thundering rock section, a chorus of dancers and an orchestra conducted with grooving hips by Jeff Wayne himself. Daniel Bedingfield is good and stolid as the Artilleryman and the shows signature tune is the reworked Justin Hayward hit Forever Autumn, nicely sung by Michael Praed as the Journalist If you misspent your youth listening to this record, the last of the dinosaur concept albums, then this show has your name on it. And here the music is augmented by a battery of Doctor Who-ish wheeoo wheeoo space sound effects. The cataclysmic novel is expertly narrated (on overhead screens and at one point in hologram form) by Liam Neeson, who has the unenviable task of filling Richard Burtons shoes. His narration is grave and rather satisfying as the Martians start by attacking Woking and thats not a joke. But its a very mixed cast and everyone looks a bit baffled. David Essex is a bit doddery as the Voice of Humanity, and Jimmy Nail is hopelessly wooden as the demented parson (he looks as if hed be much happier headbutting the Martians than holding a crucifix), with ex-Sugababe Heidi Range as his poor wife. Its a very mixed cast and everyone looks a bit baffled. David Essex is a bit doddery as the Voice of Humanity, and Jimmy Nail is hopelessly wooden as the demented parson But Daniel Bedingfield is good and stolid as the Artilleryman the role Essex played on the album and the shows signature tune is the reworked Justin Hayward hit Forever Autumn, nicely sung by Michael Praed as the Journalist. The overall clout of the thing is what matters. Flames heat you up even in Row M, the Martian red weed creeps like cancer, and the steampunk designs give the right Wellsian flavour. You are never allowed to forget the books era, with lots of footage of Victorian citizenry. Its a mad and truly epic evening, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the people of Surrey being crisped by Martian death rays, to the bombastic sound of anthemic Seventies rock. Robert Gore-Langton Toast Rose Theatre, Kingston On tour until April 9 2hrs 15mins Rating: Richard Bean who wrote One Man, Two Guvnors worked in a bakery before studying psychology and becoming a stand-up. Surprisingly, this slice of working-class life, set in a bakehouse canteen in the Seventies, doesnt look back in anger at the appalling conditions. Beautifully observed with authentic dialogue, it celebrates the camaraderie of the men, bound by the ancient, deafening oven burning 24/7. Apart from that days sandwich filling and the bosss latest conquest theres nothing much to talk about. Mostly they smoke, drink tea and swear. When old Nellie (a dough-faced Matthew Kelly) learns his time is up, there is a note of disquiet. But the real drama is the suspicious jamming of the oven. Whodunit? The production gets a bit lost but is done to a turn. Cowboy Song: The Authorised Biography of Phil Lynott Graeme Thomson Rating: The last time I saw Phil Lynott was in 1984, performing in the exotic environs of the Ladbrokes Seashore Centre in Great Yarmouth. The holiday park was host to an out-of-season rock festival and Lynott was there with his post-Thin Lizzy group, Grand Slam. This was not Lynotts finest hour. The lithe, charismatic Lizzy leader renowned for hits such as Whiskey In The Jar and The Boys Are Back In Town had grown sweaty and bloated; he looked bemused, distracted, downhearted. Its easy to regard Phil Lynott as just another sad casualty. But as Graeme Thomsons reveals, the man sometimes known as Johnny Cool was light years away from your stereotypical rock n roller The twinkle in his eye had dimmed. For a man used to playing arenas, appearing on Top Of The Pops, judging the 1978 Miss World Contest, even, it was a major comedown. A little over a year later Lynott would be dead at 36, a victim of his hard-partying lifestyle, alcohol and heroin abuse exerting the ultimate toll. Its easy to regard him as just another sad casualty, a drug-addled footnote in music history. But as Thomsons affectionate, impeccably researched biography reveals, the man sometimes known as Johnny Cool was light years away from your stereotypical rock n roller. Lynott was a complex mix of character traits: a tough, streetwise hard man; a reluctant Catholic; a wistful, starry-eyed poet. There was also his public persona: the gangly, leather-clad frontman, cradling his bass guitar like a machine gun, his swaggering stage presence counterbalanced by his deceptively laconic vocal delivery. This book excels in its portrayal of Lynotts early years; for such a quintessentially Irish artist, its surprising to learn that he was actually born in West Bromwich in the Midlands in 1949. Lynott was a complex mix of character traits: a tough, streetwise hard man; a reluctant Catholic; a wistful, starry-eyed poet His mother, the domineering Philomena, had run away from Dublin to England, where she met his father, Cecil Parris, who was of Afro-Guyanese descent and whose image Lynott would subconsciously mimic in later years by sporting a pencil-thin moustache. There are mysteries and secrets at the heart of his childhood, Thomson writes. But what is for sure is that in the summer of 1957 Lynott, whose father had disappeared from his life, was sent from England to live with Philomenas parents in Crumlin, a suburb of Dublin. Tellingly, the solid anchor of Ireland awaited him. Despite being a black boy in an almost completely white country, Lynott embraced Irish culture wholeheartedly and experienced only isolated pockets of prejudice. He loved Irish fables and adored American comic books. He quickly discovered that he had myths and tales of his own to tell. The book ends on a sombre note with an afterword by Caroline Crowther, the daughter of the comedian and quiz show host Leslie Crowther, and who married Lynott in 1980 Thomson talks to a prodigious array of friends, neighbours and schoolchums, building up an impressively well-rounded story of Lynotts formative days, paving the way for his forays into music with the ironically named Black Eagles, via the bands Skid Row and Orphanage, until the formation of Thin Lizzy. Heres where music biographies often go astray and become bogged down with tedious inventories of chart positions and tour dates. Thomson sidesteps this pitfall and continues his measured approach, weaving an intensely personal tale of a troubled musician. IT'S A FACT! Original Thin Lizzy guitarist Eric Bell took the name from 'Tin Lizzie', a character in The Dandy. The band changed it to 'Thin' to play on the Irish habit of dropping the 'h' in 'th' sounds Advertisement For once, sex and drugs and rock n roll take a back seat; theres an air of reflectiveness, not to say solemnity, as Lynott the archetypal romantic Irishman is caught in the eye of a storm as an unforgiving rock world turns his life upside-down. The turmoil continues when his father walks back into his life; an experience which proves to be almost as damaging as the hepatitis that Lynott contracts from a dirty needle, weakening his immune system and amplifying the severity of his drug dependency. The book ends on a sombre note with an afterword by Caroline Crowther, the daughter of the comedian and quiz show host Leslie Crowther, and who married Lynott in 1980. I recognise the man in this book and I mourn his loss all over again, his former wife writes starkly. Ellie Goulding Sportpaleis, Antwerp On tour in Britain, March 8-25 Rating: There was a curious omission on this years Brits shortlist for best female artist. Adele was there, of course, along with Florence Welch and Jess Glynne. Laura Marling made it, too, which left a decidedly Ellie Goulding-shaped hole... to be filled by Amy Winehouse. Not only are we unimpressed by your new album, Ellie, the industry was saying, but youve had a worse year than a woman who is no longer with us. As a pop personality, 29-year-old Ellie Goulding is halfway between Taylor Swift, who she often hangs out with, and Ed Sheeran, who she used to hang out with The irony is that with her third album, Delirium, Goulding has taken a decisive step towards the Brits favourite place the middle of the road. She wanted, she said, to make a big pop album. She also called it an experiment, which prompted sniggers from the critics, but didnt seem to bother the public, who have kept Delirium in the top 20 for three months. Next week Goulding returns to Britain to play 11 nights in arenas. I caught her in Antwerp, where she drew a crowd of 19,000. The fans are mostly 15 to 25, with about six girls for every boy. Goulding has called her third album, Delirium, both a 'big pop album' and 'an experiment' Goulding, who looks much the same age as them, is actually 29. She plays the good hostess, friendly and chatty. As a personality, she is halfway between Taylor Swift, who she often hangs out with, and Ed Sheeran, who she used to hang out with. In the studio, Goulding has yet to find a sound of her own. She started out as an electro-folkie, which suited the inflections of her breathy voice, but now it comes bolted on to dance-pop beats and sledgehammer choruses. In concert, the most touching moment is Devotion, an acoustic ballad, which allows Goulding to strum a guitar as the fans turn on the little torches on their phones to form a night sky. The most stirring moment is Love Me Like You Do, which manages to be both industrial and exuberant. The most likeable moment comes late on, when Gouldings microphone cuts out during Anything Could Happen. She disappears, the fans start a Mexican wave, the musicians join in, and when Goulding returns, with a bashful chuckle, the song has a spark that much of the evening has lacked. Next, she needs to try a more radical experiment: being fully herself. elliegoulding.com THIS WEEK'S CD RELEASES By Adam Woods The Coral Distance Inbetween Ignition, out Friday Rating: The psychedelic sons of the Wirral are in a bad-trip late-Sixties vibe. Dont expect the youthful bounce of their early hits; instead, the grooves are eerie, while James Skellys croon is moving in on Jim Morrison territory, and his muses are spooky, nameless girls Steven James Adams Old Magick Fortuna POP! out Friday Rating: Just days ago Murthal, near Sonepat, was a favourite haunt of passengers travelling on National Highway-1 between Delhi and Punjab. The roadside dhabas serving steaming hot parathas always remained crowded after dark. Now, they wear a deserted look after allegations of gang rapes of at least 10 women during the Jat quota stir surfaced. With visuals of womens clothing scattered on Haryana fields surfacing in the media and going viral on social media sites, demands for an immediate probe grew on Friday. Protesters had set shops on fire as the Jat agitation demanding reservation intensified in Sonipat The exact location where the clothes were found is a barren patch along the highway, about 400 metre from the famous Sukhdev Dhaba, along the Hasanpur-Gannuar route. The place comes under Hasanpur town. When Mail Today spoke to Hasanpur locals, they said they fear for their lives. We have heard that some women had been raped near the Sukhdev Dhaba, but no one has come forward so far, said a Hasanpur resident, who did not want to be named. Even the police denied rape reports as mere rumours. So far no complainant has come forward nor has any evidence been found of any such incident there, said DSP Satish Kumar. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called the alleged Murthal gang-rapes 'shocking and shameful'; activist Kavita Krishnan said the incidents had 'exposed the reality of the BJP promise of "protecting" women' On Friday, the Haryana government set up a committee of three women officers, including a DIG, for receiving any complaint of rape, said Additional Chief Secretary of Haryana PK Das. The women police officers are DIG Rajshree Singh, DSP Bharti Dabas and DSP Surinder Kaur, he said. The state government has also set up a helpline number18001802057which any person having information about any such incident can dial to share details with the authorities, he added. Das said the Haryana government was ready to cooperate with statutory bodies such as the Human Rights Commission and appealed to the public to provide any information they had in this regard. Haryana DGP YP Singhal said the police had not received any rape complaint yet, but would act swiftly as and when any case was reported. There are no reports of any such incident so far. No eyewitness has contacted police. The state government and police are sensitive and we will act swiftly if anyone provides any information in this regard, Singhal said. Just days ago Murthal, near Sonipat, was a favourite haunt of passengers travelling on National Highway-1 between Delhi and Punjab He said no concrete evidence has been found so far that could prove sexual assault on or rape of women in Murthal. Till now, there is no confirmation of this incident. But we will probe the matter with sensitivity and compassion, he said. Rejecting allegations that local police officers were deliberately suppressing information of sexual assault, the DGP said no officer at the lower level could suppress such complaint. It is a sensitive matter and the Chief Minister is seized of it, he said. Pictures of womens clothes and undergarments went viral on social media, fuelling allegations of sex crimes during the Jat quota stir Thirty deaths have so far been reported in the Jat stir but the situation is now normal in the state. A total of 713 FIRs have been registered, and 133 people arrested in this connection, he added. Concerned over Murthal reports, Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal urged any such victim who belonged to Delhi to approach the body for legal support and justice. Victims can either call the 181 womens helpline or visit the DCW office, Maliwal said, adding: We will ensure that their confidentiality is maintained. We have come to know through media reports that some women raped in Murthal were from Delhi. I appeal to all such women against whom any sexual atrocity have happened recently, particularly in Murthal, to call 181 or visit the DCW office immediately. We assure full cooperation, complete confidentiality, and legal support and will work closely with Haryana police to ensure justice is served, she said. Delhi personnel are allegedly facing a hard time grilling Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya as the JNU students accused of sedition are 'not cooperating' with investigators. Umar mentioned the life of Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi several times during the interrogation, which began in the early hours of Friday at the RK Puram police station, according to a senior police officer. The student has denied that slogans raised by him at the February 9 event in the varsity were anti-national, police said. He has also asked cops to provide him with newspapers and is changing his statements and the details of his hideouts repeatedly, police claimed. Umar Khalid (left) and Anirban Bhattacharya are charged with sedition 'During confrontation, Umar was not very cooperative with us while Kanhaiya Kumar, who was sent to one-day police custody, had given answers to all the questions raised by the cops. Throughout the interrogation, Umar was giving intellectual speeches,' a senior police officer told Mail Today. 'A cop later told Umar that he wasnt understanding the seriousness of the case and that he is facing sedition charges. Umar also talked about Nehru and Gandhi multiple times, maybe as a tool to evade our questions,' the source added. On the other side, Anirban is also allegedly not very keen on answering cops questions. He said that he hasnt done anything wrong and had not invited any outsider to attend the February 9 event. Moreover, Anirban said he was not briefed about the roles of other organisers, sources claimed. On being asked about his hideouts, Umar initially claimed that he went to another state but later disclosed that he was in Neb Sarai, Ber Sarai and other nearby areas before resurfacing on the JNU campus. 'He is changing his statements and not disclosing his hideouts and places he visited. He is giving different facts. Umar hasnt told us about people who helped him hide from the police,' a senior police officer said. Meanwhile, the team which was assigned with the task of identifying people who had covered their faces during the controversial JNU event on February 9, remain clueless about the six suspects who were involved in raising anti-India slogans. The arrested students have also failed to identify them. Cops are claiming that they might be students from other universities. Sources said the police are trying to ascertain the identity of the organiser behind the controversial event and of the outsiders spotted in the footage of the event. Meanwhile, JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar has been sent back to judicial custody after police told the court that they do not need him for questioning. Kanhaiyas counsel has moved an application to frequently visit him during his custody, which ends on March 11. Food checks and CCTV cameras for Kanhaiya Kumar during stay in jail By Kumar Kunal JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar Based on the instructions of the Supreme Court to provide adequate security to JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, Tihar Jail authorities have chalked out a comprehensive plan for the students safety during his stay in the central jail. The instructions were issued after the attack on Kanhaiya on the premises of Patiala House Court while he was being taken to be produced before Metropolitan Magistrate Lovleen. Kanhaiya, who is in judicial custody, will stay in an independent safe cell in ward number four in Central Jail three. As per the security guidelines, two police constables from Tamil Nadu special police along with one deputy jail warden have been deployed outside his cell round the clock. To keep a track of movements around Kanhaiyas lock up, CCTV cameras will be installed and a Quick Response Team will always accompany him whenever he moves out of his cell. Food is set to be checked by the medical officer before reaching his cell and any other item will have to pass through strict security checks before it reaches him. Any person without any prior approval would not be allowed near Kanhaiya to prevent any kind of verbal and physical assault. The gate of the cell will be kept locked round the clock and shall only be opened in the presence of the assistant superintendent with prior permission of at least the deputy superintendent, as and when required. Kanhaiya would be visited by the deputy superintendent twice a day. Medical assistance, if any, would be provided inside his lock up so as to avoid any confrontation or interaction with other inmates. The SC is seeking the Centre's view on the possible establishment of a National Court of Appeal Kindling hopes for lakhs of people in the countrys southern, eastern and western regions, the Supreme Court on Friday sought the view of the Centre and the law ministry on establishing a National Court of Appeal (NCA) with regional benches in major cities Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai to hear appeals against orders of high courts. A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India TS Thakur also appointed Senior Advocates KK Venugopal and Salman Khurshid as amicus curiae (lawyer who will assist the court). The petitioner, a Puducherry-based advocate V Vasantha Kumar, submitted that distance of the apex court in the National Capital from other parts of the country, coupled with high travel expense and cost of litigation were coming in way of citizens from far flung areas to approach the top court of the land, which is otherwise also burdened with large scale pendency of cases. Kumar moved the apex court after the Centre did not consider his representation for setting up NCA which was suggested by the apex court in a 1986 judgment. The Law Commission of India in its 125th report had said: The Supreme Court sits in Delhi alone. Government of India on couple of occasions sought the opinion of the Supreme Court of India for setting up a bench in the South. This proposal did not find favour with the Supreme Court. The result is that those coming from distant places like Tamil Nadu in the South, Gujarat in the West and Assam and other states in the East have to spend huge amount on travel to reach the Supreme Court. And an adjournment becomes prohibitive. About 600 guards from the Border Security Force (BSF), along with accompanying reserves and administrative support, from sensitive border regions like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and West Bengal, have been pulled out from their locations and brought to the Chhawla camp near New Delhi. No, they are not practicing a new technique, but they are instead training for a grand farewell for their retiring head, the Director General (DG), for nearly a month now. While the BSF terms this following our tradition of organising farewell for the outgoing DG, there are some who seek reform. BSF guards from sensitive regions like J&K, Punjab and West Bengal have been pulled out from their locations and brought to Delhi. (file picture) Incumbent Director General DK Pathak did not comment, and despite repeated reminders to the BSF press office, there was no response to questions over the parade participation and its impact on logistics, personnel and operations. When the India Today correspondent visited the Chhawla camp, on the outskirts of New Delhi, where the farewell is slated for Monday, preparations were in full swing. If you ask me, this is not a tradition we should carry on with. Massive manpower, money and resources are being pumped in for yet another ceremony as if there arent enough already, said an officer. It was said leaves have been cancelled and soldiers at the border areas are under additional stress. Another officer pointed out: Any outgoing Director General visits each of these states before leaving the force anyway so why do these men also have to come here for this event! It was learnt that there would be a total of 12 marching contingents, including one of women BSF personnel. Each contingent, representing each Frontier, border state where the BSF is deployed, will consist of 48 personnel. The parade would last for nearly an hour. Apart from the force being questioned repeatedly over perceived lapses leading to intrusions at Gurdaspur and Pathankot in Punjab, aggravating the plight of the men is the fact that since the time of BSF's Raising Day (held on December 1), followed by the Republic Day and now the farewell parade, troops have been committed to ceremonial duties. The BSF has also been seeking to raise additional battalions quoting shortage of boots on ground. Former IPS officer and head of central police organisations Arvind Ranjan said: All the pros and cons have to be considered. It is a long-standing tradition. Manpower is a requirement which will perhaps never end. I dont think this discussion can be a BSF-centric one since this happens in all paramilitary organisations and state police forces. His words were countered by SK Sood, former Additional Director General in the BSF, who termed this act a 'crime'. In India, weve seen a curious paradoxical pattern emerge over the last few years. The more we progress economically, the more we regress mentally, whether it is patriotism, pornography or the morning-after-pill. The richer we get, the dumber we are. We live in opulent mansions but our minds are in the provincial boondocks. A ban has been imposed on the morning-after pill in Tamil Nadu for almost 10 years. This was because of the fear that the pills will lead to more promiscuity among the young and a loosening of the moral fabric. Theres a direct link between economic well-being and intellectual attrition. Liberal democracies do not waste their time criminalising dissent on academic campuses. We do. Does raising slogans lead to the disintegration of a nation? But then we are not a full-fledged liberal democracy. As Ram Guha said: We are a 40:60 democracy. There were widespread protests on American campuses during the Vietnam war. Those students were not harassed by the police and the state for being unpatriotic and put behind bars. Democracy Liberal democracies do not obsess about banning pornography. The government banned 857 such sites, then lifted the ban. The Supreme Court Women Lawyers Welfare Association challenged this ban, citing a case where a bus driver and his assistant showed pornographic images to children and then molested them: The sexual content that kids are accessing today is far more graphic, violent, brutal, deviant and destructive and has put the entire society in danger. The petitioner most respectfully submits that most of the offences committed against women/girls/children are fuelled by pornography. Apparently, pornography is a threat to public order in India. For every person who watches porn and then goes on to commit a sexual crime, there are millions of others, both men and women, who dont. (Recent stats released by an adult website PornHub show that 30 per cent of the Indian visitors on their site are women, 6 per cent higher than the global average of women visitors). The rapists in the Nirbhaya case were also drunk when they committed the brutal act. Should we go ahead and clamp a nation-wide prohibition on the sale of liquor? We have made a habit of mistaking the woods for the trees. Meanwhile, in America, porn continues to evolve. At the worlds biggest phone show, Mobile World Congress, Virtual Porn or VR porn was the buzzword. As Luke Johnson reports in Esquire: The scenes feature serious visual depth and three-dimensionality. My mind told me to reach out and touch, but my invisible arms were grabbing nothing but air... By the time the second scene rolled around I was starting to feel like I was viewing it through my own eyes. The first person perspective meant I was no longer just watching porn, I was experiencing it too. VR porn offers release and might actually lead to lesser crime. We repeatedly fall prey to the logical fallacy, which in philosophy is called false cause: The fallacy committed when an argument mistakenly attempts to establish a causal connection. There are two types of this fallacy. The first one, post hoc ergo propter hoc, says that mere succession in time is not enough to establish causal connection: Hair precedes the growth of teeth in babies, so the growth of hair causes the growth of teeth. The second one, non causa pro causa, is the fallacy of making a mistake about the ascription of some cause to an effect: event x is followed by (or related to) event y. Therefore event x caused event y. The tongue-in-cheek example here would be: Napoleon became a great emperor because he was short. Fear Its the same fallacy that has led to the banning of the morning-after pill in Tamil Nadu almost 10 years ago. TV spots for the same were also taken off air nationwide. (This is like being in 19th century America when a series of state laws were passed criminalising the sale of birth control solutions.) The fear in TN was that morning after pills will lead to more promiscuity among the young and a loosening of the moral fabric. As noted historian Elaine Tyler May argues in her book, America and the Pill, it makes little sense to say that the pill caused the sexual revolution. The revolution had already happened. As a physician tells her: The pill does not make people decide to have sex. It is after they decide to have sex that they go get the pill. In the absence of over-the-counter morning-after pills, unwanted pregnancies have boomed in TN. Women take abortion pills without medical supervision, often with disastrous consequences. According to a report in TOI, almost 40 per cent of women who underwent abortions came with complications after taking these pills without prescription. Abortions turn septic, requiring blood transfusions and surgery. It looks like Tamil women are still having sex. Morality In our typical hypocritical fashion, we have decided that morning- after pills are bad but abortion is okay. In countries like Ireland and America, at least the pro-lifers have an argument - the right of the unborn child. Here it is not about human rights, but about womens morality slipping. No one is even talking about the psychological consequences of these preventable abortions, both on women and men. In America, the pill enabled women to plan and space pregnancies, allowing them to pursue educational and professional opportunities. Loretta Lynn, the country music star, sang about these freedoms in the 1975 hit The Pill. The husband in the song has his nights on the town, while the wife sits at home nursing another pregnancy. Not anymore: All these years I've stayed at home/While you had all your fun/And every year that's gone by/Another babys come/ There's a gonna be some changes made/ Right here on nursery hill/ You've set this chicken your last time/ 'Cause now I've got the pill. Profits up: BA's CEO Willie Walsh said the benefit of the falling oil price was offset by the strong dollar Profits at British Airways owner IAG soared as demand for its transatlantic routes grew. Flights to Miami, New York and Los Angeles were popular and pre-tax profit rose 64.4 per cent to 1.3billion. Revenue for the year to the end of December grew 13.3 per cent to 16.4billion. Its North American business is the largest part of the IAG group. Passenger load factor how full its planes are improved by 0.9 percentage points. There was good news for investors on the dividend front. As revealed in October, IAG it will pay out around 25 per cent of its underlying profit in dividends. Yesterday it announced a full-year dividend of 0.20 (0.14p) a share the first in its four-year history. IAG was created by the merger of British Airways and Iberia. Neither firm had paid a dividend since 2008. All the groups airlines are now profitable after a turnaround at previously loss-making Spanish carrier Iberia. The company, which also owns Spanish budget airline Vueling and recently bought Irish carrier Aer Lingus, did warn that the strong dollar had wiped out gains from the low oil price. Chief executive Willie Walsh said the benefit of the falling oil price was offset by the weakening euro and pound in reaction to the strong dollar. His comments on the oil price worried some investors and its shares slipped 17.5p, or 3.1 per cent, to 541p. IAG buys fuel three years in advance and Walsh said the benefits of the fall in the oil price will be felt this year. Walsh said the strong results reflected the progress made at Iberia. Revenue from passengers rose by 14.2 per cent to 14.6billion and in the fourth quarter of the year it increased by 3.1 per cent. Soaring: Flights to Miami, New York and Los Angeles were popular and pre-tax profit rose 64.4 per cent to 1.3billion. Revenue for the year to the end of December grew 13.3 per cent to 16.4billion However he said there was an impact from the Paris attacks in November and there had been a fall in demand in certain parts of Africa due to political unrest and Ebola. He said demand will increase for European holiday locations such as Spain as an alternative to north African destinations amid fears of terrorism. Tiger mums are being targeted by Pearson as it embarks on a plan to turn around losses of 404million. The educational publisher has been hit by falling university enrolment in the US, causing a decline in demand for textbooks, as well as slowdowns in its growth markets. Pearson now hopes to replace this lost business by selling books directly to middle-class families who want to give extra lessons to their children, and young professionals desperate to advance their careers. Tiger mothers are those who push their children hard to succeed academically. Rescue plan: Educational publisher Pearson is targetting 'Tiger Mums' - middle class parents who want to give extra lessons to their children Chief executive John Fallon said its direct-to-consumer businesses continue to do well and we are seeing good growth. He said: Our revenues in Brazil overall are flat year-on-year. But within that we have middle-class parents and young professionals growing in terms of the products and services they are buying from us. 'These are primarily middle-class parents sending their kids to private schools or young professionals learning English as they want to become part of the global economy. And its a similar story in China. Pearson will also produce more digital publications. Last year the publisher sold the Financial Times newspaper, along with its 50 per cent stake in The Economist. In January Pearson announced plans to axe 4,000 jobs from its global workforce. Fallon said it had been a tough year, as Pearson announced that it had written down the value of its US business by 282million. It made a loss of 404million, compared with a profit of 348million for 2014, and sales for the year fell by 2 per cent to 4.4billion. Advertisement Londoners, commuters and tourists are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the capital's 15billion railway line but while Crossrail offers a look into London's future it is also unearthing a window into its rich and colourful past. Since work began on the new line in 2009, a plethora of historical sites and artefacts have been discovered, from those representing the tedium of every day life such as worker's boots and irons chains - to monumental discoveries like a moated Tudor manor at Stepney Green or a mass grave of plague victims underneath Liverpool Street. So far an army of 200 archaeologists has discovered 10,000 objects, spanning thousands of years, across 40 locations and with construction set to finish in 2018, there will no doubt be more. London is steeped in riverside heritage and a site excavated recently is of particular importance to the capital's once thriving industry on the River Thames. A slipway belonging to Thames Ironworks, a powerhouse of the British shipping industry in the 19th Century, is the latest site to excite archaeologists. Scroll down for video A key riverside heritage site discovered during recent Crossrail works was a slipway belonging to Thames Ironworks, a 19th Century shipping powerhouse, based in east London. Pictured, workers from the firm pose for a picture in its engineering workshop Mass grave: Two adult skulls lie next to each other on the archaeological excavation site at the Bedlam burial ground at Liverpool Street The burial site at Bedlam, under Liverpool Street, unearthed thousands of bodies buried on the land during the Great Plague of 1665 Launching ships from the Lea River and into the Thames, the company provided vessels for the Royal Navy as well as other military forces across the world, including those in Russia and Portugal. As well as introducing pension schemes and the eight-hour day for its workers, many of whom were based in the slums of east London, the firm also formed Thames Ironworks FC - nicknamed 'The Hammers' - who would later go onto be West Ham United. Speaking to the Financial Times, Daniel Harrison a senior archaeologist at Mola, the firm undertaking the work for Crossrail, said 'It was fantastic to stand on the slipway, which the slips had thundered down.' He added: 'Very little has happened on this site since the Thames Ironworks closed so it was good to see work back at Canning Town.' Perhaps one of the most significant finds during the mammoth Crossrail project so far was a mass burial ground at the old Bedlam asylum cemetery site last year. After initial excavation work, archaeologists found a grave holding bodies of victims from the Great Plague of 1665. It is believed the area was set up as an overflow cemetery to help surrounding parishes to cope with the abundance of bodies filling the city's graveyards, during the devastating Black Death. Pictured, skeletons belonging to an adult and child lay side by side in the mass grave at Bedlam. Parishes were devastated by the Black Death and it was common for families to be wiped out at the same time. Pictured right, Roman horse shoes found among the buried ruins The Black Death victims were stumbled upon at the Bedlam site, pictured, after initial excavation work on the cemetery was carried out After painstaking research led by Crossrail's team of archaeologists, the names and identities of more than 5,000 people in the Bedlam grave (pictured, a skull is excavated there) were found - including a former lord mayor of London, infamous criminals and political activists It is believed the bodies, pictured, were dumped at Bedlam cemetery because it was used as overflow cemetery by other parishes to deal with the influx of dead bodies caused by the devastating effect of the Black Death After painstaking research led by Crossrail, the names and identities of more than 5,000 people in the grave were found, with a former lord mayor of London, a notorious criminal and political activists among those on the list. The names include Sir Ambrose Nicholas, who was lord mayor of London in 1575, and Dr John Lamb (also known as Lam or Lambe), an astrologer and advisor to the First Duke of Buckingham. Like many of those dumped in the grave it is believed Dr Lamb met a less than pleasant end. Records suggest he was stoned to death by an angry mob outside a theatre in 1628, following allegations of rape and black magic. Roman remains were also found at the Bedlam site, including this skeleton, alongside pottery and other signs of ancient life in London While the main finds of the Bedlam site were human remains, coins were also found. The Roman coin pictured is believed to date back to around AD130 and depicts the Emperor Hadrian Treasure: The excavation projects first piece of gold was a 16th century Venetian coin, pictured, which was most likely worn as a pendant While once their status may have set them apart from common folk, the bodies of the rich and infamous were found among those of tortured former patients of Bethlem Royal Hospital, thought to have been the world's first mental asylum. Bethlem, whose name quickly became pronounced Bedlam by Londoners, was founded in 1247 by Simon FitzMary, a wealthy former Sheriff of London, as a priory dedicated to St Mary of Bethlem. By 1403, the majority of its patients were lunatics. Others suffered from epilepsy, learning disabilities and dementia. Speaking last year, Jay Carver, lead archaeologist at Crossrail, said the mass grave offered an insight into our capital's eventful history. He said: 'This research is a window into one of the most turbulent periods of London's past. More than half a million passengers a day are estimated to use Crossrail when it launches in December 2018, pictured an artist's impression Crossrail has cost 15billion to create and it is believed that the new line will increase London's rail passenger capacity by 10 per cent. Pictured, workmen look on as a tunnel machine breaks through into the east end of Crossrail's Liverpool Street station Pictured, the Queen unveils the new Crossrail roundel sign for the 'Elizabeth Line'. The service is set to open with 200 metre-long trains 'These people lived through civil wars, the Restoration, Shakespeare's plays, the birth of modern industry, plague and the Great Fire. It is a real privilege to be able to use Europe's largest construction project to uncover more knowledge about this fascinating period of history. 'Our heartfelt thanks go to the volunteer researchers, who have contributed immensely to Crossrail's legacy.' As well as bodies from the Great Plague, Roman remains were also discovered underneath Liverpool Street with a collection of ancient skulls found alongside various examples of pottery from the period. Other finds, arguably more pleasing to the eye, included Roman coins, one from around AD130 depicting the Emperor Hadrian, and the projects first piece of gold a 16th century Venetian coin, which archaeologists believe was most likely worn as a pendant due to a hole at its rim. More than half a million passengers a day are estimated to use Crossrail, renamed the Elizabeth line after the Queen, when it opens in December 2018 and bosses say it will increase London's rail passenger capacity by 10 per cent. Two former Republican lawmakers in Michigan were charged with felony misconduct in office after their extramarital affair snowballed into a political scandal. The affair emerged after state representative Todd Courser told his aide, Benjamin Graham, to send out a story about him having sex with a male prostitute because he feared video proof of his relationship with colleague Cindy Gamrat would be made public. Courser faces three counts of misconduct in office, and one charge of perjury, while Gamrat faces two charges of misconduct Scroll down for video Republican state representative Todd Courser (left) was having an extramarital affair with colleague Cindy Gamrat (right). He concocted a bizarre plot to cover up their relationship by asking an aide to circulate a story about him sleeping with a male prostitute The charges were filed Friday in Ingham County District Court. The misconduct in office charges could land them in jail for a maximum penalty of five years in prison, along and a maximum $10,000 fine each. Courser's perjury charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said: 'When you're elected to serve in any public office, you receive a special responsibility from the people. It's called trust. It's called judgment. It's called honesty. 'But Representatives Courser and Gamrat, sadly, failed to serve their constituents in an honorable fashion. And worse yet, we allege ... that they broke the law.' The affair emerged last summer after Graham, who worked as an aide to both Courser and Gamrat, was fired in July. Both lawmakers are married; Courser has four children while Gamrat is the mother-of-three. Graham gave The Detroit News a secret audio recording of Courser demanding that he send an email about him getting caught with a male prostitute behind a Lansing nightclub to 'inoculate the herd,' an apparent reference to Courser's conservative supporters. The aide said the plot was unethical and showed a 'callous lack of respect' for the public, according to the investigation. The email was intended to make his affair with Gamrat appear less believable and allow Courser to claim he had been blackmailed. After Graham refused to do as he was told, Courser then sent the email himself to hundreds of Republicans, and called Gamrat 'a tramp'. He said he was under pressure due to anonymous text messages, later revealed to be sent by Gamrat's husband Joe, who threatened to expose the affair if Courser didn't resign. The investigation said Gamrat was aware of the email, contrary to her assertions. Courser resigned on September 11, hours before he was likely to be kicked out of the GOP-led House. Gamrat was formally expelled from the House the same day. Both tried to make a political comeback by running in special Republican primaries for their seats, but lost last November. According to Schuette's office, the two freshman lawmakers and self-proclaimed social conservatives engaged 'in a pattern of corrupt misconduct while holding office.' Courser (right), who resigned in September, faces three felony charges of misconduct and one charge of perjury, while Gamrat (left) is charged with two counts of misconduct. She was formally expelled from the House of representatives In addition to his male prostitute plot, Courser received two additional misconduct charges. Another charge alleges that he lied to Michigan House of Representatives investigators as the scandal unfolded. Courser received a third charge for allegedly authorizing a staffer to forge the lawmaker's signature on proposed House bills. Gamrat is charged with lying to investigators as they probed for potential misconduct, and also for authorizing a staffer to forge her signature on proposed legislation. Gamrat's attorney Michael Nichols said in a text message: 'I'm looking forward to reviewing the charge. I think they should get ready to prove their case.' Courser or his attorney did not respond to messages seeking comment. Michigan House Minority Leader Tim Greimel said House Speaker Kevin Cotter and other Republicans had wanted to sweep the misconduct under the rug by expelling them, but Democrats had demanded a criminal investigation. 'The results of their investigation prove that was the right move,' Greimel said. Schuette's office said the two lawmakers must surrender by Wednesday or they will be arrested. Omar el-Nayef (pictured), who went on the run more than 25 years ago having been convicted of murder in 1986, has been found dead at an embassy in Bulgaria A Palestinian murderer who went on the run more than 25 years ago has been found dead at an embassy in Bulgaria. Omar el-Nayef escaped from jail in 1990 after being convicted of killing 22-year-old Jewish student Eliahu Amedi four years earlier in Jerusalem. The 51-year-old is believed to have first gone to Palestinian territories before fleeing to Bulgaria, where he has lived since 1994. His body was yesterday found in the backyard of the Palestinian embassy in Sofia. Prosecutors initially said they had been alerted by the embassy 'about a man who died as a result of violence'. They later claimed there were no signs of violence. Palestinian sources alleged el-Nayef had been shot but officials have not yet confirmed how he died. Investigators are also looking into whether el-Nayef, also known as Omar Zayed, was pushed - or fell - from the fourth floor as well as other possible causes, prosecutors said. The embassy is not guarded by Bulgarian security forces and does not have CCTV. Ahmed Al-Mathbouh, the Palestinian ambassador to Bulgaria, said: 'Omar el-Nayef is a martyr. We believe that those who persecuted him could have carried out something against him.' Meanwhile, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), of which el-Nayef was a member, claimed in a statement that his family had labelled the death an 'assassination'. The statement also claimed that el-Nayef, originally from Jenin in the West Bank, had previously 'received threats'. An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman said it was studying the information. A policemen stands guard near the Palestinian embassy in Sofia on Friday following the death of the 51-year-old El-Nayef, who with convicted with two other men, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder but escaped in 1990 while being moved to hospital after he began a hunger strike. He first went to the Palestinian Territories before fleeing to an Arab country and then to Bulgaria, where he allegedly married and had three children. Bulgarian authorities had sought to detain him following an extradition request by Israel in late December. The action prompted el-Nayef to seek refuge at the Palestinian mission and led to a country-wide search after he could not be found at his Sofia address. Official Palestinian news agency WAFA said an investigation had been ordered by the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas into the circumstances of el-Nayef's death. It said: 'The president has condemned the crime in the strongest terms possible and has ordered the members of the [investigation] committee to travel immediately to Bulgaria to discover what happened.' Investigators are looking into whether el-Nayef, also known as Omar Zayed, was pushed - or fell - from the fourth floor as well as other possible causes, prosecutors said. Above, police outside the embassy El-Nayef was sentenced to life in prison for the murder but escaped in 1990 while being moved to hospital after he began a hunger strike. Above, two police vehicles outside the embassy Abbas's spokesman Nabil Abu Rdainah said the presidency would pursue the issue with Bulgarian authorities. Bulgarian chief prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov said there was evidence el-Nayef had been living at the embassy. He also said el-Nayef had been alive when medics arrived early on Friday but died shortly after. Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov, who returned from a visit to the Palestinian Territories and Israel late on Thursday, said el-Nayef's extradition had been brought up in meetings by both the Palestinian and Israeli authorities. An appeals court has ruled that a male Cleveland police officer fired for sending 8,000 sexually explicit texts to female crime victims should get his job back. Detective Vincent Lucarelli was fired in January 2013 after an internal affairs investigation found that he had committed numerous departmental violations that included the text messages which were sent to seven women, six of who were crime victims. The violations also included him having contact with women at their homes while on duty and inside his police car. An appeals court ruled on Thursday that Cleveland Police Dectective Vincent Lucarelli (pictured in 2013) who was fired for sending thousands of sexually explicit texts to female crime victims should get his job back In a 2 to 1 vote on Thursday, the 8th District Court of Appeals upheld a county court judge's ruling that Arbitrator Gary W Spring correctly decided that Lucarelli should be disciplined but not fired. While Spring found there was a 'mountain of misconduct' warranting harsh punishment, he said the city did not consider mitigating factors including statements from colleagues who praised Lucarelli, according to Cleveland.com. The arbitrator also noted that none of the women, which included two whose cases were reportedly open at the time, filed complaints regarding the detective's advances. He ordered the city to re-instate Lucarelli as soon as he is medically cleared for duty and did not award him any back pay, according to Cleveland.com. Spring also noted that the decision only applies to Lucarelli's case and should not set a standard for cases in the future. It is not clear when Lucarelli, a 12-year veteran officer who worked as a detective in the Fifth District, will return to work. Lucarelli (pictured left and in uniform, right) was fired in January 2013 after an internal affairs investigation found that he had committed numerous departmental violations that included the text messages which were sent to seven women Judge Tim McCormack wrote in a dissent that the arbitrator was wrong in overturning Lucarelli's firing because the officer betrayed the public's trust. 'The arbitrator's decision stands for the on-the-street reality that when a woman is victimized by violent crime in Cleveland, and reports it, she may also risk becoming sexual prey of a responder who, instead of protecting the injured, pursues sexual conquest,' McCormack said. Suspect appears to have declared himself a satanist in a Facebook post in Police Chief says suspect went to nurses station to say he was thirsty and wanted a drink of water before saying he killed Gary A Kentucky man who is a satanist named 'The Reverend' has been charged with killing a 71-year-old resident of a nursing home facility. Police said a man formerly named Robert Reynolds, 35, was arrested on a murder charge Thursday and was held without bond in Allen County Detention Center. They said he legally changed his name to The Reverend. According to WBKO, Scottsville Police Chief Jeff Pearson said: 'The gentleman who changed his name, his legal name is The Reverend, came to the nurses station to say he was thirsty and he wanted a drink of water. Scroll down for video The Reverend, formally known as Robert Reynolds, is seen in an undated photo provided by the Allen County Jail. He has been charged with killing 71-year-old Gary Glueck of the Scottsville Manor nursing facility in Kentucky Police say The Reverend went to the nurses station to say he was thirsty and ask for water before saying he killed Gary. Authorities say he used a cord from a lamp in the room to strangle the resident The state medical examiner's office determined Glueck, who was under Kentucky State Guardianship, died from strangulation. 'He said he had killed Gary. He used a cord from a lamp in the room to do the strangulation.' Allen County Coroner Darren E. Davis told the Daily News in Bowling Green that 71-year-old Gary Glueck was stabbed with a pen and had an electrical cord wrapped around his neck. Davis said the state medical examiner's office determined Glueck, who was under Kentucky State Guardianship, died from strangulation. Scottsville police Detective John Rose said the men had been in an argument, but did not say what about. It's unclear why The Reverend was being housed in the facility that appears to also care for mentally and physically disabled people as well as the elderly. Scottsville Police Chief Jeff Pearson (above) said the call about the murder came in around 4pm. Authorities say a nurse checked the room at 2pm and found no issues It's unclear why The Reverend was being housed at Scottsville Manor that appears to also care for mentally and physically disabled people along with elderly patients it appears as though the suspect has at least two Facebook pages and in a post from last month he allegedly declared himself a satanist. It also appears that he created his own religion, called Reynoldsianism, where 'the mission is great and we promote all Faith while dismissing none'. The Facebook page for the 1st Church of Reynoldsianism lists the Scottsville Manor facility address as to where the church is located. In addition, he also created a website, titled 'THE REVEREND: REYNOLDSIAN / EASY LISTENING SATANIC MUSIC', where he shares original songs centered around Satanism. The suspect has at least two Facebook pages and in a post from last month he declared himself a satanist He also wrote that he is the 'Spiritual Grandson of American Church of Satan Founder Anton LaVey' In a Facebook post from January 27, he shared a link to the Death with Dignity website and wrote: 'I'm Schizophrenic and there's no cure.' In a Facebook post from January 27, he shared a link to the Death with Dignity website and wrote: 'I'm Schizophrenic and there's no cure. Everyday folks here at the home have to do everything for me, but I need it. 'With no thought that life will ever improve why must I live this way. Solely the Dutch seem to understand thus far. Ave, The Reverend'. Scottsville Manor Administrator Lesa Keen said additional people are being brought in to reassure residents of their safety at the 40-bed facility. They did not comment about the murder or the suspect. Some residents in the town are uneasy, since this is the fourth murder in less than four months, where as from 2008 to 2014 only four happened in that period. 'Deaths, homicides. They're just hard to imagine, you just don't see a lot of that. We see it on TV, but not at home,' Scottsville resident Mark Meador told WBKO. Another resident wants to feel more safe at home and is planning to get his concealed carry license. 'It's very alarming. I've been here all my life, born and raised here. Never known anything like this. You know, and as a family, we feel insecure,' Scottsville resident William Bray told WBKO. More families have risen above the middle class, but may still be doing worse than they were in 2000 because median income has declined in all but four states North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming. According to a report by CNN Money, the shrinking middle class causes a concern to many economists regardless if people are rising about it or falling below it. And more income inequality may reduce the ability of children from low-income families to do better than their parents. More families have risen above the middle class, but may still be doing worse than they were in 2000 because median income has declined in all but four states. Pictured is a construction worker welding on a steel beam Economists argue that rising inequality harms the overall economy, as affluent households save more and spend less, according to CNN Money. It also prompts lower-income families to borrow more to sustain their own consumer spending. A Stateline analysis found that in 44 states, income has grown fastest for households in the top 20 per cent of earners. But Scott Winship, an economist at the conservative Manhattan Institute, said more American families enjoy middle-class living standards because of technology and more choices for all kinds of goods and services. He said that today's middle class 'remains the richest in American history' and if any states are in trouble, it's the eight where more people are falling out of the middle class than rising above it. Ohio's middle class has shrunk more than any other state after losing more than 350,000 manufacturing jobs since 2000, according to the Pew Charitable Trust. Ohio's health care industry is now the largest employer and pays less than factory jobs. Economists argue that rising inequality harms the overall economy and prompts lower-income families to borrow more to sustain their own consumer spending. Pictured is a man using a skew chisel as he makes an ash biscuit cutter Not only are more Americans shifting into the upper and lower classes (depicted in chart), but they are moving into the higher range of the upper class and the lower range of the lower class, which is another sign of growing income inequality The state's median income has decreased from $57,748 in 2000 to $49,308 in 2014. Will Cooley, a history professor at Walsh University in Ohio, told CNN Money that the loss of manufacturing jobs has had a huge impact on middle-class incomes. 'We're at the epicenter of the decline,' Cooley said. According to David Midland, who published a book on the hollowing out of the American middle class, 'unions are central to rebuilding the middle class'. In 44 states, income has grown fastest for households in the top 20 per cent of earners. Pictured are two utility workers checking underground pipes for a potential natural gas leak In the case of Ohio, many of the state's manufacturing jobs that disappeared were union jobs. New Mexico has the country's highest unemployment rate at 6.7 per cent and a poverty rate of 21.3 per cent. As other parts of the country have recovered from the recession, people from New Mexico have left the state for opportunities elsewhere, according to Adelamar Alcantara, a senior demographer at the University of New Mexico. He told CNN Money that once people hear the economy is good, 'that's when people start leaving'. MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry has walked off her eponymous show, citing frustrations with the network's treatment and a loss of control over the program's content. Harris-Perry, whose show airs on both Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to noon, is refusing to host this weekend after being sidelined for two weeks. In a letter to her colleagues published on Medium, she wrote that she was deemed 'worthless' by the network, and fought back by saying: 'I will not be used as a tool for their purposes. I am not a token, mammy, or little brown bobble head.' Melissa Harris-Perry is boycotting her eponymous show by refusing to host the MSNBC program this weekend She penned a letter to her colleagues, in which she aired her frustrations with being deemed 'worthless' by the cable network Andrew Lack, the chairman on NBC News and MSNBC, is reportedly trying to move the cable channel away from its liberal leanings In a later interview with the New York Times, Ms. Harris-Perry clarified her comments and took the focus off her race. She said: 'I don't think anyone is doing something mean to me because I'm a black person.' Harris-Perry wrote that her show was 'effectively and utterly silenced' during the presidential election, and that she refused to return this weekend as MSNBC had requested. She said: 'Now, MSNBC would like me to appear for four inconsequential hours to read news that they deem relevant without returning to our team any of the editorial control and authority that makes MHP Show distinctive.' The political commentator, author, and professor at Wake Forest University also shared that she had been staying in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, but failed to receive any communication from executives about contributing to MSNBC's coverage along the campaign trail. She wrote: 'While MSNBC may believe that I am worthless, I know better. I will not sell short myself or this show. 'I am not hungry for empty airtime. I care only about substantive, meaningful and autonomous work. When we can do that, I will return- not a moment earlier.' She wrote: 'I am not a token, mammy, or little brown bobble head,' but later clarified she didnt not think she was being treated because she is black An NBC News spokesman issued a statement that read: 'In this exciting and unpredictable presidential primary season, many of our daytime programs have been temporarily upended by breaking political coverage, including M.H.P. 'This reaction is really surprising, confusing and disappointing.' According to the New York Times, Andrew Lack, the new NBC News chairman, has been moving the network away from its liberal slant. The Melissa Harris-Perry Show, which aired in 2012, is known for its inclusion of underrepresented commentators in addressing issues like social justice and diversity. Harris-Perry said if MSNBC wanted to cancel the show, she would prefer that they do it outright rather than fading it out. It is unclear whether the show is being canceled, but it has been noted that Harris-Perry has removed the show from her Twitter bio. It was also reported in April that the 42-year-old and her husband, James Perry, owed about $70,000 after the IRS filed a tax lien. Harris Perry told the Winston-Salem Journal that she and her husband had paid more than $21,000 of the debt back, and that 'personal crises' had slowed them down. Attorneys for a 97-year-old cancer sufferer being kicked out of the San Francisco cottage she has lived in for more than six decades filed a lawsuit on Friday aimed at stopping the eviction. Marie Hatch and roommate Georgia Rothrock, 85, were handed a 60-day eviction notice this month by landlord David Kantz who says he wants to sell the home for his sons before the trust expires. Lawyer Nancy Fineman, for firm Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy who took on the case for free after hearing of Hatch's plight, branded Kantz's actions 'despicable'. Fineman told SF Gate: 'This is one of the most outrageous acts of greed against the elderly that Ive seen in my almost 30 years of being a lawyer.' Lawyers for Marie Hatch, a 97-year-old cancer sufferer from San Francisco, filed a lawsuit on Friday in an attempt to stop her being evicted from the home she has lived in for 66 years Hatch began living in a two-bed, one bath cottage in Burlingame, California, around 1950 with friend Vivian Kruse, who told her she could live in the property until she died That verbal contract was upheld by Kruse's daughter, Beatrice, and her granddaughter Pamela, but has now passed into the ownership of Pamela's estranged husband, David Kantz, who is trying to sell it Hatch says she first moved into the two-bed, one bath home 66 years ago after friend Vivian Kruse, who used to own the property, gave her a verbal promise that she could live there until she died. That deal was upheld by Kruse's daughter Beatrice, and then granddaughter Pamela until she died in 2006, passing ownership of the property to estranged husband Kantz, who is now trying to sell it. Fineman told ABC News: 'We think theres an enforceable oral contract and were taking steps to make sure that contract is enforced and Marie can live there for the rest of her life.' The lawsuit filed by Fineman alleges breach of contract, elder abuse and intentional infliction of emotional distress. According to Mercury News, Fineman is hoping to go to trial within 90 days, meaning Hatch will not have to vacate the property. Dailymail.com attempted to contact Michael Liberty, the attorney for Kantz, but has so far not received a response. Lawyers for Hatch, who took her case on pro bono, say Kantz is guilty of breach of contract, elder abuse and intentional infliction of emotional distress against the elderly woman Hatch and her roommate Georgia Rothrock, 85, say they have been suffering sleepless nights since being threatened with eviction, and have nowhere else to go if they are kicked out Lawyers for Kantz say he is 'not personally aware' of any verbal contract, and has to sell the $1.2million property to support his sons before the trust expires in July (pictured, Hatch's kitchen) Liberty previously said that Kantz has 'no personal knowledge' of any verbal agreement between Hatch and Kruse. In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Kantz said he inadvertently inherited the property when his wife was murdered by her boyfriend while the couple were divorcing. Now, he says he's duty-bound to sell the property for his sons before the trust expires in July. Kantz says the property, in the wealthy enclave of Burlingame, just south of downtown San Francisco, was purchased for just a few thousand dollars in the 1950s, but is now worth $1.2million, according to property site Zillow. As a gesture of goodwill, Hatch and Rothrock pay Kantz a combined $900 in rent each month, but privately the property could fetch upwards of $3,200 per month. The property was bought for just a few thousand dollars by Kruse's ancestors, but is now estimated to be worth $1.2million, with a rental value of $3,200 per month Kantz said: 'I didnt want to say, "Were going to just throw you out," but I thought I would give her plenty of notice. 'There is no one part of this whole thing I dont feel bad about. I feel bad for the elderly lady, I feel bad for my sons, I feel bad for me.' However, Hatch feels no sympathy for Kantz, calling his actions 'greedy', and adding: 'He has no choice? Huh. I dont believe that.' Fineman told ABC that Hatch has one son who lives in an apartment nearby, but the home is not suitable for an elderly woman. When asked where she'll go if she's kicked out of the cottage-style home, Hatch told CBS San Francisco: 'I havent the slightest idea. I dont know where Im going to go. What Im going to do. I really dont. Keeps me awake at night.' A Labrador mix puppy named Brody is making a 'miraculous' recovery at an animal hospital in Rock Hill, South Carolina, after being cruelly shot 18 times with a BB gun. The people who found the bleeding six-week-old dog outside an apartment complex on Sunday believed he had been stabbed, such was the severity of his wounds. Brody, as he was nicknamed, was rushed to Ebenezer Animal Hospital, where he has surprised staff by making an impressive recovery. 'You'd think that after going through what he went through, he'd be scared of people, but he's not scared of anyone. He's your typical little puppy -- silly, happy and so loving,' the hospital's owner, April Splawn, told ABC News. Road to recovery: Brody is just six weeks old but was shot 18 times with BB gun pellets, which were found lodged in his body. Thanks to Ebenezer Animal Hospital, he is getting better Project Safe Pet, an animal rescue organization the hospital works closely with, has even found a local family to adopt Brody, ABC reported Cozy: Brody the puppy is seen snuggled up next to a plush teddy bear toy When a veterinarian determined Brody's age to be just six weeks, it became too risky to use anesthesia and doctors had to hold off on surgery. 'Incredibly, the BB's didn't hit any vital organs or major areas,' Splawn said. Brody is making a 'remarkable recovery' and is even walking, Splawn added. 'He's really a miraculous little guy,' she said. Should his progress continue the way it is, Brody will be released by the end of the week. Project Safe Pet, an animal rescue organization the hospital works closely with, has even found a local family to adopt Brody, ABC reported. The family have a 10-year-old girl, who recently lost a pet and cried upon meeting Brody. Injuries: An X-ray of Brody the puppy shows BBs inside the young dog Incident: Police responded to an apartment complex after a utility worker reported a group of as many as 20 juveniles were playing with a black puppy. The officer found the dog was bleeding. The youngsters told him someone had shot and stabbed the puppy Abuse: A Labrador mix puppy named Brody is recovering at an animal hospital in Rock Hill, South Carolina, after the dog was shot 18 times with a BB gun Workers at the Ebenezer Animal Hospital at first question whether the puppy would survive. Dr. Jay Hreiz told told WSOC: 'There is no doubt here. This is one of the worst acts I've ever seen, and it's hard to think that someone could be capable of doing something to an animal this young and defenseless.' Adding to Fox 9, Hreiz said: 'He is eating, drinking, using the bathroom, and behaving just like a small 6 week old [sic] puppy would. 'The wounds have already started to heal quickly since their initial injuries. 'Brody is too young to surgically remove the BB's [sic] and may not need surgery if they stay inert and inactive (which they usually do). 'For now, we will keep a close eye on him as he recovers and make sure he stays comfortable and loved! Workers at the Ebenezer Animal Hospital dubbed the dog Brody. Dr. Jay Hreiz has said 'it's hard to think that someone could be capable of doing something to an animal this young and defenseless' Care: Ebenezer Animal Hospital posted this photo on Facebook Tuesday showing Brody lying down and wrote: 'Just in case you were wondering - Brody is doing very well!' 17-year-old De'Monte Ty'Juan Douglas, pictured, was arrested Tuesday afternoon 'It truly is remarkable that after being shot 18 times, none of the projectiles were life threatening.' Ebenezer Animal Hospital posted a photograph on Facebook Tuesday showing Brody lying down and wrote: 'Just in case you were wondering - Brody is doing very well! 'The most pressing issue in his schedule today is adequate nap time! #Justice4Brody.' The animal hospital also wrote on Facebook Tuesday that 'He's doing amazingly well and Project Safe Pet has already received hundreds of applications for adoption. 'As such, they will no longer be taking applications for this little man.' 'We will definitely provide updates on this little man throughout his stay at our hospital,' Ebenezer Animal Hospital said. Rock Hill police announced on Facebook Tuesday: 'Thanks to everyone who sent us tips and or offered a reward for the arrest of individuals involved in the animal cruelty abuse case. Authorities said the 14-year-old and 17-year-old Demonte Douglas were arrested Tuesday afternoon. The teens were charged with cruelty to animals. Police said in the Facebook post that: 'The 14 year old [sic] has been petitioned to juvenile court.' De'Monte Ty'Juan Douglas 'remained without bond' inside the Rock Hill city jail,The Herald reported. A federal judge has approved settlements totaling $3.6 million to the parents of a toddler who was severely injured when a flash grenade detonated in his playpen during a 2014 raid. The settlements were announced Friday by Mawuli Mel Davis, attorney for Alecia and Bounkham Phonesavanh. The judge signed off on three settlements previously reached with three Georgia counties: Rabun and Stephen counties for $1.65 million and $964,000 with Habersham. A settlement was also reached with the city of Cornelia for $1 million. 'We have worked diligently with our co-counsel to obtain the best possible result for Baby Bou Bou and his family,' Davis said in a statement. In 2014 Bounkham 'Bou Bou' Phonesavanh was 19 months old when he was severely injured when a flash grenade detonated in his playpen during a raid. A judge approved settlements totaling $3.6million to his parents on Friday The flash grenade left the toddler with serious injuries to his face and chest. Former Georgia sheriff's deputy Nikki Autry was found not guilty in December of charges stemming from her role in the 'no-knock' drug raid The family's attorney Mawuli Mel Davis said the money will 'not fix what happened or take away the nightmares.' Above Baby Bou Bou is pictured center along with mother Alecia and his father Bounkham Phonesavanh on December 6, 2015 'What we achieved will not fix what happened or take away the nightmares, but we hope it helps them move forward as a family.' Bounkham 'Bou Bou' Phonesavanh was 19 months old in 2014 when deputies serving a warrant tossed a flash bang device into the home where they thought a drug dealer was staying. The device landed in the toddler's playpen and left him with serious injuries to his face and chest. In December, former Georgia sheriff's deputy Nikki Autry was found not guilty of charges stemming from her role in the 'no-knock' drug raid. Autry was the only law enforcement officer charged in the raid. The family's lawyers claim they were still held responsible for the toddler's medical bills. A grand jury in October 2014 recommended no criminal charges be brought against the officers involved in the incident His parents, Alecia and Bounkham Phonesavanh, were staying with relatives temporarily at the time of the raid because their home in Wisconsin had recently burned down She was accused of providing false information to a judge to obtain a no-knock warrant for the raid. The Phonesavanh family, including four children, were staying with relatives temporarily at the time of the raid because their home in Wisconsin had recently burned down. Suspected crystal meth dealer Wanis Thonetheva, a relative of the family whom authorities had been looking for, was not in the house at the time of the raid but was arrested at a nearby home afterward. A Habersham County grand jury in October 2014 found that the investigation that led to the raid was 'hurried' and 'sloppy,' but recommended no criminal charges be brought against the officers involved. 'Since no one will be held criminally liable, the monetary victories will have to be used as a way to somewhat offset this unfortunate preventable tragedy,' said Marcus Coleman, activist and president of the Save OurSelves Organization. 'Considering that this family was still held responsible for the medical bills is itself a travesty.' For this book, I interviewed dozens of junior and senior officials, Permanent Secretaries and all the Cabinet Secretaries from the Blair years as well as successive junior ministers and Cabinet ministers. In total, I spoke to 200 people. Even the three most important public servants in his administration Robin Butler, Richard Wilson and Andrew Turnbull concluded that Blair was never a suitable guardian of the publics trust. Richard Wilson echoed the others. There are events during my period as Cabinet Secretary that make me shudder at what I remember because we had high hopes and we were so disappointed, he said. He promised so much but, in the end, so little was achieved. 'Immigration won't be an issue,' Blair told Jack Straw. 'Immigration is good for Britain' Jack Straw, Tony Blairs first Home Secretary, was worried. Isnt immigration the sort of issue which can blow up in our face? he asked the Prime Minister. Immigration wont be an issue, replied Blair. Immigration is good for Britain. All through his three terms of office, the PM never changed his mind. By the time he stepped down, over two million more migrants than the government expected had settled in Britain but he dismissed any concerns by claiming they were good for the economy. Anyone against free-flowing immigration was assumed to be a racist Tory, a view underpinned by the BBCs reluctance to debate the issue and endorsed by Labours promotion of multiculturalism. But what were the consequences? No one knew for sure, because at the outset, Blair never summoned ministers to discuss many migrants apparent preference for living in segregated communities. His silence, however, encouraged Muslims and Hindus to believe there was no need for them to integrate with the rest of society. As Sarah Spencer, an academic who influenced the government on immigration after 1997, admitted later: There was no policy for integration. We just believed the migrants would integrate. Even the 7/7 bombings in London by Islamist terrorists failed to rouse Blair to the danger. Instead of demanding the arrest of two Muslim preachers, who were advocating violence on the streets of London, he followed Jack Straws advice, who argued that the Muslim community must not be alienated. The only immigration issue that ever truly concerned Blair was the increasing flow of bogus asylum seekers, which after 1999 became an election issue. That problem was partially solved by sleight of hand. With his full connivance, more than 350,000 asylum-seekers were rapidly converted into economic migrants complete with work permits and rights to benefits. Despite Straw's concerns that it might be the kind of issue that could 'blow up in our faces' the PM (pictured with Straw in 2005) never changed his mind throughout his three terms in office The true story of how Labour not only lost control of immigration but actively encouraged it can only now be told thanks to detailed testimony from the civil servants and ministers who witnessed and participated in the hithero concealed twists and turns of the government. At the heart of the problem was Blairs complete lack of interest though this would come back to haunt him. He refused, for instance, to create a Cabinet committee dedicated to immigration or to appoint a specialist adviser until midway in his premiership. EAST EUROPEANS? DON'T WORRY HOW MANY COME HERE Tony Blairs brief in July 2002 to the new head of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), Bill Jeffrey, was characteristically confusing. Jeffrey should sharply reduce the number of illegal migrants and chase bogus students, said Blair. On the other hand, he added: Im all for good immigration. Jeffrey appeared to be unaware of managed migration and how controls had been relaxed under the guise of work permits. Home Secretary David Blunkett had reached an understanding with Blair about immigration. The two had discussed whether the citizens of eight European states (known as the A8 nations) due to become members of the EU in May 2004 should be allowed to work in Britain immediately. Other EU countries, including Germany, planned to delay such privileges for seven years. Initially, Blair was wary about lifting all restrictions on migrants from the new EU states. His misgivings were addressed during a trip to Warsaw, where his hosts in the British embassy described the virtues of allowing unlimited numbers of Poles into Britain. Lets be good Europeans, Blair was told by the Foreign Offices senior representative. Yes, he replied. We shouldnt worry about numbers. In London, the Treasurys Permanent Secretary Andrew Turnbull agreed. The Germans, he thought, were crazy to pass up the opportunity of employing hard-working East Europeans. The only concern was public opinion. People were alarmed by what some Blair aides called the immigration tinderbox. The solution, everyone agreed, was simple: they would just avoid mentioning numbers. Is this handleable? Blair asked. Yes, replied Blunkett. Its legal migration, which we can control. The truth, as both knew, was the opposite. Since the IND could not even guess at the numbers intending to come after their countries accession, Home Office officials seized upon a report produced by Christian Dustmann, of University College London. Dustmanns research for the EU estimated that only 13,000 Poles would arrive in 2004. (Between May 2004 and June 2007, 430,000 Poles applied to the Home Office Worker Registration Scheme. As the scheme is voluntary, the true figure is thought to be much higher). IND officials were dubious about Dustmanns investigation, but the reports academic label suppressed any controversy. We didnt spell it out because of fear of racism, Blunkett would later say. We were on the side of the angels. Unknown to the public, the angels in the government did not know how many foreigners would be coming into Britain or from which countries they would come. No civil servant was even asked to make an inspired guess. Advertisement Blair never discussed immigration in 1997, confirmed his first Cabinet Secretary Robin Butler, the most senior civil servant at Downing Street. I doubt if he ever thought about it. Inevitably, this set Labours tone on the issue. Ministers were warned by Downing Street not to mention immigration. Any doubts about this message were removed by the governments announcement soon after the election that it was introducing a Human Rights Bill. Suspect asylum seekers would be guaranteed the right to have their cases heard by a British judge. This was interpreted across the world as the beginning of a new tolerance. Straw told Tim Walker, the head of the Immigration and Nationality Department: Tonys not interested. Compounding the problem at the heart of government, Straw added he wasnt interested either. B Efore becoming Home Secretary, he had dismissed as racist Tory warnings that Britain was becoming a honeypot for Third World economic migrants, who were entering Britain as tourists and then claiming asylum. Yet the facts were against him: Home Office officials estimated that in 1995, asylum seekers had claimed more than 200 million in benefits yet only 5 per cent were genuine refugees. The Tories had tried to stop this opportunism, not least by admitting asylum seekers only from the small number of countries recognised as tyrannies. This didnt wash with Straw. According to him, all asylum seekers arriving in Britain were genuinely fleeing from oppression and torture. His officials were instructed to expand the list of approved nations, so Nigerians and Afghans, among others, could also claim asylum. Meanwhile, Blairs attitude to immigration had filtered through to the immigration HQ in Croydon, where there was already a two-year backlog of 52,000 applications. Most, according to some officials, were riddled with lies. But they naturally assumed that Blair wanted all immigrants, including suspect asylum seekers, to be treated generously. Even failed applicants became entitled to benefits. And the promise of easy money spread round the world, bringing about a steep increase in asylum seekers. Why dont we stipulate that immigrants must speak English before we grant them British nationality? To make British nationality a prize? suggested the immigration chief, Tim Walker. No, Straw replied. In public, he was keen to show he wasnt an easy touch. There should be stronger controls at the borders, he told the Commons. Yet behind the scenes, he continued to make it easier for asylum seekers. And harder for officials. To add to the problems at immigration HQ in Croydon, the increase in applicants coincided with the loss of 1,000 jobs and the collapse of a new computer system. Officials were in despair. Thousands of Albanians and Iraqis, they told Straw, were now illegally entering the country by posing as Kosovan refugees. And they were blatant about it, having made no attempt to learn any known dialect used in Kosovo. To prove their point, officials set a group claiming to be Kosovan a test in which they were asked to identify well-known landmarks in Pristina, the capital. On the first day, all the Albanians posing as Kosovans were exposed as liars. On the second day, another group of Albanian suspects passed the test with flying colours. They had clearly been briefed by lawyers. Straws answer? With the support of Blair, he decided the best way to deter bogus applicants was by giving them food vouchers rather than cash. But he refused to acknowledge most asylum seekers were just seeking a better standard of living. Consequently, officials increasingly approved suspect applications rather than engage in endless appeals before judges whose interpretation of the new human rights law favoured bogus applicants. Publicly, the government spoke about stepping up deportations. In practice, there were insufficient staff to carry them out. As Croydon approached meltdown, deportations declined, the backlog increased and news of the chaos spread. The result? Hundreds of thousands more headed for Britain. The only amusing diversion, in the midst of this maelstrom, was Alastair Campbells call to the head of the immigration service: Are there any good news stories that we can use for the Sundays? No, but there were plenty of bad ones. Kent council was inundated by thousands of asylum seekers who had landed at Dover. When they were dispersed, locals protested that blocks of flats and even streets were becoming foreign territory. Sarah Spencer, an academic who influenced the government on immigration after 1997, admitted later: There was no policy for integration. We just believed the migrants would integrate' Blair continued to ignore any problems. Instead, he announced he was making it easier for foreign students to study in Britain. This came as a surprise to immigration officials. They warned Straw it amounted to an invitation to bogus students to enrol in sham language schools and then remain after their visas had expired. Their prophecy, after an additional 75,000 students arrived the following year, duly materialised. As migration numbers mounted, Straw realised he had to do something. So, in 1999, a law was passed that outlawed bogus marriage, fined lorry drivers for smuggling in migrants and slightly reduced benefits for asylum seekers. This might have improved matters, but for one thing. The very same law strengthened the rights of asylum seekers by allowing them to stay in Britain until theyd exhausted every possible appeal. CLUELESS STRAW'S FATAL FLAW One fatal and profound decision made by Jack Straw was the removal of a regulation called the primary purpose rule. Under this, British Indians and Pakistanis were prevented from entering into bogus marriages with people on the sub-continent as a ruse to bring them to the UK. For years, this had kept out many suspect fiancees and members of extended families. But Straw had a special interest in repealing it: many of his Blackburn constituents came from the sub-continent. At least one official tried to persuade him he was wrong. Marriage in India, she told him, is an important part of the economy. Families will pay large sums to arrange for their daughters to enter Britain, not least so they can follow. But Straw was dismissive, and Blair agreed the rule is a mistake and should be removed. Wouldnt that open the floodgates? Not at all, Straw told his officials in 1997, predicting that only 10,000 immigrants would arrive as a result. In fact, more than 150,000 came to Britain from non-EU countries in 1998 a rise of 100,000. By the following year, the figure was 200,000 and it kept rising. Advertisement Soon, there were lawyers patrolling Heathrow. Clients hot off the plane were assured of lengthy delays before there was any chance of them being sent back. Again, the good news about tolerant Britain spread, encouraging Kurds, Tamils and Sri Lankans to enter as tourists before claiming asylum. At the same time, migrants from the Balkans and Afghanistan headed for Calais, where they boarded lorries to be smuggled into the country. Others in their tens of thousands destroyed their identity documents, making it impossible for officials to deport them. Before long, there were tens of thousands of new asylum applications. Marriage rackets were flourishing and lawyers were schooling applicants on what to tell immigration officers. By June 1999, the backlog of asylum applications had risen to 125,000, compared with 52,000 when Labour came to office, while legal immigration had soared to 360,000. As Blair ruefully admitted years later, Britain was becoming known as the asylum capital of Europe. At least the increasing media outcry made him realise he needed to do something. Headlines were a language he understood. According to David Omand, Straws most senior civil servant: If Downing Street was irritated by the Home Offices failure to produce the results Blair wanted, a chain would be yanked, and the media reports from Alastair Campbells briefing signalled that Straws stock had fallen. While the Home Secretary shouldered the blame, immigration was finally if only occasionally being discussed in No 10. But Blair remained unconvinced that government policies were at fault. The reason for the upsurge in asylum seekers, he claimed, was the improving economy and our failure to make ID cards compulsory. At no stage did he ask Omand probing questions about the serious problems faced by officials or the terrible mess in Croydon. Like Straw, Blair was careful never publicly to mention the rising number of immigrants from India and Pakistan who could now enter Britain. Nor did he consider how to provide housing, schools and healthcare for an additional 300,000 people arriving a year. Least of all did either of them question whether the immigrants would have any effect on the lives of the British working class. (Nine years later, a report by the Migration Advisory Committee found that 23 British workers had been displaced for every 100 foreign-born workers employed here.) Could this chicanery get any worse? It did with the appointment of Barbara Roche as Junior Immigration Minister. Blair refused to create a Cabinet committee dedicated to immigration or to appoint a specialist adviser until midway in his premiership. Pictured: Blair being interview in February 2016 Blairs only instruction to her was to deport bogus asylum seekers. But Roche wasnt playing. In her first conversation with a senior immigration official, she was candid: I think asylum seekers should be allowed to stay. Removal takes too long, and its emotional. Even the word bogus, she maintained, created a negative feeling. It was clear Roche wanted more immigrants to come to Britain, recalled Stephen Boys-Smith, the new head of the immigration directorate. She didnt see her job as controlling entry, but by looking at the wider picture in a holistic way she wanted us to see the benefit of a multicultural society. Jack Straw never openly contradicted Roche it simply wasnt worth the risk of alienating the Labour Party. So she set to work on a speech, in which she outlined the advantages of reducing controls to immigration and portrayed asylum seekers as skilled labour. She didnt discuss what she was going to say with Straw. He wasnt interested. And nor was Blair, she said. [Blair] didnt understand the process and wasnt interested in the detail . . . He was shallow. He had no grasp of immigration policy. There was no policy. Blair's only instruction to his new junior immigration minister Barbara Roche was to deport bogus asylum seekers In her speech, Roche argued for more work permits for migrants, skating over the fact that the number of permits had already risen to 40,000 compared with 25,000 when Labour entered office. That way, she claimed, economic migrants would no longer have to pose as asylum seekers. Roche described them as the entrepreneurs, the scientists, the high-technology specialists who make the global economy tick. She refused to be tied down on how many more would arrive as a direct result of her policy. Setting target figures, she said, would be a foolish mistake. Once Roche had finished her draft, she showed it to Straw, but he made no comment. Finally, the speech was sent to No 10 for approval. At this point, Charlie Falconer, minister at the Cabinet Office, spotted that Roche was using economic migrants as a smokescreen for increasing immigration. The speech, he said, should not be delivered. His warning was ignored so the pro-immigration lobby assumed Blair endorsed Roches views. The speech was duly delivered to a select gathering of the converted. Well done, Barbara, Blair told Roche soon afterwards. Despite its controversial content, her speech passed relatively unnoticed. But migrants quickly grasped its importance and passed the news on to their friends and family across the world. Labour was letting more people in, they told them, and unlike other European countries Britain would provide benefits and state housing. Few in Whitehall had understood the implications, so there was no discussion about providing additional homes, schools or hospitals. One of Roches legacies was hundreds more migrants camped in squalor in Sangatte, outside Calais, where they tried to smuggle themselves onto lorries. News about the new liberalism and in particular the welfare benefits now began attracting Somalis whod previously settled in other EU countries. Although there was no historic or cultural link between Somalia and Britain, more than 200,000 came. Since most were untrained and would be dependent on welfare, the Home Office could have refused them entry. But they were granted exceptional leave to remain. As ever more asylum seekers continued to arrive, Blair remained mute about the large increase of immigrants. Even the 7/7 bombings in London by Islamist terrorists failed to rouse Blair to the danger. Instead of demanding the arrest of two Muslim preachers, who were advocating violence on the streets of London, he followed Jack Straws advice, who argued that the Muslim community must not be alienated After the 2001 election, Straw was replaced by David Blunkett, who complained hed inherited a mess. The previous year, there had been 97,000 asylum applications, another record number. Only 10,185 were genuine. Yet only 4,870 were deported. That clearly needed attention. But Blunkett neither discussed nor reduced immigration of family members from the Indian sub-continent, then running at 210,000 a year. He decided to admit asylum seekers as skilled migrants. Blair approved the ruse, giving Blunkett the go-ahead to issue 150,000 work permits in 2002. Still the numbers rose. In 2001, Blunkett was told that over 500,000 migrants (compared with the governments original estimate of 100,000) would have arrived by the end of the year. Fortunately for him, Blair didnt care about the numbers he was only concerned to announce the deportation of more bogus asylum seekers. We need to build 15 detention centres, Blunkett replied. But Chancellor Gordon Brown would approve only three. Get rid of the voucher system, Blair suggested, pointing out it was disliked by both trade union officials and the migrants. Officials scratched their heads. The introduction of vouchers was thought to be responsible for deterring around 100,000 a year. But Blunkett agreed the vouchers should go. Quietly, the Home Secretary set to work. With Blairs agreement, he reduced the backlog of asylum applications by approving the entry of 50,000 more people. I want people to come here freely and I want them to work, Blunkett told a civil servant. Immigrants, Blair said, should continue to enter Britain in a managed fashion, but bogus asylum seekers were a real problem Blair agreed, but he was wary of public opinion. Dont mention the advantages of immigration in public, he cautioned ministers because they wont even want that. The electorate, he said, should be told only about the efforts to stop bad immigration. Naturally, Blair didnt mention that the latest amnesty for 50,000 asylum seekers had been quietly extended to include more than 150,000 foreigners living here illegally. This threw up some anomalies that were almost beyond parody such as the granting of a work permit to a one-legged Romanian who described himself as a roofer. Still more migrants came. (Numbers peaked at 591,000 in 2010, five times higher than when Blair came to power.) Then four Algerian asylum seekers all living on benefits were arrested in London and Manchester in 2003 for making a bomb containing the deadly poison ricin. Smarting from the resulting outcry, Blair called Blunkett. Ive made a commitment on BBC TV about cutting down the number of asylum seekers, he said. I hope you understand. What! shouted Blunkett. By how much? By half within six months, replied Blair. With that, he ended the conversation. As so often, the Prime Minister had deployed an empty promise to defuse a problem he had no idea how to solve. Or, as Blunkett put it, he was governing Britain via the media, and he thought he could wave a magic wand and [make things] happen. Blunkett instructed immigration HQ to fast-track yet more asylum applications and speed up the approval of work permits. His decisions remained unanounced, but the public had ceased to trust Labour on immigration. By the start of Blairs third term, research revealed that 85 per cent of the electorate condemned the governments policy. Yet Tony Blair continued to pursue his policy regardless. Immigrants, he said, should continue to enter Britain in a managed fashion, but bogus asylum seekers were a real problem. The judge: Jason Dunn-Shaw's name appeared on a string of critical comments on a local newspaper website A judge is embroiled in a bizarre controversy after his web account was used to attack critics who ridiculed him for letting a dangerous driver walk free from court. Jason Dunn-Shaw, 51, said he had no involvement in a broadside posted on a newspaper website using his log-in and directed at anonymous commentators who were calling for the motorist to be jailed. In a series of posts one man was called a donkey and others stupid as the author said too many vindictive people published an opinion without thinking things through. Barristers working at Canterbury Crown Court said the mysterious exchanges have been the subject of an explosion of rumours and speculation for many weeks. But last night Mr Dunn-Shaw, a prosecutor and defence barrister who was once a member of one of the countrys most prestigious chambers, said he was not behind them and pointed the finger of blame at his male partner. I will tell it plainly, I have an account, I do use that, but I dont comment on my own cases, it is likely to be my partner. I dont comment on my own cases as a matter of principle, he said. It is simply more convenient to post comments on the one username but you can be reassured it is not me. It would be quite improper. The hot-headed exchange began within hours of the local paper posting a report online about a mother-of-three who admitted driving dangerously during a hearing overseen by Mr Dunn-Shaw who was sitting as a recorder, or part-time judge. He gave the woman a two-year suspended jail sentence for her unplanned and momentary criminality and said her actions, which left two people seriously injured, should not affect her children. The article provoked an outspoken reaction in the newspapers online comments with some readers suggesting women were dealt with more leniently, and one saying children were a get out of jail free card. By 6.18pm that day a message was posted on the website using Mr Dunn-Shaws username to defend the sentence, saying: Locking her up could never have put the poor victims back to where they had been before. It would only have caused more misery to her children. Should her momentary stupidity damage their lives? The judge had all kind of matters to balance. There are too many vindictive people who always post without thinking things through. But it only stoked the row, and other readers gave hundreds of thumbs down responses, leading the author to write: Why all the thumbs down? Are you too stupid to make a sensible comment? Shortly before 11pm, the poster wrote: I am horrified at the hatred in the posts here. How many of you have posted about cruelty to children? But now, because you hate the mother you are gleeful at the prospects of her children suffering. It is a disgusting display. The lover: Martin Boyd, pictured in 1993, was an active member of the Soho social scene In a further twist, Mr Dunn-Shaws account was used again two months later to support another part-time judge after she allowed an elderly carer who had stolen 57,000 to walk free from the same court. This time the poster criticised someone who said she should have been thrown in jail, writing: Do you have the first idea I mean the very first idea what you are talking about? The author signed off, saying: And for those who will mark this down, give some rational explanation rather than just banging a warty finger on your keyboard. The code of judicial conduct says judges must avoid situations which question their integrity and expose them to charges of hypocrisy. While they are entitled to freedom of expression, they must conduct themselves in a way which preserves the dignity of judicial office. Furthermore, judges are encouraged not to comment on cases publicly, with former Chief Justice Lord Woolf emphasising the important convention that they do not discuss individual cases. Mr Dunn-Shaw, who lives with his partner in Margate, Kent, read law at the University of Westminster and was a member of 6 Kings Bench Walk for 20 years before setting up on his own. In a tongue-in-cheek online profile, he describes himself as a Defence Barrister. Polymath. Iconoclast. Unpretentious. Mr Dunn-Shaws boyfriend is Martin Boyd, 56, a former actor and model. Photos on social media show he was an active member of the Soho social scene around legendary drag queen Ruby Venezuela, the director of cabarets performed nightly at Madame Jojos club. More recently Mr Dunn-Shaw and Mr Boyd are regulars at pubs, bars and restaurants in the Margate area. Mr Dunn-Shaw has used the same username for publicly visible accounts on YouTube and a niche cigar smoking forum. Asked why his partner made the comments, Mr Dunn-Shaw replied: It is for him to say what he likes but the reality is he gets frustrated with people saying things which are not the case or do not reflect reality. That is the whole principle. If the comment goes on there and it does not contradict or affront any of the rules of the site. Jumped on report which estimated only 13,000 Poles would arrive in 2004 Initially, Blair was wary about lifting all restrictions on migrants from the new EU states Tony Blairs brief in July 2002 to the new head of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), Bill Jeffrey, was characteristically confusing. Jeffrey should sharply reduce the number of illegal migrants and chase bogus students, said Blair. On the other hand, he added: Im all for good immigration. Jeffrey appeared to be unaware of managed migration and how controls had been relaxed under the guise of work permits. Home Secretary David Blunkett had reached an understanding with Blair about immigration. The two had discussed whether the citizens of eight European states (known as the A8 nations) due to become members of the EU in May 2004 should be allowed to work in Britain immediately. Other EU countries, including Germany, planned to delay such privileges for seven years. Initially, Blair was wary about lifting all restrictions on migrants from the new EU states. His misgivings were addressed during a trip to Warsaw, where his hosts in the British embassy described the virtues of allowing unlimited numbers of Poles into Britain. Lets be good Europeans, Blair was told by the Foreign Offices senior representative. Yes, he replied. We shouldnt worry about numbers. In London, the Treasurys Permanent Secretary Andrew Turnbull agreed. The Germans, he thought, were crazy to pass up the opportunity of employing hard-working East Europeans. The only concern was public opinion. People were alarmed by what some Blair aides called the immigration tinderbox. The solution, everyone agreed, was simple: they would just avoid mentioning numbers. Is this handleable? Blair asked. Yes, replied Blunkett. Its legal migration, which we can control. The truth, as both knew, was the opposite. Since the IND could not even guess at the numbers intending to come after their countries accession, Home Office officials seized upon a report produced by Christian Dustmann, of University College London. Dustmanns research for the EU estimated that only 13,000 Poles would arrive in 2004. However, his misgivings were addressed during a trip to Warsaw, where his hosts in the British embassy described the virtues of allowing unlimited numbers of Poles into Britain. By 2007, at least 430,000 had arrived (Between May 2004 and June 2007, 430,000 Poles applied to the Home Office Worker Registration Scheme. As the scheme is voluntary, the true figure is thought to be much higher). IND officials were dubious about Dustmanns investigation, but the reports academic label suppressed any controversy. We didnt spell it out because of fear of racism, Blunkett would later say. We were on the side of the angels. The mother of a nine-year-old boy who was suspended after being the victim of bullying says school's no tolerance policies lead to victim blaming. Jessie Reid went to pick her son Jamieson up from Musgrave State School on the Gold Coast last week only to find him pinned down and copping punches from another child. The mother-of-four who was in the family van with her husband, JJ, at the time told Daily Mail Australia the incident was hard to watch. Jamieson Reid (pictured) was suspended from school after hitting a bully who had him pinned to the ground His brother Lincoln (pictured left) was with him when he was attacked by the boy - but was not asked to provide a statement from staff who investigated the incident 'Jamieson said the boy called him gay and then kicked him to the ground,' Mrs Reid said. 'I saw the child holding him down by his right shoulder and hitting him. 'Then Jamieson (who is left handed) hit back before the other child held him down more and punched him three times in the head. 'The other boy was much larger than Jamieson it was awful to watch and although the whole thing only lasted 30 seconds it felt much longer.' Both children were suspended from school for two days after the incident. 'The principal told us they have a ''zero violence policy'' which meant both children were to be suspended from the school. 'She said she conducted a thorough investigation which showed that Jamieson threw the first punch she wouldn't even take our side of the story and we saw the incident from the car. 'She also didn't ask my other son Lincoln what happened and he was standing next to Jamieson,' she said. The boy's mother - Jessie Reid - (pictured with her four children) saw the incident unfold from her car She says her son who is a book lover who prefers learning to interacting with people was called gay and kicked to the ground Mrs Reid sent her son who 'loves school' anyway. 'I wasn't going to punish my son for being beaten up and not let him be able to do something he enjoyed which is going to school. 'He told me the suspension was ''unfair'' and I believe he is entitled to his education so I sent him.' The mother says the first day he was sent the principal called her to let her know he couldn't be there. 'She called and said ''your child is trespassing I will have him arrested'' I said you can't have a child arrested and he stayed at school. 'The next day I sent him to school again and they called my sick, elderly inlaws (listed as the emergency contacts) to come and pick Jamieson up. 'They told them he had 'just' been involved in a fight and needed to be picked up immediately. 'Luckily they came past our house first and we told them not to pick him up, we were taking a stand. 'The school tried to punish him by isolating him but he doesn't mind being alone as long as he can do his school work.' Mrs Reid said the bullying incident was an isolated attack on her son. 'We did have some problems with the same child at vacation care but the children were not really loving it so we just took them out it was nothing physical though,' she said. The mother is angry and is chasing up the incident with the Department of Education. She says he hit his attacker who then pinned him down harder and punched him in the head three times 'It is rife,' she said. 'If you can victim blame you can get away with the school not getting a bad reputation.' The suspension was supposed to be held on Thursday and Friday but the Reid's say they only received a suspension notice at 2.50pm on Friday afternoon. Mrs Reid says her children moved to the school in October last year and her son has 'never been in trouble before'. She has described her son as 'into books and reading and writing who 'prefers books and learning to people' so spends much of his school lunchtime at the library. She doesn't want other children to be victims of the zero violence policy which is why she has spoken out. The young boy was suspended for his part in the violence as the school has a zero tolerance policy A department of Education spokesperson says the incident was dealt with as outlined in their policy, Kidspot reported. 'The Musgrave Hill State School principal thoroughly investigated this matter. Consequently, the students involved were suspended in line with the schools Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students,' the spokesperson said. Oscar Yildiz, from Bully Zero Foundation Australia has also backed the zero tolerance approach. 'If someone is hitting a child, they should move away immediately and get themselves out of danger.' Mrs Reid reported the incident to the police. Jamieson was not badly injured as a result of the fight. on Thursday as giant gold statues were unveiled and placed at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood Harvey Weinstein (pictured), co-founder of the film studio The Weinstein Company, think people shouldn't boycott the Oscar's this year because host Chris Rock will say what everyone's been thinking Harvey Weinstein, co-founder of the film studio The Weinstein Company, says anyone boycotting the Oscars shouldn't. He's sure that Chris Rock, who's hosting the 88th Academy Awards on Sunday, will say what everyone has been thinking. 'I just can imagine Chris Rock's opening remarks. 'If anybody's planning on boycotting the Oscars, don't, because Chris Rock is gonna annihilate every one of us in the first 20 minutes of the show, and it will be well worth watching. 'It will be an Oscars to remember,' Weinstein said on the podcast 'Awards Chatter'. Weinstien's only film nominated this year is 'The Hateful Eight's score by Ennio Morricone, but he's also rooting for his 'buddy' Leonardo DiCaprio to snag his first-ever Oscar for The Revenant. That film, like the last two best picture Oscar winners 12 Years a Slave and Birdman was guided to fruition by New Regency president/CEO Brad Weston, who used to be co-president of The Weinstein Co.'s Dimension Films division, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The media mogul said he sympathizes with the frustrations of the people calling for a boycott of the Oscars over the #OscarsSoWhite controversy. He said he thinks the people planning the boycott have made a difference but he does not support their ultimate goal. Scroll down for video Chris Rock (pictured) is the host of the 88th Academy Awards to be held on Sunday for his second time Weinstein predicts it is likely Rock will address the race issues plaguing this year's selection of nominees Preparations are well underway at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California for this year's Academy Awards 'It's that voice, actually, that gets people motivated,' he said on the podcast, 'Because you don't want the boycott. 'That's how people use their personal power to force change. 'So I look at that and go, "Great", because everybody's thinking about that now. 'I thought about it a couple of years ago because it had bugged me over the years that the films that I did about ethnic diversity never got anything. 'So I said, "I'm gonna stack the deck for myself: I'm gonna put out 'The Butler', 'Mandela' and 'Fruitvale Station', in the same year," okay? We got one nomination for U2 out of three movies. Weinstein's films are not nominated for Best Picture this year, but one of his productions 'The Hateful Eight' is nominated for best score The producer also said he's coming out to support his 'buddy' Leonardo DiCaprio in hopes he wins his first Oscar Weinstein also went on to say he doesn't think the leaders of the Academy are handling the situation correctly 'They have their hearts in the right places': Ultimately, the Oscars are trying to change its ways, but Weinstein says studios and distributors are the real issue when it comes to diversifying Hollywood 'Was race the driving consideration? 'I have no idea, but it has to make you think.' he said. On Thursday, preparations were underway at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, for Sunday's show. Crews unveiled and placed giant golden statues along the red carpet. As the exterior designs were laid out at the theatre, Weinstein remarked that what is going on on the inside was partially to blame for this year's controversy. Cheryl Boone Issacs, the Academy's president, and Dawn Hudson, the Academy's CEO, and the people who are currently on the Academy Board have handled the issue incorrectly, according to Weinstein. 'They have their hearts in the right places,' he said. But revoking voting privileges from 'inactive' members, people who have retired from the industry, is the wrong way to handle the problem, he said. Weinstein places the blame on studios and distributors, more than members, for the lack of diversity at the Oscars. He said because members can only pick from a limited number of diverse options each awards season, there is little room for the Oscars to grow. The Oscar preparation is well underway for the show, which airs on Sunday at 8.30pm Eastern Time and 5.30pm Pacific Time. A person takes a selfie with an Oscar statuette on the red carpet during preparations for Sunday's show The Nazis kidnapped 300,000 children from the territories they invaded to be raised as racially perfect Aryan children. Pictured, Heinrich Himmler 'examines' a child in 1941 The Nazis stole Halina Bukowiecka in 1941 when she was just seven. After her mother died of pneumonia three years earlier and her father had gone to fight for the Resistance, Halina had lived with her grandmother in the German-occupied Polish city of Lodz. Her grandmothers application for child benefits from the citys Youth Office was to have disastrous consequences it meant the authorities now had Halina on their radar. One day, Halina and her grandmother were ordered to attend the Youth Office for a health check. There was no reason for suspicion, at least not until the doctors started taking measurements of Halinas face and head, and noted her blonde hair. Halina was allowed home but was ordered to return a few days later, when her grandmother was told that Halina was being temporarily transferred to an orphanage. No reason was given and her grandmother was told she had no choice but to obey. The health check was, in fact, a racial examination and Halina had been deemed racially suitable to be taken from her native Poland to be Germanised. What followed were years of hell, from which she would never psychologically recover. At the orphanage she was forced to speak only German. If she or any of her fellow abductees spoke Polish, they were starved. Worse, the distraught little girl was given a new, Germanic name Helene Buchenauer. A few months later, Halina was transferred without her grandmothers knowledge to the Reich School for Ethnic Germans in Achern, near Stuttgart in Germany, some 700 miles west of Lodz. The train journey was almost as bad as those endured by the poor souls sent to such camps as Auschwitz. Halina and eight of her fellow pupils received no food for the trip, which lasted several days, and it was only thanks to the benevolence of a teacher on board, who shared what little food she had, that the girls survived. At stations en route, the girls begged platform staff for water. Conditions at the school were little better. Any pupil who tried to write home was beaten so severely that Halina can still remember their screams. Children were forced to stand at morning roll-call for so long that some fainted. They would be revived by having buckets of iced water thrown over them and were then made to continue standing in their soaking, freezing clothes. Beatings were commonplace, and to make matters worse for an already devastated Halina, she was endlessly teased for being Polish, and therefore inferior to the schools German-born children. One day, a very senior Nazi appeared. Halina recognised him straightaway, with his round glasses and small moustache. It was Heinrich Himmler, head of the dreaded SS and, unbeknown to Halina, the man ultimately responsible for her kidnapping and the decades of agony that ensued. So what was Himmler doing at the school, and why was Halina abducted? The answer lies in a deeply moving exhibition Stolen Children, Forgotten Victims that has just opened in Cologne, at the site of the citys former Gestapo headquarters. The exhibition reveals how the Nazis kidnapped 300,000 children from the territories they invaded, and brought them back to Germany to be raised as racially perfect Aryan children. This twisted programme of mass child abduction is today almost forgotten, buried by the greater Nazi evil of genocide. Even before the war, Himmler boasted of his idea of plundering other countries for Aryan stock living among supposedly genetically inferior populations. The Nazis stole Halina Bukowiecka (centre, pictured in 1946) in 1941 when she was just seven. What followed were years of hell, from which she would never psychologically recover Obviously in such a mixture of peoples, there will always be some racially good types, Himmler observed of other countries populations in 1938. I think that it is our duty to take their children with us, to remove them from their environment, if necessary by robbing, or stealing them. Either we win over any good blood that we can use for ourselves and give it a place in our people, or we destroy that blood. I really have the intention to pick up Germanic blood all over the world, to rob and steal, where I can. Himmlers chilling plan was put into operation as soon as the Nazis started invading other countries, his pseudoscience wrecking the lives of hundreds of thousands of children and their families. Among them was Gertruda Niewiadomska, who was born in January 1933. She lived in Poznan in Poland with her foster parents, but was sometimes visited by her mother. One day, in autumn 1940, two men and a woman from the SS came to collect her, although a quick-thinking neighbour managed to hide the girl. Either we win over any good blood that we can use for ourselves and give it a place in our people, or we destroy that blood. Heinrich Himmler True to their barbaric form, the SS threatened to shoot Gertrudas foster mother unless she gave up the child, which she did the following day. By that evening, Gertruda was placed with an adoptive German mother, who harshly ordered her to do as she was told. I have only been lent to you, Gertruda snapped back, and I wont do it! Gertrudas new mother was unimpressed and only too readily gave her up; the next day she was sent to a camp, from which she was deported in a cattle truck to an assimilation home in what is today Kalisz in Poland, about 150 miles from Warsaw. There, Gertruda was subjected to more racial tests and given the Germanic name of Gertrud Niewermann. The home was very strict, and the principal delighted in beating his charges with his boots. We lived in constant fear, Gertruda would recall. In 1942, she was adopted by a German family, whom she remembers as being strict and unkind: They wanted to turn me into a proper German who was very well disciplined. Gertrudas experiences were similar to those of a fellow Pole, a boy called Janusz Bukorzycki, who was born in May 1933 in Lodz. His mother had abandoned him as a baby, leaving him outside a church on a pillow with his name embroidered on it, and he was brought up in an orphanage until he was adopted at the age of three. In 1943, the Gestapo snatched Janusz to be examined to see if he was suitable for Germanisation. The distance between his eyes was measured, along with the size of his nose and the shape of his skull. Unfortunately, he passed the Aryan test and was abducted from his foster parents and sent to a transit camp. Janusz Bukorzycki (pictured) was born in May 1933 in Lodz. In 1943, the Gestapo snatched Janusz to be examined to see if he was suitable for Germanisation. Unfortunately, he passed the Aryan test and was abducted from his foster parents and sent to a transit camp An SS officer there told him he was now Johann Buchner and he was being sent to the assimilation home at Kalisz. Janusz was beaten every time he used a Polish word and sometimes was deprived of food for three days. He was also often incarcerated without food for up to 48 hours in a cold basement. Janusz and his fellow pupils spoke Polish at night only, but were once overheard and forced to march four miles in the middle of a freezing night wearing just their shorts. In some cases, children were kidnapped by the Nazis during reprisals against the occupied populace. One of the most notorious acts of Nazi savagery came after the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, the Nazi controller of Bohemia and Moravia, by British trained Czech freedom fighters on May 27, 1942. The boy had his head put on a pad and an SS man with a long butchers axe chopped off his head. We were all threatened with similar treatment if we committed any infringements. Vaclav Hanf A month later, as part of the Nazis prolonged reprisals, the village of Lidice was destroyed and some 200 men and boys over the age of 15 were lined up in batches of ten and shot dead. The women and children were sent to concentration camps, but not before some of Himmlers men evaluated the children for racial suitability for Germanisation. Among seven children whose Aryan looks saved them from the camps were Vaclav and Anna Hanf, who were separated from their mother and deported to Lodz. There, they were made to sleep on a cold stone floor in an orphanage for almost a year and, as with so many other children, beaten for using their mother tongue. After an unhappy spell with a family called Strauss, the brother and sister were separated, and Vaclav was sent to a Lebensborn home in Austria. The Lebensborn movement (literally font of life) was key to Himmlers abduction programme. The Lebensborn movement is normally associated with an SS-funded initiative to breed racially pure Aryans. In territories the Nazis conquered, German troops and SS men were encouraged to procreate with Nordic women in order to further Himmlers dream of an Aryan master race. Many of the children born from these unions were raised in special Lebensborn homes, which were also used to house abductees. Conditions were predictably harsh. Once, Vaclav ignored an order and was locked up for ten days in a basement. Another time, he had a knee broken for refusing to learn how to use a rifle. Vaclav was then moved to a boarding school, where he was made to watch something that would haunt him for ever. Heinrich Himmler, head of the dreaded SS, was the man ultimately responsible for the kidnappings and the decades of agony that ensued. Pictured, Hitler stands beside Heinrich Himmler, the head of the Gestapo, to observe a parade of Nazi Stormtroopers in 1940 Ultimately, Himmlers plan did not just steal children and their childhoods, but it stole entire lives. Pictured, Heinrich Himmler is seen here with his daughter Gudrun Himmler One day, we were made to gather in a courtyard and the SS men led in a boy who was about 12 and was, I believe, a Pole, Vaclav recalls, adding that the childs crime was unknown. The boy had his head put on a pad and an SS man with a long butchers axe chopped off his head. We were all threatened with similar treatment if we committed any infringements. With so many thousands of children kidnapped, there are so many more horrific stories that could be told, and the exhibition could potentially take up a building the size of nearby Cologne cathedral. So what happened to these children? All my life Ive been looking for my parents and they have never been found. I ask myself: Who am I? Where do I come from? Who are my parents? I know I will never find an answer. Hermann Ludeking Some, such as the Hanf siblings and Janusz Bukorzycki, made it back to their homelands. Others such as Gertruda Niewiadomska would, devastatingly, not discover their true ancestry until late in life. Among those still suffering is Hermann Ludeking, who was adopted from Lodz, where he was born Roman Roszatowski. All my life Ive been looking for my parents, he says, and they have never been found. I ask myself: Who am I? Where do I come from? Who are my parents? I know I will never find an answer. To this day, I am plagued by these thoughts. What particularly riles the likes of Hermann is the lack of compensation given to him and his fellow stolen children. I feel no differently from the Jews or the forced labourers who were deported, he says. We stolen children have been let down by the German government. Herr Ludeking has a point. Whereas the German authorities have paid around 3 billion in today's money to former forced labourers, those such as Herr Ludeking have not received a penny. For Halina Bukowiecka, returning to her homeland after the war was a mixed blessing. Her grandfather regarded her as a German child and largely rejected her. At school, her Russian teacher saw her as a de facto Nazi and made Halina feel responsible for German atrocities. When the exhibitions curator, Christoph Schwarz, asked if her psychological wounds had healed after some 70 years, Halina broke down and wept. Her tears speak for themselves, Herr Schwarz observes. Ultimately, Himmlers plan did not just steal children and their childhoods, but it stole entire lives. Sacks also said in an email sent to staff Friday morning that the reduction 'enables us to refocus our strategy' and 'grow in a controlled way' Layoffs, which he said were not due to performance reasons, come after he banned alcohol in the office Human-resources software company Zenefits, praised as one of Silicon Valley's most promising startups less than a year ago, laid off 250 employees on Friday. The company, which helps businesses manage their HR from payroll to benefits, said the dismissal of about 17 per cent of its current workforce was concentrated in sales, the Wall Street Journal reported. The cuts come on the heels of the startup announcing last week that it was banning staff from drinking in the office after some wild parties that involved employees having sex in the stairwell of the building, according to emails obtained by the Journal. Scroll down for video Incoming Zenefits CEO David Sacks (pictured) laid off 250 employees on Friday. The layoffs come after he banned employees from drinking in the office after a series of instancing involving 'crude behavior' The company had a reputation for its party atmosphere. Seen here is an image from their Facebook page. There is no suggestion the employees pictured were involved in any bad behavior In May last year Zennefits announced it had raised $500 million in venture funding, giving it a valuation of $4.5 billion, making its trajectory to the 'Unicorn Club' of start-ups valued at $1 billion or more impressively quick 'It's no secret that Zenefits grew too fast, stretching both our culture and our controls,' the startup's new CEO David Sacks wrote in an email to employees on Friday morning obtained by CNN Money. 'This reduction enables us to refocus our strategy, rebuild in line with our new company values, and grow in a controlled way.' Sacks also noted that the layoffs were not due to performance reasons. This latest move comes in line behind some recent changes within the startup including the abrupt resignation of its founder Conrad Parker earlier this month. Zenefits, which launched less than three years ago but was evaluated last May at $4.5 billion, is also being investigated by California regulators to determine if the company helped some of its agents illegally obtain their insurance licenses, according to CNN. Last year it was reported Zenefits, which has raised more than $580 million in venture funding, was falling short of its $100 million annual revenue growth target and had held off from hiring in certain areas while it cut employee salaries in others, according to Vanity Fair. And then the company made headlines again after it had to send an uncomfortable HR email to their own to staff following a few incidents within their San Francisco office. The emails, sent around last summer by Zenefits Director of Real Estate and Workplace Services, Emily Agin, described the situation of employees having sex at work as 'crude behavior'. 'It has been brought to our attention by building management and Security that the stairwells are being used inappropriately.Cigarettes, plastic cups filled with beer and several used condoms were found in the stairwell. Yes, you read that right,' the email said. 'Do not use the stairwells to smoke, drink, eat, or have sex. 'Please respect building and company policy and use common sense' The alcohol ban was officially brought in last week by Zenefits' new chief executive, David Sacks. Sacks said in a staff memo that was sent around last Wednesday that it is important to cultivate a more mature work atmosphere. The memo acknowledged how 'it is too difficult to define and parse what is 'appropriate' versus 'inappropriate' drinking in the office'. Some reports said that sales staff would gather together and do a shot when a new client was signed. Indeed the party culture was blamed for the exit of Sacks' predecessor, Parker Conrad, as CEO at the start of the month. In announcing Conrad's resignation to staff in a memo, Sacks pointedly said: 'The fact is that many of our internal processes, controls, and actions around compliance have been inadequate, and some decisions have just been plain wrong. As a result, Parker has resigned.' Seen here is the offices of Zenefits in San Francisco. The company had something of a reputation for its internal party atmosphere Commenting on the alcohol ban on Monday, Zenefits spokesman Kenneth Baer said it was all part of taking the company forward following the introduction of Sacks. Baer said in a statement to the WSJ: 'As Zenefits' new CEO has made clear, it is time to turn the page at Zenefits and embrace a new set of corporate values and culture. 'Zenefits is now focused on developing business practices that will ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements, and making certain that the company operates with integrity as its number-one value.' In May last year, Zennefits announced it had raised $500 million in venture funding, giving it a valuation of $4.5 billion and confirming a drop in appetite among venture-backed companies for initial public offerings. The news made the company's trajectory to the 'Unicorn Club' of start-ups valued at $1 billion or more impressively quick, even by Silicon Valley standards. It had annual recurring revenue of $20 million by late last year. Once companies reach that stage, founders say, some of their biggest expenses lie in sales and marketing as they attempt to expand into new markets and outdo competition. Zenefits, a human-resources software company, said the dismissal of about 17 per cent of its workforce was concentrated in sales and Sacks noted the cuts were not due to performance reasons Zenefits is no exception, a spokesman said, earmarking much of the new funding for those areas as it seeks to sustain its rapid pace of growth. Zenefits' core services are free, and it makes money by collecting fees from insurance companies when it refers its clients for health insurance and other products. The startup hopes the new funding will help propel it to annual recurring revenue of $100 million by January 2016, the spokesman said. Where human-resources software peer Workday targets larger businesses, Zenefits has been going after small and medium-sized firms. Fidelity Management and Research Company and TPG Growth led the latest funding round. Incredible footage has emerged showing the moment a Russian T-90 battle tank was hit by a $60,000 American-made TOW missile in Syria. Uploaded by a Syrian rebel group called Mountain Hawks Brigade, fighting near the besieged city of Aleppo in the country's northeast, the film shows fighters coming under fire from the T-90. As shots from the T-90's top-mounted machine gun crack and whistle overhead, the rebels can be seen adjusting and firing the missile which hits the tank head-on, just to the right of the main gun. While the $60,000 projectile does not destroy the tank, crew can be seen fleeing the vehicle after it hits, suggesting it was badly damaged in the explosion. Syrian rebel group the Mountain Hawks Brigade have filmed themselves shooting a Russian T-90 tank with an American-made TOW anti-tank missile near the city of Aleppo It is not clear from the footage whether the T-90 tank, which costs around $4.5million, was being operated by Russian soldiers or forces belonging to Bashar al Assad. Whether the tank was being operated by Russians or not, it does highlight the dangerous proxy-war being waged by both America and Russia in Syria, as weapons from both sides are used against each other. While it is not known when the video was shot, the use of both tanks and heavy weapons in Syria also shows the difficulty of imposing a ceasefire on the country, due to come into force on Saturday. While jihadi groups such as ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra are not included in the agreement, Syrian government forces and Western-backed rebel groups are, meaning the combatants involved in this video will be expected to stop fighting. Footage shows the missile (orange dot, center right) tracking towards the tank (center left) before colliding with its main turret, despite the tank being fitted with defense systems designed to stop it The 13lbs high-explosive missile can be seen colliding with the tank's main turret in a shower of flames and sparks, but fails to destroy the war machine Russia first deployed T-90 tanks, which are in the process of being replaced by the formidable T-14 Armata, in Syria back in September last year to defend an airfield belonging to Assad's regime. A month after T-90s were first reported in Syria near Latakia, on the Mediterranean coast, more sightings were made well to the east around Aleppo, where the Mountain Hawks Brigade is fighting. CIA TOW MISSILE PROGRAM As part of its efforts to topple the Assad regime and increase pressure on ISIS, the CIA has been training and supplying Syrian rebel groups since 2013. TOW missile systems were initially supplied to around 40 'vetted' rebel groups in April 2014, along with a stockpile of around 15,000 warheads, according to IBTimes. While the exact number of missile launchers is unknown, the weapons have been used hundreds of times since, with TOW-sniper videos regularly uploaded to YouTube, earning the gunners hero status. The most famous TOW gunner, Abu Omar, boasted of destroying 150 tanks before being shot dead in October 2015. The weapons have also been used against grounded aircraft and fortified military positions used by Assad and ISIS. Saudi Arabia is also known to have supplied 500 TOW launchers to rebels through suppliers in Turkey, Reuters reported. Advertisement Following that sighting local media reported that a unit of T-90 tanks had been given to the Syrian Army in order to help with offensives in the region. The tanks have also been spotted around Raqqa, more than 100 miles to the east. Meanwhile, the CIA has been supplying TOW missile systems to vetted rebel groups fighting against Assad and ISIS inside Syria. The weapons have also bee supplied to rebel groups by Saudi Arabia, which has paid for them to be shipped through Turkey. While the weapons are not common, they do feature in multiple online propaganda videos for rebel groups where they are used against a range of targets, from buildings to armored cars. However, footage of the American-made weapon striking a Russian tank is exceptionally rare as the U.S. has not engaged Russian forces since the T-90 was available. TOW missiles were shot at, and destroyed, Russian tanks during the Vietnam War, though these would likely have been T-34s, a predecessor of the T-90. TOW stands for tube launched, optically tracked and wire guided. This refers to the fact that, once fired, the gunner is required to keep looking through the sight of the missile launcher, keeping the target in the center of the crosshairs. As the gunner tracks the target through the sight, wires attached to the missile send updates on the target's position, allowing it to adjust mid-flight. However, troops inside the tank can be seen fleeing through the main hatch moments later, suggesting that the vehicle was heavily damaged during the blast As the TOW was developed in the Sixties, wires were initially used in place of wireless technology, though continued to be used because they were impossible to hack or disrupt. The latest versions of TOW missiles being used by the U.S. Army do not rely on wires, though these advanced weapons systems are unlikely to have been given to Syrian rebels. As a countermeasure to TOW missiles, T-90 tanks are equipped with a device known as the Shtora Active Defense System, which detects incoming guided rounds and throws them off target. The laser system detects incoming missiles, turns the main turret to face them, then fires a smoke, infrared and electro-optical jammer, which should be effective against TOW missiles. However, the system on the tank in the video appears to have been inactive or malfunctioning, as the missile flew straight into its target. RAYTHEON BMG-71 TOW MISSILE Cost: $60,000 (single missile, 2015) Size (launcher): 5ft long by 4ft high Weight (missile): 13lbs, high explosive round Range: 200ft - 2.3 miles Speed: 735mph In service: 1970 - present day Features: Missile guided to target by optic on launcher, which gunner must keep fixed on target. Missile is updated with new target information mid-flight by wires attached to the warhead. Newer models used by U.S. military are wireless. Missile equipped with precursor charge designed to penetrate 'reactive armor' which explodes outward prior to impact, designed to throw the projectile off target. Advertisement The ex-girlfriend of Kansas shooting spree felon Cedric Ford is being charged with giving him guns, which were found at the scene after he killed three people and injured 15 others on Thursday. Sarah Jo Hopkins, 28, of Newton, Kansas, legally purchased an AK-47 type semi-automatic rifle and a Glock Model 22 40-caliber handgun and gave them to Ford, despite knowing he was a convicted felon who was banned from possessing a firearm, an affidavit claims. Paternity records filed in Harvey County show Hopkins and the 38-year-old painter at Excel Industries had a 2-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter together,The Witchita Eagle reported. Sarah Jo Hopkins (left), had two children with gunman Cedric Ford. She is now charged with one count of knowingly transferring a firearm to a convicted felon, according to the US Attorney's Office Cedric Ford, 38, (pictured left) clocked in to work at lawn-mower manufacturing firm Excel Industries in Hesston, Kansas, on Thursday morning. Pictured, right, Hopkins in an undated photo released by the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office He left the facility and returned with firearms, killing three and injuring 15. Pictured, Ford from a Facebook photo he uploaded earlier this month Hopkins purchased the guns in March 2014 from a pawnshop, according to the affidavit. She told investigators she moved out of Ford's home in July 2015, and took the guns with her in August. According to the affidavit, she had pawned off the guns, only to buy them again after Ford, who has a history of domestic violence, threatened her, NBC reported. The US Attorney's Office said she is charged with one count of knowingly transferring a firearm to a convicted felon. SEQUENCE OF EVENTS Father-of-two Cedric Ford, 38, clocked in to work as a painter at lawn-mower manufacturing firm Excel Industries in Hesston on Thursday morning. But hours later he left - and returned with a high-powered rifle and a pistol. The first call to 911 came at 4.57pm, when Ford was seen shooting wildly in a parking lot. There, he stole a grey Dodge Charger and shot dead the driver. At 5.04pm, calls began to flood in from Excel with reports of shots being fired inside the plant. According to witnesses, Ford chased workers around as he shot into the crowds. He killed two and wounded 15 - five critically. Law enforcement arrived on the scene at 5.06pm. It took police just over 15 minutes to secure the area. At 5.23pm, Ford was shot down by police. Advertisement Ford left his work at the lawn-mower manufacturing firm in Hesston, Kansas on Thursday and came back armed, just 90 minutes after he was received a restraining order from another ex-girlfriend. He allegedly shot at two people in Newton, a neighboring town about eight miles away, where Ford lived. One woman, Edna Decker, recalls dodging a bullet after he tried to carjack her. She told CBS: 'My car stopped and he was already out of the car and had this big machine gun. 'I could have been his first victim that died because it was directed right at my head.' He shot and killed another person, stealing his car to drive back to Excel Industries. According to one account, a witness said the father-of-two pulled up outside the office and shot a woman in the parking lot. He then reportedly entered the facility, unleashing a volley of bullets as people ran for their lives screaming 'run, fire, fire'. Police fatally shot Ford 26 minutes after the rampage started, and found the two firearms on him. Hopkins, who is currently in custody, faces a maximum 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. She's expected to make a first court appearance Monday. According to KAKE News, Hopkins works as a preschool family advocate with the Hillsboro school district. A worker who was shot in the leg is seen being carried out of the plant on Thursday afternoon Police guard the front door of Excel Industries in Hesston, Kansas, on Thursday afternoon Heavily armed police were called to the scene and at one point scoured the parking lot of Excel Industries for any sign of a possible second shooter Hesston is 35 miles north of Wichita, Kansas. Excel is just a short drive away from Hesston College Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton said Ford launched the attack just 90 minutes after he was served a protection from abuse order involving a former girlfriend at around 3.30pm. Walton said it was likely the restraining order, which claimed Ford was a depressed alcoholic, sparked the rampage. The document, cited by CNN states: 'He placed me in a choke hold from behind- I couldn't [breathe].' She described him as an 'alcoholic, violent, and depressed', and said: 'It's my belief he is in desperate need of medical and psychological help!' Hopkins was not the woman one who filed the restraining order. Authorities in Hesston have said Thursday's mass killing was not terror related. This is a horrible situation my friends, just terrible, Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton said at a late evening press conference. There were some things that triggered this particular individual, he said, without going into further detail. While many of his victims were coworkers, the attacker appears to have opened fire at random, Walton said. One worker told KAKE News that Ford, of Newton, Kansas, had 'mental issues' and was 'being teased a little bit' when he worked at Excel. However, another said 'he was the nicest guy I know' and that they had been chatting as normal when they walked in the plant to clock in this morning. Ford has a long history of burglary convictions, grand theft, and prowling dating back to the 1990s. After coming to the brink of divorce, I learn Speaker John Bercow spent Valentine's Day with his first love: Arsenal FC. The MP, who likes his freebies, was a guest of the boxing promoter and fellow Gooner Frank Warren, who paid for a 330 day out at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal beat Leicester City 2-1. After coming to the brink of divorce, I learn Speaker John Bercow spent Valentine's Day with his first love: Arsenal FC Bercow has patched up his marriage to wife Sally, after she allegedly played away with his cousin. However, she was nowhere to be seen as Bercow cheered on his team with fellow fans, singer Tom Meighan from rock band Kasabian and MP Keith Vaz. The Duchess of Cambridge left 33,900-a-year Downe House school after only two terms amid bullying rumours The Duchess of Cambridge left 33,900-a-year Downe House school after only two terms amid bullying rumours. So you might have thought her uncle, Gary Goldsmith, would be more understanding of her plight. 'Don't want to come across as unsympathetic, but I'm sick of everyone jumping on the 'I was bullied' bandwagon,' said Carole Middleton's brother this week. 'Kids are kids, everyone had it.' According to classmates, Kate was picked on for being 'too perfect'. Her tormentors even put excrement on her bedsheets. She later went to Marlborough College, where she flourished. Now she supports anti-bullying policies and promotes child mental health. At the 2011 Royal Wedding, attended by Goldsmith, Prince William and Kate chose Beatbullying as one of 26 charities they wanted their guests to donate to instead of presents. Lloyds Bank's bill for the mis-selling of insurance may stand at around 16 billion but it's not just mere mortals on the receiving end of unsolicited calls urging them to put in a claim. Speaking at a Jewish Book Week event in London, the bank's former chairman Sir Victor Blank reveals: 'I get a couple of calls every week asking me if I want to make a compensation claim for a PPI policy and I've never even had one!' Chocolate Cumberbunny is a treat for Sherlock fans He's the epitome of political correctness, but Benedict Cumberbatch also has a darker side. The Sherlock star, who last year delivered a foul-mouthed rant from the West End stage on behalf of Syrian refugees, has been turned into a chocolate rabbit. He's the epitome of political correctness, but Benedict Cumberbatch also has a darker side The Cumberbunnies, made by Brighton-based chocolatier Jen Lindsay-Clark, come with a bow-tie and 'lustre dust' and will set you back 50 each. The same weight of Galaxy would only cost 2.50. Self-confessed Cumberbatch fan Jen, who made a life-sized chocolate version of him last year, tells me: 'I'm planning to send one to his mum. 'I don't think that I can send Benedict one because I think he might find it weird to eat his own face.' Jen has also created a 'bronzed' version of the bunny, complete with 22-carat gold leaf tie, that she has donated to next month's refugee fundraiser auction in Brighton. You can quote me on that If we leave the EU, does that mean we get our gorgeous British passports back? And dont have to stand in the EU lines at Heathrow? Liz Hurley Last year it was made clear Boris Johnson would attend Cabinet meetings. I think that is simply so David Cameron knows where Boris is at least one day a week. Boriss wife might also find that quite useful. Jeremy Paxman Id do away with self-service tills in supermarkets. Mainly because I cant work them. Hairy Biker chef Dave Myers on a priority if he ruled the world One day Jimi was looking in the bathroom mirror and he swore he saw Handels silhouette. Mind you, he had been smoking. The British Red Cross has promised to ditch its aggressive fundraising practices in a victory for the Daily Mail. A Mail investigation last year found fundraisers working for the charity hounded elderly people for money using boiler room tactics. Yesterday the charity signed a written undertaking with the Information Commissioners Office, the countrys data protection watchdog. The charity was the biggest customer of the disgraced GoGen call centre exposed by undercover reporters. They found callers representing the Red Cross were continuing to pester targets for up to three years after they had cancelled their donations. After the Red Cross pulled its business from GoGen, the firm shut down. The charity was the biggest customer of the disgraced GoGen call centre exposed by undercover reporters The charity has now committed to following best practice around fundraising calls, the ICO said. Bosses have agreed not to permit calls to supporters unless they have been given unambiguous and affirmative consent. They promised to keep supporters data for two years and not to ring people after that date unless they have given their consent. The charity also announced it stopped sharing data with other charities in May last year. Red Cross chief executive Mike Adamson said: We are pleased that the Information Commissioners Office review has found that British Red Cross fundraising practices are compliant with the law and current guidance. Signing this undertaking reiterates our commitment to best practice and putting supporters at the heart of our fundraising. The ICO said the British Red Cross was a good example of its work with companies who want to get it right. The Mail Investigations Unit found GoGen call handlers representing the Red Cross were targeting people who were registered with the Telephone Preference Service. In a script for a Red Cross campaign, callers were told to tell donors that popping an extra 1 on to your monthly gift will buy three foil blankets for those in Nepal. Donors were told: This means over a year we can give more than 30 people warmth and comfort in their hour of need. However, at the end of the call after their donation had been accepted fundraisers had to say that the call centre was being paid 150,000 for the appeal. 'I want more ferocity': Call centre supervisor Hadley. The Mail Investigations Unit found GoGen call handlers representing the Red Cross were targeting people who were registered with the Telephone Preference Service Before it collapsed GoGen was running four campaigns for the Red Cross for which the call centre was set to receive 434,100. Each campaign lasted only a few weeks. Graham Pinder cancelled his monthly donation to the British Red Cross because he felt he was being pressurised into giving more, but the charity continued pestering him. The 58-year-old was a loyal donor to the Red Cross for three years until he was called last year asking him to double what he was giving. Despite him repeatedly saying no, the fundraiser made three attempts to get him to increase his 11 monthly donation. Eventually, he agreed to up it to 12. A New York man suspected of murder was caught after he spat on a subway platform Thursday night. Transit officers who were patrolling the Stillwell Avenue subway station in Coney Island were suspicious of Euzebelin Abellard after they realized he resembled the photo of a man wanted for murder, the New York Post reported. The officers looked at the wanted poster on their new department-issued smartphones and realized that the photo of the suspect was truly an uncanny resemblance to the Abellard who was standing nearby. However, once Abellard, 32, spat on the Q train platform, officers moved in to arrest him. Busted: Transit officers who were patrolling the Stillwell Avenue subway station in Coney Island were suspicious of Euzebelin Abellard after they realized he resembled the photo of a man wanted for murder Once Abellard, 32, spat on the Q train platform, officers moved in to arrest him. Spitting is a violation to the MTA's rules of conduct According to the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) website, spitting is a violation to their rules of conduct. Officers conducted a background check and their hunch was confirmed - he was indeed the man being sought as a suspect in the murder of Crown Heights resident Jean-Claude Bernagene, 51, during a botched robbery shooting at an illegal gambling operation. Bernagene was found lying in the front yard of 1051 New York Avenue with several gunshot wounds by police. He died later at Kings County Hospital. According to the New York Daily News, police suspected that the gunman 'may have been attempting to rob Bernagene of proceeds from his illegal operation, which included take bets on policy numbers, the game in which people wager money on three numbers, usually the last three digits in a racetracks daily handle.' Officers conducted a background check and their hunch was confirmed - Abellard was indeed the man being sought as a suspect in the murder of Crown Heights residentEuzebelin Abellard Abellard was questioned for more than 20 hours at the 67th Precinct before he was charged with murder as well as criminal use of a firearm Abellard was questioned for more than 20 hours at the 67th Precinct before he was charged with murder as well as criminal use of a firearm, the Post reported. Police sources told the Post that Abellard has a long history of burglary, larceny and trespass arrests included in his 30 prior arrests. He was last arrested and released on January 17 after he admitted to trespassing at a building in Crown Heights, which was only four blocks south of the murder scene, the Post reported. Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Pat Gallan, a close ally of beleaguered Met boss Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, is being investigated for alleged misconduct A Scotland Yard chief in overall charge of the forces discredited VIP child sex abuse probe is facing an uncertain future after being accused of bullying a senior colleague. Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Pat Gallan, a close ally of beleaguered Met boss Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, is being investigated for alleged misconduct. Commander Dave Musker, the 90,000-a-year head of the forces firearms command SCO 19, has made a formal complaint about the behaviour of Miss Gallan, who is the countrys most senior ethnic minority female officer . The exact details could not be confirmed last night but are said to be very serious and potentially career threatening. Sources have suggested Mr Musker lodged a complaint in the aftermath of the fatal police shooting of a black man last December. As Assistant Commissioner in charge of Specialist Crime and Operations, Miss Gallan oversees the running of a number of key units in the Met, including those involved in firearms operations and child abuse investigations. Due to the seriousness of Mr Muskers claims, and Miss Gallans seniority, the bullying probe is being headed by the head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, George Hamilton. The investigation is another blow to Sir Bernard, whose leadership of the Met has been rocked by the unravelling VIP child sex probe, Operation Midland. He has long been a supporter of Miss Gallan, despite previous concerns about her forceful management style, including when she worked under Sir Bernard as an assistant chief constable in Merseyside. A source said: No official complaint was made but it was made clear to her that a number of superintendents were very unhappy about her management style. Sir Bernard continued to back her and soon after he became Met boss in 2011 Miss Gallan was appointed a Deputy Assistant Commissioner. In January last year she was promoted to joint number three in the force on a salary of about 180,000. She has been tipped by some as a potential future commissioner but the bullying probe and questions about her supervision of Operation Midland, which is investigating far-fetched claims of serial murder and torture made by a suspected serial fantasist known as Nick, leave her future in doubt. Like Sir Bernard, Miss Gallan has been criticised for not apologising to hounded war hero Lord Bramall, 92, over Nicks bogus child sex claims against him. She has also been lambasted over the Mets handling of baseless rape allegations made against the late former Home Secretary Leon Brittan. Like Sir Bernard, Miss Gallan has been criticised for not apologising to hounded war hero Lord Bramall, 92, pictured, over bogus child sex claims against him The Independent Police Complaints Commission has been made aware of the bullying inquiry. Scotland Yard said last night: The Met has asked the Police Service of Northern Ireland to carry out this investigation. Until the investigation has been completed it would be entirely inappropriate for us to comment on the details of the allegations or any evidence. Stiletto sharp though maybe a little sober, she favours cautious, professional understatement. He, meanwhile, is a fringe-flicking headline-hogger, one of the most easily caricatured men on the box, who to the public's comic delight, opts for full-blown hyperbole. While he is regarded by colleagues as a tricky colleague, she is the cameramen's cheerful poppet. TV political editors Laura Kuenssberg and Robert Peston are distinct opposites and keen rivals. In recent days they have scrapped for prominence over the great EU referendum hoo-ha. But forget Leave v Remain or Boris v Cameron. This small-screen ding-dong makes other Westminster battles look tame. Welcome, grapple fans, to the brawl between Laura 'One Take' Kuenssberg of the BBC and that arm-whirling dervish of the diphthongs, the ITV's Robert Peston! Conflict: Forget Leave v Remain or Boris v Cameron, the small-screen ding-dong between TV political editors Laura Kuenssberg and Robert Peston makes other Westminster battles look tame Tale of the Tape Full name: The Hon Robert James Kenneth Peston. Age: A groovemeister, disco-daddy 55. Marital status: His wife Sian Busby died from lung cancer in 2012. Proud father to Maximilian and step-son Simon. Education: Highgate Wood Secondary School followed by Establishment fast-track at Balliol College, Oxford, and a spell at the Universite Libre, Brussels. Did the Belgians understand a word he said? Job title: Political Editor ITV News (and unofficially brand manager for Robert Peston World Domination Project). Salary: ITV was offering 200,000 but apparently had to double it before he would join. Nickname: Pesto. Full name: Laura Juliet Kuenssberg. Age: 39 but like Miss Jean Brodie she may not have reached her prime. Marital status: Married to James. They live in East London. Education: Laurel Bank, a private school for Glasgow blue-stockings, Edinburgh University and George-town University in Washington DC where she studied journalism and did some work for NBC television. Job title: Political Editor BBC News, succeeding Nick Robinson last year. The Corporation is depending on her not to upset Westminster as BBC Charter Renewal approaches. Salary: said to be 200,000. Nickname: Laura K. Boris Johnson declares his Brexit credentials outside his home in Islington, as TV big guns - Laura Kuenssberg of BBC and Robert Peston of ITV jockey to ask a question live on TV Family backgrounds Pesto: Son of Labour peer Baron Peston, a lugubrious economist who was a bright young man at the Treasury, special adviser to Prices Secretary Roy Hattersley in the Callaghan years and later chairman of the Pools Panel. He took part in a Lords review of the BBC Charter in 2005, the year his son joined the Corporation. That didn't do Robert any harm at the Beeb. Pesto was brought up in a highly political, Left-wing family. He might not quite be Labour royalty but has long had a wonderful entree to the Hampstead intellectual set. Laura's brother is a Whitehall mandarin and her sister is High Commissioner to Mozambique Laura K: Dad Nick is a hot-shot Scots businessman (the family came from Germany many generations ago). He's a multi-lingual networker with arts interests. Laura was born in Italy where Nick was based with Coats Viyella. He has since worked for endless businesses, including directorships at Scottish Power, Standard Life and the Bank of Scotland. Laura's brother is a Whitehall mandarin and her sister is High Commissioner to Mozambique. Nick Kuenssberg and his wife Sally have raised their children to make the most of their opportunities. Appearance Pesto: Rather raddled, windswept Hugh Grant look. On bad days, can bear a stronger resemblance to Steve Coogan's DJ Alan Partridge. In his 50s Pesto has adopted longer hair and a grungier look. Some unkind commentators have compared him with Worzel Gummidge. A few years ago he went through a phase of wearing chunky gold jewellery and Chicago mobster pinstripes, but they have been dropped for metro-coolguy chinos, open-chested shirts, expensive suede shoes and zany socks. And the hair! Once closely barbered it now flops and floats with a centre parting. It even has its own Twitter account. He likes to adopt poses of artistic exhaustion, slumping, limbs akimbo, in a chair at Westminster's Moncrieff's cafe while he shouts into a mobile. My dears, this is an artist at work. Laura K: Slender, with a blonde bob tightly scissored, although on busy days when she throws her head around a lot we may be reminded of a dancing mop. She is the epitome of multi-tasking efficiency, her stylish outfits designed not to distract the viewer. Her dinky wheelie suitcase is never far from her hand in case she is suddenly dispatched on a story. Does it maybe make her look a little like an air hostess? Likes to flick her hair off her face and is a vigorous nodder when conducting interviews to the point that you wonder if she thinks the interviewee (often a Cabinet minister) is a half-wit. During reports, she half-closes her right eye and speaks out of the lower right of her mouth like a broad in a Fifties American thriller. In his 50s Pesto has adopted longer hair and a grungier look. Some unkind commentators have compared him with Worzel Gummidge Vocal delivery Pesto: It made him a national character and is a wonderful trademark, even if we don't understand a word. He manages to be both staccato and elastic, streeeeeetching his vowwwwwwels like chewing gum and sometimes getting stuck on his vowels like a scratched CD. The mouth seems to become paralysed, a goldfish in slow motion. Studio presenters give up trying to intervene, and frantic programme editors have to scrap whole segments of bulletins because Pesto has again over-run his allotted time. Laura K: It's a distinctly Scottish voice but at least not as thick, to English ears, as the Ulster brogue of one of her predecessors, the much-loved John Cole. The Celtic factor suits BBC executives fine, because the Scots Nationalists have been cutting up rough and the Corporation needs to shore up its credentials north of the border. Laura's Glaswegian twang also helps conceal the fact that (shush) she's actually rather posh. Yet to develop the folksy delivery the Six O'Clock News might prefer, but she is admirably averse to cliche. Pesto had a furious dinner-table row with Rupert Murdoch's son James, defending public-service broadcasting ideals Career paths Pesto: Worked briefly as a stockbroker before becoming a journalist in 1983, joining the Investor's Chronicle. Went to The Independent as it was launched in 1986 and had stints at the Sunday Correspondent and Independent on Sunday before washing up at the Financial Times in the Nineties. When Tony Blair won power in 1997, political reporter Peston was soon breaking scoops thanks to his Labour contacts. Used to drink with Gordon Brown's spinner, Charlie Whelan, at the Red Lion pub in Whitehall, though he's not a heavy boozer. He's too ambitious for that. A butterfly who has long yearned to be a 'celebrity journalist', he became BBC Business Editor in 2005, baffling viewers with his expostulations and elongations. Became economics editor in 2013. Defected to ITV last autumn. Laura K: Hers has been a serene, less mercurial progress. Started in local radio and joined BBC North East and Cumbria in early 2000. Worked at Channel 4 News before being made Chief Political Correspondent for a BBC keen to increase its number of senior female reporters. But it would be unfair to say Kuenssberg has simply risen as a token woman. She is ballsy, works hard and never plays the sexism card. You only really get ahead at the BBC by defecting to the opposition for a while, and in 2011 she became Business Editor at ITV News. The Beeb tempted her back to do stints on Newsnight. She was made Political Editor last summer. Latest headlines Recent days saw the rivalry between the two intensify. Pesto claimed (not entirely plausibly) to be the first to 'reveal' that Boris Johnson would support the Leave the EU campaign. Kuenssberg responded with a news-making interview with Justice Secretary Michael Gove, doubting the legal basis for David Cameron's EU deal. Risky prediction versus solid, serious news: A classic clash between the two. Foes Pesto: So many! He has loved the attention a good spat can bring since Tony Blair's spin doctor Alastair Campbell sneered at him at a press conference, saying 'another question from the Peston school of smartarse journalism'. Pesto had a furious dinner-table row with Rupert Murdoch's son James, defending public-service broadcasting ideals. He took issue with former BBC colleague Eddie Mair when he felt Radio 4's Mair had not given him sufficient credit for a scoop. When Pesto made a song and dance about leaving the BBC, presenters including Mair and Huw Edwards sent him up, mocking his pay demands and boastfulness. Kuenssberg is the epitome of multi-tasking efficiency, her stylish outfits designed not to distract the viewer Laura K: She had to see off challenges from Channel 4's Cathy Newman, BBC special correspondent Lucy Manning and Newsnight's Allegra Stratton. Michael Crick was also said to be disgruntled and defected to Channel 4. But Kuenssberg has relatively few enemies. She works like a dray horse, forever filing tweets, blogs and internal memos, in addition to all her radio and TV work. No one is sure when she ever sees her husband. Controversies Pesto: Viewers have complained they can't follow his explanations of complex economic matters. Tory MPs felt he was often a mouthpiece for Gordon Brown and in the 2008 banking crisis there was a complaint to the Serious Fraud Office about the timing of market-sensitive reporting by Peston, though he was not alleged to have done anything wrong. Laura K: Two months ago she persuaded an obscure MP, Stephen Doughty, to announce on air his resignation from the Labour frontbench. Labour spin doctor Seumas Milne complained to the BBC that the corporation was trying to destabilise the Opposition. Hinterland Pesto: His wife's death which he described movingly, allowed the public to see a different side to him. His family's Jewish beliefs in community and public service run deep and he founded Speakers for Schools, a charitable effort to encourage leading figures to give careers talks in state schools. He wrote a well-received biography of Gordon Brown in 2005 and in 2008 a study of how New Labour courted big money. Laura K: Has little time for one, though her parents are arts patrons. Pesto (pictured here wit George Osborne in London) claimed (not entirely plausibly) to be the first to 'reveal' that Boris Johnson would support the Leave the EU campaign Awards Pesto: Numerous, from the Harold Wincott award for financial journalism to 'Scoop of the Year' from the Royal Television Society for his disclosure that Lloyds Bank would be taking over HBOS, and the same prize for breaking the extent of Northern Rock's money problems. Laura K: Won a Royal Television Society award when she was a Home Affairs Correspondent. What others say Pesto: 'Not very collegiate and rubs people up the wrong way'. Laura K: 'Kuenssbergovision' (when she seemed to be permanently on air during the 2010 Coalition talks). Catchphrase Pesto: 'Er, er, er, er, er, er' and 'I can exclusively reveal today'. Laura K: 'Government sources say' and 'the BBC understands'. The future? Pesto: Much depends on how he gets on with/against ITV News's chief presenter Tom Bradby. There is talk of a weekend show to rival Andrew Marr's. Veterans of the first Gulf War and members of the armed forces have spoken of their memories of the conflict at a special service to mark its 25th anniversary. Around 200 people, including veterans, servicemen and women and their families attended the commemorative ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral in central London. The Duke of Kent laid a wreath in honour of the 53,000 British personnel who were deployed in Operation Granby, the UK's codename for its role in the conflict. Captain Pete Starling (RET), who spent 30 years in the Royal Medical Corps and his daughter Captain Adrienne Doyle, also of the Royal Medical Corps attended the anniversary commemoration at St Paul's Cathedral Present was Pete Starling, who served in the 1991 war, and his daughter Adrienne Doyle who served in the 2003 invasion. The 67-year-old veteran, who served in the Royal Army Medical Corps for 30 years between 1964 and 1994, shared his most vivid memories of the conflict. He recalled 'all the Scud attacks at night, where Saddam Hussein was firing rockets at us'. He said: 'Once we got into the desert it was cold - freezing - and it was so wet. 'And then of course the memory of the fact that it was over so quickly. Sadly we still had people killed and wounded.' The veteran said the initial invasion did achieve 'what it set out to do' but that it made him sad the situation had not been resolved 25 years on. He said: 'If you look back in history that region has been in turmoil for hundreds of years, if not longer so I don't think it will change. 'If we stood here in a hundred years time, your successor would probably ask me the same question. 'Personally I think we should let them govern themselves, run their own countries because we wouldn't like it if someone tried to do that here.' Around a dozen other ceremonies were also taking place around the country on Friday. Captain Doyle, 42, from Camberley, Surrey, has been an environmental health officer in the army for 23 years and has also seen time in Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone. Among those at the commemoration were the Duke of Edinburgh, pictured second right RAF navigator John Nichol, pictured, who was shot down and held captive was also at yesterday's ceremony Capt Doyle said services like today's - and ones marking the anniversaries of the two World Wars - were crucial to maintain. She said: 'I think as time goes on and that generation gets old there's very few survivors. 'It's important that we keep those memories alive so that the younger generation understand what they went through.' The sister of a soldier who was killed by friendly fire days before the end of the first Gulf war said she is 'very bitter' that conflict still plagues the region. One of Jacqueline Blackmore's brothers was killed by American friendly fire 25 years ago today - just two days before the ceasefire was declared, effectively ending the conflict. Martin Ferguson, of the Queen's Own Highlanders, was just 21 when he died, leaving behind his distraught family including his twin brother, who also went on to serve in Iraq. Alison Ferguson and Jacqueline Blackmore point to the name of their younger brother Martin Ferguson who was killed in action during the Gulf War: His name was on a plaque in the cathedral's crypt Ms Blackmore she felt proud to be at the service but that it had been very difficult, and said the family laid wreaths every year on his grave in Fort William in the Highlands, where they are from. She said: 'My brother lost his life and this is still going on and many other lives have been lost. 'I really am bitter about that. He tried to do something that wasn't possible and it's still going on, and we're losing hundreds. 'Martin was proud to be a soldier and I think he would have been happy and proud to have lost his life. 'For us, it was more heartache, but now I am proud that we're still talking 25 years later about him.' The 52-year-old added that she could not see peace returning to the region. She said: 'It should have been resolved by now if it was going to be resolved, and I don't think it will be. 'I don't know what it's going to take, still more lives.' Ms Blackmore said her brother died after his tank was mistakenly hit by a bomb just two days before the end of the conflict. She said: 'If the war was going to continue we might not have been able to get his body. A Ukrainian man caught pretending to be a Pennsylvania high school student for years has now also been charged with statutory sexual assault after allegedly having a relationship with a 15-year-old classmate, police say. Artur Samarin, 23, is accused of overstaying an exchange visa in 2012 and using a fake ID and social security number to gain entry to Harrisburg High School, enrolling as a freshmen and posing as a model student for the last four years. Samarin was exposed on Tuesday following an investigation, and taken in on charges of identity theft and tampering with public records. The fraudster was then arrested in custody on Friday for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student. He was 22 at the time of the alleged relationship, according to police documents. Scroll down for video Asher Potts, a star student at Harrisburg High School, has been arrested after it was revealed he was actually a 23-year-old Ukrainian national named Artur Samarin. He is pictured with Pennsylvania State Rep. Patty Kim, D-Harrisburg on his induction into the National Honor Society in May 2014 Courtesy of WHTM He has now been charged with statutory sexual assault and corruption of minors following the alleged relationship in 2014. Samarin managed to cast a wide web of deceit during his time at the school, achieving one of the highest GPAs and being crowned runner-up for homecoming king. But his teachers and classmates were left stunned after police revealed the truth this week. He had been masquerading as a schoolboy for four years because his visa had run out, and managed to achieve stunning credentials while doing so. Samarin (mugshot pictured) is accused of using a fake ID and social security card to apply for a place at the Pennsylvania school after moving from Eastern Europe. His U.S. visa had run out Samarin registered under the name Asher Potts in 2012, and by May 2014 he had a 4.16 GPA. He was also a member of the ROTC and Naval Sea Cadet Program. Until his arrest, Samarian was actively involved in school life and took part in a list of extra-curricular activities. On the academic side he also excelled, juggling honors and AP classes, while enrolling in courses at the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. He was recently one of the youth panelists on a town hall forum to discuss violence, an event that was covered on TV station Local21News. One of the people also speaking at the event was Harrisburg Police Chief Thomas Carter He was also was a member of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank's inaugural Junior Advisory Council. Samarin was also a member of the ROTC and Naval Sea Cadet program, according toABC27. State Rep. Patty Kim, D-Harrisburg, also tweeted about 'Asher Potts' when he was inducted into the National Honor Society in 2014. As of September, Samarin was also believed to have been elected as student council president. However he was arrested on Tuesday and charged with false identification, Penn Live reported. The circumstances of his arrest are not clear but he is believed to have been arrested at his home. He was recently one of the youth panelists (second from right) on a town hall forum to discuss violence, an event that was covered on TV When he was arrested, police said Samarin had a Pennsylvania driver's license issued under the name of Potts. Kirsten Keys, a spokeswoman for the school district, told Penn Live: 'We are treating this as a serious matter. 'At this time, the investigation is in the hands of the Harrisburg Bureau of Police. The district will continue to cooperate fully with the police department as they move forward with their investigation.' Gene Veno, former Chief Recovery Officer at the school district who knew Samarin from his work with the school board, told PennLive that Samarin was 'focused and driven' and 'always a gentleman.' 'I marveled at his maturity,' Veno said. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has confirmed that it's monitoring the case. Online court records don't list an attorney for Samarin, who remained in jail Thursday on charges including identity theft and tampering with public records. Met Assistant Commissioner Pat Gallan said those convicted had leaked confidential information for nothing other than financial gain The 15million police inquiry into payments by journalists to officers and other public servants finally closed yesterday. Operation Elveden began almost five years ago following the News of the World phone hacking scandal and led to 90 arrests. It became one of the biggest criminal inquiries in history but many consider it an abject failure, with a series of Old Bailey juries refusing to convict journalists of any crimes. Of the 29 cases against journalists brought to trial, only one was convicted by a jury and experts believe his case will be overturned on appeal. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has been accused of knee-jerk reaction to the political furore in 2011 and a failure to rein in the inquiry as its progress waned. Last night the row continued as senior figures at the Met insisted its actions were necessary. Critics highlighted the massive human and financial cost of the inquiry, which threatened to destroy dozens of lives as journalists were left languishing on bail for long periods. Detectives were pulled off murder squads and other units tackling serious crime as the cash-strapped Met racked up a 14.7million bill. Most of the journalists were acquitted after demonstrating that the leaks, which included information about high-profile criminals such as the killers of James Bulger, were in the public interest. Many of the public officials mostly police officers, prison officers and Army staff pleaded guilty and did not go to court. In total there were 34 convictions. A second journalist, Dan Evans, who worked at the News of the World and the Sunday Mirror, pleaded guilty. The announcement that the inquiry is over came after a serving prison officer arrested last September was told he will face no further action. Met Assistant Commissioner Pat Gallan said those convicted had leaked confidential information for nothing other than financial gain. She highlighted how police had to follow the evidence after News International handed over a huge cache of internal emails apparently documenting illicit payments. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has been accused of knee-jerk reaction to the political furore in 2011 and a failure to rein in the inquiry as its progress waned. Their actions caused irreparable damage to public confidence and it is right that they faced prosecution, she said. These were not whistle blowers, but people working in some of the most trusted positions in the police, prisons and health care, who were only seeking to profit. Gavin Millar QC said that while Operation Elveden was right to pursue public officials for misconduct, the prosecution of journalists crossed a fault line because the cases could have been taken up in civil complaints. If you look at the countries with the worst press freedoms in the world Russia, China these are the nations where criminal proceedings are taken out against journalists, he said. Dozens of young mothers have staged a mass breast feeding protest in a shopping centre after one mum was told it wasn't appropriate to feed her child in public. The mothers met at Bendigo Marketplace in Victoria to let everyone in the centre know they're not afraid to breastfeed their children in public. The event was organised by mother of two Michelle Van Zyl after she saw a Facebook post about a young mother who was asked to go to the feeding room by centre staff. Scroll down for video Ms Van Zyl with breastfeeding her child along with dozens of supporters at a shopping centre food court on Friday The peaceful protest followed an incident where a young mother was told not to breastfeed her child in the food court by two customers and a staff member at Bendigo Marketplace 'She was mid feed when she was approached by 2 different people telling her she shouldn't be doing it in public and that it was inappropriate,' Ms Van Zyl wrote on a Facebook page aiming to organise the event. 'She was then approached by a staff member and told to move to the feeding room. 'This mums (sic) story was then told by a friend and put on Facebook only to be met by more criticism. 'Seeing this I decided to take a stand and show much needed support to this mother and any other mother's, myself included, who have been made to feel that it's wrong or inappropriate to feed their babies in public,' she wrote. The foodcourt was packed with mothers and their babies over the lunch hour The mother was reacting to an incident in the same shopping centre where a woman was told it was 'inappropriate' to breastfeed her baby in public The foodcourt at the centre was full at lunchtime on Friday with dozens of breastfeeding mums nursing their children publically and in force. 'We are not scared to feed in public and we won't be told to move along,' Ms Van Zyl said. Shoppers, Noel Cahill, told Seven News what he thought of the mass breastfeeding display. 'If people don't like a lady breastfeeding they can always grab their pie, their latte and go and sit in the dunny where they expect the mother to go and feed her baby,' he said. The event was called boobs for breastfeeding and aimed to promote the fact that breastfeeding is normal and should not be considered inappropriate by members of the community. Dozens of mothers rallied behind the non violent protest Mothers are legally allowed to breastfeed wherever they are allowed to have their children with them The CEO of the Australian Breastfeeding Association, Rebecca Naylor, said the community's response to breastfeeding is partly to do with the perception breasts are mostly for private, sexual purposes. e don't really think about breasts as being a functional organ of the body, whose primary purpose is to feed a baby,' Ms Naylor told the ABC. 'It's not shameful to be feeding your baby.' She says woman are allowed to breastfeed wherever they are allowed to have their baby with them and that it is illegal to ask a breastfeeding mother to 'move on'. The parents of a woman jailed for killing her newborn daughter have spoken out for the first time in more than ten years, revealing they still believe their daughter is innocent. Keli Lane, 40, was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2010 for killing her two-day-old daughter, Tegan, in 1996. Lane's parents, Robert and Sandra, said they still do not believe their daughter murdered her own child, pointing to the fact that her body was never found. Scroll down for video Keli Lane (pictured), 40, was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2010 for killing her two-day-old daughter, Tegan, in 1996 Lane's parents, Robert and Sandra (pictured), said they still do not believe their daughter murdered her own child, pointing to the fact that her body was never found 'As far as Sandra and I are concerned, we won't believe that Tegan is dead until there is a body,' Mr Lane told Australian Women's Weekly. 'And to date, there has neither been a body produced nor any credible motive. This has been a harrowing experience for our entire family from start to finish. 'Our daughter is in prison for a crime we don't believe she committed. It's a heavy burden to carry.' Ms Lane added she not only believed her granddaughter was alive, but said she thinks Tegan is 'with her father'. Lane's trial become the focus of national attention, with the former Australian water polo star accused of murder and lying under oath Lane (pictured) has always said she gave her daughter to her biological father, a claim the prosecution dismissed Speaking to Channel Nine's 60 Minutes, Mr Lane said he hopes people who 'had a poor view about my daughter might change their view or might give it some more thought'. Lane's trial become the focus of national attention, with the former Australian water polo star accused of murder and lying under oath. Lane was 21 years old when she had Tegan on September 12, 1996. She has always said she gave her daughter to her biological father, a claim the prosecution dismissed. Instead, they claimed Lane killed her daughter and buried her body at the Sydney Olympics building site, which she wanted to return to as a participant in 2000. Robert (left) and Sandra (second from right) arrive at court with Keli (second from left) in Sydney Sandra Lane (left) said she believes Tegan is with her father, meaning Keli could not be guilty of killing her Her final appeal against the conviction failed in August 2014. The case has been thrust back into the spotlight by The Bridge of Hope Innocence Initiative, a program based out of Melbourne's RMIT University. The initiative is exploring whether the trial that saw Lane jailed was fair, with her parents hoping the desperate plea could lead to their daughter being freed. Lane had been in a relationship with rugby league player Duncan Gillies, and gave birth to three other children. Robert and Sandra Lane, the parents of convicted child killer Keli Lane, leave the Supreme Court in Sydney, Friday April 15, 2011 Hit-and-run driver Rachel Mariah Chandler, 24 A Vietnam veteran was knocked off his motorized scooter in Springfield, Oregon Wednesday by an intoxicated hit-and-run pizza delivery woman who then assaulted the officers sent to arrest her. The veteran, Dennis Miller, was 'miraculously uninjured' in the crash, police told Komo News. Miller said he used his scooter to shield himself from the oncoming car, which struck him as he was riding in the bike lane on 58th Street. 'She just kept coming, and I said, "Oh man, I'm going to get hit." I used the scooter to protect me, and that's what saved my butt. Besides the Lord - I mean, he saved my butt,' Miller told Komo News. The victim was able to describe the car to police, who apprehended the driver after she stopped at a nearby parking lot with a flat tire. Rachel Mariah Chandler, 24, faces charges of driving under the influence of intoxicants. She is also accused of biting and kicking arresting officers, among other charges. 'I'm a happy man,' said Dennis Miller, pictured sitting on his new scooter, which he received for free after having his old one demolished in a car crash At the time of the crash Chandler was on duty delivering pizzas for the Round Table Pizza restaurant on 5547 Main Street. Miller, who lost a leg to a landmine during the war in Vietnam, got a new scooter for free Friday thanks to a fund maintained by Springfield police. 'It feels awesome, man. I'm a happy man. This is the happiest moment of my life,' Miller told Komo News after he got his new wheels. He is charged with murdering six people and injuring two others during a five-hour gun rampage last Saturday night It comes almost one week after Jason Dalton went on a shooting spree The wife of the former Uber driver charged in the slayings of six people in southwestern Michigan has filed for divorce. Carole Dalton, the wife of alleged shooter Jason Dalton, filed papers in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court Friday saying 'there has been a breakdown in the marriage relationship', MLive.com reported. Jason Dalton, 45, is jailed on six counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. Eight people were shot at three locations in the Kalamazoo area. Only two survived. Scroll down for video Headed for divorce: Uber driver Jason Dalton, who is charged with murdering six people in Michigan last Saturday, has been served divorce papers by his wife of 21 years, Carole Dalton, with whom he has two kids Jason and Carole Dalton married in 1995 and have two children, ages 15 and 10. The newspaper reports that 45-year-old Jason Dalton earned $50,000 per year at an appraisal company. He also worked as an Uber driver and was transporting passengers the day of the mass shootings. Dalton was arrested in Kalamazoo over the weekend after allegedly going on a deadly shooting spree while driving a Chevrolet for the popular ride-sharing service. Attorney Paul Vlachos, who has been hired to represent Dalton's family, went on ABC's Good Morning America on Thursday offering new details on the suspect's demeanor leading up to the tragic events last Saturday night. First interview: Attorney Paul Vlachos, who has been hired to represent Dalton's family, went on ABC's Good Morning America Thursday revealing that Jason didn't seem like his usual gregarious self in the days leading up to the shooting spree Gun shop visit: Kalamazoo gunman Jason Dalton casually strolled around a gun store before he bought a tactical jacket designed to hide a gun hours before his rampage left six dead, surveillance photos obtained by the Daily News show 'He's been acting different in the last couple of days,' the lawyer revealed. 'His wife asked him and he said he was tired.' Vlachos explained that Carole Dalton had noticed that her usually upbeat husband 'seemed to be depressed and down, which was not his normal character. 'Jason, by all accounts, was a fairly gregarious character, a good father, well-known in the community, well-liked, and there was nothing to indicate that something like this would occur,' the family attorney said in the interview. When Dalton's family learned of the deadly rampage and his alleged involvement in it, they were bewildered. Vlachos said: 'Theyre thinking like everybody else: why?' According to the lawyer, the Uber drivers wife has not been able to come to term with what had happened. She's still in disbelief, Vlachos revealed. On Wednesday, it emerged that Dalton visited a gun shop shortly before the rampage and switched cars after the first shooting. Dalton randomly shot at people at an apartment complex, a car dealership and a restaurant, killing six and badly wounding two others Flowers for the fallen: A makeshift memorial is seen near where people were shot near car dealership in Kalamazoo, Michigan At least one passenger who rode in Dalton's car that night, apparently after the deadly spree had begun, recounted that the Uber driver seemed oddly calm and even appeared to be fatigued to the point of almost falling asleep at the wheel. 'He didn't say much and he didn't act abnormal. He was rather quiet,' Marc Dunton told Reuters of the ride he shared with two friends, taking the front-passenger seat beside Dalton. Prosecutors say Dalton randomly shot at people at an apartment complex, a car dealership and a restaurant, killing six and badly wounding two others, including 14-year-old Abigail Kopf who was left in critical condition. 'Right after the first shooting at the apartments, he left the scene and sideswiped a car,' said Paul Matyas of the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Department. The accident prompted him to switch cars, from a silver Chevrolet Equinox to a Chevy HHR, both vehicles belonging to his parents. Dalton was denied bail on Monday after a court hearing in which a detective testified that he admitted to the deadly spree. Hours before the first shooting occurred on Saturday evening, Dalton and a friend visited Southwick's, a gun shop he frequented in nearby Plainwell, a shop employee told Reuters. Barbara Hawthorne (left), 68, and Dorothy Brown (right), 70, were also believed to have been inside the vehicle when it was hit by a barrage of bullets Sisters-in-law Mary Jo Nye, 60, (left) and Mary Lou Nye, 63, (right) were killed during the shooting spree while sitting inside a car with the 14-year-old girl at the Cracker Barrel Fighter: The parents of Abigail Kopf (left and right), 14, who was shot in the head in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Saturday, say their daughter is fighting for her life. The teen was initially declared dead Tyler Smith, 17,(right) was killed in the parking lot of Seelye Kia, along with his father, Rich (left), while they were looking at cars, multiple reports suggest Dalton was a regular customer who usually spent time chatting with the staff, but he bought a heavy-duty tactical jacket and left the store within 10 minutes, said the employee, who asked not to be identified. 'He's in here enough for me to know he talks to the guys about guns and different stuff,' she said. Searching for a motive behind the violence, investigators focused on a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and a cellphone seized from Dalton, as well as the fact that he picked up fares for Uber between or after the shooting episodes. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-3461269/Michigan-Uber-driver-swapped-cars-deadly-shooting-spree.html#ixzz41BcbDwXA Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook Among the top suburbs for landlords are Anglesea on the Great Ocean Road and the Logan suburb of Kingston Advertisement If you're looking to become a landlord the suburbs offering the best rental returns in Australia have been revealed. From the Tasmanian country town of Ranelagh, to Wembley in Perth, the best returns for investors have been ranked from about 8,300 suburbs and towns with houses in Australia and another 3,800 containing units The figures released as part of the Residex Best Rent Report were determined by rental yield, which is calculated by taking the annual income from a rental property and dividing it by the value of the property. Anglesea, VIC (houses) median value $672,500 with a rental yield of 7.8 per cent For investors in Victoria, the beachside suburb of Anglesea is the top pick. Situated on the Great Ocean Road, which is regarded as one of the worlds most scenic coastal drives, Anglesea is the most expensive suburb on the list, but its offering a relatively high rental yield of 7.8 percent. Investors could buy this coastal property for between $695,000 and $745,000, which has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and great views. Houses like this one in Anglesea offer a good return for landlords in one of Victoria's most scenic locations The house has a north facing deck area, offering a beautiful treed outlook and ocean views towards Point Addis Solomontown, SA (houses) median value $150,000 with a rental yield 7.41 per cent Houses in Solomontown, which shares a postcode with Port Pirie, is offering the best return in South Australia. The suburb, which is about two and half hours from Adelaide, has rental yield of 7.41 per cent and is only bettered by Anglesea, according to the Residex Best Rent Report data. This Port Pirie home has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and two parking space for two vehicles. Solomontown, which shares a postcode with Port Pirie, is offering the best return in South Australia - a yield of 7.41 per cent This Port Pirie home is selling for above the median value but has a double carport, two bathrooms and large outdoor living areas Kingston, QLD (houses) median value $303,000 with a rental yield 6.01 per cent The Logan suburb of Kingston is the best bet for investors in Queensland. The median house price is $303,000 and investors could book a 6.01 percent yield on their rental properties. This Kingston house on a private cul-de-sac is currently rented for $375 and features four bedrooms on a large section within walking distance to local schools and transport lines. This Kingston home has four bedrooms and one bathroom and is already rented for $375 a week. It has four bedrooms and a large section The median house price in the area is $303,000 and investors could book a 6.01 percent yield on rent Cringila, NSW (houses) median value $343,000 with a rental yield 5.88 per cent Cringila, located in the south of Wollongong near the Port Kembla Steel works, has median value of $343,000 with a rental yield 5.88 per cent. One home for sale on Jarvie Rd had three bedrooms, one bathroom and one garage. It was close to shopping centres, transport and Lake Illawarra. This Jarvie Rd home in Cringila, which is located in the south of Wollongong, is close to shopping centres, transport and Lake Illawarra The asking price for this house is slightly more than median value in the area but it has 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom and 1 garage Woodroffe, NT (houses) median value $475,500 with a rental yield 5.56 per cent Woodroffe, a suburb of Palmerston near Darwin harbour, is a good choice for Northern Territory investors, according to the the Residex Best Rent Report. Investors can earn 5.56 per cent in rental yields if they purchase a house at the median value of $475,500. This family home is selling for slightly more at $520,000, but it features three large bedrooms and a pool with outdoor living areas. Woodroffe, a suburb of Palmerston near Darwin Harbour, is the best choice for Northern Territory investors looking for a good return This Woodroffe home features large outdoor living areas, three bedrooms, a pool and landscaped gardens around the house Ranlelagh, TAS (houses) median value $317,500 with a rental yield 5.55 per cent Fancy investing in an affordable property in a Tasmanian country town? Well, Ranlelagh could be for you. Situated in the picturesque Huon Valley, houses in the area with a median value of $317,500 offer a rental yield 5.55 per cent. The area is a major horticultural area but is still within commuting distance to Hobart. This Ayres Road home has stunning valley views, four bedrooms and a large plot of land featuring pasture, bush and a creek. Situated in the picturesque Huon Valley, houses in Ranlelagh offer a solid rental yield of 5.55 per cent. The area is rural but within commuting distance of Hobart This Ranlelagh house on Ayres Road has valley views and large living areas. It also has a big plot of land with bush and pasture Wembley, WA (units) median value $328,000 with a rental yield 5.44 per cent Units in Wembley, a western suburb of Perth could earn West Australian investors a rental yield 5.44 per cent if they purchase a property with a median value of $328,000. This two bedroom one bathroom third floor apartment has views over a garden and is in easy access of the Perth CBD. Two bedroom units like this one are a good investment for would-be landlords in Wembley in Perth's western suburbs This apartment, which features wooden floors, is only minutes to the CBD and walking distance to cafes, shopping and public transport Lyons, ACT (units) median value of $310,500 with a rental yield 5.41 per cent Another suburb where units offer a good return on investment is Lyons in Canberra. Units have a median value of $310,500, according to the Residex Best Rent Report, and have a rental yield 5.41 per cent. A large two bedroom unit at this Burnie St complex has a designer kitchen, open plan living and dining and a north-facing balcony. The Residex Best Rent Report ranked units in Lyons, a suburb of Canberra, as the best suburb for landlords in the ACT Yoko Ono has been hospitalized with a bout of the flu, according to her publicist. Elliot Mintz told Daily Mail.com that the iconic artist was taken to the hospital in New York City on the advice of her doctor. A Fire Department spokesman said an ambulance was called to her apartment in The Dakota at 9pm on Friday. Ono, who celebrated her 83rd birthday last week, will be kept overnight and is expected to be released tomorrow. Mr. Mintz denied reports that she had a stroke, and her son Sean Lennon confirmed that Ono was just dehydrated and tired. Yoko Ono, 83, has been hospitalized for the flu on Friday night, her publicist said. Pictured, Ono at Ellis Island in July 2015 Ono, who is known for being John Lennon's second wife, has continued to perform in the Plastic Ono Band. (pictured, the couple in 1971) Sean tweeted: 'Hey guys it was only rumors from press: was NOT a stroke, just dehydration/tired. She is FINE. Thank you everyone for your concern.' Her husband John Lennon died in 1980 at the Roosevelt Hospital in New York City after he was shot outside the couple's home at The Dakota on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The Japanese-born artist reportedly still lives in landmark building overlooking Central Park. In 1973, the couple moved to the exclusive building, which has also been home to big names like Leonard Bernstein, Lauren Bacall and Judy Garland. Ono was asked why she stayed at the apartment in a 2010 interview with Anderson Cooper. She said: 'It was our home. You don't just leave home. And also for Sean, that was the only home that he knows with having time with his father. 'Everything in the house really reminded us of him. Every room is where he's touched. How could we leave that?' Ono, who founded the Plastic Ono Band with Lennon in 1969, revived the group and performed as recently as October, when she played in Central Park. Upon the group's release of the 2013 album Take Me To The Land of Hell, Ono said: 'The energy I have right now, and the desire to continue to make as much great work as I can, is really moving me forwards all the time.' Relief: Yoko and John Lennon's son Sean tweeted that his mother was just fine and had not suffered a stroke Ono was transported to the hospital by an ambulance, a fire department spokesman said. Ono has lived in The Dakota (pictured) on 72nd Street and Central Park West since 1973 Ono was asked why she continued to stay at the apartment even after Lennon was murdered, and she said: Everything in the house really reminded us of him. How could we leave that?' (Pictured in 2012) She has also maintained her activism and has campaigned against fracking with son, Sean Lennon (left) Ono, who famously held a 'bed-in for peace' with Lennon in 1969, has remained an activist, most recently campaigning against fracking with her 40-year-old son. The two formed Artists against Fracking to combat natural gas drilling with the support of celebrities such as Paul McCartney, Robert De Niro, Mark Ruffalo, and Susan Sarandon. Ono has also maintained Lennon's legacy, funding more than one million dollars for the Strawberry Fields memorial in Central Park, just across the street from her home. The mosaic-tiled plaque named after the Beatles song 'Strawberry Fields Forever' is still frequently covered in flowers and candles despite being unveiled more than 30 years ago in 1985. Ono has also created the Imagine Peace Tower, an artwork consisting of beams of light projected into the night sky in Reykjavik, Iceland. She also started the John Lennon Museum in Saitama, Japan, but it closed in 2010 after a decade. Ono has thrown her weight against the release of Lennon's killer, Mark Chapman, who first became eligible for parole in 2000. He was sentenced 20 years to life after he shot Lennon four times in the back and shoulder on December 8, 1980. Lennon died later that day at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, which is now known as Mount Sinai Hospital. He was 40. Chapman, who is allowed to apply for parole every two years, has been denied eight times. U.S. military chiefs and NATO officials in Washington have snubbed an Armed Forces Day celebration at the Russian embassy as relations with Putin continue to slide. Russian officials typically invite dignitaries from across the world to their embassies to celebrate the national holiday Thursday when they show off their military history and current advancements. Embassy spokesman Yury Melnik said that this year, in keeping with tradition, U.S. military and NATO representatives were invited, but did not attend, according to CNN. American military officials and NATO chiefs were due to attend an Armed Forces day celebration at the Russian embassy in Washington (pictured) Thursday, but did not go The Russians had set aside a room for the representatives to view the latest Russian military technology, but nobody arrived to see it, a source added. 'The Star-Spangled Banner', which is traditionally played alongside the Russian national anthem, was also not played. Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Michelle Baldanza said: 'The U.S. and Russian militaries have regular professional interactions on issues such as the safety of operations for deployed forces. 'However, following Russia's military intervention in Ukraine, the department has scaled back the overall number of professional engagements we have with the Russian armed forces.' The snub came after Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said tensions between Russia and the West have sent the world into a 'new Cold War', while speaking at the Munich Security Conference last week. 'We have slid into a new period of Cold War,' he said. 'Almost every day we are accused of making new horrible threats either against NATO as a whole, against Europe or against the US or other countries.' The moves comes days after Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that Russia and the West had entered a 'new Cold War' as relations deteriorate over conflicts in Ukraine and Syria Amid an escalating war of words, the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said a lack of trust could return the continent to 40 years ago, when a wall was standing in Europe. Tensions between Russia and the West have been rising since Putin's forces stormed into eastern Ukraine last year, before assimilating Crimea after a highly suspicious referendum. Russian-backed forces continue to battle Ukrainian government forces in the country's east, around cities such as Donetsk. Meanwhile a Russian bombing campaign in Syria, which claims to be targeting ISIS but has been show to also be hitting Syrian targets and American-backed rebels, has further escalated tensions. A ceasefire brokered by both sides is due to come into force on Saturday, though it is unclear whether American and Russia can exert enough control over forces they support on the ground in order to achieve this. In the middle of a rally in Oklahoma, Donald Trump stared down a protester wearing a shirt that said 'KKK endorses Trump'. In the clip, Trump walks to the edge of the stage and stares at the man while a crowd cheers wildly for the GOP front-runner. 'In the good 'ole days, law enforcement acted a lot quicker than this. 'In the good 'ole days, they'd rip him out of that seat so fast. Scroll down for video Donald Trump had a full day of endorsements and interruptions at an Oklahoma rally after a protester wore a shirt saying the 'KKK endorses Trump' on Friday The unidentified man was jeered at by Trump supporters at a rally in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on Friday Kicked out: Trump stopped his speech and stared at the man until security removed him from the building The man seemed to be mouthing something at Trump and wore a gold star, signifying of one of the racial remarks the Donald has made duiring his bid for the Republican nomination 'But today everybody is politically correct. You know, it is a shame, when you think,' Trump said after the man wearing the shirt was removed. Only a few minutes later Trump had to stop again as another protester disrupted the rally, according to The Hill. The clip, recorded on Friday, comes the same day Chris Christie's endorsement of Trump fractured the Republican party into pro-Trump and anti-Trump divisions. Earlier on Friday, Trump was endorsed by former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke as well as New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Trump said he was unaware of Duke's endorsement while discussion Christie's at a press conference. 'I didn't even know he endorsed me. 'David Duke endorsed me? OK, alright. I disavow, OK?' Trump said. Christie's endorsement has caused a greater fracture in the Republican party as it could have the power to bring more establishment-aligned officials and donors into Trump's camp. According to NBC News, the cracks within the party have already emerged. The conservative National Review is openly hostile to the real estate mogul and tore into Christie after he endorsed Trump, calling him opportunistic and unprincipled. The editor of the New Hampshire Union-Leader, which endorsed Christie in that primary, said Christie told him he would never back Trump, NBC News reported. Day of endorsements: David Duke (left) former KKK Grand Wizard and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (right) both endorsed Donald Trump as the Republican nominee on Friday Christie's endorsement of Trumps sent ripples through the Republican party as it proved the Donald can pull establishment politicians to his side As Trump tries to lock up the Republican nomination on Super Tuesday, Christie advisers and supporters told Reuters in interviews that he could bring much-needed financial and strategic backing. Christie's backing demonstrates that Trump will be able to bring establishment politicians into the fold, that he could raise the money necessary for a general election campaign and build a staffing operation that can rival a Democratic nominee. The nod from Christie comes at a critical moment. On Tuesday, 11 states will vote and if Trump is able to win all or most of them, he could pull so far ahead in the competition for delegates that none of his rivals will be able to catch him. In an interview with Reuters, Christie supporter Finn Wentworth, a real estate investor and former head of the company that owns the New York Yankees, New Jersey Nets and New Jersey Devils, said he is now seriously considering backing Trump. The backing from Christie comes as Trump approaches Super Tuesday, which could clinch the nomination Christie was torn apart by some organizations, who quoted him as saying he would 'never back Trump' 'I am a long-time supporter of Governor Christie. 'In that process, I have learned to respect his opinion and his judgment,' Wentworth said. 'He's a results-oriented person, and frankly I am now looking at Donald Trump because of Governor Christie's endorsement today.' Maine Governor Paul LePage, who had backed Christie initially, quickly followed in the New Jersey governor's footsteps and got behind Trump - making him the second sitting governor to endorse the New York real estate mogul. Maine votes on March 5. A senior Christie aide told Reuters he believes staff could move to the Trump campaign in the coming weeks, helping the Republican front-runner in his fledgling efforts to build a circle of advisers who could form the core of his general election campaign should he clinch the nomination. A drunk passenger aboard a U.S. Airways flight had to be subdued using an ice hammer and a pot of hot coffee after trying to kiss a stewardess on the neck. Joseph Wayne Lynch II was convicted on Friday of interfering with a flight crew after launching into a drunken fit of rage while on board a plane from Philadelphia to Denver in August last year. Lynch, who falsely claimed to be a Green Beret, also accosted a female passenger before attempting to kiss a stewardess on the neck, then began shouting after being refused more alcohol. Joseph Wayne Lynch II had to be subdued aboard a U.S. Airways flight in August last year after trying to kiss a stewardess, then becoming abusive when he was refused more alcohol According to the Department of Justice, Lynch has missed a connecting flight in Philadelphia and so had been upgraded to First Class on the following flight by way of apology. His trial was told that, due to his loud and odd behavior on boarding, staff decided to limit his alcohol intake once aboard the flight. During the flight, Lynch moved seats in order to sit next to a female passenger in order to strike up a conversation, according to court papers. At numerous times during the trip, Lynch also touched the stewardess inappropriately, placing his hand in the small of her back and then grabbing her on the neck and attempting to kiss her. After being informed that he would not be allowed to consume any more alcohol, Lynch became aggressive and began swearing at staff and passengers, flight crew testified. His rants were so loud the captain was able to hear them in the cockpit, despite being behind a reinforced door and wearing noise-cancelling headphones with radio chatter coming through them. During the altercation Lynch falsely claimed to be a Green Beret, showed crew members alleged bullet wounds alongside pictures of a cannabis farm he claimed to own. He kept shouting 'let's go!' at staff before threatening to bring the airline down, papers say. During his rant at U.S. Airways staff, Lynch falsely claimed to be a Green Beret, showed off wounds he claimed were from bullets and displayed a picture of a cannabis farm he claimed to own Crew members said they fetched an ice hammer, a pot of hot coffee, a set of plastic handcuffs and asked two able-bodied passengers to help subdue Lynch if he got more out of control. The captain also handed control of the flight over to the first officer while he sealed the cockpit and informed security in Denver to be waiting on arrival. Police officers later arrived to deal with Lynch, along with an FBI agent, at which point Lynch turned his aggression towards them instead. U.S. Attorney John Walsh said: 'As everyone who flies on airliners knows, a drunk, abusive passenger acting out against other passengers and the flight crew is not merely an inconvenience, but a serious threat to the safety of everyone on the flight. 'This sort of boorish, abusive and threatening behavior will not be tolerated by the flight crew and constitutes a federal crime that we will prosecute forcefully to protect the flying public. May this case serve as a warning to others.' Advertisement Daredevil surfers have risked serious injury by paddling into some massive swells battering the east coast of Australia, as the impact of Cyclone Winston continues to be felt. Authorities were forced to close dozens of beaches in New South Wales and Queensland amid fears the conditions could prove deadly, however dozens of surfers got on their boards despite the warnings. Amazing photos - taken both from shore and surfboard - show the incredible swells smashing down on some of the Gold Coast's most popular beaches, including Snapper Rocks. Huge walls of water can be seen smashing down on the shoreline in some of the photographs, while other showcase surfers brave enough to head out into the wild conditions. Experts earlier warned the swells could climb as high as 4 metres, with beach-goers explicitly told to steer clear until the storm passes. The Bureau of Meteorology also put a severe weather warning in place from Fraser Island to New South Wales, saying tides would be extremely high and the surf would be dangerous. Tropical Cyclone Winston has been causing chaos and travelling across the South Pacific for almost three weeks, leaving a path of damage and destruction thanks to its winds of up to 300km. Beaches across Queensland and New South Wales have seen massive waves as Cyclone Winston lingers off the east coast Snapper Rocks in Queensland produced some of the most amazing photographs on Saturday of the wild waters A surfer rides a wave as it breaks near the breakwall at the boat ramp in Coffs Harbour, NSW, on Saturday An impressive set of waves makes its way towards the shore as surfers line up to make the most of the swell A surfer rides a wave as it breaks near the breakwall at the boat ramp on February 27, 2016 in Coffs Harbour Another surfer dodges the breakwall while riding a wave near a boat ramp in Coffs Harbour, NSW Dozens of surfers ignored warnings from authorities to stay out of the water until the dangerous conditions had passed A surfer wipes out on a wave as it breaks near the breakwall at the boat ramp on February 27, 2016 in Coffs Harbour The waves slam against the rocks at Snapper Rocks, sending water flying up into the air A huge wall of white water can be seen crashing down on the shore on a beach in Queensland on Saturday Some people took the advice of experts, preferring to watch the massive waves from the shore rather than a surfboard The Bureau of Meteorology had predicted the waves could get as high as four metres in parts of Queensland and NSW Two brave swimmers keep an eye on the water as the paddle out to catch the perfect wave A dangerous conditions sign is seen at Kirra beach on the Gold Coast after it was announced all beaches would be closed on Friday and Saturday A surfer rides a wave as dangerous surf courtesy of ex-Cyclone Winston hits Coolangatta on the Gold Coast, Friday, Feb. 26 A surfer rides a wave as it breaks near the breakwall at the boat ramp on February 27, 2016 in Coffs Harbour A surfer rides a large wave courtesy of ex-Cyclone Winston at Kirra beach on the Gold Coast A wave crashes down on Saturday at a Queensland beach in the amazing conditions caused by Cyclone Winston Australian pro surfer Owen Wright is seen in front of waves courtesy of ex-Cyclone Winston at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast Surfers attempt to enter the rough water courtesy of ex-Cyclone Winston at Snapper Rocks Nelson defended himself against attempted rape charges by arguing he is impotent The alleged attack happened in 2014 on a fold-out bed in the lawyer's Manhattan office Nelson, 39, was found guilty of sexual abuse and obstruction of breathing A Manhattan lawyer who said he couldn't be a rapist because he suffers from erectile dysfunction was acquitted of rape Friday but found guilty of sexual abuse and strangulation. The charges against Dan Nelson, 39, stemmed from a drunk night out at an East Village dive bar in August, 2014. The intellectual property litigator admitted he was sloshed off three bottles of wine when he met his 36-year-old victim at Bull McCabe's bar and invited her to his Midtown law office, the New York Post reported. Scroll down for video Dan Nelson, 39, was acquitted of attempting to rape a woman he met at an East Village dive bar in 2014 In court, Nelson defended himself by saying he suffers from erectile dysfunction There, on a fold-out bed, the woman alleges Nelson choked her and attempted to rape her. In court, Nelson defended himself by saying he suffers from erectile dysfunction and that he hadn't taken a Viagra pill that night, according to the Post. Nelson admitted to engaging in a scuffle with the woman during which he grabbed her arm and hair, and ripped off her dress. The lawyer told jurors he got angry because the victim allegedly mocked him for failing to get an erection. Nelson admitted he has anger issues towards women and said he was drunk off three bottles of wine on the night he allegedly abused a woman Intellectual property litigator Dan Nelson allegedly ripped this dress off of his victim during an August, 2014 assault Nelson was accused, and acquitted, of trying to rape a woman on top of this fold-out bed in his Manhattan law office 'He was a jerk that night, but being a jerk isn't a crime,' said Nelson's defense lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, according to the Post. Asked by a prosecutor if he has anger issues towards women, Nelson answered 'I do,' according to the Post. Nelson reportedly makes $50,000 a month representing artists in copyright cases at the Nelson & McCulloch law firm, where he is a partner. He faces up to seven years in prison on the sexual abuse charge, and is scheduled to reappear in court March 4, court records show. A New Jersey kindergarten teacher has been sentenced to 120 days in jail after footage surfaced of her last year manhandling a two-year-old girl. The cellphone video, shot from the window of a high-rise building above the Apple Montessori School in Hoboken, showed the teacher, Kelli Dugan, hold the toddler by her legs and swing her over a fence. In court, Dugan admitted to holding the child upside down, putting her hands around the toddler's neck and dragging the girl by her arms, NBC 4 New York reported. The 31-year-old pleaded guilty to second-degree child endangerment charges on Friday and was subsequently sentenced to 120 days in jail. Scroll down for video Guilty: Former teacher Kelli Dugan, 31, admitted to manhandling a child in court on Friday, after a video of her behavior surfaced last year, and was sentenced to 120 days in jail No comment: Dugan refused to talk to the press as she left court on Friday. Once released from jail, she will also serve a probation Shocking footage from Apple Motessori School in Hoboken, New Jersey, showed the teacher aggressively handle the little girl and swing her over a fence Dugan will serve a probation once she is released. The victim's mother cried in court as the sentence was handed down on Friday. Outside court, Dugan refused to comment on the case. However last October she told NBC she was sorry for what happened. 'I'm devastated and I'm sorry. My heart is broken,' she said at the time. Another teacher who was filmed in the video slamming a child to the ground while trying to put a hat on her head was cleared of any charges. That woman, Dugan and several other employees were fired due to the incident. 'I'm devastated': After being charged last year, Dugan tearfully apologized when approached by a reporter The incriminating video was filmed in May, however did not surface until June. The person who originally filmed the video showed it to a school director via email and was told the teacher would be placed on working probation - still allowed to stay on site - for 30 days. Because she feared the school wouldn't tell parents what had happened, the woman who filmed the incident put the video on Facebook, hoping more people would see it. The family who runs the school notified parents through a letter describing how they felt about the event. 'We are outraged by the lack of care and concern this employee showed. We do not condone this type of behavior in any way, shape or form,' the letter read. The family claimed the footage was 'just sent to their attention' and they fired the teacher as a result of the incident. In a statement released at the time, Apple Montessori School said it was 'deeply troubled by the behavior of the former staffer'. Sickening: Duagn pleaded guilty to second-degree child endangerment charges on Friday and was subsequently sentenced to 120 days in jail The director and assistant director of the school in Hoboken, who had access to the video June 4, according to ABC, were fired 'for their mishandling of this incredibly serious situation. Another teacher and a teacher's aide who were present at the time of the incident were also fired. A teenage girl who shot dead one of her classmates before taking her own life left eight suicide notes saying she was heartbroken. Dorothy Dutiel has been identified as the shooter in the murder suicide that resulted in her death and that of May Kieu. The two girls, both 15, were in a relationship, police said. Officers released Dorothy's handwritten letters yesterday. In her handwritten notes, which were redacted by the police before they were published, Dorothy described her agony as her relationship with her girlfriend - presumed to be May - deteriorated, AZ Central reported. Scroll down for video Police looking into the murder-suicide of Glendale teens Dorothy Dutiel (right) and May Kieu (left), both 15, may bring charges against a male classmate who provided one of the girls with a gun Dorothy (left) wrote eight notes before the murder-suicide, which were found at the scene of the shooting and at her home. In it, she says she was heartbroken after her girlfriend, presumably May Kieu (right), told her she didn't love her romantically anymore In one of her notes, Dorothy told first responders that the boy who gave her the gun wasn't linked to the shooting and that she had lied to him to obtain the gun. She told him she needed it for protection and said she would return it the next day 'Last Saturday, I was informed she didnt love me romantically anymore,' Dorothy wrote. 'I was not okay. But we did not separate, because she told me there was a chance.' 'She hasnt loved me like that for a long time. This week has been the worst in my life.' Copies of the suicide notes were released as part of an 87-page police report on the February 12 deaths at Independence High School in Glendale. There were eight letters in total, found at the scene of the shooting and at Dorothy's house according to 12News. Dorothy wrote that she had depression but said she was happy at home, and asked her friends and family to forgive and forget her. 'Im sorry that you just bought me new clothes,' she wrote in a letter addressed to her mother. She had a note addressed to first responders in her pocket when police found her after the shooting. In it, she said the boy who gave her the gun, a Beretta, had nothing to do with the shooting and that she had lied to him to obtain it. Police previously said the 15-year-old boy, whose name hasn't been released, could face a felony charge for giving a firearm to a minor. The charge won't be submitted until all the evidence is examined, according to police, who added that the families of both girls don't want the boy to be prosecuted. Dorothy told her parents in a letter: 'What I've done has nothing to do with you two as parents. My life is great at home. I'm so sorry for what I have done' An unidentified 15-year-old boy at Independence High School (pictured) said he gave one of the girls a gun. Dorothy has been identified as the shooter in the murder-suicide that took place at the school Investigators said the teenagers' bodies were found on a patio outside the school's cafeteria with a gun and a suicide note nearby. Police say Dorothy (left) and May (right) were in a relationship Dorothy Dutiel tweeted 'good bye' just hours before she and her girlfriend May Kieu, who is also 15, were found dead with single gunshot wounds at the high school. Glendale police say one of the girls approached the boy for a gun the day before the murder-suicide, telling him she needed it for protection but promised to return it the following day. Police say the unidentified boy removed a handgun from his home without the permission or knowledge of his parents. The girls' bodies were discovered around 8 a.m. the following day near the school cafeteria. Each had been shot once and declared dead at the scene. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office will now review the boy's involvement in the matter Investigators said the teenagers' bodies were found on a patio outside the cafeteria with a gun and a suicide note nearby. Instagram posts showed the girls were close and they were often pictured cuddling and sharing loving messages with one another. Hours before the shooting, Dorothy Dutiel, 15, tweeted: 'Good bye'. She earlier said she felt 'rejected' and asked if anyone else was 'ready to shoot themselves' After Marco Rubio mocked a series of Donald Trump's tweets with multiple misspellings the GOP front-runner deleted the posts. On Friday, Rubio went after Trump for misspelling the words 'lightweight', 'choker' and 'honor' in a Twitter attack against the Florida senator. 'Leightweight chocker Marco Rubio looks like a little boy on stage. Not presidential material!' Trump wrote, misspelling both 'lightweight' and 'choker.' Donald Trump dashed off several anti-Marco Rubio tweets this morning, but he wasn't using spellcheck as both 'leightweight' and chocker' were misspelled Spell check: After Rubio pointed out the series of errors, Trump went back and corrected his misspellings Donald Trump used the term 'leightweight chocker' twice and misspelled it both times, while trying to attack fellow Republican Marco Rubio Trump also fixed this tweet about Ted Cruz and his second misspelling of 'lightweight choker' later on On the attack: Trump used a rally in Dallas to mock Trump over and over again, even suggesting that the billionaire 'Why would the people of Florida vote for Marco Rubio when he defrauded them by agreeing to represent them as their Senator and then quit!' Trump also wrote, blasting the senator, who isn't running for re-election because of the presidential race, for missing so many votes. 'Lying Ted Cruz and leightweight chocker Marco Rubio teamed up last night in a last ditch effort to stop our great movement. They failed!' Trump also tweeted, again failing to correctly spell the Rubio attack. After Rubio made fun of the Donald, Trump went on to his twitter account, deleted the tweets and wrote up new posts spelled correctly. 'Lightweight choker Marco Rubio looks like a little boy on stage. Not presidential material!' the new tweet read. Rubio's morning was filled with attacks on Trump on Friday. Oops: Trump had another misspelling in this tweet accidentally spelling 'honor' as 'honer' Later, After Rubio's attack about Trump's Twitter, he corrected this tweet, too, spelling 'honor' correctly He even speculating that the billionaire had 'wet pants' during the Republican debate. Fresh off last night's Republican debate stage, a newly feisty Rubio tried a new attack line against Trump, one which sounded remarkably similar in tone to the sort of rhetoric used by the billionaire. Speaking at a rally Dallas, Rubio who had his own bad debate moment in New Hampshire read out tweets from Trump's account this morning, which accused the Florida senator of a 'meltdown'. 'Let me tell you something, during the debate last night he went backstage during one of the breaks, two of the breaks - he was having a meltdown,' Rubio told supporters. 'First he had this makeup thing, he was applying makeup around his mustache because he had one of those sweat mustaches. 'Then he asked for a full-length mirror. I don't know why because the podium goes up to here,' Rubio continued, motioning to his chest. 'Maybe to make sure his pants weren't wet,' the senator slyly suggested. 'I don't know.' Marco Rubio did the morning show rounds today and used the term 'con artist' to whack Donald Trump during each interview He also used a tour of the morning shows to attack Trump's integrity. 'We are not going to turn the conservative movement over to a con artist,' Marco Rubio said on the Today Show. And on CBS This Morning. And on Good Morning America. In fact, Rubio used the term 'con artist' 12 times during his morning show lap. 'He has made a career sticking it to working Americans,' Rubio added on each show. RUBIO ATTACKS! 'Let me tell you something, during the debate last night he went backstage during one of the breaks, two of the breaks - he was having a meltdown 'First he had this makeup thing, he was applying makeup around his mustache because he had one of those sweat mustaches. 'Then he asked for a full-length mirror. I don't know why because the podium goes up to here. 'Maybe to make sure his pants weren't wet. I don't know.' 'We are not going to turn the conservative movement over to a con artist.' 'He has made a career sticking it to working Americans.' 'He hired workers from Poland!' 'I saw you repeat yourself five times five seconds ago!' 'If he hadn't inherited $200 million, do you know where Donald Trump would be? Selling watches in Manhattan.' 'Then he asked for a full-length mirror. I don't know why because the podium goes up to here. Maybe to make sure his pants weren't wet.' Advertisement And he claimed that he was himself the victim of some sort of media conspiracy to crown Trump the nominee so the Republicans lost the White House. 'The media is pumping him up as some unstoppable force,' Rubio said on CBS. 'The cover he's getting from the media these days is extraordinary,' Rubio said to George Stephanopoulos on ABC. A new, more fiery, Rubio stepped on to last night's Republican debate stage ready to go to war with Trump as the Republican field had narrowed down to five. This morning Rubio explained that the slimmer, trimmer field, along with the fact that Trump was dominating the race so far, let him to step up his attacks. Trump fired back this morning using Twitter - but his tweets were littered with errors. Hitting back, Rubio, according to Texas Tribune reporter Patrick Svitek, suggested that 'maybe he hires foreign workers to do his tweets.' At the Dallas rally, the senator gleefully read them aloud. 'Let's read some, you'll have fun,' Rubio said, reading the most recent selections. 'A choker, I guess that's what he meant to say,' he laughed. During the debate Rubio whacked Trump for hiring illegal immigrants, as opposed to Americans, which the Florida senator perceived as hypocritical for someone who has made illegal immigration the central focus of his campaign. 'I ... think that if you're going to claim that you're the only one who lifted this into the campaign,' Rubio said of immigration. 'That you acknowledge that you're the only person on this stage that's ever been fined for hiring to work on your projects illegally.' 'No, no, I'm the only one on the stage that's hired people. You haven't hired anybody!' Trump responded, while denying that he had ever broken immigration employment law. 'I've hired tens of thousands of people over at my job. You've hired nobody,' Trump fumed. 'You've had nothing but problems with your credit cards, et cetera. So don't tell me about that.' That was a jab about a scandal involving Rubio's use of a Republican Party of Florida credit card for his personal expenses. 'You haven't hired one person, you liar!' he boomed. 'He hired workers from Poland. And he had to pay a million dollars or so in a judgment,' Rubio claimed. 'That's wrong. That's wrong. Totally wrong,' Trump insisted. Ted Cruz made a simliar effort to sideline Trump but fell comparatively flat. This morning Marco Rubio ridiculed Donald Trump for his flurry of anti-Rubio tweets that included several misspelled words 'You haven't hired one person, you liar!' Donald Trump insisted at one point during last night's Republican debate when Marco Rubio brought up that the billionaire had hired illegal immigrants from Poland The Donald said he would deport millions of illegal immigrants but allow the 'good ones' to return through a screening process. Cruz insisted he would be stricter. 'We have always welcomed legal immigrants, but I think it is a mistake to forgive those who break the law to allow them to become U.S. citizens, and that's why I've led the fight against granting citizenship to those here illegally,' he said. He also blasted Trump for taking the issue of building a border wall as his own, saying he raised the idea in 2012. 'I really find it amazing that Donald believes that he is the one who discovered the issue of illegal immigration,' Cruz marveled. 'I can tell you, when I ran for Senate here in the state of Texas, I ran promising to lead the fight against amnesty, promising to fight to build a wall.' 'And in 2013, when I was fight against the "gang of eight" amnesty bill, where was Donald?' Cruz asked. 'He was firing Dennis Rodman on "Celebrity Apprentice".' Meanwhile, Rubio continued to badger Trump on bad business dealings, including the defunct Trump University. 'If he hadn't inherited $200 million, do you know where Donald Trump would be? Selling watches in Manhattan!' he said. Discussing Obamacare, Rubio tried to put the issue to bed that he was a 'robot,' a name he received after a poor debate performance in New Hampshire, in which he repeated rehearsed lines. 'Now he's repeating himself!' Rubio said, pointing at Trump, who kept saying his master health care plan would be to erase the 'lines around the states,' which would allow consumers to shop for the best health care plans nationally. 'No, I don't repeat myself! Here's a guy who repeats himself!' Trump shouted back. 'I watched him repeat himself five times four weeks ago,' The Donald recalled. 'I saw you repeat yourself five times five seconds ago!' Rubio jabbed. IT WAS SO DOMINATED BY TRUMP-RUBIO THAT CARSON COMPLAINED Ben Carson had the least talk time during tonight's debate - and was furious. 'There was no attempt whatsoever to be equitable,' Carson told DailyMail.com after the CNN debate in Houston, Texas. 'Even Donald Trump himself said, "Please, ask somebody else questions!" Because, you know, they're looking for entertainment.' He told conservative radio show host Hugh Hewitt, a questioner: 'You said you're going to be fair to everybody, you didn't ask me about taxes. I had something to say about that.' Rubio, not Kasich, was actually second to last, according to the public radio station's tally 'Go ahead. This is your moment,' debate moderator Wolf Blitzer of CNN told him, allowing Carson to reply. That bought him some time, but Trump, Cruz and Rubio were back at it immediately after. 'Can somebody attack me, please?' Carson later begged, playing to traditional debate rules, which dictate that a candidate whose name is invoked has the right to a rebuttal. Some time later he tried to get back into the debate by proclaiming 'my name was mentioned' but his request was ignored, and he didn't push the point. Advertisement o stave off any momentum Rubio might have seen from his night, Trump simply hearkened back to Rubio's less-than-stellar New Hampshire debate performance. 'The guy melted down in front of me,' Trump told reporters in the spin room. 'He was sweating so badly. He looked like he got out of a swimming pool. I've never seen anything quite like that,' the billionaire added. 'But one thing I know, from being an athlete: once a choke artist, always a choke artist. You never get better,' Trump added. If Rubio's effort bears fruit at all, it will likely be in the next round of primary battles, which includes Florida and other 'winner-take-all' states. March 15 marks the first date on which state Republican Party organizations can award delegates to the Republican National Convention in giant chunks to candidates who win by the slimmest of margins. Polling suggests Trump is likely to win at least 9 state primaries on Tuesday. Cruz is ahead in Arkansas and in his home state of Texas. Rubio's sole polling lead, according to surveys compiled by Real Clear Politics, is in Utah. That state won't hold a primary until June. By then, Trump hopes to have salted away the delegates he needs to claim the GOP nomination. Trump has attracted a rabid following of devoted supporters who turn out by the tens of thousands to hear him speak. His populist message 'politicians are all talk and no action' is resonating and generating new interest in corners of the country not known for civic fervor. Many of those places will hold elections on Tuesday. The Drudge Report, an influential conservative news website, polled its readers in the aftermath of Thursday's debate and found rank-and-file Republicans preferred the bloodied Donald to the smug Marco. Ninety minutes after the closing statements, 60 per cent of readers said Trump won the night. Cruz attracted 18 per cent. And Rubio, for his shining moment,s got 14 per cent. Ohio Governor John Kasich and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson joined the troika of more realistic White House hopefuls and fired positive messages into the scrum, harmlessly bouncing off the part of the stage where most of the action was. Asked a simple question about immigration policy, Kasich demonstrated why he likely won't be president. A former Marine who infamously urinated on the body of a Taliban soldier is now being credited for stopping his girlfriend's alleged murder-for-hire plot against her child's father. Joseph Chamblin was recorded with three other soldiers in 2011 urinating on deceased combatants in Afghanistan. The scout sniper faced a special court-martial and lost a rank after the video surfaced online in January 2012. Chamblin left the Marine Corps in 2013 as a sergeant and returned home to Tennessee where he had a remodeling and construction business, according to The Daily Beast. In April 2015 he started dating 29-year-old Laura Buckingham, a fellow ex-soldier who served two tours in Iraq. Scroll down for video Arrested: Laura Buckingham, 29, was arrested for allegedly asking her boyfriend Joseph Chamblin to recommend an assassin to kill her child's father, police say. She was involved in a custody battle over her 3-year-old son with her ex-boyfriend Joseph Chamblin was one of four Marines seen in a video where the soldiers urinated on the bodies of dead Taliban insurgents (above). The scout sniper faced a special court-martial and lost a rank after the video surfaced online in January 2012 In April 2015 Chamblin started dating the 29-year-old woman and they eventually moved in together in a Kingston rental home The couple's relationship grew and they eventually moved in together in a Kingston rental home. Buckingham was involved in a custody battle with her former boyfriend, Bradley Sutherland, over their 3-year-old son. Chamblin said that she repeatedly asked him to help her make Sutherland 'go away' using his connections in the military,Knoxville News Sentinel reported. He decided to record some of their conversations after he became worried that she was actually serious. Chamblin then handed the recordings over to police who then launched a sting operation where a member of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation went undercover earlier this month. Buckingham allegedly paid at least part of a $30,000 fee for the murder of Sutherland, who is from New Albany, Indiana but resides in the Louisville, Kentucky area, according to the Sentinel. Chamblin said that Buckingham repeatedly asked him to help her make Sutherland 'go away' using his connections in the military. He decided to record some of their conversations after he became worried that she was actually serious Chamblin then handed the recordings over to police who then launched a sting operation where a member of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation went undercover earlier this month. Buckingham allegedly paid money to the agent to have her ex Bradley Sutherland (above) killed '[Buckingham] acted with intent to complete a course of action that would constitute the offense of premeditated murder by hiring and paying another to kill Bradley Sutherland and thereby taking a substantial step toward the commission of that offense,' according to Roane County Sheriff's Office press statement. Sutherland was shocked to learn of Buckingham's alleged plan to kill him. He said that he always had a 'civil relationship' with her. 'It's really all a shock. Today on the way home, it hit me, what she'd done, and I had to stop on the side of the road to collect myself,' Sutherland told WATE. 'When it comes down to it, it's all about my son. That's all that really matters.' According to WATE, Buckingham had been driving to Louisville every Sunday to exchange custody of her son with Sutherland. He said that she mentioned to him that the drive had become a financial burden, WHAS reported. In an effort for authorities to be able to show Buckingham (pictured above) that the plan had worked to kill her former flame, Sutherland had to stage his own death in a parking lot One of Buckingham's relatives told the Daily Beast that she had 'very bad PTSD' that led to at least two suicide attempts. The relative also claims that she became more isolated since she began dating Chamblin (right) In an effort for authorities to be able to show Buckingham that the plan had worked to kill her former flame, Sutherland had to stage his own death in a parking lot, WLKY reported. He now has custody of their son as she is currently in jail on $150,000 bond facing a charge of intent to commit first-degree murder. One of Buckingham's relatives told the Daily beast that she had 'very bad PTSD' that led to at least two suicide attempts. The relative also claims that the brunette beauty became more isolated since she began dating Chamblin. 'When she was around him she picked up ideas that were kind of foreign to what we knew about her. She would get standoffish and he was getting her to cut-off with her family I think,' the unnamed relative told the Daily Beast. 'I don't know if he had something to do with pushing her over the edge, to want somebody deadit's crazy. 'I truly think her boyfriend was encouraging her and then of course things went down where she was contracting with an undercover cop.' An order of protection has been issued against Buckingham for both Chamblin and Sutherland. She is currently in jail on $150,000 bond According to Buckingham's Facebook page, last month she shared a somewhat cryptic quote, 'Sometimes, the person you'd take a bullet for ends up being the one behind the gun.' Chamblin told WATE that he and Buckingham are no longer dating. An order of protection has been issued against Buckingham for both Chamblin and Sutherland. 'If she makes bond, I and my children will be in danger of repercussions,' Chamblin wrote in an affidavit, according to the Sentinel. 'She has threatened me in the past.' Of the urination incident Chamblin, who wrote a book called 'Into Infamy: A Marine Sniper's War', told the Military Times in 2013 that he didn't see a problem with it. 'I didn't see anything wrong with it. I would do it again. It wasn't like we had some random Afghans laying there. They were insurgents, they had weapons and they were trying to kill us,' Chamblin told the Military Times. A suicide car bomb has killed at least two people in Syria just a few hours into the country's landmark UN-backed ceasefire as a rebel group said it came under attack from government forces. The explosion in the town of Salamiya, east of Hama city, was carried out by the Islamic State group, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 'The car bomb attack is not a breach to the truce because it occurred in an area where the cessation of hostilities agreement does not apply,' it said, adding that it was quiet in many parts of the country since the agreement came into effect. It comes as Syria's state news agency reported a number of shells hit residential neighbourhoods in Damascus, blaming 'terrorist groups'. Syrian army bombed the residential areas in rebel-held al-Qabun town of eastern Ghouta hours before the ceasefire came into effect A member of Free Syrian Army holds his rifle as they stand guard in the Arbin Town in the Eastern Ghouta region The Syrian Observatory for Human rights said there was calm in many parts of the country since the UN-backed truce came into effect The historic truce is the first cessation of hostilities in five years of civil war that have claimed more than 270,000 lives. The US and Russian plan does not apply to ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliate the Nusra front. The latter is often mixed with more moderate rebel forces, especially in northern Syria, making it hard to delineate the areas that will be excluded from Russian and Syrian strikes. On the stroke of midnight, firing stopped in suburbs around the capital and the devastated northern city of Aleppo, according to reports. The Russian military confirmed a halt to aerial bombings in accordance with the truce deal. 'Russia's air force fully halted bombing in the green zone that is in those areas and those armed groups which had sent us ceasefire requests,' a senior representative of the General Staff Sergei Rudskoi told reporters. The Observatory confirmed there was no plane activity in the Hmeimim base where Russia's warplanes operate from. It also said there was calm in the north of Latakia province and in the central provinces of Homs and Hama. However, a rebel group said it came under attack from government forces in the Jabal Turkman area, which is located near the Turkish border in Latakia. Three fighters from the rebel First Coastal Division, which is part of the Western-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) were killed while repelling the attack, Fadi Ahmad, the group's spokesman,said. The Syrian government has said it will respect the agreement but that it will continue to fight ISIS and Nusra front. 'It is a violation (of the agreement),' Ahmad said, describing the attack as a ground assault with no air strikes. 'Currently, the regime has halted the attack,' he added. Another rebel group, Jaish al-Islam, said Assad regime dropped two barrel bombs and opened fire on its positions during several violations of cessation of hostilities agreement in Eastern Ghouta Citing field reports from the group's commanders, Jaish al-Islam spokesman Islam Alloush said that in one incident government forces trying to advance 'were dealt with with machine guns'. A White House spokesman, Josh Earnest, told the Guardian the US is expecting violations of the truce in the first few weeks. 'We do anticipate we're going to encounter some speed bumps along the way,' Earnest said. 'There will be violations.' It comes as ISIS launched a raid on the northern town of Tal Abyad, in the Raqqa area, beginning with a suicide bomb. Clashes between Islamist militants and the Kurdish YPG fighters were still ongoing on Saturday. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said peace talks would resume on March 7 if the ceasefire agreement holds and more aid is delivered - a key sticking point in negotiations for a truce. Before the ceasefire, the UN Security Council gave its unanimous support to the truce in a resolution drafted by US and Russia. A rebel group said it came under attack from government forces in the Jabal Turkman area, which is located near the Turkish border in Latakia UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said peace talks would resume on March 7 if the ceasefire agreement holds and more aid is delivered US Ambassador Samantha Power acknowledged there was 'some scepticism' as to whether the ceasefire would last, but said it offered the 'best chance to reduce the violence'. A spokesman for Turkey's presidency expressed worries over the ceasefire 'because of the continuing Russian air raids and ground attacks by forces of (President Bashar al-) Assad' The Observatory reported Russian strikes Friday on rebel bastions including the Eastern Ghouta region outside Damascus, northern Homs province and the west of Aleppo province. Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted Moscow would continue targeting 'terrorist groups'. 'The decisive fight against them will, without doubt, be continued,' he said in televised remarks. 'There is no other way.' Before the ceasefire came into effect, monitoring groups reported at least 26 air raids and artillery shelling targeting the town of Douma in rebel-held Eastern Ghouta. Ireland's ruling coalition of Fine Gael and Labour is suffering a slump in support at national elections with the prospect of winning a combined 34 percent that would end their chances of returning to government. With counting of two million votes under way, the country's two traditional political rivals are set for a deadlock for the first time since Ireland gained independence from Britain. Centre-right Fine Gael of prime minister Enda Kenny will win the election on 26.1 percent with junior partners Labour in line for 7.8 percent of the ballot, the Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI exit poll said. Ballot boxes are emptied onto tables as the count gets under way at the RDS centre in Dublin Ireland faced political uncertainty after two exit polls indicated voters had punished the outgoing governing coalition in Europe's fastest-growing economy An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and his wife Fionnuala cast their votes at a polling station at St Anthony's School in Castlebar, Mayo Fianna Fail Leader Micheal Martin, casts his vote during the 2016 General Election with family members Leader of Sinn Fein Gerry Adams posts his ballot paper after casting his vote for the general election in Ravensdale near Dundalk That would put them short of the 41 percent that would be needed to form a government, and force them to strike an unprecedented deal with historic rivals of Fianna Fail. It also deals a significant blow to the outgoing Fine Gael-Labour coalition, which was elected back in 2011 on a landslide with the biggest parliamentary majority ever. A grand coalition between the two civil war adversaries, with a rotating Taoiseach, would the only viable way to break the deadlock if the exit poll proves accurate. Leading figures in Fine Gael, including the health minister Leo Varadkar, have described such a coalition as a 'nightmare'. The election's outcome may also crush Kenny's hopes to make history if re-elected as since the state was created no Fine Gael taoiseach has been returned for a second term in office. Fianna Fail, which figures put at 22.9 percent, have exceeded expectations and recovered ground they lost five years ago after leading Ireland into economic collapse. Sinn Fein, Independents, smaller parties and newcomers are all likely to make significant gains. The exit polls, which point to a hung Dail (Irish parliament), threaten to blow apart a duopoly enjoyed for more than 80 years by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, which swapped power for generations. A returning officer adjusts a sign at a polling station at St Anthony's School in Castlebar, Mayo Civil war adversaries may be forced to form grand coalition to break deadlock The Republic of Ireland has had the biggest growing economy in the Eurozone for the last two years Experts have warned against the prospect of a minority government taking power for fears it would bring instability in the country. A less likely scenario is a rainbow coalition of Fine Gael, Labour and some smaller parties As polling stations closed at 10pm on Friday, political parties were estimating around two thirds of the 3.3 million-strong electorate voted. The Republic of Ireland has had the biggest growing economy in the Eurozone for the last two years. In the last election in 2011, voters punished the Fianna Fail for its role in the economic crash that required an EU-IMF bailout. Easter eggs have shrunk in size yet customers are still having to pay the same for their chocolate treat, it has been revealed. Figures show many eggs, produced by popular brands such as Mars, are the same price as last year but the volume of chocolate has fallen. In some cases, the cost has even gone up despite the reduction in chocolate. The Mars Celebrations Easter Egg has been reduced by 20g from last year, but has increased in price by 1.69 The Scooby Doo Egg and Toy still costs 5, even though there is 30g less chocolate A Mars Celebrations Easter Egg was 268g last year, but is now 248g. Despite that, it has increased in price by 1.69 at Waitrose. The biggest shrinking egg was the Scooby Doo Egg and Toy in Tesco, that is 30g smaller than last year. But it is has remained at 5, effectively 67 per cent costlier. The Mars and Friends Easter Egg has been reduced in size by 17 per cent from 327g to 280g, but without a price change at Iceland. Mars's Galaxy Minstrels Egg also seems to have suffered the same mysterious shrinking effect. Its size was 304g in 2015, but it has dropped to 262g - with no difference in its 4 price at Tesco. WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE EGGS GET REVEALED - FABERGE-STYLE A British company is selling the world's most expensive Easter eggs - Faberge-style chocolate treats costing 25,000. The eggs weigh about 100kg and pay homage to the bejewelled 19th century designs given as gifts by the Russian Tsars to their wives and mothers. Handcrafted by the firm Choccywoccydoodah, the Easter eggs are made entirely out of Belgian chocolate, and come in a trio - each showing a stage of the mythical creatures hatching. Christine Taylor, the owner and creative director of Choccywoccydoodah, said: 'We thought we would do something completely ridiculous in an effort to cheer people up.' Advertisement Kim Ludlow, of mySupermarket.co.uk, told the Sun: 'It might all be due to higher manufacturing costs. 'Shoppers, however, have every right to be unhappy when products not only shrink in size but increase in price resulting in us paying more for our favourite Easter Eggs.' Supermarkets claim weights and recommended prices are set by the makers. Chocolate manufactures came under fire for their shrinking products last year when a picture of ever-smaller Quality Street boxes went viral on the internet. A Facebook post showing how the size of the classic gift has been reduced since the 1990s was shared thousands of times by outraged customers. Last year, the confectionery giant slimmed down tubs of Quality Street from 820g to 780g a cut of about five chocolates - but it stayed at 5. The tin is now less than half the size it was ten years ago when it weighed 1.7kg. Earlier in the year, Cadbury's angered customers when its multi-packs of six Creme Eggs were replaced with boxes of five - meaning every egg costs 57p rather than 51p. At the same time, packs of Cadbury's Fingers were cut by 11g, which equates to around two fingers, to a new weight of 114g. A Holocaust survivor who was born inside the Auschwitz concentration camp has said former SS guard Reinhold Hanning 'made hell possible' during his trial for his alleged complicity in 170,000 killings. Hanning, 94, was addressed by 71-year-old Angela Orosz Richt-Bein at the court in Detmold. 'People like you, Mr Hanning, made the hell of Auschwitz possible. People who looked on and assisted without asking questions,' she said, according to the Guardian. Scroll down for video Holocaust survivor Angela Orosz Richt-Bein shows a picture of the wedding party of her parents as she attends the trial against 94-year-old former SS guard at the Auschwitz death camp Reinhold Hanning 94-year-old former SS guard at the Auschwitz death camp, who sat in a wheelchair, declined to respond Other witnesses such as William Glied (R) and Irene Weiss took part to the trial against Hanning Hanning is one of the several former members of the Nazi SS who have been put on trial this year. They are all in their 90s and unlikely to end up behind bars, but experts say the legal proceedings are necessary to serve a role in educating a new generation about the horrors of the Holocaust. Witnesses from the United States, Canada and Israel came to testify about what they endured and witnessed at Auschwitz, although although no one was expected to remember the former SS guard personally. Richt-Bein was born in Auschwitz shortly before Christmas 1944. Her Hungarian-born mother was three months pregnant when she was deported in the camp and fell victim to the infamous SS doctor Josef Mengele, who experimented sterilisation drugs on her. Despite having acidic substance injected into her uterus, Richt-Bein's mother gave birth to Angela, weighing only 1kg. She went unnoticed because too weak too scream, the woman recounts. Doctors in Hungary gave her a tiny chance of survival after the death camp's liberation. 'I only weighed three kilograms after a year, as much as other children weighed straight after being born,' said Richt-Bein, who now lives in Montreal, Canada. Hanning was a member of the Totenkopf, Death's Head division of the S.S at Auschwitz Angela Orosz Richt-Bein was born in Auschwitz shortly before Christmas 1944. Her Hungarian-born mother was three months pregnant when she was deported in the camp and fell victim to the infamous SS doctor Josef Mengele, who experimented sterilisation drugs on her. Holocaust survivor and witness Mordechai Eldar reads as he waits for the continuation of the trial against Hanning Facing her former guard in the courtroom, the Holocaust survivor said: 'You know what happened to all the people, you enabled their murder. Tell us! Tell us!' The defendant, who sat in a wheelchair, declined to respond to Richt-Bein's appeal. His lawyer said there would be statement on behalf of her client before Easter. Hanning was a member of the Totenkopf, Death's Head division of the S.S at Auschwitz. A retired dairy farmer, the 94-year-old admitted that he had served in the Auschwitz I part of the camp but denied having spent any time working at the Auschwitz II-Birkenau section, where most of those who lost their lives were slaughtered. Last year, Oskar Groening, 94, known as the 'bookkeeper of Auschwitz' was sentenced to four years' prison for his role in the murders of 300,000 Jews at Auschwitz in the late summer of 1944 The defendant himself recognised his 'moral responsibility' even as he denied ever killing anyone. The 94-year-old admitted that he had served in the Auschwitz I part of the camp but denied having spent any time working at the Auschwitz II-Birkenau section, where most of those who lost their lives were slaughtered. Despite having acidic substance injected into her uterus, Richt-Bein's mother gave birth to Angela, weighing only 1kg. She went unnoticed because too weak too scream, the woman recounts A Texas man is accused of selling the home of his dead former landlord whose corpse was found encased in concrete so he could pocket more than $100,000. Police on Thursday said they are ruling 57-year-old Ronald Shumway's death a homicide, according to the Dallas News. Shumway was reported missing in April. They have not said whether his neighbor, former newspaper photographer Christopher Brian Colbert, 43, killed Shumway but they believe he posed as the owner of his Oak Cliff home after he went missing. Shumway owned the property for over 30 years. Police are still on the hunt for former Dallas Voice photographer Colbert who they say forged signatures on documents, and superimposed his photo over his dead former landlord's ID, according to NBC. Mysterious tale: Christopher Brian Colbert, 43, left, is accused of pretending to be his murdered neighbor and landlord Ronald Shumway, 57, right, in order to sell his home and then run away with the money Colbert is also hair stylist. In 2008, he created a product to prevent bleach and hair from ruining a persons makeup. Colbert is charged with money laundering tampering with government records, and deception. He has not been charged in Shumways death. Police claim that in addition to stealing his neighbor's identity, Shumway is accused of spending $40,000 on Shumway's debit card. The broker told police he was emailed from Ronald Shumway's address and later met with Colbert who introduced himself at Robert Shumway. In May, Shumways house was put up for sale and it sold in June. During the summer it was flipped. Colbert initially wanted to sell the home for $145,000 but he later dropped the price down to $130,000 so he could sell the home more quickly, according to WFAA. Macabre: Shumway's murdered corpse was found encased in cement in the backyard of Shumway's home (pictured). The body wasn't discovered until the home's new owner began to smell decomposing flesh Tragedy: Shumway, a DART bus driver, owned his property for over 30 years before he mysteriously disappeared and was later found to be the victim of a 'violent homicide' Two days after the closing of the home which was notarized by Pamela Bramhall, the Chicago Title Company wired $110,000 to Shumways account. The home went through a few more deed transfers before people began to smell 'a strong odor of decomposition.' The new owner of the home, who has not been identified, found a 'cement rectangular structure' with a black plastic bag inside on September 24. When authorities opened the bag, Shumway's body was found inside. The DNA results confirming the body was the missing DART bus driver came back on February 12. 'I would hope [detectives] figure it out, come to a conclusion and catch the guy. That would be best for the whole neighborhood,' said Gregory Damman, who lives nearby Shumway's home. 'The story gets deeper,' Damman said. 'Its a little unnerving, that all this basically happened in my backyard.' Posts on Colbert's Facebook page before he went missing indicated he was moving to Austin with someone he met online. Shumways brother, Mark, says the blame for the sale of the property falls on Bramhall for not making sure the seller was who he said he was. 'The notary made a huge mistake and its unfathomable that someone in that position whose job it is to make sure it is are who they say they are and come to closing with the proper documentation and identification would let a sale of a property happen in this manner,' he said. He said behaviour of some of the volunteers was 'completely inappropriate' Kremer said in the video that removing campaign signs was illegal Australian Labor Party volunteers sent to the U.S. to work on Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign have been secretly filmed stealing Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton hoardings. Project Veritas Action, a conservative movement website who use undercover journalists to source stories, posted the video of four Australian volunteers bragging about using Australian taxpayer funds for flights, accommodation and daily expenses while working on Democratic senator Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign. Former Australian National University Labor Club president Ben Kremer features in the 14 minute video - scrambling in the darkness of night, trying to remove Republican candidate Donald Trump's campaign signs from private property. Scroll down for video Former Australian National University Labor Club president Ben Kremer features in the 14 minute video Labor party volunteer: Ben Kremer stands next to ALP Leader Bill Shorten at a past event F**k you Donald: Ben Kremer is secretly recorded stealing U.S. campaign signs from the front yard of a house 'Fantastic, F**k you Donald.' 'We've driven all the way out here, so we might as well try to take the big scalp,' he said in the video. The video later records Mr Kremer openly acknowledging to the undercover journalists that removing political campaign signs from private property is illegal. 'I think it's illegal to move or like tamper with or do an anything to campaign signs,' he said. Daily Mail Australia contacted Mr Kremer for comment. Another labor party volunteer, identified as Rebecca Doyle, is recorded saying the ALP's 'international branch' had organised travel, accommodation and costs to assist the Sanders campaign, including $60 daily stipends. Daily Mail Australia contacted Ms Doyle for comment. Project Veritas Action: 'Federal election law is clear - Foreign nationals can volunteer for campaigns but they must not be compensated' Outside Bernie Sanders New Hampshire campaign office where some Australian volunteers were based Australian Labor Party national secretary George Wright told Fairfax Media he had launched an investigation to confirm the federal government-funded Australian Political Parties Democracy Program complied with US election laws. He said behaviour of the four Australian volunteers was 'completely inappropriate' and would also being investigated. Bernie Sanders' National Field Director said in the video that he was aware of the Australian's involvement in the campaign, which he said was legitimate 'as long as they are volunteering... or unless they have a work visa.' However, the Project Veritas Action video described the Australian Labor Party volunteer's involvement as illegal. 'Federal election law is clear - Foreign nationals can volunteer for campaigns but they must not be compensated.' Project Veritas Action's website is run by James O'Keefe, a Conservative movement filmmaker. He has produced other secretly recorded undercover video encounters of governmental and social service organisations, purportedly showing abusive or alleged illegal behavior. Labor's Mr Wright said the volunteers had been involved in the exchange program, and they had all returned to Australia since its completion. 'They are there as observers and they should just be observing, not posting stuff on social media and certainly not doing the type of things they are depicted doing.' Nigel Farage has said he will 'die a happy man' if Britain chooses to leave the European Union. In a rallying cry, the Ukip leader said the June 23 vote offered the British people the chance of an 'independence day'. Campaigning today in Llandudo in north-west Wales, Mr Farage told the audience it was 'the single most important political decision' they would make in their lifetime. It comes as fellow Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson ruled out a second vote, saying 'out is out'. The Mayor of London had initially suggested that only by voting to leave would the UK 'get the change we need', but has now performed a U-turn on that. Mr Farage said today: 'I shall die a happy man, whenever that is, if we win that referendum on June 23' Brandishing his 'European Union' British passport, Ukip leader Mr Farage hit out at free movement rules Speaking at his party's spring conference, Mr Farage said: 'I have probably received more bad press than anyone in post-war politics. We have been called cranks and gadflies and nutters and lunatics and extremists for daring to suggest that Britain should make its own laws and govern its own countries. 'I still, sometimes, when I wake up in the morning, have to pinch myself to believe that we have got this referendum coming on June 23 and we must be determined to make that day independence day. 'I very much take the view that this is the single most important political decision that any of us will take in our lifetime.' He went on: 'We have forced our political class into giving us this referendum that they never wanted us to have. 'I shall die a happy man, whenever that is, if we win that referendum on June 23. I believe we can do it, I believe we will do it and I will give it everything I have got between now and that day to make sure that we do win.' Stressing the need for a cross-party effort to secure a Brexit, he said: 'We cannot and we will not win this referendum purely from the centre-right of politics in this country.' Mr Farage, speaking with Ukip supporters, put immigration at the heart of his pitch in north Wales today Mr Farage told the audience: 'I very much take the view that this is the single most important political decision that any of us will take in our lifetime' The Ukip leader dismissed fears about trading relations with the rest of the EU after a vote to leave, claiming the draw of the UK market would secure a favourable arrangement Ukip supporters look through the party conference leaflet during the event in Llandudno, north Wales Nigel Farage poses with the 'out' T-shirt during the Ukip gathering in north-west Wales today Mr Farage laughs with supporters at the 'out' campaign rally today, where he campaigned for Brexit Mr Farage also warned that expansion of the EU, potentially to Bosnia and Turkey, would add to concerns over immigration ROW BETWEEN RIVAL CAMPS OVERSHADOWS UKIP GATHERING A rift between the rival Leave camps cast its shadow over the Ukip gathering, with Mr Farage's support for Grassroots Out and Leave.EU at odds with his sole MP Douglas Carswell and former deputy chairman Suzanne Evans, who back Vote Leave. At a Vote Leave fringe event Ms Evans, who was sacked as deputy chairman just days before the conference, suggesting Mr Farage was one of the 'least trusted voices' on Europe. Mr Carswell was also at the event, but party sources dismissed as 'tosh' reports that he could face being thrown out of Ukip in order to boost Grassroots Out's bid for the Electoral Commission's official designation in the referendum campaign. Advertisement He repeated his claim that National Insurance numbers issued to migrants were far higher than the number of people covered by official migration statistics. 'I do not believe that we are being told the truth about the number of people coming to this country. I believe that the true figures actually would shock us,' he said. 'Mass migration into Britain on this scale is not good for our country. 'It is not good for our quality of life, it is not good for social cohesion in our society, and our population inexorably headed towards 70 million or 75 million will not make this a better, richer or happier place to be. 'But as EU members there is nothing we can do about it.' As Mr Farage put concerns about immigration at the centre of his pitch to voters, he challenged Home Secretary Theresa May to a TV debate ahead of the in/out vote. He also warned the migration crisis would get worse if the country remained in the EU - and claimed it could leave the UK vulnerable to a Paris-style terror attack, or a repeat of the sexual harassment witnessed in Cologne. Brandishing his 'European Union' British passport, Mr Farage hit out at free movement rules. He raised doubts about the legal basis of the Prime Minister's renegotiated deal and dismissed fears about trading relations with the rest of the EU after a vote to leave, claiming the draw of the UK market would secure a favourable arrangement. 'It is the customer who is king and we clearly are the customer,' he said. Boris Johnson is backing a 'Brexit' and is eager for other Cabinet ministers to join the 'out' campaign Mr Johnson said he would try to encourage ministers who had backed Mr Cameron's deal to think again Mr Farage's speech comes a week after Boris Johnson sensationally backed Brexit. The Mayor of London had initially suggested that only by voting to leave would the UK 'get the change we need'. But he has now ruled out a second vote, saying: 'Out is out. What I want is to get out and to negotiate a series of trade arrangements around the world.' Mr Johnson admitted Britain could suffer in the short-term but said that, free from the constraints of the EU, it 'could have a really great future, with a more dynamic economy and a happier population.' He told The Times: 'I think it's my job to try to explain to people why I feel as I do and to do my absolute best to dismiss project fear, which I think is nonsense.' The MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip said he would also try to encourage ministers who had backed Mr Cameron's deal to think again. Theresa May, the Home Secretary, and Sajid Javid, the Business Secretary, have both backed the 'in' campaign despite being lifelong Eurosceptics. He said it was 'extraordinary' so many Tory MPs had defied the PM to come out in favour of Brexit - 130 confirmed in the latest Press Association survey with more expected to declare. The 'unauthorised' tour guide who led three British backpackers up a Vietnamese waterfall before they plunged to their deaths has denied responsibility. Half-sisters Beth Anderson, 24, and Izzy Squire, 19, and former Royal Navy sailor Christian Sloan were all killed during a day trip to the Datanla waterfalls in Lam Dong. Tourism bosses had claimed their tour guide Dang Van Sy, who has been questioned by police over the tragedy, was not accredited with one of Mr Sloan's friends adding that there was a problem with the harnesses. But Sy has now denied responsibility and instead claimed the trio ignored his advice and came too close to a dangerous whirlpool before being swept away. His comments come as the family of Miss Anderson and Miss Squire, who are believed to have died from brain injuries, paid tribute to their daughters, adding: 'Two bright lights have gone out.' Scroll down for video The 'unauthorised' tour guide who led three British backpackers - including Christian Sloan (pictured) - up a Vietnamese waterfall before they plunged to their deaths has denied responsibility Half-sisters Beth Anderson, 24, and Izzy Squire, 19, were also killed during a day trip to the Datanla waterfalls in Lam Dong. Above, rescuers at the scene following the incident Telling his version of events for the first time, 26-year-old Sy told police that he and the Britons left their hotel at 9am on Friday for Robin Hill, a popular tourist attraction. They took a ride in a cable car to go from the hill to the Truc Lam Temple before arriving at Datanla at around 11.30am, he said. Sy added: 'I told the tourists of some activities such as water sliding, swimming and free jumping there. I asked them to wear life jackets and crash helmets and kept all of their personal belongings in my waterproof bag. On reaching the stream, the tourists asked to slide down the water flows. This, he pointed out, was a common activity in which tourists, wearing life jackets, crash helmets and scratch-resistant suits, lie down and let the stream carry them down. According to Sy, the three Britons enjoyed that particular activity, which they accomplished safely. Beth Anderson, 24, (left) and Izzy Squire, 19, (right) also died while climbing the Datanla waterfalls in Vietnam He continued: After sliding down, the male tourist walked towards a cliff near a dangerous whirlpool on the stream and the women were 1m behind him. I know that place is dangerous so I shouted to ask them to stay away from that. But they ignored me, jumping down to the stream, still with their life vests. Then the man walked back to the women who were being him, but he slipped into the whirlpool and was immediately swept away, down to the waterfall. Sy said he immediately jumped into the stream and shouted at the two women to stand up and try to withstand the flow of the water. But a moment later, the women, too, were swept away,' he said. I did not dare to jump to save them as I would also be killed in the same manner.' Sy's story comes after the father of a backpacker who was travelling with Mr Sloan has revealed the pair just wanted to 'see the world'. Ms Squire had posted pictures from her travels through South East Asia, including a visit to see elephants Miss Squire, 19, (left) attended Silverdale Sixth Form in Sheffield and enjoyed horse-riding and amateur event rider. She was travelling with Miss Anderson and Mr Sloan James McGlashan, from Deal, Kent, was forced to identify Mr Sloan's body after he was killed. Mr McGlashan's father Alan today revealed he was at Mr Sloan's parents' house when they found out their son has died. The 55-year-old told The Mirror that his son, who did not go on the excursion at the last minute because he was ill, had been on 'the trip of his life' with Mr Sloan when the accident happened. He said: 'Every photo we have had they've been smiling and having a great time. You shouldn't have to bury your children. We wanted them to see the world - you can't wrap them in a bubble.' Mr Sloan's family and friends yesterday said they were devastated Mr Sloan had died 'whilst living his dreams'. We wanted them to see the world - you can't wrap them in a bubble Half-sisters Beth Anderson and Izzy Squire's family In a short statement, his family said: 'Christian's death is a very sad loss to us. He was a very popular young man, formerly in the Royal Navy, who had many, many friends not just locally but around the world. He lived for life.' News of the deaths came after the three Britons' bodies were recovered from the bottom of a steep slope. Tourism bosses said the group had gone up the waterfall with an unauthorised tour guide - but Mr McGlashan yesterday claimed his son told him they believed the tour firm was accredited as he added that harness equipment may have failed. Le Viet Luc, the director of a company that runs tours to the site, said the trio was exploring one of the area's seven waterfalls without proper permission from the agency when they were swept up by a strong current. He added: 'They fell into the stream of this waterfall and died after being hit by violent waters.' Miss Anderson was a contemporary artist who had studied fashion at Middlesex university and had been travelling through South-East Asia since January. She lived in Sheffield with her mother Tracy Dodd, 53, and stepfather David Squire, 49. The couple run a digital training company. A group of local rescuers pictured removing the bodies of the three British tourists who died while climbing the Datanla waterfalls in Lam Dong province An army soldier helps assist a group of local rescuers in the water at the Datala waterfalls in Lam Dong, Vietnam Local rescuers try to cover up the bodies of the three British victims who were killed today in Vietnam Her half-sister Miss Squire attended Silverdale Sixth Form in Sheffield and enjoyed horse-riding and amateur event rider. In a statement released via South Yorkshire Police, their family said: 'Two bright lights have gone out. 'They shone brightly for 24 and 19 years for everyone who loved and adored them and everyone who came into contact with them. Two bright lights have gone out Miss Squire and 'Sisters, Beth and Izzy were living a life of adventure and did so, right to the end.' Meanwhile, friends paid tribute to Mr Sloan with Lucie Elizabeth writing on Facebook: 'Cannot believe what I've just heard another angel taken far too soon Christian Sloan my thoughts go out to all of your family at this sad time.' Kelly Hutchings described how Mr Sloan, a former Walmer Science College student, 'always made me laugh and been the life and soul'. And Craig Lancaster said: 'Absolutely gutted just heard the news one of the best blokes I knew, RIP buddy will be truly missed.' Vo Anh Tan, deputy director of the Lam Dong joint stock tourist company that manages the Datanla waterfalls, said visitors usually start at the top of the tiered waterfall, which is popular among Western tourists. Mr Tan said an unauthorised local private operator arranged the tour and apparently did not pay for entrance tickets and did not use the company's safety gear. Mr Tan said an unauthorised local private tour operator arranged the tour for the tourists and apparently did not pay for entrance tickets and did not use the company's safety gear The waterfalls are outside Dalat, a mountainous city that draws tourists with its crystal lakes and steep waterfalls Nguyen Van Yen, deputy chairman of Lam Dong province, was in charge of the operation to recover the bodies. He told the BBC: 'We found their helmets and safety jackets but no ropes. 'According to our initial investigation, after visiting the Datanla waterfalls, they went to the forest to another area for canyoning. On their way, they passed through a stream which flowed into a waterfall. Unfortunately a person slipped, taking the other two with them.' A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed they are providing support to the families of three British nationals following their deaths near Da Lat, Vietnam. They added: 'Our sympathies are with their families and friends at this difficult time. We are in close contact with local authorities in Vietnam on their behalf.' State-run media said the three British tourists had entered Vietnam at the start of the month, but the police officer could not confirm their identities. U.S. Vice President said Thursday he felt 'almost obliged to apologize' to the Mexican people for some of Trump's rhetoric about the country for using the F-bomb, after he said he was 'not going to pay for that f***ing wall!' The former president of Mexico has likened Donald Trump to Hitler, saying his desire to return to the 'old days of conflict and war' reminds him of the German dictator. Speaking to CNN's Anderson Cooper, Vicente Fox said the presidential hopeful has 'offended Mexico, Mexicans, (and) immigrants. 'He has offended the Pope. He has offended the Chinese. He's offended everybody.' Scroll down for video Speaking to CNN's Anderson Cooper, Vincente Fox (top left) said: '[Trump] is like Hitler in the beginning. He's going to use his executive power to do what he likes without considering that he has a congress there' Former President of Mexico Vincente Fox said that Republican frontrunner Donald Trump reminded him of German dictator Adolf Hitler (pictured) Pope Francis had declared last week that anyone who embraced the billionaire's border-security positions 'is not Christian.' The former Mexican president's remarks come a day after his scathing response to Trump's plan to make Mexico pay for a wall between the Mexico-U.S. border: 'I declare that I'm not going to pay for that f***ing wall!' Trump has since called on Fox to apologize for his 'filthy, disgusting' language - but Fox once again refused. Fox retorted that Vice President Joe Biden told him it was 'a sin' that we 'have guys like [Trump] speaking the language he speaks.' Speaking in Mexico Thursday, Biden had said he felt 'almost obliged to apologize' to the Mexican people for some of Trump's rhetoric about the country. Addressing Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto he added: 'I just want you to know Mr President, that the most heated rhetoric that you have heard from some of the competitors for nomination for President is not who are as the American people. 'It is not a view, that is the view of the majority of the American people. It's the exact opposite view.' Harvard Professor Danielle Allen, a liberal political theorist at Harvard University said: 'Like any number of us raised in the late 20th century, I've spent my life perplexed about exactly how Hitler could have come to power in Germany. Watching Donald J. Trump's rise, I now understand'. Pictured: Hitler addressing a meeting, 1935 Anne Frank's step-sister, Eva Schloss told Newsweek that Trump is 'acting like another Hitler by inciting racism'. Pictured: Trump fans at a rally in Texas Cooper also challenged Fox about Trump's claims that the Mexican government was 'helping illegal Mexican immigrants to enter America'. Fox said this was an 'absolute lie' and added: 'There are more Mexicans coming back then Mexicans going into the United States 'Mexican economy has been improving and they see lots of opportunities here now.' Fox explained: 'He's like Hitler in the beginning. He's going to use his executive power to do what he likes without considering that he has a congress there. 'Republicans and Democrats, that he has a judiciary, governors, he has a very strong citizenship. 'That is a democracy that should be the example for the rest of the world. 'So he is behaving very, very, very poorly.' Fox is not the first to make this damning comparison. TWITTER-BURN: Trump said if he had cursed his way through an interview about his proposed border barrier, he would have been pilloried for it Harvard Professor Danielle Allen, a liberal political theorist at Harvard University wrote in The Washington Post: 'Like any number of us raised in the late 20th century, I've spent my life perplexed about exactly how Hitler could have come to power in Germany. 'Watching Donald J. Trump's rise, I now understand.' And renowned political scientist Noam Chomsky explained that Trump's rise to power has been facilitated through 'fear, along with the breakdown of society'. In an interview on Alternet, Chomsky explained: 'People feel isolated, helpless, victim of powerful forces that they do not understand and cannot influence.' Smith has left a note offering a job and $20 in case the robber returns The thief made off with everything of value, including copper pipes The shop was robbed twice and Smith has now installed security cameras A store owner who got robbed twice in one week has turned the other cheek and left a kind note - with a bit of cash - in case the burglar returns. Luke Smith, of Germantown, Philadelphia, bought a former cafe in his hometown intending to spruce it up. But this past week, the shop was broken into twice and thieves took everything of value, NBC reported. Tools and copper pipes disappeared after the first burglary. Just a few days later, the shop was robbed again and burglars took what was left. Luke Smith (pictured) bought a former cafe in Germantown, Philadelphia, intending to fix it up. But burglars broke into the shop twice this past week and took everything of value Smith, a father of four, says it was very upsetting when the store was robbed a second time, but decided to change his mindset. He left a note in case the burglar comes back, offering to hire them to spruce up the shop and telling them to take the $20 bill attached Smith, a father of four, found it very upsetting but decided to let go of his frustration. Instead, he installed security cameras inside the shop and wrote a note to the robber in case they come back, offering to hire them to give the store a makeover. Smith even stapled a $20 bill at the back of the letter. 'Dear fellow human,' the note reads, 'If you broke into my building a third time despite the cameras you must be really desperate for money. 'Since you've already stolen anything of value, please take this $20. I hope it helps you. And I hope you can find a way to make money and support yourself through less destructive means. 'I want to hire locally and if you're looking for work you should drop by during the day sometime and offer your help. 'This building has been nothing but headaches and I could use a helping hand from my community. 'PS: I'm not a rich man and have many mouths to feed, but you need this $20 more than I do. I'm sorry I can't afford more.' This was not a natural reaction, Smith told NBC. 'It was a deliberate change in my outlook to not be angry about it,' he said. 'We just don't get reminded enough that we all should do that and I'm going to try to do it more often.' No one had replied to the note as of Friday. During the first robbery, thieves made off with tools and copper pipes. Smith (pictured in front of the shop) thinks the same burglar came back The parents of a seven-year-old girl who could die from a sudden freight after being diagnosed with a rare brain disorder has released an emotional video in a desperate bid to save her life. Chloe Saxby, seven, was diagnosed with Vanishing White Matter - a terminal brain disease, which only affects seven people in Australia. Her parents, from Wonoona, near Woolongong, New South Wales, have launched a desperate plea to raise cash for life-saving research. Scroll down for video Chloe Saxby, 7, (pictured here with her mum, Nyree) suffers from a very rare and incurable brain disease called Vanishing White Matter Disease Chloe Saxby has a disease so rare only seven people in Australia have been diagnosed with it Chloe, in a wheelchair, shares a moment with her parents while they take a trip to the seaside They have launched an emotional video to help raise money to research the disease which is currently killing 172 children world-wide, Grant Saxby, Chloe's dad told Daily Mail Australia. They need to help raise the funds to fast-track the research because due to the rarity of the disease, pharmaceutical companies will not fund a treatment. Before her diagnosis Chloe was a fun loving, active little girl who loved to dance and do anything her older sister Madeleine, now 11, did. Now a bump on the head, a fever, a cold or a fright could kill her. Mr Saxby says he will never forget the moment the family's journey with the deadly disease began. 'We got a phone call from the preschool Chloe was at to say she couldn't get out of the sandpit,' Mr Saxby said. 'She had been home from school with a fever and tummy bug for a few days before so we went and picked her up.' The Saxby's took their three-year-old to the local hospital where a pediatrician noted she was unsteady on her feet. She had an MRI which revealed something rare and dangerous, but doctors were not sure what. The Woolongong child could die from as little as a bump on the head, a fever, a cold or a fright Eventually the disease will paralyse Chloe, and she will lose her ability to talk, see, hear and eat before suffering a painful and early death The family were then told to take her to the Children's Hospital in Sydney. 'When I walked into that hospital room and saw seven specialists my heart fell, and I knew this was going to be a lot more serious than what we had been thinking.' It was seven-months before the family received a diagnosis which revealed the rare, incurable disease and the 5-10 year survival time frame. Eventually it will paralyse her, and she will lose her ability to talk, see, hear and eat before suffering a painful and early death. 'Basically when Chloe is shocked, or has an infection the white matter her brain produces isn't thick enough to protect the nerves in her brain,' Mr Saxby said. Chloe's parents are appealing for support to help fund research into a cure for the disease The disease means every time the young girl is sick for more than a day or two she has to be taken to hospital (pictured during a visit) 'In most people the white matter is the consistency of toothpaste, so it can cover the nerves well, but with her it is watery, so she isn't protected.' Both Grant, and his wife Nyree are carriers of the disease which is how Chloe ended up with it. Her sister Madeleine has no traces of the disease. 'In a way it was a relief, but you always want a better result,' Mr Saxby said. In the early days Chloe could still walk with the help of a walking frame. But the family soon learnt that the tiniest shock could lead to huge, instant, and irreversible damage. 'She was at her friend's house one day lying on the floor when she fell backwards and bumped her head lightly,' he said. 'After that she had no movement in her legs and had to start using her wheelchair.' Chloe was diagnosed with the disease when she was three-and-a-half she went from being an active toddler to not being able to walk without support whilst playing in a sandpit After she was diagnosed with the disease she suffered a small bump on the head - after that she lost all leg control and needed to use a wheelchair - since then she has used a cap to protect her head (pictured) Now every time the little girl gets sick the family are on high alert. 'If she is sick with a cold for more than a few days we have to go to the hospital to get fluids into her. 'She can't risk getting infections or losing fluid.' All children with VWM have different symptoms, but part of the disease for Chloe is seizures. 'One seizure she had lasted for an hour, for me that was the hardest time since she was diagnosed,' he said. 'When she didn't come out of it after ten minutes, or even at the hospital I thought she might not come out of it at all. The young girl loves dancing and school and is generally happiest when she is surrounded by people Her deterioration will continue until her death unless a cure is found before hand, pictured when she could still walk with help from walkers The family have set up a website explaining their desperate plight, and they explain there is hope for Chloe and the other children out there with the disease 'It was a scary thought that we might not be taking her home.' The young girl now wears a 'cap', which looks like a helmet, everywhere she goes to protect her from damage. Her father says Chloe is often tired, shakey 'like Parkinson's' in the morning, gets hot often and is a bit slower than the other kids in her year at school. In spite of this she still enjoys activities like swimming which helps keep her muscles strong, and dancing, which she does from the safety of her wheelchair. Her family have created a webpage to raise awareness of the disease and to raise funds for the research needed to help Chloe live. They are asking people to donate to the campaign, which eventually is hoped will raise more than $2million. The Saving Chloe Saxby crowdfunding page hopes to raise money to go towards researching a cure for the disease Her parents said that although it sounded like a lot of money, 'Crowd funding could literally raise the funds overnight to really make a difference' They hope new research conducted in Israel holds the key to cure. The fundraising page shows they have several targets. First is raising $840,000, which will help towards speeding up existing research. Next is a $1.4m target, then $1.7m, and finally, $2.6m, which will 'enable an outsourced program to facilitate characterisation of the drug-like molecule with the potential to lead to pre-clinical stage', according to the fundraising page. 'We are just trying to raise as much money for it as possible so hopefully there will be a cure for it in Chloe's lifetime.' When Chloe was younger, before she got sick she used to want to do everything like her older sister Madeleine (pictured) The young girl now goes to swimming lessons to help with her muscle development which has deteriorated since she started using the wheelchair Chloe before the disease struck. Children with the Vanishing White Matter genes usually show signs between two and six years of age Chloe's sister said in an emotional video about the situation that she wanted to 'grow up with her by my side'. They wrote on Chloe's fundraising page: 'This can only happen with your help. Please help us raise these critical funds to find a cure in time to save Chloe and other children worldwide affected by VWM. Even if it is only a few dollars or if you can only share our story with as many people as you know, we will be forever grateful'. 'We can't just stand by whilst this disease ravages Chloe's body,' the family said. Chloe's symptoms include over-heating, fatigue, seizures and shakey hands in the morning, as well an increased chance of landing back in the hospital from infection (pictured) 'It will then paralyse her little body to the point that she won't be able to hold her head up, talk, see, hear or eat. 'She will experience a lot of pain and suffering and die at a very early age, if the cure is not found in time. People can donate to the appeal by visiting Chloe's webpage. The disease usually show's up in children between two and six years-old. Chloe shares a hug with her mother, Nyree, in a happier moment The father-of-two had proposed to his girlfriend just days before A police report said he was going 'well in excess' of the speed limit Alexander lost control of his car and crashed into two utility poles Capt Earl Alexander IV, 38, was found to have dozen chemicals in his blood Deal Police Capt. Earl Alexander IV was under the influence of 'bath salt' designer drugs and alcohol when he was killed in a one-vehicle crash last month A New Jersey police captain killed in a car crash last month was driving under the influence of 'bath salts', prescription drugs and more than twice the legal limit of alcohol, official records revealed. Capt. Earl Alexander IV, 38, of the Deal Police Department was off-duty on January 2 when he lost control of his car and crashed into two utility poles and a stone wall. An official toxicology screen found a dozen chemicals in Alexander's blood, including illegal designer drugs often referred to as 'bath salts', according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office. The stimulants ethylone, butylone, methylone, dibutylone, dimethylone and fluoroamphetamine had all been in the 17-year veteran's system. Toxicology specialist Dr Lawrence Guzzardi compared the drugs to MDMA and Ecstasy. 'These are psychoactive drugs,' he told the Asbury Park Press. 'These are very unusual drugs. I don't know how this guy gets these.' Also discovered in Alexander's blood was signs of prescription antidepressant Lexapro and sleep medication Ambien, as well as amphetamine, which is prescribed to treat ADHD or nacrolepsy, and diphenhydramine, the chemical found in Benadryl. The captain's blood-alcohol concentration was 0.19 percent. Guzzardi said the combination of drugs and alcohol found in Alexander's system would have gotten him a DUI 'on the spot'. Alexander, who was second in command at the Deal Police Department, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not coming to or returning from work. A police report states the father-of-two was driving 'at a rate of speed which was well in excess of the posted 35 mph speed limit'. Alexander was a father of two children, aged 6 and 4, and had proposed to his longtime girlfriend on Christmas Eve. Alexander, a father-of-two who had proposed to his longtime girlfriend (pictured together, was off-duty on January 2 when he lost control of his car and crashed into two utility poles and a stone wall Comes after series of FBI raids on Jeffs' compound in South Dakota revealed yet more strange details about how the FLDS operated This included wives and children, separated from husbands and families He has now lifted the lid on life inside the sect, including how property was pooled by members before being given out according to a caste system But he went turncoat after being played a tape of Jeffs abusing a girl, 12 Helped Jeffs run his cult-like religious sect, protecting him at all costs Willie Jessop used to be right-hand man to FLDS 'prophet' Warren Jeffs He used to be The Prophet's right-hand man, protecting him from adversaries, taking down his enemies and, on at least one occasion, helping him flee from the police on a motorbike. Willie Jessop, a former follower of Warren Jeffs and his cult-like Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, dedicated his life to protecting Jeffs any way he could. But all that changed in 2011 when Texas authorities slipped him a tape that recorded Jeffs sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl who he claimed was his niece and 'spirit wife', CNN reports. Now, Jessop is unearthing secrets of life inside the cult in court as the key witness in a civil trial, and helping to dismantle Jeffs' former empire while he serves a life sentence in jail for sexual assault. Willie Jessop, the former right-hand man to Warren Jeffs, the leader of cult-like religious sect Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, has spoken out about life inside the organization Jessop said after new recruits were assessed with questions designed to test their loyalty and obedience, all of their possessions were taken and reassigned according to a caste-based system that Jeffs controlled Describing life inside the FLDS, Jessop said that new followers were taken to a walled compound on arrival where they were given an interview to assess their suitability for life in the closed-off society. Questions were designed to test their loyalty and obedience, Jessop says, a key part of the indoctrination process for new members. He paints a picture of a socialist society, with resources pooled and then divided out among members based on a caste system. This included everything, from food, to jobs - even wives and children could be taken away from their husbands and parents at a whim and redistributed. After being questioned, the most obedient new members - Jeffs called them the most pious - were brought into the United Order, the upper echelon of FLDS society. They were given the best food, the best houses, allowed a running water supply and were prioritized for the best jobs. Others were destined to live in trailers or shanty homes, and collected their rations from a different storehouse, with portions being comparatively meager. All of their own possessions had to be handed over to the FLDS for 'consecration' before they were allowed in, with re-baptisms to follow. Despite having misgivings about some of Jeffs' methods, Jessop says he he was fully dedicated to the man he considered God's messenger on Earth. All cult resources were pooled and then divided out according to Jeffs. This included food, clothing, homes, water supplies, jobs - even wives and children could be removed from their families and reassigned at a whim Jessop said he devoted everything to protecting Jeffs, until Texas police played him a tape of Jeffs abusing a 12-year-old girl. He is now a state turncoat and star witness in trials against Jeffs and his followers Jeffs (left in jail, right at his trial in 2010) is currently serving a life sentence for sexually abusing two 12-year-old girls he claimed were his 'spirit wives' He said: 'All of our focus was on protecting Warren, protecting him legally, physically, financially -- any way we could find to protect him. And he was using that to be a terrible monster.' At one point, after Jeffs was placed on the FBI rosta of most wanted men, alongside Whitey Bulger and Osama bin Laden, Jessop even recalls helping him avoid a raid on an FLDS meeting house. Tipped that the authorities were due to arrive, Jessop said he sent the rest of the congregation out the main entrance on quadbikes, straight into waiting officers. Meanwhile, he and Jeffs hopped on to motorbikes and rode in the opposite direction along a dry creek bed to the airport, carrying bags stuffed with cash and fake IDs. Asked now why he turned against his former employer and savior, Jessop says bluntly: 'Those sons of bitches were raping little girls down in Texas. 'I knew it and they knew I knew it, and this battle rages on today.' Granted $30million after suing FLDS for harassment and causing his excavation business to shut down after he left the church, Jessop is now using that money to buy up the church's properties. Where men were formerly interrogated before joining the cult, he has now built a school where 300 children, both from the FDLS and outside, mingle and learn side by side. A massive house, built for Jeffs by his followers after The Prophet had a vision that he would be freed from jail if they constructed it, has been turned into a hotel. Jessop is also helping to dismantle Jeffs' empire, buying up property the church owned using money from a civil suit against them, he has turned a former recruiting center into a school (pictured, a FLDS town in Utah) Following another set of federal raids, more disturbing details emerged about what goes on behind the secretive walls of the South Dakota compound (pictured) belonging to Warren Jeff's polygamous sect Jessop spoke out at a civil trial against the cities of Hildale, Utah, Colorado City, Arizona, both of which are controlled by the FLDS. Authorities are charged with running a corrupt and biased government, favoring FLDS members and helping drive 'apostates' - or non-believers - out of town. The case comes as top leaders from FLDS, including Warren's brothers Lyle Jeffs and Seth Jeffs, were arrested Tuesday after a crackdown on an alleged food stamp fraud scheme. And an FBI report on a 2014 interview with former compound resident Sam Steed revealed that the property - already surrounded by a 'privacy' fence and tall pine trees - was bolstered by a roving 24/7 security force and a steel-enforced octagonal watch tower that was manned 24/7. Steed also revealed that cell phone batteries had to be removed while on the property. Even the presiding bishop who carried a phone, had to leave to use it, Steed told the FBI. And while there are various compounds across America, the South Dakota site appears to have had a special set of rules. 'There was a selection process for these girls chosen to go to R23 [what followers called the South Dakota site],' Steed said. 'Lyle (Jeffs) was instrumental in the selection process and told the girls that you had to 'qualify' to go.' Only a dozen people were approved to work on Warren Jeffs' house on the South Dakota property. Sam Steed revealed the that property - already surrounded by a 'privacy' fence and tall pine trees - was bolstered by a roving 24/7 security force and a steel-enforced octagonal watch tower that was manned 24/7 Steed also revealed that the South Dakota residence (pictured), whose construction started in 2008, was built with one-foot thick walls, sound barriers and double padded flooring While there are various compounds across America, the South Dakota site (pictured) appears to have had a special set of rules Steed revealed that the residence, whose construction started in 2008, was built with one-foot thick walls, sound barriers and double padded flooring. FOOD STAMP RAIDS EXPLAINED Federal prosecutors say church leaders orchestrated a yearslong scheme instructing members how to use food-stamp benefits illegally for the benefit of the faith and avoid getting caught. Followers would scan their food stamp debit cards at church-run stores, leaving the money with the owners, prosecutors say. Group leaders then funneled money to front companies. Some of those funds were used to pay thousands for a tractor and a truck, the indictment shows. The volume of food stamp purchases at two small convenience stores was so large that it rivaled retailers the size of Wal-Mart and Costco, prosecutors say, with the total amount diverted and laundered estimated at $12 million. Another common practice was buying groceries with food stamps and giving the supplies to the church's communal storehouse for leaders to divvy up. Source: AP Advertisement Warren Jeffs' son Roy - who left the sect in 2014 - was sent to live in the South Dakota compound for nearly a year in 2007-2008, where he spent long days building houses with log exteriors. Other men helped raise livestock or stood guard in the tower, Roy Jeffs told The Associated Press. Roy Jeffs said only a few dozen people were there at a time. He saw women, but didn't know what they were there for. People weren't supposed to leave without approval from leaders. Before 2010, the only people allowed to go to South Dakota were devout followers in good standing, he said. In the faith's hierarchy, it was considered more sacred than the base on the Utah-Arizona border but below the Texas compound, which had a temple, Roy Jeffs said. The sect in 2011 wanted to build a temple on the South Dakota property, but leaders told the Custer County planning commission that the structure was going to be a storage building. The project was scrapped when leaders ran out of money, according to Steed. 'It has the same dimensions as the temple down in Texas, but it was kind of roughed out and never really started,' Wheeler said. Warren Jeffs said sites such as South Dakota were necessary because he believed that the government intended to seize property on the Arizona-Utah border, according to Jerold Williams, a former church elder who supervised early construction of the South Dakota compound until 2006. There were a series of federal raids at the sect's South Dakota site (pictured) on federal accusations of food stamp fraud and money laundering marking one of the biggest crackdowns on the group in year Warren's brothers Lyle Jeffs of Utah (left) and Seth Jeffs of South Dakota right), were arrested Tuesday after a crackdown on an alleged food stamp fraud scheme 'It was a prophesy kind of thing,' Williams said. 'He was going to do these 'lands of refuge,' he called them, for people to have somewhere to go to.' Some of the detail in court documents matches Williams' account of South Dakota, which was meant to be 'top secret.' Members doing the work often didn't really know what Warren Jeffs had in mind, said Williams, who left the church in 2012. Neighbors have regarded the Pringle outpost with mistrust and concern, including skepticism about Seth Jeffs' truthfulness during a hearing last year on a request to draw water more quickly at the compound. If people want world peace, all they have to do is share more on Facebook, well at least that's what Mark Zuckerberg said. The chief executive officer of Facebook said that the social network's mission really focuses on 'giving everyone the power to share all of the things that they care about'. As Zuckerberg became the first recipient of the newly established Axel Springer Award for outstanding entrepreneur personality, he told the audience that sharing more on Facebook 'makes the world more understanding'. Scroll down for video As Mark Zuckerberg became the first recipient of the newly established Axel Springer Award for outstanding entrepreneur personality, he told the audience that sharing more on Facebook 'makes the world more understanding' Facebook and world peace came up during Zuckerberg's interview as addressed trends and how his company is a huge part of that He told the media company's CEO, Mathias Dopfner, in an interview in Berlin that Facebook gives people the opportunity to share 'what they're thinking about, what they're experiencing on a day-to-day basis'. The idea he says is 'that everyone has the power to share those things, then that makes the world more understanding, it helps people stay closer to the people who they love, all these good things that we value', according to Market Watch. But despite Zuckerberg's efforts to bring the world together the Islamic State has taken his message to heart, after he attempted to exclude the group from Facebook. Earlier this week, the group threatened Zuckerberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in a video attacking their efforts to wipe terrorist accounts from social media. The 25-minute video titled Flames Of The Supporters, found by Vocativ on Wednesday, features pictures of both entrepreneurs covered in bullet holes. In it, the militants claim they control more than 10,000 Facebook accounts, 150 Facebook groups and 5,000 Twitter profiles - and warn they will retaliate to any attempt to drive them off the sites. In the video the group said: 'You announce daily that you suspend many of our accounts. This is a clip from the video threatening Jack Dorsey (left) and Mark Zuckerberg (right), which was published on Telegram - a social media site popular with ISIS - by a group that calls itself 'the sons of the Caliphate army' The video was a response to both Dorsey's and Zuckerberg's attempts to combat terrorism on social media Showing clips of militants hacking accounts, this 25-minute video warns they are 'not in our league' 'And to you we say: "Is that all you can do? You are not in our league."' It comes after both Zuckerberg and Dorsey announced an intense push against terrorist users on their social networks. Twitter has closed at least 125,000 accounts tied to the Islamic State, which uses the social network as one of its key media to spread propaganda. Facebook vowed to follow suit. An investigation by IBTimes U.K. found that arms dealers across Egypt, Syria, Libya, Gaza and Iraq are using Facebook to sell weapons and missiles. A Sunday People probe found a 149 per cent rise in serious crimes linked to social media, including murder and pedophilia. Crimes are terrorism are not the only things associated with social media, depression has also been linked to Facebook. Zuckerberg also said he believes virtual reality will likely become the next big way to share Zuckerberg told the media company's CEO, Mathias Dopfner (left), in an interview in Berlin that Facebook gives people the opportunity to share 'what they're thinking about, what they're experiencing on a day-to-day basis' Just last year a new study found that Facebook and depressive symptoms go hand-in-hand. The study that was published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology determined that people who were on Facebook the most had more depressive symptoms and social comparison was the mediator. For example, friends and relatives taking vacations, people getting married or having a great love life are all social comparison factors that can make some users depressed, especially if their lives aren't going the way they planned. A two-month-old baby girl believed to have been kidnapped by two armed intruders last night has been found alive more than 200 miles away from her home after a 17-hour search. Taraji Kemp was sleeping in a bedroom with her mother when the intruders broke into her Fort Lauderdale home and took her just after 11pm on Friday, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office. Suspect Stephanie Augustin, 23, has also been located and is speaking with detectives. Scroll down for video Stephanie Augustin, 23, has been named a person of interest in the kidnapping of 2-month-old Taraji Kemp, who was taken from her home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Friday night Taraji Kemp was sleeping in a bedroom with her mother when the intruders broke into the Fort Lauderdale home (pictured) and took the child just after 11pm, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office Broward Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Joy Oglesby said Taraji has been taken to an Orlando hospital and they were just waiting for official positive identification. She did not reveal if Taraji had been with Augustin or what led to the girl's discovery. An Amber Alert had been issued for Taraji on Saturday morning. Ogelsby said one of the suspects who invaded her home had a gun. K-9 dogs had been unsuccessful in their attempt to pick up a scent for the child or her kidnappers earlier Saturday. Police interviewed Taraji's parents and the other residents of the house. 'Any time a child is taken, especially this young, they're still in diapers, they need milk, they're sleeping constantly,' Oglesby told the Sun-Sentinel earlier Saturday. 'We definitely want to reunite this baby with their mother.' The Amber Alert noted that Taraji was wearing a pink onesie and had a birth mark on her chest. A grieving Pope Francis has brought twelve white roses as a touching tribute to his receptionist, who was found dead at her small apartment on the outskirts of Rome, Italy. Miriam Wuolou, a 34-year-old of Eritrean origin, was seven-months pregnant when her body was discovered and has been absent from work for several weeks due to a serious form of diabetes. She had worked as front-of-house at Pope Francis' home, a priests' guesthouse Santa Marta for years, acting as a kind of gatekeeper for the pope as well as for the bishops and cardinals who stay there. Pope Francis during the visit to the body of Miriam Wuolou, a receptionist at Santa Marta residence who was found dead in her home on the outskirts of Rome She had worked as front-of-house at Pope Francis' home, a priests' guesthouse Santa Marta for years, acting as a kind of gatekeeper for the pope as well as for the bishops and cardinals who stay there After laying the flowers, the Pope sprinkled the coffin with holy water and remained in prayer for twenty minutes Miriam is thought to have died alone, of suspected problems related to her diabetes, which had already led doctor to warn that her pregnancy at risk The Argentinian pontiff visited the body of Wuolou ahead of the funeral service, in the church of Santo Stefano degli Abissini. After laying the flowers, the Pope sprinkled the coffin with holy water and remained in prayer for twenty minutes. The pope opted to live at the Santa Marta guesthouse after his appointment in 2013, rejecting the grand papal apartments because he found them too sumptuous and he feared isolation. Miriam is thought to have died alone, of suspected problems related to her diabetes, which had already led doctor to warn that her pregnancy at risk. Police are investigating a case of neglect and have interviewed family members, her ex-husband from whom she was separated, and most recent boyfriend, thought to be a policeman in the Vatican, according to Rome-based newspaper il Messaggero. Her brother found the body on Friday after he had not heard from her for several days. Pope Francis met several members of the Italian association of manufacturing companies Confindustria The pontiff spoke with more than 7,000 businessmen, urging them to contribute to a more just society and reflect on the ethics of doing business Businessmen were depicted while trying to take a snap of the pontiff in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican Pope Francis caresses the head of a teenager during an audience with the Confindustria Earlier, Pope Francis met several members of the Italian association of manufacturing companies Confindustria. The pontiff spoke with more than 7,000 businessmen, urging them to contribute to a more just society and reflect on the ethics of doing business. 'May justice always be your teacher,' he said, 'justice which refuses the 'easy-way-out' of recommendations and favoritisms, and the dangerous deviations of dishonesty and easy compromises. Every man in an Iranian village has been executed for drugs offences, a human rights group has claimed. The majority of drug users in Iran are addicted to opium (opium poppies, above) Every man in an Iranian village has been executed for drugs offences, a human rights group has claimed. Shahindokht Molaverdi, the country's vice president for women and family affairs, claimed that men from Sistan and Baluchestan had been killed. She told state agency Mehr earlier this week: 'We have a village in Sistan and Baluchestan where every single man has been executed. The children [of these men] are potential drug traffickers.' It is unclear if the men were executed at the same time or if they have been killed separately over a period of time. Iran is the world's second most prolific executioner with nearly two thirds of all hangings relating to alleged drugs offences. The Sistan and Baluchistan province borders Afghanistan and Pakistan and has been the site of thousands of deaths, some of which followed smuggling conflicts. Around 600 out of 947 hangings were linked to drugs last year while 31 have already been carried out this year, according to Reprieve. Maya Foa, head of the death penalty team at Reprieve, said: 'The apparent hanging of every man in one Iranian village demonstrates the astonishing scale of Iran's execution spree. 'These executions often based on juvenile arrests, torture, and unfair or nonexistent trials show total contempt for the rule of law, and it is shameful that the UN and its funders are supporting the police forces responsible. Shahindokht Molaverdi, the country's vice president for women and family affairs, claimed that men from Sistan and Baluchestan had been killed. Above, narcotics seized in Iran are set fire to in 2014 'The UN Office on Drugs and Crime must urgently make its new Iran funding conditional on an end to the death penalty for drug offences.' A spokesman for UNODC told The Independent: 'UNODC works with countries to build their capacity to interrupt drug trafficking. A Tampa fugitive arrested by chance in Tallmadge, Ohio, tried to bite off his fingerprints in an attempt to conceal his identity. Kirk Kelly, 24, has been wanted for four months on firearm and drug charges. Officers pulled him over along with three other people for a license plate violation last week, Fox8 reported. All four waited inside a police car while officers searched their vehicle after smelling drugs. Kirk Kelly (pictured), 24, of Tampa, Florida, was arrested during a traffic stop in Tallmadge, Ohio, after being wanted for four months on drug and firearm charges. He tried to conceal his identity but officers confirmed who he was based on his tattoos, which include the words 'Port Tampa' and Tampa area code 813 Officers believe Kelly heard them saying they would use a portable fingerprint reader to identify him and tried to chew off the tip of his fingers (pictured) to make his fingerprints impossible to read Video courtesy WEWS Kelly first tried to hide who he really was by using his brother's name. Police said they would use a portable fingerprint scanner to confirm his identity. Officers believe Kelly overheard them and chewed off the tip of his fingers to make his fingerprints impossible to read. He tried to get away but police caught him shortly. Officers later identified him thanks to his tattoos, which include the words 'Port Tampa' on his stomach, as well as Tampa area code 813. A now-defunct Crime Stoppers posting says Kelly was wanted on eight drug and firearm charges. The charges include racketeering, delivery of MDMA, possession of a firearm while engaged in a criminal offense, possession of a controlled substance and transportation of drug paraphernalia. He is now facing four additional charges after attempting to erase his fingerprints. Kirk is currently held at Summit County Jail in Akron, Ohio, for falsification, resisting arrest, tampering with evidence, obstructing official business and being a fugitive from justice. He is awaiting extradition to Florida. Stewards say many tens of thousands made it the largest in a generation Instead, he addressed crowds in London for anti-nuclear demonstration Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has caused outrage among his own party after snubbing plans to spend the day campaigning against Brexit. Instead, the leader addressed a crowd estimated to have been in the many tens of thousands, who gathered in London in the biggest anti-nuclear demonstration for a generation. Many Labour MPs shared photographs of themselves out and about today across the UK, clutching 'Labour In' banners and discussing the upcoming referendum with members of the public. But Labour activists and supporters were quick to point out Mr Corbyn's conspicuous absence from pro-EU effort. Scroll down for videos Protest: Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn snubbed a day of anti-Brexit campaigning to address a crowd of many tens of thousands of anti-nuclear demonstrators in Trafalgar Square, London Destruction: Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also spoke out at the rally in London, saying that 'the use of nuclear weapons would bring about human devastation and suffering on an unimaginable scale' Stand up: Marching through the streets of the capital, many tens of thousands turned out for the demonstration - making it the largest for a generation So while 1000s of our activists were out campaigning for the Labour In campaign, what was Jeremy Corbyn doing? wrote Labour Party activist Tim Macpherson. I see Corbyn was enthusiastically campaigning in favour of the EU today maybe not! wrote Twitter user Josephine Formby. Political activist Keith Nieland added: Twitter tells me lots of good @UKLabour folks are out today campaigning for @SadiqKhan and remain EU referendum. Wheres Corbyn? Other internal critics hit out at Mr Corbyn for distracting the public's attention away from its pro-EU stance and again highlighting the party's damaging internal divisions. It came after Labour MPs were ordered to join a 'national campaign day' today for Britain to stay in the EU. Local Labour parties sent out instructions to members on how to campaign for Britain to stay in the EU, setting out a six-point plan to sell to voters on the doorstep - from claims that the EU saves the average family 450 a year at the checkout to claims that 'millions of British jobs are linked to Europe'. Also doing the social media rounds were a series of anti-EU tweets posted in 2012 by Mr Corbyn himself, leading to questions about what had caused the sudden U-turn. In one, dating from November 2011, the leader posted: The ECB has now appointed Prime Ministers in Greece and Italy. We now have economic coups to carry out the cuts. A second, from December 2011, read: 26 EU Govts hand economic power to unelected Commission. EU wants to protect privilege of City. Who is defending workers jobs and services? Demonstration: Anti-Trident demonstrators march during a protest organised by Campaign for Nuclear Disarmement (CND) titled 'Stop Trident' in London, Support: Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn addresses the crowd at the anti-nuclear demonstration today in Trafalgar Square March: Protesters and Politicians at 'Stop Trident Rally' protest against the possible renewal of the UK's four submarines that form the country's nuclear deterrent ahead of a parliamentary vote Outrage: Protesters gather in Trafalgar Square, London, for the Stop Trident protest rally. But Labour activists and supporters were quick to point out Mr Corbyn's conspicuous absence from pro-EU effort Speaking out: Political activist Keith Nieland added: Twitter tells me lots of good @UKLabour folks are out today campaigning for @SadiqKhan and remain EU referendum. Wheres Corbyn? Speech: Protesters condemned plans to renew the UK's Trident nuclear deterrent, which is set to cost 31billion over 20 years, according to estimates from the Ministry of Defence Another dating from February 2012: Greek people forced to accept minimum wage and benefit cuts, more job losses and deeper poverty to please monetarists of the Euro Bank. While some call out Mr Corbyn's doubts as weakness in the official Labour line, others insist that his doubts could be used to the party's advantage. Mr Corbyn they say, as a former Eurosceptic, is in a strong position to sway the 38 per cent of Labour voters who would currently opt for Brexit. Mr Corbyn was joined at the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament demonstration by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and her Plaid Cymru counterpart Leanne Wood. EU effort: Labour MP for Leicester West and East Midlands Liz Kendall tweeted this picture from Nottingham Drive: One Labour activist tweeted this picture of Labour MP for Gedling Vernon Coaker campaigning in Arnold They condemned plans to renew the UK's Trident nuclear deterrent, which is set to cost 31billion over 20 years, according to estimates from the Ministry of Defence. A further 10billion is earmarked to meet any additional unexpected cost increases. 'If a nuclear war took place there would be mass destruction on both sides of the conflict,' said Mr Corbyn, addressing the crowds gathered in London's Trafalgar Square. 'Everyone should think about the humanitarian effects on people across this globe if they're ever used. 'We live in a world where so many things are possible. Where peace is possible in so many place. You don't achieve peace by planning for war, grabbing resources and not respecting each other's human rights. United: While some call out Mr Corbyn's doubts as weakness in the official Labour line, others insist that his doubts could be used to the party's advantage Fury: Mr Corbyn was joined at the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament demonstration by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (centre) and her Plaid Cymru counterpart Leanne Wood Controversy: The question of whether or not to renew Trident has sparked fierce debate within the Labour party, which has yet to decide how it would handle any Commons vote on the issue Nuclear: While Mr Corbyn favours unilateral disarmament, some of his shadow cabinet, including Shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn, believe in multilateral action Turnout: Mr Corbyn was the last of more than 20 speakers - including senior union members and actress Vanessa Redgrave - to address the crowd 'Today's demonstration is an expression of many people's opinions and views. I'm here because I believe in a nuclear-free Britain and a nuclear-free future. 'Thank you for coming to this demonstration, thank you for showing that you care and thank you for showing you want a peaceful future for this country and the rest of the world.' The question of whether or not to renew Trident has sparked fierce debate within the Labour party, which has yet to decide how it would handle any Commons vote on the issue. While Mr Corbyn favours unilateral disarmament, some of his shadow cabinet, including Shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn, believe in multilateral action. A Commons vote on the issue is expected later this year. Future: 'If a nuclear war took place there would be mass destruction on both sides of the conflict,' said Mr Corbyn, addressing the crowds gathered in London's Trafalgar Square Issue: Ms Sturgeon added that the SNP would be making Trident a political issue at forthcoming elections Mr Corbyn was the last of more than 20 speakers - including senior union members and actress Vanessa Redgrave - to address the crowd. Meanwhile, Ms Sturgeon described Trident as 'immoral' and 'impractical'. 'It is the norm in the world today to be nuclear-free,' she said. 'It is the exception to the rule to possess nuclear weapons, let that ring out loudly and clearly. 'The use of nuclear weapons would bring about human devastation and suffering on an unimaginable scale.' Ms Sturgeon added that the SNP would be making Trident a political issue at forthcoming elections. Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas described nuclear weaponry as 'a cold war relic'. Police have begun an inquiry into claims that a confession implicating Jeremy Thorpe in a plot to murder his former lover was destroyed in a Whitehall cover-up. Dennis Meighan, now 69, told police in a statement in 1975 that he was hired to assassinate Norman Scott, who at the time was threatening to expose his relationship with the Liberal leader. After being approached by a representative of Thorpe, Meighan says he agreed to carry out the murder. Scandal: Former Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe is led away by police in 1977 Dennis Meighan (pictured) told police in a statement in 1975 that he was hired to assassinate Norman Scott, who at the time was threatening to expose his relationship with the Liberal leader But he changed his mind and gave detectives details of the conspiracy, which he says were ignored. Instead, a false statement exonerating both himself and the politician was apparently given to him to sign. Now The Mail on Sunday can reveal that Gwent Polices Major Incident Team has been asked to investigate Meighans claim that he was silenced. If his story is found to be true, detectives will focus on who in Whitehall had authority to sanction the statement swap and whether the security services were involved. Meighan was never called to give evidence when Thorpe and three others went on trial in 1979 accused of conspiring to murder Scott. All four were acquitted, but Thorpes political career was ruined. He died in 2014. The new investigation, prompted by Meighans 2014 interviews with The Mail on Sunday and the BBC, is expected to last several months. Last week detectives interviewed Scott at his cottage on Dartmoor. The 75-year-old said last night: The truth will all come out. Meighan was never called to give evidence when Thorpe and three others went on trial in 1979 accused of conspiring to murder Scott (pictured at home in Devon) He hopes Meighan will repeat his allegations to the inquiry. Meighan, a small-time criminal back in the 1970s, indicated yesterday that he would co-operate so long as Im not nicked. Detectives are also planning to interview the son of the late Peter Bessell, a former Liberal MP and friend of Thorpe, who was a prosecution witness in the trial. Bessells evidence implicating Thorpe in the plot to kill Scott was treated with scepticism by the judge because Bessell had agreed to sell his story at the end of the trial. But sources say Paul Bessell has written evidence demonstrating that his father only agreed to a newspaper interview having first cleared it with the then Director of Public Prosecutions. Meighan originally became linked to the affair through a school friend, Andrew Newton, who asked if he could supply him with a gun. After shooting Scotts dog Rinka (pictured), Newton allegedly tried to shoot Scott, only for the gun to jam They arranged to meet in Shepherds Bush, West London, and Newton brought along a man who introduced himself as a representative of Jeremy Thorpe. Meighan said: They spoke about Scott, said he was squealing and being a nuisance and had to be silenced. 'They offered me 13,500. I didnt believe it at first but eventually they convinced me. A few days later he decided not to go through with the plan, so on October 23, 1975, Newton lured Scott to Dartmoor, claiming to be a minder protecting him from a hitman. All four on trial in 1979 accused of conspiring to murder Scott were acquitted, but Thorpes (pictured) political career was ruined Norman Scott pictured in May 1979 at the Old Bailey during the Jeremy Thorpe trial After shooting Scotts dog Rinka, Newton allegedly tried to shoot Scott, only for the gun to jam. Newton was arrested and I was visited by three policemen, said Meighan. I admitted it all in a statement. I thought theyd nick me but they just said theyd be in touch. 'Then I got a call saying I needed to go to Brentford police station where I would be given a statement, and if I liked it I should sign it and go. I couldnt believe it. It was half as long as my original statement and all the references to Thorpe had been removed. It also cleared me completely. It was a cover-up, no question, but it suited me fine. Roast dinners were named the most iconic thing about Britain last month The firm's 950 watering holes will continue themed nights such as curries Move prompted people to take to social media to vent their outrage JD Wetherspoon pubs to stop serving Sunday roasts from next weekend Pub firm Wetherspoons is scrapping the traditional Sunday roast dinner from its menu, it has been revealed. In a move that has sparked a backlash from angry punters, the chain will instead focus on a large all-day menu based around burgers, burritos and traditional pub classics. The final cuts of meat, gravy and Yorkshire puddings at the company's 950 UK watering holes will be served next weekend on Mothering Sunday. Sunday roasts, pictured, are to be scrapped at Wetherspoons pubs from Mothering Sunday (file picture) Wetherspoons has already removed its 'Sunday Club' roast dinner section from its website, an offer on roasts than ran on Sundays between 12noon and 11pm. The decision has caused outrage on the internet with many people taking to social media to vent their frustrations. On Twitter, Chris J Hardley said 'SACRILEGE AND BLASPHEMY', while Tom Murray said 'Sunday roast its traditional its like toast at breakfast'. It has also caused fears the British tradition could die out, with chefs and food organisations bemoaning Wetherspoons' actions. Chef and World Yorkshire Pudding Champion Chris Blackburn, 37, told The Sun: 'We lose a lot of our traditions when we start abandoning special things associated with Britain. 'If a huge chain of British pubs has decided to stop serving roast dinners it is a terribly sad day.' The Family Farmers' Association added it would be 'extremely troubling' should the roast dinner become unfashionable in the UK. As previously reported, roasts were named the most iconic thing about Britain in a survey earlier this year. The 'Britishness Audit' found the Sunday meal beat the BBC and fish and chips as the thing we most associate with the country. The firm said it had made a 'commercial decision' to remove roasts but apologised to anyone disappointed (file picture) Wetherspoons has sold roasts for around 15 years, with deals including drinks from as low as 6.59. The origins of the meal are complicated, with some claiming it dates back to medieval times when villagers would demonstrate their battle technique and be rewarded with a feast of oxen by a lord or landowner. Others say it comes from the Industrial Revolution period in Yorkshire when families would leave a cut of meat in the oven before going to church, so it was ready by the time they returned. It is thought around 1.3million Sunday roasts are eaten in the UK every year. Wetherspoons confirmed the move was a 'commercial decision' but apologised to anyone who was disappointed. Giesler said she was fired after assault charges were filed against the boy She finally went to the police after her thumb was broken Carrie Giesler is suing the Thompson School District for failing to protect her from what she says was repeated abuse from her 13-year-old student A Colorado school district is being sued by a teacher who said she was beaten and bullied by her own 13-year-old student for months as her pleas for protection were ignored. Carrie Giesler said the boy, who has autism, would slap and spit in her face, punch her ribs and kick her in the back during the six months she said he physically attacked her. Giesler said she repeatedly went to the Thompson School District in Loveland to ask for help but that the student went unpunished and she was prohibited from reporting any of the attacks. 'I was told that was my job and I was to get in there and take it,' Giesler told Fox 31. Giesler claims this was despite the fact that the boy repeatedly threatened to kill her, even drawing pictures of the weapons he wanted to use. 'The entire with him going, "Are you scared of me? You should be. I'm going to kill you b****'", she said. Giesler said she notified her superiors in October, November and December of 2014 and January, February and March of 2015, but still nothing was done. The teacher finally notified police after she said the student broke her thumb. It was a call that would cost her job. Giesler said she was fired after third-degree assault charged were filed against the student. Giesler said the boy, who has autism, would slap and spit in her face, punch her ribs and kick her in the back during the six months she said he physically attacked her Giesler said she repeatedly went to the district to ask for help but that the student went unpunished and she was prohibited from reporting any of the attacks The teacher finally notified police after she said the student broke her thumb Ronald Jung, Giesler's attorney, said it was in her constitutional right to call the police. 'They contributed or created this dangerous situation,' Jung said of the district. Giesler said she hopes that by speaking out, changes will be made to better train teachers who must deal with violent special needs students. A spokeswoman for the district said they could not comment on a pending legal matter involving personnel. The son's father told the station his son is now attending a school for autistic children. The call to police came after Giesler claims the student beat her and threatened to kill her for six months Donald Trump has questioned the raison d'etre of Republican debates - just two days after suffering a series of painful blows at the hands of rivals Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz in Houston, Texas. The GOP frontrunner, who is still polling far ahead of his fellow Republican contenders, said debates 'seem like a terrible waste of time' yesterday at a rally in Oklahoma City, Business Insider reported. 'Aren't these debates ridiculous, though?' he asked. Then, he wondered aloud whether he should even attend the next Republican debate scheduled this Thursday on Fox - with Megyn Kelly as a moderator. Scroll down for video Donald Trump, pictured with New Jersey governor Chris Christie arriving for a campaign event in Bentonville, Arkansas, called Republican debates 'a terrible waste of time' Christie endorsed Trump just hours after the billionaire's poor performance during the latest GOP debate on Friday. They are pictured at a rally in Bentonville today 'How about if I don't do the next debate? Yes?' Trump asked. But he quickly changed his mind, adding: 'Ah, no, I'll do it.' Trump arrived for a rally today in Bentonville, Arkansas, flanked by former GOP candidate Chris Christie. The New Jersey governor, who dropped out of the race earlier this month after disastrous scores at the New Hampshire primary, handed Trump his first establishment backing by endorsing him yesterday. The announcement came hours after Trump struggled to respond to the combined attacks of Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz on the stage of the latest Republican debate in Houston, Texas. In front of 14.5 million viewers, Rubio accused Trump of repeating himself, quizzed him on healthcare, accused him of hiring illegal immigrants from Poland and brought up the Trump University case. Trump is facing two lawsuits, one a class-action from former students and the other from New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who say the program was a fraud. The Republican frontrunner hit back at Rubio the next morning in a series of tweets, only to be ridiculed again when the Florida senator pointed out Trump's spelling mistakes. Trump later deleted the tweets and posted them again with the correct spelling. Trump, pictured stepping out of his jet with Christie in Bentonville, even questioned whether he should attend the next debate, scheduled to air on Fox Thursday A national poll gives Trump, pictured with Christie at a campaign event in Bentonville, 33 percent of likely votes, far ahead of rivals Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio Rubio is still reeling from his performance and told supporters yesterday at a rally in in Dallas that the billionaire had asked for a full-length mirror during a break, 'maybe to make sure his pants weren't wet'. Cruz said Trump's regarding illegal immigrants was too weak. Both candidates have taken strong anti-illegal immigrant stances, but Trump plans to allow the 'good ones' to return after deportation if they pass a screening process. 'We have always welcomed legal immigrants, but I think it is a mistake to forgive those who break the law to allow them to become U.S. citizens, and that's why I've led the fight against granting citizenship to those here illegally,' Cruz said. He also said Trump had stolen one of the pillars of his campaign - the project of building a wall at the Mexican border to stop illegal immigration. 'I really find it amazing that Donald believes that he is the one who discovered the issue of illegal immigration,' Cruz said. 'I can tell you, when I ran for Senate here in the state of Texas, I ran promising to lead the fight against amnesty, promising to fight to build a wall.' The next Republican debate, scheduled for Thursday on Fox, will see Trump facing Megyn Kelly for the first time since he snubbed her in January, saying Kelly wouldn't treat him fairly. Trump is the favored candidate with 33 percent of likely votes according to a national poll, which gives him a solid lead ahead of Super Tuesday next week. Fighting broke out after they were confronted by anti- A far-right demonstration turned violent today after protesters attacked police with bricks and fireworks. Far-right group the North West Infidels marched in Liverpool today in a last-minute change of venue from Manchester, which led to officers turning out in force to marshal the event. But things turned ugly and one police officer ended up in hospital with a concussion, with Merseyside Police confirming arrests were made. Scroll down for video A protest by North West Infidels in Liverpool, pictured, caused chaos when fighting broke out today Police were at the scene outside St George's Hall, pictured, to ensure the demonstration went off safely Fighting broke out after the Infidels met anti-fascist campaigners while marching through Liverpool Witnesses said missiles were thrown at police officers and one sustained a concussion Witnesses said riot police were on the scene outside St George's Hall and were being attacked with missiles thrown by demonstrators. The group said it was protesting its right to freedom of speech and demonstrating against oppression. The march was said to have begun at around 2pm near Liverpool Lime Street Railway Station. According to the Liverpool Echo, trouble began when the protesters met an anti-fascist group, with fights breaking out. Crowds gathered in Liverpool, pictured, and witnesses a stand-off that lasted for several hours Officers blocked off access to some roads to ensure the safety of the public and protesters At one point the far-right Infidels were cordoned off by officers on the steps of St George's Hall, pictured Merseyside Police confirmed the presence of opposing campaigners and said the groups were quickly separated. After a stand-off lasting nearly three hours, police managed to escort the far-right group back towards the station. Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, assistant chief constable Nikki Holland said: 'Our officers acted quickly to deal with the situation, separate groups of protesters and contain them in a single area to try to minimise the disruption caused to members of the public and local businesses. 'During the incident one of our officers was hit with a missile and was taken to hospital suffering from concussion. Assistant chief constable Nikki Holland said officers acted quickly to separate the groups and ensure safety The injured officer was taken to hospital but has since been released with an investigation launched 'He has now been released from hospital to recover at home but I want to make it clear that we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour against our officers and will take all the necessary steps to find the person or persons responsible.' She added officers worked with British Transport Police and Greater Manchester Police to move the protesters back to the station. Before the event, the group wrote on Facebook: 'We will be in Liverpool tomorrow to exercise our democratic rights to Freedom of Expression, Speech, Movement and Assembly. It was described as the menagerie a trois, a colourful love triangle among the staff at London Zoo. And when the story first emerged of how the meerkat handler had tangled with the squirrel monkey keeper over a handsome colleague known as the llama lothario, there was no shortage of laughter. For the girl at the heart of the scandal, however, the episode and the tortuous months that followed have been anything but funny. In truth, the clash between the love rivals was an ugly one, a confrontation more suited to the wild animals than their keepers. And for Caroline Westlake, the pretty meerkat expert, the consequences have been disastrous. Today she is very different from the carefree woman who turned up at London Zoos staff Christmas Party in December 2014. The 30-year-old has been humiliated, traduced by her employers and convicted, falsely, of recklessly glassing her love rival, causing a small cut. She has lost her job, suffered post-traumatic stress and her relationship with the llama keeper Adam Davies, 31, has fallen apart. Scroll down for video Former meerkat handler Caroline Westlake, pictured, speaks for the first time about the row at the London Zoo Christmas party in 2014 with Kate Sanders which cost her not only her job but her boyfriend Adam Davies Ms Westlake said she was punched and spat upon by her love rival Ms Sanders and was defending herself No wonder she sobs frequently as, in her first interview, she sets out what happened that night. Last weeks decision by the High Court to clear her name leaves her free to speak for the first time and she is determined that her side of the story be known. She says she was punched and spat upon by her love rival and that it was she who was the victim of an unprovoked assault before reacting, forgetting she had a glass in her hand. In other words, it was an accident. She is dumbfounded at the behaviour of former colleague Kate Sanders, 32, the monkey keeper, whom she claims terrorised her at work because of her jealousy over Adam, before assaulting Caroline at the party. More disturbingly, she is angered by the actions of her former employer, London Zoo, whom she accuses of dismissing her case out of hand, of altering the minutes at a disciplinary hearing and as an employment tribunal later found of siding with the monkey keeper to the extent that she was allowed to keep her job, while Caroline was sacked. Caroline Westlake, left, lost her job in London Zoo over a dispute with monkey expert Kate Sanders, right Following the incident at London Zoo's Christmas party, Ms Westlake lost her job caring for the meerkats And she is baffled by the apparent incompetence of the magistrates who first convicted her, who seemed to say that merely engaging in an argument with a glass in hand amounts to recklessness. My life has been completely tipped upside down because of an accident, Caroline says when I meet her at her parents four-bedroom home in Surrey. Yet the person who attacked me is still working at London Zoo while I was sacked and charged with assault. Ive suffered psychologically and have lost my livelihood, the animals I loved, my home, my friends and my relationship with Adam. I have never been persecuted like this in my life. I didnt want to be labelled a glasser and be associated with something so violent when it was an accident. Ill never get my life back. I didnt serve a prison sentence, but I feel as though Ive been imprisoned for the last 14 months. This complicated story has been played out in numerous hearings: at a magistrates court, in an internal London Zoo hearing, at an employment tribunal and then, last week, at the High Court. Throughout, Caroline has insisted she was assaulted by Kate. One witness told the employment tribunal they heard a thump as she was struck. Kate has denied hitting her. Both women were involved with llama keeper Adam Davies, pictured, in a bizarre 'Menagerie a trios' So far as Caroline is concerned, the trouble between the two women began when she and Adam started dating in early 2014. The llama keeper had previously been in a five-year relationship with Kate, and had then gone out with another woman, who worked in London Zoos gift shop. It was a full year before he began dating Caroline. When Adam told Kate about their relationship, Kates attitude took a frosty turn, Caroline says. She would turn her back whenever she saw me at work. If I walked past her section she would slam buckets down. Kate looked after the squirrel monkeys. They needed constant attention. They were little divas. When you work with animals, you get an eye for animal behaviour. But when you see it in humans its surprising. Kate certainly had alpha female tendencies. Everyone described her attitude towards Adam as scent marking. She was isolating me and being friendly to him. I felt she didnt want him but didnt want anyone else to have him either. But what might have seemed petty became something more serious at the Christmas party in 2014, held in the zoos Prince Albert suite. It was just ten minutes into the event that things started to go wrong. I went to the toilet and I overheard a girl admiring anothers outfit, she says. I recognised Kates Australian accent. She said: Better than Caroline. Have you seen the state of her? Kate, she says, later told other party goers: If she wants to start a fight Ill have her. A witness confirmed this to the employment tribunal, but Kate denies this version of events. She was around me a lot and I felt suffocated, Caroline recalls. At one stage I was on the dance floor with friends and Kate came spinning through the group like a helicopter. We moved but she came through again. It wasnt subtle. Kate Sanders, pictured, was suspended by the zoo and given a final warning following the row in 2014 Ms Westlake has lost her job, suffered post-traumatic stress and her relationship with Davies is now over At about 10.15pm, Caroline made her way downstairs to the cloakroom on the second floor, wine glass in her hand. She didnt spot Kate until it was too late. I asked her why she was treating me like this, Caroline says. She said, Because youre dating my ex-boyfriend. Kate denies this also. She then accused me of trying to steal him from her when they were still together. Kate got to the point where she lost control. She was screaming: Everyone hates you, everyone slags you off behind your back. I replied they said the same about her and she thumped me in the face. There were no witnesses to who struck the first blow and what happened next is a blur to Caroline. As she told the court, she blindly reacted to being hit, forgetting about the glass in her hand. I remember feeling shocked and panicked and then hearing a glass smash. My face was throbbing, I looked up and saw a gash on Kates face. There was a lot of blood. Kate told the cloakroom attendant I had just glassed her in the face and for him to call the police. The extraordinary scene that followed was witnessed by several people. Both women went to hospital and were suspended by the zoo following the incident at the party in 2014; Ms Westlake is pictured outside court Caroline says: Kate launched herself at me and bent me back over an internal balcony, which was about 30ft up. She had her hands around my throat. She was spitting on me in between calling me a f****** bitch. Kate denies spitting. Both women went to hospital and the next day were suspended by the zoo pending an investigation. However while Caroline was later sacked, Kate was given a final written warning and banned from zoo social events for two years. Caroline recalls: When I was told I started screaming like somebody had died. I had died in a way. It was my whole life; I had worked so hard for it. I didnt have a chance to say goodbye to the animals. I kept thinking about Tammy the Tamandua, the meerkats, the lemurs and the armadillos: they were all so dear to me. She appealed, but to no avail. It was so nasty, she says. The zoo kept going on about the cut. They said I had caused a very serious injury, that the glass had gone right through Kates cheek and that she had needed external and internal stitches. However, at my court hearing there was no evidence to prove the internal stitches. Adam Davies, pictured with a llama, broke up with Ms Westlake before she was due to appear in court In fact, the cut was just 1cm long. One witness said she heard a thud me being thumped. But this was also dismissed by the zoo. At this time, Caroline was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and depression. When she put this to the zoo, it was dismissed. They said: We are not your parents, we are not responsible. In the meeting minutes this was changed to: The society cant be held responsible for that. The zoo later accepted that the minutes were not verbatim. The appeal was dismissed and Caroline took the zoo to an employment tribunal which issued a damning judgement. They found no reasonable employer would have differentiated between the parts both played in the altercation and that their outcomes should have been the same. They also found ample evidence that Kate had been economical with the truth in her version of events. But any relief was shortlived. A couple of months before she was due to appear before Westminster magistrates court on the assault charge, Adam broke up with her. Ms Westlake, pictured with a Meerkat, said she has changed from a 'sunny enthusiastic person' to someone who has been in 'a state of shock and disbelief' and needing 'anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication' The High Court this week overturned Ms Westlake's conviction for assaulting monkey handler Kate Sanders He said Id changed, Caroline says. I went from a happy, sunny enthusiastic person to someone in a state of shock and disbelief. I was depressed and on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication. The magistrates dismissed the claim of intent, but found Caroline guilty of recklessness and sentenced her to 80 hours community service. When later forced to state their reasons for the verdict, the magistrates said: There was a heated argument by both parties in close proximity. The defendant had a wine glass in her hand... there was obvious risk of injury. It is a puzzling ruling and one rejected when Caroline appealed to the High Court, which last week cleared her. I got a text from my solicitor to say Conviction quashed. Its over, Caroline says. My mum cried with happiness but I felt numb. I still do. I just couldnt believe and I still cant this has happened to me. I feel angry with the zoo, but mainly with Kate. I wish Id never gone to that party and I never want to see her again in my life. I now want to concentrate on getting back to being the person I was and the animals I love. Kate cant destroy my life and career for ever. A spokesman for ZSL London Zoo said: The employment tribunal agreed with our decision to terminate Caroline Westlakes contract. We acknowledge the tribunal findings that it would have been fairer to give both parties the same treatment, but at the time we felt the severity of the injury to Ms Sanders justified our position. Siadatan is the half-brother of Yasmina, 34, The The brother of Apprentice winner Yasmina Siadatan is fighting for Islamic State in Syria, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Isaiah Siadatan, 24, joined the terror group in the summer of 2014 with two friends. One of them the son of a Church of England vicar has since been killed in battle. Siadatans involvement emerged at the Old Bailey trial of four Muslim extremists, one of whom is his wife. They were found guilty last week of aiding others to go to Syria to commit acts of terrorism, and now face jail. It can be revealed for the first time today that Siadatan is the half-brother of Yasmina, 34, who won the hit BBC series in 2009. It can be revealed for the first time today that Siadatan is the half-brother of Yasmina Siadatan, 34, who won the hit BBC series in 2009 Miss Siadatan, from Oxfordshire, appears regularly on TV, where she reviews that days newspapers, and has discussed the issue of British jihadis fighting in Syria and Iraq on several occasions. During one show, she said: Well, 70 have been killed in battle, so presumably some will have gone out to kill. Last night, a spokesman for Miss Siadatan, who went on to work for Apprentice host Lord Sugar after her victory, as well as for former Dragons Den star James Caan, said she only found out her half-brother was fighting for Islamic State (IS) after reading reports of the trial. The spokesman said the business consultant condemned her brothers actions in Syria, and revealed she had not had any contact with him for more than five years. The spokesman added: She wishes to make it clear that she condemns these alleged actions and political views in the strongest possible terms. Her half-brother left his home in Walsall, West Midlands, in June 2014 to join IS, and was followed shortly afterwards by friends Sajid Aslam, 34, and former Christian Jacob Petty, 25. Pettys mother, Church of England vicar Sue Boyce, only found out that her son had been killed in December 2014 after seeing his dead body in an IS video. Isaiah Siadatan, 24, joined the terror group in the summer of 2014 with two friends Siadatan threatened his wife Kerry Thomason with death unless she left for Syria with their three children. Thomason, 24, a Muslim convert, was arrested at Birmingham airport last October as she tried to board a plane for Turkey with her children. She stood trial at the Old Bailey with fellow Muslim converts Lorna Moore, 33 the wife of Sajid Aslam and Alex Nash, 22. Also in the dock was Aymen Shaukat, 27, who made arrangements for the others to go to Syria. Last week all four were found guilty and are due to be sentenced at a later date. Some reports claim that Siadatan was killed last summer. However, West Midlands Police could not confirm this last night, saying only that he is missing in Syria. Miss Siadatan has previously spoken about her unorthodox upbringing. She is one of at least 12 children fathered by Iranian Medi Siadatan, 62, who has married five times. In the 1990s Mr Siadatan fought a high-profile but unsuccessful battle to get Islamic polygamous marriages where a man can have four wives recognised by English law. Isaiah Siadatan is the son of Medi and his Italian wife Stephania Loi. Miss Siadatans mother is Paula Gabott her marriage to Medi came to an end when he moved his mistress into their marital home. Miss Siadatan has previously said that despite her parents divorcing, she was close to her father and his three wives at the time, calling them all Mum. Her spokesman explained she had met Isaiah during her childhood when she used to visit her father in the school holidays. Medi Siadatan has since moved back to Iran. The Tory feud over Europe turned nasty last night when it emerged that Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond hurled foul-mouthed abuse at an anti- Brussels Conservative grandee. Mr Hammond called Conservative MP Sir Bill Cash a total s*** for publishing a secret Brussels legal report on the EU deal negotiated by David Cameron in direct defiance of the Foreign Secretarys orders to keep it under wraps. And in another escalation of Tory Party tensions, George Osborne slapped down Boris Johnson for comparing himself to James Bond on a mission to rescue Britain from Brussels baddies. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond called Conservative MP Sir Bill Cash a total s*** for publishing a secret Brussels legal report on the EU deal negotiated by David Cameron It came in direct defiance of the Foreign Secretarys orders to keep it under wraps. Pictured, a letter sent from Mr Hammond to Sir Bill about the report, telling him to 'refrain from referring to it explicitly in the session' In remarks clearly aimed at the wise-cracking London Mayor, the Chancellor said: This isnt some amusing adventure into the unknown its deadly serious. Then Johnsons fellow Tory Out campaigner, former Chancellor Nigel Lawson, called Mr Osbornes claim that leaving the EU would cause economic shockwaves throughout Britain as absurd. The blue-on-blue incidents involving Tory big guns from rival In and Out campaigns are the latest evidence that the party risks being ripped to shreds by an increasingly acrimonious feud over the EU referendum. Mr Hammonds total s*** comment echoes John Majors infamous outburst in the 1990s, when he called rebellious Eurosceptic Tory Ministers bastards in an unguarded comment picked up by a TV microphone left on after an interview. Mr Major also reportedly called fellow EU leaders a bunch of s***s in a private comment. Shocked MPs looked on as the usually mild-mannered Mr Hammond, who is backing the Prime Ministers bid to keep Britain in the EU, exploded in rage at Sir Bill. His undiplomatic outburst came after he was quizzed by the cross-party Commons European Scrutiny Committee on the EU deal. Sir Bill published both the 'restricted' document (pictured) and Mr Hammond's covering letter - circulating them to MPs and posting them on the internet Shocked MPs looked on as the usually mild-mannered Mr Hammond, who is backing the Prime Ministers bid to keep Britain in the EU, exploded in rage at Sir Bill Cash (pictured) Mr Hammond was furious to discover committee chairman Sir Bill, 71, had handed out the secret EU document, which the Foreign Secretary had given him the previous day with strict orders not to reveal its contents. But MPs from all sides on the committee, and the committee clerk, had backed Sir Bill. The document gave the advice that the new settlement for Britain, as approved by EU leaders, would be as legally binding as if it were enshrined in a new EU Treaty, and could not be subsequently overturned. REES-MOGG'S 'IRA SYMPATHISER' JIBE AT PRO-EU KERRY Barack Obamas foreign policy chief is a one-time IRA sympathiser unfit to tell Britain to stay in the EU, Eurosceptic Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg has claimed. Mr Rees-Mogg, a leading Out campaigner, sparked a diplomatic row by accusing US Secretary of State John Kerry of having harboured sympathies for suspected terrorists. The claim comes after Mr Kerry intervened in the referendum debate by saying the US had a profound interest in the UK staying in the EU. But speaking with the protection of Parliamentary privilege, Mr Rees-Mogg told MPs that Mr Kerry had showed himself to be a terrorist sympathiser when he held up a treaty in the mid-1980s allowing for the deportation of IRA activists from the US to the UK. He is no friend of Britain, Mr Rees-Mogg said. The row centres on Mr Kerrys opposition as a senator to British appeals for the US to tighten up its extradition rules. In 1985, a US federal judge denied the extradition of IRA gunman Joe Doherty on the grounds that his acts were political. But plans to remove the loophole were held up in the Senate by the opposition of Mr Kerry and other senators. At the time, Mr Kerry was a senator for Massachusetts, a stronghold of the influential Irish-American vote. Last night, Mr Rees-Mogg said: You have to remember this debate about delaying extradition took place in the shadow of the IRAs attempt at the wholesale murder of the British Government in the Brighton bombing. Last night, the State Department in Washington declined to comment on the row. An official said: The UKs relationship with the EU is a question for the British people and the British Government. Advertisement So when unsuspecting Mr Hammond appeared before the committee, he was stunned when some of the MPs tried to use the document against him. Aides later denied Mr Hammond was trying to cover up the document, but said he was angry that it was a breach of protocol. To add insult to injury, Sir Bill put both the document written by the legal aide to European Council president Donald Tusk and Mr Hammonds personal Dear Bill letter banning him from publishing it on a Commons website. The letter stressed: This is NOT a public document so while I will draw on it tomorrow we should refrain from referring explicitly to it in the session. Eurosceptic Labour MP Kate Hoey, who saw Mr Hammonds outburst, said: It was totally uncalled for. As we walked out of the committee room during an adjournment, Bill bumped into Hammond and went to make polite small talk like the gentleman he is. He said something innocuous like Everything OK, Foreign Secretary? Hammond glared at him, got right up to Bills face and hissed, No, it isnt! I told you that document was Limite [French for restricted] and that you were not to distribute it. You deliberately ignored me; you are a total s***! Bill was speechless, and Hammond stomped off. It is hardly an appropriate way for a Foreign Secretary to behave. He is clearly rattled. The incident on February 10 is revealed two days after Mr Hammond said the EU would stick two fingers up at Britain if we left. He has come under fire for supporting the In campaign after being seen for years as a robust Eurosceptic. One Tory MP said: It is outrageous to ban MPs seeing a document that affects the legality of Britains EU deal. It is precisely why we need our sovereignty back. The idea that our Foreign Secretary trembles with fear because an EU document for President Tusk is marked Limite is a joke. Astonishingly, the Hammond-Cash spat continued after the Foreign Secretarys four-letter insult. The Foreign Secretary wrote further protest letters; but this time, it is understood they were icily addressed to Dear Sir William instead of the friendly Dear Bill of his original. A source close to Mr Hammond said: I have never seen him so incandescent. He gave the report to Bill the night before the meeting when they bumped into each other. He never dreamed he would hand it out freely never mind put it on the internet with his letter. Its a complete breach of protocol. When MPs brandished it in his face and used it to try to ridicule him, his blood boiled over. It is a frustrating time for him. Sir Bill was not available for comment last night, and Mr Hammond declined to comment. But a Foreign Office source said: 'The legal advice in question confirms that the deal the Prime Minister secured is legally binding and irreversible. 'The wider issue is whether Parliamentary authorities may now look into the issue of a Committee breaching longstanding rules in place that allow for the Government to provide sought-after advice, in confidence, to better inform committees of Parliament. Advertisement Three people were stabbed on Saturday, one of whom was critically wounded, in a scuffle between members of the Ku Klux Klan and counter-protesters near a planned KKK rally at a park in Anaheim, California, police said. Twelve people were arrested following the melee, including one Klan member who is accused of stabbing a counter-protester with a flagpole, Anaheim Police Sergeant Daron Wyatt said. Five members of the KKK group, four men and one woman, were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon in connection to the stabbings. Four of them have since be released after video surfaced showing they were 'clearly attacked', Wyatt told Daily Mail Online. Seven counter-protesters, six men and one woman, were arrested on suspicion of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury as authorities said they stomped on two Klan members on the ground. Scroll down for video A Klansman and a protester are seen above as they fight for an American flag as violence escalated on Saturday in Pearson Park where the KKK had planned a rally Counter-protesters scuffle with a Ku Klux Klansman in Anaheim, California on Saturday afternoon. Three people were stabbed, one of which was critically wounded, police said Paramedics tend to a counter protester who was stabbed after members of the KKK tried to start a "White Lives Matter" rally at Pearson Park In this photo provided by OC Weekly, a stabbing victim receives first aid from an Anaheim Police Officer, at Pearson Park in Anaheim A Klansman, left, uses an American flag to fend off angry counter protesters near a planned rally at Pearson Park In this scene from the scuffle, counter protesters appear to fight with a KKK member as he stabs an attacking protester. Blood splatters can be seen on the pavement In this photo a stabbing victim receives first aid from an Anaheim Police Officer after a small group of Ku Klux Klan members staging an anti-immigrant rally clashed with a larger gathering of counter-protesters, police said The event quickly escalated into violence and at least two people had to be treated at the scene for stab wounds after a Klansman drew a knife in the altercation Police are now trying to identify a suspect who is wanted for suspicion of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury. 'Even if the vast majority of our community disagrees with a particular group who visits our city we cannot stop them from lawfully gathering to express their opinions,' Police Chief Raul Quezada said in a release. 'Violence is not acceptable, and we will arrest anybody who assaults another person or commits any other crime in our city.' Anaheim Police said they were aware of both the planned KKK protest as well as the counter protest on Saturday. Among the eight in custody, which includes a juvenile, suspect Charles Edward Donner, 51, of San Francisco was arrested on assault with a deadly weapon and has been identified as the Klan member who who is accused of stabbing a counter-protester with a flagpole, according to police. The other suspects taken into custody include Nicole Rae Schop, 24, of Los Angeles booked on an elder abuse charge; Marquis DeShawn Turner, 20, of Anaheim charged with assault with a deadly weapon; Randy Omarcc Felder, 25, of Lakewood charged with assault with a deadly weapon; Mark Anthony Liddell, 26, of Los Angeles charged with elder abuse; Guy Harris, 19, charged with assault with a deadly weapon; and Hugo Contreras, 38, resident of Hawthorne charged with elder abuse. An eight person in custody is a juvenile who has not been identified, police said. At one point during Saturday's scuffle, the Klan leader was apparently saved by a Jewish man who attended the rally as an observer and who pushed the Klansman away from the crowd as the violence escalated. Above a counter-protester appears to be ripping off the Confederate flag from the shirt of one of the Klansmen. Several counter-protesters were taken into custody after stomping a KKK member on the ground, police said A counter-protester is pictured left as he appears to attack a Klansman. Anaheim police released a picture of the suspect, pictured right, who is wanted for suspicion of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury Twelve people were arrested following the melee, including one Klan member who is accused of stabbing a counter-protester with a flagpole, Anaheim Police Sergeant Daron Wyatt said Five members of the KKK group, four men and one woman, were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon in connection to the stabbings Brian Levin, director of California State University, San Bernardino's Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism said he asked the Klansman: 'How does it feel that your life was just saved by a Jewish man?' The man replied 'thank you,' according to Levin. Three people were wounded in the ensuing confrontation, noting the most seriously wounded of the victims was stabbed with a flag pole that had an American eagle finial on at the top. That person was taken to a local hospital's trauma center, where he was listed in critical condition. Other victims, who are all believed to be counter-protesters, were stabbed or cut with a knife, according to Wyatt. He said the altercation took place as soon as several Klan members arrived at Pearson Park in Anaheim, about 35 miles southeast of Los Angeles, for a planned rally there. Several witnesses said a peaceful counter-protest had been under way for about three hours in the park a mile north of Disneyland when the Klansmen arrived in a black sport utility vehicle. The SUV pulled up and three men got out and began to unload signs when the group of about 30 counter-protesters ran over, yelling and throwing sticks, witnesses said. Counter protesters are shown above as they taunt an injured Klansman. The event quickly escalated into violence and three people were arrested following the melee Five members of the KKK group, four men and one woman, were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon in connection to the stabbings. Four of them have since be released after video surfaced showing they were clearly attacked A bloody scene from the violent clash is shown above. Seven counter-protesters, six men and one woman, were arrested on suspicion of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury as authorities said they stomped on two Klan members on the ground Counter-protesters are shown above as they chase a fleeing SUV reportedly driven by a KKK member. A witness said the angry mob of counter-protesters chased the Klansmen down the block, yelling 'Get out of here! You're not welcome!' 'Three people were stabbed by the fire hydrant,' said Darren Simpson, 49. 'These Klan guys were fighting for their lives.' As violence continued to erupt, some of the protesters were seen kicking a man wearing a shirt that read 'Grand Dragon', before one of the counter-protesters was seen collapsing on the ground, bleeding. He was crying that he had been stabbed. A Klansman who was handcuffed told a police officer that he 'stabbed him in self defense,' according to the Los Angeles Times. Chris Barker, who identified himself as the 'imperial wizard' of the Loyal White Knights of the KKK, said his members were defending themselves during a peaceful anti-immigration demonstration when violence broke out. He added: 'If we're attacked we will attack back.' Witness Kobe Sato, 18, told the Times that a crowd surrounded the Klan members when they showed up at the park and started displaying Confederate flags. Levin said he was next to the man in the Grand Dragon shirt when protesters attacked the Klansmen carrying weapons. 'As soon as they got out of their vehicle, immediately they were attacked by counter-protesters and this caused a melee down the block,' Wyatt said. The Klan members attempted to get back into the car as it sped off, leaving them behind, said Dion Garcia, 37. Police officers are seen as they gather at the scene of the clash near Pearson Park in Anaheim. Police said they were aware of both the planned KKK protest as well as the counter protest on Saturday A KKK member is shown above as he appears to be in handcuffs following the violent clash Counter protesters hold signs near the planned KKK rally including one that reads 'Fight back against KKK' A stabbing victim is pictured above as he talks with police. Police said three people were wounded in the ensuing confrontation, noting the most seriously wounded of the victims was stabbed with a flag pole He said the angry mob chased the Klansmen down the block, yelling 'Get out of here! You're not welcome!' 'It was crazy,' he said, adding: 'A lot of us were trying to break it up. This was not necessary, they should've just let the Klan protest. This is America, we have free speech.' During the brawl, one of the Klansmen was knocked to the ground and kicked, according to Levin. His arm was later seen bleeding. Levin, who said he feared the Klansmen would be stomped to death, said he helped to Klansmen get away from the violent crowd. 'I helped two Klansmen get out of the way,' he said as he headed to the police station to give his witness statement. 'I told the crowd: 'Dr (Martin Luther) King wouldn't approve of this, please don't harm these men.'' Levin noted prior to the brawl he saw no uniformed police at the park. Anaheim police had notified the public about the planned KKK protest Friday and said they would be 'monitoring the situation for any violations of law.' The department also said that while the group's signs and fliers might be controversial, they are protected by the First Amendment. Members of the Klu Klux Klan involved in the stabbing sit on the curb behind a police cruiser following the brawl. Police noted other victims were stabbed or cut with a knife Sgt. Daron Wyatt said police were present when violence erupted. The Klan, known for their white robes and peaked hoods often worn by its members, has a long history of violence toward African-Americans, Jews and other groups, according the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups in the United States. The Klan was founded after the abolition of slavery in the U.S. South in the mid-19th century and has evolved in recent years into a collection of loosely affiliated or independent groups that share a political philosophy based on racial separation. The Southern Poverty Law Center estimated the group has between 5,000 and 8,000 members across the country, according to the Times. The KKK has a long history in Southern California, with Klansmen holding elected office in Anaheim in the 1920s. Most recently the KKK made national headlines when a former KKK leader, David Duke, said he backed Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination. A 100ft-wide asteroid, first spotted when it flew by Earth two years ago, is set to make its return on March 8th. Nasa's initial estimate showed the whale-sized space rock may skim past Earth at just 11,000 miles (17,000 km), which is around 21 times closer to Earth than the moon - but Nasa admitted this estimate may be widely inaccurate, and the asteroid may also pass Earth as far out as 9 million miles (14 million km). Now a new prediction for 2013 TX68 is that it will fly by roughly 3 million miles (5 million kilometers) from our planet. Scroll down for video Nasa's latest prediction shows asteroid 203 TX68 it will fly 3 million miles (5 million km) from our planet on March 8th - and 'poses no threat to Earth'. 'Additional observations of asteroid 2013 TX68 have been obtained, refining its orbital path and moving the date of the asteroid's Earth flyby from March 5 to March 8,' Nasa said. The observations, from archived images provided by the Nasa-funded Pan-STARRS asteroid survey, enabled scientists at Nasa's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, to refine their earlier flyby and distance predictions, reconfirming that the asteroid poses no threat to Earth. 'We already knew this asteroid, 2013 TX68, would safely fly past Earth in early March, but this additional data allow us to get a better handle on its orbital path,' said Paul Chodas, manager of CNEOS. ' The data indicate that this small asteroid will probably pass much farther away from Earth than previously thought.' Marco Micheli of the European Space Agency's NEO Coordination Centre (NEOCC/SpaceDys) in Frascati, Italy, is the astronomer who identified the object in the archived images, measured its position, and provided these observations to the Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. CNEOS's new prediction for 2013 TX68 is that it will fly by roughly 3 million miles (5 million kilometers) from our planet. There is still a chance that it could pass closer, but certainly no closer than 15,000 miles (24,000 kilometers) above Earth's surface. The new observations also better constrain the path of 2013 TX68 in future years; CNEOS has determined that 2013 TX68 cannot impact Earth over the next century. 'There is no concern whatsoever regarding this asteroid unless you were interested in seeing it with a telescope,' said Chodas. 'Prospects for observing this asteroid, which were not very good to begin with, are now even worse because the asteroid is likely to be farther away, and therefore dimmer than previously believed.' Scientists at Nasa's Center for NEO Studies (CNEOS) in California, say 'there is no possibility that this object could impact Earth during the flyby next month.' But they have identified an extremely remote chance that this small asteroid (stock image pictured) could impact on Septmeber 28, 2017, with odds of 1-in-250-million Orbit calculations of asteroids are constantly updated based on observations reported to the Minor Planet Center. This results in projections of minimum, maximum and nominal distances from Earth, which can sometimes have a wide disparity due to limited data. Over time, with additional observations added to the equation, scientists are able to refine and narrow the orbit uncertainties. Scientists have also identified an extremely remote chance that this small asteroid could impact on September 28, 2017, with odds of no more than 1-in-250-million. Nasa's initial estimate showed the whale-sized space rock may skim past Earth at just 11,000 miles (17,000 km), which is around 21 times closer to Earth than the moon - but Nasa admitted this estimate may be widely inaccurate, and the asteroid may also pass Earth as far out as 9 million miles (14 million km). Flybys in 2046 and 2097 have an even lower probability of impact. 'The possibilities of collision on any of the three future flyby dates are far too small to be of any real concern,' said Paul Chodas, manager of CNEOS. 'I fully expect any future observations to reduce the probability even more.' Asteroid 2013 TX68 is estimated to be about 100ft (30 meters) in diameter. By comparison, the asteroid that broke up in the atmosphere over Chelyabinsk, Russia, three years ago was approximately 65 feet (20 meters) wide. THERE'S AN ASTEROID WITH OUR NAME ON IT, SAYS BRIAN COX Science presenter, Brian Cox, told DailyMail.com we are at risk of being wiped out by asteroids and we're not taking the threat seriously While the March 5th asteroid poses no threat, scientists have long said that these space rocks could threaten life on Earth. Last year, Brian Cox said we are at risk of being wiped out by asteroids and we're not taking the threat seriously. 'There is an asteroid with our name on it and it will hit us,' Professor Cox told DailyMail.com. In fact, the Earth had a 'near-miss' only a few months ago. 'We didn't see it,' says the 46-year-old. 'We saw it on the way out, but if it had just been a bit further over it would have probably wiped us out. These things happen.' The bus-sized asteroid, named 2014 EC, came within 38,300 (61,637km) miles of Earth in March - around a sixth of the distance between the moon and our planet. And it wasn't the only one threatening Earth. Nasa is currently tracking 1,400 'potentially hazardous asteroids' and predicting their future approaches and impact probabilities. The threat is so serious that former astronaut Ed Lu has described it as 'cosmic roulette' and said that only 'blind luck' has so far saved humanity from a serious impact. Advertisement If an asteroid the size of 2013 TX68 were to enter Earth's atmosphere, it would likely produce an air burst with about twice the energy of the Chelyabinsk event. The asteroid was discovered by the Nasa-funded Catalina Sky Survey on October 6, 2013, as it approached Earth on the night-time side. After three days of tracking, the asteroid passed into the daytime sky and could no longer be seen. Because it was not tracked for very long, scientists cannot predict its precise orbit around the sun, but they do know that it cannot impact Earth during its flyby next month. 'This asteroid's orbit is quite uncertain, and it will be hard to predict where to look for it,' said Chodas. 'There is a chance that the asteroid will be picked up by our asteroid search telescopes when it safely flies past us next month, providing us with data to more precisely define its orbit around the sun.' In September, Paul Chodas, manager of Nasa's Near-Earth Object office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, said: 'There is no existing evidence that an asteroid or any other celestial object is on a trajectory that will impact Earth. 'In fact, not a single one of the known objects has any credible chance of hitting our planet over the next century. Nasa tracks around 12,992 near-Earth objects which have been discovered orbiting within our solar system close to our own orbit. When two neighbouring countries both seek to talk up their green credentials in a bid to attract environmentally savvy travellers, it can be difficult to select one over the other. So I came up with an ingenious plan to get around the problem of choosing between Kosovo and Montenegro I decided to visit both on a dual-centre holiday. After taking a flight to Pristina, the Kosovan capital, I headed towards the lively town of Peya from where I could organise my self-guided treks to the nearby Rugova mountains. Breathtaking: Unable to choose, Peter travelled to both Kosovo and Montenegro. Pictured: Montenegro's Durmitor mountain range This area has all the obvious attractions for seasoned trekkers in addition to plenty of family-run places to feast and rest after a long day walking. During my trip, I scaled Gjeravica, the tallest mountain in Kosovo, which is part of the Peaks of the Balkans trail. The terrain was steep but I came across many hill farmers and their families making a living from their produce in the warm summer months. In the winter, visitors can ski at a small resort called Boge. After my week in Kosovo I was impressed by the enthusiasm of its people for a better life despite the obvious economic challenges that the country faces. I then made my way across the border into Montenegro, and my first stop was the Biogradska National Park an extraordinary primeval forest which includes a lake where you can swim, and beautifully constructed walkways to protect the virgin territory. If you want to see a magnificent woodland with 350-year-old ash trees then this is a good place to go. Rising to the challenge: Peter on Bear Mountain in Montenegro, which he says was the most exciting part of his two-week adventure holiday In the middle of the park an enterprising pig farmer had placed a sign which read: 'Cafe food 8km.' I followed the trail, and sure enough there was a cafe, where I ate a cheese omelette in the company of plenty of other hungry walkers. The most exciting adventure on my two-week holiday was reaching the summit of Bear Mountain in the Durmitor National Park. I ignored the sensible instructions of my GPS directing me to a more sedate circuit and instead traversed a thin ridge with huge drops either side. I reached safety just before dusk and felt elated. I'm sure even Chief Scout Bear Grylls (no relation to the mountain) would have been proud of his predecessor in the role. Although I am a keen walker, I also hired a car to reach some of Montenegro's more inaccessible locations. If you're keen on driving in endless loops with spectacular views and sheer drops then the Adriatic coastal roads are not to be missed. Adventurous: Peter also visited the Rugova mountains in Kosovo for a self-guided trek My final destination was Kotor, an elegant walled city full of expensive designer goods for wealthy yacht owners who moor there in summer, and a string of good restaurants. Visiting Kotor at night is particularly enchanting, if a little noisy. Another place worth visiting is the Njegos Mausoleum, where you will find a majestic statue of Montenegro's greatest hero Petar II Petrovic. One of the best things about self-guided holidays is that although everything is planned in advance in terms of transport and baggage transfers, you can still break out of the planned itinerary if you wish. On the way back to Podgorica airport I took a gentle cruise on Lake Skadar, passing a former island prison where pelicans and pygmy cormorants now hold sway. The picnic on board the vessel and a swim in the sea provided a wonderful end to my Balkan adventure. As breakfast radio duo Rove McManus and Sam Frost continue to struggle in the ratings, it has been reported that bosses at 2Day FM have made a desperate bid to 'break up' their rivals. Industry sources told the Sydney Morning Herald that parent company Southern Cross Austereo has made 'an offer' to Jackie Henderson - one half of KIIS FM's mega popular Kyle And Jackie O Show. The 40-year-old allegedly rejected the invitation to discuss returning to 2Day FM - which she left on bad terms in 2013 - but an SCA rep has branded the reports 'utterly ridiculous and completely untrue'. Scroll down for video Success: Radio hosts Kyle Sandilands (L) and Jackie 'O' Henderson (R) have proved a ratings winner for KIIS FM after defecting from 2Day FM in late 2013 - but their old bosses at Southern Cross Austereo have allegedly reached out to Jackie to 'discuss roles' at 2Day, the Sydney Morning Herald claims A spokesperson for the station's breakfast team Rove & Sam denied any changes to the morning show format on Saturday. 'The reality is there are no changes to the 2Day FM breakfast format,' read a statement provided to Daily Mail Australia. 'We are committed to Rove & Sam for many years ahead and are thrilled with how they are doing.' Meanwhile, Sydney Morning Herald suggested this could be the latest move by SCA to lure back Jackie with or without her long-term radio partner Kyle Sandliands, 44. The pair defected to rival station KIIS FM at the end of 2013 and took the majority of their listeners with them. Chemistry: Jackie O, pictured during a recent broadcast of The Kyle and Jackie O Show, has co-hosted the popular radio program with Kyle Sandilands since 2005 Jackie told The Sunday Telegraph at the time that 2Day FM 'never thought (they'd) leave' and 'had to quickly pull together something' to fill the vacant breakfast slot. The result was a team of Sophie Monk, Jules Lund, and Merrick Watts - which was dumped in October 2014 due to poor ratings. Night hosts Dan Debuf and Maz Compton were brought in to replace the star-studded team but also struggled before being cancelled last year. Didn't connect: Sophie Monk (second right) was recruited alongside Merrick Watts (second left) and Jules Lund (right) to host 2Day FM's breakfast show after Kyle and Jackie O defected to the re-branded KIIS FM And in a surprise move, 2Day FM announced it's third change of breakfast line-up in as many years by recruiting TV host Rove and ex-Bachelorette star Sam in October 2015. However there have been many reports that SCA bosses are disappointed with Sam's performance and the show's declining ratings. However these claims have been repeatedly denied by reps for Rove & Sam and 2Day FM. Double act: After two flop breakfast show formats in the years following Kyle and Jackie O's departure in late 2013, 2Day FM announced in October the pairing of Rove McManus (L) and ex-Bachelorette star Sam Frost (R) 'Thrilled': A Rove & Sam spokesperson told DMA there would be 'no changes' to 2Day FM's morning show format, and are committed to 'may years ahead' with co-hosts Rove (L) and Sam (R) Meanwhile, earlier this month, Kyle responded toThe Daily Telegraph's reports that the SCA was 'desperate' to sign up the double act. Speaking on his morning show, he said: 'Let me just go on record saying, I would never go back to Austereo even if they gave me the radio station. 'If they said, "Here, you own it now," I would say, "No thanks".' His penchant for dating much younger women constantly sees him hit the headlines. But Geoffrey Edelsten looked to be taking cues from another media personality on Friday when he cosied up to a number of Sam Wood's former The Bachelor Australia suitors. The 72-year-old former medical practitioner dropped by Tessa Moritz' birthday party in Melbourne where he mingled with the busty one-time reality star, second runner-up Sarah Mackay and fellow contestant Ebru Dallikavak. Scroll down for video Muscling in on his territory! Geoffrey Edelstenwas seen posing with a number of Sam Wood's former The Bachelor Australia suitors on Friday night Posing for a photo posted to Instagram, Geoffrey was seen smiling as he wrapped his arm around birthday girl Tessa and another female guest. He was dressed in his typically eccentric style in a bright red pair of trousers and a matching tracksuit jacket. Adding a contrasting colour to his look, he teamed his vibrant wares with a crisp black shirt and a contrasting white belt. Tessa also put effort into her outfit for the evening, looking lovely in a plunging black number that revealed a generous portion of cleavage. Bevy of beauties: He dropped by Tessa Moritz (second from right)'s birthday party in Melbourne where he was joined by fellow reality stars Sarah Mackay (right) and Ebru Dallikava (second from left) Her former love rival Ebru also dressed in a little black dress while Sarah paired a chic mini skirt with a simple top. Melbourne resident Geoffrey is currently in the midst of a very public separation from his 26-year-old wife Gabi Grecko, whom he married last year. Now living back in her native New York, busty sometime model Gabi told Daily Mail Australia recently that throughout their 18-month romance, she and Geoffrey 'didn't have sex once, I was not happy about that... I need that [sex].' It comes after she claimed to have suffered a miscarriage shortly after her wedding - something Geoffrey later said was false. Over: Geoffrey is currently in the midst of a very public separation from his 26-year-old wife Gabi Grecko, whom he married last year Their romance appeared to be on the rocks over the weekend amid rumours they had split. But Stephanie Davis, 22, and Jeremy McConnell, 26, put on a united display as they stepped out hand in hand to meet their CBB co-stars Jonathan Cheban and Megan McKenna on Friday night. The couple were all smiles as they made their way to Circus, London, following a busy day which saw them appear together on ITV's Loose Women. Scroll down for video Back on track: Stephanie Davis, 22, and Jeremy McConnell, 26, put on a united display as they stepped out hand in hand to meet their CBB co-stars Jonathan Cheban and Megan McKenna on Friday night Surprisingly, the pair didn't change their outfits for the night out, but they didn't seem to mind one bit. The Irish model showed off his heavily-inked neck and chest by wearing his knitted grey top unzipped. He teamed it with torn black jeans and a dark green pair of Dr Martens with bright yellow laces. Meanwhile, Stephanie rocked a monochrome mini-dress with a leather jacket and over the knee boots. See more Celebrity Big Brother updates as Stephanie and Jeremy attend the reunion Date night: The couple were all smiles as they made their way to Circus, London, following a busy day which saw them appear together on ITV's Loose Women Megan, 23, looked thrilled to see the Irish hunk when he arrived at the cocktail bar, with the pair greeting each other with warm smiles. Jeremy and Stephanie denied accusations of having a 'showmance' after a very brief split over the weekend. The hunk even admitted on Loose Women that he would think 'what a bunch of muppets' if he was looking at his dramatic romance from the outside. He explained the pair suffered a 'misunderstanding' over text messages while they were in separate cities last weekend. Reunited: Megan McKenna, 23, looked thrilled to see the Irish hunk, with the pair greeting each other with warm smiles at inside the venue Jeremy and Stephanie, who both admitted they had been drinking at the time, fell out and ended up cancelling a joint TV appearance on Monday. However, after quickly getting things back on track, the pair insisted they are very happy as they appeared on Loose Women on Friday. Explaining the run-up to the row, Jeremy said: 'The night before, I was in Edinburgh, she was in Liverpool... We'd all had a few drinks.' The former Hollyoaks actress then interjected: 'I said, "I can't do this anymore." I meant us being apart... People selling stories to the press. It was all getting on top of me. The third degree: The couple were quizzed by Loose Women (L-R) Andrea McLean, Nadia Sawalha, Katie Price and Kaye Adams 'He took it like I ended it with him. But I didn't mean that. He was angry. He thought I ended it. It was a misunderstanding.' After they sorted out their problems, Jeremy conceded the situation must look ridiculous to the public: 'If I was looking at it from the outside I'd think what a bunch of muppets!' Steph added: 'You live and learn.' She said physical distance between them caused the most issues: 'The more we fight is when we're not together.' Ready for the next step: Jeremy and Stephanie are planning to move in together imminently The couple's first ever joint interview on the show comes just days after their cancelled their appearance on Monday's episode of the ITV daytime show following their lovers' tiff. Stephanie and Jeremy have been officially dating for three weeks after falling for each other in the Celebrity Big Brother house. When she entered the CBB house last month, Stephanie claimed she was 'practically married' to her boyfriend of one year, Sam Reece. However, her behaviour in the house with Jeremy meant her relationship with Sam came to an end by the time she was voted out of the show. The real thing: The young couple denied accusations they're having a showmance, insisting they are genuinely in love with each other Meanwhile, Katie Price couldn't help but notice a diamond ring on Stephanie's right hand, claiming it looked like an engagement ring despite being on the wrong finger. Jeremy explained why he bought her the new gem: 'When she was in the house she got a c**ppy ring from whatever his name was...' When asked if she had been in touch with Sam, the former soap star replied: 'I've not heard. I've blocked him.' The loved-up pair also revealed plans to get matching tattoos, of a verse from the Oasis song Live Forever. She's the boldest cast member of Arena's Real Housewives of Melbourne who's known for her love of eye-catching fashion. So true to form, Pettifleur Berenger showed that she was no shrinking violet as she attended The Dandelion Foundation charity gala at Melbourne's Monash Children's Hospital on Friday night in a VERY revealing keyhole gown. 'This is how you wear a keyhole!,' the 51-year-old captioned a photo of herself on Instagram posing up a storm in the risque creation. 'This is how you wear a keyhole!' Pettifleur Berenger flashed her incredible body in a racy keyhole dress as she attended a charity event on Friday night The semi-sheer gown from fashion designer Cassandra Renee displayed the exotic beauty's busty chest while two thigh-high splits showed off her toned pins. The Sri Lankan-born stunner pinned her blonde ombre locks back into a chic ponytail and highlighted her dark brown eyes with smoky black eyeshadow. She also sported mauve lipstick on her luscious lips, and added diamond earrings and a bracelet to complete the glamorous look. Risque: The Cassandra Renee gown featured a revealing keyhole cutout at the front and two thigh-high splits, as well as sheer fabric that showcased the 51-year-old's fit physique A striking look: The property developer highlighted her dark brown eyes with black mascara and eyeshadow and added mauve lipstick to her luscious pout Also at the event was X Factor winner Dami Im, who posed for some selfies with Pettifleur before taking the stage to perform. The 51-year-old reality TV star has been flaunting her trim figure lately and even references her body in season three's opening credits of The Real Housewives of Melbourne by saying, 'I'm in the best shape of my life - who begs to differ?' Just last week the outspoken star sported another raunchy outfit to a charity event for Share The Dignity, which raises money to feed the homeless. She wore a sheer beige pink dress with a plunging neckline and a pair of high-waisted knickers underneath. A good cause: The stunner was supporting The Dandelion Foundation at Melbourne's Monash Children's Hospital Star studded: Also at the event was X Factor winner Dami Im, who snapped a selfie with Pettifleur after posing on the red carpet To make the sexy, sparkling ensemble even more attention-grabbing, the wealthy property developer added body glitter, a white fur stole, copious amounts of diamond jewelry, a glittering embellished clutch, and a silver leafy headpiece. The published author, best known for her self-help tome Switch the Bitch, has become one of the standout stars of season three of the Real Housewives of Melbourne thanks to her glamorous fashion choices. She's also been ruffling feathers with her fiery personality, finding herself in dramatic catfights with both Gamble Breaux and Lydia Schiavello within the first few episodes of the new season. Outrageous! The star has been wearing a variety of racy outfits lately, sporting a beige pink dress with a plunging neckline and a pair of high-waisted knickers underneath at a charity event last week Very revealing: The dress featured sheer material to showcase Pettifleur's flawless figure Back in December, the multi-racial beauty told Daily Mail Australia that she's never had any work done to her face despite speculation otherwise. 'I'm 100 per cent natural. I've not had anything touched on my face, contrary to what people are talking about.' The Sri Lanka-born TV star, who is an exotic mix of Swiss, Dutch, Portuguese and Sinhalese, continued: 'Let's be honest here, there's not a lot of 51-year-olds that look like me unless they are from Hollywood with surgery out of control.' 'Just listen to me sugar daddy dot com!' Pettifleur has already engaged in some explosive fights in the third season of The Real Housewives of Melbourne 'If you can find me a surgeon that has touched me I will not only make him go into retirement, I will give you a million dollars too!' she said. Despite her insistence that she's a natural beauty, co-star Gamble Breaux has poked fun at her fellow Housewife over social media. 'NO WORK AT ALL Pettifleur,' Gamble wrote on Twitter, followed by an eye-rolling emoji. She then added sarcastically: 'Of course not!' Confident Pettifleur was quick to reply, writing back: 'In the Gym Gamble, working my butt off.' Claws are out: Despite swearing that she's all natural, Pettifleur's co-star Gamble Breaux doesn't believe that the Sri Lankan-born beauty has avoided going under the knife Taking a dig: Gamble recently sent out a sarcastic tweet implying that she didn't believe Pettifleur to be a natural beauty It appears that Teresa Palmer celebrated her 30th birthday being showered with gifts and lots of love by her family. The Australian actress uploaded a montage of images showing how she celebrated the milestone birthday with her loved ones. Along with the Instagram snap Teresa wrote: ' A blessed day with my tribe Thanks for celebrating 30 years with me. To all of the love I received today, I am humbled and grateful. Thank you .' 'A blessed day with my tribe': Teresa Palmer celebrates her 30th birthday with her son Bodhi, husband Mark Webber and her mum Paula Sanders in Hawaii Teresa Palmer kicked off her 30th birthday celebrations in Hawaii surrounded by immediate family. The first of four snaps used in the upload included a picture of her husband, Mark Webber, carrying their two-year-old son, Bodhi, in one hand and a birthday cake with the other. The next photo is of Teresa and her husband, their toddler and her mother, Paula Sanders in a convertible car heading to a planned birthday festivity. The following two pictures show Teresa and her son running under a giant water sprinkler, as well as rolling in the luscious green grass with her American screenwriter husband. 'You are my sunshines:' Teresa Palmer put on a doting display after posting this family snap to social media on Friday As soon as the picture went up, fans and celebrity friends were quick to send their well wishes to the birthday girl. In fact, the post received more than 3,700 likes and more than 40 comments in the first three hours of going live on her social media account. Adding to the influx of well wishes was Australian model Megan Gale. She wrote: 'Biggest birthday love to you beautiful girl and a big belated happy birthday to Bodhi.' 'Two years ago today my life changed because you were born': The 29-year-old wrote a touching tribute to celebrate Bodhi's second birthday and posted a throwback picture to Instagram On Friday the 29-year-old shared a heartwarming family selfie to social media that showed her smiling with two-year-old son Bodhi Rain and husband Mark Webber. 'You are my sunshines,' the blonde beauty captioned the photo, which featured a beaming sunset that illuminated the happy family. The Choice actress loves to splash photos of her brood all over Instagram, and recently shared a throwback snap of her son when he was just a baby. Along with the intimate shot of herself cradling Bodhi, the Adelaide-born beauty wrote: 'Bodhi Rain Palmer. Two years ago today my life changed because you were born. Thank you for showing me everything. You are my world.' In the image Teresa is lying down in a T-shirt as she watches over her cherubic tot who is fast asleep in a white baby wrap. The upload comes just days after the I am Number Four actress took to the photo sharing app to upload a snap from her son's second birthday party. 'This right here is what makes me perfectly happy': The 29-year-old mother took to Instagram to upload a gushing photo She wrote alongside a picture of a beaming Bodhi next to his huge car themed birthday cake: 'Bodhi's epic 2nd birthday party was everything we were hoping for (I seriously started hanging decorations a week ago) we had a HUGE amount of kids swimming in the pool, playing in the sandpit, climbing all over the playground, painting at the paint station and hanging in the teepee reading nook! 'I remember a moment today when I looked around at the beautiful chaos and thought "this, right here is what makes me perfectly happy" [sic].' She also praised attendees and her husband, Mark Webber, for a successful event in the post. Apart from organising birthday parties, Teresa has been busy promoting her new romantic flick, The Choice. The South Australian native plays the lead female role of Gabby Holland in the Nicholas Sparks film alongside American actor Benjamin Walker who plays Travis Parker. 'Too much cute for one photo': Teresa gushes over Bodhi Rain, aged two, who kisses a puppy on it's head Speaking of her role at AOL Build, she said: 'I am a huge fan, and was a huge deal for me growing up. 'I just had a dream of one day playing my own version of Allie Hamilton. So when landed in my lap, I thought it was very serendipitous.' The starlet has even taken to her social media to post about her excitement of the movie. In one upload, Teresa and her son turn their heads away from the camera to face a Nicholas Sparks book with her face emblazoned on the front cover along with her fellow actor. Spotted: The blonde beauty will star in the romantic film, The Choice, which is currently showing in cinemas More recently, Teresa has finished up filming in Hacksaw Ridge. The movie is set in WWII and follows the story of Desmond Doss, the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor. Gabi Grecko has revealed how she was left in fear after being sent a sexually explicit message on Instagram. The 26-year-old told Daily Mail Australia how she was shocked and concerned by the message sent to her by a user. 'I don't know who it is, but I got really worried,' she explained. Scroll down for video Spoke out: Gabi Grecko has revealed how she was left scared after being sent a threatening message over Instagram Outing them: Gabi posted an image of the message to her own Instagram page 'To have someone talk about killing me, it really shocked me and I've reported the comment.' The user sent a direct message to her on Friday writing: 'I want to chock the life out of you, as I'm pounding the life out of you ****.' Gabi replied to the post writing: 'That's odd to say,' before uploading a screenshot of the correspondence to her own Instagram page. Popular: The 26-year-old model has revealed how she is often sent unsolicited messages but this was the fist that threatened her The model told Daily Mail Australia that while she often received sexually messages this was the first time she had felt threatened. She explained: 'I always get weird sexual messages from guys some are really creepy.' I get like 30 something messages a day from these guys, they send me pictures of say sexual things but this is the weirdest and the first that threatened me.' Ex: Gabi pictured with her ex-husband Geoffrey Edelsten Gabi has contacted Instagram to report the user. Last week Gabi claimed that she and her ex-husband Geoffrey Edelsten never had sex, or consummated their marriage, for the 18 months they were together. Speaking from her home in New York, the buxom Maxim model told Daily Mail Australia: 'No we didn't have sex once, I was not happy about that... I need that [sex].' She added somewhat jubilantly: 'I don't have a boyfriend but I've finally had sex... I didn't have it the entire time I was with Geoff.' She splits her time between the UK and US jetting across the Atlantic for various modelling jobs. But Naomi Campbell proved her loyalties still lie firmly with Great Britain as she donned a patriotic gown in the colours of her nation's flag to attend the UK Film Is Great reception in Los Angeles on Friday. Looking far younger than her 45 years, the Streatham-raised model seemed in good spirits on the night as she prepared to toast the best of British and Northern Island's acting talent. Scroll down for video Great Briton! Naomi Campbell proved her loyaly as she donned a patriotic gown in the colours of her nation's flag to attend the UK Film is GREAT reception in Los Angeles on Friday Cutting a typically elegant figure, the Vogue covergirl slipped her supermodel figure into a billowing maxi dress that nipped in at her tiny waist. Featuring a flattering bishop sleeved design and an open collar that flashed just a hint of cleavage, Naomi turned heads on the evening. With crimson stripes elongating the star's modelesque frame, she added some extra height in a pair of suede black boots. Best buds: Naomi was no doubt pleased to see her close friend Idris Elba, who also made an appearance Turning back time: Looking far younger than her 45 years, the Streatham-raised model seemed in good spirits on the night as she prepared to toast the best of British and Northern Island's acting talent Flying the flag: Cutting a typically elegant figure, the Vogue covergirl slipped her supermodel figure into a billowing maxi dress that nipped in at her tiny waist Keeping her accessories simple, she donned a black velvet choker on her neck, whilst she nestled a small leather clutch bag in the crook of her arm. Adding to the glitz of her ensemble she wore a myriad of gold rings on her fingers, whilst a stack of multicoloured bracelets lined her slender wrist. Styling her raven coloured tresses in loose waves, bouncy curls cascaded past her shoulders as she peered out beneath her blunt fringe. Dressed to impress: Featuring a flattering bishop sleeved design and an open collar that flashed just a hint of cleavage, Naomi turned heads on the evening, yet struggled to keep her eyes open Once inside the event, Naomi rubbed shoulders with the likes of Eddie Redmayne and Joanne Froggatt and close friend Idris Elba. Clad in a checkered navy jumper and maroon hat, the Luther star had also opted for a patriotic colour scheme, having dashed to the reception after an event hosted by ICON MANN. The 43-year-old has been hitting the Hollywood party scene in recent weeks following his recent split from Naiyana Garth, the mother of his 22-month-old son and girlfriend of three years. Fashionable friends: Once inside, Naomi enjoyed a chat with renowned British filmaker Adam Benzine Meanwhile, the star has been keeping busy amidst the hectic awards season, and following his success at the SAG Awards last month, Naomi took to Twitter to praise her friend. 'Congratulations @Idriselba you deserve your double WIN. @SAGawards,' she posted. Naomi and Idris struck up a friendship in 2014 after he took part in an event organised by the charity she co-funded - Fashion For Relief. Best of British! Idris enjoyed a laugh with veteran actor Sir Patrick Stewart They were reunited in Los Angeles earlier this month for her 17th birthday. However, with Brooklyn Beckham now back in London, his rumoured girlfriend Sonia Ben Ammar is still living it up in Hollywood. The French actress and singer was spotted attending one of the pre-Oscar parties in Los Angeles on Friday night. Scroll down for video Party time: French actress and singer Sonia Ben Ammar looked lovely in a leather mini skirt and cropped T-shirt as she attended the Vanity Fair, L'Oreal Paris, & Hailee Steinfeld DJ night in Hollywood on Friday The Gallic beauty showed off her slim figure in a black crop T-shirt and leather mini as she walked the red carpet at a DJ night hosted by Vanity Fair and L'Oreal Paris. The guestlist read like a who's who of young Hollywood with Hailee Steinfield, Joe Jonas, Ariel Winter, Rumer Willis and Sarah Hyland in attendance. The star-studded bash, hosted two days before the Academy Awards, took place at the Palihouse Holloway in West Hollywood. Strike a pose: The Paris-based beauty has spent the past two weeks in Los Angeles Girls' night: Sonia was joined by a fellow brunette pal for the event, whose guestlist read like a who's who of young Hollywood With her rumoured beau Brooklyn, 16, back in the UK, Sonia arrived at the party with a female friend. Brooklyn and Sonia are thought to have been enjoying a long-distance romance for around a year after meeting in the Maldives over the 2014/2015 New Year's holiday with their families. Just over a week ago, Brooklyn was among the guests at Sonia's 17th birthday outing to Disneyland in Anaheim, California. The pair were also both spotted walking the red carpet of Universal Music's post-Grammy's bash on February 15. Last October, Brooklyn and Sonia were pictured attending the CBS Radio's We Can Survive concert at the Hollywood Bowl together. Blue moon: Sonia posted a melancholy photo on Instagram following her night out in Hollywood Meanwhile in London... Sonia's rumoured boyfriend Brooklyn Beckham attended a BRIT Awards after-party on Wednesday night In September, Brooklyn enjoyed a break in Paris, where he was pictured strolling around the city with Sonia. At the the time, Brooklyn uploaded a mysterious picture on his Instagram of what appeared to be Sonia taking in the sights of the City of Lights. Sonia also featured in a group photo of Brooklyn and his pals at the Summertime Ball festival in London in June. Sonia is the daughter of Tarak Ben Ammar, a Tunisian-born film producer and distributor who has worked on Life Of Brian and The Passion Of The Christ and his actress wife Beata. French-born Sonia is signed to prestigious Next Models in Paris and also tries her hand at acting and singing. She has already starred on Broadway and 2013 French movie Jappeloup. Reese Witherspoon is dedicated when it comes to plugging her own Draper James line. For weeks the Wild star has been carrying her Totes Y'All bag here and there. The accessory sells for $165 on her site. But on Friday the 39-year-old actress gave her tote a rest to take a pricey multi-colored Gucci purse for a spin. The bag retails for $1,650. A new bag: Reese Witherspoon dropped her Draper James Totes Y'All bag for a Gucci model on Friday But... : The mother of three was smart to wear some Draper James. Her pink blouse was from the company, which has done excellent business since it launched about a year ago But the mother of three was smart to wear some Draper James. Her pink blouse was from the company, which has done excellent business since it launched about a year ago. She even has a stand alone shop in Nashville. The beauty filled out her look with bell bottom jeans that appeared time traveled from the Seventies as well as a nifty pair of beige strappy platform heels. Feel like going to the disco? The beauty filled out her look with bell bottom jeans that appeared time traveled from the Seventies as well as a nifty pair of beige strappy platform heels Sunny: Witherspoon was spotted out and about in the beachy Santa Monica neighbourhood of Los Angeles on Thursday with her Draper James tote On Thursday the Legally Blonde actress looked ready for springtime in sunny Southern California as she sported a pair of yellow leather heels with a matching designer bag draped over her shoulder. She also had her DJ tote. Reese wore her signature blonde locks down flowing over her shoulders as she sported a pair of shades featuring a translucent plastic frame. She wore the fashionable eyewear over her face which had natural, complimentary make-up on it topped off with a swipe of red lip. Mad for plaid: The 39-year-old actress looked stylish as always for the occasion Casual cool: She sported a blue plaid blouse tucked into white jeans along with a pair of yellow leather heels It certainly seemed to be a busy day for the talented actress as she chatted away on her mobile while holding onto her healthy beverage. On the same day, Reese's Cruel Intentions co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar took to Instagram to share a throwback snap of the cast and crew from the 1999 drama. Perhaps the most interesting takeaway from the old photo is that the blonde beauty is seated next to Ryan Phillippe, who she later married and is father to two of Reese's children. The two stars had dated throughout the filming of the movie as they married in 1999. Reese and 41-year-old Ryan divorced in 2008 and the blonde beauty has since moved on with agent Jim Toth. Ryan popped the question to his law school girlfriend Paulina Slagter last month. Along with the throwback photo, the 38-year-old actress also shared a photo of the original script of the film. Back in the day: On the same day, her Cruel Intentions co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar shared a throwback snap of the cast and crew's kick-off dinner Dynamic duo: Sarah, 38, will be reprising her role as Kathryn Merteuil in the movie's upcoming TV reboot She captioned the two images: '#throwbackthursday ok one last one because I was feeling nostalgic - and yes #CruelInventions was the original tittle. 'This pic was 1998 at our kick off dinner #cruelintentions #Crueltv #kathrynmerteuil' No doubt Sarah posted the picture as she revealed that she is reprising her role as Kathryn Merteuil in the movie's upcoming TV reboot. There is no word yet if Reese will return as Annette Hargrove in the upcoming NBC series. Romance: On set of the 1999 drama, Reese dated co-star Ryan Phillippe On Friday she finally unsealed her lips on her break-up with Ben Affleck. And within that Vanity Fair interview, Jennifer Garner let slip that those lips have been off limits ever since. In fact, the 43-year-old did not kiss anyone for eight months after the split until she had to on a film set. The Alias vet also said she will date again after her divorce from Ben is final, but she wants her suitors to be old fashioned and send her flowers, not texts. Not a rebound per se: Jennifer Garner lets slip in Vanity Fair interview that she didn't kiss anyone for eight months after split from Ben Affleck; she also said she wants flowers not texts when she dates again Speaking about shooting love scene for her upcoming film Wakefield, the actress revealed that the first person she kissed after her husband of ten years was her co-star. 'When you havent been kissed for over eight months, its strange,' she told the mag. 'But its my job. Its nine in the morning and you think, "I could really use a shot of alcohol." Then, after a take or two, after everyone has seen your boobs and love handles, you just want to take every crew member and be like, "Please have mercy on me!" She also revealed that she is apprehensive about returning to the dating scene, as evidenced by a story she told of a man recently asking her out on a plane. Her words: The 43-year-old Miracles From Heaven actress also told the monthly the family nanny Christine Ouzounian 'had nothing to do with our decision to divorce. She was not a part of the equation. Bad judgment? Yes'; here she is seen with Ben in January in LA 'We were waiting for the bathroom at JetBlue, and I was so floored,' she said. 'I had to remind myself that that was something that could happen. 'He said, "Could I take you for a cup of coffee?" And I was like, "No! You may not take me for a cup of coffee, sir." And then I said, "But thanks for asking". She admitted her view on modern romance may be a little prehistoric. 'Its just that [from] everyone that I know that is dating it just seems, well. Men dont call anymore. I want flowers; I dont want to text,' she said. 'What does that make me? What kind of dinosaur am I?' No signs of stress here: The day her bombshell interview was released, the movie icon was seen smiling as she left a workout in LA In the revealing interview, Jennifer broken her silence about her divorce from Ben and the nanny he was accused of sleeping with, insisting that Christine Ouzounian, 28, did not break up their 10 year marriage. 'We had been separated for months before I ever heard about the nanny,' said the Miracles From Heaven actress. 'She had nothing to do with our decision to divorce. She was not a part of the equation. Bad judgment? Yes.' When the nanny story broke in July, Ben has said the report was 'garbage.' The Dallas Buyers Club standout - who was seen smiling as she left a workout in LA the same day the bombshell interview dropped - said the toughest part of the allegations was talking to her children about it. 'It's not great for your kids for [a nanny] to disappear from their lives,' she said. 'I have had to have conversations about the meaning of "scandal."' Jennifer and Ben, who have three children together (Violet, aged 10, Seraphina, aged seven, and Samuel, aged three), announced their split in June, just a month before talk of his involvement with the nanny, 28. The help: Affleck was accused in July of getting romantic with his children's nanny Christine Ouzounian; here she is seen in LA in August The kids: The screen wonder with Violet, aged 10, Seraphina, aged seven, and Samuel, aged three, in January As far as his claims that the affair never happened, Jennifer said: 'Hes still the only person who really knows the truth about things. And Im still the only person that knows some of his truths.' They were last seen together on vacation in Montana in mid February with his friend Tom Brady (who, oddly, has links to the nanny as well) and his wife Gisele Bundchen. And of their union, Garner said she was committed as much as she could be. 'It was a real marriage,' said Garner. 'It wasnt for the cameras. And it was a huge priority for me to stay in it. And that did not work.' But the Daredevil actress asked people to not be too hard on Ben. 'No one needs to hate him for me. I dont hate him. Certainly we dont have to beat the guy up,' she said. 'Dont worrymy eyes were wide open during the marriage. Im taking good care of myself.' She keeps going: The Alias vet with son Samuel out for breakfast in Santa Monica; also with them was Ben's mother, though she is not pictured here And her heartbreak is obvious. 'I didnt marry the big fat movie star; I married him,' she said. 'And I would go back and remake that decision. I ran down the beach to him, and I would again. You cant have these three babies and so much of what we had. 'Hes the love of my life. What am I going to do about that? Hes the most brilliant person in any room, the most charismatic, the most generous. Hes just a complicated guy. I always say, "When his sun shines on you, you feel it." But when the sun is shining elsewhere, its cold. He can cast quite a shadow.' But she's not about to turn on the man she hoped to spend the rest of her life with. 'Of course this is not what I imagined when I ran down the beach, but it is where I am,' Jennifer confessed. 'We still have to help each other get through this.' In pain: 'I didnt marry the big fat movie star; I married him,' she said. 'And I would go back and remake that decision. I ran down the beach to him, and I would again. You cant have these three babies and so much of what we had. 'Hes the love of my life. What am I going to do about that?'; here they are seen in September As far as moving on, she said she has to get on with it. 'Its not Bens job to make me happy. The main thing is these kidsand were completely in line with what we hope for them. 'Sure, I lost the dream of dancing with my husband at my daughters wedding. But you should see their faces when he walks through the door. And if you see your kids love someone so purely and wholly, then youre going to be friends with that person.' And to illustrate how much the stress of the split has gotten to her, Jennifer said she has been suffering from insomnia. Back to work: The beauty was seen shooting The Tribes Of Palos Verdes in LA on Wednesday 'When I cant sleepand I am not someone who typically has that problem, but I really have in the last yearand I need something to switch my brain off, it has been Tina Fey and Amy Poehler,' she said. 'God bless those girls. I used to think I would never watch television on my phone, but there I am, because I am sleeping next to my daughter [Violet].' She also said she did not look online. Is she ready for a new man? The star, seen here on February 21, said of dating: 'I want flowers; I dont want to text'; here Jennifer is seen again on Friday She has her pals to lean on: The 13 Going On 30 star was seen carrying green juice with a pretty blonde friend 'I turned on CNN one day,' she said, 'and there we were. I just wont do it anymore. I took a silent oath with myself last summer to really stay offline. I am totally clueless about all of it.' Her ex had an unusual reaction to that. 'Ben says, "Oh, you just dont care," and I say, "No, its the opposite." It hurts me so much, and I care so much,' she told the publication. 'I cannot be driven by the optics of this. I cannot let anger or hurt be my engine. I need to move with the big picture always on my mind, and the kids first and foremost.' How will he react to her tell all? Jennifer asked fans to not beat up Ben, seen here is January This IS real: The cover girl poked fun of Ben's back tattoo of a rising Phoenix. 'Bless his heart,' she said. 'And I am the ashes?' she joked. 'I take umbrage. I refuse to be the ashes' As far as the pressure from fans to get back together with Ben, she said she gets it: 'When Jen Aniston and Brad Pitt broke up, I was dying to see something that said they were getting back together.' She ended the interview by admitting that her heart was 'a little on the tender side right now' and poked fun of Ben's back tattoo of a rising Phoenix. 'Bless his heart,' she said. 'And I am the ashes?' she joked. 'I take umbrage. I refuse to be the ashes.' Her good friend, Alias vet Victor Garber, feels she will be fine, however. 'She is becoming the person that I could see in her that she almost couldnt see in herself,' he said. Elizabeth Taylor was Paris Hilton's great aunt. The screen legend was married to the blonde bombshell's great uncle Conrad Nicholson 'Nicky' Hilton Jr from 1950 to 1951. And on Saturday the siren gave a shout out to the silver screen goddess best known for Butterfield 8, Cleopatra and Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? in a touching Instagram post. The DJ wrote in her caption, 'Happy Birthday to the one & only #ElizabethTaylor. Such an #IconicLegend. She would have been 84 today.' Happy 84! Paris Hilton wishes the late Elizabeth Taylor - who would have turned 84 on Saturday - a happy birthday in a sweet Instagram post Curves ahead: The leggy DJ has been on vacation, where she has been modeling swimsuits She sure knows how to light up social media: In this Snapchat video, the perfume mogul wore leopard Her emoticons were of a birthday cake, a crown and a heart. Conrad Hilton, Jr., who died in 1969 - long before Paris was born - was an American socialite, hotel heir, businessman and TWA director. He was one of the sons of Conrad Hilton (founder of Hilton Hotels). He was also known for having an affair with his stepmother, Zsa Zsa Gabor. Family: Taylor was Paris Hilton's great aunt. The screen legend was married to the blonde bombshell's great uncle Conrad Nicholson 'Nicky' Hilton, Jr from 1950 to 1951; her she is seen in 1975 Taylor died on March 23, 2011 at the age of 79. This posting comes after Paris shared many photos from her beach vacation. The Simple Life vet looked stunning in her bathing suit as she struck Vogue like poses. Also on Saturday, People shared an entry from Taylor's granddaughter, Laela Wilding, who said she used to play with the star's 33.19-carat Krupp diamond. 'Her heart was huge,' said Wilding, 45. 'She had such a huge impact with her activism and she was so full of life and love. She made a big impact on us. A beauty: The star with Paul Newman in the 1958 film Cat On A Hot Tin Roof 'Continuing her legacy is important for to us. She really wanted to break down stigma. She was independent and strong and courageous and did things for others in big ways and small,' she said. 'I remember how we'd lay on the bed in the bedroom and just talk. 'Just snuggling and chatting and eating lunch and watching movies. We'd take a trip to the jewelry closet and she'd open up the drawers and talk about the pieces, who gave them to her. We'd hang out and put lipstick on she had all the colors. We'd chat about boys and dating and I would paint my toe nails.' Grandma Liz: Also on Saturday, People shared an entry from Taylor's granddaughter, Laela Wilding, who said she used to play with the star's 33.19-carat Krupp diamond She added: 'She wanted to know what was going on in our lives," she says. 'My sister [Naomi Wilding] lived with her for a while and Grandma always wanted to see our outfits and she'd say "Try those earrings on" or "Put these on for tonight."' 'Family was number one for her,' she said. 'We had a family where we all loved one another her children and her grandchildren and it comes from her her desire to bring us all together.' Wilding and five of Taylor's grandchildren will be in Washington, D.C., on Monday to attend AIDSWatch, the nation's largest annual constituent-based HIV/AIDS advocacy event. People's cover this week is a rare look at the Cat On A Hot Tin Roof star as she was snapped by photographer Firooz Zahedi. Just because Meek Mill is under house arrest, doesn't mean Nicki Minaj has to be. The couple have had a huge 'blowout fight' after she refused to stay with him while he serves out his sentence in Philadelphia. Earlier this month a judge told the 28-year-old rapper he must serve a minimum of three months house arrest for parole violations on drug and gun charges. According to TMZ, he wanted his girlfriend to live with him for the duration but she refused, triggering the fallout. Not my sentence: Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill have had a 'huge blowout' after she refused to keep him company during house arrest In trouble: Earlier this month a judge told the 28-year-old rapper he must serve a minimum of three months house arrest for parole violations on drug and gun charges Nicki has been recently seen in LA and it is unclear when - or if - she is going back to Philly. On February 5 Mill escaped a custodial prison sentence but was dealt a critical blow to his hip hop career. Common Pleas Judge Genece Brinkley also ordered him to spend six more years on probation. See more of the latest on Nicki Minaj and boyfriend Meek Hill as they have a 'huge blowout' His support system: The judge sentenced the him to between six months to a year in a county jail but in perhaps his only break, is allowing him to serve his time at home. After three months she will evaluate the rapper and decide how much longer he must serve The judge sentenced the House Party rapper to between six months to a year in a county jail but, in perhaps his only break, is allowing him to serve his time at home. After his first 90 days of house arrest, Judge Brinkley - whom Meek once branded a b***h' in one of his songs - will evaluate the rapper and decide of the house arrest will continue. While being holed up in his and Nicki's mansion may not seem too bad, the rapper will not be able to work, meaning no recording or touring, and can leave home only to do community service with groups serving adults, not young people. Not in his favour: It was ordered that Meek Mill (pictured at court last year) must serve a minimum of three months house arrest for parole violations with a possibility of up to 12 months depending on a judge's review Long stint: Common Pleas Judge Genece Brinkley also ordered him to spend six more years on probation. The rapper (pictured October) has been on probation since a 2009 drug and gun conviction This comes at a critical time in Meek's career as he battles to keep fans and stay relevant after a very public fight with rapper Drake and then had yet another beef with 50 Cent. Prosecutors successfully argued that Meek had violated the conditions of his probation for a drug and gun conviction from 2009. Prosecutors told the judge that Meek took a trip without obtaining a travel voucher, namely to go to New York for a concert and also to join Nicki in various cities including going to the American Music Awards with his love. Bad timing: This comes at a critical time in Meek's (seen her on Nicki's tour in July) career as he battles to keep fans and stay relevant after a very public fight with rapper Drake Meek also reportedly failed a drug urine test. Judge Brinkley sent the entertainer back to jail for five months in 2014 for similar violations, around the same time he started his relationship with Nicki. While prosecutors blamed his romance with the 33-year-old Anaconda rapper, Meek - real name Robert Williams - claimed the hitmaker was helping him get back on the straight and narrow. Not approved: Prosecutors told the judge that Meek took a trip without obtaining a travel voucher, namely to go to New York for a concert and also to join Nicki in various cities including going to the American Music Awards with his love (pictured) In a previous hearing, an emotional Meek pleaded with judge saying: 'I'm not a gangsta. I'm not a criminal. I have my queen, Nicki, now. I'm trying to do better and feel like I can be the best rapper out there.' During the court case, Meek's lawyer revealed the All Eyes On me rapper planned to marry Nicki but she 'would not marry a criminal or a bum'. Nicki also testified on Meek's behalf telling the judge that she will take over all the 28-year-old rapper's scheduling to make sure he does not leave the state without obtaining a travel voucher. She told the judge: 'He's not perfect but I can't believe how much he's changed.' Charlotte Crosby seems to be enjoying her time away from the bitter UK chill. The 25-year-old reality star was seen leaving her hotel in Perth, Western Australia on Saturday for the Good Life Festival wearing a pair of tiny barely-there black shorts. Opting for the same colour scheme throughout, the reality star completed the look with a willowy off the shoulder blouse, a large tote bag and bulky sandals. Scroll down for video Skimpy: Charlotte Crosby, 25, wore a pair of barely-there black shorts along with a willowy blouse, large tote bag and sandals on Saturday leaving her hotel in Perth, Western Australia The all black outfit looked sensational against her tan which she presumably would have topped up during her time in Australia where she's been promoting the 12th season of MTV UK's most successful show, Geordie Shore along with the rest of the cast. The North-East beauty who hasn't been shy about her recent surgical enhancement, stepped out confidently showcasing her new nose in all its healed glory after confirming she 'feels so much better about myself'. She managed to put her hair straightners to good use this time by creating a sleek poker straight hairstyle. Ouch: The reality star covered her modesty with a large bandage which covered her burns obtained from a hair straightner This was a far cry from the burn she sustained in New Zealand from the hair tool, which is now depicted via the large bandage on her right thigh. On the outing, Charlotte seemed to be joined by her Geordie Shore co-stars Chloe Ferry and Nathan Henry. Life has been incredibly sweet for fitness enthusiast Charlotte who was sent a bouquet of roses, a heart-shaped balloon and box of chocolates for Valentine's Day by her longtime on/off love interest Gary Beadle whilst her stay in Australia. In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Australia, Charlotte explained: 'We're getting on very well,' when asked about their unique relationship. Why aye! Geordie Shore's Chloe Ferry and Nathan Henry were also spotted outside their hotel in Perth dressed in summer gear Adding to the comment, she mentioned: 'It was always just kinda of a sex thing, although I obviously wanted it to be more and then weve grown up so much now that I cant even explain it but something is different now, something is really different I think weve both matured.' Alongside her relationship status with Gary, the Celebrity Big Brother winner has also been focusing greatly on her Geordie Shore promotional duties. Leaving Sydney for Perth the other day, she was swarmed with Aussie fans at the airport where she wore a casual shirt dress and had her toned legs on show. The bubbly personality made sure to stop and take as many pictures as she could and nearly missed her flight doing so. The new season of Geordie Shore which will air on March 15 will also feature two new faces, Chantelle Connelly and Marty McKenna. His estranged wife recently opened up about the demise of their marriage for the first time. So perhaps it was unsurprising to see Ben Affleck, 43, looking stony-faced at William Morris's star-studded pre-Oscars party on Friday. The award-winning actor wore a dapper three-piece suit for the bash at a private residence in Los Angeles, but didn't appear to be in a celebratory mood. Scroll down for video Not feeling it: Ben Affleck, 43, looked stony-faced at William Morris's star-studded pre-Oscars party on Friday Ben turned the heads of other guests at the party as he made his way to a waiting vehicle. The top button of the star's white shirt undone and part of the garment was untucked as he walked across the venue's paved slabs. One of Hollywood's biggest stars, Ben has achieved greater success for his film writing and production skills than his acting, despite having appeared in blockbusters Pearl Harbor, Gone Girl and the upcoming Batman v Superman. His glittering career has seen him claim two Oscars, an Original Screenplay gong for Good Will Hunting (1997), which he shared with Matt Damon, and Best Picture for Argo (2012). Suited and booted: The top button of the star's white shirt undone and part of the garment was untucked as he walked across the venue's paved slabs He was married to actress Jennifer Garner, 43, for 10 years, before they separated last June, and the pair share three children together: Violet, 10, Seraphina, seven, and son Samuel, four. In an interview for the latest edition of Vanity Fair, Jennifer broke her silence about her divorce from Ben and the nanny he was accused of sleeping with, insisting that Christine Ouzounian, 28, did not break up their 10 year marriage. 'We had been separated for months before I ever heard about the nanny,' said the Miracles From Heaven actress. 'She had nothing to do with our decision to divorce. She was not a part of the equation. Bad judgment? Yes.' Time to go: The award-winning actor wore a dapper three-piece suit for the bash at a private residence in Los Angeles, but didn't appear to be in a celebratory mood As far as his claims that the affair never happened, Jennifer said: 'Hes still the only person who really knows the truth about things. And Im still the only person that knows some of his truths.' They were last seen together on vacation in Montana in mid February with his friend Tom Brady (who, oddly, has links to the nanny as well) and his wife Gisele Bundchen. And of their union, Garner said she was committed as much as she could be. The actress explained that it was a priority for her to make the marriage last but that it just didn't work out that way. Star attraction: Ben turned the heads of other guests at the party as he made his way to a waiting vehicle But the Daredevil actress asked people to not be too hard on Ben, telling the publication that she had her 'eyes open' throughout the marriage and knew how to take care of herself. 'I didnt marry the big fat movie star; I married him,' she said. 'And I would go back and remake that decision. I ran down the beach to him, and I would again. You cant have these three babies and so much of what we had. And she candidly admitted the hunk was the 'love of my life'. Praising his charisma and brilliance, she explained that when his focus was on her she could feel his 'warmth'. Cue the fluttering hearts of New Zealand's female population, as the country's newest The Bachelor star has been announced. Assistant film director and actor Jordan Mauger has been revealed as the lucky man to star on the popular reality show, and with Hollywood connections and model looks, there's no doubt the 32-year-old is quite the catch. In an official announcement statement on the TV3 website, dark-haired stud Jordan revealed 'meeting someone and the dating scene these days is crazy', so a televised pursuit for love seems like a plausible option at this stage in his life. New Bachelor alert: Cue the fluttering hearts of New Zealand's female population, as the country's newest The Bachelor star Jordan Mauger has been announced And being on screen will certainly be no new experience to the eligible hunk, as he has starred in local Kiwi film and television productions including The Brokenwood Mysteries, Westside and Hope And Wire. Speaking to Scout, Jordan insists he won't be putting on a character when appearing on The Bachelor, despite his previous acting experience. 'I wont be playing a role. Youre going to be found out pretty quick. I cant afford to be false or pretend, because I want the girls to know me,' he told the publication. Most recently the gentleman has been playing a behind-the-scenes role in the film industry, working as an assistant director. Handsome hunk: With Hollywood connections and model looks, there's no doubt the 32-year-old is quite the catch Connections: The assistant film director has previously met Tom Cruise and worked with Margot Robbie on post-apocalyptic sci-fi film Z for Zachariah, shot mainly in New Zealand And his job has given him the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of Hollywood's elite, most recently working with Margot Robbie and Chris Pine on post-apocalyptic sci-fi film Z for Zachariah, shot mainly in New Zealand. Meanwhile in an interview with New Zealand Herald back in 2010, Jordan told the publication he had met Tom Cruise and his then wife, Katie Holmes. Apart from a penchant for showbusiness, Jordan has a love for cars. And no doubt his passion for roaring engines may be influenced by his businessman father Phil Mauger, a known race car enthusiast in Christchurch who was involved in a crash while en route to the 2015 Bathurst 12 Hour race in Australia's New South Wales last year. Sporty: No doubt the genetically blessed stud enjoys watching a thrilling game Party animal: It looks like Jordan enjoys getting dressed up and having a good time According to TV3's official The Bachelor New Zealand website, Jordan is very specific with what he wants in a future lover. His ideal woman must be 'charismatic, athletic, striking and someone who has a good sense of humour'. He also says an ideal first date would be taking a lady to karaoke 'to see how she can belt out a tune'. The Bachelor New Zealand starts at 7:30pm on March 7 on TV3. Adventurous: Jordan may very well take the contestants on some outdoor dates considering he loves bicycle rides by the seaside Bottoms up: He certainly knows how to kick back and relax and enjoys a cheeky beverage Palestinian tries to stab Israeli soldiers, shot dead: army A Palestinian-US national tried to stab Israeli soldiers on Friday at a checkpoint near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank and was shot dead, the army and Palestinian sources said. The army said the assailant had approached the so-called DCO checkpoint used by diplomats, journalists and some authorised Palestinians. But soldiers "thwarted the attack, firing towards the assailant, resulting in his death", an army statement said. Israeli security forces monitor the area where a Palestinian man tried to stab soldiers before being shot dead, at a checkpoint near Ramallah on February 26, 2016 Abbas Momani (AFP) The Palestinian health ministry identified the attacker as 17-year-old Mahmud Shaalan. Palestinian security sources said the teenager from Deir Dibwan village northeast of Ramallah held both Palestinian and American nationality. On Friday evening, the Israeli army closed the checkpoint which is near the Beit El settlement outside Ramallah, an AFP correspondent said. A wave of violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories since October has killed 177 Palestinians as well as 28 Israelis, an American, a Sudanese and an Eritrean, according to an AFP toll. Most of the Palestinians who died in the violence were killed by Israeli forces while carrying out attacks but others were killed during clashes and demonstrations. Also on Friday, clashes took place in several parts of the West Bank between-stone throwing Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers and across the border separating Israel and the Gaza Strip. Four shot dead in rural US town before gunman kills self Four people, including children, were shot dead Friday in a rural town in the US state of Washington by a man who then turned the gun on himself, police said. Ryan Spurling, spokesman for the Mason County Sheriff's Office, said the unidentified man killed himself after a three-hour standoff. "The individual shot four people, including children, and then after a standoff shot himself," Spurling told AFP. Four people, including children, were shot dead Friday in a rural town in the US state of Washington by a man who then turned the gun on himself, police said Robert MacPherson (AFP/File) Local news reports, quoting officials, said the gunman may have killed his wife and children. They said another child had managed to escape. Spurling said the victims were found in one of about 11 outlying buildings on the property. He said the gunman had directly called a police officer he knew in the early morning hours, and SWAT officers and other police rushed to the site. US presses Xi on South China Sea non-militarization The White House has pressed Chinese President Xi Jinping to expand his non-militarization pledge to cover the entire South China Sea, despite Beijing's recent military activity in the area. Daniel Kritenbrink, senior director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council, spoke amid rising tensions between the two countries over China's deployment of surface-to-air missiles, radar gear, air strips and fighter jets on an islet there. During a state visit in September, Xi insisted that "China does not intend to pursue militarization" in the Spratly Island chain -- known as Nansha in Chinese. China claims almost the whole of the South China Sea -- through which a third of the world's oil passes -- while several other littoral states have competing claims Soe Than Win (AFP/File) The islands are claimed in part or whole by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. "We think it would be good if that non-militarization pledge, if he (Xi) would extend that across the entire South China Sea," Kritenbrink told a forum at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "We're going to encourage our Chinese friends and other countries in the region to refrain from taking steps that raise tensions." China claims almost the whole of the area -- through which a third of the world's oil passes -- while several other littoral states have competing claims, as does Taiwan. "This is an incredibly important waterway through which much of international trade flows," Kritenbrink said. "We are concerned that China has taken a number of unilateral steps over the last several years that we think raise tensions in the region and are destabilizing." The Asian giant is using dredgers to turn reefs and low-lying features into larger land masses for runways and other military uses to bolster its claims of sovereignty. Earlier this week, US Pacific Command chief Admiral Harry Harris warned that China was changing the "operational landscape in the region." He has called for more flyovers and patrols. "Short of war with the United States, China will exercise de facto control of the South China Sea," Harris said. Kritenbrink also urged China to respect an international court's decision due later this year on Manila's dispute with Beijing over territorial claims in the South China Sea. Kritenbrink said he expected the upcoming ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration to be "extremely important" because it will mark the outcome of a process that allows countries to use peaceful legal means to pursue disputes. China does not recognize The Hague-based court's authority, but it has ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea at the center of the case. "When that ruling comes out, it will be binding on both parties," Kritenbrink said. "That will be an important moment that all of us in the region should focus on." Disputed claims in the South China Sea Adrian Leung (AFP) Samsung wins US appeal in Apple patent case A US appeals court handed Samsung a win over Apple in a long-running patent fight, overriding a jury verdict ordering it to pay $119.6 million to the iPhone maker. The court ruled that two Apple patents at issue were not valid, according to a copy of the decision posted online. "We are delighted with the resounding victory from the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which found that two of Apple's patents should never have been issued," Samsung said in a statement. Apple originally filed the suit against Samsung in early 2012, accusing the South Korean consumer electronics giant of infringing on an array of patents related to smartphones Jung Yeon-Je (AFP/File) "Today's decision is a win for consumer choice and puts competition back where it belongs -- in the marketplace, not in the courtroom." Apple originally filed the suit against Samsung in early 2012, accusing the South Korean consumer electronics giant of infringing on an array of patents related to smartphones. Samsung denied it had done anything wrong and filed a countersuit saying that Apple had infringed on some of its patents. The number of patents involved was whittled down during the lengthy litigation process. Three Apple patents and two Samsung patents were at issue in the appeal ruled on Friday. Apple had sought some $2.2 billion at trial, only to have a jury award the California-based company $119.6 million. The panel of appeals court judges ruled that Samsung did not infringe on one of the Apple patents and that the remaining two, which involved auto-correct and slide-to-unlock features, were not valid, nullifying the jury award, according to a copy of the decision. The appeals court endorsed the jury's decision ordering Apple to pay Samsung $158,500 for infringing one of the South Korean company's patents. Samsung in December paid smartphone rival Apple just over $548 million in a different years-long patent battle in federal court in California. That case has been appealed to the US Supreme Court. Arch-rivals Samsung and Apple decided in 2014 to drop all patent disputes outside the United States, marking a partial ceasefire in a seemingly relentless legal war between the world's two largest smartphone makers. The companies have battled in close to a dozen countries, with each accusing the other of infringing on various patents related to their flagship smartphone and tablet products. China tries charm to reassure over slowing growth China's normally reclusive central bank chief Zhou Xiaochuan is an unusually prominent presence at the G20 finance ministers meeting in Shanghai, racing from seminar to news conference to spread positive messages about the world's second-largest economy. After months of silence, the governor of the People's Bank of China (PBoC) wants investors to know that the yuan currency -- also known as the renminbi (RMB) -- will be stable despite the slowest growth in a quarter of a century. "The fundamentals of China's economy remain strong. There is no basis for persistent renminbi depreciation," Zhou told a conference on Friday, before delivering a similar message half an hour later at a rare media briefing by the central bank, all after he gave respected business magazine Caixin a lengthy interview earlier this month. Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei (L) talks to People's Bank of China Governor Zhou Xiaochuan during the the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting at the Pudong Shangri-la Hotel in Shanghai, China, 26 February 2016 Rolex Dela Pena/Pool (POOL/AFP) Chinese officials are mounting an unprecedented charm offensive in an attempt to convince global investors that its economy and currency are healthy, but doubts over their message remain despite the public statements. The drive comes after senior officials from around the world -- among them IMF chief Christine Lagarde and US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew -- urged Chinese authorities to communicate better. "China is ramping up public relations in what will be a difficult 2016," China economist at IHS Global Insight, Brian Jackson, said in a research note. "During the second half of 2015, a vacuum of public statements raised market uncertainty, which officials are now trying to fill, itself a positive development regardless of their exact messaging." A stock market slump and shock currency devaluation in mid-2015 raised worries about Beijing's ability to avoid a hard landing. Policymaking is secretive in the Communist-ruled country and state-backed media toe the party line, restricting the free flow of information that modern capital markets need, analysts say. "It is important that they (Chinese officials) stick to the reform agenda that they have set out and that they communicate their policies clearly in a world that is very much anxious to know the reasons for actions that are taken," US treasury chief Lew told reporters in Shanghai. - Water and oil - For an official who was appointed in 2002 but still speaks in public only a few times a year, Zhou seems to be everywhere at the G20 gathering, where 19 countries and the European Union are meeting to confront slowing global growth. But at the opening ceremony, he waved off an invitation from Finance Minister Lou Jiwei to speak in public for what would have been the third time that day -- causing watching journalists to burst into laughter. The economic situation is more serious. China's economy expanded an annual 6.9 percent in 2015, the slowest in 25 years. Its foreign exchange reserves have fallen to $3.2 trillion as nearly $200 billion flowed out of the country in December and January alone. Zhou sought to explain: "It isn't like an oil field with fixed reserves that won't remain after you drain it. It's like a reservoir with water coming in from upstream and flowing out downstream." But investors have been confused by seemingly contradictory statements that pledge to move towards greater exchange rate flexibility while at the same time promising the currency will remain "basically" stable. "From the standpoint of currency market players, this is not a credible position," Arthur Kroeber, head of research for Gavekal Dragonomics, told the same seminar that Zhou addressed. - Botched communication - Financial markets have regularly been confused and concerned by Chinese decisions. In January, a "circuit-breaker" mechanism intended to reduce volatility on Chinese stock exchanges was abruptly withdrawn after it instead panicked investors and forced the bourses to close early twice in four days. On Thursday the PBoC stopped allowing some banks to use lower reserve ratio requirements -- the amount of funds they must put aside -- helping to send the Shanghai stock market down more than six percent as the change acts against monetary stimulus. The move was only confirmed when the PBoC sought to deny a Bloomberg News report on the issue -- with a convoluted statement that disclosed some banks had their reserve requirements revised upwards. Earlier this year, the PBoC suddenly stopped publishing foreign exchange statistics for financial institutions, data analysts have used to help gauge fund outflows. On Friday, the central bank said the figures could be "quite misleading". Despite the positive messages, analysts still forecast China's economic growth will slow in 2016 from last year's 6.9 percent, and the yuan will weaken further. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is expected to declare a lower growth target at next weekend's opening of the National People's Congress parliament, probably a range of 6.5-7.0 percent. But Li sought to reassure G20 finance ministers and central bankers that his government is able to handle the situation. "We have the confidence to handle the complex situation at home and abroad," he told the opening ceremony. China's consumer inflation rate climbed higher in January, as the world's second-largest economy struggles with slower growth Fred Dufour (AFP) International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde gives a speech during a session of the G20 High-level Seminar on Structural Reform, preceding the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' Meeting in Shanghai Rolex Dela Pena (POOL/AFP) Inside America's battle on wildlife trafficking Carlos Pages knows how to take precautions before he opens a crate; the last thing the wildlife inspector wants is to find a deadly cobra loose -- again -- at Miami International airport. He's one of a team of US Fish and Wildlife Service inspectors whose job is to root out anything irregular or illegal, both in the trade of live animals and animal products. "We have cases when we've opened up the box before and there is a mamba loose in front of us. In that case, it's a hazard for all of us," Pages tells AFP, referring to the deadly snake of African origin. US Fish & Wildlife agent Sylvia Gaudio shows a crocodile skull that was seized by authorities in the Miami International Airport on February 3, 2016 This time could be dangerous, too. So Pages and a few colleagues carefully, painstakingly open a large crate, using special tools that keep whatever may be in a box of live reptiles -- eight King Cobras and a number of frilled lizards -- at a safe distance. "Whenever we do an inspection, we want to make sure there's nothing illegal that's mixed in with the venomous animals as well," explained Pages. Trained as a reptile expert, he still spends his days with a team of workmates inspecting all manner of animal shipments -- from live fish to rhinoceros -- in a freight warehouse adjacent to the airport. After getting a peek at the inside of the box with a tiny camera, the inspectors forge ahead with the business at hand: using a long tweezer type tool, they start opening the burlap bags, each containing one cobra. Then they attach a glass cylinder to each one with tape so they can get a good look at their cold-blooded guests without risking a bite. It may seem a strange shipment, but as far as the wildlife inspectors are concerned, everything is in order, and the animals are sent on their way. In Florida, it is legal to keep poisonous snakes, if you have a license. - Massive illegal trade - Not every inspection comes up clean and problem-free. Far from it. In one out of every three shipments, inspectors identify irregularities, according to the USFWS spokesman for the US southeast Tom MacKenzie. They run the gamut from inadequate documentation; to an extra animal in the shipment; to a surprise member of an endangered species; to parts of endangered animals (such as ivory handicrafts), which are seized. It is incredibly tough work, largely because the scale of the mission is enormous. Miami has a team of 10 inspectors, for a city that receives 13,000 shipments declared as wild animals each year and is a key crossroads for the animal trade in the Americas, according to MacKenzie. Since Miami has many flights to Latin America, across the United States, and to Europe and beyond, it is a hub for the shipment of rare animals. "One of the biggest challenges is doing as much as we can with what we have. And our tools are improving," Pages said. "But we are always trying to catch up with the illegal importers and exporters, they are always a little bit, a step ahead of us. And we are trying to catch up with them as much as we can." MacKenzie stressed that the market in wildlife is massive -- way beyond people's imagination. "The illegal wildlife trade is second only to drugs (in the US), it is a multibillion dollar business, that's the illegal aspect, and there is the legal aspect, that is also equally expensive," he said. Adding to the pressure, his team is scrambling to avoid allowing illegal and potentially destructive species into the United States. These can potentially threaten native ecosystems, especially in Florida, which is suffering from a proliferation of invaders from Burmese pythons to lionfish and Argentine tegu lizards. - Not cowhide boots - The creative imagination of animal traffickers never ceases to amaze Sylvia Gaudio, another inspector on the team. She points to a table full of confiscated items: the shell of a Nicaraguan turtle, big cat skins, ivory handicrafts, a giant dried and preserved spider. "This was a commercial shipment of leather boots, it was declared as regular cow leather," she said, indicating a load of odd-looking boots. "One of our inspectors noticed there was something unusual about them, and when we took a closer look we realized they were crocodile boots" covered in ordinary leather to hide their provenance. Some traffickers even have a special belt they use to stash tiny, illegally-traded birds, Gaudio said. Many are brought in from Cuba and many die on the way. But those that do not fetch big money, she explained. That is, if the wildlife inspectors don't rescue them first. Agents with US Fish & Wildlife open a box of a live reptiles to check for any smuggled wildlife at the Miami International Airport on February 3, 2016 Diego Urdaneta (AFP) Syria truce takes hold despite limited violations Fighting subsided across much of Syria Saturday as the first major ceasefire of the devastating five-year war appeared to broadly hold despite sporadic breaches in parts of the battle-scarred country. The truce, brokered by Washington and Moscow, is seen as a crucial step towards ending a conflict that has claimed 270,000 lives and displaced more than half the population. A special international task force co-chaired by the United States and Russia hailed the ceasefire. Syrian children walk past heavily damaged buildings in the rebel-held town of Douma, on the eastern edges of Damascus on February 27, 2016 Sameer Al-Doumy (AFP) "The United Nations, the United States and Russia have made a positive assessment of the first hours of the cessation of hostilities," a western diplomat said after a meeting of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) in Geneva. The UN reported "some incidents" in apparent violation of the truce, but "they have been defused", he said. "We really need to wait for Sunday and Monday in order to make a full assessment," the source added. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry "hailed" the ceasefire in a phone call and discussed ways of supporting it through cooperation between their militaries, Russia's foreign ministry said. The ceasefire faces formidable challenges including the exclusion of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group and Al-Qaeda's Syria affiliate Al-Nusra Front, which control large parts of the country. "I think this is the first time we've woken up without the sound of shelling," said Ammar al-Rai, a 22-year-old medical student in Damascus. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said peace talks would resume on March 7 if the ceasefire prevails and more aid is delivered -- a key sticking point in negotiations. He said it was important that any incidents are "quickly brought under control" and a military response should be the "last resort". - Damascus shelling - Russia, which has waged nearly five months of intense air strikes against rebels in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, said it had halted bombing in all areas covered by the truce. Moscow has vowed to keep striking IS, Al-Nusra and other "terrorist groups", but said it would ground its warplanes in the Syria campaign on the first day of the truce to avoid potential "mistakes". "If it holds, it will create the conditions for full, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Syria," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said. Among the limited ceasefire breaches, state media said "terrorist groups" fired a number of shells on Damascus but caused no casualties. Rebels also accused government forces of intermittent "truce violations" in parts of the country. In second city Aleppo, two people were killed and four wounded when shells hit the majority-Kurdish neighbourhood of Sheikh Maqsud, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said. State media said one person was killed by sniper fire in the same district. The city is now almost completely encircled by pro-regime troops after a massive Russian-backed offensive that has caused tens of thousands to flee. On Saturday, however, children played in parks. "I hope the truce continues even for a limited time so we can get back part of our old lives from before the war," said Abu Nadim, a father of four. - Suicide bombings - Jihadists attacked the border town of Tal Abyad in Raqa province, sparking clashes that killed at least 70 IS members, 20 Kurdish militiamen and two civilians, the Observatory said, adding that the attack was repulsed. US-led coalition warplanes launched at least 10 air strikes against the jihadists, it reported. Twin suicide bombings meanwhile killed six people outside the town of Salamiyeh in Hama province, where IS is present, state news agency SANA said. The complexities of a conflict which escalated from anti-government protests into a full-blown war drawing in rival world powers make brokering a lasting ceasefire a major challenge. Assad has been bolstered by support from Russia and Iran while the West, Turkey and Gulf states back rebel groups. "The pressure being placed by Russia and the US on regional actors is such that many of these regional actors can't reject the political process entirely," said Firas Abi Ali, an analyst for IHS Country Risk in London. "This is putting them in a bind where they're compelled to behave as if they're part of the process regardless of what they actually want from it." Syria's top opposition grouping, the High Negotiations Committee, said Friday that 97 opposition factions had agreed to respect the truce, for two weeks initially. In a particularly encouraging sign, a commander in the hardline Islamist faction Ahrar al-Sham said his group -- allied with Al-Nusra -- had not conducted any military operations since the truce started. "But the ceasefire is stillborn, because it began with violations from the regime. It will be very difficult for the ceasefire to hold," Hussam Salameh warned. The crisis in Syria John Saeki/Adrian Leung, Philippe Mouche (AFP) A picture provided by the United Nations on February 27, 2016 shows a general view of the operations centre which provides 24/7 communications and liaison support for the Syria Ceasefire Taskforce at the United Nations Office in Geneva Jean-Marc Ferre (United Nations / HO/AFP) Syrian government forces drive a tank on a road during a military operation against the Islamic State (IS) group in the villages of Zarour and Khanaser, in the Aleppo governorate Georges Ourfalian (AFP) Syrians walk past a poster of President Bashar al-Assad in the capital Damascus, on February 27, 2016 Louai Beshara (AFP) Afghan blasts kill 25, jeopardising peace talks Twenty-five people were killed in two attacks in Afghanistan Saturday, including one in the capital, with the blasts potentially jeopardising attempts by Kabul to persuade the Taliban to join peace talks set for next month. Witnesses and officials described how the suicide bomber detonated near the Defence Ministry in the centre of Kabul just as offices closed for the day, in an attack later claimed by the Taliban. "Twelve people, including two Afghan soldiers were killed and eight others injured," a ministry statement said, while a previous toll given by Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi stated nine were dead and 13 wounded. Shoes collected at the scene of a suicide attack in Kunar province on February 27, 2016 Noorullah Shirzada (AFP) The bomber was on foot, ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri added. "I saw wounded civilians and army soldiers. They were begging for help but security forces did not allow common people to help them," witness Sardar Mohammad told AFP. "The causalities, mostly, were civilians," said another man, Saleh Mohammad. "It was the time when all the people were going home." Ambulances converged at the site of the explosion as police and the army set up a security cordon. Analysts have previously observed the Taliban stepping up attacks in the heart of the capital to gain leverage ahead of attempted peace negotiations with the Western-backed government in Kabul, against whom they have been fighting a bloody insurgency for more than 14 years. Earlier on Saturday a suicide bomber on a motorbike struck at a market in Asadabad, the capital of restive Kunar province, killing 13 people and wounding at least 39. No group has yet claimed responsibility for that attack, which a spokesman for the provincial governor and a police official both said targeted a tribal leader fiercely opposed to the insurgents, Haji Khan Jan. The Taliban do not generally claim attacks with high numbers of civilian casualties, saying they only target Afghan soldiers -- "stooges" of foreign powers -- and NATO troops, considered "invaders", as well as symbols of the central government. But civilians are paying a heavy price in the violence tearing the country apart. The number killed or wounded in 2015 was the highest recorded since 2009. According to a UN report published earlier this month, there were more than 11,000 civilian casualties in 2015, including 3,545 deaths. - 'Unrealistic' - The blasts come amid fresh efforts by Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the US to restart talks aimed at ending the Taliban's long and bloody insurgency in Afghanistan. Delegates from Afghanistan, China, the US and Pakistan met in Kabul last week for a fourth round of talks aimed at forming a path back to the nascent peace process. The four countries have called for a direct dialogue between the Taliban and Kabul by next week, but analysts have termed the deadline "completely unrealistic", especially as the insurgents have said they have not been contacted by the quartet. Kabul has repeatedly called for all Taliban groups to sit at the negotiating table though President Ashraf Ghani has said his government will not make peace with those who kill civilians. A first round of direct talks was held last summer in Pakistan, but a second edition had been indefinitely postponed by the announcement of the death of Mullah Omar, the Taliban's founder. His successor, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, is a divisive figure blamed by many insurgents for keeping Omar's death secret for two years. A splinter group formed in December and has challenged Mansour's rule. He was also injured in a firefight among cadres in Pakistan that same month. Despite the setbacks, the Taliban are far from surrendering. Since the end of the NATO combat mission in Afghanistan in late 2014, they have instead multiplied attacks and offensives on the ground. Afghan security personnel arrive at the scene following a suicide bombing near the gate of Ministry of Defence in Kabul on February 27, 2016 Wahil Kohsar (AFP) Security personnel cordon off the scene of a suicide bombing near the gate of Ministry of Defence in Kabul on February 27, 2016 Wakil Kohsar (AFP) Uganda's 'dictator in a suit' holds power, but at what cost? "In the past you could get away with imprisoning and killing everyone," said Ugandan lawyer and poet Kabumba Busingye. "Now it has become much more difficult to be a dictator." Under Idi Amin, 1970s Uganda was a rough dictatorship ruled with brutal buffoonery, but Yoweri Museveni, a former rebel who helped overthrow Amin and his successor to seize power in 1986, is a "sophisticated dictator in a suit" said Busingye. Museveni swept to his fifth election victory this month with 61 percent of the vote. Observers said the cards were heavily stacked against his opponents, as the 71-year-old's grip on his party and country -- and his access to state resources -- meant the result was never in any doubt. Ugandan police arrest main opposition leader Kizza Besigye, outside his home in Kasangati, a Kampala suburb Isaac Kasamani (AFP/File) "In the past there was rule by decree, abolishing courts and parliament. Now you keep them, you have elections once in five years but you arrange the system to make sure that you always get your way," said Busingye. The cost of getting his may prove higher this time than in similarly disputed elections against the same main opponent, Kizza Besigye, in the past. Foreign donors are dismayed and, more importantly, a large chunk of the electorate feels disenfranchised and angry. In the days since the vote, armed police and soldiers have maintained an aggressive, highly visible presence on the capital's streets to keep a lid on things, while Besigye has been prevented from leaving his home by a succession of mob-handed arrests. "The issue of legitimacy is going to be a big one for the next government," said Livingstone Sewanyana, chairman of the Citizens Election Observers Network Uganda (CEON-U) which monitored the vote. "There is a general belief that the whole process was not transparent and the mood is that the results do not reflect the will of the people." - 'Good will exhausted' - While campaigning, Besigye addressed large rallies in his urban strongholds and in rural areas where Museveni finds his strongest support. The president resorted to "rented crowds" attracted by freebies and handouts, said Sewanyana, and could rely on the support of an Electoral Commission that is widely regarded as partisan. During three decades in charge, Museveni has melded state and party, bending institutions to his will, from the security forces to the judiciary. "Museveni controls all aspects of our life," said Sewanyana. Doing others' dirty work abroad has won him gratitude and a free pass. Uganda's army is the core of the US and European-backed fight against Islamic militants in Somalia and its soldiers are deployed in various UN peacekeeping missions. "Uganda is punching above its weight in the region in terms of security matters, and a number of players both in the region and outside would be keen to have continuity," said Busingye. "Museveni has very shrewdly worked this into his calculations." Government spokesman Shaban Bantariza said Museveni is simply showing himself to be the "regional leader" he is, a "brand" with support "right from the grassroots upwards". Even Museveni's critics offer grudging admiration. "He's not smart, he's extremely smart," said Busingye who compared Museveni to two other rebels-turned-rulers, Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe and Ethiopia's late leader, Meles Zenawi. But while Meles never lost his grip, opposition to Museveni is growing. "A dictator, whether it's the crude one like Amin, or the sophisticated one like Museveni, can only go as far as the people let him," Busingye said, adding it was "a question of when, not if" Ugandans will have had enough. Ladislaus Rwakafuzi, Besigye's much in demand lawyer, said that time might come soon. "Museveni has exhausted the good will he had from the people," he said. Uganda police block journalists from accessing main opposition leader, Kizza Besigyes home in Kasangati, a Kampala suburb Isaac Kasamani (AFP/File) Uganda's main opposition leader Kizza Besigye (C back) is escorted by police to a police vehicle in Kampala Isaac Kasamani (AFP/File) Myanmar anti-drug group abandons poppy field mission after clashes A group of Christian hardline anti-drug vigilantes Sunday abandoned plans to destroy poppy fields in an area of northern Myanmar after clashes broke out between their members and armed attackers in the past week. Pat Jasan, which is known for flogging drug users, said it was calling off the mission in mountainous Kachin state because local police and military said they could not provide protection. On Thursday the group said its members were attacked by a mob wielding explosives and stones after it set out from the town of Waingmaw to try and destroy nearby fields against the wishes of local farmers. Members of hardline anti-drug Christian group Pat Jasan gather outside the organisation's headquarters in Waingmaw in northern Kachin state on February 28, 2016 after returning from a mission destroying an opium plantation Ye Aung Thu (AFP) At least 32 members, including women, were injured in the fray. "We have cancelled our mission and our members are now coming back to town," Lum Hkawng, a senior Pat Jasan leader in Waingmaw, told AFP on Sunday. He accused local authorities of failing to protect them. "When our leaders met with government officials, police said they couldn't give security. Also the army said we would have to talk to the central government directly as they couldn't give security." Myanmar is the world's second largest opium producer after Afghanistan, despite the government's repeated vows to eliminate the drug trade. Production has boomed amid weak law enforcement in the northern war-torn frontier, where ethnic minority rebel groups seeking greater autonomy from the state have been battling the Myanmar army for decades. It is believed that both ethnic militias and the Myanmar military have tapped the lucrative multi-billion dollar trade to finance their long-running wars. Impoverished farmers in the remote region meanwhile say they have few ways other than poppy cultivation to make a living. The sudden attack Thursday morning followed a standoff lasting several days between the Pat Jasan marchers and police, who had blocked the group from entering surrounding poppy fields, citing concerns armed farmers were ready to hit back. Local police have not responded to repeated requests to comment. Pat Jasan, determined to end the scourge of heroin addiction that has devastated local communities, formed its loose network two years ago with the backing of the powerful Kachin Baptist Church. Its members, who don camouflage vests and combat helmets on their missions, have used forceful methods, including beating drug users, to try to break addictions. A member of hardline anti-drug Christian group Pat Jasan holds up a mock weapon made of bamboo outside the organisation's headquarters in Waingmaw in northern Kachin state on February 28, 2016 Ye Aung Thu (AFP) Wounded members of Pat Jasan are treated in a hospital in Myitkyina after they were attacked during a mission to destroy an opium plantation on February 26, 2016 Ye Aung Thu (AFP) Russia halts all Syria bombing sorties to avoid 'mistakes' The Russian military said its warplanes suspended all sorties over Syria on Saturday in line with a ceasefire deal brokered by Russia and the United States, to avoid any "bombing mistakes". The Russian and American militaries also exchanged maps of Syria, while fighting stopped in 34 Syrian settlements, the military said. "Russia's air force fully halted bombing in the green zone," a senior representative of the General Staff, Sergei Rudskoi, told reporters, referring to the areas and armed groups that expressed interest in observing the ceasefire deal. A Russian Sukhoi Su-30 warplane lands at an airbase in Latakia province, northwest Syria Paul Gypteau (AFP/File) He added that "on February 27, sorties of the Russian aviation in Syria including long-range aviation, are not being carried out". He said this was being done to rule out "any possible bombing mistakes" and in accordance with a UN Security Council resolution. A ceasefire agreement brokered by Moscow and Washington called for the cessation of hostilities from 2200 GMT Friday between Russian-backed Bashar al-Assad's forces and opposition groups. The deal does not however include the Islamic State and Al-Nusra Front jihadists. Rudskoi said 17 armed groups -- those who fight alongside regime forces or independently -- contacted Russia's ceasefire coordination centre at the Hmeimim airbase and pledged to honour the ceasefire deal. He also said that within the framework of the ceasefire deal the Russian and US militaries exchanged maps of Syria. - 'In full control' - Rudskoi said more than 6,000 fighters had joined the truce deal, saying the Russians handed their lists to the US counterparts. He added that the Americans also received a list of 74 settlements and areas which should not be bombed. "During consultations we received a similar map prepared by the American side," Rudskoi said. "We've made the first step on the path to halting fighting on Syrian soil," he added. "We are honouring an obligation to observe the ceasefire in full. However it does not mean that ISIL and Jabhat al-Nusra jihadists can breathe a sigh of relief," he said, referring to the Islamic State and Al-Nusra Front by other names. "We are in full control of the situation across the whole of Syria," he said, adding that Russian forces were using at least 70 drones and space surveillance for monitoring purposes. Speaking by video link from the Hmeimim airbase, Sergei Kuralenko, head of Russia's coordination centre in Syria, said fighting had stopped in 34 Syrian settlements. "Work to rebuild Syria is being carried out round the clock," he said, adding that humanitarian aid was being sent to the areas where the ceasefires have taken hold. Over the past two days, 2.5 tonnes of food supplies have been sent to two settlements in the provinces of Homs and Latakia, Kuralenko added. Moscow launched a bombing campaign in Syria in September, saying it needed to target jihadists before they cross into Russia, but the West has accused it of targeting moderate rebels. An anti-aircraft defence missile system on the Moskva cruiser in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Syria on December 17, 2015 Max Delany (AFP) Shells hit Syrian capital despite truce: state agency A number of shells hit residential neighbourhoods in the Syrian capital on Saturday, the state news agency reported, hours after a ceasefire agreed by world powers began. Citing a military source, SANA said "terrorist groups" fired shells from neighbourhoods east of Damascus, but it did not report any casualties. It was the first reported attack on the capital since a ceasefire began at midnight. Traffic in Damascus on February 27 2016, as the first major ceasefire of the five-year war takes hold Louai Beshara (AFP) A security source in the capital told AFP that there were no casualties when about 10 shells hit the Abbasiyeen neighbourhood. A resident confirmed that shells had struck the district in the late morning. Syria's armed forces issued a statement warning against "the consequences of such actions" and called on civilians to remain committed to "local reconciliation". The army "calls on the residents of these neighbourhoods to put pressure on this terrorist minority so they do not end efforts to bring security and stability" to Syria, according to a statement carried by SANA. It appeared to play down the attack, saying the army "was confident that most citizens are eager" to avoid an eruption in hostilities. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said it did not record any attacks on central Damascus on Saturday. Tensions are high as rebels have also accused the government of intermittent "truce violations" in parts of the country on Saturday. The ceasefire does not include jihadist groups. More than 270,000 people have been killed in Syria's war, which will reach its five-year mark next month. Air strike on Yemen market kills 30 rebels, civilians: witnesses A Saudi-led air coalition air strike on a market northeast of the rebel-held Yemeni capital Sanaa killed at least 30 rebels and civilians, witnesses said. The air strike targeted three rebel vehicles as they entered a market in the town of Naqil bin Ghaylan, killing at least 30 Huthi insurgents and civilians, one tribal source in the area said. The rebel-controlled Saba news agency gave a higher death toll, saying that 60 civilians were killed and wounded in the attack but it did not mention any casualties among fighters. Damaged vehicles following an air-strike on Sanaa, on February 27, 2016 Mohammed Huwais (AFP) The attack hit Khulaqa market, which is known for selling qat, a mild narcotic that is chewed throughout Yemen, witnesses said. The area is part of the Nehm region, where coalition-backed loyalists have been advancing against the rebels as they try to close in on Sanaa. Rights groups have repeatedly urged the coalition to avoid causing civilian casualties. Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch accused the coalition of using US-supplied cluster bombs. The coalition last month announced that an independent inquiry would examine charges of possible abuses against civilians in the conflict. A panel of UN experts says the coalition has carried out 119 sorties that violated humanitarian law, and called for an international probe. The coalition launched late March 2015 an air campaign against Iran-backed rebels in support of the UN-recognised President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi. The Iran-backed Shiite rebels have controlled Sanaa since September 2014 and had placed Hadi under house arrest. But he escaped, intially seeking refuge in second city Aden last year before fleeing to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, as the rebels advanced on the southern port. Hadi returned to Aden after loyalists backed by the coalition drove the rebels out of there and four other southern provinces in the summer. But Hadi and senior officials continue to spend most of their time in Riyadh against a backdrop of worsening security in Aden, the temporary base of the government. The United Nations warned this month of a "human catastrophe unfolding in Yemen", where it says more than 6,100 people had been killed in the fighting since last March. The UN said another 3,000 people had been wounded and 2.5 million people forced to flee their homes. Donors at a conference in Qatar pledged Wednesday $220 million of aid to Yemen. Hadi's government accused this week Lebanon's Hezbollah of sending fighters to support the Huthis, saying it had evidence of the Shiite militia's involvement. Also on Saturday, the United Arab Emirates, a key member of the Saudi-led coalition, said that one of its soldiers has died in Yemen when his military vehicle overturned. The UAE has lost more than 70 soldiers in Yemen since the launch of the campaign. Yemenis inspect the damage following an air-strike on Sanaa, on February 27, 2016 Mohammed Huwais (AFP) Barcelona waits for refugees... who aren't coming Half a year after Barcelona launched a municipal plan to welcome refugees fleeing wars in places like Syria and Iraq, Spain's second largest city is still waiting for them to arrive. "This fills us with rage," Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, a former activist born out of the anti-austerity Indignados protest movement, told AFP. "The city is ready at the technical level, all our services are ready and residents are waiting with open arms. But they don't arrive." Protesters in Barcelona on February 27, 2016, demand action to secure safe passage routes for refugees Josep Lago (AFP) While EU interior ministers gathered in Brussels this week to try to hammer out a unified response to the biggest migration crisis in the bloc's history, the city detailed its own "Barcelona Refuge City" plan. When Colau announced the initiative in August, hundreds of residents of the Mediterranean, seaside city flooded the city hall with e-mails volunteering to help. The plan was quickly followed by other cities across the country including Madrid, the Mediterranean port of Valencia and Cadiz in the southwest. Faced with this outpouring of solidarity, Spain's conservative government agreed to increase to 17,680 the number of refugees which the country would accept as part of a broader EU response to the migrant crisis. It had initially agreed to accept just 2,749. "But since then, just 18 have arrived (in the whole of Spain), a ridiculous figure," said Pascale Coissard, spokeswoman in the northeastern region of Catalonia for the country's Commission for Refugee Aid. The agency has for months prepared to receive a chunk of the over one million people who have arrived in Europe fleeing from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan or Eritrea. It boosted the number of places able to welcome refugees in Catalonia -- the capital of which is Barcelona -- to 41 from ten and will shortly open 50 more. The agency has also reinforced its medical and psychological services and it is training municipalities in the region how best to deal with newly arrived refugees. - 'Working blindly' - The Catalan branch of the Red Cross, meanwhile, is recruiting social workers, interpreters and employment consultants and has set up three reception centres with up to 200 places for emergency situations. "We are ready," said Oscar Barbero, head of social services for the local branch of the Red Cross. "But we are working blindly, without knowing when they will arrive, how they will arrive or how many will arrive." The main problem is that Spain's central government "is not providing any information," said Ignasi Calbo, coordinator of the "Barcelona Refuge City" plan, for which 10.5 million euros ($11.6 million) has been set aside. And Brussels and European nations are also dragging their feet. In late September, European leaders agreed on a plan to relocate 160,000 migrants from the countries they're flooding into -- mainly Greece and Italy. But it has so far relocated just 600 -- an unacceptable situation for Colau. "In the summer we will go to the beach for a swim, in the same sea where each week people die because Europe is not providing safe passage," she said. "And while it does not, it will be an accomplice to these human trafficking mafias and boat sinkings." - 'Get tired of waiting' - As a result, Barcelona wants European cities to grab hold of the issue. For the past few months, it has been working with associations representing European cities, such as Eurocities or Metropolis, to pressure European institutions to act. Now they will move to direct action, said Colau. Barcelona city hall is finalising cooperation agreements with municipalities which have been overwhelmed by the arrivals of migrants, such as Athens and Lesbos in Greece or Lampedusa in Italy. "But there will come a time when cities get tired of waiting," said Calbo, hinting local authorities may assume some responsibilities in areas of asylum that belong to the central government in Madrid. "It is a state duty but there is a humanitarian level which we cannot forget. And human rights are above European legislation," he added, without giving further details. Spain's second largest city is still waiting for refugees to arrive Josep Lago (AFP) Protesters in Barcelona on February 27, 2016 carry a lifeboat to symbolise their support for refugees Josep Lago (AFP) Russia, US hail Syrian ceasefire Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry have hailed the ceasefire in Syria and discussed ways of supporting it through cooperation between their militaries, Russia's foreign ministry said on Saturday. In a phone call, they welcomed "the implementation of the ceasefire in Syria," the ministry said in a statement. "They also discussed the outlook for resuming the peace negotiation process in the framework of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG)," Moscow said, adding that both sides recognised the "particular importance" of working together as co-chairs of the 17-nation group. US Secretary of States John Kerry (R) gestures beside of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) during a news conference after the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) meeting in Munich on February 12, 2016 Christof Stache (AFP/File) Lavrov and Kerry also discussed "ways for ensuring it (the ceasefire) is fully upheld, including enhancing military cooperation between Russia and the United States," the statement said. State Department spokesman John Kirby said Kerry had welcomed the "constructive engagement" among members of the ISSG, "as parties continue to closely monitor and assess reports from the field". "They agreed that while initial reports have been encouraging, a serious effort by all parties will be critical to success going forward," Kirby added. "They also reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the cessation of hostilities and to delivery of needed humanitarian aid to communities across Syria." The Russian military earlier said its warplanes had suspended all sorties over Syria on Saturday to avoid any "bombing mistakes" and the US and Russia militaries also exchanged maps of Syria. The ceasefire, brokered by Washington and Moscow, took effect at midnight local time (2200 GMT Friday). It is the first major truce in a five-year war that has claimed 270,000 lives and displaced more than half of Syria's population. The agreement calls for the cessation of hostilities between the forces of Russian-backed President Bashar al-Assad and opposition groups, but it does not cover jihadist groups such as the Islamic State and Al-Nusra Front. Savouring a morning without bombs in Syria as truce takes hold For many people across battle-torn Syria, Saturday morning was unusual: for the first time in years, they could take a quiet neighbourhood stroll as their children played in the park. Less than a day into a landmark ceasefire deal in parts of the country, residents say their usual routine has been thrown off without the usual sounds of artillery, rocket attacks, or helicopter-borne barrel bombs. "We're totally lost today, our daily schedule has completely changed!" jokes Hasaan Abu Nuh, an activist from the town of Talbisseh in Homs province. Syrian children play on a slide at a park in the rebel-held town of Douma, on the eastern edges of the capital Damascus on February 27, 2016, on the first day of the landmark ceasefire agreement Sameer Al-Doumy (AFP) "Normally, the helicopter takes off at 8:00 AM and the party starts -- there were some violations today, but it's nothing," Abu Nuh tells AFP. The guns fell silent at midnight on Friday across large parts of Syria, after the government and nearly 100 rebel groups agreed to a cessation of hostilities brokered by the United States and Russia. For 11-year-old Ahmad, that meant something special: he could go to the park with his siblings. He beams as he swings back and forth in the small playground near his home in the Sukari neighbourhood of bomb-battered Aleppo city. "My father used to take us himself to go play in the park on Fridays only, when he could be sure there would be no shelling or clashes nearby," he says. "But this morning, he allowed us to go by ourselves to the park near our home." Osama Diri, who lives in the nearby Al-Maghayir district, says he was surprised how busy Aleppo's streets were when he woke up on Saturday. "Normally, we wake up and there's very little movement in the morning until noon because of the airplanes," he says. "Most of the residents would be at home. But now we don't hear the sounds of artillery or planes at all." - Back from the frontline - Tired of nearly five years of war, many residents had been deeply sceptical that a ceasefire could hold across the country, where more than 270,000 people have been killed in the past five years. "We were waiting until the clock struck midnight so we could see what would happen," says Faez Sandeh, who lives in the Al-Kalasseh district with his wife and child. "Thank God, the situation is good so far. There's been no shelling, no warplanes, and more people are walking in the streets." Abu Sharif, one rebel stationed near Aleppo city, says the battle lines were so calm he was able to return home. "I returned from my post in the Al-Breij area, which is a front line between us and the regime," he says. "The situation was good and relaxing for us there, as there were no attacks or infiltration attempts by the regime forces." Commanders in Ahrar al-Sham, a hardline Islamist group, say even they were abiding by the ceasefire. "There were some clashes between us and regime forces after midnight, but they didn't last more than half an hour," says Abu Abdo al-Assir, an Ahrar leader in Aleppo. "Now, we will be committed to the truce as long as the regime also commits to it." His comments are particularly encouraging, as Ahrar al-Sham is one of the groups whose alliance with Al-Qaeda's local affiliate -- excluded from the deal -- had sparked worries the truce would not hold. - Not a 'normal day' - For Syrians near Damascus, whose morning coffee was often accompanied by the crash of artillery rounds, Saturday's quiet was a sign of hope. Shadi Matar is an activist in the rebel bastion of Daraya, west of the capital. Despite a pledge by the regime that it would continue operations there, Matar says the first hours of the truce were calm. "On a normal day at this time, there are three or four planes flying around to drop barrel bombs," he says. "Today, thank God, this isn't happening." Inside the capital, hours of quiet were interrupted when several shells hit the central district of Abbasiyeen, without causing casualties. Bassem Salhab, 55, insists that everyone should remain optimistic. "For the first time we feel safe after everyone committed to the truce. Syrians generally want nothing more than a ceasefire," he says. "People are sick and tired and this crisis has dragged on. The ceasefire is the only solution." Medical student Ammar al-Rai says the relative calm nationwide has erased some of his pessimism about the future of Syria. "All my friends are happy that it's quiet, even if it's temporary," says the 22-year-old. "One of my friends in Germany sent me a message this morning to ask me jokingly, is the war over? When can I come back? "Damascus is more beautiful without war." Syrian children walk past heavily damaged buildings in the rebel-held town of Douma near Damascus on February 27, 2016 Sameer Al-Doumy (AFP) Army reopens Boko Haram-hit roads in NE Nigerian state Major roads to and from Maiduguri in northeast Nigeria have been re-opened, the chief of army staff said on Saturday, nearly three years after they were shut because of Boko Haram attacks. Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai said restrictions had been lifted between the Borno state capital and Damboa to the southwest, southeast to Bama, and east to Mafa, Dikwa and Gamboru Ngala. The road between Damboa and Biu -- seen as a hotbed of Boko Haram activity -- will also be re-opened, he added. Cars and residents behind sandbags at a road block in the northeastern Nigerian town of Maiduguri, Borno State, on April 30, 2013 Pius Utomi Ekpei (AFP/File) Buratai said in Damboa that officials were determined to see the roads reopened. "Indeed the residents are safe, those who left should come back," he added. A new army motorbike battalion will patrol the roads, which have seen frequent attacks on motorists by the heavily armed insurgents, effectively making large parts of Borno a no-go zone. Nigeria claims to have "technically" defeated Boko Haram, despite continued sporadic suicide and bomb attacks, particularly in hard-to-reach rural areas. The government is pushing for many of the hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the conflict since 2009 to return, despite widespread concerns for security in their remote home towns and villages. Business leaders in Maiduguri have also complained that the closure of the roads -- and the need for military escorts to transport goods and produce -- has severely hit trade. The roads were shut in July 2013, soon after the start of a government-imposed state of emergency in Borno and the neighbouring states of Yobe and Adamawa. Buratai said the new armed motorbike battalion would help soldiers pursue any Boko Haram suspects and maintain control. "As the roads are re-opened now people should be able to move freely and we will do our job to ensure that they are secured," he added. In Damboa, which Buratai described as "central" to Boko Haram's insurgency, also unveiled a second 100 "most-wanted" poster of Islamist suspects, copies of which will be distributed countrywide. IMF says Tunisia should adjust its 'development model' Tunisia should adjust its development model to counter economic slowdown and build "inclusive growth", the International Monetary Fund's country representative said, ahead of an expected line of IMF credit. The authorities have failed to redress the economy since the uprising five years ago that ousted longtime president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Tunisia's economic growth slowed to 0.8 percent last year from 2.3 percent in 2014, and unemployment nationwide stands at 15 percent. The IMF's Tunisia representative, Robert Blotevogel, during an interview with AFP on February 26, 2016 in Tunis Fethi Belaid (AFP/File) In January, a wave of protests spread to several cities including Tunis in some of the worst social unrest since the 2011 revolt. "This trend needs to be reversed... The idea would be to build the base for inclusive growth and revise Tunisia's development model," Robert Blotevogel told AFP. An IMF delegation is in Tunisia to discuss a new aid package at least equal to a $1.7 billion credit line granted in 2013. Blotevogel said the government and the IMF had agreed on "the goal for big reforms and the diagnosis" of the situation, and were now "mostly focusing on the timeline for implementation". The IMF's board is expected to approve the new line of credit -- to be over four years at the request of Tunis -- on April 22, he said. "Expected growth for 2016 does not correspond to the aspirations of the Tunisian people. It will not be strong enough to reduce unemployment", he said. He said he expected 2016 to be a "stabilisation year", explaining that the agriculture sector was expected to perform less well than in 2015. Olive oil and date exports gave the economy a boost in 2015, the finance minister said in October. - Tourism hit by attacks - In tourism, "initial signs... do not lead to believe that there will be any great recovery" this year, Blotevogel added. Tunisia lost more than a third of its vital tourism revenues in 2015, after attacks claimed by the Islamic State group that killed 59 foreign tourists. Blotevogel said Tunisia should adjust its budget to relaunch the economy and ensure growth can "reach the most vulnerable and also the disadvantaged regions". "We are facing a problem in the composition of the budget," he said, adding that the civil service was "a great drain on state expenses" and "a great challenge for Tunisia's economy". Tunisia's last line of credit from the IMF in 2013 -- which was over two years with a seven-month extension -- came as support for the political transition after the 2011 uprising. The package was implemented in "very difficult conditions", Blotevogel said, citing slow growth in the European Union, Tunisia's largest trade partner, and the crisis in neighbouring Libya. The democratic transition "took longer than expected" and was "accompanied by social unrest... then by the security aspect whose importance increased with the terrorist attacks in 2015". An IS-claimed attack on the National Bardo Museum in Tunis in March last year killed 21 tourists and a policeman, while another killed 38 tourists at a beach resort near Sousse in July. A suicide bombing on a bus in Tunis in November, also claimed by IS, killed 12 presidential guards. Tunisia showed a "certain resilience because the greater macro-economic balances were maintained," Blotevogel said. The authorities also "made considerable progress in several fields including the financial sector" with the restructuring of public banks. But the country still faces "a number of challenges, weaknesses", he said. People demonstrate outside the Prime Minister's office in the capital Tunis on February 25, 2016 Fethi Belaid (AFP/File) Ukrainian who posed as teen in US faces sex assault charge HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) A 23-year-old Ukrainian national who posed as a teen to attend a Pennsylvania high school was charged Friday with sexual assault over a relationship with a student. Artur Samarin, already jailed on identity theft and other charges, was arrested on charges of statutory sexual assault and corruption of minors, Harrisburg police said in a statement. The new charges stem from a sexual relationship in 2014, when the student was 15 and Samarin was 22. This May 2014 photo provided by Pennsylvania State Rep. Patty Kim shows Kim presenting a certificate to a man who identified as Harrisburg High School student Asher Potts. The school honors student just months from graduation was actually a 23-year-old Ukrainian national using a false identity after his visa expired, police said Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. Artur Samarin, who used the alias Asher Potts, was arrested and charged Tuesday in Harrisburg, Pa., police said. (Pennsylvania State Rep. Patty Kim via AP) Samarin, using the alias Asher Potts, enrolled in Harrisburg High School as a freshman in 2012 and was a member of the National Honor Society and the school's ROTC and Naval Sea Cadet programs. He was to graduate in June. Authorities say he came to the U.S. on a three-month work visa then got a tourist visa that expired in March 2013. He enrolled as a freshman six months later. Police were alerted to Samarin by a tipster in December who alleged Samarin was an adult living illegally in the U.S. and was having sexual relationships with female students. Two people helped enroll a Ukrainian man in a Pennsylvania high school with a fake identity, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Pennlive.com. The complaint alleges Stephanye McClure-Potts and Michael Potts helped enroll Samarin with documents that listed his birthday as Sept. 3, 1997. His actual birthday is Sept. 3, 1992. The complaint says McClure-Potts also helped Samarin get a Pennsylvania driver's license under the name Asher Potts in 2014. McClure-Potts and Michael Potts haven't been charged. A man who answered the phone at a listing for McClure-Potts hung up on an Associated Press reporter seeking comment. Samarin graduated from high school in Ukraine, police said Friday, and attended two years of college there. He was arrested Tuesday and faces charges including theft, identity theft and records tampering. Online court documents don't list attorney information for him. Trump wins Christie endorsement, robbing Rubio of momentum FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Friday endorsed GOP front-runner Donald Trump, delivering a surprise and powerful boost to the billionaire businessman, whom he called the best Republican candidate to lead the country and beat Democrat Hillary Clinton. "I've gotten to know all the people on that stage and there is none who is better prepared to provide America with the strong leadership that it needs both at home and around the world than Donald Trump," Christie said at a news conference in Texas. Reporters were visibly stunned when he walked into the room. "I can guarantee you that the one person that Hillary and Bill Clinton do not want to see on that stage come next September is Donald Trump," said Christie, who dropped his own bid for the presidency earlier this month following a disappointing finish in New Hampshire. FILE - In this Oct. 28, 2016 file photo, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Donald Trump talk during a break in the CNBC Republican presidential debate at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colo. Christie had better be hungry: Hes got a lot of harsh words to eat about Trump now that hes endorsed the billionaire. Trump, in turn, has some tough things about Christie to start walking back now that the two men are suddenly allies instead of antagonists in the Republican presidential race. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) The endorsement, the first for Trump from a sitting governor and a former rival, comes at a particularly opportune time for the real estate mogul, who on Thursday night faced a barrage of new attacks from rival Marco Rubio during the final debate ahead of next week's Super Tuesday contests, where large numbers of delegates are at stake. And it underscored the extent to which Trump has managed to dominate the news cycle and starve rivals of momentum just as they appear to be on the rise. Rubio hit at Trump's business record, history of hiring foreign workers and his vague policy positions during the debate. The broadsides clearly irritated Trump and threatened to provide Rubio with a jolt of new momentum as he seeks to turn the contest into a two-man race. Rubio's team had unveiled a flood of endorsements in recent days to cast him as the GOP's preferred alternative to Trump, including nods from the governors from Tennessee, Arkansas and South Carolina. Christie's move overshadowed them all. "I think this changes the narrative in a dramatic way," said Fred Malek, a major Republican fundraiser. The timing immediately following the debate, however, appeared to be a coincidence. A former Christie campaign official said the governor made his decision to endorse Trump on Thursday following a meeting in Manhattan attended by the two men and their wives. Christie was already on a plane heading to Texas as the debate was airing, according to the former official, who was not authorized to speak publically on Christie's behalf and spoke on the condition of anonymity. While Christie's own campaign for president failed to gain traction in a crowded field, he nonetheless remains a well-regarded figure in the GOP, having served as a top surrogate to 2012 nominee Mitt Romney and as the former chair of the Republican Governors Association. "Gov. Christie is an enormously respected Republican governor with great credibility," said GOP consultant Phil Musser. "It's a big signal from a major leader in the Republican party." And indeed, Christie's endorsement was quickly followed by a nod from Maine Gov. Paul LePage, who broke the news in an interview with Howie Carr, a conservative radio talk-show host. Christie, known as one of his party's most effective and vicious attack dogs, embraced the role within minutes of joining Trump. He slammed Rubio "Desperate people do desperate things," he said and shut down a reporter for asking about a lawsuit leveled against Trump. Trump appeared to relish the attacks, mentioning repeatedly how Christie had "totally destroyed Marco Rubio the other day." The back-patting was a departure from some of the pair's more heated rhetoric. Before Christie left the race, he questioned Trump's temperament and experience, saying he wasn't suited for the presidency. And after Trump called for a temporary ban on foreign Muslims entering the U.S., Christie said, "This is the kind of thing that people say when they have no experience and don't know what they're talking about." Christie's re-entry into the race also marks the second time that he has slowed Rubio on the rise. During the last GOP debate before the New Hampshire primary, as Rubio appeared to be on the cusp of a breakthrough, Christie set a verbal trap that left Rubio repeating the same practiced line over and over again. It was the same tactic Rubio used against Trump in Thursday night's debate, as he forced the billionaire to repeat the same talking points to describe a health care plan thin on detail. "I just watched you repeat yourself five times five seconds ago," Rubio said with glee. Christie said Friday the decision to endorse Trump was an easy one, as the two men have a longstanding personal friendship. "I absolutely appreciate him as a person and as a friend," he said. And his options were limited. Christie had long been adamant that first-term senators were not qualified to be president, disqualifying Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz from consideration, leaving him to choose from Trump, Ohio Gov. John Kasich or retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson. Neither Kasich nor Carson are forecast to be competitive on Super Tuesday. Christie insisted he and Trump had not discussed potential Cabinet appointments for the former federal prosecutor, who has been floated as a potential vice president, attorney general and secretary of the Homeland Security Department. Instead, he said, he expects to finish out his second term as governor "and then go into private life and make money like Trump." ___ Associated Press writer Steve Peoples in Atlanta contributed to this report. ___ Follow Jill Colvin on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/colvinj New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, right, introduced Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump after endorsing him before a rally at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth,Texas, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Christie backed Trump in the Republican race for president Friday, a powerhouse endorsement as the billionaire tries to beat back assaults on his character from a newly aggressive rival, Marco Rubio. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News) MANDATORY CREDIT; MAGS OUT; TV OUT; INTERNET USE BY AP MEMBERS ONLY; NO SALES Saturday, March 5 Today is Saturday, March 5, the 65th day of 2016. There are 301 days left in the year. Highlights in history on this date: 1496 - England's King Henry VII commissions John and Sebastian Cabot to discover new lands. 1684 - Holy League of Linz is formed by Holy Roman Empire, Poland and Venice against the Turks. 1770 - Crowds and British troops clash in Boston, an incident that becomes known as the Boston Massacre and hastens American Revolutionary War. 1798 - French forces occupy Bern, Switzerland. 1867 - An abortive Fenian uprising against English rule takes place in Ireland. 1868 - U.S. Senate is organized into a court of impeachment to decide charges against President Andrew Johnson. 1933 - The Nazi Party wins 44 percent of the vote in German parliamentary elections, enabling it to join with Nationalists to gain a slender majority in the Reichstag. 1939 - The Republican government of Spain flees to France after their forces are cornered by the Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War. 1946 - Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivers his famous "Iron Curtain" speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, in United States. 1953 - Soviet dictator Josef Stalin dies. Some 2,000 people are crushed to death in the crowd during the funeral. 1960 - President Sukarno suspends Indonesia's Parliament. 1962 - European extremists in Oran, Algeria, raid prison and kill several Muslim political prisoners. 1966 - British airliner hits Japan's Mount Fuji, killing all 124 people aboard. 1970 - Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty goes into effect after 43 nations confirm ratification. 1974 - Ethiopia's leader Haile Selassie, confronted by continued unrest, agrees to constitutional convention to create new system of elected democratic government. 1991 - Iraq hands over what it says are the last 35 prisoners from the Gulf War. 1997 - Representatives of North Korea and South Korea meet for the first time in 25 years, for peace talks in New York. 2000 - Thirty-five years after police beat and bloodied voting rights marchers at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama, modern-day civil rights activists trace the same path with Bill Clinton a white Southerner who credited that march for his rise to the presidency. 2001 - A stampede breaks out during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Medina, Saudi Arabia, killing 35 Muslims. 2002 - Boris Berezovsky, once one of Russia's most powerful oligarchs, accuses the Russian Federal Security Services of perpetrating a series of bombings in Moscow in 1999 that was blamed on Chechen terrorists. 2005 - A team of U.S. and Ethiopian scientists discovers the fossilized remains of what they believe is humankind's first walking ancestor, a hominid that lived in the wooded grasslands of the Horn of Africa nearly 4 million years ago. 2010 - Russian and Ukrainian presidents lavish praise on each other for moving past the "degraded" relations that followed Ukraine's pro-Western Orange Revolution of 2004, but fall short of reaching any specific deals. 2011 - Three weeks after President Hosni Mubarak's ouster, Egyptians turn their anger toward his internal security apparatus, storming the agency's main headquarters and other offices and seizing documents to keep them from being destroyed to hide evidence of human rights abuses. 2013 - Hugo Chavez, the populist leader of oil-rich Venezuela who was Latin America's most vocal and controversial leader as well as Washington's chief antagonist in the region, dies. 2014 - Russia, West try to build diplomatic solution to Ukraine as Crimea tensions flare. 2015 Leading Russian opposition figure Alex Navalny is released after spending 15 days in custody and vows that he and his supporters will not be intimidated by the slaying of a top Kremlin critic. Today's Birthdays Gerardus Mercator, Flemish geographer-mathematician (1512-1594); Giovani Tiepolo, Italian painter (1696-1770); Soong Mayling, better known as Madame Chiang, wife of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek of Taiwan (1898-2003); Sir Rex Harrison, British actor (1908-1990); Pier Paolo Pasolini, Italian film director (1922-1975); Penn Jillette, U.S. comedian (1955--); Niki Taylor, U.S. model (1975--); Eva Mendes, U.S. actress (1975--). Thought For Today: A retired army officer and a former paramilitary member have been sentenced to 120 years and 240 years in prison for the sexual enslavement of women during Guatemala's civil war. The ruling was the first time a local court handed down a judgement for such crimes in this Central American country, which is seeking to address abuses committed during its brutal 1960-1996 civil war. The retired officer, 2nd Lt. Esteelmer Reyes Giron, was found guilty of crimes against humanity for holding 15 women in sexual and domestic slavery and for killing one woman and her two young daughters. Victims of sexual violence, who cover their faces to hide their identities, celebrate moments after a judge read the guilty verdict Former army officer Esteelmer Francisco Reyes Giron was found guilty of crimes against humanity for holding 15 women in sexual and domestic slavery and for killing one woman and her two young daughters Heriberto Valdez Asij, a civilian with military functions, was convicted for the same enslavement, as well as the forced disappearance of seven men. The 120- and 240-year sentences the men received are partly symbolic since Guatemalan law caps the amount of time anyone can spend in prison at 50 years. The packed courtroom erupted in cheers and chants of 'justice, justice!' when the ruling was read. 'These historic convictions send the unequivocal message that sexual violence is a serious crime and that no matter how much time passes, it will be punished. It is a great victory for the eleven women who embarked on a 30-year-long battle for justice,' said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International. During the trial, the victims testified to the abuse they suffered during six months in 1982 and 1983 at the Sepur Zarco military base in northern Guatemala. After the army entered their communities, the men were disappeared and when the women went to the military base to ask for them, they were raped and forced to cook and wash clothes for the soldiers. Victims of sexual violence, who cover their faces to hide their identities, left, and their supporters erupt in celebration inside the courtroom Former paramilitary fighter Heriberto Valdez Asij sits in courtroom wearing handcuffs in Guatemala City, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016 Former army officer Esteelmer Francisco Reyes Giron, sitting, talks with former paramilitary fighter Heriberto Valdez Asij on the last day of their trial for sex abuse in Guatemala City Human Rights activist Rosalina Tuyuc embraces a victim of sexual violence, who covers her face to hide her identity, moments after a judge read the guilty verdict During 20 hearings, 11 women from the indigenous Q'eqchis communities described how they physically and emotionally deteriorated while being raped and used as slaves for half a year. In court, many wore indigenous garb and had their faces covered. More than 35 boxes of evidence were presented, including some with human remains and pieces of clothing. The remains were exhumed in 2012 by the Guatemalan Foundation for Forensic Anthropology. 'We the judges firmly believe the testimony of the women who were raped in Sepur Zarco,' said Yassmin Barrios, chief judge of the court. 'Rape is an instrument or weapon of war, it is a way to attack the country, killing or raping the victims, the woman was seen as a military objective.' Moises Galindo, the defense lawyer for Reyes Giron, said the trial was a fabrication and that his client was never at the site of the crimes. 'We are going to appeal. We are going to succeed in having this case thrown out,' Galindo said. 'They should go to the location because the people of Sepur Zarco don't say that all this happened there.' But the judge said the accused couldn't deny knowing about what had happened since they exercised control and power over the area. Nobel Laureate Rigoberta Menchu, who was present at the reading of the judgment, said, 'this is historic, it is a great step for women and above all for the victims.' Guatemala was wracked by a decades-long civil war as the military battled a Marxist guerrilla force. According to the United Nations, some 245,000 people were killed or disappeared during the war. Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Nobel Peace Prize 1992 laureate, shakes hands with the victims of sexual violence, who cover their faces to hide their identity Former paramilitary fighter Heriberto Valdez Asij is comforted by a relative on the last day of his trial in court in Guatemala City Former army officer Esteelmer Francisco Reyes Giron listens to the judge, alongside his lawyer Moises Galindo on the last day of his trial Guatemala was wracked by a decades-long civil war as the military battled a Marxist guerrilla force. According to the United Nations, some 245,000 people were killed or disappeared during the war Clinton cruises to big win over Sanders in South Carolina COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) Hillary Clinton overwhelmed Bernie Sanders in Saturday's South Carolina primary, drawing staggering support from the state's black Democrats and putting her in a strong position as the race barrels toward crucial multi-state contests on Tuesday. Clinton's lopsided win she led by 48 points with nearly all precincts counted provided an important boost for her campaign and a moment to wipe away bitter memories of her loss to Barack Obama in South Carolina eight years ago. She won the support of nearly 9 in 10 black voters, crucial Democratic backers who abandoned her for Obama in 2008. During a raucous victory rally, Clinton briefly reveled in her sweeping support from South Carolina voters, hugging backers and posing with them for selfie photos. But then she pivoted quickly to the contests to come. Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, center, stands at the counter of Urban Standard coffee shop with U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., left, before ordering an espresso Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/David Goldman) "Tomorrow this campaign goes national," she said. "We are not taking anything, and we are not taking anyone, for granted." Taken together, 865 Democratic delegates are up for grabs in the March 1 Super Tuesday contests in 11 states and American Samoa. Clinton's campaign hopes her strong showing in South Carolina foreshadows similar outcomes in states like Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Virginia that vote Tuesday and have large minority populations. Sanders, expecting defeat in South Carolina on Saturday, left the state even before voting was finished and turned his attention to some of the states that vote in next Tuesday's delegate-rich contests. In a statement, Sanders vowed to fight on aggressively. He drew 10,000 people to a rally in Austin, a liberal bastion in conservative Texas, the biggest March 1 prize. "This campaign is just beginning," he said. "Our grass-roots political revolution is growing state by state, and we won't stop now." Clinton's victory came at the end of a day that saw Republican candidates firing insults at each other at rallies in states voting on Super Tuesday. Donald Trump, working to build an insurmountable lead, was campaigning in Arkansas with former rival New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and calling Florida Sen. Marco Rubio a "light little nothing." Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was asking parents in Atlanta if they would be pleased if their children spouted profanities like the brash billionaire. And Rubio was mocking Trump as a "con artist" with "the worst spray tan in America." Clinton made a stop in Alabama, a Super Tuesday state, on Saturday before returning to Columbia, South Carolina's capital, for an evening victory party. Sanders has energized young people and liberals with his impassioned calls for breaking up Wall Street banks and making tuition free at public colleges and universities. But the senator from Vermont, a state where about 1 percent of the population is black, lacks Clinton's deep ties to the African-American community. Exit polls showed 6 in 10 voters in the South Carolina primary were black, by far the largest proportion in any of the contests so far. About 7 in 10 said they wanted the next president to continue Obama's policies, and only about 20 percent wanted a more liberal course of action, according to the polls conducted by Edison Research for The Associated Press and television networks. Clinton's sweeping victory suggested South Carolina voters had put aside any lingering tensions from her heated 2008 contest with Obama. Former President Bill Clinton made statements during that campaign that were seen by some as questioning the legitimacy of the black presidential contender. Clinton's second White House bid lurched to an uneven start, with a narrow victory over Sanders in Iowa and a crushing loss to the senator in New Hampshire. She pulled off a 5-point win over Sanders in last week's Nevada caucuses, a crucial victory that helped stem Sanders' momentum. Clinton will pick up most of South Carolina's delegates, widening her overall lead in AP's count. With 53 delegates at stake, Clinton will receive 39, Sanders at least 14. Going into South Carolina, Clinton had just a one-delegate edge over Sanders. However, she also has a massive lead among superdelegates, the Democratic Party leaders who can vote for the candidate of their choice at this summer's national convention, regardless of how their states vote. Because Democrats apportion delegates proportionally, Sanders is simply hoping to stay close to Clinton in the South. But he's focusing most of his attention on states in the Midwest and Northeast, including his home state of Vermont. On the Republican side, voters will cast ballots in 11 states, with 595 delegates at stake on Super Tuesday. ___ Pace reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Catherine Lucey in Austin, Texas, and Ken Thomas in Washington contributed to this report. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., waves as he arrives to a campaign rally at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, right, is embraced by an audience member while posing for a photo at a campaign event at Miles College Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Fairfield, Ala. (AP Photo/David Goldman) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump signs autographs during a rally Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Bentonville, Ark. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaks at Mount Paran Christian School, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Kennesaw, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stands in front of his airplane as he speaks during a rally Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Bentonville, Ark. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Suspect in Kansas shooting had been served protection order HESSTON, Kan. (AP) A convicted felon was ordered to stay away from a former girlfriend and obtained two firearms from another woman before killing three people and wounding 14 others during a shooting rampage that ended at a factory in central Kansas, investigators say. Cedric L. Ford was fatally shot during a shootout with the police chief in Hesston, a town about 30 miles north of Wichita, after opening fire Thursday at the Excel Industries lawnmower parts plant where he worked, authorities said Friday. Ford also shot and wounded two people from his car as he drove to the site. Federal prosecutors charged Sarah Hopkins, of nearby Newton, with one count of knowingly transferring a firearm to a convicted felon on Friday. Prosecutors allege that Hopkins, a friend of Ford's, knew he was a convicted felon when she gave him a semi-automatic rifle and a handgun. This booking photo released Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, by the Harvey County Sheriff's Office shows Cedric Ford. Authorities say, Ford, 38, who stormed into a Kansas factory on Thursday, Feb. 25, where he worked and shot several people, had just been served with a protective order that probably triggered the attack. (Harvey County Sheriff's Office via AP) Authorities have said Ford, 38, was armed with an assault rifle and a pistol. Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton said earlier Friday that Hesston's police chief, Doug Schroeder, was a "tremendous hero." Walton said between 200 and 300 people were in the factory at the time, and the "shooter wasn't done by any means when Schroeder chased and shot him. "Had that Hesston officer not done what he did, this would be a whole lot more tragic," Walton said. Authorities identified the dead as 44-year-old Brian Sadowsky of Newton; 31-year-old Josh Higbee of Buhler; and 30-year-old Renee Benjamin, whose hometown wasn't immediately available. All three victims worked at the plant and were killed inside the building. Walton said his office served Ford with a protection-from-abuse order at around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, about 90 minutes before the first shooting happened. He said such orders are usually filed because there's some type of violence in a relationship. He did not disclose the nature of the relationship in question. A judge issued a temporary order of protection earlier this month for a woman who said Ford was a violent, depressed alcoholic. The woman said she and Ford were arguing on Feb. 5 when he grabbed her, placed her in a choke hold from behind and took her to the ground. "It's my belief he is in desperate need of medical and psychological help!" she wrote. Authorities on Friday said Ford had a history of domestic violence, including an arrest in Newton in November 2008 for felony battery and disorderly conduct. He also was arrested in July 2010, for driving while intoxicated and obstruction. Investigators said that while driving to the factory Thursday, the gunman shot a man on the street, striking him in the shoulder, and later shot someone in the leg at an intersection. He also shot one person in the factory parking lot before opening fire inside the building, according to the sheriff's office. Hesston is a community of about 3,700 about 35 miles north of Wichita. Excel Industries was founded there in 1960. The company manufactures Hustler and Big Dog mowing equipment. The shooting came less than a week after a man opened fire at several locations in the Kalamazoo, Michigan, area, leaving six people dead and two severely wounded. Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive in those attacks. The suspect remains in custody. ___ Associated Press writers P. Solomon Banda in Hesston, John Hanna in Wichita, and Heather Hollingsworth, Margaret Stafford and Jim Suhr in Kansas City, Missouri, contributed to this report. This booking photo released Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, by the Harvey County Sheriff's Office shows Cedric Ford. Authorities say, Ford, 38, who stormed into a Kansas factory on Thursday, Feb. 25, where he worked and shot several people, had just been served with a protective order that probably triggered the attack. (Harvey County Sheriff's Office via AP) Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton points out one of the shooting locations on a map from Thursday's attack at the Excel Industries during a news conference at the Law Enforcement Center in Newton, Kan., Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner) Alicia and James Ditty hug during a candlelight vigil at Heritage Park in Hesston, Kan., on Friday. Feb. 26, 2016. On Thursday, Cedric Ford, an employee of Excel Industries in Hesston, allegedly entered the factory and killed three people and wounded over a dozen others. Slayton works at Excel but wasn't in the building at the time of the shooting. (Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle via AP) Shelly Schale cries during a candlelight vigil at Heritage Park in Hesston, Kan., on Friday. Feb. 26, 2016. On Thursday, Cedric Ford, an employee of Excel Industries in Hesston, allegedly entered the factory and killed three people and wounded over a dozen others. Slayton works at Excel but wasn't in the building at the time of the shooting. (Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle via AP) Kelly Slayton takes part in a candlelight vigil at Heritage Park in Hesston, Kan., on Friday. Feb. 26, 2016. On Thursday, Cedric Ford, an employee of Excel Industries in Hesston, allegedly entered the factory and killed three people and wounded over a dozen others. Slayton works at Excel but wasn't in the building at the time of the shooting. (Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle via AP) A trailer rented in Newton, Kan., by Cedric Ford, sits abandoned the morning after police stormed it, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Authorities say Ford stormed a factory in nearby Hesston, Kansas, shooting 15 people and killing three. (AP Photo/John Hanna) Officials: Shooting suspect had criminal record in 2 states KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The man suspected of killing three people at the Kansas factory where he worked had a criminal record in at least two states and had recently been served with an order to stay away from a former girlfriend, according to authorities. Cedric L. Ford wounded 14 others Thursday on the rampage that began as he drove to Excel Industries in the small town of Hesston and continued after he went inside the lawnmower parts factory, authorities said. He was then shot and killed by a police officer. Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton said Hesston Police Chief Doug Schroeder, who fatally shot Ford, was a "tremendous hero" because dozens more people were still in the factory and the "shooter wasn't done by any means." This booking photo released Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, by the Harvey County Sheriff's Office shows Cedric Ford. Authorities say, Ford, 38, who stormed into a Kansas factory on Thursday, Feb. 25, where he worked and shot several people, had just been served with a protective order that probably triggered the attack. (Harvey County Sheriff's Office via AP) Ford, who a co-worker said was a second-shift painter at Excel, also spent considerable time in Florida, where he had felony convictions for burglary, grand theft and carrying a concealed weapon. Police said they did not know what motivated Ford to carry out the attack, but they said he was not targeting specific victims. He had a history of domestic violence, including a 2008 arrest for felony battery and disorderly conduct, and a 2010 arrest for drunken driving and obstruction of justice, the Harvey County Sheriff's Department said Friday in a release. Ford was required to take an anger-management class in Harvey County in 2008 after he was convicted of disorderly conduct, according to The Hutchinson News. Court records show he completed the course. Walton said his office served Ford with a protective order Thursday, about an hour and half before the first shooting was reported. He said such orders are usually filed because there's some type of violence in a relationship. The woman checked the box on the form that indicated she had formerly been in a dating relationship with Ford and that the two had lived together. When the judge issued a temporary order on Feb. 5, he filed it against Cedric Ford and listed his address as that of the Excel plant. The woman said in her request that he usually arrived at the Excel plant around 2 p.m. on weekdays, Sedgwick County court records show. In her petition, the woman said she was in fear of "imminent bodily injury or beating." "Cedric and I were verbally fighting. It became physical by him pushing me then grabbing me. He placed me in a chokehold from behind I couldn't breathe," she said in the petition for the order. "He then got me to ground while choking me finally releasing me." "He is an alcoholic, violent, depressed," she wrote in the petition. "It's my belief he's in desperate need of medical and psychological help." Sedgwick County Sheriff's Lt. Lin Dehning said while Kansas law prohibits people under protection orders from possessing weapons or ammunition, the law does not provide a mechanism for officers to seize weapons when they serve them with the order. Federal law bars felons from possessing firearms. Clarissa McCartney, a nursing student at Hutchinson Community College who knew Ford, said he was charismatic and approachable. "You would never expect that from him," she said. "He was fun and kind." Andrea Jaso, a neighbor of Ford's, said he seemed quiet and kept to himself. He sometimes talked about cars with her husband. Ford "didn't seem like a violent person, but you never know," Jaso said. "You never know the whole story." ___ Visiting French chefs scramble Palestinian cuisine RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) At a time of simmering Mideast tensions and rising malaise, a group of French chefs recently visited the West Bank to bring a little joie de vivre to Palestinian kitchens. The eight chefs visited restaurants in Ramallah, Hebron, Nablus and east Jerusalem in a weeklong event earlier this month sponsored by the French government, which prides itself on culinary diplomacy and has held similar events in Japan, Brazil, India, Morocco and elsewhere. A parallel festival began four years ago and ran concurrently in Israel. Many Israeli chefs train in Europe, and in the last 20 years, a cosmopolitan Israeli cuisine has emerged, incorporating techniques and flavors from across the Jewish diaspora -- everything from Moroccan couscous and Libyan fish stews to German potato pancakes and Austrian-inspired chicken schnitzel. In this photo taken on Saturday Feb. 20, 2016, Palestinian chef Jihad al-Maharmeh prepares a mixed Palestinian French dish, Freekeh lamb rack at Orjuwan restaurant in the West Bank city of Ramallah. At a time of simmering Mideast tensions and rising malaise, a group of French chefs recently visited the West Bank to bring a little joie de vivre to Palestinian kitchens.(AP Photo/Nasser Nasser) By contrast, Palestinian cooking has remained steeped in local and Middle Eastern recipes, thanks to a strong agrarian tradition and a shortage of clientele with disposable income. Dishes lean on chickpeas, lentils and rice, often spiced with cumin, drizzled in olive oil and accompanied by sides like hummus, tabbouleh and yogurt. Palestinian food also draws on Levantine flavors like zaatar -- a thyme-like herb -- as well as sumac and pomegranate molasses. Ramallah, seat of the Palestinian Authority, has seen dozens of new restaurants and cafes open in recent years, serving Palestinian, Lebanese, Mexican, Japanese and Italian fare. But most cooks learn on the job. "Someone wanted to work for us after he came from a construction site. Another one dropped out of high school," said Jamal Nimer, owner of the Caesar Hotel in Ramallah, which opened five years ago. "You have to teach the people how to work." That's where the French come in. One of the chefs gave lessons in baking bread, cakes and macaron cookies to the 32 students at the Caesar Hospitality College in Ramallah, which Nimer opened earlier this year to train staff. At the Orjuwan restaurant nearby, co-owner Saleem Sakakini said visiting chef Alex Dreyer helped his staff master basic techniques as they prepared a special menu featuring salmon in hollandaise sauce, a lamb rack served over herb-infused mashed potatoes and an apple tarte tatin. "I liked the Palestinian food, because I think it's a very specific flavor that anyone can enjoy," said Dreyer, who works as a chef in Paris. "The flavor is so bold and beautiful." Sakakini said he was grateful his dozen kitchen staff could get a master class in using the "sous vide" appliance, which cooks meat or vegetables uniformly via a hot water bath. He also relished the small touches Dreyer introduced. "He poached sliced garlic in milk for two hours, then dried it and then deep fried it," Sakakini said. "And then used it as a garnish. They looked phenomenal. I never tried this before." In the southern West Bank town of Hebron, Mahmoud Halaika worked with Vincent Lucas -- who cooks in a Michelin-starred restaurant in southwestern France. The two prepared steak in a creamy mushroom sauce alongside lamb neck stuffed with aromatic rice and served with yogurt -- a Palestinian specialty. Halaika said he loved preparing food as a child and spent six years cooking in an Israeli restaurant outside Tel Aviv, where he earned a good salary but feared that authorities would discover he was sleeping in Israel illegally during the week. He eventually moved back to Hebron and took a job cooking for half the pay at the Pasha Palace restaurant, where a local clientele enjoys Palestinian fare in a leafy courtyard. Hebron, which has long been a flashpoint for Israeli-Palestinian violence, sees few tourists, making the chef's visit all the more special. "We learned their techniques. Their slow cooking," Halaika said. Back in Ramallah, Sakakini said the festival was a bright spot in a challenging time, when business has fallen by 30 percent due to renewed Israeli-Palestinian violence. The last five months have seen near-daily Palestinian attacks, mainly stabbings in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, which have killed 28 Israelis. Israelis have killed more than 160 Palestinians in the same period, most of whom Israel identified as assailants. Israel has blamed the violence on Palestinian incitement, while the Palestinians say it is rooted in frustration at decades of occupation and dwindling hopes for independence. "The political situation in the Middle East is very dull and depressing," Sakakini said. "There's an intifada, we have checkpoints ... To work with people who are otherwise unattainable gives us the chance to believe in what we are doing." In this photo taken on Saturday Feb. 20, 2016, Palestinian chef Jihad al-Maharmeh prepares a mixed Palestinian French dish, Freekeh lamb rack at Orjuwan restaurant in the West Bank city of Ramallah. At a time of simmering Mideast tensions and rising malaise, a group of French chefs recently visited the West Bank to bring a little joie de vivre to Palestinian kitchens. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser) Irish leader rues 'merciless' election losses, seeks allies DUBLIN (AP) Ireland could be on course for a historic alliance between age-old foes the Fine Gael and Fianna Fail parties as partial election results Saturday revealed strong voter rejection of the existing coalition government of Prime Minister Enda Kenny. Kenny said he was surprised by the unexpectedly strong losses for his centrist Fine Gael and even heavier blows for his left-wing partner, Labour. "Democracy can be very exciting but it's merciless," he said. Yet Ireland's soft-spoken leader vowed to remain in office atop a new coalition and would seek new allies with the sole aim of creating "as stable a government as can be created." He declined to rule out a historic partnership with Fianna Fail, which has never shared power with Fine Gael since their founders took opposite sides in Ireland's civil war 94 years ago. Enda Kenny arrives at the Mayo Convention Centre in Castlebar, Ireland, where counting continues in the Irish general election, Saturday Feb. 27, 2016. (Niall Carson/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT With all 40 of Ireland's constituencies reporting official first-round results, Fine Gael attracted 25.5 percent of first-preference votes in Friday's election, down 10.6 percentage points from the last election in 2011. However, many rounds of ballot counting were yet to come under Ireland's complex system of proportional representation. Declared winners for all 158 seats in Ireland's parliament were expected by Monday. Fianna Fail which faced political ruin in 2011 after leading the country to the brink of bankruptcy and a humiliating international bailout mounted an unexpectedly strong comeback. The party took 24.3 percent of first-preference votes and appeared poised to double its parliamentary seats at the expense of Fine Gael and Labour. The latter retained just 6.6 percent support, off 12.8 percentage points from 2011. Finishing a somewhat lackluster third was the nationalist Sinn Fein, a hard-left critic of the government's painful but broadly successful pursuit of austerity. Sinn Fein won 13.8 percent support as it sought to capitalize on voter discontent over an era of tax hikes, spending cuts and pruned wages that Ireland is only starting to leave behind. But protest votes against austerity flew in myriad directions to a half-dozen other small parties and independents. With Fine Gael and Fianna Fail now nearly even in public support, the question is who can negotiate an alliance sufficient to hold a majority in Ireland's 158-seat parliament: Kenny or Fianna Fail chief Micheal Martin. Martin, like Kenny, remained coy on the prospect of forging an alliance. But he said voters wanted a new government, so he intended to nominate himself as prime minister when the new parliament convenes March 10. "We're committed to doing our best by the country and ensuring that the country gets a good government," Martin said. "But it will take time." Martin said any successful coalition negotiation "has to be very much focused on the issues and on policies, and not just on numbers." Ireland's former Fianna Fail prime minister, Bertie Ahern, forecast that neither Kenny nor Martin would win majority backing March 10. Ahern, renowned as the savviest coalition negotiator of his generation, said he expected no deal until well after Ireland's national holiday, St. Patrick's Day, on March 17. Most analysts forecast that Fine Gael would win around 50 seats, versus the 76 it won five years ago, while Fianna Fail should win more than 40, at least doubling its 2011 total of 20. A parliamentary majority requires at least 79 lawmakers, although stable Irish governments typically require a larger cushion of support. If Ireland's two political heavyweights cannot negotiate a pact, Fine Gael or Fianna Fail could seek support from a dizzying array of small parties and independents on target for election as results kept trickling in Saturday night and Sunday across this nation of 4.6 million. Both parties have ruled out including Sinn Fein in the next government, citing its links to the Irish Republican Army, even though that underground group has observed a cease-fire since 1997. Both Kenny and Martin saved their sharpest campaign attacks for Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, questioning his own IRA record and alleged involvement in cover-ups of unsolved crimes. Ironically, Fine Gael's and Fianna Fail's shared hostility to Sinn Fein could emerge as the greatest issue barring any serious consideration of a so-called "Fine Fail" government. Senior lawmakers from both establishment parties noted that if they both went into government at the same time, Sinn Fein would be left to dominate the opposition benches and position itself to become the voters' next choice for power. Transport Minister Leo Varadkar said he didn't want Fine Gael to share power with Fianna Fail "just because the numbers add up." He expressed distrust of Fianna Fail, warned that such a partnership would be unstable and prone to breakdowns, and "would open the door to a Sinn Fein government in a very short time." The results from Friday's election will take at least two days to calculate because Ireland uses a complex electoral system designed to ensure that smaller parties and independents win seats. Each of Ireland's 40 districts elects three to five lawmakers each. Voters are permitted to rate all candidates on the ballot paper in order of preference. This means electoral officials must tabulate results in several laborious rounds, transferring lower-preference votes from victorious or eliminated candidates to those still in contention for remaining seats. One other mix-up and delay reflected the dynastic, often nepotistic nature of Irish politics. In County Kerry, officials struggled to confirm even the first-preference results after a marathon 14-hour count because two leading candidates, Danny and Michael Healy-Rae, are brothers and ballot counters accidentally scrambled their vote counts. Tempers frayed as a late-night recount was ordered. With midnight approaching, Michael Healy-Rae finally was declared Kerry's first winner. Boisterous supporters lifted the lawmaker into the air, his trademark farmer's cap somehow staying on his head, as they sang his campaign song: "Make your vote and pray, that he goes all the way! He's flat to the mat with his black cap, and there's no time for tae (tea)." Enda Kenny arrives at the Royal Theatre in Castlebar, Ireland, where counting continues in the Irish general election, Saturday Feb. 27, 2016. (Niall Carson/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT Fianna Fail Leader Micheal Martin, right, and Michael McGrath celebrate at the general election 2016 count at City Hall in Cork, Ireland, Saturday Feb. 27, 2016. Ireland could be on course for a historic coalition between two longtime political foes the Fine Gael and Fianna Fail parties as the first official election results were announced Saturday. (Chris Radburn/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT Sinn Fein party leader Gerry Adams, left, and party member Imelda Munster speak to the media as they arrive at the count centre in Dundalk, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Ireland could be on course for a historic coalition between two longtime political foes the Fine Gael and Fianna Fail parties as the first official election results were announced Saturday. (AP Photo Peter Morrison) Sinn Fein party leader Gerry Adams, centre, arrives with party members Megan Fearon, left, and Imelda Munster, right, at the count centre in Dundalk, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Vote counting has started in the Irish general elections, with early exit polls suggesting the outgoing coalition government could be set to lose its majority. (AP Photo Peter Morrison) Counting gets under way in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. A detailed exit poll for Ireland's election has found that most voters spurned the coalition government of Prime Minister Enda Kenny and the country faces either a hung parliament with no workable majority or an alliance between the traditional polar opposites of political life. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) Counting gets under way in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. A detailed exit poll for Ireland's election has found that most voters spurned the coalition government of Prime Minister Enda Kenny and the country faces either a hung parliament with no workable majority or an alliance between the traditional polar opposites of political life. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) Counting gets under way in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. A detailed exit poll for Ireland's election has found that most voters spurned the coalition government of Prime Minister Enda Kenny and the country faces either a hung parliament with no workable majority or an alliance between the traditional polar opposites of political life. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) By: Mark Caruso, Albuquerque Accident Attorney An Albuquerque Federal Court jury awarded $5.5 million on Friday afternoon to the family of Martin Leon who was killed by the driver of a FedEx tractor-trailer. Martin Leon, 48, of Los Angeles, CA was killed on November 30, 2011 leaving his wife and three children. The wrongful death lawsuit was filed by his widow, Elia Leon. The lawsuit sought personal injuries and wrongful death against FedEx and its driver. The fatal crash happened at 11:00pm on Interstate 40 near Grants, New Mexico. Fed Ex driver Federico Martinez-Leandro rear-ended another slower moving tractor-trailer at about 68 mph. Martin Leon was in the sleeper compartment of the FedEx trailer. The sleeper compartment was completely demolished. At the scene of the horrific crash the FedEx driver told officers that he had fallen asleep. He was pulling two trailers when he suddenly changed lanes from the left lane to the right lane and collided with the rear of another tractor-trailer. The Leon family claimed that no driver safety training was provided to its semi truck driver. The family also claimed that the FedEx driver and FedEx itself were negligent in the operation of the semi truck. "We asked the jury to send a strong message to FedEx that it must begin over-the-road safety training of its semi truck drivers. FedEx officials admitted at trail that it provided no over-the-road driver safety training," said Leon's attorney Mark Caruso. "The Leon family continues to struggle with the death of their father and husband," said attorney Caruso. "The death has really affected his 14 year old daughter Juanita who was only 10 at the time of he father's death." The 5 day Albuquerque jury trial was held before US District Judge James Browning. The family had already settled their case with the trucking company responsible for the slower moving tractor-trailer. The Leon family was represented by Albuquerque trial attorney Mark Caruso, who was also involved in last year's Santa Fe lawsuit that resulted in a $16.5 million jury verdict against FedEx. In that case, the FedEx tractor-trailer rear-ended a passenger vehicle. Kansas town grieves shooting at lawn equipment factory HESSTON, Kansas (AP) Grieving residents of this small Kansas town parked riding lawnmowers with American flags planted beside them along some streets on Saturday and adorned them with "Hesston Hustler Strong" signs in a symbolic reference to the lawn equipment brand from the factory where a gunman killed three co-workers. The Excel Industries factory nestled in the center of this peaceful community of 3,700 founded by Mennonite farmers has long been more than an economic hub. It is a source of pride that binds people together. It draws about 1,000 workers from small towns around the region and everyone seems to either work there or know someone who does. The Hustler brand evolved in the 1960s from the tinkering of a man from a nearby town, John Regier, who built a lawn mower that could turn and maneuver more easily to cut grass around obstacles such as trees and winding sidewalks. The company now sells Hustler and Big Dog equipment around the globe and in 2013 earned the Kansas Governor's Exporter of the Year award. Alicia and James Ditty hug during a candlelight vigil at Heritage Park in Hesston, Kan., on Friday. Feb. 26, 2016. On Thursday, Cedric Ford, an employee of Excel Industries in Hesston, allegedly entered the factory and killed three people and wounded over a dozen others. Slayton works at Excel but wasn't in the building at the time of the shooting. (Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle via AP) The quiet of Hesston was shattered on Thursday when Cedric L. Ford barged into the plant while about 300 people were working the second shift and opened fire. Authorities say Ford, a convicted felon, was upset after being served hours earlier at the plant with a protection from abuse order to stay away from a former girlfriend. In addition to three people killed, 14 were wounded counting two people shot as he drove to the plant. It fell to Hesston Police Chief Doug Schroeder, one of a force of just six full-time officers, to rush into the plant without backup and kill the gunman in an exchange of bullets. An off-duty officer drove his pickup truck to the plant and took an injured worker to a nearby ambulance. The police chief was hailed as a hero in a community where people help each other out. But city leaders on Saturday said there were many heroes that day, including some Excel workers who carried injured people out. Hesston Mayor David Kauffman said law enforcement converged from around the area. Just weeks earlier, the county had hosted active shooter training for area departments. "We were prepared as much as we could be for something like this," Kauffman said. "At Excel, we are like a family," said Rick Lett, a friend since high school of one of the dead, 44-year-old Brian Sadowsky. Lett worked an earlier shift that day and recalled his friend's last words to him as Sadowsky arrived for that fateful second shift: "Have a good evening, brother." The other workers killed inside the plant were Josh Higbee, 31, and Renee Benjamin, 30. For some families, multiple generations work at Excel. Karen Mosqueda worked the first shift and her daughter, Ashley, worked the second shift on the day of the attack. The daughter ran out of the building when someone shouted that there was a gunman. Some workers carried an injured colleague outside, taking their belts off as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding before going to nearby homes to get a blanket for him. At a Wichita hospital, the son of Dennis Britton Sr. is recovering from a gunshot wound that went through his lower buttock and fractured a femur bone. Dennis Britton Jr. has told his father that when he heard the shooting he dropped to the floor and then couldn't get back up. The shooter made eye to eye contact with him. The father, a 20-year veteran, recalled how his son looked up at him from the ambulance at the plant and said, "It hurts." But the older Britton knows his son will have more than just his physical injuries to deal with in the coming days. "It was pretty rough. I don't think it has sunk in yet," the father said. "When it does, he is going to have to do some talking." The city plans a town hall Sunday afternoon to answer questions from residents, and a special church service also is planned Sunday evening in the school gym. The city has embraced the mantra, "Hesston Strong," for its recovery efforts. This booking photo released Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, by the Harvey County Sheriff's Office shows Cedric Ford. Authorities say, Ford, 38, who stormed into a Kansas factory on Thursday, Feb. 25, where he worked and shot several people, had just been served with a protective order that probably triggered the attack. (Harvey County Sheriff's Office via AP) Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton points out one of the shooting locations on a map from Thursday's attack at the Excel Industries during a news conference at the Law Enforcement Center in Newton, Kan., Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner) Shelly Schale cries during a candlelight vigil at Heritage Park in Hesston, Kan., on Friday. Feb. 26, 2016. On Thursday, Cedric Ford, an employee of Excel Industries in Hesston, allegedly entered the factory and killed three people and wounded over a dozen others. Slayton works at Excel but wasn't in the building at the time of the shooting. (Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle via AP) Kelly Slayton takes part in a candlelight vigil at Heritage Park in Hesston, Kan., on Friday. Feb. 26, 2016. On Thursday, Cedric Ford, an employee of Excel Industries in Hesston, allegedly entered the factory and killed three people and wounded over a dozen others. Slayton works at Excel but wasn't in the building at the time of the shooting. (Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle via AP) A trailer rented in Newton, Kan., by Cedric Ford, sits abandoned the morning after police stormed it, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Authorities say Ford stormed a factory in nearby Hesston, Kansas, shooting 15 people and killing three. (AP Photo/John Hanna) The front of a trailer rented in Newton, Kan., by Cedric Ford, sits abandoned with its windows broken out the morning after police stormed it, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Authorities say Ford stormed a factory in nearby Hesston, Kansas, shooting 15 people and killing three. (AP Photo/John Hanna) (AP Photo/John Hanna) Dennis Britton Sr. , of Newton, Kan., pauses while discussing the shooting and wounding of his son, Dennis Britton Jr., at a nearby plant in Hesston, Kan., as the father prepares to go the hospital, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. The elder Britton lives only three trailers down from the man authorities identified as the attacker, Cedric Ford. (AP Photo/John Hanna) Thousands of South Koreans march in anti-government rally SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Thousands of South Koreans marched in the capital on Saturday to protest what they say are setbacks in personal freedoms and labor rights under conservative President Park Geun-hye. About 14,000 people took part in the rally, which began at a square in front of City Hall, said an official from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, who didn't want to be named, citing office rules. Brandishing flags and carrying banners with messages including "Park Geun-hye step down" and "Stop regressive changes to labor laws," the demonstrators brought a diverse set of grievances against Park, including her business-friendly labor policies and endorsement of an anti-terrorism bill that opposition lawmakers say would threaten personal privacy if passed into law. Protesters shout slogans during a rally against the government policy in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Thousands of South Koreans marched in the capital on Saturday to protest what they say are setbacks in personal freedoms and labor rights under conservative President Park Geun-hye. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) The marchers were planning to walk toward an area near a hospital where a 70-year-old protester remains in a coma after being injured during a large anti-government rally in Seoul on Nov. 14, when dozens were hurt in clashes with police. Park's government has clamped down on labor and civic groups resisting her drive to make labor markets more flexible and arrested several labor union officials involved in organizing some protests that spiraled into violence last year. Protesters hold up signs during a rally against the government policy in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Thousands of South Koreans marched in the capital on Saturday to protest what they say are setbacks in personal freedoms and labor rights under conservative President Park Geun-hye. The signs read: "Park Geun-hye, step down." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) Protesters with their union flags stage a rally against the government policy in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Thousands of South Koreans marched in the capital on Saturday to protest what they say are setbacks in personal freedoms and labor rights under conservative President Park Geun-hye. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) Macedonia reopens its border to Iraqi, Syrian migrants IDOMENI, Greece (AP) Macedonia reopened its border to Iraqi and Syrian asylum-seekers on Saturday, hours after migrants protested peacefully on the Greek side of the border, demanding admission into Macedonia. Haider Sahd, a U.N. field officer in Macedonian town of Gevgelija, confirmed the border opening to the Associated Press. According to Greek police, Macedonia will admit 300 migrants Saturday. Macedonian authorities said the number let in could reach 350. A similar number of migrants, who had entered Macedonia earlier in the week, boarded a train in Gevgelija on Saturday, heading to Macedonia's border with Serbia. A boy shouts slogans as he holds a placard during a protest by refugees and migrants in front of the wire fence that separates the Greek side from the Macedonian one at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Greek officials said not a single migrant has been allowed into northern neighbor Macedonia with more than 5,000 people waiting at or near a border crossing to be admitted. More than 20,000 migrants are stuck in Greece. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) Macedonia had effectively shut down the border to all migrants since late Thursday night, enraging the Greek government. Macedonia has repeatedly said it has only slowed down or shut down migrant flows in response to bottlenecks further up along the Balkans migrant route. In two separate protests Saturday, about 450 refugees gathered close to the fence marking the Greece-Macedonian border, carrying placards reading "Open the border" and shouting the same slogan. Before Macedonia decided to open its border, about 6,000 migrants had crowded a nearby tent camp, braving rainy weather overnight, Greek police said. Another 500 migrants are camped at a gas station 17 kilometers (10 miles) away. Although the protests were peaceful, tempers were fraying among the migrants. "No one can stop the refugees, because people are dying in Syria and Iraq," said Mohamed Kamel, 39, an Iraqi Kurd from Kirkuk, who was traveling with his wife and 7-year-old daughter. "People (at the camp) are hungry and angry," Kamel added. "If this situation continues, we will break down the fence." In Athens, about 300 protesters marched to the Austrian embassy, demanding unfettered passage for refugees. Austria has taken the lead in slowing down the refugee flows from Balkan countries, a decision that has strained its relations with Greece. ___ Testorides reported from Skopje, Macedonia. Demetris Nellas and Raphael Kominis contributed from Athens, Greece. Follow Kantouris on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CostasKantouris Stranded refugees and migrants protest in front of the wire fence that separates the Greek side from the Macedonian one at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Greek officials said not a single migrant has been allowed into northern neighbor Macedonia with more than 5,000 people waiting at or near a border crossing to be admitted. More than 20,000 migrants are stuck in Greece, (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) Stranded refugees and migrants protest in front of the wire fence that separates the Greek side from the Macedonian one at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Greek officials said not a single migrant has been allowed into northern neighbor Macedonia with more than 5,000 people waiting at or near a border crossing to be admitted. More than 20,000 migrants are stuck in Greece, (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) A Greek coast guard officer holds a Syrian Kurdish girl at the port of Mytilene, after a rescue operation of refugees and migrants near the northeastern Greek island of Lesbos, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Border restrictions further north in the Balkans have left thousands of refugees and other migrants stranded in a country that is still wracked by its own financial crisis and unable to seal its lengthy sea border with Turkey. (AP Photo/Manu Brabo) A girl sleeps on a field next to a tent as she and her family wait to be allowed to cross the Greek-Macedonian border near the northern Greek village of Idomeni, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Greek officials said not a single migrant has been allowed into northern neighbor Macedonia Friday, with nearly 5,000 people waiting at or near a border crossing to be admitted. More than 20,000 migrants are stuck in Greece. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) Stranded refugees and migrants protest in front of the wire fence that separates the Greek side from the Macedonian one at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Greek officials said not a single migrant has been allowed into northern neighbor Macedonia with more than 5,000 people waiting at or near a border crossing to be admitted. More than 20,000 migrants are stuck in Greece, (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) Stranded refugees and migrants protest in front of the wire fence that separates the Greek side from the Macedonian one at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Greek officials said not a single migrant has been allowed into northern neighbor Macedonia, with more than 5,000 people waiting at or near a border crossing to be admitted. More than 20,000 migrants are stuck in Greece, (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) A Greek coast guard vessel arrives at the port of Mytilene, after a rescue operation of refugees and migrants near the northeastern Greek island of Lesbos, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Border restrictions further north in the Balkans have left thousands of refugees and other migrants stranded in a country that is still wracked by its own financial crisis and unable to seal its lengthy sea border with Turkey. (AP Photo/Manu Brabo) A Syrian Kurdish woman holds her son at the port of Mytilene, after a rescue operation of refugees and migrants by the Greek coast guard near the northeastern Greek island of Lesbos, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Border restrictions further north in the Balkans have left thousands of refugees and other migrants stranded in a country that is still wracked by its own financial crisis and unable to seal its lengthy sea border with Turkey. (AP Photo/Manu Brabo) A woman holds a placard depicting, Turkey's President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and fences under the words 'Austria', during a protest outside the Austrian Embassy in Athens, on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. About 250 people took part in the rally against a decision by Austria, Slovenia, Macedonia, Serbia and Croatia to limit the flow to about 580 migrants a day per country. Athens was enraged when Austria held a meeting of Balkan countries Wednesday on the refugee crisis, excluding Greece. (Giannis Kotsiaris/InTime News via AP) GREECE OUT A boy looks out of a bus window after a rescue operation of refugees and migrants by the Greek coast guard near the northeastern Greek island of Lesbos, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Border restrictions further north in the Balkans have left thousands of refugees and other migrants stranded in a country that is still wracked by its own financial crisis and unable to seal its lengthy sea border with Turkey. (AP Photo/Manu Brabo) People gather on the occasion of a European march during a demonstration for the rights of refugees, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Lausanne, Switzerland. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP) People gather on the occasion of a European march during a demonstration for the rights of refugees, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Lausanne, Switzerland. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP) SE Asian foreign ministers voice concerns on South China Sea VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) Foreign ministers from the 10 countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations said Saturday that they were "seriously concerned" by recent developments in the disputed South China Sea region and will seek a meeting over the issue with China. At the end of their annual retreat, held this year in the Lao capital of Vientiane, they noted their worries and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, security and stability in the area. The strategically important South China Sea is at the center of a territorial dispute involving China on one side and a number of ASEAN countries on the other, including Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia. Tensions have ramped up since China began a massive land reclamation program in 2013. Recent satellite imagery suggests that China has installed surface-to-air missiles in a disputed area in the Paracels chain, prompting accusations that Beijing is militarizing the area. A joint statement said the ASEAN foreign ministers "remained seriously concerned over recent and ongoing developments and took note of the concerns expressed by some members on the land reclamations and escalation of activities" in the South China Sea. The statement added that the activities have "eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security and stability in the region." Vietnam's foreign minister, Pham Binh Minh, told reporters as he left the meeting that he was "seriously concerned about the situation" and called for the "non-militarization" of the South China Sea. Cambodia's foreign minister, Hor Namhong, said ASEAN would seek a meeting with China over the matter, though no date or venue had been set. Other matters were on the agenda too. The ministers reiterated their perennial call for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. They also addressed Islamic extremism, in the wake of an attack in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta in January that left eight people dead. "The threat is real. It's no longer fictitious or mere imagination," said Malaysia's foreign minister, Anifah Aman. Abortion returns to Supreme Court altered by Scalia's death WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court challenge to a Texas law that has dramatically reduced the number of abortion clinics in the state is the justices' most significant case on the hot-button issue in nearly a quarter-century. One of this election-year term's biggest cases is being argued Wednesday before a court altered by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. He was perhaps the most vociferous abortion opponent among the nine justices. The Texas law has been replicated across the South and elsewhere, part of a wave of state abortion restrictions in the past five years. In this photo taken Feb. 22, 2016, Ellie Hermann, stands near the street, protesting the West Alabama Womens Center, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) States mainly led by Republicans have tried to limit when in a pregnancy abortions may be performed, restricted abortion-inducing drugs that take the place of surgery and increased standards for clinics and the doctors who work in them. The Supreme Court case involves that last category. A Texas law enacted in 2013 requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. It also prohibits clinics from providing abortions unless they meet the standards of outpatient or ambulatory surgical centers. The high court has partially blocked those measures. If allowed to take full effect, all but 10 clinics in Texas would have to close. There would be no abortion providers in the state's rural areas or west of San Antonio. The only clinic in the Rio Grande Valley would be allowed to remain open on a limited basis. Before the law was passed, there were roughly 40 clinics in the state. About half have closed. The case offers competing views of how to protect women's health. The clinics contend abortions are safer than many other medical procedures that are less stringently regulated and that the clinic regulations have only one purpose: to reduce the availability of abortions. "These laws are tantamount to an outright ban for too many," said Amy Hagstrom Miller, chief executive of Whole Woman's Health, which operates clinics in Texas and other states. Defenders of the laws in Texas and elsewhere argue that states have discretion to take steps to make abortions safer. Alabama and other states backing Texas told the Supreme Court that states were within their rights to apply health regulations to clinics for the sake of patients. "Obviously I'm pro-life and I would like to limit the number of abortions, but here we were looking at women's health and safety," said Republican Gov. Robert Bentley of Alabama, a doctor who signed his state's admitting privileges law. Texas Solicitor General Scott Keller, who will defend the law at the Supreme Court, said Texas acted in response to the high-profile case of Philadelphia abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell. He is serving a life sentence after his conviction for killing three babies born alive and for the overdose death of a woman who was a clinic patient. A federal judge in Texas struck down parts of the law as not intended to promote women's health and clearly aimed at reducing access to abortion. But the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans largely accepted the state's argument. The justices' June 2015 order putting the appellate ruling on hold at least suggests that there is a majority to cut back on the regulations. The clinics and abortion-rights groups are hoping for a ruling that might bolster challenges to other restrictions on abortion. To prevail, they still need Justice Anthony Kennedy's vote, along with the reasonably certain votes of four more liberal justices, just as they did before Scalia's death. Kennedy was part of the 5-4 majority to reaffirm abortion rights in 1992, then wrote the court's decision in 2007 that upheld a federal law banning a certain procedure that opponents call partial-birth abortion. That was also a 5-4 split. A broad high court ruling striking down the Texas provisions would show that the court's 1992 decision still "has some teeth in it," said Stephanie Toti, the lawyer who will argue the clinics' case. Without Scalia, the best that supporters of these laws can hope for is a 4-4 tie, which would uphold the appeals court's endorsement of the Texas law and perhaps affect similar laws in Louisiana and Mississippi because they are part of the same judicial circuit as Texas. A trial judge also struck down Louisiana's admitting privileges law, but the 5th Circuit has allowed Louisiana to enforce the law as the case makes its way through the courts. Two of the state's four clinics have closed in response and a third will have to close soon, said Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights. On Friday, the clinics said in an emergency appeal to the high court that only a New Orleans clinic would remain open if the state is allowed to enforce the law. They want the justices to block the ruling and let them stay open. A split decision in the Texas case would have no effect on laws that have been blocked in Alabama and Oklahoma, among other states. Women already make the drive from Louisiana and Mississippi to have abortions at the West Alabama Women's Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, said Dr. Willie Parker, who performs abortions in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. The Tuscaloosa clinic is Alabama's busiest. It would be among four clinics, out of five, that would have to close under the Alabama admitting privileges law, which is not in effect. If the Texas law stands and others like it are enforced, Parker said, "it won't mean fewer unintended pregnancies. It won't mean fewer fatally flawed pregnancies. It will mean women will be left without a safe and legal means of ending pregnancy." Ashley McGuire, a senior fellow with the anti-abortion group The Catholic Association, said the fight to limit abortions will continue no matter what the Supreme Court says. "This fight is not going away anytime soon," McGuire said. The case is Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, 15-274. ___ Chandler reported from Montgomery, Alabama. In this photo taken Feb. 22, 2016, Dr. Willie Parker stands in a procedure room for a portrait at the West Alabama Womens Center in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) In this photo taken Feb. 22, 2016, Ellie Hermann, stands near the street as cars drive by with a protesting sign near the West Alabama Womens Center, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) In this photo taken Feb. 22, 2016, Dr. Willie Parker sits at his desk for a portrait at the West Alabama Womens Center in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Battle rages over Florida law limiting doctors' gun speech MIAMI (AP) As a pediatrician, Dr. Judith Schaechter can ask parents of her patients all sorts of questions regarding their safety and well-being: what the child eats, whether there's a backyard pool and whether the child gets enough sleep. Yet the question of whether there is a gun in the home is generally off limits. A Florida law bans routine gun questions even though eight children or teenagers are killed every day in the U.S. with guns, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Doctors such as Schaechter believe a discussion about guns is essential to child safety. In this photo taken Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016, Dr. Judy Schaechter poses for a photo at her office at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, in Miami. As a pediatrician, Dr. Schaechter makes it a point to ask parents of young children whether they have a backyard pool and, if so, whether they have safety measures such as a fence. Schaechter is free to discuss swimming pools, but she faces sharp limits under a 2011 Florida law in what she can say about guns in the home. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz) "A doctor has to be able to ask," said Schaechter, who is chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. "We do this for so many issues. This is but one. Yet it is an extremely important one, for when we don't discuss prevention, the results can be lethal." Schaechter is among thousands of physicians, medical organizations and other groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union that challenged the law, formally called the Firearm Owners Privacy Act, in a lawsuit known popularly as "Docs vs. Glocks." The law, passed in 2011 amid strong support from the National Rifle Association, is the only one of its kind in the nation, although similar laws have been considered in 12 other states, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The legal battle, which has raged since the law's inception, is a clash between the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech and the Second Amendment's right to keep and bear arms, amid a national discussion about the role and availability of weapons across the U.S. The lawsuit is now pending before the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals following conflicting earlier rulings on its constitutionality and the case could wind up in the U.S. Supreme Court. Supporters in the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature and the NRA say the law became necessary when, in their view, doctors began overstepping their bounds in the examination room by pushing an anti-Second Amendment, anti-gun political agenda. The NRA cites several examples of doctors telling patients they'd have to find a new physician if they refused to answer questions about gun ownership or telling parents they should get rid of any guns in the home. The law, supporters point out, permits doctors under a "good faith" provision to ask about firearms if the questions are deemed "relevant to the patient's medical care or safety" or the safety of other people. "These provisions target discrimination and harassment, not speech, and they do nothing to impair doctor-patient discussions of firearm safety," NRA attorney Charles Cooper said in court papers. "Even if viewed as a speech regulation, the (law) is a reasonable regulation of speech incidental to the practice of medicine." The law also has some teeth: doctors who violate the law could face professional discipline, such as a fine, or even lose their medical licenses. The state Department of Health would investigate any complaints, although the law has never been enforced because it was blocked in 2012 by a Miami judge's decision that found it an unconstitutional violation of free speech rights. Since that decision by U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke, the law has been entangled in an unusual web of appeals brought by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, a Republican. The same panel of three 11th Circuit appeals judges has overruled Cooke on identical 2-1 votes but in three separate opinions, each replacing the one before. Most recently, in December, the panel found that any free speech concerns were outweighed by Florida's interest in preventing doctors from using their so-called "power disparity" over patients to chill exercise of their Second Amendment rights. In other words, the three-judge panel found that doctors had a First Amendment right to talk to patients about guns but couldn't use it most of the time, said attorney Doug Hallward-Driemeier, who represents the physicians and their allies. The law, he said, "singles out doctors' speech about guns for restriction because the government disagrees with their message. That is precisely what the First Amendment protects us against." After that December opinion, the full 11th Circuit Court of Appeals stepped in to take up the case, tossing out the decisions by its own three-judge panel. The court's 11 judges in coming months will likely hold oral arguments, followed by a decision that could be appealed again to the U.S. Supreme Court, Hallward-Driemeier said. Schaechter, the pediatrician, said she views concerns about Second Amendment violations as misguided. With a nation awash in guns the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service pegged the number at 310 million guns in 2009 it's simple common sense for a doctor to question patients about them, she said. "This isn't about the Second Amendment. It's about speaking up to save lives, and that's my right and it's my patients' right to hear what I have to say," she said. "I trust if they don't want to answer my questions, they will tell me. So far, none of them have done so." ___ Follow Curt Anderson on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Miamicurt In this photo taken Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016, Dr. Judy Schaechter poses for a photo at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, in Miami. As a pediatrician, Dr. Schaechter makes it a point to ask parents of young children whether they have a backyard pool and, if so, whether they have safety measures such as a fence. Schaechter is free to discuss swimming pools, but she faces sharp limits under a 2011 Florida law in what she can say about guns in the home. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz) *In this photo taken Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016, Dr. Judy Schaechter poses for a photo at her office at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, in Miami. As a pediatrician, Dr. Schaechter makes it a point to ask parents of young children whether they have a backyard pool and, if so, whether they have safety measures such as a fence. Schaechter is free to discuss swimming pools, but she faces sharp limits under a 2011 Florida law in what she can say about guns in the home. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz) Iran deal splits Democrats in suburban Chicago US House race LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. (AP) After fueling months of fights in Washington, President Barack Obama's nuclear deal with Iran is now popping up in an unusual place: a Democratic primary north of Chicago, splitting party leaders' loyalties and making Republicans giddy about a potentially weakened opponent in one of 2016's most competitive U.S. House races. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the minority whip who had the monumental job of securing Democratic support for Obama's plan, is backing suburban mayor Nancy Rotering over former U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider in the 10th Congressional district primary, largely because she expressed support for the pact and Schneider initially opposed it. A one-time White House counsel and prominent Democrat who held the seat in the 1970s, Abner Mikva, also abandoned Schneider for Rotering, writing in an open letter that he was disappointed in Schneider for "opposing your president and your party." In this feb. 3, 2016 photo, Nancy Rotering the mayor of Highland Park, Ill., and a Democrat candidate for Illinois' 10th Congressional District, speaks during a debate against challenger, former U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, in Lincolnshire, Ill. Fights over President Barack Obama's nuclear deal with Iran is now popping up in a surprising place: the Democratic primary north of Chicago. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the minority whip responsible for securing Democrats' support for Obama's plan, has endorsed Rotering largely because she expressed support for the pact while Schneider initially didn't. (Steve Lundy/Daily Herald via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT, MAGS OUT, TV OUT Schneider, who held the seat for one term before losing to Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Dold in 2014, has endorsements from Democratic House Leader Nancy Pelosi, other current House members and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He also has a fundraising advantage. But it's unclear how much sway the Iran deal or big-name endorsements might have when voters go to the polls next month. Elliott Hartstein, a voter attending a recent primary debate, said the 10th is "a pretty independent-minded district," and Durbin's role in the deal isn't lost on people. "I wouldn't say Brad is being punished," said Hartstein, a former mayor from the suburb of Buffalo Grove who's backing Schneider. "I'd say Nancy's being rewarded for basically supporting the president on the issue." The accord negotiated with Iran and five world powers aims to curb Iran's nuclear program in exchange for billions in relief from economic sanctions. Dold has called the agreement "historically bad" because he says it will endanger Israel and the United States. Buffalo Grove resident Dan Wiczer said the Iran deal isn't a big issue for him. After seeing Democrats lose in previous general elections, he said he's more concerned about who will be strongest against Dold in November. "I give him a lot of courage for wanting to get back in there," Wiczer said of Schneider returning to the campaign trail after his loss to Dold. "Time will tell." Almost immediately after Durbin's fundraising email endorsed Rotering earlier this month, the National Republican Congressional Committee pounced, saying Democrats would be forced to "waste precious resources." "Democrats' worst fears about an expensive and bloody primary in IL-10 are coming true," NRCC spokesman Zach Hunter said. In 2014, the GOP spent close to $7 million nationally to win back the seat, which the party had held for decades before Schneider won it in the first election under new Democrat-drawn maps. Dold's campaign spent millions on TV ads that didn't mention he was a Republican. Schneider expects Democratic turnout this year will be better because there's a presidential race, and believes the 2014 loss was due to a unique circumstance: Dold's district is home to Gov. Bruce Rauner, the GOP businessman who unseated an unpopular Democrat. (Since then, the state has been mired in a record budget impasse that's hurt social services and higher education.) Rotering counters she's the strongest candidate not just to take on Dold, but also to hold on to the seat in 2018. She says she's shown "courageous leadership" by passing an assault weapons ban that was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court and ripped Schneider for having "stood with Republicans" on the Iran deal. She says the endorsements have given her campaign "strong momentum." The district has a large number of Jewish voters who may be more inclined toward Schneider because of his initial stance. But now that the deal is in place, Schneider says he supports it "100 percent" and disagrees with GOP attempts to undo it. He said he read the deal six times and consulted multiple experts before concluding he couldn't support it a decision he said represented "the values of 10th District." He declined to comment on Durbin, Mikva and others backing his rival, saying he prefers to focus on his supporters. "We both have our endorsements," Schneider said. "I look at the folks who've endorsed me, who know my work, who've been with me, who believe in me and I feel that their support as a reflection of all that I have done will carry the day." The Latest: Irish premier aims to keep power in new alliance DUBLIN (AP) The Latest on the 2016 Irish election (all times local): 9:15 p.m. Prime Minister Enda Kenny says voters have clearly rejected his 5-year-old coalition with the Labour Party, but as leader of the largest party he will remain in pole position to form the next Irish government if a different cross-party partnership can be forged. Sinn Fein party leader Gerry Adams, left, and party member Imelda Munster speak to the media as they arrive at the count centre in Dundalk, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Ireland could be on course for a historic coalition between two longtime political foes the Fine Gael and Fianna Fail parties as the first official election results were announced Saturday. (AP Photo Peter Morrison) Kenny who won easy re-election to his own parliamentary seat in Mayo, western Ireland, for the 12th straight time dating back to 1975 says he cannot consider forming a historic coalition with longtime nemesis Fianna Fail until full results are declared Sunday or Monday. He concedes that Ireland could face a second 2016 election if he or Fianna Fail chief Micheal Martin are unable to forge a parliamentary majority with each other or other smaller parties. "That's the difficulty," he said when asked of the possibility of a second election to overcome a hung parliament. "Obviously I'd like to think that it will be possible, given the final results, to be able to put a government together." ___ 8:15 p.m. Michael Lowry is one of the most divisive figures in Irish politics and the voters of Tipperary in southwest Ireland keep rewarding him for it. Lowry retained his parliamentary seat in election results announced Saturday. He was expelled from the ruling Fine Gael party in 1997 as he faced multiple investigations for receiving secret gifts from tycoons in exchange for business favors. Lowry, now an independent, says his old party actively campaigned against him, even colluding with archrival Fianna Fail in futile hopes of toppling him. He said both parties should set aside their historic hostilities and share power. The lawmaker says "it's time for the two main parties to step up to the plate and form a government." ___ 7 p.m. Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams is leading his nationalist party to its best-ever result in the Republic of Ireland, a solid third-place finish, and calls its involvement in a future Irish government just a question of time. Adams is topping the results table as ballots continue to be counted Saturday night in his border district of Louth, midway between Dublin and Belfast. The longtime Northern Ireland-based leader won a parliamentary seat in Louth in 2011 as he sought to spearhead Sinn Fein's growth in the independent south. Adams says he expects his party to double its seats in parliament from the 14 it won in 2011. But he says it's too early to say whether Sinn Fein could gain a slice of power in Ireland's next coalition government. He called Sinn Fein's rise "another step in the realignment of politics on this island." ___ 6:15 p.m. Former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, considered a great coalition negotiator, says he thinks Irish lawmakers face an unusually long, grueling process to form their next government. The new Irish parliament is scheduled to convene on March 10. After Friday's national vote, the leaders of both the Fine Gael and the Fianna Fail parties could nominate themselves then as prime minister even though neither may be able to win a majority of votes. Ahern, who stepped down in 2008, says he doubts a new government can be formed by March 10. He says "it'll probably go to the other side of St. Patrick's Day" referring to Ireland's national holiday on March 17. Ahern declined to specify his preferred coalition but predicted "in the next two weeks, a lot of the combinations that are theoretically there will be ruled out." ___ 5:30 p.m. With early Irish election results pointing to the possibility of a historic Fianna Fail-Fine Gael coalition government, leading Irish lawmakers are warning that such a partnership would be fraught with difficulty. Agriculture and Defense Minister Simon Coveney, a leading Fine Gael member, said it would be "difficult to form a coalition with two parties of similar size that are competing with each other in many ways." Fianna Fail's Willie O'Dea, a lawmaker from Limerick and a former Irish defense minister, says bringing Ireland's two traditional heavyweight political parties together would leave the main opposition to Sinn Fein, the political ally of the Irish Republican Army. He says that would make Sinn Fein a more dangerous foe. Sinn Fein was running a strong third in Saturday's voting results. O'Dea says "I'd be extremely nervous about putting Sinn Fein in pole position in the opposition." ___ 4:20 p.m. Micheal Martin, the leader of Ireland's opposition Fianna Fail party, won't rule out forming a historic coalition with the governing Fine Gael party as official results from Friday's election start to trickle in. Martin, whose centrist party has never shared power with longtime nemesis Fine Gael, was asked Saturday whether he would talk to Prime Minister Enda Kenny, the Fine Gael chief, about a first-ever partnership. The two parties trace their origins to opposite sides of Ireland's 1922-23 civil war. Martin says "we're committed to doing our best by the country and ensuring that the country gets a good government." He adds that any successful coalition negotiation "has to be very much focused on the issues and on policies, and not just on numbers" of seats in parliament. ___ 4 p.m. The first official winner of a seat in Ireland's next parliament, Shane Ross, says he's open to propping up the next government so long as it's interested in drastically changing its economic policies. Ross, an incumbent independent who has opposed the government's austerity and bank-bailout policies, won the first seat in the Dublin district of Rathdown. He says he hopes to help form a powerful bloc of like-minded independents in Ireland's 158-seat parliament. He noted that for the first time in Irish history, the two traditional big guns of Irish politics the governing Fine Gael and the opposition Fianna Fail parties had attracted less than half of the popular vote. He said the political landscape is now open for mavericks like him to wield real influence over Ireland's next government coalition. Ross says "it looks today as though we've got a massive and very welcome change in Irish politics." ___ 3:40 p.m. With official Irish election results yet to trickle in, leaders of the governing Fine Gael and Labour parties say Ireland's voters have demonstrated that they want a change in government, with 60 percent or more of voters picking an array of other parties, mostly on the left of the political spectrum. Analysts poring over results compiled by election observers predict that Fine Gael will win fewer than 50 seats and Labour probably fewer than 10 in Ireland's 158-member parliament. A governing majority requires at least 79 lawmakers. Kevin Humphreys, a Labour lawmaker fighting to retain his seat in Dublin Bay South, says his left-wing party has "had a very bad day ... but we'll rebuild and come back." The first official winners are expected to be declared Saturday afternoon. ___ 7:30 a.m. A detailed exit poll for Ireland's election has found that most voters spurned the coalition government of Prime Minister Enda Kenny and the country faces either a hung parliament with no workable majority or an alliance between the traditional polar opposites of political life. The poll by Irish broadcasters RTE was revealed hours ahead of Saturday's start to a ballot count expected to run into Sunday. The poll says Kenny's Fine Gael party has received 24.8 percent of first-preference votes much lower than any opinion poll during Ireland's three-week election campaign while the party's age-old enemy Fianna Fail has won 21.1 percent. The poll found that Sinn Fein received 16 percent of first-preference votes, sufficient to double its number of lawmakers but not enough to give either Fine Gael or Fianna Fail a majority, even if either cut a deal with the Irish Republican Army-linked party. Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny leaves after voting at a polling station at St Anthony's School in Castlebar, Mayo, Friday Feb. 26, 2016. Ireland could be on course for a historic coalition between two longtime political foes the Fine Gael and Fianna Fail parties as the first official election results were announced Saturday. (Brian Lawless/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT Sinn Fein party leader Gerry Adams, centre, arrives with party members Megan Fearon, left, and Imelda Munster, right, at the count centre in Dundalk, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Vote counting has started in the Irish general elections, with early exit polls suggesting the outgoing coalition government could be set to lose its majority. (AP Photo Peter Morrison) FILE - A Monday Feb. 22, 2010 file photo of Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin addressing the media at the Irish embassy in Brussels. The three parties emerging strongest from the Friday Feb. 26, 2016 election _ Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein _ all claim to be the one true church of Irish republicanism. Each claims direct succession from the Dublin rebels who challenged British rule in the Easter Rising of 1916. And all three, in their own way, are right. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe, File) Counting gets under way in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. A detailed exit poll for Ireland's election has found that most voters spurned the coalition government of Prime Minister Enda Kenny and the country faces either a hung parliament with no workable majority or an alliance between the traditional polar opposites of political life. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) Counting gets under way in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. A detailed exit poll for Ireland's election has found that most voters spurned the coalition government of Prime Minister Enda Kenny and the country faces either a hung parliament with no workable majority or an alliance between the traditional polar opposites of political life. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) Counting gets under way in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. A detailed exit poll for Ireland's election has found that most voters spurned the coalition government of Prime Minister Enda Kenny and the country faces either a hung parliament with no workable majority or an alliance between the traditional polar opposites of political life. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) Counting gets under way in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Vote counting has started in the Irish general elections, with early exit polls suggesting the outgoing coalition government could be set to lose its majority. A detailed exit poll for Ireland's election has found that most voters spurned the coalition government of Prime Minister Enda Kenny and the country faces either a hung parliament with no workable majority or an alliance between the traditional polar opposites of political life. (AP Photo Peter Morrison) Counting gets under way in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. A detailed exit poll for Ireland's election has found that most voters spurned the coalition government of Prime Minister Enda Kenny and the country faces either a hung parliament with no workable majority or an alliance between the traditional polar opposites of political life. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) Counting gets under way in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. A detailed exit poll for Ireland's election has found that most voters spurned the coalition government of Prime Minister Enda Kenny and the country faces either a hung parliament with no workable majority or an alliance between the traditional polar opposites of political life. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) Ballot boxes arrive as counting gets under way in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. A detailed exit poll for Ireland's election has found that most voters spurned the coalition government of Prime Minister Enda Kenny and the country faces either a hung parliament with no workable majority or an alliance between the traditional polar opposites of political life. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) First case of sexually transmitted Zika virus seen in France PARIS (AP) A high-ranking French health official says a first case of sexually transmitted Zika virus has been diagnosed in France on a non-pregnant woman. Francois Bourdillon, the director general of the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance, told BFM television that "the patient had not travelled, her companion was returning from Brazil" where he was infected with the Zika virus. He says both are "doing well." Zika is primarily spread by mosquito bites, and transmission through sex is considered rare. This 2006 photo provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a female Aedes aegypti mosquito in the process of acquiring a blood meal from a human host. On Friday, Feb. 26, 2015, the U.S. government said Zika infections have been confirmed in nine pregnant women in the United States. All got the virus overseas. Three babies have been born, one with a brain defect. (James Gathany/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via AP) Cleveland police reform panel picks up pace after slow start CLEVELAND (AP) Members of a volunteer commission responsible for making recommendations about how Cleveland police officers treat citizens say the panel is finding its footing after a rocky start. The creation of an independent Community Police Commission is included in an agreement called a consent decree between Cleveland and the U.S. Justice Department to reform a department that the DOJ concluded had engaged in a pattern and practice of using excessive force and violating people's civil rights. Rhonda Williams, an outspoken civil rights activist and history professor at Case Western Reserve University, is one of three co-chairs of the commission and has emerged as its de facto leader. Problems at the start weren't unexpected, she said. Rhonda Williams speaks at a Community Police Commission work group community meeting, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. The creation of Clevelandas independent Community Police Commission was one of the key components in an agreement reached between the city of Cleveland and the U.S. Justice Department after the DOJ in December 2014 issued a blistering report that said Cleveland police officers had shown a pattern and practice of using excessive force and violating peopleas civil rights. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) "It's not a conflict-free process," Williams said. "Nor should it be." Citizen groups have been formed in other cities with DOJ agreements, but only Seattle and Cleveland have consent decrees that require the formation of police commissions to help drive reform efforts. Cleveland's consent decree, which is expected to cost the city $11 million in the first year of implementation, is administered by an independent monitor who leads a team of experts on policing issues. The monitor answers to U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr., who has broad powers to enforce provisions in the 105-page agreement approved last June. The consent decree required that the 13-member police commission, which was sworn in last September, have a diverse membership that represents minority communities, activists, faith-based organizations and civil rights groups. Ten members were chosen by a selection committee appointed by Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson. The other three members are Cleveland police officers selected by their respective unions. While commission terms are four years, the police department is expected to operate under the consent decree for at least five years. Commission members said in interviews recently that early struggles could be attributed to a group of relative strangers learning together how to create an organization out of whole cloth. One member quit because of the time demands; there were personality clashes and bickering among some commissioners; and it quickly became apparent that the commission needed more outside help to organize itself and proceed with the work. Matthew Barge, the court-appointed monitor, said the commission has been finding its "sea legs" and agreed that it needed more resources at the onset. That problem is expected to be resolved in the coming weeks after approval of a city budget that gives the commission $750,000 for 2016 to hire staff and to pay for consultants and policing experts. The most discordant voice on the commission has belonged to Steve Loomis, president of Cleveland's largest police union. In an interview last week, he once again called the commission a "farce" and complained that Williams and other black activists on the panel are "anti-police." "They can at least have the appearance of some form of impartiality," Loomis said. Williams said she's an "unapologetic advocate for police reform." "I am more than willing to work with reform-minded police officers who want to work toward progressive change," Williams said. Williams said police reform is an emotional issue and added that the commission is doing good work and is committed to making "impactful change." At a commission meeting on Wednesday, which Loomis did not attend, no anti-police bias was evident during a discussion about use-of-force policies in the face of a mid-March deadline to submit initial recommendations and a summary of citizen comments. The three youngest members of the commission all of whom are black and were selected for their perspectives on the often hostile relationship that exists between Cleveland officers and the black community, expressed genuine interest in hearing not only from residents about police use of force, but also from police officers. In Seattle, problems persist three years after its police commission formed, said Barge, the Cleveland monitor who is also a member of the Seattle monitoring team. The Seattle commission has struggled to "fully represent the diversity of views within the community," Barge said. He cited the Seattle commission's opposition to police body cameras despite a community survey that showed overwhelming support for their use. "It has been disappointing to many within the community that the commission has, at times, been more concerned about politics than truly collaborating with stakeholders to achieve real-world, common-sense reforms," Barge said. He praised Cleveland's commission for focusing on reform since its inception. Lee Fisher, a former Ohio legislator, attorney general and lieutenant governor, is the elder statesman on the commission and leads a committee that is preparing recommendations on bias-free policing. Fisher expressed frustrations about the lack of resources and time demands, but thinks the commission's efforts will ultimately help make the Cleveland police department a model for the world. "Our goal should be nothing short of that," he said. Rhonda Williams speaks at a Community Police Commission work group community meeting, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. The creation of Clevelandas independent Community Police Commission was one of the key components in an agreement reached between the city of Cleveland and the U.S. Justice Department after the DOJ in December 2014 issued a blistering report that said Cleveland police officers had shown a pattern and practice of using excessive force and violating peopleas civil rights. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) Rhonda Williams adjusts her glasses before a Community Police Commission work group community meeting, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. The volunteer panel with wide-ranging responsibilities to seek community input and provide recommendations as part of a federal consent decree to reform the Cleveland police department has gotten off to a rough start, but its members say theyare making progress and are finding their footing in the face of tight deadlines required in a monitoring plan. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) Rhonda Williams, right, speaks at a Community Police Commission work group community meeting, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. The creation of Clevelandas independent Community Police Commission was one of the key components in an agreement reached between the city of Cleveland and the U.S. Justice Department after the DOJ in December 2014 issued a blistering report that said Cleveland police officers had shown a pattern and practice of using excessive force and violating peopleas civil rights. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) Rhonda Williams speaks to a Cleveland citizen before a Community Police Commission work group community meeting, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. The volunteer panel with wide-ranging responsibilities to seek community input and provide recommendations as part of a federal consent decree to reform the Cleveland police department has gotten off to a rough start, but its members say theyare making progress and are finding their footing in the face of tight deadlines required in a monitoring plan. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) Emails a window into state's Flint crisis-management efforts LANSING, Mich. (AP) Thousands of emails newly released by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder provide a behind-scenes look at how his administration tried to manage the Flint water crisis. Some provide story lines on his administration's ineffectiveness in dealing with the issue, while thousands more are duplicative and dull. Others expose staffers' frustrations as the crisis spiraled out of control after the lead contamination issue was uncovered in September. Here's a glimpse into the inboxes of Snyder's administration: Gov. Rick Snyder displays the $30 million budget supplemental Water Bill during a news conference on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016 at University of Michigan Flint, Riverfront Banquet Center in Flint. Snyder signed the $30 million budget supplemental, reimbursing Flint residents with credits on their water bills for water used for drinking, cooking and bathing. (Rachel Woolf/The Flint Journal-MLive.com via AP) LOCAL TELEVISION OUT; LOCAL INTERNET OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT ____ PRESCIENT WARNING "This is a public relations crisis because of a real or perceived problem is irrelevant waiting to explode nationally," predicted Ari Adler, special projects manager, in January 2015. ___ WHERE'S THE EXIT? The strain on Snyder's inner circle was becoming evident by last fall. In an Oct. 1 reply to senior adviser Dick Posthumus about scheduling a meeting, former Chief of Staff Dennis Muchmore lamented that he'd already met with two people the previous night, "Flint ministers this morning, Rep. (Sheldon) Neeley at 11:00, our entire group at 10, (then-Flint Mayor) Dayne Walling at 4:00 and (chief deputy treasurer Tom) Saxton at 4:30 all on Flint...help...get me out of this mess." ___ LEAD UN-AWARENESS WEEK The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared Oct. 25-31 national Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, but Snyder's staff opted out of issuing a proclamation. "Given recent events I am not sure this is something we want to be issuing," wrote Laura Stoken, Snyder's manager of constituent relations. ___ GET OUT THERE The communications staff discussed in Oct. 6 emails that Snyder should be more visible in Flint to show he cares. Then-communications director Jarrod Agen (now chief of staff) wrote: "Don't forward or spread this around, but give me your take. I think we may need to get G into Flint this week. Unpublicized, but public. Filter distribution, testing visit, discussion with Superintendent, etc... (And probably again next week.)" Then-Press Secretary David Murray responded: "I think this is a good idea. One thing we keep hearing is that the governor is not involved or is detached ... This would be good to show he's there and cares. And if we don't announce until he's there we can avoid the protests and still get the optics." ___ CELEBRITY TWEET TRASHED Documentary filmmaker and Flint native Michael Moore tweeted in December for Snyder to be recalled, arrested and imprisoned for "poisoning the ppl left behind in Flint," prompting this email from former communications director Meegan Holland: "The pot stirrer and attention whore." ___ CRISIS FOR CHRISTMAS The holiday season was no respite for the administration due to the release of a critical auditor's report and a letter from a Snyder-appointed task force investigating the crisis that laid responsibility at the door of the state Department of Environmental Quality. Communications staffers grumbled as the story drew increasing media attention from The New York Times, the BBC and MSNBC's Rachel Maddow. In a Dec. 21 email responding to an apparent lunch invitation, constituent relations manager Laura Stoken writes, "I'm hoping I can get (away) today I am anticipating getting slammed" because of a Maddow program. Separately, Stoken asked whether a form letter being sent to people who write to Snyder should be revised to respond to Maddow's pointed coverage. Holland replied that Maddow has stirred up controversy but adds, "to answer all her inaccuracies would take more time than what you'd want to give." Also on Dec. 21, Murray sent a message to senior policy adviser Karen McPhee with the subject line, "Tell me if I was overacting to this," referring to a radio report that mentions him. "You are not over-reacting," McPhee responds, adding that the "first sentence is insulting ... personal and professionally." She also describes the report as "childish" and "very immature." ___ NO SNYDER FOR YOU When a New York Times reporter requested an interview with Snyder, Murray sought advice from others on Jan. 5: "Do you think there's benefit in giving the New York Times 10 minutes on this issue? He's going to write the story whether we are in it or not, and after the horribly one-sided Washington Post story, it might be helpful to get our side in a national publication." They ultimately decided to offer up a "surrogate," but debated over who it should be. ___ DISCONTENT OVER DEQ DEPARTURE Muchmore wasn't happy about Michigan environmental director Dan Wyant being replaced due to the crisis. Muchmore said in a Dec. 29 email that Wyant was "one of the most exceptional directors in state government history over the last 40 years." Snyder accepted Wyant's resignation as head of the Department of Environmental Quality after a task force said that agency was largely to blame for allowing Flint's drinking water to become contaminated with lead. ___ WANTED: COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR A local television reporter contacted the communications staff after Snyder accepted the resignations of Wyant and communications director Brad Wurfel. "So I'm just throwing this out there but someone will need to answer questions. There are few people who know the story better than I do. (...) I know that it would be basically career suicide," the reporter asked. That same day, a communications director in another state agency emailed Holland to express interest in the same job. Holland wrote: "All I'm saying to potential candidates is think long and hard on whether your heart can stand the pressure of that job you'll have just about an entire city hating your guts before they even meet you." ___ Schneider reported from Detroit. Associated Press reporters John Flesher in Traverse City, Michigan, and Tammy Webber in Fenton, Michigan, contributed to this report. Ireland's 3 political tribes share bloody past, eye on power DUBLIN (AP) The three Irish parties emerging strongest from Friday's election Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein all claim to be the one true church of Irish nationalism. Each claims direct succession from the Dublin rebels who challenged British rule in the Easter Rising of 1916. These forces are still vying for power as Ireland prepares to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Rising, Ireland's opening salvo in its successful war of independence from Britain. Here's a look at those parties and their bloody pasts. ___ FILE - A Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 photo from files of Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams, speaking to the media on arrival for the inter-party talks at Stormont, Belfast, Northern Ireland. The three parties emerging strongest from the Friday, Feb. 26, 2016 election _ Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein _ all claim to be the one true church of Irish republicanism. Each claims direct succession from the Dublin rebels who challenged British rule in the Easter Rising of 1916. And all three, in their own way, are right. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison, File) IN THE BEGINNING Once upon a time, Ireland had a Sinn Fein party that sought to wrest the island from the United Kingdom. But that party, founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, was torn in two in 1922 amid civil war following Ireland's acceptance of a treaty with Britain that offered autonomy, not full independence. Sinn Fein leaders who accepted the treaty became Fine Gael; those who tried to overthrow it, Fianna Fail. And those left behind in the new U.K. territory of Northern Ireland spawned a new generation of militants who, decades later, claimed the Sinn Fein mantle as their own. The three Irish political parties today differ less on policy all promise no more austerity, tax cuts, better housing and health services than on mutual enmity. It remains to be seen who will swallow their pride and compromise, or whether the trio will stay separate and Ireland will face a second early election. ___ FINE GAEL "The Tribe of the Irish" has a martyred father figure: Michael Collins. He fought in the Rising, oversaw Sinn Fein fundraising, led IRA intelligence operations and a Dublin hit squad during the 1919-21 War of Independence, joined Griffith in negotiating the treaty with Britain that ended the war and established the Irish Free State, and was assassinated by former comrades the following year. Collins' pro-treaty camp routed anti-treaty forces and won all elections from 1923 to 1932 as its anti-Fianna Fail posters warned voters they must keep "the shadow of the gunman ... from your home." But since then, Fine Gael never again has won back-to-back elections as it positioned itself as the party of law, order and Roman Catholic virtue. Fine Gael has regained power only in alliance with Labour, the party of Ireland's unions. That partnership has helped Fine Gael evolve into a more socially progressive force open to ending bans on divorce and gay marriage and permitting abortions when doctors deem a woman's life is at risk. But Labour suffered heavy losses as results came in Saturday, and Fine Gael has conceded it has few options besides turning to Fianna Fail. ___ FIANNA FAIL "The Warriors of Destiny" were founded in 1926 by Eamon de Valera, who had commanded a rebel unit in the Rising, became Sinn Fein's president in the wartime rebel government, broke with Collins over the treaty and championed a disastrous civil war that created bitterness for generations. Initially determined to observe a Sinn Fein boycott of the new Irish state, de Valera ultimately led most Sinn Fein activists into his new party and parliament and in the process became Ireland's most dominant political figure of the 20th century. With heavy doses of free-spending populism, Fianna Fail won the most parliamentary seats in every general election from 1932 to 2011, although it didn't always win enough to block the Fine Gael-Labour alternative. Fianna Fail never has stayed long in opposition and proved surprisingly resurgent against Saturday, drawing nearly even with Fine Gael barely five years after being blamed for bankrupting the country. While Fine Gael supported a minority Fianna Fail government in 1987-89, Fianna Fail has never returned that favor and still calls its opponents "Blueshirts," a reference to Fine Gael's flirtation with Fascism in the 1930s. ___ SINN FEIN Today's party is technically Provisional Sinn Fein, a breakaway movement formed in 1970 in the Northern Ireland capital, Belfast, amid the rise of Catholic-Protestant street violence and the deployment of British troops to support the police. The new Sinn Fein initially served as the public face of the outlawed Provisional IRA, a paramilitary group bent on overthrowing Northern Ireland's Protestant government and forcing the territory into the independent south. The Provisionals pursued a deadly feud with former colleagues in what was rebranded the Official IRA and Sinn Fein. The Provisionals' most politically savvy commander, Gerry Adams, transformed his Sinn Fein faction over two decades into a well-organized, highly motivated political party. In 1983, while still reputedly serving as an IRA commander, he was elected Sinn Fein president, a position he still holds today at age 67. In 1986 he ended Sinn Fein's refusal to take seats in the Irish parliament, though it took another 11 years to win one. Adams helped deliver 1990s IRA cease-fires that allowed Sinn Fein to become increasingly palatable to northern Catholics, who have made the party their dominant representative in a Northern Ireland coalition government with Protestant leaders. Gains have taken longer in the Irish Republic, where successive Fine Gael and Fianna Fail governments banned Sinn Fein's northern brogues from the airwaves until 1994. Throughout this month's campaign, Adams has faced repeated questioning about his IRA past and unsolved crimes. While this week's rise to third place represents another breakthrough for Sinn Fein, many analysts think the party would do better if it permitted a new generation with no Provisional background to take charge. ___ Online: Fine Gael, http://www.finegael.ie/our-plan/the-plan/ Fianna Fail, https://www.fiannafail.ie/fianna-fail-election-hub/ Sinn Fein, http://www.sinnfein.ie/manifesto2016 FILE - A Monday Feb. 22, 2010 file photo of Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin addressing the media at the Irish embassy in Brussels. The three parties emerging strongest from the Friday Feb. 26, 2016 election _ Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein _ all claim to be the one true church of Irish republicanism. Each claims direct succession from the Dublin rebels who challenged British rule in the Easter Rising of 1916. And all three, in their own way, are right. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe, File) The Latest: Police flushed Washington killer from house BELFAIR, Wash. (AP) The Latest on a shooting that left five dead in Washington state (all times local): 1:03 p.m. Police have released a timeline showing their response to a Washington state shooting scene where a man apparently killed four people before turning the gun on himself. Mason County Sheriff's Chief Criminal Deputy Russ Osterhout looks down a road near the scene of a fatal shooting Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, near Belfair, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) The Mason County Sheriff's Office says that after negotiating with the barricaded suspect for 3 hours Friday, it became apparent he wasn't going to surrender. The timeline says they used a "chemical agent" to flush him from the house. He stepped outside with a gun in his hand, yelled at police, went back inside, then came out again and killed himself as officers watched. Authorities say they found four other bodies in a chicken coop on the property. ___ 10:34 a.m. A coroner in Washington state has released the identity of a gunman and three of his four victims in what authorities described as a mass shooting and suicide. The Kitsap Sun newspaper reports (http://goo.gl/dGW1QR) that 51-year-old David Wayne Campbell shot and killed his wife, 49-year-old Lana J. Carlson, as well as her children Quinn and Tory Carlson, who were 16 and 18, respectively. The Mason County coroner on Saturday was withholding the identity of a fourth victim pending notification of relatives. The Kitsap County Sheriff's Office said Campbell called authorities Friday morning to report that he had shot four people at a home near Belfair, southwest of Seattle. A SWAT team negotiated with him for more than three hours before he came outside and killed himself. A 12-year-old girl was able to escape the house and survive. Mason County Sheriff Casey Salisbury, right, talks to reporters as Chief Criminal Deputy Ryan Spurling looks on at left near the scene of a fatal shooting, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, near Belfair, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) A Washington State Patrol detective walks with protective foot covers on near the scene of a fatal shooting Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, near Belfair, Wash. A gunman who killed four people in rural Washington state called an officer he previously encountered to say he shot his family, leading to an hours long standoff at a home Friday that ended with his suicide, authorities said. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) A Washington State Patrol detective is seen through trees as he works the scene of a fatal shooting Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, near Belfair, Wash. A gunman who killed four people in rural Washington state called an officer he previously encountered to say he shot his family, leading to an hours long standoff at a home Friday that ended with his suicide, authorities said. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) A Washington State Patrol detective walks with protective foot covers on near the scene of a fatal shooting Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, near Belfair, Wash. A gunman who killed four people in rural Washington state called an officer he previously encountered to say he shot his family, leading to an hours long standoff at a home Friday that ended with his suicide, authorities said. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) A Mason County Sheriff Dept. SWAT vehicle drives a few miles from the scene of a fatal shooting Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, near Belfair, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) Investigators wearing respirators walk outside a building at the scene of a fatal shooting Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, near Belfair, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) Mason County Sheriff's Chief Criminal Deputy Ryan Spurling, right, escorts Adeline Peebles, left, and a child away from the scene of a fatal shooting Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, near Belfair, Wash. Peebles said she was a friend of the people involved in the shooting. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) An investigator is seen through trees as he photographs the scene of a fatal shooting Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, near Belfair, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) NYC museum to 'suggest' $25 ticket, rather than 'recommend' NEW YORK (AP) The pay-what-you-like policy at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art will be spelled out more clearly under a settlement of a class-action lawsuit that challenged the museum's $25 "recommended" admission. Under the settlement reached Friday, the $25 ticket price will be "suggested" instead of "recommended." In addition, signs will advise visitors that "The amount you pay is up to you." Andrew Celli Jr., a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said Saturday that the new signage "really opens up the museum to people of all economic levels." FILE - In this March 19, 2013 file photo patrons stand in the rain by the front doors of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Confusion over the museums $25 ticket price will be cleared up under a settlement for a class action suit reached on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. The $25 recommended ticket price will become the $25 suggested ticket price under the terms of the settlement. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File) Museum officials said they were refining the Met's admissions policies to coincide with next month's opening of a new outpost, the Met Breuer, at the former Madison Avenue home of the Whitney Museum of American Art. "All of our recent branding and marketing work has been aimed at simplifying our message of welcome to the public and emphasizing that we are accessible to the widest possible audience," Met CEO Thomas P. Campbell said in a statement. The Met draws more than 6 million visitors a year and recommends an admission fee of $25 for adults, $17 for seniors and $12 for students. The 2013 lawsuit accused the Met of misleading visitors by implying that they had to pay the full amount. Museum officials denied the allegation. The lawsuit charged that under the museum's 19th-century lease with the city it had no authority to charge any suggested admission. That portion of the suit was thrown out. Under the settlement announced Friday, which is subject to court approval, the museum's website as well as signs at admissions desks will use the new language. Celli, with the firm Emery Celli Brinckerhoff & Abady LLP, said the settlement affects the font size and placement of the words rather than just replacing "recommended" with "suggested." "Suggested" is now the same size as the word "admission," he said. "I think it really brings the museum back to where it should have been, and where it was historically." Louis van Gaal: Jose Mourinho talk "an absolute scandal" Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal labelled the talk of Jose Mourinho replacing him "an absolute scandal". The pressure has eased marginally on the Dutchman this week after securing safe progress to the FA Cup quarter-finals and setting up a Europa League last-16 tie with Liverpool. However, Van Gaal remains the bookmakers' favourite to be the next top-flight manager to leave their post and Mourinho is as short as 1/6 to succeed him in the Old Trafford hot-seat. Louis van Gaal, pictured, is annoyed by talk Jose Mourinho will replace him at Manchester United The pair worked together when Van Gaal managed Barcelona, but he feels no need to speak to his former assistant about the speculation. "(Mourinho) has said things a number of times with a lot of words," Van Gaal told TV channel RTL7, according to the Daily Express. "But he does not have to tell me anything. I find the whole thing ridiculous. "No, I don't want United to do something either. I don't even want them to react to things which I read in the media or which are being created. "We, the club and I, are not going to help the media right now by denying things. Brexit's more important than my welfare reforms - IDS I ain Duncan Smith has said he would sacrifice his Cabinet career for the sake of keeping Britain out of the European Union, as the bitter battle within the Conservative Party continued to rage. Prime Minister David Cameron led an assault on pro-Brexit campaigners, accusing them of wanting to take "the gamble of the century" with the UK's future on the basis of only "extremely vague" proposals. But the Work and Pensions Secretary - one of five Eurosceptic Cabinet ministers to have broken ranks to oppose the Government's position - said he was more committed to securing Britain's exit from the 28-nation bloc than completing his welfare reforms. Iain Duncan Smith has said leaving Europe is more important than his Cabinet career "If my face no longer fits, my face no longer fits. My big passion is welfare reform. But Europe goes over everything," he told The Sunday Telegraph amid suggestions of a post-referendum reshuffle purge of some leading rebels. Mr Duncan Smith - a veteran of the rebellion against then premier John Major over the Maastricht Treaty - complained that ministers were undermining party unity by "briefing off" about the fate of colleagues. And he pledged to defy a ban on "leave" campaigning ministers being shown official papers and briefings related to the campaign as Whitehall's top civil servant was summoned by a parliamentary committee to explain the move. "I must have the right to continue to look at this. Constitutionally, I am in charge of that department," he said. Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood faces a grilling by the Political and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday over his edict that it was "not appropriate or permissible" for officials to provide briefings, write material for speeches or supply access to official papers in relation to the referendum campaign to ministers opposing the official line. Sniping within the party continued unabated into the weekend, with Mr Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne making barely-disguised attacks on London mayor Boris Johnson, one of the highest-profile pro-Brexit Conservatives. Mr Osborne - hailing a warning from fellow G20 finance ministers that a UK divorce from Brussels could "shock" the world economy - said the issue was "deadly serious" for people's jobs and finances and not "some amusing adventure into the unknown". The Chancellor in turn faced a backlash from Tory predecessor in Number 11 Nigel Lawson, who dismissed the G20 warning as "absurd". It came as Philip Hammond was reported to have called arch-Eurosceptic backbencher Sir Bill Cash a "total s**t" for publishing confidential legal guidance about Mr Cameron's EU renegotiation deal. A Foreign Office source said there should be a parliamentary investigation into why the EU scrutiny committee chaired by the veteran MP disclosed the advice prepared for European Council president Donald Tusk despite Mr Hammond handing it over in confidence. The Mail on Sunday said he angrily confronted Sir Bill in Westminster during a break in a committee hearing. An FCO source noted that the legal advice confirmed the deal was "legally binding and irreversible" but said Commons authorities "may now look into" what appeared to be a breach of rules allowing the Government to provide advice in confidence to committees. The PM is on a whistlestop tour of the UK, warning voters against what he calls the "leap in the dark" of voting to leave the EU on June 23. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, he said: "When the people campaigning for "out" are asked to set out a vision outside the European Union, they become extremely vague. It's simply not good enough to assert everything will be all right when jobs and our country's future are at stake. He challenged them to set out what the trading relationship would look like, how long the economy would face uncertainty while it was negotiated, how joint-security arrangements would be replaced and how Britain's role and influence in the world would be maintained. "With so many gaps in the 'out' case, the decision is clearly one between the great unknown and a greater Britain. A vote to leave is the gamble of the century. And it would be our children's futures on the table if we were to roll the dice," he concluded. At least 130 of the 330 Conservative MPs have publicly declared their intent to defy Mr Cameron and back "leave" in the referendum campaign. Europe Minister David Lidington said the UK could be plunged into 10 years of damaging uncertainty. "You would be in complete limbo and I think what that would do for the pound and for business confidence would be very serious indeed. It could last a decade," he told The Observer. Mr Johnson faced accusations of "flip-flopping" after he ruled out the possibility of a vote to leave on June 23 leading to a better offer from Brussels and a second referendum - a position dismissed as "total fantasy" by Mr Cameron when it was floated by former Tory leader Michael Howard. Mr Johnson previous assertion that "EU history shows that they only really listen to a population when it says 'no'" was widely seen as backing a fresh vote. But he told The Times: "Out is out. What I want is to get out and then negotiate a series of trade arrangements around the world." Family pays tribute to sisters killed in Vietnam waterfalls tragedy The family of two sisters killed while climbing waterfalls in Vietnam have paid tribute to them, saying "two bright lights have gone out". Beth Anderson, 24, and her sister Isobel Mackensie Squire, 19, died along with former Royal Navy sailor Christian Sloan, 25, at the Datanla waterfalls in Lam Dong province on Friday. The women, who were from the Ecclesall area of Sheffield, were seven weeks into a backpacking tour of Asia when tragedy struck. Beth Anderson, right, and her sister Isobel Mackensie Squire, who died while climbing waterfalls in Vietnam (South Yorkshire Police / PA) In a statement released via South Yorkshire Police, their family said: "Two bright lights have gone out. "They shone brightly for 24 and 19 years for everyone who loved and adored them and everyone who came into contact with them. "Sisters, Beth and Izzy were living a life of adventure and did so, right to the end." The sisters' trip had already taken them to Cambodia and Thailand, according to pictures posted on social media by Miss Squire, who was a keen amateur horse rider. It remains unclear exactly how the three holidaymakers died, but it has been claimed that they were not with an official guide and did not use proper safety equipment. Vo Anh Tan, deputy director of the Lam Dong joint stock tourist company which manages the Datanla waterfalls, said visitors usually start at the top of the tiered waterfall, which is popular among Western tourists. Mr Tan said an unauthorised local private tour operator arranged the tour and apparently did not pay for entrance tickets and did not use the company's safety equipment. He said the guide was detained by police for questioning. The bodies were recovered downstream from the waterfall. Police believe the tourists might have slipped when exploring the area, according to local news reports. James McGlashan, who was travelling with Mr Sloan at the time, wrote on Facebook: "Thank you for all the messages flooding in, have just stopped in the ambulances for a toilet break so only have wifi for 10 minutes but will try and get back to everyone once I get to Ho Chi Minh City. "Thank you for all your support. Devastated RIP Sloan." Lucie Elizabeth wrote on Facebook: "Cannot believe what I've just heard another angel taken far too soon Christian Sloan my thoughts go out to all of your family at this sad time." The Foreign Office confirmed three British people had died and said it is in contact with the authorities in Vietnam. A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are providing support to the families of three British nationals following their deaths near Da Lat, Vietnam. "Our sympathies are with their families and friends at this difficult time. We are in close contact with local authorities in Vietnam on their behalf." Late Ivanovic header helps Chelsea hit back to defeat Southampton Chelsea recovered from conceding the opening goal to earn an impressive 2-1 Barclays Premier League win at Southampton. Even after the hosts had gone ahead through Shane Long's fine first-half goal, the Blues continued to play with confidence and became the first team to score against Southampton in seven games thanks to Cesc Fabregas' cross-cum-shot in the 75th minute. Branislav Ivanovic's close-range 89th-minute header then secured a victory that likely ends seventh-placed Southampton's faint hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League. Chelsea players celebrate after Branislav Ivanovic's winner The result leaves Saints seven points behind the top four and Chelsea, in 11th, still in pursuit of the top 10, but the additional three points strengthens their sense of momentum in a season that may yet not prove so dreadful. Enjoying a run of five wins from their past six fixtures, it was surprising that Southampton manager Ronald Koeman made changes to his team in replacing striker Graziano Pelle with Charlie Austin and recalling right-back Cedric for the unfortunate James Ward-Prowse. Chelsea, as expected, remained unchanged from the team which last weekend defeated Manchester City 5-1 in the FA Cup. However, they were forced into a sixth-minute substitution when Pedro went down injured with Oscar his replacement. Their interim manager Guus Hiddink had overseen only one defeat and a significant improvement since his return to the club in December, but, by his own admission, their in-form hosts represented more than a routine threat. It was in that context that Southampton created the more convincing of the first half chances. Long headed just over the crossbar, with Thibaut Courtois out of position and most of the goal to aim at, from Virgil van Dijk's 10th-minute right-wing cross, and in the 31st minute Austin struck just wide of the right post when shooting from the edge of the area. Chelsea, however, were also gradually improving, y et just as Eden Hazard shot high and wide after a nice build-up, an individual error led to Southampton taking the lead. With the softest of headers, Chelsea left-back Baba Rahman headed into Long's path in the 42nd minute, and the Ireland forward raced through on goal to demonstrate his composure with the classiest of deft, close-range chips over the onrushing Courtois and into the back of the net. Fabregas had already criticised Rahman for conceding possession when misreading the Spaniard's pass, so it was perhaps little surprise when Hiddink replaced the left-back with Kenedy at half-time. Chelsea sought an equaliser after the interval, hoping to finally breach Forster's goal, but Diego Costa volleyed wide of the left post from in front of goal from Hazard's superbly-delivered cross. There was a touch of fortune about Fabregas' equaliser. The Spaniard appeared to be crossing to Hazard from the left of the area but the Belgian's sheer presence made Forster hesitate and watch the in-swinging delivery creep past him and inside his left post. Then Willian's run and shot from the edge of the area went just wide, which looked like Chelsea's best chance of victory had passed. But the Brazilian sent an 89th-minute corner to Ivanovic and the defender routinely headed the winning goal in from in front of goal to continue their fine form. TWEET OF THE MATCH "Goal!!!! Captain marvel Ivanovic #mmlove #cfclive" - Former Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot enjoyed Ivanovic's winner. PLAYER RATINGS SOUTHAMPTON Fraser Forster: 6 (out of 10) Cedric: 7 Virgin van Dijk: 7 Jose Fonte: 7 Ryan Bertrand: 7 Matt Targett: 6 Oriol Romeu: 6 Steven Davis: 7 Jordy Clasie: 6 Shane Long: 8 Charlie Austin: 7 Subs Graziano Pelle: 6 James Ward-Prowse: 7 Sadio Mane: 6 CHELSEA Thibaut Courtois: 6 Cesar Azpilicueta: 7 Branislav Ivanovic: 7 Gary Cahill: 7 Baba Rahman: 5 John Obi Mikel: 7 Cesc Fabregas: 8 Pedro: 5 Willian: 8 Eden Hazard: 8 Diego Costa: 7 Subs Kenedy 6 Nemanja Matic: 5 Oscar: 8 STAR PLAYER Willian - The one player not to have disappointed for Chelsea this season was again impressive. His energy, desire and ambition deserved a goal and contributed more to their performance than any other, even amid strong displays from team-mates operating in similar areas, Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Oscar included. Provides so much balance to Chelsea's team, almost socred their winning goal and then delivered the cross from which Branislav Ivanovic actually did. MOMENT OF THE MATCH Mid-way through the second half, with Southampton leading Chelsea 1-0, Charlie Austin went down in the penalty area under a challenge from Gary Cahill. At the time it appeared he was simply pursuing a penalty, but replays suggested a spot-kick may have been justified and, at 1-0, would likely have secured victory for Southampton. VIEW FROM THE BENCH Guus Hiddink has transformed Chelsea since he succeeded Jose Mourinho, giving them a familiar resilient quality and ability to consistently earn results. Forget Antonio Conte or other managerial candidates, interim manager Hiddink would be the best man for the job, if only he wanted to stay. R onald Koeman deserves great credit for Southampton's recent form and the job he has done there since his appointment in the summer of 2014. He could do little about the fact his side were not awarded a penalty at 1-0 up, and the fact that Chelsea won largely because of their superior quality. Perhaps they could have pursued a second goal with greater intent, but there is little else he could be criticised for. MOAN OF THE MATCH Baba Rahman looked out of his depth for Chelsea. Cesc Fabregas criticised him for costing possession in the first half, suggested his team-mates are already short of patience for him. That was before his misplaced header gifted Shane Long the chance from which Southampton took the lead, leading to his substitution at half-time. Who sanctioned his signing, for a reported 22million? And are they aware they sold Ryan Bertrand to Southampton for 10million, less than half of that. WHO'S UP NEXT Bournemouth v Southampton (March 1, Premier League) Political future of heavyweight Rafsanjani may rest on Iran poll Feb 25 (Reuters) - Elections on Friday for the body that selects Iran's supreme leader could be the last hurrah for Iran's best known political grandee, former president Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who has loomed large in the history of the Islamic Republic. If Rafsanjani is unable to muster the votes to secure his seat on the Assembly of Experts, it could signal the beginning of his exit from political life in Iran. Few have wielded such influence in modern Iran as the 81-year-old, but since 2009 he and his family have faced criticism from hardliners over their support for the opposition movement which lost that year's disputed election to former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He has also rankled hardliners in the lead-up to this year's election to the assembly and parliament by openly criticizing the Guardian Council, the body that vets candidates, for their large-scale disqualification of moderates. For the Assembly election, Rafsanjani - known in Iran as 'the shark' for his smooth, unbearded face and his political guile - has allied himself with a moderate bloc of candidates which includes President Hassan Rouhani. This bloc could play a key role in facing off against the hardliners who are likely going to dominate the 88-member Assembly, which serves for eight years. For many ordinary Iranians, Rafsanjani, born into a wealthy pistachio farming family, has been a figure of suspicion and grudging respect for amassing a vast fortune. He lost a presidential election in 2005 to Ahmadinejad, the little known mayor of Tehran at the time, a defeat that indicated a resentment toward Rafsanjani as part of the elite and the perception he served few interests other than this own. "Rafsanjani doesn't have a good track record," said Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the U.S.-based International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. "I don't think Iranian people have heard much of where he is. He's the tossup." If he does win a seat, Rafsanjani could use his political clout within the assembly - he was leader of the body from 2007 to 2011 - to influence the choice of the next supreme leader as he did in 1989 when Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was selected. "Rafsanjani is above all a pragmatist, a problem solver. He looks for ways to get things done," said Shaul Bakhash, a professor of Middle East history at George Mason University in Virginia. FIGURE OF SUSPICION Rafsanjani is remembered above all for persuading the ailing founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, to accept a peace deal after eight brutal years of war with Iraq and save Iran from imminent collapse. Within a year, Khomeini was dead. The Assembly of Experts appointed then-president Khamenei in a move orchestrated by Rafsanjani, largely, experts believe, because he thought he could influence him. After Khamenei assumed the position of supreme leader, Rafsanjani was elected president for two terms. The rivalry that ensued goes back to before Iran's revolution and is marked by vastly contrasting outlooks. Rafsanjani believed reform was the key to an enduring Islamic state while Khamenei feared it could hasten its demise. "Had it not been for Rafsanjani, Khamenei would have never become supreme leader. Those close to Rafsanjani say he rues the day he helped anoint Khamenei," said Karim Sadjadpour, Iran expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington. "They are the epitome of frenemies," he said. As well as holding the position of head of the assembly until he was stripped of the post, Rafsanjani serves as the head of the Expediency Council, a body which is intended to resolve disputes between the parliament and Guardian Council. His term as head of the Expediency Council will finish next year. REVOLUTIONARY AND PRAGMATIST Rafsanjani has been described as "a pillar of the revolution" but his well-documented pragmatic policies - economic liberalisation, better relations with the West and empowering Iran's elected bodies - appeal to many Iranians. In 2009, he incurred the wrath of hardliners by declaring the country was in crisis and calling for the immediate release of political prisoners and freedom of the press. In December, he broke a taboo by mentioning that a group had been formed within the assembly to examine who could serve as Khamenei's replacement. In the same interview he also mentioned that he had supported the idea of a council of clerics ruling the country. The leadership has put pressure on Rafsanjani through the arrest of his daughter Faezeh in 2012. Found guilty of "anti-government propaganda" after openly backing the opposition in 2009, she was jailed for six months. Two days later, Rafsanjani's son Mehdi was imprisoned when he returned to Iran after an absence of three years. Mehdi was sentenced to 10 years on corruption and security charges and began serving his time in Evin prison last summer. Still, Rafsanjani is a skilled behind-the-scenes operator in the labyrinthine world of Iranian politics and may have a final chance at transforming the system he helped build. Saeed Leylaz, a Tehran-based political analyst who worked as an advisor to former president Mohammad Khatami, pointed out that while Rafsanjani lost his position as head of the assembly, in the last election he "won with an indisputable majority". Yoko Ono hospitalized in New York with flu-like illness - spokesman LOS ANGELES, Feb 26 (Reuters) - The artist Yoko Ono, the widow of the late former Beatle John Lennon, has been admitted to a New York-area hospital after complaining of severe flu-like symptoms, her West Coast-based spokesman, Elliot Mintz, said on Friday. Suicide bomber kills at least 11 in eastern Afghanistan ASADABAD, Afghanistan, Feb 27 (Reuters) - A suicide bomber killed an Afghan militia commander and at least 10 others in the eastern province of Kunar near the border with Pakistan on Saturday, officials said. Provincial Governor Wahidullah Kalimzai said the bomber rode up on a motorcycle to the entrance of the government compound in the town of Asadabad and blew himself up. At least another 40 people were also wounded. "Most of victims were civilians and children who were either passing by or playing in the park," he said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the apparent target of the attack, a tribal elder and militia commander named Haji Khan Jan, was among the dead. OFFICIAL-Syrian rebel group says 3 fighters killed in government ground attack Saturday BEIRUT, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Syrian rebels in the country's northwest said they came under attack from government ground forces at 4 a.m. (0200 GMT) on Saturday in what they called a breach of a cessation of hostilities plan that came into effect at midnight. Three fighters from the rebel Second Coastal Division were killed while repelling the attack in the Jabal Turkman area near the Turkish border in Latakia province, Fadi Ahmad, spokesman for the affiliated First Coastal Division, told Reuters. ASEAN says seriously concerned about rising South China Sea tensions By Simon Webb VIENTIANE, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian nations expressed serious concern on Saturday about growing international tension over disputed waters in the South China Sea. China claims most of the sea but Southeast Asian countries Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam have rival claims. Friction has increased over China's recent deployment of missiles and fighter jets to the disputed Paracel island chain. "Ministers remained seriously concerned over recent and ongoing developments," the 10-members Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) said in a statement after a regular meeting of the group's foreign ministers in Laos. Land reclamation and escalating activity has increased tensions and could undermine peace, security and stability in the region, ASEAN said in the statement. The United States has criticized China's building of artificial islands and facilities in the sea and has sailed warships close to disputed territory to assert the right to freedom of navigation. On Friday, the United States urged China's President Xi Jinping to prevent the militarisation of the region. Vietnam, which accused China of violating its sovereignty with the missile deployment, echoed the U.S. call on Saturday. "We call for non-militarisation in the South China Sea," Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh told reporters after meeting his ASEAN colleagues. "We have serious concerns about that," he said, when asked about China's increasing military activity in the region. The group agreed to seek a meeting between China and ASEAN's foreign ministers to discuss the South China Sea and other issues, Cambodian Minister Hor Namhong said. China's maritime claims are ASEAN's most contentious issue, as its members struggle to balance mutual support with their growing economic relations with Beijing. China is the biggest trade partner for many ASEAN nations. Neighbours Vietnam and China compete for influence over landlocked Laos, which has no maritime claims but finds itself in the difficult position of dealing with neighbours at odds over the South China Sea. Laos is tasked with finding common ground on the issue as the ASEAN chair in 2016. "The South China Sea issue is a headache that Laos would really rather not have to deal with," said one Western diplomat in Vientiane. Thongloun Sisoulith, Laos Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, played down the challenge. "We are a close friend of Vietnam and China, we try to solve the problems in a friendly way," he told Reuters on Saturday. "We are in the middle, but it's not a problem." Russia says not carrying out Syria air strikes to avoid mistakes MOSCOW, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Russian war planes will not carry out any air strikes in Syria on Saturday in order to support a nascent cessation of hostilities and to avoid accidentally bombing the wrong targets, the Russian defence ministry said. A ceasefire agreement entered into force at midnight under a U.S.-Russia plan which the United Nations has called the best hope for peace in the five-year conflict. "Given the entry into force of the U.N. Security Council resolution that supports the Russian-American agreements on a ceasefire, and to avoid any possible mistakes when carrying out strikes, Russian military planes, including long-range aviation, are not carrying out any flights over Syrian territory on Feb. 27," the defence ministry said. Sergei Rudskoi, a lieutenant-general in the Russian air force, told reporters at a news briefing that Moscow had sent the United States a list of 6,111 fighters who had signed up to the ceasefire deal and a detailed list of 74 populated areas which should not be bombed. African Union to send monitors to Burundi - SAfrican president NAIROBI, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The African Union will send 100 human rights monitors and 100 military monitors to Burundi, South Africa's president said on Saturday after a trip to the tiny nation that is facing its worst crisis since a civil war ended a decade ago. Jacob Zuma, delivering a statement by a delegation of African leaders that he led, did not say when the monitors would arrive in Burundi, where more than 400 people have been killed since April. Zuma left Burundi after his remarks. The violence has rattled a region with a history of ethnic conflict. Burundi's civil war, which ended in 2005, largely pitted two ethnic groups against each other. Neighbouring Rwanda was torn apart by genocide in 1994. Western powers have urged Africans to act. The United States and European nations have withheld some aid to poor Burundi and taken other steps to try to put pressure on the government to resolve the crisis, but they say it has had little impact. "We believe strongly that the solution to Burundi's political problems can be attained only through inclusive and peaceful dialogue," Zuma said in the statement, which also expressed "concerns" about the level of violence and killings. The decision to send monitors suggests a compromise had been reached with Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza, who triggered the crisis in April when he announced a bid for a third term. He went on to win a disputed election in July, in the face of street protests and violent clashes. The new initiative falls far short of the African Union's plan announced in December to send a 5,000-strong peacekeeping force, which Nkurunziza's government rejected. Details about the new mission were not immediately clear. Diplomats said other African monitors sent to Bujumbura last year had been stuck in their hotel unable to work because Burundi refused to sign a memorandum allowing them to operate. OPPOSITION URGES MORE MONITORS Burundi's opposition said 200 monitors were not enough. "They have to increase the number so they can cover the large part of the (country's) territory," said Thacien Sibomana, spokesman for the opposition UPRONA party. "They unfortunately remained silent on the peacekeepers deployment while people are continuously dying." Burundi's government has previously said it was ready for dialogue, but opponents say it has set preconditions on who would attend and what could be discussed that made such discussions pointless. Talks sponsored by nearby Uganda in December had been planned to continue in Tanzania in January. But the initiative stumbled at the start of the year when the government said it would not attend as some participants had been behind violence. For their part, opponents accuse government forces of targeting and killing members of the opposition. This years gala promises fabulous fare, tons of fun and a bevy of live and silent auction items, all accompanied by the New Mexico School for the Arts Jazz Ensemble. ARTsmart New Mexico celebrates a milestone in the Eldorados new grand ballroom. ARTS OF GASTRONOMY AND GIVING. Have a great time for a creative cause. Proceeds from tickets and auction items support ARTsmart New Mexicos innovative art programs for the youth of Northern New Mexico. ONE-OF-A-KIND. The silent auction offers a captivating collection of renowned I Made It! plates made by Santa Fe Public School fifth-graders. This year, students also made bowls and a 12-piece Buckaroo Boots plate set. And ARTsmarts board contributed a nine-piece Jackson Pollock-inspired pasta set that includes a 15-inch serving bowl and eight 7.5-inch bowls. WATCH EM WORK: Honorary Chair Ricardo Cate draws a cartoon as the evening energizes, and Capital High School students will be at work along with ARTsmart scholarship winners. ON THE MENU. A 25th Anniversary Dinner merits the best. Fine wines selected by Santa Fe sommelier Kate Collins accompany a feast prepared by Santa Fes most celebrated and upcoming chefs: Anthony Smith, the London-born executive chef who oversees the Eldorado Hotels award-winning restaurants, including the Old House. Andy Barnes, executive chef at Dinner for Two, known for a menu that seduces with love and passion. Angel Estrada, executive chef of Midtown Bistro, whose epicurean credentials include more than a decade at Santacafe and before that, Il Piatto. Johnny Vee Vollertsen, TV personality, cooking-class entertainer and author of Cooking with Johnny Vee. Santa Fe High School Culinary Arts Students, with instructor Myoko Costello, are guided by Anthony Smith in presenting dessert delectables. $45-$70 All tickets increase $5 day of show Jim Gaffigan is a three-time Grammy nominated comedian, actor, writer, producer, two-time New York Times best-selling author, Pollstar nominated, top touring performer, and multi-platinum-selling father of five. He is known around the world for his unique brand of humor which largely revolves around fatherhood and his observations on life. A dry and clever American standup comedian whos hateful toward Hot Pockets and proud to be pale, Jim Gaffigan is a regular on the late-night talk show circuit and an in-demand actor and successful author as well. His observational humor pokes fun at food, laziness, and fatherhood, among other things, and he is regarded as a clean comic who avoids using profanity. Since debuting in the early 90s, Gaffigan has released a string of acclaimed comedy albums like Beyond the Pale (2006), Mr. Universe (2012), and Noble Ape (2018). He has also appeared in dozens of films and television programs, and published multiple books of humorous essays, making him one of the most successful comics of the early 21st century. Bowling, bacon, and the Waffle House chain of restaurants were some of the topics covered on his 2009 release, King Baby. Returning to this theme, his 2012 effort, Mr. Universe, included the track titles McDonalds, Subway, and Dominos. Donuts, Fried Bread, and Kobe Beef all appeared on 2014s Obsessed, an album that kicked off with the track Cant Stop Eating. In 2017, Gaffigan released Cinco, the title referring to the fact that hes the father of five children, and it was the soundtrack to his fifth comedy special for cable television. The 2018 standup special Noble Ape saw Gaffigan taking on a more personal tone that dealt with family medical issues and the possibility of him retiring from comedy. He returned in 2019 with a seventh standup special, Quality Time. Up to the task of easing travel anxieties and comforting passengers, Dayton International Airport's new resident therapy dog, Kida, has taken on this mission. The 16-month-old chocolate goldendoodle--a certified therapy dog--stepped into the new role this month, making her debut on Passenger Appreciation Day on February 12. "We realize that traveling, especially in planes or with children, can be very stressful for people," said Molly Arneson, Kida's handler. "Just meeting and petting a dog can reduce that stress and bring a smile." Kida is the airport's first and only therapy dog. Kida and Arneson will be making regular, weekly trips to the airport for up to two hours at a time to provide comfort to travelers and their families. Arneson and Kida were certified and registered as a pet therapy team in October 2015 through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Kida was raised as a future service dog for the non-profit 4 Paws for Ability in Xenia. The organization realized her temperament was perfect for the role and decided she might also be a breeder, in hopes that her future puppies would also make great service dogs. She has lived with Arneson and her family since the age of 14 weeks. Dayton International isn't the first airport in the country to employ a therapy dog as a benefit to passengers. Airports in San Jose, Miami, San Antonio, Oklahoma City and Los Angeles, among others, also have used therapy dogs, with great results. Xi Jinping had pledged during a US visit last September not to militarize the Spratly archipelago, which is claimed by Manila and Beijing. Washington: The White House on Friday urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to extend his pledge not to militarize the disputed Spratly Islands to encompass all of the South China Sea. Dan Kritenbrink, President Barack Obamas top Asia advisor, issued the call at the end of a week in which China and the United States have sparred over Chinese deployment of missiles, fighter planes and radar on islands in the contested strategic waterway. Xi had pledged during a U.S. state visit last September not to militarize the Spratly archipelago, which is claimed by Manila and Beijing, but U.S. officials have since said they see military intent in Chinas building of air strips and installation of radar there. Friction has increased over Chinas recent deployment of surface-to-air missiles and fighter jets to Woody Island in the disputed Paracel chain. It has been under Chinese control for more than 40 years but is also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam. We think it would be good if that non-militarization pledge, if he (Xi) would extend that across the South China Sea, Kritenbrink told a conference at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Were going to encourage our Chinese friends and other countries in the region to refrain from taking steps that raise tensions." Admiral Harry Harris, head of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Command, said this week China was changing the operational landscape in the South China Sea and the United States would increase freedom-of-navigations patrols. His congressional testimony coincided with a U.S. visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. China says its military facilities in the South China Sea are "legal and appropriate," and on Tuesday, in a reference to U.S. patrols, Wang said Beijing hoped not to see more close reconnaissance or dispatch of missile destroyers or bombers. Kritenbrink also reiterated that China should respect an international court ruling expected later this year on its dispute with the Philippines over the South China Sea. China, which claims virtually all the South China Sea, is facing an arbitration case filed by Manila. Beijing rejects the authority of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, even though it has ratified the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea on which the case is based. When that ruling comes out, it will be binding on both parties, Kritenbrink said. That will be an important moment that all of us in the region should focus on. Pristina: A parliamentary debate on the election of a new Kosovo president was disrupted on Friday when two tear gas canisters were opened on the opposition benches, prompting lawmakers to leave the chamber. Lawmakers were debating on whether to anoint Hashim Thaci, foreign minister and a former guerrilla leader, as the country's next president. Critics say Thaci, who led the fighters of Kosovo's successful separatist war against Serbia in 1998-99, is not a unifying individual, which is what the Kosovo constitution requires. Many leading figures within the opposition are former partners of his during the war. Thaci believes he has the votes in the 120-seat Parliament. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, although that is rejected by Serbia. Rafet Rama, a lawmaker from Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo, is also running for the post. The prospect of a Thaci-presidency has prompted thousands to protest in the capital of Pristina, many hundreds of whom have been camping out in tents in Pristina's Skanderbeg Square, the city's main square. Opposition Self-Determination Movement Party leader Visar Ymeri called on supporters to join the protest to oppose Thaci's election and "until they (the government) resigns." Police have been trying to keep a small group of Thaci's supporters away from the main square. They came out despite Thaci's call to celebrate at home. It's not the first time that Kosovo's Parliament has faced disruption. Since last September, the chamber has been witness to attacks involving tear gas, pepper spray, whistles and water bottles as opposition forces reject a deal between Kosovo and Serbia giving more powers to ethnic Serbs in Kosovo. The opposition also rejects a border demarcation pact with Montenegro. As president, Thaci would also deal with a special war crimes court created last year, which will have international judges and prosecutors to try ethnic Albanian guerrillas for the alleged killing of civilian detainees, mostly Serbs, immediately after the war ended in 1999. Thaci was mentioned in a 2010 Council of Europe report, which claimed that leaders of the now disbanded Kosovo Liberation Army were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Serbs, Roma and ethnic Albanians suspected of collaborating with Serbs. Thaci denies the claims. She landed on Thursday in Stockholm with her parents, who had travelled to Iraq several times over the past eight months to try to bring her home, according to regional newspaper Boras Tidning. (Photo: Youtube screengrab) Stockholm: Marilyn Nevalainen was just 15 years old, and pregnant, when she left Sweden with a jihadist recruit, though she did not realise what a mistake she had made until she was in Iraq. Desperate, she called home from the Islamic State stronghold of Mosul in northern Iraq begging for help, and was ultimately rescued by Kurdish forces. On Friday, foreign ministry spokeswoman Veronica Nordlund told AFP that Nevalainen, who is originally from the southwestern Swedish town of Boras, has "returned to Sweden with her family". She landed on Thursday in Stockholm with her parents, who had travelled to Iraq several times over the past eight months to try to bring her home, according to regional newspaper Boras Tidning. Police said her boyfriend, a Moroccan who reached Sweden as an unaccompanied minor three years ago, was dead. Kurdish forces rescued the girl near Mosul on February 17, according to a statement from the Kurdistan Regional Security Council. Nordlund would not reveal many details of the rescue, though she confirmed it was the result of "collaboration between the Swedish authorities and foreign governments". In an interview broadcast this week by TV channel Kurdistan 24, the Swede said in broken English that she met her boyfriend in 2014 and that he became radicalised after watching IS videos. "Then he said he wanted to go to ISIS (another acronym for IS) and I said, 'Okay, no problem,' because I did not know what ISIS meant or what Islam was," she said. She was pregnant when they left Sweden in May 2015, taking trains and buses across Europe until they finally crossed the border from Turkey to Syria. They were then driven by IS jihadists to Mosul. 'Very hard life' "In my house we had nothing, no electricity, no water, nothing. It was totally different from how I lived in Sweden, because in Sweden we have everything, and when I was there I did not have anything, did not have any money either. It was a very hard life," she said. "When I got a phone, I started to contact my mum and I said I wanted to go home. She contacted the Swedish authorities," she told Kurdistan 24. Swedish media has published desperate text messages she sent her mother while she was stuck in Iraq. "I'm going to die in a bombing or they're going to beat me to death or I'm going to kill myself mum, really, I don't have the strength to go on," she wrote. According to Swedish media reports, she gave birth to a son in Iraq. She and the child returned to Sweden together. Her boyfriend, Moktar Mohammed Ahmed, a Moroccan, had come to Sweden alone in August 2013 at the age of 17. "He had been a suspect in a burglary in Stockholm," Ulf Hoffmann, a police investigator, told AFP. The young man, also suspected of drug crimes, was dead, Hoffmann added, without specifying how he had died. In a video posted on the Internet, undated and unauthenticated, Ahmed gives his age (born July 8, 1996) before declaring his hatred of the Swedish "racists". The man's flight from Sweden coincided with an international arrest warrant issued against him. IS took over Mosul and other parts of Iraq in a lightning offensive in 2014. It has since suffered several setbacks as it faces Iraqi and Kurdish forces on the ground, as well as a US-led aerial campaign. The jihadists also control large swathes of Syria. The group has committed horrific abuses against the civilian population in both war-torn countries, including kidnapping and forcing thousands of women and girls into sexual slavery. Istanbul: An independent pro-Kurdish television channel in Turkey said on Saturday the authorities had ordered it to be taken off air on accusations that it broadcast "terrorist propaganda" for militants. IMC TV said in a statement that Ankara prosecutors had sent a letter to Turkey's leading satellite operator Turksat ordering it to drop the channel and the request was immediately fulfilled. It said that the grounds for the order were "making propaganda for a terror organisation". In Turkey, this usually means publishing or broadcasting information deemed supportive of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). But IMC TV, which was founded in 2011 and also focuses on women's, leftist and environmental issues, said it was not connected with "any party or organisation". "We will of course use all legal means to defend ourselves against these baseless accusations," it added. Having lost its sole means of satellite broadcasting, the channel is meanwhile continuing to broadcast via its website. The channel's general manager, Eyup Burc, meanwhile denounced the order from the prosecutors to Turksat as illegal, saying it should have been made via the broadcasting watchdog RTUK. IMC TV was seen as the only pro-Kurdish channel in Turkey with an anti-government line. After recent reforms, state broadcasting company TRT now has a Kurdish-language channel, TRT Kurdi. Pro-Kurdish media have come under greater scrutiny from the authorities in the last months after a two-and-a-half year ceasefire with the PKK collapsed in July. But there is also growing alarm over the state of freedom of expression in Turkey with several journalists and other public figures facing legal action on charges of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Reports said that the channel's broadcasts were cut Friday afternoon during a live interview with journalists from the Cumhuriyet daily Erdem Gul and Can Dundar who had been released from prison earlier that day. Gul and Dundar had been held in jail for three months in a case that has become a lightning rod for concerns about freedom of expression in Turkey. They still face trial in March. Yemeni people inspect the damage after an airstrike by Saudi-led coalition in Sanaa, Yemen. (Photo: AP) Sanaa: A Saudi-led air coalition air strike on a market northeast of the rebel-held Yemeni capital Sanaa killed at least 30 rebels and civilians, witnesses said. The air strike targeted three rebel vehicles as they entered a market in the town of Naqil bin Ghaylan, killing at least 30 Huthi insurgents and civilians, one tribal source in the area said. The rebel-controlled Saba news agency gave a higher death toll, saying that 60 civilians were killed and wounded in the attack but it did not mention any casualties among fighters. The attack hit Khulaqa market, which is known for selling qat, a mild narcotic that is chewed throughout Yemen, witnesses said. The area is part of the Nehm region, where coalition-backed loyalists have been advancing against the rebels as they try to close in on Sanaa. Rights groups have repeatedly urged the coalition to avoid causing civilian casualties. Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch accused the coalition of using US-supplied cluster bombs. The coalition last month announced that an independent inquiry would examine charges of possible abuses against civilians in the conflict. A panel of UN experts says the coalition has carried out 119 sorties that violated humanitarian law, and called for an international probe. The coalition launched late March 2015 an air campaign against Iran-backed rebels in support of the UN-recognised President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi. The Iran-backed Shiite rebels have controlled Sanaa since September 2014 and had placed Hadi under house arrest. But he escaped, intially seeking refuge in second city Aden last year before fleeing to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, as the rebels advanced on the southern port. Hadi returned to Aden after loyalists backed by the coalition drove the rebels out of there and four other southern provinces in the summer. But Hadi and senior officials continue to spend most of their time in Riyadh against a backdrop of worsening security in Aden, the temporary base of the government. The United Nations warned this month of a "human catastrophe unfolding in Yemen", where it says more than 6,100 people had been killed in the fighting since last March. The UN said another 3,000 people had been wounded and 2.5 million people forced to flee their homes. Donors at a conference in Qatar pledged Wednesday $220 million of aid to Yemen. Hadi's government accused this week Lebanon's Hezbollah of sending fighters to support the Huthis, saying it had evidence of the Shiite militia's involvement. Also on Saturday, the United Arab Emirates, a key member of the Saudi-led coalition, said that one of its soldiers has died in Yemen when his military vehicle overturned. The UAE has lost more than 70 soldiers in Yemen since the launch of the campaign. Shadowing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is on a political tour to Punjab, the city Congress chief Ajay Maken plans to land in Chandigarh on Sunday and hold a press conference there to expose the AAP governance model. Maken said the purpose is to prevent people of poll-bound Punjab from being tricked into a backing non-performer party in the agrarian states election in 2017. After ruining Delhi, Kejriwal is trying to apply the same tricks in Punjab, as the state gears up for the Assembly elections, said chief spokesperson Sharmistha Mukherjee. Where is the CM of Delhi? she asked. She said after coming to power in Delhi, instead of delivering good governance, the situation has worsened in Delhi due to misgovernance, forcing the DPCC to hold a Chalawa Diwas on February 14. Mukherjee said though Delhi was facing a water crisis, shortage in revenue collection and budget presentation was due, Kejirwal was not bothered about the plight of Delhiites, as he was now shifting his focus to Punjab after one year of mis-governance in Delhi. The AAP governments unrealistic target of revenue collection has fallen short by Rs 3,000 crore, which has clearly exposed the lies of the government, she said. She said Kejriwals intention was to capture power as after coming to power, he has failed to deliver on his promises, adding development work has stalled in the capital. North Corporation Mayor Ravinder Gupta wrote to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seeking cancellation of the anti-people conditions imposed for releasing funds to the municipalities to pay salaries to their employees. Earlier this month, the Delhi government had issued Rs 693 crore, of which Rs 551 crore was in the form of loan, to the North and East Corporations on a condition that no fresh recruitments would take place at the civic agencies, particularly for Group IV employees comprising safai karamcharis and beldars. Gupta added the funds were released by the Delhi government with anti-common man riders like removal of contractual teachers and nurses in a phased manner. Removal of contractual teachers and nurses would hamper the functioning of the corporation apart from affecting them financially. It shows the AAP governments double standards. Kejriwal had made tall claims of regularising the contractual employees in his party manifesto, said Gupta. He said the AAP government is indulging in anti-people decisions to fulfil its political aspirations. The mayor said the Delhi government should remove such conditions and take steps to regularise them. He also demanded the funds be made available to the corporations at the earliest. Fund-starved North and East corporations employees, including sanitation workers, teachers and engineers, went on strike on January 27 demanding timely payment of salaries and clearance of arrears. Two days later, doctors, nurses and paramedical staff also joined the agitation. South Corporations sanitation workers had struck work showing solidarity with them. Besides the AAP governments bailout package of Rs 693 crore to the East and North Corporations, the Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung offered Rs 300 crore loan from Delhi Development Agency (DDA) to make the municipalities persuade their employees to call off their agitation. The municipal employees unions had said the amount offered was not enough to clear the arrears of the employees. The East Delhi Municipal Corporation requires over Rs 100 crore a month to pay salaries and other benefits to its over 32,000 employees. Even the North Corporation is in the red and it needs Rs 171 crore to pay salaries and other benefits to its over 70,000 employees every month. A two-decade-old letter by a Jawaharlal Nehru University professor had then alleged anti-national activities by agents of Pakistan on the university campus. The letter, purportedly written to the universitys registrar in February 1996, has now been made public by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) after the arrest of JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar. But the authenticity of the letter could not be verified. The professor now lives in Germany. In 1996, he was an associate professor with the Department of German. In the letter, he claimed to have raised the issue in the universitys academic council meeting in December 1995, which was chaired by the then vice chancellor. The agents of Pakistan have become vigorously assertive on the issue of Kashmir in recent times. The valley of Kashmir, following total physical liquidation of all the non-Muslims, has practically become an all-Muslim territory. This has emboldened the agents of Pakistan on the JNU campus to intensify their vicious campaign for a full-scale secession of Kashmir from India, the letter said. He claimed a seminar was held in November 1995 in which a full-throated declaration was made for another partition of India. Urging immediate action by Intelligence Bureau, he had alleged that terrorists were staying as unauthorised occupants in hostels. According to my information, armed terrorists, staying as guests in Aravali and Gomti, were present with arms hidden on their person. Pakistani agents are brazenly endorsing the infamous 2-Nation theory of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the letter had said. The professor had asked the JNU authorities to alert appropriate intelligence agencies of the Ministry of Home Affairs to constantly monitor, record and update and prepare a list of all anti-national elements. Police refused to confirm the existence of the letter or comment on it. The letter has been released at a time when a sedition case has been filed leading to the arrest of three JNU students. NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who returns next week after nearly a year aboard the International Space Station, said on Thursday the secret to enduring the longest U.S. spaceflight is marking individual milestones, not ticking days off the calendar. Since arriving at the space station on March, 27, 2015, Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Korneinko have served with eight different crewmates, unpacked six cargo ships, weathered two botched supply runs and participated in dozens of science experiments. Kelly also made three spacewalks outside the $100 billion station, which flies about 250 miles (400 km) above Earth, and Kornienko made one. "I've tried to do this with a deliberate pace, looking not really at the end, but at the next milestone," Kelly told reporters during his last inflight press conference. "I could go another 100 days; I could go another year if I had to," he added. Kelly and Kornienko's stint on the station, at about 340 days roughly twice as long as any previous U.S. mission, is intended to provide medical and engineering information to prepare for three-year missions to Mars. Four Soviet-era cosmonauts flew longer missions aboard the now-defunct Mir space station. The longest flight was a 437-day mission between January 1994 and March 1995 by cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov, a physician. "Physically, I feel pretty good," said Kelly, 52, a veteran of three previous spaceflights. "Even though I really look forward to going home, it's not like I'm climbing the walls." Kelly's medical tests will continue for months after his return. His identical twin brother Mark Kelly, a former NASA astronaut, is participating in a series of related studies looking for genetic changes caused by the high radiation and weightless environment of space. Scott Kelly, who previously spent 159 days on the station, said the hardest part of being in space for so long was being separated from his friends and family. "The space station is a magical place," Kelly said, but added that even after a year, "it's just not normal." "It is a harsh environment. For instance, having no running water, it's like I've been in the woods camping for a year," Kelly said. After medical checks next week, Kelly said he will go to his Houston home to jump in his pool. Kelly, Kornienko and cosmonaut Sergey Volkov are due to depart the station at 8:05 p.m. EST on Tuesday/0105 GMT and land in Kazakhstan 3-1/2 hours later. In a major boost to his White House bid ahead of a multi-state vote next week, Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has got a surprise endorsement from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who was himself a contender till recently. Close on the heels of Christie's endorsement, Maine Governor Paul LePage also backed Trump saying, "I'll be very honest. I originally said I'd like it to be a governor, but unfortunately, the American people are not going for a governor this year. So I'm going to endorse Donald Trump." 53-year-old Christie, at a rally in Fortworth, Texas, yesterday said,"Donald is a leader. He is a successful person that, like me, isn't afraid to tell it like it is. Our system is broken and it won't be fixed from the inside. I am proud to offer my endorsement of his candidacy for President," Former White House contender Christie's endorsement to Trump just ahead of the 'Super Tuesday' -- in which primary elections would be held in 11 states -- is expected to what is supporters said "seal the deal" for the 69-year-old reality TV star-turned-politician. "It is my great honour to receive the endorsement of the Governor (Christie). We have had a wonderful relationship for many years. He is a solid person that I have tremendous respect for. I am really proud to receive the support of the Governor and his family," Trump said. Christie, a former federal prosecutor, is a moderate Republican running a largely Democratic state and was once seen as one of the party's best hopes in 2016. He dropped out of the presidential race after poor showings in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries. Christie's endorsement is significant as he is one of the first establishment Republicans to back Trump. Trump, who has won three of the four Republican primaries, is leading in all states that will vote on 'Super Tuesday' except Texas, according to opinion polls. In Texas, Trump is locked in a close fight with his main rival Senator Ted Cruz. Notably, Trump has also been endorsed by Congressmen Chris Collins, Congressman Duncan Hunter, former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin, South Carolina Lt Governor Henry McMaster, and Arizona Treasurer Jeff DeWitt. Democratic National Committee National press secretary Mark Paustenbach said Christie's endorsement is the best example yet that the GOP is the party of Trump. "The Republican field just isn't serious and all its candidates have major problems heading into November. If anyone is wetting their pants, as Rubio suggested today, it's the Republican establishment," he said in a statement. In the backdrop of JNU and Hyderabad university row, some faculty members and students of the city-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), along with some activists, are holding a two-day conference here to discuss the "attack on autonomy of educational institutions and freedom of expression". "This is not an official event of TISS. We are a group of academics who are deeply concerned at the attack on autonomy of some higher education institutions," R Ramkumar, Professor and Dean (School of Development Studies) at TISS, said.The initiative, called 'Celebrating freedom and pluralism', will be held at the Y B Chavan Centre, Nariman Point, here on March 5 and 6, he said. "We are organising this event because we are concerned over the evolving situation in the country where different constitutional rights of citizens are under threat," Ramakumar told PTI here today. "We are worried about a situation that is emerging where there is a constant brow beating against freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom to follow one's religion, freedom to eat the food that we want to eat and the dumbing down of events," he said. "Violent incidents over food habits of various social groups have escalated. Science and reason are being unceremoniously thrust aside in a renewed campaign of obscurantism. There have been widespread attacks on the freedom of speech and expression," he said. "The interventions of the government in Hyderabad Central University and JNU are just a few of the important examples. We see this as part of a growing trend of intolerance in the society as a whole," he said. Earlier this month, JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on sedition charges in connection with an event held on the JNU campus where anti-national slogans were allegedly raised. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said if there was a ray of hope in the world economy, it was India, as he asserted that his government was committed to transform the lives of the poor and villages. Addressing a farmers' rally here, he also said that the Opposition spoke of many issues but there was not an allegation of corruption against his government ever since he has been serving as "pradhan sevak". "Today it is agreed that if there is a ray of hope in the world economy, it is India," Modi said at the huge rally, organised as part of BJP's nationwide outreach to farmers. He cited ratings by various agencies and international institutions such as World Bank and IMF to buttress his point on India offering a "ray of hope". Modi said whether it was World Bank or IMF or world's rating agency, all of them were saying in one voice that if there is any country "where there is a ray of hope, that ray of hope is India". "In the whole world, the economy is wavering. Even those countries who say they are experts are also going through economic problems," he said. In spite of disturbing environment of slowdown, India is making rapid strides in growth, he said. On corruption, Modi said that when his government assumed office, the nation was tired of corruption. "It's been over 18 months since I've served you as Pradhan Sevak. Opposition speaks of many issues but not on allegation of corruption." He said when his government came to power, the entire country was disturbed by the issues of corruption. "Only one issue was being heard in the air, on earth and water and that was corruption, corruption and only corruption." On the one hand, the trust in the country had fallen in the eyes of the world which was not prepared to take India into account. India was also facing economic problems with corruption destroying the country like termites. There was an environment of despair, he said. Speaking about basing the country's development on the three pillars of agriculture, manufacturing and the services sector, Modi said "we have focused on how our poor and farmers become more prosperous and more jobs, industries are created." "We've made many efforts in agriculture. The results are showing now, Our focus is irrigation. Give our farmers water and see wonders they can do," he said. Stressing that one has to think of interlinked rivers, he said water management is the need of the hour. "Per drop, more crop. New methods of irrigation are vital and have helped farmers immensely. Along with Jal (water) we have to take care of the Jameen (land) of the farmer," he said and referred to the Soil health card scheme of his government. Modi, who devoted a good part of his speech to the recently launched 'Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana', an insurance scheme for farmers,said it has overcome shortcomings of the earlier crop insurance schemes. Noting that only 20 out of 100 people used to avail crop insurance, he urged the farmers to see that at least 50 per cent became its beneficiaries. "Then you see the whole situation will change. Thereafter there would not be any delay in reaching 100 per cent. The more you avail of the crop insurance, more money will flow from the coffers of the government. In spite of it, I want you all to join the crop insurance scheme," he said. Modi said that even if the coffers of the government are emptied, he wanted farmers to avail of the scheme. "To convey this, I have come to your doorsteps." The Prime Minister recalled that the Vajpayee government had first launched the crop insurance scheme, but under succeeding dispensations, farmers stopped trusting it. Modi said the government had come out with a crop insurance scheme after hearing views of farmers and overcoming problems in earlier schemes. "Whatever money we give to the farmers we want it to go directly to the Jan Dhan accounts, not let middlemen come in the picture. Our track record says it all. "If farmers of India can trust anyone, it is our Government. We want to transform lives of poor and villages." On urea, Modi said when his government assumed office, states would write to the Centre for it but now they do not do so. The government, he said, had also stopped theft in fertilisers and launched an initiative of neem coated urea, which was only on paper till now. "... one important thing we have done is we have put an end to corruption and blackmarketing linked to urea." "These people who keep shouting and are worried against Modi. This is the reason for their worry and anger against me - that I have put an end to black marketing and corruption..." "Modi pricks their eyes because for five years they ate things for free (mufat ki malai khayi hui hai) and that has been closed now, this is the reason." Modi reminded farmers of his promise before the (Lok Sabha) elections that till he was here, no one would be able to lay their hands on Delhi's treasury. "Today we have been able to stop malpractices in fertilisers and have brought in neem coated urea," he said. The movies themselves seem passe in California now,' Christopher Rand wrote in Los Angeles: The Ultimate City. Brushing aside Hollywood in a single paragraph, he added that the heart and soul of the movie business seems simply to have left LA, mainly for foreign countries. Rand had arrived just as 10 actors from Britain, including Richard Burton, Julie Andrews and Peter OToole, were poised to take half the Oscar acting nominations in 1965; and 10 Brits, including Laurence Olivier and Julie Christie, did the same in 1966. In terms of Academy Awards recognition, that actually marked something of a limit for foreign actors, who were soon bested by Americans like Jack Nicholson, Robert Redford and Al Pacino. But the pendulum has swung back. In a little-noticed twist in this years Oscar race, and allowing some wiggle room for Alicia Vikander, who is Swedish but lives in London, fully half of the acting nominees come from Commonwealth countries. It is only the second time in 50 years the same happened in 2002, when Russell Crowe, Jim Broadbent and Nicole Kidman were in the lineup that the Commonwealth contingent has been such a powerful awards force. Vikander and Eddie Redmayne, who last year was named an officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, are both nominated for their performances in The Danish Girl. This years acting field also includes Christian Bale (The Big Short), Tom Hardy (The Revenant), Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies), Charlotte Rampling (45 Years) and Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs), all of whom are British. Michael Fassbender, a best-actor nominee for Steve Jobs, was born to parents from Germany and Northern Ireland, and lives in London. Cate Blanchett, nominated for Carol, is Australian. Rachel McAdams, nominated for Spotlight, is Canadian. To some extent, this new invasion by Brits and their allies has been a stealth affair, complicated by performances that tangle nationalities beyond easy recognition. Bale, Blanchett, Fassbender and McAdams play Americans. Vikander and Redmayne are supposed to be Danes. Rylance passes for a Soviet spy. Winslet plays Joanna Hoffman, who was born in the Soviet Union to a mother from Armenia and a father from Poland. Richard Hicks, the New York-based president of the Casting Society of America and a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, said a lot of actors from overseas are scoring in America because of training. The British, he said, tend to cut their teeth on the stage, which provides tremendous technical skill. In 2002, Oscar-nominated Britons populated films like Sexy Beast, Gosford Park and Iris. The British boom had grown obvious by 2011, as Harvey Weinstein, whose company has shopped abroad for Oscar prospects and financing, turned The Kings Speech into a best-picture winner, and Colin Firth, as George VI, into the years best actor. If the Oscar-Commonwealth confluence continues to grow, the Academy Awards, as in the 1960s, may become a tougher climb for Americans, and, as an adjunct, for African-American-themed films like Straight Outta Compton, which was slighted on both sides of the Atlantic this year. Or maybe those flexible foreign performers will help lift films like 12 Years a Slave. And the Oscars, as in Rands day, will be as American as shepherds pie. The New York Times In Assam, boat clinics take health care to thousands who have never seen a doctor The Mighty Brahmaputra that flows through Assam divides the state almost into two. There are thousands of freshwater islands that dot the river and for 3 million people who live on those islands one of the biggest challenge has been access to health care. There are no doctors, no paramedics on these islands. People living there are usually poor farmers or people who have lost land due to floods and erosion. They mostly depend on village quacks and in case of a medical emergency they have to spend all their savings to hire a boat to the nearest town. But now there is a phenomenal change in health service in the form of boat clinics. Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research (C-NES), a non-governmental trust working for social transformation in the Northeast India, decided to usher in the change. With 15 boats covering 13 districts of Assam, a dedicated team of 236 medical professionals reaching out to nearly 450 chars (sand bars) and saporis (islands) on the Brahmaputra and its tributaries, the boat clinics initiative of Assam has taken basic health care to remotest areas. Going by government record, char and sapori dwellers make about 12 per cent of the total population of Assam and they lived all along the stream of the Brahmaputra. Right from Tinsukia to the Dhubri there are 2,500 islands, the boat clinics till now have been able to cover nearly 2.5 million people. Every boat clinic will have a team of doctors, nurses and paramedics along with other support staff and crew. The boats reach out to islands every month, conduct health camps, administer vaccination to children and carry out routine checkup of pregnant women apart form normal health checkup of every one living on the Island. Every year, massive floods and equally horrific erosion by the Brahmaputra threaten their lives. Thousands of these people migrate from one island to another in search of shelter and livelihood. There is almost no sense of governance in these islands. The main focus of the project is to ensure health facilities for the marginalised people. Most of our boats carry a team of 15 members. This comprises two doctors, two-three nurses, a pharmacist, a lab technician, community workers and the boat crew. In every unit, we have a district programme officer who leads the team. The boat has a pharmacy and a laboratory. Whenever our team finds patients in a critical condition, they refer them to nearby hospitals. We have small boats attached to our units, which are used to shift such patients to hospitals, said C-NES communication officer Bhaswati Khaund Goswami. The idea of boat clinic came in 2002 when noted journalist and social scientist and C-NES managing trustee Sanjoy Hazarika witnessed a pregnant woman dying due to lack of medical facilities in Majuli in the Jorhat district of Assam, one of the largest freshwater islands in Asia. The unfolding of the tragedy in front of him shook him. He came up with the idea of boat clinic and it won the World Banks Development Marketplace competition in 2004. One year later, with the prize money, the C-NES built a boat clinic and named it Akha (meaning hope in Assamese). That was the first boat clinic and it is still operational in the Dibrugarh district. The success of the first Boat Akha grabbed attention of Unicef and it soon came forward to partner the initiative. Soon, the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) showed interest and a public-private partnership followed. By 2008, the boat clinics had started operating in five districts of Assam. A year later, two more were added. By 2010, there were 15 units in 13 districts the thickly populated Dhubri and Barpeta have two units each. Every year, at least 500 health camps are held and till now18,893 camps have been organised. The NRHM actually lets us know which are the islands which are not covered by the regular health care set-up and send our teams there. The NRHM provides medicine, manpower and basic funds. But we need to engage a trained crew and support staff apart from the district programme officers. The boats need regular maintenance and it is expensive, Goswami said. Although the project is largely aimed to provide basic health care, the units have handled even critical cases. Till now they have handled 11 delivery cases. They have played an important rule in the intensive polio immunisation. In thickly populated lower Assam, mostly dominated by the Bengali Muslims, the boat clinics also conduct campaign on family planning. Weather is a big challenge for these boat clinics. Every season brings its own challenges. In summer, the higher water level enables the boats to get closer to the villages. But the risk of flooding is high. In winter, the crew relies on bicycles to reach the villages after being forced by receded water levels to anchor the boat far from shore. There was a time when no one in our village ever saw a doctor. We did not know what a doctor looked like. If anyone was very serious, we had to hire mechanised boats or even country-made boats. It would cost a fortune. All that pain is gone, said Bhogeshwar Saikia, an elder of a remote island in the Jorhat district. In Assam, these boat clinics are on a mission. They take health care to places where there are no roads, no electricity and no semblance of governance. They reach people in distant islands who have never seen their elected representatives, yet the only blessing is that these boats go where no one goes, carrying essential medicines, doctors and above all hope of survival for the most marginalised. A section of the public, including industrialists, farmer leaders and concerned citizens on Saturday, vehemently opposed the proposal to increase the power tariff by 102 paise (Re 1.02) per unit, taking it to Rs 5.12 against the existing Rs 4.10, tabled by Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (Cesc) Limited. Managing Director of Cesc Kiran Kumar put forth the proposal before Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) to shore up revenue, due to the anticipated revenue deficit of Rs 613.5 crore for the financial year 2016-17. At the public hearing over the proposed tariff revision, convened by KERC, Prabhu, an energy expert associated with several industry associations said, Had the Cesc authorities planned in advance, they could have arrested the loss up to Rs 350 crore incurred due to various factors. It includes purchase of power, sales of energy generated from solar power for lesser than the purchase (from generators) rate, non-metered installations up to 39 per cent and an estimated Rs 12 crore power cess going unbilled. Sureshkumar Jain from Mysore Industries Association (MIA) said, At a time when the demand for power has reduced even in the industry sector, the proposed hike is too high. It would be better to revise the rate by another 15 paise to 20 paise. Manjunath from Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (Kassia) also blamed poor planning on the part of electricity supply companies (escoms) in general, resulting in loss. Manjunath cited the example of Bengaluru, where power cuts were witnessed in recent months. Now, the situation is such that there is an improvement in the supply mechanism due to proper planning after receiving brickbats from the consumers. Anil Sahu from Karnataka Planters Association demanded for keeping the tariff unchanged. Mohammed Arif Khan, an advocate representing Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), demanded for outright rejection of the proposal. Citing the example of BWSSB, Khan said,The water regulatory body caters to areas in and around Bengaluru, including 35 per cent consumers belonging to below poverty line (BPL) families. Such economically weaker families are not charged for the water consumed, even though the water board spends 64 per cent of the revenue generated on electricity bills. Rajendra, State unit secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Sangha, Savitha Ranganath, a citizen, and Captain (Retd) Hussain also flayed the proposal to revise power tariff. KERC Chairman M K Shankarlinge Gowda presided over the meeting. Members H D Arun Kumar and D B Manivel Raju were present. Rate card Present tariff: Rs 4.10 per unit. Proposed hike: Rs 1.02 per unit New tariff, if okayed, would be Rs 5.12 per unit A total of 3,000 aspirants took part in the job and skill training camp organised at Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management on Saturday and 124 received employment on the spot. The programme was conducted under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), a Government of India, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, in association with Rooman Technologies, the training partner for the National Skill Development Corporation. The second round of selection for 900 persons will be conducted within 15 days. As many as 500 persons who had registered at the camp have sought skill development training, said Rooman Technologies Pvt Ltd CEO Manish Kumar. He said that 64 companies from IT, ITES, retail, banking, telecom, healthcare and consulting sectors participated in the camp, while among the aspirants, there were SSLC, PUC, graduate, postgraduate candidates. MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, who addressed the valedictory programme, said that the employment opportunities in Dakshina Kannada district will increase with the commencement of the fourth phase of MRPL and expansion of IT Park in the district. Skill development During the inaugural programme, Manish Kumar said that the training mainly aims at promoting skill development in India. We need a lot of skilled manpower. Around 30 sectors have been designed and laid by sector skill council. PMKVY is offering various courses in the field of retail, banking, telecomm after the training they assure placements, he explained. ESSCI CEO N K Mohapatra said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi dreams to create employment opportunities. He also explained how the concept of Make in India was introduced. He highlighted that the main aim of this scheme is to provide employment opportunity for 60 per cent of the candidates every month. It is a good opportunity for candidates as 64 companies from different sectors are participating in the camp. Those who are not selected they can enrol for training programme by registering in online portal (www.naukari.com), he advised. Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management Chairman Manjunath Bhandary said, In India, we lay greater emphasis on academics. Indians need to achieve a lot as students develop only two per cent, which is less compared to the skills of South Korea, Japan, China and UK. Education is just an eligibility criterion in a corporate world, and needs to be developed along with academic excellence skills. Ten buses of Delhi Public School (DPS) were seized by the RTO officials on Saturday morning for violating permit conditions, at Innovative Film City in Bidadi. The buses, ferrying around 200 teachers, had crossed the limits of Bengaluru City and reached Innovative Film City, while they had permits only to ply within Bengaluru Urban district. Innovative Film City falls under Ramanagara district. Joint Commissioner, Transport Department, Narendra Holkar told Deccan Herald, The school buses are meant to operate only as school buses, which are supposed to take children from home to school and back within Bengaluru Urban district. In this case, the buses were not permitted to cross Bengaluru Urban, which they did. They had also crossed into Ramanagaram RTO limits, when they are not even supposed to cross Bengaluru Rural. After we notified the school, the school authorities brought all the relevant documents and showed it to us. We released the buses later considering that there were so many women and they would not be able to go home from the place where the bused has been seized. DPS secretary Maqsood Ali Khan told this newspaper that the school would follow all regulations in the future. We did not know that the permits were only for Bengaluru Urban region. Our school teachers wanted to go an excursion as the academic year is coming to an end. None of them or us were aware of the limits of the permits. We were surprised when we got a call that the buses had been seized. Then we produced the original documents and after clarifying what the regulations were, we told the RTO that we would follow the law and that we werent aware of the regulations. Later, they released the buses, and our teachers were brought back home. The documents of the buses have been submitted to the RTO. The school will get them back on Monday after the court takes a decision in this regard. RTO official Holkar said a charge sheet had been filed in the court and the school will have to respond to it, following which the documents will be released. DPS should take back its documents after the courts direction in the matter. The school has to pay a penalty as decided by the court. The RTO estimated that the fine could be in the range of Rs 50,000 to 60,000. A police sub-inspector and two constables were suspended from service for extorting money from the employees of a private courier company. Police said inspector Vajramuni and constables Prasanna and Shivakumar, all attached to the High Grounds police station, have been placed under suspension. On February 9, the two constables stopped a couple of employees of a private air service parcel company, who were travelling by an autorickshaw near Queens Road. They checked the parcels and found jewels worth Rs 30 lakh in them. The constables alerted Vajramuni, who rushed to the spot. They asked the employees to call their office and one Parasmal Modi arrived. The SI then demanded Rs five lakh as bribe to release the parcels. Modi and his employees managed to pay Rs 40,000 to the police. But the SI and the constables took one of the parcels and told Modi to pay the remaining cash and collect it later. The next day, another Rs one lakh was paid. Modi approached senior officers and told them about the incident. The SI and constables were questioned and it was found that they were trying to extort money from Modi. They were suspended and a detailed enquiry has been ordered. Also, it is being investigated how they got information about the employees carrying parcels containing jewels in an autorickshaw, said Additional Commissioner of Police (West) Charan Reddy. 5 held on assault charges The Sampangiram Nagar police have arrested five people on charges of assaulting a man on December 31 last year. The arrested are Shanawaz, Ayub Khan, Attu, Shannu and Saddam. The gang assaulted Salam Sharif, son of Al Ameen Education Society secretary Subhan Sharif, on Richmond Road flyover. Sharif and Subhan were travelling by a car, while the suspects followed them on a bike and attacked them with lethal weapons. Shanawaz is involved in other cases in Adugodi and Electronics City police limits. Man kills father over affairs The RMC Yard police arrested a man on Saturday for murdering his father. The victim, Gilbert Correya, 76, a resident of Peenya, was found with a mobile cord on his neck at his house on February 23. His son, Jameson Correya, 41, a resident of Chikkabidirakkallu in Nagasandra, confessed to the crime, police said. The murder came to light when the domestic help came to the house. Gilbert worked for a private firm and became a realtor after his retirement. Jameson told the police he killed his father because he had not given any share of his property to his sons and had affairs with women. Gilbert had gifted some land to his lover and had even arranged her daughters wedding, police said. He had neglected his wife and had not ensured treatment when she was ill. Gilberts wife died a year ago, police said. When the woman stopped her affair, he went after another woman. On February 22, Jameson came to Gilberts house around 5.30 pm and berated him on seeing his lover there. Jameson hit his father who collapsed. He strangled him, placed a mobile cord across his neck, poured coriander powder all over the body and vanished, police said. As he came out of the house, he got a call from his wife, who was at church and joined her there. He did not show any emotions for two days and we detained him for interrogation as we grew suspicious, DCP (North) T R Suresh told Deccan Herald. The cacophony befitted the intensity surrounding a typical India-Pakistan match. The road leading to the Sher-e-Bangla National stadium was decorated with large flags of the two countries with the constant rabble of noisy fans and endless photo sessions whetting the excitement. The much-awaited contest of the Asia Cup at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium lived up every bit to its hype. It was replete with a dose of drama and nerve-jangling moments before India, riding on Virat Kohli's gutsy knock, coasted to a five-wicket victory. If India had thought they had tamed Pakistan by restricting them to 83 in 17.3 overs, little did they know what awaited them. Mohammad Aamir (3-18) showed what the world had missed during his five-year suspension due to spot-fixing. In his fast and mean spell, the 23-year-old left-arm bowler brilliantly swung the ball both ways to leave the Indian top-order completely befuddled. Sticking largely to full or back of length deliveries in helpful conditions, he was almost unplayable for the Indians. He had singlehandedly scuttled them to 8/3 by the third over before a determined Kohli (49) and Yuvraj (14 n.o.) restored sanity with a fourth-wicket stand of 68. India finally finished the chase with 27 balls to spare. The tournament favourites were caught off-guard when Aamir, bowling over the wicket, had the in-form Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane, who replaced the injured Shikar Dhawan, within two balls of his opening over. His delivery to Rohit swung in from the good length spot, slipped past his bat before thudding into his pad in front of the middle-stump. India had lost the first wicket without any runs on board. Rahane, too, was caught plumb, India 2-2 and the first over had yet not finished! Aamir returned to dismiss Suresh Raina who was caught at mid-on and India looked blank at 8/3. It was here that Kohli played one of his finest innings, underlined by pluck and gumption. He thrives under pressure and with Yuvraj playing patiently at the other end, hope tip-toed back for India. The two saw off Aamir with certain obduracy before Kohli opened his arms against the young bowler in his last over. Back to back boundaries at square leg and cover region against Aamir launched Indias counter-attack and they were never to look back. Kohli skilfully found gaps and Yuvraj stepped back and wisely rotated the strike. There was still a bit of drama left though, when Mohammad Sami in the 15th over trapped Kohli leg before and then two balls later, got Pandya. However, India completed the remaining run chase without further damage with Mahendra Singh Dhoni scoring the winning runs with a boundary through cover. Earlier, India, certainly not the crowd favorites, stole the thunder on the field with a superlative display with the ball and sharp fielding. With the surface offering more grass, the Indians, electing to bowl, shared the exploits to break the back of Pakistan batting. Pakistan had lost their six wickets by the eighth over. Pandya returned with the best figures of 3-8 in 3.3 overs. Ashish Nehra, enjoying a second wind on international circuit, continued to thrill with his performance. Mohammad Hafeez was back in just the fourth ball of the innings, beaten by the bounce. Sharjeel Khans cut induced the edge that flew to the safe hands of Rahane at first slip. It started the rout. Shoaib Malik, trying to drive Pandya, could only get a thick edge and Ravindra Jadeja ran out captain Shahid Afridi with a brilliant piece of fielding. Pakistan sunk without a trace and India wrapped up the day with the pride of a job well done. The members of Government First Grade College Guest Lecturers Association staged a protest in front of the deputy commissioners office in town on Friday, demanding service security. Addressing the protesters, Association president Shyam Prasad said that the services of 14,531 guest lecturers should be regularised. The government should provide salaries for guest lecturers for 12 months and not nine months of the academic year. The guest lecturers should be paid at least Rs. 25,000 per month. The women guest lecturers should also be given maternity leave for three months. The post of teachers lying vacant in primary and high schools should be filled, he laid out the demands. The Central Crime Branch (CCB) police claimed to have busted a racket of selling mobile phone Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards illegally, using a particular software. The suspects were identified as Santosh (24) and Satish (34), both residents of SR Nagar. The police arrested two persons in this regard and seized 2,927 SIM cards of various service providers, two cellphones, device to change International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), mobile handsets and Rs 1.41 lakh in cash. According to the police, the duo, wholesale distributors of Reliance and Idea, would sell the SIM cards based on the applications. They had a device named pacer equipped with a software that can change the IMEI number of a handset. The IMEI number of the handset used by a person to activate a SIM card is registered with the respective service providers. The two would change the IMEI number of their handsets using the pacer device while activating a SIM card. Thus, they activated a large number of SIM cards and sold them for higher prices, said the police. They would use the genuine application forms, documents and pictures to activate the SIM card cards, said the police. Criminals and fraudsters would always obtain SIM cards from such persons, indulge in crimes and damage the SIM cards to destroy evidence, added the police. The preliminary investigation indicated that the two suspects had about 250 such outlets across the City. Halasuru Gate police have registered case against the duo. Students assaulted A 22-year-old student was beaten up by a group of miscreants in Bhoopasandra under Sanjay nagar police limits on Friday night, for reasons unknown. According to the police, the victim is Merwin Michael Joy, a native of Kottayam, Kerala, and a degree student at a private college in Bhoopasandra. On Friday night, Joy, along with his roommates Jasbin and Kameshwar, went to a Kerala mess. They picked up food from the mess and came out to find a man deflating the tyre of their motorcycle. Immediately, they questioned the man who told them that the police had asked him to deflate the tyre. The trio started arguing with the person who was joined by four others. The gang of four manhandled the trio but upon public intervention, the miscreants left the spot, said the police. However, the unknown persons followed the youths to their house and found Joy standing outside the house. They caught hold of him and thrashed him. Jasbin and Kameshwar, who tried to rescue Joy, were also beaten up. The miscreants fled the spot, added the police. A case has been registered in Sanjaynagar police station. A deadly double trouble stares Bengaluru City straight in the face this summer. Drying up fast, the Cauvery reservoirs might barely meet the citys rising water demand. But an acute power crisis threatens to derail BWSSBs contingency plans till June, pushing Bengalureans to the edge. Pumping water from Cauvery in three stages over 110 km takes a whopping 120 MW of power, every day. Distributing this through 70 pumping stations within the City adds to that huge consumption. Load-shedding, scheduled and unscheduled, could play havoc with the system. Is Bengaluru ready, is BWSSB prepared? The signs are ominous. Water levels have dipped 25 per cent in the four Cauvery river basin reservoirs of Harangi, Hemavathi, KRS and Kabini. BWSSB says reserving 1.5 tmcft of water every month till end of June might just help tide over the summer demand. But they arent so sure. Power shortage could trigger a water crisis by May-end. Bengalurus voracious water demand in the summer heat could advance that crisis to even April. Heres why: Like every summer, borewells have dried up in thousands, groundwater table has dipped dangerously, rain-water harvesting and other water conservation efforts are still in their infancy. BWSSB banks on the Irrigation Departments assurance that priority will be for drinking water and not irrigation. But will this go well with farmers in the Cauvery river water basin? Lack of a long-term strategy to address the citys recurring summer crisis makes this tricky balancing act inevitable. No exclusive reservoir The problem, as articulated by former BWSSB chief engineer M N Thippeswamy, is this: None of the four reservoirs upstream has water exclusively earmarked for water supply to Bengaluru. Not a drop! Every year, demand from the city dictates the flow. This need-based system just does not suit a city of 10 million and rising. Based on Bengalurus water demand over the next 25 years, the Australian International Development Agency (AusAID) had prepared a master plan that clearly indicated the need for an exclusive reservoir. Two locations were identified in the downstream of Shiva Anicut and upstream of Mekedaatu for a 2 tmcft balancing reservoir. But nothing materialised, notes Thippeswamy. Depleted reservoir levels inevitably lower the velocity of water flow into the City. High evaporation losses further reduces the water volumes. Pilferage both in the river basin and inner city areas is another cause for concern. Unaccounted water Eventually, as the Water Boards Chief Engineer (Maintenance) Kemparamaiah informs, only 600-700 MLD of the 1,370-1,380 MLD that is pumped from Cauvery is accounted for. Thats a staggering 50 per cent lost due to factors that could have been controlled with better technology and management. Bengalurus growth has largely been on its periphery, vast swathes of which comes under the erstwhile 110 villages brought under the BBMP limits. There is no BWSSB pipeline infrastructure here. The water tanker mafia reigns supreme here, their rates and water quality totally unregulated. As a contingency measure, BWSSB too has proposed to engage all its 63 tankers and hire another 60 private tankers to cater to any shortage. These would distribute water supplied by about 8,000 borewells owned by the Board. But many of these and a big proportion of the estimated 3 lakh private borewells could dry up as summer advances. Depleting sources Consider this: Barely 200 metres from Bellandur lake, a borewell dug in December could find no water even at 1,000 ft. This story finds its echo in Marathahalli, Whitefield, Yelahanka, Sarjapur road and beyond. If groundwater table depletion is one issue, heavy chemical contamination of the precious liquid at such levels is another dangerous trend. Traditionally, the citys water distribution network in residential areas has been designed for houses with one or two floors. But the citys vertical growth, propelled by hundreds of multi-storeyed apartment blocks particularly in the 110 villages, has put a severe strain on the old network. A top BWSSB official admits that the Board can do nothing in areas that fall under the old villages. If the borewells dry up, lakhs of apartment residents here will have no place to go. In the ultimate analysis, the crisis management clearly shows a gaping hole in planning, policy formulation and poor vision. The stress is always on contingency plans, much less on long-term solutions. As one Water Board insider says with biting sarcasm, even the water conservation awareness starts only by the end of January and lasts till June. This way, the last drop wont last long. Based on Citys water demand over the next 25 years, an Australian International Development Agency master plan had indicated the need for an exclusive reservoir. Two locations were identified in downstream of Shiva Anicut and upstream of Mekedaatu for a 2 TMCft balancing reservoir. But nothing materialised. Only 700 MLD of 1,380 MLD pumped from Cauvery is accounted for. A staggering 50% is lost due to factors that could be controlled with better technology, management. It is summer time, and residents on Bengalurus periphery are already at the mercy of the notorious water tanker mafia. The demand for water has risen dramatically in the 110 villages, now part of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). But, since there is no BWSSB pipeline network, people here are forced to depend on borewells and private water tankers. BWSSBs water lines could take at least another five years to reach these erstwhile village areas. The Board is still preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR). This is time enough for the tanker mafia to make a killing. Residents of the apartments that have mushroomed all across these areas have no choice but to pay up. As the summer advances, the crisis is bound to deepen. Tanker operators continues to exploit the residents desperation by charging Rs. 500 to Rs. 2,000 per load. In the absence of a regulatory mechanism to control this mafia, the rates are likely to go way beyond Rs. 3,000 as the temperature rises. Borewells within apartment complexes are drying up fast, leaving no choice whatsoever for the dwellers. High-rise apartment blocks have sprung up in big numbers on either side of the Outer Ring Road. Most of these depend on either their own borewells or private water tankers. Sun City apartment on Sarjapur road seems to have learnt from its previous harsh experiences. This time, we made an annual agreement with multiple private tanker owners to provide water for Rs 500 (6,000 kilo litres). We need at least 160 tankers of water each day. Each apartment spends an average of Rs 3,000 every month, says a resident here. Sudarshan R, a small-time tanker operator from Varthur claims he charges around Rs 500 for each load. But, Janardhan Rao, a resident of Marathahalli, contests this saying he usually pays Rs 2,000 for a tanker of water. The borewell went dry and I had no other option but shell out this heavy price last year. This time, I saved a lot of water thanks to rain water harvesting, he says. Is there any plan to regulate the water tanker prices? S Krishnappa, Engineer in Chief, BWSSB, says the Board has no authority to monitor private suppliers. We can act against individuals who were allowed to drill borewells for domestic purpose, but were selling water. Unless there is a specific complaint, it is not possible to keep an eye on all the domestic borewells, he reasons. All that the Board can do is to address a crisis situation. In case of any severe water shortage in the new areas, the Board will supply water from its 8,000 borewells and take the help of private borewells, he assures. NDA ally the Shiv Sena on Saturday joined the Opposition in taking on HRD Minister Smriti Irani over her inept handling of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula's suicide and controversy in JNU. The Congress, JD(U) and the CPM said that they were going to bring privilege motion against Smriti for willfully misleading both the Houses with her half-truth allegations in the Vemula case and the JNU episode. The HRD minister has not only been economical with truth but has also wilfully misled Parliament on the unfortunate suicide of a young Dalit student, Rohith Vemula, said Congress general secretary Mukul Wasnik. CPM leader Mohd Saleem will give a notice to the Speaker on Monday seeking action against the minister, who is adamant on the stand she took in Parliament, for breach of privileges. While JD(U) member K T S Tulsi will do the same in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. The Sena is disappointed over the handling of Vemula's suicide and said Smriti's statements were confusing and she could have avoided reference to Goddess Durga while speaking in Parliament. The kind of statements that the HRD minister is giving is confusing. First, you say something, later you withdraw, this should not have happened. The way this issue has been handled, it had several shortcomings and that is why its repercussions are felt in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, said Sena leader Manisha Kayande. She felt that Smriti could have avoided the hurry to make statements and specifically mentioned that the reference of Durga in Parliament was out of context and it could have been avoided. Smritis spirited reply in Parliament to a debate on Vemulas death and JNU controversy was liked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he tweeted Satyameva Jayate! while tagging her speech. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi took a jibe at Modi for appreciating Smritis speech and counter-tweeted that Satyameva Jayate! Modiji do hear these words of Rohith Vemula's mother. Rohiths mother Radhika wondered how many more deaths should take place for the government to deliver justice. Manisha Kayande, SENA leader: The kind of statements that the HRD minister is giving is confusing. First, you say something, later you withdraw, this should not have happened. The way this issue has been handled, it had several shortcomings US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter will visit India in April, ostensibly to placate New Delhi, which recently conveyed its strong displeasure over Washingtons move to sell eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan. Carter will meet Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and will try to explain the rationale of recent notification by President Barack Obamas administration to the US Congress about the possible sale of eight F-16 Block 52 aircraft to Pakistan. They will also review the bilateral defence cooperation and add momentum to several proposed supply of military hardware and transfer of technology from US to India. Carter will also seek to fast-track talks on US offer to provide India with Apache attack and Chinook heavy lift helicopters as well as M777 howitzers. Washingtons envoy to New Delhi, Richard R Verma recently cited the proposed supply of advanced military hardware to India as examples of strong bilateral defence cooperation, which he characterised as not only unprecedented in bilateral history, but also qualitatively different from the one that his country shared with any other country in the region, or the world. We are focused on helping Indian forces develop the capabilities and platforms that will allow them to fulfil Indias stated goal of becoming a leading power in the region and beyond, Verma said at an event hosted by Indian Association for Foreign Affairs Correspondent and India International Centre. For the United States this partnership is unique. There is no other country in the world that we are supporting as an emerging global defence leader. We have overhauled our approach to defence licensing to India with a presumption of approval for the vast majority of even the most sensitive platforms, he added. Verma did not directly refer to US move to sell F-16 aircraft to Pakistan, but spoke about future of India-US defence cooperation. The Supreme Court has said that reservation granted to people from the socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs) cannot be denied on a minor pretext. While observing that the very objective of providing reservation was to remove inequality in public employment faced by SEBCs due to centuries of oppression and deprivation, a bench of Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice V Gopala Gowda set aside a Delhi High Court order which rejected a petitioners plea seeking appointment as nurse in Delhi government hospital because he failed to submit his Other Backward Caste (OBC) certificate on time. The Constitutional concept of reservation envisaged in the Preamble as well as Articles 14, 15, 16 and 39A of the Directive Principles of State Policy is to achieve the concept of giving equal opportunity to all sections of the society, the bench said, terming the high court division bench order as erroneous. The petitioner, Ram Kumar Gijroya, appeared for staff nurse examination conducted by the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board in 2008. After having appeared in the examination, he was shortlisted for selection but his name did not appear in the final list. On inquiry, he was told that he was not selected because he failed to furnish his OBC certificate before the cut-off date. Gijroya approached the Delhi High Court where a single judge ordered the Delhi government to reconsider his application within one month. On appeal, the division bench, however, held since the appellant applied for OBC certificate only 10 days prior to the cut off date, no case for grant of relief was made out in his favour. Although Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah gave his version of the row over the gift of a luxury watch sported by him, the Congress high command is not fully satisfied that he will be able to weather the political storm generated by the episode. With new angles being added to the row by the Opposition leaders, the high command was mulling ways to contain the damage to the Congress prospects in the remaining two years of its rule in the State. Party sources said the high command was not happy over such rows coming to light when Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhhi had himself led a strong campaign against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his suit-boot government. It was pointed out to the chief minister that if the controversy was not contained immediately, it could tell upon Congress campaign against the BJP in several states and at the Centre, on corruption. The Congress high command is also unhappy that the State governments popularity was not showing an upward trend as reflected in the Zilla and Taluk panchayats polls. Though the chief minister, during his meeting with party president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday, defended the watch issue saying it was gifted by his friend, it was learnt that the high command wanted him to act further to prevent recurrence of such controversies. Karnataka Congress president G Parameshwara, who had met Rahul Gandhi a couple of days before the chief ministers Delhi visit, is understood to have conveyed that the watch controversy was one of the main reasons for the partys average performance in the recently held elections. Despite the chief minister claiming that he had delivered a good administration in the past three years, many state leaders had told the high command that the latest controversy had only sullied the State governments image. A section of party leaders who are upset with the chief minister, are of the view that, as part of damage-controlling measures, urgent corrective steps are reuqired to be taken. But the party high command is not clear as yet as to what steps should be taken, sources said. Not Cong culture Senior party leader B K Hari Prasad on Friday also criticised the chief minister over the watch row and said wearing luxury watches is not Congress culture. Attacking Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for poor performance in the recently held Assembly by-poll and zilla and taluk panchayats polls, the party national general secretary also said it was a strategic blunder committed by the chief minister. Criticising the chief ministers style of functioning, Hari Prasad said, The chief minister has not adapted to Congress culture. He should not ignore old Congress leaders. The Centre will not hesitate to spend for the welfare of farmers, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as he set out to explain details of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana at a farmers convention in Belagavi on Saturday. Modi said the scheme has been brought into effect after rectifying shortcomings in the earlier version and appealed to farmers to avail of its benefits. Addressing the convention organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party at the Angadi Institute of Technology and Management, Modi said farmers who are not able to cultivate lands due to dry spells during the sowing season would also get insurance cover. Earlier, farmers had no faith in crop insurance schemes and hence only 20% of them opted for them. Now, we want to ensure 50% of the farmers avail the insurance, said Modi. The crop insurance scheme was first implemented during then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayees tenure. After successive governments changed its provisions, farmers began to shy away from the scheme. Due to high premium, only 20% of the farmers have opted for the insurance. Shortcomings in the scheme have been rectified after talks with farmers and experts and sowing season-wise premium has also been fixed, he said. Farmers who suffer crop losses within 14 days of harvesting their crops due to natural calamities like rains and hailstorms would also get the benefit of the insurance. Every individual farmer could get the claims irrespective of the losses or crop yield in their neighbourhood, he added. We want to ensure that the money meant for farmers goes directly to them through Jan Dhan accounts. Our track record says that farmers trust our government. We want to transform lives of the poor and villages, Modi stated. Modi said that the Rs 1,540 crore the Centre had released as compensation to farmers who suffered losses during the kharif season in Karnataka, was not credited to their accounts till the Union government applied pressure. India has formally approached the UN to include Jaish-e-Mohammad chief and Pathankot terror attack mastermind Masood Azhar in the Security Councils sanctions list, strongly emphasising the urgency to take action against him. Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin on Friday wrote to New Zealand Ambassador Gerard Jacoubus van Bohemen, the Chair of the 1267 al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee, submitting Indias request that the JeM chiefs name be included in the committees sanctions list. Armed with strong evidence of the outfits terror activities and its role in the January 2 Pathankot attack that killed seven Indian soldiers, India told the UN Sanctions Committee that not listing Azhar has clearly demonstrated how it and other countries in South Asia continue to face threats posed by the terror group and its leader. Calling for immediate action to be taken to list Azhar under the al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee, India said it is the responsibility of the committee to protect UN nations and its citizens from terror groups like the JeM and its leaders. Listing Azhar will prove that the global community is committed to tackling the scourge of terrorism and will help protect Indian citizens and those of other countries from the terror threats posed by him and his outfit, India said. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said in New Delhi that it is a great anomaly that the organisation JeM is listed but its leader is not. India also noted that following the Pathankot attack, Pakistan had taken action against several individuals belonging to the outfit. The UN had banned JeM in 2001, but Indias efforts to ban Azhar after the Mumbai terror attack did not fructify, as China, one of the five permanent members of the UN group with veto powers, did not allow the ban apparently on the behest of Pakistan. Symbolic move Listing Azhar will prove that the global community is committed to tackling the scourge of terrorism and will help protect Indian citizens and those of other countries from the terror threats posed by him and his outfit, India said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon political parties to set aside differences and help implement the river-linking project. Modi was addressing a farmers convention organised by the BJP in Belagavi on Saturday. Modi, who was giving details of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, an crop insurance scheme in light of 1,000 farmer suicides in Karnataka in the past one year, said river-linking would save the country and help overcome water scarcity. We must shed our differences and make up our minds to link rivers. Rivers, during floods, destroy crops and when they dry up, leave the farmers worried, he said. After Independence, had water management been given preference, farmers would not have committed suicide due to crop failure during drought and natural calamities. Water, if available, will help farmers reap gold from every drop, he said. He said the government has been giving a thrust for Krishi Sinchan programmes and has provided funds of Rs 50,000 crore to provide facilties to farmers. Water management is needed. Many countries with scanty rain and without rivers have shown that good agriculture is possible with water management. Israel has achieved agriculture revolution. Every drop of water needs to be conserved. Water cannot be manufactured in factories and its a gift of God which needs to be respected. Changes have been made in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and stress has been given on asset creation with priority for water projects like canal repairs, creation of check dams and lake conservation. It would improve water table. Methods like per drop, more crop of irrigation are vital and have helped farmers immensely, Modi said. Drip irrigation, sprinkler-based system and micro agriculture programmes need to be implemented. Farmers should shed their concept of maximum use of water for irrigation. Micro irrigation has been showing results and sprinkler systems for sugarcane have improved yield. Water conserved from these forms of agriculture practice could be used for other purposes, he stated. Soil health card systems have been brought into effect and it has been hoped to provide all the farmers cards by 2017 when the nation marks its 70 years of independence. Use of chemical fertilisers has been degrading agriculture lands. Soil samples collected from different lands and test reports would be made available to farmers that would guide them for taking remedial measures to change crop pattern, fertilsiers and other measures, Modi said and called young innovators to invent systems that would help the farmers test soil on their land. He also asked them to establish soil testing laboratories at taluk level for which government would provide funds from the Mudra Bank. We have stopped theft of fertilisers. Another initiative we began was neem coated urea, which was only on paper until now. Earlier states used to write to the Centre for fertilisers, but since we took office, there has been no scarcity of urea. Those raising a voice against me were the elements who were earlier raking benefits by blackmarketing urea. As promised, we are not allowing anyone to loot government coffers, he said. Three truck drivers claimed on Saturday that they witnessed women being dragged and molested by Jat agitators in Murthal. Speaking to mediapersons, the three men Sukhwinder Singh, Niranjan and Naresh Kumar claimed that the agitators torched their trucks in Murthal, over 50 km from Delhi, and assaulted them following which they hid in the bushes to save themselves. They alleged that they saw the attackers dragging women out of vehicles, tearing their clothes and molesting them before taking the victims towards the fields. Singh alleged that policemen in plain clothes were putting pressure on them to remain silent about the incident. The development came on a day the women police officers team led by DIG Dr Rajshree Singh and comprising DSPs Bharti Dabas and Surinder Kaur visited the site at village Hassanpur near Murthal in Sonipat district on Delhi Ambala National Highway to gather first hand information about the alleged incident. Rajshree Singh maintained that till this evening no victim or eyewitness had come forward to provide details. Asked about recovery of some clothes belonging to women, she told reporters, These had been sent to Forensic Science Laboratory for examination. Let us see, what comes out, she told reporters Rajshree Singh said, Two truck drivers - one each from Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir - have contacted us. But both have denied seeing any such thing (alleged rape of women stuck on the National Highway near Murthal), the DIG said. A promotional line for the Muziris Heritage Project calls the lost port of Muziris a place where history came calling. The Kerala government describes it as the largest conservation project in the country. After six years of works, as President Pranab Mukherjee formally launched the project on Saturday, its chief promoter Kerala Tourism is pitching to revive the port city, one of the earliest in the world, in its cultural and historical contexts. State Tourism Minister A P Anilkumar said the project, when completed, would open new possibilities in tourism in the region pegged to heritage, education and research. History traces the evolution of Muziris as a port from 3000 BC and marks it as a key point in maritime trade routes, with trade links to the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Chinese and more. Floods and an earthquake are believed to have knocked the port city off the map, in 1341. The project is being implemented in the region between North Paravur in Ernakulam district and Kodungallur in Thrissur district. The stretch reflects the history of visitors from diverse lands with varied cultures. The remnants of Muziris rich trade connections are left as margin notes from history in Azhikode, which is considered Christianitys entry point to India, the Cheraman Mosque and the museums which help to trace early Jewish life in Kerala. Shrines, markets, palaces, forts and cemeteries will be preserved as part of the project. Heritage sites will be supplemented with 27 museums, four of them already open to public. Two archaeological sites, in Pattanam and Kottappuram, will form key components in the project. Between the two districts, the project covers conservation of archaeological monuments spread over 125 sq km. The second phase of the Muziris Heritage Project will also feature a revival of the regions once-thriving spice route. History points to Muziris as a spice trade hub, with links to countries in Europe and the Far East. The ambitious project has also received backing from the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco). India as maritime power President Pranab Mukherjee called the Spice Route project both important and timely as India was seeking to re-emerge as an international trade and transport hub as well as a maritime power. I understand the spice route initiative will link 41 countries in Asia and Europe with India and rejuvenate our cultural and academic exchanges with these nations. The goal will be the development of a multi-national cultural corridor, he said. He said the Muziris Heritage Project sought to bring alive this wonderful mosaic of cultural influences in a holistic way. Revival 27 museums and other buildings as recall to the ancient port city UNESCO-backed Spice Route project to revive maritime trade links Circuit tours with hop-on hop-off boat services Integration of local communities A research and academic institution Improved infrastructure in the region JNU Students Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar has told a Supreme Court-appointed investigation committee that he was beaten up, pushed to the ground and injured by men in lawyers robes in the presence of police during his production before the Patiala House Court on February 17. When the police brought me inside the courts gate, a mob of men in lawyers robes attacked me. It appeared as if they were ready to attack and they were also calling others. I was assaulted. The police personnel escorting me tried to save me but they were also beaten up, he said while narrating the sequence of events to the lawyers panel in a video aired by TV channels on Saturday. The committee of six advocates Kapil Sibal, Rajeev Dhavan, Dushyant Dave, A D N Rao, Ajit Kumar Sinha and Haren Raval had visited the Patiala House Court premises on February 17 after the apex court was informed that Kanhaiya was beaten up during his production before the magistrate. Senior advocate Sinha, however, has submitted another report. The video, shot by advocate Raval on his mobile, was also furnished in the court. Kanhaiya, whose eyes welled up, said when he was attacked, the police present on the court premises did not do anything. I told my teacher that this man was assaulting me and then the police asked that person about his identity. He in turn questioned the policeman and asked him to show his ID card. That person left the place in front of the police and the police did nothing. He could have been apprehended there itself. I had told the police that this man had assaulted me, he said. In the video, Sibal and Dave, along with Kanhaiyas lawyers, are seen questioning a senior police officer about the incident and telling him that the police are under order of the Supreme Court to ensure safety and security of the accused student. Kanhaiya is also seen as saying that he had told the court that he had full faith in the Constitution. The issue of attack on Kanhaiya, arrested in a sedition case on charges of raising anti-India slogans, inside the JNU campus on February 9, has been pending before the apex court. The court, which had on Friday issued notice to three lawyers accused of assault, has put the matter for further hearing on March 4. Accused question authenticity Advocate M L Sharma, who opposed filing of contempt petition against lawyers before the apex court, said he would urge the court to call for medical reports of Kanhaiya Kumar. The video did not show any sign of assault or beating on Kanhaiya, he argued. Privilege motion against Smriti The Congress, JD(U) and the CPM said they will bring a privilege motion against HRD Minister Smriti Irani for wilfully misleading both the Houses with her half-truth allegations in the Rohith Vemula and JNU issues. Details on P10 Finance Minister Arun Jaitleys Budget on Monday may push for eliminating certain subsidies and aggressively rationalising some which are being diverted to the well-off in the name of the poor. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian, too, has suggested that not the middle class, not rich but only the mega rich are benefiting from tax exemptions and subsidies. The Economic Survey says subsidy on urea, the most commonly used fertilizer by the poor, is lapped up by big farmers because they are well connected to the party in power. Similarly on gold, cooking gas, kerosene, electricity, aviation turbine fuel and railway fares, he said the benefits the government was trying to give to the common man was actually benefiting the rich. The chief economic adviser said that there are evidences of cross-border smuggling of urea in the border states where small farmers have to buy urea from the black market paying 60% more than the market price, let alone subsidy. The eastern states bordering Bangladesh and Uttar Pradesh bordering Nepal are cases in point. Bad subsidies need to be eliminated, he said. He advocated linking fertilizer subsidy with the Jandhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) platform. Modi also made a similar point. The prime minister recently said: Some subsidies may be necessary to protect the poor and the needy and give them a fair chance to succeed. Hence my aim is not to eliminate subsidies, but to rationalise and target them. Urea is the most controlled fertilizer by the government which intervenes at every stageproduction, consumption, import and distribution. Though it is meant for small farmers who cannot afford costly fertilizers, nearly 80% of farmers buy urea at prices greater than the market price (MRP). Small farmers pay 50% more than the administered price for urea. Urea is artificially made costlier also due to its diversion for industrial use. According to Subramanian, targeted subsidies are no answer because targeting the poor is difficult. Gold is the rich demerit good. The rich consume most of it and the poor spend negligible fraction, yet gold is only taxed at about 1-1.6 per cent About 98 per cent of this subsidy accrues to better-off and only 2 per cent to poor, the Economic Survey stated. Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) is taxed at about 20 per cent, while diesel and petrol are taxed at about 55% and 61%. The real consumers of ATF are those who travel by air, who essentially are well off, Subramanian said. He says that 50 per cent of the kerosene given under PDS is consumed by well off, giving enough hints that the Budget may sound harsh measures on diversion and seek to go for better targeting. The Survey also suggests taxing the Public Provident Fund (PPF) because it is benefiting the rich. The PPF is not-so-small savings and tax benefits are claimed by mostly those in the 20 and 30 per cent tax brackets, it says. Search our site Search for: Instagram Feed Donate Classifieds Facebook Feed by Steven M. Alexie, Kuskokwim river subsistence User A letter to Michael Dunleavey, Honorable Governor of the Great State of Alaska. Honorable Governor Dunleavey, I wrote to you this past spring/summer with regards to closure or at least some sort of number of chums pass through False Pass for migrating chum to their spawning grounds. While I saw increased numbers of chum for our Kuskokwim River with the decreased commercial activities for Alaska Peninsula Area M Commercial Fisheries, which I very much appreciate for the well being of my people. I also think that your administration has not done enough to protect the Yukon King and Chum both summer and fall stocks. Below is an Alaska Statute/s: Alaska state law directs the Board of Game and Board of Fisheries to provide a reasonable opportunity for subsistence uses first, before providing for other uses of any harvestable surplus of a fish or game population [AS 16.05.258 (b)]. This is often referred to as the subsistence preference or sometimes the subsistence priority. Having said that, it is clear to me that your administration, staff of Fish and Game and commissioners, Boards of Fisheries have failed us in providing that necessity for the people of the Yukon, Kuskokwim and also Norton sound people, which youre married into that region, and have in-laws. Four years have already come and gone and while you have kept some of those promises that you made to the constituents of the State of Alaska, you have failed the natives of Alaska miserably. For nearly a decade the Kuskokwim river has gone under Federal Management to conserve and hopefully restore our (Chinook) King Salmon populations back to healthy and sustainable populations. Last year 2021 was the first time since I can remember our chum salmon collapsed, while we were under heavy restrictions along with our neighboring river, the Mighty Yukon River. I watched Area M commercial fisheries continuing to commercially fish for what I think they were targeting Red Salmon and incidentally caught Chum by the millions. Nearly 2.2 million chums were caught. I know the majority of these fish were bound for their natal rivers. These Chum Salmon which may have been bound to Norton Sound areas, Yukon or Kuskokwim Rivers never made it to their spawning grounds for the next populations of Fish. All salmon returning to any river systems in the State of Alaska are essential and a vital part of our Subsistence way of life and ecosystem. Ive watched elders from the past whove gone to advocate for the very same thing that I am trying to voice and let our voices be heard. Our convenience store (Kusko, Yukon, and Norton Sound Rivers) have been knocking at the door. Year after year we are heavily restricted with fishing. Fish populations continuing to decline no matter how much we try conserving. I think the State of Alaska needs to live up to its word, laws, regulations or whatever you may call it. Subsistence comes first before any commercial or sports fisheries activities. In this day and age of high technology I am surprised that we are not capable of making very basic forecasts of where these fish we have been fighting for are bound for. What does the State of Alaska need to see before actions are made? An extinction of fish and wildlife? For the sake of conservation please make an administrative or executive order for a short closure of Area M commercial fisheries. Or at least until a certain number of Chums and Kings have passed that area. I thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. Respectfully, Steven M. Alexie Kuskokwim Subsistence Fisherman Share this: Tweet Email Thank you for finding our loved ones To the Search & Rescue Volunteers of Alakanuk, Emmonak, Kotlik, and Mountain Village Thank you so much for volunteering your time and resources to help search for our daughters, Patience and Haley, last month. Your willingness to help on short notice is much appreciated and helped contribute to their safe return and a positive outcome. We could not have found them without you. Special thanks goes to Jason Fancyboy and Jeff Unok of Kotlik who found them, fed them, made sure they were warm, and delivered them home safely. God bless all of you that helped with their safe return! Thank you so much, the Alstrom and Moses families. Audrey Alstrom Anchorage, AK A GREAT BIG Bethel THANK YOU! The 2017 Bras n Bros fundraiser event sponsored by the VFW Auxiliary Post 10041 at the end of January was a success due to the involvement of several state, city and local agencies and businesses PLUS the selfless contributions of time from many individuals. THANK YOU to the Robert V. Lindsey VFW Post 10041, YKHC and YKHC Injury Prevention, Lynden Air Frieght, Bethel Police Department, Bethel Fire Department, Immaculate Conception Church, the Magic Man, Mike Calvetti, Gold Rush Liquor and Swansons Store. With everyones support, the VFW Auxiliary raised over $8,000.00 for scholarships, funeral and medical assistance, Americanism, Veterans recognition and Veterans family support. LaTesia M. Guinn VFW Auxiliary Bras n Bros Chairperson Post 10041, Bethel AK Lets stand as one, not as divided tribes It has been a while since I last wrote. To my displeasure of some leaders of this region, I dont need to name names as you know who you are. There are a select few of us without getting compensated are trying our best to help this region. I personally have spent countless hours of phone conversations with some respected and tireless elders and real leaders that affect our economically depressed region. I applaud those that had the courage to attend last weeks first YK Delta Intertribal Conference. Alcohol was the main topic first day and many of the attendees were affected by this very hard topic. From my perspective it was a good turnout. Many spoke out mostly because there already have been many preventable and premature deaths. Young and old have died from alcohol since the liquor store opened. I would like for the City of Bethel to reconsider their position with the two that are open now. The AC and BNCs licenses to operate. Needless to say the BNCs store has not been operating after the leaders of that corporation advocated publically that it is time. Time for the younger generation to learn how to drink moderation and what not. One old man from Bethel testified when the Wild Goose was open back in the late 70s which was heartbreaking. As for the AC liquor store, what has it brought to our delta? Are they going to send food, attention, comfort, and especially LOVE to those children that are being neglected? The money that AC liquor store earns is only benefitting a Canadian company. I can only imagine if they earned 2.7 million last quarter to date this delta contributed over 5 million dollars by now. It is time that we stand as one not as divided tribes. These organizations that you tribes erected have their own agendas. We tried and cried wolf but never got heard but turned the other way. With that being said I hope you tribes can come together. We can all agree to disagree as united tribes and great people of this Yupik, Cupik, Cupig, and Athabaskans of this great region. Steven M Alexie Napaskiak, AK You, Womens History, and the Power of Social Security March is Womens History Month a time to focus not just on the past, but also on the challenges women continue to face. Nearly 60 percent of the people receiving Social Security benefits are women, and in the 21st century, more women work, pay Social Security taxes, and earn credit toward monthly retirement income than at any other time in our nations history. Knowing this, you can be the author of your own rich and independent history, with a little preparation. Social Security has served a vital role in the lives of women for over 80 years. With longer life expectancies than men, women tend to live more years in retirement and have a greater chance of exhausting other sources of income. With the national average life expectancy for women in the United States rising, many women will have decades to enjoy retirement. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a female born today can expect to live more than 80 years. As a result, experts generally agree that if women want to ensure that their retirement years are comfortable, they need to plan early and wisely. You can start with a visit to Social Securitys Retirement Estimator. It gives you a personalized estimate of your retirement benefits. Plug in different retirement ages and projected earnings to get an idea of how such things might change your future benefit amounts. You can use this valuable tool at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator. You should also visit Social Securitys financial planning website at www.socialsecurity.gov/planners. It provides detailed information about how marriage, widowhood, divorce, self-employment, government service, and other life or career events can affect your Social Security. Your benefit is determined based on your earnings. You can create your personal my Social Security account to verify that your earnings are correct. Your account also can provide estimates of future retirement, disability, and survivors benefits. If you want more information about how Social Security supports women through lifes journey, Social Security has a booklet that you may find useful. It is Social Security: What Every Woman Should Know. You can find it online at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10127.html. Robin Schmidt Social Security Administration Alaska Public Affairs Specialist Share this: Tweet Email Tatiana Vaughn Korthuis of Bethel was selected as an intern for Senator Lisa Murkowski. She will be interning during the second session this summer from July 8th through August 2nd, 2019. Korthuis attends Mount Edgecumbe High School in Sitka. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today (April 22nd, 2019) announced the selection of this years interns, young Alaskans who will work in her Washington, D.C. office during the upcoming summer. Senator Murkowskis summer internship program consists of twenty recent high school graduates who will participate in two separate, month-long sessions as well as two current college students who will serve as Intern Coordinators for the duration of the summer. Year after year I look forward to the opportunity to invite some of the best young people from around the state of Alaska to intern in my office in D.C. These Alaskans join my office to work on different projects and job shadow me. They have the unique adventure of living in our nations capital and to learn not only about the U.S. Senate itself but our nations history. It is a truly exceptional program for young people, said Senator Murkowski. Having interned for Senator Ted Stevens when I was a student, I still appreciate all the things that experience taught me about Congress and about Washington, D.C. My hope is that this internship truly makes a lasting impact. Senator Murkowski also welcomes two college students to serve as this summers intern coordinators. Clara Baldwin of Anchorage and Richard Schok of Fairbanks will supervise and counsel summer interns in partnership with members of Murkowskis staff. Baldwin is a currently attending the University of Alaska in Anchorage, studying economics and public policy. Schok is currently attending the University of Arizona in Tucson, studying finance and operations management. FIRST SESSION INTERNS: June 3 through June 28 Alexiah Marie Ahkiviana, Utgiagvik (Barrow) Hannah Rose Altland, Craig Hannah Rose Delker, Soldotna Carlee Megan Rizzo, Kenai Charitie Ropati, Anchorage Scott Damon Santaella, Anchorage Ezekiel William Schnabel, Fairbanks Anthony Michael Spanos, Eagle River Edith Alice Spear, Utgiagvik (Barrow) Nicole Zelener, Anchorage SECOND SESSION INTERNS: July 8 through August 2 Christopher James Brown, Ketchikan Teller Finn Carnahan, Anchorage Tatiana Vaughn Korthuis, Bethel Ayden Raymond Kovol, Anchorage Selma Louise Matiashowski, Juneau Elizabeth Eilean Mears, Unalaska Kaeli Rae Peltola, Anchorage Kali Brynne Spencer, Eagle River Riley Kristina Vivlamore, Fairbanks Riley Rebecca von Borstel, Seward BACKGROUND: Murkowskis summer interns will assist in the offices day-to-day clerical and administrative tasks such as directing mail, interacting with Alaska visitors, and assisting staff with policy-related research projects. Interns will also have the opportunity to shadow Senator Murkowski in her daily work in the U.S. Senate and around the Capitol in order to obtain a first-hand view of the Senators work for Alaska and the nation. While Senator Murkowski historically already pays her summer interns through her office budget (while returning money to the Treasury each year), she authored legislation with Senator Schatz of Hawaii to pay Senate interns who are dedicating their time to support offices. The legislation became law in September 2018. For more information on internship opportunities in the office of Senator Murkowski, please contact Senator Murkowskis press office at 202-224-9301 or 202-224-8069. Visit our website at http://murkowski.senate.gov Share this: Tweet Email The University of Alaska, Anchorage (UAA) and Ravn Air Group (Ravn), Alaskas largest regional airline, today (April 17th, 2019) announced the launch of the countrys first-ever program that allows students to simultaneously complete their aviation degree (by earning final course credits in the air) at the same time they get jobs and are paid to fly as regional airline pilots. In this innovative new college degree/paid employee job program, local Alaska-based students who are in UAAs accredited aviation program, and at the point where they are already certified through their college studies and aviation training to fly passengers, can now put those skills into practical use as full-time Ravn second-in-command pilots while earning their final semester of course credits required for graduation. The innovative program is an unprecedented partnership between a university and airline and is the first and only program in the nation for providing students with paid airline pilot jobs while they complete their undergraduate education. We are thrilled to work with the University of Alaska to provide a new pathway that can accelerate careers in Alaska commercial aviation, said Dave Pflieger, Ravn Air Group President & CEO. A program like this will not only contribute to great, local jobs for Alaskans, it will provide eligible students with an expedited career path into the rewarding and exciting airline industry. Given the current nationwide and world-wide pilot shortage, its a win-win for aspiring commercial pilots and our aviation industry here in Alaska. Another key objective of the UAA-Ravn internship program is to train applicants in industry best practice safety processes and procedures with the goal of making aviation safer in Alaska. With its own top priority of aviation safety, Ravn not only has an FAA-approved Safety Management System (SMS), it is Alaskas first regional airline to be accredited by the International Air Transportation Association (IATA), the global standard for airline safety and operations management. We are extremely excited to partner with Ravn on this ground-breaking new program that benefits our students, our local economy, and our State, said Denise Runge, Dean of the UAA Community and Technical College. Having the opportunity to get an education in the classroom coupled with practical industry experience with Alaskas largest regional airline and one of the largest employers here in the State is invaluable. Pilots in the new UAA Ravn paid internship program will be able to move from a classroom and flight school setting to actual commercial pilot flying with the opportunity to fly regularly scheduled flights while being supervised by highly experienced airline pilots, check airmen, and UAA program faculty members. Those who enroll in the UAA/Ravn pilot training program and get simultaneously hired by Ravn will be added to the Ravn pilot seniority list where they will be eligible for salaries starting of $36,000 per year; $15,000 annual retention bonuses; and Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Certification Training Program (CTP) reimbursement. For information on the ATA A295 and ATA A495 Aviation / Pilot Internship Programs, please visit: https://catalog.uaa.alaska.edu/coursedescriptions/ata/#sthash.QPluplDl.dpuf Share this: Tweet Email PLEASE NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) You can leave a response , or trackback from your own site. by Kathleen Gilbert BEIJING, September 7, 2012, (LifeSiteNews.com) Escaped Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng is leading international opponents of forced abortion in calling upon the worlds largest company to end compliance with the Chinas one-child policy. Family planning police have targeted employees (569) Sign up below to have the hottest Catholic news delivered to your email daily! Close Sign up below to have the hottest Catholic news delivered to your email daily! Church Militant, we need to band together to protect our religious liberties and win the culture war! Sercel 508 land acquisition system passes 1 million VP milestone in Saudi Arabia CGG announced the successful large-scale deployment of Sercel's new-generation 508 land seismic acquisition system on a high-productivity super crew conducting a seismic survey in Saudi Arabia. The system is currently deployed on a crew operated by ARGAS, CGG's joint venture with TAQA, and achieved the milestone of one million VPs (Vibrated Points) in January 2016. Since its launch in 2013, the 508 has been successfully field-proven in the toughest conditions in various environments, such as Arctic, farmland and desert areas. The ARGAS land crew has been working in Saudi Arabia since October 2015, where it has consistently provided outstanding vibroseis production rates while recording highly accurate seismic data. The crew is currently operating with 12 fleets of two Sercel Nomad 65 Neo all-terrain broadband vibrators using the DS4 (Distance-Separated Simultaneous Slip-Sweep) vibroseis source method. For data recording, the crew is employing nearly 40,000 channels and 360,000 sensors in a 150 km2 active spread. Its deployment on this high-channel-count survey enables the Sercel 508 system to demonstrate the full benefits of its game-changing cross-technology (X-Tech) architecture, which combines the best of cabled and wireless system characteristics to optimize crew productivity and reduce operational downtime. Pascal Rouiller, Sercel CEO, said: 'This new performance milestone underlines Sercel's success at designing the most advanced equipment solutions to meet the needs of high-productivity seismic acquisition programs. We believe that our 508's unique X-Tech recording capabilities represent a breakthrough for all our customers, whether they wish to maximize crew productivity or increase their operating flexibility.' Saad S. Al-Akeel, ARGAS CEO, said: 'In addition to the direct benefits of its X-Tech architecture, the 508's low power consumption combined with a requirement for less field units and batteries brings a significant weight saving, directly impacting our crew productivity and minimizing our HSE exposure. In addition, the 508 equipment is easy to manage and its reliability so far has been excellent.' Associated Companies CGG Arace: MLS announcers signed off, don't know if they can sign back on columns The defence ministry is working on proposals to further open up and streamline the defence procurement process. These include allowing the private sector to manufacture ammunition and longer tenures for Army officers in the acquisition wing to ensure continuity, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Thursday. As the requirement for various types of ammunition by the Army keeps changing, the private sector will be given orders for 10 years to ensure financial viability, Parrikar said while speaking at the inaugural session of the Defence Innovators and Industry Association in Delhi. As of now, only the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) is permitted to manufacture ammunition. Also the short duration of Army officers in the acquisition wing delays procedures as personnel are frequently replaced. Parrikar said the defence ministry was planning to create a separate set-up for acquisition and OFB, both for capital and revenue streams. Observing that the Army has a particular rule regarding such short postings, he said it also had to take into consideration the need of the organisation and relaxation had to be given for those involved in this kind of specialised set-up. ''The set-up will be in place in the current calendar year,'' Parrikar said. Military officers are usually not keen on extended stints in the acquisition wing as it would deprive them of field responsibilities, a prerequisite for their promotion to higher ranks. In addition to revising the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) which is to be released soon, Parrikar said there is need to tweak the Defence Procurement Manual (DPM) and the OFB procurement procedures to streamline the process and ensure transparency. The jury in the inquest into the deaths of eight men killed in the States worst road accident have returned a verdict of unlawful killing consistent with dangerous driving. The verdict was returned by the jury of four women and three men just before 8 p.m. on Friday after three days of evidence and legal argument at the inquest in Buncrana. Shaun Kelly,27, of Ballymagan, Buncrana, is serving a jail sentence after admitting dangerous driving causing the eight deaths at Dumfries on the R238 between Buncrana and Clonmany on July 11th 2010. Seven young men who were travelling in the black Volkswagen Passat driven by Shaun Kelly died. The men in the car were: Eamonn McDaid, 22; Mark McLaughlin, 21; Paul Doherty, 19; Ciaran Sweeney 19;PJ McLaughlin, 21; James McEleney, 23, and Damien McLaughlin, 21. Hugh Friel, 66, who was travelling on his own in his red Toyota Corolla after attending bingo in Buncrana, was also killed. The eight men all died at the scene of the accident while Mr. Kelly suffered serious injuries. The third day of the inquest heard that a Garda forensic report found that the VW Passat driven by Mr Kelly was almost a metre over the white line when it struck a car coming in the opposite direction, seconds before the fatal collision with Mr. Friels car. Coroner Dr. John Madden had ruled the admission of an engineer's report carried out on behalf of Mr. Kelly as inadmissible. The coroner allowed the Garda forensic report to be admitted despite an objection from Mr. Kellys legal team. Mr Kellys solicitor, Ciaran MacLochlainn, told the inquest that his client had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving but had not pleaded guilty to causing the accident. Forensic collision investigator Garda Kevin Giles said the Passat struck a Renault Megane driven by Anne McGilloway before turning 90 degrees and colliding sideways with Mr. Friels car a further 44 metres down the road towards Buncrana. He said the first contact with the Megane was 0.9 metres on Mrs McGilloways side of the road. This was disputed by Mr. Kellys counsel, Peter Nolan, who said the collision occurred on Mr. Kellys side of the road. The Toyota Corolla was stopped by the impact and pushed a further 14 metres back before both cars came to rest off the road after hitting a pole. The passenger side of the Passat collided with the Corolla. Garda Giles said the Passat was travelling at a much greater speed than the Corolla. While he couldn't determine definitively what speed the Passat was travelling at, Garda Giles said excessive speed by Mr. Kellys car must be considered as a factor in the accident. Dr Madden said the inquest was the most difficult one he had been involved in, describing it as stressful and tiring. This is the worst inquest I have ever been at. The worst road traffic collision in the history of the State. It shocked not just Inishowen and Donegal but people all over Ireland and beyond Ireland, he said. This is not going to solve anything for the families but it might give you one less hurdle to jump over as you get on with the rest of your lives. Ronald Moede was born on December 21, 1934, in Rio Creek, WI. The son of the late Fred and Emily (Hanamann) Moede, he married Bonnie Neinas in Brussels on June 4, 1960, and they were married for 62+ years. He was a life-long resident of Rio Creek and was an innovative dairy farmer. He owned and managed a large dairy operation, Meade Manor Farms, which had been homesteaded by his grandfather, August Moede, in 1895. The log cabin home, barn, and herd grew to become one of the larger dairy farms in Kewaunee County under his guidance. Upon his retirement, it evolved into Meade Manor Pet Clinic, a vet service for small animals, but the land continued to flourish and produce. Ron graduated from Casco High School, Class of 1952 and Graham School for Cattlemen, Kansas. He was a member of the Wisconsin Holstein Breeders, Kewaunee County Holstein Breeders, and the National Holstein Association. He was a charter member of the Algoma FFA Alumni. His family exhibited champion dairy cattle at local, state, and national dairy cattle shows. In 1984, in Madison, the Wisconsin FFA named him Outstanding Farmer and in 1995, he was named and honored at the Wisconsin State Fair as a Century Farmer. He served as an elder in his church for many years as well as a trustee and various committee appointments. In his younger days, he was active in dartball and also high school sports. He received the Algoma Honorary Chapter Farmer Award, and the Unified Board Business Award. In his retirement, he drove school bus for 15 years for the Algoma School District and was a member of the Great Lakes Sports Fishermen. A hobby later enjoyed was his chicken farming. He raised a small flock of chicken, and he enjoyed passing out extra eggs to friends and relatives when the supply was greater than the family could handle. He was an avid sports fan and he and Bonnie attended both Packers Super Bowl games in 1996 and 1997, and also the Milwaukee World Series in 1983. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, both here and in upper Michigan and Minnesota. He even got Bonnie to go along with him to Lake of the Woods on the Canadian border to do some ice fishing. He held Packers season tickets since 1960 and at the time they bought their tickets they were allowed to pick out where they wanted to sit on the sidelines --there were no end zone seats yet-- and the tickets cost $5.00 a piece! He traveled through most of the U.S. including Alaska and Hawaii as well as traveling to the Caribbean and Europe. He enjoyed a summer place in Door County for 20 years. He told many stories of farming with his dad and the fact that at the age of 12, he had his own team of horses to work with on the farm. Responsibility came early as he was left in charge whenever it was necessary for his parents to be gone for a few days. He learned to drive a truck at an early age and often drove himself to school in 8th grade and parked the vehicle a few doors down at a relatives. This was because chores need to be done before and after school. The first tractor purchased was in 1937. In his retirement, he had it restored and displayed in local fairs and tractor shows. He would tell of shocking grain and threshing crews traveling from neighbor to neighbor and the wonderful table his mother would set full of food. A vivid memory was the day WWII ended. The whole neighborhood and working crew quit in the early afternoon (unheard of) and celebrated With beer and music! Even the clergy arrived and joined in. It was a day to remember! In his lifetime he went from horses and the depression, to the digital age and unimagined luxuries. There was no electricity and no running water in his youth and now he had wireless phones, computer screens in his vehicles, along with heated steering wheels and heated seats. Who would have thought that back then. Ron is survived by his wife Bonnie; son Robert (Debbie Harms) Moede; grandson Michael and granddaughter Megan; siblings, Terry (Jane) Moede, Paul (Roxie) Moede; sisters-in-law, Diane Fontaine, Sheila (Don) Baudhuin; and brothers in-law, Dan (Mary) Neinas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Emily Moede; sister, Marilyn (Arno) Schneider; father- and mother-in-law, Herman and Madeline Neinas, and brother-in-law, Gary Fontaine. Visitation will be held at Kinnard Funeral & Cremation Services Algoma, on Friday, October 7, 2022, from 4-7:30 pm with a prayer service at 6:30. Visitation will continue on Saturday, October 8th at St. Johns Lutheran Church Rankin, from 9-11:00 am. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 am with Dr. Rev. Christopher Jackson officiating. Burial to follow in Evergreen Cemetery. Online condolence message may be shared at KinnardFCS.com. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Kewaunee County 4-H Dairy Fund and the Projection Screen Fund at St. Johns- Rankin. Dean A. Dashner, 56, a resident of Ozark, AL passed away Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at a local hospital. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 29, 2016 at the Sunset Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Tommy Giddens officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Sunset Memorial Park with Robert Byrd directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 4pm until 6pm Sunday. Robert Byrd of Sunset Memorial Park Funeral Home 334-983-6604 www.SunsetMemorialPark.com. Sign the guest book at www.dothaneagle.com Sorry... ..An error has occured: If you have any queries about this error, try emailing feedback@mirror.co.uk and we'll do what we can to help you. ZID:308457493 dpa ElectionsData With dpa ElectionsData you get access to a unique collection of data. Via a programming interface (Rest-API), your developers can access detailed information, candidate profiles and live results for all national elections in the European Union and important international elections, like the US Midterm elections etc. The data pool also includes all heads of state and government as well as about 20,000 elected members of parliament throughout the EU. In addition to their data (name, party, constituency or list position), we collect social media profiles and official websites of individuals and parties. A package delivery always excites me, I really dont care how big or small a package was, the thought that someone made an effort to send something makes me happy. So as soon as I got the parcel notice from our usual post man on a Friday, I instantly wished it was a Monday already so I can claim my package because the notice said to claim on Mondays or Wednesday PM only! Monday came, I still have to do my usual Monday routine, take my daughter to her school and therapy and then back home. I took my parcel notice with me, readied my Php35.00 and a valid ID to claim it. Off I went to Novaliches Post Office where all parcels from my area of the city are to be claimed. Claiming parcels in this post office wasnt new to me, Ive been doing this for so many years now and everything was a breeze. My usual routine was show my parcel notice to the post office people, wait a few minutes until my name is called, show my ID, have the custom inspector check the package, pay the Php35.00 claim receipt, sign the ledger, leave. That was the usual routine I expected but not today, everything was different. The area where we claim parcels was transfered to the other side of the building. There was a lady sitting on a desk outside the room where parcels are released, she will get your notice, slip it in a window hole behind her, to another lady sitting on another desk in the room, then another girl will call the claimants name, then another one sitting on another desk will show you your parcel and issue you the receipt for your claim. All these women are Philippine Postal Office employees wearing the same uniform. When my name was called, I was asked to sit at the chair by the desk of the post office woman number 2 (the woman sitting behind the window inside the room) and had a mini-interview with her. Post office woman number 2 (pown2): Nag-aaral ka pa ba? (Are you still studying?) Me: Hindi po. (No) POWN2: Nagtatrabaho ka na ba? (Are you working?) Me: Hindi po. (No) POWN2: Paano ka kumikita? (How do you earn?) Me: (Stunned with the line of questioning I was given I said I dont earn in any other way.) Mind you, POWN2 was not looking at me when we were talking, she was busy tinkering with some papers and some stuff in her desk drawer. She pointed me to the other woman on the other desk, POWN3. Going Postal POWN3: (showed me the package and pointed to the declared amount of the goods) Iha ang mahal o, ano bang pinaglalagay ng sweatheart mo dito? (Ms. this package is expensive, do you know what your sweatheart sent you?) Me: Mga dokumento po yan saka may singsing daw at hikaw (Some documents, a ring and earrings) POWN3: Halika maupo ka, wala pa yung custom eh, lumabas lang. Naku ang mahal ng customs tax na babayaran mo dito. Ang mahal ng laman eh tignan mo o. (Come sit down first, our custom officer is not here yet, he just went out. You know, youll be paying a hefty amount of customs tax for this. You package is so expensive, look.) Me: Trying to act innocently. Naku! Magkano ho kaya? (Oh no! How much do you think Ill have to pay?) POWN3: Sa tantya ko mga Php1,200 ay hindi sandali (pretending to look on a chart) mga lagpas Php2,000 yan. Me: Naku! Ang mahal naman! Bakit ganun. Wala akong perang ganyan. Wala akong pera. San naman ako kukuha ng ganyan kalaking halaga. Ayaw ko na yan. Ibalik nalang ninyo sa nagpadala. (Oh no! Thats so expensive! I dont have that kind of amount. I dont have money. Where in the hands of God will I get such huge amount. I dont want that. Just send it back to the sender.) I was kinda hysterical in this part as I was very much annoyed since I know the custom tax for this package was already paid for by the sender. Besides, Ive claimed shoes, books, jewelries, clothes etc. and all I was asked to pay was Php 35.00 by the customs officer. I cant understand why this package has to be different. POWN3 was trying to calm me, she was trying to be nice by giving me nice compliments. She even praised my necklace that she said looks expensive. She even know that it was diamonds and some precious stone. Then she asked me to sit down again and told me she can do me a favor by lowering the customs tax amount I will have to pay. She said she will tell the customs officer that I was her neighbor and we are really close. POWN3: Upo ka muna. Pwede naman na kalahati nalang ang bayaran mo dito eh. (Please sit down. I can help you pay just half of the tax for this). Me: Magkano naman yun? (How much is that?) I asked. POWN3: Php 1,000.00 Me: Ano! Wala akong pera! Kababayad ko lang ng tuition fee ng anak ko. (What! I dont have money! I just paid my daughters tuition fee.) POWN3: Sandali. Magkano ba kaya mo? (Wait! How much can you pay?) Me: 100. POWN3: Masyadong maliit ang mahal nito oh (Thats too small this (package) is expensive) Pointing to the declaration slip. Me: Naku wala talaga akong pera. (I really dont have the money) POWN3: Baka pwede mo nang gawan ng paraan. Humingi ka nalang sa kanya Kahit mga 350 nalang apat kami dito oh. (Can you do something about it. Why dont you ask money from him (referring to the person who sent the package) We will accept 350 for the four of us here.) Me: Sandali, lalabas muna ako. (Wait, Ill go out first) I left the room. Went to an internet shop near the post office and went online to rant about the annoying incident. I posted at my social network sites namely Facebook and Plurk and sent an email to someone I know from the main of the Philippine Post Office to look into this matter. I was letting-off steam and when I cooled down I went back to the post office. I waited for a couple of minutes until the 4th woman noticed me and called me in. POWN3: Akala ko san ka na nagpunta eh. (We thought you were gone.) Me: Naghanap lang ako ng pera. (I just went to look for money). I really insisted that I dont have the money so they cant milk me any more than I can give them. I think the post office people heard a sound of relief with what I said. So she took my package again and gave it to me. Hand me my receipt bearing Php35.00 in it and made me sign the ledger. POWN3: Eto oh masyadong highblood. Para ka nang ibon kanina eh. Buti nalang maganda ka. (Youre so impatient. You sounded like a twitting bird earlier. Your lucky you are pretty). I handed POWN2 a Php100.00 and gave me a Php65.00 change. I said thats all the money I got. I handed the Php50.00 back to them and told them Ill keep the Php15.00 for my fare because thats all the money I got. POWN3 didnt saw how much I paid because she was busy with another victim, poor lady who was claiming a huge box so I was able to leave without any more commotion. Inside, I was partly blaming my boyfriend for the hassle of being so honest with his declaration on the amount of the items he sent. I partly blamed myself for not telling him not to be honest in his declaration in the packing slip. However, I shouldnt blame my boyfriend for his honesty because he was doing the right thing. I should blaming the post office people for their corrupt ways. I wouldnt mind paying Php2,000.00 if they can issue me a receipt. I could wait for that customs officer and ask him how much does my package really cost and pay the amount that is written on the receipt. Honesty will get you nowhere in this country with the bureaucracy and the system of corruption embedded in our government system its either you are with them our you are out. So, to anyone who will be sending packages from abroad to Philippines I suggest that you use private courier services like DHL or FEDEX, every transaction is on paper and there is no question and sometimes if you are a regular customer they will ask you to declare smaller amount ( a little white lie) so you wouldnt have to pay big. P.S. This incident is not an isolated case, there are a lot of friends I know who were a victim of this system of corruption in the Philippine Post Office and most of them are not as gutsy as me to haggle at a very low amount. Following an investigation by the office of Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, philandering Republicans Cindy Gamrat and Todd Courser have had multiple felony charges filed against them today: Former state reps Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat will face felony charges for their role in a scandal to cover-up their extramarital affair, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced Friday. The charges, according to the attorney generals office, are: Gamrat: Two charges of Misconduct in Office, MCL 750.505, a felony, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or a maximum $10,000 fine. Courser: Three charges of Misconduct in Office, MCL 750.505, a felony, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or a maximum $10,000 fine. One charge of Perjury, MCL 750.423, a felony, with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The charges were filed this morning in Ingham County District Court, and both of the former lawmakers will be contacted by their attorneys and have been offered the chance to turn themselves in to the Michigan State Police, according to the attorney generals office. The Detroit Free Press has more: Schuette obtained warrants in Ingham County courts for four felonies against Courser: lying under oath to the Select Committee in the House of Representatives, a 15-year felony; and three counts of misconduct in office in connection with asking staffers to send a false e-mail, lying to the House Business Office and asking staffers to forge his signature on proposed legislation. The two felonies against Gamrat also are for misconduct in office, a five year felony, for asking staffers to sign her name and lying to the House Business Office. No word yet on whether or not any charges will be filed by House Republican leaders essentially looked the other way as the two former legislators cheated on their spouses together and broke multiple laws. Given that Schuette will be seeking their support when he runs for governor in a few years, my money is on them getting away with their malfeasance. However, former Courser and Gamrat staffers Keith Allard and Ben Graham still have a lawsuit pending against House Speaker Cotter and the House of Representatives so theres always the chance that will bear some fruit. Stay tuned as this disgusting worm continues its inexorable turn [If youre just joining the story, all my posts about it can be found HERE. Give yourself plenty of time. 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That's the message from the Chief Minister who says there will be implications for the Island whether the UK votes to leave the European Union or remain in it. The vote will take place on June 23rd - some Manx residents who have lived in the UK in the past 15 years will be eligible to vote. Allan Bell says a 'brexit' is likely to have the most immediate impact: Media Chief Minister Allan Bell Homeschooling - mother tongue languages, home country programs et al. I believe I am not the only one who prepares her kid at home, after work and school, in the program of her country of origin. She is scheduled to take the exams, follows the program at home with me, has her books and script writing-phonetics, etc. I take her to my old primary everytime I have to truck myself home for studies and family, and her adoptive teacher with the entire class have been very supportive and thrilled (there are more of these little travellers-kids, who spend some time abroad and some here with their grandparents). She also takes art classes out of school, takes photography, shoots and hikes with her uncles. Her level of mother tongue is native, a tiny accent. She plays with local kids after school and keeps a penfriend. Does recess sometimes and requested school lunches, too. Anyways - the work of the local teacher is amazing, she just did this with the class. She has 30 kids, they have 5 classes a day, no afternoon, go to theaters and school camps and are about a year ahead compared to the Swiss program (sci, history, math). How does this work? The reasons I put my kid through this is (she actually considers it her own mission, I would prefer not to stress too much and maybe not go home so often, since it is tiring and I still have my own studies) - so she can communicate with her family, so she has the option to study at home, a degree in primary and secondary qualifies her for no exam entrance to a free specialized high school and so her schooling advances a little faster. They just memorize all in her Swiss program. Another reason is so she forgets about being bullied in CH, the environment in home school is very accepting and helpful. She likes her individuality. Anyways - what are your experiences? Does the interest of your kids last? Did it pay off? Is it worth having your mother tongue supported? Do kids later on focus only on their Swiss program only as stuff gets more complicated? Do they come to see family on their own? What are the biggest obstacles - how do you nurture especially the mother tongue acquisition (movies, radio, playdates..)? Do kids see it as fun or work? Do they keep their mother tongue local buddies? My mother tongue is too difficult, by the way, to want to master it later on, it is difficult for kids as it is, impossible for grown ups, so I want her to have a headstart, just in case she is interested in something CH edu system does not offer. She is trilingual. My students in CH are tri-quadru lingual, too. I love that about Switzerland and consider it an amazing advantage. She just started German but refused to go with me to Dresden to practice (since apparently they do not speak the correct German there, yeah, her German teacher is Swiss German). What is the most tiring part for you--the tutor parent role mixing? The doubts if it even is worth all the effort? I don't go over board, just kinda stand behind all this and organize things without showing her all of the effort and logistics, she takes it as her own thing to manage. Any stories to tell? Are there rewards for efforts any of you do...does your family understand and help? Do they think you are being too nostalgic? Am I just too protective of a tiny language that is dying out? Have you cut all ties with your home land and developed a way to network just here, in CH? Is it easier for moms or dads? Is your own school experience helpful, do you ask friends-teachers for tips? And, most of all, it is not as intense as full time home schooling, she does a half to an hour a day, mixed with local and mother tongue prep. Sometimes she just reads or listens to stories in her mother tongue. Dear parents and tutors - a thread that I have thought about for a couple of years.I believe I am not the only one who prepares her kid at home, after work and school, in the program of her country of origin.She is scheduled to take the exams, follows the program at home with me, has her books and script writing-phonetics, etc.I take her to my old primary everytime I have to truck myself home for studies and family, and her adoptive teacher with the entire class have been very supportive and thrilled (there are more of these little travellers-kids, who spend some time abroad and some here with their grandparents). She also takes art classes out of school, takes photography, shoots and hikes with her uncles. Her level of mother tongue is native, a tiny accent. She plays with local kids after school and keeps a penfriend. Does recess sometimes and requested school lunches, too.Anyways - the work of the local teacher is amazing, she just did this with the class. She has 30 kids, they have 5 classes a day, no afternoon, go to theaters and school camps and are about a year ahead compared to the Swiss program (sci, history, math).The reasons I put my kid through this is (she actually considers it her own mission, I would prefer not to stress too much and maybe not go home so often, since it is tiring and I still have my own studies) - so she can communicate with her family, so she has the option to study at home, a degree in primary and secondary qualifies her for no exam entrance to a free specialized high school and so her schooling advances a little faster. They just memorize all in her Swiss program. Another reason is so she forgets about being bullied in CH, the environment in home school is very accepting and helpful. She likes her individuality.Anyways - what are your experiences? Does the interest of your kids last? Did it pay off? Is it worth having your mother tongue supported? Do kids later on focus only on their Swiss program only as stuff gets more complicated? Do they come to see family on their own? What are the biggest obstacles - how do you nurture especially the mother tongue acquisition (movies, radio, playdates..)? Do kids see it as fun or work? Do they keep their mother tongue local buddies?My mother tongue is too difficult, by the way, to want to master it later on, it is difficult for kids as it is, impossible for grown ups, so I want her to have a headstart, just in case she is interested in something CH edu system does not offer. She is trilingual. My students in CH are tri-quadru lingual, too. I love that about Switzerland and consider it an amazing advantage. She just started German but refused to go with me to Dresden to practice (since apparently they do not speak the correct German there, yeah, her German teacher is Swiss German).What is the most tiring part for you--the tutor parent role mixing? The doubts if it even is worth all the effort? I don't go over board, just kinda stand behind all this and organize things without showing her all of the effort and logistics, she takes it as her own thing to manage.Any stories to tell? Are there rewards for efforts any of you do...does your family understand and help? Do they think you are being too nostalgic? Am I just too protective of a tiny language that is dying out? Have you cut all ties with your home land and developed a way to network just here, in CH?Is it easier for moms or dads? Is your own school experience helpful, do you ask friends-teachers for tips?And, most of all, it is not as intense as full time home schooling, she does a half to an hour a day, mixed with local and mother tongue prep. Sometimes she just reads or listens to stories in her mother tongue. __________________ "L'homme ne peut pas remplacer son coeur avec sa tete, ni sa tete avec ses mains." J.H. Pestalozzi The only difference between a rut and a grave is a matter of depth. S.P. Cadman "Imagination is more important than knowledge." A. Einstein Strange/aweful experinece with Salt. Advice needed To begin with, I have a contract with Salt, I need to pay my plan and my phone bill every month. The problem started in August last year, when i paid my salt bill in a store. After I swiped my debit card, the shop ppl told me that the transaction did not go through. However, the transaction appeared in my account and the money is deducted. In my salt account the bill was also indicated as paid. So the people in the shop said ok. Nothing really happened until october when my Salt account was suspended and I got a few calls from them asking me to paid the bill. I was schocked, as you can imagine. At that point i couldn't find my receipt anymore, so I was asked to get the information from the bank. So I did, and I have sent them plenty of documents from the bank about the transaction. I also went to their stores to talk about it. The people in the store are totally useless on this issue, and they couldn't do anything but ask me to call costomer service. Anyways, everytime I sent them proof from my bank, they just said they couldn't find the transaction. At the same time, they sent me a 200 dollar bill for "not paying the bill". After two weeks, I got a email from their costomer service saying that they made a mistake, and the cancelled all penalty fees and unblocked my account. I thought it was over, until last month I got another bill of over 800 CHF and said the contract is terminated because I didn't pay bills. (WtF?) I gave them some calls again and they asked me to send them proofs. (again??) At that point I have found the receipts, but they said it isn't enough. (WTF??) I went to the stores a few times with my receipts trying to talk to them and see if it could speed things up. All the assisstant there are quite robotic about this again, just saying it's weird and apparently they have no idea what to do about this once the system is messed up. Anyways, I then just copy and paste the previous documents and send them again. At this moment I realize I couldn't pay my bills online anymore. And last week they gave me call, apologizing the inconvienice and said they would give me a 40CHF voucher for it. However they gave me an bank account and asked me to transfer the remaining 10 month fee for the phone in the contract, and after that I just need to pay for the plan only every month. Just wanna complaint about these messes with Salt and want to see if anyone has similar experience. Also wondering if anyone know do they have the right to ask me pay for the phone fee in advance. I don't mind doing so, just find it kind of strange. Bjorn's Viking future is looking bleak. 'Vikings' Season 4: Episodes To Cover A Massive Time Span, Actor Teases Major Power Upset The prince is currently toughing it out alone in the Nordic wilds, but by episode 4, Ragnar's (Travis Fimmel) son will find himself at the center of the most gruesome scene Vikings has ever shot - and that's even taking into account season 2's blood eagle and Aslaug's season 3 executions. "There were arguments all over History Channel about keeping that part," Alexander Ludwig (Bjorn) teased, according to TV Insider. "A lot of people said that it would be too graphic. Luckily, we had a champion. We had to keep it. It makes the story stronger." 'Vikings' Season 4: Clive Standen Lands Lead In 'Taken', Is This The End Of Rollo? The scene will appear in "Yol," and could have a little something to do with an episode 3 threat from Erlendur (Edvin Endre) and Kalf (Ben Robson). "Very, very nasty things happen to him," series creator Michael Hirst teased, according to TV Insider. Check out what's in store for "Yol," "The Yule Log burns in the Great Hall in Kattegat and, though Floki must remain out in the cold, other visitors are welcomed, among them a Norwegian King and Bjorn, with a new partner we've met before," History teased. "Ragnar is intrigued by the beautiful slave, Yidu, but her past remains a mystery." Catch Vikings Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on the History Channel. To reach me for collaborations, sponsorships, and event invitations, I am contactable at the-ice-angel@hotmail.com On an episode of ID the Future, University of Pittsburgh physicist David Snoke discusses biological information from the perspective of physics which is different, of course, from that of biology. Click here to download the episode: For biological information, Dr. Snoke suggests communication may be the more accurate term. Measuring that, whatever you call it, may be thought of as counting the number of ways a system can be broken. Picture opening up a car engine, or a cell in your body. There are many ways to break it so that it ceases functioning. Now picture a pile of garbage. Its pretty hard to think of a way you could break that! Image credit: CZmarlin (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. Samir Singh, currently Vice President & Executive Director, Personal Care at Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) will be taking over as the Global Executive Vice President, Skin Cleansing at Unilever. Sandeep Kohli, currently Vice President, Myanmar Cambodia & Laos will succeed Samir Singh as Vice President and Executive Director, Personal Care, HUL. Singh has successfully led the HUL Personal Care (PC) business to not just consolidate its position as the country's largest PC company, but also driven it to become one of the fastest growing beauty businesses in India. Sandeep Kohli brings with him a rich experience of developing Unilever business, brands and people from his stints across India, UK and the high potential D&E markets of South East Asia and Australasia (SEAA). Sanjiv Mehta, CEO and MD, HUL said, The new appointments reflect the Companys commitment towards leadership development and our tradition of leveraging talent across markets. This also emphasizes the importance of HUL and of India for Unilever. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Samir for his contribution to the HUL PC business. Under his leadership, we have accelerated the pace of innovations, built a Digital and Content development strategy and created new business models for India which will dramatically strengthen the PC business for the future, said Mr.Mehta and added, I am pleased to welcome Sandeep to his new role. I am confident that he will build on the growth momentum and drive the India PC business further ahead. Read more news about (ad news, latest advertising news India, internet advertising, ad agencies updates, media advertising India) Faculty of Humanities : Professors, associate professors, assistant professors and lecturers, Research, Development, Innovation, Education Wetenschappelijke discipline Language and Culture. Uren: 32,0 uren per week / Salaris 3400 - 5288. Short link: www.academictransfer.com/32560 The Department of Media and Culture Studies (MCW) at Utrecht University is looking for a candidate whose research adds to the three strands of our research programme 'Doing Gender: Media, Art and Politics'. These are: Art & Beyond (Cultural Industry; Aesthetics & Ethics); Postcoloniality & Social Justice (subaltern archive, postsecular, postsocialist citizenship, cosmopolitanism, migration, human rights, transitional justice, social inclusion and activism); Contemporary Feminist Theory (epistemologies, colonial, posthuman, affect theory, new media). Ideally, you should combine research and teaching experience in transdisciplinary feminist and postcolonial theories, with a special focus on activism, the arts and aesthetics in feminist, queer, critical race and/or critical whiteness studies. As an assistant professor in Gender Studies & Postcolonial Studies you will teach a selection of the following courses Introduction to Gender Studies (BA), Postcolonial Configurations (BA), Visuality and Technology (BA), Feminist Toolbox (MA), Art and Affect (MA), Feminist Research Practices (MA), Advanced Introduction to Gender Studies (RMA), Theories and Critical Research (RMA), Issues of Postcoloniality (RMA), The Body in Feminist Theory (RMA), tutorials and methodological research seminars for PhD candidates. We require for this position: experience in teaching on both Bachelor, (Research) Master and PhD level; considerable research output, evidence of which include a finished PhD and publications at an internationally recognized level; experience with successful applications for external funding is desirable; experience in a coordinating position is advantageous; good communication skills and team spirit; basic Teaching Qualification (BKO) according to Dutch university standards (or to be obtained within two years); fluency in English, preferably close to near-native standard; fluency in Dutch has to be obtained within two years. Arbeidsvoorwaarden The initial appointment will be on a temporary basis for a period of two years. Subject to satisfactory performance, this will be converted into a permanent position. The gross monthly salary for an assistant professors position will range from 3,400 to 5,288, for a full time position, consistent with the C.A.O. scale 11/12 (collective labour agreement) for Dutch Universities. The salary is supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3% per year. In addition, we offer a pension scheme, partial paid parental leave, flexible terms of employment, the possibility to participate in a collective health care plan, and other benefits. Conditions are based on the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. More information: working at Utrecht University. A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability. The Faculty of Humanities has around seven thousand students and nine hundred staff members. It comprises four knowledge domains: Philosophy and Religious Studies, History and Art History, Media and Culture Studies, and Languages, Literature and Communication. With its research and education in these fields, the Faculty aims to contribute to a better understanding of the Netherlands and Europe in a rapidly changing social and cultural context. The enthusiastic and committed colleagues and the excellent amenities in the historical city centre of Utrecht, where the Faculty is housed, contribute to an inspiring working environment. The department of Media and Culture Studies provides education and conducts research in the fields of film, television, games, new media and digital culture, visual arts, theatre, dance and performance, gender and postcolonialism, music and cultural policies. Culture is a dynamic mix of artistic, creative and everyday practices with which people shape their identities and actions, and within which societal structures and institutions take shape. Media (old and new) are crucial factors in these processes. The Graduate Gender Programme (GGeP) is placed in the department of Media and Culture Studies. The scholars from the various research groups in Media and Culture Studies often work together in order to explore different facets of the role played by gender, ethnicity, art, culture, and media in present-day society. The Gender Studies research focuses on processes of in- and exclusion and diversity in a broad range of media, cultural and artistic performances, which are studied within their intermedial context. We pay particular attention to the relation between historical and contemporary developments, transmedial and intermedial phenomena, social and cultural inclusion and diversity, activism, cultural heritage and the digital humanities. The Gender Studies research group is further embedded in the Research Institute of Cultural Inquiry (ICON) in the faculty of the Humanities, the UU research area Institutions and the focus research area Culture, Citizenship and Human Rights. UU Gender Studies also directs the Netherlands Research School of Gender Studies (NOG) and is the initiator of the Postcolonial Studies Initiative (PCI). Additionele informatie For additional inquiries please contact Prof. dr. Rosemarie Buikema by e-mail: R.L.Buikema@uu.nl. For detailed information about research and teaching programmes of the UU Gender Studies Department please check www.genderstudies.nl and www.graduategenderstudies.nl. A growing number of pollinator species worldwide are being driven toward extinction by diverse pressures, many of them human-made, threatening millions of livelihoods and hundreds of billions of dollars worth of food supplies, according to the first global assessment of pollinators. However, the assessment, a two-year study conducted and released today by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), also highlights a number of ways to effectively safeguard pollinator populations. The assessment, titled Thematic Assessment of Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production and the first ever issued by IPBES, is a groundbreaking effort to better understand and manage a critical element of the global ecosystem. It is also the first assessment of its kind that is based on the available knowledge from science and indigenous and local knowledge systems. IPBES was founded four years ago with 124 member nations to form a crucial intersection between international scientific understanding and public policy making. Pollinators are economically, socially and culturally important "Pollinators are important contributors to world food production and nutritional security," said Vera Lucia Imperatriz-Fonseca, Ph.D., co-chair of the assessment and Senior Professor at the University of Sao Paulo. "Their health is directly linked to our own well-being." There are more than 20,000 species of wild bees alone, plus many species of butterflies, flies, moths, wasps, beetles, birds, bats and other animals that contribute to pollination. Pollinated crops include those that provide fruit, vegetables, seeds, nuts and oils. Many of these are important dietary sources of vitamins and minerals, without which the risks of malnutrition might be expected to increase. "Without pollinators, many of us would no longer be able to enjoy coffee, chocolate and apples, among many other foods that are part of our daily lives," said Simon Potts, Ph.D., the other assessment co-chair and Professor of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, United Kingdom More than three-quarters of the world's food crops rely at least in part on pollination by insects and other animals. Between US$235 billion and US$577 billion worth of annual global food production relies on direct contributions by pollinators. The volume of agricultural production dependent on animal pollination has increased by 300 per cent during the past 50 years, but pollinator-dependent crops show lower growth and stability in yield than crops that do not depend on pollinators. Nearly 90 per cent of all wild flowering plants depend at least to some extent on animal pollination. In addition to food crops, pollinators contribute to crops that provide biofuels (e.g. canola and palm oils), fibers (e.g cotton), medicines, forage for livestock, and construction materials. Some species also provide materials such as beeswax for candles and musical instruments, and arts and crafts. Various factors affecting pollinators The assessment found that an estimated 16 per cent of vertebrate pollinators are threatened with global extinction - increasing to 30 per cent for island species - with a trend towards more extinctions. Although most insect pollinators have not been assessed at a global level, regional and national assessments indicate high levels of threat, particularly for bees and butterflies - with often more than 40 per cent of invertebrate species threatened locally. "Wild pollinators in certain regions, especially bees and butterflies, are being threatened by a variety of factors," said IPBES Vice-Chair, Sir Robert Watson. "Their decline is primarily due to changes in land use, intensive agricultural practices and pesticide use, alien invasive species, diseases and pests, and climate change." Declines in regional wild pollinators have been confirmed for North Western Europe and in North America. Although local cases of decline have been documented in other parts of the world, data are too sparse to draw broad conclusions. The assessment found that pesticides, including neonicotinoid insecticides, threaten pollinators worldwide, although the long-term effects are still unknown. A pioneering study conducted in farm fields showed that one neonicotinoid insecticide had a negative effect on wild bees, but the effect on managed honeybees was less clear. "While gaps remain in our knowledge of pollinators, we have more than enough evidence to act," Prof. Imperatriz-Fonseca said. Pests and diseases pose a special threat to managed bees, but the risk can be reduced through better disease detection and management, and regulations relating to trade and movement of bees. Genetically modified crops are usually either tolerant to herbicides or resistant to pest insects. The former reduces the availability of weeds, which supply food for pollinators. The latter often results in lower use of insecticides and may reduce pressure on beneficial insects including pollinators. However, the sub-lethal and indirect effects of GM crops on pollinators are poorly understood and not usually accounted for in risk assessments. Pollinators are also threatened by the decline of practices based on indigenous and local knowledge. These practices include traditional farming systems; maintenance of diverse landscapes and gardens; kinship relationships that protect specific pollinators; and cultures and languages that are connected to pollinators. Numerous options exist to safeguard pollinators "The good news is that a number of steps can be taken to reduce the risks to pollinators, including practices based on indigenous and local knowledge," said Zakri Abdul Hamid, elected Founding Chair of IPBES at its first plenary meeting in 2012. The safeguards include the promotion of sustainable agriculture, which helps to diversify the agricultural landscape and makes use of ecological processes as part of food production. Specific options include: Maintaining or creating greater diversity of pollinator habitats in agricultural and urban landscapes; Supporting traditional practices that manage habitat patchiness, crop rotation, and coproduction between science and indigenous local knowledge; Education and exchange of knowledge among farmers, scientists, industry, communities, and the general public; Decreasing exposure of pollinators to pesticides by reducing their usage, seeking alternative forms of pest control, and adopting a range of specific application practices, including technologies to reduce pesticide drift; and Improving managed bee husbandry for pathogen control, coupled with better regulation of trade and use of commercial pollinators. Additional findings: A high diversity of wild pollinators contributes to increased stability in pollination, even when managed bees are present in high numbers. Crop yields depend on both wild and managed species. The western honey bee is the most widespread managed pollinator in the world, producing an estimated 1.6 million tonnes of honey annually. The number of beehives has increased globally over the past 50 years, but a decrease in hives has occurred in many European and North American countries. Climate change has led to changes in the distribution of many pollinating bumblebees and butterflies and the plants that depend upon them. The IPBES assessment has critically evaluated an enormous body of knowledge on pollinators, pollination and food production to ensure decision makers have access to the highest quality information. The assessment was compiled by a team of 77 experts from all over the world. The assessment cites approximately 3,000 scientific papers and includes information about practices based on indigenous and local knowledge from more than 60 locations around the world. The assessment underwent two rounds of peer review involving experts and governments. Comments "The growing threat to pollinators, which play an important role in food security, provides another compelling example of how connected people are to our environment, and how deeply entwined our fate is with that of the natural world. As we work towards food security, it is important to approach the challenge with a consideration of the environmental impacts that drive the issue. Sustainable development, including improving food security for the world's population, necessitates an approach that embraces the environment." Achim Steiner, Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) "In the context of the IPBES report on pollinators, pollination and food production, for the first time, science and indigenous knowledge have been brought together to assess an important biodiversity-dependent service - pollination - in support of food security and its contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UNESCO is pleased to have contributed directly to this effort." Irina Bokova, Director General, UNESCO "Pollination services are an 'agricultural input' that ensure the production of crops. All farmers, especially family farmers and smallholders around the world, benefit from these services. Improving pollinator density and diversity has a direct positive impact on crop yields, consequently promoting food and nutrition security. Hence, enhancing pollinator services is important for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as for helping family farmers' adaptation to climate change." Jose Graziano da Silva, Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) "The complex and integrated development challenges we face today demand that decision-making be based on sound science and takes into account indigenous and local knowledge. Embracing science in areas such as pollination will contribute to better informed policy choices that will protect ecosystem services that are important for both food security and poverty eradication. UNDP is proactively contributing to promoting dialogue between scientists, policy-makers and practitioners on this and related topics, supporting countries in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development." Fayetteville family reeling after brother killed, sister shot Carl Andre McGill, 24, was arrested Oct. 13 on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, police said. Ronnie Wood's wife Sally Wood is still "staggered" by people who are "rude" about their age gap. Sally Wood and Ronnie Wood The 38-year-old beauty, who is pregnant with the 68-year-old Rolling Stone's twin girls, can't understand why people get uptight by their 30-year age difference. She said: "I'm staggered at how incredibly rude people feel they can be about Ronnie and about me, based purely on physical appearances. I know how to deal with it now, but I'm still amazed." And Sally - who fell pregnant in December - also pointed out that she's "not blind" to what people think, and that his age does cross her mind. She said: "Do I think about Ronnie's age? Of course I do. His Auntie Mary lived to be over 100 years old. There are good genes in his family. But I'm not blind to the whole thing." Meanwhile, Sally revealed Ronnie's nickname for their unborn baby girls and said he refers to them as "lower deck and upper deck" because in a scan they were on top of each other. She told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "He calls them upper and lower deck, because they were on top of each other like bunk beds. He carries around pictures of the scans and has them in his dressing room." And on whether she thinks her husband will cope with being surrounded by a house full of ladies, she joked that the 'Satisfaction' guitarist said he was born in a ward of girls so he's used to being in female company. She added: "He says that when he was born in the hospital ward, he was one boy among seven girls , so he's always been happy around the female of the species. He's delighted, he's absolutely thrilled." Ronnie and Sally's twins will be their first children together. He has four kids from previous relationships. Bangladesh's National Board of Revenue has decided to introduce online utilisation declaration (e-UD) system in a bid to check forgery of documents and abuse of duty-free import facility by apparel exporters.The online UD system will also ensure transparency in issuance of UD certificates and reduce time for traders in import and export procedures at customs houses, Bangladeshi newspapers quoted officials as saying.Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) issue the UD certificates on behalf of the revenue board to its members to facilitate duty-free raw materials import for export purpose under bond facility.The decision was taken at a stakeholders' meeting held at the revenue board with NBR chairman Md Nojibur Rahman in the chair on implementation of online UD and online export mechanism. Representatives from the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, BGMEA, BKMEA, Bangladesh Bank, finance ministry, commerce ministry and other government agencies attended the meeting. A working committee comprising representatives of the exporters, the NBR and the central bank will be set up to chalk out the plan for implementing the decision. (SH) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India The Japanese import of apparel and accessories from China fell by 13.1 per cent in 2015 in comparison with the year before, according to a survey by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). The shift of production units outside of China, where production used to be concentrated, and a rise in import from emerging Asian countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Bangladesh is the main reason for the drop in import of apparel and accessories. The Japanese exports have also decreased by 12.3 per cent in the previous year to $142.7 billion in all product categories. The Japanese import of apparel and accessories from China fell by 13.1 per cent in 2015 in comparison with the year before, according to a survey by# Japan's trade deficit decreased by 2.7 per cent from the same period of 2014, and fell down to $17.9 billion. This is the fourth consecutive year in which a deficit has been recorded for Japan since 2012. According to JETRO, the import of apparel and accessories from China is likely to decrease in 2016 too, due to further transfer of production to other countries with lower wages to avoid rising labour costs in China. (HO) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Perry Ellis International has entered into an agreement with Lifestyle Essences for the distribution of children's apparel in the Philippines under the Original Penguin by Munsingwear brand.Lifestyle will distribute these apparel through standalone Original Penguin children's stores as well as premium specialty stores and are planned to be launched in Fall 2016, a Perry Ellis press release stated. Perry Ellis International has entered into an agreement with Lifestyle Essences for the distribution of children's apparel in the Philippines under# According to Perry Ellis, Original Penguin is an iconic American brand that mixes sportswear and contemporary fashion, appealing to a style-savvy consumer who's into details, but doesn't take himself too seriously.Original Penguin pays homage to its brand heritage, while staying culturally relevant in its global markets, the apparel marketer added.The brand reworks their archive of mid-century classics to reflect today's lifestyle without compromising that heritage or the craftsmanship that established the Original Penguin name."Lifestyle Essences has been a terrific partner in building the Original Penguin men's apparel, footwear and accessories business in the territory; launching kids is a natural step, CEO George Feldenkreis said.We are confident with this new partnership and look forward to working with the Lifestyle Essences team to offer Original Penguin's lifestyle product while continuing the expansion of our global reach," he too added.Cheryl Ann Lao Lee, managing director of Lifestyle Essences said, "We are very excited about adding a full line up of children's wear to our clothing repertoire.We are confident that many longtime fans of Original Penguin in the Philippines will have fun dressing up their little ones in something smart and preppy, Lee informed. (AR) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India STATEMENT BY THE TOURISM MINISTER HON. KOYA AT TOURISM INDUSTRY MEETING The Tourism Industry Stakeholders,Members of the Tourism Advisory Group,Ladies and Gentlemen,Bula Vinaka and a very good morning to you all.Todays meeting is very important for the Ministry and the industry as we plan the future of the industry post-Cyclone Winston.I am here with only one message that Fiji is open for business and the tourism industry operators need to be on the front foot. We have to leave the destruction of the Cyclone behind and move on with your business we cannot let setbacks such as these discourage us or bring us down.Ladies and Gentlemen,The only way we will rebuild Fiji is strengthen our already growing tourism industry. There are many properties around Fiji that are fully operational and are in fact receiving guests from all over the world.In fact, we need to tell the world that we appreciate the assistance that has been provided but that is only temporary. Fiji needs to build back its economy our growth levels have been constantly increasing, despite the global growth shifting down slowly. We should remind ourselves how have we been able to do this. It has been the result of the partnership between the Fijian Government and the private sector that the fact that our growth is deeply rooted in the development of our grassroot communities.We should not lose focus of that, the tourism industry needs to ignite the economic growth that will ensure that the grassroot community is benefiting.Therefore, best way to enable all Fijians rebuild their lives is after a disaster is to provide them continued stream of income and improving tourism can bring those benefits to the people in the form of employment. We need the visitors to come to Fiji and injection money into the Fijian economy.I am very proud of the resilience of the tourism stakeholders as they have come together one again in a time of need and strategized on how to ensure that the visitor numbers do not decline.The Tourism Advisory Group (TAG), which is made up of key representatives from each sector within the tourism industry will focus on immediate actions to reduce booking cancellations due to the impact of Tropical Cyclone Winston to parts of Fiji. And most importantly, focus on educating travellers that tourism in Fiji is very much active and we are ready to receive all our guests with the usual Bula smile.Ladies and Gentlemen,I am aware that the TAG Chair and also Fiji Airways will be announcing the industry plans for the coming months, which includes lucrative packages. As the industry is working towards organising themselves, we as the Fijian Government also are standing ready to address any concerns and provide the necessary policy support that will enable faster recovery.It has been noted that our key visitor markets of Australia and New Zealand together with UK and Canada have issued travel advisories to their citizens cautioning them to travel to Fiji. At the Governmental level we areWe can definitely combat that by showing the world that it is business as usual for many tourism properties. Therefore, you the operators need to step up your marketing in our key markets not just in the form of packages but also showing people the true picture through the use of photos of the hotels, tours, and tourism related activities full operational after the cyclone.In this regard, Tourism Fiji has been given clear instructions to market Fiji and the Fijian spirit as widely as possible. We need to replace the images of devastation that the world is seeing. We are not denying that devastation, but it is to ensure that are able to rebuild their lives. We need the economy to recover quickly and the Fijian Government does not believe in sitting and waiting for opportunities to come, we need to create opportunities and capitalise on it.We need our key markets to know that Fiji is still where happiness finds and there is no place like Fiji.I look forward to the discussions to and hope to take back from here some of the areas where the industry requires Government support. We need to plan for the medium and long term and for this we need to all work together in the true Fijian spirit.Vinaka vakalevu. Deepika Padukone, is hanging out with the big stars of Hollywood, and the actress keeps posting pictures of working on the sets of XXX sequel The Return of Xander Cage along with Vin Diesel, on her Twitter account. The pictures of Deepika Padukone from the sets of XXX sequel is as American as an apple pie, and the actress, has gelled along with the big guns (co-stars) of Hollywood really well. These pictures prove it! The director of XXX sequel, DJ Caruso, shared quite a few 'sneak peek' pictures from the sets of the movie and in almost all the pictures, Deepika Padukone looks like she's going to conquer Hollywood soon. Also Read: 15 Weird Pics Of Bollywood Actors That Would Make You Say WTF! No 12 Is Insane... XXX - The Return of Xander Cage, is already making news across the globe, and the movie is a hot topic for Deepika Padukone's fans in India. Social media is abuzz with excitement every time the actress posts a picture on Twitter. Immediately her picture starts trending on Google and shows Deepika is the boss! Deepika Padukone, would play the role of a huntress in XXX - The Return of Xander Cage, and would star opposite the mighty Vin Diesel. Also Read: 15 Hottest Pictures Nargis Fakhri, No 12 Will Surely Make You Sweat! XXX starring Vin Diesel, released in 2002 and went on to be a superhit worldwide. The film, also featured a soundtrack from the German rock band Rammstein - Feuer Frei! And this was shown on the very first scene of the movie. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who created a sensation in B-town with her amazing acting skills in her comeback film, Jazbaa, is all set to win the hearts of the audiences once again with her upcoming biopic film, Sarbjit. The actress was recently, was spotted shooting an intense sequence of the film, while sporting her de-glam look. She was seen wearing plain grey coloured suit and looked. Her sad look in these pictures is strong enough to give an insight of the film. Click On 'View Photos' To Check Out The Pictures Here: "She requested the temple officials to guide her so she could avoid mistakes," reveals a source from the location to Mumbai Mirror. The source also added that the Bachchan bahu also partook of the langar. TOO SENSUOUS: Sidharth-Alia Get INTIMATE For Vogue; Check Out All 'Behind The Photoshoot' PICS Here! Many of us don't know that Aishwarya took only 15 minutes to say 'yes' to this project. "We directly approached Aishwarya as I know her since a long time. After meeting her, she agreed to do the film in just 15 minutes as the role was demanding and she could see herself in the role. So she instantly said yes," had revealed Omung Kumar. The film is a biopic on Sarabjit Singh, an Indian prisoner who died in Pakistan prison a week after he was brutally assaulted by his inmates, he breathed his last at the Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. Randeep Hooda is essaying the role of Sarabjit Singh. Randeep went through an amazing transformation where he lost close to 18 kgs. Actress Richa Chadda is also part of the film and she will be seen portraying the character of Sarabjit's wife. The film is all set to hit the theatres on May 19, 2016. Amy Jackson, who will be sharing screen space with superstar Rajinikanth in the upcoming sci-fi thriller 2.0, has revealed that she is not playing a robot in the film, being directed by Shankar. In her latest interview to Times of India, the chassy actress has opened up about India's costliest film while being cautious not to divulge much, which would've subsequently played spoilsport. After confirming that she is not playing a robot, as speculated earlier, the Thanga Magan actress has said that revealing anything more about her role would actually expose the plot of 2.0. It certainly looks like Amy has bagged one of the most important roles of the film, which might eventually turn out to become one of the most prominent roles of her acting career. Adding that she plays a very challenging role, the Liverpool based model-turned-actress is confident that 2.0 will be better than a Hollywood product. "2.0 will be a high point in Indian cinema, it's amazing that something of this magnitude is being created here. It would be even better than Hollywood stuff," Amy has said. Also Read: Are You Ready For The Tamil Version Of 'Saw'? 'Sadhuram 2' A Crowd-funded Flick Is Raring To Go! Nothing tests how much your clients appreciate you quite as much as a noncompete clause that bars soliciting former customers or even setting up shop in the same town as your former employer. Fortunately for James Winslow and the rest of the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based four-partner team that formed Arbor Trust Wealth Advisors in 2014, clients found them. The group Winslow, Charles Waterhouse, Carol Sewell and Gary Haapala had worked together at United Bank & Trust for the better part of a decade. They had complementary skills, Winslow explains. He is a CFP who also has a masters degree in financial planning. Sewell is an estate planning attorney. Waterhouse is the firms investment wizard. And Haapala is a manager, capable of handling the day-to-day business operations and strategic direction. TAPPING PERSONAL SAVINGS When the bank merged with a larger rival in 2014, the group decided it was time to move forward. Members tapped their own savings to finance the startup, with each owning equal shares in the business, and crossed their fingers. Starting a new business is always a nail biter, but theirs had the additional wrinkle of getting underway without a single client. We know that, if we treat our clients well and build those relationships, theyre going to want to stay with us, Winslow says. But it was a leap of faith, where you say, think and hope that its going to work out. As part of their parting agreement with United Bank & Trust, the group was barred for a year from soliciting their old clients or even remaining in Ann Arbor. If a former client wanted to go with Arbor Trust, he or she would have to affirmatively petition to move, without any prodding from Arbors partners. The new firm initially set up shop in Canton, Mich., about 30 miles away from the partners old stomping grounds. Then, after the noncompete agreement expired last fall, the firm moved back into the shadow of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. The advisors now collectively manage $175 million in assets. About 80% of those assets came from former clients who decided to find them when they left United Bank. (The team managed about $350 million in assets at United.) But they are hopeful that the AUM will grow quickly now that the noncompete agreement is history. The firms location is also important to the wealth management operation, because about one-fifth of their clients are employees of the University of Michigan or its health system, Winslow says. The rest of their clients are made up of widows, divorcees, professionals and business owners, many of whom found Arbor through local accountants and attorneys who had worked with Arbors partners when they were still with the bank. WORKING WITH PROFESSORS Working with university professors is an unusual and rewarding experience, Winslow says. By and large, the professors who come to him are not particularly interested in their own finances, and tend to put their retirement accounts on set it and forget it mode. That strategy can result in 60-year-olds coming into Winslow with retirement plans that are still 80% in stocks, he says. They set it up when they were young and just never changed the allocations. Then, too, unlike many other near retirees who wonder whether theyll have enough saved to retire comfortably, Arbors university-employed clients have plump retirement savings plans, he says. Thats partly because they earn decent salaries. But, more important, the system provides them with a huge incentive to contribute heavily to their retirement accounts. Specifically, the University of Michigan provides a matching program that contributes $2 for every $1 the employee puts into retirement savings. Start saving in your 20s or 30s, and you dont have to be an investing genius to end up with an impressive nest egg with that sort of matching program, Winslow says. Many of Arbors educator clients find themselves with $2 million to $3 million in qualified plans when theyre in their 60s. Better yet, many of them like their jobs too much to retire. There are a significant number of professors who are over the age of 70 or even 75, and are happy and want to continue working, he says. Some do retire, of course, but some just want to cut back a little. A TAX CHALLENGE That results in a looming tax challenge. Where most retirees expect to drop into lower tax brackets when they leave the working world, these educators can find themselves in the opposite position. If theyre not careful, the governments schedule for required minimum distributions can land these otherwise middle-income taxpayers into much higher tax brackets after they leave the working world, Winslow says. Those who have enough time before retirement, however, can reduce that tax hit by strategically converting a portion of the retirement plan assets into Roth IRAs. The benefit of the Roth is that its exempt from required distributions, so you can leave the money saved for eventual use by your heirs, if you want to. Money taken from these accounts is also generally exempt from income tax. The downside, of course, is that you must pay tax at your ordinary income tax rate on whatever amount you take out of a traditional plan to convert into a Roth. Thus, Arbors planners work with the clients accountants to figure out just how much they can convert in any given year to avoid bumping the client into a higher tax bracket before and after retirement. ESTATE PLANNING Naturally, when your clients have enviable problems including having too much money saved, estate planning can also be pivotal. While Arbor doesnt write wills or trusts, Sewell reviews each clients estate planning documents to determine if they need updating. Clients typically write these documents when theyre in their 40s or 50s and have young children, then forget about them for decades, Winslow says. By the time they have grandchildren, they may have different goals and need more-sophisticated documents. That comprehensive planning is very important, Winslow says. We want to make sure we hit every issue along the way. Not all the firms clients are well-heeled, however. Arbor has no minimum investment requirements. It simply charges those with less than $100,000 in assets a fairly hefty 1.75% of assets under management. The policy of the firm is to never turn a client away if Arbors partners believe they can add value, he adds. A $50,000 client is not going to drive our economic engine, so were not out looking for that client, Winslow says. But we live in this community, we work in this community and we want to help the people around us. Sometimes, taking a small client is just the right thing to do. Kathy Kristof, a Financial Planning contributing writer in Los Angeles, also contributes to Kiplingers and CBS MoneyWatch. Follow her on Twitter at @kathykristof. Read more: OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 02/26/16 -- Product photos are available at: http://bit.ly/1TJiy52 The food recall warning issued on February 24, 2016 has been updated to include additional product information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) food safety investigation. Mannarich Food Inc. is recalling Mannarich Food and Parker Lee brand fish products from the marketplace because they contain crab, egg, lobster, milk, soy and/or wheat which are not declared on the label. People with an allergy to crab, egg, lobster, milk, soy or wheat should not consume and retailers, hotels, restaurants and institutions should not sell, serve or use the recalled products described below. The following products have been sold in British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec and may have been distributed in other provinces. These products may have been sold in bulk or in smaller packages with or without a label and may not bear the same product names as described below. Consumers who are unsure if they have purchased the affected products are advised to contact their retailer. Recalled products ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brand Product Size UPC Codes ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mannarich Food Hot Pot 400 g 0 68636 31102 0 All codes where Assortment - crab, lobster and Taste of Japan soy are not declared on the label ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mannarich Food Seafood Crispy 4 x 3 kg None All codes where Beancurd egg is not declared on the label ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parker Lee Japanese Style 470 g 0 68636 21061 3 All codes where Udon Noodle crab and egg are with Seafood not declared on the label ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parker Lee Thai Style Rice 470 g 0 68636 21062 0 All codes where Noodle with egg is not Seafood declared on the label ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parker Lee Portuguese 375 g 0 68636 02016 8 All codes where Sauce Seafood crab and milk are Rice Bowl not declared on the label ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parker Lee Seafood a la 450 g 0 68636 20122 2 All codes where King with crab, egg and Spaghetti wheat are not declared on the label ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- What you should do Check to see if you have recalled products in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased. If you have an allergy to crab, egg, lobster, milk, soy or wheat, do not consume the recalled products as they may cause a serious or life-threatening reaction. - Learn more about common food allergies - Sign up for recall notifications by email, follow us on Twitter, or join the CFIA community on Facebook - View our detailed explanation of the food safety investigation and recall process Background This recall was triggered by CFIA test results. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings. The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing recalled product from the marketplace. Reactions There have been no reported reactions associated with the consumption of these products. More information - Mannarich Food Inc.: Lucy Chen, lucychen@mannarich.com or 905-471-9656 - CFIA: www.inspection.gc.ca/contactus Contacts: Media enquiries CFIA Media Relations 613-773-6600 The Top Priced Stocks of 2016Can you afford buying a single company share priced in the six-digit range? The 2016 list of the 10 highest priced stocks includes just one share with a six-figure price tag. The remaining nine include three issues with four-digit prices and six issues with triple-digit share price figures.As for the companies' locations, California and Virginia can take pride in each hosting two companies among the top priced stocks in 2016. Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado-the three states that share borders in central U.S., have companies that. Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. By Prakash Nanda With 75,000 personnel, including 6,000 officers, the Indian Navy may be smallest among our three services, but it has perhaps the biggest responsibility in protecting and furthering Indias national interests. A multi-dimensional, multi-spectrum and networked force, the Navy has a full range of operations, ranging from high intensity war fighting at one end to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations at the other. A fast-growing power that it is, India has no choice other than actively pursuing and promoting its geopolitical, strategic and economic interests on the seas, particularly in the Indian Ocean, not to speak of protecting its 1,200 island territories and huge exclusive economic zone of 2.4 million square kilometers. All told, 95 percent of Indias foreign trade by volume and 75 percent by value is conducted by sea; also, more than 70 percent of its oil was imported by sea. And what is more important, it is only the Navy which can provide the nation a credible minimum nuclear deterrent through its ballistic nuclear submarines (SSBN) like the INS Arihant. In other words, along with Indias economic growth, its Navy has to grow in importance, too. At present, operational and maintenance units of IN consist of warships, aircraft carriers, submarines, dockyards, naval ship repair yards, armament and weapon equipment depots and material organisations. It has an Aviation wing with air stations and allied repair facilities under them. The Navy is also overseeing teams which monitor the construction of ships and submarines at the concerned shipyards. Against this background, it is logical to assume that the Naval Budget will correspondingly go up every passing year. But that has not been the case. In fact, the Naval Budget as a percentage share of total Defence Budget has declined from 17.32 percent in the year 2006-07 to 15.32 percent in the year 2015-16. Every year, the Navy projects a figure, but that remains far off when the Finance Minister presents his Budget proposals to the nation through Parliament. This despite the fact that if there is something called financial management then of all our defence establishments, it is the Navy that practices it best. It spends its funds relatively well keeping in mind a realistic wish-list. It has developed a comprehensive financial information system (FIS), facilitating effective planning, allotment, expenditure and monitoring of the Naval Budget. And most important, unlike the Army and Air Force, Indian Navy is becoming successfully indigenized every passing year, saving precious foreign exchange in buying foreign military systems and generating more employments at home. Take, for instance, the Navy's revenue budget. In the year 2014-15, although it had projected an amount of Rs 19,570.57 crore as budgetary allocation, it was allocated an amount of Rs 13,975.79 crore, a shortfall of Rs 5,594.78 crore, i.e. nearly one-third of the projected amount. This was the sixth year in succession that the Navy got far less than want it needed for its revenue side. And this trend is likely to continue, given the Finance Ministrys standard reply of financial constraints. What has been happening all these years is that the revenue allocations for the Indian Navy is mainly taking care of the salaries and associated perks of its personnel, leaving very little for meeting day-to-day requirements of Operational Deployments (including Anti-Piracy Patrols) and Coastal Security. In addition, requirement of stores (fuel, weapons, armament, spares), victualling and rations, repairs and refits is also not being properly met. There is thus a serious need for reviewing the Navys Revenue allocations. As far as the the Indian Navy's capital expenditure is concerned, which includes the modernisation and acquisition of new systems, compared with the Army and Air Force, it has been in better shape. Seen in terms of the Revenue/ Capital ratios, as against the Armys 81:19 and Air Forces 41:59, Navys was 39:61 in the 2015-16 Budget. That means of the total budgetary allocations for the Navy, 61 percent went to the capital outlay. But then, in terms of the actual amount, it was Rs 23,910 crore, much less than Air Forces Rs 31,481 crore. The more important point is, as is the case with the other two services, the Navy's capital outlay is not in sync with its modernisation and acquisition plans. It does not meet the requirements as sanctioned in 2012. It may be noted that the sanctioned strength of vessels for Navy includes submarines, ships, aircraft carriers, etc. Some projects such as P 15 A and P28 ((Kolkata class stealth guided missile destroyers), Indian Aircraft Carrier (IAC), P75 and P75 (I) (submarine projects) are streamlined and under progress at various shipyards in the country. But there have been regular delays and cost overruns occurring in different projects. In case of IAC, the original sanctioned cost was Rs 3,261 crore which has been revised to Rs 19,341 crore i.e. six times cost escalation. In case of P15A, the cost has been revised to Rs 11,662 crore from Rs 3,580 crore and dates have been revised from 2009-10 to 2015-16. Similarly, in case of aircraft carrier 'Vikramaditya', there had been huge cost escalation due to repeated time extensions. The indigenously built Vikrant IAC is also running behind the schedule. As the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has rightly noted, time and cost overruns in almost all the projects is a major cause of concern. For long, the countrys defence needs have been lying unattended and huge gaps have emerged in Force Level. Its high time that adequate budgetary support is made along with necessary operational reforms at shipyards and other construction sites. One agrees with this observation in toto. The author is Editor of Geopolitics, a military journal For some pre-1991 generations, the memory will still be stark. Everyone even Ratan Tata and Mukesh Ambani - needed a ration card. While for many middle class people and the poor, queuing up for rations at the fair price shop was par for the course, many well-off people did not (the ration cards were merely compulsory identity and address proofs). They would let their servants/ drivers use their ration cards to buy their rations. Many did not even do that, so fair price shop owners would show these card holders as having lifted their monthly rations and divert the rice and wheat to the black market. Then came the targeted public distribution system and the categorisation of above poverty line (APL) and below poverty line (BPL) and that saw many people giving up their ration cards. In the debate on food subsidy, this misuse of ration cards has often been cited to argue against the universal provision of subsidised food grains (which food activists press for) and for targeted subsidy. The loophole in the earlier system was that it allowed anyone to use a persons ration card. The Economic Survey 2015-16 has strongly pitched for a system being implemented in quite a few states (in some on an experimental basis) making it mandatory for card holders to physically go to ration shops and authenticate their identity through biometrics-based point of sale (POS) machines. Andhra Pradesh has been very successful in this. Madhya Pradesh has been trying several pilots and the Rajasthan government has been pushing for this aggressively. The Economic Survey calls this BAPU (biometrically authenticated physical uptake). If X is not interested in picking up subsidised food grains and is allowing his card to be used by someone else, he will hardly be willing to do so if it involves him making a trip to the ration shop, proving his identity, taking the supplies and then giving it to someone else. In the earlier system, there was no cost involved; BAPU will involve costs, making diversion less attractive. The Survey pitches for BAPU for delivering food and kerosene subsidy and partly for fertiliser subsidy. Incidentally, the union food and public distribution ministry is already pushing POS in a big way, incentivising state governments to shift to this, given the many problems in rolling out direct benefit transfer (DBT). Figures put out by the ministry in January show that over 61,000 fair price shops have installed POS machines; it planned to increase this number to 2 lakh by March end. Some of these problems have been frankly acknowledged in the Survey and, apart from economic growth, it also strikes a sober note on the JAM trilogy (an acronym coined in last years Economic Survey), which has been touted as the silver bullet for addressing the problem of subsidies and leakages. This years Survey admits that JAM (Jan Dhan Yojana, Aadhar and mobile) may have made significant progress but still faces significant challenges. It elaborates on first-mile, middle-mile and last-mile issues that will need to be addressed if the successful DBT experiment in cooking gas is to be replicated in other areas. In all the discourse about DBT and JAM until now, the focus was almost entirely on Aadhaar the biometric identification of beneficiaries/ individuals. But Aadhaar is only an identity authenticating system; it is not an eligibility authenticating system. So, it will prove that a person availing of a subsidised good or service is that person; it cannot validate if that person is entitled to that subsidy. So it does not address the problem of, say, the well-off cornering Rs 5,500 crore worth of kerosene subsidies, as the Survey has pointed out. Fortunately, the Survey acknowledges beneficiary eligibility and identification as a first mile challenge. It points to the need for beneficiary databases and the fact that the accuracy and legitimacy of beneficiary databases have been hampered by the administrative and political discretion involved in grating identity proofs. Indeed, the reason why the rollout of the National Food Security Act was extremely delayed was the fact that many state governments were reluctant to clean up and digitise their beneficiary databases. The middle-mile challenge relates to coordination within the government the lesser number of departments involved in administering a particular subsidy, the easier it is to roll out DBT. In the case of domestic fuel, for example, DBT was easier in the case of LPG because only the union petroleum ministry and the oil marketing companies (and their distributor networks) are involved. In the case of food and kerosene subsidy, the shift to DBT is complicated by the role of the central government, Food Corporation of India (in the case of food) and oil marketing companies (in the case of kerosene), state civil supplies departments (which administer the fair price shops/ kerosene depots). The last-mile challenge is a significant one, which both supporters and critics of DBT have often flagged the problem of banking infrastructure in rural areas and the failure of the banking correspondent model to take off. The Survey admits that despite Jan Dhan Yojanas record breaking feats, basic savings account penetration in most states is still relatively low (46 per cent on average) and that mobile payments has not quite taken off in the rural areas. In two graphs on JAM preparedness index, the Survey shows that only six states and an urban preparedness index of above 60 per cent (Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Haryana). In the case of the rural preparedness index, the performance of all states was abysmal only Andhra Pradesh and Haryana notched more than 4 percent followed by Karnataka with 3.5 percent. But the BAPU preparedness index shows an interesting picture. Even states which did not do well on the urban and rural JAM preparedness index performed better on this score. Obviously, then, BAPU could be a better option. Even though the union food and public distribution ministry has notified the Cash Transfer of Food Subsidy Rules 2015 under the NFSA, enabling states to switch to cash transfers if they want, there is a provision for shifting to DBT. The food ministry has initiated pilot projects on this. However, realising the problems involved, it is not pushing states too aggressively on shifting to DBT. It has given them the choice of opting for DBT or reducing leakage and diversion through POS. The shift to BAPU will not be easy. Fair price shop owners stand to lose out from the reduced avenues for diversion and strongly resist this system. Rajasthan had to face a strike in 2014. State governments have to provide adequate incentives which allow shop owners to make up for the loss in revenue from diversion. Rajasthan tried this by branding ration shops as Annapurna Bhandars, in collaboration with Future Retail, allowing them to sell identified non-PDS items. Aadhaar will still be important that will validate the beneficiarys identity. Sadly, the Survey did not flag the issue of the lack of legal status for Aadhaar (a major concern with both supporters and detractors on grounds of privacy) and pitch for early passage of a law on this. But if the government is serious about reforming the subsidy regime, it must read the relevant chapter in the Economic Survey closely and act on it. Panchkula: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday asked people to share information, if they have any, with the state police regarding the alleged incident of sexual assault of women near Murthal in Sonepat during the Jat quota agitation. "Those people who possess any information (regarding Murthal incident) must come forward and share it with the police. But we do not understand why the information is not being shared with the police by people (if they have)," Khattar told reporters here when asked that some witnesses have appeared in a section of media who had information about the Murthal incident. Khattar, whose government faced wrath for alleged failure in containing arson and violence during Jat agitation, said a committee has been formed for receiving information about alleged rape or sexual assault with women. "A special team has been formed and their mobile numbers have been given. If any complaint comes or any eyewitness provides any information, immediate action will be taken," he further said Haryana Police on Friday had set up a committee consisting of three women police officers, including a DIG, for receiving any complaint of rape of women in Murthal near Sonepat during the Jat agitation. The women police officers are DIG Rajshree Singh, DSP Bharti Dabas and DSP Surinder Kaur. Haryana DGP Y P Singal on Saturday, however, said police had not received any complaint regarding sexual assault yet but would act swiftly as and when any case was reported. PTI Victims of the alleged incidents of rape in Murthal in Sonepat district of Haryana can file a report directly with chief judicial magistrates instead of approaching the police, said the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The latest order comes a day after the High Court took a suo moto cognizance of the alleged incidents of rape, according to a report on the The Times of India. Justice NK Sanghi had written to the acting Chief Justice in order to initiate further proceedings into the matter, suggesting an independent probe. He had added that the court would be failing in its duty should it chose to remain idle. While the report caused waves of outrage, the Haryana police as well as the government categorically denied the occurrence of any such events. The Haryana Director-General of Police (DGP) YP Singhal said that an investigating committee was formed that had inspected the site, but found the "allegations made in the report false and baseless", according to a report on The Financial Express. Even local residents near the site denied knowledge of the same, citing that they were made aware of the reports through newspapers and the police. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel stationed in Murthal however, claimed otherwise, stating that women were sexually assaulted by the rioters, but the jawan said there was little that they could do without orders from senior officers. "It was around 3 am when we had moved away from Hassanpur towards Delhi that a mob torched the vehicles and misbehaved with women," a CRPF jawan was quoted as saying according to the report on The Times of India. The TOI team had also found pieces of clothing strewn around at the site where the alleged incidents took place a few items looked like innerwear, though it was yet to be established whether they belonged to the victims. The report claims that they are waiting for forensic reports. A dhaba owner said that the women were desperately seeking help at their door early on 22 February. "I got frantic calls from my workers who told me women were crying so loud for help that they could hear them from inside. I asked them to stay inside. One of the girls ran naked across the road and hid in neck deep water, the workers told me," the dhaba owner was quoted in TOI. The owner said that he would give a statement to the investigators even if one woman came forward. The incidents were reported by an English-language newspaper The Tribune, which claimed that 10 women were sexually abused by goons on the National Highway-1 in Murthal at the time of the Jat stir. According to the report, the women were left nude in the fields, and were reunited with their families at a nearby dhaba. The police, according to the report, had asked the victims and their families to not file a complaint in order to preserve their 'honour'. In a CNN-IBN report, Kanhaiya Kumar recounts the incident of him being beaten up in the Patiala House Court by a bunch of 'goon' lawyers. Kanhaiya said that they threw him down, made him fall and when he tried to extricate himself, the 'lawyers' entered the gates, chased him and then one of them hit him. One being challenged by the police, this man, recounts Kanhayia, brazenly questioned the police back and walked out without even a scratch. "I told the police he was hitting me, they didn't do anything. I told the judge I have full faith in the Constitution. These are highly politically motivated persons," says Kanhaiya. "Main is desh ka naujawan hoon, main JNU mein PhD kar raha hoon, log keh rahe hain ki main desh drohi hoon, kuch media mera trial kar rahi hai (I am a youth of this country, I am doing my PhD in JNU and people are calling me an 'anti-national', a section of the media has put me on trial)," an emotional Kanhaiya said. As the video makes it evident, the police have no clear answers. Officers are giving various contradictory versions. Sushil Kumar, SHO, Tilak Marg, said: "Mujhe nahi pata kaun aaya, (I don't know who came)" while Virender Jain, SHO, Vasant Kunj said, "Hamein nahi pata maara ki nahi, yeh mujhe nahi pata. (I don't know if he was hit)". While Jatin Narwal, DCP said that the attack had not taken place. Subhash Chandran, one of Kanhaiya's lawyers, said he had repeatedly appealed to the police for help but they did nothing. "They were just watching and let the goons do what they want," he says. Chandran had asked a Tilak Nagar police officer for help, but in turn he was asked as to why he was appearing for a "Pakistan agent". Chandran adds that no FIR has been issued on his complaints even after he provided four names. Top lawyer Prashant Bhushan said police took no steps to stop the beating and it shows their complicity. "SIT will investigate what happened in Patiala House, Delhi Police can't be expected to do an honest and impartial investigation," Bhushan said. Security in Tihar has been increased as intelligence reports suggests that Kanhaiya could by attacked in the jail. Kanhaiya's brother Manikant Singh said that it was clear that the police was not helping his brother, "I'm certain my brother is in trouble. He stood up to ABVP and RSS and openly challenged them." Songs to mend the broken heart and songs to mend the broken spirit. We're back again with the Firstpost weekend playlist and we want only 30 minutes of your time. Scroll down and lose yourself. Clenching the Fists of Dissent by Machine Head Substitute the 'war for oil' alluded to in the song with the 'war within' and you've got a track that's perfect for the times we live in. Nearly nine years after its release and in a time where dying for the country is still seen as the highest form of patriotism, Clenching the Fists of Dissent remains as relevant as ever in 2016, albeit with a slight contextual shift. The song itself is a 10-minute-35-second epic that evolves from the sort of acoustic guitar intro that wouldn't be out of place in an early-1990s era Metallica set, to a monstrous closing riff. And along the journey is a track that flickers, explodes, simmers, explodes again, simmers a little more and turns into an inferno before fading out. Traversing a rich sonic landscape, Clenching the Firsts of Dissent is one of the best tracks off The Blackening an album that turned Machine Head from a very good metal band to one of the best bands. Period. Before you click play and lose yourself to this sonic behemoth, here's a little sample of the lyrical content: Power and prejudice Actions they use to pit against Terror, insurgency Words used to scare conformity It's propaganda, it's their hypocrisy Free to choose our own slavery Sounds eerily familiar, no? Karan Pradhan Just a lie by Soundvis!on Just a lie by Soundvis!on is a song which really should have been used as the theme song for a James Bond movie but wasn't. While it is not as good as some Bond theme songs like You Know My Name by Chris Cornell (Casino Royale theme), Skyfall by Adele (Skyfall theme) or Goldfinger by Shirley Bassey (Goldfinger theme), it is very difficult in the first place to make a song which can match the level of these songs. However, there have also been forgettable and below average James Bond theme songs like Writing's On The Wall by Sam Smith (Spectre theme) or Die Another Day by Madonna (Die Another Day theme). Just a lie is definitely a song which sounds much better than these theme songs. The best part about Just a lie is that it is much darker than the usual Bond theme song. And like You Know My Name, it is a rock-based Bond theme song, a refreshing change from most of the 007 themes. Anshu Lal Stay Gold by First Aid Kit What is the one thing you experience when you hear a song the first time? For me, it's if the melody; irrespective of the words, do the chords strike a chord? With First Aid Kit's Stay Gold, there is an instant connect with the tune. It's light, it's fresh, it's upbeat, yet at the same time there is a depth to it. The song has layers of soulful sound, that are peeled slowly as you reach the chorus, layers that keep unraveling till you reach the conclusion, and the song keeps you hooked till the end. The beautiful lyrics, are of course a bonus, one of gold. (Pun intended) "What if our hard work ends in despair? What if the road won't take me there? Oh, I wish, for once, we could stay gold" The words express the deep-rooted dream of most people, simply put to 'stay gold' despite all the gray of despair and uncertainly and sadness around us. And while that may sound melancholy, the song also has a lot of hope to offer and thats what matters. A word about the artists, don't go by the name, they are not a punk rock band, they are actually a Swedish folk group, founded by two sisters. The Swedish sisters, the now 24-year old Johanna and 24-year-old Klara Soderberg, started out in 2007 on social networking site MySpace as school children, and in 2015 had a Brit Awards nomination as one of the five best international groups in 2015. Quite the way to 'Stay Gold', right? Zenia Dcunha Patras karan ki - OST Zenda It is no mean feat to create a song out of a farmer's suicide letter, and make it sound convincing. This song from the film Marathi film 'Zenda' manages to do that, with the poetry, not surprisingly, being the most striking part. It starts with the line 'Patraas kaaran ki bolayachi himmat nahi' (I am writing this letter, for I do not have the courage to speak.' The poetry goes on to touch upon themes of indebtedness, political apathy and the urban/rural divide. Avadhoot Gupte's vocals alternate between sombre and resigned notes and angry crescendos. The song gets you thinking, perhaps more so than many editorials and analytical articles. Neeradh Pandharipande Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits Theres so many different worlds So many different suns And we have just one world But we live in different ones I wont get into describing the magnificence that is the music. The only reason you should be listening to this song are the lyrics. The entire song speaks the soul of a wounded soldier, a battle-bruised man slighted by a world of pain. The entire song is filled with lyrics that will overwhelm you and push you into the depths of despair and maybe, MAYBE, inspire you to be a better person. This song is spiritual anguish, a dull twinge and a hazy restlessness for a better world even if you know nothing about the world at large. Perfect to muse about the ideological war our country is in; a sort of an ode to every person unjustly accused, arrested and murdered all for misplaced ideas of patriotism and religion. Sit on a lonely hill and marvel at the conundrum of war. p.s. Mark Knofler is the original guitar hero. Aparna Chandrashekar Prabhujee by Ravi Shankar and George Harrison It's nothing less than a 8-minute-ride into the infinite and the connection you have with the infinite energy. It's the track for you to sit back, calm everything down and submit yourself to the eternity, written by the sitar maestro Ravi Shankar's Prabhujee is a track from the 1997 album Chants Of India. It was the final album on which Ravi Shankar collaborated with George Harrison. Apart from the adorable Indian beats and the mystical sitar, the subtle acoustic guitar will surely give you goosebumps. Apoorv Mishra How the story ends by Secret Wonder A break up song that apologises fearlessly! It's beautiful, and it's strange: That being the lyrics of the song, is also the vibes the song will leave you with. Secret Wonder's How The Story Ends is one track that can send you back to the days of your teenage romance, even if you haven't had one. It'll give you the heart-bumps (goosebumps for your heart) you never knew you could have. And I promise you'll play it again and again just to get that feeling back. In India, the track first gained popularity when it was used in a promo of a foreign movie. The viewers went gaga over it but there was barely any sign of it on the internet since the creators are not from the popular lot. You can see all the hue and cry if you scroll through the youtube section of the video. You'll anyways be doing that when the static image will start switching you out. Yael Ajgarni Nimoli by Ila Arun, Dhruv Ghanekar and Bobkat The name of the song refers to the fruit of the neem tree. The literal translation of the first line is Your love is like the fruit of the Neem tree. Bittersweet. Every time I bite into it, it leaves a bittersweet taste in my mouth and I am reminded of you. The song is derived from a traditional folk poem. The song starts in a tongue-in-cheek way, passing sexual innuendos. One is reminded of Mallika Sherawats hit number from Guru Mayya Mayya. Then Ila Aruns voice pipes in, in her trademark husky tones and builds an up-tempo song. The song inspires a surge of belly-dancing, despite the songs rather morbid topic the parting of lovers. To break the monotone of folksy music, a small rap by Bobkat has been infused into the song, which doesnt really fit into the context of the song, but breaks the monotony. DHruv Ghanekar has given the song a Rajasthani folk feel with undertones of Arabian music. Coke Studio has goven us great songsin the past like Garaj Baras Sawan and Daanah pe Daanah. This song is another name to the list of those illustrious songs. Rutu Shah DLZ by TV on the Radio In a genre that is dominated by names such as Arctic Monkeys and Imagine Dragons, TV on the radio is perhaps one of the most underrated bands in the Indie rock scene. For this week's playlist, I present to you 'DLZ', the 10th single from their third studio album 'Dear Science'. DLZ is a track that is neither slow-paced and soothing like 'Will do', nor does it have the energy of tracks such as 'Wolf like me'. The song has a certain touch of mystery to it, aided by lead vocalist Tunde Adebimpe's buttery voice. Which is perhaps why the song was the best choice for the intense scene between Walter White and a rival meth dealer towards the end of the 10th episode of the second season of AMC's hit series 'Breaking Bad'. The show is perhaps the single biggest factor for the song's popularity. Amit Banerjee For years, Ive read Salil Tripathis articles with admiration for their freshness, forthrightness and insight. This is why I asked him, a year ago, to join a panel discussing my last book. I was moved by how closely he had read it and by his incisive comments about it. Im calling on that reservoir of goodwill now, as I write this next sentence. I wish he hadnt written this book. Or actually, I wish he hadnt listened to the editor who suggested that instead of gathering together his travel columns, he should write fresh essays about each place, crafting each essay around a theme or a writer, an artist, or an idea, who gave meaning to the place. Because by less than halfway through this book, its clear: this injunction weighs on Tripathis writing like an albatross. First though, some sprinkled gems that I savoured. Tripathis musing about the last days of that forever tragic figure, Bahadur Shah Zafar, is reflective and moving. Tripathi quotes Zafar I am not the light of anyones eye and that desolate spirit comes through. In the same chapter on Burma is this pointed remark about Aung San Suu Kyi: The Princess herself has stayed remarkably silent, saying not a word to condemn the monks or the military, as the persecution of Rohingyas goes on. Maybe the Princess wears less clothes than we thought. And in post-apartheid South Africa, he notes that a collective amnesia is forced on the people. I couldnt help wondering about the fallout of such forcing, whether there or in India. But then, that albatross For every place Tripathi describes, he offers words from one or more writers. Often these are writers who belong to that place. This is fine as far as it goes it is, after all, what that the editor suggested. But too often, it seems he is forcing the words onto his experience, seeking significance in every sentence he writes to match some other writers thoughts. Thus descriptions that magically fit the excerpts. In Kenya, for example, Tripathi sits with friends, aware only of the silence surrounding us. By then, I was not surprised when his next sentence introduces an Isak Dinesen excerpt about the meaning of silence. Thus water bodies. In Central Park, one gleamed, reflecting the skyline; in Stockholm, one looked like someone had sprinkled liquid silver on its shuddering surface; in Geneva, it looked like diamonds were scattered on the lakes surface; the Mediterraneans water has that certain luminosity, which envelopes that sea; and in Bangladesh, the river dazzled, as if someone had lit a fire and millions of little lamps had come alive, twinkling like stars. Besides, in Kenya, Amsterdam, Antibes, England and Norway, light has clarity. Thus head-scratching sentences. Wind rustles through the palm fronds it sounds romantic to those who live there; a poet listens to the moans of the mother whose child was crushed by a Humvee whered that Humvee come from? And thus, perhaps, mistakes galore. Sadly, I do mean galore: grammar, spelling, tense, lines wrongly placed, contradictions, repeated words/ideas/devices. Even disposed off. All for the sake of this pursuit of a travelogue informed by the erudition of great writers. After a Stockholm cruise, Tripathi writes: I wondered if loneliness got more acute here because others respected your desire to be alone. Because we know that he went there soon after losing his wife, this is a telling, poignant and utterly wrenching observation. Familiar as I am with Tripathis writing, it also hints at the thoughtful book this could have been. Until that albatross intervened. Heres a great irony: JNU Students Union President Kanhaiya Kumars 11 February slogans about `azadi from hunger, exploitation, `Manuwad, etc. appears to have upset some Kashmiri `azadistas almost as much as it has upset right-wing conservative `nationalists in some cases, perhaps even more. Some Kashmiris have spoken quite worriedly since then about the `appropriation of their favouite word `azadi. For, Kanhaiyas speech channeled it into a discourse that represents a Leftist conceptualization of nationalist aspiration within the framework of India. This `dilution of the word as some of them call this creative usage of the word they commonly use to represent anti-India sentiment makes many `azadistas uneasy. The fact is that most azadi-walas see the world in two-dimensional black-and-white terms just as much as most right-wing `nationalists do. The latter want rigid conformity to the status quo. They see the world as a struggle between good `nationalists and evil anti-nationals. Azadistas cling to a victim-Kashmir versus oppressor-India binary even more tenaciously. Focusing on inequalities and injustices within India undermines the ogre-like monstrous image of India which they have nurtured. Their narratives depend on a tight focus on human rights abuses which, to be sure, have been horrific. Tragically, one reason abuses have continued for the past quarter-century is that the two sorts of blinkered extremists feed off each other. Each has gained political mileage, and talking (or rather, yelling and sloganeering) points, by fulminating against the other. While doing so, neither side focuses on peace. The militaristic right-wing is intent on supporting more armed forces deployment, more special powers for them, the suspension of citizens rights, and enhanced budgetary allocations for counter-insurgency wherewithal. On the other hand, those who want to reserve the word `azadi for an anti-India assertion of Kashmiri identity are sometimes even more belligerent. That antagonism is the fount of slogans such as the more extremist ones that resounded in JNU on 9 February. Rights abuses and counter-insurgency excesses, mainly by the state police force during the past decade, give this hatred salience. In Kashmir, discourses based on an exclusivist Kashmiri identity often extend seamlessly across the political leadership in both the so-called `mainstream and `separatist camps. Spin-offs from the now gigantic counter-insurgency economy accrue to a vast network of politicians and officials and others with one sort of power or another. Some of the most vigorous proponents of Kashmiri `azadi are sons and other close relatives of ministers, MLAs, officials and even police officers and men. Those who propagate the `azadi discourse most vigorously are often part of the social establishment within Jammu and Kashmir, even if they feel that their aspirations are stifled a little like the irate `nationalists who beat Kanhaiya at the courts and those who fulminate on certain national television news shows also feel that `Leftists threaten their aspirations for a strong, proud India. So, a nuanced view of Kashmiri society suits them even less than pro-Dalit, pro-tribal or pro-minority voices suit right-wing `nationalists. Like `azadistas, `nationalists have two-dimensional perspectives regarding their respective social milieus. `Azadistas are generally most likely to deny the existence of caste differences within Kashmir and paper over ethnic differences. But many of them blithely treat those whom they consider their social inferiors with terrible contempt. Many use terms like `gojar, `gamuk, `gruhus, `hanz, `khoda and `watal with barely imaginable disdain. And this is all concerning persons or communities among Muslims in the Valley. The antagonism between communities in other geographical portions of the state is another story. The last census showed a higher concentration of manual scavenging there than anywhere else in the country and an extremely worrying gender ratio in the youngest age bracket. Most of these azadistas hate Communists as much as do right-wing `nationalist conservatives if not more. The fact is that most of those in both camps are (sometimes closeted) religious zealots. A Kashmiri student in Delhi remarked about the `azadistas among other Delhi-based Kashmiri students that they project themselves as Leftist to cozy up to those who patronize and support them out of reflexive ideological convictions, but actually hate godless Communists with a vengeance. Low-key support This helps to explain why support for Kanhaiya Kumar has been at a relatively low pitch in Kashmir, even though the CPI-affiliated Kanhaiya has gone through horrendous trauma owing to slogans that were raised at his campus, reportedly by Kashmiris from outside JNU. A fortnight after Kanhaiyas arrest on 12 February, there were protests in parts of Kashmir on Friday (relatively anodyne by Kashmirs standards) and a shutdown has been called today. During this fortnight, JNUSU Vice-president Shehla Rashid has been the public face of the strong stand JNU students have taken. But, although she hails from Kashmir, there has been little sign of public support for her from there. The sporadic public support that has been evident from Kashmir has tended to focus on JNU as an institution, or on the relatively radical Umar Khalid. A few days ago, a bright young JNU student from Kashmir wrote an open letter thanking Umar for giving Kashmiris a platform. The letter made no mention of Kanhaiya, although he was in jail at the time it was written, and Umar had not yet been arrested. Several Kashmiri `azadistas shared the letter on social media. On the plane of political optics, the low key responses from Kashmir which generally has the tendency to erupt in highly charged and demonstrative outbursts is all to the good. High-decibel responses would have given right-wing `nationalists another handle to berate JNU `Leftists as `anti-nationals allied with secessionists. That said, Kashmiri responses to Kanhaiya and Shehla (thundering silence), to Umar (rare, muted support) and to JNU (low-key backing) are instructive regarding attitudes and values in Kashmir. Apart from the right-wing leanings of many azadi activists, one must understand the extraordinary self-obsession of many Kashmiris. Generally, they expect one to accept all in the entire monolithic category of Kashmiri as undifferentiated victims. One must also acknowledge the hate-filled destructiveness of many of their responses such as the most objectionable slogans that were raised at JNU on 9 February. By her own acknowledgment that the people in the Executive Committee who suspended Vemula were not appointed by NDA but by UPA, and a Dalit warden was co-opted into the committee, Union Minister for Human Resources Development Smriti Zubin Irani has obliquely admitted that the suspension of Rohith Vemula and others from University of Hyderabad(UoH) and his eventual suicide is certainly a Dalit-vs-non-Dalit issue. That the Telangana State police have yet to establish if Rohith Vemula was a Dalit or a Vaddera (OBC) is a different story. The maze of caste tangle in which Rohith was caught is knotty. Rohiths mother, Radhika, was actually born to a Dalit and was raised by a woman C Anjali Devi, belonging to Vaddera caste, and was married off to another person Vemula Naga Mani Kumar, who belongs to Vaddera caste, and Radhika had divorced her husband and has been leading an independent life retaining her original caste of being a Dalit. Whether or not one subscribes to the argument that Rohith was a Dalit as per law, he indeed lived and died as a Dalit. That is not the question here. The Union HRD Ministers concerted effort to prove a point that Rohiths suicide shouldnt be seen as Dalit-versus-non-Dalit issue had kicked up a row immediately after the researchers suicide in January last. Look at the dichotomy in her sizzling speech on the floor of Lok Sabha on Wednesday. By referring to the presence of a Dalit professor in the committee that had acted against Rohith and others, Ms Irani clearly departed from her stand that it wasnt Dalit-vs-non-Dalit issue. By returning to her avowed position that she looked at the case as the death of a child and not as a death of a Dalit,she contradicted herself. Even if the order of precedence of these two mutually-contradictory statements is changed, it is quite evident that Ms Irani ensnared herself in the controversy. The Joint Action Committee for Social Justice (JAC) of the UoH described Ms Iranis statement in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday as manipulative. The SC/ST Teachers and the JAC had earlier too taken an umbrage at the ministers attempt to portray that the action was triggered by the recommendation of a Dalit professor. Another weak link in her scorching allocution on the floor of the House was the assertion that no doctor was allowed to see Rohiths body for several hours (till 6.30 am the next morning, while the body was found hanging around 7.20 pm the previous day). However, with the Chief Medical Officer of the University of Hyderabad Rajashree debunking the statement, the Minister had an egg on her face. In a report published in Indian Express, Dr Rajashree was quoted as recalling the incidents on January 17, 2016: I was informed by someone (about the suicide) and I rushed to Room 207 at the NRS Hostel, with the staff nurse and ambulance driver. By that time, Rohiths body had been brought down and placed on a cot. The document she had submitted to M Ramana Kumar, investigating officer and the Assistant Commissioner of Police of Madhapur under Cyberabad Police Commissionerate, also had a clear mention of Rohiths body: Body still, cold, tongue protruding from mouth. Froth marks seen around lips. Pupils are dilated, fixed. Pulse not palpable, no heart sounds. No breath sound noted. Body cold, still, rigor mortis stage. Declared dead approximately at 7:40 pm. Informed to VC, Dean of Students Welfare, Registrar, reported to police. (sic). What the HRD Minister had flashed as a police report submitted to the High Court in Lok Sabha was just a communication sent by the Assistant Commissioner of Police to the Government Pleader. The police are confirming that they have not submitted any report to the High Court in this regard. The police have not mentioned the observations made by Dr Rajashree as she is the University CMO and that she is not an independent or police/public surgeon. It is an act of wilful omission. The police have apparently concealed the fact that a doctor had rushed to the scene within seven minutes of the receipt of information, for the inquest had to be conducted by a competent authority. In fact, a video telecast by TV news channels had shown Dr Rajashree and Gachibowli Inspector Ramesh in the footage near the body of Rohith Vemula on that fateful night. How did the minister, without caring for fact-checking, make such a fiery speech packing punches on the Opposition and those crying hoarse at the suicide of Rohith? She called it a childs death and that she was enraged as a childs death is being used as a political weapon. Madam, it is not a natural or an accidental death. It is a suicide. A scholar, who wanted to become a science writer like Carl Sagan, had left a bitter suicide note before taking the extreme step. It cannot be slighted. Another crucial point,which could embarrass the government,Smriti Irani conveniently had avoided was how Prof Appa Rao Podile was chosen for the coveted position of the Vice-Chancellor of UoH. Reports suggested that he had surpassed 35 others above him in the list for the top job, thanks to his powerful political connections. Rohiths mother Radhika chose to voice her indignation about all this in Delhi where she talked about how the V-C just ignored her and didnt even bother to meet her when her son died. Rohiths friends said at the same press conference that It is these ministers and the BJP whose political interference and the casteist attitude of the VC and other complicit administrators that led to the politicisation and death of Rohith. Though MsIrani had provided statistics that 16 VCs out of the 20 were appointed by the Congress-led UPA, she did not talk about the political leanings of Prof Appa Rao that were highlighted during the peak of the controversy that ensued Rohiths suicide. She might not have found it as convenient as quoting a Roman philosopher, who, for reasons best known to her, could pip Chanakya, at least for once. After a long hiatus after the conclusion of a saga that lasted for little over eight years between 2000 and 2008 through 1,833 episodes of Indias favourite TV soap on Star Plus, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhee Bahu Thi, its lead actress Smriti Irani, in her capacity as the HRD Minister, is now at the centre of another multi-episode real life challenge. When she had thundered, My name is Smriti Irani. I challenge you to identify my caste, what crossed my mind is the famous dialogue of Aamir Khan in his latest flick PK: Kahaan hai thappa, dikhao? But there may be nothing much to debate as to who had triggered this kind of discrimination on the basis of such religious identity. United Nations: India has formally approached the UN to include Jaish-e-Mohammad chief and Pathankot terror attack mastermind Masood Azhar in the Security Council's sanctions list, strongly emphasising the urgency to take action against him. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin yesterday wrote to New Zealand Ambassador Gerard Jacoubus van Bohemen, the Chair of the 1267 al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee, submitting India's request that the JeM chief's name be included in the committee's sanctions list. Armed with strong evidence of the outfit's terror activities and its role in the 2 January Pathankot attack that killed seven Indian soldiers, India told the UN Sanctions Committee that not listing Azhar has clearly demonstrated how it and other countries in South Asia continue to face threats posed by the terror group and its leader. Calling for immediate action to be taken to list Azhar under the al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee, India said it is the responsibility of the committee to protect UN nations and its citizens from terror groups like the JeM and its leaders. Listing Azhar will prove that the global community is committed to tackling the scourge of terrorism and will help protect Indian citizens and those of other countries from the terror threats posed by him and his outfit, India said. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said in New Delhi that it is a "great anomaly" that the organisation JeM is listed but its leader is not. India also noted that following the Pathankot attack, Pakistan had taken action against several individuals belonging to the Jaish. The UN had banned JeM in 2001 but India's efforts to ban Azhar after the Mumbai terror attack did not fructify, as China one of the five permanent members of the UN group with veto powers - did not allow the ban apparently on the behest of Pakistan. On 18 February, a fresh list of 11 individuals and one organisation linked to terrorism in India, was submitted by New Delhi to the sanctions committee. PTI Ireland faced political uncertainty on Saturday after two exit polls indicated voters had punished the outgoing governing coalition in Europe's fastest-growing economy, which is feeling the pain of years of austerity. Both Prime Minister Enda Kenny's centre-right Fine Gael and its Labour junior partner lost support as voters angry at continuing hardship in the eurozone country shifted to independent politicians and leftwing parties. Exit polls indicated the two government parties would take between 55 and 68 seats between them: far short of the 80 needed to win a second term as counting was set to begin. "It's a very disappointing day from the government's point of view," Tom Curran, Fine Gael's general secretary told public broadcaster RTE. "If the exit polls are right... we will fall far short of being able to form a government." Both polls indicated the only viable government could be a union of Fine Gael with runners up Fianna Fail -- who are politically similar but bitter rivals whose divisions date back to Ireland's 1920s civil war and who ruled out a deal with each other before the election. "Either we can have another election now, and do away with the count, or we'll let them muddle around for a month or so and maybe they can think the unthinkable," said Michael Marsh, a professor at Trinity College Dublin who conducted the exit poll for RTE. "It's hard to see any sort of government without Fine Gael and Fianna Fail getting together." Fianna Fail, the party most associated with Ireland's economic crisis and housing crash, appears to have recovered some ground since it was routed in the last election in 2011. On the rise were independent politicians, newly-formed parties, anti-austerity groups and the leftwing Sinn Fein party, which has ridden a wave of support as it re-branded as an anti-austerity force south of its power base in Northern Ireland, putting it on course to be the main opposition party in Ireland. In any negotiations, parties will be mindful of a March 10 deadline when the new parliament is to meet and nominate a new prime minister, or Taoiseach. Broken promises Stacks of ballot boxes from around Ireland were gathered in counting centres, with first results expected by the early hours of Sunday. Turnout was reported to be slightly under the 70 percent of the previous election in 2011. Ireland has become the European single currency's champion of economic growth in recent years, posting 4.8 percent growth in 2014 -- the highest in the European Union. Kenny had asked voters to return the coalition to "keep the recovery going", in the first election held since the country of 4.6 million inhabitants exited a bailout imposed after a deep financial crisis. But anger about rising homelessness and poverty was clear on the streets of Dublin, where thousands marched against austerity on the weekend before the vote calling for an end to a controversial water tax. "They have broken every single promise, every single promise," said Jim, a middle-aged Dubliner who said he had voted for the government five years ago but was "totally against" them this time round. "I'm self-employed. I have to deliver. If you break promises, I don't want to know you," he said. The impact of the election may be felt far beyond Ireland's borders, according to the Economist weekly, which commented that a Fine Gael defeat with the economy doing well may ramp up pressure on Brussels to reconsider its policy on austerity. "Ireland's election may well turn out to be a historic event, not simply for Fine Gael or the other parties contesting it, but also for the future of the eurozone," it said. AFP Washington: A joint resolution to block the sale of eight nuclear-capable F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan has been introduced in the US House of Representatives, even as Secretary of State John Kerry defended the move, saying it is critical for Pakistan's fight against terrorism. "The government of Pakistan has been using weapons from the US to repress its own citizens and especially the people of Baluchistan," Congressman Dana Rohrabacher said on Thursday after he introduced the resolution in the House of Representatives. "The deciding factor of whether to support this joint resolution is, for me, the arrogant and hostile actions taken by the government of Pakistan against the man who helped bring Osama bin Laden to justice," Rohrabacher said. Earlier this month, the Obama administration officially announced it would go ahead with the USD 700 million arms deal with Pakistan. Alleging that Osama bin Laden was a "mass murderer" of 3,000 Americans on 11 September, 2001, Rohrabacher said anyone who helped bring him to justice is an "American hero". "The government of Pakistan arrested Shakil Afridi and continues to hold him in a cage. The arrest was a declaration of hostility toward the United States," he said. "Our government should not provide military equipment to Pakistan, let alone F-16s, as long as they are holding Afridi. His continued incarceration is an action which underscores that the government of Pakistan considers itself our enemy, not our friend," Rohrabacher said. Kerry, however, strongly defended the decision arguing that these fighter jets are a "critical" part of Pakistan's fight against terrorists. "The F-16s have been a critical part of the Pakistani fight against the terrorists in the western part of that country, and have been effective in that fight. And Pakistan has lost some 50,000 people in the last years, including troops, to the terrorists that are threatening Pakistan itself," Kerry told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing. A day earlier, former Republican presidential candidate Senator Rand Paul introduced the joint resolution in the Senate to block sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan. The resolution (SJ Res 30) calls for prohibiting sale of eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, which the State Department had recently notified to the Congress. It also calls for "prohibiting sale" of other military hardware to Pakistan including eight Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suites (AIDWES), 14 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS). India is opposing the sale of F-16 to Pakistan, saying it disagrees with Washington's rationale that such arms transfers help to combat terrorism. Kerry said the US does not want to do things that upset the balance. "But we do believe that Pakistan is engaged legitimately in a very tough fight against identifiable terrorists in their country that threaten Pakistan," the top American diplomat argued. "They have got about 150,000 to 180,000 troops out in the western part of their country. They've been engaged in North Waziristan in a long struggle to clear the area and move people out. They have made some progress in that. Is it enough in our judgment? No," he said. "We think that more could be done. We're particularly concerned about the sanctuary components of Pakistan, and we're particularly concerned about some individual entities in Pakistan that have been supportive of relationships with some of the people that we consider extremely dangerous to our interests in Afghanistan elsewhere; Haqqani Network, prime example of that," Kerry said. Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has put a hold on the sale of F-16 to Pakistan. The Obama Administration, however, is hopeful that it would be able to overcome legislative challenges to proceed with the sale of F-16. PTI Washington: A top US lawmaker has introduced a "joint resolution" in the House of Representatives to express Congress's disapproval over an arms deal with Pakistan which includes the sale of eight nuclear-capable F-16 fighter jets to the latter. "The government of Pakistan has been using weapons from the US to repress its own citizens and especially the people of Baluchistan," Congressman Dana Rohrabacher said on Thursday after he introduced the resolution in the House of Representatives which is similar to Indian Parliament's lower House, the Lok Sabha. "The deciding factor of whether to support this Joint Resolution is, for me, the arrogant and hostile actions taken by the government of Pakistan against the man who helped bring Osama bin Laden to justice," Rohrabacher said. Earlier this month, the Obama administration officially announced it would go through with the $700 million arms deal with Pakistan. Alleging that Osama bin Laden was a "mass murderer" of 3,000 Americans on September 11, 2001, he said anyone who helped bring him to justice is an "American hero". "The government of Pakistan arrested Shakil Afridi and continues to hold him in a cage. The arrest was a declaration of hostility toward the United States," he said. "Our government should not provide military equipment to Pakistan, let alone F-16s, as long as they are holding Afridi. His continued incarceration is an action which underscores that the government of Pakistan considers itself our enemy, not our friend," Rohrabacher said. A day earlier, former Republican presidential candidate Senator Rand Paul introduced the joint resolution in the Senate to block sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan. The resolution (SJ Res 30) calls for prohibiting sale of eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, which the State Department had recently notified to the Congress. It also calls for "prohibiting sale" of other military hardware to Pakistan including eight Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suites (AIDWES), 14 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS). Meanwhile, Senator Bob Corker, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has put a hold on the sale of F-16 to Pakistan. The Obama Administration, however, is hopeful that it would be able to overcome legislative challenges to proceed with the sale of F-16. "The relationship between the US and Pakistan has been a troubled one. Though the government of Pakistan has been considered to be America's ally in the fight on terrorism, its behaviour would suggest otherwise. While we give them billions of dollars in aid, we are simultaneously aware of their intelligence and military apparatus assisting the Afghan Taliban," Senator Paul alleged. "In addition to Pakistan's duplicitous nature, it also has a deplorable human rights record. It often isolates and unjustly jails religious minorities and Christians," he claimed. "Only after an international outcry did Pakistan commute Asa Bibi's death sentence. In addition to Pakistan's support of terrorism and deplorable human rights record, it continues to imprison Afridi who helped the US locate and kill Osama Bin Laden," Paul said. PTI Ahead of its US release this coming Friday, a new clip has arrived online for director Roar Uthaugs upcoming Norwegian disaster film The Wave (aka Bolgen) entitled Here It Comes, take a look below after the official synopsis The experienced geologist Kristian Eikfjord has accepted a job offer out of town. He is getting ready to move from the city of Geiranger with his family, when he and his colleagues measure small geological changes in the underground. Kristian gets worried and his worst nightmare is about to come true, when the alarm goes off and the disaster is inevitable. With less than 10 minutes to react, it becomes a race against time in order to save as many as possible including his own family. The Wave is set for release on March 4th. [soundcloud url=https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/197064794 params=auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=false width=100% height=150 iframe=true /] Bruegger's Bagels and Jamba Juice are set to open their first co-branded store in Melrose, Massachusetts this coming March, according to an article by Kelsey Nash in the Restaurant Business. This store will be a first of several co-branded stores the two companies are planning to open. The partnership is seen as a perfect fit for both companies as their products complement each other. Bruegger's Bagels is a well established chain offering breakfast and lunch options made from simple yet quality ingredient. Since its founding in 1983, the company has made a name for itself with its authentic New York-style freshly-baked bagels. Additionally, Bruegger's also offers signature egg sandwiches well-received in this niche. On the other hand, Jamba Inc. owns and franchises several Jamba Juice stores. It is well known for its delicious whole fruit smoothies, freshly-squeezed juices and blends as well as hot teas which it also retails to restaurants. The brand also offers a variety of food items which includes sandwiches, breakfast wraps, hot oatmeal, energy bowls, baked goods and Artisan Flatbreads. As of last year, it operates 884 stores globally where 94 are company owned with the rest franchise-operated. Yahoo Finance reports that Paul Carolan, Bruegger's Bagel President, confirmed that the two brands previously tested the co-branding concept in a smaller store located near the University of Connecticut campus. This new store to be opened in the Melrose location offers the perfect opportunity for the experience they gain from the smaller trial to be put to profitable use, with the planned extension of operating hours, improved interior design and menu extensions to cater to a more premium market. David Pace, CEO of Jamba Inc, agrees with the assessment that indeed, the two brands will give a better service to their existing customers. Jamba will now have the opportunity to reach previously untapped customers that are already within Bruegger's reach. Meanwhile, existing Jamba customers could likewise easily access Brugger's extensive offerings. Although some members of the Maine Legislative Committee have voted to wait longer for passing a bill on GMO labeling, the remaining ones are focusing on starting the labels for foods containing genetically modified organisms. Last Thursday, the legislative committee split up on changing the Maine law that would require labels on food. In 2014, lawmakers, requiring the food manufacturers to label their products, which have been made with genetically engineered ingredients, passed a bill. Although three New England states have acted on the bills, yet New Hampshire is still waiting to adopt the policy by the end of next year for the labeling law to take effect. On Thursday, members of the Legislature's Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee voted 7-3 to extend that "sunset clause" until the year 2022 in order to give New Hampshire or other Northeastern states additional time to pass their own bills, according to the Portland Press Herald. Advocates for GMO labeling had originally hoped to remove the five-state trigger clause in the Legislature, however, the proposal faced opposition from some lawmakers and from the LePage administration. Notably, agribusiness, biotechnology companies, and food producers have actively opposed GMO labeling, warning that the process could prompt some manufacturers to stop selling products in Maine. Additionally, they also said that the move would increase the cost of Maine-based business, mentioning that something as mild sounding as "contains GMO ingredients" may not seem as controversial as dire words like "smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and may complicate pregnancy." Moreover, they have argued that the labeling should be voluntary, or originate from the federal government. The Thursday's committee lacked three members who were not present at the meeting, and would have 48 hours to cast their votes, following which the competing reports will be going to the full Legislature for consideration. Thus, it is yet to be known if the Legislature will support the immediate labeling of the GMO foods or not. Starbucks was finally granted the liquor license for which they applied in November, by the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Starbucks is reportedly the first company to apply for a master license, which would cover five Utah locations, since the enactment of the master license legislature in Utah in 2014, according to reports from The Salt Lake Tribune. However, the service of serving alcohols and beers in the five Starbucks outlet will not be immediate as they should undergo remodeling and restructure to increase the food preparation and kitchen areas in addition to creating a state-mandated and approved liquor-dispensing area. The state mandated liquor-disposing area will be known as Zion Curtain and will be used for alcohol storage and dispensation for customers. The five participating Starbucks are located in the Salt Lake City, Park City, Lehi, Farmington and Holladay. "Our intention with our Utah evening stores," said Starbucks district manager Lucas Wood, "is to expand the food and beverage menu without creating a drinking atmosphere." "Just as each customer is unique, so are our stores and we consider a broad range of products and experiences for each neighborhood," a Starbucks spokesperson told CNBC. "And, as you've seen, we're in the very early stages of bringing our Evenings menu to Utah. It's a long and thoughtful process, and the permit filing is just one of many steps we take." Starbucks officials told the commission they would easily meet the food/alcohol ratio. Managers say they only expect to serve 10 to 12 glasses of beer or wine a day at each location. "We have concerns that we might see a proliferation of this," said chairman John T. Nielsen. "But it ought to be clearly understood, that this is not to be considered a precedent, that we will review applications in the future on a case-by-case basis." Macy's (M 4.74%) closed the books on a dismal 2015 with its fourth-quarter earnings release earlier this week. Adjusted earnings per share fell 14% to $3.77 for the full year, and revenue fell 3.7% on a 2.5% decline in comparable sales. The holiday quarter was even uglier, as comparable sales dropped 4.3%. It's no secret what's ailing the venerable department store chain. A resurgent J.C. Penney (JCPN.Q) has clawed back sales from Macy's, and the department store industry in general is struggling as the e-commerce channel grows and competition from fast-fashion retailers is on the rise. According to the Census Bureau, sales at department stores nationwide fell 2% last year, a trend that Macy's and its peers are having trouble dealing with. Unsurprisingly, Macy's plans to take the usual cost-cutting measures, complete with store closures and layoffs. It's set to shutter 36 stores this year, on top of the four it closed at the end of last year -- more than 5% of its outlets. It will also lay off at least 4,500 employees in an attempt to cut $400 million in SG&A costs. Here are few of the other things Macy's will do in hopes of turning around its business. Unlock real estate value The company is booking a $250 million gain on the sale of the top five floors of its Downtown Brooklyn store, and it hopes to make similar deals in the future. In the recent earnings release, management said it has begun contacting potentially interested parties for partnership or joint-venture transactions. It said there has been a high level of interest, but that talks are still in preliminary stages. Activist investor Starboard Value has urged Macy's to leverage its real estate portfolio, which it estimates could be worth as much as $21 billion -- more than 50% above its current market cap. Management has rejected the idea of forming a real estate investment trust, but seems focused on selling off specific properties or opening them up to partner businesses as explained above. Macy's flagship stores in cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco give it an advantage over competitors like J.C. Penney, whose stores are mostly tucked away in suburban malls or rural areas, and unlocking value from those properties could help the company spruce up its retail business. Opening Backstage stores Following the lead of Nordstrom (JWN 3.61%) and other retailers that have had success with off-price chains, Macy's is expanding its own off-price brand, adding more Backstage stores. In 2015, the company opened six Backstage stores, and will begin adding new outlets to its full-line department stores, with plans to open 16 Backstage locations this year, all but one of them inside of existing Macy's. The idea of opening discount outlets within existing full-price stores has its risks: It could draw customers away from its regularly priced merchandise. Macy's is hoping for an alternate scenario to play out -- that the off-price outlets lure more foot traffic into the department stores. Nordstrom, which has had perhaps the most success with its discount brand, Rack, has kept those stores separate from its full-line chain -- and now has more Rack locations (194) than full-line department stores (121), and until this year, Rack had been growing comparable sales at a brisk pace. For Macy's, opening a handful of discount stores inside its stores is unlikely to move the needle significantly. If Backstage is going to be a successful brand that's accretive to profits, it needs to have its own locations. Building its omnichannel strategy Macy's CEO Terry Lundgren talks about omnichannel -- the philosphy that sellers should use a combination of e-commerce, mobile apps, brick-and-mortar stores, and any other available method of reaching its customers -- as much as any other retailer. Omnichannel is a core component of its M.O.M. strategy, which stands for My Macy's localization, omnichannel, and magic. In the recent earnings release, Lundgren touted the company's double-digit online sales growth, and noted that Macy's recently opened up a new e-commerce fulfillment center in Tulsa. With the company planning to open just one new department store next year, growing sales through its website will become increasingly crucial. Lundgren also noted "exceptional increases in mobile traffic and increased conversions" as mobile appears to be the next frontier in e-commerce. For years, the company has offered in-store pickup and ship-from-store options for its customers, but it may need to further differentiate itself to make up for a slide in in-store sales. While the company must continue to build its online business, it is ultimately defined by its stores and properties, and the success of its in-store retail efforts will determine its fate. If the company can find a way to drive traffic to its stores, be that through partnerships with other retailers, opening Backstage stores, or programs like in-store pickup, Macy's should return to growth. For now, Macy's has enough options to make Lundgren's promise to "examine every aspect of our business so we can grow profitable sales" credible. Honda (HMC 1.52%) CEO Takahiro Hachigo, confronting sluggish sales and uncharacteristic quality problems, unveiled a sweeping overhaul plan for the company in a speech in Tokyo on Wednesday, February 24. The plan is a major effort. It will revamp the company's global production structure, streamline research-and-development and product-development processes, and shift Honda's focus more toward electrified vehicles. What's the plan? First, a little background. Hachigo's predecessor as CEO, Takanobu Ito, moved Honda to what the company calls a "six-region" structure. The idea was that Honda, which has long centralized its design and engineering efforts in Japan, would move to a system under which six regional offices around the world would work together to develop region-specific products, as well as "global" models sold around the world. The plan looked good on paper, but in practice, it has been a mixed bag. Honda has ended up with too much production capacity in some regions, and not enough in others. And costs have escalated as regions have sometimes duplicated efforts. Hachigo's plan is to clean that all up. He will juggle production to make better use of the company's factories around the world, exporting global models from one region to another when it makes sense. (That probably translates to more exports from Europe and Japan to the United States, and from Japan to Europe.) He's also making a series of organizational and structural tweaks to simplify regional product development. That should all cut costs, improve time to market, and possibly help Honda avoid some of the quality snafus it has encountered in the last few years. But what about the products themselves? Honda's products used to be praised for being "fun to drive" and sporty. That was a key differentiator from rival Toyota (TM 0.39%), which had a reputation for products that were very well built, but somewhat dull. But in recent years, Hondas -- at least in the public perception -- have lost some of that "fun to drive" luster, while Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda has pushed his company to adopt edgier styling, and put a little more emphasis on performance and handling. The tables, in other words, have started to turn. Hachigo said that he will push Honda to get back to the "Honda DNA." Some of the changes he made to Honda's global product-development organization are intended to spur development of more exciting new products. And electric cars? Hachigo outlined a plan to push Honda much more aggressively toward electrification. Honda will continue its development of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, continuing its work with General Motors to bring a new lower-cost fuel-cell system to market around 2020. That's not new. What is new is that Honda is stepping up its efforts with plug-in hybrids. It plans an all-new plug-in hybrid model for North America by 2018, after which it will add plug-in variants to its major global model lines. The longer-range goal is for Honda to get two-thirds of its overall global sales from hybrids and electric vehicles -- including both fuel-cell vehicles and battery-electrics -- by "around 2030." What it all means When he took the CEO job last year, Hachigo hinted that big changes would be forthcoming. Now we have an idea of what he was hinting at. But it'll take time before we see the effects in the marketplace, much less on Honda's bottom line. Still, it seems like the kind of plan Honda has needed for a while -- one that could return the company to its traditional strengths, while adapting it to a changing global marketplace. I'd say I'm cautiously optimistic -- but we'll have to see how all of these changes, which take effect April 1, start to play out over the next few quarters. At the moment, the expansion of marijuana throughout the United States looks almost unstoppable. Marijuana's rapid expansion Since 1996, 23 states have approved the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, opening up new pathways of treatment options for patients with chronic illnesses like glaucoma or terminal types of cancers. We've also witnessed residents in four states (along with Washington, D.C.) approve the legalization of recreational marijuana, which a decade ago would have seemed unfathomable. How was this made possible? It's been a mixture of the will of the people and states' desire to raise additional revenue. An October poll conducted by Gallup showed that a whopping 58% of respondents were now in favor of marijuana's legalization. This tied the highest favorability response rate since Gallup began its survey decades prior, and it demonstrates just how far public opinion has come in such a relatively short time frame. If we solely examine medical marijuana, respondents' favorability jumps even more. A CBS News poll from last year pegged favorability of medicinal marijuana at 84%. We're also seeing a push by legislators in certain states to legalize medical and recreational marijuana. The purpose of legalization is to collect tax revenue from retailers, as well as gather licensing fees associated with selling, growing, and processing the drug. Colorado, which netted almost $1 billion in total sales in 2015, wound up clearing around $135 million in tax and license revenue from cannabis last year. That's a big deal, and this money can go a long way toward funding schools, drug abuse programs, and law enforcement within the state. Will these two marijuana studies burn supporters? But, the marijuana industry continues to have one large cloud hanging overhead: the inaction of the federal government. On Capitol Hill, the marijuana plant is still illegal, and as such, marijuana industries face some inherent disadvantages (which we'll get to a bit later). Congress seems unwilling to budge on its stance until a more encompassing safety profile of marijuana is established. This profile essentially entails putting together a massive puzzle of all marijuana studies and reaching a conclusion on its benefits versus risks, as well as long-term use safety. Last week, marijuana's safety profile appeared to take a hit with two new studies released by Columbia University. The first study, which was a joint effort by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the City University of New York and was published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, analyzed data from 27,461 adults with the intent of deciphering if a link existed between marijuana use and alcohol use disorder, or AUD. AUD is a diagnosed condition where the user abuses or becomes dependent upon alcohol. While analyzing data on these adults from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, researchers assessed each patient at two separate points in time. At the initial assessment both marijuana and non-marijuana users had no history of AUDs. However, by the second follow-up three years later researchers noted that users who had used marijuana at the first assessment and were still using the drug during the follow-up were five times more likely to develop an alcohol use problem compared to adults that had not used marijuana. Researchers also noted that marijuana users were less likely to be in recovery three years later than individuals who didn't use marijuana. Researchers concluded that marijuana use appears to correlate to a higher risk of developing an AUD, and increase the likelihood that an existing AUD will continue over time. Ultimately, researchers suggested that more studies be conducted to confirm what is currently an intriguing clinical correlation. The second study, conducted by Columbia University and published in JAMA Psychiatry, examined 34,653 adults three years apart for the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. The purpose of this study was determine if a link existed between cannabis use and the risk of mental health and substance abuse disorders. Of the 1,279 respondents who were marijuana users, study results showed a higher propensity for AUDs, cannabis abuse disorder, nicotine dependence, and any other drug abuse disorder compared to the non-using cohort. It should be noted that researchers observed no correlation relating to mood disorders or anxiety disorders between marijuana users and the non-marijuana cohort. Expect the stalemate to continue If there is good news here for marijuana supporters, it's that neither study concretely links marijuana as the culprit. Columbia's researchers were clear to point out that further studies would need to be conducted to make that determination. Additionally, we've witnessed clinical studies that have shown marijuana or its cannabinoids to have a markedly positive effect. From regulating blood sugar to improving the effectiveness of radiotherapy on gliomas, marijuana's medical benefits profile has been intriguing. The problem, though, is this: The data continues to be conflicting. It seems as if for every positive marijuana study there's a negative one (or as we saw last week, two), which is not making it easy for Congress to decide whether to consider reviewing marijuana's scheduling status at the federal level. While there is no timetable as to when Congress could take marijuana's federal scheduling up for review, the facts that President Obama doesn't have marijuana on his 2016 agenda and that it's an election year likely make 2016 a stalemate. Although marijuana has an opportunity to expand at the state level in November, restrictive federal laws are making it very difficult for marijuana businesses to thrive (which in turn makes the idea of investing in marijuana stocks not look attractive). The biggest issue for marijuana businesses is the unfair tax advantage they're facing. Even though the marijuana plant is illegal at the federal level, marijuana businesses are still required to pay federal income tax. Worse yet, because they're selling a product that's illegal under federal law, they're disallowed from taking tax deductions that normal businesses can take. In short, marijuana businesses are paying far more in taxes than they should due to congressional inaction. The second issue is that marijuana businesses have very limited access to banks and financial institutions. Even with some states putting in workarounds for financial institutions that want to deal with marijuana businesses, most simply avoid the legal maze. Additionally, it's always possible the federal government could clamp down on banks catering to marijuana businesses. Without access to lines of credit, or even checking accounts in many instances, it's made expansion difficult for businesses, and it's also made security a major concern. Even though marijuana is undergoing a major expansion at the moment, there are no guarantees that the industry has long-term staying power as long as these inherent disadvantages remain in place. Until these are removed, your best bet as an investor continues to be "avoid, avoid, avoid." McDonald's Corporation is stepping back from the McPick 2 for $2 menu, the platform that was supposed to replace the Dollar Menu. The new value menu was seen by some analysts as a needed component for McDonald's to lure in budget-minded customers. Source: McDonald's The fast-food chain has not yet made an announcement about the decision, but signage and advertising promoting a 2 for $5 menu have begun to appear in its place, and its website notes that the 2 for $2 promotion has ended. According toConsumerist, billboards and other such announcements have appeared in cities like Kansas City and Des Moines promoting the new 2 for $5 menu, which includes premium sandwiches like the Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, and chicken nuggets, unlike the 2 for $2 menu, which featured items like mozzarella sticks, small fries, and low-priced sandwiches like the McDouble. Does it matter?Surprisingly, the decision comes following positive remarks on the 2 for $2 menu in the company's recent earnings call. CEO Steve Easterbrook had said, "the offer appears to be resonating with customers," but the program was also in a test phase, and he said the company would make adjustments as it moves to a "more permanent national platform later this year." The 2 for $2 menu also appeared to be a response to its fast food rivals likeWendy's and Burger King, a division ofRestaurant Brands International, which have been engaging in a race to the bottom with their own value meals. Wendy's rolled out a 4 for $4 menu last October, which includes a burger, chicken nuggets, fries, and a drink, while Burger King did it one step better with a 5 for $4 menu, offering the same mix but with a chocolate chip cookie to boot. With its 2 for $5 menu, McDonald's seems to be targeting a similar price point as Wendy's and Burger King, but putting its premium sandwiches front and center instead of budget-priced offers. Reaction on social media has been mixed with some cheering the move, while others said they would switch to one of the company's rivals. While McDonald's could lose some value-oriented customers to its rivals, it could also benefit by adding sales and profits with a value meal that sells up rather than down and leads with its best known menu items. Expect some more color on this in McDonald's next earnings report. The article Instant Analysis: McDonald's Reverses Itself On 2 for $2 Meal originally appeared on Fool.com. Jeremy Bowman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Charlie Munger, an American businessman, investor, and partner of the legendary Warren Buffett, coined the term "Lollapalooza effect" during a 1995 Harvard speech, in which he reviewed numerous causes of human misjudgment. It has since become another piece of investing jargon. So what does this term actually mean, and why is it important for investors to understand? DefinitionWe humans have many inherent biases and tendencies that can sway our behavior one way or another. When several of them act in concert to drive us toward a particular action, you have a Lollapalooza effect.The Lollapalooza effect can create large-scale drivers of human behavior -- and often error. What it means in the real worldThough the Lollapalooza effect is often shown in a bad light, it can have both positive and negative outcomes. One positive example of the Lollapalooza effect is the Alcoholics Anonymous program, which, as Munger explains, boasts a no-drinking rate of 50% in cases where all other social and health-related factors fail to motivate alcohol abusers to quit. Munger hails Alcoholics Anonymous as a clever system that makes constructive use of people's psychological tendencies. For example, one reason AA often works is people's natural tendency to imitate those around them. AA members are surrounded by people who have fought to become sober, which makes newer members more likely to follow suit. On the other hand, Munger also points to the open auction system as a negative example of the Lollapalooza effect. He believes that in this environment, several psychological biases converge, causing people to act foolishly. Namely, the psychological phenomenon known as "social proof" leads people to imitate the actions of others in an effort to reflect seemingly appropriate behavior. As a result, during an auction, participants will often engage in bidding wars because that's what the people around them are doing -- not because they're passionate about acquiring the item up for auction, or because they've drawn the logical conclusion that they're offering a good price for the item. The Lollapalooza effect can also apply to investing, causing millions of investors to buy one sector, sell off another sector, or otherwise act as a "herd." This herd mentality is every investor's worst enemy. After all, if you sell when everyone else is selling, then you're probably eating huge losses. If you do the opposite and buywhen everyone else is selling, then you're likely getting bargain prices for your shares. So, before you make an investment, it's wise to think about how different psychological factors might be causing an irrational reaction in the market. The Lollapalooza effect and the mortgage crisisThe 2007-2008 mortgage crisis is a textbook example of the Lollapalooza effect. Before the mortgage market imploded, brokers were highly motivated to sell home loans, because the more they sold, the more money they earned. They had once been more concerned about the creditworthiness of borrowers, as lenders had a practice of keeping mortgages on their books and thus stood to lose a great deal in the event of a loan default. However, when Wall Street introduced the concept of selling mortgages to the financial markets, it created a gigantic Lollapalooza effect. Suddenly every player in the market had a different motivation: Brokers wanted to make money, investors who bought the mortgages wanted to make money, banks wanted to make money, and borrowers wanted to purchase their dream homes regardless of whether they could actually afford them. No single player thought about the long-term consequences, and as a result, the mortgage market collapsed because of an overwhelming dose of human misjudgment. As an investor, it's important to recognize when a Lollapalooza effect might come into play. When various complex scenarios and competing motivations converge, it can result in a volatile situation. Achieving success as an investor is often a matter of avoiding situations that are extremely difficult to predict due to the number of moving pieces involved. In other words, if there's no good way to determine whether an investment is a smart one, then you may be better off staying away. This article is part of The Motley Fool's Knowledge Center, which was created based on the collected wisdom of a fantastic community of investors. We'd love to hear your questions, thoughts, and opinions on the Knowledge Center in general or this page in particular. Your input will help us help the world invest, better! Email us atknowledgecenter@fool.com. Thanks -- and Fool on! The article Lollapalooza Effect originally appeared on Fool.com. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Samsung expanded its high-end phablet offerings by introducing the Galaxy S6 Edge + last year. That appears to be a smart move. Source: Samsung. According to Adobe Digital Index, or ADI, mobile usage is exploding. According to the report compiled from aggregated data from more than 5,000 companies, "the top seven countries in EMEA [an acronym meaning Europe, Middle East, and Asia] saw at least 11% growth year-over-year (YoY) in mobile visits. But, despite that growth in mobile, tablet traffic, specifically, is decreasing." The information regarding a shift to mobile is pretty impressive, and should be watched among advertisers. But for device manufacturers, with all due respect to Adobe, there's nothing groundbreaking in this data. A semi-thorough look through Apple's device sales figures would tell you the tablet market has struggled, while the iPhone market has powered higher in wake of a larger screen. Screen expansion; tablet sales compressionWhen the initial iPad was unveiled in 2010, the current-generation iPhone was the iPhone 3GS. The differences between the 9.7-inch first-gen iPad and the 3.5-inch iPhone was pretty large, and both devices were packaged as distinct products. The introduction of the iPhone 5 pushed the screen to four inches, followed by the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus' increase to 4.7-inches and 5.5-inches, respectively. The newest-gen iPad Air 2 has kept its 9.7-inch screen size, and Apple has introduced a 7.9-inch iPad Mini, as well. In doing so, the difference between the largest iPhone and smallest iPad narrowed from 6.2 diagonal inches to a mere 2.4 inches. The narrowing of screen sizes presents cannibalization amid device redundancy. According to ADI's principal Tamara Gaffney, "now instead of buying both a smartphone and a tablet, people are opting for 'phablets' and relying on this one device." Apple's unit shipments seems to confirm this is taking place with its iPad model. Unit Sales FY '15 YoY Growth FY '14 YoY Growth FY '13 iPhone 231.2 37% 169.2 13% 150.3 iPad 54.9 (19%) 68.0 (4%) 71.0 Source: Apple's annual report. Unit figures in millions. In last year's second fiscal quarter, Apple CEO Tim Cook addressed this on the conference call: "Have we had cannibalization? The answer is yes." Later, addressing Apple's iPad sales drop: "It will play out and at some point it will stabilize. I can't say exactly when, but I'm pretty confident it will." Since that quarter, Apple's iPad-related revenue has continued to struggle on a year-over-year growth basis. Source: Apple's quarterly reports. Revenue figures in millions. But it's not just Apple: IDC estimates the worldwide tablet market contracted 10.1% last year. IDC reports high-end Galaxy tablet manufacturer Samsung shipped 16% fewer tablets last year. The South Korean conglomerate expects "single-digit growth of smartphone and tablet demand" in its 2016 outlook; but that may be wishful thinking in its tablet business in light of ADI's and IDC's studies. IDC brings better news for Samsung's smartphone business by reporting a small 2.1% gain in shipments during 2015. The company added a new high-end phablet form factor to its offering last year by bringing the Galaxy S6 Edge + and its massive 5.7-inch display, to market alongside the newest iteration of the company's Galaxy Note series. Moving forward, especially in the developing markets of EMEA, it seems both companies should focus less on selling tablets, and more on putting larger-screen smartphones in the hands of new consumers. The article Adobe Brings (More) Bad News for Tablets originally appeared on Fool.com. Jamal Carnette owns shares of Apple. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Adobe Systems. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Much has been made about the current "retail apocalypse." Yet two retailers -- Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT) and Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST) -- have continued to thrive even as many of their peers have seen their business models disrupted by e-commerce. What is it that separates these two retailers from the pack? And which is the better buy today? Read on to find out. Competitive advantage The core of Costco's competitive strategy is its membership model. The company charges an annual fee ranging from $60 to $120. In return, it offers low prices on a carefully curated selection of goods. Costco often offers limited amounts of many of these products, and the items available change frequently. This low-price strategy and treasure hunt-type experience help to entice people to shop at its stores and also to insulate Costco from the threat of e-commerce. Wal-Mart is also known for its "everyday low prices." Its massive store network gives it tremendous buying power. Wal-Mart is notorious for leaning on its suppliers for price concessions. It then passes on much of these savings to its customers, which makes them difficult for even online competitors to match. Moreover, Wal-Mart recognized the threat of e-commerce to its traditional retail operations and made an aggressive move to acquire Jet.com for $3.3 billion in August 2016. It quickly installed Jet CEO Marc Lore as head of its e-commerce division. Since then, Lore has spearheaded numerous initiatives that together have taken what was a struggling part of Wal-Mart's business and transformed it into its most exciting growth driver. In all, it's true that Costco's membership model is one of the most effective brick-and-mortar retail strategies in existence. But with more retail sales moving online every day, Wal-Mart's success in this vital area gives it a stronger competitive position going forward. Advantage: Wal-Mart Financial fortitude Let's now take a look at some key metrics to see how Costco and Wal-Mart stack up in regards to financial strength. Metric Costco Wholesale Wal-Mart Stores Revenue $129 billion $490 billion Net income $2.7 billion $12.7 billion EBITDA $5.5 billion $32.2 billion Operating cash flow $6.7 billion $28.0 billion Free cash flow $4.2 billion $17.5 billion Cash and investments $5.8 billion $6.9 billion Debt $6.7 billion $40.2 billion Wal-Mart is the more heavily indebted retailer by far, but its gargantuan cash flows are more than adequate to service its debt while still returning billions of dollars of cash to shareholders. In fact, even after adjusting for its $6.2 billion in dividend payments over the past year, Wal-Mart's free cash flow is still nearly three times that of Costco. For these reasons, I'll give the edge to Wal-Mart for financial fortitude. Advantage: Wal-Mart Valuation No better-buy discussion should take place without a look at valuation. Let's check out some key value metrics for Wal-Mart and Costco, including price-to-sales, price-to-earnings, and price-to-free cash flow ratios. Metric Costco Wholesale Wal-Mart Stores P/S 0.55 0.55 Trailing P/E 26.49 20.99 Forward P/E 24.88 18.98 P/FCF 16.85 15.04 Interestingly, both Costco and Wal-Mart are currently trading at 0.55 times sales. Yet Wal-Mart is the more profitable business, with operating and net margins of 4.6% and 2.6%, respectively, compared to 3.2% and 2.1% for Costco. In turn, Wal-Mart sports lower trailing and forward price-to-earnings ratios, and it's also cheaper on a price-to-free cash flow basis. That makes Wal-Mart's stock the better deal. Advantage: Wal-Mart The better buy is... With Wal-Mart Stores coming out ahead in all three categories -- competitive advantage, financial strength, and stock valuation -- it's clearly the better buy today. 10 stocks we like better than Wal-Mart StoresWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Wal-Mart Stores wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. Click here to learn about these picks! *Stock Advisor returns as of October 9, 2017 Joe Tenebruso has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Nearly three years ago, Embraer announced plans to redesign its signature E-Jet product lineup, incorporating state-of-the-art engines and other design improvements. The goal was to ensure that Embraer's products remained competitive with new and updated narrowbody designs from Bombardier, Airbus , and Boeing . Last week, Embraer rolled out the first of its new E2-series jets -- on time and on budget. This puts it on pace to deliver the first one in early 2018. Embraer also revealed a key design change for its largest E-Jet model that could make it a lot more competitive with the alternatives. The new E190-E2 arrivesEmbraer's E190-E2 made its public debut on Thursday. The plane seats approximately 100 passengers, like the older E190 jet. This makes it smaller than anything sold by Boeing and Airbus, putting it in a comfortable niche. Embraer's E190-E2 made its first public appearance last week. Photo: Embraer The E190-E2 maintains the same fuselage as its predecessor, which is great news for passengers. The E190 has ample headroom, wider seats than a Boeing 737, and no middle seats thanks to a two-by-two configuration. Facing off with BombardierGoing forward, the E190-E2 will compete primarily with Bombardier's CS100 jet. The two planes are likely to be relatively similar in terms of capacity and fuel efficiency, but the CS100 has more range. However, low prices will be a key selling point for the E190-E2. Embraer is still on target to keep development costs to just $1.7 billion for the whole E2 family of jets. It has been helped by the collapse of the Brazilian real, which has depreciated by nearly 50% since mid-2013. US Dollar to Brazilian Real Exchange Rate. Data by YCharts. By contrast, Bombardier has spent more than $5 billion to develop its CSeries jets. Furthermore, CSeries production costs will probably be quite high for the first few years, due to it being a completely new design, leading to further losses. This limits Bombardier's ability to offer big discounts -- although it is becoming somewhat more aggressive. Embraer's E190-E2 has a lower list price than the CS100. With low development costs and an expected smooth production ramp-up (due to its similarity to the E190), Embraer can also afford bigger discounts, giving it a big pricing advantage over its only major competitor in the 100-seat market. The E195-E2 gets a boostOver the life of the first-generation E-Jet program, the E195 has been markedly less successful than the E190. It is only slightly larger than the E190, but in some configurations that's enough to require an extra flight attendant. It also has less range than the E190. As a result, the E195 has only received 166 firm orders, compared to 578 for the E190. Embraer's E2-series jets will all provide big fuel efficiency gains. Image source: Embraer. Embraer stretched the second-generation E195 by three rows to differentiate it from its smaller sibling. The stretch also means that the E195-E2 will offer a 23% fuel efficiency improvement over the E195: even better than the E190-E2's 16% improvement over the E190. The E195-E2 has a lot going for it. Like the E190-E2, it's cheaper than the competition. And while it is closer in size to Boeing and Airbus' smallest offerings -- the 737 MAX 7 and A319neo -- the E195-E2 is more fuel-efficient than either of them. The E195-E2 also has significantly lower trip costs than the 737 MAX 7 and the A319neo because it is smaller and lighter. The E195-E2's range is its biggest deficiency vis-a-vis the rival offerings from Bombardier, Airbus, and Boeing. It was originally advertised with a 2,000 nautical mile range. That's far below the 3,000 nautical mile-plus range of its competitors. However, Embraer made a surprise announcement last week: The E195-E2 is getting a bigger wing, extra fuel capacity, and a higher maximum take-off weight. That will boost its range by up to 450 nautical miles. This doesn't close the gap with Bombardier, Airbus, and Boeing, but it narrows it considerably. The E195-E2 still won't have transcontinental (U.S.) range, but airlines wouldn't typically fly a plane of that size on transcontinental routes anyway. The E195-E2's extra range will thus mitigate one concern that could have steered airlines toward competing models. The future of Embraer is riding on the E190-E2 and E195-E2. So far, it looks like these two new planes will deliver on their potential and lift the world's No. 3 aircraft manufacturer to new heights. The article Embraer Rolls Out Its Brand New Jet originally appeared on Fool.com. Adam Levine-Weinberg owns shares of Embraer-Empresa Brasileira and The Boeing Company and is long July 2016 $25 calls on Embraer-Empresa Brasileira. The Motley Fool recommends Embraer-Empresa Brasileira. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Honda CEO Takahiro Hachigo outlined his plans to revamp the automaker in a speech in Tokyo on Wednesday. Image source: Honda. Honda CEO Takahiro Hachigo, confronting sluggish sales and uncharacteristic quality problems, unveiled a sweeping overhaul plan for the company in a speech in Tokyo on Wednesday, February 24. The plan is a major effort. It will revamp the company's global production structure, streamline research-and-development and product-development processes, and shift Honda's focus more toward electrified vehicles. What's the plan?First, a little background. Hachigo's predecessor as CEO, Takanobu Ito, moved Honda to what the company calls a "six-region" structure. The idea was that Honda, which has long centralized its design and engineering efforts in Japan, would move to a system under which six regional offices around the world would work together to develop region-specific products, as well as "global" models sold around the world. The plan looked good on paper, but in practice, it has been a mixed bag. Honda has ended up with too much production capacity in some regions, and not enough in others. And costs have escalated as regions have sometimes duplicated efforts. Hachigo's plan is to clean that all up. He will juggle production to make better use of the company's factories around the world, exporting global models from one region to another when it makes sense. (That probably translates to more exports from Europe and Japan to the United States, and from Japan to Europe.) He's also making a series of organizational and structural tweaks to simplify regional product development. That should all cut costs, improve time to market, and possibly help Honda avoid some of the quality snafus it has encountered in the last few years. But what about the products themselves? Honda's products used to be praised for being "fun to drive" and sporty. That was a key differentiator from rival Toyota , which had a reputation for products that were very well built, but somewhat dull. But in recent years, Hondas -- at least in the public perception -- have lost some of that "fun to drive" luster, while Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda has pushed his company to adopt edgier styling, and put a little more emphasis on performance and handling. The tables, in other words, have started to turn. Hachigo said that he will push Honda to get back to the "Honda DNA." Some of the changes he made to Honda's global product-development organization are intended to spur development of more exciting new products. And electric cars?Hachigo outlined a plan to push Honda much more aggressively toward electrification. Honda will continue its development of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, continuing its work with General Motorsto bring a new lower-cost fuel-cell system to market around 2020. That's not new. What is new is that Honda is stepping up its efforts with plug-in hybrids. It plans an all-new plug-in hybrid model for North America by 2018, after which it will add plug-in variants to its major global model lines. The longer-range goal is for Honda to get two-thirds of its overall global sales from hybrids and electric vehicles -- including both fuel-cell vehicles and battery-electrics -- by "around 2030." What it all meansWhen he took the CEO job last year, Hachigo hinted that big changes would be forthcoming. Now we have an idea of what he was hinting at. But it'll take time before we see the effects in the marketplace, much less on Honda's bottom line. Still, it seems like the kind of plan Honda has needed for a while -- one that could return the company to its traditional strengths, while adapting it to a changing global marketplace. I'd say I'm cautiously optimistic -- but we'll have to see how all of these changes, which take effect April 1, start to play out over the next few quarters. The article How Honda's New CEO Will Reboot the Company: Electric Cars originally appeared on Fool.com. John Rosevear owns shares of General Motors. The Motley Fool recommends General Motors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Image source: Donald J. Trump for President. There's a 97.6% chance that Donald J. Trump will be America's next President. This is according to State University of New York at Stony Brook professor Helmut Norpoth, whose self-developed presidential politics algorithm has proven stunningly accurate in past elections, correctly picking the winners of every Presidential election since he invented it in 1996 -- and performed positively in backtesting of presidential winners since 1912, guessing incorrectly only in the 1960 election between Nixon and JFK. For establishment Republicans (and for Democrats, whether establishment and otherwise), this is not welcome news. But if not Trump, then who else should the Republicans consider nominating? Last week, we took a look at how Trump and his then-archrival, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, compared one to another on the issue of national defense. Today, we're putting two of Trump's other rivals to the test. Read on to see how Senator Marco Rubio compares to Ohio Governor John Kasich on matters of national defense -- and what each candidate might mean for defense investors. Image source: marcorubio.com. President Rubio...Last week, I mentioned how "politicians like to keep their policies vague." Well, permit me to eat my words -- because that's not the case with Senator Rubio at all. While Sen. Rubio's campaign page begins with flowing generalities (e.g. "Our military ...needs a serious program of reinvestment and modernization boosting the size of our forces to do the jobs we ask them to do"), the Senator moves on to specifics rather quickly. For example, if elected, it's pretty clear President Rubio would like to: "increase the size of the Navy to a minimum of 323 ships by 2024." build a new aircraft carrier, growing "the carrier force from 10 to 12." "build the new Ohio-class Replacement (ORP) ballistic submarine," plus "at least two attack submarines every year." and keep at least half of America's 22 Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers in service. All of which implies billions and billions of dollars of new revenues for U.S. military shipbuilders General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls . Both General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls build nuclear submarines for the Navy. Huntington Ingalls in particular is responsible for building our nuclear aircraft carriers. Now, you may notice that Sen. Rubio is deafeningly silent on the subject of Littoral Combat Ships, a vessel that's near and dear to the hearts of Lockheed Martin shareholders in particular. But even here, there's little to fear for Lockheed Martin shareholders -- because in addition to his desire to undertake a buildup of naval forces, Sen. Rubio says he would "accelerate" purchases of Lockheed's F-35A stealth fighter jets for the Air Force -- and "fully integrate the F-35B" variant into the Navy as well. Those are two big points in Lockheed Martin's favor. Image source: johnkasich.com via Flickr. Or President Kasich?Broadly speaking, Sen. Rubio aims to invest so heavily in defense as to grow the defense budget back to the size established when Robert Gates was Secretary of Defense in 2012. That works out to annual defense expenditures somewhere in the neighborhood of $645 billion -- an $85 billion, or 15% increase over fiscal 2015's defense budget. So how does that compare to what Governor Kasich is proposing? It's more. A lot more. While like Sen. Rubio -- like just about everybody running for President, from Trump all the way down to Secretary Clinton and Sen. Sanders -- Gov. Kasich promises "to defeat ISIS, strengthen our military, and work with our allies to confront ongoing threats." But his emphasis is clearly on the last item on that list. Whereas Sen. Rubio proposes $85 billion in new defense spending annually (about $680 million over a pair of four-year terms), Gov. Kasich's campaign web page touts only $102 billion in increased defense spending -- total -- over eight years. Rather than just throw money at the problem of national defense, Kasich offers a measured approach that combines modest spending increases with "streamlining Pentagon bureaucracy and transforming procurement processes to get new weapons systems into the field on time and on budget." Smaller, better, faster -- and cheaper. Larger increases in defense spending to combat threats abroad would largely come from U.S. allies. For example, Kasich says "the U.S. must work together with our European allies to strengthen new NATO member states on the front lines with Russia". Outside of NATO, we should be "training and arming Ukrainian forces with the weapons they have requested and which Congress has approved," and selling "advanced seabed acoustic sensors, anti-ship missiles and other defensive equipment" to Japan. In other words, selling weapons to those who would use them in America's interests -- rather than building and buying more weapons ourselves. The upshot for investorsSo what's the upshot for investors in the defense industry? The election of a President Rubio or a President Kasich -- either one, would probably be good news for defense contractors. Orders for new weapons would flow in abundance under either administration. The main difference would be in who would pay for those weapons. Rubio wants to buy them for the U.S. military. Kasich would sell them to allies and customers around the globe. Either way though, either of these candidates winning the Presidency would be pretty good news for the defense business. Image SOURCE:U.S. PENTAGON. The article Marco Rubio Vs. John Kasich: Who Is Better for Defense? originally appeared on Fool.com. Fool contributorRich Smithdoes not own shares of, nor is he short, any company named above. You can find him onMotley Fool CAPS, publicly pontificating under the handleTMFDitty, where he's currently ranked No. 256 out of more than 75,000 rated members.The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. It's no secret that Twitter is struggling to grow its user base. Indeed, the social network's number of users declined from 307 million to 305 million between Q3 and Q4 when excluding the company's SMS Fast Followers, or lower-value users who access the service through text messaging primarily on feature phones. Meanwhile, Facebook's user growth is thriving. What advice would Facebook give to Twitter about the smaller social network's user growth problem? This week we found out exactly what Facebook would say -- straight from the mouth of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook's "townhall" in Berlin. Image source: Facebook. Facebook to Twitter: Make it easier to keep up with public figures "Considering the current state of Twitter, if you were the CEO of Twitter, what would you do right now?" asked an audience member during Mark Zuckerberg's "town hall" question-and-answer session in Berlin, Germany, this week. Seeming a bit startled by the question and initially stumbling with words and chuckling, Zuckerberg gathered himself and proceeded to give his best answer: Facebook Live makes it easier for users to connect with public figures. Image source: Facebook. Finally, Zuckerberg summed up his advice as distinctly as possible: One of the examples Zuckerberg cited as a way Facebook is making it easier for people to follow public figures is with its Facebook Live, which enables users to broadcast live on Facebook. Illustrating the company's commitment to the feature, the company announced this week that Facebook Live is going to start rolling out to Android devices next week, beginning in the U.S. and coming to more countries "soon." Periscope live broadcasts are now viewable directly in Twitter. Image source: Twitter. Like Facebook, Twitter is also making live streaming on its platform easier. It recently enabled its live Periscope streaming to be viewable within Twitter, similar to Facebook Live. Periscope could be a particularly useful tool for the company as the smaller social network attempts to make it easier for users to connect and follow public figures. Considering Facebook is successfully growing not just Facebook, but also Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Groups, too, Twitter would probably be wise to listen to Zuckerberg's advice. While Twitter is already moving in this direction, this area is probably worth even more emphasis if Zuckerberg says it is; he knows a thing or two from his experience with growing the world's largest social network. The article Mark Zuckerberg Has a Tip for Twitter, Inc. originally appeared on Fool.com. Daniel Sparks has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Facebook and Twitter. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Fresh from an endorsement by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump accelerated his political slug fest with opponent Marco Rubio on Saturday just days before the delegate-rich Super Tuesday contests. With dueling appearances in Arkansas and Georgia, the billionaire businessman and U.S. senator from Florida continued an onslaught of personal insults that began on a debate stage on Thursday and looks likely to continue for months. "The majority of Republican voters do not want Donald Trump to be our nominee, and ... they are going to support whoever is left standing that is fighting against him to ensure that we do not nominate a con artist," Rubio told reporters in Georgia. Trump, speaking in front of his private plane in Arkansas, along with Christie, whose endorsement on Friday shocked Republican leaders anxious about his likelihood of winning the nomination, belittled Rubio and accused him of being fresh. "I watched this lightweight Rubio, total lightweight, little mouth on him, 'bing, bing, bing' ... and his new attack is he calls me a con artist," Trump said. "The last thing I am is a con man." Their back and forth came while voters went to the polls in South Carolina's Democratic presidential primary between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, taking place a week after South Carolina's Republican primary. Former Secretary of State Clinton is expected to beat Sanders handily there. The state's large African-American population is expected to favor her over Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont. A big win would give Clinton added momentum ahead of Tuesday, when roughly a dozen U.S. states make their choices for the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations. ESTABLISHMENT WORRIES, CRUZ PREDICTS DOOM With hundreds of delegates at stake in Tuesday's contests, the day could be a critical turning point for candidates in both parties. Nominations in both parties are contingent on winning a majority of the votes by the delegates sent to the party conventions in July. The Tuesday contests could upend the Republican race further if underperforming candidates drop out. Ted Cruz, the U.S. senator from Texas who won the Iowa nominating contest, must do well in his home state on Tuesday to regain momentum. Texas will send 155 delegates to the Republican National Convention, more than 10 percent of the 1,237 delegate votes needed for the party's nomination. Ohio Governor John Kasich, who is behind in the polls, said his state's contest on March 15 would determine whether he stays in the race. With the high-profile exception of Christie, many "establishment" Republicans have coalesced around Rubio in the hope of stopping Trump from gaining their party's mantle in the general election. Rubio stopped short of calling on his fellow candidates to drop out on Saturday. "When voters have a clear choice between two people, that's when Donald Trump starts to lose, so the sooner that happens, the better off we're going to be as a party," he said. Rubio, who has criticized Trump for resisting releasing his tax returns, had not released his own by Saturday afternoon. He said Trump did not want his to be made public because they might reveal him to be less wealthy than believed. "I think part of it is he's not as rich as he says he is," Rubio said. At a campaign rally in Georgia, Cruz said a Trump victory would doom the party's chances of winning the White House. "If we nominate Donald, we end up electing Hillary as president," he said. (Editing by Leslie Adler) Sen. Marco Rubio continued lobbing grenades at Donald Trump on Friday night, calling the Republican front-runner for a "clown" after being on the receiving end of the billionaire's insults. During yet another of his rowdy rallies, Trump told supporters in Fort Worth that Rubio is a "little frightened puppy" and a "nervous basket case" before turning the attention to how sweaty the Florida senator is. In response, Rubio kept up attacks from rallies and TV appearances following the debate, telling Fox News' Bret Baier that Trump is a "con man" and a "dream" for the Democrats in November if he wins the GOP's presidential nomination. "He's a clown," Rubio said laughing. "Look, I saw him backstage. He was nervous. He was waving his arms around. He was huddling around with someone in the corner. He asked for a full length mirror at one point. If people watched the debate last night, they'll know for a fact that not only was I not nervous, but it's time to take the mask off of this guy." Read more on WashingtonExaminer.com Maine's Republican Gov. Paul LePage announced his endorsement of Donald Trump on Friday, just hours after the leading GOP presidential candidate received his first major endorsement from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. "One think I like about Donald Trump I'm not going to say I agree with him on everything he's the only candidate who's showing a vision for the future," LePage said on the Howie Carr radio show. LePage said he "had an opportunity" to endorse Christie, but then the New Jersey governor exited the race. The governor of Maine said he spoke with Christie and the two "decided we could do a lot worse." "We could have another Obama in there or Hillary Clinton, and we can't afford that," he said. Read more on WashingtonExaminer.com New Jersey Gov. Chris Christies endorsement Friday of GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump was a setback to rival Sen. Marco Rubio, but only the beginning. Christie made the endorsement at a Trump campaign rally in Texas. And hes back on the stump Saturday in Arkansas and Tennessee, where hes expected to fulfill the role of political attack dog. The tough-talking Christie dropped out of the GOP presidential race after a poor finish in the Feb. 9 New Hampshire primaries but not before a visceral debate attack on Rubio that put the Florida senator and his campaign on the ropes. I will lend my support between now and November in every way that I can, Christie said in endorsing Trump in Fort Worth, Texas. Christie largely stuck with the argument that Trump is the best person ... undoubtedly to beat Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton. However, he also argued that Rubio and Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz, Trumps other biggest challenger ahead of the Super Tuesday primaries in three days, are junior senators for whom Clinton has a standard political playbook to defeat them. Christie made the endorsement the day after Rubio's best debate performance, muting his long-awaited and damaging attacks against billionaire businessman Trump on such issues as immigration, foreign policy and hiring practices. The biggest damage to Rubio is he may be losing what should have been a major news cycle for him, Joe Desilets, a Republican strategist and managing partner at the Washington firm 21st & Main, told FoxNews.com on Saturday. On the trail, Donald Trump now has his first mainstream surrogate, and one that has already proven he can get to Rubio. However, he thinks Christie is largely acting in self-interest, likely trying to advance his political career if Trump wins the presidency. Rubio needs to stay on the attack like he has started to do so effectively and portray this Christie endorsement as nothing more than a selfish act, Desilets said. In the debate Thursday, Trump said the hiring issue happened decades ago. Rubio responded: "I guess there's a statute of limitations on lies. Hillary Clinton cruised Saturday to an easy victory in the South Carolina Democratic primary, taking back the momentum from Bernie Sanders heading into Super Tuesday though Sanders will keep his foothold in the race as he continues to rack up delegates and contributions. The Democratic front-runner won largely on the strength of her support from black voters her so-called firewall that, in the end, held up. Exit polls showed nearly nine in 10 black voters supported Clinton in the Palmetto State, and she hopes that bloc will carry her over her rival as the race heads deeper into the South. With a Nevada and South Carolina win now under her belt, Clinton is working hard to shake off her big loss to Sanders earlier this month in New Hampshire. Tomorrow, this campaign goes national, Clinton declared at her victory rally in Columbia, S.C. As cheering supporters shouted Hillary! Hillary! she said: We are going to compete for every vote in every state. Were not taking anything, and were not taking anyone, for granted. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton was beating Sanders in South Carolina by a resounding 73-26 percent. SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY RESULTS But the Vermont senator, anticipating a loss Saturday, already had started campaigning in Super Tuesday states, and his campaign still predicts hell split the vote with Clinton next week. This campaign is just beginning. We won a decisive victory in New Hampshire. She won a decisive victory in South Carolina. Now it's on to Super Tuesday, Sanders said in a statement. Our grassroots political revolution is growing state by state, and we won't stop now. Clinton visited Alabama earlier Saturday but by the evening was back in South Carolina for her victory party. Sanders, though, spent Saturday speaking to about 10,000 people at a Formula One racetrack near Austin, Texas, skipping South Carolina. He then was heading to Minnesota. Roughly a dozen states hold contests on Tuesday, with delegates on the line in 11 of them. In South Carolina and other states, delegates are awarded proportionally, so Sanders is able to add to his delegate total even when he loses. As on the Republican side, Texas will be considered a huge prize on Tuesday, but Sanders also is looking to potentially more friendly territory in the Midwest and Northeast, including his home state. Clinton is looking to win by large margins in Southern states, seven of which vote this coming Tuesday. At one point in her victory speech Saturday, Clinton seemed to be trying to look past Sanders, rhetorically taking on Republican front-runner Donald Trump. Despite what you hear, we dont need to make America great again. America has never stopped being great, she said. But we do need to make America whole again. Meanwhile, her victory in South Carolina had a redemptive quality for Clinton, who suffered a significant loss there to Barack Obama in 2008. Her husband, President Bill Clinton, was viewed by some as questioning the legitimacy of the black presidential contender -- Obama. This time, black leaders and officials largely gravitated toward her campaign ahead of the vote, though Sanders was able to pick up some support from influential black leaders. Earlier in the day, the Vermont senators wife, Jane Sanders, said that her husbands campaign is looking to Super Tuesday when "I think we'll split the vote." She also said: "It's a 50-state election, and we're feeling very confident, actually." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Fresh from a tag team attack on front-runner Donald Trump, primary opponents Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz spent Friday hoping to use new debate momentum to cut into Trumps commanding lead ahead of the Super Tuesday contests. Rubio, in particular, ramped up the rhetoric Friday, calling Trump a con artist in numerous live appearances and poking fun at the billionaire candidates tweet misspellings and behavior at Thursdays raucous debate. In an interview with Bret Baier on Fox News' "Special Report," he accused Trump of being a "con man" at least three times and also called him "a clown," adding, "it's time to take the mask off this guy." He also predicted that if Trump were to be nominated to head the GOP ticket, "the Republican party would split apart...he's a dream for the Democrats." Earlier, in a fundraising letter to to supporters Thursday, Rubio said, In last night's debate, America saw firsthand that Donald Trump can't even talk about, let alone do anything about, the dire problems facing our nation." Donald Trump is a con artist trying to hijack the conservative movement and the Republican Party, and he cannot be our nominee. Cruz took to Twitter on Friday, also mocking Trumps debate performance -- particularly on the issue of ObamaCare -- and pointing out that while he was in the Senate wrestling over illegal immigration, Trump was firing @dennisrodman on TV, referring to the ex-NBA stars participation on Trumps reality show The Apprentice. In a gaggle with reporters that afternoon, he stressed that he is in a better position than Rubio to beat Trump. "(I am) the only candidate that has beat Donald Trump and can beat Donald Trump," he said, assuring "we will come out of Super Tuesday seeing a meaningful difference in the delegation allocation. He proceeded to blast Trump on reports that his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach has a reputation for passing over American workers for foreign visa holders. Cruz later described Trump as very close ideologically to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. "Donald Trump, like Hillary Clinton, is a rich New York liberal," Cruz told Fox News' Sean Hannity. For his part, Trump sought to trump any debate bounce the two senators were enjoying by rolling out an endorsement from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Trump then spoke at a rally in Texas, where he took multiple jabs at Rubios age (He looks like a little boy) his ears, what he said was his make-up job at the debate, and his sweat glands (I thought he just came out of a swimming pool). Trump also took to Twitter Friday morning and labeled Rubio a lightweight who lacks the temperament to be president. Rubio then took to the stage to point out that Trump had misspelled lightweight and choker in his tweets. He calls me a little boy hed be the oldest president of the United States, he said while the audience in Oklahoma City cheered. He was introduced to the stage by Sen. James Inofe, R-OK., who endorsed Rubio in January. Cruz announced that he will be appearing with conservative talk show host Glenn Beck in Little Rock, Ark., on Saturday. The next contest for the Republican nomination are the coveted Super Tuesday contests on March 1, with 595 delegates up for grabs from nearly a dozen states. The recent discovery of gravitational waves in space is being considered one of greatest in scientific history, though it came decades after Albert Einstein theorized about them a century ago in his theory of relativity. And likewise it goes with politics. Donald Trump being on the verge of becoming the Republican presidential nominee is a ground-break moment that is just being discoverd but that started years ago on Capitol Hill and elsewhere across the country. Lets start in 2009 and 2010. Congressional Republican leaders forged a pact to make things as hard as they could on President Obama. During that tumultuous period, the Democrat-controlled House and Senate approved the stimulus package to bolster the economy, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform measure and OKd the Affordable Care Act. The House managed to approve a controversial climate bill, referred to as cap and trade. But that package never surfaced in the Senate. Congressional Republicans seized the Democratic initiatives and turned the political tables against the party that passed them. But this was more than just going after Democrats. Some Republicans were intent at going after those in their own party, too -- some of whom they viewed as Democratic enablers -- even if their voting record didnt match the accusation. The first sign that something was up came in May, 2010. Republicans knocked then-Utah GOP Sen. Bob Bennett, off the ballot at a state convention, resulting in the election of the Tea Party-backed Mike Lee later that year. In August, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, lost her primary to Sarah Palin acolyte Joe Miller, though Murkowski then waged the first successful Senate write-in campaign in 50 years to hold her seat. In November, Republicans flipped the House thanks to the rise of the Tea Party and came close to earning control of the Senate. The GOP stumbled in two Senate contests, veering too far to the right with their nominees. Driven by the Tea Party, Republicans campaigned on repealing ObamaCare. The first vote in the Republican-controlled House was to dismantle the health care law. Republicans planned to harness profligate spending. Things would be different in Washington under the GOP. The government came close to shutting down in March and April of 2011, thanks to pushes from the right. That was only a precursor to the 16-day shutdown of 2013. Conservatives forced the country to the brink in the summer of 2011 as many Republicans refused to raise the debt ceiling. The debt limit fight did prompt significant spending cuts. But not on the scale many conservatives hoped. Republicans were sure Mitt Romney would demolish Obama in 2012. It didnt happen. Republicans were certain they would win control of the Senate in 2012. It didnt happen. Thinking they would be working with a lame-duck president, Republicans delayed big spending decisions until Christmastime and New Years, sparking a battle over the fiscal cliff during the holidays. Come January, 2013, conservatives fired a shot across the bow of then-House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. Boehner reclaimed the speakers gavel. But not after nine Republicans defected and Rep. Brian Babin, T-Texas, voted present. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, helped engineer the aforementioned government shutdown that fall to force Obama to defund the health care law. Cruz cowed many congressional Republicans to go along against their better judgment. Yet ObamaCare lived. Then in June of 2014, a bombshell nobody saw coming. College professor Dave Brat upset then-House Majority Leader Rep. Eric in the Virginia Republican primary. It was one thing to blindside Bennett at the convention. It was unprecedented to defeat such a high-ranking House member in a primary. A major scalp was now pinned to the wall, fueled by voter distrust and angst. Republicans secured even more seats in the 2014 midterm election and finally captured control of the Senate. Boehner stood for speaker in January, 2015. He survived a tense roll call vote for speaker that nearly sent the tally to a second ballot for the first time since 1923, but barely. Only 216 Republicans voted for Boehner. Twenty-four cast ballots for someone else. Babin again voted present. Boehner may have been a little more politically nimble than Cantor and was able to survive longer. But the speaker was clearly in the crosshairs. Out of nowhere in late July, just before the start of the August recess, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., shocked Capitol Hill when he unveiled a nonbinding-but-unprecedented resolution that could possibly force a mid-Congress vote for speaker. The House never considered Meadowss plan. But the stage was set. Boehner was done by fall. Initially, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was thought to be the natural successor. But he could never quite muster the votes and withdrew in dramatic fashion. Even if McCarthy had managed to squeak into the speakers suite, many thought the same tides that finally crashed into Boehner would have thrown McCarthy overboard in a matter of months. After weeks of tumult, Republicans finally elected Wisconsin GOP Rep Paul Ryan as speaker. These were the political gravitational waves at work inside the GOP. Their ripples forced dramatic upheaval in Washington. But people invested in Republicans to shake up things. Obama proved the perfect foil. But soon, the same people who aligned with the Tea Party in 2010, were sick of it. ObamaCare was still on the books. Congress still hadnt slashed spending to a level they found acceptable. The national debt ballooned above $19 trillion. Starting in 2009, Republicans crawled into bed with the disaffected. And when those voters aligned with the Tea Party and other conservative factions failed to see change in Washington, they came at the GOP with pitchforks. The question of course was how did Republicans court those voters? The obvious answer is that many Republicans overpromised. They sold the Tea Party the goods. Now theyre mad as hell. Jeb Bush never had a chance with this crowd. How about Cruz or Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.? Cruz certainly has a better chance with this crowd. But this is why many voters stand foursquare behind Trump. Hes not a traditional politician. Hes not of Washington. They appreciate the fiery rhetoric. The bombast. And the promises. Oh. The promises. Here we go. Thats where this started to go off the track for congressional Republicans, most of whom now fear a Trump candidacy. It started with how Republicans responded to Obama in 2009 and the major majorities Democrats carried in both the House and Senate. You've got to remember President Obama came in with a super-majority, Ryan said. He came in in his first term, the first half of his first term -- Nancy Pelosi was speaker of the House. Harry Reid was majority leader with 60 votes in the Senate. And they were able to cram through a liberal progressive agenda on an unsuspecting country. And the rest is, as we say, history. Cram through? Well, that was what Republicans told voters that Democrats were doing. Never mind Democrats had the votes in both bodies to approve these initiatives. But Republicans seized on that agenda and claimed Democrats were abusing their power. Republicans told voters that if they elected the GOP in 2010, things would be different. And when they werent. There are people who unrealistically set expectations of what could be accomplished in divided government, said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. People thought all we could do is wave a magic wand and we could repeal ObamaCare. Thune suggests theres now a backlash to those overpromises. All conventional wisdom is out the window, he said. Ryan is trying to temper those expectations now. But one wonders if its too late. Some people may have led others to believe that just with Congress, we can rewrite laws or just with Congress, we can overturn laws we didn't like, he said. I find half the time, whether it's Lincoln Days or listening sessions, kind of explaining the way our Constitution works. Giving civics lessons. Its not as though Republican leaders didnt try the civics lessons approach after acquiring the House majority in 2011. Cantor said on multiple occasions that the GOP only controlled one-half of one-third of government. Boehner sometimes described the House as a goalie playing defense against Obama. But academic talk about civics lessons cant compete against overheated rhetoric about ripping out health care. Republicans then stoked the embers by conducting more than 60 roll call votes to eliminate the Affordable Care Act. Civics lessons cant compete when some in the GOP hurl incendiary if not racist rhetoric at the President and call for impeachment. Civics lessons are nice. But they cant measure up. So here we are, several years down the road on the precipice of a major political discovery: Donald Trump might just be the Republican nominee. It took a while. But follow the political gravitational waves in reverse to the source. And it will explain how the Republican Party got here. A man was removed Friday by police officers from a Hillary Clinton campaign rally in South Carolina, after raising questions with husband and former President Bill Clinton about his wifes role in the Benghazi terror attacks. Four (Americans) were killed, and your wife is trying to cover it up, said the protester, who said hes a Marine sergeant and eight-year, active-duty veteran. Hillary Clinton was secretary of state during the Sept. 11, 2012, terror attacks on a U.S. outpost in Benghazi, Libya, in which U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans were killed. Families of the victims say Clinton told them in the immediate aftermath of the attacks that they were inspired by an online, anti-Islamic video. Clintons emails show she knew within hours of the attacks that they were terror related. I heard you, Bill Clinton said at the rally in Bluffton, S.C., in an effort to respond to the protestor, over cheer and boos and before sheriff deputies removed him. You listen to me now. Clinton is the Democratic frontrunner in the race, leading primary challenger Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders by double digits in national polls and in South Carolina, which on Saturday is holding its Democratic primary. However, polls show voters still have deep concerns about Clinton's trustworthiness over such issues as Benghazi and her uses as secretary of state of a private email server for official correspondence. Emails from Stevens in the months before that attacks show that the State Department, which Clinton ran from 2011 to 2013, didnt response to his request for better security at the outpost. Clinton needs to take responsibility for dropping the ball, the Marine told the Island Packet/Beaufort Gazette outside the venue, after being removed. The fact that she is not in prison now is mind-blowing. The home of Disneyland, the self-proclaimed Happiest Place on Earth, is also the town where the Ku Klux Klan once ran the City Council, patrolled city streets and rallied 10,000 people in a city park. That rally back in 1924 proved to be a turning point for Anaheim, which ousted the Klan and broke ground on Disneyland a generation later. Now a majority-Hispanic city of 350,000, it's hardly welcome territory for a KKK protest against immigration. Mayhem ensued Saturday as soon as six Klan members pulled up in a black SUV for the rally they had advertised and pulled out signs saying "White Lives Matter." Dozens of protesters swarmed in and someone smashed a window. The vehicle then sped away, leaving three Klansmen dressed in black shirts decorated with the Klan cross and Confederate flag patches outnumbered. Police said one Klansmen carrying an American flag stabbed a protester with the bald eagle decorating the end of his pole. Counter-protesters, meanwhile, could be seen stomping on the other two. By the end of the melee, three people had been stabbed, one critically, and a dozen others arrested. "(The counter-protesters) were so angry, they would have torn these folks limb from limb," said Brian Levin, who directs the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino. "I was afraid for their lives." Levin, who came to Pearson Park expecting to record the rally for research, found himself protecting the Klansmen until police could intervene. On a video Levin shot and posted to Twitter, he later asked one of them, "How do you feel that a Jewish person helped save your life today?" "I thank you. I thank you," said the Klansman, waving away the question with his blood-spattered arm. "I would have saved a colored man's life," he added. Much of the clash was captured on video and posted online. In one, a man cries "I got stabbed," lifting his T-shirt to show a wound to his stomach. A fire hydrant where the man briefly sat was covered in blood. By the time ordered was restored, three people had been stabbed, one critically. Five Klansmen were booked for investigation of assault with a deadly weapon, and seven of the approximately 30 counter-protesters were arrested on suspicion of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury. Levin said he saw no uniformed officers when the melee started. Sgt. Daron Wyatt says police were definitely there and were engaged with people at one end of the fight, and called for additional resources to deploy to the other end. He says the event stretched along an entire city block. Police Chief Raul Quezada said his officers were able to respond quickly enough to arrest all but one of the main participants, with the exception of one counter-protester who was still at large Sunday. Four of the arrestees were released after a review of video evidence, he said Sunday in a statement from the city. "Even if the vast majority of our community disagrees with a particular group who visits our city we cannot stop them from lawfully gathering to express their opinions," Quezada said. "Violence is not acceptable, and we will arrest anybody who assaults another person or commits any other crime in our city." Chris Barker, who identified himself as the imperial wizard of the Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, told The Associated Press by phone from North Carolina that his members were holding a peaceful anti-immigration demonstration and acted in self-defense. "If we're attacked, we will attack back," said Barker, whose organization lists Pelham, N.C., as its headquarters. Last year, the group drew headlines when it protested the removal of the Confederate flag from the South Carolina Capitol. Nationwide, the number of active KKK groups increased to 190 in 2015 after falling in 2013 and 2014, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups. In January 2015, packets containing fliers from the "Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan" and condemning the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. were left in the driveways of about 40 homes in Santa Ana, about 8 miles south of Anaheim. Like many other cities across the United States, Anaheim has a history intertwined with the KKK. What sets the city apart, however, is its decisive backlash after the Klan gained four of five City Council seats in 1924. Those Klansmen were ousted in a recall election after their names were made public, along with the names of Klansmen on the police force and other prominent community members. "We will always honor free speech in Anaheim, but we vehemently reject hate and violent confrontation," Mayor Tom Tait said added. "Anaheim is proud to draw strength in its diversity, tolerance and kindness, and Saturday's events run counter to that." A Northern California museums missing bald eagle has landed safely after flying off and spending several days on the lam. Sequoia, a 25-year-old eagle was back at the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo after she left her handler during a public flight demonstration at Byxbee Park in Palo Alto on Monday afternoon, director John Aiken told KTVU Fox 2. Sequoia became agitated by a hawk and wandered away, according to Aiken. Here's our girl, back home and ready to relax in a bath @FriendsJMZ pic.twitter.com/Nk4AaYMrfV Sequoia the Eagle (@PaloAlto_Eagle) February 26, 2016 The eagle was found without a feather out of place by two women hiking in Rancho San Antonio Preserve in Los Altos, the San Jose Mercury reported. The hikers snapped a photograph of the eagle and sent it to the museum in a text. The museum confirmed it was indeed Sequoia and Aikin rushed to meet the hikers on the Chamise Trail, the paper reported. "By the time I got up there, she had flown off," Aikin told the paper. "I went over to the edge of the canyon and there she was." Aikin blew a whistle and held out a dead white mouse. Sequoia flew right to him, the paper reported. Following some rest and a bath, Sequoia was back to greeting kids visiting the museum and zoo Friday afternoon. "Many of us think she longs for freedom, but I actually think she longs for routine," Aikin told the Mercury. "She enjoys the daily exercise and being out sometimes, but she also enjoys the routine of being home." Sequoia was originally found shot in the wild. She has a paralyzed tail and even though she can fly, she cannot move well enough to catch prey. Museum officials say Sequoia wears a tracking device and that the last time they saw her signal, she was near Stanford University on Tuesday afternoon. Click here for more from KTVU Fox 2. A Kansas police officer was called a tremendous hero Friday after shooting and killing a gunman who killed three people and injured 14 others at a lawnmower-parts plant. Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton said the officer stopped a bigger massacre because there was about 200 or 300 people still at the Excel Industries building in Hesston and the shooter wasnt done by any means. Had the officer not done what he did, this would be a whole lot more tragic, he added. This man wasnt going to stop shooting, Walton said, according to the Wichita Eagle. The only reason he stopped shooting is the officer stopped the shooter. Gov. Sam Brownback said preliminary information indicated that the officer was Hesston Police Chief Doug Schroeder, who didnt wait for backup and seized the situation. The Associated Press reported that Schroeder has been on the job since 1998. The Hesston police chief, in particular, went in immediately, Brownback said. Rather than even waiting on backup, he went right in and did heroic duty and service. Hesston Police Chief Doug Schroeder was our Throwback photo of the week from 2004! #TBT @Schroederrunner pic.twitter.com/jmyePSINXd Hesston Record (@RecordTime) August 7, 2014 Earlier Friday, the gunman was identified as Cedric Ford, 38, a worker at the factory. As a convicted felon, he was prohibited from owning any kind of firearm. A woman was charged with supplying him with an assault rifle and a pistol. Authorities said Ford had just been served with a protective order involving a former girlfriend that probably set off the attack. While driving to the factory, the gunman shot a man on the street, striking him in the shoulder. A short time later, he shot someone else in the leg at an intersection, authorities said. The suspect shot one person in the factory parking lot before opening fire inside the building, the sheriff's department said. Ford had several convictions in Florida over the last decade. His past offenses included burglary, grand theft, fleeing from an officer, aggravated fleeing and carrying a concealed weapon, all from Broward and Miami-Dade counties. According to the Wichita Eagle, Ford has also had criminal cases in Harvey County, including a misdemeanor conviction in a 2008 fighting or brawling case and various traffic violations from 2014 and 2015. Walton said Ford had been "in my jail a couple of times before." Excel was "deeply saddened by the horrific event that occurred yesterday," president and CEO Paul Mullet said. The shooting came less than a week after authorities say a man opened fire at several locations in the Kalamazoo, Michigan, area, leaving six people dead and two severely wounded. Authorities haven't disclosed a possible motive in those attacks. Eleven of the people wounded in Thursday's attack were taken to two Wichita hospitals, where one was in critical condition, five were in serious condition, and five were in fair condition Friday morning, hospital officials said. The others were taken to a Newton hospital, and their conditions weren't immediately available. Walton said his office served the suspect with the protection from abuse order at around 3:30 p.m., which was about 90 minutes before the first shooting happened. While driving to the factory, the gunman shot a man on the street in the nearby town of Newton, striking him in the shoulder. A short time later, he shot someone else in the leg at an intersection. "The shooter proceeded north to Excel Industries in Hesston, where one person was shot in the parking lot before he opened fire inside the building," the department said in a release. "He was seen entering the building with an assault-style long gun." Dennis Britton Jr. suffered a fracture in his right leg when a bullet went through his buttocks and out his leg. Britton's father, Dennis Britton Sr., who also works at the plant as a welding team leader, said his son was "awake and talking and communicating." Martin Espinoza, who works at Excel, was in the plant during the attack. He heard people yelling to others to get out of the building, then heard popping, then saw the shooter, a co-worker he described as typically pretty calm. Espinoza said the shooter pointed a gun at him and pulled the trigger, but the gun was empty. At that point, the gunman got a different gun and Espinoza ran. "I took off running. He came outside after a few people, shot outside a few times, shot at the officers coming onto the scene at the moment and then reloaded in front of the company," Espinoza told The Associated Press. "After he reloaded he went inside the lobby in front of the building and that is the last I seen him." Authorities identified the dead as 44-year-old Brian Sadowsky of Newton; 31-year-old Josh Higbee of Buhler; and 30-year-old Renee Benjamin, whose hometown was unavailable. Hesston is a community of about 3,700 about 35 miles north of Wichita. Excel Industries was founded there in 1960 and manufactures Hustler and Big Dog mowing equipment. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Click for more from The Wichita Eagle. The U.S. Navy is searching for the operator of a drone that has been seen flying near a Washington state naval base at night since Feb. 8. A civilian employee of Naval Submarine Base Kitsap-Bangor reported seen the drone, spokeswoman Silvia Klatman told Military.com. According to the Navy, it is illegal to operate a drone above the base without the permission of the Navy. "It's our intent to support the investigation and prosecution of this reported act, and any others that may occur, in coordination with civilian law enforcement," Klatman said. Military.com reported that agents interviewed families who lived in houses surrounding the base. They said they havent seen anything unusual. Officials said the drones were seen operating at night. It could be a hoax, but worst-case scenario, it could be clandestine, a foreign government, a cell Al Starcevich, whose familys house is located between the base and Hood Canal in Washington, told the website. The creepy thing is theyre only doing it at night. What are you going to see at night unless you have an infrared camera? Starcevich told The Seattle Times that agents told him there had been repeated incidents around the base involving an alleged drone. Naval Base Kitsap-Bangors airspace was designated as prohibited by the FAA in May 2005, at the request of the Navy. No aircraft of any kind is allowed to fly over the area up 2,500 feet. The prohibited area extends to the water across Hood Canal and the Navy-owned portion of Toandos Peninusla. Doug ODonnell, chief pilot at Avian Flight Center at Bremerton National Airport, said security forces are supposed to shoot down aircraft that violate the FAA rules. The Bangor base houses eight of the Navys 14 ballistic-missile submarines, according to Military.com. Each can carry up to 24 missiles with multiple nuclear warheads. The Defense Department has held countless classified exercises to counter possible drone attacks, The Seattle Times reported. Last year, one exercise included a Marine sniper shooting one down from a military helicopter. Click for more from Military.com. About 30 tents remained in place Friday as the deadline for homeless people to vacate a San Francisco tent city came and went without any action. The homeless living in the encampment had until 5 p.m. Friday to clear out, Sam Dodge, the mayors point person on homelessness, said. City officials and the San Francisco Police have not said what they intend to do with the tent residents. City officials said Tuesday they were giving the tent citys residents 72 hours to move out of the camp after declaring the area along a busy San Francisco street a health hazard. At its height, nearly 140 tents populated the area, drawing complaints from residents and businesses. According to The New York Times, the city took aim at about 50 tents near a highway overpass which was home to about 6,000 homeless people because of the accumulation of garbage, human feces, hypodermic needles, urine odors and other unsatisfactory conditions. The homeless and their advocates say they need more services and homes for the unhoused. An estimated 3,500 people sleep on the streets of San Francisco each night. "I'm not going to let somebody run me out of somewhere where I've made my home," said camper Patrita Tripp, as she dished cold beef pasta out of a can earlier this week. "Where am I supposed to go?" However, businesses have complained about the tents. In one instance, a founder of a technology starter posted a letter to San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, complaining that he shouldnt have to see the pain, struggle and despair of homeless people on his way to work. The letter, which went viral, was soundly mocked on social media for its whiny lack of sensitivity but writer Justin Keller is not alone in demanding the city do more about homelessness. People who live near the tent city, for example, testified at a city hall hearing on Thursday that they were afraid to step outside their homes due to aggressive behavior. The tents are along Division Street, a multi-lane thoroughfare that divides two rapidly developing neighborhoods, the South of Market and Mission districts. On Friday morning, city workers sprayed bleach and power-washed one side of the street as campers packed up some half-dozen tents. City outreach workers are prodding many to move into a large canopy shelter on Pier 80 that has 150 sleeping mats. The health department posted notices Tuesday evening, calling the encampments a public nuisance and ordering people to leave within 72 hours. On Thursday, health officials posted a notice for homeless campers to vacate a neighboring area. Rachael Kagan, a spokeswoman for the Department of Public Health, said the enforcement order would have to be done on a case-by-case basis, the Times reported. It's uncertain what will happen to campers who refuse the order. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A 2-year-old girl was killed and two other children were seriously injured when snow slid off a cabin roof in Idaho and buried them, officials said Saturday. They were outside a cabin near Yellowstone National Park in Macks Inn, Island Park, when the freak accident happened Friday evening, Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries told FoxNews.com. Temperatures were warm enough that snow slid off the building and thats not an uncommon occurrence, he said. The three girls were taken by helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center where the 2-year-old died, EastIdahoNews.com reported. Her 7-year-old sister and a 7-year-old cousin were in fair condition, the news outlet reported. Their names were not released. Humphries told FoxNews.com the snow that buried the girls was several feet deep. It took some time to find all three, he said. It took an hour to find the youngest. The childrens grandparents own the cabin, the sheriff said. One of the fathers saw the snow slide and he immediately started looking for the girls, he said. Its just a terribly freak accident, Humphries said. Its unfortunate. I certainly feel for the family and their loss. An unarmed Minuteman 3 nuclear missile was shot into the California night sky Thursday amid tensions with North Korea and Russia. The missile was fired at 11:01 p.m. off the California coastline and was carrying a payload of test instruments. It was aimed toward the waters of the Kwajalein Atoll, an island chain about 2,500 miles southwest of Honolulu. Col. Craig Ramsey, commander of the 576th Flight test Squadron, said the re-entry vehicle that carries the missiles payload reached its target 30 minutes after the launch. This was the second missile test the Air Force conducted this month in a series designed to confirm the reliability of the Cold War-era missile and all its components. The Minuteman 3, first deployed in 1970, has long exceeded its original 10-year lifespan. It is so old that vital parts are no longer in production. The Air Force operates 450 Minuteman missiles -- 150 at each of three missile fields in Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota. A few times a year, one missile is pulled from its silo and trucked to Vandenberg, minus its nuclear warhead, for a test launch. Minuteman test launches are the U.S. military's way of sharpening the message that forms the foundation of U.S. nuclear deterrence theory that if potential attackers believe U.S. nuclear missiles and bombs are ready for war at all times, then no adversary would dare start a nuclear fight. The credibility of this message can be damaged by signs of weakness or instability in the nuclear weapons force. In 2013-14 the Associated Press documented morale, training, leadership and equipment problems in the Minuteman force, and in January the Air Force acknowledged to the AP that errors by a maintenance crew damaged an armed Minuteman in May 2014. Work said in an interview ahead of Thursday's launch that he sees good progress in fixing the problems in the nuclear missile corps. He also said the Vandenberg test launches are critically important. "It is a signal to anyone who has nuclear weapons that we are prepared to use nuclear weapons in defense of our country, if necessary," he said, adding later, "We do it to demonstrate that these missiles - even though they're old they still remain the most effective, or one of the most effective, missiles in the world." Work also mentioned that the launch sends a message to strategic rivals including Russia, China and North Korea. He said thats exactly why we do this, according to Reuters. "We and the Russians and the Chinese routinely do test shots to prove that the operational missiles that we have are reliable. And that is a signal ... that we are prepared to use nuclear weapons in defense of our country if necessary." Air Force official claim the test launches are a morale booster because they give launch crews and others a chance to leave their usual duties to participate in an actual launch. Otherwise, officials do 24-hour shifts, year-round, in underground missile posts, hoping the call to combat never comes. Together, the United States and Russia control the vast majority of the world's nuclear weapons, and both countries regularly conduct ICBM test launches. The Russians generally do them more often, at least in part because they have new missiles in development whereas the Minuteman 3 is the only U.S. ICBM. The U.S. Air Force is planning a new-generation ICBM, but it is not scheduled to begin entering the force until about 2030. Pavel Podvig, an independent analyst of Russian nuclear forces and publisher of the RussianForces.org blog, said in an interview that Moscow puts less stock in the public messaging aspect of missile test launches than does Washington. "They (the Russians) do want to make sure the missiles are still functioning," he said, "But the message is as much for themselves as for the outside world." North Korea, on the other hand, aims for maximum political impact when it conducts missile test launches or detonates a nuclear device, as it did Jan. 6. The potential for North Korea to field a nuclear warhead small enough to fit atop an intercontinental missile is among the worries American officials cite as justification for investing tens of billions of dollars in a new fleet of U.S. ICBMs and other types of nuclear weaponry. The Associated Press contributed to this report. An Afghan official says that at least 10 civilians have been killed near a park when a suicide bomber on a motorcycle targeted on a local tribal leader in eastern Kunar province. Gen. Abdul Habib Sayedkhaili, provincial police chief in Kunar, said on Saturday that local tribal leader Khan Jan was among the 10 dead. Jan was a vocal public opponent of the Taliban and was leading a local uprising against Taliban fighters. 40 other civilians were wounded in the attack which took place in the provincial capital, Asadabad, said Sayedkhaili. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the Kunar attack. On the very night the King George Board of Supervisors addressedin closed sessionan ongoing lawsuit with a nonprofit developer, that same developer asked for the countys support of a new housing complex for low-income residents. The developer was Fronce Wardlaw, executive director of Project FAITH. Since 2013, Project FAITH and the county have been embroiled in lawsuits over land King George gave the nonprofit to build a HELP Center. Before Wardlaw presented her new project to the Board of Supervisors last week, she said in an interview that she preferred to focus on Project FAITHs core mission: providing quality, affordable housing to low-income residents, the disabled and the elderly. We can do things that have never happened in this neck of Virginia before, or we can keep spending tens of thousands of dollars on legal fees, she said. On Feb. 16, she showed a proposal of Angelwood Marshall Homes, the final phase of Project FAITHs development off State Route 3 behind the Dollar General. The new phase includes 35 single-family houses, considered first-time homes for those with low to moderate incomes. In households with two adults working, the qualifying income would be $60,000 a year or less, Wardlaw said. Project FAITH has developed 120 rental units in King George and Caroline counties and plans 26 more in Colonial Beach. Those projects cost $32.8 million, Wardlaw said, and have been built at no expense to the individual localities. Instead, the nonprofit developer financed the projects through state and federal tax credits and grants. Wardlaw plans to do the same with the last phase of Angelwood. Thats why she asked King George officials not for money, but for support. Project FAITH will apply for a Community Development Block Grant to help cover the cost of public utilities and roads in the new phase of Angelwood. Those grants, made by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, have to be administered through local governments, so King George would devote some staff time to the effort, as it has done in the past, said County Administrator Travis Quesenberry. As part of the application, the county has to schedule public hearings. The first is planned for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the board room of the Revercomb Administration Center. Wardlaw is facing an ambitious timeline for the application, which is due March 27. If the county supports the grant, she plans to ask officials at the George Washington Regional Commission to help write the application. The proposed single-family homes would have three bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths. Downstairs areas with living rooms and dining spaces can be designed with flexible open space. Wardlaw showed photos of two-story homes in a similar project in Southwestern Virginia. Thats a main street in Pulaski, she said, pointing to a slide of a home the color of coral pink. Its absolutely adorable. Wardlaw believes the homes can be built for about $185,000 each. She quoted figures from the Multiple Listing Service, saying no new homes in King George County were availableor sold in the last 12 monthsfor anywhere near that price. There is a pent-up demand for single-family, detached housing under $200,000, she said. Ten acres of land for the new phase of Angelwood is part of the original 40 acres Project FAITH bought in 2003. Another 16 acres are part of property the late Franklin Marshall left to his heirs. Thats why the Marshall name is on the development. Wardlaw said she hopes to close on the Marshall land in March. She said the single-family homes will complete the build-out of Angelwood in King George. The Virginia Housing Coalition confirmed the development is the only one in Virginia that offers comprehensive services to all ranges of low-income residents. Angelwood has space for the chronically homeless, rental properties for the disabled and elderly and first-time homes for working people who cant afford to purchase a house in todays market. Project FAITH also will partner with several agencies to offer people help with the lending process and classes on being first-time homeowners. WASHINGTONNot long after Defense Secretary Ash Carter prodded his cyber commanders to be more aggressive in the fight against Islamic State, the U.S. ramped up its offensive cyberattacks on the militant group. According to several U.S. officials, the attacks are targeting the groups abilities to use social media and the Internet to recruit fighters and inspire followers, U.S. officials told The Associated Press. U.S. officials confirmed that operations launched out of Fort Meade, Maryland, where the U.S. Cyber Command is based, have focused on disrupting the groups online activities. The officials said the effort is getting underway as operators try a range of attacks to see what works and what doesnt. They declined to discuss details, other than to say that the attacks include efforts to prevent the group from distributing propaganda, videos or other types of recruiting and messaging on social media sites such as Twitter, and across the Internet in general. Other attacks could include attempts to stop insurgents from conducting financial or logistical transactions online. The surge of computer-based military operations by U.S. Cyber Command began shortly after Carter met with commanders at Fort Meade last month. Several U.S. officials spoke about the cyber campaign on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly. Much of the effort is classified. Carter mentioned the operations briefly Thursday, telling a House Appropriations subcommittee only that Cyber Command is beginning to conduct operations against the Islamic State group. He declined to say more in a public setting. The more aggressive attacks come after months of pressure from Carter, who has been frustrated with the belief that the Pentagon and particularly Cyber Command was losing the war in the cyber domain. Late last year Carter told cyber commanders they had 30 days to bring him options for how the military could use its cyberwarfare capabilities against the groups deadly insurgency across Iraq and Syria, and spreading to Libya and Afghanistan. Officials said he told commanders that beefing up cyberwarfare against the Islamic State group was a test for them, and that they should have both the capability and the will to wage the online war. But the military cyber fight is limited by concerns within the intelligence agencies that blocking the groups Internet access could hurt intelligence gathering. Officials said Carter told commanders that he the U.S. to be able to impact Islamic State operations without diminishing the indications or warnings U.S. intelligence officers can glean about what the group is doing. On Jan. 27, Carter and Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, went to Fort Meade for an update. Officials familiar with Carters meetings said the secretary was frustrated that as Cyber Command has grown and developed over the past several years, it was still focused on the cyberthreats from nations, such as Iran, Russia and China, rather than building a force to block the communications and propaganda campaigns of Internet-savvy insurgents. He was right to say they could be more forward leaning about what they could possibly do against ISIS, said James Lewis, a cybersecurity expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. You could disrupt their support networks, their business networks, their propaganda and recruitment networks. However, Lewis added, the U.S. needs to be careful about disrupting the Internet to insure that attacks dont also affect civilian networks or systems needed for critical infrastructure and other public necessities. U.S. officials have long been stymied by militants ability to use the Internet as a vehicle for inspiring so-called lone wolf attackers in Western nations, radicalized after reading propaganda easily available online. Why should they be able to communicate? Why should they be using the Internet? Carter said during testimony before the defense appropriations subcommittee. The Internet shouldnt be used for that purpose. He added that the U.S. can conduct cyber operations under the legal authorities associated with the ongoing war against the Islamic State group. The U.S. has also struggled to defeat high-tech encryption techniques used by Islamic State and other groups to communicate. Experts have been working to find ways to defeat those programs. Cyber Command is relatively new. Created in 2009, it did not begin operating until October 2010. Early on, its key focus was on defending military networks, which are probed and attacked millions of times a day. But defense leaders also argued at length over the emerging issues surrounding cyberwarfare and how it should be incorporated. The Pentagon is building 133 cyber teams by 2018, including 27 that are designed for combat and will work with regional commands to support warfighting operations. There will be 68 teams assigned to defend Defense Department networks and systems, 13 that would respond to major cyberattacks against the U.S. and 25 support teams. Old soldier, Lt. Col. Richard Meade Wenneson, 91, passed peacefully on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016, at home with his family present. Born April 26, 1924, Dick joined the Army in 1943. He was an original member of the 511th Airborne Regiment and 11th Airborne Division. During World War II, in the Philippines, he fought on Leyte Island, for the Liberation of Manila, and on Luzon Island. The 11th Airborne were the first U.S. troops flown into Japan on Aug. 30, 1945, four days prior to the Japanese surrender on Sept. 2, 1945. His many military decorations include the Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge and Airborne jump wings with two combat jump stars. Upon returning from the Pacific, Dick went to college and married Joan Miller on Aug. 7, 1948. He rejoined the Army as an officer and served for 30 years, including service during both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Dick and Joan had eight children. After dozens of Army moves around the United States, Germany and Thailand and a life full of travel adventures, he retired from the Army. He worked for the Department of Defense until their final move to the Fredericksburg area. He was a devout Catholic and a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus. He is missed by his wife of 67 years, his eight children, five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and two sisters. A rosary service will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 6, followed by a Knights of Columbus Service. The family will receive friends following the services until 7 p.m. A Mass of Celebration will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 7, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 9149 Elys Ford Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22407. Interment will be Friday, June 3, at 12:45 p.m. in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Patrick Church - For The Glory of God Campaign; or to the Catholic Extension Society, 150 South Wacker Drive, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606. Online guest book is available at covenantfuneralservice.com. The real liars of the day are the news media all reporting the winner of Thursday nights Republican debate as Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. Bologna! The real winner of the CNN debate was Ohio Gov. John Kasich. He spoke from experience and gave substantial data as to how he would resolve issues. He did not buy into the media enticement of bashing opponents, but eloquently and confidently delivered a far superior and factual response as to how he would lead. The obvious winner. It was disheartening to watch the combative efforts of Rubio, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Donald Trump. The media baited them and they bit, big. This was not presidential. Kasich, the obvious winner, should have been acknowledged by the media. Where are you and whom to you really serve? Joan MelvilleKohls Stafford ESFS Has Louisiana Covered For Home Exterior Trim Quotes Home renovation website ESFS announced the addition of a new quote service for visitors from Louisiana. -- ESFS, a popular home renovation website, announced today the addition of a new quote Home Exterior Trim Quotes service specifically tailored for visitors from Louisiana. This new service covers 14 locations across the state, and offers the public immediate access to competitive quotes from contractors. "ESFS can now provide quotes for new installations, replacements or repairs of exterior trim," outlined ESFS director Matt Aird. "This new section of the site encompasses the addition or repair of exterior trim to homes and other buildings.The details of a user's project are entered into a straight-forward, condensed form which provides contractors with the scope of the project, the area to be covered, condition of existing trim and material type. This system ensures every contractor receives the same information, and helps ensure quotes are easy to directly compare." Exterior trim is a great way to add character, color and charm to a home. Many exterior trim products are made from varying qualities of wood, or are synthetic products that replicate wood, and give a rustic appearance to a modern building. A well-made and properly treated exterior trim can maintain its appearance over many years, protecting the underlying structure from decay. "While exterior trim products vary significantly in cost and composition, any product can achieve good results if the contractor chosen has significant experience and knowledge of it," said Mr. Aird. "The ESFS system allows users to specify their requirements up front, ensuring the businesses understand them well before they submit a quote." For the introduction of the Louisiana Exterior Trim quote service, 14 locations are available, spanning from New Orleans to Shreveport, including many popular locales such as Baton Rouge. As ESFS partners with new reliable and professional local contractors, the service will expand to more areas throughout the state. About ESFS.org ESFS stands for Easy Simple Fast Service and is an online service dedicated to providing customers with no obligation quotes for a variety of services including home repair and additions, interior design and decoration, cleaning, roofing and construction from pre-screened local contractors. For more information about us, please visit http://www.esfs.org Contact Info: Name: Matt Aird Organization: Easy Simple Fast Service Address: www.esfs.org Release ID: 104995 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Wellington's Fine Leather Furniture Releases Leather Furniture Buying Guide Wellington's Fine Leather Furniture provides a consumer guide to assist in leather furniture-buying decision. The firm carries an inventory of premium quality leather pieces. -- Wellington's Fine Leather Furniture and Donna Frehafer are pleased to announce the publication of their Definitive Guide to Buying Leather Furniture. Anyone who loves the look and feel of quality leather furniture will find information about the features to review before making the final selection. The Guide covers everything about leather furniture ranging from the hides to the design, finished appearance, and suspension. Each element is described in details, as well as how it is to be used in the final selection. The suggestion which may helpful to potential buyers of leather furniture is to determine the price point and then find the top quality available within that budget limitation. There are many elements which can affect the quality. One of the major factors to be considered is the use intended for the item. Within that boundary, the quality of the leather, type of suspension, and frame elements are all considerations. A detailed description of the various leather products used for furniture is a major description in the Guide. Premium hides are the recommended leathers, either full grain or top grain. Certain locations for the hides are defined in the description. The three layers of the hides are identified and described along with recommendations about which layers are best selected for the highest quality furniture. The premium and highest-priced leather prized by leather lovers are full-grain, aniline dyed with a natural look. It is rarer than all other leather types. Several types of suspension are described, ranging from webbing to springs. The padding is formed of foam, foam with innerspring and down plush. These features will be related to the design elements of the furniture. The frames are the other component which is described in the Leather Furniture Guide. Features to consider in making a decision include expected longevity, comfort and ride, color, style and type of leather. The selection is based on all of the listed elements, but also on personal preference. For more information about us, please visit http://fineleatherfurniture.com/leather-furniture-blog/blog-list/173-definitive-guide-to-buying-leather-furniture Contact Info: Name: Donna Frehafer Organization: Wellington's Fine Leather Furniture Address: Port Ludlow, WA 98365 Phone: (800) 262-1049 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/wellingtons-fine-leather-furniture-releases-leather-furniture-buying-guide/105205 Release ID: 105205 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Oregon Hot Tub - Portland Hot Tub, Swim Spa, Sauna Dealer Wins Prestigious Award Portland, OR New and Used Hot Tubs, Swim Spas and Saunas Dealer Named the 2015 Territory Dealer of the Year Award. Offers Free Hot Tub Test Soaks to Portland, OR Residents. -- Oregon Hot Tub, a 6-store hot tub dealer with stores in Portland, Beaverton, Bend, Wilsonville Oregon and Vancouver, Washington was recognized as the 2015 North American Territory Dealer of the Year by Hot Spring Spas. Territory Dealers of the Year were honored at a special reception at the 2016 Hot Spring Dealer Conference, which was held in January in Coronado, California. "Winning this award is truly a great honor," said Sue Rogers, CEO of Oregon Hot Tub. "Territory Dealer of the Year award honorees are carefully evaluated for their business excellence, customer experience, sales performance and overall representation of the Hot Spring brand." "Territory Dealers of the Year are truly role models for the entire Hot Spring dealer community," said Mike Dunn, Executive Vice President for Watkins Manufacturing, maker of Hot Spring Spas. "These retailers are committed to growing their businesses - and they have succeeded! But more importantly, they demonstrate exceptional care for their customers. "Oregon Hot Tub carries only the most innovative and best-in-market products and has a "customer-centric" philosophy. This means that the company provides unparalleled service and expert advice and support before and after the sale," said Rogers. "The goal to always exceed customer expectations in terms of value and service." The company has a friendly and knowledgeable sales team that ensures their customers are getting the hot tub swim spa or sauna that's the right fit for each person, backyard and budget. Each customer is treated as an individual with individual needs. No product is one-size-fits-all here. To thank local residents for making this award possible, Oregon Hot Tub will be providing free hot tub and swim spa wet tests for the entire month. They do recommend however that people wanting to schedule their free 30-minute wet test call ahead of time to reserve their spot. About Oregon Hot Tub Oregon Hot Tub is Oregon's largest and most established hot tub company--the #1 selling hot tub company in Portland since 1979. Only the most innovative and best-in-market products are featured at the company's five convenient locations. Oregon Hot Tub carries the #1 selling portable hot tub in the world, Hot Spring Spas. Hot Spring Spas are manufactured by Watkins Manufacturing Corporation, a division of Masco Corp (NYSE: MAS) a Fortune 500 company. http://masco.com To learn more, pick up a copy of their free hot tub buyer's guide. Just give them a call at 503-533-5603 or go to http://www.OregonHotTub.com/specials Contact Info: Name: Sue Rogers Email: info@OregonHotTub.com Phone: 5035335603 Organization: Oregon Hot Tub Source: http://www.prreach.com/pr/22631 Release ID: 105292 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) HotelsCorp Announces New and Improved Orlando Destination Website HotelsCorp launches a redesigned Orlando vacation website. -- HotelsCorp, an established leader in Discount Vacation Packages, today announced the redesign of its website to provide visitors with even more relevant and easy-to-find information on everything Orlando has to offer including attractions, theme parks and hotels. We are the #1 authorized ticket seller for discount Disney World tickets. Ryan Forrester, Business Development Manager of HotelsCorp, said he expects the website to be well received by HotelsCorp customers and business partners. "The improved website is yet another way that we are making it easier for our customers to find the information they need on all Orlando attractions and hotels," said Forrester. "We are extremely excited with the final version of our new website and we think our visitors looking for discount vacation packages in Orlando will be pleased too." The revamped Orlando Florida Destination Guide now features a news portal for all the latest attraction news, an updated layout with eye-catching graphics and a user-friendly navigation. Forrester said one feature he expects website users to like is the addition of social sharing buttons which makes it easier to connect to our Facebook and Twitter pages. To view the newly upgraded Orlando Florida Destination Guide website, visit http://www.orlando-florida.net today. More About HotelsCorp Founded in 2003, HotelsCorp has helped many consumers with Discount Vacation Packages. The company's mission statement is "We consider it our honor to deliver to you and your family the very best vacation experience possible". To learn more about HotelsCorp, you should call 407-351-2460 or visit them online at http://www.hotelscorp.com. For more information about us, please visit http://www.orlando-florida.net Contact Info: Name: Ryan Forrester Organization: HotelsCorp Address: 7450 Sandlake Commons Blvd Phone: 407-351-2460 Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCyVl1A71_w Source: http://marketersmedia.com/hotelscorp-announces-new-and-improved-orlando-destination-website/104787 Release ID: 104787 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Home Care San Diego, Agency Participates in National Senior Independence Month Skilled Homecare, Home Health Nursing Agency, Firstat Nursing Services Publishes "Senior Independence Guide." -- Firstat Nursing Services, a San Diego home health and home care agency shares "Senior Independence Guide". "Independence is such an important part of every person's life. As young adults, people fight to gain independence from parents, and all through adulthood they work hard to maintain their position as individuals capable and strong enough to care for themselves," said Linnea Goodrich, president of Firstat Nursing Services in San Diego, CA. "Then, once again, as they age, they are thrust into a struggle to keep their personal independence." "When it weakens or is lost altogether, seniors often fall into deep depressions," continued Goodrich. "It is time that people learn to celebrate their age. It is equally important for the younger generation to respect seniors and understand how important it is that their elders remain secure in their independence." Here are three ways senior citizens can remain independent as they age. Create an Environment at Home that Helps Seniors Maintain Their Lives - As seniors age they can increase their ability to stay in their homes by creating better situations for their own health. Getting rid of clutter and installing safety features will make it easier to keep up with personal needs and hygiene. Rather than trying to get seniors to change their living arrangements, family members should help older loved ones find ways to improve their living areas. Stay Healthy and Fit - As people age, even mild exercise becomes more difficult, but it is important to remain active. Older people tend to reduce their activity levels, resulting in weaker muscles and balance issues. To stay healthy, find new ways to work muscles and increase stability through stretching exercises such as yoga or T'ai Chi. Get Help From San Diego Home Care Services - When more help is needed, there are alternatives to moving away from home to a loved one's house, or into a living facility. Seniors or their family members can arrange for home health care services to provide at home care and nursing as needed to maintain an elderly individual's nutritional, physical and mental needs. Home nursing can be set up to deliver exactly what each person requires. If light housekeeping and quick physical assessments are all that is necessary, a home care specialist can visit a few hours a day, or even once or twice a week to check up on an elderly patient. If more involved care is needed such as help with regular meals and hygiene will help an older person stay in their home and maintain their independence, it can be arranged easily. Even 24-hour care is possible. Home care specialists can help elderly people get to doctor's appointments or other important meetings, take them to local events and make it possible to visit friends. They can get them out to the grocery store or to do other shopping safely, and even make sure they get to family parties or gatherings. Keeping seniors in touch with loved ones and friends is vital to emotional health that fights senior depression. Families can make it easier on their elderly loved ones by visiting often and talking over needs to make sure everything is taken care of properly. When a local family member prefers to care of their elderly loved one, home care specialists can help the caregiver out by giving them a break regularly. This helps avoid the stresses and guilt often experienced as they do their best to take care of parents or other older individuals. People wanting to learn more are encouraged to visit the company website and pick up a copy of this free report "Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider," Visit, http://firstatofsandiego.com/ About Firstat Nursing Services Linnea Goodrich is the owner of Firstat Nursing Services, which is the only Home Care Agency in San Diego that is both State licensed and certified by the Alzheimer's Association. Firstat Nursing Services has been providing a higher standard of home nursing, home health and home care services for elderly, disabled and injured people in the greater San Diego area since 1997. To pick up a copy of her free report "Critical Questions You Must Ask Before You Hire a Home Care Provider," Visit, http://firstatofsandiego.com. Contact Info: Name: Linnea Goodrich Email: LinneaGoodrich@FirstatOfSanDiego.com Phone: 619-220-7600 Organization: Firstat Nursing Services Source: http://www.prreach.com/pr/22643 Release ID: 105284 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Hot Tubs, Swim Spas, Saunas Dealer Maine, New Hampshire Wins Prestigious Award Mainely Tubs, a Hot Tub, Sauna and Swim Spa Dealer Serving ME and NH Awarded the Highest Honor that Can be Bestowed Upon a Hot Spring Dealer - the Locksin Thompson Dealer of the Year Award -- Mainely Tubs, a hot tub, sauna and swim spa dealer serving Maine and New Hampshire is proud to announce that they have won the 2015 Locksin Thompson Dealer of the Year award. They were recently honored at the company's 2015 National Dealer Conference held in San Diego, CA. "In 2015 the company made a huge investment in a new store to showcase even more spas and complementary products to attract shoppers," says Jim Van Fleet, President of Mainely Tubs. "The company also brought on a new General Manager, launched a new and improved website, invested in digital marketing and advertising, and embraced the Dave Carleton marketing programs, all of which have contributed to a very successful year." Mainely Tubs was selected from more than 700 Hot Spring dealers worldwide to receive the hot tub manufacturer's most prestigious dealer award, which is named after Locksin Thompson, a highly respected, early pioneer in the hot tub industry. Watkins Manufacturing was established in 1977 in Vista, California, and is the world's largest manufacturer of hot tubs including Hot Spring Spas. According to Mike Dunn, Executive Vice President of Hot Spring Spas "The way Mainely Tubs follows up with their prospective clients has a lot to do with their success too, as they have a double digit lead conversion rate. Their efforts have resulted in a significant year-over-year sales increase. In addition, the number of 5-star reviews they have received attests to their commitment to always put the customer first. Mainely Tubs participates in all Hot Spring sales training and promotion opportunities, and has fully embraced consumer financing as a valuable sales tool. As a result of their commitment to excellence in all areas of their business, they have grown consistently, year after year after year. To help celebrate winning this award, Mainely Tubs will be providing free hot tub wet tests for the entire month. They do recommend however that people wanting to schedule their free 30-minute wet test call us ahead of time to reserve their spot. To learn more about the Mainely Tubs and the benefits of hot tub hydrotherapy, visit the company website. While there, pick up a copy of this free hot tub buyer's guide "5 Hot Tub Buying Mistakes and How to Avoid Them". Just call 207-883-6357 or go to http://MainelyTubs.com. About Mainely Tubs Mainely Tubs has been serving Maine and New Hampshire as the leader in hot tub sales and service since 1978. They currently support 16,000+ customers and have been ranked the world's largest Hot Spring Store for 11 years. Mainely Tubs is dedicated to supporting their customers' un-interrupted enjoyment of the highest quality relaxation products including HotSpring Spas, Finnleo Saunas, Big Green Egg as well as many water care products and services. Their commitment to high quality products and to their customers' satisfaction has never wavered, and as a result, most of their business comes to them as referrals from happy customers. To learn more, pick up a copy of this free guide "5 Hot Tub Buying Mistakes and How to Avoid Them". Just call 207-883-6357 or go to http://MainelyTubs.com. Contact Info: Name: Jim Van Fleet Email: scottbell@mainelytubs.com Phone: 207-883-6357 Organization: Mainely Tubs Source: http://www.prreach.com/pr/22665 Release ID: 105286 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) The European Commission is expected to renew the licence for widely used weedkiller glyphosate despite divisions in the scientific community over its safety. The EU executive has drawn up a draft proposal, which recommends the renewal of the licence for use of glyphosate for 15 years. The draft act foresees the reapproval of glyphosate until 2031, subject to a meeting of EU government officials on 7-8 March at which they are expected to give their opinion. See also: Call to ban glyphosate on milling wheat Glyphosate, which is the active ingredient in Monsantos Roundup herbicide, was branded as probably carcinogenic to humans by the World Health Organizations international agency for research on cancer (IARC). But a subsequent report by the EU food safety watchdog, the European Food Safety Authority (Efsa), concluded that glyphosate was unlikely to be carcinogenic. All labelled uses of glyphosate are safe for human health and supported by one of the most extensive worldwide human health databases ever complied on an agricultural product Philip Miller, Monsanto Safety measure Instead, Efsa has proposed a safety measure that seeks to tighten the level of glyphosate residues in food, such as bread. Efsas decision sparked a backlash and EU health commissioner wrote a letter on behalf of 96 scientists to the food safety watchdog to express their deep concern. In response, Efsa executive director Bernhard Url, wrote a three-page open letter responding to the criticism. Mr Url argued that Efsas report was a more comprehensive hazard assessment than the IARC report and it took in a range of other studies on glyphosate to reach its conclusion. Not carcinogenic Nick von Westenholz, chief executive of the Crop Protection Association (CPA), said: Efsa has looked in depth at glyphosate and is satisfied it is not carcinogenic or genotoxic (able to cause damage to genetic material). It is a pretty robust assessment, he added. Glyphosate often gets picked up by the media when activists and campaigners are trying to cast doubt over its safety profile. But if you look at the science and rely on the robust science assessment, I think people can be pretty satisfied it is safe. However, green campaigners have accused Efsa of ignoring health risks posed by glyphosate In a statement, the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe claimed EU member states had let the interests of industry and farmers prevail over the interests of the public in allowing harmful pesticides on the market with data gaps and high risks. Serious concerns Martin Hausling, the agriculture and public health spokesman for The Greens/European Free Alliance, said the endocrine disrupting potential of glyphosate had not been properly assessed. He accused the commission of rolling the dice on glyphosate use when there was clear evidence of environmental risks and serious concerns of health impacts. As long as manufacturers fail to demonstrate an absence of harm in a transparent manner, glyphosate should not be approved for use in the EU, he added. But Monsanto has insisted that glyphosate is safe to use. Dr Philip Miller, Monsantos vice-president of global regulatory affairs, has said: All labelled uses of glyphosate are safe for human health and supported by one of the most extensive worldwide human health databases ever complied on an agricultural product. Domestic violence is a wretched phenomenon displaced in behavioral relationships. The same also applies in the actions of parents with their children (vice versa). Domestic violence is an epidemic concerning every community, regardless of religion or nationality. It is often accompanied by a methodical pattern of power and control. This form of violence may, sadly, lead to physical and psychological injury and at times, even lead to death. Undoubtedly, this form of vehemence has tremendous spiritual and physical repercussions on the oppressed. Regardless of theological belief, wouldnt you agree domestic violence is a complete violation and a major transgression in all spiritual endeavors and humanitarian calls? The strong is not they who is able to overcome others in physical wrestling. Nay, the strong are they that are able to control themselves in the state of anger ((Muhammad [PBUH] d.632)) It is not easy to determine in the early periods of a relationship whether abuse will be a common theme. Everyone may seem sweet and wonderful initially, but violence and aggression may then intensify over time. Exploitation may begin with manners that seem small and insignificant. However, as sickness might gain ground in the physical body, so too does violence reach major obstructions. Know, every time you meet a new person it is highly probable you are simply witnessing a Hollywood act being portrayed by this individual for this given scene. Just as certain plants are beautiful to look at, that does not entail it will taste good. Be wise in what you choose. Prejudicial blame is commonly placed upon the victim because of self-made conclusions that these individuals self-consciously choose to stay in abusive connections. Truth be told, ending abuse is not necessarily a matter of just leaving. It is far greater and much more complicated. If you ever feel alone, know, without a doubt, loving, carrying, willing people surround you and hope for your betterment and success. In the end, we all float the same ocean and ride the same boat. Extend your arm and you will find a rope of support and love. This is your life, yet we are your family make the best of it. In relationships, each individual should be considerate and realize their time together is a partnership that have equal respects and rights. Neither individual should be domineering as to oppress the other. In this regard, the excellence of a partner is the one who shows utter care and utmost kindness in dealing. The best among you is the best towards their family(Muhammad [PBUH] d.632) People are not copies of one another, as is clearly portrayed by their varying habits and attitudes. However, instead of making differences a reason for aggression and oppression, mold them into commendable and enriching experiences. It is unjust to insist ones own unlimited correctness and reject other opinions through a sense of supremacy. If you want a relationship of love and respect, overlook the differences of opinion and make the common goal the successful embarking. As the poet said, If you blame your friend for every slip, then it is not a shock that you have never met a blameless friend. The city of Corvallis is hosting a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Corvallis Senior Center, 2601 N.W. Tyler Ave., to discuss the renovation and expansion of the center and adjacent Chintimini Park. The City Council directed city staff in September 2014 to develop plans to keep the Senior Center in the park. Thursdays meeting is designed to give park and Senior Center users a chance to hear from Parks and Recreation staff and provide input to help develop the plan. There will be other opportunities for members of the public to offer feedback on the project. The city hopes to break ground on the upgrades in 2018. In other public meetings: Saturday Ward 1 Councilor Penny York will be the government comment corner guest from 10 a.m. to noon at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, 645 N.W. Monroe Ave. Monday The Corvallis Housing Development Task Force meets at 6 p.m. at the Madison Avenue Meeting Room, 500 S.W. Madison Ave. The Philomath Planning Commission meets at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 980 Applegate St. and will hear an appeal by Oregon Seqouia LLC of a planning officials decision on a partition application on Northwest Seventh Street. Tuesday The Benton County Board of Commissioners will hold a work session at 9 a.m. in the county boardrooms, 205 N.W. Fifth St. The commissioners will discuss whether to proceed with plans to build a bike path between Corvallis and North Albany. Also on the agenda will be plans to apply for transportation grants, a discussion of physician compensation principles at county clinics and a report on the courthouse seismic study. The commissioners will reconvene at noon in the same location for a meeting. The agenda will include discussion of whether to convey land to Philomath, applications for transportation grants and a resolution regarding the 2040 Thriving Communities Initiative. The Philomath Park Advisory Board meets at Kugler Hall in City Park at 299 S. 23rd St. to discuss a state park grant application and music in the park. The Philomath Finance/Administration Committee meets at 5:15 p.m. in City Hall to discuss 2016 cost of living recommendations for nonrepresented staff. The Corvallis Airport Advisory Board meets at 7 a.m. at the Madison Avenue room. Wednesday The Corvallis Community Police Review Board meets at 3 p.m. at the Madison Ave room. A community workshop on safety in the Highway 20 corridor between Corvallis and Albany is at 4 p.m. at the Childrens Farm Home, 4455 N.E. Highway 20. At the open house type event, project team members will be available to answer questions, listen to concerns and provide information about the project (see Tuesdays Gazette-Times for a preview story). The Corvallis Planning Commission meets at 7 p.m. at the downtown fire station, 400 N.W. Harrison Blvd. The commission will hold a pair of public hearings, one on expansion plans for the Corvallis Boys & Girls Club and the other on a zoning change in the Willamette Business Park (see Mondays Gazette-Times for a preview story). The Corvallis Library Advisory Board meets at 7:30 p.m. at the library. Thursday The Philomath Public Works Committee meets at 3 p.m. at City Hall. Friday The Corvallis Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board meets at 7 a.m. in the Madison Avenue room. March 5 The League of Women Voters is hosting a town hall on legislative action this year from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the library. Sen. Sara Gelser and Reps. Andy Olson and Dan Rayfield are scheduled to be on hand. The city of Corvallis is hosting the first of its three community workshops on Imagine Corvallis 2040, a vision and action plan for the city. The workshop will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Lincoln Elementary School, 110 S.E. Alexander Ave. The workshop will focus on two of the projects six topic areas: how we engage and support (involvement, equity and diversity) and how we prosper and innovate (economy, employment and innovation). A case involving a 20-year-old former Oregon State University student accused of raping a woman at the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house has been delayed until March while parties in the case continue to await the results of DNA evidence. Tyler Lazell Warren, who was enrolled at OSU from fall 2013 through spring 2015, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree rape, second-degree sexual abuse and first-degree burglary in connection with a July 12 incident at the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. The case was scheduled to go to trial in January, but there have been several delays as parties wait on the results of DNA testing. Benton County Circuit Court Judge Matthew Donohue on Thursday set the next hearing in the case for March 17 to see if the defense has the necessary lab results to proceed in the case. Warren is accused of raping a 21-year-old woman in the early morning hours at the fraternity, where the woman was renting a room for the summer, according to a probable cause affidavit. OSUs website lists Warren as a student, but university officials have said that Warren has not been enrolled for the 2015-16 terms. OSU officials did not comment on whether Warren was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. Warren has been listed as booked in the Benton County Jail since July 15, after the woman reported the incident to Corvallis police. According to the court affidavit, the woman was celebrating her 21st birthday at Corvallis-area bars when her friends helped take her back to Phi Kappa Psi. The woman reported that she woke up and saw Warren, an acquaintance, in her room and unzipping his shorts. The woman reported that she wanted to say no, but she was too drunk to speak, the affidavit said. The woman reported that Warren then raped her, according to the affidavit. According to the affidavit, Warren told police that he found the woman in the hall partially outside of her room, and he put her back in her bed and pulled a blanket over her. Warren also told police that she groped him, according to the affidavit. Warren initially told police that he did not think there was further sexual contact, but he ultimately admitted he had sexual intercourse, the affidavit charged. F.Y.I. is a community calendar. To accommodate demand for the print edition, we ask that items be brief and include time, date, place, address, admission cost and a contact number for publication. Inclusion of items is at the discretion of the Gazette-Times. Further information is available at 541-758-9524 or jane.stoltz@lee.net. Assistance MONDAY Emergency food boxes, by appointment, North Corvallis Ministry Center, 5050 N.E. Elliott Circle. Appointments: 541-220-1040. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Corvallis Elks Lodge, 1400 N.W. Ninth St., walk-ins and appointments, 541-602-5829. Free tax service open to taxpayers of all ages and backgrounds, with special attention to those 60 or over; AARP membership not required. Information: 888-227-7669 or www.aarp.org/taxaide. Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA), 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., Corvallis Senior Center, 2601 N.W. Tyler Ave. Free, confidential, impartial Medicare counseling and education. Appointments required; call 541-812-0849. Emergency food boxes, 1:30 to 4 p.m., St. Vincent de Paul Society Corvallis Conference Food Pantry, campus of St. Marys Catholic Church, 501 N.W. 25th St. No appointment needed. Information: 541-757-1988, ext. 317. Stone Soup dinner, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., gymnasium, St. Marys Catholic School, 501 N.W. 25th St. Free meal for those in need. Classes SUNDAY All About Strawberries, 11 a.m., Shonnards Nursery, Florist and Landscape, 6600 S.W. Philomath Blvd. Darren Morgan will discuss the varieties available this year and when theyll be ready for picking. Yoga for Recovery, 12:30 p.m., Live Well Studio, 971 N.W. Spruce Ave. For recovery from substance abuse, eating disorders, codependency. By donation. Information: 541-224-6566 or www.livewellstudio.com. Canvas Stretching, 1 p.m., Studio262 Gallery and Art Supply Store, 425 S.W. Madison Ave., Suite H-1. Information: 541-829-3701 or studio262gallery@jenniferlommers.com. MONDAY English as a Second Language conversation classes, 10 a.m., Conference Room C, Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, 645 N.W. Monroe Ave. Information: 541-766-6793. Healthy relationships workshop, 3:30 p.m., Womens Center, Benton Annex, 1700 S.W. Pioneer Place. Sponsored by the Oregon State University Presidents Commission on the Status of Women. Events SUNDAY Cole Porters Kiss Me, Kate, 2 p.m., main stage theatre, Withycombe Hall, 2901 S.W. Campus Way. Tickets: $15 general admission; $10 seniors, youth, students; $5 for Oregon State University students; 541-737-2784 or http://bit.ly/1wgmtkj. Corvallis-OSU Symphony presents The Final Frontier, 3 p.m., Austin Auditorium, LaSells Stewart Center, 875 S.W. 26th St. Tickets: $22, $27 or $32 reserved, $20 general admission, in advance at Gracewinds Music or Rices Pharmacy. Majestic Readers Theatre Company presents Grace and Glorie, 3 p.m., 7 p.m., the Majestic Theatre, 115 S.W. Second St. Tickets: $10 to $12; 541-738-7469 or www.majestic.org. Alsea Plays Tunes, 4 to 6 p.m., Alsea Community Library, 19192 Alsea Highway. Come play a tune, sing a song, or tap a foot and listen. Women in Black peace vigil, 5 to 6 p.m., in front of the Benton County Courthouse, 120 N.W. Fourth St. Information: 541-829-0553. MONDAY Wiggly Wobbler story time, 10 a.m., Philomath Community Library, 1050 Applegate St. For children from birth through 18 months. Information: 541-929-3016. Jammin for the Hungry, 5 to 8 p.m., community kitchen, First United Methodist Church, 1165 N.W. Monroe Ave. Information: saragpower@gmail.com. Bedtime story time, 7 p.m., Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, 645 N.W. Monroe Ave. For all ages. Chess night, 7 p.m., Old World Deli, 341 S.W. Second St. Any level of experience welcome. Information: 541-753-1005. Milagro Theatre presents Broken Promises, 7:30 p.m., lab theatre, Withycombe Hall, 2921 S.W. Campus Way. Bilingual play by Olga Sanchez. Government MONDAY Corvallis Housing Development Task Force, 6 p.m., Madison Avenue Meeting Room, 500 S.W. Madison Ave. Philomath Planning Commission, 7 p.m., City Hall, 980 Applegate St. Health MONDAY Benton Family Medicine, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 530 N.W. 27th St. Family medicine for infants, children and adults. Insurance, Medicare, Medicaid accepted. Information: 541-766-6835. Lincoln Family Medicine, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed noon to 1), 121 S.E. Viewmont Ave. Insurance, Medicare, Medicaid accepted. Information: 541-766-3546. Free medical clinic, 8:30 a.m., Community Outreach, 856 N.W. Reiman Ave. Patients may begin lining up for intake at 8 a.m. Provides care to low-income people without health insurance. Provides primary medical care and referrals to those needing further medical attention or services offered by other agencies. Monroe Family Medicine, 1 to 5 p.m., 610 Dragon Drive, Monroe. Insurance, Medicare, Medicaid (Oregon Health Plan) accepted. Information: 541-847-5143. Organizations SUNDAY Corvallis Pokemon League, 2 to 4 p.m., Corvallis Elks Lodge, 1400 N.W. Ninth St. Open to all ages. Mid-Valley Singles, Inc., 2 p.m., Cafe Yumm!, 2001 N.W. Monroe Ave. Lunch. RSVP: 541-928-0870. Corvallis Bicycle Collective, 4 to 7 p.m.; for location, call 541-224-6885 or go to www.corvallisbikes.org. The group welcomes all to volunteer or to work on their own bikes. Corvallis Bridge Club, 6:30 p.m., Heart of the Valley Bridge Center, 1931 N.W. Circle Blvd. Sign up 20 minutes before game. Partners/information: 541-740-1072 or www.corvallisbridge.org. MONDAY Toast of Corvallis, 12:10 to 1:10 p.m., Building 10, CH2M Hill, Hewlett-Packard Co. campus, 1100 N.E. Circle Blvd. Toastmasters helps you enhance your communication and leadership skills by learning the art of public speaking. Information: 541-258-4083. Corvallis Woodcarvers, 4 p.m., First Alternative Natural Foods Co-op South Store, 1007 S.E. Third St. Open to novice and experienced carvers. Information: 541-758-0709. Five Stones Sangha, 5:30 p.m., Friends Meeting House, 3311 N.W. Polk Ave. Mindfulness meditation in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh and the Community of Mindful Living. Information: 541-760-9760 or https://sites.google.com/site/fivestonessanghacorvallis. Corvallis Evening Toastmasters Club, 6:10 p.m., Old Mill Center for Children and Families, 1650 S.W. 45th Place; new location. Toastmasters helps individuals become better speakers, presenters, communicators and leaders. Information: 541-207-2439. Plan ahead Jammies and Cocoa 5K Run/Walk, 4 to 7 p.m. March 5; starts at Carriage House, Benton County Fairgrounds, 110 S.W. 53rd St. Cost: $30; $2 of each entry fee will be donated to Willamette Valley Girls on the Run. Registration: www.runningprincess.com/jammies-and-cocoa-5k.html. Schools MONDAY Town hall, 5 p.m., Room 128, Learning Innovation Center, 2750 S.W. Campus Way. Oregon State University President Ed Ray will host a discussion of equity, inclusion, and civil and social justice at OSU. Information: diversity@oregonstate.edu. Support groups SUNDAYAlcoholics Anonymous: 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., Corl House, 3975 N.W. Witham Hill Drive. 9 a.m., community annex, First Alternative Natural Foods Co-op South Store, 1007 S.E. Third St. 7 p.m. (mens meeting), Zion Lutheran Church, 2745 N.W. Harrison Blvd. 7 p.m. (open meeting), College United Methodist Church, 1123 Main St., Philomath. Information (24 hours): 541-967-4252 or www.aa-oregon.org. Overeaters Anonymous, 4 p.m., meeting room, First Alternative Natural Foods Co-op North Store, 2855 N.W. Grant Ave. Information: 541-220-4682. Narcotics Anonymous, 5 p.m., Room 11, First Christian Church, 602 S.W. Madison Ave. Information: www.lblna.org. Twenty-four-hour help line: 877-233-4287. Sex Addicts Anonymous, 7 p.m., Room 11, First Christian Church, 602 S.W. Madison Ave. Information: 541-757-2204. MONDAY Alcoholics Anonymous: 7 a.m., noon, Room 11, First Christian Church, 602 S.W. Madison Ave. 7 a.m., upstairs, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Corvallis, 2945 N.W. Circle Drive. 5:30 p.m., library, pastoral center, St. Marys Catholic Church, 501 N.W. 25th St. 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m. (womens meetings), lounge, Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan, 333 N.W. 35th St. 7:30 p.m., Crossroads Christian Fellowship, 2555 N.W. Highland Drive. Information (24 hours): 541-967-4252 or www.aa-oregon.org. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), 8:30 a.m., College United Methodist Church, 1123 Main St., Philomath. Self-help weight-loss support group. Information: Debbie, 619-1358. Lifestyles Overcoming Troubles Utilizing Support Group (LOTUS), 11 a.m., Benton County Health Department, 530 N.W. 27th St. Information: Meghan, 541-766-6107. Narcotics Anonymous, noon to 1 p.m., Room 11, First Christian Church, 602 S.W. Madison Ave. Information: www.lblna.org. Twenty-four-hour help line: 877-233-4287. Domestic Violence Support Group, 6 to 7 p.m. Call 541-754-0110 or 800-927-0197 for location. For women who have experienced emotional or physical abuse in relationships with their partners. Child care is available. Celebrate Recovery, 6:30 p.m., sanctuary, North Corvallis Ministry Center, 5050 N.E. Elliott Circle. Christian-based recovery program. Narcotics Anonymous, 7 p.m., Room 11, First Christian Church, 602 S.W. Madison Ave. Information: www.lblna.org. Twenty-four-hour help line: 877-233-4287. United Nations : 17 Million for the UN in Bonn Bonn Bonn will receive 17 million Euro in funding to enhance the United Nations presence in the host city. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Last year, Federal Minister of the Environment Barbara Hendricks announced that the United Nations in Bonn would receive 17 million Euro from the federal government to strengthen its position as a UN host city. On Thursday evening, in a non-public session of the City Council, members agreed on a plan for allocating the funding, which means the money will now be able to flow to Bonn. According to local politician Ulrich Kelber (SPD), the money comes from a future investment program of the federal government, put in the 2016 budget at the request of Minister Hendricks. Kelber remarked that this was a most positive step for investing in Bonns future. Several possibilities are earmarked for the funding. It could be used for renovating the former Parliament Chamber, designing the United Nations square, making the House of Nature at Waldau into an international environmental center or for supporting projects at the Bonn International School. Katja Dorner (Green party) remarked that this was an affirmative development for Bonn and would serve to increase its chances to attract further international institutions. City wide competition : Do you have a good idea for Bonn? Bonn A 25,000 Euro funding prize will be given to a person or group who comes up with the best idea for a project to enrich life in Bonn. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Burgerstiftung Bonn is a community foundation made up of many residents whose goal it is to enrich life in Bonn. The foundation was started in 2001 with a donation from the Sparkasse Cologne/Bonn to encourage civic engagement. The Burgerstiftung is looking for creative projects that will enhance life in Bonn. Applicants can submit their ideas until March 31. Winners receive a 25,000 Euro prize to fund their conceived project. The total financing of the project must be guaranteed with up to 10,000 Euro. Submissions will be judged based on how innovative the project is and how it contributes to the social fabric in Bonn. It should also be a project which relies heavily on volunteer work. Projects outside of Bonn or running overhead administration costs will not be supported. The contest is run in the German language, but there are certainly opportunities for the international community to work together with German friends/speakers to submit projects. All good ideas are welcome. More information at: 0228-60 65 11 66 or www.buergerstiftung-bonn.de Top Utility Apps for the tech-savvy Senior Citizens! News oi -GizBot Bureau Breaking the myth of being not so technology friendly, women are now turning tech savvy, especially those above 60. With apps, ranging from health start-ups to grocery shopping that save money and time, women are now becoming adept in using them. A few apps are proving to be truly useful. Focused on accurate and on-time deliveries, Peppertap has now made grocery shopping easy and simple. With just a single click on your smartphone you can get whatever you want delivered at your doorstep. SEE ALSO: 5 Cool Gadgets that could help you save time Pluss, an on-demand medicine and healthcare products delivery app standardizes your experience irrespective of your location. It also gives you the ease and simplicity of ordering from an app, the experience of a branded outlet and the convenience and speed of ordering from a neighborhood store. One of India's largest mobile commerce platforms, Paytm is the easiest and most convenient way to pay your online bill payments and recharge. It started by offering only mobile recharge and utility bill payments and today offers a full marketplace to consumers on its mobile apps. SEE ALSO: HTC One M10 teased: 9 Things to know about Taiwan's answer to the Samsung Galaxy S7 Healthenablr, a healthcare app where one can search for healthcare professionals based on rating, reviews, specialty and their affiliation and connect to doctors anytime, anywhere at the tap of a button. Soruce IANS Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications 1 Google entered China much later. However, Google searches in china are very low. Google accounts for less than 2% of all searches made in China. In comparison, Chinese search engines make up for most search. 2 While Whatsapp is there in China, the Chinese mobile networks do not support Whatsapp. WeChat is the most popular messenger app in China. 3 Facebook is blocked in China ever since 2009. It is not possible to access Facebook using internet or mobile networks in China.RenRen is the most popular Social network of China. It is equivalent of Facebook in China. 4 Twitter is not available in China. It is not possible to access Twitter. People in China, use Weibo, which is considered to be the equivalent of Twitter. 5 Gmail is blocked in China. People use QQ email service to send and receive E-mails. Russian Security Service Worked in 2015 Amid Increasing Pressure on Moscow Sputnik News 16:40 26.02.2016(updated 17:56 26.02.2016) Russian security service personnel worked in conditions of increasing political, economic, military and informational pressure on Russia in 2015, Federal Security Service (FSB) head Alexander Bortnikov said Friday. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russian security service personnel worked in conditions of increasing political, economic, military and informational pressure on Russia in 2015, Federal Security Service (FSB) head Alexander Bortnikov said Friday. 'Last year, the activities of the FSB were carried out in strict compliance with the legislation and with guidelines and instructions from Russian President [Vladimir Putin], under conditions of increasing political, economic, military and informational pressure on our country,' Bortnikov said at an FSB board meeting. Earlier on Friday, Putin said that foreign interference in Russia's elections is a direct threat to the country's sovereignty and the FSB needs to react to any such attempts. In 2015, Russia continued to be targeted by Western economic sanctions imposed over Moscow's alleged role in the Ukrainian crisis and so-called annexation of Crimea, both of which the Russian authorities deny. The country has also been concerned by the increasing NATO military presence close to its western borders, cautioning that the alliance's eastward expansion in Europe undermines regional stability. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO and Europe's refugee and migrant crisis Opinion piece by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 26 Feb. 2016 They came on bicycles. Late last year, thousands of refugees mostly from Syria pedalled their way across a remote Arctic Circle border crossing from Russia to Norway. They were taking advantage of a legal loophole which until recently allowed refugees on two wheels not two legs to enter my home country from the North. In making the journey, they became part of a vast and continuing exodus. The events of the last twelve months the greatest migrant and refugee crisis since the Second World War represent an immense human tragedy. Last year, close to a million people risked their lives to find safety on European shores. Of those, almost 900,000 people risked the so-called Eastern Mediterranean route that's more than the entire population of Amsterdam, and five times the number who made the same journey in 2014. Enabled by criminal gangs, the flow of migrants and refugees is putting enormous pressure on the countries affected. So far this year, more than eight out of every ten refugees and migrants who have crossed from Turkey into Greece came from just three countries: Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon are already hosting millions of refugees. NATO has been attempting to deal with the root causes of this instability for many years. Our longstanding mission in Afghanistan is helping to deny terrorists a safe haven. We have helped to build the 350,000 strong Afghan security forces, and continue to train, advise and assist them. We will soon begin to train Iraqi military officers. And we stand ready to provide AWACS planes to backfill the national capabilities of our allies, freeing up countries' own AWACS aircraft for operations elsewhere. All 28 NATO allies are part of the Global Coalition against ISIL, and this will increase the coalition's ability to degrade and destroy the terrorist group. Earlier this month, NATO also decided to provide support to the international efforts to stem illegal trafficking and illegal migration in the Aegean. Based on a proposal by our allies Germany, Greece and Turkey, the decision was taken practically overnight. Within the following 48 hours, we deployed a Standing Maritime Group to the Aegean. It currently includes ships from Canada, Germany, Greece and Turkey. They will conduct reconnaissance, monitoring and surveillance activities to provide critical information to the Greek and Turkish coastguards and other relevant national authorities, as well as to the European Union's border agency Frontex. This will help them carry out their duties even more effectively, in order to help save lives and to deal with the illegal networks that traffic in human suffering. We have also decided to intensify intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance along the Turkish-Syrian border. NATO ships will not do the job of national coastguards in the Aegean. Their mission is not to stop or turn back those trying to cross into Europe. And this in no way represents a militarisation of the response to the crisis. What NATO does will be in a support role. It will be conducted with full respect for national sovereignty and in close cooperation with relevant national authorities. Our added value is that we can facilitate closer cooperation and assist in greater exchange of information between Greece and Turkey, as both are NATO Allies, but only Greece is in the EU. At the same time, NATO is working closer, and faster, than ever before with the EU. So NATO has a unique role to play as a platform for cooperation. This crisis affects us all, so we have to find common solutions. If NATO vessels need to rescue people or boats at risk something we have done many times in the Mediterranean in recent years they will do so in full accordance with international law. The obligation to help people in distress at sea is a general responsibility which applies to all vessels, regardless of whether they are part of a NATO or a national mission. In case of rescue at sea of persons coming via Turkey, they will be taken back to Turkey. In carrying out their tasks, our nations will abide by national and international law. We do not underestimate the complexity of the challenge ahead. We understand that this crisis has been years in the making and that there is no quick fix. But to ignore the situation would be to ignore the values on which the Alliance itself is founded and I am proud of NATO's efforts to help our allies and the EU to address one of the most pressing issues of our time. Mr. Stoltenberg, a former prime minister of Norway, is Secretary General of NATO. The author is NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. This opinion-editorial was published in newspapers belonging to LENA (Leading European Newspaper Alliance) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni forces shoot down Saudi helicopter Iran Press TV Fri Feb 26, 2016 2:8PM Yemen's army and popular committees have downed a Saudi helicopter in the Yemeni province of Ta'izz as Riyadh's aggression against its impoverished neighbor continues to claim civilian lives. The helicopter was reportedly brought down in the district of Dhubab of Ta'izz on Friday. The news comes as the Persian Gulf kingdom resumed its air raids on the Yemeni capital, Sana'a on Friday, leaving two people dead. Meanwhile, Saudi fighter jets killed four people in Ta'izz and another in the capital on Thursday night with reports saying the kingdom's drones were bombing residential areas. Yemenis have been carrying out attacks on Saudi forces and equipment in retaliation for the Arab kingdom's strikes, launched with the aim of undermining Houthi Ansarullah movement and bringing back to power the country's fugitive former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a staunch ally of Riyadh. On Wednesday, Yemeni forces targeted a gathering of the Saudi military and armored vehicles with artillery shelling in the al-Waze'yah district of Ta'izz province and caused damage to the vehicles. Yemen has been under military attacks by Saudi Arabia since late March last year. At least 8,300 people, among them 2,236 children, have been killed so far in the aggression and 16,015 others sustained injuries. The strikes have also taken a heavy toll on the impoverished country's facilities and infrastructure, destroying many hospitals, schools, and factories. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Almost 25 years after the Persian Gulf War Battle of Khafji, from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1, 1991, I still cant believe what happened. As a career Army officer, the Army sent my family and me to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the summer of 1990 to what we thought would be an easy tour of duty in a U.S. military advisory unit with the nonmilitary name of OPM-SANG. Arriving in Riyadh, Saudi officials handed us immigration forms. The form asked our religion. Saudi Arabia is an Islamic country; I thought of consequences if I wrote Christian, which we are. I knowingly left that line blank. That troubled me as I thought of the Apostle Peter when he three times publicly denied knowing Jesus. In Riyadh, we lived an almost idyllic life in an American compound. We learned of an underground Christian church, which the laity of OPM-SANG operated. The church had no chaplain or clergy. People risked Saudi government sanction if they openly conducted Christian church services. For safety, we didnt say church. We called it the family meeting. Soon, I conducted many family meetings. Riyadhs relaxing life masked what was coming. Iraq invaded Kuwait on Aug. 2, 1990. For days, the only force stopping Saddam Hussein was a brigade of Saudi soldiers and a handful of American OPM-SANG military advisers, I being one of them. Commercial planes stopped flying from Riyadh; families couldnt leave. The families held while their military husbands and fathers went to the border with hardly anything but our wits. At Khafji (pronounced "KOFF-jee"), the Iraqi army attacked the Saudis and OPM-SANG advisers. After 2-1/2 days of heavy fighting, the Iraqis withdrew. A day after the battle, I was alone in my truck at Khafji, filthy and tired. An overwhelming need to have Communion came. I took a field ration cracker and a canteen cup of water, said a simple prayer of God help me, and had Communion. Later I saw a white sedan driving slowly up the road to Khafji. I cautiously stopped the car; pistol in hand. The driver rolled down his window, and I saw the driver and passenger wore American army uniforms. Explaining the battle situation, I said we had stood up to the giant with five small stones and drove him back. Hearing this David and Goliath analogy, the passenger got out, and introduced himself as a U.S. Special Forces chaplain. A real chaplain I was stunned! He shook my hand, said a prayer for me, returned to the car, and they departed. I never saw him again. Shortly after the war, and on business in Washington D.C., I visited the Army Chief of Chaplains office, and asked if anyone knew of the chaplain at Khafji. No one knew. Returning to Saudi Arabia from my business trip, and pondering all this, I boldly wrote Christian, on the immigration form. Nothing came of it officially. To this day I still have an inquiry on the Internet about the chaplain at Khafji. Maybe Hebrews chapter 13 was correct: For thereby some have entertained angels unaware. South Sudan: UN deputy humanitarian chief calls for end to civilian suffering 26 February 2016 The United Nations deputy humanitarian chief today called on all parties to the conflict in South Sudan to protect civilians and grant safe and unhindered humanitarian access as she wrapped up a two-day visit to the African country. Kyung-wha Kang, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, accompanied UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the visit to South Sudan, where they met Government officials and visited communities affected by the conflict. During her mission, Ms. Kang also met humanitarian partners and the diplomatic community and visited Malakal, where she witnessed the devastating impact of the armed violence that took place on 17 and 18 February in the UN protection of civilians site. "I am outraged by what I have seen in Malakal," she said, noting that civilians who had sought safety at the site have been attacked, killed, traumatised and displaced once more, with the entire site, including medical clinics and schools, completely and systematically burnt down and destroyed. "Those responsible for these heinous acts must be held to account," she said. The two-year conflict in South Sudan has taken a brutal and deadly toll on civilians. Recently, fighting has spread to new areas, including in Wau and Mundri, and there continue to be reports of people being raped and killed, and of homes and crops being destroyed and damaged by fighting. Despite the peace agreement, civilians in the country continue to face destitution, destruction, death and devastation, and the humanitarian needs continue to grow, said Ms. Kang, calling for an end to the fighting, the protection of people caught in the middle, and immediate and unhindered access for humanitarian actors to all those in need. Ms. Kang appealed to the international community to act immediately to avert an even greater tragedy in South Sudan, as humanitarian needs are higher now than ever. The South Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan for 2016 is currently only 6.5 per cent funded, including the $21 million of Central Emergency Response Fund allocation announced by the Secretary-General in Juba on 25 February, leaving a gap of nearly $1.21 billion. Some $220 million is needed without delay to ensure that vital supplies can be procured and delivered during the dry season, before nearly 60 per cent of the country is again unreachable by road. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ban urges countries along Balkan route into Western Europe to keep borders open 26 February 2016 Concerned with the increasing number of border restrictions along the Balkan land route, including in Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on the countries to keep their borders open "in a spirit of responsibility sharing and solidarity." "Such border restrictions are not in line with the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 protocol because individual determination of refugee status and assessment of individual protection needs are not made possible," said a statement issued by Mr. Ban's spokesperson. The Secretary-General noted that the number of asylum seekers entering Greece from Turkey continues unabated, and that the border closures are creating a difficult situation in Greece. Meanwhile, Turkey is already hosting in excess of 2.6 million refugees and asylum seekers. "[Mr. Ban] is fully aware of the pressures felt by many European countries. However, he calls on all countries to keep their borders open, and to act in a spirit of responsibility sharing and solidarity, including through expanding legal pathways to access asylum," said the statement. The UN chief recalled that the vast majority of refugees are hosted by developing countries and stressed the need for responsibility sharing at the global level, which, he noted will be one of the key issues at the UN General Assembly's Summit on large movements of refugees and migrants, to be held on 19 September in New York. The Secretary-General's call comes after a similar expression of concern voiced yesterday by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, who urged the five countries that adopted the measures to "carefully recalibrate" the approach of their police forces, and emphasized that the measures are exacerbating "the chaos and misery all down the line," and especially in Greece, which is already overwhelmed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghan Ex-IS Commanders Say Money, Not Ideology Drove Them by Noor Zahid February 26, 2016 Two former Islamic State (IS) commanders who defected recently to authorities in Afghanistan told VOA's Ashna TV that they joined the extremist group not because of ideology but largely for money. The revelations underline a discrepancy between those who join IS in Syria and Iraq and the fighters in Afghanistan, analysts say. It underscores too, they add, that IS is a complex phenomenon and operates differently from region to region. The two men, former Taliban, said they had no contacts with IS in Syria and do not back the IS idea of spreading a caliphate throughout the world. "I was in the mountains. There was poverty; we were helpless and living with our guns," Arabistan, one of the commanders told VOA. "There was no work. They [IS] started paying us a monthly salary of 10,000 [Pakistani rupees or approximately $100]. So we joined them." VOA could not independently verify the accounts of Arabistan and former fellow commander Zaitoon. The men were interviewed in a comfortable compound provided by Afghan intelligence. Afghan officials and tribal sources confirmed to VOA that men worked with IS. IS, intolerable Arabistan, 50, who like many rural Afghans used a single name, says he never went to school and has nine children. He said IS lured him and others into its ranks by offering them money. Zaitoon, who also used a single name, says he is about 40-years-old and is uneducated. He has eight children and spent 15 years in the mountains before joining IS. But after 10 months of working for IS, the two commanders said they could no longer tolerate IS ways and negotiated with tribal elders to gain safe haven under the Afghan government. Zaitoon said: "When we joined, they said they will bring Sharia [Islamic law]. But they looted people, chopped off heads, put bombs on people. We could not tolerate this and decided to come back to our own people and country. "They asked us to fight and kill members of the Afghan National Army, tribal elders, and those who have influence in the community," he said. There are an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 IS militants in Afghanistan, according to intelligence reports. Forcing people to join In recent months, there has been an increase in IS violence in Afghanistan, especially in Nangarhar province, where fighters have launched multiple attacks on Afghan security checkpoints. In Afghanistan, IS runs cross-border smuggling operations of people, money and even timber, according to reports. IS has also advertised on its media sites how it trains foreign recruits in Afghanistan. Zaitoon told VOA that the militant group provided training to new recruits, many of them coming from Pakistan. In some cases, IS is forcing local people in areas it controls into joining its ranks. "Daesh [IS] says whoever is not with them, they are spies, so people have to join or leave that place," Arabistan said. "We didn't like their treatment of tribal elders. We told them not to harm tribal elders and the old, but they said, you have nothing to do with how we deal with everyone. They were not sparing those who had some influence.' Joining the fight against IS Analysts say the IS group in Afghanistan is not necessarily linked with Syria and Iraq. The former IS commanders told VOA that they had no connections to Syria and to Iraq and had not met any Syrians or Iraqis during the course of working for IS. "No, I have not seen these people with our own eyes. Those who have contacts they may have, but I have not seen them with our eyes," Zaitoon said, when asked if he had been in touch Syrians or Iraqis. Commenting on the video, Rebecca Zimmerman, an analyst at Rand Corp. in Washington on Afghan affairs, said the interviews provide more insight into how IS operates in Afghanistan. IS "is still a comparatively new phenomenon in Afghanistan," she said. "[We] are trying to understand who are these people, why are they fighting. "These fighters do not appear to be motivated by the radical dream of the caliphate in the same way we have seen a lot of fighters for [IS] globally," she said. "They do not appear to be as radical in their ideology. They seem much more locally motivated." For his part, ex-commander Arabistan says he is now ready to join the fight against IS in Afghanistan. "Now we will be fighting for our own land and protect our country," he said. A VOA correspondent in Kabul contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Military Strikes Target ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, February 27, 2016 U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria Attack, ground attack and remotely piloted aircraft conducted eight strikes in Syria: -- Near Tal Abyad, a strike struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL building. -- Near Hawl, five strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL buildings and an ISIL vehicle bomb. -- Near Raqqah, a strike destroyed an ISIL excavator. -- Near Hasakah, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL building. Strikes in Iraq Attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 14 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government: -- Near Baghdadi, two strikes destroyed an ISIL front end loader and an ISIL vehicle bomb. -- Near Fallujah, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position. -- Near Kirkuk, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit. -- Near Kisik, a strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position. -- Near Mosul, seven strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL assembly areas, five ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL vehicle bomb facility, an ISIL weapons storage facility and suppressed an ISIL mortar position and two ISIL rocket fire positions. -- Near Qayyarah, a strike produced inconclusive results. -- Near Ramadi, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit. Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly, officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. Part of Operation Inherent Resolve The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Balkan Nations Put Daily Caps On Migrants Despite UN Protest February 27, 2016 by RFE/RL Four Balkan countries announced daily caps on migrant arrivals on February 26, prompting criticism from the head of the United Nations. Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, and Macedonia said they would each restrict the number of migrants allowed to enter their territory to 580 per day. Slovenia said the new daily limit on migrant numbers was in line with a deal reached on February 18 between police chiefs of Austria, Croatia, Serbia, and Macedonia. The clampdown follows moves by Austria last week to impose a daily cap of 80 on asylum applications and allow only 3,200 migrants to transit the country each day. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon voiced concerned about the wave of border restrictions in the Balkans, and said they run counter to the international refugee convention. The daily caps 'are not in line' with the 1951 convention 'because individual determination of refugee status and assessment of individual protection needs are not...possible' under such a regime, said Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric. Ban is 'fully aware of the pressures felt by many European countries' faced with tens of thousands of migrants to deal with each day, Dujarric said. But he believes those countries nevertheless should 'keep their borders open, and act in a spirit of responsibility, sharing, and solidarity, including through expanding legal pathways to access asylum.' The caps on migrant arrivals have fuelled a bitter dispute within the European Union, particularly between Austria, which started the current round of restrictions, and Greece, which has been left holding the bag with tens of thousands of migrants stranded on its border with Macedonia. Athens accuses Vienna of unleashing a domino effect of border restrictions along the so-called 'Balkan route' that migrants have been taking to get to northern European countries like Germany and Sweden where they hope to win asylum. Austria and the Balkan countries, in turn, accuse Greece of failing to properly police its borders, which also are the EU's borders with non-EU countries like Turkey and Syria where most of the migrants originate. Close to 120,000 migrants have already arrived in Europe so far this year, adding to the one million who made the dangerous journey across the Aegean Sea from Turkey in 2015, according to UN estimates. The massive influx has boosted nationalist and anti-immigrant populist parties across Europe, dividing the EU's 28 member states, and throwing the future of the EU's passport-free Schengen zone into doubt. In an effort to bridge the growing divide, EU president Donald Tusk's office announced he will visit Austria, Greece, and the Balkan states next week. Athens, with backing from other southern EU countries, says it is unable to stop migrants crossing its sea borders without endangering their lives, so the flow of migrants continues. An estimated 2,000 people more than half from Syria and Iraq are arriving daily from Turkey on small boats. But the number of people crossing into neighboring Macedonia has dropped dramatically to just 150 on February 25 and none on February 26, Greek police said, leading to a growing mass of migrants piled up on the border with Macedonia. Thousands have been sleeping outside in city parks and along the country's highways since Greece's existing migrant shelters are filled to capacity. Greece said on February 26 that it will try to house migrants on the islands where they land by boat from neighboring Turkey until the border situation is resolved. Athens ordered ferry companies and authorities on islands near Turkey to restrict the number of migrants allowed to travel to the mainland by ferry. Deputy Education Minister Sia Anagnostoipoulou told state-run ERT television that Greece could turn into a 'giant refugee camp' because of the restrictions to the north. 'What are we supposed to do: Let people drown in the Aegean Sea?' she said. 'Instead of making a plan. Europe is burying its head in the sand... Europe is unraveling.' With reporting by AFP, AP, and dpa Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/balkan-nations-put- daily-caps-on-migrants-despite-un-protest/27577059.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Will Keep 'Warthog' Flying to Combat Islamic State by VOA News February 27, 2016 The U.S. has put off the retirement of a 1970s era fighter plane, citing its effectiveness in the fight against the Islamic State military group among the reasons for keeping the jets flying. The A-10 Thunderbolt, nicknamed the 'Warthog,' is a close-support aircraft designed in the early 1970s to counter Soviet armored forces. The twin-engine jet is not fast, but is able to engage a wide variety of ground targets with its main gun, a 30mm cannon, as well as missiles, rockets and other munitions launched or dropped from wing pylons. The plane is also extremely durable and can withstand considerable damage from ground fire and keep flying. Major role in Iraq War, Afghanistan The A-10 was first used in combat during the 1991 Gulf War, destroying thousands of Iraqi tanks, armored vehicles and artillery pieces. It has played a role in most major U.S. military action since then, including the Balkans conflict in the late 1990s, the Iraq War and Afghanistan. The U.S. Air Force has called for retiring the A-10, citing budget savings and saying the aircraft's role can be filled by newer, more versatile planes. But the 2017 Defense Department budget says the Warthog will keep flying at least through 2022. Efficient in combating IS This week, U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told Congress the A-10's usefulness combating IS in Iraq and Syria is one reason the Pentagon wants to keep the plane. 'I saw some of the A-10s that are flying bombing missions against ISIL when I was at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey last December, and we need the additional payload capacity they can bring to the fight,' Carter told a House Appropriations subcommittee on Thursday. 'We're pushing off the A-10's final retirement until 2022 so we can keep more aircraft that can drop smart bombs on ISIL.' ISIL is another acronym for Islamic State. Sen. John McCain, a long-time supporter of the A-10, said earlier this month he was pleased the Warthog would remain in the U.S. arsenal. "I look forward to seeing our A-10 pilots continue to make important advances in the fight against ISIL in the Middle East, boosting NATO's efforts to deter Russian aggression in Eastern Europe, and supporting vital missions for U.S. national security wherever they are needed," McCain said in a statement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Prods Pakistan to Deal with Afghan Refugees by Ayaz Gul February 27, 2016 The United Nations says it is "eagerly awaiting" Pakistan's solution on the status of around 1.5 million Afghan refugees in the country, insisting they continue to need asylum and protection. Pakistan hosts an additional estimated one million Afghans living as illegal economic migrants. The refugee population is the world's largest long-term displacement, according to the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR). Most of them fled decades of conflict in Afghanistan. UNHCR wants Islamabad to renew the so-called Proof of Registration (PoR) cards for registered Afghan refugees because they expired in December but were granted six month extensions by the host government until June, 2016. Host communities complaining Host communities, particularly those in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where most of the Afghans are settled, have lately stepped up complaints and demand the refugees be repatriated, citing security and economic reasons. The uncertainty surrounding their legal status, Afghan refugees allege, has encouraged Pakistani police to increasingly harass them and force them to pay financial bribes to avoid detentions. During his trip to the Pakistani province on Friday, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner George Okoth-Obbo, said his agency is in contact with authorities to seek resolution to the crisis, hoping the federal government will soon announce its decision. "This is a matter that is before the cabinet of the [Pakistani] government. It has not been decided. We understand that a decision will be made soon. So, we are very eagerly awaiting those decisions and hopeful that those decisions will create a platform for us to move forward,' said Okoth-Obbo. He said UNHCR believes that registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan "still continue to need asylum and protection and that is the importance of the PoR because it is a document that validates and legitimates their presence in this country in a way that enables them to receive protection in a predictable manner." Lack of financial assistance Pakistani officials cite a lack of international financial assistance and lately alleged involvement of Afghans in terrorist attacks in the country for the pressure host communities are putting on the government for sending the refugees back to their homeland. But Okoth-Obbo reiterated that Afghans should not be forced to leave the country and emphasized the need for enhancing and supporting ongoing UNHCR voluntary repatriation programs for refugees. Imran Zeb, Pakistan's chief commissioner for Afghan refugees, say his country has hosted the community for over 35 years and the government is determined to protect their "dignity and honor". "We will continue to host refugees in this country until the time we have a conducive environment in Afghanistan that would allow refugees to go back in a manner that their returns are sustained," Zeb asserted. Voluntary repatriation of Afghans from Pakistan under the UNHCR-funded program has slowed down in recent years because of the deterioration in security conditions in Afghanistan and economic challenges facing their country in the wake of declining foreign assistance. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address At Least 25 Dead After Suicide Attacks in Afghanistan by Ayaz Gul February 27, 2016 A suicide bomber attacked Afghan security forces near the Defense Ministry building in Kabul Saturday, killing at least 12 people and wounding 13 others, said police officials. That followed an earlier bombing in Kunar province that killed at least 13 and wounded more than 40 others Witnesses in Kabul saw rescue workers transporting dead and wounded to hospitals in the capital city immediately after the bombing. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told VOA the insurgent group carried out the Kabul bombing, and claimed it killed 23 army officers and wounded many others. The Taliban often gives inflated tolls in such attacks. The Afghan Defense Ministry said two soldiers were among the dead in the Kabul blast. Afghanistan's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah issued a statement condemning the violence, saying 'peace talks and violence against Afghans cannot go along.' He was referring to direct negations the government is expected to hold with Taliban and other insurgent groups in neighboring Pakistan next week. 'Insurgents must choose peace over violence and be part of the future,' he added. Blast in Asadabad kills 13 In Kunar province, witnesses said a bomber riding a motorbike blew himself up near the entrance to the governor's office in Asadabad, the provincial capital. An anti-Taliban local militia commander, identified as Malik Khan Jan, is among those killed in that explosion. Authorities say the attack mostly caused civilian casualties, including children who were either passersby or playing in the nearby park. Seven seriously wounded victims have been taken to a hospital in nearby Nangarhar province. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemned the Kunar attack. "UNAMA reiterates that the indiscriminate use of explosives in areas crowded by civilians is a serious violation of international humanitarian law," it said in a statement, and reminded all parties to the conflict of their legal obligation to avoid harm to civilians. Taliban spokesman Mujahid suggested the group was not behind the suicide blast in Kunar, telling VOA 'We have contacted our Mujahideen (fighters) in in the region but they have no knowledge of who carried out the attack.' Critics of the Afghan insurgency believe the Taliban usually distances itself from attacks that cause civilian casualties. The United Nations in its annual report released last week said the conflict-related violence in Afghanistan caused record 11,000 civilian casualties, including around 3,500 dead in 2015. The U.N. report blamed the Taliban insurgency for causing 62 percent of the causalities. In another development Saturday, military officials in restive southern Helmand province told VOA that Afghan special forces overnight raided and freed 35 inmates, including women and children, from a Taliban-held prison in the Nadali district. There was no immediate reaction from the insurgent group. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Death Toll in Mogadishu Blasts Up to 25 by Abdulaziz Osman February 27, 2016 Authorities in Somalia say the death toll from two explosions near a Mogadishu hotel late Friday has risen to 25 people. Duniya Ali Mohamed of Media Hospital told VOA that eight of 34 people admitted to the hospital died of serious wounds sustained in the blasts. Three more bodies were pulled out from houses damaged by the massive car bombs near the SYL hotel. Nearly 60 others were wounded in the attack, in which gunmen also forced their way onto the hotel grounds and traded fire with security guards. The hotel is located across the street from Somalia's presidential palace, Villa Somalia, and is frequented by government officials. Al-Shabab claims responsibility Islamist militant group Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attacks. Security sources say that the militants used more than 200 kilograms of explosives in the first bomb, which struck a checkpoint. Dahir Amin Jeesow, a Somali lawmaker who was in the hotel, described the explosion as 'the most powerful, the loudest he has ever witnessed in Mogadishu used by Al-Shabab.' Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has condemned the bombings. Al-Shabab, which has links to Al-Qaida, carries out frequent attacks in Somalia, often targeting government officials and African Union troops. The Islamist militant group controlled most of southern Somalia as recently as 2010 but was pushed into the countryside by AU and Somali government forces. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Forewarned is Forearmed: Russia Boosts Its Missile Defense Capabilities Sputnik News 18:42 26.02.2016(updated 20:37 26.02.2016) Using a new type of radar, Russia is about to establish a global early warning network rivaling that of the USSR. According to the Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper, the mainstay of this global defense system will be formed of the third generation Voronezh-type radar stations. The Voronezh-class radar system includes three variants, including the Voronezh M, Voronezh-DM (using VHF and UHF), and the Voronezh-VP 'high potential', assumed to be EHF (extremely high frequency). The system's range is between 4,500 6,000 km, and it is capable of detecting objects at a height of up to 4,000 km. Furthermore, Voronezh-class radar is made of factory-built modules and can therefore be rapidly constructed in about a year and a half, while it usually takes from 5 to 9 years to build a radar station of equal capabilities. Following the dissolution of the USSR, Russia's early warning capability was dealt a severe blow as many of its elements located in the former Soviet republics were promptly shut down by the new authorities. Now however, with the implementation of cutting-edge technologies, the new network is set to surpass its Soviet predecessor and provide early-warning coverage for the entire territory of Russia. Meanwhile, Russian Armed Forces have deployed two batteries of K-300P Bastion coastal defense missile systems at the Kola Peninsula. According to the Izvestiya newspaper, the deployed weapons cover about 1,500 kilometers of Russia's coastline in the region and effectively transform a sizeable portion of the Barents Sea into a 'dead zone' for NATO warships. A K-300P battery consists of 12 mobile launchers equipped with P-800 Oniks anti-ship missiles with a range of 300 kilometers. Following a recent deployment of this type of missile launchers to Crimea, Russia can now engage and destroy any hostile target in both the Black Sea and the Barents Sea, the newspaper remarks, pointing out that the country's Ministry of Defense didn't specify where it might deploy these weapons next. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A microbiologist at Montana State University Billings hopes that recent findings in a research project he conducted will help lead to earlier diagnosis of Crohn's disease by identifying specific bacteria in the intestinal tract. "If we can figure out what they are, we might come up with something for better diagnostics," said research biologist Rodrick Chiodini, with MSUB's Department of Biologic and Physical Sciences. "This might be a means of catching things early." Chiodini recently presented findings from the multi-year study with St. Vincent Healthcare to look at Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel disease that involves lifelong and chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract, to students at MSUB. The research centered on studying the bacteria in sections of the mucosa and submucosa tissue layers of the intestinal tracts from 54 patients with Crohn's and another 35 control subjects who do not suffer from IBD, something Chiodini said hadn't been done before when it comes to Crohn's research. During the course of the effort, Chiodini and other researchers involved came across two unclassified bacteria that caught their attention. One was found only in portions of the submucosa of the Crohn's patients and not at all in that of the control population, while the other was found only in the control group and not at all in the Crohn's patients. While it's too early to know for sure, Chiodini believes the findings have potential to better identify the disease in people. "Whatever's going on, they're a part of it," he said. "I think these are a big clue to a diagnostic biomarker." Experts still don't know exactly what causes Crohn's, and no cure has been discovered. According to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, as many as 700,000 Americans are affected by Crohn's, while in Montana an estimated 3,000 people suffer from the disease and around 200 new cases are diagnosed each year. "If youre looking for that initial (cause), youre looking for a needle in a haystack," Chiodini said. "And Ive spent 30 years trying to find it." As a microbiologist, Chiodini admits his thoughts about the disease's cause tend to skew toward his area of expertise noting that other researchers might disagree with his assessment and believes organisms in the intestine could be the culprit. Trillions of bacteria live in the human gut in a mostly symbiotic relationship, and generous estimates indicate only 20 percent of them have been identified. "Somewhere in all of that mess, there's a bug," Chiodini said. The research was conducted with a $95,000 grant given to the St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation in the spring of 2014 by the Montana Department of Commerce Bio-Medical Research Grant Program. The money went to purchasing new equipment and hiring a laboratory technician to assist in the research, expanding the Crohn's Disease Collaborative Research Center of the Greater Rocky Mountains, a partnership between St. Vincent and MSUB. St. Vincent's involvement in the research is set to end in May, when the grant runs out. We have appreciated the collaboration with Montana State University Billings on this important research related to Crohns disease, said Dennis Sulser, president and CEO of the St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation, in a written statement. We thank Rod Chiodini for the research he has engaged in and subsequent results of his research. Grants that contributed and made this research possible are coming to a close at the end of May, but we trust the results of this research will contribute to continued advancements in the quality of care for Crohns disease patients. Chiodini said that he hopes to find new partners to continue the research in the near future. UN resolution should not affect DPRK people's daily life People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 19:25, February 26, 2016 BEIJING, Feb. 26 -- The UN Security Council's upcoming resolution should not affect the everyday life of people in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday. The United States on Thursday introduced a draft resolution to the UN Security Council that would sharply enhance sanctions against the DPRK for its recent nuclear test and a subsequent satellite launch that violated previous resolutions. The UN resolution should aim to prevent the DPRK from developing its nuclear and missile programs, spokesperson Hong Lei said at a daily news briefing, noting that the sanctions should not affect the daily lives of the DPRK's people. Important progress has been made in the UN Security Council's consultations on the new resolution against the DPRK, which is expected to be adopted in the coming days, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Washington earlier this week. The UN Security Council's resolution cannot provide the fundamental solution to the Korean nuclear issue, and relevant parties need to return to dialogue and negotiation, Hong said. He said the Chinese side has proposed parallel tracks, which involve denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the replacement of the Korean armistice with a peace agreement. The China-proposed parallel-track approach highlights the overriding goal of denuclearizing the peninsula while addressing the concerns of various parties and helping to realize long-lasting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, Hong said. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has consistently fulfilled its obligations to the international community, Hong said, calling on parties concerned to fully implement the UN's new resolution. Hong also called for bringing the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue back to the track of dialogue and negotiation and promoting the resumption of six-party talks, which include the DPRK, the ROK, the United States, China, Japan and Russia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN rights expert urges Russia not to implement new extradition treaty with DRP Korea 26 February 2016 A United Nations rights expert today urged the Government of the Russian Federation not to implement an extradition treaty signed with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) earlier this month. "I am alarmed by the new extradition treaty signed between the DPRK and the Russian Federation on 2 February 2016. The treaty calls for transferring and readmitting individuals 'who have illegally' left their country and stay 'illegally' in another's territory," said Marzuki Darusman, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK, in a press release. There are an estimated 10,000 regular labourers from DPRK in Russia, some of whom stay in the country after their contracts have expired in order to seek asylum. Others fleeing the DPRK try to reach Russia through other countries, Mr. Darusman said. The Special Rapporteur noted that in November 2015, Russia signed a separate extradition treaty with the DPRK, calling for mutual assistance in criminal matters. "I am concerned that the latest treaty is much broader in scope and may lead to forced repatriation to the DPRK of individuals at risk of human rights violations, in contravention of Russia's international obligations," he said. Given the practice of the DPRK to send labourers to Russia, who often work in slave-like conditions, Mr. Darusman said, it is feared that such a treaty could also be used to capture and repatriate workers who attempt to seek asylum. In fact, the practice of sending workers abroad to be exploited may constitute state-sponsored enslavement of human beings, possibly amounting to a specific category of crime against humanity, he emphasized. The UN Commission of Inquiry on human rights in the DPRK, in its 2014 report, found that persons who are forcibly repatriated to the DPRK are commonly subjected to torture, arbitrary detention, summary execution, forced abortions and other sexual violence. At the time, the Commission called on countries to respect the principle of non-refoulement and abstain from forcibly repatriating any persons to the DPRK. "I also note that the signing of the treaty took place against the context where the DPRK continues to commit deliberate belligerent acts, such as nuclear testing followed by the latest missile launch. Such acts adversely impact on the constructive efforts to address the ongoing gross human rights violations in the country, and reinforce even further the international community's resolve to pursue political and legal accountability," Mr. Darusman said. "I strongly urge Russia to respect the principle of non-refoulement and not to implement the treaty," he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Leader urges all who love Iran to take part in elections IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Feb 26, IRNA -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Friday that current election is of prime importance and any Iranian who loves their country should go to the polling stations and cast their ballots as the elections bring the country glory and dignity. "Anybody who loves Iran, anybody who loves the Islamic Republic and national dignity, grandeur and glory is advised to participate in the elections, which is both duty and right of the people," the Leader said. 'All should participate in the elections in order to increase national prestige and dignity and disappoint the enemies,' added the leader. In the Islamic teachings, it has been recommended to take immediate action in carrying out good deeds, the supreme Leader said. Election is always of prime importance but at certain junctures, it might be much more important, said Ayatollah Khamenei. 'I advise people from all walks of life to partake in these elections', said the Supreme Leader. Iranians went to the polls in over 1,063 constituencies for the fifth round of the Assembly of Experts and the tenth parliamentary elections . Polling starts in over 1,063 constituencies nationwide. A total of 4,844 candidates, including about 500 women, who have been qualified from amongst 12,000 registered candidates by the Guardian Council, are taking part in the competition today to occupy parliamentary seats while the number of those competing for 88 seats at the Assembly of Experts is 159. Polling started in Iran at 8 am local time (04:30 GMT) in over 52,000 polling stations nationwide. Some 54,915, 024 Iranians are eligible to participate in the event. Casting ballots will continue till 18:00 local time and will be extended, if deemed necessary. 1430**1771 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President hails people's broad participation in elections IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Feb 27, IRNA -- President Hassan Rouhani praised the nation's exceptional turnout of in the elections and said their massive participation created very glamorous and spectacular scenes. The President made the remarks here on Saturday in a joint press conference with his Swiss counterpart. President of Switzerland Johann Schneider-Ammann arrived in Tehran on Friday evening. He referred to independence, national sovereignty, democracy and elections as the elements which bring the two countries together as they both share them as the foundations of their governments' systems. He went on to say that during his talks with the Swiss President, he discussed issues of mutual interest with him specially the economic topics. According to the President, they also reviewed ways of further activating banking relations between the two countries as well as insurance issues which account for basic grounds of mutual cooperation. President Rouhani also said that they discussed expansion of relations in industrial, agricultural, transportation and airline activities. The two countries are also cooperating to get Iran's membership in the World Trade Organization . The Iranian President went on to note that the two countries signed 6 agreements on scientific and technical cooperation and agreed on furthering tourist exchanges given the high capacities of both countries in this area. President Rouhani also said they touched upon the issue of human rights, explaining that Muslims in Europe were presently suffering much because of the Islamophobia encouraged in the continent due to influx of people there who were fleeing terrorist threats. The Swiss president is to confer with other Iranian officials on expansion of bilateral cooperation as well. He heads a high-ranking political, economic, and scientific delegation in his official visit to Tehran. Promoting the Tehran-Bern ties in political, economic, trade, judicial, and cultural fields is among the objectives of the Swiss president's Iran visit. Representatives of 38 major Swiss companies are accompanying Schneider-Ammann. The fact that tens of major Swiss industrialists, investors, and entrepreneurs are accompanying the Swiss president shows that Bern is keen to develop its relations with Tehran, particularly after the recent termination of nuclear-related anti-Iran sanctions. 1424**1771 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Navy plans to hold joint military drills with India ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sat 27 Feb 2016 - 10:40 TEHRAN (ISNA)- Iran's Navy chief said the Islamic Republic plans to hold joint military drills with India. "We will stage short-term maneuvers with the Indian army and we are also after holding tactical, extensive, large-scale maneuvers as well as rescue and relief drills with India," Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari told reporters on Thursday. Sayyari made the remarks after he met with the Indian deputy commander for naval operations and his entourage to discuss cooperation to establish security in north of Indian Ocean. "The Indian Ocean is of high significance to the world and the Islamic Republic of Iran and its security is very important to us and the globe. Therefore, we have announced that we are capable of ensuring security in the north of the Indian Ocean to prevent any insecurity there," the admiral said. Sayyari added that an Indian navy fleet will dock at the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, the capital of Hormozgan Province, in April or May. In August 2015, an Indian navy fleet, comprising the INS Beas (F37) and INS Betwa (F39) frigates, docked at Bandar Abbas for a four-day stay. In late January, Iranian Navy's destroyer Alvand set sail to India to participate in joint maneuvers with several other navies. Alvand participated in the naval drills along with other destroyers near Visakhapatnam Port in India. India had organized the drills on the occasion of its national day. In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and conducted numerous military drills. Iran has repeatedly assured other countries that its military might poses no threat to other states, insisting that the country's defense doctrine is entirely based on deterrence, Presstv reported. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rohani, Rafsanjani Leading In Iran's Assembly of Experts Race February 27, 2016 by RFE/RL Preliminary results from Iran's vote for the Assembly of Experts show President Hassan Rohani, a self-proclaimed moderate, and his ally, the pragmatic former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani,are leading in Tehran. The Iranian capital will send 16 candidates to the assembly. Rafsanjani came first and Rohani second, according to the results issued by the Interior Ministry, which is conducting the elections. Hard-line cleric Ahmad Jannati, who chairs the powerful Guardian Council, which disqualified scores of candidates from the race, was in 10th position. Reformists had urged voters to vote for a coalition of pro-reform and relatively moderate candidates to prevent the reelection of Jannati and two other ultraconservative clerics to the assembly. In a statement issued after the release of the initial results, Rohani said his government would cooperate with anyone elected in the vote. 'The competition is over. It's time to open a new chapter in Iran's economic development based on domestic abilities and international opportunities,' Rohani said in the statement issued by the government news agency IRNA. For his part, Rafsanjani called for unity and cooperation among different factions. 'The competition is over and the phase of unity has arrived,' Rafsanjani was quoted as saying by the government news agency IRNA. Interior Ministry officials said the counting of the votes in Tehran and other cities was still not final. The February 26 vote for the Assembly of Experts, a body tasked with choosing Iran's supreme leader, was held simultaneously with a vote for the 290-seat parliament. According to initial results from the parliamentary vote in Tehran, reformist backed candidates have won 29 seats out of the 30 seats reserved for the capital. Mohammad Reza Aref, who served as vice-president to former reformist President Mohammad Khatami, was leading. Hard-line candidate and former parliament speaker, Gholamali Haddad Adel, was seventh on the list, based on preliminary results issued by domestic media. Votes are still being counted a day after the elections that pitted moderate allies of Rohani against hard-liners. The elections are the first since Tehran agreed with major powers to curb its nuclear program. Preliminary results issued by the semiofficial Fars and Mehr News agencies indicate moderates and independents linked to them were leading so far against hard-liners in several cities, while conservatives appeared to have the upper hand elsewhere. The semi-official ILNA news agency said five women had been definitely elected to the parliament. Earlier, Iran's Interior Ministry said 60 percent of eligible voters, about 35 million Iranians, had cast ballots in the twin elections. At stake is control of the 290-seat parliament and the 88-member Assembly of Experts, the body that has the power to appoint and dismiss the supreme leader. Like the parliament, the assembly is controlled by hard-liners. During its next eight-year term it could name the successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is 76 and has been in power since 1989. Before the vote, reformists had complained that the Guardian Council, which supervises elections, refused to approve many of their most prominent candidates. Only 40 percent of some 12,000 candidates were approved by the Guardian Council to run. With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, Reuters, AP, and AFP, IRNA, Fars, ISNA, Shargh Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/iran-elections-rohani- rafsanjani-parliament-assembly-experts/27577740.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daesh attacks Sinjar with chemical arms: Kurdish authorities Iran Press TV Sat Feb 27, 2016 2:44AM The Daesh Takfiri terrorist group has launched chemical attacks on Iraq's Kurdish town of Sinjar, wounding dozens of people, authorities say. According to a Friday statement released by the security council of Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Daesh terrorists launched rockets equipped with chemical warheads on an area south of the town on Thursday, Arabic-language al-Sumeria news website reported. The statement added that although no one were killed in the attacks, dozens of civilians and Peshmerga forces were admitted with symptoms including vomiting, dizziness and difficulty in breathing. "If confirmed, this will be the eighth ISIL (Daesh) weaponized chemical attack against Peshmerga. ISIL tactics continue to become more sophisticated," warned the council. On February 18, Kurdish authorities reported a similar attack launched by Daesh on Sinjar, in which at least 30 Peshmerga forces sustained similar injuries. According to local medical sources, the symptoms indicate the terrorists might have used chlorine, a choking agent banned under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention. Back in August 2014, Daesh militants attacked and overran Sinjar, killing, raping, and enslaving large numbers of Izadi Kurds. Many were also forced to flee. The northern town, located in Nineveh province, was later recaptured on November 13, 2015, during an operation by Peshmerga forces and Izadi fighters. Gruesome violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since Daesh terrorists launched an offensive in June 2014, and took control of portions of the Iraqi territory. The militants have been committing heinous crimes against all ethnic and religious communities in Iraq, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, and Christians. Iraqi army soldiers and fighters from allied Popular Mobilization Units are seeking to win back militant-held regions in joint operations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daesh militant commander captured in northwestern Libya Iran Press TV Fri Feb 26, 2016 1:29AM A local commander of the Daesh Takfiri militant group and two of his aides have been arrested near the Libyan capital city of Tripoli amid ongoing skirmishes between the extremists and militants loyal to the unrecognized Tripoli-based government. The Daesh commander, identified as Mohammed Sa'ad al-Tajuri but better known by the nom de guerre, Abu Suleiman, was captured in the city of Sabratha, located 70 kilometers (45 miles) west of the capital, on Thursday. There were no immediate reports about the nationality of the detained Daesh commander and those of his two aides. Also on Thursday, clashes broke out in two areas west of Sabratha between Daesh Takfiris and forces loyal to the Tripoli government. The heavy exchange of gunfire came only a day after Daesh terrorists were driven out of Sabratha by militiamen after briefly capturing the city and killing 18 people there. The United Nations says all sides to the conflict in Libya have committed acts that amount to war crimes as well as other rights abuses over the past two years. On Thursday, a UN human rights investigation team cited evidence of executions of captives, assassinations of prominent female activists, widespread torture, sexual crimes, abductions, indiscriminate military attacks on civilian areas, and abuse of children in Libya between 2014 and 2015. Libya has been struggling with instability since 2011, when the country's then dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, was overthrown and armed groups as well as regional factions engaged in a conflict. Tripoli, is controlled by a political faction, which is calling itself Libya Dawn and is allied with powerful armed forces based in the city of Misrata. The faction has reinstated the old parliament, known as the General National Congress in the capital. The internationally-recognized government of Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni is based in the northeastern city of Bayda, with its elected House of Representatives in Tobruk. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address France's 'Secret War' in Libya Unravels Amid Fresh Allegations Sputnik News 17:49 26.02.2016(updated 17:56 26.02.2016) While the French government has been unable to confirm or deny its operations in Libya, figures on both sides in the civil war have said that France carried out operations, circumventing a UNSC embargo. Head of Libya's unrecognized government faction Khalifa al-Ghweil further confirmed that French commandos carried out operations in Libya against Daesh-allied jihadist forces in Benghazi. The new allegations could mean that France has been taking a side in the Libyan civil war, while the country is officially under a United Nations Security Council weapons embargo. 'There are French commando forces <> that direct the ongoing fighting [in Benghazi] from an operations center based in Benina,' al-Ghweil said in an official communique, according to FranceSoir. Benina is a suburb of Benghazi currently controlled by the internationally recognized government, which contains the city's airport. Libya is currently in a state of civil war between Daesh, an unrecognized Islamist government in control of the capital Tripoli and a recognized secular government now based primarily in Benghazi. Libyan security officials from the Benghazi government apparently told EFE news agency that as many as 180 French commandos were deployed to Libya among other support. The Benghazi government's spokesman El-Ouraybi dismissed the statement from Tripoli. 'This is not true. We deny these reports,' El-Ouraybi told AFP, also telling Libyan news agency LANA that the government 'didn't allow and won't allow any foreign forces to enter Libyan territories.' Adding to the suspicion that the French soldiers are in Libya to coordinate strikes against Daesh, US President Barack Obama made a statement on Thursday, crediting the United States, rather than France with the strikes. The allegations of French participation in Libya's civil war were first made by France's Le Monde newspaper, which led the French government to launch a criminal probe against the publication for revealing 'state secrets.' Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 34 pro-Taliban militants killed in Pakistan army operation Iran Press TV Sat Feb 27, 2016 4:13PM At least 34 pro-Taliban militants were killed Saturday in the Pakistani army's latest ground and aerial attack in the country's northwestern tribal areas near the border with Afghanistan. Pakistani jets targeted the Maizer area of the Datta Khail region in North Waziristan tribal district that is said to be the last stronghold of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants. A security official in the area said the attacks destroyed up to four militant hideouts and killed at least 15 militants. Later in the day, the military said in a statement that its ground forces "surrounded a group of fleeing terrorists in the Mangroti area near the Afghanistan border in the Shawal region of the North Waziristan district and 19 militants were killed during the intense exchange of fire." Four security forces including an officer also lost their lives in the operation, the statement added. The strikes and clashes were confirmed by a senior military official in the city of Peshawar. 'The air strikes have increased in the last few days and we have hit targets today also. We have hit the hideouts many times during the last few days,' said the security official, whose name was not mentioned in the report. Islamabad has been engaged in a major offensive against militants across the troubled northwestern tribal regions since June 2014. The operations were launched after a deadly raid on the Karachi International Airport ended the government's peace talks with the pro-Taliban militants. On February 24, Pakistan's army said it has kicked off the 'last phase' of the operation targeting militants in the northwest to purge the area. In a separate development on Saturday, a Pakistani soldier was killed and two others injured in a roadside bomb attack in Datta Khail. On December 16, 2014, a group of TTP militants mounted an attack against Peshawar's Army School, where more than 150 people, mostly children, were killed. The massacre shocked and outraged the country already scarred by nearly a decade of violence. According to Pakistani officials, more than 3,100 pro-Taliban militants have been killed since the army intensified military operations following the school massacre. The military claims it has now cleared 90 percent of the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Democratic candidate for Congress Denise Juneau, touting union endorsements Friday, expressed confidence in winning a House seat thats eluded her party for 20 years. When I look at this race for this year, what I see is a person who has won statewide elections twice already, and we havent had somebody in this position to challenge this seat that has actually done that, Juneau told the Gazette. Juneau, Montanas twice-elected state superintendent of public instruction, was flanked by representatives from three different labor unions that are backing the Democrats challenge to U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke. A Republican, Zinke is Montanas only congressman. The unions represent 55,000 workers and have traditionally given their support to Democrats, but that hasnt been enough to win the seat in the past. The last Democrat to win the U.S. House seat was Pat Williams in 1994. He retired in January 1997. But only one of the Democrats to run for the House seat since 1996 had previous success in a statewide race. Nancy Keenan, like Juneau, ran for the office after successful campaigns for superintendent of public instruction. Keenan is now the executive of the Montana Democratic Party. Keenan won a little more than 46 percent of the vote in 2000, but lost to Republican Denny Rehberg. Rehberg served for a decade. Juneau won re-election as the states top education administrator with 235,397 votes in 2012. That was a presidential election year with more people voting than in 2014 when Zinke first won office. The number of people actually voting for Juneau was more than the 203,871 who elected Zinke in 2014. However, Zinke trounced Democrat John Lewis by 55,000 votes. My election has actually put me in this office twice in a most trusted position, Juneau said. This is the position that oversees public education. It deals with the most precious resource that families have their children and I have a good record to stand on. I have a record of raising graduation rates to historic levels. Those graduates are contributing millions and millions of dollars to the economy annually because of jobs and paying taxes and not being on public assistance. Education dominated Juneaus conversation with the Gazette, though she did discuss some issues currently before Congress. On the Department of Interiors decision to suspend government coal leases so the agency could determine whether the public was getting a fair price for its resources, Juneau said she supported the time out. On trade, Juneau said she saw no Montana benefit in the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership pursued by President Barack Obama. Unions share Juneaus sentiments, though the states largest agriculture groups want TPP passed. On whether Congress should pass laws directing technology companies to crack encryption on phones and computers for court-approved searches by the FBI, Juneau said she wasnt sure, but acknowledged Montanans feel strongly about their privacy. Snow Warriors: Russia Uses Arctic Winter to Test Its Military Vehicles Sputnik News 12:58 26.02.2016(updated 15:11 26.02.2016) A second expedition to test advanced military vehicles in Arctic conditions has successfully concluded on the Varandey Peninsula on the southern coast of the Barents Sea, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. The Russian Defense Ministry has announced the successful completion of its second expedition to test military vehicles in Arctic conditions; the tests were conducted on the Varandey Peninsula on the southern coast of the Barents Sea. 'The expedition saw the testing of modern, upgraded and prototype military vehicles, which have already returned to the town of Bronnitsy in the Moscow Region,' the Ministry said in a press release. The Ministry added that a total of fourteen vehicles took part in the expedition, including two six-wheeled amphibious all-terrain vehicles: the Trekol 39294 and Trekol 39295. The Trekol is equipped with large low-pressure tires and is available in two versions, passenger and freight. The vehicle's fiberglass body has a very low level of thermal conductivity and is possible to operate at temperatures ranging between 45 C and 45 C. Also participating in the tests were the KAMAZ 43502 Patrol and the KAMAZ 53501HL truck as well as an Ural 63706 Tornado-U with an armored cab, the Ural Next 6x6 and the Ural 4320-3XL. Dozens of studies on more than 30 indicators ensuring the reliable operation of these vehicles in Arctic conditions were carried out during the expedition. Some additional studies were conducted, including those dedicated to ways to protect the life and well-being of the crews of the vehicles, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. It said that the vehicles covered more than 6,000 kilometers to confirm their advanced characteristics in the Arctic's difficult climatic conditions. All the goals and tasks of the expedition were implemented in full, the Ministry said. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kadyrov Says He's Ready To Step Down February 27, 2016 Kremlin-backed Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has said he is ready to resign. In an interview with the Kremlin-allied NTV television, Kadyrov said 'my time has passed.' Kadyrov's current term of office is due to end in early April. 'There are lots of successors on our team. We've got very good specialists,' Kadyrov added in the interview that aired on February 27, first in Russia's Far East. The announcement comes on the one-year anniversary of the killing of Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov. Many in the opposition accuse Kadyrov of playing a role in Nemtsov's murder. 'Nemtsov did not bother me at all, in fact. That's because he is not my level,' Kadyrov told NTV. 'The nation's leadership needs to find another person so that my name isn't used against my people,' Kadyrov added. The five suspects arrested for the crime all have ties to Chechnya and the North Caucasus. 'I know that, after the killing of Boris Nemtsov, the relationships between the federal government and Chechnya's leadership have worsened considerably,' Dmitry Gudkov, one of only a handful of opposition lawmakers left in the State Duma, told RFE/RL's Russian Service on February 27. 'This explains Ramzan Kadyrov's recent hysteria toward the opposition,' Gudkov added. Earlier this week, opposition leader Ilya Yashin released a report accusing Kadyrov of involvement in Nemtsov's killing and demanding his resignation. Kadyrov was nominated for the Chechen presidency by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2007 and approved almost without any objections by the Chechen parliament. Putin has relied on Kadyrov to stabilize Chechnya after two separatist wars, making him effectively immune from federal controls. Based on reporting by TASS, AP, and meduza.io Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-kadyrov-time- step-down-chechnya/27577524.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Marks One Year Since Nemtsov Killing February 27, 2016 by RFE/RL Supporters of slain Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov have marched through Moscow to mark the first anniversary of his killing. Mourners packed the streets as they made their way through the Russian capital. Crowd estimates ranged from a few thousand to as many as 25,000. Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister and vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin, was shot dead on a bridge overlooking the Kremlin on February 27 last year. City authorities denied march organizers permission to hold a procession to the bridge, but gave permission for another route in central Moscow. The spot where he fell has become an informal shrine where supporters lay flowers and other tokens, which then are frequently removed by city workers. Earlier on February 27, U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Tefft laid a wreath at the bridge, saying he came to express hope that 'some of the dreams that Boris Nemtsov had will come true in Russia.' 'I think that for all of Russia [Nemtsov's killing] became a kind of point of no return,' Maria Alyokhina, a member of the Pussy Riot punk collective, told RFE/RL's Russian Service during the march. 'Indeed, we understand now that the price of protest and disagreement is not only our freedom, but also our lives.' 'Nemtsov's murder is a terrorist act, it is a demonstrative murder aimed at frightening Russian society, at least the part which disagrees with Putin's politics,' said Russian liberal opposition politician and a political ally of the late Nemtsov, Ilya Yashin. 'It is very important for us to demonstrate to terrorists, murderers, those villains that they will not succeed in trying to intimidate us,' he added. Russian opposition PARNAS party leader and former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov said Nemtsov 'is becoming a symbol of our struggle.' 'The authorities did not allow us to march to the bridge, because they are afraid of the symbolism of Boris's murder place,' Kasyanov said. 'But we already call the bridge after him, we call it 'Nemtsov Bridge' and we will succeed in mounting a memorial plaque at the scene of Boris's murder.' Marches to commemorate Nemtsov were planned in other Russian cities as well, including St. Petersburg where a sizable crowd is reported to have turned out. The Russian State Duma on February 26 rejected a lawmaker's proposal to hold a minute of silence for Nemtsov. Dmitry Gudkov, one of only a handful of opposition lawmakers left in the State Duma, which is dominated by the Kremlin-controlled United Russia party, made the proposal. Gudkov, who attended the march, told RFE/RL that the opposition would 'continue our fight for a new and democratic Russia.' Ultranationalist lawmaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky said that Duma deputies 'stand up to commemorate someone only when the country's president announces national mourning.' The suspected triggerman in the Nemtsov murder was an officer in the security forces of Kremlin-backed Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. Five other Chechens also face trial in the case. But who ordered the killing remains unknown. Nemtsov's family and other supporters have slammed the official probe as ineffective. Elsewhere, in the Urals city of Chelyabinsk, one of the organizers of an event to commemorate Nemtsov was beaten by attackers on February 26. Vyacheslav Kislitsi was taken to hospital to treat serious injuries, including a broken rib. A member of the opposition PARNAS party, Aleksei Tabalov, said the attack was linked to the planned march for Nemtsov in Chelyabinsk. With reporting by AP and AFP Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-nemtsov-killing-anniversary/27577331.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi Warplanes Land in Turkey for IS Mission by Kasim Cindemir, Sirwan Kajjo February 26, 2016 Four Saudi warplanes landed at Incirlik military base in Turkey on Friday to join the U.S-led Western coalition aerial raids against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria, Turkish officials and news reports say. VOA reporter Tan Cetin was near the Turkish airbase and confirmed the arrival of the Saudi warplanes as they landed in the morning. This came as a U.S.-Russian-brokered cease-fire unfolded in Syria. The cease-fire does not pertain to coalition forces bombing IS and other terrorist targets, and a cessation in the Syrian civil war could lead to a new coalition strategy against IS in Syria and Iraq, analysts say. The Saudi government has not confirmed the arrival of the F-15 jet fighters at the Turkish base. But analysts in the kingdom say Riyadh wants to see how the Syrian cease-fire works out on the ground. "The manifestation of the cease-fire would have a great impact on how Saudi Arabia and its allies go about their Syria policy," a local analyst in Saudi Arabia told VOA, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters Thursday that Saudi warplanes would arrive on Friday, adding that Saudi ground troops have also been deployed to Turkey. Both countries had hinted at the possibility of deploying ground troops to Syria, but observers say the cease-fire has put those prospects on hold. Complications for US While the Saudi planes are joining the U.S.-led coalition, Saudi Arabia is siding with Ankara in its diplomatic dispute with Washington over U.S. support of Kurdish forces in Syria. Ankara sees the Kurdish forces as a threat to Turkey and wants Washington to stop U.S. support. Analysts say the arrival of Saudi military into the conflict zone adds new complications for Washington. "[This] is a message to the U.S. especially," said Bulent Aliriza, director of Turkey program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). "What Saudis are saying in fact is that they are in solidarity with Turkey," he told VOA. "They will not let Washington or anybody else impose any solution that they think is unacceptable." Saudi Arabia has recently resumed its involvement in the international campaign against IS. And U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter on Thursday welcomed Riyadh's commitment to expand its role in the war on terror. The U.S.-led coalition has effectively used the base to launch attacks on IS militants in Syria. The airstrikes have helped Syrian Kurdish forces to make advances against the terror group in Syria. Turkish officials have threatened to close the airbase amidst disagreements with Washington over the U.S. alliance with Syrian Kurds. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cease-Fire to Begin in Syria, OIR Spokesman Says By Terri Moon Cronk DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, February 26, 2016 The cease-fire agreement between government and rebel forces in Syria's civil war is set to take effect tomorrow at midnight Damascus time -- 5 p.m. EST, the public affairs officer for Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve told reporters in a teleconference from Baghdad today. During the weekly OIR operational update, Army Col. Chris Garver said task force officials encourage military or paramilitary fighters in the hostilities to honor the cease-fire in Syria as agreed Feb. 22. Brokered by the U.S. and Russia, the cessation of hostilities includes the Syrian government, Russia, and several rebel factions. The OIR task force will not have a role in the cease-fire, Garver said. OIR's mission continues to militarily defeat ISIL in Syria and Iraq, he said, and the coalition will strike the enemy with "precision and concern for mitigating civilian casualties." "This is an opportunity to reduce the violence which the Syrian people have unnecessarily endured for far too long, and to reduce the chaos which has provided [the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] the opportunity to fester and grow," he told reporters. Iraq Operations In the past week, Iraqi security forces have been continuing to clear Ramadi eastward toward the Hamariyah and Albu Bali districts while also defeating ISIL "harassing" attacks, including one Garver called "complex," which involved direct and indirect fire and suicide-vest-wearers. Since Feb.17, the Iraqi forces found and cleared more than 145 improvised explosive devices and 21 booby-trapped houses in Ramadi, he said. Coalition-taught tactics, including "the integration of ground forces -- such as infantry and armor -- with airstrikes, artillery, engineers and other assets provide the Iraqis a distinct advantage over a dug-in enemy behind complex obstacles and IEDs used as minefields," Garver said. Iraqi forces continue to isolate Fallujah from the southeast, east and north, he said, adding that while progress is slow, they are occupying defensive positions in preparation for future offensive operations. The Iraqis are moving troops to Makhmour to posture for future Mosul operations, with seven coalition airstrikes in the past week against ISIL tactical units, rocket positions, weapons caches and assembly areas, Garver said. Along the Hit and Haditha corridor in the Euphrates River valley, "We continue to disrupt [ISIL's] command and control and the flow of reinforcements and supplies inside the [valley]," he noted. Syria Operations Vetted Syrian opposition forces with the New Syrian Forces continue to hold positions on the Mar'a Line, and recently repelled two ISIL attacks with coalition air strikes, Garver said. The Syrian Democratic Forces control Tishreen Dam, and continue to secure the area and block ISIL from passing through north of Lake Assad, preventing the enemy from bringing foreign fighters and supplies through the region, he noted. In just six days, the SDF liberated Shaddadi from ISIL, a town that was strategically important to ISIL as a logistics hub and waypoint for rapid movement between Syria and Iraq, Garver said. When the offensive kicked off with six coalition airstrikes Feb. 15, SDF fighters gained more than 120 square kilometers of ground, and began a three-pronged ground movement the next day, the spokesman said. "The coalition supported the advance with eight coalition air strikes that resulted in the destruction of three [ISIL] vehicles and five fortifications," Garver said, noting the SDF seized nearly 370 square kilometers of terrain in three days of operations. The SDF encountered heavy resistance from ISIL Feb. 20, as the Syrian fighters moved to connect their eastern and western flanks to engulf Shadaddi, he said, adding, "ISIL attacked the SDF formations with a vehicle IED, rockets and small arms and sniper fire." "The SDF repulsed ISIL's heavy contact Feb. 21 and encircled Shaddadi, sealing the southern approach," Garver said, adding that the next day, its troops continued to block southern entrances while also advancing from the northeast. The SDF is clearing Shaddadi of IEDs and "enemy remnants," he said. The coalition conducted more than 70 airstrikes during the operation, destroying 15 enemy vehicles, six heavy weapons systems and 62 fortifications, Garver noted. Counter-ISIL Fighting The OIR spokesman said the coalition continues to attack ISIL in Mosul with "dynamic and deliberate strikes," to disrupt its operations and attrit its fighters. Since last week, there have been 21 airstrikes on an ISIL weapons storage facility, assembly areas, mortar position, tactical units and vehicles, Garver added. Operation Tidal Wave II, targeted operations against oil transport, refining and distribution facilities and infrastructure, continues to disrupt ISIL's flow of reinforcements, supplies and communication at key points near the Iraqi-Syrian border, with "a total of 105 strikes in support of the operation, which is having an effect on ISIL, he noted. "We continue to attack [ISIL] across the breadth and the depth of their so-called caliphate while enhancing the lethality of our partner forces on the ground in Iraq and Syria through training, equipping, advising, and assisting," Garver said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Security Council endorses cessation of hostilities pact in Syria 26 February 2016 The United Nations Security Council today endorsed the joint statement announced on Monday by United States Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, as co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) Ceasefire Taskforce, on the terms of a nationwide cessation of hostilities in Syria, and demanded that the agreement take effect at midnight Damascus time. Under the terms of a resolution adopted this afternoon, the Council demanded the "full and immediate" implementation of resolution 2254 (2015) to facilitate a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition in order to end the conflict in the country, stressing once again that the nation's people "will decide the future of Syria." Resolution 2254, unanimously adopted in December, gave the UN an enhanced role in shepherding the opposing sides to talks for a political transition, endorsing a timetable for a ceasefire, a new constitution and elections. In today's text, the Council also demanded that all parties involved in the cessation of hostilities fulfil their commitments, and urged all Member States, especially ISSG members the Arab League, the European Union, the United Nations, and 17 countries, including the United States and Russia, who have been seeking a path forward for several months to use their influence with the parties to ensure fulfilment of those commitments and support efforts "to create conditions for a durable and lasting ceasefire." The Council recognized the efforts on the part of the Russian Federation and the United States to reach an understanding on the terms of the cessation of hostilities, and acknowledged and welcomed that the forces of the Government of Syria and the Syrian armed opposition groups have accepted and committed to abide by the agreement's terms. The Council also reiterated its call to the parties to immediately allow humanitarian agencies "rapid, safe and unhindered access" throughout Syria by most direct routes, and to immediately comply with their obligations under international law. Expressing support for the ISSG initiative to accelerate the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid, with the view towards "full, sustained and unimpeded" access throughout the country, the Council also reaffirmed its support for a Syrian-led political process facilitated by the UN. In particular, the Council requested that formal negotiations between representatives of the Syrian Government and the opposition, under the auspices of the UN, be resumed as soon as possible. In the resolution, the Council also welcomed the cessation of hostilities as a "step towards a lasting ceasefire," reaffirming the close linkage between a ceasefire and a parallel political process, and that both initiatives should move ahead "expeditiously" as expressed in resolution 2254. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian Cease-fire Takes Effect by Margaret Besheer February 26, 2016 A cease-fire has begun in Syria with nearly 100 groups committed to observing the cessation of hostilities. The truce, brokered by the United States and Russia, took effect at midnight Damascus time (2200 GMT). The Syrian opposition's umbrella group, the High Negotiations Committee, said in a statement that 97 groups have promised to take part in the cease-fire. The truce does not apply to Islamic State and the al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front terror groups. Less than an hour before the temporary truce went into effect, members of the U.N. Security council unanimously endorsed the deal in New York. At the same meeting, U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura announced that if the truce largely holds and humanitarian aid access continues, he will reconvene intra-Syrian peace talks March 7 in Geneva. 'Saturday will be critical,' de Mistura told the council via a video link from Geneva. 'No doubt there will be no shortage of attempts to undermine this process. We are ready for it we should not be impressed, we should not be overly concerned.' He said after the meeting that a report he received at three minutes after midnight Damascus time indicated that both Darayya and Damascus had calmed down. The cessation of hostilities will apply to all of Syria, except for areas where the so-called Islamic State and another armed group, Jabat al-Nusra, operate, as well as terrorist groups already designated by the Security Council. The co-chairs of the International Support Group for Syria (ISSG) Russia and the United States will be responsible for addressing violations, not the U.N. U.S. President Barack Obama said the United States will do everything it can to make the agreement hold. Friday, U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the United States has received assurances from Russia that it would not launch strikes against the 'moderate opposition' in Syria after the truce takes effect. He said it is 'put up or shut up time' for Russia to show whether it is serious about stopping the fighting. Russian bombing Before the cease-fire took effect, Russian warplanes Friday continued bombing what the Kremlin calls 'terrorist organizations.' Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters Friday that Russia plans to continue its bombing campaign against Islamic State and the al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front terror groups. Several security council members expressed concern that the aerial bombardments increased in the lead-up to the midnight truce. They also expressed skepticism about their continuation. 'It is hard to seem serious and sincere about ceasing hostilities when you ramp up fighting right up to the minute the cessation of hostilities is to take effect,' said U.S. United Nations Ambassador Samantha Power. France's ambassador, Francois Delattre, called the intensification of bombardments 'a bad omen.' Russia's deputy foreign minister Gennady Gatilov, who is in New York this week, said at the meeting that Russia would continue to combat terrorists because Syria could not be stable until their threat was eliminated. Support for talks All council members stressed the importance of a cessation of hostilities leading to meaningful political talks. 'If we can make this cessation of hostilities hold which is a very big if we will take a genuine step toward that political solution we have talked about for so long,' Power said. Proximity talks convened that Jan. 29 in Geneva fell apart nearly immediately. De Mistura called on the Security Council and members of the ISSG to 'ensure that the parties come to Geneva again. Ready this time to engage and stay, and stay engaged on the substantive issues.' De Mistura told reporters in Geneva after his briefing to the council that he expects the next round of intra-Syrian talks to last at least three weeks. The previous round of talks collapsed after three days. Lavrov disdains 'Plan B' On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hosted a meeting in Moscow of the Russian-Arab Cooperation forum, where he pledged that the gathering would focus on ending the conflict in Syria. Lavrov also said the cease-fire's success depended in part on the U.S.-led coalition refraining from talking about 'some sort of Plan B, about preparing a ground operation, about the creation of some sort of useless buffer zone,' AFP reported. If Russia and the Syrian government don't respect the cease-fire agreement, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has warned that Washington would consider a 'Plan B.' Lavrov voiced concern that Syria's main opposition group said it would honor the cease-fire only for two weeks. 'The Russian-American initiative does not foresee any preliminary conditions and qualifications,' AFP quoted Lavrov as saying. The Russian official also criticized Obama for again saying Thursday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should step down to ensure a lasting peace. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Air Force ceases airstrikes in Syria to help ceasefire Iran Press TV Sat Feb 27, 2016 2:7PM A high-profile Russian military figure says the country's air force has stopped all airstrikes in Syria to help secure a ceasefire brokered by Moscow and Washington and avoid any "bombing mistakes." "From today at 00:00 (22:00 GMT) and in accordance with the agreements reached between the United States and the Russian Federation, who jointly chair the International Syrian Support Group, the aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces has ceased all airstrikes in the green zone," Lieutenant General Sergei Rudskoi, chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, told reporters on Saturday. He added that the corresponding orders were issued to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu immediately after the announcement by President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin. "On February 23, the Syrian army declared that they have agreed to stop military action, in accordance with the US-Russia deal. Seventeen armed units addressed the command of the Hmeimim air base, and signed the application sheets, also pledging to respect the ceasefire," Rudskoi said. The ceasefire agreement in Syria entered into force at midnight amid hopes the truce will lead to an end of nearly five years of war. Rudskoi went on to say that Russia is using 70 drones along with satellites and other intelligence means to monitor the situation in Syria. The senior military official further noted that the Russian military had established hotlines to exchange information with the US military in order to help monitor the ceasefire, and quickly respond to any conflict situations. Rudskoi said Russia has given the US maps showing the location of militant groups pledging to abide by the ceasefire as well as Daesh and al-Nusra Front units. He said 74 opposition units have agreed to adhere to the truce. Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Sergei Kuralenko, head of Russia's coordination center at the Hmeimim air base in Syria, announced that 61 Russian officers are working there. He added that the center's "main goals are to help seal the special ceasefire deals, and to sustain ceasefire with the armed groups' leaders, and to deliver humanitarian aid to the population." The foreign-sponsored conflict in Syria, which flared in March 2011, has claimed the lives of some 470,000 people and left 1.9 million injured, according to the Syrian Center for Policy Research. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kurdish YPG Militia Says Daesh Launched Series of Attacks in Northern Syria Sputnik News 21:10 27.02.2016(updated 21:26 27.02.2016) Terrorist groups stormed the city center of Tal Abyad and the villages Nastal, Khiwera, Qanatra located at zero point of the borderlines to the east of Tal Abyad in northern Syria, according to the Kurdish People's Defense Units (YPG). MOSCOW(Sputnik) The Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh) militants have launched a series of attacks on Tal Abyad in northern Syria near the border with Turkey, the Kurdish People's Defense Units (YPG) said in a press release on Saturday. 'After an effective military campaign in the town of Shadadi enabled the Syrian Democratic Forces (S.D.F.) to inflict significant blows to the Daesh (ISIS), elements of that terrorist group last night, February 26, launched a series of coordinated attacks on the city of Tal Abyad,' the press release read. According to the press release, the assault, which targeted south and east of Tal Abyad, was launched simultaneously from the Turkish side and the occupied city of Raqqa. 'From Turkey side, terrorist groups stormed the city center of Tal Abyad and the villages Nastal, Khiwera, Qanatra located at zero point of the borderlines to the east of Tal Abyad. Leading a charge from Raqqa, the terrorists at the same time targeted the chain of Gantari-Shergirat villages to the east of town Ain Issa, and southern Siluk,' the press release read. The YPG said it had confronted the attackers in 15 different locations, assuring the population that the attacks would be defeated, and the terrorists would 'lose once again.' According to the press release, detailed information on the ongoing fight against terrorists and its results are due to be provided soon. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Over 34 Towns in Central Syria's Hama Province Observe Ceasefire Sputnik News 13:31 27.02.2016(updated 14:14 27.02.2016) Military operations have ceased over 34 towns and settlements across the west-central Syrian province of Hama, head of Russia's Hmeymim reconciliation coordination center Lt. Gen. Sergei Kuralenko said Saturday. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Combat operations have ceased across 34 towns and settlements across the west-central Syrian province of Hama, head of Russia's Hmeymim reconciliation coordination center Lt. Gen. Sergei Kuralenko said Saturday. 'At the moment the fighting stopped in 34 towns in the province of Hama,' Kuralenko said in a press briefing broadcast by the Rossiya-24 network. He noted that ceasefire agreements have been reached with tribal elders and field commanders in control of five towns in the province. 'Over the past 24 hours alone we signed a ceasefire agreement and the transfer of three settlements under the control of government forces,' Kuralenko noted. Summarizing the results of 169 phone calls and emails received since the Hmeymim coordination center was established on February 24, Kuralenko said 23 of the issues raised have been addressed immediately, 48 were being processed, while 36 out of 98 issues forwarded to Syrian government bodies have been resolved. Russia and the United States reached an agreement on the ceasefire in Syria on February 22. The ceasefire took effect at midnight on Saturday, Damascus time (22:00 GMT on Friday). The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution endorsing the Russia-US agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria on Friday, shortly before the ceasefire came into force. The cessation of hostilities does not apply to designated terrorist groups operating in Syria, including Islamic State (IS, also known as Daesh) and Jabhat al-Nusra (Nusra Front), a group affiliated with al-Qaeda. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bob Taylor of Billings participated in some of the fiercest fighting during World War II, including the D-Day invasion at Omaha Beach. But what he remembers with clarity are the emaciated Poles, French and others he and his buddies liberated in April 1945 from Buchenwald, one of Nazi Germanys most notorious concentration camps. I remember when we got there we were told not to give (the prisoners) anything to eat, because if they ate the wrong thing the shock might kill them, he said while seated at his kitchen table two days before his 92nd birthday, which is Saturday. Other Buchenwald memories are horrific bodies stacked like cordwood, some in boxcars, others by the cremators. We were told by the prisoners there that some people had still been alive when they were put in the cremator. Those people were skin and bones, and to this day there are people who say it didnt happen, but it did, he said. You just hate to think about it. Taylors daughter, Debbie Anderson, whos visiting her father and his wife, Shar, from California for Taylors birthday, said she was learning more listening to her father discuss his war experience than she had growing up. As part of the American occupation force, Taylor said he felt sorry for the German people living around the concentration camp, which was near the city of Weimer. The Germans knew the Russians were preparing to take over for the Americans. They were afraid of the atrocities that would happen when the Russians took over, he said. He said nearby German residents were forced to watch a film depicting Buchenwald atrocities. If the residents came out of the theater grim-faced, that was fine, he said. If they exited laughing with derision, they got a jab with a bayonet and they needed to go watch the film again, he said. During his two years, nine months and 26 days of service to his country, Taylor served in an engineering capacity in Gen. Omar Bradleys First Army. Part of his job was to clear the enemy from the places where bridges were to be built. You had to fight, he said, if youre going to put a pontoon across the river." He fought in some of the wars bloodiest battles, including the Battle of the Bulge and the Ardennes Forest. It was during the Normandy invasion that Taylor made an improvised move that probably saved his life. Rather than exit the LCVP landing craft through the lowered door and the enemy gunfire trained on that location Taylor bailed into the water over the side of the craft. Most of the guys in the LCVP I was in did the same thing, he said. When they dropped the door on the LCVP, you could see guys getting fired on and getting wounded or killed. At one point, men in Taylors unit were convinced they were being gassed by the Germans, and so some paused their advance to put on their gas masks. It turned out Allied planes had been dropping smoke pots for the invaders to use as cover. After the Germans surrendered in May 1945, Taylor volunteered to go fight the Japanese, even boarding a transport ship in Cherbourg, France, headed to the Pacific. The Japanese surrendered while he was en route. Why volunteer for more fighting after what hed been through? He'd earned enough points during his time in Europe for a ticket home. You want to get it over with, he said. Why come home and wonder what is going to happen? Why not go over there and finish the job you were sent to do? Taylor got off the transport ship and returned home to Wisconsin, where hed grown up near Green Bay. He became a mechanic at a firm where he befriended a former German soldier named Heinz. I never had any animosity toward the German people, although I did at the time, he said. Heinz and his wife, Ursula, became good friends with Taylor and his first wife. Early on in their friendship, the two men had lunch together at a German restaurant in Chicago. He said, Were you in the army Bob? I was, too. I was in the German army. I told him, You were the son of a gun who was shooting at me! Taylor recalled. He looked shocked, and then he laughed and said, You were the damn Yankee shooting at me!' Taylor said he stuck up for his new friend when the guys would give him a bad time. It turns out German soldiers enjoyed the occasional prank just like their opposite numbers did, Taylor said. Heinz would eventually earn a field promotion to lieutenant, but while he was still an enlisted man he enjoyed pretending he was an officer. Once while doing so he forced a German soldier to drop down and do some pushups. Some fellow soldiers were chuckling about the prank, but then the room grew silent, Taylor recounted. A real German officer had entered. That officer had me down doing the push-ups, Heinz told his friend. Taylor said Heniz never returned to Germany after emigrating to the U.S. after the war. His wife did one time, but didnt find it to her liking anymore. As for Taylor, hed like to return to some of the European places where he fought, but he hasnt yet taken the opportunity. One spot hed like to see one day is Omaha Beach along the Normandy coast. They say its really beautiful with the cemetery there, he said. Id like to see it. Russian Jets End Airstrikes on Militants Due to Syrian Ceasefire Sputnik News 12:06 27.02.2016(updated 16:03 27.02.2016) At midnight Russian Air Forces stopped their airstrikes on militants and armed groups who are in support of the Syrian ceasefire agreement, Russian General Staff head Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoi said. 'The Russian Federation has completely stopped attacks in the 'green zone', which means on those areas and armed groups who applied to join the ceasefire [in Syria],' Rudskoi told journalists. Russian aircraft are not conducting any missions today, Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff Sergei Rudskoi said. 'In accordance with the UN resolution in support of the Russian-US agreement on ceasefire, and in order to avoid any potential mistakes during airstrikes, Russian aircraft, including those of the long-range aviation, are not conduction any missions today, on February 27,' Rudskoi said. 'Seventeen militant groups that contacted the Hmeymim airbase command have provided their signatures and confirmed that they will abide by the ceasefire agreement,' Rudskoi said during a Defense Ministry briefing. 'First of all, the democratic forces of the Syrian Army under the command of armed groups including Al-Ghanim, 'Iskanderon', 'Sureym' and 'Chelobiya,' the 'Desert Hawks' unit and others who continue fighting Daesh. Some of them act together with regular Syrian Army troops, and others pursue separate options,' Rudskoi added. He noted, that the Russian Defense Minister gave all the necessary instructions immediately after the Supreme Commander's order. 'On February 23, the Syrian side announced its readiness to stop hostilities in accordance with the Russian-American agreement,' the Russian General Staff head said. All the forces that truly have influence on the opposing sides of the Syrian conflict should make every effort to implement the ceasefire agreement, Sergey Rudskoi emphasizes. 'We have taken the first step towards the cessation of hostilities on Syrian soil. All the forces that truly have an impact on the respective sides of the conflict should make every effort to implement the ceasefire agreement which entered into force today. This will greatly support the establishment of lasting peace in Syria,' he said Saturday. Russia and the United States reached an agreement on the ceasefire in Syria on February 22. The ceasefire took effect at midnight on Saturday, Damascus time (22:00 GMT on Friday). The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution endorsing the Russia-US agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria on Friday, shortly before the ceasefire came into force. The cessation of hostilities does not apply to designated terrorist groups operating in Syria, including Daesh (ISIL/ISIS/Islamic State) and al-Nusra Front, a group affiliated with al-Qaeda. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Stand and Fight: Amid Ceasefire, Syrian Army Refocuses on Taking Down Daesh Sputnik News 08:47 27.02.2016(updated 09:53 27.02.2016) The Syrian Army and the country's National Defense Force have obliterated Daesh terrorists' positions in a number of provinces across Syria in the last 24 hours, media reports said. Supported by the Syrian Air Force, the country's army and National Defense Forces (NDF) have managed to drive Daesh terrorists out of more key territories across Syria over the past 24 hours, according to the Iranian news agency FARS. The ceasefire which has been agreed to between the Syrian government and certain rebel forces came into effect at the stroke of midnight on February 27. While the BBC reports that guns have fallen silent over major battlefields and that UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said fighting had 'calmed down', the country's army continues to combat Daesh (ISIL/ISIS) terrorists and the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front. Meanwhile, dozens of terrorists were killed and many more wounded after the army launched military operations to regain control of more key villages, town and cities in the provinces of Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Damascus, Hama and Latakia. In Aleppo, the Syrian troops won back the strategic town of Khanaser and the key village of al-Muqayrat, in an attack that left scores of the terrorists killed and wounded. In a major development on Friday, the Syrian Army and the NDF regained control over all settlements along a key supply route linking the northern city of Aleppo with the town of Khanaser to its southeast. A week ago, Daesh pushed to cut off the route between Hama and Aleppo. The terrorists took Khanaser but were later repelled; the Syrian Army continues to fight Daesh to the north and south of the town. In another development, Syrian fighter jets pounded the terrorists' positions in Haweija Saker region and three villages, Mura'yeh, Hatleh and al-Jafra, located on the outskirts of Deir ez-Zor province. In the province of Daraa, the Syrian Army's artillery units launched an attack on the terrorists' strongholds in the towns of Dae'l and Tal Antar, army sources said. The sources also reported about the terrorists suffering heavy casualties during the army's attacks on their positions in Damascus, Hama and Latakia provinces. Syria has been mired in a civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting opposition factions and terrorist groups such as Daesh and the Al-Nusra Front, which are banned in Russia. Adding to the Syrian Army's anti-terror effort is Russia's ongoing air campaign in Syria which was launched on September 30, when more than fifty Russian warplanes, including Su-24M, Su-25 and Su-34 jets, commenced precision airstrikes on Daesh and Al-Nusra Front targets in Syria at the behest of Syrian President Bashar Assad. In addition, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed earlier this month that advanced, super-maneuverable Su-35S multi-role fighters had begun their combat mission in Syria. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SDF: No Violations of Syria Ceasefire in Areas Under Control Sputnik News 06:46 27.02.2016(updated 07:10 27.02.2016) An official representative of the Syrian Democratic Forces that the ceasefire in force in Syria starting from midnight on Saturday was not violated in areas under the control of SDF in the first three hours. CAIRO (Sputnik) The ceasefire in force in Syria starting from midnight on Saturday was not violated in areas under the control of Kurds in the first three hours, an official representative of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Talal Salou (Salu) told RIA Novosti. The Syrian Democratic Forces is an alliance of mainly Kurdish, but also Arab, Assyrian, Armenian and Turkmen militias. 'In areas under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces, the ceasefire was not violated a single time. We plan to fully comply with it, as we have informed all the sides,' Salou said on Saturday. Russia and the United States reached an agreement on the ceasefire in Syria on February 22. The ceasefire took effect at midnight on Saturday, Damascus time (22:00 GMT on Friday). The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution endorsing the Russia-US agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria on Friday, shortly before the ceasefire came into force. Initial reports right after midnight on Saturday indicated that the situation calmed down around the Syrian capital after the start of the ceasefire, although there was unconfirmed information of potential breaches, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said at the UN Security Council after the adoption of the Friday resolution. According to de Mistura, 97 armed groups in Syria, plus the government and all the major regional and international stakeholders have expressed willingness to accept the framework of the cessation of hostilities. The ceasefire does not apply to terrorist groups operating in the country, such as Islamic State (ISIL, also known as Daesh) and Nusra Front (Jabhat al-Nusra). A source in Syria's people's militia RIA Novosti early on Saturday that fighters affiliated with al-Nusra, including from the Liwa al-Sultan Murad group, opened fire on civilian areas in Aleppo and Homs after the ceasefire came into force. Liwa al-Sultan Murad controls one of Aleppo's central areas called Bustan al-Pasha. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian Cease-Fire Generally Holds, Some Violence Reported by Margaret Besheer February 27, 2016 The cease-fire in Syria that began Saturday has mostly held, but there have been some incidents of violence. State media report that a car bomb explosion on the outskirts of the central city of Salamiyeh in Hama province killed two soldiers. No one has claimed responsibility for the blast near the town's entrance. Elsewhere, clashes between government forces and rebel groups were reported in Latakia province near the Turkish border. The truce, brokered by the United States and Russia, took effect at midnight Friday Damascus time (2200 UTC). The Syrian opposition's umbrella group, the High Negotiations Committee, said in a statement that 97 groups promised to take part in the cease-fire. The truce does not apply to Islamic State and the al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front terror groups. Obama: IS losing ground President Barack Obama said Saturday in his weekly address the Islamic State's territory in Syria is shrinking. He said the number of fighters on the battlefield is dwindling and it has become harder for the jihadists 'to recruit and replenish their ranks.' The United States is working with 'partners around the world' to discredit the ideology the Islamic State uses 'to radicalize, recruit and inspire people to violence,' Obama said. Less than an hour before the temporary truce went into effect, members of the U.N. Security council unanimously endorsed the deal in New York. Saturday is 'critical' At the same meeting, U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura announced that if the truce largely holds and humanitarian aid access continues, he will reconvene intra-Syrian peace talks in Geneva on March 7. 'Saturday will be critical,' de Mistura told the council via a video link from Geneva. 'No doubt there will be no shortage of attempts to undermine this process. We are ready for it we should not be impressed, we should not be overly concerned.' He said after the meeting that a report he received at three minutes after midnight Damascus time indicated that both Darayya and Damascus had calmed down. The cessation of hostilities applies to all of Syria, except for areas where the so-called Islamic State and another armed group, Jabat al-Nusra, operate, as well as terrorist groups already designated by the Security Council. Responsibility for addressing violations falls to the United States and Russia, co-chairs of the International Support Group for Syria (ISSG) not the U.N. Obama said the United States will do everything it can to make the agreement hold. On Friday, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the United States has received assurances from Russia that it would not launch strikes against the 'moderate opposition' in Syria after the truce took effect. He called it 'put up or shut up time' for Russia to show whether it is serious about stopping the fighting. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan responds positively to China's remarks on cross-strait ties ROC Central News Agency 2016/02/26 18:25:47 Taipei, Feb. 26 (CNA) Taiwan responded positively Friday to remarks by China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi () in which he expressed hope that President-elect Tsai Ing-wen () will be committed to the pursuit of peaceful development in her administration's ties with China in line with the country's constitution. Wang said during a question-and-answer session following a speech on China-U.S. relations at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington think tank, that he hopes 'the person in power in Taiwan will indicate that she wants to pursue the peaceful development of cross-Taiwan Strait relations and that she will accept the provision in Taiwan's constitution that the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China.' In Taipei, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), the government agency responsible for China policy, responded that it welcomes the move by China to face practically the Republic of China Constitution. The MAC, however, emphasized that the Taiwan government will never accept Beijing's 'one China' principle. The ROC is a sovereign country, and according to its constitution, both sides of the strait are two different areas under the ROC, it added. It urged Beijing to face squarely the facts that the two sides of the strait are ruled separately and the existence of the ROC. Both sides should also cherish the cross-strait peace that has been achieved, and jointly work to maintain peaceful and stable development, it said. While speaking at the CSIS event on the impact of Tsai's election on Beijing-Taipei relations, Wang said that it is 'a Chinese internal affair,' but added that it is just a change of government in Taiwan and 'should not come as too big a surprise.' Tsai, chairwoman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), won the January election and will take office on May 20. Wang said China does not care that much who is in power in Taiwan. 'What we care about is, once someone has come into power, how he or she handles cross-strait relations, whether he or she will maintain the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, whether he or she will recommit to the political foundation of cross-strait relations,' he added. 'The one China principle, this is what we care about,' Wang said, while expressing hope that Taiwan's next president will make efforts to pursue the peaceful development of cross-strait relations. 'She is elected on the basis of the current constitution of Taiwan, which still recognizes the mainland and Taiwan as one, the same China,' Wang said. 'It will be difficult to imagine that someone who is elected on the basis of that constitution should try to do anything in violation of Taiwan's own constitution,' he said. 'If she should attempt to do that, the international community will not accept it. Mainland China will not accept it.' Wang argued that the people of Taiwan will not accept it either, 'because they want to see the continued peaceful development of cross-strait relations.' They want to see more mainland visitors, pursue more business ties with the mainland, he said. They also want to live in a climate of peace and tranquility, adding that 'the next government in Taiwan must think about these issues in a serious way.' In his remarks, Wang did not mention 'the 1992 consensus' and his use of 'constitution' was also a rare move. When commenting on cross-strait ties, officials under China's Taiwan Affairs Office usually stress the importance of the '1992 consensus,' but refrain from mentioning anything like 'ROC Constitution' or 'ROC president.' The consensus refers to the basic concept that both Taiwan and mainland China agree that there is only one China, with each side free to interpret what that means. In response to Wang's remarks, DPP Legislator Wu Ping-jui () said that only a country can have its own constitution. If China recognizes that the ROC has its own constitution, whether it will go further and actually recognize the existence of the ROC is the core issue. Tung Chen-yuan (), who was deputy head of the Mainland Affairs Council under the former DPP administration of Chen Shui-bian () and is now a professor at National Chengchi University, said Wang's use of the word 'constitution' shows to some extent China's goodwill. Wang's comments also indicate that Beijing is adjusting its attitude, no longer insists on the term '1992 consensus,' and is willing to establish a new basis for cross-strait political interaction with the new DPP government, Tung said. The incoming DPP administration will have to adequately respond to the change of China's stance to create a new model of cross-strait interaction that is conducive to peaceful development and prosperity, he added. (By Rita Cheng, Wen Kuei-hsiang, Chen Chia-lun and Elaine Hou) ENDITEM/J NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SHARE By Bill Tinsley A young friend wrote on his Facebook page, "Religion is still the opiate of the masses." He got some interesting responses. One person agreed with him. Another wrote, "It can't be. If it was, I would take it for recreational purposes." Of course the statement originated with Karl Marx when he was developing the "Communist Manifesto," the philosophical foundation that would eradicate religion in Russia for 75 years. When I visited Moscow and Lenin's tomb 17 years ago the hopeless despair left in atheism's wake was palpable. My first inclination, like many, is to jump to the defense of religion. But that might not be the most thoughtful response. After all, religion killed Jesus. The Roman government reluctantly carried out the crucifixion only after Pilate had repeatedly tried to release Jesus concluding, "I find no fault in him." It was the religious leaders of Jerusalem who incited the crowds and demanded Jesus be crucified. Mankind is incurably religious. Every culture on every continent has spawned religion. And, more often than not, the results have not been good. Sept. 11 and the twin towers serve as a monuments to the deadly effects of Islamic Jihad. ISIS has terrorized the world. The Hindu caste system of India consigns millions to poverty without hope. The Christian religion can also become corrupt, self-serving and self-absorbed. Perhaps Dan Brown's novel, "The Da Vinci Code," found credibility with so many because they suspect that religion can become vicious if its survival is threatened. The mentally unstable often use religion to justify atrocities against the innocent. We cannot forget the 909 people, including women and children, who voluntarily drank cyanide out of religious devotion to Jim Jones in Guyana in 1978. Sometimes religion is not just an opiate, it is a poison. Jesus, on the other hand, makes people less selfish, more generous, fills them with hope and leads them to sacrificial efforts to help others. Jesus transformed a little Albanian girl named Agnes into Mother Teresa who spent her life living among the poor of Calcutta and caring for them. Faith in Jesus made William Wilberforce the leader of reform in England to abolish slavery in the British Emp- ire. Faith in Jesus Christ changed a backwoods playboy from North Carolina into Billy Graham who preached grace and forgiveness to millions. Faith in Jesus Christ catapulted Martin Luther King, Jr from the back streets of Atlanta into the forefront of the Civil Rights move- ment. The list goes on. Jesus Christ goes beyond religion. He transforms us into better people and the world into a better place. Bill Tinsley is former associate executive for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Email him at bill@tinsleycenter. com. SHARE Rev. Dr. Cleveland Mason, a pastor at Perkins Square Baptist Church, left, and Rev. Domanic Smith, Pastoral Outreach coordinator at Sinai Hospital, talk in the Sinai Hospital of Baltimore chapel. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun/TNS) Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun/TNS Rev. Dr. Cleveland Mason, a pastor at Perkins Square Baptist Church (left) and Rev. Domanic Smith, Pastoral Outreach coordinator at Sinai Hospital, talk in the Sinai Hospital of Baltimore chapel. LifeBridge Health, which owns Sinai, has started a program that connects hospitalized patients to their houses of worship during times of illness. Religious institutions enlisted to help keep worshippers healthy By Andrea K. Mcdaniels, The Baltimore Sun (TNS) BALTIMORE When an elderly parishioner wound up in the hospital recently, Rev. Dellyne Hinton of Gwynn Oak United Methodist Church didn't find out until days later. The woman had her pastor's number stored in her cellphone, which was left at home when she was rushed to the hospital. "A lot of time people go to the hospital and they don't think to call the church or they are too sick to call," Hinton said. "When we don't know people are ill, we can't help them." A new pilot program at LifeBridge Health, which owns Sinai, Northwest and Carroll hospitals in the Baltimore area, aims to prevent scenarios like this and has the potential to vastly change the role churches and other religious institutions play in the health of their members. Several churches, including Gwynn Oak United Methodist Church, have signed on to the program, which will build a direct link between places of worship and LifeBridge's hospitals. While health ministries are nothing new, most are limited to pastoral hospital visits, health fairs and efforts to educate parishioners on issues such as heart disease and diabetes, or developing or maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Under the new program, called the Maryland Faith Community Health Network, volunteer liaisons from churches, synagogues and mosques work with hospitals to quickly identify fellow worshippers who have fallen ill and need help with their care, particularly after they leave the hospital. The process begins once participating patients consent to allowing the hospital to call their church if they are admitted to the hospital. Trained faith liaisons, with the help of hospital coordinators, will begin coordinating support services for patients and their families, whether it be through the church or a nonprofit or government agency. That could mean setting up transportation from the hospital, picking up prescriptions and scheduling follow-up doctor's appointments. The patient can specify how much personal information they want their church to know. The initiative is one of the many ways hospitals are trying to adapt to a new health care model that requires them to curb costs by moving care out of inpatient settings. That means more focus on preventive care and keeping people out of hospitals. It puts more emphasis on the social problems poverty, transportation, inadequate preventative care, lack of follow-up that may inhibit people from following a care plan, sometimes resulting in a return to the hospital. In the long run, the hope is the new focus will not only save money but create a healthier population. Churches and other grass-roots groups entrenched in the community are seen as key to finding the hardest to reach residents. "Many people truly follow and listen to their pastor, reverend, priest or whoever it may be," said Neil Meltzer, CEO of LifeBridge Health. "There is a comfort level and level of trust from folks within their congregation. This could really create a link between traditional health care and the community." All three LifeBridge Health hospitals will participate: Sinai in Baltimore, Northwest in Randallstown and Carroll in Westminster, Maryland. The two-year pilot is modeled after a highly successful program first launched in 2006 at Methodist Le Bonheur in Memphis that now has nearly 600 member religious institutions. The program also is being adopted in some way in places such as Indianapolis and Pensacola, Florida. The program recently caught the attention of the White House, where organizers were invited last year to give a briefing on how it works. The Memphis hospital officials said they spent $600,000 a year on the program and have saved about $4 million each year in uncompensated care because patients are healthier and therefore less costly to treat. There was a reduction in hospitalizations and emergency room visits. The most challenging part of the program was convincing church members in the early days. "People had a distrust for the health system," said Rev. Bobby Baker, director of faith and community partnerships at Methodist Le Bonheur. "We loaned the hospital our trust by proxy. We went to pastors and other religious leaders and said this is a program we are working on that will help you take better care of your members' health and help keep the hospital viable." The Abell Foundation, Community Catalyst, the Jacob & Hilda Blaustein Foundation, the France-Merrick Foundation and the Leonard and Helen R. Stulman Foundation are providing nearly $600,000 in funding to help launch the LifeBridge program, which also could be used by other hospitals. Carmela Coyle, president and CEO of the Maryland Hospital Association, said there is strong potential for other hospital systems in the state to adopt the model if the LifeBridge pilot works. "The new hospital payment model in Maryland creates incentives for hospitals to look beyond the care that is provided in the hospital and make sure an individual is well cared for when they leave as well," Coyle said. "It really encourages hospitals to reach into the community and connect with other providers of care, and most importantly connect with non-hospital social supports. That means when people leave the hospital they are going to get what they need." The Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative, a nonprofit that promotes better access to health care, is acting as an administrator under the new partnership. The group has begun training church liaisons on patient privacy rules and the health resources available to those who fall ill. "Hospitals have always reached out to the faith community with health fairs and promotional materials," said Vincent DeMarco, the health initiative's president. "What this does that is very different is set up a structured relationship between the hospital and congregation. These folks are called to do this kind of work and this structural relationship with the hospitals gives them tools to accomplish what they do much better." What has Gov. Abbott done about the six mass shootings on his watch? Texas Bureau Associated Press A Syrian boy rides a bicycle Friday through a devastated part of the old city of Homs, Syria. A cease-fire brokered by the United States and Russia went into effect early Saturday across the war-ravaged country. Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Friday that making the cease-fire hold was a very big if. SHARE Opposition bloc commits to two weeks By Patrick J. Mcdonnell, Los Angeles Times (TNS) BEIRUT An internationally brokered cease-fire went into effect early Saturday in Syria amid widespread doubts that the truce would halt the fighting or bring the fractured nation closer to peace after almost five years of war. Fierce fighting was reported in several areas of the country as various factions appeared to be seeking to maximize their gains before the cease-fire began. Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Friday that making the cease-fire hold was "a very big if." Still, a major opposition bloc, the High Negotiations Committee, said Friday that it was committed to the limited truce for two weeks. The group, which is based in Saudi Arabia, says it represents almost 100 opposition factions. The Syrian government of President Bashar Assad and its principle backers, Russia and Iran, have also vowed to abide by the terms of the truce, which was brokered by the U.S. and Russia and endorsed Friday in a vote by the U.N. Security Council. But the agreement does not include the Islamic State group or the Nusra Front, both of which have been deemed terrorist organizations by the U.N. The United States and Russia are expected to continue bombing campaigns targeting those groups. On Friday, the leader of the Nusra Front called for intensified attacks against pro-government forces in Syria. The last major peace effort in Syria came in 2012, when the war was still in its early stages and Kofi Annan was the U.N. special envoy for the country. The Nobel laureate and former U.N. secretary-general resigned his post, labeling the assignment "mission impossible." While Russia and the U.S. sit on opposite sides of the conflict, both seek to stop the threat of Islamic radicalism emanating from Syria and alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe inside the country, where more than 200,000 have been killed and entire neighborhoods have been turned to rubble. European nations besieged by war refugees also have a strong interest in ending the conflict. But any effort to pause the fighting faces long odds. The multisided conflict features unusual alliances of convenience and odd bedfellows, with hundreds of factions with varying political, sectarian ethnic and regional affiliations fighting on different sides. Russia intervened on behalf of Assad's government nearly five months ago and launched an air onslaught that has helped turn the tide of battle. Assad's forces are closing in on opposition-held eastern Aleppo, raising the prospect that the city could be reunited under government control for the first time in almost four years. In recent weeks, fighting in the north has sent tens of thousands of Syrians fleeing to the border with Turkey, which has provided aid camps on its side of the frontier but blocked most from going into the interior. Turkey already houses more than 2 million Syrian refugees. Opposition groups involved in the cease-fire have voiced concerns that Russian warplanes will continue targeting them as allies of the Nusra Front. The Qaida affiliate operates in concert with many opposition militias dubbed "moderate" by Washington. "We fear that Russia will use the deal to target the moderate factions in Syria," Salem al Meslet, spokesman for the High Negotiations Committee opposition coalition said this week. Russia, which views Assad as a close ally and bulwark against Islamic extremists, has said it has no intention of ceasing attacks against "terrorists," which is how Assad refers to all armed rebels. Even for those following the war closely, tracking the numerous players and alliances can be difficult. Armed factions backed by the U.S. regularly cooperate with forces linked to al-Qaida. Rebels routinely face off against pro-government Shiite militias trained by Iran. The Shiite Muslim theocracy in Tehran is a major supporter of Assad's secular government. Onlookers await word outside of a home on Raney Street in San Angelo on April 9 after a 911 call brought police to the home in the 2400 block to investigate a homicide. Maria Alcantar, 45, was found deceased in her bed. Police named Francisco Zertuche a suspect in the homicide. SHARE 9 area deaths, puppy mill raid, fire drew notice By Jennifer Rios City and state employees ? from state troopers and police to firefighters and animal services employees ? were kept busy in 2009 with a slew of investigations, arrests and court dates. In a year that start with a shootout in Concho County and ended with a fire on 17th Street that claimed the life of a father and son, San Angelo has seen victims mourn and a community come together for those who need it. A raid at a house being used to operate a puppy mill on Kingsbridge Drive sparked public debate, and a murder trial shone light on gang activity among San Angelo's youth. Here are the year's top five stories on the public safety beat. 1.) On Jan. 1, 2009, San Angelo learned details surrounding the death of a San Angelo man wanted for murder. Department of Public Safety officials released reports about a state trooper exchanging fire with 20-year-old Manuel Alcantar Jr. the night before. Alcantar was headed east on U.S. Highway 87 in a 1995 Dodge Stratus with his cousin Dionisio Saucedo, 22, at the wheel, when they were recognized at a law enforcement checkpoint. Highway Patrol Trooper John Cox pulled the car over, and while he was identifying the two men, Alcantar opened fire with a 12-gauge shotgun. Saucedo faces a state charge of aggravated assault of a public officer ? a felony that carries five to 99 years in prison. He also pleaded guilty to a federal firearms charge and awaits the punishment phase of his trial. 2.) A home in the Bluffs was raided by city animal services officials for the second time in two years and the dogs' owner, Brenda Luellen, was sentenced in both instances. In 2008, 69 dogs had been removed from her home on Kingsbridge Drive ? in 2009 the number was 59. Tom Green County attorneys prosecuted the case which alleged Luellen cruelly treated 69 dogs and puppies that were taken from her home in April 2008. On top of her one-year jail term, Luellen was ordered to pay $18,625 in restitution. Luellen was released from jail in October, according to Tom Green County records, after serving about four months. A jail official said if someone comes in on a misdemeanor charge, they give them a three-for-one credit ? for every day served they are credited three. Unless an inmate has behavioral problems, the credit is issued. The official said Luellen also had a week's worth of credit for a previous jail stay. A Tom Green County court administrator said Luellen pleaded no contest to her second charge of cruelty to non-livestock animals filed on Aug. 21, 2009, in County Court-at-Law 2. She received 18 months of intensive probation. 3.) In November, Margarita Quintella Ramirez, 19, received a 30-year prison sentence for her role in the shooting death of her boyfriend, Robert Guevara. She was the first of five adult suspects to plead not guilty to the charge. Two others charged with murder, Roger Claxton and Valerie Zapeda, testified against Ramirez. Guevara died at a hospital in October 2008 after a dozen or so alleged gang members and friends were led to the parking lot where his car was stranded. After a weeklong trial, a jury spent only minutes finding Ramirez guilty. Larry James Carson, 18, pleaded guilty to murder in July and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Phillip Michael Mendoza, 19, pleaded guilty to murder in August and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Anthony Whiteside was originally charged with murder, which was downgraded to evidence tampering. He pleaded guilty in August and was given five years probation. A jury trial is scheduled on Jan. 19, 2010, for Claxton, 19. Zepeda's trial date is unclear. 4.) A three-alarm fire two days before Christmas destroyed a house at 614 W. 17th St. and killed two men inside. Fire investigators said they are still looking into what caused the blaze, which had fully engulfed the house by the time fire fighters arrived. Two bodies were removed from the front room of the house early Christmas Eve and identified as Charlie Walker Sr., 93, and his son George Walker Sr., 55. Family members said George, a former Marine, kicked in the door to the burning house and ran in, trying to save his father, before firefighters were on scene. About 50 people gathered in the rain to watch the house and wait for answers from first responders. Two sections of the house's roof collapsed and the inside of the structure was destroyed, authorities said. 5.) San Angelo in 2009 recorded eight homicides, putting the year in a three-way tie for the highest number of killings in 24 years. The highest number ? 11 ? was in 1985. Eight homicides also were recorded for 1993 and 1987. In 2009, one homicide in Grape Creek brought the total to nine for Tom Green County. The victims, in order of their death, were Randy Cave, 55; James Thomas Phillips, 60; Kevin James Harris, 21; Michael Jason Neeley, 29; Jorge Ibarra, 33; Maria Alcantar, 45; Jakob Trevino, 7 months; Carolyn "Charlene" Lucas, 66; and Jamica Goodwin, 27 of Grape Creek. Of the city's eight homicides, arrests have been made in six cases. In the Cave homicide, nobody has been charged with murder. Police have a suspect in the shooting death of Alcantar, Francisco Zertuche, who authorities believe fled to Mexico. A murder indictment was issued by a Tom Green County grand jury for Zertuche. SHARE Dear President George W. Bush, House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Gov. Mitt Romney: I am writing you in your role as the de facto leaders of your party. Gentleman, the republic is in peril. Donald Trump poses a mortal danger not just to the Republican Party, but also to the American democratic experiment itself. Imagine America in 1968 if George Wallace were leading in the polls. Or if Franklin Roosevelt in 1933 at the depths of the Depression had given way to the urging of prominent liberals like Walter Lippmann for "a mild species of dictatorship." This is not the normal hyperbole that both parties trot out every four years that transforms a ho-hum presidential race like Bill Clinton versus Bob Dole in 1996 into a titanic struggle between good and evil. Candidate Trump represents something that goes far beyond pedestrian fears of damage to the Republican brand or the loss of Senate and House seats. He is the embodiment of the authoritarian temptation that has imperiled liberty since the days of the Roman Republic. At every stage of the campaign, he has thumbed his nose at democratic norms. Start with his admiration for Vladimir Putin. Instead of position papers, Trump offers the voters fact-free assertions about the Mexicans paying for a wall and the Chinese knuckling to his superior negotiating ability. Never in modern history has a serious presidential candidate displayed such contempt for responsibilities that come with the Oval Office and custody of the nuclear codes. His ignorance of the nuclear triad and his claim that he gets his foreign policy expertise from watching TV talk shows symbolizes something larger an ego that makes Napoleon seem self-effacing. Equally alarming is the brazenness of Trump's lies. He insists that he never called for a 45 percent tariff on Chinese imports and still clings to that denial even after The New York Times released a tape of him saying just that. Even more horrifying was Trump's insistence (in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary) that hundreds of Muslims in New Jersey celebrated when the Twin Towers collapsed on 9/11. You have seen how Trump's temperament in public borders on the unhinged. And you have witnessed the vitriol that Trump directs at anyone who gets in his way from other Republicans (recall how he likened Ben Carson to a "child molester") to the news media (remember Megyn Kelly.) But now, sensing how the political winds are blowing, prominent Republicans in Washington are busy convincing themselves that Trump is an authoritarian they can do business with. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy just said on MSNBC, "I think I can work with Donald Trump." Work with Donald Trump? Everything in this campaign has demonstrated that Trump is only using the Republican Party for ballot access. He has no allegiance to any Republican ideology and offers no guarantee that Republicans will even be welcome in his White House. The looming danger is that Trump could be elected president. If he prevails at the Cleveland convention, only a wounded Hillary Clinton and a divided Democratic Party would stand between him and the White House. Think for a moment of President Trump a man who revels in getting even in charge of the IRS, the FBI and the CIA. None of you, I know, is comfortable imagining President Trump. And there's no time to delay; the enemy (and that is not a word I use lightly) is at the gates. Which is why I urge all four of you to go public with an Anybody But Trump alliance. I understand that each of you has normally persuasive reasons for staying on the sidelines. President Bush: After unsuccessfully campaigning for your brother, it would be hard to return to a public political role. Speaker Ryan: As the chairman of the 2016 convention, you have an excuse to retreat to neutrality. Majority Leader McConnell: Given your public scorn for Sen. Ted Cruz, you may have convinced yourself that even President Trump would be preferable. Gov. Romney: Rumors suggest that you may soon endorse Sen. Marco Rubio. But this is a rare situation when who you are against is more important than who you are for. What I am proposing is that the four of you individually or collectively issue a statement saying flatly that you could not support Trump, even if he were the Republican nominee. This is a moment when love of country trumps love of party. The goal would not be to anoint a nominee, but to prevent Donald Trump from getting any closer to the levers of power. You have all dedicated significant portions of your lives to public service. That is why you do not want to be remembered as leaders who sat on the sidelines privately despairing in the face of the gravest threat to American democracy in decades. God bless America. Walter Shapiro is a columnist for Roll Call. HELENA The newspapers lead story reported a protest at our Capitol building against the resettlement of Muslim refugees in our country and state. And there was the striking, large, color photograph of a self-anointed blessed child of God dressed in camo with a gas mask, holding an American flag, hair askew, his face contorted in hate and rage, pointing to the flag and screaming at an anti-protester to Come and get it. What a dichotomy; what a study in hypocrisy. Apparently, Gods child forgot that every person at that protest indeed every person in this state and country, save for the native peoples that crossed the Siberian land bridge thousands of years ago is an immigrant or a refugee, or their descendant. Every one of us! In direct contravention of the ranting and raving anti-refugee protesters, America, early on, dedicated itself as a nation to principles absolutely polar opposite to those fueling the hate and rage of the anti-refugee/resettlement agitators. There is a plaque at the base of the Statute of Liberty inscribed with a sonnet New Colossus written by Emma Lazarus, that says it best. While the last lines are the best-known, the entire verse is stunning. A magnanimous and solemn commitment to welcome all refugees, exiles and downtrodden with love, understanding, compassion and acceptance. Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp! cries she With silent lips. Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door! There is the juxtaposition. On the one hand, the self-proclaimed blessed child of God viciously challenging another citizen to Come and get it the Americas flag. And, on the other, our Statute of Liberty proclaiming to the world, Come and get it freedom, solace, affirmation and refuge. The protester hoisting our flag in hate; and our Mother of Exiles uplifting her torch of imprisoned lightning welcoming to our shores all tempest-tossed huddled masses yearning to breathe free. Each will decide who best represents his or her understanding of patriotism and proclaimed religious values. Each will decide what it means to be an American in an America of refugees and immigrants. We will build our walls and draw within ourselves, cowering in a stupor of ignorance, paranoia and schizophrenia. Or, we will rise in strength, committed to our highest and best values as Americans and stand with the mighty woman with the torch. For me, the Lady has it right: Come and get it. SHARE Patrick Malloy, Sunrise Rotary Club president Aid San Angeloans' journey The San Angelo Sunrise Rotary Club is encouraging donors to contribute to the club's international assistance programs and share a journey from Leon to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, with Dr. Ernest and Margaret Charlesworth. The couple will be traveling the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage to what is believed to be the final resting place of the apostle St. James. While Ernie will be walking the 100-plus mile route, Margaret will be hosting a blog, sharing photos and narrative accounts of the journey with donors to this fundraising effort. The journey will start the first week in April. The San Angelo Sunrise Rotary Club is raising funds for additional international projects, particularly for vocational training equipment for a girls orphanage in Mexico. If you have an interest in following this journey and helping the Sunrise Rotary Club raise funds for international projects, please go to our website and learn more about this unique way to contribute to a worthwhile program www.sanangelosunriserotary.org. The Standard-Times invites organizations to offer requests for help, to invite new members or to offer new services in its "Get involved" column. Submissions should be limited to 275 words. Send submissions to jack.cowan@gosanangelo.com or P.O. Box 5111, San Angelo, TX 76903. A Casper woman accused of shooting her husband in the chest last month pleaded not guilty Friday in Natrona County District Court. Dana Miller is charged with attempted second-degree murder for firing a gun at her husband Jan. 3 in their apartment. The victim, Dustin Edward Baer, suffered a collapsed lung and a severed artery in his neck. In addition to the attempted murder charge, Miller entered not guilty pleas to three counts of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a deadly weapon. Dressed in blue jail scrubs, Miller quietly cried as she waited for her case to be called. She spoke only to answer routine questions from District Judge Catherine Wilking. Miller is being represented by public defender Kurt Infanger. District Attorney Michael Blonigen is prosecuting the case. A scheduling conference will take place in the near future to determine a date for Miller to stand trial, Wilking said. According to court records, Miller called 911 just after shooting her husband inside their South Missouri Avenue apartment. A Casper police detective testified at Millers preliminary hearing that Baer would have died had he not received immediate medical treatment. After receiving Millers call, officers responded to the home and found Baer in the kitchen, Det. Mitch Baker testified. A Glock 9 mm handgun was next to him. Medics treated Baer before taking him to the Wyoming Medical Center emergency room. He was in a medically induced coma following the shooting, but has since been released from the hospital. Miller has said she shot her husband accidentally. She told detectives she knew the magazine in the gun was loaded but she was not aware there was a bullet in the chamber, Baker said. She said she pointed the gun directly at his chest and deliberately pulled the trigger, he said at the hearing. Miller was interviewed at the police department on the night of the shooting. She told detectives she and Baer had been drinking vodka at their apartment. She said Baer became drunk and started calling her insulting names, which upset her. According to Bakers testimony, Miller grabbed a handgun the couple kept under their mattress in their bedroom. She told detectives she then walked into the kitchen where Baer was standing and pointed the gun at him. Baer continued to insult her, so she pulled the trigger. Detectives went to the hospital after Baer had been brought out of the coma. Baer was having difficulty breathing and was unable to open his eyes, Baker said. During the interview, Baer told detectives Miller had been drinking more than him and had become violent and verbally offensive. He said they were fighting over the medication Miller was taking. Baer told detectives he had retrieved the gun, but gave it to Miller when she asked for it. During a second police interview about a week and a half later, Baer said he and his wife were arguing over Miller taking his debit card and refusing to return it, Baker testified. He reiterated that hed given the gun to Miller. Baer also told detectives he tried to call police, but his phone was too soaked with blood. (TNS) More people face traffic tickets than criminal charges, but until now, only the latter could be looked up online here.Next week, however, a new website will be opened that will allow ticket holders to search for their records in more than 30 area municipal courts a number that is expected to double as the website, municourt.net , becomes more established.The site will show case information, including upcoming hearing dates, money owed and any warrants on tickets.Aside from the convenience of being able to access case information without going to court, its a huge leap toward transparency for a municipal court system that has for decades operated in secret.Its the result of a Post-Dispatch investigation and records push The newspaper, in reporting on a variety of abuses and favor trading , found that it was nearly impossible to get timely access to records in many of St. Louis Countys 80 municipal courts. Sometimes, even viewing a single court file involved days of wrangling and public records requests, and there was no way to track when tickets were dismissed.The newspaper asked the state judicial records committee to intervene, and the result was a sweeping order that tasked the courts with making cases from the last five years available to the public in an easily accessible index. Court operating rules already required such a database, but very few municipal courts here had them.The records committees order, it was pretty strong, said Timothy Engelmeyer, who holds several municipal court positions, including as judge in Creve Coeur, where officials demonstrated the new website to a reporter on Thursday.A lot of the changes you are seeing can be traced back to what the records committee said, which was that we needed to do this immediately.The new public access portal, set to begin March 3, will be available to any of the 64 municipal courts that contract with the Regional Justice Information Service (REJIS) for their internal computer/case management system.REJIS is a quasi-public entity that handles information technology for police departments as well as courts.One service it already offers, for example, is mobile ticketing. Officers can write citations electronically in the field, and that case information is sent automatically to the court. Now, the basics of the ticket will also appear on the new website within an hour of being authorized by the court.The online case record would be updated any time the court takes action on the ticket. The initial rollout will cover only active cases, or tickets that have been paid or disposed of within the last year. Older tickets will be added later.The services are being offered as part of the courts current contracts with REJIS, so there is no additional cost to the public.REJIS is also exploring ways it can develop the website further to offer other features, such as the ability to pay tickets straight from the site.For now, the website will be similar to Case.net, which is where the public can access case information for the state courts. The office of state courts administrator runs that site, and although a number of municipal courts statewide also use that service, only six of them are in St. Louis County.In the push for municipal court reform, St. Louis County has received the most criticism.One issue that has come to light is the sheer number of outstanding warrants on tickets. Some people didnt even know that they had several outstanding warrants across different jurisdictions, or that their license had been suspended for failing to show up to court. Theyd learn of it when they were stopped for a new ticket, arrested and brought to court.Engelmeyer said this website would go a long way toward solving those types of problems.If youre trying to get legal, what an easy way to do it, he said. This will give people the opportunity to just get on there, see what theyve got, and work toward getting their license back.David Pudlowski, director of client services for REJIS, said it felt appropriate for his organization to be involved in this effort. REJIS was founded in 1974 under a cooperative agreement between St. Louis and St. Louis County.We were born because its so fragmented in the area and the powers that be said, It would be great to have some regional (source) of data,? he said. The court administrators I have talked to are nothing but excited because of the value this will provide to the public. SEATTLE After more than five years of dating, Seattle and open data finally tied the knot. Mayor Ed Murray signed an executive order before a crowd of reporters, city employees and constructive-minded coders at co-working space Impact Hub Seattle on Feb. 26 that calls for new standards of governance and policy around open data across all city departments.The order requires that all Seattle data be open by preference, which means that after privacy and security have been accounted for, the citys preference will be to publish all its data. The order calls for city data to be available in machine-readable formats and demands rigor around the publication of information by requiring all agencies to name open data champions who will be responsible for connecting with stakeholders, taking inventory of their data, addressing privacy concerns and eventual publication.The city doesnt have the capacity to solve all problems, Murray said. But by making our data available to the community, the community can be our partner in understanding what the data says and how we develop the best solutions going forward on any number of issues, whether its homelessness, whether its inequity, whether its how we can improve our already-great parks system. Thats why were doing this. We look forward to an opportunity not just for transparency, but for creativity and partnership.In alignment with the mayors comments, the order alludes to an array of endeavors that the new open data policy will support, including enabling decision-makers through the provision of data, improving the citys relationship with its underserved communities, and fostering innovation and transparency.Through the Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities program, Seattle collaborated with the Sunlight Foundation to form the new open data policy the executive order mandates.Stephen Larrick of the Sunlight Foundation touted the citys efforts best, Seattle Civic Technology Advocate Candace Faber told the crowd minutes before the order was signed. He notes that with the change to open by preference from open by default and the nuanced policy approach our city is taking to balance privacy concerns with greater openness in government, the city of Seattle is proposing a new model for open data policy in a post-Snowden world, Faber said. Thats a pretty big claim, but we think this policy lives up to it. The reason we were able to do that is because of partnership.The Sunlight Foundation assisted with the policys organization, breaking a long-standing tradition of disorganized data publication, said Chief Technology Officer Michael Mattmiller. The University of Washington helped the city with the privacy implications of opening large amounts of data. Seattles formal goal is to have 20 cabinet-level open data champions trained and have published 544 data sets to the citys open data portal by 2017.Thats a start, Mattmiller said. As much as we fully expect were going to get to a place where we make this part of the citys DNA that when you collect data, you already have plans for how youre going to make it open were not there today. We have 11,000 employees, and we have I cant even begin to estimate how many data sets. So this is going to take time, but what were dedicated to doing is creating the culture and the knowledge in the city as well as the customer base that cultivates the environment where we can have more data flowing.After Murray signed the order, seven developers took turns demonstrating tools they created that are powered by Seattles open data.University of Washington student and Hack the Commute winner Nick Bolten shared Access Map , a tool that helps wheelchair users plan travel routes.Ethan Phelps Goodman presented Seattle in Progress , a map that makes city data about ongoing permits and land developments accessible to a wider audience by using the familiar Google Maps platform.Code Fellows student Annika Haggelin demonstrated the Seattle Parks Finder University of Washington student and Microsoft Civic Engagement Fellow Alex Gingras showed off SPSInteractive , a website that visualizes public school data.Code Fellows student Selena Flannery-Logg talked about a tool called HoofIt that adjusts Google Map routes based on sidewalk availability. The new open data policy will help the team locate data sets that add new functionality to the tool, Flannery-Logg said.Luke Swart presented a website called Hey Duwamish! , so named for the citys Duwamish Waterway. Hey Duwamish! monitors river cleanup and research and provides visitors a portal into the history of one of the citys most impactful environmental sites.It took us two long years of many unanswered emails and dead-ends and lots of investigation to get this data to share with you all," he said. "We didnt really have a lot of open data. We sort of had to generate it ourselves. Were really looking forward to this new era where we can work together and share information together.Shelly Farnham previewed a website not yet publicly available, called Spokin , that measures community health and connects people across communities of place and practice.Its so impressive to see what community members come up with on their own, and these were not directed city ideas, Mattmiller said. These were passions that people had that we were able to enable through the data that we released on data.seattle.gov . And the more data we can get out there, the more ideas we can help cultivate, the more that we can help the community build really innovative solutions.One of state and city governments' longstanding challenges is overcoming institutional inertia to meet modern goals. Its not that anyone is opposed to open data, Mattmiller said, but the city needs to be mindful that there are those who dont see the value in risking publication of new data sets from their agencies.The first thing we have to do is go out and educate why data is so exciting, Mattmiller said. We have to bring people like Shelly and Joe in to present their solutions and show how theyre actually helping city employees do their jobs. We also have to teach them that there are new generations of tools that can really help them make their lives easier, give them data to inform policy, help them be more successful as they work with the community. And if we can drive that excitement, then the actual mechanization and implementing process to get the data published and make it open will actually feel like something that adds benefit and people want to do. Its so important to our future success. Two excavators dug deep into the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River on Tuesday in Lander, their bucket-like claws slowly transforming the waters. Upstream, where excavation crews had already finished a section of the river, the stream was narrow. The waters flowed freely, pools of emerald green so clear that rocks were visible 8 feet deep. Downstream, where excavation was still needed, those same waters stretched wide across the channel, muddy and shallow. A construction project five years in the making is finally underway: The Middle Popo Agie River is getting a makeover. This will improve water quality, Josh Oakleaf said, vice president of the Popo Agie Anglers. (The construction is) creating a deeper channel so well have pools throughout the summer, and well have cooler and cleaner water for fish and for recreation. The four-to six-week project is already two weeks in. It focuses on a half-mile stretch of the river in Lander City Park, a popular spot for swimming and fishing that needed improvements. Over the years, past floods have widened the stream channel and created shallow waters. Shallow waters increase water temperature, which creates a much larger issue. The water temperature rises, and every year, about August, our river gets signs posted in it, No public interaction with the water because of E coli outbreaks, Oakleaf said. Deeper and narrower channels will prevent that. The deep pools dispersed throughout the river not only keep the waters cooler, but they contain high oxygen content, which is good for fish. The construction project also calls for a mix of 3,000 willow and cottonwood cuttings, as well as boulders. Theyll be placed along the banks to redirect water as a precaution for high water events such as the flood in 2010. (In the past, improvements) done before have been reactionary, said Tracy Wendt, aquatic habitat biologist with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in Lander. Now were doing some preemptive work to help reduce problems when we do have those high water events in the future. The construction project to improve a half-mile stretch of the river cost roughly $375,000. The project was made possible via multiple agencies, including a $180,000 grant provided by the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust. Raising funds and scheduling construction took plenty of time for this project. But for Oakleaf, this is only the beginning. He plans to design another construction project that spans more of the stream. It would be our goal to take this same sort of work all the way down through town across Main Street and past the other side, Oakleaf said. It would be really awesome for the community to be able to have a nice healthy river, up and down, the whole town. CHEYENNE With its mirrored windows and minimalist design, the Jonah Business Center looks like it should house a telecommunications company or perhaps a medical office. For the time being, its the State Capitol, Wyomings version of the Peoples House. Business of utmost importance occurs inside the creation of laws for citizens to live by, the adoption of a state budget. But State of Wyoming Legislature is listed fourth on the Jonah Business Centers parking lot sign -- below Allstate, Cigna and the Social Security Administration. For at least the next three legislative sessions, the Jonah Center will house the Legislature, as the 125-year-old Wyoming State Capitol and adjacent Herschler Building undergo a $300 million restoration. With a rotunda made of Tiffany-styled glass and staircases lined with hand-carved spindles, the Capitol is steeped in history, architectural embellishments and formality. Jonah, with carpeted floors and metal doors, prizes function over style. The Jonah does have a history albeit a shorter one, having been built in the 1970s that includes housing a former Kmart and Pay n Pak hardware store. At first, I was kind of less than thrilled about it, Rep. Charles Pelkey said about moving into the new digs. This used to be a Kmart, so I jokingly referred to it as Leg-Mart. Pelkey, a Democrat from Laramie, has since softened his criticism, prompted in part by memories of nearly a decade ago when the Wyoming Supreme Court was under renovation. Its temporary space, furnished with folding tables, was more cramped, he said. In addition to the House and Senate chambers, the Jonah building has a small office for Gov. Matt Mead and some of his key staffers to use during the legislative session. There is one room where the secretary of state, auditor, treasurer and superintendent of public instruction and their staffs can work. WAM has decided to call the Jonah Building our nicknames either JB, for the Jonah building, or the Emerald City, which of course is in the great Land of Oz, said Shelley Simonton of the Wyoming Association of Municipalities. So who in the Emerald City is the Wizard of Oz? It depends on the day, Simonton said. Chambers The Legislatures space at the Capitol was about 37,000 square feet. At the Jonah its 45,500. That includes larger space for both the House and Senate chambers. But Rep. Mark Baker, R-Rock Springs, said in the Capitol, lawmakers had an aisle next to each of their desks. In the Jonah, staff and lawmakers are walking behind each other to distribute paperwork and get in and out of their seats. The result is a feeling of less personal space, he said. Pelkey said he can live with the inconveniences. His biggest complaints are the increasing costs of the Capitol reconstruction project and the time its taking to complete. I think these things always take longer than they promise, he said. Fishbowl In the Jonah, members of the public can watch their Legislature in rooms behind the House and Senate, each separated by a wall with windows reminiscent of church crying rooms. Technically, theyre the House and Senate galleries. But at the Jonah, lawmakers call them the fishbowl, because of the effect of being stared at through the glass. The galleries are on the same floor as the lawmakers. In the Capitol, the galleries are one flight of stairs above the House and Senate, giving the public a better view during standing votes. Sometimes, leadership asks lawmakers to stand if they are in favor of a bill. Those who remain sitting are opposed to it. At the Jonah, its difficult to see who is standing and who is sitting because tall people in the back block the view of legislators up front. Im not fond of the fishbowl, said Marian Smith Orr, a lobbyist who has observed the Legislature for 21 years. I dont like looking at the back of everybodys head. I have the back of everybodys head memorized. Powder rooms At the Jonah, lawmakers dont have exclusive bathrooms. They have to do their business among the unwashed masses. Lawmakers run into journalists, lobbyists and members of the public in the restrooms. You might have a chance to get another vote in the ladies room that you would never have had before, said Simonton, of the Association of Municipalities. Simonton hasnt yet asked a lawmaker in the bathroom to vote for a bill her association wants. But Im not above it, she said. Forefathers who designed and built the Equality States Capitol never envisioned or perhaps they never wanted many women in the building. There are only three stalls for women in the Capitol two in the basement and one in a unisex bathroom off the House gallery. In the Jonah, there is gender equality at least for the washrooms with two bathrooms for the fairer sex and 18 stalls total for them. Access Overall, observers say the publics access to lawmakers is better at the Jonah. Committee rooms are larger, meaning more people can get a seat when bills are discussed, Smith Orr said. Lawmakers more frequently walk the same halls as the public. They have to pass commoners on their way to the office space and to a room where lunch is frequently served. People often stop them to talk. Thats different than the Capitol, which contains office space and break rooms blocked off from the public, she said. Lobbyists rent a space, which they call the Capitol Club, where they can rest, eat and meet people. The doors to the lawmakers' parking lot are in the Capitol Club. Mostly, lobbyists are respectful and don't ambush lawmakers, Smith Orr said. I dont think that the legislators actually like it, she said. Blue Light Specials The Wyoming Legislatures nonpartisan staff says the building was constructed in 1978. The Laramie County Assessors Office says it was built in 1971. Both agree the building originally was a Kmart and Pay n Pak. Its ironic theyre discussing the budget in a former discount retail space," Smith Orr said. The building was once a place for slashing prices. Now, it houses lawmakers who, in the face of declining revenues, are slashing programs, reducing money to state agencies and borrowing from savings. Cheyenne Mayor Rick Kaysen said the building housed Kmart and Pay 'n Pak until the late 1980s. Then it stood vacant for a number of years," he said. In 1991, the building got an addition for SafeCard Services, a Florida company that provided services for lost or stolen credit cards. In 1996, SafeCard was sold and became Trilegiant. In 2004, Trilegiant closed Cheyenne operations and moved to Connecticut. The building was vacant until 2007, when Casper businessman Mick McMurry purchased it. Don Wright is the building superintendent at Jonah. He has worked in the building since 1994, when he provided security for SafeCard. At one point, we had a full restaurant in here, it fed people who worked here, he said. Of course, all that changed with renovations. Once the state began leasing space for the Legislature, the state and the Jonah Building management tore down walls, created new rooms and installed overhead speakers for people to hear floor action in the House and Senate. The state is leasing the space for three years through 2018. The state has the option of two, one-year extensions, Wright said. The Legislature is not the only occupant. Other tenants include EOG Resources, Trihydro and Unicover. More relaxed Without the symbolism and seriousness of the Wyoming State Capitol, people have been more casual at the Jonah. In the Capitol, Lawmakers typically refer to each other as Representative or Senator. That's not always the case now. More than once Ive heard a legislator refer to another legislator by their first name on the House floor, said Smith Orr, the lobbyist. Thats not part of protocol. Thats easy to have happen when youre in a casual conversation. This building lends itself to a different feelings. Smith Orr doesnt believe the casualness is good. The work lawmakers do is important. Lawmakers need to treat it as such, she said. Missing the old space Smith Orr is excited for the Capitol restoration to finish. That building is such a jewel that really needed to be polished and restored, she said. I believe theres going to be some really thoughtful design in it. Sen. Gerald Geis, a Republican from Worland who has served in the Legislature off and on since the 1970s, said the Jonah is serving the Legislature's needs. Itll do until we get back to the Capitol, he said. Its not the State Capitol. But theyve really done great work out here and everythings running pretty smooth. Greensboro College will host performances of short plays by 20 southeastern high schools March 3-4 in the Gail Brower Huggins Performance Center in Odell Building on campus. The Southeastern Theatre Conference High School Theatre Festival will present plays in four sessions of five plays each. Admission is $20 at the door for each session. Sessions begin at 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. each day. The festival is part of the 67th annual Southeastern Theatre Conference convention, being held March 2-6 at the Koury Convention Center, 3121 W. Gate City Blvd. in Greensboro. More than 4,000 students, educators and theatre professionals are expected to attend for workshops, keynotes, performance festivals, auditions, college recruiting and job interviews. For information about the festival, call (336) 272-7102. For information about the conference, call (336) 272-3645 or visit http://www.setc.org/convention. GREENSBORO Lenovo it is. The Guilford County Board of Education on Thursday gave the OK for district staff to pursue a contract with Lenovo to buy tablet computers for use in local middle schools. School system officials plan to return to the board in a month or so for approval of a contract with Lenovo, said Terrence Young, chief information officer and an interim co-superintendent. The total cost would likely be between $8 million and $9 million, said Robin Britt, director of instructional technology. The Lenovo tablets would replace the current devices Guilford County Schools leases from Amplify, a New York-based vendor. Guilfords contract with Amplify ends at the close of this school year. Officials hope to buy 17,000 and 18,000 tablets. Picking a device is not an inconsequential decision, but it certainly is not as important as what teachers and students are doing in the classrooms, Britt told the board Thursday. Most of what makes teaching and learning effective and inspiring are all the invisible things in a classroom like relationships and structure and culture and expectations. Lenovo emerged as a top pick from seven vendors that responded to the school systems request for proposals. A team of about 20 people a cross section of teachers, principals, board members and other district staff evaluated the proposals and examined several devices before landing on a top choice. They evaluated the tablets on different areas, such as durability and battery life. The devices are part of a much larger personalized learning initiative for which the school system received a $30 million federal Race to the Top grant. That grant specifies using technology as part of efforts to personalize learning for students. I just dont have a level of comfort yet with this initiative, that we have grasped what were doing here, board vice chairman Amos Quick said, explaining why he would vote against a motion to pursue the contract. Two years into the initiative, there has been more discussion of the tablets than the related curriculum, Quick said. The school system had highly publicized problems with the initial batch of tablets it received from Amplify in 2013. Superintendent Maurice Mo Green halted the use of the devices not too long after distributing them to middle schools, after a student turned in a partially melted charger. There were numerous problems with those devices, including broken screens and faulty accessories. Amplify was recently sold by its parent company, News Corp. The Lenovo device has a touch screen and an attached keyboard with a hinge that rotates. The same device model is used in schools in Broward County, Fla., and Huntsville, Ala., as well as in Wake and Buncombe counties in North Carolina, Britt said. Thats in contrast to Guilfords relationship with Amplify, where it was the vendors largest client. Britt said the devices have been tested and assured board members they meet established safety standards, including additional safety considerations for student use. He specifically mentioned the tablets chargers and surface temperatures. A grassroots group of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe members protested the Dakota Access Pipeline in front of the tribal administration office Friday. Organizer Dustin Thompson said the group is opposed to the pipeline and feels administration has been close-lipped about the project, not taking into account the concerns of tribal members. The North Dakota oil industry has high hopes tied to the $3.78 billion Dakota Access Pipeline, which would begin in western North Dakota near Stanley and end near Patoka, Ill. It would transport as many as 450,000 barrels per day of Bakken crude with a future capacity of 570,000 barrels per day. The 358-mile route through North Dakota passes through seven counties: Mountrail, Williams, McKenzie, Dunn, Mercer, Morton and Emmons. Joye Braun, of Eagle Butte and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, made the trip to Fort Yates with her daughter and members of the One Mind Youth Movement youth group. She said a group of tribal members from Cannon Ball was also expected to join the protest. Braun was active in opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline project proposed by TransCanada Corp. and is joining the fight against Dakota Access. I have been fighting from where it starts near the Fort Berthold Reservation, she said, and she has been meeting with landowners all along the route. Braun said history has shown that, despite industry claims of safety, pipeline leaks can happen and the risk that poses is just too great, especially where the Missouri River flows near Fort Yates and Cannon Ball. You cant eat money and you cant drink oil. We have to save our water for future generations, she said. Braun said if oil were to spill into the Missouri River, it would not only destroy the potable water supply for Standing Rock Indian Reservation, it would destroy 50 percent of the potable water in South Dakota. Thats a lot of water and a lot of people to have an affect on, said Braun, adding that, should a leak happen, it would be unlikely the tribes would have the resources to clean it up. Braun said she does not think opposition to the pipeline has had much of a voice to this point but says the grassroots group has more people ready to come and fight. I think the people on Standing Rock are just now learning what is going to happen, said Braun, adding the tribe did speak against the project in South Dakota. The North Dakota Public Service Commission approved the pipeline permit late last month. Dakota Access LLC, a partner of Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners, has tentative plans to begin pipeline construction in the spring and have the line in service by late this year but permitting approval is still pending in Iowa. Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault II did not return multiple messages left by the Tribune Friday. Regarding a Charlotte Observer article concerning the alarming rate of overdoses in the state: I was particularly appalled at the last paragraph: These are very addictive drugs and there are no resources to get people off of them. People are arrested, and thats the only treatment they get. Its going to take some great minds to figure this out. What a tremendous lack of hope and faith! While this problem is alarming and sad, there is hope. One of the greatest resources is the Greater Piedmont Teen Challenge rehabilitation center in Greensboro. It introduces the abuser to the ultimate healer, Jesus Christ. It does not treat drugs with drugs; it heals addicts with the Word of God. While TC, a seven-month program, isnt free, it does require only a one-time, minimal fee. They are funded, almost exclusively, with private donations. They run a thrift store, on site, six days a week that also helps to pay the bills. I am not an employee of TC, but I am an advocate because Ive seen, firsthand, what they do. Ive seen students change their lives completely. There is no more powerful a physician than our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Fred Cox Reidsville Andrew Harnik / Associated Press WASHINGTON The Obama administrations investment in clean energy has resulted in 13,779 Connecticut homes being weatherized, saving residents over $400 annually in heating and cooling bills, the White House said Friday. Clean energy spending, part of President Obamas Recovery Act (more popular known as ``stimulus spending) also resulted in a 9 percent increase in renewable energy generation since 2008. And businesses getting a 30-percent tax credit for clean energy technology products helped support tens of thousands of renewable energy projects throughout the country, including 1,568 in Connecticut, generating enough energy to power nearly 24,000 homes. The White House blitz was a counterpoint to Republicans who have accused the administration of wasteful stimulus spending that has achieved little. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GREENWICH The Board of Estimate and Taxations Budget Committee spent time Friday grilling representatives of the New Lebanon building committee over a higher-than-expected price tag for a project theyll be expected to vote on Monday. The building committee is asking for a $40 million allocation to build a new school to replace one that is overcrowded. If approved, it will be part of the towns 2016-17 budget which the budget committee must approve before sending it to the full finance board for a vote in March. New Lebanon School Building Committee Chairman Stephen Walko, a former BET chairman, said on Friday that he was prepared to defend the amount. The original request was for $32 million. We recognize that this is an expensive endeavor building a brand new school in the town of Greenwich, Walko said. Were going to go down every path to make sure we arent spending money in an area that doesnt need to be spent. ...Im confident I will be back before you either justifying our number or justifying whatever is subject to release. The state can reimburse up to 80 percent of the cost since the school is being built, in part, to house magnet students as part of a program to bring New Lebanon School into state mandated racial balance. State Rep. Michael Bocchino (R-150th), a former New Lebanon School PTA president who attended Fridays hearing, said state funding was still available despite a budget with a multi-million-dollar deficit. According to Walko, the increase was due, in part, from site work premiums because the building will not be on level ground; $2.6 million for modular classrooms to be used to house the students during construction and for improving the ball field next to the school after soil remediation is complete. Ballfield restoration was a little bit of a late addition, Walko said. The building committee added the amount to the cost to take advantage of the reimbursement rate. The allocation also includes a 5 percent contingency, totaling almost $1.7 million, to cover potential cost overruns. Walko said the $40 million was a rough estimate; his committee was meeting with project architects to reduce the total if possible. The proposed 62,472 square foot building could be shrunk by 1,200 feet by changing some of the room dimensions to save money. Break-out areas also could be reduced. It is an issue that is going to be addressed by the building committee, Walko said. We havent rolled up our sleeves at all in terms of value engineering this building. Several questions focused on the planned use of three classrooms in the new school for pre-K classes. Schools superintendent William McKersie said the district currently has 12 pre-K classes, which is not enough to meet the current demand. The three new classrooms would be used for the existing pre-K program and would not add to the total number of seats available. The Board of Education is talking about (increasing seats) with us but at this point we have a firm upper number were staying within to avoid hiring more staff, McKersie said. kborsuk@scni.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A new era dawns Wednesday for 11th-graders in Greenwich and their counterparts around the state. They will take a redesigned and much-hyped SAT test, which is supposed to better assess the skills they need to succeed in college and beyond. The new test is more important than ever. Not only will it continue to serve as a crucial college-admission exam, it will also function for the first time as an assessment that state officials will use to judge the performance of schools and districts. Such changes raise a host of questions about the impact on students and schools uncertainties that Greenwich educators said will take some time to be resolved. We just need to get through it and see what the students feel about it and what the results are telling us, said Superintendent of Schools William McKersie. A new test More Information For more information about the new SAT, click here See More Collapse When it redesigned the SAT, the College Board aimed to focus more on the reading, writing and mathematical skills that students need to succeed in college and less on esoteric words and facts. The essay portion, introduced in 2005, is now optional and wont be part of the test Connecticut students take in school. The verbal section does away with obscure vocabulary words but now has writing sections. Students will have to use evidence from reading passages in answers, and those passages are more challenging, focusing more on science, social studies and historical documents. The math section is said to contain more straightforward questions, but harder ones. On the old test, students could hang onto the calculator throughout. On the new one, it is allowed on only some sections. As it was before the previous change to the test in 2005, the new SAT will be scored on a scale of 400 to 1600 points. The reading and writing section and math section will each be scored on a scale of 200 to 800 points. Many educators see the new test as resembling in a number of ways the ACT the other major college-admissions exam, which has grown in popularity in recent years. Like the ACT, the new SAT does not penalize students for incorrect answers, includes an optional essay and consists of the same number of sections. I think that the fact that they no longer get penalized for a wrong answer is an improvement, said Judy Nedell, the school districts coordinator of guidance services in grades 6-12. Students were concerned about that. Now, I feel that takes one layer off that was a distraction. The new test is also supposed to be less susceptible to students excelling by using tricks or cramming the night before. College Board officials said the most effective strategies are the same ones students use every day to perform well in school. Its more nitty-gritty math, said Marshall Spooner, a Greenwich Country Day School teacher and math instructor with the Greenwich-based Carnegie Pollak test prep service. He used to have a boatload of tips and strategies to offer. Now he feels hes teaching content. I felt like before it was middle school math asked in tricky ways. Now its like straight out of an Algebra 2 course, he said. We like the fact that the new SAT is designed to be more fair in that its less preppable and more reflective of students overall academic strengths, said Douglas Burdett, Brunswick Schools assistant headmaster and director of college placement. But education experts also see continuity between the new and old tests. Though there are many stylistic differences when it comes to the questions between the old and revised SAT, most of the strategies remain the same, said Steven Leety-Wheeler, director of test preparation for the Greenwich Education Group, a Greenwich firm that runs test-prep programs. For example, finding evidence for answers in the passage is still the central strategy for the critical reading section. In fact, one of the new question types specifically asks you to find the evidence for your previous answer choice. Not everyone is impressed by the new exam, however. Bob Schaeffer, public education director for the National Center for Fair & Open Testing, predicts the redesigned SAT will not do a better job of predicting success in college. The new SAT may look more consumer-friendly, but is not a better test, Schaeffer said. The face lift is largely marketing bells and whistles. To him, the new test is merely designed to compete with the ACT, and to slow a movement among hundreds of colleges to make the SAT optional for admissions decisions. Uncertainty The uncertainties that surround the new test including a lack of comparative data from previous years and debate about how college admissions officers will interpret the scores has prompted many students to mull whether they should take the test or report their scores. Public high school juniors have to take the test on Wednesday because the test is now mandated by the state Department of Education. But they do not have to report those scores. They could choose to submit scores from another date if and when they take the test again. Private school students do not have to take the SAT because their schools are not regulated by the state. Greenwich High and Convent of the Sacred Heart guidance counselors are advising students on a case-by-case basis about their test-taking and reporting strategies. Greenwich Academy guidance staff are also giving their students leeway, but they are recommending juniors take the ACT. Theres a lot of unpredictability that would make me lean on the ACT and say Im going to stick with it, said Melissa Anderson, a director of college counseling at Greenwich Academy. A number of college officials say they are happy with the changes. It is not possible to assess actual impact until after students have completed the test, said Nathan Fuerst, director of admissions at the University of Connecticut. That said, we are thrilled that the new SAT has also been adopted as the Connecticut statewide assessment for high school students, as we anticipate that this will eliminate just one more barrier for all students to consider attending college. We have been told the new test is more meaningful, added Karen Pellegrino, dean of enrollment at Fairfield University. At Fairfield, submitting SAT or ACT scores is optional. More attention is paid to high school records. Still, Pellegrino said, she is looking forward to seeing what the new test will tell her. So is Jeremiah Quinlan, Yale Universitys dean of undergraduate admissions. He said that for years he has expressed the need for an SAT that is more open and transparent. While the jury is still out, Quinlan said it appears the College Board is finally listening. Getting ready for college should never be about tricks or last-minute cramming, Quinlan said. I believe that the redesigned SAT is on the right path in its transparency and openness, and that it sends the clear signal that if you work hard and achieve, we in higher education will work to open doors for you. Accountability The state Board of Education approved the change last October to make the SAT now serve as the state standardized test for 11th-graders. The exam replaces the Smarter Balanced tests as Connecticuts measure of schools and districts. When the state introduced Smarter Balanced for juniors in 2014, many students and parents complained that it was an unfair burden because students already take a heavy slate of standardized tests in 11th grade. They also objected to the Smarter Balanced exam because they said it took away too much instructional time a total of 10 hours extending over several days. Students will take the three-hour SAT in one morning. Everyone is taking this at the same time, and were not missing classes, said Greenwich High junior class president Joe Magliocco. I think that is helping reduce the stress levels that used to come with these tests. Determining the new tests reliability for school accountability purposes will take time, McKersie said. Weve got to watch now how well it really works for giving us a read on how well were doing as schools and as a district, he said. Greenwich educators are not changing traditional strategies as the test approaches. As with the old SAT, students who want to study for the new one essentially have to do so on their own or enroll in out-of-school test-prep programs. Students have practiced for the new test in some classes, but Greenwich High and the independent schools do not run test prep courses during the school year. Weve been encouraging the juniors not to fear the new test, said Erin Ramirez, a college guidance director at Convent of the Sacred Heart. Its different. But the test has changed before, and it will change again. Greenwich students performed well on the old SAT in recent years. For the 2015 test, Greenwich High students posted an average of 566 in writing, eighth-best among high schools in the state. They recorded an average of 576 in math, 11th in the state. They produced an average of 562 in reading, 11th in the state. Magliocco, the Greenwich High junior class president, said he feels ready for the new test. I am interested to see how my score looks, Magliocco said. Hopefully, its good enough that I will actually submit it to colleges. Reducing the number of tests were taking and just taking the SAT will ultimately be beneficial. pschott@scni.com; 203-625-4439; twitter: @paulschott Could that thick layer of black muck that chokes our harbors and channels be a natural resource that could become new recreational areas and barrier islands that protect our coastline during severe tides and storm surges? The answer is at least a qualified yes. And the towns plan to dredge the Mianus River south of the dam is an ideal opportunity to demonstrate there is a more constructive use for the scooped out silt than dumping it in the middle of Long Island Sound. Imagine new deep-water access ports at the end of several Riverside roads that now dead end at mud flats at all but the highest of high tides. Or newly restored salt marshes thriving between these small inlets, improving water quality and flood control, and protecting the shoreline. And a public access boardwalk that would provide viewing areas for rowing races or a place to just enjoy a walk along the river. Such a project would require cross department cooperation at Town Hall and a Board of Selectmen with the imagination and the leadership to demand new thinking from the many professionals who work for the town. Our Parks and Recreation Department is not interested in any new project that does not include artificial turf; the Public Works Department puts off any talk of dredging as too expensive unless funded by state or federal dollars. And the Board of Selectmens main interest in the harbor is making sure it exacts as much money as possible from boaters, even though it has no real plan for spending that money on harbor improvements. Restoring new salt marshes and increasing recreational use of the Mianus River would be a home run, said Peter Alexander, a self described townie who has worked on similar projects up and down the East Coast and in many western states. It works especially well if we take some freshwater dredged material from behind the Mianus River dam and combine it with the saltwater dredge. Plants would grow faster in the fresh water fill, giving time for the harder to establish salt water grasses to take root. The engineering behind this is not difficult; in fact such projects are fairly routine in many states and most countries around the world, according to Alexander. Sending dredged material to mid-Long Island Sound dumping grounds is expensive, and controversial, as this paper has reported recently. Connecticut sees the practice as being vital to its efforts to keep its main commercial ports economically viable. New York State wants the mid-Sound dumping ended because of its environmental impacts. For its part, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to keep the Long Island Sound dumping grounds open, but it will be more difficult to qualify for the necessary disposal permits or funding. The Corps expects cities and towns to develop alternative uses for the material, such as restoration of local salt marshes and creating new barrier islands. The Mianus River offers just such an opportunity. Greenwich Harbor, however, has no alternative to keeping the dredged spoils within the confines of Greenwich waters. Testing conducted by the Army Corps revealed PCBs had made their way to the harbor; federal regulations forbid the dumping of PCB-laden material in the mid-Sound areas. Unless the town starts taking more innovative approaches to dredging, Greenwich Harbor will continue to lose navigable space. There is an alternative that Peter Alexander and others are promoting, but getting little support from Town Hall. They want to use the dredged material to expand some existing islands and to create new ones. For example, Alexander points to maps from 1899 that show Calves Island 20 acres larger than it is now. Hurricane Sandy showed us how vulnerable we are to storms, particularly storms that come out of the East and have the full reach of Long Island Sound to build up strength. Barrier islands created out of dredged material could protect Tods Point and most of the private waterfront property in town. Greenwich Harbor has not been dredged in decades. And there are no plans in place for dredging anytime soon. But there is a way to get started that does not require tens of millions of dollars. As taxpayers, we understand that the town has to maintain a fleet of trucks and other heavy equipment to insure safe passage on hundreds of miles of streets. Or that it takes a significant fleet of million-dollar fire engines to protect thousands of lives and property worth billions of dollars. But we dont have those same expectations when it comes to maintaining the safety and navigability of the seven harbors that are so important to the towns character and quality of life. Dredging equipment does not cost more than some fire engines, and it takes only two weeks or so to train workers to operate it. These dredges fit on 40-foot flatbed trucks, are less than 8.5 feet wide, and are self propelling in the water. Such a dredge, for example, could clear the Mill Pond in Cos Cob or Binney Pond in Old Greenwich very quickly. And it is capable of pumping the muck up to a mile away, so much of Greenwich Harbor muck could be easily transported to existing or new barrier islands. Why are we waiting for the federal or state governments, when we know their priorities are with larger commercial ports? And why isnt the Harbor Management Commission and Town Hall even thinking about such projects? Q: How do I tell all without scaring potential investors? A: Its a critical balancing act, but remember: Investors want to hear everything. Kevin Choquette, founder of San Diegos Fident Capital, whos been on both sides of this discussion, offers three critical steps: 1. Dont whitewash. Most entrepreneurs want to coddle potential investors, Choquette says, but thats foolish: Everything will come out in due time anyway, so its better if it happens early. Be honest about the magnitude of the challenge, he says. 2. Identify the challenges ahead. It might be your ability to recruit the right talent. It might be the general condition of the capital market. Whatever it is, Choquette says, lay it out. That way, prospective partners are prepared for whats next. 3. Say how youll meet the challenges. Tout your teams strengths. If you have a solid entrepreneurial track record, talk it up. Do you have a proven ally in R&D? In distribution? In marketing? Show them your previous experience in building an A team, Choquette says. Related: Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Scene Greenwich resident John Hopper, executive director of the Greenwich-based Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation, was the keynote speaker at National Rare Disease Day at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford last week. The focus was to generate awareness of gibrolamellar cancer, a very rare and aggressive liver cancer that attacks teens and young adults. The victims are rarely diagnosed until Stage IV and have a survival rate of less than 10 percent beyond 24 months. There are few curative treatments and little research to date. Supporters at the event included Greenwich residents U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and state Rep. Fred Camillo, and Miss Connecticut, Coleen Ward. The FCF was founded by 27-year-old Greenwich resident Tucker Davis, who fought the disease for nearly two years. For more information and to support the foundation, visit fibrofoundation.org or call 203-862-3196. Scene Focus on French Cinema will celebrate its 12th year in Connecticut and Manhattan April 1 to 5 with 12 newly released feature-length films, documentaries, TV series, animated films and classic retrospectives, as well as a curated selection of contemporary and classic Lebanese films. Opening night takes place April 1 at the Bow Tie Cinemas in Greenwich, featuring actress and this years honoree, Nathalie Baye. Baye has appeared in more than 80 feature-length films. The event includes a culinary village with Les Maitres Cuisiniers de France, LAcademie Culinaire de France and the New England Culinary Institute at Arch Street, the Greenwich Teen Center, with a Film to Table buffet dinner featuring French cuisine. The annual event is presented by Alliance Francaise of Greenwich in partnership with Le Festival du Film Francophone dAngouleme, UniFrance Films, the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, the French Institute Alliance Francaise, the Avon Theater Film Center, Purchase College and others. For information on the venues, call 203-629-2301. Out there The Bruce Museum in Greenwich is hosting an Art of Design luncheon and panel discussion on Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Greenwich Country Club. The events moderator, Tiffany Dubin, of Sothebys, will be joined by panelists Stuart Weitzman, of Greenwich, creative director and executive chairman of Stuart Weitzman Holdings LLC; Avril Graham, executive fashion and beauty editor of Harpers Bazaar, and Hunt Slonem, NYC-based painter and sculptor. For tickets and more information, visit ArtOfDesign2016.eventbrite.com or email Becky Conelias at bconelias@brucemuseum.org. Out there Darien resident and artist Jan Dilenschneider is having an exhibition of her work at the prestigious Art Paris Art Fair at the Grand Palais on March 31. Along with her Paris exhibit, she will visit Spains El Greco Museum to view plein air paintings of the Spanish masters landscapes in preparation for her solo show in October at the Sill House Gallery in Lyme. Her husband Bobs book, 50 Plus! Critical Career Decisions for the Rest of Your Life, is in its second printing with Citadel Kensington Press. Out there Artists from More More More, curated by Tracy McKenna, Joanne O'Neil and Kirsten Pitts, will speak about their work at the Flinn Gallery at the Greenwich Library on Sunday at 1 p.m. The show will explore the work of David Ambrose, Charles Clary, Katherine Daniels, Wayne Herpich and Jason Middlebrook. For more information, visit flinngallery.com. Out there ... The Ridgefield Playhouse will host an intimate evening with 70s idol Donny Osmond, who is on The Soundtrack of My Life Tour, on March 11. For tickets and more information, call 203-438-5795. And thats all for now. Later Got a tip? Seen a celebrity? Email Susie Costaregni at thedish2@yahoo.com. DEAR DOCTOR K: A friend is urging me to try yoga because Im stressed out. I am suspicious of all these touchy-feely practices. Does yoga have scientifically proven benefits? DEAR READER: Yes, many studies have found that yoga can improve strength, flexibility and balance. It also is effective in relieving stress and anxiety. It has minimal side effects, although there are a few precautions I should mention. Like any form of regular exercise, it should be begun gradually in older people. People with disease of the bones in their neck, and people with glaucoma, need to avoid certain yoga exercises. If you have those problems, talk to a yoga instructor before you begin. Several years ago a reader asked me about yoga, and I mentioned my first experience with its stress reduction benefits. The story is worth retelling. The first person I ever knew who regularly practiced yoga was an intense and ambitious young doctor. Any conversation with him was short and difficult; he completed your sentences for you and interrupted you at will. He was very smart and had a lot of valuable things to say, but that didnt mean you looked forward to talking with him. Then something odd happened. I had a conversation with him in which he didnt interrupt me. A few weeks later, I had another. What was going on? I learned from his wife that shed suggested, strongly, that he try yoga and he loved it. In addition to physical postures and exercises, traditional yoga incorporates breath control, deep relaxation, meditation, concentration and mindfulness. These mind-body practices counteract stress by evoking the relaxation response. The relaxation response can be practiced without doing yoga although the physical benefits (strength, flexibility and balance) are not as great. Nevertheless, you are primarily asking about techniques to relieve stress. The relaxation response is essentially the opposite of the stress response. It lowers heart rate and blood pressure and decreases the production of stress hormones. Practicing yoga leads to changes in the mind and body that promote feelings of tranquility and well-being. My friend Dr. Herbert Benson, a famous meditation researcher here at Harvard Medical School, described the following exercises to elicit the relaxation response. Give them a try to see if they help you to feel more relaxed: Select a word, mantra, prayer or thought. Focus your attention on it in a relaxed manner. When other, everyday thoughts intrude, let them go. Refocus your attention on step one in a relaxed and patient manner without frustration or judgment. Start by doing this for five minutes. Gradually increase the amount of time you spend on the exercises. Id urge you to try yoga, rather than just the relaxation response, because of its greater physical benefits. To learn more about the physical and mental benefits of yoga, you can read a short e-book called Your Brain on Yoga by Harvard Medical Schools Dr. Sat Bir Khalsa, with Jodie Gould. You can learn more about this book at my website, AskDoctorK.com. (This column is an update of one that ran originally in January 2013.) Cutting, or self-harm, is practiced by people of all ages and races, but anecdotal evidence suggests that cutting is becoming more prevalent among Native American youth. Its a behavior thats growing, said Cheryl Kary, the director of Sacred Pipe Resource Center, a small nonprofit in Mandan that works with Native Americans and non-Native American service providers in the area. On Friday, the organization held an event to discuss a Native American perspective on cutting, which is part of a year-long cultural competency series on wide-ranging topics. Nearly 30 social workers, teachers, principals, school counselors and a police officer attended the event, which discussed the historical context of cutting among Native Americans, why people self-injure and what health professionals can do to intervene. Linda Stenberg, whos worked as a middle school and high school counselor for the McLaughlin Public School District for 16 years, said shes noticed an increase in students of all ages who are cutting, a majority of whom are Native American. Its hard to understand how many people are cutting, said Kary, pointing out the difficulty in tracking people who are doing it. Self-injury can stem from a history of physical or sexual abuse. According to data from the Sacred Pipe Resource Center, a high number of Native Americans of all ages in the Bismarck-Mandan area have experienced sexual assault and domestic violence in their lifetimes. Rape and sexual assault rates were astronomical, Kary said. It was really alarming, she said. They tell a story about how much grief and trauma is in our community. Cutting was once practiced by Lakota, Dakota and other tribes as a way to demonstrate grief and help people deal with trauma or loss, said Kary, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Traditionally, cutting was a socially acceptable coping mechanism in Native American communities. Tribal members would gather in groups to cut their hair, and in some cases their fingertips, to mourn the loss of a loved one. It was done in a very ceremonial manner, Kary said. It wasnt viewed as a bad thing to do; it was a way of honoring. Cutting is no longer viewed as a healthy way of grieving in these communities and, instead, is practiced as an unhealthy coping mechanism. Cutting itself doesnt heal any pain or trauma, it just eases it temporarily, Kary said. Many Native Americans suppress grief and trauma, which can result in forming bad habits, such as cutting. Kary and her mother Marilyn Kary, a licensed social worker at the Community Grant High School in Fort Yates, presented ways social workers, counselors and others who work with Native American youth can intervene. Its important for youth to understand why they cut and understand it comes from trauma, grief and other strong feelings, Kary said. Its also important for them to understand these feelings are nothing to feel bad about, she said. Health professionals can encourage youth to express their feelings vocally and offer healthy alternatives to cutting, including crying or wailing, physical activity, talking with older relatives and iya, when a person is advised to develop a positive habit while grieving. There are traditional grieving mechanisms that we can call back into practice and tell our youth to do, Kary said. The US Court of Appeals has overturned the 2014 verdict of a California federal court that held Samsung guilty of infringing on Apple's smartphone patents and directed the former to pay $119.6M as damages. Apple had dragged Samsung to court alleging that the latter infringed on its "quick links" patent along with two other patents covering the iPhone's slide-to-unlock and auto-correct features. For those who aren't aware, the quick links feature lets devices recognize data such as phone numbers and turn them into clickable links. In its verdict yesterday, the appeals court rejected Apple's allegations saying that Samsung did not infringe on the iphone maker's "quick links" patent as the South Korean company's technology for detection and linking is completely different, and adding that the other two patents cited in the case were invalid. Interestingly, the court observed that it is in fact Apple which has infringed on one of Samsung's patents. Commenting on the decision, a Samsung spokesperson said, "Today's decision is a win for consumer choice and puts competition back where it belongs - in the marketplace, not in the courtroom." On the other hand, Apple declined to offer any comment. The verdict comes less than a month after Apple - in a separate case - asked the US Supreme Court not to take up the South Korean company's appeal. That case has so far seen Samsung agreeing to pay Apple $548 million to settle it. Via Four young Bismarck students will start next week at a new school now that they have mastered the basics of English. "I'm going to go to Solheim, and I'm going to get new friends," said a beaming first-grader, Cristian Cordero, after he received his diploma from the English Language Learner Welcome Center. The first group of students graduated Friday from Bismarck Public Schools' new program for elementary students learning English. The welcome center, housed at Hughes Educational Center, opened in fall 2015 for students with little to no experience with the language. Students spend at most three trimesters at the welcome center before switching to their neighborhood schools. Some, like the four who graduated Friday, will move early if they show proficiency on an assessment. Before their first day, each student attends a transition meeting at their new school. The kids bring their parents to meet their new teachers and administrators. They also take a tour of the school and are partnered with a classroom buddy to take them under their wing. "They're so excited," ELL teacher Jennifer Bina said. "Some have siblings already at the school." ELL coordinator Wendy Sanderson said the young students pick up English fast, as demonstrated during their rides to and from school. "You wouldn't hear a peep out of anyone in the van unless they spoke their native language," she said of the start of the school year. "Now they're talking, talking, talking." While at the welcome center, students study the same subjects as their peers in schools throughout the district: math, science, social studies, reading and writing. They do it with a focus on language learning through lessons teachers embed into the curriculum. Before the welcome center, students with little to no knowledge of English enrolled straight into their neighborhood schools. ELL instructors drove from school to school to work with each kid for a limited amount of time each week. As a result, some students spent most of the day in class with a teacher they could barely understand. ELL teacher Rebecca Andvik said with the welcome center approach, kids are progressing faster than under the old system. "They have grown tremendously," said Andvik, adding that she spends all school day working with students one-on-one and in small groups. The four who graduated Friday will still receive ELL instruction at their neighborhood schools. Now that they have demonstrated an acceptable level of proficiency, they will work with different ELL teachers who continue to bounce between schools helping more advanced English learners fine-tune their language skills. Michele Svihovec, ELL director for Bismarck Public Schools, said the school district is considering offering a similar welcome center program for middle school students new to the English language. She said such a program is not currently feasible at the high school level due to the credit system students go through to graduate. District-wide, there are 155 ELL students at various levels of proficiency who speak 27 different languages. Once the four students move to their new schools next week, the welcome center will continue educating the 10 still enrolled. Friday's graduates marched into the celebration room at Hughes to "Pomp and Circumstance" wearing black caps and gowns. They listened to short speeches from their teachers, who told them how proud they were of their accomplishments. At one point, classmates in the audience got up to hand them cards of congratulations. Parents snapped photos of their kids receiving diplomas before the students made a beeline for the brightly frosted cupcakes waiting for them at the end of the ceremony. Each graduate placed a pushpin on a map of the school district indicating where their new school is located. They also placed pins on a world map to show what country they came from. Friday's graduates arrived in Bismarck from the Philippines, Peru, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Svihovec encouraged parents to help maintain their children's bilingual abilities so the kids grow up confident speaking more than just English. "They are going to have two languages," she said. "I hope you are going to keep their other language rich." Inside the Kist Cafe, the scent of a ranch meets the aroma of home-cooked eggs or roast beef, depending on the time of day. Some wouldnt eat here because of the smell, employee Christie Neumiller said. I dont smell anything, added Kim Barnhardt, the kitchen manager. Both laughed as Neumiller responded: I dont either. The cattle odor doesnt bother the ranchers down the hall attending Kist Livestocks auctions. They pour into the cafe before and after each sale. The restaurant has such a reputation for its meals that some patrons come without a reason other than to eat and chat. Its German cooking, as described by Larry Gerhardt, a regular. He visits Kist twice a week, often to sell horses. Now this time of year, I come for the gossip, he said. Most of the employees have worked at the cafe for years, cooking up plate after plate of hot beef, the most popular dish. Its a layer of bread, then roast beef and mashed potatoes with gravy poured over everything. They make other food, too, but meat and potatoes are staples, Barnhardt said. The cooks hesitate to whip up anything too exotic. They said a recent offering of chicken alfredo was met with little enthusiasm. All the guys were like, Its a beef barn. Youve got to sell beef, Barnhardt recalled. Busy days typically fall on Wednesdays when theres a host of cattle and other livestock sales taking place. The cafe serves 300 people from sunrise to sunset. Barnhard drives from her ranch near St. Anthony to work each morning, arriving by 6 a.m. Sometimes she stays until 11 p.m., heading home long after her kids are asleep in bed. Other times, shes off at 5 p.m. Shes not alone. Employees commute from farms and ranches as far away as Minot. Everybodys got a pretty good drive to get here, Barnhardt said. You might as well work some more hours. Summertime is slow as the cafe may be open only two days a week while livestock sales are going on. Nevertheless, the environment she describes is like family. Thats how she got started. Her aunt used to run the kitchen. She came in to help with one sale, and stayed on. Others also have longevity. Barnhardt, who has four kids, said she always returned to the same faces after taking time off to raise each newborn. I dont know if its like that at a lot of places, she said. She was laughing. She wasnt plugging her ears. She was clapping along and cheering. I would never see her do that with me. Brenda Amundson, on how her daughter, Carly, has changed since she got a mentor at Century High School. Now she goes to school games and takes part. It left me speechless. I didnt even know what to think of it. It was crazy beautiful. Sara Zachmeier, a Mandan High School senior, on performing at New Yorks Carnegie Hall. She plays clarinet. Its a phenomenal development opportunity. Were still setting it up; itll be really fun when its up and running. Uma Hoffmann, on the Manufacturing Institutes Dream it. Do it. Program to recruit students to work in manufacturing. The only really surprising thing was the extent of the morale. We didnt know that. Darcy Rosendahl, deputy director of the Department of Transportation, on the low morale discovered in the Motor Vehicle Division. An investigation concluded that a hostile work environment exists. The defendant cannot continue to languish in the Burleigh County Detention Center without some end date. South Central District Judge James Hill, ordering a new bond hearing for Jessica Tsao, who had been in the Burleigh County Detention Center since Aug. 29. In a very real sense, weve lost a member of a family. This isnt just a group of people that comes together now and then. Theres a real attachment in a fire service. His loss is truly felt and has truly hurt us. Dickinson Fire Chief Bob Sivak, on the death of firefighter Levi Hammond in a Wyoming avalanche. Those satisfied with the slow growth pace are now scared this could be another bust. Joe Mahon, regional outreach director for the Minneapolis Federal Reserve, on how the mood has changed in the states oil patch after a prolonged price slump. Are we expecting to do them all? Probably not. Grant Levi, director of the Department of Transportation, on the chances that some projects planned for the states construction program for the biennium wont be completed because of a revenue shortfall. This will make it the sixth gallery downtown, and there will be opportunities for all of them together to do great things. Bismarck is the capital city of North Dakota and artists from all around the state should have an opportunity to display their art. Eileen Walsh, executive director of Dakota West Arts Council, on plans by the Lewis and Clark Fort Mandan Foundation to open an art gallery in the old Woolworth building in downtown Bismarck. So our operations are going to need to be centered around avoiding that inhalation or ingestion concern. If everybody does what I train them to do, the chance that anybody or anything can get contaminated is really low. Chris Kreger, environmental manager for IHD Solids Management LLC that wants to take radioactive waste at a McKenzie County facility. While some may initially find it an overstated concern, others will find it central to a deep and sober examination of our campus history. North Dakota State University President Dean Bresciani, explaining why he wants some verses in the school song changed because he finds them troubling. A drama teacher who raped a student when she was only aged around seven has been jailed for 10 years. Kevin Carroll (56) raped the child in an Offaly school when he held her back after drama class nearly 20 years ago. The victim gave evidence that after the incident a woman at the school told her not to upset her mother by telling her about the rape. Carroll, of Hawthorne Drive, Birr, Co Offaly, had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to rape and anal rape at the Offaly school on a date between 1996 and 1998 when the girl was between six and eight. He was convicted on both counts. Yesterday, Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan noted that Carroll had offered no mitigation and still rejected the verdict of the jury. She said the jury had found his victim to be "a credible and reliable witness" and she commended the woman's "strength and great dignity" in reading out her emotional victim impact report. Judge Heneghan said any sentence must take into account the "revulsion of society at such crimes". She took into account that the victim was a defenceless child at the time and Carroll held a position of authority. She imposed a 10-year sentence and ordered Carroll to undergo two years of post- release supervision. She also ordered that he be registered as a sex offender. The woman began her victim impact statement by quoting the poem The Forge, by Seamus Heaney. "All I know is a door into the dark", she told the court. She said she felt like she "was given a life sentence at the age of six". The victim told the trial that she was in Carroll's class and was in the hall one day when he asked her if she wanted to play a game. He told her he loved her and she was his "little angel". Degraded The victim said she felt "humiliated and degraded" throughout the trial process, which she found "exceptionally difficult". She said she had trouble with State exams because they were held in halls similar to the one in which she was raped. She also had to give up certain sports because they took place in halls. The woman concluded that the rape had not destroyed her and she was slowly learning to cope with the help of therapy. The court heard earlier that Carroll is to launch an appeal against his conviction because a juror was allegedly "smiling and winking" at gardai. An Irish financial analyst is facing trial in New York on charges of allegedly torturing his roommate's cat, named Lucy, for three months. Declan Garrity (24), who is on a work visa, was arrested on Wednesday. He is accused of ripping out the cat's nails, breaking bones in her face, pelvis and legs and burning the animal since moving into the apartment in November. Garrity had been working at Barclays' offices in New York since October 2014, according to his LinkedIn page. "Barclays placed him on a leave of absence pending a thorough investigation," a spokesman for the company told CNBC. The criminal complaint filed by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office states that "shortly after [Garrity] moved into the apartment, the individual observed Lucy's behaviour changing, including hiding in the individual's bedroom closet, not eating and constantly licking her paws". The complaint also states that Garrity, from Omagh in Co Tyrone, told his roommate on January 25 that an iron had falled on the cat while he was at work. Last Saturday, the roommate claims that when he came home from work he found Lucy "hiding in her carrier [with] her rear foot facing in the wrong direction", and that she was damp and missing hair. The roommate also saw paper towels on a bedroom unit with "cat hair and blood". A vet examined the cat and found that she had suffered a dislocated and fractured bone in her leg, several broken ribs, broken teeth, burns across various areas of her body, as well as broken claws. Cruelty According to the complaint, Garrity told an officer with the NYPD's Special Victims Division that he was alone with the cat last Friday night and Saturday in the apartment. He has been charged with "torturing and injuring animals" and two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals. Lucy's owner, who wished to stay anonymous, said: "It's nauseating. "I've been disgusted with everything. I thought he was the best roommate I ever had. It's bizarre." Garrity is due to appear in court again on Monday. Alex Akinrolie was 'hanging around with the wrong crowd' A student who tried to scam a new mobile phone from a telecommunications company found acclimatising to Irish culture "difficult", a court heard. Alex Akinrolie (21) was caught after he gave his own mobile number to the courier. His lawyer said Akinrolie was hanging around with the wrong crowd at the time and had difficulty "acclimatising to Ireland and a different culture". Judge David McHugh ordered Akinrolie to complete 120 hours of community service in lieu of four months in prison. The defendant, of Coolmine Court, Clonsilla, had admitted before Blanchardstown District Court to making gain or causing loss by deception. Det Gda John Murphy said Akinrolie ordered a mobile phone worth 659 from the three.ie website on May 24, 2013. The officer said the defendant used a debit card, and the details on the card did not match the details of the person who placed the order. Gda Murphy said the mobile phone was delivered by courier to Akinrolie's home on May 28, 2013. He said gardai intercepted the delivery and the phone was seized. The court heard that the defendant had no previous convictions. Defence lawyer Jennifer Jackson said Akinrolie was "always going to be caught" because he gave his own mobile phone number to the courier. Sophisticated Ms Jackson said Akinrolie found getting used to a new culture difficult, and at the time of the incident he was hanging around with the wrong peer group. She said Akinrolie has not come to garda attention since, and he is now a full-time student. She also said he is no longer associating with the same crowd of people. Imposing the community service order, Judge McHugh said the crime was "quite a sophisticated matter". However, Ms Jackson said it had not been Akinrolie's "brainchild". Rooney Mara is no fan of interviews. Those trying to chip away at the chilly front she has presented in the past have described her as "glacier-eyed", "aloof" and "impenetrable". Given that I have limited time with her down a scratchy phone line, I am braced for the worst yet pleasantly surprised by the buoyant mood the 30-year-old actress sounds to be in. To begin with. The world is baying for more glimpses of Mara, who has been weathering her own maelstrom of publicity, interviews and turns on the red carpet of late. Although Kate Winslet beat her to the Best Supporting Actress gong at the Baftas, she may yet walk away with this weekend's greater prize: an Oscar for her role in Carol, the sumptuous tale of two women who fall in love in New York in the 1950s. Bewitching Mara plays Therese Belivet, who does a lot of staring and thinking. However, still waters run deep, and hers is an unsettlingly bewitching performance, beautifully offsetting Cate Blanchett's firecracker of a role for which she too was Bafta and Oscar-nominated. Although Mara cut a striking figure in her Givenchy gown at the Baftas, the obvious question is, will she even attend the 69th Academy Awards tomorrow? The event has been engulfed in a ferocious diversity row since an all-white line-up of nominees for best acting awards was announced last month, for the second year in a row. Directors Spike Lee and Michael Moore and actors Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith have said they will boycott the ceremony. #OscarsSoWhite has been trending (again) on Twitter, with viewers threatening to tune out al- together. British actor David Harewood, star of Homeland, has joined calls for those who attend to do so in "black face". "Yeah, yeah, I'll be there," says Mara, hesitantly, evidently unwilling to fully alight on such a hot topic. In this, she seems wiser than Charlotte Rampling, who caused a fresh furore by declaring the calls for diversity to be "racist to white people". But it would be unfair to imply Mara is maintaining a dignified silence in the hope it will prove as golden as an Oscar statuette. "I have a lot to say and I have very strong opinions about it, but diversity is such a sensitive issue that I don't want to reduce it to a soundbite," she says. Mara has experience of such tricky conversations about Hollywood whitewashing. Last year, she was criticised for taking the role of Tiger Lily in Joe Wright's Pan - the character is Native American in JM Barrie's 1911 novel Peter and Wendy and Walt Disney's 1953 animated film Peter Pan. A peti- tion to Warner Bros, objecting to her casting, garnered 96,000 signatures. It was, she admits, a tricky thing to deal with. "There were two different periods: right after I was initially cast and the reaction to that, and then the reaction again when the film came out," she says. "I really hate, hate, hate that I am on that side of the whitewashing conversation. I don't ever want to be on that side of it again. I can understand why people were upset." Speaking candidly does not come naturally to the emerald-eyed brunette, who played the fierce, pierced cyber-hacker Lisbeth Salander in the American film of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011), which earned her first Oscar nod, and the girlfriend who sassily dumped Mark Zuckerberg at the beginning of The Social Network (2010). Nor do red carpets. "I don't think it is ever something you look forward to," she says. "For me, it is an irritating part of the job. I try to make the most of it and have fun, but it's like this weird other thing. It has no-thing to do with movies. It has become this thing unto itself." The relentless promotional tours must feel like a whole other job altogether. "Yes!" she says. "When does that happen - that being an actor makes you a politician and sales person? I'm not good at either of those things. It's not really what you sign up for. You have to learn how to be, not good at them exactly, but how to get through them." Much like interviews, it seems. As we swing to more personal matters, the shutters slowly but steadily close. The facts, at least, are these. Born and raised in New York, the third of four children, Mara was inspired by the Broadway musicals and classic movies such as Gone With The Wind and Rebecca that her mother, Kathleen, took her to from an early age. Her older sister, Kate Mara, is also an actress (House of Cards, The Martian and 127 Hours), who she credits with encouraging her into the profession. Charity Mara went to George Washington University before transferring to New York to study social policy and psychology. "I wasn't sure if acting would work out," she says. She has a history of being level- headed, and at university founded a charity now known as Uweza Foundation, which aims to lift street children out of poverty in Kibera, Kenya. Her family tree can be traced to Co Down, and bears genuine sporting giants: her father's side co-founded the New York Giants and her mother's side the Pittsburgh Steelers. Asking about her love life is even less fruitful - she audibly winces at questions about her boyfriend, director Charlie McDowell, and previous relationships. Before the hatches can be completely battened down, I chance my arm and bring up Poldark star Aidan Turner: last year she and the Dubliner filmed The Secret Scripture together in Ireland. "He's fantastic," she says. "When we shot the film, it was right before this obsession grew out of control. I really enjoyed working with him. You can see why all the ladies love him." Security cameras have been installed all around the Kinahan cartel's Dublin stronghold - the Oliver Bond flats complex in the south inner city - by the council. The Herald can reveal that the cameras were installed yesterday by the council in conjunction with gardai. It comes as tensions continue to escalate between the Kinahan cartel and the Hutch gang. "This is being done in order to help monitor the feud, so it can be tracked who is coming and going - and, if there is any trouble, it can hopefully be captured on CCTV. All steps are being taken to try to reduce tensions," said a source. Empire Daniel Kinahan and his brother Chris Jnr grew up in the Oliver Bond flats, with their father, Christy 'The Dapper Don' Kinahan, and late mother Jean Boylan. Last year, Christy Snr passed on his criminal empire to Daniel. The Kinahan family still have a "very strong association" with the area, and it is for this reason that the security cameras have been installed. The Herald revealed earlier this week that Daniel and Chris Jnr flew to London in recent days after staying in Dublin following the murder of their friend and senior Kinahan lieutenant, David Byrne, at the Regency Hotel three weeks ago. "They might not be physically in Dublin any more, but they can still have a lot of power and influence from overseas on what happens next - in terms of an escalation in the violence of this bitter feud," the source said. One reason the Kinahan brothers - who live mainly in Spain - stayed so long in Dublin was in order to project a "show of strength" against the Hutch gang. "They didn't need to stay so long after Byrne's funeral, but they were trying to make a point to the Hutch gang that Dublin is their town too, and they're not running scared," said a source. "They also had associates to meet whose loyalty they needed to ensure was there in their ongoing battle against the Hutch gang. This is only the beginning." Senior Sinn Fein figures are coming under increasing pressure to state whether they still believe IRA leader Thomas 'Slab' Murphy is a "good republican" after he was jailed for 18 months for tax fraud. Last night, the party adopted a stony silence and failed to answer media queries. Leader Gerry Adams posted on his blog about the election just before lunchtime, but made no reference to Murphy's sentencing. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin accused Mr Adams of failing to apply basic standards to the rule of law. "It beggars belief that Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams believes that Slab Murphy is a good republican," he said. Standards "He was sentenced today to 18 months for tax evasion. Good republicans pay their tax. Any normal political party would condemn breaking the law. "It's unfortunate that Sinn Fein don't have normal standards." Labour Party senator Mairia Cahill - who was raped by an IRA figure when she was a teenager - accused Sinn Fein of putting its friends before victims and the rule of law. "Justice has finally caught up with this notorious individual," she said. "For many years there have been substantial allegations that he is at the heart of republican activity, criminal and otherwise, in South Armagh. These allegations include matters far worse than tax evasion. "Despite this, he has been repeatedly defended as 'a good republican' and a 'typical rural man' by Gerry Adams and Mary Lou McDonald over recent weeks and months. "This is a further indication of how they put themselves and their friends first before victims and the rule of law." Health Minister Leo Varadkar said he was glad a custodial sentence was handed down. "Obviously it is alleged that there were more serious offences committed, but the evidence has not been there for a prosecution," he told the Herald. "Tax evaders get off pretty easy in this country - often without custodial sentences - so I think that this is appropriate." Effective Mr Varadkar said he would like to see the role of the Criminal Assets Bureau expanded. "I don't know if I will be serving in the next government or not, but I think one of the most effective organisations against crime in recent years was set up by the last Fine Gael government, the Criminal Assets Bureau. "I would love to see their role and resources extended so they can target so many people who maybe you can't get for drugs offences or murder offences but you can get them on financial offences. "It's the Al Capone principle. He was got on tax evasion even though everyone knew there were much more very serious crimes committed by Al Cap- one than what he was convicted for." The issue of Sinn Fein's support for Murphy overshadowed its election campaign. The party was also criticised for its stance on the Special Criminal Court - the very court that yesterday sentenced Murphy to 18 months in prison. In its manifesto, Sinn Fein calls for the repeal of anti- terror laws. While Mr Adams and Ms McDonald both used the term "good republican" in relation to the Co Louth man, other leading members of the party refused to do so. Fine Gael Louth TD Fergus O'Dowd said it was imperative that Mr Adams and Ms McDonald clarify whether they still believe Murphy is a "good republican". "There is an obligation on them to do that as elected representatives," he said. Nobel Prize winner, IU grad fondly remembers his time in Bloomington Philip H. Dybvig said he loves Bloomington and thought it was a great place to be an undergraduate. This domain has expired. If you owned this domain, contact your domain registration service provider for further assistance. If you need help identifying your provider, visit https://www.tucowsdomains.com/ Its a parallel world out there; one where man and woman are the same alter-egos separated just by gender; a world where each individual balances his or her personal journey with the pattern they form as part of a whole. How one sees the world around him is not necessarily how the world is. But it gives one an opportunity, an idea to aspire to. I am putting my idea in a sensitive place. Others come and see it, enter that space. The idea is for them to aspire to that world. That is the intent of art, says sculptor KS Radhakrishnan, the creator of this world. The artists works in bronze, made over decades, are being exhibited at Ojas Art Gallery near Qutub Minar. Radhakrishnans signature characters are Maiya and Musui, archetypal figures of man and woman through whom, as the exhibition brochure says, the artists vision of the world is unfolded in myriad ways. Everything is told through the human motif. In one piece the bent, taut body of Maiya suggests a bow and arrow. In another, she balances on one hand, ready to launch herself into an unknown future. There is a freedom here and fluidity. And opportunity to elevate one beyond the mundane. Heres the brochure again catching the essence of the artists oeuvre: His sculptures range from the small and intimate in scale to the large and lofty in dimension. They are shaped by his meditations on migration, history, memory, loss and nostalgia, and demonstrate his deep engagement with the world around him. He bestows a sensuous quality on his sculptures through the subtleties of modelling and the extraordinary body movements of his figures. In Maiya as Selkit, an Egyptian goddess, the divine is shown in a human form, to assure us mortals that it is possible to attain that height. Even when the larger shapes resemble a tree, the eye is drawn to the small human figures that make up the pattern. Each of them have an individual movement but come close to create something ephemeral, Radhakrishnan explains. At the Ojas Art Gallery, the sculptor indulges his love of showing his works in the open. The dust, the pollution or the impact of the elements dont bother him. There is a natural aging when they are in the open. That is how it is meant to be, he says. A section of Relief From Within (2007) (RAJ K RAJ/Hindustan Times) Fireflies of the Derelict Well (2011), bronze Dimensions: 154x94x109 cms (RAJ K RAJ/ Hindustan Times) (RAJ K RAJ/ Hindustan Times) Conflict Within (2013). Dimensions: 53x44x48cms (RAJ K RAJ/Hindustan Times) Imp on the Roof (2011)Dimensions:72x38x40cms (RAJ K RAJ/Hindustan Times) Face to Face(2015). Each of the heads measures 22x18cms (RAJ K RAJ/Hindustan Times) CAST IN BRONZE What: In The Open, an exhibition of sculptures by KS Radhakrishnan When: 11 am-7pm. Till March 25. Closed on Mondays Where: Ojas Art Gallery, 1AQ, Qutub Minar Roundabout SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Actress Kangana Ranaut has lavished praise on Manoj Bajpayee-starrer Aligarh, calling it beautiful and the best film she has seen in the last decade. This is the best film i have seen in the past 10 years. And its very good for our society. Just like medicine, which may be difficult to take but should be taken for the betterment, Kangana said at a screening of the film here. Read: Aligarh review Directed by Hansal Mehta, Aligarh is based on the real life incident of Dr Srinivas Ramchandra Siras, an AMU academician, who was suspended from his job because of his sexual orientation. As our society is also growing and evolving, the way we are, as a nation, as a country, its very courageous for Hansal sir to make this film, the Queen actress said about the film. Rajkummar Rao and Manoj Bajpayee in a still from Aligarh. The actress even said that the film is so beautiful, its like a poem and I can go on talking about it. Its beyond any issues, beyond homosexuality. But sometimes the film turns out to be so strong that we actually forget how creatively and artistically it is made. So I hope Hansal sir gets his due, because it says something very strong and important. I hope we do not forget how fine an artist he is, she added. Read: Aligarh affected me personally, says Rajkummar Rao Kangana also said that she will begin working with Mehta soon for a new film. Yes, we will be working soon. After Rangoon we are going to start the film. I am a big fan of Hansal Mehta and I hope we both will be making an endearing film, she said. On the night of 20th February 1998, Mohammad Aamir Khan (20) from Old Delhis Azad Market area left his home for prayers. He returned 14 years later after having spent 14 years in prisons in Delhi and Ghaziabad and facing trial in 18 bomb blast cases. He was eventually acquitted in all of them. Framed As a Terrorist: My 14 Year Struggle To Prove My Innocence is an account of the events that led to Aamirs arrest, his days in prison, and how the experience has shaped him. Since his release, various civil society groups have expressed solidarity with Aamir and are helping him financially and morally. He worked with Anhad, the Delhi-based NGO run by activist Shabnam Hashmi, for four years. Human rights activist and writer Nandita Haskar knew Aamirs story and proposed the idea of a book. The two held many sittings over three months at Haskars South Delhi apartment and by September 2014, the book comprising Aamirs words penned by Haskar, was ready. Framed is much more than a prison memoir dwelling on jail life including torture, protocols, terminology, rapes, mafias and the bribe culture that thrives inside prisons. Framed can be the story of any of the terror accused, whose arrests make news every year before Republic Day and Independence Day. The names that crop up could be Basheer, Abdul or Majeed instead of Aamir. Names change; the narrative remains the same: peculiar circumstances of arrests, impunity enjoyed by the police, lack of legal aid for under-trials, neverending trials, social boycott of the family of the accused, and a growing sense of despair. In November 1997, a man Aamir remembers as Guptaji befriended him outside Delhis Pakistan Embassy and gave him an assignment, which he was to finish while visiting his sister in Pakistan. On Aamirs failure to execute the task, Gupta and his aides tortured him, and eventually made him the accused in 18 bomb blast cases in and around Delhi. Mohammad Aamir Khan (centre) signing copies of his book at India International Centre, New Delhi. (Picture courtesy: Mohammad Aamir Khan ) The authors document institutionalised discrimination against minorities in Indian jails. A fellow inmate attacks Aamir calling him deshdrohi (traitor); an official of the Haryana Crime Investigation Department tells Aamir that the torture equipment is from his era, the Mughal times; a policeman at Delhis Roop Nagar police station assuring Aamir of his conviction based on his religion. The chapter entitled Context puts this hatred in perspective. The author traces its roots to 1912 when the Mughal capital Shahjahanabad became Old Delhi compared to New Delhi, the imperial capital of the British. The author notes that the newly constituted police force had Gujjars and Jats and promoted stereotypical images of Hindus and Muslims as two separate and antagonistic communities. Then came the violence of Partition after which Muslims found themselves ghettoized within narrow by-lanes. Subsequent events such as the Shah Bano case in 1985, the Salman Rushdie controversy, and the Babri Masjid demolition of 1992, left Indian Muslims insecure. This is as much the story of the current state of Muslims in India as it is of the transformation of a beautiful city into a commercial slum as the author describes Old Delhi. The authors also document how numerous trials and interactions with lawyers and fellow inmates made Aamir aware of the criminal justice system and his rights as an under-trial. Haskar poignantly captures, through Aamirs eyes, how the outside world had changed in all the years that he had been imprisoned: the first time he sees a mobile phone in the hands of an inmate; his fascination at the sight of a big building he later discovers is a shopping mall; and the realisation that there were now multiple television channels as opposed to just Doordarshan. The passage when Aamir walks out as a free man in January 2012 shows how an activity such as crossing the road on your own can feel like a privilege for someone who has spent 14 years behind bars. Aamirs ordeal has been woven with the stories of the two women who have stood by him all these years: his mother Memoona Begum and Alia Khan, his beloved whom he married after his acquittal. After Alias father rejected the proposal, Aamir and a delegation of well-wishers, including lawyers and activists, met the older man and convinced him that the marriage should go ahead. At its core, Framed is the story of how numb Indian society has become. How many Aamirs will it take for us to speak up against the abuse of the criminal justice system? SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mention his 13-year hiatus from feature films and Ram Madhvani says, Lets just make it 14 years because of my name. Then he chuckles, just so youre clear hes not equating himself with a Hindu deity. Madhvani is on the big screen for the second time with Neerja, a film about the Pan Am flight attendant Neerja Bhanot who died saving lives when her flight was hijacked in 1986. His last outing on the big screen was the 2002 flick Lets Talk, and the middle years were disappointing, he admits. But hes pretty philosophical about it. Ive given my disappointment a time limit. I mope for 24 hours, then move on. Desi Mad Men Could that skill at quick-recovery come from his experience in advertising? The 30-second ad-film training ground has bred some of the worlds most legendary filmmakers, from Ridley Scott to Rajkumar Hirani. His own style, Madhvani insists, is steadfastly Indian, thanks to a very Indian and very English childhood, divided between Barshi in Solapur and boarding school in Panchgani, during which he imbibed a gamut of influences. Im desperately interested in the Indian aesthetic, he says. The British colonised us culturally and the Americans have colonised us psychologically. It worries me. Its what brought him back to India after NYU film school to join Sumantra Ghosals Equinox Films, where he became a partner in two years. Rams style is unique, says Laura Gregory, chairman and executive producer at the London production company, Great Guns, which represents him. She says it was only a matter of time before Madhvani turned to the big screen. Its an easy transition for someone whos made advertising pieces that look like mini movies, and have all the emotion of a much bigger film. Madhvanis recent Kindle TV spot made the Great Guns team reach for their hankies; his idiosyncratic Happydent ad won bronze and silver lions at Cannes in 2006 and was recently named one of the worlds 20 best ad films of the 21st century; and young people across college campuses absentmindedly hum Airtels Har Ek Friend Zaroori Hota Hai jingle, which featured in the commercial Madhvani shot. Thats our quest as storytellers, to become part of the conversation, he says. As a filmmaker, youre either a visualist or a humanist. I prefer being a humanist. Im interested in making you laugh, cry and having a dialogue with you. As a society, weve become so numb to loss and pain that unfortunately we need the outlet of art and cinema to feel. Its cathartic. Har Ek Emotion Zaroori Hota Hai Atul Kasbekar, celebrity photographer and Neerjas producer says Madhvani was karmically ordained to direct Neerja. Both moved in the same circles as Neerja Bhanot, who was also a model. But it cut closer home: a friend of Madhvanis had shot an ad with Neerja just before she took the ill-fated Pan Am Flight 73, on September 5, 1986. Launching into 36 months of research on the script, Madhvani recalls walking into the Bhanots Chandigarh home with Sonam Kapoor. Neerjas mother, Rama, said, Arre! Yeh to laado aa gayi. She was also present when we began shooting at the plane set erected in Borivli, and applied a teeka to all 100 of our crew members, he says. The worst thing in the world is to lose a child. But she was incredibly positive and energetic; always telling everyone Jeete raho, khush raho, mast raho. The mother-daughter story also involved what Madhvani calls the daunting task of directing Shabana Azmi. Madhvani visited her at Breach Candy Hospital when her own mother was ill, just two days before they were to shoot a crucial scene. She asked me to give her the scene and began acting it out then and there. And she was spot-on emotionally. My wife and I had tears in our eyes. Buckle up: Ram Madhvanis first film since 2002 is a biopic about the brave Pan Am stewardess Neerja Bhanot. The Non-Don Draper In an industry dominated by the stereotype of the adman as a chain-smoking, foul-mouthed, smooth-talking creep, Madhvani comes across as an anomaly. Kasbekar, who first met him almost two decades ago for a Dukes Lemonade ad, says he is fully receptive to any new idea from anyone on the crew. But hes the boss, Kasbekar also points out. His is the final call at the editing table. And I weave a protective cocoon around him! Anil Thakraney, former advertising writer, author and senior journalist has worked with Madhvani too. If youre looking for someone to say something negative about Ram, good luck with that. But there are a few chinks in Madhvanis nice-guy armour. Gregory reveals that Madhvani, most ironically, has a fear of flying! Ask him if its true and he shrugs: I dont know what courage is, but I do know fear. From HT Brunch, February 28, 2016 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch To achieve the ambitious target of establishing 100 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2022 in the country, the government is likely to announce incentives in the upcoming Budget to boost manufacturing of solar panels. Despite a rapid increase in generation, solar power equipment are either assembled, or imported from China and Taiwan. Top government sources said finance minister Arun Jaitley in his Budget speech on February 29 is likely to announce incentives such as viability gap funding (VGF) to aid setting up of manufacturing centres, and commitment to long-term purchase agreements of said equipment. The VGF is a grant to support projects that can be economically justified, but do not entail financial viability. Now is the time to boost manufacturing given the tremendous capacity generation in the solar power sector, which we will see from 2017 onwards. This is a welcome move, said Deepak Puri, CMD of Moser Baer India Ltd, a solar equipment manufacturer. Fiscal stimulus such tax holidays to make production of solar equipment attractive is also likely to be part of the Budget, sources added. Indias solar power capacity stands at a little over 5,100 megawatts and is likely to double in the next couple of years. The governments solar power policy directs states to enter into long-term power purchase agreements (PPA) with solar power developers, but most have not followed the directive. A commitment from the central government to get these agreements signed will incentivise manufacturing in the sector. Implementation is key for such incentives from the Budget. The demand for equipment is very high, and these incentives will offset the high cost of manufacturing, said Sujoy Ghosh, the country head of First Solar India, a US-based solar power developer . While Chinese companies are making a beeline to tap into Indias growing renewable sector, the Budget incentives are directed to boost indigenous manufacturing with an eye on exporting equipment in the near future. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Last Sunday, the features sections of newspapers were largely devoted to the police intervention in Jawaharlal Nehru University and its aftermath. Interviewed by Deccan Herald, the general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), remarked that its a replay of how nationalism and jingoism [was] used by Hitler. Recall the name of Hitlers party the National Socialist party. Meanwhile, in an interview with Business Standard, a senior advocate in the Supreme Court, Kamini Jaiswal, was reported to have said that there is no free speech, today we are in a situation worse than Emergency, an undeclared emergency. I single out Yechury and Jaiswal because one heads a major political party, while the other is a greatly respected lawyer. But in fact such comments are now very nearly ubiquitous; in newspapers, on social media, and in private conversation. Liberal and left-wing Indians are increasingly prone to compare the situation today with that which prevailed in this country in the mid 1970s, or in Germany in the late 1930s. These comparisons are untenable and misleading. For, Hitlers Nazi party wished to exterminate not just Jews but also gypsies and homosexuals. It also sought world domination, launching unprovoked wars against Poland, Czechoslovakia, France, Russia and other countries. On the other hand, the sangh parivar may fantasise about Akhand Bharat, but it has not been planning wars on our neighbours. The RSS believes in the subordination of Muslims and Christians to Hindus, but it has never (so far as I know) contemplated their wholesale extermination. The comparison with the dark days of the Emergency does not hold, either. I was a student in Delhi University at the time, and vividly recall the atmosphere of fear and terror that pervaded the campus. There were no political discussions permissible. When the leaders of the Delhi University Students Union were picked up, there was not a murmur of protest. The BJP governments attack on JNU was unfortunate, but it was by no means as draconian as what the Congress did during the Emergency. When the Emergency was promulgated, the Congress was in power in almost all states of the Union. As a result, the situation in Delhi was reproduced across the country. Protests were not just impermissible in DU, but in all colleges and universities in India. The large show of pan-Indian support for the JNU students now visible would have been inconceivable during the Emergency. The BJP is in power in less than half of Indias states. This situation makes an Emergency impossible, even if one assumes that the Union government wants to impose one. Why, even in the national capital, the BJPs hegemony is continually being challenged by the Aam Aadmi Party. Parallels with the regimes of Hitler and Indira Gandhi break down for another reason. Those two leaders were in total control of their party, and of the state apparatus. On the other hand, Narendra Modi is in control of neither. In a moment of delicious irony, Dr Manmohan Singh recently accused his successor of being silent on the major questions of the day. That he is; meanwhile, he is absent too. During the JNU troubles and the Jat agitation, Mr Modi was criss-crossing India, one day in Mumbai, another day in Odisha, a third in Chhattisgarh, a fourth in Varanasi, speaking on many subjects, but not those of immediate consequence. As is increasingly evident, Mr Modi is not in control of his Cabinet ministers or of the RSS. He is not even in control of the ABVP. And he is not remotely in control of the governments of Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, West Bengal, Odisha, and some other states of the Union. In comparison to Hitler or Indira in their pomp, Modi is a very weak ruler indeed. To call out false historical analogies is not to say that Indian democracy is alive and well. It faces serious challenges, of which I shall here mention only four. First, contrary to what many people expected or hoped, the RSS is laying down the agenda for governance at the Centre. In Gujarat Mr Modi may have marginalised the sangh, but after he moved to New Delhi he has largely deferred to them. And the sangh remains a patriarchal, chauvinist, organisation with a medievalist mindset, wholly unsuited to taking India forward in the 21st century. A second worry is the continuing degeneration of the Congress. Unless it is rescued from the hands of the Nehru-Gandhis, it cannot play a constructive role in the 21st century either. Every day that the manifestly incompetent Rahul Gandhi continues in politics is bad for the Congress, and worse for India, if only because so many citizens still hope for a viable national alternative to the BJP. A third worry is the continuing collapse of our public institutions. State-run schools and public hospitals are in a shambles. The rule of law is increasingly arbitrary, as seen not only in the courts of the national capital, but also in places like Bastar, where the police and paramilitary have defied even Supreme Court judgments to harass and intimidate citizens (here, the poorest and most vulnerable of our citizens, adivasis). A fourth worry is the environmental crisis we face. Alarmingly high levels of air and water pollution, the depletion of groundwater aquifers, the chemical poisoning of our soil these have major negative impacts on economic growth and social stability, and yet remain wholly unaddressed by Central and state governments. Tackling these problems will require focused action by many Indians, cutting across party lines and across generations. Hyperbolic invocations of the Nazis or the Emergency are an unnecessary distraction from the hard work that lies ahead. Ramachandra Guhas most recent book is Gandhi Before India. The views expressed by the author are personal. He tweets from @Ram_Guha SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Angel funding. Venture capital. Series A. Unicorn. Valuation. Exit. Stock options. Freebies. Awesome workplace. Office parties. All those terms sound cool to youngsters with dreamy eyes seeking hot jobs in startups. But few seem to realise in the euphoria that there is another side to the heady boom in entrepreneurship. One week after it rescued an abducted woman employee with a spirited rescue campaign on social media, e-commerce firm Snapdeal is in the news for the wrong reasons. It is letting go of an estimated 200 employees in a performance-linked purge. Whats more, something that is not seen in the Silicon Valley is happening in India: a union-like effort by the staff to move the government and invoke pro-labour laws. Snadeals staff protested in a letter to the government that they their jobs had been illegally terminated and wanted them back. Forget about stock options maturing, they have not been given their demand for three-month severance pay. Employees have also been demonstrating in Delhi. Not just that, TinyOwl, Localbanya, Zomato and Housing.com have between them laid off 1,500 employees in recent months. Foodpanda is busy reinventing itself with some pains. It pays to acknowledge the darker side of the startup game. So here some tips to get real and friendly words of advice for startup employees existing and aspiring. 1. Remember the risk: Startups are hot because they dream big but a lot of the rewards are linked to risks taken by everyone: venture capitalists, angel investors, entrepreneurs and employees. This could mean dealing with ups and downs that you dont quite know about. 2. Whats good for the company may not be good for you: In the end, profitability is important for a startup. This means higher revenues and/or lower costs. This could translate as extra pressures on sales and customer service staff or a demand for fewer heads and hands to do more work. 3. Funding may dry up, suddenly: Venture capitalists woo in style, and then shoo in style. When they dont see the milestones coming, they turn off the tap, and your CEO may be left holding the baby if at all he/she is around to do so. 4. Goodies come with the slog: Long hours, nightly phone calls and drudgery are expected when they give you good cafe food and parties. Consider if you can juggle these with a healthy personal life. 5. Valuations may go down: It is a two-way street for your stock options. Bubbles may burst, or at least, company valuations may go down if sales and/or growth targets dont come on as expected. They are trying to create mechanisms to sell illiquid shares of unlisted companies (which is what startups are). But hey, you may get stuck with dud shares. 6.The Silicon Valley is far away: It is a different country, stupid. India has labour laws to protect employees but the flip side is that this also means hassles for employers. Easy hire-and-fire makes your job less secure but higher government interventions mean company growth may not be cruising. 7. Mergers/acquisitions can hurt: Your company may be acquired or may acquire. Either way, for some employees, this may imply a redundancy. You may be the best vice-president (fill in your specialisation here), but your head may roll if the merger plan has someone in your league who is faster/better/cheaper/smarter/luckier. 8. No tantrums, please: Try a tantrum, and you may find yourself fired. A decidedly underpaid US employee of Yelp got fired after she complained to the CEO. She yelped. It did not help. Never mind that Yelp is already listed with a valuation close to $1.5 billion. Your employee for your food delivery app that you spent $300 million to buy cant afford to buy food, she wrote. Thats gotta be a little ironic, right? (You know the HR hears a lot, but dont be sure it is listening). 9. Slow bleeds are painful: They call him the father of e-commerce in India. K. Vaitheeswaran was a rockstar circa 2000 when he founded Fabmall, which got folded into IndiaPlaza. But his company bled away slowly and closed after more than a decade. The Flipkarts and Snapdeals of the world have stolen his thunder. You know, some startups remain startups for too long, and it can be pretty purposeless and painful. 10.Your skills stay; stay abreast: Companies come and go and startups can go bust for reasons no one can guess. But what you are good at may be more permanent. Keeping that skill in good shape is an investment that may matter more than a big dollop of venture funding that comes into a startup. More than 1,200 nurses in Uttarakhand went on mass leave on Friday to protest against the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations but health services remained unaffected thanks to the state governments backup plan, officials said. The nurses went on a one-day mass casual leave as a part of a nationwide agitation called by the All India Government Nurses Federation to protest against the reduction in their allowances by the pay commission and demand an increased grade pay in salaries. Nurses said the pay commission did not increase the pay band and merged different types of allowances provided to them into one, reducing the overall amount received under those heads. We have asked for increasing the entry pay grade of staff nurses to Rs 5,400 per month from Rs 4,600. Our other demands include increment in nursing allowance, uniform and washing allowance, night duty allowance and time-bound promotion, said Lakshmi Punetha, the spokesperson of the Uttarakhand Nurses Association. The Seventh Pay Commission has also failed to recommend provision of risk allowance to us despite the fact that we work in infectious conditions day in and day out, said Punetha. A delegation of 40 nurses from the state joined the nurses national protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The Friday casual mass leave by government nurses across the state will be followed by an indefinite strike from March 15 if the Central government does not consider their demands. At the Doon Government Medical College Hospital, around 180 nurses remained on mass leave. To make up for the absence of nurses, we had deployed pharmacists and nursing students as a backup option in the hospitals so there was no major impact of the nurses mass leave, said Dr KK Tamta, medical superintendent of the Doon Govt Medical College Hospital. The police have identified more than 20 people who were seen in a video shouting slogans on the JNU campus on February 9. Police said they learnt about the names of the students from the joint interrogation of the three students Umar Khalid, Anirban and Kanhaiya Kumar. Video played over 12 times to identify those shouting slogans Sources said the list of students had been prepared and they would be summoned to join the investigation. According to sources, the video was played over 12 times, even in slow motion, to clearly identify the persons who were seen shouting slogans. Sources said some of the persons who had covered their faces could not be identified. Police said that it appears that the persons whose faces were covered were the real conspirators. Umar, Anirban stayed a friends place in South Delhi before surrendering Police sources revealed that Umar and Anirban had stayed at a friends house in south Delhi before surrendering to the police. The friend will also be called to join the probe. Police said they are looking into role of all persons who helped the accused remain in hiding after incident. Khalid, Kanhaiya, Anirban gave contradictory versions According to t he police, Khalid, Kanhaiya and Anirban have been changing their statements and gave contradictory versions on the sequence of events and slogans shouted at the February 9 event. Both Khalid and Anirban have been kept in separate rooms and were asked to recall the entire sequence of events, including the nature of slogans that were shouted on February 9. While Anirban confidently said that no anti-national slogans were raised, Khalid said no slogans were shouted at all till he was present there, police sources said. Their statement about when Kanhaiya joined the event, whether it was after, before or during the event also differs. While Khalid and Anirban claim that he was there during the event, Kanhaiya said he reached there later. We are examining the statements, the investigators said. Police said despite claims by Umar and Anirban that the decision to hold the event was collective and members of Democratic Students Union had contributed to it, it appears that it was them who were the main organisers and went ahead with the event despite cancellation of the permission by university administration. The duo also claimed that they had just conceived the idea to hold the event and not actually organise it. Police prepare the evidence file Meanwhile, the police have started preparing the evidence file of the case. The file includes the raw version of the video clip obtained from a news channel on the basis of which the case was registered, the letters of communication between the police and the university authorities and the poster of the event. Ashutosh, one of the three students who are yet to be arrested, has also been called to join the probe, sources said. When police commissioner BS Bassi retires from the Delhi Police on Monday after a thirty-nine year long stint with the force, the top cop has a part-time retirement plan. Bassi has decided to study the laws and cases of sedition in other countries, apart from other assignment that will come his way. I will be travelling after my retirement. If I go to any country, I will try to find how they deal with a case of sedition, Bassi, who was in the eye of the storm over the sedition case against student leader Kanhaiya Kumar, told HT. The word sedition may be a thing of the past but every country deals with such problems. Laws are made to ensure that everyone lives in a peaceful environment. I will do a detailed study about the laws in the countries that I get a chance to visit, he said. Talking about the sedition case against Kanhaiya, he said the police have enough evidence against him and the other accused. My officers have collected evidence against the accused persons. The investigation is on and in the process, we will get more evidence. We are confident about the case, he said. Bassi, who had joined Delhi Police at the age of 21 years, turned 60 last week. During his nearly three-year tenure as the top cop, Bassi had a face-off with Arvind Kejriwal government on several issues. Did Delhi Police book JNU students union president Kanhaiya Kumar and five others for sedition due to extraneous pressure? If one considers that only two persons were booked under the colonial-era law in the Capital in the past 10 years, the allegations seem to gain weight. In both cases reported in 2012 and 2013, the police lodged a case only on the directions of the court and the charges were dropped later. But in the JNU case, the police not only registered an FIR after an initial probe, they invoked the sedition charge on the basis of some video clippings. The evidence in the past two cases was far too damning and direct, in one of which MNS chief Raj Thackeray was an accused. None of the accused had to spend time in jail but in contrast, Kanhaiya Kumar, against whom police are yet to back their case with evidence, has already spent more than 10 days behind bars and has been labelled anti-national. Gherao Parliament In February 2013, Abu Barra a UK resident had said he intended to take out a march by his Muslim fellow brothers to occupy roads surrounding Parliament while in session. Police told him that the area was protected by special laws while Parliament was in session and that the protest venue be shifted to Jantar Mantar. In a written note, Abu Barra replied he had no faith in the Constitution and no laws were binding upon them. The laws preventing protest have no authority over us and there is no basis to abide by these prohibitions. Moreover, the aim of our movement is to remove the Constitution of India and replace all with the Shariah rules. It is not the aim of the movement to preserve or obey these laws in any way, he had written in response to the police suggestion. As such the act of seeking a judgment from the Supreme Court of India is a great crime and the judgment issued by it is null and void. We do not recognise any authority of the Supreme Court of India and the undertaking requested by it is not binding upon anyone. It is surprising that Indian political parties offer bread crumbs to appease Muslims and win their votes, yet their true colour appear when Muslims call for the right to authority over India to be returned to them. We are calling for the Shariah to be implemented in India as this is a duty from Allah and a foundation of Islam, Barra said in his response. The police initially ignored the matter and registered a case on the direction of court months later. The case was later transferred to the Special Cell. After a four-year investigation, the police closed the case in January 2016 as untraced. We tried to contact him and even sent a letter rogatory to the UK but since no evidence came on record it was closed, a source said. Hate speech In March 2013, Delhi-based lawyer Mithilesh Kumar Pandey filed a complaint against MNSchief Raj Thackeray over an alleged hate speech, targeting people from Bihar and UP. While addressing a gathering of 50,000 people at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, Thackeray had said that Muslims of Bihar, Jharkhand and Bangladesh were responsible for the violence reported on August 11,2012 in Mumbai that left several people dead. The MNSleader told the gathering that people from Bihar and UP were responsible for the violence and should be thrown out of the city. The speech of Raj Thackeray against North Indian instigated violence against them. The situation is so tense that it may trigger a riot in many states across India, all because of the hate speeches, the lawyer said in his complaint. The police registered a case only on court orders, however, the police failed to find any evidence. Raj Thackeray was never summoned by the police and the FIR was quashed later. Read: Police didnt arrest my attacker even after I identified him, says Kanhaiya SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 19-year-old German national was allegedly raped by an auto rickshaw driver and molested by his friends in central Delhis Prasad Nagar in December, two days before the city marked the third anniversary of the December 16 gang rape. The girl said she was too scared to report the incident then and returned to Maharashtra where she runs an NGO. On February 5, she wrote to the Delhi Commission for Women which encouraged her to approach the Delhi Police. A case of rape was registered on February 24 but the girl refused to get the portrait of the accused made, sources said. In a statement to the DCW, the girl said she was staying in a hotel in nearby Patel Nagar and went out for a walk on the night of December 14 but couldnt find her way back. She flagged down an auto and told the driver to drop her at the hotel. She was instead taken to a dimly-lit, isolated stretch and allegedly raped by the driver inside the auto. She said she somehow managed to get away but he followed her in the auto to another street and this time was accompanied by other men. They started molesting her but she bit the tongue of one of the men. He yelled and she too started shouting, causing enough commotion to scare them away, a DCW official told HT. The girl said she found her way to a main road and sat down on the sidewalk where a man offered to help her and dropped her at the hotel in his vehicle, but she didnt tell him about the rape. Shaken by the ordeal, the victim went back to Maharashtra. She later wrote to the DCW and returned to the capital to record her statement with the police on February 20. A case was finally registered on February 24 more than two months after the alleged rape. Police said a case could have been filed sooner had the commission approached them as soon as they received the victims letter. They said they could have sent a team to Maharashtra to record her statement and she neednt have come all the way back to Delhi. The hotel staff were called for clarification and they said the girl was staying at the hotel with a male friend. They said she was calm and composed when she returned to the hotel. We have initiated an inquiry into the matter to ascertain the chain of events that is still unclear as the woman has been contradicting her statements. We have initiated a probe and will investigate the matter thoroughly, a police officer said. More than 400 students were expelled from different centres across Bihar on the third day of Intermediate examinations on Friday for using unfair means. A few impersonators were also caught and promptly removed from the examination halls. Information about a few invigilators and parents being booked for helping examinees adopt unfair means was also reported from various parts of the state. While 15 expulsions were reported from Patna, 43 examinees were removed from giving examination in Gaya. In Arwal and Nawada 42 and 53 examinees were expelled, respectively, while 37 were expelled from Jehanabad. Expulsions were also reported from examination centres in Nalanda, Bhiojpur, Rohtas, Buxar, Vaishali, Sitamarhi, Saran, Siwan, Saharsa and other districts. Besides expulsions, the examinations passed off peacefully in the state. The examination of physics for science students and history as well as yoga and physical education for arts students was conducted in two shifts on the day. Around 9.29 lakh examinees appeared in the examination. Read more | Zero tolerance: Bihar to go high-tech to curb cheating in exams In the three days of the examination, over 1,000 students have been expelled. Although many students did not raise much hue and cry over stringent arrangements of the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB), a few examinees did express their displeasure over constant frisking by officials while examinations were underway. They do not teach us anything in the college or school and during examination they do not let us cheat. While I do not mind ban on cheating, I am not happy with the constant body frisking and checking of answer sheets by officials every now and then. It wastes my valuable time, said Arjun, an examinee from Chapra. Interestingly, he wrote the examination while wearing a vest. It is better this way, he reasoned. Three youths have been accused of gangraping a 14-year-old Dalit girl in a field and setting her on fire when she was on her way to a nearby town from her village in Ghazipur district on Friday, police said. The girl has been admitted to the district hospital in a serious condition. The police have registered a case against three culprits in this connection. According to the police, the class 7 student left her home for a nearby Sivan town. As she stepped out of the village, the three youths waylaid and dragged her to the sugarcane field. The trio then took turns to rape her. Later, they poured kerosene on her and set her afire before fleeing the place. The police said the girl ran out of the field while crying for help. However, she fell unconscious a little later, they added. Some locals saw her and rushed her to the hospital. In the meantime, SO, Dulahpur police station, Ritendra Pratap Singh along with his team also reached the spot. The BJP youth wing on Saturday held a protest march here against anti-national views expressed by the Congress party. The protest march was led by the Bharatiya Janata Party member of parliament and BJP youth wing president Anurag Thakur. Delhi: Protest demonstration led by BJYM President Anurag Thakur against Congress pic.twitter.com/OsFPcWSH8F ANI (@ANI_news) February 27, 2016 The march started from Ashoka Road and will conclude at Janpath. We are protesting against the anti-national views and position of Congress, Thakur said in a tweet. The Art of Living Foundation might have to fork out Rs 120 crore as penalty for the damage caused to the Yamuna floodplains in the run-up to its March 11-13 event expected to be attended by three-and-a-half million devotees. A National Green Tribunal (NGT) panel has estimated Rs 100-120 crore as the cost of restoration of the western side of the floodplains after examining the extent of damage, and recommended that the amount be collected before the event. The committee is of a strong view that the organisers i.e. the Art of Living Foundation should be responsible for funding the restoration plan as a penalty. The committee in its rough estimation feels that the total cost of restoration of the floodplains on the western side of the river alone, as proposed by the principal committee, will now be of the order of Rs 100-120 crore, the four-member panel said as part of its recommendations to the tribunal. Read | Art of Living event along Yamunas floodplain creates controversy The panel headed by Shashi Shekhar, secretary of the water resources ministry, and comprising CR Babu of the environment and forests ministry, Prof AK Gosain of IIT-Delhi and Prof Brij Gopal of Jaipur gave its report, viewed by HT, after visiting the site of the foundations World Culture Festival. The amount recommended to be collected from the foundation headed by spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar would be used for ecological restoration as, according to experts, huge quantity of debris is to be removed, the site de-compacted, natural topography and contours restored, temporary roads removed, natural vegetation re-planted and so on. The panel said restoration should be completed within a year from the end of the festival. An NGT bench headed by chairperson justice Swatanter Kumar will start its daily hearing in this case from Tuesday. An HT team that visited the site witnessed how the venue was coming up bit by bit, with huge machines having cleared over 1,000 acres where tents, hutments, pontoon bridges stood. An enormous seven-acre stage will be built on the floodplains. Read | Green court to hold daily hearing in Art of Living event case The tribunal, which is seized of the matter, in a detailed judgment last year expressly prohibited all construction activity on the floodplains as that could pose a grave danger to the river ecology. The tribunal had asked its principal committee to identify structures on the floodplains that needed to be demolished. The Art of Living Foundation has said it is taking all requisite measures to maintain the ecological balance of the Yamuna riverbank. Prior to beginning work on the site, we cleared nearly 20-25 acres of the area which was earlier covered with construction debris. The World Culture Festival venue is at a safe distance from the riverbank and we have set in place systems to ensure it remains clean after the event is over, a foundation spokesperson said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Supreme Court is in the process of framing guidelines to deal with arsonists indulging in wanton destruction of public property during protests, such as the Jat agitation, which resulted in estimated losses worth thousands of crores. Yet, curiously, the court doesnt want the media to report the arguments that it will hear in this regard. Read more: SC gags media from reporting proceedings on riot guidelines Noting that important questions of law were involved in the issue before it, the bench told media persons present in the courtroom that questions and answers during the hearing should not be reported. The Delhi High Court too has issued orders to keep secret and confidential the proceedings in the JNU sedition case before the trial court. The HCs order is understandable in view of violent incidents at Patiala House Court when JNU student union president Kanhaiya Kumar was produced by the police. The HCs order is aimed at ensuring safety of the accused. But its difficult to appreciate the rationale behind the SC move on shutting the media out as there is no threat to public order from journalists. While arson and destruction beams freely into peoples homes, courtesy 24x7 media, judicial proceedings aimed at framing guidelines to hold the perpetrators to account cant be reported. Open court proceedings have been a norm in India. Any deviation has to be guided by larger public interest or to avoid imminent danger to life and property. Court proceedings are not just between the judiciary and the government. Citizens are also legitimate stakeholders as they are the worst affected during agitations. The SC has taken a citizen-friendly move and media reporting can enrich the process of framing guidelines to deal with rioters by opening it up to a larger public discourse. Media is an interface between the system and the society. Unless, journalists indulge in something illegal or irresponsible, they should not be barred from reporting such important proceedings. After all, they are an important link between judiciary and public. Judiciary has been often criticised for its mindset of feeling comfortable in opacity. Its reluctance to implementation of the Right to Information Act and love for secret system of judges appointing judges are often cited as examples in this regard. Not many judges are aware of the nature of work mediapersons do. Judiciary needs to understand media and its role in a democracy and treat it as an ally and not as one that unnecessarily obstructs the judicial process. Misgivings, if any, can be dispelled through dialogues at institutional level. When Mayawati spoke in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, and forcefully reiterated her demand for a Dalit member in the committee investigating Rohith Vemulas suicide, she was not in a mood to listen to anyone. The BSP chief brushed aside the Chairman and told him, You listen to what I have to say. Mayawati told the HRD minister Smriti Irani, who had threatened to cut off her head if the former UP CM was not satisfied, that she was not impressed--and mischievously asked her what Irani would do now. Mayawatis speech on Vemula, a Dalit student who committed suicide in the University of Hyderabad, was not marked with great flair. Her tone remained monotonous, but the aggression was palpable. And this aggression, coming after a period of relative silence, is what her base in UP was waiting for. Mayawati had three clear objectives with her speech: use the Vemula issue to consolidate the entire Dalit base behind her; project a strong anti-BJP message to send a signal to the states Muslims; and position herself as a strong leader ready to take over Uttar Pradesh in 2017. Dalits have always been victims of aggression of other communities. And that is why the community now seeks aggression in its leaders, said Satish Prakash, a BSP sympathiser and Meerut-based Dalit intellectual. Tracing the history of BSP, he said that it is when Mayawati gave her most aggressive slogans that the partys base grew. In 2007, an alliance with upper-castes helped it win in the assembly. But it came at a cost, for it had to dilute its slogans and focus on cross caste-collaboration. This, many Dalits felt, diluted its commitment to justice for its social base. And the party had to pay a price for it in 2009 and 2012. She has to show she remains aggressive, and she remains committed to Dalit issues. The Rohith (Vemula) issue is an opportunity for her to show it. It was noteworthy that Mayawati said in Parliament that if BSP was in power in UP, it would have, by now, given a job to Vemulas brother. Dalits in UP are heterogeneous and while Jatavs, Mayawatis own community, is solidly behind her, other non-Jatav Dalit communities often veer to the BJP. This was obvious in the 2014 elections. By picking up an issue of discrimination against a Dalit student, Mayawati hopes to consolidate all Dalit communities--or at the very least, sow a seed of doubt in their minds about the BJP. Mayawatis new found aggression is also a signal to the states Muslims that it can bank on her. A Muslim MP of the party told HT, We have to strive for Dalit-Muslim unity. Muslims are disillusioned with SP because of frequent riots, and also because SP has not fulfilled its promises of releasing innocent Muslims trapped in prison or providing them reservation. He says this vacuum can be filled by BSP if it can succeed in assuring the community that there would be no pact with the BJP. By taking on BJP in parliament, Mayawati has done that. And finally, the BSP hopes to convert the Uttar Pradesh 2017 battle to one where Mayawati is projected as a strong leader. The Samajwasdi Party governments tenure is, in the public perception, associated with a degree of lawlessness and a weak CM, riddled with super-CMs from his family and party. This is contrasted with Mayawatis term, where she was seen to be strict on law and order and who kept the administration under tight control. If people in UP today look back at her rule with nostalgia, it is because she was strong. This strength was reflected in the speech yesterday, said Prakash. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Opposition has decided to charge human resource development minister Smriti Irani with breach of privilege in Parliament, indicating that Dalit scholar Rohith Vemulas suicide and the JNU row will continue to cast a shadow on the budget session. Finance minister Arun Jaitley will present the general budget on Monday and the ruling coalition hopes to shift the political discourse from controversial students issues to economic matters. But on the same day, the Congress, the CPI(M) and the Janata Dal (United) could move a privilege motion against Irani in both houses of Parliament. CPI(M) leader Mohd Salim said he would move the privilege motion in the Lok Sabha while KC Tyagi of the JD(U) said his party would move the motion in the Rajya Sabha. Congress president Sonia Gandhi told Rohith Vermulas mother and brother that she would stand by them till justice was done. Party vice-president Rahul Gandhis office put up a link to a video of Rohiths mother contradicting Irani on his Twitter handle with the remark, Satyamev Jayate! Modiji do hear these words of Rohith Vemulas mother. The jibe was targeted at the PM who had shared a link of Iranis first speech during the JNU debate in the Lok Sabha with the comment Satyamev Jayate. ! Modiji do hear these words of Rohith Vemula's mother: https://t.co/3ZWKusIysT Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) February 27, 2016 Top Congress sources said they had identified at least three potential faults in Iranis reply in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Rohith Vemulas family and the doctor who examined Rohiths body have already contradicted what the minister told Parliament. These are the two key matters of privilege, said a senior Congress leader involved in the partys internal consultations on the JNU and University of Hyderabad issues. The minister has not only been economical with the truth but has also wilfully misled Parliament on the unfortunate suicide of a young Dalit student, Rohith Vemula. The Congress will move a privilege motion against the HRD minister for misleading Parliament, former social justice minister Mukul Wasnik said on Saturday. The Congress might also challenge the document referring to Mahishasura which Irani read in the Rajya Sabha, leading to a furore. She said she had authenticated it. But we may like to challenge the veracity of that material, a senior Congress leader said. Read | Durga row to offering her head: Smriti Irani is controversys child A privilege matter, which entails a lengthy deliberation process in Parliament, could even lead to the expulsion of a member. On November 18, 1977, the Lok Sabha had expelled Indira Gandhi, who won from Chikmagalur, from its membership after a privilege charge was proved to be correct. A year later, however, it was withdrawn. Replying to the debate related to recent developments at University of Hyderabad and JNU, Irani had alleged that no doctor was allowed near Vemulas body for hours after he committed suicide. Vemulas family countered the claim to say that after the body was discovered at 7 pm, Dr Rajshree came around 7.30 pm. Vemulas friend Prashant refuted the ministers other remark that the inquiry committee to review the matter had the universitys chief warden as a member. Our chief warden was never a part of the inquiry, Prashant said on Friday. Congress leaders were quick to latch on to the statements of Vemulas friends and family. The strong words from Rohith Vemulas mother, who has lost her son to BJP and in particular the HRD ministers campus politics, is a stamp of how recklessly and ruthlessly their party is hell-bent on clamping down the voices of dissent, Wasnik said, quoting Rohiths mother Radhika Vemulas remarks. Protesting against the non-payment of Rs 8 crore to cotton growers by Sunil Talatule, owner of Shrikrushna Ginning Mill and son of an influential RSS leader, farmers affiliated with the Congress outfit Bharatiya Kisan Khet Mazdoor Congress have threatened to set themselves on fire in front of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters at Mahal on February 28. According to Prem Gajbhare of BKKMS, Sunil, son of the late Prabhakar Talatule, procured around 20,000 quintals of raw cotton from farmers for his mill at Selu in Wardha district from November 2014 to April 2015. However, Talatule failed to pay the cotton growers. Gajbhare said around 400 cotton growers suffered because of non-payment of dues by the mill and they faced hardship as they were unable to repay crop loans and keep the household running. We have sent a letter to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to intervene and ensure Talatule pays the distressed farmers. But nothing was done, he alleged. Gajbhare alleged Talatule claimed that action cant be taken against him as his father was an influential figure in the Sangh Parivar. We have lodged a police complaint against Sunil Talatule in this regard, he said. The Selu police registered an FIR under sections 420 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and arrested Talatule. Later he got bail from the Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court. It is unfortunate that when distressed farmers are committing suicide every day in Vidarbha, farmers are being deprived by people from the ruling party, Gajbhare said, adding no action has been taken against Talatule even after raising the issue before senior BJP and RSS functionaries and the chief minister. Owners of 13 vehicles torched on National Highway-1 during the Jat quota violence have said no incidents of rape or molestation took place on February 21 night, says a Haryana police status report accessed by Hindustan Times. Media reports had said vehicles with women were reportedly stopped on National Highway-1 near Murthal in Sonepat district on Monday morning, and the woman dragged out and raped in the fields. Video footage taken from close circuit television cameras (CCTV) installed at Amrik-Sukhdev Dhaba on NH-1 at Murthal does not show any woman with torn clothes, said the status report sent by Sonepat superintendent of police Abhishek Garg to Haryana DGP Yashpal Singhal on Friday. HT spoke to some stranded travellers whose vehicles were vandalised at Murthal during the Jat agitation. They denied having seen or heard about any such incident. The report said some old garments found near the spot where the vehicles were vandalized may have been of a tribal community (Gadia-Lohar) who were there a few days ago. Forensic experts are examining them. The Sonepat district police chief in the status report said that on February 25, he himself examined the incident spot and nearby areas. 13 vehicles were set ablaze in the violence and whose first information reports have been registered by the police. Eight vehicle owners have come to us and the remaining five have been contacted by us. None of the 13 persons have corroborated that any incident of molestation and rape took place. Still, we are conducting an in depth probe, said the status report. What happened on Sunday night? The status report describes the incidents that took place on NH-1 on the intervening night of February 21/22. At 2 in the night, police got information that some vehicles plying on NH-1 were torched by miscreants. The commuters took refuge in nearby houses and dhabas. The Sonepat deputy commissioner, the Sonepat superintendent of police, inspector general of Police (IG) Paramjit Ahlawat reached the spot with forces. On the way near Nidaan hospital, officials came across distressed commuters, including women. They were sent inside the hospital for safety reasons. Moving further we came across several commuters -- both men and women -- at Amrik-Sukhdev dhaba. These commuters told us about the torching of vehicles by miscreants. They were shifted from the trouble spot and ferried in Haryana Roadways buses. After that the police forces removed all obstructions on NH-1 and facilitated entry of other vehicles to Delhi. Media reports The police, after media reports about the alleged molestation and rape of women, got in touch with three persons some journalists had spoken to. During inquiry, Zile Singh of Hassanpur village, Master Om Singh and Hari Kishen, both of Kurad village, told police that there was no incidents of molestation or rape that night. The police took the statements of Dalel, Rajendra and Bijendra, all from Kurad village, but no one confirmed such incidents that night, the police report said. Senior officers, NCW member at the spot Principal secretary, industries, Devender Singh and inspector general Ahlawat went to Murthal and adjoining areas but did not come across any person who could corroborate the allegations. National Commission of Women member Rekha Sharma and her team also went to the spot but could not verify the allegations, said the police report. The DGP said police contacted journalist Praveen Arora, who co-authored The Tribune report on the alleged gang rapes, but failed to get any information. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON This week, two cadaver hearts flown from Aurangabad to Chennai saved the lives of a 16-year-old boy whose father is in the Army and an eighteen-year-old girl. This is perhaps the longest distance that a cadaver heart has been transported in India. Previously, they have been transported between relatively closer cities such as Mumbai and Surat. With cadaver donations gaining momentum in smaller cities, doctors say that inter-state transportation of organs will soon become more common. On Monday, the heart of a 28-year-old man who met with an accident was donated at Doot Hospital in Aurangabad. The heart was transported to Chennai in a defence aircraft as there were no chartered flights available. The latest donation, on Friday, was facilitated by doctors at Government Medical College in Aurangabad, where relatives of a 27-year-old man consented to donate his organs and corneas. He met with an accident while riding his motorcycle. He was being treated at a hospital in Shirdi, from where he was brought to Aurangabad, said Dr Jeevan Rajput, a neurosurgeon. This is also the first time that a public hospital in Aurangabad has facilitated a cadaver donation. The donor, Ganesh Ghodke, was a resident of a village near Aurangabad. He met with an accident, which resulted in an irreversible brain damage. We performed a battery of investigations, which confirmed our diagnosis, said Dr Rajput. On Friday, Ghodkes organs were retrieved at the medical college in Aurangabad. His heart was transported via a green corridor to the Aurangabad airport in just 12 minutes. On a normal day, it takes 30 to 45 minutes to travel the same distance. We created a green corridor for rapid transportation of the heart to the airport, said Dr Suresh Harbade, associate professor of surgery at Aurangabad Medical College. The cost of transporting the heart from Aurangabad to Chennai was approximately Rs 17 lakh. A cadaver heart must be transplanted into the patient within four hours of its retrieval. Hence, doctors retrieve the heart first and other organs such as the liver and kidneys later. Ghodkes liver was flown to Pune while his kidneys were transplanted into two patients at hospitals in Aurangabad. The girls lung pressure was very high and hence we preferred an adult heart for transplantation. An adult heart can withstand more pressure than a childs and the chance of failure is lower, said Dr K G Suresh Rao, Fortis Malar Hospital, Chennai. A Jharkhand court sentenced a middle-aged man to life in prison on Saturday for raping a nine-year-old girl, brining to end a campaign for justice by Hindustan Times that saw readers worldwide offering help to the victim. The rapist, 45-year-old Surendra Sardar, was known to the victim who used to address him as uncle in a village in Dumaria district in July last year. The assault left the girl with ruptured genitals and intestines in a case that came to be known as the Dumaria rape, which moved millions of people after this newspaper reported her struggle to get treatment with her father carrying her in his arms to the nearest hospital a two-hour walk away. Read | Court convicts Dumaria rape accused, sentencing today For nearly two months after the incident, the family shuttled from one government hospital to another in Jamshedpur and Ranchi for her treatment but in vain. HT took up the girls cause on August 27 and carried a report with an appeal for help. The next day, a team travelled to her village and got the girl admitted to Ranchis Medanta hospital. Jharkhand high court chief justice Virendar Singh had taken suo motto cognizance of the HT report on August 29 and ordered the state to instantly give Rs 1 lakh compensation to the victim besides bearing her medical expenses and ensuring her rehabilitation. The victim too exhibited a tremendous resolve and courage as she travelled in an ambulance to the Ghatsila jail to identify the perpetrator which eventually led to his conviction. Today, the girl stands as an inspiration for millions the world over. Director general of police D K Pandey said the girls case would serve as a morale booster for the cops which would reflect in their resolve to crack similar cases across the state. We are happy that we could get conviction and achieve our goal, he said. Jamshedpur senior police superintendent Anoop T Mathew said, Its a major victory for the girl and the police as the court found all the sections we had invoked against Sardar true. He said without the girls courage and determination, the conviction wouldnt have been possible. Investigating officer DSP PN Singh said they had also invoked POCSO Act against the accused. However, during the trial the father turned hostile reportedly under some pressure. Delay in paying a Rs 859 telephone bill has cut the sole medium of communication between residents and the lone fire station in Jharkhands Bahragora block, which witnessed at least 40 cases of fire at residential and commercial localities last year. This is not the first time the seven lakh residents of the area were deprived of telephone connectivity with the fire station. In 2014, the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) had disconnected the telephone connection to the fire station for this very reason. Back then, Kunal Sarangi the sitting legislator of the Baharagora constituency had to go from door to door, collecting donations to pay the bill. We did it once, and we are ready to do it again. We will pay the bill from the party (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) fund. This is how the government functions its ridiculous that such a meagre amount cannot be cleared by the authorities, said Sarangi. Describing the developments leading to the telephone line disconnection, Baharagora fire station in-charge Ramatish Ram told HT, We had paid the bill till May last year, but the telephone bill has been lying unpaid since then. The BSNL disconnected our telephone line three months ago. Though I informed the Jharkhand fire service and submitted all the pending telephone bills to our Ranchi office, nothing has been done till now. Ram said that in the present circumstances, residents have to inform the local police or block development officials, who in turn contact the fire station. This process takes time. On many occasions, fire engines reached the affected spot only after everything was gutted, he added. Only two fire engines are stationed at Bahragora, one of which is defunct. The entire 2,094 sq-km Ghatsila sub-division, which comprises Ghatsila, Dhalbhumgarh, Chakulia, Baharagora, Gurabandha, Dumuria and Mosaboni blocks, is managed by just two fire engines. Hrishikesh Bera, a resident of Baharagora, said, It is ridiculous that BSNL has cut the telephone connection to a crucial public service line over a bill of a mere Rs 859. We feel insecure due to the absence of an effective fire service. Even if the fire engine does reach on time, it doesnt have enough water to douse the blaze. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called India a ray of hope in the world economy as he asserted that his government was committed to transform the lives of the poor and villages. Addressing a farmers rally in Belagavi in Karnataka, he also said the Opposition spoke of several issues but there was not an allegation of corruption against his government ever since he has been serving as pradhan sevak. Today, it is agreed that if there is a ray of hope in the world economy, it is India, Modi said at the rally organised as part of BJPs nationwide outreach to farmers. He cited ratings by various agencies and international institutions such as World Bank and IMF to buttress his point on India offering a ray of hope. In the whole world, the economy is wavering. Even those countries who say they are experts are going through economic problems, he said, adding that in spite of the disturbing environment of slowdown, India is making rapid strides in growth. On corruption, Modi said when his government assumed office, the nation was tired of corruption. A Kashmir-wide shutdown on Saturday, called by separatists protesting against the crackdown on JNU students and the arrest of former DU professor SAR Geelani, has affected normal life in the valley. Shops, public transport and other businesses remained closed here and in other major cities and towns. Inter-district transport also remained suspended. The shutdown has been called by the separatists to show their support for students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), who faced police action for commemorating the death of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, as well as the arrest of SAR Geelani on the charge of taking part in anti-national activities. Attendance in banks, post offices and government offices was thin due to non-availability of public transport in Srinagar and other district headquarters. All PG entrance exams scheduled on Saturday have been postponed by Kashmir University. The railway authorities have suspended services between north Kashmir Baramulla town and Bannihal town of Jammu region because of the law and order situation. Although deployments of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been made in sufficient strength at sensitive places in Srinagar and other cities and towns, authorities did not impose restrictions anywhere in Srinagar on public and vehicular movement. Kashmir observed a complete shutdown on Saturday in response to a call given by separatist organisations in solidarity with students of Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and arrested Delhi University professor SAR Geelani. Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik and top Hurriyat leaders were placed under house arrest on Saturday, spokespersons of the parties said. With the controversy surrounding the alleged shouting of anti-national slogans at an event about hanged Kashmiri militant Afzal Guru in JNU snowballing, sporadic protests have taken place in Kashmir over the last few days, including one at Kashmir University (KU). Earlier this week, the Hurriyat Conference (G) and JKLF had called for a complete shutdown on Saturday against the police crackdown in JNU, the alleged harassment of Kashmiri students in Delhi and the arrest of Professor SAR Geelani. On Saturday, routine activities stood paralysed in Srinagar as public transport remained off the roads and streets wore a deserted look with shops and offices shut down throughout the day. Business establishments also remained closed. Inter-district transportation services across the Valley were unavailable and government offices and banks saw thin attendance. Importantly, all exams which were scheduled to be held on Saturday have been postponed by KU. Railway services between north Kashmirs Baramulla town and Bannihal town of Jammu region were suspended keeping in mind probable law and order issues. Since morning, policemen and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were deployed at sensitive areas of Srinagar, but there was no restriction on public and vehicular movement in any locality. Police inspector Hemant Tyagi, who was suffering from cancer, shot himself with his license rifle at his residence in Gomti Nagars Vipul Khand in Lucknow on Friday morning. The police inspector placed the rifle below his chin and fired. The bullet pierced through his head. He was admitted to the KGMU trauma centre where his condition was critical till late night. The incident took place when after having lunch. Tyagi went to rest in his bedroom at around 2.30pm. His wife Chanchal Tyagi and son Prateek Tyagi rushed to his room after hearing the gunshot and found him lying in a pool of blood. They rushed him to Lohia Hospital from where he was referred to the trauma centre. The inspector had left a note in his room in which he mentioned that he was committing suicide and nobody was responsible for his death. He had remained posted in Lucknow at different police stations and was presently posted in Special Investigation Team (SIT). Congress national general secretary Digvijaya Singh was granted bail soon after he surrendered in a city court on Saturday, a day after an arrest warrant was issued against him in the Vidhan Sabha recruitment scam. The former chief minister obtained bail from additional district and sessions judge (first) Kashinath Singh on the presentation of a Rs 30,000 surety bond signed by local Congress leader Govind Goel. Singh, who will celebrate his 69th birthday on Sunday, had to wait for over three hours in the company of senior party leaders including brother Laxman Singh and state Congress chief Arun Yadav for his bail application to be heard. The case pertains to 17 allegedly fraudulent appointments that were made in the Vidhan Sabha between 1993 and 2003, when Singh was the chief minister. A chargesheet submitted before the court on Friday accused Singh of being involved in 13 such appointments. The bail plea was moved before the court by Supreme Court lawyer Vivek Tankha, who submitted before the judge that Singh a Rajya Sabha member was a law-abiding citizen and has been cooperating fully with the state police in its investigation. He further submitted that as 26 other accused in the case had been granted bail, Singh should also be extended the same courtesy. Prosecution counsel Anand Tiwari, for his part, told the court that he would honour whatever order was passed by the court. The next hearing was fixed for March 14. According to Tankha, the defence told the court that the ruling dispensation in Bhopal had turned cabinet decisions from the past into criminality setting a dangerous precedent. The senior lawyer said he submitted before the court that they had the option of directly applying for bail in the high court, but his client insisted that he would surrender before the Bhopal court and then seek bail from the same court. Tankha also alleged before the court that the matter, harking back two decades, had been raked up by the state government in response to Singhs legal battle against the government in the multi-crore Vyapam scam. Earlier on Friday, the Bhopal court had ordered the issuance of a non-bailable arrest warrant against Singh for not appearing before the court in connection with the case. Interestingly, the chargesheet against him and seven others was filed by Jahagirabad superintendent of police Salim Khan just three days before his superannuation. The name of former Vidhan Sabha speaker Srinivas Tiwari also figures among the 27 accused in the case, lodged by the Jahagirabad police in February 2015. The matter is being probed by a special investigation team. The belongings of seer Gumnami Baba, thought by many to be freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in disguise, have been taken out of the Faizabad treasury after 31 long years. The articles, which were retrieved on Friday, will be sent for chemical treatment before being placed at the Ram Katha Sangrahalaya in Ayodhya. As many as 176 items belonging to the Baba including a pair of spectacles, a Rolex watch, a few letters from Boses family members, newspaper clippings and an Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) uniform were taken out. The inventory of the belongings was being prepared by a 10-member administrative committee led by Faizabad district magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Mishra, and the proceedings were photographed and videographed in detail. The exercise was conducted in compliance with an Allahabad high court order that the Babas belongings be publicly displayed in a museum. Bose is said to have died from third-degree burns after his plane crashed in Formosa (now Taiwan) on August 18, 1945, but many of his followers refuse to believe the theory. However, if his followers are right in assuming that Bose was the seer in question, he passed away nearly 40 years later on September 16, 1985 in the house of a local BJP leader, Shakti Singh. Mishra said the process of photographing and videographing all the items would take six to seven days, after which they would be sent for chemical processing. The Babas belongings will be put on public display only by the end of March, he added. A debate had broken out over the seers true identity after his death more than three decades ago. Netajis niece Lalita also claimed in February 1986 that the Baba was Bose in disguise, and brought the matter before the Allahabad high courts Lucknow bench. Following this, the court directed the district administration to preserve the Babas belongings, making it shift 2,760 articles found in 25 iron boxes to the district treasury. Later, after Shakti Singh filed another case in court, the Uttar Pradesh government was ordered on January 31, 2013, to put the articles on public display. It took the authorities three years to comply with the courts directive. However, two members of Boses family on Saturday expressed reservations over the theory that the Baba was Netaji himself. Chandra Bose, grand-nephew of the freedom fighter, told HT: We should first find out who Gumnami Baba was. If people claim that he was Netaji in disguise, then one would certainly ask how the freedom fighter who left Kolkata in 1941 without a second set of clothes landed in Faizabad with 25 steel trunks. I think these goods were sent to him by somebody. Samiran Bose, another grand-nephew of Bose, echoed a similar sentiment. My grandfather Suresh Chandra Bose, who was Netajis elder brother, did not believe that Gumnami Baba was Netaji. If Netaji used this disguise, why did he not contact us after returning to India? he asked. (With inputs by Soumen Datta from Kolkata) In what is the first such incident in the state involving the Islamic State (IS), a team of the anti-terror National Investigating Agency (NIA) has detained for questioning a 19-year-old student from Durgapur. The boy hails from Dhaniakhali in Hooghly district bordering Burdwan and studies in a polytechnic college in Durgapur. At the time of going to press, the NIA was still interrogating Ashique Ahmed and his father in the Salt Lake comples. Durgapur is also not far from Burdwan, where the NIA had unearthed a terror module involving the banned Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen of Bangladesh. Acting on a tip-off, NIA sleuths reached Durgapur with a team from the state CID and is presently questioning Ahmed. The 19-year-old is suspected of having links with the terror outfit IS. He used to stay in a rented accommodation in Durgapur and had even changed his name to Raja Das, said Sanjeev Singh, I-G of NIA. Ahmed was picked up late on Tuesday from Pashimpara village under Kanksha police station, around 10 km from Durgapur. Asif used to stay there at a rented accommodation with four of his friends. Ahmed was immediately taken to his ancestral home in Dhaniakhali from where the NIA sleuths seized some documents. On Wednesday, Ahmed and his father was brought to Kolkata for questioning. According to NIA sources, Ahmeds name came up during interrogation of one Abdus Sami Qasmi, who was arrested by the NIA from Uttar Pradesh on February 5. In the middle of January this year, the NIA had received information that a a module with IS links were preparing for a strike. This group comprised young boys from different parts of the country. This information was worked upon along with various central agencies and state police forces. Certain leads emerged out of the investigation. Based on these leads, simultaneous raids were conducted at 12 places in six cities -- Bangalore, Tumkur, Mangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Lucknow. The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra also conducted raids at two other locations on January 22 and January 23. Fourteen people were arrested and incriminating articles, including mobile phones, laptops, jihadi literature and videos were seized. Subsequent interrogation of those arrested led the cops to one Abdus Sami Qasmi. On February 5, the NIA with the help of ATS, Uttar Pradesh, nabbed Qasmi from Hardoi district of UP. Qasmi was arrested on charges of planning terror attacks in the country and also launching some of them. He also delivered provocative speeches in the support of IS. After interrogating him the NIA came to know about Ashique Ahmed, said an NIA official. People between jobs will only be able to withdraw their contribution in their provident fund deposits and not the entire amount, according to a change in rule that came into effect earlier this month. Employees will, however, be able to withdraw their entire savings from the fund at any point if they cite any of the notified emergency situations, including medical treatment, marriage or repayment of a housing loan. Additionally, women employees can withdraw the money on grounds of childbirth. The rule is aimed at ensuring that employees are left with a substantial amount in their account at retirement, an official at the Employees Provident Fund Organisation the retirement fund body under the government said. Under the older rules, provident fund subscribers could withdraw their savings if the gap between two jobs was two months or more. The new rule means employees can only withdraw the contribution made 12% of the basic salary and interest earned on it. They cannot touch the matching contribution made to the fund by the employer under the law. The EPFO has also capped the withdrawal of the PF money till one attains the age of 57 as against the earlier 54 years. As per the earlier norms, EPFO subscribers were allowed to claim 90% of their accumulations in their PF account at the age of 54 years. This clause was relevant earlier as there were some establishments where retirement age was 55 years or 56 years, an official said, pointing that it had survived despite an increase in the retirement age to 58 years. AK Padmanabhan, president of Left-affiliated Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), suggested the trade unions did not mind the restrictions since it will ensure PF money is used as post-retirement security and not for any other purpose. Police arrested a professor of a government-run medical college in Odisha for alleged sexual harassment and intimidation of a post-graduate Dalit student, officials said on Saturday. Laxmidhar Das, head of the anaesthesia department of the SCB Medical College and Hospital, was arrested on Friday following a complaint from the first-year post-graduate student a day earlier. Dr Das has been booked under sections 354, 354A and 354B of Indian Penal Code (all related to outraging modesty of women, demanding sexual favour) and Section 3 of ST and SC (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, said Arun Swain, Mangalabag police station in-charge Arun Swain. Das refuted the allegation saying he was framed by vested interests. Hundreds of students of the medical college held a protest rally on Saturday inside the campus demanding ouster and strong action against the professor. The Dalit student, who hails from Puducherry, is said to be the daughter of a former minister allied to the DMK. She had taken admission in the post-graduate course for anaesthesia in the medical college. She said in her complaint that Das had made advances and sexually harassing her for the last six months. He allegedly asked her to accompany him for dinner and conferences outside the state. On two occasions, he called her to his room and tried to establish physical contact, she alleged. Prior to lodging a complaint with the police, the student had complained to the principal and superintendent of the college against the professor. The college authorities have initiated a probe by a five-member internal committee. Police recorded the statement of the student and took possession of a pen drive purportedly containing recorded conversations between Dr Das and the girl on different occasions. The police also talked to several other students, teachers and interrogated Dr Das before arresting him. Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar has told a Supreme Court-appointed probe panel that the Delhi Police did not arrest the person who assaulted him in the Patiala House court premises even after he was identified. A video clip aired by television channels on Saturday purportedly showed Kumar saying, They (the mob) came till the gate of the court, and one man came chasing after me to the next room. He sat behind me. I told my teacher that this was the man who thrashed me. When the police asked that person for his identity, he countered by asking the policeman to show his identity card. Then the person left the place, and the police did nothing (to arrest him). A mob of lawyers brazenly attacked Kumar as well as journalists in the Patiala House court premises on February 17, while the student leader was being brought there in connection with allegedly seditious slogans raised on the JNU campus earlier that month. Kumar also described the manner in which he was assaulted by men in lawyers robes in the court premises, even as the police looked on. When the police brought me through the courts gate, a mob attacked me. It appeared as if they were ready to attack, he said. The JNUSU president said he was nearly disrobed in the violence. The JNUSU president further said the lawyers also thrashed the police personnel escorting him. (Virender Singh Gosain/ Hindustan Times) The panel of six advocates Kapil Sibal, Rajeev Dhavan, Dushyant Dave, ADN Rao, Ajit Kumar Sinha and Haren Raval had visited the Patiala House premises on the day of the attack, after the apex court was informed about the incident. The video showed Sibal calling up DCP Jatin Narwal after Kumar had narrated the incident to the panel. How did you allow the attack to take place inside the court premises? Your men were there. What were they doing? How was he (the main attacker) allowed to come inside? the DCP was asked. Narwal, in response, said that the attacker had come with the escort party, and entered the room adjacent to the courtroom. Read: Cops grill another sedition-accused JNU student Ashutosh Kumar Other police officers who spoke to the panel said that the attacker claimed to be Kumars lawyer. The panel members then asked Kumar if he could identify his attacker as well as the policemen who were present at the spot. The student leader replied in the positive. At this juncture, the panel members reminded the DCP that Kumars safety was his responsibility. Do not give excuses. This is unbelievable. You are now under the Supreme Courts order, not (police commissioner) BS Bassis. A team of lawyers headed by Kapil Sibal enter the premises of Patiala House. (Arun Sharma/Hindustan Times) The panel had earlier taken stock of the situation at the Patiala House court, and told the Supreme Court that Kumars safety was under serious threat. The video also showed the student leaders lawyer, Vrindra Grover, accusing the police of failing to protect his client. There was lot of sloganeering as we entered. We couldnt help but feel anxious. I told police and the registrar general to ensure Kanhaiyas safety as we were in a hostile environment, he said. The Delhi Police has come under heavy fire for not taking appropriate action against the lawyers who assaulted the JNUSU president. Read| TISS-Mumbai next target but there will be no JNU-like situation: ABVP Amid a raging debate on the sedition law, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Friday the Indian Penal Code (IPC) requires a thorough revision to meet the needs of the 21st century and changes are necessary in the archaic police system. The IPC has undergone very few changes in the last 155 years. Very few crimes have been added to the initial list of crimes and declared punishable, he said at the valedictory event on the occasion of the year-long celebrations of the 155th anniversary of IPC in Kochi. Even now, there are offences in the code which were enacted by the British to meet their colonial needs. Yet, there are many new offences which have to be properly defined and incorporated in the code, he said. The premier code for criminal law was a model piece of legislation but requires a thorough revision to meet the changing needs of the 21st century, he said. Public prosecutors play a key role in instilling and strengthening public confidence in the criminal justice system #PresidentMukherjee President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) February 27, 2016 In the light of the sedition law charged on JNU students for allegedly raising anti-national slogans, there have been strong calls for either deletion or drastic changes in Section 124 A of IPC dealing with sedition. Read | Sedition charges in India: Before Kanhaiya, Umar there were others Underlining the threat posed by economic crimes, Mukherjee said this impeded inclusive growth and national progress. It is a challenge to bring all new age offences with its intricacies within the ambit of the criminal law, he said. According to Mukherjee, the image of police depends on its actions and in ensuring prompt, equitable and fair enforcement of laws. The Rule of Law is the cardinal principle on which a modern state rests. It has to be upheld at all times. It is incumbent on the law enforcing agencies, particularly the police force, to fulfil its foremost duty of maintaining law and order sincerely and with dedication. ... The onus is on our law enforcing agencies to work towards transforming the archaic police system and bring it in tune with the requirement of a modern democratic nation, he said. He suggested some action points in this regard. Criminal Law has to be necessarily sensitive to changes in social structure and social philosophy #PresidentMukherjee President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) February 27, 2016 Our police officers must ensure quick redressal of the grievances of the common man. They must partner other stake holders in creating a peaceful and secure atmosphere conducive to progress and development, Mukherjee said. He said police must go beyond its role of merely being a law enforcing body. It had also be a proactive partner in growth and development. The founding fathers of our Constitution had conceived inclusiveness, tolerance, self-restraint, honesty, discipline, respect and protection of women, senior citizens and weaker sections as essential ingredients of our democracy. Read Sedition law necessary to stop abuse against country: Santosh Hegde We fear lynching and witch-hunt: JNU student charged with sedition After 30 years, the belongings of Gumnami Baba were unlocked from Faizabad treasury on Friday. The belongings will be sent for chemical treatment after which it will be placed in Ram Katha Sangrahalaya in Ayodhya. A 10-member administrative committee, led by district magistrate of Faizabad Yogeshwar Ram Mishra, prepared the inventory of the belongings of Gumnami Baba in the presence of a team that carried out photography and videography of the proceedings. The DM said that 176 items had been unlocked which included a pair of spectacles, a Rolex watch, a few letters from the family-members of Netaji, newspaper cuttings, and the uniform of the Azad Hind Fauj. He added that the process of photography and videography of all the items of Gumnami Baba would take 6-7 days after which the belongings would be sent for chemical processing. Mishra said the public display of the belongings would be possible only by the end of March. Many believe that Gumnami Baba alias Bhagwanji was Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Gumnami Baba spent his last days in the house (Ram Bhawan) of a local BJP leader Shakti Singh before he died on September 16, 1985. After the belongings of Gumnami Baba were revealed after his death, a debate began that the seer was Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Lalita Bose, the niece of Netaji, had also claimed in February 1986 that Gumnami Baba was in fact Subhas Chandra Bose and brought the matter to the notice of Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court. The court had directed the district administration to preserve the belongings of Gumnami Baba. The district administration shifted 2,760 belongings found in 25 iron boxes to the double lock of district treasury in 1986. Later, Shakti Singh, the owner of Ram Bhawan, also pursued the matter till the high court gave its decision on January 31, 2013. The court directed the UP government to publically display the belongings of Gumnami Baba in a museum. It took three years for the authorities to comply with the courts decision. As chances of an alliance between the Congress and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) faded in Assam, the local partys chief Badruddin Ajmal has drawn plans to contest in seats across the state. This time, you will see so many non-Muslim AIUDF candidates from places like Darrang, Bodo areas, etc. There will be many Assamese candidates from places like Sivasagar, Jorhat, said Ajmal. The AIUDF draws its strength essentially from the large Bengali-speaking Muslims in the lower half of Assam. Ajmals plans to expand wings may pose new challenges to the Congress that has rejected an alliance with the local outfit. We have taken up issues that also concern non-Muslims. We have staunchly opposed setting up of mega dams or of transferring land to Bangladesh. We have tried to take the people with us, he said. Now a Lok Sabha MP, Ajmal added that his party is bringing out a vision document for Assam and also one each for all the constituencies his party will contest. The Devendra Fadnavis government has opposed the idea of moving out wheelchair-bound Delhi University professor and alleged Maoist sympathizer GN Saibaba from Nagpur jail to Gadchiroli district on the ground the area was infested with Maoists who may attempt to rescue him. The Supreme Court on February 23 questioned Saibabas solitary confinement, asking Maharashtra government to make alternate arrangement to house him at Gadchiroli because the criminal case, accusing him of having links with banned Naxal organizations, was pending there. Arrested in May 2014 from the Delhi University campus, Saibaba has been in Nagpur jail. He moved the SC for bail on medical grounds saying he has to travel 170km every time to attend his case proceedings in Gadchiroli. In its affidavit before the top court, Maharashtra said it has received intelligence inputs that Maoists have launched a campaign to free Saibaba. The respondent (Maharashtra) apprehends that if the petitioner is kept at Gadchiroli, outside the prison, the Maoists may attack the police for rescuing the petitioner, read the affidavit. It referred to a press note published on a website, calling upon the cadres to launch a nationwide agitation for Saibabas release. We want you (state) to make him comfortable. Tell us how you will make him comfortable. You cannot have him in solitary confinement, a bench had told the state counsel, Nishant Katneshwarkar. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The traffic police have recommended permanent suspension of the driving licence of Shiv Sena Shakhapramukh Shashikant Kalgude, 44, for beating up an on-duty lady traffic constable. Traffic DCP Rashmi Karandikar has written a letter to Thane RTO to terminate Kalgudes driving licence permanently. Attacking a woman officer is a serious offence, so I have written a letter to the RTO that his driving licence should be terminated for life. He has previous crime record too. He is behind the bars now, said Karandikar. Around 1130AM on Thursday, Kalgude was driving his Scorpio while talking on his mobile phone. Seeing this, on- duty traffic constable, Seema Kale, 29, stopped him and asked for his driving licence and the vehicle documents. Suddenly, Kalgude started abusing her and slapped the constable. Watch: Shiv Sena Leader assaults woman cop He even punched her on the nose after which she started bleeding. Other police and onlookers caught hold of Kalgude and handed him over to Naupada police. He was then produced in a magistrate court and was remanded to police custody. When he was produced in jail, many Shiv Sena workers, including Sena corporators, gathered around to protest. After the news of violence spread, Shiv Sena guardian minister Eknath Shinde published a blog that Kalgude is not a Sena member. Even Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray tweeted that it is a shameful incident and has no political backing. Human resource development minister Smriti Irani is rushing from one controversy to another to leave the ruling BJP red in the face. The first week of the budget session of Parliament saw the party trying to defend the minister as she faced a barrage of charges including lying on sensitive issues. Here are some instances where she turned out to be an embarrassment for her own party. Durga row Irani read word by word from a controversial pamphlet on Goddess Durga which was allegedly distributed during an event at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Her aim was to take on the Opposition head on. Instead, she left the party MPs squirming in embarrassment. With the BJPs brand of nationalism on display in Parliament, the Congress lapped up the Smriti gaffe and asked for her apology for her words on the goddess. BJP MP Udit Raj, too, made matter worse for the party by openly contradicting the ministers claim about the Mahisasur Diwas programme he attended at JNU. Read More| Pamphlet shown by Irani not ours: Mahishasura Divas organisers in JNU Rohith case faux pas The suicide by Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad earlier too has put the BJP in a tight spot with Irani leading a spirited but factually incorrect defence of her ministry. Irani contradicted oppositions allegations over putting pressure on the University of Hyderabads administration to take action against Rohith for allegedly assaulting a student affiliated to ABVP. On Friday, Rohiths mother and brother accused Irani of spreading blatant lies. Rohiths mother also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modis comment that he regretted the loss of her son and added BJPs ministers were now calling the Dalit scholar anti-national. Nailed by a doctor In the Hyderabad university case, Irani claimed that doctors were not allowed to examine Rohith Vemula and revive him after he hanged himself in his hostel room. Iranis claim inside Parliament was rejected by a doctor of the university who insisted that she had examined Rohith within minutes of being informed and declared him dead. Fabricated statement In January, about a dozen professors at the University of Hyderabad quit their administrative posts, accusing Irani of making fabricated statements. They rubbished her claim that a Dalit professor was among the members of the universitys body that suspended Vemula. Read More | This isnt a serial: Vemulas kin accuse Irani of lying in Parliament Offering her head Smriti got so carried away by emotion that she promised to offer her head to Mayawati if the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader was not satisfied with her answer on the Hyderabad university row. Mayawati turned the tables on her on Friday saying the minister should keep her promise as she was not satisfied with the governments response. Off-campus of IIT The minister is known to contradict her own claims. While replying to a discussion in the Lok Sabha in April last year, she said the IIT Act was violated to open an off- centre in Mauritius with Indian taxpayers money in 2013. The same day, in reply to another question in the Rajya Sabha, the minister said that IIT-Delhi did not incur any expenditure either on the setting up of the off-campus in Mauritius or in starting academic programmes at the institute. Read More | In her now-famous speech, Smriti takes on treason but dodges caste Foreign academics supporting the JNU students protest received threatening letters and emails. Rohan D Souza, a professor at the graduate school of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University, said, Many of my colleagues abroad who have signed statements in support of JNU have received generic letters threatening them. One letter written from Toronto was titled Direct response to your stupidity in signing that solidarity statement with Kanhaiya Kumar. I am writing you directly to highlight your stupidity and naivete in signing that solidarity statement with the JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar and others charged with sedition earlier this month, it said. The letter even dubs the academics as forces breaking India. It seems clear that you and the other academics were in a big hurry to blame the university, the police, and even the government of India, in fact anybody but Kanhaiya Kumar and his student union organisers. Yes you were foolish and naive. There will be consequences for signing this statement, the letter said. Over 400 academics from international universities, including Columbia, Yale, Harvard and Cambridge, came out in support of the JNU students. A joint statement signed by 455 academicians from global ties, said: JNU stands for a vital imagination of the space of the universityIt is this critical imagination that the current establishment seeks to destroy. And we know that this is not a problem for India alone. The academics, some JNU alumni, said they watched with extreme concern the situation unfolding at JNU. US defence secretary Ashton Carters two-day India visit beginning late on April 10 will be the high point of a string of visits by top defence officials of the Obama administration. The quickened pace of the India-US defence relationship is a consequence of last weeks formal Make in India proposal from Washington on single engine F-16 and twin engine F-18 multi-role fighters. As importantly, less than a year is left in Obamas second term, and the entire gamut of India-US defence relations, including transfer of F-414 engine technology and joint development of an aircraft carrier, has to be reviewed in the limited time available. The conveyor belt will be set in motion by foreign secretary S Jaishankars visit to the US next week in connection with Prime Minister Narendra Modis presence at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington from March 31-April 1 as well as for talks on issues related to intellectual property rights. Top government sources said India will host a string of high-profile visitors from the US Department of Defence, beginning with Pacific Command Chief Admiral Harris B Harris next week. Pentagons Director for International Cooperation Keith Webster comes to the Capital on April 4-5, a week before Carters visit. Webster will be followed by the Under Secretary of Defence Frank Kendall, who comes to the Capital on April 7-8. Although under secretary Kendall has formalised the Make in India for F-16s proposal, New Delhi remains upset with Washingtons plan to sell six of these top-of-the-line fighters to Pakistan in guise of support to counter-terrorism. Prime Minister Modi conveyed his strong reservations on the proposed sale to USIBC chairman Ajay Banga on the sidelines of Make in India show in Mumbai this month. The deal is still to go through with powerful Arizona senator John McCain now openly questioning the timing of the sale. Senator McCain is the chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee. Secretary Carter will discuss the proposed sale of F-16s to Pakistan with his counterpart Manohar Parrikar. Even though India is upset at the F-16 sale to Pakistan, it is looking towards the Grippen Next Generation (NG) fighter for its single engine fighter requirement as the Swedish manufacturer SAAB is ready for full transfer of technology to the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO). India remains keen, however, to acquire the F-18 twin engine platform through the Make in India route and wants the F-414 engine for its future Tejas squadrons. During the visit, secretary Carter and defence minister Parrikar will also exchange notes on Chinas aggressive moves in South China Sea in context of the disputed Parcel and Spratly Islands. The two sides will also discuss the security situation in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region as well as the growing footprint of the Islamic State in the sub-continent. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 34 US lawmakers have expressed grave concerns over increasing intolerance and violence against members of minority communities in India. Our strong support of this partnership (India-US partnership) encourages us to relay our grave concerns about the increasing intolerance and violence members of Indias religious minority communities experience, said the lawmakers in a letter sent Friday. We urge your government to take immediate steps to ensure that the fundamental rights of religious minorities are protected and that the perpetrators of violence are held to account. The letter released by The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, a bipartisan caucus of the House of Representatives, was signed by eight senators and 26 members of the House, from both parties. It refers to a June 2014 ban on non-Hindu religious propaganda, prayers, and speeches in their communities imposed by 50 village councils in Bastar, Chattisgarh, which it says has effectively criminalized the practice of Christianity for an estimated 300 Christian families in the region. The letter then said the nearly country-wide beef ban is increasing tensions and encouraging vigilante violence against the Indian Muslim community. And mentioned killings of Mohammed Hasmat Ali in Manipur and Mohammed Saif in Uttar Pradesh. It went on to cite the death of two Sikh men in October during protests over the desecration of the religions holy book, Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Applauding the prime ministers February 2014 statement that the government was committed to ensure that there is complete freedom of faith... and not allow any religious group, belonging to the majority or the minority, to incite hatred against others, the lawmakers said, We urge you to turn these words into action. Those who heard Smriti Iranis speeches in Parliament this week may have discovered some new facets to her personality. I am a practicing Hindu. I am a Durga worshipper, the human resource development minister informed the Rajya Sabha on Friday. She was self-effacing: Many people called me anpadh mantri. I do not claim I am as erudite a speaker as (Sitaram) Yechuryji. Born to a Bengali mother, she spoke Bengali with felicity to take swipes at the CPI(M) general secretary. These remarks might not be relevant in the context of the debate regarding the arrest of a JNU student on sedition charge and Hyderabad University dalit scholar Rohith Vemulas suicide. But, the underlying theme was unmistakable. She had her eyes on poll-bound West Bengal as she spoke in the two Houses of Parliament. Participating in the debate in the Lok Sabha, her party colleague Anurag Thakur was all bluster, lashing out at the opposition for supporting those eulogising Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and not showing respect to those who sacrificed themselves for tiranga (tricolor). Both Irani and Thakur drew applause from party colleagues. They succeeded in converting the debate on students into one on gods and demons and national-versus-anti-national. Opposition parties were left crying foul about what they saw as a concerted attempt to polarise voters along religious lines ahead of April-May assembly elections in four states and one union territory. There are reasons for the oppositions apprehension. After the drubbing in Delhi and Bihar assembly elections and then in civic polls in many states last year, BJP leaders seem unsure about the electoral appeal of their development plank. Remember the last time the Prime Minister or any senior BJP leader talked about achhe din! In the coming polls, the BJP pins its best hope in Assam where Muslims officially constitute about one-third of the population; unofficial estimates peg their numbers much higher. Although Badruddin Ajmal of the AIUDF is expected to eat into the Congress votebank among Muslims, there are reports about growing consolidation of the minority population towards the Congress, which still retains hold on some sections of tribals. Polarisation along religious lines could spoil the electoral arithmetic of the Congress. The BJP had seen a significant surge in its voteshare in West Bengal- from around 4% in 2011 assembly polls to 17% in 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The partys appeal in the state is said to be waning since then. Similarly, despite the RSS strong presence in Kerala, the BJP has not been open its account there. The moot question is whether abandoning Narendra Modis development plan and returning to the original Hindutva plank would do the trick for the BJP in the coming polls. Jury is out on this, but this change of course mid-way could surely alienate the aspirational youth and students who had different expectations from Modi. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Kanithan Director: TN Santosh Cast: Atharvaa, Catherine Tresa, Tarun Arora Rating: 1/5 An absolutely new subject smashed to smithereens by a silly script is what TN Santoshs debut feature, Kanithan, turns out to be. In line with Tamil cinemas guts to give us plot surprise after plot surprise, the film is a scathing critique of a system which shelters and supports those manufacturing fake degrees. These are so widespread that India has -- or so Kanithan implies -- doctors, lawyers, engineers and IT guys who should never have been holding the posts they do. The result is scary: patients die on the operating table, buildings collapse and justice eludes the innocent. And this is precisely what happens to Atharvaas Gautam. As he sits sipping a cold drink with his new girlfriend, Anu (Catherine Tresa), policemen descend on him, arrest him and beat him up black and blue. His crime? He is supposed to have taken a huge education loan that he is completely unaware of. Obviously, the loan has gone to another guy, a fictitious Gautam - who has escaped from the country, and obviously enjoying the money. Aarathu Sinam review: A taut thriller like the original, Memories The kingpin of this racket is Thora Sarkar, played by Tarun Arora, who controls a multi-million business of selling fake university degrees that help the corrupt, the unqualified and the duds find plum jobs or secure bank loans for overseas education. And then we all know how the narrative will play out. Gautam takes on the system, takes on the villain and blows out (but, of course) the ring of deceit. Watch Atharvaa-starrer Kanithan trailer here: I have seen this kind of superman ever since I began watching movies. The early Raj Kapoor playing out Nehruvian ideals. A little later, there was MG Ramachandran (who went on to become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu) essaying the noble samaritan, being a friend of the poor and the downtrodden and helping them fight powerful landlords or arrogantly rich men -- and, in the bargain, propagating Dravidian political ideology. Much later, there was this Gabbar is Back, where Akshay Kumar demolishes a debased system singlehandedly -- a Phantom minus the trademark suit who is never seen! Sethupathi review: A film for Vijay, and he has to win Such superman dramas are so jaded now that they begin to seem shallow, and the script in Kanithan becomes a slave to this idea -- that the hero must be so heroic that he cannot falter or fail. And when Santosh said in a media interview that he had made every effort to keep the script real, he could not have been farthest from truth. The script, in fact, goes beyond even the make-believe. Miruthan review: Nothing novel about the first Tamil zombie film Superman dramas are so jaded now that they begin to seem shallow, and the script in Kanithan becomes a slave to this idea. (KanithanMovie/Facebook) There are so many scenes in Kanithan that are crazy to the core. Look, for instance, the events inside the office of Sky TV. I am sure not one professional working for a television channel can relate to them. Finally, watch the confrontation between Gautam and the gang of goons. These are well beyond even the realm of imagination. More like a computer-animated game in which the villain is vanquished in a series of magical moves! Like so many Tamil films, Kanithan begins with a fantastic idea and story, but Santosh lets these spin out of control -- till the script sinks beyond salvation. Tell us what you thought of our review here: ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop The Revenant Direction: Alejandro G. Inarritu Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy Rating: 5/5 Its a staggering cinematic experience. Mexican-born director Alejandro Inarritus follow-up to last years Oscar winning Birdman, The Revenant chronicles the true story of fur trapper-cum-scout in early 19th century North America. Under attack from a band of Native Americans and left for dead by his comrades after being mauled by a grizzly, the frontiersman (DiCaprio) somehow survives and sets out across the frozen wilderness to wreak vengeance on the traitor (Hardy) who not only abandoned him but also murdered his mixed-race son. (Forrest Goodluck). The rest of the gruelling two-and-a-half-hour narrative, culled by the director and his co-scenarist Mark L. Smith from a novel by Michael Punke, recreates the protagonists trek into the heart of darkness. Dragging his brutalised body across hundreds of miles of inhospitable winter terrain, he inches to the safety of the traders outpost and eventual redemption. Watch the trailer here A notorious perfectionist, Inarritu insisted on shooting the picture in chronological order using only natural light. The $130-plus million epic was filmed in 20-below-zero temperatures at remote locations in Canada and Argentina. The directors flair for explosive imagery is evident in his unflinching meditation on men and nature. Acknowledging the influence of Akira Kurosawas Dersu Uzala (1975) and the visionary work of Werner Herzog, Inarritu laces the tale with oneiric moments such as the scene in which his late wife appears as an apparition hovering above him while he sleeps. Read: Revenant review: Leonardo DiCaprios Oscar-worthy feat of strength Intercutting ferocious action set pieces the opening attack by an indigenous tribe or the no-holds-barred climactic face-off with poignant gestures like petting the flank of a dead horse whose hollowed carcass was used as a sleeping bag during a blizzard, Inarritu imbues the landscape with an aura of mystery and mysticism. The contribution of cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki cannot be overestimated. His astonishing visual artistry (a meteor streaking across the sky here, flaming arrows raining down upon the trappers there) deserves to be acknowledged this weekend at the Oscars. Heres hoping Lubezki snags the trophy for a record breaking consecutive third time following previous wins for Gravity (2014) and Birdman (2015). The hyper-realistic mama bear assault is one of several unsettling interludes not meant for the faint of heart. The Titanic heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio is almost unrecognisable. Face burrowed in anguish and his long hair covered in snow, the actor barely speaks. Grunting and wailing in lieu of words, he delivers a performance of overpowering physical intensity. Cautioned that it would be foolhardy to confront his nemesis in such a weather-beaten condition, he summons up reserves of fortitude and snaps at his interlocutor, I aint afraid to die anymore. I done it already. A Best Actor Academy Award surely beckons. Read other film reviews here This enthralling spectacle is best savoured on the big screen. It seems unlikely that there will be another film as awe-inspiring as The Revenant anytime soon. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Even as the row over the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) incident moved to the Parliament, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has set its sight on Mumbais Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). A statement by ABVP said that TISS will be their next target. Of late, most of the incidents that have cropped up in education institutes across the country have been highlighting the presence of leftist organisations on campuses. We just want to make sure students dont get into politics when they should instead be focusing on their education, said Aniket Ovhal, Mumbai secretary, ABVP. The ABVP, added Ovhal, will target TISS, but there should be no worry that a JNU-like situation will be created in Mumbai. We just want to ensure students dont fall into a trap, and at the same time understand the meaning of nationalism. No one will be forced, but we dont want TISS to turn into a battleground like JNU, he said and added that ABVP is also planning to reach out to students at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) as well as other institutes and the University of Mumbai. While TISS students have released a public statement, both condemning the alleged anti-national slogans raised in JNU campus as well as about the inappropriateness of the manner in which the student union leader has been arrested, currently, a video on JNU is making rounds on the campus. There have been varied views coming from various sources about the incident but we wanted everyone on campus to know exactly what happened in JNU, and only then form opinions, said a student who added that the video has interviews of students from JNU Students Union, talking about exactly what happened on February 9. The entire debate of nationalism and anti-nationalism is vague because everybody is giving a different meaning to these terms. If I question the government about the falling Indian Rupee and compared the economic status of our country with another, will I be called anti-national too? asked a student. When HT spoke to the management of TISS, they stated that post the JNU issue, students of the institute had called for a general body meeting to discuss the concerns of student community on the developments in Delhi. Students and faculty members have been in dialogue and conversation on related matters allowing them to share their concerns and issues of the last few weeks. This open dialogue has helped students to discuss and understand the issues, said Shalini Bharat, deputy director (academics), TISS. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Yoko Ono, widow of John Lennon, was admitted to a hospital on Friday in New York with flu-like symptoms, US media reported. According to ABC News, her spokesman Elliot Mintz said that the 83-year-old was hospitalized on her doctors recommendation, with what appeared to be just an advanced case of the flu. He made the announcement following rumours that the star had suffered a stroke. Only stroke @yokoono had was a Stroke of Genius! :-) Shes really fine. Thanks for all the well wishes! her son Sean Lennon posted on Twitter. Read: Had nothing to do with The Beatles break-up, says Yoko Ono Only stroke @yokoono had was a Stroke of Genius! :-) She's really fine. Thanks for all the well wishes! Big Love, Sean Sean Ono Lennon (@seanonolennon) February 27, 2016 Mintz said that Ono could be released as early as Saturday, according to ABC. She was admitted to New Yorks Mount Sinai West hospital after 9 pm (0200 GMT Saturday), he said. Ono met her future husband Lennon, a member of The Beatles, in 1966 and the two eventually became constant romantic and artistic companions, famous for their bed-ins to protest the Vietnam War. Read: Pink Floyd star David Gilmour says he underplayed wifes role to avoid Yoko Ono effect Ono last week released a remix album, Yes, Im a Witch Too, that features versions of her songs reworked with other artists. Contributors include prominent alternative rockers Death Cab for Cutie, punk rocker turned dark electronic DJ Moby and her son Sean Lennon. Watch Yoko Onos Bad Dancer here: On the second day of AAP convener Arvind Kejriwals Punjab tour a year ahead of the polls, assistant news editor Aarish Chhabra travelled with the Delhi CM from his guest house in Bathinda to Abohar. In a freewheeling chat, Kejriwal remained guarded about naming names but was revelatory about his processes and times, and what he termed the changing paradigm of politics. Excerpts: Q. You won Delhi massively, but how is Punjab different? A. We always knew there were problems in Punjab, but had no clue about such gravity of the problems. For instance, every rural family has a loan. Q. What issues is AAP picking up that have never been taken up? A.The Akali Dal and the Badals have squeezed every drop out of Punjab. The health sector has collapsed. A child told me her school has 1,000 students but eight teachers. We should actually ask: what have Badals done during their rule, one thing they are proud of? Q. Can the negative image of the Badals be your basis of campaign? A. We are not into that kind of politics. People used to express anger and change governments; we are seeking votes for hope. Delhi was a vote for hope. Hence the historic mandate, breaking through caste and religion. The same will happen in PunjabWe are amazed that the response we got a week ahead of Delhi polls, we are getting here now. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal along with senior leaders of AAP interacting with residents of villageTeja Rohilla, Fazlika . (Ravi Kumar/HT ) Q. Why do you think that happened? A. Because people see Delhi. Q. You say Delhi has funds, its only a matter of will. Isnt Punjab different on the count of funds? A. Badals have mortgaged everything. But, yes, all governments have moneyWe are confident of a turnaround in Punjab economy in two to three years. Q. What about industry? A. The underlying theme of businessmans problems is red tape, extortion by departments. If we reduce corruption, which we will by 70-80% in two months of coming to power, industry will rise on its own. Q. What do you think is the extent of the drugs problem? A. I will tell you in a couple of days after meeting people. Data can be manipulated, but I will ask people and know the reality. Q. Within your party, how do you propose to get back your suspended MPs Dr Dharamvira Gandhi and Harinder Singh Khalsa, since they have said they be expelled or be talked to? A. Only if they apologise and say they wont make the same mistakes, we will take them back. Public doesnt even care, its just media concern. Q. And are you open to Navjot Singh Sidhu joining AAP? A. Even his wife Dr Navjot Sidhu has alleged corruption by her party BJPs partner SAD. I appreciate her for exposing the corruption, especially since its within her own party [or alliance]About her joining, we will decide when she approaches us. Q. On the ground, beyond names, where are the 117 AAP candidates? A. We will soon announce the procedure. Q. Do you want only local people? A. There are a lot of factors. But being non-corrupt is the primary promise. Thats what the janta wantsWe are right now only focusing on what we will do when we come to power. For instance, we spent three hours discussing the loan crisis. Candidates and elections are mere tools. Candidates do not matterwe are already working on post-win plan. Q. And the CM candidate? A. For now, we will take five to seven months to discuss issues; then we come to these things. Candidates will be named in the meantime but even that procedure will take three to four months to complete. Q. People call you an outsider though you are the face in Punjab too for now. A. I am not from Pakistan. The general public does not have a problem; they accept us as more than their own. Only Capt Amarinder Singh has an issue. Q. Whats your view on the Jat quota agitation in your state Haryana, and reservation as an issue? A. Its a case of the BJP and Congress playing cheap politics. There is an utter loss of leadershipWe want debate on the basis of data. Democracy needs dialogue, but there is no one to talk to in HaryanaBut Dalits in Punjab must take note, how Capt Amarinder recently said there should be no quota on caste basis but only on economic basis. Q. He did not say that exactly. He said EWS in general should also get quota. A. What does that mean? The quota cannot be more than 50%, so to adjust the new categories, who will lose the existing quota? Q. Lastly, there are ads about your Delhi governments work at the national level. Why spend so much, why not give ads only in Delhi papers, for instance? A. We have all the right to showcase our work. Other states do investment summits, or not? We are telling people two things: Your state can change, too, the way Delhi has and you should demand it from your government; and come and invest in Delhi. We are not promoting our party; only showing our governments work to fire peoples imagination everywhere. Why not? There is no AAP in the ads. Read: Kejriwal distorted my statement on reservation, says Amarinder Read: Punjabs Dalits, beware: Kejri spin on Capts quota comment SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Canadian court has stopped the deportation of a man and his sister to India to face trial for the honour killing of the mans niece in Punjab on grounds that they may not get justice in India. Surjit Badesha and his sister Malkit Sidhu had hired contract killers to eliminate Malkits daughter Jassi (Jaswinder) Sidhu in June 2000 because she had married a lower-caste autorickshaw driver in Punjab. Canada-born Jaswinder had met autorickshaw driver Sukhwinder Singh (Mithu) in Jagraon during her visit to Punjab in 1996 and fallen in love with him. The two secretly married in 1999 when she came back from Canada to tie the knot. Jaswinder was murdered in June 2000 near Sukhwinders village. Punjab Police investigations confirmed it was an honour killing plotted by Jaswinders mother Malkit and her uncle Badesha while the two were in Canada. Based on the evidence of 266 phone calls that Badesha made with the hired killers, India formally requested Canada in 2005 to extradite him and Malkit to face trial. In May 2014, the British Columbia Supreme Court in Vancouver ordered that Jaswinders uncle and mother must be deported to India to face trial. But on Friday, British Columbias appeal court overturned the deportation order against the mother and uncle of Jaswinder , citing Indias appalling record in regard to prisoners. Justice Ian Donald wrote in a two-to-one decision: In my view, there is a valid basis for concern that the applicants will be subjected to violence, torture and/or neglect if surrendered. Night life in the city is likely to have an early end from next week with the UT administration set to notify a policy that will mandate the closure of discotheques at 12 midnight, from the current 1am. UT administrator Kaptan Singh Solanki has cleared the draft policy and the notification is likely within a couple of days. Under the policy, Controlling of Places of Public Amusement 2016, discotheques will not be allowed to function beyond 12 midnight and customers will not be allowed to enter without identity cards. The draft policy adds that liquor cant be served to those below the age of 25; and the facility should have separate smoking area and adequate parking space as well. The policy applies to discotheque, pool game, virtual reality games, game machine parlours and bowling alleys. Interestingly, the development could have business ramifications as discotheques in neighbouring SAS Nagar and Zirakpur remain open till wee hours without any checks. The document was drawn up after intervention from the Punjab and Haryana high court. On February 24, the Punjab and Haryana high court was told by UT counsel JS Toor that the administrator had cleared the policy and would be notified soon. Recent cases of lawlessness had raised concerns over safety and there had been a major brawl outside a Sector 8 discotheque in June last year. Two committees will formed to implement the policy. Owners will have to get CCTVs installed at entrance and other prominent places. They will have to get police verification done of bouncers (male as well as female). Entry of guests would have to be limited. Even the service and consumption of liquor in other than the specified area would be treated as drinking in public places. Under the policy, licences would be given for a year. Home secretary Anurag Agarwal said, In accordance with the Punjab and Haryana high court directions, we have come up with a policy. It is aimed at curbing untoward incidents at night. We have got the policy approved from UT administrator and the Punjab and high court and will notify it soon. Chairman of hotel The Altius - Ten Downing Street MPS Chawla said, If the timings of discotheques is changed from 1am to 12 midnight, business will be hit. The crowd will shift to the Zirakpur highway where discotheques function till sunrise. The threat to lives of youngsters will increase. Highlights of the draft policy Display of permission certificate Installation of CCTV cameras at entrance and other prominent places Deployment of male and female bouncers No guests below 25 to be served liquor Separate smoking zones Mandatory to keep copy of photo identity card of the guest or customer issued by any government authority I-cards to be issued to all staff members Daily record of sale of tickets and passes Display of rate list for tickets and passes at the entrance SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday promised to rid Punjab of drugs within three or four months if his party came to power in the state next year. Kejriwal, who began his 5-day tour to the state on Thursday, visited Majha region, a hub of drug abuse, and accused the ruling SAD-BJP of patronising the drug mafia. He warned no one will be spared. The supply and sale of drugs cannot happen without support from the top. We will ensure the harshest punishment to them, Kejriwal told reporters at the house of Jagir Singh, a 60-year-old farm labourer who lost one of his sons to drug abuse a few years ago. Jagirs other son is in jail for possessing drugs. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal with family members of deceased drug addict on Saturday . (Gurpreet Singh/HT) When Kejriwal was told about the easy availability of drugs in Tarn Taran district, he once again lashed out at the government, saying drug dealers have had nothing to fear to so far . They (drug dealers) get support from the top . This brings the government and some of its ministers into focus as it is their protection the drug smugglers and dealers enjoy, Kejriwal said. The names of some of the ministers of Punjab being involved in the drug business have also been doing the rounds. Kejriwal was accompanied by partys Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur, Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann, AAP Punjab in-charge Sanjay Singh, besides a large number of supporters. Kejriwal referred to a village he had visited on Friday and narrated how a group of 30-40 youngsters had come together to motivated addicts to quit and join the main stream. From what I learnt, these addicts were cured within 18 days. So when we come to power here, we will make vigorous efforts and tackle the drug problem within 3-4 months , he added. The Delhi CM later moved to Patti town where he met three other families that had lost its men to drugs. He also met families of drug addicts at Sursingh village before reaching Amritsar. At Pahiwind, kejriwal also raised the 1984 anti-Sikh riots issue and accused the Akalis and the BJP of not doing much to punish the guilty. Kejriwal said one of the first tasks of his government in Delhi was to institute a Special Investigation team (SIT) to probe the role of Congress leaders and others in the riots. Akali leader plays spoilsport in Harike Kejriwal faced minor protests during his visit to Patti sub division of Tarn Taran. He also cancelled a scheduled address at Harikes Pingeri road after a local Akali leader did not allow the public to gather on a plot he owned. However, relentless AAP supporters who had come from nearby villages did not allow Kejriwals convoy to move ahead and forced him to address them. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Alleging that judges are being pressurised by the Punjab and Haryana high court to dispose of cases speedily to decrease workload on lower courts, lawyers in the state claim they are finding it hard to cope with the situation, with judges now giving hearing dates at very short intervals. In a state-level meeting of all district bar council representatives held in Moga on Saturday, the lawyers discussed the issue and decided to take up the matter with the chief justice of the high court. In a race to dispose of the cases, judges forget the pressure on advocates who have to understand the case, collect documents and evidences to produce in the court, which is not possible for us to do in a short time. This results into injustice with our client, Naseeb Bawa, president of Moga district bar council said while addressing the state-level meeting. Representatives of as many as 30 bar councils, including 12 sub-divisional ones, from the entire state took part in the discussion and raised various issues being faced by advocates. Bawa said that in the wake of the high court pressure and to gain units (points to solve cases) judges had started giving single or double hearing dates in a week, which was too short time for advocates to collect the information and sometimes became the reason for their client not getting the justice. Judges should give time of at least one month after a hearing, especially in a new case in which they need to understand the case, he said. Guriqbal Singh Chahal, president Bathinda Bar association, said the government was not providing the grant to construct advocate chambers in their district resulting into a financial load on advocates. Advocates also raised the issue of lack of representatives of advocates in zones and suggested holding zone-wise bar elections, instead of state-wise, saying it would help in ensuring a representative to a particular area who can understand the problems being faced by advocates on the ground level. They also recommended a change in working hours of courts from 9.30am to 4pm to 10am to 4.30pm as people coming from a distant places could reach courts in time. Bawa said they would soon write a letter for an appointment with the chief justice to take up their issues with him. If the chief justice fails to address our problems, we will decide further course of action in our next meeting to be held in Sangrur in the second week of April, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Lashing out at Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, the two suspended Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs -- Dr Dharamvira Gandhi and Harinder Singh Khalsa -- dared him to act against them and said Kejriwal in bid to grab power had shattered the dreams of AAP volunteers in Punjab. Responding to Kerjiwals interview in HT in which he had asked the Punjab MPs to apologise, Dr Gandhi and Khalsa, in a counter attack, said, rather, its Kejriwal who should apologise to the AAP volunteers and people of Punjab for suppressing their voice by creating high command culture in the party that was floated for Swaraj. Why should we apologise? We have done no wrong, they said. Meanwhile, Khalsa said the AAP national convener had gone mad and was behaving foolishly. Kejriwal has gone mad. Its like ulta chor kotwal to dante(a guilty person accusing the innocent). Kejriwal is challenging the ankh (pride) of Punjabis, he said. Kejriwal has already been exposed before us (the rebel AAP leaders) and the Delhities for his poor performance and suppressing the basic ideology of the party. In the near future, he will be fully exposed before the Punjabis, who wont tolerate a person who behaves like a dictator and challenge leaders whom the volunteers and people have elected as their representatives. Kejriwal cant succeed in Punjab, as Punjabis cant be led by paratroopers and bhaiyaas, said Khalsa, while referring to Sanjay Singh and Durgesh Pathak. He added that the real volunteers were feeling suffocated and thus some of them trying to make a new party. He said by giving statement related to him and Dr Gandhi, Kejriwal and his team were playing to the gallery. Kejriwal should reply to the showcause notice which I have sent to him, dared Khalsa. Echoing similar views, Dr Gandhi said instead of asking apology from me, Kejriwal need to answer the volunteers of the party and the people of Punjab and India as a whole, whether he was still holding on to the principles of transparency, accountability, Swaraj, inner party democracy and respect for volunteers. If my raising of issues related to these principles and upholding the respect of volunteers and their confidence in party ideals are crime in the eyes and mind Kejriwal, he should reconsider the politically suicidal path he has chosen to undertake, said Dr Gandhi. He said he had already replied to the suspension notice served on him and the Delhi high command was sitting over it without taking a decision on it for over six months. I dare Kejriwal to take a decision on merits, dared Dr Gandhi. He said in the last 22 months since the Lok Sabha elections where people of Punjab voted and elected four AAP MPs, the Delhi high command created confusion and division in the ranks of the party volunteers, deliberately putting the political and economic issues of Punjab on the back-burner and adopting arbitrary approach in appointments. Every attempt of the volunteers to strengthen the party from below has been scuttled by invoking harsh actions on Punjab leaders, trampling the spirit of federalism leading to strengthening of the stranglehold on party organisation through Delhi appointees, he said Importing new faces into the party with controversial backgrounds at the cost of dedicated and hardworking volunteers has only unmasked the real face of Kejriwal, said Dr Gandhi, alleging Kejriwal for the turmoil in Punjab AAP unit. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Punjab BJP chief Kamal Sharma on Saturday dubbed Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal as Natwarlal of politics, who is fooling everyone for personal gains and self promotion. This mufflerman bureaucrat-turned-politician has created anarchy in Delhi. Now, he is bent on replicating the same in Punjab. But, people of Punjab are intelligent and would not allow him to succeed in his sinister designs, the state BJP chief said in a hard-hitting statement here. Sharma said Kejriwal followed the hit and run policy as he hit at an issue but ran away when asked about its solution. Kejriwal has so far not clarified his stand on the JNU issue, where anti-national activities were being held and terrorists were being glorified as martyrs. It is shameful that the Afzal Guru day was observed on the JNU premises but Kejriwal, who claims to be a saint in Indian politics, is mum, the state BJP chief said, asking Kejriwal to clarify his stand. Referring to the Jat quota stir in Haryana, Sharma said Haryana kept burning for so many days but unfortunately Kejriwal, who hailed from Haryana, did not utter a single word. He said, What moral right Kejriwal has to stay in politics if he stays away from the crucial issues? Kejriwal owes an explanation to the people of Haryana as to why he is silent on the matter. Cong questions Kejriwals performance as Delhi CM Chandigarh: Questioning the performance of Arvind Kejriwal as the Delhi chief minister, Punjab Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Charanjit Singh Channi on Saturday cautioned people of Punjab about the dreams the AAP convener was trying to sell them. Earlier, deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal used the same marketing strategy. Now Kejriwal is using it to fool people of Punjab. Both stand exposed. Kejriwal is visiting the families of the farmers who committed suicide besides those of drug addicts. What vision he carries to address this problem, he should tell the people of Punjab. Where was he when this problem was multiplying and taking lives of youth under the politico-police nexus, Channi said in a statement. The CLP leader said the Delhi CM was now talking of tackling the agrarian crisis within no time, forgetting that the situation had been developing over the years and it needed a holistic approach. HTC Asking Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to first enquire about the plight of people in the national capital, Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday said the former should be in Delhi instead of roaming in Punjab chasing the illusive dream of ruling the border state. Asserting that it was so characteristic of Kejriwal either to put the blame on someone else or to run away from the situation, Amarinder pointed out that there is no water supply in most parts of Delhi for the past 10 days after the Jat stir in Haryana. Instead of standing with his people who voted him to power and trying to find solutions to their pressing problems, he is trying to sell false dreams in Punjab, said Captain in a statement. Why his heart didnt bleed for thousands of Punjabis who were selectively targeted in violence and their properties also damaged in Haryana, he asked. Leave aside visiting them and offering them any assurance, you didnt even bother to issue a word of consolation for them and not even to those women who were allegedly molested and raped, Amarinder told Kejriwal, while adding nor did he condemn the violence against the Punjabis in his native state of Haryana. Questioning the very intentions of the Delhi chief minister in providing job to family members of Abohar Dalit youth Bhim Tank who was allegedly killed by SAD men, Captain asked him as to how many other such victims has he ever visited and offered similar jobs. Did you offer anything similar to the family members of Rohith Vemula, the Dalit boy who committed suicide in Hyderabad University, Captain asked Kejriwal, while maintaining that his intentions were just partisan and electoral only as he adopted standards. Similarly, Captain asked Kejriwal as why he did not bother to visit the Pathankot terror attack victim from Ambala Gursewak Singh. Kejriwal had visited the two other martyrs from Gurdaspur and providing their families cash relief. Advising Kejriwal to better focus his attention on Delhi, Amarinder said: People neither forgive nor forget. So better beware against taking them for granted as they can throw you out anytime and the situation is building fast towards that end as you have badly failed their expectations in Delhi. Leave Punjab to Punjabis as they know their job pretty well, added Captain. The Punjab Congress president claimed that Kejriwal had not been able to sort out the problem of safai karamcharis in Delhi who are on strike for over six months now. While what is happening in his own state does not bother him at all, he has come to Punjab with all theatrical breast-beating he is known for, claimed Amarinder. Quote Instead of standing with his people who voted him to power and trying to find solutions to their pressing problems, he is trying to sell false dreams in Punjab Capt Amarinder Singh, Punjab Cong chief The three-member committee of women police officers constituted to receive complaints regarding alleged rape of women at Murthal near Sonepat during the Jat stir visited the site of the alleged incident on Saturday. The team of women police officers comprising deputy inspector general (DIG) Dr Rajshree Singh and two women deputy superintendents of police (DSPs), Bharti Dabas and Surinder Kaur, visited the site to gather first hand information about the alleged incident, over 50 km from Delhi. Asked about recovery of some clothes beloning to women at Murthal on the Delhi Ambala National Highway, Rajshree told reporters, These had been sent to Forensic Science Laboratory for examination. Let us see, what comes out, she told reporters in Murthal. Asked how challenging would it be for the police to identify culprits of the alleged incident, she said police was visiting the scene of the crime to collect clues and talking to people in this regard. It is challenging. But let us see, what happens, she said, asserting, It will be our endeavour that truth comes out. We appeal to all citizens who have any clue to forward. They should meet us and tell us whatever they have seen, they should share with us all details and we will try to bring out the truth. We are visiting the scene of crime and meeting people, she said. The state government had on Friday said it would act swiftly as and when it receives complaint on alleged sexual assault during Jat agitation. Police had earlier maintained that no concrete evidence had been found so far which could prove sexual assault or rape of women took place at Murthal during the Jat stir for quota. Punjab and Haryana high court had taken suo motu cognisance of a media report which had said that several women were allegedly raped at a highway in Murthal during Jat stir. The court had asked the Haryana DGP and Home Secretary to submit separate detailed report on this incident. However, the state government had been maintaining that no such incident had taken place. The Border Security Force ( BSF) has nabbed a Pakistani intruder while sneaking into the Indian territory in the Ferozepur sector, second such case in the past four days. Reports said jawans of the BSFs137 battalion noticed that a man was trying to intrude into the Indian side in the area falling under the Ghatti Hyat border outpost in the Ferozepur sector on Thursday evening. He has been identified as Tanveer Ahmed (40), a resident of Kasur district located across the Indo-Pak border. After preliminary probe, the BSF handed him over to local police. Further probe is going on, , said an official. On Tuesday (February 23), another Pakistani national Sarvar Baig (48) of Bodian village in Kasur district of Pakistan was apprehended by the BSF near the Dona Telu Mal border outpost. Baig is an ex-serviceman from the Pakistan army. Even though nothing objectionable was recovered from him security agencies were trying to ascertain his motive of intruding into the Indian side. On January 16, Arshad Ali (25) from Pakistani was nabbed by the BSF in the Dona Telu Mal border outpost. On December 29, another Pakistani Hussain Shah (24) was nabbed by the BSF from the same sector. Congress leaders on Friday staged a protest in Amritsar against a controversial hoarding carrying a photograph of party vice-president Rahul Gandhi with Pakistan-based terrorist Hafiz Saeed. BJP leader Tarun Chugh had got the sign installed at the Bhandari Bridge. Congress leaders and workers staging protest against BJP government at Bhandari bridge in Amritsar on Thursday. (Gurpreet Singh/HT ) Commenting on the issue, Punjab Congress secretary Dinesh Bassi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was following dual standards on the one hand, opposing Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, and on the other had, sharing power in Jammu and Kashmir with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that supports terrorists openly. Near the BJPs hoarding, the Congress installed a hoarding with the photographs of Modi, Saeed, hanged Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti. Congress leaders accused RSS of spreading communal tension as opposed to the secular views of Rahul. Railway minister Suresh Prabhus announcement on Thursday on redevelopment of 400 stations through the private-public partnership (PPP) model is a very progressive and welcome move. This project will foster a plethora of large transit-oriented developments (TOD) across the country, possibly resulting in the largest TOD undertaking in the world and thereby leading to higher transit ridership. This way, Indian railways can efficiently monetise their land parcels, particularly in cities with higher densities, by commercially exploiting existing railway stations through sale of space rights over them. It will be great to see the arrival of more developments of the kind we see getting developed in Seawoods in Navi Mumbai and Karkardooma Metro station in Delhi. The sheer number of land parcels held by Indian railways across the country makes this entity an important stakeholder in TOD. Given that Indian cities will see more migration from the rural areas, urban infrastructure will become a key area of focus for the government. In last years railway budget, it was announced that monetisation of assets instead of selling them will be the new approach. Mumbai has always been challenged by its need to transport millions from the suburbs to south Mumbais business districts, thanks to its geography and linear, northward expansion. Three suburban railway lines and two express highways operate in full capacity during peak hour. The case is similar in other metros. Bengaluru sees a lot of traffic congestion during the peak hours. Delhi-NCR stands out for its pollution levels constantly hovering around dangerous levels, even though it has better metro connectivity than most other large Indian cities. There is a lot of scope for TOD in all these cities. Tier II cities are not far behind, and could end up congested like the Tier I cities, given the rapid pace of their expansion. Transit-oriented development In India Delhi was the first Indian city to move towards a TOD concept. TOD is also a priority area for Mumbai, and was mentioned in its new development plan (DP) 2034 (currently in a draft format and undergoing several revisions). Vashi, CBD Belapur were the first TOD projects in Navi Mumbai, with Seawoods following suit. Haryana has recently introduced TOD, which will benefit cities like Gurgaon. While some progress has been made, it is still too little and comes almost too late. What is transit-oriented development? TOD is a mixed-use residential and commercial area designed to maximise access to public transport, and often incorporates features to encourage transit ridership. A TOD neighbourhood typically has a centre with a transit (train/ metro) station or stop and residential as well as commercial development around it. TOD interventions aim to significantly shift the mode share away from private motorised vehicles to public transport Many cities around the world, such as San Francisco, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Paris, etc., have developed and continue to write policies and strategic plans aimed at reducing automobile dependency and increasing the use of public transit. TOD as a planning tool is new to Indian cities, and quality mass rapid transit systems are also relatively recent here The author is chairman and country head, JLL India. To quote from Alice in Wonderland, matters related to Delhis land pooling policy (LPP) seem to be getting curiouser and curiouser. The plan, of immense importance to the Capital city because it will create 25 to 30 lakh homes for its citizens, still seems to have no clarity. About 89 rural villages in Delhi have to be converted to urban areas and then developed. Parties interested in benefiting from LPP have to buy the land from the villages, hand it over to DDA and get a percentage back for development. As the Delhi government had not taken a clear stand on LPP and a number of property buyers had invested huge sums hoping for substantial returns (ROI), HT Estates attempted to gain more clarity on LPP. An email was sent to Manish Sisodia, state deputy chief minister, with a copy to Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister, requesting information on conversion of the (89) rural villages to urban in the LPP zones. In a quick response on February 10, 2016, GK Madhav, officer on special duty to Sisodia, forwarded the mail to the special secretary, urban development, keeping this correspondent in the loop, asking that the matter be looked into. Huge tracts of land under land pooling policy will change hands and be developed, changing the face of Indias Capital forever (ISTOCK) On February 18, Sanjeev Mankotia, deputy secretary in the municipal bodies branch of the urban development (UD) department, in a mail to this correspondent, said his department had taken up the conversion matter with three municipal corporations. He had written to the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), asking for copies of resolutions declaring villages in their jurisdiction as urbanised alongwith draft of notification. Mankotias letters to the corporations were dated February 11, making it evident that the matter was taken up two days after HT Estates sent the email to Sisodia. Two documents were also attached to Mankotias communication to the municpal corporations. One was a notification from the director, panchayat, dated October 19, 2015, with the subject Declaration of 89 villages as urban villages. The other was from the vice chairman, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), dated February 11, 2016, to the UD department, informing it about the notification of 89 urban villages under Section 507 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957. DDAs letter had also mentioned that the SDMC had passed a resolution in the house to declare villages falling under its jurisdiction as urbanised. HT Estates on February 13, 2016, had highlighted serious consequences of delay in implementation of the land pooling (LPP) scheme in Delhi. Quoting realty experts it had reported that various groups had invested more than Rs 30,000 in buying land expecting the policy to be implemented soon. About 10,000 individuals had also paid Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh each for apartments under LPP Now the question is, why did Mankotia choose to send the director panchayat and DDA VCs letters to the corporations now, on February 11, 2016, instead of the dates on which they were issued, and that too after the emailed enquiries by HT Estates? Secondly, six months ago, when DDA VCs letter to Mankotias department had mentioned that SDMC had passed a resolution in the house to declare villages falling under its jurisdiction as urbanised, why was the UD department now asking the corporations for a copy of the resolution? While the UD department letter indicates that the Delhi government is completely clueless about LPP, it also highlights complete lack of communication between senior officials of municipal bodies and DDA. While both SDMC and NDMC (North Delhi) claimed to have already passed the resolutions, DDA informed this correspondent that it had no such information. We had received a letter from the DDA VC a few months ago with a request to pass the resolution for the conversion of 47 rural villages (in NDMCs jurisdiction) to urban areas. Our standing committee and House has passed the resolution. It was sent it to DDA VC, and he has to proceed, says Mohan Bhardwaj, chairman, standing committee, NDMC (North Delhi). SDMC has also claimed that it passed a resolution to convert 38 of its rural villages to urban villages. We did it more than six months ago following a request from DDA VC and provided him a copy of the resolution. Why is the Delhi government asking us for a copy of the resolution? DDA should have sent them that copy to them, says Subhash Arya, mayor, SDMC. Strangely enough, Rajesh Kumar Jain, director, land pooling, DDA, when contacted by HT Estates, said no information on the resolution had been received and that DDA would proceed on the matter only when it had a copy of the resolutions policy. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Telugu actor Swathi Reddy, known for her films Back Bench Student and Love, has filed a complaint at the Banjara Hills police station in Hyderabad against her mother after a scuffle between the two within the police stations premises on Friday, reports DNA. The small-time actors mother Nagendramma had earlier filed a case against her daughter accusing her of abandoning her and absconding with gold and money, reports Mid Day. Read: Malayalam filmmaker Rajesh Pillai dead at 42 Nagendramma had said that one Srinivas Reddy of Guntur, who is already married, had lured her daughter away. Swathi refuted her mothers claim, insisting she was a major and had the right to do as she willed. The police had a tough time trying to pacify the duo as Swathi and her mother clashed. ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Weve seen some beautiful wedding photography. But, this is the kind of wedding you dream up on your Pinterest board. Its the wedding shoot of a lifetime! Simply, incredible! (All photos: Pinterest) Photographer Tony Gambino captured these super romantic wedding photos with a beautiful couple from Utah, USA. And they are some of the most stunning we have ever seen. Read: Pre-wedding photoshoots are the new craze Everyone thinks this is snow and ice, Gambino told Cosmopolitan.com, but its simply salt and standing water. It was one of the most surreal experiences of my life, the water reflecting the mountains and sunset was incredible, Gambino wrote on his website. We were all absolutely giddy! When rain covers the ground with water, Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, like the famous Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, gives off the amazing illusion of people walking on water. The reflective surface acts like a giant mirror. And these conditions made it a chance of a lifetime for photographer Tony Gambino (Who claims he had never been more excited about shooting a wedding in his entire career.) Read: Drones with high-definition cameras: The new-age wedding photographers The couple - Ethen Godfrey Roberts and his bride Heather - actually suggested the magical location. Whats more: These two looked like they had the time of their lives! (Like, who wouldnt!) As Gambino wrote on his website, When Ethen and Heather approached me about doing their wedding, I was completely blown away. I have been a fan of Ethens work with MTV, Nitro Circus and The Godfrey Clan for a long time! Then, when I found out that we would be able to shoot their portraits at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, I had never been more excited about a wedding in my entire career! We showed up at the salt flats, and I couldnt believe that we came across an entire section that was covered with water. It was one of the most surreal experiences of my life, the water reflecting the mountains and sunset was incredible. We were all absolutely giddy! We all want our wedding photos to be special, but this couple sure went over and above that concept. Check out, perhaps, the most incredible wedding photos of all time. (All photos: Pinterest) (Oh, and after seeing their epic wedding, youll think this couple can walk on water. Seriously!) Follow @htlifeandstyle for more. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON News that Nergis Mavalvala, the Karachi-born astrophysicist who was in the team that verified Albert Einsteins 1915 general theory of relativity, has been invited to visit Pakistan and to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has delighted the countrys gay community. Mavalvala is openly gay and a single, independent mother. In Pakistan, both her sexuality and possibly her status would be frowned upon. But Sharif has praised Mavalvala as a source of inspiration for Pakistani scientists and students. Pakistans LGBT community remains largely hidden. With increasing intolerance in society, members of the community have been attacked by religious zealots on the grounds that they spread disease and shamelessness. They are trying to destroy the fabric of our society, says Mufti Naeem, a religious leader based in Karachi who described Mavalvala as a sick person and a poor example for others to follow. Many of Pakistans religious leaders insist there is no gay scene in the country and that Western agencies are promoting such a concept to break down religious and cultural norms. But nothing could be farther from the truth. In 2011, the Jamaat-e-Islami party protested against the holding of Islamabads first lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) pride celebration, which was hosted by the US embassy. Clerics claimed this confirmed what they had been saying all along, that the West was promoting homosexuality in Pakistan. But members of the community dismiss such assertions. Like the rest of the world, gay people have lived under varying degrees of suppression in our part of the world, says Talal Ahmal (not his real name), who works in a senior editorial position at a Karachi newspaper. He insists the only difference between the West and Pakistan is here we do not celebrate being gay. We go about it as part of our lives. There are thousands of gay people across Pakistan, say observers, though there has never been an effort made to count them or estimate their population in a country where homosexuality is a criminal offence. Section 377 of Pakistans Penal Code states: Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than two years nor more than ten years, and shall also be liable to fine. So far, no one has been sentenced under this law but this can change as religious parties move in for action. Members of the LGBT community who are educated and well-off use the internet as their source of communication and information. Over the years, a number of websites and Facebook pages have appeared that claim to promote gay rights in Pakistan. Almost none of them have traceable contact details. Contrary to what is painted by foreign news media, Pakistan does not have a thriving gay scene. There are few parties or gay get-togethers, says another journalist, who asked not to be named. While people in his inner circle have accepted him as gay, its a sort of an open secret, he says. Most gay people live in fear of being identified and targeted in a society that has grown increasingly intolerant. But same-sex relationships are common, including among lower income classes. Doctors at Aga Khan Hospital in Karachi say a number of patients they meet are gay. One doctor estimates that 5% to 10% of patients are homosexuals but that almost all do not go about their lives as freely as they would like to. Naseem Salahuddin, a prominent medical practitioner in Karachi, says there are great divides within the gay community. There are the rich people who can do what they please and there are the poor ones who do what they want and nobody cares. But it is those in the middle class who suffer the most, because they fear losing their reputation and standing. In a country like Pakistan where it is difficult to mingle freely even with the opposite sex, there are some number of people who have opted for a homosexual relationship. A woman lecturer at a university in Islamabad said it is easier for gay women to meet up and socialise. In fact it is encouraged. But with men, it can be difficult and risky. Some like Waseem Baloch, a police official, claim same sex relationships are linked to prostitution, especially sex with trans-genders. In most parts of Pakistan, this kind of sexual activity has increased manifold, he says. Baloch claims this a time bomb waiting to explode. We have been living under the impression that there is no AIDS in Pakistan, but that is farthest from the truth. Gay people are immediately identified with AIDS, says Shabana Arif, who works for a NGO in Islamabad. Over the years, Arif and her colleagues have documented cases where people who indulged in same-sex relationships were identified and targeted. There have been attacks in public and whispering campaigns. People have died, she says. Members of the gay community in Pakistan rarely talk openly about their sexuality either out of fear or simply because they dont realise that there may be other Pakistanis feeling the same way. Due to this restriction and fear within society, it may be of no surprise to some that Pakistan has the highest number of internet searches for gay pornography in the world, according to one report. Though such a website was most certainly progress for gays in the country, Queer Pakistan was recently banned by authorities a sign that even communication between gay people is seen as a problem by many in Pakistan. At least 10 people were killed and over 40 injured in a suicide bombing in Afghanistans eastern province of Kunar on Saturday, officials said. A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle detonated his explosives in a market in Asadabad, the provincial capital, 10 people were killed and over 40 were injured, Ghani Mosamem, spokesperson for the provincial governor, told AFP. Sayed Maqsood Pacha, deputy provincial police chief, put the death toll slightly higher at 11. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Taliban insurgents, who have been waging a 14 year-long bloody insurgency in the country, have been blamed for such attacks in the past. The incident comes as direct peace talks with the Taliban are due to take place next week. A witness to the blast, who did not want to be named, told AFP that an influential tribal elder, Haji Khan Jan, was the target of the attack and was killed. Jan had led a local uprising against the Taliban in the past, the witness added. Kunar is a restive and remote province that shares a long border with neighbouring Pakistan -- which the Afghan government has accused in the past of harbouring Taliban militants. Delegates from Afghanistan, China, the US and Pakistan met in Kabul last week for a fourth round of talks aimed at forming a path back to the nascent peace process, which was interrupted by last summers announcement that Taliban leader Mullah Omar had died. The fresh peace initiative comes as the insurgents wage an unprecedented winter campaign of violence across Afghanistan, underscoring a worsening security situation, more than 14 years after they were driven out of power by US-led Nato forces. Twenty-five people were killed in two attacks in Afghanistan Saturday, including one in the capital, with the blasts potentially jeopardising attempts by Kabul to persuade the Taliban to join peace talks set for next month. Witnesses and officials described how the suicide bomber detonated near the Defence Ministry in the centre of Kabul just as offices closed for the day, in an attack later claimed by the Taliban. Twelve people, including two Afghan soldiers were killed and eight others injured, a ministry statement said, while a previous toll given by Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi stated nine were dead and 13 wounded. The bomber was on foot, ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri added. I saw wounded civilians and army soldiers. They were begging for help but security forces did not allow common people to help them, witness Sardar Mohammad told AFP. The causalities, mostly, were civilians, said another man, Saleh Mohammad. It was the time when all the people were going home. Ambulances converged at the site of the explosion as police and the army set up a security cordon. Analysts have previously observed the Taliban stepping up attacks in the heart of the capital to gain leverage ahead of attempted peace negotiations with the Western-backed government in Kabul, against whom they have been fighting a bloody insurgency for more than 14 years. Earlier on Saturday a suicide bomber on a motorbike struck at a market in Asadabad, the capital of restive Kunar province, killing 13 people and wounding at least 39. No group has yet claimed responsibility for that attack, which a spokesman for the provincial governor and a police official both said targeted a tribal leader fiercely opposed to the insurgents, Haji Khan Jan. The Taliban do not generally claim attacks with high numbers of civilian casualties, saying they only target Afghan soldiers -- stooges of foreign powers -- and NATO troops, considered invaders, as well as symbols of the central government. But civilians are paying a heavy price in the violence tearing the country apart. The number killed or wounded in 2015 was the highest recorded since 2009. According to a UN report published earlier this month, there were more than 11,000 civilian casualties in 2015, including 3,545 deaths. Unrealistic The blasts come amid fresh efforts by Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the US to restart talks aimed at ending the Talibans long and bloody insurgency in Afghanistan. Delegates from Afghanistan, China, the US and Pakistan met in Kabul last week for a fourth round of talks aimed at forming a path back to the nascent peace process. The four countries have called for a direct dialogue between the Taliban and Kabul by next week, but analysts have termed the deadline completely unrealistic, especially as the insurgents have said they have not been contacted by the quartet. Kabul has repeatedly called for all Taliban groups to sit at the negotiating table though President Ashraf Ghani has said his government will not make peace with those who kill civilians. A first round of direct talks was held last summer in Pakistan, but a second edition had been indefinitely postponed by the announcement of the death of Mullah Omar, the Talibans founder. His successor, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, is a divisive figure blamed by many insurgents for keeping Omars death secret for two years. A splinter group formed in December and has challenged Mansours rule. He was also injured in a firefight among cadres in Pakistan that same month. Despite the setbacks, the Taliban are far from surrendering. Since the end of the NATO combat mission in Afghanistan in late 2014, they have instead multiplied attacks and offensives on the ground. . A gunman who killed four people in rural Washington state called an officer he previously encountered to say he shot his family, leading to hours long standoff at a home Friday that ended with his suicide, authorities said. A 12-year-old girl related to the victims survived and was taken to the hospital for an evaluation, Mason County sheriffs chief deputy Ryan Spurling said. Her condition was not immediately known. Apparently shes OK, Spurling said. I dont know if this is a daughter, or step-daughter, or what the relationship is, but she escaped from the house. The officer who took the shooters call went to the home across Puget Sound from Seattle with another deputy. Authorities negotiated with the man for about three hours before a SWAT team entered the house in a heavily wooded area and found the bodies. The gunman apparently came outside the home and shot himself, Sheriff Casey Salisbury said. Its a terrible tragedy. Neither the gunman nor his four victims have been identified. Authorities did not detail the previous interaction between the shooter and the officer he called. Jack Pigott, who lives down the road, said he heard gunshots Thursday night but none Friday. The couple who lived in the house about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southwest of Seattle had been married for four or five years, Pigott said. The wife had two teenage sons who were adopted from Russia during a previous marriage. She also had a daughter who was adopted from China. Pigott said the husband had a heating and air conditioning contractor business. He had recently been hospitalized, Pigott said, but he didnt know why. When he returned home, he was on a lot of medications, Pigott said of the man. It was common for the family to do shooting practice, Pigott said, and thats what he thought of when he heard the gunfire. I was getting a load of wood into the house, and I hear some gunshots, he said. Four or five, a pause and then another round. Pigott said residents know each other in the area that has homes with large lots with room for horses. Its actually really scary because when you live out like this, you want to feel like your neighbors are someone you can rely on, not somebody you have to be afraid of because we are out in a secluded area, said another neighbor, Lynn Johnson. The SWAT team went in around 12:30 p.m., Spurling said. Officers said they had 11 buildings to clear on the property but reported they had found the bodies shortly after entering the first building. The shooting comes days after a 26-year-old man shot and killed his parents and two younger sisters before taking his own life at the familys home in Phoenix. On Sunday afternoon, a woman traveling back to the U.S. was stopped by airport security and they allegedly found thousands of dollars worth of cocaine in her vagina, according to the New York Post. Shekira Thompson, a 24-year old U.S. citizen of Queens, N.Y., was traveling back to the U.S. from her home country of Jamaica. Officials were reported saying that Thompson was "sweating and acting very nervous" as she made her way through security. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers took her aside to check her. She went through a body X-ray scan that came back negative, but she soon confessed to authorities that she had cocaine inserted in her vagina, according to PIX 11. It was wrapped up in an egg form and was seized by authorities, who tested it and found it to be positive for cocaine. They reported that it weighed about half a pound with a street value reaching into $10,000. "This seizure is just another example of our CBP officers being ever vigilant in protecting the United States from the distribution of these illicit drugs," said Robert E. Perez, the New York director of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's field operations. Thompson has been charged with drug smuggling and is currently being held on Rikers Island with a $100,000 bond, according to the New York Daily News. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Mexican citizens supported their former president, Vincente Fox, after his vitriolic message towards GOP front-runner Donald Trump. During an interview with Univisions Jorge Ramos, Vincente stated, I am not going to pay for that f--king wall. His profanity prompted Trump to demand an apology. Trump gained popularity with some segments of American voters thanks to his anti-Mexican rhetoric, claiming that some Mexican immigrants were rapists and drug peddlers, and stating that he would erect a wall at the Mexican border if elected. Despite Vincente not garnering much popular opinion during his presidential run, Mexican citizens have stood by his words. The vulgarity came from Vicente Foxs soul. Never better said. Never better targeted, said columnist Francisco Garfias, according to the Washington Post. The sad thing, paraphrasing the late Umberto Eco, is that there are legions of idiots who believe Trumps assertions that he can force Mexico to pay for the wall. Im not exaggerating when I say Trump is an embarrassment to his country. Vincente stuck to his guns during an interview on Fox Business Network. Host Maria Bartiromo was lost for words when he repeated his profanity ladened sentence on national television. Im not going to apologize for all these stupid things weve been hearing from him that really have offended Mexico and the Mexican people, said Vincente. Trump demanded an apology from Vincente both during the most recent Republican debate and on Twitter, reported Biz Pack Review. The wall just got 10-feet taller believe me. It got 10-feet taller. I saw him make the statement. I saw him use the word that he used. I can only tell you if I would have used even half of that word, it would be a national scandal. This guy used a filthy disgusting word on television, and he should be ashamed of himself and he should apologize, said Trump during the debate. During his interview with Fox, Vincente told Mexicans not to support the business mogul turned presidential hopeful, calling Trump a false prophet and egocentric, according to Western Journalism. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) announced Wednesday that it plans to challenge a recent ruling made by a federal court in Philadelphia arguing that the First Amendment doesn't always protect a citizen's right to record the activities of on-duty police officers. The pending appeal relates to a ruling made by U.S. District Judge Mark A. Kearney, who said Wednesday that it is within an officer's power to stop any and all attempts at recording their activities unless the videographer announces that the recording was done as a challenge or protest to their actions, according to CBS Philadelphia. In the 21-page ruling, Kearney referenced the Supreme Court's conclusion in 1984's Clark v. Community for Creative Nonviolence: "it is the obligation of the person desiring to engage in assertedly expressive conduct to demonstrate that the First Amendment even applies." "While we instinctively understand the citizens' argument, particularly with rapidly developing instant image sharing technology, we find no basis to craft a new First Amendment right based solely on 'observing and recording' without expressive conduct," Kearney wrote. The decision stems from two lawsuits filed in 2014. The first involved Amanda Geraci, a self-described "legal observer," who videotaped the arrest of a protester at a September 2012 anti-fracking rally. In her suit, she alleged that an officer attacked her when he physically restrained her and prevented her from using her camera. The second involved Richard Fields, a Temple University junior, who, in 2015, took several photographs of 20 officers who were standing outside a local house party. In his suit, he alleged that police arrested him when he refused to leave and later cited him for obstructing a police investigation, reported Reuters. The court filings also indicate that his phone showed evidence of being tampered with prior to his release. The ACLU objected to the decision, and in addition to revealing their intent to appeal, they argued that civilian video recordings of police is "essential" to holding officers accountable for their actions. "Police have extraordinary power, and civilian recordings of police actions are essential to holding police accountable for how they use that power. The freedom to monitor the police without fearing arrest or retaliation is one of the ways we distinguish a free society from a police state. Every court that has addressed this issue has ruled that the right to record the police performing their duties in public is at the core of what the First Amendment protects. Judge Kearney's ruling is an outlier, and we intend to appeal it," Executive Director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania Reggie Shuford said on the group's website. The ruling contradicts other rulings made elsewhere in the U.S., as the public's right to record police activity has been already deemed legal by courts in Boston, Chicago and Atlanta. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Kosovo Parliament has elected former prime minister Hashim Thaci as the county's new president. Thaci, a former guerrilla leader, was elected in the third round of voting, receiving 70 votes with 80 out of 120 lawmakers casting their votes, according to B92. "I pledge to build a new Kosovo, a European Kosovo and to deepen our relationship with the US," the 47-year-old president-elect said, BBC News reported. Opposition MPs boycotted the voting and attempted to disrupt the presidential election process by throwing tear gas into the Parliament house. "I will always work in the service of the country and in the service of citizens, respecting the constitution and respecting the country's institutions," Thaci said after the vote, according to Anadolu Agency. Hundreds of opposition supporters led by the Self-Determination Movement Party gathered outside the Parliament in the capital Pristina at the time of voting on Friday. They reportedly clashed with police and even threw Molotov cocktails at police personnel. "Someone who has violated the constitution cannot be Kosovo's president," opposition leader Visar Ymeri said, according to the Associated Press. Kosovo, one of the 108 U.N. member states, declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Serbia still considers the tiny Balkan nation to be part of its territory, while several countries like Russia do not recognize its sovereignty and independence. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A tense and prolonged standoff in Washington came to an end Friday with a man killing himself after he had killed four others in a home in rural Mason County, near Belfair, approximately 40 km west of Seattle. The identities of the victims and the killer have yet to be released, and a 12-year-old girl who managed to escape from the house is under medical care. While it has been ascertained that she was not shot, it is unclear as to whether she is injured. "As far as I know, this is one family, the shooter was the father and the victims were his family," Chief Deputy Russell Osterhout told Reuters. Neighbor Jack Pigott, 79, said he heard "four or five rounds and then a pause, and then another four or five rounds and a pause and then a couple more rounds." He added that he "assumed they were target shooting, which they had a tendency to do once in awhile." "The original report I got was that he shot himself out on the porch and had come out of the building. We had a 12-year-old that escaped out of the house at some point, and our officers got her and transported her with an ambulance," Sheriff's chief deputy Ryan Spurling of Mason County said, giving details of the incident, according to The Guardian. Mason County Sheriff Casey Salisbury noted that the gunman shot and killed himself in front of deputies, . "It's a horrific tragedy for people we may not even know about yet," Salisbury told King 5. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Two former Guatemalan soldiers have been sentenced to 120 and 240 years in prison after they were found guilty of crimes against humanity, including the systematic rape and enslavement of 11 women in the northeastern Sepur Zarco military base during a 10-month period from 1982 to 1983. Retired Officer Esteelmer Reyes Giron, 59, was found guilty of keeping 15 women in sexual and domestic slavery and for killing one woman and her two young daughters. Former soldier Heriberto Valdez Asij, 74, was convicted for the same enslavement and for the forced disappearance of seven men, BBC News reported. There were cheers in court as the judge read the sentence. "We find the treatment of the women of Sepur Zarco to have been completely humiliating and degrading," Judge Jazmin Barrios declared. Barrios overruled the notion that sexual violence in the military base was to satisfy the sexual desires of the soldiers, determining instead that it was used as a weapon of war. "There was a strategic design to pulverize the social fabric and to prevent its reproductive," she said, according to TeleSUR. During a series of 20 hearings through the past month, 11 women from the Mayan Q'eqchi' community described their experiences of physical and emotional deterioration during six months of systematic rape and domestic enslavement. More than 35 boxes of evidence were presented in court, including some with human remains that were exhumed in 2012 by the Guatemalan Foundation for Forensic Anthropology, according to The International Justice Monitor. While the cumulative 360-year sentences are somewhat symbolic, since Guatemalan law limits the duration of any prison sentence to 50 years, the trial has been historic for two reasons: it marks the first time that sexual slavery has been prosecuted as a war crime in the country where it is alleged to have occurred, and this was the first time that a local court made a ruling for sexual crimes in Guatemala, as the Central American country works toward addressing abuses committed during its brutal 1960-1996 civil war, the Associated Press noted. "This is historic, it is a great step for women and above all for the victims," said Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu, who attended the hearing. These crimes occurred under ex-dictator Efrain Rios Montt, who is currently facing retrial on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity, including the slaughter of 1,771 Maya Ixil indigenous people in Guatemala's Quiche region in 1982-83. In total, Guatemala's civil war left more than 200,000 dead, according to a United Nations' 1999 Truth and Reconciliation report, with the Mayan population representing 83 percent of the victims. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Archeologists have discovered a long-forgotten Japanese internment camp from World War II in what is now Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, according to the Associated Press. A remembrance ceremony was held last Friday at the site, which was identified through an Army study using the only remaining identifying documents - two known photographs and a map. The ceremony, which fell on the official Day of Remembrance for Japanese Americans, was held to remember the hundreds of Alaskans who were sent to the camps, with over 100,000 Japanese Americans having been held in camps during WWII overall. One of the attendees was Alice Tanaka Abo, whose father, Shonosue Tanaka, was one of the 15 Japanese nationals who was held in the short-lived camp. It was the first time that Abo had seen the camp in the seven decades since her father had been there, and she told KTVA that it doesn't matter that there are no physical remainders of the site. "It's things that can't be destroyed ever, like the air," Abo said. "They touched this earth, they saw this sky, they felt this weather... It's kind of like coming home." Archaeologists who located the site had very little data to go on, with local archaeologist Morgan Blanchard stating at the ceremony that it was difficult to definitively identify the site as a former internment camp. A rare map gives an idea of the structure of the camp, which Blanchard focused on particularly, according to Alaska Public Media. "It's important because it's an architecture of containment," Blanchard said of the camp's security layout, "It's a structure that tells us that people were held here against their will." Abo's sister, Alice Tanaka Hikido, stated that as a child, she had had little knowledge of the political strife between Japanese and American nationals and that it saddened her to see some of that hostility towards foreigners replicated today by politicians. She believes that education is the way forward to rectify this. "It's incumbent upon citizens to be well-informed," Hikido said. "If you're well-informed, then fear doesn't overcome your better judgement." @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. An Ohio man who spent 56 years escaping authorities has been granted parole after getting caught again last year, according to NBC News. Frank Freshwaters, who is known as the "Shawshank Fugitive" because of his escape from the prison featured in the 1994 film "Shawshank Redemption," was successfully granted parole on Wednesday after his attorney argued that he had lived a clean life and never forgot the accident in which he struck and killed a man. Freshwaters was convicted of second-degree manslaughter in 1959, when he was sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and five years probation for the car accident in which he killed pedestrian Eugene Flynt, according to Reuters. He spent some time in Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio and then another lower security prison, where he was "quickly able to earn the trust of the prison officials" and escaped in 1959, spending the rest of his life under different names and states, CNN reported. Freshwater was captured again last May in Florida, where officers reportedly showed him a picture of himself in 1959 and asked whether he knew that person, to which Freshwaters said that he "hadn't seen him in a long time" before admitting "you got me," according to The Examiner. His parole is based on his clean record, although the prosecutor's office has opposed the release. "Freshwaters failed to comply with his probation, and did not pay a dime of the $1,500 he was ordered to pay in restitution," Summit County prosecutors said in a statement. "He has spent nearly 60 years avoiding taking responsibility for what happened." Freshwaters' children were relieved at the decision to release their father, who will be released on April 24, just a week after his 80th birthday. One of his sons was born shortly after the accident that put him in prison and said that he looks forward to getting to know Freshwaters better. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Reporting directly to Leslie Ng, Interstate's chief investment officer, Greenman continues to oversee all business development in Europe, including Russia/CIS. Previously, Greenman was Interstate's senior vice president of acquisitions & development for Europe. Interstate Hotels & Resorts recently announced the promotion of Aaron Greenman as executive vice president of acquisitions & development for Europe. Reporting directly to Leslie Ng, Interstate's chief investment officer, Greenman continues to oversee all business development in Europe, including Russia/CIS. Previously, Greenman was Interstate's senior vice president of acquisitions & development for Europe. During his tenure with the company, Interstate has added approximately 100 management agreements under Greenman's guidance, making Europe one of Interstate's fastest growing regions. Greenman joined Interstate in 2007 as head of development in India, and was promoted in 2010 to senior vice president of acquisitions & development for Europe, and collaborating closely with his European colleagues to build on the Company's platform in the region. Prior to Greenman's career in India, he was managing director for AFEX Group in Nairobi, Kenya, responsible for a company with 600 employees with operations throughout East Africa, and earlier was a senior manager in Ernst and Young LLP's real estate advisory services practice, based in Boston, New York and Miami. He earned a Master of Management in Hospitality (MMH) from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration and a Bachelor of Arts from Amherst College. The company's hotel portfolio in Europe totals nearly 80 hotels and over 12,000 rooms under management, in addition to 12 hotels in the pipeline. "This promotion reflects Aaron's career experience and exceptional accomplishment over his near decade with Interstate and the tremendous value he brings to our international growth strategy," said Leslie Ng. "His talent continues to drive Interstate's momentum in Europe through strategic acquisitions of regional hotel management platforms, minority investment in local development ventures, strategic alliances with key capital partners and organic growth." Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of a 50/50 joint venture between subsidiaries of Thayer Lodging Group and Jin Jiang Hotels, is the leading U.S.-based global hotel management company, operating branded full- and select-service hotels and resorts, convention centers and independent hotels worldwide. As of November 2015, Interstate and its affiliates manage nearly 435 hotels with over 77,000 rooms in North America, the UK, Europe, Russia and the CIS, and China, including ownership interest in 42 hotels. In addition, Interstate has executed agreements to manage 37 hotels with over 5,100 rooms under construction or development throughout the world. Missouri Hospital Association president Herb Kuhn was a guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the Texas County Memorial Hospital board of trustees last week. Kuhn, who was last at TCMH in 2013 after the hospital opened the new construction, focused his overview of the current state of healthcare in Missouri on the changing demographics of potential patients in the U.S. According to Kuhn, the silver tsunami of people joining the Medicare rolls is about 10,000 new enrollees daily. Today there are 50 million people on Medicare, and there will be 80 million on Medicare by 2030, Kuhn said. Kuhn explained that when the Medicare program began there were 4.6 people working per Medicare recipient. Today there are 3.2 workers per Medicare recipient, and in 2030 there will only be 2.3 workers per Medicare recipient. Missouri hospitals are being asked to do more with less and to find new and innovative ways to deliver care, Kuhn said. Kuhn pointed out that with longer life expectancies, more and more people are over age 85. Those over the age of 85 have the greatest utilization of healthcare services. Missouris current population stands at about 6 million people with one million of those residents on the Medicare rolls. By 2030, 1.5 million people in Missouri will utilize Medicare. This is especially important to not in rural communities because most of these people want to age in place, Kuhn said. Kuhn noted the healthcare provider recruiting and retention continues to be a huge driver in all hospitals. Telemedicine is becoming an important way to connect with specialized services. Connecting smaller hospitals with a larger tertiary care center is also a key strategy for hospitals in rural Missouri. Kuhn stressed the importance of rural healthcare facilities to the communities they serve. A 2014 MHA study of the primary care physician workforce in Missouri shows that 40 percent of the physicians practicing in the state are 55 or older, and the percentage is even higher for physicians practicing in rural Missouri. Many hospitals are doing grow your own programs where they reach out to area schools to educate students about healthcare professions, Kuhn said. TCMH serves as a training site for physicians in residency, medical students and other ancillary students such as physical therapy nursing and radiology. The Youth Ambassador volunteer program also targets area youth that have an interest in healthcare. TCMH also participates in the 340b pharmaceutical program that offers prescriptions at a discount for patients seeing a TCMH-based healthcare provider, which Kuhn also discussed. The 340b program was designed as a way for Congress to send funds to rural and inner city areas, Kuhn said. The program is not popular with pharmaceutical companies, so there will be ongoing challenges for the program. Kuhn also discussed the movement in healthcare from a volume-based to value-based system. Until recent years, healthcare reimbursement has been based on piecework, i.e., the more a healthcare provider did, the more he or she was paid. Today, healthcare facilities are receiving bundled payments or set amounts for certain types of healthcare services. Kuhn called the bundle payments a whole new level of risk. Physicians are also facing changes to their payment models. There are no new dollars out there available for healthcare, Kuhn said. Will there be enough incentive for physicians to consider practicing in rural areas? Kuhn stressed that rural hospitals must ask themselves, What are we going to do different? How are we going to do it better? The need to insure more Missourians was discussed by Kuhn and the board members. Kuhn noted that over 10 percent of the states residents were uninsured, calling the numbers real troubling. According to the MHA, uncompensated care in Missouri hospitals was more than $1.3 billion in 2014. Someone, somewhere, every minute of every day is presenting themselves in a emergency department, and they dont have a way to pay for their healthcare, Kuhn said. MHA has worked for Medicaid expansion and reform in the state for the past few years, but state lawmakers seem unwilling to budge on the issue. Medicaid expansion would bring $2 billion in healthcare dollars back into the state each year, Kuhn said. Kuhn explained that 50,000 veterans and their family members would qualify and benefit. Local law enforcement would also benefit from an increased availability of mental health services to those without healthcare coverage. There is an opportunity cost here, too, Kuhn said. Businesses in the community end up paying for the uncompensated care. Kuhn said 75 percent of the Missouri hospitals that are stressed are rural hospitals. We have lost three hospitals in the state, Kuhn said. Once that infrastructure is gone, its not coming back. MHA continues to build a network of supporters for increased healthcare coverage in the state. Wes Murray, chief executive officer at TCMH, noted that since 1980 there are 30 million more people in the U.S. and 20 percent fewer hospitals. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT Murray, and Amanda Turpin, quality management director at TCMH, discussed emergency department wait times. The emergency room is the front door of our hospital, and like most hospital ERs, its the most criticized department, Murray said. Turpin shared a website https://projects.propublica.org/emergency/state/MO that shows ER wait times for hospitals across the nation. The site breaks down state averages by hospital, and TCMH is included. The average ER wait to see a physician in Missouri is 23 minutes. TCMH has an average of 24 minutes to see a physician in the ER, which is also the national average. We stack up very well to other hospitals in the area and across the state, Murray said. CAFETERIA RENOVATION Murray reported the hospital cafeteria is undergoing a renovation. The renovation work is taking place in the evening and includes new paint, countertops and cabinets. The work is being done at night to create minimal disruption for the flow of the dietary staff as well as patients, employees and visitors that use the cafeteria, Murray said. FINANCIAL REPORT TCMH began fiscal year 2016 with a positive bottom line of $59,675, according to the January financial report. Linda Pamperien, TCMH chief financial officer, reported that volumes for January were down and expenses were up with some large annual dues and payments in January. Our contractual adjustment was low, Pamperien said, Our medical staff did a great job managing the length of stay for our patients. Present at the meeting were Kuhn; Murray; Turpin; Pamperien; Doretta Todd-Willis, chief nursing officer; Joleen Senter Durham, public relations director; and board members Dr. Jim Perry, OD, Omanez Fockler and Janet Wiseman. Board members Mark Hampton and Russell Gaither were absent. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. 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With new ideas and concepts being added to the curriculum, the scope of education has become wider. Unlike the old days, education can now be afforded by all classes of society, leading to a larger number of qualified individuals. This has lead to a competition between these individuals over employment. With the current economic crisis at hand and the growth in unemployment, it is evident that only the most qualified stand a chance to survive. However, school systems are overburdened with the responsibility of providing education to a vast number of students. Here are some benefits of private tutoring, which can help your child become one of the few individuals that excel in this world. Mano E Mano As the name suggests, the greatest advantage of private tutoring is individual attention. Like we mentioned before, schools are overburdened with students. It is impossible for a teacher to provide individ... Close Forgot Your Password? 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You have successfully verified the account Continue Hi your HR.com account is ready Your Profile completion: 30% Complete your profile Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-02-26 Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW No. 39/16 26.02.2016 [A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS [01] Cavusoglu: "An important progress was achieved at the Cyprus negotiation talks" [02] Eide met with Akinci and said that the procedure must be speeded up [03] Eroglu: "Turkey's guarantees is a sine qua non for us" [04] Akinci met with the French Minister of State for EU Affairs [05] The water crisis has been solved; Atun says that it is the biggest privatization project [06] Reaction statements by Turkish Cypriot opposition parties on the "text agreement on the water management" [07] Turkey's Minister of Custom and Trade to illegally visit the occupation regime today [08] A cooperation protocol was signed between Turkey and the occupation regime on the environment [09] The rights of journalists Dundar and Gul were violated, Turkey's top court says [10] Davutoglu: Turkey will defend itself if threatened [11] CHP leader nets 10,000 legal complaints for naming Erdogan 'sham dictator' [12] Saudi warplanes to arrive at Turkish base on Friday [13] Survey: Domestic violence hits impoverished Turkish women more [A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS [01] Cavusoglu: "An important progress was achieved at the Cyprus negotiation talks" Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (26.02.16) reports that Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, in statements yesterday while briefing the Committee of Foreign Affairs of Turkey's Grand National Assembly (TBMM) on Turkish Foreign Policy, referred, inter alia, to the latest developments on the Cyprus problem and expressed hopes that a solution will be reached within the year. "Both sides achieved an important progress on the negotiation talks but still there are some thorny issues that needed to be solved", Cavusoglu said, adding, that there is a consensus in the "TRNC" toward the solution. "I hope that a viable solution will be found on the Cyprus problem within the year", Cavusoglu added. (AK) [02] Eide met with Akinci and said that the procedure must be speeded up Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (26.02.16) reports that UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide met yesterday with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci. Speaking after the meeting, Eide stated that there is good progress in issues like the constitution the economy and the EU; however the procedure must be speeded up. He also stated that they discussed with Akinci about the agenda of today's meeting between the two Cypriot leaders. The meeting lasted around one hour. Chief of the UN Peace Keeping Force Mission, Lisa Buttenheim, Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ozdil Nami and the member of the Turkish Cypriot negotiation team Erhan Ercin were also present at the meeting. (CS) [03] Eroglu: "Turkey's guarantees is a sine qua non for us" Under the title: "Turkey's guarantees is a sine qua non for us", Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (26.02.16) reports that the former Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu in statements from Turkey where he attended a meeting of the "cooperation society between Turkey and the TRNC", referred to the Cyprus problem and replied to the allegations saying that we are nearing to a solution on the Cyprus problem. "We are not close to a solution at the moment. South Cyprus has excessive demands", stated Eroglu. Referring to the recent statement made by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades who has said that "we will reach an agreement so that both sides will not lose", Eroglu argued that Anastasiades speaks craftily and alleged that Anastasiades speaks like this in order to become accepted that it is his side which lost during 1974, so that it will gain what it has lost. "The cost for this would mean territory, the return of Turkish settlers and the withdrawal of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) from Cyprus", Eroglu said. Eroglu underlined also the importance of the continuation of Turkey's effective guarantees. Comparing their situation with that of the Palestinians, he said that "having a motherland is a great fortune for them". (AK) [04] Akinci met with the French Minister of State for EU Affairs Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper (26.02.16) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci met with the French Minister of State for EU Affairs, Harlem Desir. According to a written statement of the so-called presidential palace, the latest developments in the Cyprus negotiation talks, as well as EU and regional issues were discussed during the meeting. Desir was accompanied during the meeting by the French Ambassador to the Republic of Cyprus Rene Troccaz. (AK) [05] The water crisis has been solved; Atun says that it is the biggest privatization project Under the title "The water crisis has been solved", Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (26.02.16) reports that the problem regarding the water brought to the occupied area of Cyprus from Turkey and endangered the future of the self-styled government ended yesterday. The self-styled council of ministers approved the text of the agreement upon which they have been working for a long time and authorized self-styled prime minister Omer Kalyoncu to sign it. After the meeting held at the "assembly", Kalyoncu said that he will talk with the Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu within the next few days and sign together the agreement, which afterwards will be submitted to the regime's "assembly". Kalyoncu said that three articles were creating discomfort on the water issue and added that changes have been made regarding these articles. He argued: "The very last issue on which we gave emphasis was our administration to be considered as administration and the municipalities which will not participate in the system not to be punished. Important steps were taken on these issues. ?". Replying to a question on the issues they agreed with Turkey, Kalyoncu said that the problem was that no water would be given to the "municipalities" which would not participate in the system. He added: "In this agreement we will give water from Turkey to these municipalities as well. These municipalities will not only take the 10% share. No investment will be made in them. They will make their own investments themselves. No procedure will be made regarding their personnel. They will employ their own personnel and pay the salaries themselves". Kalyoncu said also that the contract will be prepared within one year after they sign the agreement with Turkey. Meanwhile, Kibris also reports that in statements during one of his meetings yesterday, self-styled minister of economy, industry and commerce, Sunat Atun said that the water is the biggest privatization project carried out until today by the "TRNC", the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus. He described as a "detail" the issue of the distribution of the water by the private sector or the "municipalities". Furthermore, Huseyin Ozgurgun, leader of the National Unity Party (UBP), the minor "coalition partner", expressed his satisfaction that Kalyoncu stated that the water crisis is over, but added that he does not approve the "unpleasant debates" which took place as a result of "administrative weakness". He argued that debates and "artificial crises" have been experienced for some months on the water issue. Finally, Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), the major "coalition partner", said that the solution of the water problem in a manner accepted by both "countries" will be very good for the "country". He noted that the "municipalities" will join the system upon their own will and by using their capacities. "I think that this was a result we wanted to achieve", he argued. Asked whether the disagreements within the CTP have ended, Talat replied that the disagreements within the CTP will never end, but his complaint is the discussion of these disagreements through the press. Kibris publishes the full text of the agreement. (I/Ts.) [06] Reaction statements by Turkish Cypriot opposition parties on the "text agreement on the water management" Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (26.02.16) reports that Serdar Denktas, leader of the Democratic Party-National Forces (DP-UG), in statements yesterday during the meeting of the so-called assembly, reacted over the "text agreement on the water management" which was approved by the so-called council of ministers and asked from the so-called prime minister Omer Kalyoncu to brief them on the "amendments" made on the "text agreement". "We consider as a disgraceful the result of the prolonged crisis occurred on the water with a spell amendment. No amendment was made in fact. The municipalities will try to deliver the water without being ready and without having the necessary infrastructure. The pipes will burst", Denktas said. Also speaking, Huseyin Angolemli, "deputy" with the Social Democracy Party (TDP) demanded from so-called prime minister Kalyoncu to speak openly about the issue. Supporting that no amendment was made concerning the "municipalities" in the "text agreement" comparing with the "draft agreement", Angolemli stressed the need for the so-called government to enlighten the "public" about the cost of the water and the details of the "agreement". Moreover, Izzet Izcan, chairman of the "United Cyprus Party" (BKP), in a written statement yesterday called the "government" to publish the soonest possible the details concerning the "text agreement" on the water management. "How will you proceed to the approval of such an important agreement on the water without informing the people about the context of the agreement and without asking them first?", Izcan wondered. Izcan went on and condemned the so-called government of CTP-UBP for carrying out contacts behind the scenes and for keeping the context of the agreement secret. Izcan reiterated that they are against the privatization of the water transferred from Turkey and recalled that the "water platform" and his party will continue their struggle to protect the Turkish Cypriot's rights and against the privatizations. Also, in statements to his personal account in social media, Kudret Ozersay, leader of the newly established People's Party (HP), called the "government" to announce the amendments it has made from the past until today. (AK) [07] Turkey's Minister of Custom and Trade to illegally visit the occupation regime today Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (26.02.16) reports that the Turkish Minister of Custom and Trade Bulent Tufekci will pay an illegal visit to the occupied area of Cyprus today. According to the paper, Tufekci will meet with so-called minister of finance, Birikim Ozgur and the so-called minister of economy, industry and trade, Sunat Atun with whom they will sign two different agreements. The agreements envisage the establishment of a "joint custom committee" between Turkey and the "TRNC" and the protection of consumers. Tufekci will also meet later with so-called prime minister Omer Kalyoncu. (AK) [08] A cooperation protocol was signed between Turkey and the occupation regime on the environment Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (26.02.16) reports that the "ministry of public works, environment and culture" of the breakaway regime signed a two year cooperation protocol with Turkey's Ministry of Environment and Urbanization. According to information acquired by the so-called ministry, the protocol will be valid for two years (2016-2017) and envisages the donation from Turkey to the "TRNC" of 32 garbage vehicles, street sprinklers, and sweeping machines. The protocol was signed in Ankara on February 18 by the "undersecretary of the ministry of public works, environment and culture", Gurkan Kara and the Undersecretary of the Turkish Ministry, Mustafa Ozturk. Commenting on the protocol, so-called minister Kutlu Evren said that Turkey is always by the side of the Turkish Cypriots and thanked the Turkish Ministry for its support and contribution. Evren went on and said that they will continue with new projects in the field of environment and in other fields as well. (AK) [09] The rights of journalists Dundar and Gul were violated, Turkey's top court says Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (26.02.16) reports that in a decision that paves the way for the release of two journalists imprisoned for 92 days, Turkey's top court ruled on Feb. 25 that the rights of daily Cumhuriyet editor-in-chief Can Dundar and Ankara bureau chief Erdem Gul have been violated. Dundar and Gul's application to the court on Feb. 17 had argued that their rights were violated and the earlier ruling on their arrest lacked sufficient justification. Reviewing the appeals, which asked for the two men to be tried without arrest, the top court referred them to the 17-seated Plenary of the Constitutional Court, which issued its decision on Feb. 25. The Istanbul 14th Heavy Penalty Court was expected to later rule for the release of Dundar and Gul from Istanbul's Silivri Prison. The two journalists' lawyers argued their clients "freedom of expression, freedom of the press and personal liberty security and freedom" had been violated. Dundar and Gul are accused of espionage, threatening state security, and supporting an armed terrorist organization over two stories published in Cumhuriyet about National Intelligence Agency (MIT) trucks allegedly filled with weapons and bound for Syria. The two were arrested by an Istanbul court on Nov. 26 last year, triggering reactions from press organizations, NGOs, and many Western states. According to the ruling, Article 19 of the Constitution, which states that "Everyone has the right to personal liberty and security," was violated. The AKP has long insisted that no journalists currently jailed in Turkey are being prosecuted due to charges related to their profession. [10] Davutoglu: Turkey will defend itself if threatened Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (26.02.16) reports that Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu stated that the Syria cease-fire plan will not be binding if Turkey's security is threatened, adding that Ankara would take "necessary measures" against the People's Protection Units (YPG) and DAESH if needed. "The cease-fire is not binding for us when there is a situation that threatens Turkey's security, we will take necessary measures against both the YPG and DAESH when we feel the need to," Davutoglu said in the central province of Konya. "Ankara is the only place that decides actions regarding Turkey's security," he said. On his part, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that "YPG terrorists would like to divide Syria just like Daesh". Speaking at Ankara Anatolia news agency (26.02.16) Cavusoglu said that the main goal in Syria should be to ensure the country's territorial integrity rather than giving it to a single entity. "The PYD and YPG's aims are obvious. They want to split Syria, to establish administrations for them each and they do not hide their goals." Cavusoglu also said that the U.S. was being betrayed by the PYD. Referring to the group's recently opened bureau in Moscow he said, "The PYD has started to sell out the U.S. and has opened an office in Moscow." Reporting on the same issue, Hurriyet Daily News (26.02.16) writes: "Washington will re-evaluate its assistance to Syria's Democratic Union Party (PYD) in the event Turkey provides detailed information on the party's direct support to outlawed PKK elements operating in Turkey, a U.S. official has said". The paper goes on and reports that a senior U.S. official told the HDN on Feb. 25. The following: "We have very strong concerns about PYD actions in northwest Syria ? And of course we are very concerned about potential YPG military support from Syria to PKK elements operating in Turkey," [11] CHP leader nets 10,000 legal complaints for naming Erdogan 'sham dictator' Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (26.02.16) reports that the number of legal complaints against main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaorglu for "insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan" during two recent speeches and in his Twitter postings has reached 10,000. Kilicdaroglu named Erdogan a "sham dictator" during a speech at the Jan. 16 Republican People's Party (CHP) congress, a weekly address to his party Deputies three days later and postings the same day. The Parliamentary Crimes Department of the Ankara Chief Prosecutor's Office keeps receiving complaints on the matter, according to data gathered by Anadolu Agency. Complaints mainly come from ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputies, party members and some civil society organizations. [12] Saudi warplanes to arrive at Turkish base today Turkish daily Today's Zaman newspaper (26.02.16) reports that airplanes from Saudi Arabia are expected to arrive at Turkey's Incirlik base today to take part in missions in Syria. Two C-130 military cargo planes, carrying about 30 Saudi Air Force personnel and military equipment had already arrived at Incirlik on Tuesday to prepare for the deployment of fighter jets, the private broadcaster CNN Turk reported, citing diplomatic sources. Four F-15s will arrive at the base on Friday. With the arrival of the Saudi jets, there will be five foreign countries with aircraft at Incirlik for military missions in Syria. This will also mark the first time Saudi warplanes have been deployed at a Turkish base for military operations. [13] Survey: Domestic violence hits impoverished Turkish women more Turkish daily Sabah (26.02.16) reports that a survey released at a parliamentary committee investigating the causes of domestic violence showed that women in poor families are more inclined to be subject to violence. It also found that the highest rate of domestic violence is in central Turkey. The Women and Democracy Association (KADEM), a Turkish nongovernmental organization for women's rights, shared the findings of a survey on domestic violence at a parliamentary committee on Wednesday. The survey presented to the Committee for Research on Familial Integrity showed that the economic status of families is proportionate to the cases of domestic violence. Women from poor families are more exposed to violence, according to the survey announced by KADEM President Emine Sare Aydin Yilmaz, and the highest rate of domestic violence cases recorded last year were in central Anatolia, with 43%. The survey titled "Woman in Changing Turkey" found that the rate of exposure to physical and sexual violence among women in well-off families remains at 31% while it is as high as 43% among women in low-income families. Along with central Anatolia, the country's northeast also experiences a high rate of domestic violence at 27%. The KADEM survey showed one in every four women in Turkey is a victim to domestic violence while the figure is one in every three for women in Europe. Women were also asked about their opinion about divorce, with the majority saying they would fight to save their marriage. A total of 413 women were killed by their spouses and relatives between February 2015 and February 2016, according to a nonprofit organization. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio (CS/AM) Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article March is a month of firsts on Netflix Canada. First episodes of various new seasons, that is. Second, third and fourth episodes, too. The highlight of the month is season four of "House of Cards," which begins streaming on March 4. The new season picks up after Francis Underwood (Kevin Spacey) was in the middle of his presidential re-election campaign. But there was trouble on the hustings ... and in his marriage. When we last saw the first couple, his wife and partner Claire (Robin Wright) was leaving him. Viewers have yet to see if the series will pick up where it left off. Advertisement And that's just one title to look forward to in a month that will keep you glued to your television set. TV "Daredevil," season 2 Season two of this Marvel series sees blind lawyer Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) taking up the mantle as the hero of Hell's Kitchen once again. This time, he has to go face-to-face with Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal), better known as "The Punisher." "Pee-wee's Big Holiday" One of television's most popular man-children (Paul Reubens) makes his triumphant return to screens in this Netflix original film, in which he takes a holiday to the Big Apple, leaving his small town for the first time. Movies "Ant-Man" "Avengers: Age of Ultron" disappointed, but this offbeat Marvel offering was a pleasant surprise that didn't shy from its ridiculous premise. Paul Rudd plays a thief who is enlisted by a genius inventor (Michael Douglas) to steal back a suit that can shrink a person down to a microscopically small size. Advertisement "Spy" In 2014, an image of Toronto couple BJ Barone and Frank Nelson tearfully holding their son Milo touched the hearts of Internet users around the world. Today, that image is being used to boost anti-surrogacy campaigns in Ireland and Italy. Advertisement Ireland's The Journal reported Thursday that Barone was unhappy to see independent election candidate Mary Fitzgibbon using the photo to blast surrogacy. She posted the following to Facebook earlier this month: Where does your #GE16 candidate stand in respect of #surrogacy4men? #no2surrogacy Posted by Mary Fitzgibbon on Friday, 12 February 2016 And she posted the following just this week: Lindsay Foster, the photographer who took the photo, said she was disappointed to see it being used without her permission. Advertisement But Fitzgibbon, who is running to represent Kerry in the Irish parliament, responded by telling The Journal that Barone had asked people to share their photo with everyone. @KTobin78@MaryFitzgibbon thanks Keith 4 letting me kno! Mary, share our pic to every1. Please show the world that love has no boundaries BJ Barone (@bjbarone) February 13, 2016 But this isn't the only place that the photo has been used. Daily Xtra reported on Friday that the photo has also been incorporated into a poster by Fratelli d'Italia, a right-wing party in Italy. This is what the poster looks like: I diritti da difendere sono quelli del bambino!! #salviamolafamiglia #familyday #italiasvegliati #gioventunazionale #bimbi #family #cesolounafamiglia#followme @TagsForLikes #like4like #TagsForLikes #TFLers #liker #likes #l4l #likes4likes #photooftheday #love #likeforlike #likesforlikes #liketeam #likeback #likebackteam #instagood #renziacasa #buonasera A photo posted by Claudio Barjami (@claaudio98) on Jan 25, 2016 at 2:03pm PST The poster roughly translates to, "He'll never have the right to be called mom. Children have the right to be defended." Advertisement Barone and Nelson told The Huffington Post Canada that they're not happy the photo is being used in this way, but that they're also used to negativity. "For us it's another chance to get a positive message out there," Nelson said. "We're trying to make it the most positive thing out of this negative situation." Barone also sent a message to Fitzgibbon's supporters: "Thank you for giving us this opportunity to teach our son that people may not agree with our family, that people have different views than us, that people have different religious beliefs than us. And that's OK. It gives us the opportunity to show our son to be tolerant of others, to respect others, and not to judge others just because they don't like the fact that he has two dads." Barone and Nelson spoke with The Huffington Post Canada last year, about a year after their photo began circulating online. "I was extremely emotional at that photo, it was one of the scariest moments of my life to be handed my baby," Nelson said. Advertisement "It's still overwhelming, how I feel about that photo. But what the photo represents now is something wonderful that he's going to get to share." "It just evokes that burst of love you can have for someone," Barone added. Also on HuffPost: Merriam-Webster had the perfect clapback for Donald Trump, and didn't even have to say "yo mama." The potential presidential candidate for the U.S. Republican party, put out a series of tweets early Friday morning congratulating himself on a successful CNN debate against Marco Rubio, who is also running. The tweets featured a series of insults for Rubio, but many of them were misspelled. Trump attempted to call Rubio a "lightweight" and a "choker," but the jabs instead read "leightweight" and "chocker," and fell pretty flat as a result. Advertisement He also tried to thank people for their positive feedback from the debate, but wound up thanking them for "the honer" rather than "the honor." But the well-known American dictionary brand couldn't let Trump's cringe-worthy assault on the English language slide. Advertisement To his credit, Merriam-Webster noted that honer is actually a word, just not the one he was looking for. As for the other two, the tweet reads: "leightweight: We have no. idea." And for "chocker," they redirect the puzzled public to the dictionary entry for "nope." It doesn't end there, Merriam-Webster really turned the joke into a lesson on term "hone": 'Home in' and 'Hone in' are both used, but 'Home in' does a better job of hitting the mark: https://t.co/yCWqroXE5x Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) February 27, 2016 Rubio, the so-called "leightweight" "chocker," was unfazed by the insults and actually is seen mocking Trump's poor spelling in this CNN video. Advertisement Trump's flubbed tweets have since been deleted, but once it's on the Internet, the screenshots will live forever. The question is how could he miss the red squiggly lines? Merriam-Webster didn't name names, but it's a fitting coincidence that their word of the day today is "oaf". Also on HuffPost We all know what happens at family reunions when that one cousin doesn't show up. And Michelle Tanner was no exception when it came to "Fuller House." We were all a little deflated when Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen announced that they wouldn't reprise their "Full House" role along with the rest of the cast for the reboot, "Fuller House." But creator Jeff Franklin made sure to address her absence on the show, with a bit of shade of course. Advertisement The first season of the sequel series dropped on Netflix at 3 a.m. yesterday, and within the first five minutes, they addressed the elephant in the room. Stephanie Tanner, played by Jodie Sweetin, returns home and asks the Tanner gang where Michelle is, the only missing family member. Danny answers with a not-so-subtle jab: Well, Michelle sends her love, he says, But shes busy in New York, running her fashion empire. At which point the entire family breaks the fourth wall and rotates their heads to stare at the audience, looking decidedly unimpressed. Advertisement Apparently, after the take the cast ad-libbed a bit, and one lie by John Stamos, who plays Uncle Jesse, hit the cutting room floor. People Magazine reports that Stamos hollered, "One episode!" lamenting the Olsen twins decision not to make an appearance. Immediately after, his character gets a phone call: "It's the twins' lawyer," he jokes. The Olsens have been focusing on their successful clothing lines, The Row and Elizabeth & James, which comes up again later on. Franklin, who created both the original series and the remake, tells MTV News that he knew they had to address the awkward situation, and hopes the twins have a good laugh at it it's meant to be a "playful moment." Franklin also told the Hollywood Reporter that he had wanted fans to be able to see Michelle "from time to time" like with characters Danny, Uncle Jesse, Aunt Becky and Joey. Advertisement The sequel series focuses on DJ Tanner, who is newly widowed and trying to raise her three young boys, with the help of her sister Stephanie and best friend Kimmy Gibbler. It's basically a gender-swapped version of the original. The reboot has been slammed by critics across the board, and yet, die-hard "Full House" fans are still loving the nostalgic remake, or at the very least, embracing it as a new guilty pleasure. on episode 4 of fuller house and I'm not disappointed a loves m (@exoticliffy) February 27, 2016 Fuller House is terrible and also I'm six episodes in. Adam Smith (@asmith83) February 27, 2016 Last night I watched "Fuller House" in my parents' basement with my sister so it was basically 1989 again except with wine. Rita Meade (@ScrewyDecimal) February 27, 2016 Advertisement I'm only halfway through the first episode of Fuller House and I can't even with it. It's so bad. Yet I will wind up watching all of it. Christina Warren (@film_girl) February 27, 2016 Also on HuffPost It's 2016, but a black man can't talk to a white woman in a coffee shop without someone assuming he's a pimp. Mactar Mbaye, a 23-year-old entrepreneur in Quebec, arranged to meet a woman at a Tim Hortons in Laval who applied for a job at his company. Advertisement A short time after he started interviewing her, two police officers approached and asked to speak with Mbaye. Two more officers joined them soon after, according to Global News. Mbaye told CTV Montreal he was "shocked" but went with them. "What happened right now is because you're black. If you were a white, I don't think we would get the same call." Laval police had received a 911 call about a young black man trying to recruit a young white female for "most probably prostitution," Const. Franco di Genova told Global. With all the events that happened with the youth centre here in Laval we didnt take a chance." Earlier this month, five girls ran away from a Laval group home, who were likely targeted by a prostitution ring, reported CBC. Advertisement No 'anger against the police' Mbaye runs a construction estimation company that has no office, since most of the business can be done online, reported CTV Montreal. He said he understands police were simply doing their due diligence in following up with a 911 call. I don't have any anger against the police it's against the person who called just because I was black she thought I was a pimp." He told Montreal's CJAD 800 that one of the officers told him, "What happened right now is because you're black. If you were a white, I don't think we would get the same call." Mbaye spoke about his experience in a video he posted on Facebook. DIFFICILE DE CROIRE CE QUI M'EST ARRIVE! IL NE FAUT JAMAIS JUGER UN LIVRE PAR SA COUVERTURE! UN HOMME NOIR PEUT REUSSIR SANS POUR AUTANT ETRE ILLEGAL ! #blackhistorymonths #nonauracisme Posted by Mactar Mbaye on Thursday, February 18, 2016 In a follow-up, he said he was amazed at how many people reached out to him with similar experiences. Advertisement Mbaye said he wants to warn people that racial discrimination is still everywhere, and profiling can affect them too. The female applicant ended up accepting a job with Mbaye's company, said CJAD. Also on HuffPost: Facebook A U.S. website misidentified a Toronto university student as the teen charged in a mass stabbing attack at an Ontario high school, leading to a slew of hateful online comments against her. This week, a 14-year-old girl allegedly injured both staff and students in a stabbing attack at Dunbarton High School in Pickering, Ont. Now charged with 15 offences, she cannot be named by law that protects the identity of young offenders. Advertisement Zahra Vaid, a 21-year-old studying at the University of Toronto, had been initially been interviewed for a Globe and Mail story about the accused's blog. After that article was published, Vaid was named as the suspect in a post on The Gateway Pundit , a right-wing political website. "An innocent mistake, perhaps? Not at all," Vaid wrote in a Facebook post. The Gateway Pundit post was originally called, "Canadian Muslim Girls on Mass Stabbing Spree 8 Injured." I posted the link to an article last night, which extracted information and wrongly attached my name to the incident at... Posted by Zahra Vaid on Friday, February 26, 2016 Vaid pointed out: "While the Globe and Mail article mentioned that I was 21 and a student at the University of Toronto, these men purposefully utilized my name to state, "Police accused 14-year-old girl Zahra Vaid of the crime." Advertisement She told CBC News the fact that the story mentioned she was Muslim resulted on online attacks. "It was misinterpreted in such a dramatic, almost violent way against me," she said. A victim of a stabbing attack in Pickering, Ont. is taken away for medical care. (Photo: The Canadian Press) After the comments, The Globe and Mail honoured Vaid's request to rework their story to distance herself from details about the accused. Reporter Selena Ross told the CBC she still thinks the original story was clear, and that it was "incredibly irresponsible" for a blogger to misinterpret the story. Article 'updated' The Gateway Pundit story was later edited to omit Vaid's name, and the headline was changed to "Canadian Girl Goes on Mass Stabbing Spree 8 Injured." A line at the end of the story says the post was "updated," but does not mention any corrections or previous mistakes. Advertisement Facebook comments on the article pointed out the initial errors. "This is absolutely disgusting, all of it - this article and all the comments attached to it. If the author of this post read a little more than 5 sentences of the original Canadian report, or if anybody here even clicked on the link provided by this author, it would have been ABSOLUTELY CLEAR that the suspect is a minor whose identity was withheld," Michelle Lee wrote. "It's been mentioned MULTIPLE times that the 14-year-old that committed this crime cannot be named due to her age. Zahra is 21. In conclusion, what the HELL is this?" Kristen Lewis wrote. "This could have taken such a different direction if Islamophobes or people who engage in hate speech didnt take this and completely alter it." The article's author, Jim Hoft, created the Gateway Pundit in 2004, according to site. In 2013, he won the Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award. A Google search of the story's original headline shows right-wing websites linking to the article are still using it. Advertisement Vaid told Canadaland she didn't want to take the attention off the 14-year-old accused, whose cries for help on social media had sparked empathy from other students, including one who was hurt in the stabbing. "This could have taken such a different direction if Islamophobes or people who engage in hate speech didnt take this and completely alter it, she said. Also On HuffPost: For the past few days, students across the UK have been taking part in the controversial Israeli Apartheid Week in an attempt to raise awareness of Israels apartheid policies over the Palestinian people. However, Jewish students and organisations have slammed the campaign for being hostile, threatening, and intimidating. Students at universities from Oxford to Edinburgh organised panels, film screenings, lectures and creative demonstrations as part of the week, which is in its 12th year. Advertisement The Israeli Apartheid Week campaign seeks to grow support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS). BDS advocates putting economic and political pressure on Israel in an attempt to end what many see as an Israeli-enforced apartheid in the occupied Palestinian territories. Cambridge University activists pretend to be Palestinians at a mock Israeli checkpoint At Cambridge University, Palestinian supporters and sympathisers set up a mock Israeli military checkpoint. Students at the Sidgwick lecture site dressed in khaki uniforms and held fake guns as they pretended to be members of the Israeli Defense Forces. Students acting the role of Palestinians, meanwhile, were seen kneeling on the floor with their hands behind their backs. By recreating a checkpoint in the centre of the university we wanted to reach out to people who might not be familiar with the situation and might not have given much thought to it, Cambridge University Palestine Society told HuffPost UK. Advertisement In April 2015 there were 96 fixed checkpoints situated in the West Bank, as well as hundreds of surprise checkpoints. Israeli human rights organisation Btselem says on its website Palestinians that face prolonged checks and searches, and humiliating treatment by soldiers at such checkpoints. Leeds University joined Cambridge in setting up a mock military checkpoint on their university campus. Ellen Johnson, a second-year student at Leeds, said that she felt threatened by the action. They had the Israeli flag on their armbands, she told HuffPost UK. Immediately when I saw that I thought of a swastika, because during the Holocaust German soldiers wore swastikas on their armbands. Advertisement The Israeli flag is a great symbol for me. So when I see it on an armband it is very upsetting. The Star of David is a Jewish symbol, and so although many Jews arent Zionists, they would still identify with that flag, the 19-year-old said. Johnson, who is an active member of Leeds University Jewish Society, accused the students union of being biased towards Palestinian supporters: We are always silent. They are allowed to do more than us. The union could do more to support us. A Leeds University Union spokesperson said: As a member-led students union we remain committed to supporting and representing all our students equally and would never lend increased support or sympathies to one student group over another. In London, SOAS University erected a wall on campus to replicate Israels so-called separation barrier. The wall was placed outside the university, and had phrases such as illegal under international law and cutting people off from schools, hospitals, food, water spray-painted on it. The Wall in front of SOAS for Israeli Apartheid Week. See schedule of @PalSocSOAS events: https://t.co/1XRjmKssi7pic.twitter.com/zaJHXJlvoh SOAS Students' Union (@soassu) February 23, 2015 Advertisement Upon completion, the Israeli barrier will be about 700km long, and will separate parts of the West Bank from Israel. Israel insists the barrier is needed for security reasons, but Palestinian activists compare the barrier to the Berlin Wall, as the checkpoints along the wall severely restrict the movement of Palestinians. The restriction on movement for Palestinian people and vehicles meant that between 2000 and 2006, 68 Palestinian women gave birth at a checkpoint. 35 of these women miscarried, and five died in childbirth. The Israeli separation wall in Bethlehem An energy company has faced a backlash after a competition run as part of a campaign to attract more girls into science was won by a boy. EDF Energys Pretty Curious campaign is inspiring girls curiosity about science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). Its website reads: In the UK, only 1 in every 7 people who works in science, technology, engineering and maths is female. Advertisement Our Pretty Curious campaign aims to change that by sparking the imagination of young girls, inspiring them to stay curious about the world around them, and continue pursuing science-based subjects at school - and in their careers. The Pretty Curious campaign is about inspiring girls' curiosity about STEM But the campaigns Pretty Curious Challenge was also opened up to boys aged 11-16, apparently in the interests of fairness, according to the BBC. From a group of five finalists - including three girls - the winner chosen by a panel of judges was a 13-year-old boy, who designed a games controller which harnessed kinetic energy. Advertisement The result drew a barrage of criticism online Encouraging girls to choose a career in science by letting a boy win! What a #PrettyCurious idea. #womeninstempic.twitter.com/da0vYAa93M Elisabeth Bik (@MicrobiomDigest) February 27, 2016 How depressingly predictable. @edfenergy's #PrettyCurious (ugh) campaign to get girls into STEM is won by a boy. https://t.co/Ht76KbYLLa Dr Claire Hardaker (@DrClaireH) February 26, 2016 Dear @edfenergy, how is giving your #prettycurious prize to a boy supposed to encourage girls into STEM? https://t.co/iXMbQBenfS Kate Bevan (@katebevan) February 26, 2016 'Girls in tech' competition run by EDF Energy is won by a boy. Talk about tone deaf! https://t.co/cSEpQf9lqP Mike Butcher (@mikebutcher) February 27, 2016 1) By not running a 'girls in tech' competition and awarding first prize to a boy. #PrettyCurious#STEM#GirlsinSTEMpic.twitter.com/8ewOMao0G8 Brian Yim Lim (@DrBrianYL) February 27, 2016 Advertisement #PrettyCurious - terrible campaign name from @edfenergy and, it turns out, no obvious benefit to girls in #STEMhttps://t.co/2AsI734U7C Liz Hide (@TheMuseumOfLiz) February 27, 2016 A severe push back for girls aspiring to be #WomenInSTEM Tagline of #prettycurious was "Why aren't more girls pursuing science?" I wonder.. Elisabeth Bik (@MicrobiomDigest) February 26, 2016 However, some did defend the decision So what if a boy won #prettycurious? Glad he wasn't deterred by #EDF's massively confused competition branding. Alexandra Cocking (@DinoRangerAlex) February 27, 2016 Yes, a boy won the competition, but the rules of the competition beforehand stated it was open to all! #PrettyCurious Dan Herd (@DanHerd) February 27, 2016 Teenage scientist and public speaker Ciara Judge also defended the competition. In a post on her blog, Judge, who won the BT Young Scientist of the Year award in 2013, said: Yes, the competition had the intention of promoting girls in STEM, but whos to say it hasnt done that? Its not about the prizes, its about the involvement. Im sure most of the participants of that science fair came away from the experience with pride, enthusiasm and of course, many new ideas. Advertisement To those criticising the idea that a contest to promote females in STEM would have a male winner, I ask: is allowing a girl to win by default really a way to promote girls in STEM? There is no worse feeling on earth than feeling like your success is because of your gender, or feeling like the token female and I have been in that situation more times than I care to count. I would truly hate for a fellow girl in STEM to ever feel the same. EDF Energy sent a number of replies from its official account to those criticising the result. @warwick_hill 1/2 Hi, the #PrettyCuriousChallenge was a smart tech competition open to anyone 11-16 - they all had amazing ideas! ^Felice EDF Energy (@edfenergy) February 27, 2016 @robbeekmans Hi, #PrettyCuriousChallenge was a social media competition open to all children, & an extension of our #PrettyCurious programme EDF Energy (@edfenergy) February 27, 2016 @robbeekmans 2/2 Of the 5 finalists 3 female & 2 male. Finalist were shortlisted by a panel inc school children & winner via a public vote. EDF Energy (@edfenergy) February 27, 2016 Advertisement In a statement, EDF Energy said: "Following last years #PrettyCurious programme, which aimed to inspire girls about careers in STEM, EDF Energy launched a social media competition open to all children called the #PrettyCuriousChallenge. "We had a number of girls and boys taking part in the challenge to create a 'connected home' product resulting in three female and two male finalists. The winner was selected via a public vote based on the merit of their idea." A medical student is facing a race against time to find a stem cell donor to help her beat an aggressive form of leukaemia - but she has the likes of JK Rowling in her corner helping to spread the message. After four rounds of gruelling chemotherapy, Vithiya Alphons was told by doctors that she could be dead in eight weeks unless she can find a donor - and her story is now spreading fast across social media as the search for a match becomes more desperate. Writing on the Help Save Vs Life Facebook page, Alphons explained: My name's Vithiya and I am a 24 year old student who has been diagnosed with AML Leukemia. Advertisement I desperately need to find a stem cell donor who is a genetic match to save my life. Please see if you are a match by joining one of the registries below, you could be saving mine or one of thousands of other people's lives. Vithiya Alphons has just two months to find a stem cell donor High profile figures including JK Rowling and Jojo Moyes have already given their support to the campaign on Twitter, retweeting posts about Alphons' plight. Alphons is of Sri Lankan heritage, which makes it more difficult for her to find a donor in the UK. Registration to become a potential donor is quick and easy and simply involves spitting into a tube. Blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan explains that 9 out of 10 people donate stem cells in a quick and easy process similar to giving blood, called peripheral blood stem cell collection. 1 in 10 donors will have their stem cells collected via the bone marrow itself, while under general anaesthetic. A Scottish MP who was detained by security forces in Turkey has described the experience as "terrifying". Natalie McGarry, who represents the Glasgow East constituency, was briefly held by authorities near a security checkpoint in the south-east of the country on Thursday. Her lawyer later confirmed she was questioned after using her mobile phone to "record the sound of bombs" falling on the Kurdish area of Sur in the city of Diyarbakir, a flashpoint in the conflict between the Turkish government and the country's Kurdish population. Advertisement McGarry, who was visiting Turkey as part of a delegation to the country, revealed she was "very pleased" to have landed at Heathrow airport, the Press Association reported. Natalie McGarry described her experience as 'terrifying' Writing on Twitter on Saturday, she said: "I was forcibly removed from the street by a man who pushed me repeatedly and would've hit me but for intervention of younger colleagues. "I was denied access to an interpreter and taken into a shack behind the demarcation line which was filled with guns." Advertisement She said she was "relieved" after an interpreter was allowed in after 45 minutes. "My absolute admiration to fellow delegates who stayed to support me & were increasingly worried by the shouting & swearing," she continued. "Thank you also to the British Embassy who acted so swiftly to help secure my release. And everyone locally who was contacted & put pressure. "Thanks also to the Kurdish population of Sur who came to welcome me out and hugged me when I cried. And they brought me chai and thanks." McGarry added: "I freely admit to crying when I was released. It was a terrifying experience albeit it only lasted a couple of hours. Advertisement "I cannot imagine if life was a constant struggle of fear like that everyday which is why Turkey's Nato partners need to demand it stop." McGarry sits as an independent MP after resigning the SNP whip in the wake of an ongoing police investigation into missing donations from Women for Independence, the pro-Scottish independence group she founded. She denies any wrongdoing. Simon Danczuk has warned the government that the "unfair burden" of asylum seekers on the UK's poorest towns could lead to a "major incident". The latest figures revealing where asylum seekers have been dispersed show the top 10 largest ratios have increased in nine towns and cities - all in Northern England, Scotland and Wales. Coming in third on the list was Rochdale, with a ratio of one asylum seeker to 204 residents between October to December 2015 - up from 1:242 in the same period in 2014. Advertisement Rochdale's Labour MP Simon Danczuk Rochdale's outspoken Labour MP Danczuk said he thinks the Conservative government is "putting an unfair burden on towns like Rochdale". He told the Press Association: "On the one hand, they expect us to host hundreds of asylum seekers. "On the other, they don't give us a penny to support these vulnerable people and are slashing funding for council services, healthcare and schooling. This is not sustainable. "If things continue like this, increasing tension in the community could lead to a major incident of one kind or another." Advertisement Rochdale town hall Topping the list for a second time was Middlesbrough, with a ratio of 1:152 up from 1:186 - with both figures surpassing the Government's guidelines of 1:200. Dave Budd, the elected mayor of the town, which was at the centre of the controversy of the red doors last month, said they are now in talks with the Home Office to try to come to an arrangement over reducing the numbers. He said: "We are very good at taking and looking after asylum seekers. We get no funding but through volunteering and community groups we do it very well. "The problem is that many places in the country do not do their bit." Budd said that in Middlesbrough there was not a spread of asylum seekers, but "clusters" in the cheapest housing - usually in areas with problems already. Advertisement Ranking second on the latest list is Glasgow, with a ratio of one asylum seeker per 194 residents, up from 1:215 the year before. And according to the figures, Oldham, which is number 10 on the list, has a new ratio of 1:335 up from 1:368. Jim McMahon, the MP for Oldham West and Royton, said it is important that the UK takes its international responsibilities seriously by taking a fair share of those who need support and are asylum seekers. McMahon said: "People who are seeking asylum will have a range of complex issues from housing to healthcare and education that will need looking after and that does carry a cost with it. "For a local community, if they take a disproportionate number of asylum seekers without the public services to then provide the support, then it does add a pressure on a local community." Advertisement He said it is important that the country has its own "domestic house in order" so that the impact on local communities is managed. "The numbers speak for themselves, there are more asylum seekers in Rochdale and Oldham than there are in all of London and the South East combined because they are sent where the property is cheapest," he said. McMahon said reaction to the influx of asylum seekers has been mixed on immigration, because communities are changing all the time. "As public services are being taken away, and there's greater pressures on public services with limited resources, people will start saying 'money is being taken out of the system, why are more people placing demands on the system?' Advertisement "Rather than blaming central Government, which is what I want them to do because they are the ones cutting resources, they will blame their neighbours, because they can see them," he added. Cardiff, ranking fourth, noted one of the biggest dispersion increases, moving from 1:370 in 2014 to 1:244 in 2015. Swansea, which had a ratio of 1:392 in the last quarter of 2014, broke into the top 10 with a new figure of 1:286 for 2015 - now ranking at number seven. Geraint Davies, Labour MP for Swansea West, said the Government should take its fair share of refugees and not simply disperse them out of London and the South East. "The figures show that Wales, Scotland and the North are doing all the heavy lifting in terms of welcoming refugees but haven't been given the resources to do it," he said. Advertisement Jeremy Corbyn warned "you dont achieve peace by planning for war as he spoke to thousands of people in an anti-Trident rally in central London. The Labour leader was joined by Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon and Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood for the march through central London on Saturday. Advertisement Jeremy Corbyn speaks to a crowd at Saturday's march According to the BBC, Corbyn said: "We live in a world where so many things are possible. Where peace is possible in so many places. "You don't achieve peace by planning for war, grabbing resources and not respecting each other's human rights. "Today's demonstration is an expression of many people's opinions and views. I'm here because I believe in a nuclear-free Britain and a nuclear-free future." Advertisement Sturgeon labelled the nuclear deterrent immoral and "impractical", according to the Press Association. She said: "It is the norm in the world today to be nuclear-free. It is the exception to the rule to possess nuclear weapons, let that ring out loudly and clearly. "The use of nuclear weapons would bring about human devastation and suffering on an unimaginable scale." She said the SNP would be making Trident a political issue at forthcoming elections. Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas described nuclear weaponry as "a cold war relic". She said: "To contemplate using nuclear weapons is both illegal and immoral." Saturdays march was estimated by stewards to run into "many tens of thousands. The Ministry of Defence has estimated acquiring four new submarines to carry the Trident deterrent will cost 31 billion over the course of the 20-year procurement programme, with a further 10 billion set aside to meet any additional unexpected cost increases. Advertisement Stefan Postles via Getty Images CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 15: Tony Abbott makes his final statement to the media as Prime Minister at Parliament House on September 15, 2015 in Canberra, Australia. Tony Abbott lost the Liberal leadership ballot last night, defeated by Malcolm Turnbull 54-44. Malcolm Turnbull will now become the 29th Prime Minister of Australia. (Photo by Stefan Postles/Getty Images) Former prime minister Tony Abbott has hit out at China, saying Australia and the Asian superpower do not share common values, despite being closely linked by trade. Speaking in Japan overnight, Abbott made the remarks while also commenting on the communist nation's actions in a disputed area of the South China Sea where it has built artificial islands and is said to be ramping up its military assets. Advertisement "While we now have more flights from China than from any other country, and while our economy is more closely tied to China's than to any other, it's still an interests partnership rather than a values one," Abbott said. "We rely on China to take increasing quantities of Australian raw materials, and we're happy to be a source of resource, energy and food security. "We're proud of the Chinese people who've made their home in our country and become fine Australians. But we aren't entirely confident that when China's interests differ from Australia's, there is a shared set of values that will allow a mutually satisfactory outcome." Advertisement It was good to address the Japan Institute of International Affairs in Tokyo this evening. https://t.co/VHs8LXMS8zpic.twitter.com/ClbdIYyqCS Tony Abbott (@TonyAbbottMHR) February 26, 2016 He said China's actions in the South China Sea were jeopardising the safety of the region. "Countries which turn reefs into artificial islands at massive environmental cost, fortify disputed territory, and try to restrict freedom of navigation are putting at risk the stability and security on which depends the prosperity of our region and the wider world," Abbott said. The speech is likely to renew speculation that Abbott's high profile since losing the prime ministership represents either an effort to shore up his legacy or is his way of biding time until another tilt at the top job. Melbourne University's Pradeep Taneja said it was not the first time Abbott had talked about differences in values between Australia and China. Taneja said China had been engaged in activities in the contested waters in violation of international laws. Advertisement "Clearly, there are differences in values, particularly political values, but it doesn't stop countries from doing business with each other. The Chinese have expressed their concerns about growing military ties between Australia and the United States," he told ABC television. "China needs to explain to the region, explain to the rest of the world what China's ultimate objectives are in the region." On Friday, former defence minister and Labor leader Kim Beazley weighed into the debate, saying that Australia should conduct routine freedom of navigation exercises through the contested waters. Abbott's comments in Tokyo come amid reports the former PM will make a defense of his short-lived prime ministership in an upcoming edition of the conservative journal Quadrant. Tony Abbott launches a 4000-word defence of his prime ministership. https://t.co/6DSKEo7kyGpic.twitter.com/jZQpuf5bi4 The Australian (@australian) February 26, 2016 Advertisement Fairfax Media reports that in the essay Abbott writes that his administration suffered from a "hysterical opposition", "populist Senate crossbench" and "poisonous media". Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a new conference before a rally in Fort Worth, Texas, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/LM Otero) If you watched the Republican debate on Thursday, you probably noticed the candidates agreeing that insurance companies should be allowed to sell policies across state lines. "We have to get rid of the lines around the states," said Donald Trump, making vigorous circles with his hands for emphasis, "so that there's serious, serious competition." It would, he promised, "be a beautiful thing." Advertisement This is often presented as the Republicans' Big Idea on health care -- in fact, as with Trump, it's often the only idea they can come up with. But it isn't a serious plan for improving our nation's health care system. In fact, it's absolute nonsense. For starters, we don't need to pass a federal law to allow insurance companies to sell policies across state lines. We don't have to repeal Obamacare. We don't have to do anything. Nothing in federal law prohibits states from allowing out-of-state insurance companies to sell policies to their citizens. In fact, six states have already tried it. And guess what? It doesn't work. Let me back up. Individual states are responsible for administering and regulating their own health insurance markets. They decide which insurers receive licenses to sell policies within their borders, and establish standards for what benefits those policies must provide to their citizens. States were free to allow insurers from other states to sell to their citizens before Obamacare, and they are still free to do so today. What Obamacare did was establish an "essential benefits package" -- basic minimum standards that all individual policies must meet, no matter where they're sold. Advertisement Indeed, many states have explored the idea of allowing insurance companies from other states to sell within their borders; 18 looked into allowing out-of-state insurance sales before Obamacare became law, and 13 have considered it since. But very few have actually decided to do so. And the ones that have report unanimously that it has accomplished nothing. Why? Because a license to sell insurance in a given state isn't the only thing insurance companies need in order to be able to actually sell insurance. They need to learn the state, analyze the health care needs of its population, recruit participants, build a network of providers, negotiate rates, and more. If you're a huge insurance company like Blue Cross, you might have the resources to replicate this effort in states across the country, which is why you can get Blue Cross insurance in multiple states. But smaller insurance companies based in a single state have found again and again that, even when offered the opportunity to sell across state lines, it simply isn't worth the hassle. And that's why allowing cross-border insurance sales has failed miserably in every state where it's been tried. Wyoming tried it. Their deputy insurance commissioner told POLITICO, "There has not been any interest." Advertisement Rhode Island tried it. Their former health insurance commissioner reported that "no one even inquired." Georgia tried it. Their insurance commissioner said, "Nobody has even asked to be approved to sell across state lines. We're dumbfounded. We are absolutely dumbfounded." The same proved to be true in Kentucky, and Maine, and Washington: insurance companies simply aren't interested in selling policies across state lines. That's why most of the states that have considered making it possible for insurance companies to do so have decided not to bother. And that's why this "idea" as the Republicans' big solution on health care is absurd. Which, by the way, is not news to anyone who's actually studied it. "I've tried for 10 years to explain this to Republicans; it is a big problem," sighed Merrill Matthews of the Institute for Policy Innovation (a conservative think tank founded by former Republican Majority Leader Dick Armey and funded by, among others, the pharmaceutical industry and the Koch brothers) in an interview with the New York Times. "Just because a good affordable policy is available in another state doesn't mean that I would be able to get the network of physicians and the good prices that are available in that other state." It would be bad enough if this were just an inane bit of gobbledygook that Republicans use to disguise the fact that, beyond repealing the law that has extended coverage to tens of millions of Americans, they really have no ideas at all when it comes to health care. Advertisement But it's actually worse. Because what Republicans are really interested in isn't simply increasing the number of players in each state's insurance market, but getting rid of the essential benefits package established to protect consumers under Obamacare. Indeed, when they talk about "increasing competition," Republicans are envisioning a scenario in which states compete to see who can allow insurance companies to offer the most worthless policies to their citizens -- a race to the bottom in which the losers will be patients who discover too late that the garbage insurance they bought doesn't cover the care they need. For example: In my home state of Minnesota, we have pretty stringent consumer safeguards, even tougher than what Obamacare requires. But under the Republican plan, without Obamacare's minimum standards in place, another state could allow some fly-by-night company to set up shop and start offering my constituents lousy policies that would leave them helpless if they got sick. This would effectively pre-empt Minnesota's laws -- as long as just one state were willing to drop its standards, no state would be able to protect its citizens from these scams. You don't often hear Republicans calling for the federal government to interfere with the constitutional rights of states to manage their affairs, but I guess they're willing to make an exception when it would help unscrupulous insurance companies rip people off. Anyway: Obamacare isn't the end of the work we have to do to make our health care system work better. There are plenty of things we can do to build on its successes and improve on its shortcomings. But allowing insurance companies to sell across state lines isn't an answer to the question of how Republicans would replace Obamacare if they ever succeeded in repealing it. Advertisement In fact, given that allowing insurance companies to sell across state lines is already permitted under federal law, that dozens of states have already considered trying it, and that it has already been proven not to work in literally every one of the few states that has implemented it, I'd say it doesn't even count as an actual "idea" at all. It's just a political talking point, and a pretty ridiculous one, at that. A tumble of memories. The meeting thirty years ago with our publisher, Jean-Claude Fasquelle: I find Eco zany, brilliant, mischievous, and independent-minded, a Zelig of absolute knowledge, always ready with a witty remark, irrepressible. Another meeting some time before on the Rue de Bizerte, this one shorter, with Gilles Deleuze, who cannot get over the bottomless well of knowledge, the nearly infinite reserve of intelligence that is Umberto: He questions him as one would an Olympic champion, rhapsodizes about his erudition as one might about a circus strong man or bearded lady. What about Leibniz? he asks in a hoarse and teasing voice. And the smell of gasoline that reminded Kafka, in Prague, of his happy days in Paris? And the comparative influences of Ibsen, Svevo, and Irishman James Clarence Mangan in shaping Joyce's poetics? And the telephone number of Stanislas Breton? Does Eco really know by heart the phone numbers of every Parisian specialist on Plotin, Plato, and Greek philosophy in general? Or that colloquium in Milan in the late 1970s: Sciascia, Moravia, and maybe Barthes are there. Umberto has not yet published The Name of the Rose and so is not yet the great popular novelist (inspired by Arsene Lupin, Sherlock Holmes, and the legend of d'Artagnan) that he will soon become, but his elders--why I know not--are already snubbing him a bit. Is it his volubility, his relaxed tone and appearance, his way of raising his glass at dinner to "the art of the false" while reciting passages from Nerval's "Sylvie," subtly and systematically transformed in a way that mystifies us? Advertisement I see him with my friend Valerio Riva, a marvelous and enigmatic character whom he seems to have known well from Gruppo 63 and his avant-garde youth: Valerio is a writer without a body of work who is running the literary pages of L'Espresso, but Umberto spends the lunch mischievously trying to make him admit that he is a Russian agent, a Castro-ite conspirator, or the holder of the last secrets of Giangiacomo Feltrinelli, the red billionaire who killed himself while trying to blow up a power-line pylon near Milan. Going a little farther back, to the mid-1970s and a university lecture hall in Rome, I see him facing a full house, livid at those known then as the Autonomists: He is teaching in Bologna at the time but, like me, is in Rome at the invitation of the far-left daily Lotta Continua to try to explain to a crowd of restless, rootless young people that "armed struggle" is a monstrosity, a rehash of fascism, madness. Outside, on a wall, a student has painted "Eco, Levy, we're going to put a bullet in your mouth." Later, on the Rue des Saints-Peres in Paris, a conversation with Lucien Bodard, whom he recommended to Jean-Jacques Annaud for the movie version of The Name of the Rose: They resemble two equally entangled albatrosses, one of which appears to be sulking while the other, Umberto, is stunning us with his thoughts on the ancient Greeks' methods of manufacturing the equivalent of cyanide from peach pits. A meeting at the Elysee Palace with Francois Mitterrand, who has just made Umberto and Elie Wiesel responsible for a new universal academy of cultures: He explains that day that he lost his faith while reading Saint Thomas Aquinas, that Napoleon was poisoned by the wallpaper in his room at Longwood, that nothing resembles a reclusive writer more than one who is in the limelight too often, that he no longer reads anything but dictionaries, and that, even if he doesn't believe in "academies" or in the "world" or, for that matter, in "culture," he is willing to go along with the project. Advertisement Later, in Paris again, at a writers' conference that I organized with Arte at Trocadero, where Umberto is giving the closing speech: Europe? Yes, of course, Europe! As in spaghetti westerns, Sophocles, a taste for translation, writing in the fog, the art of love, and love of the endless sentence. New York. He doesn't have much longer to live, and we're waiting in the green room of the Charlie Rose show for Charlie to interview us one after the other: I find him thicker, a bit sad, but as soon as the camera finds him he recovers his verve and explains, with mock contrition, that the Italy of Berlusconi has become, for the second time, the world's political laboratory. Soon enough we will have Donald Trump ... And then in his library near Milan, where the visit to the great writer took on the form of a visit to a great library: labyrinth, rhizome, and inspired chaos, in the midst of which Umberto stood, his eyes closed, real life, fittingly, living in the books. I write these recollections as they come to me, in no particular order, a modest contribution to the monument that his grateful country, Europe, has already begun to build to his memory. One of my all time favorite quotes is by Mark Twain and it goes like this, "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." Wow, makes you want to take a deep breath. To me, Mark Twain is talking about purpose and the fact that every one of us has one. If we apply the definition of purpose (which states, the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists) to our lives then indeed it seems to be telling us something. It's basically saying that we exist for a reason and that reason is our purpose. I must say I agree with Mr. Twain. I love the idea of purpose and actually designed a course dedicated to guiding people through the process of discovering their own path called Rock Your Purpose. It's an idea that was birthed from my own journey of connecting with my purpose. Advertisement How I see it is that when we look at the people who inspire us, there's a good chance it's easy to spot their purpose. Gandhi, he had a purpose. Oprah she has a purpose. Justin Bieber, okay he just wrote a song called Purpose. That's different. The point is if one person has a purpose then we all have a purpose. Yes, even Justin Bieber. There is an eloquence in this idea of purpose but also some pressure. The idea that we all have a unique design that is dedicated to our life is a lot for any one person to hold. With great power comes great responsibility. And if this sounds familiar, it's the same problem Spiderman had. In yogic and Hindu tradition this is known as Dharma, which can be described as "that which upholds the cosmos." Our dharma is first about discovering our own deepest truths and then using these truths, gifts and talents out in the world. Deepak Chopra tells us to "explore all the things that makes our heart sing and enable us to make a life not just a living." But how exactly do we do this? First, we need to let go of the idea that we have to be anything other than who we already are. Who we are and how we are meant to express our gifts are already deeply embedded in our framework. In my experience this is what the yoga practice is really about. It brings us home to these truths that we were born with. But when we search for these answers outside of ourselves or let someone else's opinions sway us, then we move further away from this truth. Advertisement Next we need to be confident. This is a main ingredient to fulfilling our life's true plan. Chances are there will be people in our lives that just don't get it. They will resist, they will try to pull us off course and sometimes they will leave. If we aren't confident we can easily be swayed. Here is the thing, when we are in alignment with our purpose we can scare the crap out of people. It can hold up a mirror showing other's insecurities and fears. So even if they don't mean to, some may try to push us off course. So confidence is a must. And then, we need to practice presence. In his book A New Earth, Ekhart Tolle says we have both an "outer purpose and an inner purpose." Our outer purpose is the one I have been speaking about here. It deals with the outer world and how we connect to it in a fulfilling way. It can change with time and circumstances. But our inner purpose remains constant. It is "to be absolutely present in whatever we do and so let our actions be guided and empowered by awareness, the awakened consciousness, rather than controlled by the egoic mind." It is in this presence that we are already fulfilling a piece of our destiny, a piece of our truth. While it may seem like we have to have a great big plan as to how we will fulfill our life, this isn't the case. In fact, sometimes having a plan can get us in trouble. Most of the people doing big and impactful things in the world most likely had no idea their lives were going to unfold the way it did. Which brings me to our last ingredient. Trust. We must trust our path. We must trust our purpose. We must trust in our own abilities. In this trust we can let go and surrender to the beauty of our own precious purpose. One sign said "All are Abraham's children." Another said "The Aloha State Does Not Hate." And yet another invoked Leviticus 19:34 "You shall love the alien as yourself." Pastors of several churches on Oahu who were protesting Rev. Franklin Graham's rally on the grounds of the Hawaii State Capitol on Wednesday Feb 24, were joined by passers-by who were stopped in their tracks by the sights and sounds of the "Decision America" event. Rector of St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church, Rev. David Gierlach (right) with Wally Inglis, a progressive Catholic, drew supportive honks from passing cars. Graham invoked his father, but it was hard to imagine Billy Graham endorsing the scare-mongering and demonizing of others that his son encourages in those who come to hear him. Franklin Graham looked out on the diverse crowd sitting on the lawn under blue skies in beautiful Hawaii and pronounced America "broken, spiritually, racially, economically." The "only hope for the United States is Almighty God. The most we can do is pray," he said. Under that apparently innocuous call to prayer, lies a record of very un-Christian exhortations. Advertisement Pastor Elizabeth Leavitt of Christ Church Uniting Disciples and Presbyterians of Kailua (left), with Cassie from the Hawaii Secular Society, offering messages of compassion and acceptance. Iraq war veteran, Anthony, who had served as a medic, said he had nothing against the good people who turned up for rallies to pray. "But I do expect a separation of church and state, and I do mind the excessive influence of evangelicals in politics." But Franklin Graham thinks there isn't nearly enough of it. He called on his audience to pledge, in this election year, to vote only for those who "hold Biblical values." He waxed rhapsodic about how wonderful it would be if everyone would simply elect born-again evangelicals to the school boards, to the mayor's office, to the City and County Councils, to the bench. "And we are afraid of sharia law?" asked Pastor Sam Domingo, on hearing Graham's call for the religious homogenizing of all elected offices. Advertisement Scary stuff Graham had more to offer. He reminded the audience that he grew up during a golden age when prayer was said in every classroom and the big threat then was Communism. "We are living under a big threat now too: secularism. Secularism and Communism are the same," he declared. "This is scary," said 28 year old Michael, who got off his skateboard when he saw what was going on. "I'm a Christian, but I don't believe in what Graham is selling," he said. Khara Jabola of the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights (left) was there to object to Franklin Graham's message, and later rally for immigrant youth. She is seen here with Zeshan Chisty, who is Muslim, and was there for the same reasons. Khara Jabola of the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights objects to the brand of so-called Christianity Franklin Graham preaches. "Exclusion is why we have so many of the problems we experience in Hawaii. His message of exclusion is not welcome here." Making good use of their lunch hour by protesting Franklin Graham's message. (left to right) Liza Takeuchi, Arielle Colon and Zeshan Chisty. Advertisement Zeshan Chisty, is 30 years old, and grew up in Canada. He heard about the rally through the Muslim Association of Hawaii and came to join in the protest. "The Aloha State is not about hate," he said. Dean Walter Brownridge, St. Andrew's Cathedral, rebutting Graham's xenophobia. Zeshan's friends, Arielle Colon and Liza Takeuchi left work and joined him during their lunch hour in solidarity with those who object to Graham's hijacking of the Old Testament to teach a discriminatory version of Christianity. There is little room in Graham's Christianity for the Gospel's call to love your neighbor, let alone the "alien." "He stands for stuff I don't agree with," said Arielle. Preaching in the birthplace of President Obama "My angst with Franklin Graham is not only that he is intolerant of Muslims, gays and women's rights, he has also outrageously said President Obama is against Christ's teachings and is under the influence of Islam. He has questioned whether Obama was born in the United States--yet he comes to Honolulu and addresses a rally a couple of miles from our President's place of birth. He stirs up hatred and xenophobia by dispensing lies," said Canon Brian Grieves, priest of the Episcopal church. Clockwise: Rev. Sam Domingo, pastor of Kilohana United Methodist Church and a leader of FACE Hawaii; Rev. David Gierlach; Rev. Bob Nakata, well-known former legislator and one of the founders of Faith Action for Community Equity (FACE), and Rev. Stan Bain, retired United Methodist pastor. Rev. David Gierlach, Rector of St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church, who initiated the protest in concert with his fellow pastors, emphasized that the public rejection of Graham's version of Christianity was needed. "We cannot be silent when we hear Christian teaching being distorted and dispensed to good people who deserve to hear the Gospel message of love. Rev. Franklin Graham's stirring up of hate and discrimination towards Muslims, and his efforts to use religion as a political tool need to be publicly rejected. That is why we stood in protest." Advertisement Under the silent gaze of St. Damien, champion of the excluded and the shunned. As the crowd dispersed, some gathered around the statue of St. Damien. Perhaps the silent gaze of the priest who ministered to the excluded and the shunned conferred a grace on those who came to pray with a preacher whose brand of Christianity dishonors both his father and his faith. Discrimination comes in many forms. It can wear many hats, hide behind many faces and can be exposed to the outside world by word of mouth. It is perhaps one of the most hurtful and harmful injustices committed against mankind--yet it's an act that's so simple, almost elementary, to commit. By the same token, it can happen at any time, any place and to anyone. The entire spectrum of discrimination is disturbing, even to look at it on a small scale such as within a community or neighborhood. When one looks at it from a larger point of view, however, they begin to see the cracks in our society spread until they get bigger--causing a divide of some sort. Advertisement Maybe that person doesn't realize that what they're doing or saying is only adding to that gap instead of find a way to close it. Maybe they took a wrong turn on their way to get to wherever they're going--or perhaps they simply don't know any better. There's a world of truth in the notion that the negativity displayed by the human race isn't always a result of their circumstances or pure ignorance. In fact, some may consider it rude or disrespectful to think otherwise. Then there are those who refuse to change their ways. So the question then becomes: Why do we allow the pessimistic mindset of a few to bleed into places where negativity doesn't belong--such as the workplace? Why do we often let that negativity affect the way we work and think? Most importantly, why are some companies still putting individuals with disabilities at the center of this kind of attention? According to a recent article published by Aljazeera America, an organization known as The Arc of Texas is looking to hire a new CEO. The irony--and problem--surrounding this is the fact that they've listed unfair, unjust and rather odd requirements for the position which are targeted towards workers with disabilities--when the company markets itself as being dedicated to the advocacy, inclusion and rights of disabled individuals. The requirements include: - Seeing, hearing and listening - Clear speech - Ability to transport oneself between offices and workplaces - Driving skills Advertisement These are listed underneath a headline that reads, "Physical and mental requirements"--along with a public announcement regarding the job opening, which states: Disabled people need not apply. On the surface, it would seem as if the company did this to attract potential employees, which is sensible. However, by posting things that belittle the disabled community when the position is for a disabled worker, is degrading. Not only that, but it's also misleading and confusing. At first, you're not sure if the "Disabled people need not apply" statement means "disabled people don't count", or if it's calling attention to the notion that the organization is assuming those who wish to apply for this already have a disability. Thus, they don't need to apply at all. If anything, these things are likely going to push people away and potentially hurt the company in the long run. I think that's pretty low either way. Another aspect of this that I find strange is the list of requirements itself. What if someone doesn't have good speaking skills, good hearing and seeing or the ability to drive or move to place to place independently? Is that person automatically crossed off the list for contention? The organization should have known that not every person is going to have all the physical attributes on that list. They had to have known that even listing those requirements was a shot in the dark, because every disability is different--which results in different situations. Someone might have one attribute but not the other, so they need to figure out how to compensate if they're able to do so. If you're disabled and are fortunate enough to get to the point where employment is a viable option, you want the opportunity to go through the same process as any other potential employee. You want to bring your credentials and lay them all out on the table for your potential employee to see. It's all a part of knowing you have a disability, and trying to not allow it to get in the way of living the life you want to live. Advertisement This boils down to ethics, even though it's about the business world at its core. The fact that The Arc of Texas posted such demeaning statements with this job opening--and didn't see anything wrong or at least off kilter, is perhaps the most disturbing thing about all this. In fact, David Perry, who wrote the original article for Aljazeera America, questions whether or not the company's requirements and choice of language in promoting the position should be considered illegal: "What's a disability rights organization doing pre-emptively discriminating against disabled individuals in its most important hiring? And is this kind of language--which can be found in job postings from the tech sector, the non-profit world and countless academic jobs--even legal?" Perry goes on to express his thoughts further, saying businesses are the ones who are at a disadvantage when they exclude the disabled community from hiring for jobs. He backs up his argument by highlighting statements from several other representatives of disability-related companies--including Jay Ruderman from The Ruderman Family Foundation, which strives to bring inclusiveness of the disabled community into society: "People may not know that people with disabilities are the largest minority in our country and the poorest segment of our population," Ruderman says. "It is fundamentally unjust that 70 percent of people with disabilities are unemployed and excluded from inclusion in the daily aspects of life most of us take for granted." Advertisement That alone tells the world something. Not only does it tell people that disabled individuals should be embraced rather than feared or shunned--but it also speaks volumes about the need for equal opportunity. Donald Trump's candidacy is American politics reduced to the absurd. It is theater in its most stripped down form--a show where the content is not as important as the event and the raw emotion it evokes. From the earliest days of his candidacy, pundits have failed to understand Trump. His appeal is not issue-based, since, as his critics have correctly observed, he has taken wildly contradictory positions on most core Republican concerns--abortion, immigration, and Obamacare, to name a few. Trying, as some attempted, to find the hidden logic in his bizarre mish-mash of words is, at best, a fool's errand. Advertisement And pundits who have compared Trump's appeal among Republicans with Bernie Sander's appeal with Democrats have missed the point. Young voters find Sanders authentic and believable. Trump's devotees, on the other hand, are more attracted to their candidate's defiant bluster and his cavalier "bull in the China shop" demeanor. He lies about his personal life, his business dealings, positions he has taken and things he's done. His supporters know it, but they don't care. They are angry, and he feeds their anger. What they care about is the performance--and this is what the pundits have missed, causing them to underestimate Trump's appeal and to repeatedly and mistakenly predict his demise. During the course of this campaign, Trump has attacked a series of "icons", many considered "taboo" for Conservatives--Fox News, Megyn Kelly, Senator John McCain, the Pope, the Iraq war. After taking on each of them, his candidacy was declared fatally wounded, until the next polls came out showing Trump's strength undiminished. Trump's appeal is not in his adherence to orthodoxy, his consistency, his clarity, or his genuineness. Rather it is in his performance. Seeing Trump at one of his "huge" rallies or observing him at a debate is much like watching a contemporary wrestling WWE "Smackdown". Advertisement Trump events remind me of this quote that opens a 2014 Forbes Magazine article on Vince McMahon, the billionaire wrestling promoter - "Subtlety has no place in professional wrestling. Nuance is for losers. Either you play big - to the smallest fan in the last row of the arena, to the millions tuning in each week on television - or you go home...[It is] 'a spectacle of excess'". The performance is false--the "bad guys" are as phony as the "good guys". Even the blows they deliver are fake. But the crowds love it, shaking their fists, whooping and yelling as the "drama" unfolds. It is pure "id", unrestrained. Like McMahon, Trump knows how to appeal to his crowd. He knows what they want and he delivers. Listen, in the same article, as Vince McMahon describes his approach to his audience - "I look at it like it's a really nice monster. When you feed the monster, the monster is happy. The problem with that is, the monster grows. And as the monster grows, then the monster wants more to eat. And as long as you do that, everything is great. And if you don't provide the food, then bad things start to happen". Advertisement McMahon's little parable is an apt description of the Republican establishment's relationship with their Tea Party "masses". They created the monster, fed and nurtured it, but, in the end, they were unable to tame it. They fed its anger. They entertained it with the crude rants of Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, and company--using that anger against President Barack Obama. For a while the establishment was able to control this "monster", for example, redirecting it to support Mitt Romney in 2012. But by 2016, this same leadership could no longer satisfy the hunger of their creation. And when the "monster" would no longer "play ball" with the establishment, it turned on them and looked elsewhere to have its anger entertained and fed. Enter performance artist Donald Trump. His appeal is as raw as the WWE. Like McMahon, he plays with his audience, with an intuitive sense of what they want to see and hear. He is successful--a billionaire, many times over. He has a beautiful wife--or better, a series of beautiful wives. Despite his success, he feigns anger at America's demise, promising his supporters that he will deliver greatness. And he appeals to their basest instincts. He cruelly demeans his opponents. He paints the world in terms as starkly black and white as the WWE. He is a xenophobe and a bigot who targets the Mexicans and the Muslims. He is a bully who threatens to "punch in the face" hecklers who disrupt his events. And he is crude, using obscenities and vulgarities designed to incite--to whoops and yells and shaking fists. In this way, the "monster" is fed and appears, at least for now, to be happy. The danger that Trump poses is not that he is inconsistent or untruthful or that he lacks a coherent philosophy. It is that he is the reductio ad absurdum of our politics. He is the crude reality TV entertainer, turned leader--without politics, just anger. He is not a Republican or a Conservative--not that it matters to him or his followers. He is a budding fascist using his performance art to mobilize "a monster" that may devour us all. Miss April 1971, 2015, Oil on canvas, 72 x 156 inches Courtesy of Rebecca Campbell and LA Louver "Painting is something you do with your balls." - Paul Cezanne, quoted by Pablo Picasso Yesterday I stood in front of Rebecca Campbell's 13 foot wide canvas Miss April 1971 and found myself thinking "That is one ballsy painting." The painting is on view at the University Art Museum of Cal State Long Beach as part of a dual show: Rebecca Campbell and Samantha Fields: Dreams of Another Time, and it stuck me as somehow being both the best and worst painting on view. I know, there must be a better adjective than "ballsy" but that is the adjective that intuitively flew into my semi-muddled middle-aged male mind. Given that I am applying it to a painting of a woman--a 1971 Playboy Playmate--which was painted by a woman for an exhibition that has a Feminist context, it's a pretty awkward word, but possibly a compliment. I'll know in a week or two if I can remove the "possibly" and make it an unqualified compliment, but Miss April 1971 has given me a lot to consider, starting with its subject matter: a vintage Playboy centerfold, obscured by wide swaths of paint. Maybe it dates me--in fact it totally dates me-- but when I was growing up Playboy centerfolds were risque. In sixth grade a classmate unfurled one in front of me on a yellow schoolbus one day, and I still remember how hard I blushed at the unfolded pink secret. Fast-forward to August of last year, Playboy has published it's last nude centerfold, as internet porn and Instagram nude selfies have rendered simple nudity more than passe. Still, the power of the centerfold lingers, both as a historical trope and as a nostalgic reminder of what fading patriarchal Puritanism once found subversive: flossy, sexually available female nudes. Advertisement Rebecca Campbell: Photo by Eric Minh Swenson Playboy centerfolds are and were the late-blooming offspring of art nudes. From the Renaissance forward nudity was protected and validated by its association with high culture. Titian's reclining Venuses and Ingre's odalisques (harem girls) were centerfolds long before Hugh Hefner published cheesecake for the American male masses. And before Hefner there was Pablo Picasso, an artist who famously re-configured the female nude to suit his own polarities of attraction and repulsion. No painter of women was ever more reckless or aggressive in his depictions of the female body. Picasso re-formed women into personal objects of desire, complicating them and adding a bit of himself to each one: doing so was his macho prerogative. In the space of his work he damaged women--as he did in his life--and the damage was directly connected to his artistic virility. As he once explained it: "Every act of creation is first an act of destruction." It is a dynamic that Rebecca Campbell is clearly very aware of. "Picasso would twist a woman in space so you understand the totality of the eye," Campbell explains in a recent blog post. "I'm curious to explore our paradoxical relationship to these patriarchal images of beauty and desire, at once seduced and repulsed." Raised Mormon, but now a self-described "pillar of inconsistency" who is using her art to act on her growing feminist insights, Campbell has found a way to re-vivify and complicate the meaning of the centerfold by bringing it home: to art. In the case of Miss April 1971 her approach was to smother the nude centerfold image with ribbons, veils and slabs of paint, selectively obscuring erogenous zones and violating its seductiveness. The artist's eyes--female eyes--were now in charge of what searching glances could uncover. Veils of paint also cover the playmate's eyes, complicating the possibility of any "Lacanian gaze" that she can exchange with her viewers. A scab of rust-colored paint similarly cancels the sensual suggestions of her open mouth. Advertisement Miss April, 1971 (Detail) "Slabs of paint are suffocating violation, protective barrier and teasing veil," Campbell writes. "These are not linear narratives the way cubist space was not linear." Yes, the linearity is gone and so is the patriarchal point of view. Campbell was born in 1971, the same year that her centerfold subject appeared in print and Campbell's way of painting it is meant to reverse the power structure that dominated her childhood: "I grew up in a fundamentally patriarchal system. Men were granted supernatural powers from god and women were left to fend in the ordinary bodies allotted them." Miss April, 1971 (Detail) Miss April, 1971 is a jarring, upsetting painting: it was meant to be. For a painter like Campbell, who is capable of the most fluid and dynamic brushwork, the process of painting a woman and then canceling her out, stroke by stroke, must have been tinged with regret. Still, like Picasso, Campbell recognizes the power of breaking things as a necessary step towards endowing them with fresh possibilities. "Some of my favorite male creators are broken," Campbell notes. "Belmer, Balthus, Scheile, DeSade, Fragonard, Cheever, Bataille. I want this privilege for myself. I want to explore dissonance and instead of having it translated into a betrayal of my gender it might be translated as a meditation on the labyrinth of our human experience." It takes courage and confidence to tolerate dissonance and viewing Campbell's painting objectively takes both. I'm still challenged by it and in fact this might be a good moment to say that I don't think I actually like the painting. Still, I have to acknowledge that its striking and confident reversal of power has me off-balance... in a good way. Campbell's ability to do what Picasso once did--to use art as a supernatural way of shifting the balance between art and its creator--is undeniably strong. Rebecca Campbell and Samantha Fields: Dreams of Another Time January 30 - April 10, 2016 University Art Museum, CSULB 1250 Bellflower Boulevard Long Beach, CA 908400004 Advertisement Upcoming Event: A conversation with artists Rebecca Campbell and Samantha Fields Wednesday, March 2 at 7 PM - 9 PM Camp Delta, internment facility at the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Is President Barack Obama planning to give the American naval base at Guantanamo Bay back to Cuba? The president has made no secret of his desire to shut down Camp Delta, the internment facility for jihadists, which is housed on the base. Closing down "Gitmo," as the interment facility is typically referred to, figured prominently in President Obama's election campaigns in both 2008 and 2012. The Obama White House has repeatedly asserted that the existence of the internment facilities at Gitmo is a "powerful recruiting tool" for jihadist organizations and should be closed. The U.S. Congress has repeatedly stymied these plans, refusing to appropriate money for the closure of Gitmo, and even going so far as to pass legislation specifically requiring Congressional approval for the transfer of any detainees from Gitmo. The president has one other alternative for closing down Gitmo, he can issue an executive order unilaterally withdrawing the U.S. from the Cuban-American Treaty of Relations of 1934, thus rescinding America's right to operate a naval base at Guantanamo Bay and, by extension, forcing the closure of the facility and any of the detention camps housed there. In recent weeks there has been a spate of media reports asserting that the White House may in fact be considering such an action. Advertisement Additionally, Republican presidential candidate Senator Ted Cruz, during the Republican presidential debate sponsored by CNN on December 15, warned that, "I fear that by the end of this year, President Obama plans to give the Guantanamo Naval Base back to Cuba." Senator Cruz repeated his allegation at a campaign rally in Reno, Nevada, on February 22. Senator Marco Rubio, another Republican contender for the nomination, made the same allegations at a rally in Las Vegas on February 21. To be fair to the Obama White House, it has not given any indication that it is in fact even considering the option of returning Gitmo to Havana. Responding to press reports suggesting that such an action was under discussion, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest stated clearly that, "The naval base is not something that we believe should be closed." Secretary of State John Kerry echoed similar comments when he declared that returning the base to Cuba "was not part of the discussion on our side." Moreover, unilaterally returning the base to Cuban sovereignty during a presidential election year would have far reaching consequences for Democrat candidates for political office. If the Obama White House were to unilaterally give back the naval base to Havana, it would most likely come in the period following the November election. The question we need to ask is, does President Obama have the constitutional authority to unilaterally return the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base back to Cuba? The surprising answer is yes. The United States acquired the right to maintain a naval base at Guantanamo Bay pursuant to the Cuban-American Treaty of Relations that the two countries signed in 1903. The treaty stipulated that the newly created Republic of Cuba would lease to the United States land surrounding Guantanamo Bay for the purpose of establishing a coaling and naval station for as long as necessary. The treaty acknowledged that Cuba retained "ultimate sovereignty" on the land being leased, but that the United States could "exercise complete jurisdiction and control." Advertisement The 1903 treaty was subsequently abrogated and replaced by the 1934 Cuban-American Treaty of Relations. In that treaty, the government of Cuba again confirmed the lease of land at Guantanamo Bay to the United States for the purpose of a naval base unless the agreement was modified or abrogated by mutual consent of the two parties or the base was abandoned by the U.S. The treaty also increased the rent for the leased land from $2,000 a year, payable in gold coins, to $4,085 a year, payable in cash. That same rent has continued to this day. Map of the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. The base itself covers approximately 45 square miles of land and water at Guantanamo Bay on the southeast corner of the island of Cuba. The shorthand term "Gitmo" evolved from the airfield designation code GTMO used by the U.S military. The facility is the oldest overseas naval base still operated by the United States and the only base it operates in a communist country. The facility houses approximately 9,500 sailors and marines. In January 2002, the United States established a military prison within the confines of the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base to, according to then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, "house extraordinarily dangerous people, to interrogate detainees, and to prosecute detainees for war crimes." At its peak, the detention facility held 670 individuals. Since then, as of February 2016, the number of detainees has been reduced to 91. Of those 91, 35 are eligible to be transferred to other countries, 10 are awaiting trial by military courts, and 46 are still being evaluated. A total of 783 individuals have been detained at the camp since it was established. 532 prisoners were released during the Bush Administration and the Obama Administration has released 151. There have been nine detainees that have died from either natural causes or suicide. It currently costs the United States approximately four million dollars per year to house each prisoner. According to the Director of National Intelligence, as of July 15, 2015, approximately 30 percent of the inmates released have either been confirmed or are believed to have reengaged in "combatant activity." In addition to the main facility, nicknamed Camp Delta, which consists of six separate detention facilities numbered 1 to 6, there are a number of smaller facilities at the base. These include Camp 7, used to house high security detainees formerly held by the CIA in overseas "black sites" under the extraordinary rendition program, Camp Echo, where detainees are held prior to appearing before the Military Commissions, and Camp No, a "black site" about a mile outside the main camp perimeter where interrogations were conducted. There is also a small site, nicknamed "Penny Lane," where inmates that the CIA was attempting to recruit as double agents to spy on al-Qaeda were held. Advertisement Detainees in the camp have accused the United States of abuse and torture. In January 2009, Susan J. Crawford, who had been appointed on February 7, 2007, to the Convening Authority for the Guantanamo Military Commissions by the Bush administration, issued a report concluding that there was at least one instance where the torture of a detainee had occurred. Ms. Crawford is an American lawyer who had previously served as the Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. President Barack Obama issued Executive Order No. 13492 on January 22, 2009, two days after taking the Oath of Office, suspending the proceedings of the Guantanamo military commission for 120 days and ordering the shutdown of that facility by year end. A U.S. military judge at Guantanamo rejected that request. The United States Senate subsequently passed an amendment to the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009, on May 20, by a 90-6 vote to block funds required for the transfer or release of prisoners held at the detention camp. The House followed suit and the provision was enacted on June 24, 2009. Newly arrived detainees at the Guntanamo Bay naval base, January 2002 President Obama issued a presidential memorandum on December 5, 2009, ordering that the Department of Defense purchase the state run Thompson Correctional Center in Thompson Illinois, and prepare to accept prisoners transferred from the Guantanamo Bay facility. No such transfers ever occurred, however. Congress subsequently reaffirmed its restrictions on the transfer of detainees from Guantanamo to either the United States or foreign countries in the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Similar restrictions have been imposed on subsequent Defense Authorization Bills since then. The 2014 NDAA spelled out in detail the procedure required to obtain Congressional approval for any transfer of detainees. In addition, Congress imposed other restrictions, including a provision that Congress has to be notified 30 days before any transfers are carried out. The White House announced on November 4, 2015, that it would submit a plan in early 2016, to shut down the detention facility and transfer the remaining detainees to U.S. soil. On February 23, 2016, President Obama, claiming that the continued operation of the detention facility at Guantanamo bay was "contrary to our values" and that it was an embarrassment to the United States that "our closest allies have raised...with me continually," unveiled a proposal to shut down the facility and identified potential sites where detainees could be transferred. Advertisement According to the latest proposals, prisoners could be housed in facilities in military prisons in Leavenworth, Kansas and Charleston, South Carolina or U.S. military bases in the continental United States. Several civilian prisons in Colorado were also proposed. There are a number of terrorists already being held in the "super-max" wing of the prison facility in Florence, Colorado. According to the Department of Defense, it would cost between $290 million and $475 million to prepare existing state or federal prisons to only hold Guantanamo detainees. Not surprisingly, ever since the Cuban revolution brought Fidel Castro to power in 1959, Cuba's government has opposed the United States' continued use of the naval base at Guantanamo Bay. Havana has repeatedly claimed that the U.S. presence in Cuba was on land "illegally occupied" under international law and has asserted that the 1903 and 1934 treaties were imposed on Cuba by the threat of force in violation of the Vienna Laws on Treaty Conventions. Since the revolution, other than for one instance in 1960, which the Cuban government claims was done in error, Havana has refused to cash any of the checks that the American government has submitted to Cuba for the payment of the land leased by the United States. Instead they have argued that the U.S. "is in default." Fidel Castro reportedly kept the un-cashed checks in a drawer of his desk and would on occasion show them to visitors, pointing out that the checks, made out to the Treasurer General of the Republic, referenced a position that no longer existed in the Cuban government. Embassy of the Republic of Cuba, Washington DC During the ceremony for the raising of the Cuban flag at the newly reopened Cuban Embassy in Washington DC, on July 20, 2015, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez emphasized that the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba would not be "complete" until the "return of the occupied territory in Guantanamo and respect for the sovereignty of Cuba." Advertisement Should Congress refuse to implement the president's proposal to close the detention facility at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, a foregone conclusion given the widespread Republican opposition to the proposal, he has a number of other options at his disposal. First of all, he could withhold the payment of the $4,085 lease payment that is due to Cuba on the anniversary of the Cuban treaty with the United States. The next installment is due on June 9, 2016. The failure to make the annual lease payment would be an event of default under the treaty. A second option would be for President Obama to simply terminate the 1934 treaty with Cuba by executive order. The Constitution of the United States specifically gives the president the authority to negotiate treaties on behalf of the United States subject to their ratification by two-thirds of the Senate. The Constitution, however, makes no reference to who can terminate a treaty and whether the president needs the consent of the Senate to do so. According to Michael Ramsey, a professor of law, at the University of San Diego Law School and a specialist in the areas of constitutional law and foreign relations law, Article II, Section 1, of the Constitution clearly states that, "the President has the executive power of the United States." Treaties are considered laws under Article VI of the Constitution and are the responsibility of the President to "execute." Professor Ramsay argues that when a president "decides that a treaty should no longer apply, he is executing the treaty" in accordance with the powers granted to him under the Constitution. Secondly, according to professor Ramsey, from the very beginning of the U.S government, it was recognized that, as Thomas Jefferson, George Washington's Secretary of State wrote, "the transaction of business with foreign nations is executive altogether; it belongs, then, to the head of that department (i.e., the president), except as to such portions of it as are specifically submitted to the Senate." In other words, the conduct of the United States' foreign relations is clearly vested in the office of the president. The Constitution does not specify that the consent of the Senate is necessary for the termination of a treaty. There are certainly plenty of precedents where presidents have terminated existing treaties without the consent of the Senate. In 1939, President Roosevelt terminated the Treaty of Friendship with Japan. President Carter terminated the Mutual Defense Treaty with Taiwan in 1979, when the United States formally recognized the People's Republic of China and its government in Beijing. President George W. Bush withdrew from the 1972 Anti-ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty in January of 2002. In none of these cases did the sitting president seek Senate ratification of his actions. Advertisement Moreover, there is also a significant precedent with respect to ambassadorial and other presidential appointments. The Constitution requires Senate ratification of ambassadorial appointments, but is mute on the role of the Senate when it comes to the termination of such appointments. Although presidents have submitted such appointments to the Senate for confirmation, no single president has ever submitted an ambassadorial termination to the Senate for approval. Presidents have been free to fire ambassadors, or for that matter other appointees that require Senate approval, at will. According to professor Ramsey, "the president has constitutional authority to abandon the base according to the terms of the treaty," although his actions could be constrained by Congressionally imposed statutory limits. In addition, based on historical precedent, it would seem that President Obama also has the constitutional power to terminate the 1934 treaty with Cuba that grants the United States the right to operate a naval base at Guantanamo Bay. From a practical standpoint, either act, should he decide to carry one out, would be largely symbolic. The president would still need Congressional approval for the funds to actually shut down the base and to transfer the detainees to other locations. Even if the treaty was terminated, it is highly unlikely that the Cuban government would attempt to seize control of the facility by force and risk a military confrontation with the American soldiers there. A unilateral termination of the treaty would certainly bolster Cuba's legal case against the U.S. that the base facility is illegal. It might also prompt the Cuban government to take the United States to the World Court and try to embarrass Washington by obtaining a judgement against the continued U.S. occupation of the facility. What exactly, if anything, is the Obama administration planning in regard to the continuation of the Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba? We will certainly know by the end of the year. Less than two years into Narendra Modi's first term as Indian prime minister, an alarming brand of hyper-nationalism is rising. Ministers and right-wing followers of Modi's Hindu nationalist ruling party are labeling a growing number of student protesters, intellectuals and activists as "anti-national" simply for criticizing the government. The message is that you're either with India and Modi or you're not -- and if you're not, you may be accused of being a terrorist or of wanting the disintegration of India. Over 3,200 people were reportedly being held in January alone on executive orders without charge or trial. Modi's government appears to be a part of a neo-nationalist trend as inequality rises and economic challenges mount in India, China, Russia, Turkey and beyond. Like Modi's, the governments of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have also recently ramped up nationalism and cracked down on dissenters in an attempt to retain legitimacy. Advertisement India's economy is expected to grow more than 7 percent this year, one of the fastest rates in the world, but it's struggled to create jobs, leaving millions feeling left behind, including thousands who recently protested. And it seems that Modi feels politically vulnerable -- recently, he accused unnamed colluders of "hatching conspiracies every day to finish and defame me." In response, many fear that his Bharatiya Janata Party may be trying to replace India's liberal democracy with an authoritarian Southeast Asian-style democracy that allows little political dissent. BJP politicians have also been fueling religious tensions with provocative speeches and proposals that target non-Hindus, particularly Muslims. Having lost key state elections, the BJP may be calculating that the race-and-religion card is their best bet to hold on to power. Writing from New Delhi, Shivam Vij makes the case that Modi is using Hindu nationalism to deflect from the "palpable sense that he is unable to deliver" on campaign promises. Jesudas Athyal writes that establishing an Indian "Hindu nation" has long been a dream of right-wing Hindu nationalists and that they are seizing this moment to try to achieve it. Adrija Bose of HuffPost India suggests that an article from 2000 -- warning of a "creeping fascism" by a "disillusioned and dispirited" Hindu right -- reverberates today. From New Delhi, Aman Sethi details how the recent suicide of a low-caste student led to sweeping protests demanding equality and free speech. With a more optimistic perspective from Singapore, Kishore Mahbubani claims Asia doesn't have populism because societies that are hopeful of a better future choose safe candidates, whereas societies whose populations fear the future -- like the U.S. and Europe, he says -- are driven to try out fringe figures. Howard Fineman asserts Trump's "fatal flaw" is the series of "gaping holes in [his] claim to be a model of America-first, globally winning business success." Advertisement Miguel Urban, Podemos deputy and European Parliament member, wants the European Union to be democratically overhauled. Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar accuses European negotiators of becoming reckless in order to prevent the "prodigal son" -- the U.K. -- from leaving the EU. Writing from Geneva, Lord David Owen worries that the Syrian civil war risks dragging NATO and Russia into direct conflict. In an interview with Alexander Gorlach, Michael Ignatieff laments that the U.S. isn't helping Europe with the refugee crisis the way it's helped the old continent in the past. Writing from Athens for this week's "Forgotten Fact," Danae Leivada notes that Greece struggled with its migration policy even before the refugee crisis. With a clean-energy moonshot, Bill and Melinda Gates aim to provide energy to the some 1.3 billion people who don't have it, thereby reducing poverty and empowering women by saving them time. Sri Mulyani Indrawati applauds immense gains in the global fight against poverty and warns that we'll need strong leadership to preserve and increase the momentum amid growing risks. A photo essay in our Other Entrepreneurs series profiles the daredevil painters of India. Regarding the recent Apple-FBI dispute, former U.S. Senator Gary Hart argues, "If law enforcement is required to show probable cause to a judge ... that burden -- not warrant-proof encryption -- is the strongest protection of our privacy from state intrusion." Wael Ghonim, a social media leader of the Egyptian revolution, describes the new social platform he launched, Parlio, which aims to elevate online discussions of politically and socially charged topics. Advertisement Jessica Schulberg tells us the Iranian elections Friday are unlikely to change much, "in part because democratically elected political bodies in Iran are controlled, to some extent, by unelected leaders who overwhelmingly align with [Supreme Leader Ali] Khamenei and his conservative politics." Also writing on the elections, Simin Nouri bemoans the fact that not a single woman was approved to run for the Assembly of Experts and that most women vying for parliamentary seats were disqualified. This week, we post the third excerpt from a graphic novel on what it is like to be gay in Iran. Writing ahead of the U.N. General Assembly special session on drugs, Kofi Annan, former secretary-general of the U.N., maintains that it's time to legalize drugs. Rafael Fernandez de Castro and Rafa Fernandez de Castro praise a new documentary about the drug war, "Cartel Land," which got an Oscar nomination and won a George Polk Award. Roque Planas posits that if the U.S. wants to extradite El Chapo so badly, sending an ambassador might help -- the seat has sat vacant for over eight months. Astronomer Royal Martin Rees, in the fourth installment of his "Beyond 2050" WorldPost series, contends that as technology develops and makes extended space travel possible, humanity could begin to split into different species. Nathalia Ramos highlights the future of work through photos. Fusion illustrates how close we are to a 3-D-printed human heart. Finally, our Singularity series explores China's recently announced plans to build floating nuclear plants on the ocean. WHO WE ARE EDITORS: Nathan Gardels, Co-Founder and Executive Advisor to the Berggruen Institute, is the Editor-in-Chief of The WorldPost. Kathleen Miles is the Executive Editor of The WorldPost. Farah Mohamed is the Managing Editor of The WorldPost. Alex Gardels and Peter Mellgard are the Associate Editors of The WorldPost. Katie Nelson is the National Editor at the Huffington Post, overseeing The WorldPost and HuffPost's editorial coverage. Eline Gordts is HuffPost's Senior World Editor. Charlotte Alfred and Nick Robins-Early are World Reporters. Rowaida Abdelaziz is Social Media Editor. CORRESPONDENTS: Sophia Jones in Istanbul EDITORIAL BOARD: Nicolas Berggruen, Nathan Gardels, Arianna Huffington, Eric Schmidt (Google Inc.), Pierre Omidyar (First Look Media) Juan Luis Cebrian (El Pais/PRISA), Walter Isaacson (Aspen Institute/TIME-CNN), John Elkann (Corriere della Sera, La Stampa), Wadah Khanfar (Al Jazeera), Dileep Padgaonkar (Times of India) and Yoichi Funabashi (Asahi Shimbun). VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS: Dawn Nakagawa. CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Moises Naim (former editor of Foreign Policy), Nayan Chanda (Yale/Global; Far Eastern Economic Review) and Katherine Keating (One-On-One). Sergio Munoz Bata and Parag Khanna are Contributing Editors-At-Large. The Asia Society and its ChinaFile, edited by Orville Schell, is our primary partner on Asia coverage. Eric X. Li and the Chunqiu Institute/Fudan University in Shanghai and Guancha.cn also provide first person voices from China. We also draw on the content of China Digital Times. Seung-yoon Lee is The WorldPost link in South Korea. Jared Cohen of Google Ideas provides regular commentary from young thinkers, leaders and activists around the globe. Bruce Mau provides regular columns from MassiveChangeNetwork.com on the "whole mind" way of thinking. Patrick Soon-Shiong is Contributing Editor for Health and Medicine. ADVISORY COUNCIL: Members of the Berggruen Institute's 21st Century Council and Council for the Future of Europe serve as the Advisory Council -- as well as regular contributors -- to the site. These include, Jacques Attali, Shaukat Aziz, Gordon Brown, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Juan Luis Cebrian, Jack Dorsey, Mohamed El-Erian, Francis Fukuyama, Felipe Gonzalez, John Gray, Reid Hoffman, Fred Hu, Mo Ibrahim, Alexei Kudrin, Pascal Lamy, Kishore Mahbubani, Alain Minc, Dambisa Moyo, Laura Tyson, Elon Musk, Pierre Omidyar, Raghuram Rajan, Nouriel Roubini, Nicolas Sarkozy, Eric Schmidt, Gerhard Schroeder, Peter Schwartz, Amartya Sen, Jeff Skoll, Michael Spence, Joe Stiglitz, Larry Summers, Wu Jianmin, George Yeo, Fareed Zakaria, Ernesto Zedillo, Ahmed Zewail, and Zheng Bijian. From the Europe group, these include: Marek Belka, Tony Blair, Jacques Delors, Niall Ferguson, Anthony Giddens, Otmar Issing, Mario Monti, Robert Mundell, Peter Sutherland and Guy Verhofstadt. MISSION STATEMENT The WorldPost is a global media bridge that seeks to connect the world and connect the dots. Gathering together top editors and first person contributors from all corners of the planet, we aspire to be the one publication where the whole world meets. In recent years, hypnosis has become an accepted medical therapy to address a variety of conditions, including childbirth pain and weight loss, which are concerns for many women. This increased popularity is probably due to research that shows hypnosis can produce profound improvements in health--though we know very little about the mechanisms by which these improvements are made. The word hypnosis comes from ancient Greek and means "a mental state like sleep" -but as a therapy, it isn't so easily defined. Though hypnosis produces changes in the body, it appears as if these physiological changes occur through our own mental processes. Hypnosis was first used medically in the mid-1800s as an antidote to pain during surgery. Anesthetics had not yet been discovered, and 50% of all surgical patients died from the neurogenic shock of extreme pain. Before hypnosis, surgeons could offer their patients only shots of strong alcohol. Then, with the aid of hypnosis, the Scottish surgeon James Esdaile performed about 3000 surgeries between 1845 and 1851 in India without any reported patient pain and with a death rate reduced to 5%. At this same time, anesthesia began being used in the U.S., and the comparative ease of administering drugs meant that hypnosis was never again the pain killer of choice for surgeons. Advertisement Since Esdaile's time, however, scientists have continued to study the positive effects of hypnosis for many medical procedures, e.g., postoperative pain, and pain related to childbirth. In fact a major university, Stanford Medical Center, offers hypnosis training for many medical procedures and conditions. Recently, there has been a resurgence of interest in hypnosis as an aid in childbirth. A number of carefully designed clinical studies have shown that this method of reducing childbirth pain may have beneficial effects for both the mother and newborn child, including improving the infant's condition and reducing not just labor pain but also the duration of labor, complications related to birth and postpartum depression. A physician who conducted a study on self-hypnosis during childbirth reported that, in addition to shortening labor, the practice helped these women to be composed and self-confident during childbirth and to see it in retrospect as a gratifying experience. Another study gathered a firsthand account from a woman who went through childbirth under hypnosis. The woman, identified as KG, tried hypnosis in giving birth to her second child after having had an extremely childbirth in the first pregnancy. She said she met with her doctor, who was trained in hypnosis, for several sessions and then listened to recordings of these sessions every day for the next two months. Advertisement When my labor started, I used hypnosis at home until my doctor said to come to the hospital. I was 7 cm dilated when I arrived and felt great. I remember my daughter's delivery as calm and quiet. My husband and I listened to music and talked. When a contraction started, I put myself in a trance, and when it ended, I came out of the trance. I was fully aware, completely pain-free, and in control of my mind and body. I even had much less tension between contractions, because I didn't fear the next one. My delivery was calm, and my recovery was easy as well. I am a huge advocate for hypnosis in all forms.... I tell my friends they should at least try it. The woman's doctor also commented on the childbirth experience, saying, "Having attended both of KG's deliveries, I noticed a marked contrast between the two, and the second was inspiring." As striking as these case studies are, there remains a question about how hypnosis actually works. One of the scientific enigmas that remains for hypnosis is that its mechanism for pain reduction isn't clear. Unlike chemical anesthetics, which universally act on a specific part of the brain, hypnosis has differing physiological effects on various individuals. One study found that in the same procedure, hypnosis caused pain-reducing physiological changes for some subjects in the anterior cingulate cortex (the brain's decision-making center) and for others in the somatosensory cortex (perception of touch) This suggests that with hypnosis, the individual's own mind has the ability to choose where in the brain the experience of pain will be blocked--either a decision making center or a sensory center. As a neuroscientist, I consider the effects of hypnosis to be amazing. How is a mental image translated into a physiological reaction that is physically transforming? As one scientist stated, the existence of such a phenomenon "poses a serious challenge to much of the ideology of biomedicine . . . [that] disease is a mechanical phenomenon." It suggests, rather, that our thoughts have the power to alter our physiology in many ways, including not only the function of the pain pathways in our brain, but also the manifestation of a genetically inherited disease. Our thoughts support healing in very powerful ways. Advertisement Naturally, after reading these studies, I was interested in trying hypnosis. Looking online, I found a local hypnotherapist and asked her to help me with weight control, another application of hypnosis. Throughout my adult life, I've struggled with what I consider to be an "extra" ten pounds. During our session, the therapist led me verbally into a mental exercise that ended with my stepping into a new image of myself. I felt fully present and relaxed--so relaxed that when the she said I could begin to become aware of the chair underneath me, I didn't want to. This was when I realized that I had gone deep in this session. While the trash-talking presidential candidates toy with foul language, they are avoiding a word that needs to be said out loud. It's the taboo four-letter F-word: Fear. Now it is true that real, genuine embodied fear is a healthy warning sign of impending danger. But what is happening in America is something quite different. It is a politically manufactured and media magnified fear that exaggerates some threats and minimizes others. And the method for doing so is not secret. It has been known and studied for more than half a century. Adolf Hitler's second-in-command, Hermann Goering, explained it in detail in his prison cell n Nuremberg, Germany. Speaking to a psychiatrist, he candidly explained that, when a leader wants to use violence or go to war, "it is always a simple matter to drag the people along." Advertisement All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country. The German people, among the most civilized and well-educated in Europe, committed genocide. Fear reduced them to sheep. Today this emotion has become an easy excuse for even the craziest ideas. In our "land of the free and home of the brave," fear enables candidates to advocate "carpet bombing" cities, government surveillance of private emails, or banning all refugees who call themselves Muslim. Why do candidates get away with calling Mexican immigrants "criminals" and "rapists? Fear. Why, when our military is larger than the next six countries combined and we want to reduce our national debt, does every candidate favor "rebuilding," which means spending more, on our military? Fear. Advertisement But fear not only drives many of the candidates foreign policy proposals; it pervades our communities. Just remember Tamir Rice, the 12-year old angel-faced boy in Cleveland, Ohio, who was playing with friends outside a recreation center with a toy gun. After an onlooker called 911 to report some kids playing with a "probably fake" gun, police arrived. Within seconds, Tamir Rice lay dead. As security cameras revealed, when the police officers were only ten feet away from Tamir, he pulled out the toy gun to show the rookie policeman that it was just a toy. But the officer did not shoot him once, or shoot him in the arm. Instead, he shot him twice in the torso. He killed Tamir because, he said, he was afraid. In Ferguson, Missouri, no doubt Darren Wilson, who shot Michael Brown seven times, was afraid too. So was officer Erick Gelhaus, who shot 13-year-old Andy Lopez eight times in Santa Rosa, California. (Andy was carrying the same toy gun that Tamir had in his possession.) Even though Gelhaus was an Iraq veteran with ten years experience as gun safety instructor, he too lost control. But he had a compelling defense: he was -- you guessed it -- afraid. If Tamir and Andy and Michael were the only casualties of the F-word, it would still be a tragedy for those three families and their community. But it is actually a much larger tragedy that affects us all. Advertisement Constant fear, bordering on paranoia, floods our muscles with blood, and starves our brain. The result is a populace that is adrenaline-saturated, muscle-bound and dumbed-down. When the adrenal glands are chronically bombarded with fear-based messages, they wear out. Instead of training ourselves for a decades long geopolitical struggle, our fear-primed populace constantly anticipates another terrorist attack. As the election approach, political parties position themselves to benefit from the "fear factor." And, week after week, news programs exploit the fear by hyping potential threats. So before we destroy ourselves with the F-word, let's replace with the F-word with the V-word: Vigilance. American needs a citizenry that is watchful, agile and smart. If we became more "alert" and "aware," as the dictionary defines vigilance, we will defend ourselves much more effectively. Vigilance will not only prevent more deaths like Tamir Rice, Andy Lopez and Michael Brown. It will let us all breathe more deeply. It will focus our foreign policy and our defense budget on threats, not partisan advantage or contractor's profits. It will enable us to focus on the real threats to our well-being. "The only thing we have to fear," said President Roosevelt, "is fear itself." So when candidates stoke your fears -- that your guns will be taken away, your religious freedoms will erode, your children in public schools will be brainwashed, your border will be overrun by terrorists -- be vigilant rather than fearful. If we let ourselves be distracted by bogus dangers, we will miss the real threats. Mark Gerzon, president of Mediators Foundation, is the author of The Reunited States of America: How We Can Bridge the Partisan Divide. by Ben Luthi Credit cards aren't for everyone. But when used properly, they can provide rewards and perks you can't get anywhere else -- benefits that you can get without spending any extra money. Dave Ramsey, a popular personal finance expert, isn't shy about his disdain for credit cards. He often cites data showing that consumers spend more when using them versus cash and that the majority of credit card users don't pay their balance in full each month. Taking that information in isolation, Ramsey's stance that there's no such thing as responsible credit card use seems to make sense. And there are people who would do well to heed his advice. But what Ramsey never acknowledges is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to personal finance or any particular financial product. Some people handle their finances more responsibly than others. Advertisement Will you actually spend more? Several studies do support the notion that consumers paying with credit cards typically spend more than those using cash. Ramsey quotes one in particular, a Dun & Bradstreet study that concluded that plastic users spend more on average than those who carry only cash. The study said this is the case because it's more psychologically painful to hand over cash than it is to swipe a card, whether credit or debit. (Ramsey does recommend using debit cards.) There's anecdotal evidence that appears to point in this direction, too. For instance, in 2004, when many fast-food restaurants were just starting to take credit cards, then-Wendy's CEO John Schuessler reported that the average transaction for credit card purchases was $7, compared with $5 for cash purchases, a 40% increase. However, a 2009 study conducted by Carnegie Mellon University economics professors Elif Incekara-Hafalir and George Loewenstein found "that credit card use did not significantly, on average, increase spending" for the study's subjects. That study's conclusion doesn't necessarily negate or disprove other research on the matter. But what it does suggest is that study data can't be extrapolated into a standard answer that applies to everyone. Credit card users can avoid overspending by keeping a monthly budget and tracking their spending diligently -- just like people who don't use credit cards. Advertisement Paying credit card interest isn't a given According to published by the American Bankers Association in December 2015, nearly 30% of credit card accounts are "transactors," which means they're paid in full each month and don't incur any interest. Conversely, 41% of accounts are revolving accounts, meaning they carry a balance from one month to the next, racking up interest on the unpaid amount. The remaining 29% are dormant. With more consumers carrying a balance on their cards each month than paying them off, it's not unreasonable to suggest that people should think twice before using credit cards. With close to 60% of credit card accounts either dormant or paid in full each month, however, it doesn't seem that credit card debt is inevitable for all users, as Ramsey often suggests. You won't get rich, but you can get more Ramsey adds to his argument against credit cards by saying, "No one ever says they got rich off of credit card points." And he's correct. There aren't any credit-card-made millionaires out there. But "getting rich" isn't the purpose, or the promise, of credit card rewards. Credit card companies want you to use their cards, so they offer cash back, points and travel rewards as an incentive to do so. Use a card for purchases you would have made anyway -- for groceries, for example, or gas for your car -- and you accumulate rewards easily. Depending on how much you spend in a year, you could earn hundreds or even thousands of dollars in rewards each year without changing your habits. This only works, of course, if you use your credit card responsibly. Tips for responsible credit card use Ramsey's advice isn't right for every single consumer, but it isn't wrong for every single consumer, either. Many people do indeed spend more when using plastic -- credit and debit cards alike -- than they would if they were using cash, and this can result in crippling debt for some. Developing responsible spending and borrowing behaviors, however, can help you take advantage of the perks credit cards offer without having to deal with the headache of debt. Budget and track your expenses. Whether or not you're in debt, creating a monthly budget can help you rein in your spending. Just having one won't magically force discipline, however. Tracking your expenses is key to making sure you stay within your budget. If you find that using a credit card is causing you to go over your budget, consider switching to cash until you've developed the necessary control. Advertisement Keep an emergency fund. Many people go into credit card debt because something bad happens -- the car breaks down or they lose a job -- and they don't have enough savings to weather the storm. It's important to include an emergency fund in your budget. Treat contributions to this fund as an obligation you must pay, rather than just saving whatever's left (if anything) at the end of the month. The more of a cash cushion you have, the less likely you'll need credit cards to keep you afloat. Pay off your balance in full each month. It can be enticing to put off paying your bill for another day. Sign up for due-date reminders from your credit card company and consider setting up auto-pay for the full balance of the card so that you don't forget. Don't sign up for a card just for the bonus. Many credit cards offer sign-up bonuses to attract new customers. But you must meet a spending requirement in a certain amount of time to receive the bonus. If you won't meet the requirement with your normal budgeted spending, you may be better off with a card with a lower spending requirement, even if that means a lower bonus. The bottom line For all the data generated by studies, they don't fit every situation. For example, while a 2015 study by Experian shows that millennials have the lowest credit scores of all generations, some savvy millennials have taken charge of their credit and earned enviable credit scores. Ramsey's advice on credit cards is respectable. Those who have struggled with overspending and credit card debt in the past would do well to heed it, and those who are new to credit cards should be aware of it. But millions of Americans practice responsible credit card use and enjoy rewards and perks without sacrificing their financial well-being. Advertisement Ben Luthi is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: bluthi@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @benluthi. by Virginia C McGuire If you have a rewards credit card in your wallet, you might have chosen it because you want the highest possible reward rates. Maybe you're earning 3% cash back with a gas credit card, or 5% cash back on rotating bonus categories such as groceries and Amazon purchases. If so, you're earning higher credit card rewards than I am. My main credit card, the one I carry everywhere and use for almost every purchase, pays 2% cash back -- but it deposits those rewards directly into my son's 529 college savings plan. Why do I settle for rewards that aren't always as high as they could be in absolute dollars? Because college savings requiring no additional effort or expense on my part are what I value most. Advertisement The whole point of rewards is that they give you a little something extra for maintaining a strong credit score and using the card when you shop. I can't put as much money as I'd like toward college savings for my kid, so for me, that 2% is a treat -- something extra that exists outside my regular budget. Credit card rewards can fulfill desires that aren't covered by the typical household spending plan. Travel rewards. Watching airline miles or hotel points build up in your rewards account each month can fuel many an escapist fantasy. Travel rewards offer the promise that all you have to do to land on a beach chair in Maui is keep on paying the bills with your card every month and save your points. Every dollar spent brings you a little closer. Watching airline miles or hotel points build up in your rewards account each month can fuel many an escapist fantasy. Travel rewards offer the promise that all you have to do to land on a beach chair in Maui is keep on paying the bills with your card every month and save your points. Every dollar spent brings you a little closer. Cash back. Rather than promising a specific treat, cash back gives you the flexibility to use your rewards on just about anything your heart desires. Some people opt to take their cash back rewards as a statement credit, giving them a little relief from their monthly bills. Others use their cash rewards to pay for something they couldn't otherwise afford, like a day on the golf course or at the spa. Rather than promising a specific treat, cash back gives you the flexibility to use your rewards on just about anything your heart desires. Some people opt to take their cash back rewards as a statement credit, giving them a little relief from their monthly bills. Others use their cash rewards to pay for something they couldn't otherwise afford, like a day on the golf course or at the spa. Merchandise. Many credit card issuers offer a rewards mall where you can redeem your points directly. You can choose from the available merchandise or cash in your points for a gift card to a major retailer. Although redemption rates for merchandise often aren't as high as for the other two options above, it can be fun to choose a gift for yourself that you wouldn't ordinarily buy. Whether you choose to save your rewards for the vacation of a lifetime, use them to pay off a small chunk of your monthly credit card bill, or buy yourself a little present, the right rewards for you might not carry the absolute highest possible value. Perhaps, like me, you'd rather have rewards that will increase in value over time, like college account contributions, or money to help you pay off your student loans or your mortgage. Advertisement The best rewards are the ones that ultimately give you the most satisfaction. Virginia C. McGuire is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: virginia@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @vcmcguire. NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 08: Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks onstage at the Robert F. Kennedy human rights 2015 Ripple of Hope awards at New York Hilton Midtown on December 8, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/WireImage) After a federal judge ordered Apple to help the FBI break into the encrypted iPhone used by the San Bernardino attackers, Apple's CEO Tim Cook issued a defiant letter pledging to oppose the order. Developing a "backdoor" into smartphone data, Cook wrote, would undermine data protection for consumers of tech products. Google's CEO Sundar Pichai echoed the same concern: Encryption protects people, and compliance with the court order would "compromise users' privacy." The entire tech industry seems to be on a mission, fighting tooth and nail to protect consumers' privacy. This is awfully rich. The industry that makes a highly profitable living off of people's data, now parading as the crusader of privacy. Advertisement Let's get a few basic facts right. Apple, Google, Facebook, and other voices in the righteous band that has spontaneously formed to fend off government data prying, are not in the business of data protection. Privacy is not what they sell. On the contrary, it is the biggest threat to their business. Despite what they now claim in court proceedings or to the media concerning their commitment to users' privacy, Apple is in the business of platforms for data mining and data trading. Much of the value of Apple's devices and of many other tech firms owes to the widespread practice that they cultivate -- collecting users' information and selling it to other commercial entities, all for large (and well-earned) profits. The amount of information the tech giants collect and sell to advertisers and other business partners is orders of magnitude greater than the amount of information the government is seeking. The iPhone is a wonderful portal into an environment where enormous amounts of users' data are abundantly exposed. Famous among the data collectors are Google and Facebook, whose main source of living is cashing in on the personalized profiles they have amassed on each user -- dossiers of information that advertisers are happy to rent. Almost every website, every smartphone app, every device, collects private information for commercial purposes. Some of it is needed for functionality -- Google Maps must know your geo location and WhatsApp needs to know your contacts -- but many do not. Does the Flashlight app (which only turns on the built-in LED light) need to know the geo location? Does Angry Birds need to access your phone calls (such Curious Birds...)? The immense personalized tracking that the smartphone environment has created renders Apple and other device makers vulnerable to pressure from privacy groups and lawmakers, demanding that privacy protections be added to the devices. So how do you add data protections to new iPhone models without undermining the central business proposition of data-collection, which generates the profits that come from trading in people's personal information? What can Apple do to quiet the privacy alarmists? Advertisement The smartphone industry -- Apple and Android alike -- found a genius solution: protect the data only against the government, while continuing the full throttle harvest of data for commercial use. Beginning in the post-Snowden era, smartphones have been encrypted so that governments cannot break into them nor order the phone makers to provide access. The iPhone 6 made it impossible for NSA and FBI to crack the encryption, allowing Apple to publicly brandish its privacy protection credentials, and market their phones as safer than their competitors'. This was not a false claim. We are now learning that it is indeed impossible for the investigative agencies to access even dead terrorists' encrypted smartphones. But it is only half the truth, or rather a small sliver of the truth. Apple's privacy pretense is misleading, because the specks of information encrypted against government seizure are dwarfed by the mountains of unencrypted information that the iPhone and its apps continue to harvest. Apple's "Privacy Policy" makes it abundantly clear that users' activity is recorded and saved, including information where people use their devices and for what purposes, what they buy and when, their occupation, age, address, and endless more. And like any online service, they plant cookies in people's devices to learn much more -- including activity that has nothing to do with functionality of the service, like browsing history. This information is analyzed and shared for commercial purposes, not least of which is advertising. And while some limited "do not track" options are made available by device makers like Apple to consumers who are sophisticated enough to turn them on after every software update, the industry has by and large resisted such restraint, which would threaten to dry up its sources of revenue. The government is right in claiming that Apple's refusal to break into terrorists' iPhones is a marketing strategy. Tim Cook is now commended by privacy specialists for "leveraging his personal brand and Apple's to stand on the side of consumer privacy." Apple appears the champion of privacy, free to continue its own grand enterprise of developing platforms for commercial data mining. Civil libertarians may nevertheless applaud Apple. The risks of government overreach, they would say, are greater than those arising from commercial sharing of personal data. They may be right, although Big Data should perhaps activate some of the same worries as Big Brother. Much of the recent regulatory action in the European Union in defining privacy as a fundamental right is fueled by this concern, of the uses big companies make of the information disclosed. Advertisement Others may rightly applaud Apple, Google, Facebook and other information-rich devices and services for providing to their clients excellent services at great value. It is difficult to identify what the harm is when Apple and mobile apps collect Big Data and profit from it. The practice allows users to receive valuable services free of charge. Even targeted advertising is less annoying than spam. It is surely better for most consumers to pay for the services like Google and Facebook with the new currency -- the quid pro quo of surrendering some personal information -- instead of paying cash. 1. "Adonai -- compassion before one errs." Call this one conservative, giving the benefit of the doubt to good-seeming folks, revocable if they err. 2. "Adonai -- compassion after one has erred." Liberal, as in suggesting amnesty and a path to citizenship for those who violated U.S. law to enter this country. 3. "El -- mighty in compassion, giving to all creatures according to their need." Liberal, with the Divine act of sustenance here based solely on need, not perceived merit. 4. "Rachum [compare holy Quran, "rachmani-rakhim"] -- merciful, that humankind may not be distressed." Conservative, tending to see success (non-distress) as proof of merit, deserving of further reward. 5. "V'Chanun -- and gracious if humankind is already in distress." Liberal, with a tendency to see distress as owing to greater forces more than to one's own poor choices. 6. "Erech apayim -- slow to anger." Liberal, apparently, given how many on the right are now "anger voters," raging at the status quo while picking their nominee. 7.- "V'Rav chesed -- and bounteous in loving-kindness." Neutral. Political leanings are irrelevant here; kindness lies on both sides of the aisle. 8. "V'Emet -- and truth." Liberal, for now, given conservative denial of basic truths, like the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate change. 9. "Notzer chesed la'alafim -- extending lovingkindness to the thousandth generation." Neutral. Again, kindness knows no politics. 10. "No'se avon -- forgiving iniquity." Conservative, in this softer version of mercy; even those who copiously judge others will fall into iniquity at one time or another. 11. "Vafesha -- and [forgiving] transgression. Liberal. To be "transgressive" is now deemed a compliment on much of the left, and an insult across the right. 12. "V'chata'ah -- and [forgiving] sin." Neutral. We disagree on what constitutes "sin," but minus the extremists of far right and far left (who resemble one another in their narrowness), all condemn it. 13. "V'nakeh -- and pardoning." A tie. Conservative, as the quote continues with a right-wing preacher's angry God who "won't pardon; instead, remitting sin...to the 3rd & 4th generation. Liberal: as the 4th generation is one century hence - exactly how long the carbon dioxide we emit remains aloft, threatening our progeny. "I'm in a roomful of people I know," Rita Wilson began her intimate set at the Cafe Carlyle on Thursday. Though this was not opening night, the room took on an extra glow: on one side sat Michael J. Fox, on the other, Tom Brokaw, Carolina Herrera, Ken Auletta, Richard Cohen, and William Ivey Long who told me he dressed Wilson for her role as Roxy Hart in "Chicago." Sprinkling her songs with anecdotes involving her husband, she'd say, "Picture Tom Hanks," and you could see him trying to mollify a disgruntled guest at the hotel. Though she claimed he's the opposite of every thing she thought she wanted in a man, you could see he's the love of her life. Another refrain was the unforgettable title of her new album, "Rita Wilson." Wilson's songs, collaborations with a variety of songwriters, convey well-being, and sunny gratitude in the face of her 2015 health scare and, as she quips, surviving six months of Larry David when she worked with him on Broadway in "Fish in the Dark." Backed by her first-rate band, Steve Fekete on guitar and backup vocals, Lee Nadel on bass, Rob Mounsey on keys, and Rich Mercurio on drums, she sang "Say Yes," "Lucky Girl," "I Can't Make You Feel my Love," "Forgiving Me, Forgiving You," titles that suggest she's worked through her issues. Her botox song, "Can't Feel My Face," projects a Los Angeles ethos; in "Girl's Night In," she nodded to a corner table of women. She introduced her cover of "Angel in the Morning" informing the rapt audience that the songwriter, Chip Taylor, was Jon Voigt's brother and therefore Angelina Jolie's uncle who also wrote "Wild Thing." They did a little "Wild Thing." Her natural performance style is as comfortable as when you see her in the movies, or in HBO's "Girls." And you never know who'll show up at the legendary Carlyle during her residency. Advertisement Speaking of which, a film about the Cafe Carlyle is Matthew Miele's next project. He told me so last week at the premiere of his tongue-in-cheek and informative movie on another legend's history, Crazy About Tiffany's. He's already tapped Tony-winner Lena Hall to be in it. She, like Rita Wilson, is someone I'll always look forward to seeing at the Carlyle. Claude Debussy's Pelleas et Melisande has enjoyed a cult status among opera cognoscenti ever since its Paris premiere in 1902, but that has not necessarily translated to its wider appeal. Audiences tutored on the primary dramatic colors of Italian opera or the emphatic emotions of its German counterpart have puzzled over the subtle, static goings-on through most of the work, where they are compelled to eavesdrop on the subconscious ramblings of lovers unaware they are in love. The LA Phil and its now Conductor Laureate Esa-Pekka Salonen have, over the past two decades, forged a special relationship to the work in three different formats, learning by trial and error how best to convey its delicate essence. Their first venture, a debut for both, was in a controversial 1995 staging by Peter Sellars with the LA Opera. The second had an extended suite from the work playing a supporting role in the 2004 Tristan Project. The latest, a semi-staged concert version seen at Disney Hall last weekend, was part of Salonen's current multi-concert "City of Light" survey of French music, which he is taking to many locales around the world. It proved not only a triumphant culmination of past efforts, but a validation of the work's oft-questioned dramatic viability. The audience at Disney Hall was in raptures. Pelleas is set in a mythical, medieval never-land named Allemonde, which in French could suggest either Germany or anywhere in the world. A product of fin-de-siecle France, it ruminates for 2-1/2 hours with just a little time in conflict and lots in suppressed emotions. Its murky plot - set by the composer word for word with only a few cuts from the 1893 play by symbolist author Maurice Maeterlinck - has simplistic dialogue obscuring deeper meanings, with dense vocal lines that seem to lack character. Notable was Debussy's use of the spoken word, with his orchestra silent in a hushed confession of love. Much is made of contrasting states: light and dark, blind and sighted, wet and dry, in union or in solitude. Advertisement For the first three of five acts, the two eponymous lovers are unable to articulate what they feel. Melisande first meets and marries the older brother of Pelleas, Golaud, whom she doesn't love. Later on she "loses" her wedding ring in a well when with Pelleas. Later, as Pelleas is enveloped in Melisande's hair, Golaud's suspicions magnify. Only in the final two acts do things come to a head musically and dramatically as the declared but still chaste love between the two clashes tragically with Golaud's jealousy. Well-meaning bystanders close to the lovers had urged warnings but were helpless to protect. Passivity is omnipresent. With somnambulistic non-actions on stage, Debussy's orchestra does the heavy dramatic lifting, but that is hardly the word for the astonishingly delicate instrumental magic the composer conjures. His orchestra simmers and smolders on an inexorably flowing journey of no return, engulfing all in its sway. The innovative score owes a musical debt to the spiritual worlds of Parsifal and the love-triangled Tristan, yet Debussy resisted the seductive influence of Wagner's style in his search for another musical path. This he found from the Far East, notably Japan and Indonesia, which various Parisian expositions at the end of the 19th-century had exposed to him. The East's pentatonic scales and gamelan colorations - along with the composer's own unusual instrumental combinations and his use of whole tone scales, parallel triads, and unorthodox seventh and ninth chords - produced exotic, hot-house sounds that gave the work an original musical voice perfectly suited to the play. (One that would influence later 20th-century composers like Stravinsky and Ravel.) Debussy's ethereal, indeterminate music, with Maeterlinck's drama of the mind, have challenged stage directors for generations since the work's Paris premiere. The 1995 Peter Sellars staging for LA Opera in the Chandler Pavilion tried to break the obscurantist mold by tailoring the drama to a modern setting of homeless lovers on a beachside Malibu. Alas, the intriguing concept had them groping on a dim stage with fluorescent lights shining in the audience's eyes. The neo-Brechtian alienation, intended or not, obliterated the delicate drama and compromised a commendable first outing for Salonen and the LA Phil in the less than ideal acoustics of the cavernous hall. Advertisement (Sellars may have taken that cautionary tale to heart in a recent, reportedly successful, German outing with Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic.) A big positive in the second L.A. Pelleas of a decade ago was the newly opened Disney Hall, with its clear acoustics, where the excerpted suite from the work was well received, also better heard. But this was minus the dramatic impact of a complete performance and it merely whetted the appetite for more. Which may be why this time around, Salonen and company decided that Pelleas, as their City of Light centerpiece, might best be presented in a concert format with just enough stage business to give the visual drama its due, while reserving the work's main dramatic impact for the ear. Colin Grenfell's indirect color effects subtlety exploited to advantage, in hues of blue, red and amber, the intertwining nooks and crannies of architect Frank Gehry's wood-lined hall interiors. It was Salonen himself who suggested the insertion of a narrator between the five acts, using Maeterlink's own words to provide a more concrete guidance to the action, while allowing a few moments rest for the constantly performing orchestra. As narrator, Kate Burton's recitation was clear and her text helpful. Director David Edwards' modest but sensitive staging resembled more that of an enhanced oratorio than an opera, and that was fine. The bench seats immediately behind the orchestra had been sequestered from the audience for a static display of fifteen stylized chalk-white mannequins, each with a blindfold suggesting the blindness of the lovers and probably also the blind jealousy of the husband, Golaud. Below them sat the evening's soloists, ready on cue to walk slowly in front of the orchestra for their deliveries. None of the cast members touched one another. When interacting, one would suggest the action as another mimicked receiving it. The protagonists forged an ideally strong and idiomatic team. Tenor Stephane Degout's brightly hued Pelleas was ardor itself. Camilla Tilling's clear soprano conveyed both the innocent naivete of Melisande and a kind of fatal purity that chimed with Debussy's unchanging musical motif employed at her every entrance. Laurent Naouri's authentic, nasal-inflected French baritone was the evening's standout performance as Golaud, Melisande's older, insecure, ultimately violent husband. Advertisement Sir Willard White's family patriarch Arkel was embracing warmth and wisdom itself. (He had portrayed the character of Golaud in the original 1995 Los Angeles Pelleas.) Veteran mezzo Felicity Palmer's sympathetic and resonant Genevieve softened the tragedy, along with White's Arkel, even as the two were powerless to stop it. The role of the boy Yniold can pass in some productions as a humorous turn, as he is instructed by his father Golaud to report on a potential love scene. In this instance soprano Chloe Briot properly portrayed the stress of an innocent made into an accomplice coping with a father's frantic fury. Nicholas Brownlee's Physician reinforced the role of bystander to the tragedy. Grant Gershon's Master Chorale, having a cameo role, made the most of its brief appearance in the back balcony reinforcing the work's ethereal element. The LA Phil, liberated from the confines of an opera pit, and under the touch of master colorist Salonen, was the center of the action on Disney's stage, projecting each instrumental hue in its full luminescence and every rhythm in its intended crisp or muted detail. Exquisite and subtle, the orchestra conveyed the slow build-up to love's attraction, its surrender, and its final devastation amid the imagined forests, grottos, fountains and chambers of the drama's action. The performance succeeded at every level, revealing in its unusual format an equally valid way to present Pelleas et Melisande. It confirmed the persistence of artistic integrity and managerial risk-taking in the pursuit of ideal circumstances for a challenging work. The performance will stand as one of the greatest ever in Disney Hall and a milestone in the history of this unique work of musical art. ---ooo--- PROGRAM DEBUSSY: Pelleas et Melisande (complete) Disney Hall, Los Angeles Sunday, February 21, 2016 MUSICIANS, CHORUS & PRODUCTION STAFF Los Angeles Philharmonic Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor Los Angeles Master Chorale, Grant Gershon, artistic director David Edwards, director Colin Grenfell, lighting designer Advertisement CAST Kate Burton, narrator Stephane Degout, Pelleas Camilla Tilling, Melisande Laurent Naouri, Golaud Sir Willard White, Arkel Felicity Palmer, Genevieve Chloe Briot, Yniold Nicholas Brownlee, Physician Watch Five Things I'll Never Forget About Syrian Refugees As a journalist, you're trained to be objective. Your sole responsibility is to report with accuracy and fairness, and to never get emotionally involved in the story. In my craft, detachment is the code of conduct; but my human sympathy was deemed antithetical to my professional guidelines. Advertisement I've covered the Syrian crisis intimately. From the front-lines of the conflict overseas to newsrooms in the States, I've seen it far too close to smell the blood and far too distant that only rough contours emerge. Each day, whether in the field, roaming the borders of Syria in Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey, or behind my desk back home in America, I was able to objectively report and produce on this profound crisis. I've told stories of misery, wreckage, and havoc--all from the vantage point of those directly affected by the charnel house that is Syria today; and of the chaos of neighboring countries bearing millions of refugees who are running from a seemingly endless war that's about to enter its sixth year. That is my job--a craft I respect with every fiber of my being--a form of public service necessary for a democracy. This draining profession is at its most challenging when one faces such grim circumstances. The work of a journalist is very important; but for me covering Syria turned into a struggle in keeping the conflict at arms length. Something happens when you see the mayhem too close and realize that there is no immediate solution for any of the carnage--the carnage of people, humanity, and a future generation of a nation and a devastated region. Advertisement My information and knowledge of the humanitarian necessities were no longer limited to daily media analysis or agency reports sent to my email each month; they were in my heart. In just one week I met a dying mother, whose three sons witnessed her harsh battle with cancer. UN agencies were not able to provide her with medicine. She laid on a thin blanket on the bare floor of a tent near the northern borders of Lebanon. I've seen a man with three wives--all living in one small tent with six children. The younger wife--only 20 years old-- opened up to me and told me what no woman should bear; "when my husband gets angry, he beds the other wife next to me and makes me hear him--it's painful." said the young mother. She was married off to this man in her camp. Her father could no longer afford supporting her. I've seen a mentally ill 13-year-old boy who could not stop smiling, but would not understand me. He went mute after a sequence of bombings in his hometown of Homs last year. I've seen a half-blind 12-year-old from Daraa--the city many believe to be the birthplace of the Syrian civil war--who told me he wants to be in school, but is afraid. He told me he saw a teenager from his camp stab another boy with a knife--and that he does not want to end up like him. Advertisement I've seen a 6-year-old boy and his 4-year-old sister selling walnuts on the corner of the street. I've seen children who have not showered in three weeks. I've seen children who smoke in tents. I've seen naked toddlers running on dirt roads as their mothers work in the city--the kind of jobs no woman should do--all in hopes of bringing their babies some food or clothing. I've seen so much in so little time. I witnessed humanity at the brink of destruction and felt the need to take action. In one month--starting in January--on my spare time, I managed to raise funds for about 800 blankets and distribute them among four un-official refugee camps I visited near Arsal, Baalbek, and Lebanon's Beqaa valley. I knew and trusted the local NGOs to fulfill the mission; and could not resist lending a hand to ease the suffering. For those of us on the outside, 800 blankets may seem like a drop in the sea; but not for those in need. For a cold child, even one blanket can be the difference between life and death. This is just one humble example of how we can ALL raise our hands and take action. Syrian refugee boy receiving blankets sent through fundraising led by journalist Tara Kangarlou in Lebanon's Beqaa Valley. As a young woman, I can't forget the smiles of those children who had lost their parents and smelled dead bodies; yet somehow, their playfulness and bloom of childhood remained. I can't forget how the children wanted to hold my hand and play with my hair. I was also told many of them don't eat anything chewy or what they perceive as "meat"--not that they do get to see much meat--but if they do, they refuse. The odor takes them back to the death and carnage they bore witness to in their backyards. Advertisement I saw locals in host communities trying their best; I saw locals turning their backs; but I saw them on the front-lines of this flood--they too are at risk. Syria today is the world's largest producer of internally displaced people and refugees. It is the largest humanitarian crisis since the second world war. Today, over half of Syria's population of 22 million are affected by this futile war--over 10 million are internally displaced and over 5 million are spread through neighboring countries with one million asylum seekers flooding into Europe. Forty percent of the entire Syrian population is under the age of 18 and more than half of the refugees are under the age of 11; and these are just the official numbers. Yes, international journalists, foreign correspondents, and war reporters, will all have similar stories--perhaps even more gruesome tales based on their experiences and years in the field. But the killing field that is Syria today is a test of humanity and empathy for us all. This winter, as we brave the cold weather indoors, stack our pantries with food, and worry about another blizzard hitting the East Coast, I could not bear the thought of another child's death as a result of cold weather in their damp bare tents--in the camps that I was fortunate enough to spend time in during parts of this past year. Journalist or not, at a time when my conscious--our global conscience--is tested, we can not afford to fail. This is not a multiple choice problem, but a simple question that can be answered by us all. Advertisement Similar initiatives to my modest effort can start small and grow--anyone and everyone can help. What one may consider a futile act is quite definitely not, especially to those struggling to survive on the receiving end. Follow Tara Kangarlou on Twitter and Instagram @TaraKangarlou Local Lebanese volunteers with Syrian refugees after distributing blankets. Syrian refugee mother and her newborn child after receiving donated blankets in Zahleh, Lebanon. Which religious group is the victim of the most hate crimes in the United States? According to the hate crime statistics kept by the FBI, Jews are the primary victims of religious hate crimes. More than 50% of all hate crimes (57% in 2014) are committed against them. For a point of comparison, anti-Muslim hate crimes in 2014 were 16%. If you include other groupings by ethnicity, race, or sexuality, Jewish people are still at the top. They are more than three times more likely to be the victim of a hate crime than any other group. To be sure, the FBI definition of hate crimes might not correspond fully with the prevalence of hatred in our society, but they are still seen as an indicator of broad patterns. These statistics may sound surprising. At a time that a Jewish presidential candidate won a primary election and so many Jews have prominence in many domains, how could Jewish people be the top victims of hate crimes? Yet, just as the election of Barack Obama didn't stop racist hate crimes against African Americans, the prominence of many Jews in the United States does not protect them more generally from hate and violence. Advertisement There is a lot of coverage of hate against other groups, but one reads very little about proliferating anti-Jewish hate. In late January, acts of vandalism were discovered in a historic Jewish cemetery in Connecticut. Also in January, graffiti with Swastikas, the phrase "Hitler was a hero" and more were scrawled on the front door of a Brooklyn building belonging to Hassidic Jews. A Tampa synagogue was recently targeted by vandals during the Gasparilla celebrations. The hate crimes go beyond vandalism into threats and violence, like when a man killed three people at two different Jewish centers near Kansas City in 2014. In Europe, the situation for Jews is much worse. In the UK, new figures show that the annual total anti-Semitic hate crimes in London in 2015 was the highest on record. Today, Jews are leaving France in record numbers. There have been many high-profile attacks including those at the kosher market in Paris and the synagogue in Copenhagen last year. Citing countless examples of hate crimes, in 2014, the president of Germany's Central Council of Jews told the Guardian, "These are the worst times since the Nazi era." Advertisement It is alarming that 70 years after the defeat of the Nazis, we are seeing a level of violence against Jews that has eerie similarities to the 1920s/30s in Germany and Poland, a history I know about all too well. My father, a Polish Jew, packed up his belongings and left Poland as a teenager in 1934. He recognized the increasing hate against Jews and begged his family to leave with him. But they said they were comfortable in Poland and this antisemitism thing was nothing new and wouldn't amount to anything. They paid for that belief and sadly, no one in my paternal family survived. This experience burned into my consciousness the importance of not dismissing concerns about antisemitism. Growing up in a liberal Boston suburb in the 1970s and 80s, I did not experience or witness much antisemitism. But today, the rise of more antisemitism in Europe is influencing increased antisemitism in the United States. Now, I hear colleagues at conferences making anti-Semitic remarks, expressing views that the Holocaust was exaggerated and describing Jews as owning the media and the banks. I have seen swastika graffiti on synagogues and on students' dorm rooms. I hear Jewish students saying they do not feel safe in their campuses. A 2015 survey published by Trinity College and the Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law found that 54% of the participants had been subject to or witnessed antisemitism on their campus. One of the most common examples is anti-Semitic vandalism, including swastikas, targeting Jewish students, has been documented at least 50 times since 2013 on campuses like Stanford, Emory, DePaul and Yale. Advertisement Certainly, a major factor for the increasing antisemitism is the increasing condemnation of Israel in its treatment of Palestinians. Movements like Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS), have often slipped from anti-Israel protests to anti-Semitic acts. I too have sympathy for the plight of the Palestinians. But no matter how people feel about it, the conflict there should not warrant a response of hate and violence against Jews worldwide. Groups like the ADL have done important work in documenting and combating anti-Semitism. But why has their message not gotten out more widely? And why have more Jews not spoken up more forcefully against the antisemitism? I believe many Jews have worked hard to fully assimilate into American society and don't wish to call attention to themselves as Jews. Many liberal Jews, aware of the attacks against Israel by other liberals, may feel embarrassed about their identity. Others internalize antisemitism, making them disassociate from their Jewish identity in general. But silence about hatred can do great harm. It is time for us to break the silence. First, we need to increase awareness of anti-Semitic acts, threats and expressions. With knowledge of the extent of anti-Jewish hate, other oppressed groups, such as Muslims, gays, Hispanic and African Americans, may welcome anti-racist coalitions, and Jews may be empowered to speak up, instead of ignoring the hate spewed against us. By Sarah Lohschelder The North Korean government ensured an interesting start to 2016: on January 6, the secluded regime purportedly detonated a hydrogen bomb, although experts say it was more likely a boosted fission weapon. Shortly thereafter, on February 7, North Korea launched a rocket carrying a satellite into space. While in itself a harmless act, analysts claim the rocket launch is a test-run helpful to the development of intercontinental missiles capable of reaching as far as Alaska. The UN Security Council and the White House have condemned North Korea's actions. Of course, missile and nuclear tests by the North Korean regime are nothing new: the first successful missile test occurred in 1993 and the first nuclear test in 2006. Thus, three successive U.S. presidents - Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama - have dealt with the threat posed by North Korea's weapons tests. Looking at U.S. policy toward North Korea over time, we can conclude that, despite all three presidents failing to prevent the continuous development of North Korea's nuclear program, the United States has learned from its past mistakes. Clinton's Carrots: The Agreed Framework With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, North Korea sought to compensate for the loss of Soviet protection by intensifying its efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon. The Clinton administration was faced with North Korea's first successful missile test in May 1993, as well as North Korea's threat to exit the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Advertisement Clinton successfully negotiated the Agreed Framework of 1994, which resulted in the closure of North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear power plant in exchange for oil deliveries, a phasing-out of economic sanctions, and help with the construction of a light water reactor for energy production. Both parties complied with their treaty obligations until 1996. Congress then began delaying funds for the oil shipments and light water reactors and failed to reduce economic sanctions as promised. As a result, North Korea reactivated the Yongbyon facility in 1998 and the Agreed Framework officially broke down in 2003. This course of events suggests two fundamental shortcomings of Clinton's dovish approach toward North Korea: the first being a lack of follow-through (albeit conditioned by Congress, not the administration); the second being that Yongbyon was initially only closed but not dismantled, thus allowing North Korea to restart its nuclear program at relatively little cost. Overall, North Korea benefited from its nuclear provocation and the Agreed Framework: it received economic aid, temporarily improved diplomatic relations with the United States, and pulled out of the agreement in time to maintain its nuclear program. Advertisement The United States gained little from this episode: it looked divided and weak, having made a good faith effort to negotiate and failed to achieve any permanent concessions. Rather, at considerable expense, the United States had gained nothing but a four-year delay in North Korea's nuclear program. The takeaway from these events was that North Korea could not be trusted because, for the regime, it pays to provoke. Bush's Sticks: The Axis of Evil The Bush administration took an entirely different approach to "the North Korea problem." Rather than seeking an agreement with the hermit country, the Bush administration sought regime change - deemed necessary because of North Korea's membership in the "Axis of Evil" as a country producing weapons of mass destruction. Indeed, rather than building on the Agreed Framework, which was suspended but not yet abrogated when Bush came into office, the administration declared that not only complete and verifiable nuclear disarmament, but also a reduction of North Korea's conventional weapons, were a precondition for negotiations. In 2003, North Korea finally withdrew from the NPT and, in April, admitted for the first time to the possession of nuclear weapons. These events prompted the Six-Party Talks between the United States, South and North Korea, China, Russia, and Japan in August of that year. Advertisement However, having learned the lesson of the Clinton era, the Bush administration adhered to its "dismantle first, talk later" policy. The Six-Party Talks stretched on for years, punctuated by nuclear and missile tests in 2006, until North Korea finally withdrew from the Talks in 2009. The net result of Bush's hawkish policies was little better, if not worse, than those of the Clinton administration. The Bush administration failed (quite purposefully as some have argued) to achieve an agreement on denuclearization with North Korea. On the contrary, the North Korean nuclear program progressed to the point of a successful nuclear test in 2006 and another one only a month after its withdrawal from the Six-Party Talks in 2009. The Bush administration's declared goal of regime change also failed. Bush clearly underestimated the North Korean regime, which turned out to be surprisingly stable. In economic and diplomatic terms, the administration could hardly have squeezed North Korea any more than it did. Militarily, Bush was constrained by two factors: the increasingly unpopular war in Iraq and the strained alliance with South Korea; Seoul fearing both the burdens of war and the burdens of premature reunification. What we learned from the Bush years is that North Korea will not yield to pressure easily. Obama's Strategic Patience: No Carrots, No Sticks Obama offered negotiations in his inaugural speech, but North Korea responded with missile and nuclear tests. The administration quickly changed to a policy of strategic patience, essentially a commitment to denuclearization as a precondition for talks, conducted in close alliance with Seoul and the other members of the Six-Party Talks. Advertisement Washington did engage in bilateral negotiations with Pyongyang, producing the Leap Day Agreement - which fell apart only three weeks after it was announced because of a failed satellite launch by Pyongyang. While South Korea is much happier with the Obama administration than it was with the Bush administration, the attempt to have China exert pressure on North Korea has clearly failed. The UN Security Council agreed to toughen sanctions on North Korea in response to its most recent tests, but China is reluctant to put too much pressure on the regime for fear of destabilizing its reclusive neighbor. Ultimately, the nuclear test and rocket launch this year prove that the Obama administration was no more successful than its predecessors in stopping the progress of North Korea's weapons development. However, Obama appears to have learned from Clinton's and Bush's experiences: the policy of strategic patience has not given anything away without an irreversible concession in return (Clinton's lesson) and did not engage in fruitless efforts at regime change either (Bush's lesson). Thus, one may conclude that strategic patience is the least bad, least costly way for the United States to deal with North Korea, and may well be the best way forward - at least until conditions in North Korea change drastically and allow for positive engagement or support of a coup. The India Today Group via Getty Images DELHI, INDIA FEBRUARY 24: Students Leaders Rama Naga, Anant Prakash Narayan and Ashutosh Kumar,at JNU in New Delhi.(Photo by Qamar Sibtain/India Today Group/Getty Images) NEW DELHI -- Another sedition-accused Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student joined the investigation on Saturday even as separatists shutdown the Kashmir valley to protest against the government crackdown on students and the arrest of a former Delhi University professor for allegedly raising anti-national slogans. Ashutosh Kumar, who is also facing sedition charges for allegedly raising anti-national slogans on the campus, received a police summons on Friday. On Saturday he turned up at the R.K Puram Police Station, where two other students, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, are being interrogated. Advertisement Ashutosh was the JNU students union president before Kanhaiya Kumar and was one among the five absconding students who returned to the campus on Sunday. On Friday the police interrogated Kumar, who was arrested on February 12, and Khalid and Anirban, arrested earlier this week, together. The police have identified around 22 persons who were active participants in the controversial 9 February event held to protest the 2013 hanging of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. The police had earlier identified 19 students who allegedly shouted anti-national slogans on campus, but a newspaper report earlier in the week rubbished the claim, saying 16 out of the list of 19 accused had passed out of JNU years ago and some of them were working abroad. A former Delhi University professor, SAR Geelani is also behind the bars on charges of holding an event on the anniversary of Afzal Gurus hanging at the Delhi Press Club where anti-national slogans were allegedly raised. Advertisement The police said that Ashutosh, Khalid, Anirban and a few others are believed to be the organisers of the event in which anti-national slogans were raised. Two students, Rama Naga and Anant Kumar, who were also absconding from the campus till Sunday, are yet to receive any summons. Meanwhile, normal life was disrupted in Kashmir Valley on Saturday due to a strike called by separatist groups against the arrest of Geelani and the JNU students. Advertisement Contact HuffPost India Also See On HuffPost: PTI The role of the Delhi police in the attack on journalists, students and members of faculty from the Jawaharlal Nehru University earlier this month has come under scrutiny after a video accessed by television channels showed jailed JNU students' union leader Kanhaiya Kumar telling a team of lawyers from the Supreme Court that cops did nothing to protect him from a group of lawyers who assaulted him the moment he arrived at the Patiala House Court for his hearing in a sedition case. Kumar said he repeatedly told Delhi police personnel present at the spot that he could identify the men in black coats who rained blows on him as he entered the court premises. They kicked him in the stomach and punched him. The cops who formed a protective circle around him were also attacked. While going through a gate that had a metal detector, Kumar said his pants came off in the scuffle. He was bruised and disoriented by the onslaught. Advertisement CNN-IBN EXCLUSIVE | My attacker could have been easily caught but police didn't act, says #KanhaiyaOnCamerahttps://t.co/tDb5Vdq918 CNN-IBN News (@ibnlive) February 27, 2016 "As soon as I arrived, I was surrounded by journalists. The moment the cops took me inside, a mob of men dressed like lawyers surrounded me. They seemed prepared. They started punching me and called out to others that I had arrived at the court. One man chased me to a room inside the courthouse and sat behind me. I told my teacher that this is the man who thrashed me. When the police asked that person for his identity he countered by asking the policeman to show his identity card," Kumar said. "I told the police that this man had assaulted me, but they did nothing," Kumar said. He is seen tearing up in the video as the lawyers gently urged him to continue. Advertisement Kumar said he could identify the attacker easily. I was not able to see as to what the other policemen were doing, because I was knocked down and was beaten. "I was told that this person was removed from the courtroom on the direction of the High Court authorities. He didn't pay heed to what the police said. This person left the court in front of the police and police didn't take any action," he added. "I was not able to see as to what the other policemen were doing, because I was knocked down and was beaten," he said. Kanhaiya's lawyer, Vrindra Grover, can also be seen in the video. "When we were entering there was lot of sloganeering, we felt anxious and there was fear in us. I told police and the registrar general to ensure the safety of Kanhaiya as there was a hostile environment. Our phones were taken away, our identity cards were checked," Grover was quoted as saying. Advertisement They started punching me and called out to others that I had arrived at the court. One man chased me to the next room inside the courthouse and sat behind me. I told my teacher that this is the man who thrashed me. "The man, who attacked Kanhaiya, came in the court and left the court. I repeatedly made appeals to police to put security for Kanhaiya, but they didn't do that. They kept nodding and didn't provide security. The seniormost police personnel allow him to go and later they come and tell us that they don't know who that person was," she added. In the video, lawyer Kapil Sibal is heard asking Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi District) Jatin Narwal as to why police didn't arrest the person Kanhaiya identified. "When they came to you and told that this person was beating Kanhaiya, why didn't you arrest him? How did you let the attack take place in the court premises? The person who didn't even wear a black coat, how could you allow him to enter the courtroom? When Kanhaiya pointed out that person why didn't you arrest that person?" Sibal asked. "I immediately rushed as I didn't know; this was the person who had attacked Kanhaiya," DCP Narwal said. (ANI) Kumar said the persons attacking him were "highly politically motivated". "I am the youth of this country. I study in JNU," he said, his voice breaking. Kumar is among six students from JNU charged with sedition for attending a meeting on campus called to protest the hanging of terrorist Afzal Guru. NDTV reported that his security has been increased at Delhi's Tihar Jail where he is lodged. His bail plea will come up for hearing in the High Court on 29 February. Advertisement Contact HuffPost India Also on HuffPost: Hutchinson's Orscheln Farm store has become a Bomgaars location The Hutchinson store was one of 73 the FTC said Tractor Supply could not own due to anti-trust concerns. Transition to new store could take 15 months. The 84 MW New Bong Escape Hydropower Project, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan (the Project) is a run-of-the river hydropower scheme without any dam, new storage, displacement/resettlement of human habitation, change in the hydrological regime or any other adverse environmental impact. The Project is a low head hydropower scheme and is strictly run-of-the-river without any storage or new reservoir. The Mangla reservoir, dam and 1000 MW power house, constructed in the early sixties feeds the Project downstream of the Mangla powerhouse, through its tailrace channel. The main purpose of the project activity is to generate electricity for supply to the national grid using clean, renewable and sustainable natural resources and tapping the significant hydropower potential in the country. The project activity represents development of the first hydropower independent power producer in Pakistan and is expected to act as a catalyst for hydropower development in the country and open the way for private investment in this vital sector. The power generated will be sold, through a 25 year power purchase agreement, to the Government owned National Transmission and Despatch Company Limited (NTDC). Location of Project Despite the large hydropower potential, Pakistans grid is predominantly hydrocarbon intensive. Due to looming power shortages and increasing demand/supply gap expected from 2007 and onwards at a rate of some 1,000 MW per annum planners are forced turn once again to quick fix thermal generation to mitigate the significant power shortages expected. The Project will contribute clean and renewable hydroelectricity to the deficient national power resources and contribute to GHG emission reduction by displacing the electricity production requirement of fossil fuel-fired power plants to the extent of its generation. The interconnection is close to the load centre and it is expected that new plant will result in reduction of some 4.572 million tons of CO2e emissions over the crediting period of 21 years. The Project is located 7.5 km downstream of Mangla Dam some 120 km southeast of Islamabad, capital city of Pakistan. The Mangla dam and reservoir were constructed some 40 years ago, with support of the World Bank under the Indus Basin Treaty to impound and store the water of the River Jhelum for irrigation use and incidental power generation. The Project site is easily accessible from the main highway by good metalled roads requirement for new infrastructure is minimal. The key components of the Project include intake, headrace channel, powerhouse complex, tailrace channel, switchyard, interconnection facility, road-bridge and subsidiary outfall structure. The switchyard will provide connectivity with the double circuit in-out arrangement with the two existing 132 kV Mangla-Kharian transmission lines pass over the Project Site and connected to the grid system. All the power generated by the Project will be sold to the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) under a long term power purchase agreement with a 25 year term. The project achieved financial closing on December 20, 2009. US dollar financing has been provided by Asian Development Bank (ADB), Islamic Development Bank, International Finance Corporation, and the French origin Societe de Promotion et de Participation pour la Cooperation Economique (PROPARCO) whereas Pak rupee financing has been provided by Habib Bank Limited (HBL) and National Bank of Pakistan (NBP). Laraib Energy Limited (Laraib) is the owner and developer of the New Bong Escape Hydroelectric Power Project. This was told to a group of journalists, who are in ADB Press Tour on different developmental projects relating to water and power in different parts of the country. Laraib is a subsidiary of Hub Power Company Limited (HUBCO) which owns 75 percent of shares of the company. HUBCO is the owner of 1,292 MW Hub Power Station, which is the first and largest power station to have been financed by the private sector in Southern Asia during the 1990s and one of the largest private power projects in the newly industrialized world at that time. The balance 25 percent shares are held by the minority shareholders. A severe hurricane hasnt hit Florida since 2005, but residents are still paying the highest homeowners rates in the country.According to statistics released Tuesday from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, home insurance premiums average $2,115 in Florida. Not only is that the highest average in the country, but rates are actually up Floridians paid a slightly lower $2,084 in 2014.Comparatively, the states bills run close to twice the national average of $1.096.Though insurance companies defend the higher rates, consumer advocates are speaking out against what they feel are disproportionate costs.The annual premium increases are not justified, Nicole Vinson, a Tampa insurance attorney and head of Policyholders of Florida, told the Palm Beach Post. In addition to paying more, policyholders are receiving less coverage than our neighboring states, even those on coastlines.Insurers, meanwhile, say attorneys, contractors and other parties have artificially inflated claims for things like plumbing leaks, which cause rates to increase even in non-hurricane years.Others argue that the absence of hurricanes in the past 10 years does not preclude the possibility of their return.Florida has the highest property insurance rates because it has the nations highest insured catastrophe losses and that remains true despite 10 storm-free years, said Lynne McChristian, a Florida representative for the Insurance Information Institute.McChristian pointed to Floridas $68 billion in insured catastrophe losses during the period of 1985 to 2014.And it isnt just private insurers. Florida Lieutenant Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera told a state Senate panel this year that state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp. needed to raise rates in South Florida for the same reason.This is a growing problem, he said. Theres significant evidence this is leading to higher premiums.Vinson, however, says the idea of a water claims crisis is dubious.Sadly, I have to advise my clients not to be surprised premiums increase but the coverage is less than it was last year, she said. Floridians should pay close attention because the coverage for residential claims is being sliced and diced but the price tag is going up.Other states with high homeowners rates include Texas ($1,837) and Louisiana ($1,822). The Goshen Balance Rock as pictured in 'Rockachusetts.' The authors write that people traditionally pose as though they have super strength. The question that occurs most often is, 'What is keeping the rock in?' Rabbit Rock in Tyringham. While many boulders require the viewer to use some imagination or to be viewed from a particular angle, write the authors, Rabbit Rock is definitively the exception to the rule. Reynolds Rock in Cheshire is located 100 yards off the Appalachian Trail, where it crosses Outlook Avenue in Cheshire. The view from the top of this 30 foot-high boulder is stunning. The Titanic in Monroe State Forest. Standing some 30 feet high and leaning upon another 20-foot high bolder, it is a challenging formation to locate. Fish Rock in Chester. Shark Rock in Richmond and Fish Rock both roadside boulders, were also probably painted to increase visibility. PreviousNext Cheshire Author Uncovers Ancient Goliaths CHESHIRE, Mass. A new book by a local author guides readers to some of the more mammoth and interesting boulders in Massachusetts, many of which sit in Berkshire County. "There are some big rocks out there," said Christy Butler, coauthor and photographer of "Rockachusetts" a hiking guide focused on notable boulders in the state. The Lynn native and Cheshire resident rambled throughout Massachusetts mapping and researching more than 150 boulders. One third of these are in Berkshire County. Butler, a visual artist who has been involved in publishing, photography, and filmmaking, teamed up once again with writer and licensed hiking guide Russell Dunn, but this time to do something that differed from their previous books, "Berkshire Region Waterfall Guide" and later "Connecticut Waterfalls: A Guide." "We have done so many waterfalls that we wanted something different," Butler said. "The whole thing came out of just a love of things outdoors ... I have always hiked and I was in the boy scout ... I am young at heart and I always liked being outdoors." So why boulders? Butler said these often hidden ancient goliaths have the tendency to humble puny humans. All the photographs in the book have a person standing next to the boulder to show this perspective. He added that the journey to the boulders is just as important and creates a nice destination hike. "You can walk into some of these things and you are so small next to them. They will make your jaw drop some are bigger than big, they are huge," he said. "People are also looking for new hikes to go on and get sick of the same old trail. Plus, these boulders are beautiful." The book points out that Massachusetts is ripe for boulder hunters because the state has a "disproportionate amount" of glacial boulders, stemming from the last ice age that began 70,000 years ago. This abundance of boulders come in all shapes and sizes. Some rocks have been altered by people, some have historic value, others have unique profiles or shapes, and others are just massive such as the behemoth Titanic in Monroe State Forest that is the largest Glacial Erratic rock in Western Massachusetts. The 30-foot-high rock peacefully leans on a 20-foot-high boulder creating a space big enough to walk through. Butler said it is difficult to catalog the history of the boulders because they are so old. Some of the boulders are believed to have Native American significance while others are tied to folklore going back to America's beginnings. Some stories are just unknown, like Shark Rock in Richmond a rock painted with a shark-ey grin. Four More Shots Please S3 Review: This Old Wine In New Bottle Doesn't Get You Drunk As Easily Anymore Cross-posted from the Marketplace K-12 blog Sony Global Education Inc. says it has developed a system to bring blockchain technology--meant to serve as a decentralized-yet-secure method for transmitting data--to education, as the concept slowly begins to attract attention in the K-12 space. Blockchain is known today primarily for its use in the world of finance, most notably for Bitcoin , a digital payment system or type of crypto-currency, meant to be powered by users, rather than a central authority. Bitcoin uses blockchain technology as a type of public ledger that contains every transaction processed. The authenticity of transactions are protected by digital signatures that match up with the signatures of those sending information, giving users control over the sending of bitcoins. Sony Global Education , a company affiliated with the Japanese electronics corporation, defines blockchain as a decentralized network technology in which the same data are recorded and maintained on multiple nodes--computers connected to a network--that are geographically isolated. (See this fact sheet on Bitcoin and blockchain for more details, as well as an online primer video from Khan Academy.) In its announcement, Sony argues that blockchain technology could have broad application by giving students more control over the transmission of their test results. And in an e-mail response to questions from Marketplace K-12, the company said it sees broader uses in the transmission of an array of educational records and academic credentials. When it comes to testing, blockchain could be used by a student who takes an exam and then tells the vendor giving the tests to share the results with a third party, Sony officials said in their announcement this week. Organizations receiving students testing records would have greater power using blockchain technology to assess those results and calculate scores in ways that suited them, Sony argued. In an e-mail, the president of Sony Global Education, Masaaki Isozu, said his company wants to provide a new kind of education platform which includes verified educational records and academic credentials, and that blockchain is one of our options to help us achieve this goal. We want to keep life-long learning records...securely in the cloud forever, Isozu said. While these records are usually held privately, we want to make it possible for students and educators to securely share verified, trustworthy information with others. Trading these records securely would be an all-new service in the education sector. Isozu offered a hypothetical example from higher education. Suppose an individual studied at a state school in China, took a virtual course from a U.S. company, then graduated from a Japanese university, he said. How would a graduate school in Spain verify the myriad records, in weighing that students application? In an increasingly global education sector, we believe its important for students to be able to easily prove that their credentials are correct, Isozu said. Another possibility: an educational blockchain could be used to create a secure academic version of something akin to LinkedIn, housing students learning records, Isozu added. With students consent, data would be shared with different audiences, and made reusable within the blockchain. Individuals and enterprises could anonymously utilize the data to analyze personal learning history, the Sony Global Education executive said. Goodbye, Middleman? Sony, in announcing its plans for blockchain, says it has a laboratory in mind for testing the technology in education. The company stages a competition called the Global Math Challenge , which it says has drawn 150,000 participants from 80 countries around the world. The scores of students participating are calculated not just on the raw number of right and wrong answers, but also on their overall test-taking performance, including the time taken to answer the questions. Sony officials said they will weave applications utilizing blockchain technology into their services, and into the global math competition. Within a financial system, Blockchain can create transactional records that are unhackable and irrefutable, prominent author and business and tech adviser Don Tapscott said recently . It eliminates the need for an intermediary, such as a credit card company or bank, he explained. And blockchains usefulness in finance, he predicted, is just the tip of the iceberg. Heres Tapscott on the potential he sees in blockchain, beyond the financial sector: Whether Sonys vision for blockchain in education will gain traction remains to be seen. But one of the more intriguing possibilities created by blockchain is that it would make it far easier to allow students to create, hold, and distribute a digital academic record--with details on academic credits, accomplishments, and experiences. Badging and Beyond This concept is sometimes called digital badging. Conceivably, if blockchain were to help students keep track of and share records of their academic experiences--in brick-and-mortar schools, virtual classes, from other sources--it could add detail and sophistication to efforts to personalize education, said Doug Levin, the president of EdTech Strategies LLC , a consulting organization, in an interview. While the blockchain concept is pretty nascent and people are just starting to explore it, Levin said, in theory it could move the control over the transcript from the school to the family ... the idea is, this could be a much more efficient process. One of the obvious questions about blockchain in the current education environment is whether it would become ensnared in the web of student-data-privacy concerns, which has tripped up many an ed-tech company and put K-12 district officials on edge. While theres little doubt blockchain would face privacy questions, when people ask how secure the technology is, one response is: secure compared to what? Levin asks. Today, schools centralized data systems pose security risks, he noted, just as private vendors safeguards have fallen short. And so far, its worth noting that blockchain has been tested by, and appears to be winning the confidence of, users in the financial sector who presumably have high demands for data security, in that they want currency protected, Levin said. (It was recently reported that the bank JP Morgan is testing blockchain technology in transfers of U.S. dollars, as it wrestles with competition from online payment and lending systems.) Other uncertainties abound. Blockchain technology isnt well understood, in education or society at large, Levin said. Also, many potential blockchain uses are at this point conceptual--and because its as broad a concept as something like, say, cloud computing, its hard to make predictions about its applications in K-12, he said in a follow-up e-mail. Another question stems from the fact that much of the interest in blockchain is based on the Bitcoin experience, or private blockchains, Levin said. Building on a system of Bitcoins magnitude and user base has advantages, but theres also likely to be technical and political baggage, he said. In addition, its unclear what incentives would draw a large-enough pool of education users into a blockchain system to make it function efficiently, he added. (See a recent blog post Levin wrote about blockchain.) There are many players looking to get a quick buck off the Bitcoin ecosystem, Levin said. It can be difficult to separate hype and future aspirations from current capabilities. Isozu, of Sony Global Education, said the company is confident that education users will buy into a system that is secure and calibrated to their needs. But he agreed with Levin that incentive is the key to any successful blockchain operation, adding: This is not a problem only for Sony, but all affiliates. See also: Follow @EdWeekSCavanagh and @EdMarketBrief for the latest news on industry and innovation in education. Chinese law makes independent mapmaking a crime (you may not document "the shapes, sizes, space positions, attributes, etc. of man-made surface installations") and requires tech companies to randomly vary the locations of all landmarks by 100-500m. Google's algorithm for this is called "_applyChinaLocationShift" (though internally they call it "eviltransform"). Your geo-tagged smartphone pictures taking in China will be tagged with randomly varied location data. It makes for travel difficulties you and your friend might be separated by a few meters, but your phones will report that you're half a kilometer apart, and one of you is standing in the middle of a river which may also have a road running through it. More interesting is when and how the eviltransform is applied. China contests a lot of territory from Taiwan to many islands in the South China Sea and whether and when devices decide they're in China is of huge geopolitical moment. These sorts of examples might sound like inconsequential travelers' trivia, but for China, at least, cartographers are seen as a security threat: China's Ministry of Land and Resources recently warned that "the number of foreigners conducting surveys in China is on the rise," and, indeed, the government is increasingly cracking down on those who flout the mapping laws. Three British geology students discovered this the hard way while "collecting data" on a 2009 field trip through the desert state of Xinjiang, a politically sensitive area in northwest China. The students' data sets were considered "illegal map-making activities," and they were fined nearly $3,000. What remains so oddly compelling here is the uncanny gulf between the world and its representations. In a well-known literary parable called "On Exactitude in Science," from Collected Fictions, Argentine fabulist Jorge Luis Borges describes a kingdom whose cartographic ambitions ultimately get the best of it. The imperial mapmakers, Borges writes, devised "a Map of the Empire whose size was that of the Empire, and which coincided point for point with it." This 1:1 map, however, while no doubt artistically and conceptually wondrous, was seen as utterly useless by future generations. Rather than enlighten or educate, this sprawling and inescapable super-map merely smothered the very territory whose connections it sought to clarify. Why You Can't Trust GPS in China [Geoff Manaugh/Travel and Leisure] Press Release: Statement by IMF Deputy Managing Director Furusawa at the Conclusion of a Visit to Cote d'Ivoire Press Release No. 16/82 February 26, 2016 Mr. Mitsuhiro Furusawa, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement today in Abidjan at the conclusion of a visit to Cote dIvoire. My visit to Cote dIvoire has been extremely fruitful and informative. I wish to thank President Alassane Dramane Ouattara for meeting with me to discuss the countrys economic achievements and its outlook. I also want to thank Prime Minister Kablan Duncan and Minister Adama Kone for their insights. I commended President Ouattara for his strong leadership and economic record amid a deteriorating global environment. Cote dIvoire has experienced four years of strong growth, averaging 8.9 percent a year over the past 4 years. Maintaining this growth momentum will require transitioning to a more private sector-led model while effecting reforms aimed at improving the business environment. In my meetings with the authorities, I commended them for the sharp increase in pro-poor spending over the last years and the overhaul of the cocoa and coffee revenue distribution mechanisms to augment farmers stake. Although declining, as evidenced by a recent household survey, poverty, inequality, and unemployment remain high and significant regional disparities still exist. Against this background, we discussed ways to maintain economic progress while strengthening the transition towards a more inclusive model. These included a set of policy recommendations aimed at pursuing fiscal consolidation based on greater revenue mobilization and efficient spending, while increasing priority outlays. It will also require maintaining a disciplined fiscal policy in order to build buffers that would enable the conduct of counter-cyclical policy in the face of adverse shocks, as well as to contain the increase in public debt. The adoption of a recent financial strategy aimed at strengthening financial stability and fostering financial deepening and inclusion, in particular by enhancing small and medium enterprises to access to credit is welcome and the authorities are taking the necessary steps to restructure the remaining troubled banks. I would like to thank President Ouattara and the government and people of Cote dIvoire for their welcome and warm hospitality during my visit. Imperial Valley News Center Flight 93 National Memorial Exhibit Features Tributes Left By Children Flight 93 National Memorial, Pennsylvania - "Through Their Eyes," to be installed at the recently opened Learning Center at Flight 93 National Memorial on March 5, 2016. This exhibit includes children's images, words, and objects left at the Flight 93 National Memorial as tributes from 2001 to 2016. Visitors to the exhibit will be able to view never before seen tributes left by children who visited the Memorial. This exhibit is the first temporary exhibit to be installed in the Learning Center at Flight 93 National Memorial. Superintendent Stephen Clark explains: "we hope that 'Through Their Eyes' will be the first of many temporary exhibits." The Memorial's collection of tributes and other items is rich in content and will allow the exploration of many relevant topics that may be displayed in future exhibits. The Learning Center and the technology in it will support a variety of programs and educational activities that will provide learning and participatory experiences for visitors. Opening onSaturday March 5, the exhibit may be viewed by visitors to the Memorial on Saturdays and Sundays in March from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. In addition to the exhibit, children will be able to visit the Discovery Table in the Learning Center. The Discovery Table provides hands-on fun and educational activities for children and will be staffed by Park Rangers and volunteers during the hours the exhibit is open. Children must be accompanied by an adult. There is no fee to tour the temporary exhibit or to visit the Memorial. "Through Their Eyes" was produced by Flight 93 National Memorial Chief of Cultural Resources Ms. Barbara Black as her final project as an employee of the Memorial, although Ms. Black plans to continue to serve the Memorial as a volunteer after she retires at the end of April.Ms. Black shared;"as a closing project to my involvement at Flight 93, I chose to explore our next generation of the keepers of the story. Those who began coming as young children to the Memorial and those that are still too young to understand will be the caretakers of our nation's history. It is here where they learn to care about their world and look beyond themselves to pass it to their next generation." Ms.Black graduated with a Master's and Bachelor's Degree in American History specializing in Museum Studies from the University of Illinois. In 1994, Ms. Black became Curator at the Somerset Historical Center, caring for the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Collection and Somerset County Historical Society's collections. In 2001, she began to collect and care for the tributes being left by visitors to the Flight 93 crash site. She joined the National Park Service in 2004 as Curator and Chief of Interpretation at the Flight 93 National Memorial. For information about Flight 93 National Memorial and driving directions visitwww.nps.gov/flni or call 814-893-6322. 2015 California blowout led to largest U.S. methane release ever Aliso Canyon, California - The Aliso Canyon natural gas well blowout released over 100,000 tons of the powerful greenhouse gas methane before the leak was plugged on February 11, according to the first study of the accident published today in the journal Science. The results confirm that Aliso Canyon is the largest methane leak in U.S. history. The research effort by NOAA, University of California, Davis, and partners showed that during the peak of the Aliso Canyon event, enough methane poured into the air every day to fill a balloon the size of the Rose Bowl. Our results show how failures of natural gas infrastructure can significantly impact greenhouse gas control efforts, said NOAAs Tom Ryerson, co-lead scientist on the study. The disaster will substantially impact Californias ability to meet state greenhouse gas emission targets for the year, the researchers said. Co-lead scientist Stephen Conley of Scientific Aviation and UC Davis said first readings in early November were so high he had to recheck his gear. It became obvious that there wasnt anything wrong with the instruments, he said. This was just a huge event. At the time, Conley and his specially equipped plane were working with UC Davis on with the California Energy Commission project searching for pipeline methane leaks. The state agency asked him to overfly the area around the breached SoCalGas well. Eventually, more than 5,726 families were evacuated and Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency. Real-time information is invaluable for making good decisions, said the Energy Commissions Guido Franco. Conley teamed with Ryerson, who pioneered techniques for assessing oil spills with airborne chemical sampling during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the 2012 Elgin rig blowout in the North Sea. They assembled a group of researchers from the University of California, Irvine, the California Energy Commission, and the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder, many of whom had previously collaborated on regional air quality projects. The teams measurements confirmed that high concentrations of methane and ethane were surging from the breached well into the densely populated San Fernando Valley. The analysis found that at its peak, the blowout doubled the rate of methane emissions from the entire Los Angeles Basin and temporarily created the largest known human-caused point source of methane in the United States, twice as large as the next-largest source, an Alabama coal mine. Total emissions during the 112-day event were equal to one-quarter of the annual methane pollution from all other sources in the Los Angeles Basin combined. The disasters impact on climate will be equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from over half a million passenger cars. During the more than three-month event, Conley made 13 research flights in his single-engine Mooney TLS, carrying instruments that provided real-time measurements of methane and ethane, two components of natural gas, and captured air samples for more comprehensive analysis later in the laboratory. In addition to providing real-time air quality data above and around the leak site to state regulators, the measurements will allow researchers the opportunity to check the accuracy of greenhouse gas measurements made using remote sensing systems such as satellites. Near the well site, coauthor Donald Blake of UC Irvine gathered samples of the natural gas that was leaking to determine its composition and compare to Conleys airborne measurements. The analysis found a slew of other compounds present in natural gas, including benzene, butanes, pentanes and more, which may be responsible for oily deposits reported downwind. The mega-leak has drawn attention to the broader problem of fugitive emissions from natural gas production, processing, pipeline and storage infrastructure across the country. The study highlights the value of rapid-response airborne sampling for independent, time-critical, accurate, and detailed information about major chemical releases, the authors said. Measuring leak rates, plume locations, and plume composition would also help officials assess public health risks, the effectiveness of leak control, and climate and air-quality impacts. If we dont measure these things quickly, we wont have any idea what kind of response might be called for, Conley said. Were happy that we could provide state officials with the scientific information they needed. NOAAs mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. This news release was issued jointly with the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of California Davis. In Anaheim, California, three people were stabbed, one critically, and several others were arrested when a Ku Klux Klan rally erupted in violence. The Los Angeles Times reports that a "small group of people" claiming to represent the KKK put out the word this week they would hold a rally at Anaheim's Pearson Park at 1:30 p.m. today, Saturday. By 11 a.m. today, several dozen protesters showed up at the park to confront the racists. About an hour later, several men in black garb with Confederate flag patches arrived and were escorted by police around the edge of the park. Violence erupted and some of the counter-protesters could be seen kicking a man whose shirt read "Grand Dragon." At some point, a counter-protester collapsed on the ground bleeding, crying that he had been stabbed. A Klansman in handcuffs could be heard telling a police officer that he "stabbed him in self-defense." Several other people were also handcuffed. Witnesses said the Klansmen used the point of a flagpole as a weapon while fighting with counter-protesters. And this part of the LA Times report is amazing: Brian Levin, the director of CSU San Bernardino's Center for the study of hate and extremism, said he was standing next to the man in the Grand Dragon shirt when a crowd of protesters swarmed the Klansmen carrying weapons. A brawl broke out and one of the Klansmen was knocked to the ground and kicked, and whose arm Levin said he later saw bleeding. Levin said he pushed the Klan leader away as the violence continued and a protester was stabbed. Levin said he asked the man, "How do you feel that a Jewish guy just saved your life?" "Thank you," the man replied, according to Levin. In related news, The KKK's longtime figurehead this week endorsed Donald Trump for president. As we've reported here previously, Donald Trump's father was probably a KKK supporter or member. Fred Trump, Sr., was reported by the New York Times to have been a participant at a KKK rally in New York in 1927 in which police officers were injured. Backstory on today's white supremacist shitshow in Anaheim, at the Los Angeles Times: "Planned KKK rally today in Anaheim brings condemnation: 'It's really sad'" The KKK has a long history in Southern California, as this Associated Press account of today's violence reminds us. Openly self-identified Klansmen held elected office in the Anaheim city government in the 1920s. In January 2015, packets containing fliers condemning Martin Luther King, Jr. and supporting the Ku Klux Klan were left in the driveways of about 40 homes in Santa Ana, about 8 miles south of Anaheim. The baggies contained a KKK business card, rock and candy. The fliers opened with the heading, "On Martin Luther King Day, you are celebrating a communist pervert." The bottom of the fliers state they came from the "Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan." Border Patrol Locates Missing Amber Alert Teen Ocotillo, California - On Thursday night, El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the El Centro Station located a teenage girl that was the subject of an Amber Alert issued out of Baja California, Mexico. At approximately 11:30 p.m., Border Patrol agents operating the Remote Video Surveillance System detected a person that appeared to be wandering in the desert 17 miles west of the Calexico Downtown Port of Entry. Nearby agents were dispatched to check on the person. Responding agents located the person, a 16 year-old female, who they recognized as the subject of an active Amber Alert out of Baja California, Mexico. I am glad that El Centro Sector agents were able to locate this young lady and will be able to help reunite her with her family, said Chief Patrol Agent Rodney S. Scott. The El Centro Sector Foreign Operations Branch is working with authorities in Mexico to piece together the circumstances that led to the female wandering out in the desert and to ensure her safe return to her family in Mexico. The El Centro Sectors Community Awareness Campaign is a simple and effective program to raise public awareness on the indicators of crime and other threats. We encourage public and private sector employees to remain vigilant and play a key role in keeping our country safe. Please report any suspicious activity to the Border Community Threat Hotline at 1-800-901-2003. Consumer Reports 2016 Annual Top Picks: Kia Sorento & Lexus RX Are Best SUVs New York - Seven new vehicles made Consumer Reports 2016 Annual Top Picks list the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Kia Sorento, Toyota Sienna, Toyota Camry, Lexus RX, Honda Fit, and Ford F-150 in each of their respective categories. The redesigned Ford F-150 was named best Pickup Truck, thanks in part to its fuel economy, quiet and spacious cabin, and much-improved infotainment system. Its Fords first win in the category since 1999 and its first overall Top Pick honor since 2012. Consumer Reports 2016 Top Picks list, Car Brand Report Cards and more from the Annual Auto Issue were released at a press conference today before the Washington Automotive Press Association (WAPA) in Washington, D.C. For more details and videos of the Top Picks, visit ConsumerReports.org. This year several automakers have really hit the mark with their redesigned vehicles, said Mark Rechtin, Consumer Reports Cars Content Development Team Leader. This years Top Picks include refreshed models, like the Lexus RX, that have vaulted back to the top of their respective categories after lengthy absences. The Toyota Camry notched its fifth Top Pick honor in the 20-year history of the list in the Midsized Car category, and its first in four years. There was a time when Honda Accord had a solid edge over the competition in this ultra-competitive category, much of the past decade, but this marks its second straight year out of the top spot. Subarus Forester and Impreza models are Consumer Reports Top Picks for Small SUV and Compact Car, respectively. Its the fifth consecutive award for the Impreza, and the second in a row for the Forester. Both are noted for their reliability, ride comfort, and suite of available safety technology. The Chevrolet Impala repeated as the Top Pick in the Large Car category, proving that an American automaker knows how to make an outstanding car for the masses. The Impala joins the Ford F-150 as the only domestic winners this year. Consumer Reports Top Picks must rank at or near the top of their respective classes in CRs road-test score. Models must also have an average or better predicted reliability rating based on problems reported by subscribers for the 740,000 vehicles in CRs 2015 auto survey. Also taken into consideration is owner satisfaction, which CR obtains by surveying subscribers about their happiness level regarding the 230,000 vehicles in their garages. Finally, and importantly, Top Picks must perform effectively in crash or rollover tests conducted by the government and insurance industry (if tested). Consumer Reports 2016 Top Picks By Category: MIDSIZED CAR: Toyota Camry ($24,089-$32,603) The Camrys no-fuss driving experience great outward visibility, controls that fall easily to hand, a roomy interior may not be the most thrilling in its class, but its far from plain. The solid Camry delivers year after year of outstanding reliability, which when combined with impressive crash-tests results, make it a near-perfect sedan. SUBCOMPACT CAR: Honda Fit ($19,025) The Honda Fit is thrifty with fuel, returning a competitive 33 mpg overall, and its nimble handling beats expectations. It has remarkable interior space for such a tiny footprint, with second-row seats that elegantly stow away or flip up to hold more cargo. Road noise does boom in, and its rough ride can be tiring on long drives. Still, its crash-test scores have improved over its predecessor. COMPACT CAR: Subaru Impreza ($21,345-$22,345) Despite its compact size, the Imprezas ride and comfort will surprise. It has expansive window glass, lots of interior space for a car of its size, intuitive controls, a suite of available safety technology, great crash-test results, and an available hatchback version to haul bulky cargo. And with the added benefit of superb all-wheel-drive traction, the Impreza is a smart, practical car. LUXURY SUV: Lexus RX ($51,630-$57,565) Lexus created the luxury crossover segment almost 20 years ago, and its dominance hasnt diminished since. Though the exterior now features origami styling and a new Predator grille, it still boasts a quiet and comfortable cabin, effortless power delivery, a smooth ride, and a tastefully done interior fit and finish. The hybrid version gets an impressive 29 mpg overall. SPORTS CAR <$40K: Mazda MX-5 MIATA ($29,905) The MX-5 Miata combines lithe, precise handling with a crisp manual stick and a zoomy enginethat gets an enviable 34 mpgto create the perfect car for the enthusiast driver and weekend racer. Its reliable, too. With its jumpy, firm suspension, loud cabin, and tight quarters for taller drivers, the Miata isnt a commuter car. But given a sunny day and a winding road, none of that matters. SMALL SUV: Subaru Forester ($27,145) The Forester is roomy, rides comfortably, and handles unflappably. Its AWD system routed the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V in CRs snow-driving evaluations. Fuel economy is among the class leaders. It also has the best sight lines from the drivers seat of any model on the market. MIDSIZED SUV: Kia Sorento ($37,915) The Sorento is a great SUV hiding in plain sight. It offers class-above elegance at mainstream prices. Its a shade smaller than its midsized competitors, but that allows it to be city-friendly while still offering the space and features of a larger vehicle. MINIVAN: Toyota Sienna ($35,810-$38,201) The Sienna is super-reliable transport with all of the modern features an active, connected family would want. Its spacious and multifunctional interior, with available seating for eight, mates well with the Siennas magic carpet ride and energetic powertrain. PICKUP TRUCK: Ford F-150 ($45,750-$46,755) By eschewing traditional steel body panels, Ford created a pickup that weighs less, enabling it to be quick off the line and fuel-efficient. The cabin is extremely quiet and spacious. The intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system is a welcome update from the MyFord Touch. The F150 has the best predicted reliability of any domestic truck. LARGE CAR: Chevrolet Impala ($39,110) The Impala is dynamic and comfortable, combining a cushy ride with responsive handling, beating some elite luxury sedans at their own game. The controls are refreshingly intuitive, without resorting to overcomplicated interfaces. Theres enough cabin space to fit five comfortably. Complete details on Consumer Reports Top Picks for 2016, Car Brand Report Cards, Best and Worst Lists and other key findings are available in the Annual Auto Issue of Consumer Reports on newsstands March 1stor visit Consumer Reports 2016 Autos Spotlight page on ConsumerReports.org. Consumer Reports testing procedures are the most comprehensive of any U.S. publication or Web site. More than 50 individual tests are performed on every vehicle, including evaluations of braking, handling, comfort, convenience, safety, and fuel economy. Roughly 6,000 miles of general driving and evaluations are racked up on each test car during the testing process. CR buys all its test cars anonymously from dealers. Other reviewers base their evaluations on press cars that are hand-picked by the automakers. Watch: This Video Of Woman Failing At Archery, Hitting Arrow On Head Is Hilarious Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyArts email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Ailment: Neediness Cure: True Grit by Charles Portis Feeling able to ask for help when you need it is essential even laudable. But if you're unable to do anything by yourself, your friends and family may find you burdensome. If you recognise this trait in yourself, you may, like a slushy road, be in dire need of a handful of grit. Find it in this sparingly written and beautifully crafted tale of revenge set in 1875 in Arkansas. From the vantage point of old age, our narrator, Mattie Ross, recalls the murder of her father, drunkenly shot by a disgruntled hired hand named Tom Chaney when Mattie was 14 years old. She is sent by her family to collect her father's body but unbeknownst to them, she has a further agenda. Discovering that Chaney has absconded with a gang of outlaws led by Ned "Lucky" Pepper and is hiding out in Indian Territory, she hires the local deputy marshal to go after him a man she believes to have "true grit". "Rooster" Cogburn, a tough, hard-drinking man with one eye and a relaxed attitude to using his gun, agrees to take on the job but what he's not expecting is for Mattie to want to go with him. He does his utmost to shake her off, but when she forges a deep and fast-flowing river on horseback to catch up with him (he having taken the ferry), he realises she is a girl of unusual single-minded- ness and steely determination and is perhaps even grittier than him. Together they endure hunger, shoot-outs, snakes and the bitter cold of winter and Mattie never once complains. Mattie's estimable pluck and refusal to give up or succumb to any need for creature comforts win our admiration every step of the way. By the end, we are filled with a vicarious sense of our new-found capabilities. Say farewell to your wishy-washy helplessness. From now on, be prepared to meet your challenges alone and head on. Any help that presents itself will be an added boon. thenovelcure.com Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} British films going head to head with Hollywood blockbusters in the Oscars ceremony have received millions of pounds of European Union subsidies, The Independent on Sunday can reveal. Overall, the EUs Creative Europe programme helped to fund films which have received 22 nominations for this years Academy Awards. British films account for half the EU-backed Oscar contenders, including Carol, Amy and Shaun the Sheep Movie. Overall, the UK has the most Oscar nominations of any country outside the US. The shadow Culture Secretary, Maria Eagle, said the EU was vital to Britains movie success story in the latest of a series of increasingly contentious claims and counterclaims over the threat posed to the UK economy by leaving the European Union. On 26 February, the illustrator of the popular childrens books The Gruffalo said the character would not have existed without the EU. Axel Scheffler said he would not have drawn the Gruffalo if he had not left his native Germany to come to the UK. The claims have caused accusations that the Remain campaign is engaged in project fear to scare voters into voting to remain in the EU in the referendum on 23 June. The Culture Secretary, John Whittingdale, is one of six government ministers campaigning to leave the EU. Labour said his position made it impossible for him to stand up for UK film. Past British films that received EU financial support and achieved Oscar success include Slumdog Millionaire, The Kings Speech and The Iron Lady. British films in receipt of EU support have won a total of 14 Oscars and 41 nominations since 2007. Speaking to The Independent on Sunday, Ms Eagle said: EU funding provides vital support to the UKs film industry, which has been essential for a number of films flying the flag for Britain at this weekends Oscars ceremony. It is clear that walking away from the European Union would be harmful to the UKs thriving film industry, which has been a real success story. The Culture Secretary is letting down British cinema. He must now explain how he will make up any shortfall in funding and support to the British film industry, should the UK leave the EU as he would wish. But a spokesman for Vote Leave responded: Theres no such thing as EU funding. Its British taxpayers money which has been through the cogs in Brussels and handed back to the UK by the EU with strings attached. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyArts email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Pat Barker has urged a television company to adapt her epic trilogy about the First World War as part of the ongoing centenary commemorations of the conflict, after the BBC dropped plans to film it. Barker said she was gutted that there were no current plans to televise the hugely acclaimed Regeneration trilogy, and added that time was running out before the end of the commemorations in 2018. The author told an audience at The Independent Bath Literature Festival: The BBC were going to do it, but then decided against it. Perhaps it will be picked up by another company. The UK has a programme of memorials and cultural commemorations to the First World War that started in 2014 and will run until 2018. Cultural critics have suggested Barkers books Regeneration, The Eye in the Door and The Ghost Road, the last of which won the Booker Prize in 1995, were obvious material to be adapted for television, especially during the centenary commemorations. The first of the three novels was made into a film in 1997, as well as a play. Sebastian Faulks, whose First World War novel Birdsong was adapted by the BBC in 2012, was also speaking at the festival, and was diplomatic when asked what he thought of the adaptation. He preferred not to talk about the dialogue, instead hailing Eddie Redmaynes performance in it. He also revealed that after writing books in the style of Ian Fleming and PG Wodehouse he would not be writing as any big-name authors again, despite being asked to write a Raymond Chandler novel. I think it should be done by an American, he said. Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our Now Hear This email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyEats email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} If youre satiated with sushi and sick of ceviche but still crave the taste of raw fish, prepare to pile in for the latest pescatarian food craze: poke. Hailing from Hawaii, poke pronounced poh-kay is usually a mix of raw cubes of fish (often tuna) with a soy sauce-based dressing, served in a bowl with rice and garnishes. It is big in the US, especially in Los Angeles and New York. And now its set to conquer the UK. Pret a Manger is poised to become the first national chain to add poke to its lunchtime menu, following Bill Granger, an Australian chef who owns three London restaurants and offers a raw tuna and avocado poke dish. Chefs love the potential for variety with poke, which means simply to cut or section. Anything goes when it comes to ingredients mushrooms or beetroot are alternatives to fish. Hannah Dolan, a food developer at Pret, said: Poke salad has been on our radar for a while and well be introducing our own version inspired by the Hawaiian dish this spring. Poke salads are bright, fresh and vibrant Ours will be centred around marinated mushrooms. Celia Farrar and Guy Jackson have big plans for the pop-up eatery they started last year to bring poke to the UK. Their Eat Poke stall trades mainly at lunchtime markets in London but they also do private events. The business partners discovered poke in LA three years ago. Because the fish is marinated and decorated in seasonings, it is more approachable than sushi. Plus you can add different bases and toppings. We use black sticky rice, and a lot of our own homemade pickles, Ms Farrar said. Celia Farrar and Guy Jackson have big plans for their pop-up eatery The chef Gizzi Erskine recently posted tantalising shots on Instagram of her edible highlights from a trip around the Hawaiian islands, and a spokesman for the sandwich group Eat called the concept attractive. Shaun Birrell, Waitroses sushi buyer, said the supermarket group was exploring selling it in the longer term. In Los Angeles, restaurateurs are rebranding themselves as poke shops to get in on the trend. In London, Pond, in Dalston, has been serving Hawaiian food since 2014. And Kua Aina, a mainstay of Hawaiis restaurant scene which has two outlets in London, recently opened in Belfast. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} There is nothing that quite matches unconditional love and support that a parent gives to their child, but a recent study showed that empathising with your child comes at a cost. A study at Northwestern University and University of British Columbia examined how a more empathetic parent was likely to have higher levels of systemic inflammation. This is when your immune system releases masses of proteins that spread throughout the body and can have an effect on the interactions between cells. The study examined the psychological and physiological correlation of parental empathy in 247 parent-adolescents relationships over a 14 day period. This was done by analysing the parents relationship with their children relationship quality, stress, depression and time spent together alongside parental empathy. Health news in pictures Show all 40 1 /40 Health news in pictures Health news in pictures Coronavirus outbreak The coronavirus Covid-19 has hit the UK leading to the deaths of two people so far and prompting warnings from the Department of Health AFP via Getty Health news in pictures Thousands of emergency patients told to take taxi to hospital Thousands of 999 patients in England are being told to get a taxi to hospital, figures have showed. The number of patients outside London who were refused an ambulance rose by 83 per cent in the past year as demand for services grows Getty Health news in pictures Vape related deaths spike A vaping-related lung disease has claimed the lives of 11 people in the US in recent weeks. The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has more than 100 officials investigating the cause of the mystery illness, and has warned citizens against smoking e-cigarette products until more is known, particularly if modified or bought off the street Getty Health news in pictures Baldness cure looks to be a step closer Researchers in the US claim to have overcome one of the major hurdles to cultivating human follicles from stem cells. The new system allows cells to grow in a structured tuft and emerge from the skin Sanford Burnham Preybs Health news in pictures Two hours a week spent in nature can improve health A study in the journal Scientific Reports suggests that a dose of nature of just two hours a week is associated with better health and psychological wellbeing Shutterstock Health news in pictures Air pollution linked to fertility issues in women Exposure to air from traffic-clogged streets could leave women with fewer years to have children, a study has found. Italian researchers found women living in the most polluted areas were three times more likely to show signs they were running low on eggs than those who lived in cleaner surroundings, potentially triggering an earlier menopause Getty/iStock Health news in pictures Junk food ads could be banned before watershed Junk food adverts on TV and online could be banned before 9pm as part of Government plans to fight the "epidemic" of childhood obesity. Plans for the new watershed have been put out for public consultation in a bid to combat the growing crisis, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said PA Health news in pictures Breeding with neanderthals helped humans fight diseases On migrating from Africa around 70,000 years ago, humans bumped into the neanderthals of Eurasia. While humans were weak to the diseases of the new lands, breeding with the resident neanderthals made for a better equipped immune system PA Health news in pictures Cancer breath test to be trialled in Britain The breath biopsy device is designed to detect cancer hallmarks in molecules exhaled by patients Getty Health news in pictures Average 10 year old has consumed the recommended amount of sugar for an adult By their 10th birthdy, children have on average already eaten more sugar than the recommended amount for an 18 year old. The average 10 year old consumes the equivalent to 13 sugar cubes a day, 8 more than is recommended PA Health news in pictures Child health experts advise switching off screens an hour before bed While there is not enough evidence of harm to recommend UK-wide limits on screen use, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have advised that children should avoid screens for an hour before bed time to avoid disrupting their sleep Getty Health news in pictures Daily aspirin is unnecessary for older people in good health, study finds A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that many elderly people are taking daily aspirin to little or no avail Getty Health news in pictures Vaping could lead to cancer, US study finds A study by the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Centre has found that the carcinogenic chemicals formaldehyde, acrolein, and methylglyoxal are present in the saliva of E-cigarette users Reuters Health news in pictures More children are obese and diabetic There has been a 41% increase in children with type 2 diabetes since 2014, the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit has found. Obesity is a leading cause Reuters Health news in pictures Most child antidepressants are ineffective and can lead to suicidal thoughts The majority of antidepressants are ineffective and may be unsafe, for children and teenager with major depression, experts have warned. In what is the most comprehensive comparison of 14 commonly prescribed antidepressant drugs to date, researchers found that only one brand was more effective at relieving symptoms of depression than a placebo. Another popular drug, venlafaxine, was shown increase the risk users engaging in suicidal thoughts and attempts at suicide Getty Health news in pictures Gay, lesbian and bisexual adults at higher risk of heart disease, study claims Researchers at the Baptist Health South Florida Clinic in Miami focused on seven areas of controllable heart health and found these minority groups were particularly likely to be smokers and to have poorly controlled blood sugar iStock Health news in pictures Breakfast cereals targeted at children contain 'steadily high' sugar levels since 1992 despite producer claims A major pressure group has issued a fresh warning about perilously high amounts of sugar in breakfast cereals, specifically those designed for children, and has said that levels have barely been cut at all in the last two and a half decades Getty Health news in pictures Potholes are making us fat, NHS watchdog warns New guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the body which determines what treatment the NHS should fund, said lax road repairs and car-dominated streets were contributing to the obesity epidemic by preventing members of the public from keeping active PA Health news in pictures New menopause drugs offer women relief from 'debilitating' hot flushes A new class of treatments for women going through the menopause is able to reduce numbers of debilitating hot flushes by as much as three quarters in a matter of days, a trial has found. The drug used in the trial belongs to a group known as NKB antagonists (blockers), which were developed as a treatment for schizophrenia but have been sitting on a shelf unused, according to Professor Waljit Dhillo, a professor of endocrinology and metabolism REX Health news in pictures Doctors should prescribe more antidepressants for people with mental health problems, study finds Research from Oxford University found that more than one million extra people suffering from mental health problems would benefit from being prescribed drugs and criticised ideological reasons doctors use to avoid doing so. Getty Health news in pictures Student dies of flu after NHS advice to stay at home and avoid A&E The family of a teenager who died from flu has urged people not to delay going to A&E if they are worried about their symptoms. Melissa Whiteley, an 18-year-old engineering student from Hanford in Stoke-on-Trent, fell ill at Christmas and died in hospital a month later. Just Giving Health news in pictures Government to review thousands of harmful vaginal mesh implants The Government has pledged to review tens of thousands of cases where women have been given harmful vaginal mesh implants. Getty Health news in pictures Jeremy Hunt announces 'zero suicides ambition' for the NHS The NHS will be asked to go further to prevent the deaths of patients in its care as part of a zero suicide ambition being launched today Getty Health news in pictures Human trials start with cancer treatment that primes immune system to kill off tumours Human trials have begun with a new cancer therapy that can prime the immune system to eradicate tumours. The treatment, that works similarly to a vaccine, is a combination of two existing drugs, of which tiny amounts are injected into the solid bulk of a tumour. Nephron Health news in pictures Babies' health suffers from being born near fracking sites, finds major study Mothers living within a kilometre of a fracking site were 25 per cent more likely to have a child born at low birth weight, which increase their chances of asthma, ADHD and other issues Getty Health news in pictures NHS reviewing thousands of cervical cancer smear tests after women wrongly given all-clear Thousands of cervical cancer screening results are under review after failings at a laboratory meant some women were incorrectly given the all-clear. A number of women have already been told to contact their doctors following the identification of procedural issues in the service provided by Pathology First Laboratory. Rex Health news in pictures Potential key to halting breast cancer's spread discovered by scientists Most breast cancer patients do not die from their initial tumour, but from secondary malignant growths (metastases), where cancer cells are able to enter the blood and survive to invade new sites. Asparagine, a molecule named after asparagus where it was first identified in high quantities, has now been shown to be an essential ingredient for tumour cells to gain these migratory properties. Getty Health news in pictures NHS nursing vacancies at record high with more than 34,000 roles advertised A record number of nursing and midwifery positions are currently being advertised by the NHS, with more than 34,000 positions currently vacant, according to the latest data. Demand for nurses was 19 per cent higher between July and September 2017 than the same period two years ago. REX Health news in pictures Cannabis extract could provide new class of treatment for psychosis CBD has a broadly opposite effect to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active component in cannabis and the substance that causes paranoia and anxiety. Getty Health news in pictures Over 75,000 sign petition calling for Richard Branson's Virgin Care to hand settlement money back to NHS Mr Bransons company sued the NHS last year after it lost out on an 82m contract to provide childrens health services across Surrey, citing concerns over serious flaws in the way the contract was awarded PA Health news in pictures More than 700 fewer nurses training in England in first year after NHS bursary scrapped The numbers of people accepted to study nursing in England fell 3 per cent in 2017, while the numbers accepted in Wales and Scotland, where the bursaries were kept, increased 8.4 per cent and 8 per cent respectively Getty Health news in pictures Landmark study links Tory austerity to 120,000 deaths The paper found that there were 45,000 more deaths in the first four years of Tory-led efficiencies than would have been expected if funding had stayed at pre-election levels. On this trajectory that could rise to nearly 200,000 excess deaths by the end of 2020, even with the extra funding that has been earmarked for public sector services this year. Reuters Health news in pictures Long commutes carry health risks Hours of commuting may be mind-numbingly dull, but new research shows that it might also be having an adverse effect on both your health and performance at work. Longer commutes also appear to have a significant impact on mental wellbeing, with those commuting longer 33 per cent more likely to suffer from depression Shutterstock Health news in pictures You cannot be fit and fat It is not possible to be overweight and healthy, a major new study has concluded. The study of 3.5 million Britons found that even metabolically healthy obese people are still at a higher risk of heart disease or a stroke than those with a normal weight range Getty Health news in pictures Sleep deprivation When you feel particularly exhausted, it can definitely feel like you are also lacking in brain capacity. Now, a new study has suggested this could be because chronic sleep deprivation can actually cause the brain to eat itself Shutterstock Health news in pictures Exercise classes offering 45 minute naps launch David Lloyd Gyms have launched a new health and fitness class which is essentially a bunch of people taking a nap for 45 minutes. The fitness group was spurred to launch the napercise class after research revealed 86 per cent of parents said they were fatigued. The class is therefore predominantly aimed at parents but you actually do not have to have children to take part Getty Health news in pictures 'Fundamental right to health' to be axed after Brexit, lawyers warn Tobacco and alcohol companies could win more easily in court cases such as the recent battle over plain cigarette packaging if the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is abandoned, a barrister and public health professor have said Getty Health news in pictures 'Thousands dying' due to fear over non-existent statin side-effects A major new study into the side effects of the cholesterol-lowering medicine suggests common symptoms such as muscle pain and weakness are not caused by the drugs themselves Getty Health news in pictures Babies born to fathers aged under 25 have higher risk of autism New research has found that babies born to fathers under the age of 25 or over 51 are at higher risk of developing autism and other social disorders. The study, conducted by the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai, found that these children are actually more advanced than their peers as infants, but then fall behind by the time they hit their teenage years Getty Health news in pictures Cycling to work could halve risk of cancer and heart disease Commuters who swap their car or bus pass for a bike could cut their risk of developing heart disease and cancer by almost half, new research suggests but campaigners have warned there is still an urgent need to improve road conditions for cyclists. Cycling to work is linked to a lower risk of developing cancer by 45 per cent and cardiovascular disease by 46 per cent, according to a study of a quarter of a million people. Walking to work also brought health benefits, the University of Glasgow researchers found, but not to the same degree as cycling. Getty Meanwhile, the adolescents, who were aged between 13 and 16, completed two weeks of daily diary reporting on their ability to control their emotions. Both the parents and adolescents provided blood samples to measure systemic inflammation. Their relationship was also measured where the adolescents scaled the harshness of their parents disciplinary techniques and the warmth and support from their parents. Though the research showed that being empathetic makes people feel good about themselves, there was also some negative impact. In order to be more empathetic and supportive to their child, a parent had to learn to suppress their own emotion which is known to increase physiological responses to stress. Although this had a positive effect on the adolescent, who felt more supported and secure, those who suppressed their emotions frequently also showed higher levels of inflammation. The ability for a parent to empathise with their child is a central role to good parenting but, of course, all good things come at a cost. BOMA is your guide to the impact of politics on commercial real estate. Advocacy is at the heart of BOMA San Francisco's mission. We act on legislative and regulatory measures to enhance and protect the value of commercial real estate. Visit BOMA at www.bomasf.org Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A critically ill student has taken to social media to try and track down a stem-cell donor in a last ditch attempt to save her life. Medical student Vithiya Alphons, 24, was in a lecture at Cardiff University when she began to feel unwell. Little did she know her body was in fact fighting a deadly disease. In her final year of ophthalmologist studies, Vithiya was diagnosed with aggressive leukaemia, Doctors gravely admitted she has only two months to find a donor or will die. The blow came after there were initial positive signs following intensive courses of chemotherapy over four weeks. After immediately starting the treatment, she said: I was in so much pain, vomiting six or seven times every day, and had every side effect possible, but I tried to stay positive. I felt normal again, Id been home for three weeks and my hair was growing back. I felt so positive. My nurses, consultant, everyone, thought wed beaten it. But unfortunately, further tests showed the leukaemia was still there in my blood and Id definitely relapse in under a year unless I had a stem cell transplant. It was so upsetting and unexpected. Vithiya Alphons (Help, Save V's Life Facebook) Doctors told her that had it lain undiscovered for any longer, there was a real chance she would not have seen another day. Vithiya recalled: I asked if I could go back to uni, and I remember the doctors looking at me and saying no way. They explained, If youd left it a few more days, your parents would have been organising your funeral this week. It was a shock. I just thought, thank God Im still alive. Her only hope now is a stem-cell transplant, and she is desperately searching for a match. But she is in a critical race against time, made all the more difficult by her Sri Lankan heritage. 'We are together, well be OK' portraits of daily life with cancer Show all 10 1 /10 'We are together, well be OK' portraits of daily life with cancer 'We are together, well be OK' portraits of daily life with cancer cancer1.jpg Angelo Merendino 'We are together, well be OK' portraits of daily life with cancer cancer2.jpg Angelo Merendino 'We are together, well be OK' portraits of daily life with cancer cancer3.jpg Angelo Merendino 'We are together, well be OK' portraits of daily life with cancer cancer4.jpg Angelo Merendino 'We are together, well be OK' portraits of daily life with cancer cancer5.jpg Angelo Merendino 'We are together, well be OK' portraits of daily life with cancer cancer6.jpg Angelo Merendino 'We are together, well be OK' portraits of daily life with cancer cancer7.jpg Angelo Merendino 'We are together, well be OK' portraits of daily life with cancer cancer8.jpg Angelo Merendino 'We are together, well be OK' portraits of daily life with cancer cancer9.jpg Angelo Merendino 'We are together, well be OK' portraits of daily life with cancer cancer10.jpg Angelo Merendino Her 22-year-old brother Clime, who immediately quit his job as a network engineer to be his sister, was only 50 per cent compatible. She has launched appeals on social media in a bid to encourage people from a south Asian background to join the worlds register, set up by charity Anthony Nolan. Despite being faced with the limited options, she remains optimistic. She added: I knew it was going to be difficult because there arent many people from South Asian backgrounds who are signed up as donors. Im a big believer that everything happens for a reason. Maybe it will make sense one day. In the meantime Im determined to raise awareness in my community. Even if it doesnt help me, it could help someone else. Ann OLeary, Head of Register Development at Anthony Nolan, said: Vithiya is a bright and inspirational young woman and somewhere out there, theres a potential lifesaver who could give her a lifeline by donating their stem cells. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The gigantic complex that is the Ferrari factory in Maranello, northern Italy, is built on an L-shaped plot of land and comprises the paint shop, the assembly areas, and, of course, the company ristorante. On a sunny day, workers go about their business like clockwork, scooting from A to B down wide, straight avenues lined with plane trees while riding bikes painted rosso corsa (Ferrari red in layman's terms) and emblazoned with the company's prancing horse logo. The smell of hot tarmac hangs in the air. Since 2012, the company has offered the 'one-off' customisation service (Getty Images) Everything is laid out so neatly that the place could have been built from Lego by a particularly precision-minded child. In fact, some of the world's finest architects are behind the buildings here. The wind tunnel was designed by Renzo Piano, creator of the Shard. These aesthetic standards give away something of the factory's dual role. It is where each and every one of the world-famous cars is designed and constructed, but it is also built to be customer-facing. Welcome to the home of the Ferrari "experience", a process whose value is clear from the marque's continuing domination of the dream-car buyer's imagination, with a 1957 Ferrari having earlier this month become the most expensive car ever sold at auction, going for $36m. Iconic design: The Ferrari factory in Maranello (AFP/Getty Images) Hidden away in one of the buildings is a room not dissimilar to a Bond villain's lair. It is windowless, sumptuously lit and done out in varnished woods and cool stainless steel. Draped over the worktops that line the sides of the room are rolls of cashmere-soft cotton and bound sample books of the finest leathers in any shade one could dream of. This is where you come if just having a Ferrari isn't enough. Since 2012, the company has offered the "one-off" customisation service. Think Pimp My Ride then append a zero or three to the price tag. "We can develop materials and paint colours from scratch," says Andrea Bassi, the head of Ferrari's personalisation unit. "We can even change the shape of the bodywork. Just as long as you respect the Ferrari branding." An employee checks a car at the end of the assembly line (Getty Images) A sample of requests include a customer who wanted their car design to match that of their yacht. Another required bullet-proof upholstery. A third wanted styling inspired by his favourite pastime the sport of polo. This is a service that only around one per cent of Ferrari customers will use every year. The average spend is 30 per cent of the value of the car but a redesign that matches the price tag is not unheard of. "There is no limit," says Bassi coyly, declining to divulge the most expensive project he has worked on. In the truest sense of the word, Ferrari design is a slightly vulgar thing. The curved lines and plunging holes that set it apart from that of a Porsche or a Maserati are said to be intended to invoke the body of a naked woman. This or the bank balance needed to afford one may explain the association of the car with middle-aged men. But in launching the California T with a price tag of "just" 150,0000 Ferrari hope to broaden its customer base. Or, as Bassi terms it, the "family". The company's prancing horse logo (Getty Images) In trying to grasp the psychology of a person who will part with a quarter of a million pounds for a car and then the same again to redesign it, Bassi says it is crucial to understand this notion. "Interaction with the customer is a very rich experience," he says. "From my point of view, the real reason to buy for the customer is the experience, and not the car. Being part of the Ferrari family, coming here several times to design the car, working with the team." That entire process will usually take around seven months. Once the client has tweaked to his or her heart's content, the car can begin to take shape on the on-site assembly line. Here, in a vast glass-walled hangar, the metal skeletons of car chassis are lifted from work-station to work- station, hanging in the air above the workers' heads. Each car travels with a clipboard that outlines any special adjustments. To one side of the factory floor, a team of 40 upholsterers work on the interiors. Materials are all dealt with by hand working with lasers runs the risk of burning the more delicate fabrics. On the work surface, a plastic box is piled high with leather-cut Ferrari horses. Employees call this building the "cathedral". 'We can develop materials and paint colours from scratch,' says Andrea Bassi In a consumer world ever-more orientated around the notions of the "experiential" and "added value", the upper echelons are not immune. The old sales adage rings true: you don't sell the sausage, you sell the sizzle. Which explains the pristine nature of the Maranello factory. Here, in Bassi's atelier suite, among sheafs of animal skin and pictures of cars past that inspire idolatry in a certain kind of person, is where new customers are inducted into the Ferrari family. Baptism, perhaps, by rosso corsa. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Fernando Cardenal was a Catholic priest and liberation theologian who defied the church to serve as education minister in the Marxist Sandinista government of Nicaragua in the 1980s, a stand that he said reflected his "pact with the poor" and that resulted in his temporary banishment from the Jesuits. During the social upheaval in Nicaragua in the 1980s, after the Sandinistas had overthrown the Somoza dictatorship, Cardenal landed in the centre of a divisive conflict in the Catholic Church. At the time, a contingent of priests and theologians, particularly in Latin America, championed liberation theology, believing that the church should deliver not only spiritual but also economic liberation to the poor. Cardenal had ministered to the poor during his Jesuit novitiate in Medellin, Colombia, and as a professor in Nicaragua in the 1970s, he organised a group of students to protest against the Somoza dictatorship. When a member of the Sandinistas asked him to join, he agreed. "I told him that he could count on me," Cardenal said. "And he said, 'From now on, your name will be Justo [just]. "I liked that a lot." Notable deaths in 2016 Show all 42 1 /42 Notable deaths in 2016 Notable deaths in 2016 Debbie Reynolds was an American actress, singer, businesswoman, film historian, and humanitarian. She died on December 28 in Los Angeles Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Actress Carrie Fisher died on December 27 aged 60 Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Comedian and Actor Ricky Harris died on December 26 aged 54 Rex Notable deaths in 2016 British singer George Michael died on 25 December aged 53 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Rick Parfitt OBE was an English musician, best known for being a singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist in the rock band Status Quo. He died on December 24 in Marbella, Spain Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Lord Jenkin of Roding died at the age of 90 on the 21 December PA wire Notable deaths in 2016 Rabbi Lionel Blue died on the 19 December Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Zsa Zsa Gabor died on December 18 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Leonard Cohen died on 7 November Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Grand secretary of the Orange Order Drew Nelson died on 10 October aged 60 after a short illness PA Notable deaths in 2016 Aaron Pryor, the relentless junior welterweight died Sunday, Oct. 9, at the age of 60 at his home in Cincinnati after a long battle with heart disease AP Notable deaths in 2016 Polish Director Andrzej Wajda died on October 9, aged 90 Reuters Notable deaths in 2016 Stylianos Pattakos has died following a stroke on 8th October. He was 103 years old. AP Notable deaths in 2016 Dickie Jeeps, was an English rugby union player who played for Northampton. He represented and captained both the England national rugby union team and the British Lions in the 1950s and 1960s. He died on 8th October. He was 84 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Duke of Westminster Billionaire landowner the Duke of Westminster, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor has died on 9 August, aged 64 Rex Features Notable deaths in 2016 Christina Knudsen Sir Roger Moores stepdaughter Christina Knudsen has died from cancer on 25 July at teh age of 47 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Caroline Aherne The actress Caroline Aherne has died from cancer on 2 July at the age of 52 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Christina Grimmie Christina Grimmie, 22, who was an American singer and songwriter, known for her participation in the NBC singing competition The Voice, was signing autographs at a concert venue in Orlando on 10 June when an assailant shot her. Grimmie was transported to a local hospital where she died from her wounds on 11 June Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Kimbo Slice Former UFC and Bellator MMA fighter Kimbo Slice died after being admitted to hospital in Florida on 6 June, aged 42 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Muhammad Ali The three-time former heavyweight world champion died after being admitted to hospital with a respiratory illness on 3 June, aged 74 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Sally Brampton Brampton who was the launch editor of the UK edition of Elle magazine has died on 10 May, aged 60 Grant Triplow/REX/Shutterstock Notable deaths in 2016 Billy Paul The soul singer Billy Paul, who was best known for his single Me and Mrs Jones, has died on 24 April, aged 81 Noel Vasquez/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Prince Prince, the legendary musician, has been found dead at his Paisley Park recording studio on 21 April. He was 57 Notable deaths in 2016 Chyna WWE icon Joan Laurer dies aged 45 after being found at California home on 20 April Notable deaths in 2016 Victoria Wood The five-time Bafta-winning actress and comedian Victoria Wood has died on 20 April at her London home after a short illness with cancer. She was 62 Notable deaths in 2016 David Gest The entertainer and former husband of Liza Minnelli, David Gest has been found dead on 12 April in the Four Seasons hotel in Canary Warf, London. He was 62-years-old PA Notable deaths in 2016 Denise Robertson Denise Robertson, an agony aunt on This Morning for over 30 years, has died on 1 April, aged 83 Notable deaths in 2016 Zaha Hadid Dame Zaha Hadid, the prominent architect best known for designs such as the London Olympic Aquatic Centre and the Guangzhou Opera House, has died of a heart attack on 31 March, aged 65 2010 AFP Notable deaths in 2016 Ronnie Corbett British entertainer Ronnie Corbett has passed away on 31 March at the age of 85 2014 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Imre Kertesz Hungarian writer and Holocaust survivor Imre Kertesz, who won the 2002 Nobel Literature Prize, has died on 31 March, at the age of 86 REUTERS Notable deaths in 2016 Rob Ford Rob Ford, the former controversial mayor of Toronto, has died following a battle with a rare form of cancer. The 46-year-old passed away at the Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto on 22 March Notable deaths in 2016 Joey Feek Joey (left) passed away in March after a two-year cancer illness. She was part of country music duo, Joey + Rory, with her husband Rory (right) Jason Merritt/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Umberto Eco Italian writer and philosopher Umberto Eco died 19 February 2016 aged 84 EPA Notable deaths in 2016 Harper Lee Harper Lee, the American novelist known for writing 'To Kill a Mockingbird', died February 19, 2016 aged 89 2005 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Vanity Vanity, pictured performing in 1983, died aged 57 REX Features Notable deaths in 2016 Dave Mirra The BMX legend's body found inside truck with gunshot wound after apparent suicide aged 41 Notable deaths in 2016 Harry Harpham The former miner became Sheffield Labour MP in May after many years as a local councillor. He died after succumbing to cancer, at the age of 61. Notable deaths in 2016 Dale Griffin The Mott the Hoople drummer died on January 17, aged 67 REX Notable deaths in 2016 Rene Angelil Celine Dion's husband and manager Rene Angelil has lost his battle with cancer on 14 January, aged 73 2011 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Alan Rickman Legendary actor Alan Rickman has died on 14 January at the age of 69 after battle with pancreatic cancer. He is largely regarded as one of the most beloved British actors of our generation with roles in Love Actually, Die Hard, Michael Collins, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and an illustrious stage career 2015 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Maurice White The Earth, Wind & Fire founder died aged 74. The nine-piece band sold more than 90 million albums worldwide and won six Grammy awards Notable deaths in 2016 Lawrence Phillips Former NFL star found dead in prison cell on 13 January in suspected suicide, aged 40 AFP/Getty Images After the installation of the Sandinistas, Cardenal led a national literacy campaign in which he described himself as "the general of an army of 100,000" volunteers who moved into the homes of campesinos, or poor farmers, and taught them to read. The campaign reduced the illiteracy rate in Nicaragua from around 50 per cent to 13 per cent in five months. In 1984, Cardenal became education minister, one of several priests to join the Sandinista government,. They were defying Pope John Paul II, and Cardenal was expelled from the Jesuits. He stood down in 1990 when the Sandinistas were voted out. In 1995 he left the Sandinista National Liberation Front, denouncing "a small minority, including a few high-ranking leaders", who committed "acts of corruption". He was reinstated as a Jesuit in 1997. Born in 1934, Cardenal said he had never encountered poor people before being sent to a deprived neighbourhood in Colombia. Buying bread for the Jesuit community, "I came into contact with small boys and girls," he recalled. "I could see the hunger in their faces, and they began to ask me for bread." He gave away his food. He later saw a family eating from the Jesuits' bins. When he left, he said, he told those neighbours, "I want to leave you a very solemn promise in the face of God, that I will dedicate my life to the liberation of the poor and to the struggle for justice." Fernando Cardenal Martinez, priest and politician: born 26 January 1934; died 20 February 2016. The Washington Post For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Yoko Ono has been hospitalised in New York City for flu-like symptoms, her spokesperson has confirmed. A Fire Department spokesman said an ambulance was called to Ono's apartment in Manhattan around 9pm on Friday. Her son Sean Ono Lennon denied reports the 83-year-old had a stroke and said his mother was dehydrated and tired. Onos representative Elliott Mintz told the Associated Press she was advised to go to the hospital by her doctor and should be discharged by Sunday. Ono is being treated at the Mount Sinai West Hospital in Manhattan, the same hospital where her husband and former Beatle John Lennon was pronounced dead in 1980. The Beatles: Inside and Out: Photographs by Robert Whitaker Show all 12 1 /12 The Beatles: Inside and Out: Photographs by Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out: Photographs by Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out 'Admiration', Weybridge, 1965 Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out: Photographs by Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out Nails, c.1966 Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out: Photographs by Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out The Beatles at a hotel in Perthshire, Scotland, October, 1964 Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out: Photographs by Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out Chiswick Park, 1966 Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out: Photographs by Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out 'Way Out', George Harrison on the set of 'Help', 1965 Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out: Photographs by Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out The Beatles, 1966, Chiswick Park Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out: Photographs by Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out Houston, Texas, August 19, 1965 Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out: Photographs by Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out Ed Sullivan Show, 1965 Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out: Photographs by Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out Houston, Texas, August 19, 1965 Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out: Photographs by Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out Rehearsal, location unknown, 1965 Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out: Photographs by Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out John Lennon, 1966, Tokyo Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out: Photographs by Robert Whitaker The Beatles: Inside and Out Rehearsal, Houston, USA, 1965 Robert Whitaker Ono, a performance artist and activist, married Lennon 1969. She was living with Lennon when he was shot and fatally wounded outside of their apartment. She continues to live in the same building. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A distraught mother of a mentally ill child has written an open letter to David Cameron demanding to know why her 10-year-old daughter and many others like her have been failed by childrens mental health services across the country. Samantha Lethbridge, 38, and husband Jonathon, 42, from Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, had to sell their home and move into rented accommodation as the financial and emotional strain of coping with their seriously ill daughter became too much. They first noticed something wrong when, at the age of five, she struggled with basic reading and writing skills. She saw a succession of GPs and was finally referred a year later to a paediatrician, who identified borderline attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD) with a sleep disorder. Recommended Read more Mental health patients call for an end to stigma Her mental state was deteriorating, Mrs Lethbridge told The Independent on Sunday. "She just wasnt happy, so in 2013 we were referred to CAMHS [the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service provided locally, in this case by Hertfordshire Partnership University Foundation Trust then from July 2015 by Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust]." Following three sessions and a tiny improvement, Mrs Lethbridge said the nurse discharged her daughter with the recommendation to read a book. Her behaviour soon deteriorated again so they were re-referred to CAMHS and had to wait another 18 weeks, forcing the family to fund a private psychiatrist to get help sooner. Each time weve been seen by CAMHS it has been a review of what has happened, Mrs Lethbridge said. It hasnt been any of the psychological intervention that they are supposed to provide but a pharmaceutical approach. Her daughter was proscribed the anti-ADHD drug methylphenidate, whose side effects can include reduced appetite, anger and anxiety. The drugs turned her into a zombie, she stopped eating for four days and my husband and I just stopped that but not before it had unnerved us with the CAMHS experience. Further appointments at another Trust clinic followed while Mrs Lethbridge discovered the school her daughter then attended was trying to solve the behavioural problems by keeping her isolated in a locked room, with a teacher outside, while taking away her tights and socks in case she strangled herself. David Cameron was the first Prime Minister ever to have talked about teenage mental health (Getty) (Getty Images) Mrs Lethbridge said: We sent her to another school, which was much better. By December 2014 she had a massive crisis and crashed out of school. Urgent help was needed. We got a phone call from a doctor at CAMHS who said he was told to call us but didnt know why. By this stage the Lethbridges daughter had been making suicidal comments and exhibiting further distressing behaviour. Because of the severity of her deterioration, she was referred to an incredible residential childrens mental hospital where she spent seven months until July last year a situation Mrs Lethbridge said was the result of complete failure of early intervention. In her letter to the Prime Minister, Mrs Lethbridge wrote: When she was discharged it was clearly stated by the hospital that she must have ongoing support from CAMHS. Guess what its now seven months since she was discharged and not one person from CAMHS has been in touch. There was a plan in place [for our daughter] but now because of the lack of support from CAMHS she is unravelling in front of us and the plan is falling apart. Responding to the letter online, Dr Jon Goldin, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist and training programme director at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London said: This is a very powerful and sad letter. I agree CAMHS services do need to improve nationally. At Prime Ministers Questions last week, Mr Cameron said children and young peoples mental health is a priority for the Government and that something like 740,000 more people were getting therapeutic help compared to when he came into office in 2010. He stated: We recognise that there is more to be done and that is why we are investing 1.4bn in system-wide transformation across child and adolescent mental health services. Health news in pictures Show all 40 1 /40 Health news in pictures Health news in pictures Coronavirus outbreak The coronavirus Covid-19 has hit the UK leading to the deaths of two people so far and prompting warnings from the Department of Health AFP via Getty Health news in pictures Thousands of emergency patients told to take taxi to hospital Thousands of 999 patients in England are being told to get a taxi to hospital, figures have showed. The number of patients outside London who were refused an ambulance rose by 83 per cent in the past year as demand for services grows Getty Health news in pictures Vape related deaths spike A vaping-related lung disease has claimed the lives of 11 people in the US in recent weeks. The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has more than 100 officials investigating the cause of the mystery illness, and has warned citizens against smoking e-cigarette products until more is known, particularly if modified or bought off the street Getty Health news in pictures Baldness cure looks to be a step closer Researchers in the US claim to have overcome one of the major hurdles to cultivating human follicles from stem cells. The new system allows cells to grow in a structured tuft and emerge from the skin Sanford Burnham Preybs Health news in pictures Two hours a week spent in nature can improve health A study in the journal Scientific Reports suggests that a dose of nature of just two hours a week is associated with better health and psychological wellbeing Shutterstock Health news in pictures Air pollution linked to fertility issues in women Exposure to air from traffic-clogged streets could leave women with fewer years to have children, a study has found. Italian researchers found women living in the most polluted areas were three times more likely to show signs they were running low on eggs than those who lived in cleaner surroundings, potentially triggering an earlier menopause Getty/iStock Health news in pictures Junk food ads could be banned before watershed Junk food adverts on TV and online could be banned before 9pm as part of Government plans to fight the "epidemic" of childhood obesity. Plans for the new watershed have been put out for public consultation in a bid to combat the growing crisis, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said PA Health news in pictures Breeding with neanderthals helped humans fight diseases On migrating from Africa around 70,000 years ago, humans bumped into the neanderthals of Eurasia. While humans were weak to the diseases of the new lands, breeding with the resident neanderthals made for a better equipped immune system PA Health news in pictures Cancer breath test to be trialled in Britain The breath biopsy device is designed to detect cancer hallmarks in molecules exhaled by patients Getty Health news in pictures Average 10 year old has consumed the recommended amount of sugar for an adult By their 10th birthdy, children have on average already eaten more sugar than the recommended amount for an 18 year old. The average 10 year old consumes the equivalent to 13 sugar cubes a day, 8 more than is recommended PA Health news in pictures Child health experts advise switching off screens an hour before bed While there is not enough evidence of harm to recommend UK-wide limits on screen use, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have advised that children should avoid screens for an hour before bed time to avoid disrupting their sleep Getty Health news in pictures Daily aspirin is unnecessary for older people in good health, study finds A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that many elderly people are taking daily aspirin to little or no avail Getty Health news in pictures Vaping could lead to cancer, US study finds A study by the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Centre has found that the carcinogenic chemicals formaldehyde, acrolein, and methylglyoxal are present in the saliva of E-cigarette users Reuters Health news in pictures More children are obese and diabetic There has been a 41% increase in children with type 2 diabetes since 2014, the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit has found. Obesity is a leading cause Reuters Health news in pictures Most child antidepressants are ineffective and can lead to suicidal thoughts The majority of antidepressants are ineffective and may be unsafe, for children and teenager with major depression, experts have warned. In what is the most comprehensive comparison of 14 commonly prescribed antidepressant drugs to date, researchers found that only one brand was more effective at relieving symptoms of depression than a placebo. Another popular drug, venlafaxine, was shown increase the risk users engaging in suicidal thoughts and attempts at suicide Getty Health news in pictures Gay, lesbian and bisexual adults at higher risk of heart disease, study claims Researchers at the Baptist Health South Florida Clinic in Miami focused on seven areas of controllable heart health and found these minority groups were particularly likely to be smokers and to have poorly controlled blood sugar iStock Health news in pictures Breakfast cereals targeted at children contain 'steadily high' sugar levels since 1992 despite producer claims A major pressure group has issued a fresh warning about perilously high amounts of sugar in breakfast cereals, specifically those designed for children, and has said that levels have barely been cut at all in the last two and a half decades Getty Health news in pictures Potholes are making us fat, NHS watchdog warns New guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the body which determines what treatment the NHS should fund, said lax road repairs and car-dominated streets were contributing to the obesity epidemic by preventing members of the public from keeping active PA Health news in pictures New menopause drugs offer women relief from 'debilitating' hot flushes A new class of treatments for women going through the menopause is able to reduce numbers of debilitating hot flushes by as much as three quarters in a matter of days, a trial has found. The drug used in the trial belongs to a group known as NKB antagonists (blockers), which were developed as a treatment for schizophrenia but have been sitting on a shelf unused, according to Professor Waljit Dhillo, a professor of endocrinology and metabolism REX Health news in pictures Doctors should prescribe more antidepressants for people with mental health problems, study finds Research from Oxford University found that more than one million extra people suffering from mental health problems would benefit from being prescribed drugs and criticised ideological reasons doctors use to avoid doing so. Getty Health news in pictures Student dies of flu after NHS advice to stay at home and avoid A&E The family of a teenager who died from flu has urged people not to delay going to A&E if they are worried about their symptoms. Melissa Whiteley, an 18-year-old engineering student from Hanford in Stoke-on-Trent, fell ill at Christmas and died in hospital a month later. Just Giving Health news in pictures Government to review thousands of harmful vaginal mesh implants The Government has pledged to review tens of thousands of cases where women have been given harmful vaginal mesh implants. Getty Health news in pictures Jeremy Hunt announces 'zero suicides ambition' for the NHS The NHS will be asked to go further to prevent the deaths of patients in its care as part of a zero suicide ambition being launched today Getty Health news in pictures Human trials start with cancer treatment that primes immune system to kill off tumours Human trials have begun with a new cancer therapy that can prime the immune system to eradicate tumours. The treatment, that works similarly to a vaccine, is a combination of two existing drugs, of which tiny amounts are injected into the solid bulk of a tumour. Nephron Health news in pictures Babies' health suffers from being born near fracking sites, finds major study Mothers living within a kilometre of a fracking site were 25 per cent more likely to have a child born at low birth weight, which increase their chances of asthma, ADHD and other issues Getty Health news in pictures NHS reviewing thousands of cervical cancer smear tests after women wrongly given all-clear Thousands of cervical cancer screening results are under review after failings at a laboratory meant some women were incorrectly given the all-clear. A number of women have already been told to contact their doctors following the identification of procedural issues in the service provided by Pathology First Laboratory. Rex Health news in pictures Potential key to halting breast cancer's spread discovered by scientists Most breast cancer patients do not die from their initial tumour, but from secondary malignant growths (metastases), where cancer cells are able to enter the blood and survive to invade new sites. Asparagine, a molecule named after asparagus where it was first identified in high quantities, has now been shown to be an essential ingredient for tumour cells to gain these migratory properties. Getty Health news in pictures NHS nursing vacancies at record high with more than 34,000 roles advertised A record number of nursing and midwifery positions are currently being advertised by the NHS, with more than 34,000 positions currently vacant, according to the latest data. Demand for nurses was 19 per cent higher between July and September 2017 than the same period two years ago. REX Health news in pictures Cannabis extract could provide new class of treatment for psychosis CBD has a broadly opposite effect to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active component in cannabis and the substance that causes paranoia and anxiety. Getty Health news in pictures Over 75,000 sign petition calling for Richard Branson's Virgin Care to hand settlement money back to NHS Mr Bransons company sued the NHS last year after it lost out on an 82m contract to provide childrens health services across Surrey, citing concerns over serious flaws in the way the contract was awarded PA Health news in pictures More than 700 fewer nurses training in England in first year after NHS bursary scrapped The numbers of people accepted to study nursing in England fell 3 per cent in 2017, while the numbers accepted in Wales and Scotland, where the bursaries were kept, increased 8.4 per cent and 8 per cent respectively Getty Health news in pictures Landmark study links Tory austerity to 120,000 deaths The paper found that there were 45,000 more deaths in the first four years of Tory-led efficiencies than would have been expected if funding had stayed at pre-election levels. On this trajectory that could rise to nearly 200,000 excess deaths by the end of 2020, even with the extra funding that has been earmarked for public sector services this year. Reuters Health news in pictures Long commutes carry health risks Hours of commuting may be mind-numbingly dull, but new research shows that it might also be having an adverse effect on both your health and performance at work. Longer commutes also appear to have a significant impact on mental wellbeing, with those commuting longer 33 per cent more likely to suffer from depression Shutterstock Health news in pictures You cannot be fit and fat It is not possible to be overweight and healthy, a major new study has concluded. The study of 3.5 million Britons found that even metabolically healthy obese people are still at a higher risk of heart disease or a stroke than those with a normal weight range Getty Health news in pictures Sleep deprivation When you feel particularly exhausted, it can definitely feel like you are also lacking in brain capacity. Now, a new study has suggested this could be because chronic sleep deprivation can actually cause the brain to eat itself Shutterstock Health news in pictures Exercise classes offering 45 minute naps launch David Lloyd Gyms have launched a new health and fitness class which is essentially a bunch of people taking a nap for 45 minutes. The fitness group was spurred to launch the napercise class after research revealed 86 per cent of parents said they were fatigued. The class is therefore predominantly aimed at parents but you actually do not have to have children to take part Getty Health news in pictures 'Fundamental right to health' to be axed after Brexit, lawyers warn Tobacco and alcohol companies could win more easily in court cases such as the recent battle over plain cigarette packaging if the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is abandoned, a barrister and public health professor have said Getty Health news in pictures 'Thousands dying' due to fear over non-existent statin side-effects A major new study into the side effects of the cholesterol-lowering medicine suggests common symptoms such as muscle pain and weakness are not caused by the drugs themselves Getty Health news in pictures Babies born to fathers aged under 25 have higher risk of autism New research has found that babies born to fathers under the age of 25 or over 51 are at higher risk of developing autism and other social disorders. The study, conducted by the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai, found that these children are actually more advanced than their peers as infants, but then fall behind by the time they hit their teenage years Getty Health news in pictures Cycling to work could halve risk of cancer and heart disease Commuters who swap their car or bus pass for a bike could cut their risk of developing heart disease and cancer by almost half, new research suggests but campaigners have warned there is still an urgent need to improve road conditions for cyclists. Cycling to work is linked to a lower risk of developing cancer by 45 per cent and cardiovascular disease by 46 per cent, according to a study of a quarter of a million people. Walking to work also brought health benefits, the University of Glasgow researchers found, but not to the same degree as cycling. Getty However, recent analysis by Young Minds, the children and young peoples mental health charity, showed that CAMHS budgets suffered a 35m cut in 2014/15 and that over one in five local authorities have either frozen or cut their CAMHS budgets every year since 2010. Launching Young Minds Matter earlier this month, a new global initiative to raise awareness around childrens mental health, the Duchess of Cambridge highlighted the need for early intervention in child mental health. Mrs Lethbridge said failure to do so in her daughters case, combined with a lack of resources and badly managed services, has had a devastating effect on the couple and their younger son. The family wrote to their local MP, Oliver Dowden, who intervened on their behalf and was told an investigation was being carried out. A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust said: We are very sorry the services the family have accessed have not supported them in the way they would have liked. We have investigated this complaint and responded to the issues relating to our service in a letter to Oliver Dowden. We understand that other local health and social care providers have also responded to concerns raised. A spokesperson for HPFT said he was sorry if the services accessed have not supported the family in the way they would have liked and that the Foundation trust would want to learn from this. Mrs Lethbridge has set up a support group, Its Not Just You, for other parents in similar situations, which now has 900 members. Since posting her letter online she has also had more parents coming forward describing similar problems with local CAMHS services around the country. Pointing to one of the several pictures of her children on the wall of her home, Mrs Lethbridge said: Looking at my daughter there you wouldnt think that girl could be violent or aggressive, but she has been, and weve been through hell and back for years now. She knows something is wrong and hates being that way and Im determined that no one should go through what we have done. Something has to change. CAMHS explained The term child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) refers to all services that work with children and young people who have difficulties with their emotional or behavioural wellbeing, according to an NHS website. The way those services are delivered varies from region to region and involves organisations ranging from NHS trusts and local authorities to schools and charities. CAMHS has four tiers covering early intervention to inpatient services. The tiers are supposed to work together to provide a service that intervenes early and treats when theres a crisis, said Lucie Russell, director of campaigns for the charity YoungMinds. Unfortunately, there have been lots of cuts to tier one and tier two because of council cuts. And if you dont prevent problems from arising in the first place then you store up problems down the line and put more pressure on the more intensive treatment services. Last year, the Government published Future in Mind a strategy designed to revolutionise young peoples mental health services. Funded by 1.4bn over four years, in it every local authority has produced a transformation plan. These plans have been agreed by NHS England and are starting to be put in place. Richard Jinman Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} He is the Welsh coffee shop owner who became the face of his towns attempts to take on HMRC and beat the corporate tax avoiders at their own game. Now Steve Lewis has applied for a job with the tax office, after gaining the backing of signatories to an online petition. In a letter to Jon Thompson, the new chief executive at HMRC, seen by The Independent on Sunday, the businessman and former Army major has formally inquired about the possibility of his taking a seat on the tax bodys board. When Mr Lewis became interested in reforming the UKs tax system, he featured in the recent BBC documentary The Town That Took on the Taxman, which turned him with other local business owners from Crickhowell into overnight celebrities, for trying to set up their own corporate tax avoidance scheme. Recommended Read more Select committee learnt more about HMRC than Google Ive been portrayed as some plucky little coffee shop owner from Crickhowell. Im far from that, he said. Since leaving the Army, Mr Lewis has spent 25 years as an adviser to companies such as London Underground, PepsiCo and GSK. You have a great window of opportunity to implement a more radical way of challenging this group of multinationals that, as far as the public are concerned, are running rings around HMRC, he told Mr Thompson, named as its new chief executive last week, in his letter. Your predecessor and I have to say the current board have done little to change this perception. Mr Lewis said his application was not a stunt and HMRC clearly needed an abrasive and pushy presence in its board meetings. He has strong support from the public and almost 150,000 people signed a petition on the Change.org website calling for him to be made chief executive of HMRC. Although the top job eventually went to Mr Thompson, Mr Lewis hopes this level of support will persuade the body to take his latest approach seriously. In an attempt to keep fair tax high up the political agenda, Mr Lewis is hoping to secure a Commons debate on the issue through John McDonnell, the shadow Chancellor. He is also in the process of inviting the heads of the UKs major corporate tax avoiders to take part in a public debate on the subject at Cardiff University next month. HMRC said last night that there were currently no openings on offer. A spokesperson said: When we advertise a vacancy, Mr Lewis will be welcome to apply for it and his application will be considered in the normal way. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Boris Johnson has performed a U-turn on a contentious claim that a vote to leave the EU would force Brussels to give Britain a better deal and trigger a second referendum. Less than seven days after the London mayor declared his allegiance to the Out campaign he has appeared to drop the idea of a double referendum on Britains membership of EU. Out is out, Mr Johnson said. Some Brexit campaigners believe that if the UK votes to leave the 28-member state bloc it would force European leaders to make major concessions on membership terms that the government could then put to the public in a second, final referendum. In his Daily Telegraph column earlier this week, Mr Johnson wrote: EU history shows that they only really listen to a population when it says no. He has previously suggested that only by voting to leave would the country get the change we need. This was widely interpreted as advocating a second referendum. However, the London mayor backed away from the idea in an interview with the Times. When asked whether there could be another referendum after the one scheduled for June 23, Mr Johnson said: No. Out is out, before adding: What I want is to get out and then negotiate a series of trade arrangements around the world. He added that he didnt think it would necessary for a second referendum. In a fiery exchange in the Commons the Prime Minister David Cameron dismissed the idea of a double referendum on Britains membership of the EU as complete fiction. He added: It is a very simple question on the ballot paper you either stay in the EU or you leave. Boris: EU deal not enforceable Mr Johnson added in the interview: "I genuinely think that if we simply vote to stay we will wake up on June 24th with an absolute sickening feeling that we have missed a golden opportunity to take back control, to renew our approach to law making, to strike new trade deals around the world, to galvanise our economy and politics and to give people confidence back in their country, A poll for The Independent revealed today that the campaign for Britain to leave the EU enjoys an eight-point lead when peoples likelihood to vote is taken into account. Some 52 per cent of people said they would vote to leave, with 48 per cent saying they would back remaining, the exact opposite of last months findings. People were also asked how likely they were to vote in the June referendum on a scale of one to 10. When the figures were weighted, with a 10/10 score given a full percentage point and 9/10 given 0.9 of a point, the Leave total went up to 54 per cent and Remain fell to 46 per cent. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The controversial idea that Britains nuclear submarines could be rendered irrelevant before the new fleet is even launched, will be bolstered this week by a report to be presented to MPs examining the Trident programme. Emerging drone technology, which could make the oceans effectively transparent, will make the submarines that carry the UKs nuclear deterrent vulnerable to attack, warns the report which was commissioned by the British American Security Information Council (Basic), a nuclear disarmament think-tank. The report, to be presented to MPs on the Defence Select Committee this week, says rapid advances in technology mean the worlds oceans are becoming a sensor rich environment full of drones with eyes and ears everywhere. As a result there will be no hiding place for submarines. If Britains submarines become easily detectable they will lose all their advantages as strategic weapons platforms. Recommended Read more Corbyn cites horrors of Hiroshima as a reason to scrap Trident The Defence Select Committee has written to BAE and Babcock, constructors of the UK submarine fleet, asking them to respond to the drone threat claims. The report is a fillip for Emily Thornberry, the shadow Defence Secretary, who has faced fierce criticism of her review of the Trident replacement programme. Her suggestion that drone technology posed a threat to nuclear submarines, thereby diminishing the potency of the nuclear deterrent, has been ridiculed as tired old science fiction. Lord Hutton, the former Defence Secretary, speaking on Radio 4s Today, described the idea that technological advances posed a clear danger to Trident as camouflage for those who want to espouse unilateral disarmament. As a result of rapid advances in technology, drones will soon mean that there will be no hiding place for submarines (Getty) Ms Thornberry said that serious questions have been raised about whether the successor submarines will be redundant before they even hit the water and we need to look at this very carefully before we commit to spending 41bn on them. The Basic report makes it clear that advanced drone technology is far from sci-fi fantasy and is already being used in anti-submarine warfare by the US and Chinese navies. Jeremy Corbyn recalls Hiroshima 'horror' at Trident rally Air-dropped drones and underwater craft called gliders are employed to track enemy submarines. The US Navy is known to use relatively low-cost Coyote drones, launched from aircraft and fitted with Magnetic Anomaly Detectors, to hunt for subs. Similar technology is employed on Chinese built drones the report says. Improved sensors, based originally on designs to detect and measure tiny magnetic fields generated by the human brain, will revolutionise drone capabilities, the report states. The report is a fillip for Emily Thornberry, the shadow Defence Secretary (PA) Another technique employed is to borrow the soaring approach of albatrosses and other ocean-going birds. Drones imitate the birds by turning into the wind to gain altitude then glide downwards. The US has produced drones that can land on the sea, re-deploy its wings as sails and recharge, allowing it to take off again later. Another research project is examining air drones that can land at sea and then propel themselves underwater. Unmanned underwater craft, or gliders, also pose a threat to submarines. With greater endurance abilities they have been used to track the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, as well as radiation levels around Fukushima in Japan. They are extremely quiet and can carry acoustic sensors so sensitive they can, as one researcher put it, hear a fish fart. Unsurprisingly, they have been used to track fish shoals by the sounds they make. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2022 The first members of the public pay their respects as the vigil begins around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2022 Crowds cheer as King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort arrive for a visit to Hillsborough Castle Getty UK news in pictures 12 September 2022 Crowds line the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, as King Charles III joins a procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral following the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS UK news in pictures 11 September 2022 Members of the Public pay their respects as the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, is driven through Ballater AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 10 September 2022 Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wave at well-wishers on the Long walk at Windsor Castle AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 9 September 2022 King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort wave after viewing floral tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Buckingham Palace Getty UK news in pictures 8 September 2022 A screen commemorating Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in Piccadilly Circus, London Britain EPA UK news in pictures 7 September 2022 Police officers stand guard after Animal Rebellion activists threw paint on the walls and road outside the Houses of Parliament in protest, in London, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 6 September 2022 Queen Elizabeth II welcomes Liz Truss during an audience at Balmoral, Scotland, where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2022 Visitors at the PoliNations garden in Victoria Square, Birmingham, which is made up of five 40ft high tree installations and over 6,000 plants. The PoliNations programme aims to explore how migration and cross-pollination have shaped the UKs gardens and culture PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2022 Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews take part in the traditional Pier Walk along the harbour walls of St Andrews before the start of the new academic year PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2022 The Massed Pipes and Drums parade during the Braemar Highland Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2022 Number 12 Company Irish Guards at Wellington Barracks, central London, before commencing their first Guard Mount at Buckingham Palace PA Commercial gliders are being used by oceanographers to collect data on water temperature and cloudiness, salinity and ocean current speeds. Japanese scientists are examining proposals to deploy about 1,000 gliders to form a network to measure and survey the oceans, the report says. China is particularly interested in the unmanned underwater craft and the report cites a 2010 US Department of Defence report which noted the Chinese were targeting this technology specifically. Paul Ingram, the chief executive of Basic, said: In the past anti-submarine warfare has been carried out by a small number of highly capable ships and manned aircraft. Their task has been like that of a handful of police looking for a fugitive in a vast wilderness. Lacking the manpower to cover the whole area, they have to concentrate their forces on the most likely paths and hideouts, and hope for a lucky break. With the advent cheap drones, the police are joined by thousands more searchers, who are less well-equipped but have the numbers to walk shoulder to shoulder and sweep the entire area. Escape becomes impossible. Parliament is expected to vote on the future of Trident later this year. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The campaign to keep Britain in the European Union received a major boost yesterday after the G20 group of the worlds most powerful countries warned that a Brexit vote would cause a shock to the global economy. George Osborne, in China for the meeting of global finance ministers, said the warning exposed the danger to living standards and the economic recovery. He also launched a thinly veiled attack on the London Mayor Boris Johnson over his decision to back a leave vote insisting that the decision was not some amusing adventure into the unknown. Mr Johnson has taken a back seat since revealing he would campaign to leave the EU last week. The Independent on Sunday understands he is being urged not to back the Eurosceptic Vote Leave campaign amid growing Tory fears the rival Ukip-backed group Grassroots Out has taken pole position in the race to be designated the official Brexit body by the Electoral Commission. Close allies of the London Mayor have warned him in private that he should not allow himself to become the plaything of rival campaigns who are locked in a fierce and increasingly bitter campaign to win official designation in order to receive public funds for the referendum campaign. All six cabinet ministers who publicly back Brexit have joined the Vote Leave campaign run by Michael Goves divisive former aide Dominic Cummings. But Mr Johnson has kept his distance. The London Mayors position was, however, lambasted by Mr Osborne. A British exit would hurt peoples jobs, livelihoods and living standards its deadly serious, he said. Its my responsibility as Chancellor to make it clear to people what the economic risks are and that we are stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU. The risk of a British exit from the European Union was included in the G20s final communique released by finance ministers in Shanghai, China on 27 February. The Italian Finance Minister, Pier Carlo Padoan, said that a decision by Britain to leave the EU would be classified as a powerful geopolitical shock. Grassroots Out at Ukips conference in Llandudno on Saturday (AFP) Mr Osborne welcomed the public warning: Finance leaders and central bank governors of the worlds biggest economies have raised serious concerns about the risks posed by a UK exit from the EU. They have concluded unanimously today that what they call the shock of a potential UK vote to leave is among the biggest economic dangers this year. If thats their assessment of the impact on the world economy, imagine what it would do to the UK. However, the former Conservative chancellor Lord Lawson ridiculed the G20 warning. The Vote Leave chairman said: The notion that the UK leaving the EU would cause an economic shock is absurd. Fifteen of the members of the G20 are outside the EU, and that hasnt caused an economic shock. Indeed, most of them are doing better than most of the members of the European Union. A source close to Mr Johnson insisted that he respected Mr Cameron and Mr Osborne but just thought they were wrong. The source added that Mr Johnson would throw himself into the campaign for a vote to leave the EU but no decision had been made yet over what role he would take. The London Mayor met the Justice Secretary, Michael Gove a key member of the Vote Leave campaign last week and will hold talks with him again in the next few days. Sources in Vote Leave said they were not worried about the Mayors loyalties, and insisted they were confident of being given the designation as the official leave campaign. What has the EU ever done for us? Show all 7 1 /7 What has the EU ever done for us? What has the EU ever done for us? 1. It gives you freedom to live, work and retire anywhere in Europe As a member of the EU, UK citizens benefit from freedom of movement across the continent. Considered one of the so-called four pillars of the European Union, this freedom allows all EU citizens to live, work and travel in other member states. What has the EU ever done for us? 2. It sustains millions of jobs A report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, released in October 2015, suggested 3.1 million British jobs were linked to the UKs exports to the EU. What has the EU ever done for us? 3. Your holiday is much easier - and safer Freedom to travel is one of the most exercised benefits of EU membership, with Britons having made 31 million visits to the EU in 2014 alone. But a lot of the benefits of being an EU citizen are either taken for granted or go unnoticed. What has the EU ever done for us? 4. It means you're less likely to get ripped off Consumer protection is a key benefit of the EUs single market, and ensures members of the British public receive equal consumer rights when shopping anywhere in Europe. What has the EU ever done for us? 5. It offers greater protection from terrorists, paedophiles, people traffickers and cyber-crime Another example of a lesser-known advantage of EU membership is the benefit of cross-country coordination and cooperation in the fight against crime. What has the EU ever done for us? 6. Our businesses depend on it According to 71% of all members of the Confederation of British Influence (CBI), and 67 per cent of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the EU has had an overall positive impact on their business. What has the EU ever done for us? 7. We have greater influence Robin Niblett, Director of think-tank Chatham House, stated in a report published last year: For a mid-sized country like the UK, which will never again be economically dominant either globally or regionally, and whose diplomatic and military resources are declining in relative terms, being a major player in a strong regional institution can offer a critical lever for international influence. A spokesman said: We are confident that we will get the designation because of our cross-party nature and the professional campaigning requirement. We wish all groups well. But the groups cross-party support is currently limited to the former Labour foreign secretary Lord Owen now a crossbench peer and Labour MP Graham Stringer. The Government will set out the specific criteria for deciding how the Electoral Commission should decide which group is given official campaign status in Parliament tomorrow. The rival out campaigns Vote Leave and Grassroots Out will have four weeks to apply for official designation. The Electoral Commission will then have two weeks to decide before announcing its choice on 14 April. Tory MPs believe this could give the Government a crucial six-week head start on the leave campaign because of the infighting between the rival groups. But they are also increasingly concerned that the Vote Leave campaign is too narrowly Conservative to win official status. Grassroots Out is backed by Ukips Nigel Farage, Respects George Galloway and Labours Kate Hoey. It has also been supported by Tory MPs Peter Bone and Tom Pursglove. A source close to Mr Johnson said: The campaign designation isnt until April 14, which means the Government can just plough ahead, promoting its own policy. Boris must not become the plaything of rival campaigns. He would be wise to keep clear of the big two campaigns. They are clearly riven by ego. The source dismissed the impact of the six Tory cabinet ministers who joined the Vote Leave campaign. The designation goes to the most broad-based body. Six ministers all going to Vote Leave will hamper its chances more than boost it. An honest essay has numerous characteristics: original thinking, a good structure, balanced arguments, and plenty more. But one aspect often overlooked is that an honest essay should be interesting. It should spark the readers curiosity, keep them absorbed, make them want to stay reading and learn more. An uneventful article risks losing the readers attention; whether or not the points you create are excellent, a flat style, or poor handling of a dry subject material can undermine the positive aspects of the essay. The matter is that a lot of students think that essays should be like this: they believe that a flat, dry style is suited to the needs of educational writing and dont even consider that the teacher reading their essay wants to search out the essay interesting. You might want to have online essay editor service to boost your confidence in writing with an error-free output. Academic writing doesnt need to be and shouldnt be bland. The excellent news is that there is much stuff you can do to create your essay more attractive, while youll be able only to do such a lot while remaining within the formal confines of educational writing. Lets study what theyre. Have an interest in what youre writing about Dont go overboard, but youll be able to let your passion for your subject show. If theres one thing bound to inject interest into your writing, its being fascinated by what youre writing about. Passion for a subject matter comes across naturally in your essay, typically making it more lively and fascinating and infusing an infectious enthusiasm into your words within the same way that its easy to talk knowledgeably to someone about something you discover fascinating. Include fascinating details Another factor that may make an essay boring maybe a dry material. Some topic areas are naturally dry, and it falls to you to form the article more interesting through your written style and by trying to seek out fascinating snippets of knowledge to incorporate, which will liven it up a small amount and make the data easier to relate to. A way of doing this with a dry subject is to create what youre talking about that seems relevant to the critical world, as this is often easier for the reader to relate to. Emulate the fashion of writers you discover interesting When you read lots, you subconsciously start emulating the fashion of the writers you have read. Reading benefits you a lot, as this exposes you to a spread of designs, and youll start to require the characteristics of these you discover interesting to read. Borrow some creative writing techniques Theres a limit to the quantity of actual story-telling youll do when youre writing an essay; in the end, essays should be objective, factual and balanced, which doesnt, initially glance, feel considerably like story-telling. However, youll apply a number of the principles of story-telling to create your writing more interesting. consider your own opinion Take the time to figure out what its that you think instead of regurgitating the opinions of others. Cut the waffle Rambling on and on is dull and almost bound to lose the interest of your reader. Youre in danger of waffling if youre not completely clear about what you wish to mention or havent thought carefully about how youre visiting structure your argument. Doing all your research correctly and writing an essay plan before you begin will help prevent this problem. Editing is a vital part of the essay-writing process, so edit the waffle once youve done a primary draft. Read through your essay objectively and eliminate the bits that arent relevant to the argument or labor the purpose. employing a thesaurus isnt always a decent thing Avoid using unfamiliar words in an essay; theres too great a likelihood that youre misusing them. You may think that employing a thesaurus to seek out more complicated words will make your writing more exciting or sound more academic, but using overly high-brow language can have the incorrect effect. Avoid repetitive phrasing Please avoid using the identical phrase structure again and again: its a recipe for dullness! Instead, use a variety of syntax that demonstrates your writing capabilities and makes your writing more interesting. Mix simple, compound, and complicated sentences to avoid your paper becoming predictable. Use some figurative language Using analogies with nature can often make concepts more accessible for readers to know. As weve already seen, its easy to finish up rambling when youre explaining complex concepts mainly after you dont know it yourself. One way of forcing yourself to think about a couple of pictures, present it more simply and engagingly is to form figurative language. This implies explaining something by comparing it with something else, as in an analogy. Employ rhetorical questions Anticipate the questions your reader might ask. One of the ways ancient orators held the eye of their audiences and increased the dramatic effect of their speeches was by using the statement. A decent place to use a statement is at the top of a paragraph, to steer into the following one, or at the start of a replacement section to introduce a brand new area for exploration. Proofread Finally, you may write the top interesting essay an instructor has ever read. Still, youll undermine your good work if its plagued by errors, which distract the reader from the particular content and can probably annoy them. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Government is to change the terms of a colonial-era tax deal that campaigners have claimed exploits Malawi, the poorest country in the world. ActionAid has gathered more than 21,000 signatures since it launched a campaign at the start of the month to revise a treaty from 1955 that means British multinationals can easily move money out of Malawi without paying tax. The charity recently argued that the UK and Italy have the most treaties that prevent the worlds poorest countries from collecting their fair share in taxes from big companies, hurting their healthcare, education and welfare systems. The UK is the third-biggest international investor in Malawi, which has an average annual income per person of just $255 (184), but the treaty has been only negligibly altered over the past six decades. Quietly, though, the Government has been negotiating to change this treaty and another with the landlocked southern African state of Lesotho. David Gauke, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said both are close to conclusion. Barry Johnston, ActionAids head of advocacy, said the charity welcomes the Governments renewed focus on the need to renegotiate the unfair and outdated UK-Malawi tax treaty ... Any new treaty must support the fight against poverty and give Malawi the power to collect a fair amount of tax from UK multinationals operating on their soil. Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Tom Brake pushed for the new treaty to come into force immediately. He said: Even by government standards, 60 years is a long time to implement a new tax agreement. There cant be any excuse for not signing on the dotted line immediately, to stop any dodgy tax dealings between Malawi and the UK. An HM Revenue & Customs spokesman said: New treaties with Lesotho and Malawi have been substantively agreed and it is hoped they will be signed shortly. The texts will be published once they are signed. In all of its tax treaty negotiations with developing countries, the UK is committed to ensuring that UK companies pay a fair share of tax in the countries in which they are operating. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Theresa May has been accused of trying to rush through controversial new surveillance laws before the EU referendum campaign, after it emerged that a new snoopers charter will be introduced in the Commons this week. The Home Secretarys draft Bill giving spy agencies sweeping powers to monitor peoples web history was attacked in a series of parliamentary reports earlier this month, sparking calls for it to be entirely rewritten. A joint committee of MPs and peers has claimed that Mrs Mays proposed overhaul of spying laws was flawed and set out 86 proposed changes. However, Mrs May will formally bring forward the Governments Investigatory Powers Bill on 1 March. This has sparked concern that ministers want to bounce MPs into backing the new surveillance powers. The former Tory leadership contender David Davis said there was no doubt that the Government wanted to rush the Bill through Parliament to avoid scrutiny. Government whips have told Labour that the Bill will be published on 1 March, with a second reading giving MPs a line-by-line debate on the Bill scheduled for 14 March. The Bill will then go to committee stage for scrutiny on 22 March, with a final vote expected in Parliament by the end of April. Mr Davis said: When you work it out, its a 300-page Bill so thats something like five seconds to consider each line on second reading. There was no operational reason to rush it through, he said, adding that existing emergency legislation brought in in 2014 could be extended for a year. One of the most contentious aspects of the Bill is a proposal to force internet companies to store records of peoples web and social media use for up to a year (Getty) Mr Davis said: It all keeps with their strategy, which is to rush everything through. They know when they engage with experts they lose. This is the way they will try to get this through on the rush. Theres no doubt about it. Andy Burnham, the shadow Home Secretary, told The Independent on Sunday that he would withdraw Labours support for the Bill unless Mrs May backs down and allows lengthy scrutiny of the proposals. He said: The law needs to be updated to help the police investigate serious crime and protect us against terrorism. But my offer to work constructively with Theresa May only stands if Parliament is given enough time to carefully scrutinise this Bill. It needed to be considerably revised after three expert reports just a matter of weeks ago. For Labours support, ministers must show they have listened to our calls for greater transparency, stronger safeguards and protection of peoples privacy. It is crucial that this Bill is not rushed and necessary time is given to consider these complex issues. A Labour source added: The Tories cant rush through poor legislation just so they can devote more time to the [EU] referendum. Theyve tied themselves in knots over Europe but doing this wont help. The Bill is the Governments second attempt at creating new digital surveillance powers for the security services. The first the original snoopers charter was dropped after Nick Clegg vetoed its introduction in 2013 over privacy fears. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2022 The first members of the public pay their respects as the vigil begins around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2022 Crowds cheer as King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort arrive for a visit to Hillsborough Castle Getty UK news in pictures 12 September 2022 Crowds line the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, as King Charles III joins a procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral following the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS UK news in pictures 11 September 2022 Members of the Public pay their respects as the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, is driven through Ballater AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 10 September 2022 Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wave at well-wishers on the Long walk at Windsor Castle AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 9 September 2022 King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort wave after viewing floral tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Buckingham Palace Getty UK news in pictures 8 September 2022 A screen commemorating Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in Piccadilly Circus, London Britain EPA UK news in pictures 7 September 2022 Police officers stand guard after Animal Rebellion activists threw paint on the walls and road outside the Houses of Parliament in protest, in London, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 6 September 2022 Queen Elizabeth II welcomes Liz Truss during an audience at Balmoral, Scotland, where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2022 Visitors at the PoliNations garden in Victoria Square, Birmingham, which is made up of five 40ft high tree installations and over 6,000 plants. The PoliNations programme aims to explore how migration and cross-pollination have shaped the UKs gardens and culture PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2022 Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews take part in the traditional Pier Walk along the harbour walls of St Andrews before the start of the new academic year PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2022 The Massed Pipes and Drums parade during the Braemar Highland Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2022 Number 12 Company Irish Guards at Wellington Barracks, central London, before commencing their first Guard Mount at Buckingham Palace PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2022 A salmon leaps up the weir at Hexham in Northumberland, despite the drought warnings and low water levels, the River Tyne is still flowing well allowing the salmon and sea trout to head up river to spawn. Every year tens of thousands of salmon make the once-in-a-lifetime journey along the Tyne to spawn, having been out a sea PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2022 Flowers are placed at the gates outside Kensington Palace, London, the former home of Diana, Princess of Wales, on the 25th anniversary of her death PA UK news in pictures 30 August 2022 Edinburghs waste workers clearing mountains of rubbish at Forrest Road as they return to work following their 11 days of industrial action PA UK news in pictures 29 August 2022 Competitors take part in the World Gravy Wrestling Championships at the Rose 'N' Bowl, in Rossendale, Lancashire PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2022 People from the Emancipated Run Crew who are running the carnival parade all in green to remember the 72 people that died in the Grenfell fire during the Family Day at the Notting Hill Carnival in London, which returned to the streets for the first time on two years, after it was thwarted by the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 27 August 2022 Competitors in the bog section during Rude Health Bog Triathlon at Llanwrtyd Wells, in Wales PA UK news in pictures 26 August 2022 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets patient Rita Thomson after she had a complete hip replacement during a visit to South West London Orthopaedic Centre Getty UK news in pictures 25 August 2022 Finney Harrod receiving his GCSE results at Norwich School, in Norwich, Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 24 August 2022 A young girl lays a tribute in Kingsheath Avenue, Knotty Ash, Liverpool, where nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was fatally shot on Monday night PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2022 Florists prepare the entrance to 10 Downing Street with flowers in the Ukraine national colors in London AP UK news in pictures 22 August 2022 17-year-old pilot Mack Rutherford lands at Biggin Hill Airport, Westerham, Kent, as he continues in his bid to beat the Guinness World Record for the youngest person to fly around the world solo in a small plane PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2022 Members of the Unite union man a picket line at one of the entrances to the Port of Felixstowe in Suffolk, Britain's biggest and busiest container port, after backing industrial action by 9-1 in a dispute over pay PA UK news in pictures 20 August 2022 A young girl dances in Belfast City Centre during the first Mela Carnival, in which participants from more than 20 different cultura groups don traditional costumes to celebrate Northern Irelands cultural diversity PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2022 Commuters queue for buses outside Victoria underground train station which is closed due to strike action Getty A year later, Parliament rushed through the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act emergency piece legislation to give the security services new surveillance powers. However, a replacement Bill is needed before the end of 2016. Mrs Mays new proposal aims to bring together a patchwork of existing rules about government surveillance under a single law. One of the most contentious aspects of the Bill is a proposal to force internet companies to store records of peoples web and social media use for up to a year. Earlier this month, the Labour peer Lord Murphy, who chaired the joint parliamentary committee which scrutinised the Bill, said Mrs Mays planned surveillance powers needed a significant amount of work to do before Parliament can be confident the provisions have been fully thought through. The former Labour Northern Ireland secretary added: The fact that we have made 86 recommendations shows that we think that part of the Bill is flawed and needs to be looked at in greater detail. There is a lot of room for improvement. Lord Strasburger, a Liberal Democrat peer who also sat on the joint committee, added: Why is Theresa May trying to rush the huge and very complex Investigatory Powers Bill through Parliament? Mrs May claims its because one of the existing laws expires at the end of this year, but she could easily fix that problem by extending the deadline for another year. The real reason is that although the Home Office pretends it wants a mature public debate, actually it does not like having to justify what would be the most intrusive snooping powers any Western government has into its citizens private lives. He added: What is needed is for the Government to slow down and go back to drawing board. The Government is adamant that new surveillance powers are needed to give the security services the same ability to monitor criminals and terrorists online as they do already for telephone calls. A Home Office spokesperson said: "The Government is aiming for the Investigatory Powers Bill to pass through Parliament and receive Royal Assent by the end of 2016. "We have always said the new legislation would be subject to full public and Parliamentary scrutiny to ensure we get this right. That is why we published the Bill in draft form last November since when it has been studied in detail by a joint committee of both Houses of Parliament along with other leading Parliamentary committees. "Investigatory powers have been the subject of six separate reports and rigorous examination in the last two years and these have played an important role in developing the proposals in the Bill. Once introduced, the Bill will be subject to full Parliamentary scrutiny, following the normal Parliamentary timetable. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Jeremy Corbyn has reaffirmed his pledge to scrap Britain's Trident missile system at a Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament rally in London despite frustration from members within his own party. The Labour leader was the last of more than 20 speakers, including the Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, senior union members and actress Vanessa Redgrave, to address the large crowd. "I don't want us to replace Trident, everyone knows that, many of the British public don't want to replace Trident," he said in the emotive speech. Addressing a crowd of campaigners in Trafalgar Square, he added: I think we should just consider for a moment what a nuclear weapon actually is. It is a weapon of mass destruction. If ever used it can only kill large numbers of civilians. "Theyve only once been used in war and that was in Japan in 1945 and we still see the consequences, the cancers, the destruction and the horror of very old people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Labour leader continued: If a nuclear war took place there would be mass destruction on both sides of the conflict...Everyone should think about the humanitarian effects on people across this globe if they're ever used. World War II, after the explosion of the atom bomb in August 1945, Hiroshima, Japan (Universal History Archive/Getty) "We live in a world where so many things are possible. Where peace is possible in so many places. You don't achieve peace by planning for war, grabbing resources and not respecting each other's human rights. Today's demonstration is an expression of many people's opinions and views. I'm here because I believe in a nuclear-free Britain and a nuclear-free future. "Thank you for coming to this demonstration, thank you for showing that you care and thank you showing you want a peaceful future for this country and the rest of the world." The renewal of Britains nuclear deterrent has sparked a fierce debate within the Labour party. The partys leader Jeremy Corbyn favours unilateral disarmament yet other members of his shadow cabinet are outspoken advocates. Last year the former Labour leader Neil Kinnock who ended the partys commitment to unilateral disarmament in 1989 warned that voters would not back a party that attempts to axe Britains nuclear programme. Mr Corbyn has also come under fire from internal critics over his close links with CND, which recently appointed him to the post of vice-president. He used the speech, however, to praise the CND for their crucial role in society in standing up for human rights. He added: I first joined the CND when I was 16-years-old and Im still a member only a short time later. Speaking to The Independent last week one shadow Cabinet minister said: Everyone knows theres a division of opinion on Trident, theres no disguising that. But its a shame if Jeremy chooses to advertise it when we should be focusing on everyday issues and taking an active party in the EU referendum. The Labour MP John Woodcock added: At a time when weve already been plunged into unnecessary, inward-looking turmoil on this issue, choosing to speak at this demonstration on an issue which Labour cannot change would seem like a terribly divisive act. I just hope, even at this late stage, that Jeremy and those around him recognise what many people are saying a lot of whom are anti-Trident that Labour should be concentrating on holding the government to account on all the things hurting families now. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Show all 11 1 /11 The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He called Hezbollah and Hamas friends True. In a speech made to the Stop the War Coalition in 2009, Mr Corbyn called representatives from both groups friends after inviting them to Parliament. He later told Channel 4 he wanted both groups, who have factions designated as international terror organisations, to be part of the debate for the Middle East peace process. I use (the word friends) in a collective way, saying our friends are prepared to talk, he added. Does it mean I agree with Hamas and what it does? No. Does it mean I agree with Hezbollah and what they do? No. Reuters The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn thinks the death of Osama bin Laden was a tragedy Partly false. David Cameron used this as a line of attack at the Conservative Party conference but appears to have left out all context from Mr Corbyns original remarks. In an 2011 interview on Iranian television, the then-backbencher said the fact the al-Qaeda leader was not put on trial was the tragedy, continuing: The World Trade Center was a tragedy, the attack on Afghanistan was a tragedy, the war in Iraq was a tragedy. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He is haunted by the legacy of his evil great-great-grandfather False. A Daily Express expose revealed that the Labour leaders ancestor, James Sargent, was the despotic master of a Victorian workhouse. Addressing the report at the Labour conference, Mr Corbyn said he had never heard of him before, adding: I want to take this opportunity to apologise for not doing the decent thing and going back in time and having a chat with him about his appalling behaviour. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn raised a motion about pigeon bombs in Parliament This one is true. On 21 May 2004, Mr Corbyn raised an early day motion entitled pigeon bombs, proposing that the House register being appalled but barely surprised that MI5 reportedly proposed to load pigeons with explosives as a weapon. The motion continued: The House believes that humans represent the most obscene, perverted, cruel, uncivilised and lethal species ever to inhabit the planet and looks forward to the day when the inevitable asteroid slams into the earth and wipes them out thus giving nature the opportunity to start again. It was not carried. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He rides a Communist bicycle False. A report in The Times referred to Mr Corbyn, known for his cycling, riding a Chairman Mao-style bicycle earlier this year. Less thorough journalists might have referred to it as just a bicycle, but no, so we have to conclude that whenever we see somebody on a bicycle from now on, there goes another supporter of Chairman Mao, he later joked. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn 'Jeremy Corbyn will appoint a special minister for Jews' False so far. The Sun report in December was allegedly based on a rumour passed to the paper by a Daily Express columnist who has written pieces critical of the Labour leader in the past. The minister did not materialise in his shadow cabinet. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn wishes Britain would abolish its Army False. Another gem from The Sun took comments made at a Hiroshima remembrance parade in August 2012 where Mr Corbyn supported Costa Ricas move to abolish it armed forces. Wouldnt it be wonderful if every politician around the worldabolished the army and took pride in the fact that they dont have an army, he added. The caveat that every politician must take the step suggests Mr Corbyn does not support UK disarmament just yet. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn stole sandwiches meant for veterans False. The Guido Fawkes blog claimed that the Labour leader took sandwiches meant for veterans at at Battle of Britain memorial service in September but a photo later emerged showing him being handed one by Costa volunteers, who later confirmed they were given to all guests. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He missed the induction into the Queens privy council True. After much speculation about Mr Corbyns republican views and willingness to bow to the monarch, his office confirmed that he did not attend the official induction to the privy council because of a prior engagement, but did not rule out joining the body. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn refuses to sing the national anthem. Partly true. The Labour leader was filmed standing in silence as God Save the Queen was sung at a Battle of Britain remembrance service but will reportedly sing it in future. Mr Corbyn was elusive on the issue in an interview, saying he would show memorials respect in the proper way, but sources said he would sing the anthem at future occasions. The most ridiculous claims made about Jeremy Corbyn He is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cheese True. The group lists its purpose as the following: To increase awareness of issues surrounding the dairy industry and focus on economic issues affecting the dairy industry and producers. Michael Dugher, who was sacked from Mr Corbyns shadow cabinet last month, said: "I've nothing against old friends getting together at the weekend for a nice walk. "But for Jeremy to share a platform with many of Labours political opponents and denounce what is still Labour Party policy is quite frankly barmy." Support from party leaders showed there was a mainstream party consensus on Trident and nuclear weapons was forming, said Kate Hudson, the general secretary of the CND. Speaking before Mr Corbyn, the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, said to the crowd in Trafalgar square: Lets cut 167 billion by not renewing the Trident system. There is the moral argument, there is the practical argument, there is the financial argument and I would so much rather see those billions of pounds spent on conventional forces on health, on education, on giving our children the best start in life. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Jeremy Corbyn has vowed to form a radical alliance with hard-left anti-austerity parties in the European Parliament to roll back parts of David Camerons Brussels renegotiation after the referendum. The Labour leader, a life-long eurosceptic, has vowed to campaign for Britain to remain in the EU but is fiercely critical of Brusselss rules enforcing liberalisation a key component of Mr Camerons reform package. Speaking to The Independent on Sunday, Mr Corbyn called for the social democrat grouping in the European Parliament to embrace radical parties such as Greeces Syriza and Spains Podemos to push for far-reaching progressive reform across the EU after the 23 June vote. Mr Corbyn said he wanted an end to Brussels-backed austerity and rules enforcing market competition including elements of the giant EU-US free trade deal which are supported by the Government. He also called for the EU to introduce stronger employment rights to stop the exploitation of migrant workers undercutting wage rates. Labour critics have accused Mr Corbyn of undermining the campaign to keep Britain in the EU by continuing to criticise Brusselss rules. But a source close to Mr Corbyn rejected the idea that he should shy away from criticising the EU for fear it could play into the hands of eurosceptics. Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias (Reuters) You are not going to win the referendum by pretending the EU is perfect, the source said. This is one of the crucial battlegrounds of our time. Living standards across Europe have fallen or stagnated since the crash of 2008, and the old economic model isnt working. Mr Corbyn has been won round to remaining within the EU after attending a series of socialist party meetings in Brussels alongside European leaders including Francois Hollande and Matteo Renzi. He even raised a constituency matter with the Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costa. However, Mr Corbyn has urged the Party of European Socialists grouping, where Labour sits, to forge deeper alliances with parties to the left of them, including the United Left group. Katja Kipping and Bernd Riexinger of Die Linke (PA) This group includes the German party Die Linke which was descended from the communist party which governed East Germany and Irelands Sinn Fein. The Labour source said there was a growing opportunity to work in a common way to address the negatives of the European Union from a progressive point of view. Mr Corbyn said he was supporting the Labour In campaign because the EU had brought investment, jobs and protection for workers and consumers in Britain. He said it was a vital framework for trade and cooperation in the 21st century. But he added: We also need to see real reform if the EU is to work for working people. That includes more democracy, stronger workers rights, an end to austerity and a halt to enforced deregulation and privatisation of public services. To make those changes we need to be at the heart of an alliance for change with left-of-centre and progressive parties and movements across Europe. EU referendum timeline - What happens if Britain gets the deal Labour is making allies for real reform in Europe with the Party of European Socialists and other European parties across the broad left, while the Tories are isolating themselves. But we can only achieve change by staying in and making common cause with others across Europe. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Labour has called on Jeremy Hunt to come clean on how the Government will pay for a seven-day NHS, after senior health officials continued to dodge allegations that the key manifesto promise was not costed before lasts years election and is still being worked out. Heidi Alexander, the shadow Health Secretary, said ministers hadnt been straight about the scale of the NHSs current financial crisis. She said that until the Health Secretary offered full details on the cost of extra staff and other resources needed to deliver a seven-day operation, the public would remain sceptical. The Independent on Sunday last week contacted senior health advisers and economists who have worked on NHS funding plans since the general election last May. There was a near unanimous acknowledgement that the Department of Healths reluctance to put a clear price-tag on the move to a seven-day service, was due to the fact that the financial arithmetic of the policy has yet to be completed. Hard-line tactics were deployed by Mr Hunt during recent pay negotiations with junior doctors. He eventually imposed new contracts despite widespread objections. However Charlie Massie, the DoHs director general for external affairs who appeared before the Commons Public Accounts Committee last week, said conversations on the final bill were still taking place. This idea of a work-in-progress, rather than a well-calculated policy, angered MPs. He told them there was no separate pot set aside for something with the specific label of seven-day services. Commenting on the suggestion that Mr Hunts department is still engaged in calculating the cost of a showcase election promise, Ms Alexander said: Everyone supports the principle of a seven-day services. However Jeremy Hunts plans are simply not credible without the extra resources If his plan is simply to deliver more care by spreading existing services more thinly, he should be honest and say so. Jeremy Hunt has been called on to come clean (Getty) The British Medical Association, the trade union and professional body that represents 170,000 doctors in the UK, says the Government has still to offer precise details about what it intends to introduce, how many staff will be needed and what it will cost. An NHS report published last year indicated that to introduce a functioning seven-day NHS service, upwards of 11,000 extra staff would be needed. The figure included an additional 1,600 consultants, 1,500 registrars and 900 doctors below consultant grade. A further 3,000 nurses were also part of the calculation. Accountants Deloitte, acting for the DoH, estimated this could translate into net annual additional staff costs of more than 900m. The overall final bill may be much higher. The current budget for the NHS in England for this year is 116bn. The 2015 Spending Review estimated the NHS budget would increase to 133bn by 2020. Another report last year estimated the delivery of a seven-day service would require an additional 2 per cent above the current total income, suggesting Mr Hunt would need to find least a further 2bn in the short-term. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2022 The first members of the public pay their respects as the vigil begins around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2022 Crowds cheer as King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort arrive for a visit to Hillsborough Castle Getty UK news in pictures 12 September 2022 Crowds line the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, as King Charles III joins a procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral following the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS UK news in pictures 11 September 2022 Members of the Public pay their respects as the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, is driven through Ballater AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 10 September 2022 Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wave at well-wishers on the Long walk at Windsor Castle AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 9 September 2022 King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort wave after viewing floral tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Buckingham Palace Getty UK news in pictures 8 September 2022 A screen commemorating Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in Piccadilly Circus, London Britain EPA UK news in pictures 7 September 2022 Police officers stand guard after Animal Rebellion activists threw paint on the walls and road outside the Houses of Parliament in protest, in London, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 6 September 2022 Queen Elizabeth II welcomes Liz Truss during an audience at Balmoral, Scotland, where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2022 Visitors at the PoliNations garden in Victoria Square, Birmingham, which is made up of five 40ft high tree installations and over 6,000 plants. The PoliNations programme aims to explore how migration and cross-pollination have shaped the UKs gardens and culture PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2022 Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews take part in the traditional Pier Walk along the harbour walls of St Andrews before the start of the new academic year PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2022 The Massed Pipes and Drums parade during the Braemar Highland Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2022 Number 12 Company Irish Guards at Wellington Barracks, central London, before commencing their first Guard Mount at Buckingham Palace PA The BMA says the 2bn figure grossly underplays the real costs, and that if the switch to a seven-day service is to be more than political spin it should reflect an increase in the NHSs workload of up to 40 per cent which could push costs up by 10bn. Although Downing Street, the Treasury and the DoH have been reluctant to commit to any final figure, they remain committed to a seven-day operation. Number 10 insists that the shift to seven-days-a-week opening will deliver a safer NHS and lives will be saved. When asked for a precise figure for the cost, the DoH gave an equivocal response. A spokesman said: There is clear, independent clinical evidence of variation in the quality of care across the week and we are determined to tackle this problem. Working with the NHS, we have already set out clear plans to deliver seven-day care to a quarter of the country by 2017 funded by the additional 10bn were investing in the NHSs own plan for the future. That is how we will ensure that urgent and emergency care services in hospitals are of the same standard across the week. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Lawyers investigating bribery and corruption allegations against one of the worlds leading tobacco firms have been urged to expand their investigation after fresh international accusations emerged. British American Tobacco, BAT, has been accused of corporate espionage against rival cigarette makers in South Africa. According to court documents seen by The Independent on Sunday, two former police officers who went to work for private corporate investigation companies paid cash to South African law enforcement officials to disrupt BATs competitors business operations. Recommended Read more Members of US congress call for probe into British American Tobacco The accusations have been made in court documents filed by a body representing small local tobacco producers in a complaint to the South African governments Competition Commission. The affidavits say BAT officials instructed the men to disrupt rivals trade by falsely suggesting they were marketing and selling cigarettes unlawfully. The aim, often successful, was to get rivals stock impounded and discourage wholesalers from dealing with rival firms. The South African claims follow bribery allegations, first revealed by the IoS and the BBC, in a dossier of claims passed to the UKs Serious Fraud Office by Paul Hopkins, a BAT whistleblower who worked in Africa for BAT for 13 years before being made redundant. Mr Hopkins responsible for stopping the illicit tobacco trade in East and Central Africa said he facilitated payments on BATs account to cripple anti-smoking laws in several East African countries, payments to officials to undermine efforts by the World Health Organisation to reduce deaths from smoking, ran a corporate spying operation, and conducted black ops to put rivals out of business. After his claims, members of the US Congress called for a Department of Justice investigation. Last week Nicandro Durante, head of BAT, announced that the lawyers Linklaters had been appointed by the firm to investigate the corruption allegations in East Africa. BATs critics said last night that this investigation should be extended to cover the fresh South African claims as well. BAT insists the company does not tolerate corruption in our business anywhere in the world and says its policy is to take all appropriate action on any allegation. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} In much of the world, coffee is a social lubricant, an indulgence, a morning eye-opener. In Ethiopia, it is also the backbone of the economy and now, as the country faces its worst drought in 50 years, it may also be its lifeline. Ethiopia is a different country from that of the 1980s. It has rebranded as the Lion of Africa, one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Yet drought has been sweeping the north and east. Aid agencies are suggesting that the government keen to shake its image as the poor man of Africa asked for international help too late, and that food aid may run out by May, with 10 million at risk of starvation. In the south, security forces are cracking down on protesting farmers fearful for their land as the government plans to expand Addis Ababa. Despite the advances the country has made, food security is back on the agenda. Eighty per cent of the country still subsists on rain-dependent agriculture. In good times, the country is almost completely self-sufficient. Agriculture forms almost half the nations GDP, according to the World Bank, and about 15 million smallholder farmers depend on coffee for their livelihoods. But although this black gold is globally the second most valuable exported legal commodity, prices are still low. A farmer can expect about 12 birr (40p) for a kilo of coffee. Even when weather conditions are perfect, most farmers endure two months of hunger. The government claims that the drought in the north has not yet affected the south, but on the ground farmers say the rain came late last year, and that the crop was disappointing. Ethiopia has been building a sophisticated food security network since the late 1980s. The Productive Safety Net Programme, a welfare-for-work initiative, enabled six million people to work on public infrastructure projects in return for food or cash. Since the governments appeal for aid early this year, it has secured almost half of its $1.4bn target from the international community. The government is also pledging to invest more heavily in coffee production, boosting output by 45 per cent, as well as offering incentives and more support to coffee farmers. In addition, the Fairtrade Foundation is working with local farming co-operatives in a drive for better prices and conditions for smallholders. To become Fairtrade certified, farmers and producers have to adhere to certain standards, and are guaranteed a minimum price for their coffee. The co-operatives also have access to the Fairtrade Premium, an additional sum of money that goes into a communal fund for farmers and workers to use as they see fit. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Drought is caused by nature, but famine is caused by humans, says James Mwai of Fairtrade Africa. We have the technology at our fingertips to predict and pre-empt times of drought, by boosting food reserves and income, but establishing this at a local level can be difficult. While Nasa might be able to predict changes in weather patterns, it seems too technical to farmers. They maintain our elders havent told us yet. Fairtrade works closely with communities to ensure that it is the people themselves who are making decisions. There is certainly a time and place for aid, to get communities back on their feet, but we are looking at long-term, sustainable goals, says Mr Mwai. Fairtrade should be a baseline. We are enabling the people to save money, to store food, to make plans. There is a great dignity in that. Even in the poorest communities, there is no shortage of ambition. Parents are eager for their children to get an education, and even go on to university. Wessi Wonago, a father of six and grandfather of 35, has become something of a village dignitary, heavily involved with his local co-operative board. His children graduated from university. The community sees my family as a model. They are sending their children to school because of the example my family set, he says. It is important for our community to work to eradicate illiteracy. Almost 90 per cent of children are enrolled in primary school across Ethiopia, according to Unicef, compared to less than half 10 years ago. Mr Wessi has big plans for his grandchildren: I hope that they will make a difference in the country, not just at community level. He says his trade, coffee, has been integral in transforming the community. Coffee is the backbone of our life, our economy, our social life it is everything to us. But we want to get a better price for it, so that we can improve our lives. He says that Fairtrades involvement has helped towards that. The co-operative gives us a dividend to see us through the harsh times. They also distribute things like exercise books without making any profit. Mr Mwai insists that to tackle hunger in the developing world, the chain needs to stretch right back to the consumer. If a woman walks into a supermarket she needs to know that the choice she makes directly influences the woman picking her coffee. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump has seen a number of campaign victories in recent days, including an endorsement from the New Jersey governor Chris Christie. Mr Christie, who up until the Republican vote in New Hampshire was running against Mr Trump, now believes him to be "the best person to beat Hillary Clinton in November". That has been enough to send Twitter into overdrive and soon the hashtag #NeverTrump was trending with users, regardless of thier political leanings, sharing reasons why they don't want to see Mr Trump win the Republican nomination. Perhaps unsurprisingly, even Florida senator Marco Rubio, a Trump rival, got in on the act: Some of those tweeting took issue with Mr Trump's attitude towards women: Others were concerned about how Mr Trump feels about the disabled: That's something that goes back to Mr Trump's mocking of New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski who has arthrogryposis. Some voiced concerns over Mr Trump's plans for a wall dividing the US and Mexico: Some expressed fears that he was unstatesmanlike: Other raised the issue of Mr Trump's supposedly stubby fingers, strangely something that appears to have plagued the candidate for quite a while: And then there were those who worried what it might mean for them if Mr Trump actually becomes president: Meanwhile, shortly after the trend began, supporters of Mr Trump started their own hastag, #AlwaysTrump. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} New Mexico has passed a law which means teenagers can legally send each explicit sexts with each other without falling foul of the states child sex abuse images laws. On Friday, Republican Governor Susana Martinez signed into law a proposal which allows children aged 14 to 18 to engage in consensual sexting without facing charges for making and distributing child sex abuse images if caught. Democratic State Senator George Munoz told the Guardian: Kids will be kids, and theyre going to make mistakes. You cant punish them for the rest of their lifetime with a charge of child pornography if theyre consensually sending photos back and forth. The law specifies that sexting between minors is only legal if they knowingly and voluntarily exchanged images and there is no evidence of coercion. The amendment was part of a wider piece of legislation passed to bring in harsher penalties for adults who make and distribute child abuse images. The new law increases the penalty for child pornography possession from 18 months to 10 years and the penalty for distributing it from 3 years to 11 years. Making child pornography will now carry a maximum jail term 12 years - up from nine years. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Governor Martinez said she signed the bill because of the harsher penalties and did not agree with the sexting amendment. She said: I believe this bill is an important step forward in protecting our children from exploitation. As a former prosecutor who specialized in child abuse and sexual abuse cases, I know how important it is that we protect our kids from these abhorrent criminals. I dont support the so-called sexting amendment, as I believe the reasoning behind it is misinformed and it was not carefully considered. She will ask the state senate to work on it during the next legislative assembly, she added. Before the law was passed teenagers could face long jail terms as in child abuse cases prosecutors can file a charge against for each image they send. As teenagers can send hundreds of images very quickly they were at risk of lengthy jail sentences. Rikki-Lee Chavez, legislative coordinator for the New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, said teenagers could be facing huge amounts of time for a decision that is common practice for kids now. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} It is barely eight months since nine black people were shot dead by a young white man as they attended a bible study group at Charlestons Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. As South Carolina prepares to hold its Democratic primary, the incident has been high on Hillary Clintons agenda, as she works to cement support among black voters. Recent polls in the state, where African Americans will make up the majority of voters on Saturday, put Ms Clinton as far as 28 points clear of her rival, Bernie Sanders. But not everyone is convinced by her attempt to embrace the issues at the heart of the Black Lives Matter movement. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, the first black woman to be elected to the state government in South Carolina, has said she is concerned that Ms Clintons decision to include the relatives of one of the so-called Charleston Nine in a campaign advert meant the deaths were being used for political purposes. The advert features the Rev Anthony Thompson, whose wife, Myra, was among those shot and killed last June in the massacre. This week, a young activist, Ashley Williams, confronted the former secretary of state at a rally and demanded to know why she had once used the term super predators to describe black offenders, and why she supported laws such as the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, which is considered to have disproportionally hit African Americans. Ms Williams, a student from Charlotte, North Carolina, said: She is inconsistent and she has not explained that inconsistency, and she is not to be trusted unless she explains herself, she said. At a rally on Thursday night in North Charleston, close to where the unarmed Walter Scott was shot and killed by a white police officer in a notorious incident last April, Ms Clinton talked of the time she spent with black mothers whose sons had been killed. Trayvon Martins mother. Her 17-year-old son was killed by someone with a gun. Jordan Daviss mother. He was a teenager playing his music loud, like teenagers do And then the horrors of what happened at Mother Emanuel [church] when those people welcomed a stranger... On average, 90 people a day are dying from gun violence. Many at the event said they believed Ms Clinton was qualified to lead the country and deliver on a range of issues, including education, jobs, healthcare and gun control. Montez Aiken, a black police officer, had brought his 11-year-old daughter. He wanted to hear Ms Clinton in person, though he said he already planned to vote for her. He said the issues raised by the Black Lives Movement were not talked enough by the presidential hopefuls. I believe she has done her groundwork, he said. There is no question she will know what to do as president. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} As voters headed to the polls in South Carolina on Saturday morning, Bernie Sanders left the state and headed for Texas - an indication of the huge defeat he is expected to suffer here to Hillary Clinton As polls opened at 7am on a bright and clear morning in the city of Charleston, and elsewhere across the so-called Palmetto state, Mr Sanders was preparing for rallies in Austin and Dallas. His decision to head to Texas, which is one of more than a dozen states across the country that vote in three days time on Super Tuesday, reflected polls collated by Real Clear Politics that put Mr Sanders on just 32 points, a full 26 points behind Ms Clinton. Bill Clinton and Hillary at a rally in Columbia on Friday night (AP) Mr Sanders made a final three appearances on Friday, speaking to an audience of just a few hundred people at Claflin University, a historically black school in Orangeburg. We came to South Carolina from a state far, far away where it gets a little bit colder than it does here, said Mr Sanders, according to the Washington Post. When we came here to South Carolina, we knew very few people. Thats the simple truth. Later he spoke at a fish fry and rally in Columbia, where he appeared alongside the rapper Killer Mike, who has endorsed the Vermont senator. In 1963, I was there with Dr King for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, he said. He also spoke at concert in the evening. I need your help tomorrow, here in South Carolina, he said. We need you to bring out your brothers and your sisters and your moms and your dads and your kids and your grandparents. By contrast to Mr Sanders limited appearances, Ms Clinton and her surrogates have spent much of the week in the state, determined to secure a huge victory they hope will give them momentum ahead of next Tuesdays crucial day of voting. She, her husband and daughter did a combined nine campaign events on Friday and Ms Clinton would enjoy the emotional boost of moving on from her shuddering defeat to Barack Obama in South Carolina in 2008 Lets go make America all it should be again, Ms Clinton said at her own rally in Columbia. The South Carolina primary is personally important to me because I want to send a strong signal that South Carolina is ready for change, ready for progress, ready to make a difference. Ms Clintons campaign has been counting on her support among African American voters, who will make up the majority of people voting today. Mr Sanders, who has struggled against the perception that he comes from a state that is 99 per cent white, despite his considerable efforts at outreach to the black community. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Just two weeks ago, Bernie Sanders was riding the momentum of a huge victory in New Hampshire and enjoying breakfast with the Rev Al Sharpton at Sylvias restaurant in Harlem. The mood music was clear; after his virtual tie with Hillary Clinton Iowa and his 22 point victory in the Granite State, he was ready for Nevada and South Carolina, two states with more diverse communities. Today, having lost Nevada by five points and with polls predicting he may lose South Carolina by as many as 28 points, Mr Sanders has already flown on too Texas, seemingly resigned to the fact that he has failed to connect with this states black voters. On the campaign trail, Mr Sanders had talked repeatedly about economic inequality, a criminal justice system that incarcerates a disproportionate number of black people and of the need for a political revolution. But it is Ms Clinton, who many believe has a mixed record on such issues, who has made the headway and is who is looking for a knockout win to carry her into Super Tuesday next week. South Carolina carries 53 delegates. Bernie Sanders boards his plane out of South Carolina (Reuters) Observers say there are a number of reasons Mr Sanders has failed to find traction here. Among them is the fact that he is an unknown quantity, something that may be appealing to college students, but has left many wondering how he would fare as president. Bernie Sanders has not made much of an impression on me, whereas Mrs Clinton has a track record, said Julian West, who works in a liquor store in Charleston and who said he planned to vote for the former secretary of state. Others have said that while they think Mr Sanders is a good man, with good ideas, they are concerned that they may be too radical to enact, especially if Congress remains in the hands of recalcitrant Republicans. It is not as if Mr Sanders has not made a genuine effort at outreach. He has hired a black speechwriter to help channel his message, secured the support of celebrities such as Danny Glover and Killer Mike and received the endorsement of senior black figures such as Ben Jealous, the former head of the NAACP. Indeed, even on Saturday Killer Mike, the rapper, was still making the case that Mr Sanders was following in the tradition of such icons as Martin Luther King. Martin Luther King said we needed a revolution, he said on CNN. I would rather be on that side. Like Dr Cornell West said, you need to be shaking things up. Mr Sanders has also stressed his record as someone who was involved in the civil rights movement, though some leaders from that era have questioned how central he was. On Friday night, Mr Sanders told a rally in Columbia: In 1963, I was there with Dr King for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Bamberg County Schools Superintendent Thelma Sojourner (L) introduces Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during a forum at Denmark-Olar Elementary School in Denmark, South Carolina, (Reuters) Yet the main reason for Mr Sanders failure to connect is the long, strategic effort that was undertaken by his rival, Ms Clinton. In 2008, Ms Clinton lost by more than 20 points to Barack Obama, whose victory in South Carolina helped propel him to the White House. Voters here not only know Ms Clinton from then but have been struck by her work as secretary of state. They say she has the experience to lead the country, and the ability to beat the Republicans in November. She will help working people, the black community and women, said Octavia E Robinson, who works in a cafe in the centre of Charleston. She has great knowledge. She is very smart. A key part of her campaign was the endorsement of five black women whose sons were killed, either by strangers, or else at the hands of the police. Earlier this week, the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland, Dontre Hamilton, Jordan Davis, and Eric Garner, appeared at an event where they explained why they were backing her. Hillary took it upon herself to listen to me when none of the leaders decided to lay in the street with us, march in the street with us, pour our hearts out and ask for help. Hillary heard my cry, said Maria Hamilton, whose son Dontre was shot and killed by a Milwaukee police officer in 2014. Not everyone is convinced by Ms Clintons embrace of the Black Lives Matter movement. Earlier this week at private reception, she was confronted by a student who demanded an apology for comments Ms Clinton made in 1996 about so-called super predators when she declared we need to bring them to order. The activist also questioned Ms Clinton about her support for a 1994 crime bill that resulted in many African Americans being jailed. The activist, Ashley Williams, told The Independent: I think she is inconsistent and she has not explained this and she is not to be trusted until she explains her record on supporting policies that were detrimental to the black community. Charles Blow, a black commentator, said that while Mr Sanders had presented himself who would be a radical break with the administration of Barack Obama and scrap his healthcare scheme in favor of a European-style model, voters in South Carolina saw Ms Clinton as a continuance of his legacy. He said: A lot of people feel loyal to him and I think that is the way to repay that loyalty. I think that sentiment exists. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An Afghan woman has shot dead a Taliban commander after he tried to enter her home. Another Taliban member was injured after the unnamed woman opened fire on the militants. Provincial police spokesman Jawed Basharat said the incident occurred in the Khwajah Bahauddin district of Baghlan province last week, according to Afghan news agency Khaama Press. The dead Taliban commander has not yet been identified. Provincial police Chief General Ewaz Mohammad said that the man had tried to enter the womens house which - without consent - is considered a serious breach of privacy by the Afghans, Khaama Press reports. It is not yet known what became of the woman, but the Taliban has not commented on the incident. It is not the first time an Afghan woman has taken up arms against the Taliban, who follow a strict interpretation of Islam. In November 2014, in the western Farah province, a woman named as Reza Gul killed more than 20 Taliban militants after they shot her police officer son dead, Press TV reports. She was later herself killed following a fire fight. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Baghlan province has become a tense region of Afghanistan, which has seen fighting between Afghan National Army and Taliban militants in recent months, as the Taliban have spread from their traditional strongholds in the south and east of the country. Last week, 31 militants were killed in military operations in Baghlan and nearby Kunduz province. In July 2015, more than 20 people were killed at a wedding in the Deh Salah district of Baghlan after a fire fight broke out. Afghanistan has faced continuing instability since the US-led invasion of the country in 2001, in which the Taliban regime was overthrown. However, the Taliban have since led a guerrilla campaign against both coalition forces and successive Afghan governments. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A Taliban suicide bomber blew himself up near the Afghan defence ministry in Kabul on Saturday, causing heavy casualties just hours after an attack in the eastern province of Kunar killed 13 people and put prospects for new peace talks in doubt. The attack in Kabul, which occurred as defence ministry workers were leaving their offices, killed as many as 12 people and wounded eight, according to a ministry statement, although Kabul police said nine people had been killed and 13 wounded. Witnesses at the scene, where a large plume of smoke spiralled into the sky, said they had seen a number of bodies on the ground. The area was sealed off as police and army vehicles surrounded the blast site. "I wanted to cross the bridge when I heard an explosion," said a witness who gave his name as Zulgai. "I went to the area ... there were damaged cars and shattered windows everywhere." The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack which the movement's spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said killed 23 officers and wounded 29 others. He said there were no civilian casualties. Push for Afghanistan peace talks amid Taliban resurgence The high-profile attack came as officials from Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States and China have been pressing for a resumption of the peace process interrupted last year between the Western-backed government in Kabul and the Taliban. But it remains unclear whether the Taliban, struggling to contain deep internal divisions, will take part in direct peace talks that the four-nation group hope will be held in Islamabad as early as next week. In a statement issued after the attack in Kunar, President Ashraf Ghani said his government would not conduct peace talks with groups that killed innocent people and said security forces would step up the fight against terrorism. The Taliban, fighting to restore hardline Islamist rule in Afghanistan, has conducted a series of attacks in Kabul and other areas this year and has pressed its military campaign in the southern province of Helmand, where it has forced government troops to pull out of a number of districts. Earlier on Saturday, a suicide bomber killed a local militia commander and at least 12 others outside the governor's compound in Asadabad, the provincial capital of Kunar, near the border with Pakistan. Provincial Governor Wahidullah Kalimzai said the bomber rode up on a motorcycle to the entrance of the compound and blew himself up, wounding at least 40 people. "Most of victims were civilians and children who were either passing by or playing in the park," he said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the apparent target of the attack, a tribal elder and militia commander named Haji Khan Jan, was among the dead. He had been closely involved in a number of operations against the Taliban in his district last year. Reuters For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} For North Korea and Burma, the coming weeks represent the parting of the ways. This weekend, in the wake of what Pyongyang claimed was its first ever testing of a hydrogen bomb, the UN Security Council is expected to vote on a new range of sanctions on North Korea. Jointly proposed by the US and China, these include bans on selling aviation fuel, which could ground the national airline, and on luxury items such as Rolex watches. The UN is also threatening Kim Jong-un with prosecution at the International Criminal Court. Meanwhile, a couple of thousand miles away, generals and democratically elected politicians in Burma are fine-tuning the details of the nations first-ever peaceful transfer of power, with Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy government scheduled to take over at the end of March. The chief remaining bone of contention there is whether the generals (who will continue to hold a great deal of power) will agree that a crucial clause of the constitution be suspended to allow Suu Kyi become President. But even if they flatly refuse and that is the likely outcome no-one doubts that the crucial transfer will take place. And it will not be a mere matter of forms and titles. Huge challenges remain, but Burma is today a dramatically freer, more hopeful country than it was when President Obama arrived in the White House seven years ago. That transformation is substantially Obamas doing. So if Burma turned out well, why has North Korea in the same period gone from bad to worse? Only three years ago, North Korea and Burma were still seen as secret allies. In March 2013, Japan reported intercepting a cargo of aluminium alloy rods heading for Burma from North Korea which could have been used to make nuclear centrifuges. It was the latest episode of a subterranean relationship focused on the covert transfer of nuclear and other military technology which caused serious jitters in Washington. As Asias two military-dominated hermit states, deeply authoritarian and congenitally paranoid, they had plenty in common. And one of Burmas most senior military men, former general Thura Shwe Mann, a decorated war hero, paid a secret visit to North Korea in late 2008 in which he toured missile factories, air force bases and radar stations and signed a memorandum of understanding for military cooperation with Pyongyang. Some observers see that dangerous budding alliance with Burma as potentially South East Asias first nuclear power as the most compelling explanation for why the new Obama administration expended so much diplomatic energy in turning Burma around. Today the same ex-general Shwe Mann is Suu Kyis best friend on the military side, and has been given an important role in her partys upcoming administration. Why have the US and North Koreas neighbours failed so totally to coax Pyongyang in a similar direction? One reason is the word juche or self-reliance, the paranoid state ideology which sees the whole world ranged against the plucky Democratic Peoples Republic. Another is the word Kim. Since the downfall of General Ne Win in 1988, there have always been two or three Burmese generals jockeying for power, and this eventually opened the door to outside influence. In the case of Korea, power is concentrated exclusively in the dynasty: witness the pitiless way Kim Jong-un disposed of his army chief the other week. As a result, no rival power centres have been able to gain traction. The new sanctions will confirm the belief of ordinary North Koreans that the whole world is against them. Whether they will do much to weaken Kim is open to doubt. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Europe's first sexually-transmitted case of Zika has been detected in France, according to a high-ranking French health official. The female patient was infected after her companion returned from Brazil, the director general of the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance told BFM television. He said the couple, who live in Paris, are both doing well. Zika is primarily spread by mosquito bites, and transmission through sex is considered rare. Earlier this month the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that European nations should prepare for the possibility that the disease will spread as we move into summer. Every European country in which Aedes mosquitos are present can be at risk for the spread of Zika virus disease, said WHO Europe chief Zsuzsanna Jakab said a fortnight ago. With the onset of spring and summer, the risk that Zika virus will spread increases. Two cases of sexual transmissions of Zika from male travellers to their sexual partners have been confirmed in the United States in the last two weeks, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Four others are probable amid an investigation into 14 potential cases. The mosquito-borne disease is linked to severe birth defects and is prevalent in the South American country. Earlier, America's Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recommended pregnant women consider not going to the 2016 summer Olympics in Brazil. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Islamists in Norway claim to have formed a 'Soldiers of Allah' group in response to the rise of the right-wing vigilante group the Soldiers of Odin. Norwegian newspaper VG quoted Islamist sources in Oslo as saying the new group, officially calling itself Jundullaah, would patrol the streets of the capital. "In response to the infidel group Soldiers of Odin patrols, we Muslims have chosen to create a group that will patrol the streets, first in Oslo, to prevent evil and encourage the good," VG quoted its source as saying. There were also claims that the Soldiers of Allah would wear a black hoodie decorated with black Islamic State flags as their official uniform. Norwegian police have not commented on the group. A report on The Local quoted Hadia Tajik, an MP with Norway's Labour party, as saying there was no place for vigilantism in Norway, "I assume that the police, who are the only ones who have the authority to patrol the streets and use force, are following these groups as closely as the circumstances require," she said. Named after the Norse god, the Soldiers of Odin were formed in Finland but spread to Norway this year. The group describes itself as "patriotic" and uses anti-immigration rhetoric. Its members are often seen wearing black coats bearing the group's insignia, and have been spotted patrolling the streets in some of Norway's major cities. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} In the fields outside the village of Idomeni, two elderly Iraqi men shuffled on crutches and prosthetic legs up to the razor wire that laces the frontier of northern Greece and beckoned to the Macedonian officer on the other side. Please, sir. I have been here six days. I cannot wait so long. Can you help me? The reply was blunt: No. After minutes of stony silence, the two men realised there was nothing to be done and returned to join the more than 5,000 Syrian and Iraqi refugees who have amassed on the Greek-Macedonian border in the past week. The numbers have been steadily growing since 26 February, when Austria announced a cap on entries of 580 people per day in a bid to choke the flow of refugees heading north through the Balkans to Germany. The move was swiftly replicated by Serbia, as well as Slovenia and Croatia, both EU members, steadily pushing back against the flow of refugees from Greece. Greece has said it refuses to become a permanent warehouse for human beings, but with more than 112,000 refugees having arrived by sea since the start of the year, and ever fewer borders for them to cross, it has been left with little choice. The government has erected new refugee camps in recent days, including one just 12km from the Idomeni crossing, and has temporarily suspended ferries from the Greek islands to ease the congestion on the mainland. More than 20,000 refugees remain stranded in multiple locations across the country, prompting Dimitris Avramopoulos, the EU migration commissioner, to warn of a looming large-scale humanitarian crisis. The refugees are even more desperate to leave than Greece is to see them go. Families have been abandoning the camps to walk along motorways towards the Macedonian border, desperate to arrive while there might still be a chance to cross. Last night, Macedonia said it had briefly reopened the border to let up to 350 people through, more than 36 hours after it was closed. Refugee crisis - in pictures Show all 27 1 /27 Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugee crisis - in pictures A child looks through the fence at the Moria detention camp for migrants and refugees at the island of Lesbos on May 24, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Ahmad Zarour, 32, from Syria, reacts after his rescue by MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) while attempting to reach the Greek island of Agathonisi, Dodecanese, southeastern Agean Sea Refugee crisis - in pictures Syrian migrants holding life vests gather onto a pebble beach in the Yesil liman district of Canakkale, northwestern Turkey, after being stopped by Turkish police in their attempt to reach the Greek island of Lesbos on 29 January 2016. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees flash the 'V for victory' sign during a demonstration as they block the Greek-Macedonian border Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants have been braving sub zero temperatures as they cross the border from Macedonia into Serbia. Refugee crisis - in pictures A sinking boat is seen behind a Turkish gendarme off the coast of Canakkale's Bademli district on January 30, 2016. At least 33 migrants drowned on January 30 when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea while trying to cross from Turkey to Greece. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A general view of a shelter for migrants inside a hangar of the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees protest behind a fence against restrictions limiting passage at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Since last week, Macedonia has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back. Macedonia has finished building a fence on its frontier with Greece becoming the latest country in Europe to build a border barrier aimed at checking the flow of refugees Refugee crisis - in pictures A father and his child wait after being caught by Turkish gendarme on 27 January 2016 at Canakkale's Kucukkuyu district Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants make hand signals as they arrive into the southern Spanish port of Malaga on 27 January, 2016 after an inflatable boat carrying 55 Africans, seven of them women and six chidren, was rescued by the Spanish coast guard off the Spanish coast. Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee holds two children as dozens arrive on an overcrowded boat on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures A child, covered by emergency blankets, reacts as she arrives, with other refugees and migrants, on the Greek island of Lesbos, At least five migrants including three children, died after four boats sank between Turkey and Greece, as rescue workers searched the sea for dozens more, the Greek coastguard said Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants wait under outside the Moria registration camp on the Lesbos. Over 400,000 people have landed on Greek islands from neighbouring Turkey since the beginning of the year Refugee crisis - in pictures The bodies of Christian refugees are buried separately from Muslim refugees at the Agios Panteleimonas cemetery in Mytilene, Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures Macedonian police officers control a crowd of refugees as they prepare to enter a camp after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee tries to force the entry to a camp as Macedonian police officers control a crowd after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees are seen aboard a Turkish fishing boat as they arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coast to Lesbos Reuters Refugee crisis - in pictures An elderly woman sings a lullaby to baby on a beach after arriving with other refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A man collapses as refugees make land from an overloaded rubber dinghy after crossing the Aegean see from Turkey, at the island of Lesbos EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures A girl reacts as refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees make a show of hands as they queue after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures People help a wheelchair user board a train with others, heading towards Serbia, at the transit camp for refugees near the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija AP Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees board a train, after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Macedonia is a key transit country in the Balkans migration route into the EU, with thousands of asylum seekers - many of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - entering the country every day Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures An aerial picture shows the "New Jungle" refugee camp where some 3,500 people live while they attempt to enter Britain, near the port of Calais, northern France Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A Syrian girl reacts as she helped by a volunteer upon her arrival from Turkey on the Greek island of Lesbos, after having crossed the Aegean Sea EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Beds ready for use for migrants and refugees are prepared at a processing center on January 27, 2016 in Passau, Germany. The flow of migrants arriving in Passau has dropped to between 500 and 1,000 per day, down significantly from last November, when in the same region up to 6,000 migrants were arriving daily. The announcement came just a few hours after hundreds of Syrian and Iraqi families gathered by the fence to demonstrate against the border closures. Holding placards and photos of drowned Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi, shouts of please open the borders could be heard for hours as police from Macedonia, Austria and the Czech Republic looked on. Derin Rashid, 33, a journalist from Aleppo, Syria, rested on two crutches nearby. This is a beautiful show for the media, its like an action film, but nobody does anything, just like the war in Syria, he said. I tried to live in Turkey, my son needs oxygen for his asthma but the doctor in the hospital told me that we are too many Syrians, and they cant help us all. So we have been trapped by Assad for six years. Europe said we were welcome, but now the door is closed. Last week, refugees from Afghanistan (who the UNHCR estimates comprise 27 per cent of sea arrivals into Greece) became the latest nationality to be refused entry into Europe. The sudden decision by Macedonia prompted Greek police to roam the countryside, forcing Afghans to board buses back to Athens. The crisis has fuelled intra-EU tensions. On 25 February, Athens recalled its ambassador to Vienna after Austria hosted a meeting on the refugee issue with Balkan states to which Greece was not invited. Greece will not accept unilateral actions, Greek migration minister Yannis Mouzalas warned. Greece will not accept becoming Europes Lebanon. As the Greek military raced to build five new camps in northern Greece, those stranded at the border began to think of alternative routes. From Idomeni, it is just 100km to the nearest road crossing into Albania. Standing apart from the protests, Murad, 18, a Syrian Kurd from Afrin, which has been shelled by the Turkish military, counted the countries he had to pass through before he reached his destination: Germany. They dont even let in old men with no legs. What chance do we have? Some people here were talking about going through Albania and Bosnia. And today, they are gone, he said. But Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama moved quickly on 26 February to tell local media: We have neither the conditions, nor the strength, nor the enthusiasm to save the world while others close their borders. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A Russian man beaten because he was gay has sent a powerful message to his homophobic attackers. Ivan Kravistin was at his local supermarket in Syzran, roughly 600 miles east of the capital Moscow, when he was set upon by a man. Ivan took to Russian social media site VK after the savage assault, describing his attacker as a large muscled man who blocked his exit out of the shop. Recommended Read more The photograph that shows attitudes towards LGBT MPs are changing The LGBT rights activist was asked if he dyed his hair or painted his nails because he was a fag, Pink News reported. The assailant then proceeded to beat Ivan until he was a bloody pulp on the floor, repeatedly punching him in the face. A fellow shopper tried to intervene - despite admitting he too did not like gay people - but said that they should not be harmed. Eventually police were called who arrested the intolerant man on a hooliganism charge. Yet after the unprovoked attack Ivan said his family have suggested he revert to his original hair colour and tone down his style. But he refuses to be cowed or intimidated into changing who he is, regardless of the actions of bigots and homophobes. Landmark LGBT TV moments Show all 10 1 /10 Landmark LGBT TV moments Landmark LGBT TV moments EastEnders gay kiss - 1989 EastEnders becomes the first British soap to screen a kiss between two gay men. The Sun branded the landmark kiss between Colin and Guido as a love scene between yuppie poofs. BBC Landmark LGBT TV moments Orange is the New Black 2013 The Netflix series features lesbian and bisexual women of different colours and sizes, but its greatest accomplishment is the honest portrayal of its transgender character, Sophia Burset (played by Laverne Cox). Landmark LGBT TV moments Brookside lesbian kiss - 1994 Brookside followed suit as the first to screen a lesbian kiss when Beth and Margaret shared a passionate embrace. Channel 4 Landmark LGBT TV moments Lesbian lead on US TV - 1997 US TV gets its first ever lesbian lead, as Ellen Morgan (played by Ellen DeGeneres) came out in a special two-part episode of ABC's Ellen. Reuters Landmark LGBT TV moments Primetime TV gets gay characters - 1998 Will & Grace debuts on NBC as one of the first primetime US series to feature lead gay characters. Actors Eric McCormack and Sean Hayes played Will and Jack on the successful show that ran for eight seasons. Getty Images Landmark LGBT TV moments First lesbian drama series - 2004 Television gets its first predominantly lesbian dramatic series in Showtime's The L Word. Landmark LGBT TV moments Glee - 2009 Glee is the television show with the most number of regular and recurring homosexual characters, according to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). Glee has won four Golden Globes, including a supporting actor nod for Chris Colferwho played bullied open gay character Kurt Hummel. Getty Images Landmark LGBT TV moments Modern Family 2009 The Emma-winning and progressive ABC series features an interracial and extended family along with leading gay characters Cam and Mitchell as the adored married couple. Landmark LGBT TV moments Transparent - 2014 Amazons complex family drama garnered two Golden Globes and stars Jeffrey Tambor as Maura Pfeffermana newly out transgender woman with self-absorbed grown children. The pilot was one of several Amazon posted online, asking viewers to vote on which should be developed into series. Landmark LGBT TV moments E4's Cucumber, Banana and Tofu 2015 Russell T Davies' recent trio of programmes bring a sensitive and serious yet funny portrayal of contemporary queer life with gay and lesbian lead charactersHenry and Scotty. Channel 4 Taking a stand against Russian societys treatment of gay people, he said in an emotive post: According to some, I need to stop talking about gay rights and to accept the reality that in Syzran and Russia that all gays will never be accepted as the norm. Live as yourself behind closed doors with a boyfriend, and everything will be alright. If I wasnt searching for trouble, my life would be a fairy tale. That happily ever after is a lie. If you submit to homophobes, if you submit to the closet, youre not living your best possible life. While I might have a broken face, you have a broken life. Russias stance on LGBT issues has been questioned globally, with a controversial gay propaganda law enforced since 2013. Ivan added: If my choice is between living my life then dying suddenly or a slow, painful, closeted life I choose the first. Say whatever you think about homosexuality, I do not deserve this. No one deserves this. Im not going to let this force me back into the closet, this is the reason why I came out in the first place: people need to know we exist. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} At its peak in the eighth century, it was the largest empire in the world, linking East and West and giving rise to a rich heritage of art, architecture, literature and science. But even in its native countries, the legacy of the Umayyad dynasty has fallen largely into obscurity. Now, a new EU-funded project aims to highlight the shared history via an ambitious tourism trail around the Mediterranean basin linking three continents. It is a bold concept for a tourism initiative at a time when relations between East and West are strained by terrorism, a refugee crisis and Islamophobia. The Umayyads are historically known as aggressive expansionists, but the project seeks to examine a lesser acknowledged by-product: the opening of new channels of communication between different cultures. Linking Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, Italy, Spain and Portugal, the trail will cost more than 4m (3.2m) to develop. Recommended Read more Nine in 10 world heritage sites in danger of ravage by Isis This route seeks to publicise the profound human, cultural, artistic and scientific relationship between East and West, explained a booklet produced by project leader El Legado Andalusi (Andalusian Public Foundation). To forge links and strengthen the relations between the different peoples they encompass, united by a common past. The locations on the trail are disparate, even obscure: a small, out-of-the-way Lebanese town near the Syrian border known for its Armenian community; a former centre of Islamic learning in the heart of Tunisia; a Spanish city famed for its cathedral built within a mosque; a Roman Catholic island at the southern tip of Italy. But together they create a picture of one of the greatest eras of Arab innovation. Damascus Great Mosque (Alamy) Umayyad is a euphemism for cultural exchange in the Mediterranean, said Abdallah Kahlil, a heritage expert for the Lebanese part of the trail and an assistant professor at the Lebanese American University. During the heyday of the Umayyad presence in Spain in the 10th century, we had the Fatimids in Egypt, the Byzantines in Constantinople, the Normans in France, and there was continuous cultural exchange between them. Before moving to Cordoba in Spain in AD750, the Umayyad capital was Damascus, where they built the Great Mosque. With Syria off limits today, the trail starts in Lebanon. In the ancient city of Baalbek is the Umayyad Mosque, a miniature of its sister in Syrias capital. The structure, which dates back to the seventh or eighth century, was originally a Byzantine church, and before that was the site of the citys Roman forum, granite and limestone columns from which were used to build the mosque. This exemplifies the Umayyad attitude of reusing rather than razing previous civilisations, said Rima Abou Baker of Lebanons Safadi Foundation, which is in charge of boosting local involvement in the trail. The Umayyads really had respect for others, she said. They preserved what was there and tried to innovate and bring new ideas and new architecture to all the countries they passed through. Through this project people can learn that Islamic culture is not what we are seeing in the news now. Click HERE for larger annotated version of the graphic In Anjar, the small Lebanese town near the Syrian border, sightseers can wander the well-preserved ruins of what would have been a palatial Umayyad city, displaying a mix of Roman-Byzantine and Islamic architectural styles typical of the period. An Umayyad museum is planned. In Baalbek and Anjar, tourists will likely have the place entirely to themselves. Embassies counsel against travel to the Bekaa Valley due to vague security concerns, meaning that while both cities are usually safe, very few people make it there. We are worried a bit about the situation, said Ms Abou Baker. We know that for now its a bit hard to bring international tourists here, so we are counting on local communities and tourists. For Lebanons project co-ordinator Dr Rachid Chamoun, such concerns are pointless. If we want to base future projects on fears about conflicts, we would never do anything, he said. Maybe Lebanon now is safer than Paris or London, or even the US with its gun crime. Are there any safe places in the world? Instead, he is focused on creating the best possible experience for those who do come to try out the trails. These trips put you in contact with Lebanons gastronomy, its natural reserves, the social fabric of cities, he said. We hope it will bring people closer together. To find the trail, go to umayyad.eu For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} In the tightly controlled world of Saudi media, few stories have caught the public imagination more than the sensational claim that the authorities have broken up a huge spy ring. Saudis were told that the agents, who went on trial this week, were controlled by Iran and had operated for many years in the kingdom, apparently with great success. Almost all the defendants are Shia from the oil rich Eastern Province where street protests and calls for democratic reform have bubbled up since 2011, and where anger reached fever pitch in January with the execution of a leading cleric and vocal critic of the Saudi regime Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Recommended Read more Saudi Arabia puts dozens Shia Muslims on trial for spying for Iran According to the Saudi press, the spy ring handed over sensitive information about military facilities, carried out economic sabotage and incited sectarian hatred. Sleeper cells had been established in several cities, including Mecca and Riyadh. Agents had even met, it was claimed, with Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. The public prosecutor is seeking the death penalty for most of the 32 alleged spies. But those close to the men who have been charged, and the wider Shia community, see political motives in the arrests. And it doesnt hurt that the narrative draws attention away from looming subsidy cuts that will hit ordinary Saudis hard. It is also a distraction from the messy, war in Yemen launched nearly a year ago by Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi defence minister and favoured son of the King. Among those detained in March 2013 was Sheikh Badr al-Taleb, whose arrest has shocked his family and friends. He had pursued his religious studies in the Iranian city of Qom before moving to Mecca from his hometown of Saihat in Eastern Province. The 38-year-old father of six had set up a small business, a restaurant, catering to the Shia community and he performed religious duties for his community in Mecca. He is a peaceful man, very religious, very gentle, he never spoke about anything political, he never criticised the government, said a friend, who preferred not to give his name. The friend said that since the sheikhs arrest, the family has had very limited access to him. He has been allowed to make phone calls of no more than three minutes duration once or twice a month. When they were able to visit him, he told the family about being burnt with cigarettes, placed in solitary confinement and deprived of sleep for three days. They say he was denied the Koran and, when he was removed from solitary, was placed in a cell with a mentally deranged inmate. The Saudi authorities did not respond to a request to comment on the allegations of abuse and the withholding of legal rights but they routinely deny such claims, insisting that in all such cases they follow appropriate legal procedures. Now the families fear that anything they say will be used by the authorities to punish both them and the prisoners. A wall of silence has been created that leaves them feeling isolated and terrified. When the friend was asked if Western governments should be doing more to intervene he replied: Of course. They say they support freedom. This is their time to prove it. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A top Russian military official has said the country's military will suspend its bombing campaign in Syria for 24 hours in all areas of where armed groups said they would abide by a ceasefire, going further than terms initially set out in a cessation of hostilities agreement brokered with the US. Major General Sergei Rudskoy said: "The Russian Federation has completely stopped attacks in the 'green zone', that is to say those areas and armed units that have sent to us requests for ceasefire". Initially, Russia said it would respect the informal ceasefire agreement, but that it would continue to target terror groups in the region with air strikes. The cessation of hostilities came into force at midnight on Friday but it has already reportedly been breached by pro-Assad forces. The UKs ambassador to the United Nations, Matthew Rycroft, welcomed the ceasefire saying it could be the most significant step forward in the past five years but said much more needed to be done as the deal did not cover several groups operating in the country - including Isis and Jabjat al Nusra. While the deal has been lauded as a positive step for Syria, it is not a ceasefire in the strictest terms. Here's why: Isis and Jabhat al-Nusra are not included in the deal Terrorist organisations Isis and its al-Qaeda linked rival Jabhat al-Nusra have not been included in the talks so all territory they currently control can be attacked without violating the terms of the deal. Currently Aleppo is under siege from government forces who are sweeping through the region and pushing back the rebels which have controlled the city since 2012. In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Show all 19 1 /19 In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Syrian boys cry following Russian air strikes on the rebel-held Fardous neighbourhood of the northern embattled Syrian city of Aleppo Getty In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russian defense ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov speaks to the media in Moscow, Russia. Konashenkov strongly warned the United States against striking Syrian government forces and issued a thinly-veiled threat to use Russian air defense assets to protect them AP In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Syrians wait to receive treatment at a hospital following Russian air strikes on the rebel-held Fardous neighbourhood of the northern embattled Syrian city of Alepp Getty In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov speaks at a briefing in the Defense Ministry in Moscow, Russia. Antonov said the Russian air strikes in Syria have killed about 35,000 militants, including about 2,700 residents of Russia AP In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Jameel Mustafa Habboush, receives oxygen from civil defence volunteers, known as the white helmets, as they rescue him from under the rubble of a building following Russian air strikes on the rebel-held Fardous neighbourhood of the northern embattled Syrian city of Aleppo Getty In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Civil defence members rest amidst rubble in a site hit by what activists said were airstrikes carried out by the Russian air force in the town of Douma, eastern Ghouta in Damascus, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria A girl carrying a baby inspects damage in a site hit by what activists said were airstrikes carried out by the Russian air force in the town of Douma, eastern Ghouta in Damascus, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Civilians and civil defence members look for survivors at a site damaged after Russian air strikes on the Syrian rebel-held city of Idlib, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Civilians and civil defence members carry an injured woman on a stretcher at a site damaged after Russian air strikes on the Syrian rebel-held city of Idlib, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Volunteers from Syria Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, help civilians after Russia carried out its first airstrikes in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria The aftermath of Russian airstrike in Talbiseh, Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Smoke billows from buildings in Talbiseh, in Homs province, western Syria, after airstrikes by Russian warplanes AP In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russian Air Forces carry out an air strike in the ISIS controlled Al-Raqqah Governorate. Russia's KAB-500s bombs completely destroy the Liwa al-Haqq command unit In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy firing Kalibr cruise missiles against remote Isis targets in Syria A TASS/ITAR-TASS Photo/Corbis In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russia claimed it hit eight Isis targets, including a "terrorist HQ and co-ordination centre" that was completely destroyed In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria A video grab taken from the footage made available on the Russian Defence Ministry's official website, purporting to show an airstrike in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria A release from the Russian defence ministry purportedly showing targets in Syria being hit In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russia launched air strikes in war-torn Syria, its first military engagement outside the former Soviet Union since the occupation of Afghanistan in 1979. Russian warplanes carried out strikes in three Syrian provinces along with regime aircraft as Putin seeks to steal US President Barack Obama's thunder by pushing a rival plan to defeat Isis militants in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy firing Kalibr cruise missiles against remote Isis targets in Syria, a thousand kilometres away. The targets include ammunition factories, ammunition and fuel depots, command centres, and training camps A TASS/ITAR-TASS Photo/Corbis Among the coalition of rebels who still control a portion of the city - which was largest in the country when the war started - is Jabhat al-Nusra which means Assad troops can continue their assault. According to Charles Lister, an American consultant on the Middle East, activists were reporting shelling and heavy machine gun fire in areas in the north of the Aleppo region. Moreover terror groups have continued to attack both the government and areas controlled by other rebel groups. A car bomb attack on the government-controlled town of Salamiyeh which killed two people just two hours after the ceasefire came into effect was blamed on Isis although they have not officially claimed responsibility. Moscow and Damascus says they will continue to target groups they deems 'terrorists' Because UN-designated terror groups such as Isis and Jabhat al-Nusra are not part of the ceasefire agreement, pro-Assad forces have said they will continue to target what they deem terrorist organisations. But Russia has always claimed it is only targeting terrorists since it started air strikes in September last year but there have been numerous reports that they are attacking non-Islamist and moderate rebel factions as well. The Russian Ministry of Defence tweeted to say they would implement their ceasefire obligations but that did not mean terrorists can give a [sigh] of relief [sic]. It doesnt look like the ceasefire is holding Although monitoring groups have said a sense of calm has descended, rebel group Jaish al-Islam in the Latakia province said government forces have used barrel bombs against them - killing three people. Mr Lister reported on Twitter that regime forces had been of at least nine ceasefire violations and at least three appear to be geunine. On Saturday, the Syria Rising Twitter account posted a video made by unnamed militant groups who refused to abide by the terms of the truce and will continue fighting. It may go nowhere UN officials are hopeful that if the ceasefire agreement lasts they will be able to negotiate a more longer term settlement when the government and the rebels meet again for talks in Geneva, Switzerland on 7 March. But the last round of talks were temporarily halted earlier this month after the army broke through a major supply line connecting Aleppo to the Turkish border and advanced on the besieged towns of Nubul and Zahraa. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura, who suspended the talks, said at the time this is not the end, and it is not the failure of the talks and insisted both sides were interested in [getting] the political process started. At least 250,000 people have been killed over the course of the five conflict - with some monitoring groups on the ground reporting that the figure could be as high as 470,000. Additional reporting by agencies For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The leader of al-Qaedas Syrian offshoot urged rebel fighters to reject an international ceasefire, hours before the truce was due to come into force. Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, head of Jabhat al-Nusra, called on armed groups to intensify their attacks against President Bashar al-Assad and his allies, warning that the planned cessation of hostilities was a trick by the West to push Syrians back under the thumb of the oppressive regime. His faction, one of the most powerful fighting forces in Syria, is excluded from the deal struck between the US, Russia and other major powers that was due to begin at midnight local time (10pm GMT) on 26 February. Attacks against Isis are also exempt. The call from Jolani highlights the challenges facing those seeking an end to a conflict that has claimed an estimated 470,000 lives and forced 12 million people from their homes. While Syrias official opposition delegation announced that 97 rebel factions would cease fighting for two weeks, Nusra remains one of the most important groups on the ground. It operates alongside more moderate forces in the north and west of Syria, making it difficult to differentiate between areas included in or excluded from the deal. Several opposition news sites reported this week that Nusra had withdrawn fighters from the Idlib town of Sarmada to remove a pretext for attacks by the Russian and Syrian air forces. But rebels and opposition activists warned that Russia would use the groups exemption from the truce as an excuse to continue to strike rebel-held areas. Intense fighting continued across the country yesterday as all sides sought to make gains before the deadline. With mistrust on all sides, few were optimistic about the deal, which has been signed not by the warring parties, but only by their international backers. Questions remain about monitoring. Syria and Russia have promised to continue attacks on terrorist targets. Turkey, which has been shelling Kurdish militias in northern Syria, has said that it will not be bound by the deal if its security is threatened. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Hours into a ceasefire brokered by Russia and the US, an Isis car bomb killed at least two people in Syria, and rebels claim government forces dropped barrel bombs near Damascus. Isis militants claimed responsibility for the car bomb attack on the government-held town of Salamiyeh in an online statement. The group said in an online statement that one of its fighters had driven a car loaded with explosives to a Syrian army gathering in the area and blown himself up among them, killing 20 people and wounding 35 others. Near Damascus, the rebel group Jaish al-Islam said government forces dropped two barrel bombs and opened fire on its positions during several violations of a cessation of hostilities agreement in the Eastern Ghouta. Citing field reports from the group's commanders, Jaish al-Islam spokesman Islam Alloush told Reuters that in one incident government forces trying to advance were dealt with with machine guns. Syrian military officials could not immediately be reached for comment. Monitoring groups had earlier said there has been a cautious calm in the country since the truce went into effect at midnight on Friday. The agreement does not include Isis or their rival, the al-Qaeda backed Jabhat al-Nusra. All 97 Syrian groups involved in the negotiations said they would abide by the ceasefire but rebel group Second Coastal Division said Assad forces have already attacked them in the northern Latakia province near the Turkish border. Three fighters were killed by pro-government ground troops at 4am, the group says. The United Nations said it expected breaches in the temporary truce and urged restraint in curbing any new outbreaks of fighting. In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Show all 19 1 /19 In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Syrian boys cry following Russian air strikes on the rebel-held Fardous neighbourhood of the northern embattled Syrian city of Aleppo Getty In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russian defense ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov speaks to the media in Moscow, Russia. Konashenkov strongly warned the United States against striking Syrian government forces and issued a thinly-veiled threat to use Russian air defense assets to protect them AP In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Syrians wait to receive treatment at a hospital following Russian air strikes on the rebel-held Fardous neighbourhood of the northern embattled Syrian city of Alepp Getty In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov speaks at a briefing in the Defense Ministry in Moscow, Russia. Antonov said the Russian air strikes in Syria have killed about 35,000 militants, including about 2,700 residents of Russia AP In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Jameel Mustafa Habboush, receives oxygen from civil defence volunteers, known as the white helmets, as they rescue him from under the rubble of a building following Russian air strikes on the rebel-held Fardous neighbourhood of the northern embattled Syrian city of Aleppo Getty In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Civil defence members rest amidst rubble in a site hit by what activists said were airstrikes carried out by the Russian air force in the town of Douma, eastern Ghouta in Damascus, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria A girl carrying a baby inspects damage in a site hit by what activists said were airstrikes carried out by the Russian air force in the town of Douma, eastern Ghouta in Damascus, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Civilians and civil defence members look for survivors at a site damaged after Russian air strikes on the Syrian rebel-held city of Idlib, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Civilians and civil defence members carry an injured woman on a stretcher at a site damaged after Russian air strikes on the Syrian rebel-held city of Idlib, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Volunteers from Syria Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, help civilians after Russia carried out its first airstrikes in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria The aftermath of Russian airstrike in Talbiseh, Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Smoke billows from buildings in Talbiseh, in Homs province, western Syria, after airstrikes by Russian warplanes AP In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russian Air Forces carry out an air strike in the ISIS controlled Al-Raqqah Governorate. Russia's KAB-500s bombs completely destroy the Liwa al-Haqq command unit In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy firing Kalibr cruise missiles against remote Isis targets in Syria A TASS/ITAR-TASS Photo/Corbis In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russia claimed it hit eight Isis targets, including a "terrorist HQ and co-ordination centre" that was completely destroyed In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria A video grab taken from the footage made available on the Russian Defence Ministry's official website, purporting to show an airstrike in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria A release from the Russian defence ministry purportedly showing targets in Syria being hit In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russia launched air strikes in war-torn Syria, its first military engagement outside the former Soviet Union since the occupation of Afghanistan in 1979. Russian warplanes carried out strikes in three Syrian provinces along with regime aircraft as Putin seeks to steal US President Barack Obama's thunder by pushing a rival plan to defeat Isis militants in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy firing Kalibr cruise missiles against remote Isis targets in Syria, a thousand kilometres away. The targets include ammunition factories, ammunition and fuel depots, command centres, and training camps A TASS/ITAR-TASS Photo/Corbis UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said: "Let's pray that this works because frankly this is the best opportunity we can imagine the Syrian people has had for the last five years in order to see something better and hopefully something related to peace". The agreement has not been signed by the warring groups and is not as binding an official ceasefire but is needed to get aid to besieged areas in the country. The UN hopes the informal ceasefire will lead to a more permanent ending to the civil war which has dragged on for five years and killed at least 250,000 people - with some monitoring groups saying the figure could be as high as 470,000. Additional reporting by agencies Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Nick Clegg: an apology. I may have given the impression that the Liberal Democrats were a waste of space, and their crushing in the general election was a merited humiliation. Statements such as Clegg was a fool to have gone into coalition with the Tories and the Lib Dems got nothing in return for ministerial posts that David Cameron didnt want to give them may have led the reader to believe I thought the whole business a diversion and the resumption of single-party government a welcome simplification. If so, there has been a misunderstanding. I now realise, reading Cleggs interview with The Independents Andrew Grice last week, that I agree with Nick. Recommended Read more Nick Clegg backs campaign to legalise the medical use of cannabis For all the overheated language from the left about inequality, the record of the Coalition was surprisingly good. New figures from the Office for National Statistics last week confirmed that income inequality was unchanged in the 2010-15 period. This is something of an achievement at a time when the Government was cutting public spending, and Clegg is justified in claiming to have tried to balance the books in the fairest possible way. He is right, too, to point out that the spending cuts planned for the next four years are very different, with the burden falling on the poor rather than the rich. I agree when he praises Camerons poetic rhetoric about an all-out assault on poverty, but points out that the deeply regressive steps taken by his Chancellor, means it is insecure, hollow double-speak. It may be that Cameron and Osborne were happy to be liberals with a social conscience in their first term of government. I thought that was mainly from conviction and from a determination to fight for votes in the centre. But I may have misjudged how leaders respond to pressures from inside and outside their parties. Cameron may be a compassionate Conservative who needed the Lib Dems to keep his own party in order. Since I formed my view of the Lib Dems in the coalition, there have been several instances of a phenomenon that suggests Clegg performed a valuable public service. It is what I call feeding the piranhas. Ed Miliband fed the piranhas. He gave some meat to the most dangerous and destructive elements of his party, and encouraged them to think that there would be more. Once the feeding frenzy got going, the only person willing to put a whole cow in the river was Jeremy Corbyn. The piranhas have got what they wanted and all thats left of the Labour Party is a skeleton. Much the same happened to the Republican Party in the US. John McCain and Mitt Romney fed the Tea Partiers and this year the killer fish came for the whole elephant. In Donald Trump they have found a candidate who is most unlikely to become president a poll last week found 49 per cent of Americans were terrified of the prospect but the piranhas dont care. In relation to the EU debate, Nick Clegg said: This referendum is about the future of our country, its not about the future of a divided Conservative party (PA) Which is the long way round of saying that I wonder if Boris Johnson hasnt started something similar in the Conservative Party. Johnson is a compassionate, liberal Conservative, just like his schoolmate Cameron. But like his other schoolmate Ed Miliband they went to the same Primrose Hill primary school Johnson has thrown meat in the water. In so doing, he incited the Tory partys piranhas, whom Cameron had confined in underwater cages on a fish farm for 11 years. Cameron can probably fend off the predators for the few years he needs to step down with dignity. But can Johnson control the forces he has unleashed? He and Osborne are now competing for the anti-EU votes of Tory Party members. The second most significant event last weekend, after Johnsons defection to the Outers, was Osbornes dinner at his Dorneywood country home with Michael Gove within hours of his defection and his wife Sarah Vine. The Chancellor is plainly trying to broker an alliance with some of the piranhas. I doubt that Boris Johnson really wants to head off to the right. He may think that having come out against the EU is enough to give him cover to be centrist on other subjects. But he has said opportunist right-wing things, such as praising secondary moderns (that is, being in favour of selection in state schools), and could find himself swept along by the carnivores. Just because Labour has vacated the centre ground is no guarantee the Tories will hold it. On the contrary, the right-wing, Eurosceptic grassroot members may be tempted to try to return to a mythical Thatcherism. Then there would be a huge open space in politics. A space for centrists who want to work with market forces to achieve social justice; for people who want to act on Camerons poetic rhetoric of attacking the causes of poverty; for people who want to accelerate the public service reforms of the Blair government; for people like, well, Nick Clegg. Twitter.com/@JohnRentoul Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} I would not recommend the jungles of Panama for a holiday. In fact, I would not recommend them for anything except, perhaps a honeymoon for Ray Mears. I am still recovering from the effects of the invisible enemy the sand fly. Id love to be able to tell you what this hellish beast looks like but I have no idea. For all I know it could live in my imagination, save for the fact that my entire body is covered in incredibly itchy and painful bites. There is a Maori story about sand flies it claims God had just finished creating the fjord landscapes around Milford Sound, New Zealand. It was so stunning that it stopped people from working. They just stood around gazing at the beauty instead. God became so angry at these unproductive people that she created the sand fly to bite them and get them moving. I can tell you that this does not work. Once the sand flies have done their business, it is very difficult to get anything done except grumble and scratch. I took lots of Deet with me the insect repellant that burns plastic but is supposed to be OK to put on your skin is surely some sick local joke. The more I put on, the more sand flies swarmed around me in invisible attack squadrons. I think the locals know that sand flies love Deet and promote its use among visitors so we become mobile fly traps leaving the Panamanians to go about their business of siestas and cigar-smoking untroubled. I was exploring a relatively unvisited area and bought a handsome machete before my departure into the backwoods. I must admit to having very little machete experience save for a couple of days in deepest, darkest Congo when I was hunting the Mokele-mbembe (blocker of rivers), a monster that is supposed to inhabit Lake Tele. Then I was attacked by a porter (driven mad, no doubt by sand flies) with a machete but escaped unscathed. For the record, I asked in several supermarkets whether they stocked Um Bongo. It turns out the ad was a lie. They do not drink it in the Congo. But I digress. A machete is an exciting thing to wear on your belt. It makes you feel like an explorer, a real man. This lasts until you try to use it, and realise it is an incredibly potent self-mutilation instrument. In your mind you hack through vines and bushes with a simple swipe of a muscly arm. The reality is that you take about 20 sweaty and exhausting goes to cut anything. You become so tired that you get careless and cant stop the machete swing when it does eventually sever something. Suddenly you have a foot-long piece of sharp steel rocketing towards your body. If you cut the inside of either thigh, you risk severing a large artery that would make you bleed out within half an hour. I suffered innumerable near misses until exertion and madness began to make me long for the sweet release of a machete hit. I am home from the heart of darkness and Cotswold drizzle never felt so good. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Arshid Hussain needs to use a wheelchair after being shot in the abdomen. When he was named as a defendant in a trial which was going to take place 40 miles from his home in East Yorkshire, a video link was installed in his house so he could follow the proceedings from his bed. The case began in December but he turned up in person on only one occasion and decided that he was too unwell to give evidence. On Wednesday, as the verdicts in the case were being read out, Hussains wife called an ambulance. He was rushed to hospital in Scunthorpe, a development described by a prosecution lawyer as an apparently deliberate attempt to frustrate the judicial process, before being released and taken into custody that evening. On Friday, Hussain, 40, was sentenced to 35 years in prison after being found guilty of 23 serious sex offences. Recommended Read more Rotherham grooming victim was beaten by brothers over abuse I wouldnt normally make a song and dance about the way a defendant has been treated during a criminal trial. But the contrast between the special measures put in place for Hussain and the ordeal his victims were subjected to in court is almost unbearable to contemplate. Like the case of Frances Andrade, the professional violinist who died of an overdose in 2013 after a bruising experience on the witness stand, it raises questions about the extremely adversarial nature of trials involving serious sexual offences. Andrade was accused of lying by the barrister acting for her former music teacher, Michael Brewer, who labelled her a fantasist in his evidence. She died the following day and never knew that shed been vindicated: Brewer was convicted of five charges of indecent assault and jailed for six years. The coroner at her inquest said that Andrade was extremely traumatised by her experience and demanded new rules to ensure that vulnerable witnesses are given greater support. Its hard to imagine a more traumatic experience than giving evidence against the Hussain brothers and their accomplices, whose horrific abuse of 15 vulnerable girls in Rotherham emerged during their trial at Sheffield Crown Court. Hussains younger brothers Bannaras (who pleaded guilty in December) and Basharat were sentenced to 19 and 25 years respectively; their uncle, Qurban Ali, got 10 years. Karen MacGregor, who lured girls to her home and pimped them out, was jailed for 13 years. Shelley Davies, who stayed at MacGregors house, argued that she too was a victim and received an 18-month suspended sentence. The charge sheet, which included rape, forced prostitution, assault occasioning bodily harm, indecent assault, conspiracy to procure prostitutes, conspiracy to rape, and forced imprisonment, doesnt come close to conveying the damage inflicted on the victims. The trial followed publication last year of a report which concluded that 1,400 girls had been abused in Rotherham over a long period. Between 1987 and 2003, Arshid Hussain used very young girls for sex, passing them on to his brothers and prostituting them to other men. When one of his teenage victims tried to end contact with him after having his baby, he held her by the throat and threatened to throw her from a balcony at Rotherham market. She says she reported the assault to the police but was ignored, one of many claims which are now the subject of an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Brothers Arshid Hussain, 40, Basharat Hussain, 39, and Bannaras Hussain, 36, and (left to right bottom) Karen MacGregor, 58, (left), Shelley Davies, 40, and Qurban Ali, 53, were sentenced to a combined 103 years in prison (South Yorkshire Police/PA) Chilling statements from the victims were read out in court on Friday. One girl described the Hussain brothers urinating on her like a pack of animals while the sister of another victim characterised her as a broken human being. The prosecutor, Michelle Colborne QC, said that the victims had felt dirty, ashamed and guilty since they were teenagers. She listed lasting effects of the abuse they suffered, including eating disorders and self-harm. When Colborne visited one of the witnesses at home before she testified, she found her shaking and almost physically sick at the prospect of giving evidence. Her fears were justified: the victims were repeatedly accused of lying in order to claim compensation from the police and the council. Unlike the jury, defence lawyers knew that Bannaras Hussain had admitted a string of offences against almost half of the witnesses. But they went on to accuse four of the women of inventing evidence against the other defendants. Recommended Read more Police investigated over failure to protect Rotherham victims A Sheffield newspaper, The Star, reported that one of the women was scratching her arms in anguish during a break in proceedings and required a social worker to sit with her for reassurance. Another defence barrister was asked to tone down her cross-examination of the same witness after both the judge and the prosecution expressed concern that the lawyer was shouting. Is this really how a civilised country treats women who have been multiply raped from the age of 13 or 14? The 2009 Coroners and Justice Act introduced special provisions for adult complainants in sexual offence trials, including allowing video-taped statements as evidence. After the Andrade case, the Director of Public Prosecutions announced three pilot areas where prosecuting barristers would use new guidance to support victims but its provisions meeting witnesses in advance and explaining the defence case still dont address the core problem. Time after time, victims have had their characters and integrity ripped apart by defence barristers who will stop at nothing to get an acquittal. Theyre just doing their job, were told. Meanwhile, judges are reluctant to intervene in case theyre accused of obstructing justice. Frankly, Im sick of these high-minded excuses. And Im ashamed of a criminal justice system that appears to believe that justice can be achieved only by further humiliating deeply traumatised women. Twitter.com/@politicalblonde; politicalblonde.com Ballot papers are verified as the general election 2016 count gets under way at the City Hall in Cork Taoiseach Enda Kenny has ruled out resigning after his government suffered a resounding thumping in the General Election. With the Republic's political future in disarray and several coalition combinations on the table, the Fine Gael leader refused to be drawn on the prospect of a pact with traditional adversaries Fianna Fail. "It is a position that one never likes to be in but I want to make it clear that I expect that the Fine Gael party will be a large bloc in the next Oireachtas," he said. "From that point of view, my responsibility as Taoiseach is to work to see that our country has a stable government and that has a government that can continue the progress that we have made over the last number of years in bringing the benefits of a recovering economy to all our people." Mr Kenny, who had a 30-seat majority after the 2011 election, admitted the election result was disappointing. "Democracy is always exciting but it is merciless when it clicks in," he said. The Taoiseach faced questions over his leadership as Fine Gael are set to lose about 30 seats and the outgoing partnership with Labour is staring at a humiliating defeat. Mr Kenny suggested a second election was not on the cards and he believed a new coalition could be formed despite one of the most fractious results in history. "I'd like to think that it could be possible, given the final results, to be able to put a government together that could work through the many challenges we have," he said. Among the coalition's biggest casualties were Alex White, Labour's outgoing minister for communications, energy and natural resources, and Alan Shatter, the former Fine Gael justice minister, who were both defeated in Dublin Rathdown. Catherine Martin took a seat in the constituency for the Greens, returning the party to the Dail for their first seat since the decimation of 2011. Mr Kenny refused to consider any of the permutations for a new government either with Fianna Fail, a rainbow coalition or a minority arrangement. The election looks like creating one of the most diverse Irish parliaments in history, with political leaders in line for weeks of protracted negotiations on potential coalitions. Early indications suggest a widespread disaffection with mainstream parties and austerity mirroring a movement across Europe, including Spain, Portugal and Greece, where parliaments have been crippled by the voter schism. The predicted outcome would be all the more remarkable as the political powerhouses, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, struggle to secure support of 50% of the electorate for the first time in history. With more than 10 seats out of 158 declared, Fianna Fail's Micheal Martin, the opposition leader in the last Dail, insisted the focus was not entirely on bringing an end to 90-odd years of civil war politics by taking power with Fine Gael. "We have made it clear we do not want to go into government with Fine Gael or with Sinn Fein," he said. "The idea that it is just down to two parties, I think, is ignoring the reality of how people voted." Sinn Fein will be the third largest party. Under Gerry Adams, who topped the poll in Louth, the party looks set to continue its march south of the border with an expected increase in its vote and its presence in the Dail by around 50%. Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said he had "divided thoughts" on a potential Fine Gael-Fianna Fail coalition. "They are natural partners, they are Siamese twins who have been divided for some time - they should get into bed together," he said. "That's my positive attitude. "My negative attitude to it is, this would be a most conservative regime if they do come together." Other outgoing Labour ministers Jan O'Sullivan and Kathleen Lynch are also at risk of losing their seats in the electoral bloodbath but Tanaiste, or deputy prime minister, and party leader Joan Burton scraped into the last seat in Dublin West. In a remarkable comeback after its near wipeout at the last election, Fianna Fail could almost double its seats. But the once-dominant party in Irish politics will remain a long way from its heyday majority, which tumbled with the economic crash it presided over nearly a decade ago. The mounting disillusionment with mainstream parties opened an unprecedented opportunity for smaller parties and Independents to reap the rewards. Mark Mortell, the Taoiseach's closest adviser, said Ireland would have to review its "political system" once the outcome of its most uncertain election in recent times is decided. "The only word I can use right now is deep disappointment," he said. One of the few possibilities for stable government, it appears, would be sworn enemies Fine Gael and Fianna Fail setting aside their near 90-year-old feud dating back to the civil war. The pair, both centre-right, have swapped power since the foundation of the state. Such a "grand coalition" would also break new ground in potentially handing the Dail a definitive left-right split for the first time in history. More than 550 candidates fought in 40 constituencies to become one of just 158 TDs - eight seats fewer than the 2011 election when Fine Gael and Labour took office promising a democratic revolution. Once a clear picture emerges from the weekend counting of votes, the parties will have until March 10 - when the Dail is scheduled to resume - to forge a power-sharing deal. Irish property investment company Green REIT has agreed a new eight-year lease with Vodafone on its Irish headquarters building at Central Park, Dublin 18. The lease will see Vodafone remain at the 263,000 sq ft premises until 2026, paying rent of 7.3m per year to Green REIT. Vodafone, which is Green REIT's single largest tenant, has agreed to remove its lease break options in 2018 and will receive a rent-free period equivalent to 12 months' rent. "As the largest occupier within Central Park, this commitment is a great vote of confidence for the location, underpinning its position as Dublin's best office park," said Ronan Webster, asset management director of Green Property REIT Ventures. "There are now over 4,000 people working in blue-chip companies within Central Park, which will increase further with the completion and letting of Block H, a new 150,000 sq ft office block, which will be delivered at the end of 2016," Mr Webster said. The news will come as a relief to the investment firm whose profits dipped 7.2m last year. The firm filed its annual results for 2015 on Monday, which showed net asset value growth of 7pc over the 12-month period. Green chairman Gary Kennedy said the firm was looking forward to 2016 "with confidence". The firm recently acquired full control of the Central Park site in Leopardstown, upping its ownership stake from 50pc to 100pc. In doing so Green announced earlier this month that it would implement an asset disposal programme, which would look to sell off 'Project Glas'. The project is a collection of six properties, four of which are in Dublin. Green Property REIT Ventures chief executive, Pat Gunne, said the firm was bringing the property to market to achieve its intended total gearing level - the ratio of its assets to its debt - of 25pc. "We recently acquired full control of Central Park and announced that we would be making a number of asset disposals in 2016 to achieve that objective," Mr Gunne said. The Glas Collection is made up over of over 69,000 sq ft of commercial space across more than 58 commercial units. The collection has a total passing rent of around 11.5m a year with a total guide price of 168.8m. The guide price equates to an initial yield of approximately 6.8pc. IAG boss Willie Walsh, right, with Tourism Minister Paschal Donohoe and Aer Lingus flight attendant Michelle Thompson at the announcement last October of new sevices to Hartford, Newark and Los Angeles in the United States Profits at Aer Lingus surged 72pc to 124m last year, with the airline targeting more long-haul growth and poised to generate a strong performance in 2016. Acquired last August by British Airways' owner IAG, revenue at Aer Lingus jumped 10.4pc to 1.71bn last year, meaning it's likely to breach the 2bn revenue milestone in 2017. The airline generated the growth in profits as it added more passengers but its overall relative costs declined. Group 2015 results at IAG, which also owns Spanish airlines Iberia and Vueling, were at the higher end of expectations, with operating profit before exceptional items increasing 68pc to 2.33bn, and revenue rising 13.3pc to 22.8bn. Aer Lingus accounted for 35m of IAG's operating profits from the date of acquisition. Aer Lingus had about 90pc of its 2015 fuel prices hedged at the end of 2014. This suggests it could be on track to report much stronger profits for 2016 given the sharp fall in oil prices and the fact that it now benefits from the procurement muscle of IAG, which also owns Spanish airlines Iberia and Vueling. IAG chief financial officer Enrique Dupuy said that Aer Lingus had provided "very positive surprises" since its 1.3bn acquisition, and that improvements in its metrics had happened sooner than expected. Aer Lingus chief executive Stephen Kavanagh said that the 2015 profit improvement was down to the "dynamics of the airline business". "The top line grew strongly," he said. "Unit revenue was strong and costs were under control, so that incremental margin that was generated was significant. "We had very strong growth across the Atlantic - we not only grew the business, but we increased margin. That was a strong contributor. On short-haul, we added close to three points of load factor, effectively for the same cost." Aer Lingus is launching three long-haul routes this year from Dublin: to Newark; Hartford, Connecticut; and Los Angeles. It has also benefited from a rise in premium traffic, with the figure up 35pc last year, albeit off a low base, said Mr Kavanagh. He said that Aer Lingus continues to eye cities such as Miami for growth. IAG chief executive Willie Walsh said he hopes that regulatory approval will be secured within the next two to three months for Aer Lingus to join the alliance British Airways and Iberia already have with American Airlines. Mr Kavanagh said he welcomed plans for a second parallel runway at Dublin Airport "at an appropriate cost". Fyffes, the Dublin-headquartered fruit importers, saw its total revenue rise by 12.1pc last year as the firm delivered its seventh consecutive year of growth. Annual results, published yesterday, show group earnings rose by 16.4pc to 56.1m. Meanwhile, earnings per share at the firm increased by 14pc to 12.73c. Fyffes bumped up its dividend by 15pc to 2.745c in a year that it posted total group revenue, including its shares of joint ventures, of 1.22bn. Pre-tax profits at the firm fell from 38.2m in 2014, down to 31.8m in 2015, representing a 16.7pc fall. However, profits were affected by a 12m exceptional charge which includes an 11.1m charge from the termination of the group's Irish defined benefit pension scheme. The firm's chairman, David McCann, said that Fyffes had taken an "important step up" in earnings in 2015. "Fyffes is pursuing necessary increases in selling prices in all markets in response to the continuing strength of the US dollar against the euro and sterling," he said. Equity analyst at Goodbody Stockbrokers Patrick Higgins said: "They may potentially look to acquire business in the banana division, maybe pineapples, but bananas is probably on their agenda." Ulster Bank plans to begin repaying its 15bn (19bn) bailout from parent RBS, after reporting a second year of profits, its interim chief executive said yesterday. Operating profits at Ulster Bank fell by 244m last year to 362m, but it was still the bank's second year of profit since the crash. The Irish bank reported a 65pc increase in new business lending to 1.5bn and a rise in mortgage drawdowns of 53pc to 700m for last year. Mortgage lending was higher than expected last year despite the impact of restrictive lending rules introduced by the Central Bank, Ulster's interim chief executive, Paul Stanley said. The bank does not expect radical change when those mortgage rules are reviewed later this year. Lending to small and medium-sized businesses has picked up further so far in 2016 and the bank's net lending is expected to grow this year, Mr Stanley said. An operational split of Ulster Bank's units north and south of the border is not a precursor to a spin-out of Ulster Bank's Republic of Ireland business, Mr Stanley said. A priority instead is to gradually return capital to RBS, he said. The taxpayer-controlled UK parent pumped more than 15bn into the business in the wake of the financial crash. Subject to regulatory approval the bank now plans to start returning cash to the parent, starting this year, he said. Excess capital, in a period of negative returns, creates issues for the bank, Mr Stanley said. Ulster Bank's 2015 income was 758m, up from 749m in 2014, while operating expenses were 590m compared to 523m. "Expenses increased due to higher pension, litigation and regulatory costs and the impact of the weaker euro on the cost of services sourced from RBS," he said. RBS yesterday saw its shares plunge after reporting its eighth straight year of losses. Johnny Murphy: A veteran of stage and screen including his role as Joey The Lips Fagan in The Commitments. It took an armed raid on a post office for Commitments actor Johnny Murphy to realise the extent of his fame. At the celebration of the life of the actor - who played Joey 'The Lips' Fagan in the hit movie - his friend and fellow actor Garrett Keogh said not long after the film's success, Johnny was on his way to the Inchicore United Workmans Club. As he passed the post office, people ran out screaming that it was being robbed, and Johnny saw a car beside him with the engine running. The raiders then ran out with balaclavas, guns and bags of money - and one bag fell at Johnny's feet. One of the robbers bent down to retrieve it and, as he got up again, he looked at him and said: "Ah, Joey the Lips!" before jumping into the getaway car. Famous faces from stage and screen gathered yesterday for the farewell at Mount Jerome. Johnny (72) died on Tuesday after a battle with cancer. Garrett also said his friend from Drimnagh was not great at travelling, and recounted the story of how he was supposed to be in Australia but missed the connecting flight in London. Lounge Johnny had read the words "Wait in lounge" beside his flight number on the departures screen and went to the lounge bar. President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina attended the ceremony and paid their respects. Chief mourners were Johnny's daughter Niamh, granddaughter Caoimhe and brother Archie. Also in attendance were Commitments actors Robert Arkins, Bronagh Gallagher, Dick Massey and Michael Aherne. With the Oscars kicking off on Sunday night, most of Hollywood's stars are practising extreme detoxes and diets. But not our Lenny Abrahamson, it seems. The Oscar-nominated director has been "eating himself stupid" since touching down in LA - and is now concerned he won't be able to slip into his designer tux. "I'm avoiding mirrors at all costs," he told the Herald. "I'm eating myself stupid, and getting increasingly worried that I won't fit into that suit." Abrahamson said the atmosphere in pre-Oscars Los Angeles is surreal. "I've never experienced anything like it," he said. "We're in this little bubble and it's all anyone talks about. It's hard not to be swept along by all the craziness." Abrahamson is nominated for his work on Room, which has received several other nominations - including Best Film and Best Adapted Screen Play. Expand Close Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay in Lenny Abrahamson's Room / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay in Lenny Abrahamson's Room Dream Brie Larson, who takes on the lead role in Room, will go head-to-head with Saoirse Ronan, who is up for her role in emotive emigration tale Brooklyn, in the Best Actress category. Author Colm Toibin wrote the 2009 novel that the movie - which is also in the running for Best Picture - is based on, and plans on pulling an all-nighter when he attends the Oscars. "Sunday starts early and ends late, and that is my idea of fun," he said. "I'm very excited." Brooklyn producer Alan Maloney will also attend the ceremony. It will be Maloney's second time at the Oscars, as he walked the red carpet back in 2011 when his film Albert Nobbs, starring Glenn Close, was shortlisted for an award. "Being at the Oscars is a bit bizarre, really," he said. "At first you're looking around frantically - but, after 10 minutes, you get slightly blase about the whole thing. Video of the Day "To have two Irish films in the running for Best Film is a massive, massive achievement." Meanwhile, it's a dream come true for student Sarah Toal, who will be mingling with the stars on the red carpet Jetting The 20-year-old, who is from Beaumont in Dublin, won a competition which saw her jetting off to Hollywood for the big event. Aer Lingus ran the competition with TV3's Xpose programme. It comes as Aer Lingus launches a new direct Dublin-to-Los Angeles service, starting on May 4, and is one of three new direct transatlantic destinations for the Aer Lingus Summer 2016 schedule. The Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) is spearheading part of an international investigation into suspected links between former Provisional IRA boss Thomas 'Slab' Murphy and a fuel-laundering racket estimated by law enforcement officers to have been yielding an annual turnover of 40m. Global inquiries are being carried out into assets allegedly built up by the organisers of the illegal laundering and smuggling industry - including multi-million euro property portfolios in the UK and Dubai. The inquiries are separate to the investigation that led to yesterday's jailing of Murphy at the Special Criminal Court. But the probes are said by officers to be closely inter-connected to the criminal group allegedly built up by the 66-year-old reputed to have been the chief-of-staff of the Provisionals. Yesterday, the bachelor farmer was jailed for 18 months following his conviction, on December 17 last, on nine counts of tax evasion. The non-jury court, which said that it tried Murphy as "a farmer and cattle dealer", sentenced the Republican icon to 18 months in prison for each of the nine charges, with each sentence to run concurrently. None of the jail term was suspended - and the court said it did not impose any fines as Mr Murphy had no assets. But when Mr Murphy was convicted last year, the Cab issued a notice of its intention to proceed with a separate 5m civil action. This arose out of a tax assessment which followed a 2006 raid on his farm complex in Co Louth, which straddles the border with Northern Ireland. The civil action, initiated in 2006, could not proceed until the criminal case concluded, but is now being vigorously pursued by the agency. According to the Cab, Murphy has been involved in cross-border oil smuggling over the past 20 years and has benefited financially from this activity. A huge raid on Murphy's farm at Ballybinaby, Hackballscross, Co Louth, took place in 2006, involving officers from the Garda, PSNI, Cab, the UK Serious Organised Crime Agency and Revenue North and South. Cash and cheques worth around 1.3m were seized and frozen, while settlements were also reached with some associates for a similar amount. But now inquiries overseas indicate this could be the tip of the financial "iceberg" - although officers acknowledge that the property investments have not yet been firmly traced back to the suspects. "This investigation is still very active but is highly complex with links to several overseas countries," one officer said last night. Provisional IRA figures operating along the south Armagh border with Louth and Monaghan have traditionally reaped huge financial dividends from criminal activities in the region, including the fuel scams, cigarette smuggling and illegal alcohol. However, the tentacles of the gangs have spread widely in both jurisdictions. During one cross-Border raid involving Cab and police and customs, searches were also carried out in counties Dublin, Kildare, Waterford, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath, Meath and Tipperary. The chief enforcer for the criminal gang, alleged to be led by Murphy, is, ironically, a former soldier with the Ulster Defence Regiment, whose soldiers were regularly targeted for attack by the Provisional IRA in the 1970s and 1980s. Gangs A younger generation of criminals, linked to the former Provisional figures, have taken over daily control of the fuel business and many are understood to be developing operations and market in the UK, in conjunction with local crime gangs. During the Murphy trial, the court heard evidence that, although he conducted dealings in relation to cattle and land, and received farming grants from the Department of Agriculture, he failed to make any returns to Revenue. From 1996 to 2004, he received grants from the Department of Agriculture totalling over 100,000. The payments were made for farming grant schemes including the Slaughter Premium Scheme, the Special Beef Premium and EU Area Aid. As the Special Criminal Court swelled to full capacity, Thomas 'Slab' Murphy turned his back on the massive audience of gardai, media and his supporters who had assembled to see him jailed for tax evasion. The Republican icon, alleged former chief of the Provisional IRA, perfected an unfazed, indifferent demeanour throughout his nine-week trial at the non-jury court. But yesterday he wore a flushed, red visage that could have indicated stress, anger or sadness, or perhaps all of the above. When Mr Justice Paul Butler, the presiding judge of the Special Criminal Court, finalised the 18-month jail term the three-judge court had reached, Slab Murphy appeared to evaporate from the witness box into the arms of prison officers waiting to process him for his onward journey to Portlaoise prison. In a defiant statement issued later through his solicitors, the bachelor farmer vowed to appeal and criticised investigations into him, the trial and the media. "I am an Irish Republican and have been all my life," Murphy said, denying that he had any property or savings. The conviction and sentence of Slab Murphy is landmark in many respects, not least because the court that ordinarily tries terrorism and gangland offences was employed to try a notable but hardly exceptional tax case involving a loss of just under 190,000 to the State. But it is also outstanding as Murphy, successfully named by the Sunday Times in 1985 as "the IRA's 'Officer Commanding for the whole of Northern Ireland'" - and whom the BBC says controls a stg40m empire by smuggling oil, cigarettes, grain and pigs - has at last encountered the rule of law. In doing so, he has enjoyed equality before the law. Despite his prior reputation and a failed Supreme Court challenge in which he sought to be tried before a jury, Slab Murphy was treated by the court as "a farmer and cattle dealer" and not a man alleged to have directed a bombing campaign in the UK. Sinn Fein can raise all the howls of protest it wants, but as well as a trial in due course of law, Slab Murphy's jail term was consistent with previous sentences for similar offences. With standard remission, Slab Murphy will be a free man in just over a year, his Republican credentials skyrocketing in the process. Until then, he and his lawyers will be kept busy with a civil action by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) which has been in limbo for 10 years. The CAB's raid on Slab's cross-border farm complex in 2006 gave birth not only to his Al Capone-style tax prosecution: a separate 5m tax assessment was also raised as a result of those investigations. Now that the criminal case has concluded, the CAB will move to realise that 5m judgment, but what are the chances of getting their hands on the fruits of Slab's reputed stg40m empire? Slab has no land or properties registered in his name and claimed he earned just over stg1,000 a month as a yardsman in Crossmaglen. That means the CAB and the international agencies it collaborates with will have to pursue alternative means. The stunning stash found during the 2006 farm raid, including cash worth 256,235, stg111,185 - as well as uncashed cheques worth 579,000, stg80,000 and IR24,000 - should now revert to the State. But the scale of the loss to revenue authorities north, south and across the Irish Sea arising from Slab's alleged smuggling in fuel and other goods, is truly colossal according to court statements lodged by senior CAB and PSNI and customs officers. One PSNI officer said that he understood that a HM Revenue and Customs report in 2002 estimated that in 2000 the revenue loss could have been between 450m and 980m in the UK. Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs estimated that revenue loss in Northern Ireland was 380m in 2000. Younger guns, for want of a better phrase, have aped Slab's lead and Ireland's cross border fuel, alcohol and cigarette smuggling racket is a truly international affair. Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams is absolutely right when he says that the peace process could not have been achieved without the support of Slab Murphy. However, the Good Friday Agreement did not grant Slab and his ilk a licence to engage in rampant criminality. That wasn't the deal. The jailing of Slab Murphy is a timely and welcome reminder that no one is above the law. But this important, yet in many ways modest victory, will be utterly pyrrhic unless we give the CAB and other agencies the legal and financial resources they need to combat all forms of organised crime, much of it committed by 'good republicans' pursuing dirty profits in the name of peace. Former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm has been allowed an additional eight weeks to file papers in his US bankruptcy appeal. A judge granted the extension after Mr Drumm (49) complained he had been unable to work on the case due to being kept in solitary confinement for "a lengthy period" following his arrest last October. Anglo's former boss is being held at a maximum-security prison in Plymouth, near Boston, while he awaits extradition to Ireland to face 33 criminal charges from his time at the helm of the bank. However, he is also involved in a protracted bankruptcy case and is fighting to overturn the decision of a bankruptcy judge to deny him protection from creditors. The Dubliner had debts of around 11m. US Court of Appeals judge Jeffrey Howard allowed Mr Drumm the extension. It means he will not have to file his appeal papers until April 26. However, the judge said he was "disinclined" to grant any further extensions after that date. Mr Drumm's bankruptcy trustee, Kathleen Dwyer, had voiced fears Mr Drumm may seek to drag out the appeal. Earlier this week, Mr Drumm indicated he was dismissing his legal team and would be representing himself in the appeal. As the IRA's mafia-style boss of bosses for four decades, Thomas 'Slab' Murphy managed to avoid a stint locked behind bars. But the Special Criminal Court finally debunked the myth of Murphy's apparent untouchability when he was transported off to Portlaoise maximum security prison yesterday. Even though he will only serve 12 months or so of the 18-month sentence, it is still a milestone for law enforcement in this country. It also represents a huge victory for the small group of determined detectives and revenue officers of the Criminal Assets Bureau, who doggedly pursued Murphy for more than 10 years. Targeting Murphy's empire should also be a source of considerable personal pride for Detective Chief Superintendent Felix McKenna who, as head of CAB in 2005, made the decision to go after the Provo godfather once and for all. Back in the ambivalent political atmosphere of the time it was a very brave step to take. Every time any state agency attempted to challenge any part of the republican cult there were threats that it would topple the peace process. McKenna never relented in the face of threats - be they from politicians, terrorists or crime lords. CAB and the authorities have delivered the only major hit on the IRA godfather who built one of the world's biggest crime empires whilst also directing mass murder as the head honcho on the IRA Army Council. Murphy's admirers and comrades in Sinn Fein have also received a quick dose of reality. Gerry Adams and the rest of the republican family have been allowed to hide for too long behind a protective wall built on the dodgy concept of "constructive ambiguity". To be fair, Adams has never demurred from this line: he sees no hypocrisy or conflict in describing Murphy as "a good republican" or demanding the abolition of the court which convicted him. Rotten But Murphy's conviction for tax evasion last December exposed the rotten, duplicitous and hypocritical heart of Sinn Fein which showers moral judgement and allegations of corruption down on every other aspect of the political sphere from their perch on the high moral ground, while selectively ignoring its own, much dirtier - and bloodier - hands. The fact that the notoriously media-shy Murphy issued a statement after his sentencing hearing illustrates how upset he is after being given a rent-free, all-expenses paid 18-month vacation at the pleasure of the State which he spent decades trying to undermine and overthrow. And just like the Sinn Fein party, whose strings he continues to pull from the shadows, Slab resorted to the default position. Every time anyone challenges them or points out what Sinn Fein would prefer to hide, they twist the truth - melding it with lies - and use it to obfuscate and distract the spotlight. Thomas Slab Murphy is the manifestation of all that is wrong in the new world of Irish politics. His republicanism is a malignant cancer that is gnawing away at the Irish body politic. Many "republicans" do not consider Murphy a criminal even though his rackets have cost the Irish State countless tens of millions of euros which would have contributed considerably to funding the depleted public services that Sinn Fein claim they will restore. This is hypocrisy on a mind-boggling scale. Not to mention the environmental disaster created by Slab and his comrades as they indiscriminately dump toxic waste created in the fuel-laundering process in waste water. The practice has also cost the councils in Louth and Monaghan many hundreds of thousands of euro to clean up the mess. That is why yesterday was a good day for law enforcement in Ireland. IN THE postmortem on its disastrous general election campaign, the euphemistic 'strategy' will doubtless be discussed by Fine Gael. The party has spent the last four weeks stumbling from one controversy to another, then taking an overly long amount time to release itself from the contentious issue. The list includes ruling out Michael Lowry, explaining the fiscal space, ruling out Fianna Fail, 'whingers' and, ultimately, its slogan: 'Keep the recovery going'. The various affairs went down like a lead balloon in the campaign. The party decided to focus on the economy and providing stability. Expand Close Taoiseach Enda Kenny (Brian Lawless/PA Wire) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Taoiseach Enda Kenny (Brian Lawless/PA Wire) Read More The voters has firmly told Taoiseach Enda Kenny to go stick his message. The only bright spot on the Fine Gael map is the southside of Dublin. In the constituencies of Dublin Bay South, Dublin Rathdown, Dun Laoghaire and Dublin South West, the party is set to take two seats in each, off the back of a strong middle class vote. And in these case, Labour is being cleaned out, so the benefit of any coalition support is going Fine Gael's way. Therein lies the problem: the economic stability strategy was too south Dublin-centric and wasn't in tune with the mood in the rest of Dublin or the rest of the country. The party's focus groups were finding Sinn Fein presence was a particular concern in southside Dublin. Where was the strategy for everywhere else? The recovery isn't being felt in a lot of places. The Coalition is viewed as arrogant. Read More The liberal agenda hasn't been adopted in more conservative areas. Fine Gael TDs around the country now find themselves in head-to-head battles with Fianna Fail and are losing. In other cases, they will be reliant on Labour transfers to get across the line. The blame game has already started within the party. Mr Kenny is rightly in the firing line. But so too his advisers who devised the strategy and then refused to deviate. The Fine Gael leader's position is undoubtedly in question, but there's not exactly a solid contender to replace him. Leo Varadkar, Simon Coveney and Frances Fitzgerald emerge from this campaign will little enough credit. Mr Kenny gave each of them defined roles in the party's campaign, so they too will have to share the blame. Moreover, when the party needed a senior figure to step up to the plate to rescue the flagging campaign, there was no rider on a white horse. Michael Noonan did his bit five years ago. But this was an opportunity for a young pretender to step up. It didn't happen. Read More Fine Gael yet again have a leadership problem. And the solution is not very obvious. FIANNA Fail celebrated the party's resurgence as Cork South Central, Ireland's self-styled 'Constituency of Death,' proved fatal for Coalition re-election hopes. Both Labour and Fine Gael lost TDs as Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney, who held his seat despite his vote dropping by 1,500, warned there could be "no hiding" from the reality of a hugely disappointing election for the Government parties. In a signal of Coalition woes, Mr Coveney was pushed into fourth place in the constituency as Sinn Fein's Councillor Donnchadh O'Laoghaire took the third seat. "I don't get the sense that there is going to be any leadership challenge in Fine Gael," Mr Coveney said. "We will win in or around 50 seats and we will be the largest party. Enda Kenny will be the leader of the largest party." "I don't get the sense that there is any panic or anything like that." "But the truth is that we did not get our message across in this campaign like we should have. We certainly did not win the argument." "This has been a very tough couple of days for Fine Gael but I can assure you all here today that Fine Gael will bounce back." "The next Government will certainly have wind in their sails - there is no doubt about that." But he admitted that, if a stable Government cannot be formed, another general election may be on the cards. "There may be a scenario where the people are asked to reconsider. If a Government cannot be put together, that is what will happen." High-profile Fine Gael backbench TD Jerry Buttimer lost his seat as did Labour TD and Oireachtas banking inquiry chairman, Ciaran Lynch. Mr Buttimer said he believed Fine Gael should now go into Opposition and that the onus for forming the next Government should rest with Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and independents. "I'm trying to be philosophical about it. But it is very disappointing. Losing my Bishopstown base to Cork North Central was a bridge too far really. To quote Van Morrison, 'My mother told me there'll be days like this.' What else can you say?" Labour suffered the indignity of seeing the Green Party candidate overtake Mr Lynch for elimination on the ninth count. Fianna Fail celebrated as leader Michael Martin and Opposition finance spokesman, Michael McGrath, were both elected on the first count with huge votes. Sinn Fein made a major breakthrough with the election of newcomer Councillor Donnchadh O'Laoghaire. "This is an historic day for Sinn Fein in Cork and Ireland. This is a day the party has been building towards for many, many years," Councillor O'Laoghaire said. Mr Martin hailed the Fianna Fail election campaign as "absolutely incredible." He confirmed his party will now nominate him for Taoiseach when the Dail resumes - but he refused to be drawn on the possibility of any deal with Fine Gael. "This was a great election for Fianna Fail. Our message resonated with people and I think people reacted to the hard-work we put in to renewing and rebuilding the party over the past five years," he added. "We will have to wait and see what happens. But this was a very good day for Fianna Fail." "It is too early to talk about that (deal with Fine Gael)," he said. "What I can say is that Michael Martin has always put the country first." "The country will always be first as far as Michael Martin is concerned. We proved that in 2009 when we took decisions that were electorally and politically costly but in terms of the country they were the right things to do." "That has happened in the past and that is what is going to happen again. The country comes first in all our deliberations in this regard," Mr Martin said. Sinn Fein's Dessie Ellis and Cathleen Carney-Boud from Dublin North-West celebrate with supporters at the count in the RDS yesterday. Picture:Tom Burke Roisin Shorthall of the Social Democrats at the count in the RDS Sinn Fein's Dessie Ellis celebrates with supporters at the count in the RDS in 2016 Picture: Tom Burke Noel Rock has delivered a major victory for Fine Gael in Dublin North West, after becoming the first party candidate to take a seat there in over 20 years. He beat Fianna Fail's Paul McAuliffe to take the last seat in the three-seater constituency, after Labour's John Lyons was eliminated earlier today. Rock was elected on the ninth count today at the RDS. "I think we ran a remarkable locally focused campaign," he told Independent.ie. "I am only 28. I will be the youngest Fine Gael TD going into this parliament. I think we had a young devoted team around me, we are full of energy and enthusiasm, that played a vital role for me," he said. Social Democrats candidate Roisin Shortall topped the poll yesterday, and Sinn Fein's Dessie Ellis came in second place. Rock was elected as a councillor for the first time in 2014. In 2006, he worked in the US Senate for the then Senator Hillary Clinton. He was first elected in 2014 as a city councillor. Mr McAuliffe is the current leader of Fianna Fail on Dublin City Council. Michael Lowry celebrates after he won the first seat at the Tipperary count center at the Presentation Secondary School in Thurles A triumphant and clearly relieved Alan Kelly failed to make the quota but was deemed elected alongside independent candidate Seamus Healy in a tightly contested battle for the final two seats in the constituency. As he was lifted on the shoulders of supporters loudly chanting his name, a beaming Mr Kelly threw his head back, clenched his fists and shouted "yes". He said: "I am absolutely thrilled and ecstatic that we got there in the end." Earlier, he had been mobbed as he arrived at a packed Presentation Secondary School in Thurles surrounded by the party faithful singing the 1980s hit Simply The Best. It was a bitter sweet occasion, he acknowledged, adding that at times he did feel under pressure. But, dressed in a sharp navy suit, white shirt and red tie, Mr Kelly was in a defiant mood. He said: "Rebuilding the party starts tomorrow and I am going to make sure I am working with everyone that we organise, we rebrand and we redevelop our party and redevelop our message because obviously we need to do that." Although reluctant to go into details about the future for Labour, he said leader Joan Burton still had his support. "It beholds all of us in the Labour Party to reflect now and to look at everything in the party," said Mr Kelly. "Joan always has my support - that's always the way it is. But, those of us who won seats in this Dail need to step up to the plate collectively and look at what we need to do as a party. "Today is not a day for talking about other issues. We need to think about things long and hard for a few weeks and then come back and look at what went wrong. "I guarantee that the Labour Party will be coming back as a force in this country and I intend to be part of that." Meanwhile, Fine Gael suffered a battering in Tipperary returning no TDs in a constituency where they previously had two. On Saturday, independent Michael Lowry topped the poll. Maverick independent Mattie McGrath was also returned. After being hoisted into the air, he said: "I got elected so people must like the maverick. The media wrote me off - and here I am - I increased my vote. If that's the brand they want to put on me, I don't mind. I stand up for ordinary, simple values." Farmer and Fianna Fail councillor Jackie Cahill was elected to the Dail for the first time and vowed to protect rural Ireland. As the count continues to decide the make up of the 32rd Dail, fears that no bloc will emerge to form the next Government is not restricted to just Irish voters as many international commentators have raised the spectre of a hung Dail. Heres what the foreign press have to say about the general election: The Financial Times warns that there come be another general election in less than 18 months, adding that Ireland will likely face a period of political uncertainty similar to Spain, which is still without a government two months after its pre-Christmas general election. CNBC leads headline "Ireland set to oust government in election, no obvious replacement: exit poll". Economists believe that despite the strong economic recovery, public dissatisfaction with their politicians is high, meaning that the formation of a coalition government could be messy", it reported on Friday. The Guardian suggests the vote will be inconclusive and that the Government is being punished over its austerity programme. Bloomberg leads praise for Enda Kenny and the Governments last five years in power and, surprisingly, says he is on course to secure a second term via a rainbow alliance with more than two parties, or a first-ever grand coalition with Fianna Fail. The Telegraph reports that Sinn Fein and Gerry Adams will be the main beneficiary of the election, while the BBC is reporting that the Fine Gael/Labour Government will fall. Germany's Deutsche Welle suggests the election outcome "could leave Ireland ungovernable". While the Wall Street Journal says the election has been a hit against establishment parties". The likelihood is that Ireland's governing coalition of center-right Fine Gael and center-left Labour will lose its majority, it adds. The Japanese Times warns investors that Europes fastest-growing economy faces political uncertainty. The news agency service AFP is running with the headline: "Irish elections a study in epic eccentricity" and says that Enda Kenny will struggle to form a new government. Al-Jazeera also leads with the same, saying that voters are punishing the Government for its austerity measures. Elsewhere, Reuters goes with "Irish foes may have to consider unprecedented alliance as coalition thrown out. Is it any wonder Labour has no TD under the age of 30? This months short general election campaign certainly wouldnt go down as the most exciting but it still had its moments. As the nation waits to see who will take the reins following the results of Fridays polling, Independent.ie looks back on some of the things we learned while on the campaign trail: The term 'fiscal space' should be outlawed Whichever civil servant in the Department of Finance proposed the use of the term 'fiscal space' can wave their promotion goodbye. Read More The term was aptly labelled the f word - but only after voters was subjected to four days of arguments over the amount of money available to spend and cut taxes. Sinn Fein claimed it was the only party to get the numbers right, while doubts were raised about Fine Gaels competency that everything will be fine as long as nothing goes wrong. Gerry Adams urgently requires maths lesson The Sinn Fein leader's grasp of numbers was almost as frightening as his republican past. Read More More than once he took issue with interviewees questioning his grasp of figures. As Joan Burton put it, he was guilty of spouting "fuzzy economics". The stress is getting to Enda Kenny Does Enda Kenny still have enough of a steady hand to lead the country? Apparently not, after he fell foul of TV3s Steady Hand Game. The last political leader to take up the challenge, the Taoiseach gave a performance on Ireland AM that was sure to leave a few people worrying about his nerves. Alan Kelly can be kept quiet, and probably should be Read More After a series of rows, controversies, and claims he was derailing Labours re-election campaign, Mr Kelly soon took a back seat - instead deciding to spend more time with the Tipperary natives than with the nations media. Fine Gael never had a plan B If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again. But at some point, you just need to stop. Fine Gael proved it had no plan B when its key slogan 'Keep the Recovery Going' bombed on the doorstep. Refusing to give up on the message Its the economy, stupid, the party faithful continued to parrot the line across the airwaves despite it providing ammunition for the opposition. Even lacklustre TV debates still matter Read More Labour should brush up on its pop culture Labours campaign was beset by various issues and a couple of ill-conceived campaign adverts did not help matters. First there was the leaked draft ad showing Gerry Adams and Micheal Martin as a gay couple on their wedding day. Then there was Labour's 'No Direction' ad, taken out in national newspapers, depicted five Opposition leaders as members of the famous boy band. The snappy advert was quickly brought down to earth by Lucinda Creighton, who pointed out that the band now has only four members following the departure of Zayn Malik. Is it any wonder Labour has no TD under the age of 30? Irish people are the most polite in the world Incredibly, not a single candidate seemed to report receiving a negative reaction on the doorsteps despite many taking the opportunity to demonstration whenever a prominent politician was doing a walkabout. Read More Joan Burton drinks her tea black They say black tea is good for stress levels - is it any wonder the Labour leader prefers hers without any milk? If polls are to believed, her party is teetering on brink, while she herself is facing a serious uphill battle to keep her Dublin West seat. She, too, is also probably never wants to hear the phrase fiscal space again. The publication of a damning report on Ireland's public services was delayed until after polls closed last night. Officials in the European Commission decided to hold back the lengthy and often critical report so as not to influence voters. Although highlighting the strength of the economic recovery, the 89-page report criticises the lack of funding in education, the high cost of childcare and pointed to problems in housing, the increase in poverty and income inequality and the inadequacy of public transport in Dublin. Similar reports for other EU member states were released yesterday afternoon but the Commission confirmed that it delayed the Irish one. It is likely that the report would have been seized on by Opposition parties, which have spent the campaign arguing that while the economy is on the mend, public services are still in crisis. The body said Ireland had experienced a "remarkable" economic turnaround over the last two years, and that the rebound had broadened. Unemployment, debt and the deficit were falling, and the banks were improving, the Commission said. But it warned long-term unemployment and the low work intensity of households remained a concern, as did mortgage arrears. Childcare, infrastructure and funding for education came in for criticism with the Commission warning that even though levels of educational achievement and attainment are fairly high, public funding for education is well below the EU average. Upskilling and reskilling opportunities remain insufficient, it said. The Commission said relative poverty and income inequality has increased. "The proportion of people living in households with very low work intensity continues to be high," the report said. "Children in low work intensity households are directly affected by the risk of poverty or social exclusion." Poverty The Commission warned that the rate of severe material deprivation remained much higher than at the onset of the crisis in 2008, although it remained slightly under the EU average. The proportion of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion fell to 30.3pc in 2014, but remains higher than the EU average. Brussels argued that the limited availability and high cost of childcare hinder women from taking up work and stymies efforts to tackle child poverty. "According to 2013 figures, the average fee for childcare nationally was 152 per child per week, amounting to almost 16,000 per year for a two-child family," the report said. "As a percentage of wages, net childcare costs in Ireland are among the highest in the EU. They were the second highest in the EU for couples and the highest for single parents." In addition, the report said seven years of sharply reduced government investment had taken its toll on the quality of the State's infrastructure. It said the shortage of mass transit around Dublin had led to increased traffic congestion, with an overall congestion level of 38pc, according to the recent TomTom roads index. "If only peak morning and evening hours are considered, the congestions index surges to 81pc, ranking Dublin as the ninth most congested city of any size among more than 200 cities monitored by the index," it said. On housing the report warned constraints limiting the construction sector and the supply of housing could generate risks of "imbalances" if they are not resolved. "These constraints are indeed being addressed but the extent to which announced measures will be effective and free of adverse unintended effects will need to be monitored," it said. And it said the adverse consequences arising from the housing supply shortage are exemplified by the surge in homelessness. Brid Smith, People before Profit candidate in Dublin South Central has a cup of tea in the RDS count centre. Photo: Damien Eagers Tally men pictured at the counting of the General election ballot papers for Tipperary, at the Presentation Secondary School in Thurles. Photo: Frank Mc Grath Counting of the General election ballot papers for Tipperary, at the Presentation Secondary School in Thurles. Photo: Frank Mc Grath Counting of the General election ballot papers for Tipperary, at the Presentation Secondary School in Thurles. Photo: Frank Mc Grath From left: Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and Tanaiste and Labour leader Joan Burton before their final TV debate, on RTEs Prime Time. Photo:Tony Maxwell/PA Wire From left: Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein; Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Fine Gael; Tanaiste Joan Burton, Labour; and Micheal Martin, Fianna Fail at TV3s Vote 2016 Leaders Debate in Dublin last week. Photo: Arthur Carron FINE Gaels core support has been dramatically reduced as voters flocked to Fianna Fail and the independents. Thats the finding of the second exit poll of General Election 2016. And the Labour Party has suffered an annihilation and could lose up to 30 seats, according to the Behavioural and Attitudes poll carried out for RTE. The poll findings, detailed on Morning Ireland, are as follows: Fine Gael: 24.8 per cent; Fianna Fail: 21.1pc, Sinn Fein: 16pc and Labour: 7.1pc. The findings show that it will be impossible for the FG/Labour coalition to be returned. It also shows that Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein will have more combined support than the coalition partners. The findings also show significant support for smaller parties and independents. They are as follows: Anti-Austerity Alliance/ People Before Profit (AAA/PBP) 4.7pc, Green Party 3.6pc, Social Democrats 3.7pc, Independent Alliance 3pc, Independents 11pc, Renua 2.4pc, others 2.6pc. Ballot boxes opened at 9am and the counting began. Professor Michael Marsh from the Department of Political Science in Trinity College Dublin today predicted that Fine Gael would win 46 seats, while Fianna Fail will acquire 37 seats. Sinn Fein will win 27 seats, he told Morning Ireland today. Meanwhile, he said Labour would get nine seats, the Social Democrats would get seven seats, while People Before Profit would get six seats. The Trinity academic said the Green Party would win four seats, while the Independent alliance would win four seats. Renua would win three seats, he said, while 13 Independents would win seats, and two seats would go to Independents for change. The latest exit poll follows an Irish Times exit poll, released last night, which indicates that the outgoing Coalition has no chance of being returned - and no other block or group of parties has made a significant breakthrough. Fianna Fail has made a comeback and will remain the second biggest party but at 22.9pc will struggle to form an alternative government. The poll shows that Fine Gael got 26.1pc of first-preference votes while Lbaour got just 7.8pc. This is one-fifth fewer what they achieved in 2011. If those results play out once boxes are opened this morning, the positions of Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tanaiste Joan Burton as leaders of their parties will be in doubt. Late last night, Mr Kenny's constituency colleagues Michael Ring refused to say if his leadership was secure. Micheal Martin will be able to clain a small victory by raising Fianna Fail's vote from 17pc five years ago to 22.9pc today. Former minister Mary Hanafin said that figure could help the party to nearly double its seats in Leinster House to around 40 which would be an "enormous boost". The final tally from Dublin west shows that Tanaiste Joan Burton will be fighting the battle of her life today to hold onto her seat. Tally figures indicate that if the Labour party leader succeeds in holding onto the final seat, it could be by a tiny margin. With all boxes tallied, Fine Gael's Leo Varadkar has topped the poll. The next four candidates are all within 2pc of each other meaning there will be a fierce battle for the final seat in the four-seat constituency. The figures for Dublin west are: Leo Varadkar (FG) 19.6%, Jack Chambers (FF) 16.5%, Ruth Coppinger (AAA) 15.4%, Joan Burton (Lab) 15.4%, Paul Donnelly (SF) 14.4%, David McGuinness (Ind) 7.2%, and Roderic O'Gorman (GP) 4.2%. Veteran Socialist politician Joe Higgins has said that exit polls show that the country is on the verge of "an earthquake politically". The poll suggests it's impossible that the government will be returned in its present form. "There's no question about it. It shows the huge undermining of the establishment politics and political parties," Mr Higgins told Independent.ie. Former Dublin West TD Mr Higgins, decided not to run in this election. He is the director of elections for his constituency colleague Ruth Coppinger who's in a scrap for a seat with Tanaiste Joan Burton of Labour, Jack Chambers of Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein's Paul Donnelly. Mr Higgins said that Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Labour have been "exposed as defenders of the status quo" and that the exit poll results were "inevitable" on that basis. "The fact that the two previous biggest parties of the establishment (FG and FF) can barely muster 50pc shows how significantly things have changed. "So I think you've now the opening up of a new road in Irish political life towards the left, towards the possibility of a real alternative." He said he the Anti-Austerity Alliance/People Before Profit platform hope to get a minimum of seven seats nationwide. On Ms Coppinger's chances he said: "We're reasonably confident. It is early days so I'm certainly not calling it. There's a long way to go here." Mr Higgins said he doesn't regret his decision not to run in this election. "I will continue to assist, hopefully a new parliamentary team in Dail intervention and generally in building the alternative around the country. If we get an increased number of TDs I'll be very happy indeed." Meanwhile, another battle is underway in Dublin Bay South with 33.3pc of the boxes opened. Sinn Fein's Chris Andrews has topped the poll with 17.5pc of the vote, while Fine Gael's Eoghan Murphy got 15.2pc. But the fight is on between three candidates who are all within 1pc of each other for the last two seats - Renua's Lucinda Creighton is on 10.2pc, Labour's Kevin Humphreys is on 11.4pc and Fianna Fail's Jim O'Callaghan has 10.7pc. Meanwhile, in Dublin Mid West, final tallies suggest Sinn Feins Eoin OBroin could beat Justice Minister Francis Fitzgerald to top the poll. With all boxes open, the tallies put OBroin at 22pc of first preference votes, just ahead of Fitzgerald at 21pc. Both would meet the projected quota. Sitting TDs Derek Keating (FG) and Joanna Tuffy (Lab) could be in danger of losing their seats, with just 5pc and 4pc respectively, according to the final tally. Apparently making a comeback is Fianna Fails John Curran. The former TD lost his seat in the last general election but tallies show him in the running for the third seat in this four-seat constituency, with 16pc. Gino Kenny (PBP-AAA) is polling strongly, with a tally of 10pc, followed by Anne Marie McNally of the Social Democrats at 6pc and Paul Gogarty (IA) at 5pc. THIS count may last for a number of days, but the repercussions may last a generation or two. Here's some of the main talking points so far: *Its taken 100 years but civil war politics is over. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are likely to bring in less than 50pc of the vote between. Voters are swinging left in record numbers and the political landscape is going to have be redrawn. *All the pre-election talk about coalition options was warranted. The party leaders hated journalists asking who they would do business with but it turns out that if we are to have a new government a lot of people are going to have to eat their words. *The country is in total recall. Expand Close From left: Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and Tanaiste and Labour leader Joan Burton before their final TV debate, on RTEs Prime Time. Photo:Tony Maxwell/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp From left: Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and Tanaiste and Labour leader Joan Burton before their final TV debate, on RTEs Prime Time. Photo:Tony Maxwell/PA Wire Fianna Fail is back as a serious political force. Despite the outgoing coalitions best efforts to remind us that Micheal Martin wrecked the place, voters have decided hes not such a bad fella after all. *Nobody is going to Washington for St Patricks Day. Baring a miracle there wont be a new government formed by March 17 so Barack Obama is likely to cancel this years celebrations at the White House. *Given a choice between stability and chaos, people wanted chaos. Read More We are into unprecedented territory but there is little doubt that voters werent in the mood for Fine Gaels motto keep the recovery going. Enda Kennys plan was to bore the country into submission but today the country (not just the west) is awake. *The unemployment numbers are set to jump. Fine Gael and Labour face the loss of up to 30 seats meaning that after years of claiming to reduce the live register they will be adding to it over the next few days *And some big names will be on the list The likes of ministers Joan Burton, Alex White, Paschal Donohoe, James Reilly Jan O'Sullivan and Kathleen Lynch are in fights for their political lives, while Mick Wallace and Maureen O'Sullivan are also struggling in the early tallies FIANNA Fail leader Micheal Martin confirmed that his party will nominate him for Taoiseach when the new Dail meets. Mr Martin admitted that the 2016 General Election results were "absolutely incredible" for the party which so many had written off just five years ago. Expand Close Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin is surrounded by well wishers at the count centre at City Hall, Cork / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin is surrounded by well wishers at the count centre at City Hall, Cork He said he now expects Fianna Fail to win more than 40 seats - though he refused to speculate on precise numbers given multiple cliffhanger counts underway nationwide. He admitted the Fianna Fail gains were beyond his most optimistic expectation though he stressed every party candidate took to the campaign to win. Read More Fianna Fail will now more than double their number of TDs. But he bluntly refused to comment on the prospects of a Fianna Fail-Fine Gael deal if the 32nd Dail has no other means of delivering stable Government. "It is too early to talk about that," he said. "What I can say is that Micheal Martin has always put the country first," he said. "The country will always be first as far as Micheal Martin is concerned. We proved that in 2009 when we took decisions that were electorally and politically costly but in terms of the country they were the right things to do." "That has happened in the past and that is what is going to happen again." "The country comes first in all our deliberations in this regard." Read More Mr Martin stressed that his party will stand for fairness, decency and stability - and will demand that of any Government that emerges. "When the new Dail meets, Fianna Fail will nominate me for Taoiseach. After that we will just have to see what happens." Mr Martin insisted that the ultimate breakdown of seat numbers in the 32nd Dail may still vary greatly - and other combinations for Government could emerge. "What Fianna Fail fought this campaign on was getting fairness back into Irish politics and getting this Fine Gael-Labour Government out of office." "We don't want to go into Government with Fine Gael or with Sinn Fein - let's wait until we know the final destination of the seats because I think a lot of centre-ground people are going to be elected as well." "We have done that (listened to the Irish people). We have worked very hard over the past five years to listen to what the Irish people had to say." Read More "We will now listen very carefully to the message they spelled out at the ballot box." He arrived to a rapturous reception from the party faithful at Cork City Hall. Reduced to just 20 Dail seats after the disastrous 2011 General Election, his party are now hoping to win 40 plus seats as both Fine Gael and Labour are on course for massive losses. The Cork South Central TD is set to be elected alongside his running mate, Michael McGrath TD, in what many had dubbed 'the Constituency of Death'. But the former Foreign Affairs Minister is also poised to see Fianna Fail make major gains nationwide after what one party official described as "a spectacular campaign." He was cheered to the echo as he arrived at City Hall shortly before 4pm - and received a celebratory hug from his wife, Mary, amid party supporters delighted by imminent electoral gains. "It has been a very good campaign for Fianna Fail - there is no doubt about that," he said. "I think everyone in Fianna Fail felt energised by the campaign and today is all about those party volunteers who worked so hard, knocked on doors and helped with the renewal of the party." "They deserve the credit for the success of this campaign." Mr Martin warned it was far too early to speculate about what precisely shape the next Government will take. "We will have to wait and see for what the precise seat numbers (won) are," he said. Mr Martin echoed the warning of Fianna Fail director of elections, Billy Kelleher, that there is no point speculating until all constituencies have reported and elected their TDs to the 32nd Dail. "It is too early (for that kind of talk)," he said. "What I can say is that I believe Fianna Fail's message resonated with Irish voters and we believe we have fulfilled our goal which is to get this Government out of office," he said. "We will have to wait and see what happens next." Mr Martin refused to comment about ongoing speculation about a Fine Gael-Fianna Fail arrangement for Government. However, it has emerged that many Fine Gael and Labour seats may be lost because of what one Sinn Fein tallyman called "a Fianna Fail revenge vote." Tallyman and Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Chris O'Leary, said it was noticeable how many Fianna Fail voters refused to vote for preferences beyond their own candidates. "In a lot of cases, they didn't mark the paper after they had voted for Fianna Fail candidates,", he said. "There wasn't a third, fourth or fifth preference to transfer." "These are votes and transfers that may ultimately prove crucial for the Government parties. But those votes just won't be there to transfer." "In many ways you could call it a Fianna Fail revenge vote - its almost as if Fianna Fail voters wanted to settle scores for what happened in 2011 After nearly a month of frantic campaigning, the electorate has cast their ballots to fill the 157 vacant seats in the 32nd Dail. While the process of casting a vote is relatively straightforward, the means of deciding who actually won is less so. Since all constituencies in Ireland are multi-seat with up to five Dail spots up for grabs in some constituencies things can get a little convoluted, due in a part to the mouthful that is Proportional Representation by the Single Transferable Vote (PR-STV). PR-STV Used for every Irish election since 1922, and enshrined in the 1937 constitution, the unusual system is used by no one else in Europe aside from Ireland and the small island nation of Malta. Instead of picking just one candidate, PR means voters list their first and subsequent preferences on the ballot paper. In theory, when a party gets 10 pc of the votes, it should get around 10 pc of the seats. Expand Close Enda Kenny at the polling station in Castlebar (Photo: Gerry Mooney) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Enda Kenny at the polling station in Castlebar (Photo: Gerry Mooney) In practice, this rarely is the case but it does allow small parties and Independents to have a voice at a national level unlike other electorate systems. Once the polls have closed, the ballot papers are collected and taken to the counting centres to be sorted. This is where things can get confusing, even for those familiar with the process. The Quota Candidates are elected by reaching what is called a Droop Quota. This figure is set by dividing the total number of valid votes cast in a constituency by the number of seats available plus one, and one. Why two ones? Because this ensures that the number of candidates able to reach the quota cannot exceed the number of seats. Expand Close Sinn Fein's Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald arriving to vote at St Josephs School on the Navan Road. Pic Steve Humphreys / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sinn Fein's Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald arriving to vote at St Josephs School on the Navan Road. Pic Steve Humphreys Basically it works as follows, in a four-seat constituency were 100,000 votes are cast, the quota would be 20,001 based on 100,000/4(+1)+1. So four candidates can get 80,004 votes in total, ensuring only four can be elected as no one else can reach the required 20,001. The First Count This is where votes are sorted by first preference. If a candidate reaches the quota, they are elected and, generally, carried away up on the shoulders of their followers. Any surplus votes they had are then distributed to the remaining candidates. The Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth Count, ie where things get messy Candidate A receives 1000 votes more than the quota on the first count, and after examining all of the votes, it is found that 25 pc have a second preference for candidate B and 20 pc for candidate C, and so on. These surplus votes, picked at random, are then transferred over, so B gets 250 (25 pc of 1000), C gets 200, and things continues down until all the preferences have been moved over. So far, so good. Now if no candidate reaches quota at the second count, the candidate with the lowest number of votes is eliminated. These votes are then re-distributed based on the preferences listed, and this process continues for each additional count, often well into the night, until all the seats in a constituency is filled. Non transferable votes In theory every STV election should see the right number of candidates elected by quota, but in practice many voters still chose to only vote for a small proportion of the candidates on the ballot paper. These are known as 'non transferable votes' and they often reduce the total number of votes available, which usually means that the last seat to be filled tends to be based the remaining candidate with the highest number of votes. 32rd Dail Eireann A hung parliament? Some 3.3 million people were registered to vote in yesterday general election, and while opinion polls have been all over the place leading up to polling day one thing that they have all hinted at is that the current Government parties may fall short of a majority. In fact, none of the parties have registered enough support to easily form a government. This could lead to the very real possibility that there will be no government when 32rd Dail meets for the first time on March 10th. Will this mean another election? Probably not, as no one would benefit from another election campaign straight away. The perceived wisdom is that some kind of broad coalition will have to be reached. This is why there has been so much talk about a Fine Gael Fianna Fail coalition or a Fine Gael-led minority government relying Independents for support. How long could this take? That is anyones guess. For example, from 2010 to 2011, Belgium waited 589 days a government to be elected. Ireland has not, yet, seen anything quite as extreme. Following the 1992 general election, it took Albert Reynolds 48 days to be re-elected Taoiseach. The election before that, in 1987, it took 42 days for a government to form. A massive operation was under way last night to protect a number of neighbouring buildings after fire ripped through a popular cafe next to Sinn Fein's HQ. Five units of the Dublin Fire Brigade battled the blaze that broke out shortly after 7.30pm at the Kingfisher Townhouse on Parnell Street, across from the Rotunda maternity hospital. The building functions as both a cafe and B&B. Dublin Fire Brigade said firefighters were scrambling to prevent the fire from spreading to neighbouring premises. "It's a big operation. A lot of buildings are threatened," an official told the Irish Independent. Gardai cordoned off the area and traffic restrictions were in place. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. There were no injuries. A 40-foot container of cigarettes can be purchased in Asia for 300,000 and then sold in Ireland for 5m. (Stock image) Former Provisional IRA activists now control 10 organised crime gangs dominating the 3m-a-week illegal cigarette trade on both sides of the Border. The gang leaders include a Tyrone man alleged to have been a member of the IRA's ruling army council in the past and other former leading members of the Provisional republican movement in the Border region. They are no longer active terrorists but pay a "levy" to former associates, including those currently linked to dissident gangs, to allow them to operate freely. The rest of the cash netted from the lucrative trade is used to fund lavish lifestyles and property investments overseas, according to gardai. A number of the convicted terrorists are currently under investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). One major player, Leonard Hardy, who was arrested in Spain last year for allegedly being involved in laundering millions of euro netted from trafficking in illegal cigarettes, has already reached a settlement with the CAB. Hardy was a member of a Provisional IRA unit, active in Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and subsequently convicted of terrorist offences. He was served with a tax bill by the bureau for more than 500,000. Hardy later reached a settlement for less than that figure and was also fined 10,000 in Dublin Circuit Court for tax irregularities. Inquiries carried out by investigators, funded by a major cigarette manufacturing company, established that more than 70pc of illegal cigarettes smoked in Ireland are "illicit whites". These are produced in backstreet factories in Asia for the sole purpose of smuggling into high-tax jurisdictions, such as Ireland. According to a briefing document, prepared by a former Garda officer, Ireland is now a hub and a dropping-off point for smugglers, who then forward the shipments to the UK to maximise their profits. A 40-foot container of cigarettes can be purchased in Asia for 300,000 and then sold in Ireland for 5m. Independent News and Media (INM) is to lodge an official complaint with Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan after gardai stopped journalists from photographing republican figure Thomas 'Slab' Murphy leaving a polling station. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has also questioned why gardai did not intervene to stop the "blatant intimidation" of journalists by supporters of the tax cheat. The INM complaint is being lodged after a photographer and reporter from the Irish Independent were blocked from getting out of a car near the polling station in Hackballscross, Co Louth. As well as having their car "boxed in" by a vehicle driven by Murphy supporters, a man also held the photographer's car door shut. The same man also recorded the car registration numbers of journalists from the Irish Independent and the 'Irish Times' and took photos of them on his phone. He said he was "just following orders". INM Head of News Jane Last said: "We will be lodging a complaint with the Garda Commissioner regarding the treatment of our journalists and the manner in which gardai prevented them from doing their jobs. Expand Close A prison van believed to be holding Thomas Slab Murphy is escorted from the Special Criminal Court court after his sentencing. Photo: Collins Courts / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A prison van believed to be holding Thomas Slab Murphy is escorted from the Special Criminal Court court after his sentencing. Photo: Collins Courts "Our journalists were subjected to very obvious intimidation by associates of Thomas 'Slab' Murphy. "It's worrying for freedom of the press that gardai told journalists from the Irish Independent and 'Irish Times' that they were not allowed in a public area, demanded to know who they wanted to speak to and then ordered them to leave." The NUJ's Irish secretary, Seamus Dooley, said that there had been "clear intimidation" and that this should be investigated. He questioned why gardai had asked the journalists to leave the area when "they had an absolute right to seek to take photographs of a figure of current public interest". A female garda ordered two photographers and a reporter to leave, claiming they were interfering with the voting process. The journalists, who had been located in a school car park adjacent to the polling station, denied any interference with voters but complied with the garda's request. The journalists were subjected to intimidation by a number of individuals before and after Murphy, the alleged former chief of the Provisional IRA in south Armagh, arrived at the polling station. In a statement, An Garda Siochana said the presiding officer at the polling station had concerns about people congregating at the entrance to the polling station as this could potentially impede voters "Gardai at the request of the presiding officer approached members of the media at the entrance and requested them to leave the area which they complied with immediately," the statement said. "Gardai at the scene received no complaints from the media in relation to intimation or assault and any such complaints if received will be fully investigated." Jean-Marie on the sofa with their dogs Abbey and George. Photo: Mark Condren CJ Stander's wife Jean-Marie has paid tribute to her late friend Reeva Steenkamp, describing her as "an amazing girl." The 25-year-old model moved to Limerick from their native South Africa in 2012 with her husband, who is signed to Munster. She is an ambassador for skincare line Nimue Skin, the same company that was represented by the late Reeva. Jean-Marie knew the model and had also met Oscar Pistorius. "The sporting circles in Pretoria are pretty closely connected, so everyone pretty much knows everyone else." She remembers Reeva as "an amazing girl". "If you talked to her, she would make you feel like the only person in the room and the most important person. It's just so sad that we'll never know what she could have been." Expand Close CJ Stander and his wife Jean-Marie on their wedding day / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp CJ Stander and his wife Jean-Marie on their wedding day Like thousands of fans across the country today, Jean-Marie will be cheering on Ireland from her living room sofa when they take on England. "I don't have a visa to travel to the UK," the South African explains ruefully. "But I'm still nervous and excited - I know Ireland v England is a massive game." Two weeks ago, it was a different story when she watched proudly in the stands at the Stade De France as her husband CJ took to the field. She cried when he was named man of the match after his international debut against Wales. Seeing him play has been the culmination of years of work that has seen the young couple move thousands of miles around the world to start a new life in Limerick. After committing so much, Jean-Marie gets understandably furious with anyone who dares question her husband's allegiance to his adopted national side. "Ireland wasn't his second choice," she says emphatically. "Ireland isn't a second-choice type of place. "Ireland has been our home for the last four years and as far as CJ is concerned, it's Ireland that has made him the player he is today, not South Africa." Happily, her family back their son-in-law's choice. Expand Close Jean-Marie on the sofa with their dogs Abbey and George. Photo: Mark Condren / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jean-Marie on the sofa with their dogs Abbey and George. Photo: Mark Condren "They've all bought Ireland jerseys and even if Ireland was playing South Africa, they'd be in emerald green," she smiles. "I think everyone has a soft spot for Ireland - if he'd gone to England, they probably wouldn't have felt the same way!" Born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, Jean Marie Neethling is the sister of Olympic gold medallist swimmer Ryk Neethling but also an athlete in her own right, having started a swimming career at the age of nine and going on to compete at international level. In 2011, she was in Pretoria, training and working on designing her own swimwear line, when she started dating Blue Bulls flanker Christiaan Johan 'CJ' Stander. She says: "He says he knew straight away that he wanted to marry me, although for me, it wasn't that quick!" He won her over by arriving at her apartment to fix a wobbly kitchen worktop with a tool box that it later transpired he had borrowed from his mates in a bid to impress her. They moved to Ireland the following year and married, in South Africa in June 2013. It was, she concedes, a lot for a young couple, adding: "But why wait for a 'right' age when you know you've already found the right person?" Prior to arriving in Limerick, all she knew about the city was what she'd found on Google. Expand Close CJ Stander and his wife Jean-Marie on their wedding day / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp CJ Stander and his wife Jean-Marie on their wedding day "I got a fright when it said it was one of the places with the least days of sun a year," she confesses. "And we had heard about it being called 'Stab City'. "Then we came over and it's nothing like what people said. When the sun is shining in Limerick, it's probably the best place in the world." Munster fans are "unreal". "It's like a massive family," she says. "Last week, I tweeted, saying CJ's debut match had been deleted from our Sky box, and straight away so many Munster fans got in touch saying, 'We've got it! We'll put it on DVD for you'. They're brilliant." The couple have even found a local butcher happy to whip them up a string of 'Boerewors', their favourite spicy South African sausages. But it hasn't always been easy. Their first language is Afrikaans and speaking English all the time - never mind trying to master 'Amhran na bhFiann' - has been testing. Jean-Marie misses her close circle of friends. Two years ago, her 35-year-old sister Elsje underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumour and has been battling the disease on and off for 20 years. "Three weeks ago, she went for a check-up and it was clear, so that was good news," she says. "But it's always in your mind." Despite obviously having the attributes, and regularly being described in the press as such, she's not a model. "I get uncomfortable with photos," she admits. "The only thing that's even come close to me modelling is having photos taken for Nimue Skin." Since completing her law degree in November, Jean-Marie has decided to use the next year to take time out and travel to CJ's games. "I get asked 'when will you have kids?' all the time," she laughs. "But I'm too selfish at the moment to give up my sleep. We've two dogs and that's plenty of responsibility for now." She adds: "Every time CJ gets the ball, I'm just thinking, 'You can do it.'" Something we'll all be channelling at every Ireland player when the whistle blows at Twickenham today . . . Nine male refugees discovered huddled inside the back of a truck that arrived at Rosslare Port, Co Wexford, this afternoon are in a stable condition in hospital. The Irish haulage truck carrying the refugees, all adult males, came off a ship from Cherbourg at around 3.30pm. The refugees had been hidden inside the trailer for at least two days. All nine found by authorities are in a stable condition and have been taken to Waterford Regional Hospital to undergo medical assessment. Authorities say none of the stowaways are believed to be at risk of long-term injury or death. Gardai are trying to establish their identities and interpreters have been deployed. Responding to the situation, Verona Murphy, president of the Irish Road Haulage Association said the government are very fortunate that they are not dealing with mass deaths. We are so glad today that were not dealing with eight or nine dead migrants. The shipping route from Cherbourg to Rosslare is very long. They were contained within a container with a serious lack of oxygen so the threat to life would have been grave , she said. The Irish Road Haulage Association has tried numerous times to make the Government step up and take action in relation to this activity. But instead we have suffered thousands of euros in penalties with the UK border force, she said. Ms Verona says the stowaways should have been detected at the French port. These migrants should have been spotted well before they boarded a ship and as a result they are in that trailer almost two days and it raises serious safety concerns of the dangers Irish truck drivers are facing on a daily basis, she said. Even if the driver had discovered them there would have been nine migrants to one driver, its a very serious health and safety risk at all times, she said. Ms Murphy is calling on the Irish and UK Governments to safeguard truck drivers as last week the French authorities received approval to clear part of the Calais migrant camp known as the "Jungle". They dont want to be rehoused, they want to come to the UK, that is there primary objective . IF they manage to get inside our vehicles they are putting our drivers at risk and causing significant damage to trailer and the cargo, she said. We are so glad today that were not dealing with eight or nine dead migrants, she said. The shipping route from Cherbourg to Rosslare is very long. They were contained within a container with a serious lack of oxygen so the threat to life would have been grave. She says the refugees should have been detected at the French port. It raises serious safety concerns of the dangers drivers are facing on a daily basis, she said. In the midst of the onslaught of 1916 centenary events coming our way over the next few weeks and months, a 15-year-old Dublin boy will be remembered for a brave act which helped to kick off the rebellion. Surely one of the youngest members of the Irish Citizens Army which fought on Easter week 100 years ago, the boy in question blew on a bugle outside Liberty Hall on the morning of that fateful Easter Monday, sounding the 'Fall In' and thus signalling the start of the Rising. That young bugler was William Oman. Just months before, he had sounded the same horn at the graveside at the funeral of 'rebel' Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa, and today, their remains lay just a short walk away from each other in Glasnevin Cemetery. This story intrigues the visitors who were huddled together in the cold air of the cemetery on a recent Saturday morning. But they were even more interested, because the young man who was giving the tour proudly revealed that he is Niall Oman, the bugler's great-grandson. "Ooh," one of the American visitors cooed in genuine wonderment. "Imagine that, wow." Niall has been working as a tour guide in Glasnevin Cemetery for six years and he took an interest in the subject after his parents taught him all about his family's historical connections. "We would have been told from a young age that our great-grandfather fought in the 1916 Rising and that he fought in the War of Independence. "Because he was only 15, he was released from Richmond Barracks after being arrested after about 10 days." The 28-year-old also works as a history teacher, but he became a tour guide first after learning the trade from the late resident historian Shane MacThomais, who was featured on Aoife Kelleher's beautifully tragic and poignant film about the cemetary, One Million Dubliners. Just like the inimitable Shane, who passed away in 2014, Niall now has an undeniably passionate enthusiasm for the burial ground on Dublin's northside, which is the final resting place for more than 1.5 million souls. "The cemetery had its first burial in February 1832 - it was opened by Daniel O'Connell because he wanted a cemetery that would be for all religions and no religion. It has always been non-denominational and at present we have about 25 different religions and faiths buried here. "We started with nine acres of land and now we have 124 acres of land. By population, it is the biggest in the country because there is 1.5 million buried here - that's more than Dublin's population. "So when you say to people on tours that there is more people below ground in Glasnevin than there is above ground, it hits home the size and scale of it," he explained to The Herald over a pot of tea after sending a group of happy tourists on their way. Graveyards aren't usually on must see listicles for tourists jetting away on weekend breaks, but if political, cultural and literary giants are buried there, you can expect a few to pop by. And the tour guides, who have a reputation for being entertaining, have learned to show these guests around with a reverence and respect for those who are buried there and the loved ones they have left behind. "Shane had been doing the tours for many years here, just himself going around on a daily basis. The major increase in tourism came in 2010 when we opened the museum here, and with the museum, the word got out that tours are really an attraction. There are also exhibitions and a coffee shop here as well. "Shane would have trained us all, as tour guides, to inform people in an entertaining way. We have to remind ourselves that it is a cemetery, that there will be people going to family graves. But, at the same time, our history is so interesting and fascinating, we like drawing out the little anecdotes in history that just makes the stories of those graves come alive to a lot of people." Every year it goes "from strength to strength", Niall explained, but there is no doubt that a lot of this recent success is owed to the brilliant One Million Dubliners documentary. "The targets we set for visitor numbers, we just surpassed them, particularly in 2015. In 2015, there were 75,000 paying visitors. We are still in our own infancy, so to get 75,000 in one year, it is quite a considerable number, and every year it is increasing." This year, which marks the 100th anniversary of the execution of 16 of the leaders of the Rising, that number is expected to rocket to as many as 90,000 - more than the capacity of Croke Park. "Glasnevin is the final resting place for a plethora of historical Irish figures, including Michael Collins, Maud Gonne, Countess Markievicz, Eamon de Valera, Joseph Mary Plunkett and his wife Grace Gifford. And more recently, the list of popular Irish figures who have been buried there includes Luke Kelly from The Dubliners and literary legends Brendan Behan and Christy Brown. Collins' grave is undoubtedly the most popular in the cemetery, not just because of its proximity to the entrance, but staff credit the Hollywood blockbuster starring Liam Neeson for also bolstering interest. The modest plot is inundated with flowers and even has attracted the attention of the 'mysterious French lady' - artist Veronique Crombe - who travels from her Parisian home to visit her beloved several times a year. However, the interest in Collins' grave is now being rivalled by Shane MacThomais's final resting place, according to Niall. "He is a great loss to the cemetery. But his legacy is still there. People on the tours will constantly say where's Shane's grave, which I think is funny because in the film he mentions Collins' grave being the most visited and all of the flowers on his grave and now Shane himself is kind of rivalling Collins. If you go down to Shane's grave, he always seems to have flowers. "He is like Collins, in the sense that he died young - too young. He is still very popular to this day and he has a great film made about him, so you can't argue with that." Keeping the tour fresh is something all 10 tour guides working in Glasnevin endeavour to do, and this year, Niall will be hosting a series of special 1916 tours from Good Friday to Easter Monday. "It is a big year for the cemetery. With the anniversary of the Easter Rising, the cemetery is just going to be abuzz with it. We will have an exhibition in the museum, we will also have a lecture series and the Government will be out at various commemorations," the Dublin man added. "I have been teaching now five years and tour guiding for six years, so I have got history coming out of my ears." Senior Sinn Fein figures are coming under major pressure to clarify whether they still believe IRA leader Thomas 'Slab" Murphy is a "good republican' after he was sentenced to 18 months in prison for tax fraud. The party adopted a stony silence last night and failed to answer media queries. Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams posted on his blog about the election just before lunch time yesterday - but he made no reference to the sentencing of his friend. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin accused Mr Adams of failing to apply basic standards to the rule of law. "It beggars belief that Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams believes that Slab Murphy is a good republican," Mr Martin said. "He was sentenced today to 18 months for tax evasion, good republicans pay their tax. "Any normal political party would condemn breaking the law. It's unfortunate that Sinn Fein don't have normal standards." Labour Party senator Mairia Cahill, who was raped by an IRA figure when she was a teenager, accused Sinn Fein of putting their friends before victims and the rule of law. "Justice has finally caught up with this notorious individual," Ms Cahill said. "For many years, there have been substantial allegations that he is at the heart of republican activity - criminal and otherwise - in South Armagh. These allegations include matters far worse than tax evasion. "Despite this, he has been repeatedly defended as "a good republican" and a "typical rural man" by Gerry Adams and Mary Lou McDonald over recent weeks and months. This is a further indication of how they put themselves and their friends first before victims and the rule of law." Sentence Health Minister Leo Varadkar said he was glad a custodial sentence was handed down. "Obviously, it is alleged that there were more serious offences committed, but the evidence has not been there for a prosecution," Mr Varadkar told the Irish Independent. "Tax evaders get off pretty easy in this country, often without custodial sentences so I think that this is appropriate." Fine Gael TD for Louth Fergus O'Dowd said it was imperative that Mr Adams and Ms McDonald clarified whether they still believed Murphy was a "good republican". "There is an obligation on them to do that as elected representatives," he told the Irish Independent. An Irish couple has opened up about the difficult decision they faced after it was discovered that their baby had a fatal foetal abnormality during a routine scan at 20 weeks. Michelle and Vin Manley from Drogheda decided to continue their pregnancy after doctors in Dublins Rotunda Maternity Hospital told them their son would not live past birth due to an anomaly of abnormalities in the womb. Speaking on Fridays Late Late Show the couple revealed that there is no right or wrong decision that parents placed in that situation can make. When it comes to a situation like this I think really the most important thing is that there is no right or wrong thing to do from that moment to on, said Michelle. Expand Close Michelle and Vin pictured with their son Jamie / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Michelle and Vin pictured with their son Jamie The right thing to do is what is right for you and your unborn baby. The nurse revealed that after the team in the Rotunda told them that their child would not survive, they spent a few days considering their options. A member of his team took us into a room and told us basically that theres too many things wrong... and with these anomalies is it certain that your baby is not going to live past birth if you get to term. He wont live past birth. There is only two choices. You can stay and continue your pregnancy or you can travel to Liverpool or England for a medical termination. We sat down and we said What are we going to do and How are we going to do this? We were lucky enough to be in a position where we could continue [the pregnancy]. We just decided that this baby was going to decide what happened. We handed over power. He was a jelly bean at the time. We didnt know he was Jamie. We just said You know what Jamie? You decide when you come, how you com and were okay with that. We felt he knew what he was doing. It worked for us to keep going. We really firmly believe that Jamie was brought us into our lives to make us happy, not to make us sad, said Michelle speaking to Ryan Tubridy. The nurse revealed that her decision to continue her pregnancy gave her valuable time to spend with her child. I was lucky enough to be in a position to take off work. Every couple of weeks we had scans. That time was so precious. It sounds so bizarre. We looked forward to it. We got to see him move, hear his heartbeat. That was the time we needed to enjoy. It was our time with our baby. We had to take it minute by minute and day by day. We felt that we owed it to our child to do the best for him. Any parent just wants whats best for their child. That was our time being his parents. The couple welcomed their son on January 9, 2015 and revealed they feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to spend three hours with their son while he was alive. The hours went by so quickly. It felt like only a matter of minutes. Just watching the sensation of watching him breathing. It was amazing. We told him how happy we were to meet him, how courageous he is. He lived for three hours. We were never meant to get that time if you went by the statistics and the facts. Were so lucky, she said. A major recruitment campaign is underway for Ryanair, which is seeking to fill hundreds of cabin crew positions in Ireland. Dalmac, the airline's official training and recruitment partner, is holding recruitment days in Belfast on March 8 and Dublin on March 11. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to work in various airports across Europe including Ireland, Ryanair said. The airline is growing at a fast pace, now carrying over 106 million passengers a year with a further 350 Boeing 737s on order. No previous cabin crew experience is required of applicants, but they must be over 18, between 5'2 and 6'2 in height, "and it helps if you are hard-working, flexible, outgoing and have a lively personality," according to Dalmac. Read More Successful applicants undertake a six-week training course, which they must pay for themselves - though no fees are payable by those who fail or drop out. Expand Close The new Ryanair uniform. Photo: Taine King / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The new Ryanair uniform. Photo: Taine King Ryanair is hiring - and there are new uniforms too "You can typically expect to earn approximately 1,000-1,400 per month after tax in your first year depending on base location," Ryanair says. Dalmac had a "fantastic response" to its recruitment campaigns for the airline in 2015, its Head of Recruitment, Niall Gleeson, said. "We are now returning to fill hundreds of positions; this is a fantastic opportunity to join a growing industry. Potential candidates should register their interest on Dalmac's website (dalmac.ie) or contact 01 843-7781 ahead of the recruitment days. Read more: Premium What will it take to unite Ireland? Opinions are divided There are those for whom Northern Ireland is a geographical fragment of the UK holding true to empire on its western flanks, and those for whom partition is a century-old wrong that must be overturned. Somewhere in the middle are the persuadables people willing to accept either unity or union, so long as the justification is logical. One way or another, the unity conversation is in the air. Politics is often about settling for the next best thing; in multi-party coalitions, it can be about settling on anything at all. Looking over the wreckage on the political battlefield of the last three weeks, now that the smoke has cleared, it ultimately falls to the walking wounded to fall in and put together a force strong enough to form a government. The what-might-have-beens must be set aside; putting together a government is about what has to be. Micheal Martin took an awful lot of flak in the last few years and has come through it extremely well. Sinn Fein will also have reason to be happy with their impressive haul of seats. The reality is they could have got several more if the economic discussions with Gerry Adams had gone better. I don't think Enda Kenny has been a particularly 'lucky general'. He needed a few breaks and it seems improbable that he will get them. I'm not sure how good he is at puzzles, but getting enough pieces to put a clear picture of what a prospective government will look like will be a problem. Putting a government together is not for the faint-hearted, each component part represents a separate headache. Getting them to fit and then trying to keep them from falling apart requires the patience of Job and the organisational skills of Noah. Looking at the slew of opinion poll figures to date, you'd have to say Mr Kenny faces a massive task. Of course, they have been wrong before; but signs are that Fine Gael will secure in the region of 55 seats (down from 76). Labour, as the Government's lightning rod, drew much of the fire from voters; they are being chalked down for just 10 seats (down from 36). If Labour is hit by such a meltdown, one has to ask will they have any appetite for a return to government? Their participation in another coalition is far from certain, as the experience of being a political crash test dummy is not something that one signs on for indefinitely. But even if they do agree to return, Mr Kenny still needs to crawl a long way to get to the magic number of 80. Let's allow the Social Democrats four, Renua two, and Shane Ross's alliance 14, and there will be a selection of Independents. Of course, it's not beyond reason to imagine some kind of combination coming together, but it will make for strange bed fellows. Pride will have to be swallowed and an awful lot of lemons will have to be sucked, but some kind of sweet and sour arrangement can be done. The question will then be: what kind of a shelf-life can it be expected to have? But the fundamental point is that the people have spoken and there is an obligation to form a government. Agreeing a plan for government will also be difficult. Should the Coalition fall shy of government by more than 10 seats, then they can not argue that their programme was accepted by the people. So nothing is going to be easy. Back in February 1982, Fianna Fail won 81 seats. In order to make up the numbers, Charlie Haughey secured the support of the Independent Socialist TD Tony Gregory, the Independent Fianna Fail TD Neil Blaney, and the three Sinn Fein The Workers Party deputies, and was appointed Taoiseach. Ray MacSharry was our finance minister, he was resolute and tough. I was chief whip, and I can tell you that it was a nightmare. I think there was somewhere between 60 and 70 votes to get the Finance Bill through. We stuck to our guns, but even so, the government collapsed in a heap that October. Of course, Fianna Fail could come on board and support a minority government from the Opposition but this in all probability would amount to a temporary little arrangement. Given that this is the centenary year of the 1916, I suspect that the new 'Kaleidoscope coalition' will be made of various disparate parts and will do well to see out the year, but they will. I also suspect that it will represent something of a miracle if we do not find ourselves putting up posters again in 2017. Election campaigns are gruelling and expensive. The infantry is made up of squads of canvassers; hardy souls who give their all, taking time off work and using up holidays to support their candidate. It is tough, often thankless work. The candidates themselves are also likely to be out on their feet. So everyone needs to gather their strengths and build up their resources to generate an appetite for the next great engagement. It is difficult to understand how Mr Kenny or his supporters did not recognise the error of their ways in hitting the road with such a rickety election wagon, which was at best rolling along on three wheels. The voters had put up with a very bumpy ride, but they expected a cushion, given that the journey had been so hard. Instead of being offered something more comfortable, they were told to be happy with what they had and that there was plenty more of the same to come. And there was the rub, people didn't want more of the same. I confidently expect that Fianna Fail will have done very well, given where we were last time around. Now that you, the voters, have given your verdict, all fates are now in the hands of another unsung army of heroes who operate behind the scenes, and without whom all of us would be left in the dark - I refer, of course, to the tallymen. With their clipboards and pencils, they are the sentinels of the ballot box. They tick off the first preferences on each vote, adding up the totals. Without them, the mysteries of the single transferable vote and the complexities of proportional representation - based on population numbers per constituency - would be almost impenetrable. It is their ready reckoning that gets us the results. In the US and in the UK, the results are known within hours but the excitement is less dramatic. Given the pace of change and the relentless march of technology in every aspect of our lives, there is something reassuring in knowing that the quiet tallyman or woman can rub out even the most exalted political career with just the stub of a pencil. Now that's democracy at work. To the winners, I'd like to say well done; and to the losers, unlike the hurlers on the ditch, at least you togged out and gave it a go. Shortly after his elevation to the position of "officer commanding" of the IRA in South Armagh, Thomas 'Slab' Murphy began openly mixing terrorism with business. Gardai at the time, now retired, noticed that when they had wind of IRA operations taking place just across the Border there seemed to be fewer gun and bomb attacks on the British Army, and more cross-Border traffic by oil tankers. "They were clearing the roads, as they called it, and in those days that would normally mean there was going to be an attack," one recalled. "That was the usual signature in preparing operations. "But there were no attacks and often no sign of Brits (British Army) around at all. They seemed to be using the IRA to clear the roads for smuggling." Smuggling was Murphy's father's business before him. Despite there being a claim to republican lineage, Murphy Snr was not a member of the IRA at the time of the War of Independence. Slab's father, also known as Slab, was, according to one former garda, a notorious smuggler and conman. Slab Jr has followed in the same vein. Personally, he has eschewed the trappings of wealth but his minions are notorious for flaunting it. Their mansions, mainly inspired by the South Fork residence of the TV series Dallas' villain JR Ewing, dot the landscape of the North. Irony There appears to be no sense of irony evident - even though Raymond McCreesh, the local IRA man who died on hunger strike in the Maze Prison in 1981, came from an impoverished background, as did many of those who died or served lengthy jail terms. Murphy's rise to power and the building of his business empire was a direct result of the IRA's realisation, by the late Seventies and early Eighties, that money as much as firepower was needed to conduct the IRA's operations. Smuggling and the establishment of illicit "front" businesses was a very good way to raise income and launder money from the Tiger kidnappings and major raids being carried out by the IRA. After the 1979 attack at Warrenpoint in which 18 soldiers were killed, South Armagh was no longer a war zone for British soldiers. It became, instead, a centre for money-generation and the imposition of internal discipline in the IRA. Murphy's role in the IRA leadership remains a matter for conjecture. It is believed he was at one stage officially chief-of-staff. He was important enough to be part of the first delegation to meet senior figures in Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's Libya regime in Greece to arrange the shipment of arms and cash to the IRA. An estimated US$11m was passed through Swiss bank accounts and 400 tons of weapons, including six tons of Semtex explosive, were given to the IRA by the oil-rich megalomaniac and sponsor of international terrorism. Murphy travelled on a false passport signed by a corrupted garda. Insurrection When even that glut of arms and money failed to advance the IRA's campaign of insurrection, the leadership under the guidance of Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness moved into their peace process mode, embraced and supported by the British, Irish and US governments. The process allowed Murphy's business empire to expand completely free of interference from police on either side of the Border. It became the billion euro-plus financial engine, which was ultimately used to help bring Sinn Fein towards power in the Republic. In timely fashion, today's election count will decide on the success of otherwise of that strategy. The people have spoken and they have made it clear that they want Enda and Joan out. The only problem is that they are not exactly sure who they want in their place. If the results of two separate exit polls by RTE and the Irish Times turn out to be accurate and they have in the past then Ireland is heading for uncharted waters. Essentially we are now facing a second election or the biggest u-turn on pre-election statements ever, resulting in a grand coalition of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. Throughout the campaign Enda Kenny and Micheal Martin have said that cant and wont happen. Leo Varadkar, who will faces a barrage of questions over his leadership intentions this weekend, said it would be a nightmare. In fact every situation is now a nightmare now for Fine Gael. They are the biggest party but there is no doubt that they lost the election. Few would have predicted that even at their lowest ebb during the height of the water charges controversies that they could fall so far. On 26pc they will be lucky to manage much more than 50 seats. It takes 80 to form a government. They have claimed credit for redeveloping the economy and putting the Troika on a Ryanair flight out of town but voters clearly werent impressed. And that raises serious questions for their strategists and most significantly for Enda Kenny who put himself front and centre of the campaign. Labour knew it would be bad but that doesnt make the needle any less pointy when it hits you. If Joan Burton manages to retain her own Dail seat for Dublin West it will be on the backbenches. The Dail will meet in just two weeks time to elect a new Taoiseach but that wont happen now. St Patricks Day in the White House is likely to be cancelled and on the centenary of the Easter Rising we may very well have a hung Dail and an interim Taoiseach leading the parade. Make no mistake: The people told the politicians what they dont want. Now its up to those who are lucky enough to come out on top in the comings days to decide how to deal with that. By any yardstick, this has been a dull General Election. There has been no standout moment, no point over recent weeks where a politician or party produced an idea which captured the public's imagination. There's a simple reason why - our politicians are jaded, too taken with arguing and scoring cheap political points than setting out an ambitious agenda to renew our Republic. The conversation needs to move on if we are to realise the grand ambition of the heroes of 1916. We, the citizens, should be demanding more. This must be the last General Election where parties are allowed to insult us with short-term thinking. It's long-term vision we need, manifestos outlining what a party hopes to achieve over at least two terms in office, not short-term populism designed to secure votes. The focus of this campaign has been the economy and tax cuts, with little debate about the bigger questions facing Irish society. It's a given that there will always be a need for housing and investment in health, education, the Gardai and other public services. No election will pass without the economy being a major issue, but the discourse must go beyond these immediate priorities. The nonsensical slogans employed to garner votes perhaps illustrate the lack of ambition and clarity. What does 'keep the recovery going' mean? Does it suggest some parties want a return to recession? 'Rewarding work, rebuilding trust' sounds like a slogan for a dog training school. Others promise a 'fair' recovery. Does this suggest an 'okay' recovery is acceptable? The Proclamation promised equal rights and opportunities to all citizens, and resolved to cherish all children of the nation equally. Yet children go to school hungry at a time of an obesity crisis. Access to public services is dependent on where you live, and large parts of rural Ireland feel ignored. Some people cannot afford to go to the doctor, and non-religious parents feel obliged to baptise their child to secure a place in a 'good' school. We continue to fund charities to provide basic help to those most in need, when it should be the job of government. Undoubtedly, those with the least suffer the most. A report from the Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC) finds, unsurprisingly, that a lack of money is a barrier to justice. It is difficult to access legal aid in cases of mortgage arrears, for those facing eviction from their rented homes or for employment disputes, it says. As a result, the most vulnerable are being denied the legal expertise required to secure a fair hearing. How is this okay? There is little talk about saving for a rainy day or paying down the national debt - instead, it's more money and tax breaks for everyone, and pledges to invest in services from a pot of money which will magically appear at some point on the horizon. There's nothing interesting in the manifestos about long-term housing policy, such as requiring all new homes to have convertible attics so people don't have to move for want of an extra room. There's nothing about requiring pupils to learn basic cooking skills to help address the obesity crisis and reduce consumption of high-fat, high-salt convenience foods. On perhaps the biggest issue of all, climate change, there is little discussion. By and large, the parties are afraid to outline the kind of tough decisions they will take to avoid catastrophe for future generations. The problem is of our own making. We don't, as a rule, engage in public consultation processes. We don't help shape policy. Instead, we blame the Government. Although civics is taught in schools, those aged 18 to 24 don't vote. Apathy is a huge issue. Almost one million citizens didn't bother voting in 2011, almost 30pc of those registered. Why isn't this being addressed? Should voting be compulsory? Should politicians not be forced to keep their promises or risk the wrath of the entire electorate? At constituency level, the parties are focused on resolving local issues, with little reference to the bigger questions. They believe this is our sole concern, and they're largely right. That means candidates seen to deliver local services secure the seat, instead of those most capable of entering the national parliament to deliver what the nation needs. The political parties are smart, and play a longer game. Few will commit to taking difficult decisions before voting day because of the impact they might have on their prospects in not just the present campaign, but at the following local and European elections too. There is a crisis of trust in politics, but not all politicians are hopeless - there are people with real ideas. The Constitutional Convention perhaps pointed the way towards beginning this national conversation about the issues which matter most, and a recent call by academics for a similar exercise on climate change should be heeded. But it cannot be a talking shop - a mechanism must be found to implement suggestions. We need to talk about the future. We must discuss the kind of skills the next generation will need to flourish in a rapidly changing world, and talk about addressing inequality, about the gender pay gap and barriers for women from entering or returning to the workplace. Citizens want jobs and public services, but they want vision and leadership too. The public is tired, tired of broken promises made over the years from all parties. They don't believe what they're being told. While the State centenary programme to remember Easter 1916 calls on us to "reflect on the Republic 100 years on, and to re-imagine our future", it's clear that few parties have taken this on board. It's back to business as usual. It reflects badly on us, the citizens, that we are prepared to swallow this guff. After one of the dullest General Election campaigns in recent history, many feel disillusioned with politicians, their shortcomings and their genetic pre-disposition towards making promises they can't deliver. Political party leaders are often compared to chief executives and the question is whether they would survive in the cut-and-thrust world of business. During the darkest days of the recession, some people suggested that Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary could get the country's finances back on track in less than a year. The obvious retort was that he could, but nobody would want to live here when he was finished. I once asked Michael O'Leary whether he believed he could have turned things around quickly and he replied that he could - but he would never get re-elected. Comparisons between political leaders and corporate ones are not perfect, but they do provide a useful prism through which to view the performances of our senior politicians. Two things emerged in the General Election campaign that would simply not be tolerated in the corporate world. Party leaders made financial commitments in manifestos that they know full well they will not be able to deliver. Central to the success of running a large stock market company is doing what you say. It is about devising a strategy, based on research and available finances, managing expectations and then delivering on it. Chief executives who over-promise and under-deliver will be savagely dumped by investors, who sell their stock. They could even be sued or charged for misleading the market. Yet in politics, election manifestos are seen as perfectly acceptable works of fiction. Another corporate taboo is publicly and persistently dumping on the track record of your competitors without focusing enough on what you are going to do. Many corporation executives shy away from saying how rubbish their competitors are, because they are worried about getting sued, being caught out telling lies or letting a nasty war of words distract them from running their business. Our political leaders constantly focus on the failings (many historical) of the opposition, without spelling out what they will do differently. In the corporate world, the best way to sell a product is to emphasise how good it is, instead of just talking about how bad its competitors are. Another significant difference between politics and the corporate world is that new party political leaders always surface from internal appointments. Imagine a business world in which every single new chief executive was appointed from within the ranks of existing senior management. It would be a recipe for stagnation, underperformance, a depleted talent pool and a lack of outside perspective. Central to a corporation's success is its brand. Watching the four main party leaders' television debate last week raised questions about their brand. Enda Kenny landed the top job in the party after judiciously serving his time. His rise was as much by default as destiny. The Fine Gael brand has been on top for five years, having swept to power after its main larger rival became embroiled in the political equivalent of a share price collapse caused by a major accounting scandal. The power rush left Fine Gael disconnected from its customers - the voters. Its election campaign, based on having turned around the economy, was like a corporation seeking investors based on last year's financial results, instead of its plans for the next five years. Fianna Fail was the big player that gambled, took too many risks and lost five years ago. The former No 1 player in the market was so busy in a dogfight with the No 3 player (Sinn Fein) that it ended up looking too similar to the rather tired market leader. Gerry Adams, as the head of Sinn Fein, is the classic company founder who has been around too long. There at the start of the venture, in the trenches when all of its challenges were different, he is incapable of making the adjustment to the corporation's current needs. Company founders play a huge part in the early days, but often flounder as the business gets bigger and the challenges change. Joan Burton has been the chief executive of the No 4 player in the market. The strategy has been to do joint ventures with bigger players as a way of getting growth. This has consistently backfired, as it never seems to bag any profit when the joint ventures are wound up. It is a damaged brand. Would any of those four leaders be head-hunted by the corporate sector to run a large business? I think not. It is wrong to eulogise business leaders too much, because their moral compass is often more faulty than politicians. However, they are results-driven. If you don't get the results, you get punished. Politics is the same, except business is less of a game. Mislead your customers and you are finished. Lose touch with your customers and you are finished. Politicians are highly tenacious. They can be dogged and determined. Look at how Enda Kenny rebuilt Fine Gael after the disaster of 2002. That showed a kind of organisational leadership, perhaps worthy of a good CEO. Micheal Martin has been in the trenches since Fianna Fail's implosion in 2011. That too takes a kind of organisational leadership. Gerry Adams has been in all kinds of trenches, I suspect, over many decades. At least two of those party leaders might be sought by the private sector to sit on a corporate board. But it wouldn't be because of their leadership experience, insight or strategic brains. It would be because of their political contacts and knowledge of the state system. Unfortunately, there has been a disconnect between good politics and good policies. What passes for 'good politics' in Ireland is often the antithesis of 'good policies'. Short-term thinking, populism and quick fixes have been too highly valued. Perhaps at some point we will discover that genuinely long-term good politics should always be based on good policies. In the meantime, don't expect to see Enda, Micheal, Joan or Gerry on the FTSE 100 for the moment. Vantastival have announced a number of changes to this year's event, and are looking for local talent to take part. It goes ahead on 3 and 4 June, as opposed to early May, in the beautiful grounds of the 17th century Beaulieu House, just outside Drogheda. This is the seventh year of the music festival, which took place in 2015 in Bellurgan Park, and organisers are bringing together many of the most popular acts to have played in the past six years. They'll be playing to a smaller crowd, as the capacity has been cut right down, with just 1,000 tickets to be issued. A crowd of 3,000 gathered last year. This time, there will be no full open submission for acts wishing to perform at Vantastival. However, original acts based in Louth, Meath or Monaghan, are welcome to apply to play. Bands are asked to follow the guidelines and send applications by the deadline of Friday, 4 March. Guidelines for application: Email your application to music@vantastival.com with the words 'Local Act', followed by the name of the band or artist in the subject line. Include all of the following, a short blurb about the act, the number of band members, the genre that best describes thr music, the name and phone number of one contact, a good quality link to tracks. On Saturday night I headed for Byrnes Bar where the Dundalk & District G.P.A. were hosting their annual Game Meat Feast. The night brings together the best from the hunting, fishing and shooting fraternity for a meal that includes everything from pheasant, duck, quail, woodpigeon, rabbit, trout and venison all prepared by their members. I wasn't too long in the door when I met up with club secretary John Toal from Hughes Park who was busy on the door taking the money and he was ably assisted by 'his minder' Mark Dollard from Parnell Park along with vice chairman Patsy Halpenny from Bay Estate and his son Keith who told me I had to try some of the dishes they had prepared. They also told me not to forget to give a special mention to Gavin Rafferty, Darren McCooey and Glen Woods, who had prepared the lovely meals, and later on I did have a selection of meals and they were nothing short of lovely! I then caught up with my old friend Eamonn Murphy from Park Drive who was there with his delightful wife Pauline and kids Tiernan and Dearbhle who were also in the company of Pauline's brother Stephen Duffy from Pearse Park who was one of the silent stars from Vincent Browne's visit to the Carrickdale Hotel last week on TV3. After this I caught up with club secretary Micheal Treanor from Blackrock who was with his wife Rosemary, daughter Orla and mum Brigid Treanor from Blackrock who were looking forward to the meal and told me it's always a great night. Seated close by I then got taking to May Muckian from Hughes Park who was with her friend Margaret Conlon also from Hughes Park, husband Larry who is involved with the club and daughter Hannah who was just finished work and had called in to get fed before she went home. The ladies were really looking forward to the night because it's always great craic. Not too long later I then got talking to my old friend Peter McArdle from Greenacres who was there with his wife Philomena who were enjoying the company of Jim and Carol Wallace. Peter told me that this year he hadn't caught anything that was on the menu (for a change), Carol said she was representing St. Olivers Day Care Centre who were the recipients of the raffle on the night and Jim who told me he was just there for the food! Carol is also looking forward to the painting exhibition launch in Dealgan House this Friday night were some of the residents will have their best paintings on show! Making my way over to another table I then got talking to Stephen Ramsey from Strokestown in Roscommon who was there with his dad Robbie from Carrick Road and Ann Keaskin from Laurel Grove. Robbie told me he had done a bit of everything and had provided a pheasant for the night. After this I had the pleasure of talking to Aimee Woods from Castlebellingham who was there with her partner James Mackin also from Castlebellingham. They were enjoying the company of the pub's proprietors Mary and John Byrne from Hill Street, Tony Lynch whom some say, is starting to show his age and Paddy Mackin from Annagassan whom when I asked him if he hunted, fished or shot, he replied 'a bit of everything'. Making my way over to another table I then caught up with Ciaran Sally from Kilcurry, Joseph Devlin and Kevin Corrigan both from Gyles Quay and Kate Devlin from Gyles Quay who told me they were all having a bit of a family night out and Kate wanted to say a big hello to all the residents in St. Olivers Day Care Centre. Two lads who were certainly getting stuck into the meal when I met them were Paddy McAlevey from Riverside Drive and Vinny O'Connell from Manydown Close who both do 'a bit of everything' and told me the food and the company are always great. Next I caught up with Larry Muckian from Hughes Park who was chatting to Michael McKeown from Silverbridge who were looking forward to a very successful night for the club. Next I headed over for a chat with Gavin and Grace Doyle from The Annies who were having a laugh with Aurelien and Michelle Jean from town who were up for making the best of the night. And yes Gavin I didn't recognise you in your civvies! After this I caught up with Gerry Doogan from Lisdoo whom when I asked him replied 'all of the above' and told me it is always a great night when they get together for their Game Meat Feast. Finally, before I departed I met up with John and Thomas Lennon from Shore Road who told me they have the fields that the lads use and they were delighted to be there and to see the gorgeous food they have prepared, delighted to see the finished product and nothing going to waste! There is no limit to what desperate men will do... when pushed. So says a gangster's wife in John Hillcoat's taut action thriller set on the mean streets of Atlanta, where the lawmakers brandishing police badges are just as corrupt as the wastrels they put behind bars. It's a familiar set-up and Triple 9 doesn't deviate wildly from expectations, but while this fast-paced game of cops and robbers might not have originality in its arsenal, it is blessed with a stellar cast and a robust script penned by Matt Cook. He has a sharp ear for snappy dialogue and cranks up the tension with confidence, punctuating numerous double and triple-crosses with muscular and propulsive set-pieces that invariably end in a hail of bullets. Hillcoat's previous film, the Depression-era thriller Lawless starring Tom Hardy, was an exercise in period style and blood-spattered machismo. High levels of testosterone also course through the bulging veins of Triple 9, particularly when the criminal fraternity posture and brawl to remind one another that there is no honour between thieves. At the heart of this man's world is venomous moll Irina Vlaslov (Kate Winslet), who takes charge of the Russian-Israeli mob while her husband Vassili (Igor Komar) languishes behind bars. She puts the squeeze on private security contractor Michael Belmont (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and his team of dirty cops and Special Ops veterans. Michael fathered a child with Irina's sister Elena (Gal Gadot) and is beholden to the Vlaslovs if he wants access to his boy. Irina insists that Michael and his accomplices pull off the heist of valuable computer files from a safe house. It's an impossible task within a three-minute window before police respond to an emergency call, so Michael, homicide detective Jorge Rodriguez (Clifton Collins Jr), street cop Marcus Atwood (Anthony Mackie) and brothers Russell and Gabe Welch (Aaron Paul, Norman Reedus) decide to buy themselves extra time with a distraction. They will kill rookie cop Chris Allen (Casey Affleck), the nephew of Sergeant Detective Jeffrey Allen (Woody Harrelson), and while the entire police department responds to reports of an "officer down", the rest of the gang will carry out the theft without fear of arrest. Triple 9 exerts a strong grip on our attention. It's not vice-like for the entire two hours - there's a noticeable lull as scriptwriter Cook knits the various strands of his sinewy plot into place - but the chilling threat of violence clouds every frame. Black humour offsets the brutality like when a bank manager whimpers that robbers forced him to open the safe by brandishing pictures of his family and Harrelson's detective retorts, "Be careful what you Insta-Google-tweet-paste." A mantra for life in less than 140 characters. Emma Horkan at the Knorr Student Chef of the Year competition DkIt student Emma Horkan served up a sumptuous treat when she was announced as runner up in the national Knorr Student Chef of the Year competition 2016 the Knorr finals are the biggest competition of their kind in Ireland allowing young, up-and-coming chefs the chance to demonstrate their talent and culinary flair in front of leading national and international food professionals. At the event held in Athlone IT students were challenged to create a starter using sustainable Irish seafood and a main course celebrating Irish venison. They were also asked to demonstrate an understanding of the challenges of culinary sustainability, food waste management and allergen awareness. Emma displayed her culinary skills in the tough 'cook off' with a starter of 'Soy glazed fillet and tartre of mackerel, oyster mayonnaise, pickled apple and cucumber, crispy shallot and rhubarb'. Her main course was a 'celebration of Ballinwillan venison, artichoke textures, mushroom puree, venison and cherry sauce. She just lost out on first place to Jody Seed, from Newry College of Further and Higher Education. Celebrating its 19th year in 2016, Knorr Student Chef of the Year, the most celebrated student chef competition, is open to catering colleges, institutes of technology and training centres across the island of Ireland. The theme of this year's competition was 'The Future of Irish Cuisine' and focused on celebrating Irish ingredients and cooking methods. This year's competition was judged by a panel comprising Unilever Food Solutions' Business Development Chef, Mark McCarthy; guest judge and San Pellegrino World Young Chef of the Year, Mark Moriarty; and Michael Gantley, Chef Lecturer, Athlone Institute of Technology. Speaking at the awards presentation, Mark McCarthy said: 'The Knorr Student Chef of the Year competition is an ideal platform for the country's brightest talents to not only demonstrate their culinary flair and talent, but to also develop new skills that are certain to serve them well as they embark on what I am confident will be long, successful careers.' The women of Louth's ICA's 11 guilds have given notice that they are to 'bomb' the square in Dundalk next month. But the 'bombing campaign' will take the form of beautiful knitwear handcrafted by the 200 women in the local organisation that will adorn the street furniture at the Market Square and on some of the trees on Clanbrassil Street to mark International Women's Day on March 8. Louth ICA Louth Federation president, Susan Potts said the 'yarn bombing' idea came from an event she saw while on holidays in Portugal. The Louth women are the first group from the ICA to try the idea and have spent the last few weeks making scarves for trees and woollen crafts to hang around the square. Ms Potts said the group think it's a great way to showcase the ICA on International Women's Day, which also fortuitously falls during National Tree Week. She said: 'Around 200 women from the 11 guilds in Louth are involved in this and are making different items from yarn which will be displayed at Market Square. 'We thought it would be a great idea to showcase the ICA in Louth on International Women's Day. Laminated cards, written by the local women with a sentence about what the organisation means to them will be attached to their work and will also include contact details of the ICA. We are the first ICA group in Ireland to do this and we are really looking forward to it'. A man who repeatedly exposed himself to priests and parishioners at churches in Dundalk has been given a suspended sentence at the district court. Kevin Gorman, (45), who is formerly of 28 Dublin Street but who now resides in Drogheda, admitted a number of charges arising out of the offences which happened in 2013 and 2014. St Joseph's Redemptorist Church was the focus of much of his offending. On December 29 2013, he entered the church when evening devotions were on. He was heard shouting obscenities by one of the priests there and Gorman was asked to calm down and he left. But on another occasion, less than a month later on January 28 2014, he shouted abuse at people who were attending Mass. Days later, on February 3, he was back at the church when there were around 30 people there. He was shouting expletives at the sacristan, a priest and other people ad he was asked to leave. Gorman 'exposed himself while standing in the car park of the church to the sacristan'. On March 30, a woman and her ten-year-old son were in the car park of the same church waiting for the youth club to finish when Gorman started shouting and exposed himself again. The Friary Church on Anne Street was also targeted by the defendant. On September 28 2014, an off-duty Garda from Cavan was at Mass in the church when he noticed Gorman standing at the candle area. He was 'rubbing his hand under his chin and talking to himself' and then started taking candles from the display. The Garda asked him to put them back and Gorman started shouting and was removed from the church and brought to the station by the off-duty officer. At River Lane on November 10, Gorman's sister and her teenage son were walking up the street when Gorman, who was on the other side of the road, started verbally abusing them and she reported the matter to Gardai. Gorman has three previous convictions including for public order and criminal damage. Solicitor Niall Lavery said his client is 'anxious to finalise these matters' and has not come to the adverse attention of Gardai since he moved to Drogheda. He is 'linking into the services and a multi-agency approach' is being taken to his care. He asked the judge not to deprive Gorman of his liberty and said pleas had been entered to all the charges almost two years ago. He said Gorman is getting help but remains very vulnerable and these incidents had happened when he was very distressed, ending when he was arrested 'for his own good'. Judge Brennan imposed a one month sentence, but suspended it for a month, saying that there was 'a lot of repetition at the one place' and 'it seems to be concentrated to some degree on the church'. He told Gorman: 'Stay out of trouble and if you don't you will serve this sentence. You have been out of trouble for a long time now, so it should be OK'. A boat stolen in Westmeath was found at the Carlingford marina after a man bought it from a stranger he met in Hackballscross, Dundalk District Court heard last week. Kevin McKenna, (36) 15 The Willows, Castleblayney admitted a charge of handling stolen property which arose out of a bizarre series of incidents that started in Westmeath between December 8 and 13 2014 when the owner of a 17ft 'Dory' speedboat found it missing. The owner put ads in newspapers and on the internet asking for information about the boat, which he estimated to be worth around 5,000 and it was revealed he had spotted it on the 'Done Deal' website and alerted the Gardai. On December 18, Sgt. Jim Kilcoyne went to a repair yard at Carlingford marina where he spoke to McKenna who 'immediately co-operated' with him. The owner was contacted and he travelled to the marina where he positively identified the speedboat and took it away. McKenna was asked about how the boat came to be in his repair yard. He told Gardai he had 'swapped' it for a 12ft boat 'with a man from Northern Ireland and the exchange took place in the Hackballscross area'. The defendant couldn't give any details about the man, what he looked like, his phone number or any description of his transport. Gardai said McKenna did co-operate with the return of the boat but failed to appear in court when the case was listed on January 21 and the witnesses who did turn up ready to give evidence had some expenses. Solicitor Conor MacGuill said his client 'will make good the witnesses' expenses'. McKenna, who has no previous convictions, had considered a technical defence to the case, but entered the plea and had been co-operative. Mr MacGuill said the defendant is involved in 'the purchase, sale and hiring of boats' and there is 'absolutely no suggestion that he was involved in removing the boat from its original location' but 'he came into possession of it by another transaction' though 'there was no question that it would be returned to the proper owner'. Mr MacGuill said McKenna 'had suffered some loss himself as the transaction resulted in the loss of another boat' but 'he accepts he was not as thorough as he should have been in ascertaining the circumstances of how the property came into the possession of the other person'. McKenna, a father of two, is, Mr MacGuill said, 'imbued in this (marine) way of life and a conviction 'would cause a degree of damage and he's anxious to avoid that'. Inspector Martin Beggy said the victim of the theft had suffered no loss as a result of the incident. Judge Brennan said he would deal with McKenna leniently if he addressed the issue of witness expenses by the next adjourn date of March 6. He told McKenna: 'You must be very careful in future'. A new survey has highlighted the vast differences in car parking charges at hospitals around the country. The Irish Farmer's Journal analysis illustrated the major differences in the cost of parking at the two Louth hospitals. Charges at Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda were found to be among the highest in the country, with a 4 per hour fee. For anyone visiting loved ones on an extended basis, parking for 24 hours can cost up to 40. The charges were especially high when compared directly with fees at the Louth County Hospital in Dundalk, which the Farmer's Journal survey found were among the lowest in the country. Patients and visitors to the Louth County simply have to pay a 2 fee. The costs only apply to the car park at the front of the hospital, as there are still a large number of free parking spaces at the rear of the building. Demand for parking at the Lourdes is obviously much higher since the transfer of all major services, including maternity and A&E, from Dundalk, and therefore are more lucrative. The board in charge of the building of Dundalk's newest secondary school, Colaiste Chu Chulainn, have confirmed they are in talks with auctioneers representing the Marist Fathers about renting the old school at St Mary's Road while they wait for the new facility at the Marshes to be built. And it has also been revealed that the former Keytronics building, known as Robin House, at the Ramparts is under consideration as a temporary location for an estimated 100 students enrolled at Colaisti Chu Chulainn and Lu. Peter Kierans, CEO of the Louth Meath Education Board confirmed the board is 'in discussion with auctioneers representing the Marists about either adult education, or second level future use of the vacated school'. The Marist College is moving to a state-of-the-art school currently under construction at the Marist field which is due to be finished in the next couple of months. Mr Kierans said the board is 'also in similar discussion with auctioneer for Robin House' and the board is 'near a decision'. The Marshes school project has been dogged by land acquisition delays but is scheduled to open in 2017. Mark Dearey, Spirit Store, is presented with Best Venue in Leinster at the IMRO Awards The Spirit Store was named the Best Venue in Leinster at the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) awards in Dublin last week. Owner Mark Dearey confirmed the news to the Argus, saying: 'In a week when Tommy Tiernan proclaimed from the stage that the Spirit Store is 'what every venue should be like,' the quayside business won the Best Venue in Leinster Award.' One of the most popular music venues in the country, the Spirit Store has attracted some of the biggest names in music over the years, including in recent times, chart toppers Hozier and Ellie Goulding. Delighted to have been named as the top spot in Leinster, Mark Dearey thanked all those who had supported the Spirit Store's evolution. 'This is a tribute to my staff,and I want to thank Brian, Alan and Derek in particular for sticking with a vision for the business during the really rough times,' said Mark. 'To our customers and gig goers, who keep music and comedy live in Dundalk, a huge thank you!' Describing the transformation that has taken place at the premises over the last couple of years, Mark said: 'We have built a new venue upstairs that will carry us through the next ten years of performance, film, drama and comedy. 'We are adapting the business to changing demands all the time.' With fans travelling from across the country to see the many top acts booked, the Spirit Store have also been fiercely loyal to local acts, and has been a springboard for many young performers. Upcoming acts include the still hugely popular County Down band 'The 4 of Us' who will be taking to the stage with an acoustic set of their best known hits this Saturday, February 27th. County Louth boasts three of the richest men in Ireland, according to the Sunday Independent, with two billionaires among them. The newspaper's rich list for 2016 has Dundalk-born Pearse Lyons (69) in at no. 5, with an estimated worth of 2.9bn, up 700 million on a year ago. The former Harp Lager intern has built up his Kentucky-headquartered Alltech group into one of the world's biggest and most innovative animal healthcare companies. He started the company in 1985 from a garage with just 10,000 seed capital. Business interests range from animal nutrition to research into fish oil and brewing. Last year, Lyons told the paper that Alltech was worth 'between $2.5bn and $3bn. He owns all the shares. Martin Naughton is listed at no. 10 (1.5bn, down 100m). The 76 year-old is Ireland's most successful home-grown industrialist, who managed to build up the world's biggest manufacturer of home and commercial heating appliances from a base in Dunleer. Glen Dimplex makes most of the heaters and toasters in the world, through brands such as Morphy Richards, Stoves and Belling. Glen Dimplex is an unlimited company and does not have to reveal its finances. However, it appears as if the wobbly Chinese economy may have had some impact. He also has a stake in the Merrion Hotel and Ireland's top restaurant, Patrick Guilbauds. Larry Goodman comes in at no. 16, 780m, up 80m. ABP boss Goodman (77) is planning to tighten his control of the meat market, with the proposed acquisition of 50pc of rival Slaney Foods. This would give him a quarter of the market. The owner of the Junction 20 diesel stop and shop at Dromad says work will start on the facility in the coming weeks after An Bord Plenala granted permission for it last week. Kieran Byrne told the Argus he is delighted to have been given the green light after the Bord overruled objections submitted by Morgan Fuels and Campus Oils to the granting of permission by Louth County Council for the facility and work is expected to start shortly. Mr Byrne applied for permission for the demolition of the Half Door restaurant, to be replaced with an extension to the existing commercial building that will be a cafe/deli/shop in addition to the demolition of the old Garda station at Dromad to form an additional entrance for vehicles and the part conversion of the an existing store/workshop to an office. There will also be a diesel pump, with two dispensers, on the site which Mr Byrne says will cater for local traffic. He said: 'We are delighted this application got the go-ahead, with only a slight change from the original plans. 'The old Garda station will be converted into a shop and deli and the sale of fuel be conducted behind it, giving much safer ingress and egress and a more orderly lay-out to the site'. Mr Byrne confirmed the site will only sell diesel and it is expected that the majority of customers will come from the surrounding area. He said: 'We will be catering for the local market and are not looking to attract custom off the motorway'. He added that his family's association with the Dromad site goes back more than 30 years, with his dad purchasing the land in the early 1980s. Mr Byrne said: 'Dromad Hire started here . . . there was always some sort of activity on this site'. There is currently a business called Junction 20 Tyres on the site and this will continue, Mr Byrne confirmed. He hopes that the required licences will be obtained from Louth County Council in the coming weeks and he hopes to have builders in by next month, with a view to opening early summer. Aongus Wright and Dermot Kearns at the Fashion Show in aid of Pieta House at the Parkview Hotel, Newtownmountkennedy St. James' COI, Crinken - Worship Service for Sunday February 28th-The Third Sunday in Lent: 11am - Morning Praise. Rathmichael COI Services of Worship for Sunday February 28th-The Third Sunday in Lent: 8.30am - Holy Communion; 11am - Morning Prayer followed afterwards will coffee in the Erck Hall; 7pm - Holy Communion - Lector Alan Grainger. Confirmation: The candidates from Rathmichael, Bray, and Kilternan parishes are preparing for their Confirmation which will take place at 3pm on Sunday March 6th in Christ Church, Bray. Please keep them in your prayers as they take this important step in their Christian lives. The Easter Vestry: The Easter Vestry will take place on Sunday March 13th in the Erck Hall, following the 11am Family Service. If you are a registered member of the Parish then you are entitled to vote. Registered member or not, you are free to address the meeting. This is the A.G.M. of your church and we look forward to a good attendance. Thursday Group: Last Thursday Neville and Anne Thompson hosted the February Coffee Morning. The Alpha / In-Between Club: Last night (Tuesday) Lesley Wallace hosted the February meeting at which the book for review/discussion was "Gone Baby Gone" by Dennis Lehane. Shankill Bible Church Shankill Bible Churchmeet at Glen Maris House, Eaton Wood Grove, Shankill. Sunday Bible Hour -11.30 a.m. Bible Study, Mum's & Tots & Youth Challenge. Further information from 01-2115808, email: info@shankillbiblechurch.org; www.shankillbiblechurch.org. St. Patrick's COI, Dalkey Services of Worship for Sunday February 28th-The Third Sunday in Lent: 9am - Eucharist; 10.15am - Morning Prayer. Tomorrow (Thursday): 10.30am Holy Communion with prayers for the sick. Holy Trinity COI, Killiney Services of Worship for Sunday February 28th-The Third Sunday in Lent: 8.30am - Holy Communion; 10.45am - Morning Service. Midweek Service: Thursdays at 10.30am. Rector's Surgery: Holy Trinity Rectory every Tuesday from 7pm to 8pm. St. Anne's Parish Resource Centre Hours: St. Anne's Resource Centre is open 9am to 8.30pm Monday to Thursday and on Friday from 9am to 3pm. Those requiring Baptism / Confirmation certificates or application forms for Baptism can obtain them during the above hours. Please note that the Parish Office is the only place where certificates and application forms can be processed. Parish Office Hours: The Parish Office is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and Friday from 9am to 3pm. Mass Times: Mass is celebrated in St. Anne's Church at 10am and 7.30pm Monday to Friday, (except August & September). Weekend Mass times are Saturday 6.30pm Vigil Mass and on Sunday at 8am, (9am in St. Patrick's Church in St. Columcille's Hospital), 10.30am (Family Mass), 12 Noon, and 6pm. Confessions are heard on Saturdays after the 10am Mass, between 12.30pm and 1pm, and after the 6.30pm Mass. Mass is now broadcast on-line and can be viewed by logging onto the parish website:www.stannesparishshankill.com and then clicking onto video link. Baptism Times: Baptisms take place in St. Anne's Church at 1pm on the 1st Sunday of the Month and at 5pm on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the Month. A month's notice is required. Please contact the St. Anne's Parish Office located in St. Anne's Resource Centre to make your arrangements. Please note that when visiting the Parish Office to arrange a baptism, the child's birth certificate should be brought as it necessary to photocopy it for the parish records but it will be returned immediately. Pre Baptism Meetings: Pre-Baptism Meetings are held on the last Thursday of every month for parents presenting their children for Baptism the following month. The next meeting will be held tomorrow night (Thursday) at 8pm in St. Anne's Resource Centre for all parents whose children are being Baptised in March. Lenten Day of Retreat: This Sunday 11:30am to 6pm in St. Anne's Resource Centre. The Theme of the day will be Mercy. There will be Talks, Holy Hour, Reconciliation, finishing with 6pm Mass in the Church. All Parishioners & Friends welcome. Donation if desired. Tea & Coffee will be provided, please bring a packed lunch. Parenting - The Challenges and Rewards: John Lonergan, a former governor of Mountjoy Prison has written books on parenting. He delivers highly popular talks on parenting & believes parents are by far the most significant influence in the lives of their children. John Lonergan aims to help parents recognise what really matters and stresses how short a period of time we have, as parents, to be centre-stage in the lives of our children. John Lonergan will be holding a talk in St. Anne's Resource Centre on Thursday March 10th at 8pm. Parents from the three local schools are invited (& encouraged!) to go to this highly popular talk. Celebration of Mercy-24 Hours for the Lord: On Friday March 4th and Saturday March 5th. Adoration after 7.30pm Mass on Friday March 4th until midnight. Adoration after 10am Mass on Saturday March 5th until just before 6.30pm Mass when there will be Benediction. Drop into St. Anne's Church, light a candle, say a prayer, enjoy the peace. Adoration all day with moments of guided prayer. Priests will be available for confession and blessing. If you cannot be with us physically we are united with you in spirit. UAC Meeting: The February UAC Meeting will take place next Monday night in St. Anne's Resource Centre at 8pm. The Meeting is led by Fr. Eamonn Monson. Thank You: St. Anne's Parish would like to thank all who contributed to a very successful Pancake Party on Pancake Tuesday. 101 was raised on the day. The funds will be used to help purchase the most innovative and up-to-date medical equipment and also to ensure that they are treated in a comfortable child-friendly environment. The Secret Choir: Will sing at the 6pm Evening Mass on Sunday March 6th . They hope to sing at the Mass once a month on the first Sunday. Rehearsals for Sunday March 6th will take place tonight (Wednesday) and next Wednesday night in the church at 8pm. All welcome. Habitat for Humanity Cake Sale: A huge thank you to Fr. John, Fr. Eamonn, Fr. Michael, the St. Anne's Resource Centre staff and to all who supported our Valentine cake sale and raffle last Sunday week. We are delighted to say that we have both now reached our fundraising targets having raised 1557.42 over the weekend! Looking forward now to travelling to Romania on Easter Monday with Habitat for Humanity Ireland. Many thanks from Aisling and Lucy! Please keep their Mission in your prayers. Bethany Bereavement Group: The Bethany Bereavement Group is a voluntary parish-based ministry who are trained to listen and to help the bereaved and grieving. The Group holds a Drop-in Centre on the First Friday of the Month at 10.30am in St, Anne's Resource Centre, and can be contacted via St. Anne's Resource Centre by calling 01-282 2704. The Bethany Bereavement Support Group are running a five week support programme on Monday evenings, which started last Monday until Monday March 14th from 8pm to 9.30pm in St. Anne's Resource Centre. If you are feeling the pain of any loss, this series of meetings may offer support and consolation in a place where healing can begin. This is a free service provided by trained volunteers in the community. If you would like more information please call St. Anne's Resource Centre on 01-2822704. Film Night: On the Big Screen this Saturday evening at 7.30pm in St. Anne's Resource Centre, "Deep in My Heart" , the story of Sigmund Romberg, featuring Jose Ferrer, Howard Keel, Gene Kelly, Jane Powell, Bic Deamone & Cyd Charisse. Admission Free. A fabulous opportunity to visit Rome April 27th to May 2nd : Take a walk in the footsteps of a saint. Fr. Derry Murphy SAC is our wonderful guide and leader. For further details call Pat Maguire on 087- 7532780. Open to all parishioners. Weekly Family Offering: The envelopes for 2016 have been distributed in the parish. If you did not receive your box of envelopes or would like to contribute in this way please contact the Parish Office from 9am to 12.30pm or call 01-282 2277. Mary Kennedy Fitness Leagues: Fitness classes take place in St. Anne's Resource Centre every Tuesday at 2pm. St. Anne's Parish Library: We are starting a lending library of spiritual/religious books in St. Anne's Resource Centre. If you have any books that you would like to donate please leave them into St. Anne's Resource Centre. Thank you. Our Church Ministry Opportunities: To build up our Parish Community we would like everyone in our Parish to be involved in the church in some small way. We have many varied Ministry Opportunities within the Parish which you will find interesting and rewarding. The Ministries are as follows: Altar Servers; Altar Society Flowers, Altar linen; Area Representatives - Baptism, Talk, Reception; Bereavement-Bethany Bereavement, Funeral Ministry; Collectors; Counters; Fund Raising; Evangelization-Adult Faith Development, Children's Sunday School, Faith Friends; Hospitality - Reception, Ushers, Teas; I.T.-I.T. computers, Web Camera; Liturgy-Liturgy Group, Mass Guide , Family Mass; Music-Senior Choir, Junior Choir, Secret Choir, Cantor , Instrumental, Zapper; Newsletter; Parish Fair; Prayer-Prayer groups, Morning prayer, Adoration Chapel; Readers; Respite; Sacristy; Separated & divorced; Social Media; Social Outreach; St. Vincent de Paul Transport. If you would like to become more involved in our vibrant Parish, please register in the Parish Office or telephone 01 2822277. Altar Society: The Altar Society comprises of parishioners who prepare and arrange floral displays for the Church each week, working either singly or in pairs. The use of fresh flowers enhances the church space especially the sanctuary, and these floral displays also help to reflect the changing Seasons of both the calendar year and the church's year. If you are interested in joining the Altar Society please call into the Parish Office. Apostolic Work: Do you like sewing? Would you like to join a group making vestments and altar linens for missionary parishes? All materials supplied! We meet on Thursdays in the parish resource centre at 11am. Contact Kathie at 2823014 or just come along! Church Choirs: Youth Choir sing at 10.30am Mass each Sunday. Adult Choir sing at 12 Noon Mass each Sunday. The Secret Choir sing at various events throughout the year. If you would like to join any of our Choirs please contact the Parish Office. Suggestion Box: We now have a Suggestion Box in the church. We welcome suggestions/comments/ideas you may have with regard to improving our Parish Community. These suggestions will be brought to the Pastoral Council Meetings which are held monthly. Men's Coffee Morning: The Men's Coffee Morning takes place every Friday from 10.30am to 11.30pm in St. Anne's Resource Centre. Please join us if you are free. Support Network for Separated, Divorced and Re-married People: A Support Network for Separated, Divorced and Re-married People has been set up and is open to people of any faith denomination. All are welcome to contact us by texting 087-3814213 or by emailing us at listeningear14@gmail.com. All communications will be guaranteed complete confidentiality and everyone will be warmly welcome. Gluten Free Hosts: Gluten Free Hosts are available for Holy Communion. Please advise the Sacristan if you require one. Facebook: St. Anne's Parish is now on Facebook. Search for St. Anne's Parish, Shankill; click on "pages" (left hand side under All Results); "like" the page; receive updates directly into your Facebook account. St. Anne's Parish Website: The parish website is www.stannespcrishshakill.com Active Retirement The Shankill Active Retirement Association (SARA) meets at 3pm on the third Monday of the month in St. Anne's Resource Centre. New members always welcome. For further information call 01-2390937 or 086-3487516. Book sale The March First Saturday Book Sale will take place between 10am and 1pm in Shankill Old Folks Association Day Centre, Lower Road, Shankill, on Saturday March 5th so make a point of calling in that Saturday as it is a great way to pick up some excellent reading material at bargain prices. Donations of books, other than school/text books, accepted on the day. Shankill Library Opening hours for Shankill Library are 10am to 1pm and from 2 pm to 5pm on Mondays and Wednesdays and on alternate Fridays and Saturdays. The library is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2pm to 8pm. To renew or inquire about a book call 01-2827801 or Email:shankillib@dlrcoco.ie. The library will be closed this Friday but open on Saturday. Historical Society The March meeting of the Rathmichael Historical Society the local history society for Shankill, Ballybrack / Killiney and surrounding area, will take place at 8pm on Wednesday March 2nd in Rathmichael School at which Aideen Ireland will present her lecture ' Fanciful suggestions more suited to the poem of a Celtic bard that the prose of an English Law - The Broighter Hoard as Treasure Trove '. All welcome to attend. Members are invited to attend In the meantime members have been invited to attend tonight's (Wednesday) 6pm meeting of the Old Dublin Society in the Conference Room of Dublin City Library & Archive 138 - 144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, at which Brendan Neary will present his lecture ' Rathborne Tallow Chandlers ' - all welcome, admission free; and to tomorrows (Thursday) free 7pm lecture by Angus Mitchell on ' Roger Casement ' in the dlr Lexicon, Moran Park, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. ICA Guild The Guild meets on the 2nd Monday of the Month at 3.30pm in St. Anne's Resource Centre. Craft Morning takes place in St. Anne's Resource Centre on Tuesday mornings from 10.30am and 12.30pm. Culture outings are held at different times throughout the year. New members always welcome - contact Patricia O'Connor at 282 0733. Mark Keating, CEO of Whitewater, Mairead Lee on behalf of St Johns Cancer Ward in Our Ladys Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin and Liz Nangle, MD of Whitewater - all of whom hail from Bray - at the presentation of a cheque for a fantastic 10,000 to St Johns Cancer Ward, following Marks Walk For Their Lives expedition in the Balkans Bray man Mark Keating was able to enjoy the fruits of his labour recently as he handed over a cheque for 10,000 to a children's hospital following an epic fundraiser last year. Mark, who is CEO of the Whitewater Foundation, and some of his colleagues celebrated International Childhood Cancer Day on February 15 by delivering the cheque to some of their friends in St John's Cancer Ward in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin. The money will be used to purchase two paediatric, electric, height-adjustable beds which will bring some comfort to children and adolescents with cancer. From August 31 to December 11 last year, Deepdales man Mark completed the 1,980 kilometre Walk For Their Lives expedition through six Balkan countries to raise funds for the much-needed beds at Our Lady's Hospital and in a children's cancer ward in Belgrade, Serbia. Alone with his dog, Pajo, Mark- who is the CEO of Sandyford-based company Whitewater - went on a voyage inspired by a journey taken 100 years ago by his great-grandfather and his grandfather-in-law. His Irish great-grandfather was with the London Irish Regiment and his grandfather-in-law was from Serbia. Their stories came together as they had to walk for their lives on the same side during the First World War, and, incredibly, survived. In October 1915, the last survivors of the Serbian army, government, civilians, and some 30,000 boys were evacuated from their homes and country as they were chased by the German, Austrian and Bulgarian armies out of their homeland. Some 450,000 people - comprising soldiers, refugees, families and young boys - set off to escape capture by walking over the high mountains of Montenegro and Albania to the relative safety of the tiny island of Corfu. Mark and Pajo walked 1,990km for 103 days across Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece and Macedonia, and managed to raise 12,000 for the cause, so far. Reflecting on his journey, Mark said: 'My great-grandfather fought and survived and he gave me life and my wife's grandfather was the same, so this was a walk to remember the living rather than the dead, and to remember how tough the fight was to live.' Mark saw great similarities between his great-grandfather's walk for life and 'the children today who are fighting for their lives to rid themselves of cancer. 'That's where the connection came in and how the story evolved.' This is not Keating's first big adventure for a good cause. In 2013, he undertook a solo charity cycle from Dublin to Belgrade and back to Dublin - a total of 6,080km across 12 countries - to raise 60,000 to buy critical lifesaving equipment for Temple Street Children's Hospital, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin and The Mother and Child Hospital in Belgrade. Mark wants encourage anybody at all to support the cause and help the children by donating to www.whitewaterfoundation.org. The organisers of festivals and community focused events across Cork have been urged to avail of monies to help run their projects under a county council administered funding scheme. The authority has announced it is seeking applications from projects under the auspices of the Community Tourism Diaspora Fund, an initiative aimed at highlighting the attractiveness of uniquely Irish events to foreign markets. The initiative, which was established in 2014 as a way of building on the success of 'The Gathering 2013', has provided critical financial assistance to a number of events in Cork over the past three-years. Each year the scheme, a joint partnership between local authorities, Failte Ireland and IPB Insurance, sets aside a pot of 1 million nationally to support events. Last year alone 22 events in Cork secured funding, attracting thousands of visitors from abroad. These included the Kildorrery Community Festival, the Irish Redhead Convention and the Youghal based Queen of the Seas Festival. The deadline for applications under the 2016 scheme will close on Friday, March 11 with full details of how to apply, guidelines and application forms available at www.corkcoco.ie. Launching this year's initiative County Mayor Cllr John Paul O'Shea said the ultimate aim was to create a national network of events that would enhance links with the Irish diaspora. "This scheme gives individual communities a wonderful opportunity to build on The Gathering's legacy and sustain the many grass-roots networks that sprang to life as a result," said Cllr O'Shea. He said the scheme has facilitated the establishment of a dedicated infrastructure of events that will benefit the Cork region for years to come. "For that reason, I would urge anyone out there with a good idea or interesting event that would help reach out to the diaspora to get in touch with us and make an application for funding," he added. A mid-Cork man has been remanded in custody for sentencing after he was convicted of assaulting his wife who suffered a stroke, brain injury and broken bones in the domestic violence incident. Anthony Kelleher (42) was found guilty of assault causing serious harm his wife, Siobhan (35) despite her refusal to testify against him when she was called as a witness for the prosecution in the case. Kelleher had denied the sole charge but the jury of nine men and three women took just 81 minutes to unanimously find him guilty of the assault on the fifth day of his trial at Cork Circuit Criminal Court Mrs Kelleher was found with multiple serious injuries at the family home at Curreheen, Raleigh North, Macroom on the evening of June 12, 2014. Walking with the aid of a walking stick, Mrs Kelleher was called as a witness for the prosecution against her husband but she told Judge Sean O Donnabhain she wanted to withdraw her complaint. Asked a number of questions by prosecution barrister, Siobhan Lankford BL, Ms Kelleher repeatedly answered that "I am not giving evidence, judge" before she stood down from the witness box. The state then made an application to have her statements to gardai read into evidence and following legal argument in the absence of the jury, Judge O Donnabhain allowed in the statements. In her first statement made on June 16, 2014 from her hospital bed at Cork University Hospital, Mrs Kelleher told Det Sgt Joanne O'Brien told how she was at home when her husband attacked her. She told how she had had a glass of wine "to calm her nerves" before her husband came home around 5.15pm and "started ranting and raving and said I was staggering around". She went to bed for an hour but 'Anthony dragged me out of bed by the hair and threw me across the corridor and down the stairs. The next thing I knew I woke up in hospital'. Mrs Kelleher later made a second statement outlining in more detail what had happened to her, but she made a third statement ten months later when she said she wanted to withdraw her complaint. Kelleher did not give evidence in his own defence but he did tell gardai the day after the incident that his wife had a drink problem and had suffered the injuries when she fell down the stairs. He was later arrested but he denied to Det Garda Tom O'Sullivan ever dragging his wife by her ponytail to the landing and denied ever hitting her or kicking her or throwing her down the stairs. Dr Louise Kelly, a surgeon at CUH, said Mrs Kelleher had a number of injuries including a fractured wrist and ribs, bruising to the abdomen and lower limbs and liver lacerations. The liver lacerations did not tally with a fall down the stairs as such a condition generally involves force from the front to the back. "The sheer force couldn't have happened with a fall down the stairs," she said. Following the verdict, Judge O Donnabhain remanded Kelleher in custody for sentence on May 9 when it's expected that a victim impact statement will be provided to the court. Students at Boherbue Comprehensive School enjoyed a close encounter with the fascinating world of Technology, Engineering, and Science, when Michael Loftus, Head of Faculty of Engineering and Science at the Cork Institute of Technology, and several of his colleagues brought their Roadshow to the school on Monday night. This year's expanded Roadshow series aims to provide students with even more information about the wide range of possibilities available to them. A Panel of five CIT Students outlined their experiences of third level education and their subsequent entry into the workforce, and along with Mr. Loftus answered various questions from members of the audience, thereby enabling them to engage with current students, past graduates, and CIT lecturers. "Many students have the talent and aptitude to study engineering, science, technology and computing" said Michael Loftus. A Chartered Engineer and Member of the Irish Computer Society who worked in industry for over 15 years, Michael firmly believes that careers in all of these areas provide exciting opportunities for both female and male students. "While male students continue to be attracted to pursue careers in these areas, more female students are now pursuing both new and traditional courses" he added. CIT has been remarkably successful in producing National and European award winners in Engineering, Science and Technology. In addition, it wins multimillion-euro research funding on an annual basis. The CIT Engineering, Science & Technology Roadshow has been designed to provide participants with access to CIT's accumulated experience in guiding students and in shaping them for successful careers. A 'female specific' training programme, launched this week, aims to unlock the business potential of the women of Duhallow. Cork County Council's Local Enterprise Office Cork North & West are focused on supporting women in business to ensure that women have an equal opportunity to reach their full potential. As part of their female initiatives they launched a female specific training programme on Wednesday in Millstreet. The focus is on working with women to develop key skills that will help them grow their business and create jobs within the region. The programme covers business skills such as business planning, financial planning, marketing and sales, human resource management, leadership skills and building a team. The programme will commence on Monday, April 4 and will run for 10 consecutive weeks in the E Centre in Millstreet. Speaking at the launch of the programme, Tim Lucey, chief executive of Cork County Council said this was one of a number of initiatives that Cork County Council and its Local Enterprise Offices are involved in. "It demonstrates our strong commitment to creating the supportive conditions that are required to support and grow entrepreneurship and small business opportunity in North Cork," said Mr Lucey. "Very often through these training and support programmes business ideas are unlocked and the capacity of the participants is developed so as to provide for a strong foundation for success and further engagement with the vast array of supports offered to small business opportunities through our LEO's." Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr. John Paul O'Shea said it was great to see such an innovative training programme specifically targeted towards female entrepreneurs in the heart of Duhallow. "The LEO offices of Cork County Council are at the heart of the business community, assisting in generating sustainable jobs," said Cllr O'Shea. "This programme will encourage and support dedicated female entrepreneurial activity in the area which can only be commended. "There are some wonderful and dedicated female entrepreneurs in the area and we as a council are delighted to assist them through the various training, mentoring & business development support programmes". A young woman was charged with manslaughter and arson over a fire at an apartment complex in which two men died. Rachel Crawshaw (28) was charged with two counts of manslaughter and one count of arson arising from a fatal fire at a St Joseph's Road apartment complex in Mallow, Co Cork two years ago. The fire, which was detected shortly before 4am on March 13, 2014 resulted in the death of friends Greg Lonergan (36) and John Palmer (37). Two others, including the defendant, were rescued by Gardai and Mallow Fire Brigade officials. Judge Brian Sheridan heard evidence of arrest, caution and charge from Det Sergeant Michael Corbett. Det Sgt Corbett said Crawshaw was arrested at 7.20pm on Monday evening at Cork Airport on foot of a district court warrant. She was taken to Mallow Garda Station where she was formally charged. The court was told that, after caution, Crawshaw made no reply to gardai. She is charged with two counts of unlawful killing relating to Mr Lonergan and Mr Palmer between March 12-13 2014 at Granary Court apartments in Mallow. The charges are brought contrary to common law. She is also charged with one count of arson, contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991, at the same place and date. Inspector Tony O'Sullivan said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has instructed that the matter be dealt with on indictment before the Circuit Criminal Court. He said there was no bail application at the current time and said gardai would require time to prepare and serve the book of evidence. Judge Sheridan remanded Crawshaw of No Fixed Abode in custody to appear again before Mallow District Court on March 1 next. Crawshaw, who appeared in court wearing black leggings and a black top, did not speak during the brief hearing. Mr Lonergan had lived at a number of addresses in both Cork city and county while Mr Palmer was originally from Tymon North in Tallaght, Dublin. Gardai and Mallow Fire Brigade managed to rescue a number of people from the area in the minutes after the blaze was first detected on March 13 2014. However, the fire spread with such speed that officers were unable to gain access for a time through smoke-filled hallways and rooms to a rented upper floor apartment. When officers with breathing apparatus managed to get into rooms in that apartment, they discovered the two men. Both died despite desperate attempts to revive them at the scene. Collon Active Retirement have some major stars coming to the Mattock Rangers club in March. The Army Band of the 2nd Brigade are appearing in Concert, supported by local country singing star Matt Leavy, the renowned Collon School Choir, plus Paddy and Oliver Reilly. The concert is in Mattock Rangers Community Centre on 4th March at 7pm. sharp. Admission Adults 10 and children 5. The army band have a pretty local look to them. A number of the members are from the region and the conductor of the band is Captain John Carpenter. His parents emigrated from Meath and Donegal emigrated to Australia in the 70s and Captain John was born there, but returned to Ireland with huge musical qualifications. John's late father was Nicholas Carpenter who was a member of Mattock Rangers Club, so in many ways he's coming back home. Plenty of tickets for sale in the Collon area or via the club. Since September, Le Cheile ETNS has been co-ordinating an Erasmus+ project. 'Magic & Myths Unite Europe' explores myths and legends in Ireland as well as seven other partner countries involved in the project. The school has been very busy since the beginning of the project with activities such as designing logos, video projects, storytellers and learning all about Irish myths and legends. In November, some staff members travelled to Samsun in Turkey for their first Transnational Project Meeting. In early February, principal Fiona Rock and teachers Sorcha Sarsfield, Aidan Mc Loughlin and Heather Cummins made their way to Hameenlinna in snowy Finland for their second Transnational Project Meeting. Teachers from all of the other partner countries, Spain, Cyprus, Romania, Italy, and Greece, also attended the meeting along with teachers from the Finnish host school. As Finland is widely recognised as having one of the best educational systems in the world this was a highly anticipated visit and lived up to its expectations. The first day started early as teachers were invited into the host school, Ruununmyllyn Koulu, and encouraged to visit the Finnish classrooms. It was fascinating to see their different approaches to teaching specialist subjects such as Textiles, Technical Work, Woodwork, P.E. as well as more traditional subjects such as Maths, English and Geography. Teachers also visited Special Education classrooms and discussed comparisons between Irish and Finnish systems. For morning break, the teachers were also invited to visit a Kindergarten, a cabin set in the woods, where they were treated to 'Pulla' a sweet cinnamon dough, cooked over a camp fire. It really was a very memorable moment. Later that evening the 'Magic & Myths Unite Europe Movie Night' was held in the Finnish school. This was attended by all the visiting teachers, parents and pupils. Each partner country produced their own short version of a myth or legend from their own country to be played at this movie night. Maureen's fourth class's wonderful version of 'Clann Lir' did us proud and was enjoyed by the whole audience. Some of these movies will soon be available to view on the website 'www.magicand mythsuniteeurope.weebly.com On the second day of their trip, following more job shadowing, meetings and classes, the teachers set off for a very chilly adventure. They were driven to the very scenic Ahveniston for a spot of ice swimming! Ahveniston Lake and surrounds were once host to the Olympic Pentathlon. Only some of the teachers were brave enough to jump into the freezing waters, while others relaxed in the sauna. The day concluded with a very special feast hosted by Ruununmyllyn Koulu in Hameenlinna Town hall. Traditional dishes such as beaver and elk were sampled and enjoyed by all. The final day of the trip teachers explored the town of Hameenlinna, with a walk through Sibelius Park and a guided tour of Hame Castle. This medieval castle dating from the 13th century was both interesting and beautiful. It was a great way to conclude a very educational and worthwhile trip. Everybody is really looking forward to the next project meeting in Spain in April. To find out more about Le Cheile's Erasmus+ project please check out the school website www.lecheileetns.com or the project's website www.magicandmythsuniteeurope.weebly.com Michael (Mick) Martin, 68, of Killester, Dublin (& late of Bothar Brugha, Drogheda) passed away peacefully on Saturday 30th January 2016 after a long illness. Michael fought his brave battle with tremendous courage and dignity, never letting his illness stands in the way of his plans and always wore the biggest and warmest smile. Michael, proud son of Mattie and Julia was born on the 26th February 1947 and was a loving brother to his nine siblings - Tony, Winnie, Pat, Enda, twins Sheila & Mary, Matt, Gerry and Joe. He loved to recount many amusing tales of himself and his family from their childhood, adding in new elements to the stories each time they were told. He embraced every family gathering, so much so he was normally one of the last to leave. Anyone that was lucky enough to know Michael knew that family was the most important thing to him; nothing was ever too much trouble for his "five girls", his wife of 45 years Mary and his daughters Tara, Sandra, Gillian and Elaine. Over the years he welcomed his Son-in-Laws: Will, Barry, and Stephen into the family and of course he was so proud of his beloved grandchildren: Lia, Cian, Ben, Zach, Ella & Sarah. Michael loved spending time with them; the weekly trip to McDonalds was something he really looked forward to, happily staying there for hours enjoying the company and telling wife Mary to have another "cuppa" that they were in no hurry to go. Over his lifetime Michael had various careers, spanning from being a Mechanic in Smiths, Drogheda which led to him spending time working in the Sahara Desert, to being a Co-Owner of a transport company, driving trucks all over Europe. Many of Michael's friends and colleagues would remember him for the years he was the owner of the TOP Garage, Kinsealy working there from morning until night never refusing that last car wash even if he was closing. One career move that his daughters will remember is when Michael became a Driving Instructor - one of the proudest moments of his life was teaching each of his daughters how to drive and ensuring that they got their driving licence - that was Michael in a nut shell- always wanting the best for his girls. One of Michael's major achievements was fulfilling a lifetime goal and that was to learn how to fly. Michael spent many years studying hard to pass all the necessary pilot exams in order to make his dream a reality, failing an exam didn't deter him - if anything it made him more determined to succeed and that he did. Michael enjoyed an amazing few years flying all around the world from London Heathrow to the Great Barrier Reef- not many people can say they flew under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, but that was just another day in the life of Michael. It was evident to see from all who attended his funeral that he was a much loved and very popular gentleman. The family would like to thank everyone who have supported them at this very difficult time - it was a great comfort to hear all the special stories from all he had met and helped with kind words and advice over the years. We would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Denise Sadlier, the Renal team, all in St. Johns ward in the Mater Hospital who looked after him extremely well and P.Townley & Sons Ltd. Funeral Directors. A month's Mind for Michael will be held at 7:30pm on Saturday 27th February 2016 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Drogheda. Additionally, a second months mind will be offered on the same day in St. Bernadette's Catholic Church, Port Kennedy, Western Australia at 6pm. There will be a huge weekend on March 12 and 13th out Monknewtown way when the community come together to honour one of their own who died in the fight for Irish freedom in 1916. Philip Clarke was killed in the fighting in St. Stephen's Green on April 25th. A member of the Irish Citizen Army, he was a vanman, but was an active member of the Gaelic League and the GAA. He was 41 years of age and left a wife and eight children. He is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery. The naming of the Mattock Bridge over the Mattock at Rossin, the Philip Clarke Bridge, is something Louth councillor Tommy Byrne recently backed at a council meeting. He says it is understood locally that it was on the bridge that his brother was informed of Philip's death. 'It would be only right that this council contributes to the event in an official capacity and it is my understanding that an invitation has been issued. The naming will take place on Friday March 4th,' he stated. This Friday Ireland will go to the polls in what will be one of the most defining elections in generations. With just days to go until the electorate has its say, the likely outcome - and who will lead the next Government and the opposition - remains almost impossible to predict. A century after the Rising could Fianna Fail and Fine Gael finally bury the political hatchet and form a 'grand alliance' to end Civil War politics once and for all? Can Sinn Fein take the reins of a left-wing coalition government and take control of Ireland north and south? Could the myriad of left wing parties and independents wrest control of Ireland's political left wing from Labour? Has the electorate forgiven Fianna Fail for their role in Ireland's economic catastrophe and can Micheal Martin dare to dream of sitting behind the Taoiseach's desk after this election or the next? And what of Enda Kenny and Joan Burton who both have several pretenders to their respective thrones waiting in the wings? They say all political careers end in failure. Will that be the fate of the Taoiseach and Tanaiste if their parties are savaged at the polls. Gerry Adams too faces an uncertain future should Sinn Fein fail to perform as well as previously predicted. All these questions, and more, will be answered next weekend, after an election that promises to turn Irish politics on its head. The 2011 election, and its decimation of Fianna Fail, was seen as a turning point for the Irish political landscape but that vote, coming as Ireland's economy collapsed in spectacular and devastating fashion, was held amid a mood of phenomenal public anger. In terms of public mood, Friday's vote will be an altogether different affair. Rather than an electorate predominantly motivated by furious anger at one party this time, the electorate comprises of a public battered by cut-backs, hammered by austerity and weary of the main parties and their promises. As such, with an electorate that has another five long years of austerity to consider their positions, General Election 2016's long term impact on our country's political scene is likely to be far more profound than 2011. A significant 70 per cent of voters turned out in 2011 and more are expected to vote on Friday. If that transpires it could see the biggest turnout in and Irish election since 1997. The impact of last year's marriage referendum will also be very interesting. A huge number of people, young and old, who had never previously voted cast a ballot in that referendum. If that cohort of new voters, many with no ties to the established parties, have remained politically engaged and turn out again on polling day it could have a decisive impact on the outcome. For months now we have been hearing the stories of the men and women who, in 1916, fought and died for Irish freedom and for the people's right to a say in their own affairs. 100 years on, Ireland faces another defining moment and it is crucial that as many people as possible get to a polling station and cast their ballot. Those who would argue that their single vote doesn't matter should cast their minds back to 2000's Presidential Election in the United States. On that occasion just 537 votes in Florida gave victory, and the White House, to George Bush after an election in which over 101 million people had voted. If you apply the same percentages to the 2011 General Election in Ireland that's the equivalent of just 12 votes across the country. It's simple. Your vote is important. Use it. 2015 was another very successful year for the Donabate-based Ceol Draiochta Music School. The school held its end-of-year concert at the Waterside Hotel and more than 50 students took part. 10-year-old Farren Milne played and sang the popular Justin Bieber song 'Love Yourself', while Harry Fennell (15) performed an acoustic version of the song 'No Diggity' while accompanying himself on the piano. Maeve Sweeney performed a beautiful rendition of Mendelssohn's 'Venetian Boat song' which is part of her Leaving Certificate Practical programme and Eva Murphy performed Beethoven's well-known classic 'Fur Elise'. Many of the students who will be sitting the Junior & Leaving Certificate exams in April 2016 performed one of their practical programme pieces for the captive audience! There were a lot of new students who performed this year, including five-year-old Shane Duffy and seven-year-old Tim Martin. They were taught by a collection of passionate and enthusiastic teachers in Donabate - Yvonne Gonzalez, Bronagh Moore, Laura Sheilds and Ellen O'Rourke. They are headed up by teacher Kim Fallen Bailey who started the school over 12 years ago. The night would not have been possible without Adrian Thornton of Thornton Pianos who provided a beautiful baby grand piano for the evening and the first prize for the raffle which was a voucher for 10 lessons for the lucky winner. Also a beautiful musical themed chocolate biscuit cake and musical muffins were made by Jessie Diem O'Connell which was also donated as part of the raffle. The High Achiever Awards was one of the highlights of the evening. Over 90 certificates were presented for students participating in a range of grades from Elementary to Grade 8 as part of the Royal Irish Academy of Music examinations in Piano and Musicianship over the last academic year. The High Achiever Awards are Awards presented for those students who do exceptionally well in their examinations by achieving an incredible 100%. This year there were 10 students who received the awards. They were Peter Oliver (grade 1), Ava Barry (grade 1), Aoibhinn O'Donoghue (grade 1), Joanna Noonan (grade 2), Farren Milne (grade 2), Adam White (grade 3), Sarah Kearney (grade 5), Mairead McKnight (grade 5), Eden Milne (grade 5) and Sarah Oliver (grade 7). The students are currently hard at work on the next set of grade examinations which will be held in April and May 2016 at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. David O'Rourke has created the 1916 Rising Candle to commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Rising Facing uncertainty after being made redundant gave one man the burning desire to get ahead with an idea which grew on the back of a beer mat. David O'Rourke, from the Malahide Road, has created the 1916 Rising Candle to commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Rising and the product is literally 'flying off the shelves.' David (36) came up with the idea four years ago, after he was made redundant as an accountant. Instead of just signing onto receive the dole, David decided he wanted to keep himself busy and learn new skills. So, without even having the idea of the candle in his mind, he decided to enrol in a Start Your Own Business course. 'I wanted to learn a new skill but had no idea how to use it,' David told the Fingal Independent. 'I just didn't want to sit around and do nothing as it came as a big shock to be made redundant.' David's inspiration for the commemorative candle came when he was in his mam's house and spotted her 1988 Millennium candle. 'I was just looking at it and then thought about what landmark occasion was coming up next and then it dawned on me, the centenary of the 1916 Rising,' explained David. 'So I started to flesh out the idea on the back of beer mats over a few pints, doodling on whatever pieces of paper I could find and the idea finally came together.' In the meantime, David managed to get a new job in accountancy at Mylan Pharmaceuticals in Baldoyle, but still decided to follow through with his candle idea. 'My employers are great to me, allowing me time off to attend trade fairs and get the candle out there,' said David. The final product, after several years of trial and error and changing of the design, is a beautifully designed, professionally made and elegantly packaged product. Standing at 250mm in height and 78mm in width, the candle, which weighs 1.1kgs, has on one side the Irish Proclamation, whilst the other side features images and short biographies of the Seven Signatories of the Proclamation - Eamonn Ceannt, Thomas James Clarke, James Connolly, Sean MacDiarmada, Thomas MacDonagh, Patrick Pearse and Joseph Mary Plunkett. The elegant box it is displayed in has designs on all sides and the script depicts the key events from 1916 to present, including political, sporting and music events such as the founding of Fianna Fail, the founding of Aer Lingus, the introduction of the smoking ban, Ireland winning the Eurovision for the first time and most recently, Ireland becoming the first country to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote. But, to get it to the shop stage, David had to spend a lot of time trying to get the candle patented 'Once I had it patented, then it was full steam ahead,' said David. 'I had to source a candle maker which turned out to be Vincent Brady at Rathborne Candles in Rosemount Business Park. He did a mock up for me and saw the reality in what I wanted to do so he was a great help.' He said as banks were reluctant to give him a loan to start up his business, he turned to Microfinance Ireland who helped him out. The packaging firm, Dollard Packaging in Coolock, helped David design the box. The candle, which is stocked in Dublin Airport and Musgraves shops, and some independent outlets as well as being available on www.1916RisingCandle.com, is receiving huge interest both here in Ireland and abroad. 'The Irish Americans are loving it and sales in the airport are going great,' said David. The reluctant entrepreneur, as he describes himself, has a friend Larry Walsh, who helps him out with the storage and administration work. 'Without Larry, I wouldn't be able to continue in my accountancy job as well as promote and sell the candle,' he said. The candle, which is priced at 29.99, with a percentage of the sale going to both St Francis Hospice and Pieta House, has a 60 hour burning time and is something David hopes each home in Ireland will have on display this year. Ireland's leading independent network integrator, Agile Networks, based in Fingal, is one of 110 companies across Europe announced as finalists in the 2015/2016 European Business Awards. The European Business Awards, sponsored by RSM International, is in its ninth year and was set up to recognise and reward excellence, best practice and innovation in companies of all sizes and sectors across the European business community. Some 110 companies, including nine Irish companies, have been selected from 678 National Champions in 33 European countries for the Ruban d'Honneur, which qualifies them for the third and final round of the competition. A multi-award winning local company, Agile Networks was revealed as an Irish National Champion in the competition for the third year in a row in September 2015. The company will now undertake a face-to-face interview with the judges in the 'Business of the Year with Turnover 0-25million' category, with the overall winners of the Awards' eleven categories to be announced at a Gala Ceremony in June. Agile Networks has trebled its staff and grown revenues by an average of over 105% per year since emerging from a management buy-out in 2011. With blue chip clients across 1,500 sites throughout Ireland, over 1.8 million people rely on Agile Networks to support their IT network. On the announcement of the Ruban d'Honneur recipients, Darragh Richardson, Managing Director of Agile Networks said: 'It is a great honour for the team at Agile Networks to represent Ireland amongst our European peers. By competing on an international stage, we have the opportunity to grow our business but also to benchmark ourselves against the best in Europe.' Holmpatrick National School in Skerries is proving it has a European outlook and that its pupils are well informed on how the EU works and what impact the Union has on all of our lives. School children at Holmpatrick ranging from third to sixth classes have been participating in the 'Blue Star' programme which is a schools programme aimed at fostering better knowledge and understand of the European Union and how it affects our lives, among primary school kids. As part of the programme, the Skerries school welcomed MEP Brian Hayes (FG) to its classrooms, last week as the European parliamentarian was invited to see just how knowledgeable these Skerries school children were about all things European. In the Blue Star programme, pupils are challenged to get creative and think about Europe by carrying out projects in relation to four key elements: the history, geography, culture and creativity, and Institutions of the European Union. Brian Hayes is from Dublin and is a member of Fine Gael. He is one of the eleven Irish MEPs and one of three representing our constituency of Dublin since May 2014. He is a former TD for the Dublin South West constituency, and served as Minister of State at the Department of Finance from 2011 to 2014. The school would like to thank Brian for taking time out of his busy schedule to view projects children have completed as part of the Blue Star Programme. The MEP spoke about his life as an MEP and talked about the importance of the European Union for its member States and the advantages of being part of the Union. A man found not guilty by reason of insanity of the murder of a 55-year old Dublin granddad has been committed to the Central Mental Hospital. Dragos Nica (30), of Mourne Park, Skerries, Co Dublin had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Michael Gannon at Mourne Park, Skerries, Co Dublin on November 14t 2013. The jury were told previously that on the evening of the attack, Mr Gannon was babysitting his daughter Jade's two young children and a neighbour's child at Jade's house in Mourne Park, next door to Mr Nica's house. The court heard that Mr Nica knew Jade Gannon before the killing. Mr Gannon was making dinner when one of the children told him a man was looking in the window of the living-room. Mr Gannon opened the door and was stabbed to death by the accused man, the jury were told. The court heard that the accused delusionally believed he had been deliberately poisoned by Jade Gannon. Taking to the stand at the Central Criminal Court today (Monday), Dr Sally Linehan told counsel for the State, Patrick Treacy SC, that Mr Nica suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. "It is my view Mr Nica suffers from paranoid schizophrenia characterised by delusions and more commonly, hallucinations," she said. Dr Linehan described Mr Nica as 'polite' throughout interviews she carried out with him since he was found not guilty by reason of insanity (Feb 3) 'Mr Nica was well kempt, polite and his mood appeared normal,' she continued. Dr Linehan told the court that Mr Nica denied himself feeling depressed and that he continued to express abnormal beliefs. 'I did note that he did express abnormal beliefs leading to the index offence that he had been pricked in his finger," she said. 'He (Mr Nica) identified he had benefited from medication,' she said. She concluded: 'Mr Nica is in receipt of multi disciplinary treatment and he remains in a secure unit." Mr Justice Tony Hunt said that he is satisfied that Mr Nica requires treatment in a designated centre. 'Mr Nica (needs) to be medicated in a supervised way as opposed to by himself,' he said. 'The special verdict was the only verdict available to them (the jury). I'm satisfied from the report that Mr Nica is suffering from a mental disorder and that the only way he can be treated is in a designated centre,' he said. '(I will) make an order committing him to the Central Mental Hospital,' he said. "This is a (verdict of) not guilty by reason of insanity. Families don't have the opportunity to give impact evidence," he added. "I want them (Gannon family) to understand I understand the depth of this - it has been a very difficult procedure, in particular for the victims. 'For what it's worth, I wish them well," he said. He concluded: "It's difficult for Mr Nica's families but their loss is not in tune with Mr Gannon's family." A recruiting partner for Swords-based airline, Ryanair says it will be recruiting for hundreds of jobs at the airline throughout February and March. The announcement comes hot on the heels of a decision by ground handling services operator, Swissport to add more than 200 to its workforce at Dublin Airport and signals a boom in aviation sector employment, which supports a huge amount of jobs in Fingal. Open interviews are to take place for these new Ryanair jobs in Dublin and Cork with the Dublin interviews happening this very week. The two Irish dates are part of a European-wide recruitment programme for the airline which has jobs available across its huge network. spread across the continent. Dalmac, training and recruitment partner for Ryanair says there are fantastic career opportunities in aviation available in Ireland as Dalmac continues its' major European Recruitment Campaign to fill hundreds of cabin crew positions on board Ryanair Aircraft. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to work in various airports across Europe, including in Ireland. Ryanair operates more than 1,800 daily flights from 77 bases, connecting 200 destinations in 31 countries on a fleet of over 300 Boeing 737 aircraft. For cabin crew positions, no previous Cabin Crew experience is required. Applicants must be over 18 years of age to apply and it helps if you are hard-working, flexible, outgoing and have a lively personality. Experience dealing with the public and ability to provide excellent customer service is a priority. Dalmac's Head of Recruitment, Niall Gleeson said: 'We had a fantastic response in 2015 and were extremely satisfied with the very high calibre candidates we met in Ireland. 'We are now returning to fill 100's of positions, this is a fantastic opportunity to join a growing industry.' Based in Ireland and Hahn (near Frankfurt, Germany), Dalmac has a team of highly qualified and dedicated professionals specialising in the recruitment of cabin crew for the airline industry for more than a decade. Dalmac has designed a unique '5 Stages -Qualification to Graduation' process to provide cabin crew candidates with an enjoyable, highly specific training course over a six-week period so they become part of Europe's best trained cabin crew and earn their wings to fly on board Ryanair Aircraft. Dalmac is now seeking new recruits as it holds recruitment days in Dublin on February 26. Potential candidates should register their interest on the Dalmac website: www.dalmac.ie or contact: Dalmac Recruitment and Aviation Services, Tel: +353 1 843 7781 Email:recruitment@dalmac.ie Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, is concerned at the length of time the review has taken A woman whose father was one of the 12 cases of missed bowel cancer at Wexford General Hospital said it is essential that the HSE publish a report into the misdiagnosis as soon as possible. Dee Fitzpatrick whose father James is now being treated for cancer, is one of around 12 patients, including a man who has since died of the disease, who underwent a bowel cancer test in the hospital in 2013 and 2014. However, shockingly, despite undergoing the colonoscopy procedure and being given the all-clear, they were later found to have the disease. Ms Fitzpatrick said that wondering how different life would be for her father if the cancer was diagnosed at the time of the first test keeps her awake at night. 'It has been very difficult for him,' she told RTE's 'Drivetime' adding that the news that as many as 12 people could have been misdiagnosed was 'shocking, physically shocking'. She said: 'It really unsettled dad'. James was among 600 people asked to go for re-checks after BowelScreen, the free national screening programme for people in their sixties, discovered the first two cases of misdiagnosis at the end of 2014. She said when her father was first diagnosed last year the hospital said it could not be sure if the cancer was missed. It could have been an 'interval cancer', which can develop in the two years between screenings. But following another meeting on Wednesday with the family they were told the hospital is now working on the premise it was misdiagnosed. 'It was a bit shocking when we saw in the media that there were 12 missed cases. We did not know if daddy was one of those.' The family was contacted by Wexford General Hospital afterwards and was told doctors and staff were unable to warn families in advance of the details becoming public as they had no prior notice. Dee said it was essential the report on how the cases happened be published as soon as possible for all the families involved. The anxiety of wondering how different life would be for her father if the cancer was found initially is 'not a nice place to be in, she said. 'They are the things that can wake you up at night. We need to have the report published to give people answers.' It is expected to be the end of next month before the report is complete. The HSE says it regrets any distress caused to patients and their families over the missed cancers at Wexford General. Blaming human error, Health Minister Leo Varadkar has said he is concerned that any cancers may have been missed at the hospital. Details of missed cancer diagnoses were first published several months ago and involved a doctor at Wexford General Hospital and bowel screening between 2013 and 2014. The specialist who carried out the colonoscopies was placed on paid leave and is no longer carrying out the procedure. Mr Varadkar's spokesman said the Minister had been briefed on the issue since early 2015 and was 'concerned primarily that any cancers may have been missed'. 'The Minister is also concerned about the length of time the review has taken and is conveying to the HSE the need to improve quality assurance so that lessons can be learned and mistakes not repeated. He has been assured that there has been full open disclosure in these cases.' A spokesman for Wexford General Hospital declined to comment and in a statement, the Ireland East Hospital Group said the Wexford General Bowel Screen re-check has been 'thoroughly and comprehensively investigated'. The HSE said that 'in managing this matter, the priority was to address any patient concerns'. 'This has been completed and patients (and their families) have received full and open disclosure. The HSE regret any distress which has resulted for patients and all other parties. 'The public can be assured that we have acted quickly to ensure the safety of services in the Hospital concerned,' it said. The HSE said it was also concerned that information regarding an ongoing confidential review has come into the public domain without authorisation. 'It should be noted that all relevant personnel have and are fully cooperating with the review. The HSE is not in a position to comment further at this stage,' the executive said in a statement. Speaking during a visit to Wexford on Thursday last week, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said he is concerned over the revelation that one person may have died after a potential wrong cancer diagnosis at Wexford General Hospital. 'I think the (Bowel Screening) programme has to be evaluated in the light of this report for lessons to be learned and also to insure that mistakes are not made in to the future,' said Mr Martin. 'I do think we need more clarity, detail and transparency in relation to the entire situation that's been ongoing between 2013 and 2014,' he said during a press conference at the Talbot Hotel. The issue of cancer misdiagnosis at Wexford General Hospital made headlines last year with the news that hundreds of patients who underwent colonoscopies at the hospital were subsequently recalled by the Hospital for further testing having originally been given the all clear. The recall was prompted after two patients developed cancer between bowel screenings having initially undergone screening as part of the BowelScreen programme in 2013 and 2014. Patients have since become aware of a failure to identify bowel cancer during the initial screening process. It appeared upon review that it was by no means certain that the very end of the colon (bowel) was examined at the time of the initial colonoscopies. A review was initiated due to concerns in relation to the quality of the screening of colonoscopies between March, 2013 and December, 2014. Claire Merrigan pressed Enda Kenny while he was in Gorey canvassing recently, to commit to funding a revolutionary CF drug which will prolong her son Mason's life A Riverchapel mother brought her cystic fibrosis drug campaign directly to Taoiseach Enda Kenny, when he was in Gorey recently. Claire Merrigan spoke to Mr Kenny about the campaign to persuade the HSE to fund a revolutionary new drug Orkambi which will prolong the lives of certain CF sufferers, including her four-year-old son Mason, and some 600 other cystic fibrosis sufferers in Ireland. 'I wanted to know where he stood on Orkambi,' she said. 'Enda Kenny said in the Dail that it's very expensive but parents and patients have said the cost of hospitalisation would outweigh the cost of the drug. They say it could result in 40 per cent fewer hospital stays, which is huge.' She said the Taoiseach tried to steer away from answering her question, instead speaking about the new CF units opening around the country. Claire pointed out that many of these were funded by Cystic Fibrosis Ireland. 'He really skirted around the subject,' she said. ''In the end, he said "you have my support and keep in contact" but you could tell by his body language that he just wanted me to go away. We're never going to give up fighting until this drug is passed.' Claire said that Senator Michael D'Arcy who was there with Enda Kenny said he will help as much as he can, but wouldn't promise miracles. Fianna Fail candidate Malcolm Byrne has also offered to help in any way he can. Organisers of the upcoming County Fleadh, Fleadh Cheoil Chiarrai, are counting on the support of the Tralee's business community to ensure it goes down as one of the greats in the Comhaltas annals. Running from May 18 to 22, it's set to bring all corners of Tralee into bright, musical life with competitions in several venues and plenty of mighty sessions and other events on the streets. It will be the town's first time hosting the county Fleadh in 37 years. With the Comhaltas branches of Tralee, Slieve Mish, Naomh Brendan and Lixnaw organising and with the Tralee Chamber Alliance, the local Vintners and Kerry County Council behind it, it's certain that one hell of a great music festival is taking shape in the county capital. Organisers now seek the support of the wider business community as they prepare for an on-street festival to enliven the Lee Valley in no uncertain way. "I'm here today to address you on the new cystic fibrosis (CF) drug Orkambi which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in July 2015, but is yet to be made available here. The drug, as you may be aware, is one of the most significant advancements in CF treatment in years and one that can change the lives of CF sufferers forever. Obviously, the reason I'm here is because my five-year-old daughter Hanna has CF so this is personal. She is one of 600 CF sufferers in Ireland who will benefit from this life-changing drug should it be approved. As I'm sure most of you already know, cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease that has severe effects on the lungs and the digestive system. It affects the cells that produce mucus and digestive juices which means the secretions become thick and cause blockage. Build-up of thick and sticky secretions in the lungs causes inflammation and long-term infection. In the gut, blockage of the tubes from the pancreas slows down the digestion of food and causes poor growth. As of now, there is no treatment for the underlying cause of CF, so all we can do is try to prevent infections with physio and nebuliser sessions twice a day. Unfortunately, that doesn't always work and infections take hold, which we desperately try to clear to avoid a two-week hospital stay. That involves oral antibiotics and even more nebuliser sessions, more rigorous physiotherapy and blowing exercises to try and clear the offending mucus that's building in the lungs and making her cough. In fact, as I stand here today I'm awaiting a call from her consultant in Limerick to tell me whether or not she needs to be admitted this week after a four week stint on oral antibiotics hasn't cleared her cough. The most dangerous part of CF is that with each infection comes irreversible damage to Hanna's lungs - thus decreasing her life expectancy. At present the life expectancy in Ireland is mid- to late 30s. So this is where Orkambi is the real game-hanger. In clinical trials it was shown to be effective in improving lung function and led to a 40 per cent reduction in the number of flares-up requiring hospital admission or antibiotic therapy. While this isn't a cure, for the first time in history it's a treatment that works on the cause of cystic fibrosis and not just the symptoms. Writing in The Irish Times before Christmas, renowned CF campaigner Orla Tinsley described Orkambi as the drug that gave her her life back. She vividly described how being on the initial Orkambi trial has changed her life forever. In it she wrote: "Before I started the drug, I had so many lung collapses that my team had discussed a double lung transplant with me and my window of life was narrowing. I couldn't always do the work I wanted to. I missed birthday parties. I missed dating. I missed life. Although I still have cystic fibrosis and take daily treatments, for someone who was in hospital every five weeks of my adult life for three weeks at a time, this really is freedom... I stayed out of hospital for nine months, which was my longest time in adulthood...My body purged itself of the mucus created by CF. I could breathe more deeply than I can recall in adulthood. I stopped having to use the oxygen to top up my reserves. The mucus is now consistently much thinner and there is less of it. My chronic cystic fibrosis-related sinus problems - which often instigated infection in my lungs - are gone." Unfortunately before Christmas, the HSE announced that it could not afford to make Orkambi available to sufferers in Ireland after the pharmaceutical company that produced the drug announced that it could cost an estimated 92 million per year. At the moment the drug is undergoing a full review by the National Centre for Pharma Economics (NCPE) in Ireland who will ultimately make a recommendation on whether the State should fund it. Not surprisingly, the announcement sparked outrage among sufferers and indeed parents like me who have watched the progress of this drug - from its initial trials to its approval by the FDA - knowing that when it does become available my daughter will finally enjoy the quality of life every child deserves. A life that so many of us take for granted. Instead of battling persistent, dangerous chest infections - each one causing permanent lung damage and shortening her life - she will breathe easy for the first time and go on to live a relatively normal life. This drug means that for the first time, I can imagine the possibility of not having to bury my child - a terrifying reality I currently face." While the estimated cost of 92 million is of course significant, my question is this How can anyone put a price on a child's life? How can you tell parents and those suffering from CF that their lives simply aren't worth the cost? Given the billions that were invested to save the banks, it's insulting to be asked to accept that a fraction of that funding isn't available to save my child's life? What about the estimated 2bn the government takes in from cigarette sales alone. Words cannot describe the heartache of knowing that this drug we waited years for is finally here, yet I am utterly powerless. This is a matter of life and death, for my child and so many like her. Just yesterday, Hanna and I were tidying up and she came across a necklace I had been looking for. After heaping praise on her for finding it, she turned to me and said: 'Mom, what would you do without me.' To her, it was an innocent comment, but to me it was yet another heart-breaking reminder that without this drug I will some day have to consider that alternative. Why? Because, apparently, we don't have 92m a year to help keep her and hundreds of others alive. I've been told in the past that a mother will beg, steal and borrow for her child, and while I haven't resorted to two of these yet, I am begging. I'm begging all of you here to do whatever is in your power to help me and Hanna, because I can't fight this fight on my own. So to finish, I just want to bring this picture to your attention (Projecting an image of Hanna (left) on a big screen in the council chamber) This is Hanna and these are the eyes and smile that greet me every day. A little girl who, although knowing she has 'stupid cystic fibrosis' as she calls it, is blissfully unaware of the life that awaits her if Orkambi is not approved. This is the little girl who the HSE and government are telling me doesn't deserve a decent shot at life. An innocent little girl whose life, our government has decided, just isn't worth saving. Our banks, however, are. I challenge any of you sitting here to explain how this is right. Because it's not right. And it will never be right - not on my watch. As long as there is life in my body and, dare I say it, breath in my lungs, I will never stop fighting until everyone sees that it is not right." The death has taken place of Irma Nix, formerly of Nugents' newsagents, 68 South Street, New Ross, where she was proprietress during the 1950s and 1960s. She was 94 and had been a widow for 62 years. Irma Barnwell was born in Kilmannock House, Horeswood, Campile, the youngest daughter of Major John Barnwell, DSO, MC, and Mrs Jane Barnwell, in October 1921. She was older than the State. Irma was a keen horsewoman and camogie player as a young woman, and once led a St Joan of Arc pageant in Duncannon dressed in colourful regalia astride a white horse. As a young woman working as the principal's secretary in the Waterford Central Technical Institute she commuted by rail each day between Campile and Waterford. On the day after the bombing of Campile in August 1940, she took photographs of the devastation at the railway station and co-op with her Box Brownie camera. Some of her photographs featured in the book of the bombing of Campile in which three young women died, published on the 70th anniversary of the tragedy. Bells' chemist shop on The Quay, Waterford, exhibited large reproductions of her pictures in their window for months afterwards and people travelled long distances to see them. Irma was educated by the St Louis nuns in Ramsgrange and married solicitor Arthur Nix, of 48 South Street, New Ross, in 1946, but was widowed seven years later when she was just 31. Arthur had worked at Coghlan @ Son, Charles Street, New Ross, before setting up his own practice. Shortly afterwards he suffered a stroke and as the prognosis was not good, their family doctor advised Irma to look for another source of income. Two businesses were on the market in New Ross at the time, one a pub and the other, Nugents' newsagents and stationery, at 68 South Street. Irma wouldn't even look at the pub and they bought 68. Arthur died shortly afterwards and Irma worked the shop until her children, Brendan, Des and Sarah had finished school. She worked for a while at Bolands' Car Hire before taking up a position as receptionist in Airmount Maternity Hospital, Waterford, and moving to live in Ferrybank. Irma was well known for her charitable works - for the ISPCC, the CRC, the RNLI, the Friends of Ardkeen and especially the Little Sisters of the Poor for whom she had a special devotion. She was a woman of deep devotion to her faith and was widely known for her acts of charity, such as hospital visitations and simple favours such as lifts to medical appointments or the hairdressers, all of which which she treated as her duty to God. She was possessed of a friendly disposition and had a welcoming smile for all. She adored her grandchildren and grandchildren and was adored in turn by them. Her removal took place to the Little Sisters of the Poor chapel, Ferrybank; her Requiem Mass was celebrated in Church Ferrybank, Waterford, followed by burial in St Stephen's Cemetery, New Ross, last Monday, February 16. She is survived by her sons, Brendan (London), Des (Dubin) and daughter, Sarah (Dublin); her daughter-in-law, Judy; her adored and adoring grandchildren and great-grandchildren; her Barnwell, Mangaoang/Ryan and Luzio nieces and nephews and their families and a wide circle of friends. God bless her kindly soul. In response to the invitation of Pope Francis to mark the Year of Mercy in every diocese throughout the world, Bishop Brennan has invited the people, religious and priests of the diocese to engage in three days of prayer at St Aidan's Cathedral, Enniscorthy, from March 8 to 10. Specially-designed mercy candles will be distributed at masses in the diocese over the coming weekends and a pastoral letter written by Bishop Brennan will be made available. Priests will be explaining The Year of Mercy in Churches and encouraging their flocks - and those beyond - to take part. Over the course of the three days - which will begin with Mass at 10 a.m. and conclude with a service of reconciliation at 7.30 p.m. daily, the people of the diocese are invited walk through the Holy Door at the Cathedral, to avail of the sacrament of reconciliation or simply to chat with a priest, to participate in the anointing of the sick (Tuesday, March 8 and Wednesday, March 9, at 3 p.m.) and to pray for the intentions of the holy father and of the church. Drawing on a line of Pope Francis which was offered recently in a talk to Capuchin monks at Rome 'Don't beat up the penitent' - Bishop Brennan has met the priests of the diocese this week and encouraged them both to energetically encourage the people to come along and to offer them a warm welcome when they arrive, conscious that for some, they may not have been in church for years, others may wonder what reception they might receive should they wish to return. 'In approaching God for his mercy this year, may we be gifted with ever bigger hearts and minds - apologising to each other where needed - and in graciously accepting an apology offered to us by another,' said Bishop Brennan. 'In a world that can at times get cold and dark, we the disciples of Jesus are invited to become warmer and brighter - a beacon of hope and kindness that reflects the light of heaven, being merciful to others as our father in heaven is merciful to us.' Various invited speakers have been allotted to the different services and events over the three days and the bishop has asked the priests of the diocese to offer suggestions as to how best the Year of Mercy might be celebrated in the diocese, in parishes, in groups or as individuals. Wexford Chamber has called on the incoming government to prioritise several key projects, for the benefit of our local economy. It says the IDA has cited the lack of available property solutions in Wexford as being a prohibitive factor when attracting FDI companies to the town. Consequently, the new government should make provisions for the construction of new office buildings through the Action Plan for Jobs 2017. The availability of a highly educated and skilled workforce would significantly enhance the opportunity to attract new businesses to Wexford, the Chamber said in its pre-election wish list. The establishment of the Technological University of the South East will be critical to attain the required skills level and its development should be accelerated as a matter of urgency. Furthermore, the acquisition of a 35 acre site should facilitate the infrastructural development of the Wexford Campus, and it is crucial that this campus secures its own budget and operational autonomy to ensure that it solidifies our county's key business strengths. Rosslare Europort is one of Ireland's key infrastructural assets. As a result, Wexford Chamber is calling on the Department of Transport to publish the market sounding report which was recently completed for Iarnrod Eireann. If the findings determine that there is interest from private sector parties, that are willing to commit to the necessary investment in the port, the government should assist the facilitation of an appropriate concession arrangement. Otherwise, the government should demonstrate its commitment to the development of such an important gateway in the region, by making the necessary investment themselves. To ensure that Wexford develops as a commuter link to Dublin, the Government must invest in upgrading the rail line between Wexford and Dublin, to facilitate high speed trains at peak times. The Local Enterprise Office Network is currently underfunded, with many of the local enterprise offices having reached their annual budget allocation by quarter three of each year. Government needs to commit to increasing the funding allocations to Local Enterprise Office network by 50 per cent to address the current deficits. The chamber said there is also a need to examine the eligibility criteria attached to SME grant aid. At present, many grants are confined to businesses with less than 10 employees, and/or are involved in internationally-traded services. Duncannon NS pupils were given an excellent history lesson on 1916 from author Brian Gallagher at New Ross Library last week. Dublin man Gallagher's plays and short stories have been produced in Ireland, Britain and Canada, and he discussed extracts from his book Friend or Foe, set during the 1916 Easter Rising. with the pupils. Gallagher is the author of five books of historical fiction for young readers: Across the Divide, set during the 1913 Dublin Lockout; Taking Sides, which takes place against the backdrop of the Civil War; Secrets and Shadows, a spy novel that begins with the North Strand bombings during World War II; Stormclouds, set in Northern Ireland during the turbulent summer of 1969, and the hugely popular Friend or Foe. International Pastrychef and Author of more than a fifteen books and writer for magazines. Aaron Maree is a International Dessert Consultant with experience with small business, large corporations,hotels, and cruise lines. ARABIAN DREAMS cookbook was his first book published in over 10 years published in 2010 it won International Awards in Paris and changed the face of Middle Eastern Desserts giving traditions a glorious future in a Michelin Star world. This blog is his diary of that passion. The long-awaited mammography follow-up services contract has finally been signed. Deputy John Perry announced the tender for follow-up Mammography Services at Sligo University Hospital was signed yesterday by seven SAOLTA Clinical Directors and Belfast firm Action Cancer. SAOLTA Clinical Director Dr Pat Nash, Radiologist Dr Rachel Ennis and Action Cancer Consultant Radiographer Joanna Currie were among the signatories. "I've put everything into this over the past few years. I am so pleased it was signed," Deputy Perry told this newspaper. "When the HSE's Tony Canavan said it wasn't coming back I wasn't taking that," he said. "It will give Sligo women a degree of convenience now instead of having to go all the way to Galway," said Deputy Perry. The satellite follow-up service will provide a safe, quality and evidenced-based service to women in the Sligo, Leitrim and South-Donegal area. A site has been identified by management at Sligo University Hospital for the mobile service. "This is something I have fought tooth and nail for since 2011 and I am delighted to the return of this service," he added. Approximately 300 patients travel for follow-up treatment to Galway annually and the initial decision not to provide a service in Sligo was described by Deputy Perry as "grossly unfair. The service will operate under the governance of University Hospital Galway. Saturday night at St. Laurence's, Narraghmore, saw the culmination of months of practice and fundraising for the dedicated Hollywood GAA Strictly Dancers. The competitors and organisers pulled out all the stops on the night to put on a wonderfully entertaining show which was thoroughly enjoyed by a sell-out crowd. All the performances were met with a rousing reception from the appreciative crowd who helped create a fantastic atmosphere. The overall winning couple was Marty Maguire and Sandra Phipps who tangoed to 'Bust ya Windows', while the judges' award went to Conor Burke and Shauna Rouse, dancing to Ed Sheeran's 'Thinking Out Loud'. The audience award went to popular couple Stephen Burke and Christina Tutty who danced to the Grease classic 'You're the one that I want'. Tom Dunne and Tina Davis, who brought the house down dancing to 'Wagon Wheel', were the worthy winners of the Fundraising Award. The night was a fabulous success for the club, and Hollywood GAA are very grateful for the support received from everyone - the contestants, sponsors, volunteers, organising committee and everyone who came along on the night. An amazing twelve entries from Co Wicklow are among the 80 designs selected for the Junk Kouture Eastern Regional Final. The talented teenagers from schools around the county now turn their attention to getting through the next stage of the competition and securing a coveted spot in the final - and you can help get them there thanks to an online vote. Three of the designs in the eastern final come from St Mary's College, Arklow - 'Girl on Fire', 'Queen of Pheasants' and 'Woodland Warrior' - with all teams frommentored by their art teachers Goretta Rochford and Meryl Woolmington. The Colaiste Bhride Carnew design 'Smash it' was created with the help of art teacher Tanya Twyford Troy. Colaiste Chill Mhantain, Wicklow, have two designs in the regional final, 'Take me to Church' and 'Rise of the Phoenix', with both teams supported by their art teacher Emer Somers. 'Suit Yourself' is through from St Kilians Community School, Bray, and was created with the help of art teacher Joan Murray, while Colaiste Croabh Abhann, Kilcoole, also has one entry in the regional final, 'Solas', with the team mentored by art teacher Gareth Mc Rory. East Glendalough School in Wicklow secured a spot with 'Captain Cappuccino', helped along the way by art teacher Frances Cody, while St Kevin's Community College in Dunlavin's 'Tribute to Ziggy Stardust' is also through. This design was supported by art teacher Breda Heaney. There was double delight for the Woodlands Academy in Bray as two designs made it through to the regional finals. The teams behind 'Splendid Spielen' and '2 Peas in A Pod' were mentored by their art teacher Emma Roche. Members of the public can get involved in the judging process by casting a vote through the Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture voting app. Accessed through the BOIStudents Facebook page (www.facebook.com/BOIstudents), voting opened on Monday and closes at midnight this Friday, February 26. Individuals can cast a single vote every 24hours and those votes will account for ten per cent of the final mark. All regional finalists will take to the stage in the Helix in Dublin on Monday, March 7, in a bid to impress the judges and secure a spot in the national final in the 3 Arena on April 14. Pupils at Scoil Naisiunta Phadraig Naofa cheer on their classmate Katie Tuke who has been recognised as one of Ireland's best young painters Pupils at Scoil Naisiunta Phadraig Naofa, gathered to cheer on their classmate Katie Tuke who has been recognised as one of Ireland's best young painters for her entry to the Sightsavers Junior Painters of the Year Awards 2016. Katie's painting entitled '2030: I can see' was inspired by this year's theme 'Imagine 2030' and is a winner of the Highly Commended Certificate. Competition was as tough as ever with entries from thousands of children from over 200 primary schools across the country. The awards are designed to inspire Irish children to express their artistic talent through painting whilst developing an appreciation of the importance and value of their sight. The nationwide competition, which was open to primary school students of all ages, has grown greatly over the last seven years. Brian Condron, Gerry Adams, Ambrose Sharpe, Willie Brennan and Tola Collier re-enacting the Rising along with Chairperson Eibhlin Kinsella and a 1915 Napier Rathnew took a step back in time to the era of the Easter Rising with an open day organised by the local 1916 Commemoration Committee in conjunction with the Rathnew Community Hall. A range of different events took place on Saturday from 12 noon to 4pm. These included an opening address and an art and Rathnew Heritage 1916 exhibition. A re-enactment of the Easter Rising complete with vintage uniforms and weapons proved one of the biggest attractions, while another real draw was a vintage vehicle display complete with an impressive looking 1915 Napier. There were also speeches on Revolutionary Wicklow and World War 1. Poetry readings were held and guests were also able to enjoy some rousing ballad singing. The 1916 Proclamation was read out before everyone made their way to Rathnew Cemetery for a wreath laying ceremony to honour the many men from Rathnew village who took part in World War 1. The Rathnew 1916 Commemoration Committee and the Hall Committee are continuing to work with Wicklow County Council 1916 and 1916 Ireland The 1916 Rising also plays a significant part in the next Wicklow Historical Society lecture taking place on the last Monday of the month at the Parochial Centre, De La Salle, Wicklow town at 8 p.m.. Historian Ben Fagan will speak on the events of the revolutionary period in Wicklow and district 1916-1922. The talk will also deal with historical matters relating to the area in 1916. People under scrutiny include the man who would become Major General Tom Cullen, one of Michael Collins 'squad.' William O' Grady, the Nationalist Sinn Fein agitator in the town, will also come under the spotlight along with details of his arrest and the activities of the Wicklow Volunteers. C. M. Byrne of Glenealy and his activities will also be examined. National events will be looked at including the 1916 Rising, Bloody Sunday 1920 and the Treaty. Dylan Souster and just some of the wounds he suffered from two sustained assaults A 22-year-old from Laragh was brutally attacked and hospitalised after enduring a savage 'homophobic' attack in Australia, firstly by a gang of seven and then by a man who initially appeared to be trying to assist him. Dylan Souster sustained multiple facial fractures, tooth dislodgement, palate damage and bleeding in the ears. Severe swelling of the jaw means he can't yet speak properly, while one eye remains swollen and he has a split lip. His ordeal began in the early hours of Sunday morning, at about 1 a.m., when he went out to the front of his Waterloo apartment in inner-south Sydney to wave off some friends who were getting a taxi home. As he turned to go back into his apartment he was suddenly struck by an unknown assailant. The victim woke up at Waterloo Oval, some five minutes away from his apartment, to find a group of seven people kicking him in the head and all over his body. He has no recollection of how he got there. They only stopped the prolonged assault after a woman in the group started yelling at the six men to stop. A bloodied Mr Souster staggered back home and asked a man along the way for his assistance. The stranger asked 'are you Okay? What happened?' He walked Mr Souster back to his apartment and asked if he wanted to contact his girlfriend to help him get upstairs. When Mr Souster replied that he had a boyfriend, the man suddenly roared 'oh, you have a boyfriend. You're a queer, you're a faggot.' He then proceeded to punch the Irish man in the face on numerous occasions. Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Souster's boyfriend, Darren Hedderman, described the man as a 'Good Samaritan-turned-bad.' He added, 'It's such a cowardly thing to do, such scum, I wish it had been me instead.' The couple have lived in Sydney for over three years and while they have suffered some homophobic verbal abuse, this was the first time they ever experienced any violence. 'We've had a few people shouting stuff from cars. But it's never gotten physical.' The couple ended up spending over twelve hours at St Vincent's Hospital in Darlinghurst, where Mr Souster underwent two CT scans. New South Wales Police have confirmed that they are investigating the assault. According to a statement, 'Detectives from Redfern Local Area Command are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incidents, including bias towards the man based on his sexual orientation.' They are also examining CCTV footage. Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne has backed his rival Leonardo DiCaprio to take home this year's best actor prize. Redmayne, who won in 2015 for his portrayal of Professor Stephen Hawking in The Theory Of Everything, is nominated for the second year in a row for his role as transgender artist Lili Elbe in The Danish Girl. DiCaprio, who has never won an Oscar despite numerous nominations, received a nod in the same category for his role as a fur trapper in The Revenant. Arriving at the Film is Great reception for British Oscar nominees and members of the film industry in West Hollywood, Redmayne said: "I think it's pretty much certainly Leo's year and so well deserved." The actor, who served as a co-host at the reception and was accompanied by his pregnant wife Hannah Bagshawe, said he was impressed by the British talent on display in the Oscar nominations. He said: "This year in the Oscars there are 24 categories and British people are nominated in 21 of those categories so it's not just in front of the camera, but there is a huge breadth of talent so we are all getting together and probably having a drink or two. "I am just trying to keep one foot in front of the other. It's been an amazing year and I've been very, very lucky." Reflecting on his two consecutive Oscar nominations, he said: "It's impossible to get your head around what this circus is, but it's so much fun to be a part of and you try to just kind of pinch yourself and take stock of all the memories, so years from now you can look back on it and work out what it all was." He was joined at the reception by his Danish Girl co-star and fellow Oscar nominee Alicia Vikander and their director Tom Hooper, as well as Luther star Idris Elba and talk show host James Corden. Redmayne will next be seen in JK Rowling's Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them. The Oscars will be hosted by Chris Rock at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on February 28. Actress Amy Huberman arrives at the 2016 Oscar Wilde Awards at Bad Robot on February 25, 2016 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/WireImage) It was a case of "handbags at dawn" in Dunnes Stores when fashion fans fought to get their mitts on Amy Huberman's white jumpsuit. Designer Sonya Lennon revealed there were "fisticuffs" in the changing room as two ladies tried to get their hands on the jumpsuit she co-designed and which Amy Huberman wore to a pre-Oscars party. The actress looked stunning in a white Lennon Courtney one-piece and silver heels from her own Bourbon collection at the Oscar Wilde party at Bad Robot in Hollywood on Thursday night. Thanks to the "Amy effect", the same striking fashion piece costing 119 is almost sold out in Dunnes as style fans rush to get their hands on the summery item. Expand Close Amy Huberman in 2016 - wearing the jumpsuit that caused "fisticuffs" / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Amy Huberman in 2016 - wearing the jumpsuit that caused "fisticuffs" Two customers were witnessed squabbling over the one remaining size 8 in the Stephen's Green Shopping Centre branch. Former RTE presenter Sonya jokingly described it as a bout of "fisticuffs". "There was a bit of argy-bargy between two ladies," she said. "They are trying to get in more sizes now, but it's a limited collection. Once it's gone - it's gone. That's the Amy effect." Read More She said, thankfully, she and fellow designer Brendan Courtney weren't there to see the dispute, as "that would have been a bit embarrassing". Expand Close Amy Huberman shared this photo on Instagram / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Amy Huberman shared this photo on Instagram Amy contacted them last week to inquire about the one-piece. "She saw it online before they went into the store and we were able to help her out with it. It only went up there and into the stores on Saturday, and we think there's only a couple left now," she said. Video of the Day Actress Amy, who has spent the past two weeks in LA, posted a snap of herself jumping in the outfit, saying: "Hey Lennon-Courtney, your jumpsuit has been tried and tested, and totally works! Thank you." Also at the Hollywood bash was Claudine Keane and Indiana Jones actress Alison Doody. SINN Feins Martin McGuinness has lashed out at the decision to try Thomas Slab Murphy before the Special Criminal Court - just 24 hours after he was jailed for tax fraud. In extraordinary comments, Mr McGuinness said throughout the trial, Murphy and the people of South Armagh were subject to an unfair level of accusation. And I think its not lost on the electorate out there who watched the shenanigans that took place during the course of the election and how different decisions were made and I think those decisions were made to have an impact on the election and that is totally and absolutely undemocratic, Mr McGuinness said. He added: Many people have been asking questions as to why Tom Murphy was brought before the Special Criminal Court, for basically failing to pay taxes allegedly on a part time wage. I think the level of accusation that was placed before, not just him, but the people of South Armagh, in the course of this case was absolutely deplorable. The Norths Deputy First Minister made the remarks as he arrived at the RDS count centre in Dublin City. Asked whether he still believes Murphy is a good republican, Mr McGuinness said the Co Louth republican is launching an an appeal against the courts decision. And he singled out Independent TD Michael Lowry, Finance Minister Michael Noonan and former banker David Drumm in order to give examples where the Special Criminal Court was not used. In the case of Mr Noonan, Mr McGuinness highlighted the fact that Fine Gael was found to have committed tax offences under his leadership. I think, whenever you look at, for example, Michael Lowry lost his case. Is he going to go before the Special Criminal Court, I think not. I dont think he should. "David Drumm is coming back, maybe, from the United States of America, is he going to appear before the Special Criminal Court? Tom Murphy wasnt charged with being a member of the IRA. Michael Noonan when he was party leader, the Fine Gael party failed to return their returns to the inland revenue, is Michael Noonan being brought before the Special Criminal Court. None of that happened. In 1986, Uganda's newly installed president Yoweri Museveni wrote a book titled What is Africa's Problem? One sentence in particular has continued to dog him since. "The problem of Africa in general and Uganda in particular is not the people, but leaders who want to overstay in power," he wrote. Thirty years on, Museveni ironically looks like Uganda's president for life. Earlier this month, he was re-elected yet again in a ballot that saw him garner 60pc of the vote and drew criticism from opposition parties who allege the election was rigged. US Secretary of State John Kerry called the septuagenarian Museveni to express concern over harassment of opposition figures and the blocking of social media on polling day. Museveni was unapologetic, telling Kerry "not to worry" and rejecting EU criticisms that the electoral commission was biased in his favour. "I told those Europeans ... I don't need lectures from anybody," Museveni told media at his sprawling residence in rural southwestern Uganda. It was characteristically testy bombast from a man who is known not to mince his words. I met Museveni in 2013, driving through rutted roads to take tea with one of Africa's longest-serving leaders at the same country home. When I reminded him of what he wrote in 1986 about African politicians who cling to power, he did not flinch. "I was talking about staying in power without elections," he said with a smile. Uganda is currently abuzz with speculation that Museveni, now 71, will manoeuvre a constitutional change to allow him stay in power for even longer. At present he is barred from running in the next election in 2021 because he will be past the age of 75, the cut-off point for presidential candidates. While Uganda has an age limit for presidents, there are no presidential term limits - Museveni got rid of them a decade ago. In an interview with the BBC this week, he said: "We don't believe in term limits If you don't want them to be there forever, you vote them out." Irish diplomats will be watching closely to see how the situation unfolds. Uganda is a key partner country for Irish Aid, Ireland's overseas development programme, but the relationship has not always been smooth. In 2012, Ireland suspended 16m of development aid which was due to be channelled through Ugandan government systems, following the discovery of fraud in the prime minister's office. The money had been earmarked for development projects in northern Uganda, a region ravaged by a 20-year war, and Karamoja, the country's poorest area. The Ugandan government later refunded in full the 4m of funding which was misappropriated and a number of investigations are ongoing. Over the last two years, the Irish Aid programme in Uganda has been implemented through non-government systems. While acknowledging corruption was a problem, Museveni was dismissive when I raised the issue of the Irish Aid suspension with him, arguing that Uganda was not reliant on donor funds. "If the Irish want to keep the money suspended, that is up to them but we are moving on anyway," he said. "We don't depend on it." The controversy over Museveni's disputed election puts donors like Ireland in an uncomfortable position - and not for the first time. In 2014, Western donors were aghast when Uganda introduced harsh penalties for homosexuality. Donors cut aid, but reversed the decision later when the law was struck down by a Ugandan court. The ageing president is well aware he is a crucial Western ally in a tough region. He is helping mediate an end to the Burundi conflict and Uganda contributes 5,000 troops to the African Union force in Somalia. But at home Museveni's record is mixed. When I met him three years ago, he boasted of healthy economic growth rates and major investment from China, including for badly needed infrastructure projects. Critics, however, point to per-capita income of around $500 and youth unemployment levels of around 62pc in a country where almost 60pc of the population is under 20. For many older Ugandans, Museveni is the man who delivered the country from decades of despotism, under leaders such as Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker's character in The Last King of Scotland), and went on to steer it towards economic growth. Many young Ugandans, who have known no other president, feel differently. In 2011, the frustrations of that young generation boiled over into street protests - violently quashed by security forces - over rising food prices and government corruption. From my meeting with him in 2013, it was clear Museveni has a high sense of self-regard. When I asked him if he would contest the presidency this year, he said it was up to his party to decide but hinted it may happen because, he appeared to suggest, there may not be any one else who could do the job. Three years on, it looks like Museveni won't be retiring anytime soon. Stranded refugees walking along a motorway yesterday towards the border between Greece and Macedonia near the Greek village of Idomeni More than 130,000 asylum seekers may have disappeared in Germany, according to newly released government figures, raising concerns over terrorism and organised crime. In a parliamentary answer, Angela Merkel's government has admitted that it has lost track of around 13pc of the 1.1 million people registered as asylum seekers last year. The missing people never arrived at official government refugee accommodation which had been assigned to them. But there will be concerns that those unaccounted for could include Islamic extremists or organised criminals who entered the country posing as refugees. The new figures emerged just two months after unconfirmed reports that German authorities were urgently searching for 12 asylum seekers who had simply vanished. They were believed to have crossed the border using forged passports from the same source as those used by some of the Paris attackers. The latest admission came in a written answer to a parliamentary question from the opposition Left Party. The government said it believed that many of those who had disappeared had simply moved on to other countries, while others had "gone underground illegally". Mrs Merkel has moved to tighten asylum rules in recent months and economic migrants with no genuine claim may choose to go underground to avoid deportation. But the Interior Ministry on Friday tried to downplay the figures. "This information is nothing new," Tobias Plate, a spokesman for the ministry, said. "The ministry has long noted that in a significant number of cases an asylum seeker who has been registered in the system does not arrive at the reception centre he or she was assigned." The figures had been inflated by double entries in Germany's EASY database, which was designed to help find accommodation for asylum seekers, rather than keep track of them, he said. It emerged last year that the German authorities kept little information on the hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers crossing into the country. Migrants were not fingerprinted and their identities were not confirmed, making it easy for them to be entered into the system at more than one location. The government has since introduced new measures to record the identities of asylum seekers on entry, Mr Plate said. The controversy surfaced as a senior official in Berlin was arrested on charges of taking 51,000 in bribes to award government contracts for security at refugee shelters. The 48-year-old official, who has not been named, ensured that contracts for security at several shelters went to one security firm in return for the bribes, according to prosecutors. The official was fired from his post at LaGeSo, the Berlin health and social security office, which has been heavily criticised for backlogs that have seen asylum seekers forced to sleep in the open and queue for hours in sub-zero temperatures. Meanwhile, in separate developments yesterday, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said that Albania would not become the new route for migrants headed for western Europe. "We have neither the conditions nor the strength nor the enthusiasm to save the world while others close their borders," he said. Macedonia has all but closed its border with Greece, blocking the path for migrants who are continuing to arrive at the rate of thousands daily, leading some to wonder whether a route through Albania would be viable. Speaking on a talk show late on Thursday, Mr Rama contradicted a statement made earlier by the integration minister in which she said Albania would not build a wall to prevent refugees and other migrants from entering. Mr Rama said Albania could not hold "the entire burden. I have said that in case of a distribution of the burden we shall take our part." He added that Albania had for six months been in negotiation with the Italian government about what to do if the migrants came to his country, "because normally they would not come to stay in Albania but would target Italy" across the Adriatic Sea. Meanwhile, Greece's government has ordered authorities on islands facing the coast of Turkey to reduce the number of migrants allowed to travel by ferry to the mainland, so that more temporary shelters can be set up to cope with the crisis triggered by border restrictions in countries further north. Borders The Merchant Marine Ministry said ferry companies and regional authorities were given the instructions yesterday, as the number of migrants and refugees stranded in Greece continues to rise. Thousands are currently sleeping rough in parks and along the country's highways as existing shelters are filled to capacity. The ministry said chartered ferries would be used on Lesbos and other islands to provide temporary shelter through Sunday. About 2,000 people are arriving daily from Turkey, using dinghies and small boats. Meanwhile, in Calais yesterday, French state representatives were going tent-to-tent, trying to convince residents in a sprawling migrant camp to leave, a day after a court had ruled that a mass eviction could go ahead. Groups of pro-migrant activists were also making the rounds of tents in the camp - called the "jungle" - yesterday, telling residents they could stay. Thursday's complex ruling - which banned any immediate destruction of common spaces that have sprung up, such as houses of worship, a school and a women's centre - has created confusion. Authorities wanted a ruling allowing them to raze the camp, where thousands of migrants from a variety of the world's trouble spots have gathered in the hope of sneaking across the English Channel to Britain via ferry or a Eurotunnel rail service. ( Daily Telegraph London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] Treatment for dementia needs to be targeted at sub-types of disease, experts said A cure for dementia could be found within five years, the leader of the global council on the disease has said. Dr Dennis Gillings, outgoing chairman of the World Dementia Council, said recent scientific progress had surpassed his expectations, with two potential breakthroughs now on the horizon. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, he was "optimistic" that treatments which could remove the plaques in the brain associated with dementia, and those to unscramble the neural tangles which characterise the disease might be developed as soon as 2020. Dr Gillings, appointed by David Cameron to create the global council in 2013, said "great strides" had been made in improving scientific understanding of dementia and of the gaps in research. "The original goal [of the council] was disease modification by 2025," he said. "I feel a lot more optimistic now: I wouldn't be surprised if we get there by 2020 or 2021." Dr Gillings said scientists were increasingly of the view that it had been a mistake to treat dementia as one type of disease, saying that it was likely that breakthroughs would come from developing treatments which were targeted at different subtypes of the condition. "We may need more customised diagnosis," he said. "We used to just think cancer now we know there are many different types, with different treatments. We need to approach dementia similarly." Currently the only medication available for diseases such as Alzheimer's can mask symptoms but not delay the onset of disease. Dr Gillings said progress was being made developing treatments which could remove the plaques in the brain which are a hallmark of the disease. Such treatments might halt or reverse the progress of dementia, he said, with some kind of brain training used to help rebuild lost neural pathways. Other types of patients might benefit from treatments which "untangle some of the neural tangles" which might enable regeneration, he said. Saluting recent British investment in science, and the creation of a 150m Dementia Research Institute, he said that nonetheless, breakthroughs were more likely in the United States, which ploughed far more into Research and Development. He also expressed fear about whether the first treatments would be properly funded in this country. "We need sensible partnerships here," he said. "What we need to avoid is making a breakthrough such a drug that can destroy plaque but is then refused by the NHS. I do have fears about that," he said. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence was taken to court a decade ago for limiting funding drugs which control symptoms of dementia. Dr Gillings, the founder of a US company which runs clinical trials, said public rationing bodies needed to consider the long-term benefits of funding even modest advances in drug treatment which might ultimately lead to a cure. The humane case for offering treatments which could improve quality of life, as well as the economic grounds, should be taken into account he said. Early drugs were likely to be "a little expensive" given the years spent on research, but given the huge size of the market for drugs, treatment costs would fall, he speculated. Jeremy Hunt, Health Secretary said the council had made remarkable progress so far. While we are seeing progress in drug development and greater understanding of this disease, there can be no cause for complacency and I look to the World Dementia Council to use their expertise and global reach to drive governments, industry and regulators to further action, he said. Handing over the post of chair of the council, Dr Gillings said the body, launched by David Cameron following the 2013 G8 summit, ensured that experts from across the world worked together in the search for a cure. New chairman Dr Yves Joanette, scientific director at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Aging, said: "The challenge is so huge here. We can get a man to the moon but we don't know the brain works. "We are probably facing a multiplicity of types of diseases that we call dementia. We need to be able to stratify that, to break it into different types. "To do that you don't just need the best brains across the world working together, you also need the big data that comes with that." Dr Margaret Chan, World Health Organisation Director-General, said: There is a tidal wave of dementia coming our way worldwide. We need to see greater investments in research to develop a cure, but also to improve the quality of life of people living with dementia and the support given to their caregivers. Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of Alzheimers Society, said: Dementia doesnt stop at UK borders and is undoubtedly the biggest health and care challenge facing the world today. Efforts to improve the lives of people with dementia around the world have taken a leap forward in recent years, particularly on beating the stigma and finding new treatments. With the dementia crisis snowballing, strong global leadership is essential. Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] Fighters from the Democratic Forces of Syria carry their weapons in al-Shadadi town, in Hasaka province. Photo: Reuters A Syrian covers his face as he walks with a friend between destroyed buildings in the old city of Homs, Syria. Photo: AP Russia carried out some of its most intense air strikes yet on rebel bastions across Syria yesterday in an attempt to help the regime make further gains in the hours before a ceasefire was meant to take hold. The planned two-week truce is meant to alleviate suffering across Syria by allowing aid to be delivered while creating the conditions for peace talks to resume. As the midnight deadline approached, almost 100 rebel groups said they would be laying down their guns for the duration of the ceasefire. But the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said Russia and the regime had launched a wave of attacks on non-jihadist rebel areas ahead of the deadline. "It's more intense than usual," the Observatory's head Rami Abdel Rahman said. Photographs from the Damascus neighbourhood of Douma yesterday showed bloodied children being pulled from the rubble of broken buildings. Describing the air strikes, one resident, Osama, said they had been echoing around the suburb since the early hours of the morning, apparently without let-up. "There are many landing around our house. My four-year-old daughter is so used to bombs that she wants to go outside for a picnic. She cannot even understand anymore that it is not safe," he said. The Observatory said there had also been Russian strikes on rebel strongholds including the Eastern Ghouta region outside Damascus, as well as northern Homs and western Aleppo. Both President Bashar al-Assad's regime and the main opposition body have agreed to the deal - which allows fighting to continue against Isil and other jihadists. "The Russian air force is certainly continuing its operation in Syria" but against "terrorist organisations", Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. The complexity of Syria's battlefields - where moderate or Islamist forces often fight alongside jihadist groups - has raised doubts about the feasibility of any ceasefire that excludes Nusra, a group that balances transnational jihadist objectives with military goals of the broader rebellion. "Unpacking Nusra is challenging but doable. The Russians claim not to see it that way," a Western diplomat said. In an audio message released yesterday, the group's leader, Abu Mohamad al-Golani, described the truce as a foreign plot and urged rebel groups to ignore it. A map drawn up by the Russian defence ministry appeared to suggest Moscow's bombing raids would continue to target much of northern Aleppo province, where an ongoing regime offensive has severed key rebel supply lines and left the shattered second city under threat of siege. Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama met with his top national security advisors to plot the way forward and discuss the campaign against Isil. "Everybody knows what needs to happen," Mr Obama said, welcoming the partial ceasefire. "All parties that are part of the cessation of activities need to end attacks, including aerial bombardment. Humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach areas under siege." "A lot of that is going to depend on whether the Syrian regime, Russia, and their allies live up to their commitments," he said in remarks at the State Department. "The coming days will be critical, and the world will be watching." Many inside Mr Obama's administration - as well as independent observers - express grave doubts that even a partial ceasefire can hold. The US leader said he was not "under any illusions" about potential pitfalls, but said the ceasefire could be a "potential step in bringing about an end to the chaos". Assad has spent half a decade trying to suppress an armed rebellion, most recently with the help of Russian air power and Iranian ground forces. Mr Obama reiterated that the ceasefire would not apply to Isil, and admitted that other groups, including those tied with al-Qa'ida, would likely continue to fight. "Even under the best of circumstances, we don't expect the violence to end immediately," Obama said. "In fact, I think we are certain that there will continue to be fighting, in part because not only Isil, but organisations like al-Nusra that is not part of any negotiations and is hostile to the United States, is going to continue to fight." Mr Obama also reiterated his view that Assad should step down if a lasting peace is to be found. That is a message that Russia and Iran have so far resolutely ignored. "This is going to be a test of whether the parties are truly committed to negotiations," Mr Obama said. "It's clear that after years of his barbaric war against his own people - including torture, and barrel bombs, and sieges, and starvation - many Syrians will never stop fighting until Assad is out of power. There's no alternative to a managed transition away from Assad." Mr Obama also sought to show that a US-led coalition was winning the war against Isil. He cited territorial gains around Shadadi in Syria, a slowing in the arrival of foreign fighters and the targeting of Isil's finances. "They're continuing to squeeze Isil's stronghold of Raqqa, cutting off its high- ways and supply lines," Mr Obama said. People react after a verdict was given in the Sepur Zarco case in Guatemala City, Guatemala, February 26, 2016. Ex-military commissioner Heriberto Valdez attends the final hearing of the Sepur Zarco case in Guatemala City, Guatemala, February 26, 2016 People react after a verdict was given in the Sepur Zarco case in Guatemala City, Guatemala, February 26, 2016. Former Guatemalan Army Colonel Esteelmer Reyes Giron looks on after the verdict was given in the Sepur Zarco case in Guatemala City, Guatemala, February 26, 2016 Heriberto Valdez Asij (R), a civilian who was attached to the Army, and former army officer Steelmer Francisco Reyes Giron (background) remain at a courtroom to listen to their sentence in Guatemala City Two Guatemalan army officers have been sentenced to more than 100 years in prison for using women as sex slaves. Lt. Col. Esteelmen Francisco Reyes and Heriberto Valdez Asij were sentenced to a combined 240 years in prison on Friday after being convicted of turning 15 indigenous women into sex slaves during the Guatemalan civil war in the 1980s. They were also accused of facilitating "forced disappearances." Erika Guevara-Rosas of Amnesty International said after their conviction on Friday: "These historic convictions send the unequivocal message that sexual violence is a serious crime and that no matter how much time passes, it will be punished. It is a great victory for the 11 women who embarked on a 30-year-long battle for justice." Expand Close Ex-military commissioner Heriberto Valdez attends the final hearing of the Sepur Zarco case in Guatemala City, Guatemala, February 26, 2016 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ex-military commissioner Heriberto Valdez attends the final hearing of the Sepur Zarco case in Guatemala City, Guatemala, February 26, 2016 The women, who are not identified, said they were held captive from 1982 to 1983. Reyes and Asij were accused of murder, rape, sexual abuse, kidnapping and domestic servitude. The civil war lasted from 1960 to 1996. SC Supreme Court hears challenge to 6-week abortion law The SC law, temporarily blocked until the court considers its fate, is being challenged on the grounds that it violates privacy rights in constitution. SHARE By Nikie Mayo of the Independent Mail Williamston Police Chief Richard Inman resigned Friday over controversial postings made to his personal Facebook page. One of the postings included a picture that referred to a portable toilet as a "Mexican spaceship." Another posting, brought to the attention of the town council by former mayor Phillip Clardy, said that Inman spoke several languages, including "sarcasm (fluent), Ethiopian Semitic, Afrikaans, and jive." Mayor Carthel Crout said he asked for Inman's resignation Friday afternoon because those postings on Inman's Facebook page "put a shadow over the town of Williamston." Inman's page, once visible to the public, is now private. Inman said in an interview with Independent Mail coverage partner WSPA earlier this week that he thought the postings were funny. He said he has treated all residents fairly. Inman could not be reached Friday evening. Crout said Inman turned in his town-issued cell phone Friday afternoon. "What he had posted just wasn't good," Crout said in an interview with the Independent Mail. "It put a shadow over the town of Williamston. "I feel like anybody in a leadership position ought to know that you are held to a higher standard, and there are just some things you shouldn't say," Crout said. "I feel like he brought this on himself." Inman, who is from Fountain Inn, has worked at the Williamston Police Department for about two years, but his law enforcement career spans two decades. In Williamston, his police department had just shy of two dozen employees, including officers and dispatchers. Williamston council member Tony Hagood said Friday that Inman's postings "showed poor judgment" and that he thought the former chief should have resigned sooner. "Being public officials and public servants, we need to be ever so mindful of the things that we say and the things that we engage in," Hagood said. "To me, it showed poor judgment that he would post the things he did. It brings things into question, especially for a person to post something of a racial tone." Hagood said he was made aware by email late Friday afternoon of Inman's resignation. Crout said that Inman's resignation is effective immediately, but that the former police chief may get a severance package that includes a few more days' pay and some vacation pay. Capt. Jay Grubbs will act as Williamston's interim police chief. The New Development Bank (NDB) set up by the BRICS countries will approve one project from each member nation in April followed by finalisation of about 10 to 15 projects, mostly green energy ventures, President K.V. Kamath said on Friday. Kamath was speaking to reporters in Shanghai ahead of signing of the bank's headquarters agreement with China on Saturday. The NDB will commence funding by finalising a project from each of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa) countries in April this year, Kamath told reporters. "We will do a full plate of projects in the next 9 to 10 months of this year," he said. Kamath was accompanied by Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanaov, who is the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the NDB. The initial funding for the projects will be confined to the BRICS countries who have submitted a number of projects for consideration - mainly infrastructure and green energy projects, Kamath said. The BRICS bank commenced its operations with initial subscribed capital of US$50 billion with total paid-up capital of US$10 billion. The founding members of the bank have already brought in capital of US$1 billion each as initial contribution. There are close to 7000 known rare diseases today, most of which are progressive, life-threatening and chronically debilitating conditions. There is no treatment for more than 90% of these diseases and the number of patients with rare diseases continues to increase every year. The vast majority of rare diseases are genetically inherited and exist over the lifetime of a patient. Approximately 50% of those affected by rare diseases are children, of whom around 30% will not live to see their fifth birthday. On an average, it takes around seven years to diagnose a rare disease. In India alone, there are an estimated 70 million patients living with a rare disease, many of whom do not know they have a rare disease and even when they do, they either have no access to treatment or cannot afford it. These statistics alone highlight the compelling need for more clinical research in rare diseases in IndiaIt is ironic that rare diseases are no longer a rare occurrence. Although we have made tremendous progress in science and medicine, very little has been invested in India in understanding rare diseases and their management, said Ms. Suneela Thatte, President, ISCR. We need a more concerted effort to promote clinical research in India to find newer, affordable and effective therapies for the 70+ million patients in India who suffer from a rare disease who have an equal right to benefit from new medicines and treatment available to patients in other parts of the world.Every year, the last day of February is observed as Rare Disease Day to raise awareness about rare diseases. The theme this year is Patient Voice, which recognises the crucial role that patients play in voicing their needs and in instigating change that improves their lives and the lives of their families and caregivers. Our children have a right to live with dignity and in an environment where there areinvestments being made in clinical research that could help them lead a better quality of life. We seek the support of the media in highlighting the cause of rare diseases in India and the challenges of patients living with illnesses for which there is no known cure, said Samir Sethi, President, Indian Rett Syndrome Foundation and parent of a daughter diagnosed with Rett Syndrome.Awareness, accessibility and affordability are key needs of patients suffering from rare disease and early diagnosis is a critical challenge in the management of rare diseases, said Prasanna Shirol, Founder Member, Organisation for Rare Disease India (ORDI) whose daughter suffers from a rare disease. The cost of treatment for rare disorders is very high and a lifelong expense running into tens of lakhs of rupees each year. Most patients and their families find this an enormous economic burden. There exists an urgent need for clinical research to ensure better and more affordable medicines for rare diseases so we can provide sustainable care to patients. From a policy perspective, we need legislation that specifically targets budgetary support, access, innovation, and investment for rare disease treatment in India. In case youre wondering what the heck cui bono means, its a Latin phrase which literally translates into to whose profits. Its used in the context of always asking who stands to profit when some action is proposed or takes place. Its a phrase that I use whenever I see government proposing new rules and regulations. And ironically, I asked myself this question quite a bit this week over at the Statehouse. You see, I am a big believer in the free market, so when I see things that appear to hint towards protectionism and stifling competition, I get a little concerned and start asking cui bono? There were three things that popped up this week over at the Indiana General Assembly that fell under that category; chicken farms, electric cars and vaping. For example, HB 1267 originally called for tougher inspections and more regulations for chicken farms with fewer than 20,000 chickens. Twenty thousand may seem like a lot, but in the world of poultry farming its a small number. And usually those farmers are part of the farm to table movement. In fact, its so small it originally had me thinking that someone was trying to make the small poultry farmers life more miserable. Luckily there were some legitimate health concerns and thanks to outgoing Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann and her team, a compromise was worked out so that small poultry farmers could operate and the public health could be protected. The other example that came across my radar screen was the Tesla controversy. Tesla, the electric car manufacturer, wants to expand in Indiana. Tesla wanted to sell vehicles directly to the consumer. Under Indiana law, only dealers can sell directly to the public and a manufacturer must have a dealers license. HB 1254 would have prohibited manufacturers from getting dealer licenses and making those direct sales. Once again, my red flags start to go off. The big opponents of this are usually the traditional automotive industry which has a vested interest in the current system. Supporters of the bill said Indianas auto laws are centered around a dealership, especially when it comes to titles and consumer protections; saying consumers should have a local recourse in the event there is a problem with the vehicle. I think there are ways to protect consumers while allowing for a new business model, luckily the measure is headed to a summer study committee. The final bill that came across my computer screen, was one regarding vaping, or e-cigarettes, HB 1386. The state is promulgating new rules regarding the manufacturing and the chemicals used in e-cigarettes which proponents say are necessary for security and public safety, while smaller mom and pop vaping shops say it would give unfair advantage to bigger manufacturers while putting them out of business. For me, the jury is still out on this one. I totally get the public safety aspect of anytime were talking about chemicals being manufactured from human consumption. However, I dont completely buy the argument that the bigger companies are pushing these rules completely out of concern for the public health when the rules also make it easier for them to make a few bucks and harder for some other folks. Hopefully lawmakers will keep that in mind as we wind down the session and find a balance that works for everyone, big and small alike. Like I said, I am all for the free market, but I dont want Indiana to turn into Thunderdome, either. This is why whenever government comes up with a new rule or regulation, particularly under the guise of consumer protection or public health, it never hurts to ask to whose profits? This is not to say that there arent legitimate consumer health and safety needs, but it helps to know who stands to make a few bucks on the side in the process. Samsung recently launched its latest Galaxy S7 smartphones at MWC 2016 held in Barcelona, Spain. The latest news is that Samsung is also launching a luxury version of the device available for pre-order for the rich and the mighty. Gsm Arena According to Truly Exquisite, the company responsible for these luxury editions, the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge would be available in a variety of options including 24K Gold, 18K Gold or Platinum plating. techbuffalo These smartphones would start at an eye-watering Rs. 1.62 lakhs (approx.) and will come in a "Luxury Wooden Box", besides other usual accessories and Samsung Gear VR headset. The box will also have a free wireless charging pad. To not make it sound absolutely ridiculous, the company has pledged that 5% of the MRP will be donated to charities around the world. digital trends The Galaxy S7 boasts of a 5.1-inch display with Snapdragon 820 processor/ Octa-Core Exynos 8 Octa 8890 SoC, 4GB LPDDR4 RAM, 32GB/64GB inbuilt memory with an option to expand memory, and a 12 MP back camera and 5 MP front camera. It is also powered by a very respectable 3000mAh battery with fast charging capabilities. The S7 Edge has very similar specifications except for the 5.5 inch display and 3600mAh battery life. After almost 60 years of service, India's aircraft carrier INS Viraat will be developed into an adventure tourism centre. It has set sail on its farewell journey. bccl The world's oldest operational aircraft carrier on Friday reached Paradip port in Odisha for the very first time. Here, it hosted the NCC cadets on board. The ship will now move to Kakinada Port and from there to Chennai and finally reach Mumbai. "The operational cycle of the ship ends in Mumbai," Navy sources said. Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu had recently said there is a proposal by the defence ministry to develop the aircraft carrier as a tourist centre once it is decommissioned. Naidu said a joint venture will be set up by Andhra Pradesh government, Indian Navy and a private organization to take up tourism-related activities on the warship. bccl These activities would include yachting, sea sports, sailing, gliding and cruising, he said, adding the aircraft carrier's 1,500 rooms could be used to house tourists. The ship had first served the British Navy for over 30 years, before being bought by India. It was inducted into the Indian Navy in 1987 after undergoing extensive refits. INS Viraat, which also saw action in the Falklands War and was India's sole carrier for over a decade, attended the International Fleet Review at Visakhapatnam last week. Despite reports of mass gang rapes of women in Haryana's Murthal during the Jat reservation protest, the police and the army have denied such attacks. Senior army officers told the Times of India that there were only "some incidents of chain snatching", but no incidents of misbehavior with women However, some media reports indicate that as many as 10 women were sexually assaulted in the morning hours of February 22 near Murthal in Sonipat district and the victims and their families were reportedly advised by the district officials not to report the matter to anyone for the sake of their honour. The manager of Amrik Sukhdev Dhaba, and the dhaba's owner Amrik Singh had recorded statements before an Inspector General rank officer of state police on Wednesday claiming that no incident of rape was reported in the area. Members of probe panel formed to inquire reports of rapes during #JatReservation protests, reach Murthal (Haryana) pic.twitter.com/R0WPGxrdUH ANI (@ANI_news) February 27, 2016 According to one news report, a man claimed that his sister, wife and daughter were gang-raped near Murthal tripoto However, Amrik Singh claims elderly men from Kurad and Hassanpur village fended off the mob and prevented damage to the restaurant. The same mob has reportedly raped women. Samples of cloth pieces were sent,let's see what comes out. It is a challenge-DIG Rajshree Singh #JatReservation pic.twitter.com/5PSaAtixtN ANI (@ANI_news) February 27, 2016 Haryana DGP Yash Pal Singhal said DIG Rajshree Singh would head the Murthal probe committee, which includes DSPs Bharti Dabas and Surinder Kaur. He said Sonipat SP Abhishek Garg on Friday collected some pieces of women's clothing from areas near NH 1 in Murthal. "We are making all efforts to get the details about the alleged incident but nobody has come forward so far," the DGP said. He refuted charges that police personnel might be trying to hush up the episode. The women police officers team led by DIG Dr Rajshree Singh and two women DSPs, Bharti Dabas and Surinder Kaur, visited the site to gather first hand information about the alleged incident, over 50 km from Delhi. Asked about recovery of some clothes belonging to women at Murthal on the Delhi Ambala National Highway, Rajshree told reporters, "These had been sent to Forensic Science Laboratory for examination". "Let us see, what comes out," she told reporters in Murthal. "We appeal to all citizens who have any clue to forward. They should meet us and tell us whatever they have seen, they should share with us all details and we will try to bring out the truth. We are visiting the scene of crime and meeting people," she said. President Pranab Mukherjee will launch the Digital Empowerment Campaign and declare Kerala a digital state during his visit to the state on Saturday. It will coincide with the inauguration of UL Cyber Park, Kozhikode, the first IT park set up by a labour cooperative society in the country. cloudfront "As part of the campaign, around 40,000 student police cadets (SPCs) from 400 schools will train over 10 lakh people in panchayats across the state. The campaign envisages to bridge digital divide by 2020," said state IT Mission director Mohammed Y Safirullah. The pilot phase of the project will make 10,000 people digital literates in a span of four months. Tablets were provided to the students in August, as part of the training ahead of the campaign. By virtue of its proactive policies and initiatives, Kerala has emerged as first e-literate state. Akshaya and IT@School projects, both launched in 2002, were landmark initiatives in digital literacy in the state, said Safirullah. "More than 33 lakh people benefited from Akshaya project so far. Over 2,500 Akshaya common service centres across rural and urban areas, has helped generate awareness regarding e-governance. Also, around 39 lakh students from 12,600 schools were trained under the IT@School project," he added. intoday Kerala is the first state to complete the National Optic Fibre Network (NOFN) project, initiated in 2011, in the country. Now, the state is equipped to provide high-speed internet via optic fibre in all gramapanchayats. The state also has the distinction of issuing over one crore e-certificates, said IT Mission official Abhilash C S. "More than 3.29 crore Aadhaar enrolments have been made so far, with nearly 100% compliance to civil registrations on time," he said. Establishment of two state-of-the art government data centres and over 9,000 ATMs, creation of over 20 lakh bank accounts as part of Prime Minister's Jan Dhan Yojana, high mobile penetration (close 32 million connections), high internet penetration and state wide area network (KSWAN) connecting over 3,000 government offices have made Kerala become the first complete digital state. HRD minister Smriti Irani should know that university students are "not her baccha" nor "do we need a mother like her", said Anant Prakash Narayan, one of the students charged with sedition for the controversial February 9 event. bccl Reacting to Irani's speech in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, the former JNU Students' Union vice-president said, "This is entirely a political issue and we're her political opponents. We're such a threat that she needs the state apparatus to battle us." On Friday, JNUSU described Irani's speech as a "shocking bid to mislead Parliament about ministerial muscle-flexing and crackdown on students." The other students whose arrest is being sought by the police also emerged to refute the facts as stated by the minister. "It's a hate speech because it insists on one religion," said Narayan. "The minister doesn't know that Ravana is worshipped by some communities. She didn't respect the dignity of Parliament." manoramaonlinege He criticised Irani for yoking the identity of Rohith Vemula's mother to that of his father when she had fought all Brahminical structures to raise her children as a single mother. Narayan added that despite being advised by their lawyers not to talk, the students being sought by the police will participate in all protests and perhaps even step out of the campus. They were all, like the JNU Teachers' Association, critical of registrar Bhupinder Zutshi and wanted him removed from his post. The Chinese government, in a sudden change of heart and taste, are about to ban ugly, weird and phallic buildings. Which means... Buildings like this Jianan Yu/Reuters This Jianan Yu/Reuters This doughnut Joseph di Pasquale/AM Project This cellphone which isn't even a smartphone David Myers/Alamy This teapot Imaginechina/REX Even this Wenn/Alamy Will not be there to ridicule anymore. Meitan Tea Museum More than being just an eyesore for anyone looking, this directive has come from the State Council in order to protect the public from air pollution and reduce traffic jams. Trust us, we have no clue how! Frederic J Brown/AFP/Getty According to Liu Shilin, head of the Institute of Urban Science at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, quoted in South China Morning Post,"These buildings do not have much value in terms of use, and cost a lot to operate and maintain. Quite a few were torn down soon after completion. The [new] policy is heading in a good direction. REX/View Pictures Even though the criteria for what's regarded as "ugly" has not been defined yet, we believe anything that's over-sized, impractical, eccentric or resembling human genitalia will be brought down. Praise the lord! Every man in an Iranian village has reportedly been executed by the government on drug charges. independen Shahindokht Molaverdi, the vice president for women and family affairs, was arguing for increased provision for convicts' families when she made the admission. "We have a village in Sistan and Baluchestan (province) where every single man has been executed," she told the Mehr news agency. "Today their children are potential drug traffickers; either because they will seek revenge for the deaths of their fathers or because they will need to financially provide for their families, as a result of lack of support by the government." It was unclear when the men in the unnamed village died or whether the executions were carried out at once or over an extended period of time. Ms Molaverdi argued that society was responsible for the families of executed convicts and said a dropped welfare programme had been reinstated. Her comments were translated by the Iran Human Rights group, which said several hundred people are hanged on drug charges ever year in Iran, mostly from marginalised groups and ethnic minorities. "Iranian authorities have repeatedly admitted that the death penalty has not solved the problem of drug trafficking, but they still continue to execute people for drug charges," Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, a spokesperson of Iran Human Rights said. independent "In 2015 the number of executions in Iran for drug offences was the highest in 20 years." The group is calling for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and other parties to stop providing equipment, funding, and technology to Iranian investigators until capital punishment is lifted. In 2011, Iran's Supreme Council for Human Rights said 74 per cent of executions in the country were convicted drug traffickers, mainly handling opium being transported from Afghanistan and Europe. Reprieve, a British human rights organisatoin, said that approximately 600 out of 947 hangings in Iran in 2015 were related to alleged drug offences - as were at least 31 carried out so far this year - amid concerns over unfair trials, forced confessions, and juvenile arrests. Research carried out two years ago claimed to find a link between previous rounds of European UNODC funding and more than 3,000 death sentences in Iran and Pakistan, and finding is expected to continue flowing to Iran's Anti-Narcotics Police this year. Maya Foa, head of the death penalty team at Reprieve, said: "The apparent hanging of every man in one Iranian village demonstrates the astonishing scale of Iran's execution spree. "These executions - often based on juvenile arrests, torture, and unfair or non-existent trials - show total contempt for the rule of law, and it is shameful that the UN and its funders are supporting the police forces responsible. independent "The UNODC must urgently make its new Iran funding conditional on an end to the death penalty for drug offences." Sistan and Baluchistan province, which borders Afghanistan and Pakistan in the country's south-east has seen conflict between armed drug cartels and smugglers since 200, resulting in thousands of deaths. Baloch Sunni militant organisations, designated terrorists by the government in Tehran, are also fighting an insurgency in the impoverished region. A spokesperson for the UNODC declined to comment on the specific case when contacted by The Independent's but affirmed its opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances. "UNODC works with countries to build their capacity to interrupt drug trafficking," he added. "It also offers assistance for prevention and treatment services that benefits drug users and which is founded on scientific evidence, international best practices and the fundamental right to health." Apple's upcoming 4-inch iPhone is reported to sport the same design as the company's iPhone 5S. According to a report in 9to5 mac, "...the new device is essentially the 2013 iPhone 5s with significant internal hardware and software upgrades." appleinsider The Apple's new smartphone is speculated to be called iPhone 5se The report which quotes sources says, "Today, a case maker source provided us with schematics that line up with what we have been hearing from our sources who have used the iPhone 5se: the device looks nearly like a 5s." The article, quoting case makers, claims that iPhone 5se dimensions too are indistinguishable from the iPhone 5s, which implies that the "new device will fit inside existing iPhone 5s cases." 101medialablimi The drawings, however, also show a couple of changes, like the sleep/wake/power button has been relocated to the side. The images also show a slight camera bump. Earlier leaks about the iPhone 5se claim that the new device will run on the latest A9 processor with more RAM, will have an upgraded camera and an NFC chip for Apple Pay. iPhone 5se is expected to come in 16GB and 64GB storage options and sell for the same prices as the 5s. Follow us on after ratan tata air asia chief tony fernandes questions 5/20 norm New Delhi: Close on the heels of Ratan Tata voicing his concerns over the 5/20 norm, Air Asia chief Tony Fernandes today jumped into the debate questioning whether the owners of Indian airlines lived in India, in an apparent reference to Jet Airways' Naresh Goyal, an NRI living in the UK. Air Asia India and Vistara - two airlines operated by the Tatas through joint ventures - are presently ineligible to operate overseas as the 5/20 norm requires an Indian carrier to have minimum five years domestic operational experience and at least 20 planes to go international. Jet Airways, along with three budget carriers - IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir - are opposed to a change in the 5/20 regulation, for international flying by domestic carriers, which the government is mulling as part of its proposed new civil aviation policy. "Reading all the stuff on TATA and Air Asia. Quite crazy 5/20 hasn't been solved. Are owners of Indian airlines living in India. Naresh? NRI," Fernandes said in a series of tweets. Tata Sons runs joint venture airlines, Vistara and Air Asia India, with Singapore Airlines and Air Asia respectively. Arun Bhatia of Telestra Tradeplace is the third partner in Air Asia India. Terming as sad the lobbying of incumbent airlines for "protection and preferential treatment", Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, Ratan Tata had last Sunday said such moves (for continuation of 5/20 norm) are reminiscent of the monopolistic pressures by entities with vested interests who fear competition. The incumbent carriers under the banner of Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) too hit back at Tata and the subsequent statement from Tata Sons alleging that the demand to call for removal of 5/20 was not in "national interest" but "self-interest" on the part of the Tata Sons and its partner airlines. "People of India your voice needs to be heard more. For too long airlines have been controlled by a few. Mostly NRI. Competition is needed," Fernandes, whose airline Air Asia holds 49 per cent in Air Asia India, said in another tweet. "Indians need more tourism. More jobs. Only country in the world with a 5/20 rule. Malaysia has foreign airlines operating here. No issue," he further tweeted. Under the current FDI regulations, foreign airlines can own up to 49 per cent in domestic carriers while an NRI is allowed to hold 100 per cent in an airline. However, FIA alleges that Air Asia India and Vistara were being controlled by their overseas stakeholders - Air Asia Bhd and Singapore Airlines, respectively, a charge which Tata Sons has denied. Tata Sons claim that that the majority ownership and effective control of both airlines are with the Indian parties as per the government's requirement. Responding to allegations of older airlines that Indian carriers can't set up an airline company in Malaysia, Fernandes tweeted, "Can't see why not. There is an Indonesian airline operating a MALAYSIAN aoc (air operator certificate)." Along with finalizing the new civil aviation policy, which is in the advanced stage, the government also has to decide the fate of 5/20 norm. (With PTI inputs) Latest Business News Follow us on sonam kapoor reacts to crticism by neerja bhanot s colleague. New Delhi: Actress Sonam Kapoor has silenced her critics with a nuanced performance in her last movie, Neerja'. The biopic narrated the story of 22 year old air hostess Neerja Bhanot of Pan Am 73 flight. After her flight was hijacked, the braveheart took it upon herself to save her passengers and was gunned down protecting children from bullets of terrorists. While this Ram Madhvani's directorial has garnered appreciation from all corners for touching raw nerves, it didn't go well with the martyr's own ex-colleague. A Facebook post after the movie's release from an alleged crew member who was on the ill fated flight, read that the film was a work of pure fiction. Nupoor Abrol, in her post said that it wasn't only Neerja Bhanot who was the hero of the entire incident. A few days ago the producer of the biopic lashed out at Nupoor saying she wasn't even on the plane. The lead actress Sonam though fully aware of the incident, earlier chose not to react on it. But now she has broken her silence. While speaking to a leading daily, she said, There is just one person who is saying this. There are passengers, the captain and everyone on the flight, who have been supportive. She went on adding, There is a reason that Neerja received the Ashoka Chakra and the Tamgha-e-Insaniyat and the American Award for Justice. If three governments are giving a girl an award, it is disrespectful for me to come and defend Neerja Bhanot and it's disrespectful for someone to ask if this is true. I feel like in all humility, we have made this film and given everyone a lot of respect. Well, Sonam is right about one thing for sure. There is only one lady who feels the movie is pure fiction while others disagree with her totally. Latest Bollywood News Follow us on eyewitnesses claim women were attacked police says no evidence yet Sonipat: The mystery over the alleged gang rapes at Murthal during the Jat agitation does not appear to be giving in anytime soon. In a major turn of events contradicting the Haryana police's initial stand of having found no evidence to the alleged crimes, three truck drivers today emerged as eyewitnesses claiming that they did see women being dragged and molested by the Jat agitators. This comes at a time when a Special Investigation Team of women police officers constituted by the Haryana police and sent to the site of the alleged incident to probe the matter claimed that no eyewitnesses or victims had turned up before it. The team led by DIG Dr Rajshree Singh and comprising DSPs Bharti Dabas and Surinder Kaur visited the site at village Hassanpur near Murthal in Sonipat district on the Delhi-Ambala National Highway to gather first hand information about the alleged incident. Rajshree Singh maintained that till this evening, no victim or eye witness had come forward to provide details. Asked about recovery of some clothes belonging to women, she told reporters, "These had been sent to Forensic Science Laboratory for examination". "Let us see, what comes out," she told reporters Rajshree Singh told PTI this evening, "Two truck drivers - one each from Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir - have contacted us." "But both have denied seen any such thing (alleged rape of women stuck on the National Highway near Murthal)," the DIG said. She said that both of them told the team that they got stuck between 10-11 AM on that day."Between 1-2 PM their trucks were burnt and during this period both did not see any such thing," the DIG claimed. The DIG said that a woman called up to tell the team that she would visit them personally tomorrow. "We are waiting for her to come tomorrow," she added. Asked about the claims of the three truck drivers about seeing the attack, she said all those people who have any information should come to the police. "Anyone who has concrete proof of the incident, should without any fear approach the team. We will protect them and their identity will not be disclosed," she said. The three truck drivers -- Sukhwinder Singh, Niranjan and Naresh Kumar -- claimed that the women were dragged out of their vehicles by the agitators who then tore their clothes and molested them, before taking the victims towards the fields. Singh also claimed that "policemen in plain clothes" were putting pressure on them to remain silent about the incident. Meanwhile Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar also urged the public to come forward with information on the alleged incidents. Those people who possess any information (regarding Murthal incident) must come forward and share it with the police. But we do not understand why the information is not being shared with the police by people (if they have), he said. "I don't understand why the eye witnesses and the victims are not coming forward. No eyewitness has contacted the police yet, they should inform the police about the incident. The police team visited Sukhdev 'dhaba', the eatery which was also attacked by the agitators and spoke to a number of people in the area. Meanwhile, the DIG's mobile number given in the press release issued after presser by DGP Y P Singal last evening has turned out to be wrong and the same belonged to a resident of Indore in Madhya Pradesh. Asked about it, she said that the correct number would be put out. Haryana Police DGP Y P Singal was not contactable despite repeated attempts. Home Secretary P K Das, when questioned about the gaffe, retorted "ask this question to the DGP." A resident of Indore has been receiving telephone calls since yesterday after Haryana Police listed his number among the numbers of three officers for receiving information concerning the alleged incident. When a journalist called up the mobile number given yesterday by Haryana Police DGP Y P Singhal of DIG Rajshree Singh, heading the three-member women police officer's team, it turned out to be of an Indore resident. "I have lodged a complaint with the local police," the recipient of the call said. The DGP had yesterday announced constitution of the team headed by the DIG "to gather information concerning the alleged incident of sexual assault on some women near Murthal on the night intervening February 22 and 23." Singhal had said that these officers would be available in Sonipat till further orders and anyone could provide information concerning the incident to them in the form of audio or video clips or photographs or in any other form. Watch video: (With PTI inputs) Latest India News Follow us on jnu row another student ashutosh kumar surrenders New Delhi: Another Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Ashtosh Kumar, who is among one of the five students who have been charged with sedition, surrendered to Delhi Police today. At present, Ashutosh, who is JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar's predecessor, is being questioned by the police in connection with the February 9 event at the university campus organised to mark the anniversary of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru's hanging. Ashutosh received the summon yesterday night and produced himself today at RK Puram Police Station, where Khalid and Anirban are presently being interrogated, a police official said. Other two students, Rama Naga and Anant Kumar, are yet to receive any police summon. They had earlier written to police that they are ready to join investigation too. The five of them resurfaced at the campus on Sunday night and a day later, Khalid and Anirban surrendered before police. The police was looking out for all five of them in connection with the sedition case which led to the arrest of Kanhaiya Kumar on February 12. Yesterday, the police interrogated Kumar, Khalid and Anirban together for the first time. With that, the police have identified around 22 persons who were active participants in the controversial February 9 event, police said, adding Ashutosh, Khalid, Anirban and few others are believed to be organisers of the event in which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised. Meanwhile, the Congress today demanded that the case of JNU president president Kanhaiya Kumar, who is booked on charges of sedition, should be transferred to a non-BJP ruled state so that the truth in the case is revealed. Latest India News Follow us on india approaches un to include masood azhar in sanctions list United Nations: India has submitted a formal request to the United Nations Committee 1267, seeking inclusion of the name of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar -- the mastermind of Pathankot IAF base terror attack -- on the sanctions' list. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin wrote to New Zealand Ambassador Gerard Jacoubus van Bohemen, the Chair of the 1267 al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee, submitting India's request that the JeM chief's name be included in the committee's sanctions list. Armed with strong evidence of the outfit's terror activities and its role in the January 2 Pathankot attack that killed seven Indian soldiers, India told the UN Sanctions Committee that not listing Azhar has clearly demonstrated how it and other countries in South Asia continue to face threats posed by the terror group and its leader. Calling for immediate action to be taken to list Azhar under the al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee, India said it is the responsibility of the committee to protect UN nations and its citizens from terror groups like the JeM and its leaders. Listing Azhar will prove that the global community is committed to tackling the scourge of terrorism and will help protect Indian citizens and those of other countries from the terror threats posed by him and his outfit, India said. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said in New Delhi that it is a "great anomaly" that the organisation JeM is listed but its leader is not. India also noted that following the Pathankot attack, Pakistan had taken action against several individuals belonging to the Jaish. The UN had banned JeM in 2001 but India's efforts to ban Azhar after the Mumbai terror attack did not fructify as China, one of the five permanent members of the UN group with veto powers, didn't allow the ban apparently on the behest of Pakistan. On February 18, a fresh submission of 11 individuals and one organisation linked to terrorism in India, was submitted by New Delhi to the sanctions committee. With PTI Inputs Latest World News Follow us on obama administration adamant on selling f16 jets to pakistan New Delhi: Despite objections from several top lawmakers and India, the United States has said that it will go ahead with the deal to sell eight F16 fighter jets to Pakistan. Defending the Obama administration decision, the US State Department today said that the jets will be used by the country in its operations to wipe out terrorism. We support the proposed sale of eight F-16s to Pakistan to assist Pakistan's counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations. Pakistan's current F-16s have proven critical to the success of these operations to date, State Department spokesperson Helaena W White said. According to the Dawn, the Pakistan Embassy in Washington has appreciated the Obama administration's determination to go ahead with the proposed sale. Pointing out that the US administration had already notified Congress of its 'determination' to sell F-16s to Pakistan, Pakistan Embassy spokesman, Nadeem Hotiana, said, The public notification clearly articulates the reasons for the prospective sale. We appreciate the public assessment of the US leaders in response to Congressional enquiries that Pakistan has used F-16s effectively against terrorists and the subject sale is also intended to strengthen Pakistan's capacity to continue the ongoing operations. The deal is facing severe opposition in the US Congress where lawmakers have moved resolutions both in the House and the Senate, seeking to block the sale. Congressman Eliott Engel, who is Ranking Member of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee said, "I'm concerned that Pakistan continues to play a double game, fighting terrorism that has a direct impact inside Pakistan, and supporting it in places like India and Afghanistan, where Pakistan believes such a policy furthers its national interests." India has also expressed its anguish over the deal saying F-16s have not been useful in such operations and would ultimately be used against New Delhi. Yesterday, Secretary of State John Kerry had argued that these fighter jets are a 'critical' part of Pakistan's fight against terrorists. "The F16s have been a critical part of the Pakistani fight against the terrorists in the western part of that country, and have been effective in that fight. And Pakistan has lost some 50,000 people in the last years, including troops, to the terrorists that are threatening Pakistan itself," he had told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing. Latest World News Follow us on us russia brokered ceasefire comes into effect across syria Beirut: A cease-fire brokered by the United States and Russia came into effect on Friday midnight across Syria on Saturday, marking the biggest international push to reduce violence in the country's devastating conflict. But it excludes the Islamic State (IS) group and the Al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, as both are listed by the UN as terrorist groups. The ceasefire aims to bring representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition back to the negotiating table in Geneva for talks on a political transition. The UN's envoy, Staffan de Mistura, announced that peace talks would resume on March 7 if the cessation of hostilities "largely holds.'' If it does, it would be the first time international negotiations have brought any degree of quiet in Syria's five-year civil war. But success requires adherence by multiple armed factions and the truce is made more fragile because it allows fighting to continue against the Islamic State group and Nusra Front, which could easily re-ignite broader warfare. The Syrian government and the opposition, including nearly 100 rebel groups, have said they will abide by the ceasefire despite serious skepticism about chances for success. Speaking to reporters in Geneva after the truce took hold at midnight, de Mistura said initial reports indicated that within minutes both Damascus and the nearby rebel-held town of Daraya suddenly had calmed down. He said there was a report of one incident that his team was investigating but did not give details. Opposition activists on the ground also reported early adherence to the truce. Mazen al-Shami, an activist near Damascus, said an opposition-held eastern suburb of the capital known as Eastern Ghouta was quiet for the first time in years.' The Ghouta region, which includes the sprawling suburb of Douma, has been the scene of intense fighting during Syria's conflict. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the US didn't expect to be able to judge the cease-fire's success or failure within the first days or even weeks. "We do anticipate we're going to encounter some speed bumps along the way,'' Earnest said. "There will be violations.'' On Friday, hours before the cease-fire came into effect, warplanes unleashed airstrikes against rebel-held positions in the suburbs of the Syrian capital and near the northern city of Aleppo. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the warplanes in Friday's strikes were believed to be Russian. The rebel-held Damascus suburb of Douma was hit 40 times on Friday, the Observatory said, along with other areas east of the capital, killing at least eight people, including three women and four children. Obama put the onus on Russia and its allies including the Assad government to live up to their commitments under the agreement. The elusive cease-fire deal was reached only after a monthslong Russian air campaign that the U.S. says strengthened Assad's hand and allowed his forces to retake territory, altering the balance of power in the Syrian civil war. "The world will be watching,'' Obama said. Speaking to reporters in Washington on Friday, State Department spokesman Mark Toner called it "put up or shut up'' time for Russia to prove its seriousness about ending the fighting and starting a political transition by adhering to its pledge not to target "groups that we consider the moderate opposition.'' In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country will keep hitting "terrorist organizations'' in Syria even after the truce is implemented. The opposition umbrella, HNC, said in a statement that the Syrian "regime and its allies should not exploit the (truce) and continue with their hostilities against opposition factions under the pretext of fighting terrorists.'' With AP Inputs Latest World News Follow us on caught on camera shiv sena worker assaults female traffic constable Mumbai: A Shiv Sena worker was caught on camera assaulting a woman traffic constable in Thane for stopping the Sena functionary from using mobile phone while driving. According to police, the incident took place on Thursday morning at Nitin junction in Thane when the Sena worker, identified as Shashikant Kalgude, ignored the constable's signal to stop and attempted to drive his sport utility vehicle past her but she jumped in front, forcing him to stop. Shashikant immediately stepped out and repeatedly assaulted the female traffic cop, police said. Police said that the leader has been accused in 3 more assault cases. Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray said that Shashikant was no longer associated with the party and distanced from the incident. Watch Video: "Absolutely nothing to do with the party at all, (it) doesn't endorse (the assault). Office bearer or not, doesn't endorse the shameful act," he said. The brutal assault on the woman traffic cop - whose identity has been withheld by the police - was captured on a CCTV installed nearby. Follow us on recruitment scam bhopal court grants bail to digvijay singh New Delhi: Congress leader Digvijay Singh granted bail by a Bhopal court in connection with Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha secretariat recruitment scam case. A local court on Friday had issued a arrest warrant against the Congress leader in connection with Recruitment Scam which took place during his tenure as the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh. "The Madhya Pradesh police can arrest me if they want. I will surrender before the court on Saturday. I was about to go to Delhi but I have cancelled that also and now I will go to Bhopal," Digvijay had said. "This is a 22-year-old scam and it is inevitable that the state government, who is already worried about the Vyapam scam, will target me. In those appointments there was an order by the Cabinet and not alone of mine," he said. Special Sessions Judge Kashinath Singh issued the warrant after the Congress general secretary, an accused in the scam, did not turn up in the court where a 169-page supplementary charge sheet was filed on Friday. The seven other accused, including KK Kaushal and AK Pyasi - who appeared in the court were immediately granted bail after they furnished a personal security bond of Rs 30,000 each. Kaushal and Pyasi were employees of the Secretariat. In February last year, the Jahangirabad police had registered a case against Singh, former Speaker Sriniwas Tiwari and others for alleged forgery, conspiracy, cheating, and misuse of office as well as offenses under the Prevention of Corruption Act following a complaint filed by the Assembly Secretariat about irregularities in recruitment between 1993 and 2003. A total of 24 people are accused in the case. Last year, Singh had reportedly told investigators that all recruitment in the Secretariat during his tenure were done with the approval of State Cabinet and as per prescribed rules. The accused have been charged with forgery, cheating, conspiracy and misuse of office as well as offenses under the Prevention of Corruption Act. (With PTI inputs) Were excited to announce that indmin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com. A new look and an improved experience means you can still stay ahead of this fast-moving market with price data, news and market intelligence right here on Fastmarkets. Discover more than 2000 prices, news and analysis in primary and secondary metals markets. We cover base metals, industrial minerals, ores and alloys, steel, scrap and steel raw materials. If you already have a Fastmarkets account, youll still have uninterrupted access to your markets by logging in with your current details. Get the Industrial Market Intelligence YOU want at our 2016 Market Outlook & Networking Event in New Jersey A Panel Discussion with Our Experts Industrial Info is pleased to be returning to Jersey City for our popular annual Industrial Market Outlook & Networking Event! Industrial Info is currently tracking more than 9,400 capital & maintenance projects worth $387 billion that are set to begin construction in 2016 in the U.S. & Canada, including more than $31 billion worth of projects in the Northeast and New England market regions. Join us after the outlook for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, networking with other industry leaders and further discussions with our industry experts. This year, we will hold our outlook session in a panel discussion format, providing increased dialogue and crossover among our eight participating industry experts, who bring more than 190 years of combined experience at IIR to the stage. Who you know can be just as important as what you know, and after the presentation, we will be providing complimentary drinks and hors d'oeuvres, allowing you valuable time to meet and discuss the presentation with our experts and your industry peers. Don't miss this opportunity! For more information, please contact: Industrial Info Resources' Member Services at 800-762-3361 Cost: FREE Date: Sept. 14, 2016 Registration: 3:30 p.m. Outlook: 4:00-6:00 p.m. Networking: 6:00-8:00 p.m. Location: Hyatt Regency Jersey City Two Exchange Pl Jersey City, N.J. 07302 (201) 469-4560 Industries Covered: TBD Newly Translated WikiLeaks Saudi Cable Overthrow the Syrian Regime, but Play Nice with Russia By Brad Hoff February 26, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Levant Report " - IT IS NO SECRET that Saudi Arabia, along with its Gulf and Western allies, has played a direct role in fueling the fires of grinding sectarian conflict that has kept Syria burning for the past five years. It is also no secret that Russian intervention has radically altered the kingdoms regime change calculus in effect since at least 2011. But an internal Saudi government cable sheds new light on the kingdoms current threats of military escalation in Syria. Overthrow the Regime by all means available A WikiLeaks cable released as part of The Saudi Cables in the summer of 2015, now fully translated here for the first time, reveals what the Saudis feared most in the early years of the war: Russian military intervention and Syrian retaliation. These fears were such that the kingdom directed its media not to oppose Russian figures and to avoid insulting them at the time. Saudi Arabia had further miscalculated that the Russian position of preserving the Assad government will not persist in force. In Saudi thinking, reflected in the leaked memo, Assads violent ouster (by all means available) could be pursued so long as Russia stayed on the sidelines. The following section is categorical in its emphasis on regime change at all costs, even should the U.S. vacillate for lack of desire: The fact must be stressed that in the case where the Syrian regime is able to pass through its current crisis in any shape or form, the primary goal that it will pursue is taking revenge on the countries that stood against it, with the Kingdom and some of the countries of the Gulf coming at the top of the list. If we take into account the extent of this regimes brutality and viciousness and its lack of hesitancy to resort to any means to realize its aims, then the situation will reach a high degree of danger for the Kingdom, which must seek by all means available and all possible ways to overthrow the current regime in Syria. As regards the international position, it is clear that there is a lack of desire and not a lack of capability on the part of Western countries, chief among them the United States, to take firm steps Amman-based Albawaba Newsone of the largest online news providers in the Middle Eastwas the first to call attention to the WikiLeaks memo, which reveals Saudi officials saying President Bashar al-Assad must be taken down before he exacts revenge on Saudi Arabia. Albawaba offered a brief partial translation of the cable, which though undated, was likely produced in early 2012 (based on my best speculation using event references in the text; Russia began proposing informal Syrian peace talks in January 2012). Russian Hardware, a Saudi Nightmare Over the past weeks Saudi Arabia has ratcheted up its rhetoric on Syria, threatening direct military escalation and the insertion of special forces on the ground, ostensibly for humanitarian and stabilizing purposes as a willing partner in the war on terror. As many pundits are now observing, in reality the kingdoms saber rattling stems not from confidence, but utter desperation as its proxy anti-Assad fighters face defeat by overwhelming Russian air power and Syrian ground forces, and as the Saudi military itself is increasingly bogged down in Yemen. Even as the Saudi regime dresses its bellicose rhetoric in humanitarian terms, it ultimately desires to protect the flow of foreign fighters into Northern Syria, which is its still hoped-for available means of toppling the Syrian government (or at least, at this point, permanent sectarian partition of Syria). The U.S. State Departments own 2014 Country Report on Terrorism confirms that the rate of foreign terrorist entry into Syria over the past few years is unprecedented among any conflict in history: The rate of foreign terrorist fighter travel to Syria totaling more than 16,000 foreign terrorist fighters from more than 90 countries as of late December exceeded the rate of foreign terrorist fighters who traveled to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Iraq, Yemen, or Somalia at any point in the last 20 years. According to Cinan Siddi, Director of the Institute for Turkish Studies at Georgetowns prestigious School of Foreign Service, Russian military presence in Syria was born of genuine geopolitical interests. In a public lecture recently given at Baylor University, Siddi said that Russia is fundamentally trying to disrupt the jihadi corridor facilitated by Turkey and its allies in Northern Syria. The below leaked document gives us a glimpse into Saudi motives and fears long before Russian hardware entered the equation, and the degree to which the kingdom utterly failed in assessing Russian red lines. For the first time, heres a full translation of the text THE BELOW original translation is courtesy of my co-author, a published scholar of Arabic and Middle East History, who wishes to remain unnamed. Note: the cable as published in the SaudiLeaks trove appears to be incomplete. [] shared interest, and believes that the current Russian position only represents a movement to put pressure on him, its goals being evident, and that this position will not persist in force, given Russias ties to interests with Western countries and the countries of the Gulf. If it pleases Your Highness, I support the idea of entering into a profound dialogue with Russia regarding its position towards Syria*, holding the Second Strategic Conference in Moscow, working to focus the discussion during it on the issue of Syria, and exerting whatever pressure is possible to dissuade it from its current position. I likewise see an opportunity to invite the head of the Committee for International Relations in the Duma to visit the Kingdom. Since it is better to remain in communication with Russia and to direct the media not to oppose Russian figures and to avoid insulting them, so that no harm may come to the interests of the Kingdom, it is possible that the new Russian president will change Russian policy toward Arab countries for the better. However, our position currently in practice, which is to criticize Russian policy toward Syria and its positions that are contrary to our declared principles, remains. It is also advantageous to increase pressure on the Russians by encouraging the Organization of Islamic States to exert some form of pressure by strongly brandishing Islamic public opinion, since Russia fears the Islamic dimension more than the Arab dimension. In what pertains to the Syrian crisis, the Kingdom is resolute in its position and there is no longer any room to back down. The fact must be stressed that in the case where the Syrian regime is able to pass through its current crisis in any shape or form, the primary goal that it will pursue is taking revenge on the countries that stood against it, with the Kingdom and some of the countries of the Gulf coming at the top of the list. If we take into account the extent of this regimes brutality and viciousness and its lack of hesitancy to resort to any means to realize its aims, then the situation will reach a high degree of danger for the Kingdom, which must seek by all means available and all possible ways to overthrow the current regime in Syria. As regards the international position, it is clear that there is a lack of desire and not a lack of capability on the part of Western countries, chief among them the United States, to take firm steps [] *[in the Arabic text: Russia, but this is a typo] LEVANT REPORT is composed of a network of Texas professionals who are deeply alarmed by what Washington is doing in the Middle East. The LR Editors are primarily made up of educatorsat the university and high school levelswho have lived, studied, and traveled extensively in the region. http://levantreport.com/ End Times for the Caliphate? By Patrick Cockburn February 26, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " LRB " - The war in Syria and Iraq has produced two new de facto states in the last five years and enabled a third quasi-state greatly to expand its territory and power. The two new states, though unrecognised internationally, are stronger militarily and politically than most members of the UN. One is the Islamic State, which established its caliphate in eastern Syria and western Iraq in the summer of 2014 after capturing Mosul and defeating the Iraqi army. The second is Rojava, as the Syrian Kurds call the area they gained control of when the Syrian army largely withdrew in 2012, and which now, thanks to a series of victories over IS, stretches across northern Syria between the Tigris and Euphrates. In Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), already highly autonomous, took advantage of ISs destruction of Baghdads authority in northern Iraq to expand its territory by 40 per cent, taking over areas long disputed between itself and Baghdad, including the Kirkuk oilfields and some mixed Kurdish-Arab districts. The question is whether these radical changes in the political geography of the Middle East will persist or to what extent they will persist when the present conflict is over. The Islamic State is likely to be destroyed eventually, such is the pressure from its disunited but numerous enemies, though its adherents will remain a force in Iraq, Syria and the rest of the Islamic world. The Kurds are in a stronger position, benefiting as they do from US support, but that support exists only because they provide some 120,000 ground troops which, in co-operation with the US-led coalition air forces, have proved an effective and politically acceptable counter to IS. The Kurds fear that this support will evaporate if and when IS is defeated and they will be left to the mercy of resurgent central governments in Iraq and Syria as well as Turkey and Saudi Arabia. We dont want to be used as cannon fodder to take Raqqa, a Syrian Kurdish leader in Rojava told me last year. I heard the same thing this month five hundred miles to the east, in KRG territory near Halabja on the Iranian border, from Muhammad Haji Mahmud, a veteran Peshmerga commander and general secretary of the Socialist Party, who led one thousand fighters to defend Kirkuk from IS in 2014. His son Atta was killed in the battle. He said he worried that once Mosul is liberated and IS defeated, the Kurds wont have the same value internationally. Without this support, the KRG would be unable to hold onto its disputed territories. The rise of the Kurdish states isnt welcomed by any country in the region, though some including the governments in Baghdad and Damascus have found the development to be temporarily in their interest and are in any case too weak to resist it. But Turkey has been appalled to find that the Syrian uprising of 2011, which it hoped would usher in an era of Turkish influence spreading across the Middle East, has instead produced a Kurdish state that controls half of the Syrian side of Turkeys 550-mile southern border. Worse, the ruling party in Rojava is the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which in all but name is the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), against which Ankara has been fighting a guerrilla war since 1984. The PYD denies the link, but in every PYD office there is a picture on the wall of the PKKs leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who has been in a Turkish prison since 1999. In the year since IS was finally defeated in the siege of the Syrian Kurdish city of Kobani, Rojava has expanded territorially in every direction as its leaders repeatedly ignore Turkish threats of military action against them. Last June, the Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) captured Tal Abyad, an important crossing point on the Turkish border north of Raqqa, allowing the PYD to link up two of its three main enclaves, around the cities of Kobani and Qamishli; it is now trying to reach the third enclave, further west, at Afrin. These swift advances are possible only because the Kurdish forces are operating under a US-led air umbrella that vastly multiplies their firepower. I was just east of Tal Abyad shortly before the final YPG attack and coalition aircraft roared continuously overhead. In both Syria and Iraq, the Kurds identify targets, call in air strikes and then act as a mopping-up force. Where IS stands and fights it suffers heavy casualties. In the siege of Kobani, which lasted for four and half months, 2200 IS fighters were killed, most of them by US air strikes. Ankara has warned several times that if the Kurds move west towards Afrin the Turkish army will intervene. In particular, it stipulated that the YPG must not cross the Euphrates: this was a red line for Turkey. But when in December the YPG sent its Arab proxy militia, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), across the Euphrates at the Tishrin Dam, the Turks did nothing partly because the advance was supported at different points by both American and Russian air strikes on IS targets. Turkish objections have become increasingly frantic since the start of the year because the YPG and the Syrian army, though their active collaboration is unproven, have launched what amounts to a pincer movement on the most important supply lines of the IS and non-IS opposition, which run down a narrow corridor between the Turkish border and Aleppo, once Syrias largest city. On 2 February the Syrian army, backed by Russian air strikes, cut the main road link towards Aleppo and a week later the SDF captured Menagh airbase from the al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front, which Turkey has been accused of covertly supporting in the past. On 14 February, Turkish artillery started firing shells at the forces that had captured the base and demanded that they evacuate it. The complex combination of militias, armies and ethnic groups struggling to control this small but vital area north of Aleppo makes the fighting there confusing even by Syrian standards. But if the opposition is cut off from Turkey for long it will be seriously and perhaps fatally weakened. The Sunni states notably Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar will have failed in their long campaign to overthrow Bashar al-Assad. Turkey will be faced with the prospect of a hostile PKK-run statelet along its southern flank, making it much harder for it to quell the low-level but long-running PKK-led insurgency among its own 17 million Kurdish minority. Erdogan is said to have wanted Turkey to intervene militarily in Syria since May last year, but until now he has been restrained by his army commanders. They argued that Turkey would be entering a highly complicated war in which it would be opposed by the US, Russia, Iran, the Syrian army, the PYD and IS while its only allies would be Saudi Arabia and some of the Gulf monarchies. Entry into the Syrian war would certainly be a tremendous risk for Turkey, which, despite all its thunderous denunciations of the PYD and YPG as terrorists, has largely confined itself to small acts of sometimes vindictive retaliation. Ersin Umut Guler, a Turkish Kurd actor and director in Istanbul, was refused permission to bring home for burial the body of his brother Aziz, who had been killed fighting IS in Syria. Before he stepped on a landmine, Aziz had been with the YPG, but he was a Turkish citizen and belonged to a radical socialist Turkish party not the PKK. Its like something out of Antigone, Ersin said. His father had travelled to Syria and was refusing to return without the body, but the authorities werent relenting. The Turkish response to the rise of Rojava is belligerent in tone but ambivalent in practice. On one day a minister threatens a full-scale ground invasion and on the next another official rules it out or makes it conditional on US participation, which is unlikely. Turkey blamed a car bomb in Ankara that killed 28 people on 17 February on the YPG, which must increase the chances of intervention, but in the recent past Turkish actions have been disjointed and counterproductive. When on 24 November a Turkish F-16 shot down a Russian bomber in what appears to have been a carefully planned attack, the predictable result was that Russia sent sophisticated fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft missile systems to establish air supremacy over northern Syria. This means that if Turkey were to launch a ground invasion, it would have to do so without air cover and its troops would be exposed to bombing by Russian and Syrian planes. Many Kurdish political leaders argue that a Turkish military invasion is unlikely: Fuad Hussein, the KRGs presidents chief of staff, told me in Erbil last month that if Turkey was going to intervene then it would have done so before shooting down the Russian jet though this assumes, of course, that Turkey knows how to act in its own best interests. He argued that the conflict would be decided by two factors: who is winning on the battlefield and the co-operation between the US and Russia. If the crisis is to be solved, he said, it will be solved by agreement between the superpowers and in the Middle East at least Russia has regained superpower status. A new loose alliance between the US and Russia, though interrupted by bouts of Cold War-style rivalry, produced an agreement in Munich on 12 February for aid to be delivered to besieged Syrian towns and cities and a cessation of hostilities to be followed by a more formal ceasefire. A de-escalation of the crisis will be difficult to orchestrate, but the fact that the US and Russia are co-chairing a taskforce overseeing it shows the extent to which they are displacing local and regional powers as the decision-makers in Syria. For the Kurds in Rojava and KRG territory this is a testing moment: if the war ends their newly won power could quickly slip away. They are, after all, only small states the KRG has a population of about six million and Rojava 2.2 million surrounded by much larger ones. And their economies are barely floating wrecks. Rojava is well organised but blockaded on all sides and unable to sell much of its oil. Seventy per cent of the buildings in Kobani were pulverised by US bombing. People have fled from cities like Hasaka that are close to the frontline. The KRGs economic problems are grave and probably insoluble unless there is an unexpected rise in the price of oil. Three years ago, it advertised itself as the new Dubai, a trading hub and oil state with revenues sufficient to make it independent of Baghdad. When the oil boom peaked in 2013, the newly built luxury hotels in Erbil were packed with foreign trade delegations and businessmen. Today the hotels and malls are empty and Iraqi Kurdistan is full of half-built hotels and apartment buildings. The end of the KRG boom has been a devastating shock for the population, many of whom are trying to migrate to Western Europe. There are frequent memorial prayers in mosques for those who have drowned in the Aegean crossing from Turkey to the Greek islands. The states oil revenues now stand at about $400 million a month; expenditure is $1.1 billion, so few of the 740,000 government employees are being paid. In desperation, the government has seized money from the banks. My mother went to her bank where she thought she had $20,000, Nazdar Ibrahim, an economist at Salahaddin University in Erbil, told me. They said: We dont have your money because the government has taken it. Nobody is putting money in the banks and it is destroying the banking system. The KRG promoted itself as a different Iraq, and so, in some respects, it is: its much safer to live in than Baghdad or Basra. Though Mosul isnt far away, there have been few bomb attacks or kidnappings in Iraqi Kurdistan compared to elsewhere in the country. But the KRG is an oil state that depends wholly on oil revenues. The region produces almost nothing else: even the vegetables in the markets are imported from Turkey and Iran and prices are high. Nazdar Ibrahim said that clothes she could buy in Turkey for $10 cost three times as much at home; Iraqi Kurdistan, she suggested, was as expensive to live in as Norway or Switzerland. The KRGs president, Massoud Barzani, has declared he will hold a referendum on Kurdish independence, but this is not an attractive option at a time of general economic ruin. Asos Hardi, the editor of a newspaper in Sulaymaniyah, says protests are spreading and in any case even at the height of the boom there was popular anger at the clientism and corruption. The Iraqi Kurdish state far from becoming more independent is being forced to look to outside powers, including Baghdad, to save it from further economic collapse. Similar things are happening elsewhere in the region: people who have been smuggled out of Mosul say that the caliphate is buckling under military and economic pressure. Its enemies have captured Sinjar, Ramadi and Tikrit in Iraq and the YPG and the Syrian army are driving it back in Syria and are closing in on Raqqa. The ground forces attacking IS the YPG, the Syrian army, Iraqi armed forces and Peshmerga are all short of manpower (in the struggle for Ramadi the Iraqi military assault force numbered only 500 men), but they can call in devastating air strikes on any IS position. Since it was defeated at Kobani, IS has avoided set-piece battles and has not fought to the last man to defend any of its cities, though it has considered doing so in Raqqa and Mosul. The Pentagon, the Iraqi government and the Kurds exaggerate the extent of their victories over IS, but it is taking heavy losses and is isolated from the outside world with the loss of its last link to Turkey. The administrative and economic infrastructure of the caliphate is beginning to break under the strain of bombing and blockade. This is the impression given by people who left Mosul in early February and took refuge in Rojava. Their journey wasnt easy, since IS prohibits people from leaving the caliphate it doesnt want a mass exodus. Those who have got out report that IS is becoming more violent in enforcing fatwas and religious regulations. Ahmad, a 35-year-old trader from the al-Zuhour district of Mosul, where he owns a small shop, reported that if somebody is caught who has shaved off his beard, he is given thirty lashes, while last year they would just arrest him for a few hours. The treatment of women in particular has got worse: IS insists on women wearing veils, socks, gloves and loose or baggy clothes and, if she does not, the man with her will be lashed. Ahmad also said that living conditions have deteriorated sharply and the actions of IS officials become more arbitrary: They take food without paying and confiscated much of my stock under the pretence of supporting the Islamic State militiamen. Everything is expensive and the stores are half-empty. The markets were crowded a year ago, but not for the last ten months because so many people have fled and those that have stayed are unemployed. There has been no mains electricity for seven months and everybody depends on private generators which run on locally refined fuel. This is available everywhere, but is expensive and of such poor quality that it works only for generators and not for cars and the generators often break down. There is a shortage of drinking water. Every ten days, we have water for two hours, Ahmad said. The water we get from the tap is not clean, but we have to drink it. There is no mobile phone network and the internet is available only in internet cafes that are closely monitored by the authorities for sedition. There are signs of growing criminality and corruption, though this may mainly be evidence that IS is in desperate need of money. When Ahmad decided to flee he contacted one of many smugglers operating in the area between Mosul and the Syrian frontier. He said the cost for each individual smuggled into Rojava is between $400 and $500. Many of the smugglers are IS men, he said, but he didnt know whether the organisations leaders knew what was happening. They certainly know that there are increasing complaints about living conditions because they have cited a hadith, a saying of the Prophet, against such complaints. Those who violate the hadith are arrested and sent for re-education. Ahmads conclusion: Dictators become very violent when they sense that their end is close. How accurate is Ahmads prediction that the caliphate is entering its final days? It is certainly weakening, but this is largely because the war has been internationalised since 2014 by US and Russian military intervention. Local and regional powers count for less than they did. The Iraqi and Syrian armies, the YPG and the Peshmerga can win victories over IS thanks to close and massive air support. They can defeat it in battle and can probably take the cities it still rules, but none of them will be able fully to achieve their war aims without the continued backing of a great power. Once the caliphate is gone, however, the central governments in Baghdad and Damascus may grow stronger again. The Kurds wonder if they will then be at risk of losing all the gains they have made in the war against Islamic State. 19 February LRB Limited 2016 Hillary Clintons Terrible Vision for Syria By Brad Blankenship February 26, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " AMN " - Foreign policy is an incredibly important part of any administration; while the Democratic primary has been focused mostly on domestic issues, there are pressing global issues unfolding. Presidential hopeful, Hillary Clinton, has been touting her diplomatic expertise as a former Secretary of State to bolster her resume as she introduces her vision to the American people. Clinton has been boasting about her support for the Syrian opposition in the past, her visceral hatred for President Assad, and promoting a no-fly zone. However, this very same chain of events happened in both Libya and Iraq (both of which Clinton supported) with total disasters following. Her policies are not too different from the neo-conservatives she claims to oppose. In 2011, the year that the Syrian revolution had shifted into a full-scale war, Joseph Massad, Associate Professor of Modern Arab Politics and Intellectual History at Columbia University, wrote to Al-Jazeera it was the United States that destroyed Syrian democracy in 1949 when the CIA sponsored the first coup detat in the country ending democratic rule. It is again the United States that has destroyed the possibility of a democratic outcome of the current popular uprising. My deep condolences to the Syrian people. Irene Gendzier stated that CIA agents Miles Copeland and Stephen Meade . . . were directly involved in the coup. This was a claim that Copeland admitted was true during a BBC interview in 1967; a fact that is now well-established. Copeland noted that at this time the State Department was aware of clandestine activity. Massads suspicions have been confirmed by diplomatic cables that were exposed from 2006, in which William Roebuck reported from Damascus to the United States top command (including the State Department) and allies: We believe Bashars weaknesses are in how he chooses to react to looming issues, both perceived and real, such as a the conflict between economic reform steps (however limited) and entrenched, corrupt forces, the Kurdish question, and the potential threat to the regime from the increasing presence of transiting Islamist extremists. Recommending that: The regime is intensely sensitive to rumors about coup-plotting and restlessness in the security services and military. Regional allies like Egypt and Saudi Arabia should be encouraged to meet with figures like Khaddam and Rifat Asad as a way of sending such signals, with appropriate leaking of the meetings afterwards. This again touches on this insular regimes paranoia and increases the possibility of a self-defeating over-reaction. And If we are ready to capitalize, they will offer us opportunities to disrupt his decision-making, keep him off-balance, and make him pay a premium for his mistakes. Some years later, the Arab Spring had begun; the opportunity discussed by Mr. Roebuck had presented itself and Clinton saw the opportunity to support opposition groups. Waves of protests sprang around the Middle East. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made a television appearance in which he said that Syria would not follow the same fate. He would, as promised, deliver democratic and economic reforms, that were met with opposition within the Baath party. There were some concessions made including a restructuring of several bureaucracies and an end on anti-assembly provisions. Bashar has been hailed by millions within Syria as a reformist, and originally Secretary Clinton had viewed him in that very same light as she had stated on the record. Last month, the Indian ambassador to Syria from 2009-2012, VP Haran recalls the initial uprising: The opposition could not get the people of Aleppo to protest, so they sent busloads of people to Aleppo. These people then burned things on the streets and went back. Journalists then reported it and said Aleppo had rebelled. Noted has been the presence of radical groups in Syria for some time, including the Muslim Brotherhood, who was stamped out during a failed insurrection in the 1980s. This has been the basis of Assads suspicions along with specific parts of the citizenrys concern with a close relationship with Iran as well as the peoples distrust of the ruling clique. Utilization of radical groups has been standard operating procedure for clandestine activities headed by Washington. We cannot, however, deny that the Syrian government reacted inappropriately; as per Mr. Roebucks cable we can see that this was anticipated. As the conflict has turned into disaster, Clintons opposition is refusing to negotiate. Currently in Geneva, there is a one-colored peace process where the men (and I mean men, no women of course) that are attempting a negotiation are starting at the non-position of the removal of President Assad. Negating the pesky facts, that in a poll the majority of Syrian people stand by the President. This seems antithetical what is supposed to be a democratic movement. One does not need to look farther than the 2014 election to see how much the likes of Ahrar Al-Sham, Jabhat Al-Nusra, Jaysh Al-Islam, and others think about democracy. At this time, the rebels boycotted the elections and even proceeded to kill some 50 people at polling locations. Amazingly, Syria was able to turnout 70% of the vote (the first election to involve multiple parties), with Assad having over 90% of the vote. The 2012 constitutional amendment that modified the role of the President and of the Baath party was definitely a half-measure. However, it was not the government that barred voting- it was the opposition. How can the opposition claim that they support democracy when they dont even participate in the democratic process? The Latin American Study Association released a study decades ago that implied the same typical clandestine activities in the 1984 election of Nicaragua; it was not a genuine boycott by opposition groups but actually the compulsion of Washington telling their man, Arturo Cruz, to continue militant activity instead of formal democratic measures. Similarly, the Syrian opposition boycotted the first day of the Geneva Talks and instead lead an offensive in northern Hama. There have also been many events that nearly lead to a full-scale invasion of Syria by western coalitions, including the 2013 East Ghouta chemical weapons attack. President Barack Obama along with the media did have some basis because they accurately mention that the Syrian government had possession and the capability to launch chemical weapons. However, the diplomatic community pointed out discrepancies in the Presidents statement. Pulitzer Prize-winner, Seymour Hersh, called it presenting assumptions as facts. It was within our understanding at the time that Jabhat Al-Nusra had the capability to produce sarin in large quantities and also use it. Clinton, as a former head diplomat, knows these facts but has instead used this incident to further commit herself to regime change. What about U.S. allies supported by the Clinton dynasty? In a Freudian slip- the Vice President, Joe Biden, stated that the Turks, Saudis, and Emiratis funded and armed Jabhat Al-Nusra. Today, this association is unquestionable. The famed Professor Noam Chomsky told me an in an interview in December: [Turkey] is playing a very dangerous game in Syria, tacitly supporting ISIS by allowing the borders to stay open, openly supporting Al-Nursa, attacking the Kurds who are the main ground force combating ISIS and defending their own territories and more. Not a pretty picture. Turkey is of course a country that was alleged to have been receiving weapons from Libya to arm the opposition in Syria. Clinton has been asked about this on the record and given limited responses. The gulf states, including most prominently Saudi Arabia, have been producing radical Wahhabi groups for some time, shipping away dissidents, and as Patrick Cockburn accurately portrays- this is the most dangerous ideology of our times. Cockburn has noted, as many others have, that the gulf states have been overlooking private support for radical Islamist groups around the world. Both Turkey and Saudi Arabia (along with the other gulf states) have been a key part of Clinton diplomacy and she had also used her position as Secretary of State to to pull strings for U.S. allies. As an English documentary film-maker, Mojtaba Masood, has eloquently pointed out in his documentary titled ISIS- Islamic Extremism?. The ideologies of all the opposition groups including Nusra and others are actually quite similar; these groups who have been heavily backed by Saudi and other U.S. allies. A member of the Free Syrian Army in the Latakia front wrote me: I support Nusra because they fight beside us. Even so, the Free Syrian Army has remained a small factor. Especially in Aleppo, which is experiencing a miniature World War, where CNN has recently released a video saying that the main forces are the Syrian Arab Army and the Free Syrian Army. Interestingly, they had some weeks ago published an article calling Jabhat Al-Nusra the kingmaker for the opposition groups, as they quoted a report. As anyone will tell you, the Free Syrian Army is a marginal force at this point in war, especially Aleppo. Their exploitations have been documented, including attacks on civilians, coercion, and the use of child soldiers. Peter Oborne, a respected British journalist, recently said to Russia Today that the people of Aleppo view the oppositions presence in Aleppo as a jihadi occupation. These are the same groups that Clinton pledges her support to. The myth of the moderate rebellion has been so dispelled that Ive rarely heard of any candidate for President calling on support for these factions besides Clinton. Generally, it has switched to supporting the Kurds including PYD, YPK, Peshmerga, and others. If you want to know how divided American foreign policy on who to support is then all you have to do is talk to the Syrian Democratic Forces/YPG in northern Syria fighting against the Free Syrian Army who are both backed by the United States. Syria is undergoing a serious situation that has sucked in the entire world and has been a staging point for the Saudi-Iranian geopolitical rivalry. NATO allies including Saudi Arabia and Turkey have put the United States in a precarious situation with no discernible policy. Through Clintons rhetoric, it is painfully clear that she is committed to the continual U.S. policy of regime change, and moreover in escalating tensions with the perceived Iranian threat. Syria will only become more of a quagmire if the Syrian government falls as was the case in Libya, and it is something that Clinton apparently takes great pride in. However, the stakes in Syria are far higher with the worlds leading military powers all competing. A commitment to eliminate the Syrian government may ultimately capitulate into a World War if the United States does not elect a prudent head of state. Clintons obsession with regime change, especially in Syria, is an extension of her irrational fear of Iran. The conflict in Syria has proven to not be one of democracy versus a dictator, but rather, foreign influence over a legitimate state. The downfall of Syria would ultimately mean the growth of radical Islam which has been a trademark of the Clinton legacy. Hillary Clinton is not a diplomat; she is a bloodthirsty and deranged woman with no respect for human rights and a true exemplar of corruption. Brad Blankenship is a contributor to Al-Masdar News and is a political activist and student of Philosophy and Political Science at Northern Kentucky University. In Israel, Racism Is The Law Successive Israeli governments since 1948 are responsible for the institutionalised discrimination against Palestinians. By Ben White February 26, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Al Jazeera " - On January 3, two Palestinians were removed from an Aegean Airlines flight from Athens to Tel Aviv, after Jewish Israelis claimed that they constituted a "security risk". The incident made headlines worldwide. A month later, a Tel Aviv-based cleaning company sparked outrage with a flyer that priced its staff based on ethnicity. The story was also covered around the world. For some, these kinds of episodes are proof of the racism that critics claim permeates Israeli society; for others, they are examples of isolated bigotry and idiocy. In fact, neither interpretation is quite right. While stories resonate and go viral, they can mask the fact that in Israel racism is the law. Institutionalised inequality First, inequality in Israel is institutionalised. Contrary to a widely held perception, there is no guarantee of full equality for Jewish and Palestinian citizens; as the Association for Civil Rights in Israel put it, "the right to equality is not yet enshrined in law regarding most aspects of life." "Equality cannot be recognised on the constitutional level," wrote legal academic Aeyal Gross, since that would challenge "the inequality created by the complete identification of the state with only one group." The nearest that Israel's foundational legislation comes to a specific commitment to equality is Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty, adopted in 1992 - Israel does not have a formal, written constitution but a number of "Basic Laws" passed over the years deal with key issues. Yet even here, equality is not "recognised as an independent right that stands on its own". In fact, just in the past month, the Knesset voted against a draft bill that called for the inclusion of an equality clause in Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty. Furthermore, the Basic Law allows for rights to be violated "by a law befitting the values of the State of Israel", a caveat that provides a basis "for giving significant weight to the nature of Israel as a Jewish state and its goals, at the expense of the fundamental rights concerned". In the words of former Supreme Court President Aharon Barak: "Israel is different from other countries. It is not only a democratic state, but also a Jewish state." In other words, Israel is not a state of all its citizens, something freely admitted by senior officials. Second, Palestinian citizens of Israel face systematic discrimination in law and policy - as these examples in land and housing, family life, and immigration demonstrate. In 43 percent of Israeli towns, residential admission committees filter out applicants on the grounds of "incompatibility with the social and cultural fabric". These committees, which operate by law, are "used to exclude Arabs from living in rural Jewish communities", as Human Rights Watch has noted. In 2014, the Supreme Court rejected a petition against the committees, a ruling slammed for having legalised "the principle of segregation in housing". These small communities also "exercise control over a significant amount of land" through the regional councils of which they are part. Palestinian citizens also face discrimination when it comes to family life. The Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law, first adopted in 2003 (PDF), "imposes severe restrictions on the right of Israeli citizens to apply for permits for their Palestinian spouses and children from the Occupied Palestinian Territory to enter and reside in Israel for purposes of family unification". This law, which has the effect of dividing Palestinian families and separating spouses, has been described by a senior European Union official as establishing "a discriminatory regime to the detriment of Palestinians in the highly sensitive area of family rights". Israel's Supreme Court upheld the law in 2012, stating (PDF): "human rights are not a prescription for national suicide", putting its stamp of approval - not for the first time - on a "racist law". For the former Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, the law was about "demographics". "There is no need to hide behind security arguments," he admitted. "There is a need for the existence of a Jewish state." Perpetual status quo While Palestinian citizens of Israel suffer under restrictions on family unification, Jewish citizens benefit from Israel's discriminatory immigration laws. Israel's Law of Return, Absentee Property Law, and the Citizenship Law, passed in 1948-1950, created a reality whereby any Jew in the world can move to Israel and claim citizenship, while expelled Palestinian refugees were stripped of citizenship and are still unable to return. Israel's law "creates three tracks of naturalisation": the highest track for Jews, a second track "for non-Jewish foreigners, who can apply for Israeli residency status through a process of individualised interviews and background checks", and the lowest track for "Palestinian/Arab/Muslim spouses of Palestinian citizens of Israel who are prohibited from entry for the purpose of family unification". Third, 4.5 million Palestinians live under an Israeli military regime in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, an occupation that has lasted for 49 of the state's 68-year history. In other words, one in three of the population in territory under Israel's control is not a citizen and is subject to military, not civil, law. It is important to remember that the territory occupied by Israel since 1967 is not, in practice, distinct from the rest of the state: land has been expropriated, 600,000 Jewish Israelis live in more than 200 colonies, natural resources are exploited, and basic infrastructure - water, telecommunications, transport - all bind the West Bank to pre-1967 territory. The Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, under military rule within this de facto single state, are subjected to severe policies of discrimination and segregation, as well as military brutality and repression. This is no secret: as Human Rights Watch stated in 2010. "Palestinians face systematic discrimination merely because of their race, ethnicity, and national origin, depriving them of electricity, water, schools, and access to roads, while nearby Jewish settlers enjoy all of these state-provided benefits." To enforce this "two-tier system", the Israeli military conducts nightly raids, detains Palestinians without trial or charge, tortures detainees, and represses any kind of resistance - including unarmed protests - with lethal violence. Who is responsible for all of the above - for the institutionalised discrimination, the racist laws, and military rule over 4.5 million Palestinians? Successive Israeli governments since 1948. The crude racism of private individuals - whether on a Greek plane or at a Tel Aviv cleaning company - might get the headlines, but it is the Israeli state and its institutions that created and perpetuates the colonial status quo, and which must be held to account. Ben White is a freelance journalist, writer and activist, specialising in Palestine/Israel. UK Targeted in EU Arms Embargo Against Saudi Arabia By Felicity Arbuthnot February 26, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - Only days after Prime Minister David Camerons embarrassing Little Englander strut around the European Parliament attempting to dictate sorry, negotiate new terms for Britains membership of the European Union, the EU Parliament has delivered a backhanded, but unmistakable, blow to the UK and its partner in crime, Saudi Arabia. As Saudi decimates Yemen with British made bombs and missiles, dropped from British aircraft, advised by British military experts based in the Saudi Command and Control Centre, the European Parliament voted on Thursday, February 25th, for an EU-wide arms embargo against Saudi in protest at its assault on its southern neighbor. The Parliament cited the disastrous humanitarian situation as a result of the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen. The vote does not compel EU member states to act but it does increase pressure on Riyadh, in the wake of criticism from the UN and growing international alarm over civilian casualties in Yemen, comments The Guardian. An earlier draft of the resolution which had named and criticised the UK and other EU member states, including France, Spain and Germany, was dropped. The final version said some EU member states had continued to authorise transfers of weapons to Saudi Arabia since the violence started, in violation of EU rules on arms control. The amendment was passed by 359 votes to 212, with 31 abstentions. In fact, under a 2008 code of conduct, EU member states promised not to sell weapons to countries where they might be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law and undermine regional peace and stability. Since the Saudi blitz began in March 2015, an estimated 7,000 people have been killed and 35,000 injured, with a UN panel in January, stating: The coalitions targeting of civilians through airstrikes, either by bombing residential neighbourhoods or by treating the entire cities of Sadah and Maran as military targets, is a grave violation of the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution. In certain cases the panel found such violations to have been conducted in a widespread and systematic manner, in violation of international humanitarian law. Holding perpetrators of violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law to account is fundamental and necessary for tackling impunity and deterring future violations in Yemen, it states. As the Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) points out, in spite of the vote not being legally binding, it sends a strong message to member States that have continued to arm Saudi Arabia despite allegations of war crimes in Yemen. CAAT again reminds that the UK has licensed 2.8 billion of arms to Saudi since bombing of Yemen began in March 2015 and has licensed 6.7 billion of arms to Saudi since David Cameron took office in 2010. The Campaigns Andrew Smith is unequivocal: The European Parliament has sent a clear, strong and much needed message to governments like the UK, that have been complicit in the destruction of Yemen. The toxic combination of arms sales and political support has helped to fuel, facilitate and legitimise the humanitarian catastrophe that is taking place. Moreover: Government Ministers may talk about the importance of human rights, but UK bombs and fighter jets have been absolutely central to the bombardment. Thousands have died yet the message sent out by the UK government is that their lives are less important than arms company profits. In January 2016, Law firm Leigh Day, representing CAAT, issued a pre-action protocol letter for judicial review challenging the governments decision to export arms to Saudi Arabia despite increasing evidence that Saudi forces are violating international humanitarian law in Yemen. CAAT is expected to make further announcements on the status of the legal action in the coming weeks. Whilst Saudi Arabia is Britains largest customer for weapons, a recent study by Opinium LLP for CAAT found that 62% of UK adults oppose arms sales to Saudi Arabia, with only 16% supporting them. UK exports of armaments to Saudi increased by over 11,000 percent in just a three month period last year, with David Cameron, when queried in this trade in death ever repeating his delusional mantra that: We have some of the most stringent arms control procedures of any country in the world. Ironically, as Amnesty points out: The UK was a leading light in the creation of the Arms Control Treaty (2014), an important international law designed to eliminate arms sales that fuel human rights abuse. When the UK signed on the dotted line of the treaty in April 2014 Foreign Secretary William Hague stated it would make the world safer, by placing human rights and international humanitarian law at the heart of decisions about the arms trade. Meanwhile, as the illegal bloodbath continues in Yemen, William Hagues successor, Philip Hammond, who, incredibly, appears even more intellectually challenged than his predecessor, states that he is relying on Saudi Arabia to investigate their own carnage, deaths and detonations of International Humanitarian Laws, Human Rights, the Rights of the Child, the Geneva Convention but then, after the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and arms sales, Britain is hardly in a position to take any high moral ground. Incidentally, when then Secretary of State James Baker promised to reduce Iraq to a pre-industrial age in 1991, the onslaught was called Operation Desert Storm. The Saudis have named their equivalent in Yemen Operation Decisive Storm. In Latin, Yemen, one of the oldest centers of civilization in the Near East, was called Arabia Felix: Fortunate Arabia, or Happy Arabia. Response to some ironies can only be to weep. Felicity Arbuthnot is a journalist with special knowledge of Iraq. Author, with Nikki van der Gaag, of Baghdad in the Great City series for World Almanac books, she has also been Senior Researcher for two Award winning documentaries on Iraq, John Pilger's Paying the Price: Killing the Children of Iraq and Denis Halliday Returns for RTE (Ireland.) Why "Brexit" Would Be Good News for Russia By Finian Cunningham February 26, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " SCF " - Britain will make a once-in-a-lifetime decision in the coming months on whether to leave the European Union. Both Washington and Moscow have a lot at stake. While the US needs Britain to remain within the EU in order to do its bidding, Russias interests might be better served by a historic split. The referendum on the so-called Brexit is to take place on June 23. It follows Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron announcing a reform package hammered out with other European leaders last week. Cameron is endorsing EU membership, claiming that his reforms have given Britons the best of both worlds that is, a measure of national independence while retaining economic benefits from being still part of the EU bloc. The last time Britain held a similar referendum was back in 1975, when a strong majority voted in favor of remaining in the then 12-member European Economic Community (EEC). Four decades on, the EEC has transformed enormously to become the European Union of 28 member states, with a single currency for most of those members and a series of treaties that enshrine a project for federal political union. Camerons reforms have secured a British opt-out from the federal project of ever closer union as well as limited curbs on EU migrants social welfare rights. Nevertheless, the European question that Britons will be voting on in the forthcoming plebiscite is very different from that of 41 years ago when the EEC was merely a commercial trading association. And polls show that the British public have become increasing leery of the EU, with the electorate now evenly divided over continued membership. Its going to be a close call on June 23. As in other European countries, British public perception of the EU and its Brussels administration has becoming increasingly negative, or eurosceptic. Previously, British eurosceptics were a hardboiled minority, associated with the rightwing of Camerons ruling Conservative party. Typically, they tended to have a little Englander mentality, espousing isolationism, pride in past imperial power, and free-market capitalism unfettered by government regulations, especially foreign governments in Brussels. While these traits persist among the Tory partys rightwing and in its scion of the United Kingdom Independence Party, led by Nigel Farage, there is also a growing disillusionment towards the EU among centrist voters and those on the socialist left. This is because the EUs image as a social democratic bloc has greatly diminished from earlier times. It is true that the EU has over the decades implemented many progressive laws to uphold workers rights and for protection of consumers and the environment. It can be argued that all countries have benefited from this uniformity of social conditions. However, in more recent years, unbridled austerity from neoliberal economic policies have transformed the formerly progressive EU into a perceived bastion of corporate power, one which is detrimental to the majority of workers. We only have to look at how Greece is being dragooned into adopting brutal public spending cuts at the behest of the European Central Bank and IMF to appreciate why many of the EUs 500 million citizens are alienated from what they see as a Brussels plutocracy. The fact that executives of Britains biggest corporations, among the FTSE 100, are lobbying Cameron to push hard to keep within the EU is another indicator of the blocs alignment with corporate interests over workers rights. The EUs now-notorious democratic deficit, or more stridently dictatorial tendency, has galvanized voters on both the right and the left. The eurosceptics are no longer just reactionary little Englanders but also include many who view the EU as an anti-democratic machine serving the super rich. Moreover, Brussels is seen as being pathetically subordinate to Washingtons economic and foreign policies. The alignment of the EU with the US-led NATO military alliance is a case in point. As is the way that Brussels has meekly toed the American line of imposing sanctions against Russia and fostering a generally hostile climate between Europe and Moscow. The Brexit referendum is throwing up some strange bedfellows. Already, the UKIPs Nigel Farage has shared a public platform with the avowed socialist firebrand George Galloway in calling for a Leave-the-EU vote. While those calling for a Remain-in-the-EU vote include Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn has distanced himself, however, by saying that he wants to reform the EU from within to make it a more socialist bloc. In an article for the Guardian, he wrote: Labour will be running a positive campaign for the real change we need: to unite opposition to austerity and build a Europe of sustainable growth, jobs and social justice. The Scottish Nationalists led by Nicola Sturgeon are unanimously for staying in the EU. They have said that if Britain votes for a Brexit, then the Scots will push again for a new independence vote from the United Kingdom. Camerons own party is deeply split on the big question. Six of his 24 cabinet ministers are against EU membership, which is an unprecedented dissent from the prime ministers authority. While nearly half of the total Conservative partys 329 Members of Parliament are also opposed to staying in Europe. The Leave Europe moral was given a major boost when Boris Johnson, the Conservative Mayor of London, broke ranks and declared his support for a Brexit much to Camerons chagrin. The flamboyant Johnson is popular among voters. Some commentators have even said that if Cameron loses over the referendum, then Johnson is in pole position to replace him in Downing Street. An important weathervane is the position of Washington on the future of Britain and Europe. President Barack Obama has already personally intervened to recommend Britain stay within the EU. Washington has also taken the extraordinary step of announcing that an independent Britain would not avail of any special trading privileges meaning that it was pointedly incentivizing continued membership of the bloc. But the precise American interest in Britains relationship with the rest of Europe was made more explicit in a recent article by Richard Haas, who was formerly a policy director at the State Department and is the president of the influential Council on Foreign Relations. Haas wrote: From my perspective (and that of many other Americans), a decision by the United Kingdom to exit the EU would be undesirable indeed, highly undesirable. He went on to explain: One reason why the US values its ties to the UK as much as it does is the UKs role in Europe. Britain is important not just as a bilateral partner, but because more often than not it can be counted on to argue for and support positions in Brussels consistent with, or at least not far from, those of the US. In short, Britain is Washingtons gopher in Europe. Or to put it another way: without Britain, Washington would not be able to control European policies as much as it has done up to now. This has huge implications for both economic and foreign policies. Imagine for a moment the European Union without Britains unswerving pro-Washington agenda. There is a fair chance that the EU would not have indulged the American regime change policies in the Middle East and North Africa, which have resulted in a refugee crisis tearing EU members apart at the seams. If it were not for Britains bullish advocacy of Washingtons anti-Russian sanctions and pro-NATO militarism generally, there is a fair chance that the current standoff between Europe and Moscow would not have transpired. British inclusion in Europe is of paramount geopolitical advantage to Washington. Britain is crucial for driving the American wedge between Europe especially Germany and Russia. Thats what Richard Haas was referring to in his angst over a possible Brexit. A socialist European Union independent from American foreign policy and one where normal relations with Russia are allowed to prevail is a preferred objective. But is that realistically achievable as long as Uncle Sams British bulldog remains snapping at everyones heels? Perhaps the most expedient way forward is for Britain to leave the EU. From Russias point of view, a Brexit could be a lucky break. US Presidential Elections 2016: The Revolt of the Masses By James Petras February 26, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - The presidential elections of 2016 have several unique characteristics that defy common wisdom about political practices in 21st century America. Clearly the established political machinery party elites and their corporate backers -have (in part) lost control of the nomination process and confront unwanted candidates who are campaigning with programs and pronouncements that polarize the electorate. But there are other more specific factors, which have energized the electorate and speak to recent US history. These portend and reflect a realignment of US politics. In this essay, we will outline these changes and their larger consequences for the future of American politics. We will examine how these factors affect each of the two major parties. Democratic Party Politics: The Context of Realignment The rise and decline of President Obama has seriously dented the appeal of identity politics the idea that ethnic, race and gender-rooted identities can modify the power of finance capital (Wall Street), the militarists, the Zionists and police-state officials. Clearly manifest voter disenchantment with identity politics has opened the door for class politics, of a specific kind. Candidate Bernie Sanders appeals directly to the class interests of workers and salaried employees. But the class issuearises within the context of an electoral polarization and, as such, it does not reflect a true class polarization, or rising class struggle in the streets, factories or offices. In fact, the electoral class polarization is a reflection of the recent major trade union defeats in Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio. The trade union confederation (AFL-CIO) has almost disappeared as a social and political factor, representing only 7% of private sector workers. Working class voters are well aware that top trade union leaders, who receive an average of $500,000-a-year in salaries and benefits, are deeply ensconced in the Democratic Party elite. While individual workers and local unions are active supporters of the Sanders campaign, they do so as members of an amorphous multi-class electoral movement and not as a unified workers bloc. The Sanders electoral movement has not grown out of a national social movement: The peace movement is virtually moribund; the civil rights movements are weak, fragmented and localized; the Black Lives Matter movement has peaked and declined while the Occupy Wall Street Movement is a distant memory. In other words, these recent movements, at best, provide some activists and some impetus for the Sanders electoral campaign. Their presence highlights a few of the issues that the Sanders electoral movement promotes in its campaign. In fact, the Sanders electoral movement does not grow out of existing, ongoing mass movements as much as it fills the political vacuum resulting from their demise. The electoral insurgency reflects the defeats of trade union officials allied with incumbent Democratic politicians as well as the limitation of the direct action tactics of the Black Lives Matter and Occupy movements. Since the Sanders electoral movement does not directly and immediately challenge capitalist profits and public budget allocations it has not been subject to state repression. Repressive authorities calculate that this buzz of electoral activity will last only a few months and then recede into the Democratic Party or voter apathy. Moreover, they are constrained by the fact that tens of millions of Sanders supporters are involved in all the states and not concentrated in any region. The Sanders electoral movement aggregates hundreds of thousands of micro-local struggles and allows expression of the disaffection of millions with class grievances, at no risk or cost (as in loss of job or police repression) to the participants. This is in stark contrast to repression at the workplace or in the urban streets. The electoral polarization reflects horizontal (class) and vertical (intra-capitalist) social polarizations. Below the elite 10% and especially among the young middle class, political polarization favors the Sanders electoral movement. Trade union bosses, the Black Congressional Caucus members and the Latino establishment all embrace the anointed choice of the political elite of the Democratic Party: Hilary Clinton. Whereas, young Latinos, working women and rank and file trade unionists support the insurgent electoral movement. Significant sectors of the African American population, who have failed to advance (and have actually regressed) under Democratic President Obama or have seen police repression expand under the First Black President, are turning to the insurgent Sanders campaign. Millions of Latinos, disenchanted with their leaders who are tied to the Democratic elite and have done nothing to prevent the massive deportations under Obama, are a potential base of support for Bernie. However, the most dynamic social sector in the Sanders electoral movement are students, who are excited by his program of free higher education and the end of post-graduation debt peonage. The malaise of these sectors finds its expression in the respectable revolt of the middle class: a voters rebellion, which has temporarily shifted the axis of political debate within the Democratic Party to the left. The Sanders electoral movement raises fundamental issues of class inequality and racial injustice in the legal, police and economic system. It highlights the oligarchical nature of the political system even as the Sanders-led movement attempts to use the rules of the system against its owners. These attempts have not been very successful within the Democratic Party apparatus, where the Party bosses have already allocated hundreds of non-elected so-called mega-delegates to Clinton despite Sanders successes in the early primaries. The very strength of the electoral movement has a strategic weakness: it is in the nature of electoral movements to coalesce for elections and to dissolve after the vote. The Sanders leadership has made no effort to build a mass national social movement that can continue the class and social struggles during and after the elections. In fact, Sanders pledge to support the established leadership of the Democratic Party if he losses the nomination to Clinton will lead to a profound disillusionment of his supporters and break-up of the electoral movement. The post-convention scenario, especially in the event of super-delegates crowning Clinton despite a Sanders popular victory at the individual primaries, will be very disruptive. Trump and Revolt on the Right The Trump electoral campaign has many of the features of a Latin American nationalist-populist movement. Like the Argentine Peronist movement, it combines protectionist, nationalist economic measures that appeal to small and medium size manufacturers and displaced industrial workers with populist right-wing great nation chauvinism. This is reflected in Trumps attacks on globalization - a proxy for Peronist anti-imperialism. Trumps attack on the Muslim minority in the US is a thinly veiled embrace of rightwing clerical fascism. Where Peron campaigned against financial oligarchies and the invasion of foreign ideologies, Trump scorns the elitesand denounces the invasion of Mexican immigrants. Trumps appeal is rooted in the deep amorphous anger of the downwardly mobile middle class, which has no ideology . . . but plenty of resentment at its declining status, crumbling stability and drug-afflicted families (Witness the overtly expressed concerns of white voters in the recent New Hampshire primary). Trump projects personal power to workers who bridle under impotent trade unions, disorganized civic groups, and marginalized local business associations, all unable to counter the pillage, power and large-scale corruption of the financial swindlers who rotate between Washington and Wall Street with total impunity. These populist classes get vicarious thrills from the spectacle of Trump snapping and slapping career politicians and economic elites alike, even as he parades his capitalist success. They prize his symbolic defiance of the political elite as he flaunts his own capitalist elite credentials. For many of his suburban backers he is the Great Moralizer, who in his excess zeal, occasionally, commits pardonable gaffes out of zealous exuberance a crude Oliver Cromwell for the 21st Century. Indeed, there also may be a less overt ethno-religious appeal to Trumps campaign: His white-Anglo-Saxon Protestant identity appeals to these same voters in the face of their apparent marginalization. These Trumpistas are not blind to the fact that not a single WASP judge sits on the Supreme Court and there are few, if any, WASPs among the top economic officials in Treasury, Commerce, or the Fed (Lew, Fischer, Yellen, Greenspan, Bernacke, Cohen, Pritzker etc.). While Trump is not up-front about his identity it eases his voter appeal. Among WASP voters, who quietly resent the Wall Street bailouts and the perceived privileged position of Catholics, Jews and African-Americans in the Obama Administration, Trumps direct, public condemnation of President Bush for deliberately misleading the nation into invading Iraq (and the implication of treason), has been a big plus. Trumps national-populist appeal is matched by his bellicose militarism and thuggish authoritarianism. His public embrace of torture and police state controls (to fight terrorism) appeals to the pro- military right. On the other hand, his friendly overtures to Russian President Putin (one tough guy willing to face another) and his support to end the Cuban embargo appeals to trade-minded business elites. His calls to withdraw US troops from Europe and Asia appeals to fortress America voters, while his calls to carpet bomb ISIS appeals to the nuclear extremists. Interestingly, Trumps support for Social Security and Medicare, as well as his call for medical coverage for the indigent and his open acknowledgement of Planned Parenthoods vital services to poor women, appeals to older citizens, compassionate conservatives and independents. Trumps left-right amalgam: Protectionist and pro-business appeals, his anti-Wall Street and pro-industrial capitalism proposals, his defense of US workers and attacks on Latino workers and Muslim immigrants have broken the traditional boundaries between popular and rightwing politics of the Republican Party. Trumpism is not a coherent ideology, but a volatile mix of improvised positions, adapted to appeal to marginalized workers, resentful middle classes (marginalized WASPs) and, above all, to those who feel unrepresented by Wall Street Republicans and liberal Democratic politicians based on identity politics (black, Hispanic, women and Jews). Trumps movement is based on a cult of the personality: it has enormous capacity to convoke mass meetings without mass organization or a coherent social ideology. Its fundamental strength is its spontaneity, novelty and hostile focus on strategic elites. Its strategic weakness is the lack of an organization that can be sustained after the electoral process. There are few Trumpista cadres and militants among his adoring fans. If Trump loses (or is cheated out of the nomination by a unity candidate trotted out by the Party elite) his organization will dissipate and fragment. If Trump wins the Republican nomination he will draw support from Wall Street, especially if faced with a Sanders Democratic candidacy. If he wins the general election and becomes President, he will seek to strengthen executive power and move toward a Bonapartist presidency. Conclusion The rise of a social democratic movement within the Democratic Party and the rise of a sui generis national-populist rightist movement in the Republican Party reflect the fragmented electorate and deep vertical and horizontal fissures characterizing the US ethno-class structure. Commentators grossly oversimplify when they reduce the revolt to incoherent expressions of anger. The shattering of the established elites control is a product of deeply experienced class and ethnic resentments, of former privileged groups experiencing declining mobility, of local businesspeople experiencing bankruptcy due to globalization(imperialism) and of citizens resentment at the power of finance capital (the banks) and its overwhelming control of Washington. The electoral revolts on the left and right may dissipate but they will have planted the seeds of a democratic transformation or of a nationalist-reactionary revival. James Petras is a Bartle Professor (Emeritus) of Sociology at Binghamton University, New York. http://petras.lahaine.org The #BringBackOurGirls group says the education sector deserves emergency attention so that the nation would avoid an imminent social conflagration and econo-industrial stagnation. In a press briefing signed by leaders of the group, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Aisha Yesufu and Hadiza Bala Usman, in remembrance of the 29 school boys who were killed by the Boko Haram sect in their dormitory at the Federal Government college, Buni Yadi, Yobe State in 2014, the group stated that the education sector was a major tool that can deliver the prosperous future that the nation wants. Our society must see and accept that one of the surest ways out of the primitivism, poverty and the attendant hopelessness that aided the emergence of the misguided insurgents in the Northeast is the rejuvenation and revival of the comatose educational systems in the country. The responsibility to educate our children and ensure that all of them acquire an education to develop human capital which is our key and most important resource is non-negotiable, and is on the Nigerian society, it said. The group lamented the insecurity in schools leading to killing and kidnap of innocent children who were only in school to learn. The federal government must take the lead with political will and an improved framework that not only secures our children and the lives of every stakeholder, from the parents to the teachers, many of whom have also become victims, but ultimately ensures education never stops for every child. Education and our liberties are under attack. This must be seen as a new mandate: Education Must Continue no matter the tragedy! The implementation of the objects and goals of the Safe Schools Initiative must, as a matter of urgency, be moved off the drawing boards, dusty shelves and selective deployment approach unto achievable action-driven and verifiable timelines. The education sector deserves emergency attention, if we must avoid an imminent social conflagration and econo-industrial stagnation. The sector is a major tool that can deliver the prosperous future that we dream and aspire for our great country Nigeria, it said. President Muhammadu Buharis various trips abroad will soon yield the desired fruits, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said. He described the president as an international salesman doing a great job of marketing Nigeria. Since assuming office on May 29, 2015 President Buhari has embarked on no less than 15 foreign trips. Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Friday at the national secretariat of the APC, Mr. Odigie-Oyegun stressed that the trips were necessary at this point in time to garner support and open up the country to more investors. While acknowledging that there was no specific date for the results of the trips to manifest, the APC chairman said they would manifest in a matter of months, not years. He also noted that part of the reasons the president was visiting the Middle East was to canvass for improved prices for the nations crude oil. Mr. Odigie-Oyegun described President Buhari as an international salesman marketing Nigeria. He maintained that the president was doing a fantastic job building and re-building the crack in the foundation of Nigeria. (NAN) President Muhammadu Buhari has an economic management team, the Presidency has disclosed. The Presidency was reacting to a media report that quoted some economic experts as urging the president to constitute his economic team in the face of current economic challenges bedeviling the country. The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande, who disclosed this in a telephone interview last light, said the economic team of President Buhari has been put in place since the inauguration of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) last November. Akande said the economic management team is headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. He listed the teams key members as including the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; the Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah; the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godswin Emefiele; and the Director-General of the Debt Management Office (DMO). He said the composition of the team was not static as Agriculture Minister Audu Ogbe and Information Minister Lai Mohammed as well as relevant permanent secretaries, have also been involved. The vice presidents spokesman said the team had since been meeting and engaging representatives of the private sector. He noted that unlike what obtained in the past, the Buhari administration did not make anybody from the private sector a member of the economic management team. Akande also disclosed that President Buhari had appointed Dr. Oluyemi Dipeolu as his Special Adviser on Economic Matters. He said the economic adviser, who was until his appointment in January a director in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), has been working with the economic management team. Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose on Saturday accused President Muhammadu Buhari of mapping ways towards making Nigeria an Islamic nation. Making the allegations while delivering a speech at the interdenominational thanksgiving held in Port-Harcourt to celebrate the victory of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike after the supreme court ruling which favoured him. Fayose referred to himself as Peter, the rock who cannot be harmed by anyone before announcing to the crowd that he had a secret to reveal. They have started subtle moves to make Nigeria an Islamic nation, but God will stop them. This was done in 1984, it failed, it would fail again, Fayose told the attentive crowd. Why did five of them go to Saudi Arabia to wait for our man there (referring to President Buhari and state governors), if they dont have agenda. The agenda is coming small small, but we will resist it. Nigeria is a free nation where we proclaim the name of Jesus Christ freely, and we believe in Allah for those who are Muslims. This nation will not be taken for an Islamic nation, Fayose said. He declared that he is not afraid of actions that can be taken against him because of his utterance, saying: I am not far away, I am in Ekiti. I am Ayo Fayose, Peter the rock, if you hit me you will be in trouble. If I hit you, you will be in trouble. The All Progressives Congress on Friday dismissed a claim by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that the on-going anti-graft war was targeted at decimating the leadership of the opposition party. The APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, stated this in an interview with journalists in Abuja. It would be recalled that the National Legal Adviser of PDP, Victor Kwon, on Wednesday, issued a statement accusing the APC-led federal government of using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to harass PDP leaders. The statement, which was in reaction to the arrest of the former acting chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus, said in part: Indeed, intelligence available to the party shows that the Federal Government, using its various agencies, is bent on destroying any opposition to the ruling party as all indications show that the government is more interested in humiliating the PDP than fighting corruption. But Odigie-Oyegun said members of the opposition party, who were being questioned by the anti-graft body, ought to address issues instead of trying to whip up sentiments. He also faulted the rationale behind the allegation against the APC, since those being interrogated were being given the opportunity to clear their names. Specifically, Odigie-Oyegun asked: From whom did (Uche) Secondus collect the gift (of cars)? Was it from a corporate entity or from an individual? If a corporate entity decided to support a party or an individual that is corporate, that is private, that is totally subject to the individuals decisions, of course, to the limit in the constitution and what the Electoral Act provides. I think it is that straight forward. Look, I dont know how often we will repeat this, we have a major problem with corruption, it is what has crippled this nation and if you are cutting down a tree wherever its falls, so be it. When members of the Christian Pentecostal Assembly, CPA, woke up on Friday morning, it was with high expectations that the man they call His Holiness, Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, a.k.a Reverend King, would breathe the air of freedom after 10 years of incarceration. However, their hopes were quickly dashed as the Supreme Court yesterday upheld the death sentence passed on the CPA founder by the lower courts. Rev. King was sentenced to death by hanging on January 11, 2007 by a Lagos High Court for attempted murder and murder. The controversial cleric was found guilty of setting ablaze six members of his church on July 22, 2006. One of victims, Ann Uzoh, later died in a medical facility from the burns she sustained. On February 1, 2013 the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, affirmed the judgment of the High Court. In anticipation of favorable judgment, some female members of the church as early as 7AM were seen on the premises wearing green T-shirts with black skirts and green berets to match. Another group wore white T-shirts and white berets. They swept the floor, arranged the white plastic chairs in rows and generally tidied up the church, all in anticipation of holding a victory service. Despite the Supreme Court ruling, some of the members insisted that His Holiness cannot die as he wields too much power. Yet, others claim he was framed in the attempted murders and murder that resulted in his trial. One of them who spoke with The Nation said: His holiness cannot be killed even with the Supreme Court judgment. He said it long ago that no man is capable of touching a strand of hair on his head. The whole drama is a calculated plan by some people to bring his ministry down. It started in June 2006 when His holiness asked cult members, herbalists and other people with shady character in the church to either declare for God or leave the church. After making the statement, some people who believed they were highly connected came to him and told him that they would blackmail him and make sure the ministry was brought down. Thereafter, this frame-up came up. For you to know that the case was a frame-up, did they bring the dead bodies of the seven people that were allegedly killed to the court to serve as evidence? It was all a ruse. Those seven people in question are roaming about the street and we do see them here in Ajao Estate. It was only Ann that died and it was these seven people that killed her. It wasnt His holiness that killed her as alleged. She was going to put on the generator when they set fire on it. When she was eventually taken to the hospital, they went there and used pillow to choke her to death. That was how those people who vowed to deal with His holiness started carrying out their plans. But the truth is that they cannot kill him. Another member, who simply identified himself as Sunny, said though the judgment did not go their way, they remain confident that he would come out unscathed. His holiness cannot be killed. He is more than a mere human being and cannot be killed by any mortal. We were waiting with high expectations that the case would be struck out. We held a vigil yesterday and went ahead to clean the church premises waiting for his return. We didnt have to pray for the case to be struck out at the vigil because we were convinced that he would be released. The Supreme Court judgment cannot dampen our morale because we are convinced that he would not be killed. He is not a mere mortal like the rest of us. He will come back home at the appointed time and by then, the people behind this whole thing will bury their heads in shame. Another member of the church called Obi said: The judgment which is a human decision is not the final. A judgment that will supersede this one will come. We have total confidence in our leader and this is why we have not relented in our efforts to hold service. In spite of the judgment, we are going to have service on Sunday and celebrate him. For you to know how powerful he is, he has been providing solutions to numerous peoples problems right from the prison walls. He does this using online medium. Right there in the prison, the officials dont go close to him because of the enormity of the power he wields. If they cant go close to him in the prison, how would it be possible for them to kill him? It is impossible. I personally received divine healing through him before his arrest. I was having a terminal ailment and when he mounted the pulpit and pointed at my direction, the sickness vanished. This was in 2006 and till date the sickness has not come back. Nine persons, including a personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSDC), were reportedly killed while ten others sustained various degrees of injuries as the herdsmen attacked Ibi and Wukari local government areas of Taraba State, Thursday. This followed coordinated attacks earlier in Zando, Wusen and Gborucha villages of Wukari and Ibi town, the headquarters of Ibi local government area. The government, therefore, imposed a 24-hour curfew within Ibi local government headquarters. The chairman Youth Vision, Taraba State, Mr. Audu Kefas told Saturday Vanguard that farmers within these affected areas have deserted their villages for fear of further attacks. Kefas also disclosed that the Fulani militants who carried out the attacks on the villages in Ibi and Wukari areas have their camps in Gishsrin Hasan and Tunga villages at the border areas of Taraba, Nasarawa and Plateau states. The Police Public Relations Officer, Taraba state command, ASP Joseph Kwaji denied knowledge of the attack on Wukari villages, he, however, confirmed that of Ibi adding that a member of NSDC and four others were killed in Ibi attack. Ibi town is under attack but the police command have deployed enough men to calm the situation. A member of NSDC and four others were killed in Ibi attack, he stated. He further explained that the attackers always strike and run, describing them as unknown gunmen. As at press time no arrest had been made but Kwaji assured that the state command was doing everything possible to take control of the situation. Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to declare the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), wanted. Sagay made the call on Friday while reacting to the former ministers open letter to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN). In the said letter, which was widely circulated in the media last week Adoke, who has refused to honour an EFCC invitation since last December, justified his decision to shun the invitation on grounds that his political opponents were out to embarrass him in Nigeria. The former AGF, who claimed to be undergoing an academic programme in the Netherlands, was invited by the anti-graft agency for his alleged role in the controversial $2bn Malabu oil deal. Adoke, who said he had finished writing his exams, accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Sani Abacha family among others, of being behind the plot to persecute him. He also stressed that every step he took in the oil deal was in the overall interest of Nigeria as its Chief Law Officer at the time. But Sagay refused to be swayed by his learned colleague, saying by refusing to honour the EFCC invitation, Mr. Adoke was testing the collective will of Nigerians. The constitutional law expert said if Adoke was not guilty, he should return to Nigeria to clear his name rather than hide from his base abroad and be issuing statements. Sagay said, Anyone that is invited by the EFCC is duty-bound to make himself available. It is just like the police inviting you and the moment you dont honour the invitation, they will arrest you. So, it is a sign of respect to invite a person. In my view, if his hands are clean, why does he care if he will be embarrassed or not? You cannot be embarrassed if your hands are clean because whoever tries to embarrass you will be the one to be embarrassed when the truth is out. So, his response looks like a guilty one and he has stayed away from the country to avoid answering questions and so in my view, he has to be declared wanted, the International Police must go after him and wherever he is found, he should be extradited to Nigeria. The Nigerian Military has rescued 1,890 persons held captives by the Boko Haram Sect at various locations within the last two weeks as it works towards wiping out insurgency attacks in the Northeast by the terrorist group. Those rescued include 800 Nigerians that crossed to Cameroon and brought back to Banki town in Nigeria by troops of the 21 Brigade on Thursday. Troops of the 121 Task Force conducted joint patrols with Cameroonian forces at Mararraba, Angwan Fada, Dale and Wizha Bokko Timit, Bokko Nasanu and Bokko Hidde up to Ngoshe in which they rescued 17 women and 28 children. A statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, said troops of the 7 Division Garrison, in joint operations with 112 Battalion, Army Headquarters Support Group and Armed Forces Special Forces at Gajibo, Maula, Gamai, Gamare, Maiwa, Warsale, Tangli, Tushi, Sowa, Hasanari, Changuwa, Malamaja, and Marya in Dikwa and Mafa Local Government Areas rescued 350 people including 5 Cameroonian girls that were held hostage by the Boko Haram terrorists in those areas. Similarly, troops of the 7 Division Garrison in conjunction with troops of the 112 Task Force Battalion, and Armed Forces Special Forces on February 17, 2016, conducted clearance operations in Kwaptara, Mijigete, Garin Boka, Mosole, Ngubdori, Maasa, Dukje and Gulumba in Dikwa and Bama Local Government Areas in which they rescued 195 persons held hostage by Boko Haram terrorists. Other rescue operations were carried out and they yielded fruits. Governor Rochas Okorocha has accused the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, of fraudulently short-changing Imo State and her people, adding that he was shocked to learn that billions of naira had been sent on non-existent 272 projects in the state. A statement by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sam Onwuemeodo, said Okorocha stated this on Friday in Owerri when he received in his office, the acting NDDC Managing Director, Ibim Sememitari, who is on a two-day working visit to Imo. Onwuemeodo said Governor Okorocha expressed regrets that the NDDC, which was established in 2000 under the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, to serve member states, was turned into ATM for some Peoples Democratic Party parliamentarians and bigwigs from the state. The statement quoted Okorocha as telling the visiting MD, I am shocked to hear that the NDDC has over 272 Projects in the state for which billions of naira were also said to have been spent on. I would like to have the list of the projects, the contractors handling them and where they are sited, because Imo people would also be shocked to hear this. Let us know the projects, their sites and the amounts paid on each of them. He continued, The truth is that these projects could exist only on papers because the popular impression here is that the NDDC abandoned the state and her people, while releasing money meant for projects in the state to some PDP elements from the state in Abuja who shared the money with the contractors. The NDDC isolated the state government. At times these wicked people behind all these fraud would ensure that both NDDC and Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs would award different contracts on one particular project and at the end of the day the job wont be done. At times too, they would put NDDC sign board on state government project. So many funny things. Okorocha, who is Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Governors Forum, insisted that the NDDC should not be partisan. People from the NDDC states should be provided with services required, despite their political affliations, he said, adding that the state has not benefited or felt the impact of the interventionist agency because no visible project has been put on ground for years. The governor disclosed that at a point, due to frustration, he considered pulling Imo State out of the NDDC and demanding that the money meant for the state should be remitted to her directly. The NDDC has remained a nightmare to Imo people. With the new MD, the state can now partner NDDC with the hope that things would begin to work out fine. And in the Commissions budget, the management should look at the areas of power and rail lines linking the NDDC states. The Commission should not be constructing boreholes, renovation of schools and health centres. Let there be light at the NDDC now, he pleaded. Gov. Okorocha also described the NDDC as an abode of corruption before now, and expressed the confidence that the new MD has all it takes to correct the plunders of the past administration, requesting that contract papers given to contractors should be copied to the government henceforth, to enable the government monitor the project effectively. In her speech earlier, Mrs. Sememitari told Governor Okorocha that she was in the state to brief him on the activities of the Commission in the state, adding that Imo is the first state she would be making such visit, and said the Commission has executed 272 projects in the state since inception going by the record available to her. She said the Commission would partner the state government especially on the issue of identifying areas where the state is in dire need of certain projects to avoid duplications, commending the governor for his giant strides in the state. The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday revealed that it had commenced talks with the Presidency in a bid to secure the release of the founder of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in detention since October 14, 2015. The organization also said its leadership will hold talks with notable traditional rulers across the country for the same purpose. Mr. Kanu is presently standing trial on charges bordering on treason, brought against him by the federal government. Although Ohanaeze did not divulge details of its discussions and the Presidency officials it has been holding talks with for security reasons, it noted that those consulted assured its representatives that something positive would come out of the consultations very soon. The apex Igbo body told journalists in Abuja yesterday that discussions were already at advanced stage between its leaders and key personalities in the Presidency, adding that a political solution to the logjam is being explored to secure the release of Kanu. National President of the youth wing of the Ohaneze Youth Council, Mazi Okechukwu Iziguzoro, who addressed the press briefing, disclosed that notable traditional rulers, like the Sultan of Sokoto, Ooni of Ife, Emir of Kano and the Shehu of Borno, had been consulted on the issue. Iziguzoro noted that the Igbo leaders assured the Presidency and the royal fathers that they were prepared to prevail on Kanu to discontinue the operation of Radio Biafra if he is released. The Ohaneze Ndigbo, he said, decided to initiate the free Nnamdi Kanu campaign, as part of its peace in the Nigeria project. He noted that it is their conviction that dialogue, instead of protests, remained the best option to resolve contending issues. Iziguzoro added that the peace move initiated by the body yielded some fruits recently when the leadership of the Ohaneze Ndigbo addressed a joint news conference with the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum and demanded the unconditional release of Kanu, in the interest of peace and harmony. He said, For the past two months now, we have started to mediate with the Federal Government and other stakeholders in this country, with regards to what is happening to our zone. Ohaneze Ndigbo have also meet with the family of Nnamdi Kanu, his younger brother, Emma, his sisters and other members of the family and, we know their mindset. We are now convincing Kanu personally on the need to soften the stand of his movement. Before now, we had no access to him, but we can now have access to him through the Directorate of State Service and explain issues he needed to understand. If you are talking about Biafra, it is not only about one person. It is about the entire Igbo nation who have multi trillion dollars investment across the country. So everything has to be taken into consideration. The talks are still on and we met high profile personalities in government who would not want their names mentioned in the media without clearance. Two weeks ago, we were with the Sultan of Sokoto on the same issue. From there to the Shehu of Bornu, and then the Ooni of Ife. We as youth leaders of Ndigbo will be shirking in our responsibility and duty if we fail to state our position, opinion and suggestion on the way forward to this burning issue. In the first place we believe in a United Nigeria anchored on justice, equity and fairness. We believe that all problems and issues in Nigeria can be solved through dialogue and roundtable discussion. Isiguzoro expressed the hope that the peace initiative across the country by the apex Igbo group would go a long way to achieve the objective of freeing Kanu from detention. Nigerias Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) yesterday described as a waste of public funds, the construction of a new official residence for the nations number 2 man. The current official residence of the vice president, known as Aguda House, he said, is sufficient and up to taste. Fielding questions from participants at the Pastors and Leaders Retreat of the Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju, Lagos on Friday, Mr. Osinbajo said the N6 billion already spent on the project was a misapplication of fund but added that with the level of work on the residence, it would not be abandoned. There is no need for a new Vice Presidents house; it is a kind of waste; we are now in a situation where we cannot abandon it; it has to be completed and used for a different thing, he said. On the controversial State House Medical Centre, the vice president explained that it was a general hospital with a lot of facilities and serving all Nigerians, adding that he would prefer that it be equipped with all the medical facilities available to provide higher medical services to those in need. He also said the education sector lacked not only standards but adequacy of institutions which led to Nigerians sponsoring their children abroad for tertiary education. Mr. Osinbajo noted that while 1.8 million Nigerians sit for university entrance examination yearly, only about 300,000 are offered admission due to dearth of universities. He said the government was planning to convert many of the existing universities into centres of excellence and support the private sector in the running of universities to enable more Nigerians to have access to tertiary education. He further said infrastructure development was key in the administration which informed the allocation of 30 per cent of the 2016 appropriation to capital projects. Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, the leader of the Church, asked Christians to continue to pray for the administration as Nigeria had a great future. He said the present administration would lead the people to a more prosperous and secure nation. Osinbajo had earlier in the day preached at the burial service for his childhood friend, Bola Omotesho, at the Olive Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Banana Island, Lagos. He urged Nigerians to lead good lives to rest in peace as there was actually no peaceful rest for a bad soul in spite of the earthly prayers offered for the soul. The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung, has attributed the anti-social behaviours among many Nigerian youths to the negligence and failure of past administrations to evolve effective youth policy geared towards empowerment, progressive mentoring and encouragement. According to him, the development is leading many otherwise promising youths to a state of despair, often making many to commit various kinds of atrocities. Nigeria as a nation today is boiling. Those in the streets singing discordant tunes are largely those who felt that their generation has been short-changed and as they stare, they see their future pack up and they feel they have no hope, Dalung said while receiving a six-man delegation of concerned Nigerians, under the umbrella of the United Nigerian Initiating for Peace (UNIPEACE) to his office yesterday. The minister, however, said a united Nigeria offers the greatest prospect for the wellbeing of the country and its people, saying anybody that is well travelled would appreciate that every part of the country today is grappling with many challenges. He appealed for patience to enable the government develop the country to a level that would be the pride of all. He promised to carry the message of the group to the appropriate quarters and urged them not to relent in their efforts at finding solutions to the problem at hand, assuring that posterity would score them high. Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has described the call by the Nigerian Medical Association on President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress to intervene in the stand-off between striking doctors and the state government, as misplaced. In a statement on Friday, the governor said NMA should have made the call to its members in Osun, who he said had abandoned their duty posts for about 11 months now, rather than urging the president to pressure him to accede to the demands of the striking doctors. Gov. Aregbesola noted that the striking doctors created the problem initially by going against the accepted modulated salary regulation applying to over 40, 000 workforce of the state. He said following that position, the doctors should also be the ones to extricate themselves from the logjam. The governor said his administration had exhausted all avenues to solve the problems through dialogues and negotiations, adding that all moves to resolve the problem amicably were spurned by the doctors, who were being paid their monthly salaries without working up until September 2015. The appeal to President Buhari and APC is, to all intents and purposes, misplaced, misdirected and improper in that respect, Mr. Aregbesola said. One would have expected the NMA to properly address the situation by forwarding its appeal to the respected quarters it should go the Osun striking doctors. Since the beginning of the strike nine months ago, government has opened its door for consultations, dialogues and meetings to resolve the matter but all these were frustrated by the doctor, who were still drawing their salaries despite having abandoned their duty. The governor stated that the NMA should remind their colleagues of the need to uphold the Hippocratic oaths they swore to, which in essence is to protect lives and not endanger it. Whenever the striking doctors tow the path of dignity, sincerity and understanding like other workers in the state, the government is ready to cooperate with them, he added. The Supreme Court on Friday said that Okezie Ikpeazu was returned as governor of Abia because Alex Otti failed to prove the allegations brought against his victory in the April 11, 2015 governorship election. Messrs. Ikpeazu and Otti contested the election on the platforms of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) respectively. Giving reasons for its Feb. 3 judgement, Justice Suleiman Galadima held that Mr. Otti and the APC were unable to prove the allegation of over voting, violence and corrupt practices allegedly perpetrated by the respondents. On the issue of over voting, the court holds that there was no sufficient proof as the voter register and the card reader report were not tendered. The criminal allegation of corrupt malpractices carried out by PDP loyalists for the benefit of the governor was not also proved, he held. On the cancellation of the election results in Obingwa, Osisioma Ngwa and Isiala Ngwa by the returning officers, Galadima held that it was wrong. That action amounted to the disenfranchisement of voters. It was also inappropriate for the tribunal to order the cancellation of election. All of this misappropriation only gave room for the unlawful declaration of the APGA candidate by the lower court. Those actions were perversion of justice and the apex court could not have allowed them, he said. Mr. Galadima held that the evidence placed before the court showed clearly that the tribunal usurped the constitutional duties of INEC. On the card reader, the court maintains its earlier position that the tribunal cannot supplant the voter register. The gadget is only meant to authenticate bearers of voter card and not meant to usurp the statutory power of the voter register. At the moment, the voter register remains the only authentic document as provided by Section 49 of the Electoral Act to prove allegation of fraud in elections, Galadima declared. (NAN) The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, has placed State Commissioners of Police on red alert following the blast that occurred at a Police Divisional Headquarters in Yola, the Adamawa State capital. Bombs retrieved from Boko Haram were said to have exploded accidentally at the Police Anti-bomb Squad Office in Jimeta, Yola. The blast left four policemen dead with scores of others injured and currently receiving treatment in the hospital. Mr. Arase, who commiserated with families of the victims, directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Department of Operations, DIG Sontoye Wakama, to visit the scene of the blast. A statement issued in Abuja on Friday by the Force Spokesperson, Olabisi Kolawole, said DIG Wakama is expected to condole with the families of the deceased and to ensure that those that sustained injuries from the explosion receive prompt medical attention. According to the statement; The Nigeria Police Force High Command has directed adequate security surveillance on places where Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) recovered and kept to ensure such incident does not occur in anywhere across the country. The IGP has also directed all Commands Commissioners of Police to deploy Anti-Bomb Squad personnel of their respective State Commands to inspect all explosive elements kept in their armories to ensure they are safe, to forestall re-occurrence of the unfortunate incident. Kolawole, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, quoted the police boss as calling for calm and urging members of the public to go about their normal businesses without fear as all hands are on deck to ensure their safety at all times. Bridge Self-Storage and Art Spaces is partnering with nonprofit BridgeMakerARTS to offer a new art center in Richmond, Calif. An opening reception will be held at the storage property at 23 Maine Ave. on Saturday, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. It will feature the exhibition Salt, which includes four artists who used salt as a subject matter or medium. Bridge Self-Storage is owned by father-and-son team Jim and Jeff Wright, who transformed 25 of their storage units into studios for art, fabrication and music four years ago. Ranging from 100 to 2,000 square feet, the studios offer amenities including electricity, French doors, sinks, skylights and wood flooring. Artists can also rent the sites moving truck and have access to a kitchen, laundromat, lounge and restrooms. The property includes outdoor fabrication space and a gallery where artists and musicians can display their talent or host events. The Wrights collected donations last fall to help launch the new art center, which will host exhibitions and art talks as well as aid in local art enrichment, according to the source. Open to the public Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., BridgeMakerARTS has attracted international and local artists. Were located in this remote area thats kind of in between the bustling Richmond and Point Richmond; its a cool place, according to Barbosa Prince, an artist and head of curatorial for BridgeMakerARTS. One thing is were bringing a bit of revitalization to the area. Weve been reaching out to the community, trying to get people interested in what were doing. Bridge Self-Storage also offers climate-controlled storage and shaded vehicle parking. The facility was highlighted in 2014 as part of a seminar titled Self-Storage to Workspace: Creating a Mixed-Use Facility for Higher Revenue, presented by Jeff Wright and general manager Daryl Henline at the Inside Self-Storage World Expo, an annual conference and tradeshow for self-storage industry professionals. Copies of the presentation are available in on-demand and DVD format through the Inside Self-Storage Store. Investment Real Estate LLC (IREM), a property-management and consulting firm specializing in the self-storage industry, has hired a new project manager for its development and construction division, Investment Real Estate Construction LLC. Will Lockard will be responsible for managing all of the companys construction projects, including the Moove In Self Storage portfolio of 15 facilities in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Lockards main duties will include capital-improvement projects and aesthetics for the IREM portfolio. Hell lead the site improvements, gather quotes, and build relationships with vendors and subcontractors. Lockard has more than three years of experience in the self-storage industry, having worked as a facility manager. He studied business and engineering at West Virginia University while maintaining honors status, according to a company press release. After working in the management side of self-storage, Im looking forward to helping improve and maintain the current IRE properties on a larger scale to ensure our customers have the best experience possible, Lockard said. Im excited to be working directly with members of IRE, many of whom Ive known on a personal basis for years, as well as making new relationships with our managers, vendors and subcontractors to keep IRE properties in top condition. York, Pa.-based IRE provides brokerage, construction, development and management services to self-storage owners and investors. Its construction arm was founded in 2000 and has built more than 2 million square feet of self-storage space in eight states. The Federal Government is backing away from comments that low-income earners should be able to opt-out of compulsory super.According to The Australian , a spokesman for Treasurer Scott Morrison said the government is not considering a move to allow mothers, part-time workers and casual workers earning less than $37,000 a year to opt-out of paying into superannuation accounts.The statement comes following comments from Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who said workers on low incomes would be better off in the long-term if they used the money allocated to super to invest in an asset such as a house.The Federal Opposition and unions jumped on Joyce's comments, with Opposition spokesman for superannuation Jim Chalmers accusing the government of trying to "wreck super", The Australian said. The world economy may seem like a mess right now but that doesnt necessarily mean the United States is headed for a recession, according to an internationally recognized Texas-based economist. While the dive in the stock market has a lot of people worried, the U.S. economy is in a pretty good place right now over all, said Dr. Ray Perryman, president and CEO of The Perryman Group, an economic research and analysis firm based in Waco, Texas. Speaking at the Joe Vincent Management Seminar hosted by the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas in Austin in January, Perryman said, if you look at our economy, last year we gained almost as many jobs as we did in 2014. Those two years combined were the best job growth weve had since the 90s, which was a very good time for the economy. The year ended with the housing market stronger than it has been since back before the housing crisis and economic crash of 2008. The recovery has been going on for almost 70 months and is the second longest peacetime recovery the U.S. has experienced. The economy has a lot of momentum behind it right now. Now, were not in for spectacular growth, but good, solid, 2.5, 3 percent growth. We should continue to see that for several years, Perryman said. Recoveries dont die of old age. Recoveries dont die of old age, he said. Whats going to cause a recession one of two things: a big impact from the outside, like 9/11 or the oil import embargo back in 1973. Or we do something really stupid. Sometimes it is the combination of the two. He added that while some stupid stuff is happening with economic policy right now, he doesnt see anything the country is doing that would cause a recession. As to the global economy, Perryman said the biggest challenge right now is China, which is trying to restructure its currency. China has enjoyed phenomenal growth over the past 30 years, rapidly moving from an agrarian society to an industrial one. It has grown at a compounded rate of 10 percent over the past three decades but the problem now is that the rate of growth has slowed to about 6 percent annually, he said. Most of Chinas growth has come when they act like capitalists. One of the ways theyve grown is in enterprise zones where theyve allowed capitalism theyve been pretty good capitalists in a lot of ways, Perryman said. While their economy has slowed, it will continue to expand. Theres too much momentum. Theyre going to continue to grow but not nearly as rapidly as they did, he said. So now theyre trying to restructure their currency and that will work for a while. But something very important happens in October 2016, Perryman said. At that time, Chinas currency becomes part of the accepted world trade currency as approved by the International Monetary Fund. What that means is, they cant mess with it anymore. The currencies that makes up that list are dollars, yens, pounds and euros. A pretty solid list of folks that have had pretty stable currencies for a long time. Basically what that means is they have to start behaving. Its going to bring them into the world economy, give them less autonomy than they had before. Theyre going to have to deal with some of these issues in a sensible way, Perryman said. Texas Then and Now Between 1973 to 1981 the world experienced what is known as the energy crisis. But in Texas we called it the oil boom. . Because between 1973 and 1981, the price of oil went from about $3 a barrel to $36, $37 a barrel. Theres a basic rule of economics if youre selling something and the price increases 1,200 percent and people are still buying it, thats good, Perryman said. Much has been said about the current Texas miracle and the states ability to create and retain jobs during the recent recession. However, theres no comparison to what happened from 1978 to 1981. During that four-year span Texas gained 800,000 jobs. Over the same four years the other 49 states lost a million jobs. Texas almost made it all up, Perryman said. Topics USA Texas China Varata la Manovra del Governo per il 2017. E una Manovra che lievita a 27 miliardi (rispetto ai 24,5 iniziali), che non tocca il fondo sanitario e che guarda al merito e allequita. Una necessita per lItalia che non ha sapore pre-elettorale, sottolinea Matteo Renzi illustrando le misure che saranno finanziate nei prossimi anni, proseguendo nel solco tracciato fin dal 2013, ovvero il taglio delle tasse. Il Premier lancia, inoltre, la sua scommessa per la crescita, cosa che potrebbe avvenire (secondo il Primo Ministro) grazie al rilancio degli investimenti e spinta alla competitivita, elementi che consentiranno di vedere il Pil anche oltre l1% indicato fino a qui, grazie anche ai margini di deficit che, per lanno prossimo, e fissato al 2,3%, tre decimali (circa 5 miliardi) sopra quello programmato nellaggiornamento del Def. I due selfie dellItalia LItalia non va ancora bene ma dopo due anni e mezzo va un po meglio di prima, non siamo contenti, abbiamo fame di risultati positivi ma Italia va meglio. Passo dopo passo. Cosi Matteo Renzi illustrando, con delle slides, la legge di bilancio. Oltre alla Manovra, abbiamo approvato un disegno di legge che interviene sui fondi 2016, il famoso fondo della presidenza e interviene sullobiettivo del governo di chiudere la parentesi di Equitalia aprendo un capitolo nuovo. La filosofia della stabilita 2017 e merito e bisogno prosegue Renzi -, tenere insieme competitivita ed equita, dare una chance a chi ci prova e una mano a chi non ce la fa. La Manovra e fatta di 6 capitoli, il piu importante e la competitivita, sulla quale ci sono 20 miliardi in piu anni. Toccata anche la questione migranti: Limpegno finanziario per laccoglienza migranti vale lo 0,2% e sara fuori dal Patto, ha spiegato Renzi, annunciando un un riconoscimento ai sindaci che finora hanno accolto i rifugiati. Lo sforzo sara riconosciuto attraverso un bonus da 500 euro per persona ospitata. Canone Rai e Equitalia Tra le novita, anche il canone Rai: lanno prossimo scendera (a 90 euro). La vecchia agenzia di riscossione sara chiusa portando peraltro in dote circa 4 miliardi per la rottamazione del meccanismo che moltiplica gli interessi di mora sulle vecchie cartelle. Laddio a Equitalia arrivera, pero, con un decreto a parte, ancora in via di limatura. Nessun condono pero, assicura il Presidente del Consiglio, nemmeno per la seconda edizione della voluntary disclosure, che dovra fruttare almeno altri 2 miliardi. Chi deve pagare paga, sottolinea, solo ci saranno meno sanzioni e interessi. Salva anche la sanita, che porta a casa per il prossimo anno per intero laumento di due miliardi previsto. Un miliardo, ha spiegato il ministro Lorenzin, servira per il piano vaccini, per lepatite C e i farmaci oncologici, e per le stabilizzazioni di 7 mila precari tra medici e infermieri. Dopo molti anni, ha sottolineato il ministro, la qualita delle prestazioni torna al centro. Non solo. Sale anche la dote per le pensioni che passa da 6 miliardi in 3 anni a 7 miliardi mentre non sono giudicate sufficienti dai sindacati le risorse annunciate per il rinnovo dei contratti della pubblica amministrazione (1,9 miliardi, comprese polizia e forze armate e le nuove assunzioni). La Manovra e stata approvata nel Consiglio dei Ministri salvo intese, formula che implica un rinvio dei testi definitivi al momento della trasmissione ufficiale al Parlamento, prevista entro il 20 settembre. Prima di giovedi, quasi lunedi 17, a Bruxelles sara invece inviato il Documento programmatico di bilancio, su cui la Commissione fara le sue valutazioni. Franceschini: Sale il bilancio cultura-turismo In continuita con lintervento dello scorso anno anche questa manovra di bilancio contiene misure straordinarie e di grande portata per la cultura e il turismo. Commenta cosi il ministro dei Beni Culturali, Dario Franceschini, la manovra, sottolineando che anche per il 2017 il bilancio del Mibact e in aumento. E una grande giornata per gli albergatori e per tutto il mondo del turismo. Ci fa molto piacere vedere dopo tanti anni la parola alberghi, finalmente, in una legge di stabilita. Il presidente di Federalberghi, e senatore, Bernabo Bocca, non nasconde la sua grande soddisfazione annunciando 3 miliardi per il bonus ristrutturazione, non solo per i condomini ma anche per gli alberghi. LApe social dei lavoratori infine, la cosiddetta Ape social, rivolta a lavoratori che abbiano almeno 30 anni di contributi se disoccupati, invalidi o con di parenti 1 grado con disabilita grave oppure per chi avra raggiunto i 36 anni di contributi facendo dei lavori cosiddetti pesanti', consentira di andare in pensione fino a tre anni prima senza nessun onere fino a 1.500 euro lordi di pensione. Confermati, inoltre, laumento della no tax area e il cumulo gratuito di piu forme di contribuzione. Macys Inc. (M) is one of the most recognizable retail chains in the United States, operating Macy's and Bloomingdale's department stores as well as Macys Backstage, Bloomingdales, Bloomingdales Outlet, and Bluemercury franchises. In total, the company has 725 stores in operation, according to its annual report. Macy's, the largest retail brand, accounts for approximately 510 stores. In its 2022 annual filing, the company reported FY sales of $24.46 billion and 88,857 full-time and part-time employees, as of Jan. 29, 2022. In an effort to place the company in a long-term position for profitable growth, in Feb. 2020, Macy's decided to close 125 stores by 2021 and redirect focus on their digital channels, off-mall presence, and modernize logistics and infrastructures. But in Nov. 2021, the company announced a shift in plans and halted the remaining store closings scheduled except for the six store closings announced in Q4 2021, which are expected to close in Q1 2022. Taking its store portfolio into more consideration, the company is focused on strengthening its omni-channel ecosystem. Key Takeaways Macy's has two types of credit cards: a regular Macy's card and a Macy's American Express Card. All Macy's/Macy's AmEx card purchases enroll cardholders in the retailer's three-tier Star Rewards loyalty program, whose perks include discounts on purchases, free shipping, and rewards refunds. You can earn points in Macy's loyalty program without having a Macy's credit card. Macys Credit Cards Macys offers its customers two options with credit cards: Macys credit card and Macys American Express card. The Macys credit card can only be used at any Macys or Macys Backstage store, or online; it cannot be used at any Bloomingdales. The Macys American Express card can be used anywhere that American Express is accepted. Customers can apply for the Macys credit card online or in-person at a store, and should expect to give the personal information usually given when applying for a credit card. Macys Card Rewards and Benefits Macys revamped its Star Rewards member loyalty program in 2017, offering three different levels (silver, gold, and platinum) of benefits for its cardholders, based on how much they spend on an annual basis. Macy's Star Rewards customers accounted for about 66% of sales during Q4 2021 and up 8% compared to Q4 2019 pre-pandemic figures. All new accounts save 20% off their first purchase. The Star Rewards program is a point system, when customers earn 1,000 points, they receive a $10 rewards certificate. The three levels are: Silver: Customers who spend up to $499 yearly members earn 2% back, birthday surprise, and special star passes for shopping events as well as other benefits. Customers who spend up to $499 yearly members earn 2% back, birthday surprise, and special star passes for shopping events as well as other benefits. Gold: This tier is for customers who spend between $500 to $1,199 annually. The perks for that size expenditure include earning 3% back plus free shipping on any purchase (no minimum requirement) as well as silver perks. This tier is for customers who spend between $500 to $1,199 annually. The perks for that size expenditure include earning 3% back plus free shipping on any purchase (no minimum requirement) as well as silver perks. Platinum: This is the highest tier possible and is only available for customers who spend $1,200 or more each year at Macy's stores. These customers receive all the perks offered on the other tiers, and they also earn 5% back in rewards on every purchase. All new accounts are opened in the silver tier. When you spend enough to get into the next tier, you're automatically be upgraded after seven days, assuming you do not return the qualifying purchases within that timeframe. Once you are upgraded, you will maintain that status (unless you advance to a higher status) for the remainder of the current year and the next full calendar year. Other Macy's Cards and Perks Macys American Express card qualifies the user for the silver, gold, and platinum tiers when used in Macy's, but it offers even more benefits. When used outside of Macy's, it follows the 3-2-1 rule: The card offers its members 3% back in rewards when you spend at restaurants or for food delivery, 2% back in rewards for shopping at grocery stores and gas stations, and 1% rewards for any other purchases. Interestingly, in 2018, Macy's also launched a tender-neutral option, which added more than three million new members to the loyalty program in Q4 2021. This option means customers can participate in the loyalty program without a Macys credit card and regardless of how they pay. They qualify for what Macy's calls the Bronze tier and earn 1% back, receive member exclusive perks and get a birthday surprise every year like higher-tiered cardmembers. There are no spending qualifications to stay in the Bronze tier, but you can't upgrade to Silver without opening a Macy's account. Applying for the Macy's Credit Card You apply for both the Macy's card and the Amex version at the same, and then pick which one you'd like. Upon a credit inquiry and approval, applicants of both credit cards are also entitled to save 20% on purchases for the same day and the next, up to a total of $100. Both the Macys Credit Card and Macys American Express card have a variable APR of 28.99%, and late or return payment penalty fees of up to $41, as of 2022. The Bottom Line Many retailers offer both their proprietary and co-branded cards. But Macy's seems to be in particular competition with its own card, offering the same rewards with its American Express partnership on one hand, and some rewards for not having a card at all on the other. The best applicants for the Macy's credit card are frequent shoppers of Macys stores who already have an AmEx card, or who don't want one. Since the minimum level to receive the rewards is $1, any regular shopper would benefit from the card. Shoppers looking to have a more versatile piece of plastic should consider using the Macys American Express card instead. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Oil generates revenue for countries with enough oil reserves to produce more oil than they consume. And for those economies that are heavily dependent on imports, oil expenditures must be factored into national budgets. Not surprisingly, events such as unrest in oil-producing regions, new oil field discoveries, and advances in extraction technology profoundly affect the oil industry. Most of the time, the top oil-producing countries in the world rake in a lot of profit on their production. Global production of oil and other petroleum liquids averaged 95.6 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2021, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). In 2021, the top producing country group was OPEC (31.7 million b/d) followed by OECD (31.0 million b/d). The top three producing countries identified by the EIA in 2021 were the United States (18.9 million b/d), Saudi Arabia (10.8 million b/d), and Russia (10.8 million b/d). Key Takeaways Despite continuing growth in renewable energy, oil production continues to play a key role in the global economy. The top three producing nations (identified by the EIA) in 2021 were the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Russia. The United States became the world's top petroleum liquids producer in 2013 and the world's top crude producer in 2018. China's production meets just over a third of its oil consumption. leaving it the world's largest petroleum importer. United States The United States is the top petroleum liquids producer in the world, averaging 18.9 million b/d to account for 20% of the worlds production in 2021. It's also the top producer of crude oil and lease condensate at 11.2 million b/d as of 2021. In addition to crude oil and condensate, the broader category of petroleum liquids also includes natural gas plant liquids as well as biofuels. While the U.S. has been the world's top petroleum liquids producer since 2013 thanks to surging natural gas liquids production from shale deposits, it didn't surpass Russia and Saudi Arabia in crude oil production until 2018. Much of the increased U.S. crude oil production is attributable to hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in the shale formations in Texas and North Dakota. Natural gas liquids production received an even larger boost from the development of the Marcellus Shale deposits in western Pennsylvania. The United States became a net exporter of petroleum (i.e., exports exceeded imports) for the first time since at least 1949 in 2020 but is expected to return to net importer status in 2022. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia contributed 10.8 million b/d, representing 11% of the worlds total petroleum liquids production in 2021. It held 15% of the world's proved oil reserves and was the largest crude exporter in 2020. Saudi Arabia is the only member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to make this list. According to the CIA World Factbook, the petroleum sector accounts for roughly 42% of the countrys gross domestic product (GDP), 87% of its budget revenues, and 90% of export earnings. Saudi Arabias major oil fields include Ghawar, Safaniya, Khurais, Manifa, Shaybah, Qatif, Khursaniyah, Zuluf, and Abqaiq. Global crude (includes lease and plant condensate) oil production is expected to rise from 76.1 million b/d in 2020 to 99.3 million b/d in 2050. Total petroleum liquids production is seen rising from 94 million b/d to 125.9 million b/d over the same time frame. Russia Russia was one of the worlds top oil producers with an average of 10.8 million b/d in 2021, accounting for 11% of global production. Russias main regions of oil production are Western Siberia, Urals-Volga, Eastern Siberia, and the Far East. Most of the production originates from the West Siberia and Volga-Urals regions, especially the Priobskoye and Samotlorskoye fields in Western Siberia. The oil industry in Russia was privatized after the fall of the Soviet Union, but the state has since forced a consolidation and a restructure in 2001. Gazprom, Rosneft, and Lukoil are the top Russian oil and gas producers. Canada Canada held the fourth spot among the worlds petroleum liquids producers with 5.5 million b/d in 2021, accounting for 6% of global output. The EIA estimates its crude oil and condensate production of 4.2 million b/d in 2020 could grow to 6.9 million b/d by 2050, primarily from oil sands production. Canadas main sources of oil production are the oil sands of Alberta, the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, and Atlantic offshore fields. China China produced 5.0 million b/d of petroleum liquids in 2021, accounting for 5% of the worlds production. China passed the U.S. to became the world's largest oil importer in 2017. China's oil consumption of 14.0 million b/d in 2019 made it the world's second-largest consumer in the world after the U.S. The northeast and north-central regions of the country are responsible for the majority of domestic production. Mature fields like Daqing have been heavily drilled for oil since the 1960s, and companies are increasingly investing in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques, such as polymer and stream flooding and water injection, to offset some of the production declines. You're looking at investing in new stocks or adjusting your portfolio to keep up with the trends in the market. But there are so many different factors to consider. So how do you do it? There are a number of ways you can analyze companies and their stocks. One way to do so is through an analysis using Porter's Five Forces Model, a methodology that looks at external factors within a specific industry. Keep reading to see how these five forces apply to JPMorgan Chase, one of the world's leading financial institutions. Key Takeaways Competition from within the financial industry is probably the strongest of Porter's Five Forces when analyzing JPMorgan Chase. Large groups of retail clients, major corporate clients, and high-net-worth individuals can have a big impact on JPMorgan's bottom line. The threat of substitute productspayment services and peer-to-peer lendingcontinues to threaten the financial industry. The bargaining power of suppliers and the threat of new entrants have minimal impact on the likes of JPMorgan. Porter's Five Forces Model Developed by Harvard Business School professor Michael Porter, the Five Forces Model is a business analysis tool that examines the relative strength of five primary market dynamics that govern competition within virtually any industry. Porter's analysis considers the competition level among the leading companies in an industry, then considers four other factors that affect the industry and the success of companies within that industry: The bargaining power of suppliers The bargaining power of consumers or clients The threat of new entrants into the industry The threat posed by substitute products JPMorgan Chase: An Overview JPMorgan Chase (JPM) is a major global bank holding and financial services company. It is a universal banking company that provides commercial, retail, and investment banking services. It is one of the four principal money center banks in the United States, along with Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Citigroup. With more than $2.3 trillion in assets, JPMorgan is one of the 10 largest banks worldwide. The company, as we know it today, is the result of a series of mergers of a group of major U.S. banks. It is one of the four major banks in the United States, along with Citibank, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo. JPMorgan operates as a bank holding company with a number of subsidiaries engaged in the company's four main areas of financial enterprise: Retail banking Commercial banking Corporate and investment banking Asset management In addition to regular retail, commercial, and investment banking services, JPMorgan offers Treasury services, letters of credit for domestic or international payments, foreign exchange, fund administration, and private banking services. JPMorgan had a market capitalization of $261.7 billion as of May 15, 2020. The company reported consolidated net income of $36.4 billion for the 2019 fiscal year. An analysis of JPMorgan Chase using Porter's Five Forces reveals that the company must concentrate on the competition from industry rivals, the bargaining power of consumers, and the threat of substitute products. The bargaining power of suppliers is a lesser force, while the threat of new entrants to the industry is considered minimal. Competition From Industry Rivals Competition within the financial industry is probably the strongest of Porter's model when analyzing JPMorgan Chase. The company not only faces intense competition from the other three major money-center banks in the United States, but there's also a threat from international banks like HSBC and Barclays. JPMorgan faces stiff competition from domestic rivals as well as major international banks on a global scale. The relatively low switching costs from one bank to another intensifies the importance of competition from within the industry, especially in the retail and commercial banking spheres. It doesn't cost muchin most cases, nothing at allto close an account at one bank and open a new account at another one. And to sweeten the pot, major banks extend offers to draw customers away from their rivals. JPMorgan is no exception. New customers can earn as much as $600 when they open a checking and savings account as long as they meet certain eligibility requirements. Overall, JPMorgan deals with industry competition in three main ways: By distinguishing itself in the marketplace primarily on the basis of its history and experience By staying on the cutting edge of offering customer convenience and low-cost and cutting-edge services By acquiring smaller banks, thereby removing some potential competition from the marketplace The Bargaining Power of Consumers The banking industry relies heavily on the bargaining power of consumers. Some have more power than others. For instance, individual consumers, especially those in the retail banking marketplace, have relatively little bargaining power. That's because the loss of a single account basically has minimal to no impact on the company's bottom line. Consider what effect Mr. Jones has on the bank when he decides to close his account. On the whole, the loss of his account won't bother the bank too much. But the bargaining power of large groups of customers is greater because the bank cannot afford to suffer mass defections of depositors. Corporate clients and high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) also have greater bargaining power since the loss of sizable accounts and sources of revenue can more substantially affect the bank's profitability. JPMorgan addresses the issue of customer bargaining power primarily by extending attractive sign-up offers to new clients. It also makes efforts to get existing clients to open additional accounts and sign up for additional services, which effectively increases the switching cost for consumers by making it more troublesome for them to transfer their finances to another bank. The Threat of Substitute Products The threat of substitute products has increased in the banking industry, as companies outside the industry have begun to offer specialized financial services that were traditionally only available from banks. PayPal and Apple Pay, prepaid debit cards, and online peer-to-peer lenders (P2P) such as Prosper.com or LendingClub.com offer a multitude of options that cost JPMorganand other major banksa considerable amount of revenue. So how does JPMorgan keep up? The bank has initiatives that include a division that focuses on small business lending. It also established Chase Pay, its own digital wallet service. The Bargaining Power of Suppliers There are two main suppliers for a bank. The first group comprises of depositors who supply the primary resource of capital, while the second is its employees, also known as the resource of labor. The threat from individual depositors is minimal, just the way it is with the bargaining power of consumers. Major corporate customers, HNWIs, and large groups of depositors, though, tend to be a big threat. JPMorgan's approach to dealing with this force is to try to attract new clients and to increase the extent to which existing depositors hold funds and access the bank's services. When it comes to the bargaining power of suppliers of labor, individual employees have little bargaining power unless they're major executive employees. JPMorgan must address its overall bargaining power by offering an attractive salary and benefits package to retain the best employees. The Threat of New Entrants to the Industry The threat of new entrants from within the financial industry is relatively small. It isn't easy for a new bank to enter the market and try to compete on the same level as JPMorgan. In fact, a new competitor would face a number of significant obstacles, notably the massive amount of capital required, the length of time needed to establish a significant brand identity, and the cumbersome government regulations that apply to the operation of banks. While brand new entrants may not be much of a threat, JPMorgan does have to brace for some competition from already established banks in other countries. For instance, the company must keep an eye out for major banks in developing economies such as China that will eventually compete on an international scale. What Is a Target-Date Fund? Target-date funds are structured to maximize the investor's returns by a specific date. Generally, the funds are designed to build gains in the early years by focusing on riskier growth stocks, then they aim to retain those gains by weighting towards safer, more conservative choices as the target date approaches. Target-date mutual funds are often selected by investors saving towards retirement but are also used by people working towards a future big expense such as a child's college tuition. Key Takeaways A target-date fund is a class of mutual funds or ETFs that periodically rebalances asset class weights to optimize risk and returns for a predetermined time frame. The asset allocation of a target-date fund is typically designed to gradually shift to a more conservative profile so as to minimize risk when the target date approaches. The appeal of target-date funds is that they offer investors the convenience of putting their investing activities on autopilot in one vehicle. Target-date funds usually mature in 5-year intervals, such as 2035, 2040, and 2045. While relatively more expensive than other types of mutual fund, expense ratios on target-date funds have come down significantly in recent years. 1:23 Who Actually Benefits From Target-Date Funds? How a Target-Date Fund Works Target date funds use a traditional portfolio management methodology to target asset allocation over the term of the fund to meet the investment return objective. Named by the year in which the investor plans to begin utilizing the assets, target-date funds are considered to be extremely long-term investments. For example, in July 2017, Vanguard launched its Target Retirement 2065 products. Given that the funds have a targeted utilization date of 2065 that gives them a time horizon of 48 years. A fund's portfolio managers use this predetermined time horizon to fashion their investment strategy, generally based on traditional asset allocation models. The fund managers also use the target date to determine the degree of risk the fund is willing to undertake. Target-date portfolio managers typically readjust portfolio risk levels annually. Special Considerations Following the initial launch, a target-date fund has a high tolerance for risk and therefore is more heavily weighted toward high-performing but speculative assets. At the annual adjustment, portfolio managers will reset the allocation of investment categories. A target-date funds portfolio mix of assets and degree of risk become more conservative as it approaches its objective target date. Higher-risk portfolio investments typically include domestic and global equities. Lower risk portions of a target-date portfolio typically include fixed-income investments such as bonds and cash equivalents. Most fund marketing materials show the allocation glide paththat is, the shift of assetsacross the entire investment time horizon. The funds structure their glide rate to achieve the most conservative allocation right at the specified target date. Some target-date funds, known as (To funds) will also manage funds to a specified asset allocation past the target date. In the years beyond the target date, allocations are more heavily weighted toward low-risk, fixed-income investments. Some target-date funds, known as through funds, will also manage funds to a specified asset allocation past the target date. This is in contrast to other target-date funds, known as "to funds," which will cease any modifications to asset allocation once the target date is reached. Today, target-date funds are only offered as mutual funds. There are no equivalent ETFs listed at the moment. Advantages and Disadvantages of Target-Date Funds Advantages Target-date funds are popular with 401(k) plan investors. Instead of having to choose several investments to create a portfolio that will help them reach their retirement goals, investors choose a single target-date fund to match their time horizon. For example, a younger worker hoping to retire in 2065 would choose a target-date 2065 fund, while an older worker hoping to retire in 2025 would choose a target-date 2025 fund. These funds mitigate the need for other assets. Some financial professionals advise that if you invest in one, it should be the only investment in your plan. This one-and-done approach is because additional investments could skew your overall portfolio allocation. However, after you've picked a fund, you have the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it investment. Disadvantages Of course, the autopilot nature of target-date funds can cut both ways. The predetermined shifting of the portfolio assets may not suit an individual's changing goals and needs. People grow and change, and so do their needs. What if you have to retire substantially earlier than the target dateor decide you want to keep working longer? Also, there is no guarantee that the fund's earnings will keep up with inflation. In fact, there are no guarantees that the fund will generate a certain amount of income or gains at all. A target-date fund is an investment, not an annuity. As with all investments, these funds are subject to risk and underperformance. Furthermore, as investments go, target-date funds can be expensive. They are technically a fund of funds (FoF)a fund that invests in other mutual funds or exchange-traded fundswhich means you have to pay the expense ratios of those underlying assets, as well as the fees of the target-date fund. Of course, an increasing number of funds are no-load, and overall, fee rates have been decreasing. Still, it is something to watch out for, especially if your fund invests in a lot of passively managed vehicles. Why pay double fees on index funds, when you could buy and hold them on your own? Also, it's worth bearing in mind that similarly named target-date funds are not the sameor, more specifically, their assets are not the same. Yes, all 2045 target-date funds will be heavily weighted toward equities, but some might opt for domestic stocks, while others look to international stocks. Some might go for investment-grade bonds, and others choose high-yield, lower-grade debt instruments. Make sure the fund's portfolio of assets fits your comfort level and own appetite for risk. Pros The ultimate autopilot way to invest All-in-one vehicleno need for other assets A diversified portfolio Cons Higher expenses than other passive investments Income not guaranteed Possibly insufficient inflation hedge Little room for changing investor goals, needs Example of Target-Date Funds Vanguard is one investment manager offering a comprehensive series of target-date funds. Below we compare the characteristics of the Vanguard 2065 (VLXVX) fund to the characteristics of the Vanguard 2025 fund (VTTVX). The Vanguard Target Retirement 2065 Fund (VLXVX) has an expense ratio of 0.15%. As of Q2 2022, the portfolio allocation was 90.5% in stocks and 9.5% in bonds. It holds other Vanguard mutual funds to achieve its goals. It had 53.8% invested in the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index, 36.6% invested in the Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund, 6.7% invested in the Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund, and 2.9% invested in the Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund. The Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund (VTTVX) has an expense ratio of 0.08%. Because it matures 20 years in advance of the 2065 fund, it is more conservative. As of Q2 2022, its portfolio is weighted 57.5% in stocks and 42.5% in bonds. It has allocated 34.7% of assets to the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund, 27.6% to the Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund, 22.7% to the Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund, 12.2% to the Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund, and 2.80% to the Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund. Both funds invest in the same assets. However, the 2065 Fund is more heavily weighted toward stocks, with a relatively smaller percentage of bonds and cash equivalents. The 2025 Fund has greater weight in fixed income and fewer stocks, so it is less volatile and more likely to contain the assets the investor needs to begin making withdrawals in 2025. In the years beyond the target date, both Vanguard target-date funds will preserve an asset allocation mix of approximately 20% in U.S. equities, 10% in international equities, 40% in U.S. bonds, 10% in international bonds, and about 20% in short-term TIPS. Can I Hold Onto a Target-Date Fund After the Target Date? Yes. However, it may behave differently depending on the type of target-date fund you have. A "through fund" will continue adjusting its asset allocation toward more conservative holdings as time passes; a "to-fund" will retain its final asset allocation as of its maturation date indefinitely. Are Target-Date Funds Expensive? In general, a target-date fund will have somewhat higher expense ratios compared to a standard mutual fund. This is because the target-date fund, even if it is an index target-date fund, is essentially a fund-of-funds that invests in other mutual funds. Moreover, the fund has to rebalance its portfolio regularly to match the glide path so it is more active than a standard index fund. That said, many target-date index funds available today have low expense ratios of 0.10% or lower. Can I Use a Target-Date Fund in My 401(k) or Individual Retirement Account? Yes. Most plan providers today offer access to target-date funds. However, for these to work properly be careful to only use a target-date fund for nearly all of your allocations. This is because if you allocate money to other investments it may defeat the purpose of the glide path provided in the target-date fund. The New York City Department of Education will not reschedule St. Patricks Day parent teacher meetings, even though an Irish American middle school teacher working in the public school system has filed a complaint with the citys Human Rights Commission charging that his civil and religious rights have been violated because he wont be able to attend the St. Patricks Day parade and other celebrations on the day. Frank J. Schorn, a teacher at the Eugenio Maria de Hostos Intermediate School in Brooklyn, filed the complaint last Friday via his attorney Brian ODwyer, senior partner at ODwyer and Bernstien in New York. This year the mayor instituted three new school holidays, said ODwyer, who is also the chairman of the Emerald Isle Immigration Center. One observing the Lunar New Year and the others recognizing Muslim religious holidays. We are not asking that the mayor accommodate New Yorks oldest immigrant community by declaring a school holiday. We are instead asking that the Department of Education make a minor change to its schedule so that the religious observance of thousands of teachers and parents who celebrate the feast day of St. Patrick be recognized and honored. In a city which celebrates its diversity and its accommodation for people of all religious and ethnic identities, it is particularly upsetting that the Department of Education has so blithely ignored the legitimate religious and ethnic expressions of Irish- American New Yorkers. However, the press secretary for the Department of Education, Devora Kaye, told the New York Daily News on Monday that the March 17 conference date will stand. "We value and respect the cultures and traditions of all our students. While schools are responsible for holding one of four parent-teacher conferences on St. Patrick's Day, schools should work with families to provide other opportunities to have parent conferences for those unable to attend," she said. The complaint says Schorn, an Irish American, became aware within the past 12 months that parent teacher meetings would be scheduled starting at 4:30 p.m. on March 17. Teachers are subject to disciplinary action for non-attendance. Schorns complaint charges that the respondents the City of New York, the Department of Education and Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina have committed an unlawful discriminatory practiceon the basis of [Schorns] national origin by scheduling parent teacher conferences on St. Patricks Day. The complaint seeks a temporary and permanent injunction against the scheduling of parent teacher conferences this March 17 and those in future years. Members of the New York City Councils Irish Caucus wrote to Farina on January 13 asking her to reschedule the March 17 conferences, and to refrain from having them on St. Patricks Days in future years. Farina, according to the complaint, did not respond to the letter. An online petition has also been started calling on the public to support Schorn's complaint and asking the Department of Education to re-schedule parent teacher meetings. "Schorn and other Irish-American teachers in the New York City school system are obligated by contract to participate in parent teacher conferences," the petition reads. "As a result of this scheduling, Irish-American teachers have been denied the opportunity to participate in the New York City St. Patricks Day Parade in particular. The parade has been found by the United States Courts to be not only a celebration of Irish heritage but a religious activity celebrating the feast day of the patron saint of the Archdiocese of New York, St. Patrick." Thirty-four people have signed the petition as of time of writing, with signatories agreeing that, as a religious holiday, Irish Americans should be afforded the right to celebrate their heritage. "This is an absolute travesty to Irish American people and heritage," wrote Gavin Enright from Albany, New York, on the petition site. "There is never a legally binding law enacted forcing civil employees to attend an event on dates such as; The Puerto Rican day parade, Dominican Parade, various civil rights marches, or gay pride parades. It is another classless act of the Mayor towards the Irish American community." The petition can be viewed here. Who saw this coming? Ryan Reynolds is the hottest star on the planet these days thanks to his Deadpool movie, which has mauled all comers across the globe to scoop up an unprecedented $500 million in only two weeks. All of the duds Reynolds has starred in before have been quickly erased from memory thanks to Deadpool, which makes references to Liam Neeson and Sinead OConnor. And, youll be happy to know, Deadpool we mean Reynolds claims Irish ancestry. Ive been to Dublin and Galway. My brother and I just toured around there for a while. We have relatives there, whom we completely avoided, he told The Irish Times in 2011 while promoting The Green Lantern. Canadian-born Reynolds also told Movies.ie in 2009 that with brothers named Terry and Patrick, Im pretty damn Irish! Fine Gael have suffered a major setback polling only 26 per cent according to an exit poll carried out by the Irish Times in the Irish election held on Friday the 26th. In the last election they were at 36 per cent. Trends show that about 66 per cent of the populace voted, down four per cent from 2011. Their coalition partners, the Labour Party, slumped to 7 per cent from 19 per cent last time dealing a double blow to the government. The Fianna Fail party are the big winners with 23 per cent up from 17 per cent in the 2011 election, according to the exit poll. Sinn Fein are at 15 per cent, up from 10 per cent in the 2011 election and replacing Labour as the third largest party in the Irish Republic for the first time. Independents, who span various small parties such as the Greens, Renua and single issue candidates make up the remaining 33 per cent or so. Irish Times #ge16 exit poll shows Coalition well short of overall majority https://t.co/v4L2jnN8aH pic.twitter.com/LVZqO85M9x Irish Times Politics (@IrishTimesPol) February 26, 2016 If the poll is correct, Ireland faces an uncertain political future. With the Dail called back into session on March 10 it may be impossible to form a government right away in which case a Fine Gael minority caretaker government, if it has the greatest number of seats, would likely rule for a period. However it seems certain that a second election will take place sometime in 2016 to clarify the next government of Ireland. The result comes as a sharp blow to the government who believed their work combating Irelands financial woes with their austerity prescriptions would pay off. However little seemed to go right as the government failed to run the type of campaign they did in 2011 full of ideas and plans to deal with the crisis. In the end it may resemble the worldwide frustration witnessed in the US among Trump supporters and bias against existing parties and established leaders such as what happened with the Labour Party in Britain. An uncertain future certainly lies ahead if the exit poll results stand. If Cardinal Timothy Dolan were not a prince of the church you could easily imagine him as an old fashioned Irish pol. Hes a hands on bear of a man who greets and meets the old fashioned way.pressing a shoulder here, embracing a couple there, always a welcoming mien with the right word to say. On Thursday night at his residence on Madison Avenue we all witnessed history and Dolan played a large part. As Hilary Beirne, the Founding Chairman St. Patricks Foundation put it, after over two and a half decades of conflict the Irish have resolved their differences over the New York St. Patricks parade. Co-Founder of the St. Patricks Parade foundation Sean Lane in gracious remarks thanked all those who had worked so hard to relieve the tensions and achieve a peaceful parade. A parade at peace is no small achievement. There is finally an enlightened and far seeing group both running the parade and supporting it. Through their efforts they have moved the LGBT issue off the front page, granted their representatives the right to march and ended a situation that has damaged not just the parade but the Irish American community nationwide for decades. They also picked the perfect symbolic grand marshal this year, Senator George Mitchell whose very name, as Foundation member Chris Hyland noted as he introduced the former senator, means hope, reconciliation and compromise to Irish people who recall his amazing role in bringing peace to Ireland as the American envoy there. Also praised was Parade Chairman Dr. John Lahey who has done stellar work to ensure a new era. Mitchell spoke eloquently of the honor and what it means to him, the greatest award the Irish community in New York can offer. There was never a better year for him to receive it. In the audience was founder of the Lavender and Green organization Brendan Fay who was close to tears throughout my conversation with him. Fay, 58, a lifelong devout Catholic has been a dignified and extraordinary presence since the first year in 1991 that LGBT marching became an issue. There have been so many twists and turns in the tale since too numerous to go into but Fay has always displayed an uncanny ability to keep his eye on the prize and never go for the cheap shout or public display of outrage. That approach has paid off as America has adjusted its previous stance against LGBT marriage and become far more inclusive all the way up to the Supreme Court ruling. In the Cardinals residence on Thursday night Brendan Fay got his just reward for always approaching the issue with dignity and decency irrespective of the many taunts against him, including some from his own side for not being militant enough. It was a truly special moment in the Irish community, to use that overworked Seamus Heaney quote where Hope And History rhymed It did on Thursday night. The bad old memories are already fading and the Irish have proven once again that given time and space and commitment they can work out the toughest of problems By Daniel McConnell, Political Editor at the RDS Fine Gael Jobs Minister Richard Bruton has said the party's performance in the General Election is very disappointing. Speaking to reporters, Mr Bruton said the lower than expected result for the party was a surprise which would result in the loss of many of his colleagues in the next Dail. Asked about why the party's message had failed to connect, Mr Bruton said it was clear many people across the country were still smarting at the cuts imposed on them, but he said for three of the past five years, the Government was dealing with a near-bankrupt country. Mr Bruton, who looks set to retain his seat in the Dublin Bay North Constituency, said he still has confidence in Taoiseach Enda Kenny and did not call for him to resign, despite the collapse in support. Mr Bruton would also not be drawn on the possibility of a Fine Gael-Fianna Fail coalition, insisiting his party would need some time to reflect on the the result. Overall, Fine Gael and Labour look set to lose as many as 50 seats, with a host of senior Labour figures likely to lose their seats. Fine Gael could return with as few as 44 seats, based on two exit polls. The party's deputy leader Dr James Reilly is in real trouble to hold his seat and looks to be the most likely ministerial casualty For Labour, Tanaiste and party leader Joan Burton looks set to be re-elected in Dublin West, but will have to wait a long time to be officially declared. But several of the party's Junior Ministers look set to be wiped out. In Cork, junior health minister Kathleen Lynch is set to lose her seat as is Ciaran Lynch. In Dublin, both Kevin Humphreys and Aodhan O Riordain are in real trouble. As to Fine Gael's woes, party strategist Mark Mortell accepted it is going to be a very bad day for the party. Speaking to Sean O'Rourke on RTE Radio 1 he accepted the possibility that Fianna Fail could be the largest party in terms of seats but said we would have to wait and see, citing Fine Gael's stronger exit poll showing in terms of transfers and emphasising that the true picture could take days to unfold. "We could be less than 50 seats by the end of the day." Mortell said, stating that Fine Gael would be well shy of the their 30% target based on exit polls. When asked about the stability of a possible government, based on the current tallies, Mr Mortell said the prospect of another election soon was very high. Were going to see an awful lot of colleagues who didnt get seats today and thats going to be another set of issues that we face throughout the day, Mr Mortell said. What youve got here is an extraordinary situation. It is a massive fracturing of the political system. It creates immediately a huge amount of volatility and if you look just across into Europe, and whats happened in Spain and Portugal this does mean were going to have a very, very interesting couple of weeks ahead of us and very, very demanding ones, he earlier told presenters Chris Donoghue and Ivan Yates. More than 20,000 people have marched across Moscow city centre in memory of the slain Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov on the first anniversary of his killing. Mr Nemtsov was shot dead late at night as he and a companion walked across a bridge overlooking the Kremlin. The brutality so close to the centre of Russian power alarmed and angered supporters of the beleaguered opposition. Mr Nemtsov, who had been a deputy prime minister during Boris Yeltsin's presidency, was a charismatic figure and a vehement critic of president Vladimir Putin. "He was the embodiment of freedom and courage, he was a model for me," said marcher Kamala Igamberdiyeva, a 26-year-old accountant. "We still have a chance if the opposition shows wisdom and unites." In Mr Putin's decade-and-a-half in power, opposition groups have come under severe pressure, criticised by officials and state-controlled media as pawns of the West. Permission for rallies is frequently denied. Many opposition supporters say that even if Mr Putin had no direct hand in Mr Nemtsov's killing, he bears responsibility for encouraging a truculent authoritarianism. "Nemtsov's death was the result of the atmosphere of hatred in our country," said 78-year-old demonstrator Pavel Movshovich. City authorities denied march organisers permission to hold a procession to the bridge, but gave permission for another route in central Moscow on Saturday. Some demonstrators also visited the bridge. Earlier, US ambassador John Tefft laid a wreath at the bridge, saying he came to express hope that "some of the dreams that Boris Nemtsov had will come true in Russia". Five suspects have been arrested in the killing, all of them Chechens. The suspected gunman served as an officer in the security forces of the Moscow-backed Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov. The official probe has failed to identify those who ordered the killing, and Russian liberal opposition activists have criticised the Kremlin for the failure to track down the mastermind. Earlier this week, opposition leader Ilya Yashin released a report accusing Mr Kadyrov of involvement in Mr Nemtsov's killing, and demanded his resignation. Mr Kadyrov, whose term expires in early April, rejected the accusations. At the same time, he tried to secure his position by taking a posture of obedience. "The nation's leadership needs to find another person so that my name isn't used against my people," he said in televised remarks. "My time has passed." Mr Putin has relied on Mr Kadyrov to stabilise Chechnya after two separatist wars, making him effectively immune from federal controls. Mr Kadyrov's unparalleled privileges and defiant ways have earned him numerous enemies in Russia's law enforcement agencies, whose leaders have pushed for his dismissal. Australian fruit exports are set to hit a record A$2.27bn (1.48bn) next season, up 10% from the previous 2014-15 season, and backpackers on working holiday visas make up the bulk of fruit pickers during harvests. We could have a situation where we dont have enough labour to harvest our produce, said Tim Reid, one of Australias largest cherry producers and exporters in Tasmania. During the harvest, backpackers make up about 70% of our labour, without them we wouldnt have a business. Australia faces a ballooning budget deficit of about A$40bn this year and the planned increase in tax for working travellers is estimated to net A$540m between 2016 and 2020. Under the new policy, foreigners on working holiday visas will pay tax of 32.5% on every dollar earned, when previously they paid no tax on income up to A$18,000 dollars, the same as locals. The government has encouraged backpackers to work on farms with special visas allowing them to stay for a second year if they do three months work in rural Australia. However, backpackers such as Matt Bradley from Britain say that, faced with the higher tax, they will simply decide not to work. An increase to 32.5% tax will mean I cant survive so Ill have to leave, said Mr Bradley. Australia aims to supply premium agricultural products to Asias growing affluent middle-class to become the regions delicatessen. Horticulture producers are already struggling to find labour, according to the National Farmers Federation, and farmers say that without enough labour, fruit will simply drop off trees and rot. The real challenge for Australias delicatessen strategy is its input cost. Without backpackers, labour the biggest driver of costs will grow, said one analyst. Australias A$34.8bn international tourism industry could also be hit by the higher tax, with young travellers deciding not to stay as long. Mr Bradley is one of about 591,000 people a year that travel to Australia on a working holiday. While the daily spend by these young travellers is small, the total spend is substantial. In total, backpackers spend A$4.3bn a year, 12% of all international tourist spending. If we want a strong tourism sector contributing to our nations economy we should be encouraging more overseas visitors to undertake working holidays through our beautiful country, said Margy Osmon, CEO of Tourism and Transport Forum Australia. The Australian government is set to pass the tax legislation this week, imposing the new tax from July 1. The new manufacturing facility and the laboratory, which were developed with a 12m investment, were unveiled yesterday by Roger Connor, GSKs global manufacturing supply president, and by Joe Power, GSK Cork site director. The company says the new, 9.5m kilo scale facility will enable the site to begin manufacturing highly specialised, active ingredients for newer, targeted oncology medicines. Meanwhile, GSK says the new technical development laboratory, built for 2.5m, will widen the range of pharmaceuticals it can produce, including treatments for diseases such as cancer, HIV, and depression. The global healthcare company employs 1,800 staff in Ireland, in Cork, Dublin, Waterford and Sligo. It has 450 employees in Cork, where it has had a base for 41 years. Kevin OKeefe, head of engineering at GSK Cork, said the kilo scale facility was a new opportunity for GSK in Cork. The plant will expand our operating scale to allow us introduce new, targeted medicines that require highly specialised manufacturing equipment. This investment opens up new potential for Cork to produce these in the future, he said. GSK site director, Joe Power, described the investment as substantial and said it demonstrates GSKs strong commitment to our Cork site. Its a wonderful endorsement of the world-class technical capability we have here, and will work to attract new business for the operation, Mr Power said. It will also be very rewarding for our employees, knowing the difference they will be making to patients all over the world, who will ultimately take the medicines that started out here in Cork. GSK said it had now invested 700m in the Cork site, since it opened in 1974, and that it had invested 30m in R&D in Ireland last year alone. Earlier in the week, the company announced its second, annual IMPACT Awards, which have been designed to recognise and reward community-based charities, who contribute to the improvement of peoples health and well-being in Ireland. GSK wants to champion these charities, so many of whom are at the heart of Irish community health, Claire Taaffe, communications director for GSK, said. The filing made a day before its formal objection was due, and as FBI director James Comey defended the FBI stance on Capitol Hill accused the federal government of seeking dangerous power through the courts, and of trampling on the companys constitutional rights. The arguments by Apple attorneys built upon those voiced by the companys chief executive and by supporters in the last week and set the stage for a prolonged fight. Legal arguments may take the issue to the Supreme Court. The Justice Department is proposing an unprecedented boundless interpretation of the law that, if left unchecked, could have disastrous repercussions, the company warned in a memo submitted to magistrate, Sheri Pym, in California. The memo aggressively challenges policy justifications forwarded by the Obama administration. The government says: Just this once and just this phone. But the government knows those statements are not true, lawyers for Apple wrote. The locked iPhone 5C was a work phone linked to Syed Farook, who, with his wife Tashfeen Malik, killed 14 people in a December 2 terror attack in San Bernardino, California, which was at least partly inspired by the Islamic State group. Two personal cell phones were so badly destroyed that investigators couldnt retrieve data from them. Justice Department lawyers were reviewing Apples brief and will respond, said spokeswoman, Melanie Newman. She said Apple had reversed its longstanding cooperation with government requests, and that when Justice Department officials want to search a phone or another electronic device, we narrowly target our request to apply to the individual device and get a judges approval. The court fight could create precedent and establish new legal boundaries on how technology is dealt with in the national security context, when encrypted devices increasingly proliferate and when the overarching laws governing their use are antiquated. Over the last year, law enforcement officials have spoken out about their inability to access encrypted data. In the California case, the phone was found after investigators searched a car with a warrant, after the attack, and couldnt access the locked iPhone, despite working with Apple and Farooks employer. Unveiling its 2015 earnings, Ulster Bank yesterday said that good things were happening on the lending side, with an increase in new loans to home buyers and businesses. It said it had a large amount of capacity of lending in the pipeline for SMEs, too. However, the bank was determined to focus on all costs, amid its ongoing cost-reduction programme. The third-largest lender in the Republic, Ulster reported operating profit had fallen to 362m, from 606m, partly reflecting the lower amount of write-backs in 2015, compared to the previous year. Pension, litigation, and regulatory costs, as well as payments to RBS for services priced in sterling, had also weighed on earnings in 2015, it said. Following a long review, Ulster Bank last year closed 15 branches, and interim chief executive Paul Stanley said yesterday that the bank would continue to look at how best to reach its customers via its tie-up with An Post offices and through its online operations. On the outcome of any review, Mr Stanley said that no decision had been made as yet, but that the lender would identify where its customers wanted to do business with the bank, and where we can get an economic return as well. He said that RBS was impressed by the economic-growth rates in the Republic, and that Ulster Bank was also focused on how it could best outdo its two bigger rivals. Ulster Bank had all but run down the bad bank operation which once held 4.8bn in loans, and was now running significant capital surpluses, which were helping to fund new lending. It was eyeing returning some of that capital to its RBS parent, too. Mr Stanley said Ulster had increased mortgage lending, as the Central Bank introduced its new lending rules, but it was his personal view that the rules needed tweaking. The regulators plan to conduct a review of the rules at the end of the year. Meanwhile, parent RBS said it would take longer than planned to resume shareholder payouts, after it reported its eighth consecutive annual loss, driven by costs for past misconduct. The shares had dropped the most since 2012. The lenders shares had dropped as much as 12% in the biggest intra-day decline since June, 2012. The net loss narrowed to 1.98bn (2.50bn) in 2015, from 3.47bn a year earlier. Pre-tax profit, excluding conduct and litigation charges and restructuring costs, fell about 28%, to 4.41bn, missing the 4.45bn average estimate by analysts. Chief executive officer Ross McEwan, 58, is facing a pivotal year in his efforts to resume dividends for the first time since the banks 45.5bn rescue by British taxpayers in 2008. The bank said yesterday it was now more likely that capital distributions will resume later than his original target of the first quarter of 2017. I havent found any nuggets of good news, said Ian Gordon, an analyst at Investec Bank, in London, with a buy rating on shares. Youve got to be taking a greater than one-year view on capital return and a three-to-four year view on normalisation of earnings, and thats a timeframe which exceeds most investors appetite. It was claimed yesterday that Mr Cameron in a letter to Mr Kenny backed him in the election. However, a British embassy spokesman rejected that assertion, saying Mr Cameron would not seek to interfere in a democratic election of another country. It is unheard of for a foreign leader to directly intervene in an election in a foreign country and the embassy was emphatic in rejecting any assertion that Mr Cameron had sought to do so. While relations between the two leaders are very good, Irish general elections are a matter for the Irish electorate, a British government spokesman told the Irish Examiner. Mr Cameron wrote a letter to Mr Kenny thanking him for his support in the recent crunch Brexit discussions in Brussels, saying he was profoundly grateful for his assistance. In the personal letter to Mr Kenny, Mr Cameron said the Taoiseach helped him secure a successful outcome at the EU leaders summit. It made a real difference and I am profoundly grateful to you, he said. Here are the turnout figures and what the party leaders are saying https://t.co/LP1MyOyBUz pic.twitter.com/gMPjnVUh3F Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) February 26, 2016 Mr Cameron, who has been UK prime minister since 2010, said that he was especially grateful for the patience and understanding Mr Kenny showed during the talks and for his readiness to be creative in exploring all possible solutions. He concluded the note by writing: My very best wishes for tomorrows election. Good luck. The claims were made in yesterdays Irish Independent. Since the Brexit issue first emerged over a year ago, Mr Kenny and his government have made it clear they would prefer to see Britain remain within the European fold. The Taoiseach has made several public speeches, including in London, backing a vote to stay within the EU. Who would win the election if it was based on tweets? https://t.co/E6oiKgjwBp (DOD) #GE16 pic.twitter.com/pDmkwI6ges Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) February 26, 2016 Relations between Dublin and London have been harmonious since Mr Kenny assumed office. Those good relations were cemented in 2011 in the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Ireland, during which Mr Cameron made the decision to come to Dublin to meet Mr Kenny. Mr Kennys office stated: With the queens visit taking place, the prime minister suggested that this may be an appropriate time to have the bilateral. The Taoiseach was more than happy to welcome the prime minister and have the bilateral coincide with the visit. The meeting was sought by Mr Cameron with a view to forming an Anglo-Irish alliance in the context of a euro currency collapse, which almost happened in 2012. In the 2007 election, outgoing British prime minister Tony Blair invited then-taoiseach Bertie Ahern to address Westminster mid-campaign. For more election news, analysis and general banter join us HERE A clause in the draft bylaws states relatives will not be allowed to erect Celtic cross headstones for their loved ones in cemeteries other than those in the councils municipal districts of Kanturk-Mallow and Fermoy. Under the draft bylaws, a maximum height for headstones throughout the county will be set at 1.2 metres. But an exception will be made in the case of a Celtic cross once it does not exceed 2.44 metres in height but only if its in the above mentioned north Cork areas. Councillors in north Cork previously fought for their cemeteries to be allowed to continue with the centuries-old tradition of erecting Celtic crosses. But it appears the bylaw alteration was not spotted by their counterparts in other areas until this week. A West Cork-based councillor has said he will lead a fight, tooth and nail, against the bylaw describing it as discrimination against people of the coastal region. We have always had Celtic crosses in graveyards in West Cork. This bylaw makes it sound as if our people are not as patriotic as our neighbours in north Cork, said Fianna Fails Joe Carroll.This cannot be allowed to happen. The bylaws were piloted in north Cork with the view to finally making them definitive across the entire county mainly to make it easier to maintain uniformed grassed cemeteries. When first mooted four years ago, there was uproar again in West Cork when council officials insisted gravediggers who had proper training and insurance would be the only the people allowed to dig a plot. However, following uproar among undertakers in West Cork and elected local representatives, council officials promised to row back on the clause. However, the issue has emerged again in the latest transcript, much to the annoyance of Cllr Carroll who thought the clause had been buried, so to speak. This is a major issue in West Cork. For centuries it has been a tradition for relatives and neighbours to dig a grave for the deceased. People will be very upset about this if it is allowed to go through and I intend that it wont, the Skibbereen-based councillor added. He was also concerned about another clause which plans to ban wrought-iron creations from being erected around grave plots. There has been some beautiful wrought-iron work put up in graves in my region and, years on, it still looks very nice. I cant see why this should be banned as well. Its also a tradition in some areas, he said. Cllr Carroll raised the issue at a meeting in County Hall but was told by county mayor Cllr John Paul OShea the matter should be raised at a meeting of the West Cork municipal district. I fully intend to do this and Im sure my colleagues will support me, said Cllr Carroll. That was done between 2008 and 2012 and yesterday the man received a two-year suspended jail sentence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Kevin ONeill, 52, of 18, Radharc An Bhaile, Cork Road, Bandon, Co Cork, was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to sample counts on a 300-count indictment that could have taken a month of evidence if it had gone to trial. Among the accountants previous places of employment was a stint working for the Revenue Commissioners between June 2008 and March 2009. The sample counts stated that on a particular date at Bandon Accountancy and Taxation Services he dishonestly operated a computer to make a gain for himself or another by inducing Revenue to make a tax rebate for the year for a particular named person the names being different in each charge. Detective Garda Michael Brosnan testified yesterday that gardai got a report about the matter from the Revenue Commissioners in 2013 and began what turned into a massive investigation. In effect, ONeill set up claims on behalf of 22 people for tax rebates based on assorted documentation that he submitted. Through these fraudulent claims 22 people were paid by the Revenue Commissioners sums varying from 439 to over 17,000, and totalling 183,000. ONeill claimed fees from each person and got about 20,000 out of the criminal scheme. Prosecution barrister Siobhan Lankford said this would have been a very lengthy matter and that the pleas of guilty had spared a jury a long case. The accused had significant personal difficulties with anxiety, depression and his mental health, Ms Lankford suggested and Det Garda Brosnan agreed. Defence barrister Tom Power said the criminal scheme seemed to have evolved over time and ONeill seemed to have fallen into it rather than thought it up. Judge O Donnabhain said: I dont accept that. The judge said. He should never have set up in practice. He should never have been allowed but lets not avoid the main issue this scheme was thought up and kept going by him. Individuals having been told they were entitled now have the cold hand of revenue on them. They are in the situation because of the substantial breach of trust and criminal behaviour of Kevin ONeill. There is not any pot of gold from which he can produce compensation. This mans life is in substantial chaos, he said. The judge referred to a very helpful report by the defendants doctor and an unhelpful report by a psychiatrist and said a prison sentence would not be appropriate. The judge said if he could have ordered the cancellation of the free legal aid for the psychiatric report he would have done so. I can only imagine the media response if Labour support went up dramatically it would, of course, be because Irish people have been longing to adopt UK abortion laws! Aodhan O Riordain, as he presented the Labour abortion agenda last week, said: I think Fianna Fails position on this is archaic, out of touch, and that is very much the reason why we need to make sure they dont return to government in any form. The revelation prompted the Irish Farmers Associations crime prevention officer to call for divisional units of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and for possible changes to legislation to grant greater protection to people living in isolated rural areas. James Richard Hodgins, whose farm is 6km outside Roscrea in Co Tipperary, yesterday secured a number of temporary injunctions preventing 15 named men and two women, whom he claims have left him in fear for himself and his property, coming near him or his farm. At the High Court, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan said the allegations were so serious that he directed the garda in charge at Roscrea Garda Station be put on notice of the proceedings. The judge said he was satisfied to grant interim injunctions preventing the defendants and their agents from coming within 500m of Mr Hodgins or his property. The court also made orders preventing the people from intimidating and harassing Mr Hodgins, who is aged in his early 40s, or from watching and besetting his property. The orders were granted on an ex parte basis and the case will come before the court again in two weeks time. The defendants addresses are unknown, but they are currently residing in the jurisdiction. The court heard that Mr Hodgins has lived alone since his father passed away a few years ago and, in court, his counsel said he was approached by the defendants, who all know each other, in 2013, offering to do work on the farm. It was claimed that they did this because they knew Mr Hodgins was on his own. He did not want to give them work but found it hard to refuse them. Often the works were either not done at all or were substandard. CCTV cameras were installed that did not work, while a shed was painted with cheap and unsuitable paint. The court heard that Mr Hodgins felt intimidated into paying. After a while, offers of work stopped and the defendants approaching him demanding handouts and loans. Counsel said Mr Hodgins felt intimidated and could not refuse them, and that they would call to his house and make repeated phone calls to him. Mr Hodgins said he wrote them cheques totalling 102,000 83,000 of which were cashed. Shortly before Christmas, Mr Hodgins was approached by another man, and the court heard that Mr Hodgins was threatened with harm and intimidated by this man unless he wrote him a cheque for 17,000. He duly wrote the cheque over concerns that the defendants would not leave him alone. Bank officials in Roscrea became suspicious of the transactions and telephoned Mr Hodgins. After he explained what was happening, the cheque was cancelled and the farmer, after getting advice from the bank, contacted his solicitor. The solicitors contacted the defendants by text telling them to stay away and not contact Mr Hodgins, who also went to the gardai about the matter. Contact stopped for a time but after recent weeks the defendants returned to Mr Hodgins property again. They would drive a white van up to his house and hang around, ringing the doorbell and sounding the horn. Counsel said that while it is intended to seek the return of the money handed over by his client, the more immediate concern was that injunctions be obtained to protect Mr Hodgins. Colin Connolly, a former garda now working with the Irish Farmers Association, said: It just reinforces how isolated these people are in these communities. It emphasises that there are no gardai in these areas. While not referring to the specific case, Mr Connolly said he had received reports from people around the country and particularly in central locations who had felt they were being targeted by others, and that divisional units of CAB would be better able to avail of local knowledge to track any money gained in similar circumstances. We have a duty as a State to look after these people, he said. If legislation is required it is something that has to be looked at. The private secretary to the Garda commissioner, Superintendent Frank Walsh, confirmed the move in a letter to the former Waterford councillor Garry OHalloran, after receiving correspondence from him earlier this week. As previously reported, Mr OHalloran wrote to Commissioner OSullivan on Monday asking for gardai to conduct an investigation into the conduct during the 1990s of then health minister, Mr Noonan, as well as south eastern health board officials. The former councillor had asked the senior garda to take personal control of any examination and said it related to their behaviour in respect of their handling of Graces situation and the particular foster care facility from 1992 up to and including the present. Mr OHalloran has in recent weeks repeatedly raised issues in relation to Mr Noonans handling of the separate Monageer abuse case in Waterford during the 1990s, as well as concerns over what happened in relation to alleged abuse at a foster home in the same county. Mr Noonan has rejected any suggestion the matters were not properly investigated while he was health minister, and has said he will comply with a commission of investigation due to be set up into the foster home case. The Department of Health has said Mr Noonan was not involved in the decision to allow Graces placement to continue. In a letter responding to Mr OHalloran, Supt Walsh said that the matter will be examined, but did not clarify whether an investigation will be established. I am directed by the commissioner to acknowledge receipt of your email correspondence dated February 22, 2016, which has been forwarded to deputy commissioner of operations, An Garda Siochana, for appropriate attention, the letter read. The correspondence emerged as two women whose sister was placed in the same foster care home as Grace urged other families who believe their relatives may have been similarly affected to contact them to pool information. Bridget and Margaret, whose second names have not been released in order to protect their relatives identity, made the request on RTE Radio Ones Liveline programme on Thursday. The radio programme also aired another interview yesterday with a person who raised questions about how her own unrelated abuse was handled by authorities when she was a teenager. The sisters said they have not been kept fully informed of what is happening in the investigation into the foster care home, and that they want affected families to come together in order to share their experiences and understanding of what is taking place. However, the HSE has said it has already provided support to relatives of the 47 people who were at the foster home between 1983 and 2013. The contact details for the HSE chief officer for the area were provided and the families affected were invited to make contact if they wished to discuss any aspect of their dealings with the foster family, or if they or their family members required further support, a HSE spokesperson said. A number of families have made contact to date and this offer of support remains available. Families requiring support should not hesitate to contact the chief officer in this regard, the HSE spokesperson added. Judge Sean O Donnabhain sentenced Jamie OKeeffe, formerly of 219 Comeragh Park, The Glen, Cork, to three years in prison with half of it suspended. Sinead Behan, defence barrister, said of the accused: He is a very talented artist. He doesnt seem to get into difficulty now that he is living in Macroom with his girlfriend. Judge O Donnabhain said: This was a somewhat bizarre incident. When drunk he arms himself with a knife. He thought illicit behaviour was taking place in this apartment. When confronted he left. The fact that a man in his state of delirium would arm himself with a knife is significantly worrying. Because of his alcohol and substance abuse and getting involved in this behaviour, he is regarded as a high risk of reoffending. In all the circumstances, I will impose a sentence of three years, 18 months of which I will suspend on condition that he enters a residential treatment centre on his release. Detective Sergeant Vincent OSullivan agreed earlier this month that the crime itself was mad stuff. OKeeffe had been drinking on the beach in Youghal, Co Cork, and came up with the idea to rid a building in Cork of heroin dealing. As well as taking the law into his own hands, he also found himself smashing his way into the wrong apartment. Det Sgt OSullivan said that 11pm on June 25, 2015 he went to an old Georgian building on Windsor Place in Cork which is subdivided into apartments. He was very drunk. They [the people in the apartment] were not too sure what he was on about. He is easy enough to deal with when he is sober, the detective said. . Detectives believe the gang made a crucial mistake after the shooting when they used their own cars after their initial getaway. These cars were subsequently seized by gardai and are being forensically examined for DNA, fingerprints and ballistic residues. Meanwhile, the massive garda operation aimed at preventing further violence is expected to continue until the Dail returns on 10 March, although some gardai doubt the 5 million overtime budget will last that long. Senior gardai fear there will be more gun attacks on the back of the murder of Byrne on February 5 and the revenge killing of Edward Hutch three days later. Officers said the investigations into deaths were progressing very well. The Irish Examiner previously reported that three members of the gang that killed Byrne had been identified. Two of them, both aged 22, are from Dublin's north inner city and close associates of Gary Hutch, who was murdered in Spain last September at the hands of the rival Kinahan cartel. A third man, aged 46, is from Tyrone and a former member of a number of republican groups. Gardai suspect this man supplied the three AK47s used in the Regency attack. Three men, dressed as elite gardai, brandished the automatic assault rifles. One of them shot Byrne dead in the foyer. One of the youths is thought to be among the three, while the other youth and the man were the 'couple' seen running from the hotel afterwards. It is now understood that gardai are satisfied they know the identity of the remaining gang members. All of them, bar the republican, are from Dublin. Meanwhile, Daniel and Christy Jnr Kinahan, sons of cartel boss Christopher Kinahan, have flown out to London, along with two senior associates of David Byrne. The Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme had published a notice on its website advising applicants to the scheme that they had until Monday to request return of their documents, after which records would be shredded. However after objections were raised, the State now says women have until March 20 to decide how they would like the scheme to act. However, there is some unease among legal experts that documents will eventually be shredded. Solicitor Wendy Lyon, who represents a number of the women who underwent symphysiotomies, said it was clear that the destruction of documents is not in keeping with the responsibilities of the payment scheme. I dont think they should be destroying any documents, said Ms Lyons. And I think they should be contacting applicants individually and letting them know what their intention is [shredding] rather than publishing it on a website. Ms Lyon said one of her concerns was that women would require the documentation/medical records down the line for other purposes, but they would no longer be available. When the Irish Examiner contacted the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) yesterday to ask if destruction of medical records raised data protection concerns, they said the office had examined the issue this week and sought additional information from Judge Maureen Harding Clarke, the assessor of the SPS. They said Judge Clarke had since clarified to their office that she had undertaken a series of actions designed to ensure that all of the applicants will receive adequate and direct written notice of their options in relation to their personal data in other words, that the women would be advised in writing that they could seek the return of their documentation or have the assessor delete or shred it. As of February 12, 368 offers have been accepted by women who applied to the scheme and 356 awards have been made, with payments of more than 26m to date, according to figures from the Department of Health. The scheme, which is worth 34m, accepted 572 applicants by the closing date of January 14. The redress scheme was established by the Government to compensate women who underwent symphysiotomies in Irish hospitals between 1940 and 1990. The procedure involved cutting the pelvic bone to create more space during childbirth and was favoured over caesarean sections by some doctors as it would enable women to go on to have larger families. The department said any destruction of documents submitted to the scheme, in line with Section 46 of the Terms of the Scheme, would be undertaken solely to ensure the confidentiality of applicants. They said it was is important to note that only copy medical records have ever been received by the scheme, the originals of which remain with hospitals or possibly with a solicitor if providing assistance to an applicant. ITS not unusual for women to feel bloated or have tummy pain but if these symptoms are new and persistent, its time to speak up. There are countless causes for this type of abdominal symptom most of which are not serious and nothing to worry about but they could also be a sign of ovarian cancer. TIME MATTERS: Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cancer and more than 300 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Ireland each year. When women are diagnosed in the early stages of ovarian cancer, they have a 90% chance of surviving for more than five years, but this reduces to 22% when diagnosed in the later stages, say experts. Despite the figures, on the whole, outcomes for ovarian cancer have improved. Twenty years ago, only 20% of women diagnosed lived beyond five years, whereas today, women with ovarian cancer have a 46% chance of living at least five years longer but early diagnosis is very important. WHATS THE PROBLEM? In a British survey of 1,000 women, many said they were either too embarrassed to talk to their GP about sexual health issues, or they didnt feel they were being taken seriously when they did. More than a quarter (27%) said theyd put off seeing a doctor due to embarrassment, and almost one in five (17%) felt it was a waste of time to go for an appointment, as theyd previously felt fobbed off. Many potential symptoms are vague, or extremely common. Alongside persistent bloating, the four main symptoms are stomach pain, difficulty eating, or feeling full quickly, and needing to pee more frequently. Doctors advise anybody concerned to keep a symptom diary, which they can take with them to their GP. DONT BE FOBBED OFF: Ovarian cancer can only be accurately detected or ruled out with tests. If women are concerned about their symptoms, but their GP hasnt thoroughly discussed their worries with them, or referred them for tests, its important to be persistent. WHOS AT RISK? Women of all ages can get ovarian cancer, though it is far more common as we get older (around 80% of cases occur in women over 50). Other risk factors can include a family history if two or more relatives from the same side of your family have had ovarian cancer under the age of 50, or theres been more than one case of ovarian and breast cancer in your close family, you may have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer (though it doesnt mean you definitely will), as you may have inherited the a faulty BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, believed to create a greater chance (35-60%) of developing the disease. In addition, a rare condition called hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), which runs in families, can slightly increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer (as well as bowel, stomach, colon, pancreatic, biliary, and bladder cancer), plus obesity, HRT, smoking, and a history of endometriosis, and long menstruation (which could result from starting your periods before the age of 12, going through menopause later than 55 and not having children) have also been linked with possible increased risk. IT certainly came as news to me that the woman who invented Mothers Day spent the latter part of her life trying to call the whole thing off what a pity she never succeeded. But come to think of it, with a bit of collective effort, it could happen yet. There are still seven full days to Mothering Sunday thats plenty of time to cancel the restaurant, the flowers, the whatever else you had planned. Therell be accusations of hard-heartedness, of course, and a baying mob on Twitter, but let them come because mothers everywhere deserve an awful lot more than a floral tribute and breakfast in bed on the first Sunday in March. The women who started it all certainly thought so. American activist Anna Jarvis campaigned relentlessly for a day to celebrate mothers after her own mother Ann, a Sunday-school teacher who cared for soldiers during the American Civil War, died in 1905. She wanted to commemorate her mothers good deeds indeed, those of mothers everywhere and tirelessly lobbied the American government to institute an official holiday. In 1914, Congress agreed. Then Jarvis began to think global and spent her time writing to foreign heads of state hoping to establish Mothers Day abroad too. Her success was considerable, but shortlived. It wasnt long before she disowned the very holiday she had worked so hard to introduce. As early as 1920, she railed against the commercialism of it all. In one particularly vituperative press release, she called florists and card manufacturers charlatans, bandits, pirates, racketeers, kidnappers and termites that would undermine with their greed one of the finest, noblest and truest movements and celebrations. Wow. What a pity she isnt around today to champion mothers, though if theres one thing we dont need, its a tirade against the money-spinning side of Mothers Day. Thats completely old hat. If you ask me, we should be buying our mothers flowers and treating them to lunch/dinner/Champagne breakfasts as often as is humanly possible. The problem with Mothers Day is not that it exists, but that it is just one day. How convenient that is: it means we can shoehorn our appreciation into a single fancy Sunday lunch, then forget all about mothers for the rest of the year. Now more than ever, we need to talk about motherhood. A whole range of new opportunities have opened up for Irish mothers since the lifting of the medieval marriage ban in 1973, but with them have come an equal number of crippling challenges. The first is the high cost and poor availability of good-quality childcare. That has emerged as one of the major issues in this general election. And although childcare concerns both parents, women seem to feel more responsible for ensuring its in place and stepping into the breach when its not. Id love to see a detailed survey on the guilt that working mothers feel, too. That one little weasel word crops up more often than any other in conversations among women who juggle work and home life. Even that phrase itself is suspect. You dont ever read about men juggling work and home life; though, to be fair to them, that doesnt mean theyre not under pressure. Its not really helpful to reduce the conversation about childcare and the workplace into a seesawing battle between mothers and fathers, so lets agree to focus on mum for now. If society could do one thing of enormous benefit to mothers, it would be to free them of the ugly corrosiveness of guilt. And dont think that we dont all play a role in laying it on with a trowel. Look at the way mothers are portrayed in the media: they are either huge-hearted mother-earth types or evil stepmothers. Nuance, of course, is out of fashion. You cant really say that motherhood is hard as hell and relentless and rewarding and infuriating and surprising and disappointing and amazing and thrilling (add your own adjectives) because thats far too complicated. But surely we can do better than a recent story in a Dublin freesheet that ran a headline, Is this acceptable parenting? over two pictures purportedly showing children that were left unattended in two separate cars? Whatever you think about that, drumming up something of a witch hunt for so-called irresponsible parents isnt going to help anyone. Its very easy to use your smartphone to point the finger of blame, but it would be much more useful to use technology to build a network that supports mothers. And heaven knows, they need support. All the studies say the same thing. Mothers are more likely than fathers to be called home if theres a child emergency. They are more likely to seek out flexible working hours which, in turn, means they have less security of tenure, more precarious pay, a weakened bargaining position and lower pensions. When mothers are home, they do more housework than their husbands. A recent study by researchers at the University of Michigan found that, on average, mum does seven hours more housework than dad per week. Of course, that is true of women without children too. Like lower pay, its an injustice all women endure, so lets leave that argument for another day. That still leaves us plenty of evidence that there is a motherhood penalty in Ireland, though, at least were far from being alone in that. Often the spurious nature of the so-called debate just fans the flames. For instance, we need to stop pitting working mothers against those who stay at home. It misses the point entirely as, in most cases, choice doesnt even come into it. Three in four stay-at-home mothers said the cost of childcare stopped them looking for work, while those at work said they needed the monthly wage. So where does that leave us this Mothers Day assuming, of course, its not cancelled? Well, go on then, make a fuss of mum, just dont stop when the sun goes down on March 6. The Cleveland Clinic said the nine-hour surgery was performed on Wednesday, on a 26-year-old woman, using a uterus from a deceased donor. The hospital had long been planning the surgery, announcing last autumn a clinical trial that would attempt 10 transplants. The hospital wont release more details until a press conference next week, except to say the womans condition was stable. Other countries have tried womb transplants Sweden reported the first successful birth in 2014, and four since. Doctors there say the still-experimental treatment may be an alternative for the thousands of women unable to have children, either because they were born without a uterus or because they lost it to disease. Others have questioned whether such an extreme step would be realistic for many women. Its a procedure fraught with medical risk. The transplant may be rejected, and patients have to take potent, immune-suppressing drugs for a procedure that, unlike a donated kidney or heart, isnt life-saving. The Cleveland Clinics Dr Andreas Tzakis said the risks arent greater than those for other transplants, but it is considered life-enhancing, like transplants of the face or hand. One important difference: Unlike any other transplants, they are ephemeral, Tzakis said last year, in a statement announcing the study. They are not intended to last for the duration of the recipients life, but will be maintained for only as long as is necessary to produce one or two children. Removing a uterus from a deceased donor is more complex than a hysterectomy, as the major arteries also must be removed. The womb and blood vessels are sewn inside the recipients pelvis. Before closing the abdomen, surgeons check for good blood flow and that the attachment to the ligaments is strong enough to maintain a pregnancy. If a woman is approved for a transplant in the study, she would first have to have eggs removed from her ovaries, like is done for in-vitro fertilisation, and then have the embryos frozen. Those could be implanted only 12 months after the transplant heals, if its successful. The hospital said it would attempt transplants in women who have whats called uterine-factor infertility. This means they were born without a uterus or with uterine abnormalities that block pregnancy. The Swiss bank is suspected of having directly, and not via its Belgian subsidiary, approached Belgian clients to convince them to set up structures aimed at evading taxes, Brussels prosecutors said. UBS will continue to defend itself against any unfounded allegations, the bank said in an email. Authorities wanted a ruling allowing them to raze the camp, where thousands of migrants from the worlds trouble spots have gathered to try to sneak across the English Channel to Britain via ferry or a Eurotunnel rail service. However, Thursdays court decision fell short of allowing a complete destruction of buildings at the site, concluding that the makeshift shelters where migrants sleep can be demolished but that common spaces like places of worship, schools, and a library that have sprung up must stand. With the status of the camp known as the Jungle under international scrutiny, officials have taken a cautious approach using persuasion instead of force to pry migrants from their shelters in a process that could take many weeks. French authorities have offered to relocate those uprooted by the eviction order in the southern portion of the makeshift camp, either in heated containers installed last month nearby or at centres around France where they may choose to apply for asylum. Interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve says 2,700 migrants along the northern French coast have been sent to centres since October. Only five people were seen climbing into one of two buses at midday yesterday. The other bus left empty. We try to tell them that they are free ... to make their own decisions, said Nathalie Seys of the social services department, part of a team combing the camp, and that, unlike what we are hearing, they will not be prisoners. Activists also making the rounds of tents and makeshift shelters were warning residents not to leave or their homes will be destroyed. Thursdays complex ruling has seeded confusion and Julie Bonnier, a lawyer in the case, claimed yesterday that the language was too fuzzy to allow the decision to be acted upon. The case centres on claims that Mr Urdangarin used his former title, of Duke of Palma, to embezzle 6m in public contracts for sporting events, through a non-profit institute he co-ran. Among the companies that allegedly benefited was Aizoon, a property consultancy firm he owned with Cristina, the sister of King Felipe VI. The barrage came as the main Syrian opposition and rebel umbrella group said dozens of factions, 97 groups in all, have agreed to abide by the ceasefire across the war-ravaged country. The High Negotiations Committee said a military committee has been formed to follow up on the ceasefire. US president Barack Obama expressed hope that the ceasefire in Syria will lead to a political settlement to end the civil war and allow a more intense focus on battling Islamic State (IS). He said he does not expect the truce to immediately end hostilities, after years of bloodshed between forces loyal to Syrian president Bashar Assad and rebels who want to end his reign. Announced just this week, the ceasefire is a test of whether the parties are committed to broader negotiations over a political transition, a new constitution and holding free elections, Mr Obama said. He said Syrias future cannot include Assad as president, which is a chief point of contention with Russia and Iran, who support the Syrian leader. We are certain that there will continue to be fighting, Mr Obama said, noting that IS, the Nusra Front, and other militant groups are not part of the negotiations and the truce. Mr Obama put the onus on Russia and its allies, including the Assad government, to live up to their commitments under the agreement. The elusive ceasefire deal was reached only after a months-long Russian air campaign that the US says strengthened Assads hand and allowed his forces to retake territory, altering the balance of power in the Syrian civil war. The world will be watching, Mr Obama said. In Moscow, Russian president Vladimir Putin said his country will keep hitting terrorist organisations in Syria even after the truce is implemented. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the warplanes in yesterdays strikes were believed to be Russian. The Kremlin did not comment on the latest developments but denied allegations that the Russian air force bombed civilian positions east of Damascus the previous day. The rebel-held Damascus suburb of Douma was hit 26 times yesterday, the observatory said, along with other areas east of the capital. The monitoring group said the air raids were conducted as the Syrian governments artillery shelled the area, which is a stronghold of the Army of Islam rebel group. Mazen al-Shami, an activist based in the area, said the warplanes were Russian, saying they carried out some 60 air raids on Friday as well. He said 25 strikes targeted Douma. Economy The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (Feb. 27, 2016) MAI suspends Rangoon-Taiwan direct flight; Warning over Kyaukphyu security risks; British Govt to provide cover for firms exporting to Burma. Signs of Trouble for Local Airlines as MAI Suspends Taiwan Flight After operating a Rangoon-Taiwan direct flight for less than a month, Myanmar Airways International (MAI) has withdrawn the route, according to a Taiwanese media report. Focus Taiwan news channel cited the countrys Civil Aeronautics Administration saying that the airline had applied to cancel its remaining flights due to low passenger numbers. The flight was launched as part of broader efforts to promote tourism in Burma, and was supposed to run until March 25. The airline is offering refunds to passengers affected by the cancellations or making flight arrangements for them on other airlines, the report said. Its the latest sign that Burmese airlines ambitious efforts to expand overseas could face difficulties. It could act as a warning to the state-run Myanmar National Airlines (MNA), which has recently begun its own international flights. MNA also applied last month to offer flights between Rangoon and Taiwans Taoyuan airport, Focus Taiwan reported. MAI is a spin off from the state carrier, but is majority owned by Kanbawza Bank, which purchased a stake in the airline and initiated a modernization drive around the time that Burmas transition from military rule began. But the airline has already had to withdraw its flight between Rangoon and Singapore, a route that has proven highly competitive and has not attracted the number of passengers some airlines had hoped. Analysts have warned that Burmese airlines will struggle to compete with larger foreign carriers on international routes, since they are not able to offer onward transcontinental connecting flights. MNA has launched its own flights to Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand in recent months. The airline is backed by the government, however, and appears willing to take some losses so that the country has a national flag carrier. Warning over Kyaukphyu Security Risks The plan to build an industrial hub on the coast of western Burmas Arakan State could be plagued by security concerns, according to analysts BMI Research. In a note this week, the company warned that inter-communal tensions in the state, environmental concerns and anti-Chinese sentiment would all pose difficulties to the project. A consortium led by Chinese state-owned company CITIC was awarded the tender to build an industrial park and port in Kyaukphyu in December. BMI Research said it ranks Burma 32nd out of 35 Asian countries in terms of the risk of conflict. While Kyaukphyu was not the center of communal conflicts between Arakanese Buddhists and Rohingya and other Muslim communities in recent years, the towns main Muslim fishing community was razed in 2012 and hundreds of people continue to be confined to a displacement camp just outside of town. This ethno-religious conflict has the potential to erupt again in the future, and could disrupt theconstruction process in relation to security risks for personnel and workers, as well as damage to property, BMI Research said. Perhaps more likely, however, is the risk of local pushback against the Chinese developers disrupting the project. CITIC Constructions vice chairman Yuan Shaobin told Chinese state media in January that the project would be carried out with the concepts of social development, green development and common prosperity in mind. However, locals say that their previous experience with Chinese companieswho have also built duel oil and gas pipelines running from Kyaukphyu to Chinahas not been wholly positive. Many believe that Chinese companies are less likely to mitigate the environmental impacts of their projects. [P]ast Chinese investment projects have shown that Chinese companies prefer to bring their own workers and their projects may not bring significant benefits for local communities, the note said. This therefore has the potential to create resentment and spur protests or anti-Chinese riots which may damage property within the SEZ and contribute to a climate of insecurity in the region which will deter foreign investors. Emirates Set to Launch Dubai-Rangoon Flight United Arab Emirates-based airline Emirates will begin flying between Dubai and Rangoon from August this year, according to a statement Thursday. The company announced that from Aug. 3, it would run a daily service using a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from Dubai to Rangoon, which would then fly on to Hanoi. [T]his new route will strengthen Emirates network of destinations in Southeast Asia, offer a new flight option to passengers travelling between Hanoi and Yangon, and open up new connections for [Burmese] and Vietnamese travellers to access Emirates global network, the statement said. The flight will mainly cater to travelers flying from Burma and Vietnam to Europe, who can transfer in Dubai. It will also carry up to 20 tonnes of cargo, the statement said. Popular exports on this route are expected to be manufactured garments and seafood from Myanmar, and marine products and electronics from Hanoi, it said. British Government to Provide Cover for Firms Exporting to Burma UK Export Finance, the British governments export credit agency, will provide $300 million of insurance and guarantees to help UK firms export to Burma. It is hoped that the cover, which was announced during a visit to Rangoon by British Transport Minister Lord Tariq Ahmad, will help UK exporters to compete with others looking to exploit growing markets in Burma for products like consumer goods and construction materials. UK Export Finance can provide insurance to exporters and guarantees to banks financing exports from the UK. It also makes loans to overseas companies to buy goods from the UK. Ahmad was in Burma last week for a visit that included talks with Rangoon Mayor Hla Myint about the citys development, according to a statement. He met the local and international business community, and development partners engaged in infrastructure development, it said, adding that the British official also spoke at an event promoting UK company Rolls Royce Plc and at a seminar involving Burmas chamber of commerce. During the seminar, Lord Ahmad set out the UKs expertise in the transport infrastructure sector and some of the steps the UK government has made in terms of prioritization and long-term planning. UK Fair Trade Charity to Carry Burmese Rice British organization Traidcraft, which aims to fight poverty through trade, is working to begin exporting Burmese rice that will be sold under the label fair trade. Fair trade labeling seeks to reassure consumers that poor farmers are being properly compensated for their labor on the goods imported in the West. The products, which have to meet certain standards, have proven popular, but the schemes efficacy in relieving poverty has been questioned. According to a blogpost on its website last month, Traidcraft said it was working to bring fair trade to two rural communities in Burma. Working on the ground, we are helping farmers in these two communities to work as groups, sharing knowledge to realise the best market prices for their paddy, the blog said. In one of the villages, we are assisting with the modernisation of a rice mill that dates back to the colonial days. Were building a storage facility which will allow them to hold back some of their crop to realise more money when market prices are high. Traidcraft said that, in order to be exported, the rice will have to conform to Fairtrade standards that ensure the use of proper fertilizers, the absence of child labor and equal pay for men and women laborers. Ethnic Issues Dateline Irrawaddy: Negotiation Is Necessary, But It Should Not Be Excessive This week, The Irrawaddy talks with Sai Nyunt Lwin and Aung Moe Zaw about what negotiations between the NLD and the military mean for Burmas future. Kyaw Zwa Moe : This week, we are going to discuss the progression of negotiations between the National League for Democracy [NLD], led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and the Tatmadaw [Burmas military]; the role of ethnic groups in the new government; and to what extent ongoing peace talks have been successful. My guest speakers are Sai Nyunt Lwin, general secretary of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, and Aung Moe Zaw, chairman of the Democratic Party for a New Society. I am Irrawaddy English Editor Kyaw Zwa Moe. KZM: U Sai Nyunt Lwin, firstly, what kind of negotiations should there be between the Tatmadaw and Aung San Suu Kyi, seeing as so far we dont know what she and Tatmadaw Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing talked about? To what extent does Daw Aung San Suu Kyi agree with him? On the Tatmadaw side, weve been hearing that no one is sure whether the military accepts Article 59(f) or not. What compromises should the election-winning party make? Sai Nyunt Lwin: No information has been released regarding negotiations or compromises. But if we compare the current meeting to the rest of Burmas history, these talks are very significant. If the talks are unsuccessful, that could create a bad image for both the Tatmadaw and the winning party. It would be a hurdle for our countrys future. We all have to pray for the success of these negotiations. We cant intervene, as we do not know what they are negotiating. KZM: Out of their dialogue, a key rumor has alleged that the Tatmadaw wanted the positions of chief minister for [some] states and regions. On the one hand, [we are unsure] whether or not this has been agreed to, particularly for Shan, Arakan and even Kachin states. For Shan state, how much has the NLD taken this into consideration? SNL: We, the political party based in Shan State, are concerned because the USDP is the majority in the Shan State parliament. If the Shan State chief minister post is given to the USDP, it is likely that the USDP will have a leading role in Shan State politics. But for the sake of the country, we would have to live with that, face whatever comes up. KZM: Ko Aung Moe Zaw, what do you know, from any inside sources, about the results of the negotiation between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, since theyve met three times already? Reportedly, there have been some positive outcomes. Aung Moe Zaw: First, I would like to say it is not good for our country that the winning party has to negotiate with the Tatmadaw to form the government. To form the government is the responsibility of the government, the responsibility of the leaders of the winning party. KZM: But the Tatmadaws role here is crucial. AMZ: I want the Tatmadaw to think about it. That is one thing. But they already have control of three ministerial posts [in the cabinet], enshrined by the Constitution. And now weve heard that they are asking for more. But we cant confirm whether or not this is accurate. As Ko Kyaw Zwa Moe said, weve also heard that theyve asked for the state/regional chief minister posts in Shan, Kachin and Arakan states, as well as in the Rangoon region. In short, it is the National League for Democracys duty to form the government that we want. Negotiation is necessary, but it should not be excessive, because it would create problems for both the country and future political conditions. KZM: Given the current situation, there are many uncertainties within the government. But regarding the recent appointments of Parliament speakers and deputy speakers, the NLD and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi really wanted to create inclusiveness, I think. U Aye Tha Aung, a Rakhine leader, has become a deputy speaker, and a Karen a speaker and a Kachin a deputy speaker. So ethnic nationalities make up three-fourths of the positions. It is likely that the NLD will also appoint cabinet members in a similar way. What percentage of government leadership roles, especially key positions, should be given to members of ethnic groups? SNL: There might be a proposal from some ethnic groups because some individuals have expectations for this to happen. But I think many people were satisfied and optimistic about what [the NLD] had done [with the appointments] in the Parliament. People expect that the governing bodies will be formed in that way. I think they will be appointed to some extent. However, I think that the competent people should be given priority. The main challenge is corruption. They [the NLD] already struggle with many things in this country. Also, I dont want someone to get a post as an honorable title. I think those who have the capacity and skills should be given priority. And the more ethnics there are, the better it will be. KZM: Peace is also one of the NLDs top priorities. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has said that she would lead the peace process. For these positions, I think, ethnic groups and their leaders, who are more familiar with the peace process, will be more suitable. SNL: We must include ethnic leaders because the NLD kept itself away from the peace process over the past three or four years. They did not intervene much, but they cant avoid this now. As far as we know, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will lead. But it wont be only her. She will think of and include ethnic leaders who are dedicated to the peace process. KZM: What about the current peace process? The current minister U Aung Min and his people from the Myanmar Peace Centre have held meetings with representatives from the UNFC in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It looks like they were trying hard to get the non NCA-signatories to sign. How would you evaluate this situation? Seeing as how this is a transition period, do the ethnic [armed] groups need to sign immediately? Or should they collaborate under the next governments leadership? Which one would be better for the sake of ethnic groups? SNL: I think there would be no development if they were to sign with the current government, because the current administration only has days left. Again, negotiations between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the Tatmadaw are really important. We have to put special focus on this. The non-signatory groups should also focus on this, because the announcement of who will be nominated for president will come just weeks from now, on March 17. Weve been striving for this power transfer for 50, 60 years. This transfer has already happened in the Parliament, and it will happen for the executive sector, which is more important, on March 31. The NLD will have to form 15 governing bodies, including the 14 state and the union governments. Thus, as this is such a large burden, non-signatory groups should consider signing under the next government. KZM: Ko Aung Moe Zaw, you had relationships with many ethnic groups when you were in exile. So how would you assess Aung Mins peace team? How fast do they want the process to go? What would be the benefits? AMZ: I think they will try to get credit before the end of the term. But all of the governments projects are being closed. I think the peace process should continue under the next government. As U Sai [Sai Nyunt Lwin] said, however, there is not much time left. Therefore, I reckon the non NCA-signatories will wait for the next government. One more thing I want to add is if the NLD is considering having ethnic leaders in its cabinet, it should prioritize its long-time allies, individuals who can be trusted from democratic political parties, and select them. KZM: I think this will happen, as weve already seen it happen with Parliament speakers. But one thing, U Sai Nyunt Lwin, is, what if the NLD asked you to take an important position, either in the peace process or in a ministerial post, as you already have a lot of experience as secretary of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy? Are you ready to collaborate? SNL: Ko Kyaw Zwa Moe, we have been doing our duty for 27 years, since 1988. If I were given an opportunity to fulfill my duty, I would have to serve. KZM: I want to ask one more question. The current negotiations between Aung San Suu Kyi and Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing are crucial for the next five years. They may even be a foundation for whats to come. If the two parties do not agree, we would have a problem. If they do, there might be great times ahead. So, what I want to know is, what will be the most crucial job, or jobs, for the new government in regards to peace? AMZ: When we talk about peace, we only talk about ceasefires between warring groups. The deterioration of the rule of law is very much related to peace. Its key to implementing peace. So a ceasefire to end civil war is the main task, in a sense, but it is far more important to work on a way to sustain the rule of law and to reduce corruption. KZM: Finally, an important question for both Ko Aung Moe Zaw and U Sai Nyunt Lwin, but your answers must be short. The Tatmadaw will remain in an important role under the incoming government, led by the NLD. Under these circumstances, do you think it is possible to become a genuine federal union and to achieve equality for ethnic groups? How difficult would that be? SNL: It cant happen yet, I dont think. When the Tatmadaw returns to its place as a professional entity and rule of law prevails and peace talks have succeeded, then we can hope for the type of federal union that we envision. I do not expect much now as we are still not able to solve our current problems. KZM: Does that mean it will have to wait until a new term [administration]? SNL: I think so. AMZ: Unless the Constitution is changed, we cant achieve democracy. It would be difficult to achieve peace and federalism. Amending the Constitution is crucial. KZM: U Sai Nyunt Lwin, Ko Aung Moe Zaw, thank you so much for your contributions. "Fast and Furious 8" is one of the movie installments that fans are itching to see on the big screen in the near future. The soon-to-be released action-packed, car-chasing film gives viewers a new high when it comes to the racing world. Jalopnik detailed that "Fast 8" is eager to give viewers a mile-high taste of vehicles that will be considered in the film. Extremely out-of-the ordinary, the vehicles mentioned doesn't even count Ferraris and Lamborghinis anymore. Hence the movie is completely gearing up for massive, high- speed transport vehicles like "Multiple Ripsaw ATVS." The heart-wrenching action is now expected to triple or even quadruple with the line of vehicles said to be used. "Murcielagos, Imprezas and a Rally Fighter" according to the outlet are just some of the seen vehicles in the shooting location of the movie. Apart from these interesting details about the upcoming "Fast and Furious 8," Jalopnik further mentioned that the production and crew of the movie are currently stationed in Akranes which is said to be " 28 miles north of Reykjavik" from the capital of Iceland. The city's town mayor Regina Asvaldsdottir also confirmed the reports that suggested these details regarding the movie. Topspeed on the other hand added in more input to "Fast 8's" shooting locations and it was said that Visir, another part of Iceland, is also included as a shooting location for "Fast and Furious 8." Meanwhile, after the highest grossing movie "Fast and Furious 7 was made, Vin Diesel who plays the role of Dominic Toretto recently dropped the biggest news for the "Fast and Furious" installments. Diesel shared in his social media that after "Fast 8," fans can expect a "Fast and Furious 9" and "Fast 10." As promised, Diesel claimed that "Fast 8," 9 and 10 will be a trilogy. Catch "Fast 8" in theaters on Apr. 10, 2017. Barclays, a British bank, has made the decision to exit its African operations and refocus on its core UK and US markets. The decision came after a review of the African business led by CEO Jes Staley. The decision was made by the Barclays board after the review stated that it makes strategic sense to exit the continent. Another committee will be examining practical ways on how and when to sell Barclays Africa Business. "This means that a sale of the bank's 62.3 per cent stake in its Johannesburg-listed subsidiary will depend on numerous factors, including market conditions and the response of regulators. The stake is worth R78bn (3.5bn) at current market prices. Investment bankers say there are no obvious strategic buyers for the African business. The value of the stake has fallen in recent months, making the option of steadily selling the stake to institutional investors less attractive. Barclays declined to comment," a report from the Financial Times state. Furthermore, the FT reports states that Staley has met with some people and has said that while he recognizes Africa as one of Barclays' few genuine growth areas, he also believes that it is becoming a costly distraction. Barclays has over 40,000 staff spread in Africa, according to Africa Post. These people are spread across 12 places in the countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Seychelles, Mauritius, Zambia, South Africa and Botswana. Staley, according to reports published by The Guardian, has concluded that, "against a backdrop of a slowdown in Africa and the devaluation of the rand, it was time to consider a sale of the operations." The sale of the business based in Africa will be discussed together with Barclays' 2015 results, which will take place in the first week of March. "Barclays is the last of the major high street banks to publish its figures and will be under scrutiny for signs of any deviation by Staley from the strategy set out his predecessor Antony Jenkins," the Guardian report states. BrewDog, Scotland's largest independent brewery company, started with two employees and co-founders James Watt and Martin Dickie. Now, the brewery has more than 700 employees today and is ready to rock the United States of America. BrewDog has subverted conventional industry norms, raising millions from its fans and stubbornly refusing to let go of its principles of openness and transparency. In an interview with Yahoo! Finance's Kevin Chupka, Watt said that he and Dickie started in 2007, together with a dog, with a mission to redefine the UK brewery industry and with no idea on how the said business is going to be done, run, and managed. They didn't know what to do back then, so the partners did unconventional things and just stayed focus on two important factors that mattered to them the most: beer and people. When the brewery clicked, both Dickie and Watt decided to expand. Unfortunately, they didn't have any money. "We couldn't get money from the banks. We needed money to buy equipment to expand our business, so we turned to the people who enjoy the beers that we make. So we've got 40,000 equity punk investors who've been with us since 2009. It's the heart and soul of our business, and we don't just have investors - they're ambassadors, advocates, and they've really been key [in] turning our business into what it is today," Watt said. Since then, they have grown, with profits increasing up to 112% annually since 2011, according to the Guardian reports. The company further expects to be able to produce the equivalent of 264 million pints of beer annually by the end of this year. With refard to their expansion to the USA, Watt disclosed that they have acquired a 42-acre site in Columbus, Ohio. "Our new production facility there is half-built, so we should be making beer in the U.S. by late 2016," Watt said. To help those who would want to start a business but don't know how to do so, Watt has a new book, Business for Punks: Break All the Rules - the BrewDog Way. "Advice is for idiots. If you're going to fail, fail on your own terms, make your own mistakes and don't listen to what anyone says." SHARE By of the An aircraft operated by Appleton-based Air Wisconsin veered into restricted airspace around the U.S. Capitol on Friday, the Washington Post reported. The plane, a Bombardier CRJ2 regional jet, took off from Reagan National Airport at 10:55 a.m. Eastern time. The plane then entered prohibited airspace near the U.S. Capitol and briefly failed to communicate with air traffic controllers, authorities told the Post. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Capitol Police said officials raised their security level "out of an abundance of caution," and the alert was lifted once communication with the pilot was established, according to the Post. The flight arrived in Toronto about 31 minutes late. The Federal Aviation Administration said the incident is under investigation. Air Wisconsin Airlines Corp., founded in 1965, operates nearly 500 departures per day to 26 states and three Canadian provinces in partnership with American Airlines. Air Wisconsin carries nearly 6 million passengers per year. Officials from Air Wisconsin did not return calls from the Washington Post seeking comment. An Air Wisconsin spokeswoman told the Journal Sentinel in August that the company has a policy of not responding to news media inquiries. SHARE By of the When it comes to developing new technologies, MIT is one of the best in the world. But even the best can use help commercializing their discoveries. So an MIT program that aims to create new health care innovations has joined forces with an unlikely partner: Paragon Development Systems, known as PDS. PDS has not historically created many of its own products. The Brookfield-based company is primarily a value-added reseller, meaning it uses off-the-shelf hardware and software to help customers do everything from planning to implementing their IT infrastructure. However, Asif Naseem, who took over as the private company's chief executive officer in December 2014, has big plans to move PDS up the technology food chain. "That's where the margins are; that's where the future is," Naseem said. The Madrid-MIT M+Vision Consortium has other companies as partners. Among them are pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly & Co. and Merck & Co., and Knome Inc., the human genome interpretation company. But PDS is the first corporate partner with which the consortium will jointly develop intellectual property, Naseem said. "We can control our own destiny if we control our own intellectual property," he said. Technically, intellectual properties are the patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets protecting the products of human intelligence and creativity. However, Michael Mann, a patent attorney, says there is a better way to describe it. "It's know-how, innovation, a message to customers and employees that's a compelling vision that makes your employees want to come to work to achieve the vision and has customers falling all over themselves to buy the product and the reputation," said Mann, who is with the Columbia, S.C., law firm of Nexsen Pruet. Consider Apple Inc. Because it develops its own iPhones, iPads and other products that people have been willing to stand in long lines to get, and because it owns the corresponding intellectual property, Apple has become one of the world's most valuable companies. Naseem has been a fellow with the MIT M+Vision Consortium since 2014, so he has gotten to know the program well. In collaboration with hospitals and other partners in Madrid, Spain, several hospitals affiliated with Harvard Medical School and others, the consortium is very good at identifying and validating unmet needs, "but then they need a tried-and-true commercialization partner," Naseem said. Although it might seem unlikely at first, PDS is actually very well-positioned to commercialize technology, said John Hansen, a veteran of three successful start-ups who is now a lecturer in the University of Washington Foster School of Business in Seattle. PDS provides equipment and services to some of the largest health care institutions in the country and has built good relationships with the IT departments and the clinicians, said Hansen, who also is a PDS board member. "There are very few tech companies that transcend both the IT department and the caregivers," Hansen said. "I literally cannot think of another company that's in a similar situation." PDS is not a giant company, or a small start-up with a greater risk of going out of business, Hansen said. "MIT needed a midsized company that had longevity and a great customer base," he said. Naseem, who has a Ph.D in computer engineering, has been involved with technology-based start-ups and large companies such as Motorola and Oracle, so he has brought many products to market, Hansen said. Naseem is building a world-class technical team, as evidenced by his recent hire of Silicon Valley executive Long Fu as director of engineering. "This partnership is critical to realizing the potential of technology innovations, because companies like PDS have the ability to collaborate with researchers and help them convert new ideas into valuable products," said Martha Gray, a medical and electrical engineering professor and director of the MIT consortium. The computer revolution in health care has been around claims processing, said John Byrnes, chairman of private equity firm Mason Wells, and a member of the PDS board. But now that electronic medical records have taken hold, it will be possible to mine data and use analysis to identify best practices. "The whole business of improving outcomes and reducing costs, if you apply information, you get both at the same time," Byrnes said. "That's going to be the big win, to use it to streamline and accelerate innovation." So PDS will aim to create products with the MIT consortium that will do things such as automate government-required reporting and compliance for clinicians, or help bring all the experts on a patient's team together in real time to share information, or make electronic medical records portable across providers, Naseem said. "We can create a world-class behemoth," he said. "We have a tremendous opportunity here to make a difference." Tom Coiner and Shalin Agarwal make an unusual arrangement in the Milwaukee Repertory Theaters production of The Invisible Hand. Credit: Michael Brosilow SHARE By , "The Invisible Hand" first of four plays by Brookfield Central graduate Ayad Akhtar being staged by the Milwaukee Repertory Theater during the next few years begins in quiet beauty. Two men are alone in a room; one is cutting the other's nails, expressing the sort of tender regard we extend to the very young and very old when they're unable to care for themselves. But 30-something Nick Bright is still in his prime, so what gives? What doesn't give are the chafing handcuffs Nick (Tom Coiner) wears, which is why the 20-something Dar (Owais Ahmed) is giving Nick a trim. Nick is white and dressed like a Westerner; Dar is Pakistani and wears a shalwar kameez, accessorized with a Kalashnikov (costuming by Leslie Vaglica). The sparsely furnished room with its cracked ochre walls is a cell in Pakistan; Nick is a hostage (scenic design by Dan Conway). Before that, Nick was a high-flying trader in Pakistan for Citibank. He's now being held for a ransom of $10 million by a group whose leader, Imam Saleem (Tony Mirrcandani), has just been labeled a terrorist by the State Department. When we first meet him, Bashir (Shalin Agarwal) Dar's own boss in this outfit certainly seems to fit the bill. Bursting into the room bedecked in an angry, red-tinged orange, he strikes Dar for going soft and threatens to cut off Nick's head. Their crime? Nick had been giving Dar pointers on rudimentary speculation, involving potatoes. But even as Bashir angrily denounces his captive as yet another Westerner sucking Pakistan dry, he's doing so in a Cockney accent reflecting his London upbringing. And as Akhtar's fast-paced thriller develops, it's clear these two highly intelligent men share a lot more than language including terrific chemistry in this well-acted production, under director Lucie Tiberghien. Nick and Bashir discover how much they have in common while collaborating to leverage Nick's knowledge of markets; it's a novel, win-win means of raising Nick's ransom money. As presented here, there's nothing dry about it; like Michael Lewis, Akhtar has a real gift for explaining and dramatizing how markets work. "Making money can get intoxicating," Nick tells Bashir. Watching this exciting play proves it. Whether money ought to be so intoxicating is another matter. It changes all three of Nick's captors, destabilizing their group and ultimately further imperiling Nick. Imam Saleem claims at one point that money rather than religion is the true opiate of the people; Bashir questions Nick's blind faith in the market's supposedly invisible hand. Challenging our illusions, Akhtar thereby frees us to reflect that despite all which divides East from West, what's most invisible to both is how alike they we often are. IF YOU GO "The Invisible Hand" continues through April 3 at the Stiemke Studio, 108 E. Wells St. For tickets, visit milwaukeerep.com. Read more about this production at TapMilwaukee.com. TAKEAWAYS "Nothing to Do With Me": Nick utters those oft-used words early on, in a play continually questioning his blithe assumption that in making money, he and Citibank are simply capitalizing on their knowledge of the market rather than actively robbing Pakistan and its people. Conversely, Bashir wonders whether today's champions of the "free market" are any different than Victorians championing "civilization" or the Spanish championing "Christianity"; as Bashir reads history, each term is an ideological subterfuge justifying the oppression of other peoples. Unfree Markets: In Akhtar's play, markets are anything but free. We'll watch Bashir make money because he has insider knowledge regarding imminent terrorist acts; he's not above manufacturing a crisis of his own if it might influence and give him a jump on what the market will do. But Akhtar rightly suggests in this play that states as well as the revolutionaries trying to overthrow them engage in such terrorism; it was President Nixon, after all, who once ordered the CIA to make Chile's economy "scream," culminating in the first September 11: The U.S.-supported coup that overthrew the democratically elected Marxist government of Salvador Allende on Sept. 11, 1973. "Power, money, cheating. American obsessions," Akhtar once said, in an interview appended to the published version of "The Invisible Hand." "You go back to Tocqueville and see that that's at the heart of whatever our national identity really is," he continued. Challenging us to think about who we and our country are much as he challenges our frequently unthinking belief in terms like "free enterprise" Akhtar thereby tacitly asks us to reflect on the ramifications of our actions, which might in turn make us more self-conscious, careful and even humble as we reflect on our transactions with the world. Old Habits Die Hard: In one of the play's best scenes, Nick momentarily forgets that he's a captive, as he screams at Bashir to execute a trade as though this jailor were some flunkey in an imperial outpost. In this play as elsewhere, Akhtar is acutely aware that our ability to see what's long been invisible to us is regularly thwarted by old habits of thinking involving religion, race, politics and gender. True to what Nick's wife insists in a video clip pleading for his release, Nick truly is a "good man" who "cares about others"; in Coiner's hands, we never doubt that Nick is a fundamentally decent person. Indeed, this production faithfully conveys that every one of the characters in Akhtar's script is likeable. But each of them also has blind spots making it harder for them to see their faults which, in turn makes it harder for them to see and hear each other. Lost and Found in Translation: A rural Pakistani, Dar speaks English with a thick accent; while fluent in English, Imam Saleem speaks with a marked Pakistani accent. Bashir, as noted above, speaks English with a Cockney accent. These differences continually remind us of how hard it can be to find common ground, even when we all think we're talking about the same thing; ditto, here, an entire scene in which Dar and Bashir toggle back and forth between English and Urdu briefly placing Nick and much of the audience in an even more challenging position than Dar is usually in, as we try to make sense of what's going on. There's nothing gimmicky about this bilingual scene; instead it serves as a reminder to Nick and to a similarly situated American audience of a truth Nick sometimes forgets: His way isn't the only way, any more than his view of the market reflects how it actually works. Appearances Can Be Deceiving: All four of Akhtar's characters will prove to be somewhat other than we'd first thought they were, in ways you'll need to see the play to understand. Much as he does with language and accents, Akhtar hereby challenges us to question the assumptions with which we approach the world and those in it. Any good play does so; one of the many things that impresses in this one is that Akhtar's characters are rounded enough to hold the often conflicting multitudes they're asked to contain. And because we believe these characters are capable of changing as they do, the plot line abetting such changes feels credible. As a result, we conclude the play freed to contemplate what it might be like to wear another's shoes. Or, as we see in the ending of this production, freed to contemplate whether we might set off on a different path when we next step into our own shoes. Where will we go and how will we get there, when we next leave the house and go into the world? Get yourself to this wonderful play; you'll see what I mean. A fireboat and a tugboat are docked outside the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay. Credit: Jon Jarosh/Door County Visitor Bureau Weekend Getaway Brian E. Clark SHARE A diorama of the Alvin Clark schooner, which sank in Green Bay in 1864, is on display at the Door County Maritime Museum. Door County Maritime Museum The pilot house of the steamship Elba is on display on the second floor of the Door County Maritime Museum. Door County Maritime Museum By , Door County has a long and rich shipbuilding past, and there's no better place to learn about that history than the Maritime Museum on Sturgeon Bay's waterfront. The museum, which a local citizens group founded in 1969, should only get better when it adds an 11-story tower in the next few years if fundraising projects go as planned, said Jon Gast, a spokesman and tour organizer for the museum. As designed, the lighthouse-inspired tower would be filled with state-of-the-art exhibits and give an impressive view of the southern end of the Door Peninsula, its landscape, shipyards and the canal that connects Lake Michigan with Green Bay. In the meantime, visitors to the museum can gain an understanding of everything from how American Indians traveled by canoe to the graceful schooners that plied the waters here in the 1800s to the huge petroleum barges under construction at the nearby Bay Shipbuilding Corp. There are also scores of miniature ships on display, some put together by the top model builders of their day, and two large Fresnel lenses, one of which came from a Green Bay lighthouse. Come April, travelers will be able to tour the Purves tugboat. "From its earliest days, Sturgeon Bay was always about boats," Gast said. Today, Bay Shipbuilding is the only boat builder left in Sturgeon Bay, but it remains the largest shipyard in the Great Lakes region and is filled with huge vessels under repair, he said. Peterson Builders, known for producing hundreds of sub chasers in World War II, shut down in the 1990s and Palmer Johnson Yachts which builds luxury yachts costing tens of millions of dollars is closing its local operations and moving them to the Netherlands, he said. On a recent tour of the museum, Gast showed me a 15-foot-long, 2-foot-wide dugout canoe that was recovered from Europe Lake on the tip of the peninsula. Estimated to be at least 300 years old, it has a pair of notches on the gunwales that some think were used for oars. "But one visitor said he thought they might have been for outriggers because of the heavy waters that can be whipped up during storms, with waves a dozen feet tall on Lake Michigan and less than that on Green Bay," he said. "In the end, we don't really know. So it's a fun mystery to think about. You can also see black marks from burning, which is how they hollowed it out along with chipping." Though most people associate birch bark canoes with indigenous water travel, he said those watercraft were mostly used by French traders in the region for carrying heavy loads. "In any case, watercraft were the main sources of travel on the peninsula because there were no real roads here until the 19th century," he said. By the 1800s, after Europeans had settled on what was to become Door County, hundreds of schooners were carrying cargo and passengers. Many of them sank on rocks, especially in the treacherous waters in the gap known as Death's Door between the tip of the peninsula and Washington Island. The museum features a plastic-enclosed diorama of the Alvin Clark, a 105-foot-long schooner that was hit by a squall in 1864, capsized and sank off Chambers Island in Green Bay, claiming the lives of its captain and several crew members. It was raised in 1969, moored in Menominee, Mich., at the Mystery Ship Seaport and declared a Michigan State Historic Site in 1972. Though Gast said the ship was in near-pristine condition when it was salvaged after being underwater for more than 100 years, it quickly began to deteriorate when it was exposed to the air and sun. By 1994, it was only a memory. "Oxidation killed it and they ended up burning it," he said. "But we have this diorama, built by the diver who helped bring it up. And the good thing is that the ship became the 'poster child' for Wisconsin's strict maritime preservation laws. Now, you can't take anything from underwater without approval from the Wisconsin Historical Society." The museum also has exhibits on the building of the 7-mile Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, which was dug through the eastern side of the peninsula to connect Lake Michigan and Green Bay. It was started in 1871; smaller boats began using it in 1880 and larger ships in 1890. Funded initially by the president of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway, Gast said the canal became a "freeway off-ramp" to Sturgeon Bay and meant ships no longer had to go around the peninsula. Sturgeon Bay's contribution to World War II shipbuilding is explained in another display. Workers roughly 40% of them women built 257 vessels during the conflict. Most were sub chasers, Gast said. "Ironically, you can see a submarine like the ones built in Manitowoc at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum down there, and then if you come up here, you can learn about the boats that blew (enemy) subs out of the water," he said. "They also built tugs and some troop carriers here." Visitors can also see the modest rowboats complete with sails that were built by the company that became the Palmer Johnson Yacht Co. Fans of outboard motors also can get their fill at the museum, where several dozen many of them built by Wisconsin companies such as Evinrude are lined up in a rack. According to legend, Ole Evinrude invented his first outboard after he had to row 5 miles on a hot summer day to get his fiancee an ice cream cone. The company was originally based in Milwaukee but is now in Sturtevant and part of Bombardier Recreational Products, a Canadian firm. The museum has its whimsical side, too, in the exhibit in the Horton Gallery about seadogs who have traveled with their masters over the water for thousands of years. One of the pooches, a World War II Coast Guard mascot named Sinbad, even had a movie made about him in 1946. "Why seadogs? Because people love dogs," Gast said. "The previous exhibit we had here was about pirates." Visitors with children should be sure to stop in the pilot house of the Elba, where they can blast its horn. Soon, Gast said, the Elba will be fitted with an interactive display that will allow fledgling pilots to steer the 1907 steamship through Sturgeon Bay's waters. More information: The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. January through March; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through June; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July through Labor Day; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the day after Labor Day through December. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for youths 5-17. Tours of the Purves Tugboat are offered April 30 through Oct. 30 and are extra. The museum also runs the Cana Island Lighthouse north of Baileys Harbor in Lake Michigan and the Gills Rock Museum, which focuses on the peninsula's commercial fishing heritage and the dangerous Death's Door passage. For more, call (920) 743-5958 or see dcmm.org. Getting there: The Door County Maritime Museum is at 120 N. Madison Ave., Sturgeon Bay, about 150 miles north of Milwaukee via I-43 and Highway 57. Brian E. Clark is a Madison writer. SHARE By of the The filmmakers behind "Making a Murderer," which centers on convicted killer Steven Avery, have taken preliminary steps to produce new installments of the Netflix documentary series, Variety magazine reported Friday. Avery, 53, and his nephew, Brendan Dassey, 26, were convicted of killing 25-year-old photographer Teresa Halbach in 2005 in Manitowoc County and sentenced to life in prison. The Netflix documentary has renewed debate over Avery's guilt. Since the airing of the documentary, Avery has filed an appeal of his conviction. Directors Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos said that they have spoken to Steven Avery's new lawyer, Kathleen Zellner, about the prospect of filming and have continued to record their conversations with Avery, according to a story posted on the Variety website. SHARE By of the A former New Berlin doctor who served four years in federal prison for illegally dispensing powerful painkillers has had his medical license revoked by the state for posing as a physician. Roger A. Pellmann, 61, who was released from prison in January 2014, came under investigation last year by the state Department of Safety and Professional Services for practicing medicine without a license, according to documents made public earlier this month. Pellmann's medical license was suspended after his conviction, but it was not revoked. He was not allowed to practice with a suspended license. Last year, the state was tipped off that Pellmann was working with a venture capitalist to create what was going to be known as the "RENU Medical Laser Clinic." On a document with details of the proposed operation, Pellmann was listed as medical director, with "20 years experience in this field." It also said all investors and their spouses or significant others would receive unlimited free laser vein treatments. An investigator for the department created a fake name on an email account and contacted Pellmann, posing as an investor who also wanted treatments. In an email back to the investigator, Pellmann said he personally would do the consultations and he is one of the leading experts in ablation of varicose veins in the nation. "I am a solo independent physician and no other physicians are involved," he wrote, according to the state document. "I do house calls so as there is no need for you to come to Milwaukee. I can come to your place, do the consultation, and also present this very lucrative opportunity..." Contacted Friday, Pellmann said he thought the person he was emailing was a federal agent who was trying to set him up. Pellmann said he pretended he was a practicing doctor, as a way to "draw her out" and effectively turn the tables on her. "I thought this was harassment," he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I was trying to draw her out and find out why they were doing this and for that they accused me of practicing without a license." Pellmann gave that same explanation to administrative law judge Jennifer Nashold, who reviewed the case. She didn't buy it. "(Pellmann's) statements are not only contradictory but they also lack credibility" given the "very real way" in which Pellmann presented himself as a doctor, she wrote. Pellmann said because there was no actual clinic building, just a proposed one, he could not be practicing medicine. But the definition under the law says one is practicing medicine if someone holds oneself out as being able to perform medicine. Pellmann said he had been trying to get his license back but denied he has presented himself as a doctor. Pellmann, who lives in Milwaukee, said he works on a construction crew but will not even give his fellow workers medical advice because he is not licensed. On Feb. 20, the state's Medical Examining Board upheld Nashold's ruling and revoked Pellmann's license. Pellmann said Friday he had not been notified of the revocation. Pellmann, who is on federal supervision, said he did not tell his agent about the state case because it was not a law violation, and he didn't think he did anything wrong. Michael Klug, chief U.S. probation officer for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, said Friday the office would look into the issue. Pellmann, who formerly ran the Center for Medical Imaging and Vein and Laser Skin Care Clinics in Germantown, was convicted by a jury of 16 counts of illegally dispensing fentanyl and morphine to a nurse who worked for his clinics in 2009. Pellmann told U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents that he had been treating the registered nurse for pain related to a broken tooth, according to court documents. Pellmann said he eventually gave the nurse about 100 milliliters of fentanyl a day. He admitted the treatment was outside the usual course of practice, his office kept no patient file for the nurse and she was not billed for the drugs. Pellmann, who maintains his innocence, unsuccessfully appealed his conviction. Medical College of Wisconsin student Katherine Umhoefer tries on an Army rucksack and body armor with the help of 1st. Lt. Erin Bullock (left), an Army reservist from Madison, and Chris Kissinger, an Iraq war veteran who served in the Army, as other students look on. Credit: Michael Sears By of the Veronica Renov staggered under the weight, sweat popping out on her temples as she struggled to stand upright. And she hadn't even put on the helmet yet. Sgt. 1st Class Nate Marone, a member of a medical recruiting battalion in Milwaukee, had helped Renov get into a vest weighed down with full canteens, and then pull on his camouflage backpack, filled with a sleeping bag, wet and cold weather gear, ready-to-eat meals and some tools. Renov then stuck the helmet on her head and held a fake M-4 rifle made of rubber. "Oh my God. Walk up a hill with this? My back actually hurts," said Renov, a third-year student at the Medical College of Wisconsin, weighing about 100 pounds more than before she pulled on the "battle rattle." Many of the students will soon treat their own patients in private clinics and hospitals, perhaps unaware at least at first that the person on their exam table is a veteran. Which is why the Medical College of Wisconsin asked active military members, veterans and health care professionals who treat them to talk to the students. Renov and 74 of her classmates all second- and third-year medical students had spent a couple of hours listening to speakers talk about specific health issues facing veterans. Among the most prevalent problems: musculoskeletal pain from wearing body armor for months in Iraq and Afghanistan, giving many post Sept. 11 veterans joints that look like they belong to middle-aged patients. It's the first such training session on veterans health at the Medical College of Wisconsin and was suggested by a student as a way to challenge stereotypes about veterans that students may have, especially since many don't have any close family members who served in the military. "You see before you a soldier, and I want you to look at them from head to toe," said Michael McBride, a psychiatrist at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Light infantry is anything but light." Among the health issues facing Iraq and Afghanistan veterans: hearing loss from explosions and heavy machinery, teeth grinding and sleep apnea from stress of living in a war zone, respiratory problems from breathing dust and sand, kidney stones from dehydration, and foot problems such as plantar fasciitis from carrying heavy military gear. Jeffrey Whittle, a physician at the Milwaukee VA, told students that most veterans don't use VA health care only 9.1 million are currently enrolled. Among them are veterans with service-connected disabilities and noncombat exposure such as radiation during World War II and Korea, Agent Orange in Vietnam, depleted uranium in burn pits during Operation Desert Storm, contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, and toxic-embedded fragments from IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan. "The reality is most of these students will not see patients at the VA, but they will see them and their families in private practice," said Leslie Ruffalo, assistant professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Students were given tips to determine whether a patient has a possible military background. But Ruffalo told students that veterans are very diverse with a variety of experiences and outlooks, and she cautioned them about making assumptions. "No one veteran is like another. Once you've met one veteran, you've met one veteran," said Ruffalo. Helping them to better understand veterans meant putting on their equipment. Which is why several active-duty soldiers and veterans brought gear and opened up Meals Ready to Eat to sample. Taking turns donning military gear, Jack Jorgenson and William Ouyang, both second-year medical students, were surprised at the weight. "Just being able to put it on, just for two minutes, my neck hurt," said Jorgenson, of Milwaukee. "The soldiers talked about how after four hours just how much their backs hurt." After Renov wiggled out of the 60-pound pack and pulled off the rest of the gear, she said: "I can't imagine wearing that every day. The lecture was definitely helpful but actually physically experiencing one tiny percent of what veterans go through was really helpful, too." Milwaukee firefighters work at the scene of a car drove into the back of a parked school bus at N. 46th St. and W. Mill Road on Friday. A passenger in the car was dead at the scene and the driver died Saturday at a hospital. Credit: Rick Wood SHARE By of the The driver of a car that smashed into the rear of a parked school bus in the 4500 block of W. Mill Road died Saturday. Good Samaritans pulled Lasando Rhodes, 36, of Milwaukee, from the burning vehicle, which hit the bus about 7:45 a.m. Friday. He was taken to Froedtert Hospital, according to a medical examiner's report, where he died about 24 hours later. A passenger in the car, Prentiss Rhodes, 40, was killed at the scene. His relationship to the driver was not indicated in the medical examiner's report. According to witnesses, the car, a Ford Taurus, was speeding through traffic when it hit the bus. There were no children on the bus, but the driver sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries. SHARE By of the A 28-year-old woman was critically injured Friday afternoon when she was struck by a vehicle in a Pick 'n Save parking lot in Greenfield, police said. The woman, an employee of the store, was struck by a vehicle driven by an 80-year-old woman about 2 p.m. at the Pick 'n Save store at 4279 S. 76th St., according to a news release from the Greenfield Police Department. According to the release, the driver was completing a turn toward the parking lot's 76th St. exit when she struck the employee, who was walking toward the store. The employee became trapped under the vehicle and was attended to by an on-duty Greenfield firefighter who was at the store before a bystander helped raise the vehicle with a car jack. The victim was removed from underneath the vehicle by other members of the Greenfield Fire Department and taken to Froedtert Hospital, where she was in critical condition, according to the release. Sociologist and author Matthew Desmond lived in a Milwaukee trailer park while doing research for his book Evicted. Credit: Michael Kienitz By of the For all the politics over urban poverty hot-button issues such as welfare, jobs, incarceration, school funding, infant mortality it turns out that one of the most crucial facets has been largely ignored: Just how frequently are renters evicted and why? What happens to the working poor after their mattresses, clothes and keepsakes are thrown onto the curb? Just as crucially: Are there consequences for the stability of neighborhoods and economic well-being of cities? Matthew Desmond, a Madison-trained sociologist who teaches at Harvard University, could not find any studies or statistics, so in 2008 he set out to collect them himself. For his urban laboratory, he chose Milwaukee, embedding himself in one of the nation's most impoverished inner cities. Desmond's research, which grew into a massive, multiyear data-gathering effort, lays bare a phenomenon that is stunning in its everyday commonality. "I was shocked to discover that one in eight Milwaukee renters experienced at least one forced move formal or informal eviction, landlord foreclosure or building condemnation in the two years prior to being surveyed," Desmond wrote in a new book titled "Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City." The book goes on sale this week. Manhattan-based Crown Publishers, which also is publishing a mass-market edition for British readers, chose Milwaukee for the national book launch, which takes place Tuesday. Desmond will speak at Marquette University Law School and Boswell Book Co., followed Wednesday by an appearance at his grad-school alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In an interview, Desmond said he had expected the loss of a job to be a primary driver for an eventual eviction. "But eviction is a bigger cause of job loss than the other way around." Evictions, in other words, not only perpetuate existing poverty, but also create new poverty along with a class of displaced urban nomads. Plenty of academic sociologists task their readers with texts that are dry and wonkish, but Desmond's book defaults in the opposite direction. For six months in 2008, the social scientist moved into a predominantly white trailer park on Milwaukee's south side where dozens of the 131 trailers were delinquent in any given month and then rented for nine months in a low-rent rooming house in a mostly African-American neighborhood on the northwest side. Just as the 2008-'09 financial crisis, triggered by a glut of subprime junk mortgages, was an equal-opportunity evictor that cut across class and race for homeowners, Desmond's view of Milwaukee downplays racial distinctions. His book follows eight Milwaukee individuals and families, often with intimate details, all sharing the common thread of precarious insecurity. Similarly, he immerses himself in the lives of their landlords, who sometimes give tenants a break, sometimes buy them groceries and sometimes kick them out. "The landlords in this book are not villains," said Amanda Seligman, a professor of history and urban studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, who read an advance copy. An American story Although Desmond qualifies as an Ivy League academic, in an interview and in his book, he ticks off Milwaukee streets, neighborhoods and landmarks like a native. "This book is set in Milwaukee but it tells an American story," writes Desmond, extolling how Milwaukee's renter protections and eviction data are akin to what would be found in Baltimore, Kansas City, Cleveland, Chicago and a roster of other cities. Among other empirical findings that Desmond weaves in: Nationally, in 2013, one in eight poor renting families was unable to pay all of its rent and a similar number thought it was likely it would be evicted soon. Many Americans aim to spend a third of their income on housing and utilities. But for the vast majority of poor renting families in the U.S., it's at least half, according to conservative calculations. And one in four spends more than 70% for shelter in turn, as Desmond shows, forcing decisions like paying rent vs. paying a sister's funeral costs. In Milwaukee, a city of about 105,000 renter households, landlords evict roughly 16,000 adults and children each year, which comes out to 16 families evicted through the court system daily. "That's an enormous figure," said UWM's Seligman. The official evictions are just part of the picture. There are cheaper and quicker ways for landlords to remove tenants than legal filings and sheriff squads. "Informal evictions" include bribing tenants to leave or taking off the front door. Among Milwaukee renters, evictions hit women and children far more often than men. Just as incarceration statistically has come to define the lives of too many men in poor African-American neighborhoods, evictions shape the lives of women. "Poor black men were locked up; poor black women were locked out," Desmond says in the book. The likelihood of being laid off increases for workers who have experienced an eviction. "An eviction is an incredibly time consuming and stressful event," which put the rest of life on hold while a person seeks basic shelter, straining ties to employers, particularly in the low-wage sector, Desmond said. Domino effect It wasn't always this way in America. Looking at historical documents of the last century, Desmond found that evictions were once so rare that they'd draw large crowds, sometimes protesting the indignity of involuntary displacement. "These days, there are sheriff squads whose full-time job is to carry out eviction and foreclosure orders. There are moving companies specializing in evictions, their crews working all day, every weekday," Desmond writes. Desmond documents job-loss probabilities and other findings through his Milwaukee Area Renters Study. With the backing of foundations and the University of Wisconsin Survey Center, the MARS project employed a dozen doctoral student researchers, statisticians and surveyors, who interviewed 1,100 Milwaukee renters from 2009 to 2011. Desmond himself analyzed hundreds of thousands of court-ordered evictions, reams of police call logs, public property records and psychological evaluations. He surveyed hundreds of landlords to calculate their profit margins. After his MARS findings appeared in sociology journals, the John T. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation last year recognized Desmond with a "genius" grant making him one of 24 to receive a no-strings-attached fellowship of $625,000 over five years. Job loss is not the only domino effect triggered by an eviction. Children are taken out of school. Belongings and heirlooms are lost. Other landlords won't rent to you. Families are pushed into substandard housing in undesirable parts of the city. Desmond saw firsthand how some became sick and even massively depressed. "It takes a good amount of time and money to establish a home. Eviction can erase all that." Urban isolation "Evicted" joins a growing body of data-driven urban sociology that shares a fascination with individual neighborhoods. This school of social scientists is drawn to a phenomenon known as "neighborhood effects," which show up repeatedly in research across the nation: physical, place-based dynamics that can perpetuate enduring environments of poverty, crime and even elevated infant mortality within a defined geographic community even as residents grow up and move out or broader economic cycles wax and wane. Desmond, for instance, found that Milwaukee neighborhoods register higher rates of violent crime in the year that follows increased eviction rates. And landlords routinely refuse to rent to families with children even as neighborhoods with more children experienced more evictions. Desmond ruminates that a stable home begets school stability for kids, increasing their chance of graduation. It gives an incentive to participate in civic life, community groups and classic over-the-fence conversations with neighbors. High-turnover neighborhoods, by contrast, lead to urban isolation and the sort of pernicious distrust that erodes cohesion, wiping out a sense of front-porch America. While the MARS study breaks new ground in urban sociology, what's equally impressive in Desmond's book is the "lucid prose that is sympathetic without being condescending," said UWM's Seligman, who is editor of the online Encyclopedia of Milwaukee. In a recent edition of Harvard Magazine, Desmond described what he calls his process of "ethnography": "I sat beside families at eviction court; helped them move; followed them into shelters and abandoned houses; watched their children; ate with them; slept at their houses; attended church, counseling sessions, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and Child Protective Services appointments with them; joined them at births and funerals; and generally embedded myself as deeply as possible into their lives." His notes spanned more than 5,000 single-spaced pages. That level of immersion, he said, left him depressed. But he also learned a "pacing technique" from those who live with urban trauma people who "cannot afford to give all their energy to today's emergency only to have none left for tomorrow's." "You do learn how to cope from those who are coping." National book launch in Milwaukee "Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City," by Harvard University sociology professor Matthew Desmond, goes on sale Tuesday with a pair of events in Milwaukee, the city Desmond used to research his main findings. He scheduled a separate event Wednesday in Madison. Desmond will appear at 12:15 p.m. at Marquette University Law School's Eckstein Hall, 1215 W. Michigan St., for an "On the Issues" discussion with moderator Mike Gousha. The complimentary event is sold out. To be added to the waitlist or watch a live-stream feed from video screens in the lobby, email christine.wv@marquette.edu. The event also will be live-streamed on the law school's website, law.marquette.edu/current-students/issues-matthew-desmond, and a podcast will be available after the event. At 7 p.m., Desmond will appear at Boswell Book Company, 2559 N. Downer Ave. The free event is co-sponsored by the Milwaukee-based Community Advocates Public Policy Institute. At 4 p.m. Wednesday, Desmond will appear at the Fluno Center, 601 University Ave., on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. That event also reached capacity but will be live streamed (www.uwalumni.com/event/mattdesmond). To be placed on a waitlist, contact (608) 308-5346. SHARE Bureaucratic incompetence on IDs The fact that the voter ID law was passed without a provision for use of a veteran's ID card is bad enough ("Bradley's uncle unable to vote last week with veterans ID," Feb. 24). Wouldn't you think that anyone involved, including Gov. Scott Walker, would have asked what status was being given to any existing form of photo ID to make sure there would be no typical thoughtless bureaucratic, embarrassing, if not downright stupid, oversights. But to compound this snafu by saying we don't think we can get this done by the April 5 election is just another example of politicians and bureaucrats being overly enamored with their own self-centered importance and false interpretation of what being truly busy really means. They expect the voters to actually believe they have so many important things to do that they can't quickly put in place a process to allow veterans without driver's licenses to vote. This is a case where the governor, as a leader, needs to send a message to those in his government that he expects to have done whatever is necessary in time for the election or he will invite those responsible to a news conference with him to explain to him, the media and the public why it is not possible to adjust their "busy" schedules to allow those who sacrificed so much for this democracy to vote in this democracy. There are those who will try to use this as a reason to say the voter ID law should not have passed. Not true! This should not be confused with the good or bad merits of the law. It is a simple case of bureaucratic incompetence and lack of common sense accountability and foresight that we continue to see so much in our government today. Steven Green Delafield Bradley should have helped As a veteran of 30 active duty years in the U S. Navy, I thought it was quite embarrassing of Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley failing to get her patriotic uncle a proper ID for voting ("Bradley's uncle unable to vote last week with veterans ID," Feb. 24). Surely, she above most others knows what the procedures are, and to admit she failed in taking care of a fellow veteran is sad. I go the VA hospital every now and then, where postings are displayed about voting procedures. I receive numerous emails and letters from veteran groups and political advocates telling me of voting procedures. It's been on every news channel talking about the new policies for voting. It's been in the Madison and Milwaukee newspapers telling the same story, even to the point of the state offering free IDs for all so that they can vote. Yet a Supreme Court justice with a patriotic father did not care. Shameful to say the least. Justin Frehlich Oak Creek No audience for liberal radio A recent column by James Causey laments the lack of "progressive" (code word for liberal) talk radio in Milwaukee ("Progressives want to even the score on Milwaukee talk radio," Crossroads, Feb. 21). He believes that liberal talk radio doesn't exist in Milwaukee because of some right-wing conspiracy to shut it down. He believes that the reason there are five conservative talkers and only one part-time "progressive" is because of some right-wing conspiracy. Causey says he attended an event where there was a packed room of people who all believe radio is responsible for shifting public opinion to the right, another right-wing conspiracy. Well, this packed room is nothing compared to the tens of thousands of people who listen to conservative talk radio every day. Causey says the group in the packed room wants to buy a radio station to further their cause. This won't change the fact that without listeners and advertising dollars the station will lose money and soon be out of business. That is the way the free enterprise system works. If there were enough listeners for a "progressive" talk radio show, someone would fill that need and use the format to make a profit. The bottom line is that there just aren't enough listeners who believe they are victims and want to listen to the voice of victimhood. Causey would do his readers a huge service if he would write about throwing off the weight of victim status and using the opportunity we all have to be successful instead. Norm Behling Franklin GOP strategy could backfire Two related items in the Feb. 24 Journal Sentinel caught my attention. A front-page article covered the decision by Republican leaders to not consider any nominee President Barack Obama may submit for filling the Supreme Court vacancy ("Senate GOP: No hearings"). The "Opinions" section included a letter from Thomas Zachek that detailed how such a strategy would be without precedent and a dereliction of duty ("Schneider's skewed vision"). Has the Republican leadership adequately considered the risks to its party? Do the leaders remember the consequences of shutting down the government in 2013 on budget disagreements? If the Democratic candidate wins the presidential election, I doubt that she or he will offer nominees more favorable to the GOP. What then? And if the majority of voters blame the Republicans for their dissatisfaction with government, the GOP may find its control of the Senate eroding. Per the Pew Poll of Feb. 18-21, the majority of Americans want the Senate to act on the president's nominee. The very emergence of political newcomer Donald Trump as the GOP front-runner signals that some of the old ways, including obstructionism, should be abandoned. A fair and timely hearing for the nominee of the president may be the best deal the Republicans are going to get. Wally Marks Greendale Was president's term cut? So Christian Schneider is urging Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) to stick to his guns and refuse to consider any vote to fill the Supreme Court vacancy ("Johnson shouldn't budge on court," Crossroads, Feb. 21). Can either of them point out just when the president's term was cut to three years? Michael Loew Milwaukee Prosecutorial bias? The bias of prosecutorial discretion in the Milwaukee district attorney office is glaring steal $100,000, spend it on lavish dinners and jewelry, get deferred (preferred) prosecution and slapped on the wrist with a misdemeanor, community service and probation ("Priest pleads guilty to embezzlement," Feb. 23). That's totally ridiculous. In my opinion, not only a full scale pattern and practice review of the Milwaukee Police Department by the U.S. Justice Department is warranted, it also should include a prosecutorial bias review of the district attorney's office. The totally bias discretion used to not prosecute this priest to the fullest extent is a continuation of the legacy of E. Michael McCann, who never met a pedophile priest that he was willing to charge or his deputy Jon Reddin, who refused to charge any police officers with crimes regardless of the overwhelming evidence of their bad behaviors and records of abuse. The current district attorney, John Chisholm, inherited and is current overseer of this culture of prosecutorial favoritism, and this deal clearly shows the continued maintenance of that legacy. This is a major reason why many citizens don't trust and view as biased the current system of criminal justice in Milwaukee. This case is just another insult to the concept of fairness and justice. Roy B. Evans Milwaukee Great news on solar energy What great news in the back of the business section Feb. 23: "Solar posts sunniest year!" Solar and wind together accounted for two-thirds of new electric capacity in 2015. At last, through the hard work of countless innovators and advocates around the world, clean, carbon-free power is becoming really affordable. At the same time, 2015 was the hottest year for the planet since modern records began, handily beating the previous record holder, 2014. January was the ninth month in a row to set a record for monthly warmth. Sea levels are rising. The climate is shifting. Some leaders see both the risks and the opportunities ahead. Republican congressman Carlos Curbelo recently co-founded the Climate Solutions Caucus in the House. Curbelo is from Florida, which is both the "Sunshine State" and the state where 2.4 million Americans live within four feet of high tide. The rapid growth of solar and other clean technologies is great news. Let's celebrate it, and let's tell our leaders to support policies so that kind of news will keep on coming. Michael Arney Wauwatosa Defunding Planned Parenthood Don't Republican legislators and governors realize that by enacting laws to defund Planned Parenthood they are actually promoting abortion, sexually transmitted disease and more children on public assistance ("Walker cuts Planned Parenthood funding," Feb. 19)? The vast majority of Planned Parenthood's work involves reproductive education and access to contraception, cancer and STD screening and other issues related to planning and preparing for pregnancy. All of society benefits from that work. Many women and teens in Wisconsin, as in other states, use Planned Parenthood services because services from other health care providers are unattainable due to distance, cost or both. States such as Texas, which already has cut funding or made rules so onerous Planned Parenthood has had to close clinics, have seen soaring rates of STD and unintended pregnancies that have swollen the rolls of children on public assistance. And those who can do so find other means to terminate unintended life or health-threatening pregnancies. The adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure applies here. By cutting Planned Parenthood funding, Walker and equally shortsighted legislators are, indeed, cutting off their noses to spite life- and health-savers' faces. Jerrianne Hayslett South Milwaukee Where's the beef, GOP? Lately, I have been reflecting on the statements made by our Republican senators and representatives to Congress, which has led me to wonder: What, exactly, is your plan, Republicans? House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) continually talks about reforming the tax code, lowering corporate rates and replacing the Affordable Care Act. Well, in the words of the 1970s' commercials, "Where's the beef?" The Republicans have had a stranglehold on Congress for nearly two full years and have done nothing in these areas. They have voted to repeal portions of the Affordable Care Act over 40 times, yet have not voted once on a better alternative, because they don't have one. They have not decreased the complexity of the tax code by one page, yet have vociferously spoken about how it needs to be done. Does anyone seriously think that the president would veto tax simplification if Congress was able to figure it out? I keep hearing about how Republicans need to move forward with their agenda, but beyond grandstanding over whether they should do their job and actually advise and consent to a Supreme Court nominee, I don't believe they have a plan. Incidentally, I also wonder why my votes in the last two elections don't matter as much as the votes that may be made in the upcoming election for candidates who haven't even been chosen yet. Michael Schmidt Oak Creek Why oxycodone? My thoughts and prayers go out to the family that lost their 9-year-old son from a simple tonsillectomy ("Boy dies after tonsillectomy," Feb. 17). I was totally shocked with what the doctor gave them for pain medication oxycodone. Really! That is one of the most powerful and addictive pain killers on the market. Wasn't there anything else available? I know people who have been given oxycodone for pain, and when it was cut off, they went to heroin. Again, this is showing us how the drug industry is really running our lives. Watch the commercials on TV, every other one is, "take this and feel better." Linda Steinke Oak Creek Take back Wisconsin Our governor, Scott Walker, was elected with money from the Koch brothers. How do we stop non-residents from inonresidents our elections to further their special interests? First, every dime must be disclosed. Only donations from Wisconsinites should be accepted. There should be no corporate donations. There also should be a maximum donation allowed of $2,500 per person. Finally, there should be no super PACs or "dark money." Wisconsin lawmakers should be funded and chosen by Wisconsin people. It's time we take back our state. Gerre Jarecki Waukesha Questions on Waukesha water Regarding the recommendation of Jodi Habush Sinykin, an attorney with the Midwest Environmental Advocates, to "Reject Waukesha water deal," this has me wondering why a diversion from the east side of the Great Lakes Subcontinental Divide should be rejected, but a diversion from the west side of the divide is perfectly fine. Muskego, my community, along with other communities along the divide have been sending water from the west side of the divide to the Great Lakes for many decades. Our sewage, which contains western water, is being treated by Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and deposited into Lake Michigan. Isn't there a double standard in place and why? Is money or politics an issue involved with her recommendation? The radium that is removed from deep wells needs to be shipped and stored in facilities probably in the western United States, thus increasing the cost of treating Waukesha's water and contributing to the amount of radioactive material being stored in those facilities. Why is beer, soda and bottled water produced on the east side of the divide allowed to be sold and consumed on the west side of the divide? So many questions, but only political answers. Randall Hojnacki Muskego Cleon Suggs, working for Kids In Transition, an outpatient clinic for substance abusers, selects food items for his organization at the Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin distribution center at 1700 W Fond Du Lac Ave., in Milwaukee on Thursday. Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin works with a network of pantries, soup kitchens, meal programs and homeless shelters to distribute food in 36 counties in eastern Wisconsin. Poverty in Wisconsin hit its highest level in 30 years during the five-year period ending in 2014, even though the nation's economy is improving, according to a new analysis by UW-Madison's Applied Population Laboratory. Credit: Mike De Sisti Gov. Scott Walker got it exactly right last week when he said that the state Senate should put its focus next month on the economy instead of side issues such as fining so-called sanctuary cities. And his point was emphasized by two new reports related to poverty in Wisconsin, one that says poverty hit its highest level in 30 years during the five-year period ending in 2014 and one that ranked Milwaukee among the 10 most distressed cities in America. These are the state's most serious issues, as workers and businesses across Wisconsin know and as Walker acknowledged when he told senators they need to work on improving the economy. When the Senate convenes in March, it will be taking up 200 some bills. Senators should be looking at any bill that will help provide jobs, improve the business climate, provide training for workers, improve education outcomes for students who can eventually fill those jobs and help ensure the neighborhoods where they grow up are safe. Senators should be concerned by the general numbers in the data, but especially by the data that show a widening poverty gap between blacks and whites which grew here as the average gap was flat across the nation and data on the state's child poverty rate, which also went up significantly. Here's what the Journal Sentinel's Karen Herzog reported last week: Even as the nation's economy was recovering from the Great Recession, the number of Wisconsin residents living in poverty averaged 13% the highest since 1984, according to a trend analysis by UW-Madison's Applied Population Laboratory. Poverty increased more dramatically across Wisconsin than in many other states, though 46 of the 50 states saw a significant increase in total population living in poverty between the five-year periods ending in 2009 and 2014, according to the UW-Madison analysis. An unrelated study released Thursday by the Economic Innovation Group found the gap between the richest and poorest American communities widening, and ranked Milwaukee the seventh most distressed city in America, with 52% of the population considered economically distressed. Scott Adams, chair UWM's economics department raised questions about the overall numbers in the UW-Madison analysis but acknowledged that the growing poverty gap between blacks and whites in Wisconsin were of concern. "What it reflects is the black population in Wisconsin was left completely out of the recovery," he said, adding that the finding, coupled with Milwaukee's high ranking among the most distressed American cities, "signals we have tremendous concerns." Yes, we do. This is not just about poverty in Milwaukee; it's about poverty across the state, and about building an economy that works for everyone. By bringing that to the attention of senators, Walker shows he understands the paramount issue. We hope the senators get the message. Jim Leonhard asked the UW players: Are you in or are you out? The Aedes aegypti mosquito transmits the Zika virus. Credit: Associated Press SHARE By , New York Zika infections have been confirmed in nine pregnant women in the United States, including one who gave birth to a baby with a rare birth defect, health officials said Friday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was investigating 10 more reports of pregnant travelers with Zika. All got the virus while visiting or living in places with Zika outbreaks. Also on Friday, the CDC issued a caution to people planning to attend the Olympics this summer in Rio de Janeiro. The U.S. cases add to reports out of Brazil. Officials there are exploring a possible link to babies born with unusually small heads, a rare birth defect called microcephaly, which can signal underlying brain damage. Zika has become epidemic in Latin America and the Caribbean since last fall. The virus, mainly spread through mosquito bites, causes mild illness or no symptoms in most people. Since August, the CDC has tested 257 pregnant women for Zika; eight were positive, and a state lab confirmed a ninth. Three of the women have delivered babies; two of the newborns are apparently healthy, and one was born with microcephaly. Two women had miscarriages, but it's unknown if the Zika infection was the cause. Two women had abortions, one after scans showed the fetus had an undeveloped brain. Details were not provided for the second case. Two pregnancies are continuing with no reported complications. Five of the women had Zika symptoms in the first trimester, including those who had the miscarriages, abortions and newborn with microcephaly. In its report Friday, the CDC did not give the women's hometowns; state health officials have said there were two pregnant women with Zika in Illinois, three in Florida and one in Hawaii, who gave birth to a baby with microcephaly. That mother had lived in Brazil early in her pregnancy. The CDC said all are U.S. residents, but it declined to answer a question on their citizenship. The health agency said the nine women had been to places with Zika outbreaks American Samoa, Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Samoa. Those destinations are among the 30 places now on the CDC's travel alert. It recommends that pregnant women postpone trips to those areas. While the link between Zika and the birth defect has not been confirmed, the possibility has prompted health officials to take cautionary steps to protect fetuses. That includes advice that Zika-infected men who have pregnant partners use condoms or abstain from sex. In new guidance issued Friday night, the CDC addressed people planning to travel to Brazil for the 2016 Olympic Games in August and the 2016 Paralympic Games in September. The agency again advised that pregnant women consider not going and that their male sexual partners use condoms after the trip or abstain from sex during the pregnancy. Women who are trying to become pregnant should talk to their doctors before making the trip, the CDC advised. The CDC also recommends that all travelers use insect repellent while in Zika outbreak areas and continue to use it for three weeks after travel in case they might be infected but not sick. That's to prevent mosquitoes from biting them and possibly spreading Zika to others in the U.S. The type of mosquito that spreads Zika is in parts of the South. The CDC has set up a voluntary registry to collect information about Zika-infected women and their babies. Officials also have made Zika a reportable disease. Research also is underway into a possible link between Zika and a paralyzing condition in adults called Guillain-Barre. The CDC also updated its investigation into 14 cases of possible sexual transmission of Zika from male travelers to their sex partners in the U.S. Two cases have been confirmed, four more are probable and two have been dropped, the report said. Zika is primarily spread by mosquito bites, and transmission through sex was thought to be extremely rare. It has been surprising that this many instances appear to have happened in the U.S., CDC Director Tom Frieden noted during a call with reporters. Similarly, the number of U.S. cases involving evidence of microcephaly or brain abnormalities "is greater than we would have expected," said the CDC's Denise Jamieson. So far, 107 travel-related Zika infections have been diagnosed in 24 states and the District of Columbia. Reddit Email 0 Shares Maan News Agency | BETHLEHEM (Maan) Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah on Thursday condemned Israels deliberate destruction of EU-funded structures in the occupied Palestinian territory, as he called on the international community to take action. Israel must be held accountable for its deliberate targeting of EU-funded humanitarian aid structures built for the Bedouin communities in Area C, the prime minister said in a statement. He accused Israel of destroying EU-funded structures in an apparent retaliation for the EU guidelines on indication of origin products from Israeli settlements. He called for an immediate intervention by the international community to put an end to the destruction of Palestinian-owned property in Area C, referring to more than 60 percent of the occupied West Bank where Israel has full military and civil control. Recent weeks have seen a dramatic surge in home demolitions carried out by Israeli forces, with nearly 500 Palestinians left homeless since the beginning of the year. Among the homes and structures destroyed were a number provided by the EU. Hamdallahs office drew particular attention to the demolition last week of an elementary school in the Abu Nuwwar Bedouin community east of Jerusalem, which was funded by France. Israeli rights group BTselem, meanwhile, has highlighted a number of other cases of structures provided by the EU being torn down, and Israeli media reported earlier this month that the EU may seek compensation from Israel for donated structures demolished in the E1 corridor. In November last year, the EU ruled that settlement goods could no longer be labeled Made in Israel and would instead have to indicate their origin in occupied territory. Israel expressed outrage at the ruling, although no officials have publicly linked recent demolitions to the EU regulations. Hamdallahs spokesperson, Jamal Dajani, said in the statement: More than 480 Palestinians have lost their homes and were forcefully transferred equivalent to over half the total number of Palestinians displaced in all of 2015. The EU missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah have condemned the recent home demolitions, calling on Israel to meet its obligations regarding the living conditions of the Palestinian population in Area C. It reiterated its strong opposition to Israels settlement policy and actions taken in this context, including demolitions and confiscation, evictions, forced transfers, including of Bedouins, and restrictions of movement and access. Via Maan News Agency Related video added by Juan Cole: Press TV from last week: UN: Israel must halt destruction of Palestinian homes Reddit Email 0 Shares TeleSur | According to a new poll, more than 80 percent of all Latinos in the U.S. view Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump unfavorably. The popularity of United States Republican presidential Donald Trump, who is leading in the race to the nomination, has been tanking in recent months within the Latino community across the country as eight in 10 Hispanics view the billionaire unfavorably, according to a Washington Post-Univision News poll released Thursday. The poll also finds that seven out of 10 had a very unfavorable impression of the billionaire businessman. The poll shows that Trumps comments on immigration and the Mexico wall he vows to build if elected president have increasingly been hurting his chances within the Latino community. Thursdays poll is more damaging than an earlier poll on the same group. In June, a Univision survey showed that seven in 10 Hispanic voters viewed Trump unfavorably, including six in 10 very unfavorably. Furthermore, Thursdays poll also shows Trump has the worst views from Latinos in the U.S. compared to other leading Republican candidates, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, who are both of Cuban descent. Rubio is seen favorably among the surveyed group with 45 percent in favor and 37 percent with an unfavorable impression. However, Ted Cruz is viewed slightly less negatively at 44 percent while 39 percent have a positive impression of him. Also, Trump would not stand a chance among Latinos in a hypothetical presidential race between him and Democratic presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton. According to the poll, Clinton beats Trump among Hispanics by a 57-point margin. Meanwhile, she leads John Kasich by 43 points, Cruz by 38 points and Rubio by 30 points. Via TeleSur - Related video added by Juan Cole: TeleSur from last week: Latinos in the U.S. Speak Out Reddit Email 0 Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | Whether or not the cessation of hostilities in Syria holds, it is a major turning point in the revolution and civil war that began in 2011. As of Saturday morning in Syria, the major fronts between the regime and the Muslim Brotherhood factions were quiet. There continued to be some fighting between the Syrian Arab Army of dictator Bashar al-Assad and al-Qaeda in the north of Latakia, and between government forces and Daesh (ISIS, ISIL) southeast of Aleppo. Those two groups were excluded by Russia and Syria from the ceasefire, and they themselves denounced it, so fighting with them will continue. Likewise, the besieged towns of Madaya and Zabadani, where the regime has starved out civilians as well as militants, will continue to be attacked, according to Damascus, because a significant portion of their armed guerrillas are Syrian al-Qaeda (the Nusra Front). Here are the implications of the cessation of hostilities, for the moment: 1. The regime in Damascus is no longer in danger of being overthrown for the foreseeable future. The 4 major means of besieging and getting rid of the al-Assad government were: a. to cut the capital of Damascus off from resupply by cutting the route from the port of Latakia to the southern, inland seat of government by taking Homs. But Homs has been decisively retaken by the regime and rebel groups to its north have been pushed back. b. to take the province of Latakia, including the port, by moving west from militant-controlled Idlib province. But Latakia has been completely retaken by the regime except for some northern pockets, and it is al-Qaeda strongholds in Idlib that are in danger now. c. To take all of Aleppo, the largest city, in the north, thus reducing the regime to holding only a southern rump city and isolating it in preparation for capture. But regime-held west Aleppo, cut off last October, has been rescued and supply lines for the most part restored. It is rebel-held east Aleppo that was in danger of falling before the ceasefire. Now, at most, the de facto division of the city will be prolonged. But there seems little chance of a rebel takeover of the whole enchilada. d. For the rebels, both al-Qaeda and Muslim Brotherhood, to move up from Deraa in the south to the capital and take it directly (this was the strategy Churchill tried at Gallipoli, of going straight for the Ottoman capital during WW I, via the shortest landing-point). But the regime has pushed the rebels south from the capital in recent weeks and on Friday took Deraa al-Balad 56 miles south of the capital. All four pathways to a successful revolution have now been closed off. Unless things change radically on the battlefield, there is no longer any prospect any time soon of a rebel victory. The implications of this situation are that the regime has survived and the rebels are on the ropes. This configuration could change in the future, but for now, the insurgency is on the ropes. Moreover, if the mainly Muslim Brotherhood remnants of the Free Syrian Army maintain the ceasefire with the regime, then they are freeing up Syrian Arab Army troops to fight al-Qaeda and Daesh. In essence, Putin has managed to divide the opposition into those willing to observe a cessation of hostilities and those who are not, or from whom Russia would not accept such an offer. Only having to fight the Nusra Front/ al-Qaeda and Daesh gives the Syrian army and its allies an advantage. They dont have to guard their rear positions as much, and can be more aggressive in targeting the al-Qaeda linked groups. If the less radical Free Syria Army factions around Homs, Hama and in west Aleppo maintain the ceasefire, they are essentially entering into negotiations with the regime. From there, the step to participating in new elections is not a very large one. Russia has shown a credible interest in coopting them, and it might now be able to do so in some instances. This eventuality would make it actually not necessary for the SAA and Russia to defeat the less radical rebels, a real savings in military resources. If the remaining fighting to be done in Syria is against al-Qaeda and Daesh, then Russia has a great diplomatic victory and is essentially on the same side as NATO. The West can hardly complain about Russia doing in those two organizations, even if the US has been de factor allying with the allies of al-Qaeda until now. The revived Syrian Arab Army and its Iranian, Iraqi and Hizbullah allies can certainly take Raqqa and polish off Daesh in Syria if they dont have to worry about Free Syrian Army units attacking Homs or the outskirts of Damascus. If Daesh falls, Russia will get a lot of the credit for it in places like France, which Daesh attacked twice last year in horrible acts of terrorism. The cessation of hostilities is fragile and could easily fall apart. But it was already more successful Saturday morning than was earlier thought likely. That it is happening at all freezes the board at a point where Russia and the regime hold most of the cards. It could be the beginning of the end of the war. - Related video RT America: Exclusive report from Aleppo: Syrias divided city Reddit Email 0 Shares By Domenica Ghanem | (Foreign Policy in Focus) | The U.S. military apparently thinks Muslim womens clothing choices rather than, say, drone strikes are a driver of terrorism. Women are used to getting blamed for wearing too little. Can they now also be blamed for wearing too much? Misogynists have spun the old trope that what women wear is somehow the cause of what men do time and time again. But thanks to the Air Force, Muslim women are now getting a disturbingly refreshing take on the subject. Were used to getting blamed for the violence of men when we wear too little. Now we can also take credit for the violence of men when we wear too much. In Countering Violent Extremism: Scientific Methods and Strategies, a recent white paper issued by the Air Force Research Laboratory, contributor Tawfik Hamid claims men join terrorist organizations because theyre sexually deprived by women who wear hijabs. Hamid, a self-described former Islamic extremist, calls the traditional head covering a form of passive terrorism and makes weakening the hijab phenomenon a pivotal piece of his plan to combat Islamic extremism. There lies the gross generalization: Women like me who wear hijabs are terrorists. I think some editor may have missed an error in the subtitle of this report namely the part that suggests this claim has anything to do with science. Indeed, in a preface, the reports editor hailed the document as more relevant than ever. Im always incredulous when I hear a powerful man tell a group of other powerful men that theyll all be safer if more women just take off their clothes. But exalting testimonials from high-ranking military officials are featured prominently on Hamids website, so Im willing to test the theory. Thus, in the interest of science, I have some questions about a few things that must not have come up during his research. I dont wear a hijab every day, but I usually wear one on my way to the mosque on Fridays. Will I only end up on a no-fly list at the end of the week, then? Do I only count as a passive terrorist during those times when I choose to cover my hair and wear loose clothing? Alternately, am I revered as a peacemaker on the days when I let my locks flow free and I put on skinny jeans? How can I tell when Ill be targeted for looking too Muslim? Since this is a scientific paper, we should test other variables too. For example, are Christian nuns who may hold conservative values and cover their bodies also to blame for violent extremism? What does the science say on head-to-toe covering in different religions? Is it only Muslim women whose modest dress conjures up uncontrollable, testosterone-infused rage in men? I wont hold my breath waiting for the answers. Wearing a hijab means something different to each woman. Its a very personal decision that has absolutely nothing to do with whether our male counterparts will strap on a suicide vest. But more to the point, claims like Hamids arent just offensive to women. They let the U.S. government itself off the hook for foreign policies like invasions, drone strikes, arms sales to oppressive regimes, and military interventionism in the Muslim world that play a much bigger role in driving terrorism than what a woman chooses to wear on her head. I find it a little hard to believe that if I stop wearing my hijab on Eid [Muslim Holy Day], those men who have seen their homes destroyed, weddings bombed, and refugee children drowned as a result of U.S. militarism will feel less inclined to return the favor. Domenica Ghanem is a communications assistant at the Institute for Policy Studies. Via Foreign Policy in Focus Related video added by Juan Cole: LipTV2: Hijab is Passive Terrorism According to US Military LINCOLN Secretary of State John Gale set the slate of presidential candidates who will appear on the ballot for the May 10 primary election. According to a press release, Gale said his decision is based on which candidates continue to be active; not on winners and losers from the primaries. Only candidates from recognized political parties in the state can appear on the ballot. This year, they include the Republican, Democratic and Libertarian parties. Republican candidates are Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, John Kasich, Marco Rubio and Donald Trump. Democratic candidates are Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Libertarian candidates are Marc Feldman, Gary Johnson, Steve Kerbel, John McAfee and Austin Petersen. My office conducts a responsible and ongoing search to arrive at our final list of party candidates for the Nebraska primary, Gale said in a press release. The candidates have until March 10 to remove their names from the ballot. Gale said candidates also may petition onto the primary ballot if they consider themselves to be an active candidate in one of Nebraskas three recognized parties. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Protesters hold up paddles and whistle during a demonstration on Botafogo Beach, in the Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 6, 2015, near where Olympic sailing events are to be held. Activists, alleging that decades of neglect and authorities' repeated failure to make good on cleanup promises have effectively killed one of Rio de Janeiro's most iconic waterways, staged a symbolic burial of the Guanabara Bay, the sewage-filled waters where Olympic sailing competitions are to be held, on Saturday. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) 333 Shares Share It is easy to lose oneself while swimming in a sea of medical facts surrounded by overburdened physicians and high-acuity cases. Initially, it is difficult taking care of one patient, much less a whole service. The transition from student to student-doctor is not as homophonic as the semantics would suggest and this transition affects the mental health of thousands of medical students each year. Medicine is less a profession and more a way of life, and physicians, arguably, take their work home more than any other professional. In a literal sense, home call is doing exactly that, and this prevents physicians from leading lives in which they are satisfied by their work-life balance. Surveys of over seven thousand physicians have found almost half of all physicians to suffer from at least one symptom of burnout and a similar percentage to be dissatisfied with work-life balance. Job dissatisfaction has been shown to be significantly associated with the estimated 300 to 400 annual physician suicides. We have known about the dangers of physician suicide and drug abuse since the early 1900s, as evidenced in peer-reviewed literature. But there seems to be no improvement in the rate of annual suicides amongst physicians since at least the 1970s. Some have proposed that poor physician mental health is due to physicians having been trained to be superhuman, which results in them feeling inadequate when they require assistance. Others have blamed the culture of medicine as a whole, with its indoctrination of physicians as wholly self-sacrificing individuals. They contend that the culture instills an exaggerated sense of duty and perfectionism magnifying poor mental, physical, and emotional health. Physician well-being has been an area of prolonged investigation, but slow progress. The effect of mindfulness and meditation on the mental and emotional stability of health professionals has more recently become an active area of research. The basic definition of mindfulness is the simple practice of being conscious and present as much as possible. Meditation, as a branch of the mindfulness tree, can informally be defined as using periods of intense focus to hone the skill of being mindful, whether that focus is directed towards only your breath, or a mantra that is repeated for variable amounts of time. The goal of this process is to translate your thoughts more directly into actions in everyday life and be more proactive in dealing with situations in a stable or centered manner. Biologically, several studies have documented neuroanatomical changes in people with a long history of meditation. Specifically, findings such as increased gray matter density and cortical thickness in regions of the somatosensory and insular areas have been repeatedly verified. More importantly, these anatomical changes have been shown to be related to psychological and emotional changes resulting in significant reduction of several psychological indices related to worry, state anxiety, and depression. Growth in mindfulness literature, especially studies with a high level of evidence (peer-reviewed, prospective, randomized controlled trials), has grown quite literally exponentially over the last decade. In concurrence with the evolution of mindfulness research, there has been a move towards formal programs that place emphasis on mindfulness and open communication, with increasing research showing such practices to be a useful and easily applicable tool in the medical profession. In a recent randomized controlled trial, it was determined that participants in the mindfulness-based stress reduction group were more likely to show clinically significant improvement. A meta-analysis similarly showed meditation to lead to decreased anxiety, depression, and pain. And these studies are a small part of the progressing research showing meditation and mindfulness to benefit patients with cancer, fibromyalgia, strokes, and chronic pain by allowing them to lead lives with reduced stress. Similar results have been achieved in the health professional population with periods of meditation as short as eight weeks to be linked to positive emotional states such as at peace, optimism, and happiness. Even more significantly, physicians who were more mindful have been shown to be more likely to have good rapport with patients, leading to improved patient satisfaction and higher ratings. It is not surprising, therefore, that recently implemented mindfulness programs have been shown to be positive and transformative, allowing physicians to listen deeply to patients concerns, and give themselves permission to attend to their own personal growth. The implementation of mindfulness does not have to wait for the long delay of a hospital system to implement program wide changes that may be resisted by administrative bureaucracy. Though system-wide changes in mental health are overdue and critical to the health of physicians, the plethora of Web-based and platform-based applications can tailor mindfulness to anyone and everyones needs. Therefore, it should not be difficult for the busiest individuals to forego at least ten minutes of meditation daily whether during their morning commute or before bedtime. Like most things, the practice of meditation becomes easier with time, though now with the use of technological advances and evidence-based information. As an innovative society, we are quick to jump to pharmaceutical measures which may improve the health of our patients as reported by peer-reviewed literature, but the same literature is now providing us with a cost-effective, time-efficient, and evidence-based method to improve both their physical and mental health along with our own. Mindfulnesss deliberate presence allows for improvement in care of peers and patients even when not directly caring for them in a medical manner. And it is this deliberate presence that can provide individuals with tools to be mentally and emotionally centered in a professional field that demands continuously increasing forms of self-sacrifice. Ayoosh Pareek is a medical student. Image credit: Shutterstock.com WRAPPING UP THE YEAR For our last weeks of the business year, Dog Ears Books will be open Wednesdays through Sundays, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. -- that is, Wednesday, Oct. 19, through Saturday, Oct. 22, and then Wednesday, Oct. 26, through Saturday, Oct. 29 -- and will re-open before Memorial Day 2023 for our 30th anniversary year!!! Im not a technical analyst. But I value technical analysis because inherent in that discipline is an attitude of humility that is in sync with the notion of free-market economics. The attitude of the technical analyst is that he/she is clueless as to why quantities demanded or supplies offered and the prices that result therefrom are what they are. The technical analyst simply lets the collective wisdom of the markets dictate how much of what is consumed and what the price needs to be to clear the market. Oh, if only Americans understood how markets workednot just markets for goods and services but also markets for money, we would not be facing a global depression of such grand magnitude that we are facing. As I say, Im not a technical analyst. I have always been on the fundamental side. I worked as a credit analyst then as a lending officer for major foreign banks in NYC. And I always looked at the fundamentals for companies recommended in this letter as well. But I know that as only one person, my views can be hugely wrong. Thats why I wanted to construct the IDW shown above. I wanted an objective view as to whether prices as a whole were in contraction or expansion mode. And I understand that if politicians and fascist bankers allowed markets to work, you could have a growing economy and falling prices. But as the world now functions with endless Keynesian economic policies being crammed down our throats and prices as a whole decline, it points toward economic depression. My IDW is, in my view, unambiguous in telling us the global economy is heading over the cliff. That chart isnt telling us why, but as a technical analyst would do, I am always looking for fundamental reasons for why my IDW is doing what it is doing. The following article this past week written by Michael Snyder on the Economic Collapse blog provides some very dramatic and compelling evidence that my IDW chart, which is now falling dramatically below the three-year and five-year moving averages, is in sync with my IDW. But this is not just an economic story. It also has to do with the potential for World War III, as Daniel McAdams noted in this interview I did with him last week titled, Has Turkey Launched World War III? Listen to this important interview, here: http://jaytaylormedia.com/audio/. Jay Taylor www.jaytaylormedia.com www.miningstocks.com Now that Exploration Insights founder Brent Cook is starting to see the bright side of the mining equity cycle, he brought in former Canaccord Genuity Analyst Joe Mazumdar to cover developers and producers at the newsletter. In this interview with The Gold Report , the pair share observations from their recent travels and a short list of companies they are compiling to take advantage of a possible upswing in gold in all currencies. The Gold Report: Congratulations on the new Exploration Insights partnership, Brent and Joe. How is working on the newsletter side different than the analyst side? Joe Mazumdar: A lot of the work for a sell-side analyst involves chasing news as it's released with little time for sober second thought. In my opinion, writing for Exploration Insights is more amenable to taking a longer look at the implications of events. The difference can be as wide as between writing for a daily newspaper such as the New York Post and for The Economist. TGR: Do the two of you see the market similarly? In what ways do you differ? JM: Over the past decade or so, Brent has tended to focus on lower market capitalization, low liquidity exploration companies that provide a high potential reward but with a high risk. Brent's letter provides the subscribers of Exploration Insights the benefit of his experience to offer companies in this category that are filtered for red flags. I try to provide the same filtering for the subscribers but for higher market capitalization, more liquid developers and producers. Brent Cook: I've been on a number of field trips with Joe around the world, and he is a master at looking at the financial situation behind a mine and company, plus the geology. In November, I got a lot more positive on this sector and started buying. But I expected the initial bump would come in the mid-tier companies. That's where Joe's expertise comes in. The first two companies he brought to the table were Claude Resources Inc. (CRJ:TSX) and Lake Shore Gold Corp. (LSG:TSX) . Claude is up over 60%, and Lake Shore has had a takeout offer from Tahoe Resources Inc. (TAHO:NYSE; THO:TSX) since his recommendation in early December. I'm not out of exploration at all. That's my passion. But Joe's participation gives the newsletter more coverage of the solid assets that could be the first to be rewarded. As to what I am doing with my money, I'm probably half in small to mid-tier producers and developers. I have another 25% in early-stage exploration projects. I'm keeping aside about 25% for new discoveries that are difficult to predict but will occur. I'm convinced we are going to find some companies that are in the very early stages of making a discovery and I want to be able to pounce on those before the rest of the market figures it out. That's where we make our real ten-baggers. TGR: Last summer when we talked, Brent, you compared the mining market to a wasteland. As we approach the other side of the junior mining equity valuation desert, how will we know if it is an oasis or a mirage? BC: I envision the past four years as a tribe of the unwanted crawling across a foreboding abyss comparable to the Great Salt Lake desert in the middle of summer. It's just been brutal. As we made our way across the salt flats people just lost the will, went broke and in general fell to the wayside one by one until there was only a small group of us left. But I think we've finally stumbled onto a bit of water. It does not appear to be alkaline. I think this is for real, but we have to remember that Donner Pass lies up ahead. You know how that turned out for the unprepared. JM: Over the last year and a half, one of the reasons that companies like Claude, Richmont Mines Inc. (RIC:NYSE.MKT; RIC:TSX) and Lake Shore have outperformed the market is because gold had been going up in multiple currencies, just not the U.S. dollar. We've already seen 12+ months of appreciation of the gold price in the local currencies of stable jurisdictions like Australia and Canada. So some of these equities saw significant price appreciation a while ago. Claude is up 220% from its 52-week low. A true gold bull market requires gold rising in all the major currencies. Just recently we have begun to see gold go up in the U.S. dollar as investors became frustrated with the uncertainty in the U.S. economy and the potential actions of the U.S. Federal Reserve. Will they raise rates or keep them the same or even lower them? All that uncertainty adds to the allure of gold as a safe-haven asset. Now we're sitting at a decent gold price for a lot of the people who were on the cusp at $1,000 per ounce ($1,000/oz) and $1,100/oz. Suddenly, a lot of stocks with marginal assets are close to their 52-week highs. We've seen very liquid, large market capitalization companies that are highly levered with a lot of debt, like Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX:TSX; ABX:NYSE), up almost 80% year to date. The mid-tier producers like Lake Shore Gold are up 6065% year to date. We know that the last few years of protracted financing risk in a low gold price environment has led to a paucity of development projects and downturn in exploration expenditures. As the gold price environment turns, the ones that should reap the benefits are the companies that are executing this contrarian strategy. TGR: Something that often happens when gold starts to go up again is that we see quite a bit of mergers and acquisitions (M&A). You already mentioned the Lake ShoreTahoe deal, but some of the mining companies got in trouble for doing bad deals last time around. Tell us what you think about the Lake Shore-Tahoe deal. What makes for a good deal? Do the miners have the discipline to know the difference this time around? JM: Usually, when we see a rise in the gold price, we see investor interest in the sector in the form of demand for equity. We've also seen financings in the form of precious metal streams. Next comes interest from the industry, which have been reflected as private placements in companies and M&A. Tahoe and Lake Shore are indicative of the way M&A has been for the last few years. It's been selective and very suitor-specific. It's normally in the form of friendly acquisitions as companies want to avoid bidding wars and getting involved in overly dilutive transactions. The only multiple bid we have seen over the past few years was the acquisition of Osisko Mining Corp. (OSK:TSX) by Yamana Gold Inc. (YRI:TSX; AUY:NYSE; YAU:LSE) and Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (AEM:TSX; AEM:NYSE), when they successfully outbid Goldcorp Inc. (G:TSX; GG:NYSE). A variation of the theme is the recent investment by Goldcorp in Gold Standard Ventures Corp. (GSV:TSX.V; GSV:NYSE) , which has one of the largest land packages in Nevada not owned by a major. Then OceanaGold Corp. (OGC:TSX; OGC:ASX), which already owned a chunk of the company, raised its stake to 19.9%. It's unusual to see two companies vying for part of the same exploration play. This renewed interest in exploration is good for the market as a whole. TGR: Was it the location that made Gold Standard Ventures attractive to both companies? JM: Yes, absolutely. It's the jurisdiction (Nevada) and the size of the land package. Other than Barrick and Newmont Mining Corp. (NEM:NYSE), no company has that size of a land package in Nevada. Gold Standard Ventures is considered to be a good vehicle for a major company to get leverage to a Nevada footprint. TGR: Is jurisdiction also the allure in the Lake Shore-Tahoe deal? JM: Tahoe's biggest asset, Escobal, is in Guatemala, which is a very high geopolitical risk jurisdiction but a very high-quality deposithigh risk, high reward. Its first venture into diversification involved open-pit heap-leach projects in Peru with Rio Alto Mining Ltd. (RIO:TSX.V; RIO:BVL). Lake Shore's land package in the Timmins district of northern Canada puts Tahoe in an even more stable jurisdiction. Lake Shore Gold's asset portfolio is underground, similar to Tahoe's asset in Guatemala, so the company has relevant experience. Tahoe also gets exposure to the local currency. What we liked about Lake Shore was the ability of the company to grow its asset base organically with a plant that is expandable. So if more resources are found, they need not come at the end of the mine life. TGR: Do you think the shareholders will approve that deal? JM: We have seen some news lately about the significant change of control fees for some senior executives from Lake Shore Gold that have some investors concerned. But I believe that most will take advantage of the bid and potentially hold the more liquid Tahoe to retain exposure to the silver market. Or they will re-invest their gains in the sector. Regardless, I believe it's a positive for the sector to see quality assets in stable jurisdictions starting to be taken over. Both underground and open-pit deposits in stable jurisdictions such as Canada have continued to attract demand on the M&A front. TGR: Do you see Claude and Richmont as takeover stories as well? BC: I invested in Richmont almost a year ago and, yes, I do see Richmont as a potential takeover further down the road. Claude has done an excellent job of turning its mine around. I don't know that it's large enough to interest anybody, though. What do you think, Joe? JM: It could be, however, it is isolated in central Saskatchewan with a big land package with a smaller production profile than Lake Shore Gold. The nice thing about Lake Shore's plant is its capacity to expand with ore that was proximal to it. With Claude, you get higher grade than Lake Shore and a large land package, but I don't see much upside to expanding the plant in the near to medium term. I want to highlight that when we selected these companies, a potential M&A bid did not underpin the investment thesis. We believed that the management teams at Lake Shore, Claude and Richmont would be able to grow their asset bases organically, as well as generate free cash flow. The key was generating free cash flow while paying down their debt facilities, which is something not very many companies were able to do in this cycle. TGR: When we talked last time, Brent, you gave us nine names of fully funded companies that you thought could make it to the other side of the wasteland. Now that we're starting to see water, which ones did you welcome to the promised land? BC: With junior exploration companies, it's especially critical to keep tabs on their progress. To constantly re-evaluate results against your original investment theses: what the drilling is showing, the metallurgy and what the local politics are. That's a long way of saying we have sold some of that list since then. We are still holding Dalradian Resources Inc. (DNA:TSX) and Guyana Goldfields Inc. (GUY:TSX) . As to Midas Gold Corp. (MAX:TSX) , it just completed a large financing with Paulson & Co. Inc., which is very positive. TGR: What does a company like Dalradian need to do now that we're in a new stage in the market? BC: Dalradian has a very consistent, high-grade, narrow-vein deposit in Northern Ireland. It just released another 50 drill holes that continued to confirm our investment thesis that this is a narrow, high-grade deposit with a lot of upside potential, shows good continuity, and has a good chance to be permitted by the local government. It's a simple deposit, and we expect Dalradian to put out an updated resource later this year followed by a feasibility study, which should look pretty darn positive. Of the ones we discussed, I would put Dalradian at the top. TGR: How does Midas plan to use the new financing to add value to the company? BC: This is really important. Although it's a dilutive financing, it also means that it is now funded to bring the Golden Meadows deposit in Idaho through the final feasibility and permitting process. That could take three years. This financing guarantees the company can make it right to that point and more. In the long run, I think it was a smart move because the financing uncertainty just had to be taken care of. Once it gets its permitting, this is a prime acquisition target for a major mining company. TGR: You both put a lot of emphasis on the exploration side of Exploration Insights. Joe, you just returned from Australia. What did you see there? JM: The way this works is we take an interest in a company, we meet the management team, we talk about the potential of what they're trying to do, their strategy, then we decide whether this is a company we want to do more work on, like a site visit prior to adding it to the Exploration Insights portfolio. There is no guarantee that a site visit means we buy the stock, in fact more often than not we pass on the opportunity. I recently completed a site visit to Newmarket Gold Inc.'s (NMI:TSX; NMKTF:OTCQX) assets in Australia. Newmarket is unusual because its asset portfolio is in Australia, but it is a Toronto Stock Exchange-listed company. Its senior management team is based out of Vancouver. Recently, Newmarket put an ex-Newmont operations guy from Australia, Darren Hall, on as the chief operating officer based out of Perth. I knew Darren back when I worked for Newmont, and then I met him again when I visited Newmarket's project in the Northern Territory, the Cosmo mine. Newmarket also has the Stawell mine in Victoria but the "jewel in the crown," in my opinion, is the Fosterville gold mine, which is also in Victoria. All the mines are now underground operations, which have been running for an extended period of time with a long history. What piqued our interest is the new type of gold mineralization, which is coarse grained and late, recently encountered at the Fosterville mine. The discovery provides the potential for supplying the plant with higher-grade ore that is easier to recover using gravity than the current ore feed. The current ore feed comprises refractory ore that is treated with a bio-oxidation system and achieves recoveries in the low 90s. The newly discovered, coarse-grained gold mineralization overprints the earlier, finer-grained, disseminated mineralization, and uses the same geologic structures. As both types of mineralization occur in the same location, the operation is already mining prior to establishing a maiden resource. The advantage of this new gold mineralization as it can be processed via a gravity circuit, which could provide higher recoveries at a lower cost. So we are going to do some more work on Newmarket Gold to find out if the upside potential at Fosterville plus the gold leverage provided by the more marginal assets of Stawell and Cosmo justifies placing it in the portfolio. Management is trying to build a mid-tier producer in a stable jurisdiction that is free cash flow generating and exposed to a weak Australian dollar. TGR: Brent, you went to Mexico and then Vancouver. What was the atmosphere in both of those places? BC: I was in Mexico late last year looking at an Australian-listed company with assets in Mexico called Azure Minerals Ltd. (AZS:ASX) . It made a silver discovery just south of the Cananea copper mine, which is probably the largest copper mine in Mexico right now. So it's well located. It's a nice-looking discovery, and I think it grows. We haven't bought it yet because there are nearly a billion shares out on this company and Teck Resources Ltd. (TCK:TSX; TCK:NYSE) has a backing right that needs to be sorted out. TGR: What is your feeling about investing in Mexico from a safety perspective? BC: It's really location specific. Azure is up in Northern Chihuahua near the U.S. borderno problems really. There are areas in Mexico where you don't go. That's always been the case. When I was exploring down there in the 1990s, I'd go into a small village near a prospect that I wanted to look at and the first thing I did was talk to the local mayor and have him assign me a guide who was not really there to guide me to places but to guide me away from where I didn't want to be. So you can still work there. Evrim Resources Corp. (EVM:TSX.V) is a company we own. Its geologist, Alain Charest, knows the country like the back of his hand, so he knows where to go. He's exploring in the right areas and he knows how to get around. I think Mexico is actually a pretty good place to be looking but admittedly nearly as dangerous as Baltimore. TGR: How was the atmosphere at the recent conferences in Vancouver? Were there places it just wasn't safe to go? BC: There are a few places on Hastings Street I tend to avoid but otherwise no problems. Regarding the conferences, the geology and the exploration side of businessthey're always optimistic. I don't care how bad it really is, they're always thinking there's a gold mine just around the corner. So it was a good week of meetings. But what really struck me is that a lot of the bad actors in this industry have moved on to other sectors. You're down to a higher-quality group of people who are still running businesses and doing exploration. I still think there are 600 too many junior exploration companies listed up there out of about 1,100. I don't know how you fix that problem because it's just such a tough business to make a discovery in, and it's so technically complex that anyone with a good story can often raise money when they don't deserve it. Nonetheless, there are some good people up there doing good work. I was pretty pleased with all the meetings we had. They were technically competent, solid people who, for the most part, understood what an economic deposit looks like versus an uneconomic one. You would be surprised how many people in this industry actually don't get that rather important difference. TGR: You're both going to be speaking at the PDAC Convention 2016, correct? BC: That's right. Joe is speaking Sunday, March 6, at 9:30 in the newsletter session. I'm on at 2:30 at the newsletter session, then I'm also on a session on Tuesday morning, March 8, where we're talking about what companies can do to improve their visibility. The title of my talk is Why Don't They Trust Us? It should be fun. TGR: What do you hope that people will take away from your newsletter talks? BC: I want to get into why is it so hard to actually make an economic discovery, what are the factors that make it so difficult and how, as investors, can we identify the fatal flaws as quickly as possible and move on. Then, if there are no fatal flaws, recognize that as well. I think that's the key to investing in this junior sector, identifying the fatal flaws as soon as possible and more importantly recognizing the legitimate discoveries. JM: I'm going to be looking at project financing as we have seen a pick-up after some difficult years. Financing, I believe, can serve as a proxy for looking at asset quality, management or jurisdiction. If you see a company that is able to raise equity with no warrant at a small discount to where it's trading, that's a reflection of a decent asset in a stable jurisdiction. If you see somebody raising equity at a discount with a full warrant that's over a long period, you might want to be a little bit more wary of the asset quality. You can draw similar conclusions based on hedges and streaming. I will give attendees the warning signs so they can be their own analysts. TGR: So both of you are not just teaching investors to fish, but also you're teaching them which fish to throw back. Thank you both for taking the time to share your insights. Brent Cook brings more than 30 years of experience to his role as a geologist, consultant and investment adviser. His knowledge spans all areas of the mining business, from the conceptual stage through detailed technical and financial modeling related to mine development and production. Cook's weekly Exploration Insights newsletter focuses on early discovery, high-reward opportunities, primarily among junior mining and exploration companies. Joe Mazumdar is an economic geologist/analyst at Exploration Insights. Prior to that he was a senior mining analyst at Canaccord Genuity and Haywood Securities prior to that. His experience includes director of strategic planning, corporate development at Newmont and senior market analyst/trader at Phelps Dodge. Mazumdar also worked in technical roles for IAMGOLD in Ecuador, North Minerals in Argentina/Chile and Peru, RTZ Mining and Exploration in Argentina and MIM Exploration and Mining in Queensland, Australia, among others. Mazumdar has a Bachelor of Science in geology from the University of Alberta, a Master of Science in geology and mining from James Cook University and a Master of Science in mineral economics from the Colorado School of Mines. By Gold report Email: jluther@streetwisereports.com Jeffrey Bassett, of East Bremerton, gets sworn in as a Kitsap Superior Court judge on Friday in Port Orchard. Bassett replaces longtime Judge Jay Roof, who retired. SHARE Judges from the Kitsap and Mason county benches applaud after Judge Jeffrey Bassett was sworn in Friday in Port Orchard. Court Commissioner Thurman W. Lowans (right) prepares to hand newly sworn in Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Bassett a gavel Bassetts mother gave him when he graduated law school. By Andrew Binion of the Kitsap Sun PORT ORCHARD Jeffrey Bassett's exposure to being a lawyer started as a kid by tagging along with his father to work, something Kitsap's newest Superior Court judge said he and his siblings considered a privilege. "The biggest treat was every couple of months or so he would allow one of us to go to the office with him," said Basset, 54, who recalls his late father, a lawyer and one-time municipal court judge, working among nattily-dressed people in suits. People in Kitsap who don't know Bassett's work as an attorney may be familiar with his nearly continuous work as an actor in community theater. Bassett has appeared on most of the stages in Kitsap and has been involved in acting and directing for about 40 years. But during his swearing in ceremony Friday, Bassett briefly broke from his actor's composure and had to rely on a script. During an emotional moment he recalled his father, John Bassett, who died in 1982, just months before Bassett was accepted into law school at Florida State University. "He taught me to love the law, and it was his hope that I follow in his path," Bassett said, repeating the professional mantra imparted by his father. "Be open, be honest, be accessible, be prepared," he said to a crowded commissioners' chamber in Port Orchard. Earlier this month, Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Bassett to replace retired Judge Jay Roof, who presented Bassett at the ceremony in Port Orchard. Ten other Kitsap attorneys applied for the position. Inslee's general counsel said the governor's decision was partly influenced by "tremendous feedback" from the county's Superior Court judges. "Which is an important factor," Nick Brown said. Bassett started his career as a public defender in Orlando, Florida he was born and raised in Miami but has practiced in a variety of areas, mostly in public service. Besides criminal law, he has experience in personal injury, juvenile criminal law, bankruptcies as well as appellate work. His work in dependency law, also known as child welfare law representing parents and families in Child Protective Services cases, is where he found his calling. In dependency law, Bassett said, the object is to see if a family can be saved and made whole again. "That's the most important thing, I think," he said. He first moved to Washington state in 1990 and stayed for 10 years, but returned to Florida in 2000. In 2008 he returned, and moved to East Bremerton, where he began working as a contract attorney for the state Office of Public Defense, representing birthparents in Child Protective Services cases. Amelia Watson, parents' representation managing attorney for the office, which is based in Olympia, called Bassett "the ultimate professional" and said he enjoys collaborating and has a talent for explaining the system to clients. Watson said she believes Bassett will make an excellent judge. "He will listen to all sides and made the best decision where the law leads him," she said. Bassett is currently working on a play, but when finished with his obligations, he plans to take a hiatus from theater through the end of the year to focus on learning his new job. He will stand for election in November to keep the seat, along with rest of the county's Superior Court judges. Bassett and his husband, Michael, are foster parents and for the past two years have had about 20 children stay in their East Bremerton home. Currently they have two brothers in their care, who helped Bassett don his black robe for the first time. As Bassett struggled briefly with the robe, Roof gave a nod. "It gets easier with practice," Roof said. In his opening comments, Kitsap Bar Association President Ryan Vancil noted that Bassett will be Kitsap's first openly gay judge, but added that Inslee made no mention of that fact, and Vancil noted that it had no more bearing on a judge's selection than the color of a judge's skin. "It's a fact of who I am, but it's not a factor in why I got this position," Bassett said. Brown who Bassett said encouraged him to continue to apply for open seats on the bench said Inslee was impressed with Bassett's diverse professional background. Most of his experience is within the purview of Superior Court. Brown said the governor was also impressed with Bassett's advocacy for clients, and said his personal impression of Bassett was overwhelmingly positive. "On a personal level he's a pretty honest and forthright and genuine person," Brown said. "Those personal intangible qualities are really important in a judge as well." SHARE By Kitsap Sun Staff BREMERTON Washington State Ferries and the Bremerton Ferry Advisory Committee will host a public meeting Tuesday. Ferries director Lynne Griffith and Director of Community Services and Planning Kristina Arsenault will discuss WSF's long-range planning, provide an update on construction of new Bremerton-bound ferry Chimacum, and talk about the role of ferry advisory committees. The event will be 7 p.m. at the Norm Dicks Government Center, 345 Sixth St. For more information, email BremFAC.connect@outlook.com. Friends of the victims of the shooting near Belfair mourn at the scene on Friday. A man shot and killed four people, then took his own life, according to investigators. By Kitsap Sun Staff BELFAIR Five are dead, including two children and a gunman, in a Mason County shooting that ended after a standoff on Friday. The Mason County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the gunman shot himself outside a home in the 300 block of Horseshoe Drive just on Friday after a three-hour standoff with SWAT team negotiators. Mason County Chief Deputy Ryan Spurling called the scene "horrific." "When children are involved, it's always brutal," he said. The identities of those involved were not immediately released. Sheriff's deputies were called to the scene by the gunman just before 9 a.m. The gunman had called an officer he had previous contact with and told him about shooting four people and his intention to kill himself, Spurling said. Deputies negotiated with the man until just after 12:30 p.m., when he walked outside the house and shot himself. A Washington State Patrol plane was deployed to observe the scene from the sky. Members of a SWAT team began searching the home and 11 other buildings on the property at 12:45 p.m. The four victims were found in one of the accessory buildings. The bodies were taken to the Mason County Coroner's Office. The relationship of the victims to the gunman has not been confirmed. A 12-year-old girl escaped the incident, according to deputies. She left the area by ambulance shortly after noon. Her condition is unknown but deputies said she was not shot and did not have life-threatening injuries. Jack Pigott, a neighbor, said a couple lived at the house with three adopted children two teenage boys and a girl. The man who lived there owned a heating and air-conditioning business. The two boys had been adopted, at least one of them from Russia, and the oldest had just graduated from high school. The girl, who was adopted from a country in Asia, is around 12 years old, Pigott said. Neighbors heard several gunshots from the property on Thursday night just after 8 p.m. "It sounded like target practice," Pigott said. An ambulance sped down Horseshoe Drive Friday morning at about 7:30 a.m., according to Pigott's wife, Frances. "That's when this all started to happen," she said. Residents in the neighborhood were told to stay in their homes as law enforcement was responding. "There are all these cop cars around us and I'm saying 'What the heck's going on?'" Pigott said by phone during the standoff. "I've been told to stay home." The killings are the deadliest on the Kitsap Peninsula in 82 years. On March 28, 1934, a man named Leo Hall bludgeoned to death six people in a beach house on Erlands Point, in what authorities at the time believed was a bungled robbery. The incident became known as the Erlands Point Massacre. Reporters Rachel Anne Seymour, Tristan Baurick and Josh Farley contributed to this report. SHARE Well, Donald Trump has done it now. He has managed to tick off the pope. In returning from his recent trip to Mexico, Pope Francis pointedly said, "A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian. This is not in the gospel." The pope was responding to a reporter's question about Trump's plan to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, so there was no mistaking whose attitude he was judging to be less than Christian. The pope did say he would give Trump the benefit of the doubt, and he made it clear that he was not advising Catholics how to vote. So, in all fairness, I suppose that Trump didn't quite succeed in ticking off the pope. Pope Francis, however, did succeed in ticking off Trump. He immediately shot back: "For a religious leader to question a person's faith is disgraceful." Trump insisted that he is "a very good Christian," and he even promised to be a defender of the faith: "As president, I will not allow Christianity to be consistently attacked and weakened, unlike what is happening now with our current president." (I'm reminded of the rhetorical question I posed before in these pages in a 2012 column: "When did running for national office become a holier-than-thou contest?") Personally, I would like to know just how President Obama is allowing Christianity to be "attacked and weakened." But, more to the point, I would like to know what Trump imagines that a president could do about that. Our First Amendment not only expressly precludes the establishment of a state religion. It also guarantees our freedom of expression. Unlike the religious fanatics now threatening our survival, we don't countenance persecuting people for ridiculing religious figures, much less for apostasy. Oddly enough, the first voice of secular sanity to emerge amid this controversy was that of Jerry Falwell Jr., president of Liberty University. Despite having endorsed Trump for president, Falwell, in a CNN interview on Feb. 18, flatly declared Trump's Christian faith to be an irrelevant consideration. He reminded CNN's viewers that Christ enjoined us to give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and that this injunction does apply to the presidency. It is, after all, a secular office. What can I say? I'm just incorrigible. I can feel myself channeling Shakespeare yet again. What this set-to between Trump and the Pope amounts to is a "tale full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." But therein lies the problem with most of Trump's pronouncements. He gives little or no thought to the practical or Constitutional constraints under which he would be operating were he to become president. Trump, for instance, is promising to get Mexico to pay for the wall he would build along our southern border. What lever would he push to get Mexico to foot that bill? He intends to rebuild our military. How will he get Congress to go along with that, given Republican concerns for the deficit? (And how would this square with his promises to reduce the national debt and to cut the federal budget by 20 percent?) He is vowing to defeat ISIS. How will he accomplish that without getting us embroiled in a long and costly war? He has also promised to bring back all our exported jobs; to deport illegal aliens and to restrict Muslim immigration; to defund Planned Parenthood; to save Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security; to rebuild our aging infrastructure; and to make us all start saying "Merry Christmas" again. In all, according to The Washington Post, Trump has made 76 promises, offering scant details about how he would keep them. Meanwhile, back here in Silverdale, I could wish that Pope Francis hadn't associated bridge building with Christianity. My fear is that the proponents of the Bucklin Hill bridge project may take him literally. They could begin asserting that they're just doing the Christian thing and, what's more, doing it in emulation of St. Francis of Assisi. He is the saint who is generally depicted communing with God's lesser creatures with birds and squirrels and such. I suppose St. Francis would have likewise felt empathy for fish. But, given that the existing culverts were more than large enough for their passage, I doubt he would have approved of closing a popular thoroughfare for over a year for their benefit. And, frankly, I suspect that sitting in rush-hour traffic in Silverdale these days would be enough to tick off the pope. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 51F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 51F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Alyssa Jones of Knoxville, waits in the Greyhound Bus Lines station off of Magnolia Avenue on Thursday. (CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL) SHARE CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL The exterior of the Greyhound Bus Lines station off of Magnolia Avenue on Thursday. Greyhound is looking to leave this large location for someplace better suited to its needs. The tickets and information counter stands empty at the Greyhound Bus Lines station off of Magnolia Avenue on Thursday. Greyhound is looking to leave this large location for someplace better suited for its needs. (CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL) A sign directing passengers at the near empty Greyhound Bus Line station off of Magnolia Avenue on Thursday. Greyhound is looking to leave this large location for someplace better suited to its needs. (CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL) By Megan Boehnke of the Knoxville News Sentinel Greyhound Lines, which has operated out of its current bus terminal just north of downtown for nearly 60 years, is looking to leave its Magnolia Avenue building. "We've been considering relocation for several months as our business model requires a smaller footprint," Lanesha Gipson, a spokeswoman for the Dallas-based bus line, said in an email. "Our current facility has always been a bit too large." The bus company has 13 daily operations from the Knoxville terminal, Gipson said. Christi Branscom, deputy to Mayor Madeline Rogero and chief operating officer for the city, said she has had "very preliminary" conversations with the company about its possible use of the Knoxville Transit Center on Church Street. Branscom described it as a "five-minute conversation" and said the bus company is "just looking at all the options." If the company finds another hub, it will put the current facility, at 100 E. Magnolia Ave., on the market. No sale price has been established, Gipson said. The property has an appraised value of $581,000, according to the Office of State Assessed Properties in Nashville. The office, a division of the state comptroller's office, handles assessments for public utilities, such as water, sewer, and electric, and railroad companies. The company is still considering "various relocation options," Gipson said. She did not elaborate on what those options include and whether the company would remain close to downtown. "There are multiple factors that go into selecting a facility as our location, including a facility that is centrally located and convenient for customers, one that has easy access to major roads and highways, and a facility that best accommodates our bus operations as well as our customers," Gipson said. The building, made of red brick and glass, sits on the corner of Central Street in the middle of a booming redevelopment area known as the Magnolia Warehouse District. In January, Knoxville City Council members approved a $350,000 tax-increment financing package for The Mews, a townhome development one block west of the bus station. The project is expected to include 19 apartments and two retail shops. Also nearby is White Lily Flats, a former warehouse for the flour manufacturer that developer David Dewhirst remodeled and reopened as residential units. The Public House, a bar popular for its craft cocktails, sits just to the west of the bus station. To the east, Marc Nelson Denim opened its Depot Avenue retail shop in 2014, and the popular Saw Works Brewery was a pioneer in the area when it moved in five years ago. Seung-Youn Lee, second from left, director of the Korean Electric Power Research Institute, and Matt Wakefield, from the Electric Power Research Institute in West Knoxville, sign a memorandum of understanding Friday. Lee is assisted by his interpreter YooJin Kwon, left, during the ceremony. EPRI does research into power-grid security, and the two groups will continue to collaborate on global cyber security problems. (MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL) SHARE Glen Chason gives a tour to a delegation from the Korean Electric Power Research Institute as they visit the Electric Power Research Institute in West Knoxville Friday. The two groups also signed an agreement of understanding for continued collaboration. (MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL) By Ed Marcum of the Knoxville News Sentinel Mention Cyber attack and people might think of someone stealing account information from a retailer, but maybe not an attack that shuts down the power grid for a region or causes systems to fail at a nuclear plant. With the sophistication of cyber attacks increasing, cyber security is getting a lot of attention now in the power industry. A lot of that focus is taking place here in Knoxville at the Electric Power Research Institute, or EPRI. The institute, which is based in California, is marking its 44th anniversary and its 30th year at its Knoxville location, 942 Corridor Park Boulevard. And the Knoxville facility is broadening its reach with the signing Friday of a memorandum of understanding with a counterpart organization in South Korea. Five members of the Korea Electric Power Corporation Research Institute toured the 100,000-square-foot EPRI facility Friday as part of the signing. Under the agreement, the two organizations will share research and collaborate on projects. They will focus on cyber security, but also on other areas of energy research such as demand response and augmented reality. Demand response involves trying to keep electricity supply and demand in balance by inducing utility customers to use less power at peak load times. Augmented reality means using equipment to look at a piece of infrastructure and see an overlay with graphics and other information about the situation. EPRI is a nonprofit organization that does research for its members, mostly utilities, but makes most of its work available to the public. It has worked with the Korean organization for years, said Clay Perry, senior media manager for EPRI. "This project started just in our mutual discussions around what can we do not only to prevent a cyber event, but how do you detect an intrusion, how do you isolate it so it doesn't propagate throughout the whole system, and then how do you mitigate the response?" he said. Seung-Youn Lee, director of the Smart Distribution Laboratory for the Korean institute, said the work that the two organizations will conduct will help power companies worldwide. "We see this as one big initiative to use our strengths in our technologies in collaboration with EPRI, not only in cyber security, but there are many other areas where we are having ongoing discussions.," he said through an interpreter. "If there is an attack on a substation or equipment on a substation, they have really been doing leading work in regard to being able to identify those threats and isolate those threats," said Matt Wakefield, who is heading up the effort at the Knoxville EPRI facility. Michael Howard, president and CEO of EPRI, said the organization's work benefits power companies in about 40 countries. "All these issues we are talking about, they are not just local issues, they are global issues," he said. "Cyber security, integration of renewable energy it's all focused on making sure that society has safe, reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible electricity. " SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL From left, Josie Spivey, Greg Bonneville, Elayna Lloyd, Hannah Barber, Harris Wilbanks, Julia Bitner, and Madison Armbrester are performers in a ballet based on the childrens book, Uncle Took The Fiddle by Libba Moore Gray. The ballet is part of Appalachian Ballet Companys Spring Gala on March 4 and 5. SHARE Michael Patrick/News Sentinel file photo Libba Moore Gray talks with admirers after a speaking engagement in 1994. Behind Gray is her daughter, Amy Morton. SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL From left, Madelyn Barber, Kylie Morton Berry, Lila Kate Painter, and Clare Souder perform My Mama Had A Dancing Heart, a ballet based on a childrens book by the late Libba Moore Gray. Ballets based on her childrens books have returned to the stage after an eleven-year absence for the Appalachian Ballet Companys Spring Gala. By Amy McRary of the Knoxville News Sentinel Libba Moore Gray was too weak in her hospital bed on June 3, 1995, to look at the book that daughter Amy placed in her hands. But she knew. The book was a copy of "My Mama Had a Dancing Heart." Gray, an actress, teacher and author, had written the children's book as she fought breast cancer. She and ballerina daughter Amy Morton Vaughn were the inspiration for the story about a little girl and her mother who celebrate each season's change with an outdoor dance. Vaughn is choreographer and artistic director for the Maryville-based Appalachian Ballet. "She'd met the illustrator, she got to see the pictures (for the book,)," Vaughn remembers. "The hard copy came in the mail when she was in the hospital. I handed it to her. She just patted it and smiled. And I said to her, 'I'm going make us a ballet one day.' " Gray died hours later. Ten years later, in 2005, Vaughn choreographed the "My Mama Had a Dancing Heart" ballet she'd promised her mother. She also created dances for two other Gray books, "When Uncle took the Fiddle," and "Little Lil and the Swing-Singing Sax," also published after Gray's death. New York composer Pat Rasile wrote the music for the work. The Appalachian Ballet performed the ballets in 2005 at Knoxville's Tennessee Theatre. The trio of dances returns for the ballet's Spring Gala next month at the Clayton Center for the Arts in Maryville. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 4, and 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5; the ballets inspired by Gray's stories will follow a first act of three new contemporary dances. Tickets are $20 or $25 for adults in advance, $25 or $30 at the door. Children's tickets are half the price of adults. Tickets are at www.claytonarts.center.com or 865-981-8590. The entire company of 63 dancers performs the opening piece to music of the Sylvia Suite. Following that is a six-minute dance Vaughn created to a Rasile composition set to Michelangelo poems. The third new ballet is choreographed by Vaughn's daughter, ballerina Kylie Morton Berry, and set to Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3. The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra directed by Sande MacMorran will accompany the dancers for the Sylvia Suite opening and for the three ballets from Gray's books. Vaughn will narrate "My Mama Had a Dancing Heart" as Berry dances the role of Mama, the character inspired by Gray. Vaughn's siblings are also part of the program. Michael Moore will introduce composer Pat Rasile. David Moore will narrate "When Uncle Took The Fiddle." Rachel Moore will narrate "Lil Little." Rachel Moore's daughter Mae Ana Brown, 8, is part of the "Little Lil" parade. "I just think about what Mom would think about leaving her legacy with these books, of it being kept alive with ballet and music," Vaughn said. "So many people still stop me and say, 'I knew your mom' or 'Your mom was my teacher.' (They say) 'I have all her books, and where can I get them for my grandchildren?' She made such an impact on the community with her acting and writing and her battle with breast cancer. "In terms of all the people in the area who were close to Mom and as a generation changes, I just thought this would be something really special." APPALACHIAN BALLET SPRING GALA When: 7:30 p.m. March 4 & 2 p.m. March 5 Where: Clayton Center for the Arts, Maryville Tickets: $20 or $25 for adults in advance, $25 or $30 at the door. $10 or $12.50 in advance, $12.50 or $15 at the door for children at www.claytonarts.center.com or 865-981-8590 Catholics who faithfully go to Confession are unusual these days. According to one study linked to Georgetown University, a mere 2 percent of American Catholics "regularly" confess their sins to a priest. Local odds being what they were, Father Paul Scalia of Arlington, Va., once learned that he had come very close to facing one faithful Catholic whose confession would have literally hit close to home. That Saturday evening he heard a unique complaint from his father, Justice Antonin Scalia. The issue "was not that I'd been hearing confessions, but that he'd found himself in my confessional line. And he quickly departed it," said Father Scalia, during his father's nearly two-hour funeral Mass. "As he put it later, 'Like heck if I'm confessing to you!' The feeling was mutual." This anecdote drew laughter in the massive Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. But even this personal story was part of the priest's focus on eternal issues, rather than details of the life and lengthy U.S. Supreme Court career of his famous father. After all, Antonin Scalia had made his feelings crystal clear writing to the Presbyterian minister who performed the 1998 funeral of Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. -- that funerals should include real sermons, not touchy-feely eulogies. "I have attended so many funerals of prominent people that I consider myself a connoisseur of the genre," wrote Scalia. "When the deceased and his family are nonbelievers, of course, there is not much to be said except praise for the departed. ... But even in Christian services conducted for deceased Christians, I am surprised at how often the eulogy is the centerpiece of the service, rather than (as it was in your church) the Resurrection of Christ, and the eternal life which follows from that." This is especially important, Justice Scalia stressed, "when the deceased was an admirable person," because "praise for his virtues can cause us to forget that we are praying for, and giving thanks for, God's inexplicable mercy to a sinner." The justice's son focused attention on this problem in the first lines of his sermon, noting that this large throng had "gathered here because of one man. A man known personally to many of us, known only by reputation to even more, a man loved by many, scorned by others, a man known for great controversy, and for great compassion. That man, of course, is Jesus of Nazareth. ... "Our Lord died and rose, not only for all of us, but also for each of us. And at this time we ... give thanks that he died and rose for dad. Further, we give thanks that Jesus brought him to new life in baptism, nourished him with the Eucharist, and healed him in the confessional." It's ironic that this theme drew praise from many Catholic commentators. After all, this emphasis on sin, forgiveness and eternal life is supposed to be at the heart of every funeral Mass, noted Tod Worner at his "A Catholic Thinker" website. "Oh, don't be mistaken. Antonin Scalia was celebrated by his son," he wrote. "His marriage of 55 years. His fatherhood of nine and grandfatherhood of 36. His childlike playfulness and razor-sharp wit. And his deep devotion to the law and his country. ... "But perhaps most compelling, most humbling and most true was the emphasis Father Paul placed on his father being a sinner. ... This was no shocking indictment, or sop to naysayers of the late justice. Rather, it was a simple declaration of the condition we all share: We are fallible, sinful, but redeemable." Thus, the celebrant explained that his father truly believed, but that "he did so imperfectly, like the rest of us." He loved his God and his neighbors, but "like the rest of us, did so imperfectly." While the justice was known as a "practicing Catholic," he was "practicing in the sense that he hadn't perfected it yet, or rather, that Christ was not yet perfected in him." As he neared the end of his sermon, Father Scalia stressed: "We are here, then, as he would want: to pray for God's inexplicable mercy to a sinner to this sinner, Antonin Scalia. ... That he rest in peace." Terry Mattingly is the editor of GetReligion.org and Senior Fellow for Media and Religion at The King's College in New York City. He lives in Oak Ridge, Tenn. SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEl Phillip Sherman shares information last month when he lectured about Islam at First Presbyterian Church in Oak Ridge. Hell be taking on the issue of Homosexuality and the Church in a program called Conversation Matters at 1st United Methodist Church Maryville on Sunday. SHARE By Susan Alexander of the Knoxville News Sentinel When it comes to debating tough topics, conversation matters. That's the idea behind a new series of events at 1st United Methodist Church Maryville. Rev. Catherine Nance, senior pastor at the church, said the title of the series was borrowed from a book title, "The Conversation Matters: "Why United Methodists Should Talk with One Another," written by Henry H. Knight III and Don E. Saliers (Abingdon Press, Nashville). "I think the preposition 'with' should be in all caps! When it comes to those 'hot button issues,' it seems we talk TO one another. Or yell AT one another!" she said. Last month, more than 130 people came out to watch a film called "Theologians Under Hitler" and talk about its relevance today with the film's creator, the Rev. Steven Martin. Coming up at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, Dr. Phillip Sherman, a Hebrew Bible scholar and United Methodist, leads a discussion on "Homosexuality and the Church." The public is invited to learn how this subject has been debated over the years in the United Methodist Church at a time when the church's top legislative body gets set to meet in April. Sherman teaches religion at Maryville College. He recently led a class on understanding Islam at Oak Ridge's First Presbyterian Church. The discussion about homosexuality will be tied directly to the United Methodist Church's upcoming General Conference May 10-20 in Portland, Ore. This denomination-wide conference meets every four years and has been debating the issues of gay clergy and gay marriage since 1972, Hensley said. It is sure to be on the agenda again this time. Sherman will delve into the history of the debate and discuss what can be expected at this General Conference. He expects little movement. "I expect deadlock from the General Conference," he said. "I don't think anyone has a plurality to force action. There has been a move towards firming up the prohibitions related to ordination and marriage but at the same time there's been action to violate those prohibitions. The problem we have is if we put it out to a vote it would be close to 50-50." A member of Church Street United Methodist Church, Sherman led discussions there about homosexuality and the church following the last General Conference. "I found it really rewarding and humbling to hear people's experiences around this issue. I knew there was a wide diversity of opinion and people expressed their opinions." Nance hopes that despite the disparity of opinion, conversation can remain "holy." "I want our church to model how to be the Body of Christ even when members disagree. When we are informed with facts, when we take time to listen to the other person and why their opinion matters to them, and when we take time to prayerfully consider our response to them, we have moved from debate to holy conversation. "I can still disagree with my brother or sister, but I cannot hate. My posture and tone of voice in a conversation should always convey grace, faithfulness, and openness never hate," she said. Sherman said, "The church is one of the last places left where people are around you that aren't exactly like you. Dialogue is one way to keep those relationships working. It requires work and vulnerability. But when they work well they are very rewarding." For Sherman the debate about homosexuality boils down to this question: "Are the young men and women who were raised in churches and find themselves drawn to someone of the same gender able to still feel a part of the church? Is the church still welcoming? Can they be their true selves and a Christian at the same time?" Following Sunday's program, the next Conversation Matters event is set for April 24, when The Rev. Dr. Joseph Reiff will talk about his book "Born of Conviction," which takes a closer look at the backlash against white pastors in Mississippi who lashed out against segregation. For more information go to http://1stchurch.org/ SHARE Nancy Russell, curator of the South Florida Collections Management Center in the Everglades Park, holds a cane made by Dr. Mudd while he was a prisoner. Jim and Jane Calfee, from Knoxville, happened to be on the island during Georgiana Vines' visit on Jan. 31. Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Detail from the exhibit on Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, who spent four years of a life sentence at Fort Jefferson before being pardoned. By Georgiana Vines of the Knoxville News Sentinel KEY WEST, Fla. The most famous prisoner of Fort Jefferson, located on the cluster of seven islands named Dry Tortugas 70 miles west of Key West, was Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, who was given a life sentence for setting the broken leg of John Wilkes Booth after Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. My longtime interest in history resulted in a seaplane trip to the islands in the Gulf of Mexico to explore the pre-Civil War era fort, but snorkelers and bird lovers also can enjoy a trip to the islands. With Mudd being a central figure at the fort from 1865-1869, his prison cell is marked on the second floor, reached by circular stairs without a handrail. Although he maintained his innocence, he once tried to escape from the island. An exhibit on Mudd in his former cell includes a drawing he did of the fort during his imprisonment. He also wrote letters to his wife and others, in which he described his surroundings as depressing with everyone trying to keep well when vessels from "infected" ports come in. Among his duties was helping to treat victims of a yellow fever epidemic in 1867, especially after the fort's own physician died of the disease at a time when nearly 400 persons resided at the fort. Mudd, who was serving a life sentence, also contracted the fever and almost died. After Mudd's brush with death, surviving soldiers at Fort Jefferson signed a petition asking President Andrew Johnson to pardon the doctor for his service during the epidemic. The pardon was granted on Feb. 13, 1869, and Mudd returned to his Virginia home, where he lived 14 more years, until 1883, when he died of pneumonia at age 49. Archival material on Fort Jefferson is available at the South Florida Collections Management Center in the Everglades Park, which I also had an opportunity to visit while in Florida. One item is a cane of native hardwood made by Dr. Mudd when he was a prisoner. The wood is believed to be Lignum vitae, which is native to the Caribbean. There's also a tea set sent by the physician's wife to Mudd's caretaker and his wife when he had yellow fever. Nancy Russell, museum curator, said the tea set was made by Dixon & Sons, a firm established in Sheffield, England, in 1806. Testing via X-ray Flourescence shows the Mudd tea set is 80 percent tin with small amounts of antimony, lead and copper. "Our Mudd service was made between 1842-1851, and it is pattern 863M in the Dixon catalog from the 19th century," Russell said. In 1906, Mudd's daughter, Nettie, published letters written by her father and others while he was at Fort Jefferson. Copies of the letters, typed up as part of a WPA project in the 1930s, also are available in the collections center. The Dry Tortugas are composed of coral reefs and sand and noted for marine life and shipwrecks. Sea turtles are often sighted there, just as they were when the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon came by in 1513 and named the place Las Tortugas, Spanish for The Turtles. Pedro Ramos, superintendent of Dry Tortugas and Everglades National Park on the mainland of south Florida, said the seven islands are a gem in the middle of the ocean. "Its marine natural resources are some of the best we have in North America, and its cultural resources are very rich, both above ground and underwater. Visitors to Dry Tortugas have many options for things to do. The crystal clear waters offer amazing snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, boating, wildlife viewing, ranger-led tours of Fort Jefferson, and simply walking around the island and perhaps napping under a palm tree. Visitors can come out for a day or choose to camp just feet away from the ocean on the beach adjacent to the fort," he said in an email. The construction of Fort Jefferson began in 1846 but was never finished. It's in fairly good condition for a pre-Civil War structure. Some areas are closed off due to deterioration but are being worked on. Guides tell travelers to be careful walking above the ground floor since the second and third levels lack rails as safety features. Travelers can only get there by plane or boat and have to take all supplies with them, like water, because they aren't available at the fort. The National Park Service runs the boat trip for $165 per adult and makes food available during the 2-hour-trip one way. My ride on the de Havilland DHG-3 Otter aircraft was provided by Key West Seaplane Adventurers for $317 for a half day, including water and a snack, and took 35-40 minutes one way. Both services offer snorkeling equipment for travelers to rent. They also collect the park's $10 entry fee, but it's free for those who've bought a senior pass. When I was there on Jan. 31, I spotted a woman wearing a Lady Vols shirt and introduced myself. Jane Calfee and her husband, Jim, had come over on the boat while on a camping trip away from Knoxville, their hometown. "All that history out there I didn't even know about it," she said in an interview later. "It was like finding a hidden treasure." Georgiana Vines, retired News Sentinel associate editor, may be reached at 865-577-6612 or gvpolitics@hotmail.com. SHARE By Jocelyn Noveck, Associated Press First things first. Could the timing be any worse for a movie with a diversity problem as extensive as "Gods of Egypt"? Only two days before #OscarsSoWhite Sunday, a movie comes out set in ancient Egypt and starring white actors from Australia, Scotland and Denmark. It's worth noting, of course, that both Lionsgate and director Alex Proyas apologized back in November, saying their casting choices should have been more diverse. They deserve credit for that, but it turns out they had even more to apologize for. Because "Gods of Egypt" is also a just plain bad movie. The plot is confusing, yet boring. The visuals look expensive, yet cheesily fake. And the performances are uninteresting, yet ... well, they're just uninteresting. Mostly, it seems like the producers set out to make a video game for the preteen set, got lost and ended up in your neighborhood multiplex. We begin, as we said, in ancient Egypt but in this Egypt, gods live among the mortals (and in one case, in outer space. Yes. More on that later.) The gods look just like the humans, only they're much taller, and in really good shape, too all those centuries in the gym, probably. We're told in a voiceover that the good god Osiris has decided to crown his son, Horus (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, of "Game of Thrones"), king. A vast crowd assembles for the coronation. But suddenly here comes Horus' uncle Set, the god of darkness (Gerard Butler, boldly making the case that Egyptian deities had strong Scottish accents.) Set thinks HE should be king. To achieve this, he stabs Osiris to death and maims Horus, tearing out his eyes. A very bad period ensues for both gods and mortals. But there are only two mortals we're supposed to care about: Bek (Brenton Thwaites) and Zaya (Courtney Eaton), an extremely attractive young couple who are much in love. For reasons not worth explaining, Zaya suggests that Bek, whose main occupation is being handsome, but also is apparently a talented thief, should steal Horus' eyes. These eyes (now glowing jewels) are being stored in a super-secret vault belonging to Set. The idea is to return them to the wounded Horus, so he can fight back and retake the throne. But tragic complications develop. Bek and Horus become sort of a god-mortal buddy team, each with his own urgent agenda. And suddenly they're in outer space! On a space ship! We think! But we can't promise! This is where Ra (Geoffrey Rush), the sun deity and grandfather of Horus, lives, and occasionally bursts into flames. Rush is entertaining even when you're not quite sure you're supposed to be laughing. This is, actually an issue with much of the screenplay by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless: We're always wondering if it's silly and self-aware, or just plain silly. So, when a character says, "That's not worth the papyrus it's written on," is it safe to laugh? One wonders whether the filmmakers actually resolved this question for themselves. The performances are serviceable at best. Butler is all rage and bluster. Thwaites is sweet, but seems way too relaxed and even-keeled for someone constantly facing death, or the afterlife, or both. Then there's Chadwick Boseman, so memorably good in both "42" and "Get On Up" that you feel for him. Is he enjoying himself in this silly part, or aching to get out? As for the visuals: can something look so expensive and so cheap at once? It looks like those pyramids were sketched in yesterday as an afterthought, despite the $140 million budget. It's obvious the filmmakers were gunning for a sequel here. But this bloated enterprise is so tiresome by the end, it seems more likely headed for a long rest somewhere in the cinematic afterlife. Thursday night's contentious GOP presidential debate motivated local Knox County Republicans to make a last-minute push for their annual Lincoln Day Dinner tonight and led to an announcement that Florida Sen. Marco Rubio will campaign here Monday as part of a multi-state fly-around leading into Super Tuesday. Rubio, who hammered front-runner Donald Trump at the debate, will speak at a rally at 9:30 a.m. at TAC Air Knoxville at McGhee Tyson Airport, former congressman Zach Wamp, his Tennessee campaign chairman, said Friday. Participating will be U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Maryville, who hasn't yet announced which presidential candidate he supports. There is speculation he will endorse Rubio on Monday. A spokeswoman in his office said he plans to vote Tuesday in Blount County. Also on the program will be Gov. Bill Haslam, who endorsed Rubio on Thursday; state Sen. Becky Duncan Massey, R-Knoxville, and Wamp. Knox County Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones also will endorse the Florida senator and lead the pledge of allegiance, Wamp said. Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a mild-mannered candidate who talks about his successes in the Buckeye state, is the featured speaker at tonight's dinner at Rothchild Catering Center. He will be introduced by U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr., R-Knoxville, who served in Congress with Kasich during his 1983-2000 tenure. Alexander will introduce Duncan, organizers said. Kasich will have a town hall meeting in Nashville before coming to Knoxville, where his visit includes a small fundraiser at the home of Sherry Lee, a Knoxville benefactor of various community endeavors. John Crisp, Kasich's Tennessee coordinator, said the private event will precede the public dinner. The dinner is at 6:30 p.m., with about 600-700 people expected. Gary Loe, the party's vice secretary, said tickets for $35 are still available at the door. "The dinner's not sold out but interest has been generated by last night's debate," Loe said Friday, shortly after New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a former presidential contender, announced he is supporting Trump. A group of Croatian journalists visiting the University of Tennessee under a U.S. State Department grant will attend the Kasich speech in hopes of meeting the candidate, said Sam Swan of UT's College of Communication and Information. Kasich's grandparents on his mother's side came from Croatia, Swan said. The group was in Nashville on Friday. Among their activities was attending a rally for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who also sparred with Trump on Thursday night. SHARE By Megan Boehnke of the Knoxville News Sentinel Interstate 75 could remain closed in both directions through the weekend after a rock slide Friday sent boulders as large as six-feet wide into the median. Tennessee Department of Transportation first shut down northbound lanes at 3 p.m., but the slide continued to push rocks into the road late Friday, prompting crews to close the southbound lanes late Friday. The agency expects to have the intestate reopened by 4:30 p.m. Monday, according to its website. The rock slide is near mile marker 141.5. A TDOT spokesman said late Friday evening the agency will give updates through the weekend and in the meantime have recommended detours for travelers. Those headed south should take Exit 160 for Jellico, then follow State Route 297 to state Route 63 and get back on I-75 at exit 141. Wide loads should take Exit 29 in Corbin, Ky., and follow U.S. 25E into Tennessee and take I-81 toward Knoxville. Drivers headed north should take Exit 134 and follow U.S. 25W through LaFollette into Jellico and back onto the interstate at Exit 160. Wide loads should take I-40 east to I-81 north. Get off at Exit 8 for Morristown and follow U.S. 25E back to I-75 in Corbin, Ky. More details as they develop online and in Sunday's News Sentinel. Jessie Dotson contemplates as he is sentenced Tuesday to death for each of the six charges for first-degree murder. SHARE By Lawrence Buser, Commercial Appeal As a state prosecutor finished his impassioned plea for the jury to return the death penalty Tuesday against convicted mass murderer Jessie Dotson, the defendant clapped his hands softly in mock applause. His attorneys said Dotson was not surprised when the Criminal Court jury later sentenced him to death six times, once for each of the 2008 murders on Lester Street. Their guilty verdict in 90 minutes the previous day sent a clear message, the attorneys said. "He was disappointed, but not surprised," said lead defense attorney Gerald Skahan. "When the jury came back with the quick guilty verdict, he knew (the death penalty) was probably a foregone conclusion." Judge James Beasley Jr. set Dotson's execution date for March 2, 2012, four years to the day when the six men, women and children were shot and stabbed to death. "May God have mercy on your soul," the judge said as Dotson was led away by officers. The nine women and three men of the jury ? chosen in Nashville and sequestered in Memphis ? deliberated less than two hours before agreeing on the sentences. Defense attorneys had asked for life in prison without parole. Automatic appeals will continue for years, however, making the execution date mostly a legal formality. Dotson, 35, was convicted in the worst mass-murder case in the city's history. "He's a convicted killer out of prison just five months and he kills six people, including two children," state prosecutor Ray Lepone told jurors in asking for the death penalty. "If not this case, what case? If not that defendant, what defendant gets the death penalty? "The children were chased down and carved up with kitchen knives. ... You know those (two) women were begging for their lives. And now Jessie's begging for his?" Across the courtroom, Dotson shook his head no and moments later mockingly applauded as Lepone took a seat. For the afternoon part of the sentencing hearing, Dotson changed from street clothes back to jail clothes that revealed forearms heavily tattooed with playing cards, dice and other designs. Earlier in the hearing, two jurors wiped tears from their eyes as they viewed photos of the young children who had been beaten and stabbed to death at the house. Dotson, 35, was convicted of killing his brother and another man, two women and two children on March 2, 2008, at 722 Lester. He told police and his mother that he killed his brother during an argument and then began eliminating witnesses. He also was convicted of three counts of attempted first-degree murder for beating and stabbing three other children, including two who told jurors that he ? their Uncle Junior ? was the lone attacker. Jurors returned the death penalties after finding aggravating circumstances ? aspects that increase the enormity of a crime ? for each victim. At least one such circumstance is required in each case when prosecutors seek the death penalty: Cecil Dotson, 30: Jessie Dotson had a prior second-degree murder conviction and he posed a great risk of death to two or more others when he killed Cecil. Marissa Williams, 27: Same as above. Also, the murder was committed to eliminate her as a witness, and the defendant committed mass murder of three or more people within a 48-month period. Hollis Seals, 33: Same as above. Shindri Roberson, 22: Same as above. Cecil Dotson II, 2: Same as above. Also, the victim was less than 13 years old and the murder was heinous, atrocious and cruel, and involved abuse well beyond that necessary to cause death. Cemario Dotson, 4: Same as above. The children were repeatedly stabbed and beaten with boards. Prosecutors Reginald Henderson and Damon Griffin noted that Dotson's calm courtroom demeanor during most of the 14-day trial dissolved into anger when he testified on cross-examination Saturday. "I think we saw the real Jessie on Saturday," said Griffin. "You saw some anger and some rage. That was the real Jessie. He couldn't hold it in." For the defense, mitigation expert Glori Shettles told jurors that Dotson came from a broken family that moved frequently, was a disciplinary problem at home and at school, was an eighth-grade dropout and was 19 when he went to prison for 14 years for killing a man. "There was a lot of movement, a lot of instability," said Shettles, who works for Inquisitor Inc. "He repeated the fourth grade twice, not because his grades were bad, but because he missed so much school. ... There was an absence of a stable home life. That was very important." She said that during his 14 years in prison, he had one family visit and a few phone calls. Beasley set a Nov. 12 sentencing date for Dotson's three attempted first-degree murder convictions involving the children ? ages 9 years, 5 years and 2 months at the time of the crimes ? who survived their stabbings. Dotson will be the 88th inmate on Tennessee's death row and the 34th from Shelby County, which has by far more than any other county in the state. Editor's note: Follow the developments of the Lester Street trial as it unfolds by reading Lawrence Buser's updates on MemphisTrialBlog.com. ? Lawrence Buser: 901-529-2385 Aerial photograph showing the damage to I-75 in Campbell County when a section of embankment at the 143 mile marker already undergoing repairs slid away, taking with it moisture-laden material and a portion of a stabilization wall that had been built. SHARE Aerial photograph showing the damage to I-75 in Campbell County when a section of embankment at the 143 mile marker already undergoing repairs slid away, taking with it moisture-laden material and a portion of a stabilization wall that had been built. Aerial photograph showing the damage to I-75 in Campbell County when a section of embankment at the 143 mile marker already undergoing repairs slid away, taking with it moisture-laden material and a portion of a stabilization wall that had been built. By News Sentinel Staff Campbell County detour map during the I-75 spill cleanup The images speak for themselves. Aerials released today by the Tennessee Department of Transportation show the extent of slippage on part of Interstate 75 in Campbell County as well as the degree of work performed so far to address the damage. "I keep using the word 'massive,' " TDOT Region 1 spokesman Mark Nagi said today. Early Tuesday, a section of embankment at the 143 mile marker already undergoing repairs slid away, taking with it moisture-laden material and a portion of a stabilization wall that had been built. This week's new slide came as crews were trying to address damage from a March 8 embankment erosion along the southbound lanes of I-75. Currently, both lanes of southbound I-75 are closed as well as one northbound lane in the area. Traffic is being detoured along designated wide-load and traffic routes. TDOT officials estimate it'll be May 21 before any southbound traffic can be routed on a makeshift detour of I-75. Complete repairs to rebuild the slope and the two southbound lanes likely will take until at least Sept. 28, according to TDOT. The Kentucky contractor, Elmo Greer and Sons, LLC, is launching soil nails 20 feet deep into the mountainside to stabilize the existing embankment. The contract was let for $9.3 million, but Nagi said it's possible the work could take longer at a greater cost. "I don't know if that will be the case here, but it certainly has happened in the past," he said. In order for the road to be made whole, Nagi said today construction crews over the coming months must buttress the hillside, refill what's now gone and build the highway lanes. From top to bottom, the distance measures about 180 feet, he said. More than 28,000 vehicles a day travel north and south on the impact section of I-75 between mile markers 141 and 144. Motorists should expect the potential for long delays on I-75 while repairs are under way. The detour route for I-75 South: Take Exit 160 in Jellico, Tenn., follow U.S. 25W to LaFollette and back onto I-75 South at Exit 134 in Caryville, Tenn. Wide-load detour route for I-75 South: Take Exit 160 in Jellico, turn right and follow state Route 297 West to state Highway 63 and back onto I-75 South at Exit 141. Suggested alternate route for I-75 North: Take Exit 134 in Caryville, U.S. 25W to LaFollette and back onto I-75 North at Exit 160 in Jellico. More details as they develop online and in Saturday's News Sentinel. SHARE As our candidates for president address how they would employ U.S. power to defeat the Islamic State, keep these seven things in mind: 1. "Shock and awe" can destroy an army, but it cannot control a population. If a foreign military showed up in Knoxville with a bunch of fancy technology and started killing people efficiently and indiscriminately, would Tennesseans just throw up their hands and say, "Oh, well, look how advanced they are let's do whatever they want"? Would the rest of the United States do that? Of course not. There's no reason to think that the people in ISIS-controlled Iraq and Syria would just cooperate, either. 2. They know us better than we know them. Many of the individuals fighting for ISIS have fought U.S. and allied forces in Iraq over the past decade. We experience a higher turnover in our armed forces than ISIS does. Our ground troops go over on regular rotations but don't stay for more than 15 months. ISIS fighters are always there, always fighting and always grooming the next rank of fighters. 3. They're more adaptable than we are. Our military works within the bounds of authority and the laws of war, while ISIS, of course, does not. We also operate with equipment, weapons and tactics that are standardized across a broad force, while ISIS weapons and tactics can change rapidly based on what's available and who can use it. Our stability allows us to conduct large, coordinated operations in which everyone is familiar with the tactics being used, but it also makes it more difficult for us to keep up with changes in a dynamic battlefield. 4. We need to decide early whether to wage war to punish or to affect political change, because it's difficult to do both. Punishing ISIS, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad or any other player using military force may be possible, but almost certainly would cause an enormous amount of death and suffering. This will likely provide the fuel for a new generation of militants and seed the field of battle for coming decades. Fighting for lasting political change will be messier and look less righteous. A bloodthirsty quest for complete retribution will delay and possibly end any hope of future stability. 5. The borders might need to change. Every single border between Egypt and Iran was imposed after World War I by the British and the French. After arbitrarily carving up land that was mostly the former Ottoman Empire, Britain, France, and Russia left the area to ferment. These made-up borders, which lumped various ethnic, linguistic and religious communities together in barely functional states, have been a constant burden on progress and modernization in the region. 6. This is a multi-player game. Turkey, Russia and Iran all have major stakes in the outcome of the conflict. One of these is our ally, but the other two are not our enemies. For all three, their interests extend beyond simply defeating ISIS. So we need to start thinking about what we're willing to concede, and to whom we're willing to make concessions. There's no unalloyed victory for America to be had here. 7. You get to choose actions, not outcomes. Our politicians seem to regularly ignore this. You can commit to a course of action hoping that it brings a desired effect, but that's terribly difficult to predict even in the best of times, let alone the complicated mess that is the war in Syria. Lt. Joshua Aisen is a 1999 graduate of William Blount High School. On active duty in the U.S. Navy, he is currently studying for a master's degree at Harvard University. The opinions expressed in this column are his personal thoughts and not the official position of the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Department of Defense or the United States government. SHARE After seven years of President Barack Obama, the polls still show Democrats have a solid road to the White House. For me, this demands a serious investigation of why Republicans do not have a clear path to victory over the likes of Queen Hillary Clinton or self-proclaimed socialist Bernie Sanders. What are we doing wrong? According to the Pew Research Center, 39 percent of voters identify themselves as independent, 32 percent as Democrats and only 23 percent as Republicans a statistic that continues to shrink. I believe there are seven things we need to be relevant in a national election, gain the independent vote and win the White House this November. 1. End corporate welfare. If Republicans believe in accountability, then we need to practice what we preach. No more pandering to Wall Street and no more corporate bailouts. 2. Reach out to the African-American community. According to the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, only 28 percent of blacks consider themselves to be liberal, but the majority still votes Democratic. The Democrats' false message of government dependence is bondage. Here is the truth: Republicans passed the Civil Rights Act and Democrats politically enforced for Jim Crow laws. Our message of personal accountability is liberating. Our party is ethnically diverse, representing all nationalities. Republicans provide ideas for educational growth and personal development. As Republicans, we believe everyone, regardless of background, can achieve the American Dream. 3. Reach out to the Latino and Hispanic communities. Latino and Hispanic citizens make up 18 percent of the U.S. population. The overwhelming majority of Latinos and Hispanics are personally conservative. However, 70 percent vote Democratic. Is that because the Republican Party is the party of rich white guys? Two of the three top Republican presidential candidates want millions of illegal immigrants deported. Many of these illegal immigrants have family members who are citizens. Republicans should build a bridge to this community with concrete, achievable solutions. 4. Actually close the Department of Education. Each presidential candidate says they will end Common Core and shut down the Education Department. This view is favorable across the political spectrum. Republicans should make it happen and give local citizens freedom to educate their children more effectively. 5. Fix the problems with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Republican Party should show overwhelming support for our veterans by providing a viable solution to the VA health care crisis. If you wore a uniform, you should have carte blanche access for your health care. 6. Quit being the party of "no" when it comes to health care. The Affordable Care Act has far more negative aspects than positive, but America doesn't hear that. Repealing the ACA is an energizing issue to the GOP base, but Americans have yet to hear a plausible solution for the health care crisis. 7. Assure senior citizens, who make up more than 15 percent of the population, their money in the Medicare and Social Security trust funds belongs to them. Guarantee the seniors that their money is safe and it will not be used for the pet projects of politicians. They should rest in the knowledge that their money will be there when they need it. After two terms of our current president, our country is in desperate need of help. However, without my own party recognizing the cry of all Americans, we will not see the White House from the inside. SHARE A look at recent events in the news that pleased us ... Big turnout: Tennessee shattered the state's presidential primary early voting record as 383,259 people went to the polls over the past two weeks, the Tennessean reported. That is a 16.4 percent increase over 2008, which also was the last time no incumbent was on the ballot. In Knox County, 35,389 voters cast ballots early. Republicans outnumbered Democrats 2.6 to 1; statewide, the margin was 2 to 1. Election Day is Tuesday. Top cops: The six police officers who rushed to stop a man who attacked two military sites in Chattanooga last year will be honored nationally for their actions. The National Association of Police Organizations will give officers Sean O'Brien, Grover Wilson, Jeff Lancaster, Keven Flanagan, Lucas Timmons and Dennis Pedigo the group's "Top Cops" award, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported. The officers shot and killed 24-year-old Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez after he killed four Marines and a U.S. Navy specialist on July 16. Pedigo was wounded in the gun battle. Cleaning up: A new economic impact study says the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge cleanup program was responsible for about 6,200 jobs direct and indirect in fiscal year 2014. The study, which was conducted by the University of Tennessee's Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, also said the cleanup-related activities in Oak Ridge added $545 million to the state's gross domestic product. Easy confirmation: The state Legislature, meeting in joint session, unanimously confirmed Roger Amos Page as the newest Tennessee Supreme Court justice. Gov. Bill Haslam appointed Page to replace Gary Wade, who now is dean of Lincoln Memorial University's law school. Page has served on the Court of Criminal Appeals for the past four years. Prior to that, the Jackson resident was a circuit court judge. Frat brats: Hazing and alcohol violations over the past three years caused the Indianapolis-based headquarters of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity to shut down the Epsilon-Omicron chapter at the University of Tennessee. The UT chapter will be closed for up to five years, according to UT spokeswoman Katherine Saxon. During the suspension, the 112 members can't represent the fraternity, hold fraternity gatherings or display fraternity emblems or symbols. SHARE A majority of Americans see the nation headed in the wrong direction. With an upcoming election, there is a desire for a strong leader to bring about change. History has not been kind to such changes. Think of Lenin replacing the czar in Russia; Hitler replacing the Weimar Republic in Germany; the Ayatollah replacing the Shah in Iran; Castro taking over Cuba and many other examples, each change being welcomed by the people at the time. America is not immune from historical trends, so we must not let the earnest desire for a strong leader blind us to the potential for a worst-case scenario. All but one of the candidates have been proclaiming their intentions to act on all the issues we face. They say, "I will do" this and "I will do" that to save us from these perils, reminiscent of Dudley Do-Right saving plucky little Nell. Give a tip of the hat to Dudley, because he really was saving Nell from an evil villain. We don't operate in that simplified world, and the issues we face are not simple issues with simple villains. Only one candidate, Dr. Ben Carson, has not proclaimed an "I will" presidency. He knows that the president is only the president, not an autocrat. He will work within the constitutional framework of three branches of government headed by we the people. He will not impose solutions, but he offers solutions for everyone to consider. His solutions show the wisdom of fully understanding the issues, solutions that will resolve both the immediate and long-term implications of such issues. His solutions will not be knee-jerk reactions based on pride, assumed invincibility or political correctness. More than a strong leader, we need a strong servant of the people in 2016. Elect Ben Carson. Robert Roark, Knoxville A U.S. appeals court overturned Apple's lower-court victory in a patent suit against Samsung on Friday, ruling that the Korean electronics giant did not violate Apple's three patents and does not have to pay about $120 million in damages. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., dismissed Apple's claims that Samsung infringed upon three patents on "quick links," "slide-to-unlock" and "auto-correct" technologies. The appeals court also upheld a lower court ruling that Apple infringed on one Samsung patent. "We reverse the district court's denial of Samsung's motion for judgment as a matter of law (JMOL) of non-infringement and find that Apple failed to prove, as a matter of law, that the accused Samsung products use an 'analyzer server' as we have previously construed that term," the court said in the verdict, referring to the "quick links" patent, according to Yonhap news agency. "We also reverse the district court's denial of JMOL of the invalidity of Apple's '721 and '172 patents, finding that the asserted claims of both patents would have been obviously based on technology invented and known before the patents were applied for," the court said, referring to the two other Apple patents. By Choi Sung-jin Early this month, the government decided to extend excise tax cuts for car buyers retroactive to January, as part of its moves to stimulate consumption. However, most dealers of imported vehicles are not refunding the taxes to buyers who bought their cars last month, earning the buyers' grievances, market sources say. Some buyers are moving to file a class action suit. A case in point is Audi Korea. The car importer says it has decided to follow the government decision but its dealers are not going along with the decision by refunding the taxes to their customers. The dealers argue they lowered prices to the level of the extended tax cuts to promote slumping sales, and refunding the tax would be a "double burden" on them. An Audi Korea official said the company has conveyed its decision on the tax refund to dealers and is confirming which dealers are rejecting it. "The situation is quite complicated because actual sales contracts differ from dealer to dealer, and even from client to client," he said. Other vehicle importers go even further. Companies that import and distribute Volkswagen, Mercedes Benz, BMW and Volvo models have decided not to refund the excise taxes at the corporate level. "Our company sold cars at prices reflecting the tax cuts in January to promote sales," an official at Mercedes Benz Korea said. "If we refund the taxes now, it will be against the equality of the clients who bought our cars in February." The behavior of the foreign car dealers contrasts with that of the dealers of domestically made cars. Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors began refunding the excise taxes on Feb. 20, giving 1.3 million to 2.1 million won ($1,050-$1,700) back to buyers of its luxury Genesis EQ9000 model, and 260,000 won to 440,000 won to purchasers of its compact Avante model. Dealers of the Korean vehicles say they also began discount sales in January but have decided to follow the government's decision. Customers say they cannot understand the differences in the attitudes of the dealers of Korean and foreign cars. "Both local and imported car dealers lowered their prices in January in expectation of plunging sales upon the expiration of the tax breaks," a motorist said in a posting on an Internet site. "The differing stances between local and foreign car sellers go against the principle of equity." Market sources estimate that about 10,000 buyers of these imported vehicles would be affected by not getting the tax refunds. Unfortunately for the purchasers, vehicle importers have no legal obligations to refund the excise taxes, the sources said. "The government has to refund the tax revenue to businesses, but cannot force them to do the same with their customers," a local car dealer said. An official at the Ministry of Strategy and Finance agreed, saying, "If there are disputes over this matter, customers will have to settle them through civil suits." The ministry lowered individual consumption taxes on cars from 5 percent to 3.5 percent, equivalent to discounts of 200,000 won to 2 million won depending on the model, from last September to December. Faced with plummeting sales last month, it decided to prolong the tax cuts until June 30, and retroactively apply it to January. By Choi Sung-jin The CEOs of major Korean companies are compensated up to 100 times higher than their employees, often regardless of their performances, a report said Friday. Moreover, the criteria that determine the CEOs' performance-related pay are ambiguous factors that cannot be measured objectively, such as "showing leadership" and "improving organizational culture," it noted. According to the report by Corporate Governance Service, based on a survey of 243 CEOs of 202 listed companies, CEOs' average annual compensation in 2014 was 1.27 billion won ($1.02 million). The CEOs' salaries in family-run conglomerates were higher: 1.82 billion won on average for shareholders-cum-managers, and 1.37 billion won for professional managers. CEOs received compensation 21.8 times higher than that of their employees on average. Such a gap was widest at Samsung Electronics. CEO Shin Jong-kyun's pay was 14.57 billion won, 142.9 times greater than the 102 million won in annual pay for the average employee. The second- and third-widest gaps were at CJ Cheil Jedang with CEO pay 103.7 times great than the average employee, and Korean Air with 102.2 times. Regular, or fixed, pay accounts for 78 percent of the total CEO pay with the other 22 percent coming from performance pay. This is in stark contrast to the compensation of CEOs in the United States, where performance pay represents 85 percent of their pay. The portion of fixed pay for CEOs in Korea is higher among shareholder-managers with 85 percent, compared with 72 percent for professional managers, the report said. A look at the criteria of performance pay backs this up. Although these criteria include short-term indices such as sales and net profits, they do not typically comprise longer-term indicators, including the growth rate of sales and return on assets. Non-financial indicators were ambiguously presented without being measured by objective standards, examples of which are "demonstrating leadership" and "enhancing group synergy," the report pointed out. By Choi Sung-jin In 2005, Flinders University in Australia released an interesting result of research after tracing the lives of 1,447 elderly people for 10 years. It showed, among other things, that people with many friends tended to live longer, but that merely maintaining good relationships with family members had almost no effects on longevity. Aged people belonging to groups with close friendships had a mortality rate 22 percent lower than those who were only with their families. "Friends tended to prolong people' lives not only by exerting positive influences on their behavior, such as smoking, drinking and eating habits, but also by helping them get over difficult times," the report said. The research provides many lessons related to Korean society and its many social problems, experts say. The increase in the number of people who are isolated from others and who have few friends to talk to could cause problems not only in their quality of life but within the groups and communities to which they belong, they add. "Such isolation, along with rising depression, the world's highest suicide rate and a growing crime rate, can drastically weaken social solidarity," said Professor Koo Hye-ran of Seoul National University. Actually, many of the parents who have recently shocked Korea by horribly abusing their children were leading lives isolated from their relatives and neighbors. Sociologists have long found the reasons for destroyed human relationships in the changes in social structures and living conditions. More specificall, they cite such factors as urbanization, industrialization, individualism, nuclear families and the popularized use of the Internet. Korean children are exposed to almost all of these risks, they say. "The children who live with busy parents who are endlessly shuttling them between school and private academies could grow up without learning social skills because they have little time to communicate with their mothers and fathers and play with friends," said Choi Hae-yeon, a psychologist and professor. "These children, who only watch TV and play on-line games in their spare time, tend to become grown-ups who show obsessive and other erratic behaviors in relationships with others." The fact that an increasing number of them are from families with only one child aggravates the problem, as they don't have opportunities to form relationships with siblings, which serve as important social assets later, she added. When they do have friends, these friends tend to be more like rivals rather than allies in this society of limitless competition, especially among younger generations, the experts said. "People in their 20s realize that each one of them has to make his or her own living eventually, which in part explains why a growing number of college students and young office workers tend to eat and drink alone," said Professor Yoo Myeong-soon of the Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Health. "They spend most of their time strengthening their individual competitiveness rather than forming human relationships." However, life requires cooperation as well as competition with others, she said, adding that increasing the number of boarding schools can be one way of teaching many in this generation of young people how to share and interact with others. Protesters held a massive rally on Saturday against the government's push for labor reform and against talks with the U.S. over the deployment of the American missile defense system in S. Korea. About 13,000 protestors from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the association of farmers and progressive civic groups gathered at Seoul Plaza in central Seoul to wage the rally. The rally came amid public denouncements directed at the government's push for labor reform that the protestors say will make it easier for companies to dismiss workers. Some progressive protesters raised their voices against Seoul's move to begin talks with Washington over the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) here, saying it could possibly initiate an arms race in the region. "We've come to gather together as there is no opposition party which can represent our voices against the government of President Park Geun-hye," the protestors said in an opening speech as cited by Yonhap news agency. Last November, an anti-government rally turned violent as some participants brandished metal pipes, clashing with the police who then fired water cannons at them. A farmer still remains in critical condition after being knocked down by high pressure spray from a police water cannon. The protestors at Saturday's demonstration marched toward the hospital where the farmer is still being treated but has not yet recovered. The only reason for the United States and South Korea to consider deploying the THAAD missile defense system is because of North Korean threats, and the system won't be necessary if the communist nation is denuclearized, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday. "We have made it very clear that we are not hungry or anxious to deploy THAAD," Kerry said during a joint news conference after talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. "The only reason for THAAD being in consultation ... is because of the provocative actions of North Korea, which has publicly announced it is focused on the United States and which is developing weapons which have the ability to attack the United States," he said. Kerry also said, "If we can get to denuclearization, there is no need to deploy THAAD." "We've stated publicly, openly and clearly what the conditions are for not having to consider its deployment. And that would be the denuclearization. That's all. Not even if North Korea fundamentally changed, but if it is denuclearized, then this particular threat goes away," he said. Kerry also stressed the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) is a purely defensive mechanism. The only way to not only prevent THAAD from being deployed but also see less American troops on the Korean Peninsula is to resolve the nuclear issue and make peace on the peninsula, he said. A top North Korean military official is believed to be receiving medical treatment in the North, a source familiar to the North's affairs said Thursday, as he has not recently been seen at public events. Hwang Pyong-so, director of the general political bureau of the Korean People's Army (KPA), appears to be receiving treatment in North Korea as he has some problems with his spine, according to the source. It is believed that he visited Singapore last year to undergo surgery on his spine. Hwang was not included on an entourage list for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un when he recently observed flight drills by the North's Air Force. His absence from the public eye has spawn speculation that he may be preparing to carry out provocations against South Korea following the North's latest nuclear and long-range rocket tests. The sudden disappearance of North Korean officials is usually viewed by outside analysts as being linked to a possible purge or punishment. (Yonhap) The productivity in South Korea's service sector far lags behind that of major global economies, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said Friday, calling for drastically removing regulatory barriers to boost the segment. In the report, titled "Going for Growth 2016," the OECD said South Korea's productivity in its service sector stood at 40 percent, the lowest among the 26 OECD member countries. Estonia topped the list with nearly 130 percent, followed by Portugal, Austria and Italy. The productivity level in the U.S.' service segment came to around 80 percent and Japan's to 60 percent. The OECD said regulatory reforms are one of the key hurdles to the service sector's growth in Asia's fourth-largest economy. "Reducing regulatory barriers to competition and innovation in network industries, as well as professional services and retail distribution, remains a key reform priority," the OECD said, noting that they are "dragging down economy-wide labor productivity." The international economic organization said increased full-time labor participation of women should be sought after as the country is suffering from labor force shortages. It advised the South Korean government to provide policy support for female labor force participation, while encouraging the use of parental leave and flexible working arrangements. It also pointed to the need for comprehensive reforms "to remove institutional disincentives for full-time labor participation" while promoting "a working environment that helps reconcile work and family responsibilities." "Reforming employment protection by reducing effective employment protection for regular workers (is required), while expanding the social protection coverage for non-regular workers," according to the report. The OECD cited rapid population aging as a key noticeable challenge facing South Korea. South Korea became an aging society in 2000, with 7 percent of its population over 65, and will be an aged society around 2017, when 14 percent of its people are over 65, according to a government estimate. Last year, the total fertility rate, or the number of babies that a woman is projected to have during her lifetime, came to 1.24. It is up from the previous year's 1.21 but is still low among OECD member nations. (Yonhap) A local court has rejected an injunction seeking to stop police from banning one-man protests in front of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, court records showed Friday. Five progressive lawyers had taken the legal action after the Jongno district police force prevented them from taking turns staging one-man protests last week over the potential deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system. The police physically denied the lawyers access to the front of the embassy. The Seoul Central District Court rejected to rule on the matter, saying it has no jurisdiction to stop the exercise of public power through injunction. "We will review other measures to confirm illegitimacy of the police's action," Ha Joo-hee, one of the plaintiffs, said after the ruling was delivered. The lawyers are currently holding a one-man demonstration just across a crosswalk from the embassy. Under South Korean law, holding rallies or demonstrations within 100 meters of diplomatic missions or residences is prohibited. The lawyers argue that a one-man demonstration is not regulated under the law on assembly and demonstration. (Yonhap) By Andrew Hammond US presidential candidate Donald Trump called on Saturday for consumers to boycott Apple products until the tech giant cooperates with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to help unlock' the iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino terrorists. The move follows Apple's refusal to comply with the order last week of a US federal magistrate that the firm assist the FBI. The issue, which could become a significant one too in the US Congress with hearings already scheduled in March, sees the most valuable US company by market capitalisation at loggerheads with the country's powerful law enforcement agency. Throughout the process, Apple has sought to make clear that while it was "shocked and outraged" by the San Bernardino attacks which killed 17 people, and has "no sympathy for terrorists", it is nonetheless refusing to comply with the FBI because it asserts this would be an "unprecedented step which threatens the security of our customers". The spat follows a decision by Apple last year to enhance encryption on its iPhones. With this change, the tech giant has said that it will not unlock devices for authorities, even if faced with a warrant, claiming that doing so could set a legal precedent that the government could seek to utilise again and again. The issue is a sensitive one in the United States, right now, with significant concerns about the possibility of further terrorist attacks on the US homeland or on overseas US interests. The FBI also asserts that Apple has complied with similar requests in the past, before it tightened the security of its products. What this episode highlights, post-the revelations by Edward Snowden about US surveillance practices, are concerns not just in the United States, but right around the world, including from foreign governments, over the appropriate balance between national security and consumer privacy. Snowden's allegations have alarmed many, not least in Europe, and this led to the European Court of Justice last October ruling invalid a 15 year old transatlantic data protection agreement called Safe Harbor because it allegedly allowed US authorities to gain regular access to European online information, infringing European rights to privacy. Inevitably, this has put some US technology firms on the defensive with concern that the domestic and international fallout from the surveillance programme revelations could have damaged their reputation. This point was reportedly noted last month by Sina Marie Beaghley, former director of Intelligence and Information Security on the National Security Council, who asserted that "the reality was that it hurt US companies' bottom lines to be perceived as being complicit with the US government". This underscores the potential for business decisions, whatever their motivation, to become intertwined with foreign relations among states and companies. In effect, blurring the traditional public and private sector concerns of public policy and corporate affairs, respectively, in sometimes thorny issues of political, human rights and/or legal issues. To be sure, this is not a new phenomenon by any means, but nonetheless appears to be increasing in incidence and salience. Partly, this is driven by globalisation, and also the growth of key industries including new technology. iPhone maker should take part in global terrorism fight The ongoing dispute between Apple and the U.S. government is not the typical case of privacy versus law and order. The outcome will have far-reaching effects on the ongoing global fight against terrorism and how it may be reconciled with personal freedoms. Considering the sensitivity and gravity of the issue, every caution should be taken against a hasty conclusion. Still when the issue comes down to the prevention of life-ending terrorist acts, it's inevitable that Apple should stop resisting the law and cooperate. This spirit of cooperation should also apply to similar cases taking place outside the U.S. in light of of the global scale and enormity of terrorism, perhaps through a panel as suggested by Apple CEO Tim Cook. This case with Apple involves an FBI request to gain access to data stored in the iPhone belonging to Syed Rizwan Farook, a U.S. citizen born to Pakistani parents, who killed 14 people and injured 22 in the Dec. 2 shooting spree in San Bernandino, Calif. His mass killings, assisted by his wife, are presumed to have been "inspired by foreign terrorist groups" with efforts to link him with any specific terrorist groups obviously not going well. A proposed package of new U.N. sanctions would require mandatory inspection of all cargo going in and out of North Korea and ban its exports of mineral resources, a key source of hard currency for Pyongyang, a U.S. envoy said Thursday. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power unveiled the unprecedented measures as she outlined key points of the draft U.N. Security Council resolution expanding sanctions on North Korea for conducting nuclear and missile tests in violation of U.N. bans. "The United States tabled a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that, if adopted, would break new ground and represent the strongest set of sanctions imposed by the Security Council in more than two decades," Power told reporters. "For the first time in history, all cargo going in and out of the DPRK would be subjected to mandatory inspection. For the first time, all small arms and other conventional weapons would be prohibited from being sold to the DPRK," she said. In addition, the resolution would impose financial sanctions targeting North Korean banks and assets, ban aviation and rocket fuel supplies to the North, and ban the North's exports of coal, iron, gold, titanium and rare earth minerals, she said. The proposed sanctions would also ground North Korean flights suspected of carrying contraband, and suspicious vessels carrying illicit items would be denied access to ports, Power said. "These sanctions, if adopted, would send an unambiguous and unyielding message to the DPRK's regime the world will not accept your proliferation. There will be consequences for your actions and we will work relentlessly and collectively to stop your nuclear program," Power told reporters. "If adopted and implemented fully, these sanctions would constitute a major increase in pressure compared to the council's previous actions on the DPRK. They have a broader scope and target more of the DPRK's pressure points," she said. Power spoke after she formally presented the draft resolution at a Security Council meeting. On Wednesday, the U.S. and China reached the final agreement on the draft after more than a month of painstaking negotiations to narrow differences over how strongly to punish Pyongyang for its nuclear and missile tests. The new sanctions would make it much harder for the North to raise the funds, import the technology, and acquire the know-how to advance its illicit nuclear and ballistic missile programs, Power said. "The DPRK has taken progressive steps toward its declared goal of developing nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles," she said. "The international community cannot allow the DPRK regime to achieve that goal. The United States will not allow this to happen." She also made it clear, however, that the sanctions are not aimed at the North Korean people. "The North Korean people have suffered so much already under one of the most brutal regimes the world has ever known. Rather, the resolution focuses on a ruling elite that have inflicted so much of that suffering, always privileging the nuclear and ballistic missile programs over the welfare of the North Korean people," she said. Power also said the U.S. and its partners will continue to pursue "rigorous and unyielding sanctions" as long as the North pursues nuclear weapons. "We have seen how robust sanctions can alter a government's dangerous nuclear ambitions," she said. "The time to use this tool with the DPRK is now and we look forward to working with the council to put in place comprehensive, robust and unprecedented sanctions against the DPRK regime." After the North's Jan. 6 nuclear test, the Security Council pledged to adopt significant sanctions but has not been able to do so because China has balked at imposing harsh measures on Pyongyang. Amid the deadlock, the North floutedthe Security Council again with a banned missile launch on Feb. 7. Beijing has condemned the North'snuclear and missile tests but has been lukewarm about calls for a stern response. Analysts have long said Beijing fears that pushing Pyongyang too hard could lead to its collapse, instability on its border and the ultimate emergence of a pro-U.S. nation. (Yonhap) A senior U.S. diplomat arrived in Seoul Friday for talks with South Korean officials on how to deal with North Korea after the imminent adoption of a U.N. resolution. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel is scheduled to meet with Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam and Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun to discuss the allies' joint response to North Korea's nuclear and missile tests, according to the ministry. Washington and Beijing agreed Wednesday on a draft resolution calling for the strongest yet sanctions on Pyongyang, including mandatory inspections of all cargo going in and out of North Korea. The U.N. Security Council is expected to adopt the resolution as early as this weekend after a review by the 13 other council members. North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6 and followed it up with a long-range rocket launch on Feb. 7, which the outside world views as a banned test of ballistic missile technology. During his meetings here, Russel is also expected to discuss the issue of the THAAD U.S. missile defense system, which the allies are considering deploying in South Korea to better counter North Korean threats. Amid fierce Chinese opposition, Seoul and Washington have appeared to be cautious about moving forward, postponing the planned launch of a joint working group on the issue. On Saturday, Russel flies to Beijing, where he expected to hold further consultations on North Korea. (Yonhap) South Korea's financial regulator said Friday it gave preliminary approval to a Singaporean reinsurance company to set up a local branch. The Financial Services Commission (FSC) said final approval for the branch establishment by Singaporean reinsurer Asia Capital Reinsurance (ACR) may be granted in a couple of months. "Given ACR met a set of requirements for doing business here in the initial review, the insurer will likely obtain final approval," said Cho Seong-joon, deputy director at the regulator's insurance division. ACR, which ranks among the world's top 50 reinsurance companies, provides reinsurance products and risk solutions for airlines, airports, ships and builders. In December, ACR applied for preliminary approval to make inroads into Asia's fourth-largest economy. In its preemptive efforts to enter South Korea, ACR signed a memorandum of understanding with the Seoul city government in October to support Seoul's plan to nurture the capital city as a financial hub in Northeast Asia. ACR currently operates a representative office in South Korea, while running branches in Hong Kong and Dubai. The South Korean reinsurance market is dominated by sole homegrown reinsurer Korean Re and a handful of global majors such as Munich Re, Swiss Re and General Re. Korean Re holds a dominant 60 percent market share and multinational peers are competing for the remainder in the nearly saturated domestic reinsurance market valued at 8.5 trillion won ($6.9 billion) as of end-2014. (Yonhap) K-Pop Double Take is a weekly review column highlighting recent releases that have yet to receive the attention we feel they deserve. While artists like CL and Rap Monster are beginning to expose worldwide audiences to Korea's burgeoning rap scene, it's important to remember that the influence isn't just emerging from the Korean peninsula. Born in Argentina, based in Los Angeles, but representing Korean culture, rapper Dumbfoundead stays true to his roots. On his recent single "Mijangwon," released on Dec. 10, the up-and-coming MC is able to simultaneously rep Western and Eastern aspects of his personality, displaying a unique perspective all the while. He has help from two guests, Loopy and Nafla, two rappers who are similarly bridging the international scenes across the Pacific Ocean. Loopy represents Seoul, Nafla is from Pasadena, but alongside Dumbfoundead, the trio make a potent case for a hip-hop culture that reaches across borders. Known to his parents as Jonathan Park, Dumbfoundead lives in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles, a location that figures prominently in the video for "Mijangwon." "Mijangwon" means "beauty salon" in Korean and that's the setting of the Dumbfoundead video. To a certain extent, this mirrors the importance of the barbershop for American rappers ranging from Murs to Killer Mike. The comparisons and similarities are piled on throughout the song, with Dumbfoundead replacing the obligatory "Scarface" reference with a nod to "Oldboy," Korea's most well-known contribution to the tradition of hyper-violent cinema. However, while "Mijangwon" is meant to show Korean/Korean-American rap as being equal players in the global rap scene, it's not all about finding parallels. For these rapper, it's about proving themselves as originals, not imitators. With his helium-like voice and wild, triplet-flecked flow, Loopy initially brings to mind American rapper Danny Brown. But by the time his verse is over, the listener realizes he's got something unique going on as well. For his part, Nafla brings explosive energy and aggression that compliments the song's threatening beat. Dumbfoundead is the central spoke of "Mijanwon," providing a macho attitude, calling himself a "K-town legend." Throughout the track, all three rhyme in both English and Korean. The audience is clearly international, but the message is the same; make way for the new wave of Korean hip-hop. Watch the music video for Dumbfoundead's song "Mijangwon" RIGHT HERE Jeff Tobias is a composer, musician and writer currently living in Brooklyn, New York. As of late, he has been studying arcane systems of tuning and working on his jump shot. The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary Read more PRESS RELEASE China Readies Its First Retrievable Science Satellite for Launch Feb. 26, 2016 (EIRNS)Chinas Shijian-10 satellite arrived at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Feb. 24, to be prepared for an April lift-off. It will be the first satellite China has launched that will conduct scientific experiments in microgravity, and then return to Earth with the completed experiments. It is a 15-day mission. The 19 experiments onboard the satellite include studies of combustion, new materials, radiation effects on DNA and genetics, and biotechnology, Chinese press reported. There is also an experiment, Soret Coefficient in Crude Oil, on the satellite, which is a collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), and Frances Total Oil Company, which aims to investigate the behavior of oil under high pressure. There are 11 institutes of Chinas Academy of Sciences involved in the experiments, along with six Chinese universities, ESA, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Unlike most other satellites, which have a faring, or covering around them during launch, to protect the satellite and its sensitive instruments from the challenging environment of launch, Shijian-10 does not need a faring. Because it has to withstand reentry through the atmosphere, so the experiments can be retrieved and brought back to Earth for study, the spacecraft is being built to withstand the high temperatures, high speeds, and high pressure of reentry, undoubtedly using technology developed to allow an ICBM to come back through the atmosphere. PRESS RELEASE European Parliament Votes Up Saudi Arms Embargo Feb. 26, 2016 (EIRNS)The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly yesterday in favor of the European Union imposing an arms embargo against Saudi Arabia, and called on Britain, France and other EU governments to no longer sell weapons to a country accused of targeting civilians in Yemen. The call said that Britain had approved sales of more than 3 billion in arms to Saudi Arabia since Saudi-led forces began their military intervention into Yemen last March. That war has caused the deaths of nearly 6,000 people, almost half civilians, according to the United Nations, and the Members of the European Parliament (MEP), as reported in the Guardian. "This is about Yemen. The human rights violations have reached a level that means Europe is obliged to act and to end arms sales to Saudi Arabia," said U.K. MEP Richard Howitt (Labour) who led efforts to hold the vote. Although the vote is not legally binding, MEPs hope it will induce EU governments to agree to an embargo. Already a petition signed by 750,000 European citizens calling for the suspension of weapon sales has been filed with the European Parliament. MEP Alyn Smith, a Scottish Nationalist, has also written to EU Council foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to back imposing the embargo. The news short from the European Parliament notes that the Walt Disney Co. is adopting a new pricing policy at Disneyland and other U.S. theme parks that would reduce ticket costs on low-demand days and boost entrance fees for more popular times. Starting Sunday, anyone willing to drop in on a typically slow day maybe a Wednesday in September will pay a few dollars less than previously. But for most days of the year, expect to spend more for a daily ticket. Disney is portraying the move to peak pricing as a crowd-management technique rather than a push to maximize profits. Advertisement Airlines and hotels do it during spring break and other high-demand times; Uber and Lyft also charge more when the need for ride-hailing services surges, such as New Years Eve. The demand for our theme parks continues to grow, particularly during peak periods, Disneyland spokeswoman Suzi Brown said. In addition to expanding our parks, we are adopting seasonal pricing on our one-day ticket to help better spread visitation throughout the year. Disneyland and Disney California Adventure have been charging $99 for a one-day ticket. Under the new policy, each day on the calendar will be designated a value day, a regular day or a peak day. The new price will be $95 for a value day, $105 for a regular day and $119 for a peak day. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> Over a 12-month period, 30% of the days will be value days, 44% will be regular days and 26% will be peak days, Disney calculates. Disney has long been rumored to be considering a pricing change. Walt Disney Resorts put out feelers to annual pass holders last year, asking their opinion of a three-tiered pricing system aimed at charging more during Christmas, spring break and summer. But Universal Studios Hollywood beat Disney to the punch, adopting a variable pricing system earlier this month, before the park opens the Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction on April 7. Demand to check out the boy wizards stomping grounds is expected to be fierce. Universal Studios pricing policy, however, didnt increase ticket prices. The cost of a Universal Studios ticket for a peak-demand day is $95, the same price previously charged at the gate. Visitors who buy tickets for low-demand days can save up to $20 a ticket over the regular gate price. Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >> The pressure for Disney to address its overcrowding problem has been growing. In the three-month period that ended in December, the company reported a 10% increase in visitors at its domestic parks, reaching a new attendance record. During the holiday season, Disneyland has been forced to shut its gates for a time when the park reaches maximum capacity. Although daily ticket prices will rise for most days under Disneys new policy, park officials note that they are adding attractions to help justify the extra costs. Disneyland is now working to add a 14-acre Star Wars land and plans to add a new stage show based on the popular Frozen movie later this year. An opening date for Star Wars land hasnt been announced. Soaring Over California, a simulator attraction at Disney California Adventure Park, is being overhauled with a new film that features giant-screen images from around the world. The revamped version is opening this year. To read more about travel, tourism and the airline industry, follow Hugo Martin on Twitter at @hugomartin. ALSO Hes the creative force bringing Star Wars to Disneys theme parks Hong Kong Disneyland reports loss for 2015 as number of visitors drops Disneyland offers Southern Californians discounts on multi-day passes starting at $149 Problem solving is one of the most important duties of a movie production designer. You are creating a world, and then you have to figure out how to do it, said Jack Fisk, an athletic and youthful 70, in Brentwood. Sometimes it is designing a set. Sometimes its finding locations. Sometimes its supervising props. You have to keep the ball rolling so there is something to shoot every day. OSCARS 2016: Full coverage | List of nominees | #OscarsSoWhite controversy Advertisement And sometimes a production designer has to construct a set in just a few hours. One of Fisks most memorable sets in Alejandro G. Inarritus The Revenant, for which Fisk is nominated for an Academy Award, is the mountain of skulls Leonardo DiCaprios frontiersman Hugh Glass comes upon in a fevered dream sequence. We put together the skulls in about five hours, noted the laid-back Fisk, who has been married to Sissy Spacek since 1974 the two met on Terrence Malicks 1973 film Badlands. Alejandro just said he wanted [DiCaprio] to come upon a pile of skulls, said Fisk, who recently won the Art Directors Guild Award for the film. We found a picture online of a time when the United States government encouraged people to kill buffalo. If they killed the buffalo, the Indians wouldnt have a food source, so they could control the Indians. Alejandro got very excited about the buffalo skulls. So Fisk and his crew set out to secure skulls. We found a shop that butchered buffalo. They would sell us skulls, but we would have to clean them, and I didnt want to have that much death around. We took five skulls we brought and made casts of them. The skulls were sprayed with plastic foam and a pyramid shape frame was built of wood and chicken wire to stack the skulls. The night before they shot the scene, Inarritu told Fisk he wanted DiCaprio to be able to climb the hill of skulls. The next morning we built some steps and put in a platform, said Fisk. Its rare that a filmmaker works with Fisk only one time. Since Badlands, Fisk has designed every film Malick has directed. Hes collaborated with his good friend David Lynch on such films as 2001s Mulholland Drive he even played the Man in the Planet in Lynchs landmark 1977 Eraserhead and has designed Paul Thomas Andersons 2007 There Will Be Blood, for which he earned his first Oscar nomination, and 2012s The Master."" The Revenant, nominated for 12 Academy Awards, marks the first time hes worked with the Mexican filmmaker. I think that I am attracted to filmmakers who are artists, Fisk explained. That is the one thing they all have in common. Actually working on Badlands was the first time I realized that a film could be a fine art. I think film is as valuable as painting or sculpture. Revenant producer Mary Parent noted Fisk is himself an artist. I think what makes him so special is he is just about the work and the artistry, said Parent. His attention to detail is unparalleled. It takes an immense amount of dedication to be able to see through all of those small details. He really tapped into Alejandros vision. Ironically, when he and Lynch, whom he has known since high school in Virginia, drove out to Los Angeles in 1970 Lynch was attending the American Film Institute Fisk thought he may try to paint billboards. (Fisk and Lynch attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.) But he soon got work as an art director on such low-budget films as 1971s Angels Hard as They Come. Fisk met Malick because he and Lynch were both fellows at AFI. When he heard Malick was going to make a period film, I started researching the film and then we met. He introduced me to Sissy. They were working on the script. I rented a truck, filled it up with my tools, drove it to Colorado and started looking for locations and getting sets together. (It was the start of something big in many ways. Fisk and Spacek have been married for 42 years and have two grown daughters. They live on a farm in Virginia). Locations were probably the most important element of the design of the Revenant, noted Fisk. The challenge was if you put together a film that is primarily on location, you have to feel like [DiCaprios] moving and traveling. So you have to find locations that are distinct from another. When you start looking at mountains, they all look alike. So you have to search to find stuff that pops out. The Revenant, which shot in continuity, was mainly filmed in the wilds of Alberta, Canada. Fisk and the location scout drove hundreds of miles and then hiked miles to get to rivers and mountains because there was no way else to find locations. I loved it because I was outside and getting exercise. After they chose about 10 locations, Inarritu and cinematographer Emmanuel Chivo Lubezki would fly up to check out the locations. Riding in the car for six days, you got to talk about the film, life and you find there is a kind of bonding, noted Fisk. You get more insight into what they want to do. Revenant also reunited Fisk with Lubezki, with whom he has worked on six films. Lubezki has won the Academy Award the past two years for Gravity and Birdman and is favored to win a third consecutive Oscar for The Revenant. I love working with him, said Fisk. In a way, knowing what he needs to do with his work makes it easier for me to do my work. Because Lubezki would be using only natural light, Fisk had to adjust his sets accordingly. In fact, he built two identical structures in the massive fort set. One faced east and one faced west, so that in the morning if you wanted to shoot, they would use the east facing one. And in the afternoon they would shoot the other one. You couldnt tell the difference because they looked exactly alike. susan.king@latimes.com MORE: How The Revenant immerses its audience in a freezing river, hail of arrows and sense of horror Leonardo DiCaprios turn in The Revenant proves its time to stop holding his popularity against him The Revenant cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki shares Instagram pics and memories from making the film The Los Angeles Times, the Hollywood Reporter and Variety have asked a judge to keep open documents in a contentious legal dispute over whether media Sumner Redstone is mentally competent. The three news organizations on Friday asked Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge David J. Cowan to deny requests to seal documents in the court case. Attorneys representing Redstone have filed two motions that ask the judge to shield court records from public view. See more of Entertainments top stories on Facebook >> Advertisement Sumner Redstone is one of the most influential entertainment and media figures of the last half century, attorney Jean-Paul Jassy wrote in the motion filed Friday on behalf of The Times and the Hollywood Reporter. He is also at the center of a heated controversy that affects more than just his interests, Jassy wrote. As a major shareholder, recent chair and chair emeritus of highly visible publicly traded companies, his life matters, and this Courts decisions about his life matter to a great many people. Redstone is the controlling shareholder of CBS Corp. and Viacom Inc. This month, the ailing mogul relinquished his role as executive chairman of the two media companies. Redstones attorneys earlier this month filed two motions asking the judge to seal certain documents in the case. They said the documents should be off limits to members of the public to protect the privacy of the ailing 92-year-old media mogul. Some of the documents relate to findings by physicians who have examined Redstone as well as activity logs kept at the moguls home. Mr. Redstones strong privacy interest in his personal medical information and estate planning provides a sufficiently compelling basis for the court to seal these documents, Redstone attorney Amy Koch wrote in one of the two motions to seal court records. The request by The Times and Hollywood Reporter, relying on the 1st Amendment as well as Californias constitution, is expected to be heard by Cowan in open court on Monday. Variety, another Hollywood news organization, filed a separate motion asking that the Redstone documents remain open. Secrecy about the operation of the courts breeds cynicism and suspicion about, and a lack of respect for, the fairness of judicial decision-making. This concern is heightened when the case involves wealthy and powerful public figures and serious allegations of abuse of a mentally incapacitated individual, unlawful disinheritance, and an orchestrated cover-up, attorney Bradley H. Kreshek wrote in Varietys motion. The Redstone case was already headed for a high-stakes showdown. Cowan on Monday also was scheduled to decide whether to dismiss the lawsuit brought by Redstones former companion, Manuela Herzer. Herzer, 51, sued in November after Redstone last fall removed her from his will and as the agent in charge of his advance healthcare directive. Herzers attorneys have been trying to keep the case alive. On Thursday, they scored a victory when a New York judge ordered Viacom Chairman and Chief Executive Philippe Dauman to give a deposition. Dauman had been trying to avoid providing testimony by arguing that he was not central to the dispute. The New York judge disagreed and told Dauman to make himself available within 30 days. The deposition is expected to delve into conversations Dauman said he had with his mentor and former boss, Redstone, during visits to Los Angeles on Oct. 8 and Nov. 3. Dauman replaced Herzer as the agent in charge of Redstones health care directive on Oct. 16. That same day Herzer was removed from Redstones will. We are thrilled about this significant positive development as we continue to gather more and more incriminating evidence that Mr. Redstone is the victim of severe mental and emotional abuse, fraud, and manipulation by those close to him, Herzers attorney, Pierce ODonnell, said in a statement on Thursday. Meanwhile, Redstones attorneys submitted more court documents on Friday, labeling Herzers legal arguments as factual spaghetti thrown at a wall. Koch, the Redstone attorney, wrote that Herzer is motivated by money not by love or concern about Redstones welfare as Herzer claims. Koch noted that until Redstone removed Herzer from his will, Herzer was in line to receive $50 million and his Beverly Park mansion after the mogul dies. Ms. Herzer is looking to win at all costs, Koch wrote. To what end? Ms. Herzers goal here is to force herself back into Mr. Redstones life [and] into a position of authority. But he does not want back the women he kicked out of his house. For their part, Herzers attorneys continue to hint at a conspiracy. The court has still yet to hear from Mr. Redstone in this matter, Herzer attorney Bertram Fields said in a reply brief on Friday. It is certainly highly unusual that a patient whom counsel adamantly [asserts] has capacity has not come forward and addressed the court directly. meg.james@latimes.com Twitter: @MegJamesLAT Called to the stage for impromptu remarks at Fridays pre-Oscar party staged by Women in Film, Jennifer Lawrence declared herself a huge fan of the previous speaker, Patricia Arquette. She noted that in prior years, she played a younger version of the outspoken actress. I love that she stood up, Lawrence told the gathering at Hyde Sunset Kitchen + Cocktails in Los Angeles. Were starting a conversation. Were getting a dialogue going. She also expressed support for mentoring, a topic broached by another speaker, screenwriter Andrea Berloff, nominated for Straight Outta Compton, before wrapping up with a chant. Advertisement 1 / 8 Patricia Arquette is among the guests at the ninth annual Women In Film pre-Oscar cocktail party in West Hollywood. (Rich Fury / Invision / Associated Press) 2 / 8 Actress Jennifer Jason Leigh, in Max Mara, arrives at the Women In Film pre-Oscar party in West Hollywood. (Chris Weeks / Getty Images for Perrier-Jouet) 3 / 8 Actress Jennifer Lawrence, left, and president of Women In Film Cathy Schulman speak onstage during the Women In Film pre-Oscar cocktail party at Hyde Sunset Kitchen + Cocktails in West Hollywood. (John Sciulli / Getty Images for Women in Film) 4 / 8 Carrie Preston attends the Women In Film pre-Oscar party on Friday, Feb. 26. (Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images) 5 / 8 Alicia Silverstone arrives at the Women In Film pre-Oscar cocktail party, co-hosted by Perrier-Jouet, in West Hollywood. (Rich Fury / Invision / Associated Press) 6 / 8 Alicia Vikander attends the annual Women In Film pre-Oscar party on Friday, Feb. 26. (Rich Fury / Invision / Associated Press) 7 / 8 Michelle Monaghan arrives at the Women In Film pre-Oscar cocktail party. (Jason Kempin / Getty Images for Women in Film) 8 / 8 Lake Bell attends the ninth annual Women In Film pre-Oscar party on Friday, Feb. 26, in West Hollywood. (Rich Fury / Invision / Associated Press) Equal pay for women! said the leading actress nominee for Joy, before handing the microphone back to Cathy Schulman, WIF president and an Oscar-winning producer of Crash. In her talk, Arquette recalled her 2015 acceptance speech after capturing the supporting actress Oscar for her role in Boyhood. I made a little bit of a wave, troublemaker that I am, when I talked about pay equality [for female actors] because I was winning this award because I was playing a single mom taking care of her kids she said. So when I was talking about pay equality, it wasnt just about Hollywood, it was really the bigger picture, about all women in America. And Arquette didnt confine her concerns to pay equality. Continuing, she said, Karma has come to roost now, and its not going to let cops kill black boys. Its not going to let us screw up the planet. Global warning is going to say, No more. Black Lives Matter is going to say, No more. Were going to see videos, and were going to talk about pay equality once and for all, and were going to deal with these issues and clean up our act. She ended by calling on the crowd to sign a petition to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution, which Lawrence said shed check out as soon as she got home. The affair honored female Oscar nominees this year numbering 51 with more than 30 gatherings to chat over Champagne, hors doeuvres and a light buffet supper. Michelle Monaghan of Source Code said shed come to this party the previous year as well, as she enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with colleagues. She said Berloff, standing beside her, also had written one of her upcoming films, Sleepless Night. Seated opposite a fireplace with Diane Warren, Frances Fisher of Outlaws and Angels pointed out that the Songwriting Hall-of-Famers nomination for the original song Til It Happens to You, written with Lady Gaga for The Hunting Ground, was Warrens eighth Oscar nomination. Fisher then held up crossed fingers for this years hopes of a win. Among others in the star-studded crowd were supporting actress nominees Alicia Vikander and Jennifer Jason Leigh; lead actress nominee Charlotte Rampling, actors Lake Bell, Alicia Silverstone, Maria Bello, Alysia Reiner, Amy Landecker, Kate Walsh and Kate Flannery, actor Josh Gad and director Tom Hooper. The affair was presented by Max Mara, BMW, MAC Cosmetics, Perrier-Jouet and Fiji Water. One thing about Donald Trump. Say his name and you get a reaction. On the Eastside of Los Angeles, as Trumps star rises, most of those reactions are not simpatico. The first word out of the mouth of Juan Gris, for instance, was unprintable, and what came after that was just as prickly. Hes a racist, said Gris, a musician who was hanging out at Jims Burgers in Boyle Heights, preparing to entertain lunch-hour diners on 1st Street. Advertisement For months, Trump was dismissed by many as an egomaniac without a chance of winning the GOP nomination to be president of the United States. But now he leads the race, even though you could fit the entirety of his policy plans on a matchbook cover. His popularity is partly an anti-establishment phenomenon, but its largely because Trump is still riding the horse that got him to the head of the pack: tough talk on immigration. Trump has gone from sparring with the pope to jousting with former Mexican President Vicente Fox, who like Juan Gris resorted to unprintable language when Trump promised not only to build a border fence to the clouds, but to make Mexico pay for it. Please, you Hispanics, Latinos in the U.S., open your eyes, Fox said last week on CNN, warning that the U.S. is going to fail if it goes into the hands of a crazy guy. Orlando Calderon, 19, says his eyes are wide open. Its a joke that Trump is running for president, said the Los Angeles Valley College student. He wants to be a physician. He predicted an agricultural industry collapse if Trumps promised deportation force becomes a reality. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> But he doesnt think Sens. Marco Rubio or Ted Cruz would be any better. Hell be punching in his first-ever vote for a president this fall, and hes hoping Bernie Sanders name is still on the board. As I roamed the Eastside, stopping by restaurants and shops, I found more disappointment than surprise among Latinos whove been following the presidential campaign and the spectacle of Trumps candidacy. I havent heard anything positive, Sally Zhu said at BJs Party Rentals in Monterey Park, where she and Veronica Lozano told me the Donald Trump pinata business remains brisk. I heard someone say, Maybe we should get this so we could beat the blank out of him. Trump has been gloating about dominating last weeks Latino vote in Nevada, which would have been remarkable if it werent so misleading. He got the most Latino votes in the Nevada caucus, but that was a tiny sampling of registered Republicans in a state where the huge majority of Latinos are Democrats. Latino Democrats outnumber Latino Republicans 2 to 1 in the U.S. Not all Latinos support illegal immigration, by any stretch, and reasonable people have legitimate concerns about the costs and implications of having 11 million people here illegally. But on the Eastside of Los Angeles, just about everyone has a personal connection to the issue and understands the nuances and complexities ignored by Trump. They know that people who are hungry, poor, living apart from loved ones and in fear for their lives because of violence are willing to take great risks for safety and opportunity. And they know, often firsthand, that American titans of industry many of them Republicans are happy to wink and nod and hire housekeepers, strawberry pickers and chicken pluckers without much concern about documentation. Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >> Get rid of them, says Trump, simple as that. Build a wall and send the bill to Mexico. And each time one of Mexicos ex-presidents quite sensibly says, Shove it, Trump, the candidate has a favorite applause line: The wall just got 10 feet higher. By election time, Trumps wall is going to be higher than Trump Tower. I really cant fault him for saying it because people are liking it, said Chris Ortega, a volunteer at Libros Schmibros lending library in Boyle Heights. On the other hand, my parents came illegally for the opportunities here, and I think everyone does at least deserve an opportunity to succeed. Ortega, a 22-year-old Amherst College graduate, said his parents came decades ago and are both legal now, his mother having received amnesty as a refugee from El Salvador. Trump has found an angle within the Republican Party the immigration issue. And hes put it at the forefront, trying to be as extreme as possible, said Alberto Sahagun, who teaches history at Cal Poly Pomona and is a regular at Libros Schmibros. The campaign has become a hot topic there. Its sad that weve gotten to this point, Sahagun said. And I think a lot of white, American, working-class poor are mistakenly blaming immigrants for economic and social problems. Libros Schmibros clerk Cuauhtemoc Hernandez, 25, said the targeting of one group or another has been a powerful force throughout American political history. If things arent the way you think they ought to be, theres got to be a villain out there. African Americans, Communists, Muslims. If you dont have a clear understanding of the system, and youre looking for scapegoats, it makes it easier when a candidate points out an enemy and everyone can rally behind that. Latino people are being targeted now because of shifts in demographics, said Hernandez. When you see some of the rhetoric Trump uses, making America great again, well, it was only ever great for white people. And when you say lets take it back, theres this mentality of making America great by regressing. It does appeal to a certain population. Yes, which is why some people think Trump is a self-promotional marketing genius. But if his red-meat pandering sends a stampede of Latinos to the polls nationwide to take mighty swings at the pinata, he could turn out to be this campaigns biggest fool. steve.lopez@latimes.com Twitter: @LATstevelopez MORE FROM STEVE LOPEZ The presidential race is so awful you cant look away How a Lincoln High teacher gets all his students to pass the AP Calculus exam Coastal Commission needs a bigger overhaul than the one sought by lawmakers For months, gaily painted wooden houses on South Los Angeles freeway overpasses had intrigued motorists looking up from the roads below. The 6-by-10-foot structures, it turned out, were homes for the homeless that Elvis Summers had built and placed in several encampments around the city. Each house, about the size of a garden shed, came with an American flag, solar-powered lights and a house number, proudly displayed next to the front door. Advertisement Its psychology, said Summers, a self-described struggling musician who lives in South L.A. The slightest thing you do to make them feel normal is so important. Theyre treated like garbage. On Thursday, Summers raced to remove eight small houses ahead of city sanitation workers sent to impound and possibly destroy them. Summers crusade had run into Los Angeles intractable homelessness crisis. After grappling for years to curb the nations biggest street population, city officials in recent years saw homeless numbers grow, and shantytowns spread from Northeast L.A.'s arroyo to the beaches of Pacific Palisades. Seeking to maintain order while not trampling the rights of the destitute, officials adopted a tough ordinance to sweep out camps, as well as a $2-billion homelessness plan with new shelter and housing options. The city, however, is struggling with how to pay for the plan. In the meantime, homeless advocates discovered tiny houses. Popularized as part of a lifestyle-downsizing movement, the bare-bones structures appealed to supporters as a simple and safe alternative to people sleeping on the sidewalk. The sweeps ordinance, however, targeted tiny houses to be seized and discarded as bulky items. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> Three of Summers houses confiscated from a South L.A. overpass during a cleanup earlier this month are stashed in a city equipment lot while the City Council deliberates their fate, officials said. Summers hauled eight others to a Compton church lot and other locations, sending occupants back to the sidewalks. Councilman Curren Price, who requested the cleanup, said the structures posed a serious health and safety problem. Police have identified firearms, drug activity going on, Price said. A box of plywood is still a box. Price said the homeless people had been offered alternatives, including shelter beds. When the city took the houses, they didnt offer housing, they straight kicked them out, Summers countered. Summers, 38, who said he was briefly homeless in Orange County, recalls discovering tiny houses where else? on the Internet. He decided to build one for a homeless woman in his neighborhood, he said. After millions viewed an online video showing how he constructed it, about $100,000 poured into his crowd-sourced fundraising site. My favorite was 5-year-old Finley from Australia who gave $5, Summers said. Summers wears a Mohawk and casual hipster clothes, but his followers come from many walks of life. I want to stand behind this, said Eiffel Bullard, 46, a South L.A. child-care provider who drove to the overpass to lend support. Before the homes overlooking the 110 Freeway were hauled off, residents had begun to personalize them. The outside of June Briggs Cannons house featured a mural of a pink convertible trailing shoes captioned Just Married. Summers said he arranged Cannons marriage to her longtime partner, Larry Joe. Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >> Kenner Jackson, who lived in a tiny house with his wife, Becky, and terrier, Cowboy, expanded his homestead, planting collard greens, tomatoes and succulents in a dirt patch and setting up chairs, a table and a bench under a shade tarp. Inside the structure, Jackson showed off a microwave, stereo system and TV all powered by the rooftop solar panel and a propane cooking stove. Most important, Jackson said, the front door locked. Security is our No. 1 priority, Jackson said. Neighbors, however, said Summers homes threatened their security, bringing crime, drugs, theft and prostitution into a community already struggling with gangs and violence. Elvis provided these people what I call an outhouse, said June Ellen Richard, who described herself as a lifelong resident of the neighborhood. A house that looks like Snoopy. Resident Charlie Espinosa complained that Summers had placed the houses in the neighborhood without consulting anyone. We are insulted and we are hurt, we really are, Espinosa said. Summers said it was unfair to blame the houses for a drug problem among the homeless that already existed. He said he put the houses by the freeway because they would not block businesses or other residences. His ultimate goal, he added, was to get land perhaps an empty lot next to the Compton church for a tiny-house village. Cities such as Seattle and Nashville are experimenting with such camps. Portland, Ore., has approved two self-governing homeless encampments that include small huts or tiny houses, said Kurt Creager, director of the Portland Housing Bureau. The expense to the city is minimal, just water, power and sanitation, Creager said. Los Angeles has tried camps before. The city opened a downtown shantytown in the 1980s. Homeless activist Ted Hayes later launched a self-governing enclave called Justiceville. It was reborn as Dome Village in 1993 in a parking lot near what is now Staples Center. Homeless people lived in geodesic domes the tiny houses of their day. Rising land values drove the village out in 2005. Critics say camps simply prolong homelessness. You cant reintegrate into society in a doghouse, said longtime homeless activist and writer Robert Chambers. Summers said he has tried contacting officials about the village idea but none has responded. Mayor Eric Garcettis spokeswoman said he is focused on getting people into permanent housing. Unfortunately, these structures can be hazardous to the individuals living in them and to the community at large, spokeswoman Connie Llanos said in a statement. Even as Summers hustled this week to remove the eight houses from South L.A. before the city could take them, he said he still has 26 in places where [officials] cant find them, in communities such as Van Nuys and Inglewood. They keep just saying we need permanent housing, but it never happens, Summers said. Its not a permanent solution, but nobody else gives a crap about these people. gale.holland@latimes.com Twitter: @geholland ALSO California Highway Patrol needed nearly four hours to catch a runaway unicorn Ku Klux Klan plans rally in Anaheim, sparking concern from residents Lawsuits against Trump University claim students paid thousands for nothing Family and friends expressed shock and anger after a longtime In-N-Out Burger employee in La Mirada was found shot to death in the restaurants parking lot early Friday morning. They said that the woman was one of the original employees of the La Mirada restaurant and that her husband worked at an In-N-Out in Orange County. Just before 5 a.m., sheriffs deputies responded to a call of an unresponsive woman near the In-N-Out restaurant in the 14300 block of Firestone Boulevard, said Deputy Guillermina Saldana, spokeswoman of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Advertisement Deputies found the woman dead from a gunshot wound to the upper torso. She was wearing her In-N-Out Burger uniform. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> Investigators have few leads in the case. Detectives hope that by publicizing details of where the victim worked, someone might come forward with information. In-N-Out owner and President Lynsi Snyder identified the employee as Josefina Alcocer, who had been working with the company for about 20 years. Snyder expressed sadness over her death. The entire In-N-Out family grieves today over this senseless tragedy as we send our thoughts and prayers to the Alcocer family, Snyder said in a statement. Josefina had been a part of our In-N-Out family since 1996, and she was one of our original associates at our La Mirada restaurant. Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >> We are devastated and will miss her. So many things going on in the world today. We will remain strong and stand in love for Josefina. God bless and comfort all who are mourning a loved one at this time. I just cant get over it, Alma Uribe, a friend, told KNBC. Its kind of hard because she was like my daughter. I cant even imagine who would do something like that to her because she was a very giving person. Officials said cellphone videos could help identify the attacker. Thats the advantage we have nowadays. We rely on cameras all the time. Thats going to be part of our investigation. We just havent gotten that far yet, Lt. Steve Jauch of the sheriffs Homicide Bureau told KTLA News. Were going to be looking at that. The woman is the first person to be killed in La Mirada in the past 12 months, according to the Los Angeles Times Homicide Report. La Mirada is about 17 miles southeast of downtown L.A. For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA ALSO Unicorn leads CHP officers on a nearly four-hour chase Metro Expo Line to begin service to Santa Monica on May 20 Female inmate firefighter dies following injury in Malibu blaze Three people were stabbed and 13 others were arrested when a Ku Klux Klan rally in Anaheim erupted in violence Saturday, Feb. 27, police said. A small group of people representing the Klan had announced that it would hold a rally at Pearson Park at 1:30 p.m., police said. By 11 a.m., several dozen protesters had shown up to confront the Klan. About an hour later, several men in black garb with Confederate flag patches arrived in an SUV near the edge of the park. Advertisement ------------ FOR THE RECORD An earlier version of this post incorrectly said that Anaheim police officers escorted KKK members around the edge of the park when klan members arrived on scene. ------------ Fighting broke out moments after Klan members exited the vehicle. Some of the protesters could be seen kicking a man whose shirt read Grand Dragon. At some point, a protester collapsed on the ground bleeding, crying that he had been stabbed. A Klansman in handcuffs could be heard telling a police officer that he stabbed him in self-defense. Several other people were also handcuffed. Witnesses said the Klansmen used the point of a flagpole as a weapon while fighting with protesters. Two other protesters were stabbed during the melee one with a knife and the other with an unidentified weapon, said Sgt. Daron Wyatt of the Anaheim Police Department. Brian Levin, director of Cal State San Bernardinos Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, said he was standing near the KKK members when several protesters attacked them with two-by-fours and other weapons. Several of the Klan members jumped in the SUV and sped off, leaving three others to fend for themselves, Levin said. Levin had been trying to interview the KKK ringleader, whom he identified as William Quigg, an Anaheim resident. Quigg is the leader of the Loyal White Knights in California and other Western states, a sect of the hate group that aims to raise awareness about illegal immigration, terrorism and street crime, Levin said. They see themselves as a Klan without robes and model themselves after David Duke, the Louisiana-based former grand wizard of the Klan, Levin said. Levin said he was standing next to Quigg when a crowd of protesters swarmed the Klan members. Levin said he pushed the Klan leader away as the violence continued and a protester was stabbed. Levin said he asked Quigg, How do you feel that a Jewish guy just saved your life? Thank you, the Klan leader replied, according to Levin. A few minutes later, a crowd of about 100 people cheered when police handcuffed Quigg and one of his followers. Many people at the park demanded to know why Anaheim police did not have a larger presence before the violence broke out. Levin was also critical of the lack of a police presence. There were no police officers here when this started happening, he said. It was the longest few minutes between when the SUV was attacked and when the police responded in droves, Levin said. I think the police response saved their lives, he added, referring to Klan members. They would have been torn limb from limb. The Klan rally to decry, as one of them put it, illegal immigration and Muslims was initially planned for 1:30 p.m., police said. I was expecting violence but its disgusting, said Nick Keeton, 18, of Anaheim. I feel like this is 1953 and were in Kentucky. Martin Buenorostro said a friend, whom he would identify only by his nickname, FuzzBuzz, was wounded when one of the Klan members began using a flagpole as a weapon to fend off the crowd surrounding their vehicle. They started pulling out weapons, Buenorostro said of the Klansmen. One of them had the flag, the American flag, with the pointed top and I think thats what got my friend. Its a serious wound. It wasnt like the blood was dripping out. It gushed out of him. Six Klan members (five men and one woman) and seven protesters (six men and one woman) were arrested, Wyatt said. The Klan members were arrested in connection with the stabbings, he said. The protesters were arrested on charges related to physical assaults on Klan members. The stab victims were in stable condition, Wyatt said. All could face charges of assault with a deadly weapon, though Wyatt said some people could have a self-defense claim. He did not say if he was referring to the Klan members or the protesters. The Klan has a long and troubling history with the city. Klansmen were once the dominant political force in Anaheim, holding four of five City Council seats before a recall effort led to their ouster in 1924. At the height of the groups power in Orange County, nearly 300 Klansmen lived in Anaheim, patrolling city streets in robes and masks. A large KKK rally once attracted 20,000 people to the city. KKK activity nationwide has decreased dramatically in recent decades, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which estimated the group has between 5,000 and 8,000 members across the country. The groups activities have been sporadic in Southern California in recent years. Last summer, at least 100 residents of Whittier and Fullerton awoke to find packets containing KKK fliers, rife with racist rhetoric, and candy in their driveways. A Santa Ana neighborhood was also blanketed with KKK fliers on Martin Luther King Jr. Day last year, police said. An eight-foot cross was burned outside the home of a black man in Anaheim Hills in 2003, and the FBI investigated the case as a hate crime, but police did not specifically link that case to the KKK. Anaheim, home to Disneyland and Orange Countys largest city, is now more than 52% Latino and about 28% white, according to the 2010 U.S. Census. Anaheim police defended their handling of the rally. Officials said they had officers on scene and that they were able to quickly make arrests when the violence broke out. Even if the vast majority of our community disagrees with a particular group who visits our city we cannot stop them from lawfully gathering to express their opinions,' Anaheim Police Chief Raul Quezada said in a statement. Violence is not acceptable, and we will arrest anybody who assaults another person or commits any other crime in our city.' MORE: Get our best stories in your Facebook feed >> Updates, Nov. 12: Anti-Trump protesters take to L.A.'s streets for a fifth day California and Trump are on a collision course over immigrants here illegally A primer on executive power: Trump cant end same-sex marriages, but he could speed up deportations Days before the 88th Academy Awards show kicks off and celebrities start lining the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre, authorities are clamping down on road access to the Hollywood and Highland Center and preparing for anticipated protests. After months of preparation for Hollywoods most glamorous evening, the show will finally begin at 4 p.m. Sunday. But before movie stars flock to Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, numerous streets will be closed. Starting Friday, Hawthorn Avenue from Highland Avenue to Orange Drive will be closed from midnight to 6 a.m. through Monday, according to the awards show. Advertisement The number of street closures will increase on Saturday and Sunday to include much of the area surrounding the Dolby Theatre. Metro subway trains will not stop at the Hollywood and Highland station on Saturday until 6 a.m. Monday. Regular service will resume after that. Los Angeles police plan to be more visible at this years show and red carpet event, in effort to change it up and thwart any attempts at disruption, said Capt. Andrew Neiman of the Los Angeles Police Department. This year, compared to last year, will be even more robust, he said of the security presence. Police have been monitoring social media for mention of planned protests, he said. We have a contingency plan to deal with it, Neiman said. A designated protest zone at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue has been set aside for demonstrators. Police, he said, will separate any opposing protesting groups and keep them on opposite streets. The Rev. Al Sharpton will lead a demonstration near the event before the show begins to bring attention to the lack of black Academy Awards nominees and diversity, Variety reported. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> Organized by the National Action Network, Sharpton is calling on the public to boycott the Oscars Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs has said she was both heartbroken and frustrated about the lack of inclusion. This is a difficult but important conversation, and its time for big changes, she said in a statement. A new Los Angeles Times study showed that Oscar voters are 91% white and 76% male. Blacks make up about 3% of the academy, Asians and Latinos are each just over 2%. For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA The following are street closures near the Dolby Theatre for Saturday and Sunday. Saturday Orchid Street from 60 feet south of Franklin Boulevard to Orchid Alley from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. Monday. Orange Drive from Orchid Alley to Hollywood Boulevard from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. Monday. North and south sidewalk of Hawthorn Avenue from Highland Avenue to Orange Drive from midnight to 6 a.m. Monday. North sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard from Highland Avenue to Orange Drive from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday. West sidewalk of Highland Avenue from Johnny Grant Way south to Hollywood Boulevard from 10 p.m to 6 a.m. Monday. Johnny Grant Way from Highland Avenue to Orchid Street from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday. Sunday Hawthorn Alley from Orange Drive to Highland Avenue from midnight to 6 a.m. Monday. Orange Drive from Hawthorn Avenue to Hollywood Boulevard from midnight to 6 a.m. Monday. North sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard from Highland Avenue to 300 feet east of Highland Avenue from midnight to 6 a.m. Monday. South sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard from Highland Avenue to 300 feet east of Highland Avenue from midnight to 6 a.m. Monday. South sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard directly in front of the north-south running Hawthorn Alley from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. Monday. East sidewalk of Highland Avenue from Hollywood Boulevard to Hawthorn Avenue from midnight and 6 a.m. Monday. West sidewalk of Highland Avenue from Hollywood Boulevard south to Hawthorn Avenue from midnight to 6 a.m. Monday. East sidewalk of Highland Avenue from Yucca Street south to the alley from midnight to 6 a.m. Monday. North and south crosswalks on Hollywood Boulevard at the Highland Avenue intersection from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. Monday. Highland Avenue from Sunset Boulevard to Franklin Avenue from 4 a.m. to 4 a.m. Monday. Hollywood Boulevard from La Brea Boulevard to Orange Drive from 4 a.m. to 4 a.m. Monday. Close Hollywood Boulevard from Highland Avenue to Cahuenga Boulevard from 4 a.m. to 4 a.m. Monday. Hawthorn Avenue between Orange Drive and La Brea Boulevard from 4 a.m. to 4 a.m. Monday. Hawthorn Avenue between Highland Avenue and McCadden Place from 4 a.m. to 4 a.m. Monday. McCadden Place between Yucca Street and Hollywood Boulevard from 4 a.m. to 4 a.m. Monday. Yucca Street between Highland Avenue and Wilcox Avenue from 4 a.m. to 4 a.m. Monday. Wilcox Avenue between Sunset Blvd and Cahuenga Boulevard from 4 a.m. to 4 a.m. Monday. ALSO Female inmate firefighter dies following injury in Malibu blaze The Ku Klux Klan is planning to have a public rally in Anaheim on Saturday In-N-Out Burger family grieves after worker found fatally shot in restaurant parking lot An owner of a Huntington Park tow truck company was indicted Friday on charges he tried to bribe one of the citys elected officials and then lied to FBI agents. A federal grand jury handed up the indictment against Sukhbir Singh following an investigation that relied heavily on secret recordings the city official made while working as an informant for the FBI. Prosecutors, however, dropped their case against Singhs business partner, Jimmy Sandhu, who had also been accused of bribery when the case was filed late last year. Advertisement Singh allegedly offered to make and funnel campaign contributions to a member of Huntington Parks city council in exchange for the councilmans support in hiking the companys towing fees. He is also charged with lying to FBI agents during an interview in which he allegedly denied ever speaking to the councilman about the fee increase, according to the indictment. NEWSLETTER: Get essential California headlines delivered daily >> Singhs attorney, Dan Shallman, responded angrily to the decision to pursue charges. This is a huge government overreach, Shallman said. The government is mistakenly seeking to criminalize lawful, constitutionally protected small-dollar campaign contributions, the kind that happen every day in America. Mr. Singh has been unfairly targeted and we look forward to proving his innocence in court. The allegations are the latest to come out of a group of small, largely industrial and poor cities just south of Los Angeles, where low civic engagement by residents and political volatility have given rise to corruption and political deceit. With elections in the heavily immigrant, mostly Latino cities often decided by a small fraction of voters, special interests such as trash haulers or tow truck operators have tried to exploit the turmoil to sway votes in their favor. Most recently in 2012, city leaders in neighboring Cudahy were charged with accepting bribes in exchange for allowing a marijuana dispensary to open, court documents show. And, in 2010, elected officials and administrators in the city of Bell drew national attention for illegally inflating their salaries. Officials in Compton, Lynwood, and several other of the areas cities also have been charged with or convicted of crimes such as election fraud and public corruption since 2000. In the current case, the FBI opened its investigation into H.P. Automotive and Tow Service Inc. in the summer of 2013 shortly after City Councilman Valentin Amezquita helped defeat a measure that would have increased fees the company charged to tow and store vehicles impounded by Huntington Park police. Details of the investigation are contained in an affidavit written by the lead FBI agent in the investigation. In it, the agent does not name Amezquita. The Times identified him as the informant through City Council voting records. Over the next few months, Amezquita had several meetings and conversations with Singh, who was sometimes accompanied by Sandhu. Each time, the councilman wore recording equipment while FBI agents hid nearby. At one meeting, Amezquita talked with Singh and Sandhu at their tow yard, according to the affadavit. They complained about their contract with the city that forbade them from raising rates on their own and told the councilman that if he helped them, they could return the favor, the court filings allege. If you have any debts after the election, we can help you to take care of that, Singh allegedly said to Amezquita, referring to the officials reelection campaign. To avoid raising suspicion, Singh and Sandhu said, they would raise money from friends, according to the FBI agents affidavit. This way it doesnt look like you are doing a favor for H.P. Tow, you know, so it will keep us out of the loop, Singh is quoted as saying. It is not clear how Amezquita came to be an informant. In all, the FBI agent alleged in the affadavit, the councilman received checks totaling $2,650, although banks refused to cash a few checks totaling $800 for various reasons, including one that bounced. Whenever the councilman received checks from the men he cashed them with the FBI agent, who then took the cash into evidence. Ultimately, in January 2014, the council voted again and approved the higher fees with two other council members who had previously opposed the motion supporting it. Amezquita was absent from the meeting. Shallman rebuffed the idea that Singh, 39, had been trying to buy the councilmans vote, saying it was Amezquita who suggested and kept pursuing the idea of a quid pro quo. The case, he said, amounted to an unsuccesful attempt by the government to entrap Singh. For decades, the company, known as H.P. Tow, has contracted with Huntington Park, city officials said. Singh and Sandhu have owned the company since 2001, the affidavit showed. Such city contracts traditionally have been coveted by tow companies as they often provide a steady flow of business and allow them to charge the city and car owners an array of fees, including daily storage fees while owners try to get their vehicles released from police custody. In recent years, however, tow operators have been squeezed by local and state laws that restrict when police can impound cars driven by unlicensed drivers. Since news of the investigation into H.P. Tow became public, at least four agencies have either dropped or suspended their contracts with the company. joel.rubin@latimes.com Find me on Twitter: @joelrubin ALSO State agency sues DWP for costs of fighting Powerhouse fire Ku Klux Klan plans rally in Anaheim, sparking concern from residents L.A. Yellow Cabs phone lines tied up in hacker attack and ransom demanded, firm says Hillary Clinton has done just about everything right ahead of Saturdays caucuses in Nevada. She began organizing early, visited the state repeatedly, hired some of its most talented political professionals and cultivated broad support from organized labor, Democratic leaders and the partys grass roots. But Clinton made one glaring mistake: She failed to take Bernie Sanders seriously enough. Advertisement Most crucially, she allowed him to dominate the television airwaves in the state starting in December and continuing through his momentum-building performances in the first two presidential nominating contests in Iowa and New Hampshire. Now Clintons once-sizable lead in voter surveys has all but vanished, and both sides are bracing for a close finish. Nevada has become a highly contested race and could either be Clintons firewall or Sanders proving ground, said Rebecca Lambe, a top strategist for Democratic Senate leader Harry Reid of Nevada, who has not taken sides. It is far too soon to talk in terms of political life and death, or other such melodramas. But a loss in Nevada, which once seemed almost inconceivable, would do grave harm to Clinton and establish the Vermont senator as more than a charmingly irascible distraction en route to her certain nomination. Even a close Sanders finish could raise strong doubts about Clintons candidacy, especially if he manages to cut deeply into her presumed base among Latino, black and Asian American voters. In a last sprint Friday, Clinton sought to bolster her support among women and Latinos. Appealing to both, her latest TV spot featured a scene from a meeting last weekend in East Las Vegas, where Clinton hugged a young girl who was afraid her parents would be deported. Let me do the worrying, Clinton said. Sanders took his populist message to rural Nevada. He spoke Friday at a town-hall event in Elko, calling for a higher federal minimum wage and free college tuition two hallmarks of his campaign. This is not a radical idea, he said. Nevada has none of the storied history of Iowas caucuses or New Hampshires primary. But the vote here could go much further than either of those contests in shaping an increasingly unpredictable fight for the Democratic nomination. The only other time Nevada mattered this much in the primary season was in 2008, the first time it held its early caucuses, when Clinton and Barack Obama fought to a split decision; Clinton won the popular vote while Obama edged her in the delegate count. As in other early states, the fight here is less about delegates there are only 43 at stake, out of nearly 2,400 needed to win the nomination than expectations and perception. Had Clinton handily carried both Iowa and New Hampshire, the fight for the nomination would have essentially ended, even if Sanders continued campaigning. But Sanders nearly beat Clinton in the Iowa caucuses, and then won New Hampshire in a landslide the next week. Each of those setbacks came with caveats, however, or at least a rationale that Clinton and her supporters could use to explain away concerns. Iowa is overwhelmingly white and its Democrats have a broad progressive streak, which helped the more liberal Sanders. New Hampshire borders Vermont, giving Sanders an advantage as a next-door neighbor. That is why, even though many were stunned by the size and breadth of Sanders New Hampshire victory, there was nervousness but not full-fledged panic within the Democratic establishment, which strongly leans in Clintons favor. Nevada is different. This vast desert state was supposed to be Clintons fail-safe, or firewall, decisively stopping the Sanders conflagration before the flames spread. Clinton country is how Dina Titus, the congresswoman from Las Vegas and a supporter of the former first lady and secretary of State, describes it. Bill Clinton, running as a different kind of Democrat which is to say a relative moderate carried the state both times he ran for president. Hillary Clinton took vestiges of his support and remnants of her 2008 political organization and bolstered them by hiring veterans of Obamas successful campaigns here. She also enjoyed a huge advantage over Sanders in name recognition and, it was believed, an enormous edge among minority voters, who have been Clinton loyalists going back to her husbands years in the White House. That is why the stakes have grown so high. Already facing doubts about his electability, a poor showing would send Sanders limping into the primary next weekend in South Carolina, where he is already the underdog, and after that the sprawling set of contests stretching nearly coast-to-coast on March 1. For most Nevadans, the caucuses will be an afterthought; only a small fraction of eligible voters are expected to turn out on a sunny Saturday afternoon. But the outcome could go a long way toward determining whether Clintons firewall holds, or the Sanders insurgency blazes on brighter and stronger than before. Follow @markzbarabak for national & California politics MORE ON CAMPAIGN 2016 Hillary Clinton faces one problem she didnt expect: Money Latinos seek answers from Sanders and Clinton in Las Vegas Trump and Pope Francis clash over immigration, another extraordinary campaign twist If Hillary Clinton manages by the end of this campaign to dramatically improve her image, she can credit the cable TV networks and the town halls they have aired incessantly for weeks. Republican presidential candidates have been throwing around accusations of lying and deceitful campaign tactics. The Republican establishment -- whats left of it -- has been tying itself into pretzels trying to figure out a way to knock out Donald Trump, the front-runner who on Tuesday won his third successive state -- but who, many in the party feel, would doom them in November. At the same time, Clinton and her challenger, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, have gotten gobs of free airtime to soften their edges or toughen their resumes, whatever their need. Advertisement TRAIL GUIDE: All the latest news on the 2016 presidential campaign >> The town hall format like the one on CNN Tuesday night seems to particularly benefit Clinton, in part because she is the one whose image has needed rebooting. She has had persistent problems convincing voters that shes trustworthy and cares about them, for starters -- key elements in a general-election decision. For her, the town halls give one of the worlds best known -- and most caricatured -- women an extended, nationally televised and free opportunity to craft a more appealing visage. Candidates like town halls because they are not debates. Clintons allies, in fact, tried to limit the number of Democratic debates this year, a somewhat inexplicable decision considering shes won all of them. Instead of the face-to-face battle, the one-after-the-other format makes one or the other the center of attention, before an audience happy to be there. For a solid hour Tuesday night, voters asked each Democrat questions, and they didnt go after the candidates as much as professional questioners would have. No one asked Clinton on Tuesday about a federal judges ruling hours earlier that her aides could be questioned in a lawsuit about the private email server she used as secretary of State. If anything, the town halls this year have gone quirky, forcing the candidates off their oft-repeated talking points and into interesting character territory with questions such as the one posed to Clinton on Tuesday: How will you harness the power of forgiveness as president? I could not be standing here if I had not been forgiven many times and if I had not been able to forgive, myself, those who I thought had in some way disappointed or wronged me, she replied. I as a person of faith believe profoundly in the power of forgiveness. To anyone watching, it was a simultaneous reminder of multiple things that arguably helped Clinton: her little-known but lifelong faith, her hard-fought loyalty to Bill Clinton after his presidential affair with an intern, and a sense of humility that doesnt often enter the campaign arena. Clinton, who can knit an astonishing amount of policy detail into any town hall answer, went on to describe South Africas post-apartheid reconciliation program, and then doubled back to this country with what appeared to be a slap at the Republican candidates. Join the conversation on Facebook >> I see so much anger and fear and bitterness, some of it being played out in our political system right now: the kind of language being used, violent images, threats against people, said Clinton, speaking a day after Trump, at a campaign event, had talked about wanting to punch a protester. It is deeply troubling to me because we need to try to unite our country, not divide it, if were going to deal with the challenges we face. Clinton also offered an evocative answer to a question about racial differences in the country, and used a light touch when asked a question by a young law student who said she was in Sanders camp even though her mother was voting for Clinton. The young woman asked about student debt, and after a lengthy and detailed answer about her plans for the college loan system, Clinton let her go with a joking: Go talk to your mother. Her image-smoothing commentaries in South Carolina followed similar occurrences in Nevada and New Hampshire. Sanders would seem to be a prime beneficiary of the extended and largely uncritical coverage that the town halls offer, but he hasnt been in a position to take full advantage of them. For one thing, he tends to beat the same drum he does in his speeches: the political system is corrupt, the economy is rigged, the middle class has been abandoned. And extended riffs about Clintons Wall Street connections dont seem to hit as hard when shes not standing next to him on stage. Whether because of his fierceness -- or because the audience is trying to figure how Clintons friendly town hall demeanor squares with the notion that shes a cold fish -- he also doesnt get as many thought-provoking questions as Clinton does. His questions have a largely unspoken theme: Nice ideas, but how exactly would you get them passed? He bridled a bit on Tuesday when asked about a Clinton ad that accused him of being a single-issue candidate focused only on punishing Wall Street. He went on at length about other things he cares about -- rebuilding the nations infrastructure, making college tuition free, pay equity for women. Then he interrupted himself to focus anew on Wall Street, which was, he said, enormously important. Clinton and Sanders have gone out of their way to praise one another at these events, which only sharpens the contrast with Republicans engaged in a bloody and unrepentant battle. Just in the last few days, Trump all but sanctioned violence against campaign protesters while belittling his challengers, calling Texas Sen. Ted Cruz sick. Rubio complained about Cruzs tactics against him and another candidate, Ben Carson. And Cruz had to fire his spokesman after the spokesman spread a video that wrongly questioned Rubios faith (and went a ways to confirming Rubios complaints.) No one on that side of the aisle was talking about forgiveness. cathleen.decker@latimes.com For political news and analysis, follow me on Twitter: @cathleendecker . For more on politics, go to latimes.com/decker ALSO Trump wins Nevada caucuses, fortifying his lead in the Republican race What you need to know about the search for Scalias successor Bernie journeys and Clinton travelers: Meet the Californians who made the political pilgrimage to Vegas All day, phones rang inside the tiny brick abortion clinic. Women from all over Louisiana, and from as far as Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi, called mostly with the same question: Was the center still taking appointments? The clinics embattled administrator, Kathaleen Pittman, eyes red from lack of sleep, reassured them she had yet to cancel any consultations or procedures. Yet she could not promise anyone how long the center would remain open. Were now down to two clinics and two physicians serving approximately 10,000 women across the state, she said. Its just not sustainable. Advertisement Late Wednesday, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals issued an emergency order allowing a 2014 Louisiana law to take effect, requiring abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. The decision immediately shuttered one of the states four abortion clinics, the Bossier City Medical Suite in Bossier City. Another, the Delta Clinic in Baton Rouge, remains open, yet without any physicians who can perform abortions. It is referring patients to the Womens Health Care Center in New Orleans. The future of Shreveports Hope Medical Group for Women, a small clinic that performs the largest number of abortions in Louisiana, remains uncertain. The physician Pittman relied on most, who conducted two-thirds of its surgeries, does not have hospital admitting privileges. Only one physician, close to retirement age, is left to perform all of the clinics surgical abortions. Pittman, a 58-year old Louisiana native who has worked at the center for 23 years, says the clinic faces the most acute crisis in its 36-year history. She said the center is scrambling to take referrals from the clinic that closed. Its lone physician came into her office Thursday night, sighing after wrapping up surgeries at 9 p.m. How long can you keep up with this, Doc? Pittman asked him. The physician, who runs a private practice in addition to working part time for the clinic, warned her long ago that he would find it impossible to take on an increased workload and harassment from antiabortion campaigners. My heart aches, Pittman said, propping her head on her hands in her small office decorated with potted plants, a still life of an orchid, and a sign extolling the virtues of hugs. All we can do is hope and pray the Supreme Court intervenes. On March 2, the U.S. Supreme Court will take up a Texas law similar to Louisianas that requires doctors to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic where they practice. In the meantime, the Center for Reproductive Rights, which represents four clinics in the Texas legal challenge and three clinics in Louisiana, plans to ask the Supreme Court to block the Louisiana ruling while the justices consider whether such laws are constitutional. The Supreme Courts ultimate ruling, if it is decisive, would probably have a long-lasting impact on womens access to abortion across Louisiana and a whole swath of the South, where a wave of restrictive laws have forced abortion clinics to shut in the last decade. Already, about half of Texas 40 abortion clinics have closed since a 2013 law required doctors to have hospital admitting privileges. This is a watershed moment in the battle for reproductive rights, said Nancy Northup, president and chief executive of the Center for Reproductive Rights, speaking to reporters Thursday. Eight states, in addition to Texas and Louisiana, have introduced similar admission-privilege restrictions. In a sign that more could follow, 23 states including Louisiana signed an amicus brief in support of Texas in the Supreme Court case, arguing for states rights in regulating womens health and safety. We are seeing undue burden unfolding in real time in Louisiana, with women struggling to access the care they need and depend on, Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement. With Texas law requiring that women to wait up to 20 days for an abortion, she noted, many were already traveling to other states such as Louisiana. Where will they go now? she asked. And where will Louisiana women turn? Supporters of such laws argue they are common-sense measures intended to protect women, providing them the security of knowing their doctor can admit a patient to a local hospital in the event of complications. Its not just about protecting the unborn child, but also the health of the woman, said Benjamin Clapper, executive director of Louisiana Right to Life, a New Orleans-based nonprofit. These are ways to continue to ensure that the abortion industry is operating under the same standards other surgical centers are operating under. Opponents counter that the restriction is unnecessary abortion is safer than childbirth, they note, with fewer than 0.5% of patients experiencing any kind of complication. They argue that the new restrictions represent a calculated attempt to restrict abortions. At the center of the legal dispute is whether the requirement that doctors have admitting privileges represents an undue burden. In 1992, the Supreme Court ruled that a law was invalid, and an undue burden exists, if it places substantial obstacles in the path of a woman seeking an abortion before the fetus attains viability. In January, the district court blocked the Louisiana law, ruling that it would place an undue burden on a large fraction of Louisiana women of reproductive age seeking an abortion. On Wednesday, however, the federal appeals court disputed this claim, with U.S. Circuit Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod writing in the panels opinion that plaintiffs failed to establish that the law creates a substantial obstacle in the path of a large fraction of women seeking an abortion. NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj >> In Louisiana and nearby states, Pittman says, many women already face a heavy burden in securing abortions. After traveling hundreds of miles, some have to stay overnight, as the state requires a 24-hour waiting period between counseling and the procedure. Factor in the cost of a hotel, arranging child care and taking time off work, she said, and its just not doable for a lot of patients. Ever since Hope Medical Clinic opened in 1980 in Shreveport, home to a large Baptist population, it has been a focal point for abortion opponents. A few years after the clinic opened, a mentally ill man attacked the clinic with a 9-pound sledgehammer, smashing windows in the front of the building. The year Pittman began working at the clinic as a counselor, in 1992, a protester drilled a hole through a clinic door in the middle of the night and inserted butyric acid, the toxic chemical that can cause coughing, sore throat and breathing difficulties. In 2005, protesters attacked the clinic with a petroleum-based bomb. Weve always felt under siege, but this is worse this is different, Pittman said. The possibility of our clinic closing is devastating. This is my life. This is my calling. molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com Jarvie is a special correspondent. ALSO Ku Klux Klan plans rally in Anaheim, sparking concern from residents Trumps call for a wall continues a long history of U.S.-Mexico border debate Tests find that the Pentagons radar blimps cant track some high priority targets On May 10, 2011, President Obama gave a speech near El Paso that turned out to be prophetic. A border fence stretched for hundreds of miles between the United States and Mexico. The number of Border Patrol agents had doubled to 20,000 in less than a decade. Drones patrolled the skies. But Obama warned it probably wouldnt be enough to satisfy Republican adversaries. Advertisement You know, they said we needed to triple the Border Patrol, Obama said. Or now theyre going to say we need to quadruple the Border Patrol. Or theyll want a higher fence. Maybe theyll need a moat. Maybe they want alligators in the moat. Theyll never be satisfied. Fausto Salinas stands along the border fence in McAllen, Texas. (Eric Gay / Associated Press ) In the 2016 presidential campaign, Republican front-runner Donald Trump has based much of his candidacy on just such a promise to go further and to build the greatest wall youve ever seen between the U.S. and Mexico. I want it to be so beautiful because maybe someday theyre going to call it the Trump wall, Trump said in August. Perhaps even bolder was his demand that Mexico fund it, prompting former Mexican President Vicente Fox to say this week, Im not going to pay for that ... wall. But controversies over how to guard the U.S.-Mexico border are as old as the border itself. :: At the end of the Mexican-American War of the 1840s, the U.S. annexed more than 500,000 square miles of new territory and faced a formidable problem: The new border with Mexico stretched more than 1,900 rugged miles, and it lay unprotected. In 1849, the U.S. Army decided to build a series of forts to help secure the border not against Mexicans, but to protect Mexicans. New treaty obligations made it the U.S. governments responsibility to fight Native American tribes launching raids from U.S. territory into Mexico. Migrants cross the Rio Grande, with the help of smugglers, in an attempt to reach the U.S. from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. (German Garcia / Associated Press ) These forts ultimately included Ft. Worth and Ft. Bliss in Texas and helped bolster American settlement in the new territories, but they did little to protect Mexicans in the 1850s. Clearly, the U.S. Armys expanded fort system had little effect on border security, U.S. Army historian Matt M. Matthews wrote in 2007. Infantry was of little use in chasing down mounted raiders, while U.S. Army mounted forces were spread so thinly they, too, proved practically worthless. :: After tribal raids died down, the Mexican Revolution erupted in the 1910s, and American leaders watched in fear as revolutionaries fought for control of Mexican border towns. Once again, the enormous border seemed too long to closely guard. Hysteria grew among border American residents after officials in 1915 discovered Mexican partisans plans calling for a race war against whites to take back the annexed American territory. Mexican guerrillas made small raids into U.S. land across the border, and Texas Rangers and vigilantes began killing Mexicans suspected of involvement. Then, on March 9, 1916, a band of 500 men led by Francisco Pancho Villa launched a raid on Columbus, N.M., leading 12,000 U.S. troops to invade Mexico in pursuit, which the U.S. secretary of war called a defensive expedition to protect American interests. Luz del Carmen Flores observes a memorial wall for missing girls, one of them her daughter, Luz Angelica Mena Flores, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. (Yuri Cortez / AFP/Getty Images) The incursion lasted until 1917 and failed to capture Villa, but by 1919, almost 20,000 U.S. troops remained stationed along the border, including U.S. Army aviators and 10 balloon companies. After Villas forces invaded Ciudad Juarez and killed several Americans across the border in El Paso, American troops again crossed the border to drive Villa away for the last time. Top military officials called for extraordinary manpower to secure the border. In one failed request, Secretary of War Newton D. Baker asked Congress that 100,000 soldiers be available at all times to deal with the Mexican menace. :: In 1924, Congress created the U.S. Border Patrol to secure the borders, but economic policy eventually proved even tougher to master than the incursions of Mexican revolutionaries. Illegal immigration surged after U.S. officials allowed poor Mexican workers into the U.S. during World War II to help boost the workforce under the Bracero Program. To stop what they called historys greatest peacetime invasion, U.S. officials launched an operation in 1954 to mass-deport immigrants back to Mexico. But as the Border Patrol says in its official history, many deportees simply turned around and recrossed the seriously undermanned border. The border fence in Brownsville, Texas. (Eric Gay / Associated Press ) The controversial deportations and calls for tougher border patrols set the tone for decades to come, as U.S. officials tried to crack down on illegal crossings and the menace of drug trafficking. By the end of the 20th century, areas once patrolled by U.S. soldiers now came equipped with seismic sensors to detect tunneling and night-vision scopes to spot nighttime crossings. Today, steel fences 15 feet tall cut in some places across the border, monitored by camera towers and stadium lights. The border at San Diego has triple fencing topped with razor wire, and a barrier stretches 300 feet into the Pacific Ocean. But at a border visit to Laredo, Texas, in July, Trump echoed complaints that officials had made about the border for years: It still isnt secure enough. A wall, Trump told his listeners, will save you a tremendous amount of money. @MattDPearce ALSO Chris Christie endorses Donald Trump, amplifies attacks on Marco Rubio Former Mexican President Vicente Fox on Donald Trump: Im not going to pay for that f------ wall In Iowa, students chant Trump! Trump! after basketball loss to more racially diverse high school Well, that didnt last very long. Im referring to the speculation/trial balloon that President Obama was considering Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, a Republican and former federal trial judge, for the Supreme court vacancy created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. The story surfaced in the Washington Post on Wednesday, was neither confirmed nor denied by the White House and officially died Thursday when Sandoval pulled himself out of consideration. But in the meantime there was some flak. Hillary Clinton, who has supported Obamas right to replace Scalia, said of Sandoval: I know the governor has done some good things, but I sure hope the president chooses a true progressive, who will stand up for the values and the interests of the people of this country, who understand that you need to protect the right to vote of a person, not the right of a corporation to buy an election, who will understand that we still need the Voting Rights Act to be enforced, because too many people are being deprived. Advertisement Join the conversation on Facebook >> Translation: Sandoval wouldnt be enough of a predictably liberal vote on the court. Conservatives also weighed in against Sandoval. On National Reviews website, under the headline Obamas GOP Trojan Horse for the Supreme Court, John Fund decried Sandovals liberal leanings [which] transcend abortion. For example, Fund wrote, Sandoval vetoed bills limiting punitive damages in civil cases and limiting the inclusion of third parties in product-liability lawsuits. One of the first emails to land in my inbox this morning came from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. The message line read: SANDOVAL UNFIT FOR SUPREME COURT. Why? Because Sandoval vetoed legislation to expand background checks to all gun sales, saying that background checks... constitute an erosion of Nevadans Second Amendment rights under the United States Constitution. The Brady groups assumption (which is not necessarily accurate) was that a Justice Sandoval would take a similar view if he had to rule on gun-control legislation. Whether or not Obama was seriously considering Sandoval, the backlash demonstrates the pitfalls of the idea of an elected official governor or senator as a Supreme Court nominee. As I mentioned in an earlier post, it was once fairly common to appoint justices with political backgrounds to the court. (Chief Justice Earl Warren was a former California governor, for example.) Some commentators are nostalgic about the practice. Heres how Gordon Silverstein, a political scientist at UC Berkeley, put the argument in 2009: While the instinct in choosing a justice for the highest court in the land is to find the most qualified judge or legal scholar, there is a powerful case to be made that the court very much needs an experienced elected official among its ranks. Someone with the appropriate legal experience who also has faced voters and listened to constituents, someone who has rounded up votes to pass legislation and has actually implemented policy, would bring to the bench an intimate knowledge and understanding of the American political system, its institutions, and how they actually work, on the ground, in the 21st century. But heres the problem: Present and former governors and senators necessarily take public positions on a lot of controversial issues, sometimes in demagogic language. They also rely on campaign contributions from special interests that would provide fertile ground for opposition research in a contested Senate confirmation process. Its no accident that so many recent appointees to the court have been sitting judges whose resumes include teaching and non-elective positions in government. So long as appointments to the court are highly politicized, a president has no incentive to choose Supreme Court nominees with a partisan paper trail. Why (as it were) court trouble? Sure, a judge who has rendered controversial legal decisions will also encounter resistance, but a nominee who has a run a state government or served in Congress will bring the much heavier baggage of stump speeches immortalized on YouTube, political enemies, and associates or appointees who said or did something embarrassing or illegal. These are unforgiving times in politics. Judges are so much safer. Follow Michael McGough on Twitter @MichaelMcGough3 Hillary Clinton routed Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary in South Carolina on Saturday, giving her campaign a decisive boost and demonstrating her advantage with the minority voters crucial to winning the partys nomination for president. The crushing victory of more than 47 percentage points reaffirmed Clintons strength as a candidate and suggests she is poised to build her lead over Sanders considerably in the next few days. The election in South Carolina, which has a majority black Democratic electorate, may serve as a harbinger of what is to come when 11 states vote this week on Super Tuesday. Many of the next group of states also have a large African American electorate. Clinton won 85% of the black vote here, according to an exit poll of the states voters. Advertisement Today you sent a message, Clinton said in an emotional victory speech that touched on the Black Lives Matter movement, systemic bigotry and the polluted drinking water that has poisoned residents of the largely African American city of Flint, Mich. In America, when we stand together there is no barrier too big to break. Tomorrow this campaign goes national. Although she said she was not taking her nomination victory for granted, Clinton already seemed to be looking ahead, striking a contrast with the Republican she expects to face in the fall. Despite what you hear, we dont need to make America great again. America has never stopped being great, she said, as the audience roared at the clear reference to Donald Trump. But we do need to make America whole again, she said. Instead of building walls, we need to be tearing down barriers. We need to show by everything we do that we really are in this together. The victory Saturday was redemption for Clinton in a state where she endured a bitter loss in 2008, when early enthusiasm for her campaign among African American voters withered as Barack Obama picked up momentum. Dismissive comments about the South Carolina electorate by Bill Clinton after that loss had threatened to strain the couples relationship with black voters. There was no sign of strain Saturday, however. Black Democrats, in South Carolina at least, stuck with Hillary Clinton in a big way. She won decisively with the youngest black voters, a group Sanders had aggressively courted, and she won almost every black voter 96% of them over the age of 65, according to the exit poll, conducted for the major television networks and the Associated Press. Her strong performance, winning every county in the state, exceeded even that of Obama eight years ago. Clinton had worked aggressively to highlight her connection to President Obama as a member of his administration and her commitment to build on his legacy. The exit poll reflected an electorate that was very fond of the president and his policies. Sanders, who delivered a subdued speech Saturday night to supporters in Rochester, Minn., conceded the race in a statement issued only minutes after South Carolinas polls closed, congratulating Clinton on her victory but pledging that he would continue to campaign. Let me be clear on one thing tonight: This campaign is just beginning, Sanders said. We wont stop now. The fact that Sanders felt the need to say that, however, pointed to both the magnitude and importance of Clintons victory here. The win put her campaign back on firmer footing after a bumpy start to the race and quieted the worries of influential Democrats who had helped discourage other candidates from running. Clintons campaign had long counted on South Carolina to serve as a firewall against any spread of support for Sanders, one in which her deep ties to minority communities would protect her position as the front-runner for the nomination. Sanders struggled to make headway against a Clinton machine that has had a strong relationship with the states African American community for decades. The senator from Vermont did not have much in the way of a visible campaign in the state until recently. In the days leading up to the primary, Sanders signaled that he did not feel victory in South Carolina was within his grasp, spending little time there. You dont see him. You dont hear from him, said Cleveland Sanders, 39, who cast his ballot for Clinton in North Charleston. A closed mouth dont get fed. Enthusiasm for Sanders among some black celebrities and activists was no match for the loyalty Clinton had won from a much larger and more influential coalition of African American leaders, including Democratic Rep. James E. Clyburn, a former House majority whip and the dean of South Carolina black political leaders. We tonight have started Hillary Clinton on her way to the White House, Clyburn said in introducing her Saturday night, praising her for staying loyal to the administration that got this economy out of the ditch. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, a rising African American political star, showed up Friday at a church in the hardscrabble city of Florence, S.C., to hammer home the theme Clintons black surrogates have been repeating often as campaigning intensified in recent days. Im not supporting Hillary Clinton because of the speeches shes given, he said. Im supporting her because she was here when it wasnt election time. Sanders has taken a very different approach to reaching out to minority voters than Clinton, who is more comfortable with the politics of identity and speaks eloquently and forcefully on the ills of white privilege. Sanders has kept his focus on the economy, arguing it is rigged for the benefit of the wealthiest 1%. As he struggles to win over minority voters, the delegate math is looking increasingly to be in Clintons favor. Polls show her with a commanding lead in high-delegate states including Texas, Georgia and Virginia, as well as in several other Southern states. Even Massachusetts, a neighbor to Sanders home state of Vermont, is looking to be a tossup. Yet Clintons momentum is also running into the impressive Sanders fundraising machine, which is built on more than a million small donors whose enthusiasm and devotion to the Vermonters candidacy outstrips what Clinton has been able to muster. Even a Sanders loss in South Carolina and a weak showing on Super Tuesday would be unlikely to change that. Hillary is moving with a lot of wind at her back, former Democratic national Chairman Ed Rendell said. But it isnt over for Bernie, because Bernie will have the money to contest her all the way to California, if he so desires. That election is still three months away. Twitter: @evanhalper, @chrismegerian Halper reported from Washington and Megerian from Charleston, S.C. Times staff writers Kurtis Lee in Columbia and Michael A. Memoli in Washington contributed to this report. ALSO Trumps call for a wall continues a debate as old as the U.S.-Mexico border Rubio attacks Trump, but hell have to win something to get the best of him South Carolina black voters say they know Hillary Clinton well enough to pass on Bernie Sanders Hillary Clinton eyes Donald Trump in victory speech: America has never stopped being great "Despite what you hear, America never stopped being great!" https://t.co/ol2pWBc4TY https://t.co/eDgPMj9oG0 CBS News (@CBSNews) February 28, 2016 Hillary Clinton basked briefly in an overwhelming victory in South Carolina on Saturday, but quickly began to look ahead to the widening battlefield in the Democratic nomination race and even the general election as she called for greater civility in politics. Tomorrow, this campaign goes national, Clinton told supporters at an election night rally in Columbia, the states capital. We are going to compete for every vote in every state. We are not taking anything and were not taking anyone for granted. Clinton congratulated her rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders, on a well-fought campaign in the state and again seemed to absorb some of his populist messaging. She made an early plea for online contributions, thanking the more than 850,000 grass-roots donors that she said are powering this campaign. Her message included some of the staples of her recent stump speech -- promising to build on the progress of President Obama while pledging to break down the barriers that she said still hold too many Americans back. Clinton also praised the courage of mothers whose children died in racially charged encounters, saying they have channeled their sorrow into a strategy, and their mourning into a movement. And she again highlighted the water crisis in Flint, Mich., praising ordinary people who have stepped up to help the citys residents. But she also seemed to look past Super Tuesday next week to offer an early hint of her strategy against the Republican front-runner, Donald Trump. Despite what you hear, we dont need to make America great again. America has never stopped being great, she said, as the audience roared at the clear reference to Trumps campaign slogan. But we do need to make America whole again, she continued. Instead of building walls, we need to be tearing down barriers. We need to show by everything we do that we really are in this together. Later, she cited the Bible as she called for Americans to lift one another up. The verse she mentioned was from 1 Corinthians; Trump took some flak for referring to 2 Corinthians as two Corinthians, rather than the more colloquial second Corinthians, in a campaign appearance at an evangelical Christian university. I know it sometimes seems a little odd for someone running for president in these, in this time, to say we need more love and kindness in America, Clinton said. But Im telling you from the bottom of my heart, we do. Clinton was introduced by South Carolinas lone Democrat in Congress, Rep. James E. Clyburn, who had offered a well-timed endorsement just as the campaign shifted to his state. South Carolina voters, he said, have started Hillary Clinton on her way to the White House. Talk about yuge: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie threw his support Friday behind his former rival in the Republican presidential primaries, Donald Trump. "To me, it's a very big endorsement," Trump said, according to The Times' Michael Finnegan. You may insert your own body-mass joke here; I've already offered mine. Christie, a longtime friend of Trump's, characterized the thrice-married casino magnate as the best "fighter" in the race, and the person most likely to defeat likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. And Christie, whose stinging critique of a robotic Sen. Marco Rubio prior to the New Hampshire primary dissipated Rubio's Marcomentum seemingly overnight, clearly knows something about fighting. On one level, it's surprising to see someone who understands the challenges of governing and the complexities of policy as well as Christie endorsing Trump, whose campaign has been rigorously free of detailed plans or principled stances on ... anything, really. On another, though, Christie has spent years dealing with a Legislature run by Democrats, so he recognizes how important it is to be able to strike deals. And that is Trump's calling card. Then there's the question of who else was left for Christie to endorse. He didn't disguise his contempt for Rubio, and no one seems to like Cruz. That leaves his fellow Gov. John Kasich of Ohio, who may be weeks away from returning full time to Columbus, and Dr. Ben Carson, who seems to be waiting for a surge that's already come and gone. Or maybe Christie is just angling to be Attorney General in the Trump administration. But what do you think? Take our even-handed but utterly unscientific poll, leave a comment, or do both. Email Jon Healey Follow Healey's intermittent Twitter feed: @jcahealey After nearly two years, Toni Atkins' tenure as Assembly Speaker is winding to a close. The San Diego Democrat who will be termed out of the Assembly this November and is running for a state Senate seat will hand over the reins to incoming Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) on March 7. Atkins sat down with The Times for an exit interview to discuss the highs and lows of the leadership post. The rigors of the job It's not all backroom bargaining. Atkins said she was most surprised by the "housekeeping" that the job entailed: budgeting for member offices, requests for excused absences. "It was busy," she said. "You have to pay attention. You have your own legislative package, but you have to pay attention to how all the bills are moving through the house. You have to pay attention to the relationship between the legislation coming from the Senate, going to the Senate. It's nonstop. Members ask for help with their bills. The requests from reporters on everything stuff you would never think of.... You have to be out there on all kinds of issues that you ordinarily would not have to give too much thought to." SIGN UP for our free Essential Politics newsletter >> "Sometimes it feels like I've been doing this for a very short time," she added. "And other times it feels like, 'Wow, I feel like I've been doing this forever.' And I'm tired. It wears you out." The accomplishments Atkins rattled off a laundry list of proud moments in office, including securing a tax credit for the working poor in last year's budget and helping negotiate tax subsidies for the film industry and for Northrop Grumman, the manufacturer of the stealth bomber. She also pointed to her work on the $7.5-billion water bond, which was approved by voters in 2014. The measure was backed by nearly all legislators across the state, despite the geographic tensions that often arise with water issues. "I was in the middle of all that and I loved it," she said. "Because we made it happen and we didn't leave anybody behind.... The initial discussion was how many votes to do we need. And I said that's not going to do it for me. I don't feel like leaving anybody behind." Working with Jerry Brown Atkins said working with the governor was among the job's highlights. Gov. Jerry Brown, center, is flanked by Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and Senate leader Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) as they walk to a news conference last week in the Capitol to announce a budget agreement. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) "We come from very different worlds," she said. "But I find him to be very thoughtful." Atkins, who hailed from a hardscrabble Appalachian upbringing in rural Virginia, said she would point to her own background in budget negotiations to advocate for more spending on the poor. "If you're trying to leverage him, forget it. He's been doing this a while," she said. "You really have to make your case with him. And I could fall back on my story and be able to use personal experience to say, 'But governor ...' And he listens. He does listen." Maneuvering around the assisted death measure Atkins noted she was dinged by The Times' editorial board, in part for allowing last years assisted death legislation to stall in her house. The measure was ultimately revived in a special legislative session on healthcare, a controversial procedural move that she said reflected political necessity. "I like to be objective. I like to be fair," she said. "But I also work in the world of politics. And if you don't take advantage of an opportunity that presents itself politically ... I would say the death with dignity [bill] was one of those opportunities where I believed in the issue but I knew it was not necessarily a partisan issue, it was a personal issue with everybody. I used politics to keep the issue going." The clash over the climate change legislation Perhaps the fiercest legislative battle in her tenure was over an ambitious climate change bill backed by Brown and Senate leader Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles). Atkins said she was on board for the entire measure which included doubling energy efficiency and increasing how much electricity in the state was generated from renewable sources. But a sizable number of Assembly Democrats balked at a third provision to slash oil use in half. That component was dropped in order for SB 350 to become law. Brown and de Leon decried the influence of the oil industry, and Atkins faced criticism for the insurrection within her caucus. "I saw we were going to have real problems. And then a large number of caucus members came to me you can say, I was forced by my caucus or you could say I stood up for my caucus and made sure the process allowed them to deal with their concerns. And we got to a place we needed to go at the end of the day." "As painful as it felt, I thought it was a fair process for my caucus," she added. "And we still went to Paris [for the UN climate conference in December] as 'incredible California,' a nation-state. We were so well-received there." The fracas at the Coastal Commission Atkins was a vocal opponent of the firing of Coastal Commission executive director Charles Lester. The night of his firing she sent out an unusually frank message on Twitter expressing distress at the commission's action, particularly that of Mark Vargas, whom she reappointed to the post last year. "Eleven hundred miles of coastline being protected is a values issue for me," she said. "I didn't grow up near the ocean. The fact that I live in a coastal community now means a lot to me. I didn't see the ocean until I was I might have been 22 years old.... And I have a lot of friends who are developers. That doesn't mean I think the coastline should be overdeveloped." Closing thoughts In all, Atkins struck a tone that was equally wistful and exhausted. "This has been an incredible ride," she said. "Are you kidding? I'm a kid from Appalachia who grew up in a house with no running water. I get to negotiate with the most iconic governor in the United States." "Every one of the members here, whether I agree with them or not, they're here for a reason," she continued. "They're representing citizens and constituents. And I get to make that happen. There's nothing like it. I feel incredibly fortunate I get to do this. I'm tired. And I'm going to be very thrilled to hand this over to Anthony Rendon." Follow @melmason for more on California government and politics. ALSO: A quick guide to the climate change battle Meet the incoming speaker Updates from Sacramento Live coverage of the California Democratic Party Convention The fate of Gov. Jerry Browns plan to revamp decades of law governing prison sentences and juvenile justice now lies in the hands of the California Supreme Court. The governor wants the states highest court to quickly reverse the ruling of a Sacramento judge that blocked his criminal justice ballot initiative from being cleared to collect voter signatures. Judge Shellyane Chang ruled on Wednesday, in a case brought by the California District Attorneys Assn., that Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris should not have allowed Brown to submit his substantial revisions to an existing initiative without additional review. Advertisement See the most-read stories this hour >> Brown formally filed his appeal Thursday, warning the justices that Californias long-term ability to comply with a federal court order to reduce its prison population hinged on voters being given a chance to approve his plan. The initiative, said the governor in the filing, would provide the state with a durable solution to prison overcrowding that enhances public safety and avoids the indiscriminate release of prisoners by federal court order. Brown unveiled his plan in late January, one highlighted by an overhaul of the rules regarding parole eligibility for inmates serving time for nonviolent crimes. Prisoners who earn enough good behavior credits or participate in education programs would be eligible for early release. The governors plan was added to a proposed ballot initiative that already was being vetted -- one that originally dealt only with juvenile justice. The state district attorneys group then filed suit, claiming Brown was attempting to circumvent the normal review process for initiatives in order to more easily gather the roughly 585,000 valid signatures he needed to make the Nov. 8 statewide ballot. If the state Supreme Court upholds the lower court ruling, the governor and his political team easily could miss the deadline for an initiative to qualify. Political consultants who specialize in ballot measures have said campaigns run a real risk if they dont turn in voter signatures to elections officials by early May. On Friday, attorneys representing Brown submitted a letter to the justices warning that even a ruling as soon as Tuesday could likely make it impossible to qualify the initiative for the fall ballot. Brown is no stranger to the members of the state Supreme Court, having appointed three of the justices since returning to the governors office in 2011. If the superior courts order stands, his campaign attorneys wrote in their appeal, the people will have been deprived of their right to use the initiative process to remedy problems that urgently require attention now. john.myers@latimes.com Follow @johnmyers on Twitter, sign up for our daily Essential Politics newsletter and listen to the weekly California Politics Podcast ALSO Lawsuits against Trump University claim students paid thousands for nothing Republican voter registration tanks in California as fewer voters choose a party Winning the party endorsement is like trying to win an Iowa caucus ... but in California Before he moves from California to Florida, Brian OToole spent a little time training some colleagues Friday on a flight that passed near his childhood hometown of La Canada Flintridge an event that rattled some windows near Bob Hope Airport and caused some chatter on social media. OToole, it turns out, was the lead pilot of a trio of Navy fighter jets from Naval Air Station Lemoore near Fresno that made a stop in Burbank to refuel. NEWSLETTER: Stay up to date with whats going on in and around your neighborhood >> Part of it is to get training, OToole said, which allows the pilots to work on navigation skills and approaches to unfamiliar airports. It was also my last flight [with the unit]. The Navy lieutenant, who attended Saint Francis High School and the Naval Academy, has been flying fighter jets for more than five years. The training mission of three Boeing F/A-18s under the call sign Jason11 was his last with the members of Strike Fighter Squadron 147, the Argonauts, before he moves to Florida to start flying the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. OToole said by phone while driving home from base on Friday that he chose the stopover to refuel in Burbank specifically because it would bring him nearby his hometown. He said hell also be driving through town on the way to Florida to spend time with his parents, Martin and Joanna OToole. John Randazzo, a member of a Facebook group for airport plane spotters, posted photos online of the jets as they passed over the airport area and as they sat on the ground. Randazzo had posted a photo in December of a fighter and military cargo plane at the airport. Lucy Burghdorf, an airport spokeswoman, said the fighter jets infrequently stop off at Bob Hope Airport. On Twitter, blogger Victor Caballero called the take-off loud. Another online commenter on Facebook called it deafening. According to WebTrak, which records flight data and noise levels of take-offs and landings at the Burbank airfield, the jet noise at take-off around noon reached more than 100 decibels, much louder than the typical commercial jet, as the aircraft reached speeds of more than 300 mph and altitudes above 6,000 feet. Randazzo said he lives near the airport and gets to see the jets from time to time ... and the amazing sound and power is always very impressive. The jets could make the trip from Lemoore in a straight line in 20 minutes, OToole said, but Fridays flight was more than a buzz by home. The trio of jets spent much of the day on a mission that involved a low-level flight over Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in the Mojave Desert before the stop in Burbank and a trip back over the desert for some aerial combat maneuvers on the way back home. OToole said it was an opportunity to give his fellow fighter jocks some tips on dog-fighting on the way out the door. -- Chad Garland, chad.garland@latimes.com Twitter: @chadgarland -- ALSO: Former Burroughs High School employee sentenced for sex with student Assault suspect shot by Burbank police pleads not guilty Firefighters rescue worker, knock down house blaze in Burbank A Night in Pasadena Oscar-winning actress Jane Fonda and record producer Richard Perry will be honored at the Pasadena Playhouse in a fundraising event to be hosted by Sandra Tsing Loh, writer and star of the show The Madwoman in the Volvo. The theme of the night is A Night in the Catskills. The April 30 event will take its setting from the theaters current production of Casa Valentina by Harvey Fierstein and directed by David Lee, which is set in the Catskills of 1962. In a statement, Playhouse artistic director Sheldon Epps praised both honorees and noted that both of them have strong roots in the theater and a great love of our art form. Richards skill, expertise and acumen were essential to the success of our production of Baby Its You and most certainly contributed to that musicals transfer to a Tony-nominated Broadway run. I so greatly admire Janes great success in practically every area that a life can touch artistically, socially and politically. NEWSLETTER: Stay up to date with whats going on in the 818 >> Among the performers will be Geno Henderson, a cast member from the Broadway production of Baby Its You. Lohs one-woman production of her The Madwoman in the Volvo begins at the Pasadena Playhouse in June. For more information on the benefit, contact Genevieve Ostrander at (626) 737-2852 or gostrander@pasadenaplayhouse.org. Wounded and Rising The exhibition Armenia: An Open Wound, opening April 9 at the Brand Library, is a large-scale collaboration between the city of Glendale and the Armenian American Museum. It promises an in-depth examination of Armenian culture and history, including a detailed account of the 1915 Armenian Genocide through survivor testimony. Less known outside the Armenian community is that many survivors of the 1915 tragedy eventually settled in Mexico. A century later, it was there that Armenia: An Open Wound debuted last year at Mexico Citys Museo Memoria Y Tolerancia [Museum of Memory and Tolerance]. Admission is free. The Brand Library & Art Center is at 1601 West Mountain Street, Glendale. More info on Armenia: An Open Wound at ArmenianAmericanMuseum.org or (844) 586-4626. Classic Meets the Modern A full evening of classic pieces and one modern composition as performed by the Pasadena Symphony are set to unfold March 19 at the Ambassador Auditorium. The concert performed twice will feature a collaboration between symphony music director and cellist David Lockington and principal guest conductor Nicholas McGegan, a two-time Grammy nominee. The program includes Mozarts Symphony No. 40 and Beethovens Overture to Egmont. Following those pieces, Lockington will join the ensemble to perform a modern work, Philip Sawyers Cello Concerto (which premiered in 2012 with the Modesto Symphony). The concerts will be performed at 2 p.m. and 8 p..m., with a pre-concert discussion with McGegan and Lockington one hour before curtain. The Ambassador Auditorium is located at 131 South St. John Avenue, Pasadena, CA. Ticket prices start at $35 and may be purchased at www.pasadenasymphony-pops.org or at (626) 793-7172. -- ALSO: Frank Miller has more in store for Batman Theater Review: Guest director sees modern possibilities in original language of Romeo and Juliet DVD Review: The Graduate remains indispensable Walk south on Los Rios Street and to the right is the Ramos House Cafe, a restaurant and home owned by John Humphreys. To the left is The Tea House, a cafe run by the Niccola family, who also live on the property. Up and down the street are homes and businesses, often blended in one location. The Los Rios Historic District mandates that property owners live in their centuries-old houses if they operate a business from them. The rule, put into place years ago by the San Juan Capistrano City Council, might seem like overreach even in a county where some cities dictate the color of houses and the look of yards. Advertisement The rule was enacted to maintain the old-timey and homey quality of an area that has gotten, according to some, over-commercialized. It was also believed that forced occupancy would give the owners the added impetus to preserve deteriorating structures. If residents are complaining, though, its about the people who flout the rule by having stand-in tenants or seeking an exemption. Resident Stephen Rios admits he gets upset when business people want to set up shop but dont want to abide by the requirement that they live in the area, where tourists and noise from passing trains can seem overwhelming at times. The buildings, framed against the backdrop of Mission San Juan Capistrano, remind visitors of times past, when life moved more slowly, agriculture was the force of the local economy and European, Mexican and Native American cultures prevailed together. Los Rios neighborhood, which in 1983 was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, grew up as the home of Native Americans who built and worked at the mission. Its a tribute to the history not only of San Juan but of Orange County. The area near the railroad depot has gone through the hard times of any city though no one wants to go on record as saying it was seedy and now seems to be a gleaming tourist mecca, which is a boon to the city but often an annoyance to the districts residents. It was a quiet neighborhood, Rios remembered, up until six or seven years ago. But then foot traffic increased as Los Rios Street underwent gentrification, with homeowners better maintaining dwellings and visitors traveling to the street to learn more about early California history and visit local attractions. But the battle between modernity and convenience versus preservation goes back years. At one point, the city proposed taking out a few homes in the district to widen Los Rios Street, the main road through the district, for easier access to Oso Parkway, but people objected. The street was protected after the San Juan council declared the 40-acre area a special district that needed to be protected and preserved for posterity, according to the Los Rios Specific Plan, dated October 1974. It was recognizing that Los Rios was beautiful and fragile and in need of protection, Rios said. That was the genesis. Back then, two to three homes in the neighborhood operated small businesses, selling bread, sodas and tortillas. There are considerably more now among the 40 structures. Visitors to the picturesque area may fill the city coffers quite nicely, but they have gotten to be too much at times for district residents. And now there is talk of building a mixed-use development of retail and offices. Rios and a group of the neighborhood residents have taken a few matters into their hands in upholding their privacy rights in the Los Rios district, but they still must defer to the municipality. Los Rios neighborhood is part of the city of San Juan Capistrano, so thats where the governance lies, said Chris Jepsen, assistant archivist at Orange County Archives. John Humphreys, owner of the Ramos House Cafe, has made signs reading, Attention photographers: You are standing in front of a private home and you are disturbing us. Kindly, ply your trade elsewhere. He and Rios said they dont mind tourists snapping pictures, but they are fed up with the disturbances caused by commercial photographers who pull wagons carrying their equipment and take pictures in front of homes and businesses at all hours of the day. I love my house but I would rather want a quiet condo than a charming photo booth, said Humphreys. Theyre just like paparazzi. * Adapting policies In 1997, the San Juan City Council initiated an update to the specific plan to address emerging issues including over-commercialization, preservation of residential character, demand for parking facilities, traffic congestion and central park area land use. The challenge for the residents and businesses of Los Rios, the plan said, was to allow the district to evolve and adapt to changing conditions without losing the areas essence. To save deteriorating historically significant structures, the district mandated residential occupancy with any small-scale commercial use. But over the years, the city allowed a specific plan amendment to The Lupe Combs House, which sits at Los Rios and Verdugo streets and once housed a gift shop. The shop was the first business permitted to vary from the residency requirement because, first and foremost, the City Council wanted to save the 500-square-foot Combs house, which is positioned alongside the railroad tracks, former Mayor David M. Swerdlin told the Times in 1997. When you have a home right on the tracks and 28 or 30 trains going by every day, its not my intention to have government tell someone they have to live there, Swerdlin was quoted as saying. In 1997, another exemption was granted. The City Council approved plans for an extension to the Rodman House on Los Rios Street, which was a teahouse operating with a limited liquor license, while also allowing owners Allan and Claudia Niccola to renovate and move the historical Buddy Forster house from its site off Ortega Highway in San Juan Capistrano to the Los Rios property so the couple could live there. When approving the plans for the restaurant, the council expressed concerns about the sale of alcohol in the district. To ease the councils concerns, the Niccolas agreed to a two-drink maximum at their teahouse, which serves only wine and Champagne. This did not bode well for Monica Mukai, owner of the Hummingbird House Cafe, also known as the Lupe Combs House. In 2013, when she asked the city if she could sell alcohol, her proposal was rejected, since the Ramos House Cafe and the Tea House sold beer and wine because they had obtained permits under a 1995 ordinance that was rescinded the following year. City Councilman Sam Allevato said allowing more businesses to serve beer and wine would add to the commercialism and not be in keeping with the wholesome character of the area, according to city documents. * Trying to make it a mall Stephen Rios sits in his frontyard, under a canopy formed by the extensive branches of an old pepper tree that shades his adobe home, the oldest house in the oldest residential neighborhood in California. Hes the latest resident of the Rios Adobe of San Juan Capistrano, a registered California state landmark where his family has lived from generation to generation since it was built in 1794. The narrow Los Rios Street is surrounded by cactus and wildflowers, beneath towering eucalyptus and palm trees. Children can pet animals at a nearby petting zoo and visitors can dine at cafes and shop for trinkets in unique stores. Rios, a semi-retired attorney, is steadfast in denouncing development that he feels is incompatible with the tiny neighborhood. Rios father, Dan, was among those who 40 years ago pushed for the specific plan. He and two other Los Rios residents sat down with city staff to discuss developments in the neighborhood. Im not complaining about tourists or businesses, Rios said. I get upset when businesses are not being properly managed. If youre going to come to Los Rios, dont try to change the plan and make money. When people move in here, they need to do their due diligence and understand the concept. The Ramos House Cafe, built in 1881 and situated in the heart of the district, was the long-time residence of the Ramos family, one of San Juan Capistranos oldest families. The house began a new life as a cafe and residence for chef and owner Humphreys in 1994, when he found the cottage for $167,000. Humphreys added a commercial kitchen to the back of the house, restored dilapidated portions of the board-and-batten home and installed an exterior patio seating area around the propertys century-old mulberry tree. But about five years ago, Humphreys said, he started noticing that more visitors were ignoring the occupational laws and photography regulations. Photographers would hold intrusive portraits from dawn to dusk in front of his home and business. Humphreys said he stayed at hotels some weekends since he couldnt sleep because of flashing cameras and noisy crowds. He said he has asked photographers to refrain from shooting in front of his residence and that he has been threatened with negative restaurant reviews on Yelp. I run from it, Humphreys said. Im not happy about it. Rios said he often has wedding parties, groups of high school students heading to dances and families standing before his home and blocking his driveway for photographs. Camryn Clair of Camryn Clair Photography in Dana Point said she photographs in the Los Rios Historic District because of the homes, bright colors, exposed brick and greenery. A particular place she liked for a backdrop was a wooden panel on the Ramos House Cafe property. A plastered sign to the wall read: Delivery Door: No Photography!! That wall is so cool, Clair said. And then I learned I couldnt shoot there. Are you kidding me? But I totally understand. I didnt know people lived in there and you have to be respectful. After learning she had to obtain a business license from the city, Clair paid the $40 annual fee, which offers a badge to wear on the day of a shoot. Cindy Russell, chief financial officer and city treasurer of San Juan Capistrano, said the city understands that the district is a popular and sensitive photography location and thats why controls were put in place. We love for people to come and take pictures, but we want them to be mindful and considerate of the neighbors, Russell said. Not many photographers have paid the fee and gotten the badge, Russell said, but over the last six months, the city has not received complaints from neighbors. If a professional photographer does not abide by the rules like climbing up on a residents porch, standing in neighbors entry way or on the property code enforcement officers would impose parameters, she said. Lt. Scott Spalding, chief of police services for San Juan Capistrano for the past 10 months, said he was unaware of any recent calls concerning disturbances at Los Rios. Rios said since the photography permits were enacted in Los Rios in 2015, he has noticed that photographers are a bit more sensitive. But he and some other residents still question whether San Juan Capistrano is stretching the delicate balance in Los Rios between charm and commercialism. This neighborhood could tip irreversibly toward commercial development, Rios said. This is a sensitive neighborhood. We live here, and we want to enjoy it. It was just a better neighborhood years ago, but you have some people trying to make it a mall, Humphreys said. Los Rios is a precious part of San Juan Capistrano. Lorie Porter, a member on the San Juan Capistrano Cultural Heritage Commission, offered a different perspective. Its never going to be open to just industry and the city will protect that, Porter said. The people who live there dont move. They want it to stay that charming look, and it will always remain picturesque. Two suicide bombings Saturday left at least 25 people dead and dozens more injured in eastern Afghanistan. The first blast took place in Asadabad, the capital of Kunar province, bordering Pakistan. According to the provincial governor, Wahidullah Kalimzai, an assailant on a motorcycle detonated his explosives at the entrance of a government office. Advertisement See more of our top stories on Facebook >> At least 13 people were killed and 37 injured in the attack, the United Nations said. Among the dead was Khan Jan, a tribal elder and militia leader who had been involved in anti-Taliban operations in the past year. But most of the dead and wounded were bystanders, including children playing in a nearby park, according to the governor. Abdullah Abdullah, President Ashraf Ghanis chief executive, condemned the bombing in a tweet. This attack presented another example of the enmity of terrorists with the Afghan nation, especially women and children, Abdullah said. No group claimed responsibility for the attack, but provincial officials said they suspected the Taliban. The explosion in Kunar was followed by a late afternoon blast in the capital, Kabul, that killed at least 12 people, including one member of the Afghan military, and injured eight others, including at least two women. The Taliban claimed responsibility for that attack, saying a suicide bomber had targeted the entrance gate of the Ministry of Defense. NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj >> The ministry issued a statement saying the attack showed that the militants couldnt face the Afghan defense and security forces face to face on the battlefield. The two bombings came just days after the Afghan government -- in conjunction with China, Pakistan and the United States -- said it hoped that the Taliban would agree to take part in direct talks with representatives from Kabul in early March. Latifi is a special correspondent. ALSO Twice-escaped El Chapo Guzman says hell do time in U.S.-- as long as its in medium security Moderates poised for gains as votes are counted in Irans election Lawsuits against Trump University claim students paid thousands for nothing Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman is willing to accept extradition and plead guilty to charges in a United States court if he can negotiate an unelevated prison sentence in a medium security prison, his lawyer has told reporters here. In an interview Thursday with Radio Formula of Mexico City, Guzmans attorney, Jose Refugio Rodriguez, said that his client had decided to try to negotiate such a course of action because of what he described as poor treatment in the Altiplano prison where he is being held. See the most-read stories this hour >> Prison guards are waking Guzman every four hours to verify that he hasnt escaped, according to Rodriguez. The resulting stress and sleeplessness has caused the drug lord to suffer severe headaches, he added. Advertisement Tell me what person could tolerate not sleeping, he said. Rodriguez said he had contacted an American attorney named William Stuttgart about negotiating terms of the extradition with U.S. authorities. In a recent interview published in the Los Angeles Times, Guzmans wife, Emma Coronel Aispuro, claimed that her husbands prison treatment was inhumane and said his life was in danger. Mexicos Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong refuted the charges in a radio interview this week. He is treated like what he is, a criminal, and he has security measures to avoid a possible escape, the minister said. There is no mistreatment, his human rights are respected, and we are only acting based on the prisons regulations. NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj >> Attorneys in at least seven U.S. jurisdictions would like to try Guzman on murder, drug trafficking and organized crime charges. As head of the Sinaloa drug cartel, Guzman directed the shipment of untold tons of cocaine, heroin and marijuana to the U.S. over a two-decade span. U.S. law enforcement officials say he will be sent where prosecutors have gathered the strongest evidence, most likely New York or Chicago, according to some sources familiar with the discussions. Prosecutors in San Diego might also have a shot at trying Guzman, having filed the first charges against the drug lord in 1996. A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Justice declined to say whether Guzmans lawyers have approached federal prosecutors, saying the department generally does not comment on extradition matters unless and until a defendant is in the U.S. A spokesman for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which helped Mexican authorities track Guzman, said the case is out of our hands. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> Guzman, one of the worlds most wanted criminals, was recaptured on Jan. 8 after a bloody shootout in the Mexican coastal town of Los Mochis after spending 11 months on the lam. He escaped from prison in July, his second escape from a maximum security prison, using a mile-long tunnel and with help from security guards. The Mexican attorney generals office announced the day after the capture that it had begun the process of extraditing Guzman to face charges in the U.S. The government had refused to consider such a move after Guzman was recaptured in February 2014 after more than a decade on the run following a 2001 escape. On Jan. 23, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said that he had ordered the attorney generals office to accelerate the extradition process. But even with a willing Mexican government, extradition could take years if Guzman decides to fight the process. Sanchez is a special correspondent. Special correspondent Chris Kraul in Bogota and Times staff writer Alexandra Zavis in Los Angeles contributed to this report. ALSO Tijuanas top cop steps down In Mexico, Trump takes a beating -- and not just the pinatas Former Mexican President Vicente Fox on Donald Trump: Im not going to pay for that f------ wall Dalton Javier Avalos Ramirez remembers watching Donald Trump announce his candidacy for the U.S. presidency last June. In that speech, Trump lobbed the first in an eight-month stream of insults, saying that Mexico was sending many of its worst north of the border and that such immigrants are bringing drugs, theyre bringing crime, theyre rapists and some, I assume, are good people. Avalos Ramirez, a resident of the border city of Reynosa opposite Texas, went back to his pinata workshop, and in anger sculpted paper and paste into Trumps image. A suit. A wide mouth seemingly in mid-insult. A tuft of yellow papier-mache hair whipping in the wind. After making countless pinatas in a small workshop with his siblings since childhood, Avalos Ramirez never guessed that this gesture of protest would result in dozens of orders, both from Mexican customers and those across the border. Some customers filled Trump with candy and gleefully pummeled him to bits at birthday parties. Others took him to protests and set his likeness aflame. Advertisement Eighty or so Trumps later, the orders are still coming. Avalos Ramirez, in a phone interview from Reynosa, didnt realize that he would inspire scores of imitations and give many other Mexicans the ability to express their anger at the anti-Mexican rhetoric thats become a mainstay of this American election cycle. This week former president Vicente Fox voiced that anger with an F-bomb. Responding to Trumps comment that he will build a large border wall and make Mexico pay for it, Fox said in an interview with Jorge Ramos on the Fusion network, Im not going to pay for that ... wall! The comment brought cheers from commentators, politicians and everyday citizens. No doubt more Trump pinatas will be sold. The U.S.-Mexican relationship has never been easy. In the 19th century, President Porfirio Diaz summed up his countrys dilemma: Poor Mexico, so far from God, so close to the United States. Mexico lost about half its territory in the war with the U.S., and the country has long honored six young military cadets the Ninos Heroes, or boy heroes who died in 1847 when American forces invaded Mexico City. One is said to have wrapped himself in the Mexican flag and leaped to his death from the battlements rather than be taken by the Americans. Still, the countries two governments have long preached cooperation and understanding. Vice President Joe Biden did as much this week. Mr. Trump is a clear example of the hatred of Mexicans that certain Americans have. Rosario Diaz, Mexico City architect On a visit to Mexico City, Biden told President Enrique Pena Nieto that he almost felt the need to apologize to the Mexican people, and lamented the damaging and inaccurate xenophobic sentiments expressed during the Republican primary campaign. I just want you to know, Mr. President, that the most heated of the rhetoric youve heard from some of the competitors for the nomination for president is not who we are as the American people. It is not a view that is the view of the majority of the American people. Its the exact opposite, its the opposite view, Biden said. But many here are worried that the strength Trump has demonstrated in the polls, even in the state of Nevada, which has a large Latino population, indicates that such sentiments are shared by millions. I have family living in California, and theyre really worried that if Trump becomes president, theyll be afraid that they could have their citizenship taken away. And they have been living over there for more than 30 years, said Lourdes Fernandez, a housewife in Mexico City. Theyre really praying to God that this man doesnt become president, because they dont know what he could do with the Mexican people. They give them the worst jobs, they humiliate them, and Mexicans have to accept it because they have economic needs, said Rosario Diaz, an architect in Mexico City. Mr. Trump is a clear example of the hatred of Mexicans that certain Americans have. In a poll published last August by Pew, 72% of Americans said that immigrants without documentation should be allowed to stay in the U.S., if they meet certain requirements. Only 17% said that a national law enforcement effort should be made to deport all immigrants in the country illegally. That information was sampled before Trump announced his candidacy. On Thursday, the newspaper Milenio rounded up what Mexican politicians had to say about Trump, including this statement by Minister of the Interior Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, regarding the border wall Trump wishes to build with Mexicos dollars. Hes looking to generate coverage more than generating a project. Of course, he doesnt know or understand the contribution of migrants of practically all the nations in the world that have come to help and support the development of the United States. Secretary of State Jose Antonio Meade told the San Francisco Chronicle that the candidates speeches are colored by prejudice, racism or just plain ignorance thats not a good or positive sign. Any combination of the three does not help the debate, does not help politics. After Foxs comment on Thursday, Trump went to Twitter to demand an apology for using an expletive. If I did that there would be an uproar! At his pinata shop, Avalos Ramirez said Trump must be confused about what century were living in. The U.S.-Mexico war is long over, he said. We in Mexico dont see the U.S. as an enemy, he said. We see them as an economic ally. Tillman is a special correspondent. Special correspondent Cecilia Sanchez contributed reporting from Mexico City. ALSO Tijuanas top cop steps down Chris Christie endorses Donald Trump, amplifies attacks on Marco Rubio Drug lord El Chapo Guzman willing to face charges in U.S. - if he can negotiate terms Moderates were poised for a strong showing as votes were counted Saturday in Iranian parliamentary elections that served as a referendum on the nuclear deal Iran struck with six world powers last year. Supporters of the deal and of President Hassan Rouhani were expected to pick up more seats in the 290-seat parliament. That could allow Rouhani to pursue further rapprochement with the West, implement some domestic reforms and attract more foreign investment aims that had been thwarted by conservative hard-liners in the previous parliament. While none of the several competing factions were likely to gain a majority, anti-Western conservatives and their allies were likely to retain control of the legislature as they have since 2004 after thousands of moderate candidates were disqualified before the vote. Advertisement In preliminary results released late Saturday, two parliamentary candidates allied with Rouhani, Mohammad Reza Aref and Ali Motahari, garnered the most votes in the Tehran constituency, the countrys largest. Rouhani thanked the people of Iran in a statement and said, Whatever the results, the reputation of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been enhanced. Voters also were selecting the 88-member Assembly of Experts, which chooses the countrys clerical supreme leader. In Irans hybrid political system, major decisions rest with the leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The results released by the Interior Ministry showed that Rouhani was running second in the race for the assembly in Tehran, behind an influential ally, former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> Turnout in Fridays election was 60% of nearly 55 million eligible voters, the Interior Ministry said, a high figure that analysts said would benefit moderates and reformists. Voting was extended for several hours in some polling places as people waited in long lines to cast ballots. Two leaders of the opposition Green Movement who are under house arrest, Mir Hossain Mousavi and his wife, Zahra Rahnavard, were supplied with ballot papers and allowed to vote Friday, according to Kalame, a website close to the movement. The move was seen as a slight relaxation of the restrictions against the reformists, who came to prominence in 2009 after a disputed election and have been in near-isolation for the past four years. But another Green Movement leader, Mehdi Karroubi, was refused the opportunity to vote, according to reports. The election was an important test for Rouhani, who was elected in 2013 to resolve the crisis over Irans disputed nuclear program, which had prompted harsh sanctions and isolated the countrys economy. The U.S. and other countries lifted the most severe sanctions after Iran complied with restrictions on its nuclear program, and although economic benefits have not yet trickled down to the average Iranian, the deal remains widely popular. The hard-line Guardian Council tossed out thousands of candidates before the election, many of them reformists, prompting Rouhani supporters remaining in the race to form a broader alliance with moderates and conservatives who back his policies. Many Iranians said they voted against hard-liners to strengthen Rouhanis hand in parliament. If I do not vote for reformists today, I will have nightmares and a guilty conscience until the next election, said Reza Agharahimi, 28, who stood in line for an hour to cast a ballot Friday morning in an affluent neighborhood in northern Tehran, a stronghold of the reformists. Depriving the hard-liners of one seat in the parliament and Assembly of Experts is better than nothing, he said. In low-income and working-class southern districts of the capital, however, turnout was lower, as residents said they were fed up with economic struggles and saw no benefit in casting ballots. Why on Earth should I vote for any of them they dont take care of my economic needs, said Abolfazl Hasani, a retired army colonel who was out shopping for fruit. Any vote I made in past decades was a mistake. Irans economy has suffered badly under sanctions, and the gap between the rich and poor has widened as elites found ways to survive and even profit off the restrictions. In the past two years, President Rouhanis government has tried to increase the purchasing power of the people, but it is far from enough, said Saeed Laylaz, an economist who supports the reformists. Rouhanis government says that with time, more economic opportunities will open up to Iranians as moribund industries like automobile manufacturing and natural gas are revived. The government last month struck a deal to sell oil to France and purchase a fleet of Airbus jets to resuscitate the state-owned civil aviation program. Half the electorate is younger than 35, a demographic bulge that could boost Irans recovery but also could produce widespread dissatisfaction if the economy is mismanaged. Mostaghim is a special correspondent. Times staff writer Bengali reported from Mumbai, India. For more world news, follow @SBengali on Twitter ALSO California Highway Patrol needed nearly four hours to catch a runaway unicorn While it defies U.S. government, Apple abides by Chinas orders and reaps big rewards Rubio attacks Trump, but hell have to win something to get the best of him Large M&A deals are expected to decline in the next two years as investors focus on acquisitions in the range of $20m to $60m Marine researchers in Chile got the shock of their lives when they saw dead sea lions washed ashore. They found that the same curious case is also happening elsewhere on South America's Pacific coast. For the past three moths, dead sea lions are dying and washing up ashore. The American sea lions are called Otaria flavescens. Most of those that are dying off are newborns, with a few adults and juveniles. This makes the problem even more significant. Researcher Carlos Guerra-Correa said that Chile's neighboring countries are also experiencing this. "This is happening along the entire coast of northern Chile and we're getting reports that it's also happening in Peru, our neighbor to the north," researcher Carlos Guerra-Correa said. "We could be talking about hundreds of sea lions washing up ashore dead in the entire region." Guerra-Correa added that it is alarming that most of the dead sea mammals are literally just babies. "Some of the dead animals we have found still had their umbilical cord attached," Guerra-Correa said. "We found one with a placenta," he added. The expert also provided several reasons why this is happening. According to him, the El Nino is a significant culprit. El Nino is causing the tropical Pacific to bring warm water to the coasts of Chile. Warm water, however, does not possess the same nutrients of phytoplankton found in cold water. Phytoplankton nurtures the sardines and anchovies that sea lions love to eat. Without sardines and anchovies, sea lions might be starving to death. According to Guerra-Correa, the female sea lions in the latter stages of their pregnancy are the most vulnerable ones. Without the nutrients they need, they can be miscarrying or delivering weak babies that die the moment they are born. In a related news, experts said that there is an ongoing fish famine that is barring mothers from producing enough milk for their baby sea lions to become stronger. As the mother sea lions scout for food in further waters, they can be gone for days, leaving their pups to starve. Some pups may also look for food themselves, even though they are not physically ready to be apart from their moms yet. They die as a result. Here is a video of a killer whale hunting baby sea lions: 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Zika Virus News: Pregnant Florida Women Test Positive, Worse Defects Possible On Wednesday, three more pregnant women in Florida have tested positive for the Zika virus, raising the total within the state alone to 32. The virus has been attributed to an explosion of cases of microcephaly in newborn babies. Infected Aedes mosquitoes can transmit the virus to humans. However, the first case of the Zika virus in the U.S. was through sexual contact with an infected individual. Massachusetts General Hospital's director of obstetrics and gynecology infectious disease Dr. Laura Riley said hat there's nothing they can do for those infected with the virus. "We're hunting and looking for something we can't do anything about. There's no treatment and no prevention, other than just not getting bitten." The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued several travel health notices, discouraging people from traveling to areas where Zika cases have been reported. Reports indicate that there are more concerning aspects to the Zika virus that what has been initially revealed. In Brazil, a seven-month fetus infected with the virus was found to have no brain. The mother of the dead fetus was unaware that she had been infected as she did not exhibit any symptoms. This indicates that the virus can still affect the development of infants without affecting the mother. In a report published in the journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Dr. Albert Ko and his colleagues stated that "the first indication of an abnormal pregnancy was the ultrasound finding of intrauterine growth retardation in the 18th gestational week." Succeeding tests revealed that the fetus was developing without a brain. Liquid filled the cranial cavity as well as the infant's lung area. Medical institutions are ramping up efforts into understanding the Zika virus and finding a cure. Inside Maryland's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Vaccine Research Center, scientists are hoping to find a cure by injecting the Zika virus into volunteers. At the moment, they are testing the effects of different Zika vaccines on animals. Once they find the best variant, the scientists intend to test the vaccine in human subjects. According to the NIAID Vaccine Research Center's deputy director Dr. Barney Graham, it normally takes decades and large studies to develop a vaccine. In the case of the Zika virus, scientists are planning to inject the virus into young, healthy volunteers who have no intention of becoming pregnant soon. In addition to ethical issues surrounding injecting people with a virus, scientists are also concerned that the virus might also increase the likelihood of volunteers developing other conditions, such as the Guillain-Barre syndrome. Subscribe to the latinos health newsletter! Vice President Joe Biden is chastising the entire field of Republican presidential hopefuls over what he categorizes as "dangerous, damaging and incredibly ill-advised" rhetoric on the subject of immigration. Biden made his comments at the inaugural ceremony of the bilateral High Level Economic Dialogue conference in Mexico City. "The message that is coming out of the United States as a consequence of the presidential campaign, about American attitudes toward Mexicans and Mexico generally, the entire hemisphere and our place in the world, is disturbing," the vice president said. Trump Calls Immigrants as 'Criminals' and 'Rapists' While Biden refrained from addressing candidates by name, it's widely assumed his comments were mostly aimed at GOP front-runner Donald Trump. On the day he formally launched his campaign, Trump called Mexican immigrants "criminals" and "rapists." Since then, he has vowed to deport as many as 11 million immigrants in as little as 18 months and build a massive wall along the Mexican border Cruz Calls for Tighter Border Control Recently, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, one of Trump's chief rivals for the GOP nomination, joined the chorus of Republican leaders calling for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. "Yes, we should deport them," Cruz told Fox News host Bill O'Reilly. "That's what ICE exists for. We have law enforcement that looks for people who are violating the laws, that apprehends them and deports them." Cruz also called for dramatically increased border patrol and seconded Trump's call for the construction of a wall along the border. Up until recently, Cruz had resisted addressing details of how he would handle the issue of immigration if he were elected. Not long ago, he directly rejected the notion of a "deportation force," as Trump has repeatedly called for. "I don't intend to send jackboots to knock on your door and every door in America. That's not how we enforce the law for any crime," he told CNN's Jake Tapper earlier this year. In Mexico City, Biden minced few words in criticizing all those he feels have sought to politicize the issue. "Here's what I'm here to tell you. They do not represent the view of the vast majority of the American people," he said of his GOP rivals. In contrast to her Republican rivals, Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton has vowed to move on immigration reform within her first 100 days in office if she is elected as president. "Absolutely. We're going to introduce legislation," she told a town hall gathering of voters in Nevada. Clinton went on to defeat Democratic challenger Bernie Sanders 53 to 47 percent in that state's primary earlier this month. The American delegation accompanying Biden included Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell. Top Mexican Cabinet economic officials, including Finance Secretary Luis Videgaray, were also in attendance. Senate panel Republicans told that staffers of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Labor Department were still in a controversial plan to regulate the impending conflicts of interest among brokers who give retirement advice. The debate ignited on the proposal of the Labor Department regarding the plan. Under such, it requires brokers to uphold the best interest of their clients when giving advice about Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA). The arguments were grounded on the earlier caveat of the experts that the rule will not only overkill but it will also drive up the price of investment advice, ultimately decreasing investment guidance for low- and middle-income investors. "The Labor Department's rule threatens to harm low- and middle-income Americans by increasing the cost of investment advice," U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said in a statement. Johnson's committee released, "The Labor Department's Fiduciary Rule: How a Flawed Process Could Hurt Retirement Savers," detailing the Labor Department's "flawed process in handing down its fiduciary rule." But the Department, which regulates retirement plan advice, rejected numerous recommendations from the SEC and other agencies. Michael Trupo, the Department's spokesperson told that they were coordinating closely with the SEC staff. "The panel's report mischaracterized documents which show that Labor's engagement with the SEC was comprehensive, and that the SEC's input was incorporated into the plan," Trupo said. The Labor Department's plan has been in play for more than five years. The White House's Office of Management and Budget said it had received the department's final proposed rule. Some Democrats and Republicans opposed the plan. They contended that it would drive up customers' costs commissions. The Securities Industry and Financial Association has called for the OMB to weigh the rule's potential costs and benefits. Meanwhile, House Speaker Paul Ryan posted online that up to 7 million IRAS would not allowed for advice under the rule. He was determined to do everything possible to protect consumers and bar such rule. In his blog, Ryan added that it is a supposed attempt to prevent 'conflicts of interest' in financial advice. Thus, it will create more paperwork and record-keeping requirements for planners, which only means there are higher costs for consumers. Following the US statement to increase freedom-of-navigation operations over the South China Sea, China accused the U.S.-allied Philippines of "political provocation" in seeking international arbitration. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the decision by Philippine leaders to lodge a case with a tribunal in The Hague was "irresponsible to the Filipino people and the future of the Philippines." China has refused to participate in the arbitration process, which it has denounced as illegitimate. Wang said that China is prepared to negotiate yet Philippines refused the deal. Meanwhile, Admiral Harry Harris, head of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Command, told a hearing of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, "We will be doing them more, and we'll be doing them with greater complexity in the future and ... we'll fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows." "We must continue to operate in the South China Sea to demonstrate that water space and the air above it is international," Harris added. He contended that China was changing the operational landscape in the South China Sea by deploying missile and radar as part of an effort to military to dominate East Asia. In 2013, the Philippines initiated arbitration after Beijing refused to withdraw its ships from a disputed shoal under a U.S.-brokered deal. Philippines argued that China's massive territorial claims in the strategic waters do not conform with 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea and should be declared invalid. Some Chinese-occupied reefs and shoals do not generate, or create a claim to, territorial waters. A ruling is expected later this year, after the tribunal decided last October that it could hear the case. In commemoration of the Philippine's People Power, more than 100 protesters gathered to call on China to withdraw from the disputed Spratly and Paracel Islands. They demanded China stop its militarization of the South China Sea demonstrated outside Beijing's consulate. One demonstrator said, "If there will be no outrage, if they won't be stopped in the Woody Island, then they will also deploy these aircrafts and fighter jets here near the Philippines and that will be a grave threat to our security." Woody Island is part of the disputed Paracel Islands chain, some 1,000 kilometers off the Philippines' coastline. Freedom of navigation is a principle of customary international law that, apart from the exceptions provided for in international law, ships flying the flag of any sovereign state shall not suffer interference from other states. Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS, a coastal state's sovereignty extends 12 nautical miles into the ocean. This 12 nm zone is known as the "territorial sea." A coastal state also receives an "Exclusive Economic Zone," which extends 200 nautical miles from its coastline. Within its EEZ, a coastal state has the exclusive right to exploit mineral resources in the seabed, among other entitlements. A federal onslaught on an accused food stamp fraud scheme by polygamous sect on the Arizona-Utah border will allegedly give off details. It is offering to give details about a secretive compound in far south-western South Dakota that has served as one of the church's lands of sanctuary. According to ABC NEWS, the main leaders from Warren Jeff's Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Chirst of Latter Day Saints, including his brother Lyle Jeffs of Utah and Seth Jeffs of South Dakota were hunted down on Tuesday. Prosecutors alleged church leaders of organizing a fraud scheme instructing members of using food stamp benefits illegally while avoiding to get caught, according to an accusation from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Utah. However, the court documents noted that the sect members living in the South Dakota compound were banned from using food stamps while living there. This is said to be a potential part of the church leadership's efforts to keep secret their property near Pringle, population 111. The group, recognized to the faithful as "R23" started operating on the compound more than a decade ago. Business Insider reported that Warren Jeffs is serving a life sentence in Texas for attacking two of his child brides. The authorities claimed that his brother is the bishop of the church's South Dakota worshipers. Seth Jeffs previously downplayed his church responsibilities in dealing with the South Dakota water regulators. He is currently detained in South Dakota, pending a Monday hearing in the food stamp case. The sect in 2011 reportedly wanted to create a temple on the South Dakota property, but the leaders suggested to the Custer County planning commission that the structure was going to be utilized as a storage building. But the project was wiped out since the leaders got bankrupted. Warren Jeffs told Jerold Williams, which is a former church elder who supervised the early construction of the South Dakota compound until 2006, that the sites such as South Dakota played an important part in the arrests since the government wanted to seize property on the Arizona-Utah border. "It was a prophesy kind of thing," Williams stated via Yahoo! News. He added, "He was going to do these 'lands of refuge,' he called them, for people to have somewhere to go to." For now, the neighbours of the property viewed the Pringle outpost with mistrust and concern, including scepticism about Seth Jeffs' truthfulness during a hearing on a request to extract water more quickly at the compound. Although some of the details of the sect were already revealed, some of the details of the court documents remained to be top secret. After months of political debate over gay civil rights, Italy's Senate approved a bill recognizing and legalizing same-sex unions in the country. Italy joins its neighbors in Western Europe in embracing gay rights with the passage of the landmark bill, which is a first of its kind in the country's history. The bill braved heavy opposition from the Roman Catholic Church and a last-ditch effort from opponents of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. The confidence vote held on Thursday resulted in a 173-71 decision in favor of the bill. The bill will be forwarded to the lower house of Parliament for a final vote, and is expected to take full effect in two months. The New York Times reported that under the bill, same-sex couples will be granted the right to marry and enjoy the same rights as every wedded couple such as access to mutual financial and moral support, having the same last name, sharing the same home address and being entitled to pension and inheritance rights. However, prior to its passage in the Senate, the bill was amended to remove the clause that would allow same-sex unions to adopt children and exercise parental rights, even if one-half of the pair is the biological parent. According to The Guardian, the removal of the so-called "stepchild" provision is the consequence of a compromise between Renzi's center-left Democratic Party and opposing lawmakers and the Catholic Church. Although the approval of the bill is a major leap for gay rights advocates, the watered-down version of the bill was met with criticism due to the removal of the adoption clause. "Today the Senate is preparing to write a dark page in the history of civil rights in our country by approving a law which... completely ignores the existence and demands of gay couples' children," Gay rights groups said, as quoted by Yahoo News. The amended bill, however, does not prevent same-sex couples from filing adoption requests. In some cases the courts granted adoption claims to protect the best interest of the child and to serve the ends of justice. Senators supporting the bill are certain that efforts to uphold and protect gay rights do not end with the bill. "This is a very important law, but I also think of the children of so many friends. Now we have to take a second step; we are halfway up the stairs," Senator Monica Cirinna said. Before the bill was heard in Senate, several municipalities in Italy allow local same-sex unions despite the national ban. An Allentown man stabbed a Bethlehem woman and threatened to kill her 10-month-old son if she tried to seek treatment or call for help, according to court records. Elias Pellot Jr. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) Elias Pellot Jr., 40, of the 700 block of Mohawk Street, was arranged on multiple felonies Thursday night in the Tuesday attack. Bethlehem police said they responded Thursday to a possible domestic dispute at an apartment in the 1400 block of East Sixth Street on South Side. They met a woman who said Pellot had stabbed her in the left buttocks area a few days prior, and say bruising was visible around the wound, according to court records. Bethlehem EMS took the victim to St. Luke's University Hospital in Fountain Hill, and Pellot was taken into custody, police said. The victim relayed from the hospital that she and Pellot had met about a month prior and were in a relationship, records say. They got into an argument about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday that escalated into Pellot attacking the woman as she held her baby, according to police. Pellot allegedly grabbed the woman by her arms, repeatedly punched her in the head and choked her to the point she briefly blacked out. He then got a knife and stabbed her in the left buttocks, threatening to kill the baby if she left the apartment or called for help, police said. Records do not indicate the child was injured. Pellot was arraigned before District Judge David Tidd on two felony counts of aggravated assault, in addition to misdemeanor terroristic threats, reckless endangerment, simple assault an unlawful restraint. He was sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of 10 percent of $50,000 bail with a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled March 10 before District Judge Joseph Barner. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Upper Macungie police are looking for the armed, masked trio who attacked a diner employee during an early morning robbery on Friday. Police said the group --two men and a woman-- were all wearing ski masks and dark clothing, and one of the men had a gun, when they went into the Starlite Diner, on Route 100. The diner was closed at the time, and the 47-year-old employee was cleaning when the robbers arrived, police said. One of the men attacked the employee, hitting him on the head, and the group then tried unsuccessfully to steal cash from an ATM in the diner's lobby, police said. They did get cash from inside the diner and then fled with the money, police said. Police were called at 2:58 a.m. and the employee was taken to the hospital, treated and released. Anyone with information is asked to call Upper Macungie police Detective Darren Simmers at 484-661-5911. Calls can also be made to the department's anonymous tip line at 610-295-2753. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Kutztown police have charged a Philadelphia man in last weekend's stabbing that left a Kutztown University student still hospitalized Friday in serious condition. Kutztown police say this surveillance image shows Robert N. Centifanti III, an 18-year-old from Philadelphia charged Feb. 26, 2016, in the stabbing of a university student Feb. 20, 2016, in the borough. (Courtesy image | For lehighvalleylive.com) Robert N. Centifanti III, 18, turned himself in Friday to authorities on charges including attempted homicide, according to police in the Berks County borough that's home to the state university. Police said they filed charges Friday in their investigation, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Centifanti is accused of stabbing the 23-year-old student about 12:45 a.m. on Noble Street in the borough, several blocks from campus. Police last weekend circulated surveillance images that they say showed Centifanti, in a red shirt, along with two others. Police interviewed all three and released the other two, who are not expected to be charged, according to a news release from the department. "Centifanti has been identified as the only person who actually assaulted and stabbed the victim," the release states. Charges filed and one in custody in the #KutztownStabbing. Great work by arresting officer Cpl Clery. Victim still in serious condition Kutztown PD (@KutztownPD) February 26, 2016 Centifanti is not a Kutztown student, and had been in town at the time of the incident to visit friends of his who are students, according to police. Centifanti was arraigned Friday afternoon before District Judge Gail Greth on charges of attempt homicide, possessing an instrument of crime, reckless endangerment and two counts each of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault. He was sent to Berks County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail with a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled March 8 before Greth. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A confrontation among three people allegedly preceded a shooting Friday in Phillipsburg that seriously injured one man and put two nearby schools on lockdown. Two people are charged, including the victim who fled to Easton Hopsital for treatment, town police announced Saturday. Damir L. Allen, of Orange, New Jersey, was shot about 8:10 a.m. in the 100 block of Rose Street, near the entrance to the Route 22 toll bridge, police said in a news release. The 26-year-old Allen arrived at the hospital shortly after fleeing with a second, unidentified person who Warren County Prosecutor Richard Burke said is still sought by authorities. A third person, identified as 24-year-old Phillipsburg resident Almalik S. Davis, was arrested and charged after allegedly shooting Allen and also fleeing the scene. Multiple shots were fired during the altercation, police said. A New Jersey State Police helicopter and Lopatcong Township police aided in search efforts, Phillipsburg police said. A county crime scene team searched Davis' residence in the first block of Memorial Parkway, near the shooting scene, and recovered evidence including a handgun, police said. Davis is being held at the Warren County jail in lieu of $100,000 bail. He faces a count of second-degree aggravated assault and three second-degree weapons charges. Allen is being held by police in Wilson Borough, also on $100,000 bail. He faces two second-degree weapons charges and will be charged as a fugitive, police said. Each second-degree charge carries a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison. During the investigation, Phillipsburg High School and alternative school were put on what Superintendent George Chando on Friday said was a "soft lockdown," where no one was allowed to enter or leave the buildings for much of the day. The schools released students at 2:15 p.m. under an enhanced police presence. Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Tap on the farm lanes, to launch your sheeps forward.Overpower your opponents with clever placement of sheeps. Make use of different sheep classes to win closely contested multiplayer battles.Features:- Exciting Player vs Player (PvP) game mechanic- Farm theme with cute animals- Random selection of opponents in this multiplayer game- Play with your friends in real-time- Taunt your friends using emoticons- Chat with your friends while playing Arcade Stupid Zombies One man, one shotgun and a whole lot of zombies. You are humanity's last hope, and it's your job to keep them brainless.Adjust your shots and angles, and you watch your bullets ricochet from wall to wall, elegantly picking off each zombie's arms and limbs.Features:- 4 giant stages with over 360 challenging levels- Exciting zombie theme- Simple and innovative ricochet based gameplay. Defeat the stupid zombies with brains and ingenuity.- Realistic physics- Great zombie soundtrack A little while ago I was incensed with being bombarded day and night by media stories about Cameron and negotiations about benefits for EU migrants. This is a blog, at the end of the day (good blogging term there), so I blogged about it. What came out was a knee-jerk rant (Migrants benefits debate is a proxy channel for xenophobia in some quarters (the last three words being added after publication)). Some of the best blogging is based on knee-jerk rants. Not this time. On this occasion I should have been a little more careful with my words. In the end, I raised the white flag in the ensuing debate and modified my article to emphasise that I was only talking about xenophobia in some quarters and that I acknowledge that many have genuine and sincere concerns about this policy area for legitimate reasons. With some degree of penitence, I recognise that that post was an off-the-cuff rant. I should have used the term dog whistle rather than xenophobia. But I did stay the course by engaging politely with the comments and it resulted in a very interesting debate. I regret that I deflected attention from the Liberal Democrat immigration policy, which is, in fact, fairly tough. We dont say let them all in by any manner of means. For months I had been looking for a decent summary of our policy. Then this week, like a man with a hangover stumbling over the cat at 3am, I stumbled over this pithy summary: Liberal Democrats believe Britain must be open for business and growth but closed to crooks and cheats. Britain needs more students and more visitors to come to help our economy grow. We will encourage people to visit Britain, learn in Britain and contribute to Britain. We will say yes to doctors, experts, entrepreneurs and investors. But we will say no to crooks, traffickers and those who would damage our country. By bringing back proper border checks so we know whos coming in and leaving the UK we will identify and deport people who over-stay their visa. We will create visible security and firm control, with real processes to count everyone in and count everyone out. No more guesswork on numbers: real evidence to catch out overstayers. Well ensure people can speak English and are willing to work. Well ensure that migrants, including from the EU, come to work or study, not to claim benefits. And when its time for them to leave, we will make sure they return home. Yes, some are now going to pick holes in our policy and say its weak. But we are principled in that we welcome immigration but there have to be proper controls, with full exit checks, there must be deportation for over-stayers, immigrants should speak English and be willing to work, they should come here to work, not claim benefits, and should return home when its time for them to leave. This is consistent with our principles and also responds to public concerns over this area. Of course everone wont be happy with this, but I think we can hold our heads up high on this subject. * Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist and member of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings. Unusually for me, Im starting writing this piece without knowing what conclusion Ill come to by the end of it. Normally its straight forward enough to marshal evidence, decide on view and then write it up (unless the curse of writers block strikes of course). But the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Bill (DRIP) takes the usual perils of journalism turning most stories into a simple good versus bad dynamic, throws in the paucity of expert mainstream coverage of many technical issues and adds a dash of juggling different uncertainties. Certainly if you approach the issue with a pre-existing outlook, its easy to find evidence to suit. If you want to base your views on the evidence, rather than your evidence on your views, then it is rather trickier. So I hope at least some readers will find my public thinking through of six key questions useful too. Is the rushed nature of the legislation justified? It is certainly odd for an April ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to be used to justify rushed legislation now, three months and one Queens Speech on. But DRIP is about fixing two legal problems, not one. The second is not, as some have suggested, the impending legal challenges in the UK courts. Rather it is the fraying, verging on imminent ending, of cooperation by overseas companies with the current legal framework. They are under their own legal and other pressures elsewhere, and increasing doubts over whether their current cooperation with the British system is really underpinned by British law means that system is on the edge of collapse. Fair enough so far, but why leave it until so late before legislating and why then give so little Parliamentary time to it? Part of that too Im willing to go along with the legislation wasnt published weeks ago because the Liberal Democrats were arguing in government to get it changed, to sink the Snoopers Charter Mark II Conservative plans and instead secure many changes (as outlined by Julian Huppert). But, and its a big but, more time could have been given to debate. The Bill was published late last week. What do you or I do when something urgent comes up at the end of a normal working week? Work the weekend. What was Parliament doing this weekend? Not sitting. Likewise the rush to finish the debates this week is to get the Bill in before Parliamentary recess starts. Urgent, but not urgent enough to work the weekend or delay the start of recess. Many MPs would object to doing either or both but thats rather the point. Its all a bit too comfortable with the establishment way of doing things to do neither. Whats more, the secrecy up until late last week means the party has once again repeated the mistake of thinking that talks inside government require silence outside, as Ive said before: A campaigning party both secures better policy outcomes and it also then is in a more credible position to explain and defend the victories it has secured. Working in silence and then coming out into the daylight to say, its all ok, we got some changes and trust us that we did the best is the classic insider, Whitehall establishment way of doing things. A campaigning, anti-establishment party campaigns in public to strengthen its hand when it has to meet in private with the representatives of the establishment. Is the new legislation legal? Theres a beguiling simple argument: the European Court of Justice ruled against blanket measures; DRIP includes a blanket 12 month retention of data; hence the new legislation isnt legal. I know enough about the limitations of my legal expertise outside the realm of imprints to know that I can only really judge the arguments on this at second hand. What is clear from my conversations with Liberal Democrats in government is that they are absolutely convinced that DRIP will withstand legal challenges (due in part to conditions imposed by Clause 5 of the proposed Data Retention Regulations and also in part to the way any future ECJ ruling on British law would look at the full British context, something not considered when it was ruling on just a European directive). That is important because otherwise there is an attractive conspiracy theory that the Tories are deliberately setting up a clash between UK law and Europe as a way of furthering their Eurosceptic arguments. Moreover, suppose the legal view of Liberal Democrats in government is wrong and DRIP turns out not to go far enough. The legal debates in the Lords in particular on this point will be well worth following but if Liberal Democrat colleagues have indeed got it wrong, the result will be legal action that forces DRIP to be modified further which given that would have to be in a more liberal direction is not such a bad worst case scenario. Is the legislation really just restoring the status quo? In part this is a matter of semantics: if you discover the law didnt mean what you thought it meant and then change the law to match what you previously thought it meant, have you (a) restored the status quo (youve restored your previous view of what the law says), or (b) changed the law (it is now different from what it was)? I will leave that one to the philosophy students. For me whats important is what actual interception of our communications will take place compared to what has taken place. On that, DRIP will return things to as they were, so it is a restoration of the practical status quo, with the important caveat that the new provisions to shore up the system of working with overseas companies means that what previously was (arguably) in part voluntary will become fully statutory. Yet even as I type that Im wary of how often rushed legislation ends up not quite doing what was predicted and of communications interception legislation in particular ending up even more widely used than promised. Im nervous about being too complacent about Clause 4 in particular with its new/not new extra-territoriality powers. Very little time is being given to everyone to be sure that it really does no more than restore what in practice has been happening anyway. It is just the sort of area that should get the detailed consideration of the sort that the secrecy followed by rushed Parliamentary timetable precludes. But Ive yet to see a convincing example of something that does not currently happen which would then happen after DRIP has been passed. What about the statutory instruments? Up till now I have talked about the Bill as if that is all the legislation being legislated. But much of the concern is over the Statutory Instruments (SI), and the very broad powers on the face of it to future ministers to draw up SIs. However, the SIs do not exist in a vacuum. They need to be within the powers granted by the parent Bill, which in this case restricts them to, for example, the types of data set out in Clause 2, and they need to withstand legal challenge, so they will need to remain far narrower in scope than the face of the Bill suggests if read in isolation. The very legal issues that have beget them also restrict their content. How good are the concessions? Because the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Bill sets out to restore the status quo it is no surprise that campaigners against the current legal setup are also against legislation that restores it. Amongst those who are not happy with the status quo are Liberal Democrats, so should we be agreeing to rushed legislation that restores something we dont like? The problem is that there is a large authoritarian majority in the Commons. The only route by which a party with less than 1 in 10 MPs under its colours can get some of its beliefs put into action is to force concessions from the authoritarian majority. Else you just get a principled vote against and authoritarian policies steam ahead (as Stephen Tall rightly pointed out happened with the recent vote on knife crime). No amount of rhetoric about a valiant stand on principles changes the failure to make a difference to peoples lives. The threat of the current system collapsing (see above) is a double-edged sword for extracting some concessions in return for speedy legislation. The authoritarians dont want it to collapse, but they could force something through on their own in the end, and whilst the current system is authoritarian, its collapse would swing the system excessively the other way, way beyond what the Liberal Democrats want. Faced with that authoritarian position of strength, somewhat paradoxically Im both more willing than some to accept a limited number of concessions as the most that can be achieved but also very sceptical about concessions which simply mean a future authoritarian House of Commons votes on what will happen. I think Julian Huppert has done a pretty good job at making the case for the concessions secured. Note that several would be nonsense to put into legislation (such as the appointment of a diplomat to negotiate with the US) which makes the complaint of some that not all the concessions are in the Bill a very odd complaint indeed. Moreover, the sunset clause to force further debate is of the form that would require more extensive Parliamentary debate than simple Parliamentary nodding through to overturn. Additionally, the Lords would need to vote for it, and the circumstances in which it is being proposed means the House of Lords and its key crossbenchers would be very anxious about a simple overturning of it without very good reason. Whats more, the Bills proposals do not require communications providers to start storing new data beyond that which they currently create for the purpose of supplying their services. That is a crucial distinction between this legislation and previous illiberal proposals, which would have required the storage of new and extended information. The big weakness is the number of the concessions which require future government or Parliamentary approval and hence my preliminary verdict on them still looks good: With so many authoritarians in Parliament and government, that is not guaranteed to turn out well making the question of how far Nick Clegg is willing to push the issue absolutely central to how it plays out. Do people understand what is being proposed? Ive touched on some of the areas of disagreement over what the detailed drafting of the Bill will do, and there are plenty more. Clause 5, for example, with its extended definition of telecommunications service is just the sort of legislation that can have unintended consequences unless first carefully considered. But at least measures such as the sunset clause and RIPA review mean such problems wont just be left to fester on the statute book as authoritarians happily stand by and do nothing. So where does this all leave things? There is an authoritarian majority in the House of Commons. There is an authoritarian majority (or more accurately, plurality) amongst the public. There should have been given more time for public and Parliamentary debate and the failure to do so is a mistake for which Liberal Democrats in government share responsibility. But what is the sequence of events by which a more substantively liberal outcome would get voted through the Commons? Its a genuine question; I cant think of a plausible sequence of events. If there is one, then Im happy to change my mind, but for all the problems with what is happening, I cant see how the party could have achieved much more in terms of the substantive legislation and other actions being taken and could easily have achieved much less. As The Independent puts it, the law may in fact, in a few years, benefit the civil libertarian cause whilst The Guardian says the Bill, provides an opportunity to hardwire in some civil liberties elements that were missing when Labour introduced them. Given Labours Big Brother record on these matters when they were last in government, this may prove a rare liberal moment. To achieve more in future, we need to strengthen the liberal campaigning voice, both within the party and outside it. The party needs, finally, to embrace public campaigning to strengthen its position in government and to appreciate that without such public campaigning it is always going to be an uphill task to persuade those outside the party that the Liberal Democrats have really achieved a good outcome in the face of an authoritarian majority. So one closing thought we do really need a good Liberal Democrats for Civil Liberties campaign body, to push the issue internally and build bridges externally. If youre interesting in supporting such an initiative (and, crucially, have some of the valuable time to help make it happen), do drop me an email ([email protected]) and in the meantime do follow the Facebook page. Photo by Tristan Schmurr * Mark Pack is Party President and is the editor of Liberal Democrat Newswire. In the hall The main business of the morning at Scottish Liberal Democrat Conference is a much longer than usual Party AGM. Normally, the business is concluded in half an hour, but its been scheduled for two hours so that Willie Rennies motion on diversity can be debated. The motion is accompanied by a constitutional amendment which requires a two-thirds majority to pass. The motion calls for wide-ranging measures, including limited use of all-women shortlists, ring-fenced funding for candidates from under-represented groups, a duty on party office holders to drive forward diversity at all levels and numerous other measures to tackle diversity at every level. The Leader would be required to report to Conference twice a year on progress made. After what is expected to be a robust debate, the conference will discuss an emergency motion. In the afternoon, we have debates on education and the Pre-Manifesto. Tim Farron will also give his keynote speech. He will also be speaking at the ASLDC AGM later. This has just been announced, so people who were hoping to slope off to the gin palace down the road might wish to put off their plans and listen to the leader instead. On the fringe Six fringe meetings take place today. I am speaking at the RNIBs launch of their Holyrood manifesto which is chaired by former Glasgow MSP Robert Brown. The Royal College of Psychiatrists discuss childrens mental health. The Law Society Scotland looks at how Lib Dems want to use the Parliaments new revenue raising powers, Inclusion Scotland talk about their new advice and support service for those seeking elected office and the Countryside Alliance discusses conservation and wildlife management. The final fringe is the afore-mentioned ASLDC AGM at which Tim Farron will be speaking. * Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings Closing the Cancer Gap Higher mortality rates. Less access to care. Poorer quality of life. These are some of the realities minority groups face when cancer care is not equitable. CALL charges totaling 235 were racked up on a smartphone within 24 hours of it being stolen during a church meeting, a court has heard. Jonathan Agyeman, aged 37, who lives in an asylum hostel in Waterford, pleaded guilty to a theft charge relating to an incident on February 19, 2014. Sergeant Donal Cronin told Limerick District Court the defendant a Ghanaian national and the owner of the phone both attended a meeting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Dooradoyle on the date of the offence. After returning to Waterford with the phone, the defendant used it to make calls to Africa as did a number of other residents of the hostel. Judge Marian OLeary was told when gardai were alerted, the defendant answered the phone and made arrangements to return it the following day. Solicitor Sarah Ryan said her client accepted he had taken the Samsung phone back to Waterford but insisted he had found it rather than stealing it. She said he found it on the ground and that he tried to identify the owner by dialling the last number but got no answer. His behaviour was appalling and just not nice, said Ms Ryan. The solicitor added that her client, who earns 19.10 per week, is not in a position to repay the cost of the calls made. Judge OLeary adjourned the matter until early April indicating she is considering a penalty of 120 hours in lieu of a three month prison sentence. BORED men will be toasting a pub in Cappamore as they can now enjoy a pint of plain in Brown Thomas on Grafton Street while their better halves shop for style. Circuit Court president Mr Justice Raymond Groarke granted the flagship store an ordinary seven-day publicans licence last week. Constance Cassidy SC told the Circuit Licensing Court that Brown Thomas & Co Ltd had bought out an extinguished full pub licence Ned McKnights of Cappamore. The pub, owned by Jim Madden, was closed over two years ago but it will live on in Dublin. Mr Madden, from Kilsheelan, had to attend the first court hearing. It was quite an experience being in the Four Courts. Judge Groarke did make a comment that they should put a picture of McKnights in the new bar. So what I am hoping to do over the next few weeks is talk to somebody in the Limerick School of Art and Design to do a pencil drawing of it. I think it would look very well rather than a photograph, said Mr Madden, who hopes to be invited to the grand opening. The licence went from east Limerick to south Dublin after Mr Madden was contacted by an agent about his clean pub licence. Through his Limerick solicitors David Punch & Company Mr Madden learned that the prospective client was Brown Thomas. Mr Madden wouldnt reveal the amount paid. The court heard the store had been operating a wine licence in its restaurant for the last 40 years and wished to broaden the offering for its customers, particularly those who had to wait around while their partners and spouses finished shopping. Mr Madden, who described Brown Thomas employees as lovely people to deal with, said Lorraine Bedford, health and safety compliance manager, had a very good argument for the judge. She said, Your honour, if you were in with your wife and she was shopping, perhaps you would prefer to have a drink rather than a glass of wine or a cup of tea. Judge Groarke laughed and he said, Do they really tell us the truth about how much they spend? recalled Mr Madden. The judge then asked if he could see a menu. They have a restaurant and the bar will be in the restaurant. Lorraine showed him the menu and he looked down through it. He said, My God, 4.50 for a portion of spuds and quick as flash she said, Your honour, I think we will have to look at that and maybe increase it! said Mr Madden, with a smile. You wouldnt get away with charging almost 5 for chips in Cappamore but unfortunately it was the reduction in drinkers that put paid to Ned McKnights. It got its name after Mr Maddens son Eoin did some research and found he was a famous local character. Formerly a hotel it has been on Cappamores main thoroughfare for the best part of 100 years. The Maddens bought it about 15 years ago from Tom OToole. We had a great 10 to 12 years with live music at the weekend but then the bottom just fell out of it. We closed it two to three years ago. The problem with Cappamore was that after Dell closed and the building industry slumped there was mass emigatrion. I was in ODwyers one evening in Cappamore and a person had just come back from Australia. They said the whole intermediate hurling team from Cappamore was already in Australia, said Mr Madden, who also pointed to the increase in people drinking at home. There is no doubt that villages across Ireland and Cappamore is no exception have been decimated. I think there are a lot of publicans in the country only making a living wage, he added. But while Mr Madden was forced to close the pub he has fond memories of the village and stays in contact with many from the area. We had some great night nights and there was never any problems. That was one of the things that Brown Thomas would have looked for a clean licence. We have all the tax clearance certificates that you need and there was no problems with the guards. We ran the pub right, said Mr Madden. He, like many, is looking forward to seeing Brown Thomas new pub on the third floor. From the point of view of Cappamore people going to Dublin, they will all want to see it. Wont you get great brownie points from bringing her to Brown Thomas while you go to the bar! THE CEO of Limerick City and County has predicted that Minister for Education Jan OSullivan will be a casualty at the hands of either Cllr Maurice Quinlivan or Deputy Kieran ODonnell in the Limerick constituency. I see Maurice Quinlivan crossing the line and Kieran ODonnell, said Conn Murray. When asked in what order they would take the third and fourth seat in the four seat constituency, Mr Murray said: That I couldnt tell you! When it was put to him that Minister OSullivan would therefore be the causality he said: "Its looking that way at the moment. I think she has done some enormous work for Limerick but its a cruel sport and I'm glad I'm not a part of it. Speaking about the phenomenal performance of poll-topper Deputy Willie ODea in Limerick City, he said: I am very well aware of the level of work done by Willie in the constituency. I suppose if there was any form of swing at all he was always going to recover and thats exactly what we are seeing. The performance of Finance Minister Michael Noonan he said is a reflection of the national strategy taken by Fine Gael. In watching how Fine Gael have managed their vote I think they are more interested in getting success than maybe topping polls and I think we are seeing a very clear reflection of that at the moment. Reflecting on the state of affairs in Limerick county, Mr Murray said the huge performance by Deputy Niall Collins could be described as a return to a little bit of normality. The two Fine Gael lads look as if they are going to keep their seats quite comfortably as well in the end so no change there. Despite the bookies predictions that Pallaskenrys Emmet OBrien would take a seat, that now looks to be highly unlikely. Emmett OBrien came in as a new councillor last year and he has done exceptionally well as a councillor. Again, for someone on his first time out, I think he has done incredibly well and he is up against people who have been in seats for quite some time so it was always going to be a difficult battle for him. I think he has done very well. In relation to the wider picture across the country and the trouncing of the Labour Party, Mr Murray said the polls were suggesting it and people were expecting it. It might have been a little bit worse than maybe was anticipated. I think what we really need to see now is stability out of whatever arrives, in whatever mixture, now we want to see a strong government the country needs that. He said the local elections demonstrated that Sinn Fein were going to perform well. I think they have proven that they have a very strong base. And finally speaking about his own plans for the rest of the evening, the CEO said he will be popping in and out of the UL Arena over the course of the evening to keep an eye on proceedings. I love this. It is a spectator sport. I do enjoy it. You get a buzz out of it. I have worked behind the fences for so long that you know the tension that builds up as the evening goes on. It can be very tedious but you cant beat the excitement of a count. He said his heart goes out to those who lose out on seat. Oh God yes - its an awful sport an awful tough process. You work hard for five years and you find maybe nothing to do with you but it goes against you and thats what one or two of our colleagues are facing here today. WILLIE O'Dea - Fianna Fail's comeback kid - has topped the poll in Limerick and has won the first seat in the hotly contested Limerick City constituency, after reclaiming his majority from Finance Minister Michael Noonan in the last election. Scenes in the UL Arena this Saturday afternoon, where Willie's arrival was greeted with cheers of triumph, were a stark departure from those five years ago, when he left the Arena before the sixth count, when he was elected. Amassing some 12,999 first preference votes, the scene now turns to who will receive his transfers, as his vote more than exceeded the quota. The 63 year-old from Kilteely, who lives in Farranshone, described his mandate from the people as "humbling and a great honour". "It's very different from 2011, when the tide was out for Fianna Fail. People told me then that they reluctantly didn't vote for me. Even in 2011, my loyal personal vote that I worked very hard for, allowed me to live to fight another day. Today's the other day and I want to thank my canvassers and my election team and all the people who voted for me. My canvassing team were outstanding, they must have been the best in the country. Literally we had to turn people away there was so many people volunteering." "Nationally, it's still all to play out. A lot of the counts won't be completed until midnight, or tomorrow or Monday. We'll have a look at the landscape when the whole thing is finished, to try to form a stable government and if we can't do that, we'll have to consult the people again. Let's just wait and see what the final outcome is. We have a heavy responsibility on all the new deputies to try to form a Government," he said. Deputy O'Dea said the "last thing we want to do" is to hold another election but "if that becomes necessary so be it". Both he and party colleague Niall Collins have "firmly ruled out" forming a coalition with Fine Gael or Sinn Fein. "That wouldn't be good for the country, it's not just a question of party advantage." Regarding the decision not to run a second Fianna Fail candidate in either Limerick constituency he said that decision was made "at a time when they believed Michael Noonan would sweep the decks and Jan O'Sullivan would still be Minister. I don't have any particular preferences [for which candidates he'd like to see take the third and fourth seats]. Whoever people give their number two to, c'est la vie, so be it. They won't be Fianna Fail people anyway, so it's a matter of indifference to me." Asked about Minister O'Sullivan he said, "I've a very good relationship with Jan, she's a very decent person, very honourable, and she's been a good Minister for Education, in my opinion, although I disagree fundamentally with the Government on certain aspects of education policy. It would be very sad if she lost her seat, and for the electorate, but it's still a melting pot." Deputy O'Dea arrived at the count after leaving his election headquarters in the Horse & Hound on Mulgrave Street, he'll be celebrating in South's pub tonight. Mary Bourke, the eldest of O'Dea's sisters, and his sister Catherine O'Carroll, said they are both delighted for him. "He's a great worker, he has a reasonable amount of intelligence and he respects the people that he represents and I think that's why he gets the votes that he gets. The wind was a bit with us this time. There were a lot of people hurt and angry and get expected more. I think the next government will have to temper their taxes with humanity, because I don't think taxation is the way out of recession. We need industries and employment, and dear god our health service is a debacle." She said they'll have a couple of parties tonight. One of Willie's sisters lives in Australia and had been "praying for him", said Mary. If she was in the country, Mary said, she'd be running alongside Willie herself. Like the Healy-Raes? "Oh, they'd be worse," she said with a laugh. "I'm absolutely thrilled," added Catherine. "He's reaping the benefits of working very hard and he's a good people people person." Both women live in Hospital, county Limerick, and lamented that they could they vote him in that constituency, and instead voted for Niall Collins. Fianna Dail councillor Kieran O'Hanlon, who has been out canvassing with the former Minister for Defence in recent weeks, said it's a well deserved victory. "It's a testament to all his hard work, and of course he's been canvassing for the past five years, not just the last few weeks. He's delighted that the people of Limerick have recognised his great work. The reception he got on the doors was just phenomenal. Of course, we'll be celebrating tonight - all over Limerick - the only dampener is the sad absence of Joe Crowlley," he told the Limerick Leader. He said the 13,000 plus votes that O'Dea received was fantastic considering the emergence of new parties and independents. "Relatively speaking it's nearly as high as Willie could have expected," he added. Deputy O'Dea received 6,956 first preference votes in the 2011 general election, some 16% of the vote, and took the third seat on that occasion. In 2007 he enjoyed his greatest reign, amassing a staggering 19,082 first preferences, with a 38.65% share of all votes, and took the first seat after making more than twice the quota. IN a reversal of fortunes for Fianna Fail in the 2011 general election, the party has rebounded to top the poll in both Limerick constituencies. The first count in Limerick City is now over, with Willie O'Dea topping the poll with 12,999 first preference votes. He comfortably surpassed the quota, which was announced by returning officer for Limerick City Gerry McCague to be 9,353. Now, the former Defence Minister's huge surplus of 3,646 will be distributed, with an earlier prediction from Cllr Maria Byrne suggesting his transfers "are going everywhere". Meanwhile, Finance Minister Michael Noonan's first preference vote stands at 7,294, followed by his running mate Kieran O'Donnell, who secured 6,047 first preferences. He is followed by Sinn Fein councillor Maurice Quinlivan, who has 5,894 votes, and Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan, with 5,227. Cllr Cian Prendiville, AAA, polled 4,584 first preference votes. Social Democrat candidate Sarah-Jane Hennelly won 2,747 first preference votes, and she is followed by Green Party James Gaffney after the first count, with 964 votes. Christian Democrat Nora Bennis got 673 votes, and Desmond Hayes, Independent, won 254. In eleventh place is Denis Riordan, with 78 votes. Mr O'Dea's surplus is now being distributed, and the second count is expected within one hour. There have been widespread predictions from politicians through the day of a "dogfight" for the final seat between Mr O'Donnell and Ms O'Sullivan. Cllr Byrne believes the race for the final seat will go to the "eighth or ninth count". "It is going to be a very long night here. The preferences are going everywhere. Cian Prendiville is sitting on 4,500 votes, so it will be interesting to see where his preferences are going. I think some of them will go to Cllr Maurice Quinlivan, but a lot of them are sitting on a similar type of vote, it's very close," she said. Meanwhile, Niall Collins has topped the poll in the Limerick constituency with 12,276 first preference votes. He was followed by Fine Gaels Patrick ODonovan with 8,479 votes and Tom Neville, who polled 8,013. Independent councillor Emmett OBrien took 5,432 votes and, despite being a strong favourite in the run-up to the election, now appears unlikely to get enough in the transfers to stop Fine Gael getting the remaining two seats in the constituency. Social Democrat James Heffernan took 3,270 first preferences, with Seamus Browne, Sinn Fein, taking 3,347 and Independent Richard ODonoghue taking 2,855. Green party candidate Alexander Storey Cosgrave received 311, Independent James OGorman took 207 and Direct Democracy Ireland candidate Mark Keogh took 222. Turnout is estimated to have been in the city 62.4% and 66.2% in the county. Film review: Carol A stylish, impeccably mounted period drama /how-to-lounge/movies-tv/film-review-carol-111651815597504.html 111651815597504 story Its no accident that the first scene in Carol is a conversation between two lovers thats broken in on by a garrulous interrupter. For someone like Todd Haynes, who takes seriously his film history, this amounts to a statement of intent. If youre making a film about a curtailed love affair, it takes some courage to begin with a steal from Brief Encounter. Many have tried to replicate, with limited success, the sad sweetness of the 1945 David Lean film about two strangers (one of whom is married) who fall in love. But Haynes has earned the right to appropriate it, for Carol is an excellent companion piece to Leans film, and a stellar entry in the limited canon of cinematic sighs. The film is based on the Patricia Highsmith novel The Price of Salt, which told the storyvery controversial in 1952of two lesbians, a glamorous socialite named Carol (Cate Blanchett), and Therese (Rooney Mara), a timid shopgirl (watch here). They meet on a snowy winter evening in the gifts section of a Manhattan department store. Therese advises Carol on an appropriate Christmas gift for her daughter; Carol tells her in passing she likes the Santa cap shes wearing. Its a charming, if mundane, first meeting, made significant only by the fact that Carol leaves her gloves behind. Rooney Mara in a still from Carol. Even as Therese wastes little time in mailing the gloves back to Carol and striking up a friendship with her, were given glimpses of their respective, unhappy lives. Carols marriage is in its death throes; the first clue that this might be due to her sexual orientation is provided by her husband, Harge (Kyle Chandler), who bitterly remarks about her spending time with someone named Abby, who we later discover was her lover. Therese, too, is in a fracturing relationship; her fiancee, Richard (Jake Lacy), is headed to France, but shes as uninterested in joining him there as she is in the advances of his friend, Dannie (John Magaro). Its a considerable feat to make a film about two women falling for each other without once mentioning the word lesbian". The closest we get to anything explicit being stated is when Harge attaches a morality clause" to their divorce proceedings, or when Richard accuses Therese of having a crush on Carol. This restraint emphasizes further the desperate, self-censoring nature of gay life in 1950s America; in very literal terms, the love that dare not speak its name. If Edward Lachmans camerapeering around corners, or through a succession of windowsmakes it seem like were spying on these characters, thats because some were being spied on, by their spouses, even by the government. The films debt to Brief Encounter and the swooning 1950s films of Douglas Sirk notwithstanding, Carol reminded me even more of Wong Kar-Wai, especially the sumptuous melancholia of his 2000 film In the Mood for Love. Like Wong, Haynes piles up minute details to create an atmosphere of erotic intimacy: a hand carelessly resting on a shoulder, strands of Carols blonde hair seen in close-up, the dabbing of perfume. Lachmans cinematography is key, but so is the production and art design, the costuming, and Carter Burwells elegant, wistful score; all of which amplify, rather than smother, the indelible lead performances. Mara, shaking off her shyness by degrees, is heartbreaking, though its Blanchetts Carolas knowing as Norma Desmond (Sunset Blvd. plays on TV briefly), as brittle and perfectly composed as fine chinawho struck me as a singular creation. Few actors since Gena Rowlands can play an exposed nerve as well as Blanchett, and its something to see her start out the film coolly seductive and then begin to fray as the prospect of losing her daughter becomes very real. Perhaps it isnt surprising that Carol isnt in the running for a Best Picture Oscar. The soul of the film is in the little detailsthe side glances and nervously tapped cigarettes and jazz records playing in the backgroundrather than the broader, more easily understood movements of plot and character. If youre watching Carol, watch it closely. Not a lot happens, but an entire world is revealed. Image of Earth taken by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) spacecraft. Monday is Feb. 29 the bissextle or "leap day," an artifact that dates back to the year 46 B.C. Back then, Julius Caesar took the advice of the learned astronomer Sosigenes of Alexandria, who knew from Egyptian experience that the tropical year (also known as the solar year) was about 365.25 days in length. So to account for that residual quarter of a day, an extra day a leap day was added to the calendarevery four years. This new "Julian" calendar was used throughout the Roman Empire and by various Christian churches. At that time, February was the last month of the year. [Earth Quiz: Do You Really Know Your Planet?] Initially, in order to make a proper transition from the Roman calendar (which had 355 days and which was basically a lunar calendar) to the Julian calendar, and to get the months and various feast days and holidays back into their normal seasons, 90 extra days were inserted into the year 46 B.C. Caesar divided these 90 extra days into three temporary months. One month was added between February and March. Two other months (Intercalaris Prior and Intercalaris Posterior) were added after November. The end result was a year that was 15 months and 445 days long, and was nicknamed Annus Confusionus the Year of Confusion. Then, to honor his contribution to timekeeping, Julius Caesar later renamed the fifth month (formerly known as Quintilis) after himself (July). See what sweeping changes you can make when you're an emperor? Flawed timetable The Julian calendar worked so well at first that many countries adopted it. Unfortunately, it was flawed, being 0.0078 of a day (about 11 minutes and 14 seconds) longer than the tropical year. So, the Julian calendar introduced an error of one day every 128 years, which means that, every 128 years, the tropical year shifts one day backward with respect to the calendar. This made the method for calculating the dates for Easter inaccurate. As a result, by the year 1582 thanks to the overcompensation of observing too many leap years the calendar had fallen out of step with the solar year by a total of 10 days. It was then that Pope Gregory XIII stepped in and, with the advice of a German Jesuit mathematician and astronomer named Christopher Clavius, produced our current Gregorian calendar. First, to catch things up, 10 days were omitted after Thursday, Oct. 4, 1582, making the next day Friday, Oct. 15. This edict was most unpopular; many people felt that 10 days had been taken from their lives. There were riots in the streets throughout Europe, and workers demanded their 10 days' pay forgetting, conveniently, that they hadn't worked those 10 days! Thankfully, the hubbub eventually died down. Next, to more closely match the length of the tropical year, "century years" were declared not to be leap years (though they had been leap years in the old Julian calendar). The exceptions were those century years divisible by 400. And that's why the year 2000 was a leap year, but 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not. Some couldn't let go The Gregorian calendar, however, was not adopted by the American Colonies until 1752. That's why George Washington was not born on Washington's Birthday. In our time, we celebrate Washington's Birthday on Feb. 22. But the United States' first president was born in 1732 and by that time, the error in the Julian calendar had increased to 11 days. So a calendar hanging on the wall where Washington was born would have read Feb. 11, 1732. And if you think the 20 years that it took the American Colonies to finally ratify the Gregorian calendar was a long time, that was nothing compared to Russia, which finally accepted calendar reformation in 1918. And Greece held out even longer all the way to 1923! The Gregorian calendar has proven to be far superior to the Julian calendar. Over a span of one year, it runs 26 seconds too fast, but that's an error so slight that it will not be necessary to eliminate a day from the calendar until around the year 5300. Suggested 'improvements' Still, some people would like to see our calendar changed yet again. One of the more popular proposals is the World Calendar created by Elisabeth Achelis of The World Calendar Association in 1930. The World Calendar consists of 364 days. The year would be divided into four quarters, with each quarter consisting of three months. The first month of each new quarter (January, April, July and October) would have 31 days and would always begin on a Sunday. All the remaining months would have just 30 days. In such a setup, each date would fall on the same day of the week every year. So if you were born on a Tuesday, your birthday would always fall on a Tuesday. Independence Day would always fall on a Wednesday; Christmas Day would be a Monday; and Thanksgiving would finally have a fixed date: Nov. 23, since the fourth Thursday in November on the World Calendar would always be on that date. Triskaidekaphobes likely would not like this new setup; it would mean four Friday the 13ths every year. (Currently, the maximum number for any given year is three.) But wait! This is a 364-day calendar. What happens to day 365? And what about leap years? You live here, so we figure you ought to be well grounded in Earth facts. But you might find these questions a little tough and tricky. Good luck! Earth Quiz: Do You Really Know Your Planet? Dec. 31 would be recognized as "Worldsday" (a world holiday). It would come between Saturday, Dec. 30 and Sunday, Jan. 1. As for leap years, the extra day would be inserted not at the end of February as it is now, but at the end of June. June 31 would thus become a second World Holiday; like the Olympics, it would be celebrated every four years. In the Jan. 17, 2016, issue of Parade magazine, Marilyn vos Savant answered a question from a reader who wanted to know if there were a "less clunky" alternative to our present calendar. Vos Savant mentioned the Symmetry454 calendar, a perennial solar calendar that conserves the traditional seven-day week, has symmetrical, equal quarters, and starts every month on Monday. All holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and the like are permanently fixed. All ordinal day and week numbers within the year are also permanently fixed; Friday the 13th never occurs under this calendar. "But there's a teensy drawback," vos Savant wrote. "Every five or six years, you would have to add a week at the end of December!" So it seems that, like it or not, we are stuck at least for now with our current calendar. Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, the Farmer's Almanac and other publications, and he is also an on-camera meteorologist for News 12 Westchester, N.Y. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com. Astrophotographer Giuseppe Petricca took this image about two minutes prior to the start of the full totality phase of the Supermoon total lunar eclipse on Sept. 27, 2015. A turquoise light tints the blood moon in this stunning skywatcher shot from Pisa, Italy. Astrophotographer Giuseppe Petricca took this image about two minutes prior to the start of the full totality phase of the supermoon total lunar eclipse on Sept. 27, 2015. The total lunar eclipse of Sept. 27, 2015 occurred when the moon was at perigee (the point in its orbit when it is closest to the Earth), better known as a "supermoon." For Petricca, the event was one of striking colors. [See more amazing total lunar eclipse photos by skywatchers] "There are obviously the reddish and brownish tones of colors, but near the lower border we can clearly see a bluish/turquoise tone," Petricca told Space.com in an email. Normally, during an eclipse, sunlight that manages to reach the surface of the moon is scattered as it passes through Earth's atmosphere, resulting in the reddish colors seen on the lunar surface. The bluish tone comes from sunlight passing through the Earth's ozone layer. The image is an integration of 100 (on 200) shots with my Reflex Camera Canon 700D combined with a Samyang Catadrioptic 500mm f/6.3 Lens. To see more amazing night sky photos submitted by Space.com readers, visit our astrophotography archive. Editor's note: If you have an amazing skywatching photo you'd like to share with us and our news partners for a possible story or image gallery, send images and comments in to managing editor Tariq Malik at spacephotos@space.com. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Mrs. Emma G. Arechiga died peacefully on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, at McCullough Hall in San Antonio. She was born in Laredo, Texas, on May 21, 1926, and was preceded in death by her parents, Jose and Sofia Garza; spouse, Dr. Domingo Arechiga; siblings: Jose Pepe Garza (Estela), Maria Elena Nena De La Garza (Fausto), Roy Garza and Rudy Garza. She is survived by her three children, Jo Emma Arechiga, Corpus Christi; Rev. Dennis D. Arechiga, San Antonio; and Alberto D. Arechiga, Austin. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Irma and Sylvia Garza; family members, George and Lydia Juarez, Jorge Juarez and Alisa Jo Juarez and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces. A woman of great poise and faith, she worked for 64 years for Horace Hall Jr. and the Horace Hall III, Quintanilla and Alarcon Law Firm. She is a member of the Laredo Womens Hall of Fame, supported her husband Dr. Domingo Arechiga, former president of Laredo Junior College, in charitable fundraisers for the Junior College and was extremely active in her home parish, Blessed Sacrament, by serving on the Pastoral Council, School Council, Choir, Lector Ministry and as a member of the Catholic Daughters. For many years, she and Domingo organized the singular marriage preparation program for the entire Catholic Community of Laredo, Pre-Cana. We would like to thank the entire staff of McCullough Hall in San Antonio where Emma spent the last three and a half years of her life and all who cared for and visited her these past years. We also thank Rev. Wojciech Przystasz, the pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish, for his support. The Visitation will take place Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, at Joe Jackson Funeral Chapels, Heights location, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., including a Vigil/Rosary at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Funeral Mass will take place on Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, at 10 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, followed by the interment at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, 1201 Corpus Christi Street, Laredo, TX 78043. You may extend your condolences to the family online at www.joejacksonfuneralchapels.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, 1201 Corpus Christi Street, Laredo, TX 78043. Arrangements are under the care and direction of the funeral service professionals at Joe Jackson Heights Funeral Chapels, 719 Loring at Cortez, Laredo, TX 78040; (956) 722-0001. To the editor: The recent letter by Jack Mahan depicts his view of abortion, but his "simple" response is tantamount to a naive opinion, more reflective of a moral rant than providing a viable answer to the original question. I concur with his desire to cut down on the demand for abortions, but he fails to suggest how. Would he logically support proper womens health care, which our state government is trying to reduce? What happens to the impoverished who cannot afford good medical care? Does Mahan promote sensible age-appropriate sex education in schools? Would he rationally encourage availability to contraception, something restricted by lawmakers imposing religious doctrine through a frivolous law? Some people even hold that just thinking about sex is immoral. The human sex drive is one of the strongest instincts of our species, and unfortunately at times disengaged from a reasoning brain. Healthy libido is programmed in our DNA, ensuring continuity of the human race. Would Mahan suggest humans stop having sex? Fertility and sex drive start at a very young age, and as Rev. R. Pryor preached, you cant stop water when it wants to flow. Research demonstrates that availability of contraceptives in California public schools has a correlated lowering of unwanted pregnancies among Hispanic teenagers, while teaching abstinence in Texas had no effect on the number of pregnancies. Some say availability of condoms promotes sexual activity, which is as illogical as stating that fire extinguishers cause house fires. Physicians, ethicists, scientists, psychologists, philosophers and clergy cannot agree when an individuals life begins. I hold that a womans pregnancy is a private matter between her and her physician. Even though law may restrict medically safe abortion, and it is morally reprehensible to many, the procedure will continue. So the question still remains: What should be done to avail them of proper medical attention? Sincerely, Dr. Carlos Valle, Jr. Detailing all of the pop-up restaurants, pop-up bars, pop-up shops, pop-up galleries, and pop-up gigs in London, complete with maps. Please send any tips to dan.calladine@londonpopups.com or via twitter - I'm @LondonPopups Looking to stay up to date about all of the news stories and local headlines that are important to Long Islanders? We've rounded up the top coverage for all of the important topics from multiple sources around Long Island, so you can be sure you've got the most recent update on the top stories for Long Island. Have an idea for a news story? Email us at news@longisland.com Columnists Press Releases Filipino security forces have reportedly killed more than 40 jihadists during a five-day battle in the southern Philippines. The jihadists claimed links with the Islamic State, according to Reuters: Philippine security forces killed as many as 42 Muslim rebels claiming links with Islamic State and captured their stronghold during five days of fighting in the mountains of a southern island, an army spokesman said on Friday. Three soldiers were killed and 11 wounded when the forces seized the bastion of an affiliate of Jemaah Islamiah, a Southeast Asian network of Islamist militants, in the province of Lanao del Sur. The affiliate of Jemaah Islamiyyah (JI), traditionally seen as al Qaedas branch in Southeast Asia, was likely a splinter of the group that emerged in 2014 and pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al Baghdadi and the Islamic State shortly after his announcement of the caliphate. Abu Bakar Bashir, the spiritual leader and co-founder of JI, left the group and formed his own Islamic State-loyal group, Jemaah Ansharut Tauhid. However, Bashirs two sons and several other leaders left and formed their own group, Jemaah Ansharusy Syariah. According to the Jakarta Post, more than 50 percent of Bashirs followers abandoned him and joined Jemaah Ansharusy Syariah. According to its leader, it is directly part of al Qaedas global network now. (See LWJ report, Islamic State launches suicide assault in Indonesias capital.) Other groups loyal to the Islamic State in the Philippines and the wider Southeast Asia region includes Katibat Ansar al Sharia, Katibat Marakah al Ansar, Ansar Khilafah in the Philippines, the Mujahidin Indonesian Timor, and a portion of or the entirety of the Abu Sayyaf Group, another group that was traditionally loyal to al Qaeda. (See LWJ report, Philippines-based jihadist groups pledge allegiance to the Islamic State.) Caleb Weiss is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Saudi Arabia imposed sanctions yesterday on three Lebanese nationals and four companies in Lebanon and China due to alleged connections to the terrorist group Hezbollah. All seven entities had been previously sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2014 or 2015, accused of being Hizballah procurement agents or firms under their control. As with a similar round of sanctions by Riyadh in December against alleged Hezbollah officials, yesterdays designations represent a partial Saudi harmonization with Americas terror sanctions list. However, broader gaps between the U.S. and Saudi lists seem likely to persist in other areas where the kingdom does not see such a direct interest in cracking down on terrorist finance. All of the entities targeted by Saudi Arabia yesterday stand accused by the U.S. of links to activity to bolster Hezbollahs military influence, including in areas that could be used against Saudi Arabia or Saudi proxies in places like Syria or Yemen. For example, Ali Husayn Zeaiter was previously sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in July 2014 on charges of helping Hezbollah acquire equipment for Hizballahs use in UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles],and engaging in fraudulent methods to avoid export restrictions and otherwise conceal Hizballah as the ultimate end-user or beneficiary of these goods. In its announcement of sanctions on Zeaiter, Treasury noted that Hezbollah was using UAVs most recently in Syria, where Saudi Arabias proxies now happen to be fighting the group. The U.S. subsequently imposed sanctions last November on two firms named Labico SAL Offshore and Aero Skyzone Co. Limited, claiming that Labico was owned by Zeaiter and that he created and controlled Aero Skyzone as a front company to procure UAV equipment for Hezbollah. Yesterdays Saudi sanctions included Zeaiter, Labico SAL Offshore, and Aero Skyzone Co. Limited. Also sanctioned by Treasury in November 2015 were four other entities, all of which were also sanctioned by Saudi Arabia yesterday. These included Fadi Hussein Serhan, whom the U.S. said has purchased unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as the Beirut-based firm Vatech SARL, which the U.S. indicated Serhan used to purchase sensitive technology and equipment for Hizballah. At the time, the U.S. also sanctioned Lebanese national Adel Mohamad Cherri and the China-based firm Le-Hua Electronic Field Company, which it said was controlled by Cherri. According to Treasury, Cherri facilitated Hizballahs efforts to procure a variety of electronics from China for transport to Yemen for use in improvised explosive devices by the Houthis. In its announcement of sanctions on all seven of these entities, Saudi Arabias interior ministry declared that the kingdom will continue to combat the terrorist activities of the so-called Party of God, adding that Hezbollahs militants and extremist activities should not be tolerated by any nation or international organization. Yet when the kingdom publicly issued a formal list of banned terrorist groups in 2014, it specifically targeted Hezbollah in the Hejaz, namely the terrorist groups Saudi branch but not its central branch in Lebanon. There is no indication that Saudi Arabia has since updated this list, which also excludes U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. This omission would seem to conflict with the Saudi foreign ministers recent remarks on CNN that Hezbollah in Lebanon is the worlds number one terrorist organization. Saudi Arabias 2014 terror list did include al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. However, the kingdoms massive air campaign in Yemen appears not to have conducted a single airstrike on AQAP, which is operating more in the open than ever before and has taken advantage of wartime chaos to capture the capitals of several Yemeni provinces. Additionally, the kingdom has apparently been hosting two prominent Yemenis under U.S. sanctions on charges of having aided al-Qaeda. Saudi Arabias latest sanctions come amidst a comprehensive review of Riyadhs Lebanon policies after Lebanon declined to back resolutions at the Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation to condemn Iran over attacks on Saudi diplomatic facilities in Tehran and Mashhad in January. The kingdom suspended $4 billion in security assistance to Beirut last week and issued a travel warning urging its citizens to avoid Lebanon that was swiftly echoed by four other Gulf states. Thus, the new Saudi sanctions are best understood as a reflection of Riyadhs perceived security interests in places like Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen as it pushes back against Iranian-backed activity by Shiite terrorist groups such as Hezbollah. The kingdom is unlikely to follow such actions with sanctions on financial operatives for other U.S.-designated terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda or Hamas. David Andrew Weinberg is the Anti-Defamation Leagues Washington Director for International Affairs. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Cape Cod Islands are Calling: Discover Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket These travel guides take you on a complete tour around the islands.A mix of quaint charm and stunning natural beauty gives the Vineyard a truly unique allure. Historic homes, lighthouses, renowned restaurants, and miles of pristine beaches are only the starting points for the wonders that have made this island of not quite 100 square miles a coveted vacation spot. Through clear and concise directions, including addresses, distances, and GPS coordinates, this unique guide whisks you around the island, stopping at both must-see popular spots and lesser-known hidden gems treasured by the locals.Size: 6 x 9 | 189 color photos | 128 ppISBN13: 9780764350191 | Binding: soft coverAlso by Christopher Setterlund,, released October 28, 2013Take an informative journey of 101 things to do and see in the popular summer playground island of Marthas Vineyard, off the coast of Massachusetts. Through 231 stunning photographs, explore the streets lined with majestic white-clapboard captains mansions in Edgartown, reach for the brass ring on a Victorian carousel in Oak Bluffs, hike the scenic clay cliffs in Aquinnah, pick blueberries right from the bush in Chilmark, and feast on a freshly steamed lobster as the sun sets over the fishing village of Menemsha. Whether its your first trip to the island or youre a frequent visitor, you are sure to find something new and exciting that Marthas Vineyard has to offer.Size: 10 x 7 | 231 color photos | index | 152 ppISBN13: 9780764349539 | Binding: hard coverThirty miles off the Cape Cod shore sits the quaint historic island of Nantucket, the Far Away Island. Once one of the richest towns in America thanks to its leading role in the whaling industry, the island reinvented itself in the twentieth century as a destination spot for tourists. This travelers guide takes you on a round-the-island tour, noting its infamous cobblestone streets, world-renowned restaurants, museums, fabulous shops, and acres of conservation lands. Youll discover the historic homes, lighthouses, and beaches that make the island famous, but also some truly incredible locations only a local would know. Brant Point Lighthouse, the Nantucket Whaling Museum, Madaket Beach, and Sconset Village are only the beginning. See why Nantucket is a favorite vacation spot for everyone from families with young children to corporate executives looking for a paradise to truly get away from it all.Size: 6 x 9 | 195 color and b/w photos | 160 ppISBN13: 9780764350948 | Binding: soft cover New Trends for 2016 Weddings Spotted at The Hay-Adams First is the new trend of holding a brunch wedding instead of an evening affair. Brides can really enjoy the day celebrating with guests and sparkling cocktails are perfect with brunch. In fact, rose wines, along with rose Champagne, are very much in demand this year.2016 is shaping up to be a year of quality over quantity on this special day, with more family-style, intimate dining experiences for receptions, with low florals arrangements to invite conversation, states Director of Catering Alison Okobi.Another trend spotted at The Hay-Adams is that brides are requesting a more neutral design palette with more greys and softer earth tones, along with wooden and metallic decorative objects and accents, instead of higher drama sparkling surfaces. Okobi is also getting requests for rose gold details, and she is currently sourcing rose gold chiaviari chairs for a bride.For greater ease of planning, brides are turning to laser cut signage and place cards for their big day. There is also a growing trend for couples seeking an organic and sustainably sourced menu for their wedding. They also want paired beverages featured at food stations, such as a favorite tequila with a ceviche station, or local Virginia wines showcased with cheese pairings overseen by a sommelier for an educational component at the reception. Lastly, couples are moving beyond his and her cakes to his and her signature cocktails, reflecting their own personal style.The award-winning Hay-Adams hotel is located at 800 16th Street NW, Washington DC, 20006, across Lafayette Square from the White House. The historic Hay-Adams offers guests Washington's most prestigious address with views overlooking the White House, Lafayette Square and St. John's Church, the "Church of the Presidents." The hotel is just minutes from the Smithsonian, the Museums, the Washington Monument, the Capitol Building, the Mall, as well as convenient to Metro stations and the convention center. For reservations or more information call (202) 638-6600(202) 638-6600 or visit their website at Silversea's Diving Expedition Cruises Will Visit Some of Scuba's Best Diving Sites 2017 The 120-guest, all-suite, the latest addition to the line's expedition fleet, will feature 20 voyages offering exciting scuba diving opportunities for experienced divers in such regions as the Maldives, Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the Palau archipelago, and the Andaman Islands, which have been celebrated as some of the world's most spectacular diving hot spots, featuring hidden caves, tunnels, and an astonishing spectrum of coral fish and rare sea creatures. The diving program is fully complimentary.In addition to an onboard dive master, these unique itineraries will feature a team of experts, including marine biologists, environmentalists, ecologists, and geologists, who will enlighten guests with their extensive knowledge of these amazing regions.Following is a small sampling of upcomingaboardVoyage 9622: Cairns to Balikpapan, 14 Days, Oct. 4 - 18Voyage 9626: Phuket to Maldives, 15 Days, Dec. 2 - 17Voyage 9627: Maldives to Dar es Salaam, 17 Days, Dec. 17 - Jan. 3(*Itinerary is highlighted by a rare visit to the remote coral atoll of Aldabra. Virtually untouched by humans and teeming with marine life, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the world's largest atolls, and a pristine home to thousands of giant tortoises.)Voyage 9713: Darwin to Koror, 14 Days, May 26 - Jun. 9Voyage 9725: Cairns to Bali, 14 Days, Nov. 9 - 23The program is complimentary, but space is limited. Guests will need an Advanced Open Water Diver license or equivalent to participate. Guests must bring their own BCD vests and regulators. Silversea will provide the weight belts, tanks, masks, and fins free of charge on boardFor further details and a complete list of the, visit Silversea.com/expeditions/specialty-expeditions/scuba-diving-expeditions There are some truly tough questions in life. Why are we here? Whats it all about? What happens after we die? This is not one of them. Take it away, Jason Mander, the ironically titled director of research and insight at GlobalWebIndex. Is the iPhone really going out of fashion? (Tip o the antlers to Steve ODell.) Nope. And that was all they heard from him forever and ever. Ha, if only. Wouldnt it be nice if we could just stop them there, though? At the jerky interrogative headline? Man, the Macalope wants to live in that world. Instead of this world with its stupid headlines. God, how he hates it. Now, are you ready for some wacky comparisons? Remember to keep your hands and feet inside the car at all times because this logic is going off the rails, through some brambles, down and embankment, up a gigantic ramp, up, up, up into space and into the sun. As Samsung celebrates its first registered profit in years during the third quarter of 2015 As Samsung barely manages to climb out of the ditch it drove itself into by getting out-Apple-copied by Xiaomi. For the purposes of this article, we will define that as winning. Apple is having a nervous start to the new year. Please hold your eye rolling until the clown car has come to a complete stop and all the clowns have exited the vehicle. Yes, it posted record quarterly revenues of $75.9bn and record quarterly profits of $18.4bn, but Yes, its in vastly better financial shape than Samsung, BUT glance behind the titanium curtain The last device Apple made out titanium was discontinued ten years ago. It was, however, the TiCurtain, so that part is completely right. at Apple and a core problem is materialising. Apple? Core? Ehhh? [pratfall] That problem is the iPhone, a device that still accounts for around two-thirds of Apples revenue. And nobody buys iPhones anymore. Too popular. Samsung is lauded for making all kinds of iPhone-like devices and eking out a profit. Apple, on the other hand can only have problems no matter what it does. Following MWC, Apple is rumoured to be launching the budget iPhone 5SE which is reported to be similar in price to the 5S but with updated features Is Mander insinuating that Apple is shipping a smaller phone based on what was announced at Mobile World Congress? Because that would be hysterical. For starters, rumors of an iPhone 5se have been around for weeks, not to mention the time it would take to develop such a device. Besides, clearly Apple is shipping a smaller phone because the Macalope has asked for one ever since the iPhone 6. That much we all can agree on. This would help spread the Apple payment system to places such as India and China, but would also spell the beginning of the end for a phone that has always been able to consistently command premium pricing, based on little more than brand design. Is brand design shorthand for a brand with an incredibly high customer satisfaction rating based, in part, on its strong design ethic? Thats probably what that means, right? Lets be clear about what an iPhone 5se or SE or whatever its called will be. It will not be a cheap phone. Yes, it will be cheaper, but its going to hurt the Apple brand as much as the iPod nano did. Which is to say live up to it in every way. The conundrum for Apple is that iPhone sales are flat, iPad and iMac sales are down and wearables are yet to take off. Meanwhile, Samsung has produced some of the most innovative and cost-effective technology of the past 12 months. Surely 2016 is the year that people will finally realize that Apple products are too expensive and start buying commodity phones from other vendors. Also, Linux will rule on the desktop and the Cubs will win the World Series. Its funny that that last one has the highest chance of actually happing. When comparing smartphones, the Galaxy S6 has more megapixels What?! More megapixels?! Well, why didnt you say so. [throws iPhone into a dumpster fire] the Apple Watch is tethered to the iPhone but the Samsung Gear S2 can work with any Android phone, so arguably has wider appeal. You could argue that! And then you could wonder why Apple sells more smartwatches than anyone else. You could lie awake at night, staring at the ceiling, just knowing that there could be nothing wrong with your logic and surely it was reality that was wrong. You could do that. It seems like a lousy way to live instead of relying on actual, observable events but whatever. Its your life. [Apple] will have to weather both an economic and Samsung storm this year Samsung is like a storm raging inside you. How is it that every year is the first year that Apple will have to face strong competition from Samsung? Or Microsoft. Or Google. Or Xiaomi. Its because pundits see these companies moving forward and simply assume Apple will stand still. Why they assume that is anyones guess. Possibly they worked as hatters in the 1800s. We just dont know. especially if virtual reality takes off Oh, sure, add that to the list of things that are totally going to happen in 2016. Virtual reality is certainly promising, but it has a way to go before it takes off. but theres still a long way to fall from the tree before Apple has to panic. What a relief that is. Just an FYI, the rest of us knew that way back up at the headline. The Chief of the Defence Force Parade took on added significance today as the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) marked 30 years since the first trainee officers marched in. Traditionally, the first parade of the year acknowledges the achievements of the Midshipmen and Officer Cadets who have successfully completed their initial military training. Today's parade also provided an opportunity to reflect on ADFA's history. Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin identified a number of similarities between the original class and ADFA's newest cadets. "In 1986, Defence was preparing to deliver a White Paper and a $25 billion defence force development program was under consideration. This week we delivered a White Paper that outlines a $195 billion investment in new defence capabilities, Air Chief Marshal Binskin said. "It is no accident that we chose ADFA to launch the new White Paper this week. Like the first trainee officer class, today's Midshipmen and Officer Cadets will take ownership of these future capabilities; but more importantly, they will take responsibility for the men and women who operate them. "It's an exciting time to be in the Australian Defence Force" Over the past 30 years, ADFA has produced more than 6,550 officers who have gone on to serve in the Australian Navy, Army, and Air Force as well as a number of international cadets who served with our allies. "Almost one third of the original Midshipmen and Officer Cadets continue to serve in the ADF. These men and women laid the foundations for ADFA's reputation for excellence" Air Chief Marshal Binskin said. There are around 300 Year One Midshipmen and Officer Cadets, including 17 international students from Cambodia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, the United States, and Vietnam. Next week, the Midshipmen and Officer Cadets will begin their academic program through the University of New South Wales, Canberra. THE International Federation of Freight Forwarders' Associations (FIATA) has called for enhanced communication from container shipping lines ahead of the deadline by which new IMO regulations requiring verification of a freight containers gross mass become mandatory. The non-governmental organisation, which represents an industry covering approximately 40,000 forwarding and logistics companies is calling on shipping lines to provide greater clarity on how they wish to receive the data concerning the Verified Gross Mass of a container when the amendment to SOLAS becomes effective on 1st July 2016. At a recent meeting in Cape Town, the FIATA Working Group Sea Transport joined with South African fruit exporters and the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) in a work-shop to examine the changes to SOLAS and the effect on the supply chain. Among the difficulties anticipated in July, all present were concerned at the lack of information being provided by the shipping lines on how they wish to receive the VGM data. Working Group Chairman, Jens Roemer, said: It is clear from FIATA Member feedback that many countries are getting prepared for the forthcoming changes but there is an alarming lack of information from the shipping lines on how they will receive the VGM. FIATA urges shipping lines to communicate with the trade so that preparations for July 1st can be finalised. The new 8.5 km long and 18.5 meter-deep channel allows 24-hour access of ULCS through to the Suez Canal Container Terminal; The terminal is also expanding in response to Egypts growing population and economy, and role as a global transportation hub. East Port Said, Egypt Completed within just three months, the new 8.5 km (5.2 mile) access channel directly links the East Port Said port complex to the Mediterranean Sea, eliminating the need for vessels heading to the Suez Canal Container Terminal (SCCT) to wait 6-8 hours for a time window between vessel convoys transiting the canal. This means that the channel, dredged to a depth of 18.5 meters (61 feet), can provide 24-hour access to East Port Said, and SCCT, to the Ultra-Large Container Ships (ULCS) of 18,000 TEU capacity and above now deployed in the Far East/Europe trade lanes, and using the canal in increasing numbers. A ceremony formally inaugurating the project was hosted by SCCT at East Port Said. Attendees at the ceremony included Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, Suez Canal Authority Chairman, Admiral Mohab Mamish, and the Governor of Port Said, Major General Adel El Ghadban to witness the opening of the project, which represents an investment of approximately USD $40 million. I would like to express both my appreciation and my admiration of Admiral Mamish, the Suez Canal Authority, and the Government of Egypt for their inspiring dedication to this historic infrastructure investment, which emphasizes the key role that Egypt plays in global trade and the global economy stated SCCT Terminal Director Jan Buijze. In August 2015, a USD $8.2 billion project to deepen the Suez Canal, and excavate a new 35 km (22 mile) channel parallel to sections of the existing canal was completed, enabling two-way traffic along the entire 193 km (120 mile) canal route, and doubling canal traffic capacity from 49 vessels daily to 97. The canal project was completed in one year, leaving the dredging and other heavy equipment in place for construction of the access channel. APM Terminals is the majority shareholder in SCCT, with a 55% ownership. Other shareholders include Chinese-based COSCO Pacific, with 20%, the Suez Canal Authority, with 10.3%, and the National Bank of Egypt, with 5%. The remaining shares are held by the Egyptian private sector. Over USD $800 million has been invested in the terminal, which opened in October 2004, and has become one of the busiest container facilities in the region, handling 2.95 million TEUS, primarily for transshipment, in 2015. Approximately one tenth of all global seaborne trade moves through the Suez Canal, carried by 18,000 vessels, including container ships, transiting annually; in 2015 5,941 container vessels traveled the canal, representing an aggregate capacity of 41.2 million TEUs. SCCT is currently undergoing an expansion, including the installation of new, larger cranes to accommodate the increased vessel traffic, and larger container ships. The four additional Super-Post Panamax cranes scheduled for delivery to the terminal in mid-2016 will bring SCCTs crane total to 24, increasing the terminals annual throughput capacity to 5.4 million TEUS, and making it the largest container terminal by capacity on the Mediterranean Sea. Representing an infrastructure investment of USD $42 million, the new STS cranes will each have a 72 meter reach, and a height of 52 meters, with the ability to handle the worlds largest vessels now entering the global fleet. There are currently 36 vessels of 18,000 TEU capacity and above in service, deployed on the Far East/Europe trade lane, the worlds busiest, with another 73 on order. The new cranes will be operated by remote-control to improve both safety, and productivity. SCCT is the only container terminal in Egypt capable of working ULCS, emphasizing the importance of the terminal as a global and regional transshipment hub. SCCT is also exploring further investments into dry port facilities and other port functions, including general and liquid bulk operations in order to meet the needs of Egypts growing population of 91 million, the third-largest in Africa (after Nigeria and Ethiopia), which has been projected to reach 150 million by 2050. Cargill and MV Cargo formalized their intention to construct a grain terminal in the port of Yuzhny on the Black Sea coast in Ukraine by signing a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA). The signing ceremony was held in Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuks cabinet office in the presence of the U.S Ambassador to Ukraine and senior Ukrainian government officials. Ukraine is already one of the worlds great agricultural producers, but it should be an agricultural superpower, said U.S. Ambassador Geoffrey R. Pyatt during the ceremony. I think I have a pretty clear idea of what American agricultural companies are now looking for, he said. They are looking for a Ukrainian government that demonstrates a clear and unambiguous commitment to the path of reformand they are looking for a government and presidency that demonstrates a clear commitment to continued progress on the rule of law, to include the critical issue of anticorruption reform. Prime Minister Yatsenyuk welcomed Cargills investment and talked about the benefits to Ukraines economy, which will include port charges, taxes and the creation of jobs for local people. This project marks a significant milestone for Cargills quest to acquire a port in Ukraine. We are delighted to finally be signing this agreement today, as we have been working towards this moment with our partners MV Cargo and with the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority for quite some time, said Andreas Rickmers, head of Cargills grains and oilseeds business in Europe. Through this investment, Ukraines port infrastructure will be expanded and will provide greater efficiencies to connect Ukraines surplus agricultural crops with the parts of the world demanding more food. This new port will benefit Ukrainian farmers, the overall economy and global food security. It will add to our footprint of port facilities in the Black Sea region and confirms our intention to keep investing in Ukraines agricultural sector, said Rickmers. "This project is of key importance for Ukraine to sustain its leading position among grain exporting countries, as this deep-water, state-of-the-art terminal will allow us to process vessels of high tonnage, delivering Ukrainian grain to markets all over the world. We expect the project to generate over UAH 300 million in tax payments annually and to create employment for around 350 people," added Andrey Stavnitser on behalf of MV Cargo. In his speech, Rickmers drew attention to the fact that Cargill has been a faithful and long term investor in Ukraine since 2000, when its Donetsk sunflower seed crush plant was first commissioned. He told the audience that despite losing control of the plant due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Cargill does not give up hope of one day regaining control of the facility. U.S. Marines and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers with the Western Army Infantry Regiment conducted a supporting arms coordination center exercise (SACCEX), at San Clemente Island, Feb. 22-23, as part of Exercise Iron Fist 2016. Iron Fist is an annual, bilateral amphibious training exercise designed to improve the USMC and JGSDFs ability to plan, communicate and conduct combined amphibious operations at the platoon, company and battalion levels. Marines with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company and the JGSDF soldiers provided indirect fire support in coordination with 81mm mortar platoons and an artillery battery with 1st Marine Division. In addition, they were supported by naval gunfire from the USS Spruance, targeting the northern shores and beachheads of San Clemente Island through a series of radio-coordinated fire missions. During the SACCEX, U.S. and Japan forces had hands-on experience in tactics proven to be effective in securing enemy-occupied shorelines during large-scale amphibious assaults. In the event of a ship-to-shore assault, a supporting arms coordination center would be in charge of directing mortars, artillery, naval gunfire and close air support onto an objective area to suppress targets located on a beachhead, said Sgt. Robert Garcia, a fire support chief with 1st ANGLICO, I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group. SACCEX is used as a cooperative learning tool for the US-Japan partnership through the operation of a supporting arms coordination center, which has developed the U.S. Marine Corps and JGSDFs ability to conduct amphibious fire control missions as an allied force. What I learned from ANGLICO is how to more smoothly employ our firepower assets, said 2nd Lt. Takehido Umeyama, a fire support coordinator with Western Army Infantry Regiment, JGSDF. During the SACCEX, I was able to learn better how the Marines operate. We were able to improve the interoperability between both our [Japanese] forces and the Marines. Prior to the SACCEX, U.S. and Japan forces prepared for the exercise on the USS Somerset (LPD 25), which acted as a staging point for the disembarking Landing Craft Air Cushions carrying personnel and equipment needed to execute fire missions aboard San Clemente Island. Upon completion of the SACCEX, U.S. and Japan forces departed from San Clemente Island, assembling aboard the Somerset in preparation for an amphibious landing. The amphibious landing exercise, which is the culminating training event of Exercise Iron Fist, consists of a scenario-based amphibious landing force launched from the Somerset in coordination with an inland airborne assault at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Feb. 26, 2016. Exercise Iron Fist 2016 provides U.S. Marines and JGSDF soldiers with realistic and relevant training that enhances the planning, execution and effectiveness of combined amphibious operations. More Media The Hong Kong Dollar, Rock Solid The currency speculators are restless, again. Many, like George Soros and Kyle Bass, are reportedly taking aim at the Hong Kong dollar (HKD). HKD bear circles think Chinas renmimbi (RMB) will lose value against the U.S. dollar (USD) as Chinas economy slows down and capital flight from China continues. This, it is asserted, will put pressure on the HKD, and force its devaluation. Thus rendering the fixed rate of 7.8 HKD/USD null and void, and pumping profits into the pockets of those who bet on a devaluation of the HKD. Like past speculative attacks against the HKD, this will fail and the bears will be forced back into hibernation, suffering large losses. What is fascinating is how so many experienced currency speculators, like George Soros, can be so ill-informed about Hong Kongs monetary setup. This is far from the first speculative attack on the HKD; the most massive occurred during the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997-98. We cannot forget hedge fund guru Bill Ackermans well-advertised bet the house attack against the HKD in 2011. It failed badly.The currency speculators arent the only ones ill-informed about Hong-Kong. Financial journalists -- even veterans with Hong Kong market experience -- clearly dont understand the currency board system that governs the course of the HKD. For example, Jake van der Kamp, a columnist at the South China Morning Post and former analyst at Morgan Stanley, recently fanned the speculative flames by penning a provocative column titled From a Currency Board to a Banana Republic Manipulation. This brought out a response from John Greenwood, the architect of Hong Kongs currency board system, installed in 1983, and a member of the Currency Board Committee of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. Greenwood politely took van der Kamp to the woodshed and told him that he didnt know what he was talking about, and van der Kamp had the good sense to admit that he had sinned.So, why is there so much confusion about exchange rates particularly fixed exchange rates delivered by currency board systems, like Hong Kongs? To answer that question, we must develop a taxonomy of exchange-rate regimes and their characteristics. As shown in the accompanying table, there are three types of regimes: floating, fixed, and pegged. In fixed and floating rate regimes the monetary authority aims for only one target at a time. Although floating and fixed rates appear dissimilar, they are members of the same free-market family. Both operate without exchange controls and are free-market mechanisms for balance-of-payments adjustments. With a floating rate, a central bank sets a monetary policy, but the exchange rate is on autopilot. In consequence, the monetary base is determined domestically by a central bank. With a fixed rate, there are two possibilities: either a currency board sets the exchange rate and the money supply is on autopilot, or a country is dollarized and uses the U.S. dollar, or another foreign currency, as its own and the money supply is again on autopilot. Under a fixed-rate regime, a countrys monetary base is determined by the balance of payments, which move in a one-to-one correspondence with changes in its foreign reserves. With either a floating or a fixed rate, there cannot be conflicts between monetary and exchange rate policies, and balance-of-payments crises cannot rear their ugly heads. Floating and fixed-rate regimes are inherently equilibrium systems in which market forces act to automatically rebalance financial flows and avert balance-of- payments crises. Most people use fixed and pegged as interchangeable or nearly interchangeable terms for exchange rates. In reality, they are very different exchange-rate arrangements. Pegged-rate systems are those in which the monetary authority aims for more than one target at a time. They come in many varieties: crawling pegs, adjustable pegs, bands, managed floats, and more. Pegged systems often employ exchange controls and are not free-market mechanisms for international balance-of-payments adjustments. They are inherently disequilibrium systems, lacking an automatic adjustment mechanism. They require a central bank to manage both the exchange rate and monetary policy. With a pegged rate, the monetary base contains both domestic and foreign components. Unlike floating and fixed rates, pegged rates invariably result in conflicts between monetary and exchange rate policies. For example, when capital inflows become excessive under a pegged system, a central bank often attempts to sterilize the ensuing increase in the foreign component of the monetary base by selling bonds, reducing the domestic component of the base. And when outflows become excessive, a central bank often attempts to offset the decrease in the foreign component of the monetary base by buying bonds, increasing the domestic component of the monetary base. Balance-of-payments crises erupt as a central bank begins to offset more and more of the reduction in the foreign component of the monetary base with domestically created base money. When this occurs, it is only a matter of time before currency speculators spot the contradictions between exchange rate and monetary policies and force a devaluation, interest-rate increases, the imposition of exchange controls, or all three. As the accompanying monetary composition chart makes clear, Chinas RMB falls into the pegged regime category. The RMBs monetary base has foreign and domestic components that move around. In addition, China imposes capital controls. So, the RMB bears might be smelling blood. Thats not the case with the HKD, which is linked to the USD via a currency board. As such, the boards monetary base (reserve money) must be backed by foreign reserves 100%, or slightly more. The accompanying chart shows that this so-called currency board backing (or stock) rule is strictly followed in Hong Kong. The flow rule that reserve money must change in a one-to-one relationship with changes in the currency boards foreign exchange reserves is also strictly followed in Hong Kong (see the accompanying chart). There has never been a system that followed currency board rules like Hong Kongs that has been broken by a speculative attack. And Hong Kongs will not be the first. Indeed, its currency board is operating exactly as it should, which is why it cant be broken. So, what will happen? When the U.S. Fed embraced quantitative easing, USDs flowed into Hong Kong. Now that the Fed has started to notch up the Fed funds rate, the flows have reversed. In consequence, the currency board is automatically tightening up, and both broad money and credit to the private sector are decelerating and are below their trend rates (see the accompanying chart). This is just what is supposed to happen. We should expect a slow-down in the Hong Kong economy. But, the HKD will remain rock solid. By Steve H. Hanke www.cato.org/people/hanke.html Twitter: @Steve_Hanke Steve H. Hanke is a Professor of Applied Economics and Co-Director of the Institute for Applied Economics, Global Health, and the Study of Business Enterprise at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Prof. Hanke is also a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C.; a Distinguished Professor at the Universitas Pelita Harapan in Jakarta, Indonesia; a Senior Advisor at the Renmin University of Chinas International Monetary Research Institute in Beijing; a Special Counselor to the Center for Financial Stability in New York; a member of the National Bank of Kuwaits International Advisory Board (chaired by Sir John Major); a member of the Financial Advisory Council of the United Arab Emirates; and a contributing editor at Globe Asia Magazine. Copyright 2016 Steve H. Hanke - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. Steve H. Hanke Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. FRAMINGHAM One man was killed when the car he was driving crashed on I-195 in Somerset Friday morning. In a written statement, the Massachusetts State Police said Philip Imprescia, 55, of Fall River died when he apparently swerved to avoid debris in his travel lane and the 2001 Ford Explorer he was driving rolled over at high speed. Investigators said Imprescia was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and he was ejected from the vehicle as it rolled. Police said the 10:18 a.m. crash happened at a point between Exits 4B and 4A in the westbound lanes of the interstate highway. Just moments after the initial incident, a second crash injured one person. Police said as they arrived at the scene of the fatal crash, a two-car crash not far from, but unrelated to the fatal accident, occurred. One person was transported to Rhode Island Hospital with what police termed, "non-life threatening" injuries. The State Police CARS Unit and Crime Scene Services investigated the fatal accident. The State Police also identified the man killed in a Thursday evening crash on Route 3 in Plymouth. Investigators said 21-year-old Joseph Sampson of Providence, Rhode Island was killed when the car he was a passenger in ran off Route 3 between Exits 3 and 5 in Plymouth just after 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The car was traveling northbound at the time of the crash. Investigators have not been able to determine the exact circumstances of the accident. Sampson and the driver of the car were transported to Jordan Hospital where Sampson later died of his injuries. The incident remains under investigation. TALLMADGE, Ohio - A Florida man chewed off the skin on all his fingertips during a traffic stop in an effort avoid being identified by fingerprints, Tallmadge police said Friday. Kirk Kelly, 24, now faces charges of falsification and tampering with evidence. Police stopped Kelly about 3 a.m. Sunday on North Thomas Road, Tallmadge Chief Ronald Williams said. Kelly initially gave officers two false IDs, including his younger brother's name and information, Williams said. Kelly told police he was from Tampa. Officers then called Tampa police and the Hillsboro County Sheriff's Office to try to confirm Kelly's identity, Williams said. Florida police sent back photos of Kelly and his distinctive tattoos. When Kelly overheard officers talking about using their handheld fingerprint identifier for a positive identification, he chewed off the skin on all of his fingertips to avoid a proper ID, Williams said. Because the photos from Florida officers properly identified Kelly, he was arrested, Williams said. He is charged with falsification and tampering with evidence in Stow Municipal Court. He is scheduled to appear March 1 in Stow Municipal Court, court records show. Kelly also has several warrants out for his arrest in Florida, including ones for racketeering, drug trafficking and illegally selling handguns, Williams said. Williams said handguns sold by Kelly have been linked to 15 Florida homicides. Plane crashes in Plymouth (Massachusetts State Police) SPRINGFIELD The pilot of a plane that crashed at the Plymouth Airport Saturday sustained serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, Massachusetts State Police have reported. The State Police Air Wing, which was the first to respond to reports of the crash just after 2:30 p.m., found the small, fixed-wing plane on its roof. The pilot and sole occupant was transported via medical helicopter to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, state police said. The injuries were not believed to be life-threatening at the time of transport. Troopers from the state police barracks in Bourne, State Police Troop D headquarters, State Police Crime Scene Services Section, State Police Air Wing, Carver Police and Plymouth Police, Fire and EMS all responded to the scene. The Federal Aviation Administration and Mass Aeronautics will investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. State police will assist with emergency response and evidence documentation, officials said. ahmad.jpg HAMDEN, CONN - Police say Ahmad Bahjat, an Iraqi refugee, posed as an Uber driver and raped a woman on Jan. 31, then fled the country. (Courtesy Hamden Police Department) HAMDEN, CONN - Adding to Uber's publicity woes following a driver's deadly shooting spree in Michigan last week, police have arrested a man they say raped a woman while posing as a driver for the company. Hamden police arrested 29-year-old Ahmad Bahjat of New Haven on Friday, according to a story published by WTNH. Investigators say they responded to Yale-New Haven Hospital on Jan. 31 for a report by an alleged victim of sexual assault. The woman had left a New Haven bar and walked to a parking area designated for Uber and taxi drivers, according to police. Bahjat pretended to be an Uber driver and the woman got into his car, believing he was the Uber driver she requested, police said. Uber is a wildly popular car service that allows users to quickly summon rides through a smartphone app. The drivers are independent contractors and use their personal vehicles to shuttle fares. Fans of the service say it has revolutionized ride-sharing by adding new levels of convenience and access through technology. Police said Bahjat, an Iraqi refugee who fled the country following the alleged attack, "viciously sexually assaulted" the woman. She bolted from the car, leaving several personal items behind, according to investigators. She suffered injuries to her neck, wrists and knees, police said. They added that they found several pieces of evidence supporting the woman's account after seizing the car. Police say Bahjat is a 2012 refugee from Iraq and has an immigration status of "Permanent Resident-Non-Citizen." Within 24 hours of the alleged attack, Bahjat fled the United States, taking a flight to Toronto, then to Turkey and on to Jordan. An arrest warrant was issued, officials said. On Feb. 11, police say U.S. Customs and Border Protection detained Bahjat at JFK International Airport while he was trying to re-enter the country. He was jailed in New York. On Friday, Hamden Police arrested Bahjat and charged him with first-degree sexual assault, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree unlawful restraint, the news outlet reported. He is being held on $500,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on March 11, police said. The alleged incident in Connecticut occurred just weeks before an authentic Uber driver went on a killing spree in Kalamazoo, Mich., in between picking up fares in that area. Jason Brian Dalton - who had working as an Uber driver since January - opened fire at random over the weekend. In addition to the six people killed, a mother and a 14-year-old girl were injured. None of the shooting victims was an Uber fare, according to news accounts. The married father of two had no criminal history, and Uber officials said he had received high marks from passengers. While this was the first mass killing linked to an Uber driver, it is not the first assault connected with the service. Alejandro Done, a 47-year-old Boston man, was in October sentenced to up to 12 years in prison for raping and strangling a woman (a fare) in that city in 2014. Uber outsources its background checks. The ride-sharing service came to Western Massachusetts in 2015. The local service only offers Uber's cheapest option: uberX. It initially offered the same fare structure as in Boston - $0.21 per minute, $1.20 per mile, a $2 base fee and a $1 "safe rides" charge. The service area covers a roughly square chunk of the region with North Adams, Greenfield, Sheffield and Springfield at its edges. In January, Uber decreased pricing for the service here and in Worcester by 35 and 25 percent, respectively, citing a dip in demand after the holidays. Uber also has clashed with conventional taxi services and local government in Massachusetts and elsewhere. In June, Uber berated Cambridge's licensing commission as clinging "blindly to the past" when the board discussed regulating ride-share services. Gov. Charlie Baker has proposed a law that would bring Uber and its competitor, Lyft, under state regulatory authority. vermont perps.jpg Vermont State Police have arrested four suspects and are searching for a fifth in connection with an armed robbery at Champlain Beverage in Leicester, Vt. (Vermont State Police) LEICESTER, Vt. Multiple suspects have been arrested for a convenience store robbery in Addison County, but Vermont authorities continue to search for the suspected gunman. The motive for the armed robbery: to obtain money to fund their drug habits, according to State Police, who took four of the suspects into custody on Thursday and Friday. The crime happened early last month at Champlain Beverage in the town of Leicester. Police have requested an arrest warrant for the fifth suspect, who's known to authorities and also wanted on unrelated warrants. Troopers responded to Champlain Beverage, a gas, food and beer store on U.S. Route 7, on the evening of Jan. 9. Three men entered the store, displayed a handgun, and ordered the clerk to lie face down on the floor. The assailants then raided the cash register and stole several cartons of cigarettes before fleeing the business, police said. Taken into custody this week were 26-year-old Tanya Brace, 35-year-old Dawn Doviak, 36-year-old William Manfredi, and 29-year-old Robert Johnston, all of Rutland. An arrest warrant has been sought for 42-year-old Shawn Ritchie, the alleged gunman. Ritchie, who's also from Rutland, is already wanted on multiple other warrants, police said. Johnston, Manfredi and Ritchie are facing assault and robbery charges, while Brace and Doviak are facing charges of aiding in the commission of a felony. Brace and Doviak were parked in a nearby getaway car while the men entered Champlain Beverage to rob the store, according to investigators. As the group drove back to Rutland, they discarded clothing that was worn during the robbery, which police recovered and sent to the Vermont Forensic Laboratory in Waterbury for processing. Police said they believe Ritchie is still in the area of Addison and Rutland counties. MAP showing approximate location of armed robbery: bust.jpg SPRINGFIELD - Shown is a police haul after a raid on an alleged drug ring at 127 Cedar St. on Feb. 26, 2016. (Springfield Police Department) SPRINGFIELD - Police raided what they called a "heroin distribution den" on Friday night, netting multiple arrests - including a woman already outfitted with an electronic monitoring bracelet. Police spokesman Sgt. John M. Delaney said a team of narcotics officers executed a search warrant at 127 Cedar St. There, they seized 606 bags of heroin marked with "Flat Line" logos; five grams of pure heroin; eight bags of marijuana and more than $2,400 in cash. "Detectives set up surveillance and arrested several customers that were purchasing heroin and then raided the home. Three drug dealing suspects were arrested without incident," Delaney said in a press release. Among the three was Victoria Ann Dones, 30, of 127 Cedar St., who was outfitted with a Sheriff's Department electronic monitoring bracelet, according to Delaney. The nature of the previous conviction that led to Dones wearing the tracking device was not immediately clear. She was charged with two drug distribution counts and conspiracy to violate drug laws. Also arrested was Crystal Dones, 28, of the same address. She was charged with three counts of drug possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy to violate drug laws. The third person placed under arrest was Juan Carlos Febus, 28, of the same address. He was charged with five criminal counts including distribution, possession with intent and conspiracy to violate drug laws. The investigation was led by Lt. Alberto Ayala and Det. Edwin Hernandez. Delaney said the three will be held without bail over the weekend until their arraignments Monday in Springfield District Court. "If you continue to deal heroin in Springfield you will find yourself behind bars," he added. Hillary Clinton Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at a campaign event at the Williamsburg County Recreation Center in Kingstree, S.C., Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Gerald Herbert) PITTSFIELD Hillary Clinton will bring her Democratic presidential campaign to Massachusetts next week in a last ditch effort to shore up support ahead of Tuesday's primary election. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, who announced the visits to supporters who gathered at the campaign's Pittsfield organizing office, said the former secretary of state will stop in Springfield Monday morning before traveling to Boston for an afternoon event. Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, meanwhile, is expected to stop in Worcester for an election eve rally, the congressman said. Details for the events are expected to be released later Saturday. The stops will come just one week after Democratic rival Bernie Sanders campaigned in Boston and Amherst and one day before Massachusetts voters will join those in about a dozen other states in casting ballots in the presidential primaries. With polls predicting a close race between the former first lady and Vermont senator in the Bay State on so-called "Super Tuesday," Neal contended that Clinton's plans to visit Massachusetts suggest the state is still in play. "The outcome is likely to be close, I think that there's been fluidity to the polling data that we've seen. But if you're going to have Secretary Clinton in Springfield on Monday, in Boston on Monday afternoon and Bill Clinton in Worcester on Monday night, it's very clear that they see this as being winnable," he said in an interview. Although Clinton won the state in her 2008 presidential election bid and her husband saw huge wins in Massachusetts in his own White House runs, Neal said he's not surprised that the current race between her and Sanders is so close. He, however, said he thinks the former first lady's decision to campaign in Western Massachusetts could help move the needle in terms of voters who decide to support her. "I think that she's going to do very well in Western Massachusetts," the congressman said. A WBUR/MassINC poll released this week gave Clinton, who stopped in Holyoke for a campaign fundraiser in early October, a slight lead over Sanders in Massachusetts. FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Red Sox don't yet have a defined role for lefthander Roenis Elias, but they do know they have an intriguing pitcher. Elias, acquired from Seattle along with reliever Carson Smith in a trade for Wade Miley this winter, has a unique delivery, with a changing arm slot and a quick, short leg kick, that provides a difficult look for hitters. Elias (pronounced ehl-LEE-us) has primarily served as a starter over the last two seasons, making 49 starts in 51 appearances, but he's amassed a 3.97 ERA and 7.6 strikeout per nine innings. The Red Sox will use the spring to determine whether he'll remain a starter or be shifted to the bullpen. Elias possesses impressive splits against lefties, holding them to a .218 average and .635 OPS in 228 at-bats. Righties have hit .255 with a .744 OPS in 839 at-bats against him. "The fact that he's versatille adds to his initial value," manager John Farrell said after watching Elias' first live batting practice session, in which he faced Rusney Castillo. Castillo had faced Elias before in Serie Nacional in Cuba. "I applaud Elias because those arm movements that he does are very hard to do," Castillo said. "It's his mechanism to get people out. So I applaud him for that." Farrell acknowledged the unorthodox style that Elias uses. While he provides a deceptive look from the mound, it's his control that could be an issue. The 27-year-old walked 44 batters last season while striking out 97 in 115 1/3 innings. "He's one of those guys that you watch in a competitive environment and he starts to stand out so you see the creativeness come out of him," Farrell said. "You see the varied arm slots, the ability to spin the breaking ball from multiple angles. You can see why his savvy would play out in game situations. There's certain guys, their deliveries might look pretty, they give you a different impression in just the bullpen. But then there's those other guys, in the moment, when they're competing, that's where you see their true talents shine." Follow MassLive.com Red Sox beat reporter @jcmccaffrey on Twitter. She can be reached by email at jmccaffr@masslive.com. Shane Victorino Then-Boston Red Sox's Shane Victorino watches his double off Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Jose Dominguez during the ninth inning on April 21, 2015 in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/O'Meara) The Chicago Cubs have signed former Red Sox right fielder Shane Victorino to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training camp. Victorino has been limited to just 101 games combined over the past two seasons because of injuries. He batted .230 with a .308 on-base percentage, .292 slugging percentage, .601 OPS, one homer, four doubles, two triples and seven RBIs last year in 71 games between the Red Sox and Angels. Boston traded him to the Angels on July 27 for utility infielder Josh Rutledge. Victorino helped Boston win the World Series in 2013. He slashed .294/.351/.451/.801 with 15 homers, 26 doubles, two triples, 61 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. He also won a Gold Glove that year. Local CIOs gathered in Sunnyvale, Calif., on Thursday to discuss what it means to be a smart city and how to position todays government for the future. Before the Internet of Things can reach its potential, there needs to be a way for objects to connect with one another. Thats why Miguel Gamino, CIO of San Francisco, said hes looking first at establishing connectivity. by Ben Miller Full Story: http://www.govtech.com/dc/How-Cities-Can-Get-Smart-6-Tips-from-Local-CIOs.html Forbes has named Carroll College http://www.carroll.edu/ as the best college in Montana. On its list of "The Best College in Every State," Forbes described Carroll College as "a small, private, Catholic liberal arts college up 4,000 feet in the mountains of Helena, Montanas capital city." Full Story: http://helenair.com/news/education/forbes-names-carroll-college-best-in-montana/article_5cb76ca2-a00c-5e16-b24b-3761d7047cc2.html The City of Columbia Falls is one step closer to being able to foster development of an industrial park north of Railroad Street. City Manager Susan Nicosia told the council last Tuesday night that the state Department of Revenue had approved the citys targeted economic development district for the industrial park. SmartLam http://smartlam.com/ , a company that makes high-strength wood panels from local timber, is expected to be an anchor tenant at the park. The development district creates a framework to attract businesses to the park. By CHRIS PETERSON Full Story: http://www.flatheadnewsgroup.com/hungryhorsenews/tedd-ok-d-by-state-paving-way-for-smartlam-expansion/article_f4322a78-db0a-11e5-9771-2b39695113c8.html Across the Great Plains even in winter the new cash crop is high tech. Whats happening, say Stephanie and Paul Jarrett, is an explosion of startup software companies in the heartland, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann. Full Story: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/silicon-prairie-great-plains-midwest-startup-tech-companies-entrepreneurs/ *** No. 1 among states for start-up businesses, Montana offers help too http://www.matr.net/article-70291.html Montana Gov. Steve Bullock promotes new online Business Navigator tool http://www.matr.net/article-70273.html Governor Bullock Announces New Montana Workforce Training Program http://www.matr.net/article-70135.html Advertisement Loeb and Rachel K. Wion, a nursing Ph.D. student, analyzed 19 peer-reviewed research articles about EOL or palliative care for prisoners published between 2002 and 2014. All but one of these articles was conducted in the U.S. The report is published in the"It was surprising to find that family was clearly absent from these studies," said Loeb, also director of the Ph.D. program in nursing. "There was mention of prisoners receiving family visits, but there was no family perspective on end-of-life care in prison."The researchers found that the number of designated hospice beds in prisons varied from as low as one bed to a high of "unlimited," although nine available hospice beds was the average.EOL care for prisoners is provided by a wide variety of people, from fellow inmates to professional healthcare workers, and the care itself ranged from addressing psychosocial and emotional needs to provide healthcare interventions. Attitudes toward hospice care for prisoners varied among prison staff, with corrections officers expressing the most resistance. However, corrections officers who had substantial hospice exposure were more supportive than those with little or no exposure.The status of inmate caregivers varied across the studies reviewed -- some were paid, some were not; some worked one hour per week, while others worked 40 to 48 hours a week; some prisons trained the inmate caregivers for an hour, while others received four weeks of training."Hospice coordinators felt that EOL care had a positive impact on the general prison population as well as on dying prisoners because it promoted compassion and presented an alternative to the view of the prison system as entirely punitive -- showing it to be more humane and caring, supportive of the dignity of the dying patient, and encouraging trust between prison staff and inmates," wrote Wion and Loeb.Moving forward, the researchers say more research should be done to look at healthcare providers' approach to EOL care and to how patients, prison administrators and external hospice providers view the quality of EOL care delivered by healthcare professionals in prisons. The researchers also note that looking at end-of-life care in non-American prisons is important, as very little research has been done in prisons elsewhere in the world.Source: Eurekalert Advertisement China is the only country in the world with more smokers than India. In both countries, tobacco taxes have not kept pace with the increased affordability of cigarettes. In 2010 smoking caused about 1 million deaths or 10 percent of all deaths in India, with about 70 percent of those deaths occurring between the ages of 30 and 69, what should be the prime of their lives, said Dr. Jha.The study found the number of men smoking any type of tobacco at ages 15-69 years rose by about 29 million, or 36 percent, from 79 million in 1998 to 108 million in 2015, representing an average annual increase of about 1.7 million male smokers. The overall age adjusted smoking prevalence at ages 15-69 years declined modestly from 27 percent in 1998 to 24 percent in 2010 but total numbers rose due to population growth.Smoking cessation is uncommon in India. In 2015, at ages 45-59 years, there are roughly four current smokers for every quitter. By contrast, in North America, where smoking cessation is now common, there are more quitters than current smokers at these ages. The study also found that the sharpest increase in male smoking occurred at ages 15-29 years. The highest prevalence of any smoking in men aged 15-69 years was in illiterate men in both 1998 and 2010.Among illiterate men, the prevalence of cigarette smoking rose most sharply, by about 3.6 times. By contrast, among men with Grade 10 or more education, the prevalence of bidi or any smoking fell, but still rose modestly for cigarettes. The research shows that the number of smokers rose about 68 per cent from 19 to 31 million in urban India and about 26 percent from 61 to 77 million in rural India.At the ages 15-69 years, there were about 11 million women who smoked (about one-tenth of the total of male smokers). It also noted that the smoking prevalence in women born after 1960 was about half of the prevalence in women born before 1950, suggesting that there is no increase in young women smoking. By contrast, there are few intergenerational changes in smoking prevalence in men at these ages. The study is published in the journal BMJ Global Health.Source: ANI Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends. Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice. MENLO PARK Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg scolded employees this week for crossing out the phrase Black Lives Matter and writing All Lives Matter on the walls of the companys headquarters. In a leaked internal message, Zuckerberg said he and other leaders have told employees in the past to stop the behavior but it hasnt ceased yet. I was already very disappointed by this disrespectful behavior before, but after my clear communication I now consider this malicious as well, he wrote in the post. The company has a physical wall at its headquarters where visitors and employees can write messages, and the 31-year-old CEO noted that crossing out a phrase is equivalent to silencing speech. Facebook declined to comment on the record about the incidents, which the company is investigating. Zuckerbergs stern remarks come as tech companies, including Facebook are trying to diversify a workforce that is mostly made up of white and Asian men. About 2 percent of Facebooks U.S. workforce is black, and a smaller percentage are tech employees at the social media company, data from 2015 shows. All Lives Matter is one of a number of coded phrases that tell employees of color that they dont really belong. Similar to the damning praise of telling a Black man that he is articulate, or complaining that diversity efforts mean lowering the bar, Freada Kapor Klein, a partner at the Kapor Center for Social Impact in Oakland, said in a statement. Its exactly these sorts of slights and micro-aggressions that cause talent of color to leave the job and contributes to the overall dismal diversity we see in tech. Facebook executives have noted in the past that diversity is also important for the tech firms business because it serves 1.6 billion users worldwide from various cultures. From training about bias to exposing minority students to careers in tech, Facebook has been ramping up efforts to recruit and retain a more diverse workforce. On Friday, more than 200 Bay Area black students from underserved communities are also scheduled to be at the companys headquarters for a tour, career panel and other activities as part of a Black History Month celebration. High-profile gender discrimination cases including the lawsuit that former junior partner Ellen Pao lost against venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers have also brought more attention to subtle forms of discrimination. In March, former Facebook employee Chia Hong sued the social media company, claiming she was discriminated against and harassed because of her gender and Taiwanese descent but dropped the lawsuit in October. The Black Lives Matter movement started after 17-year-old black teenager Trayvon Martin was fatally shot in 2012 by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in Florida. Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder in 2013, sparking the movement and a nationwide discussion about racism. Zuckerberg said in the memo to employees that the black community has dealt with a history of oppression and racism in the United States and that the phrase Black Lives Matter doesnt mean other lives dont, encouraging employees to learn more about the movement. This has been a deeply hurtful and tiresome experience for the black community and really the entire Facebook community, and we are now investigating the current incidents, Zuckerberg said. Tech blog Gizmodo obtained the internal memo and first reported the story. Some advocacy groups such as the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, which is led by well-known civil rights activist the Rev. Jesse Jackson, praised Zuckerberg for his remarks to employees. If that is the case, good for Mark for sticking to his convictions and setting a leadership example for all of Facebook, Jackson said in statement. Contact Queenie Wong at 408-920-2706. Follow her at Twitter.com/QwongSJ. SEBEWAING Unique businesses lining the streets. Residents and visitors strolling through town, taking in the sights, happy to be where they are. People recognizing and appreciating all of the towns benefits. These ideals are shared by every community for its downtown district, but its especially challenging for rural communities to achieve those goals. Sebewaing residents are taking on the challenge to revitalize downtown. They believe their bayside community can be so much more than it is today, and want to move the vision forward. About 65 people recently attended a downtown revitalization meeting at the Sebewaing Township Library to discuss ideas to bring more life into the downtown. Sebewaing is participating in the states Main Street program, which is part of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. The program helps communities develop main street districts that attract both residents and businesses, promote commercial investment and spur economic growth. The program uses a four-point approach to assist the participating communities: Design, economic restructuring, promotion and organization. Sebewaing recently has seen some new businesses open in its downtown area, such as Sparkle Studio and BathQuest. Some buildings have recently been purchased, as well, which has people excited about the possibilities. Carl Osentoski, Huron County Economic Development Corp. executive director, said hes excited about helping Sebewaing rejuvenate its downtown. This is your community. You tell me what you need, he said. Im a resource, and I will help find funding sources to help projects move forward. Osentoski said when figuring out how to bring economic development to Sebewaing, the town needs to figure out its story what makes the town unique? What are the markets the town wants to attract families? Entrepreneurs? Industry? He said the changes in the markets need to be considered when trying to reach them. You need to leverage your assets what do (you) have that other areas dont, he said. Use small, incremental approaches for your projects. Do (them) on a small scale first, and then add on later. One idea he shared was WaterFire, an art event in Providence, R.I., in which hundreds of bonfires blaze just above the river water while music plays. The summer/fall event is very popular, he said, and with a river running through its downtown, Sebewaing would be a perfect spot for such a display. He also suggested using more lighting to highlight the river during the evening hours. Osentoski noted Sebewaing has a lot of wonderful natural resources and agricultural resources that could be the basis for unique downtown businesses. He said if businesses sell products that have a local story behind them, people are more likely to support those businesses. Jeff Parsons, Bay Shore Camp executive director, led the residents in a discussion about the towns strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Some of the strengths listed include the river, marina, museums, library, the fiber project, and the towns good people. Some of the weaknesses mentioned were the towns location (not along an interstate highway), blight, empty buildings, lack of recreational opportunities, and a shortage of jobs. Natural resources, bird watching, boating, ag tourism and history were some of the opportunities mentioned, while threats included the lack of a young population, big box stores in neighboring towns and over regulation by state government. Next, everyone was invited to come up with ideas for businesses, services and opportunities theyd love to see in Sebewaing. Some of the ideas included a microbrewery, a riverwalk, a book store, a distillery, a steak house, kayak rentals, a flea market, an ice rink, skydiving at the airport, concerts, a beach, an indoor shooting range and a youth center. Some of the ideas to get the most votes included a microbrewery, a beach and a steakhouse. The ideas that received the most votes are considered top priorities for Sebewaing to pursue, step by step. State Rep. Edward Canfield, R-Sebewaing, ended the meeting with some words of encouragement. He said in order to move the town forward, people need to think and speak positively and with enthusiasm about the town, rather than focusing on the negative. We have a great community, he said. We just have to find a way to resurrect it. We have to keep working at it. Village President Alex Khoury said he enjoyed the positive energy at the meeting and noted a key part of moving forward is channeling that energy. We see a lot of negativity, but (we) need to turn the frustration into progress. When we do that, a lot of good things can happen, he said. Sebewaing Light and Water Department Superintendent Melanie McCoy agreed. I was excited to get all of those different ideas. Thats exactly what we wanted, she said. At the end of the meeting, I was more energized than exhausted. The meeting gave us some priorities, and now we need to talk about how to move forward. We want successes to come out of these priorities. There is no easy button, though. This is going to be more of a process. She was impressed by the wide range of ages of those who attended. They were all there because they care, she said. The next Sebewaing Downtown Revitalization meeting is set for 7 p.m. March 22 at the library. HURON COUNTY DTE Energy is eyeing more than 20,000 acres across four townships for a new wind energy project. The utility sent a letter dated Feb. 24 to the county requesting a wind energy overlay district, which, if approved by county planners, would deem areas suitable for construction of a wind project. The county planning commission is set to review DTEs request on Wednesday. Included in DTEs request is a map showing property easements for wind energy the utility has obtained in the majority of Lincoln Township and portions of Dwight, Bloomfield and Sigel townships. It is too early to speculate on number or size of turbines, DTE Lead Communications Specialist Jennifer Wilt said in an email. Huron Countys recent wind ordinance revisions are more restrictive, so we are evaluating this area of land in light of these changes. Wilt says planning for the project has only recently begun. It is important to note that DTE requested the overlay because this approval process can take time, and it is essential should we decide to move forward with developing a detailed site plan, Wilt said. Wind energy and other renewables development spurred largely from a 2008 state mandate that required utilities to generate 10 percent from renewable energy sources by the end of 2015. Utilities exceeded the 10 percent by that time, according to a Michigan Public Service Commission report. Utilities by law must continue to meet the mandate. And, the IRS extended a corporate renewable electricity production tax credit available to developers to Dec. 31, 2019. The credit applies to a projects first 10 years of operation, with a rebate amount of 2.3 cents per kilowatt hour. Wilt says DTE continues to explore sites throughout the state for wind and solar projects, but there are no plans for specific projects. DTE will continue to invest in new renewable energy with or without new state mandates. DTE believes renewable energy should and will be a growing part of DTEs long-term plan to move us to a cleaner, more diversified energy portfolio, she said in an email. Currently, there are 40 DTE turbines between Sigel and Bloomfield townships. They were energized in 2012. In a separate project, DTE plans to start building its Pinnebog Wind Park on 13,000 acres in Oliver, Chandler and Colfax townships in the spring. It would add 30 turbines. Other developers also plan to break ground once the frost lifts. Dwight, Lincoln and Huron townships will receive their first turbines as part of a 72-unit spread. Neighboring Rubicon Township is set to get 10 more, while McKinley and Winsor would split 30. In all, the projects would boost the countys total wind turbine count to about 475. There are currently 328 turbines in the county. LANSING The Childrens Trust Fund has announced a plan to provide communities throughout Michigan an opportunity to increase funds for local child abuse prevention efforts in Sanilac County. Grants from the Trust Fund support a wide range of programs and services through the statewide network of Child Abuse and Neglect Councils. The Sanilac County Child Abuse Prevention Council has been the recipient of CTF grant monies for several years now, and these funds help provide prevention programs like Community Baby Pantries located in Sandusky & Croswell, Annual Community Baby Shower, Infant Safe Sleep Program, the Child Advocate housed at Evas Place Shelter, the Safe Kids Car Seat Program, How To Report Seminars, the Darkness To Light-Stewards of Children Workshops and community wide education to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect. All new tax check-off contributions made to the Childrens Trust Fund will be returned to the communities that made the contributions stated Michael Foley, executive director of the Childrens Trust Fund. The Trust Fund has always provided community grants that exceed the local tax check-off amounts. Now, with this new plan, we will increase those grants, dollar for dollar, with the new contributions in Sanilac County. We are confident that this plan will be an incentive for tax payers throughout Michigan to support child abuse prevention efforts in their communities. CTF is the only statewide, nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. It relies heavily on the contributions donated through the state income tax campaign to fund direct service and local prevention programs across the state of Michigan that help build strong, healthy families and keep children safe. Since its creation in 1982, CTF has raised over $70 million and provided support to over six million children and families. Michigan taxpayers can take advantage of the opportunity to increase the child abuse prevention funding their communities by making a tax deductible contribution when filing the Michigan tax return. The Charitable Contribution Form 4642 is used to contribute to the Childrens Trust Fund. For more information about CTF & how to contribute, visit www.michigan.gov/ctf. The Sanilac County Child Abuse Prevention Council & Child Advocacy Center are part of a consolidated collaboration of Sanilac County entities that provide programs related to child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault and homelessness called The S.A.V.E. (Sanilac Area Violence Elimination & Education) Partnership. To learn more about what they are doing to prevent child abuse and neglect in Sanilac County and how you can help, call Program Coordinator Jennifer Gezequel at 810-648-4098 ext. 155 or email gezequelj@sanilachealth.com, or visit www.savepartnership.org. Almost 100 people mostly from Haiti who were rescued from an overcrowded boat off the Florida coast had no food or water for... GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- After a decade working in Chicago, Dustin Foster recently relocated to Grand Rapids, convinced there was a need in the region for his creative expertise. The Michigan native and his partner, Daniel Wiltshire, polish up commercials and film in post production with editing, color, motions design and special effects. Their clients tend to be advertising agencies or the in-house marketing departments of companies. Chop & Hue, their 4-employee firm, garnered 11 Addy awards at the American Advertising Federation of West Michigan's annual award show on Thursday, Feb. 26. Among the accolades was the big honor of the night, a Best of Show award, for color, online editorial and finishing of Firehouse Sub's funny "Career Day" commercial. The work was done for Chicago ad agency, The Onion Labs, while Joe Czerw, a Chop & Hue collective member, worked as director of photography on the commercial. "Career Day" from Chop and Hue on Vimeo. Foster sees the recognition as a sign West Michigan is becoming a bigger player in the advertising industry. "We believe you can do great work (here) without the big city fees," said Foster, who graduated from Grand Valley State University. Wiltshire studied animation at Lansing Community College. The annual awards show gives a glimpse at some of the best work being produced in West Michigan. More than 300 professionals and students attended the award show at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts in downtown Grand Rapids. Judges gave out 34 gold, 29 silver and 17 bronze Addy awards in the professional category, and 13 gold, 14 silver and 13 bronze student awards. The competition was tougher this year with 461 professional and student entries, up from 308 in 2015. The 50 percent uptick in entries isn't the only sign of the region's expanding creative base. Talent is being nurtured at Kendall College of Art and Design, Baker College of Muskegon, Ferris State University and GVSU. But not all students are sticking around after they graduate. "I'm leaning toward Chicago where I interned last year," said Zak Sturgeon, a senior at Kendall College of Art & Design. Sturgeon, who won three Silver Addy awards last year, collected the 2016 student Best of Show award for his "Happy Tacos" mobile app. Josephine Uhila, another KCAD senior, has also begun looking for jobs in Chicago. She won a Judges' Choice Addy award for her "Bull and Stash" Magazine Advertising Campaign. For the fifth year in a row, Extra Credit Projects took home the most awards with 12. Founder Rob Jackson was also honored with the Silver Medal Award for his contributions to the West Michigan advertising industry. In addition to Extra Credit Projects and Chop & Hue, the big award takers of the evening were the Traverse City-based PB&J with 10, retailer Meijer's in-house creative team with nine, and Holland-based The Image Group with six. The other 2016 Judges' Choice Addy Award winners were: Meijer for its "Chocolate Bunny Problems" online campaign. Gorilla, in the emotional storytelling category, for its "The Kindness of Strangers" internet commercial Josh Kulchar Art Direction & Design, in the integrated branding category, for its work on Long Road Distillers' "Craftmanship" commercial. Nicole Fuller, a KCAD Student, won for the design of her magazine, "Our Way: An Insider on the Amputee Lifestyle." A complete list of AAFWMI 2016 ADDY Award winners can be found at aafwmi.org. RELATED: See who won West Michigan's 2015 Addy Awards Who won West Michigan's 2014 Addy awards The Grand Valley State softball team kicked off the 2016 season in a strong way with a pair of in-region victories on Friday (Feb. 26) at the Lewis Dome Invitational in Rosemont, Ill. GVSU opened the year with a 4-3 win over Missouri S&T before coming back to take down Illinois Springfield in the nightcap, 7-5. Both Laker victories came over opponents from the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), as Grand Valley State moved to 2-0 on the new year. GVSU returns 16 letterwinners, its entire starting lineup, and its top three pitchers from last season's 32-17 team, getting off to a good start at the indoor tournament. For the full recap, click here or visit gvsulakers.com Hickory Woods Park Hickory Woods Park in Pittsfield Township is pictured July 30, 2015. (Dominic Valente | The Ann Arbor News) Pittsfield Township will ask voters to renew its .4855-mill parks tax scheduled to expire this year. If approved, the millage is projected to generate between $841,000 and $950,000 annually over the next 10 years. The election is on March 8. Supervisor Mandy Grewal said an informational mailer the township sent out incorrectly stated the election is on May 8. Since 2005, park millage funds paid down Pittsfield Preserve parkland debt. In 2002, the township purchased 535 acres of parkland bounded by Michigan Avenue, Morgan Road, Marton Road and Platt Road. Millage funds also went to the development of Hickory Woods Park, which included the installation of a pavilion, playground equipment and restrooms. That project was matched with a Michigan Department of Natural Resources grant, Grewal noted. The Pittsfield Preserve debt will be paid off in 2017, and Grewal said the millage, if renewed, will help the township continue to invest in its growing network of greenways and non-motorized paths; acquire more parkland; pay for mulit-modal facilities; and fund park and senior amenities. "Pittsfield Township residents consistently rank parks, trails and green space preservation, along with non-motorized amenities like sidewalks and greenways, as one of their top priorities," Grewal said. She added that the township received $5 million in federal, state and county grants since 2009 that it used to establish the non-motorized and greenway network. "Renewal of the park millage will allow us to further enhance this non-motorized network. Other priorities for the park millage moving forward would be acquisition of park space in areas of the township that are currently deficient, especially in the northwest and northeast; preservation of green spaces; and improving park and senior amenities," Grewal said. The township's general fund millage rate is 4.1561, while its public safety millage rate is at 1.95. Popular comedian-turned-actor, Ayo Makun aka AY, has reacted to the rumour making the rounds that his 7-year old marriage to his wife, Mabel has hit the rocks. AYs reaction was coming a day after news went viral on Wednesday, that his marriage to Mabel, who is an interior decorator has crashed, owing to alleged domestic violence. Taking to his Instagram page to dispel the rumour, AY who is currently in the UK, shooting a new Television series, Lodgers, described some blogs as the bringers of bad news. According to him, Some blogs are, for the most part, the bringers of bad news and its not entirely the bloggers fault, bad news gets higher ratings, travels faster and sells more than good news. The reality is that you will continue to hear negative information from many sources against anything that showcases your blessings and pride. Gossip is just a tool to distract people who have nothing better to do from feeling jealous of those few who are still remaining in the institution called Celebrity Marriage. It lies in our will to decide whether to discard them into the waste bin or record them into our brains! The question is whose report will you believe? 27.02.2016 LISTEN The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts has held a sensitisation workshop in Ho in the Volta Region to enlighten its stakeholders on the Creative Arts Bill. The workshop was part of a nationwide tour to interact and solicit the views of industry players regarding the new bill. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, addressing the gathering, mentioned that the industry needs a legal and regulatory framework to back its activities since it contributes immensely to the economy. The bill when passed would be called the 'Creative Industry Scheme' and it would also ensure effective management, co-ordination and facilitation of the activities of creative practitioners and its organisations. Mrs Ofosu-Adjare pointed out that a Creative Arts Council would also address the issues of funding, copyrighting and other issues affecting the progress of the industry. . The minister said the council would also provide guidance to the industry, train creative arts enterprise operators as well as organise workshops for young people to interact with the older ones in the industry. She lauded President John Mahama for his enormous efforts to transform the sector to make it conducive and attractive by releasing an amount of GH 200,000 to the industry. Mrs Ofosu-Adjare charged all to take proper care of government properties, indicating that the Kpetoe Tourist Receptive Centre, which was razed by fire earlier this year, would be rehabilitated. Mrs Helen Adjoa Ntoso, the Volta Regional Minister, mentioned that the tourist industry is a good sector where the nation could gain more foreign exchange and promote the socio-cultural life of Ghanaians. The participants commended the ministry for the good work being done to transform the industry. 27.02.2016 LISTEN Ghanaian finest movie producer, Eugene Moratt of E&E Production has appealed to the Ghana Police Service to reconsider their statement concerning the use of police uniforms in making movies. Even though Mr. Moratt who was in an interview with seancitygh.com, sides with the police, he thinks that the decision will have a great impact on their work hence the police should make things cool for them. "There are some of the productions who abuse the use of the police uniforms. Some dress anyhow in the uniforms and a whole lot. But I think they should have given us at least a notice. This is coming to us as a surprise. They should at least sit down with us and give us directions. Because there may be some producers who before their pronouncement might have worked already on movies which used the uniforms. They can even educate us on where and how to use the uniform. We just beg them. Else the value of the movies concerning police will be less." The Ghana Police Service recently issued a statement banning Ghanaian movie producers from using the police uniforms in making movies. This according to the police, the movie producers are abusing the use of the uniforms in their movoes and that goes a way of tarnishing the image of the profession. Eugene Moratt of E&E Production is the brain behind some favorite movies like Fulani landguard, Ghana Police, Libya akwantuo, Electricity power, just to name few. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been in power since 2014. By Adem Altan (AFP) 27.02.2016 LISTEN Ankara (AFP) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit four west African countries next week, including Nigeria, his office said Saturday in a new sign of Ankara's desire to be a major influence in the region. Erdogan will began his visit in Ivory Coast on Sunday, before travelling on to Ghana and then to economic powerhouse Nigeria. He will wrap up the trip in Guinea on Thursday, it said. The visit was aimed at deepening Turkey's "strategic partnership" with Africa and developing relations with members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the presidential statement said. It will be the first time a Turkish president has visited Ivory Coast and Guinea, it added. Erdogan, who in January last year visited Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia, is spearheading a drive to expand Turkish presence in Africa. Turkey has more than tripled the number of embassies it has in Africa since 2009 while flag carrier Turkish Airlines has dozens of destinations on the continent. Bilateral trade between Turkey and all of Africa was worth $23.4 billion in 2014 while bilateral trade with sub-Saharan countries has increased tenfold since 2000, according to the foreign ministry. Turkey is also moving to increase its presence outside its traditional sphere of influence in the lands of the Ottoman Empire and Erdogan this year also visited Chile, Ecuador and Peru. The African Union Commissioner for Human Resources Science and Technology (HRST), H.E Dr. Martial De-Paul Ikounga and Ms. Francine Muyumba, President of the Pan African Youth Union (PYU) have today 26th February signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the AUC headquarters. The agreement will create a working partnership that enables both the AUC and the PYU to pursue collaborative activities and projects that will pave way for the promotion of the right to meaningful participation of youth in development affairs on the continent. Speaking during the occasion, H.E Dr. Martial De-Paul IkoungaAUC Commissioner for Human Resource Science and Technology (HRST) said that following the signing of the MOU the framework has been set for working and partnering with the PYU. We shall continueto work hand in hand towards the implementation of this agreement said the Commissioner. Ms. Francine Muyumba President of the Pan African Youth Union in her remarks expressed her gratitude towards the AUC for the hard work demonstrated and events that led to the to the signing of the MOU. This is only the beginning and more work is yet to come towards the achievement of the implementation mechanism to ensure that youth participation in development is attained added Ms. Francine. The Pan African Youth Union is a continental youth organization which works with the National Youth councils and other youth led organizations and networks from across the African Union Member States. As a continental body, PYU cooperates with other regional, continental and international organizations in advancing the rights of the youth and the implementation of the African Youth Charter, the AU Agenda 2063 and other relevant continental and international agendas on youth development. Through the MOU, the parties shall collaborate in popularization of continental frameworks on youth development and the promotion of youth agenda, specifically, implementation of the African Youth Charter. Collaboration shall also be in enhancing cooperation between the AUC, Member States, and other continental and global partners in initiating innovative programs for youth development. The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer, has urged the parties to the Syrian conflict to allow aid deliveries to all people in need and to continue to work towards a political solution to end the suffering of millions of people. He said there needed to be a concerted effort by all those 'with influence' to bring to an end the devastating war which is entering its sixth year. After five years of fighting, Syria has become the emblematic war of the early 21st century, said Mr Maurer. It is highly complex and volatile. There is a plethora of armed actors and weapons. In many areas, civilian infrastructure, including water, electricity and health facilities, has been destroyed or severely damaged. This has led to massive suffering for the people, with millions forced to flee their homes owing to cruel urban warfare. Mr Maurer left Syria today after a 5-day visit during which he met senior Syrian officials. He also met the leadership and volunteers from the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC). He visited Al Waer and the Old City of Homs as well as Yelda, Babila and Beit Sahem in Rural Damascus, where tens of thousands of people have been struggling to survive. In Al Waer, Yelda and Babila, he met civilians who have been affectedby the situation and community leaders and committees representing the armed opposition. "The most urgent thing is to increase humanitarian aid. The ICRC, together with SARC, has consistently expanded its operations, but humanitarian needs are growing even faster. We want to do more, for more people. Humanitarian deliveries must not depend on political negotiations but must be allowed to continue and increase regardless of any truce or ceasefire. "I urged the Syrian authorities to take immediate and practical steps to allow for an expansion of humanitarian work. Without it, more people will be forced to flee their homes inside Syria, into neighbouring countries and beyond. In my meetings with Syrian officials, I raised our concerns regarding access to besieged and other hard-to-reach areas and the impartial delivery of timely and unimpeded aid to all those who need it. In addition, I indicated our readiness to expand our visits to places of detention, pending authorizations. I also underlined the right of the wounded and sick to receive medical care and the obligation of all involved in the violence to respect medical personnel, facilities and vehicles. Furthermore, families need to know the fate of missing loved ones. This is an area where the ICRC can offer extensive experience. "It is time for the warring parties to end this horrendous conflict and for the world powers who can influence the situation to act decisively. Violations of international humanitarian law are a constant and terrible feature of the war in Syria. These violations lead to unimaginable and unnecessary suffering," said Mr Maurer. President John Dramani Mahama 26.02.2016 LISTEN President John Dramani Mahama yesterday announced plans to introduce a National Integrity Awards scheme to honor individuals who distinguish themselves in the fight against corruption. The President told parliament in his state of the Nation address yesterday that the scheme was part of measures to enhance the fight against corruption and to recognize those who stand up against the menace. Also, he said a witness protection bill would soon be presented to parliament for passage into law to provide a legal framework for protection of witnesses, especially in corrupt cases. "The unit provides a platform for people to report cases of corruption and poor services in the public sector, for follow-up and investigates after which those found culpable would be punished" he said. This is the risk my government has taken, and we will continue to tackle corruption, he added. File Photo 26.02.2016 LISTEN Most youths of Kibi in the Akim Abuakwa Municipality of the Eastern Region and its surrounding towns are into illegal gold mining as a solution to their unanswered idleness. The youths are seen dressed up in their working attire each day even on Sundays going to sites where they could find a place to mine illegally because it seems that is the only work which is more unless manna from heaven to ensure they also gets something for their up keeps. A visit by this reporter to Kibi and its surrounding towns including Asikam, Apapam, Kwabeng, Abomoso, Ankaase just to mention few revealed that illegal mining was very effective despite warnings from the Chiefs and by extension the government that people should refrain from engaging in illegal mining. The Small-Scale Gold Mining Law 1989 (PNDCL 218) states all the procedures one has to go through to acquire permit to mine in the country. Section 19 talks about Offences and Punishments under the Small-Scale Gold Mining Law 1989 (PNDCL 218) and the section (2) (a) of section 19 states that any person who without a license granted by the secretary undertakes any small-scale gold mining operation contrary to subsection (1) of section (1) of this law. Widely referred to as galamsey has done more harm than good to the people of the places. Though at the end the of day people would get some amount of money in their pockets which one way enhance business for people who prepare food and other consumables to sell on the galamsey site, it has its own negative effects which outweighs that of the positive effects, some residents disclosed. Almost all lands, during our visit to the aforementioned places have been taken over by galamsey and it would not be surprising to hear later that there are no lands that have not been taken over by galamsey operators because illegal mining is still operational at those towns. This reporter was also informed that the river Birim which had been the only source of drinking water for decades now has been polluted and it is not hygienic to drink or use the Birim River any longer. The residents at Kibi told this paper that they have to buy sachet water or get a well at their various homes. A person who cannot afford getting a well has to buy from those who have at a dear price per gallon, bucket or basin. Otherwise one has to get a pipe connection from the Ghana Water Company limited at Kibi. Over the years the Water Company Limited at Kibi got its source of water from the same Birim River until the galamsey operations polluted the water making it unsafe for human use, Sister Ama said passionately. However, with the help of the Chiefs and the Member of Parliament for Akyem Abuakwa South Constituency under which Kibi falls, Hon. Atta Akyea, President John Mahama recently inaugurated a water treatment plant for the people of Kibi as a move to providing good drinking water. In an interview with Kwasi Boah, one of the galamsey operators, he noted that galamsey is not a job he would encourage people to engage themselves in because it comes with its negativities. According to him it is very tedious. It requires a lot of energy. You have to carry the gravels from morning to evening for washing. At times you have to work throughout the night but at the end of the work you will get little amount of money because the owner of the site buys the gold you will wash at a lower price. I am still doing it because there are no employments in this town so I do this to survive, he disclosed. Yaw Koranteng, a trained wielder who went into galamsey but has reverted to doing his wielding had this to say its not a good job. I wont advise anybody to go into galamsey. I went into galamsey after my training as a wielder because I thought it was a good job but it is not so I have come back into my wielding he added. Unofficial statistics from some people who have taken galamsey seriously indicated that if you take ten (10) galamsey sites, at least six (6) people, most of whom are children die by drowning in the pits dug for galamsey purposes as a result of the operators not covering the pits after their operations. Most of the youths who are into the galamsey have developed the habit of smoking marijuana, locally called weed. One of such people who spoke anonymously stated that we do not get tired when they smoke the weed to do the work. Meanwhile, the youths beseeched the government to help create employment so that they will stop the illegal mining. Headmistress of Kperisi M.A. Primary School, Rosina Diedong, has stuck to her guns after being told to go apologize to the Wa Municipal Chief Executive (MCE). Joy News' Rafiq Salam reports that Diedong was asked to apologize to the MCE. Kperisi M.A. Primary School in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West region made the news yesterday after Joy News reported that the pupils were lying on the bare classroom floor to write because they don't have furniture in school. The Headmistress said the pupils dont only get waist pains as a result but they also catch a cold which always land them in the hospital. Only two of the 56 pupils in this classroom can boast of a table and a chair their parents bought them. The rest have to depend on the dirty bare floor here Over 500 pupils of the School, lie prostrate on the dirty bare floor to write because they are without furniture. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim | Email: [email protected] 26.02.2016 LISTEN Ho, Feb. 26, GNA - Mr Peter Kwame Agbozo, Executive Secretary, National Peace Council, Eastern Region, on Thursday asked media practitioners to help instill trust in the electoral process ahead of this year's general election. He noted that there was so much mistrust in the country and challenged the media to address the situation and hold the country together. Mr Agbozo was speaking at a two-day workshop for journalists and media practitioners in Ho on 'Promoting responsible and peaceful electoral leadership' organised by the Legal Resources Centre. The workshop was sponsored by the British High Commission. Mr Agbozo said trust was becoming an endangered value in the mist of difficulties facing the country and asked the media to strategise and give hope to the populace. 'People appear disconnected and there seems to be some fear. This is where we must give hope and not intensify the fear,' he stated. Mr Agbozo urged the media to move beyond promoting debates to dialogue because dialogues create non-threatening space for all. Mr Francis Ameyibor, General Coordinator, Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA) said the role of the media in the upcoming elections was crucial and urged practitioners to monitor and allow for transparency in the election process. He asked them to treat statements and opinion polls with great circumspection and understand the dangers of hate speech and what to do when politicians were whipping up debates into emotional campaign. Mr Ameyibor urged media houses to train their reporters ahead of the elections to avoid unprofessional conducts. GNA 26.02.2016 LISTEN Kumasi, Feb. 26. GNA - The Amenfiman Rural Bank has opened its Kumasi office with a pledge to introduce more innovative products to support strong growth of small businesses. Mr. Alexander Asmah, its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), said aiding small and medium enterprises (SMEs') to become vibrant and operate optimally was a key priority. That, he noted, was the way forward to create wealth and provide jobs for the people. He announced that it had already assisted a total of 12,500 such enterprises to improve their economic production performance. He, however, did not give details about the size of the support. Mr. Asmah said the bank's presence in the nation's second largest city was indicative of the tremendous strides it had been making. It has so far opened 13 branches and he underlined the determination of the Board of Directors and Management to sustain the deposit mobilization drive and bring quality banking services to the people. He spoke of attractive products including the 'Meba Daakye', meant to aid child's education and invited people in the metropolis to do business with the bank. Dr. Tony Aubynn, President of the Western Region Association of Rural Banks, put the bank's operation returns as of the end of December, last year, at GHE6.3 million. He hailed its performance and expressed optimism that it would avoid complacency and continue to maintain strict internal controls. Mr. Kwadwo Ayeh Kusi, Manager of Apex Bank Limited, saluted the bank for the impressive achievements. GNA Accra, Feb. 26, GNA - afb Ghana plc, a financial service company has reported improvement in its profit before tax by 100 per cent. Mr Arnold Parker, the Managing Director, afb Ghana plc said the key focus of management for the 2015 financial year was to strategically position the business for future growth and success. Mr Parker, speaking during the company's facts behind the figures session at the Ghana Stock Exchange, said the successful issuance and listing of the corporate bonds on the GAX has allowed the company to redeem all foreign denominated liabilities. He said it has also allowed the company to eliminate all foreign currency risks for the business. He said in 2015, the business paid attention to reducing its dollar debt, cutting cost and loan recovery and in 2016 and beyond, the business would be focused on balance sheet growth and profitability. He said the company would be launching a mobile loan service in the coming months to meet the financial needs of its customers. 'We are targeting 10 to 20 per cent of mobile money users and we have already signed an agreement with some of the telecommunication companies. He said during last year about 47 per cent of their loan applications were for education purposes, while over 30 per cent was to invest in business operations. Mr Bruce Sneddon, afb Loans Group Chief Executive Officer, said the company has started the current financial year well ahead of its month to month budget in what it promised to be a good year. He said in July 2015, the company raised GHa 40 million by issuing on the GAX corporate bonds to the investing public, which was heavily oversubscribed. 'Market watchers will be keenly eyeing afb, this year as it has made inroad into the market with its paperless loan application platform and other branchless financial service products,' he added. Mr K. S. Yamoah, Managing Director, Ghana Stock Exchange said the event was for companies to appear before investor, stakeholders to explain their achievements and challenges over the year. He called on other companies to appreciate the facts behind the figures session and take advantage of it. GNA Accra, Feb. 26, GNA - The elders of the La Leshie Divisional Council at a ceremony at the Yemote Odoi Royal House have installed Mr Benjamin Kojo Anang Yemoh from Patapaa We, as the Acting Nii Leshie. Mr Benjamin Kojo Anang Yemoh is a private contractor and he succeeds the late Nii Odoi Tsuru II, who was the Acting Nii Leshie. The function, which was chaired by Nii Yemodin II, La Akwashongtse and Principal Elder at the La Traditional Council; was witnessed by a large crowd of well wishers who followed the Acting Nii Leshie in a convoy to the Yemote Odoi Royal House. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, Nii Yemodin II said 11clans formed the La Leshie Divisional Quarters, and by tradition only three of them are mandated to rule, namely; 'Yemote Odoi We', 'Patapaa We' and 'Ofro Osro We'. He said it was time for Ofro Osro We to nominate a representative as the new Nii Leshie but due to conflict among members the throne had not been occupied. However, in conformity with tradition and custom of the Quarters the coronation ceremony had been held to create space to resolve the dispute. Nii Yemodin II , who is a also a member of the Patapaa We, said this would be a wake-up call that quarrelling would not solve problems or bring development, as such, differences should be resolved as early as possible to enable the elders install a substantive Leshie Mantse. He said with regards to the coronation ceremony the elders had taken steps both legally and customarily to consult the 11 clans adding; 'the last meeting held among all the 11 clans forming the Leshie Divisional Quarters agreed to the installation of an acting Leshie Mantse'. Mr Yemoh expressed gratitude to the elders of the La Leshie Divisional Council and all well wishers who were present to witness the coronation ceremony. He said he would pursue unity, education and development as his main agenda and, therefore, expressed the hope that all members would support him to achieve them. The Acting Nii Leshie, who joined the Leshie Council of Elders 24 years ago, would be outdoored on Sunday, February 28. GNA 26.02.2016 LISTEN Tamale, Feb. 26, GNA - Two-thousand seven hundred and twenty scholars comprising 500 tertiary students and 2220 Senior High School (SHS) students have so far benefited from the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Programme being run by the Campaign for Female Education (Camfed - Ghana). Mr Christian Zico-Agbebo, Programme Officer in-charge of Further Education at Camfed - Ghana, who spoke about the status of the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Programme, said currently the process was ongoing to select additional 1780 SHS students as beneficiaries. He was speaking at a meeting with media practitioners in Tamale organized by Camfed - Ghana with the objective to build strong strategic partnership with the media as partners in development. Media practitioners, who attended the meeting, were drawn from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions. MasterCard Foundation Scholars Programme, which is a 10-year initiative, began three years ago with the aim to support the education of 6000 girls in SHS and 4000 girls in tertiary institutions across 31 districts in the Northern, Upper East, Upper West and Central Regions. Mr Zico-Agbebo said beneficiary students received financial support for their fees, uniforms, books and supplies, transportation, accommodation and stipends. He said beneficiary students also benefited from enrichment in skill areas relevant to employment success such as critical thinking, communications, and entrepreneurship including a transition support to SHS, university or to the workforce with mentoring, career counselling, internships, leadership development amongst others. Mr Zico-Agbebo advised girls to work hard to merit selection to benefit from the programme to help contribute to the development of society. Mr Cyril Yabepone, Programme Manager in-charge of Education Programme of Camfed - Ghana, said the organization was also implementing a five-year strategic plan to multiply girls' educational opportunities in the country. Mr John Asibi-Ali, Director of Finance and Operations of Camfed - Ghana, said the organization valued the importance of the media in development, hence the need to build strong partnership with it (media) in its (Camfed - Ghana) efforts to improve education and opportunities for girls in the country. Camfed - Ghana is a non-governmental organization working to support as well as improve education and opportunities for girls. GNA 26.02.2016 LISTEN Sekondi (WR), Feb. 26, GNA - Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, has cautioned Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to adhere to financial control mechanisms and comply with provisions in the Procurement law in the award of contracts. He also advised them to respond promptly to all internal and external audit queries in order to avoid being dragged to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament. 'Team up and involve all stakeholders in the development of the Assemblies and be transparent and accountable to the people as well as avoiding all acts that are tantamount to embezzlement,' Mr Aidoo said. Mr. Aidoo gave the advice at this year's maiden Stakeholders' Meeting of the Regional Coordinating Council in Sekondi, on Wednesday, to take stock of last year's activities and strategise the way forward. The event brought together Heads of Departments of the various decentralized institutions, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, presiding members and chief executives of the 22 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Region. Mr. Aidoo used the occasion to congratulate and welcome the newly appointed MMDCES and PMs and urged them to work in unity and harmony with all the stakeholders to propel the development efforts of their respective assemblies forward. He noted that the chief executives were both political and administrative heads of their respective assemblies; therefore, they must mobilize adequate traditional sources of revenues for the performance of their numerous functions, instead of relying solely on the District Assemblies' Common Fund, Urban Grants and District Development Facility. The Regional Minister identified some challenges militating against the development efforts of the Region, such as illegal small-scale mining popularly referred to as 'galamsey' which had polluted many water bodies and destroyed the environment. Others included chieftaincy and land litigations, deplorable road networks, youth unemployment, child labour in some cocoa growing areas, armed robberies and the menace of indiscriminate sanitation practices. Mr. Aidoo therefore tasked the Judiciary Committee of the Regional House of Chiefs to expedite action in resolving all outstanding chieftaincy cases to ensure unity and harmony in the Region. He also challenged the MMDCEs to work closely with the various District Security Committees to crackdown on the nuisance caused by the activities of illegal miners in order to preserve the environment for the future generations. Notwithstanding the aforementioned challenges confronting the Region, Mr. Aidoo mentioned some ongoing and completed projects, including the following road projects: Apimanim/Elubo, Tarkwa/Ayanfuri, Asankrangwa/Enchi and asphaltic overlay within the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis. The rest are the Takoradi Port expansion programme, reconstruction of Sekondi-Kojokrom railway lines, Small Town Water projects, Atuabo Gas Processing Plant, sea defence project at Aboadze, Ngyerisia, Nkotompo and Funkoe, as well as numerous education and health facilities. Some Heads of Department also gave accounts of some activities they undertook last year GNA Accra, Feb. 26, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama on Friday swore-in seven ministers and called on them to discharge their duties with impartiality, modesty and humility. He said as members of a social democratic party, there was the need to adhere to those values so as to ensure that all Ghanaians enjoyed the national cake by spreading development projects to their respective areas. The ministers are; Mr Prosper Douglas Bani, Minister of the Interior, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuije, Minister of Youth and Sports, John Alexander Ackon, Ashanti Regional Minister and Kweku Ricketts Hagan, Central Regional Minister. The rest are; Marvis Ama Frimpong, Eastern Regional Minister, Abdullah Abubakar, Northern Regional Minister and Albert Abongo, Upper East Regional Minister. The ministers swore the oaths of Office, Secrecy and Allegiance. President Mahama advised the regional ministers to uphold the social protection programme such as school feeding programme, and the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty to minimise the level of poverty and deprivation especially in the rural areas. He said as heads of the Regional Coordinating Councils, the regional ministers needed to help eliminate the bureaucracies that stifled the smooth implementation of government projects and programmes. He reminded them to work tactfully with security agencies in their respective regions to ensure adequate peace and security before, during and after the 2016 general election. Mr Prosper Douglas Bani, Minister of the Interior, on behalf of his colleagues, thanked President Mahama for appointing them to their various positions. He gave the assurance that they would work hard to justify the confidence reposed in them. GNA Accra, Feb. 26, GNA - Brigadier General Sampson Kudjo Adeti, Chief of Army Staff at the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), has called on the media to help correct the negative perceptions that people have about the GAF. 'We are there to help the vulnerable in society, we stand up for the vulnerable and less privileged in society," he said when the members of the ECOWAS Community Development Programme (CDP) Media Network, Ghana, called on him to officially introduce themselves. The ECOWAS CDP, Ghana Media Network, is a group of selected media personnel that advocate for free movement of goods and people within the ECOWAS sub-region The CDP is in line with ECOWAS vision of transforming the West African sub-region into a community where people are able to move about freely without intimidation by the year 2020. Brig. Gen. Adeti said without the media some of the very good things being done by the Armed Forces will not be known by the populace. 'Soldiers belong to a special part of society, let's help get rid of the age old mentality that soldiers like to brutalize people, it is never true,' he said and assured the public that the Armed Forces was the only institution able to discipline its members effectively if they offended the citizenry. GNA 26.02.2016 LISTEN Accra, Feb. 26, GNA - The Accra Golden Lions Club in collaboration with the Southern Area Blood Centre (SABC) of the National Blood Service (NBS) has organized a blood donation exercise at the Labone Senior High School. The exercise was undertaken as part of the Club's annual activity to help protect lives and serve the citizenry as a voluntary service Club. Lion Mrs Margaret Akyea, Ex-President of the Club, said the month of February has been allotted for blood donation exercises every year, hence the need to undertake it to serve the citizenry. She said the Club usually chooses Senior High Schools because the Junior High Schools were often below the eligible age of donation, which was 17 and above. Lion Mrs Akyea expressed the Club's gratitude to the Labone Senior High School and St John's Grammar School for their yearly support in blood donation and the life saving exercise. Mr Stephen Danso, Senior Blood Donor Recruiter of the SABC, said the Centre needed blood donors since blood could not be manufactured; stressing that they often relied on target groups such as educational institutions and corporate bodies to stock the blood bank. He said donor recruitment officers visited institutions to appeal to them to organize their groups to donate blood, hence the success of the exercise at the Labone School. He said the Centre expected about 200 students to donate blood even though the School had a big population. This, he noted, was because some of the students were deferred in the exercise because they were either below the eligible age of 17 and above, or had a lower weight than expected, or yet still had inadequate hemoglobin or had a bad pulse or bad blood pressure. Mr Danso said Labone Senior High School has been one of their regular blood donors; therefore the NBS would always be grateful to them for their life saving support. 'We hope to save lives of mothers who may need blood after going through childbirth, road accident victims and any patient who may need blood to survive after this exercise,' he said. GNA 27.02.2016 LISTEN DAILY GUIDE has gathered that a man believed to be in his late 20s has been arrested by the Axim Police in the Western Region for attempting to slash the throat of a middle-aged woman born to Ghanaian and Liberian parents. The incident, DAILY GUIDE gathered, took place near a popular recording studio at Ayisakro, near Axim at midnight last Sunday. The victim, Angel Sampson, according to sources, struggled with the suspect who attempted to slash her throat with a sharp knife. A source told DAILY GUIDE that the victim was bleeding profusely and was rushed to the Axim Hospital where she was admitted for three days. The suspect, Francis Odasenyi, who used to be a fetish priest in the Ayisakro community, is currently in the grips of the police while investigations into the case continue. Sampson K. Obeng of Ankobra FM, based at Ayisakro, told the paper that most of the residents were shocked by the action of the former fetish priest. According to Sampson Obeng, at about 11pm last Monday, someone called to inform him about the incident. When I rushed to the area, I saw the victim with blood all over her and so with the help of some other residents I quickly sent her to the Axim police station to report the case. The victim was given a form to go to the hospital for treatment. So I sent the victim to the Axim hospital. The suspect had then gone into hiding, he added. Obeng pointed out that later the suspect was arrested from his hideout. He told DAILY GUIDE that the victim later narrated how the incident occurred in an interview. . Angel Sampson said that about a month ago, she was travelling with her sister from Elubo in the Western region to Osu in Accra where she resides. While we were waiting at Ayisakro to board a vehicle to Takoradi at about 6pm, the suspect Francis Odasanyi from nowhere approached us and managed to get us a Takoradi bound bus. Before we boarded the vehicle the suspect asked me to give him a telephone number. I initially declined the offer but later had to give the suspect my number after admonition from my sister. According to the victim, last Thursday she had a call from Odasanyi but could not identify him at the initial stages. When I later made him out, I told him that I was seriously taking care of my sick relative and then the suspect asked me to come for some money to take care of the medical bills. I told the suspect to send the money through mobile money but he declined, the victim said. Francis asked Angel to travel to Ayisakro for the money but the victim told him that she did not have enough money to travel to his place. So when I got to Takoradi, the suspect came to pick me to his place at Ayisakro, near a recording studio and decided to have sex with me, but I told him that that was not what we negotiated. The suspect went for a knife and decided to kill me. The victim said she shouted for help during the struggle with the suspect and when he (suspect) realized that people were approaching, he took to his heels. When DAILY GUIDE contacted the Axim Police Commander, Supt Edward Annung Konyel, he confirmed the incident and indicated that the suspect had been remanded into police custody to assist with investigations. From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi 27.02.2016 LISTEN The two policemen, who allegedly mounted an unauthorized checkpoint and extorted money from various drivers, have been dragged before an Accra circuit court. They are General Constables Azumah Musah and Faati Jacob Tinob. Although both of them are constables, Azumah was seen in a police Inspector's uniform. Charges According to the prosecution led by Chief Inspector Ofori Amanfo, the two on February 18, this year at Tabora, a suburb of Accra, extorted cash by means of threat from unsuspecting drivers to the tune of GH247.00. Azumah is facing two other counts of possessing military uniforms and firearms without lawful authority. The two cops, who appeared before trial judge Aboagye Tandoh, variously denied the charges and were remanded into police custody until March 2, 2016. Bail Rejected This was after the court had rejected the application for bail by Daniel Osei, lawyer for Tinob. He said his client was not in the position to interfere with further investigations of the police. Mr Osei stated that the prosecution's own fact shows that there is no case against his client especially where there is no known complainant in respect of the extortion. However, the judge said he would consider the application for bail at the next adjourned date. . Facts Prosecuting, Chief Insp. Amanfo said the complainants are personnel from the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards (PIPS) Bureau. He said Azumah was formerly stationed at the National Police Department Headquarters in Accra whilst Tinob is currently at the National Police Patrol Department. C/Insp. Amanfo stated that Azumah was in December last year transferred to Apirade in the Eastern Region and that on February 18, at about 7:30 pm at Tabora junction in Accra, a police team from PIPS arrested the accused persons for professional misconduct. He said Azumah, who was arrested in an inspector's uniform, attempted to escape, adding that a search conducted in the respective rooms of the two revealed nothing incriminating against Tinob. Items Retrieved The senior police officer stated that in the case of Azumah, a single barrel gun, one unserviceable locally made pistol, two rubber toy pistols, four bullet-proof vests, a photocopy of driver's licence belonging to one Emmanuel K. Kumi, a temporary driver's licence belonging to Sappor James, a police camouflage with inspectors' lanyard as well as military camouflage among others, were found. Claims The prosecutor said that when Azumah was questioned about the source of the items, he asserted that the pistol and the single barrel gun were given to him for keeping by his ailing father at Asaam in the Ashanti Region. C/Insp. Amanfo further told the court that the accused claimed that he found the military uniform in a tent at the Police Training School in Accra but he did not report to the authority, insisting that he bought some of the military accoutrements from the Kwame Nkruman Circle and Nyamekye, all in Accra, but did not give any reasons for buying them. By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson [email protected] 27.02.2016 LISTEN President John Dramani Mahama on Friday swore in seven ministers and called on them to discharge their duties with impartiality, modesty and humility. He said as members of a social democratic party, there was the need to adhere to those values so as to ensure that all Ghanaians enjoy the national cake by spreading development projects to their respective areas. The ministers are Prosper Douglas Bani, for the Interior; Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, Youth and Sports; John Alexander Ackon, Ashanti Region and Kweku Ricketts Hagan, Central Region. The rest are Mavis Ama Frimpong, Eastern Region; Abdullah Abubakar, Northern Regio and Albert Abongo, Upper East Region. The ministers swore the Oath of Office, Secrecy and Allegiance. President Mahama advised the regional ministers to uphold the social protection programmes such as school feeding and the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) to minimise poverty and deprivation, especially in the rural areas. He said as heads of the Regional Coordinating Councils, the regional ministers needed to help eliminate the bureaucracies that stifle the smooth implementation of government projects and programmes. the president charged them to work tactfully with the security agencies in their respective regions to ensure adequate peace and security before, during and after this year's general election. Mr Prosper Bani, on behalf of his colleagues, thanked President Mahama for appointing them to their various positions. He gave the assurance that they would work hard to justify the confidence reposed in them. GNA 27.02.2016 LISTEN Whatever the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) must do to obviate a recurrence of the deadly rainfall which visited Accra last year must be done sincerely. We have seen the ample publicity rendered the de-silting of the Odaw drainage and other parts of the city and just hope that the hullaballoo parallels the volume of work and its effectiveness in containing the rains when they come in a few months from now. What the nation went through last year was too gruesome to be easily brushed under the carpet. Many families that lost their loved ones and properties acquired over several years are yet to come to terms with what befell them. As was said at the time of the disaster, managers of the city were as much at fault as residents who did not only build on waterways, but continue to throw garbage into the city's major drainage and the feeder drains which lead into the former. Once beaten twice shy, as the adage goes, should guide us into making hay now while the sun shines. Ghanaians, especially residents of Accra, will not take any excuse from the city authorities, should the next rainy season be another source of nightmare because of their incompetence. People who are paid from the public purse must not only work, but they must be seen to be working sufficiently to yield positive results that will protect the people against the hazards of the annual downpours. . We have suffered for too long from the effect of the irresponsibility of public officers. Since those who build on waterways will continue to maintain these positions, it is the task of those paid to ensure that these places are not occupied to do their work, irrespective of whose ox is gored. Fortunately, this is the time to put things in order, lest we are taken unawares when the deluges commence. Let Accra residents have cause to congratulate the AMA for a job well done. It would be easy to judge the work of the assembly. We can all clap our hands for a job well done when at the end of the rainy season no part of Accra is flooded in a way that would disrupt normal life of families and other residents. For now we are hesitant, not knowing how the so-called de-silting is going to impact on the lives of residents when the rains begin. The choking of the drainage is but only one of the factors responsible for the floods; there are others which our hydrologists should tackle now. Let us not allow this moment to elude us because even though the rainy season is some months away, it is still close in terms of planning to avoid the disaster associated with the rains. 27.02.2016 LISTEN The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Keta in the Volta Region, Richard Quashigah, has expressed angst with his own (NDC) government for neglecting his people in the Keta constituency one of the party's strongholds when it comes to the provision of potable water. The MP's sentiment followed the briefing of Members of Parliament yesterday by the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah, regarding the water crisis in the country, especially in the Nsawam/Adoagyiri municipality of the Eastern Region and the Winneba township in the Central Region. Mr Quashigah said he had filed several questions in parliament about the acute water problem in his constituency and how residents of Anyako, Konu and Seva Kedzi could have potable water to drink; and assurances had been given to him by the deputy Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Sampson Ahi, that before a long term solution is provided, Ghana Water Company will be supplying the residents with water through water tankers, but since the assurance was given last year nothing had been done. Mr speaker, I have personally followed up to the ministry and another assurance was given to me but still no tanker is supplying water to my people who are in need of potable water, he said on the floor. . He said the truth may be bitter but his people have not been treated fairly by the government, adding that probably the government had forgotten about his people. Mr speaker, I listened to the minister who gave an overview of all water projects being undertaken in the country and the towns which are in dire need of potable water, but the minister never mentioned the Keta constituency, he argued, saying that if his people did not matter, the government must tell them. In the course of the Keta MP's outbursts on the floor of the House, Mr Samson Ahi got up and told the MP not to attack him or the ministry on the floor, saying that if he (Quashigah) had any problem, he should personally come to the ministry for it to be sorted out; but Mr Quashigah said that that was the only platform he could use to pour out his frustration after all the official and normal channels had been exhausted without success. The Keta MP said that it was unfortunate that the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing did not talk about the Sogakope Water Project, which was to be funded by the Agricultural Development Bank to eventually supply potable water to residents in the Keta, Ketu North and Ketu South constituencies. By Thomas Fosu Jnr 27.02.2016 LISTEN A 45-year-old driver has been lynched by a mob at Nkawkaw-Mamaso after allegedly stabbing his girlfriend to death at Mamaso in the Kwahu West Municipality. The bodies of both have been deposited at the Nkawkaw Holy Family Hospital for autopsy. Briefing the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the Nkawkaw Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Jeff Darko, said at about 1040 hours on Wednesday, the police had information that the taxi driver, Kofi Asirifi, had inflicted several knife wounds on her girlfriend, Mabel Pomaa, a 25-year-old trader at Mamaso. He said when the police got to the scene, they saw Asirifi lying down unconscious whiles, Pomaa had been rushed to the hospital for treatment. Supt. Darko said the police also rushed Asirifi to the same hospital for treatment but he died later, whiles Pomaa died at the surgical ward. GNA 27.02.2016 LISTEN After apparently refusing to make themselves available to be served with court documents regarding an action instituted against the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), the accountant, who was fired recently by the party, has secured a court order to serve the party's officials by substitution. The accountant, Mathias Mokono Wilson, revealed in his statement of claim how the Mahama-led NDC government paid a total of over GH5.5 million to the Electoral Commission (EC), the reason for which is yet to be established after which the party gave him the marching order to vacate the office. Evading Service Mr. Wilson, whose dismissal triggered the court action, could not succeed in serving the party he had served for 23 years the initial court papers, compelling him to seek an order for substituted service. The NDC had obviously been avoiding service and as a result, his lawyer, Prince Frederick Nii Ashie Neequaye, moved a motion for an order of substituted service at the Industrial and Labour Court Division of the High Court in Accra and secured the order last Tuesday. The defendants, who are going to be served through a substituted service include the General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah; Vida Addae, a Deputy Treasurer; Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, NDC Director of Elections and Dr. Karl Mark-Arhin, whose appointment to the Electoral Commission's controversial Steering Committee stoked heated political debate. The rest are Mahdi Gibril, who ran errands for the party during the Presidential Election Petition at the Supreme Court in 2013 as well as Emmanuel S. Zumakpe, Director of Administration for the party. Court Directive The court order, signed by Stephen Afotey, the Registrar, indicated, It is hereby ordered that the Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim with the order of substituted service be served on the defendants by pasting copies in places like the Notice Board of the Law Court Complex, Accra, as well as pasting copies on the walls of the NDC Headquarters situated on Adama Street, Adabraka, Accra. The court also ordered the plaintiff to serve the process on any adult inmate found at the secretariat of the NDC, as well as deliver the process to any security man found at the NDC Headquarters gate at Adabraka, preferably Victor K. Boampong, Kofi Forson or John Agbesi Mawuena. EC Payment In the statement of claim, the beleaguered accountant revealed how the ruling party paid a whopping GH5,544,630 to the EC without receipts. Cheque Details . Giving details of the payments to the EC, the accountant said there were different cheques he withdrew together with Mr. Asiedu Nkeatia on different dates at Societe Generale, Accra Main on behalf of the EC, although he admitted, I am not a signatory to the NDC account. The first cheque was GH630,000; the second cheque was GH357,000; the third cheque was GH2 million then followed by GH2.199, 340, then GH69,315; GH54,975; GH140,000 and GH100,000 totaling GH5.544,630, he revealed. Court Action He wants damages for loss of leave for 23 years and loss of gross salary at GH3,574.50 per month multiplied by 3 months in lieu of notice. The plaintiff states that his salary of GH3,574.50 x 23 years x 2 will come to GH164,427.00 plus the pay for 3 months which is GH3,574.50 x 3 his entire loss incomes to GH175,150.50 excluding his leave allowance for the 23 years. The EC delegated two people- a man and a woman with a huge van and collected the gargantuan cash of GH5,544,630.00 and as of 5th February, 2016, the 2nd Defendant (Asiedu Nketia) has still not accounted for the paid cash, Mathias Wilson made the claims in court documents he filed against his unlawful dismissal. The EC reportedly demanded physical cash instead of a cheque and the NDC, after cashing the cheques, put the GH5,544,630.00 in a van and handed it over to two EC staff for onward transmission to the Commission. Cheques Vrs Cash He averred, however, that the Commission rejected the cheque with the excuse that the Electoral Commission does not accept cheques but cash. Mr Wilson claimed that when the EC rejected the cheque Mr Asiedu Nketia subsequently sent him to the bank for the money. The bank manager informed the Plaintiff that the cash was so much to be paid over the counter and so she will make payment orders to the Electoral Commission of Ghana. Asiedu Nketia, the 2nd Defendant, said 'No' and that they needed cash so the Plaintiff decided to issue two cheque payment vouchers on 7th December, 2015 for GH2,000,000.00 and the other one on the same 7th December , 2015 for GH2,199,340.00 which the said vouchers, according to the 2nd Defendant, were received by Gyanu Edgar, an employee of the Electoral Commission, Plaintiff averred. By William Yaw Owusu 27.02.2016 LISTEN Come 7th November 2016, in about eight months time, Ghanaians will go to the polls to decide which political group of people should hold the reins of power for the next four years, We started the 4th Republican democratic dispensation with 200 seats in Parliament. President Kufuor expanded it to 230 and now NDC since 2012 has made it a 275 member House. Some of the seats are safe seats, so safe that once you win the primaries you can literally call yourself an MP. I was in Court the other day when a neatly dressed learned friend mentioned his name and openly boasted that he had won the primaries: immediately I knew that he had won in advance. But some seats are not so safe. In fact it is anybody's guess. One such seat is formerly called OSU-CLOTEY but now variously called KLOTTEY KORLE or KORLE KLOTTEY. It is the area that covers OSU, then RINGWAY Estate, RIDGE, ASYLUM DOWN and ADBRAKA: call it the heartland of Accra, down town of the city yes, home of the headquarters of all the major political parties NPP, NDC, PPP, CPP, home of the Ministries, the Castle the Stadium, and home of Parliament and the Electoral Commission. Yes, Korle Klottey, home of typical Osu boys, the modern day Kwahu businessmen and their descendants In Asylum Down and downtown Adabraka the extreme bourgeoisie in Ringway and Ridge those who frequent Alisa Hotel and Novotel- Korle Klottey Constituency speaking demographically it is a microcosm of all Ghanaians. No wonder therefore that whoever wins Korle Klottey wins Ghana. NDC controlled that seat in 1992 to 2000 then NPP took over in 2001 to 2008 and my classmate lawyer Ishmael Ashittey took it in 2009 till now. Coming up in November is a new frontline, and most interesting enough, the two major parties are each battling their paper candidates in court. For the NPP, a young Accra boy from the Osu royal home Nii Noi, elected constituency Chairman resigned his office and contested heavily to have landslide victory over Pink Sheets lawyer Addision. . Not satisfied, the matter went to Court and a re-run has been ordered. Personally, I would wish that Nana Addo called Addison and talk to him to back down he is his darling boy; he can make him Attorney General without his being in Parliament or a sectoral Minister. The Osu seat is very key and crucial, and we need a local boy who can rally the Ga Youth in Osu and Adabraka, otherwise we are in for trouble. We can trust the rich voters in Ringway and Ridge- but how many are they? For the NDC they have an equally interesting scenario. On paper, Ezanator Rawlings, a medical doctor and daughter of the charismatic Jerry John Rawlings is the Candidate, chosen by popular ballot, but my law school classmate is battling her in Court, from behind, seeking to unseat her. I really for one don't care how the NDC resolves this melee but I will develop goose pimples if Ezanator sails through because she can worry us. She herself is not a problem, but it is her father. When she was doing the primaries, reader, her father accompanied his daughter ON HORSEBACK!!! They introduced a new kind of political campaigning which was just dazzling. And, believe it or not, politics is all about SHOWMANSHIP ability to force people to listen to you, to just come and see your face, either to agree or disagree with you not that kind of three piece suit gentility romance. Look at what is happening now in the USA a man who insults Africans and wants to close the doors of USA to Muslims Donald Trump he is literally sweeping the polls, hopping, stepping and jumping, frighteningly, to the White House. I am scared that immediately the Court battle is over and Ezanator is cleared, her father will literally walk the streets of Osu Asante and Kinkawe-screamingANYEMI!!!he will wear T Shirt and walk through Adabraka with his daughter, stethoscope around her neck..medical doctor..NPP, we should sit up. But I think even with Rawlings behind her, Ezenator will be no match for Nii Noi. I see in Nii Noi what Rawlings was as a youth: dashing, highly energetic, boisterous and ready to fight. If eventually the swords are drawn and it is Nii Noi versus Ezenator, I can see an NPP victory which in national parlance will mean an Akuffo Addo presidency. I can hardly wait to see the end of this battle royale in Korle Klottey, come 7th November 2016. Time will tell. Witten by Hon Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey Nana Akufo- Addo with Ambassador Robert Porter Jackson 27.02.2016 LISTEN With some eight months to the holding of the November 7 elections, Nana Akufo-Addo, standard bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has reiterated the need for the creation of a level playing field for all political parties in the country by the Electoral Commission. We continue to be concerned about the way the EC is handling issues ahead of the November 7 elections. The procedures and steps being taken for the elections appear to be still up in the air. There is an air of uncertainty about the whole preparatory process towards November 7. We in the NPP are not interested in a sham democracy, he stressed. Nana Addo made the call when Robert Porter Jackson, the new Ambassador of the United States of America to Ghana, called on him on Tuesday, at his Nima residence. Accompanied by the Political Chief at the US Embassy, Robert Carlson, Nana Akufo-Addo told Ambassador Jackson of his concern about the November 7 elections. On the need for a level playing field, the NPP leader said, I am saying so because the conditions of living of our people at the moment are as bad as I have ever seen them. The impoverishment and the difficulties they are going through are placing a great deal of strain on them. Even the November 7, as I am hearing from our Members of Parliament, might even be missed. It is therefore, important that an air of confidence in the electoral process is felt by all. We need to assure our people that if it is change that they want, or if they want to maintain a government in office, they should be able to get it from our electoral process. This is how our democracy can be strengthened. Peaceful Polls Nana Akufo-Addo, reiterated the NPP's commitment to peaceful elections in Ghana. On the issue of the transfer of the two Guantanamo Bay detainees (Gitmo 2) to Ghana, which has generated a huge debate in the country, the US Ambassador explained to Nana Akufo-Addo that the transfer was done with the understanding that the United States would be responsible for the upkeep of the detainees for two years, stressing that there are similar agreements in 55 other countries. Ambassador Jackson gave the assurance that the two detainees do not pose a threat to Ghana's security, as they were vetted thoroughly before being transferred to Ghana. . He noted, I understand Ghanaians are concerned, and this is largely because of misinformation and lack of information. Nana Akufo-Addo, in his response to the issue of Gitmo 2, noted that the issue was badly handled by the Mahama government, and had the potential of undermining the excellent relationship between Ghana and the United States of America. The NPP flagbearer explained, None of the institutions of state, not even parliament, were consulted on the issue. Political parties were not consulted before this decision was taken. Not surprisingly, the overwhelming majority of Ghanaians and civil society were strongly against this decision. Priority Areas When asked by Ambassador Jackson to name his three priority areas, should Ghanaians entrust the mandate of leadership into his care in the next elections, Nana Akufo-Addo stated that his first priority would be to revive Ghana's ailing economy, and subsequently transform it from a raw material producing one to a value added economy. The revival of the economy means the reintroduction of discipline in our fiscal management and in our monetary policy so that the right conditions for production can be created, he maintained. Expanding agricultural production, increase in export revenues and farmers' incomes, through the introduction of other major cash crops in addition to cocoa, akin to the initiatives that have been undertaken in neighbouring Cote d'Ivoire, would be another major priority of an Akufo-Addo government. Tackling the issue of corruption in our country will be yet another major focus of my government. Now, the institutions of governance in our country are working at low levels. We need to assure our people that we are not coming into office to rip off the state, but to improve their well-being. In this regard, I plan to establish an office of an Independent Special Prosecutor to tackle corruption in a non-partisan manner. I also plan to ensure that my appointees and I are held to an acceptable standard of conduct, Nana Addo pointed out. Ayorkor Botchway, MP for Anyaa Sowutuom and former Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, urged the new Ambassador to take a special interest in Ghana, especially in this elections year, just as US officials took interest in the process leading to last year's Nigerian elections. 27.02.2016 LISTEN The Ashanti Regional Police Command has launched a manhunt for three people that allegedly assaulted the Tafohene, Nana Agyen Frimpong. The three, who allegedly assaulted the chief over the construction of a fence wall at a cemetery, are Jah Rule, Scorpion and Jacob. The suspects, who are currently at large, have been admonished to immediately report themselves to the police in their own interest. One Fulani was cautioned for assault and granted police inquiry bail after he reported himself to the police over the issue. DCOP Kofi Boakye, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, said the police had already intensified search for the three suspects to face the law. And if they fail to report themselves to the police latest by Friday, then we shall go to court and seek arrest warrant against them, he stated. According to him, peace could not be attained in the region if those who breached the law at Tafo during the riot were not prosecuted. Speaking at the Ashanti Regional Police Commander's parade on Wednesday, he gave assurance that the police had not ignored issues related to the recent Tafo riot. He said the Regional Police Crime Officer had been tasked to examine a video footage in order to arrest other people who caused commotion at Tafo. DCOP Kofi Boakye commended the police in the region for their professionalism in the face of provocation which helped to reduce bloodbath at Tafo. He said the curfew at Tafo was still in force, commending the military and other stakeholders for supporting the police to ensure calm in the region. According to him, it was untrue that the police freed 40 people that were arrested over the Tafo riots, saying they were given police inquiry bail. . DCOP Kofi Boakye said the police might not be lenient again when people try to riot in the region, saying wear bullet proofs when you riot again. He said it was the core duty of the police to protect life and property without discrimination, noting we shall ensure that without fear or favour. The police capo said the police may be forced to use appropriate force when people storm the streets with cutlasses and axes to spill blood. Agogo He urged the people of Agogo to refrain from using the media to cause unnecessary tension in the area in connection with the Fulani herdsmen issue. DCOP Kofi Boakye told the people of Agogo to lodge complaints for the police to resolve their problems. He reiterated that the police were committed to flushing out all cattle from Agogo in accordance with a court order, urging the people to support the police. FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi 27.02.2016 LISTEN Re-run of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primary in the Klottey-Korle Constituency of the Greater Accra Region will take place at the partys headquarters in Accra today. The primary is to elect a candidate to represent the party in this year's elections. Lawyer Nii Adu Mante of the NPP annexed the seat from 2000 to 2008. Former constituency chairman, Nii Noi Nortey and ace lawyer Philip Addison are contesting for the slot after Nii Adjei Tawiah, two-times failed parliamentary aspirant, pulled out of the race at the eleventh hour, possibly throwing his weight behind Mr Addison. In August 2, 2015 Nii Noi Nortey won the primary but the result was annulled following protests by Mr Addison and Nii Adjei Tawiah that their supporters did not turn out to vote because they were not properly informed about the date. The party set today for the re-run after an Accra High Court dismissed an application by the embattled Klottey-Korle parliamentary candidate, Nii Noi Nortey, who had asked the court to set aside a default judgment for a re-run of the primary. Addison Promises Support Mr. Addison, who has been working behind the scenes since the court ordered a re-run of the election, said he would win the contest and go ahead to annex the seat for the NPP in November. Prior to the election, Lawyer Addison declared that he would support Nii Noi Nortey if he loses todays poll. Frank Davies, campaign manager for Philip Addison, expressed optimism that his boss would emerge victorious, stating, What happened on 2nd August is past and gone. We are in a new regime and I think the good people of Klottey-Korle will make the right choice. . Nii Noi Vows Nii Noi has vowed to win the election today, counting on his selfless sacrifice as constituency chairman. I am very optimistic I am going to win but like I always keep saying, I am not complacent with elections. Not until the last ballot is counted and you are declared winner, you are supposed to be working hard, he pointed out. Voting Patterns From 1992 to date, the seat has been held by four parliamentarians from three different political parties. Nathan Tetteh Mensah of Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere (EGLE) Party was the Member of Parliament (MP) from 1992 to 1996. Then it was captured by David Lamptey of the NDC from 1996 to 2000. Nii Adu Daku Mante of the NPP held the seat from 2000 to 2008, and the NDC's Nii Armah Ashietey has occupied the seat since 2009. Klottey-Korle comprises seven electoral areas namely, Kinkawe, Osu Doku, Ringway Estate, Osu Alata, Adabraka Official Town/Odorna, Adabraka/Tudu and Asylum Down. By Cephas Larbi [email protected] 27.02.2016 LISTEN The stakes were high when President John Dramani Mahama was ushered into the chamber of parliament by the Speaker, Edward Doe Adjaho, Majority leader, Alban Bagbin and Minority leader, Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu to deliver his State of the Nation address in fulfillment of the requirements of the 1992 Constitution on Thursday. Most of the majority National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament (MPs) wore white attire while the minority New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs wore black attire to listen to the Presidents last State of the Nation address to the Sixth Parliament of the Fourth Republic. When the President was given the platform to deliver his message, he used power-point to give the address which took four hours. The whole State of the Nation address was a chorus-chanting engagement, as the majority who held white handkerchiefs, sang songs to praise the President while the minority also sang songs to denigrate him. While the majority members were singing So, so wonders 'Mahama dey do,' the minority members also chanted 'So, so stealing Mahama dey do.' The minority members indeed heckled the President during the period, displaying red cards and saying this is your last address.' The minority members asked for evidence of the President's achievement as he was making the power-point presentation, which prompted him to retort Abaa, this one too you need evidence. The Minority members were overly excited when the President said 'change is coming' at the end of his speech. The phrase change is coming was greeted with rapturous roars from the minority members who also chanted Change is coming, change is coming. The President, upon realising that the minority members had capitalised on his change is coming phrase, quickly said you did not hear me well. What I said was that change is happening. President Mahama started his speech by saying that sometimes politicians talk too much and they must match their words with action. Interestingly for the first time when it comes to the delivery of the State of the Nation address, the President invited some individual Ghanaians from the various regions who he said had benefitted directly from policies that he had implemented and put them in the public gallery for them to corroborate his story. He described the new style of using supposed beneficiaries to promote his political cause as evidence-based presentation. He first extolled his achievements in the educational sector by saying that his promise of providing 200 community-based Senior High School (SHS) was on course, stressing that out of the 200 schools, 123 had taken off with about five completed and the rest at various stages of completion. He indicated that about 10,400 students had been given scholarships by his government and mentioned Gertrude Yeboah as one of the beneficiaries. Gertrude, who was sitting in the public gallery of Parliament, was asked by the President to stand up for her to be acknowledged publicly. He said his government had constructed quality roads in the country and made reference to the flagship Kwame Nkrumah Interchange in Accra as well as the on-going Kasoa interchange. He also used the Fufulso-Sawla Road as another example, saying that he himself can testify to the bad nature of the road because that road leads to his hometown, Bole in the Northern region. He described the road as very beautiful after the construction but the picture that was shown on the screen looked like a substandard road. Public Reaction The public, including civil society organizations have expressed various views about the address made by President John Mahama. . One of the notable reactions has been the approach of the President in the presentation. But the approach, which he referred to as evidence-based, has been described by some people, particularly political opponents as trivial and only meant to woo electorate in the November elections. The President on Thursday introduced about 10 Ghanaians, who he said had directly benefited from government's social intervention programmes. The acting General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu scoffed at government's attempt to show how it has impacted positively in the lives of Ghanaians. He accused the President of being selective in the list of people who are enjoying in the Better Ghana. The group included a contractor the President said is a member of the NPP who had benefitted from contracts awarded by his administration to prove that he (Mahama) is not selective. The NPP Acting General Secertary said since Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih Al-Dhuby were accepted in Ghana purely on humanitarian grounds, they should have been part of the President's showcase to the nation. Why didn't President Mahama invite the Gitmo two to Parliament; we wanted to see them since he (Mahama) is showing international compassion, he stated sarcastically. Mr. Boadu added that since government insists the two do not pose any threat to the security of the state, the Gitmo two should have joined the public in Parliament. Meanwhile, the President of policy think tank, IMANI Ghana, Franklin Cudjoe, has endorsed the new approach President John Dramani Mahama adopted during the delivery of his fourth State of the Nation address to Parliament, describing it as a great art of communication. The symbolism in which the President tried to communicate some of his achievements about access to education where he connected it; you could see living examples of kids. No matter how you dislike the ideas of the President, I think we've got to give it to him really when it comes to that symbolism, it's a great act of communication which I think every political grouping or party should do. No matter how you dislike the speech, the one major positive of what he did is essentially that symbolism that he showed. He stated that can you imagine all those kids that stood up and their peers looking at them? It may be an art in political communication in an election year, but you've got to give it to him, he added. The IMANI president however called for a proper content analysis of the President's address. Commercial drivers, who ply the Koforidua Bunso road in the Eastern region have, on the other hand, expressed disappointment in President Mahama for claiming during his State of the Nations' address that work was ongoing on the Koforidua-Bunso Road. The drivers said work on the Koforidua Bunso road had come to a standstill for several months, and described the road as too dangerous for motorists. We now use the Jumapo-Sorkode-Dwaaso -Kukurantumi route, which takes a longer time in order to get to Bunso. It's very sad that President Mahama said that construction work is ongoing on this stretch of road. We have been here for some years now and I can tell you that nothing of that sort is happening here. The contractors only came to grade the road and ever since have not bothered to come and continue the work, a driver said. The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has identified 11 potential flashpoints for violence ahead of the 2016 elections. These flashpoints include Alavanyo and Nkonya in the Volta region, Bunkpurugu and Yendi in the Northern Region as well as Old Tafo in the Ashanti Region. The Commission has therefore begun an educational campaign in these communities to sensitise residents to ensure peace during the polls. Deputy Director of the NCCE Samuel Asare Akuamoah told Joy News the communities are being targeted due to their vulnerability. The objective of holding this peace and conflict engagement is to ensure that we go through this electoral process peacefully, he said. What we are doing is to give them the advantages of non-violence over violence. So we ae saying that if you have grievances you express them by taking a non-violent approach. We are therefore making sure that all the flashpoint areas and the areas who have the potential to go into violence are engaged to ensure that their situation does not trigger any violence, Managing Editor of Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jr., has said Ghanaians do not need a macho president to solve the nation's problems. He said presidents are elected to solve social problems and not to demonstrate stamina to the citizenry. Reacting to claims by some persons in government that the length of President Mahamas State of the Nation Address delivered Thursday, which lasted three and half hours, is a demonstration of his stamina, Pratt said you dont need a macho man to do that. He criticized this claim and saying it detracted from the substance of the Presidents address. Speaking on Radio Golds Alhaji and Alhaji, Pratt expressed his misgivings in the manner the agriculture sector of the nation is being handled. He said Ghanaian farmers no longer prepare their own seeds as was the case in the past but now depend on imported seeds. Pratt described the farmers' dependence on seeds from Mon Santo among others as frightening and shocking. You cannot insist on food sovereignty when you have no capacity to prepare your own seeds, he said. He further said the nations dependence on imported seeds undermines national sovereignty in a most significant manner. He also berated governments handling of natural resources in the country, describing it as deeply worrying. He said resources such as rivers, part of the sea considered national territory of Ghana, human beings, the airwaves government allocates to telecommunication companies, minerals, and forests must be guarded with the interest of the citizens in mind. Pratt commended government for the length of roads constructed and for those under construction. However, he spoke against governments awarding of contracts to foreigners when local contractors could execute the same projects. You are using national resources to create worth in some of these countries, he said. He advised government to find a way to build local capacity through awarding of contracts to local firms to maximize full returns. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com |Austin Brako-Powers |[email protected] Police at Konongo in the Ashanti Region have mounted special surveillance on Agogo and neighbouring communities as they investigate the murder of two men at Agogo. The two were shot dead in the town yesterday by people believed to be herdsmen. They were said to have been killed while fetching water on their farm. The incident follows a long-drawn battle between residents and the herdsmen who have been accused of destroying farms in the area. Konongo District Police Commander Superintendent, Ohene Boadi Bossman in an interview with Joy News said the police would also be meeting the families of the deceased. We still going round to try and find out who were the people who perpetrated this crime but as Im speaking to you now I cannot confirm it is Fulani or not but that is what we suspect, he said. Supt Bossman said the herdsmen might have carried out the attack to get back at the people for driving them out of the place. He said the police will move to the bush stay there for some time and see what we can do to ensure that we stabilize the situation in Agogo. He also said more security men have been deployed to the town even as investigations continue. Deputy Minister of Transport, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, has expressed gratitude to CFAO-Ghana for its efforts at introducing essential equipment meant to create jobs for the Ghanaian youth. She urged investors to complement Government efforts by providing opportunities to the Ghanaian youth to reduce unemployment in the country. Mrs Mugtari was speaking at the launch of a Toyota Forklift introduced by CFAO-Ghana in Accra. She said Government was committed to continue creating an enabling environment for investment and for businesses to thrive in the country. Mr Michel Olivier Louis, the Managing Director of CFAO-Ghana, said the equipment is being introduced in collaboration of Toyota Ghana- acknowledged for providing quality equipments. He said Toyota is deeply committed to high quality products and services, adding that, these are the forces that drive all of CFAO's products, including their handling equipment. Mr Louis said the forklift is designed for optimum performance and efficiency. He also outlined the vision of CFAO as one of which was geared towards improving the quality of life in the communities in which they operate. CFAO-Ghana is subsidiary of the CFAO Group which specializes in the distribution of high performance equipment. The CFAO Group was established over 150 year ago and has been operating in Ghana since 1909. In 1913, the CFAO Group launched its automobile distribution business in Africa and over the subsequent three decades, expanded into industrial production, spreading into several French and English speaking countries in the world. Samson's Take - Pass RTI Bill First and Now February 27, 2016 The Right Honourable Speaker Parliament of Ghana Accra Ghana Dear Sir, Pass The Right to Information Bill before The Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunication Messages Bill I write on my own behalf as a bona fide citizen and on behalf of the Multimedia Group (MGL) to kindly request to know the status of the RTI Bill which is currently in Parliament awaiting consideration by the August House, and to urge that it is passed now. It is recalled that following concerns raised by CSOs on the RTI Bill, the Select Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs reviewed the problematic clauses of the Bill and proposed amendments to the content of the Bill in line with the concerns raised by the Coalition of CSOs and the African Union Model Law. I am aware also that on December 17th, 2014, the Select Committee tabled its report containing the amendments in Parliament and following the submission of the Committees report, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice (Mrs. Marrieta Brew Appiah-Opong) on June 25, 2015 moved the motion for the second reading of the Bill paving the way for discussions to commence on the Bill. As part of the second reading, discussion on the RTI Bill following the AGs motion commenced on June 30th 2015 and ended on July 24, 2015 and subsequently, the Bill was referred to the next stage in the legislative process - the consideration stage. On October 27, 2015, Parliament resumed sitting for the last quarter of the year 2015. However, the RTI Bill was never considered even though it kept appearing on the agenda of Parliament throughout that session. The MGL, particularly as a media house, is concerned that given that this year is an election year, if the bill together with the proposed amendments are not addressed soon, it is quite likely that the passage of the Bill, with the amendments will not see the light of day before this Parliament lapses on 6th December 2017. Meaning that Ghanaians would have to wait for the Bill to go through the circus of having the Bill referred once more to the new Cabinet of the new government, for the legislative process to start all over again. Please, give this Bill the needed priority and pass it before considering The Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunication Messages Bill.' Let is be your legacy and that of the Parliament you presided over that you considered the right of the people to demand information from government more or as equally important as the government seeking to monitor what citizens do in the bedrooms. It is noted that Ghana has signed unto the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and has committed for the second time in its action plan to pass the RTI Bill. Strengthen our article 21 (1) (f) right to information before whittling down our article 18 (2) right against interference with citizens' private communications. Right Honorable Speaker, Ghana has been at the RTI Bill since 2003. Thirteen (13) years on, Ghana is still in the process of finalizing its draft RTI Bill for passage into law? Please, pass the RTI Bill together with the proposed amendments before the life of this Parliament ends in December 2016. Your Sincerely Samson Lardy ANYENINI, Esq. Host - NewsFile on MultiTv/JoyFm The head of an educational NGO, VIAM Africa Centre for Education and Social Policy has said president John Mahama's state of the nation address is loudly silent on key issues affecting the educational sector. Dr Prince Armah could not hide his disappointment with what he said is the president's failure to touch on the national teaching council, the body expected to regulate activities of teachers in the country. Just like the Medical and Dental council for the health sector, the General Legal Council for the law profession, Dr Armah believes the National Teaching Council should be given the autonomy it needs to regulate activities of teachers. President John Mahama in his state of the nation address on Thursday mentioned a number of activities government had undertaken in the educational sector in 2015. He cited the teacher professional development policy aimed at training at least 95% of teachers at the basic level. He also reiterated government's commitment to complete the 200 SHS Community schools as well as build ten universities in each of the ten regions in Ghana. The president also mentioned increased enrolment at all levels of education and cited the provision of free exercise and text books, shoes etc. While acknowledging some of these achievements by the president, Dr Prince Armah told Myjoyonline.com in an interview these policies were haphazard and largely uncoordinated. He chided what he said was the president's "limited understanding" on the concept of access to education. "If you read the speech clearly the president appeared to define access to education as merely the provision of infrastructure and which is a very narrow understanding of access," he said. He said access can be improved in several other ways apart from infrastructure development. He cited the policy decision to withdraw allowances to teacher trainees, a policy he said had increased enrolment to teacher trainee institutions from 9,000 to 15,000. "There are a lot of policy [defects] that imposes limitations on people having access to education," he said, adding the BECE is another major policy that limits access to education and must be scrapped. He said there has to be a redefinition of basic education to include senior high school education. The president in his address mentioned the 200 community SHS school project which he said was at several stages of completion. But Dr Prince Armah is convinced these schools, most of which he said will not be completed before 2017, will also not address the issue of technical and vocational training. "As we speak now all the interventions that we have had has not resulted in any improved learning outcome and the evidence is clear," he said. He called for a more deliberate, methodical policy intervention that will ensure improved inclusive education, teaching and learning. 27.02.2016 LISTEN Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Running Mate to Nana Akufo-Addo, has come to the aid of students in the Kperisi Primary School in Wa where students lack school furniture and have to study on the floor. Dr. Bawumia, who made a brief stop at the School on Friday, while on his way to the Wa East Constituency for a tour, informed the Head Teacher of the school, Madam Rosina Diedong that the conditions he had seen demanded immediate action and that he had therefore ordered school furniture for 500 students. Dr. Bawumia, who went through the Basic 1, 2 and 3 classrooms, urged the pupils not to be daunted by the current conditions and to study hard to become great future leaders. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has been in the Upper West Region since Saturday and has so far visited over 40 communities in the Wa East, Lawra and Lambussie Constituencies. On Monday, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, during his initial rounds in the Wa East Consituency, pledged a borehole for the Funsi Secondary School, after authorities in the School sent an SOS message to the former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana on hearing of his presence in the Funsi Community. Upon arrival, Dr. Bawumia was informed of the water crisis that had hit the school and the fact that students of the school had found it difficult to find water for bathing and other activities in the preceding days. The situation prompted the NPP Vice-Presidential candidate to immediately announce that he will fund a borehole project for the school. Dr. Bawumia funded the development of a similar borehole project for the Gambaga Girls Senior High School last year. Lawyer Philip Addison has fought back to emerge the shocking winner of Saturdays Parliamentary primary re-run of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), in the Klottey Korle Constituency. Results from the Electoral Commission, show that Mr. Addison in a rather close contest, polled 396 of the 765 votes cast, to beat his only contender, Nii Noi Nortey, who polled 367 votes. An elated Philip Addison Out of 790 delegates expected to cast their ballot, only 765 voted. According to Citi News Kojo Agyemang, only two ballots were rejected. Todays elections came off peacefully but with heightened security at the partys headquarters at Asylum Down, which is located in the constituency. The security ostensibly became necessary following the tension that had existed between the two aspirants. Lawyer Addison was the lead counsel for the opposition NPP, when the party contested the 2012 election results at the Supreme Court. The re-run controversy The results of todays poll will somewhat give credence to Mr. Addisons claim that the previous election which he boycotted, was a sham, hence his decision to annul the outcome in court. In the previous election, Lawyer Addison only managed a meagre 22 votes, while Nii Noi Nortey garnered 393 votes, with the third contender, Nii Adjei Tawiah, who pulled out of todays election to back Addison, managing 19 votes. The fierce contest Prior to todays primary, the two men were brimming with confidence with Addison saying he would win because some men from the camp of his opponent, had pitched camp with him because of some promises he made to them which had not been fulfilled. But Nii Nortey said he had done so much work, and that it was naive on the part of Mr. Addison to think he was going to win, merely because some of his campaign team members had switched to his camp. Will there be unity? Looking at how events have turned out in the constituency, the party would have to do a lot more to remain united going forward into the November polls. The Klottey Korle seat has been won twice by the NPP in 1996 and 2000, before it lost it to the NDCs Nii Armah Ashietey, the incumbent MP. NDCs dilemma Coincidentally, the NDC in the same Constituency, is also faced with a difficulty of who leads the party in the November polls. The daughter of former President Rawlings, Dr. Zanetor Rawlings, who was elected in the partys November primary, is being challenged in court by the incumbent MP, Nii Armah Ashietey. Mr. Ashietey says Dr. Zanetor Rawlings was not qualified to contest the poll since shes not a registered Ghanaian voter as the Constitution prescribes. Food for All Ghana Program as part of its food banking operations on Thursday donated recovered food products worth thousands of cedis to the Teshie School Feeding Program at the LEKMA Northern cluster of schools in Accra. The donation which includes drinks, tomato juice, flour, spices and baked beans forms part of the organizations preparation towards it conveyance of the 2016 Food for All Ghana conference, awards and launch of my right to food campaign. Miss Henrietta Adjetey, National Co-ordinator for the Food for All Ghana Program donating the products, reiterated her organizations vision of creating sustainable means of nutrition for vulnerable children through food recovery and farming. Elijah Amoo Addo, Founder of Food for All Ghana Program solicited for stakeholders support in addressing food wastage and hunger in Ghana by donating surplus food products to the recovery program. It is very serious when children are out of school because of hunger and within our food supply chain we are wasting 30% of food in Ghana. Businesses have significant and unique abilities to combat the root causes of hunger and food wastage in Ghana. Kids under the school feeding program are fed on 80 pesewa per day and the school feeding program must be extended to include children in the junior high school. Food for All Ghana together with stakeholder partnership could go a long way to support the Ghana school feeding program. Receiving the items, Mrs Ivy Agyei-Twum, the circuit supervisor of Ghana Education Service for Teshie expressed gratitude to Food for All Ghana for donating towards the feeding of kids under the program. Teshie Cluster of schools is one of the few schools with a school feeding program kitchen and very delighted that inspite of the challenges, we have been providing one meal per day for over 900 children from primary 1 to 6 since 2009.This meals have improved enrollment within the school and vulnerable parents are encouraged to send their kids to the school because of the meals provided. Mr. Micheal K. Dua, the caterer in charge of cooking for children under the school feeding program was very happy; Food for All Ghana program came to the rescue of the school feeding program within the community.We entreat you to frequently support us in improving the meals given to the children under the program. Its quite challenging feeding this number of children daily and will be glad if the Food for All Ghana program can frequently support us in implementing the program.For the first time under the school feeding program, the children enjoy their meals with a drink.We are very grateful to Food for All Ghana. The team after the donations interacted and shared free drinks to the children in their respective classes. Dr. Mushaibu Muhammed-Alfa 27.02.2016 LISTEN Deputy Upper West Regional Minister Dr. Mushaibu Muhammed-Alfa is calling on the nation's security operatives to take the security of the nation seriously. Dr. Alfa said this when he visited the black volta at Dikpe in the Lawra district where he is the acting District Chief Executive. The deputy minister who was appalled at the poor nature of security at the black volta which is a border between Ghana and Burkina Faso. What shocked him more was the fact that residents from both Ghana and Burkina Faso move in and out of the area with such ease that the possibility of smuggling is high. Dr. Alfa wondered why the security apparatus were not serious at the border points of the country. Earlier Dr. Mushaibu Muhammed-Alfa visited various departments under the Lawra District Assembly where he interacted with the officials. He encouraged them to work hard to ensure that the development agenda of the area is achieved. The Ugandan government is continuing to violate the human rights of leaders of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and undermining the ability of their party to legally challenge the results of the 18 February elections, said Amnesty International in a statement, as the 10-day deadline for filing presidential election petitions looms. Security forces have repeatedly arrested the aggrieved presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye, and some of his party leadership colleagues and supporters. They have also besieged his home, and raided the partys main office in the capital Kampala. The FDC has a legal right to challenge the election results and it must be allowed to do so, said Sarah Jackson, Amnesty Internationals Deputy Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes. It is unacceptable for the government to stifle a lawfully-registered party from pursuing the only legal recourse available for it to contest the electoral outcome. Since the results were announced, Dr Besigye has been detained without charge at police stations or at his home in Kasangati, near Kampala. His first post-election arrest was on 22 February, as he attempted to leave his home the day after he had suggested in a televised speech that he would challenge the outcome of the election in the Supreme Court. These arbitrary arrests are an affront to Dr Besigyes right to freedom of movement and a clear sign of the prevailing climate of impunity and disregard for rule of law in Uganda, said Sarah Jackson. The Ugandan government must fully and effectively respect its own constitution, and honour its voluntary international obligations to protect every Ugandans human rights, including to freedom of movement, freedom of expression, and freedom of peaceful assembly. Background On 20 February, the Electoral Commission declared incumbent President Yoweri Museveni winner of the presidential election with 60.75% of the vote as opposed to Besigyes 35.37%, an outcome Dr Besigye dismissed as fraudulent. The election took place amidst a government-ordered social media shutdown that according to European Union (EU) election observers unreasonably constrained freedom of expression and access to information. According to the police, Dr Besigyes continued arrest was made under powers of preventive arrest for utterances and activities that amount to incitement to violence and defiance of the law. Amnesty International has examined Dr Besigyes televised remarks and does not consider him to have incited violence. FDC headquarters were raided by police on 19 February, while elections were ongoing in parts of Kampala. Witnesses interviewed by Amnesty International said police officers fired tear gas canisters at crowds gathered at the scene. CANADIAN SERIAL RIGHTS] [ONE PHOTO ADDED ALCOHOL OUTLINE According to the World Health Organizations [WHO] global status report on alcohol and health 2014, world wide per capita consumption [APC] for those over the age of 15 years was 6.2 litres of pure alcohol every year. Whiles in Canada it was 10.2 litres, Ghana recorded between 2.5-4.9 liters. Do Ghanaians drink alcohol a lot? To find out which five countries tops the table of APC in the world, lets join Stephen A.Quaye, a freelance based in Toronto-Canada who has filed this report. ALCOHOL QUAYE [1] The rate at which young boys and girls are drinking hard liquor in Ghana these days is so worrying. Not a single day passes by without seeing the majority of the countrys youth congregating at bars and grills in the evening to drink litres of hard liquor alcohol. No wonder a selfy of some students drinking alcohol at a particular bar which was posted on social media went viral quiet recently. The severe nature of the situation has made some academicians, clergy, opinion leaders and some well respected persons to raise concern about it. Indeed it is making all to ask whether we are safe loosing the majority of the countrys youth to drinking of hard liquor. Surprised some boys and girls took shots of themselves drinking alcohol in school uniform and posted it on a social media? ALCOHOL QUAYE [2] No you shouldnt be surprised but rather be worried that the countrys future leaders are now being lost to drinking of hard liquor. According to the World Health Organizations [WHO] global status report on alcohol and health 2014, world wide alcohol per capita consumption [APC] for those over the age of 15 is 6.2 litres of pure alcohol every year. In Canada, the figure is 10.2. Per cent whiles Ghana is between 2.5-4.9 litres of pure alcohol every year. The WHO global status report on alcohol and health 2014 revealed that , 99.3 percent of alcohol drunk in Haiti was spirits the highest of any country and 75.9 per cent of alcohol drunk in East Timor was wine, the highest of any country. It further revealed that, hundred [100] percent of alcohol drunk in Yemen and Bhutan was beer, the highest of any country while 61.7 per cent of the global population of 15 years and above had not drunk alcohol in a year before. For the top five countries with the highest APC, Belarus was first with 17.5 per cent, followed by Moldova with 16.8 percent, Lithuania 15.4 per cent, Russia 15.1 percent and Romania with 14.4 percent. Those countries topped the table of [APC] among men and women. 27.02.2016 LISTEN The New Patriotic Partys Member of Parliament for Manhyia-South, Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, is quite accurate to argue that even in countries of greater public safety and higher quality of security, Prime Ministers have been killed (See It Costs 10 Times More to Replace MP than Minister Napo Wants Security for MPs Modernghana.com 2/13/16). The obvious reference here, of course, is to the legendary Swedish Prime Minister and former leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party, Mr. Sven Olof Joachim Palme. Dr. Opoku-Prempehs question could be pointedly answered in two ways none of which would support his call for all members of Ghanas Parliament to be provided with personal and private security detail at the expense of the taxpayer. First of all, what the Manhyia-South MPs argument exposes is the fact that absolutely no measure of security protection could be aptly reckoned to be foolproof or hermetically guaranteed against any possible breaches or lapses. In other words, the Ghanaian politician would be living in a fools paradise to suppose that merely having a lone policeman or woman guard them around the clock would effectively remove the danger of their being harmed by anybody intent or hell-bent on doing precisely that. In the case of the celebrated Swedish Prime Minister, as yours truly vividly recalls, it was Mr. Palmes modest and flat refusal to be swamped by a platoon of security detail that may well have tempted his up-to-date unknown assassin to undertake the repulsively ungodly act of gunning down Prime Minister Palme. We also know that hardworking and progressive and creative and imaginative leaders like President Julius Kambarage Nyerere rode a bike to work, as well as take public transportation, during a remarkable period of his time in office, without any elaborate security detail and was not brought to any serious harm. And so clearly, the problem of the security of the African politician straddles the balance between personal deportment or lifestyle and a combination of factors that have absolutely nothing, whatsoever, to do with whether every Ghanaian parliamentarian is afforded one heavily armed guard paid for by the paradoxically marginally protected Ghanaian taxpayer or not. I have already spoken to the fact that the average Ghanaian parliamentarian is well-heeled enough to be able to budget and pay for his/her own personal and private security detail. Already, these MPs are afforded generous housing allowances at the expense of the Ghanaian civil servant whose salary and benefit entitlements are routinely and rudely held in arrears by these same politicians who would now have us believe that they are the best thing that ever happened to our beloved nation since either the discovery or invention of Foo-Foo (Fufuo) and palm-nut soup. Dr. Opoku-Prempeh claims that it takes ten times the amount of money that it takes to replace one State Minister or Cabinet Appointee to stage a bye-election for the replacement of a deceased MP, such as my recently brutally assassinated relative, Mr. Joseph Boakye Danquah-Adu, the representative for Akyem-Abuakwa North. Well, the Manhyia-South NPP-MP could also have been even more brutally frank by adding that the job of a Cabinet Minister is only an avenue for any parliamentarian of a ruling party or government, in the good books of the President, whoever the latter happens to be, to exponentially increase the size of his/her paycheck. In other words, in Fourth-Republican Ghana, the post of a Cabinet Minister is a patent pork-barrel sinecure, a bonus gift for good behavior, and not a real job. It is one for which a prospective parliamentarian spends a lot of money to secure one of those trashy China chairs in the august House in order to be subsequently awarded by the President as a proverbial feather in ones cap. And so, really, Dr. Napo has absolutely no substantive argument here. Besides, nobody begged any of these grubby parliamentarians to go to Accra and represent them in our National Assembly. Simply and poignantly put, let these MPs use some of the same moneys they have been using to underwrite administrative activities at Party Headquarters to buy themselves their own personal security details. How right Chairman Jerry John Rawlings was, after all, when he shouted, with a stick of joint deftly balanced in-between his lips: We No Go Sit Down Make Dem Cheat Us Everyday! Oh, No!! *Visit my blog at: kwameokoampaahoofe.wordpress.com Ghanaffairs 27.02.2016 LISTEN We, of the Fair-Trade Oil Share-Ghana (FTOS-Gh/PSA) Petition/Campaign, including GIGS, with the sole mission of ensuring Ghana receives a fairer share of its oil revenues, have reviewed the PowerPoint presentation titled, "Overview: Ghanas Oil and Gas Fiscal Regime: Clarification Meeting with Parliament". Dated 20th February , 2016, the document was issued by the staff of the Ghana Petroleum Commission. That document was a point of discussion at a meeting held at Ada, Greater Accra Region, 20 Feb 16. (Find copy at http://ghanahero.com/FTOS_GH_Campaign.html). 1. GIGS and the FTOS-Gh/PSA Petition/Campaign Team are grateful to the Parliamentary Committee on Energy for the invitation to listen in to the presentation by the Staff of the Petroleum Commission, and to make yet another nth pitch for adoption of the PSA for Ghana's Oil and Gas. 2. Even so, we recognize that it is still the responsibility of Government of Ghana and its officials, politicians and bureaucrats, to ensure all perspectives are fully heard and documented not only for Ghanaians, but as well, for all funding partners and sponsors including those spearheading the "revenue management" initiatives. 3. As some others who attended the meeting at Ada, we left more confused as ever about what the staff of the Petroleum Commission were intending to communicate given that they did not present actual oil production and sales data even though they have had more than 1 year to prepare. We see the difficulties not only as the result of communications and analytical failures, but also persistence in validating actions taking in the past that did not adequately protect the interest of Ghana, and belief by certain bureaucrats that they can build a mouse trap that is better than the World Standard. 4. As a result of these failures, here are "12 Jubilee Oil Barrel (JOB) Questions" for the Ghana Petroleum Commission and their Staff: 1. What does "Sovereign Control", the basic characteristic of the PSA, mean to you, and how does it relate to "Accountability" and "Transparency", and all the important things you do at the Petroleum Commission? 2. How much in total did Government of Ghana/GNPC pay to the oil companies during 2010-2015, for oil "development and production costs"? 3. What is the total revenue paid to Government of Ghana/GNPC regardless of source (royalty, tax, oil, etc.)? 4. What is the total revenue kept by the Oil Companies as profit, after exploration and production costs were deducted? 5. What is the total Oil Companies exploration and production costs considered Petroleum Commission (and the GNPC)? (Is it still $8.9 billion?) 6. How many barrels of Oil were lifted at Jubilee during that period? 7. Why is GNPC paying for oil "development and production cost" when the Petroleum Commission admits Ghana does not have enough money to train sufficient number of engineers, accountants, and oil and gas professionals, when those payments are not required under the PSA? 8. Knowing that Tullow is based in the UK, and Kosmos is based in the US, how is the Petroleum Commission (and their staff) neutral parties when (1) the Ghana Petroleum Commission is being funded by UK's DFID in the amount of 1,900,000 (USD 2,650,000, and DFID has thus far paid at least 22,000 (USD 30,5000) to the Ghana Petroleum Commission, and (2) Ghana is the sovereign owner of the oil. 9. Why and how can Ghanaians trust that the Petroleum Commission and its politician-benefactors, given the conflict(s) of interest, can, and will in fact fight for a Fair-Share of Oil and Gas revenues for Ghana directly from Tullow and Kosmos, a Fair-Trade Oil share that would also allow those Oil Companies to "Take" their fair/economic share, in profit? 10. Even if "Government Take" was 50% (which is doubtful because the Commission Staff also did not present any numbers proving that), what is wrong with a "Take" of 69.3% (Louisiana, USA) or a "Take" of 89.4 (Malaysia)? 11. Why are "accountability" and "transparency" so unimportant to Petroleum Commission staff that the 48-page PowerPoint presentation neglected to address those sovereign, democratic values and principles? 12. If some Ghanaians are smart enough to develop for Ghana, Ghana own "Type of Petroleum Fiscal System - The Hybrid System", the World Standard PSA for Ghana's Oil and Gas be damned, how is it that Ghana does not now have Team(s) of "highly professional negotiators", which the Commission Staff proposes is a "Main Disadvantages" of the Government of Ghana? (Relatedly, does the Staff seriously think there are no other, better, or more "professional negotiators" outside the Petroleum Commission who can be of service to Ghana at low cost, even pro bono?). 5. THEREFORE, in the absence of full and complete answers to those 12 basic and essential questions, given the low price of oil currently in the world market, and failure to adopt the World Standard Oil and Gas Fiscal System (PSA) that will better protect Sovereign Ghana, maybe it is time Ghana stopped the development, production, and sales of Ghana's oil until the Mahama-NDC administration causes: (1) Answers to our 12-JOB questions truthfully, completely, and timely, in a Fair-Trade Oil Share-Ghana (FTOS-Gh) fashion (2) Introduction of "Transparency", "Accountability", and "Sovereign Control" as bedrock "Oil and Gas Development and Production" principles to better achieve for Ghana Total, Full Maximum Benefits (TFMB), in pursuance of Ghana's development goals and objectives. (3) By directive, immediate adoption by Ghana of the World Standard Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) as the preferred form of contract for all of Ghana's Oil and Gas resources, without any adulterations, in the interest of Fair Trade/Fair Share Oil. NOTE: This call to cease development, production, and sales of Ghana' oil until the 3 specified conditions are met, is also provided as an update to all those who have already signed, contributed, and/or are otherwise supporting the Fair-Trade Oil Share Ghana (FTOS-Gh/PSA) Petition/Campaign for Ghana's Oil and Gas. (In Part II, we will provide our perspective on other matters referenced in the Petroleum Commission Power Point presentation, "Overview: Ghanas Oil and Gas Fiscal Regime: Clarification Meeting with Parliament", dated, 20th February, 2016). GhanaHero.Com Interest Items: 1. Fair-Trade Oil Share-Ghana (FTOS-GH/PSA Petition/Campaign): Read about it, join it, sign it: https://www.change.org/p/ghana-fair-trade-oil-share-psa-campaign-ftos-gh-psa ). 2. www.GhanaHero.Com/FTOS_Gh_Campaign , for more information. (Join the action! Read mo! Listen mo! See mo! Reflect mo!). Prof Lungu & Associates / GIGS / ANON / FTOS-Gh/PSA / Prof Lungu is Ghana-Centered/Ghana-Proud. @professorlungu - Twitter (#FTOS_Gh) Prof Lungu is based in Washington DC, USA. Subj: Petroleum Commission's Overview - Ghanas Oil and Gas Fiscal Regime - The FTOS-Gh Petition_Campaign Perspective(1) Brought to you courtesy www.GhanaHero.com27 February, 2016. (http://ghanahero.com/Visions.html). On Saturday 27th February, 2016 Galaxy International School virtually brought the world to its new Secondary School complex at Adjiriganor, East Legon as it celebrated its 11th intercultural festival amidst fun, pomp and lots of cheer. The event themed towards global peace kept everyone on their seats as they were eager to catch a glimpse of the spectacle that was being shown by 33 participating countries through the cultural display of flags, clothing, pictures, souvenirs and different dishes from different countries. Being one of the most celebrated occasions that takes place annually, it allows students showcase the beauty of diversity by giving students the opportunity to manifest their nations through culture, music, dance and food. The occasion is meant to teach students to appreciate and embrace each others culture as they learn more about one another. It is also meant to help students adopt the idea of seeking dialogue and tolerance first in any conflict resolution process especially these days that we have so much uproar. As much as the day was meant to remind these young ones about the need for peace with regards to our cultural and ideological differences, it was also a gentle prompt to the rest of the world that maintaining peace should be at the core of humanity. The principal for the Secondary Section, Mr. Hakan Karaman stated that we are indeed happy to have students from over 33 nations and that it is this multinational nature that makes Galaxy Int. School so diverse and yet so unique. He went on to explain that the mission at galaxy School apart from educational objectives include fostering greater understanding between cultures. With such background rich in culture and diversity it is only proper that it is channelled in a manner that all can witness and appreciate. The theme for the occasion is to lay emphasis on how important it is to peacefully co-exist in order to promote unity and harmony. In conclusion, he thanked the various embassies of participating countries and other well wishers for their support as well as teachers, students and especially parents for their unflinching support through out the preparations. He was hopeful that Ghana would continue to serve as a bridge between the two countries and continue to play its role in making the world a better place. Mr. Samuel Otopah Ntow, Director, Pre-tertiary Private Schools-GES, the Chairman for the occasion in his speech emphasised that to understand and be able to live with other people peacefully, we need to know their their social orientation, customs, tradition, religion, language etc. He was grateful to all who had gathered and congratulated Galaxy for yet another feat. Accra, Feb. 27, GNA - The West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) of the University of Ghana (UG), has hosted the USAID/Ghana Agricultural Policy Support Project (APSP) Variety Evaluation and Release Awareness Workshop. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in collaboration with the USAID, the Iowa State University (ISU) and WACCI held the workshop as part of their commitment in helping to train seed experts in the implementation of the Plant and Fertilizer Act. The purpose of the meeting was to create awareness on procedures for accreditation to evaluate varieties, and variety evaluation review - the procedure manual for variety evaluation and release in relation to flow, content, and language. The workshop attracted over 30 participants, including 16 breeders from the UG and other agriculture research institutions in Ghana. Professor Eric Yirenkyi Danquah, the Director of WACCI, in his welcome address said the workshop was very timely and important because Africa needs crop varieties that can give yields; which would go a long way to ensure food and nutritional security. The Director announced that WACCI is close to releasing five high yielding new varieties of maize in Africa. He said when these high yielding new varieties of maize gets to farmers, they would turn around their production. He said the WACCI has the largest PhD programmes in Africa, and that it is making a great impact on the continent in training of plant breeders, as part of efforts to address Africa's food security. The main speaker for the workshop, Dr Francisco Miti, a consultant at the ISU said, the MoFA would accredit institutions that have the capacity to evaluate specific crop varieties for purposes of release in Ghana. He said the selected institution would be responsible to the National Seed Council on evaluation of varieties, and that such an institution must have breeding team; capable of evaluating the varieties. GNA Accra, Feb. 27, GNA - The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) at a roundtable has stressed the indispensable role of the paralegals system and the need for it to be legalized to bolster the fight for access to justice by poor detainees. The discussion sought to increase knowledge of stakeholders like Ministry of Interior, Judiciary, Legislature, Attorney General's (AG) Department, Legal Aid-Scheme, Ghana Police Service and Ghana Prisons Service on the role of paralegals in the country and the need to give it a legal backing. Speaking on the theme: 'Promoting improved access to justice for the indigent pre-trial detainees', Ms Mina Mensah, Regional Coordinator of CHRI, Africa Office, urged stakeholders to consider charting and implementing a policy on the operations of paralegals in the country. She said there was the need to come out with a legal backing to push for the proper functioning of paralegals in Ghana, stressing that other countries have been able to apply it their advantage. 'For instance if a suspect is charged with robbery instead of stealing, and there is someone to intercede on behalf of the person, then he/she can be granted bail by the police,' she said. 'For it is easier to get bail in the law court if it is stealing, but with robbery the first thing the judge will say is that, it is an offence that cannot receive bail,' she said. Mr Akoto Ampaw, a legal practitioner, speaking about injustices in the courts, said promotion of paralegals would be a good step for the nation, defending his position on the basis that the law presumes every citizen is innocent, stressing that every accused individual - whether rich or poor ought to have a lawyer. 'There is a massive inequality between those who can afford the services of lawyers and those who cannot, and that is why it is pertinent to promote paralegals to close the midway between the rich and indigent when it comes to legal services', he said. The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative Africa Office established in 2001 is an independent, non-partisan, international nongovernmental organisation mandated to ensure the practical realization of human rights in commonwealth countries. GNA Accra, Feb. 27, GNA - Canon Central and North Africa, a leader in imaging solutions has signed a partnership agreement with Invest in Africa to launch the 'Professional Print Excellence' programme to train Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) printing companies. The training programme aims to improve the commercial and technical skills of 20 local professional printing SMEs by providing them with focused training to help run large volumes of business and deliver world-class printing products and services. As part of the partnership, Invest in Africa, an online portal will provide training on business development and business management best practices and a mentorship programme in 2017. Participating SMEs will be invited to join Invest in Africa's Africa Partner Pool (APP), Ghana's first cross-sector online business platform that connect larger international and Ghanaian companies to local business across sectors. The APP aims to increase the visibility and credibility of Ghanaian SMEs and support international and domestic companies who wants to maximize their local supply chains quicker. Mr Ayman Aly, Marketing Manager, Canon Middle East, said the programme is part of Canon's Miraisha Sustainability initiative to build the capacity and skills of people in the African countries where it operates. He said their outfit is committed to empower the SMEs through the improvement of vocational skills and job creation opportunities. He said the training was established in response to a study conducted by Canon to understand the professional printing industry in Ghana and found that some corporate organizations are using print providers in foreign countries for the print requirements. Mr Aly said the study identified that 96 percent of companies believe that business in the country will grow in the next three to five years while 64 percent of companies said they could be persuaded to have more materials printed within Ghana if printing quality improved. Mr Sam Brandful, Ghana Manager for Invest in Africa, said the company is a private sector initiative that brings together leading companies across sectors to work together to develop local enterprise and support investment in the country. He said the training programme sets the stage for building the capacity of the selected SMEs in the printing sector to help position them to increase competitiveness, drive revenue and provide them of better chance of accessing finance using the APP. Mrs Suwebatu Adams, Director of Domestic Trade at the Ministry of Trade and Industry commended the partners for the programme, adding that the initiative will help address issues of SMEs in the country. She said the Ministry will continue to play its role of bringing up entrepreneurs and develop their capacities to compete both locally and internationally. Mr James Appiah Berko, President of Ghana Printers and Paper Converters Association welcomed the initiative adding that the programme will add value to their career development. GNA Accra, Feb. 26, GNA - Beige Capital Savings and Loans Limited has opened Spintex road branch after its capital base climbed by GH129 million, surpassing Bank of Ghana's (BoG) minimum requirement of GH15 million pegged for savings and loans companies. Officials of the Beige Capital ascribed the feat chalked to its highly motivated staff and the company's commitment to the central bank's rules and regulations governing operations of savings and loans companies in the country to protect interest of depositors and investors. Mr Charles Odonkor, the Deputy Managing Director of Beige Capital, said this to the Ghana News Agency during the inauguration of a new branch at the Spintex Road - opposite Baatsonaa Total fuel station. The Spintex branch adds to the existing 62 branches of Beige Capital since its inception, and positioning the company as the largest and fast growing savings and loans company that strives to build a world class bank of Ghanaian origin. 'We intend to expand our frontiers in banking, we intend to capture over 80 per cent of the economically active population who are involved in the informal sector,' Mr Odonkor said, expressing optimism that it would cover the 10 regions by the end of the year. 'At the Spintex branch, we seek to bring to our clients a more customer-friendly approach to business and win many more customers for the bank,' he said. 'The concept of banking is changing', he said, 'but in spite of the seemingly challenging time, the banking industry continues to be a hotbed of positive developments too.' Mr Odonkor said the company has seen the introduction of interesting and innovative products over the years, but was still working at optimizing opportunities for transacting banking services. The mass influx of financial service providers into the country gave an indication of positive returns on investments in the industry than available elsewhere, he said, adding that rapid urbanization and technological advancement further presented a huge potential in the electronic banking services. 'We at Beige capital are committed to providing the best possible service in electronic banking to give our customers a non-stop service point at all times. The company unveiled the art technology centre last year and was working to roll out more e-banking services seeking to transform Ghana's banking industry. Mr K.O Adu Larbi, Board Chairman of Beige Capital, described the company as a homegrown institution that is strong, robust, well capitalized and committed to serve the needs of customers and to uphold the integrity of the central bank. 'Beige Capital is a home grown institution with great ambitions to make a difference in the financial landscape, be assured that Beige capital is a strong institution, we are well capitalized and robust,' he said. Mr Raymond Amanfu, the head of banking supervision department at the BoG, said his outfit would continue to supervise the financial systems and ensure their maximum security and stability. 'The recent development in microfinance subsector requires all stakeholders in the financial sector to be very diligent and responsible, financial institutions should be mindful in the pricing of their deposits and loans as these have dire consequences' he said. GNA A GNA feature by Celestina Seyram Tsievor Accra, Feb. 27, GNA - At night in many parts of Accra, many female head porters are seen sleeping in open spaces and this makes them vulnerable to the vagaries of the environment and violence from acquaintances and strangers. These female head porters (kaya yei) often come from distant rural communities in search for greener pastures in the urban areas. And they have to endure varied experiences as they climb the ladder of life. 'It is not my wish to be a kayayo but I have no choice because I have no form of formal training or education to practice an acceptable vocation, Ayishatu, a head porter at the Tema Station, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview. With tears in her eyes, she called for assistance from all quarters so that she and her other colleagues can learn a decent vocation or trade so they would be able to take care of themselves and their families. Ayishatu said it had always been her dream to be a fashion designer but that wish remains a wish as she strives to earn a living before actualizing her dream. Mohammed, a truck pusher, said sometimes I feel down and depressed when I see my age mates make a decent living whiles I have to carry loads to fend for myself. He said he dropped out of school when he lost both parents and since then he became a head porter. He said it is not only my truck I intend pushing but I am determined to push harder in life to achieve my goal of becoming a business tycoon. This, he said, I intend to do by reading and educating myself with the money I make from this business of truck pushing. The government has over the years initiated various interventions to help the youth in this occupation. Such interventions include the YES programme which seeks to train head porters in various vocations including hairdressing, dressmaking as well as loaning them money to start or boost their businesses. Mrs Matilda Amissah - Arthur, the second lady of the country, has also endorsed and supported the Pamela E. Bridgewater Project, which is aimed at educating the disadvantaged head porters and displaced children in the country. Making a donation of educational materials to children of head porters as part of the Pamela Bridgewater Project at a recent event, she said the initiative was targeted to provide a better future to head porters through education, advocacy, protection and research. She said a campaign to enroll the head porters in schools, is dubbed 'Sponsor Kayayei to School Program'. It is aimed at sponsoring the education of under-aged girls, who have migrated from the northern sectors of the country to the south in search of menial jobs. The 'Sponsor Kayayei to School Program' would also enroll baby-sitters of wards of kayayei's and other displaced children, who seen roaming the streets of suburbs in Accra. Mrs Amissah-Arthur called on corporate institutions and individuals to join the campaign to give education to the young girls to make them responsible citizens in the country. She called on the head porters to also contribute their widow's mite to the development of their children and urged them to consider elongating the intervals between births. Items donated to the kayayei included laptops, story books, text books, exercise books and an undisclosed amount of money. Hajia Zainab Joyce Mahama, the National Women's Organiser of the National Democratic Congress, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said the Youth Enterprise Support (YES) programme is aimed at improving the lot of the youth, women and the vulnerable. 'When they[head porters] enter into YES, their lives will change since some programmes in yes such as loan facilities, schools, youth in agriculture, women attending school, enrolling in nursing are geared for them,' she said. Hajia Mahama urged the beneficiaries of the loan facility to invest it in their businesses and pay back as their business grows. GNA Accra, Feb. 27, GNA - Mr Franklin Jantuah, former member of Dr Kwame Nkrumah's cabinet, has angered disabled persons for suggesting that Mr Ivor Greenstreet being a wheelchair user, is incapable of leading the Convention People's Party (CPP) to victory. Mr Jantuah is reported by the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) to have commented: 'I don't think a cripple can lead a political party, if you have a CPP with a leader who is a crippled, I wonder how he is going to rule'. But members of the Federation, in a statement issued on Friday, described Jantuah's remarks as 'counterproductive, conservative and retrogressive' which has no place in modern democracy that consistently and universally seeks inclusiveness in society. The statement signed by the Federation's national president, Mr Yaw Ofori Debrah and copied to the Ghana News Agency called on the only surviving member of Dr Nkrumah's administration to render his apology. The Federation said such comments are unacceptable, disparaging and demeaning and violates Ghana's constitutional provisions, particularly article 15(1) which states that 'the dignity of all persons shall be inviolable.' 'We call on the good people of Ghana and citizens of the global village to ignore unreservedly the conservative politician and his retrogressive tendencies which have no place anymore in modern and inclusive democracies in the world,' he said. 'Franklin Jantuah, the only surviving member of the CPP since Nkrumah's time' who should have been a seasoned politician and a reservoir of political experience, is reported to have disappointed all modern thinking and progressive democrats by his expression of disabilism,' he said. 'Jantuah can debate the flagbearer on ideas and other areas of competency, however, the law frowns on anybody attacking a person because of that person's disability, [he] must render an unqualified apology to the disability fraternity without delay.' Section 37 of Ghana's PWDs Act, (Act 715, 2006) also frowns on using printable and unprintable derogatory statements on persons with disability (PWD). 'It should be placed on record that the world has experienced great and successful leadership of PWDs including Franklin D. Roosevelt, former President of United States of America, who was the only American President to have been re-elected four consecutive times,' Mr Debrah said. Mr Greenstreet at the recent CPP's presidential polls scooped 1,288 votes out of the 1,992 valid votes casted to beat his closest contender, Ms Samia Nkrumah who trailed with 579 votes. Other contestants - Mr Joseph Agyapong garnered 83 votes while Mr Bright Akwetey managed with 42 votes. Political observers say it would be a major political achievement if Ghana's first ever physically challenged presidential candidate gets elected in the November presidential polls. GNA Accra, Feb. 27, GNA - Natural supply of water is at risk of depletion if measures are not taken early to arrest the growing rate of the reduction caused by natural and human factors, Dr Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah, Minister of Water Resources has warned. Some factors responsible for the reduction are catchment degradation due to farming along water banks, climate change and seasonal variability and increasing population growth and urbanisation. Dr Agyemang-Mensah, who is also responsible for Works and Housing, also blamed pollution caused by the discharge of waste water in to water bodies and illegal mining (galamsey) for the threat on the supply of natural water. In a statement on the floor of Parliament on the current water shortage that has his parts of the country, the Minister assured the nation that the Ministry, with other stakeholders, is adopting measures to address the situation. He said compliance of water protection regulations would be strictly followed and the buffer zone policy would be implemented. Also, there would be more public awareness, sensitisation as well promoting school monitoring activities, promoting climate resilience and adaptation techniques. Dr Agyemang- Mensah said the Ministry is undertaking various projects including the Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Project, the Northern Region Small Town Water and Sanitation Project, the Five District Water Supply Scheme and Strengthening Local Government Capacity to Deliver Water Services, to improve the quality of water supply in rural areas. In the urban areas, the water coverage is estimated at 76 per cents, with an estimated capacity f 65 billion gallons per annum. According to the Minister, the water needs of the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) alone accounts for 65 per cent of the urban water demand, and addressing that contributes significantly to addressing the water problems in the country. 'The good news is that GAMA now produces more water that is required for now,' the Minister said, but added that 'the water supply challenges we are facing in some parts of GAMA is as a result of distribution network challenges and I am happy to announce in this connection that Government has secured a grant from the World Bank to address it comprehensively.' The statement touched on the Kwahu Ridge, Konongo, Kumawu, Akim Oda- Akwatia-Winneba, Wa, Konongo, Breman Asikuma, Tarkwa, Yendi, Damongo, Offinso, Techiman Water Projects. Dr Agyemang- Mensah cautioned that the 'current condition of drought should be a wakeup call, and 'we should start to put in pragmatic efforts to safeguard our environment we should protect ourselves from the negative effects of climate change.' Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh, MP for Nsawam-Adoagyir, said there is the need for implementation of water regulations, and called for more pro-activeness in addressing challenges of water and its supply by stakeholders. Mr Richard Mawauli Quashigah, MP for Keta, appealed to the Ministry to go back and implement water supply programmes in some communities in his constituency under the Small Town Water Projects. Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who last week made a desperate call for urgent government assistance to his constituents, also lashed out at illegal mining operations that have polluted a number of water bodies, including the Rivers Offin, Densu and Pra. He called for swift interventions to save the water bodies from further pollution. Mr David Tetteh Assuming, Chairman of the Select Committee on Water Resources, Works and Housing, wondered why water shortages occurred in spite of the heavy annual rainfall and presence of many water bodies, adding that there is the need to capture a lot of water during the rainy season to be used in the dry season. GNA Accra, Feb. 27, GNA - La Citizen Network in collaboration with Gbotsui Foundation on Friday began the 68th commemoration day of the late Sergeant Cornelius Francis Adjetey, with a three-hour clean-up exercise at the La Enobal Two Junior High School. The exercise which was supported by La Enobal Two Junior High School and Vision C Academy began around 0600hrs and covered the La Enobal Two School Park and the grave yard of Sergeant Adjetey. The exercise involved weeding, sweeping and collection of waste rubbish by the students of the two schools, in addition to members of the La Citizen Network and the Gbotsui Foundation. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, Nii Amugi, the Country Coordinator for La Citizen Network, a community based civil society organisation embarking on developmental projects within La, said the clean-up exercise was among activities to mark the 68th Anniversary of the late Sergeant Adjetey, a citizen of La and an ex-serviceman and a veteran of World War II, who met his untimely death on February 28, 1948 at the Christiansburg Crossroad Shooting Incident. The Country Coordinator who commended La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly for providing logistics for the exercise, and expressed unhappiness at the dumping of refuse at old burial places. He explained that due to this the two groups have started a monument site which is yet to be completed; the idea is to transfer the remains of the late ex-service man, to the memorial square which is located in front of the main road leading to the Osu Castle and La Palm Royal Beach. He said this project would serve as a tourist centre for the people of La and all Ghanaians, adding that currently there no were funds to complete the memorial square. 'The project started in 2009 and till date is not complete due to financial challenges,' he stated. Nii Amugi appealed to the government and benevolent individuals to support the activities of the La Citizen Network and its associates. He also appealed to all and sundry, to promote the culture of honouring heroes and heroines, who have contributed in diverse ways towards Ghana's development. He announced that on Sunday February 28, the La Citizen Network and the entire La Community in collaboration with the Ga Adangbe Muslim community would offer prayers to climax the occasion. It will be recalled that on February 28, 1948, World War II, soldiers who had fought with the Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force, organised a peaceful demonstration marching to Christiansburg Castle, Accra, Gold Coast (Ghana), to hand in a petition to the colonial governor, demanding that they receive end of war benefits and pay which they had been promised. Unfortunately, before reaching the Castle, the veterans were ordered at the Christiansburg Crossroad to disperse by a British Colonial Police Officer; however, when they refused, the officer opened fire on them, instantly killing three of the veterans; Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey. The incident led to a nationwide upheaval against British Colonial rule; subsequently accelerating the nation's struggle for independence. GNA Accra, Feb. 27, GNA - The National Labour Commission (NLC) has shared its policies, strategies and how it can contribute to the long-term development of the country at the technical consultation meeting of the National Development Planning Commission. Dr Bernice Welbeck, Acting Executive Secretary of NLC, told the Commission that the NLC anticipates a peaceful industrial relations climate where parties in an employment relationship will see themselves as partners working towards a common goal and not adversaries. She said the long term vision can be achieved through the establishment of regional and district offices nationwide to decentralize its activities in order to ensure a speedy resolution of industrial disputes and promote co-operation between labour and management. Dr Welbeck made these statements when the Commission made an appearance at its policy hearing towards the long-term national development plan with representatives from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Dr Welbeck said with regard to the development agenda of the nation, there is the need to deepen social dialogue between the social partners to enhance the employment relationship, adding that all of these aspirations shall be met when NLC is adequately resourced with an appropriate office, equipment and logistics. She also called for the increase of the commission's staff strength and the improvement of their capacity through training and development. She said there is the need for Ghana to collaborate with international agencies like the International Labour Organization to promote and augment best practices. Representatives from the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice at the policy hearing said they envisioned a society that will be truly free, just and equitable; where human rights and human dignity will be respected, power will be accountable and governance will also be transparent. According to the Commission, to reduce labour agitations to its minimum, a nationwide campaign on good worker-management relationship should be intensified, and also inform employers and workers on their rights and responsibilities under the law. The technical consultation began on February 4, 2016, kick-starting the second phase of consultations in soliciting views and inputs from all sectors of the economy to prepare the national development plan for the nation. MDAs including the Ministries of Petroleum, Roads and Highways, Local Government and Rural Development, Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Education, and Finance as well as the National Pensions Regulatory Authority, the Audit Service, Judicial Service and the Ghana Statistical Service have also shared the state of their institutions and their operations including their plans and contribution to help achieve the national development plan with the Commission. The Commission is also expecting contributions from the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi, Microfinance and Small Loan Centres, the Ministry of Communications, the Ghana Police Service, and the Bank of Ghana towards the development of the plan. GNA 27.02.2016 LISTEN Tema, Feb.27, GNA - Mr Isaac Ashai Odamtten, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, is seeking election as the president of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG). "I am offering my myself to be president of NALAG. I want to offer selfless and honest and leadership on the platform of participatory governance." Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Tema, he said his vision for the Association would be delivered through four key supports areas. "I would seek to provide accountable and transparent governance where the voice of every member would be heard. Formulation and implementation of our programmes would be very transparent as we seek to expand our frontiers to bring about inclusiveness." He said continuity would be a hallmark of his leadership. "I would not abandon programmes initiated before me but would rather build upon them to achieve consistency and continuity in our activities and governance while leveraging on our sub continent and global connections." Mr Odamtten said he would also seek to improve on the welfare of members. "In fact, I would set up a taskforce to elicit ideas from members on how to improve on salaries, allowances and other forms of compensation in the first three months of my presidency." He called on members to vote for him in order to make NALAG a strong and resilient association. "Together we would strengthen our governance structures and make them veritable vehicles to achieve the aims and objectives of the Association. GNA Tamale, Feb. 27, GNA - The Agricultural Advisory Services Network of Ghana (AASN) has organised a day's workshop in Tamale for agricultural extension service delivery. The workshop was meant to share data and best practices as well as strategize together on common ways of reaching the farmers for better results. It was also to provide a platform for agricultural workers to access accurate, timely and reliable information on extension services in all districts. Chief Jesiwuni Issahaku, the Coordinator of AASN, said agricultural extension is an essential bridge between research and technology and the farmers. He said over the years the agricultural extension service provided by state has declined in some sectors. 'Efforts to coordinate agricultural extension service delivery begun to crystalize when Africalead and Business and Development Consultancy Centre (BADECC) mobilized local institutions and individuals to ensure a more efficient and effective extension delivery services', he said. Chief Issahaku said agricultural officers are expected to provide good information and train the farmers in specific areas to ensure good farming practices and increase yields. He urged the private sector to participate in extension service delivery in the regions. AASN Ghana Network is a group of committed agencies and individuals working together to promote and enhance agricultural extension advisory services delivery in the country. 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Via the former Indian ambassador M K Bhadrakumar we learn that the Russian government is preparing for a "color revolution" attempt during the parliament elections in September: The annual meeting of Russias Federal Security Service (FSB), which is the successor organization to the Soviet-era KGB is an important occasion to take the temperature in the East-West relations. (The Cold War cliche is becoming useful once again.) President Vladimir Putins customary address at the FSB meeting was the hallmark of the occasion on Friday in Moscow. The sensational part of Putins speech is his disclosure that the FSB is in possession of definite information that plots are being hatched in the West to stir up political turmoil in Russia as the country heads for crucial parliamentary election in October. Putin avoided the use of the expression color revolution but hinted at it. The various U.S. services and the neocons in the State Department would certainly like to invite some revolt in Russia. But the chances for a successful putsch in Moscow are tiny. There is no competent opposition to the current government and a bit of economic trouble is not what incites Russians to take on the state. They would have hanged Yeltsin every other day if it were so. It would be much easier if Washington would accept Russia as it is and make some room form it in global polices. But that never can be, right? Altogether, a grim scenario has been projected here with regard to Russian-American relations through the remaining period of the presidency of Barack Obama. The core issue for Russia all along is that the US interferes in its internal politics with a view to create political disharmony and weaken the Kremlin, forcing it to adopt policies that are in harmony with American regional and global strategies. ... The US cannot countenance Russia (or any country for that matter) in such nationalistic mode, presenting formidable headwind against its global strategies. Trump or Sanders winning the U.S. presidency could result in more friendly relations with Moscow. But there are many in the various bureaucracies, especially in the Pentagon, who have their budget depending on a hostile relation with Russia (and China). Their voices will be hard to silent. This makes it more difficult to solve the ongoing crises in Syria and Ukraine: Putin has forewarned that Moscow will defeat any US design to instigate political turmoil in Russia, no matter what it takes. Trust Putin here. However, the big question remains: How could regional conflicts such as Syria or Ukraine be possibly addressed when the two big powers are locked in an existential struggle? Should the U.S. really attempt to create some kind of trouble around elections in Moscow we can expect an intensification of the conflicts in both theaters, Ukraine and Syria, during the summer. If only to intensify the "Putin is Evil" message the "western" media were told to spread in their populations. Posted by b on February 27, 2016 at 15:55 UTC | Permalink Comments next page next page Odessa College brought some refreshingly heavy drama to the theatrical landscape Thursday. The colleges Theatre Performance Program opened George Brants Elephants Graveyard for a three-day run thats filled with tragedy, tears and trauma. This may also be the boldest show yet produced by the college. Based on a true story, the play centers on the drama of a traveling circus that has landed in the small town of Erwin, Tennessee in the early 1900s. The citizens excitement turns quickly into vengeance when Mary the circus elephant kills a man with red hair (Cody McCracken) in the midst of the parade. The town and the circus are shocked, but when the citizens call for the hanging of the elephant for justice, humanity rears its ugly head. The drama unfolded in a series of monologues by cast members recounting the experience from the initial thrill of the circus in town to the horror of the animals death. The two sides of the coin detailed the citizens perspectives compared to the circus players. Presented in one-act, the play clocked in at just more than an hour. While based in fact, the story was an allegory for much of todays societys behavior toward celebrity, politics or whatever has gone viral at the moment. The glorification of the massive, majestic element was reduced to scrutiny and blame after the accident. The marshals (Daniel Ramirez) immediate decision to see justice recalled blowhard politicians in the current presidential race. The mere divisive thinking between two peoples result in tragedy. All these paralleled to todays headlines. Under Mark Kolokoffs direction, the cast was rock solid. The ensemble delved deep to deliver richly, layered performances. As the Elephant Trainer, Anthony Vickerys growing depth as an actor was spotlighted here as his arc dissolved into heartbreaking devastation. Billy Baker continued his run of showy performances as the magnetic Ringmaster. Savannah Poor, Breanna Carrasco, Morgan Gregory and Chris Glenn were shattering in their distress. In contrast, Jacob Cormans Preacher was a strong, steadfast pillar. Even as such, Graveyard never felt too upsetting as a whole. At times, pacing ran a bit eager leaving little time to process the emotional state of the story. The exuberance of the circus in the opening rapidly thawed into the murder and then the elephants demise. The show was a rollercoaster of emotions quite literally and it wasnt until after that I could register my thoughts about each scene. Costumes were solid thanks to Erica Palays wonderful eye and dressing and David Yates set transformed the Globe into an entirely different stage. Beyond Vickerys guitar playing and singing, the orchestra was left to onstage drummer Jackelyn Bracamontes. With wispy cymbals, gunshot drums and even as the railroad whistle, she punctuated the show sublimely. Following the leaked Saturday Night Live audio and the numerous Twitter rants of Kanye West, it appears that his wife Kim Kardashian reached her breaking point, especially with the behavior of the rapper during the New York Fashion Week. With that, Kardashian has reportedly decided to divorce her husband. Kardashian is rumored to file a $1 billion divorce from West due to his meltdowns and his "unbearable" behavior. Reports reveal that the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star was convinced by the family's matriarch, Kris Jenner, to end their marriage. It is said that the momager told Kim that her husband is "ruining their brand and draining their money," and that she needs to pull the plug of their marriage at once, a source told HollywoodLife. The source also added that 38-year-old West, who has claimed to have a $53 million debt, has allegedly borrowed millions of dollars from Kardashian without her consent. The missing money was merely discovered by the star when she checked her bank account. It is also speculated that the model has secretly consulted divorce attorneys already. But according to Radar Online, Kardashian hasn't file for divorce yet and is keeping everything in private. She also doesn't want to have another divorce and had decided that this would be her last marriage, but she "doesn't know what else to do. "He was obsessed with her for years and if she ever did try to leave him he would be devastated," the website added, pointing to the possible effect of the rumored divorce on West. Although a report from In Touch Weekly revealed that 35-year-old Kardashian West already announced her divorce, Gossip Cop debunked the rumor, saying that it is a lie. It also pointed out that the outlet has already lied about the supposed splitting of Kardashian and West, citing its previous report in 2014 saying that their marriage ended after 58 days. Tonight on #TheInsider, are Kim Kardashian and Kanye West headed for a billion dollar divorce? pic.twitter.com/vImju2hSa0 CBS Los Angeles (@CBSLA) February 24, 2016 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. During a promo run for his new memoir, Sing to Me, LA Reid stopped by DISH Nation's Kidd Kraddick Morning Show on Thursday (Feb. 25) and brought a surprise guest: Andre 3000. He crashed the radio session in a major, offering some insight on three current rappers he loves to listen to and breaking down the essence of freestyling. The OutKast MC, known for keeping a low profile, voiced his opinion about the current state of hip-hop music and revealed which artists have caught his attention over the years. Andre gave a shout out to several rappers in his radar. He even gave praise to one album in particular that he cites as one of the greatest pieces of work that's been released in quite some time. "Kid Cudi's last album Speedin' Bullet is the best thing to come out in a long time," Andre told the radio co-hosts. "[Young] Thug is charging up the rap game. Future is charging up the rap game. These are people I listen to and my kid turns me on to everybody new so I just listen to whatever he listenin' to, riding to school." A photo posted by L.A. Reid (@la_reid) on Feb 20, 2016 at 8:43am PST The 40-year-old Georgia native is a veteran in the rap game with over two decades of experience. Apparently the love for hip-hop doesn't fall far from the tree, admitting that his 18-year-old son might have inherited his rapping abilities. "He's actually good," is how Andre described his son, but revealed his son doesn't want people to know that he's skilled in that department. The "Hey Ya" rapper, who's been deemed an enviable lyricist on various lists, was later asked if freestyling is an expertise people are born with or if it's something they can work at. Andre believes it's something that can be worked on and perfected. "I'm not a good freestyler. I think it's a confidence thing and an over-thinking thing. You know, you just have to let your mind free. Actually, that's the greatest asset to rappers now. They actually freestyle a lot of those verses we here. They don't write. They laugh at us when we write." Andre respects the "pure" lyrics that spill out when artists freestyle. He said even if it's only about women, drugs, or luxurious items, the ability to rap a verse without hesitation or writing it down first really interests him. Listen to the full interview here. 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Talk show host Wendy Williams has added more water to the kettle in a recent segment of Hot Topics that suggest Jordin Sparks may have footed the bill to the tune of $70,000 for Sage the Gemini's new home -- and she has the recording to prove it. The queen of daytime talk shows always dishes the inside scoop during Hot Topics and during her Wednesday, Feb. 24 segment she revealed some details about Sparks' and Gemini's relationship that suggest their "hooking up" was all one big publicity stunt from the very beginning. American Idol star Sparks has had her past relationship with rapper Gemini put under the microscope since their split and his Instagram confession of how much he loves and misses her, but Williams reveals things weren't so great. According to Williams, a possible ex-girlfriend recorded a phone conversation that she had with the rapper where he not only reveals that their relationship was all arranged by "their people" but completely verbally bashes her by stating how during their relationship, "she got on [his] nerves" and how "[he] wanted to stab her." He also indicated how he didn't view Sparks as a "regular person," but he did find her useful to his life in other ways. During the segment Williams relayed a portion of the recording to the audience that she heard while listening to the tape earlier in the day with her staff. According to Williams, the ex-girlfriend asked Gemini why was Sparks allowed to come to his new home but she hadn't been able to? His response, according to the talk show host, was because she was the one that helped him pay for the home. According to Williams, the $70,000 was a "downpayment" on his new house to help him upgrade his situation. Williams also pointed out how it was unclear from the recording as to whether or not the money was a gift or a loan. But what was clear from the recorded conversation was how heavily involved Gemini's management was in bringing the two together. Watch the Wendy Williams segment here. She begins talking about Sparks at 6:11. According to EUR, during the recording Gemini stated that it was his manager who posted several photos of the two music artists together on Instagram to "creat a stir," reported the site. He recalled a time where he deleted one of the photos of the two of them together and immediately received a phone call from his manager urging him to put the photo back up insisting that the two them together will increase his album sales. "My manager was like, 'No, bring it back. How the hell are you going to sell the album?'" Gemini recalled from his conversation with his manager after removing the photo as reported by EUR. Sparks even caught wind of the leaked conversation and responded to her ex on Instagram with this post: Looks like Sparks is looking to herself for love because from the looks of it, she won't find it with her ex. Listen to the recording here. 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Sarkodie should have been bigger than ... Bernie Sanders was back in South Carolina on Friday, but not for long. As Hillary Clinton barnstormed across the state this week, Sanders was on a tour of middle America. He popped back for a few events in the hours before polls open Saturday in the state's Democratic presidential primary, but will be on his way to end his day in Minnesota out of the state and out of the South by the time they close. After months of trying to introduce himself to voters who have known Clinton for decades, African-Americans in particular, Sanders appeared to acknowledge the reality of his race in South Carolina in how he's spent his time this past week. And he's in search of friendlier terrain for Super Tuesday, looking for wins outside the South on the day next week when 11 states hold Democratic contests. "There are some states that we are going to lose. But the race goes on," Sanders said. "We are closing the gap very, very significantly." Election 2016: Latest Headlines, Candidate Profiles, Voting Resources Florida presidential primary coverage March 15 starting at 5 p.m. All presidential results plus your local races Tampa Bay local election results on Bay News 9 Central Florida local election results on News 13 To be sure, the 74-year-old senator from Vermont hasn't given up on the region. He has paid staff across the South, including about 200 in South Carolina alone, and will stop off in Texas on Saturday on his way to Minnesota. But preference polls suggest Clinton has a huge advantage in the South among black voters, who are expected to make up a majority of voters to cast ballots on Saturday. Similar electorates will vote in Georgia, Alabama and Arkansas on March 1, in Louisiana on March 5 and in Mississippi on March 8. In Orangeburg on Friday night, he received only a smattering of applause from the largely black crowd it had energetically cheered Clinton just moments before as he delivered a slightly tailored version of his economic message. "One of her assets is familiarity," said former presidential candidate Jesse Jackson, who's not endorsing a candidate in the primary. "This is his first time around the park. At the end of the day you vote for people that you know and trust and like." Sanders' radio and television ads highlight his civil rights work as a college student in the 1960s, when he was arrested for protesting segregated housing in Chicago. This week, while leaving South Carolina largely to Clinton, he visited the majority black city of Flint, Michigan, where he listened to residents' stories of living with a lead-poisoned water system. Of a previous Flint visit, he said this week, "It was almost impossible for me to believe that I was listening to people in the United States of America in the year 2016." And during a rally this week at Chicago State University, Sanders drew a crowd of 6,500 that was notably more racially diverse than many of his events. But those weren't voters who will cast ballots in the South, where Clinton has seemed to be one step ahead at every turn. An Osceola County group is working to give underprivileged people their name back, because for some, getting something as simple as an ID gives them dignity and self-respect. I was at rock bottom. I had nowhere to turn but up, said Robert Evans from Osceola County. Evans says that four years ago he was lost and broken. I had a problem with violence, I was doing drugs, I was drinking and just had lost all hope. I didnt care about nothing, Evans added. Evans is now working on getting his life back-- starting with proper identification. And thats what he was doing Friday during an event at the First Kissimmee Christian Church. They're working with the non-profit Community Hope Center to bring IDignity to Osceola County. IDignity in Orlando helps disadvantaged people obtain personal IDs. Bringing IDignity to Osceola was imperative first of all because getting to the location in Orlando was just a difficult thing, its a long way off, said Mary Downey, executive director of the Community Hope Center. Especially if youre homeless youre not driving a car right? You dont have identification. More than 50 people received help getting things like birth certificates, IDs and Social Security cards. If all documents were in order people could just walk out of the church with an ID on hand, a mobile licensing bus printed them on the spot. Getting you your identification back You can now legally prove who you are, so you can get that job, get into that shelter, that rehab program, get that education that you need, said Michael Dippy, the executive director of IDignity. And while Evans continues to live in the woods, he says hes one step closer to finding himself. Its all on what you make it. You have to stay positive, you cant let the negatives drag you down, Evans said. Community Hope Center wants to make this a quarterly event. The next IDignity event in Osceola County will be on May 13 at the First Kissimmee Christian Church. An hands-on event is getting students excited about new technology in Orange County. For Jalen Abruzere, virtual reality is no longer a dream. I really want to get one and that theyre super cool, Abruzere said. The sixth grader at Avalon Middle School was in awe of what he saw at the STEMulation Expo at Orange Technical Colleges Mid Florida Campus on Friday afternoon. Abruzere said he saw first-hand what hes learning about in his gaming and programming class come to life. It was really immersive and all you had to do was tilt your head and it was amazing. You could see everything around you, Abruzere explained. Meanwhile, other students controlled games with the mere flick of a wrist. The entire expo floor was reaffirming for Jalen. I probably want to do game design or technical engineering, Abruzere shared. As part of National Engineers Week, Orange County Public Schools set up the eye-opening expo for the districts career and technical education students. Whether it was riding a virtual roller coaster, or flying a virtual plane, it was all an interactive and impactful experience for students, who left the field trip in awe. Its pretty inspiring to help me throughout my career, Abruzere said. More than 1,000 students from across Orange County participated in the STEMulation EXPO. Students were also able to meet STEM industry professionals and visit a motion capture studio. STEMulation Expo was put on by the Central Florida STEM Education Council. The council's site has resources for parents, students and teachers. GET OUR APP Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Download it here. Hillary Clinton has won the Democratic presidential primary in South Carolina. She won the overwhelming support of black voters on her way to a commanding victory over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. The win for Clinton is her third in the first four contests of the 2016 campaign. And it gives her a blowout to match Sanders' dominating triumph in New Hampshire. Early results of exit polls taken for The Associated Press and television networks find that Clinton won the support of 8 in 10 African-Americans, who made up the majority of voters in Saturday's primary. That bodes well for Clinton headed into Super Tuesday contests across the South, where several states are home to large populations of black voters. Clinton's win provided an important boost for her campaign and a moment to wipe away bitter memories of her loss to Barack Obama in South Carolina eight years ago. As she makes her second White House run, Clinton has warmly embraced Obama, who remains widely popular with Democrats and particularly African-Americans. Latest updates The latest updates out of South Carolina and the 2016 presidential race are below (refresh your browser): 8:45 p.m. After her big victory, Hillary Clinton has won at least 37 delegates in South Carolina. Bernie Sanders has gained at least 12. Four delegates remain to be allocated in four congressional districts. Including superdelegates, the party insiders who can back a candidate of their choice, Clinton holds a much bigger advantage. She now has 542 delegates, according to AP's count. Sanders has at least 83. It takes 2,383 delegates to win the nomination. ---------- 8:22 p.m. Hillary Clinton, who is now the Democratic front-runner for the party's nomination, took some digs at Donald Trump on Saturday night during her South Carolina victory speech. Clinton said America does not need to be made great again, because "America has never stopped being great." She said American needs to be made "whole again." In addition to keying off of Donald Trump's slogan, Clinton denounced the idea of building a wall, as Trump wants to do along the Mexican border. She says the country needs to be tearing down barriers, to equality and opportunity. ---------- 7:30 p.m. Bernie Sanders released the following statement following the South Carolina primary loss: I congratulate Secretary Clinton on her victory in South Carolina. I am very proud of the campaign we ran. I am grateful for the grassroots supporters who took on the political establishment and stood up for working families. I appreciate the many friendships that Jane and I have forged with people across South Carolina, where I was all but unknown when this campaign began 10 months ago. I will always be especially thankful for the courageous support of state Reps. Terry Alexander, Justin Bamberg, Joe Neal, Wendell Gilliard, Cesar McKnight, Robert Williams and former Democratic Party Chairman Dick Harpootlian. Let me be clear on one thing tonight. This campaign is just beginning. We won a decisive victory in New Hampshire. She won a decisive victory in South Carolina. Now it's on to Super Tuesday. In just three days, Democrats in 11 states will pick 10 times more pledged delegates on one day than were selected in the four early states so far in this campaign. Our grassroots political revolution is growing state by state, and we won't stop now. When we come together, and don't let people like Donald Trump try to divide us, we can create an economy that works for all of us and not just the top 1 percent. ---------- 7:25 p.m. Hillary Clinton's victory in South Carolina means she will pick up most of the state's delegates, widening her overall lead in AP's delegate count. With 53 delegates at stake, Clinton will receive at least 31. Bernie Sanders will pick up at least 12. Clinton already holds a large lead among superdelegates, the party leaders and members of Congress who can support any candidate. Including superdelegates, Clinton now has at least 536 delegates, according to AP's count. Sanders has at least 83. It takes 2,383 delegates to win the nomination. ---------- 7:19 p.m. Hillary Clinton sent the following tweet at 7:02 p.m., just two minutes after the polls closed in South Carolina: To South Carolina, to the volunteers at the heart of our campaign, to the supporters who power it: thank you. -H pic.twitter.com/JFTUZ2yBxf Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 28, 2016 ---------- 7 p.m. Early exit poll results in South Carolina's Democratic primary suggest Hillary Clinton won a large majority of blacks, most women and voters aged 30 and older. Bernie Sanders was backed by voters under 30, those who identified themselves as independent and most whites. Clinton was supported by both highly educated voters and those without a college degree, by those with high household incomes and the less affluent. ---------- 6:15 p.m. Bernie Sanders has some sharp words for Hillary Clinton as she resists releasing transcripts of her paid speeches to big banks. He spoke before about 7,000 people in Grand Prairie, Texas, near Dallas, on Saturday, as people in South Carolina voted in their state's Democratic primary. Sanders says: "If you're going to give speeches behind closed doors to Wall Street groups like Goldman Sachs and if you're going to get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for that speech, it must be a great speech and you want to share it with the American people." Clinton has said she'll share transcripts of her lucrative speeches when other candidates do the same. Sanders drew applause when he said: "I'm making my transcripts available. There are none." Sanders predicts he'll have a surprise showing Tuesday in Texas, the largest of the Super Tuesday states voting. ---------- 5:45 p.m. Black voters may make up an even bigger share of the electorate in the South Carolina Democratic primary than they did in 2008, when Barack Obama was running. Early exit polls in the contest Saturday suggest about 6 in 10 voters are black. In the surveys, nearly half of voters whether black or white say racial relations have deteriorated in the last few years. Voters in South Carolina are more worried about jobs and the economy than people who voted in previous Democratic contests. Income inequality, though, is less of a worry in South Carolina than it has been elsewhere. That issue is the centerpiece of Bernie Sanders' campaign against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination. ---------- 5 p.m. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will both be in Florida on Super Tuesday. Clinton will hold a campaign event in Miami. She is expected to speak about the results of the 13 contests where Democratic voters will cast their ballot, as well as discuss whats at stake in this year's election. Trump will be in Palm Beach for a Super Tuesday "press event." No other information about the event has been released. Election 2016: Latest Headlines, Candidate Profiles, Voting Resources Florida presidential primary coverage March 15 starting at 5 p.m. All presidential results plus your local races Tampa Bay local election results on Bay News 9 Central Florida local election results on News 13 It may be election Saturday in South Carolina, but the Democratic candidates for president already have Tuesday on their mind. That's when 11 states and American Samoa hold nominating contests in the 2016 race between Clinton and Sanders. Clinton is stopping in Alabama on Saturday before heading to Columbia, the South Carolina capital, for an election party. Sanders isn't even scheduled to put in any South Carolina appearances on Saturday. He's supposed to be in Texas and Minnesota, two of the Super Tuesday states. He knows his prospects with South Carolina's heavily black Democratic electorate aren't great. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. UPDATE: 8:26 p.m. Officials have announced that they are now evaluating a new launch date for Falcon 9, one that will be no earlier than 48 hours from Feb. 28. After postponing its second launch of the year twice last week, SpaceX tried again Sunday to send a communications satellite to space, only to scrub the launch at 7:34 p.m. EST. SpaceX was attempting to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from the Space Coast at 6:46 p.m. The launch was delayed for more than a half hour as officials cleared a boat from "the keepout area." Then the launch was aborted in the night's second attempt. The launch was aborted because of "rising oxygen temps due to hold for boat and helium bubble triggered alarm," according to a SpaceX tweet. The SES-9 satellite will provide service to Southeast Asia with high-speed internet and high-definition television. The launch was to be the first by SpaceX from Cape Canaveral since Dec. 21, when the company landed the first stage of its rocket on the ground. Plainview Kiwanis Club Nineteen members and guests gathered at noon Thursday at Plainview Country Club. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Ron Gammage offered a prayer. Mark Warren presented Janis Roberson with a well-earned plaque in recognition of her three years of service as club president. Janis will serve as program chairman for March. J Pat Manning welcomed representatives of the clubs flag program partner organizations. In attendance were Dave Sandahl with the PHS Jr. Navy ROTC, Jana Cannon with the Elks Lodge, Rose and Angel Sanchez with Plainview Band Boosters, and Dr. Jay Givens with the Boy Scouts. Several items about the flag program were discussed. The program features some 800 flags being displayed in front of homes and businesses on eight holidays throughout the year. To subscribe, send $30 to Kiwanis Club of Plainview, P.O. Box 684, Plainview, TX 79073. Be sure to include the address of the location where you want the flag placed. - Kevin Lewis Plainview Rotary Club The Plainview Rotary Club met Tuesday at the Plainview Country Club. Kim Street called the meeting to order. Robert Riojas led the invocation and Ross Owen led the Pledge of Allegiance. Visitors were Matt Horton, Ben Shaw and Kako Sague. The meeting concentrated on classification talks by new members. New member Susan Blackerby was born and raised in Plainview. She is a graduate of Plainview High School. She is also a graduate of Wayland and a master's degree from Texas Tech. She has a great love of Plainview and the community. She has worked at Plainview High School and Houston School. She is now retired. After retiring, she decided to run for Plainview City Council. She was elected and is now running unopposed for another term. She told the group that she is proud that she is seeing growth in Plainview and cares deeply about the community New member Sue Brightbill is a Plainview resident. Her father was the late Elton Wilson, long time Rotarian. She was born in Plainview, graduated from PHS where she was very involved in the school. She told the group she loved the lifestyle of Plainview. She is employed by Don Book at Edward D. Jones. She has worked for 16.74 years. She explained that Edward D. Jones is the only financial firm that serves individual families. They work from the young to the elderly. She also told the group she has lived in Cotton Center for 16 years and moved back to Plainview four years ago. Ross led the Four-Way-Test. Kim dismissed the group. Be a Light to the World. -- Cynthia Gregory David A. Allen Jr. was born in December 1920 in Poynor, Texas, which is located in Henderson County southwest of Tyler, and is now 95 years old. On Oct. 17, 2015, he gave an interview about his time training as a glider pilot in WWII. According to David A. Allens Pilots Log Book, he first began his pilot training on April 29, 1942, at Hemet Field in California. He trained in a Ryan PT-22 which was rated at 160 horsepower. Allens flights at Hemet Field generally lasted from 30 to 45 minutes, with several of them being close to an hour in length. The actual PT-22 that he flew varied from day-to-day with different aircraft identification marks being listed in his log book. He performed the usual training maneuvers: spins, stalls, Ss across road, turns, pattern work, rectangular course work, and, of course, landings. In the Remarks section of his first flight on April 29, he listed Dollar Ride and Turns. He explained that a Dollar Ride was a slang term used at Hemet Field to mean a pilots first flight there. On May 12, after 11 days of practice flights, he soloed. His instructor at Hemet Field was Elmer Haines. Haines instructor number was 75714. His next two entries in his log book, on May 13 and 18, have Supervised Solo listed in the Remarks section. Then from May 19 to June 19, Allen performed the following training procedures: Power stage, Chandelles, Lazy 8s, Pylon 8s, Cross Country, Snap Rolls, and Slow Rolls. His entry on June 16 listed Final Civilian Check, also in a Ryan PT-22. His next entry showed Snap Rolls, Slow rolls followed by an entry remarked as Final Check, Front Seat ride, which occurred on June 17. His last entry for his time training in California was listed simply as Finished Primary, June 19, 1942. He spent a total of 29 hours and 20 minutes training at Hemet Field in California, all in a Ryan PT-22, rated with a 160 hp engine. In addition to Elmer Haines signature in Allens log book, another civilian instructor wrote, Certified Correct - W. H. Bailey, Jr. on two lines and the following below that on the next two lines Dispatcher - Ryan School of Aero. During his time at Hemet Field, Allen was training to be a powered pilot and not a glider pilot. After completing his time training in California, Allen entered the glider program. After his pilot training was completed at Hemet Field, Allen and many other powered pilots joined the glider program in the summer of 1942. He then traveled by rail with many of his fellow pilots to Plainview where he started training in Clent Breedloves primary glider training school at Finney Field, which also was known as a dead stick school. Allen was mighty impressed with Plainview, Texas. We lived in a hotel there. There was a little cafe down the street and a good many girls there. Hell, Plainview was a nice place! The people were real cordial, too, he recalled fondly. Allen made his first entry in his Pilots Log Book for his training at Finney Field on July 6, 1942. His aircraft type is listed simply as Army with the Make-Model and Horsepower of Aircraft listed as Piper-Cub 65-H.P. In the pre-glider training - they called it pre-glider - wed take off in the little Cubs and go up to 500 feet. Turn the switch off. Pull the nose of the aircraft up and the prop would quit turning, go in and make your dead stick landing, recalled Allen. In the comments field for the flights during this time, he has written DEAD Stick Landings. Allen trained every day that month except for the days of July 12, 18, 19 and 21. He showed no training at Finney Field from July 23-26. Primary glider pilot training proceeded again for Allen on July 27 and ended for good July 29. All his training at Finney Field was performed in a Piper Cub rated at 65 hp. Allen noted in his log that he did 4 hours and 14 minutes of night training during this time. He log shows that he did a total of 30 hours and 53 minutes of pilot training at Finney Field. This was certified by his instructor at Finney Field who was listed as a flight commander in the 4th Army Air Forces Glider Detachment. Allen said that when he graduated from Plainview he did not receive any certificates or wings from the Army Air Forces. After Allen finished his training in Plainview, he was shipped to Wickenburg, Arizona. Wickenburg was a basic training school or the second phase of glider pilot training. After basic glider training was completed the glider pilots would be sent on to an advanced glider training school. Allen said that he trained in two-place sailplanes at Wickenburg and that he thinks that they used Stearmen aircraft. He did not receive any certificate or wings after he graduated from basic glider training at Wickenburg either. After Wickenburg, Allen was sent to Albuquerque, New Mexico, which was a holding place for glider pilots until their next phase of training began. He arrived in Albuquerque in September and left in October 1942. His next stop was Dalhart Army Air Field where he took advanced glider training. More about David Allens glider pilot training will be discussed in the next article. Readers are asked to visit the Breedlove CPTP website at www.breedlove-cptp.com for more details about the glider program of WWII. Anyone with information about the Plainview Pre-Glider School at Finney Field should contact John McCullough at (806)793-4448 or email johnmc@breedlove-cptp.org. NOTE: This is the 44th article in a series on Clent Breedloves Plainview Pre-Glider School at Finney Field to train combat glider pilots during World War II. The series is researched and written by John W. McCullough, a graduate student in history at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. Jhumpa Lahiri is one of literatures linguistic nomads. Born in London to Indian immigrants, her first language was Bengali. She learned English while young (she was raised in Rhode Island) and in it has written four authoritative works of fiction, including Interpreter of Maladies (1999), for which she won a Pulitzer Prize. In Other Words is Lahiris first nonfiction book. Its a slim memoir that examines her long sense of lexical displacement. Bravely, it does so from an outpost of further exile. She has written it in a third and only recently mastered language, Italian, and has had it rendered back into English by Ann Goldstein, the gifted translator of Elena Ferrante and Primo Levi. For English-language readers, this book has taken the long way home. Learning to read and write in Italian has clearly been an invigorating experience for Lahiri; she speaks of it as one speaks of an intense sexual affair. When youre in love, you want to live forever, she writes. You want the emotion, the excitement you feel to last. Reading in Italian arouses a similar longing in me. More Information In Other Words By Jhumpa Lahiri Translated from the Italian by Ann Goldstein Knopf, $26.95 See More Collapse In Other Words is, sadly, a less ecstatic experience for you and me. Its a soft, repetitive, self-dramatic and self-hobbled book, packed with watercolor observations like: There is pain in every joy. In every violent passion a dark side. That someone gets a lot out of writing something does not necessary mean anyone else will get a similar amount from reading that thing. If only literature worked that way. This book, which is presented in a dual-language format (Italian on the left-hand pages, English on the right), chronicles a long obsession. Lahiri first traveled to Italy in 1994, as a college student. She returned frequently over the years, often on trips to promote her books. She began to study Italian and, living in Brooklyn, hired a series of language tutors. Eventually she moved with her husband and children to Rome for what she calls a trial by fire. She stopped reading and speaking in English almost entirely; she also stopped writing in it. She achieved near-total immersion. In Other Words is an account of this process, and there are vivid things in it. Lahiri captures how, for example, the sounds other cultures make can tweak our synapses and linger in the mind. From the start my relationship with Italy is as auditory as it is visual, she writes about an early trip to Florence. Although there arent many cars, the city is humming. Im aware of a sound that I like, of conversations, phrases, words that I hear wherever I go. As if the whole city were a theater in which a slightly restless audience is chatting before the show begins. Lahiri is humbly aware that she has turned homework exercises loose on the world. I know that my writing in Italian is something premature, reckless, always approximate, she says. She poses a question that has already formed in the readers mind: What does it mean, for a writer, to write without her own authority? It can mean many things. In the case of In Other Words it means that Lahiri delivers sentences she never would in her mostly sure-footed fiction, cliches teased out at great length. Lahiri writes about Venice, for instance: Its devastating beauty pierces me, Im overwhelmed by the fragility of life. Im enveloped in a passionate dream that always seems about to dissolve. So many sentences in In Other Words are like these. They appear as if through a mist. Whatever sharpness and shrewdness Lahiri possesses seems to have been surgically removed. In an authors note at the front of this book, Lahiri remarks that Italian is the sole language in which I continue to write. I hope this is not permanently the case, and that her immersion in Italian will inform her English-language fiction and push it in new directions. Let us also hope that this memorable line from her recent novel The Lowland (2013) is not prophecy: With her own hand shed painted herself into a corner, and then out of the picture altogether. For most people, their initial taste of military service is a solitary endeavor. They are typically young and single, with the ability to pick up and go to any clime and place with a minimum amount of worry for loved ones back home. But for those who enter military service with a family, or acquire one along the way, unaccompanied deployments to foreign lands or combat zones can have a cataclysmic effect on those left behind. Victoria Kellys When the Men Go Off to War is a collection of tender, heartfelt poems that captures the fears and longing that wartime separation brings to a military household. The poems are grouped into three sections departure, absence and homecoming that focus on the unique emotions that each stage brings in a deployment. Some touch on the loss of physical presence, the separation anxiety and fear of well-being that family members experience when duty calls, while others highlight personal strength and commitment. The flagship poem, which shares the same title as the book, stands as an overarching testament to military life in time of war. More Information When the Men Go Off to War: Poems By Victoria Kelly Naval Institute Press, $27.95 See More Collapse It eloquently describes the painful truths of separation (the houses fold up like paper dolls), along with some ugly realities (some of our men wont come home again;/and sometimes, a wife or two wont either). In The Good Wife Before Deployment, Kelly notes that service members must also be emotionally prepared for separation, and that they also undergo the fear of the unknown that a combat tour brings: And I know a good wife would understand,/a good wife would know her husband/is afraid of her and God;/he is afraid of having something to lose. The poems were written over the course of Kellys husbands deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan, and her poetry captures the flavor of those wars, along with others fought by other soldiers in the past. The poems offer a unique literary glimpse into the lives of military families at their most private and vulnerable moments, creating an understanding that wars can simultaneously be fought on the battlefield and the home front. The books second section delicately captures the raw emotion of absence and its impact on the life of a person still desperate to cling to routine. On Sundays reveals the painful heartache that is unavoidable in a life that must go on when no one is looking: On Sundays when I wake alone again/to the dogs snoring, a day of keeping house,/the bells ringing from the church next door,/I remember that we pray before different altars Kelly ends her collection with works that describe homecoming in all its incarnations. Heroes captures a multitude of suppressed emotions: But when you talk about wartime, what you tell me/is how many stars there were, and how/some boys flew a kite on the mountain./What you dont talk about/is huddling with a group of soldiers in a bunker/while the rockets came over the walls, how/most of you by chance came out, but two did not. When the Men Go Off to War is a poignant collection of poems that personalizes the emotional highs and lows of military family life during times of conflict. Its powerful prose earns its author who speaks for family members who deal with it on a daily basis the right to be placed on any book shelf dedicated to war. Vincent Bosquez is a retired Marine Corps captain and Coordinator of Veterans Affairs at Palo Alto College. Reach him at vbosquez3@alamo.edu. The Pirate, the second installment of Jon Gnarrs childhood memoir trilogy, is essentially an Icelandic-punk version of Catcher in the Rye. Rather than Holden Caulfield wandering the streets of New York looking for someone who is not a phony, Gnarr narrates in pseudo-stream-of-consciousness style through his never-ending search for real punks in Iceland. Gnarr was diagnosed at a young age with an intellectual disability caused by emotional and learning differences including dyslexia and ADHD, but went on to become an actor, comedian and mayor of Reykjavik in 2010. Both The Indian, the first installment in Gnarrs trilogy, and The Pirate are somewhat emotionally challenging texts translated from Icelandic by Lytton Smith and published in English by Dallas Deep Vellum. When Gnarr leaves readers in The Indian, he had set sail, and failed, to travel across the bay in search of a place to be alone in the world. He is a wild child, an Indian. By contrast, in The Pirate, he seems to be craving normalcy as he enters his teen years. The text is first-person narrative rather than broken into short, almost poetic chunks interspersed with excerpts from psychological evaluations. More Information The Pirate By Jon Gnarr, translated by Lytton Smith Deep Vellum, $14.95 See More Collapse How one defines punk is a point of contention with Gnarr. Sid Vicious is punk until he isnt anymore. Religion is squarely not punk unless attending confirmation means getting money to spend on cigarettes and punk records. To play in a punk band do you actually have to be able to play the guitar? Young Gnarr would emphatically say no, but the band doesnt work out if you have stage fright either. He longs to belong to anything. His family doesnt accept him. He is malcontent at school, except in his English class. He has no luck with girls and a revolving door of friends, the closest of whom acknowledge his existence only when he puts himself into harms way. His only respite from the verbal and physical abuse of his peers comes from punk music and the English language in which it is sung. The text encapsulates the feelings of loneliness and being misunderstood and bullied all while searching for self-identity that are all too common in the teenage experience. At times, the familiar emotions and questions posed by Gnarrs younger self can be anxiety-inducing for the reader. The Pirate is for that reason both a stimulating and confounding read. Despite the dark and emotionally draining moments of The Pirate, Gnarr ends on a hopeful note, leaving readers with cautious optimism for him finding a future and a place in this life. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The three members of the Edgewood Independent School District Board of Trustees who resigned last week have sent letters to the Texas Education Agency withdrawing their decisions to leave the board, the former board president said Friday. Eddie Rodriguez, Velma Pena and Tina Morales sent letters notifying the agency of their decision Friday, Rodriguez said. A trustee may withdraw a resignation within eight days of delivering it to the board, unless the board has accepted the departure, according to the Texas Association of School Boards. The Edgewood trustees resigned last Friday, citing concerns about their safety and a desire to prompt state intervention. Since the board has no quorum and cannot meet with just three remaining members, the board has not been able to formally accept the resignations, Rodriguez said. Shortly after the trustees resigned last Friday, TEA recommended drastic action to fix the beleaguered district. The agency suggested the appointment of a conservator, board of managers and lowering the districts accreditation status, according to a preliminary report obtained by the Express-News. The report found that the boards ability to govern had broken down, that trustees had failed to collaborate with administrators and that trustees were acting individually on behalf of the board. A seventh trustee John Morales resigned over the summer, leaving the board deadlocked 3-3 on major decisions, such as hiring a superintendent and principals for two district high schools. Rodriguez said if he and the others had carried out the resignations, he believes the remaining board members Mary Lou Mendoza, Sonia Elizondo and Johnny Perez would be able to use a 1939 attorney generals opinion that suggests they could appoint board members to fill the four vacant spots. We're afraid that they're going to tell TEA we don't need you here, and things will continue as they have been all these years, Rodriguez said, adding that he would like to see the agency appoint a conservator and board of managers. Mendoza said Friday that she, Perez and Elizondo had been speaking with lawyers, but said she had not heard of an attorney generals opinion that would allow such a thing. She criticized the other board factions moves. They have just made a mockery, a complete mockery of the position that we hold in our community, she said Friday. Mendoza said Thursday that the remaining board members have asked the TEA for an informal review of its recommendation to lower the districts accreditation status. After its deadline Monday, the agency will consider any requests for informal reviews and either change its recommendations or issue a final report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Marla Jackson, CEO of Goodwill San Antonio, resigned Friday morning and left the organization immediately, officials with the nonprofit said. The announcement was made by Janelle Sykes, chair of the Goodwill San Antonio Board of Directors, via an emailed news release. The email said Jackson, who has worked at the agency in various capacities since 2011, and as CEO since 2013, has decided to take her life in a different direction. Sykes, who will oversee the agency until an interim CEO is appointed, said the board will undertake a national search for a new leader. I speak for our entire board in saying how much we value the work Marla Jackson has done during her tenure here, Sykes said in the release. She has taken an innovative approach to growing the organization, earned respect from her peers in our industry and helped bring Goodwill San Antonio to the next level. We respect her decision and are grateful for her contributions. Jackson, who earned $279,028 as CEO in 2014, was not made available for an interview. She said in the release that she was proud of her accomplishments at Goodwill. As wonderful as this journey has been, our lives are called in different directions and we must follow that calling, Jackson said. The organization is stronger than it's ever been and is poised to make a significant impact on people's lives, their families, and this community. Prior to joining Goodwill, Jackson was chief financial officer and chief operating officer of Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, CFO of Danaher Corp., a global science and technology company, and CFO of Sandvik Tamrock OY, a mining and construction company, according to Goodwills website. Sykes, who is senior vice president and CFO of C.H. Guenther & Sons Inc., makers of Pioneer flour products, has been on the board since 2007 and became chair last year. She said there would be no interruption of Goodwill services during the transition. We have a strong, successful organization with deep commitments to tens of thousands of people we serve each year in our city, she said. We plan to move forward through this transition with confidence that we will find the right new person to lead this wonderful organization. Goodwill San Antonio, which reported more than $46 million in total assets in 2014, provides employment training and related services at numerous facilities in South Central Texas. With about 1,200 employees, it has 20 retail stores, 35 donation stations and 13 Good Careers Centers in San Antonio, Kerrville, Laredo, New Braunfels, Seguin and surrounding areas. The nonprofit also manages 18 contracts for the U.S. government, for services ranging from document management to grounds maintenance. mstoeltje@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A suspended teacher at Southside Independent School District was arrested Friday on federal child porn charges. Michael Javier Ottogalli, 36, who teaches at Pearce Primary School, was indicted last week as part of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations. Agents who were tracking alleged child porn users raided his home in mid-October, and notified the district. The investigation turned up child porn at both his home and work computers, according to federal authorities. Ottogalli is charged with six counts, including distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography. When we were first notified by (HSI), the district cooperated fully and put him on administrative leave immediately, said district spokeswoman Sylvia Rincon. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports of harm or exposure of this to our students, Rincon said. We take this extremely seriously. Ottogallis lawyer, Summer McKeivier, of Los Angeles declined to comment on whether Ottogalli might have had inappropriate contact with students. RELATED: Texas teacher, student seen in sex tape to appear on Dr. Phil Ottogalli has been with the district since August 2012. Rincon said human resources representatives will recommend at a school board meeting Monday that he be fired. Termination requires board approval, she said. At Ottogallis initial court hearing late Friday afternoon, U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Bemporad set a bail hearing for Monday. His lawyer waived his arraignment, meaning a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf. Ottogallis LinkedIn account said he was a teacher from August 2010 to June 2012 at Shekinah Learning Institute Charter School in Schertz and before that, was an electronic warfare officer in the U.S. Navy. His account said he attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point but that he got his bachelors degree from Ohio State University. gcontreras@express-news.net SAN ANTONIO A woman was arrested Friday night for suspicion of drunken driving after San Antonio Police say she crashed into a pickup near the South Side. Emergency personnel responded at about 11:40 p.m. Friday to a crash near the intersection of Steves Avenue and Probandt. A well-known Mexican journalist said in a TV interview that El Chapo's criminal syndicate has been run by his family for a while now. "His two sons have controlled the cartel for many years, and the government knows this," Lydia Cacho told Telemundo. Joaquin "El Chapo" Gzuman's sons Ivan and Alfredo have shared photos of their lavish narco lives on social media, according to reports. And when "El Chapo" was arrested in January, Ivan sent out Tweets many saw as threats to the Mexican government. RELATED: Drug cartel firepower getting bigger and more deadly "Nothing changes here, we will continue to work, as my father said, with our heads held high, " the narco's son posted on Twitter. Known as "El Chapito," Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar was arrested more than a decade ago on money laundering charges, but was released over judicial irregularities, reports said. His other son is known as "El Gordo," but his real name is Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, and he was arrested in 2012. Both sons are in their 30s. Cacho is reportedly friends with actress Kate del Castillo, who brought fellow actor Sean Penn to meet El Chapo last year. The journalist has said that the Mexican government wants to cover up ties between narco trafficking and politicians, Telemundo reports. She said that "El Chapo" has moved beyond handling the business of the cartel and has used his laundered drug proceeds to start legitimate businesses. RELATED: A rare look inside Mexico's private Narco museum "He is already beyond good and evil. He is now retired for years and the authorities and the FBI and Interpol and the CIA know perfectly he is not the operator of the Cartel." U.S. authorities have had their eyes on "El Chapo's" sons since at least 2012. According to U.S. court documents Ivan is "accused of transporting multiple kilograms of cocaine and several tons of marijuana from Mexico to the U.S. border to introduce them throughout the United States for distribution," reports Fox News Latino. Click on the slideshow above to learn more about the life of "El Chapo's" heirs. Among the many changes that occurred over 50 years at Burbank High School, one thing remained the same everyone could count on a warm smile and friendly greeting from school secretary Mary Jo Meyer. You never thought of Burbank without thinking of Mary Jo Meyer, said Cissy Ytuarte, a Burbank graduate who later returned as a faculty member. Teachers, staff, coaches, came and went, but Mary Jo was still there. Dedicating her life to the staff and students of the school, Meyer could always be counted on, whether it was to support the Orange Jackets, the schools spirit group, or encourage a student going through a bad time. When I went back she was our support, said Ytuarte, who also was the Orange Jackets sponsor while there. Whenever I needed it, she was my assistant. Meyer died Feb. 18 at 85. Raised an only child on the South Side, Meyer was a cheerleader at Burbank. She also loved to dance, entertaining the troops during World War II by tap-dancing at the local USOs. More Information Mary Jo Meyer Born: July 14, 1930, San Antonio Died: Feb. 18, 2016, San Antonio Preceded by: Parents John Joseph Thomas and Madge Mildred Stovall Meyer. Survived by: Cousin John Graham and cousin-in-law Rosemary; close friends Jesse and Susie Estrada. Services: Funeral was Friday. See More Collapse Working in the school office throughout her senior year, Meyer was offered the job of secretary before she graduated, starting the next work day, in the late 1940s. She was very professional, an outstanding lady, retired Burbank teacher Hilda Gonzales said. I always felt like she was so dedicated she knew what was going on, but was always very discrete. Quiet and friendly, Meyer was well-suited to the job. The school secretary is the heartbeat of the campus, said Becky Quintanilla, a former student who later worked with Meyer after returning to Burbank as a counselor. Youre on the front line, whether a parent comes in irate or satisfied or dissatisfied, they keep the school running. As students came through her office, often to see the principal for committing a transgression, Meyer was sometimes able to persuade them to assist her in their spare time. The gesture could make all the difference, putting such students on a more positive path. Although known to date through the years, Meyer never married, caring for her parents until their deaths. Meyer became close to her neighbors, spending almost every holiday with them. Ive got five kids and we spent a lot of time at my daughters house, her neighbor Jesse Estrada said. She loved that; she was a part of our family. Even after retiring, Meyer stayed close to Burbank, volunteering to give the office staff a break. Mary Jo was a tough act to follow, Quintanilla said. She was like the district and Burbank encyclopedia; she knew everything. mheidbrink@express-news.net The Court of Criminal Appeals threw out the last remaining charge against former Gov. Rick Perry this week. He did not commit a crime in threatening to block funds for the Travis County Public Integrity Unit unless the district attorney resigned. In so doing, did the states highest court for criminal matters confirm what Perrys lawyers, supporters and even some liberal East Coast newspapers had said from the beginning: that the charges were political? In her lead opinion, Presiding Judge Sharon Keller quoted with apparent sympathy complaints by Perrys lawyers and supporters about criminal charges of dubious legal viability (and/or politically motivated origins). Her opinion is 52 pages long and at points a bit technical. I will leave an assessment of its merits to professionals. But Ive been covering politics for close to 50 years, and I know a fair amount about their trappings. Lets follow this case from its beginning. The complaint that led to the charges was filed by Texans for Public Justice, a liberal Austin watchdog group. Score one for the conspiracy theorists. But because Perrys alleged crime was to threaten to cut funding for the Travis County District Attorneys Office, that body had to recuse itself. It therefore fell to the presiding judge for the Austin region, District Judge Billy Ray Stubblefield, to appoint a judge to oversee an investigation. Stubblefield, a Republican in conservative Williamson County, had been appointed presiding judge by none other than Gov. Perry. Hardly a liberal, he had denied the DNA testing of a bandana in the infamous case of Michael Morton, who years later was freed from prison after the bandana was finally tested. To preside over an investigation and court proceedings in the Perry case, Stubblefield appointed Republican senior District Judge Bert Richardson. The highly regarded Richardson had first been appointed to the bench by, yes, Gov. Perry. To investigate the case, Richardson appointed Michael McCrum, a San Antonio lawyer who had served as a police officer and a federal prosecutor. In 2009, he was nominated for U.S. attorney in San Antonio. Never having shown political leanings, he was backed by both Republican U.S. senators as well as some Democrats. After a lengthy investigation, McCrum presented his evidence to a Travis County grand jury. They indicted Perry on two counts. Travis is a liberal county. Perrys lawyers asked Judge Richardson to throw out the indictments, but he declined. Perrys lawyers took the matter to the Austin Court of Appeals. The three-judge appeals panel was made up entirely of Republicans. It threw out one count, but said the other one could be appealed only after a trial. Justice Bob Pemberton, who wrote the opinion, had also been appointed to the bench by Perry. He donated $1,000 to Perrys 2002 campaign, and he had clerked for one of Perrys defense lawyers. The seven members of the Court of Criminal Appeals who tossed the other count this week are all Republicans. But a Republican member of the court vigorously dissented. The opinion of the Court stretches constitution, case law, and statute beyond where I am willing to follow, wrote Judge Cheryl Johnson, a board-certified criminal law specialist. She has been on the court since 1998 and is married to a retired police lieutenant. Also dissenting was Judge Lawrence E. Meyers, who recently switched to the Democratic Party. His criticism was more stinging. After reading the majoritys opinion, it seems clear to me that it has decided to employ any means necessary in order to vacate the two felony counts against Governor Rick Perry, Judge Meyers wrote. So there you have the bits of political evidence: On one side a liberal watchdog organization and a grand jury in a liberal county. On the other, five Republican judges presiding over the investigation and affirming one of two indictments and, in the end, seven Republican judges tossing it out. Conspiracy? You be the judge. This column first appeared as the Last Word on KLRN's Texas Week with Rick Casey. The program appears Friday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. On a hot July morning in 1992, I stood in a seemingly interminable line to clear passport control at the Munich airport. At some point I turned to my right and saw U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and his wife, Maureen, waiting to do the same. As I watched, I saw the justice direct Maureen to another line so they could hedge their bets if one was faster. I left my line to introduce myself. I called him Justice Scalia, which led the two uniformed Army soldiers behind him to say, Justice Scalia? Are you Matts dad? He roared, getting a kick out of the fact that these two young Americans recognized an associate justice of the United States only because his son was an Army officer they knew. That year was the first of four occasions in which Scalia taught at the St. Marys University School of Law Institute on World Legal Problems in Innsbruck, Austria. I was privileged to be listed as teaching the course with Scalia on each of these occasions, though my actual job was to write and grade the exams the students took at the end of the course. Scalia had served as a professor of law at the University of Virginia and the University of Chicago before becoming a judge, and he loved the classroom. At the St. Marys Institute, he taught a course on the structure of the Constitution, which he believed was essential to protecting the liberty of all Americans. Structural aspects of the Constitution include the separation of the legislative, executive and judicial powers; standing doctrine, which concerns the limits of the power of the judiciary; and other limits to the exercise of power by the three branches of the federal government. Students (and some lawyers and law professors) find questions of how power is divided as lacking the intrinsic interest of individual rights cases involving free speech, privacy or fair trial. Scalia wanted to turn this student bias upside down. He often succeeded, as students began to understand how the Constitutions allocation of power, and its limits on the exercise of power, constituted the legal foundation that allowed individual rights cases to go forward. Scalia was a demanding and passionate teacher. He expected students to be prepared, and he was fastidious in making sure they knew precisely the facts and legal posture of the case. Understanding exactly what legal or constitutional issue a particular case presents is crucial to how it fits with past decisions by courts, especially the Supreme Court. This was one of the most important skills Scalia taught students taking his course. For that reason, he was not shy about telling students who gave incorrect answers they were wrong. But he always did so in pursuit of knowledge and understanding, and most students embraced the idea that a sitting associate justice of the United States wanted them to learn deeply and well. Scalias classes were fully interactive. He rarely lectured for more than a few minutes before turning to a case and asking for volunteers to recite. His questions for students were often in the traditional Socratic style of law school teaching: understanding the case; understanding what the case held; thinking about what the case meant for related but distinctive cases; and attempting to fit the case within the universe of prior decisions. As lawyers recall from their law school days, the Socratic method, when engaged in by one who has mastered the form, eventually leaves the student answering the questions with an unanswerable question. Without the use of any technology whatsoever, Scalia captivated students the old-fashioned way: using subject-matter expertise, together with passion for the Constitution and his students. Scalia taught during the first two weeks of the five-week program. On the Monday evening of the first day of classes, students were invited to an opening reception and dinner. Although he was not required to do so, Scalia would attend the reception without fail. Students were ordinarily reluctant about approaching the justice, but his reserve, easily cracked, showed a warm, funny man with whom students enjoyed speaking (and occasionally sharing a cigarette). On Wednesday evening of the second week of classes, the night before the justices last class, the institute held a reception for him. By now students were quite comfortable speaking with Scalia, and part of the program at the reception was a photograph session. Scalia didnt like having to stand and pose for photos; he preferred a warm conversation that included an adult beverage. But he knew this was important to students, and so he posed for photos for as long as necessary. In spring 2008, Scalia told me he was going hunting in Texas and would be leaving out of San Antonio. Would we be interested in a visit by him to the St. Marys University School of Law? Scalia agreed to teach a class to my constitutional law students, to speak at a faculty lunch, and to give some remarks and take questions from the student body after lunch. The class went quite well, the lunch was agreeable, and Scalia took soft and hard questions from students with the wit and acerbity for which he was known. He was the second Supreme Court Justice to visit the campus. When I asked him to give me a list of expenses related to his visit, he demurred, telling us that he was always glad to talk with law students and that he really liked St. Marys. The Institute on World Legal Problems has been blessed by the presence of eight different justices of the United States during the past 25 years, several of whom have taught more than once. My colleague Geary Reamey and I and our wives went out to dinner with Scalia last May. We asked him to consider returning to the institute to teach in our 2017 program. He reminisced fondly on his visits to Innsbruck and said he would keep our invitation in mind. We will miss his intelligence, wit, humor, friendship and passion for students of the law and the law itself. Michael Ariens is professor of law and expert in constitutional law at St. Marys University, as well as co-director of the law schools Institute on World Legal Problems in Innsbruck, Austria. Traffic records indicate some motorists are not taking the citys ordinance prohibiting the use of hand-held communication devices seriously. Its time they should. Distracted driving is dangerous and could be costly. Over the last year police officers have issued more than 14,000 citations and warning for violation of the citys ordinance prohibiting the use of hand-held communication devices while driving. Violation of San Antonio ban against the use of hand-held devices while driving can carry a fine of up to $200 but most of the fines have been running about $150. City officials expect that amount to increase the longer the law is on the books and police start dealing with repeat offenders. San Antonio Municipal Court records indicate the city collected $1.2 million in fines and fees for cell phone use violations through Jan. 12. Court records show 12,898 citations carrying up to a $200 fine were issued between the time police officers started issuing tickets in early Feruary 2015 and the second week of this year. The ban on use of hand-held devices while driving went into effect at the beginning of 2015 but motorists were given a grace period to get used to the new law and no fines were levied for during the first 30 days. The new ordinance has increased the number of motorist appearing in traffic court to challenge their tickets. In mid-January, there were 198 motorists on file who had requested trials on their citations. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse and there are few loopholes. Out of town visitors unfamiliar with the city law are among those that show up regularly to protest their citations, according to court officials. The most frequently used excuse for local motorists is that they were not using the phone for a call or texting but for the GPS or other features. San Antonios ban is very restrictive and allows for use of cell phones in traffic only in cases of emergency. It is against the law to them even if the vehicle is stopped at a red light. Citations for violation of the hand-held mobile device ban are bringing in a lot of money to the citys coffers but the intent of the ordinance was never money. Its one revenue stream no one would mind having dry up if it means less distracted driving and more safety. Re: Washington pauses for Scalias funeral, Nation & World, Feb. 21: President Barack Obama will fly at considerable taxpayer expense next month to communist Cuba to pay his respects for two days to the Castro dictators. But he refused to take the time to go across town to attend the funeral of a man who is uniformly agreed to have been one of the greatest minds ever to sit on the Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Why? Hearing no valid reason from the White House, I can only believe it was because of Obamas petulant objection to Justice Scalias strict interpretation of our Constitution. How small. How sad. Damon Ball Nominee Cruz? We have a sudden, unexpected vacancy on the Supreme Court. What if President Barack Obama nominated Sen. Ted Cruz as the successor to Antonin Scalia? Our Sen. Ted Cruz has vowed to filibuster any nominee put forward by the president. Just saying ... Jan Van den Hende GOP roadblocks Re: Steamroller in chief, Your Turn, Feb. 19: The letter writer asserts that President Barack Obama rammed through (the Affordable Care Act) without trying to get any Republican support. He apparently is unaware that as soon as the president took office in 2008, the Republican leadership promised to obstruct his every move. No discussion, no compromise. They vowed to make sure he would be a one-term president. As for health care, Obama tried repeatedly to get Republican support; he offered compromise after compromise, but the opposition refused to consider any proposal. This has been the pattern for seven years, going on eight. At this point, the Republican Senate has promised to keep the president from carrying out his constitutional duty to appoint a new Supreme Court justice. Even if Obama offers the name of a proven moderate, the Senate leadership has vowed to block it. Who, exactly, is doing the steamrolling here? Julie Love, Rio Medina Try a pay cut Re: Pay increases for Sculley OKd; 3 council members dissent over bonuses, Metro, Feb. 18: I find it difficult to believe our City Council is living in the same world with taxpayers. To consider an extension of City Manager Sheryl Sculleys contract seems horribly misguided, but to consider an increase in her bloated salary is idiotic. I would recommend cutting her pay in half with the hope she would resign and go back West. Lionel T. Gregory No transparency Re: Private CVB would hinder transparency, Editorial, Feb. 17: I strongly echo the Editorial Board in its call for public money to stay in the public realm, so the public knows what is going on, not just regarding the Convention & Visitors Bureau but with all city and county departments. For the past year, I have tried to obtain copies of public documents from the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, to no avail. They, too, handle multimillion-dollar contracts on behalf of the city, but they act as if they are a private corporation, beholden to no one. Previous complaints regarding the lack of transparency by the city from our local press has fallen on deaf ears. When will publicly financed or subsidized projects, plans and reports become publicly available? Fernando Centeno None of the above If the November election is between Donald Trump and either of the two liberal Democrats, I give up. Can you picture Trump in a room with world leaders, acting as he did in the South Carolina debate? The moderator lost control. It was ugly. Trump is crude, rude, obnoxious and hotheaded. He has brought down this political process, turning the campaign into his personal reality show. The people are fed up, and he is telling them what they want to hear. But, really? He talks in generalities. If you disagree with him, you are a liar. He finally sank his ship with me when he attacked President Bush. Trump will say and put down anyone and anything when he feels he is losing a conversation. Just look at his reaction to the pope. Come on, America, wake up. Stop following some bigmouth with lots of money. Trump, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders? For me, none of the above. Foundation of lies I have read numerous letters from Republicans over the past seven years claiming President Barack Obama lies, then again over the past several months about how former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lies. So I have to wonder, how do Texas Republicans stand on Sen. Ted Cruz and his almost continuous lies? He lied by omission about his big bank loan and the loan from the Wall Street firm his wife worked for by failing to report it to the FEC, while also claiming he never borrowed any money. He flat-out lied in Iowa with mailings and by claiming Dr. Ben Carson had left the race. He apologized after winning. In South Carolina, where dirty politics seems to be the rule, Cruz lied again, with a photoshopped image of Sen. Marco Rubio shaking hands with Obama. His entire campaign appears to be built on lies. My question to the Republican voters of Texas is simple: If you are calling out President Obama and Secretary Clinton as liars, why arent you calling out Sen. Cruz for his blatant lies about other Republicans? As Donald Trump says, he lies with one hand while holding the Bible in the other. Timothy Richley Bridge to Vatican? Re: Trump, pope battle over immigration; Tiff truly unprecedented, front page, Feb. 19: Perhaps the pope would like to build a bridge into the Vatican and take on all the illegal immigrants from the U.S. and other countries. Patricia J. Wood Posted on 02/27/2016, 11:00 am, by mySteinbach In a recent public opinion poll conducted for the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM), 85% of Manitobans agreed that local councils across the province deserve both a fair share of infrastructure tax dollars and a fair say in how theyre spent. In Manitoba, local Councils are responsible for 60% of infrastructure yet receive just 8 cents of every tax dollar to get the job done, said AMM President and Steinbach Mayor, Chris Goertzen. Adding to the pressure is that we often have little to no say in how the rest get spent despite the fact that we live and work in the communities we represent so are in the best position to identify top priorities. In launching a six week, multi-media Fair Share Fair Say campaign leading up to the next provincial election, Goertzen was today backed by Winnipeg Mayor, Brian Bowman and the 137 member strong coalition of AMM Mayors and Reeves from across the province. One of its main goals is to encourage Manitobans to join them in speaking with one voice when it comes to advocating for improved infrastructure. Having recently returned from the Big City Mayors conference in Ottawa, I was struck by the federal governments willingness to prioritize municipal infrastructure spending to make funding more flexible to our needs and requirements, said Mayor Bowman. This is a step in the right direction since it recognizes both the growing role cities play in Canada and how connected Mayors and Reeves are with local residents. Bowman added that, at the provincial level, he sees tremendous potential to achieve similar progress, through partnership, under the Fair Share Fair Say banner. Both Mayors pointed to a recent infrastructure report card released by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) that said one-third of all infrastructure in the country streets, bridges, water and sewer pipes and plants, public transportation and recreation facilities is at risk of rapid deterioration and that, despite the best efforts of local Councils, action needs to be accelerated or costs will continue to escalate. In terms of examples, Mayor Goertzen said he is often asked what the AMM is looking for when it comes to increased funding. Many think were only looking for new dollars, said Goertzen, when we believe a more efficient allocation of existing tax dollars could be one way to address our infrastructure challenges. Some examples of ideas worth exploring as part a Fair Share Fair Say partnership process could include but are not limited to: Exempting or rebating the $25MM municipalities pay to the province through the PST; Identification of grow as we grow sources of revenue; Ensuring all infrastructure dollars budgeted by the Province are fully allocated and spent in each budget year, a move that will benefit smaller municipalities; Dedicating to municipalities the full 1% of PST to infrastructure that they prioritize; Reverting the costs of health facilities back to the Province or, at least, reducing the municipal requirement to a fixed 5% from the current 10%; Relieving municipalities of the costs associated with recruiting and retaining doctors; Lessening reliance on application-based funding and transfers that come with strings attached which can be taken away, thus requiring matching funds from local governments, which most wont have. While were happy to get this Fair Share Fair Say discussion going through our AMM partnership, said Mayor Bowman, we are counting on concrete plans being announced during the election by Manitobas Party Leaders to fairly resolve this growing infrastructure funding problem. As an Association, President Goertzen also stressed that he is looking forward to having Manitobans discuss the most pressing needs of their local communities when their own candidates come calling. Heartwood Coffee Club 0 overall rating 0 Ratings | 2 Reviews Heartwood Roastery is a coffee roaster that offers a biweekly subscription service. Subscribers an choose from three different coffees or a "roaster's pick" of rotating coffees each shipment. Subscribers can also choose to receive one or two 12-oz bags every two weeks. This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.) The Subscription Box: Heartwood Coffee Club The Cost: Roaster's Pick - $16 for one bag or $30 for two bags every 2 weeks, all others $15 for one bag or $28 for two bags every two weeks COUPON: Save 50% off your first box with code TRYHEARTWOOD! The Product: Coffee! Ships to: US for free Check out the Drinks Subscription Box Directory and make sure to add Heartwood Coffee Club to your subscription list or wishlist! This thank you card was the only bit of literature included in my package. It gives web and social media information for Heartwood Roastery. My first shipment from Heartwood was this 12 ouce bag of their Ethiopia single origin, whole bean coffee. I like the clean design of their packaging. This variety is wet processed and has been roasted very recently. The entire box smelled amazing! My husband and I have been drinking this coffee for the past few days, and we're fans! We are a little picky about coffee, so when we like it, you know it's a good one. This coffee is not too deep (it's a light-medium roast), which is great because sometimes dark roasts can have a burned flavor. It has slight floral and fruity notes without any acidity at all. Verdict: Heartwood Roastery roasts a fine Ethiopian! We give it two thumbs up! The price is a little more than what you would spend on a good commercially available coffee, but the price is actually pretty good for specialty coffee, especially single-origin, wet-processed coffee. If you are looking for a coffee subscription and are picky about what you drink, this could be the one for you! What do you think about Heartwood Coffee Club? SHARE By Laura Layden of the Naples Daily News A $2.9 million gift from Naples entrepreneurs will help the University of South Florida launch a statewide effort to educate the next generation of startup leaders. With the gift, the university's Muma College of Business in Tampa will set up a new entrepreneurship program, named after the donors, Frank and Ellen Daveler. The Davelers, entrepreneurs in the aerospace, engineering and scientific instrument manufacturing arenas, approached the university about creating the program. "We have a board of advisers in place and very soon we will be recruiting students for this program," said Moez Limayem, dean of USF's college of business, which is home to the USF Center for Entrepreneurship. He said the Davelers chose USF because of its nationally recognized entrepreneur programs. The university's entrepreneurship center has consistently ranked in the top 10 or 11 in the country. "The purpose of this program is to recruit students from Florida to give them not only financial resources to work and focus on their studies, but more importantly provide them with the training and professional development necessary for them to eventually be successful entrepreneurs," Limayem said. The Davelers want to help young entrepreneurs at the beginning stages of their careers. "That's the critical time," the Davelers said in a statement. "We observed over the years that 50 percent of these companies fail, many for a lack of preparation and for not understanding the importance of having the right product and the right people working with you. An educational program that can help students better understand these things could make a big difference for fledgling companies' survival and success." Limayem described the Davelers as brilliant and visionary. Much of the gift will go toward scholarships, with a small part going toward the cost of operating the program, Limayem said. Students do not have to be enrolled in USF to be part of the program, they just have to be studying at a Florida university. "They can be anywhere. That is the idea. That is the vision the Davelers have. They want it to be a bigger impact than just one university," Limayem said. The program could launch as early as summer, focusing first on West Central Florida namely Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Collier, Hardee, Highlands and Lee counties. The program will include entrepreneurship competitions, eventually expanding statewide to help fund the education of students at any accredited Florida university. The Davelers founded Associated Industrial Engineers. After that firm was sold, the two jointly founded, led and invested in engineering, manufacturing and technology companies. One of the couple's first partners, Charles Close, was the namesake for Drexel University's Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship. Later, the Davelers became minority partners in one of Close's ventures, including one that now operates as a division of Ametek Inc., an S&P company. The new program's online financial award application will open in March and the inaugural Daveler entrepreneurs for USF and other Florida universities will be announced in May. By June Fletcher of the Naples Daily News Poised high on stilts, Jim and Sara Biden's rustic Keewaydin Island vacation home seems to hover over the mangrove forest like an osprey. As you glide into its covered boat dock marked by a flagpole and flapping American flag, you'd hardly know that this secluded Old Florida-style retreat has been the setting for fancy parties, weddings and even Secret Service surveillance. But that's what happens when your large extended family includes Vice President Joe Biden, who arrived on the largely undeveloped island with much fanfare shortly after his brother, a construction company executive, and his attorney sister-in-law purchased the house two days before Christmas in 2013. The couple paid $2.5 million for the place, which was then in poor condition, and put in more than $1 million more to upgrade it, said Sara Biden. Now, however, the close-knit family wants to vacation together in the Chesapeake Bay region, which is nearer to their primary homes, Sara Biden said. She and her husband live in a Philadelphia suburb. So the five-acre compound, which consists of a five-bedroom, six-bath main house and one-bedroom, one bath guesthouse, is being quietly marketed for $5.995 million, including furnishings. Leaving what the family calls the "Biden bungalow" on Keewaydin will be difficult, Sara Biden says. "It's a magical place, and I love it and come out often," she said. "But right now it's not ideal for all of us together." At 4,000 square feet, the casual Caribbean-style main house hardly counts as a mansion by moneyed Old Naples standards. Nonetheless, it seems roomy. One reason is because of the wide screened porch big enough for a porch swing and several separate dining areas that wraps around the main level and takes advantage of the elevated water views. Inside, the floor plan is completely open, with several surprises, including a stained-glass half-moon on the door to the powder room and a pool table in the living room. Life-size game fish, from walleyes to wahoos, hang on all the walls, staring down on clubby leather sofas and a breakfast bar with fish medallions inlaid in the countertop. The remodeled kitchen with cabinet pulls in the shape of tarpon has views not only of the beach but also a custom-made indoor fountain featuring a sculpture of three sea turtles. "I picked them because the island is an important nesting site for loggerhead turtles," Sara Biden explained. Up a green-carpeted circular stairway is the master suite. It has views from all four sides, ship-like built in furniture with cast twig drawer handles, and a shower with multiple showerheads. Two separate wings connected to the main house by breezeways each have two bedrooms and a shared bath. There's also a pavilion with an outdoor Jacuzzi and exercise studio. Perhaps the most unusual feature of the compound is in the 700-square-foot guesthouse. It has an open-plan bathroom with one wall completely open visually to the dense mangrove forest. Fortunately, there are no neighbors nearby to peep in. Although they've owned the house for only a little more than three years, the Bidens have made many cosmetic changes. They've had the pine paneling re-stained inside and out, the floors retiled in slate, and the metal roof painted in weather-resistant paint. But their most extensive improvements were made to make the off-the-grid house, which was built in 1996, more self-sufficient. They put in cisterns, a water-filtration system and a desalinization plant to fulfill the needs of a compound that sometimes has more than a dozen guests. They also had solar panels, energy storing batteries, and a new heating and air conditioning system installed. Combined with a back up oil-fueled generator, the solar system provides enough energy to power the entire house, which includes several flat-screen televisions and a Wi-Fi system, says Naples-based listing broker Lori Young. "If we were hooked up to the grid, we'd be selling power back," she said. With a price tag just shy of $6 million, the Biden house is currently the most expensive home on the market in Keewaydin. And because it's on an island, the pool of buyers is likely to be much smaller than that for conventional properties, said Naples real estate broker Nancy McDonald. But buyers prize homes that are already upgraded on the island, say others in luxury real estate sales, because it is expensive to barge in materials and labor to do improvements. "There is a market out there for a unique beach home for $6 million," said Naples broker Brenda Fioretti. While Keewaydin has always been attractive to celebrities and top-level executives who want to get away from the crowds, Naples real estate agent Jackie May said that it also holds a special place in the heart of Neapolitans. Once she sold a Keewaydin getaway to a Port Royal couple who used it as their weekend retreat even though they lived a short distance away. So she's confident that some wealthy privacy-seeker will buy the Biden home for something close to its asking price. "People love Keewaydin Island," she said. "It is so unique." Neil Giraldo and Pat Benatar SHARE Pat Benatar, left, and Neil Giraldo. (Photo courtesy Travis Shinn) By Randall Kenneth Jones The ampersand deserves more respect. As punctuation's definitive celebration of collaboration and mutual benefit, the ampersand has grammatically represented the concept of "separate but equal" for ages. After all, where would peanut butter be without jelly? As elements, fire & ice can destroy each other, but Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo's "Fire & Ice" is just one example of the pair's irrefutable synergy. As a means to showcase compatibility and exhibit recognition the ampersand rocks. As do Pat & Neil. A four-time Grammy winner, Pat Benatar has had two multiplatinum albums, five platinum albums, three gold albums and 19 Top 40 singles, including the Top 10 hits, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," "Love Is a Battlefield," "We Belong" and "Invincible". Neil "Spyder" Giraldo has been a professional musician, producer, arranger and songwriter for over four decades. In fact, Benatar credits Giraldo's innovative vision with creating the signature Benatar sound. I recently sat down with Benatar & Giraldo Pat & Spyder backstage at ArtisNaples. All Fired Up "This was a collaboration from the start," Benatar says. "He and I met. That was it. It was insanity. We hired everyone else. We started from Day 1 he and I, me and him. A duo." To Giraldo: "We respected each other. We were on an equal playing field. We are still equals." Nevertheless, despite this alleged equality, the name up in lights was always "Pat Benatar." Yet to her: "He was everything I wasn't. I was a classically trained musician. I had no idea how I was going to make this transition from what I was to what I wanted to be. He was the catalyst; he helped me find my way." The question is: Don't we all need a Spyder? In truth, the public largely misinterpreted Giraldo's role in the launch of the Benatar brand: "I didn't come in as a 'guitar player'; I came in as a creator. Guitar was only a means to an end." Though Benatar claims the pair tried to maintain a strictly professional relationship, they failed. They married in 1982 and have served as each other's muse ever since. Despite their shared success, Benatar was always bothered by the lack of credit afforded her influential husband. So, in an ego-free move, one unheard of in an industry drowning in endless self-regard, Benatar spearheaded a campaign to rebrand the pair as "Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo." Now, who among us can think of another example of a successful person in any industry who has made the conscious decision to share her individual limelight in such a high-profile manner? "I started switching it (to Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo) in 1997. It was a fight. Promoters wouldn't put it on the marquees. It would be in the contract, and they would take it down right before we got there." Giraldo was denied his share of the credit because their record company's agenda was at odds with Benatar's perspective. "I wanted to tell the real story." And she did. We Belong Ironically, today's marquee positioning of Benatar (left-of-ampersand) & Giraldo (right-of-ampersand) also reflects their individual penchant for left-brain/analytical and right-brain/creative thinking. To Benatar: "Spyder's like a mad scientist. When you're a crazy, visionary person, you have to have an advocate and that's me. I reel him in. He's so 'out there.' " She laughs and adds, "My job is to translate so that 'humans' will understand him." But the pair's much celebrated yin and yang symbolize inestimable mutual benefit: "I'm a person who likes roller coasters because they give the illusion of being dangerous, but I want to be strapped in. That's who I am," Benatar says. "He is a sky diving crazy person. He doesn't want to be strapped in ever. He'd jump without a chute. I love that. I would never do that. He pushes me so that I can enjoy that vicariously through him." And it works. Precious Time Benatar & Giraldo eventually abandoned the oppressive record company system in favor of a "family business" approach one that enabled their daughters, as well as trusted friends and colleagues, to come out and play. Daughter Haley Giraldo runs the pair's blog while daughter Hana Giraldo contributes artwork. "As much as Spyder loves being the mad scientist, I really love business," Benatar says. "Singing is the thing I do the least. Running this boat is what I do all day." When asked to share the best piece of advice he has given his daughters, Giraldo passionately responded: "Don't let people get inside your head because they can destroy a really good thought. They can take the steam out of a really positive attitude. They can destroy dreams." Benatar's suggestion for the rest of us: "You have a choice every day to try and do the right thing. You have to try and have the balance of doing the right thing for others and doing the right thing for you." For her part, Benatar is not willing to sacrifice the needs of those around her for personal gain: "I won't do it. There's no reason that everyone can't benefit." Why does she carry such a heavy burden of responsibility? "Because I believe that the gift is divine; you have to be a good steward. It's your only obligation," she says. "And It's not because I'm so 'good.' It's not that I'm taking the high road. I'm wired that way. There is no choice. This is my DNA. Spyder's the same way we were raised like this." Non-Giraldos, take note. Hit Me With Your Best Shot In my younger days, I didn't know I had an entrepreneurial spirit. That changed on November 9, 1982 the day Pat Benatar brought her Get Nervous Tour to my hometown. As Benatar's visit corresponded to my college days as a singing telegram messenger, I concocted a scheme whereby the city of Columbia, Missouri, would ostensibly send a telegram as a warm and welcoming display of Benatar love. Naturally, I would personally deliver said musical message. And it worked. Dressed as Prince Charming and assisted by the wow factor of six dozen balloons, I gave my heart and soul to Mrs. Giraldo as well as a personally penned adaptation of her song "Hit Me With Your Best Shot." Pat Benatar's kindness and generosity of spirit changed my life that day. I left feeling as if I could accomplish anything. In fact, I felt invincible. Without knowing it, Pat Benatar taught me that I could take my own creative notions and through perseverance, hard work and patience forge a new reality outside Columbia's city limits. Now, 33 years later, I finally got to say "thank you" to my one-time mega-mentor, Pat Benatar. "Thank you": two syllables created by eight simple characters requiring only nine keystrokes to complete. A verb and a pronoun that, when placed side-by-side, grow exponentially in stature, importance and value. More than that, a "thank you" is timeless & recognition matters. For more on marketer, creative consultant, writer, speaker and retired singing telegram messenger Randall Kenneth Jones, visit RandallKennethJones.com. Sheriff Mike Scott speaks to the media about the arrest of Mark Sievers at the Lee County Sheriff's Office headquarters on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Fort Myers. Sievers was arrested on a second-degree murder charge in connection with the June 2015 death of his wife Dr. Teresa Siever. (David Albers/Staff) Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott's news conference Friday ended just soon enough for newscasters to take to airwaves with updates for their 5 o'clock shows. It was almost certainly a coincidence. Scott made clear Friday that the deadlines reporters work with aren't his, and that an investigation, even one holding the public's interest like the murder of Dr. Teresa Sievers, can't be hurried along. "Our time line is different," Scott explained to two dozen reporters and camera operators Friday outside his headquarters on Six Mile Cypress Parkway. Taking it a step further, "We're not on any particular time line." It's been eight months since Teresa Sievers was found murdered in her Bonita Springs home. It's been almost three months since two men, Curtis Wayne Wright Jr. and Jimmy Ray Rodgers were charged with bludgeoning her to death. In the ensuing months, there's been speculation bordering on certitude that Sievers' husband, Mark Sievers, would be arrested as well. According to arrest reports, the bungling criminals left a trail of proverbial breadcrumbs that led up to Mark Sievers' doorstep and right into his living room. But Scott wasn't in any rush to seal the deal. Detectives were patient and persistent, following evidence and bringing the case to conclusion, Scott said. "We're not operating on a 4 o'clock deadline." Eight months to wrap up an investigation that took detectives to Missouri and Arizona and followed dead ends related to the couple's marital infidelities isn't an inordinately long time, Scott said, allowing, "Quick for me and for you may be another thing." Scott said Sievers, who had to have been wondering when this day would come, was stoic when deputies arrested him Friday. "I'm not 100 percent sure he's got blood in his veins," Scott said. The sheriff recognizes that the community, whether for its own sense of well-being or for prurient interest, wants to know everything and wants to know it now. He's simply not in the "now" business. "I wish we could have had this press conference five minutes after the murder," he said. "A lot of people have been waiting for this day. Hopefully, the community has a sense of peace." What may not be a coincidence is a guilty plea to second degree murder charge agreed to by Wright on the same day Sievers was arrested. Any devoted watcher of television courtroom dramas can surmise that Wright agreed to a charge below first degree murder in return for naming Mark Sievers as the man behind the plot. But Scott declined to say so directly Friday. Documents detailing the evidence against Sievers will be forthcoming. "You'll see them soon, I'm sure." Scott said. Of course, soon to him and soon to you and me might be two different things. (Connect with Brent Batten at brent.batten@naplesnews.com, on Twitter@NDN_BrentBatten and at facebook.com/ndnbrentbatten) Mark Sievers makes his first court appearance at the Lee County Courthouse on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016 after he was arrested Friday for second degree premeditative murder. Sievers' arraignment is set for March 28 and bond is set at $4.43 million. (Dorothy Edwards/Staff) By Kristine Gill of the Naples Daily News Mark Sievers will be held on a $4.43 million bond the same amount of money he had in life insurance policies for his slain wife following his first appearance before a Lee County judge Saturday. Sievers was arrested Friday on second-degree murder charges on the death of his wife Teresa Sievers in June of last year. Lee County Circuit Judge John Duryea set the bond following recommendation by the assistant state attorney. "The court should be concerned that proceeds for the life insurance policies could potentially be used to post bond in this case," said Assistant State Attorney Hamid Hunter. Sievers' attorney Lee Hollander argued that the insurance companies have not paid out on these policies pending the outcome of the homicide investigation and trials. "All I can say is the insurance companies particularly have not and will not be distributing any money on those insurance policies until obviously the issue is resolved," Hollander told the judge. "So that's not a realistic consideration." Should he post bond, Sievers will be required to surrender his firearms and travel documents. He will not be permitted to travel outside of the court district, the judge said. And should he post bond, the judge said he will look into the source of that money to make sure did not come from insurance payouts related to his wife's death. Sievers would have to pay 10 percent of his bond, $434,000. Hollander said after the hearing he plans to file with the courts to ask for a reduction of that bond at a later date. Hollander had suggested a $250,000 bond saying that since the investigation begin last summer, Sievers has not fled and does not pose a flight risk now. Hollander said Sievers owns a home in Bonita Springs and one of his daughters has a serious medical condition. "His mother resides here and I would suggest he's not a flight risk," Hollander said. Hunter said that while Sievers has ties to the area, he also has roots in Missouri where he owns a second home. "The defendant was not aware of the nature and scope of the investigation and had no reason to flee this summer when it was pending," Hunter said. A shelter hearing regarding temporary custody of Sievers' two daughters, ages 9 and 11, was continued until Monday morning, In the meantime, officials with the Florida Department of Children and Families said the girls are staying in Naples. It was unclear who was caring for them. At the same time of his arrest Friday, his two daughters were taken into state custody. Hollander said he has not spoken to Sievers since his arrest Friday and would not comment on the accusations against him. He said he assumes Sievers' daughters are doing well but has not made contact with them. When asked what Sievers has been doing since his wife was found dead, Hollander said "He's going through life trying to recover himself and take care of his two girls. That's all I can tell you." Teresa Sievers was killed after arriving home from a family reunion in New York late on June 28. She flew home alone on a Sunday so she could work on Monday. Her husband and daughters stayed up North with her family. The next morning, when Teresa Sievers did not show up for work, Mark Sievers called a friend, Dr. Mark Petrites, a surgeon, to check on her at the family's home on Jarvis Road in Bonita Springs. "He was already in tears. He didn't know what had happened, but he was already in tears thinking the worst," Teresa Sievers' mother, Maryann Grove, told detectives days after the killing. "I said, 'Mark, you've got to be calm and collected. There's got to be a rational reason for this.'" Petrites found Teresa Sievers dead, face down on the kitchen floor with the back of her head bashed in. Investigators found a hammer next to her body. RELATED STORIES: SHARE By Arek Sarkissian of the Naples Daily News TALLAHASSEE The full Senate will consider a bill that would restrict the sale of certain types of cough medicine that teenagers are believed to use to get high, even though some experts in Florida say they're not sure this is a problem in the state. The bill sponsored by Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, would prohibit sales to anyone under age 18 of medication that includes the ingredient, dextromethorphan, also known as DXM. The bill was offered as part of a nationwide effort to restrict access to medications mainly cough syrups that include DXM, which critics argue have become popular with teenagers who consume large quantities to feel euphoric effects. Benacquisto's bill passed the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee last week with a unanimous vote and now is before the Senate. Benacquisto received the bill from Washington, D.C.-based Consumer Healthcare Products Association, which launched the nationwide campaign. "We believe this is another prevention tool for parents, as it would limit teen access and also drive parental awareness," association spokeswoman Jenni Roberson said. But others aren't so sure that abuse of DXM is popular among Florida's teens. Florida Association of School Resource Officers spokesman Dale Tharp said the issue has not come up in any Florida high schools. "Based on our meetings, I know my SRO colleagues around the state are more concerned about flakka and heroin," Tharp said. "Nobody brought up anything about that cough syrup." Benacquisto's bill received one opposing vote over three committee stops from Sen. Travis Hutson, R-Palm Coast. He voted against the bill because no groups other than the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, which represents drug manufacturers, came forward to support it. "That's just the problem. I didn't have anyone coming to me from the Florida Sheriffs Association or the school boards saying we need this bill," Hutson said. "The libertarian in me just didn't see the point." The Florida Poison Information Center received 438 reports last year of people across the state who abused cough medication with DXM to the point where they required medical attention, but the center does not identify the age of those abusing the medicine. And it's not clear from the center's data that there has been a noticeable increase in DXM abuse. The 2015 number is a slight drop from the 440 reported in 2014 and 517 reported in 2013, according to information provided by the poison center. JoAnn Chambers-Emerson, a Tampa-based educator with the Florida Poison Information Center, said reports of DXM abuse over the years do not point to a particular spike, but the state would benefit from the restrictions proposed in the bill. "It definitely should be restricted," Chambers-Emerson said. "We need to make it harder for them to get it." The Consumer Healthcare Products Association began pushing the cough syrup restriction in state capitols around the country in 2012. Benacquisto said she supports the bill because it will protect the state's teens. "I think that any time we have a chance to get ahead of issues like this we need to do it," Benacquisto said. "This bill will help keep our teenagers safe." The House version of the bill, sponsored by Rep. Doug Broxon, R-Gulf Breeze, passed three committees and now also awaits action by the full House. Contact Daily News reporter arek.sarkissian@naplesnews.com or 850-559-7620 SHARE Baerbel Munson, Naples Front page I am so very disappointed that you chose an Associated Press headline and photo of our former Gov. Jeb Bush when he left the presidential race. He is an honorable man who ran an honorable campaign. Why did you need to humiliate him, especially here in Florida where we remember him as a great governor for our state. As for Sen. Marco Rubio, after the nasty attack by Gov. Chris Christie at the last debate, he took full responsibility with his words for "dropping the ball" and that it would not happen again. He showed great maturity in not blaming everybody else and he successfully redeemed himself in the town hall meeting a few days later. SHARE Barbara Zdravecky is president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida By Barbara Zdravecky, Sarasota Planned Parenthood CEO The leadership in the Florida Legislature is hiding behind a thoroughly debunked smear campaign to justify their efforts to leave many women who rely on Planned Parenthood with no other options to obtain reproductive health services. House budget writers have taken the unprecedented step of using the budget process to defund a specific provider, Planned Parenthood. This defunding scheme is not only against Medicaid regulations, but the rationale for doing so is based on a fraudulent smear campaign against Planned Parenthood. Those behind the smear campaign have been indicted, while Planned Parenthood has been cleared of any wrongdoing. Yet some Florida legislators will seemingly stop at nothing to launch political attacks against Planned Parenthood. The Associated Press recently reported that Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples, who has proposed eliminating all spending on Planned Parenthood in the state budget, says he doesn't care if videos are fake. If these attacks succeed, women across the state will lose access to health care services. It's that simple. In addition to providing family planning counseling and birth control services, Planned Parenthood health centers provide lifesaving cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment. Moreover, we are meeting a very serious need: Approximately 78 percent of Planned Parenthood health centers are located in rural or medically underserved areas helping women who may not otherwise have a readily available medical provider. Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida has two health centers in Collier County: one in Naples and one in Immokalee. The nonprofit works with the local health department to provide thousands of Southwest Floridians with access to critical reproductive health care services through Title X services at Planned Parenthood. This includes more than 800 tests and treatments for sexually transmitted infections including gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia; 144 HIV tests; 614 pregnancy tests and education sessions; and 864 breast and cervical cancer screenings. Title X funding has also granted more than 1,000 clients access to contraception and has provided funding for those seeking financial support for a vasectomy. Planned Parenthood subsidizes the cost of care for poor and uninsured local women through private donations, meaning that with Title X as an additional resource, three times more Collier County women are guaranteed access to preventive services. Without Planned Parenthood, it is estimated that the rates of unintended pregnancy, unplanned birth and abortion for all women across Florida would be 27 percent higher. Moreover, it is estimated that safety-net family planning providers such as Planned Parenthood helped save Florida more than $260 million. In 2014, nearly 2,000 Florida patients used Medicaid coverage to access care from Planned Parenthood. It is unconscionable that politicians are using a discredited attack as justification to deny these women and tens of thousands of others that care. As if all this weren't enough, there is also a bill moving through the Legislature that is designed to shut down abortion providers by placing unreasonable requirements on health care centers through what is called "targeted regulation of abortion providers," or TRAP. This bill has nothing to do with protecting the health of women as its proponents falsely claim. The fact is that abortion is already an extremely safe procedure, and there is no evidence that TRAP laws increase patient safety. When similar attacks defunded Planned Parenthood in Texas, 54 percent fewer patients received care. Related actions by Texas to exclude Planned Parenthood and other women's health providers from public programs have forced women's health centers to close their doors, leaving many low-income women in the state without access to timely care. It's time to stand up for Florida's women and put a stop to the dangerous attacks on Planned Parenthood that are built on a false foundation. I urge Floridians to hold their elected representatives responsible for these reckless, unfounded attacks on women's health. __ Barbara Zdravecky is president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida What does Virginia gain from legalizing hemp? It can save your life A license will be required (NaturalNews) On January 26, the Virginia House of Delegates unanimously voted to pass a bill that would allow its citizens to grow and process hemp products . Similarly to Oregon, South Carolina, Colorado, Maine, Vermont and other states, Virginia sought to give people the legal grounds to oppose the current unconstitutional federal ban that was in place for this industry. Every single representative voted yes to this proposition, yielding a 98-0 majority in favor of the hemp farming initiative, or House Bill 699.Hemp, which is not to be confused with marijuana , belongs to the same family of plants,, but does not contain enough tetrahydrocannabinol or THC in order to be psychoactive. In fact, most countries around the world have already made this significant delimitation between hemp and marijuana. Instead of banning hemp altogether, they introduced a limit of 0.3% allowed THC in hemp varieties, which renders it useless for recreational purposes. This has yet to happen in the United States. Allowing an economy the liberty to grow , process and produce hemp-based commodities adds to its overall stability. Hemp is now used in almost everything you can think of. In fact, there are over 25,000 possible uses for this plant, from the medicinal uses of seeds and oil, to their widespread use in cosmetics, clothing, paper, car parts and even airplane elements. Manufacturers of green construction products process the inner woody core to obtain an incredible, environmentally friendly insulating material with superior efficiency compared to conventional alternatives.In 2013, the American hemp industry was expected to yield around $450 million a year . Now, analysts predict that the market has grown to $600 million. Despite this need for hemp, the majority of the raw produce is imported because of the nationwide federal ban. Even with a handful of states taking matters into their own hands, the local supply is still far from reaching the current U.S. needs. Instead of supporting local economic growth, the creation of jobs and overall financial stability for American citizens, through this ban the government invests in co-dependency with the nations that export hemp products.Processed hemp is also a miracle-plant for our health . Besides drastically reducing the chances of developing skin cancer and breast cancer , the ratio of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids it contains greatly aid our bodies in fighting off cardiovascular diseases and heart conditions. For vegetarians and vegans, it's one of the rare ways to obtain these essential fatty acids. Athletes who desire an extra source of protein can rely on hemp powder, particularly since it has almost as much protein as soybeans do. Unlike soy, hemp is less likely to be genetically modified , and has a higher concentration of essential amino acids.Obviously, marijuana varieties can also be grown for medicinal or recreational purposes . Cancer and AIDS patients benefit from this substance immensely, without having to endure other side effects that are commonly induced by pharmaceuticals.In order to legally plant hemp, Virginia inhabitants will have to obtain a license from the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which will be responsible for setting-up much needed regulations to issue these permits for those who want to become farmers.If passed through the senate, the HB699 will be an incredible step towards economic stability for Virginia manufacturers and farmers. Instead of importing the required materials, local farms can be set up where much needed jobs will be created. Moreover, since no traveling or import levies will be involved, the overall production cost will be lowered. The extremely rare acquired savant syndrome How it affected Jason What we've learned from the incident (NaturalNews) Ever since the beginning of civilization as we know it, savants have fascinated us with their remarkable creative or intellectual abilities. Albeit very rare, savants have often changed the way we view the world, our arts or our sciences, and have therefore played an absolutely essential part in the evolution of mankind. Some of them were born with their brilliant talents. Others, however, acquired them later in life.With only 15 to 25 documented cases, acquired savants are extremely rare, usually brought a traumatic event involving the central nervous system Jason Padgett , a man who had never gone past algebra in math, is one such case. After being attacked outside a bar, he has become a mathematical genius. Modern medicine is yet to uncover the exact process that can turn an ordinary man into a savant. What we know so far is that acquired savant syndrome is generally triggered by an injury to some area of the brain. This injury generally affects the left hemisphere of the brain but leaves the right hemisphere intact. It is supposed that the intact brain then rewires the neural pathways between brain cells and that this can speed up or change the way people think, unlocking their dormant potential.Naturally, acquired savant syndrome poses some interesting questions. For instance, we have always marveled at savants and their work throughout history precisely because they have been so scarce and unique. What if we were to discover some way to unlock the genius potential in any individual? Does the existence of acquired savant syndrome imply that there is such potential in all individuals?These questions are yet to be answered. But Jason's case might have given us a few clues.Before the incident, Jason Padgett was an ordinary furniture salesman from Tacoma, Washington, with no interest in academics and very little to show in terms of mathematical prowess. As he described himself, he was a jock and a regular party-goer. For him, everything changed in 2002, when he was savagely assaulted by two men outside a karaoke bar. All that he recalls from that night was being knocked out and seeing a bright flash of light. Later, he was sent home from the hospital with pain medication and a severe concussion.It wasn't long before Jason noticed something was different in the way he saw the surrounding world. For a long time, he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and a debilitating social anxiety, but with these came an outstanding mathematical drawing ability. Jason started seeing the world through mathematics and geometry. He expressed his vision by drawing circles made of many overlapping triangles, an illustration of pi that not even he could understand at the time.One day, Jason was discovered by a physicist who witnessed his drawing and strongly encouraged him to pursue an academic program in math. Now an aspiring number theorist, Jason is working with neuroscientists in an attempt to determine what exactly happened with his brain the night of his injury.So far, they have managed to identify the area in Jason's brain where his genius abilities and vision reside. Indeed, when scanned with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the left parietal cortex lit up the most, with some activation in the temporal and frontal lobes as well. Although scientists were unable to determine whether Jason's abilities are permanent, the structural changes that took place in his brain as a result of injury suggest that his genius is here to stay.If nothing else, Jason's case of acquired savant syndrome helped us understand that there is a dormant potential for genius in every human being. With the right tools, we might be able to explore this potential even in the absence of a catastrophic brain injury. An investigation into Californias criminal sentencing structure by NBC Bay Area discovered tens of thousands of convicted criminals serving time in prison longer than the sentence for their original, underlying crime, all because of Californias system of sentence enhancements. Critics and researchers say dozens of extra provisions exist in Californias penal code which can be added on as sentence enhancements at the discretion of prosecutors. Those critics say the system has led to overcrowding of the states prisons, unfair and unjust prison sentences and inequity in sentences depending on the prosecutor and jurisdiction. In 2010, Californias prison system had become so overcrowded the United States Supreme Court ruled that being incarcerated in one the states thirty three prisons amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. After the Supreme Courts order, efforts began to reduce the prison population by releasing many low-level offenders or moving them to county jails. The effort resulted in a population that currently stands at just over 127,000 inmates, down from a high of about 173,000 in 2006. But despite those reforms, California prisons remain overcrowded, standing at 133 percent of designed capacity. Advocates of prison sentencing reform say Californias system will remain expensive and dysfunctional until the state addresses the extremely long sentences that were handed out to violent offenders over the past three decades. NBC Bay Areas Stephen Stock visits with San Quentin inmates for a conversation on sentence enhancements. Everybody [loses] when we have these overcrowded prisons, said Mike Vitiello, a professor of law at the University of the Pacifics McGeorge School of Law and a nationally recognized expert on criminal sentencing. Vitiello said overcrowding makes the entire system more dangerous and makes rehabilitation of inmates extremely difficult. So we all suffer with this overelaborate criminal justice system that just piles on these excessive, obscenely excessive sentences. Many prosecutors and lawmakers argue that sentencing enhancements are an effective deterrent against violent crime and say certain crimes necessitate extra punishment. But reform advocates argue these enhancements can be unjust because they punish inmates multiple times for the same crime. Advocates of reform also say sentence enhancements contribute to the high cost and overcrowding of Californias prison system by keeping many inmates locked up for decades past the point of being risks to society. These enhancements, such as Californias Three Strikes law or the 10-20-life gun enhancement law, carry severe mandatory minimum sentences. And many say prosecutors often hold them over the heads of defendants to entice guilty pleas. Advocates of sentencing reform such as professor Vitiello and State Senator Loni Hancock also say the data shows that sentence enhancements are not effective in reducing violent crime. We really need to say enough is enough on sentence enhancements, said Senator Hancock who chairs the Senate Public Safety Committee in Sacramento. Back in the 1980s we had three state prisons in California. We now have 33 state prisons. Our [state] population has about doubled but our prison population has grown by over four hundred percent. San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe disagrees that California needs further prison reform. Wagstaffe says sentence enhancements laws are working as intended. Wagstaffe, also the vice president of the California District Attorneys Association, says prosecutors and law enforcement have been able to work successfully with recent prison reform efforts such as realignment and Proposition 47, which reclassified certain low-level felonies as misdemeanors. But he says any further reform or reduction in sentences would go too far and present a public safety risk. I think we have made the moves we need to make as a state with what we have done in the past five years, Wagstaffe said. This next step to me is going to be simply letting people go to let them go. NBC Bay Areas Investigative Unit visited San Quentin for a two hour conversation with inmates currently serving decades-long or life sentences because of sentence enhancements. All of them say they deserve to be punished for their crimes. But they question the justice and reason behind Californias sentence enhancement laws that will keep them locked up far beyond the sentence their original crime justified. Stephen Stock talks with Lizzie Buchen of Californians United for a Responsible Budget about prison reform. 25-to-Life for This, 25-to-Life for That In a small space inside the newsroom for San Quentins inmate produced newspaper, a group of inmates sit in a circle dressed in dark blue uniforms talking about sentence enhancements. Theyre all serving additional time, life sentences mostly, for enhancements that prosecutors added to the charges against them. For most, the enhancement carries a longer sentence than the sentence for the underlying crime for which they were convicted. In 1999, I committed the act of killing my stepfather after he abused my mother and my little brother, Antoine Waite said. Waite, 37, says he drove to his stepfathers house in Sacramento to confront him about the abuse. Waite says his stepfather refused to let him inside, so he stood outside the house arguing with his stepfather through a screen door. The argument got heated, threats were exchanged, and then Waite says he thought he saw his stepfather reach for a gun, so he shot him through the screen door in self-defense. A jury convicted him of manslaughter and the trial judge gave him seven years. But seventeen years later, Waite still sits in San Quentin. I was sentenced to 32-years-to-life, Waite says. Seven years for the actual act of killing my stepfather and 25-to-life for the gun enhancement. Simply because the bullet traveled through the screen door, the prosecutor added an enhancement for shooting into an occupied dwelling at the time of trial, meaning his conviction carried a mandatory minimum 25-to-life sentence. Because the enhancement added by the prosecutor carried a mandatory minimum sentence, the judge had no discretion to alter it even if he believed it was too severe. The screen door allowed me to have my seven year sentence enhanced to 32-to-life, Waite said. Waite says he accepts the seven-year sentence for manslaughter. But a life sentence just because the bullet went through a screen door? NBC Bay Areas investigation and review of California Department of Corrections data shows Waites case is not unique. While there is no specific data currently available on the number of convicted felons serving time for sentence enhancements, what data is available shows there are 40,000 inmates in California currently serving time under the Three Strikes law alone. Three Strikes is just one of dozens of possible enhancements prosecutors can add onto criminal charges. Other commonly used sentence enhancements include prior convictions, the use of a firearm, causing great bodily injury, shooting into an occupied building, shooting from a car, or being in a gang. The 10-20-life gun enhancement adds 10 years for brandishing a gun, 20 years for firing a gun, and a life sentence for shooting someone in the commission of a crime. An armed robber who fires a warning shot, for instance, could face an additional 20 years on top of the robbery charge. The case of Demond Lewis, 42, also serves as an example of how prosecutors can stack enhancements on top of each other for the same crime. Lewis received a 15 year sentence for attempted murder when he shot another man in the leg. But during his criminal case a prosecutor added four separate enhancements onto Lewis charges, all tied to the same gun and the same crime. While Lewis got 15 years in prison for attempted murder conviction, he got another 94 more years for the sentencing enhancements. The time is way more than you would even get for the crime itself, said Lewis, who is now serving 109-years-to-life. In my case, I was given a couple of 25-to-life sentences for the same gun, Lewis said. Because it was ex-felon discharging a firearm, and then it was a felon in possession of a firearm. So I got 25-years-to-life for this, 25-to-life for that. Lewis has been incarcerated since the age of 27, and without the enhancements, would have already served his 15 year prison sentence. But unless theres a change in the law, Lewis will likely die in prison. One of the things about the gun enhancement law is that it makes it like almost impossible to make a parole board, said Rahsaan Thomas, whos served 15 years on a 55-to-life sentence for shooting and killing two men in a drug deal gone wrong. Youd have to live past life expectancy. And the thing is, most of us have changed by then. While Thomas said he has a difficult time calling his sentence unfair because he took two lives, he questions the point of keeping inmates locked up for decades into their old age, causing prison overcrowding and costing taxpayers millions. Especially since data shows felons typically phase out of crime as they get older. Thomas says most felons get into crime as young men because of a lack of opportunity, pressure by gangs, or parents who were drug users or perhaps felons themselves. My own momma took life insurance out on me, Thomas said. She said I wouldnt make it to be 18. Thats how rough my neighborhood was. Thomas credits therapy and other programs at San Quentin with rehabilitating himself and the other inmates who spoke to NBC Bay Area. While Thomas says his chances of ever getting out are slim, hes become a writer in prison and that gives him purpose. Were a traumatized people and we dont know how to handle it, Thomas said. Therapy wasnt popular in my neighborhood. Its this thing where we dont go to the police, we hold court in the street, and thats a horrible thing. Its a childhood that Lewis can relate to. All I knew was gangbangers, drug dealers and drug users, Lewis said. And for me, I mean I started selling drugs at 11, 12 years old. So imagine how I felt as a kid. Lewis also says hes not the person he was then. Hes served 15 years and says hes rehabilitated, but because of his sentence enhancements, hell never get to make that case to a parole board. Im nowhere near the person I was then, he said. Because now Im a grandfather, Im a father. Driven By Fear Vitiello says sentence enhancements are largely a product of the tough on crime era of the 1980s and 1990s. Each time a high profile crime occurred, lawmakers would propose a new enhancement for that crime. Vitiello says as the criminal code continued to grow in size and complexity, sentences for violent crimes increased dramatically. According to a study by the Pew Charitable Trust, sentences for violent crimes between 1990 and 2009 grew by 63 percent. Legislation like Three Strikes is driven by fear, Vitiello said. Absolutely. In fact, the Polly Klaas kidnapping really pushed Three Strikes. Without the Polly Klaas kidnapping, we dont get the law. Vitiello says California spends an enormous amount of money on incarcerating aging felons. The professor wants to see comprehensive reform of the entire system, starting with the creation of a sentencing commission that would use data to determine what works and what doesnt. There are very few people in the legislature who are ready and willing to take this on, Vitiello said. Their answer, to some degree, is let the public do it through the initiative process. Its not a really good way to do it. DA Stephen Wagstaffe, who will soon become president of the board of directors of the California District Attorneys Association, disputes sentencing enhancements dont reduce violent crime. What we did in the 80s and 90s with locking people up, I dont care what anybody says, I believe we did the right thing, Wagstaffe said. We had victims. I was dealing with the victims. It was the right thing to do. Wagstaffe does admit that sentence enhancements give prosecutors a lot of power, but he doesnt see a problem with that. It will vary from county to county as to what the DAs do, Wagstaffe said. But I think the DAs are the ones who have the best judgment in this area. You really need to be fair and consistent. Every prosecutor - that should be their number one goal. While theres controversy over the deterrent and crime-reducing effects of sentence enhancements, Wagstaffe believes they work. The Three Strikes law, the 10-20-life gun law, every one of those was a reaction to crime [being] out of control, he said. When you looked at the Gallup Poll every year nationwide, crime was always in the top one, two or three. Its not even in the top ten now because crime has gone down. Enough is Enough State Senator Loni Hancock agrees with Vitiello that California desperately needs prison reform. Shes been trying to push for that reform for years in Sacramento, but often runs into roadblocks. I think we fell into a trap of relying on incarceration as our major strategy for achieving safe communities, Hancock said. California desperately needs prison reform. Youre paying over fifty-five thousand dollars a year for every inmate thats in state prison. As chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee, Hancock says she spends a lot of time pushing back against new sentence enhancements proposed by her colleagues. She says the state spends far too much money on punishment and incarceration, and not enough on rehabilitation, drug and mental health counseling. Theres a huge human cost, she said. Theres a real moral cost, too. If you have a large institution based on the idea of punishment, there is a cost to everybody connected with it. Right now our prison culture in California is primarily punishment [rather than rehabilitation]. And thats really unfortunate. NBC Bay Area Hancock argues that shifting resources towards those programs makes communities safer because they prevent crime, rather than punish people for crimes theyve already committed. While she says we certainly need the element of punishment in the justice system, she argues our current sentencing structure goes too far. We really need to change the culture in our prisons from a culture of punishment to a culture that acknowledges the ability of people to change and encourages that change, Hancock said. Hancock recently helped pass prison reform legislation and says shell continue to urge her colleagues in the legislature to follow suit. I think were seeing a recognition [by many lawmakers] that things have got to change, Hancock said. But she says those legislative battles are often tough fights against heavy opposition. Any reform that comes up, the lobbyists for too often the sheriffs, the DAs, the police chiefs come up and oppose, Hancock said. Meanwhile, while the debate over prison reform and sentence enhancements rages on the outside, Antoine Waite cant help but think what might have been had he just been sentenced for his original crime without the enhancement. While he cant change that, he looks forward to the day he walks out of San Quentin a free man. Im not robbed of hope, because I know the fact is that my time will come, Waite said. My faith is in god. I know that gold will open those doors. More than 225 black students from San Francisco, Oakland and the Peninsula toured the Facebook campus and listened to panel discussions for the Black at Facebook event in celebration of Black History Month. The event happened one day after Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg admonished disrespectful behavior at the companys headquarters. The Black Employee Resource Group at Facebook planned the event weeks before the company controversy. The event put a spotlight on the fact that the percentage of minorities in the tech industry is still very low. Black employees said during Fridays event that Zuckerbergs response speaks for itself, and there is a great need to encourage students to pursue tech careers. The mission of the Facebook is to make the world more open and connected, and in order for us to do that successfully we need perspectives from people of all backgrounds, said Aaron Moses, Community Engagement Manager. So its important for all cultures and backgrounds to be represented in our employee base in order for us to fulfill that mission. This week Zuckerberg called the behavior of whoever scratched out a "Black Lives Matter messages on the companys famous no-rules signature wall both disrespectful and malicious. And he said he is investigating. Weve never had rules around what people can write on our walls, Zuckerberg wrote Thursday in the post. We expect everybody to treat each other with respect. Its also pretty clear this is not the first time this has happened, as Zuckerberg noted several recent instances of the behavior. I was already very disappointed by this disrespectful behavior before, but after my communication I now consider this as malicious as well, he wrote. He said the Black Lives Matter movement doesnt negate people of other ethnicities, rather it addresses the historic and specific issues of racism against black people in the United States. While many people on social media cheered that Zuckerberg took his employees to task, others noted disapprovingly that Facebook's staff is only two percent Black. During a Q&A following a panel discussion at todays Black History Month celebration, a male student asked Black employees how they feel being a minority at the company. When youre walking around campus does it come out more as a pride thing, or do you feel uncomfortable occasionally being kind of outnumbered? A panelist responded with advice to each student, saying, From every step forward in your life from here on out you will be one of few people of color in every situation.Its not necessarily a bad thing for you, it doesnt hinder your success, but its something you just have to be aware of. The event recognized the racial disparity within the company by encouraging students to enter the career pipeline and help create more tech equity or, as one employee said, tequity. The big inspiration to me is the fact that they didnt let the small population of African-Americans here steer them away. In fact it motivated them further, said Henry Davis, a junior at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco. Today is opening me to the many different departments and interactions you can have. Daylight Saving Time, the time every year where we spring forward our clocks, could be a thing of the past if a California assemblyman has his way. AB 2496, which was introduced this week by San Jose Assemblyman Kansen Chu, proposes to eliminate the practice, so Californians would stay in Standard Time all year. A San Diego assemblywoman, Lorena Gonzalez, stated on Twitter that she is the co-author of the bill. Love that Assemblymember Kansen Chu beat me to this one. Proud to be co-author. https://t.co/1T7W7pPef8 Lorena (@LorenaSGonzalez) February 25, 2016 Daylight Saving has long been contested. While many enjoy the later sunlight hours on spring and summer evenings, others argue that the time change disrupts sleep. I heard some complaints last year from some of the senior citizens (in my district) and their care providers who say this one-hour difference really impacted their lives, Chu told The Sacramento Bee. Several residents in Solana Beach told NBC 7 on Friday that they oppose abolishing Daylight Saving Time. "I think losing daylight saving would be terrible and terrible loss of production. People are a lot more productive," Wendy Newman said. Resident Kathy Burns also is strongly against ending Daylight Saving. "The other things that is clear in research is [daylight saving and light] helps depression," Burns said. What do you think? Do you like Daylight Saving or wish it would go away? Leave a comment below. The bill, if approved, would overturn a law California voters approved in 1949. Daylight Saving Time this year starts at 2 a.m. March 13. The Illinois State Board of Elections has undertaken an investigation into former state Representative and current Auditor General Frank Mautino's campaign finance records. Mautino, a Democrat, served as the representative for Illinois' 76th District from 1991-2015. The district includes Hennepin, Ottawa, Streator, Peru, LaSalle, Oglesby and Spring Valley. The probe stems from a complaint made by Dave Cooke, a retired nuclear plant employee from Streator. Cooke lodged the complaint after reading reports about Mautino's campaign spending. Mautino reported spending $200,000 for gas and repairs at a service station in less than 11 years. Many of the payments were made in large, round figures of $1,000 or more. His disclosure reports also account for $250,000 paid to Spring Valley City Bank. The money was reportedly used for gasoline, parking, poll watchers, travel expenses and other expenditures not related to banking. The payments, which the bank often received in round figures between $100 and $300, were designated for vague purposes, like a "Chicago meeting." Often the descriptions were coupled with words like "gas" or "parking." Mautino's campaign treasurer, Patty Maunu, also received $23,800 over the course of 16 payments since 2013. Once again, all payments were in round figures. The expenditures were reportedly for meeting expenses, but there is no details on the spending. There was however a notation that no single vendor received more than $150. This is interesting because once a campaign gives more than $150 to an individual or entity in a quarterly reporting period, that person's name and address must be disclosed. Mautino's campaign also purchased four vehicles. Mautino owned one of the vehicles, but claimed it was "primarily driven" by a campaign worker. Another vehicle was owned by a campaign worker. According to Illinois state law, politicians and candidates can't use campaign finances to buy vehicles unles their primary purpose is for campaign or government work. Mautino claims the vehicles in question were used for these purposes. Cooke reportedly sent the election board media reports regarding the auditor general's spending and 70 pages of Mautino's campaign disclousure reports in hopes of an investigation. Cooke voiced some of his concerns to the Illinois Times. "They couldn't provide the services, they didn't perform these services," Cooke said. "You take cash out of a bank, then they paid, evidently, someone for something, allegedly." Mautino has refused interview requests since January, when he assumed office as the state's auditor general. He has since been the subject of newspaper reports and an investigation by government watchdog group, the Edgar County Watchdogs. As a result of the coverage, Mautino has retained public relations consultant Ryan Keith to handle questions about his campaign spending. Keith released a statement in January defending his client. "During his legislative career, Frank ran for re-election every two years. His campaign committee, Committee for Frank J. Mautino, fully disclosed and reported all spending by the campaign in compliance with Illinois campaign finance and disclousure laws," Keith wrote. "His reports fully detail campaign expenditures that were made to help defray the standard, reasonable expenses incurred while Frank performed the governmental and public servie duties of serving as state representative if his large, mostly ruraly district." During a Feb. 18 interview on Channel 20 news, Mautino claimed he was thoroughly reviewing his campaign expenditures. "What I've done is, I am going through many of the receipts that were held by my campaign committee," Mautino said. "I've got some people helping me organize it so that I can make a statement that's full and accurate and reflects the spending in the areas of my campaign." Members of Congress asked Friday whats being done to curb the millions of dollars in gasoline stolen by federal employees wielding government issued credit cards. Last year, NBC 5 Investigates showed how every year, public employees use their federally-issued credit cards, to buy gasoline for themselves and others. "I think it's opportunistic," says Robert Erickson, acting Inspector General for the General Services Administration, the agency responsible for the credit cards issued to federal employees. The government manages a sprawling fleet: some 650,000 vehicles, which cost the taxpayers over $4.4 billion per year. Roughly $400 million is spent annually on fuel, and about 590,000 cards are in circulation. At Fridays hearing of the House Oversight Committee, chairman John Mica, (R) Florida, pointedly questioned a system which seems to have safeguards which are, at best, ineffective. We found people having federal charge cards for fuel, using them for hundreds of other transactions, he said. We had instances in which more fuel was purchased than the capacity of the tank! And the numbers can add up quickly. Records indicate that between the years of 2010 through 2014, government employees, contractors, and others, looted some $2.4 million in gasoline on government cards buying gas for themselves, topping off friends cars, or in some cases, even storing gasoline for later use. "They'll start to arrange with people a time and place," says Stuart Berman, who heads up the GSA Inspector General's office in Chicago. "They'll usually do this at a gas station, and they'll line up several people." The case files are loaded with employees who not only filled their own tanks but sold gasoline to others, often at drastic discounts. "Sometimes charging $25 for a fuel-up," says Berman. Sometimes 50 cents on the dollar." Berman said gas thieves often start small, buying a tankful of gas for their own car. After that, he says, they may simply think that no one has noticed. "And then, they become emboldened," he says. "And it's off to the races, and that's when they start lining up 10 or 15 cars." In one case uncovered by Chicago investigators, three individuals who gained access to an Amtrak credit card were suspected of racking up $35,000 to $40,000 in fraudulent purchases. The three Toni McCaley, Sorea Appling, and Jermaine Hicks eventually pled to lesser charges. Prosecutors were only able to charge them with what was documented on surveillance video. Hicks pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft and was sentenced to 65 days of time served. McCaley and Appling received a sentence of Felony probation for 18 months. We are trying to drill into whats taking place, how we can fix it, and how we can place restrictions, Mica said. Use of a federal credit card for anything else in an abusive manner has to be stopped. As NBC 5 reported last March, the good news for taxpayers is that thieves are being caught. But the GSA chases the crimes with only a handful of investigators, about 70 to investigate all types of fraud nationwide. Two former Michigan lawmakers were charged Friday with felony misconduct in office, the state attorney general announced, after their extramarital affair snowballed into a political scandal when one of them concocted a bizarre cover story about being caught with a male prostitute. Attorney General Bill Schuette said former Republican state Rep. Todd Courser faces three counts of misconduct in office, a felony that is punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Schuette said Courser also was charged with perjury for lying to lawmakers under oath, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Former Republican Rep. Cindy Gamrat faces two charges of misconduct. "When you're elected to serve in any public office, you receive a special responsibility from the people. It's called trust. It's called judgment. It's called honesty, Schuette, also a Republican, said at a news conference. "But Representatives Courser and Gamrat, sadly, failed to serve their constituents in an honorable fashion. And worse yet, we allege ... that they broke the law." The charges were filed Friday in Ingham County District Court. The Associated Press left messages seeking comment from Courser and Gamrat. According to Schuette's office, the two freshman lawmakers and self-proclaimed social conservatives engaged "in a pattern of corrupt misconduct while holding office." One of the misconduct charges against Courser stems from ordering a staffer to send an email to GOP activists falsely stating that Courser had been caught with a male prostitute "behind a prominent Lansing nightclub." The email was intended to make his affair with Gamrat appear less believable and allow Courser to claim he had been blackmailed. A second misconduct charge alleges that Courser lied to Michigan House of Representatives investigators about the email. The most serious charge of perjury is unrelated to the sex scandal. It alleges that Courser lied under oath about authorizing staff to forge his signature on House bills. Gamrat is charged with lying to investigators in an effort to cover-up the affair. The affair emerged last summer and quickly developed into a political scandal. After an aide to Courser and Gamrat was fired in July, he gave The Detroit News a secret audio recording of Courser demanding that he send the email about a male prostitute to "inoculate the herd," an apparent reference to Courser's conservative supporters. While the aide refused and the email was likely legal, the plot was unethical and showed a "callous lack of respect" for the public, according to the investigation. It also said Gamrat was aware of the email, contrary to her assertions. Courser resigned on Sept. 11, hours before he was likely to be kicked out of the GOP-led House. Gamrat was formally expelled from the House the same day. Both tried to make a political comeback by running in special Republican primaries for their seats, but lost last November. Michigan House minority leader Tim Greimel said House Speaker Kevin Cotter and Republicans had wanted to sweep the misconduct under the rug by expelling them but Democrats were right to demand a criminal investigation. "We hope that all elected officials, including Speaker Cotter and Gov. Rick Snyder, will be held to the same high standard of transparency and accountability," Greimel said. Schuette's office said the two lawmakers have been asked to turn themselves in to the Michigan State Police and arraignments would follow soon after. "No one, no one is beyond the reach of the law. Not even those who make laws," Schuette said. Creators of the Netflix show Making a Murderer hinted at the second installment of the hit documentary series this week. The 10-part series dominated airwaves and social media after its Dec. 2015 release, centering on the story of Steven Averys 2005 conviction for the murder of photographer Teresa Halbach, as well as the related convictions of Avery's nephew Brendan Dassey. According to several reports, directors Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos said during a panel discussion in New York on Thursday that they have continued to record their ongoing conversations with Avery, and have spoken to his new lawyer, Kathleen Zellner, about the prospect of filming for a second season. From our perspective this story is obviously not over, Ricciardi said. Its real life and (Avery and Dasseys) cases are both still pending. We have no idea when the magistrate will make a decision in Brendans case. We do know that two potential outcomes are that the judge could order Brendans release or he could order a new trial. So we are on the edge of seats about that. To the extent that there are significant developments, we would like to continue documenting this (case). The panel was a Stranger than Fiction discussion hosted by the IFC Center in New York. Ricciardi and Demos were joined by Averys civil lawyer, Stephen M. Glynn, production adviser Maureen A. Ryan, and editor Mary Manhardt. Glynn also hinted at challenges for the directors in filming a second installment, saying, There is a lot of hostility toward these two women in Wisconsin. The theory is that have played Wisconsin unfairly. But among those people who think and are a little more educated and thoughtful about these sorts of issues, there is appreciation. The series was filmed over the course of 10 years in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. Avery, who was wrongfully imprisoned for 18 years before DNA evidence exonerated him of unrelated sexual assault charges in 2003, filed an appeal in January. Wealthy foreign citizens seeking residency in the United States are paying big bucks to leapfrog wait times. Its completely legal and supporters claim it is boosting the economy. The US governments EB-5 visa program allows foreign citizens faster access to green cards if they invest $500,000 to $1,000,000 in a development project that creates at least ten US jobs. The project must be in an area considered in need of an economic boost. Chinese nationals, for example, are investing millions of dollars in some of Chicagos newest high-rise projects. Developer Steve Fifield raised $7.5 million through EB-5 investments for a 310 unit, 28-story apartment building being constructed along the edge of Chicagos River North neighborhood. Fifield said fifteen visas were sold to Chinese investors of the project. We met the criteria that EB-5 sets: the money should go in to sort of recovering or redeveloping areas, Fifield said. Fifield calls it a double-whammy project that creates jobs and affordable housing. One-hundred construction workers are building the high-rise. Fifield said the project is also creating indirect jobs and spawning nearby developments. Additionally, Fifield said the property will generate more than one million dollars in tax revenue annually for the city after it opens later this year. This neighborhood is really coming together very quickly, Fifield said. A spokesperson for the mayors office said the city does not receive reports or data on projects that may be seeking to use EB-5 as a funding source. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services says it can allocate 10,000 visas a year for EB-5 investors. Government-approved regional centers may recruit the foreign investors. For example, Go USA EB-5 Regional Center, LLC told NBC 5 Investigates it raised $20 million from forty investors for a downtown Chicago hotel project that is creating 665 jobs. However, immigration officials could not provide a list of existing or current developments in Greater Chicago being partially funded through EB-5 investors. Also, a 2013 Department of Homeland Security audit found there was no indication EB-5 improved the nations economy. We could use better oversight and I think we could use better assessment tool to figure out as a society, whether in a long run, these are beneficial for the United States, said Harold Krent of Chicago-Kent College of Law. Chinese nationals raised $158 million for a convention center project near OHare International Airport that resulted in a federal indictment against developer Anshoo Sethi. According to court documents, Sethi falsely claimed to investors he had support from hotels, the city and the state. Most of the money was refunded to investors. Sethi pleaded guilty to wire fraud in January. It remains unclear if his projects investors received green cards. The government said it has stepped-up fraud detection efforts to protect EB-5 investors. Brandon Lane wonders if his father, 37-year-old Thomas Lane, would still be alive had a Connecticut State Trooper and West Haven Police Officer not deployed their Tasers while trying to rescue him from a car crash early Tuesday morning on I-95. The cops that were there to help him they actually ended up hurting him, Lane said. Maybe he would still be here recovering from his injuries, Ill never know. The 20-year-old suffered a significant head injury from the crash, police said. In the wake of Lanes death, the Connecticut chapters of both the NAACP and ACLU are demanding more transparency and oversight for Taser use by police departments in the state. Theres no way in the world that an officer should be pulling out a Taser and shooting an individual they are supposed to be saving, said NAACP of CT President Scot Esdaile at a press conference in New Haven Friday. State Police are investigating the use of force by officers involved in Tuesday's incident. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has not yet released autopsy results and that could take several weeks. The NAACP wants Taser use of force reports to be made public immediately when there is a fatality. Since 2005, according to the NAACP, 12 of 18 fatalities in Connecticut from police use of Tasers were African American or Latino. Taser use has become the lazy mans approach to controlling people, said Darnell Crosland, an attorney representing the Lane family. Troopers said after Lane injured a West Haven firefighter trying to free him from the wreckage, he continued to be combative and attempted to cause further harm to himself and others. A State Police source said Lane was using pieces of glass to cut himself before police deployed Tasers on him. In this case the combativeness cannot in any way be misconstrued to be an attack on a police officer, Crosland said. Both the NAACP and ACLU of Connecticut are calling on Governor Malloy and state lawmakers to require that police Tasers be equipped with cameras. Unlike body cameras that need to be manually activated by the police officer, these automatically start recording in HD video and audio when the Taser is pulled from the holster, said David McGuire, the legislative and policy director for the ACLU of Connecticut. The Lane family is asking for donations to be mailed to Brandon Lane at 777 Summer Street, Suite 403, Stamford, CT 06901. If you stop and shop at Stop & Shop this weekend in Connecticut, Massachusetts or Rhode Island, there's a good chance you'll see some of their 34,000 employees outside, greeting employees with flyers. The reason: Their contract expires at midnight Saturday going into Sunday, and members of United Food and Confectionery Workers local are looking for support as they head to a possible strike. Not just the grocery business but the gas business could face labor strife and disruption as well. National Grids contract with 800 natural gas utility workers around Boston expires 24 hours later, at midnight Sunday going into Monday, and those workers have already unanimously authorized Steelworkers Local 12003 leaders to call a strike if they see fit. Both situations involve some issues unique to each company but a common theme, the same theme that dominates so much of the presidential campaign debate this year: Income inequality and a middle class losing ground as corporate America and its leaders seek to grow ever richer. At Stop & Shop, "We're asking them to call the company, say they stand with the workers," said Jim Carvalho, political director for UFCW Local 1445, which represents workers at Stop & Shops in the Boston and Worcester areas and Essex County, Massachusetts. It's negotiating alongside four other UFCW locals 328, 371, 919, and 1459 across southern New England. Carvalho said union negotiators have been facing proposals from Stop & Shop to set up a two-tier wage system offering lower pay and benefits to new employees. "They're looking to have cuts to the pensions, increased costs to the health care, inadequate wage increases" and other contract givebacks, Carvalho said. Stop & Shop has already been advertising to hire replacement workers if there is a strike. Stop & Shop said its confident there will be a deal, not a strike. In a statement, the company said: "We have always reached a fair agreement with these unions, and do not expect this time to be any different. To be very clear, and contrary to the leaflets being distributed by the unions, Stop & Shop is not proposing to freeze wages. In fact, Stop & Shop is offering to give all of our Associates increased pay." "In addition," the company said, "Stop & Shop has offered to continue to provide associates generous paid time off and rich health care benefits with Associate premiums that are significantly less than market averages. Our offer will also maintain our current contribution level to their industry leading defined-benefit pension plan. We look forward to reaching an agreement that reflects the economic needs of our Associates and the competitive realities facing our company." At National Grid, one of the most bitterly contested issues is the companys desire to outsource more maintenance work, both on its gas distribution network and inside customers homes, to lower-paid contract workers. Local 12003 is also trying to undo past agreements to have non-union workers mark gas line locations under Dig Safe for construction work, a move they say has compromised safety. "They have a CEO that makes over $7 million a year, and theyre worried about the cost of keeping the public safe they think its too expensive to keep the public safe," Local 12033 president Joe Kirylo said in an interview Friday afternoon during a break in contract negotiations. "Nobody wants a labor dispute. We don't want a labor dispute. We want to work through this," Kirylo said. But the union - which went through a six-month strike in 1993 against predecessor Boston Gas Co. has unanimously voted to authorize leaders to call a strike, which is not uncommon in utility contract negotiations. National Grid spokeswoman Mary-Leah Assad said: "The company is committed to bargaining in good faith and looks forward to reaching a fair and equitable contract for all parties. The safety of our employees, customers and communities is our first priority and will continue throughout this process." Besides safety questions, as with Stop & Shop, good union pay and benefits in an era of wage stagnation and soaring health-insurance costs are on the line at National Grid. "It's a fight for ourselves, it's a fight for the public, and I'll be honest with you, it's a fight for the middle class in general," Kirylo said. With videographer Aaron Strader Former military doctors and veterans say they want the military to stop using animals during medical training. New technology makes it unnecessary they say. They addressed the issue during a briefing on Capitol Hill, organized by PETA. There a lot of sides to this ongoing debate. It's called live-tissue training. In the military, animals are put under anesthesia and then shot, stabbed or wounded to mimic war injuries on the battlefield. For training purposes, military members then administer trauma care in the field before the animal is euthanized. Congressman Ted Lieu from San Diego says To me its really barbaric we are having this kind of practice for some of our medics in the military." Lieu and other opponents, including PETA, say they believe the practice is inhumane, there are more modern, effective options available that don't use animals. Lieu is co-sponsoring a bill which would eliminate the use of animals during military medical training exercises. It's called the Battlefield Excellence Through Superior Training, or Best Practices Act. Anahita Duha, a surgical resident at the Medical College of Wisconsin explains the best training, is not training on animal models is to buy the simulators we know are tried and trusted , train them properly, put the time and investment and effort so they are proficient." Advocates of using animals in the training say it is essential to prepare troops on the front lines for the stress and medical emergencies associated with war. In November 2014, the U.S Department of Defense announced it was scaling back the use of live animals for medical training but didn't eliminate the practice completely. U.S. Army spokeswoman Lt. Dawn Fitzhugh says The feedback we get from our medics was the animal patients provide them with very realistic training before they deploy and that is critical to our success in our mission." According to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, the U.S. military uses more than 8,500 animals every year in its combat trauma training courses. Lt. Fitzhugh adds, the U.S. Army says it has transitioned to using human simulators when possible, but the system hasn't been perfected, Our concern that status simulation is just not ready yet ..simulators dont replicate basic human anatomy. They are not capable of modeling human psychology, they are not capable of bleeding like we do" The Best Practices Act was reintroduced to Congress last year. The House Armed Services Committee is now considering it. Retired neurosurgeon and Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson is the latest candidate to visit the Lone Star State days before Super Tuesday. The Northeast Tarrant County Tea Party invited Carson to speak at a town hall event in Irving Saturday. According to Carson's website, the free event at The Westin DFW North was sold out. The ballroom had a capacity of more than 300, and about 200 additional people had lined up outside, hoping to get a ticket in. During the 45 minute speech, Carson outlined his plans to combat terrorism, rebuild the military and cut the national debt. His wife Candy also spoke to supporters hoping to connect with voters one on one. Amy Martin saw him speak once before and said Carsons honesty won her over. I think he's an amazing man I think his moral integrity is important to me, said Martin. The reality however is that Carson has been lackluster and the Republican debate performances. He's trailing behind Trump, Cruz and Rubio. Carson is in town trying to drum up delegates. There are a lot of people in Texas with common sense so I think we will do better than expected," said Carson. Carson heads to Houston for an event Saturday afternoon and ends the day in Colorado. During an appearance Friday at a conference of religious broadcasters in Nashville Carson said "let's pray that it can work for America" if Donald Trump becomes the GOP nominee. Carson stressed that he isn't dropping out of the race, despite a string of poor primary results. More: NETarrantTeaParty.com | BenCarson.com Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders is the latest candidate to visit North Texas ahead of Super Tuesday. Sanders hosted a rally at Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie Saturday afternoon. Sanders discuessed a wide range of issues, including getting big money out of politics, his plan to make public colleges and universities tuition-free, combating climate change and ensuring universal health care. The event was free and open to the public. While tickets were not required, an RSVP was encouraged. Admission was first come, first served and doors opened at 12:15 p.m. For security reasons, those attending the rally are asked leave big bags at home and limit what they bring to small, personal items like keys and cell phones. Weapons, sharp objects, chairs, and signs or banners on sticks will not be allowed through security. The paid on-site parking charge is $15 per vehicle, so carpooling is encouraged. Aspiring first lady Jane Sanders says the Bernie Sanders campaign is looking to Super Tuesday when "I think we'll split the vote." Expecting a loss in the South Carolina primary, the Vermont senator flew to Texas on Saturday morning and was heading to Minnesota later in the day. Jane Sanders, Bernie Sanders' wife and one of his top campaign advisers, says that South Carolina voting has already started and the campaign has to focus on March 1, when 12 states, including Texas, will cast ballots. Jane Sanders says they were hoping for a "good showing" in South Carolina. She adds that it has been hard for people to get to know Bernie Sanders there, noting: "the media didn't cover him from May to December. There was nothing in the national media. So of course the South didn't know him." Still, Jane Sanders says the campaign is feeling good. "We always knew where we would do well and where we would not do so well," she said. "It's a 50-state election, and we're feeling very confident, actually." THE DREAM... of journeying to Chico and joining an informative tour, or a multi-day educational session, at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company is a real one for many a brew buff around the Golden State. They've heard the (true) tales of the in-depth lessons, the exploration behind the science of beer-makery, and all of the components that go into creating the perfect ale, from hopsy start to foamy finish. But getting to the city, and carving out a bit of time to join a tour or camp, is another matter for most. Good thing, then, that the fabled brewery, which has its flavorful roots in the late '70s, sends a one-day take on this signature event out to a number of cities each year. Figure that signing up for the experience in a different city, your city, is almost like visiting the company's Chico headquarters, but without needing to book a hotel room or flight. Is getting to know the world of craft beerdom, from a variety of makers, on your bucket list? Then clear the final Saturday in June, for the whole kit and caboodle is making for Los Angeles. And, yes, it may still be winter but... TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE: There's a general admission at fifty bucks, a ticket for early access, and one for designated drivers. The whole sudsy shebang is happening next to the Queen Mary, and is billed as "the nation's largest celebration of locally brewed craft beer," with "over 300 brewers" working alongside the Sierra Nevada brewers. The company's celebrated "one-time-only collaboration beers" hail from this partnership, one that not only spotlights the brews that come out of Chico but those that spring from craft breweries around the nation. It's a taste-and-try happening, which is why you'll want your designated driver at your side. Will it inspire you, though, to try to get to Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, one day, at least for that informative and in-depth tour of the foam-creating facilities? It's one of those California must-dos for those adventurers who love their IPAs and stouts. For more info on tickets and what Beer Camp Across America is all about, click. San Diego County health officials have confirmed the regions first Zika virus case of 2016. The County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) reported Friday the case involved a woman who contracted the virus while in Colombia. The patient returned to the San Diego area in January, officials said, but she was not hospitalized and has fully recovered. Also Friday, officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed nine cases of Zika virus among pregnant women in the U.S., and say they are investigating 10 more suspected cases. The woman in San Diego County was not pregnant, officials said. The Zika virus -- spread mainly by mosquito bites -- is epidemic in Latin America and the Caribbean.The yellow-fever mosquito and Asian tiger mosquito known to spread Zika are not native to San Diego, county health officials said. However, the insects have been discovered here in recent years. The virus causes mild illness or no symptoms in most people. But in Brazil, officials are investigating a possible link to babies born with unusually small heads, a rare birth defect called microcephaly that can signal underlying brain damage. Brazil has seen 59 confirmed cases of microcephaly since the surge was first noticed last October, and another 440 cases are under investigation. Since August, the CDC said it has tested 257 pregnant women in the U.S. for Zika; eight were positive and a state lab confirmed a ninth. This is not the first time the Zika virus has been reported in the county. There were two previous patients in July 2014 and July 2015 who both contracted the virus in the South Pacific, officials said. There is no immediate threat from Zika if people have not traveled to known affected areas, said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. Anyone who is planning travel to a country with active Zika virus transmission should consult their doctors before leaving, especially if they are pregnant or are considering becoming pregnant. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been no reported mosquito-transmitted cases of Zika in the U.S. Although Mexico has reported cases from local mosquitos, none have been in Baja California. Miami-Dade Police are investigating after a gun was fired at The Falls, an open-air shopping mall in Kendall. It happened around 8:20 p.m. Friday near the movie theater at the mall located at 8888 Southwest 136th Street. Detectives said two males were involved in an altercation. During that time, another male, not involved in the fight, shot one round into the air and fled the scene. Everyone in the area scattered and ran. No injuries were reported. Police said they do not have a description of the shooter. The incident forced some stores to initiate emergency evacuations, but business is now back to normal, despite the presence of investigators. This is the second incident involving gunfire at a South Florida mall this week. On Tuesday, a detective opened fire on a man near the main entrance of Dadeland Mall. They said the suspect was in a fight with his wife and drove straight into officers, forcing them to shoot at his vehicle. If you know anything about Friday's shooting, call Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS. Maine's outspoken Republican governor is endorsing brash New York billionaire Donald Trump for president. Gov. Paul LePage announced his endorsement Friday while speaking on "The Howie Carr Show," a conservative radio talk show based in Boston. He called in from Florida, where he's on vacation. He says Trump "wants to make America great again" and adds Trump "is the only one doing that right now." LePage says he hasn't spoken with Trump. He was a supporter of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie before he ended his presidential bid. Christie also endorsed Trump on Friday. LePage and Trump are known for speaking their minds. LePage repeated his assertion he, not Trump, is the original bombastic politician. LePage jokes he "was Donald Trump before Donald Trump became popular." Trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos continues to forge new pathways in the presentation of jazz through his association with the San Diego Symphony and the Jazz at the Jacobs concert series, with the latest installment coming on Feb. 19, opening for vocalist Dianne Reeves in another sold-out extravaganza. Fronting a group he calls the New Latin Jazz Quintet -- which featured Irving Flores on piano, Omar Lopez on bass, Tommy Aros on percussion and Ramon Banda on drums -- Castellanos lit into "Tin Tin Deo" with an X-Rated plunger mute essay, growling and burbling a virtual compendium of blues scholarship. Flores took up the baton like a Latin Oscar Peterson, with waves of ideas flowing from his fingertips. But it was on the venerable ballad "Nature Boy" that the genius of Castellanos really emerged, as he carved graceful arcs and tight spirals into the night -- leaning heavily on his cohorts for dense and empathetic rhythmic support. Reevess band is well-oiled and battle-tested, and its opening instrumental highlighted the resourcefulness and interplay of guitarist Romero Lubambo and pianist Peter Martin, who also serves as Reeves musical director. Demonstrating a penchant for unusual material, Reeves launched into a surprising arrangement of Stevie Nicks' "Dreams," showcasing her supple multi-octave range and the melodic invention of Martins piano. Reeves is a masterful storyteller, and on the autobiographical "9," she sang with true conviction about the vicissitudes of age through the perspective of a child, guided primarily by the lithe harmonic support of Lubambo, who seems to have a special hookup with the vocalist. Bassist Reginald Veal also has a deep connection with Reeves, and his pocket-laden vamp on her interpretation of Miles Davis' "All Blues" was consistently delightful, as was the almost catholic voice-leading of Martin, whose accompaniment on "Our Love Is Here to Stay represented a personal highlight for me. Jazz at the Jacobs represents collaboration and forward thinking at the highest levels, but there are still some bugs to be worked out. Drums tend to get swallowed up in the cavernous hall, and the intricacies of each drummers ride cymbal (Terreon Gully with Reeves and Ramon Banda with Castellanos) did not translate well. If the series is to achieve its true potential, these issues must be addressed. Robert Bush is a freelance jazz writer who has been exploring the San Diego improvised music scene for more than 30 years. Follow him on Twitter @robertbushjazz. Visit The World According to Rob. THE COUSINS FROM CARSOLI: When Luigi's Flying Tires, an attraction located in Disney California Adventure's Cars Land, shuttered in early 2015 for some Imagineering-style reinventing, many a fan hoped that Luigi would remain a central figure, given the charming character's popularity in the "Cars" films. Casa della Tires, Luigi's corner shop, remained in the land, so that alone was great news for fans. "Cars" buffs also began to anticipate the upcoming experience, a music-nice attraction involving dancing cars. We feel as though that should be typed again -- dancing cars -- because the idea is as quirky as a vehicle with eleven headlights. What was heading for the space wasn't dance music played inside of cars, something we're all more familiar with, but rather cars that would sway and swing, in choreographed unison, to a song played over the speakers. The day has arrived to see what such a delightful thing might look like, or nearly arrived, we should say: Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters debuts in Cars Land on Monday, March 7. And the stars of the asphalt -- er, dance floor -- besides those guests queuing up to ride? Luigi's wheel-laden cousins from Carsoli. THERE IS NO STEERING REQUIRED... as riders step into the cars and proceed to be taken around the "floor" in a lively gambol that's totally gas-free. Well, it's a gas in the other sense of the word, we should clarify, for there you are, sitting in a dancing car, spinning about in much the way you would if you yourself were moving to music. The Disney blog says "every ride is unpredictable," which means you might ride three or four times in a day and never participate in the same dance twice (plus you could very well be in a different car, lending the experience a fender-fresh newness). Ready to have a peek at what's frolicking in Cars Land as of March 7? Follow the music this way... This week, the San Diego Chargers announced their support for a plan that would put a new stadium downtown, not in Mission Valley. The team is backing the Citizens Plan, an existing proposal that would, among other things, raise the hotel tax slightly and make it possible to build a new stadium and an expanded convention center downtown. Mayor Kevin Faulconer is against that idea. Hes said the plan is unrealistic. Plus, he recently pledged that hed be working on a plan for a different kind of convention center expansion. Both of the conflicting initiatives could end up in front of voters on the June ballot. On this weeks San Diego Explained, VOSDs Andrew Keatts and NBC 7 San Diegos Catherine Garcia break down the Chargers big decision and talk about what comes next. The Chargers only want a San Diego stadium downtown not Mission Valley. In this weeks San Diego Explained, The Voice of San Diegos Andy Keatts breaks down the big announcement and what happens next. Click here if you are using our mobile app. A San Diego Police Department (SDPD) officer is receiving a special award next month for saving the life of a toddler in Logan Heights a heroic act the girls mother will never forget. In April 2015, Officer Robert Carlson responded to a 911 call involving an 18-month-old girl, Kendall Hidalgo, who was unconscious and not breathing. Carlson arrived at the girls family home in Logan Heights almost immediately. The toddler was suffering from a violent seizure and had stopped breathing. Her face and lips were blue. Carlson rendered first aid to the girl until paramedics arrived. Going above and beyond, the officer stayed with the family at the hospital until they knew Kendall would be okay. Fast-forward one year later and Carlson has become a big part of the girls life a life her mother says she owes to the officer. If it took him a minute more to get here, she wouldn't have been here now, said Kendalls mother, Jessica Salas. I was really grateful that he helped her. He saved my baby. Salas said she still gets tearful when she thinks about that fateful day. Carlson said hes very glad he was able to help. I think it really makes you appreciate life. You don't take anything for granted. Whether it be at work or at home. Every little thing is precious, he said. Today, Carlson visits Kendall regularly, sometimes bearing gifts that come from a collective donation or the community. He's a blessing to us. He's part of the family now, said Salas. The family is even inviting Carlson to Kendalls baptism later this year. The officer and the little girl share a special bond. From that day, I felt connected to her, said Carlson. In a neighborhood where some residents don't trust police, the connection between the officer and the family goes a long way. Now, my son, when he sees a police officer, hes like, Oh, theres my amigo, said Salas. I think a lot of times we get a negative connotation that we're just a heavy hand, but that's not the case. A lot of officers are out here because they want to do good. They want to help people, added Carlson. We want to be out here making their quality of life better, in whatever way we can. They're living and going through the same stuff we are. Next month, Carlson will receive an award for saving Kendalls life at a public ceremony. Carlson was recommended for the award by Central Division Patrol Sgt. Nick Nguyen. The toughest calls that we as law enforcement go to are the ones that are for people that essentially can't take care of themselves," Nguyen said. The sergeant has also recommended another colleague for the award, SDPD Officer Carlos Munoz. In October 2015, Munoz stopped a suicidal man from jumping off a 12th story ledge in the East Village onto a play area for children. The officer established a rapport with the man. We talked about many different things, like what he was feeling, what he was thinking. He said he felt like a coward for not jumping. I told him he was a coward if he did. And I was there to help, said Munoz. You don't come to someone as a police officer, you come to them as a human being. Munoz literally talked the man off the edge. On his own, the man climbed over the ledge and into the officers arms. Nguyen says the life-saving award isnt only motivating for the officers who are honored, but motivating to all officers around them. It shows to the other officers that their hard work does get recognized by the public, by the department, and by their superiors," said Munoz. Officers at Central Division say up to 45 percent of their calls involve the mentally ill homeless, so working with a sense of empathy while remaining alert is important. In one area on Commercial Street, tents line both sides of the street underneath a highway overpass. Officers say the area is also known for drugs. So when we get a call of an unknown person making suicide threats, we have to come here and try to find a needle in a haystack, so to speak. We never know how many people are in a tent, or what kind of weapons they have in them," Munoz explained. "Many homeless carry weapons to defend themselves because they're living out in the streets. They can go from being totally compliant one second to being incredibly combative the very next second," he added. Sometimes, officers are able to de-escalate potential violence, with empathy. "They know the sincerity in your heart, the sincerity in your voice; they'll more often than not listen to you," said Munoz. And sometimes, the people officers come into contact with just need help. They run out of medication. They need to go see a doctor. So I ask them, do you need to go to the doctor? They say yes, and we'll take them to the hospital. We'll get them the help that they need," said Munoz. While Munoz and Carlson are being recognized for two entirely different incidents, what they do have in common is they were able to use their people skills to help someone in crisis. And that's exactly what San Diego police say their job is all about being able to communicate effectively with people. The Metropolitan Police Department has arrested a man in connection with three different sexual assaults occurring in 2012 and 2013. Darius Nelson, 28, of Southeast D.C., was arrested Friday and charged with three counts of first-degree sexual abuse dating back to April 2012, August 2012 and September 2013. Police said the first crime happened in the 2100 block of R Street SE on Apr. 20, 2012. The victim was inside a vacant basement apartment when the suspect entered and physically and sexually assaulted the victim. The second incident, occurred in the area of Pennsylvania and Minnesota avenues SE on Aug. 18, 2012, police said. The victim was walking early in the morning when she was approached by the suspect, punched in the face, and forced into an alley, where he sexually assaulted her. The final incident occurred Sept. 18, 2013, in the 2200 block of Nicholson Street SE. The victim was walking around 11 p.m. when she was approached from behind by the suspect and forced into an alley, where she was robbed and sexually assaulted. Nelson is currently being held on an arrest warrant from the D.C. Superior Court. A man who murdered his cousin and barricaded himself in a northeast Washington home was sentenced Friday to 18 years in prison. Roosevelt Robinson, 67, was convicted of second-degree murder after shooting his cousin, 63-year-old Loretta Carswell, in August because of a dispute about a ring, police said. Robinson confronted Carswell the morning of Aug. 21 in front of her Brookland home on the 3700 block of 18th Street NE. He accused her of stealing a ring. The argument had been ongoing, and Carswell had always denied knowing anything about the ring, according to the Department of Justice. When Robinson asked about the ring Aug. 21, the situation escalated. Carswell denied she had the ring and gave Robinson a look that he interpreted as dismissive, the Department of Justice said. Robinson said, Girl, you know I should kill you for doing what you did, according to the Department of Justice. Carswell replied, You can go ahead and kill me if you want to, I done told you I dont have your ring, according to the Department of Justice. Robinson then pulled out a revolver and shot Carswell in the forehead. She was pronounced dead at the scene, NBC Washington previously reported. After the shooting, Robinson escaped on his bicycle to his home one block away. He fired more shots when he returned home. For the next 30 hours, he barricaded himself against a SWAT Team, armored vehicles and armed police. Some residents on the block were not even allowed to return home during the standoff. The barricade ended the next evening. Carswell had worked as a Metrobus driver for 23 years and had retired just three years ago, friends said. She didn't have children of her own but was known for taking care of youth in the neighborhood, NBC Washington previously reported. "She was such a loving, good-hearted person," ex-classmate and friend Alvin Tobe said. A new gun store set to open next month in Arlington County, Virginia, is facing some opposition from area residents. NOVA Armory characterizes their new store on Pershing Drive in Arlington as an outlet for sporting firearm and shotguns for trap or skeet shooting. They hope the weapons become family heirlooms, passed down through the generations. However, some people in Lyon Park neighborhood, where the store will open, said it's just not the right fit for their community. "It's not necessarily a business keeping with the values of the neighborhood," said resident Palak Shah. "A lot of retail, a lot of things that cater to families, restaurants, cleaners, schools, obviously, in the area" Opposition to the store is not unanimous. While there's an online petition opposing the new store, there is also one in support of it. The shop would be located in a newer strip of small businesses in a community with the proverbial white picket fences and well-manicured lawns. News 4s Derrick Ward said residents told him there is usually a lot of notice and discussion before a new business or home addition is done in the neighborhood. They said there was little word about Nova Armory opening up until last week. "Whether it's a sidewalk cafe or a yoga studio or music and we didn't hear a single thing," said resident Sasha Cohen. In a written statement, NOVA Armory said theirs is a family oriented business, and the company owner writes that while he respects the oppositions First Amendment right to protest, he hopes they respect their constitutionally protected Second Amendment right to bear arms. Arlington County board members said the store has met all of the required licensing and zoning regulations to open. A meeting is planned by the Lyon Park Citizen Association for Sunday evening to discuss the issue, and members of the Arlington County board have been invited. A Maryland man was sentenced to three years in prison on Thursday after he hit a Montgomery County police officer with his car and kept driving. Lennwood Saunders, 35, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and cocaine possession after he struck Officer Michael Murphy in October 2015 in Gaithersburg, Maryland. As video footage from Murphy's dashboard-mounted camera shows, the officer was was making a traffic stop when the SUV Saunders was driving side-swiped his body. Murphy's ribs were injured, but he ran to his car to chase after Saunders along Clopper Road. Eventually, Saunders pulled over. "You hit me with your car. And you didn't stop. I had to chase you down," Murphy can be heard saying in the video. "I heard a noise," Saunders mumbles. "I apologize." "You heard a noise? You almost killed me," Murphy replies. Montgomery County police soon saw that Saunders had four prior drunken driving convictions. "We discovered that he had been tried several prior times, six or seven, for suspected DUI, and he had a suspended and revoked license," said Murphy, who recovered from injuries. Several county officers have been hit and hurt by drunken drivers in the past three years. Officer Noah Leotta, 24, died in December after he was hit by a driver who police said had a blood alcohol level of 0.22 -- almost three times the legal limit. Another officer, Cpl. Ponloeu Le, said he was hurt so badly when a drunken driver hit him that he was given a 1 percent chance to live. "It took me a year to learn to walk all over again," he said. Maryland lawmakers are considering Noah's Law, named after Leotta, which would make in-car blood alcohol level-testing devices mandatory for anyone convicted of driving drunk. The user blows into a device the size of a cellphone to get a blood alcohol content reading before their vehicle will start. Montgomery County State's Attorney John McCarthy said an ignition lock wouldn't have prevented Saunders from driving and hitting Murphy. He was driving someone else's car when he hit the officer, the prosecutor said. Still, supporters of Noah's Law say it will save lives. Benny, the service dog missing from Upton, Massachusetts, has been found, police said early Saturday morning. The 8-month-old yellow lab, which had been lost since Friday when he was spooked by a train whistle, is with his owner, police said in a press release. Benny helps his owner, Bella Picard, recover from a spinal cord injury she suffered last year, and he is also one of her best friends, she said. "He's the friendliest, goofiest - he literally reminds me of myself in a dog version," she said. "He's been, like, amazing." Bella and Benny were in Bella's car when Benny was spooked by a train. "He jumped up," she said. "I had the window cracked a little bit. Somehow put his paws on the thing to try to get out and rolled down the window himself." Many town residents, including local police, helped in the search. Picard's story of recovery is well known in town, and many wanted to help. Barcelona, Mobile World Congress 2016IoT success isnt about device features, like long-life batteries, factory-floor sensors and snazzy designer wristbands. The real power, the real value, of the IoT is in the data being transmitted from devices to remote servers, and from those remote servers back to the devices. Is it secret? Is it safe? Gandalf asks Frodo in the Lord of the Rings movies about the seductive One Ring to Rule Them All. He knows that the One Ring is the ultimate IoT wearable: Sure, the wearer is uniquely invisible, but he's also vulnerable because the ring's communications can be tracked and hijacked by the malicious Nazgul and their nation/state sponsor of terrorism. + DID YOU MISS MWC? See all the news from the show + Are IoT communications links secret? Are they safe? Are they reliable, consistent, and easy to manage by the devices service provider? (I havent seen the specs for the wireless provisioned by Mordor, but we could call it 3rd-Age-G.) At Mobile World Congress 2016 this past week, the unquestioned buzz was mostly about the forthcoming 5G wireless trials, but the IoT was a close second. Sure, many of the most attention-getting IoT (and 5G) discussions were about specific devices, such as smartphones, wearables, connected cars and industrial systems. Fortunately, everyone seemed to realize that without safe, secure, persistent, affordable and management communications, the IoT is a #FAIL. And that means not only the last mile (say, 5G) over-the-air link, but all the mobile backhaul, intracarrier and intercarrier links. It also means the fixed server end of the data flow, that is, between telcos and cloud service providers, enterprise data centers, and collocation facilities. After all, a tunnel is vulnerable on both ends, as well as in the middle. Here are some of the announcements at Mobile World Congress that struck me as being especially relevant to the connectivity, privacy and security issues of the Internet of Things, even if none of them require devices to be forged in the molten lava of Mount Doom. One Platform to Rule Them All Every mobile vendor says it offers the only IoT platform youll ever need. The secret sauce offered by Accelerite with its Aepona IoT is cloud provider portability, specifically to let IoT developers build and deploy applications in any cloud platform, such as Amazon Web Services, IBM Bluemix or Microsoft Azure. At the conference, Accelerite showed its cloud-neutral capabilities with an industrial equipment remote monitoring and field support dispatch use case, perfect if youre trying to instrument the far-flung pastoral farthings of the Shire. How about smart cities? Thats a powerful and important use case for the IoT, and Libelium has come up with a marketplace (cleverly called The IoT Marketplace), offering everything from hardware sensors to cloud applications to speed IoT adoption. The marketplace has out-of-the-box kits containing programmed sensor devices connected to specific cloud applications for use in pilot projects or proof of concept tests to minimize time to market and security is a big part of the package. I think Rivendell will be a potential customer. Connecting smart cities requires smart roads, or at least some intelligence in the vehicles traversing not-smart roads. Transportation and logistics is the bailiwick (not to be confused with Balrog) of Orbcomm, which has released the tools for turning commercial vehicles into IoT endpoints, with devices and fleet management applications. The company has a variety of hardware and software products, and the one that impressed me most is its Orbcomm Enterprise Connect, an end-to-end 4G xLTE wireless failover system for distributed enterprise, financial, hospitality and retail locations that need reliable, high-bandwidth WAN connectivity for M2M and IoT applications. Even Sauron cant afford to lose touch with his maurading Black Riders. Treebeard keeps you safe, and is strong enough to take down black-hat wizards. However, while you cant subscribe to Ents-as-a-Service, carriers can sign up to resell a set of new Security-as-a-Service packages from Wedge Networks. According to the company, its new IoT Security and Compliance Enforcement packages provide IoT optimized security and compliance services with enforcement at the cloud layer to consistently apply policies to all network connected devices, both physical and virtual. Theres also a healthcare package designed for Health Information Privacy and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance obligations to medical device manufacturing which is far less regulated but increasingly dependent on IoT stuff. Gandalf the Gray advises that you never know who might be watching when you use a palantir one of Middle Earths seeing stones, not unlike a baby monitor. In our world, you want to make sure that the carrier provisioning the tunnel between IoT and server is safe. For that, AdaptiveMobile introduced Network Protection Platform (NPP) version 6, said to provide consistent security against current and emerging threats to communication service providers. According to the company, NPP 6 delivers strong security against mobile threats, SS7 protection and gray route controls. (A gray route is a data link which is legal on one side of the link, but illegal on the other. Consider routing around a national firewall or tariff barrier to make phone calls or access censored websites. This behavior is perfectly acceptable and perhaps encouraged in one country, but forbidden in the other.) You also never can know when transmission errors will make hash out of the communications, perhaps due to a fault, perhaps due to architectural issues, perhaps due to pirates like the Corsairs of Unbar. Two companies are collaborating on this issue, combining Spirent Communications Landslide EDGE and CORE end-to-end service validation tools for fault isolation in the mobile backhaul with Jolatas TruFlow Analytics. Like pouring reverse-osmosis water to the Mirror of Galadriel, the combo tests emulates real and virtual networks using VoLTE, WiFi, SDN/NFV and lots of other acronyms. The benefit? The detection of packet loss, jitter, delay, or latency issues, with multipoint end-to-end segmented vision in real time, and reducing the fault isolation time to minutes, down to device, port, or flow level. Speaking of partnerships, CENX hooked up with Ixia, Mitel and VMware to demonstrate mobile data services for virtual Evolved Packet Core (vEPC). Orchestrated by CENXs Exanova Service Intelligence software, the demo showed that mobile service providers can assure high quality of experience (QoE) for VoLTE, VoWiFi, and data enterprise and consumer subscribers, over large-scale, hybrid networks including vEPC. Whats the tie-in for the Internet of Rings, I mean, Internet of Things? To support the new traffic patterns generated by the IoT, service providers need agility, elasticity and cost-efficiency of NFV infrastructure, with real-time, continuous monitoring and analytics of millions of network events. The four-vendor demo showed optimized real-time service assurance within the context of Lifecycle Service Orchestration. One last example: Citrix is another company tackling IoT security, in this case with its new NetScaler ByteMobile T1000 traffic director and application delivery controller (which is the three-word way of saying load balancer). The rackable pizza box is on top of the trend for carriers provisioning mobile and IoT services, which is centered on virtualization: The T1000 (hey, Im thinking of a different movie franchise here) is certified with OpenStack distributions from Red Hat and Mirantis, and can be deployed as a physical network function as well as a virtual function. The system also includes Citrixs ByteMobile software for adaptive traffic management. If you cant manage the incoming traffic (visualize bazillions of Orcs and trolls storming Minas Tirith flinging boulders and telemetry packets with wanton abandon), you cant deliver SLAs at Valinor-mandated service levels. Beginning of a New Age Everything changes with IoT and 5G. Everything. Rich connectivity, powerful software are unleashing a tremendous number of compelling applications. Dont be seduced by the sexy new hardware; all that is gold does not glitter. The true power of the IoT is in the data, and in the safe, secure and persistent links between IoT devices and back-end servers. Some of those links are unidirectional, for telemetry; others are bidirectional and will empower consumers and industry. We are at the very beginning of a new era. Its pleasing to see so many vendors working hard to ensure that skies remain clear of crow-like crebain, sent to spy and steal our information. Keep it secret. Keep it safe. Take a look at the plan for significant upgrades at Easton's Beach The city's consultants presented conceptual renderings of how possible replacements for the snack bar and carousel buildings might look. Reporter Tim Mitchell is a reporter at The News-Gazette. His email is tmitchel@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@mitchell6). Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). Last August, when Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) cardiologists confirmed that the heart of a 27-week-old fetus suffered from a critical cardiac condition that prevented blood returning from the fetus's lungs from circulating back into the body, they told the parents that their child faced certain open-heart surgery after birth. Even worse, babies born with this very rare conditionhypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) with restrictive atrial septumhave a 50 percent neonatal mortality rate. But thanks to the expertise available at CHLA, the Davilas had another optionhaving their unborn child (now delivered and named Grayson) undergo a fetal cardiac intervention procedure in utero that would increase the odds of the child's survival when the open-heart surgery took place. The procedure would be coordinated by fetal therapy specialists from the CHLA-USC Institute for Maternal-Fetal Health, a medical team unlike any other in Southern California. If all went well, Grayson would survive and undergo open-heart surgery performed by CHLA's renowned heart surgery team, led by cardiothoracic surgeon Vaughn Starnes, MD, co-director of the CHLA Heart Institute. "CHLA was the only institution I could find on the West Coast that offered my child the access to premium, state-of-the-art facilities and great care before and after his birth," says Grayson's father, Marco Davila, a technology director at a semiconductor company. On Sept. 9, the physicians gathered at CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center to perform what cardiologists describe as an "in utero atrial septal stent procedure" to open the atrium, allowing blood trapped in the lungs and left upper heart chamber of a HLHS fetus to flow back to the right side of the heart. The successful procedure was a first for the Institute for Maternal-Fetal Health and a first for a Southern California hospital. The fetal interventionalist conducting the procedure was Ramen Chmait, MD, director of Los Angeles Fetal Surgery, a branch of the CHLA-USC Institute for Maternal-Fetal Health. Chmait guided a thin needle into the mother's womb and into the heart of the fetus. Pediatric interventional cardiologist Frank Ing, MD, co-director of the CHLA Heart Institute, then deployed a stent device in the developing child's heart. Ultrasound guidance (fetal echocardiogram) provided by CHLA fetal cardiologist Jay Pruetz, MD, showed the way for both physicians. "The work by the team demonstrated the state-of-the-art prenatal diagnosis and fetal heart therapy technology, based on a multi-disciplinary approach, available for fetuses with severe congenital heart defects," says Ing, chief of the Division of Cardiology at CHLA. "We demonstrated that in utero procedures can ultimately alter the natural history and postnatal health outcomes to increase a child's odds for survival. This expertise was brought together by a vision to provide these specialized interventions and top surgical care as no other institution can in Southern California." "Completing this highly specialized fetal intervention procedure contributed to Grayson's ability to survive after his birth," says Chmait, associate professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. "It successfully strengthened his lungs so the surgeons could do their job after he was born." Everything about the procedure required special preparation. Incredibly small fetal microsurgery tools, including a 12-centimeter metal needle, and a tiny transcatheter metal stent that inflates to 2.8 millimeters across the atrial septum, were used to perform the procedure. The mother, Samantha Davila, received local anesthesia. The baby was anesthetized in the womb so there would be no ill-timed movements as the doctors worked. Chmait used a thin (18-gauge) metal needle, called a cannula, to penetrate the mom's stomach, guiding it into her uterus, through the amniotic cavity and into the fetus's torso. The cannula was carefully finessed into the fetus's heart (which is about the size of a small walnut), puncturing the atrial septum with the needle tip inside the fetus's left atrium. With the cannula stationed across the atrial septum, Ing then threaded a hair-thin wire (0.014 inches) down through the tube, the wire acting as a rail for Ing to gently maneuver a tiny, 8-millimeter-long stent across the septum. Ing mounted the stent onto a balloon catheter for delivery and used a predetermined amount of pressure to inflate the delivery balloon and expand the stent to open a pathway in the atrial septum. The team of doctors determined the stent was in good position by ultrasound imaging, and then deployed it by inflating the balloon catheter. Once the stent was confirmed to be functioning, the balloon catheter was deflated and everything was removed from the baby and the mother, including the wire and needle. The stent remained in the heart to allow blood flow out of the left upper chamber, across the atrial septum, and back into circulation in the right side of the heart. The procedure itself took about 15 minutes once the fetus was in place. After 30 additional minutes of monitoring, the procedure was concluded. During the remainder of the pregnancy, Samantha, a program manager at an aerospace and defense company, was followed closely to ensure that the atrial stent was functioning well. The stent held up until the late third trimester, when it appeared to close down, providing little to no flow between the fetus's upper heart chambers, Pruetz says. But in the interim, the lungs had been given time to strengthen and develop during a critical time window of gestation. Ten weeks after the stent procedure, mom Samantha gave birth via a planned cesarean section at Hollywood Presbyterian. Grayson was born on Nov. 19 at 8:29 a.m. Following Grayson's delivery, the closure of the atrial septum in Grayson's heart prevented the lungs from delivering enough oxygenated blood back to his body. Consequently, Grayson was immediately transported next door to CHLA. There, a pediatric cardiothoracic surgery team was standing by to perform a full Norwood surgery, led by Starnes. Starnes began the operation just 90 minutes after birth, which is uncommon but was determined to be safe for Grayson because the stent procedure had successfully promoted lung development, enabling him to survive the invasive operation. The Norwood surgery uses the right heart and pulmonary artery to become the main pathway for pumping blood to the body. Starnes removed the stent from Grayson's heart and also performed a Sano modification using a tube to connect the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery as part of the Norwood procedure. "We were able to operate quickly because we were aware of his condition and Grayson's lungs were strong enough," Starnes explains. "This coordination of care between the fetal therapy team and CHLA surgeons was extraordinary, starting with the transcatheter fetal cardiac procedure, the monitoring during the pregnancy leading up to the birth, and the surgery." Grayson was discharged from CHLA on Dec. 14 and went home with his thrilled parents. "The health outcomes for children who receive the Norwood procedure at CHLA are considerably higher than the national average," Starnes says. Grayson still has two additional heart surgeries ahead, the Glenn and the Fontan, procedures that route oxygen-poor blood directly to the lungs, leaving the right ventricle employed as the heart's primary pumping chamber. Those operations will take place over the next six months and at 3 years of age, respectively. Source: Children's Hospital Los Angeles The Mississippi Department of Education voted on Thursday, February 18, 2016 to adopt Smart Snack standards, ensuring all public school students have healthy options beyond what is provided in the School Meal Program. This vote by the Board of Education is a critical step each state is taking to emphasize what is most important for their students to get the best from their school nutrition services. If you think of it as a salad bar, there's a dozen super nutritious foods available and maybe a half dozen toppings that make your salad less healthy. The feds gave states set a baseline of a healthy salad bar, but states can add to it, making it healthier or less healthy. Mississippi is doing the right thing and keeping junk food "toppings" out of the salad bar. Grain-based products must be at least 50 percent whole-grain. Other products must have fruit, vegetable, dairy or protein as a first ingredient. Fewer than 35 percent of calories must be from fat, and the rules limit sodium, sugar, caffeine and total calories. Junk food fundraisers like doughnuts, pizza and candy are also out the door in Mississippi. Almost all Mississippi voters, 97%, say that serving nutritious foods in schools is important to ensure that children are prepared to learn and do their best, while 79% think it is very important. With this support, Mississippi leaders reaffirmed nation leading standards to prohibit fundraisers selling unhealthy foods - such as doughnuts, pizzas, and candy bars. Scott Clements, director of the Office of Healthy Schools, shared that "In 2007, leadership in both the Legislature and the State Board of Education, took steps to address childhood obesity and student health in a comprehensive manner. As such, we established regulations that were nearly identical to what USDA implemented seven years later. Today's vote confirms our commitment to the health of Mississippi's students." In 2004-2005, Mississippi conducted an impact study in preparation for the new policies and found little or no decrease in sales when moving to healthier options. Schools in other states have also demonstrated alternatives to junk food fundraisers are prosperous. A fruit sale in one Colorado high school sold 960 boxes of fruit raising nearly $8,000 and an elementary school in Georgia held a fun run that raised $37,000. In addition, Mississippi is upping their game to help schools through small training grants - a much needed investment to boost school wellness councils that support healthy school changes. They will be rolling out $3,000 in grant funding to 100 schools in need of additional support to develop healthy habits across their school. Pork, mayonnaise and cookies versus bagels, kale and hummus. That's the glaring difference in food choices by between two groups of people in the northeastern United States. The foods on the first list are more exclusive in social media feeds of people living in northeastern food deserts, a term used by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to describe communities with limited access to grocery stores. The second list is more exclusive to non-food deserts. A new study from the Georgia Institute of Technology has identified the food choices and nutritional profiles of people living in both types of communities throughout America. It included three million geo-tagged posts on the social media platform where food is king: Instagram. The researchers found that food posted (and eaten) by people in food deserts is 5 to 17 percent higher in fat, cholesterol and sugars compared to those shared in non-food deserts areas. Munmun De Choudhury, an assistant professor in Georgia Tech's School of Interactive Computing, led the study. "The USDA identifies food deserts based on the availability of fresh food," she said. "Instagram literally gives us a picture of what people are actually eating in these communities, allowing us to study them in a new way." The study identified the foods that are most exclusive to each community in four other regions of the country, as well. The breakdown by region is: Southeast: bacon, potatoes and grits (food deserts) vs. collard greens, oranges and peaches (non-food deserts) bacon, potatoes and grits (food deserts) vs. collard greens, oranges and peaches (non-food deserts) Midwest: hamburgers, hot dogs and brisket vs. beans, spinach and kale hamburgers, hot dogs and brisket vs. beans, spinach and kale West: pie, beef and sausage vs. quinoa, apple and crab pie, beef and sausage vs. quinoa, apple and crab Southwest: barbeque, pork and burritos vs. tomatoes, asparagus and bananas "Fruits and vegetables are the biggest difference," De Choudhury said. "Forty-eight percent of posts from people in non-food deserts mention them. It's only 33 percent in food deserts." The research team used the USDA's database of nutritional values for nearly 9,000 foods to create a nutritional profile for both groups. The amount of calories didn't differ significantly, but the levels of fats, cholesterol and sugars were much higher in food deserts, especially in the West and Southwest. The smallest differences between the two communities were in the Southeast. "That would seem counterintuitive at first because so much of the south is designated as a food desert," De Choudhury said. "But other statistics show that Southern people generally eat-high calorie food that is rich in fat and cholesterol." One final note about food on Instagram: Pictures of meals that are most likely to be posted by both groups tend to be the staples of each region. Steak and coffee in the West; lox and cheesecake in the East; okra and biscuits in the South. "It doesn't matter where you live," De Choudhury said. "Everyone seems to eat what their region is known for." Source: Georgia Institute of Technology Ebola. Chikungunya. Zika. Once rare and exotic pathogens keep popping up and turning into household names. It's the new reality as the climate warms, humans expand more into wildlife habitats and air travel shrinks the distances across the globe. "Africa and other parts of the developing world are undergoing rapid urbanization, so we are going to keep seeing more of these explosive epidemics," says Gonzalo Vazquez-Prokopec, a disease ecologist focused on mosquito-borne diseases in Emory University's Department of Environmental Sciences. The complex properties driving today's disease transmission -- and the speed at which an epidemic can travel -- call for new methods of surveillance, Vazquez-Prokopec says. He is lead author on an opinion piece proposing a novel way of developing mathematical models of infectious diseases to uncover hidden patterns of transmission, recently published by Trends in Parasitology. For example, he says, disease surveillance tends to focus on people with symptoms, but in cases of many mosquito-borne viruses -- such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika -- many of the people infected have no symptoms. And these asymptomatic carriers have the potential to infect others. They may even play the role of super spreaders -- those who contribute the most to the transmission of the pathogen. "There is a gradient in the manifestation of disease, from no symptoms at all to death," Vazquez-Prokopec says. "And during an epidemic of mosquito-borne disease, that spectrum of disease manifestation is coupled with variable factors such as the movement of people and mosquitoes and whether individual people are more attractive to the mosquitoes and get bitten more often." The so-called 80-20 rule -- 80 percent of disease transmission events in an epidemic are caused by 20 percent of people -- is a well-established phenomenon. "We know this pattern is prevalent across disease systems," Vazquez-Prokopec says, "but we don't know the variations that combine to make someone a super spreader. We need to determine if each variable is just noise or is contributing to transmission in a predictable way, so that we can target interventions that have more impact." The uneven contribution of certain individuals, locations or reservoir hosts to the spread of a disease is known as transmission heterogeneity. Vazquez-Prokopec and his co-authors propose a framework that moves beyond investigations of single sources of heterogeneity and accounts for the complex couplings between conditions that have potential synergistic impacts on disease transmission. This framework aims to uncover whether there is a hidden, unified process underlying the significant levels of heterogeneity for any infectious disease. "The time is right to embrace the full complexity of transmission dynamics," Vazquez-Prokopec says. "We now have enough baseline data, and the necessary computer power, to develop more complex models of disease transmission to help contain outbreaks." Vazquez-Prokopec specializes in spatial analysis of disease transmission patterns and has several research projects for dengue fever ongoing in Latin America. His work in the city of Iquitos, Peru, for instance, is focusing on how asymptomatic carriers contribute to the spread of an epidemic. Dengue is spread by the same mosquito species, Aedes aegypti, that spreads the Zika and chikungunya viruses, so the data his lab is gathering has the potential for broader applications. "The wealth of data that we've collected for dengue, combining the components of humans, pathogens, mosquitos and the environment, is giving us a detailed picture of the complexity of disease transmission across an urban landscape in the developing world," Vazquez-Prokopec says. "This information is important because Latin America is more than 80 percent urban and the Aedes aegypti mosquito is in every town." A 59-year-old heart patient with dangerously high levels of cholesterol that could not be adequately reduced by statin drugs now has near-normal cholesterol levels, thanks to a new class of drugs that grew out of work done by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers. Two of these drugs, in a category known as PCSK9 inhibitors, were approved by the Food and Drug Administration last summer for use by some individuals with extremely high cholesterol levels. "If you take the core patients who are at highest risk, it makes you appreciate how important this drug class is," said Dr. Amit Khera, Director of the Preventive Cardiology Program and Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern. Frank Brown of Dallas, grandfather of six and the owner of Frank's Wrecker Service in Dallas, has familial hypercholesterolemia, an inherited condition that causes high levels of cholesterol, especially low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol or "bad cholesterol." High levels of LDL cholesterol are strongly associated with heart disease. Mr. Brown, with a history of two heart attacks, had been aggressively treated with multiple drugs to reduce his cholesterol levels, but they remained stubbornly high. "When I first met Mr. Brown, he had a strong family history of heart disease, he had a cholesterol level that was ridiculously high with an LDL of 384, and he was having chest pains," said Dr. Amit Khera, who is Mr. Brown's cardiologist. Dr. Khera, who holds the Dallas Heart Ball Chair in Hypertension and Heart Disease at UT Southwestern, was treating Mr. Brown with three cholesterol-lowering medications: a statin, which is a class of drugs that works by blocking a substance the body needs to make cholesterol; ezetimibe, a drug that blocks absorption of cholesterol in the intestine; and colesevelam, which sequesters bile acids. Even with this trio of medicines, Mr. Brown's LDL cholesterol level hovered around 200. The two PCSK9 inhibitors approved by the FDA last year were developed as a result of research done by UT Southwestern geneticists Dr. Helen Hobbs and Dr. Jonathan Cohen. Using data from the Dallas Heart Study, a population-based study that gathered extensive medical data on 6,000 Dallas residents, the two researchers showed that certain mutations to the gene that codes for the protein PCSK9 lead to low levels of cholesterol in the blood. Lab Diagnostics & Automation eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today Further,Dr. Hobbs and Dr. Cohen found a woman who had inherited not one, but two of these mutations in the PCSK9 gene - one mutation from each parent. This woman had stunningly low levels of LDL cholesterol. While anything below 100 is considered good, her LDL cholesterol level was just 14. Crucially, this woman was in good health, suggesting that therapies aimed at blocking PCSK9 would not only be effective, but also safe. Their research led to the development by drug companies of evolocumab and alirocumab, the two approved PCSK9 inhibitors, which are delivered by monthly or semimonthly injections. Dr. Hobbs, Director of the Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, holds the Eugene McDermott Distinguished Chair for the Study of Human Growth and Development, the Philip O'Bryan Montgomery, Jr., M.D. Distinguished Chair in Developmental Biology, and the 1995 Dallas Heart Ball Chair in Cardiology Research. Dr. Cohen, Professor of Internal Medicine and with the McDermott Center, holds the C. Vincent Prothro Distinguished Chair in Human Nutrition Research. Mr. Brown had been part of a clinical trial testing the safety and effectiveness of one of the new PCSK9 inhibitors and, when the drugs were approved, Dr. Khera began working to get Mr. Brown approved by his insurance to be on the new regimen. "In the world of cholesterol patients, most are well-controlled with statins, and they should stay on those," said Dr. Khera. "But Mr. Brown is the perfect patient for PCSK9 inhibitors. We knew he could tolerate it because he'd been in a clinical trial, he knew how to administer the injections, and he was very high-risk. We'd exhausted the other options in trying to control his cholesterol." Two months after he started his biweekly injections of the new drug, Mr. Brown's LDL cholesterol level was down to 111 - not quite normal, which is 100 or less - but an almost 50 percent reduction from the level it had been for years. It's a good sign for Mr. Brown, who looks forward to many more years of running his business, watching Dallas Cowboys games, and spending time with his grandchildren. "There are many more Frank Browns out there - patients who can't control their cholesterol with the standard drugs," said Dr. Khera. "It's wonderful to have this option to offer this special set of patients." For decades, intensive research has been conducted on drugs all over the world to treat Alzheimer's patients. Although major progress has been made in diagnostics (the disease can be detected increasingly early and accurately), the therapeutic options remain limited. Together with researchers in Switzerland, Germany and India, the team headed by Professor Lawrence Rajendran from the Systems and Cell Biology of Neurodegeneration at the Institute of Regenerative Medicine of the University of Zurich has now developed a targeted substance that blocks the pathogenic function of an enzyme in the cells without affecting its other vital functions. Protein deposits in the brain are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease and partly responsible for the chronically progressive necrosis of the brain cells. Nowadays, these plaques can be detected at very early stages, long before the first symptoms of dementia appear. The protein clumps mainly consist of the amyloid peptide (A), a protein fragment that forms when two enzymes, and secretase, cleave the amyloid precursor protein (APP) into three parts, including A, which is toxic. Blocking the harmful process without affecting any useful functions If or secretase is blocked, this also inhibits the production of any more harmful amyloid peptide. Consequently, for many years biomedical research has concentrated on these two enzymes as therapeutic points of attack. To date, however, the results of clinical studies using substances that block secretase have been sobering. The problem is that the enzyme is also involved in other key cell processes. Inhibiting the enzymes in patients therefore triggered severe side effects, such as gastrointestinal hemorrhaging or skin cancer. Thus, for a number of years researchers have also been focusing their efforts on secretase. A large number of substances have been developed, including some highly promising ones that reduced the amount of A in mouse models effectively. Nevertheless, according to cell biologist Rajendran, this presents the same challenge: "The current secretase inhibitors don't just block the enzyme function that drives the course of Alzheimer's, but also physiologically important cell processes. Therefore, the substances currently being tested in clinical studies may also trigger nasty side effects - and thus fail." Promising substance to be studied on Alzheimer's patients To address this, the first author on the publication, Saoussen Ben Halima in the lab of Professor Rajendran, and her fellow researchers studied how secretase might be inhibited selectively - in other words, the harmful property blocked without affecting any useful functions. In a series of experiments, the scientists were able to demonstrate that the Alzheimer's protein APP is cleft by secretase in endosomes, special areas of the cells that are separated by membrane envelopes, while the other vital proteins are processed in other areas of the cell. The researchers exploited this spatial separation of the protein processing within the cell. "We managed to develop a substance that only inhibits secretase in the endosomes where the amyloid peptide forms. The specific efficacy of our inhibitor opens up a promising way to treat Alzheimer's effectively in future, without causing the patients any serious side effects," says Rajendran in summary. The researchers' next goal is to hone their drug candidate so that it can initially be tested in mice and ultimately in clinical studies on Alzheimer's patients. Alzheimer's and dementia in figures Around eight percent of over-65s and more than 30 percent of people who are younger than 90 suffer from Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. According to the Swiss Alzheimer's Association, around 120,000 people living in this country currently suffer from dementia - a figure that is set to rise to 200,000 patients by 2030 on account of demographic developments. Dementia is already the most common reason for needing care in old age in Switzerland and the third most common cause of death after cardiovascular disease and cancer. Several physicians at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey have been named as a 'Top Doctor for Women's Health' by Inside Jersey magazine. Each year, Inside Jersey releases a list of the state's top physicians devoted to women's healthcare. Under the direction of Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., which publishes America's Top Doctors, peer nominations are reviewed and assessed by a physician-led research team. Attributes considered include board certification, medical education, training, hospital appointments, years in practice and professional achievements. Thousands of physicians and other healthcare professionals from across the state were asked to take part in the nomination process, resulting in the selection of 301 doctors for this year's honor. "The complex nature of women's health issues - especially cancer - requires a comprehensive approach by doctors with a broad range of sub-specialty expertise. Such specialized care enables us to treat the disease with a tailored approach delivering the optimal, personalized treatment plan to each patient who walks through our doors. We are honored that our colleagues across the state recognize our dedication in providing such care," notes Rutgers Cancer Institute Chief Medical Officer Deborah L. Toppmeyer, MD, who is the director of both the Stacy Goldstein Breast Cancer Center and the LPGA pros In the Fight to Eradicate breast cancer (LIFE) Center at the Institute, a professor of medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and one of the doctors named to the 2016 listing. Rutgers Cancer Institute physicians, who are also faculty members at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, named to this year's list are: Joel K. Braver, MD, Medical Director, radiation oncology Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, radiation oncologist; specialty: prostate, breast and lung cancers Darlene G. Gibbon, MD, Chief, Gynecologic Oncology; specialty: gynecologic cancers Bruce G. Haffty, MD, Chair, Radiation Oncology; specialty: breast cancer Thomas J. Kearney, MD, FACS, Director, Breast Care Services; specialty: breast cancer Pauline M. Lerma, MD, medical oncologist, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey Hamilton; specialty: breast cancer Michael G. McKenna, MD, radiation oncologist; Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey Hamilton; specialty: prostate IMRT, breast cancer, and head and neck cancers Lorna Rodriguez, MD, PhD, Director, Precision Medicine; specialty: gynecologic cancers Deborah L. Toppmeyer, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Director, Stacy Goldstein Breast Cancer Center and LIFE Center; specialty: breast cancer Federal officials with the White House and National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced today that Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) will lead the Direct Volunteers Pilot Studies under the first grant to be awarded in the federal Precision Medicine Initiative Cohort Program. The Precision Medicine Initiative Cohort Program's objective is to build a broad and diverse national research cohort of 1 million or more U.S. volunteers whose participation will provide the platform for expanding approaches to precision medicine that will benefit the nation and medical science for decades to come. The team of researchers involved with the Direct Volunteers Pilot Studies, whose objective is to create a prototype set of technologies and experiments that will inform the successful approach for such a large research cohort, also includes experts from Verily (formerly Google Life Sciences) as well as the University of Michigan, the Broad Institute of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. "Volunteers in the pilot will help the research team establish and test innovative methods and technologies for enabling robust participant engagement, as well as user-friendly data collection. This approach will help us learn how to create durable relationships with volunteers, who are partners in the research process, which will be the foundation for a democratized, transformative research environment," said, Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D., director of the NIH. "We are excited to play an important role in developing the President's Precision Medicine Initiative, as we work together to advance the understanding of how to enhance health and treat diseases. Our institutional investments in precision medicine, which began more than a decade ago, are bearing fruit, and we have an outstanding group of individuals in place to lead this effort," said Jeff Balser, M.D., Ph.D., vice chancellor for Health Affairs and dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. A pioneer in Vanderbilt's precision medicine efforts, Josh Denny, M.D., M.S., is principal investigator for the effort, which is supported by a one-year grant from the PMI Cohort Program (NIH Award #1-OT2-OD-023132). "The Precision Medicine Initiative is a grand experiment on a scale that has never been tested before. We'll pilot how to authentically engage individuals to participate in the program and build the initial informatics and Web infrastructures to support it," said Denny, associate professor of Biomedical Informatics and Medicine who served on the national PMI Working Group of the NIH Advisory Committee to the Director. Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today Precision medicine uses advanced approaches to data collection and analysis that rapidly assimilate unprecedented amounts of individuals' personal health data, as well as behavioral and environmental data. This information, when combined with genetic and other molecular data, will provide a broad platform that can be used extensively for discoveries that will help advance the science of preventive care, as well as new treatments and potentially cures for diseases. The goal of precision medicine is to match individuals with treatments and preventive strategies that are most likely to work for them. As part of the Direct Volunteers Pilot Studies, VUMC will create and optimize a prototype informational website that is engaging to a diverse array of potential volunteers, and develop an interface for obtaining consent and basic enrollment and health information that is efficient, effective and secure. VUMC has emerged as a national leader in precision medicine. Its DNA repository, BioVU, is one of the world's largest, with more than 215,000 genetic samples linked to electronic health records that have been stripped of personal identifiers. This enables researchers to determine how specific genetic variations influence disease risk, treatment outcomes and responses to medications. "This award speaks to Vanderbilt's investments not only in genomics and pharmacogenomics, but also in community engagement and in the people and informatics tools needed to create, analyze, and make available to the community very large datasets," said Dan Roden, M.D., assistant vice chancellor for Personalized Medicine, and an originator of BioVU. Vanderbilt researchers involved with the Direct Volunteers Pilot Studies also include Paul Harris, Ph.D., director of the Office of Research Informatics; Consuelo Wilkins, M.D., director of the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance; and Sunil Kripalani, M.D., director of Vanderbilt's Effective Health Communication Program. Bradley Malin, Ph.D., founder and director of Vanderbilt's Health Information Privacy Laboratory, will help construct platforms that protect the privacy of cohort participants. Jill Pulley, MBA, director of Research Support Services in the Office of Research, will oversee program architecture and organization. This summer, the NIH will award cooperative agreements for the full implementation phase, including establishment of a Coordinating Center to oversee Direct Volunteer recruitment, and Healthcare Provider Organizations to enroll more participants, and a Biobank capable of storing and managing blood, urine and saliva samples for analysis. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Appomattox County officials are working to determine why the countys automated alert system failed to notify more than 3,000 people of a tornado warning issued for the area Wednesday afternoon just minutes before a tornado tore through, killing one man and damaging more than 100 structures. John Vannoy, coordinator of Appomattox Countys 911 dispatch center, said the Alert Appomattox system notifies 3,000 Verizon landline phones when it is triggered by certain events, such as tornado warnings issued by the National Weather Service. Vannoy said the system sends a recorded message to the phones and will leave a voicemail if no one answers. An additional 429 people signed up to receive the notifications either through landlines, mobile phones and emails. Vannoy noted not all of the 429 registered users are residents and some of the landline phone numbers may be outdated. But Alert Appomattox did not notify any citizens when the National Weather Service issued three tornado warnings for parts of Appomattox County on Wednesday afternoon, Vannoy said. It was unclear what caused the malfunction as of Friday evening. Were trying to get with the engineers on that, Vannoy said in a phone interview. Meteorologist Robert Beasley said the weather service issued tornado warnings to areas that included parts of Appomattox County at 3:27, 3:43 and 3:45 p.m. Wednesday. That was about the time the area was hit with a tornado rated as an EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornadoes strength. EF3 tornadoes have wind speeds measuring 136 mph to 165 mph and cause severe damage entire stories of well-constructed homes are destroyed, large buildings suffer significant damage and homes with weak foundations can be blown away. The scale ranges from EF0 to EF5. County officials have said areas hit worst by the tornado are along U.S. 460 and in Evergreen, Promise Land and Cub Creek. One man, Edward Keith Harris, 78, of Twin Tunnel Lane in Evergreen, was found dead by search-and-rescue workers at about 10 p.m. Wednesday, authorities have said. Seven other people were injured, and of those, two remained hospitalized Friday, officials said. At a news conference Friday afternoon, county spokeswoman Vicky Phelps said she did not know the identities of the injured or their statuses. Beasley said notifications of the tornado warnings were pushed Wednesday to most mobile phone users in the affected areas through a text-alert system called Weather Emergency Alerts. It is unknown how many people received those notifications. Vannoy said Alert Appomattox was activated at 4:03 p.m. on Wednesday and sent messages to employees of the Appomattox County Sheriffs Office informing them to report to work to respond to the tornado. So Im not sure why it did not send out for an actual emergency, Vannoy said. The county does not have any emergency sirens because there did not seem to be a need for them until Wednesday, Appomattox County Administrator Susan Adams said. There really hasnt been a need and weve got the alert system that we thought was pretty successful, she said. Boy Thunder's secret identity will be revealed in January's Batman/Superman: World's Finest #11 - but who is he? Boy Thunder is secretly "someone DC fans have known for decades" - but who? Girl Be Heard in TT for IWD During the visit, GBH will engage in outreach through workshops and meetings in collaboration with United States Embassy partners, Ms Brafit, Population Services International (PSI) Caribbean, and the Heroes Foundation. The US Embassy is also supporting the visit of Indrani Goradia, who will participate in programming with GBH, PSI, and TEDx Port-of-Spain. On March 5, GBH will participate in the annual Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk at the Queens Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain at 4 pm. March 8: GBH will participate in the IWD march on the Brian Lara Promenade. March 9: GBH will perform their award-winning performance, Trafficked, for schools at the Central Bank Auditorium, Portof- Spain at 10:30 a.m. Trafficked is the story of sex-trafficked girls that puts a name and face to the countless girls enslaved into the US $35 billion a year sex industry. Members of the public will be allowed on a first comefirst serve basis due to limited seating, said a media release from the embassy. Jessica Greer Morris, executive director, GBH said: We are excited to pioneer our first tour in the Caribbean and to share our girl empowerment programme with youth in Trinidad and Tobago. GBH is a renowned theatre company with 170 girls and is a global movement that engages audiences at the White House, United Nations, State Department, TED conferences, and in underserved communities locally and globally. Their performances educate, empower and engage audiences about issues they care about most from bullying to body image. For more info on the Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk, email info@msbrafit. com. Updates on GBH activities will be posted to social media sites -- https://www.facebook. com/ttusa/ and Twitter @USinTT . Flu vaccine supplies to stop next week The global production of vaccines for this flu season will cease. The companies have ceased production already and the latest expiry date we will get for 2015-2016 flu season was either May or June 2016. There will be a gap when our new shipment arrives for the 2015- 2016 flu season which would be a different formulation depending on the viruses that are circulating. That shipment could treat the 2016-2017 flu season which could be here from late August for the earliest or September, Deyalsingh said . The vaccines were to treat against the H1N1 virus. During the Health Ministrys weekly news conference at the ministrys head office, the minister said there would be a gap when the new shipment arrived for the 2015-2016 flu season. He said the flu season usually ran from October to May to the following year, and although it was coming to the end of this years flu season, there would 20,000 doses to take this country up from 6,000 doses. Deyalsingh said this could be a different formulation depending on the viruses that were circulating. That shipment, he said, could treat the 2016-2017 flu season which could be here from late August for the earliest or September. While there have been no more cases of H1N1 related deathsthe figure remained at 8 there have been seven more confirmed cases up from 74 to 81. The fatality was one. The one confirmed case of Zika in West Trinidad has remained unchanged. The minister said the two cases sent for testing for Zika from Central Trinidad came back negative. The number of Chikungunya cases stood at nine cases, and dengue, at 217 cases. Abu Bakr to file civil lawsuit The Nissan Navaras licence plate is TCK 1990. Bakr was eventually released and was able to retrieve his vehicle, but only after a seven-hour ordeal at the Besson Street Police Station. The officer apologised for the incident, but that is not good enough, Bakr said during a telephone interview. Bakr said he was driving along the Beetham Highway heading east when the incident took place. He was accompanied by his his wife, reporter Kristy Ramnarine. He said when he saw a police car behind him with lights flashing and siren blaring, he just assumed that they wanted to pass him. In my mind I was like, are they for real? They really want to squeeze through that traffic? I and the other car behind me started to pull to the side. Then I saw an officer gesturing for me to pull to the shoulder. There were two officers in IATF (Inter Agency Task Force) uniform with guns in their hands and two soldiers, he recalled. Bakr was told to alight from the vehicle, and place his hands on on the hood. They said my number plate did not match my vehicle. I told them that didnt make sense. I purchased the vehicle from Neal and Massy, I have a certified copy and insurance. This just was not making any sense. It turned out to be a long ordeal. Ive never been arrested before, and to be handcuffed and detained. It was just ridiculous, he said. Bakr said when he was released the officer apologised for what transpired, and said that their system was inefficient. It was just appalling. My wife and I are going to file a civil lawsuit. Preaction protocol letters will be sent out tomorrow (yesterday). I really want to use it as a way of caution to police officers. I am not saying that all officers act this way, but many do. Sometimes one may not have the ability to sign a civil claim, and take the police to task. I want to do this to prevent other people from going through this. I want to stop the abuse that is meted out by this officer in particular, Bakr said. Brothers Who Haven't Spoken in Decades Both Want to Be Mayor (Newser) A black third-grader is being booted from his St. Louis school over the wording of a 30-year-old Missouri desegregation ruling, Fox News reports. Edmund Lee's family is moving from St. Louis to a new school district in the suburbs, but Lee wanted to stay at the Gateway Science Academy charter school he's attended for years. Unfortunately, that's illegal because of Lee's race. KTVI explains that a 1983 settlement meant to diversify St. Louis-area schools allows black students to transfer to suburban schools and white students to transfer to urban schools but not vice versa. It was surprising to me to have on a piece of paper that he couldnt attend because he was an African-American and if he was another race he could, LaShieka White, Edmonds mother, tells the New York Daily News. Staff at Edmund's school would love to have him back. To not see his face in the halls next year would be extremely sad, Edmund's teacher says. The family is saying they want to stay. I dont understand why they cant. White has started a Change.org petition to convince the Missouri government to let Edmund go back to his school. It's received more than 64,000 signatures so far. (Read more segregation stories.) (Newser) Authorities say a gunman killed four people in a home in rural Washington state before fatally shooting himself after an hours-long standoff, the AP reports. Deputy Ryan Spurling says the gunman called an officer he has dealt with in the past on Friday to say he shot and killed his family. Authorities say officers negotiated with the man for about three hours before they entered the home in Belfair and found the people dead. Spurling says the gunman shot and killed himself. A 12-year-old girl who somehow survived has been taken to the hospital. She is related to the victims. Neither the victims nor the suspect have been identified. Neighbor Jack Pigott says he heard gunfire Thursday night. He says the couple who lived in the house had been married for four to five years. He says the wife had two teenage sons who were adopted from Russia during a previous marriage. She also had a daughter who was adopted from China. Pigott says the husband had a heating and air conditioning contractor business. (Read more shooting stories.) (Newser) Attorneys for a 97-year-old woman being booted from her Northern California home filed suit Friday to enforce a long-ago promise by the landlord that the woman could live there until she died, the AP reports. The complaint states Marie Hatch moved into her Burlingame cottage more than 60 years ago at the request of her friend Vivian Kroeze, who owned the property and needed companionship after her husband died. Hatch was promised a lifetime tenancy, and the promise was honored by Kroeze's daughter and granddaughter after Vivian Kroeze died in 1980. But in 2006, the granddaughter was murdered by her boyfriend and her estranged husband, David Kantz, took over collecting rent. This month, Kantz's attorney told Hatch and her 85-year-old roommate to vacate within 60 days. Kantz previously told the San Francisco Chronicle that he felt terrible about evicting the women but had no choice given that the agreement is not in writing and he has to provide for his sons. The newspaper's story prompted calls and emails from hundreds of people offering help. One call came from a Joe Cotchett, a high-profile civil attorney whose firm is representing Hatch free of charge. "This is one of the most egregious acts of taking advantage of one of our community's most vulnerable citizens that I have seen in my legal career," one of Hatch's lawyers says. The complaint claims elder abuse as well as breach of contract. (Read more elder abuse stories.) (Newser) Mass murder, apparently, was the last straw. The wife of Michigan mass-shooting suspect Jason Dalton has filed for divorce, Michigan Live reports. "There has been a breakdown in the marriage relationship to the extent the objects of matrimony have been destroyed and there remains no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved," reads the filing on behalf of Carole Dalton in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court. She's also seeking sole custody of the children, ages 10 and 15, and the use of Jason's 401k plan for child support. Jason, 45, has been charged with six counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder for a series of seemingly random shootings on Feb. 20. Investigators have also heard that Jason and Carole were having marital problems before the shootings, the Detroit Free Press reports. "I've heard that, but it would be premature to release anything like that," says Michigan State Police First Lt. Dale Hinz. "We're still looking into motives and no motive has been established at this point." Authorities have interviewed Carole but released no details. Meanwhile, Jason's family released a statement that reads in part: "There are no words which can express our shock and disbelief, and we are devastated and saddened for the victims and the families of the victims." (Jason worked for Uber, which sidelined a complaint about him.) (Newser) Police near Fort Lauderdale say armed kidnappers abducted a baby from her home Friday night during a home invasion, reports the Palm Beach Post. A statewide Amber Alert is in place for 2-month-old Taraji Kemp, reports the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Police in Broward County believe two men broke into the home about 11pm and took the child, who was sleeping in the same room as her mother. K-9 units failed to turn up any leads, and detectives think the men escaped in a car. "Any time a child is taken especially this young, 2-months-old, they're still in diapers, they need milk, they're sleeping constantly," says a police spokeswoman. "We definitely want to reunite this baby with their mother." (Read more kidnapping stories.) (Newser) A fugitive chewed off his own fingertipsor at least the skin covering themafter being arrested at an Ohio traffic stop last Sunday, police say. Officers in Tallmadge, Ohio, apparently pulled over Kirk Kelly and several others and placed them in a cruiser after smelling drugs in their vehicle, NBC Miami reports. The Florida fugitive allegedly gave false names, but was identified when Florida police sent photos of his tattoos. When Kelly heard officers planning to identify him with a handheld fingerprint identifier, he apparently chewed the skin off his fingertips, per AL.com. Previously wanted on drug and firearm charges, Kelly has been jailed on felony counts including evidence tampering. Police say they've linked handguns sold by Kelly to 15 Florida homicides. (Read more arrest stories.) Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Periods of snow. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.. Tonight Mainly cloudy with snow showers around this evening. Low 26F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 40%. New Delhi: A controversial poster has been seen pasted outside Godavari hostel in JNU campus with a special mention of Yakub Memon, Indian terrorist and chartered accountant, who was convicted over his involvement in the 1993 Bombay bombings by Special Terrorist and Disruptive Activities court on 27 July 2007. Amid ongoing controversies over support to Afzal Guru inside JNU campus this poster, which has been pasted by an unknown organization, seems to ignite more wars. A special request to not remove it before 12 March 2016 has been made in the poster which talks about support to Kashmiri students and terrorist Memon. As per poster Yakub Memons sentence to death was nothing but a judicial murder. With this a new controversy is set to flame the university; while on the other hand, three-day judicial custody of students Anirban and Umar arrested for allegedly raising anti-national slogans will end today. Here are the posters: For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Beirut: The head of Syrias powerful Al-Qaeda branch today urged opponents of President Bashar al-Assad to reject a ceasefire due to begin at midnight and instead intensify attacks on the regime. Beware of this trick from the West and America because everyone is pushing you to go back under the thumb of the oppressive regime, Mohammad al-Jolani, the head of Al-Nusra Front, said in an audio message. Fighters in Syria, willingly arm yourselves, intensify your attacks and have no fear of their troops and their aircraft, Jolani added. Describing the truce as shameful, the jihadist chief said that negotiations are the ones conducted on the battlefield. The ceasefire agreement brokered by Russia and the United States marks the biggest diplomatic push yet to help end Syrias violence, but has been plagued by doubts after the failure of previous peace efforts. Parties to the dealwhich allows fighting to continue against jihadistswill have to deal with the complexity of Syrias battlefields where moderate and Islamist rebel forces often fight alongside extremists groups such as Al-Nusra. Russia carried out intense raids on rebel bastions across Syria today just hours before the truce was due to take effect, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Syrias army said this week it would exclude Daraya, an important rebel town near Damascus from the cessation of hostilities because forces there including Al-Nusra fighters. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Beijing: A healthy baby has been born in Chinas northwest Shaanxi Province from an embryo frozen 12 years ago, the countrys longest preserved test tube baby. A 40-year-old woman named Li gave birth to her second son, weighing 3,440 grammes at birth, at the Tangdu Hospital in provincial capital Xian on Wednesday morning. She suffers from blocked fallopian tubes and polycystic ovary syndrome, a health problem that can affect a womans fertility and pregnancy. Li began trying to get pregnant through IVF in 2003. That year doctors harvested 12 of her eggs and created 12 embryos with her husbands sperm. They implanted two fresh embryos to her womb and froze seven that they considered viable. Li gave birth to a healthy boy in 2004, and has since spent three yuan (around 50 cents) per day to store the embryos in the hospital in case of an emergency. Last year, when China dropped its one-child policy, she decided to have a second child. Three embryos survived the thawing process. The two best were implanted in her womb but only one survived. The success rate of implanted thawed embryos is more than 40 per cent in our hospital, so doctors usually place more than one embryo at a time, Wang Xiaohong, director of Tangdu Hospital reproductive medicine centre, was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua news agency. Our first boy is 12-years-old now. The purpose of freezing the embryos was to have a second child some day, and luckily, we succeeded, her husband said. Louise Brown, the first test-tube baby, was born in Britain in 1978, and about five million babies have been born worldwide through IVF since. The first test-tube baby on the Chinese mainland, Zheng Mengzhu, was born in 1988. The infertility rate is high in China. China Population Association statistics from 2012 showed 40 million people are facing fertility issues, accounting for around 12.5 per cent of the population at child-bearing age. IVF is one of the most effective assisted reproduction techniques for treating of infertility, said Wang. Tangdu Hospital began to freeze embryos for infertile couples in 2003. Up to now, it has frozen around 100,000 embryos, thawed more than 27,000, and created 4,293 healthy test-tube babies. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Kolkata: A court today rejected the bail application of Trinamool Congress leader and former West Bengal minister Madan Mitra, an accused in the Saradha chit fund scam. District Judge of the Alipore Civil and Criminal Court Siddhartha Kanjilal rejected the bail plea of the Trinamool leader stating in his order that the nature of offence was serious and the larger interest of the society was involved. The CBI counsel objected to the bail plea describing Mitra as still an influential person who, if released on bail, could affect the proceedings of its probe into the case. In his order, the judge also stated that because the investigations into the case was still in progress and there has been no change in circumstances, the bail plea of Mitra was rejected. Mitra, former state transport minister who was arrested on December 12, 2014, had surrendered before the court after his bail was cancelled by the Calcutta High Court on November 20 last. New Delhi: JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar has told a Supreme Court-appointed lawyers probe panel that he was beaten up, pushed to the ground and injured by men in lawyers robes before the police, when he was brought to the Patiala House court premises on February 17. When the police brought me inside the courts gate, a mob of men in lawyers robes attacked me. It appeared as if they were ready to attack and they were calling others also. I was assaulted. The police escorting me tried to save me but the police officials were also beaten up, he said while narrating the sequence of events to the lawyers panel in a video shown on television channels today. The panel of six advocatesKapil Sibal, Rajeev Dhavan, Dushyant Dave, A D N Rao, Ajit Kumar Sinha and Haren Raval, had visited the Patiala House courts premises on February 17 after the apex court was informed that Kanhaiya was beaten up during his production before the magistrate. In another instance when he was attacked, the police, who were there, did not do anything, he said. After Kanhaiya narrated the incident to the panel inside the courtroom, Sibal called DCP Jatin Narwal and enquired from him about it. How did you allow the attack to take place inside court premises? Your men were there. What were they doing? How he (man who attacked Kanhaiya outside the gate of the courtroom) was allowed to come inside, the panel members asked the DCP. Responding to it, Narwal said, he came with the escort party and entered the room adjacent to the courtroom. The panel members then called other police officials and asked them about the incident and they replied that the person who attacked Kanhaiya had claimed that he was his lawyer. Kanhaiya told the panel that when he was assaulted, he fell down and sustained injuries and at that time he could not see what the police was doing. To this, Sibal asked the DCP, that means police was there and they did nothing. The student leader told the panel that the person, who had attacked him, had come to the adjacent courtroom and he had told his teacher about it. I told my teacher that this man was assaulting me and then the police asked that person about his identity. He in turn questioned the policeman and asked him to show his I-card. That person left the place in front of the police and the police did nothing. He could have been apprehended there itself. I had told the police that this man had assaulted me, he said. On February 17, a bunch of rowdy lawyers had launched a brazen attack on Kanhaiya, journalists and others and also indulged in stone-pelting and hurling abuses on the panel of senior lawyers. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Jalandhar: Ahead of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals visit here, posters have sprung up all over the city questioning the performance of the AAP government. The posters in Punjabi, reading Ek Saal, Delhi Behaal, bear a large image of a worried-looking Kejriwal and can be spotted at several public places and on flyovers across the city where the AAP National Convenor is scheduled to attend different programs during his three-hour visit tomorrow. Further, the posters list undelivered promises of the AAP government during their one year in power. Kejriwal made a promise to open 500 schools but not a single new school has been started. He promised recruitment for 55,000 government jobs, but only 1,500 posts have been filled up, the posters state. The posters also questioned the AAP governments commitment on issues like health facilities, security and installation of CCTV cameras. AAPs local leader Rajeev Chaudhary said it was an attempt to gain cheap publicity. This has been orchestrated by rival parties. The fact that these posters do not have bear a credit line proves they are in panic mode. They should instead confront us head-on, Chaudhary, AAPs zonal observer said. He said the party would consult their legal team and take up the matter with the appropriate authority once Kejriwal finishes his 5-day Punjab tour. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The next edition of Prime Minister Narendra Modis radio address Mann ki Baat will be broadcast on Sunday at 11.00 am. The broadcast shall be originated by All India Radio, Delhi and shall be relayed by all AIR stations, all AIR FM channels (FM Gold and FM Rainbow), local radio stations, Vividh Bharati Stations and five community radio stations, a statement released by Prasar Bharati said. The regional versions of the Mann Ki Baat will be originated by the capital AIR stations in non-Hindi speaking zones at 8 PM on the same day. The regional versions shall be relayed by all AIR stations including local radio stations in the respective states, the statement added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Kolkata: Accusing the Congress of being hand in glove with the CPI (M), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said her party would perform much better in the next Assembly election in the state. We have to do much better than last time (2011 Assembly polls). We will do better than last time. Last time we had won less seats as Congress was with us. The Congress won so many seats because of the alliance with us. After that for last five years they have been hand in glove with the CPI-M, Banerjee said here. Let them forge an unholy alliance. Were with the people and have forged alliance with the masses. In democracy, people have the last word, she said. The Congress and the CPI (M) are tipped to enter into an alliance before the coming Assembly election. After the CPI(M)s central committee meeting earlier this month, it had said itd seek cooperation of all democratic forces to strengthen peoples unity in West Bengal to defeat Trinamool Congress. This has been interpreted as an indication to enter into some kind of understanding with the Congress. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Washington: Perceiving and reacting to stressful events is more important than encountering stress, a new study has found, providing a link between negative emotions and future heart diseases and premature death. Researchers from Pennsylvania State University and Columbia University in the US analysed data collected from 909 participants, including daily telephone interviews over eight consecutive days and the results from an electrocardiogram. The participants were between the ages of 35 and 85 and were drawn from a national study. During the daily phone interviews, participants were asked to report the stressful events they had experienced that day, rating how stressful each event was by choosing not at all, not very, somewhat or very. They were also asked about their negative emotions that day, such as feeling angry, sad and nervous. On average, participants reported having at least one stressful experience on 42 per cent of the interview days, and these experiences were generally rated as somewhat stressful. Researchers found that participants who reported a lot of stressful events in their lives were not necessarily those who had lower heart rate variability. No matter how many or how few stressful events a person faces it was those who perceived the events as more stressful or who experienced a greater spike in negative emotions that had lower heart rate variability - meaning these people may be at a higher risk for heart disease. Higher heart rate variability - the variation in intervals between consecutive heartbeats - is better for health as it reflects the capacity to respond to challenges, said Nancy L Sin from Pennsylvania State University. People with lower heart rate variability have a greater risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death, said Sin. One potential pathway linking stress to future heart disease is a dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system - a case of a persons normally self-regulated nervous system getting off track, researchers said. These results tell us that a persons perceptions and emotional reactions to stressful events are more important than exposure to stress per se, said Sin. This adds to the evidence that minor hassles might pile up to influence health, she said. The findings were published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine. Ebola back in Britain: nurse experiences another relapse of the disease she supposedly got rid of TWO YEARS ago Ebola is the deadly virus that just keeps on giving, so to speak, and a nurse in Great Britain who thought she was free of the disease two years ago has just found out shes still got it. As reported by the UK-based Independent, Pauline Cafferkey was recently re-admitted to a British hospital for the third time since contracting the deadly virus. Cafferkey, 39, initially came down with Ebola while working at a medical clinic treating the disease outbreak in Sierra Leone; she was initially flown back to Britain for treatment in December 2014. Once in Britain she spent about a month in an isolation unit at Royal Free Hospital in London where, eventually, she made a recovery and was released, the Independent noted. But she became sick again in October 2015, being treated in the same hospital for meningitis that was caused by the virus. At one point during her second hospitalization she was deemed critically ill. She was discharged from the hospital in November after improving once again, then transferred to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, Scotland, to continue her convalescence. The Ebola nurse Eventually Cafferkey returned home again but has now been re-admitted once more, again to the Glasgow hospital, Britains National Health Service confirmed to the Independent. However, its not yet clear why, as details of her condition have not yet been released. Under routine monitoring by the Infectious Diseases Unit, Pauline Cafferkey has been admitted to hospital for further investigations, said an NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spokesman, adding that there would be no published updates on Cafferkeys condition, to protect her privacy. Previously, she was treated with an experimental anti-viral drug known as GS5734, which was under development by Gilead Sciences, a U.S.-based drugmaker. That said, the Independent reported further that doctors have not disclosed whether they believe that the experimental medication was effective. In November, Royal Free official said Cafferkey know in Britain as the Ebola nurse had made a complete recovery and was no longer infected. But that may not be the case. U.S. health officials were unnerved by the outbreak. The level of outbreak is beyond anything weve seen or even imagined, Dr. Thomas Friedan, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said. Hidden Truths about Ebola Moreover, as NaturalNews reported at the outset of the outbreak, there are several truths about Ebola that government officials didnt want the general public to know. They include: Not containable At the outset and as the virus began spreading rapidly, health officials in Africa and elsewhere admitted they didnt have a clue as to how to control the spread. It is impossible to keep up with the sheer number of infected people pouring into facilities. In Sierra Leone, infectious bodies are rotting in the streets, said Dr. Joanne Liu, the international president of Doctors Without Borders. Michael T. Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, in Sept. 2014 added: What is not getting said publicly, despite briefings and discussions in the inner circles of the worlds public health agencies, is that we are in totally uncharted waters and that Mother Nature is the only force in charge of the crisis at this time. Easily spread Initially the general public were told that the virus was not airborne and could not be spread via contaminated surfaces. Not so. In 2012, a team of Canadian researchers proved that Ebola Zaire, the same virus that is causing the West Africa outbreak, could be transmitted by the respiratory route from pigs to monkeys, both of whose lungs are very similar to those of humans, Osterholm said. There are several other things health officials were withholding from the public, including the fact that there are no effective vaccines for Ebola. Read the full report here. Sources: NaturalNews.com Mirror.co.uk TheGuardian.com CauseScience.com Submit a correction >> Hungary sets fire to GMO corn fields in act of defiance against Monsanto, GMO advocates To protect its environment from the self-replicating pollution of GMO plants, Hungary has set fire to 500 hectares of GM corn, according to LaJos Bognar, Hungarys Minister of Rural Development. The planting of genetically modified crops is currently illegal in Hungary, and in 26 other countries around the world. Moreover, in at least 50 countries, GMOs are required to be labeled. Meanwhile in America, the USDA disallowed GMO labeling and is promoting the continued commercialization of genetically modified crops. Monsanto has entrenched itself within the American political and legal systems, influencing politicians to sell out the environment for profit. Most American farmers using GMOs dont even know what they are, or why people dont want them in their food. All they hear from the biotech industries are lies about greater profits and greater yields. The sad truth is, GM crop yields have fallen, while giving rise to superweeds that herbicides cant touch. The soil has been rendered sterile with glyphosate, and farmers are left holding the short end of the stick. The looming catastrophe threatening Americas food security Hungarys actions in burning its GMO fields, while seemingly excessively drastic, is necessary because of the sinister nature of GM crops. These plants do not just directly pose a threat to consumers of food products the more dangerous part is that their altered genetic code is inherently self-replicating and could spread uncontrollably, infecting plants with altered DNA. The artificial modifications in their genetic material have the potential to spread through the environment and become as uncontrollable as a plague of locusts a threat that Monsanto has tried to understate. The only way to permanently kill it is fire. Fire burns organic material, destroys the artificial DNA and prevents it from creeping into healthy, non-GMO plants. Would we ever see the day when a U.S. court orders a GMO corn field burned in America? Remember, if the courts and the legislature wont listen, the People will one day find a way to get it done on their own. The scientists who create engineered DNA may one day face a disaster they have not foreseen, because the arrogant and foolish corporations who hire them think theyre smarter than Mother Nature and God. A disaster that could very have been prevented, if only we ban GMOs now. We must indict the executives of Monsanto for conspiracy to commit mass poisoning of the people. Use the law to banish this blight that has set foot on American soil and we can save our future. Let us be like Hungary, or else our children will pay the price. Source: NaturalNews.com Submit a correction >> WASHINGTON - Many initially thought it outlandish to imagine saying "President Trump" come November. What about "President Baba Booey?" If actress Tina Fey has any sway, it could happen. The Hill newspaper reports that at the premier of Fey's new movie "Whiskey Foxtrot Tango" Tuesday at the United States Navy Memorial in Washington D.C., the star kept mum about her pick for the next commander-in-chief out of this year's candidates. But that didn't stop her from name-dropping a Washington outsider she thinks America needs. STAMFORD Target television commercials use the hottest pop music to pitch the coolest in fashion, beauty and home design. Among the images of stylish jeans, chic nail polish and trendy tableware, however, you do not see the latest in avocados, pancake mix, ground turkey or canned beans. But thats what Doris Carlton buys at Target. The Broad Street department store sells groceries, and they can be hard to find in downtown Stamford. There used to be supermarkets on Forest Street, West Broad Street, other places downtown. When I moved here Stamford had more supermarkets and fewer apartment houses, said Carlton, 86. Now there are apartment houses where there used to be supermarkets. It seems like even office buildings are changing into apartment houses. Where do all these people shop? They must have cars, said Carlton, a New York City native who for nearly half her life had no need for a car. I grew up in the Bronx. I like sidewalks and streetlights, Carlton said. I didnt drive until I was 38 and moved to Connecticut. She and her husband and their children lived in a house in Stamfords Newfield neighborhood for about 25 years. After her children grew up and her husband died, Carlton moved to a part of Stamford that felt more comfortable. I prefer downtown, she said. I like apartment living. But central Stamford falls short on two counts, Carlton said. One is public transportation. In the Bronx people didnt own cars, she said. You could walk three or four blocks in any direction and there was a bus stop or a subway stop. But where I live in downtown Stamford its a long walk to a bus stop. The other shortfall is food shopping. You can find a little convenience store or a bodega but they are expensive, she said. What happened to all the supermarkets? They moved away from city centers, said Adam Rabinowitz, an assistant professor of agricultural and resource economics at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. Rabinowitz researches food marketing and policy. Historically weve seen an exodus of large supermarkets out of urban areas to areas where there is more space to build big stores with a lot of parking, Rabinowitz said. It happened all over the country. But a recent trend is headed the other way, the professor said. Some of the mass merchandisers have ventured into mini supermarkets within their stores, expanding offerings of refrigerated items and frozen items, Rabinowitz said. More than staples A particular mass merchandiser has taken it farther, he said. Target started selling produce, Rabinowitz said. They have done that nationwide. Target recognized that fresh fruits and vegetables are a necessity for consumers, and if they want to compete in the food retail sector, that is what they have to offer. Carlton noticed it four or five years ago. Target didnt used to have produce and now they do, she said. There isnt the same variety. Apples, for instance. There may be three or four kinds. They sell only one size box of strawberries, which is too many for me. And you cant get anything unusual, like ginger root. Or horseradish root. Or different cheeses. But I can eat. And eat well. And so she makes the 20-minute trek to Target using her walker, which has a basket and handle brakes like a bicycle. Sometimes she catches a taxi for the return trip, sometimes her son drives her, but much of the time Carlton goes on her own. People ask to help me across the street, she said. I have crossed it a hundred times without them, but its nice that they want to see if Im all right. At Target she walks by the racks of clothing and shelves of cosmetics to the grocery department, where you can pick up a can of string beans, step across the aisle and try on a pair of shoes. The food prices are good. Better than supermarkets, Carlton said. Listening to customers Thats so, said Steve Mazzariello, executive team leader for operations at the Stamford Target. Our prices are more competitive than places that offer more variety, Mazzariello said. We added produce based on feedback from our guests. They wanted to pick up whatever they might need to stock up the fridge for the day. But Target shoppers in Stamford may be doing their weekly grocery shopping there. Im not surprised, Mazzariello said. Its extremely possible. Carlton has a rule: If the basket on her walker is full, I know I have enough. I hang the lighter bags from the handles. It doesnt make sense that downtown had more supermarkets when fewer people lived there, she said. Think about it. The stores wouldnt have to build as much parking if they were close enough to where everybody lives. People could walk. Shes on to something. Some supermarkets now are converting parking garages into multilevel stores, going up instead of spreading out, trying to get back into urban areas, Rabinowitz said. Some urban areas are attracting small grocery stores but, so far, not Fairfield County, Rabinowitz said. In Stamford, Target seems to be filling the void. So, as food retailers figure out how to follow people back into city centers, Carlton is a pioneer, an explorer with a walker and a basket, venturing into the shifting landscape. -- angela.carella@scni.com; 203-964-2296; stamfordadvocate.com/angelacarella. Senate President, Bukola Saraki, declared in Lagos today that section 4 of the Anti-frivolous petition Bill now popularly known as Anti... Senate President, Bukola Saraki, declared in Lagos today that section 4 of the Anti-frivolous petition Bill now popularly known as Anti-Social Media law would not see the light of day at the Senate.Saraki stated this while delivering the keynote address at the StateCraft Masterclass series at Social Media Week, held in Lagos.Saraki, according to a statement by his Special Assistant on New Media, Mr. Bankole Omishore, emphasised the growing influence of social media users in Nigerias political environment.He then encouraged the audience to continue to contribute to the development of Nigeria through their dialogue and debate on social media.The senate president said, Without the involvement of social media, there is no way that we would have moved from a non-performing government because now everything is out in the open unlike years ago.Saraki commended the online community, which he described as the real Chairmen of INEC, for sourcing election results from polling stations during the general elections, and ensured that the manipulation of vote counts.He said, Though we had the numbers. It is really thanks to social media that votes counted because you shared the results as they happened.The Frivolous Petitions Bill, sponsored by the Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn NaAllah, passed second reading on the floor of both chambers of the National Assembly in December last year while the Senate had fixed March this year for the public hearing.The senate president called for continued cooperation and conversation between the government and the public via social media, and noted that the recent National Assembly Interactive session with Civil Society Organisations was a huge success. The Federal Government has confirmed the payment of N50 billion by Mtn as part payment of the N1.04 trillion fine by the Nigerian Commun... The Federal Government has confirmed the payment of N50 billion by Mtn as part payment of the N1.04 trillion fine by the Nigerian Communications Commission. Confirming this to newsmen on Friday, the Special Assistant to the Minister of Communications, Mr. Victor Oluwadamilare, said the payment by telecom company was made with a precursor for an out of court settlement over the matter.Oluwadamilare, who had on Wednesday told newsmen that the development had not been made official as it was still under federal governments scrutiny, said the development was in line with promised by MTN to amicably resolve the issue with NCC.The Nigerian telecom operator, MTN Nigeria had on Wednesday announced the payment of $250 million as part of the N1.04 trillion fine imposed on it by industry regulator. It will be recalled that the NCC had in October 2015, slammed a fine of N1.04 trillion on MTN for its failure to deactivate over 500,000 unregistered subscribers after series of warning had were issued by the regulator to terminate them.The company was originally given a fine of $5.2 billion in October, 2015, and after weeks of lobbying by the telecom company, the fine was reduced by 25 percent ($3.9 billion). MTN Group went to court to challenge the legality of NCC to impose such a huge fine on it but failed to argue its case to logical conclusion.Not satisfied, the telecom company also went further to hire a former U.S. attorney general to help challenge the propriety of the fine. The former U.S. law enforcement officer, Eric Holder is said to have pleaded with Nigerian officials last month on behalf of the telecoms company without any fruitful outcome. After hearing the case, the presiding judge in January gave the two parties a two month period to settle out of court .However, effort to confirm the development from MTN spokesperson did not yield result. A judge in Lagos also had last month gave both parties until March 18 to reach a settlement, after MTN had asked the court to arbitrate over the dispute, saying the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had no legal grounds to order the fine.It was also gathered that MTN on Wednesday resolved to withdraw its court challenge in an effort to reach an amicable settlement and make a payment of $250 million towards a possible settlement. Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has said that he would not resign from his position, despite his ongoing false asset declaration tri... Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has said that he would not resign from his position, despite his ongoing false asset declaration trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).According to Saraki, the trial is an act of persecution and not an actual fight against corruption.Saraki said this on Friday at Landmark Events Centre in Lagos during a social media week event organised by State- Craft Inc. the theme was; Did You Say Change? Game Changers of the 2015 Nigerian elections.He stated that his trial was the handiwork of powerful people who were unhappy with his emergence as Senate President.The Senate President said that when he got into office as a civil servant 13 years ago; he filled the asset declaration form which is a must for all public servants to fill once they enter office.In his words, We are public servants and you must fill your asset declaration form when you get in office and I did mine 13 years ago.The charges have nothing to do with corruption or money being stolen anywhere. I will have my day in court to prove my innocence of the charge pending against me because it is not about corruption.I dont understand how the same organisation that cleared my asset declaration to be proper in 2004, 2009 and 2011 can now say that my record is faulted, he said.Among personalities present at the event were, Senator Dino Melaye; Senator Sabi Abdulahi and Senator Foster Ogola. The Pan Igbo social- cultural organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo, on Friday said it has started talks with the Presidency to ensure the release... The Pan Igbo social- cultural organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo, on Friday said it has started talks with the Presidency to ensure the release of Radio Biafra founder, Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.The body also said its leadership will commence discussions with the notable traditional rulers in the country for the same purpose.Although the group did not give details of its discussions and Presidency officials it met for security reasons, it noted that those consulted assured its representatives that something positive would come out of the consultations very soon.Ohaneze told journalists in Abuja on Friday that discussions were already at advanced stage between its leaders and top officials in the Presidency.The modus operandi, it said, was to employ political solution to the problem.The National President of the group youth wing, Mazi Okechukwu Iziguzoro, who spoke at a news briefing, said notable traditional rulers like the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and the monarch of the Bornu Kingdom, had been consulted on the issue.Iziguzoro noted that Igbo leaders assured the Presidency and the royal fathers that they were prepared to prevail on Kanu to discontinue the operation of Radio Biafra if he is released. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday demonstrated how the spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa... The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday demonstrated how the spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, tore the statement he made to his investigators and gave reasons why he attempted to destroy the statement.The EFCC, at the commencement of Metuhs trial before Justice Ishaq Bello of the High Court of the Federeal Capital Territory (FCT), said Metuh tore the statement on realizing that he had implicated himself by admitting that he received money from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).The EFCC spokesman is standing trial on a three-count charge for allegedly destroying his statement and obstruction of investigation.The first prosecution witness, Junaid Said, who was led in evidence by prosecution lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir, said he took statement from Metuh, who, he said, later tore a sheet of the four-sheet statement.My Lord, when he concluded writing his statement which was on four sheets of the EFCC statement form, I collected the statement and read over it. I then handed the statement over to my superiors Musa and Wetkas. When I was handing over the statement, the defendant said he was surprised that he had written that much and that he felt he had given too much information.Because of the comment, I was worried I gave him the statement sheets one after the other for endorsement. He endorsed the first and second sheet, but he tore the third sheet. The third sheet was where the defendant (Metuh) disclosed that he received the money for PDP political activities, settle his personal needs and made reference to former President Goodluck Jonathan, the witness told the court. The Supreme Court has okayed the convicted General-Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, a.k.a Rev. King to die... The Supreme Court has okayed the convicted General-Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, a.k.a Rev. King to die by hanging. In a unanimous judgment Friday afternoon, a seven-man panel of Justices of the apex court led by Justice Walter Onnoghen, upheld the death sentence that was earlier handed to Ezeugo by the Lagos State High Court.Consequently, the court in its lead verdict that was delivered by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, dismissed the appeal the convicted clergy lodged before it.Justice Ngwuta who noted that the facts of the case could have been lifted from horror film, resolved all the 12 issues Ezeugo raised in his appeal. This appeal has no merit. The judgement of the court of appeal is hereby affirmed.The prison sentence that was earlier handed to the appellant is no longer relevant in view of the death sentence passed on him, Justice Ngwuta held. It will be recalled that Ezeugo was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging on January 11, 2007, for the alleged murder of his church member, Ann Uzoh.He was arraigned on September 26, 2006 on a six-count charge of attempted murder and murder. The charge against him was at the instance of the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions. During the trial, the prosecution had argued that the convict poured petrol on the diseased, Uzor and five others. Uzoh died on August 2, 2006, exactly 11 days after the incident.In her judgment, trial Justice Joseph Oyewole who is now a Justice of the Court of Appeal at Calabar, said there was sufficient evidence linking the accused person to the commission of the crime.Consequently, Justice Oyewole convicted and sentenced Ezeugo to 20 years imprisonment for the attempted murder and death by hanging for the offence of murder. Dissatisfied with the judgment, Ezeugo took the case before the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal.The condemned clergy, in his notice of appeal dated January 16, 2007, prayed the appellate court to set aside the judgment. Aside 16 grounds of appeal he raised through his lawyer, Mr. Olalekan Ojo, he was subsequently granted leave to argue additional 16 grounds based an amended notice of appeal he filed on June 15, 2008. Ojo argued that his client did not commit the crime and was not at the scene of the incident.He insisted that the deceased, Uzoh, had in two statements she made after the incident and before her death, stated that she got burnt in a generator accident and that the cleric was not responsible for her injuries. Ojo said the Investigating Police Officer, IPO, had tendered statements which stated that Ezeugo was not responsible for the burns that led to Uzohs death.He alleged that the trial Judge refused to admit in evidence, the statements he said exonerated Ezeugo of the crime. The lawyer further contended had those vital exhibits been admitted rather than expunged by the trial judge, they would have operated to cast serious doubt on the case of the prosecution.He maintained that Justice Oyewoles refusal to admit the exhibits in evidence occasioned a great miscarriage of justice against his client.Meanwhile, after due consideration of the case, a three-man panel of justices of the appellate court, in a lead judgment that was delivered by Justice Fatimo Akinbami, dismissed Ezeugos appeal and upheld the high court verdict. The other members of the appellate court panel that equally concurred with the lower courts verdict were Justices Amina Augie and Ibrahim Saulawa.Determined to save his life, Rev Ezeugo lodged an appeal before the Supreme Court. His appeal was challenged by the Lagos state government which through its Attorney General, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem and Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Idowu Alakija, urged the apex court to dismiss it and uphold the concurrent verdicts of the two lower courts. United Kingdom is prepared to repatriate looted Nigerian funds in its banks, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Paul Arkwrigh... United Kingdom is prepared to repatriate looted Nigerian funds in its banks, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Paul Arkwright, has said.The British government, according to Arkwright has no intention of holding onto the money.The High Commissioner told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the looted funds belong to Nigerians and should be returned to the country.But he drew attention to the legal requirements which Nigeria must meet in order to have the money back.He said: clearly, there are legal requirements that we have to meet. We are working with the Nigerian government to see what we can do to return those funds.They (money) will be returned, there is absolutely no doubt about it.He however did not say how much will be returned to the federal government.Arkwright explained that everything was being done to fast-track the repatriation process.He added: The Prime Ministers anti-corruption summit will be held in May, we are hoping that President Muhammadu Buhari will attend that anti-corruption summit in London.We expect that there will be some further news on how we can accelerate that process of repatriating the funds.I think we have no intention of holding onto this money, despite some of the reports in the press.The envoy, however, said there was the need to extract the commitment of the federal government that the money would be judiciously spent when repatriated.We need to make sure that the money is well spent when it returns to Nigeria. We need to make sure that we can do that in a proper way, which is fully in compliance with the British law, he added. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said yesterday that the building of a new residence for the nations number 2 is a waste of public funds. ... Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said yesterday that the building of a new residence for the nations number 2 is a waste of public funds.The VPs current residence Aguda House according to him is sufficient and up to standard.Interacting with Pastors and Leaders Retreat of the Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju, Lagos,Osinbajo described the N6 billion already spent on the project as a misapplication of fund although he said that with the level of construction already done, government would have to complete it and find a different use for it.There is no need for a new Vice Presidents house; it is a kind of waste; we are now in a situation where we cannot abandon it; it has to be completed and used for a different thing, he said.On the controversial State House Medical Centre, Osunbajo said it is for the use of all Nigerians hence the need to equip it with all the medical facilities available.He also said the education sector lacked not only standards but adequacy of institutions which led to Nigerians sponsoring their children abroad for tertiary education.He explained that while 1.8 million Nigerians sit for university entrance examination yearly, only about 300,000 are offered admission due to dearth of universities.He said the government was planning to convert many of the existing universities into centres of excellence and support the private sector in the running of universities to enable more Nigerians to have access to tertiary education.He said infrastructure development was key in the administration which informed the voting of 30 per cent of the 2016 appropriation to capital projects.Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, the leader of the Church, asked Christians to continue to pray for the administration as Nigeria had a great future.He said the present administration would lead the people to a more prosperous and secure nation.Osinbajo had earlier in the day preached at the burial service for his childhood friend, Bola Omotesho, at the Olive Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Banana Island, Lagos.He urged Nigerians to lead good lives to rest in peace as there was actually no peaceful rest for a bad soul in spite of the earthly prayers offered for the soul. The immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), has attributed his continued detention by the Department of Stat... The immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), has attributed his continued detention by the Department of State Service without any fresh charges preferred against him to President Muhammadu Buharis directive.Dasuki, who is facing three separate sets of criminal charges before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, and the Federal High Court in Abuja, stated this in an affidavit which his lawyers filed in support of his application seeking to be discharged from further trial.The former NSA urged the court in his application to discharge him and prohibit the Federal Government from further prosecuting him on the grounds that his re-arrest by the Department of State Service after the court granted him bail was tantamount to Federal Governments alleged act of assault on the court.Arguing the application before Justice Peter Affen of the FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja on Friday, his lead counsel, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), said the DSS had re-arrested Dasuki on December 29, 2015 shortly after he was released from prison on fulfilling the bail conditions imposed on him by the court.Daudu said that it became obvious that the DSS was acting Buharis script when the President barely 24 hours after Dasuki was re-arrested said on the television that the ex-NSA did not deserve to be released on bail.The SAN said, It is a fact that on December 29, Dasuki perfected his bail conditions and was released from Kuje prison in Abuja but was immediately re-arrested and taken to an unknown destination. Up till now, they have not filed fresh charges against him.It is equally a fact that on December 30, 2015, about 24 hours after he was remanded, President Muhammadu Buhari came on the television in the name of presidential media chat and told the whole world that people like Nnamdi Kanu and Dasuki will not be allowed to go on bail even if they are granted bail because they would run away.It has now been established beyond reasonable doubt that the Department of State Service acted the script of President Buhari and up till now he has not been allowed access to his lawyer despite the fact that three separate sets of charges have been filed against him.Many Nigerian newspapers came out with the information about President Buharis position on Dasuki and up till now those newspapers have not been refuted.The ex-NSA filed the application before Justice Affen with respect to the 22 counts of N13bn fraud filed against him and others including a former Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, and a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda.Others charged along with them, are a former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, the ex-governors son, Sagir Attahiru, and a firm, Dalhatu Investment. SOMERS POINT -- The daughter of one woman who received a letter from a local hospital warning of possible exposure to HIV and hepatitis said that she was reluctant to take her mother back to Shore Medical Center. The hospital last week alerted 213 former patients who had received intravenous morphine or hydromorphine medicines between June 1, 2013, and Sept. 17, 2014 that they may have been exposed to HIV or hepatitis B or C. Officials at the facility said the hospital would pay to have those patients tested, provided the tests were conducted at Shore Medical. Linda Biamonte, whose mother Shirley received a letter, was reluctant to take them up on the offer, however. "There's a loss of trust," she said. Frederick P. McLeish, 53, of Egg Harbor Township, is charged with theft of drugs from Shore Medical Center. (Atlantic County Justice Facility) Former pharmacist Frederick P. McLeish, 53, of Egg Harbor Township, was arrested Jan. 21. He is accused of taking morphine from vials intended for use in preparation of intravenous solutions for patients, and replacing the drug with saline solution. The next day, the state Department of Health got involved.The agency recommended that any patients who may have been infected should be tested for blood-borne illnesses. The DOH on Jan. 28 conducted a protocol investigation at the hospital to prevent tampering from happening in the future. Shirley Biamonte had undergone surgery at Shore Medical, and complained of intense pain even after receiving what she believed was morphine. Now, the family wonders if the alleged drug tampering was the reason for Shirley's difficult recovery. Biamonte also pointed to McLeish's previous record. He was ordered to surrender his New Jersey pharmacy license in 2002 after authorities determined that he stole opioid pain medicine from a CVS where he worked at the time. His license was later reinstated. "I'm angry at the fact they hired someone who had a disposition to this behavior," said Biamonte. "Where was Shore [Medical's] common sense?" NJ Advance Media reached out to the hospital for a response to Biamonte's comments, but had not yet received one by deadline. Arlene Polmonari was also among those notified, though she did agree to the free testing. After a sleepless night, she tested negative for the diseases "I was hysterical about it because I'd been having shortness of breath for weeks," she said. "I totally freaked out, because my blood counts had been off. It's coincidental, obviously, but that's the reason I became hysterical." While in correspondence with the CDC, she questioned why it had taken so long to warn patients. "What's more important? Prosecuting a criminal or notifying the public of a health issue?" she said. "I had two surgical procedures in that time. The mind goes in a lot of different directions [upon receiving the exposure notice]." She, like Shirley Biamonte, had an unusually painful recovery from surgery during the period McLeish is said to have altered the drugs. "When I woke up from a knee replacement, I was screaming," Polmonari said. As a decades-long patient at Shore Medical, however, she is prepared to stay with the hospital. "It's always been my hospital," she said. "All my doctors are there. I guess I would go back, but I think it's awful it took so long to notify people." Reporters Matt Gray and Anthony Medina contributed to this report. Andy Polhamus may be reached at apolhamus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ajpolhamus. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. MERCHANTVILLE -- Authorities have charged a 23-year-old Pennsauken man in the Feb. 22 shooting death of another Pennsauken resident. Isaiah Pascall is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Joshua Simmons, the Camden County Prosecutor's Office announced Saturday morning. Pascall allegedly shot Simmons on Russell Avenue Monday night following a fight involving a group of people at that location, officials said. Police found Simmons on the sidewalk around 8:30 p.m. He was transported to Kennedy Hospital, Cherry Hill, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 9 p.m. Pascall was arrested Friday night after an interview with CCPO detectives and was placed in Camden County Jail on $750,000 bail pending an arraignment. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. The column that wants to know if a hot dog is as a sandwich. -- Good morning! -- I'd like to take this opportunity to wish a fond farewell to reporter Alex Young, who is leaving the South Jersey Times. Alex and I started around the same time in the Bridgeton office. He later went on to cover Salem County and most recently covered Camden County. Best of luck to him, Erica and Buster. -- "The first Town Watch meeting of Maurice River Township was on April 20, 2015. Concerned residents attended and agreed the town should work together as a group to form a town watch program to hopefully be able to cut down on thefts that were regularly taking place. "At that meeting we had the help of the Cumberland County Sheriff's Dept, Officer Craig Johnson. Nine residents attended. The topics included: "- Geographic concerns because we are such a large township. "- Having block captains that would represent individual areas throughout the township. The block captains would act as a liaison for their neighborhoods, creating a 'chain' to pass relevant information to their neighbors. "- Educating block captains on the importance of their safety and knowing protocol to follow to be successful. "The group met with regularity and each meeting more people attended to be part of the effort. The township had the support of the New Jersey State Police, they too would attend meetings and guide the program in the right direction. "The Municipal Alliance, against drugs and alcohol, has also teamed up with the Town Watch program. They worked together to organize our township wide Family Night Out, our version of National Night Out. The four local fire companies and block captains played a huge role in organizing family night out. Block captains introduced friends and neighbors to the Town Watch Program. The New Jersey State Police were represented and the Sheriff's Office came out in full force with Officers on bike patrol and their heavy equipment on display. "As part of the Town Watch, Sheriff's Officers are doing regular bicycle patrols to cover areas such as East Point Lighthouse, Matt's Landing, and the ballfield area. Officers are reaching out to youth and creating the atmosphere that law enforcement are approachable. A trading card program is now being developed with law enforcement. This will allow the kids to receive and collect cards from Officers, promoting further interaction with our youth and law enforcement. "Recently, on Feb. 17, 2016 the Town Watch program sponsored a 'Coffee with Cops Event' at our township hall. Cumberland County Sheriff's Dept. Explorers attended with law enforcement and residents. We discussed the progress that has taken place since the formation of the program. Other topics that were discussed: "The use of social media, like Facebook, has been an excellent source of creating awareness and keeping communities informed. It was mentioned by Sgt. Horrissey that it is a good tool, but do not rely on it alone. "Together with our block captains, residents, law enforcement, and other community organizations, the Town Watch program will expand on the efforts of the past year, continuing to move forward to make our community a safe, happy, thriving place to live." - Deputy Mayor Patti Gross of Maurice River Township -- MY KIND OF TOWN: Where, if you need help starting a town watch, try giving Mary Messeck a call. Don E. Woods may be reached at dwoods@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @donewoods1. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. We're hours away from the 88th Annual Academy Awards and the nominations are set. Oscars will be handed out in 24 categories from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California starting at 8:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 28, 2016. Comedian Chris Rock will host despite the Oscars boycott by some of Hollywood's biggest names. The two leading Oscar contenders are "The Revenant" and "Mad Max: Fury Road." "The Revenant," which stars Leonardo DiCaprio and was directed by Alejandro Inarritu, received 12 nominations. "Mad Max: Fury Road" comes in next with 10 nominations, including a Best Picture nod for director, George Miller. And there are so many questions... Will Sly Stallone win his first Oscar portraying beloved Philly boxer Rocky Balboa for "Creed"? And poor Leo. Will he finally win his Oscar as a doomed trapper seeking revenge circa 1823? So who's nominated for this year's Academy Awards? A complete list of nominees below: Best Picture The Big Short Bridge of Spies Brooklyn Mad Max: Fury Road The Martian The Revenant Room Spotlight Best Director Adam McKay, The Big Short George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road Alejandro G. Inarritu, The Revenant Lenny Abrahamson, Room Tom McCarthy, Spotlight Best Actor Bryan Cranston, Trumbo Matt Damon, The Martian Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl Best Actress Cate Blanchett, Carol Brie Larson, Room Jennifer Lawrence, Joy Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn Best Supporting Actor Christian Bale, The Big Short Tom Hardy, The Revenant Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies Sylvester Stallone, Creed Best Supporting Actress Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight Rooney Mara, Carol Rachel McAdams, Spotlight Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs Best Original Screenplay Bridge of Spies Ex Machina Inside Out Spotlight Straight Outta Compton Best Adapted Screenplay The Big Short Brooklyn Carol The Martian Room Best Animated Feature Anomalisa Boy and the World Inside Out Shaun the Sheep Movie When Marnie Was There Best Foreign Language Film Embrace of the Serpent Mustang Son of Saul Theeb A War Best Documentary Feature Amy Cartel Land The Look of Silence What Happened, Miss Simone? Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom Best Cinematography Carol The Hateful Eight Mad Max: Fury Road The Revenant Sicario Best Film Editing The Big Short Mad Max: Fury Road The Revenant Spotlight Star Wars: The Force Awakens Best Production Design Bridge of Spies The Danish Girl Mad Max: Fury Road The Martian The Revenant Best Costume Design Carol Cinderella The Danish Girl Mad Max: Fury Road The Revenant Best Original Score Bridge of Spies Carol The Hateful Eight Sicario Star Wars: The Force Awakens Best Original Song "Earned It," 50 Shades Of Grey "Manta Ray," Racing Extinction "Simple Song #3," Youth "Til It Happens to You," The Hunting Ground "Writing's on the Wall," Spectre Best Visual Effects Ex Machina Mad Max: Fury Road The Martian The Revenant Star Wars: The Force Awakens Best Makeup & Hairstyling Mad Max The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out a Window and Disappeared The Revenant Best Sound Mixing Bridge of Spies Mad Max: Fury Road The Martian The Revenant Star Wars: The Force Awakens Best Sound Editing Mad Max: Fury Road The Martian The Revenant Sicario Star Wars: The Force Awakens Best Documentary Short Body Team 12 Chau Behind the Lines Claude Lanzman A Girl in the River Last Day of Freedom Best Live Action Short Film Ave Maria Day One Everything Will Be Okay Shok Stutterer Best Animated Short Film Bear Story Prologue Sanjay's Super Team We Can't Live Without Cosmos World of Tomorrow Need an Oscar ballot for your party? Click here. Anthony Venutolo may be reached at avenutolo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyVenutolo and Google+. Find NJ.com on Facebook. NEWARK -- Jose Rodriguez, the jail detainee charged in connection with assaulting a Newark police officer Thursday during an alleged attempted escape from University Hospital, has an extensive criminal record, according to police. Rodriguez has 20 prior convictions, police said in a statement. Police did not provide the details of those prior convictions. Other details included in the release provide a first glimpse at the series of events that led up to the attempted escape and alleged beating of a Newark police officer. Rodriguez' most recent arrest occurred Thursday afternoon at approximately 3:30 p.m., after Newark patrol officers observed him allegedly speeding while driving on Frelinghuysen Avenue. A license plate check revealed that Rodriguez's vehicle was allegedly stolen, police said. At some point during the traffic stop, Rodriguez attempted to flee the scene, later losing control and crashing into two parked cars, according to police. Rodriquez ran from the car, but was apprehended a short distance from the scene by an off-duty security guard. Rodriguez was transported to the 5th Precinct, where he was issued several summonses and charged with eluding police and receiving stolen auto. Police said that at approximately 5:10 p.m., Rodriguez was transported to UMDNJ after complaining to police personnel that he was experiencing headaches. While awaiting treatment, Rodriquez asked to use the restroom indicating he had diarrhea. Rodriguez' handcuffs were removed and as he was entering the restroom, Rodriguez pulled the officer inside and repeatedly punched and kicked her, police said. After unsuccessfully attempting to disarm the officer, Rodriguez fled the hospital at approximately 8:34 p.m., police said. The injured officer, whose name has not been released, was discovered by nearby New Jersey Transit Police, who alerted their superiors of the escape. Rodriguez was apprehended by Rutgers police minutes later hiding under a car parked in a lot near South Orange Avenue. The injured officer, a 22-year veteran of the force, was released from the hospital Friday after receiving treatment for her injuries. The Newark Police Department's Office of Professional Responsibility is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the escape, officials said Friday. Authorities are working with University Hospital administrators to review inmate custody protocols, Acting Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said. Detectives are currently reviewing surveillance footage to see if the attack was captured on video. Rodriguez now stands charged with aggravated assault on a police officer and escape. Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Fulop Mayor Steve Fulop announced that his administration will create three new programs to assist Jersey City's small businesses. (Jersey Journal file photo) Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop announced that his administration is planning three initiatives to aid small businesses in the city. The initiative includes an online portal for small businesses, an audit of the permitting and licensing process for small businesses, and the creation of the city's first Office of Small Businesses. Earlier this week, city officials announced two new micro-loan programs to assist small business owners and those looking to open a business. The administration says that these initiatives and previous ones have contributed to more than 450 small businesses opening and 6,333 jobs created in the city since Fulop took office in July 2013. In a statement Fulop called small business the "lifeblood" of Jersey City's economy that add texture and diversity to the city's neighborhoods, as well as serving as a source of jobs for local residents. "The steps we are announcing today will build on our efforts to make small business development a focus of our city's economic growth by making it easier than ever for aspiring business owners to join Jersey City's thriving business community," Fulop said in a statement. The "One Stop Shop" online portal is expected to be launched in the spring, and it should provide a directory of businesses, business services, funding opportunities and professional development opportunities, as well as a list of rules and regulations for operating small businesses. The auditing of the permitting and license process is currently being conducted, officials said. The city's Office of Innovation has hired Zucker Systems as a consultant, to analyze the process businesses have to go through to obtain proper licenses, permits and approvals. The Fulop administration says the Office of Small Business will have city staff members available to provide guidance to business owners. The hiring process is in progress, and anyone interested in applying for the position of Small Business Development Coordinator, should email iteam@jcnj.org. MLK Drive and Claremont Jersey City police are still investigating a shooting early this morning at Martin Luther King Drive and Claremont Avenue where a man was shot in the back of the head, according to a city spokeswoman. (Image: Google Maps) JERSEY CITY -- A young man was shot in the back of the head early this morning, according to a city spokeswoman. Jersey City police are still investigating the shooting, which took place at Martin Luther King Drive and Claremont Avenue at 12:30 a.m., according to Jennifer Morrill, Jersey City spokeswoman. The victim, an 18-year-old male, sustained non-life threatening injuries despite being shot in the back of the head, according to Morrill. The victim was taken to Jersey City Medical Center - Barnabas Health, where he was listed in stable condition and kept overnight for observation, Morrill said. The investigation is ongoing, she said. HOBOKEN New Jersey parents may have noticed a change in the title of the person who helps their children with scheduling, personal issues, and the college search. The term "guidance counselor" is going out, and the term "school counselor" is in but why? There are many reasons, but mostly, the word "guidance" is being ditched as part of a positive re-branding effort, say educators. The profession's role has expanded a lot in past 10 years, with an increasingly strong focus on student mental health, counselors explain, and "guidance counselor" is more associated with the college search. "Many people are still unclear as far as the role of today's school counselor. The word 'guidance' suggests an old-fashioned occupation involving scheduling, standardized testing and 'advice-giving,'" Long Hill Township school counselor Lisa Sanfilippo told NJ Advance Media when she was asked about the "g-word." "The ever-changing needs in society are the reasons for the ever-changing role of the school counselor," she said. According to Tim Conway, president of the N.J. School Counselor Association, when you get down to it, the term "guidance" counselor just seems to carry "a negative stereotype." Other counselors agreed. "I think the term 'guidance' implies a leader and a follower, which is not how school counseling works. Rather, we spend a lot of time meeting students exactly where they are, and following their lead toward their goals," Hoboken Junior/High School Counselor Susan Weiner said. Beyond helping students get into college, careers, and the military, today's counselors offer services like overseeing students' academic progress and attendance, New Jersey counselors said. They deal with students' social and emotional well-being and character development, organizing college fairs and visits, coordinating testing, and planning at-risk student interventions. The popular understanding of this, and the name change, is mostly happening in small ways, counselors said. This, despite the fact that the state certificate now says "school counselor." New Jersey Department of Education Press Secretary David Saenz didn't know exactly when the state certificate switched from "guidance counselor" to "school counselor" but he said it was a number of years ago. He was not aware of other measures taken by the state to address the counselors' new title preferences. Conway, who heads the counseling department at Lakeland Regional High School in Wanaque, said he believed the certificate changed more than 10 years ago, reflecting the profession's "dramatic shift" in the same time period. Nixing "guidance" has been a mostly "a silent movement," he said, fueled mainly by articles, and counselors' posts on blogs and internal membership sites. Progress has been slow, and the term guidance counselor is still alive and well, partly because counselors understandably just don't want to make a big deal about it. "Districts are 'stuck' in still calling them 'guidance' counselors, evidenced in many job postings and references in discussion," Conway said. Many counselors fear a title change could lead them to receive additional non-counseling duties, he said. Also, Conway said, many counselors just don't want to feel like they're distracting from more important issues like the fact that some districts have no counselors at all, and the tendency of districts with shrinking budgets to see student mental health as "supplemental." More data is needed, he said, to show the impact of a counselor's work promoting student social and emotional well-being. "Though throughout my training to work in this profession we were told to use the term 'school counselor,' 'guidance' is so ingrained in our schools, our students, their parents, etc., that it will be difficult to truly make the change complete," Weiner said. "Truly there are good reasons to change the title, but the transition itself has been and continues to be problematic." Sanfilippo, a school counselor for five years, said she first became aware of the name change while researching graduate programs, and counselors who entered the field "in the last 10 years" are most on board with a name change. Sanfilippo said that during WWII, guidance counseling was psychologists coming to schools for military testing and training. Psychologist Carl Rogers later offered a more person-centered approach, she said, and school counseling became more "holistic" in the 1990's and continues to evolve. How does she handle educating people about her title? With politeness. "Whenever someone has used the 'g-word' in my presence I have just tried to politely educate them about the change in the name," she said, "followed by a description of the role of today's school counselors." Laura Herzog may be reached at lherzog@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LauraHerzogL. Find NJ.com on Facebook Man now paralyzed after burglar at his home shot him, NOPD says WASHINGTON (AP) The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has issued a subpoena to Donald Trump. The nine-member panel sent a letter to the former president's lawyers on Friday, demanding his testimony under oath by mid-November and outlining a series of corresponding documents. The decision by lawmakers to exercise their subpoena power comes a week after the committee made its final case against the former president, who they say is the "central cause" of the multi-part effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. It remains unclear how Trump and his legal team will respond to the subpoena, if at all. After a year of investing in their own skills and development, the students in Abraham Lincoln High Schools journalism program are hoping for an investment from the community and area businesses to help take the Lincoln Pride television broadcasts, Echoes and Los Ecos newspapers and Crimson and Blue yearbook to the next level. A group of 11 students are hoping to raise enough money to attend the National High School Journalism Conference in Los Angeles. They launched a Go Fund Me page that raised nearly $2,000 in the first 48 hours, but they still need to raise a total of about $9,000 more to make the trip this April. Jessica Borwick, a senior at A.L. who is the newspaper co-editor and television executive producer, said the students began the school year learning to shoot video, how to write scripts, how to use different camera angles and other basic broadcasting skills. Weve gotten to the point where we can go and do and we know what were doing, she said. Weve definitely improved. Next year, the Council Bluffs Community School District is launching a new media academy program where, among other new offerings, students will be able to use the scoreboard at Gale Wickersham Stadium for sports highlights, community news spots and other programming during events. Borwick, who plans to study at Iowa Western Community College next year before going to the University of Iowa to study communications and English education, said she hopes the Abraham Lincoln journalism program can improve from where its at this year as part of the new academy. Making the trip to Los Angeles this spring would help the returning A.L. students by offering different perspectives and inspiration on how to improve all of its products. Borwick said it would also help her further cement bonds with the group, since she plans to return as an Iowa Western student to help her former classmates continue to grow Lynx journalism. As a high school student who has done journalism all four years and wants to continue to do this as my career, when Im an adult, the experience and the skills that I have learned as a journalist will be really rewarding to me, Borwick said. Fellow A.L. journalism student Calab Holder, the Echoes news editor, said the students would learn a lot of applicable skills if they get to travel to L.A. We could use them every day in class, he said. I know some people are deciding to pursue journalism as a career. It could help them down the road. Added sophomore Taylor Bever: This would be a great opportunity for us to learn skills that we could use for years. It would bond us being together for so long, learning things that we wouldnt learn being in this class. At the conference, the students would be able to participate in sessions on reporting, photography, page design and other journalistic skills. Students from across the country bring their yearbooks and newspapers so others can look through them for inspiration. Friendships are also fostered, both among the A.L. students and among the participants from across the U.S. Then we have a day set aside for sight-seeing, Borwick said. Gerry Appel, the schools journalism adviser, said on the Go Fund Me page that A.L. has about half of its students living in poverty, based on a federal measure, and many students cant afford to attend the literally life-changing experience of a national journalism conference. In addition to learning about journalism, students have the opportunity to visit an area of the country they otherwise may never see, and they form life-long friendships, Appel said. Donations are also being sought from area businesses, the students said. They dont receive any support from the school, and they dont have an activity budget because they operate separately from the school so they can maintain their editorial independence. The Lynx journalism program hopes to raise as much as possible toward their goal by Monday, March 14, the deadline for hotel and airfare to be booked, which essentially makes it the deadline for the students to commit to the trip. More information and a link to make donations can be found at gofundme.com/ALtoLA. Community Its now easier than ever to connect and chat with others in your local area. You can connect with your community by asking general questions, give area updates and recommendations and even let your community know about local events that are taking place. Students organizing to fight LU's exit from Barrie The Sudbury chapter of the Revolutionary Student Movement is holding a meeting next week to launch the LU Barrie 2019 Sudbury Mobilization Committee. The Sudbury chapter of the Revolutionary Student Movement is holding a meeting next week to launch the LU Barrie 2019 Sudbury Mobilization Committee. Supplied photo. The Sudbury chapter of the Revolutionary Student Movement is holding a meeting next week to launch the LU Barrie 2019 Sudbury Mobilization Committee. The purpose of the committee will be to fight the university's recent decision to close its Barrie campus. We invite all students, faculty and service staff of LU in Sudbury who want to organize in support of the students and workers of LU in Barrie to attend the launch meeting and help shape the direction of the coming actions, a press release said. Allies from the broader community are welcome. The meeting takes place at the university from 4-6 p.m. Feb. 29 in room 30-230 at the J.N. Desmarais Library. For more information, email LU.Mobcom@gmail.com. City's MPs back move to kill bill seen as anti-union Nickel Belt MP Marc Serre and Sudbury MP Paul Lefebvre say they are proud to be a part of a Liberal government that will repeal Bill C-377 and C-525. Nickel Belt MP MarcSerre rose in the House of Commons on Feb. 26 to support the many men and women of Nickel Belt and Greater Sudbury who belong to organized labour union. Supplied photo. Nickel Belt MP Marc Serre and Sudbury MP Paul Lefebvre say they are proud to be a part of a Liberal government that will repeal Bill C-377 and C-525. Serre and Lefebvre believe that Bill C-377 creates unnecessary, extra red tape for unions and could put unions at a disadvantage during collective bargaining. They also believe that Bill C-525 - a law that changed how unions can certify and decertify - makes it more difficult for employees to unionize and easier for a bargaining agent to be certified. Therefore, they trust the governments plan to ensure Canadas labour laws best serve employees and employers. Serre rose in the House of Commons on Feb. 26 to support the many men and women of Nickel Belt and Greater Sudbury who belong to organized labour union. As a past member of unions, I understand how unions strengthen communities. They have helped create safer work places, better working conditions, and helped recognize the need for workplace Health & Safety committees, said Serre. I look forward to meeting every organized labour union in Nickel Belt and Greater Sudbury to hear, listen, and understand their issues because I recognize the important role that unions play in protecting the rights of Canadian workers and in helping the middle class grow and prosper. Lefebvre said he is proud the Liberal government has followed through in its promise to repeal these bills. These anti-labour bills were punitive and regressive, and our promise is to foster a new relationship with organized labour after 10 acrimonious years under the Conservatives. These bills create unnecessary red tape and financial burdens to unions, working Canadians and even the government of Canada, said Lefebvre. Im proud our government has followed through on its promise to repeal this legislation, and I look forward to working with our partners in the labour movement to build strong and sustainable communities. About Bill C-377 and C-525 Bill C-525 removed automatic certification for workers in federally regulated sectors once more than 50 per cent of employees signed a union card, making it more difficult for workers to organize and too easy to decertify. Bill C-377 is a set of public reporting rules on salaries, any expenses over $5,000, and requires unions to estimate how much they spend on political activities. Unions would also be required to publish the names and addresses of anyone whose goods or services they purchased. Change of command at 2nd Irish Regiment The Irish Regiment of Canada Second Battalion is now under the command of Lt-Col. Ken McClure, after a change of command ceremony on Feb. 27 at the Sudbury Armoury. (L to R) Outgoing Commanding Officer Lt-Col Kenrick Sproul, Col. Patrick Kelly, Honourary Col. Kevin McCormick, new Commanding Officer Lt-Col. Ken McClure. Photo: Matt Durnan The Irish Regiment of Canada Second Battalion is now under the command of Lt-Col. Ken McClure, after a change of command ceremony on Feb. 27 at the Sudbury Armoury. McClure brings more than 30 years of experience with the Canadian Forces Reserves, and takes over command from Lt-Col. Kenrick Sproul, who announced his retirement after 22 years of service, 12 of those in Sudbury. We have had outstanding support in Sudbury, we've been visible in the community and I'm excited about the work we've done here, said Sproul. But now it's time for me to to catch up on some lost time with my family. I've missed a lot of holidays and events due to my service and this is a great end to a great run. McClure was born in Sudbury and spent the first 20 years of his life in Peterborough. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on Feb. 26, and will now be the commanding officer of the Irish Regiment of Canada Second Battalion for the next five years. The five-year commitment is two years longer than the standard three years that most commanding officers serve, but there are some difficulties with retention and succession in Northern Ontario, an issue that Sproul had to contend with and one that McClure is ready to face. What a unit tries to do is recruit and generate enough soldiers and officers and progress them through their career so that when the unit is at the point that it's ready to hand over after the normal three-year term there is somebody there, said Sproul. Being the Reserves however, where this is not our full time job, whether it be due to school, change in life situation, change of employment, we lose people along the way. We also have component transfer where we a number of our soldiers have gone to the regular force full time. It's about retention and being able to retain those (soldier) through those situations enough that we can address succession. McClure was promoted from his rank as Major to Lieutenant-Colonel and will likely serve a full five years as CO. The succession issue will not be resolved during my tenure because it takes 20 years to get someone to this level, said McClure. I've been asked to expect to serve five years and I'm good with that. Beyond that I'm not really sure, I had never really planned to stick around much beyond the age of 50. I've always enjoyed it and I liked to think that I was good at it, and now I'm a lieutenant-colonel it the Armed Forces and in charge of an infantry regiment and it doesn't get any better than that. The Second Battalion, Irish Regiment of Canada is the country's only remaining Irish unit and proudly represents the military presence in Sudbury. The battalion is established as a company with battalion headquarters reflecting a recruiting strength of roughly 120 soldiers. MERRILLVILLE One of Lakeshore Public Radio's best known local programs is returning. Lakeshore Public Media announced "Regionally Speaking" is coming back at noon on Feb. 29th at 89.1 FM with the original host Chris Nolte. The popular lunchtime show stopped in June, when host Steve Walsh, a longtime Northwest Indiana journalist, left to work for KPBS San Diego Public Radio and TV on the West Coast. "The opportunity to bring back this show, not only for our news team, but for Northwest Indiana has been the goal since June," Vice President of Radio Operations Tom Maloney stated. "Steve set the standard after taking the show over after its first few years, and I have no doubt in my mind that Chris will exceed our expectations." Merrillville-based Lakeshore Public Media has been shaking up its programming, recently cancelling the 25-year-old Lakeshore Report on Lakeshore Public Television. The public media company has been shifting focus to public affairs talk shows, and its PBS affiliate will start airing Emmy winner Garrard McClendon's "CounterPoint" in March. Nolte, who hosted "Regionally Speaking" when it first aired on Lakeshore Public Radio, will go from hosting the local "Morning Edition" to hosting and producing the talk show, which will run Monday through Thursday. Sharon Jackson will take over as the Lakeshore's "Morning Edition" host. On the revived show, Nolte will talk with politicians, business leaders and others in the community for an in-depth exploration of Region news and issues. "Northwest Indiana is a great place to live and work and its problems are well-known, but the Region is recovering well and showing the rest of Indiana that all of the business innovation and lifestyle changes arent just happening in the center of the state," Nolte stated. Podcasts of "Regionally Speaking" will be available for download at lakeshorepublicmedia.org. CROWN POINT A Lake County jury Friday found a Gary man guilty of shooting another man multiple times, leaving him paralyzed. Jermaine C. Davis, 37, of Gary, was found guilty of attempted murder, aggravated battery, battery committed by means of a deadly weapon and battery resulting in serious bodily injury. He was acquitted of pointing a firearm. Davis will be sentenced March 24. Davis had been on trial this week in front of Lake County Criminal Judge Samuel Cappas, though proceedings were delayed because of this weeks heavy snowfall. Davis was accused of shooting at Willie Bailey as he walked into his house about 10:15 p.m. Aug. 22, 2013, in the 700 block of West 41st Avenue in Gary. Bailey was shot four times in the chest, knee and back. He was left paralyzed, and he now uses a wheelchair. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Bernard Johnsen told jurors that the casings found on the grass and near the homes front door shows someone was shooting and walking, shooting and walking. A 911 call made by Baileys sister identified Davis as the shooter. Johnsen said Erica Bailey testified she drove away from the scene after Davis pointed the gun at the car she was in, which was outside of her brothers home. The shooting came about a day after Willie Bailey punched Davis at a gas station in Gary. Davis allegedly called Erica Bailey and told her nothing would happen to her brother if she gave him $1,000. Defense attorney Philip King argued the police rushed to judgment in the case, because of the prior incident between the two men. King argued there was no physical evidence or DNA linking his client to the shooting. He also criticized the police investigation, arguing detectives failed to interview at least two potential witnesses who didnt have ties to anyone involved. He also reminded jurors about how every witness who testified this past week said it was dark during the shooting. He said the closest streetlight was not even directly across from where the shooting occurred. King noted even the paramedics had to move Bailey to the ambulance, because it was too dark to work on him outside. CROWN POINT An 18-year-old man was sentenced Friday to two years on probation after admitting to having a gun on school property. Brandon C. Smith, of Hammond, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm on school property, a Level 6 felony. After he completes the two-year probationary term, he can petition the court to have the conviction reduced to a misdemeanor. As part of the plea agreement, a second case where Smith had faced a charge of carrying a handgun without a license, a Class A misdemeanor, was dismissed. Smith was in a fight involving multiple people Sept. 11, 2015, at a football game at Hammond High School in the 5900 block of Calumet Avenue, according to court records. The school was playing Morton High. Smith was carrying a 9 mm gun in his boot, because he had beef with a group of people, according to court records. There was one live round in the guns chamber and five live rounds in the magazine. Defense attorney Thomas Vanes said Smith did not use the gun or show it during the fight. Smith told the officers who responded to the fight about the weapon. As a result of the incident, Smith was kicked out of school and he no longer is allowed to be on Hammond school property. Smith told Lake County Criminal Judge Diane Boswell that hes learned his lesson. He said he is currently enrolled in a program to attain a GED, and he hopes to one day be able to go to college to become a computer technician. VALPARAISO Facing a sharp decline in student applications and enrollment at its law school, Valparaiso University is offering tenured faculty and those with multi-year contracts a buyout. University spokeswoman Nicole Niemi said Friday that law schools in today's post-recession era are facing a sharp decline in student applications and enrollment, and are confronted with a diverse mix of financial challenges due to these issues. She said VU is no exception. "To put the law school and our students in the best position to succeed, we are taking steps to meet the challenges facing legal education," she said. Niemi said the purpose of the buyouts is to align the size of the faculty with the expected future law school enrollment. "Valparaiso University and its board are fully committed to the future of the Law School and are taking this step to ensure its future success," she said. Dean of the Law School Andrea Lyon said there are 36 full-time faculty members and the number of buyouts to be offered is still undetermined. Once there is a target number, officials hope the buyout works and the school can be right-sized. Lyon said if they don't reach the target number "we'll have to cross that bridge when we come to it." Lyon said enrollment in the Law School has been going down and the school's been more selective from a much smaller pool of applicants. She also said legal education has taken quite a hit and people taking the LSAT nationwide has gone down 50 percent from 2009 to now. "It's a nationwide problem," she said. "Many schools are doing what we're doing." Lyon said she hopes everyone understands how much the Law School respects and admires its faculty, some who have been there for 30 years or more. "This isn't anything they did wrong," she said. "This is responding to the market. They're wonderful people and I'll miss them terribly." Valparaiso University President Mark Heckler said the school is going to ensure the caliber of students coming in will be successful. "In order to get those kind of students we're going to be smaller and we're going to offer more financial aid than we've ever offered before to very talented students and give them a great education," he said. Niemi said tuition for the Valparaiso University Law School for the year 2016-17 is remaining at the same level as this year. The tuition for full-time students is $39,450. The law school was founded in 1879 and has a current enrollment of 430 students, according to the website. It has been known in the Region for its clinic, a licensed law firm, which offers students the opportunity to represent clients during their third year of law school. The clinic provides free or low-cost legal services to disadvantaged members of the community, handling over 700 cases each year. Ira Chase was Indiana's 22nd governor. The Republican served Nov. 23, 1891 to Jan. 9, 1893. Chase was born Dec. 7, 1834 in Rockport, New York. The Church of Christ preacher lived in Danville. As a popular founder of the Grand Army of the Republic, a Civil War veterans advocacy group with many Hoosier members, Chase was an easy consensus pick for lieutenant governor in 1888, and helped Alvin Hovey win election as governor. When Hovey died nearly three years into his term, Chase succeeded him and took on the role of a caretaker governor. Like Hovey, he had difficulties working with the Democratic-controlled General Assembly and was unsuccessful in his advocacy for alcohol prohibition and increased spending on roads. He even failed to win the full $135,000 appropriation he sought to fund the Indiana Pavilion at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, getting just $50,000 for the exhibit. The Indiana Republican Party tried to deter Chase from running in 1892 for a full term as governor, fearing that his appeal would be limited to churchgoers and temperance supporters. Indeed, Chase often used campaign stops to deliver both political speeches and sermons in the same town on the same day. Despite the presence of Republican Hoosier President Benjamin Harrison at the top of the 1892 ballot, Chase was defeated (as was Harrison). Chase returned to his ministry after leaving office and died May 11, 1895 while preaching in Maine. Chase, who was 60 when he died, is buried in Indianapolis. Chase was also lieutenant governor, 1889 to 1891. HESSTON, Kan. A man who stormed into a Kansas factory where he worked and shot 15 people, killing three, had just been served with a protective order that probably triggered the attack, authorities said Friday. The assault at the Excel Industries lawnmower parts plant in the small town of Hesston ended when a police officer killed the gunman in a shootout. Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton described the officer as a "tremendous hero" because 200 or 300 people were still in the factory and the "shooter wasn't done by any means." "Had that Hesston officer not done what he did, this would be a whole lot more tragic," Walton said. The sheriff identified the gunman as Cedric Ford, a 38-year-old plant worker who was armed with an assault rifle and a pistol. While driving to the factory, the gunman shot a man on the street, striking him in the shoulder. A short time later, he shot someone else in the leg at an intersection, authorities said. The suspect shot one person in the factory parking lot before opening fire inside the building, the sheriff's department said in a news release. Ford had several convictions in Florida over the last decade. His past offenses included burglary, grand theft, fleeing from an officer, aggravated fleeing and carrying a concealed weapon, all from Broward and Miami-Dade counties. According to the Wichita Eagle, Ford also had criminal cases in Harvey County, including a misdemeanor conviction in 2008 for fighting or brawling and various traffic violations from 2014 and 2015. A Facebook page under the name of a Cedric Ford employed at Excel Industries includes photos posted within the past month of a man posing with a long gun and another of a handgun in a man's lap in a car. Recent posts also include music videos of rappers from Miami, photos of cars and pictures posted in January of a trip to a zoo with children. The shooting came less than a week after a man opened fire at several locations in the Kalamazoo, Michigan, area, leaving six people dead and two severely wounded. Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive in those attacks. Eleven of the people wounded in Thursday's attack were taken to two Wichita hospitals, where one was in critical condition, five in serious condition and five in fair condition Friday morning, hospital officials said. The others were hospitalized in nearby Newton. HAMMOND -- A veteran is going to get a new house for what it cost to rehab it. The work is thanks to Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana, the Hammond Area Career Center, North Township Trustee Frank Mrvan and dozens of other people who donated to the cause. Mrvan donated the home at in the 6600 block of Tennessee Avenue in Hammond to Habitat for Humanity. The house had been empty for almost 10 years. Numerous organizations and individuals donated money to remodel the house including the Hessville Eagles Riders No. 3117 and the Hammond Elks No. 0485. Habitat for Humanity partnered with the Hammond Area Career Center, and students in the construction technology class are getting real-world experience by gutting and rebuilding the house. Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Dan Klein said they have built 68 homes so far, and this is their second Veterans Build house. He said they also have identified another veteran for another house but need to begin raising money for that one. "Things were falling down in this house, and by partnering with the Hammond Area Career Center, the students have cleaned up the house and have already installed windows and are working on the newly designed interior," Klein said. He said much of the teamwork started with the Northwest Indiana Veterans Action Council. Klein said they will invest about $60,000 to repair the house. Klein said the house is not a gift. It will be sold to the recipient for abpit $60,000. Ron Kimbrough, of Gary, a Marine Corps veteran who served four years, will buy the house. He said he learned about the program through another veteran. "I did some work like this when I was in school years ago at Horace Mann in Gary," he said. "I go over there to see the progress almost every day." Hammond Area Career Center Principal Mike Zimmerman said they were fortunate to have students work on a project where the could get real-world experience. Scott Ciupak, the instructor of the construction technology class at the career center, said students began working on the house in September. "We cleaned it out, took down the interior walls, all the leftover material, tore off two layers of siding, and now we are working on replacing it. We're working on putting on foam house wrap, and we will be framing walls." The ranch style house is a two-bedroom, one bathroom home. As part of the program, Kimbrough is required to work a minimum of 300 hours at the house and attend a class on financing and budgeting. He retired from the former Inland Steel Co., now ArcelorMittal in East Chicago. He also spent 30 years selling cars at Gillespie Ford in Gary and River Oaks Toyota in Calumet City. "I hear it's going to be ready in June. I'm ready to move in right now," he said. Advocates for right-to-die legislation are hopeful to get it passed in Albany in this year. But as of now, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has not committed to supporting it. State House Reporter Zack Fink has the story. The 2013 documentary "The Trouble with Dying" tells the stories of people who want to take control over how their lives end. Oregon led the way nearly 20 years ago with the first legislation allowing terminally-ill patients to take their own lives, and now New York is considering similar legislation. "The Oregon law has been in place for close to 18 years," said Corinne Carey of Compassion & Choices. "There's not been one case of abuse or fraud associated with the law. Only 1,327 people have received a prescription." "So we think that the Oregon law is working quite well," she continued. "The New York legislation mirrors Oregon's law." Only five states allow patients to commit legal suicide. Several more states have introduced bills which haven't passed. State Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal sponsors the New York bill, which she says strictly limits who is eligible. "No treatment will cure them. They are certified to be terminal within six months, by two doctors," Rosenthal said. "And they will have the ability to take the medication on their own. I believe it's their right." But when asked about the issue earlier this month, Republican State Senate Leader John Flanagan was skeptical. "My visceral reaction is, I don't like it. For a variety of reasons," he said. "But this is an area where we need to be extraordinarily careful and circumspect. Obviously we are literally talking about life and death." Gov. Cuomo on declined to stake out a position Thursday. "It's obviously complicated and controversial, and it's going to depend on how the bill is written and what the provisions are," Cuomo said. "And that's a bill that I would have to see and work through." Cuomo frequently touts New York as "the Progressive Leader," but insiders say on certain issues the governor himself is relatively conservative. While he did recently embrace that progressive $15-dollar-an-hour minimum wage and paid family leave, on an issue like medical marijuana he took a while to come around; New York's law only passed two years ago with multiple restrictions, even as others state had already moved forward. All weather reports indicated spring on a recent Saturday in Milan, but Februarys gloomy cloud cover said otherwise. Still, Lucio Vanotti, the 40-year-old minimalist clothing designer, appeared for a stroll in Parco Sempione with his perpetual sidekick, a tiny taupe-colored, bowlegged Italian greyhound named in true minimalist fashion Clean. Both man and dog were dressed rigorously in black, but color was all around it was Carnival week, and brightly costumed children threw thick trails of rainbow confetti on the parks walkways. Im not interested in a lot of colors. I like to keep things quiet, the designer said in Italian. Vanotti will present his fall collection, filled with subtle shades of khaki, on Monday at Milans new Porta Nuova runway space. Hes recently been compared to Milans original minimalist, the man known around town as King Giorgio. Each season, a new designer gets blessed with the opportunity to show within the Armani Theater; in January, Vanotti was selected to present his mens collection (and first-ever runway show) there. Since launching his namesake brand in 2012, he has carried many of his pieces across seasons in varying fabrics, and he sticks to a mostly gender-neutral territory. (At his mens show in January, several women appeared on the runway in designs that matched the mens wear.) The fall/winter womens wear line he will show this week will complete that collection with more of his ideas about modern uniforms including a jumpsuit in an exaggerated pinstripe, military inspired jackets and suits in softly draped wool. Strolling through the parks temporary midway, Vanotti extolled the benefits of working with iconic pieces of transforming the common T-shirt by extending its lines and making it in thick wool, so it becomes a winter pullover, or of making a military jacket in such soft material that it seems more like a robe. When you take the fabric or the lines of these iconic pieces to the extreme, they function, quietly, as the creative motif, he said. SAINT LAURENT (2015) 9:45 p.m. on Starz Cinema. Bertrand Bonello conjures the couture workshops of Yves Saint Laurent during his heyday in the mid-1970s then follows him and his hangers-on through a haze of drugs and kinky sex from the atelier into Paris nightclubs, Morocco and finally to bed. Its a giddy, intoxicating, decidedly decadent feeling, but Saint Laurent is more than merely seductive, Mr. Scott wrote in The Times about this biopic starring Gaspard Ulliel as the designer in his prime. (Image: From left, Lea Seydoux, Mr. Ulliel and Aymeline Valade) ESSENCE BLACK WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD AWARDS 10 p.m. on OWN. Oprah Winfrey holds forth at this annual luncheon honoring African-American women who are breaking barriers in film and TV among them, Tracee Ellis Ross of black-ish and the producer, director and actress Debbie Allen. (Image: Ms. Winfrey) 48 HOURS 10 p.m. on CBS. In 2012, Yancy Noll, a Seattle wine steward, left work. Ten minutes later, hed been shot four times in the head while sitting in his car at a red light. Why? Because Thomasdinh Bowman, a robotics engineer, wanted to get away with murder. Nine pregnant women in the United States have tested positive for the Zika virus, American health authorities reported Friday. One of the women gave birth to a baby with microcephaly, a defect that has been associated with the virus, and at least one other had an abortion after severe brain atrophy was detected in the fetus. Of the other women, one also had an abortion, two miscarried, two delivered healthy babies, and two are still pregnant, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which reported the nine cases. All of the women had traveled to a country or territory where Zika is circulating. Last month, health officials in Hawaii reported the birth of the first microcephalic baby linked to the Zika virus in the United States, in a hospital in Oahu. Microcephaly is a condition in which babies are born with small heads and sometimes damaged brains. There are five literary adaptations in the Oscar race for best picture this year, including movies based on Emma Donoghues Room and Colm Toibins Brooklyn. But among the hopeful novelists who will be closely watching Sundays Academy Awards ceremony, only one has negotiated a $1.3 trillion global trade deal. That would be Michael Punke, the deputy United States Trade Representative and the United States ambassador to the World Trade Organization. In addition to being an international trade policy wonk, Mr. Punke is the author of The Revenant, a 2002 novel about a 19th-century American fur trappers epic struggle for survival in the wilderness, and the inspiration for Alejandro G. Inarritus film. The movie is up for 12 Oscars, including best picture, and has catapulted the novel onto the best-seller lists. Of all the unlikely success stories at the Academy Awards this year, from Sylvester Stallones surprise comeback in Creed to the debut science-fiction author Andy Weirs blockbuster hit with The Martian, perhaps none is as surprising as Mr. Punkes sudden and overdue literary fame. The Revenant sold around 15,000 copies after it was first published nearly 14 years ago, and it had been out of print for several years by the time the movie began shooting. When word got out that a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio was in the works, Picador, an imprint of Macmillan, acquired reprint rights, and the novel got a second life. A new hardcover came out in 2015. Since then, The Revenant has sold more than half a million copies, and Picador has reprinted the book 21 times. For the second time in nine years, the owners of B&H Photo Video, a popular electronics store in Manhattan, have been sued by the federal government for discriminating against Hispanic workers. On Wednesday, the federal Labor Department announced that it had filed suit against B&H for hiring only Hispanic men into entry-level jobs in a Brooklyn warehouse and then subjecting them to harassment and unsanitary conditions. The company was so unlikely to hire women to work in the warehouse that it did not have a separate restroom for them, according to the suit. B&H, a family-owned business that started in the financial district in 1973 and moved to Midtown in 1997, has a history of labor disputes. Its name derives from the initials of its founders, Herman Schreiber and his wife, Blimie. Until 2012, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission had been monitoring the companys hiring and compensation practices as a result of an earlier discrimination suit. The company settled that suit in 2009 by agreeing to pay $4.3 million to 149 employees who were paid less, withheld from promotions or denied benefits because they were Hispanic. If Colonel Iulo was a model of spit-and-polish Marine Corps decorum, there were also attendees in red Marine Corps satin bowling jackets. Then there was Tom Nerney, 76, a retired New York police detective from Queens who had squeezed into with the help of a corset, he joked his faded green uniform from 55 years ago. I can drop down and give you 20 push-ups, Mr. Nerney said, but you may have to get me into a chair afterward. Mr. Ciotta and Dr. Seiferth said most of the men they fought with on Iwo Jima had died in recent years. Mr. Ciotta, who was a corporal and demolition specialist with the 28th Marine Regiment, Fifth Marine Division, recalled Iwo Jima as a special kind of hell, in which members of his unit slogged their way over soft volcanic ash and were easy targets for Japanese soldiers hidden in caves and tunnels, and firing from so-called pillbox battlements. Mr. Ciotta, who was awarded the Purple Heart, was assigned to crawling up to the pillboxes and blowing them up. People call us the living history of World War II, he said, holding his bottle of Jarhead Red, but we did nothing more than what we were asked to do for our country. I want to make it known that my son was a good person, she added. He wasnt in no gang or nothing like that. He had things going for himself, and he got killed trying to help a friend out. The two victims had been drawn to Jouvert by the Caribbean heritage they shared. Mr. Gabay was the son of Jamaican immigrants. Mr. Josiahs father is from Antigua, and his mother is Dominican and African-American. Mr. Josiah died after he was stabbed around 2 a.m. on Sept. 7, during a fight on the eastern border of Grand Army Plaza, the police said. Thousands of people, many of them wearing colorful costumes and waving Caribbean flags, had been out dancing, throwing paint and powder and wandering the streets before the official start of the Jouvert march at 4 a.m. The police said the fight started when a man who had been throwing powder rebuffed requests that he stop. The man was a friend of Mr. Josiahs and he stepped in to try to defuse the confrontation, according to Dominique Bennett, a friend of both men who was with them that morning. When it was over, Mr. Bennett said, he saw Mr. Josiah walking and clutching his chest. Im good, Im good, Mr. Bennett recalled Mr. Josiah saying. Then Mr. Josiah collapsed. He was taken to New York Methodist Hospital, a little more than a mile away, where he was pronounced dead. Around 3:40 a.m., a gunfight erupted on Bedford Avenue in Crown Heights, on the margin of the festivities. The police said Mr. Gabay was hit by a stray bullet fired between rival gang members. He died nine days later after being taken off life support. Nearly eight years after the financial crisis, behemoth banks still dominate the global economy. They are still immensely complex, highly leveraged and politically powerful. They are still difficult, if not impossible, to manage and supervise. For those reasons, they remain a threat to the economy, and the notion of breaking them up appeals to many voters, policy makers and politicians. In his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, Senator Bernie Sanders has made breaking up the banks a central plank of his economic agenda. The idea has merit. Smaller, more manageable banks would allow for better internal controls over dubious ethical behavior and better regulatory oversight of risky business practices that seem entrenched despite efforts at reform. But it is also a distraction. It offers a distant and politically uncertain solution to the problem of too-big-to-fail banks that the incremental Dodd-Frank financial reforms of 2010 have already begun to address. In the process, it plays into the hands of Republican critics of Dodd-Frank, who want to repeal the post-crisis reforms and block any further regulation. Thats why Hillary Clintons plan to defend and build on Dodd-Frank makes more sense at this time. What gets lost in the discussion is that Dodd-Frank, properly executed, would help to create the conditions for breaking up large and complex banks. Thats because the banks would face rising regulatory costs, which means they might well be worth more to investors if taken apart. Essentially, effective regulation and market forces would work together to make banks smaller and safer. After Indianas disastrous attempt last year to enact a religious-freedom law protecting business owners and others who refuse to serve same-sex couples for religious or moral reasons, one might reasonably have assumed that other states contemplating similar legislation would be chastened into dropping it. Not so. Republican lawmakers in at least eight states are considering enacting versions of the so-called First Amendment Defense Act a misleading label suggesting that the First Amendment needs any extra defense, let alone from people who are looking for license to discriminate under the guise of religious freedom. These brazen measures, going beyond the Indiana law, would create blanket protection for discrimination. That these states would consider such legislation is all the more remarkable given the damage Indianas image and economy suffered in the national backlash to its law. WEEKEND ARTS A classical music entry in the Listings pages on Friday about a Peoples Symphony Concert tonight featuring the violinist Jaime Laredo and the cellist Sharon Robinson included a site for the performance that is now outdated. Because of a fire at Washington Irving High School, the concert will be held instead at the High School of Fashion Industries at 225 West 24th Street in Manhattan, not at Washington Irving. A dance entry in the Listings pages on Friday about a flamenco festival in New York City misidentified the festival and misstated the date it begins. It is Flamenco Festival New York 2016, not the World Music Institutes Flamenco Festival, and it begins on Wednesday, not Thursday. (The World Music Institutes Festival Ay! Mas Flamenco will be held from Thursday through March 6.) The errors were repeated in a picture caption. MAGAZINE An article on Page 40 this weekend about a start-up, Managed by Q, that tries to put cleaning-service workers on a professional path refers incompletely to the legal status of Guillermo Garcia, one of its employees. While he and his parents do not have formal legal status in the United States, he is permitted to work legally and is protected from deportation because of executive action taken by President Obama in 2012. METROPOLITAN A picture caption on Page 4 this weekend with the continuation of the Big City column, about the advertising campaign for Thinx underwear, misspells the name of the companys chief executive officer. As the article correctly notes, she is Miki Agrawal, not Argawal. Either way, what started as a cordial two-hour discussion about combating Islamic extremism ended with the White House and Mr. Cook agreeing to disagree foreshadowing a bitter battle between a president long enamored of Apple products and Silicon Valley and a tech titan who has spoken enthusiastically of Mr. Obama. Although the president and Mr. Cook are not personal friends, associates say they have developed a relationship of professional admiration and mutual self-interest. At the least, the two share similar traits: discipline, a cerebral nature and impatience with office drama. Now they find themselves in roles no one ever imagined, as the central antagonists in the raging debate between personal privacy and the nations security. By refusing demands from Mr. Obamas Justice Department to help unlock a phone used by one of the San Bernardino, Calif., terrorists, Mr. Cook has become the leading voice in Silicon Valley for encryption. By voicing strong support for his F.B.I., Mr. Obama is now the effective chief prosecutor of the administrations case for allowing law enforcement to penetrate iPhones. If Apple had more of a presence in Washington, as do Google, Facebook and Microsoft, technology executives say there is a chance the dispute might have been quietly resolved. But few top Apple veterans have moved through the revolving door that has brought engineers and executives from other technology companies to the Obama White House to serve in a variety of security, technology and scientific positions. Apples lobbying budget in Washington is far smaller than its competitors. I have not talked to the president. I will talk to the president, Mr. Cook said in an interview with ABC News last week, a day before his company filed legal papers opposing the government. Mr. Cook said he planned to ask Mr. Obama for his help in getting this on a better path. The Southern California Gas Company, responsible for a 16-week natural gas leak near Los Angeles, is appealing a court order to extend housing for displaced families. The utility said Friday that it had challenged a judges order giving residents another three weeks to stay in short-term housing. The gas company says air quality has returned to normal in the San Fernando Valley communities near its Aliso Canyon facility, and public health agencies say there is no long-term health risk. Reimbursements for residents staying in hotels and with friends were supposed to end Thursday, but Los Angeles County lawyers got a court order extending the deadline until March 18. The judge said the health risk to residents outweighed the gas companys financial risks. A highly regarded dean at the flagship campus of the University of Texas announced this week that he was leaving the school in part because of his concerns over a new state law allowing people to carry concealed firearms in classrooms and other buildings on public college campuses. Frederick Steiner, the dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin, said on Thursday that he would leave on July 1 to take a job as the dean of the University of Pennsylvania School of Design. He has led the architecture school in Austin for 15 years. His decision to leave a program he helped steer to national prominence underscored concerns expressed by Gregory L. Fenves, the president of University of Texas at Austin, that the law would harm the schools ability to attract and retain top students and faculty. I have significant concerns about how the law will affect our ability to recruit and retain faculty members and students, Dr. Fenves wrote in a letter to the chancellor of the University of Texas System, William H. McRaven, on Feb. 17. A full year before the state took significant action, some top aides to Gov. Rick Snyder of Michigan were alarmed at the quality of Flints water, with a lawyer for the governor calling the notion of drinking it downright scary, newly released emails show. By the time state authorities did act to protect Flints residents in October, the water supply was so contaminated and lead levels so high that residents are still being advised not to drink from their taps. The concerns of Mr. Snyders aides are evident in thousands of internal emails made public on Friday, adding to a volume of correspondence that Mr. Snyder, state agencies and others have released in the aftermath of the Flint crisis. The new emails offer the clearest sense yet of what those who work for Governor Snyder knew about Flints water crisis as it unfolded since the city switched water supplies in 2014, in part to save money. They also raise new questions about why it took Mr. Snyders administration so long to act, despite a high level of alarm among officials though no evidence that they passed their concerns onto the governor. Mr. Sullivan added a short phrase that was redacted when the email was made public in January on the grounds that the passage could cause serious damage to the nations security. That reference to the drone strikes and Mr. Munters reaction included information that, like a couple of dozen other emails, should not have been sent through a nonsecured computer server, not even the State Departments official though unclassified system, according to current and former officials from the department, Congress and law enforcement agencies. Even admirers of Mrs. Clintons record as secretary of state acknowledge that the use of the server had consequences for her select circle of confidants. They include Mr. Sullivan, who as director of policy planning and a deputy chief of staff, handled the most pressing policies and international crises during her tenure as secretary. Others were Cheryl D. Mills, her chief of staff, and Huma Abedin, who was then also a deputy chief of staff, and other senior diplomats who sent messages to her now under scrutiny. Both Ms. Abedin and Mr. Sullivan serve in senior positions in Mrs. Clintons presidential campaign. The emails as well as Mrs. Clintons initial decision to set up the server are now the focus of investigations by the F.B.I., the inspectors general of the State Department and the intelligence agencies and by the State Departments Bureau of Diplomatic Security, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss inquiries involving classified information. Mrs. Clinton maintains that the State Department and the intelligence agencies are overzealously classifying information as part of the process of releasing roughly 33,000 emails under the Freedom of Information Act. Republicans and other critics have accused her of recklessness and questioned whether the Justice Department can fairly conduct an investigation. Elias Demetracopoulos, an enigmatic journalist who fled Greece after a military coup in 1967 and accused the ruling right-wing junta of illegally funneling a half-million dollars into Richard M. Nixons 1968 presidential campaign, died on Feb. 16 at a nursing home in Athens. He was 87. The cause was complications of Parkinsons disease, his American biographer, James H. Barron, said. Mr. Demetracopouloss evidence of secret donations provided President Lyndon B. Johnson with a chance to damage, if not sink, Nixons campaign, Robert Dallek wrote in 1998 in Flawed Giant: Lyndon Johnson and His Times, 1961-1973. The evidence may even have been among the documents that burglars were seeking when they broke into the Democratic national headquarters at the Watergate office complex in 1972. During his self-imposed exile in Washington, Mr. Demetracopoulos lobbied Congress and the White House indefatigably to suspend support for the Greek military dictatorship, which the American government somewhat grudgingly viewed as a bulwark against encroaching Communism in southern Europe. The junta collapsed in 1974 after Turkey invaded Cyprus, and democracy was eventually restored. So was Mr. Demetracopouloss Greek citizenship. But he remained in Washington as a bon vivant. He returned to Athens last year. WASHINGTON If the temporary cease-fire in Syria begins to take hold on Saturday, despite the low expectations of the American and Russian officials who negotiated the agreement, it will be a landmark event. For the first time, diplomacy will have succeeded in abating the killing and misery that have already led to more than 250,000 deaths and millions of refugees pouring out of the shattered country. But like everything else in the bloody five-year civil war, even the accord to limit the shooting has come at a high price, not least for President Obama. In the estimate of European and Israeli intelligence officials, but not the White House, the pause in fighting may have the unintended consequence of consolidating President Bashar al-Assads hold on power over Syria for at least the next few years. Perhaps more important, if it proves successful, it may also begin to freeze in place what already amounts to an informal partition of the country, even though the stated objective of the West is to keep the country whole. The cessation of hostilities, as it is officially known, that began midnight Friday is the first real product of a diplomatic push that Secretary of State John Kerry has made his all-consuming mission since last summer, when he struck the nuclear accord with Iran. Testifying in Congress this week, Mr. Kerry acknowledged that with so many players involved Russian forces in the air, Iranian ground troops, dispirited and fractious opposition groups that say they have received too little aid from the West, and Mr. Assads own forces this resembles a Hail Mary pass. Warren E. Buffett took aim on Saturday at the negative drumbeat of this years presidential campaign, saying that the view that children today would not live as well as their parents was dead wrong. In his annual letter to shareholders, the billionaire investor who has endorsed Hillary Clinton for president wrote that the babies being born in America today are the luckiest crop in history. Employing his typical folksy humor and optimism, Mr. Buffetts letter discussed such themes as income inequality, climate change, efficiency and prosperity, as well as investments like BNSF Railway and Kraft Heinz. For 240 years its been a terrible mistake to bet against America, and now is no time to start, he wrote. Americas golden goose of commerce and innovation will continue to lay more and larger eggs. Wesley A. Clark, a physicist who designed the first modern personal computer, died on Monday at his home in Brooklyn. He was 88. The cause was severe atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to his wife, Maxine Rockoff. Mr. Clarks computer designs built a bridge from the era of mainframe systems, which were inaccessible to the general public and were programmed with stacks of punch cards, to personal computers that respond interactively to a user. He achieved his breakthroughs working with a small group of scientists and engineers at the Lincoln Laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the late 1950s and early 60s. Early on they had the insight that the cost of computing would fall inexorably and lead to computers that were then unimaginable. Severo Ornstein, who as a young engineer also worked at Lincoln in the 1960s, recalled Mr. Clark as one of the first to have a clear understanding of the consequences of the falling cost and shrinking size of computers. Abdifatah Mohamud, 30, is a supervisor for Alliance Data Systems in Columbus, Ohio. Q. What does Alliance Data Systems do, and what is your role there? A. We provide credit card and loyalty programs for companies including J. Crew, HSN and Pier 1 Imports. I supervise employees in a call center, stepping in on customer calls when necessary. I also train employees, sitting in on calls and discussing them afterward. In addition, I meet with other customer care supervisors to help them grow in their jobs. What is your background? In 1999, when I was 11, my family emigrated from Somalia because of civil war there. I taught myself English by watching TV programs like Sesame Street and took communication classes over the years. I also took accent-reduction training on the side. Im a permanent resident working on getting my U.S. citizenship. How did you get your start at the company? In 2008 I graduated from Columbus State Community College in Ohio with an associate degree in technical studies emergency medical services/fire science. I looked for a job as a firefighter or emergency medical technician, but I couldnt find one in the recession. I took a job at Alliance Data as a customer care associate in 2009 because I needed money, but I liked the company and decided to stay. After bringing the fire under control, firefighters cleared the scene and left. About two hours later, the authorities said, Ms. Aquino, who had gone out around midnight, returned home. She called her mother to say that Kalenah had been inside the apartment, and her mother called 911 to relay that information. When firefighters came back, they found Kalenahs lifeless body under a bed. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Ms. Aquino was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child. Law enforcement officials said that investigation opened by the child welfare agency, the Administration for Childrens Services, based on the Feb. 15 call remained open at the time of the fire. On Saturday, agency officials, who are typically restricted by privacy laws intended to shield childrens information, took the rare step of outlining portions of the agencys interactions with Kalenah and Ms. Aquino. The details released by the agency were reported on Friday by WNBC-TV. In an interview, the agencys commissioner, Gladys Carrion, said she was able to release the information because there were no other children in the household. Everything that could have been done was done, Ms. Carrion said. Hindsight, as they say, is 20-20. We think we did a probing investigation based on the allegations that we received. I dont think theres anything we could have done differently. Readers React Unfortunately, but inevitably, Colonel Greenwood doesnt tell us even one way to break up Iraq. The reason is clear. There is simply no practical way to do so. Do the Kurds get credit for their ethnic cleansing of Kirkuk and thus get its oil? What to do with Baghdad, where there is a hodgepodge of Sunni and Shiite neighborhoods? Do we make a place for the Yazidis, the Mandeans and the Zoroastrians, let alone the Christians (if any are left)? Surely the example of Palestine shows how difficult it is to divide a country along religious lines. This is a pipe dream wrapped in a quandary. LEN CHARLAP Princeton, N.J. The proposal by Colonel Greenwood to partition Iraq is a deja vu moment for those who recall the 2006 Times Op-Ed essay (Unity Through Autonomy in Iraq) of Joseph R. Biden Jr., then a senator, and Leslie H. Gelb to divide Iraq into three autonomous zones. In that article, the writers claimed that President George W. Bush had no strategy for victory in Iraq, and instead would hold on only long enough to pass the problem along to his successor. With amazing foresight, Mr. Biden and Mr. Gelb predicted that a troop pullout, before resolving the political situation, would precipitate chaos and a civil war that becomes a regional war. We are now in the depths of that predicted regional war ignited by the invasion of Iraq. In 2007, with Senator Sam Brownback, Mr. Biden went even further, pushing through a sense of the Senate resolution to separate Iraq into three regions, on a vote of 75 to 23. Colonel Greenwoods insights on the ISIS complications of the turmoil lend renewed credibility to the wisdom of the original division proposal, which to date is the only viable solution that has been offered to resolve this conflict. CARL MEZOFF Stamford, Conn. So, all we have to do is persuade the Shiite government to respect and give autonomy to the Sunni regions, and persuade all three parties the Sunnis, the Shiites and the Kurds to reach an equitable division of oil revenues? That is a pretty tall order that assumes that we have the authority to impose or to persuade. Which we dont. This is for Iraq, Iran, Syria, Turkey and the Kurds to figure out. If we can play a role at all, it must be hand in hand with the Russians as full partners, something many Americans (Secretary of State John Kerry excepted) appear to be unable to fathom, let alone to stomach. Only Russia and the United States in combination have sufficient legitimacy with all factions to make a settlement work. GEORGE VERNON Kazan, Russia The writer is a lawyer from Wisconsin who is currently giving lectures at a law school in Russia. As an Iraqi Shiite expatriate who goes frequently to many cities in various regions of Iraq, I feel that Colonel Greenwoods letter is very accurate in forecasting what will eventually happen. Iraqs fate, though, is directly linked to neighboring countries, including Syria and Lebanon. That implies that the 100-year-old Sykes-Picot agreement between the superpowers at that time the British and the French has to be renegotiated. By whom this time? Perhaps, the United States, Russia, Turkey and Iran; otherwise, each of these four countries could independently undermine a redesign of this volatile region. The United States is the only party capable of providing the necessary creativity and leadership for this redesign to happen. IMAGINE, for a moment, the presidential candidacy of a rich, brash real estate magnate and reality TV star named Donna Trump. Quizzically coifed and stubbornly sun-kissed, shes on her third marriage. Theres clear evidence that infidelity factored into the demise of the first, and among her children is one conceived when The Donna wasnt married to the other parent. Her sexual appetites have been prodigious, at least according to her frequent claims and vulgar cant. And she has a tendency disturbing on its own, even more so in someone who aspires to civic leadership to talk about men as sirloins and rump roasts of disparate succulence. She denigrates those who displease her on cosmetic grounds: So-and-so used to be a 9 but, with that male-pattern baldness and desperate comb-over, is down to a 6. So-and-so thinks hes covering up that paunch with baggy suits, but we all know better. How well do you think The Donna would do in the polls? How far into the race would she survive? The 2016 quest for the White House has included ample exegeses on gender and plenty of talk about double standards, but most if not all of those have pertained to Hillary Clinton. Is a raised, emphatic voice heard as something more grating when it emanates from a woman? Is toughness perceived as something more pernicious when the hide and stride are female? Realistically, no one studying politics should have expected the remaining Republican presidential contenders to speak up at their latest debate about the nations harrowing problem of mass shootings. For all their rambling conflict last Thursday, they did not say a word about the carnage, even if six more innocent citizens were shot dead just days before in Kalamazoo, Mich. Three other people were murdered by a gunman in Hesston, Kan., on the very night of the debate. But its been clear for months that facing up to the gun mayhem is a nonstarter for the Republican contenders except, perhaps, if one of the shooters turns out to have Islamic connections. That would very likely spark another bout of dire campaign warnings about the threat of international terrorism, as distinct from the domestic kind that is perpetrated so regularly it slips off the Republican radar. (How many dead this time? Too few for the usual thoughts and prayers bromides from the candidates.) President Obama has labored and even shed tears in pleading for just a bit of compromise to widen background checks on gun buyers and do more about the mental health problems underlying many of the mass shootings. He has also done what he can through executive actions. But the winner of the Republican nomination is almost guaranteed to be an ironclad defender of the gun lobby, pandering to voters by portraying the government as intent on trampling gun owners rights and confiscating their firearms. The decades-long crusade to end legal abortion in America after Roe v. Wade has again reached the Supreme Court. On Wednesday, the eight justices will hear a case challenging a 2013 Texas law that has already shut down more than half of the states 41 health clinics that perform abortions. Since Roe was decided in 1973, there have been countless efforts by anti-abortion activists to enact state laws that restrict abortion rights, often in the guise of protecting womens health. But few laws have gone as far as the Texas statute, which places so heavy a burden on hundreds of thousands of women across the state particularly those in poorer rural areas that it has effectively destroyed their constitutional right to an abortion. Lawmakers claimed that the law, which requires abortion clinics to meet the strict standards of ambulatory surgical centers and their doctors to have admitting privileges at local hospitals, was necessary to protect womens health. Everyone knows this is a lie. Even the laws backers have openly admitted it. Immediately after the law, known as SB5, passed, David Dewhurst, Texas lieutenant governor at the time, posted on Twitter a map of Texas showing that most abortion clinics across the state would be forced to close. He wrote, We fought to pass SB5 thru the Senate last night, & this is why! LEER, South Sudan THE killing field on the edge of town is marked by skulls and bones littering the ground, attracting vultures and hyenas. There is little clothing, for the soldiers stripped the men and boys they seized. Spines have been sliced in half and clavicles shattered, suggesting that victims were clubbed to death or hacked apart with machetes. Some of the skulls might even belong to five staff members of Doctors Without Borders who were murdered here. Atrocities happen all around the world, of course. But these were crimes against humanity committed by our side by the government of South Sudan that the United States helped to install. President Obama touched on a national crisis last week when he called on business leaders to help connect young people with summer jobs that give them not just money, but also valuable work experience. Private companies can help. But they are hesitant to hire inexperienced applicants at a time when seasoned, middle-aged workers who lost good jobs during the recession are desperate for any work. The only solution to youth unemployment is for Congress to reinstate some version of the summer jobs program it abandoned in the late 1990s. When summer jobs were plentiful, young people gained skills and experiences that made them attractive to future employers. Research has shown that people who fail to find work early in their lives run a risk of being unemployed and underemployed into early adulthood and beyond. The effect is far worse for people in poor, minority communities, where jobs are fewer and unemployment rates are many times the national average. In the 1990s, the federal summer jobs program provided work experience for more than half a million low-income young people around the country. The opportunities began to evaporate after 1998, when Congress de-emphasized the summer program to adopt what it viewed as a broader approach to helping young people. In most areas, enrollment in the summer programs dropped by 50 to 90 percent. Congress found a partial solution to chronic unemployment in the Recovery Act of 2009, which included a subsidy program that created more than 260,000 temporary jobs for young people and adults, many of whom were hired permanently once the subsidy ended. Unfortunately, Republicans blocked the extension of this valuable program. Im sometimes told that what Im proposing is already being covered in statistics courses, which have growing enrollments both in high schools and colleges. In 2015, nearly 200,000 students were taking advanced placement classes in statistics, over three times the number a dozen years ago. This might suggest we are on the way to creating a statistically sophisticated citizenry. So I sat in on several advanced placement classes, in Michigan and New York. I thought they would focus on what could be called citizen statistics. By this I mean coping with the numbers that suffuse our personal and public lives like figures cited on income distribution, climate change or whether cellphones can damage your brain. Whats needed is a facility for sensing symptoms of bias, questionable samples and dubious sources of data. My expectations were wholly misplaced. The A.P. syllabus is practically a research seminar for dissertation candidates. Some typical assignments: binomial random variables, least-square regression lines, pooled sample standard errors. Many students fall by the wayside. Its not just the difficulty of the classes. They cant see how such formulas connect with the lives theyll be leading. Fewer than a third of those enrolled in 2015 got grades high enough to receive credit at selective colleges. Something similar occurred when the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching created a statistics course for 19 community colleges in 2012. It was advertised as an alternative to remedial algebra, with its sadistic attrition rates. In Statways, as it was called, here is some of what students were asked to master: chi-square test for homogeneity in two-way tables, line multiple representation of exponential models. Even with small classes and extra support, almost half of the students got Ds or Fs or dropped the class. The Carnegie and A.P. courses were designed by research professors, who seem to take the view that statistics must be done at their level or not at all. They also know that citizen statistics is not the route to promotions. In the same vein, mathematics faculties at both high schools and colleges dismiss numeracy as dumbing down or demeaning. In fact, figuring out the real world deciphering corporate profits or what a health plan will cost isnt all that easy. Lanira Postell, who attends an evangelical church in Georgia, had relationships with women for years before God transformed not only my sexuality but my life, she told me. I expected her to launch into a testimony of her conversion from same-sex attraction, but thats not what happened. The biggest hurdle I had to jump over was letting go, submitting my full self to the will of God, and in doing that I had to let go of my desire to be straight, she said. Surrendering to God meant rejecting a black and white binary of sexual identity. Im still mentally, emotionally and spiritually attracted to women, she said, and calls herself bisexual with celibate same-sex attraction. Evangelicals particularly millennials like Ms. Postell, who is 26 have absorbed secular thinkers ideas about the fluidity of sexual expression. This is, in part, a counterintuitive legacy of traditional ex-gay ministries. When groups like Exodus promised that sexual desire could change, they pioneered queer theory in the evangelical world. Participants often acknowledged their struggles with relapse, and their testimonies point to the instability and changeability of their own identities rather than serve as a testament to heterosexuality, the ethnographer Tanya Erzen wrote in her study of ex-gay ministries, Straight to Jesus. Despite coming to terms with her bisexuality, Ms. Postell hopes for heterosexual marriage one day. But for other queer Christians, God demands a life of celibacy. In an era when the right worships the nuclear family and the left celebrates sexual authenticity and gay marriage, celibate gay Christians have no comfortable home on either side of the political spectrum. Theres little space for them even in Christian queer communities, said John Bagley, a board member of OneWheaton, a network of L.G.B.T. alumni and allies of Wheaton College, a conservative evangelical school. Their decision stands as an affront to the decision a lot of people have made. Many celibate gay evangelicals look outside the Protestant tradition and reach into ancient history for help in thinking about loneliness and desire. Wesley Hill, an assistant professor of biblical studies at Trinity School for Ministry in Pennsylvania and a celibate gay Christian, told me he draws inspiration from Catholic thinkers like the Dutch priest Henri Nouwen, who was attracted to men. Dr. Hill left his childhood denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention, for the Anglican Communion, which emphasizes its Catholic past and has a monastic tradition. In his most recent book, Spiritual Friendship, he followed in the footsteps of historians like John Boswell, who argued that the medieval church was a surprisingly hospitable place for gay Christians. Dr. Hill has called on evangelicals to resurrect the ancient Christian tradition of honoring some same-sex friendships as a holy covenant. Conservatives have reacted with skepticism. They think it would be a way of smuggling in same-sex erotic attraction, to find an acceptable way of being gay, having a lover, he told me. At the core of the most important Supreme Court abortion case in a generation is a series of questions about facts. In deciding the constitutionality of a law that would shut down most abortion clinics in a state in the name of protecting womens health, which facts about the laws rationale and its impact may a court consider? Which facts must a court consider? Are there facts a court must ignore entirely? Granted, thats not how the Texas abortion case that is scheduled to be argued on Wednesday is usually described. Ill explain. But first, for context, Ill put on the table a few facts about House Bill 2, the 2013 Texas law that requires abortion clinic doctors to have hospital admitting privileges and the clinics themselves to be fitted out as mini-hospitals, even those that simply dispense the pills that bring about a nonsurgical abortion. Fact No. 1: Texas has regulated abortion clinics for years through strict licensing requirements and annual inspections, achieving a commendable safety record. Along with other medical clinics that provide outpatient services, abortion clinics were required to have emergency procedures in place in case a patient needed hospital care. The clinics doctors could either have hospital admitting privileges (which most doctors who provide abortions cant get) or a transfer agreement with another physician who had admitting privileges. The law eliminated the transfer-agreement option for abortion clinics. Fact No. 2: If the law goes into effect, the abortion clinics in El Paso will close, leaving no abortion services from San Antonio west to the New Mexico border. This is no problem, Texas maintains, because women who would have gone to El Paso can travel about 12 miles farther, across the New Mexico line, to an abortion clinic in Santa Teresa, N.M. The fact that New Mexico has neither the admitting-privileges nor mini-hospital requirements the very requirements that Texas maintains are necessary to protect the safety of abortion patients seems not to concern the state. Residents should never feel beholden to the staff on site, said Mark B. Levine, a principal of Excel Bradshaw Management Group. The work should be done by the most qualified technician for that particular job. I understand your anxiety about alienating your super you will certainly need his help in the future. But you should be able to compare bids and interview other contractors without fear of retribution. Policies about this issue vary. Although some buildings have lax moonlighting policies, typically building staff are not supposed to do side jobs while they are on the clock. Some buildings do have a rule that prohibits such work to avoid these types of problems, said Adam D. Finkelstein, a Manhattan real estate lawyer. If you think that your buildings position is too vague, ask the board for clarity. Request that the managing agent send a letter to staff and residents explaining the buildings policy about side jobs. If you do hire the super, be aware of the risks. If a pipe springs a leak, does the super have adequate insurance to cover any damages? Does he have the necessary skills to do the work? Its easy to have the staff members taking care of these projects, Mr. Levine said, but its not always in the best interests of the building. Repairing Balconies The balconies in our co-op are being repaired, and the cost will be paid by all shareholders. Yet only 30 percent of the apartments have balconies. This means that roughly 70 percent of residents will not benefit from this expensive work. Is this a common practice? Upper West Side, Manhattan Few of us like to pay for things we might never use. Isnt that why people hate paying their taxes? But collective housing works because some of the costs are shared. If the elevator breaks, everyone chips in to fix it, even those who live on the first floor and have never set foot in the elevator. The same goes for the roof. When it leaks, the residents of the lower floors might not get wet, yet they still help pay for the patch job. In this case, balcony repairs are usually the responsibility of the co-op, even if only a handful of apartments have them. To recap: The F.B.I. essentially wants Apple to help crack open an iPhone used by one of the shooters in the rampage in San Bernardino, Calif., that ended with the deaths of 14 people last year. The way the F.B.I. wants Apple to do that is by writing some new software that bypasses a bunch of safeguards Apple created to help consumers phones stay safe in the first place. That is a thing that, for many reasons, Apple does not want to do. The whole thing is fascinating, as it cuts to the heart of so many issues in a rapidly changing age of new technologies, one in which we must decide the balance between our personal right to privacy and digital liberties, and the authority of the government to seek out information in the name of national security. But while I imagine it will take quite some time for the courts to pass judgment, Im already seeing some fairly clear lines in the sand being drawn. As a token tech reporter living and working in New York, the questions that most normal, nontechies have been asking me is, Why doesnt Apple care about finding the terrorists? Why is the company acting so anti-American? Thats starkly different than what I hear from most people in our industry, but Id love to hear your take on it and what youre hearing from people on the West Coast. Farhad: Maybe its just my sun-soaked California attitude, but to me Apples stand here makes sense. If it loses, it would be a very big deal. One thing thats clear is that we are not talking about just one phone. This is a test case. If the F.B.I. wins, it has a collection of other phones it would like Apple to unlock for it. The Manhattan district attorney has a lot more. I suspect many other D.A.s will be lining up for this service as well. Theres a good chance that most of these cases wont be about terrorism theyll be about more routine investigations that dont make headlines. OKLAHOMA CITY It is one of the prime paradoxes of the 2016 election: A twice-divorced candidate who has flaunted his adultery, praised Planned Parenthood and admitted to never asking for Gods forgiveness is the favorite of the Christian right. The candidate, Donald J. Trump, who won with evangelical voters in South Carolina and has their support in other Bible Belt states that will vote in primaries on Tuesday, has dominated the Republican campaign by appealing to the economically disenfranchised. But the promise of a Trump presidency that would gall the political elites is also resonating with the culturally disenfranchised, including many conservative Christians. Mr. Trumps success with evangelicals, who constitute the largest Republican blocs in six Southern states voting on Tuesday, poses a mortal threat to Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, whose campaign is built on these voters. Mr. Cruz will face nearly insurmountable odds if he fails to carry more than his home state on Super Tuesday, with the race afterward moving to less favorable territory. Mr. Trumps appeal with the religious right is debunking some long-held maxims about evangelical voters, showing that they are not monolithic; that they do not fall neatly in step with evangelical leaders, many of whom endorsed Mr. Cruz; and that within evangelical ranks lie fault lines of class and culture. Under party rules, most delegates are awarded proportionally to Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Sanders based on their shares of the vote in congressional districts. The most Democratic-leaning districts are accorded the most delegates; in many places these are majority black and Hispanic districts, and Mrs. Clinton is far more popular with those voters than is Mr. Sanders. Support from African-Americans is going to be the key for Secretary Clinton across the South, and South Carolina is a good indication of that, said former Gov. Richard Riley, who was the secretary of education under President Bill Clinton and is a supporter of Mrs. Clinton. Mrs. Clintons strong support among black voters will serve as the biggest roadblock to Mr. Sanderss chances for a surge in the weeks ahead. Clinton advisers believe she will trounce Mr. Sanders in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, which have contests on Tuesday, and, in doing so, move even further ahead of him in their race to capture the 2,383 delegates needed for the Democratic nomination. About 880 Democratic delegates are at stake on Tuesday, the largest number on any single day during the primary season. Mrs. Clinton also has backing from 453 superdelegates party officials whose support counts toward the nomination while Mr. Sanders has support from 20. Superdelegates can switch candidates at any time, and their support does not become official until the Democratic convention in July. Mrs. Clinton edged ahead of Mr. Sanders among white voters, although he prevailed with white men, according to exit polls by Edison Research. Mrs. Clinton lost among white voters in the last two states, New Hampshire and Nevada, but South Carolina allies like former Gov. Jim Hodges had said they were confident that her message about creating economic opportunities would appeal to white voters even though it was often targeted to black voters. But in interviews last week, several white Democrats were sharply critical of Mrs. Clinton and said they did not trust her, chiefly because of her use of a private email account and the American deaths in Benghazi, Libya, when she was secretary of state. While exit polls showed Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Sanders running evenly among voters who valued honesty and trustworthiness more than any other candidate qualities, some Clinton allies are deeply concerned that she could struggle with white men in the general election, and Republicans like Mr. Trump have made clear that they intend to sweep white Americans. KABUL, Afghanistan Two separate suicide bombings in Afghanistan on Saturday left at least 26 people dead and nearly 50 injured, officials said, days ahead of expected talks between the government and the Taliban. The first attack, in Asadabad near the governors compound in the eastern province of Kunar, killed at least 14 people and wounded 41 others, said Wahidullah Kalimzai, the provinces governor. Hours later, a suicide bomber in Kabul set off his explosives at the entrance of the Defense Ministrys headquarters as soldiers and officials were leaving their offices, killing at least 12 people and wounding eight, a statement from the ministry said. The Taliban were responsible for the Kabul attack, said a spokesman for the insurgents, Zabihullah Mujahid. No one claimed responsibility yet for the blast in Kunar. MOSCOW Tens of thousands of people flooded the streets of central Moscow on Saturday, joining a solemn march to commemorate the anniversary of the assassination of Boris Y. Nemtsov, a Russian opposition leader. Mr. Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister and vocal critic of President Vladimir V. Putin, was shot last year on a bridge near the Kremlin. The killing shocked and outraged members of Russias opposition. This murder was a result of systemic deficiencies in Russias political life, so solving it will put into light what needs to be changed, said Florid R. Makhmutov, a lawyer who carried a sign that read, We need to know who had ordered it. Opposition leaders are frequently denied permission to hold rallies in Moscow, and officials would not allow the procession across the bridge where Mr. Nemtsov was killed. Instead, the march followed a route through downtown Moscow. DUBLIN Early results in Irelands general election indicated Saturday that voters had firmly rejected the center-right government, but it remained unclear if any party will have enough seats in Parliament to form a government. The complexity of the Irish proportional representation system means that the final count in the 158-seat Dail may not be completed until the middle of next week. However, it is already certain that the governing coalition will lose too many seats to retain power, with the minority Labour Party suffering the highest casualties. Tom Curran, the main election organizer for Fine Gael, the senior party in the governing coalition, conceded that it would probably be a very disappointing day from the governments point of view. An exit poll, commissioned by The Irish Times newspaper and released Saturday, suggested that Fine Gael would remain the largest party in Parliament with 26 percent of the vote, followed by Fianna Fail with 23 percent. Early official results appeared to bear out the predictions. TEHRAN Preliminary results released Saturday in Iran indicated that reformist and moderate candidates were set to expand their influence after two important elections, state news media quoted the Interior Ministry as saying. More than 30 million Iranians voted Friday in the two elections, one for a new Parliament and the other for an influential clerical council. The elections were the first since the completion of an international agreement to curb Irans nuclear program that included the lifting of economic sanctions against the country, a deal supported by the reformist camp and opposed by hard-liners. Voter turnout for the two contests exceeded 60 percent, according to the Interior Ministry. The reformist and moderate list of candidates for the 290-member Parliament appeared to be headed for victory in the Tehran area, according to preliminary results announced by election officials and reported by the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran News Network. Representatives from Tehran, the capital, control 30 seats in Parliament and generally determine the political direction of the body. According to the early tallies, only one hard-line candidate was among the top 30 vote-getters in Tehran, the state news media reported. RAMALLAH, West Bank The past five months of Palestinian attacks on Israeli Jews have undermined the already weak political position of Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, who rules ineffectively over a divided people and failing institutions. The attacks that have killed more than two dozen Israelis and several others are an angry, frustrated response among Palestinian youth to ongoing Israeli occupation of the West Bank and expansion of its Jewish settlements, even as Mr. Abbass Palestinian Authority continues to cooperate with the Israelis on security and other matters. Talk of who will replace the nearly 81-year-old Mr. Abbas, and when, has surged. Arab countries like Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have provided financial and political support to Abbas rivals, including the former Gaza strongman, Muhammad Dahlan, now in exile in Abu Dhabi. Nathan Thrall, a senior analyst for the International Crisis Group, recently published a piece titled The End of the Abbas Era. There is discussion now of a more collective leadership, perhaps led by Nasser al-Kidwa, a nephew of the revered Yasir Arafat and a former foreign minister and Palestinian representative to the United Nations, alongside Majid Faraj, the current intelligence chief, and Salam Fayyad, the former prime minister and finance minister. BEIRUT, Lebanon Violence significantly decreased in much of northern and western Syria on Saturday, the first day of a truce brokered by the United States and Russia, even amid reports of scattered violations, including incidents of bombing, shelling and at least one aerial attack. Russia said it was suspending, at least for the day, the airstrikes it had been conducting for five months in support of the Syrian government, and residents in many areas enjoyed a few tentative hours of calm. Theres a sense of relief, said Hassan Taqieddine, an antigovernment activist in Douma, a besieged suburb of the capital, Damascus. He added that while there had been no shelling so far, most were staying indoors. Whenever we hear the sound of a generator, we think its a plane and our hearts shrink, he said. The relative lull came after several particularly bloody days, including dozens of airstrikes and barrel bombs dropped from government helicopters in the Damascus suburbs and in the northern province of Idlib. Why this is an effective spoofing strategy is unclear. Is it the hope that targets will think, Hmm. Im calling me. What do I want? Maybe the masterminds of this legerdemain figure that people will answer the phone out of curiosity. Perhaps it is just a technique to evade call blocking systems, on the theory that the one number you probably never thought to block was your own. Whatever the answer, its clear that autodialed calls remain a scourge. Two weeks ago, the Hagglers home phone and cellphone were called within seconds of each other. The Haggler briefly wondered if there was a way to place one phone on the other and get these con artists to fleece each other. In fact, the Haggler has surrendered in his personal fight against robocalling. For a few months last year, he dutifully entered the phone numbers of robocallers into number-blocking software at home. After about 25 numbers were cataloged, the Haggler gave up. The pace of calls never eased. These callers have an apparently limitless supply of numbers at their disposal, including yours. Blocking these numbers one at a time is pointless. The distressing reality is that these unwanted calls are a nuisance of American life that isnt going away. The best that can be done is to educate consumers in the hopes that the business dries up and is no longer lucrative. So this time we depart from our usual letter-and-intervention model for a public service announcement. Specifically, about the I.R.S. phone swindle. Since October 2013, about 900,000 people have reported getting a call from an I.R.S. phone swindler, and not all of these people hung up unscathed, the Treasury Department reported in January. Officials estimated that 5,000 victims had parted with a total of more than $26 million. The I.R.S. has been trying to get the word out about this fraud with a web page listing common tricks (https://www.irs.gov/uac/IRS-Urges-Public-to-Stay-Alert-for-Scam-Phone-Calls). SACRAMENTOA state lawmaker is carrying a bill that would let schools suspend or expel kids for sexting sharing sexually explicit material via text message. Democratic Assemblyman Ed Chau of Arcadia said Assembly Bill 2536 would also require that health classes include information on the perils of sharing scandalous content. The bill specifically deals with images or video and focuses on cases where the message has the effect of humiliating or harassing a pupil, the Sacramento Bee reported. Chau said California law isnt clear on whether principals can discipline pupils for sexting. He said his bill would spell out administrators authority and discretion and teach students about the dangers of sexting. SACRAMENTO Californias Supreme Court on Friday allowed Gov. Jerry Browns bid to put his plan to reduce the states prison population before voters in November. The high court acted after Brown warned that further delay could push voters consideration to 2018. The justices put on hold a lower court ruling that barred state Attorney General Kamala Harris from issuing the documents the title of the initiative and a summary of what it would do that would let Browns supporters gather the signatures needed to put his initiative on this years ballot. The Sacramento-based judge ruled that Brown improperly amended an existing initiative that would strip prosecutors of their power to decide if juveniles should be tried as adults, leaving that decision to judges. Brown added sweeping amendments in January to increase sentencing credits for adult inmates and allow earlier parole for non-violent felons. The Democratic governor said it is too late to start over and still collect the nearly 586,000 signatures needed for a ballot measure this year. The high court gave no explanation for granting Browns request in the one-page order, which allowed the signature-gathering process to begin while its justices consider the merits of the case. They could block his initiative later if they decide he acted improperly. The California District Attorneys Association said Brown has no one to blame but himself for the legal quagmire over whether he can proceed. The association and Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert sued, arguing that Brown violated a 2014 law that requires 30 days of public comment for new initiatives, and that amendments be reasonably related to the original initiative. Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne Chang agreed, saying Brown engaged in the type of mischief that the Legislature had in mind when lawmakers passed, and Brown signed, the law. Harris office said Brown met the laws requirements. Schubert said she believes the lower court ruling should stand. We believe when the (Supreme) Court hears the case and the arguments that they will agree, she said in a statement. The governor, who is termed out of office in 2018, has $24 million in his campaign account that he can spend on political campaigns. Thats still not enough to overcome a delay in collecting signatures because of competition from numerous pending ballot initiatives, said James Harrison, the attorney for Brown and the initiatives other proponents. Seventy years ago, when Mountain View had more orchards than oscillators and actor Ronald Reagan was being cast as co-star with a chimp named Bonzo, liberal journalist Carey McWilliams lauded California as The Great Exception. McWilliams had written about the oppression of migrant farm workers and the shameful wartime internment of Japanese-Americans, so he wasnt blind to the warts in his love affair with our home state. Still, he marveled at its uniqueness, which had endured in the century since the world rushed in to see the elephant. That amorphous quality which cannot be quantified has survived: We are, simply, different. Vive la difference. When Reagan rose from cinematic humility to Americas commander in chief, his neoconservative disciples hailed American Exceptionalism: Our nation, they said, was not only different, but superior to all others and so was ordained to lead (and dominate) the world. California exceptionalism does not presume superiority, nor is it chauvinistic. The state Capitol gift shop has no run on flags of the Bear Republic, and I havent heard California, Here I Come sung with gusto since a 1960 political rally for John F. Kennedy. Yet we take it for granted that, in every corner of the Earth, California remains a magical word. Immigrants of the world still rush in to the new Ellis Island from every one of the United Nations, despite the high cost of living that makes per capita poverty here greater than in Mississippi. They still come, and stay, because the real California Dream has not failed. It was never a promise, a guarantee, of prosperity, just a prospect of mobility and opportunity and personal freedom. And that hasnt changed. We are a society of relatively harmonious diversity unlike any other on Earth. Every language and dialect, some unidentifiable even to the well-traveled, can be heard on our streets. Here, too, evangelical Christians and Orthodox Jews are neighbors to Sunni and Shiite Muslims, atheists and agnostics, and maybe even a few Druids. We have some CEOs sporting $5,000 Armani suits and others dressed in T-shirts. The freedom that marks our California exceptionalism puts us in the global vanguard of social responsibility, cultural trendsetting, innovative lifestyle and daring economic enterprise. Our diversity is also economic an economy that ranks among the top 10 largest nations. Besides the financial benefits of Silicon Valley and Hollywood, 250 million tourists annually spend over $100 billion here. While all those Chinese-made goods flood into America, California exports to China $16 billion in American products including the produce of our 76,000 farms. Fortunes are still made here; 300,000-plus millionaires live and work among us, as do 100 billionaires. Yes, they are our 1 percent, looking sometimes nervously at the discontented shrinking middle class. Like America at large, our wealth is not equitably shared. Walk down most any street, and see the Help Wanted and Now Hiring signs. Some of those jobs were taken by the 20,000 new hires of our solar energy industry, labor that benefits society as well as workers. But far too many are bottom-rung gigs that do not offer a living wage. Still we do offer genuine opportunity, a potential ladder. There are good jobs on higher rungs, but, unfortunately, many of them go begging because of the skills gap, the states greatest point of weakness. Our educational system needs rethinking. But were good at that, at thinking outside the box in particular, a federal, standardized box that, for us, should not be holy writ. We might foster a new social movement of parental responsibility, from the moment of birth, for educational and mental development. We could strive for an ambitious but attainable goal of universal higher education, while thinking about the unthinkable that not every college-bound young person needs to know the same dull facts in order to climb our ladder of opportunity. We can do all this because we are California. As the nation despairs, we can solve grave problems in our own way, because we are California. We have always embraced the new and different and that is no small thing. Maybe the country at large is today short of miracles that once happened only in America. But here, in our home, as in Carey McWilliams day, the miraculous still happens only in California, the Great Exception still. William W. Lockyer is a former state treasurer, attorney general, Democratic president pro Tem of the state Senate and is now of counsel at Brown Rudnick. BEIRUT A cease-fire brokered by the United States and Russia went into effect across Syria on Saturday, marking the biggest international push to reduce violence in the countrys devastating conflict, but the Islamic State group and al-Qaidas branch in Syria, the Nusra Front, were excluded. The cease-fire aims to bring representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition back to the negotiating table in Geneva for talks on a political transition. The U.N.s envoy, Staffan de Mistura, announced that peace talks would resume on March 7 if the cessation of hostilities largely holds. If it does, it would be the first time international negotiations have brought any degree of quiet in Syrias five-year civil war. But success requires adherence by multiple armed factions and the truce is made more fragile because it allows fighting to continue against the Islamic State group and Nusra Front, which could easily re-ignite broader warfare. The Syrian government and the opposition, including nearly 100 rebel groups, have said they will abide by the cease-fire despite serious skepticism about chances for success. Speaking to reporters in Geneva after the truce took hold at midnight, de Mistura said initial reports indicated that within minutes both Damascus and the nearby rebel-held town of Daraya suddenly had calmed down. He said there was a report of one incident that his team was investigating but did not give details. Opposition activists on the ground also reported early adherence to the truce. Mazen al-Shami, an activist near Damascus, said an opposition-held eastern suburb of the capital known as Eastern Ghouta was quiet for the first time in years. The Ghouta region, which includes the sprawling suburb of Douma, has been the scene of intense fighting during Syrias conflict. An Associated Press crew in Damascus said the sounds of explosions stopped three minutes before midnight. An Aleppo-based opposition media collective, Aleppo24, said Russian warplanes left Aleppo skies at 12:19 a.m. There were also some reports of violations, which could not be independently confirmed, but they appeared to be relatively limited. Opposition activist Mohammed al-Sibai, who is based in the central province of Homs, told the AP that the cease-fire was violated 15 minutes after it went into effect in the town of Talbiseh, which was being subjected to shelling by government artillery based around the town. However, he said things later quieted down. Significantly, there were no immediate reports of any airstrikes. Ahmad al-Masalmeh, an opposition activist in Daraa in the countrys south said intense fighting suddenly stopped at midnight when the cease-fire went into effect. In the first half hour of the cease-fire the situation is relatively calm but tense, al-Masalmeh said via Skype. He later said Syrian troops fired tank shells at the village of Lajat in Daraa province, wounding two people. This is a regime that cannot be trusted, al-Masalmeh said. The Local Coordination Committees, an umbrella opposition activist group, also reported that Syrian troops violated the truce in Daraa. Less than an hour before the truce was set to begin, the 15-member Security Council unanimously endorsed the agreement worked out between the United States and Russia. De Mistura told the Security Council via video conference from Geneva that he hoped the cease-fire would provide a chance for humanitarian aid to reach those battered by Syrias brutal war and allow for a political solution. He later told a news conference that operation centers in Moscow, Washington, Amman, Geneva and the northwestern Syrian city of Latakia were collecting information on any truce violations and would share them with the United States and Russia, which are responsible for addressing the incidents. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the U.S. didnt expect to be able to judge the cease-fires success or failure within the first days or even weeks. We do anticipate were going to encounter some speed bumps along the way, Earnest said. There will be violations. On Friday, hours before the cease-fire came into effect, warplanes unleashed airstrikes against rebel-held positions in the suburbs of the Syrian capital and near the northern city of Aleppo. The last barrages came as the main Syrian opposition and rebel umbrella group said dozens of factions 97 groups in all had agreed to abide by the truce. The High Negotiations Committee, or HNC, said a military committee has been formed to follow up on adherence. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the warplanes in Fridays strikes were believed to be Russian. The Kremlin did not comment on that report but denied allegations that the Russian air force bombed civilian positions east of Damascus the previous day. The rebel-held Damascus suburb of Douma was hit 40 times on Friday, the Observatory said, along with other areas east of the capital, killing at least eight people, including three women and four children. Al-Shami, the activist based in the area, said the warplanes were Russian, adding that they carried out some 60 air raids. He said 25 strikes targeted Douma. The air raids intensified after the revolutionary factions said they will abide by the cease-fire, al-Shami said via Skype. Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for the U.N. secretary-general, told reporters in New York that the increase of military activity was tragic but unfortunately not surprising. Late Thursday, U.S. President Barack Obama expressed hope that the cease-fire would lead to a political settlement to end the civil war and allow a more intense focus on battling the Islamic State group. He said he doesnt expect the truce to immediately end hostilities after years of bloodshed between forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad and rebels who want to end his reign. Announced just this week, the cease-fire is a test of whether the parties are committed to broader negotiations over a political transition, a new constitution and holding free elections, Obama said. He said Syrias future cannot include Assad as president, which is a chief point of contention with Russia and Iran, who support the Syrian leader. We are certain that there will continue to be fighting, Obama said, noting that IS, the Nusra Front and other militant groups are not part of the negotiations and the truce. Obama put the onus on Russia and its allies including the Assad government to live up to their commitments under the agreement. The elusive cease-fire deal was reached only after a monthslong Russian air campaign that the U.S. says strengthened Assads hand and allowed his forces to retake territory, altering the balance of power in the Syrian civil war. The world will be watching, Obama said. Speaking to reporters in Washington on Friday, State Department spokesman Mark Toner called it put up or shut up time for Russia to prove its seriousness about ending the fighting and starting a political transition by adhering to its pledge not to target groups that we consider the moderate opposition. In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country will keep hitting terrorist organizations in Syria even after the truce is implemented. The opposition umbrella, HNC, said in a statement that the Syrian regime and its allies should not exploit the (truce) and continue with their hostilities against opposition factions under the pretext of fighting terrorists. After 20 years, Bernie Sanders wants to put welfare back on the national agenda, seeing a chance to use his message of economic equality to undermine Hillary Clintons base of support among black voters. Primaries across the South over the next few days give him what might be the best chance hell get. Hundreds of thousands of Southern families are living on less than $2 in cash a day as a result of legislation President Bill Clinton signed in 1996, according to new research by Johns Hopkins Universitys Kathryn Edin and University of Michigans Luke Shaefer. In South Carolina this week, ahead of that states primary election on Saturday, Sanders brought up the 20-year-old law in a press conference. What welfare reform did, in my view, was to go after some of the weakest and most vulnerable people in this country, he said on Wednesday, noting that Hillary Clinton, the former first lady and his rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, supported the legislation. Black voters will be crucial in the upcoming contests 55 percent of Democratic primary voters in South Carolina in 2008 were black, according to exit polls and black Democrats in other states have voted overwhelmingly for Clinton so far. Sanderss calls for economic transformation have not convinced this group of voters to support him, even though theyre disproportionately likely to live in poverty. Sanders, however, is trying to build a case for their support by criticizing President Clintons welfare reform policies, which he voted against. Its important. If people are going to elect a president, they want to know, What is the history? Sanders said the day before in an interview with The Washington Post. The profound and enduring consequences of that law, and of the rest of Clintons policies on poverty, are only just becoming clear. It is a complicated legacy. Economists credit Clintons decisions with reducing poverty overall and helping many people find work. Yet recent evidence suggests that financial conditions have worsened for those who could not find work the poorest of the poor. Some observers are sounding a note of concern. People who were able to find work, either because they live in places where work was available, or because they were better qualified than the average welfare recipient, have done pretty well. said Christopher Jencks, an expert on poverty at Harvard University. People who cant find work are where they were before they had welfare at all. Thats a big problem. People have no means of support for themselves or their children. In 2004, Jencks was one of the authors of an article that declared, Welfare reform is now widely viewed as one of the greatest successes of contemporary social policy. I was wrong, he said. A disgrace President Clintons law required welfare recipients to participate in various work-related programs, such as vocational training, community service, and employment searches, in order to get financial help. States were free to determine the specific requirements, and they had broad authority over how the money dedicated to public assistance would be spent. The reforms had broad public support, but the new system had cracks, and some people fell through them. Those who couldnt work for whatever reason were ineligible for any kind of assistance. As a result, a certain kind of grave poverty has reappeared in the United States. Sanders said that the number of people living in extreme poverty has doubled under President Clintons reforms. If anything, that was an understatement. Edin and Shaefers research shows that the number of people living on $2 a day or less in cash has increased more than twofold, to 1.6 million households. Its a disgrace, Edin said. Getting an accurate estimate of the cash available to households that have so little is difficult, but the federal Survey of Income and Program Participation suggests that their numbers have steadily increased. To some degree, expansions of other government assistance programs have mitigated the circumstances of families with little cash income. President Obamas health-care reform law, for instance, insured many people living in poverty or close to it through Medicaid. Congress has also made more people eligible to receive food stamps. Some families may be able to live in public housing. Nonetheless, broader analyses of severe poverty that account for in-kind assistance besides cash also show a worsening situation for the neediest. While the poorest of the poor have suffered, other low-income Americans have benefited. Many experts think Clintons policies reduced poverty overall. In particular, Clinton expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit, greatly improving standards of living for many people in poverty. During President Clintons time in office, the African American child poverty rate fell 25 percent, the unemployment rate was nearly cut in half, and the median income of African American families increased by more than 30 percent, Maya Harris, one of Hillary Clintons senior advisers, said in a statement. The improvement in black families financial circumstances during the Clinton administration was in part due to a vigorous economy, but the tax credit helped substantially, Edin said. The share of unmarried mothers with no more than a high-school diploma who were working at some point in a given year increased from a little more than half when Clinton took office to about three-quarters at the end of his tenure, according to an analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Economists have attributed much of this increase to the tax credit. Those womens wages and the additional cash they received in the form of tax refunds have made life much easier for many poor families, with lasting benefits for their children. A number of researchers have found that children in families that receive the credit do better on standardized tests in school and are more likely to attend college. In other words, the tax credit can break the cycle of poverty at least for the children of parents who are able to claim it by finding work. Down and out in Dixie For those Americans unable to work and who were ineligible for government assistance as a result, the effects were devastating. That has been clear in the South, which has the greatest poverty rate of any U.S. region. Edin reported that about 4 in 10 households surviving on less than $2 in cash a day live in the South. The prevalence of extreme poverty there is partly a result of how state policymakers used the authority they gained under President Clintons reform. Clinton replaced traditional welfare with a new program called Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. In order to comply with the law, states either had to place a certain number of beneficiaries in training, job-placement or community service programs, or they had to stop issuing payments to those recipients. For many states, it was easier and cheaper to reduce the rolls. State policymakers imposed strict requirements on would-be beneficiaries to discourage them from applying and making it difficult for recipients to remain in the program. For instance, many food banks directors and charitable organizations dont bother telling the poor to apply, Edin said. As an example, the number of people receiving assistance has plummeted in Georgia, where voters cast ballots Tuesday. Using the authority they gained under Clintons law, policymakers in Georgia virtually eliminated assistance for adults beginning in 2004. The number on the rolls declined by 93 percent over five years, according to official data. Only about a third of people who were leaving the program were finding work. Today, applicants in Georgia must complete an onerous structured employment search before they can receive benefits. The search often involves spending 40 hours a week for several weeks looking for a job. You cant take three weeks, Edin said. Youve got to actually go scrounge for stuff so your kids dont starve. Although people of color are disproportionately likely to be living on less than $2 a day, about half of people at that economic level are white nationwide. Extreme poverty is multiracial in the South, as well. Youve got a lot a lot of really vulnerable whites in the Appalachian mountains, she said. Youve got a lot of really poor blacks everywhere from the Piedmont to the Lowcountry all the way over to Memphis and the Delta. So far, at least, there is little indication that black voters are persuaded by Sanderss critique of Clinton in the South or elsewhere. Clinton is heavily favored to win in South Carolina. Exit polls suggest she won 76 percent of the black vote in Nevadas primary, a decisive margin in her victory over Sanders there last week. One obstacle for Sanders could be the fact that President Clintons reform was popular across race and class. Even the countrys poorest people embrace the principle embodied in the legislation: that work is part of what it means to be an American. A poll conducted by The Washington Post, the Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard in 1995 found that 81 percent of Americans strongly felt that the welfare system should be reformed, including 73 percent of black respondents. In another poll conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2002, about half of both black and white respondents agreed that the reform had improved the welfare system. Just 26 percent of black participants and 16 percent of white participants said the reform had worsened the system. These favorable figures likely reflect the fact that Americans broadly agree on the importance of work. Among households with less than $2 a day in income, 7 in 10 have an adult who has spent a month or more in the past year working in the formal sector, Edin said. Many of those positions are temporary. Some poor parents might find they cant hold down a job, given the responsibilities of caring for their families. That doesnt prevent them from trying. This is how deeply the poor, even the extreme poor, value work, she said. Theyre trying to make work work. sanders-welfare Keywords: Bernie Sanders, William J. Clinton, Hillary Clinton Sen. Ted Cruz quotes Scarface and boasts of his beer pong prowess. He likes to tell the tale of his own student debt, retired at last just a few years ago. He predicts that there aint no way on earth that Hillary Clinton, 23 years his senior, would dominate the youth vote against him in a general election. As Cruz seeks to expand his support in his pursuit of Donald Trump, looking beyond his base of evangelicals and Tea Party members, he has moved aggressively to court the younger voters more often associated with his more boyish-faced rival, Sen. Marco Rubio. And with party leaders worried that Cruzs hard-right stances would doom them in the fall, Cruzs expectation of success or at least a non-rout with one of President Barack Obamas key voting blocs is central to the rebuttal. We won millennials, Cruz told voters in New Hampshire days after his Iowa win. Thats what its going to take to win the general election. The gambit has obstacles. Cruzs brand has rarely been youthful exuberance. A sure way to astonish voters is to inform them that Cruz and Rubio were born months apart. But he is a sprightly 45, allies say, despite any suggestions that he was born in a starched shirt. His message is a natural fit, they hope, for young Americans frustrated by their job prospects under Obama or struggling to pay for school. Cruzs campaign insists he is uniquely suited to bring younger voters into the Republican tent with both a libertarian streak that can attract a loyal campus following and a cache of pop-culture references deployed with the fluency of a mostly self-aware professor. Too many Republicans take themselves too seriously, he said aboard his campaign bus not long ago, sipping a cold drink. I like to tell jokes. I like to do lousy impressions. Still, on several issues, including his opposition to same-sex marriage and legal status for undocumented immigrants, Cruz finds himself at odds with the majority of younger voters, who have long sided with Democrats generally, even against more moderate Republicans. Obama defeated Mitt Romney and Sen. John McCain by 23 and 34 points among voters under 30, according to exit polls. Part of the remedy, Cruz said, has been to emulate the man he hopes to replace at least in campaign strategy. He has consciously modeled his campaigns after Obamas 2008 primary run against Clinton, praising the presidents focus on a grass-roots, guerrilla campaign that empowered young people. Cruzs presidential campaign, known to outpace most rivals in field and data operations, has invested heavily in building a youth army of sorts, with 30 millennial state directors and 4,000 members. According to a memo circulated by the campaign this week, Cruz beat Rubio among voters under 30 in each of the first three states, and beat Trump in that age bracket in Iowa and South Carolina. While Rubio claims to be the agent of generational change, the data show it is actually Ted Cruz, the memo said. More critically, Cruz argued in the interview, history is bending his way: Young voters, for example, have become more likely to support restrictions on abortion in recent years. (In a New York Times/CBS poll last September, 75 percent of Americans younger than 30 said abortion should be legal at least some of the time, down from 86 percent in 1990.) He has told crowds across the country of his familys financial struggles as he strained to pay for college I came out of school with a mortgage and no house, he likes to say and of the student debts that he settled about six years ago. And when pressed on issues like the legalization of marijuana at his events, he has often emphasized his preference to defer to the states, creating at least the perception of a softer tone. I personally oppose marijuana legalization, he said aboard his bus in New Hampshire last month. But Im a constitutionalist. And under the Constitution, I think it is a decision for the states. Interviews with dozens of young Cruz admirers reveal a range of motivations. Several said they were grateful that he had stood up to a political system with which they had grown disillusioned. But it is also clear that the bookish Cruz is particularly appealing to a certain sort of young voter, or soon-to-be voter. Kyle McCarter, a 17-year-old volunteer at a Cruz event in Fort Mill, South Carolina, said Cruzs youth appeal has to do with the terminology he uses. He named, as an example, a digestible definition of a value-added tax given by Cruz, a Texas senator. Others cheered Cruzs rapier wit on the debate stage, honed for years as a college debate champion. He can spit some pretty good game, one millennial, Peter Charles, said at an event in Milford, New Hampshire, likening Cruzs verbal dexterity to a scene from an Eminem movie. If talking on the political stump was a rap battle like, youve seen 8 Mile? it seems he can really let it flow. In fact, Cruz is not the most prolific rhymer in the campaigns corner. A palpable hint of his grass-roots support, he suggested, was the production of a couple of different rap songs that people have written organically. Theyre actually really well done, he said. A glance at the lyrics reveals some basis for his review. For life, liberty, and the pursuit of the soul, The truth we behold, From youthful to old, Get bold. And get yourself on Ted Cruz control. The long-disappeared Jordan Marsh blueberry muffins may be making a comeback. And customers could soon be shopping for apparel and goods from department stores such as Bullocks, I-Magnins and the May Co. A Newport Beach man who revives lapsed brands said Friday he has reached a court settlement with Macys that grants him the trademarks to seven defunct department store brands. Ellia Kassoff, owner of Strategic Marks, said he plans to launch an online fashion mall and is exploring possible store openings with investors. Details of the settlement remained confidential. But Kassoff and his attorney said he gained the trademarks to four West Coast department store brands May Co., Robinsons, Bullocks and I. Magnin. In addition, he won the rights to former Boston department store Jordan Marsh, East Coast brand Bambergers and Houston department store Foleys. The stores were among nearly two dozen that disappeared after merging into the Macys brand through a series of consolidations over the past several decades. Under the settlement, Macys retains rights to such big name department stores as Marshall Fields of Chicago, Abraham & Straus and Filenes Basement. Kassoff who last year resurrected Hydrox cookies applied for trademarks for the closed department stores under federal rules that allow anyone to scoop up a brand thats been abandoned for at least three years. Macys sued Kassoff, asserting he simply hijacked the brand names. Kassoff countersued, saying Macys had abandoned those brands when it changed the store names. The case ended Monday after hours of negotiations before a federal judge in San Francisco. Kassoff said he plans to launch on online store called retrofashionmall.com and to begin selling Jordan Marshs once-popular blueberry muffins on the East Coast and online. I couldnt be happier, Kassoff said in a statement Friday. Our vision is to bring back the shopping experiences the customers and loyal employees once loved. Contact the writer: 714-796-7734 or jcollins@ocregister.com SAN DIEGO The San Diego Humane Society is helping rescue 30 dogs from the South Korean dog meat trade. San Diego Humane Society president Gary Weitzman said the dogs were destined for slaughter at a meat farm in South Korea before being rescued by Human Society International and flown to the United States. San Diego Humane Society workers flew to San Francisco and transported 21 dogs to San Diego. Another nine are on the way. According to Humane Society International, the operator of the dog meat farm entered into an agreement to shut the facility down and relinquish all the dogs. About 250 dogs total are being sent to the U.S. and Canada. The group said the dogs were kept in wire cages with no bedding or protection from extreme cold temperatures. ORANGE In his final State of the University address on Friday, outgoing Chapman University President James Doti gave a packed Memorial Hall audience a rundown of the campuss greatest hits over his last 25 years. And he also offered a preview of things that would further push the one-time small college toward becoming one of the countrys top institutions. Doti, one of the longest-serving university presidents in the nation, will step down Aug. 31 and return to teaching. During his 90-minute speech, Doti reflected on toughening up Chapmans student-selection process, creating successful law and film schools, and leading massive construction programs. Doti, 69, also unveiled conceptual drawings of a new upperclassmen residence. He discussed the construction of the $137 million Center for Science and Technology building that will break ground in April, and elaborated on his hopes of turning Chapman into a health-sciences powerhouse maybe one day even opening up a medical school. We couldnt do any of this if we had to rely on staying in Orange, Doti said, alluding to his successful efforts to acquire property in Irvine several years ago for the Rinker Health Science Campus. Its difficult to dream big dreams when youre confined in space. The university has had push back from some in the surrounding neighborhoods in Orange on its desire to expand. Chapman Chancellor Daniele Struppa will take over the reins from Doti. I really believe the past informs the present as well as the future, Doti said in his opening remarks. Vision guided every change at Chapman. The universitys physical and academic growth since Doti became president has not come cheap. But Doti is a successful fundraiser: He helped bring in $55 million for the Fowler School of Law, $26 million for its Beckman Hall, and $20 million for the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. Under Dotis leadership, Chapman has added six colleges, seen enrollment jump from 2,000 to 8,000-plus. The university has gone from admitting all students and trying to nurture under-performing ones, to aiming for elite academic status one that can attract top-tier students and Nobel laureate professors. One of the universitys most important successes during his tenure, he said, is increasing the graduation rate from 37 percent in 1991 to 75 percent today. When Doti first took over Chapman, the university underwent a 180-degree shift in what we were trying to be, he said. For an institution to be successful, you have to know where you are going. Near the end of his address, Doti said he is looking forward to joining the Chapman economics faculty: The highest calling is being a teacher. Then, he gave a nod to Struppa and the universitys goal to continue its ascent up the academic ladder. I am absolutely certain my successor will get Chapman to that level, Doti said. The best years are ahead of us. Contact the writer: 714-796-6979 or chaire@ocregister.com MALIBU, Calif. A 22-year-old inmate firefighter died a day after a large rock struck her as she battled a brush fire in Southern California, corrections officials said Friday. Shawna Lynn Jones was taken by helicopter to UCLA Medical Center with major head injuries Thursday after she was hit by a rock that fell about 100 feet from the hillside above her, said Inspector Randall Wright of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. She was taken off life support after her organs were donated, as her family requested, said Bill Sessa, a spokesman with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Jones is the third inmate firefighter to die on a fire line since the nations oldest and largest inmate firefighting program began in 1943. Her death is a tragic reminder of the danger that inmate firefighters face when they volunteer to confront fires to save homes and lives, Corrections Secretary Scott Kernan said in a statement offering condolences to her family. She was a Los Angeles County jail inmate who joined the firefighting program in August 2015. Officials say she was behind bars for drug possession. The Sheriffs Department said it was reviewing the circumstances of Jones death. She died fighting a 10-acre fire in the Santa Monica Mountains above Malibu during an unusually summerlike Southern California winter that has increased the danger of wildfires. The fire was reported before dawn Thursday in an area of rugged slopes and peaks several miles inland from the luxury estates along the Malibu coast. Jones was housed at a firefighting facility that is one of five jointly operated with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The Malibu facility is one of three statewide that house a total of 195 female firefighters. They are among about 3,500 male and female inmate firefighters statewide who use hand tools to cut containment lines to stop the spread of wildfires. Nigerias army said two soldiers and 37 Boko Haram Islamist militants were killed in an attack on a camp used by the insurgents at Kotokuma in the northeast. The troops cleared the terrorists camp which was equipped with medical facility, an improvised explosive devices factory, fuel dump, mechanical workshop, generators and several water points, Colonel Sani Usman, an army spokesman, said in an e-mailed statement on Saturday. Soldiers also destroyed three vehicles laden with IEDs meant for suicide bombings, he said. Nigerias government says its making progress in its battle against Boko Haram, which has waged a violent seven-year campaign, mainly in the northeast of the country, to impose its version of Islamic law on Africas largest economy. This week, President Muhammadu Buhari said Nigeria and its neighbors have significantly destroyed the fighting capacity of the insurgents, who have killed thousands since 2009. A Santa Ana man pleaded guilty Thursday to federal charges for his role in a scheme to defraud homeowners looking to refinance their mortgages. Serj Geuttsoyan, 33, is the third of several defendants who admitted to operating multiple California-based companies that, beginning in March 2009, claimed to provide home loan modifications and other debt relief services to homeowners nationwide. He was arrested last month and pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. He was ordered to pay $3 million in restitution. Two other defendants, Mehdi Moarefian, a.k.a. Michael Miller, 36, and Daniel Shiau, a.k.a. Scott Decker, 30, both of Irvine, pleaded guilty to the same charge last week. Connecticut homeowners were told to pay upfront fees ranging from $2,500 to $4,300 for services they never received, a Justice Department statement said. They were falsely told they had already qualified for the loan modifications with favorable rates, their loans had already been negotiated with lenders and that they would receive help from government programs such as the Troubled Assets Relief Program and the Home Affordable Modification Program. If the loan modifications fell through, the homeowners were told they would be refunded the fees paid. To avoid detection by authorities, Geuttsoyan and his co-conspirators used fake names and changed their business names, the statement said. Homeowners were told to mail checks to mailboxes in states other than California. Federal agents seized $350,000 from bank accounts, $362,000 from a Bitcoin account, a $100,000 cashiers check and a 2013 Ferrari 458 Italia from the defendants during the arrest. Geuttsoyan faces 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced May 19. Contact the writer: 714-796-2478 or lcasiano@ocregister.com TEHRAN, Iran Iranians voted Friday in the countrys first election since its landmark nuclear deal with world powers, deciding whether to further empower moderates backing President Hassan Rouhani or support hard-liners long suspicious of the West. The elections for Irans parliament and a powerful clerical body known as the Assembly of Experts are tightly controlled by the establishment headed by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which ultimately determines who can run. But within the range allowed by the Islamic Republic, the voting may provide a referendum on Rouhanis policies and his promises that the nuclear deal, the lifting of most international sanctions and a greater degree of opening to the West can help boost a battered economy a top concern for most voters. Nearly 55 million of Irans 80 million people were eligible to vote. Participation figures and other statistics were not immediately available, though Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli predicted late Thursday there would be a turnout of 70 percent. Polls had been scheduled to close at 6 p.m., but the Interior Ministry said it would extend voting time until 11:45 p.m. in the capital. Authorities said election workers had begun counting ballots after that. In Tehran, voter Hossein Gerami said he backed reformists to support Rouhani. The country suffered under hard-liners, he said. Today is the time to change Iran for the better. Sakineh Mamoudi, who backed hard-liners, said she worried about Western influence growing in Iran. I voted for those who protect the values of the revolution and oppose foreign domination of the country because I dont want pro-West figures to get control of the parliament, Mamoudi said. The nuclear deal has been the centerpiece of Rouhanis policies since he was elected in 2013 and the sealing of the deal won Iran the lifting of most international sanctions against it. Throughout, he and the negotiating team had to push against hard-liner opposition. Supreme leader Khamenei eventually gave his consent to the final result. Now reformists want to build on that opening to the world, promising improvements in the economy. Despite the nuclear deal, Iran and the West have a long history of enmity, fueled by the 1953 Britain and U.S.-engineered coup that installed the shah and the 1979 Islamic Revolution and takeover of the American Embassy. A billboard put up in Tehran before the election showed the face of Britains Queen Elizabeth II replaced with that of a camel, warning voters about foreign meddling. The hard-line camp is largely made up of loyalists of Rouhanis predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who during his two terms in office avidly stoked tensions with the U.S. and cracked down on internal dissidents. The vote is unlikely to radically change Iran, but reformists and moderates peeling away seats from hard-liners could help Rouhani push through his domestic agenda. Reformists say that about 200 of its 3,000 would-be candidates were allowed to run after the unelected Guardian Council vetted and disqualified many, often on the grounds of insufficient loyalty to the Islamic Republic. That means they are unlikely to attain a majority but could still win a substantial bloc of parliaments 290 seats with their allies. Lawmakers serve four-year terms. Voters also picked representatives for the Assembly of Experts, an 88-seat body of clerics officially charged with selecting the replacement for the supreme leader from among its members. The assembly is elected every eight years and there is a chance its members may need to find a successor for the ayatollah, who is 76 years old and underwent prostate surgery in 2014, renewing speculation about his health. Extending voting hours suggests a high turnout, which many believe could aid moderates and reformists. There was no immediate independent survey of all of Irans 53,000 polling stations, however. Iran does not allow international election observers to monitor polls, which the Interior Ministry conduct. On social media, Iranians shared images of filled-out ballots, inked fingers and long lines at some polling places. The voting largely appeared to move smoothly, with Iranians using their mobile phones and campaign lists to write the names of their favored candidates on the blue parliamentary and brown Assembly of Experts ballots in mosques, subway stations, schools and other polling sites. Even Mahdi Karroubi, an opposition leader under house arrest since 2011, two years after he challenged the results of Irans presidential election, voted via a mobile ballot box brought to his home, Interior Ministry official Hossein Ali Amiri told the state-run IRNA news agency. Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters, was among the first to vote in the capital, Tehran. Whoever likes Iran and its dignity, greatness and glory should participate in this election, he said after casting his ballot. We have enemies who are eyeing us greedily. Turnout in the elections should be such that our enemy will be disappointed and will lose its hope. People should be observant and vote with open eyes. Rouhani, himself a candidate in the Assembly of Experts election, also addressed journalists after voting, saying he expected an epic turnout. Whoever comes out of the ballot boxes, either in the parliament or the Assembly of Experts, with the votes of the people will be respected by us and everyone will respect the votes of the majority of the people, he said. Whatever the outcome, Iran still faces major economic challenges, like bad bank debts, high unemployment and pushing through subsidy reforms, said Cliff Kupchan, the chairman of the Eurasia Group. The election will either reinforce or atrophy the momentum that Rouhani has from the nuclear deal, Kupchan said. That momentum could affect the tectonic plates of the Iranian political system over the medium-term. TOKYO Japans population shrank by nearly a million during the past half-decade, official census figures confirmed Friday, an unprecedented drop for a society not ravaged by war or other deadly crisis, and one that helps explain the countrys persistent economic woes. It was the first time since Japan began collecting census data in 1920 that a nationwide count recorded a decline in the population, although surveys based on smaller samples have shown a downward trend for several years. The population stood at 127.1 million in 2015, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said, down by 947,000, or 0.7 percent, compared with the last census in 2010. A shrinking population creates ripples that are felt from the economy to politics. With one of the lowest birthrates in the world and little immigration, Japan has seen this inflection point coming for years, if not decades. Yet efforts by the government to encourage women to have more children have had little impact, and there is little public support for opening the doors to mass immigration. These numbers are like losing an entire prefecture, Shigeru Ishiba, a Cabinet minister in charge of efforts to revitalize Japans especially depopulated rural areas, said at a news conference. A handful of Japans 47 prefectures, administrative districts similar to provinces or states, have populations of less than 1 million. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe responded to the census report by reiterating a long-term goal of keeping the population from falling below 100 million. Projections by the government and international bodies like the United Nations suggest that will be difficult, however. The latest U.N. estimates suggest that Japans population will fall to 83 million by the end of the century, down 40 percent from its peak. Abes goal depends on raising the birthrate to 1.8 children per woman, up from 1.4 now and higher than it has been since the early 1980s. Rates have, in fact, ticked up slightly compared with a decade ago. But with women marrying later in part, demographers say, to avoid social pressure to give up their careers a more decisive turnaround looks far off. Japan will not necessarily suffer just because it is smaller. Many countries with fewer people are just as prosperous, and in a country known for jam-packed rush-hour trains, there may even be benefits. Japans economic output has been stagnant for years, but the picture looks less dire, economists say, once a shrinking workforce is taken into account. The real problem, experts say, is less size of the familiar population pyramid but its shape in Japans case, it has changed. Because the low birthrate means each generation is smaller than the last, it has flipped on its head, with a bulging cohort of older Japanese at the top supported by a narrow base of young people. One-quarter of Japanese are now older than 65, and that percentage is expected to reach 40 percent by 2060. Pension and health care costs are growing even as the workers needed to pay for them become scarcer. The population is also shrinking more in some places than others. The biggest cities, like Tokyo, are still growing, while rural areas struggle to cope with a plague of abandoned homes and shuttered shops. The imbalance has created political tensions: The most depopulated areas send three times as many representatives to Parliament, per capita, as urban ones do. The Supreme Court has declared the situation unconstitutional, but Abes conservative governing party which has strong support in the countryside has dragged its feet on redrawing electoral districts. The government made several small adjustments last year, but Abe said in Parliament on Friday that a more ambitious realignment would wait until the next census in 2020. Maura Mobley was in tears. The pregnant mother of five struggled to express her feelings about her tour around The Compassion Experience trailer, parked in the lot of The Main Place Christian Fellowship church in Orange. The trailer, which will remain in Orange through Monday, tells the stories of two children identified only as Jey and Kiwi whose lives were transformed by Compassion International, a Colorado-based nonprofit that serves tens of thousands of children in 26 countries. Its eye-opening for someone like me who hasnt been to a Third World country, Mobley said, wiping away tears. Its shocking and saddening to see how little these children have. Jeys story begins with his life in Mathare, Nairobis largest slum and home to about 500,000 people. Visitors hear Jeys story through headphones as they walk from room to room, looking at exhibits that portray intimate details of the childs life where he sleeps, what he eats, sees, hears and feels. The first room is Jeys shack in the slum where his mother brews moonshine in wooden barrels and sells drugs. Every childs life in Mathare is pretty much mapped out. They are born into a broken family, go hungry, steal, go to prison, have children they cant care for and die. One of the rooms is the prison cell where Jey spent time as a 9-year-old. But, thankfully, Jey was spared by a judge who told him to turn his life around or spend the rest of it in prison. Once Jey left prison, his grandmother enrolled him in a school run by Compassion International where he was adopted by a sponsor. When he graduated from high school, he went back to the slum, but this time started a Christian band and launched his career as a musician. Evan Crumley, who takes The Compassion Experience from city to city, said the two children who went through the program and are now adults walked through the trailer and, like Mobley, came out with tears in their eyes. The program is administered through churches in different parts of the world, he said. Ryan McElrath of Long Beach brought his wife and two sons, including Cayden, who wanted to celebrate his seventh birthday by going through The Compassion Experience. His grandfather does missionary work in Africa and Caydens dream is to work with his grandpa, Ryan said. Cayden said he was shocked by Jeys prison cell. It was cold, he said, shuddering. At the end of the tour, visitors can look through clear envelopes containing the images and stories of many more children who need sponsors. Angie Lockhart of Anaheim said she and her husband Ben are considering sponsoring a child. Hearing these true stories puts a face to poverty, she said. It makes it tangible, real. Contact the writer: 714-796-7909 or dbharath@ocregister.com GUATEMALA CITY In a historic ruling, a Guatemalan court has convicted a former army officer and a former military commissioner for the sexual enslavement of women during the countrys civil war. It sentenced the men to 120 years and 240 years in prison respectively. Fridays ruling is the first time that a local court has handed down such a judgment for those crimes. The retired officer, Esteelmer Reyes Giron was found guilty of holding 15 women in sexual and domestic slavery and for killing one woman and her two daughters. Heriberto Valdez Asij, a civilian with military functions, was convicted for the same enslavement, as well as the forced disappearance of seven men. The victims testified to the abuse they suffered during six months in 1982 and 1983 at a military base. SANTA ANA A man with ties to Mexican crime lord El Chapo was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison Friday for a cold-case killing in Yorba Linda. Salvador Guillen Murillo, 50, was shot dead on Nov. 3, 1991, and the case went cold. In 2007, authorities tested a beer can recovered from the scene and found DNA that in 2014 led to Paulino Olmos Gonzalez, 49, a Mexican national serving time in Texas for illegal entry into the United States, prosecutors said. Jurors deliberated for about a day before convicting him of first-degree murder Jan. 22. They said Murillo was killed for allegedly stealing cocaine worth about $50,000, from Gonzalezs longtime friend, Fidel Mercado, who died in a car crash years later. Mercado was living in Corona and worked for drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said Gonzalez drove Mercado on drug deals, and in 1991 the two were driving through Santa Ana with another man, named Chago, when Mercado saw Murillo. Mercado and Chago shoved Murillo in the car and told Gonzalez to drive to Yorba Linda, where Murillo was killed, prosecutors said. In January, Gonzalez was convicted of first-degree murder in Santa Ana. Gonzalez has said he thought the men were just going to beat up Murillo. Defense attorney Joel Garson said his client killed nobody Paulino Gonzalez did not help anybody kill anybody. City News Service contributed to this report. On Friday, the Hilbert Museum of California Art opened to the public for the first of two days of open houses, drawing visitors who were excited about a new venue for art in Orange County. A second open house happens Saturday. The museum, which will have free admission, is the result of a gift to Chapman University from philanthropists Mark and Janet Hilbert of Newport Coast. Mark Hilbert owns and manages residential properties in Los Angeles County, and Janet taught business at Santa Ana College. Chapman valued the collection at $7 million in 2014 when the Hilberts made their gift. The museums focus is California Scene art, which shows everyday life in California, mainly in the 20th century. The collection currently on display ranges from images of Los Angeles in the 1910s to San Franciscos Chinatown in the 1960s to even later, more abstract works. The scenes depict stories from the building of highways to Depression-era migrant camps to sunny days on the coast. Its wonderful to get to share our passion with Chapman University and the community, Janet Hilbert said at the opening Friday. Its fun for us to watch people look and ask them about their favorite painting. When you have a dialog about a painting is when you start looking at painting (at) a deeper level, art at a deeper level. The Hilbert Museum is housed in a former commercial building owned by Chapman across from the Orange train station. Chapman plans eventually to move the museum to a larger space in the old Villa Park Orchards Packing House at Cypress Street and Palm Avenue, a building two blocks away that Chapman also owns. In his final State of the University speech Friday morning, retiring Chapman President Jim Doti detailed the universitys development plans, including for the packing house. The plan is for that building to house the museum as well as classrooms, a food court and fitness center, Doti said. Next to the packing house, in the same property footprint, a separate building to house 420 students is planned, Doti explained as he showed conceptual renderings. This is a few years away, perhaps three or four years, Doti said. As visitors thronged around him inside the museum Friday, Mark Hilbert said people had asked him and his wife how theyd feel once their collection was no longer hanging in their home. When I see (visitors) connecting with the paintings, that will be full payment for giving this gift, he said. Im seeing it all over, left and right. I know that we made the right decision to share this with the public. I love that they have done this for our community and provided a venue for their beautiful art, said Laurie Smith of Newport Beach as she walked through with a friend. Smith said she has seen works from the Hilberts collection in other exhibits over the years, such as shows at the Irvine Museum. But to see it all in one place was a gift. I love that it brings back the history of California. Contact the writer: aboessenkool@ocregister.com HONOLULU A constitutional convention of Native Hawaiians has adopted a governing document that will go out to a vote for ratification, the organization behind the gathering announced. The proposed constitution, approved Friday by an 88 to 30 vote with one abstention, allows room for recognition by the U.S. government while holding out for the possibility of independence, said NaI Aupuni, an organization that says on its website its dedicated to establish a path for Hawaiian self-determination. The U.S. Interior Department is giving Native Hawaiians an option to have a government-to-government relationship with the United States. The plan would extend to Native Hawaiians recognition similar to what many Native American tribes have had for generations. However, the department stresses that the Native Hawaiian government wont automatically be eligible for federal American Indian programs, services and benefits unless Congress allows it. Under the proposed constitution, citizens of the Hawaiian nation would be any descendants of the indigenous people who lived in Hawaii before 1778, when the first Europeans made contact with the islands. It also says citizenship in the Native Hawaiian nation shall not affect U.S. citizenship. The government would be led by a president and vice president and advised by an island council, plus a legislature with 43 members representing the islands and Native Hawaiians, as well as a judicial authority. The delegates to the convention were brought in by Nai Aupuni. The proposed constitution will be presented to a vote by Hawaiians, Nai Aupuni has said. The Interior Department will negotiate the issue of recognizing Native Hawaiians as a nation with representatives of the community. Opponents of the push for recognition by the U.S. government say its a move to make Native Hawaiians like American Indians. They also say the effort does nothing to correct the wrongs of the overthrow of the Native Hawaiian government by a group of American businessmen in 1893. The attempt to establish a single race-based nation violates the Aloha Spirit and goes against the will of the majority of Hawaiians, said Kelii Akina, president of public policy think-tank Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Money being used in this political process should be redirected to advance Native Hawaiians through education, housing, commerce, and health care, Akina said. Until the 1893 overthrow, the United States recognized the Hawaiian nations independence, extended full diplomatic recognition to the Hawaiian government and entered into several treaties with the Hawaiian monarch. The United States annexed Hawaii five years after the overthrow. Hawaii became a state in 1959. In a voice thick with emotion, one of Orange Countys most prolific jailhouse informants begged a judge for leniency Friday, citing his work against former associates in the Mexican Mafia prison gang. Fernando Perez, an inmate at the center of Orange Countys snitch controversy, faces a possible sentence of 25 years to life for a third-strike conviction on a gun charge. This is the single most important day in my life, Perez told Superior Court Judge Gregg L. Prickett. I want anyone I ever affected (to know) I am deeply and sincerely sorry. Perez, 34, once known by the nickname Wicked, said he began working as a jail informant for federal and local agencies in an effort to secure his freedom. I have changed beyond words and now have the opportunity to make something amazing out of my life, he said. The former member of Santa Anas 18th Street gang found himself suited for snitch work, with his ability to feign empathy for fellow gang members and other inmates. He then wrote nightly notes to his jail handlers, titling them Operation Daylight. Related: Go Inside the Snitch Tank in our special section In October 2011, Perez befriended Seal Beach mass shooting suspect Scott Dekraai shortly after his arrest, calling Dekraai bro and bringing him hot water to make tea, according to documents filed by Dekraais attorney. Perez encouraged Dekraai to open up, as jailers secretly recorded more than 100 hours of their conversations. In court Friday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe McNally called Perezs work as a jail informant critical in destroying the hold of the Mexican Mafia in Orange Countys jails. Perezs testimony against a top Mexican Mafia leader and 100 other gang members has led to a series of convictions like dominoes falling, McNally said. Judge Prickett listened as local and federal prosecutors and an FBI agent praised the informant for nearly an hour in his packed Santa Ana courtroom. Prickett described the case as unique. He then postponed sentencing to Friday. The current case against Perez stems from his 2007 arrest for being a felon in possession of a firearm. In a separate case, from a 2006 arrest, he is charged with methamphetamine possession. Perezs rap sheet also includes convictions for robbery, gun charges, possession of a stolen vehicle and enhancements for being a gang member. He has been jailed in Orange County for about eight years. According to court documents, Perezs tenure as an informant almost ended before it began around 2001. His confidential informant card contains the notation, by an Anaheim detective: Terminated as a CI. Do not use. Perez was caught keeping a gun at his home. Around 2009, Perez a rising Mexican Mafia member took another shot at working as an informant after his conviction in the third-strike gun case. The prosecutor on the case presented Perez to a jury as a liar and a hardened criminal. Later, after Perez became an informant, the same prosecutor described Perez in a future court appearance as a credible informant who turned his life around, according to court records. During his time behind bars, Perez provided information about pending attacks on jail inmates and sheriffs deputies, saving about 11 people from being hurt or killed, his defense attorney, Richard Curran said in a court motion. Perez also gathered incriminating statements in 2010 from community theater actor Daniel Wozniak, who was awaiting trial on double-murder charges. The following year Dekraai, the Seal Beach shooter, landed in a cell next to Perez after Dekraais arrest on charges of killing eight people at a hair salon. Assistant Public Defender Scott Sanders, who represents Wozniak and Dekraai, accused prosecutors of planting Perez next his clients in violation of constitutional law and then hidingevidence about his role. Prosecutors later agreed not to use evidence gathered by Perez in the two cases. The District Attorneys Office also has said it would not seek any consideration from the judge for Perez on those two cases. Sanders has spent two years compiling and leveling allegations that police and prosecutors systematically used a network of jailhouse snitches on inmates who already had lawyers and then withheld evidence on those informants. After two lengthy hearings on Sanders motions, Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals in March removed the District Attorneys Office from the Dekraai case, a ruling that is under appeal. Dekraai has pleaded guilty to the shootings; his penalty phase trial has been delayed indefinitely. For his efforts working with local police and federal agents, Perez has earned a place on the Mexican Mafias death or hard candy list, prosecutors said in court Friday. The informant is now in federal protective custody and will spend whatever sentence he is given looking over his shoulder, prosecutors said. If you rat, youre dead, Deputy District Attorney James Laird told the judge. On Friday, Perez said he has risked his life to cooperate with the government and would like consideration for those efforts. I no longer chose the easyway, he said. I chose the way less taken while others sit back and wait for their release. Staff Writer Kelly Puente contributed to this report. Contact the writer: tsaavedra@ocregister.com JERUSALEM Renee Rabinowitz is a sharp-witted retired lawyer with a doctorate in educational psychology, who escaped the Nazis in Europe as a child. Now she is about to become a test case in the battle over religion and gender in Israels public spaces and the skies above as the plaintiff in a lawsuit accusing El Al, the national airline, of discrimination. Rabinowitz was comfortably settled into her aisle seat in the business-class section on El Al Flight 028 from Newark, New Jersey, to Tel Aviv in December when, as she put it, this rather distinguished-looking man in Hasidic or Haredi garb, Id guess around 50 or so, shows up. The man was assigned the window seat in her row. But, like many ultra-Orthodox male passengers, he did not want to sit next to a woman, seeing even inadvertent contact with the opposite sex as verboten under the strictest interpretation of Jewish law. Soon, Rabinowitz said, a flight attendant offered her a better seat, up front, closer to first class. Reluctantly, Rabinowitz, an impeccably groomed 81-year-old grandmother who walks with a cane because of bad knees, agreed. Despite all my accomplishments and my age is also an accomplishment I felt minimized, she recalled in a recent interview in her elegantly appointed apartment in a fashionable neighborhood of Jerusalem. For me this is not personal, Rabinowitz added. It is intellectual, ideological and legal. I think to myself, here I am, an older woman, educated, Ive been around the world, and some guy can decide that I shouldnt sit next to him. Why? That is just what many feminists and advocates of religious pluralism in Israel and abroad have been asking in what by all accounts is a growing phenomenon of religious Jewish men refusing to sit next to women on airplanes. Several flights from New York to Israel, on El Al and other airlines, have been delayed or disrupted as women refused to move, and there have been social media campaigns including a protest petition. Just this week, in a different but related situation, an ultra-Orthodox man created a disturbance on an El Al flight from Warsaw, Poland, to Tel Aviv to protest the screening of Truth, starring Cate Blanchett and Robert Redford, a movie he deemed immodest, the Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot reported. Now, a liberal advocacy group that had spent two years searching for a test case on switching seats plans to sue the blue-and-white flag carrier on Rabinowitzs behalf in a Tel Aviv court next week. We needed a case of a flight attendant being actively involved, explained the groups director, Anat Hoffman, to show that El Al has internalized the commandment, I cannot sit next to a woman. An El Al spokeswoman said in a statement that any discrimination between passengers is strictly prohibited. El Al flight attendants are on the front line of providing service for the companys varied array of passengers, the statement said. In the cabin, the attendants receive different and varied requests and they try to assist as much as possible, the goal being to have the plane take off on time and for all the passengers to arrive at their destination as scheduled. Hoffmans group, the Israel Religious Action Center, the public and legal advocacy arm of the Reform Movement in Israel, previously fought Israeli bus companies and the Transportation Ministry over gender segregation on so-called kosher lines that serve ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods. The Supreme Court in 2011 made it illegal to require women to sit in the back of the bus and allowed men and women to sit separately only if they did so voluntarily. Two years later, Israels attorney general issued guidelines calling on government ministries and public agencies to end all manifestations of gender segregation in the public sphere. The group has since turned its focus skyward. Rabinowitz attended a lecture by Hoffman a few weeks after her fateful flight. The topic of seat switching came up, and Rabinowitz told Hoffman it had happened to her. When I told Anat that the flight attendant had asked me to move, she got very excited, Rabinowitz recalled. Rabinowitz, who moved to Jerusalem from the United States about a decade ago, says she is not anti-Haredi the Hebrew term for ultra-Orthodox, meaning one who trembles before God and she comes with her own God-fearing credentials. Born in Belgium, she fled with her family during the Nazi occupation in 1941. She had a religious upbringing, attended an Orthodox Jewish school in New York, where a strictly modest dress code applied, and she still observes most of the laws of the Sabbath. Both her second husband, who died three years ago, and her first (they divorced in 1986) were rabbis. She described one of her grandchildren as being Hasidic or Haredi, and said, The idea of having a Haredi population is wonderful, as long as they dont tell me what to do. Rabinowitz had been visiting family in New York before boarding the Dec. 2 El Al flight home. By her account, the flight attendant had a brief conversation in Hebrew with her ultra-Orthodox seatmate-to-be, which she could not understand, then persuaded Rabinowitz to come and see the better seat, at the end of a row of three. There were two women seated there, she said. I thought, Oy, if they are going to talk all night I am not going to be happy. She asked the flight attendant if he was suggesting the switch because the man next to her wanted her to move, she said, and he said yes without any hesitation. A lawyer for the religious action group wrote a letter to El Al last month saying that Rabinowitz had felt pressured by the attendant and accusing El Al of illegal discrimination. It argued that a request not to be seated next to a woman differed from other requests to move, say, to sit near a relative or a friend, because it was by nature degrading. The lawyer demanded 50,000 shekels (about $13,000) in compensation for Rabinowitz. The airline offered, instead, a $200 discount on Rabinowitzs next El Al flight. It insisted that there was no gender discrimination on El Al flights, that the flight attendant had made it clear to Rabinowitz that she was in no way obligated to move, and that she had changed seats without argument. Rabinowitz has since had time to ponder. She said her son told her that this whole idea that you cannot sit next to a woman is bogus. She cited an eminent Orthodox scholar, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, who counseled that it was acceptable for a Jewish man to sit next to a woman on a subway or a bus so long as there was no intention to seek sexual pleasure from any incidental contact. When did modesty become the sum and end all of being a Jewish woman? Rabinowitz asked. Citing examples like the biblical warrior Deborah, the matriarch Sarah and Queen Esther, she noted: Our heroes in history were not modest little women. GLENDALE, Ariz. As he settles into his new job, Dave Roberts is bound to find some things left behind by his predecessor, former Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. Used Sharpies, old lineup cards, too many outfielders things like that. A couple of the names have changed since Yasiel Puig broke into the majors three seasons ago. But the dilemma persists for the Dodgers manager. This spring, there are seven players jockeying for position in the outfield Puig, Joc Pederson, Andre Ethier, Carl Crawford, Scott Van Slyke, Trayce Thompson (acquired from the Chicago White Sox in December) and utilityman Kike Hernandez. I think initially its more of a high-class problem in the sense that we have depth and we have capable major-league players, Roberts said. But to each player, the conversation weve had over the winter theres a buy-in. Theres an understanding that theres only three spots out there and theres five, six, seven guys that are more than capable. So theres gotta be sacrifice. At the end of the day, each guy has to sacrifice and put the team first. And thats what they felt and what they said to me theyre in on. Again, for a manager, its a high-class problem. Dividing up the starts was less of a problem last season when Puig and Crawford missed extended time with injuries. This year, Puig has reported to camp slimmed down and in better shape after an off-season program aimed at minimizing the risk of further hamstring injuries. A healthy Puig figures to be in the lineup every day or nearly so. I do anticipate Yasiel being out there a lot, Roberts said. When hes healthy and hes right, what he brings to a team is pretty special. Pedersons slump in the second half of his rookie season cost him playing time. For a stretch late in the year, he shared starts in center field with Hernandez in a platoon arrangement. Roberts doesnt sound inclined to platoon at a premium (defensive) position I value defense. I know the organization values defense, Roberts said. The left vs. right, weve got our eye on it. Its not something that right now were going to talk about platoons. Roberts said he made a point of telling Pederson during their conversations this winter that he appreciated the way the rookie didnt let his offensive struggles affect his defensive contributions. The one constant and I told him this winter that I appreciate, especially from a young player, was that the defense was consistent, Roberts said. When youre playing a premium position in the field thats important. For a young player to not get too discouraged and take his offense to the defensive side in the second half he didnt. I made that a point. That leaves left field to act as the outfield time-share with different tenants moving in and out. Ethier is likely to have primacy. By limiting his exposure to left-handed pitching, Ethier was one of the Dodgers most reliable hitters last season. That leaves little room for Thompson, 24, to shoulder his way into the picture with his new team. The outfield was crowded last year in Chicago too, said Thompson who hit .295 with five home runs in 44 games with the White Sox. No matter where you are, youve gotta play. If youre in A ball or the major leagues youve still got to go out there and perform. In my mind, Im confident in myself. Im confident in my abilities. I just hope to get a good opportunity and I plan to make the most of that opportunity. NOTES Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax was in camp but not in uniform Friday. Koufax is expected to spend a few days in camp, working with the Dodgers pitchers, as he has each of the past few springs. Puig was on the field for Fridays workout after sitting out Thursdays drills while recovering from oral surgery earlier in the week. Left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu threw another bullpen session, spinning changeups for the first time since his shoulder surgery. Ryu has not started throwing breaking pitches yet as the Dodgers handle his return cautiously. The Dodgers released right-hander Brooks Brown Friday. Brown, 30, made two trips to the DL with shoulder inflammation last season with the Colorado Rockies. He was still limited by shoulder problems this spring. Contact the writer: bplunkett@ocregister.com Disturbed by the $300 price tag for a textbook required in a large introductory economics course, UC Irvine professor Ami Glazer decided to shop around and put a little pressure on the academic publisher. After months of negotiations, Cengage Learning agreed to produce a customized text at a 75 percent discount. I had nothing to lose, said Glazer, who has taught at UCI for nearly four decades. I know they (the publisher) wanted our business and theyd talk to us, so why not? Higher education instructors are increasingly bucking tradition and looking for different and in some cases, unorthodox ways to help budget-conscious students save money on class materials. Oftentimes, absent a united front among their colleagues to support the cause or tougher state legislation to trim costs, theyre doing it solo. I wish we were celebrating (these professors) not for being the exceptions but for being the rule, said Kevin Sabo, president of the University of California Student Association. Perennial complaints about skyrocketing textbook costs took on a new force and urgency after Cal State Fullerton officials reprimanded an associate math professor for refusing to require students to use a $180 text written by his superiors. Alain Bourget, who appealed the 2014 reprimand last fall, assigned two books that were less than half the price. Despite a mostly favorable opinion from an independent panel of CSUF faculty members, CSUF President Mildred Garcia upheld the reprimand in November, stating the burden of proof was not met. Bourget is still working with school officials toward some kind of compromise. The situation, first reported by the Register, helped rekindle a national debate about academic freedom, rising book costs and whether its ethical for faculty members at public universities and colleges to profit from their students. Some of the cost-saving strategies being used by sympathetic professors are as simple as allowing students to use older book editions, assigning open-source works or aggregating online readings provided free of charge. Glazer was more aggressive. He reached out to various publishers who produce introductory economics textbooks, seeking the best deal for the roughly 1,500 students who take basic economics classes each year. After several months of talks, Cengage agreed to furnish UCI a special, slightly slimmed-down version of Principles of Economics for a bookstore price of $76 less than a third of the cost of the text previously used. The reduced price reflects omitted chapters that the class typically doesnt use, Glazer said. If the price is high, students dont buy the book, he said, even if its a spectacular book. Cengage noted the custom textbook also comes with access to a digital homework system. The digital product is more affordable and engaging than a traditional print-only text, said Cengage spokeswoman Lindsay Stanley in an email to the Register. At UCLA, professor Steven Margulis took more drastic measures. Those taking his Introduction to Hydrology course often complained about the quality and the roughly $100 cost of the assigned text. Margulis felt he could do a better job communicating the concepts of the course, which he has taught since 2003. Four years ago, he began formalizing his course notes into an e-book. It includes interactive videos, links to reputable resources and regular updates. The cost? $0. The book has been used for two years by students at UCLA, and instructors at more than 20 other campuses including MIT, UC Irvine and Ohio State also have used the text, Margulis said. I thought, Theyre spending enough money as it is, he said. This is a way to give them a very useful textbook that didnt cost anything. One of the alternative texts chosen by Bourget, the reprimanded Cal State Fullerton instructor, is free as well. The e-book Elementary Differential Equations with Boundary Value Problems was written by respected mathematician William F. Trench. Sabo, of the UC student association, told the Register last fall that some professors stockpile extra copies of textbooks for in-library use. Others, including professor Elaine Lewinnek of Cal State Fullerton, collect online or paperback materials that are in the public domain for their students. And when an entire book isnt needed, shell take parts of it, which she says is allowed by fair-use rules. Nearly two-thirds of new CSUF students will be the first in their family to get a college degree, according to 2013 figures from the school. Some are working part time and raising young families, said Lewinnek, interim chairwoman of the schools American Studies department. We dont want to hinder our students because theyre already doing so much, she said. State lawmakers have a mixed record in responding to student/parent complaints on textbook costs and potential conflicts. In 2009, a bill proposed by Sen. Carol Liu, D-Glendale, that would have required the CSU and community college systems to post lists of required readings and their prices at least a month before classes begin died in committee. Critics said it would have been too costly, an important factor then, considering the state was in the midst of a recession, said Lius chief of staff, Suzanne Reed. College officials argued the requirement would necessitate tens of thousands of dollars of website programming, ongoing data entry and extra faculty hours, records show. That same year, then-Sen. George Runner introduced legislation that quickly stalled in the face of opposition from the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges and CSUs Academic Senate. It would have required written justification for the selection of a new textbook within three years of the adoption of a previous edition of that text. The justification was to include a disclosure of any financial interests faculty members had in the new edition. In recent weeks, Assembly member Travis Allen, R-Huntington Beach, introduced new bills intended to help students and parents manage college expenses. One, AB2064, would ensure tuition remains unchanged during the first four consecutive years a student is in school. The other bill, AB1582, would require all public college employees to disclose royalties and conflicts of interest in their annual report to the California Fair Political Practices Commission. Currently, only higher-level public academic employees, such as deans, directors and presidents, and others such as buyers and auditors, are covered by varying disclosure rules. Allen said the legislation is in part a response to the treatment of Bourget, the CSUF associate math professor. Disclosure is really in everyones best interest if royalties are being paid, Allen said. It comes down to fairness. Contact the writer: 714-796-4976 or lleung@ocregister.com Twitter: @LilyShumLeungSpot government waste or a business scam? Email watchdog@ocregister.com. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump won the endorsement on Saturday of former Arizona governor Jan Brewer, whose hardline positions on immigration reform and tussles with President Barack Obama catapulted her to national prominence during her two terms in office. A nation without borders is like a house without walls it collapses. As Arizonas Governor, I witnessed too much heartache, loss and suffering caused by illegal immigration, Brewer said in a statement announcing her endorsement. For years I pleaded with the federal government to do their job and secure our border. Today, we can elect a president who will do just that Donald J. Trump. With her endorsement, Brewer delivers Trump the support of a former two-term governor with outsize credibility on immigration issues among Republicans. But she is also someone who managed to walk the fine line Trump seeks as he inches toward the GOP nomination: a prominent voice in the party whose frequent battles with the conservative establishment made her a populist favorite. The former governor was at the center of a heated debate over immigration reform when she signed a controversial enforcement bill into law in 2010, which was later partially struck down by the Supreme Court. She and Obama generated headlines in 2012 when they were seen engaging in a heated discussion on a Phoenix airport tarmac during a visit by the president. But she angered Republican leaders in 2013 when she moved forward with a Medicaid expansion plan facilitated by the Affordable Care Act, Obamas signature health-care law. She argued at the time that it was the best thing for her constituents, regardless of conservative opposition to the law itself. Brewer, who left office in January 2015, is the latest in a series of high-profile Republicans to endorse Trump, whose insurgent White House bid has been met with apprehension by Republican establishment leaders who fear the billionaire could doom the partys chances during the general election. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie endorsed Trump on Friday, calling him the only candidate left in the GOP race that can beat Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton in the fall. Christies endorsement opens the possibility that many more establishment Republicans will throw their support behind Trump as he inches closer to the Republican nomination. I love the state of Arizona and have received incredible support throughout the state, Trump said in a statement. I am leading in all the polls and we have had amazing events with tremendous crowds. I am honored to receive this endorsement from Governor Brewer. IRVINE Tears filled Mary DeSloovers eyes as she held the hands that had stitched together the artificial valve now controlling blood flow from her heart. DeSloover, a Huntington Beach resident, was one of about 50 patients who visited Edwards Lifesciences corporate headquarters Friday to meet the employees who manufactured the artificial valves they had received. I didnt think Id start crying as soon as I saw them, said DeSloover, 72, who met with three women who work at the Irvine-based medical equipment company, which specializes in making heart valves. Xuan Le, Nguyet Thi Pham and Hong Tran also teared up as they hugged DeSloover and smiled broadly as she thanked them for their work. DeSloover had been experiencing chest and arm pain before she received the artificial valve in October at Hoag Hospital, she said. The three met with DeSloover in the companys Museum of Heart Valve Design, which showcases different types of artificial heart valves, from the earliest mechanical valve, made of a metal cage and a silicone ball, to the latest biological valves, made of animal tissue. Its like a miracle to know its inside me, just working away, DeSloover told Le, Pham and Tran. Edwards Lifesciences, which manufactured mechanical valves for decades since its founding in Santa Ana more than 50 years ago, in recent years moved to the animal tissue valves, which for some patients can be inserted through blood vessels and dont require traditional heart surgery. Each valve takes 10 to 20 steps to make and seven to 18 hours, said Guillermo Cardenas, manager of the Irvine plant. It takes three months to learn how to sew a valve. Joining DeSloover at the companys second annual Patient Day were visitors from 16 states, Canada and Singapore. DeSloovers aortic valve was replaced after the disconcerting discovery in May, during a doctors appointment for another health issue, that she had been born without one of the three flaps that typically make up the aortic valve, she said. The new valve was inserted after being threaded through blood vessels to the heart, rather than through open-heart surgery, via a procedure called a transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR. Ken Keefe, also of Huntington Beach, attended Patient Day with his wife, Silvia Keefe. During the event, they spoke with others who had undergone the same procedure as Ken Keefe, 72, who received an artificial valve in August. That valve was inserted inside an artificial valve he had received years earlier, which had accumulated deposits of calcium. Because of Ken Keefes heart condition, the couple hasnt flown since 2013. Now they plan to fly together to visit his hometown, Boston. Contact the writer: sdecrescenzo@ocregister.com On March 2, 2015, Oakland raised its minimum wage by 36 percent overnight, from $9 an hour to $12.25. One year later, advocates may be ready to celebrate, but the evidence suggests that their rose-colored predictions of minimum wage benefits havent come to pass. The evidence of Oaklands mistake started appearing early. Soon after the wage hike came into effect, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that 10 grocery stores and restaurants in and around the citys Chinatown district were closing, partially because of the increased labor costs associated with the wage hike. Among the closures was Legendary Palace, one of two banquet restaurants in the neighborhood. Next, it was reported by the Los Angeles Times and my organization that several day-care centers in low-income Oakland neighborhoods were struggling to adapt to the wage hike. Sterlings Family Childcare was forced to reduce hours for its employees, and eventually had to let a staff member go. The owner, Muriel Sterling, also had to eliminate free rides to the center that she provided to members of the community who didnt have transit options. Similarly, Reaching Beyond Care on East 12th Street was forced to shave employee hours and lay off one of its assistants to try to adapt to the wage hike. One employee, Eunice Medina, was initially excited about a raise from the minimum wage hike, but almost as quickly found that her hours were cut from eight per shift to six. Other low-margin businesses in Oakland suffered similar fates. A seafood restaurant we spoke with (who didnt want to be identified) laid off two of its employees as a direct consequence of the wage hike. A local apparel manufacturer who also requested anonymity cut its workforce in half to try to adapt to the increased labor costs. Numerous local restaurants, including Bocanova, Camino and Pizzaiolo, have raised meal costs by up to 20 percent and changed their business models to try and adapt to the higher costs. Even Wal-Mart felt the pinch from Oaklands dramatic wage hike. The giant retailer decided to close its Oakland stores at the end of last month. Oakland Councilman Larry Reid told the Chronicle: The minimum wage in the city of Oakland played a factor, was one of the factors, they considered in closing the stores. The retail giant left open two stores in San Leandro, which shares a boundary with Oakland but doesnt set its minimum wage above the state requirement. What do childcare providers, retailers, restaurants and these other businesses have in common? They all face narrow profit margins and price-sensitive clientele, which means adapting to a higher minimum wage is not as simple as raising prices or absorbing it. Instead, they are forced to cut costs elsewhere, often starting with staffing levels. In worst-case scenarios, they have to close their doors. Other Bay Area cities that have dramatically increased their minimum wages are encountering similar negative effects, whether its a coffee shop in Berkeley or a favorite local restaurant in San Francisco. (Many stories can be found at Facesof15.com.) But its worth reflecting on the riskiness of Oaklands particular minimum wage experiment, where the increase happened in one fell swoop. The federal minimum wage was increased by roughly the same percentage as Oaklands over a three-year period and even that didnt mitigate the harm. As more data is released by the Census Bureau, well be able to draw more conclusions about the impact of the wage hike on the citys entry-level workforce. The early numbers arent promising. In 2015, Alameda County where Oakland and its high-wage brethren of Berkeley and Emeryville are located actually enjoyed a lower unemployment rate (4.7 percent) than the state of California (6.2 percent). However, the same cant be said for the countys young adults, who faced a staggering 24 percent unemployment rate, compared with the statewide 21 percent rate. One year ago, Oakland voters hoped they could lift up the citys lowest-earning residents with this minimum wage increase. Instead, they left many of them without any earnings at all. Michael Saltsman is research director at the Employment Policies Institute. Until now, the presidential campaign largely has been dominated by issues of class, driving the improbable rise of both Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. But as we head toward Super Tuesday which will focus largely on Southern states racial issues may assume greater importance. In the next few weeks, you can pick your states and likely party primary winners largely by examining the ethnic profiles of the electorate. Where white voters predominate, the most radical candidate, Sanders, ironically, does best. In contrast, states that are more heavily minority favor the more mainstream Hillary Clinton. In some states, notably Texas and Florida, larger minority representation may slow Trumps seemingly unstoppable momentum. What about age? Older voters are overwhelmingly white, and in states where they constitute a large share of the electorate a full one-third of GOP caucus-goers in Nevada the Donald is the bomb. Hillary, too, has done best with older voters, while Sanders dominates the partys younger electorate. Racial gap in Democratic Party Racial divisions will shape the Democratic results Super Tuesday. The partys Southern flank, weak in November but important now, tends to be dominated by African Americans and, in Texas, at least, also Latinos. In some states, like South Carolina, where African Americans constitute upward of a majority, Clinton has proven all but unbeatable. In contrast, Clinton did poorly in New Hampshire (94 percent white) and barely earned a tie in Iowa (92 percent white). Generally speaking, the whiter the state, the better things tend to appear for Sanders. These patterns may well dominate Super Tuesday results. In Texas, Alabama, Georgia and, to a lesser extent, Virginia, minority voters could well propel the former secretary of state closer to the nomination. But such heavily Caucasian states as Massachusetts (80 percent white), Wyoming, North Dakota, Minnesota (85 percent white) and Sanders home state of Vermont (95 percent white) seem most likely to end up feeling the Bern. Less clear-cut is Colorado, which is 80 percent white but with a growing, predominately Democratic Latino population. Clinton may be damaged by the fact that the state is only 3.8 percent African American, with a large millennial population that trends toward Sanders. The Vermont democratic socialist may also do well in other such heavily white states as Kansas and Nebraska, each with populist histories and which hold their caucuses March 5, and he can be expected to win in Maine on March 6. White worker insecurity Despite notable attempts at outreach and the presence of two serious Latino candidates, the GOP primary-election universe remains essentially white. Roughly 90 percent of Republicans are white, compared with 60 percent of Democrats and 70 percent of independents. Just as Sanders strategy thrives on younger white and working-class voters, Trump appeals to the mostly older part of Americas beleaguered white working class. Many belong to the growing precariat people who are working, many part time or on short-term gigs, but lacking long-term security. According to one estimate, at least one-third of the U.S. workforce falls into this category, and the numbers are growing. By 2020, a separate study estimates that more than 40 percent of the American workforce or 60 million people will be independent workers: freelancers, contractors or temporary employees. Trumps class appeal spills over to racial issues. Unlike wealthier voters, poor whites compete for jobs with immigrants and also tend to live where poor minorities also settle. Overall, according to Pew, voters under financial stress tend to be more concerned about illegal immigration. They also tend to work in fields, such as construction and manufacturing, where the foreign-born constitute a disproportionate share of the workforce. But it would be a mistake to see Trumps anti-immigrant message as appealing only to whites. The fact that Trump won the lions share of Hispanic Republicans in Nevada against two Latino candidates should alter some presumptions and does not bode well for Cruz and Rubio. One possible overlooked factor: A majority of Latinos, in contrast to their open-borders-minded leadership, according to some surveys, already believe overall immigration levels are too high. What seems like racism to college professors and journalists might seem more like economic salvation to struggling families, even ones with roots in Latin America. Still, overall, the Republican race is about white voters. Take Harris County, Texas largest county, Ted Cruzs home and among the most diverse places in the country. One Republican consultant notes that Hispanic voters in Harris County are more than four times as likely to vote in a Democratic primary than in a Republican contest, while African Americans in the county are more than 18 times as likely to vote in a Democratic contest. Cruz may win the state Tuesday, but it will be largely because he appeals to hard-right and evangelical voters. Political insiders suspect Trump could pull an upset in Texas, one consultant suggested, because we have a lot of lower-middle-class angry voters. A Trump victory in the Lone Star State would effectively end Cruzs campaign. At the very least, since delegates are assigned proportionally, Trump will leave Cruzs home state with a rich harvest of delegates. The one place where GOP minority voters may matter is Florida, where many Cuban-Americans, like Rubio, tend to be Republicans. There are some 471,000 Latino Republicans eligible to vote in the Sunshine States critical winner-take-all primary March 15. Perhaps here Trumps racialism could backfire, but, given the extent of rage among the much larger and largely older white electorate, and conflicted views among Latinos, Florida also could prove the GOP establishments ultimate burial ground. As of a few days ago, The Donald held a solid, but not insurmountable, lead. Future role of race The predictable left-of-center analysis is that the future will be determined by an increasingly diverse, largely Democratic electorate. (We are) facing a future in which national elections will no longer be decided by ideas, but by numbers. It will be a turnout battle between people who believe in a multicultural vision for the country and those who dont, Matt Taibbi wrote in Rolling Stone. Every other issue, from taxes to surveillance to war to jobs to education, will take a distant back seat to this ongoing, moronic referendum on white victimhood. Taibbis lack of sympathy for the moronic struggling white working and middle classes is shockingly typical of the coastal cognoscenti, who are comfortable and benefit from the labor of minority service workers, ethnic restaurants and street culture. Yet the mouthing of people of color rhetoric may prove less compelling if Trump can get his economic message out, particularly against Clinton, who is rightfully seen as a well-paid tool of Democratic-leaning Wall Street, Silicon Valley and their public-sector allies. One key factor may be African Americans, whose self-interests were submerged in service to President Obama. Trump could appeal to them with his tough stand on immigration. Nearly 70 percent of African Americans, according to a Zogby poll, think overall immigration levels are too high. If Clinton tacks too closely to the open-borders stance embraced by both the Democratic and Republican establishments, Trump may be able to slice off some of this most-solid segment of the blue electorate. Ultimately, class interests are likely to prevail, particularly in a race between two whites. Trump will repel many upper-income whites, who tend to be less concerned with illegal immigration and are less angry about the economy. Many, including some Republicans and independents, may vote more for Clinton, as opposed to the New York billionaire many find loathsome. In contrast, Trumps base, and that of the GOP, lies with working- and lower-middle-class whites. Contrary to the white privilege meme popular on campuses and with the gentry Left, most whites are not wealthy or particularly well-educated. As liberal analyst John Judis notes, white working-class voters may be declining as a percentage of the electorate from 65 percent in 1980 to about 35 percent today but likely can determine the November outcome not only in the South but also in states such as Wisconsin, Ohio, Iowa, Minnesota and New Hampshire. Over time, race will lose its currency as class, culture and other concerns gain primacy. Already among millennials, Latinos and African American youth to the consternation of their own racial establishments are breaking the old racial bounds by joining their white counterparts in supporting Sanders. At the same time, the affluent and professional classes, once the base of the GOP, seem likely to line up with Hillary. Race may play a large role in the next few weeks of voting but, ultimately, other factors income, age, geography will be more determinative of the outcome in November. Joel Kotkin is a R.C. Hobbs Presidential Fellow in Urban Futures at Chapman University and executive director of the Center for Opportunity Urbanism in Houston. His next book, The Human City: Urbanism for the Rest of Us, will be published in April by Agate. If Donald Trumps gravity-defying ascendancy in the Republican presidential nomination contest has validated anything, it is that, for middle America, jobs and economic security are still the dominant issues. Republicans have talked up tax reform, regulatory relief and fiscal restraint and those are all critical elements for growth. But its time for Republicans to expand their portfolio of issues and concentrate directly on increasing worker paychecks. Hillary Clinton loves to talk about helping the working-class folks. This is a voter group she knows so much about, because they are the chauffers who drive her to the Ritz Carlton hotels and clear the dinner tables when she gives her $200,000 speeches to bankers from Goldman Sachs and the like. But Hillary cant champion these workers rights because the unions wont let her. Republicans can and should step up for such workers. One way to do so would be to embrace a new initiative, the Employee Rights Act. Trump and all the remaining Republican candidates ought to get on board. The Act is sponsored by Republicans Orin Hatch of Utah in the Senate and Tom Price of Georgia in the House. The ERA (not to be confused with the long-ago failed feminist Equal Rights Amendment) would instantly boost take-home pay for millions of workers by having fewer union dues snatched from their paychecks. One key provision of the ERA is to require Big Labor to get workers explicit approval before unions can spend workers money on political activities. Under current law, unions can snatch these payments right from the workers paycheck unless the worker formally requests the money back. Although funding a unions political machine is supposed to be voluntary due to Supreme Court precedent, a McLaughlin & Associates poll found that 67 percent of workers did not know they had a right not to pay union dues for political campaigns. Of course, its no surprise that union leaders who get rich and fat off these payments have failed to advertise that members can opt out of picking up the tab for political expenditures. The ERA would also require recertification of unions whenever a majority of the workers at a workplace have not voted in the current union representatives. Right now, unions have de facto lifetime certification. But many times the current team of workers at a shop never even voted for the union that is supposedly representing them. Regular elections are democratic and fair to workers. The ERA would also require secret ballots when voting for union representation. This would outlaw the often nefarious so-called card check system where workers can be bullied into signing a card to institute the union with no secret election at all. The stakes here for worker take-home pay are huge. In the 2012 presidential election, labor spent $1.7 billion on political activities. This is far from equally distributed. About 90 percent of the money went to Democrats. This election cycle, the spending by unions could exceed $2 billion. If half the workers refuse to opt in to this spending, workers across the country will receive a $1 billion pay raise. This may be a conservative estimate. Weve learned from states like Wisconsin, where workers already have these paycheck protections, that about 80 percent of workers are not paying these dues. Theyd rather feed and care for their families than the union machine. Although almost all union money goes to Democrats, we know that there are millions of rank-and-file union members who support Republicans or independents or dont care about politics. Trump is getting huge backing from blue-collar union members. Yet these workers paychecks are raided to financially boost candidates they dont even support. How is that even remotely fair? The ERA is also smart politics. All of the basic worker protections have been poll-tested and are 80-20 issues, meaning 80 percent support the measures even a majority of union households. Not many policy issues these days command that kind of widespread backing. The ERA puts the GOP firmly on the side of working-class Americans and higher pay. The wonder is why the party hasnt already made this one of its top priorities. Stephen Moore is a co-founder of the Committee to Unleash Prosperity and an economist with FreedomWorks. Jon Decker is executive director of the Committee to Unleash Prosperity. Three people were stabbed, one with a flagpole, and 12 people were arrested during a brawl on Saturday morning between self-described Ku Klux Klan members and counter-protesters at an Anaheim park, police said. Initially arrested were five Klan members four men and a woman and seven counter-protesters five men, a male juvenile and a woman. Seven people were booked in the Anaheim jail on assault or abuse charges. Police are seeking one additional suspect who can be seen in a video of the altercation punching a Klansman. Ive lived in Anaheim my whole life and I have never heard of anything like this, said Anaheim resident Joe Castaneda, who saw the melee break out. The confrontation occurred at around noon after a group of six KKK members showed up at Pearson Park, a witness said. Klan leaders earlier this week announced their intention to hold a rally there, and a group of about 30 counter-protesters were waiting for them. One of the counter-protesters was stabbed with the decorative end of a flagpole, said Anaheim police Sgt. Daron Wyatt. An officer responding to the scene saw one of the Klansmen stab a counter-protester with a knife. The Klansman admitted to stabbing the man, but told the officers that it was self-defense, Wyatt said. The counter-protesters and the Klansmen briefly had words before the fight began, Castaneda said. He said the counter-protesters were telling the Klansmen that they werent welcome in the community and to get out. He couldnt hear what the Klansmen were saying. Some words were exchanged and that is pretty much when the fight began, Castaneda said. The Klansmen were badly outnumbered, Castaneda said, forcing most of them to get back into a black SUV and try to flee. They left three Klansmen behind. It was just the three of them against a whole crowd, Castaneda said. At one point, Castaneda said, one of the Klansmen lunged at him with the flagpole, but backed away after Castaneda stepped back and showed the man a cane he uses to walk. The men were wearing military type clothing, Castaneda said. They were definitely dressed up (for) the occasion. The man stabbed by the flag pole was taken to a hospital in critical condition, Wyatt said, but his condition later improved. The second stabbing victim suffered lesser injuries. The extent of injuries for the third victim, found in a vehicle on Lemon Street, was not clear. All victims are expected to survive. Warning: The following video contains graphic footage. Anaheim police on Friday sent a Twitter message out telling the community that they were aware of the planned KKK rally. The message noted that several other rallies have occurred over the past few years, with a small group of Klansman passing out literature and holding signs. Counter-protesters had been at the park since early Saturday morning awaiting the rally, according to a witness who had been there since 9 a.m. You could feel the pulsing energy. I know that people were watching the street to see when the Klansmen would show up, said Melodye Shore of Laguna Niguel, who was observing the protest with a friend. As soon as they saw that van, they were just all over it. She said police response was not immediate. I would think that they would be a physical presence, considering that they did know that there was a planned activity, she said. They should have been right there. But no, it took awhile. I had time to take a bunch of pictures before the police showed up. Anaheim Police said in a news release they had a contingent of officers dedicated to the event. Those officers were on scene immediately as the violence erupted and called for additional personnel, according to the statement. On Saturday, most of the protesters were gone by mid-afternoon, with a group of about two-dozen park visitors remaining to watch police go over the portion of Cypress Street where the conflict occurred. The Klan once had a strong presence in Anaheim, and at the Pearson Park site. On April 14, 1924, Anaheim voters elected four of five City Council members who secretly belonged to the Klan. Many city workers resigned, but nine of Anaheims 10 police officers supported the Klan which held parades, painted the streets with K.I.G.Y. for Klansmen I Greet You, and stationed gunmen on buildings to shoot anyone dousing their burning crosses. In August 1924, the Klan staged its largest rally ever in the state, drawing 10,000 people to what is now called Pearson Park. Within a year, however, on Feb. 3, 1925, more than 95 percent of the voters turned out to recall the Klansmen and reclaim their town. Wyatt said police are seeking video footage of the melee. We know there were all kinds of people out here with video, and we need that, he said. He asked witnesses to call Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-847-6227. Staff writer Samuel Mountjoy contributed to this report. LA PAZ, Bolivia The former lover of President Evo Morales who was working as a high-ranking executive at a Chinese firm has been arrested as part of a probe into alleged influence trafficking involving hundreds of millions of dollars in government contracts. Gabriela Zapata was expected to be charged Saturday with illegal enrichment, laundering of unjust gains and influence trafficking, according to her lawyer. She was taken into custody on Friday at the request of Bolivias anti-corruption agency, who argued she was a flight risk. The bombshell revelation this month of Morales past relationship with Zapata upended the final stretch of a referendum campaign aimed at allowing the president to seek re-election when his current term ends in 2020. Morales narrowly lost the vote, delivering a major blow to his decade-old leftist government. Morales during the campaign acknowledged the relationship and said the two even had a child together in 2007, but that the infant later died. In another twist, Zapatas aunt said Saturday that the child was still alive and named Ernesto Fidel. My niece will soon provide more information, she wants to talk, Pilar Guzman told ATB television on Saturday. Zapata, 29, declined to speak when she was arrested on Friday. In 2013, Zapata became general manager for Bolivia of China CAMC Engineering Co. Ltd., whose seven contracts with the state, all but one no-bid, are worth more than $500 million. Opposition politicians accuse Morales of influence-trafficking through the Chinese firm, a claim he denies. Along with Zapata, two officials in the presidential office are being charged. Zapatas lawyer, Walter Zuleta, has called his clients arrest arbitrary and said he will demonstrate her innocence. Westhampton, N.Y., library president Tom Moore, citing the position of the FCC on alleged dangers of Wi-Fi, said Feb. 26 that the library would keep its Wi-Fi system. Critics responded. Moore linked to the three-page statement of the Federal Communications Commission on Wireless Devices and Health Concerns that concludes that According to the Food & Drug Administration and the World Health Organization, among other organizations, to date, [Nov. 7, 2015] the weight of scientific evidence has not effectively linked exposure to radio frequency energy from mobile devices with any known health problems. While some have linked wireless devices to cancer and other illnesses, posing potentially greater risks to children than adults, currently no scientific evidence establishes a causal link between wireless device use and cancer or other illnesses, says the FCC release. Moore said said library Wi-Fi is obtained via a router provided by Optimum, a brand name of Cablevision, which is being sold along with sister company Newsday to Altice for $17 billion. He noted there are Optimum "hotspots" throughout Long Island in addition to Wi-Fi service in homes. "As with other public gathering places such as coffee shops and airports, the library is a Wi-Fi hotspot providing access to the internet through personal mobile devices," he added. "The library is in the process of upgrading our access poiints using the CloudTrax network. This will enable us to measure the RF signals and allow us to adjust strength if necessary." Board Foils Attempt to Discuss Wi-Fi Library trustees and eight residents who were at the Feb. 10 meeting were given, at the start of the meeting, a one-page handout describing the six-part series on dangers of Wi-Fi that ran at the Ashland, Mass., library from Oct. 8, 2015 to Feb. 11, 2016. The series included a documentary on "hundreds of local governments that are standing against the multi-billion dollar rollout of Wi-Fi utility meters"; a warning that cellphones, laptops, tablets, etc., emit radiation that "causes intracellular disarray leading to innumerable and sometimes serious problems"; a documentary on "how the mobile industry creates doubt about harmful radiofrequency waves through the manipulation of science," and a film about cellphone radiation and its potential long-term health effects. The Jan. 26, 2016 session focused on radiation dangers to children as described by Michael Hugo, Board of Health Chair, Framingham, Mass. Trustees were told that residents are very interested in the topic and would like the Ashland series to be presented at the WH library. The topic was not discussed at the board meeting. Moore expressed the need for the meeting to be conducted at a fast pace since an executive session was to begin at 8 p.m. A resident complained of the short shrift given to members of the public at the meeting. Unlike the Westhampton Beach Trustee meetings, which are videotaped, the library board meetings are not recorded in any way. Citizens will be able to vote on the proposed library budget May 17. About 60 residents attended the Oct. 30 meeting of the board, most of those in the room demanding that trustees be elected rather than appointed. Ignoring their wishes, the board appointed three new trustees Feb. 16. EMF Health Advocates See Dangers The librarys decision resulted in claims of dangers from EMF expressed by Joel Moskowitz, Ph.D., director, Center for Family & Community Health, Univ. of Calif./Berkeley, and Diane Hickey, co-founder of the National Assn. for Children & Safe Technology. Both provided numerous links to support their views. They feel the FCC has not kept up with current research. They note that Tom Wheeler, FCC chairman, was president and CEO of the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Assn. from 1992-2004 and is the only person ever named to both the Cable TV Hall of Fame and the Wireless Hall of Fame. Moskowitz, associate producer of Mobilize: A Film about Cellphone Radiation, on Feb. 16 conducted a webcast seminar on new research related to wireless technology. He conducts the Electromagnetic Radiation Safety web site. Among sources cited bv Moskowitz are: Joel Moskowitz International EMF Scientist Appeal - 220 scientists from 42 nations who have published peer-reviewed research on electromagnetic fields (EMF) and health have signed this petition calling for stronger regulations and precautionary health warnings. Government Failure to Address Wireless Radiation Risks: http://bit.ly/govtfailwireless Wi-Fi in Schools & Other Public Places: http://www.saferemr.com/2013/03/opposition-to-los-angeles-public.html Recent Research on WiFi Effects: http://www.saferemr.com/2015/09/recent-research-on-wifi-effects.html Pregnancy & Wireless Radiation Risks: http://www.saferemr.com/2014/06/joint-statement-on-pregnancy-and.html How does wireless radiation produce harmful health effects?: http://www.saferemr.com/2015/10/how-does-wireless-radiation-produce.html Expert Forum on Cell Phone and Wireless Risks to Children: http://www.saferemr.com/2015/07/expert-forum-on-cell-phone-and-wireless.html Industry-funded Scientists Undermine Cell Phone Radiation Science: http://www.saferemr.com/2015/02/industry-funded-scientists-undermine.html Wireless Radiation TV News: http://www.saferemr.com/2015/07/wireless-radiation-tv-news.html> Tips to Reduce Your Exposure to Wireless Radiation: http://www.saferemr.com/2015/10/tips-to-reduce-your-wireless-radiation.html Hickey Says FCC Guidelines Are Dated Hickey said "The FCCs exposure guidelines did not consider information that addresses non-thermal prolonged exposures, i.e. chronic/prolonged, low-level (non-thermal) exposures. The FCC exposure guidelines are considered protective of effects rising from a thermal mechanism but not all possible mechanisms. Therefore, the generalization by many that the guidelines protect human beings from harm by any and all mechanisms is not justified." Norbert Hankin, Senior Scientist, Radiation Protection Division, Environmental Protection Agency, says, "Currently there are no national or international "standards" for safety levels of radiofrequency devices. Therefore, for anyone to claim that they meet FCC "standards" gives a false impression of safety certainty . . ." FCC guidelines only deal with thermal effects, i.e. heat damage. It says nothing about safety from the risk of many chronic diseases that the public is most concerned about such as cancer, miscarriage, birth defects, semen quality, auto immune diseases, etc. The FCC guidelines are irrelevant and cannot be used for any claims of safety unless we are addressing heat damage. The bottom line is that the safety level for RF exposure related to non-thermal effects is unknown at present (2011). The California Medical Assn. said, Resolved, that the CMA understands that existing public safety limits for microwave EMF devices are outdated and inadequate to protect public health . . . House of Delegates Resolution Wireless Standards Reevaluation 2014 Resolution 107- 14, PASSED, Date Adopted Dec 7, 2014: http://www.parentsforsafetechnology.org/california-medical-association-resolution-on-wireless.html Critics Fault Independence of the FCC Critics of the FCC say it shows signs of being dominated by the industries it is supposed to be supervising. They refer to the E-book of Norm Altser, Captured Agency: How the Federal Communications Commission Is Dominated by the Industries it Presumes to Regulate. It is published by the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, Harvard University. Major recommendations to FCC include: 1. Acknowledge that there may be health risks in wireless communications. Take down the dismissive language. Maturely and independently discuss the research and ongoing debate on the safety of this technology. 2. In recognition of this scientific uncertainty, adopt a precautionary view on use of wireless technology. Require prominent point-of-sale notices suggesting that users who want to reduce health risks can adopt a variety of measures, including headphones, more limited usage and storage away from at-risk body parts. 3. Back off the promotion of Wi-Fi. There are wired alternatives that do not expose children to wireless risk. 4. Petition Congress for the budgetary additions needed to expand testing of emissions on antenna sites. It was Congress after all that gave industry carte blanche for tower expansion so long as they comply with FCC standards. But there is evidence of vast non-compliance and Congress needs to ensure that tower infrastructure is operating within the law. 5. Acknowledge that children and pregnant women may be more vulnerable to the effects of RF emissions and require special protection. The Bridgeport, Northern Illinois and Sacramento State gymnastics teams will visit Lincoln on Saturday for the 26th annual Masters Classic. Host Nebraska (7-3, 3-2 Big Ten) will compete in a quad meet for the second time in six days after finishing second at the Iowa State quad last Sunday. Hollie Blanske, a senior from Oak Grove, Minnesota, won her third all-around title, finishing with a 39.475. Blanske also picked up her first event titles in both vault and uneven bars, finishing with scores of 9.875 in both events. I am so proud of Hollie, Coach Dan Kendig said. She had a great day. Some people really stepped up and did a great job on Sunday and Hollie was one of them. Bridgeport is 13-6 and the top-ranked team in Division II. Northern Illinois is 6-6 and Sacramento 7-4. The NU mens team will take on Iowa and Penn State on Saturday. The Iowa City triangular will start at 1 p.m. The Huskers (5-4, 0-1) are ranked No. 6 in the College Gymnastics Associations Poll and moved up one spot to No. 7 in the Coaches Poll. NU posted the second-highest score in school history (428.700) against the Sooners on Feb. 6 and hopes to build on that momentum Saturday. Iowa (3-8, 1-5) is ranked No. 7 in the GGA Poll and No. 6 in the Coaches Poll.One of the teams most explosive gymnasts is senior Matthew Loochtan, who is ranked 13th nationally in the all-around and 10th in still rings. Since Ive been out of college, its been difficult for me to make friends. Not in the sense that people dont like me or that its hard to meet people. No...it's about it being difficult to find people to trust who wont judge you when you decide to get an extra scoop of ice cream. Along with not making friends as easily, you start to drift apart from friends you were once close to. Im seeing this happening a lot lately to people I love. My sister and her current roommate were BFFs in high school, but once they move out of their current place, I doubt they will even talk to each other because living together just didnt work out for them. My husband has many people who were his friends in college, but now these same friends are spewing an extreme amount of hate towards him. Why? Because he created an awesome documentary called "Black Greek." Hes a journalist, after all. Many of the people who were all for it when he had the idea are now changing their tune. What great friends! How could a friendship get to that point? How can you spend time around someones family, then treat them like scum? Adult friendship can become very complicated. Although its hard for me to make friends as an adult, I still have some really good friends from high school and college. Since I live away from everyone, I dont really get the chance to see them often. But when I do see them, I love catching up and learning about their new life experiences. Coming from a big family helps also because if youre friends with one of my siblings, you become friends with all of us and my mom treats you like her own. Just ask Tina, Joanna and Linda! Theyve been around my family for years and it feels like they are blood related. There arent many people who will always have your back and always encourage you through tough situations. Great friends are there through breakups, marriages and babies. Im very grateful to my friends for that. So what will I tell my kids when their friendships end? Im a true believer in things happening for a reason. Every person you meet is there to teach you something. Whether its to have more patience, how to love or how to let go. Everyone isnt meant to be in your life forever, and Im OK with that. * * * Naeemah Ford Goldson is a mother of two boys who lives in Atlanta but is originally from Omaha. Shes the owner of Restore Order Professional Organizing, LLC. Read more posts from Naeemah Gasoline prices jumped this week after data showed that U.S. gasoline stockpiles fell for the first time in nearly four months, a sign that demand has finally caught up with supply. Gasoline consumption is estimated to be up more than 5 percent from last year, as drivers take advantage of cheap fuel. Meanwhile, some U.S. refineries are cutting back on production, which could help cut into the record glut of gasoline supplies. As of Friday morning, gasoline for delivery in March stood at $1.03 per gallon, a price that excludes taxes and other expenses. Meanwhile, April gasoline was trading for $1.31, a sign that prices could be rising soon. Corn acres flood market U.S. corn farmers are likely to plant an additional 2 million acres of corn this spring, according to the newest outlook from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that pegged plantings at 90 million acres in total. This projection was higher than expected and crushed corn prices to a six-week low. Farmers are likely to add corn and reduce soybean acres in an effort to scrape by this year, hoping that they can break even more easily on corn. Increasing acres, alongside diminishing demand from ethanol producers and livestock feeders, put pressure on corn, which traded as low as $3.54 per bushel on Friday. Meanwhile, wheat prices were hit even harder, with Chicago wheat dropping to a five-year low at $4.38 per bushel, a price so cheap that it may begin prompting farmers to feed wheat to cattle instead of selling it solely for human consumption. Steak market sizzles Cattle charged to a four-month high Friday, pushing over $1.38 per pound. Prices have been rising as demand from meatpackers picks up as they prepare for spring cookouts. Retailers are hoping that relatively cheap prices for steaks and burgers will lead to increased consumer demand in the coming months. Additionally, the cattle being sold to slaughterhouses are relatively skinny, as the cold winter has kept them from gaining weight, which is limiting beef supply and pushing prices higher. Starting Monday, livestock trading hours at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange will be changing, with cattle and hogs now trading from 8:30 a.m. to 1:05 p.m. CST, a cutback in hours that should focus trading on the high-activity hours only. Walt and Alex Breitinger are commodity futures brokers in Silver Lake, Kansas. They can be reached at 800-411-3888 or www.paragoninvestments.com. When executives from New Jersey-based e-commerce company Jet.com came to Omaha to check out Hayneedle, they said they liked what they saw. So much so that the 7-month-old Jet required hardly a couple months worth of consideration to decide to buy the 14-year-old Omaha-based company, executives from both organizations told The World-Herald on Friday. When we first met, we knew right away it would be an ideal fit for both companies, said Marc Lore, Jets founder, chairman and chief executive. Jon Barker, president and chief executive of Hayneedle, said the companies mutual interest in expanding their respective product offerings while retaining not only competitive pricing but also exemplary service and experience across all shopping devices helped seal the deal. Neither executive would share the terms of the deal. In the second half of 2015, almost 3 million customers used Jet to purchase millions of dollars worth of everyday products like paper towels, over-the-counter medicine and baby wipes and diapers. Jet formally launched in July 2015 but grew quickly in the second half of the year. The company during the 2015 holiday season was selling close to $2 million in merchandise daily. Founder Lore said based on those figures, Jets run rate, or the estimate of what its sales would have been in a full calendar year, topped $500 million. Hayneedle, meanwhile, each year sells more than $350 million worth of home goods, like decor and indoor and outdoor furniture. Jets acquisition makes Hayneedle a subsidiary that executives said will maintain its independence and identity after the deal closes next week. All Hayneedle employees about 400 of whom are in three locations in Omaha, with 100 others spread between fulfillment centers in Ohio and California will stay put, the companies said. Barker said his company has handled several overtures from companies interested in a deal in the past two years. Discussions with Jet officials began just recently. Seeing the recent success of e-commerce business Wayfair, which also is in the home furnishings space and went public in late 2014 with a $304.5 million initial public offering, cash-rich Jet may be trying to duplicate that companys success with its acquisition of Hayneedle. Thats according to analyst Colin Sebastian, who covers Wayfair for Robert W. Baird & Co., an investment firm. I assume its also a good way for Jet to acquire more direct merchant and consumer relationships, Sebastian said. Whatever the motivations, such a deal is a rarity in Omaha, and even in the broader Midwest region, according to CB Insights. That company tracks venture capital deals including mergers and acquisitions. Its data shows Illinois was the closest state to Nebraska where any e-commerce exits, or sales of venture capital-backed companies, happened in 2015. About three-quarters of 74 such deals were in either California or New York. Hayneedles 400 Omaha employees are spread among its headquarters near 93rd Street and West Dodge Road and local photo studio and call center operations. All those jobs, plus the ones in Ohio and California, are safe, said Mark Hasebroock, a Hayneedle co-founder and board member. I think theres no doubt its all going to stay here, he said. The thing Jet really liked about this was the team and the brand they want to scale it, to grow it, and theres no indication whatsoever that theyll evaluate the local operation or move the headquarters. The company got its start in Omaha in 2002 when three Omaha entrepreneurs Doug Nielsen, Julie Mahloch and Hasebroock saw an opportunity in establishing online stores for very specific products. How specific? Their first store, Hammocks.com, got its start in a Seattle llama farmers back shed. The original website was tough to navigate and none of us at the time really understood the power of Google AdWords, which had just started coming on the scene, Hasebroock said. We redid the site, bought some keywords, and sold about $600 worth of hammocks the first day. The next day, we did almost $2,000. The company grew to about 400 total niche stores before rolling them all under the singular Hayneedle brand in 2009. Co-founder Nielsen, whom Barker replaced as president and chief executive in mid-2013, said Friday he is proud to see the company and its employees move to the next level. We started building Hayneedle 14 years ago with a small team here in Omaha and we really created an incredible platform, Nielsen said. Its a great milestone for the company. Current Hayneedle chief Barker said the present leadership team will stay in place. Hayneedle will continue to operate independently as a subsidiary of Jet, Barker said. We will retain our identity, and the relationship with Jet will provide us opportunities to grow faster than we have in the past. There are no plans to move from Omaha. Jet has about 300 employees at its Hoboken, New Jersey, headquarters, in addition to more than 400 at a call center in Salt Lake City and about 500 more at warehouses in Nevada, Kansas and New Jersey. Contact the writer: 402-444-1534, cole.epley@owh.com WASHINGTON (AP) Federal regulators are failing to refer serious safety violations involving freight rail shipments of crude oil and other hazardous cargo for criminal prosecution, according to a report Friday by a government watchdog. The Federal Railroad Administration routinely applies only modest civil penalties for hazardous materials safety violations, even though inspectors request penalties for serious or repeated infractions, said the report by the Department of Transportations inspector general. Instead, the agencys attorneys have made it a priority to process penalties quickly and avoid legal challenges, the report said. And although the agency processes hundreds of safety violations each year, it appears that not a single case has ever been referred for criminal investigation, the report said. But after examining a random sample of safety violations over five years, the inspector generals office found 17 cases it said the agency should have referred for criminal investigation. Based on that sample, the inspector generals office estimated 20 percent, or 227 out of 1,126 violations, may have warranted criminal referral. The agencys attorneys told the watchdog that they didnt make criminal referrals because they didnt know the procedures for doing so, and they didnt think it was part of their job. As a result, penalties have little deterrent effect, and criminal penalties arent being pursued, wrote Mitchell Behm, assistant inspector general for surface transportation. Concern about rail shipments of hazardous cargo has been heightened in recent years by a series of fiery oil train explosions in the U.S. and Canada, including one just across the border in Quebec that killed 47 people. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., said the report confirms that the federal government has failed to provide the necessary oversight to protect communities across the country from serious accidents involving the rail transportation of hazardous materials. Each week, see pictures of area students, parents and teachers as they navigate through the 2015-16 academic year. Have photos of your school's pep rally, dance or just everyday school life? Send them our way to goodnews@owh.com. (Click on photo to enlarge; mobile users having difficulty seeing pictures can click here:) Music filled the gym at St. Bernard Catholic School as Marian High School serenaded the students with their hand bell choir and their band. High Ability Learners junior high students interested in athletic training visited with new Papillion-La Vista Community Schools Cooperation BEST Business Partner Gina V PT (Physical Therapy). St. Margaret Mary fourth-graders, along with their parents, recently celebrated the completion of one-half of their elementary school education with a night of country music and dancing. The Halfway Hoedown was an evening of dinner, dancing, family portraits, souvenirs and fun. This is the 16th year the event has been held. In preparation for the event, Physical Education teacher Sherri Vollmer taught the students a variety of dances. She also served as the caller. Families enjoyed kicking up their hills and celebrating an educational milestone. St. Margaret Mary fourth-graders, along with their parents, recently celebrated the completion of one-half of their elementary school education with a night of country music and dancing. The Halfway Hoedown was an evening of dinner, dancing, family portraits, souvenirs and fun. This is the 16th year the event has been held. In preparation for the event, Physical Education teacher Sherri Vollmer taught the students a variety of dances. She also served as the caller. Families enjoyed kicking up their hills and celebrating an educational milestone. St. Margaret Mary fourth-graders, along with their parents, recently celebrated the completion of one-half of their elementary school education with a night of country music and dancing. The Halfway Hoedown was an evening of dinner, dancing, family portraits, souvenirs and fun. This is the 16th year the event has been held. In preparation for the event, Physical Education teacher Sherri Vollmer taught the students a variety of dances. She also served as the caller. Families enjoyed kicking up their hills and celebrating an educational milestone. On Feb. 3, Governor Pete Ricketts signed a proclamation naming Feb. 22-26 Week of the Gifted Child in Nebraska. PLC Schools student Karoline Ford presented Governor Ricketts with the proclamation document to sign. Pictured (left to right): Virginia Harford, Nebraska Association of the Gifted Board Member, Mary Duffy Nebraska Department of Education High Ability Learners Coordinator, Elizabeth Ford, Bell Elementary student, Spencer Ford, Bell Elementary student, Karoline Ford, Papillion La Vista South High School student, Governor Ricketts and Elizabeth Maloney, Papillion-La Vista Community Schools High Ability Learner teacher. Jimmy Krayneski (center) reads a book with his parents Vicki and Tony Krayneski at the Carriage Hill One School, One Book kick-off. St. Bernard Catholic School students pray for others during Lent and await mass in the school chapel. Kindergartners from Washington Elementary in Fremont work on district sight words before breakfast. Why Karnataka CM is under "watch" by the High Command? Bengaluru oi-Vicky The Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah has been the talk of the town following his Rs 70 lakh watch controversy. The opposition had raised this issue during the recent by-polls. Siddaramaiah however went on the defensive and said that it was a gift from his friend. He also went on to say that he would pay the required tax and the watch was a property of the state. Was this defence enough? Not at all since the opposition continues to hound him and many within his party who have been gunning for his ouster have decided to take this issue up to the high command. High Command will keep a watch The Congress High Command in New Delhi has not yet taken any decision on Siddaramaiah. In the past two weeks there have been a spate of complaints against him by his own colleagues. Bengaluru, Feb 27: The complaints include a lacklustre campaign by the CM at the Hebbal constituency since he could not get his preferred candidate a ticket. The recent polls conducted to the local bodies may have favoured the Congress, but many expected them to do better. To add to the misery is this watch controversy. A Congress leader from Karnataka on condition of anonymity informed OneIndia that it amounts to corruption. The CM cannot take gifts as it does convey a wrong message. We have told the high command about it and left it up to them he also said. The High Command for the time being has chosen not to react. The Congress is in no mood to lose out any governments in the states. The Congress has decided to tread very carefully on this issue. A lot would depend on the opposition especially the BJP plays this controversy out. Currently it is only the JD(S) which is making a loud noise about this issue. OneIndia News Happy Easter 2018: Best messages, FB status, quotes to share with your loved ones Christmas 2018: Why and how do we celebrate Christmas Feast of the Annunciation: Why is this day important for Christians? Book claiming Christ was Tamil Hindu relaunched amid protest India oi-PTI Mumbai, Feb 26: A controversial book penned by brother of Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar, claiming Jesus Christ was a Tamil Hindu, was re-launched here today, 70 years after it was first published. The book was relaunched at the Swatantryaveer Savarkar National Memorial in Dadar this evening amid threats of protests by Christian organisations, who have objected to the book. Members of Alpha Omega Christian Mahasangh had threatened to gather outside the venue of the launch, carrying black flags to protest against the contents of the book. But no such protest took place. The book, penned by Ganesh Savarkar, elder brother of V D Svarkar, was re-launched on the death anniversary of V D Savarkar. It was released by historian Pandurang Balkawade. President of the Swatantryaveer Savarkar National Memorial Ranjit Savarkar, who is the grandson of Ganesh Savarkar, said Christians will feel proud after reading the book. The book, first published in 1946, claims that Christianity was initially a Hindu cult and that Jesus died in Kashmir. It claims that people from the Essene cult rescued the crucified Christ and revived him with medicinal plants and herbs from the Himalayas. It also says Christ attained 'Samadhi' in Kashmir. The book- Christ Parichay - goes on to claim that Jesus was a 'Vishwakarma Brahmin' by birth and Christianity was a sect of Hinduism. The Marathi book is being brought out by Savarkar National Memorial, a trust that preserves and propagates the Savarkar brothers' literature and ideology. The book claims that the present day Palestinian and Arab territories were Hindu land and that Christ travelled to India, where he learnt yoga. The book says Christ's real name was Keshao Krishna, Tamil was his mother tongue, and his complexion was dark. Asked about the claims in the book, senior priest and director of the Bombay Archdiocesan Heritage Museum, Father Warner D'Souza, said such books will not shake the faith of Christians. Five other books written by Ganesh Savarkar were also relaunched at the event. PTI Karnataka MPs who have spent the most on welfare Sorry sight: Only 6% of criminal cases against MPs, MLAs ended in conviction, say govt data What is Centre doing to cure selfie disorder? BJP MPs query embarrasses their own govt Digvijay Singh appears before MP court India oi-PTI Bhopal, Feb 27: Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh today appeared before a court here in connection with an alleged recruitment scam at the Assembly Secretariat here which took place when he was Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Singh appeared before the Special District and Sessions Judge Kashinath Singh. The court had yesterday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant when the ex-CM, an accused in the alleged scam, did not turn up in the court where a 169-page supplementary charge sheet was also filed in the case. The Rajya Sabha member was summoned by prosecuting agency - MP Police - to attend the court proceedings. He was accompanied by MP Congress President Arun Yadav, former Union Minister Suresh Pachouri and his lawyer Vivek Tankha around 11.30 AM. Yesterday, seven other accused including K K Kaushal and A K Pyasi - who appeared in the court - were granted bail after they furnished a personal security bond of Rs 30,000 each. Kaushal and Pyasi were employees of the Secretariat. Ahead of filing the charge sheet, police had last year grilled the veteran Congressman for five hours in connection with the scam. The scam pertains to alleged irregularities in recruitment in MP Assembly Secretariat here between 1993 and 2003 when Singh was Chief Minister. Last year, Singh had reportedly told investigators that all recruitments in the Secretariat during his tenure were done with the approval of State Cabinet and as per prescribed rules. The accused have been charged with forgery, cheating, conspiracy and misuse of office as well as offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. PTI 'Whoever becomes party president will work under Gandhi family's leadership': Digvijay Singh As Kharge steps in, Digvijaya Singh confirms he won't contest against him Rahul Gandhi will be seen in new avatar after Bharat Jodo Yatra: Digvijaya Singh Digvijay Singh faces non-bailable arrest warrant in recruitment scam India oi-PTI Bhopal, Feb 26: A local court today issued a non- bailable arrest warrant against Congress leader Digvijay Singh in an alleged recruitment scam at Assembly Secretariat here which took place when he was Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Special Sessions Judge Kashinath Singh issued the warrant after the Congress General Secretary, an accused in the alleged scam, did not turn up in the court where a 169-page supplementary charge sheet was filed today. The Rajya Sabha member was summoned by prosecuting agency - MP Police - to attend the court proceedings. The seven other accused, including K K Kaushal and A K Pyasi - who appeared in the court - were granted bail after they furnished a personal security bond of Rs 30,000 each. Kaushal and Pyasi were employees of the Secretariat. The Court fixed March 14 for hearing. Ahead of filing the charge sheet last year, police had grilled the veteran Congressman for five hours in connection with the scam. The scam pertains to alleged irregularities in recruitment in MP Assembly Secretariat here between 1993 and 2003 when Singh was Chief Minister. Last year, Singh had reportedly told investigators that all recruitments in the Secretariat during his tenure were done with the approval of State Cabinet and as per prescribed rules. The accused have been charged with forgery, cheating, conspiracy and misuse of office as well as offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. PTI No surprises here: Mallikarjun Kharge is the new Cong chief After the 'Jihad' comment, Patil now claims \"I never said it\" Embarrassment for Congress! Party MLA convicted in land case, sentenced to one year in jail India oi-PTI Chamba (HP), Feb 26: AICC secretary and Himachal Pradesh's ruling Congress MLA Asha Kumari was today sentenced to one year's imprisonment in a case of grabbing of forest land in Dalhousie. Chamba District and Sessions Judge Padam Singh convicted Kumari, her two associates and four retired officials in the case. Kumari, a five-time MLA, was sentenced to one-year imprisonment and slapped with a fine of Rs 8,000. The court also sentenced two co-convicts -- Pusap Gulati and Prakash Chand -- to undergo simple imprisonment for one year, besides asking them to pay a fine of Rs 1,000 each. Kumari is the MLA from Dalhousie constituency. District Attorney S S Pathania said Kumari and the two co-accused had been convicted under relevant sections of IPC in the land case. Four former revenue department officials have also been sentenced to undergo simple imprisonment for three years and a fine of Rs 5,000 has been imposed on each of them. These co-convicts are Mehar Chand (retired Patwari), Dharam Chand (retired naib Tehsildar), Chet Ram (retired naib Tehsildar) and Balwan (Kanungo). They had been convicted by the court under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and section 13 (2) of Prevention of Corruption Act. Pathania said Kumari, her late husband Brijender Singh and officials of the revenue department were booked by the Vigilance department on charge of cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy in 2001. At that time, there were 13 accused named in the FIR, out of whom six have since died. The deceased accused were Narinder, Ashok, Puran Singh, Prakash Chand, Vijay Singh, Gurucharan Dass and Brijendra Singh, husband of Kumari. The case dates back to 1998 when a former municipal councillor Kuldeep Kumar had lodged a complaint against Brijender Singh and some revenue officials alleging that Kumari and her husband had tampered with the revenue records to transfer 67.3 bighas of government land, including forest, near Dalhousie in their name. State Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau had registered an FIR on December 15, 2001. On January 4, 2005, a court in Chamba framed charges against Kumari, then Education Minister, and others. Following the framing of charges, Kumari resigned from the ministry and moved the High Court that set aside the order passed by the Chamba court on the ground that she was denied an opportunity of being properly heard. However, in December 2011, the Supreme Court had set aside the relief granted to Asha Kumari by the Himachal Pradesh High Court and asked the Special Judge to go ahead with the trial. In August 2012, the court of Special Judge had framed charges of cheating, criminal conspiracy and forgery against Kumari and others. Meanwhile, when contacted DP Malhotra, lawyer for Kumari, told over the phone that on the application of the convicts, the court has allowed the suspension of sentence for thirty days. PTI Ishrat files: How IB set a trap on the module that wanted to assassinate Modi India oi-Vicky With more people now speaking about the Ishrat Jahan encounter, it is becoming clear that the operation was a bonafide one. Moreover it has also been ascertained that Ishrat Jahan was used as a cover in this operation. Going by former Home Secretary G K Pillai's remarks, it becomes clear that these terrorists were lured in by a mole in the Intelligence Bureau in a bid to track the operation that they were planning. Also read: Not 'Bihar ki beti,' Ishrat Jahan acted as cover for three terrorists It began in February 2004 when the Intelligence Bureau for the first time picked up information about two terrorists from Gujarat. These persons had trained in Pakistan and were planning a major operation in Gujarat. Further the IB also found that these two persons were working for Muzzamil Bhat, a commander of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba. The plot As per the plot these persons after having trained in Pakistan were to carry out a series of assassinations in Gujarat, the IB intercept also suggested. A mole in the IB began to track Zeeshan Zohar and Amjad Rana. According to Pillai there was an entrapment involved here. Some officers explain that Rana and Zohar may have been lured from Pakistan into Gujarat. The IB also tracked down another operative called Javed Shaikh who had flown into Oman on a fake passport in which his name was Pranesh Pillai. He made this trip to Oman in March 2004 and returned to Mumbai a month later. He is said to have joined the rest of them in this operation. Investigators have not yet joined the dots relating to Ishrat Jahan clearly. According to Pillai, she may have been used as a cover. An intelligence bureau official tells OneIndia that she was lured in by the rest and was used as a cover. We have no reason to suggest that she may have not known about this operation. Her family claims that she was hired by Javed for a perfume business. Officers say that most of these persons are lured in by using such tactics. While many investigators believe that she was in the know of the operation, David Headley added to this by stating that Ishrat was a suicide bomber of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba. Moreover after the encounter a magazine of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba hailed her as one of their own. The post was however taken down later. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 27, 2016, 9:30 [IST] Jat stir: Women police team in Murthal to probe 'highway rapes' India oi-PTI Sonipat, Feb 27: The three-member committee of women police officers constituted to receive complaints regarding alleged rape of women at Murthal near Sonepat during the Jat stir on Saturday visited the site of the alleged incident. The women police officers team led by DIG Dr Rajshree Singh and two women DSPs, Bharti Dabas and Surinder Kaur, visited the site to gather first hand information about the alleged incident, over 50 km from Delhi. Also read: Police appoints 3-women cop panel to investigate Murthal rapes' Asked about recovery of some clothes beloning to women at Murthal on the Delhi Ambala National Highway, Rajshree told reporters, "These had been sent to Forensic Science Laboratory for examination". "Let us see, what comes out," she told reporters in Murthal. Asked how challenging would it be for the police to identify culprits of the alleged incident, she said police was visiting the "scene of the crime" to collect clues and talking to people in this regard. We appeal to all citizens who have any clue to forward: police "It is challenging. But let us see, what happens," she said, asserting, "It will be our endeavour that truth comes out." "We appeal to all citizens who have any clue to forward. They should meet us and tell us whatever they have seen, they should share with us all details and we will try to bring out the truth. We are visiting the scene of crime and meeting people," she said. The state government, had on Friday said it would act "swiftly" as and when it receives complaint on alleged sexual assault during Jat agitation. Police had earlier maintained that no concrete evidence had been found so far which could prove sexual assault or rape of women took place at Murthal during the Jat stir for quota. Punjab and Haryana High Court had taken suo motu cognisance of a media report which had said that several women were allegedly raped at a highway in Murthal during Jat stir. The court had asked the Haryana DGP and Home Secretary to submit separate detailed report on this incident. However, the state government had been maintaining that no such incident had taken place. PTI Dhanteras 2022: How much gold can you buy from Dubai JNU row: Delhi cops launch manhunt for 20 'anti-nationals' India oi-Vicky New Delhi, Feb 27: The Delhi police have launched a manhunt for 20 persons who were in the JNU campus on February 9 when anti national slogans were raised. The 20 persons were identified on the basis of the 12 videos that the Delhi police have with them regarding the February 9 event which was organised to celebrate the martyrdom of Afzal Guru who was convicted for his role in the parliament attack. Also read: JNU row: Police unlikely to seek police custody of Kanhaiya Kumar The Delhi police is trying to find these persons and have issued look out circulars as well. When questioned, Kanihya Kumar, Anirban Bhattacharya and Umar Khalid denied knowing these persons. In fact Kumar the JNU student leader told the police that he came to the event late while also adding that he is unaware of who these 20 persons were. The Delhi police suspect that these persons could well be outsiders who came into the campus on February 9. While looking out for these persons we are also trying to find out who brought them to the campus, a Delhi police official said. The Delhi police will also call in for questioning another student, Ashutosh soon. Meanwhile the case will now be handled by the special cell of the Delhi police. Since the probe is expanding and requires a specialised unit this decision was taken. The Delhi police had indicated two weeks back that they would want to transfer the case to the special cell. OneIndia News 100 charging stations for EVs in two months: Delhi CM Kejriwal Fact Check: Video of Kejriwal falsely shared with claim he spoke about Bilkis Bano case BJPs Tajinder Bagga compares Kejriwal to Aurangzeb for banning firecrackers on Diwali Delhi govt issues notification on reservation of municipal wards ahead of civic polls Life threat to Arvind Kejriwal: Delhi Police alerts Punjab over it India oi-IANS By Ians English New Delhi, Feb 26: The Delhi Police on Friday said that it has alerted its Punjab counterparts over a life threat to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently visiting Punjab. The complaint over the issue was registered at IP Estate police station on February 20, a police official said. "We received complaint from the CM's office. The complaint has been registered," Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central, Parmaditya told IANS. On being asked further about the complaint, he said: "We cannot comment due to security reasons." Kejriwal, who arrived in Punjab on Thursday, is on a five-day political visit to the state ahead of the February 2017 assembly polls. IANS Not using Marathi for official communication? No increment: Maharashtra government Abhijit Patil explains how he became a self-trained actor for his upcoming Marathi debut film 'Rajmudra' Marathi actress HarshalaTamboli on her debut song: \"I was emotionally connected when I heard the concept.\" 'Marathi Bhasha Diwas' celebrated in Maharashtra India oi-PTI Mumbai, Feb 27: Various cultural programmes were held across Maharashtra today to celebrate the 'Marathi Bhasha Diwas' on the occasion of the birth anniversary of noted Marathi litterateur V V Shirwadkar alias 'Kusumagraj'. In Shirwadkar's hometown Nashik, 'Kusumagraj Pahat', a classical musical extravaganza organised by Kusumagraj Memorial was presented this morning. Around 18,000 MSRTC buses and 568 bus stations across Maharashtra were decorated with hoardings and banners displaying poems of Kusumagraj and other celebrated poets. The government started celebrating the birth anniversary of Kusumagraj as 'Marathi Rajbhasha Gaurav Din' after the Jnanpeeth awardee's demise in 1999. From this year, it has instituted two special awards for individuals taking initiatives to promote Marathi literature. The first 'Bhasha Samwardhak' award went to an Ahmednagar-based vegetable vendor, Bebitai Gaikwad, who saved Rs 5 per day from her earnings to purchase 900 books. A high school drop-out, Bebitai claims to have read more than 3,000 books on Marathi literature till date. Meanwhile, at an interaction here today on the occasion of 'Marathi Bhasha Diwas', MNS chief Raj Thackeray defended his decision to send his children to convent schools despite his party's staunch pro-Marathi stand. PTI MSME Min focuses on encouraging entrepreneurship India oi-PTI Dimapur, Feb 26: The Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) will help the state in its efforts towards encouraging entrepreneurship and enhancing competitiveness of the sector in the changed economic scenario, Union Minister Kalraj Mishra said today. The minister who was here to inaugurate the North East Region conclave on MSMEs said the conclave would help in evaluating the performance of schemes as implemented by the Ministry as well as to interact with the state governments and other stakeholders that would help plan and execute various policies for the sector. Highlighting the role of existing and new Technology Centre/Tool room for skill training and technical support to MSMEs, Mishra said that an amount of Rs 2,200 crore would be incurred on creating 15 new technology centre in the country with the assistance of World Bank and two of these centres, one each in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, are meant for the North-east region. He said the Ministry had recently launched a new scheme of ASPIRE to set up a network of technology and incubation centre to accelerate entrepreneurship and start ups for innovation. So far, nine Livelihood Business Incubators (LBIs) have already been approved for the north east region and four additional LBIs are in the process of approval for the region, he added. Further, he also announced that an amount of Rs 6 crore would be provided by the Ministry to Nagaland for setting up of Khadi Plaza. Mishra called upon the participating states to publicise and implement this initiative that had improved the ease of registering a MSME unit. The minister appealed to the states to take proactive steps and encourage their agencies to bring larger numbers of proposals under various schemes. He assured the states that the Ministry of MSME would process their proposals expeditiously and render all possible assistance in their implementation. Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang, officials from MSME, KVIC and representatives from participating states-Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim attended the conclave. PTI No surprises here: Mallikarjun Kharge is the new Cong chief After the 'Jihad' comment, Patil now claims \"I never said it\" After Partition and Babri, India most polarised now under Modi Govt: Chidambaram India oi-Mukul New Delhi, Feb 27: Days after former finance and home minister P Chidambaram stirred up the hornet's nest by saying that 'Afzal Guru case' was perhaps not correctly decided, he has made yet another controversial statement. Expressing serious concern over the "deep polarisation" currently in the country, he has criticized Modi government. While speaking at a book release function, Congress leader said that there were only three occasions when India was deeply polarised -- 1947 partition, 1992 after Babri Masjid demolition and 2015, one of the most polarised years. Afzal Guru case was perhaps not correctly decided: Chidambaram says in interview "2014 was a year of acrimony and I thought 2015 will be a year of acronyms but at the end of 2015 it is a most polarised year. Today the year has turned out to be deeply polarised. How polarised the Indian society has become. "Please talk to a Muslim, dalit, or a man of small land holding. There is great insecurity and fear as to where we are heading, towards a deeply divided polarised society. This is what we want we you to think about," he said c. Chidambaram was speaking after the release of his book "Standing Guard--A year in Opposition", a compilation of his Sunday columns published in the Indian Express in 2015. The function was attended among others by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, former Ministers Kapil Sibal, Jairam Ramesh, Shashi Tharoor, former Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, CPM leaders Sitaram Yechury and T K Rangarajan and leading lawyers. The Congress leader said that debate in Dadri was not whether a man had beef or mutton in his home but whether a mob has a right to lynch. It was not whether Rohith Vemula was a dalit or not, but how insensitive a university was in dealing with him. The debate in JNU is whether a bunch of mis-guided youth allegedly raised anti-national slogans "What is a university. University is not a monastery. At my age, I have a right to be wrong. In a university I need not be profound, I could be ridiculous also. But how are you framing the debate in this country in a perverse manner," he said in an apparent reference to the BJP and the Sangh Pariwar making it a nationalism versus traitor debate. . OneIndia news (With inputs from PTI) For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 27, 2016, 12:24 [IST] This is 21st century, where have we reached in name of religion: SC on hate speeches SC asks Centre to ban child pornography India oi-Pallavi New Delhi, Feb 27: Concerned about the liberty people take to watch child pornography, citing freedom of speech and living, the SC urged the Centre to stop access to websites featuring child pornography. Classifying them as obscene and a threat to social morality, a bench of justices Dipak Misra and S.K. Singh reacted to a plea by the Women Lawyer Association, which gave instances of school bus drivers and conductors forcing children under their care to watch child porn and sexually assaulted them. The SC said,"Innocent children cannot be made prey to this kind of painful situations and a nation cannot afford to carry on any kind of experiment with its children in the name of liberty." Saying that pornography cannot make a moral dent in the society, Justice Mishra said,"The Centre is required to make certain rules and regulations to initially stop child pornography." The court directed the Centre to file an affidavit on ways to curb child pornography on the Internet and asked the government to ban watching porn in any form in public. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 27, 2016, 14:28 [IST] In UP, ex-pradhan thrashes Dalit girl, throws her out of school over uniform School torched, tribal house demolished in Mizoram India oi-IANS By Ians English Aizawl, Feb 27: A primary school was burnt down and a house was demolished at the Chakma tribe inhabited Tuichawng Chhuah village in Mizoram's Lunglei district, an official statement said on Saturday. Mizoram Chakma Alliance Against Discrimination in its statement said that they would discuss the issue with Congress President Sonia Gandhi who according to them has been raising the issue of the rights of minorities in India. Confirming the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Lunglei District Abhijit Bijoy Chowdhury told IANS over the phone that he could not provide any further details. Chakma alliance President Paritosh Chakma in the statement said that on Friday a group of Mizo students burnt down the primary school and demolished a house in an attempt to force the 49 Chakma minority families to vacate the village. "The minority Chakma families have been living at Tuichawng Chhuah village for over four decades and Mizoram government has extended all the facilities including school, assistance under new farming flagship policy, ration card, voter cards, electricity among others," the president said. "Additional Deputy Commissioner of Lunglei district on December 17 last year had issued eviction notice to 49 Chakma families to vacate the Tuichawng Chhuah village. Then a writ petition was filed before the Guwahati High Court against the notice and the court stayed the eviction order." "The Mizoram government has totally failed to protect the Chakma tribal minorities despite the order of the Guwahati High Court. We shall be raising the issue with Congress President Sonia Gandhi who has been raising the rights of minorities in India as to what the Congress government has been doing for persecution of the minorities in Mizoram," he added. IANS Kanhaiya Kumar called backstabber for disowning Umar Khalid in video 2020 Delhi riots: No bail for Umar Khalid says court Delhi riots 2020: HC questions Umar Khalid over use of certain words against PM on speech Delhi riots: HC to pronounce verdict on bail plea by Umar Khalid today Delhi anti-Hindu riots: Umar Khalids name there in conspiracy from start to end says HC News flash: Fire in Tirupati Apartments at Bhulabhai Desai Road in Mumbai India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Bengaluru, Feb 27: New posters come up in JNU supporting Kashmirs right for self determination and calling India a 'prison of different nationalities'. Get all the latest news updates of the day: 10:00 pm: India beat Pakistan (83) by five wickets. Kohli top scores with 49. 9:30 pm: Karimnagar(Telangana): Woman files complaint against 3, alleging rape & recording of act. Incident happened on Feb 10, complaint filed today. 9:00 pm: Mann Ki Baat tomorrow at 11 am: PM to be joined by Viswanathan Anand, Sachin Tendulkar &other prominent individuals in his radio address. 8:00 pm: Another accused Ashutosh joined probe today, we'll continue the questioning tomorrow: Prem Nath, DCP South. 7:15 pm: After recording eye witness account, case will be registered: Anil Vij on reports of rape in Murthal (Haryana). 7:00 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's radio programme Mann Ki Baat to be broadcast tomorrow at 11 am. 6:45 pm: The Great Khali performs Puja in Dehradun (Uttarakhand) ahead of his wrestling match on February 28. 6:30 pm: Police custody of Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya extended by two days. 6:10 pm: Eyewitnesses speaking to media should give information to Police.It is their duty-Haryana CM ML Khattar. 6:00 pm: Smriti Irani is using nationalism as a tool to enforce the ideology of RSS in educational institutes:Lalu Yadav on Rohit Vemula case. 5:45 pm: Chief Justice of Madras High Court Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul emphasises the importance & need for mediation in various stages of disputes. 5:38 pm: Holding talks(in Tamil Nadu) only with erstwhile NDA allies. News of talks with AIADMK is just speculation: Prakash Javadekar,Union Minister 5:19 pm: Fire in Tirupati Apartments at Bhulabhai Desai Road in Mumbai is under control. No casualties. 5:10 pm: If there is a ray of hope in the world economy, it is India: PM tells farmers rally at Belagavi in Karnataka. 5.00 pm: Farmers protesting against 'Fasal Bima Yojna' stopped near PM's rally venue in Belgaum(Karnataka) 4.40 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP MP BS Yeddyurappa at a rally in Belgaum (Karnataka), PM to speak shortly. 4.14 pm: Fire breaks out in Tirupati Apartments near Mahalaxmi Temple in Mumbai. 3.57 pm: Centre will invest Rs 25,000 crore in Assam for road infrastructure, says Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. 3.50 pm: Congress leader Digvijaya Singh granted bail in connection with Madhya Pradesh recruitment scam. 3.30 pm: Government of Haryana launches online application for filing applications for compensation of loss due to recent law and order disturbance in State. 3.20 pm: Special 2G court summons Dayanidhi Maran, Kalanithi, Kalanithi's wife, SAFL & Sun Direct TV, MD of SAFL as accused in Aircel-Maxis deal case. 2.26 pm: Congress to move privilege motion against HRD Minister Smriti Irani. 2.20 pm: One dead and two injured after a crude bomb exploded in Birbhum district of West Bengal. 1.50 pm: Home Minister Rajnath Singh speaking in Khatima(Uttarakhand) 1.25 pm: Members of probe panel formed to inquire reports of rapes during Jat Reservation protests in Murthal (Haryana). 1.05 pm: Subramanian Swamy's car pelted with eggs and tomatoes in Kanpur, protesters also threw ink & waved black flags. 12.25 pm: Arrest warrant issued against Digvijaya Singh in MP Assembly Recruitment Scam-Digvijaya Singh reaches court. 10.40 am: Another JNU student accused of sedition joins probe, being questioned by police. 9.40 am: 1 dead, 2 injured in crude bomb explosion in Bengal's Birbhum district. 9.25 am: Media did not care when lawyers were beaten up, I am being made accused by media even before trial begins: Vikram Chauhan. 8.50 am: Zika infections confirmed in 9 pregnant women in the United States: Reports. 8.15 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a farmers' rally in Karnataka's Belagavi today. 8.00 am: Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya's 3-day police custody ends today. OneIndia News This is 21st century, where have we reached in name of religion: SC on hate speeches Why Intelligence Bureau under CAG audit control can never be accepted India oi-Vicky New Delhi, Feb 27: The Supreme Court recently ruled that Intelligence agencies cannot be accountable to the CAG. Why the IB and R&AW should be kept away from audit The Supreme Court's order was in the right direction and an audit control of the CAG cannot be accepted since these agencies work secretly to further national security says V Balachandran former Special Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat. Balachandran tells OneIndia that first and foremost, our intelligence agencies need legal protection for doing their security-related work covertly by using unconventional methods. Our successive governments want them to undertake "bold" covert operations yet they do not offer them basic legal protection beyond what is available for any government official from, say animal husbandry or irrigation department. Legal Protection: Balachandran asks do we need a law to regulate the intelligence agencies? Yes - here I would prefer to use the word "empower" rather than "regulate". A legal basis for any arm of the government would clearly define its charter, responsibilities as well as its accountability. What should be done is try preventing abuses by rogue elements among intelligence agencies who misuse secret channels for partisan considerations, which is detrimental to national security. The removal of the intelligence function from the National Police (RCMP) in Canada, first recommended by the MacKenzie Commission in 1968 was finally made effective only in 1981 when the McDonald Commission highlighted the RCMP abuses in intelligence gathering. It resulted in creating a statutory civilian agency in 1985. South Africa passed their Intelligence Services Act in 1994 when they set up new intelligence services after the end of the Apartheid regime while Australia, which created their ASIS (Australian Secret Intelligence Service) through an executive order in 1952, chose to give it a legal basis in 2001 by Intelligence Services Act 2001. Although USA had codified CIA's work in 1947, the Nixon era's abuses resulted in their Congress wresting decisive control from the executive over their intelligence agencies. The British services were pressurised to pass laws in 1989 and 1994 due to staff betrayals, and also pressure from European Conventions to subject even security organisations to operate within the legal framework. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 27, 2016, 11:18 [IST] Days before Trump announced Syria withdrawal, a sinister report came out on IS in Iraq IS claims deadly car bomb in Libya's Benghazi International oi-PTI Benghazi, Feb 27: A car bomb killed five members of security forces loyal to Libya's recognised government in the eastern city of Benghazi, officials said, in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group. Military spokesman Colonel Abdullah al-Shahaafi told AFP yesterday that the blast in the Hawari district of the city killed four pro-government forces. But LANA news agency which is close to the recognised government said five members of the security forces were killed. IS claimed the attack in a statement posted on Islamist websites, saying that more than 25 were killed and that it targeted forces of General Khalifa Haftar, the recognised government's chief of staff. Haftar's forces on Tuesday recaptured a jihadist stronghold in the Mediterranean city. LANA also reported yesterday that the death of a sixth member of the security forces of the recognised government in a landmine blast in Benghazi. Elsewhere in Libya, the defence ministry of the Tripoli-based unrecognised government said in a statement that its security forces had driven IS fighters out of the city of Sabratha. The city west of the capital had been the scene of fierce fighting earlier this week between IS and forces loyal to the Tripoli administration. Tripoli's defence ministry said several IS fighters were captured and that most were Tunisians. On Wednesday, IS killed 18 people in clashes as they briefly occupied the heart of Sabratha before being ousted by militia fighters, according to officials in Tripoli. A US air strike near Sabratha last week targeted a suspected IS training camp, killing 50 people. Serbia said two of its diplomats being held hostage were among the dead. IS has taken advantage of growing chaos to expand its foothold in Libya. The oil-rich North African nation has had two rival authorities since mid-2014 when the recognised government was forced to quit Tripoli after the Fajr Libya militia alliance, which includes Islamists, overran the capital. The United Nations has been pushing both sides to back a unity government on the basis of a UN-brokered agreement struck in December, to end years of turmoil since the 2011 ouster of dictator Moamer Kadhafi. AFP What does the US actually want in Syria? Syria ceasefire begins under US-Russia deal International oi-PTI Damascus, Feb 27: Guns fell silent across Syria today after a landmark UN-backed ceasefire came into effect, the first major truce in five years of civil war that have claimed more than 270,000 lives. On the stroke of midnight, firing stopped in suburbs around the capital and the devastated northern city of Aleppo, AFP correspondents said, after a day of intense Russian air strikes on rebel bastions across the country. Monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was quiet in the north of Latakia province and in the central provinces of Homs and Hama. "I may be up late tonight and hope I won't be wakened tomorrow by the sound of airplanes," Mohammed Nohad, a resident of Aleppo's southern rebel-held district of Al-Kalasseh, told AFP. The nationwide cessation of hostilities would be the first pause in fighting since Syria's civil war broke out in 2011. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said peace talks would resume on March 7 if the ceasefire agreement holds and more aid is delivered -- a key sticking point in negotiations for a truce. Fighting appears to have "calmed down", although one incident is being investigated, and a special task force will meet today to monitor the fledgling ceasefire, he told reporters in Geneva. Previous attempts to end the fighting have failed and Russia and the US, which back opposing sides in the fight, have warned that applying it on the ground will be difficult. ISIS stones 2 girls to death in Syria Analysts have also questioned whether it can be effective on Syria's complex battlefields, as the truce does not include jihadists from the Islamic State group and Al-Nusra Front. Intermittent clashes between pro-regime forces and both groups continued after the ceasefire began, the Observatory said, as well as fighting between jihadists and Kurdish forces. "I can't hide the fact that I'm happy the war has stopped, even for a few minutes," 24-year-old regime soldier Abdel Rahman Issa said from the battlefield Jobar area on the eastern outskirts of Damascus. "If it continues like this, maybe we can go home." Less than an hour before the ceasefire, the UN Security Council gave its unanimous backing to the truce in a resolution drafted by the US and Russia. US Ambassador Samantha Power acknowledged there was "some scepticism" as to whether the ceasefire would last, but said it offered the "best chance to reduce the violence". A spokesman for Turkey's presidency expressed worries over the ceasefire "because of the continuing Russian air raids and ground attacks by forces of (President Bashar al-) Assad". Russia began air strikes in Syria in September saying it was targeting "terrorists", but critics have accused Moscow of hitting rebel forces in support of the regime. AFP US Prez poll 2016: A look at delegate scenario ahead of Super Tuesday International oi-Shubham Washington, Feb 27: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are leading the race in the Democratic and Republican parties, respectively, for obtaining delegates to win the nomination for this year's US presidential election. What is Super Tuesday? Complete list of American presidential election primary/caucus schedules and results The delegate scenario so far: Democratic Party: To win the nomination, a Democratic candidate needs to have 2,383 delegates. Hillary is leading over Bernie Sanders by 459 delegates (she has 546 against Sandes's 87 so far) and the two will compete for 865 delegates on Super Tuesday when 11 states of the US will go to primary elections. To win nomination: A Democratic candidate needs 2,383 delegates; a Republican candidate needs 1,237 delegates The Democratc also have a concept called "superdelegates". They are influential party officials who act as a check on a fringe candidate at odds with the party's platform. Many of these "superdelegates" are pledged to Hillary but they can change their allegiance if they see voters going for another candidate. Republican Party: In the Republican camp, Donald Trump is leading the five-candidate race with 82 delegates so far. Ted Cruz (17) and Marco Rubio (16) are placed at a distant second and third in the race. John Kasich and Ben Carson are the two remaining candidates with six and four delegates, respectively. To win the nomination, a candidate needs to have 1,237 delegates. The delegates are allotted proportionally so that the second and third-placed candidates also gain some delegates. On Super Tuesday, the Republican candidates will vie for 595 delegates. Oneindia News Trump is convinced Russia didnt interfere in 2016 polls; blames US for sour ties with Moscow US presidential elections 2016: Donald Trump gets support from governor Chris Christie International oi-Jagriti Washington, Feb 27: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has extend his support to real estate mogul Republican hopeful for White House Donald Trump. The announcement was made by Christie at a rally in Fortworth, Texas on Friday. This has come as big boost for Trump who came under scathing attack from rivals ahead of the crucial "Super Tuesday". "Donald is a leader. He is a successful person that, like me, isn't afraid to tell it like it is. Our system is broken and it won't be fixed from the inside. I am proud to offer my endorsement of his candidacy for President," said 53-year-old Christie. Former White House contender Christie's endorsement to Trump just ahead of the 'Super Tuesday' in which primary elections would be held in 11 States is expected to what is supporters said "seal the deal" for the realty star-turned-politician. "It is my great honour to receive the endorsement of the Governor. We have had a wonderful relationship for many years. US presidential election 2016: Here is what you need to know about poll process He is a solid person that I have tremendous respect for. I am really proud to receive the support of the Governor and his family," Trump said. Trump, who has won three of the four Republican primaries, is leading in all but Texas State opinion polls, where he is having a close fight with his main rival Senator Ted Cruz. Notably, Trump has also been endorsed by Congressmen Chris Collins, Congressman Duncan Hunter, former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin, South Carolina Lt Governor Henry McMaster, and Arizona Treasurer Jeff DeWitt. Democratic National Committee National press secretary Mark Paustenbach said that Christie's endorsement is the best example yet that the GOP is the party of Trump. "The Republican field just isn't serious and all its candidates have major problems heading into November. If anyone is wetting their pants, as Rubio suggested today, it's the Republican establishment. This is yuuge," he said in a statement. Meanwhile, a leading Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio launched a scathing attack on Trump describing him as a con artist and dangerous. US presidential elections 2016: What is Super Tuesday? "Donald Trump is a con artist trying to hijack the conservative movement and the Republican Party, and he cannot be our nominee," Rubio said in an email to his supporters. Christie, a former federal prosecutor, is a moderate Republican running a largely Democratic state and was once seen as one of the party's best hopes in 2016. OneIndia News (With agency inputs) For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, February 27, 2016, 9:55 [IST] OK! Magazine 21 Oct 2022 Social media found it bizarre that Meghan Markle called her 'Deal or No Deal' gig 'objectifying' given her other TV roles. by Graham Pierrepoint TRIPLE 9 IMDb Dir: John Hillcoat Starring Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie, Kate Winslet, Aaron Paul, Norman Reedus, Gal Gadot, Clifton Collins Jr., Woody Harrelson 2 STARS (out of 5) The key to a good thriller is keeping a fine balance between pacing, exposition, character development and plot twists. Having recently reviewed The Finest Hours, I was excited to watch Triple 9 as it seemed to promise what the former didnt fast-paced, intense action with enough dirty dealings and dodgy characters to satisfy anyone looking for the years first grimy shoot-out, full of crooked cops and shocking moral event horizons. Thankfully, the movie fires on most of these cylinders - but there are a number of crucial components missing that allow Afflecks second big release of the year (the first being the aforementioned Hours) to slip into mediocre territory. Triple 9 centers around the aftermath of a bank robbery that has been carried out by a foursome of rogue cops and military wildcards, who are supplying an impressively domineering and Russian-accented Kate Winslet. Winslet is acting on behalf of an incarcerated husband, a Jewish gangster holed up in a Russian jail and who is said to be a threat to national security. She demands that the crew deliver a further job for her before they are paid for their first to secure a number of sensitive security codes - which the four (Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie, Aaron Paul and Clifton Collins Jr.) eventually agree to take on. After mulling over the best way to tackle the tricky heist, the crew decide that the only way they will be able to get the lucrative loot is to distract their fellow police officers with a Triple 9 the code used for officer down and they aim to use good guy cop Casey Affleck as the pawn sacrifice. What follows is a series of underhand plots, fatal misunderstandings, street shootings and a skittish Woody Harrelson attempting to understand and investigate the initial robbery at the start of the movie. The cast is astounding on paper Ejiofor is on mark throughout and there are familiar faces to many in Reedus (The Walking Dead), Mackie (The Avengers universe) and Paul (Breaking Bad), offering a great selection of contemporary acting talent that should, in all fairness, provide a highly entertaining movie. Harrelson shines as an affected detective and the aforementioned Winslet steals every scene she stride into. Certainly, in a movie that is male-dominated, its a great twist to see one of Hollywoods most celebrated female actors get a chance to lord it over everyone in her position as the biggest of the bad guys. Triple 9 is relentless. If you like your movies fast-paced, with absolutely no reliance upon exposition, youll find the film an absolute blast that is, until it runs out of momentum altogether. While I had seen The Finest Hours earlier in the week, which suffered from too much in the way of stable direction and not enough tell, dont show moments, Triple 9 has it completely in reverse. If you so much as blink or let your mind wander for a moment, you will have been left behind in the tide. Sadly, while you may assume this allows for a huge potential to see character development flying off the chain, we are left with lots of things happening very quickly and very intensely, leaving very little in the way of breathing space nor time for our characters to grow into three-dimensional beings. Beyond their roles in the big heist, and despite an incredible cast, none of the movies characters achieve this status, instead serving the purpose of pawns in a very hurried game of scriptwriting chess. In terms of direction, plot twist and sheer intensity, Triple 9 certainly delivers on a number of occasions but by the time the movie reaches its final throes, it flounders around as if frantic to end, somewhere, satisfactorily. Without spoiling the final twist, it doesnt end brilliantly, leaving audiences to wonder just what could have been monopolized upon had the characters and the situation been given a moment or two to breathe. Triple 9 - Official Trailer (Open Road Films) Triple 9 lacks the subtlety and build-up of great thrillers, instead opting to throw scenes involving corrupt cops and street thugs that weve seen a million times before. While the movie has a clear narrative and is incredibly intense thanks in part to a fantastic score from Atticus Ross it doesnt do anything particularly new. None of the characters are particularly memorable, and neither are the things they do. People get shot a lot and threats are made a lot. If fast-paced spills and thrills without brains nor heart are your cup of tea, you may even find that this movie fails to deliver on a number of levels you are used to seeing elsewhere. While Triple 9 is technically proficient and features a talented and recognizable cast, this sadly does little to bend a mediocre script to more than an underwhelming bullet shower that is both far too long, and, ultimately, is far too flimsy to stretch to a two-hour run-time. For intense action and fast-paced thrills, it ticks a few boxes but lacks enough meat to create a consistent and coherent tale. Sometimes, exposition is good and sometimes, pace can be pushed too far. PNG Ports Corporation has engaged with the Shenzhen Port Administration from the Peoples Republic of China, in a sister-seaport relationship today in Port Moresby.A signing ceremony between both parties occurred at the Grand Papua Hotel to mark the occasion.Shenzhen Port is one of the busiest and fastest growing ports in the world and is home to 39 shipping companies who have launched 131 international container routes.It is located in the southern region of the Pearl River Delta in China's Guangdong province and is spread along Shenzhen citys 260 km coastline.It is the economic hinterland for Hong Kong trade with the Mainland and also one of the most important ports in terms of China's international trade.PNG Ports Chief Executive, Stanley Alphonse in address said, 35 years ago, Shenzhen was no more than a fishing village of 30000 people, which grew to a sprawling industrial, technological and financial megacity, with a population in excess of 12 million people.Papua New Guinea has much to learn from Shenzhen and we value the opportunity to develop trade between our ports and the port of Shenzhen, Mr. Alphonse said.National Capital District Governor, Powes Parkop said the countrys primary ports in Lae in Port Moresby are set to become significant hubs in the Pacific Region.This is a good opportunity to share skills, knowledge and information on the port business and trade between both ports, Governor Parkop said.Shenzhen Port is home to 39 shipping companies who have launched 131 international container routes.The sister-port relationship also adds and challenges Papua New Guineas capacity on the international stage as it joins the Port of Santa Cruz in Spain, which is also a sister-port to Shenzhen. PNG TV / ONE PNG Donald J. Trump. Initially dismissed, laughed at and ridiculed by political leaders from BOTH the Democratic and Republican Parties when he announced, little more than an year ago, that he was running to be the president of the United States on the Republican Party's line. A former life-long Democrat, Trump, a New York billionaire television reality star of sorts was one of the people who were considered to be on the crazy, delusional fringe of the GOP, an organization with an over-abundance of really loony characters. Today, a man who never held a political office in his life, and whose success as a businessman is questionable at best, appears poised to become the Republican Party's standard-bearer in the 2016 presidential elections. He's bested both GOP neo-conservatives and so-called "Establishment" and "moderate" candidates at every turn. And he's now transforming the Republican Party in ways that has its establishment elders scared as hell and scratching their collective heads for answers. As Trump pushes and shoves the Republican Party further to the right, forcing the other candidates in the race to swing even father and farther right as a consequence, we're seeing a party that has become so extreme as to make it almost an anomaly in United States politics. The national political narrative is dominated by Trump's bombast and outrageous mouthing off, so much so that both Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz have now come down to his level of gutter politics both aiming to "out Trump Trump." Not since days of President Ronald Reagan has the Republican Party undergone such a rabid and extreme political metamorphosis. The party is now defined by a narrow conservative base of mostly white people who have embraced and bought into the fear-mongering and xenophobia that is how the party's stock in trade. And the sad thing is that its erstwhile leaders seem powerless and impotent to stop the rightward lurch of the party by a fired up and angry base that's carrying Mr. Trump all the way. On the other side of the political spectrum is Senator Bernie Sanders. A self-described Social Democrat, he's the opposite extreme of the Trump phenomenon. His entry into the race has forced the Democratic Party to confront its long-abandoned policies of struggling for and on behalf of the working class, preserving the social safety net for America's poor, and advocacy for a more just and human social system. Sander's consistent and sustained messaging against the "1%" of millionaires and billionaires" that drive income inequality has all but embarrassed the Democratic Party. That's because the Democratic Party has, over the past decade, bent back over backwards to placate and curry-favor with the millionaire and billionaire classes and ingratiate itself as the more reliable flunky than the Republican Party. The Democratic Party has abandoned the noble programs of the New Deal replacing it with modern pragmatism that's built on an embrace of the technology class, white professionals and Southern conservative Democrats. All of this started when President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, removed all of the restrictions on Wall Street that hitherto helped to prevent the more damaging cycles of boom and bust in the American economy that reverberated across the world. The former president's wife, Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic Party's presidential candidate, has scolded and chided Senator Sanders as "a one issue" candidate. I respectfully beg to differ. Income inequality and the social injustice extremes spawned by the greed and speculation of a tiny minority, mostly from Wall Street, who now own nearly 90 percent of America's wealth while the bottom 99 percent struggles to get by on 10 percent, is, the REAL IMPORTANT pressing issue of our time. It goes to the very heart of the corruption and deformation of United States democracy, an imperfect experiment to start with. Infact, this is THE issue of the 2016 presidential election and its a shame that only ONE candidate seems to grasp that and is talking about it. Income inequality is responsible for the over 46 million people now living in poverty in America. It is responsible for the corruption of the American electoral system that is loaded against the poor, where billionaires can "buy members of congress" with big money, and where the body politick as represented by the United States Congress now routinely acts against the interests of the American people with impunity. Lobbyists and deep-pocketed billionaires now run the United States electoral system and pay for the campaigns of senators, congress members AND U.S. presidential candidates. Problems in education, healthcare, economic development, national poverty, militarism, police brutality against Black people ALL stem and originate from the now fixed relations between those who have and the millions that have nothing. Speaking about this is not socialism, or a "one issue," but pragmatism and reality asserting itself. But let use examine the phenomenon of these transformations on both the Right and the Left. For whatever the outcome this 2016 presidential elections these deep-going social and political developments will remake BOTH political parties, America's duopoly, for all times. MR. TRUMP AND THE CULT OF THE PERSONALITY There is no easy answer to explain how a showboating, arrogant, loud-mouth reality TV star cum politician can gin up so much support in so short a time saying the most absurd and insulting things imaginable. Indeed, the unanswerable paradox is that the more unpleasant, coarse, and crude Donald Trump's personality is the greater his appeal appears to be among his core group of supporters. It's the same constituency that the Tea Party draws support from -- poorly educated, white and mostly southern Americans. That's classic symptoms of the "cult of the personality." For example, poll after poll suggests that Trump's supporters genuinely believe that he is the ONLY candidate with "balls" and that he's a "tough guy." In times of uncertainty and instability, when the American people are just getting over the trauma of home and job losses occasioned by the same Republican Party's president in 2008, a confused and angry populace looks for salvation and protection "in a strong man." Anger is an irrational emotion, especially when people are angry with the political establishment that looks down on them with contempt. People are fantasizing about what a President Trump will be and what he can accomplish for them AGAINST the class that is oppressing them. Indeed, this is an inherently dangerous fantasy driven by a man brimming with a narcissistic personality disorder. I'm not naive enough to think that US presidential politics is about humility and reason. Presidential elections are about personalities and, yes, egos. Voters vote for people that they like, who speak "their language," will make things better for "me and my family," and will defend the country from presumed terrorists and "those who want to do us harm." So in many ways Donald Trump is the creation of the Republican Party -- he is the illegitimate horn child birthed by a constant intercourse of fear-mongering, divisive pandering, hate speech directed against America's first Black president and obstruction of policies aimed at poverty alleviation and improved quality of life. He's the Frankenstein that the Republican Party created to say bluntly and openly the racist and xenophobic things that the party's elected leadership dare not say in public but think in private. They forgot that in forging and stoking Mr. Trump's oversized ego and building the foundation for the cult of his personality that such a phenomenon relies on blind faith in the leader and not objective considered judgments. Today, support for Trump is not about issues critical or important to American society. Rather, it is about his ability to insult others with impunity, to dominate the public discourse with unsubstantiated rumors, personal attacks, and other propaganda tools reminiscent of Nazi Germany. He's going to "Make America Great Again" -- never mind the how, when and in what way. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Reprinted from Smirking Chimp The fight between Apple and the FBI has been framed as an epic battle between big tech and big government. Apple, says the Obama Administration, is siding with "its business model and public brand marketing strategy" ahead of public safety. That's not it, says Apple CEO Tim Cook. He says his company is "a staunch advocate for our customers' privacy and personal safety." Donald Trump has weighed in on the controversy, ad-libbing a call for a boycott of Apple products including the iPhone, the device at the center of the debate. Two weeks ago, a federal court ordered Apple to write code that would allow the FBI to unlock an iPhone used by one of the gunmen in the San Bernadino mass shooting. Apple refused, saying the code could be used to unlock other iPhones as well, not just the one covered by the order. A Wall Street Journal report that the feds are currently going after a dozen or so iPhones in other cases seems to back up Apple's argument. What this is really about -- but barely touched upon in corporate media -- is Edward Snowden. A few years ago, no one -- left, right, libertarian -- would have supported Apple's refusal to cooperate with a federal investigation of a terrorist attack associated with a radical Islamist group, much less its decision to fight a court order to do so. If investigators hadn't combed through the data on the phone used by Syed Farook before he slaughtered 14 people, it would have been seen as dereliction of duty. Obviously the authorities need to learn everything they can about Farook, such as whether he ever had direct communications with ISIS or if there were any coconspirators. Looking at evidence like that is what law enforcement is for. Rather than face Uncle Sam alone, Apple's defiance is being backed by Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Twitter and Yahoo -- companies who suffered disastrous blows to their reputations, and billions of dollars in lost business, after NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed that they spent years voluntarily turning over their customers' data to the spy agency in its drive to "hoover up" every email, phone call, text message and video communication on the planet, including those of Americans. Most Americans tell pollsters Apple should play ball with the FBI. But Apple and its Silicon Valley allies aren't banking on the popular vote. Their biggest customers are disproportionately well-off and liberal -- and they don't want government spooks looking at their personal or business information. Another underreported aspect of this story is the same sort of interagency squabbling that contributed to the failure of counterterrorism officials to see the whole picture before 9/11, and was supposed to have been fixed by such Bush-era bureaucratic revamps as the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and bringing America's 16 intelligence agencies under a single director. When you stop to think about this, it's insane. The NSA, specifically chartered to intercept signals intelligence that originates overseas -- that is specifically prohibited from gathering data that is sent from one American to another American -- continues to do so, probably at an even greater degree of efficiency than the period between 2009 and 2013, the era documented by the Snowden revelations leaked to the news media. Ignoring the anger of the American people, Congress did nothing to rein in the NSA. So they continue to break the law, and violate our privacy, on a massive scale. Meanwhile, the FBI -- the agency that is legally authorized to eavesdrop on American citizens as part of investigations authorized by judicial warrants, can't get into a terrorist's smartphone...something everyone agrees it ought to be able to do. The NSA almost certainly has the contents of Farook's iPhone -- and yours, and mine -- on a server at its massive data farm in Bluffdale, Utah. Thanks to a court order and inside-the-Beltway turf battles, however, the NSA can't/won't turn them over to the FBI. This is what happens when government treats citizens with contempt. Citizens return the favor. Reprinted from Sputnik You would have had until noon this Friday to contact the US and/or Russia military and win a prize; be part of a "cessation of hostilities," ersatz " ceasefire " that does not apply to ISIS/ISIL/Daesh and Jabhat al-Nusra, a.k.a. al-Qaeda in Syria, as well as assorted remnants of the former Free Syrian Army (FSA) who are for all practical purposes embedded with al-Nusra. Compounding the drama, as background noise you have US Secretary of State John Kerry bluffing that Plan B is the partition of Syria anyway. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov once again had to call for order in the court. So what do you do? You're a Washington-approved "moderate rebel". So you re-label yourself as FSA. Will you fool the task force set up by the US and Russia -- hotline included -- to monitor the "ceasefire"? Well, at least you've got a shot. The "ceasefire" mostly applies to the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), unspecified "moderate rebels" and the Syrian Kurds. Everyone must de-weaponize by midnight this Friday. If you've skipped the deadline, you may be in serious trouble. Because for the Russians, that qualifies you as an ally of Salafi-jihadis. You will be bombed to smithereens. And there's nothing Uncle Sam can do to save you. This positively Dadaist development is what passes for a road map to peace in Syria -- even though odds are on Washington and Moscow will be seeing red on virtually every noon and cranny of it. What this might spell out though goes way beyond Syria; it's all about the White House, the Pentagon and NATO's spectacular demise as exceptionalist arbiters and executioners -- using Shock and Awe, R2P (responsibility to protect) or straight-up regime change -- of geopolitical tangles. Or is it? A hefty case can be made whether the "ceasefire" benefits Damascus and Moscow -- considering the "4+1" (Russia, Syria, Iran, Iraq plus Hezbollah) has been heavily on the offense. The "ceasefire" may certainly benefit Washington if the hidden agenda -- to re-weaponize gaggles of "moderate rebels" -- still applies. After all Pentagon supremo Ash "Empire of Whining" Carter, Marine General Joseph Dunford and CIA Director John Brennan are terminal Russophobes who will never admit defeat. The vague terms of the "cessation of hostilities" do not explicitly specify that Washington, London and other members of the US-led-from-behind "coalition" should stop bombing Syrian territory. And there's nothing about suicide bombs and chemical weapons routinely used by any outfit, from ISIS/ISIL/Daesh to "moderate rebels," against the civilian Syrian population. So there's got to be some heavy-duty horse-trading between Washington and Moscow behind all the shadowplay. And none of it has leaked, at least not yet. Daddy Stole My Invasion Meanwhile, the much-ballyhooed joint invasion of Syria by Turkey and Saudi Arabia is not going to happen because His Master's' Voice vetoed it -- as Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was forced to explain. He essentially admitted that the invasion would need the agreement of all members of the US-led-from-behind coalition fighting ISIS/ISIL/Daesh. Unfortunately, they are scared to death of being decimated by the Russian Air Force. So they might as well cozily revert to the "cessation of hostilities" charade. On what really counts -- the Syrian theatre of war -- the most pressing issue is whether the SAA will finally be able to control Aleppo and environs, continue to rule in Latakia, and manage to configure Idlib as a Saudi remote-controlled Army of Conquest enclave cut off from almost all sides and depending solely on Ankara, which for its part won't dare a face-to-face with the Russian Air Force. It's no wonder Turkey's Sultan Erdogan fears this ceasefire business like the plague. Because he's got nothing; at best a vague promise, extorted by Team Obama, that Syrian Kurds won't keep advancing to smash either ISIS/ISIL/Daesh along the border, or pockets of al-Qaeda in Syria. In return, Ankara shall desist from its Syrian invasion and that dream of a 10 km "safe zone" inside Syrian territory to keep away the Kurds and facilitate the re-weaponizing of its Islamist proxies. Ankara's favorite Jabhat al-Nusra, by the way, remains active north of Aleppo, and in the Turkmen regions of Latakia and Azaz (in the Turkish-Syrian border). What Team Obama seems to have finally understood -- and "seems" is the operative word -- is that neither ISIS/ISIL/Daesh nor al-Nusra could ever "unify" Syria; assuming 60% of Syria's population is Sunni, what matters is that over half are secular and do support Damascus against all those Turk/Saudi-supported Salafi-jihadi crazies. Will this all be enough to assure the success of the "cessation of hostilities" charade? Hardly. Keep calm and carry on (watching). Plan B remains Return of the Living Dead material. by Walter Brasch When the presidential primaries began more than a year ago, the two leading candidates were Hillary Rodham Clinton for the Democrats and Jeb Bush for the Republicans. It seemed at that time that there would be another Clinton--Bush race in the general election. That, as any voter knows, has changed drastically. Sen. Bernie Sanders, officially an independent but running as a Democrat, has shuffled off his one-digital support to being about equal to Clinton among Democrats, tying with Clinton in Iowa, beating her in New Hampshire, but losing in Nevada. Sanders' supporters tend to be younger and are energized by his presence and persistence in pushing a liberal agenda that focuses upon individuals and how government can assist a broad spectrum of the population. His campaign is similar to the support for Sens. Gene McCarthy and Robert F. Kennedy in 1968 and Sen. George McGovern four years later, both of whom energized those in their 20s and 30s and older voters who identified themselves as liberals. Sanders could still win substantial support from Super Tuesday, March 1, when voters of 11 states cast their ballots. However, several states are in the south and southeast, which lean heavily conservative, even among Democratic voters. Although Sanders has pushed Clinton more to the left, she might be able to go into the Democratic convention with a substantial lead and the nomination. Sanders is helped by the Republicans who have hammered Clinton's failure to separate her personal and federal emails during the entire time she was secretary of state. The problem got traction from Clinton's weakness early in her campaign to adequately defend the use of personal emails and not using an encoded federal system. Since that time, she has faced a Congressional hearing and had not only explained her reasoning for using one phone but managed to erase any doubt of her violation of federal laws. But the Republicans continued their attack, spreading distortion and half-truths, using the media to channel their message. A couple of dozen emails were classified confidential or secret, but only after Clinton left office. On the Republican side, the race has evolved from Bush as the leader in early polling to the presence of 15 candidates, all more political sounding than presidential. By the end of 2015, the candidates were shown in editorial cartoons as clowns clustered in cars. Donald Trump was portrayed by almost every stand-up comedian and in the media as just your average ordinary boisterous and egotistical billionaire with a hilarious hair-do to being the chief clown to being the possible Republican nominee. The nine Republican debates were mostly random acts of personal attacks rather than true debates. Several times Trump called out "liar" to Sen. Ted Cruz, but several political fact checkers point out that about three-fourths of Trump's statements are half-truth, exaggerations, and outright lies. This would be the same Trump who numerous times said that President Obama is a Muslim who was born in Kenya, and has challenged Cruz's citizenship, which has been constitutionality affirmed by having an American mother. Among his more outrageous proposals, he has repeatedly stated he said he would deport all 11 million undocumented foreigners in the U.S., and build a wall along the entire U.S.--Mexican border. But, Trump doesn't address the issue of cost--and how a conservative could justify that cost for building and then monitoring it--or the more realistic probability there will be innumerable problems to round up even a fourth of the illegal immigrants and separate them from their parents, or ways to tunnel under, climb over, or just go around that wall by entering the U.S. by boat on two coasts or by planeloads of immigrants and refugees who would land in desolate air strips with no control towers. This, of course, is the same Trump who had hired about 150 illegal immigrants to work on his Trump Tower. He has played to the fears of a radical terrorist Muslim invasion by arguing for a moratorium on any Muslim trying to enter the country, an inane proposal that would require several million dollars to enlarge the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and support staff, already at 20,000, and would ultimately be shot down in the federal courts. Among all his boasts and braggadocio, with his name in giant letters on office buildings, hotels, casinos, and a questionable failure at Trump College, he has defaulted into bankruptcy four times. Trump's speeches are accepted and applauded by voters who believe bar-room profanity laced into ignorant chatter is just the kind of speaking that they do, and see the billionaire as one of their own. By Super Tuesday, most of the Republican candidates and all of the moderate Republicans will have dropped out of the race, run over by the Trump express, fueled almost entirely by Trump's own money and more media coverage than any other candidate. With the moderate Republicans out of the race, it appears the most conservative ones--Sens. Cruz from Texas and Marco Rubio from Florida have the best chance to defeat Trump. Trump has shown enough strength to capture the delegates in the conservative south and southeastern states on Super Tuesday, possibly making his nomination inevitable. Trump's message appeals to those who see him favorably as an outsider to Washington politics and to those whom Trump has managed to play to their fears and paranoia. But none of that matters because he spews out what a traditional base of conservatives want to hear, and his rhetoric supersedes how he plans to carry out any of his proposals, but gets him the votes he needs to be the Republican nominee. Far more important, his rhetoric sounds as scary as anyone who began as a small voice of the people and then became their dictator. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Reprinted from Strategic Culture Foundation Britain will make a once-in-a-lifetime decision in the coming months on whether to leave the European Union. Both Washington and Moscow have a lot at stake. While the US needs Britain to remain within the EU in order to do its bidding, Russia's interests might be better served by a historic split. The referendum on the so-called Brexit is to take place on June 23. It follows Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron announcing a reform package hammered out with other European leaders last week. Cameron is endorsing EU membership, claiming that his reforms have given Britons the best of both worlds -- that is, a measure of national independence while retaining economic benefits from being still part of the EU bloc. The last time Britain held a similar referendum was back in 1975, when a strong majority voted in favor of remaining in the then 12-member European Economic Community (EEC). Four decades on, the EEC has transformed enormously to become the European Union of 28 member states, with a single currency for most of those members and a series of treaties that enshrine a project for federal political union. Cameron's reforms have secured a British opt-out from the federal project of ever closer union as well as limited curbs on EU migrants' social welfare rights. Nevertheless, the European question that Britons will be voting on in the forthcoming plebiscite is very different from that of 41 years ago when the EEC was merely a commercial trading association. And polls show that the British public have become increasing leery of the EU, with the electorate now evenly divided over continued membership. It's going to be a close call on June 23. As in other European countries, British public perception of the EU and its Brussels administration has becoming increasingly negative, or eurosceptic. Previously, British eurosceptics were a hardboiled minority, associated with the rightwing of Cameron's ruling Conservative party. Typically, they tended to have a little Englander mentality, espousing isolationism, pride in past imperial power, and free-market capitalism unfettered by government regulations, especially foreign governments in Brussels. While these traits persist among the Tory party's rightwing and in its scion of the United Kingdom Independence Party, led by Nigel Farage, there is also a growing disillusionment towards the EU among centrist voters and those on the socialist left. This is because the EU's image as a social democratic bloc has greatly diminished from earlier times. It is true that the EU has over the decades implemented many progressive laws to uphold workers' rights and for protection of consumers and the environment. It can be argued that all countries have benefited from this uniformity of social conditions. However, in more recent years, unbridled austerity from neoliberal economic policies have transformed the formerly progressive EU into a perceived bastion of corporate power, one which is detrimental to the majority of workers. We only have to look at how Greece is being dragooned into adopting brutal public spending cuts at the behest of the European Central Bank and IMF to appreciate why many of the EU's 500 million citizens are alienated from what they see as a Brussels plutocracy. The fact that executives of Britain's biggest corporations, among the FTSE 100, are lobbying Cameron to push hard to keep within the EU is another indicator of the bloc's alignment with corporate interests over workers' rights. The EU's now-notorious democratic deficit, or more stridently dictatorial tendency, has galvanized voters on both the right and the left. The eurosceptics are no longer just reactionary little Englanders but also include many who view the EU as an anti-democratic machine serving the super rich. Moreover, Brussels is seen as being pathetically subordinate to Washington's economic and foreign policies. The alignment of the EU with the US-led NATO military alliance is a case in point. As is the way that Brussels has meekly toed the American line of imposing sanctions against Russia and fostering a generally hostile climate between Europe and Moscow. The Brexit referendum is throwing up some strange bedfellows. Already, the UKIP's Nigel Farage has shared a public platform with the avowed socialist firebrand George Galloway in calling for a Leave-the-EU vote. While those calling for a Remain-in-the-EU vote include Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn has distanced himself, however, by saying that he wants to reform the EU from within to make it a more socialist bloc. In an article for the Guardian, he wrote: "Labour will be running a positive campaign for the real change we need: to unite opposition to austerity and build a Europe of sustainable growth, jobs and social justice." The Scottish Nationalists led by Nicola Sturgeon are unanimously for staying in the EU. They have said that if Britain votes for a Brexit, then the Scots will push again for a new independence vote from the United Kingdom. Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. Graphic by Randy Mishler/Staff 6 Portland-centric emoji buttons to make your day It's World Emoji Day, and we think Portlanders deserve their own set of emojis to mark the occasion. What other emojis does the world need? Don't Edit Graphic by Randy Mishler/Staff 1. The Hipster Use this whenever a friend posts about a Portland restaurant or bar that you've known about since forever, as if to say, "Yeah, Terry I knew about Tugboat Brewing before it went mainstream." Or, "Come on, Barbara, I've been riding my fixie over Tilikum Crossing since you were working on your thesis at UC Irvine. In November." Don't Edit Graphic by Randy Mishler/Staff 2. Mt. Hood Short for "Take a hike." Reserve this for posts that give you the urge to airlift somebody to the top of Mount Hood and leave them there. You know, like the friends who just had their first kid and believe that every hiccup, burp and new baby-sized outfit is worthy of its own post. Don't Edit Graphic by Randy Mishler/Staff 3. The Microbrew A simple, frothy representation of Oregon's single most valuable export. Use this whenever a Facebook post just gives you the urge to buy the first round. New baby on the way? That's a drink. Engagement announcement? That's a drink. Tuesday? DRINK. Don't Edit Graphic by Randy Mishler/Staff 4. The Bagpipe-Playing Darth Vader Short-hand for "That's so Portland it hurts." Use this whenever you stumble across something that screams PDX. Did one of your friends just post a beautiful Instagram of Pioneer Courthouse in the mid-morning light? Give 'em a Vader. Maybe your best friend just got a notice that her rent is being jacked up by 15 percent in an increasingly gentrifying neighborhood. That's probably a Vader, too (albeit a sad one.) Don't Edit Don't Edit Graphic by Randy Mishler/Staff 5. The Fred & Carrie The polar opposite of the bagpipe-playing Darth Vader, this icon is represented by two floating heads: A woman with a short bob and a man sporting a neat comb over and thick glasses. It's reserved for the tritest posts that plague your online social experience, such as the friend who shoots a new foot selfie on the carpet anytime he visits PDX. Or for the billionth bacon maple bar that clogs your News Feed. Because we all know this city is more than the sum of "Portlandia." Don't Edit Graphic by Randy Mishler/Staff 6. The Passive-Aggressive Portlander In our bid to uphold the Pacific Northwest's reputation as one of the most effortlessly polite regions of the U.S., some Portlanders have done a fair job of turning what should be otherwise be normal human interaction into a sea of passive-aggressiveness. In that vein, why not give Portlanders a reaction icon that reeks of the attitude? Consider this the Facebook or text equivalent of leaving a polite-sounding yet secretly scathing note on the windshield of the Toyota Tundra that double-parked at your favorite Whole Foods that one time. Alfred E. Mann -- an entrepreneur, inventor and philanthropist who was born in Portland -- died at 90 on Thursday. He founded 17 companies, including those responsible for an artificial retina and the first rechargeable pacemaker, according to the Los Angeles Times. Forbes estimated his fortune at $2.4 billion in 2007. MannKind Corp., one of Mann's companies, announced his death. He was the company's board chairman from 2001 until earlier this month, the Associated Press reported. The Times reported Mann was also until recently on the board of Second Sight Medical Products Inc., another one of his companies. Mann's business endeavors included ventures into the aerospace, pharmaceuticals, electronic circuitry and biomedical research industries, the Associated Press reported. He started out in aerospace, where his firms developed solar cells, semiconductors and other technologies for America's military and space programs. He later earned hundreds of millions of dollars by producing pacemakers for heart patients and insulin pumps to help treat diabetics. "He was brilliant, no question about it," said Linda Mann, who was married to Mann for six years and is mother to three of his children. Mann was a member of the University of Southern California Board of Trustees since 1998, according to the university, and donated more than $174 million to the university. He was born to a Polish mother and English father, according to USC, and served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He didn't see combat, the Times reported. Mann is survived by his wife, Claude, and seven children, according to USC. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with bachelor's and master's degrees, USC said, and was awarded honorary doctorate degrees from four universities. -- Jim Ryan jryan@oregonian.com 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015 The Associated Press contributed to this report cop.car.jpg A Third Circuit Court judge ruled that recording police isn't protected speech. (Portland Police Bureau/File photo) A U.S. District judge in Pennsylvania has ruled that the First Amendment does not guarantee the right to record police unless the video is meant to be used as evidence. Judge Mark Kearney made the ruling against Philadelphians Richard Fields and Amanda Geraci, whose cameras were confiscated by police while the two were recording the officers breaking up a house party. The Third Circuit judge ruled that unless police are recorded with the "stated purpose of being critical of the government," any such video isn't protected speech. What's interesting here is that in 2011, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey published a memo that upheld citizens' right to film cops. It's also interesting that it's long been considered a constitutional right to take photos and record video in public places. The American Civil Liberties Union watches these sorts of things closely and offers tips and counsel to citizens in such cases. "What the judge has said is the act of creating a picture or a video is not itself the equivalent of speech," ACLU attorney Mary Catherine Roper, who also represented Fields and Geraci, told The Atlantic's CityLab. "We think that's inconsistent with the way people use video in conjunction with police interaction." Here in Oregon, the City of Gresham last December settled for $7,500 a case where one of its residents who claimed police brutality after recording their activity. Just a few days later, a Multnomah County prosecutor revived the case. That's despite a law passed that June that asserts citizens' right to record police as long as they don't interfere. Looks like that's not really a consideration in Philadelphia. "When an encounter with police starts, you don't start filming necessarily because there's already something happening that you want to criticize," Roper said. "Sometimes you're filming because there's the potential for something to happen that you may want to criticize later, and this ruling doesn't leave room for that proactive monitoring." What do you think? Is it wrong to record police in public? --Eder Campuzano 503.221.4344 @edercampuzano ecampuzano@oregonian.com turkeys.JPG Turkeys. They're probably aching to rip you to shreds. (Terry Richard/Staff) In New Jersey wild turkeys have taken to attacking people, and it's bad enough that it's halting mail deliveries and triggering 911 calls from postal workers. "Now the turkeys are going postal," intones the New York Daily News, in an article that helpfully provides a link to a 911 call. (Which, we were disappointed to learn, does not include terrified screams and bloodthirsty gobbling; instead it's just an amused-sounding postal supervisor with an accent that makes us homesick for the East Coast.) And lest you think that New Jerseyans are being wimps, we'd like point out that turkeys are big, have beaks and claws, and we generally don't want to deal with them when they're anywhere but roasted on a platter, surrounded by stuffing. We suspect those feelings are shared by the British people who are being terrorized by "an evil pair of swans" that are "making the villagers' lives a living nightmare." (That story also has a video, but it loses credibility points with us by referring to "elderly residents" and then quoting someone who's 53.) Elsewhere on the Animals That Wish Us Harm beat, we have two 15-foot pythons that were pulled out of a building scheduled for demolition. This led us to a) marvel that Aussies are kind enough to rescue the critters; b) shudder as we realized snakes are enough of a problem to warrant a whole Australian business removing them, and c) crawl under the desk and whimper after we Googled "Portland snake removal" and learned that it's a whole business here, too. Who knew? Sleep tight. After that we were desperate to see something that wouldn't trigger panic attacks, so we found this video of Chewbacca the baby goat. Then there's this video of BFFs dog and cheetah playing in the snow, and a wombat being petted. (Cuter than it sounds, trust us.) Finally, we have a British guy who legally changed his name to "Bacon Double Cheeseburger." He says he has no regrets and offers an explanation for his choice, but it basically boils down to, "I'm not overly bright, and I drink a lot." Happy weekend! Don't tick off birds! Offbeat news will not appear next week. We'll return the following week, assuming the turkeys don't kill us. -- Mary Mooney mmooney@oregonian.com 503-412-7020; @MaryKnitsPDX When Noel Hislop opened The Celtic Corner in the Hollywood Theater building in 1993, he was 60 and nearly ready to retire from his day job. He had originally planned to operate the Irish shop for just a few years, but that didn't work out. Now, at 83, Hislop is ready to retire in earnest. Saturday marks the last day of business for the Hollywood store and its windows filled with Irish blessings, Guinness pint glasses and historic coats of arms. Hislop, a native Dubliner, has lived a full life. He visited the States on and off in the 1960s, working temporary jobs in 36 states, he said. "You could say I wasn't into longevity in the job," he quipped. Hislop even canoed from Yellowstone out to the Gulf of Mexico, camping on the shore and eating whatever he could catch, he said. Eventually, he settled down, married a Bostonian Irishwoman and moved to Oregon in 1980. Here, he found jobs at metal fabricators southwest of Portland. After several years in the trade, Hislop decided it was almost time to retire. "I was planning on retirement and figured I'd need something to keep me busy," he said, "and I couldn't think of a better idea than this one. I figured I would keep it open for five years so I could retire. And then I got too involved in it and it kept growing and growing." When he first opened the shop, he was still working full-time at the metal fabricator. He hired employees to run the shop on the weekdays, and he worked nights and weekends. He has mainly stocked Irish gifts, as well as a smattering of Welsh and Scottish items. His big sellers over the years were Irish jewelry (like the heart-in-hands Claddagh ring), Irish tea and Irish dancing shoes. (The students of the local Irish dancing schools are regular customers, he says). Hislop says much of his clientele is made up of second- and third-generation Irish Portlanders, tourists visiting from Ireland and even people who recently discovered their Celtic heritage via DNA tests. "We've just got really nice people coming in here," he said. "We've got customers that have been repeating since the day I opened." Though Hislop plans to continue selling a few things online after he closes his store, Portland will be left without a dedicated Irish shop for the first time in decades. "He is the last one standing," said Sam Keator, who teaches and performs Irish dances in the Portland area. "At one time, in the heyday, there must have been six [Celtic] shops in the area, when I got here it was down to four or five." Over the years, each one has shuttered. Kathleen's of Dublin was one of the last to go, the downtown store closing in 2011. For Keator, each closure is another loss of identity, another lost connection to Celtic heritage. Shops like Hislop's were more than just stores. They were places to trade pieces of news about the local Irish community - who was getting married, who had passed away. The Celtic Corner was like a little Irish village, Keator said. And as the 100th anniversary of the Ireland's Easter Rising and subsequent independence from Britain approaches, Keator knows Hislop's knowledge of Irish history will also be missed. That, and his Irish brogue, his stories (with a healthy mix of blarney) and the twinkle in his eye, Keator said. The Celtic Corner's last day of business is Saturday, Feb. 27. Little Axe Records, now located at Northeast 42nd and Failing, will move in and open this spring. -- Anna Marum amarum@oregonian.com 503-294-5911 @annamarum (Updated 1 p.m., Feb. 27) OOPS does it again with clever, original production By Fred Sherwin Orleans Online OOPS newcomer Francine Hopley plays Desiree Faberge in the amateur theatre company's production of 'Showdown at the OOPS Corral'. Fred Sherwin/Photo The Orleans Older Players return to the stage this Saturday with their latest production Showdown at the OOPS Corral. OOPS is a collection of amateur theatre enthusiasts who meet every Monday evening to share their love of the performing arts under the instruction and direction of Susan Flemming. The four-month long course is conducted over two sessions (Sept.-Feb. and March -June) with each session culminating in a live performance. Each group decides on a theme at the beginning of the course and then work in collaboration in developing the plot and script. Showdown at the OOPS Corral features a lot of familiar faces, including Tina Chan whose appeared in every OOPS production since the course was first introduced in 2008 to give parents of Orleans Young Players Theatre School students a chance to act on stage. In Showdown, Chan plays a saloon owner with a mysterious past. The play is set in saloon/gambling house/hat shoppe in a frontier town called Disappointment, Pop. 7. The Back Bacon Saloon, Gambling Emporium and Hat Shoppe is owned by a Klementyna Smirnofia, a Russian woman with a large diamond pendant, and frequented by characters with equally mysterious pasts. As it turns out, they are all wanted for committing a variety of crimes from stealing a ham sandwich to causing the death of P.T. Barnums star attraction, Dumbo the elephant. Besides a criminal past they also share a desire to possess Klementynas diamond pendant, which culminates in a rather noisy final scene. But Im getting ahead of myself. The play opens with the characters lying in various forms of prostration under a sign identifying the set of the previously mentioned establishment. Out of the shadows emerges one Nellie Stringer, a newspaper reporter played by Sarah Benfield, who gives a brief history of the town and the saloon before announcing the first act. Much of the rest of the play is spent on character development as the audience is cleverly introduced to the various players one by one using a large Wanted frame and a glaring spot light. There is Klementyna, of course, who jumps off a train as its passing by the town to escape charges for allegedly stealing a ham sandwich. When she jumps, she lands in creek where she rather gratuitously finds a large diamond. Bess Farmer, who is played by Sophia Sudnikowicz, is the resident cook who went on the lame after dumping a chicken pot pie on a food critic. Ruby and Emerald Nickels, played by OOPS veterans Celine Nadeau and Sue Ashton, are a sister act who are wanted for a llegedly stealing a horse; and Pentimento Dorrito, played by another OOPS veteran, Andre Lacasse, is the bartender who is on the run after smashing bunch of alarm clocks that put the professional waker-upper out of business. Then theres Desiree Faberge, played admirably by the lone OOPS rookie in the cast, Francine Hopley. Faberge is a hat-maker whos wanted for assaulting a fellow milliner for making knock-offs of her original creations. The rest of the cast is rounded out by Karen Bolt, who plays Cora Brewster, a cattle rancher wanted for branding other peoples cattle; Sebastien Melbourne who plays Jake The Snake Slocum, wanted for causing the death of Dumbo when he led the pachyderm across a railway track; and Trish Golden who plays Molly Bates, a bounty hunter hot on the trail of the fugitives at large. Showdown at the OOPS Corral can be seen on Friday, Feb. 23at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the Richcraft Theatre at the Shenkman Arts Centre. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and children under 12. (This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.) A bipartisan group of state representatives including Rep. Gary Glenn, R-Midland, will cosponsor legislation to repeal Common Core educational standards in Michigan. The measure is set to be introduced in the House on Thursday. Sen. Patrick Colbeck, R-Canton, will introduce identical legislation in the state Senate, according to a press release from Glenn. Michigans school students deserve the best standards, based on proven results, Glenn said during a news conference. Michigan students deserve better than to have their futures serve as an experiment with untested, unproven standards that have produced no evidence of actually helping students learn. Under the proposed legislation: Common Core standards and testing would be eliminated in their entirety, replaced by the standards that were in place in Massachusetts prior to Common Core. (Glenn said a work group of education reform advocates in Michigan and nationally determined over the last year that the best educational standards in the nation based on superior student performance in multiple categories of testing were the standards used by Massachusetts prior to the national move to adopt Common Core.) Local school boards would be free to adjust the standards, and after five years, the state Board of Education would be authorized to do the same. Parents would be free to opt their child out of any class, instruction or testing. The state and local schools would be prohibited from collecting data regarding an individual students values, attitudes, beliefs and personality traits, or the students familys political or religious affiliations or views. Test questions used by public schools would be readily available to the public. State Rep. Gary Glenn, R-Midland, announced Saturday that specialists at the University of Michigan Cancer Center in Ann Arbor told him this past Monday that the aggressive prostate cancer diagnosed at MidMichigan Medical Center only five weeks earlier is now in remission. Glenn's PSA score a blood test that measures the growth, size and intensity of prostate cancer was 348 when he was diagnosed Jan. 15, much higher than a normal score of 4 or below, above which men are considered likely to have prostate cancer. After four radiation treatments in four days, his score dropped to 100 by the end of the first week, a 72 percent reduction that one physician termed a "near miracle," Glenn said. Last Monday in Ann Arbor, Glenn's PSA count had again dropped dramatically to only 1.1, a reduction of 99.7 percent in five weeks. Two different tests several weeks apart a CT scan and a bone scan found no evidence the cancer has spread beyond the original diagnosis, Glenn said. "Annette, our children, and I are all deeply grateful, first and foremost, for the healing power of Jesus' name, for the thousands of prayers and expressions of concern, and for the compassionate and expert care of physicians, nurses, and technicians at MidMichigan Medical Center and U-M Cancer Center," Glenn said. "We understand a remission may be by definition temporary, but whether it lasts months, years or decades, we have no sense of entitlement and instead thank the Lord for this and all our other blessings. Because we know there are no guarantees in this fight, we ask in faith for continued prayers for my family and for a full and permanent recovery." Glenn said he has remained fully active since the diagnosis in performing legislative duties in Lansing and meeting with constituents at home in the 98th House district. He said he has maintained a perfect attendance record in House committee meetings and floor sessions and has not missed any of the now nearly 600 roll call votes on the House floor held since he took office in January 2015. LANSING, Mich. (AP) Two former Michigan lawmakers were charged Friday with felony misconduct in office, the state attorney general announced, after their extramarital affair snowballed into a political scandal when one of them concocted a bizarre cover story about being caught with a male prostitute. Attorney General Bill Schuette said former Republican state Rep. Todd Courser faces three counts of misconduct in office, felonies that are each punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Schuette said Courser also was charged with perjury for lying to lawmakers under oath, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Former Republican Rep. Cindy Gamrat faces two charges of misconduct. "When you're elected to serve in any public office, you receive a special responsibility from the people. It's called trust. It's called judgment. It's called honesty," Schuette, also a Republican, said at a news conference. "But Representatives Courser and Gamrat, sadly, failed to serve their constituents in an honorable fashion. And worse yet, we allege ... that they broke the law." The charges were filed Friday in Ingham County District Court. "I'm looking forward to reviewing the charge," Gamrat's attorney Michael Nichols said in a text message. "I think they should get ready to prove their case." Courser or his attorney did not respond to messages seeking comment. According to Schuette's office, the two freshman lawmakers and self-proclaimed social conservatives engaged "in a pattern of corrupt misconduct while holding office." One of the misconduct charges against Courser stems from ordering a staffer to send an email to GOP activists falsely stating that Courser had been caught with a male prostitute "behind a prominent Lansing nightclub." The email was intended to make his affair with Gamrat appear less believable and allow Courser to claim he had been blackmailed. A second misconduct charge alleges that Courser lied to Michigan House of Representatives investigators as the scandal unfolded. The third misconduct charge related to Courser authorizing a staffer to forge the lawmaker's signature on proposed House bills, while the most serious charge of perjury is also unrelated to the sex scandal. It alleges that Courser lied under oath about authorizing staff to forge his signature. Gamrat is charged with lying to investigators as they probed for potential misconduct, and also for authorizing a staffer to forge her signature on proposed legislation. "I'm looking forward to reviewing the charge. I think Bill Schuette expects that she doesn't have any fight left," Gamrat's attorney, Michael Nichols, said in a text message. "I think they should get ready to prove their case." The affair emerged last summer and quickly developed into a political scandal. After an aide to Courser and Gamrat was fired in July, he gave The Detroit News a secret audio recording of Courser demanding that he send the email about a male prostitute to "inoculate the herd," an apparent reference to Courser's conservative supporters. The aide said the plot was unethical and showed a "callous lack of respect" for the public, according to the investigation. It also said Gamrat was aware of the email, contrary to her assertions. Courser resigned on Sept. 11, hours before he was likely to be kicked out of the GOP-led House. Gamrat was formally expelled from the House the same day. Both tried to make a political comeback by running in special Republican primaries for their seats, but lost last November. Michigan House Minority Leader Tim Greimel said House Speaker Kevin Cotter and other Republicans had wanted to sweep the misconduct under the rug by expelling them, but Democrats had demanded a criminal investigation. "The results of their investigation prove that was the right move," Greimel said. Schuette's office said the two lawmakers must surrender by Wednesday or they will be arrested. "No one, no one is beyond the reach of the law. Not even those who make laws," Schuette said. Saginaw Valley State University is poised to launch a $600,000 marketing campaign aimed at raising its profile and boosting enrollment. Back in fall 2010, SVSU enjoyed a record enrollment of 10,656. Since then it has slowly trended downward, and winter semester 2016 has 8,995 students enrolled. The university would like to see its enrollment consistently around the 10,000 mark, a size officials have determined is about ideal. SVSU spokesman J. J. Boehm said increasing awareness of its top-notch academic programs has long been a top institutional priority. From the latest market research and previous data, we know that public awareness of SVSU within the state of Michigan is low, relative to other colleges and universities, he said. We are working to increase awareness and enhance our reputation for the benefit of the university and our students and alumni. Boehm points to the support of multiple Midland organizations such as The Dow Chemical Co., Dow Corning Corp. and the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation as proof positive that SVSU is on the cutting edge academically. These organizations have made major investments in our STEM programs because of our strong performance in these fields (science, technology, engineering and math), he said. Many of our academic programs consistently show themselves to be among the best in the Midwest. This assertion is based on SVSU students pass rates on licensing exams, performance in head-to-head academic competitions, acceptance to medical schools, law schools, among other metrics, according to Boehm. The school will work with The Image Group, a Holland-based communication and marketing firm, on the ambitious marketing campaign. The SVSU Board of Control authorized the promotional effort at its February meeting. The cost is capped at $600,000 through June 2017. Its far more than SVSU typically spends on marketing but still considerably less than the institutions top competitors for students (Grand Valley State, Central Michigan University and Michigan State University) spend annually on their promotional initiatives, Boehm said. In todays world where high school students have been bombarded with information from an early age, you have to find a way to reach them, because national data shows you must reach them by their sophomore year for them to seriously consider you, he said. The first phase of the new marketing blitz is expected to begin this summer. Boehm said the plan is in its developmental stages, but anticipates unveiling a more aggressive marketing mix that includes digital, radio, television and outdoor advertising. More targeted outreach to high school and their families is also part of the initiative. The Image Group, Boehm said, has a proven track record of success with other higher education clients. Its enrollment-boosting success particularly caught SVSUs attention. Since we are a state university, working with a Michigan firm is an important consideration, but results, especially in terms of increasing enrollment, are the most important criteria, Boehm said of partnering with The Image Group. As part of our due diligence, I personally spoke with representatives of South Dakota State University, and they are very pleased with the results The Image Group has delivered for them. Boehm calls the marketing campaign an important step to raise our profile for the good of SVSU, the Great Lakes Bay Region and the state, since more than 80 percent of our alumni remain in Michigan. Midland residents and visitors to the city will have a regular reminder of the life and ultimate sacrifice of Corpsman Aaron D. Ullom. Ullom, a 2009 Midland High graduate, was a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy when he was killed by enemy gunfire on July 12, 2011 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, after leaving a small ditch to apply a tourniquet to a wounded Marine. For his actions, Ullom was awarded the Purple Heart. This week, the state dedicated the U.S. 10 Bridge over Eastman Road as the Corpsman Aaron D. Ullom Memorial Bridge. My hope is that people will go by the bridge, see his name, smile and be proud of him and his service, Debi Ullom, Aarons mother, said in October while testifying in the Legislature. He would say that he doesnt deserve this, but I believe that he earned this honor. The state bill to dedicate the bridge was sponsored by Sen. Jim Stamas and supported by Rep. Gary Glenn in the House. It unanimously passed both chambers before Gov. Rick Snyder added his signature on Tuesday. Debi Ullom attended the bill signing event with Aarons father, Kevin Ullom, and step-brother, Sean Bartley. Today was a very happy day. This is just awesome beyond words, said Debi, after arriving back in Midland. It was so very humbling and overwhelming. We are so proud of our son, Aaron. The family plans to host a spaghetti dinner tentatively scheduled for some time in April to raise money for the sign, which must be paid for through private funds. The dedication of the bridge is tentatively scheduled for July 9. These events will be great opportunities for us to show our appreciation for Aaron Ullom and his family, who have shared in his sacrifice. ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Pilots from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, Japan Air Self-Defense Force and Royal Australian Air Force conducted a large force employment here Feb. 18-26 as part of exercise Cope North 16. The exercise began with humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training Feb. 14, followed by an LFE exercise that shifted the focus to air-combat tactics. The LFE portion challenged large numbers of aviators, from fighter aircraft to command and control platforms, to interact effectively in realistic combat scenarios, while employing offensive and defensive counter air techniques to either gain or protect area and assets. (The LFE) is a great opportunity to provide a controlled environment to simulate the stressors of the first-time combat missions, said Col. Brian Toth, CN 16s U.S. exercise director. We aim to present (aircrews) with more difficult problems than they may really encounter in normal operations, so they are prepared, ready and can anticipate the type of events that may occur should they ever find themselves in combat operations. The training scenarios start by pitting blue, or defensive forces, against red aggressors with small formations of aircraft of each participating nation working against each other in iterations of basic fighter maneuvers, or dogfight-type aerial engagements, in a dynamic exchange of techniques and procedures. Later, however, the go-to enemy, who during the exercise were the F-16 Fighting Falcons of the 18th Aggressor Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, provided a realistic threat and replicated adversaries coalition pilots may face when working together. (During this exercise,) we integrate advanced capabilities into a realistic threat environment with a large number of adversary and friendly aircraft to really test our integration capability and be able to work as a large team effectively, said Royal Australian Air Force Group Capt. Glen Braz, CN 16's RAAF exercise director. The LFE is critical in maintaining regional stability and security. We build trust and relationships within the partner nations, but we also set an example of a capable force that is prepared to respond within the region. Pilots and crews also performed formation flights, bombing campaigns on a target locations at the Farallon de Medinilla Range and conducted a successful personnel recovery search and rescue mission to introduce another layer of complicating realism. The combat airspace located northeast of Guam measures approximately 140 by 240 nautical miles, which offers plentiful training area over safe, open water. Its great training because we are able to experience realistic, real-time operations in a large airspace, said JASDF Capt. Kenichi Kuwauchi, CN 16 F-2 pilot, who has been selected as one of CN 16s top performers. We have different tactics between JASDF and U.S. Air Force, so we get to experience different ideas and learn from each other. It has been very rewarding. As the exercise progressed, scenarios increasingly intensified to include larger aircraft formations in the air at one time, working on the same complex scenario. In total, the pilots are expected to fly more than 750 sorties in the seven-day period. This has been the biggest CN ever conducted in terms of aircraft, flying units, personnel and sorties flown, said Lt. Col. Jason Mooney, the CN 16 LFE lead planner. There are many different aircraft and many different airmen flying based on different tactics, so you get an idea on what it may be like to fight an adversary. There is a certain level of unpredictability there. Its about refining skillsets, about getting better and better at what you do every day, Mooney continued. Its been a lot of work and many people have worked very hard behind the scenes to make this happen. In addition to the traditional air combat scenarios, a JASDF C-130 Hercules mobility aircrew joined a U.S. Air Force C-130 in a low-cost, low-altitude formation airdrop over Tinian Island, near Guam, which tested the teams ability to deliver supplies in hostile areas. Its good that the U.S. Air Force and JASDF get to know each others capabilities, Kuwauchi said. In real contingency scenarios, we must have an understanding and knowledge of each others abilities and procedures. It is important to have this kind of exercise as often as possible so we can develop, build and increase our capabilities. There are language barriers for everybody, of course, but Cope North is a great environment to overcome those barriers. Now in its 87th iteration, the long-standing multilateral training exercise is designed to improve combat readiness and multinational interoperability among participating militaries. The event was held in Japan up to four times per year until 1999 but has since been hosted as an annual event at Andersen Air Force Base. We have seen long-standing military relationships between the partner nations and continue to expand those today, Braz said. We all have advanced capabilities and when we work together, we always enhance those capabilities for the greater good. We each have our strengths and weaknesses, but together, were a force that is difficult to stand up to. WASHINGTON, February 25, 2016 The U.S. militarys strategic rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region is real and being realized, the commander of U.S. Pacific Command told Pentagon reporters today. After testifying before House and Senate committees this week, Navy Adm. Harry Harris Jr. said he appreciated the opportunity to go on the record about Americas rebalance, adding that it cannot take place quickly enough in his area of responsibility, which covers 36 nations and half the globe. The rebalance to the region comprises four components, he said: economic, political, military and diplomatic. I've always said the most visible component is the military, because you can see an aircraft carrier, or joint strike fighter, or all of the other things that we're sending out to the Pacific, he added. The Navy and Air Force want to have 60 percent of their forces in the region by 2020, and because the Navys presence is nearly at 50 percent today, were proceeding apace, Harris said. Its a well-thought-out strategy in my opinion, and I think were moving right along at the proper timeline, he added. Navigation Ops Must Continue In the meantime, Harris emphasized, the United States must continue to exercise its rights of freedom in maritime and airspace navigation in international waters in the region, such as in the South China Sea. This is nothing new for the United States, the admiral told reporters. We've been doing freedom-of-navigation operations around the world for decades, [and] we'll continue to do them with increasing complexity as we move forward. The Pacom commander said the United States also must encourage its like-minded network of nations in the Asia-Pacific region to exercise their freedoms of navigation. China Militarizing South China Sea Harris noted that he told both the Senate and the House this week that he believes China is militarizing the South China Sea. The Chinese are adding advanced fighters and advanced missile systems, he added, and have built three 10,000-foot-long runways on islands they say theyve reclaimed, he added. I'll pay attention to the threat. But that is not going to prevent us from flying, sailing or operating wherever international law allows, he said. The United States and our patrols -- military patrols, air and maritime, in the South China Sea -- haven't really changed, Harris said. We have a consistent presence in the western Pacific, and we have had that for decades. American transgender children who are allowed to live openly as the gender they identify have positive mental health. This is according to a new study that suggests parental support is the key to lessening the higher rates of depression and anxiety among transgender kids in the United States. ABC News reported that a new study published in the March issue of the journal Pediatrics shows that transgender children who are supported by their parents to be themselves have normal levels of depression and only slightly elevated levels of anxiety. Researchers say that allowing transgender children to change their names, hairstyle, clothing, as well as using pronouns that matched their gender identity could obstruct mental health problems. The researchers, led by University of Washington assistant professor of psychology Kristina Olson, assessed and compared the mental health of 73 socially transitioned transgender children with 73 nontransgender youngsters. They found out that the rates of depression and anxiety between the two groups were equal. The study results are considered significant due to the growing number of parents who are permitting their children to undergo social transition. The researchers, however, noted that the study is small and cannot confirm that social transitioning improves mental health outcomes for transgender children. In an article on The Guardian, Dr. Ilana Sherer, assistant medical director at the University of San Francisco's Child and Adolescent Gender Center Clinic, considered the recent findings as crucially important. "Olson and colleagues give supporters of social transition evidence that shows what we have suspected all along: that socially transitioned children are doing fine, or at least as well as their age-matched peers and siblings," she explained. Sarah Painer, a social worker at the Transgender Health Clinic at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, commented that the study is reflective of what she has seen in practice. "I think more research like this will hopefully help the world see that this can be a good thing - to let our kids be who they are." This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. You dont have to stalk film locations, fly across the globe or take set studio to feel like youre part of the action. People all over the country have been inspired to design their homes in homage of their favorite films, and lucky for you, a lot of these are available for travelers to rent. This can go one of two ways, however. You could end up in a home inspired by Alice in Wonderland with quirky and uncomfortable furniture, an oversized stuffed caterpillar, and wall decor that makes you feel like youre dizzily falling down a rabbit hole. Or, if you choose wisely, you can end up in a tastefully designed home that channels Oscar-nominated films like Brooklyn and Inside Out. If youd prefer the latter (we have a feeling most of you will), click through our gallery of vacation homes inspired by 2016 Oscar-nominated films. Find these homes and more on vacation rental website, Vacasa. Maggie Parker is Paste Magazines assistant travel editor. 1 of 4 The Ellody in Washougal, Washington inspired by Brooklyn: While Brooklyn is the obvious choice of destination if you want to truly understand the film of the same name (nominated for Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay), it will be hard to find a boarding house these days. Hostels are the closest thing, and it's safe to say that those do not resemble the homes in Brooklyn at all. The film about an immigrant in 1950s Brooklyn features a boarding house much like this one in Washougal, Washington. With patterned wallpaper and a gramophone, The Ellody's colorful, floral and romantic yet simultaneously sensible look was inspired by Elilis' boarding house, but in a less gray and gritty setting. Photos courtesy of Vacasa and Fox Searchlight 2 of 4 The Royal Rose Cottage in Cannon Beach, Oregon inspired by The Danish Girl: Without traveling back in time and to Europe, it will be hard to find a getaway reminiscent of the early 20th century artist scene depicted in The Danish Girl (nominated for Best Actor, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Costume Design, and Best Production Design), about the marriage between Danish artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener as they navigate Elbe's groundbreaking journey as a transgender pioneer. But, The Royal Rose Cottage in Cannon Beach comes close. This romantic home is decked out in Victorian-style furnishings and vintage fabrics inspired by Elbe's luxurious sense of style. Photos courtesy of Vacasa and Focus Features 3 of 4 Starry Starry Night in Depoe Bay, Oregon inspired by Inside Out: In Inside Out (Best Original Screenplay and Best Animated Feature Film nominee), Riley and her parents move into a San Francisco house much like this multilevel family home Depoe Bay, Oregon. The colorful vibesthanks to peach walls, blue carpeting and a yellow exteriorwill remind you of Riley's equally colorful personality traitsJoy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust. The only difference is that this house is steps away from the beach. Photos courtesy of Vacasa and Walt Disney Pictures 4 of 4 Deer Crossing Cabin in McCall, Idaho inspired by The Revenant: We're pretty sure none of you actually want to stay where Leonardo DiCaprio's character stayed in The Revenant, that would require gutting a horse and curling up inside it. However, you can channel his ruggedness a little in this Idaho home filled with moose and bear-themed decor including an end table with two bears for table legs. If you turn down the heat in the winter (not too low, let's not get crazy), this log cabin tucked into a pine forest kind of sort of feels like that heat-lodge made from branches Leo slept in--plus some working appliances, food, water, and the fact that you're not dying. Photos courtesy of Vacasa and 20th Century Fox/Getty Images Each week, Dom plumbs the depths of podcast nation to bring you the best in cinema-related chats and programs. If writing about music is like dancing about architecture, then writing about movie podcasts is like listening to someone describe someone dancing about architecture. On Sunday, the plasticine gremlins of Hollywood emerge from their hovels to participate in the glitziest, most high-profile display of onanism of the year, and though everyone pretty much just straight-up hates the Oscars, there is little doubt than any of us will actually look away. For my part, I compiled some thoughts over at Pastes Oscar predictions, and youll also probably find me live-tweeting the event until the moment when my skull collapses under the burden of attempting to find anything Alejandro Inarritu says not a self-aggrandizing mess of ways the director tries to cover up the fact that he doesnt seem to watch any other movies other than his own, ever. Seriously, lets stop encouraging this guy who actually said the following words in the following order so as to express cogent human thought: Yeah! Fuck you, genres! Over in the thankless, ever-expanding world of podcasting, Little Gold Men offers an unsurprisingly in-depth last blast at advising you, white people, on your Oscar pool picks. I can honestly say that it helped me, white person, develop a confidence in my ability to pick winners more than in any other awards season, as well as to understand better why the Oscars will never be anything other than a numbers game dominated by the studios with the girthiest war chests. Care of Pete Hammond from Deadline Hollywood, we learn that in the case of some films, an Oscar could mean, if everything falls into place, $50M tagged onto the films gross. So, for something still in theaters like The Revenant, the award would go a long way toward getting people in theater seats and recouping the films $40M+ loss when it went hellishly over-budget. You Must Remember This is as blissfully thorough as ever, taking a break this week from its series on the Blacklist to re-run one of Karina Longworths episodes from 2014 about Humphrey Bogarts rise in Hollywood and his near-iconic romance with Lauren Bacall. Longworths intent is to offer some more depth to next weeks episode, which touches on Bogeys, Bacalls and friend John Hustons protests of the House Un-American Activities Committee once that body transformed from anti-Nazi to anti-Communist. The episode is, as most are, a reminder that Longworth knows how to spin a compelling yarn from a gossipy glut of details, in the process drawing out a finely-tuned portrait of a struggling actor who eventually had trouble divorcing his cool-ass tough guy persona from that of someone just trying to do right by the people in his life. Meanwhile, We Hate Movies hosted a live show in D.C., appropriately skewering Olympus Has Fallen by criticizing Gerard Butlers accent and sharing befuddlement over the plain-faced gruesomeness of its violence. Similarly, The Important Cinema Club questioned Ingmar Bergmans (sadly waning?) legacy by sharing befuddlement over David Carradines butt and bontch. So, in lieu of witnessing the anthropomorphic bag of potting soil, Sylvester Stallone, win his first Oscarbecause he definitely deserves an award for decades of successfully pushing nearly-intelligible words through his malt-o-meal facecheck out my picks for the three best podcast episodes of the week: Ep. #198 The Cobbler This week, we must keep in mind two important facts: 1) that the guy who co-wrote The Revenant also wrote the Martyrs remake and that 2) Best Director nominee Tom McCarthy preceded his much-loved Spotlight with The Cobbler, a story about how Adam Sandler has sex with his mom and then she dies. McCarthy, of course, is still living this shit down; and he should be, no matter how many Oscars he claims. Because seriously: There is a part in this movie where Adam Sandlers character puts on his estranged fathers shoes in order to transform into his estranged father and spend one last night of closeness and intimacy with his mother before she dies, which is supposed to be a touching gesture, but is instead revolting, because there is no possible way on this planet that anyone could watch this scene and not think that Adam Sandlers character has sex with his mother. Youre one sick fuck, McCarthy. So this week the Original Peaches dance all over The Cobblers gravewe refuse to forget, McCarthy, no matter how deep you bury your failureswith typical aplomb (Sandler is easy pickings after all, somehow maintaining a successful career despite his chronic somnambulism), but the real highlights of the episode come after the riffing resolves, when a listener letter allows the three hosts to talk openly about what its like to put to so much effort into something that is supposed to be fun. Its an especially relevant letter after Dan McCoy has to chastise co-hosts Elliot Kalen and Stuart Wellington for goofing around while hes trying to talk about some serious charity work, because much of their answer revolves around whether or not friendship can be sustained when passions and hobbies succumb to the rigors of obligation. After all, work is work: When what you lovebe it making a podcast about bad movies or writing a column about podcasts about bad moviesis saddled with deadlines or money, it becomes work, and work will always carry the threat of leading you astray, robbing all glee from something that once brought you a healthy bit of respite from the ordinary demands of the quotidian. Visit www.wernerherzogsurethra.gov to find out more. George Miller: Mad Max: Fury Road Elvis Mitchell once again brings in an old friend, because he has developed effortlessly intimate relationships with seemingly every single genius director to have made a film in the past three decades. As he did with Tarantino last week, this go-round Mitchell talks to Oscar-nominee George Miller about Mad Max: Fury Road, which is better than every other film nominated this year but will only win in technical categories because Academy voters are afraid of loud noises or powerful women or something. The conversation is functionally straightforwardthe two cursorily run through Millers background before investigating Fury Road to the hiltbut whats truly demonstrative of Mitchells skill as a pro conversationalist is how much ground they cover in less than a half hour. From production design to Mad Max mythos, Miller proves he not only envisioned an impressively comprehensive world for this universe hes crafted, but that he is, maybe next to Steven Spielberg, our generations foremost elder populist film philosopher, creating masterpieces of thought and philosophy and progressivism through the guise of spectacle and genre fare. Were Inarritu ever compelled to watch any other movie not directed by Inarritu, Inarritu would probably find that what Inarritu said about genre is not only wrong, its a blatant insult to pretty much every other director nominated for an Oscar whos not named Inarritu. Adam Benzine on Primer If youve been following this column so far, then youve probably realized that, now in only my sixth week doing this, Ive put Norm Wilners Someone Elses Movie on this list three times. Whatever: Wilners podcast is joy to hear each and every week, a detailed discussion bereft of academic pedantry on films that matternot because theyve been crowned as important by some sort of taste-governing body, but only because theyve played indelible roles in the lives of some viewers. And Wilner, a bottomless trove of cinematic knowledge and appreciation, seems to intuit exactly how to route and connect those conduits between admirer and creator, between the work of the admirer and the work of the admired, pushing each guest to move past admiration and into the concrete realm of influence. This week, Wilner invites Oscar-nominee (and probable Oscar-winner) Adam Benzine to the cast to find out how Shane Carruths 2004 micro-budget hit Primer held sway over Benzines short documentary Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah. Its a fantastically odd choice for Benzine, that is, until it becomes clear that both Benzine and Wilner are in awe of the rare way Carruth has been able to make groundbreaking films totally outside of the studio system. Talking about the labyrinth of Primer is fun, but talking about the labyrinth of Carruths mind and talent is both infuriating and invigorating. The former because you will realize you are not as holistically talented, and the latter because you will realize that, though it seems impossible, you too could do what he didif only you tried to figure out how. Dom Sinacola is Assistant Movies Editor at Paste and a Portland-based writer. Like everyone on this planet, he co-hosts his own podcast, Pretty Little Grown Men, which is sometimes about movies but mostly about Pretty Little Liars. You can follow him on Twitter. Jacquie Berglund doesnt know much about beer. Brewing was never her first love. Her passion is barstool philanthropy the idea that beer can be a means and not just an end. Berglund started Finnegans Brew Co. in 2000 as the countrys first charity brewery. The five-person operation takes no profit, distributing the majority of its earnings to food shelves throughout the Midwest, and theyve become the second largest social business in America behind Newmans Own. Using its 2,000-plus volunteers and fleet of reverse food trucks, Finnegans is projecting to surpass $1,000,000 in donations in 2016. I think Im just hardwired this way, Berglund says. I just want to leave the world a better place than when I got here. There are several other non-profit brewers in America, including Portlands Ex Novo and Potosi Brewing in Potosi, Wisc., as well as Two Fingers Brewing in the U.K., but in 1998, when Berglund came up with the idea of selling beer to benefit hunger, no one had broken ground on a non-profit brewery. For her, it seemed like a perfect way to give back to the people who inspire her. My dad was a janitor, my mom was a waitress, and we were definitely working poor, she says. I was lucky enough to move out of that economic class, so the working poor are really who Im passionate about. Initially, the beer then known as Kierans Irish Ale was only sold at the Local, the Irish pub where she worked. The proceeds went towards eradicating homelessness and poverty as well as helping at-risk youth. The beer outgrew the Local, and she purchased the rights from bar owner Kieran Folliard for $1 in 2000. Gradually, she focused her brand on solving hunger, which is a chronic problem in the rural Midwest. I came across this brochure for the Harvest for the Hungry program, which was purchasing fresh produce from local farms and delivering it to local food shelves, she says. They pay a dollar per pound for organic produce in Minnesota, and it clicked that we could buy a pound of food for every dollar we make, and all of a sudden, it was our mission trading beer for food. Finnegans now provides 95% of the total donations that Harvest for the Hungry receives. They also support the National Multiple Sclerosis Society via the MS 150 bike race and take donations via their reverse food trucks, which take in donated food while also tapping pints of Irish Amber, Blonde Ale, and Dead Irish Poet Stout. But they still dont brew their own beer. In 2003, after five years at James Page, Finnegans took up a contract with Summit Brewing in St. Paul. Summit are true believers in Berglund. All Finnegans beers are developed by the Finnegans team and Summit head brewer Damian McConn, who tries to keep their styles in line with the blue-collar Irish aesthetic theyve had since their days at the Local. In two years, Finnegans will move into their own space a three-storey complex built into a hotel in their current neighborhood of Elliot Park and hire a staff to brew on premises. Berglund is hoping that the space, which also includes a social business incubator, will become a Mecca for other charity-minded entrepreneurs. A place where they can inspire new charitable ventures, all over a pint of non-profit Irish ale. When I look at it from my perspective of being a social business, it absolutely makes sense, she says. I believe that a few people sitting around a picnic table drinking beer can solve the worlds problems. I was recently talking to a friend about the great rock guitarists, and in particular Nancy Wilson of Heart. Every time her name comes up in conversation, or every time I hear Barracuda, I get my codpiece in a bind because Wilson never seems to get her due. So in light of this I recently revisited a couple of those silly (and always picked-apart) Best Guitarists lists. In 2011 Rolling Stone assembled its old-timey 100 Greatest Guitarists list, which contained exactly two women: Bonnie Raitt and Joni Mitchell. I mean, I can tick off a short list of female guitarists worthy of mention without even trying: Lita Ford, Kim Gordon, Leila Abdul-Rauf, Donita Sparks, Annie Clark, Marissa Paternoster (OK, I had to double-check the spelling on that one), Marnie Stern, Joan Jett, Kelley Deal SPIN produced its own list in 2012, and that publications slightly more forward-thinking assemblagewhich included guitarists like Carrie Brownstein and PJ Harveyalso excluded Nancy Wilson. The only time she does seem to get mentioned is on those idiotic Best Female Guitarists lists. Piss on that. The absence of female guitar players on most lists is appalling enough, but to exclude Nancy Wilson is absolutely mystifying. So, why am I droning on about this in a metal column? Well, besides Wilson being one of the great guitarists of the last four decades, I also happen to think Heartparticularly Nancy and her sis Annhave influenced far more hard rock and metal bands than they get credit for. Imagine Anns pipes in any number of modern metal bands. And listen closely to those first two Heart records. Hell, just listen to Sing Child and Crazy On You off Dreamboat Annie and youll hear loads of brilliant axe-slingery and six-stringery. Ive got your back, Nancy. You could call Eight Bells second album, Landless, prog (Im certain they wouldnt mind), but its far less stuffy and spartan than a lot of prog progenitors. Its fluid and beautiful, and feels soothing in the same way Tool records are soothing to menot a bad thing. I talked with guitarist Melynda Jackson and bassist Haley Westeiner about a month ago, and they think of themselves as musical soulmates (new drummer Rae Amitay lives in Chicago, and also bashes for Immortal Bird). That assertion makes sense if youve seen the band live, and it definitely comes through on Landless. The tripped-out instrumentalism of Jacksons former band SubArachnoid Space seeps its way into songs like the 13-minute title track, but theres far more structure and vision. Landlessout on Battleground Records brings together black metal, psychedelia and prog in one vast, gray underworld. And its well worth dwelling there for a spell. And its worth seeing the band live as they continue their tour with Voivod and Vektor through February. Holy Grail Times of Pride and Peril (Prosthetic Records) Holy Grail follows up 2013s Ride the Void with another helping of technical power metal. The odd-timings and musical proficiency on No More Heroes may frighten you, but the hooks will keep you coming back. This is definitely metal being forged in sunny Southern California vs. the cold gray of England. Anthrax For All Kings (Megaforce Records) I bought Anthraxs 2011 LP Worship Music because it was on sale for seven bucks, and it turned out to be one of my favorite metal records that year. With Joey Belladonna back in the fold, the thrash titans are positioned to keep their legacy iron clad. For All Kings is loaded with the classic metal riffing of Worship Music, and Anthrax is playing with a hunger thats leaving the rest of the Big Four in their dust. Terra Tenebrosa The Purging (Debemur Morti Productions) Originally released in 2013, The Purging is being reissued on French label Debemur Morti Productions, and lets hope it leads to these Swedish black metallists slicing up a few more ears. This is wicked, dynamic stuff, with ambient sections that will lull you, and catchy riffs that will jerk your head back. Satan? I want more. Tiny Knives Black Haze (Eolian Empire) Last month we premiered the track Past Tense from Portland three-piece Tiny Knives right here on HEAVIOSITY, and Black Haze hasnt left my player since. Its weirdo sludge in the spirit of the Melvins with just the right touch of riot grrrl rippage. Youd do right to hole yourself up for the rest of the winter in a basement filled with drugs, Pop Tarts and Tiny Knives. Destroyer 666 Wildfire (Season of Mist) These Aussies are more metal than your granddads hip. This is fiery, traditional heavy metal in the spirit of what your uncle listened to. Wildfire mixes death metal with classic thrashheavy and hooky, and just enough Satanic verses to keep it from reaching too pure of ears. Hounds At Ya Back indeed. Twisted Sister Under the Blade David Bowie Station To Station Tiny Knives Black Haze VHOL Deeper Than Sky The Only Ones Even Serpents Shine Mark Lore makes dad jokes on Twitter. (Update: Since the original publication of this post, it has been repeatedly pointed out to me that what Ive said here does not qualify me as a Zionist. I think I constructed a good argument for why I am a kind of Zionist, but those who disagree have told mesome of them in no uncertain termsthat what Ive described here is better described as post-Zionism. I actually dont care what its called. I stand by what I wrote.) With the publication of my previous post (My Crisis of Zionism), I have had the pleasure of being called an idiot by Rabbi Daniel Gordis and many other names by many other people. This is what happens when we touch the third rail of Israel in the Jewish world today. One intelligent question Ive been asked is whether I am a Zionist any more or not? I believe that I am. Ill begin with a little history. The core idea behind Zionism was that the Jews needed a refuge. Given the horrors of antisemitism, Zionists believed that relief for the Jews could only be achieved by the creation of their own homeland. Suggestions for a location abounded, but the vast consensus was that it should be where it is now. So Zionism focused its aspirations on that land. Early Zionism, however, was not a movement that provided any kind of a unitary statist vision. In its early days many Zionists promoted a Jewish homeland that was nothing like the one that developed. Rabbi Judah Magnes, Martin Buber and Ahad Haam were among those who saw no way to justly establish an exclusively Jewish state. Theodor Herzl is considered the founder of political Zionism. Many criticized him for his lack of understanding of Jewish history or culture. The utopian nature of his novel, Altneuland, was probably a result of that. Nevertheless, it provides some insight into what the man whose picture hangs in every official Israeli building had in mind. And what he had in mind was a state that displayed the highest form of liberal universalism. He imagined it housing a celebrated international Peace Palace dedicated to the unity of all humanity. His novel also reminds us that he recognized the dangers inherent in building an ethnocracy. In one passage, he describes a hard-fought political battle between those who desired Jewish exclusivity and those who sought a more inclusive nation. Shlomo Avineri summed it up in a 2009 Haaretz column: One of the most fascinating aspects of the book is the description of the election campaign that was to have taken place in 1923. The campaign focused on the rights of the countrys non-Jewish inhabitants. Contrary to what is sometimes said of Zionismthat it ignored the existence of Arabs in the countrythe book reveals not only an awareness of the existence of the Arab population; the Jewish state is predicated on the concept that all its inhabitants, regardless of religion, race or gender, enjoy equal rights and the right to vote. These rights are extended not only to Arabs, but to women, though at the time the book was written no Western democracy had given women the vote. In the book, not only do the countrys Arabs have the right to vote, some of them serve in key posts. Among them is one of the novels heroes, an Arab engineer from Haifa named Rashid Bey. To use a term from our day, Herzl envisioned a state that would be both Jewish and democratic, both a Jewish nation state and a state of all its citizens. Herzls ideas did not come to fruition. Utopias never do. But wars are real and bloodshed definedand continues to definemuch of Israels psyche. We can argue all day about who should be blamed for these wars (would it surprise you to learn that I place most of the responsibility on the Arab world?) but the wars happened and continue to occur and, moreover, much of my disappointment in Israel has absolutely nothing to do with the conduct of these wars. I am not naive about the dangers facing Israel. No, my disappointments about Israel are grounded in the kinds of things that are either not related (or only tangentially so) to what its enemies have wrought. Im talking about things like the way it treats its own citizens and those who have come under its control. No threat to Israel justifies this. Most have little to do with the actual Arab-Israeli or Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The list is long. Each of these items can and have filled up entire books. It includes policies of discrimination in all of these areas: the mobility and housing of non-Jewish citizens; the unjust distribution of national resources among Jewish and Arab population centers; the absence of a neutral state authority to deal with marriage, divorce or even burial (resulting in a ban on intermarriage between Jews and others and even a ban on intermarriage between some Jews); the assignment of national classifications for people (such as Jewishness) on the basis of lineage or religious standards (in the Jewish case Orthodox standards) rather than by voluntary association; the consequent determination of obligations and opportunities of citizenship on the basis of these national classifications of Jew, Arab and so forth, and the withholding of the right to determine ones own identity or affiliate with any or no cultural or religious heritage; the consequent negation of any kind of meaningful unified nationality as defined by citizenship; and the privileging of immediate immigration rights solely for those defined as Jews by nationality, even for those Jews immigrating from countries where being Jewish poses no threat or impediment. (Ironically, Jews eligible for immediate immigration include those not of matrilineal descent as long as any rabbi confirms them as Jews. Their unequal treatment begins only after theyve immigrated.) Anyone who wants to know more about many of these issues might peruse the report prepared by the U.S. State Departments Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor during the second term of President George W. Bush, no less. So what about the occupation? Isnt that what most of the world is up in arms about when it comes to Israel? I am less concerned by the fact of occupation (given that I believe that Israel acquired those territories in a legitimate defensive war) than I am about the settlement policies and programs that ensued. Even those who believe that a two-state arrangement with the Palestinians is a death sentence for Israela popular argument these days and one that is also the position of most ministers in Israels governmentcannot honestly claim security concerns to justify Israels settlement policy. There are settlements that were established with security in mind, particularly those along the Green Line or the Jordan River. I cant really say whether these really do provide security. Im not a military strategist. But even if this is the case, security claims do not justify hundreds of thousands of settlers taking up residence deep inside areas of Palestinian Arab populations. If anything, those are a threat to Israels security (as has been pointed out by many of its own security officials throughout the years). I think its pretty clear that those settlements were motivated not by security concerns, but by messianic religio-cultural considerations similar to Americas shameful idea of Manifest Destiny. Why would we denounce that racist American policy, a product of a more primitive time, while turning our backs on Israels present-day version? Have we learned nothing? At the same time that Israel has invested huge sums to build infrastructure and housing for Jews in these territories, it has done virtually nothing to improve the lives of Palestinian Arabs living there. Take Jerusalem, for example. I certainly would never advocate for a re-division of the city into pre-1967 boundaries. An international border dividing an ancient lane in the Old City is a silly and unworkable idea. I agree with those who say that Israels security does depend to a very great extent on a peaceful and sensibly bounded Jerusalem. Thats no more than an acknowledgment of political and geographical realities. Yet Ive noticed over the years that security is not really the stated motivation for whats happened in Jerusalem. Rather, Israelisand many Jews throughout the worldcite a religious vision of Jerusalems unity. I cannot count the number of times Ive heard some biblical justification or another. Perhaps the most popular comes from Psalms (122:2-3): Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem; Jerusalembuilt as a city that is bound firmly together. Bound firmly together?! Jerusalem is many things, but bound firmly together is not one of them. East Jerusalem bears no resemblance to the western side. Investment in its infrastructure is virtually nonexistent. Resources are anything but fairly distributed throughout the city. Palestinian Jerusalemites live in a completely different world than its Jewish residents. None of this was necessary. Sure, some of it could have been remedied by Jerusalems Palestinians accepting Israeli citizenship and using the power of the ballot box to change things. But Israeli negligence of the area cannot be blamed on Palestinians refusal to vote. Doing the right thing should guide decisions about how to run a city or a country, not political power. Thats called morality. So, the conflict notwithstanding, I refuse to believe that during fifty years of controlling the West Bank and the Palestinian areas of Jerusalem, Israelis could not have invested serious energy in creating policies and programs that actually improved the lives of their residents. They did not do so because they did not wish to do so. And they did not wish to because what they really cared about was their settlement policy. Among my critics were those who commented that I should not view Israel through the lens of what Likud has made of it. To those people I would like to point out that none of the above was created by Likud alone. It is true that today the Likud and its several allies are not helping Israel to grow into a healthy liberal democracy. One example of this is the new McCarthyist atmosphere created by the likes of government ministers Naftali Bennett and Miri Regev with their loyalty oaths and hyper-nationalist educational and cultural policies. These outrage me, but they also leave many Israelis exasperated and I dont think that they represent the entire nation. Israels current president is no leftist, but he manages to convey a completely different tone than these people and hes been rightly praised for it. So where does that leave me? Am I a Zionist? There exists no agreed-upon definition of what constitutes Zionism. Thus my view that a free and more universally-minded nationone that can honor its roots in the need to provide refuge for Jews while equally respecting its many cultures and the freedom of its citizens to identify with any or none at allcan still be called Zionism. If this Zionism exists, then I am a Zionist. But I do not support the kind of Zionism that uses the power of the state to sanction and preserve Jewish power structures and the resulting inequities. I do not support the kind of Zionism that employs the power of the state to promote a mission of defining or preserving Jewish peoplehood. I do not support the kind of Zionism that envisions a Jewish state from the river to the sea, its other inhabitants be damned. Daniel Gordis, who called me an idiot for what I wrote in my previous post, believes that Israel exists in order to promote Judaism, a form of identity that only aligns with some of its citizens (and not even particularly well for most of them). Thats not the direction in which the free world is moving. People dont feel allegiance to or identify with a state that promotes an official policy of alienating them. I always find it strange that the same liberal American Jews who (rightly) say that America should not privilege Christians or Christianity have no problem with Israel doing the same for Jews and Judaism. Of course, I do hear them express their unhappiness about the privileging of Orthodox Judaism. But they dont seem to get all that worked up about the twenty percent of Israels citizens who are ridiculed for not singing its national anthem. To most Zionists, Israeli Palestinian Arabs are a nuisance at best, a disloyal fifth column at worst. Many people choose to ignore all of these things and simply point to Israels accomplishments. This is particularly sad because when people go to great lengths to emphasize Israels many accomplishments, they are actually making my argument. The proof of what Israel is actually capable of doing when people there set their minds to it can be found in these accomplishments. They are not insignificant. But while Israelis rightly take pride in them, they fail to see the ways in which their accomplishments underscore their failings. Things could have been different. Having now declared myself a certain kind of extraordinarily disillusioned and saddened Zionist, I want to conclude by explaining why I still feel connected to Israel at all. Because I do. A great deal. My first reason is that Israel is the cradle of the Jewish experience. It is true that the evolution of most religious and secular forms of Judaism and Jewish identities took place outside of the land. Its also true that most Jews under every circumstance have had some sort of connection to the place. How could this be any different when our most ancient literature is so intimately bound to events described there? The second (and more relevant) reason for my feeling of connection lies in the objective reality that Israel is an important center of world Jewry. Millions of Hebrew-speaking Jews live there. Many wonderful paths to Jewish identity are being developed there (with no need of government promotion). Nowhere else does there exist such a concentration of Jewish creativity. All of this contributes to the ongoing relevance of the place in my life and the lives of many other Jews. But it is not my country and I do not support its misguided and manufactured efforts to promote Jewish peoplehood or Jewish identity, not within its own borders and certainly not outside of them. If Israel seeks a worthy mission, let it focus on becoming a nation dedicated to complete and unequivocal justice and impartiality for all of those under its control. Let it be a nation where the only nationality that matters is Israeli and where no person or community receives preferential treatment on account of lineage. Let it adopt as its true mission the creation of a society where all people may exercise the right to choose their own religion or communities of association without interference by the state. Finally, let it work to create peace with its neighbors or, at the very least, cease placing so many obstacles in the path of a future peace by the expropriation and settlement of disputed land and the unjust treatment of those who lived there before 1967. If these ideas represent any kind of a Zionist dream, then I am a Zionist. Patna: Janata Dal U legislator Sanjay Singh, who has been designated by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to go after the opposition with full force at the sign of even the slightest criticism, may have crossed the line of decency when he said that the two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and one Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leaders who were shot to death in the past few weeks deserved to be killed as they were the 'burden on earth'. "Who were these people? We all know they were criminals and 'burdens on earth'," Singh said justifying the murders of BJP state Vice President Visheshwar Ojha who was shot and killed in Bhojpur district on February 12, BJP leader Kedar Singh, who was gunned down in Saran district on February 11, and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Brijnath Singh who was also shot and killed by his political enemies in Vaishali district on February 5. Singh's justification for political murders came after the BJP leaders raised the question of declining law and order situation in Bihar since the formation of the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar nearly three months ago in the state Assembly on the opening day of the Budget Session. Incensed by the JD-U leader's comment, former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said that Singh's statement deserved to be condemned by all and Nitish Kumar should expel him from the party to save whatever reputation JD-U had been left with after joining hands with a party like Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). "Singh and Nitish Kumar should explain that if the three murdered NDA leaders were 'burden on the earth' then what RJD legislator from Nawada Raj Ballabh Yadav was. As recalled, Yadav is accused of raping a 15-year old girl who has been running from the law after being positively identified by his victim. "Nitish Kumar and Sanjay Singh can deny all they want but the truth is Yadav, a rapist, is being protected by the Chief Minister and Lalu Prasad Yadav. Police would have caught him by now had he not been protected and sheltered by the Nitish government. Defenders of Democracy Turn To An Awkward Ally: Saudi Arabia 02/27/16 By Ali Gharib (source: LobeLog) So desperate to punish Iran are the hawks of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies that theyre willing to partner with one of the least democratic countries on earth to get it done. In an op-ed in the neoconservative opinion pages of the Wall Street Journal, FDDs executive director Mark Dubowitz and senior fellow David Weinberg are positively giddy about what Saudi Arabia has to offer in the way of defending democracies. Its, at first blush, a strange alliance, but not when one considers either FDDs monomania and the geopolitics surrounding Iran. Dubowitz and Weinberg, under the headline Where Obama Fails on Iran Sanctions, the Gulf States Can Step In, posit that Saudi Arabia and its allies have potent financial weapons they can deploy against Iran. They note that the sectarian war between the Sunni and Shiite states-read: Saudi and Iran and their allies-is intensifying militarily and that Saudi Arabia already cut off commercial and travel ties to Iran. So why not escalate things a little, huh? There are lots of ideas here: Saudi Arabia could make the financial players choose a side: They can have Riyadhs business or Tehrans, but not both-which is exactly what the US did as it imposed sanctions on Iran leading up to the nuclear talks, but without the thorny complication of America holding the moral high ground, or the chronological problem of the desired result of American sanctions (a diplomatic resolution to ensure Iran doesnt get nuclear weapons) having already been met. Saudi Arabia has also become the worlds largest importer of weapons. Dubowitz and Weinberg cited the sale by Airbus, the French company, of military helicopters to Saudi Arabia-to be sure, so that the Kingdom, the leader of the counter-revolution against the Arab Spring, can continue its own quest to defend democracy in the region. Some observers, they wrote, see this as a reward for the tough line that Paris adopted in the nuclear talks. Well thats just fine and dandy as a way to give a brutal and strategically inept dictatorship a bunch of expensive weapons all the while enriching Western arms manufacturers-no doubt two basic tenets of defending democracies-but its not clear how this is about Iran at all. If you think hard, though, you might find two pathways: Western democracies can defend themselves, for a change, by being bribed into opposing diplomatic openings with Iran and, more to the point, there exists here an opportunity to also squeeze companies hoping to do business with Iran. Airbus, the same company that just sold the Saudis those democracy-defending military helicopters, also just inked a deal with Iran to restock its civilian airliner fleet. Amid Western sanctions, the Iranian fleet had deteriorated and air travel had become unsafe-and what kind of democracy defenders would we be if we hoped that vacationing Iranian families stopped dying because of airplane crashes? The greatest financial lever, however, may be Riyadhs control over investment within Saudi Arabia. Its a good thing the FDD guys, despite being right-wingers, arent free-market ideologues, because what theyre saying is that, instead of letting money talk, politics should determine whose capital stream should flow into their state-controlled stock market and their state-controlled companies. Phew! What, in short, do the authors want? Because of Obamas purported fecklessness-actually a willingness to impose sanctions with the goal of rolling back Irans nuclear program, then a willingness to roll back sanctions when that goal is achieved-whats needed, were told, is economic warfare. Saudi Arabia may be more than willing to undertake these neoconservatives fight on their behalf, but the lionization of Saudi Arabia as the upright saviors of the policies demanded by a place purportedly dedicated to defending democracies is a bit rich. Its not, however, at all surprising. In the spirit of the enemy of my enemy is my friend, neocons these days embrace the Saudi kingdom pretty hard. Its difficult not to see this as part of, as John Judis once put it, FDDs bent as an organization dedicated intellectually and politically to the defense of one particular democracy-Israel. Israeli-Saudi ties, are of course, blossoming amid their mutual opposition to the Iran nuclear deal and their fear that it may portend closer ties between Tehran and the West. One might thus be forgiven for thinking its all about the monomaniacal hatred of Iran shared by the Israeli and Saudi powers-that-be. Now, on the part of pro-democracy advocates, that hatred might be entirely justified-despite Fridays elections, the Islamic Republic is not exactly a democracy, and its human rights record is pretty horrific. But it seems somewhat awkward for think-tankers purportedly dedicated to defending democracies to make such gleeful hay of the potential to have one of the worlds most retrograde dictatorships-indeed, the regional power most responsible for transforming the Arab Spring into the Arab Winter-as an ally in bludgeoning another one. About the Author: Ali Gharib is a New York-based journalist on U.S. foreign policy with a focus on the Middle East and Central Asia. His work has appeared at Inter Press Service, where he was the Deputy Washington Bureau Chief; the Buffalo Beast; Huffington Post; Mondoweiss; Right Web; and Alternet. He holds a Master's degree in Philosophy and Public Policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science. A proud Iranian-American and fluent Farsi speaker, Ali was born in California and raised in D.C. Apple suffered a legal setback on Friday, when an appeals panel reversed a $120 million patent win against Samsung handed down in 2014. The new decision [PDF(Opens in a new window)] found that two of the Apple patents in question are invalid, while a third wasn't actually infringed, according to Ars Technica(Opens in a new window), meaning Samsung no longer has to pony up that $120 million or change its product designs. The appeals judges found that Samsung did not infringe on Apple's '647 patent, which describes how to turn phone numbers into links, allowing people to call a number in one click. Jurors originally awarded Apple $98.7 million based on that patent. The appeals judges also struck down the decision on the '721 "slide to unlock" patent. The jury previously awarded Apple $3 million for that one. Also deemed invalid was Apple's '172 patent for its autocorrect feature. Apple's lawyers had originally claimed that Samsung copied Cupertino's method of implementing the feature. "Prior to the copying, the Samsung phones automatically corrected the typed text as the user typed," the appeals judges wrote, as Ars pointed out. "On the iPhone, the correction was made only after the user 'accepts or hits space.'" The judges found, however, that Apple's version is "exactly" what was disclosed in a so-called "Robinson" patent, which came before Cupertino's. Meanwhile, the decision brought even more good news for Samsung as the appeals judges upheld a verdict that Apple infringed on one of the Korean tech giant's patents related to camera systems and image compression. Apple was originally ordered to pay $158,400 for that infringement and that decision stands. This case is separate from an Aug. 2012 decision that awarded Apple $1.05 billion, a sum that has since been reduced to $548 million. Last year, Apple and Samsung agreed to drop all patent litigation outside of the States, leaving only U.S. cases to be fought in court. I've never met the guy, but my mental construct of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (or "Zuck" as I call him for short in my imagination) has gone through some wild transformations over the past decade. Back in Facebook's early days, I saw him as a hoodie-clad college dropout on a quest to conquer the newly minted "social media" world with his beautifully minimalistic, hand-coded platform. Then, after suffering through some of the young CEO's awkward early public appearances(Opens in a new window), my admiration faltered, and I began to wonder if this kid stumbled into excellence. A little later, the stories arose about his sketchy-ish early business dealings(Opens in a new window) (which were even portrayed in a major Hollywood film(Opens in a new window). Perhaps you've seen it?). These tales, coupled with details of his (initial) devil-may-care approach to privacy(Opens in a new window), soured my portrait of Zuck. In my mind, he became just another ruthless Silicon Valley jerk driven by the pursuit of power. A little later, Facebook's IPO would finally transfer Zuck into the multi-billionaire he dreamed of becoming, and as far as I could tell, he spent his free time and money pursuing completely unnecessary rich guy challenges(Opens in a new window). I hope he had fun with all that. But over the past year or so, my view of Zuck has taken yet another turn. I've been particularly intrigued by the public conversations Zuck has initiated that eschew the normal don't-rock-the-boat public face of most chief executives. Whether these proclamations of decency are calculated, genuine, or even self-initiated, my new view of Zuck is of a man who publicly advocates for human progress. This advocacy streak was materialized most recently in Zuck's scolding of his overwhelmingly white staff(Opens in a new window) about the repeated defacing of "Black Lives Matter" notes on a wall in the company's headquarters with the all-too-often spouted retort of "all lives matter." In response, Zuck wrote an internal memo which stated, in part, how "I was very disappointed by this disrespectful behavior before, but after my communication I now consider this malicious as well." He went on to say "'Black lives matter' doesn't mean other lives don'tit's simply asking that the black community also achieves the justice they deserve." Good on you, Zuck. While this type of communication may, on its face, seem like a CEO attempting to save his company from potentially sticky HR problem, it also shows a genuine appreciation for the greater issue. This idea is further reinforced when taken in context of other recent public stances. You can start to appreciate a pattern. One missive that particularly caught my attention was a note from December of last year(Opens in a new window) published in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris and the growing refugee crisis. The note was specifically targeted towards the Muslim community, which was facing a rhetorical (and occasionally violent) blowback throughout the West. In the post, he wrote: After the Paris attacks and hate this week, I can only imagine the fear Muslims feel that they will be persecuted for the actions of others. As a Jew, my parents taught me that we must stand up against attacks on all communities. Even if an attack isn't against you today, in time attacks on freedom for anyone will hurt everyone. If you're a Muslim in this community, as the leader of Facebook I want you to know that you are always welcome here and that we will fight to protect your rights and create a peaceful and safe environment for you. Yet another recent Zuckism that caught my attention took place within the confines of a Facebook post detailing his latest annual challenge: to build "a simple AI to run my home." While that goal is a cool little billionaire hobby, I was personally touched by the conversation which occurred below the fold. As he often does on his posts, Zuck takes a few minutes to respond to questions and comments in the reply section. One grandmother replied(Opens in a new window) (sic) "I keep telling my grand daughters to Date the nerd in school, he may turn out to be a Mark Zuckerberg!..." In response, Zuck wrote "Even better would be to encourage them to 'be' the nerd in their school so they can be the next successful inventor!" The response spawned the ensuing hashtag #BeTheNerd. It could be that these recent positions are strictly calculated business decisions meant to enhance the scope of a company that offers a product internationally. Profit by inclusion. I don't even know if these posts are penned by Zuckerberg himself or by a talented ghost writer he keeps on staff. For all I know, these positions could be the result of years of focus-grouping, designed to pinpoint things that will appeal to tech writers to inspire them to write positive stories. Regardless of whether there's any smoke and mirrors involved, the result has been an evolution in my own personal imagining of Zuck. And for the first time in a while, I've become very interested in where he'll go next. Augmented reality is tough. Google couldn't quite make it work with its Google Glass deviceor, at least, could never reach a combination of amazing technology and popular appealand now Toshiba is seemingly learning a similar lesson. According to reports, the company is officially scrapping its Wearvue TG-01 wearable device a few days before the first shipments were supposed to go out. The move comes but six weeks or so after Toshiba initially announced the device, which looks a bit like a cruder version of Google Glass. A tiny, secondary screen attached to the right side of the glasses' frame supplements one's view with extra data, text, and images depending on how one is using the device. Odds are good, though, that most people wouldn't have likely used it, as Toshiba was marketing the Wearvue TG-01 as a business wearablesomething you'd use, say, in the factory, or in some other environment where having hands-free access to information is most helpful. According to Toshiba's initial announcement, the Wearvue TG-01 would need to be connected to a Windows device to functionpresumably something like a smartphone or a small tablet. The device's official SDK was supposed to launch on the same day the glasses started shipping, February 29. These glasses were allegedly just the start of Toshiba's push into business hardware, and it's now unclear just what Toshiba's aims might be going forward. "Toshiba will further promote developing glasses-type wearable type devices product that assist work environment, that is applicable for contribute to upgrading working environment for various industries and services," read its announcement(Opens in a new window) at the time. According to a Toshiba spokesperson, the company ended up scrapping the Wearvue TG-01 as a result of a new refocusing effort, which kicked off in December, that calls for more strategic investments in Toshiba's new product developments. The Wearvue TG-01 was allegedly fairly popular, which is why Toshiba waited until the final hour to kill it for good. "The company sincerely regrets any inconvenience that this decision may cause customers who had made on-line reservations and those who had taken interest in Wearvue TG-1," reads a new announcement from Toshiba(Opens in a new window). Toshiba's current belt-tightening comes in the wake of its announcement this past September(Opens in a new window) that it had overstated its earnings across the previous several years by around $1.9 billion. This not only sent the company's stock price spiraling downward, but it got the attention of Japanese regulators, too, who have since proposed record-setting fines(Opens in a new window) for the company. Three people were stabbed, one with a flagpole, and 12 people were arrested during a brawl Saturday, Feb. 27, between self-described Ku Klux Klan members and counter-protesters at an Anaheim park, police said. Initially arrested were five Klan members four men and a woman and seven counter-protesters five men, a male juvenile and a woman. Seven people were booked in the Anaheim jail on assault or abuse charges. Police are seeking one additional suspect who can be seen in a video of the altercation punching a Klansman. Ive lived in Anaheim my whole life and I have never heard of anything like this, said Anaheim resident Joe Castaneda, who saw the melee break out. The confrontation occurred about noon after a group of six KKK members showed up at Pearson Park, a witness said. Klan leaders earlier this week announced their intention to hold a rally there, and a group of about 30 counter-protesters were waiting for them. One of the counter-protesters was stabbed with the decorative end of a flagpole, said Anaheim police Sgt. Daron Wyatt. An officer responding to the scene saw one of the Klansmen stab a counter-protester with a knife. The Klansman admitted to stabbing the man, but told the officers that it was self-defense, Wyatt said. The counter-protesters and the Klansmen briefly had words before the fight began, Castaneda said. He said the counter-protesters were telling the Klansmen that they werent welcome in the community and to get out. He couldnt hear what the Klansmen were saying. Some words were exchanged and that is pretty much when the fight began, Castaneda said. The Klansmen were badly outnumbered, Castaneda said, forcing most of them to get back into a black SUV and try to flee. They left three Klansmen behind. It was just the three of them against a whole crowd, Castaneda said. At one point, Castaneda said, one of the Klansmen lunged at him with the flagpole, but backed away after Castaneda stepped back and showed the man a cane he uses to walk. The men were wearing military type clothing, Castaneda said. They were definitely dressed up (for) the occasion. The man stabbed by the flag pole was taken to a hospital in critical condition, Wyatt said, but his condition later improved. The second stabbing victim suffered lesser injuries. The extent of injuries for the third victim, found in a vehicle on Lemon Street, was not clear. All victims are expected to survive. Warning: The following video contains graphic footage. Anaheim police on Friday sent a Twitter message out telling the community that they were aware of the planned KKK rally. The message noted that several other rallies have occurred over the past few years, with a small group of Klansman passing out literature and holding signs. Counter-protesters had been at the park since early Saturday morning awaiting the rally, according to a witness who had been there since 9 a.m. You could feel the pulsing energy. I know that people were watching the street to see when the Klansmen would show up, said Melodye Shore of Laguna Niguel, who was observing the protest with a friend. As soon as they saw that van, they were just all over it. She said police response was not immediate. I would think that they would be a physical presence, considering that they did know that there was a planned activity, she said. They should have been right there. But no, it took awhile. I had time to take a bunch of pictures before the police showed up. Anaheim police said in a news release they had a contingent of officers dedicated to the event. Those officers were on scene immediately as the violence erupted and called for additional personnel, according to the statement. By mid-afternoon Saturday, most of the protesters were gone, with a group of about two-dozen park visitors remaining to watch police go over the portion of Cypress Street where the conflict occurred. Wyatt said police are seeking video footage of the melee. We know there were all kinds of people out here with video, and we need that, he said. He asked witnesses to call Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-847-6227. Staff writer Samuel Mountjoy contributed to this report. Like the opening sequence of TVs Mission: Impossible, where agents tape-recorded assignments will self-destruct in five seconds, the Apple iPhone is programmed to self-destruct all of its data after 10 attempts to guess a password. Who knew Apple had programmed such a poison pill into the newer versions of its coveted smartphone? Ever since a federal judge ordered Apple to unlock the cell phone of one of the San Bernardino terrorist shooters so the data doesnt self-destruct as investigators attempt to open it, not a day has gone by without another fascinating revelation in the case. At first blush, complying with the judges order to unlock Syed Rizwan Farooks seemed like a no-brainer. Of course public safety demands we find out if Farook and his wife were plotting with other terrorists who might still be out there threatening American lives. Of course Apple should help the FBI find out whats on that iPhone. Right? Youd think. If terrorists, drug traffickers or murderers can plot secretly on their iPhones, knowing their conspiracies will never be revealed, is that something society really wants? Doesnt that make Apple complicit in criminal plots? Isnt Apple than an enabler of law-breakers? Moreover, if a search warrant allows the government to enter your home, why shouldnt a court-approved search warrant allow the government to enter your iPhone? Is the phone more sacred than the home? Of course, if a physical door isnt willingly opened, government agents can break it down. They cant break open an iPhone by force. Should Apple have created a phone that can never be unlocked, even with a lawful order? It has created a Frankenstein monster no one even Apple can control. Such musings push opinion in favor of the government and against Apple. Unfortunately, its not that simple. In spite of my own strong feelings that the Silicon Valley firm should help the government in this single case the public conversation has given me serious second thoughts. Apples lawyer, former U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson, warned that the government cant be trusted to use the key only once, should Apple be forced to turn it over. Despite the FBIs promises that it wants the key only for Farooks phone, it would use it again and again in future cases, Olson is quoted as telling CBS. Unlocking Farooks cell phone alone doesnt seem like an intrusive request. Farook died in a bloody shootout after police cornered him and his wife/accomplice hours after the shootings. He has no privacy rights. The phone didnt belong to Farook anyway; it belongs to San Bernardino County, which wants to help the FBI open it. To a non-techie, the court order seemed simple. Apple wouldnt have to give the FBI the key, just open the phone, then let FBI investigators do their jobs. Right? Wrong, apparently. As court filings have revealed, Apple would have to write new code to unlock the impenetrable software Apple created. Can the government compel Apple to write new code? Imagine if someone came to your workplace and held a gun to your head, ordering you to do work your employer never assigned. That would be a dangerous precedent, if the USA is to continue to be free. Journalists are no strangers to attempts by governments to co-opt their work. On occasion, reporters have cracked cases the government hasnt solved. And on occasion, government tries to take a shortcut by grabbing the reporters work. That would turn reporters into agents of the government, if news organizations didnt fight it. Theres good reason the First Amendment and shield laws forbid it. Apple is trying to use the same shield the First Amendment to resist the governments attempts to force it to break into Farooks phone. Writing code, its argument goes, is like writing anything else, and is protected. Some thorny questions remain, such as, could this impasse have been prevented? Why didnt the county install and activate the software it bought to prevent its employees from locking the county out of its own phones? County officials say that was up to each department; Farooks department didnt do it. I think we can all agree it should have been mandatory. Apple has criticized the FBI and the county for failing to ask Apple for guidance before resetting the password the day after the attack. Responding to the criticism, the county last week said it reset the password with the FBIs help in order to access data that had been backed up to the iCloud. Now the FBI wants data that wasnt backed up, the statement said. Apple says the dilemma should be solved not by the courts but by Congress. Can this gridlocked Congress act? Why should this divisive issue achieve compromise when few others can in these partisan times? A final puzzlement is Apples contention that hacking into Farooks phone will open a Pandoras box that would threaten other iPhones privacy. Does Apple think hackers will never crack the iPhone security wall, if Apple doesnt do it itself? What does experience teach about such hubris? Of course, the whole effort may be in vain. Farooks county phone may contain no relevant data. The Farooks smashed their personal cell phones before they died in a blaze of gunfire. Wouldnt they have smashed his work phone if it held anything incriminating? One thing is clear: Apple protects the iPhones privacy with extraordinary zeal. One can only wish health care providers, retailers and other keepers of our personal data would protect it half as zealously. Contact the writer: 951-368-9470 or cmacduff@pressenterprise.com America is facing a national caregiver crisis, and, here in Riverside County, we are not immune from the strain this is placing on our community and our loved ones. It is well documented that Americans are living longer and in better health than ever before. Today, about 11 percent of our country is 65 or older, and in just two decades one in every five Americans will be elderly. Sophisticated medical technologies, healthy lifestyle habits and new drug discoveries allow adults to lead active and productive lives well into their 80s and 90s, with the number of centenarians growing daily. Professional caregiver is typically a low-wage, high-turnover position with long, unpredictable hours and often lacks opportunity for advancement, insurance coverage or other benefits. That leaves little incentive for new workers to pursue this vocation. This confluence of the aging of America and fewer people entering the profession has resulted in a growing shortage of qualified caregivers just when our society needs them the most. Family members valiantly attempt to fill the gap as many families are simply unable to afford professional help, lack the awareness of where to turn or are merely unable to find someone who matches their need. The result is that, according to the National Family Caregivers Association, there are more than 65 million people across the United States who spend an average of 20 hours per week providing care for a chronically ill, disabled or elderly family member or friend. But spending days and nights caring for a loved one can take a heavy physical and mental toll on those delivering the care. The result is a household that now finds itself with two ailing adults, challenged with not only their physical illnesses but suddenly needing assistance with such normal daily activities as transportation, grocery shopping, cooking and bathing. And, while families could once count on having four or more children nearby to share the care of their elderly parents, todays families are smaller and more dispersed. Fortunately, some commonsense solutions can be found. First, our society should encourage and support caregiving through creating incentives for family caregivers and better training and professionalization of the vocation. Second, we should make caregiving more available through expansion of the concept of adult daycare. And third, we need to do a better job of educating society on caregiving itself its availability and its benefits to seniors, their loved ones and society at large. Local health plans and, in particular, Medicare Advantage Plans, have a role to play, too, by making sure that they offer a comprehensive case management approach that truly provides value to seniors in need. And we should make sure that every community has a local online one-stop-shopping directory that provides caregivers with information on community resources, health and social organizations, caregiver support groups, etc. By collectively focusing on this very real crisis and implementing remedies that make sense, we can send a clear and important message that our society recognizes and values the vital role caregivers play in making our communities whole. Chris Wing is CEO of SCAN Health Plan, one of the largest nonprofit Medicare Advantage plans. Community invited to Shabbat meal at Temple Beth Am SAN JACINTO Temple Beth Am, a Reform Jewish congregation, will participate in Shabbat Across America on Friday. A news release says Shabbat Across America encourages synagogue members to invite friends, neighbors and co-workers to a Shabbat meal. Temple Beth Am is hosting a potluck. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with dinner to start after sundown, at about 6:50. Participants are asked to email Howard Feigenbaum at feigenbaum@sbcglobal.net or call the synagogue at 951-445-0502 to RSVP. Church to host pair of concerts CALIMESA Calimesa Seventh-day Adventist Church will host two concerts in March, part of the Calimesa Community Concert Series. Trumpeter and recording artist Chiz Rider will present traditional and contemporary Christian music at 7 p.m. March 5. The second concert, 6 p.m. March 19, features Pro Deo, a choir and string ensemble that will perform traditional hymns and contemporary worship music. A free-will offering will be accepted at each concert. The church is at 391 Myrtlewood Drive. Recorded information: 909-795-4960. Church to host mission visitor RIVERSIDE Tim Staples from Catholic Answers will present a Lenten mission at St. Catherine of Alexandria Church, 3680 Arlington Ave., for three nights, 7-9 p.m. Monday-Wednesday. The free event will be simultaneously translated in Spanish. Sign language interpretation is available upon prior request. Information: Olivia Wiseman at 951-781-9855, ext. 25 or owiseman@stcofa.org. food bank available RIVERSIDE Salvation Christian Ministries operates a food bank 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. every second and fourth Friday. Eggs, meat, bread and other items are available. Shoppers are asked to bring their own bags and boxes and make a donation of $20. Salvation Christian Ministries is at 317 W. La Cadena Drive. Information: 951-683-2840. screening of Harvest America MENIFEE Revival Christian Fellowship will host a live telecast of Harvest America with Greg Laurie from AT&T Stadium in Texas from 6 to 8:15 p.m. March 6. The church is at 29220 Scott Road. Information: 951672-3157. Contact the writer: community@pressenterprise.com Canyon Lake could have its sixth city manager in four years when the City Council will consider hiring veteran municipal administrator Aaron Palmer on Wednesday. In a recent closed session, council members agreed on Palmer as their favored candidate to manage the agency overseeing the city of about 11,000 residents. Mayor Tim Brown described Palmer as level-headed, experienced with public safety issues (and he) understands what it means to have five bosses. City Councilwoman Dawn Haggerty said Palmer was chosen from among at least seven applicants. She said his most recent employment was as the equivalent of a city manager in Highland City, Utah. He returned to Northern California last year for family reasons, Haggerty said. Palmer previously served as a governmental analyst in San Bernardino, San Carlos and Big Bear Lake before being hired in 2007 as Adelantos deputy city manager, where stayed for six years until moving to Utah. The Canyon Lake job became open with the decision of Interim City Manager and City Clerk Ariel Hall to relocate with her family. Hall announced in January she would be leaving, but agreed to stay until the managers post was filled. If the council approves Palmers contract, Hall will remain as city clerk temporarily while he organizes his staff. The city manager carrousel started spinning in May 2012 when council members decided against rehiring Lori Moss, City Halls boss for a half-decade. The council relied on two interim appointees until hiring Keith Breskin in February 2014. Breskin resigned a year later, apparently as a result of disagreements with some council members. The council put Hall in charge temporarily and, according to Brown, was willing to make it permanent. She guided the city through a crisis over fire and medical emergency services sparked by a dispute over costs imposed by Riverside County. The disagreement ended last fall with the negotiation of a one-year contract. Meanwhile, the city seeks to form its own fire department. Ariel has done a wonderful job and were sad to see that shes leaving, Brown said. The new city manager will receive a salary between $120,000 to $138,000 annually, plus benefits. Contact the writer: 951-368-9690 or michaelwilliams The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department said it expects to be sued by an organization that is using the courts to bring about reforms in the states jails. The subjects of lawsuits rarely announce such legal action, but on Friday, Feb. 26, the Sheriffs Department, in what it described as a joint media advisory, said the Prison Law Office on Monday will file a class-action lawsuit in federal court alleging that the conditions in the county jails violate the U.S. constitution. The County of San Bernardino denies the allegations, but has been working with the Prison Law Office for more than a year to address the claims in the lawsuit, the advisory said. The County of San Bernardino and the Prison Law Office both fully expect that they will continue to work together to resolve the claims as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Sheriffs Lt. Brad Toms said the agency would answer questions about the lawsuit on Monday. A copy of the complaint was not available Friday. Kelly Knapp, a staff attorney with the Prison Law Office, confirmed Friday that the concerns include what the organization said in October that it found in an investigation in response to complaints from inmates: That jail staff were injuring prisoners through excessive force, discriminating against prisoners with disabilities, failing to provide adequate health care and failing to protect prisoners from violence from other prisoners. The county houses about 5,300 inmates. The lawsuit could cost the county millions of dollars if the outcome is similar to one involving Riverside County. That county in October tentatively settled litigation that challenged the quality of medical and mental health care for inmates in the countys five jails. The expense to improve health care for 3,900 inmates there was unknown, although the cost was expected to be in the millions of dollars. In May, Prison Law Office and Fresno County settled a lawsuit over health care, disability accommodations and protection from violencve. San Bernardino County is already defending itself against several federal civil-rights lawsuits alleging the mistreatment of inmates at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. Several deputies have already lost their jobs over the case. Creed (Rated PG-13 for violence, language and some sensuality, 2 hours and 13 minutes): When this film was announced, the idea of yet another Rocky movie felt a lot like having Ivan Drago punch me in the face. But first impressions were as wrong as they possibly could be. This new take on the underdog fighting his way to the top is good. Michael B. Jordan plays the son of Apollo Creed who gets Rocky Balboa to train him. Just how good is it? Good enough to get Sylvester Stallone nominated for an Academy Award. And hes the front-runner to win. Verdict: Rent it The Danish Girl (Rated R for some sexuality and full nudity, 1 hour and 19 minutes): Its that time of year when Academy Award- nominated films are released. This film is nominated for four, including best actor for Eddie Redmayne, who won last year for The Theory of Everything. The film tells the tale of Lili Elbes journey as a transgender pioneer. While not for everyone, the film is a must-see for the performances from Redmayne and Alicia Vikander, nominated for best supporting actress. Verdict: Rent it. Room (Rated R for language, 1 hour and 58 minutes): Another film and another set of Oscar nominations. Room follows a woman who was kidnapped and held for years in a small, confined room much like the Jaycee Dugard story. After years, she decides to escape with her young child. Brie Larson is nominated for best actress for her work and is the frontrunner. The film is nominated for four Oscars, including best picture. Verdict: Its a tough subject, so that decision is on you. The Night Before (Rated R for drug use and language throughout, some strong sexual content and graphic nudity, 1 hour and 41 minutes): Seth Rogen is back playing a lovable loser stoner who gets into trouble. The sad part is he somehow dragged Anthony Mackie and Joseph Gordon-Levitt into this mess. Verdict: Pass. Contact the writer: 951-368-9342, tguy@pressenterprise.com or on Twitter: @timwguy The union that was recently dropped at Corona Regional Medical Center has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, contending the hospital used threats, surveillance, and backroom dealings to thwart bargaining efforts. The board received the complaint from the United Nurses Association of California/Union of Health Care Professionals on Monday, Feb. 22, alleging the hospital used coercive actions, statements and promises of benefits to stymie contract bargaining, labor board records show. Corona Regional CEO Mark Uffer declined Friday, Feb. 26, to comment in detail on the allegations. Our stance is there is no union here anymore, Uffer said. After a seven- to 12-week investigation, the labor boards regional director will decide whether to dismiss the case or issue the hospital a notice to appear before a judge, the labor board website states. A judge could order bargaining to continue. For more than a year, the two parties have not been able to reach a contract agreement. Penny Brown, a union-employed nurse who advocated for Corona workers during negotiations, said discussions focused on patient care issues. Brown alleged the hospital is sending nurses to other departments without verifying theyve received proper training, which could slow response times in an emergency. She also said the hospital management rejected calls for a patient care committee composed of five nurses and their managers that would meet for three hours each month to report issues affecting patient care and safety. Brown contends the hospitals current committee meets only the most basic requirement of the law and has no effect on day-to-day nursing care. Uffer called the unions allegations ridiculous, adding the hospital would never send nurses into departments they are unfamiliar with. He said nursing directors already conduct monthly meetings, chatting with employees about polices, and procedures, and patient experiences. The union has hindered bargaining more than its helped, Uffer said. For example, operating room nurses wanted to switch to a 10-hour workday, but union representatives wouldnt agree to it, he said. The nurses here are afraid, they dont want to be badgered anymore, Uffer said of the unions attempts to regain support, including passing out fliers in the hospital parking lot. Theyre saying how do we stop this? How do we get these people to leave us alone? Its not the first time the organizations have been ensnared in a legal battle. In January 2013, hospital nurses voted 155 to 116 to unionize. The hospitals parent company, Universal Health Services Inc., contested the votes legitimacy. Almost two years later, a group of five nurses elected by their colleagues started negotiating with the hospital. Denise Duncan, union president, has said the hospital has done everything in their power to deny nurses their voice. On Feb. 4, about 16 months after negotiations started, Uffer said employees came to him with signed cards from most of the 331 nurses, saying they wanted to leave the union. The votes were tallied by a third party, Uffer said. The count was not immediately available. Uffer would not say who verified the cards, adding that signatures were checked against employee documents. Tammie Rattray, a labor attorney representing Universal, wrote Feb. 4 that the cards had been verified and the hospital would withdraw recognition of the union effective immediately. Duncan said she still hasnt seen the cards, or any objective evidence that nurses no longer want the union. Contact the writer: 951-368-9644, poneill@pressenterprise.com, @PE_PatrickO Sentencing is scheduled April 8 for a 25-year-old Temecula man convicted of fatally stabbing a woman and wounding a female neighbor in unrelated incidents May 15, 2014, in Temecula. The prosecution tied Jonathan Kim, who lived with his parents, to the crimes by evidence that included kitchen knives found near the crime scenes. Investigators found the same brand of knives missing from a set at his parents apartment, along with fingerprints and blood evidence. A Riverside County Superior Court jury convicted Kim on Wednesday after a trial at the Southwest Justice Center in French Valley. He was convicted in the murder of Wilysha Deziree Gardner, 21, of Temecula and sentencing enhancements of use of a weapon and lying in wait. He also was convicted in the attempted murder of Samantha Esslinger, 20, who had been stabbed about six hours earlier in her apartment, and enhancements of use of a weapon and great bodily injury, according to court records Gardner was found about 9 a.m. in a pool of blood in an upstairs hallway in a house on Nellie Court, near Margarita and Winchester roads. During his opening statement, Deputy District Attorney Daniel DeLimon said Kim went on a killing spree to get unsuspecting and vulnerable women. Esslinger survived because the single knife wound narrowly missed her carotid artery and jugular vein. The prosecutor said that Kim called Gardner 20 minutes after the first attack on Milky Way Drive but that they didnt meet until hours later, when she picked him up and took him to her home about 3 miles away. Kims defense attorney, Brian Cosgrove, told jurors in his opening statement that Gardner was in the business of prostitution. He said his client had committed impulsive, random acts, not well thought out actions as characterized by the prosecutor. Cosgrove said the defendants father knew his son was mentally ill and had tried to get him help. A neighbor followed Kim from Nellie Court, and sheriffs deputies caught him outside a nearby Lowes hardware store. Contact the writer: 951-368-9075 or gwesson@pressenterprise.com We have written in these pages about how the Americans with Disabilities Act has been used by unscrupulous lawyers and serial litigants to shake down businesses for thousands of dollars over such minor violations as hanging a bathroom mirror a fraction of an inch too high or allowing the handicapped symbol painted on a parking space to fade too much. In recent years, this unfortunate trend has spread to technical violations of state labor laws. The latest vehicle for these extortionist lawsuits is the Private Attorney General Act, signed into law in 2004, which allows employees to directly sue their employers for Labor Code violations. In a recent op-ed column, Assemblywoman Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, explains how attorneys file class-action cases with the Labor and Workforce Development Agency under PAGA, which has less stringent procedural requirements, then file the lawsuit with the state courts if the agency does not launch its own investigation within 33 days, which happens in most cases. While complaints usually allege wage statement errors or failures to offer meal breaks, these accusations are only used as a pretense to get a judge to give an attorney permission to troll through a companys books looking for Labor Code violations, no matter how insignificant. Ms. Grove recounted the story of Bakersfield business owner Larry Jenkins, who faced a $14.5 million lawsuit because he offered his employees a bonus for working safely, but neglected to include the bonus rate in the regular pay rate he used to calculate his employees overtime pay. As the arbitrator in the case candidly admitted to him, This is Californias legal way of extortion. Mr. Jenkins eventually settled the case for $1.5 million, but has had enough of Californias anti-business, litigation-happy environment. He, like so many others, is planning to move his business to Texas. As this case illustrates, such lawsuit abuse has real costs: Jobs are lost, economic growth is stunted, some businesses are forced to shut down, and some owners get fed up and move. California must put an end to this litigious exploitation if it is to stop its self-imposed bleeding of jobs and productivity to friendlier climes. A 22-year-old inmate firefighter died a day after a large rock struck her as she battled a brush fire in Southern California, corrections officials said Friday. Shawna Lynn Jones, 22, was taken by helicopter to UCLA Medical Center with major head injuries Thursday after she was hit by a rock that fell about 100 feet from the hillside above her, said Inspector Randall Wright of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. She was taken off life support after her organs were donated, as her family requested, said Bill Sessa, a spokesman with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The Sheriffs Department said it was reviewing the circumstances of Jones death. She died fighting a 10-acre fire in the Santa Monica Mountains above Malibu during an unusually summerlike Southern California winter that has increased the danger of wildfires. The fire was reported before dawn Thursday in an area of rugged slopes and peaks several miles inland from the luxury estates along the Malibu coast. Jones was housed at a firefighting facility that is one of five jointly operated with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The Malibu facility is one of three statewide that house a total of 195 female firefighters. They are among about 3,500 male and female inmate firefighters statewide who use hand tools to cut containment lines to stop the spread of wildfires. Jones is the third inmate firefighter to die on a fire line since the nations oldest and largest inmate firefighting program began in 1943. The previous two were on June 27, 1990, southwest of Hemet near what is now Diamond Valley Lake. Department of Corrections inmate-firefighters Aaron Perry, 30, and Victor Ferrera, 22, died of burns when a wind change fanned the Simpson fire that charred 150 acres. Her death is a tragic reminder of the danger that inmate firefighters face when they volunteer to confront fires to save homes and lives, Corrections Secretary Scott Kernan said in a statement offering condolences to her family. She was a Los Angeles County jail inmate who joined the firefighting program in August 2015. Officials say she was behind bars for drug possession. The Associated Press and Staff Writer Gail Wesson contributed to this report. CORRECTION: Amul Patels name was misspelled in a previous version of this article. Growing up in a San Bernardino motel, where he prayed and played in the familys spartan front room, a lonely and introverted Sanjay G. Patel escaped into superhero fantasies. On Sunday, Patel will only be a little more than 60 miles from his childhood home but worlds away, attending the 88th Academy Awards at the lavish Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The director is up for the best animated short Oscar for Sanjays Super Team, a seven-minute film inspired by his upbringing and his relationship with his father. Patel is a rarity among nominees in a year where the Academys lack of diversity has been under fire. I really saw every day what it looked like to be desperate and poor. Families lived paycheck to paycheck and the sex workers had no other options, Patel said in a telephone interview from his office at Pixar in Emeryville. Because he witnessed first-hand how his own life could get worse, It instilled a strong urge in me to try hard. So much of that credit goes to my father and his endless self-sacrifice. Gopal, 76, and his wife Ramila Patel, 71, have lived there for nearly 36 years. It is where they brought up their sons, Sanjay, 41, and Amul, 45. And Sunday night, in that same understated beige motel room in northwest San Bernardino where North Mt. Vernon Avenue bends into El Cajon Boulevard, Sanjays father and mother will be watching the ceremony and praying to the Hindu deities. My son is a kind, good man, said Gopal Patel. I want him to win the trophy. Gopals shrine to the gods and the TV stand several feet apart at opposite sides of the room. Both have played prominent roles in Sanjays youth and in his film. Sanjays Super Team, which he directed for Pixar and accompanied full-length The Good Dinosaur, portrays the real-life cultural divide and reconciliation between father and son. Both characters are drawn with enormous, searching eyes, as though trying to unlock one anothers secrets. It opens with young Sanjay glued to his favorite superhero televised cartoon, Super Team, while Gopal Patel kneels close by, praying in a daily Hindu ritual called a puja. Young Patels father snaps off the TV, confiscates his sons action figure and forces him to meditate. Sanjay drifts into daydreams that explode into a sensational, ancient Hindu version of The Avengers, with the deities Vishnu, Durga and Hanuman as superheroes who vanquish an evil attacker. As Sanjay awakes from his reverie, a compassionate Gopal lets him resume his TV watching. Slowly dawns an understanding of his fathers religious devotion: Sanjay draws a picture of the Hindu gods protecting the cartoon heroes. The bond between father and son tightens as Sanjay begins to appreciate and grasp the importance of his Indian heritage and traditions. The film fades with an actual photograph of father and son. In separate interviews, Gopal and Sanjay shared stories of their immigrant struggles to fit in, to connect with American society and to one another. JOURNEY TO SAN BERNARDINO Gopal, seated in his shrine/TV living room at the Lido, said that his arranged marriage in 1967 to Ramila, both of them from Gujarat, India, started promisingly. Armed with a college degree in engineering, he landed a telecommunications job in England, where both sons were born. Soon after Amuls birth in Birmingham in 1971, young Ramila began suffering from severe mental problems. Family members pressured Gopal to move to California to be near Ramilas sister. I sacrificed my whole life for my family, he said. I had a good government job and a free house in England. Gopal crossed off Los Angeles as too expensive, instead buying and moving into the 11-room Lido Motel in October 1981. Built in 1940, the motel, trumpeted by a rusted sign, squats at a sharp curve on old Route 66 against a surreal backdrop of mountains, swaying palm trees, railroad tracks and a freeway overpass. Their sons shared the back bedroom off the kitchen. The living room/shrine/ TV room doubled as the Patels bedroom. Sanjay now lives in Oakland with author/editor Emily Haynes, his fiancee and Oscars date, and their 3-year-old son, Arjun Patel. During his childhood, no one talked about his mothers illness. There was no information or communication, Sanjay recalls. But that was the reality of how I grew up. Not until later did Sanjay realize that his heavily sedated mother in his dads care had schizophrenia. I escaped with art, cartoons and comics the way my dad escaped with his spirituality, Sanjay said. A dutiful, dreamy boy who wished his name were Travis, he lost himself playing with Transformers, watching Looney Tunes, reading Superman comics and drawing, but also participating in two half-hour daily prayer and meditation rituals with his father. My dad never got in my way, Sanjay said. He couldnt really parent because he was busy keeping a roof over my head. Although Sanjay liked to draw, hed never considered art as a career. Instead, he imagined choosing a more lucrative, safer path. I felt that I could get love and attention, if I drew, if I performed the magic trick, he remembers. And all through school, I won drawing competitions left and right. The districts art teachers nurtured, mentored, pushed and mothered Sanjay, while encouraging his talents. His second grade teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School gifted his family with a 200-page edition of collected Superman comics, At Arrowview Middle School, his teacher rescued me, pouring energy in me, he said. At San Bernardino High School, from which Sanjay graduated in 1992, his teacher treated him as a professional, no nonsense, all business, he said. But she also became a surrogate mom. She gave me her sons secondhand clothes and did things my mom couldnt do for me. Hes also grateful to his older brother Amul, whom Sanjay said stepped up as a surrogate parent, postponing his education to help their dad run the motel. Gopal said hes equally proud of Amul, now a successful entrepreneur living in Santa Monica. LIFE AFTER SAN BERNARDINO My life began when I walked away from home, Sanjay said. Buoyed by multiple scholarships and Gopals financial help, he studied animation at the Cleveland Institute of Art and then at the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia. Since Pixar Studios snapped him up in 1996 as an animator on A Bugs Life, hes worked on classics such as Toy Story 3, Monsters Inc. and The Incredibles. Sanjay has circled back to his roots, creating art, more graphic novels and picture books that depicted Hindu mythology through a modern pop style and storytelling. Intrigued, Pixars Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter asked Sanjay to tell his personal tale in an animated short. With Gopals blessing and many revisions, Sanjay and Pixar captured the cultural and generational clash with dignified characters who werent too cartoonish. Sanjay praises Lasseter and Pixar for taking on the films diversity, especially after critics slammed Hollywood and the Academy for slighting people of color in this years pool of nominees. Pixars risk paid off, Sanjay said, because so many fans thanked him for telling their story: Not only immigrants straddling traditional and American cultures, but people born here who feel alienated. Gopals approval means everything to Sanjay. The most recent movie his father had seen was The Sound of Music in London in 1965. Flown to Pixar Studios for the preview, Gopal bestowed another blessing on his son, praising Sanjays Super Team as superlative. They hugged, an emotional triumph for both. If he wins it wont change my life, Gopal said. Ill thank God. And Ill be very joyful, very proud of his success. Sanjay said hed never planned on an Oscar nomination. The news shocked, delighted and overwhelmed him. I realized that hey, its OK to express this side of my identity, he said. But as an introvert, its hard to have all that attention on me. I acknowledged the texts, calls and emails, but then, I needed to retreat and recharge. RELATED OSCARS: And the winners will be OSCARS: Are you ready? Try this quiz OSCARS: Will race controversy steal the show? Contact the writer: llucas@pressenterprise.com, 951-368-9559 Moreno Valley youths in mass dance event MORENO VALLEY Students from Sunnymeadows Elementary School were among thousands of fifth-graders from Southern California who took part in the 46th annual Blue Ribbon Childrens Festival on Feb. 17 in downtown Los Angeles. A news release says students attended a free performance at the Music Center and performed a hip-hop dance choreographed for them. Staff report RIVERSIDE The Rev. Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan, president of the Claremont School of Theology, will lecture on Asian American Biblical Interpretation: Asian and Asian American Hermeneutics and Approaches to Biblical Instruction for the Churches at 4 p.m. today. The free event is in the Troesh Conference Center in the Zapara School of Business at La Sierra University, 4500 Riverwalk Parkway. Amy Zahn TEMECULA In honor of the 119th birthday of the National PTA, the Temecula Valley Council of Parent Teacher Associations recently recognized outstanding PTA volunteers in the Temecula Valley Unified School District. A news release says Temecula Valley Council PTA President Rebecca Weersing presented awards to Ashleye Fu of Abby Reinke Elementary; Nancy Hays of Temecula Luiseno Elementary; Andrea Heim of Margarita Middle School; and Debbie Aleksak of James L. Day Middle School for their service to PTA and dedication to children. Staff report RANCHO CUCAMONGA Day Creek Intermediate School will hold a free e-waste recycling event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. The school is at 12345 Coyote Drive. Electronic devices such as computers, laptops and cellphones will be accepted. Proceeds will go for classroom supplies and materials. Information: allgreenrecycling.com/ day-creek- intermediate-school- ewaste-recycling. Staff report HEMET Elks Lodge No. 1740 donated $12,500 on Feb. 18 to 12 community agencies that provide health, education, rehabilitation, family/child welfare and first responder services to the residents in the San Jacinto Valley. Funds came from the lodges ongoing fundraisers and weekly bingo game. Staff report RIVERSIDE The NAACPs ACT-SO program will host an opportunity drawing and fish fry from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at Fair Housing, 3933 Mission Inn Ave. ACT-SO is an academic excellence and performing arts program for high schools students in Riverside County. Walk-ins welcome. One winner will receive two round-trip tickets to anywhere Southwest Airlines flies. The winner does not need to be present to win. All money raised benefits the ACT-SO program and scholarship fund. Staff report RIVERSIDE La Sierra University will kick off an exhibit of the work of 31 female artists with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday. The exhibit, Women of the New Contemporary, will run through March 17. The exhibit is at Brandstater Gallery, open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and by appointment by contacting Tim Musso at tmusso@lasierra.edu. Information: 951-785-2170. Manny Otiko REGION A food bank hosted by Pacific Western Bank in support of Inland Valley Hope Partners concludes Monday. The sixth annual food drive raises money and food for the agencys food pantries and provides nourishment for needy families. Donations are being accepted at: 2401 S. Grove Ave., Ontario; 9680 Haven Ave. No. 100, Rancho Cucamonga; 569 N. Mountain Ave., Upland; 1050 W. Sixth St., Corona; and 218 E. State St. Redlands. Information: inlandvalley hopepartners.org. Anne Marie Walker YUCAIPA Crafton Hills College is looking to recognize outstanding alumni. Nominations are being accepted until Monday. Nomination forms are available at craftonhills.edu/alumni. Honorees will be recognized at a gala on March 19. Information: Michelle Riggs at 909-389 3391. Manny Otiko Send items for possible inclusion in Community Notes to community@pressenterprise.com. A student at Cal Aero Preserve Academy brought a loaded gun to school on Thursday to threaten a bully, Chino police said. The student, a minor who was not identified by the department, was arrested and his father was issued a criminal citation for not properly securing the .22 caliber handgun, police said late Friday. We believe he brought it to use as a threat and had no intent to use it there, Chino Police Lt. Kevin Mensen told CBSLA.com. Some parents at the school told reporters they were dismayed about how long it took the school to send out a notification about the incident. Californias Supreme Court on Friday allowed Gov. Jerry Browns bid to put his plan to reduce the states prison population before voters in November. The high court acted after Brown warned that further delay could push voters consideration to 2018. The justices put on hold a lower court ruling that barred state Attorney General Kamala Harris from issuing the documents the title of the initiative and a summary of what it would do that would let Browns supporters gather the signatures needed to put his initiative on this years ballot. The Sacramento-based judge ruled that Brown improperly amended an existing initiative that would strip prosecutors of their power to decide if juveniles should be tried as adults, leaving that decision to judges. Brown added sweeping amendments in January to increase sentencing credits for adult inmates and allow earlier parole for non-violent felons. The Democratic governor said it is too late to start over and still collect the nearly 586,000 signatures needed for a ballot measure this year. The high court gave no explanation for granting Browns request in the one-page order, which allowed the signature-gathering process to begin while its justices consider the merits of the case. They could block his initiative later if they decide he acted improperly. The California District Attorneys Association said Brown has no one to blame but himself for the legal quagmire over whether he can proceed. The association and Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert sued, arguing that Brown violated a 2014 law that requires 30 days of public comment for new initiatives, and that amendments be reasonably related to the original initiative. Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne Chang agreed, saying Brown engaged in the type of mischief that the Legislature had in mind when lawmakers passed, and Brown signed, the law. Harris office said Brown met the laws requirements. Schubert said she believes the lower court ruling should stand. We believe when the (Supreme) Court hears the case and the arguments that they will agree, she said in a statement. The governor, who is termed out of office in 2018, has $24 million in his campaign account that he can spend on political campaigns. Thats still not enough to overcome a delay in collecting signatures because of competition from numerous pending ballot initiatives, said James Harrison, the attorney for Brown and the initiatives other proponents. For 20-year-old Jasmin Vega, folding shirts and stacking them on a shelf appeal to her innate sense of order. I get them and they are all in a jumble, Vega said. I enjoy making them neat. Vega is one of the special education students learning real-world retail skills in a mock CVS store at the Riverside Unified School Districts Adult School campus on Magnolia Avenue. The store the only mock CVS on the West Coast is a replica of a neighborhood CVS, complete with a front counter and cash register; magazine rack; shopping carts; shelves stocked with toothpaste, toilet paper and other household items; circular clothing racks; and a red neon Open sign in the front window. Its grand opening was Jan. 28. The store serves as a laboratory to teach retail skills to the 52 students enrolled in the Riverside districts Project T.E.A.M., said Constance Wahlin, project specialist/site administrator. T.E.A.M, which stands for Transitional Education Adjustment Model, offers job training for developmentally disabled students ages 19-22. The program then works with the Inland Regional Center to find the students jobs, Wahlin said. While on duty at the mock store, students learn the basics of stocking shelves, pricing products, operating a cash register, bagging items and how to display items in an appealing way. They are evaluated periodically on such skills and others such as hanging shirts, displaying hanging and folded shirts and making change. This spring, developmentally disabled middle and high school students can work in the store as part of their life skills class, Wahlin said. WORKING TOGETHER The mock store resulted from a close working relationship between Wahlins staff and Rebecca Martinez, CVS Healths enterprise disability consultant. Martinez said that although all school district employees are committed to their disabled students, Riverside Unified has a very special team working with disabled students. They have an extraordinary commitment, Martinez said by phone from her Long Beach office. I knew they were the ideal team to put this project together. CVS Health donated shelves and fixtures, products and money to get the project going. Anthony Collier, CVS Health district manager for Riverside County, offered guidance, Martinez said. A Riverside Educational Enrichment Foundation grant paid for shopping carts, office supplies and the front counter. The school district provided the portable building that houses the store and the cash register. It was a real community effort, Wahlin said. Concepcion Altamirano, employment development specialist, said the store is beyond amazing. Though Project T.E.A.M. students have been placed in local businesses to hone their job skills, the district lacks the resources to do so for all students, Altamirano said. The store provides entry-level job training in a safe and controlled environment, she said. When the district is ready, a small pharmacy will be added to the store, Martinez said. The goal is to train students for entry-level positions at CVS or other retail stores, Martinez said. They make fantastic employees, Martinez said. Contact the writer: 951-368-9647 or sstokley@pressenterprise.com The only thing more life-affirming than knowing the classic, prime Wiggles line-up reunited for a gig last night is the fact it was performed exclusively to 700 willing adults. Many punters at the gig were pissed. Some of them had kids to leave at home. All of them did the monkey. We know this because Anthony, Greg, Murray and the REM-depleted Jeff donned their skivvies at Dee Why RSL to raise funds for their mate David Savage, a soldier who was injured while serving Afghanistan. It was a noble effort, somehow made even sweeter by the sincerity the original gang who havent played a show together in ages apparently brought to their feather-swording antics. The glorious footage has already spread further than Henrys spindly arms. Behold, a crowd of grown human beings yelling at a purple-clad man, who was pretending* to be asleep: They were great when I was 3, and they are still great today #thewiggles #wakeupjeff #bigredcar #fruitsalad #yummyyummy #relivingmychildhood A video posted by Aidan Whyte (@aidanwhyte5) on Feb 26, 2016 at 8:27pm PST Wake Up Jeff!!!!!! Wiggles reunion tour! @thewiggles #thewiggles #ogwiggles @anthony_wiggle A video posted by Caterina Mete (@kitty_cat_dancer) on Feb 26, 2016 at 2:42am PST Also, judging by the massive outpouring of support for the troupe, it seems a little unusual they hadnt capitalised on the 18+ crowd wanting to rockabye their bears before: Wiggles over age!! Love how no one thought it was lame and got in to it!! #rockabyeyourbear #wigglesover18concert #thewiggles #somuchfun A video posted by E L I LIFE M E (@elimuffin_and_me) on Feb 26, 2016 at 8:54pm PST Holy shit. Everyone is wasted and losing it. #thewiggles #bearsnowasleep @blakedickson_ @rrookbobertson A video posted by Dave Naylor (@tailsnxt) on Feb 26, 2016 at 1:54am PST Oh, and theyre still full-on health advocates too, despite the free-flowing booze on scene. And bless em for it: The Wiggles 25th Anniversary Reunion gig. I cried! #loveintheroom #growingup #wiggles @abcmusic A video posted by Robert Patterson (@bobba15) on Feb 26, 2016 at 1:47am PST Bloody hell, guys. Way to cement an Australian musical legacy. *Just kidding, of course he was asleep! Source: Instagram. Photo: Lucy Armstrong / Instagram. HARRISBURG- Someone called Harrisburg police in December, concerned that an adult man in the United States illegally was attending high school and "having sexual relationships with female students," police said. That tip on Dec. 11 sparked the investigation that led to the arrest of Artur Samarin on Tuesday. Prior to the arrest, Samarin had been known as Asher Potts, an 18-year-old honor student who had attended the school for four years. He was months away from graduating. The police investigation revealed that Samarin had already graduated high school in Ukraine, and even attended two years of college, before he enrolled in the Harrisburg School District in 2012 as a freshman. Police revealed new details in a news release posted Friday about how Samarin came to be in the United States. He arrived on a three-month J1 Exchange Visitor Visa and was working for a United States company, police said. When his visa expired, he requested and received a B2 Tourist Visa. His B2 Tourist Visa expired on March 1, 2013. Samarin used fake documents to enroll in the Harrisburg School District, police said. One of the documents was a social security card that Samarin obtained after repeatedly visiting several Social Security Administration offices until it was approved. Court records said Samarin created a fake identity and obtained a social security number, birth certificate and Pennsylvania driver's license to stay in the United States. Samarin initially was charged with six felony charges, including identity theft and tampering with public records. Police added two charges Friday for sex crimes for an alleged relationship with a 15-year-old student when he was 22-years-old. Court records said a Harrisburg couple, Michael and Stephayne Potts, helped Samarin enroll in school and get a driver's license. Police on Friday said additional arrests are expected in the case. soda.jpg Word is that Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney will call for a soda tax during an address next week. No details are known beyond that. (Dan Gleiter, The Patriot-News/file) The soda tax had has mixed fortunes nationally. Looks like Philadelphia's new mayor, Jim Kenney, is about to try his luck at enacting a version. According to numerous reports Friday including this one on phillyvoice.com, City Hall sources are saying that Mayor Kenney is going to propose a soda tax next week at his first budget address. No one knows much beyond that. In the United States, the only municipality to successfully pass a sugary beverages tax has been Berkeley, Calif., where the price for consumers rose by about seven-tenths of a cent per ounce. But the story noted that similar legislation failed to pass in San Francisco, primarily because minority and low-income voters rejected it. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg drew nationwide coverage in 2013 when he tried to ban large soda drinks, but a judge called the "arbitrary and capricious" and blocked its implementation one day before it was supposed to take effect. A soda tag has been tried before in Philly, where former Mayor Michael Nutter tried in both 2010 and 2011 to enact one and saw the initiative fail both times. Patrick B. Dailey Members of the Harford County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard carry the casket of Senior Deputy Patrick Dailey, of the Harford County Sheriff's Office, after his funeral, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016, at Mountain Christian Church in Joppa, Md. Dailey was one of two Harford County sheriff's deputies who were killed in a shootout Feb. 10, in Abingdon, Md. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark) (Steve Ruark) A man who allegedly shot and killed two sheriff's deputies in the Baltimore suburbs earlier this month, spent about two and half decades successfully eluding law enforcement. He was so successful that a Pennsylvania judge declared him dead as of 1997. David Brian Evans, 68, was reportedly sitting in a Panera Bread restaurant when his estranged family members spotted him and reported it to police, the Baltimore Sun reports. Evans exchanged gunfire with officers, eventually leaving two officers dead. Evans was also killed in the shootout. Prior to that, Evans lived in Pennsylvania and Florida, and was spotted several times in Maryland, successfully eluding family and police for decades. Details about Evans life from his divorce in 1989 to the February shooting are spotty, at best, according to the Sun's reporting. Evans worked at a civil engineering firm in Mechanicsburg, but left in fall 1993, never picking up his last paycheck. In 1996, police searched across several states in an attempt to question Evans in the shooting of his ex-wife, who was shot in the neck as she left for work. She survived. A warrant was never issued for Evans in connection to the Maryland shooting. Evans was spotted in Harford County, where he would later be suspected of shooting two deputies, in 1996 at a restaurant and 1998 at the library, the Sun reports. A report in Florida from 1999 showed Evans fled police after they attempted to pull him over. He later turned himself in to Winter Park, Fla. police in relation to the incident. In April 2015, police in Maitland, Fla. suspected Evans of living in his car. When his tags were called in, it was determined the car was stolen. Evans sped away and eluded police. A warrant was issued in Florida for his arrest. But in March 2014, the Orphans' Court of York County -- Evans' last known address, according to family -- declared him dead as of Dec. 31, 1997. Evans' siblings had been searching for him since 2011 when their father died. Evans was listed as a beneficiary of his late-father's estate along with his three siblings, the Sun reports. An investigation by his sister and by a private firm failed to turn up any information on Evans, according to court documents. "We note that various investigations were completed, not only by his sister, but also by a private investigation firm that was hired to attempt to find him," York County Common Pleas Judge John S. Kennedy wrote. "All the requirements of the statute have been met. ... Accordingly, we would enter a decree declaring that [Evans] would be declared dead as of December 31st, 1997." Artur Samarin Artur Samarin has been charged with false identification, statutory sexual assault, and other charges. The strange saga of Artur Samarin - the Ukrainian national arrested this week after years of posing as a Harrisburg High School student - took another twist Friday, when he told WHTM ABC27 in a jailhouse interview that his surrogate parents in Harrisburg helped him establish his double life. "Asher Potts" Samarin, 23, told the station he reached out to acquaintances Michael and Stephayne Potts for help when his tourist visa expired in 2013, because he wanted to stay in the United States. Stephayne Potts, Samarin told WHTM, "came up with the idea that we are going to adopt you." The Potts have not been charged. Samarin, however, told WHTM they helped him get a birth certificate with the name Asher Potts and a birth date in 1997, as well as a Social Security card. Samarin, according to the WHTM report, apparently called the station Friday afternoon from Dauphin County Prison, where he is now being held on statutory sexual assault, identity theft, records tampering and other charges. Harrisburg police have alleged that Samarin had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student at the school - legally not of age to give consent to an adult male - in 2014, when he was 22. Samarin, in the course of his telephone call - which apparently occurred before the sex charges became publicly known - essentially made a jailhouse confession to the records charges. He also sounded as if he hadn't yet completely surrendered his false identity. "What can I say? I did abuse the system. Yes. Yes, I did. I did use this identity and it's the law," the station quoted Samarin as telling reporter Kendra Nichols. "I'm a cadet and as a cadet I have honor, and honor tells you that: 'Yes, I did,' and I'm here for a reason. I'm here in this prison because I've done a crime." Samarin was a Junior ROTC member at Harrisburg High. He also said he had no regrets because he was following his desire to escape the armed conflict between Russia and the Ukraine and, hopefully, to have a better life in America. Samarin said he'd like to tell the folks who feel betrayed by him that "I had a dream. I still have a dream. I love the United States. It's a land of opportunity for all of us immigrants ..." To hear excerpts of Samarin's telephone conversation in the WHTM report, click here. This booking photo released Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, by the Harvey County Sheriff's Office shows Cedric Ford. Authorities say, Ford, 38, who stormed into a Kansas factory on Thursday, Feb. 25, where he worked and shot several people, had just been served with a protective order that probably triggered the attack. (Harvey County Sheriff's Office via AP) tooltip Keep reading by creating a free account or signing in. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich has endorsed Bernie Sanders in the Democratic presidential primary. Reich wrote: I endorse Bernie Sanders for president of the United States. Hes leading a movement to reclaim America for the many, not the few. And such a political mobilization a political revolution, as he puts it is the only means by which we can get the nation back from the moneyed interests that now control so much of our economy and democracy. This extraordinary concentration of income, wealth, and political power at the very top imperils all else our economy, our democracy, the revival of the American middle class, the prospects for the poor and for people of color, the necessity of slowing and reversing climate change, and a sensible foreign policy not influenced by the military-industrial complex, as President Dwight Eisenhower once called it. It is the fundamental prerequisite: We have little hope of achieving positive change on any front unless the American people are once again in control. I have the deepest respect and admiration for Hillary Clinton, and if she wins the Democratic primary Ill work my heart out to help her become president. But I believe Bernie Sanders is the agent of change this nation so desperately needs. Sanders said he was proud to be endorsed by Reich, Bob Reich was one of the most effective secretaries of labor in modern American history. He is one of the foremost economic thinkers in this country focusing on income inequality and the needs of working people. In 2002, he ran a great campaign for governor of Massachusetts. I am proud and delighted to have the support of Robert Reich. While there are some Sanders supporters who are vowing Bernie or bust, most of the Sanders folks are like Sec. Reich. They understand the value of keeping a Democrat in the White House. If Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic nomination, it is certain that Sen. Sanders will do his part to motivate his supporters to vote for her. Former Sec. Reich is one of the top liberal economic thinkers in the country. His books have helped to shape and define a generation of economic thought on income inequality. The endorsement of former Sec. Reich is a big one for Bernie Sanders, as his support adds a powerful voice to the Sanders political revolution. Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson is reminding Minnesota hospitals that they are not allowed to bill sexual assault victims for forensic medical exams. The Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Violence found some Minnesota hospitals may be violating state and federal laws barring providers from billing patients for sexual assault exams. The organization called for more education to ensure victims are not being billed for any part of a forensic exam, including ancillary charges such as a "facilities fee." Minnesota law requires counties to cover the cost of such exams and a victim's insurance cannot be billed with without the victim's consent. Swanson said she wrote to the state's major hospital systems in light of the coalition's findings, which she said indicated "a fair amount of confusion about the law." In addition to telling hospitals they need to comply with the law moving forward, Swanson said she wants them to refund any wrongly billed forensic examine fees. BELFAIR, Wash. A gunman killed four people in a home in rural Washington state before fatally shooting himself after an hourslong standoff, authorities said Friday. The gunman had called 911 to say he shot and killed his family, Mason County sheriff's Chief Deputy Ryan Spurling said. A girl who survived has been taken to the hospital for an evaluation. Authorities negotiated with the man for about three hours before a SWAT team entered the home near Belfair, about 25 miles southwest of Seattle, and found the people dead. The gunman shot himself, Spurling said. The SWAT team entered the home around 12:30 p.m., he said. Officers said they had 11 buildings to clear on the property but reported they had found the bodies shortly after entering the first building. Yes, at the GEC voting center at the Westin. Yes, at one of the satellite voting centers open on Saturdays. No; I'm voting on Nov. 8. No; I'm not voting in the general election. Vote View Results The United Kingdom suffers from immigration issues similar to those that afflict the United States. As a member of the European Union, it is obliged to accept large numbers of unskilled immigrants who find not only Britains wages, but also her welfare system, much superior to those in their own countries. Immigration is one aspect of the debate now raging over whether Britain should withdraw from the E.U. (Brexit, as it is commonly called). On BBCs Question Time, a 16-year-old girl named Lexie Hill took on Environment Secretary Liz Truss, who claimed that the governments proposed deal to remain in the EU will reduce immigration pressures. Miss Hill argued for withdrawal from the EU and a merit-based immigration system that would serve Britains interests. While there are various differences between Britains situation and ours, the girls common sense is luminous compared with the obfuscation that so often surrounds discussion of immigration. Plus, Lexie is fun to listen toit must be the accent. Here she is, the clip is brief: Maybe we could bring Miss Hill to the U.S. and offer her a cabinet position. One thing George W. Bush got right: the Islamic Republic of Iran is an evil regime. It seems an elementary point. It seems obvious. The regime is responsible for the murder and disfigurement of many Americans. It is the proud supporter of terrorist organizations including but not limited to Hamas and Hezbollah. It is itself a tyrannical, murderous, terrorist regime. Yet President Obama is operating on a theory of international relations that has enriched and empowered the regime. Iran took at least $100 billion as the downpayment for its professed support for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The JCPOA is the unsigned nuclear deal entered into with Iran by the United States and others with Iran. Has there ever been anything like it? At least Hitler signed the Munich Agreement, and England didnt pony up financial support to his regime. Appeasement, Obama style may not represent something new under the sun, but its a new low. This past Wednesday the Islamic Republic of Iran gave indication of how it was putting some of its newfound cash to use. It has promised payments of $7,000 for the families of the deceased Palestinian murderers of Israeli Jews and others in the ongoing stabbing intifada. Speaking at a press conference in Beirut on Wednesday, Iranian ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Fathali brought glad tidings. Fathali announced that the Iranian regime Tehran will give $7,000 to families of martyrs of the intifada in occupied Jerusalem and a further $30,000 to every family whose home the occupation has demolished for the participation of one of its sons. Fathali called on the Arab Muslim nation to unite around the central Palestinian issue and said that the martyrs blood will release the entire Palestine, from the river to the sea. The Times of Israel reports the story here, the Jerusalem Post here. Here the Islamic Republic of Iran is stepping into the shoes of the late Saddam Hussein, deposed by the United States in 2003. At Fox News Paul Alster recalls: Paying stipends to the families of terrorists killed attacking Israelis was pioneered by Saddam Hussein. The former Iraqi dictator told a TV audience in March 2002 he would pay $25,000 to the families of deceased Palestinian suicide bombers. Less than a week later, a Hamas suicide bomber blew himself up in Jerusalems Moment Cafe, killing 11 Israelis and seriously wounding 16 more. Just three months later, the mother of the suicide bomber received a check from Hussein, as promised, for $25,000. Israels Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon notes that theyre coming for us. Alster quotes Yaalon: The Iranian regime, through the Iranian Revolutionary Guard corps, is building a complex terror infrastructure, including [sleeper] cells that are stockpiling arms, intelligence and operatives, and are ready to act on order, including in Europe and America. So far as I can tell, Obama administration spokesman Josh Earnest either could not be reached for comment or hasnt been asked about it. The words of Secretary of State John Kerry this past Wednesday before a Senate subcommittee undoubtedly apply here: Well, uhh [sniff][theyre] not supposed to be doing that. During last nights debate, Ted Cruz criticized Marco Rubio for supporting U.S. military intervention in Libya to topple the Qaddafi regime. Qaddafis demise has, of course, resulted in awful consequences, including, but certainly not limited to, the rise of ISIS in Libya Rubio responded that he supported our intervention because it was foregone conclusion that Qaddafi would fall and he wanted the U.S. to facilitate a satisfactory post-Qaddafi future. Unfortunately, he added, President Obama chose to lead from behind, so the result was chaos. But John Kasich countered that Qaddafis demise wasnt preordained when we intervened. Rather, our intervention was instrumental in toppling his regime. Who is right? I believe Kasich is. I base this view on an article in Foreign Affairs by Alan Kuperman, an associate professor at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin. I wrote about that article here. Kuperman makes a persuasive case that prior to our intervention, the Libyan civil war was virtually over. The rebels had been defeated. Their last stronghold, Benghazi, was about to fall. (Indeed, the Obama administrations major rationale for intervening was to prevent a bloodbath, particularly in Benghazi when it fell to Qaddafi. However, Kuperman argues that there was little reason to fear a bloodbath; there had been relatively few civilian deaths in other towns retaken by the dictator.) So Rubio is wrong about the situation in Libya when he voted. He may be telling the truth about why he voted as he did, but if so, his vote was based on an erroneous premise. Donald Trump, meanwhile, flatly lied during the debate about his pre-intervention position on Libya. There are no ifs about it. Trump denied having ever supported the Obama administrations efforts to remove Qaddafi from power. Ted Cruz gave him a chance to back away from his claim, but Trump insisted upon it. As Breitbart points out, however, the record shows that Trump did, in fact, support the U.S. efforts against Qaddifi. The Cruz campaign, as their candidate promised to do, has found (via BuzzFeed) videotape that unambiguously establishes Trumps support for intervening in Libya. In the video, from February of 2011, Trump says that the U.S. should go into Libya on a humanitarian basis and knock this guy out very quickly, very surgically, very effectively and save the lives. Here is Trumps fuller statement: I cant believe what our country is doing. Gadhafi, in Libya, is killing thousands of people. Nobody knows how bad it is and were sitting around. We have soliders all over the Middle East and were not bringing them in to stop this horrible carnage. And thats what it is, a carnage. Now we should go in. We should stop this guy which would be very easy and very quick. We could do it surgically, stop him from doing it and save these lives. This is absolute nuts. We dont want to get involved and youre going to end up with something like youve never seen before. Now, ultimately the people will appreciate it and theyre going to end up taking over the country eventually. But the people will appreciate it and they should pay us back. But we have to go in to save these lives. These people are being slaughtered like animals. We should do it on a humanitarian basis. Immediately go into Libya, knock this guy out very quickly, very surgically, very effectively and save the lives. Donald Trump seems incapable of telling the truth when doing so shows him to be fallible. His lies will probably catch up with him before this election year is over. Unfortunately, it looks increasingly like this wont happen until the general election in other words, too late for the Republicans to nominate a conservative (and a decent human being), but in time for Hillary Clinton to carry the day. Donald Trump has big plans for his prospective presidency. He said on Friday he plans to change libel laws in the United States so that he can have an easier time suing news organizations (video below). Politicos Hadas Gold reports: During a rally in Fort Worth, Texas, Trump began his usual tirade against newspapers such as The New York Times and The Washington Post, saying theyre losing money and are dishonest. The Republican presidential candidate then took a different turn, suggesting that when hes president theyll have problems. One of the things Im going to do if I win, and I hope we do and were certainly leading. Im going to open up our libel laws so when they write purposely negative and horrible and false articles, we can sue them and win lots of money. Were going to open up those libel laws. So when The New York Times writes a hit piece which is a total disgrace or when The Washington Post, which is there for other reasons, writes a hit piece, we can sue them and win money instead of having no chance of winning because theyre totally protected, Trump said. I dont think Trump will ever be in a position to implement his proposed reform of libel law. The limited scope of the libel protection afforded public figures was a creation of the Supreme Court under New York Times v. Sullivan (1964). The Supreme Court rested its decision on the First Amendment. Opening up our libel laws would require the Supreme Court to rescind its old bill and sign a new bill. Its not gonna happen, but its good to know where Trumps heart is. In the alternative, the New York Times case could be overruled by constitutional amendment. In the unlikely event Trump were to be elected president, he could urge Democrats in Congress to propose a constitutional amendment overruling the New York Times case along with Citizens United. It would be a huge deal and they might well go for it. This may come as a shock to him though: the president doesnt have a constitutional role in the amendment process under Article V. The problem with such a deal is that the Dems dont need Trump. The Dems are confident the next Democratic appointee to the Court will join the others in constitutionalizing the prohibition of undesired political speech and Trump is making the prospect of a new Democratic appointee to the Court more likely every day, every time he opens his mouth. Quotable quote: You see, with me, theyre not protected, because Im not like other people but Im not taking money. Im not taking their money. So were going to open up libel laws, and were going to have people sue you like youve never got sued before. By Oshi Oshi The United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, says it is committed to helping build global alliance to end poverty by 2026. A UNDP administrator, Helen Clark, said ahead of the meeting on Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, that ending poverty was only possible with a broad coalition of leaders from government, civil society, multilaterals and the private sector. Ms. Clark was speaking on the eve of a major ministerial meeting to mark the organisations 50th anniversary. The SDGs are the 17 ambitious goals that set out the worlds development agenda between now and 2030, focussing on poverty eradication, reduction of inequality and spread of peace and justice. Using the Sustainable Development Goals as our guide, a world where economies and societies are more inclusive can be built, and the planet can be protected from the worst effects of climate change and other forms of environmental degradation, she said. She noted that UNDP was well-placed to play a critical role in achieving the SDGs after 50 years on the frontlines of global development. Over the period, the administrator said UNDP helped build institutions, increase resilience, and support countries as they implement vital reforms. She said the body also continues to lead the co-ordination of the essential work of the UN system. Our work has contributed to major development gains in many countries around the world. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, the UNDP recommits itself to this task, Ms. Clark said. The administrator said with the support of government, partnership with civil society, private sectors, philanthropy and the multilateral system, the organization would achieve its goals of a world free of poverty and inequality. The Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER) has called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to allow live radio and television broadcasts of court proceedings in the country. The call is contained in a letter signed by Frank Tietie, the Executive Director of CASER, and addressed to the CJN. A copy of the letter, dated Feb. 26, was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja. CASER said the call became necessary in view of rising public consciousness of the role of the courts in ensuring justice, public order and the future stability of Nigeria. It added that the call was also necessary against the backdrop of the ongoing anti-corruption campaign being championed by President Muhammadu Buhari administration. It argued that by the provisions of the amended Constitution, live broadcasts of court proceedings especially those bordering on corruption, electoral fraud and terrorism should be the norm and general rule. CASER said, It has become pertinent at this stage of our national life to raise the standard of justice delivery and its impact on the social development of the nation. To this end, we most humbly urge Your Lordship to allow live broadcasts of court proceedings to the citizenry. This is in furtherance of the intendment of Section 36 subsections 3 and 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). The role of the courts in ensuring justice, public order and the future stability of Nigeria has now begun to take a prominent place in the minds of the citizenry. This is at the background of a heightened anti-corruption campaign by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. It noted that granting majority of the citizenry wider access to court proceedings through live broadcasts would enhance the social engineering function of the law in a developing society as ours. According to CASER, the interpretation of Section 36 subsections 3 and 4 of the Constitution includes allowing live radio or televised broadcasts of court proceedings. Thus, it should be the norm and general rule that court proceedings, especially criminal proceedings such as cases of corruption, electoral fraud with violence and terrorism, be broadcast live in Nigeria. This is not being unmindful of Section 36 (4) (a) which serves to provide for the seven grounds of exception that can be invoked upon application or in obvious circumstances. We, therefore, hope that by this request, you would consider and give approval for live broadcasts of court proceedings in Nigerian courts, it said. The letter was copied to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice; the Inspector-General of Police; the Director-General, Department of State Services and the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission. Others include the Minister of Information; the President of the Court of Appeal; the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court; the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission and the President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists. (NAN) President Muhammadu Buharis various trips abroad will yield results soon, John Odigie-Oyegun, All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, has said. He described the President as an international salesman doing a great job of marketing Nigeria. Mr. Odigie-Oyegun spoke on Friday in Abuja while responding to questions posed by journalists on the incessant trips embarked by the President since his assumption of duty. The chairman said that the trips were necessary at this point in time to garner support and open up the country to more investors. He said although there was no specific date for the results of the trips to manifest, they would manifest in a matter of months not years. He said that part of the reasons the President was visiting the Middle East was to canvass for improved prices for the nations crude oil. Mr. Odigie-Oyegun described Mr. Buhari as an international salesman marketing Nigeria. He said that the president was doing a `fantastic job building and re-building the crack in the foundation of Nigeria. (NAN) Justina Ojo, the wife of the Executive Director of the Environmental Rights Action, Godwin Ojo, who was kidnapped on February 22, has regained freedom. Mrs. Ojo was abducted last Monday by unknown gunmen in front of her Benin City residence at about 8 p.m. A statement issued by ERA/FoEN Saturday said Mrs. Ojo was released to her family on Friday night. The statement thanked Nigerians, religious organisations, local and international groups for their solidarity, prayers, encouraging words and actions throughout the period of Mrs. Ojos abduction. Words cannot express our joy at the reuniting of Justina Ojo and her family. We are happy she was returned unhurt and in good condition to her family, said Akinbode Oluwafemi, ERA/FoEN Deputy Director. We particularly want to thank our allies both local and international for their show of solidarity, unity and encouragement all through the period of trauma for the Ojos and the entire ERA/FoEN family. Justina has been re-united with her immediate family and they prefer to spend coming days for quiet reflections on the events of this traumatic week. Mr. Oluwafemi said with the release of Mrs. Ojo, the Nigerian Police is expected to carry out its statutory responsibility of identifying those responsible for the act and bringing them to book. It is a primary responsibility of government is to guarantee the safety and security of all citizens, he said. At times like this, people in power should work towards security for all and not security for a few and the affluent. The present government must do all that is needful to keep this country safe for all. Allowing internally displaced persons, IDPs, to return to their homes without tackling desertification in Northeast Nigeria would trigger fresh crisis, an environmentalist, Charles Reith, has said. Mr. Reith, a professor of environmental sciences with the American University of Nigeria, AUN, Yola, Adamawa State, said desertification had reduced the quality of life in the insurgency-ravaged zone for generations. The university teacher spoke with PREMIUM TIMES in an exclusive interview on Friday. Hundreds of hectares of farmlands and grazing rangelands in the zone have been windswept into barren expanse of dust and sand, he said. Citing sociological studies, Mr. Reith explained that climate change, desertification, and resource scarcity were important drivers of conflict and violence. One can easily conclude that returning the IDPs to Northwestern Nigeria without addressing desertification is simply setting the stage for continued conflict, both by terrorists and between herders and farmers, he said. Quoting Albert Einstein, Mr. Reith said it was crazy for authorities to do the same thing over and over again and expect different results. Theres a solution, Mr. Reith, however said. Agro-forestry can push pack desertification. Landscapes of fruit-bearing trees and interspersed crops will restore the soil, provide year-round food, and create products to sell for income, he explained. Sophisticated herding strategies will emulate the restorative influence of wildebeest on the Serengeti, transforming our encroaching desert into the savannah it was before. Returning IDP farmers must be taught that rain-fed row cropping exposes the soil to wind and water erosion, he advised, saying that was why yields were dropping ten percent per year. He advocated training for herders to enable them to understand the damage caused by cattle to the range when they idle about, eating only the palatable grasses before moving on. Mr. Reith argued that managed rotational grazing produces more food, builds healthier land, and obviates the need to forcibly invade farms for fodder. To abate desertification and preempt future conflicts, Nigeria need only convene experts from other African countries who have effectively transformed farming and herding into agents of de-desertification, he said. We can learn from them and train our people. Once we do that, we can send the IDPs home with confidence that they will henceforth enjoy healthier lives and freedom from future conflict. Former Vice-President, Alex Ekwueme, and former governor of Lagos state, Bola Tinubu, have been conferred with honorary doctorate degrees at the combined convocation of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that former Chief Justices of Nigeria, Idris Kutigi and Maryam Aloma Mukhtar, were also conferred with honorary doctorate degrees. NAN reports that a total 25,878 students were awarded various degrees at the 15th to 20th combined convocation of the institution on Saturday. Mr. Ekwueme was said to be unavoidably absent as he was represented by his daughter, Chidi Onyemelukwe. In his speech, the visitor to the university, President Muhammadu Buhari, congratulated the Governing Council, Senate, Management and staff of UniAbuja for recording progress in achieving the objective for which it was set up. Represented by Hindattu Abdullahi, the Director, Tertiary Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Buhari enjoined the institution to take research seriously as it was key to economic development. He said it was pertinent to emphasise on the quality of teaching and research in Nigerias universities as it affected the quality of graduates from our universities. I therefore urge Nigerian universities to ensure that the quality of the graduates produced compares with graduates produced from other universities globally. Research should not be relegated to the background in our universities; rather universities should ensure that the education impacted is strongly influenced by research, he said. On his part, UniAbujas Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Michael Adikwu, said that the graduands had brought honour to the institution by distinguishing themselves in various fields of study. They comprise 20,461 undergraduate students and 4,261 postgraduate students spanning the 2009/2010 to 2014/2015 sessions. Eight undergraduate student graduands bagged first class honours; 2,324 bagged second class upper division; 11,180 bagged second class lower division; 6,647 bagged third class while 836 bagged pass. Of the total of 4,261 postgraduate graduands, 331 are graduating with Doctorate degrees, 2,233 with Masters degree and a total of 1,697 are Postgraduate Diploma graduands. Prof. Adikwu explained that UniAbuja was graduating five sets of students at the event because of the crises that engulfed the system over the last few years. He said that normalcy had been restored to academic activities on campus through the intervention of the National Universities Commission and the Ministry of Education. In his acceptance speech on behalf of the other recipients of honorary degrees, Tinubu thanked the institutions authority for deeming them worthy of the award. He said that UniAbuja symbolised national unity and epitomised a collective desire to build a strong nation. The institution must realise its important position in the educational salvation of our youth and the rejuvenation of our nation. I urge a continuous commitment to quality and excellence. The university, numbered among the new generation universities, must strive in the tradition of groundbreaking scholarship and research. In spite of the challenges of infrastructure and funding, the university must not compromise its academic standard, he said. The highlight of the event was the investiture of Alhaji Shehu Idris, the Emir of Zazzau, as the Chancellor of the institution. (NAN) A former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, on Saturday, tasked President Muhammadu Buhari on how to restructure Nigeria, laying emphasis on populist governance, agriculture, education, infrastructures and industrialisation. Mr. Tinubu spoke at the combined convocation ceremony of University of Abuja where Honorary Doctor of Business Administration, DBA, was conferred on him by the institution. Affected by years of poor management and academic strife, the University of Abuja held its 15th-20th convocation ceremony for five sets. At the occasion, Mr. Tinubu said Nigerias future depended on the will and courage of Mr. Buharis government to turn challenges into opportunities. Nigeria stands in the corridor between greatness and failure, between progress and collapse, between hope and despair, he said, adding that Our fate depends on whether we summon the courage to take the bold steps and move in the direction. We must turn our present challenges into opportunities for the re-engineering of our nations economic challenges. The University and our educational system have a role to play here. Nigeria needs some fundamental restructuring both politically and economically, Mr. Tinubu said. This restructuring, he stressed, should not be the constant tinkering and patch-patch Nigerian government often resorts to. Agriculture remains a key pillar in our development. We must return to the days when Nigeria had surplus and exported food. Now we import too much food for our own good and security. Our small farmers sink under the reality of rising costs and too little income from the crops they raise. Moreover, we annually lose arable land to desert encroachment. I believe the current administration under President Buhari has set its priorities right in this regard. Our farmers will once be proud again. We believe farmers need to earn a sufficient enough income that will bring prosperity back to their families. They must be encouraged and supported, Mr. Tinubu said. He said Nigeria must also improve its capacity to provide jobs for growing urban population. Speaking further, he highlighted how the APC Government would be lifting 20 per cent of Nigerians out of poverty. As a progressive government we have as one of our top priorities the lifting of 20 per cent of Nigerians out of poverty within the first four years of our administration. To happen, the state must be a catalyst for job creation and economic development that touches all the people not just a narrow growth that benefits a small number. We shall do this by implementing a national industrial policy linked to a national infrastructural plan and a national employment strategy. Mr. Tinubu also stressed the importance of education. Our position is that we make a special effort to draw all children to school, particularly the poor. We cannot afford to allow poverty to keep children out of the classroom. If so we are suborning a life of ignorance and poverty for millions of our young ones. He said Nigeria faces multiple challenges but assured APC Government could combat them. We have demonstrated the courage and determination to change a non-performing government through a democratic election. This electoral success has brought new challenges. These challenges are numerous and we must brace up and confront them. We dare not rest on the satisfaction of electoral victory alone. We must continue to strive toward democratic governance that can usher in a progressive era of broad prosperity, development, democracy and human dignity for our people. This is our preoccupation, our desire, he said. The Nigerian Army on Saturday said its troops made tremendous success in the ongoing operations to clear the extremist Boko Haram sect from locations around the countrys North-East. The spokesperson for the Army, Sani Usman, said in a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES that troops of the 7 Division Garrison, 112 Battalion and Army Headquarters Strike Group, recorded tremendous success in a clearance operations against terrorists at Kotokuma, Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State. The troops cleared the terrorists camp which was equipped with medical facility, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) factory, fuel dump, mechanical workshop, generators and several water points, Mr. Usman, a colonel, said. He added, The gallant troops also destroyed three vehicles laden with IEDs meant for suicide bombings somewhere and killed 37 Boko Haram terrorists. The troops also recovered 12 vehicles, 27 motorcycles, 9 AK-47 rifles, 2 Fabrique Nationale rifles, fabricated rocket bomb and a Sniper rifle. Other items recovered include 4 Dane Guns, solar panels and other household items. In addition to that, they also rescued 20 persons held hostage by the terrorists. Unfortunately, two of our soldiers sustained gun shot wounds. The wounded soldiers have been evacuated to 7 Division Hospital where they are receiving medical care. We wish to state here that buoyed by this unprecedented success, the troops morale is very high. We would like to assure the public that the troops would continue to do their best to clear all the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists wherever they may be to successfully bring to an end the menace of the terrorists. Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Saturday said his achievements in life could easily be attributed to the lessons he learnt and gained at the Federal Government College (FGC), Warri, Delta State. The governor, who spoke at the Golden Jubilee grand reunion of FGC, Warri, his alma mater, said all the knowledge and discipline impacted in him during his secondary school days in the college contributed largely to who he is today, just as he urged his old school mates to come together and ensure the vision of the school was kept alive. The governor, who went down memory lane to recall some of his good old days, said, Indeed, my becoming a governor can be attributed to what I gained and learnt from this school. We must come together, all of us to ensure that the vision of the establishment of the school must not die. So it is a great honour to all of us to return here after decades and celebrate this 50th anniversary. We are benefiting from the vision planted years ago. I want to assure the principal that we are going to bring back the good old days of this school. I wish all the students well and pray that you all be better and more successful than all of us here today. I like to say a big welcome to seniors and juniors. One great thing about this school is that no matter what you become in life your senior remains your senior. Governor Ambode also restated the commitment of his administration to revamping the educational system in Lagos, saying that it would go a long way to shaping the future of the next generation. He said his government would stop at nothing to ensure that students were exposed to quality education, which according to him would go a long way in determining how far they go in life. He said, Let me remind you all that the focus of my administration on education remains steadfast and consistent because no nation toys with the future of her youths. So in Lagos, education is given high priority in the scheme of change because its the growth and development is to invest heavily in Education. In his keynote address, Professor Godini Darah, also an alumnus of the College, gave reasons why the establishments of unity schools had brought about unity and progress in the Country. He said the establishment of FGC in Warri, just like any other unity school in the country was not in vain. We must make sure that the vision that was introduced 50 years ago remains solid and active, Professor Darah said. For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME. Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire. Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever. Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation. View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union. Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history. Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words. LAS VEGAS, Feb. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G Adelson Educational Campus in Pursuit of Excellence Gala is this Saturday night at The Venetian at 6:30 p.m. This year's Gala achieves scholarships for students at the Adelson Campus. The Key Note Speaker and Honoree is America's Mayor Rudi Giuliani. The Gala will feature student performances. Celebrity Auctioneer, Jeffrey Michael Manning, an international auctioneer who sold the Primm Estate last October is donating his time to conduct the live auction which includes performances by Henderson's Rock Center for Dance, a James Bond Musical Parody including performance by Zowie Bowie's Diva Nieve Malandra, and a performance by Mrs. RedRock America 2016 delegate to Mrs. Nevada-America, Natalie Manning. Fabulous auction items include a chairman suite package at The Venetian, a trip to be guests on the hit show "Shark Tank", VIP Suite for 12 at Justin Beiber in Los Angeles, VIP suite to attend Adele at the Staples Center, and a priceless Hour Glass Necklace by Sidney Mobell that had been given to the Dutches as a wedding gift. The event is anticipated to shatter fundraising records and raise nearly a million dollars. For more information, http://www.adelsoncampus.org/annualgala.cfm or [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160226/338038 Manning Auctions LLC is a full service international auction company headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada with an emphasis on Charity Auctions and Real Estate Auctions led by Celebrity Auctioneer & Philanthropist Jeffrey Michael Manning. For more information visit www.manningauctions.com This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE Manning Auctions Related Links http://www.manningauctions.com LOS ANGELES, Feb. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- What is true about marijuana and what is not? That was the theme of the open house event hosted by the Church of Scientology Los Angeles on behalf of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160226/338036 One thing that is certain is that marijuana usage rates are skyrocketing in Los Angeles. There are some 500 known medical marijuana shops in the city, with the actual number believed to be far greater. With numerous controversies about marijuana, it begs the question: what is actually true and false about this drug? Before a full auditorium, Sgt. Glenn Walsh from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department discussed the "marketing" of the drug, its chemical composition, and marijuana's harmful effects on the human body. He also provided statistics and facts from areas with high marijuana usage, all visibly demonstrating the harm marijuana creates for the individual and the society. He concluded, saying "I give the Foundation for a Drug-Free World a lot of props because their campaign has a wealth of information. They have done an outstanding job of educating our youth on the harms of drugs." Sgt. Walsh was followed by drug rehab expert Mr. Gerry Marshall who spoke of the recent upsurge in marijuana addicts seeking rehab for their addiction. "Almost everyone who comes to the drug rehab centers where I work started with marijuana," he said. Statistically, marijuana in 2016 is not the same as marijuana from the 1970's. The average amount of THC in 1978 was 1.3 percent. Current marijuana THC content measures over 8 percent. Norman Taylor from the Foundation for a Drug-Free World spoke of the value of the Foundation's materials, as they present information, not propaganda. "The Drug-Free World has a cutting-edge approach to educating youth and adults about harmful drugs, based on years of research and testing what actually works," he said. The Foundation for a Drug-Free World is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Los Angeles, California, and dedicated to the eradication of illicit drugs, their abuse and attendant criminality. The Drug-Free World information and prevention campaign features 14 The Truth About Drugs bookletsone for each of the most commonly abused substances. Its award-winning They Say, They Lied public service announcements and The Truth About DrugsReal Stories, Real People documentary are designed for maximum impact to bring the subject home to youth. Campaign materials also include an Educator's Kit, provided at no cost to teachers, law enforcement and community groups. These effective tools help young people make the right decisions. For more information visit the website of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com. SOURCE Church of Scientology of Los Angeles Related Links http://www.scientology-losangeles.org/ If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Kabul, Feb 22 : At least 14 people were killed and 11 others injured as a suicide bombing rocked Afghanistan's eastern province of Parwan on Monday, a provincial government spokesman told Xinhua. "The blast took place in Seyyagard District at around midday. The killed and injured were shifted to a hospital in the district, west of provincial capital Charikar city," the spokesman said. The bomber targeted an Afghan local police patrol near the district office building. Those killed included six officers and seven civilians in addition to the bomber, the official added. "Some six police, including a local police commander, and five civilian passersby were wounded," he said. No group has claimed responsibility yet for the attack, but the Taliban insurgent group routinely claims responsibility for such attacks. Mumbai, Feb 23 : National Award-winning actor Manoj Bajpayee, who has portrayed the life of gay professor Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras in the upcoming film "Aligarh", says he doesn't read a script if is it is not written in Hindi. "I am very passionate about Hindi language. 'Satya' made me a commercially successful actor. After that I slowly started getting work in this industry. The day I realised I am in a position to make demands, I decided not to read any director's script if it is not typed in Hindi. I am stubborn on this issue," Manoj said at the Lit-O-Fest, a literature festival, here. Manoj also said that the Hindi language is his "strength". "People are often sluggish to find a Hindi typist. Although I stick to point that if they want me to read the script, it must be in Hindi. Once a producer or director gave excuse of other actors, I told him that it is not my lookout if they do not know Hindi well. Hindi language is my strength. I want my script in Hindi only," he added. The "Shool" actor said that he believes in encouraging literary work in Hindi and feels literary festivals should be organised frequently. Giving an example of megastar of Amitabh Bachchan, he said: "Amit ji is a big admirer and supporter of his father Harivansh Rai Bachchan's work. He always attempts to bring Harivanshji's work in public in different ways. So it is our responsibility to inspire Hindi writers and poets because they are hugely contributing to make our Hindi culture rich." On the work front, Manoj is gearing up for the release of Hansal Mehta's film "Aligarh", which is based on the real life incident of Dr. Srinivas Ramchandra Siras, who was suspended from his job because of his sexual orientation. "Aligarh" will release on Friday. Chandigarh, Feb 25 : AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal started his five-day visit to Punjab on Thursday to boost the political prospects of the Aam Aadmi Party. Kejriwal, who arrived here on a regular flight from Delhi, drove immediately to Sangrur town in Punjab. He was received here by top AAP leaders of the Punjab unit and some party leaders from Delhi. "I am starting my five-day trip of Punjab today. I will be visiting villages and meeting with common people," Kejriwal told the media after landing here. "We will meet families affected by the drugs problem. We will try to understand their problems. We will meet families of farmers who committed suicide and understand their problems too. The AAP philosophy is that we meet people, listen to their problems and find solutions," he said. "Other parties make their manifestoes in air-conditioned rooms. We go to villages and homes of people," Kejriwal said while taking a dig at other political parties. Kejriwal will travel to Punjab's three regions - Malwa, Majha and Doaba, during the visit, starting from Sangrur and Bathinda districts in the agriculturally-fertile south-west Punjab. Kejriwal will visit Ferozepur and Faridkot districts on February 26, Khadoor Sahib, Gurdaspur and Amritsar districts on February 27, Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar districts on February 28 and finally go to Ludhiana, Fategarh Sahib and Patiala districts on February 29. "He will interact with various sections of the society comprising families of distressed farmers who have been committing suicides, members of Dalit families and unemployed educated youth and know the concerns of the women folk about their safety and security," an AAP spokesman said. He will meet the business community, comprising traders and captains of industry, to know the problems faced by them in the state. The Congress in Punjab had earlier said that it will oppose Kejriwal's visit if the Aam Aadmi Party does not change its agenda for the state. "Kejriwal should not play with fire by instigating the sentiments of the people of Punjab. This is a very dangerous style of politics being done by the AAP," Congress leader and Ludhiana MP Ravnit Singh Bittu had said. Kejriwal had addressed a major AAP rally last month at the Maghi religious fair in Punjab's Bathinda district. The AAP is posing a serious political challenge to the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance and the Congress, which have dominated Punjab's political space for decades, in the run up to next year's assembly polls. Washington, Feb 25 : With three straight victories in nomination contests, Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump is looking ahead with confidence at March 1 Super Tuesday primaries in 12 states as rivals trained their guns on him. As Republican nomination appeared within reach, the real estate mogul joined issue with 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney over his tax returns and indicated that an insider would probably be his vice presidential pick. "I do want somebody that's political, because I want to get lots of great legislation we all want passed," Trump said Wednesday. "We're going to probably choose somebody that's somewhat political." Trump declined to name any names, saying it's "too early," although he did say some of the other Republican presidential candidates might make the short list. Trump said the "main quality" he would seek in a running mate would be someone who could be a "great president" if something were to happen to require that person to step in - but after that, it's about balancing his political outsider status. Calling Romney whom he had endorsed in the 2012 "yesterday's news", Trump rejected the Republican leader's suggestion that his tax returns could contain a "bombshell". "There is no bombshell at all other than I pay a lot of tax and the government wastes the money," he told CNN Wednesday just hours after Romney's surprise comment. Trump said he will "make a determination over the next couple of months" as to whether he will release his tax returns. "Romney's biting attack hinted at clear signs of alarm in the Republican establishment at the billionaire's tightening grip on the party's presidential race," CNN said. Trump also attacked his two main rivals, Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida, saying he will "pick up a lot" of the support his current rivals enjoy as the field narrows. Trump called Cruz a "nervous wreck" and accused him of "changing his stance" on immigration to better compete with him. The billionaire, however, held his fire against Rubio for now. Meanwhile, Trump Wednesday picked up his first congressional endorsement from fellow New Yorker House member Chris Collins. "We need a chief executive, not a chief politician," Collins, who was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2012 told CNN. Collins had previously endorsed former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who dropped out of the race after a poor showing in the South Carolina primary. On the Democratic side, frontrunner Hillary Clinton picked up a key endorsement from Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid "I think the middle class would be better served by Hillary," Reid told CNN as he urged Democrats to consolidate behind Clinton facing a tough challenge from rival Bernie Sanders. In what he described as a "call of friendship" Reid delivered the news to Sanders personally. "It was a really wonderful call," Reid said, adding that Sanders was "so magnanimous, so kind and courteous." (Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in) New Delhi, Feb 26 : The friends and family of Rohith Vemula, the Hyderabad University student who committed suicide, slammed Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani on Friday and accused her of lying in parliament. "In parliament Smriti Irani was taking name of chief warden who was a Dalit. She has time and again raised this... she can go through records, check all flies, chief warden was never a part of any inquiry process related to the incident," Vemula's friend Prashant said at a press conference here. He was accompanied by Vemula's mother and brother. "Why is she scared to talk about Rohith's comments on ABVP in parliament?" he said. Another friend of Vemula, Vijay said: "I don't know how these ministers are stating lies in temple of democracy. Smriti Irani is using cinematic and dramatic kind of expressions which cannot transform falsehood into truth." New Delhi : Just as Prime Minister Narendra Modi described MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) as a living monument to the Congress's decades-old neglect of rural distress, the quota system is the fallout of, first, a similar prolonged failure in the fields of employment and education and, secondly, of political chicanery. Haryana is bearing the brunt of these failures because of the violent agitation by the Jat community for reservations. Originally envisaged as a gesture for a limited period to the Dalits and Adivasis who suffered social and economic deprivation for many centuries, reservations are now regarded as a pathway to easy official jobs and out-of-turn admissions to government schools and colleges by the backward castes. In view of these advantages, which over-ride merit, the quota system has become a tool in the hands of vote-hungry politicians for buttressing their support bases. The prime villain in this respect was prime minister V.P. Singh, who included the backward castes in the quota system in 1990 as a safeguard against being undercut by his rival, Devi Lal. The Pandora's box was thus opened with more and more communities seeking the benefits of secure jobs in government offices and seats for their children in public educational institutions. However, it is the stagnant economy and a moribund educational sector which fuelled the demand for preferential treatment. Had the economy prospered and a greater number of jobs been available, there wouldn't have been such a rush for reservations. A buoyant economy would have created an atmosphere of wellness, encouraging greater public and private investment in the educational sector. But the 2/3 percent Hindu rate of growth under the Congress's "socialist" regimes till 1991 ensured that the economy limped along, aggravating the unemployment problem and starving the academic sphere of funds. The post-1991 era of liberalization did not bring about a dramatic improvement in the situation despite the much higher growth rate because the world had entered a period of automated technology where machines did the work of men. Hence the term 'jobless growth'. Although more jobs were available than before in the services, real estate and infrastructure sectors, they were not enough to satisfy the growing demand, which was caused not only by a rising population but also the limited availability of agricultural land as the farming families grew in numbers. Needless to say, it is not only the failures on the economic front which added to the appeal of reservations but also an official inability to enforce the population control programme. The distortion which V.P. Singh introduced in the quota system was to include the relatively well-off, though socially backward, communities like the Yadavs of the Hindi heartland who had considerable clout in the countryside. Now, the Jats who, like the Yadavs, are an influential group in the countryside are also clamouring for quotas in their favour. Not surprisingly, the Supreme Court described them as a "self-proclaimed socially backward class of citizens" while turning down the Congress-led central government's decision to confer the backward caste status on them before the last general election. This warping of the system has recently been accentuated by the demand of the Patidars or the Patels of Gujarat for reservations despite being well-placed, both socially and economically. But the worst example of the skewed nature of reservations was the demand by the Gujjars of north India for relegation from their present backward caste status to that of scheduled tribes or Adivasis. The reason for this desire to retreat into the company of the Vanvasis or forest-dwellers, as the Adivasis are sometimes called, is the fear of the Gujjars that the entry of Jats into the backward caste category, which has been pending since 1999, will reduce their share of reserved jobs and educational opportunities. As the judge of a commission which considered their demand said, "earlier the craze was to move forward. Now it is the opposite". With even the "forward" groups like the Patels demanding affirmative action in their favour, it has been suggested that the quota system should be opened up to include not only the backward castes but also the economically weaker sections of the "forwards" as well. However, perhaps the best course may be to abolish the reservations altogether, as Hardik Patel, the leader of the Patel agitators said, and let the various communities compete on the basis of merit and not the accident of birth. Such a step will mean reviving the original goal of reservations which envisaged doing away with them a decade after their introduction in 1950. The idea of scrapping the quota system has been floated by both proponents of a market economy, who favour a meritocracy, and social conservatives like Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, who wants a review of the system. Irrespective of whether Bhagwat's views reflect the longstanding resentment of the upper castes over the bounties offered to the lower castes by reservations, there is little doubt that the quota system is out of place in an open economy with its emphasis on individual enterprise and not family background. (Amulya Ganguli is a political analyst. The views expressed are personal. He can be reached at amulyaganguli@gmail.com) Washington, Feb 27 : Ahead of next week's "Super Tuesday" nomination contests in 11 states, Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump got a significant boost with the surprise endorsement of New Jersey governor Chris Christie. Christie's bombshell on Friday, which may well change the dynamics of the Republican race came a day after Trump's two main rivals - Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz - ganged up against him in a CNN debate that turned into a virtual brawl. Hours later, Maine's Republican governor Paul LePage, who was a supporter of Christie before he ended his presidential bid, also announced his endorsement of Trump. Christie's announcement robbed Florida senator Rubio, who is trailing Trump by about 20 points in his home state, of whatever momentum he might have gained from Thursday's feisty debate exchanges with the frontrunner. Christie, who dropped his presidential bid earlier this month after his poor performance in New Hampshire, showed up unannounced at a Trump event in Fort Worth, Texas to endorse the real estate mogul. Christie, who had tormented Rubio in a previous debate, again hit out at him as he announced his support for Trump, who he said was destined to win the Republican nomination and was the best person to slug it out with Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton. Trump accompanied his rollout of Christie with a stream of invective against Rubio as their debate night brawl spilled onto the campaign trail. Trump branded Rubio a "low life," "a nasty little guy," a "basket case" and "a choker" who sweated so much he had to put makeup on with a trowel. Rubio, in turn, suggested Friday morning that Trump was a "con artist" who was worried about wetting his pants and mocked his spelling before a delighted crowd in Texas. Asked about whether he would consider Christie as his running mate should he win the nomination, Trump said he didn't "want to discuss that," but added: "He's certainly got the talent." Trump has previously said that he would pick a running mate with political experience, and not someone from the private sector like himself. The New York Times, which too came under attack by Trump as "dishonest" and "the absolute worst,", dismissed "the bombastic governor's" announcement as a "Bully Bromance" even as it acknowledged how it might give a significant boost to Trump. The Washington Post, which Trump alleged had been bought by Amazon founder and chief executive Jeffrey P. Bezos "to have political influence," asked in an editorial: "Is Mr. Trump a threat to democracy?" Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, multiple polls show Hillary Clinton with a dominant lead over rival Senator Bernie Sanders in the South Carolina primary on Saturday. Clinton played up her allegiance to President Barack Obama at a rally and pledged to continue fighting for tougher gun laws. Sanders also held two rallies in South Carolina, but black women, a crucial demographic that helped lift Obama over Clinton in 2008, appear to be leaning heavily toward Clinton this time, the New York Times said. (Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in) Kabul, Feb 27 : At least 35 civilians were set free from a Taliban militants' prison overnight by Afghan Special Operations forces, the defence ministry said on Saturday. "Those released included five women, five men and 25 children. They were rescued following a special operation from a Taliban prison in Nad Ali district, Helmand province last night," Xinhua cited the ministry as saying in a statement. "Up to seven armed militants were also detained following the raid," the statement reads. Helmand, notorious for poppy growing, is also a known Taliban stronghold. Some 120 people, including soldiers and military officers, had been released in Helmand in similar operations over the past two months. Since January 1 last year, Afghan security forces have assumed the full security charges from NATO and US forces after the foreign troops switched from combat to support role, which focuses on training, advising and assisting Afghan forces. In addition, four Taliban were killed and two others detained after the Afghan Special Operation Force conducted a night raid operation against a Taliban hideout in northern Kunduz province, the statement noted. United Nations, Feb 27 : The United Nations Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution to demand a halt to the fighting in Syria. The adoption on Friday coincided with the scheduled implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement reached by Russia and the US, Xinhua reported. According to the deal, the halt was to begin at midnight (Damascus time) on Friday in the middle of the council session. "It's zero hour, Damascus time," Japanese Ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa said as the clock struck within a minute of the scheduled starting time. The new council resolution welcomed a February 11 statement from the 17-member International Syrian Support Group (ISSG) that seeks humanitarian aid access to Syria and a halt in fighting. The resolution also demanded the implementation of a previous council resolution on Syria adopted on December 18, 2015, which called for an end to attacks on civilians and infrastructure as well as a political settlement of the crisis. Before the resolution was voted on, Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy for Syria, spoke to the 15-member panel via teleconference from Geneva. "This council meeting has a special significance on this exceptional day and night for the Syrians," he said. "We now have specific obligations for ISSG members and for Syrians to fulfill," the envoy said. "There is a mechanism to that effect. There is an agreed set of actions and an immediate timeline." "We are now at a crossroad -- we have the possibility to turn the page in the Syrian conflict -- after almost five years of one of the bloodiest conflicts in recent years," de Mistura said. "It is potentially a historic junction to bring an end to the killing and destruction and to start a new life and hope for the Syrians," he said. De Mistura also announced that a new round of Syria talks will be held on March 7. The UN-mediated Syria peace talks, aimed at brokering a political solution between Syrian warring factions -- Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's government and opposition forces -- halted on February 3 after parties failed to see eye to eye on a number of issues. US Ambassador Samantha Power was the first to speak after the 15-0 vote at the UN Security Council. "The resolution we have just adopted... offers a genuine opportunity to pause, at least in part, the fighting in one of the most brutal conflicts the world has seen in a generation, and it's our best chance to reduce the violence," she said. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said the measure "must be strictly implemented and without any preconditions" and "the process of implementation itself must be monitored reliably." "As was confirmed in the joint statement of Russia and the United States, the Cessation of Hostilities regime will not apply to the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra and other terrorist organisations that have been recognised as such by the UN Security Council, the combat against them will continue." "Our position is that long-term stabilisation of Syria is impossible without eliminating the terrorist threat in this country," Gatilov said. For his part, Syrian Ambassador to the UN Bashar al-Ja'afari said Damascus considers the Russian-US deal "as an important step toward a political settlement and affirms its willingness to contribute to the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities." The UN estimates that the Syrian crisis has claimed more than 250,000 lives since it broke out in March 2011. Beijing, Feb 27 : Chinese authorities have suspended more than 580 social media accounts for spreading rumours, confusing people or going against the constitution, the media reported on Saturday. A statement issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) on Friday said the suspended accounts include those of "celebrities" of popular microblog Weibo who had thousands of followers. It accused them of "ignoring their social responsibilities, abusing their influence, staining the honor of the state and disrupting social order." The statement does not specify what kind of comments the users had published or who was affected, EFE news reported. CAC said it had also ordered other websites to remove more than 2,000 rumours affecting people's daily lives, transportation, food security and public policies. The statement comes amid efforts by China to tighten internet censorship. From March, it will begin controlling the content published by foreign companies online. These companies cannot directly publish their "creative content" on the web, including games, animation, comics, audio or video recordings, without the prior approval of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television. China, which has a tight censorship system known as the "Great Firewall", has increasingly clamped down on the internet since President Xi Jinping came to power three years ago. Ramallah, Gaza, Feb 27 : Palestinians described the deal between Israeli authorities and a detained Palestinian journalist as a victory for him and the detainees in Israeli jails. Eassa Qaraqe', head of detainees' affairs commission of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), said Friday's deal "is considered a victory for Mohamed al-Qiq and the Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails in the face of the unlawful Israeli administrative detention." The Palestinian Prisoner's Club (PPC) on Friday said a deal was reached to release al-Qiq who was on strike for 94 days, protesting his administrative detention by Israel. PPC said the deal practically puts an end to al-Qiq's battle against administrative detention, with an undertaking not to renew his administrative detention upon its end on May 21. The statement said that in return, al-Qiq will continue his medical treatment in the Israeli hospital to which he was transferred, and to be taken back the Israeli prison facility (Nafha) till his detention period was over. Al-Qiq's family will be allowed to visit him in the hospital, under the new deal. Qaraqe' thanked "Palestinian people and all popular and legal institutions and national factions, and to all international organisations and the Palestinians living in Israel for the important roles in supporting al-Qiq's rights and demands throughout his strike, and especially Knesset (Israeli Parliament) member Osama Sa'adi." Administrative detention is a measure that allows Israeli authorities to detain prisoners without charging them or allowing them to stand a trial based on secret information, which cannot be accessed by either the detainees or lawyers, for periods of six months that can be renewed for unlimited times. Al-Qiq, 33, is a TV reporter and was arrested by Israel on November 21 and withheld under administrative detention without trial. He started an open hunger strike, drinking only water, since November 24. The Israeli high court suspended the administrative detention order on February 4, allowing family visits and removing his shackles on the hospital bed, without releasing him, but he refused to end his strike. On February 15, the Israeli high court suggested moving al-Qiq to an East Jerusalem hospital, which he rejected and continued his hunger strike. Kathmandu, Feb 27 : Napalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's visit to India was unsuccessful, the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) said on Saturday. The UDMF in a meeting on Saturday reviewed the protest programmes and said Oli committed a mistake by going to India without any agenda, The Himalayan Times reported. The front has decided not to sit for talks till the government comes up with a concrete road map to address its demands. It also decided to submit a memorandum to Oli to pressurise the government to address the 11-point demands put forth by the front at the earliest. One of the leaders said the form of protest has been changed at present, and warned that the Madhesi Front would resort to stern protests if the government did not address its demands promptly. Mumbai, Feb 27 : A strengthening dollar, coupled with the central bank's attempts to arrest the fall in the rupee's value plunged the country's foreign exchange (Forex) reserves during the week ended February 19, experts said on Saturday. According to the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) weekly statistical supplement, the overall Forex reserves declined by $1.46 billion to $350.36 billion. The foreign reserves had risen by $347.2 million to touch $351.83 billion for the week ended February 12. Currency analysts, cited revaluation impact as the main reason for the depletion in foreign exchange coffers. "The country's foreign exchange reserves were negatively impacted by a strengthening dollar during the week under review," Anindya Banerjee, associate vice president for currency derivatives with Kotak Securities, told IANS. The foreign currency assets (FCA), which is the largest component of India's Forex reserves, slumped by $1.43 billion to $328.58 billion during the week under review. Apart from the US dollar, the FCA consists of nearly 20-30 percent of other non-US dollar major global currencies, securities and bonds. The individual movements of these currencies against the US dollar impacts the overall foreign reserves value. "The US dollar rallied by more than one percent against major global currencies during the week under review. This receded the foreign exchange reserves," Banerjee added. Other currency analysts blamed the central bank's dollar selling activity to arrest the fall in the rupee's value for the decline in Forex coffers. "RBI has been very active. It has been selling US dollars to stem the fall in the rupee's value," a currency analyst told IANS from New Delhi. "It may have even sold more US dollars at the forward and futures market, which are not counted, as part of the official reserves statistics." On a weekly basis, the rupee weakened by 23 paise to 68.47 (February 18) against a US dollar from its previous close of 68.23-24 (February 12). The weakness in India rupee's value indicated the massive outflow of foreign funds from the equity and debt markets. National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) figures showed that the FPIs (Foreign Portfolio Investors) sold Rs.3,307.47 crore or $484.42 million in the equity and debt markets from February 15-18. Data with stock exchanges disclosed that the FPIs divested stocks worth Rs.2,608.87 crore during the week under review. Notwithstanding the downward trend, the country's gold reserves remained stagnant at $17.69 billion for the week ended February 19. However, the special drawing rights (SDRs) were negatively impacted by currency revaluation as they plummeted by $2.57 billion to $1.48 billion. Similarly, the currency revaluation impacted the country's reserve position with the IMF. But unlike SDRs, the impact was positive, which swelled the reserve position by $2.54 billion to $2.59 billion. New Delhi, Feb 27 : Ashutosh Kumar, a student facing sedition charges for allegedly raising "anti-India" slogans on the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus, is likely to be arrested, sources said on Saturday. Ashutosh Kumar joined the police investigation on Saturday morning, after the investigating agency asked him on Friday night to join the probe at Vasant Vihar police station here, sources said. Sucheta De, the national president of All India Students' Association (AISA), an organisation active in JNU, also said Ashutosh has gone to the police station to join the probe. "Ashutosh, Rama Naga and Anant Prakash Narayan communicated to police a few days ago their intention to join the enquiry, gave their contact number and told the police to call them whenever needed," said Sucheta De. She said police called Ashutosh Kumar on Friday night to come to the police station on Saturday morning. "So he has gone today. We were never resisting." Police have already been interrogating JNU Students' Union president Kanhaiya Kumar as well as two other students of the university Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya. Kanhaiya Kumar, presently in judicial custody, was arrested on February 12. Both Khalid and Bhattacharya surrendered before police on Tuesday night. All students, including Ashutosh, Rama Naga and Anant, are facing charges of raising "anti-national" slogans at an event organised on the JNU campus on February 9 to commemorate the execution of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. New Delhi, Feb 27 : A court here on Saturday issued summon to former communication minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi and four others in a money laundering case related to the Aircel-Maxis deal. After taking cognisance of the charge sheet, Special Judge O.P. Saini issued summons to the Marans, Kalanithi's wife Kavery Kalanithi, company South Asia FM Ltd. (SAFL) and its managing director K. Shanmugam and firm Sun Direct TV Pvt. Ltd. (SDTPL) asking them to appear before him on July 11. The six were charge sheeted by Enforcement Directorate on January 8 for money laundering of Rs.742.58 crore. ED counsel N.K. Matta, while requesting court to initiate proceedings against accused, said: "Dayanidhi Maran obtained the proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs.742.58 crore through the companies of his relatives by camouflaging the proceeds of crime as capital contribution in SDTPL and SAFL and has committed the offence of money laundering in receiving the said proceeds of crime in the said companies owned and controlled by his brother, Kalanithi Maran and Kavery Kalanithi." Dayanidhi Maran allegedly influenced a Malaysian businessman to buy Aircel by coercing its owner Sivasankaran to part with his stake. Maran favoured the Maxis Group in the takeover of his company, and in return, the Malaysian businessman's company made investments in a company stated to be owned by the Maran family. The money was paid to SDTPL and SAFL, both of which are owned and controlled by Kalanithi Maran, and utilised by the two companies in their business, ED said. The probe revealed that promoters of the SDTPL are Kalanithi Maran and Kavery Kalanithi. Mumbai, Feb 27 : Actor Sidharth Malhotra reacted strongly when Kamaal R Khan made a derogatory comment about his "Kapoor & Sons" co-star Alia Bhatt. He has asked the "Deshdrohi" actor to mind his own business. Sidharth and Alia took to Twitter to post the cover photograph of a magazine, in which they are seen in swim wear. And to this Kamaal, who uses Twitter to express his personal opinion unabashedly, posted: "Alia looks so bacchi in panty but still some people keep forcing her to wear it." Sidharth, who is rumoured to be dating Alia, took offence to this, and tweeted: "Sir! We also try very hard to tell you to shut up but you keep tweeting! @kamaalrkhan". The retaliation led to a banter between the duo as KRK reverted by saying "Sir Ji @S1dharthM 130 crore people of India also try very hard to tell you to stop acting but you keep doing films to harass them." To this, Sidharth responded: "I think you need English reading classes sir, as you didn't read and understand my previous tweet!" Kamaal summed up the verbal spat on the virtual medium by saying that he will take English classes from Sidharth. When it comes to Sidharth and Alia, the duo have remained mum on the rumours over their relationship, but they have left behind hints suggesting their close rapport on many occasions. Now, Sidharth's lates comment will only add fuel to rumours of their bonding. The two actors will next be seen together on screen in "Kapoor & Sons", produced by Karan Johar, along with Fawad Khan. Directed by Shakun Batra, the romantic drama is slated to hit theatres on March 18. London, Feb 27 : England fast bowler Steven Finn has been ruled out of the World Twenty20 to be held in India from March 15 to April 3. The 26-year-old pulled out because of a left calf problem. Prior to the injury, he had to sit out England's tour of South Africa in January with a side strain, BBC reported on Friday. Finn took to Twitter to express his disappointment. "Really disappointed to have picked up another injury on my road to recovery. Gutted doesn't describe it. Good luck to the guys out there!" Finn posted. Finn has been replaced by pacer Liam Plunkett. The 30-year-old was in the England team for the T20 leg of the South Africa tour but did not play. England start their World T20 campaign against West Indies on March 16. Patna, Feb 27 : BJP's nationalism is about blindly following the ideology of its mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and has nothing to do with the country's interest and its people, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Saturday. "'Inka rashtrawad hain RSSwad'. It is like Hitler's fascism," Nitish Kumar said in the Bihar assembly in his reply to the opposition BJP. He said: "Nobody seeks nationalism certificate from them." Targeting his opponent BJP with strong words, Nitish Kumar said the country would not tolerate their brand of nationalism. "This country is full of diversity and have people with different culture, thoughts, ideas and food habits. The country will not tolerate their brand of nationalism, which they want to impose," Nitish Kumar said. He also questioned the role of BJP's predecessor and its mentor RSS's role in the freedom struggle of the country. They should tell the people whether they played any role in the freedom struggle and whether they participated in it. "Please explain to people what was your role in freedom struggle?" Nitish Kumar said the BJP's leaders have been talking big about the tricolour, the national flag, but they have no role in making this a national pride. He said the atmosphere of intolerance has increased after the BJP-led government was formed at the Centre. "First they created hatred by love jihad, followed by ghar wapsi and beef issue. Their campaign is based on false and baseless facts. All this was exposed and rejected by the people." He also said BJP leaders first said Rohith Vemula was not a Dalit and questioned his identity. Is it not a fact that the central government's policy and role of BJP leaders including union ministers forced Rohith Vemula to commit suicide?, asked the chief minister, whose Janata Dal-United-led Grand Alliance defeated the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Bihar assembly polls. Mumbai, Feb 27 : Director Milan Luthria, who was one among the many celebrities from Bollywood who met Sanjay Dutt after the actor returned home following his jail term, says the 'Munna Bhai' hasn't changed as a person. Sanjay on Thursday walked out of Pune's Yerawada Central Jail (YCJ) where he was imprisoned since May 2013 for illegal possession of arms. He returned to Mumbai the same day much to the delight of his family members, friends and fans. After meeting him here, Luthria said: "We were waiting for Baba (Sanjay) to return. For us who really love Sanju, it is like a bright sunny day after a long dark night. He hasn't changed at all. Sanju is the same as he used to be, cheerful and always smiling. "He is always positive and supportive. You cannot change the basic nature of a person. I am happy that after going through such a tough time, he is still very joyful." Sanjay was spotted with a new hairstyle when he walked out of jail. Asked to comment on that, Luthria of "The Dirty Picture" fame said: "Sanjay started the trend of long hair. He never had any qualms about experimenting with his look. He is a trendsetter for every generation, be it for his style, attitude or even hairstyle. He is followed by fans because of his attitude and fashion." Ahmedabad, Feb 27 : BJP national president Amit Shah on Saturday described Gujarat as a "fort of the BJP", asserting the party would form the government in the state after the 2017 assembly elections. Shah, who arrived here for the first time after once again becoming the party's president, said the Bharatiya Janata Party's victory in the 2017 elections would "shatter the hopes of the opponents who are day-dreaming". During his felicitation ceremony at Ahmedabad airport, Shah said: "Gujarat was, is and will remain a fort of BJP." Without naming the opposition Congress, Shah said BJP's zealous workers have fanned out in every nook and cranny of the state and would prove wrong all those "who have been day-dreaming about change of power in Gujarat". He said the party workers' target in the state was victory and they were ready to clear "any difficulties and thorns in the way". Shah, however, did not elaborate on the difficulties that the party could face in the run up to the 2017 assembly elections. "In 2017, the chants of 'long live BJP' and 'Bharat mata ki jai' would reverberate. We will win even more convincingly under the guidance of Narendrabhai (Modi) to serve the 6 crore Gujaratis again," he said, avoiding any reference to Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, who was present. "The win won't be a full stop, but just a comma before an even better future of the state. We will celebrate even the golden jubilee of our win," he said. Stating that the party was now ruling in 13 states and at the Centre where it was the first party to get absolute majority in 20 years, Shah said: "The party with the humble beginning as Jan Sangh in 1950 had never imagined it." "This is not a political journey but a journey of ideology. Under the successful leadership of Narendrabhai our government is marching ahead for all-inclusive growth taking into account the poor, farmers, labourers, Dalits, tribals and other backward classes," Shah added. He said of the last six assembly elections, the BJP had won four and formed a government in those states. "We lost only in Delhi and Bihar. But in Delhi, our percentage of votes did not diminish while in Bihar it even jumped up by a good margin," he said. Shah, also a local BJP legislator from Naranpura constituency, was accorded a warm welcome on his arrival here. Chief Minister Anandiben, her ministerial colleagues, state in-charge of the party Dinesh Sharma, national vice president Purushottam Rupala and other top state party leaders were present to receive him at the airport. Newly appointed Gujarat BJP president Vijay Rupani was also felicitated in the presence of Shah. Damascus, Feb 27 : The Supreme Commission for Negotiations (SCN), the main Syrian opposition alliance, announced on Saturday that it will resume peace talks in Geneva on March 7 if the regime and its allies respect the ceasefire. Commission spokesman Riyad Agha told Efe news that the opposition delegation is ready to return to indirect talks with the Syrian government representatives in the Swiss city, if the US-Russia sponsored truce, which came into effect at midnight, is respected. The UN Security Council demanded on Friday night respect for the cessation of hostilities in Syria, shortly before the truce came into force, noting that a new round of peace talks between the government and the opposition will be held on March 7. Meanwhile, Agha revealed that the two main Islamic armed opposition groups -- Army of Islam and the Islamic Movement of Ahrar al-Sham -- have accepted the truce, as was the case with Free Syrian Army, which is a part of SCN. SCN announced on Friday in a statement that a total of 97 armed groups had approved the cessation of hostilities, but did not give their names, so there were doubts about the acceptance of Army of Islam and Ahrar al-Sham. The ceasefire, agreed on by Russia and the US, came into force in Syria at midnight after both the Damascus government and SCN gave their approval. Both the Islamic State and the Al-Nusra Front have been excluded from the ceasefire deal. Kolkata, Feb 27 : Expressing alarm over prevalent malnutrition in the country, noted rights activist and public health expert Binayak Sen on Saturday called for a law for "Lokdroha" or those working against the interest of humanity. Participating at convention by the All India People's Forum (AIPF) here, he also endorsed the forum's resolution demanding release of Jawaharalal Nehru University Student Union president Kanhaiya Kumar arrested on charges of sedition, and resignations of union ministers Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya for the death of Dalit student Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad University. "If you haven't seen how a man who is convicted for sedition looks like, then here I am," said Sen at the convention. Found guilty of sedition and conspiracy, Sen was sentenced to life imprisonment by a lower court in Chhattisgarh in 2010. He was granted bail by the Supreme Court in 2011 and an appeal against the conviction is pending in the Chhattisgarh High Court. "There are laws for 'deshdroh', 'rashtradroh' (sedition) but I think there should also be a law for 'Lokdroha' for dealing with those who work against the interest of the common people, interest of the humanity," said Sen. "We should identify such people who work against the interest of the people and charged them with Lokdroha," he said at the convention where a resolution was passed among others seeking repealing of the law governing sedition and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Criticising the axing of the National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB), Sen said more than one-third of the adult population of the country suffers from malnutrition. "The NNMB has been axed without giving any reasons, though it has been doing a great work. It's because of the NNMB that we are aware of the alarming status of malnutrition among the children in the country," he said. "While it is well established fact that more than 50 percent of children below 5 years suffer from malnutrition and is a chief cause of their death, what is still not known by many, is even a large part of the adult population too suffers from malnutrition. "According to the NNMB, over on-third of the country's adult population has a body mass index (BMI) less than 18.5. Even those above the 18.5 BMI, suffer from malnutrition," he said. Calling for a law for punishing those working against the humanity, Sen said: "All those responsible for this condition (malnutrition) should be charged with the offence of Lokdroha". AIPF, a forum of a host of rights activists and organisations condemned the police crackdown at the JNU and demanded the release of Kanhaiya Kumar. New Delhi, Feb 27 : The team of Bollywood film "Sarbjit", including actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Randeep Hooda, has received permission to shoot close to the international border with Pakistan near Attari. Aishwarya is said to have requested government officials to grant permission for the Omung Kumar directorial, which is a biopic on Sarabjit Singh, an Indian farmer who was convicted of terrorism and spying in Pakistan and was sentenced to death. In the film, Randeep plays Sarabjit, and Aishwarya plays his sister Dalbir Kaur. "The makers were stuck when it came to final stage. And then the makers requested Aishwarya to intervene. She then agreed and requested (Home Minister) Rajnath Singh, and other important officials to grant the permission. And the authorities gave a thumbs up for the shoot," said a source aware of the developments. The crew will shoot for the sequence on Sunday and will eventually head to Delhi for a two-day shoot and then to Mumbai. The film is slated to hit the screens on May 19. Jodhpur, Feb 27 : With his roots in Afghanistan, robab exponent Daud Khan Sadozai says that the art of Sufi devotional music with such musical instruments is diminishing in the world as there is less or no devotion among today's youngsters. Sadozai who has been in the profession since he was a child, said that when he learnt this art, music was taken very seriously and was worshipped by the students but now a days, the key to learning this style - patience - is lost. "At that time, musicians used to be serious, they worshipped the art. People have lost the power of patience today and now everything comes at a price so it has turned into show business. You need patience for these kind of arts because they are meditative in a way and it takes time to understand," Sadozai told IANS in an interview at the World Sacred Spirit Festival here. "For our profession, patience is of prime importance. Learning music and the art takes a long time but the youngsters today lack patience. These days, youngsters want everything immediately like fast food. It is a problem to tune instruments as it' s so difficult. It has 25 strings," he added. Noting that in the current scenario, a lot of artistes in Afghanistan have become refugees, Sadozai said that every thread of culture in Pakistan and Iran has vanished. "Change is coming in very quickly nowadays. In Afghanistan, in the last 30 years, a lot has been destroyed. Many artistes have become refugees. Every thread of culture in Pakistan and Iran, the knowledge imparted by the gurus and ustaads, is over," he said. He feels lucky that when he was learning, it was peaceful in Afghanistan and at "that time, all ustads (gurus) used to live in the same neighbourhood so we learnt there." With the same pattern in India, the internationally-renowned artist says that since the beginning, "it was difficult to find an ustad because not every one of them accepted disciples." "If the student lacked manners and grace, they were not accepted by the ustads but things have changed now. Even the character of people has changed. The spiritual music that we had, slowly turned into showbusiness," Sadozai said. With a number of festivals talking place across the globe, Sadozai said that more such need to organised. "More and more of these festivals should be organised. The problem in Europe is that it is always in crisis. They have plenty of money but festivals and culture have been cut off there. There is no money for the arts. We need people to appreciate the arts. But like I said, the generation is changing..." he lamented. Sadozai has studied the sarod, a descendent of the robab, with Ustad Amjad Ali Khan in India. Amjad Ali Khan's ancestors had brought the robab from Afghanistan to India and developped the Sarod from it. Sadozai has performed at various international music festivals in Fermany, France and the US. In India, he was twice honoured with the Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan Award in 1988 and in 1995. (The writer's trip is at the invitation of the Meherangarh Museum Trust. Kishori Sud can be contacted at kishori.s@ians.in) Panaji, Feb 27 : The AAP in Goa on Saturday accused BJP workers of manhandling them and raising 'Pakistan Murdabad' slogans during a face-off at the DefExpo site at Betul village, 45 km from here late Friday. Addressing a press conference, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Valmiki Naik accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition government in Goa of trying to impose the Expo on Betul in South Goa, without following transparent processes. "We were present at the DefExpo site waiting to meet the chief minister and ask him for clarifications. Two BJP MLAs and other party workers started manhandling us and shouting slogans like 'Pakistan Murdabad'. They should stop branding people like this," Naik said. Speaking to IANS, state BJP president Vinay Tendulkar said he was unaware of the incident. "Maybe the BJP workers were protesting against what is happening at the JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University) which is why the slogans," Tendulkar said. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar visited the DefExpo 2016 site to take stock of the preparations for hosting the event. Traditionally held in the national capital, the Defence Expo is scheduled to be held in Goa this year because a new convention centre is being built at its regular venue Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. However, the DefExpo 2016, which is the ninth in the series of biennial Land, Naval and Internal Homeland Security Systems Exhibitions organised by the Defence Ministry, has attracted opposition from the ruling BJP-led coalition government's political opponents as well as a section of the civil society over the allocation of six lakh sq mts of land at Betul. Parsekar and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, a former chief minister of Goa, however, said the land was only being handed over to the defence ministry on a temporary basis and the event would benefit local entrepreneurs and service providers. Mumbai, Feb 27 : Actor Manish Paul, whose film 'Tere Bin Laden: Dead Or Alive' was recently released, has also completed shooting for the 'Katha' remake and is currently shooting for another film 'Baa Baaa Black Sheep'. "I'm doing 'Katha' which is the remake of an old film. I have finished that film. Apart from that I'm shooting for the film, 'Baa Baaa Black Sheep'. So there are some projects going on," said Manish Paul at a theatre here to gauge the audience's response to 'Tere Bin Laden: Dead Or Alive'. The original 'Katha' was directed by Sai Paranjpye and starred Naseeruddin Shah, Deepti Naval and Farooque Shaikh. Manish will be playing a character based on Shaikh's character in the remake, to be directed by Khalid Mohammed. And 'Baa Baaa Black Sheep' sees him sharing screen space with veteran actor Anupam Kher, who plays his father in the film. Asked while 'Tere Bin Laden: Dead Or Alive' is a comedy, his debut, 'Micky Virus' was a comic thriller, and considering his comic host image, is he open to trying another brand of comedy - adult comedy? "I am not very comfortable doing adult comedy. I think I am happy the way I am. We are actors and our work depends on the roles we represent. Let's see what's in store for me in future," he said. About his February 26 release 'Tere Bin Laden Dead or Alive', he said: "I am excited to see that the theatre is almost going full. We work for this day so that the audience enjoys our work. We try to entertain them as much as possible. People are watching the movie and giving positive feedback. So, I am feeling very happy." 'Tere Bin Laden: Dead Or Alive' also stars Pradhuman Singh, Piyush Mishra and Sikandar Kher among others. Islamabad, Feb 27 : Pakistan has welcomed the agreement reached between Russia and the US for a nationwide cessation of hostilities to begin in Syria on February 27. The US and Russia agreed this week on a "cessation of hostilities" between the Syrian government and groups fighting it in a deal that keeps out the Islamic State group and the al-Nusra Front. "We also appreciate the efforts of the International Syria Support Group and sincerely wish for the success of the agreement," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said. He said Pakistan has always maintained a principled position on Syria based on neutrality, impartiality and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Syria. "We, however, remain concerned on the humanitarian crisis and the urgent need to address the refugee crisis," the spokesman said. On Monday US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reached the terms of a nationwide cessation of hostilities in Syria. Panaji, Feb 27 : Over 900 defence-related companies are expected to participate in the DefExpo 2016, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Saturday, adding that a final decision on shifting the international B2B event permanently to Goa would be taken its completion. Briefing select journalists in at the defence ministry camp office here, he also said that four companies, including Bharat Forge would be showcasing guns manufactured in India at the event, which will be held from March 28. "We have invited representatives from 117 countries and more than 900 companies are expected to participate in the DefExpo 2016," Parrikar said, calling it a thumbs up for Make in India. Asked whether Goa would be made a permanent venue for the Expo, which has been relocated to Goa from Delhi's Pragati Maidan grounds due to renovation at the latter premises, Parrikar said that a call on this would only be taken "after completion of this expo". He also said that several defence ministers as well as a four star general from the US would also be attending the event. The four-day expo will be held at the Naqueri plateau in Betul village located 45 kms south of Panaji. The relocation has been opposed by the opposition as well as civil society groups, which has accused the defence ministry of trying to hog real estate in a state which is already facing a land crunch. Brussels, Feb 27 : Almost 2,000 people took to the streets here on Saturday in a demonstration in support of refugees' rights, public broadcaster RTBF reported. The march in the Belgian capital was part of a coordinated day of action in 100 cities across Europe, from Albania to Norway, organised by citizens' rights groups calling for a safe passage for refugees seeking protection in Europe. Doctors Without Borders and Amnesty International were among the groups represented, RBTF reports, adding refugees also took part in the demonstration. Demonstrators carried survival blankets along the route of the march, which will be sent to the Greek islands, an entry point for refugees into European Union. Kolkata, Feb 27 : At least two people were killed after crude bombs stored in a house exploded in West Bengal's Birbhum district on Saturday, police said. The explosion took place in a house at AShibpur village near Suri, in the district, a senior police officer said. "We recovered a body from the house where the explosion took place. Another man was injured in the blast, later succumbed to his injuries," said the officer. Alleging the involvement of the ruling Trinamool Congress in the explosion, the opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed the Mamata Banerjee government over the deteriorating law and order in the state. "The explosion is a result of Trinamool's internal feud. Clashes between rival factions within the Trinamool have now become a daily affair," said former CPI-M MP Ram Chandra Dome. "There is no law and order in the state, under the Trinamool only bomb making is flourishing," said BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha. Rubbishing the opposition's charges, local Trinamool leader Piyari Mollah claimed the explosion was a handiwork of criminals and his party activists were not involved. New Delhi, Feb 27 : Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday demanded action against outgoing Delhi Police chief B.s. Bassi on the Patiala House court complex violence. "What happened in Patiala House court was scripted by police. Supreme Court had to finally intervene into the matter. (From the) video that has come out now, from that it is clear that despite SC's intervention, Delhi Police remained just a mere spectator," he said. "As per the recent affidavit, it was reported that 800 police personnel were present at the Patiala House court. Still how did the incident take place?" he asked. Several journalists, as also Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, who has been arrested on sedition charges, were assaulted in the court premises on February 15 and 17. Sisodia also said: "Many senior officers were also present. What action has the police commissioner taken against them? Police was responsible for the whole incident. They were deliberately not taking any action so that a state of unrest could be created." "There should be action against Bassi sahab before he retires. There should also be action against police officials from New Delhi range," he added. On the issue of Murthal gangrape case, Sisosia assured support to the victims. "There are reports that few women were allegedly raped in Murthal. The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has issued a helpline number. We would also like to assure the victims that if they come forward and give their statements to DCW in confidentiality, then we'll provide all kinds of administrative and legal assistance to them apart from their security," he said. Paymentsense has been featured in the Inc. 5000 Europe, a list of the fastest-growing private companies operating throughout Europe. The merchant service provider was ranked an impressive 936th on the prestigious listing and was one of only a handful of payment providers to be featured on this years rankings. Paymentsense provides card payment solutions to over 50,000 small and medium businesses in both the UK and Ireland. Its products include the latest contactless card machines, as well as highly secure website payment solutions. The company recorded average growth of 164% and 16.4m in revenues across the three-year period. As well as featuring in the Inc. 5000 Europe, Paymentsense was recently named as the UKTI Growth Business of the Year at the 2015 Lloyds Bank National Business Awards and secured a high ranking on The Sunday Times Hiscox Tech Track 100. As an Inc. 5000 Europe honoree, Paymentsense now shares a pedigree with Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Timberland, Clif Bar, Pandora, Patagonia, Oracle, and dozens of other prominent recent U.S. alumni. In addition to Paymentsense, the Inc. 5000 Europe list added notable companies such as Avicii Music, Widespace, Hastens Mattresses, Meltwater, Bill's Restaurant. George Karibian, co-founder of Paymentsense, said: This is the first time Paymentsense has been featured on the Inc. 5000 listing, the hallmark of entrepreneurial success in both the US and Europe, and we are honoured to be ranked alongside so many rapidly growing businesses. Jan Farrarons, co-founder of Paymentsense added: To have won a National Business Award and feature in the Inc. 5000 inside of three months is a truly incredible achievement for this business, and we look forward to continued growth both here in the UK and abroad. -Ends- For further information or interview opportunities, contact: Ross McTaggart Marketing communications manager 0203 693 6532 ross(dot)mctaggart(at)paymentsense(dot)com About Paymentsense Paymentsense was founded by serial entrepreneurs George Karibian and Jan Farrarons. As the UK's largest merchant service provider, Paymentsense enables 45,000 SMEs to process over 5 billion worth of card payments per year. From contactless card machines to online payment services, Paymentsense supplies small businesses with card processing solutions that allow them to take payments in store, online, over the phone and on the move. About Inc. In 1982, Inc. Magazine, the leading magazine for entrepreneurs and leaders of private companies, introduced the Inc. 500 list of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States. Since then, this prestigious list of Americas most successful private companies has become the hallmark of entrepreneurial success and the place where future household names first make their mark. Pandora, 7 Eleven, Toys 'R' Us, Microsoft, Dominos Pizza and numerous other well-known brands have been honored by the Inc. 500. Today, the list is a distinguished editorial award, a celebration of innovation, a network of entrepreneurial leaders, and an effective public relations showcase. Both in the U.S. and in Europe, the Inc. 5000 ranks companies by overall revenue growth over a three-year period. All honoree companies are individually profiled on Inc.com. The list and its honorees are frequently and prominently featured in the print issues of Inc. magazine and at inc.com. Inc. also ranks the fastest-growing companies by industry, country, revenue, and number of employees, and business type. Heather Sakers I focus on my clients wants, needs and goals, and it has paid off year after year. Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty, a leading real estate firm at North Carolina's Outer Banks, would like to congratulate Heather Sakers for earning the firm's 2015 Listing Agent of the Year award. "I always strive to put myself in my clients shoesI have to focus on listening to their wants, needs and goals, and it has paid off year after year. A win-win for everyone," says Heather Sakers. In addition to earning the Listing Agent of the Year award, Heather Sakers has also qualified for membership in the Coldwell Banker International President's Circle. This prestigious membership has been awarded to the top six percent of all Coldwell Banker sales associates/representatives worldwide. Heather accepted her awards at the beautiful Duck Woods Country Club on February 9, 2016 "I had the privilege of joining Heather on a Listing Presentation this past year and was so impressed with how she explained to her sellers all the steps involved with selling a home. From listing to marketing to closing, she covered it all," says Pamela Smith, Vice President of Sales. Locally established for over 25 years, Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty is family owner and operated with over 45 dedicated real estate professionals providing the full range of residential and commercial real estate services throughout the Outer Banks and northeast North Carolina from three locations. Coldwell Banker Seaside Realty sells more real estate than any other firm on the Outer Banks.* *As reported by OBAR for the period of 1/01/2015 - 12/31/2015 @FoodableCanada Foodable Network recognizes Canada as a key culinary power for great operators and chefs. Last November, Foodable Network expanded its North American readership by commencing its Toronto coverage, but on March 1, 2016, Foodable is further celebrating the incredible culinary tales cooking outside U.S. borders by officially launching its Canada channel, Foodable Canada. Foodable Canada tells the delicious stories that can be found in the nation's flavorful, diverse, cultural food cities. The launch of Foodable Canada will coincide with the Restaurants Canada Show 2016, where Foodable Network is screening three of its films: "Food As a Lifestyle," an industry-level reality series following the day in the life of chefs, mixologists and operators; "Fast Casual Nation: Changing the Way America Eats," a documentary that explores the birth, growth and future of the fast casual movement; and "Beer Artisan," which reveals the phenomenal cultural shift of craft beverages. "Foodable Network recognizes Canada as a key culinary power for great operators and chefs. Our venture to launch dedicated content for Canada was an easy decision with a growing audience of professionals seeking content that appeals to the modern-day restaurant operator," Paul Barron, Foodable's founder and CEO, says. "Foodable Canada has an array of Canadian content planned that will be the basis for heavy expansion for our digital media efforts." To learn more about Foodable, visit: http://www.foodabletv.com/Canada or @FoodableCanada Join us March 1 at Restaurants Canada Show 2016 and stay tuned for Foodable Canada! ABOUT FOODABLE NETWORK: Launched in September 2013, Foodable Network is a media organization founded by restaurant industry publisher and producer, Paul Barron. With the largest social media audience and reach in restaurant trade, Foodable reaches chefs, operators and brands nationwide and internationally in Canada and the U.K. through broadcast-quality production, strong editorial content, the Foodable Top 25 rankings, reports and insights, the Foodable Annual Tech Guide and events such as Foodable.io. Visit us at http://www.FoodableTV.com. DoD Reserve Family Readiness Award ceremony on Feb. 26, 2016, in the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon. With your unselfish contributions, youve made the lives of those you serve with a little less daunting, allowed our heroes to truly focus on the mission and made America better. Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dana Atkins, president and CEO of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), joined the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Reserve Affairs) and chiefs of the National Guard and Reserve in honoring seven outstanding military family readiness organizations during the DoD Reserve Family Readiness Award ceremony Friday in the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon. The DoD Reserve Family Readiness Award, established in 2000, annually recognizes the top unit in each reserve component for its outstanding programs that support unit missions and family readiness. The ceremony began with opening remarks from Stephanie Barna, the principal deputy assistant secretary of defense (manpower and reserve affairs) and a retired U.S. Army Reserve colonel, whose remarks centered on the significant impact family readiness has on mission readiness. She recognized special guests Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Ill., and Gen. Frank J. Grass, chief, National Guard Bureau, and his wife, Patricia. Atkins addressed the audience by thanking Barna for the privilege to recognize on behalf of MOAA the outstanding contributions of the family readiness groups. We are here today to recognize that group of superstars who give so much to the families of our American heroes the men and women of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Guard, Coast Guard and Reserve, said Atkins With your unselfish contributions, youve made the lives of those you serve with a little less daunting, allowed our heroes to truly focus on the mission and made America better. Each organization received an engraved commemorative plaque presented by Barna and a signed certificate of appreciation and a cash reward from Atkins. This is the 11th year MOAA has given a monetary award intended to assist with enhancement of family support programs. The units recognized this year for outstanding efforts to build support networks for Guard and Reserve families are Army National Guard Headquarters Company, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Normal, Ill. Unit Commander: Capt. Jera Muder U.S. Army Reserve Forward Support Company, 980th Engineer Battalion, Austin, Texas Unit Commander: Capt. Michael Davis U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Combat Logistics Battalion 453, Aurora, Colo. Unit Commander: Lt. Col. Michael Wendler U.S. Navy Reserve Navy Operational Support Center North Island, San Diego Unit Commander: Capt. Michael Joyner Air National Guard 157th Air Refueling Wing, Pease ANGB, N.H. Unit Commander: Col. Peter Sullivan U.S. Air Force Reserve 934th Airlift Wing Airman and Family Readiness Center, Minneapolis Unit Commander: Lt. Col. Kristiana Gerdes U.S. Coast Guard Reserve Port Security Unit 308, Kiln, Miss. Unit Commander: Cmdr. Ronzelle Green Improved family readiness programs and command emphasis help prepare Guard and Reserve families to support their service members in the performance of their duties. -End- About MOAA: Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is the nations largest officers association with more than 390,000 members from every branch of service, including active duty, retired, National Guard, Reserve, and former officers and their families and survivors. MOAA is a nonprofit and politically nonpartisan organization and an influential force in promoting a strong national defense. MOAA represents the interests of service members and their families in every stage of their lives and careers, and for those who are not eligible to join MOAA, Voices for Americas Troops is a nonprofit MOAA affiliate that supports a strong national defense. For more information, visit http://www.moaa.org or http://www.voicesfortroops.org/. Robert Garrison of NFI will be speaking at the RILA Supply Chain Conference on Monday with Joe Barbieri, Five Below Director of Supply Chain. In the panel titled Strategies for Managing International Excellence Capitalizing on the Current Landscape, Barbieri and Garrison will outline how they accomplished global inventory optimization while in high-growth mode. The story of our relationship with Five Below is a compelling one and Im excited to share it with the supply chain industry, said Garrison. Its another example of how we listen to and understand our clients needs and identify their biggest pain points. We then use that understanding to select the appropriate solutions and leverage current methodologies, so that we deliver an optimal supply chain experience. During the discussion, retailers will hear the story of Five Below and be offered insights into the processes and strategies that led to its success and lessons learned. With the leverage of a global 3PL partner, Five Below can access the people, technology, facilities, and carriers of their combined networks. Additionally, NFI will share their view of working as an international 3PL, how flexibility in supporting a business like Five Belows is crucial, and in what ways 3PL relationships develop. The panel will be held on Monday, February 29, 2016 at 2:45 p.m. in Dallas, Texas. NFI will also be exhibiting at the conference from Sunday, February 28, 2016 Wednesday, March 2, 2016. Stop by booth #527 to see how NFI can bring efficiencies to your supply chain. About NFI -- NFI is a fully integrated supply chain solutions provider headquartered in Cherry Hill, NJ. Privately held by the Brown family since its inception in 1932, NFI generates more than $1.2 billion in annual revenue and employs more than 8,000 associates. NFI owns facilities globally and operates 27.5 million square feet of warehouse and distribution space. Its company-owned fleet consists of over 2,000 tractors and 8,200 trailers, operated by more than 2,600 company drivers and 250 owner operators. Its business lines include dedicated transportation, warehousing, intermodal, brokerage, transportation management, global, real estate, trailer storage, and solar services. For more information about NFI, visit http://www.nfiindustries.com or call 1-877-NFI-3777. About Five Below: Five Below is a rapidly growing specialty value retailer offering a broad range of trend-right, high-quality merchandise targeted at the teen and pre-teen customer. Five Below offers a dynamic, edited assortment of exciting products in a fun and differentiated store environment, all priced at $5 and below, including select brands and licensed merchandise across a number of category worlds: Style, Room, Sports, Tech, Crafts, Party, Candy, and Now. Five Below is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For more information, visit http://www.fivebelow.com. International law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLPs Francoise Gilbert, in conjunction with the Cloud Security Alliance, will host a program on EU Data Protection and Cybersecurity Developments. The program, Hot Issues in EU Privacy and Cybersecurity: What does it mean for the Cloud? will be held March 1, 2016, in the PLI Conference Center, 685 Market Street, San Francisco. During this interactive program, Gilbert and a panel of in-house experts will discuss how the EU General Data Protection Regulation and the EU-US Privacy Shield, once enacted, will impact those U.S. companies processing the personal information of EU citizens and will offer practical advice on how companies can prepare for these measures. The panel will also examine and address the new compliance implications of the EU General Data Protection Regulation for cloud service providers, SaaS providers, and for those companies that use their services. Gilbert, a shareholder in the firms Silicon Valley office, focuses her practice on U.S. and global data privacy and security in a wide variety of markets, including, among others, Internet, cloud computing, big data, connected devices, robots, and other emerging technologies. Her clients include public or multi-national entities, cloud service providers, big data analytics companies, connected device developers, B2C and B2B businesses, publishers, Internet stores, insurance companies, financial institutions, manufacturers, service providers, trade associations, nonprofit organizations, software developers, and others. About Greenberg Traurigs Cybersecurity and Crisis Management Practice Greenberg Traurigs Cybersecurity and Crisis Management Practice is comprised of a multidisciplinary group of attorneys and professionals dedicated to developing strategies to address privacy, data security, and information management issues including privacy audits, policies and procedures, data security and PCI compliance, employee privacy, record retention/electronic discovery, international/cross-border data transfer, data breach readiness and response and litigation and dispute resolution, as well as the defense of data privacy, security breach, and TCPA class action suits. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP Greenberg Traurig, LLP is an international, multi-practice law firm with approximately 1900 attorneys serving clients from 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm is No 1. on the 2015 Law360 Most Charitable Firms list, third largest in the U.S. on the 2015 Law360 400, Top 20 on the 2015 Am Law Global 100, and among the 2015 BTI Brand Elite. More information at: http://www.gtlaw.com. AxioMed Freedom Cervical & Lumbar Discs AxioMed is honored to have Dr. Reiley lead a discussion on how to achieve total segmental restoration in spine. AxioMed, LLC announced today that Dr. Mark Reiley, an experienced veteran of total segment motion preservation, will speak at a private event hosted by AxioMed during AAOSs (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida. The wine and cheese tasting event will occur in a private suite at the JW Marriott, in Orlando on Thursday evening, March 3, 2016 at 8:00 pm, and will give attendees the opportunity to mingle with orthopedic industry leaders from several companies, including AxioMed, Invibio, SpineFrontier and KICVentures, among others. In conjunction with Dr. Reileys talk, AxioMed will host a discussion about applying lessons in total joint replacement to spine motion preservation. The topic of discussion will include the latest trends in technology, the evolution of joint replacement and the practice of motion preservation in spine. To RSVP for this event, please email: sarahcook(at)spinefrontier(dot)com. Dr. Mark Reiley is a board-certified surgeon who did his first total segment motion preservation procedure in Berlin over 10 years ago. Dr. Reiley co-founded Kyphon based on his invention of the Kyphon balloon device to treat fractured vertebrae. Reiley sold Kyphon to Medtronic in 2007. He then founded INBONE Technologies, Inc. in 2008, serving as its Chief Medical Officer. Among other inventions, Dr. Reiley also designed the first and only Total Ankle Replacement (TAR) to use intramedullary guidance. He is also the inventor of the triangular fusion rod and Co-founder of SI-Bone. Dr. Reiley is an international speaker and published author of several books and articles, as well as the winner of the 2008 Phoenix Lifetime Achievement Award in Medicine. AxioMed is honored to have Dr. Reiley lead a discussion on how to achieve total segmental restoration in spine. Jake Lubinski, President of AxioMed, will give an update on AxioMed Freedom Total Disc Replacements IDE progress. The AxioMed Freedom Disc is a single-piece total disc replacement with a proprietary, viscoelastic polymer core that mimics the flexibility and stiffness of a human vertebra. This next-generation technology is the only one of its kind on the market. So far, the Freedom Cervical Disc has completed a European post-market study. The USA Lumbar IDE, started in 2008, has just finished a two year follow-up. Visit this article for more information about the Freedom Disc clinical studies. European surgeons who use the Freedom Disc have been pleased with its results. Dr. Hausmann, an EU neurosurgeon and early adopter of the Freedom Disc says, "My patients had no side effects...I am very happy with the two-year results of the disc...The AxioMed disc has a better range of movement than the ball-and-socket discs." About AxioMed Founded in 2001, AxioMed (http://www.axiomed.com/) began its journey of exhaustively proving the Freedom Disc through research, development and testing. In 2014, KICVentures recognized the discs enormous potential and acquired the company into their healthcare portfolio. AxioMed owns an exclusive viscoelastic material license on its proprietary Freedom Disc technology. About KICVentures KICVentures (http://www.KICVentures.com) manages several portfolio companies (including AxioMed, LLC), investing in disruptive technology in the health-tech sector. KICVentures acquires, creates, and nurtures companies and their technologies to their fullest potential. Pharma Strategies in Latin America: Keys to Success Special Two-Part FDAnews Webinar Part I: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 1:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. EDT Part II: Tuesday, April 5, 2016 1:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. EDT http://www.fdanews.com/pharmastrategieslatinamerica This two-part webinar will provide valuable insights into the regulatory, clinical and marketing landscape for any company doing or planning to engage business in Latin America, whether exporting, in local partnership or manufacturing within the region. Part I: Tuesday, March 15th, 2016 at 1:30 pm EDT Regional business and regulatory environment in Latin America; situation analysis and strategies for organizations seeking for sustained growth in life-science markets. Part II: Tuesday, April 5th, 2016 at 1:30 pm EDT Alignment and convergence of clinical-registration requirements, and business opportunities in the major life-science markets in Latin America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Get answers to these important questions by attending the webinar series: 1. What countries offer the greatest IP protection? 2. What countries are planning major regulatory changes in the next 12 months? 3. What countries offer the best partnership opportunities? 4. What countries have the strictest clinical trial requirements? 5. What countries have the most robust adverse events reporting rules? 6. What countries have the most complex post-marketing surveillance guidance? The expert faculty will cover all aspects of the drug development cycle, from research and clinical trials to post-marketing surveillance, through the prism of the social, political, business and regulatory perspective in Latin America. Webinar takeaways: Gain the latest insights and updates of ongoing regulatory convergence initiatives in Latin America. Find out where the real marketing opportunities are in the region and how to take advantage of them. Become familiar with strategic partnering opportunities for clinical development, regulatory filings, marketing and commercialization of biopharmaceutical products. Understand the regulatory complexities of the region and the specific opportunities and challenges in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. Discover the regulatory and legal rubric manufacturers will encounter in the drug development process, including unique clinical trial regulations, GMP requirements, approval obstacles and shortcuts, post-approval marketing standards, adverse event reporting and more. Determine what course of action is best in this region, in terms of investing dollars and resources in a growing, diverse but ambiguous (we recommend potential instead of ambiguous) environment. Take an analytic peek at the future opportunities for biopharmaceutical development in the region. This series will cover all companies need to know about entering the Latin American market from research and clinical trials to post-marketing surveillance and adverse event reporting. Dont miss out on this essential webinar. If an attendee cant make one of the sessions a recording will be available 24 hours after the live webinar. Meet the Presenters: Fernando Ferrer, Head of Global Consulting in Business and Operations, Multinational Partnerships LLC Fernando Ferrer is a proven business leader in life science with experience across different corporate and cultural environments, and speaker in industry related events. Mr. Ferrer is based in the US, and due to his professional career he lived also in Spain, Switzerland, Argentina and Brazil, and besides his global roles, has had experience working directly with 30+ countries. Silvia Bendiner, Director Regulatory Affairs Latin America, Mapi Group Silvia Bendiner joined Optum Insight Life Sciences, acquired by the Mapi Group, holding the position of Director, Regulatory Affairs Latin America. Ms. Bendiner has over 25 years of life sciences experience, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, translational therapy, generics, biosimilars and biologics working with human and animal medicines. Who Will Benefit: Medical Affairs Officers Director of Clinical Operations Regulatory Affairs Professionals Director of Publications Director of Clinical Trial Regulatory Management Clinical Trial Information Disclosure Directors Global Clinical Safety and Pharmacovigilance Officers Legal counsel Regulatory affairs Compliance officers Product lifecycle managers International Affairs Webinar Details: Pharma Strategies in Latin America: Keys to Success Special Two-Part FDAnews Webinar Part I: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 1:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. EDT Part II: Tuesday, April 5, 2016 1:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. EDT http://www.fdanews.com/pharmastrategieslatinamerica Tuition: $327 per site Easy Ways to Register: Online: http://www.fdanews.com/pharmastrategieslatinamerica By phone: 888-838-5578 or 703-538-7600 About FDAnews: FDAnews is the premier provider of domestic and international regulatory, legislative, and business news and information for executives in industries regulated by the US FDA and the European Medicines Agency. Pharmaceutical and medical device professionals rely on FDAnews' print and electronic newsletters, books and conferences to stay in compliance with international standards and the FDA's complex and ever-changing regulations. Shoe Insoles for Shin Splints Athletes with intense work-out regimes can develop lower-leg inflammation, a condition commonly known as shin splints. RxSorbo, a leading online retailer of top-rated shoe insoles, is pleased to announce the availability of a new informational page on shin splints, including a guide to how find the proper insoles for pain relief. Athletes with intense work-out regimes can develop lower-leg inflammation, a condition commonly known as shin splints, explained Rj Yozwiak, Manager of RxSorbo. While a hands-on examination from a doctor is needed to determine a course of treatment, it is often the case that shoe insoles for pain relief can be an important part of the treatment of this common ailment. 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People suffering from shin splint pain will notice inflammation and in the lower leg and the inner part of the lower leg will feel sore. Individuals with flat feet or high arches are at risk as well. While there is no permanent method for curing shin splin, the condition can be managed, and the body allowed to heal itself. Options recommended by a physician may include compression socks, shoes with good orthotics, and correct shoe insoles for pain relief. Developed by a Materials Scientist to mimic human flesh - Sorbothane is a one-of-a-kind visco elastic polymer. 100% unique - Sorbothane is a solid that naturally flows like a liquid - Sorbothane absorbs impact shock and provides comfort better than any other insole material available today. About RxSorbo RxSorbo is the source for Sorbothane Shoe insoles (shoe inserts). Sorbothane uniquely absorbs up to 94.7% of impact shock, and makes for quality shoe insoles for many conditions. People come to RxSorbo for shoe insoles for foot maladies from Plantar Fasciitis to Morton's Neuroma to metatarsalgia to many other conditions. From Shoe inserts for running to top-rated insoles for dress shoes to gym shoes, reviews of the companys shoe insoles prove they are among the best shoe insoles. RxSorbo http://www.rxsorbo.com/ The reality today is that consumers go first to the Internet to learn about anything, including legal issues. Burdette & Rice of Dallas, Texas, a team of dedicated probate attorneys at http://www.dallasprobateattorneys.com/, is proud to announce an important milestone on the social media network, Google+. The company has just topped 18,000 views of its Google+ page. "The reality today is that consumers go first to the Internet to learn about anything, including legal issues," explained Elliott Burdette, Managing Director of Probate Litigation at Burdette and Rice. He continued, Our online strategy focuses on our blog, and on cross-posts to Google+ and Twitter. Topping 18,000 views of our Google+ page is indicative of the hunger in the Dallas-Fort Worth community for straightforward and timely information on estate, probate, and trust issues. To view the company's Google+ page, visit their website at http://www.dallasprobateattorneys.com/. Then, scroll down to the bottom footer, and click on the Google+ icon. Alternatively, one can go directly to Google+ at https://plus.google.com/113348598495908876736/posts. Social Media Posts by Burdette & Rice Burdette and Rice is known as a law firm that promotes education and outreach. Its attorneys are frequent presenters at legal conferences in and around the Dallas area, generally on their areas of expertise such as probate, estate, and trust litigation and disputes. The firm uses social media such as Twitter and Google+ as outreach tools for the general public, and posts both on legal topics (primarily based on its blog efforts) as well as general happenings around the Dallas area. The reality is that many people turn to social media for local information, and by mixing both serious legal information with fun information on happenings around Dallas, the firm is able to engage interested parties as well as entertain them. A sample post is entitled, "Texas law provides special procedures for missing wills," and that summary points to a more detailed discussion on the firm's blog at http://www.dallasprobateattorneys.com/will-contests-texas-law/. About Burdette & Rice, PLLC Burdette & Rice, PLLC is a probate, estate, and guardianship dispute law firm, with lawyers dedicated to listening to their clients, being fully present to them, and advocating their clients positions in the simplest and most persuasive way possible. The law firm employs well-respected probate and estate lawyers in Dallas, Texas. Clients come to Burdette & Rice to contest a will in Texas, work on complex inheritance litigation and disputes, and even to litigate disputes over powers of attorney, guardianship and trustee issues all based on Texas law. Burdette & Rice, PLLC Media Relations http://www.dallasprobateattorneys.com/ 972-991-7700 For more than 20 years, Anne Garrels took National Public Radio listeners to the worlds conflict zones, including Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Baghdad. She has an especially long track record in Russia, the subject of her new book, Putin Country: A Journey into the Real Russia, which Farrar, Straus and Giroux will publish in March. Garrels graduated from Harvard with a B.A. in Russian in 1972 and served as Moscow bureau chief for ABC News until 1982. Shes been traveling there regularly since the breakup of the Soviet Union made it possible for her to return. After Garrels retired from NPR in 2010, she began spending three to four months per year in Chelyabinsk, the real Russia of her subtitlea provincial city on the southern edge of the Urals. Garrels profiles Russians there (with her customary insight and empathy) who generally support the authoritarian regime of President Vladimir Putin, preferring order, however repressive, to the anarchy of the 1990s. You have to realize that many Russians were totally shocked by what happened to them, Garrels says, seated in the sunlight-flooded, bookshelf-lined office of her home in northwestern Connecticut. They wanted to live like the West, but that meant people didnt have enough food. The West, in their view, was telling them what to do and how to do it, and the results were oligarchs and corruption. The Western news coverage was all Moscow-centric, about the opposition and those seeking democracy. These people were my friends, but the liberal intelligentsia is not representative of the country. It became clear that it was important to get the hell out of town, and I wanted to choose one place where I could get to know people in all different spheres of life, where I could really document the changes. What Garrels found in Chelyabinsk was not just a desire for security and stability but a longing for the restoration of national pride and stature that strikes her as familiar. Imagine if America had gone through what Russia went through: all of a sudden, a great unchallenged superpower is a beggar, she says. In fact, look at what Americans are doing now! They feel threatened, uncertain, the world is changing around them, and you have demagogues like Donald Trump. The high-pitched rhetoric favored by Trump and Putin needs to be countered, Garrels says. Putin plays into Russian resentments and a sense of inferiority by talking about being a great nation again and about a spiritual revival in lockstep with the Orthodox church, while on this side of the pond theres a lot of hyperbole, exaggeration, and hysteria about the Russiansthats dangerous. One reason I wrote this book was to try to understand: Why did this happen? Garrelss commitment to spreading the word about the insights she gained in Chelyabinsk is the reason she is sitting down to talk about Putin Country as both she and her husband, former CIA officer J. Vinton Lawrence, face major surgery. He has been home from the hospital for three weeks, recuperating from treatment for acute leukemia before returning for a potential bone marrow transplant. She has lung cancer and in two days will endure a five-hour-plus operation. Im paying for my sins, of course: Im an ex-smoker, she says, grimacing. Youd sit in Baghdad and say, Theres nothing here that can give me pleasure except a cigarette, and you would grant yourself that ridiculous pleasure. But my cancer has not metastasized, and while it will be dramatic surgery on Wednesdayribs removed, part of the chest wall, nastyits possible that it will be as close to a cure as I can get. Asked if she would prefer that I not mention any of these extremely personal details, Garrels says simply, Its the reality. She has a dedicated journalists commitment to telling the truth, however unpleasant, and is frustrated when her fellow Americans choose to ignore the lessons of stories she reported at considerable risk. Here are politicians saying once again, The military will solve ISIS, just go in and bomb the hell out of them. Well, sorry: its not that easy, and there are repercussions. Nobody wants to go back and look at Iraq, because its embarrassing to see what a disaster it was; its shocking how we went in with so little information, so little knowledge. Talking to ordinary people in Iraq, in the days leading up to the invasion and even more clearly in the months and years after, made me understand how miserably the United States had failed. You could predict the rise of ISIS from their alienation. Garrelss first book, Naked in Baghdad, closed with the end of the U.S. invasion and was just a snapshot, she says. Other people wrote far better books as events unfolded and it became clear what was going on. Shes similarly measured in her assessment of her work in Moscow for ABCs World News Tonight. People like [New York Times correspondent] Hedrick Smith were writing groundbreaking books about the Russians while network correspondents were standing in Red Square with furry hats, she remembers. I was given an opportunity to change that, and although I wasnt doing anything print journalists hadnt been doing long since, I did it for TV and I did it with pictures, and there was a power to that. After Garrels left the Soviet Union, she covered the civil wars in El Salvador and Nicaragua for ABC. Despite the ferocity of these conflicts, they were far safer for those covering them than todays wars are, she says. In those days we wore T-shirts saying, Dont shoot, Im a journalist! There was a certain sense that we were neededthat we could cover both sides. Now journalists are increasingly targeted, because were no longer needed by the parties. ISIS has access to the Internet, they have their own propaganda machine; to them we are either a liability or a source of money [from ransom]. Long before that sinister development, Garrels moved from television to radio. Once I came back to the States I had to deal with television in a more normal way, competing for a slot in a half-hour program, she recalls. I started listening to NPR and thinking, hmmm... So I took a 75% pay cut and became incredibly happy. At the time, nobody had ever gone from television to NPR, and everybody was enormously suspicious; it was like, Whats wrong with her? Over time, many of my colleagues in the networks have said, God, Id love to be able to do what youre doing! Garrels loved it for more than 20 years, until she burned out on being a foreign correspondent and decided she didnt want to go back to Washington and cover a building. It was more important to be home with her husband in Connecticut, she decided. After what she describes as our annus horribilis, shes particularly glad she made that choice. At this point, were just going day by day, she says. That makes sense: addressing earthshaking events on a day-to-bay basis with grace, courage, and humanity has always been Garrelss specialty. Wendy Smith, a contributing editor at PW and the American Scholar, reviews books for the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Times, and the Daily Beast. Da Capo Vies for Glory At Da Capo Press, Robert Pigeon bought world rights to Justin Martins A Fierce Glory. The book chronicles the battle of Antietam, the Civil Wars tipping point, and, for Lincoln, the high-stakes battle that needed to be won in order to save the Union and free the slaves, per the publisher. Martin, who is also the author of Genius of Place and Rebel Souls, represented himself in the deal. The book goes on sale Sept. 17, 2018, the anniversary of the battle. Dlouhy Buys a Bunny Richard T. Morris, author of This Is a Moose, sold world rights to his picture book Fear the Bunny at auction to Caitlyn Dlouhy for her eponymous imprint at Simon & Schusters Atheneum division. Alice Tasman at Jean Naggar Literary Agency represented Morris in the two-book deal. Fear the Bunny, described by the agent as a delightful twist to traditional animal hierarchies, is tentatively scheduled for 2018. Landers Heads to Diversion Mary Cummings at Diversions EverAfter Romance division acquired North American hardcover rights to United, the third installment in Melissa Landerss Alienated series. In the new book, star-crossed teens Aelyx and Cara must unify their people against a common enemy or face extinction, Cummings said. The deal was brokered by Nicole Resciniti at the Seymour Agency. The two previous books in the series, Alienated and Invaded, were published by Disney-Hyperion. United is set to go on sale August 2. Dial Takes Two from Taylor Dial Books for Young Readers Jessica Dandino Garrison picked up world rights to Jessica Taylors next two YA novels, including A Map for Lost Girls, a nonlinear story of sisterhood and survival, in which one sister makes a terrible choice that destroys their relationship, Garrison explained. The book was pitched by her agent as Jenny Hans To All the Boys Ive Loved Before stranded on a deserted island. Melissa Sarver White at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management negotiated the six-figure deal. The Skyhorse division Sky Pony Press will be publishing Taylors debut novel, Wandering Wild in May. Storey Toasts with James Carleen Madigan of Storey took world rights to Cidercraft: A Toast to North American Cider by Erin James, editor-in-chief of Cidercraft magazine. Clelia Gore of Martin Literary Management represented James in the deal. Inspired by the magazine, which is dedicated to alcoholic cider, Cidercraft will serve as a comprehensive and authoritative guide to the beverage, featuring pairings, recipes, and a guide to the drinks styles and history, highlighting North Americas great cider artisans, Gore said. Publication is slated for fall 2017. Riazi on Salaam Reads First List Karuna Riazi sold world rights to her middle grade fantasy The Gauntlet of Blood and Sand to Zareen Jaffery at Salaam Reads, Jaffreys newly announced Muslim-themed childrens imprint at Simon & Schuster. Victoria Marini at Cake Literary (the outfit founded by Tiny Pretty Things authors Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton) brokered the deal. The novel, dubbed by the agent as a Middle Eastern magical Jumanji, tells the story of a Bangladeshi-American girl and her two friends, who must defeat a diabolical board game or be trapped in it forever. The book will appear on Salaam Readss inaugural list in 2017. Columbine, Arias Books Debut in Nonfiction Two books on the Hardcover Nonfiction list revisit crimes that, for very different reasons, have received tremendous attention and remain of particular national interest. Debuting at #2 on our Hardcover Nonfiction list, and #10 overall, A Mothers Reckoning by Sue Klebold, mother of Columbine High School shooter Dylan Klebold, chronicles the authors attempt to grapple with her grief and shame over her sons part in the 1999 massacre. All author profits, according to her publisher, will be donated to research and to charitable organizations focusing on mental health issues. In Conviction, which is at #6 in Hardcover Nonfiction, Arizona prosecutor Juan Martinez recounts the five-year trial of Jodi Arias, who is serving a life sentence for the 2008 murder of Travis Alexander, her ex-boyfriend, in Mesa, Ariz.; after delivery of the guilty verdict on May 8, 2013, the AP said of the proceedings, For its fans, the Arias trial became a live daytime soap opera. (See all of this week's bestselling books.) Sitting Pretty Stars: theyre just like us! Maybe not, but the publishing industry is doing a brisk business in celebrity lifestyle books that tell normal folk how to get the kind of Hollywood glow that comes not from skilled photo retouching, but from eating right, exercising, and other healthy choices. The latest is Pretty Happy by Kate Hudson, which debuts at #4 on our Hardcover Nonfiction list and which, according to our starred review, presents diverse ideas and numerous practical methods in an attractive format. Heres a look at first-week print-unit sales for Hudsons book and a few of its predecessors. Pretty Happy (2016) by Kate Hudson 12,709 Its All Good (2013) by Gwyneth Paltrow 15,283 The Body Book (2014) by Cameron Diaz 11,228 Timeless Beauty (2015) by Christie Brinkley 8,259 Strong Looks Better Naked (2015) by Khloe Kardashian 6,949 Psyched Up The Widow by British journalist and first-time novelist Fiona Barton debuts at #11 on our Hardcover Fiction list with 4,036 print units sold and plenty of buzzthe book has been optioned for TV in the U.K. by the team behind Wolf Hall and is being mentioned in the same breath as Gone Girl and Girl on the Train. Its one of several novels of psychological suspense pubbing in the next few months; well explore the trend in our mysteries and thrillers feature on March 28. New & Notable Leonard William Shatner, with David Fisher #9 Hardcover Nonfiction The actor and his coauthor, who also collaborated on Shatners 2008 autobiography, Up till Now, recount the erstwhile Captain Kirks complex, sometimes-fraught, decades-long friendship with his Star Trek costar Leonard Nimoy. PWs review applauds Fishers engaging prose and Shatners shrewd reflections and good humor. The Industries of the Future Alec Ross #17 Hardcover Nonfiction Ross, who was a senior advisor for innovation to Hillary Clinton at the State Department, examines global trends in robotics, cybersecurity, big data, and other fields he says will have the greatest impact on world economies in the next 10 years. Calamity Brandon Sanderson #2 Childrens Frontlist Fiction The final book in the Reckoners, Sandersons YA postapocalyptic trilogy in which a blast of radiation has given a small group of people superhuman powers, had the best debut week in the series. It beat out book #2, Firefight (2015), by more than 3K print units. Top 10 Overall Rank Title Author Imprint Units 1 The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up Marie Kondo Ten Speed 23,351 2 Me Before You Jojo Moyes Penguin 21,602 3 When Breath Becomes Air Paul Kalanithi Random House 21,324 4 The Stranger Harlan Coben Dutton 20,600 5 Green Eggs and Ham Dr. Seuss Random House 15,426 6 Dr. Seusss ABC Dr. Seuss Random House 15,377 7 Old School (Wimpy Kid #10) Jeff Kinney Abrams/Amulet 14,539 8 Oh, the Places Youll Go! Dr. Seuss Random House 13,886 9 Harry Potter Magical Creatures Coloring Book Scholastic 13,801 10 A Mothers Reckoning Sue Klebold Crown 13,523 All unit sales per Nielsen BookScan except where noted. With governments across the globe racing to make revisions to copyright laws to keep up with changes brought on by new technology, the Association of American Publishers engaged in a host of activities in 2015 aimed at protecting intellectual property in the U.S. Tom Allen, president and CEO of the organization, said defending copyright is one of several issues all members of the AAP are invested in, even though the interests of trade and educational publishers diverge in other areas. Allen pointed out that some educational publishers prefer to be seen as digital learning companies, since many are working on developing interactive educational platforms. It is a very different model than trade publishing, Allen observed. Allen said he is especially proud of AAPs work helping to head off efforts to establish a digital first-sale doctrine that could have created a huge used e-book market, which would have done enormous damage to anyone involved in publishing. He is also happy with the outcome of hearings on copyright issues held by the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that culminated in the release of a white paper in January, which AAP believes provides collaborative solutions for various parties (including publishers) to reconcile copyright disputes on major issues, including digital first sale. AAP representatives were also actively engaged in 20 months of hearings on copyright held by the House Judiciary Committee that wrapped up at the end of 2015. The bottom line, Allen said, is that the AAPs interaction with Congress was successful in helping protect intellectual property, which Allen believes underpins the 21st centurys knowledge-based economy. If you dont protect copyright, you wont have much of a knowledge economy, Allen said. The importance of protecting copyright extends overseas, where the AAP continued to fight digital piracy last year. One of the associations goals is to close down sites that illegally post copyrighted material. To that end, the AAP coordinated legal action against LibGen, a website that has a repository of nearly 38 million pirated articles. But the AAP is also monitoring surprising changes to copyright law, Allen said, such as in 2012, when revisions to copyright law in Canada permitted educational institutions to copy 10% of a book, or one chapter, to create their own course packs without paying rights holders. The new law has led to a dramatic decline in licensing fees to Canadian publishers and authors. The AAP also weighed in on the need to modernize the U.S. Copyright Office and on the Obama Administrations search for a new Librarian of Congress to replace the retired James Billington. Just after Allen was interviewed by PW, President Obama nominated Carla Hayden, CEO of Baltimores Enoch Pratt Free Library, as Billingtons replacement. Allen said a key for the AAP is that the nominee be someone who has not been engaged in the copyright wars. Upon hearing of Haydens nomination, the AAP issued a statement praising Hayden as a champion of freedom of expression and reader privacy, adding that the association looks forward to learning more during the confirmation process about Haydens views on the future of the Library of the Congress and on the importance of copyright and the need to modernize the Copyright Office. More Members Ever since the AAP absorbed the Association of Educational Publishers in 2013, education companies have constituted the largest portion of AAPs membership, which, after adding 52 new members in the last year, now stands at 394. During 2015, its lobbying efforts helped bring in $3.5 billion in new funding for educational materials. The association also worked to correct what it maintains is misinformation about the continuing rise in the price of college textbooks. According to surveys from the National Association of College Stores, college students spent an average of $563 on course materials in the 20142015 school year, down about 20% from the $701 spent in 20072008. One reason for the decline is that college publishers are making more materials available in different formats, which are often cheaper than traditional hardcover textbooks. The AAP has also renewed its attention to increasing racial diversity in publishing. In January, the association teamed with the United Negro College Fund in a move to offer paid internships for African-American students from historically black colleges. Allen is hopeful the initiative will be one step in helping publishers diversify their staffs and expand the diversity of books released by the industry. With AAPs annual meeting set for March 1, Allen said he expects the associations priorities to remain much the same as last year, and that he doesnt expect the presidential election to be a big factor in AAPs 2016 agenda. Fortunately, intellectual property and educational funding are not as divisive as some other issues, Allen said, adding that the AAP knows if it wants to get something accomplished in Congress, it better be done by July, or forget about it. Pearson 2016 PRH Profits Up Pearson, which owns 47% of Penguin Random House, reported its share of adjusted operating profit from PRH rose to 90 million in 2015, up 30% from 2014. S&S Launches Muslim Imprint S&S Childrens Publishing plans to launch Salaam Reads, the first imprint at a major trade house to focus on Muslim characters and stories. The imprint will publish books for middle grade and YA readers and will launch with four books in 2017. HMH Trade Revenue Up 1% Houghton Mifflin Harcourts trade division revenue rose to $164.9 million in 2015, up 1% over 2014. Its net loss increased to $7.1 million from $2.9 million in 2014. Adjusted EBITDA for the division fell to $7.7 million from $12.7 million. Revenue for the entire company, which includes the education group, was $1.42 billion, up 3% over 2014. Hayden Nominated for Librarian of Congress President Obama has nominated Carla Hayden, CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, to be the 14th Librarian of Congress, succeeding James Billington, who retired in January. Hayden must be approved by the Senate. WASHINGTON President Barack Obama says his unglamorous first job scooping ice cream taught him valuable lessons about responsibility and hard work. He wants the same experience for other teenagers, particularly those without resources, and is launching a summer opportunities project to help young people land a first job that can teach them similar lessons and help send them down the right path. The private sector, all levels of government, community groups and schools have pledged to help teenagers get their first jobs this summer. "Scooping ice cream is tougher than it looks," Obama said Thursday in an essay on the LinkedIn professional networking site. "Rows and rows of rock-hard ice cream can be brutal on the wrists. ... I was less interested in what the job meant for my future and more concerned about what it meant for my jump shot." The job at a Baskin-Robbins in Honolulu "wasn't exactly glamorous, but it taught me some valuable lessons," Obama wrote. "Responsibility. Hard work. Balancing a job with friends, family and school." LinkedIn has pledged to connect millions of small- and medium-sized business leaders with organizations that help young people. The Department of Labor and the Corporation for National and Community Service together have committed $35 million to the effort. Cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle and Charlotte, N.C., have promised to help thousands of teenagers. The spending plan Obama sent Congress this month for the 2017 budget year includes $6 billion, nearly double the previous year's request, to help more than 1 million young people get their first job. Congress did not act on Obama's request last year for $3 billion for youth employment programs. Lawmakers swiftly rejected Obama's $.4.1 trillion spending proposal for the 2017 budget cycle as soon as he submitted it on Feb. 9. Obama said landing that first job is already difficult, but even harder for the 1 in 7 Americans between the ages of 16 and 24 who aren't in school or are unemployed. The new summer jobs initiative seeks to further the goals of Obama's "My Brother's Keeper" program to help boys and young men of color. As unglamorous as scooping ice cream was, Obama said it gave him a chance to contribute to his community. "And while I may have lost my taste for ice cream after one too many free scoops, I'll never forget that job, or the people who gave me that opportunity, and how they helped me get to where I am today," he said. HARTFORD, Conn. -- A hoodie-clad, white teenager saunters over to his friend and says, "Yo yo, what the dil-do?" "It's 'what's the deal, yo,'" responds his friend, who is black. "Whateva, my bad, yo," says the white boy. "You got that new track by my n---a Fetty Wap?" The high school kids watching this performance gasp, whisper and giggle. "Don't use that word. It's not for you," his friend says. "I hate to break it to you, but you're white. Next time I see you, I don't want to see you acting like this. I want to see you in some JCrew or Abercrombie or something like that." The boys are actors, and this was the beginning of the "Wannabe" scene performed by high school students in Looking In Theater, a Hartford, Conn.,-based theater group that uses brief, student-written scenes to explore issues teens face. Recently, a cast of six actors presented 13 scenes before the Polaris Center school in East Hartford. After performing scenes without props or sets, the three boys and three girls came out on the stage, still in character, and answered audience questions. This particular day, the scenes addressed racism, Islamophobia, date and statutory rape, parental alcoholism, cutting, sexually transmitted diseases, an abusive boyfriend, body image, teen pregnancy, homophobia, dyslexia and suicide. Looking In Theater, headquartered at the Capitol Region Education Council's Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, has a cast of about 55 actors who take turns traveling around the state, performing mostly in middle and high schools. Cast members write the scenes, based on their observations and experiences. The audience is encouraged to ask the characters questions, and sometimes audience members confront the behavior on display -- the boy abusing his girlfriend, the girl sleeping around without protection and the store salesperson racially profiling customers. Theater department chair Jonathan Gillman, who has directed Looking In for 30 of its 38 years, opens each performance with an explanation about how students present the issues but do not give answers. "You're going to see people doing and saying some things you might not agree with, you think maybe cause more problems. This is the way some people think, the way some people behave," Gillman tells the audience. "The point is not to try to say that what they're doing is right. I think you can disagree with a lot of what they do and say. We bring up some difficult issues that are safer and easier to talk about, maybe help you deal with them better if you face them yourself. ... We hope this starts you thinking and talking." Throughout its history, Looking In Theater has given voice to issues that some teens suffer through in silence or share only with their closest friends. After nearly every one of the more than 3,000 performances, at least one student has told an adult that he or she was dealing with one of the issues explored, Gillman says. Started in an effort to prevent teen pregnancy, over the years the theater has presented skits on bullying, substance abuse, sexting, racism, eating disorders and nearly every other problem teenagers face. Each summer, the student actors from around the state, selected through auditions, undergo five weeks of intense training to learn from experts about the topics they'll be addressing. The goal is to give the actors a deep understanding so they can ad lib their responses to audience questions, often while playing a character nothing like themselves. "One of the reasons it works is that doing this gives the actors a voice, especially the training process. When they get a voice, they become the voice of the audience," Gillman says. Adults watching the shows sometimes think the teens' behavior is extreme, but the kids don't, Gillman says. Former Looking In actor Hakeem Ferrigon, a senior at Five Towns College in Dix Hills, N.Y., says he's lived through the racial stereotypes his character, Jamal, experienced on stage. When he played the black guy accused of stealing from a store, even though the audience saw the white actor shoplift, he says, there were still audience members accusing him of stealing. Sometimes the actors are impacted as profoundly as their audience. When the bullying at his Newington middle school became intolerable, Matt Bump played Russian roulette with a real bullet in the gun, stopping after a few trigger pulls. He struggled until joining the Looking In cast. "When I started Looking In, it was the first time I was ever able to talk about it. Now, every summer, I go to the training and tell the kids my story," says the freshman at Emerson College in Boston. "I know Looking In helped save my life." The Democrats' contrasting approaches underscored their broader aims and possibilities heading into the delegate-rich March 1 races. Clinton is looking to win by large margins in Southern states with large black populations, while Sanders wants to score victories in the Midwest and Northeast and stay close to Clinton in the South to avoid a blowout in the delegate race. As Democrats in South Carolina were heading to the polls, Sanders was speaking to about 10,000 people at a Formula One racetrack near Austin, Texas. "On Super Tuesday the state that is going to be voting for the most delegates is the great state of Texas," he said. "If all of you come out to vote and you bring your friends and your neighbors and your co-workers, we are going to win here in Texas." Clinton made a stop in Alabama Saturday before returning to Columbia, South Carolina's capital, for what her campaign hoped would be an evening victory party. Polls were to close at 7 p.m. According to early exit polls, black voters accounted for 6 in 10 Democratic primary voters. In last week's South Carolina Republican primary, 96 percent of voters were white. For Clinton, a win in South Carolina would help wipe away bitter memories of her 2008 primary loss to Barack Obama in the first-in-the-South contest, and establish her as the firm favorite among black voters, a crucial segment of the Democratic electorate. As Clinton's race with Sanders has grown tighter, she's moved to fully embrace Obama, who remains popular with Democrats and particularly black voters. Early exit polls showed 7 in 10 voters want the next president to continue Obama's policies. The exit polls were conducted by Edison Research for The Associated Press and television networks. Among early voters in South Carolina, Alicia Newman, a 31-year-old elementary school teacher from Greenville, said she was torn but ultimately went for Clinton. "I don't think Bernie has a shot in a national election, and this election is too important," she said. "With all the debates, I think Bernie has helped prepare Hillary for November." But Birgitta Johnson, an assistant professor at the University of South Carolina, said she believed Clinton will "say anything to get votes," while Sanders "deals with structural issues rather than talking points" on education and other issues important to her. Sanders has energized his voters, particularly young people, with his impassioned calls for breaking up Wall Street banks and making tuition free at public colleges and universities. But he knew his prospects in South Carolina were grim. The senator from Vermont, where just about 1 percent of the population is black, lacks Clinton's deep and longstanding connections to the African-American community. He tried to broaden his economic inequality message and touch on issues such as incarceration rates and criminal justice reform, but he struggled to gain traction here. In 2008, black voters made up 55 percent of the electorate in South Carolina's Democratic primary, according to exit polls. Clinton lost the state overwhelmingly to Obama in a heated contest in which her husband, former President Bill Clinton, was seen by some as questioning the legitimacy of the black presidential contender. But South Carolina voters appeared ready to forgive. The former president has been well-received by voters as he's traveled the state campaigning for his wife. Hillary Clinton also received the endorsement of South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn, the influential black lawmaker who stayed neutral in the 2008 primary but was critical of the former president's comments. This year, Clinton's campaign has seen South Carolina as an important jumpstart heading into a busy March. More than half of the delegates up for grabs in the Democratic race are on the table in the next month. Next Tuesday's contests are particularly important. Democrats will vote in 11 states and American Samoa, with 865 delegates to be decided. While Sanders has the money to stay in the race deep into the spring, Clinton's campaign sees a chance to build enough of a delegate lead to put the race out of reach during the sprint through March. Going into South Carolina, Clinton had just a one-delegate edge over Sanders after her narrow win in Iowa, her sweeping loss in New Hampshire and a five-point victory in Nevada. However, she also has a massive lead among superdelegates, the Democratic Party leaders who can vote for the candidate of their choice at this summer's national convention, regardless of how their states vote. A Davenport man must serve a year of unsupervised probation as part of a deferred judgment after he admitted selling a pistol to Robert Mayes II just days before Mr. Mayes opened fire at two Iowa businesses. Lonnie J. Long, 44, pleaded guilty this month to prohibited transfer of a pistol, a misdemeanor offense. Further proceedings in the case were deferred for a year, per an order by Scott County District Associate Judge Mark Fowler. The deferred judgment pauses the case between the guilty plea and sentencing, giving Mr. Long the chance to successfully complete the probation term before a conviction is entered on his record. Mr. Long was ordered to return to court Feb. 24, 2017, at which time a judge will review his file and decide whether to dismiss the case. If Mr. Long fails to abide by court conditions, a judgment could be entered on his record and he could be sentenced to up to two years of imprisonment. According to a criminal complaint, Mr. Long admitted selling a Sig Sauer P250 pistol to Mr. Mayes, 40, of Coal Valley, for $1,000 on Oct. 24 or 25. Within days of the sale, Mr. Mayes -- armed with the pistol -- sought out his estranged wife at the Davenport law office where she worked, authorities said. After firing multiple rounds inside the building, Mr. Mayes fled in a vehicle to a Bettendorf medical manufacturing company where the woman's male friend was employed. The man was warned and left the building before Mr. Mayes entered it and fired several more shots, police said. Mr. Mayes died in the building's parking lot from a self-inflicted gunshot wound as officers arrived. No one else was shot during the incident, but two people received superficial injuries, according to police. Court record said Mr. Mayes did not have a permit to own a pistol and Mr. Long admitted he had not asked Mr. Mayes about a permit at the time of the gun sale. ROCK ISLAND -- Today is Rock Island's 175th birthday -- it was on Feb. 27, 1841, that the city was incorporated. The event culminated a decade of rapid change that transformed the area from a Native American stronghold to a rapidly growing center of arriving white settlers. In 1832, the Black Hawk War settled who would hold the land. At its conclusion, the Sauk leader was taken on a tour of the land to the east and recognized his cause was futile. In the book, "Rock Island: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow," local author and historian Roald Tweet wrote, "After an eastern tour, where Black Hawk met President Andrew Jackson and saw firsthand the magnitude of the United States and thus convinced of the futility of any future attempt to battle with such a nation, he was returned to Fort Armstrong, on what is now Arsenal Island. "There a treaty was signed on Sept. 21, 1832, ceding all remaining Sauk and Mesquakie land on both shores of the Mississippi. "White settlement now began in earnest." Before Rock Island was Rock Island, it had two prior names -- Stephenson and Farnhamsburg. Mr. Tweet wrote that, "by 1833 a small unincorporated village known as Farnhamsburg had sprung up on the Illinois shore. In 1835, this became part of the new town of Stephenson when Rock Island County bought land for a county seat." At the time, the community had 175 homes with 600 residents, Mr. Tweet wrote. There were a few stores, taverns and groceries, including three doctors and four lawyers. According to the publication, "Rock Island History," by Kathleen Seusy, the village of Farnhamsburg was named after Russell Farnham, who had been a partner with George Davenport in the fur trade business. In the book, "Joined By a River - Quad Cities," Ms. Seusy wrote, "when the original town plot came before the Illinois legislature, it bore the name Davenport. "However, one of the lawmakers, Colonel James M. Strode, felt that Colonel Davenport had made insulting remarks about his war record, and he objected so strenuously that the name Davenport was dropped. "Instead, the legislature chose the name Stephenson in honor of Benjamin Stephenson, an early pioneer, whose son, James W. Stephenson, was a politician who had also fought in the Black Hawk War." Ms. Seusy wrote, "the city (Rock Island) was then incorporated to include Farnhamsburg, Stephenson and three new additions." More settlers were arriving, Ms. Seusy wrote. "During 1840, steamboats alone deposited 183 new persons on Rock Island's shores. "Money was scarce (tne nearest bank was in Galena), forcing people to barter for their needs when they could not pay in coin. A claim of land might be traded for three yoke of oxen, saddles and harnesses for goods or several days' work. "A tailor advertised tailoring done, 'in exchange for produce but money preferred.'" The frontier had become white settlements. According to an April 26, 1854, story in the Daily Rock Island Republican, "Instead of wigwams, there are now fine stores and elegant residences on the site of that old Indian village - a modern city, with its 5,000 inhabitants, its municipal authorities and regulations, and all those institutions which are the boast of modern civilization, including a calaboose and jail, of course." Ms. Seusy, a longtime local historian, said the history of the area is important. "I think with moving populations, we need to be aware of our heritage and we need to be able to protect it," she said. The city's location on the Mississippi near the junction with the Rock, along with the arrival of the railroad in 1854 made it a steadily growing manufacturing and transportation center. MOLINE -- A plurality of local attorneys who took part in an Illinois State Bar Association survey have found that Kathy Mesich does not meet the requirements to become a circuit judge. Ms. Mesich, a Rock Island attorney, is running against East Moline attorney Clayton Lee in the Democratic primary election for 14th Judicial Circuit Judge on March 15. The winner will run in the general election in November for a chance to replace Judge Michael Meersman, who is retiring. No Republican candidates are running. A majority of the attorneys who voted in the confidential ballot by the state bar association did recommend Mr. Lee for office. "It's nice to be the only recommended candidate in the race," he said. In order to be recommended, candidates must receive a 65 percent "yes" response to a question asking if the candidates meets the requirement for office. About 86 percent of the respondents who answered the question said Mr. Lee meets the requirements for office, while 40 percent said the same about Ms. Mesich, according to the state bar. However, Ms. Mesich noted that of the 342 ballots mailed to attorneys in the 14th Circuit as part of the survey, only 134 were returned. On the completed ballots, 35 had voted that Mrs. Mesich met the requirements for office, while 52 said she did not, and 47 had no opinion. The 14th Judicial Circuit covers Henry, Mercer, Whiteside and Rock Island counties Mr. Lee said he was "humbled" to have been recommended by his peers and said that "qualifications matter, especially in a judicial race." Both candidates scored well in a range of other questions asked in the survey, with the exception of the question asking if the candidates "have adequate legal experience, knowledge and ability" to become a circuit judge. Thirty-six percent of the respondents who answered the question said Mrs. Mesich had the legal ability for the job, while Mr. Lee's score was 84 percent. Ms. Mesich again pointed to the detailed results of the survey, which showed that 53 of the respondents didn't feel she had sufficient legal ability, while 31 said she did and 50 had no opinion. She also noted that she has been endorsed by Judge Meersman as well as three other retired judges and a number of elected Democratic officials. GENESEO -- Concordia Lutheran Church members are helping a pastor in Ghana, West Africa, with a mission possible. In September 2015, the Rev. Nicholas Salifu visited the Geneseo church to share his faith journey. He has helped train people to start churches, helping to establish 12 congregations in Ghana. He also started the Concordia Preparatory School in Bawku, for 3- to 7-year-olds. During his visit, Rev. Salifu was asked by members of the Geneseo church what the three largest needs were for his area of Ghana. One of those needs was more wells to ensure clean drinking water, said Kathy Kramer, of the church's evangelism committee. "As a result of Rev. Salifus visit to Concordia Church, there will be five to six clean water wells dug in Pastor Salifus community, providing safe, drinkable water for hundreds of people." The community wells offer a place where people can gather -- not only for safe, drinkable water but also to share news and concerns with their neighbors in the area, Mrs. Kramer said. "When each new well is completed, Pastor Salifu has an opportunity to gather the people together for a service of thanksgiving and blessing of the well for the benefit of the community, she said. When money is available for materials, volunteers from the community provide the labor in constructing, digging and lining the well. It only took two and a half months of special offerings by the Concordia Lutheran Adult Bible Class and other church members to cover the cost of building five to six wells, each costing between $500 and $1,500, depending on their depths. The money has been sent and the glory is given to God who provided all that was necessary for the project to be completed, Mrs. Kramer said. As of Feb. 15, she said, three wells have been completed and another is under construction. We realize the great need for these wells, and our Bible class continues to collect special offerings on Sunday mornings to continue providing wells for Pastor Salifus community, she said. BEIRUT (AP) A cease-fire brokered by the United States and Russia went into effect across Syria on Saturday, marking the biggest international push to reduce violence in the country's devastating conflict, but the Islamic State group and al-Qaida's branch in Syria, the Nusra Front, were excluded. The cease-fire aims to bring representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition back to the negotiating table in Geneva for talks on a political transition. The U.N.'s envoy, Staffan de Mistura, announced that peace talks would resume on March 7 if the cessation of hostilities "largely holds." If it does, it would be the first time international negotiations have brought any degree of quiet in Syria's five-year civil war. But success requires adherence by multiple armed factions and the truce is made more fragile because it allows fighting to continue against the Islamic State group and Nusra Front, which could easily re-ignite broader warfare. The Syrian government and the opposition, including nearly 100 rebel groups, have said they will abide by the cease-fire despite serious skepticism about chances for success. Speaking to reporters in Geneva after the truce took hold at midnight, de Mistura said initial reports indicated that within minutes both Damascus and the nearby rebel-held town of Daraya suddenly "had calmed down." He said there was a report of one "incident" that his team was investigating but did not give details. Opposition activists on the ground also reported early adherence to the truce. Mazen al-Shami, an activist near Damascus, said an opposition-held eastern suburb of the capital known as Eastern Ghouta was "quiet for the first time in years." The Ghouta region, which includes the sprawling suburb of Douma, has been the scene of intense fighting during Syria's conflict. An Associated Press crew in Damascus said the sounds of explosions stopped three minutes before midnight. An Aleppo-based opposition media collective, Aleppo24, said Russian warplanes left Aleppo skies at 12:19 a.m. There were also some reports of violations, which could not be independently confirmed, but they appeared to be relatively limited. Opposition activist Mohammed al-Sibai, who is based in the central province of Homs, told the AP that the cease-fire was violated 15 minutes after it went into effect in the town of Talbiseh, which was being subjected to shelling by government artillery based around the town. However, he said things later quieted down. Significantly, there were no immediate reports of any airstrikes. Ahmad al-Masalmeh, an opposition activist in Daraa in the country's south said intense fighting suddenly stopped at midnight when the cease-fire went into effect. "In the first half hour of the cease-fire the situation is relatively calm but tense," al-Masalmeh said via Skype. He later said Syrian troops fired tank shells at the village of Lajat in Daraa province, wounding two people. "This is a regime that cannot be trusted," al-Masalmeh said. The Local Coordination Committees, an umbrella opposition activist group, also reported that Syrian troops violated the truce in Daraa. Less than an hour before the truce was set to begin, the 15-member Security Council unanimously endorsed the agreement worked out between the United States and Russia. De Mistura told the Security Council via video conference from Geneva that he hoped the cease-fire would provide a chance for humanitarian aid to reach those battered by Syria's brutal war and allow for a political solution. He later told a news conference that operation centers in Moscow, Washington, Amman, Geneva and the northwestern Syrian city of Latakia were collecting information on any truce violations and would share them with the United States and Russia, which are responsible for addressing the incidents. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the U.S. didn't expect to be able to judge the cease-fire's success or failure within the first days or even weeks. "We do anticipate we're going to encounter some speed bumps along the way," Earnest said. "There will be violations." On Friday, hours before the cease-fire came into effect, warplanes unleashed airstrikes against rebel-held positions in the suburbs of the Syrian capital and near the northern city of Aleppo. The last barrages came as the main Syrian opposition and rebel umbrella group said dozens of factions 97 groups in all had agreed to abide by the truce. The High Negotiations Committee, or HNC, said a military committee has been formed to follow up on adherence. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the warplanes in Friday's strikes were believed to be Russian. The Kremlin did not comment on that report but denied allegations that the Russian air force bombed civilian positions east of Damascus the previous day. The rebel-held Damascus suburb of Douma was hit 40 times on Friday, the Observatory said, along with other areas east of the capital, killing at least eight people, including three women and four children. Al-Shami, the activist based in the area, said the warplanes were Russian, adding that they carried out some 60 air raids. He said 25 strikes targeted Douma. "The air raids intensified after the revolutionary factions said they will abide by the cease-fire," al-Shami said via Skype. Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for the U.N. secretary-general, told reporters in New York that the increase of military activity was "tragic but unfortunately not surprising." Late Thursday, U.S. President Barack Obama expressed hope that the cease-fire would lead to a political settlement to end the civil war and allow a more intense focus on battling the Islamic State group. He said he doesn't expect the truce to immediately end hostilities after years of bloodshed between forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad and rebels who want to end his reign. Announced just this week, the cease-fire is a "test" of whether the parties are committed to broader negotiations over a political transition, a new constitution and holding free elections, Obama said. He said Syria's future cannot include Assad as president, which is a chief point of contention with Russia and Iran, who support the Syrian leader. "We are certain that there will continue to be fighting," Obama said, noting that IS, the Nusra Front and other militant groups are not part of the negotiations and the truce. Obama put the onus on Russia and its allies including the Assad government to live up to their commitments under the agreement. The elusive cease-fire deal was reached only after a monthslong Russian air campaign that the U.S. says strengthened Assad's hand and allowed his forces to retake territory, altering the balance of power in the Syrian civil war. "The world will be watching," Obama said. Speaking to reporters in Washington on Friday, State Department spokesman Mark Toner called it "put up or shut up" time for Russia to prove its seriousness about ending the fighting and starting a political transition by adhering to its pledge not to target "groups that we consider the moderate opposition." In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country will keep hitting "terrorist organizations" in Syria even after the truce is implemented. The opposition umbrella, HNC, said in a statement that the Syrian "regime and its allies should not exploit the (truce) and continue with their hostilities against opposition factions under the pretext of fighting terrorists." The rise of gangs in the United States is fueled by the fact heroin has become cheaper and purer than it used to be. It is so pure you dont even need a needle to get high. It can be smoked or snorted. It is cheaper than many prescription pain pills. Sinaloa Cartel traffickers from Mexico seemed to be at the top of the pile feeding heroin all the way down to our street dealers. Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman was named Chicagos Public Enemy No. 1 on Valentines Day 2013. Al Capone first earned the title of Chicagos Public Enemy No. 1 after the St. Valentines Day Massacre in 1929. Guzman was captured in 2014. But his organization continues to help make Chicago the nations drug capital. From Capone and his North Side Gang rival, Hymie Weiss, in the 1920s to the Vice Lords and Latin Kings in the 1950s to biker gangs like the Outlaws that emerged in the citys suburbs, Chicago has bred some of the U.S.s most dangerous and famous criminals over the past century, said Fox News Latino. Outlaw motorcycle gangs are organizations whose members use their motorcycle clubs as conduits for criminal enterprises. The highly structured organizations members engage in activities such as violent crime, weapons and drug trafficking. There are more than 300 active within the U.S. There are hundreds of chapters with thousands of members worldwide. The U.S. finds itself going south to fight the Central American transnational gangs. A prison in western El Salvador is home to more than 800 inmates. It incarcerates only gang members and each one is a killer, according to the FBI. FBI Special Agent Julian Igualada, works in El Salvador with local law enforcement. Gang leaders in El Salvador routinely order their subordinates to commit crimes, including murder, on U.S. soil, and many times these orders are issued from behind bars, said Igualada. The MS-13 and 18th Street gangs have become so bloodthirsty in El Salvador the government has declared them terrorist organizations. In August last year there were 907 murders in El Salvador, a small country roughly the size of Massachusetts. La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13 and the 18th Street gang, have gained a foothold in many U.S. cities. These gangs require their mostly teenage recruits to undergo at least two years of initiation before becoming full-fledged gang members, according to the FBI. One of the final tests for membership is to commit murder. There are about 70 different gangs in Chicago with over 600 factions. Much of the territory in 15 police districts has been taken over by gangs. Gang territory can be as small as a city block or as large as an entire police district. MS-13 has reached South Chicago suburbs. (The largest increase in heroin overdoses has occurred in suburban areas, according to the DEAs 2014 National Drug Threat Assessment.) The FBI estimates there are 33,000 violent street gangs, motorcycle gangs and prison gangs in the U.S. There are about 1.4 million members of the gangs. The opioids and prescription drug abuse epidemic has swept through the country. The numbers are appalling and shocking -- tens of thousands of Americans will die this year from drug-related deaths and more than half of these deaths are from heroin and prescription opioids abusers, said Acting DEA Administrator Chuck Rosenberg. More people die each year in overdoses than die in car accidents. Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton was surprised to find that heroin addiction would become a major issue in her campaign. Former Republican presidential candidate, Jeb Bush said, There should be a little more outrage about what is going on. The standard comment often heard is that the police should just go into the drug dealers territory and clean them out. The gangs hierarchical structure is very complicated. Its business model would look like that of MacDonalds. The police have many good reasons for using other methods to control the situation in an urban war zone. HBOs five season series The Wire has a few improbable scenes and at least one unrealistic character. But it is fairly authentic in terms of its portrayal of modern urban life and the world of gangs and drugs. I sat for a quarter of an hour with a woman whose husband had been kidnapped by the Islamic State group 18 months ago as her town of Qaraqosh, outside Mosul, was evacuated; his body was recovered two weeks later. Since that time she has lived with her mother and her four children where we sat -- between plastic partitions inside an Ankawa warehouse -- giving the six of them perhaps 100 square feet and a gas stove to share. She told me her story in a state of calm and long-worn despair; she didn't cry until she asked me to read a document from the Kurdistan Regional Government hospital about her daughter. (English is the language of medicine there.) It said the problem with her daughter's spine was not serious enough to justify surgery given limited resources. She cried then at her daughter's pain and this fresh cut on a wounded future she sees no hope of healing. Philanthropy from the West and charity from the Chaldean Catholic Church that runs this camp give her and hers food and shelter and care enough to survive, but no real hope of any kind of normal future. This woman's story is all the sadder because it is not unusual. It is one of many thousands of similar stories across Northern Iraq. Portraits of Persecution There are more refugees and IDPs, or Internally Displaced Persons, now than ever before. U.N. statistics say that those who end up in camps like this stay an average of 17 years. That average understates the current problem since international aid is under more stress than ever before. And the problem is likely to get worse still as Syria finishes coming apart. Syrian President Bashar Assad is a bad man, but whoever replaces him will very likely do nothing to protect the remaining one million Christians there from a possible genocide. We all know about the persecution of Christians in Iraq, because ISIS painted the Arabic letter N, or noon for Nazarene, on the homes of Mosul Christians to mark them for forced conversion, extortion of the dhimmi tax, or death. That Arabic N became an iconic social media sensation. Despite humanitarian aid from the West, no real progress has been made to address the political situation at the root of this crisis. The persecution of Christians in Iraq is an unfortunate byproduct of U.S. policy. They are Eastern Christians, but Islamists identify them with the West -- with the "Christian invaders." In 2003 there were about 1.6 million Christians in Iraq. Today there are perhaps 250,000. Despite the genuine concern of our civil servants, the State Department narrative strains credulity. Officials with line authority in the area told me that the situation for Christians there isn't so bad compared to the Yazidis and others. President Obama is about to issue a declaration of genocide against Yazidis that will likely decline to include Christians, though the EU recently passed a declaration of genocide that includes Christians. The administration wants to avoid the legal and moral pressure that would be created by such a declaration. The State Department, moreover, insists that a united Iraq is our best hope against ISIS, and that the United States is "very optimistic" that Baghdad will liberate Mosul by the end of this year. Such wishful thinking strains belief. Baghdad's celebrated liberation of Ramadi was painfully slow, and Ramadi is a tiny fraction of the size of Mosul. Moreover, Mosul, Iraq's second city, is not a place that Christians would likely return. If your Sunni neighbors had essentially invited ISIS in and stood by while they stole your property, killed some of your relatives, and ran you out of town, how eager would you be to return? China's aggressive moves in the South China Sea should motivate U.S. President Barack Obama to discover his inner John F. Kennedy. In 1962, after months of denial and inaction as the Soviet Union first placed defensive weapons systems on Cuba, then expanded them to include ominous offensive capabilities, President Kennedy finally took a stand. On Oct. 22 of that year, Kennedy told the nation and the world: "It shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear missile launched from Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere as an attack on the United States, requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet Union." The stakes in the South China Sea today are nowhere near as fateful as those Kennedy faced during the Cuban Missile Crisis -- nuclear weapons, for example, are not presently part of the equation. The president was also making it clear that Moscow could not escape responsibility for any threat emanating from the island. Today, Beijing is the sole actor creating the problem. But the methodology employed then by the Soviet Communist Party in Latin America -- the creeping aggression -- is being replicated by the Chinese Communist Party off the shores of Southeast Asia today. And the need for decisive American action against the growing threat is as great now as it was then, even if it is not as dramatically obvious. The trend of Chinese "salami slice" tactics has been protracted over a period of several years, unlike the sudden offensive escalation by Moscow during the summer and fall of 1962. But the pace of Beijing's assertive moves has accelerated. The seemingly isolated island seizure in the Paracels in 1974 was followed by various construction activities over the years, as well as claims in the Spratly Islands. In 2009, China's nine-dash line dramatically upped the ante with its sweeping claim to virtually the entire South China Sea. Next came a series of maritime actions interfering with other claimant nations' fishing activities and freedom of navigation, as well as some some aggressive brushes with U.S. Navy operations. In the last few years, China has undertaken a major island-building program on otherwise uninhabitable rocks and reefs (a few other countries have done the same, but on a far lesser scale), followed by construction of various types of facilities. In each case, China asserted maritime claims around the manmade sites as if they were natural land features entitled to the protections of international law. This year, despite Beijing's assurances that it would not militarize its claimed islands -- assurances explicitly reinforced by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his meeting with President Obama at a bilateral summit in California -- China has rapidly installed a series of military facilities. These include air defense missile systems, acquisition radar, runways, hangars, and fighter jets. Offensive missiles are the logical next step under Beijing's rationale that it can do whatever it wants to do on what it claims as its own sovereign territory. The Obama administration has responded with a series of firm declarations about peaceful resolution of disputes; U.S. agnosticism on the merits of various countries' claims to natural land features; and a commitment to freedom of navigation and overflight. But U.S. actions to assert those universal rights have been halting and ambivalent. For example, it has conducted only two passages near the China-claimed islands, neither of which has directly challenged China's assertion of sovereignty over recognized international waters. Instead, the U.S. Defense Department has conducted innocent passages authorized by the U.N. Law of the Sea Convention for naval transits through a state's conceded territorial waters. This means the USS Lassen and USS Curtis Wilbur, complying with UNCLOS requirements for innocent passage, must have avoided lingering; collecting intelligence, survey, or research information; launching manned or unmanned aircraft or other military devices; conducting exercises; or activating fire control radar. That is hardly the normal operating mode for U.S. Navy vessels steaming on the high seas. When the president, the secretary of state, the secretary of defense, and U.S. Navy commanders assert that "the United States will fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows," they should add the words, "and in the manner it allows." Such ambiguous operations appear intended to make a minimalist assertion of navigational freedom without too directly provoking China. But the U.S. president must make clear which party is guilty of provocations in this situation, just as his predecessor did with the Soviets in the 1960s. Obama might consider saying something like this: "It shall be the policy of this nation to regard a missile or other attack from a natural or manmade island claimed by China against any vessel or aircraft of the United States or its allies as an attack on the United States, requiring an appropriate military response against Chinese assets and/or territory. The targeting, directing, or painting of a fire control radar system on any U.S. or allied vessel or aircraft will also be considered a hostile act requiring an appropriate response." At the same time, the president should direct the U.S. Navy to immediately commence regular, unambiguous FONOPS -- excluding innocent passages which concede territorial seas status. Prudence dictates restoring navigational and aviation normality in the South China Sea before Beijing claims an Air Defense Identification Zone or takes other aggressive steps to militarize not just an individual island but the entire region. The present ambiguous course has not assuaged China; continuing that course only increases the risks of further miscalculation. History has taught too many painful lessons about that scenario, including the ultimate lesson taught by Europe's original salami slicer. (AP photo) Property details: Up for auction is half acre of land for sale in Palmdale, CA in Los Angeles County. Located only about half a mile south of Palmdale Blvd with easy dirt road access via Long View Rd and then turn on E Ave R4. Parcel is on south east corner of E Ave R4 and 130th St E. This is a residential lot. There are other ranch homes in area. Power is near by. There are no back taxes owed and title is clear. Property is sold "as is, where is" All sales are final. Winning bidder will get title via Grant Deed.... Price: $ 735 Seller State of Residence: California State/Province: California Location: 935**, Palmdale, California You will be redirected to eBay Nearby California Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate "I Am Cait's" second season will include Caitlyn Jenner confronting protesters, trying on wedding dresses and meeting presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton. ADVERTISEMENT A new promo for the reality series following Jenner's lifestyle transition, released Friday, also shows the former Olympian getting her first photo ID since her transition to living as a woman, as well as an intimate discussion with a friend about getting hurt. "I don't wanna hurt anybody," she said. "Don't you mean you don't want to get hurt yourself?" the friend responds. The clip shows protesters picketing around Jenner as she leaves a downtown venue, with one telling the celebrity through a loudspeaker she is "an insult to trans people." "I'm slowly coming into my womanhood, but it's a work in progress," Jenner is heard saying over the clip. "I need to evolve as a person. There's just too much at stake to get it wrong." Season 2 of "I Am Cait" will premiere March 6 on E!. Meg Verner woke up terrified the morning after having sex for the first time because she didnt know what to do next. Tuesdays Republican and Democratic primaries were aptly dubbed the SEC primaries since seven southern states are participating. The loose tie-in with the Southeastern Conference got us thinking: Which remaining presidential candidates match with the SECs colorful coaches? Below are our choices: SHARE Home sales rise from one year ago While home sales in Shasta County in January were down from December, closed escrows increased 5 percent from a year ago. The Shasta Association of Realtors reported 150 sales in January, up from 142 in January 2015. Sales declined 32 percent from the 222 in December. The median sales price in January was $229,310, up 6 percent from $216,130 a year ago. The median sales price in December was $235,000. Six of every 10 homes that closed in Shasta County in January sold for between $150,000 and $300,000. Statewide, existing home sales posted their best January performance in three years, up 9 percent compared with sales in January 2015. January sales were down 5 percent from December, the California Association of Realtors said. J&A Food Service honors employees District Manager Raul Fernandez won this year's JW Extra Mile Award during J&A Food Service Inc.'s 18th annual Awards Banquet at Moseley Family Cellars in Redding. Also taking home honors were Margaret Bodine of Applebee's and Executive Vice President Zach Sylvia, who both earned the 15 Years of Service Award. Joe Wong of J&A Food Service also was honored with a distinguished alumni award from Long Beach State University. Michael Losquadro, chief operating officer of the California State University Long Beach 49er Foundation, presented Wong with the honor. County Republicans host candidate The Shasta County Republican Central Committee will sponsor an hour with Tom Del Beccaro, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate. The event is 5 to 6 p.m. Monday at Cattlemens Restaurant on Hilltop Drive in Redding. The public is invited to attend. Reporter David Benda can be reached at 225-8219 or at david.benda@redding.com. FILE - In this July 21, 2015 file photo, actor Nat Wolff attends the premiere of "Paper Towns" in New York. In February 2016, Wolff, 21, is starring in Sam Shepard's "Buried Child," the same Midwest Gothic comedy his mother, Polly Draper, starred in 37 years ago at Yale Repertory Theatre. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) SHARE By MARK KENNEDY, AP Drama Writer NEW YORK (AP) Actor and musician Nat Wolff couldn't resist agreeing to do a darkly weird off-Broadway play about a strange family. After all, he's got a weird family connection to it. Wolff, 21, is starring this month in Sam Shepard's "Buried Child," the same Midwest Gothic comedy his mother, Polly Draper, starred in 37 years ago at Yale Repertory Theatre. It even turns out he's the same age she was back then. "It's going to be probably a trippy experience for her," said Wolff, a rising star whose film credits include the adaptation of John Green's coming-of-age novel "Paper Towns" and playing a blind teen battling cancer "The Fault in Our Stars." "Buried Child," which won the 1979 Pulitzer Prize for drama, features three generations of a family torn apart by the past. There's a boozy, cantankerous patriarch, an unkempt mother, one son who is a one-legged psychopath and another who has lost the will even to communicate. Wolff plays a grandson who arrives with his girlfriend, played by Taissa Farmiga. His real-life mom, who went on to find fame in the TV series "thirtysomething," played the girlfriend role in 1979 with another soon-to-be star in Tony Shalhoub. They would often reminisce about "Buried Child." "While doing the play, I will randomly remember different things that I heard growing up about it," Wolff said. "Of all things that I've gotten to do, for my mom, it's the most exciting." The play, which also stars Ed Harris, Larry Pine and Amy Madigan, represents Wolff's professional off-Broadway debut, though the New York native was in plays at the cozy downtown Flea Theatre when he was 8 and 12. The darkness of the new work didn't scare him off. "I've always liked the darker stuff," he said. "Besides being one the darkest, grossest, most tragic families in the history of American theater, I think it's also darkly funny." He and his younger brother, Alex, became famous in 2005 after starring in and providing song and lyrics for the musical-comedy film "The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie." That led to a spin-off TV series from 2007-09. The brothers still collaborate on music despite their hectic acting schedules and the fact that Alex is still in high school. (Alex is in the new "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2"). Their bond keeps them grounded: "I think it's been really special to have my brother going through it with me because it keeps me sane and for me to keep him sane," Nat Wolff said. For "Buried Child," Wolff has jumped into his character by keeping the family theme going he's focusing on his father, Michael Wolff, a jazz pianist and composer. He's raided his dad's record collection of Miles Davis and John Coltrane tunes. He's dusted off his old saxophone, which he hasn't played since the fifth grade. And he's even grown a wispy beard like his father in the 1970s. "I've modeled a lot of my character off my dad," Wolff said. Up next for Wolff is the film "In Dubious Battle" about migrant workers in apple orchards in 1930. It's directed by James Franco, adapted from a John Steinbeck novel, and stars Bryan Cranston, Selena Gomez, Robert Duvall and Zach Braff. Wolff also will be exploring more dark stuff in "Death Note," in which he plays a student who discovers a supernatural notebook that allows him to kill anyone simply by writing the victim's name. And he'll be in "Rosy," where he kidnaps an actress. "My patchy facial hair came in handy for that one, too," he said, laughing. ___ Online: http://www.thenewgroup.org/buried-child.html SHARE LOS ANGELES (AP) Music publisher Warner/Chappell Music will return $14 million in fees to settle a lawsuit that challenges its claim to "Happy Birthday," one of the world's best-known songs. A federal judge ruled in September that Warner/Chappell didn't own the lyrics and had no right to charge for their use. The Los Angeles Times (http://lat.ms/1SdMntY ) cites court documents released Monday that outline terms of a settlement reached in December. Under the deal, Warner/Chappell will give up its claims to the ubiquitous song and reimburse those who paid licensing fees. The settlement was announced as a trial was set to begin. The lawsuit called on the publisher to return fees collected over the years for use of the song in movies and other commercial ventures. The deal is tentative pending a judge's approval. ___ Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com/ Lisa Fredell's Lisa's Shoe Shine has been in the IDS Crystal Court in Minneapolis for 25 years. She says it's the best job she's ever had. (Brian Peterson/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS) SHARE By Kim Ode, Star Tribune (Minneapolis) MINNEAPOLIS For half of her life, Lisa Fredell has helped people put their best foot forward. Shes a shoe shiner who marks 25 years this month as a fixture of the IDS Centers Crystal Court in downtown Minneapolis, buffing brogues, wiping wingtips and polishing penny loafers at Lisas Shoe Shines in an alcove within earshot of the falling fountain. It was a beautiful sunny day, Fredell said of Feb. 1, 1991, her first day on the job. Ill never forget it. She laughed: I was late. Bus troubles, but she barely missed a beat. This is my calling, she said, sipping a Coke after closing up shop, six hours on her feet, forever leaning in. Im honored to have found this job by accident, and I bring honor to the business. Once, shoeshine stands were a common sight downtown; today, there are just a handful, and Fredell, 50, appears to be the only woman shoe shiner among them. She didnt foresee this career. For three years, she sold womens shoes until I burned out, then took a job cleaning offices downtown. She began noticing more and more shoeshine stands, including one that employed only women. Watching them one day, Fredell thought, Omigod, I could totally do this. Her father wasnt pleased. He thought it could be dangerous, she said. And you do get to know human nature, she said, although she added that shes never felt imperiled. Im always aware of my space, and I have a lot of people who just stop by to visit. They look out for me. SHES THERE TO LISTEN Fredell has a striking smile, a cashmere voice and a shower of skinny braids long enough to graze her waist. She makes a point of wearing T-shirts featuring famous rock stars to show my personality. Of late, David Bowie has been getting a lot of wear. He was my man. Winter is her busiest season, with a steady stream of shoes subjected to a slushy, salty, sloppy, snowy assault. Shes lost count of how many people apologize for the state of their footwear as they climb into her custom-made stands, fine pieces of furniture in their own right. I say, Sweetie, thats why Im here. A quarter-century of this work has attuned her to finer points of the human psyche say, what peoples choice of shoes says about them. A lot of people dont think they deserve better, she said, referring to all-too-common, all-too-affordable, poorly made shoes. Given the need to replace them time and again, the cost probably rivals what a quality pair would cost. Shoes, she believes, should be an investment. She has customers who say little, while others like to talk, eking a bit of therapy from their shoeshine. I find it really fascinating to hear about other peoples experiences, and if they ever ask for my opinion, Ill give it, Fredell said. But I think they just need someone to listen. The world has too few listeners. Mostly, though, her customers know the value of being well-groomed. She gave me my first shoeshine, said Greg Baranivsky of Plymouth, Minn. He used to work downtown for a boss former military who put great stock in shined shoes. Baranivsky now works in Edina, Minn., but sought out Fredell before heading to the Marriott for the annual dinner of the CFA Society, a group of investment professionals or, as he put it, a thousand folks in suits. Time for a shoeshine. It just part of your appearance, he said, and appearances matter. So its a little perplexing that so few of Fredells customers, maybe five in a hundred, are women. They think its a mens thing, Fredell said, despite the popularity of womens boots. Theyve paid a pretty penny for them, but trash them and buy new. Maybe its an excuse to shop. She shines an average of three to four dozen pairs daily, including those that people drop off. The job takes its toll. Fredell has had both hips replaced and is a regular at the chiropractor. Once, she was open to teaching aspiring shoe shiners, but has grown weary of their cutting corners, of their surprise at her work standards. They think its an easy thing to do, and it kinda isnt! she said with some exasperation. This job takes a particular person. You have to be open-minded, love people and not be afraid of hard work. But I love it. (EDITORS: STORY CAN END HERE) BING! IM JUST FINE Shoe shiners have been around for centuries, and around the world, with the skill historically done by male children shoeshine boys who provided their families with a steady income. Its unclear how the job became so associated with black families, although the skill claims some famous practitioners, from James Brown to Malcolm X. Her grandfather once had a stand back in the day. Now, though, Fredrell sees the number of shoe shiners dwindling. Especially in black culture, people think its beneath them to do such a job, she said. Back in the day, it was looked at as not so honorable. But it offers instant gratification. Its truly an art. You meet people from different walks of life, and youre always networking. One wall of her alcove is papered with inspirational sayings shes collected. Reads one: I dedicate myself to being seen and not viewed. She paused. I cant even put it into words. I think this work saved me. Even in troubled times of my life, I can come in and talk with customers and she snapped her fingers Bing! Im just fine. Still, she doesnt want to be shining shoes the rest of my days, and she and her husband have a 15-year-old daughter who is more into music than shoes. So Fredells next venture is learning how to make custom-made shoes, and shes on the hunt for a teacher. If I found someone, that would be amazing, she said. I want to make this another niche for Minnesota, put us on the map with custom-made shoes. She also holds a patent involving shoes that shall remain secret for now so thats also something to work toward. But I will always have a stand, she said. Whether Im the one shining or not, I will always have a stand. 2016 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Visit the Star Tribune (Minneapolis) at www.startribune.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. SHARE With emotion providing much of the fuel propelling the anti-establishment campaigns of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, their supporters should consider the fates of past presidential candidates once the exuberance faded and voters focused on who could actually turn rhetoric into action. The excitement displayed by young people at rallies for Sanders brings to mind the "Run, Jesse, Run" campaign of Jesse Jackson in 1984, when the civil rights leader who marched with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. attracted both black and white voters with a message that Sanders has mirrored in calling attention to income inequality. "President Reagan says the nation is in recovery. Those 90,000 corporations that made a profit last year but paid no federal taxes are recovering," Jackson said. "The 37,000 military contractors who have benefited from Reagan's more than doubling of the military budget in peacetime, surely they are recovering. The big corporations and rich individuals who received the bulk of a three-year, multibillion tax cut from Mr. Reagan are recovering. But no such recovery is underway for the least of these." That was from Jackson's speech to the Democratic National Convention in July 1984, when his defeat by former Vice President Walter Mondale had become certain. I saw him earlier when he spoke to a raucous crowd in Birmingham prior to Alabama's primary on Super Tuesday. "Electric" is the best word I can think of to describe the feeling inside Boutwell Auditorium that night. Jackson took to the stage like a rock star and stoked the crowd of about 5,000 to a fever pitch with his famous call-and-response chant: "I am!" screamed Jackson. "Somebody!" yelled the crowd. "I am!" "Somebody!" "Respect me!" "Protect me!" "Our time!" he shouted. "Has come!" they responded. Having grown up in Birmingham when segregation ruled and four little girls were killed in a church bombing, I don't mind saying it was hard for me to keep in mind that I was covering the rally for United Press International and shouldn't get caught up in the moment. But someone else there may have had a much harder time remembering his role. Birmingham's first black mayor, Richard Arrington Jr., joined Jackson on the stage and was wildly cheered by the crowd when introduced by the candidate, who embraced him. But Arrington, like most of Alabama's top black political leaders, was committed to Mondale. They were being pragmatic. They expected that Mondale would survive challenges by Jackson and Colorado Sen. Gary Hart and become the party nominee. Mondale represented the party establishment, of which Arrington, Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, Philadelphia Mayor Wilson Goode and numerous other black politicians in urban areas had fought hard to become a member. The black political elite endorsed Mondale, as did civil rights icons Coretta Scott King and Julian Bond, because they believed he had the best chance of being elected and helping the African-American community. In rural areas, however, Jackson's candidacy fired up black voters and politicians, including 23 of Alabama's 25 black mayors, who gave him their unswerving support. That helped Jackson win two-thirds of the African-American vote in the Georgia, Alabama and Florida primaries. But Mondale got enough black votes to win in Georgia and Alabama, while Hart took Florida. Jackson would eventually win the Washington, D.C., South Carolina and Louisiana primaries, and narrowly lose in Mississippi's convoluted caucus system. The same pragmatism that saw many black leaders support Mondale in 1984 was also evident in 2008. Black voters didn't immediately see upstart Illinois Sen. Barack Obama as a viable candidate. Some even questioned Obama's blackness, just as Ben Carson did with comments referencing Obama's white mother and childhood in Indonesia. In 2008, the Rev. Al Sharpton was among those discounting Obama's candidacy. "I think it's really racist for people to assume just because somebody is black, we ought to automatically support them," said Sharpton, who, by the way, met with Sanders earlier this month in Harlem. It was only after it became evident that Obama could win the Democratic nomination that many in the black political establishment, including a previously ambivalent Jackson, began to openly show signs of support. Once Obama became the party's nominee, the floodgates of emotion were opened as African-Americans could taste the possibility of electing a black president. No doubt Hillary Clinton is hoping for a similar surge of support from young women when the possibility of her becoming the first female president becomes more palpable. That moment could come soon if Sanders falters in the coming Southern primaries, where black voters who supported Bill Clinton are expected to turn out for Hillary. She, too, is being helped by the black political elite, who show no signs of abandoning their tradition of supporting the establishment candidate. But Sanders hasn't given up on generating black support. He has tried to appeal to black voters' emotions with speeches addressing income disparity, the high cost of medical care, and when police shoot unarmed black suspects. So has Clinton. But Sanders doesn't have her history, including work as a young lawyer with the Children's Defense Fund, which helps her message resonate with black voters. On the Republican side, Trump continues to win primaries by making bombastic statements that appeal to voters' emotions without providing the details to determine whether his ideas would actually work. What the Republicans need is a moment like the one Mondale had during a 1984 debate when he dismissed Hart's candidacy by derisively asking, "Where's the beef?" The humorous allusion to a Wendy's commercial suggested that Hart's ideas were like a hamburger without meat. That got voters' attention 32 years ago. No doubt some establishment Republicans are praying for a similar moment for Trump today. Voters need to focus on who can be an effective president. Emotion has its place in choosing a candidate. But if emotion is all that person can offer, he isn't the right person for the job. SHARE On a cold day in late December 2011, California's landscape quietly changed in a historic way: a wild wolf was confirmed in the Golden State for the first time in nearly 90 years. This lone male wolf, dubbed OR-7, was confirmed by wildlife officials to have made the long journey from northeastern Oregon to Siskiyou County. But OR-7 didn't stop there; he traversed parts of seven different counties in the northern part of the state over the course of 15 months before heading back to Oregon, where he established his own pack in Rogue River territory. OR-7 was a true trailblazer, and we now know that other wolves have followed his tracks. When the presence of our own resident family of wolves, the Shasta Pack, was announced last August, it hit me: Wolves are back and we have a golden opportunity to make a tremendous difference for this iconic species. While an overwhelming majority of Californians believe that wolves are a vital part of America's wilderness and natural heritage, some still have unfounded fears about wolves created by myths and folklore. Many do not know the true lives of wolves, the strong social bonds they nurture within their familial packs or their important role in the natural world. But Californians can coexist with wolves, if given the right tools. I am particularly hopeful about the future of wolves in the Golden State after attending the successful nonlethal tools workshop in northern California in the small town of MacArthur earlier this month. The workshop's more than 150 participants were actively engaged throughout the very long day, learning about coexistence tools and practices that have been successful in reducing conflicts between livestock and predators. I shared multiple examples of the positive outcomes from the use of coexistence tools and strategies all around the country including the Wood River Wolf Project in central Idaho, where wolves have shared the land with the state's highest concentration of sheep grazing on public lands all with minimal livestock losses and no need to lethally remove wolves in the area. Livestock loss is a common occurrence in ranching operations, although a vast majority is due to health and disease issues, birthing complications, injury and even weather, which many times cannot be helped. However, losses from predation can be reduced successfully when proven, proactive methods to protect livestock are properly implemented. These tools include increasing human presence through range riders, removing attractants like carcasses and sick animals and using specialized fencing and guard dogs at key times of the year. Utilizing these kinds of strategies effectively promote coexistence between livestock and predators sharing the landscape and protect ranchers' bottom line. While the McArthur workshop was an incredibly important first step in California wolf recovery efforts, it is just the beginning. This year will bring even more opportunities to work with ranchers and other allies on this historic conservation opportunity in California. I urge northern Californians to keep in mind that coexistence with wolves is possible. Our state has an important role to play in setting the golden standard for managing wolves in a principled, ethical and sustainable manner. Through open communication and collaboration, we will be able to find ways to live in harmony with wolves as this iconic species continue to make their return to the Golden State. Donald Trump at a news conference in New York in 2005 announcing the establishment of Trump University. A class-action suit filed by former students is set to go to trial this month. (Bebeto Matthews / Associated Press) reporting from SAN DIEGO Donald Trump's bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination and three lawsuits over his defunct Trump University are on a collision course. The legal troubles emerged as a common theme in Thursday night's televised Republican debate, as Trump's top rivals repeatedly needled him over the allegations of fraud surrounding his real estate school. Advertisement And as one of the cases nears trial, it appears more likely than ever that Trump, the GOP front-runner, will be called to testify in a courtroom here, quite possibly during the home stretch of the campaign later this year. The San Diego lawsuits Advertisement A handful of students sued the real estate mogul in 2010, alleging his Trump University was a sham full of misleading promises. The students said in a class-action lawsuit that they had paid as much as $35,000 to learn Trump's secrets to real estate success. According to the complaint filed in San Diego federal court, they were encouraged to sign up for more expensive levels of instruction, which were to include personal mentoring by experts "handpicked" by Trump. But instead, they say, the seminars were more like infomercials. The lawsuit alleges that the for-profit university's promises that advanced students could make tens of thousands of dollars each month were bogus, and that the school instead left many in debt. Trump has argued that he can't be held personally liable because he didn't run daily operations at the university although he says he did handpick the instructors. He also disagreed with allegations that the program was worthless. In a television interview, one of Trump's lawyers said the students failed to reap any benefits because of their own ineptitude, not because of the program. Trump reacted to the lawsuit by countersuing for defamation, but that suit was dismissed. A second, similar class-action lawsuit against Trump was filed in San Diego in 2013 by Art Cohen, a California businessman who attended seminars in Silicon Valley. T.J. Thompson, a real estate agent in Baltimore, said in an interview Friday that she just wants her money back. She said she and her partner got upsold on the Elite $3,500 membership, excited for what it could do for their careers. Advertisement "I liken it to if I was a 6-foot-6 senior in college and Michael Jordan told me, 'If you come to my university I can get you in the NBA,'" said Thompson, 58. But, she said, as they attended multiple seminars and continued to get upsold to put down more money, they got little in return. "We've been asking for our money back for five years now," she said. The New York case New York's state attorney general filed a $40-million lawsuit in 2013 on similar grounds. He says many students expected to meet Trump during seminars but instead got a picture on a life-size cardboard cutout. "While consumers were encouraged to call their credit card companies during breaks to increase their credit limits to have access to funds to do real estate deals, the real reason Trump University asked consumers to request higher credit limits was so they could use the credit to pay for the expensive Elite programs," the attorney general's office said. Trump again fired back with a defamation complaint, this time against New York Atty. Gen. Eric Schneiderman, but it was dismissed. Advertisement That lawsuit, and several warnings from the state's Education Department, prompted the unlicensed online school to drop "University" from its title. Trump renamed it the Trump Entrepreneur Initiative, although the school has not operated since 2010. Debate fodder Trump's legal troubles hit the prime-time spotlight Thursday in what was arguably the most combative of the Republican debates so far. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida more than once referred to Trump's real estate academy as a fake university, while Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas relished the implications of a presidential candidate being put on the witness stand. "I want you to think about if this man is the nominee having the Republican nominee on the stand in court, being cross-examined about whether he committed fraud," Cruz said. "You don't think the mainstream media will go crazy on that?" And Rubio alleged: "There are people who borrowed $36,000 to go to Trump University, and they're suing now $36,000 to go to a university that's a fake school. And you know what they got? They got to take a picture with a cardboard cutout of Donald Trump. That's what they got for $36,000." Advertisement When Trump was able to finally respond without interruption, he appeared confident. "It's something I could have settled many times. I could settle it right now for very little money, but I don't want to do it, out of principle," he said. "The people that took the course all signed most, many many signed report cards saying it was fantastic, it was wonderful, it was beautiful.... "And believe me, I'll win that case. That's an easy case." Thompson, the Maryland real estate agent, said she didn't catch the debate live but tuned in to online clips the next day. "I wanted to high-five Rubio," she said. What's next Advertisement The case closest to trial is the 2010 San Diego suit. Of the four representative plaintiffs named in the suit, there are two from California and one each from Florida and New York. But now the lead plaintiff, Corona del Mar resident Tarla Makaeff, wants out. In a motion to the judge, Makaeff's lawyer says her client has endured health problems, family loss and financial troubles since the case began, and she is ready to let the other three class representatives including Chula Vista resident Sonny Low carry the case forward. "Subjecting herself to the intense media attention and likely barbs from Trump and his agents and followers simply would not be healthy for her," the motion argues. Her lawyer goes on to say that although Trump was famous before the lawsuit was filed, no one could have anticipated he'd be the focus of such intense media scrutiny as a political figure. Makaeff's lawyer said that even after Trump's defamation suit was dismissed, her client has lived in fear of financial ruin, and that "she still has great trepidation about retaliation." Advertisement A hearing on her potential exit is set for March 11. A trial date has not been confirmed for the San Diego suit, but August is being considered close to the November general election. A pretrial hearing is set for May 6. Last week, each side submitted witness lists for the trial. Trump was on both, with a footnote on the plaintiff's list that there was an understanding he would be testifying live. If for whatever reason he ends up not getting to court, his deposition testimony could be used instead. kristina.davis@utsandiego.com Twitter: @kristinadavis Davis writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. A day after protesters shut down his police task force's final public meeting, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said he understands why people are so emotional about the city's policing problems but encouraged demonstrators to participate in the discussion instead of trying to end it. Still under attack for his handling of the Laquan McDonald police shooting and the subsequent U.S. Justice Department investigation into the Chicago Police Department, Emanuel also tried to convey that he's trying hard to listen to community concerns about police. Advertisement On Thursday night, a boisterous crowd of about 40 demonstrators took over the stage where members of Emanuel's appointed task force had been trying to hold a meeting at Sullivan High School in Rogers Park. The mayor created the panel after the release of the McDonald shooting video, and the meeting marked the fourth and final of the panel's public hearings. The crowd loudly chanted "Bull----!" as the panel attempted to hear from members of the public, each of whom were given two minutes to address the task force. Advertisement Asked about the takeover Friday, Emanuel launched into a winding, three-minute answer long by his standards. "People are emotional about things, and that's an OK thing. What I think is important is allowing people of different views to come and express themselves. It does indicate to me that the task force work is important," the mayor said. "Shutting off discussion doesn't help us get smarter, better and achieve the goal in this area, specifically about what reforms are necessary to create the trust that's a two-way street and not a one-way street that is so important for public safety." Thursday's meeting wasn't the first time protesters have ended a city meeting recently. Emanuel was confronted by protesters at two of his three public budget hearings last fall. At one, a group of demonstrators on a hunger strike to keep a South Side high school open filled the stage, and Emanuel ended the meeting early. At the time, the mayor said people could disagree with him without being disagreeable. He repeated that line Friday when talking about the police task force meeting protest, but he also made the argument that he believes the protesters have more in common with the goals of officers and city officials than they may realize. Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > "If we hear each other and what we have to say, you'll find out there's more commonality and common ground than there are differences. That's my attitude about things," Emanuel said. "You should hear what other people say, because you may find that, rather than preconceived notions, there is a lot that holds us together." Since the police scandal broke, Emanuel has publicly proclaimed that some Chicago cops operate under a code of silence to cover up wrongdoing. The mayor said Friday that he has held 12 community meetings on the police issue. He said the meetings have included police commanders, religious leaders, business leaders, block club presidents and other stakeholders in neighborhoods across the city. By holding the meetings behind the scenes and now highlighting them publicly, Emanuel is attempting to rewrite a narrative that has emerged during his tenure as mayor that he acts without listening and fails to engage community leaders. "Nobody is saying, 'Get the police out of here.' In fact, if anything, they're saying, 'We want more of a police presence. Here's what we'd like to see. We want the officer to know who we are and we want to know the officer.' That is different," Emanuel said of his takeaway from the community meetings. Advertisement "That is the framework of community policing, and if you don't have those discussions, you're going to assume you don't want officers and the officer is going to assume you're not hospitable," the mayor said. "In all these meetings, we've seen just the opposite." bruthhart@tribpub.com Twitter @BillRuthhart The future of the Make in India campaign looks bleak with a generation of ill-educated jobseekers -- and especially dark if they are cannon fodder for caste riots or put behind bars for breaking India, says Sunil Sethi. A week of Make in India razzmatazz ended in Mumbai recently, and opinion was divided on if it succeeded in setting the Arabian Sea on fire. There can be no two opinions, however, that other parts of the country are ablaze with charges of sedition, discrimination, assault and arson. But who is bent upon breaking India? About Rs 2,000 crore of property was destroyed, and more than two dozen died, in rioting by Jats in Haryana this week demanding quotas in colleges and government jobs. Was it any coincidence that, geographically, the spread of the agitation was restricted to central districts -- Rohtak, Jhajjar, Bhiwani etc -- while the rest of the state stayed quiet? These are the bailiwick of Jat leader, former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, heavy-duty Congress party fundraiser and dutiful patron of Robert Vadra's real estate fortune. With the fires lit by his supporters, Hooda rushed post haste to Delhi to go on a peace fast at Jantar Mantar -- his hometown Rohtak, 60 km down the road, was too dangerous, he disingenuously declared. This raises questions both serious and frivolous: the negligence of the Bharatiya Janata Party Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and the Haryana police, and the incompetence of the BJP leadership in Delhi which played Nero till the capital's water supply was cut off. And can a bulky 69-year-old diabetic leader fast for long, in Delhi or Rohtak, beyond the call of a few photo-ops? Who is breaking India would be a farcical question were the consequences not so tragic, ever since Jawaharlal Nehru University student leader Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on charges of sedition on February 12. Bedlam has prevailed on the capital's streets, courthouse, campus and in Parliament, over his "anti-national" utterances. Much worse has been spoken, written and recorded against the nation-State in the past; in the present case, video evidence of the slogans raised have proven unreliable. Had Home Minister Rajnath Singh not leapt into the fray, with a ham-handed police commissioner making arrests at his command, no one would have heard of Kanhaiya Kumar. Yet he is now a protest hero in jail, whose name and fame is known abroad. He has been successfully out-trending Narendra Modi's Make in India extravaganza for days. India's political, academic, legal and chattering classes are splitting hairs over 50 shades of nationalism. Two foreign postgraduate students at JNU in the Indian Express this week expressed astonishment. The German sociologist said, "For us nationalism is a strange word, given our history", implying its horrific connotation had all but wiped out usage. The Oxford historian added the most "outrageous" thing was the use of a "backward, colonial-era sedition law". Kanhaiya Kumar's mother Meena Devi, a village social worker in Begusarai, Bihar, spoke the most horse sense when she urged the prime minister to "rise above politics and treat students as students". The opposite is happening. Political leaders of every hue from Rahul Gandhi (who has visited Hyderabad University twice and camped at JNU) to Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani's fire-and-brimstone speech in Parliament and have found a new battlefield on campuses. The lines will be drawn as five states go to the polls this year, with Dalit scholar Rohith Vemulas suicide and JNUs seditionists red-flagged as election issues. Exerting control over centrally-funded universities and institutions -- the Film and Television Institute of India, Indian Institutes of Technology, the Nehru Memorial Library -- as hubs of patronage and political support has been part of every government's agenda, Congress or BJP. Long seen as a Left-liberal stronghold, the JNU seemed out of the BJP's grasp. It has stumbled badly. The fallout of the arrests -- street marches, protests and violence -- has alienated students, lawyers, judges, the media and the public. The campus cauldron is on the boil with every incendiary ingredient thrown in -- caste, gender, minority classification and quota reservation. Most things, except a reasonable standard of education. Many of the youth who set the towns of Haryana on fire to demand quotas said they were unable to pass college entrance tests or were unqualified for government jobs. In parts of south India, private engineering colleges are closing down because they produce unemployable graduates. In Delhi, despite strict procedures laid down by the high court, arbitrary quotas for nursery school admissions grow more alarming each year. "There are all kinds of quotas -- management quota, sibling quota, this quota and that quota," complained Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal last month. He pointed out that children were being turned down if their parents were non-vegetarian, or taken in if they had art or music training. The future of the Make in India campaign looks bleak with a generation of ill-educated job-seekers -- and especially dark if they are cannon fodder for caste riots or put behind bars for breaking India. Current events in Haryana have set the state back 20 years. But this is just the beginning. Let's play a game. Let's try figuring out how much further the state can slide. Aditi Phadnis reports. Around three months ago, station house officers of police stations in at least three districts of Haryana sent messages to Chief Minister M L Khattar's secretariat. There had been an inexplicable spike in the sale of kerosene. Trees were being felled. Haryana has a high density of agri-implements. Suddenly a lot of trenches were being dug. Something was afoot, they said, and sought directions on what to do next. There was no answer. Then the arson began. The pattern was clear. Properties, shops, showrooms and garages owned by non-Jat communities were attacked with ferocity. Do something, the non-Jats in the government yelled at the chief minister. The first to threaten to resign was Anil Vij, a minister and an outspoken critic of Khattar. The second to threaten to leave the government was Women and Child Development Minister Kavita Jain. Capt Abhimanyu, finance minister and a Jat, was quiet. He was, for the Jats in the bureaucracy, the go-to guy in a government that came to power on the plank of consolidating and empowering non-Jats. This led to a crisis of leadership in the Jat community. Only a nincompoop would have been oblivious to the storm clouds that were gathering. Law and order is a zealously guarded preserve of the state government. And we all know that riots can happen only if the government either allows them to happen or is clueless about how to control them. In this case, the Crime Investigation Department collapsed. Because the Haryana bureaucracy is dominated by Jats, no one appeared to lift a finger to act. But the mayhem seemed to have a purpose. So who was orchestrating it and why? Change in Land Use has been a most lucrative industry in Haryana. In his tenure, former chief minister B S Hooda cleared around 18,000 acres under CLU and developers threw out farmers, built multi-storey buildings without ascertaining or informing the state government what provisions they had made for water, drainage, power and roads. The fee for CLU that was deposited with the state government is a minuscule part of what actually used to be paid. In November 2015, the chickens began coming home to roost. In a damning indictment of the previous government, the Punjab and Haryana high court set aside the allotment of 202 industrial plots in Rohtak about seven years after they were allotted by the Haryana State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation. "The entire process was tailor-made to allot plots to applicants as per the whims and fancies of the members of the allotment committee. Reading between the lines and the manner of recording of minutes shows that the allotment of plots was made on a predetermined basis..." the order of the court said. In December 2015, the Haryana government ordered that a criminal case be registered against Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) chairman -- Hooda at the time -- ex-IAS officer D P S Nagal and two Huda officials over irregularities in the allotment of industrial plots in Panchkula. The chief minister asked the Vigilance Bureau to register an FIR and refer the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation. The transfer of the probe to the CBI after the registration of an FIR meant there would be no preliminary inquiry. Instead, the VB's FIR would be replicated by the CBI to initiate the probe. This fact is important because it puts the inquiry on auto-pilot. The focus of the allotments was on 14 applicants out of the 582 who got plots in 2012-13. Among the beneficiaries were Renu Hooda, wife of the former chief minister's nephew Rajinder Hooda; Manjot Kaur, daughter-in-law of then Punjab and Haryana high court judge Justice (retd) M S Sullar; Nandita Hooda, wife of former senior additional advocate general Narender Hooda; Mona Beri, daughter-in-law of B R Beri, former officer on special duty to Hooda; and others. That was in December, around the time the Jats were getting ready to destabilise Haryana by demanding that jobs be reserved for them. If the Khattar government had been a little more proactive, it would have anticipated the moves. But consider the way it has reacted. The government has accepted the demands for a quota. If fresh reservation quotas are announced, Haryana would be violating the 50 per cent ceiling on reservations set by the Supreme Court. So if -- as announced by the government -- Jat reservation is accepted in the coming session of the Assembly, it can only be carved out of the existing reservations for Yadavs and Sainis. Little wonder then, that those two communities are now getting vocal and criticising the government. Current events in Haryana have set the state back 20 years. But this is just the beginning. Let's play a game. Let's try figuring out how much further the state can slide. Image: Jat community members torched motorcyles during their agitation for reservation in Rohtak. Photograph: PTI photo A Taliban suicide attack near the defence ministry in Kabul on Saturday killed nine and injured 13 others, in what was he second blast of the day. The first attack, in Asadabad near the governors compound in the eastern province of Kunar, killed at least 14 people and wounded 41 others, said Wahidullah Kalimzai, the provinces governor. Hours later, a militant blew himself outside the defence ministry killing nine others. The Taliban were responsible for the Kabul attack, said a spokesman for the insurgents, Zabihullah Mujahid. Taliban insurgents regularly hit government, military and police targets as part of their campaign to overthrow the Western-backed administration of President Ashraf Ghani. The blasts come amid fresh efforts by Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the US to restart talks aimed at ending the Talibans long and bloody insurgency in Afghanistan. Image: Afghan National Army soldiers arrive at the site of an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. A loud explosion rocked the Afghan capital Kabul near the defence ministry on Saturday, hours after a suicide bomber killed at least 11 people in the eastern province of Kunar. Photograph: Mohammad Ismail/Reuters A Delhi court on Saturday allowed the custodial interrogation of two Jawaharlal Nehru University students, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, arrested in a sedition case, by two more days. The court extended the police custody of the duo, who had allegedly organised a controversial event at the Jawaharlal Nehru University on February 9 where anti-India slogans were said to have been raised, after police contended that they were required for further probe in the case. The police claimed that around 22 people present at the flashpoint JNU event, including some outsiders, have been identified after the joint interrogation of Khalid, Anirban and students union president Kanhaiya Kumar arrested in the same case. Khalid and Anirban were earlier sent to three days police remand on February 24, after their midnight surrender and subsequent arrest in the case. Earlier, the Delhi high court had ordered that confidentiality be maintained during the remand proceedings of Umar and Anirban, besides Kumar, while directing the police to ensure that no one suffers even a scratch and there is no ruckus this time. Lawyers had allegedly assaulted Kumar when he was brought to Patiala House Court for remand proceedings, in defiance of a Supreme Court order, on February 17. Two days earlier, when Kumar was to be brought to the court, the same set of lawyers had thrashed journalists and JNU students and teachers. The high court order had come during the hearing on Kumars bail plea after it was informed that the student leader and Umar and Anirban were apprehending threat to their safety and security during production before Patiala House courts for remand proceedings. The police also inquired whether two of them were the main organisers of the February 9 event against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and whether they were involved in anti-India sloganeering which allegedly took place. The duo had returned to the JNU campus last Sunday after going missing since February 12. Besides Kumar, Khalid and Bhattacharya, the other students allegedly involved in the case are Rama Naga, Ashutosh Kumar and Anant Prakash. Ashutosh has joined the investigation with the Delhi Police. The police had issued a look-out notice on February 20 against Khalid, Bhattacharya, Naga, Ashutosh and Prakash. In its order, the high court had also directed its Registrar General to depute a Metropolitan Magistrate for conducting remand proceedings and asked DCP (South) Prem Nath, who was present inside the courtroom during the hearing, to co-ordinate with the Registrar General for this. The bench said Kanhaiyas counsel has apprehended serious threat to his clients life during production before the court for remand proceedings and for this reason, his bail plea was transmitted to the high court by the Supreme Court. The court had heard brief arguments on Kanhaiyas bail plea and posted it for further hearing on February 29 as Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that in view of the arrest of Khalid and Bhattacharya, the police would file an application seeking his further police custody. The court had also heard separate petitions filed by Khalid and Bhattacharya in which they had sought security before they surrender to police and their advocates told the bench that since their clients have surrendered the prayer does not survive. 'We also urge you to take steps to control the activities of groups, such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh,' said the letter signed by 34 top American lawmakers. Expressing serious concern over violence against religious minorities in India, 34 top American lawmakers have asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take immediate steps to protect their fundamental rights and bring the perpetrators to justice. We urge your government to take immediate steps to ensure that the fundamental rights of religious minorities are protected and that the perpetrators of violence are held to account, the lawmakers, including eight Senators, said in a letter to the prime minister. Of particular concern is the treatment of Indias Christian, Muslim and Sikh communities, said the letter dated February 25, which was released to the press on Saturday by the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. Among others the letter was signed by Senators Roy Blunt, Amy Klobuchar, James Lankford, Al Franken, Tim Scot, Ben Sasse, John Boozman and Steve Daines. The letter was signed by 24 members from the US House of Representatives including Joseph Pits, Keith Ellison, Brad Wenstrup, Jim Costa, Trent Franks, Ted Poe and Mark Walker. We also urge you to take steps to control the activities of groups, such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and instruct Indian security forces to enforce the rule of law and protect religious minority communities from religiously-motivated harassment and violence, the lawmakers said. On June 17th, 2014, more than 50 village councils in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh adopted a resolution banning all non-Hindu religious propaganda, prayers, and speeches in their communities, the letter said, adding that the Christian minority community has been dramatically affected. The ban effectively has criminalised the practice of Christianity for an estimated 300 Christian families in the region one day after a mob, which included members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, seriously injured six Christians in the village of Sirciguda. Since the ban was implemented, Christians in the Bastar district reportedly have been subjected to physical assaults, denial of government services, extortion, threats of forced expulsion, denial of access to food and water, and pressure to convert to Hinduism, they alleged. Expressing concern over beef ban in India, the lawmakers said this is increasing tensions and encouraging vigilante violence against the Muslim community. They also raised additional concerns about the lack of recognition of Sikhism as a distinct religion, which prevents members of the community from accessing social services and employment and educational preferences available to other religious communities. Congressmen and senators applauded Prime Minister Modi about his statement on religious freedom and communal harmony, including his promise in February 2014 that his government would ensure that there is complete freedom of faith and not allow any religious group, belonging to the majority or the minority, to incite hatred against others. We urge you to turn these words into action by publicly condemning the ban on non-Hindu faiths in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, and the violent assaults and other forms of harassment against religious minorities throughout India, the letter said. 'Bollywood as a phenomenon needs to be demystified. Bollywood stars must travel and connect with people in Indias hinterland just to make them realise that they are mere mortals and not larger-than-life as portrayed on the screen. Its their responsibility to do so. They should go out and attend more programmes in non-urban areas to reduce the craze that brings children to Mumbai.' Over 2,000 missing children were rescued by the Mumbais railway police in January during Operation Muskaan-2, a drive focused on reuniting such children with their parents. Hepzi Anthony takes a look at the procedures the government has put in place to streamline the process of handling runaway children. A ragpicker jumps onto a moving train in search of plastic bottles for reselling, at a railway station. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters. Photograph: Yaacov Saar/Reuters Mumbai continues to be a major attraction for runaway kids. Apart from escaping from factors such as financial crunch or domestic abuse, the Bollywood factor is also a strong draw in attracting the imagination of the runaway kids to Mumbai. Hoping to escape from domestic hardships or to land a Bollywood role or just the hope of coming face to face with the city of the King Khans is enough to keep the numbers of children running into Mumbai soaring. You have children getting down from trains at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus wanting to go to 'Mannat '(Shah Rukh Khans bungalow in Bandra in the western suburbs) or wanting to have a tea at the Taj (Mahal Hotel in South Mumbai), says a volunteer with Childline, who works at CST station. Parents too are equally responsible for this situation. They think that 10-year-olds are grown up enough to board trains and travelling along with friends but fail to see the dangers involved, she says. Last month, as part of a nation-wide special drive to rescue missing children, the Mumbai railway police rescued 2,093 children. Termed as Operation Muskaan-2, the drive aimed at tracing the missing and destitute children and to reunite them with their parents. The idea was to prevent them from getting abused, victimised or being exploited in any manner. A similar exercise in July 2015 had found 1,152 children rescued by the railway police. The children are often used by criminals for begging, labour, drug-trafficking, organ transplantation or immoral activities since they do not have their own voice. Runaway adults usually survive by means of begging or performing menial work; but the children are comparatively helpless, and resistance against the criminals and the situation is futile, explains Vasant Dhoble, a retired assistant commissioner of the Mumbai police. Child labourers rescued from different factory units wait inside a police station in Mumbai. Photograph: Reuters Not so long ago, a favoured place for runaways in Mumbai was the Juhu beach. Apart from the beautiful shoreline, a major attraction was the number of film stars residing in the vicinity. Erstwhile stars such as Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, and Feroz Khan living in prominent landmark bungalows in Juhu used to attract people in hordes. So much so that a social organisations had set up a locker and bathing facilities for runaways at the beach. But the situation has changed now. Earlier, the beach would attract a lot of missing children. But now we dont see that many runaway kids on the beach, says Ramesh, who has been a coconut vendor on the beach for over 15 years. The star power and resultant crowds seem to have shifted to Bandra, home to the Khan trio, the Kapoors and other top stars now. A casual walk along Bandra Bandstand promenade reveals the huge star pull that this suburb attracts. Apart from tourist buses, there are crowds that throng during the day, clicking selfies outside the residences of stars such as Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. But, Bandra does not face the kind of problems like Juhu used to. This is because now the government has stepped in and ensured that kids are not left alone on the streets. Now there is more police patrolling on the beach. The police takes charge of kids who are alone and hands them over to a childrens home rather than allowing them to be left alone, says Albert Senapati, social worker with a Juhu shelter home. Akash Pal, 8, a runaway, is disallowed from boarding a train alone from CST station. He claims his family is aware that he is en route to Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, all alone, and that he should be allowed to board the train, as he knows the way. Volunteers of Childline (a phone emergency outreach service for children in need of care and protection) take down his details, take him to the government hospital for a health check-up and then hand him over to the police to be sent to the childrens home for further action. The volunteers also track down other such children thereon and try to connect them back to their parents. Sometimes, in the process of handling missing children, policemen at times did not bother to get into paperwork. It was left to the discretion of the policemen on field to hand them over back to their parents or guardians. There were times that policemen would hand them back to their parents without even bothering to do the official paperwork of showing the child as missing. But now it has been made mandatory to do the paperwork, produce the child before a judicial child welfare committee and only then he or she can be handed over to the parents, informs Sachin Bhalode, senior divisional security commissioner with the Railway police Force. Now every police station is expected to assign an area to keep such kids temporarily. All these measures have been put in place following India becoming a signatory of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child that introduced and enforced a standard operating procedure. A staff sensitisation exercise to motivate the policemen and other government staff to handle and treat children with care has also been introduced as part of this exercise. The UNCRC has led to the implementation of an Integrated Child Protection Scheme that puts the onus on the government to ensure that the child is protected and prevented from being in a vulnerable or exploited situation. It is this clause that makes the policemen pick up children from stations to protect them from harm, from people or circumstances. At the childrens home in Dongri, a three-member committee of lawyers, social activists and government representatives decide on whether the child has to be handed back to parent/relatives, sent to another childrens home at Mankhurd in the eastern suburbs or to be handed over to some social organisation such as Mother Teresas Home. The child is involved in these meetings and his opinions are taken into consideration in the judicial orders. The children are kept here until the police and non-governmental organisations trace the childs address or whereabouts. We are brought in at the childrens home and we dont know how long it would take to get out of here. There are children who cry at night as they miss their parents. Even I feel like crying at times. The TV is on in the evenings but I dont feel like watching it. I just want to get out from here, says Abdul Raqib, who ran away from Kishanganj in Bihar to seek work in Mumbai. Inmates of a government-run juvenile remand home watch an event in Mumbai. Photograph: Arko Datta/Reuters The kids have a roll-call twice a day and are served meals thrice a day. These kids are kept away from children who are involved in criminal cases to prevent violence or victimisation. Girls and boys are kept separately, and are provided red and blue uniforms at the home to identify them. Their belongings are kept with the officials. An official is overheard saying: A kid knew the telephone number of some guy who could inform his parents. I have just called up that person, but I have no clue if he has informed the parents. This kid keeps asking me if his parents have called back. I really feel bad for him but cant help it. Efforts are made to get the children to reveal their address or whereabouts. There are times when we do not understand the language spoken by these children. In such cases, we put them in touch with officials who can communicate with them, says Sunita Dhokre from the CST railway police station, who has been handling missing children cases for the past 11 years. She carries a list of names of children who have been found at the CST station and keeps tracking their progress right from where they are kept to whether their addresses have been traced and if they have been successfully handed back to their parents. So far, of the 2,093 rescued children in Mumbai railway division, 1,959 were handed over back to their families. So, what can be done to resolve this problem? As a metropolis and financial hub, Mumbai will continue to attract people, and the Bollywood factor can be worked upon, feels inspector Manik Sathe of CST railway police station. Bollywood as a phenomenon needs to be de-mystified. Bollywood stars must travel and connect with people in Indias hinterland just to make them realise that they are mere mortals and not larger-than-life as portrayed on the screen. Its their responsibility to do so. They should go out and attend more programmes in non-urban areas to reduce the craze that brings people to Mumbai, argues Sathe. He adds, Parents and teachers need to be counselled to treat children better and make schools more interesting. Dhoble has also done his bit to resolve the problem of missing people. With his experience in rescuing children from flesh trade, begging racket, child labour, organ trafficking etc, the former cop has launched a website missingpeopleinfo.com to help trace missing people. This portal uses search, face recognition and detection software and other online tools to help connect missing people with their families. Dhoble and his team of volunteers tally the pictures of missing people with the pictures of people abandoned in hospitals, beggars and unknown persons to trace them. Dhoble feels that for a start, responsible citizens need to report children or individuals seen begging or being used indirectly for begging or working, to the authorities with or without anyone's help. For now, their search is limited to Mumbai, but they do eventually plan to cover the entire country depending upon how the model works in Mumbai. Slamming the government over the Jawaharlal Nehru University row, Communist Party of India-Marxist chief Sitaram Yechury on Saturday said it was a more vicious replay of what happened during Emergency and alleged that polarisation now is much worse than during partition and the demolition of Babri mosque. What else is this but a replay in a more vicious manner of what happened in the Emergency? In the Emergency, I was arrested, I was taken to the court. I was not and we were not assaulted in the court room, Yechury told CNN-IBN. He was referring to the new testimony on camera of student leader Kanhaiya Kumar, who has been booked on sedition charge, in which he said that he was beaten up, pushed to the ground and injured by men in lawyers robes before the police, when he was brought to the Patiala House court premises on February 17. Maintaining that it worries him that the government does not want a common ground, the CPI-M general secretary said, what they are seeking is polarisation. Polarisation is much worse than what it was during the time of partition and the demolition of Babri Masjid. Comparing the scenario with what was witnessed during the Indira Gandhi regime, he said every opposition to the government policy was then blamed on the foreign hand. Forty years down the line, a government of modern Indian republic again goes foreign hand. Our prime minister saying that Opposition and foreign funded NGOs were trying to destabilise his government, Yechury said, alleging that this is the building of hate campaign (by the Bharatiya Janata Party) against its opponents. Condemning some BJP leaders, who made controversial remarks against Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and CPI leader D Raja, Yechury said, they are spreading calumny and hatred. They are actually anti-national. In remarks laced with sarcasm, Yechury said, you (BJP and RSS) glorify Nathuram Godse, the murderer of Mahatma Gandhi as a nationalist hero and I am anti-national. The Supreme Court on Friday sought response from the Centre and Delhi Police on a plea seeking an SIT probe and initiation of contempt action against three lawyers who were allegedly caught on camera "bragging and boasting" that they had beaten up JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar and others, including journalists, in a court complex. A bench comprising Justices J Chelameswar and A M Sapre also issued notice to the three lawyers, allegedly caught in a sting operation, and fixed the matter for further hearing on March 4. At the outset, the bench was reluctant to issue notice on the fresh plea filed by advocate Kamini Jaiswal, saying that it is already hearing a matter on the issue which is to come up on March 10. "The question is that there is another matter pending and until the proceedings in that case are concluded, should we initiate the contempt proceedings in this fresh one?" the bench asked. However, it later issued notice on the petition. A bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur had on Thursday listed the matter for hearing today after lawyer Prashant Bhushan sought urgent hearing of the matter. The plea has sought "suo motu contempt proceeding" against lawyers Vikram Singh Chauhan, Yashpal Singh and Om Sharma on the ground that they have allegedly been caught on camera talking about the attacks. It also sought a direction to set up a special investigation team to probe the incidents of violent attacks on journalists, students, teachers, defence lawyers and Kanhaiya on February 15 and 17 by some advocates in the premises of Patiala House courts here during the hearing of the sedition case involving the JNUSU leader. The plea was filed in pursuance of an oral observation by a bench headed by Justice J Chelameswar, which is hearing the matters arising out of violence in the trial court premises in the JNU case, that the allegations are fresh ones and hence, a fresh petition is required to be filed. The plea has alleged that the three lawyers interfered in the "administration of justice" and willfully violated the orders passed by the apex court on February 17. The petition, which also makes Ministry of Home Affairs and Delhi Police as parties, has said facts have come to light that there was "blatant violation of the rule of law" in the trial court premises. It has alleged that contempt of court has been committed by certain lawyers, including these three, and there was complete inaction on the part of Delhi Police "which has been exposed by the report dated February 18, of 5 senior advocates appointed as court commissioners by this court". The plea also referred to report of National Human Rights Commission and a news channel's sting operation on the issue. The Apex court had on February 23 agreed to consider a plea seeking contempt action against the three lawyers after it was mentioned by lawyer Prashant Bhushan before the bench. "This bragging and boasting by the lawyers are trampling the rule of law. It's high time that the Supreme Court takes suo motu notice of the matter and issues contempt notice against these lawyers," Bhushan had said. The former Naval chief said that the idea of nationalism is not restricted only to the military and its men and that booking students under such a law was ridiculous. The slapping of sedition charges on Jawaharlal Nehru University students for holding an event is ridiculous and there is no room for any such law in a democratic country, former Navy chief Admiral (Retired) Lakshminarayan Ramdas said on Saturday. Ramdas who was addressing the JNU students during a lecture titled De-militarisation of nationalism, said, they are all doctored videos. Even if anti-national slogans were raised did anybody verify who shouted them. Booking random students for sedition is ridiculous. There is no room for any such law in a democratic country. Ramdas who visited the campus to express solidarity with the three arrested students -- Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, said, No nation can be strong just by posing its military might, nation is built of its people. The security agencies and government should first see if the case is worth filing sedition. The idea of nationalism is not restricted only to the military and its men, in fact it is a much broader term. Nationalism is a 17th century thing which started in Europe and we are still applying it in the 21st century. Moreover, it is an idea that should be boundary less, not restricted to only a few people, he added. Three days ago, some ex-servicemen including retired Major General G D Bakshi had come to the university to meet the administration including the vice chancellor and registrar and had suggested that an army tank be put up on the campus to instil nationalism in students. To this, the registrar had responded saying that the administration is mulling over the idea of having a martyr nwall and displaying such nationalism symbols on campus. During the open-air lecture, Colonel (retd) Lakshmeswar Mishra also echoed Ramdass idea of demilitarisation of nationalism. The patriotism that armymen talk about, a vast majority of people have the right to question it. There are many problems in the army as well but these things never come out. It is only when a soldier dies that our country makes a scene out of it. They do not care about what that soldiers family goes through, says Mishra who is also a Communist Party of India-MarxistLeninist. Above 100 jawans commit suicide in a year. According to an estimate, 30-40 people want to kill themselves but somehow they get saved. The death due to terror activities is lesser than suicides. At army hospital, a sizeable number of jawans are admitted in psycho wards. All these are the problems that are never discussed, he added. Jawaharlal Nehru University is caught in a row over an event in the campus to commemorate the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, where anti-national slogans were allegedly raised. Three students including the varsity students union president are in custody in a sedition case over the event. Image: Admiral (Retd) Ramdas addresses students agitating for the release of Kanhaiya Kumar and other students charged with sedition on campus. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh was on Saturday granted bail by a local court after he appeared before it in connection with an alleged recruitment scam when he was chief minister of Madhya Pradesh during 1993-2003. Singh, along with his lawyers, appeared before the Additional District and Session Judge Kashinath Singh, a day after the court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against the former chief minister, who is an accused in the case, for not turning up before it. The court granted bail to Singh after he furnished a bond of Rs 30,000. The prosecution did not oppose his bail. A 169-page supplementary chargesheet was filed on Friday in the case which pertains to alleged irregularities in recruitment in the state assembly secretariat. Singh has been charged with forgery, cheating, conspiracy and misuse of office as well as offences under Prevention of Corruption Act. Singh was accompanied by MP Congress president Arun Yadav, former Union minister Suresh Pachouri and his lawyer Vivek Tankha. Tankha pleaded before the court that his client is a renowned politician and he failed to appear before the court on Friday as there was an important event in Ujjain where his presence was essential as it was planned in advance. My client respects the court and has no intention to run away from it as he has already recorded his statement on the issue before the police, Tankha told the court. The case is politically motivated and is a fallout of the Vyapam scam (alleged recruitment scam in government jobs and also in admission to medical and dental colleges). Even the probe committee had not found anything against him, the lawyer submitted. Tankha also said that Singh is a Rajya Sabha member and a former chief minister who enjoys a clean image and deserves to be released on bail. As the prosecution did not raise any objection to Tankhas submission, the court granted bail to Singh. A large number of Congressmen had also gathered in the court premises. Last year, Singh had reportedly told investigators that all recruitments in the secretariat during his tenure were done with the approval of the state cabinet and as per prescribed rules. Image: Congress leader Digvijay Singh appears before the Bhopal court. Photograph: PTI In a major boost to his White House bid ahead of a multi-state vote next week, Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has got a surprise endorsement from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who was himself a contender till recently. Close on the heels of Christie's endorsement, Maine Governor Paul LePage also backed Trump saying, "I'll be very honest. I originally said I'd like it to be a governor, but unfortunately, the American people are not going for a governor this year. So I'm going to endorse Donald Trump." Fifty three-year-old Christie, at a rally in Fortworth, Texas, on Friday said,"Donald is a leader. He is a successful person that, like me, isn't afraid to tell it like it is. Our system is broken and it won't be fixed from the inside. I am proud to offer my endorsement of his candidacy for President." Former White House contender Christie's endorsement to Trump just ahead of the 'Super Tuesday' -- in which primary elections would be held in 11 states -- is expected to what is supporters said "seal the deal" for the 69-year-old reality TV star-turned-politician. "It is my great honour to receive the endorsement of the Governor (Christie). We have had a wonderful relationship for many years. He is a solid person that I have tremendous respect for. I am really proud to receive the support of the Governor and his family," Trump said. Christie, a former federal prosecutor, is a moderate Republican running a largely Democratic state and was once seen as one of the party's best hopes in 2016. He dropped out of the presidential race after poor showings in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries. Christie's endorsement is significant as he is one of the first establishment Republicans to back Trump. Trump, who has won three of the four Republican primaries, is leading in all states that will vote on 'Super Tuesday' except Texas, according to opinion polls. In Texas, Trump is locked in a close fight with his main rival Senator Ted Cruz. Notably, Trump has also been endorsed by Congressmen Chris Collins, Congressman Duncan Hunter, former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin, South Carolina Lt Governor Henry McMaster, and Arizona Treasurer Jeff DeWitt. Democratic National Committee National press secretary Mark Paustenbach said Christie's endorsement is the best example yet that the GOP is the party of Trump. "The Republican field just isn't serious and all its candidates have major problems heading into November. If anyone is wetting their pants, as Rubio suggested today, it's the Republican establishment," he said in a statement. Image: US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (left) speaks next to his former rival for the Republican presidential nomination, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (right), at a campaign rally where Christie endorsed Trump's candidacy for president, in Fort Worth, Texas. Photograph: Mike Stone/Reuters Three truck drivers on Saturday claimed that they witnessed women being dragged and molested by Jat agitators in Murthal, even as a team of women police officers visited the site of alleged gang rapes but said no eyewitness or victim had turned up before it. Speaking to media persons, the three men -- Sukhwinder Singh, Niranjan and Naresh Kumar -- claimed that the agitators torched their trucks in Murthal, over 50 kilometre from Delhi, and assaulted them following which they hid in the bushes to save themselves. They alleged that they saw the attackers dragging women out of vehicles, tearing their clothes and molesting them before taking the victims towards the fields. Singh alleged that policemen in plain clothes were putting pressure on them to remain silent about the incident. The development came on a day the women police officers team led by Deputy Inspector General Dr Rajshree Singh and comprising Deputy Superintendent of Police Bharti Dabas and Surinder Kaur visited the site at village Hassanpur near Murthal in Sonipat district on Delhi Ambala National Highway to gather first hand information about the alleged incident. Rajshree Singh maintained that till Saturday evening no victim or eye witness had come forward to provide details. Asked about recovery of some clothes belonging to women, she told reporters, These had been sent to Forensic Science Laboratory for examination. Let us see, what comes out, she told reporters Rajshree Singh said on Saturday evening, Two truck drivers -- one each from Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir have contacted us. But both have denied seen any such thing (alleged rape of women stuck on the National Highway near Murthal), the DIG said. She said that both of them told the team that they got stuck between 10-11 am on that day. Between 1-2 pm, their trucks were burnt and during this period both did not see any such thing, the DIG claimed. The DIG said that a woman called up to tell the team that she would visit them personally on Sunday. We are waiting for her to come tomorrow, she added. Asked about the claims of the three truck drivers about seeing the attack, she said all those people who have any information should come to the police. Anyone who has concrete proof of the incident, should without any fear approach the team. We will protect them and their identity will not be disclosed, she said. Asked about the issue, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said a special investigation team has been formed to look into the matter and has been directed to take each and every complaint coming to them. I dont understand why the eyewitnesses and the victims are not coming forward. No eyewitness has contacted the police yet, they should inform the police about the incident. The police team visited Sukhdev dhaba, the eatery which was also attacked by the agitators and spoke to a number of people in the area. Meanwhile, the DIGs mobile number given in the press release issued after presser by DGP Y P Singal on Friday evening has turned out to be wrong and the same belonged to a resident of Indore in Madhya Pradesh. Asked about it, she said that the correct number would be put out. Haryana Police DGP Y P Singal was not contactable despite repeated attempts. Home Secretary P K Das, when questioned about the gaffe, retorted ask this question to the DGP. A resident of Indore has been receiving telephone calls since Friday after Haryana Police listed his number among the numbers of three officers for receiving information concerning the alleged incident. When a journalist called up the mobile number given by the Haryana Police DGP Y P Singhal of DIG Rajshree Singh, heading the three-member women police officers team, it turned out to be of an Indore resident. I have lodged a complaint with the local police, the recipient of the call said. The DGP had on Friday announced the constitution of the team headed by the DIG to gather information concerning the alleged incident of sexual assault on some women near Murthal on the night intervening February 22 and 23. Singhal had said that these officers would be available in Sonipat till further orders and anyone could provide information concerning the incident to them in the form of audio or video clips or photographs or in any other form. "Slogans are a subset of freedom of expression. You express your politics through it. I can chant any slogan, you can differ or agree. But you can't slap sedition charges," Aparajitha Raja, the 25-year-old president of the JNU unit of AISF and daughter of CPI leader D Raja, tells Shivam Saini. For the past few days, her phone has not been turned on much. Concerns for security also led her to temporarily move out of her room in one of the hostels at Jahawarlal Nehru University and move in with a friend on the same campus. She has been "strictly asked" not to walk around campus or outside unescorted. These days, a bunch of "comrades" almost always surrounds Aparajitha Raja, an MPhil student at JNU's Centre for Political Studies. Raja is among the 20 students whose names were released by the Delhi Police earlier this month in connection to an event organised on February 9 to protest the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru in 2013, where it has been alleged that "anti-national" slogans were chanted. "The only sad part is that now people know who my father is," says the 25-year-old president of JNU unit of the All India Students Federation, and daughter of D Raja, the Communist Party of India's national secretary and a member of Rajya Sabha. AISF is the student wing of the CPI. Soon after the incident, which also led to the arrest of JNU Students' Union President Kanhaiya Kumar on sedition charges, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Mahesh Giri uploaded a video of the event, alleging that Aparajitha had also participated in the protest. Around the same time, D Raja was reported as saying that he had received calls carrying threats to his daughter. When I meet Aparajitha on campus, she chooses a quiet spot shaded by trees for us to chat. Dressed in a bright blue-and-red salwar kameez, she settles herself on a stool. Her face, though weary with lack of sleep, shows little sign of the deepening turmoil at JNU. She is rather amused at one of the recent tweets about her that urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to press sedition -- incorrectly written as "seduction" -- charges against her. But what happened on the evening of February 9 is far from hilarious. Aparajitha says she joined in only after she received a call from one of the organisers of the event. The permission for the event -- a cultural evening titled "The Country Without a Post Office" -- that was scheduled at 5 in the evening was withdrawn, she says, after the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad wrote to the authorities, citing concerns that the anti-national activities would disturb peace on campus. "But the organisers decided to go ahead with the event anyway," she says, adding that she joined the protest towards the end of the programme. Although she denies having raised "anti-national" slogans, Aparajitha makes her views on sloganeering clear. "Slogans are a subset of freedom of expression," she says in a soft voice. "You express your politics through it. I can chant any slogan, you can differ or agree. But you can't slap sedition charges." She, however, terms some of the slogans raised that day "juvenile and senseless". All the same, she adds: "These slogans have a context. You cannot decontexualise or ahistorically look at anything. They are shouted every day on the streets of Kashmir. You cannot see things in isolation." A few days after the event, JNU authorities suspended eight people, whose names had also appeared in the initial list of 20. "From there on, we could see the plot," says Aparajitha, whose Facebook timeline from those days is flooded with calls to boycott classes and a shutdown of the university. "We were only being cautious." The young activist, who grew up in Delhi and attended Hindu College before she came to JNU, fondly remembers her childhood days when she would tag along with her mother, social activist Annie Raja, to protest marches. "I was in class II when at this particular trade union march, from Ramlila Maidan to Jantar Mantar, I was so tired of walking that I was wailing," she says laughingly. "I asked her to carry me instead." For now, however, her biggest concern is a dissertation on which she has not started work yet. "I was going to go to my friends place in Chennai and write my dissertation. You need a certain detachment to be able to write. I cannot detach myself when I am on campus," she says. "Plan spoilt." Photograph Courtesy: Aparajitha Raja/Facebook SATURDAY Gun and blade show The Silver Spur Gun & Blade Show will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Taylor County Expo Center, 1801 E.S. 11th St. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children 12 and younger; active-duty military and NRA members will receive a $1 discount. Free tax assistance The AARP will offer free assistance in preparing income tax forms for low- and middle-income taxpayers from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mockingbird Branch of the Abilene Public Library, 1326 N. Mockingbird Lane. Doors will open at 9 a.m. Space is limited, and help will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Chili day The Kiwanis Club of Greater Abilene will present its annual Chili Day & Auction from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Abilene Civic Center, 1100 N. Sixth St. Tickets are $6 in advance and $7 at the door. Proceeds will go to children's programs in the community. For tickets, or for more information, call 325-669-0737. Rugby day The Abilene Rugby Club and Abilene Christian University Rugby will present an Abilene Rugby Day at 2 p.m. at Lincoln Middle School, 1699 S. First St. Seating will be limited; participants are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets. Admission is free. Pancake supper LUEDERS American Legion Auxiliary Unity 661 will serve its annual Pancake Feed from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Lueders-Avoca Junior High School cafeteria. Proceeds will go to scholarships for graduating seniors of Jones County. Musical OLD GLORY The Old Glory Musical will begin at 6 p.m. at the Old Glory Community Center. Concessions will open at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 940-989-2966 or 940-989-2816. Barbecue fundraiser COMANCHE Revitalize Comanche Inc. will serve a barbecue dinner at 6 p.m. in the old Higginbotham Building. An auction will begin at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds will go toward the construction of Heritage Park. 'Horrid Massacre in Boston' A production of 'Horrid Massacre in Boston' will be presented at 7:30 p.m. in the Amy Graves Ryan Fine Arts Center at McMurry University. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for McMurry faculty, staff and students. For more information, call 325-793-3889. 'The Vagina Monologues' The Abilene Artists Coalition will present a production of 'The Vagina Monologues' at 7:30 p.m. in the Abilene Community Theatre Black Box Theatre, 809 Barrow St. Admission is $15 for adults and $12 for students, military and seniors. Proceeds will go to the Noah Project. For reservations, call 325-669-2598. Other ... Overeaters Anonymous, 10 a.m., Shades of Hope, 402A Mulberry St., Buffalo Gap. 800-588-4673. Abilene Society of Model Railroaders, 10 a.m. to noon, 2043 N. Second St. SUNDAY Gun and blade show The Silver Spur Gun & Blade Show will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Taylor County Expo Center, 1801 E.S. 11th St. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children 12 and younger; active-duty military and NRA members will receive a $1 discount. Fish fry HASKELL Trinity Lutheran Church will serve a fish fry from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Haskell Civic Center. The cost will be $8 per plate. Proceeds will go the church youth camp. 'The Vagina Monologues' The Abilene Artists Coalition will present a production of 'The Vagina Monologues' at 2:30 p.m. in the Abilene Community Theatre Black Box Theatre, 809 Barrow St. Admission is $15 for adults and $12 for students, military and seniors. Proceeds will go to the Noah Project. For reservations, call 325-669-2598. Ballet Abilene Ballet Theatre will present its spring performance, 'Fables and Fairytales: Beyond The Nutcracker' at 2:30 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre, 352 Cypress St. For more information, go to www.abileneballettheatre.org. Desert Storm ceremony A ceremony remembering Operation Desert Storm will begin at 2:30 p.m. at VFW Post 6873, 1049 Veterans Drive. Other ... Blood drive, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., South Pointe Church, 3050 Buffalo Gap Road. MONDAY Square dance workshop TYE The Key City Squares will conduct a square dancing workshop at 6:30 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel. Wind ensemble A wind ensemble concert will be presented at 7:30 p.m. in the Ryan Recital Hall at McMurry University. Other ... Overeaters Anonymous, noon, Hinds Square Building, 100 Chestnut St., Room 112. Schizophrenia Support Group, 1-2 p.m., Mental Health Association of Abilene, 333 Orange St. 325-673-2300. Blood drive, 1-6 p.m., Fisher County Chronicle, Rotan. Free swim class for people with multiple sclerosis, 5:30 p.m., YMCA, 3250 State St. Anorexics Bulimics Anonymous, 6 p.m., Shades of Hope, 402A Mulberry St., Buffalo Gap. 800-588-4673. Central Texas Gem & Mineral Society of Abilene, 7 p.m., 7607 Highway 277 South. 325-692-0063. Abilene Toastmasters Club 1071, 7 p.m., Conference Center, Texas State Technical College, 650 E. Highway 80. 325-692-7325 or abilene.toastmastersclubs.org. Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1501 N. Broadway, Ballinger. 817-689-2810 or 325-977-1007. Mid-City Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First Christian Church. 325-670-4304. Memory Men (four-part a cappella singing), 7 p.m., Calvary Baptist Church, 1165 Minter Lane. Park on east side, enter through kitchen. 325-676-SING. Abilene Community Band rehearsal, 7:30 p.m., Bynum Band Hall, McMurry University. 325-232-7383. South Pioneer Al-Anon Group, 8 p.m., 3157 Russell Ave. Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Avoca United Methodist Church. 325-773-2611. Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Group. 325-676-1400. TUESDAY Alzheimer's program The Alzheimer's Association North Central Texas Chapter will present 'The Basics: Memory Loss, Dementia & Alzheimer's Disease' from 2-4 p.m. at its office, 301 S. Pioneer Drive, Suite 105. Admission is free, but seating will be limited. For reservations, call 325-672-2907 or 800-272-3900. Comptroller workshop The Texas Tech Small Business Development Center in Abilene will conduct a Texas Comptroller Workshop from 6-8 p.m. in the Texas Tech Training Center, 749 Gateway St., Suite 301. To make a reservation, call 325-670-0300. Texas Exes celebration The Texas Exes Abilene Chapter will present its annual Texas Independence Day Celebration and Scholarship Program at 5:45 p.m. at the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature, 102 Cedar St. A reception with appetizers will take place from 5:45-6:30 p.m., followed by a presentation by Linda Hicke, dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Molecular Biology at the University of Texas at Austin, on 'Texas Science in the 21st Century.' Admission is $20 for the reception and presentation, or $10 for the presentation only. Proceeds will go toward scholarships. Students and military will be admitted free with ID. For reservations, contact utexes.abilene@gmail.com. Square dance workshop TYE The Wagon Wheel Squares will conduct a square dancing workshop at 6:30 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel. Gospel concert A gospel concert featuring Greater Vision will begin at 7 p.m. at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, 701 Pioneer Drive. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Admission is free, but an offering will be accepted. Other ... Blood drive, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital, 200 E. Arizona Ave., Sweetwater. Veterans benefit meeting, 10 a.m. to noon, Disabled American Veterans, 2555 Grape St. 325-793-9699 or 325-480-6175. Mission on the Move Soup Kitchen, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Southwest Drive Community United Methodist Church, 3025 Southwest Drive. Abilene Southwest Rotary Club, noon, Beehive Restaurant, 442 Cedar St. High Noon Al-Anon, noon, Southern Hills Church of Christ, 3666 Buffalo Gap Road (south end; follow the yellow signs). Stroke/Aphasia Recovery Program support group, 1:30-2:30 p.m. West Texas Rehabilitation Center boardroom, 4601 Hartford St. 325-793-3535. Betty Hardwick Center board of trustees, 5:15 p.m., Betty Hardwick Center, 2616 S. Clack St., Suite 150. Dystonia Support Group, 5:15-6:15 p.m., Not Without Us, 3301 N. First St. Suite 117. Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), 5:30 p.m., Brook Hollow Christian Church, 2310 S. Willis St. 325-232-7444. Legacies Al-Anon Family Group, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Open Door Building, 3157 Russell Ave. 325-280-7584. Dining For Women Abilene Chapter, 6 p.m., First Christian Church, 1420 N. Third St. Family (of Mental Health Consumers) Support Group, 6-7 p.m., Mental Health Association in Abilene, 333 Orange St. 325-673-2300. MHAA Bipolar/Depression Peer Support Group, 6-8 p.m., Ministry of Counseling & Enrichment, 1502 N. First St. 325-673-2300. Free certified nurturing parent class (pregnancy to toddler), 6-8 p.m., Mission Church, North Third and Mockingbird streets. 325-672-9398. Abilene Star Chorus, 6:15 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1333 N. Third St. 325-829-1470. Overeaters Anonymous, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Exodus Metropolitan Community Church, 1933 S. 27th St. Al-Anon Parents Group, 7 p.m., Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E. Ambler Ave. Use Church Street entrance. Al-Anon, 7 p.m., Doug Meinzer Activity Center, Knox City. 940-658-3926. Abilene Society of Model Railroaders, 7-8:30 p.m., 2043 N. Second St. Parents, Family, Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) of the Big Country, 7-9 p.m., Unity Church, 2842 Barrow St. 325-232-4726, www.pflagbc.weebly.com. Unity Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St. WEDNESDAY Free tax assistance The AARP will offer free assistance in preparing income tax forms for low- and middle-income taxpayers from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Abilene Public Library, 202 Cedar St. Doors will open at 9 a.m. Space is limited, and help will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Texas Independence Day celebration MERKEL A Texas Independence Day celebration will be presented from 4-7 p.m. at the Merkel Museum, at Exit 269 on the South I-20 Frontage Road. A barbecue sandwich supper will be served for $8, and live music will be featured. Other ... Overeaters Anonymous, 8 a.m., Hinds Square Building, Room 112, 100 Chestnut St. Blood drive, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Abilene Christian University, McGlothlin Campus Center. Abilene Cactus Lions Club, 11:45 a.m., Cotton Patch Cafe, 3302 S. Clack St. Abilene Wednesday Rotary Club, noon, Abilene Country Club, 4039 S. Treadaway Blvd. $12 for lunch. Jo Ann Wilson, 325-677-6815. Kiwanis Club of Abilene, noon, Abilene Country Club, 4039 S. Treadaway Blvd. Clearly Speaking Toastmasters Club, noon, Westgate Church of Christ, 402 S. Pioneer Drive. 325-795-5570. Free swim class for people with multiple sclerosis, 5:30 p.m., YMCA, 3250 State St. Veterans Peer Support Group, 6 p.m., 765 Orange St. 325-670-4818. Mid-week Al-Anon Family Group, 6-7 p.m., Open Door Building, 3157 Russell Ave. 325-698-4995. Advanced square dancing, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Wagon Wheel. Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1501 N. Broadway, Ballinger. 817-689-2810 or 325-977-1007. DivorceCare support group, 7 p.m., Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E. Ambler Ave. 325-691-4200. THURSDAY Free tax assistance The AARP will offer free assistance in preparing income tax forms for low- and middle-income taxpayers from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Abilene Public Library, 202 Cedar St. Doors will open at 9 a.m. Space is limited, and help will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. 'Nickel and Dimed' A production of 'Nickel and Dimed' will be presented at 7:30 p.m. in Culp Theatre at Abilene Christian University. Tickets are $15. For tickets, or for more information, go to www.acu.edu/theatre. Other ... Veterans Association Club, 10 a.m., Rose Park Senior Activity Center (in Rose Park, South Seventh and Barrow streets). Blood drive, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Westbrook High School. Chronic Pain and Depression Group, 11 a.m. to noon, Mental Health Association of Abilene, 333 Orange St., 325-673-2300. Abilene Founder Lions Club, 11:30 a.m., Al's Mesquite Grill, 4801 Buffalo Gap Road. Kiwanis Club of Greater Abilene, noon, Beehive Restaurant, 442 Cedar St. 325-695-0092. Retired Military Wives Club business meeting, 1 p.m., Rose Park Senior Activity Center, 2625 S. Seventh St. 325-677-9656 or 325-793-1490. Mental Illness Open Support Group, 1-2 p.m., Mental Health Association of Abilene, 333 Orange St. 325-673-2300. Abilene 42 Club, 6 p.m., Rose Park Senior Activity Center. Teen Recovery Group, 6-7 p.m., Mission Abilene, 3001 N. Third St. Free certified nurturing parent class (all ages), 6-8 p.m., Mission Church, North Third and Mockingbird streets. 325-672-9398. Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 6:30 p.m. Brook Hollow Christian Church. Weigh-in begins at 5:30 p.m. 325-665-5052. Free swim class for people with multiple sclerosis, 6:30 p.m., YMCA, 3250 State St. Gamblers Anonymous, 6:30 p.m., Unity Spiritual Living Center, 2842 Barrow St. 325-338-2575. Round dancing, 7 p.m., Wagon Wheel. 325-829-1517. Old Town Abilene Neighborhood Association, 7 p.m., Shining Star Baptist Church, 302 Palm St. 325-676-4068. Big Country Audubon Society, 7 p.m., Rose Park Senior Activity Center. Key City Coin Club, 7 p.m., Rose Park Senior Activity Center, Room B. 325-675-0266. American Legion Post and Auxiliary 661 meeting, 7 p.m., Lueders Legion Hall, Highway 6, Lueders. South Pioneer Al-Anon Group, 8 p.m., 3157 Russell Ave. Unity Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St. FRIDAY Rummage sale ASPERMONT A rummage sale will begin at 9 a.m. at the Stonewall County Senior Citizens Center. Proceeds will go to center operations. Free tax assistance The AARP will offer free assistance in preparing income tax forms for low- and middle-income taxpayers from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mockingbird Branch of the Abilene Public Library, 1326 N. Mockingbird Lane. Doors will open at 9 a.m. Space is limited, and help will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Daddy and daughter ball The Crown & Gown Daddy Daughter Ball will be presented from 6-9 p.m. in the Hunter Welcome Center at Abilene Christian University. Tickets are $50 per pair, and $20 for each additional child. For tickets, or for more information, go to www.queenbroyalevents.com. 'Nickel and Dimed' A production of 'Nickel and Dimed' will be presented at 7:30 p.m. in Culp Theatre at Abilene Christian University. Tickets are $15. For tickets, or for more information, go to www.acu.edu/theatre. Other ... Blood drive, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Walmart, 1650 Highway 351. Overeaters Anonymous, noon, Hinds Square Building, 100 Chestnut St., Room 112. Abilene Chinese Corner, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Abilene Christian University library. lld09a@acu.edu. Mid-City Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First Christian Church. 325-670-4304. People who bought tickets for The Mavericks concert at the Abilene Civic Center found themselves stuck with nonrefundable pieces of paper when the Thursday show was canceled with less than 48 hours notice. A news release from the group and a Facebook post said, "This decision was made upon advisement of our agents and management due to the contractual terms and conditions not being met by the promoter. We also apologize for the late notice. Our agents have gone to great lengths to try to make the show happen by allowing extra time for the promoter to meet his obligations. Unfortunately, after many extensions, he did not, and we were forced to pull out of the show." The promoter, Joseph Jones, who goes by Jay Jones, did not answer multiple phone calls and his voice mail box was full and not accepting messages. His company website, locopromotionsllc.jigsy.com, has been removed from the Internet, with the message, "Sorry, this website doesn't exist." It was functional as recently as Wednesday morning. Calls to his wife also went unanswered. Jon Howell, owner of The Record Guys, said his store had sold 15 to 20 tickets to the Abilene concert, but he was unsure how many tickets had been sold online at www.thundertix.com. Tickets on the website ranged in cost from $35 to $60, plus fees. Jones picked up the ticket money, about $1,000, from Howell's store last weekend. Howell said the store doesn't charge the promoter to sell the tickets. The tickets did say nonrefundable, rain or shine, which usually means the concert will go on despite the weather, Howell said. When a band cancels a concert with a message like the one released by The Mavericks, it's generally because of noncompliance by the promoter, said Randy Jones (no relation), operations manager for KLGD-FM 106.9. He said Jay Jones paid for the ads he ran on the radio station. Randy Jones looked at the thundertix.com website showing available seats for the concert earlier this week. The Abilene Civic Center Auditorium seats more than 2,100 people. "There were a lot of empty seats," he said. "There wasn't even a quarter of the seats sold." Last fall, Jay Jones booked four shows at the 1,189-seat Paramount Theatre for December, January, March and May. The first show, "Bruce & Kelly Holiday Shindig," featuring Texas radio hosts Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis, on Dec. 17, took place, but only 128 people attended, said Betty Hukill, executive director for the Paramount. Because the tickets were not sold through the Paramount, Hukill did not know how many tickets were sold, just how many people attended. In January, Jay Jones brought in Dale Watson, with other bands. The attendance was 181. After the January concert, the Paramount and Jay Jones made a mutual decision to void the future contracts. A closed-group Facebook page, "Don't scam Abilene," features a number of posts from people in Florida who experienced a similar situation with Jay Jones, as well as Big Country people. Travis Mathis, a musician with Abilene ties who performs as Tripp Mathis, created the page and wrote that the group was formed to "help unite the voices of the concert goes that are being scammed by LOCO Promotions in order to take action." Litigation was mentioned. The Mavericks posted on their Facebook page late Thursday that the band had confirmed a May 15 concert at The Lumberyard in Roscoe and that the band and The Lumberyard management will honor the tickets for the canceled Abilene concert. The post told people to hold on to their tickets and proof-of-purchase and The Mavericks will post more details soon. "That just tells me that the band is trying to do the right thing," Randy Jones said, adding that he didn't know the exact wording of the refund policy on the Abilene tickets, but to refuse to refund ticket isn't the norm. If that were the case, anyone could promote a show, cancel it and keep the money, he said. "It's just a shame," he said. "Regardless of who's at fault, the ticket-buyers deserve a refund." Texas Science in the 21st Century The Abilene Chapter of the University of Texas at Austin Exes presents Dr. Linda Hicke, dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Molecular Biology, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The session titled "Texas Science in the 21st Century" will be held at the NCCIL, 102 Cedar St. A reception will be held from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $20 a person. To attend the only speaking event, you'll pay $10 a person. All high school and college students and military may attend free, but an I.D. is required. For reservation information, send an email to utexes.abilene@gmail.com. All proceeds will benefit scholarship program for high school seniors. Program on dementia offered The Alzheimer's Association North Central Texas Chapter presents a free educational program, "The Basics: Memory Loss, Dementia, and Alzheimer's disease" from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Abilene Regional Office, 301 S. Pioneer Drive, Suite 105. This workshop is intended for anyone who would like to learn more about detection, causes and risk factors, stages of the disease, treatment, and resources available to those living with the diagnosis. Seating is limited. To reserve a seat or for more information, contact Mindy Bannister at 325-672-2907 or 1-800-272-3900. Therapeutic Riding Tangi Irwin, director with the Texas Tech Therapeutic Riding and Therapy Center, will give a presentation about the program in a session from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the Abilene Country Club's downstairs dining room, Room Forty-39, 4039 S. Treadaway Blvd. First Thursday lunches are hosted by Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. The optional lunch will cost attendees $13, payable to "The Abilene Country Club" at the door. Seating is limited. Send in attendance plans by Monday to bridgett.gann@ttuhsc.edu or phillip.wicker@ttuhssc.edu. Questions? Call 325-696-0474. Tot Spot Tot Spot offers children ages 3 to 5 and their parents or guardians the opportunity to expand their large imaginations through hands-on activities and gallery games. Classes take place on the first Thursday and Friday of every month at The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St. After the program, children with an accompanying adult may enjoy the art and history galleries as well as the children's museum. Admission to Tot Spot is free for museum members, and $5 per participating child for nonmembers. Reservations are required 24 hours ahead of the session desired. Classes are limited to 20 participating children. Call the museum at 325-673-4587 to rsvp. Mail information to Jan Woodward in care of "Around Town," Abilene Reporter-News, P.O. Box 30, Abilene, TX 79604. Email address is jan.woodward@reporternews.com or fax information to 325-670-5242. Deadline for submission is noon seven working days before publication. When Paul Miller was deciding on a title for his autobiography, he could have been forgiven if he had had second thoughts. The title chosen is, "All Things Work Together For Good," based Romans 8:28. Miller, who turned 91 on Feb. 11, has been a Baptist minister most of his life, so on the one hand the title makes sense. But before he was minister, Miller was a Marine and spent a good part of his World War II service on the island of Okinawa. There, he dodged bullets and Japanese fighter planes before suffering burns over 40 percent of his body while helping clean up gasoline spills that covered much of the island. He was hospitalized in a burn ward on Guam before being transferred to Great Lakes Naval Station in Chicago. Miller was so badly injured that only his right leg wasn't bandaged. He had no skin on his hands, developed gangrene, and couldn't do anything for himself. Surely, he must have wondered if "all things work together for good." But his autobiography proves that if life is viewed in the right way, then, yes, that is true. It was while lying in a hospital bed for eight months, unable to do the simplest tasks, that Miller had plenty of time to think. And his thought kept turning to ministry. "That's where I promised God I would do whatever he wanted," Miller said. That promise led to a lifetime in ministry at several churches. Miller retired in 1996 from First Baptist Church in White Settlement, near Fort Worth, after almost 40 years as pastor. Miller is temporarily living at University Place in Abilene while his home in White Settlement is being renovated. A son, David Miller, is president and chief executive officer of Hendrick Home for Children and also is an ordained Baptist minister. With the assistance of an Abilene Christian University student, Bailee Hall, Paul Miller is putting the finishing touches on his book. It easily could be subtitled, "War and Peace." Much of the book covers Miller's years growing up on a farm in Missouri when he thought "preachers were sissies" and then his service in World War II. Following the war part of the book, Miller tells of his life in ministry, one filled with peace. Miller was born Feb. 11, 1925, in Conway, Mo. With five boys in the family, the Miller farm was a popular place as the United States crept toward entry into World War II. "The draft board pretty well parked at our doorstep," Miller said. He and a brother decided to enlist in the Navy but when they got to the recruiting station in St. Louis, they learned that 12 men were needed for the Marine Corps and Miller was volunteered for that service. He soon made his way to San Diego and Camp Pendleton and discovered a magnificent sight the Pacific Ocean. "I knew it was out there," Miller said, but that was the first time to see the Pacific, or any other ocean. Miller trained on Guadalcanal before landing on Okinawa with the 1st Marine Division. The first thing they did was scale a sea wall and capture an airport. The intensity never let up. At one time, he and another Marine were sent out in a boat, floating among 1,500 ships in the harbor, to bring back cans of gasoline from a supply ship. "We sat on gasoline," he recalled, "and they were bombing us with everything they had." Miller survived that scare along with a sniper's shot barely missing his ear, a bomb hitting a ship he was on, and other near-death experiences. Miller later would recall all those times that he narrowly escaped death and how one event led to another. He even saw the good that came from being hospitalized for eight months with burns over 40 percent of his body. It was during that time that he felt his call to ministry a call that his mother had seen in a vision when Miller was a boy. And, it was because of that experience that he met June Florence Sherwood, a civil service worker at the Great Lakes National Station hospital where Miller was sent. She helped him with everyday tasks like writing letters. The two fell in love and married. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are still living. Miller devoted his life to the ministry, earning degrees from Oklahoma Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He served a number of Baptist churches in rural settings before settling in at First Baptist Church in White Settlement in 1958. Before he retired in 1996, the church had grown to the point that it added a second location. Before going to the White Settlement church, Miller was serving a smaller church in the area and working at General Dynamics. During his lunch break, he would share the word of God with his co-workers. Among them were a number of deacons from First Baptist Church in White Settlement who liked what they heard. They asked him to consider becoming pastor of their church. But at the time Miller wanted to serve in foreign mission fields. The third time they asked, Miller accepted and preached his first sermon on Easter Sunday in 1958. Even after Miller retired, he didn't give up being a minister. He looks for opportunities to share the message of Jesus and is hopeful that his book will be an inspiration. "You're always a preacher," he said. Grace United Methodist Church is taking outreach to the extremes, hosting a bazaar, bake sale, and soup lunch March 5 to help people in Flint, Mich., who are enduring a two-year-old water crisis. The bazaar will be held 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the church, 1402 Grape St. Bazaar items will include Easter decorations. A soup lunch will be served 11 a.m.-1 p.m. for $4. Desserts will be $1.50 extra. All proceeds will go to the Flint water crisis. Grace UMC will send money raised to Lincoln Park UMC in Flint, which has been designated a water resource center, a spokesperson at the church said. Flint residents can pick up bottled water and filters at the designated centers, the spokesperson said. The crisis in Flint dates to April 2014 when the water supply was found to contain contaminants, including lead. According to news reports, residents of Flint began complaining about the color, taste, and odor of their water two years ago when the city switched to the Flint River as it water source instead of buying water from the Detroit Water and Sewage Department. Naomi Harrison, secretary and evangelism chair at Grace UMC, said the idea to help the residents of Flint came from Grace pastor Stephania Gilkey. Gilkey got the idea from the gospels. "Jesus didn't say your neighbors are only the ones who live around you," was the message, Harrison said. --Loretta Fulton IF YOU GO What: Bazaar, bake sale, and soup lunch When: March 5; bazaar and bake sale 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; soup lunch 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Where: Grace United Methodist Church, 1402 Grape St. Cost: Admission is free. Bazaar and bake sale items will be individually marked; soup lunch, $4; desserts, $1.50 Benefit: Proceeds will to go toward helping relieve the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. A social club at McMurry University has been suspended for more than two years in connection with an alleged hazing incident, the university said in a statement Friday. The suspension of KIVA, a service club for men, according to McMurry's website, will run through Sept. 1, 2018, according to the statement. Abilene police and McMurry officials have been investigating the alleged hazing, which stems from what has been classified as an alleged assault of a student during social club membership week from Jan. 27 to Feb. 1, according to the police report. Vanessa Roberts Bryan, dean of student affairs, designated an administrative judicial board to hear the case against the club, the school said. During the hearing, KIVA pleaded "responsible" for the violations that were under consideration. After deliberations, the board recommended sanctions, McMurry officials said. KIVA appealed the decision and the matter went before a review board and, subsequently, McMurry President Sandra Harper. The appeals were denied, officials said, and the suspension begins immediately. After the suspension expires, any student may choose to recharter KIVA after conditions for recharter and return to campus have been met, the school said. The conditions were outlined in the final decision letter to the club and were not made public. The school did not discuss the status of the police investigation into the alleged assault. The city of Abilene wants your input on how to address residents' housing and community development needs. The Office of Neighborhood Services Advisory Council will hold a meeting and public hearing March 9 at 10 a.m. to discuss the 2016-2017 Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnerships Grant programs. The meeting will be held in the Training & Emergency Operations Center in the City Hall basement, 555 Walnut St. The HOME federal grant program funds the buying, building or rehabilitating of affordable housing for rent or homeownership for low-income residents, according to the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department website. The program also provides rental assistance for those who qualify. The CDBG program is slightly more flexible in that it provides funding for activities that benefit low- and moderate-income residents, such as preventing or eliminating blighted neighborhoods and addressing specific threats to the health and welfare of the community, according to the HUD website. Feedback from the public hearing will help the Office of Neighborhood Services make recommendations to the City Council for the overall CDBG and HOME Budget and Action Plan, an annual practice the city must perform to remain eligible for the federal grants. Twitter: BrookeCrum_ARN 1. Susan King each term gained respect and influence in the Texas House. Now we're starting over. What can you do to quickly establish yourself as a House leader? Representative King has done a very good job in her ten years in the Texas House, and I say that when I'm elected we are not starting over but moving forward. With 150 Representatives in the Texas House, to be established quickly in this environment one has to be humble and realize that as a new representative you really won't have much influence. I will listen more than talk, but talk with unwavering conviction on the issue at hand. I will stand fast on our conservative constitutional values and principles, while lending a friendly ear to the needs and concerns of the other members of the legislature. Leading while listening, treating people fairly, and welcoming any disagreement by looking for areas of agreement, are ways that I will become established as a trustworthy legislator. 2. What is the biggest issue facing Jones, Nolan and Taylor counties? There are a lot of issues facing not only Jones, Nolan and Taylor counties, but the entire State of Texas: water security, crime and drugs, illegal immigration, border security and education just to name a few. The biggest issue facing Jones, Nolan and Taylor counties could very well be voter apathy. We as voters feel that the politicians don't listen to or care about us once elected. As the next District 71 State Representative I have the obligation to make sure the voice of the district is heard. 3. This job demands constant and strong contact with the folks "back home." Your thoughts on availability to the public when you're in Austin and appearances back in the district. I want the people of the 71 District to understand that I am one of them, one of "We the People". I am not "the establishment" and have never held an elected office. I have a cell phone that gets great reception in Austin! Call and talk with me anytime. If I'm in session you will have to leave a voice mail but I WILL RETURN CALLS. I will commit to stand with the voters by conducting town hall meetings, in all three counties, every quarter. My cell number is 325-261-1768 and my email is brian@brianfortexas.com 4. What would be your skills in working with a member of another party or a legislator from the other side of I-35? The skill I possess is listening to both sides. As a Lt. on the fire department I worked with the people who said what the job was and the people who got the job done. Sometimes the two sides did not see eye to eye. This prompted a leadership style to bring both sides together for the common goal. I will continue this style of leadership in the Texas House. As a rural legislator it will be difficult to make the big cities listen and I understand that. I will invite them out to West Texas to see what we are about. My goal is to make them understand we have issues and as rural Texas goes, so goes the State. 5. What three things have prepared you specifically to be a legislator? Being raised by a father who imparted wisdom on me has prepared me to be many things; legislator is just one of them. This wisdom, whether I thought it was wisdom at the time or not, helped me realize my dream of being a father and grandfather, a small business owner and being retired from a successful career which I thoroughly enjoyed. Dad taught me "when you mess up, you clean up", which I'm sure referred to my room at the time. However, as I have grown and become wiser, I realize that it meant when I make a mistake, and I will make mistakes, stand up and own it. Being a firefighter for 27 years taught me that not all outcomes are the desired ones. Sometimes, no matter how good your plan is going in, you may need to change tactics. You will hear of "having to make tough decisions", but I say that making tough decisions does not mean they are wise decisions. I will make decisions based on what is wise, not whether it's tough or easy to make decisions. Being a small business owner I realize that if you don't please the customer, you lose, I believe in free markets which dictates a business' success or failure, I don't believe in bail outs. As your State Representative, I realize that I am in a free market that can replace me with one vote. Knowing you can't please everyone all the time you can at least explain your beliefs and policies clearly and let them know you still are going to do what is best. As the last days of Texas' primary election season loom, congressional candidate and Lubbock Mayor Glen Robertson has released a pair of ads online, using domain names designed to appear to be sites supporting two opponents. The websites contain commercials, which have aired on Abilene and Lubbock television stations, leveling various accusations against former Dyess base commander Michael Bob Starr and Jodey Arrington, who once served as FDIC chief of staff and former Texas Tech vice chancellor for research. Among the charges in the ad at jodeyarringtonfortexas.com are that Arrington is a 'Washington insider' and a 'career politician,' while Robertson's ad against Starr, located at michaelbobstarrfortexas.com, characterizes the candidate as 'supported by the radical gay lobby.' Both men are 'wrong for West Texas,' according to Robertson's campaign. Arrington and Starr fired back at the individual ads targeting them. 'Campaigns don't build character: they reveal it,' Arrington said in a statement. 'I am disappointed that (Robertson) would resort to such dishonest and deceptive attacks in the final days of the election.' In a statement released Thursday, Starr said that he has 'never been a gay rights advocate,' a stance he said Robertson knows well, saying the candidate was 'attempting to perpetuate an outright lie to steal an election.' Robertson in a statement said that his campaign was giving voters a 'real choice.' 'One of my opponents is being funded by a dark money super PAC and promotes liberal agendas, the other is the ultimate Washington insider,' he said, speaking of Starr and Arrington, respectively. Robertson said that the ads were 'factually correct and well-documented.' Arrington accusations The ad which appears at jodeyarringtonfortexas.com was paid for by Glen Robertson for Congress. It states, among other accusations, that Arrington gave himself a $14,360 taxpayer-funded bonus and requested $90,000 to 'redecorate' his office while vice chancellor for research at Texas Tech University. The ad further states that when Arrington was chief of staff at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation that the FDIC 'ignored the housing bubble, made thousands of subprime loans, then dumped them on other banks,' costing taxpayers $90 million. In a posting on the website, Robertson's campaign indicates that Arrington received $8.4 million from the state's Emerging Technology Fund, a program characterized by some conservatives as 'crony capitalism,' to create a renewable energy institute, the project itself characterized on the website as a 'careless use of taxpayer dollars.' Arrington released a detailed refutation of the ad and other materials, saying that he was confident that 'the people of West Texas will see this for what it is and vote for someone who wants to change the culture of politics in our country, not perpetuate it.' '(Robertson) himself summed it up well after another candidate disclosed he voted in the 2008 Democratic Primary,' Arrington said. '(He) said: When you look at the polls, and you're (losing), sometimes your character shows up.' The statement said that the Lubbock mayor was the only 'politician' in the race, noting that all seven remaining candidates had never held elected office. Arrington has served as a senior White House adviser for President George W. Bush, as chief of staff at the FDIC and as vice chancellor at Tech. On the topic of the FDIC ignoring the housing bubble, Arrington noted that the FDIC 'doesn't make loans.' Robertson's campaign said that while Arrington was chief of staff at the FDIC, 'high-ranking staff members, including Arrington, gave themselves over $850,000 dollars in bonuses while simultaneously laying off around 140 hardworking men and women,' citing a Feb. 21, 2003, American Banker story. But Arrington's statement countered that the FDIC had a pay-for-performance compensation system, and that Chairman Don Powell felt he (Arrington) had exceeded expectations and was an exemplary employee and compensated him accordingly.' In a statement provided Friday by Arrington's office, Powell said that 'anyone running for elected office must earn the sacred trust of the people,' and that there were 'several things erroneous about the mayor's (Robertson's) claims.' Powell confirmed that the FDIC doesn't make loans. On the topic of money spent for office renovations at Tech, Arrington spent $90,000 to prepare new office space for the Office of Vice Chancellor for Research and Commercialization, remodeling space used by Merrill Lynch into offices and conference areas. 'That money was spent on office furniture, cubicles, carpet, mechanical and electrical, and other baseline office infrastructure,' Arrington's statement said. ' There was no decorative item on the list.' Chris Cook, managing director of Texas Tech University's office of communication and marketing, said that funds were requested on behalf of the Office of Research Commercialization, 'to prepare space for a basic office relocation.' 'The relocation was approved through the appropriate system administrative process,' he said. 'A cost-efficient plan was created and followed.' The Lubbock Avalanche Journal in a Feb. 22 story said that it received from the university a cost comparison to renovations for the facilities planning and construction offices put on the second floor of the same building. Those offices showed to cost about $17 per square-foot, while the ORCFR offices cost $11, the newspaper reported. On the more than $8 million from the Emerging Technology Fund, Arrington's statement contended that Texas Tech competed against Texas A&M University and the University of Texas and won that amount to 'make Texas Tech's Wind Energy program the best in the country.' 'Under Arrington's leadership, the State of Texas, Texas Tech, and West Texas got a 400 percent, over $33 million, return on its investment and another research grant of $13 million, one of the largest grants in the history of Texas Tech,' according to the Arrington's campaign. In response to accusations of being a 'career politician,' Arrington's statement said that he had gone 'inside' the FDIC and 'restructured, modernized, and downsized it, cutting tens of millions of dollars in federal spending and bureaucracy.' Robertson has spent 'more than $800,000 and has used his personal wealth to buy ad space to advance these deceptive and dishonest claims on radio, TV, and social media, even creating a fraudulent website with Jodey's name,' according Arrington's statement. Squaring off with Starr The ad targeting Starr says the former commander 'supported, promoted and participated in gay pride events, wore rainbow-colored gay pride clothing and is being called (in a Feb. 13, 2016, story on Breitbart.com) a gay rights activist.' The ad further states that 'liberal gay rights organizations are supporting Starr, the same radical groups who want men to be able to use women's bathrooms,' specifically pinpointing The New Civil Rights Movement and Lone Star Q. 'I believe and have always believed that homosexual marriage behavior is immoral,' he said. 'I do not support same-sex marriage. I believe the definition of marriage is older than the law or any government, and is defined as a holy union between a man and a woman. I already made this clear when these reports first surfaced.' Robertson's ad features pictures of Starr participating in a base-wide morale run, Starr's response said, the events in question, runs organized by the Dyess Air Force Base Pride Alliance, were 'neither promoted nor conducted as gay pride events.' The runs were organized by the Dyess Air Force Base Pride Alliance. In the image used in the ad, Starr is wearing a Pride Alliance run T-shirt. In his statement, Starr said that as commander of Dyess Air Force Base, it was his job 'working on behalf of the American people, to mold an incredibly diverse group of individuals into a fighting team that would give their life in duty.' 'To achieve this, I participated in as many base-wide events as my schedule allowed,' he said. Starr's statement said that he has been vocal in his opposition to the Obama administration using the military to promote social agendas. Following the Breitbart story, Starr told local media that he felt the term 'activist' was a misrepresentation of his views, stating that as Dyess commander, his job was to enforce law and to not discriminate against those whose 'lifestyle choices' differed from his own. In a news conference at his Abilene campaign office Feb. 15, Starr said he simply enforced the law handed down by President Obama, who ended the ban on gays openly serving in the military in 2011. He called the attacks on him 'cowardly' because of anonymous letters he said were left across the district. A statement on michaelbobstarfortexas.com also accuses Starr of receiving money from 'a Dark Money super PAC,' defining 'dark money' as funds given to nonprofit organizations that can receive unlimited donations from corporations, individuals, and unions. 'These funds are spent to influence elections, but the organizations are not required to disclose their donors,' according to the website. 'Nobody knows where Dark Money comes from. Donors could even include ISIS, drug cartels, and radical liberal movements.' Starr did not specifically address those accusations in his statement, but said that Robertson's ads are 'designed to distract voters from the mayor's 25-year record as a typical politician,' adding that the money spent on what Starr's campaign characterized as a 'false attack' in the final days of the election 'is a clear indication that his candidacy is in trouble.' Zoo memories wanted To celebrate 50 years, the Abilene Zoo is asking zoo-goers past and present to send in their favorite memories made at the zoo. Zoo staff plans an exhibit share for the public on anniversary weekend, and also display on the zoo's Facebook page on Throwback Thursdays. * Photos: Send in a digital format (3,000 pixels is best), along with date taken and description. * Memories: Share your favorite zoo story in 150 words or less. Email photos and storiess to www.abilene.zoo@abilenetx.com Don't monkey around submissions are due by May 2. This year marks a milestone in the growth of the Abilene Zoo, and it's worthy of a communitywide celebration. It's fitting that as we honor our 50 years of history, we also will take a major step into the future as we open a world-class giraffe exhibit. We've come a long way since 1922, when the first zoo opened in Fair Park with the generous donation of a single red fox squirrel. Abilenians enjoyed animals so much that by 1963, city leaders formed the Abilene Zoological Society in to raise funds and guide construction of a bigger, better zoo. The new one would be located on 13 acres that had once been Abilene's airport a historic spot where Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart landed years ago. The gates opened in Grover Nelson Park on July 2, 1966, when an Indian elephant named Connie pulled apart the ribbon. The community can be proud of what we've built. In December, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums awarded the Abilene Zoo its Quarter Century award honoring 25 years as an AZA-accredited facility. AZA accreditation puts our zoo in the top tier of its industry. Only 220 out of nearly 2,000 animal exhibitors maintain the standards to qualify. Modern, accredited zoos play an important role in worldwide conservation efforts.The Abilene Zoo participates in Species Survival Plans for 36 endangered species, working with other AZA facilities to manage animals' gene pools and increase awareness of their plight in the wild. Our reptile keepers recently wrote a set of professional guidelines about how to raise endangered Caribbean coqui frogs. The zoo's bird rehabilitation program treated more than 300 native birds last year, releasing most back into the wild. This year, the zoo launched Quarters for Conservation, dedicating 25 cents of all admissions toward animal preservation programs. While we continue to work to enhance the zoo for the animals and our community, we value and appreciate the support we receive from the Abilenians and zoo supporters throughout the region. Voters overwhelmingly supported the zoo in last year's bond election, providing funds to spur growth for the next five years, both with new exhibits and behind-the-scenes improvements. A generous anonymous donor matched those funds, allowing the zoo to start plans to upgrade its veterinary, wild bird rehabilitation and maintenance facilities. It's a great investment. Of the 225,000 people who pass through zoo gates each year, almost half come from throughout the region or farther. We call it 'our zoo,' but so do children in Lubbock, Midland, San Angelo, Brownwood and everywhere in between. Nearly 15,000 students and teachers visited the Abilene Zoo for field trips last year. More than 11,000 of those came from out-of-town districts, including smaller towns such as Sonora, Dublin, Ira and Hermleigh. They visit because the zoo is a quality educational experience for their students. Their families bring them back again because it's fun. And one activity that's fun is feeding giraffes. The zoo's first giraffes were bought in 1968 with a $10,000 anonymous donation, and the town has loved the long-necked creatures ever since. We knew it would be a tall order to replace the beloved giraffe bridge, so we worked hard to surprise everyone with a worthy replacement. It's called Giraffe Safari and will open to the public April 23. Zoo staff and the zoo society have worked on every stage of development. Zoological Society board member Kathy Morehead has served as chairwoman for all four years of the project, collecting $3.8 million in donations from nearly 1,000 organizations and individuals to underwrite its construction. The support was impressive: Girl Scout troops raised funds. Parents and spouses donated in memory of loved ones. One zoo-loving youngster went door to door in his neighborhood to collect funds. We've doubled the animals' space, and we're growing our herd. What's more, the exhibit will feature more animals from Africa. Our colobus monkeys are moving into new digs within the space, and we're adding new African species such as red river hogs, tiny antelopes called blue duikers, and big birds dubbed kori bustards. We are excited and proud to show off Giraffe Safari, introduce Abilenians to new animals, and once again invite guests to enjoy hand-feeding their beloved giraffes at the Abilene Zoo. Craig Fisher, director of alumni relations and annual projects at Abilene Christian University, is president of the Abilene Zoological Society. You can't win the Republican presidential primary in South Carolina without religious voters. According to exit polling, 'born-again or evangelical Christian' voters accounted for 72 percent of the GOP primary electorate last Saturday. In his thumping victory in the state, billionaire Donald Trump carried a 33 percent plurality of them. As Bloomberg View columnist Leonid Bershidsky reported, Trump did not fare especially well among conservative religious voters seeking someone who reflects their values. Indeed for the 37 percent of voters who told exit pollsters that 'shares my values' was the most important quality they sought in a candidate, Trump finished last in the field. Unfortunately for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who are both competing for their votes, many conservative evangelical Christians have concluded that they don't need someone who shares their values. They can tolerate, even embrace, a candidate who is profane, greedy, vain, shifty and thrice-married with a loud history of sexual conquest. (Winner of the South Carolina primary in 2012? Newt Gingrich. Hmm.) Speaking to MSNBC, Robert Jones, CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute, said that South Carolina evangelicals had proved to be not values voters so much as 'nostalgia voters,' eager to Make America Great Again by returning to an idealized socially conservative and white-dominated past. But if this is nostalgia, it comes in a particularly anxious form. In 2013, Democratic pollster Stanley Greenberg conducted a series of focus groups with Republican voters, dividing them into distinct groups of evangelicals, tea partyers or moderates. The socially conservative evangelicals had little in common with the moderates, but they considered tea partyers to be vital allies. Like the tea party groups, evangelicals viewed President Barack Obama and his party not as wrongheaded domestic political opponents but as an existential threat. Participants were asked to write down their private thoughts about Obama. Here are some responses from evangelicals in Virginia and Colorado: 'Not a U.S. citizen. Supports Terrorists.' 'I don't believe he's a Christian. He's a tyrant.' 'He is going to try to turn this into a communist country.' The window for compromise with a terrorist-supporting communist tyrant is not vast. Which explains why Greenberg found that evangelicals valued tea partyers primarily for their aggressive attacks on Obama. 'Evangelicals who feel most threatened by trends embrace the tea party because they are the ones who are fighting back,' Greenberg's report states. Instead of seeing Washington as a site of gridlock and paralysis, these voters perceived national politics as a series of devastating losses endured by conservatives. Republicans, in their view, were prostrate before a liberal Democratic steamroller. Trump doesn't promise to conduct himself with faith, hope and charity. He promises to smite the enemies of cultural conservatives and make things the way they used to be politically incorrect, economically secure and traditionally hierarchical, with white men on top. (That's the essence of the Trump definition of 'great.') In South Carolina, the less education a voter claimed, the more that message resonated. Trump dominated among voters with high school or less education. He did slightly less well among voters who had some college, and a little less well again among college graduates. He handily lost voters with postgraduate educations to Rubio. For conservative evangelicals who feel battered alike by the global economy and rapid cultural change, Trump's bombast and crude aggression may not appear very Christ-like. But many are not looking for a candidate to embody their values. They're looking for a warrior to protect them. Francis Wilkinson writes on politics and domestic policy for Bloomberg View. Dr. Virginia L. Mosier, Abilene On Tuesday, the residents of Taylor County will have the opportunity to cast their votes for judge of the County Court at Law No. 2. After evaluating the qualifications of the candidates, the one who far exceeds her opponents is Assistant District Attorney Harriett Haag. The judge of County Court at Law No. 2 hears the arguments and facts of each case, assesses the merits of each case, and applies the law fairly to everyone who appears before the bench. The judge must have extensive and varied legal experiences and must have a servant heart. Having been a lawyer for over 30 years, ADA Haag has been in private practice and has been a defense attorney as well as a prosecutor. Her comprehensive knowledge of the law is undeniable; no case she has prosecuted has been overturned on appeal. In every position she has held ADA Haag has made a positive difference. She is responsible, dedicated and held in highest regard by those who know her. ADA Haag has devoted countless hours of service to numerous organizations, including Christian Service Center, Christian Homes and Abilene Philharmonic. By becoming judge, Ms. Haag will serve Taylor County on a larger scale. Vote for a judge with integrity, a judge who will apply the law equally and fairly, a judge that will serve all the people of Taylor County. Vote for Assistant District Attorney Harriett Haag for Taylor County Court of Law No. 2 in the Republican Primary. Jorita Hagins, Abilene Time is here to cast the votes for new Taylor County and United States as well as Texas officials. All who are running have a wide variety of political, legal experience behind them. Do not look at the legal end but look at the person in general. Are they active in general local events? What about their family ties? Are they church attendees? Do they practice what the preach? How well do they stand up to the opposite parties when they are knowing they are right and the other person is wrong? Taylor County is now electing new judges, district attorneys and other officials. Do you vote just because the person running stands up how they have been in political offices for a long period of time or do you vote for what you know about the person? Do you cast your vote for officials who you have seen in action, in the courtrooms when they are not only representing the criminal side but the person who is being charged? I have seen all who act in legal procedures who are running for current DA, judges and I encourage each person who votes to vote the person best fitted for the positions. I know some of the people running have not spent a lot of money if any on political ads for newspapers or TV, and this shows who is acting on their own behavioral and not what the public needs to hear. That is the ones to look for in casting votes. They are wise to save the money they can use for other political events and shows they will not drain the taxpayers of funds as not needed. Features The character dates all the way back to A New Hope. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below This just in... Protesters in front of the Angkor brewery delivers a petition to the brewer demanding it sever ties with the hydro-electric project, Feb. 26, 2016. An attempt by about 100 Cambodian protesters to force the Angkor Beer company to divest its stake in the Don Sahong hydropower plant in Laos fell flat on Friday when company representatives said the brewer has no involvement in the project. On Friday a coalition of environmentalists, young people, and local villagers attempted to submit a petition to the company at its brewery in Sihanoukville, asking the company to withdraw from the project because it could harm fisheries on the Mekong River. The most widely consumed beer in Cambodia, Angkor is a product of the joint Cambodian-Danish concern Cambrew. According to the petition the dam will affect the flow of the Mekong River, destroy fisheries in the lower Mekong, and affect millions of people in neighboring countries. Meanwhile, civil societies are requesting government intervention in the construction of the dam. Environmental activist Chum Huot told RFAs Khmer Service that construction of the dam will affect people living in Steung Treng and Kratie provinces and have an impact on the Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake. The protesters ire centered on Malaysian investor Goh Nan Kioh, who is both a director of Cambrew and head of Mega First, the Malaysian investment company in charge of the dam. Cambodia will be victimized by the construction of the Don Sahong hydropower dam because Mr. Goh Nan Kioh is not Cambodian, Chun Huot said. But Angkor Beer executive Chheng Leap told the protesters the company has nothing to do with the dam. Angkor Beer is not involved in the Don Sahong project, Chheng Leap told the protesters. What you are all doing is affecting the public order and the reputation of the company. The hydroelectric dam proposed for the Mekong River in the Siphandone area of Champasak Province in southern Laos is less than two kilometers upstream from the LaosCambodia border. Laos views the 260-megawatt Don Sahong dam as a major economic project that can make the country a source of electric power for much of the region. While debate over who controls the project and what its environmental effects may be is still going on, construction of the dam continues, said Phoy Vanna, a representative of the Preah Rumkel Community-Based Ecotourism Site. Construction is now blocking two channels of the Mekong, he said. Now they are blowing up the rocks, he said. Its like they are mixing chemical ingredients in the river up there, then they will flow downstream into the deep basin." "I dont know how many tons of rocks it will take to finish the project, he said. Reported by RFA's Lao Service. Translated by Pagnawath Kuhn. Written in English by Brooks Boliek. Myanmar Minister of Information Ye Htut talks to the media in Yangon, May 18, 2015. Myanmars government said Friday that its ministries need more time to explain to parliament its rush to privatize certain state assets before the opposition party-led government comes into power on April 1. The announcement came after the lower house of parliament approved a proposal calling for closer supervision of the quick handover of state assets and property during the power transition period from the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) to the incoming National League for Democracy Party (NLD). NLD lawmaker Khin San Hlaing, who represents Pale township in northwestern Myanmars Sagaing region, submitted the proposal to parliament, requesting that the central government scrutinize the recent hasty sell-offs of assets, including land and projects overseen by ministries and state-owned enterprises, before the NLD takes over. But relevant government officials did not appear before lawmakers, as requested, to discuss the sale of state-owned land and projects during the political transition period. Information Minister Ye Htut defended the government ministries and said Khin San Hlaings request appeared to be an accusation. We will not come and explain things that have been said to discredit the government, but on a national level if we think an explanation is in order, we are willing to do so case by case, he said. Even though we did not go before the parliament, if we feel the public needs to know, then we will explain through the media, he said. In response to Ye Htuts comments, Khin San Hlaing said if the minister wants to explain officially, he should do so before parliament. Whether I am accusing the government or not, it would be more suitable for the minister to explain before parliament, she told RFAs Myanmar Service. Sell-offs gain momentum The spate of state asset sales started to gain momentum after the NLD won general elections by a landslide last November. Among the projects Khin San Hlaing cited before parliament were a deal struck by the health ministry for a Malaysian company to build a hospital in Yangon under build-operate-transfer terms, and factories that the Ministry of Industry privatized during the past six months, according to a report on Friday by the Myanmar Times. Other deals she cited were the awarding of prime parcels of state land to both local and international developers, an acceleration of plans for Chinese companies to build hydropower dams on the Thanlwin River (also known as the Salween River), the privatization of remaining state-owned gas stations, and the resumption of operations by a Chinese firm at a controversial copper mine in Letpadaung, Sagaing region, the report said. We have seen a lot of discussion among the public and in media as well about the privatization activity, Khin San Hlaing told RFA. We see state-owned land and property being sold very quickly. We would like to know who granted permission [for the sell-offs] and how and why the [assets] are being dispensed so very quickly. Reported by Wai Mar Tun, Wai Yan Moe Myint and Win Ko Ko Latt for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Nyein Shwe. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Two suicide bomb attacks in Afghanistan have killed at least 23 people and wounded dozens more. At least 11 people were killed, including an Afghan militia commander, in a suicide attack near the Afghan border with Pakistan. The provincial governor said most of the victims of the February 27 bombing in Kunar Province were "civilians and children." Wahidullah Kalimzai said the bomber rode up on a motorcycle to the government compound in the provincial capital, Asadabad, and blew himself up. "A suicide bomber detonated his explosives attached to his body in front of the provincial government headquarters," Kalimzai said. At least another 40 people were also wounded. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the apparent target of the attack, a tribal elder and militia commander named Haji Khan Jan, was among the dead. He had been closely involved in a number of operations against the Taliban in his district last year. Another suicide bomber struck on February 27 in Kabul, killing at least 12 people and wounding 13 near the Defense Ministry compound, according to Afghan police. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in the Afghan capital. The Defense Ministry said in a statement that two Afghan soldiers were killed and eight others injured in the attack. Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said five women were also killed in the blast. The number killed or wounded in 2015 was the highest recorded since 2009. According to a UN report published earlier this month, there were more than 11,000 civilian casualties in 2015, including 3,545 deaths. The attacks come amid fresh efforts by Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, and the United States to restart talks aimed at ending the Taliban's nearly 15-year insurgency. The four countries have called for direct talks between the Taliban and Kabul next week. With on reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters Four Balkan countries announced daily caps on migrant arrivals on February 26, prompting criticism from the head of the United Nations. Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, and Macedonia said they would each restrict the number of migrants allowed to enter their territory to 580 per day. Slovenia said the new daily limit on migrant numbers was in line with a deal reached on February 18 between police chiefs of Austria, Croatia, Serbia, and Macedonia. The clampdown follows moves by Austria last week to impose a daily cap of 80 on asylum applications and allow only 3,200 migrants to transit the country each day. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon voiced concerned about the wave of border restrictions in the Balkans, and said they run counter to the international refugee convention. The daily caps "are not in line" with the 1951 convention "because individual determination of refugee status and assessment of individual protection needs are not...possible" under such a regime, said Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric. Ban is "fully aware of the pressures felt by many European countries" faced with tens of thousands of migrants to deal with each day, Dujarric said. But he believes those countries nevertheless should "keep their borders open, and act in a spirit of responsibility, sharing, and solidarity, including through expanding legal pathways to access asylum." The caps on migrant arrivals have fuelled a bitter dispute within the European Union, particularly between Austria, which started the current round of restrictions, and Greece, which has been left holding the bag with tens of thousands of migrants stranded on its border with Macedonia. Athens accuses Vienna of unleashing a domino effect of border restrictions along the so-called "Balkan route" that migrants have been taking to get to northern European countries like Germany and Sweden where they hope to win asylum. Austria and the Balkan countries, in turn, accuse Greece of failing to properly police its borders, which also are the EU's borders with non-EU countries like Turkey and Syria where most of the migrants originate. Close to 120,000 migrants have already arrived in Europe so far this year, adding to the one million who made the dangerous journey across the Aegean Sea from Turkey in 2015, according to UN estimates. The massive influx has boosted nationalist and anti-immigrant populist parties across Europe, dividing the EU's 28 member states, and throwing the future of the EU's passport-free Schengen zone into doubt. In an effort to bridge the growing divide, EU president Donald Tusk's office announced he will visit Austria, Greece, and the Balkan states next week. Athens, with backing from other southern EU countries, says it is unable to stop migrants crossing its sea borders without endangering their lives, so the flow of migrants continues. An estimated 2,000 people more than half from Syria and Iraq are arriving daily from Turkey on small boats. But the number of people crossing into neighboring Macedonia has dropped dramatically to just 150 on February 25 and none on February 26, Greek police said, leading to a growing mass of migrants piled up on the border with Macedonia. Thousands have been sleeping outside in city parks and along the country's highways since Greece's existing migrant shelters are filled to capacity. Greece said on February 26 that it will try to house migrants on the islands where they land by boat from neighboring Turkey until the border situation is resolved. Athens ordered ferry companies and authorities on islands near Turkey to restrict the number of migrants allowed to travel to the mainland by ferry. Deputy Education Minister Sia Anagnostoipoulou told state-run ERT television that Greece could turn into a "giant refugee camp" because of the restrictions to the north. "What are we supposed to do: Let people drown in the Aegean Sea?" she said. "Instead of making a plan. Europe is burying its head in the sand... Europe is unraveling." With reporting by AFP, AP, and dpa Bosnian authorities said they will shut down Muslim groups that advocate extremism and refuse to affiliate with the state-recognized Islamic Community organization by March 1. The move to shut down extremist groups on February 26 came after IS issued a death threat earlier in the week against Bosnia's top Islamic cleric, Grand Mufti Husein Kavazovic. Dozens of groups have formed outside the official structure in recent years, attracting an estimated 3,000 followers mostly in rural areas. Some pursue radical interpretations of Islam not traditional among Bosnia's nearly 2 million Muslims. Police say such illegal groups have become hotbeds of Islamic radicalism, sending an estimated 150 members to Syria to join the Islamic State (IS) group. Moreover, police estimate that more than 50 IS fighters have returned to Bosnia, where they could carry out missions on IS's behalf. The Islamic Community on February 26 urged members of such groups to abandon self-proclaimed imams who are luring people into a "monstrous" ideology. Last month, the community sent envoys to the groups urging people to switch to an official congregation. Based on reporting by AP and Reuters A foreign policy adviser to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump believes the United States should work more closely with Russia on global issues such as defeating the Islamic State group. Retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, who was President Barack Obama's Defense Intelligence Agency chief from 2012 to 2014, also has said that the Iraq war was a mistake that helped create IS, among a number of statements that have defied Republican orthodoxy. Flynn has openly acknowledged advising frontrunner Trump and other candidates. Like Flynn, Trump has strongly condemned the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. And like Flynn, Trump has taken an unorthodox stance on Russia, advocating a warming of relations and calling Vladimir Putin a "highly respected" president who he would get along with. Other Republicans frequently bash Putin and his military interventions in Ukraine and Syria. Flynn raised eyebrows last year when he sat with Putin at a banquet in Moscow celebrating Russia Today, a Russian state broadcasting network. Flynn told Russia Today in a December interview that the United States and Russia should work together to resolve the Syrian civil war and defeat IS, rather than work at cross purposes. Based on reporting by Reuters, CNN, and U.S. News & World Report Iranian officials said on February 28 that with 90 percent of the votes counted in the country's elections, President Hassan Rohani's reformist allies have won all 30 of Tehran's contested seats in the 290-seat parliament. With the vote count nearing completion, results also showed reformists gaining against rival hard-liners in the Assembly of Experts -- a body tasked with choosing Irans next supreme leader. The February 26 election was the first in Iran since the lifting of international sanctions under a nuclear accord reached by Rohani's government and world powers. The reformist gains come despite the disqualification of thousands of candidates by hard-liners on Iran's powerful Guardian Council. Rohani and his ally, the pragmatic former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, have won the majority of votes in the race for the Assembly of Experts in Tehran, according to the latest results.The Iranian capital will send 16 candidates to the assembly. Rafsanjani came first and Rohani second, according to results issued by the Interior Ministry, which is conducting the elections. Hard-line cleric Ahmad Jannati, who chairs the powerful Guardian Council, is in 15th position. Reformists had urged voters to vote for a coalition of pro-reform and relative moderate candidates to prevent the reelection of Jannati and two other ultraconservative clerics -- Mohammad Yazdi and Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi -- to the assembly. Ayatollah Yazdi, the current chairman of the assembly, was in 15th position. Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi could lose his seat according to the results, which have not been yet finalized. In a statement issued on February 27 after the release of the initial results, Rohani said his government would cooperate with anyone elected in the vote. "The competition is over. It's time to open a new chapter in Iran's economic development based on domestic abilities and international opportunities," Rohani said in the statement issued by the government news agency IRNA. For his part, Rafsanjani called for unity and cooperation among different factions. "The competition is over and the phase of unity has arrived," Rafsanjani said. Ali Mazrouei, a former reformist lawmaker who now resides in France, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that the make-up of Irans future parliament is likely to be "different" from the current one dominated by hard-liners. I think the parliament will be relatively moderate, Mazrouei said in a telephone interview. "The government could have more support in the parliament," he added. Votes are still being counted on February 28, two days after the elections. . Earlier forecasts made by the semiofficial Fars and Mehr News agencies indicate moderates and independents linked to them were leading so far against hard-liners in several cities, while conservatives appeared to have the upper hand elsewhere. The semiofficial ILNA news agency said on February 27 that five women had been definitely elected to the parliament. The Interior Ministry said about 60 percent of eligible voters, about 35 million Iranians, had cast ballots in the twin elections. During its next eight-year term it could name the successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has been in power since 1989. The 76-year-old is not thought to be in the best of health. Before the vote, reformists had complained that the Guardian Council, which supervises elections, refused to approve many of their most prominent candidates. Only 40 percent of some 12,000 candidates were approved by the Guardian Council to run. With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, Reuters, AP, and AFP, IRNA, Fars, ISNA, and Shargh Pakistan's army says it has conducted a ground and aerial assault against militants in the country's lawless tribal belt, killing at least 34 militants. At least four Pakistani soldiers were killed in the February 27 ground operation in North Waziristan tribal district, a stronghold of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants. The attacks come days after Pakistan's powerful military chief General Raheel Sharif ordered his troops to begin the last phase of an operation targeting militants in the area, which is on the border with Afghanistan. Pakistani air strikes killed at least 15 suspected militants in the Datta Khail region of North Waziristan. The military issued a statement saying its ground forces also killed 19 militants in the tribal district. The army started the operation in North Waziristan in June 2014. So far, it says more than 3,500 militants have been killed. The conflict zone is off-limits to journalists, making it difficult to verify the army's claims, including the number and identity of those killed. Based on reporting by AFP and dpa The media in Central Asia has effectively been under fire since the five countries there became independent in late 1991. But pressure on non-state media is always stronger when the region's governments are having a hard time, and these are hard times for Central Asia, which has been experiencing an economic downturn in recent months. The new crackdown on journalists has been most noticeable in Kazakhstan of late, but it's also happening in other Central Asian states. To make matters worse, it seems not much can be done about it in the current circumstances. To look at developments in the struggle of independent media to survive in Central Asia, RFE/RL's Turkmen Service, known locally as Azatlyk, organized a Majlis, a panel discussion. Azatlyk director Muhammad Tahir moderated the talk. Participating from London was Katie Morris, head of the Europe and Central Asia program at the journalist advocacy group Article 19. Joining the discussion from New York was Muzaffar Suleymanov, a research associate for the Europe and Central Asia program of the Committee to Protect Journalists. In RFE/RL's studio in Prague, Lyudmyla Kozlovska of the Warsaw-based Open Dialog Foundation joined in. And since everybody else in the studio was saying something, I made some comments also. Suleymanov summed up the situation, saying: We can see...press freedom conditions in the entire region are downgrading, the repressions, attacks are still ongoing, it's shocking that the authorities are cracking down against the messengers." Journalist Detentions On February 22, Kazakhstan's National Anticorruption Bureau detained Seytkazy Mataev -- the head of the country's Journalists Union for the last 15 years and also chairman of the National Press Club for the past two decades -- for allegedly embezzling about 380 million tenge (about $1.1 million at the current rate). His son Aset, the director of the independent news agency KazTag, was also briefly taken into custody before being released after questioning. An Almaty court on February 24 ordered Seytkazy Mataev placed under house arrest. The Anticorruption Bureau is still investigating other possible violations. But Kozlovska pointed out that "financial accusations or tax accusations are quite normal and quite usual for Kazakhstan. They [the authorities] did it before, many times in the past" as a means to stop the work of independent journalists, rights activists, or political opposition figures. That's why doubts have been raised about the investigation of the Mataevs. Seytkazy Mataev's detention came as journalist Yulia Kozlova from the independent Nakanune.kz website stands trial for possession of drugs. Nakanune.kz has written critical articles about the government and possible violations committed by Kazkommertsbank, the largest private bank in Kazakhstan. Police searched Kozlova's apartment when she was not there. Morris said first of all, "Nakanune [doesn't] have a huge circulation and it's difficult to see what real threat they could pose to a situation in Kazakhstan. But Morris noted that Kazakhstan's authorities "tend to silence" independent media before elections. Kazakhstan is conducting early parliamentary elections on March 20 and "the threshold of tolerance is definitely getting lower and lower" in the run-up to the vote. Kozlovska from the Open Dialog Foundation added, "There was a huge leak of information, a so-called Kazakh WikiLeaks, which was analyzed by independent journalists, especially journalists of Nakanune." Subtle Pressure Meanwhile, Tajikistan is headed for a national referendum this May to vote on extending the term of President Emomali Rahmon, who has now been in power since 1992. Tajikistan's independent media have learned to be cautious about reporting on affairs of state and on government officials. Tajik authorities, Morris said, have subtle ways of reminding journalists. "It's the indirect investigations, it's pressure, people made to feel unsafe, made to feel that they cannot report," she said. Tahir mentioned that a correspondents from RFE/RL's Turkmen Service, Saparmamed Nepeskuliev, is currently in jail on dubious charges of narcotics possession and it is impossible to obtain any information about his condition from Turkmen authorities. Additionally, several Azatlyk correspondents in Turkmenistan resigned last year after "conversations" with Turkmen police or state officials. The situation in Uzbekistan is as bad as that in Turkmenistan. And Suleymanov reminded us that, even in Kyrgyzstan, where there is an independent media, authorities fluctuate in their tolerance of the press. Turat Akimov, the chief editor of the newspaper Dengi i Vlast (Money and Power) was attacked on February 20 by an assailant who was waiting for him near his home. Akimov says he was attacked because of his reporting. Suleymanov drew attention to the case of Azimjon Askarov, an ethnic Uzbek journalist and activist convicted of being part of interethnic violence in southern Kyrgyzstan in June 2010. Askarov was sentenced to life imprisonment, making Kyrgyzstan "the only country in the region which has sentenced a journalist and human rights activist to life in jail," Suleymanov pointed out. There seems to be no way for outside parties to convince the Central Asian governments to ease up on or, even better, halt the harassment of independent media in the region. "We do try to engage with them [the authorities]," Suleymanov said, "but they've walled themselves off." The panel agreed that those countries which uphold rights such as freedom of the press need to send much stronger messages to the Central Asian governments. Suleymanov recalled that sanctions had been imposed on Uzbek officials in the past but they were gradually lifted,perhaps giving Central Asian governments the feeling that it is possible to simply wait out such penalties. Kozlovska said sanctions should be an option for convincing Central Asia's governments of the need to respect basic rights. She said, for example, that the leaders and top officials in these countries "have properties in Europe, they love to send their children to study...in very costly universities." The panelists discussed these and other issues in greater detail during the discussion. You can listen to the full roundtable below: Kremlin-backed Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has said he is ready to resign. In an interview with the Kremlin-allied NTV television, Kadyrov said "my time has passed." Kadyrov's current term of office is due to end in early April. "There are lots of successors on our team. We've got very good specialists," Kadyrov added in the interview that aired on February 27, first in Russia's Far East. The announcement comes on the one-year anniversary of the killing of Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov. Many in the opposition accuse Kadyrov of playing a role in Nemtsovs murder. "Nemtsov did not bother me at all, in fact. That's because he is not my level," Kadyrov told NTV. "The nation's leadership needs to find another person so that my name isn't used against my people," Kadyrov added. The five suspects arrested for the crime all have ties to Chechnya and the North Caucasus. "I know that, after the killing of Boris Nemtsov, the relationships between the federal government and Chechnya's leadership have worsened considerably," Dmitry Gudkov, one of only a handful of opposition lawmakers left in the State Duma, told RFE/RL's Russian Service on February 27. "This explains Ramzan Kadyrov's recent hysteria toward the opposition," Gudkov added. Earlier this week, opposition leader Ilya Yashin released a report accusing Kadyrov of involvement in Nemtsov's killing and demanding his resignation. Kadyrov was nominated for the Chechen presidency by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2007 and approved almost without any objections by the Chechen parliament. Putin has relied on Kadyrov to stabilize Chechnya after two separatist wars, making him effectively immune from federal controls. Based on reporting by TASS, AP, and meduza.io Supporters of slain Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov have marched through Moscow to mark the first anniversary of his killing. Mourners packed the streets as they made their way through the Russian capital. Crowd estimates ranged from a few thousand to as many as 25,000. Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister and vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin, was shot dead on a bridge overlooking the Kremlin on February 27 last year. City authorities denied march organizers permission to hold a procession to the bridge, but gave permission for another route in central Moscow. The spot where he fell has become an informal shrine where supporters lay flowers and other tokens, which then are frequently removed by city workers. Earlier on February 27, U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Tefft laid a wreath at the bridge, saying he came to express hope that "some of the dreams that Boris Nemtsov had will come true in Russia." "I think that for all of Russia [Nemtsov's killing] became a kind of point of no return," Maria Alyokhina, a member of the Pussy Riot punk collective, told RFE/RL's Russian Service during the march. "Indeed, we understand now that the price of protest and disagreement is not only our freedom, but also our lives." "Nemtsov's murder is a terrorist act, it is a demonstrative murder aimed at frightening Russian society, at least the part which disagrees with Putin's politics," said Russian liberal opposition politician and a political ally of the late Nemtsov, Ilya Yashin. "It is very important for us to demonstrate to terrorists, murderers, those villains that they will not succeed in trying to intimidate us," he added. Russian opposition PARNAS party leader and former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov said Nemtsov "is becoming a symbol of our struggle." "The authorities did not allow us to march to the bridge, because they are afraid of the symbolism of Boris's murder place," Kasyanov said. "But we already call the bridge after him, we call it 'Nemtsov Bridge' and we will succeed in mounting a memorial plaque at the scene of Boris's murder." VOX POP: Suspicion And Indifference In Moscow One Year After Nemtsov Killing Marches to commemorate Nemtsov were planned in other Russian cities as well, including St. Petersburg where a sizable crowd is reported to have turned out. The Russian State Duma on February 26 rejected a lawmaker's proposal to hold a minute of silence for Nemtsov. Dmitry Gudkov, one of only a handful of opposition lawmakers left in the State Duma, which is dominated by the Kremlin-controlled United Russia party, made the proposal. Gudkov, who attended the march, told RFE/RL that the opposition would "continue our fight for a new and democratic Russia." Ultranationalist lawmaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky said that Duma deputies "stand up to commemorate someone only when the country's president announces national mourning." The suspected triggerman in the Nemtsov murder was an officer in the security forces of Kremlin-backed Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. Five other Chechens also face trial in the case. But who ordered the killing remains unknown. Nemtsov's family and other supporters have slammed the official probe as ineffective. Elsewhere, in the Urals city of Chelyabinsk, one of the organizers of an event to commemorate Nemtsov was beaten by attackers on February 26. Vyacheslav Kislitsi was taken to hospital to treat serious injuries, including a broken rib. A member of the opposition PARNAS party, Aleksei Tabalov, said the attack was linked to the planned march for Nemtsov in Chelyabinsk. With reporting by AP and AFP A large part of Moldova's military equipment dates back to Soviet times and is in urgent need of replacement, Defense Minister Anatolie Nosatii told RFE/RL, adding that the money allocated by the government for defense amounts to a small sum but is still important for its badly underfunded and underequipped army. Moldova, one of Europe's poorest countries, was part of the Soviet Union until 1991, when it declared independence. It has a long border with Ukraine and has been hosting hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees since the start of Moscow's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Russia has some 1,500 troops in Moldova's Moscow-backed separatist region of Transdniester, a sliver of land sandwiched between Moldova proper and Ukraine. "Some 90 percent [of our military equipment] is of Soviet origin and dates back to the 1960s to the 1980s.... You cannot modernize a ZIL-131 [military truck] or an antiaircraft system made in the 1970s," Nosatii said. The pro-European government of President Maia Sandu accelerated its EU bid after Russia invaded Ukraine and in June was given candidate status alongside Ukraine. Moldova's armed forces consists of 6,500 professional personnel, while 2,000 conscripts are being recruited annually for compulsory military service. The military also employs 2,000 civilians as auxiliary personnel. Nosatii told RFE/RL that the 0.5 percent of the gross domestic product allocated for defense by the government -- roughly $25.5 million -- while small, is still very important for the implementation of modernization projects. Nosatii also spoke about the equipment shortages that the Moldovan military faces because of insufficient funding. The Defense Ministry covers only partially the contents of the so-called "emergency backpack" that contract soldiers, who account for the bulk of Moldova's armed forces, must have at the ready for unexpected situations, Nosatii said. Nosatii, who was appointed in August last year as defense minister in Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita's reformist government, told RFE/RL that his ministry's current priority is to provide every member of the armed forces with one of these individual first-aid medical kits. Moldova has been cooperating with foreign partners, including NATO, in its efforts to supply the first-aid kits to its military personnel, Nosatii said. Besides the first-aid kit, the emergency backpack must also include personal items such as underwear, socks, gloves, a woolly hat, food, and a flashlight, Nosatii said, adding that the state can only partially cover the cost of such equipment. "For example," Nosatii told RFE/RL, "if the state provides four T-shirts [for daily usage] but the backpack has to cover seven days of deployment, the remainder of three or more T-shirts must be bought by the soldier." Nosatii said that supplying Moldova's small military with equipment has been a permanent underlying problem but that the ministry has obtained aid from Moldova's external partners. "You can't demand that a soldier perform his duties when he doesn't have what he needs, when he's cold, lacks military equipment, or is forced to buy it himself," Nosatii said. Military equipment donated by Moldova's Western partners this year consists of protective gear such as helmets, flak jackets, and waterproof and winter clothing. Earlier this month, German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht visited Moldova and said Berlin is prepared to provide drones and other military equipment to Chisinau. Lambrecht also said the German Army is ready to provide military training to Moldova. She said Berlin also realizes the importance of supporting Moldova in the wake of energy shortages stemming from the war in Ukraine. A cessation of hostilities took hold in Syria on February 27 with few violations reported in the first few hours, raising hopes for a resumption of United Nations peace talks. The UN and a monitoring group reported only isolated fire in western Syria after the cessation began at midnight, despite a day of intense bombing on rebel-held positions near the capital Damascas and the northern city of Aleppo. "In Damascus and its countryside... for the first time in years, calm prevails," Syrian Observatory For Human Rights Director Rami Abdulrahman said. "In Latakia, calm, and at the Hmeimim air base there is no plane activity," he said, referring to the base where Russianwarplanes backing the Syrian regime operate. The Observatory said at least 40 government regime forces and allies, and 18 insurgents were killed in fierce battles in Latakia province just a day earlier. UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said incidents in Damascus and Deraa were reported within the first few minutes of the truce, but those towns quickly calmed down. "There is a high chance we should expect such hiccups," he told reporters in Geneva. "The important point is whether those incidents will be brought quickly under control and contained. That is going to be the test." The cessation of hostilities was brokered by the United States and Russia and will be monitored by those two countries via centers set up in Latakia, Washington, Moscow, Amman, and Geneva. If fighting breaks out, the United States and Russia will alert the other countries backing the peace process. A military response should be a last resort and should be proportionate, de Mistura said. The cessation was formally endorsed by a unanimous UN Security Council an hour before it went into effect. After multiple failed attempts at cease-fires in Syria, UN diplomats said they hoped it would provide at least a window for humanitarian aid to reach Syrian civilians caught in the crossfire and deprived of food and shelter. If the cessation holds, de Mistura said he plans to start a second round of peace talks between the warring parties on March 7. The agenda would be the same as in the first round, which De Mistura abruptly suspended on February 3 when fighting broke out around Aleppo. The negotiations are aimed at establishing a new inclusive government, a new constitution, and new parliamentary and presidential elections within 18 months. The leaders of Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate Nusra Front rejected the truce on February 26 and called for new attacks against the government. Nusra and the Islamic State group were excluded from the truce because they are UN-designated terrorist organizations. However, Nusra has links to other rebel groups in the Aleppo area and elsewhere in Syria, thus continued strikes at Nusra fighters run the risk of also hitting some of the nearly 100 opposition groups that have signed onto the peace effort. With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and dpa Donations have poured into Sussex, Appomattox and Essex counties. Here is a list of some of the organizations accepting donations and what they could use. Money, of course, is the most useful gift of all. Lexington, Va., became the center of the political universe for a fleeting moment earlier this month. Washington and Lee Universitys 26th quadrennial Mock Convention drew a list of notable speakers and politicians to prime the students for the big announcement to which all of their research contributed: The prediction for the 2016 Republican nominee for the president of the United States. As many seasoned Virginians know from previous nomination cycles, Washington and Lees Mock Convention works to accurately predict the out-of-power partys nominee after just the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary. This year, liberal and conservative students joined as mock-Republicans in delegations of the 56 states and territories that participate in the nomination process. Led by a team of student political analysts and state chairpersons, hundreds of students contacted state and local party officials to gauge local sentiments. Political analysts also solicited opinions from many distinguished political pundits who have been studying nomination processes for decades. Mock Cons scope did not simply end at the nominee prediction. A platform committee composed of distinguished writers rose to another seemingly impossible challenge: to predict what views and policies the GOP will endorse as a party in 2016. Students also provided the security, stage management, and media relations for the weekend. After the parade of states rumbled through downtown Lexington to kick off the event, nearly 2,000 students, parents, and community members packed the school gymnasium to hear speeches from perhaps the most conservative list of speakers a college has ever hosted in a single weekend. Students eagerly disproved the speakers preconceived notions that all millennials are liberal and indifferent to politics. Virginias 6th District Rep. Bob Goodlatte was joined on the Mock Con stage with fellow Virginian and gubernatorial hopeful Ed Gillespie to reiterate the need for conservative leadership nationwide. The keynote speaker, newly elected Kentucky Governor and W&L alum Matt Bevin, delivered a moving address about his humble and unusual entrance into politics. In true W&L spirit, Bevins twin daughters were welcomed into the Kentucky delegation seating area with great enthusiasm. It wouldnt have been an accurate rendition of a 2016 GOP convention without someone breaking the politically correct mold. Conservative commentator and author Ann Coulter brought her A game to the stage although a significant portion of students gave her an F in sincerity. Coulter cruised through a list of politically incorrect words and prepared the students for assertions to come. Her unfiltered opposition to illegal immigration, her support of Donald Trump, and her raw delivery of opinions were the talk of the town for the evening. The most riveting guests of the weekend reminded the delegates just how consequential the prediction would be. To resounding applause, former Vice President Dick Cheney complimented Mock Convention: Ive been in politics long enough to know this: If you want to see where a presidential election is headed, the place to be is at the Washington and Lee Mock Convention! At a later session, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich added: I think this project is one of the great unique learning experiences in America ... your track record is amazing. I suspect you will be once again correct in predicting. In his words, the 2016 nomination is utterly unpredictable thus far. He jokingly added, I note that your only two failures youve had since 1948 both involve Democrats. With a boost in student confidence, the roll call of states began. Although delegates given to Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz garnered much louder and more positive applause than those to Trump, the Donald prevailed with 1,320 total delegates. Most students are grappling with the result: to accurately predict the winner or to be hopeful and hold out for a real, tested Republican? At the end of the weekend, Mock Con succeeded in introducing hundred of students to the political process, current and former politicians, and many of the nations greatest minds. Virginia will hold its primary on March 1 with many other southern states, and will allot its delegates on a proportional basis. The Virginia Mock Con delegation predicted 17 delegates to Cruz, 14 to Rubio, 13 to Trump, 4 to Kasich, and 1 to Bush. According to the Virginia delegation state chairman, senior Levi Warring: Virginia has one of the most educated populations in the U.S., and these voters tend to vote for the traditional Republican candidates who they consider electable in November. Virginians themselves will decide next Tuesday. Choose wisely, Virginia! Last week the Virginia House of Delegates passed House Joint Resolution 3: an application pursuant to Article V of the U.S. Constitution for a state-led convention to propose amendments that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government and limit its overall power and jurisdiction. But will the Virginia Senate have the courage to see it through? This nationwide effort to finally use the power of the state legislatures to check an outrageously overreaching federal government has picked up major momentum in the past three years. Article V supporters include Sen. Marco Rubio, Sen. Ted Cruz, Gov. Jeb Bush, Gov. John Kasich, Gov. Greg Abbott and Thomas Sowell, who join the ranks of an impressive array of public officeholders (including Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sen. Tom Coburn (retired), Sen. Rand Paul, and countless others) and at least a million American citizens. We all agree on one thing: Its time for a constitutional reformation in America. While we work to support our families, some federal committee or unelected bureaucrat is making decisions about what kind of cars we will drive, what kind of businesses will succeed or fail, how much of our finances we can control, what kind of health insurance we will be forced to buy, how farmers can use their land the list goes on and on. D.C. is a regulation-drafting, law-making, fine-imposing, tax-burdening, policy-setting machine. Its levers are controlled by the unseen processes of partisan deal-making, inventive lawyering and ridiculous exercises of administrative discretion. Every day it plunges us further toward a looming financial crisis. Its easy to see where we have gone wrong just by reading the Constitution that great operating manual for the government system designed for a liberty-loving people. According to it, the powers vested in the national government are few and limited, while the powers reserved to the states and the people are many and broad. So if Congress, the president and their hordes of unaccountable bureaucrats would get out of the classroom, out of the doctors office, off the backs of small businesses and out of the farmers fields, then federal officials could focus on what they were designed and empowered to do like keeping America safe from terrorists, securing our borders and sensibly regulating immigration. Congress was never meant to be a super-legislature, handing down orders to state legislatures as if the states were minions created to carry out federal policy directives. The president was never meant to act as a king, changing national policy on his own whims with his pen and his phone. And the courts were never meant to re-engineer our entire federal system by interpreting the Constitution to confer ever-more power to the feds at the expense of the states or individual liberty. The tragic passing of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, a stalwart defender of a Constitution that means what it says and not what a single, unelected fifth justice thinks it should say, makes the need for decisive action all the more critical. What is required and soon is a handful of constitutional amendments that clarify limitations on federal power and create meaningful checks on the judiciary, which has been all too willing to steamroll those limitations through interpretive fiat. We all know that Congress is unlikely to propose amendments that would curtail its own power. The wise drafters of our Constitution knew this too. That is why they included, in Article V of the Constitution, the most significant of all the constitutional checks on federal power: the state-led convention for proposing amendments. This kind of meaningful, constitutional reform to our badly damaged nation is the most promising way to get Congress, the courts and, yes, even the president off our backs and back in their place. It would reinvigorate constitutional boundaries that have been interpreted into oblivion. Some anti-constitutionalists would have our state legislators shun their Article V power. In so doing, they obscure the beautiful essence of America: The courage to stand for liberty. The willingness to fight for principle. A steadfast commitment to defend the rule of law. Perhaps no one can make a more compelling case for an Article V amendment-proposing convention than Scalia himself: If the only way to clarify the law, if the only way to remove us from utter bondage to the Congress, is to take what I think to be a minimal risk on this limited convention, then lets take it. Please urge your state senator to take a stand for liberty by supporting HJ 3. Learn more at www.conventionofstates.com. On Monday, Feb. 22, BTEC in Fincastle hosted its annual SkillsUSA district competitions for Cosmetology, Fantasy Manikin, Esthetics and Nail Care. Seven schools were in attendance, along with local salon workers/owners who donated their time and expertise for judging the contests. Schools who were in attendance were: Arnold R. Burton in Salem, BTEC Fincastle, Blacksburg High, Christiansburg High, Giles County, Pulaski and ROTEC at Patrick Henry High School. Among judges who donated time/prizes/services were: Penny Kerr of Corporate Image Barbershop in downtown Roanoke, Carolina Phillips of Secret Oasis Salon Roanoke, Lula Chandler and associates of Regis Corporation and Smart Styles/Cost Cutters, Brandon Woods of Twin State Beauty Supply donated Prizes for winners (Including Brazilian Blowout Equipment/Products), Kathryn Perry and Ian Rierson of Paula's Salon Roanoke, and LeAnna of PZAZ School of Beauty/Salon in Botetourt. Submitted by Tabitha McRoy The bipartisan gun deal announced one month ago was signed Friday by Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who used the stately backdrop of the Executive Mansion to underscore the significance of what he called a historic agreement for Virginia. The signing ceremony the first McAuliffe has held in the 203-year-old governors mansion was the culmination of several weeks of activity to get three bills through the General Assembly. The debate on gun safety has had sharp edges that have kept all of us apart for so many years, McAuliffe said. But we braved those sharp edges together this year. And we can be proud of the accomplishments. The ceremony was also a somewhat awkward political moment for McAuliffe, who has faced pointed criticism from former allies in the gun-control movement for striking a deal welcomed by gun-rights activists. Governor McAuliffe cut a backroom deal with the NRA that betrays gun violence survivors and endangers the safety of all Virginians. We expected more from him, said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. The group, backed by former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, spent more than $2.4 million in last years elections to help McAuliffe and Democratic candidates. Speaking with reporters after signing the bills, McAuliffe, who made gun violence a marquee issue in last years legislative races, bristled at questions about the politics of the deal. I didnt get elected to run a political operation, McAuliffe said. I got elected to run a state. The package will expand recognition of out-of-state concealed carry permits, reversing Attorney General Mark Herrings decision last year to sever ties with 25 states that have looser permitting rules than Virginia. Herring, who has criticized the move to recognize concealed carry permits from every state that issues them, did not attend Fridays ceremony. Herring learned of the signing ceremony Friday morning and did not have time to adjust his schedule, according to his staff. The governor was joined by a large crowd of lawmakers, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam and Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran. Two other bills will require domestic abusers under permanent protective orders to give up any guns in their possession within 24 hours and position Virginia State Police at every gun show to perform voluntary background checks requested by unlicensed sellers who lack access to the federal database used by gun dealers. McAuliffe focused heavily on the deals safety measures, saying theyll have a palpable impact by removing guns from dangerous domestic violence situations and deterring private gun sales to buyers who wouldnt pass a background check. When weighing the deal, McAuliffe said he asked for guidance from the law enforcement community. Are the actions we take going to make Virginians safer?, McAuliffe said. And unequivocally, they said yes. The governor has previously said there is no evidence of out-of-state visitors with concealed carry permits committing crimes. He said Friday that the danger of domestic violence is not a theoretical threat. Republican lawmakers have said they were drawn into the negotiations by a desire to undo Herrings action on concealed carry permits. Were taking a major step to secure the Second Amendment rights of some of the most law-abiding citizens of Virginia, Speaker of the House Bill Howell, R-Stafford, said at the ceremony. Gun-rights groups have welcomed the deal, raising no objections to the safety provisions. Now, more than six million law-abiding gun owners will be free to travel in and out of Virginia with their Second Amendment rights intact, said Chris Cox, executive director of the National Rifle Associations lobbying arm. The gun deal has also cost McAuliffe with some Virginia-based activists who have endured high-profile gun tragedies. Andy Parker, the father of slain television journalist Alison Parker, said in a statement circulated by Everytown that he was beyond disappointed to see the governor sign the deal on the sixth-month anniversary of his daughters death. I understand that politics is about compromise, Parker said. But it is baffling that someone like Governor McAuliffe, who has a reputation as a great deal maker, accepted a deal that so many have described as a giveaway to the gun lobby. McAuliffe said he didnt get everything he wanted due to the realities of dealing with a Republican-controlled legislature, saying his work on the issue of gun violence is not over. My job is to keep Virginians safe, McAuliffe said.People are going to have different opinions. President of ALROSA took part in the events dedicated to the 55th anniversary of Aikhal Mining Division 26 february 2016 News Andrey Zharkov, President of ALROSA visited the Village of Aikhal in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) on Friday and took part in the festive events dedicated to the 55th anniversary of the Aikhal Mining Division. In his congratulatory speech, Andrey Zharkov said the Aikhal Mining Division had been successfully coping with all the tasks it faced over the last several decades. Aikhal means glory in Yakut, and this name is fully justified. The business unit is developing steadily, putting into practice promising innovative programs and introducing advanced technologies that meet all modern standards, the companys president said. The Aikhal Mining Division is one of Russia's largest diamond-mining operations. In 2015, its diamond output reached 12.3 million carats, or 32% of the total production yielded by ALROSA Group. The Aikhal Mining Division includes the Komsomolskaya and Yubileinaya diamond pipes developed as open-pit mines, as well as the Aikhal diamond pipe, which is successfully being developed as an underground mine. The Aikhal Mining Division is a leader in recovery of large stones weighing more than 50 carats, which can well lay a claim to be called unique. Some of them were given such names as 70th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War (given to a diamond weighing 76 carats), 50th Anniversary of the Mirny District (79 carats) and 40th Anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Angola (64 carats). Speaking about the development of the Aikhal mining facilities, Andrey Zharkov praised the implementation of the program focused on production modernization. The division completed works to improve energy supply and beneficiation technique at Concentration Factory No. 8, which is once again reached its name-plate capacity of 1.5 million tons of ore per year. Within the investment program, it is planned to start developing the Zarya diamond pipe, introduce a dense media separation plant at Concentration Factory No. 14 and put into operation new state-of-the-art equipment. The company allocated RUB 1.6 billion for retooling the Aikhal Mining Division in 2015 and earmarked more than RUB 2.25 billion of investments for 2016. I am sure that the team of the Aikhal Mining Division will perfectly cope with all the tasks, continuing to mine diamonds by open-pit and underground methods and developing new diamond fields. The prominent position of the Aikhal Mining Division will be maintained due to high performance at Yubileynaya, as well as due to integrated reconstruction of Komsomolskaya and because of measures to improve the efficiency of ore extraction and transition to a new and more powerful system of mining at the Aikhal underground mine, Andrey Zharkov said. ALROSA is the world's largest diamond producer by carat. The company is engaged in the exploration, production and sale of diamonds. ALROSA is mining diamonds in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and the Arkhangelsk Region. In 2015, ALROSA produced 38.3 million carats of rough diamonds. In 2014, the companys sales revenue reached RUB 207.2 billion. The Sound Transit Board of Directors has restored Sound Transit 2 funding for preliminary engineering on the Federal Way and Redmond Link extensions, giving staff the green light to move forward with further design on light-rail extensions from Kent/Des Moines to the Federal Way Transit Center and from Overlake to downtown Redmond. Extending light rail to Federal Way and downtown Redmond has remained a top priority for Sound Transit, said Sound Transit Board Chair and King County Executive Dow Constantine. Restoring funding for the next phase of project design brings us another step closer to connecting more people to our growing regional mass transit system. Voters approved funding for preliminary engineering for the Federal Way and Redmond Link extensions in the 2008 Sound Transit 2 (ST2) ballot measure. The 2007-2009 recession wiped out $4.2 billion from projected ST2 tax revenues. In response, the Sound Transit Board kicked off an ongoing realignment process in 2010 to bring project plans in line with the lower revenue forecast. This included suspending some projects and project phases until funding could be identified. Preliminary engineering for the Federal Way and Redmond light-rail extensions were among those projects suspended during the realignment. Recent projections show the recessions cumulative impact on ST2 funding through 2023 will represent an approximate 26.8 percent reduction, improved from the earlier forecast of 29.7 percent. Under the current forecasts and advancement of plans for completing other ST2 projects, sufficient resources now exist to restore funding for preliminary engineering on the Federal Way and Redmond Link extensions, expediting the ability of Sound Transit to construct the extensions when voter approval and funding are secured. Staff will continue to closely monitor the financial plan and work to advance several other suspended projects, where possible. Following realignment of the ST2 program, the board determined that sufficient funding was available to move forward with planning and constructing a light-rail extension from South 200th Street in the city of SeaTac to Kent/Des Moines. In 2012, the board approved $24 million more to develop a shovel-ready plan for extending light rail to downtown Federal Way when more funding becomes available. Last July, the board identified a preferred route and station locations for the project following publication of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The board is expected to select the project to built later this year after the Final EIS is published. Final design on the 2.5-mile segment to Kent/Des Moines begins in 2017, with service beginning in 2023. Final design and construction of the extension further south to the Federal Way Transit Center is a candidate project for potential inclusion in a Sound Transit 3 ballot measure this fall. Although the ST2 measure that voters adopted in 2008 approved funding for construction of light rail to South 272nd Street at the northern edge of Federal Way, current funding is only sufficient to reach Kent/Des Moines. When the recession hit, we worked hard to find ways to move planning work forward for getting light rail to Federal Way, said Sound Transit Boardmember and King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer. The improved revenue picture means we are in the best position possible for extending Link to the heart of the city when more funding is secured. The ST2 Plan also included environmental and preliminary engineering for a light-rail extension from the Overlake Transit Center to downtown Redmond. Sound Transit completed environmental review and the board selected the route and stations for the extension but suspended preliminary engineering when the board realigned the ST2 program in response to the recession. The project will extend the East Link light-rail line approximately 3.7 miles, from the Redmond Technology Center to downtown Redmond. Final design and construction of the extension is a candidate project for a Sound Transit 3 ballot measure. This action will enable us to deliver light rail all the way to Downtown Redmond as soon as possible after we secure approval of construction funding, said Sound Transit Boardmember and Redmond Mayor John Marchione. Expediting this project is important for giving more Redmond residents and employees a way to bypass traffic jams. . . Millennial Moms Review: 2022 Acura MDX is pretty close to the perfect family car I dont know if perfect is attainable, especially considering weve got the world of options when it comes to modern vehicles. Were spoiled and, as such, we have very specific needs and wants. Driving-wise, the 2022 Acura MDX is one of my favourite ... A first-of-its-kind journey along India and Pakistan border What binds the two most talked about nations - India and Pakistan together? What makes the Climate reality leadership corps to hold training in Manila in March Applications open now to be trained in the Philippines by former Vice President Al Gore and other experts to become a Climate Reality Leader Press Release January 20, 2016 Washington, DC Today The Climate Reality Project announced the 31st Climate Reality Leadership Corps training to be held in the Philippines, March 14-16. The application period for the Manila training is now open, and we will be accepting applications until February. Al Gore, former Vice President of the United States and chairman of The Climate Reality Project, will lead the Manila training for hundreds of new Climate Reality Leaders providing them with the knowledge and tools to build public awareness of our global climate challenge and drive action for solutions worldwide. This is the first Climate Reality Leadership Corps training after the COP21 summit held in Paris this past December. In December, the nations of the world concluded a bold and historic agreement, demonstrating a strong and unified global determination to solve the climate crisis, said Al Gore, Chairman and Founder of The Climate Reality Project. It is now time to take the next step. The Paris agreement lays the foundation for nations, businesses, investors and individuals around the world to work together to bring an end to the fossil fuel era and support the sustainable growth of a clean energy economy. My hope for this training is to build upon the momentum from Paris to work toward solutions from all corners of the world, starting with the Philippines one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Joining Vice President Gore will be an impressive list of world-class scientists, strategists, communicators, and technical specialists discussing the science of climate change, the direct cost climate impacts are having on communities around the world and solutions available to solve the climate crisis. The intensive program is designed to formally train a new group of community, government and business leaders to become Climate Reality Leaders, who then become change agents in their own communities. They will emerge from the program as energized and skilled communicators with the knowledge, tools and drive to educate diverse communities on the costs of carbon pollution and what can be done to solve the climate crisis. Thus far, The Climate Reality Project has thousands of Climate Reality Leaders from more than 130 countries, including recent trainings held in Miami, Toronto, New Delhi, Istanbul, Chicago, Johannesburg, Rio de Janeiro, and Melbourne. For the citizens of the Philippines, climate change is not a far-off, vague notion. It is an everyday reality. The Philippines currently ranks third on the list of countries most vulnerable to climate change due to harsh weather patterns and rapidly rising sea levels. The islands are dangerously exposed to tropical storms, which have increased in frequency and intensity, in fact the country has experience four of its ten most devastating storms in the last decade. Additionally, due to the lack of resources available to many in the Philippines, the impacts of these storms leave a lasting mark. However, in addition to highlighting the daily challenges faced in the Philippines every day, the training will focus on the countrys unique position to combat climate change on a global scale. As ground-zero for climate change impacts, the Philippines is the strongest voice to lend credence to the global movement, combat the problem and ultimately adapt to the effects. Even though the Philippines is responsible for less than 0.35% of global emissions, the country is actively working to make local alterative energy options the norm. Rooftop solar panels, coconut-based biodiesel and wind farms in Ilocos Norte and Panay are leading to new jobs in the Philippines and supporting the growth of the clean energy economy. As a native of the Philippines, I have spent my life working to protect biodiversity and foster sustainable development especially in the small island of Sibuyan, in Romblon province, where we enjoy 100% clean energy through mini-hydro while protecting our watersheds, home to many endangered species of flora and fauna", said Rodne Galicha, Branch Manager for The Climate Reality Project in the Philippines. "I have participated in numerous Climate Reality trainings as a trainee, a mentor and a presenter and am eager to bring this powerful network to the Philippines; the frontlines of those impacted by climate change." Romulo urges universities, colleges to set up crime prevention units in campuses By Office of Cong. Roman T. Romulo January 20, 2016 QUEZON CITY Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo today called on university authorities to set up dedicated units that will address the safety and security of students in campuses throughout the country. "Security and safety issues, by their very nature, are urgent concerns that should be quickly addressed by university authorities with the assistance of the police," he said. "If there is unease in campuses because of crime or threats of violence, these will disrupt the academic life of students and teachers," said Romulo, who chairs the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education. He cited the recent case of an 18-year old UP Diliman freshman who was supposed to pay his tuition but went missing last week. Romulo lauded UP authorities for quickly acting on the report filed by parents of the missing student but pointed out the need to prevent such incidents from happening. "We need to be proactive, to come up with measures that will discourage criminal elements from victimizing students and other members of the academic community in campus and in the areas around these institutions of learning," he said. Romulo is the principal sponsor of House Bill 3898, the Campus Safety and Security Act, which is now on third reading in the House of Representatives. The bill requires all public and private Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) to create a crime prevention committee to "promote the safety and security of all students, from external and internal threats, such as theft, robbery, rape and other forms of violence." Japanese engineers and technicians return to NMP Press Release January 20, 2016 TACLOBAN CITY Japanese marine systems engineers and technicians from the Terasaki Electric Co., Ltd. return to the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP), at Brgy. Cabalawan, Tacloban City, on January 11, 2015 to continue the commissioning of the Engine Room Simulator (ERS), an equipment vital in the conduct of the Ratings Forming Part of Engineering Watch (RFPEW) maritime training. The technical team is composed of Takuya Mitsushio, Masayoshi Jeda and Hiromo Katayama who are currently testing and commissioning the equipment to ensure the functionality in accordance to its design. It can be recalled that the simulator was among those equipment damaged last November 8, 2013. The replacement of the simulator is part of the assistance by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the implementation of the NMPs Programme for Rehabilitation and Recovery from Super-typhoon Yolanda. Among the important features of the upgraded simulator is its capability to provide assessment grades without human intervention which is a requirement of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), according to Engr. Ponciano V. Trinidad, NMP Maritime Training Specialist IV. The upgraded simulator will enhance the delivery of quality trainings. More particularly, it will provide trainees with hands-on experience in watch-keeping duties in a more realistic engine room setting. Likewise, it will be an important technology for other advanced simulator-based trainings that the NMP intends to offer within the first semester this year. In its effort to contribute in providing employment to Filipinos especially the seafarers, NMP continues to upgrade its facilities and provide quality maritime trainings required pursuant to the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention. Bracero's Carrot Aguachile Biga's Milk Braised Pork Why buy a plane ticket when you can take a culinary journey around the world without leaving home? San Diego gives foodies access to worldly cuisines sans plane rides and airport lines. Its true what they sayits a small world after all! Enjoy a epicurean adventure without leaving America's Finest City at these 7 local restaurants.With Mexican roots that honor a heritage of timeless culture and quality, Bracero Cocina de Raiz is putting Baja cuisine on the map. A modern take on traditional flavors, the Carrot Aguachile features local tuna, Baja media luna scallops, carrots, ginger, ghost pepper, smoked steelhead roe and cashews. Finish your meal by raising a toast to the Bracero spirit with a sip of one of Braceros tequilas, mezcals of different agaves, bacanora, raicilla or sotol.If youve ever wanted to travel to Latin America, Sirena Cocina in Little Italy is your destination. Their menu offers an array of Latin-inspired dishes with vibrant and exotic flavors. The Coconut Ginger Ceviche Tostada is crafted with white fish, roasted pineapple, red onion, coconut milk, lime, ginger and red chile. Their worldly outlook doesnt stop at the food menu - Sirena also looks around the world to build their wine selection. Their list includes grapes from destinations such as Chile, Baja, Argentina, Spain, Italy and France. Let your taste buds travel from the comfort of San Diegos very own Sirena Cocina.With housemade wood-fired dishes, focaccia sandwiches, salads and bruschettas, Biga is dishing out Italian-inspired cuisine in downtown San Diego. The Italian-influenced spot goes the extra distance with locally-sourced ingredients in their authentic plates, so that you dont have to! Try the Milk Braised Pork for a taste of the fresh Italian flavors. The entree is made in Bigas wood-fired ovens with a housemade herb sauce, Meyer lemon chutney and chives.Experience the fusion of two cultures at once at Romesco Mexiterranean Bistro in Bonita. Their award-winning cuisine featuring Mexican recipes and Mediterranean cooking techniques will let you explore Baja cuisine at its finest. Their Chile Poblano de Mariscos demonstrates the renowned flavors with a shrimp, crab and salmon stuffed chile poblano, topped with guava pine nut sauce and balsamic syrup. For a glimpse into how small the world really is, opt for the Classic Tijuanas Original Caesar. The dish can be made tableside and exhibits the tastes of our neighbor to the south.How does traveling to three countries simultaneously sound? The menu at Kearny Mesas Common Theory Public House features a clash of Korean, Chinese, Mexican and American cultures and cuisines. Grab one of over 30 craft brews and dig into Garlic Noodles. The fettucine pasta is tossed with bacon, shrimp and fresh scallions. If youre feeling extra adventurous, add an egg yolk to the mix.When the skill of a Master French Chef meets a blend of California and French cuisine, the outcome is prettymagnifique! Bellamys Restaurant in Escondido has perfected California Modern cuisine with French influences through its farm-to-table entrees. The King Beef Tournedos Rossini is accompanied by seared foie gras, bacon-wrapped haricot vert and truffle sauce. Wash down the dish with The Botanist, a handcrafted cocktail with gin, Green Chartreuse, raspberry balsamic and lemon juice.As a restaurant, bakery and cafe with an Italian heritage, Pan Bon is a one-stop-spot for San Diegans. Travel to the heart of Verona, Italy for breakfast, lunch or dinner with their to-go options at the counter as well as their dishes from the menu. Say buon appetito to the Pappardelle Porcini e Coniglio, housemade pappardelle pasta with a rich rabbit and porcini mushroom ragout.Next time youre craving an around-the-world trip, theres no need to buy a plane ticket. Instead, check out some of San Diegos worldly cuisines. COLUMBIA, S.C. A Florence resident was sentenced to 12 months home confinement and five years probation after his involvement with an international conspiracy to smuggle and distribute prescription drugs. According to United States Attorney Bill Nettles, Willard Lester Les Willard, 51, has been involved with this conspiracy since 2010. He began by running a fulfillment center for foreign drug companies that illegally sold unapproved prescription drugs to US residents. He also ran a website, www.click1market.com, that illegally sold pharmaceutical drugs to American customers. Willard shipped more than 10,000 packages containing smuggled drugs, totaling approximately $600,000. The safety of the U.S. pharmaceutical drug supply is of critical importance, Nettles said. The proliferation of illegal online pharmacies means that individuals like this defendant are putting Americans at risk by selling drugs of unknown quality and efficacy in the interest of profit. This is not merely a regulatory crime and we will not treat it as such. Special agents with the Food and Drug Administrations Office of Criminal Investigation worked alongside Homeland Security and inspectors with the US Postal Inspection Service to investigate this case. Assistant United States Attorney Eric Klumb prosecuted the case. Press Release February 27, 2016 Legarda: Next PHL President Must Make Climate and Disaster Resilience a Priority Senator Loren Legarda today said that whoever will be the country's next President must make climate and disaster resilience a priority of government, especially because the Philippines is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts and natural hazards. "Disaster risk management and climate change adaptation should be part of the agenda of our presidential candidates and all other candidates whether running for local or national positions. Our media forums have been discussing these issues but still not as extensively as they should be. Super typhoon Yolanda was an eye-opener on the devastating effects of climate change," said Legarda, UNISDR Global Champion for Resilience. "Disaster and climate resilience should be at the core of development. Disasters like Yolanda can undo years of economic growth, while climate change impacts like stronger episodes of El Nino can slow down development programs. Unless we address the risks posed by disasters and climate change, extreme weather events will continue to destroy our farms and crops, decrease fish yield, increase poverty incidence, threaten public health and security, and cause loss of lives and biodiversity, among other impacts," she added. The Senator said that presidential candidates must incorporate in their plans of action the measurable targets under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The Sendai framework gives primary importance to understanding disaster risk, which is very important in determining appropriate solutions and actions; the SDGs aim to guide nations on how they can achieve inclusive and sustainable development by achieving certain targets over the next 15 years; while the Paris Agreement aims to limit global temperature rise within the century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. "The next President and leaders of the nation should embrace these goals as their own. We should tread on the path of resilience and sustainability. Our leaders must all be forward-looking and think long-term lest we remain forever a developing nation," Legarda concluded. Sen. Marcos says people should not forget sacrifices of cops VICE presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. has called on the people to always remember the sacrifices of the policemen in protecting communities and the nation as a whole. Marcos made the call today on the sidelines of the 36th Grand Alumni Homecoming of the Philippine National Police Academy celebration held at the Camp Mariano Castaneda, home of the academy, in Silang, Cavite. "The police...we depend so much for the safety and security of the general public. It is always very important to remember the sacrifices that they made and the bravery and honor that they've shown in carrying out their duties," he said. Marcos attended the homecoming ceremony as an honorary member of the PNPA "Tagapagbuklod Class of '89." He said his attendance to the activity should not be viewed as politicking, although he admitted that his critics always equate his actions to politics, especially now that he is a candidate in the coming elections. "Everything I do, since I'm a candidate, they could say it's politicking. It's something I do consistently; so it's not something that I'm doing now only because it's the campaign period. I come and attend regularly," he said. MESA, Ariz. By adding a left fielder, Khris Davis, right before spring training and a utility player, Chris Coghlan, the day before the first full-squad workout, the As made themselves better, certainly. The roster situation is far more complicated now, naturally, and outfielder Sam Fuld is one potential casualty. Manager Bob Melvin said Saturday that Fuld, who is out of options, is highly valued by the club because hes a plus-plus defender at all three outfield spots, and he suggested there will still be room for him. When asked who might be Billy Burns backup in center, in fact, Melvin said Fuld (though if Coco Crisp is healthy, Crisp could handle such duties). I know it looks crowded, Melvin said, but we really think highly of Sam. Fuld, 34, enters every spring with question marks about his roster status, so this is nothing new. I dont look at things, and every year that gets easier to do, Fuld said. The only thing in my control is how I play and how I approach the situation. I see how many things change through the course of the year. Its always a fluid situation. Fuld hit .197 last year but played in a career-high 120 games. I think they recognize theres more in there from me, and I feel confident I have a better year in front of me, he said. To that end, Fuld is making some adjustments hitting, watching former As third baseman Josh Donaldson, among others, though he wont have Donaldsons pronounced leg kick. I want to drive the ball better, and if theres one way to do that its to incorporate my lower half, use my legs and hips, Fuld said. The hips really initiate the swing. A lot of it is along the lines of J.D.s thinking, which is a little nontraditional. Fulds wife, Sarah, is home in Florida and expecting their fourth child next month. Four one on four is not good. I hope she gets some help, Fuld said. Im not sure she was happy to see me leave. Others on the roster bubble following the Davis and Coghlan acquisitions: Eric Sogard and Andrew Lambo. Sogard is used to being a potential last man cut. Just another spring for me, Sogard said. I hope they find a way that I can help, because thats why Im here. When Lambo was claimed on waivers from Pittsburgh in November, it appeared he might have a decent shot at a roster spot, but now, as Melvin acknowledged, I would say our outfield depth is longer. You cant let that affect you. You have to go about your business. Prospect watch: Melvin said the As bunch of young position players in camp is the best he can recall, naming Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Joey Wendle, Renato Nunez, Rangel Ravelo, Chad Pinder and Franklin Barreto. I dont remember a group Ive been this excited about, he said. Then Melvin threw batting practice to several of them, and he said Chapman, Wendle and Ravelo all hit homers to end their session, as did Tyler Ladendorf. Melvin said hed teased Chapman, the As first-round pick in 2014, that hed need a 27-ounce bat to hit him, then he took me out to right, center, left. Melvin also took a look at Barreto, the As top prospect, and said that Barreto will continue to mostly play shortstop, but that Olson, a first baseman, will see time in right this spring. Melvin noted that with his size Olson is 6-foot-5 hed make a nice big target at first. Injury report: Right-hander Jesse Hahn, coming off a forearm strain that cost him most of the second half of the 2015 season, threw a 32-pitch bullpen session. I almost felt too good. I was a little up today, letting it fly a little bit, Hahn said. All my pitches felt like they were there, and I just felt healthy. It was awesome. Catcher Stephen Vogt (arthroscopic elbow surgery) threw at a distance of 90 feet and is being allowed to throw back to pitchers in bullpen sessions. Briefly: The As will play intrasquad games Monday and Tuesday at Fitch Park, and Hahn and right-hander Kendall Graveman will throw in a short simulated game Wednesday. Left-hander Rich Hill drew some oohs and aahs around the cage when he dropped down and sizzled a fastball across the plate for a strike while pitching to Josh Reddick. Hes all over the place, Melvin said. Hes not doing it much, but when he does, it gets your attention. Non-roster pitcher Patrick Schuster was under the weather and given the option to take the day off but threw live batting practice and looked good, according to Melvin. Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Vice President Joe Biden continued his tour of the nations top cancer research facilities Saturday with a stop at UCSF. Biden, who is spearheading a $1 billion national initiative to eliminate cancer, toured the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and led a roundtable discussion at Genentech Hall with cancer survivors, administrators and top researchers. Jill and I are on a listening tour, Biden said. This is the first time in my career that I have taken on a major undertaking where I dont know more than the people advising me. We have to accelerate the understanding of cancer. Issue hits home President Obama tapped Biden to lead the moonshot cancer project in January at the State of the Union address. The issue is personal, Jill Biden said, because they had lost several members of their family to the disease, including their son, Beau Biden, to brain cancer last year. The sickness crosses party lines, race and socioeconomic status, affecting everyone, Biden said Saturday. He bemoaned that politics had become personal, but said there is overwhelming support from both Democrats and Republicans to find a cure. The priorities are prevention, early detection and a remedy, he said, in addition to identifying regulatory barriers that impede research, and using technology and data more. I chose cancer not just because of my son, Biden said. We have been down this road before and lost other children, family members and spouses. ... This is something that affects every single, solitary person on the planet. But I desperately need your help. ... I am just the facilitator. More advances could be made with greater collaboration and the willingness to take more risks, said Alan Ashworth, director of the UCSF cancer center. In the Bay Area, excellence and risk go hand-in-hand, Ashworth said. We need to take more risks in the research we do. Its OK to fail, just dont make a career out of it. ... There are millions of people who are living and suffering the effects of cancer, and we need to deliver the best possible care. Survivors testimony The risk of a clinical trial saved the life of Laura Haddad, who was diagnosed in 2012 with stage four breast cancer and given three to five years to live. At the time, she was 37 years old and had two young children. It took an entire community to get me here, she said. Two surgeries and radiation. I am still here with no evidence of disease. I am trial subject 985, but I am also a survivor, a mom, a wife and a daughter. I hope we can take the luck out of the equation and give every new cancer patient a chance at a new drug and a new life. Cancer survivor Rhett Krawitt got a special welcome from Biden upon his arrival Friday, when the 8-year-old got the chance to tour Air Force 2 at San Francisco International Airport. They had really good food, said Rhett, whose family lives in Marin County. And all the seats were all first-class. Parts of it looked like a military plane. Enormous possibilities His dad, Carl, said that he hopes data is used more for research and more clinical trials are done. It was very emotional for us, Carl Krawitt said. I still have my son, and I know he doesnt have his. Thats the hardest part about this. Rhett was treated at the best hospital with the best doctors. He was part of a clinical trial, and they have to go off protocol. The treatment Rhett received has since become standard, he said. It is still emotional, even 3 years later. There are enormous possibilities, Biden said, and a light is at the end of the tunnel. There is this sense that things are changing, he said. We are doing more targeted research. If we can figure out how to aggregate all of these disciplines, not just in funding, but in different ways, we can meet the goal. My aim is to see that we do, and to really focus and speed up research in a significant way. Lizzie Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ljohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LizzieJohnsonnn This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The looming threat that San Francisco officials would forcibly remove a sprawling homeless encampment along Division Street had by Friday induced dozens of down-on-their-luck campers to clear out, but about 100 veterans of the tent city south of downtown were holding fort as night fell. As Mayor Ed Lees 72-hour deadline for the street dwellers to pick up stakes came and went, it appeared a police sweep might not happen, at least not immediately. Instead, the citys plan centered on approaching people with kindness and housing options in the hope they would voluntarily move away. The order continues, and were going to keep working there like we have for years with the homeless outreach team, but we dont want to resort to police intervention, said Sam Dodge, the mayors point person on homelessness. Weve made really great progress. Dodge said that, as of Friday afternoon, 133 people from the Division Street area which has come to represent the persistence of a homeless crisis that has dogged San Francisco for decades had been housed at Pier 80, the citys sprawling new shelter with hot showers, three meals a day and rows of cots. He said there was room for as many as 37 more homeless people there. Were looking to expand that by 10 spaces over the weekend and possibly 20 more spaces next week, Dodge said. Its about trying to utilize the options as best we can. As of Friday night, there were 40 tents on Division Street and a total of 90 to 95 in the sprawling cluster of encampments, including several cross streets between South Van Ness Avenue and San Bruno Street, according to an unofficial count. The lineup of tents on Division Street which is protected from rain by Highway 101 overhead had been growing for months, prompting complaints from neighboring residents and businesses about trash, feces, drug needles and theft. City health officials posted signs Tuesday declaring the tent area an unsanitary public nuisance. Some emergency workers were primed to help clear the camps early Friday morning, but the potential sweep never happened after 50 protesters showed up with a band to monitor the situation. By the time campers went to bed, three days had passed without a full sweep. But Rachael Kagan, a spokeswoman for the Department of Public Health, said city outreach workers had made significant progress, moving 29 people to the Pier 80 shelter on Thursday alone and referring many others to drug rehabilitation clinics. Its not safe for the people who are living there, and thats our main concern their safety, Kagan said. Weve made progress with many, many people accepting shelter. Each person is a unique individual with their own situation, but it seems like Pier 80 has been working pretty well. Still, there are not nearly enough beds for San Franciscos homeless, said Jennifer Friedenbach, who heads the Coalition on Homelessness. She said at least 100 people spent Thursday night in 72 tents on Division Street, with six people sleeping on the sidewalk. The number of tents had clearly been reduced by late Friday from about 130 two weeks ago, but Friedenbach was concerned that the remaining campers would have no place to go. Theyve got some beds at Pier 80, but they dont have enough beds less than half the number of beds available for the people who slept on Division Street Thursday night, Friedenbach said. Several tent residents said this week that they would not go to the Pier 80 shelter at least in part because it has a prison-like 12-foot fence with barbed wire on it. This is a port facility built to the ports security standards, and the fence was already there, Dodge said. But if you can ignore that, there is also a lot of space and it is relaxing. Those are great things for people who are in a housing crisis. Friedenbach said only people evacuated from Division Street are being allowed to reside at Pier 80, which does little to resolve the citys overall homeless problem. We have almost 700 people on the wait list for shelter, and none of them have access to Pier 80 unless they were on Division, she said. Thats the big picture, and I think thats more important to look at. Another question Friday was whether the large encampment was simply dissipating into smaller, nearby camps. There is no question, homeless advocates said, that a good many of the Division Street sleepers packed up and moved a few blocks away, with hopes of moving back when the dust settles. Dodge said the city was monitoring that as well. We don't have GPS to track the homeless, but we keep a close eye on the whole neighborhood, and so do citizens, Dodge said. It seems like a small contingent. The demand for shelter is very strong. Most people want to resolve their homelessness and, by and large, they dont want to be out on the street. On Friday night, the abandoned tents left by those who had transferred to shelters were scavenged by the remaining residents of the encampment. I figure I'll try to get some use out of it, said Nikita Amour, 29, as she bundled a tent, leftover sandbags and other junk into a shopping cart, leaving an empty space covered with trash, including cans of green beans, a brown banana peel and an old newspaper. Amours plan is to haul as much stuff as she can take from the empty tents, camp out a few blocks away and return when the sweeps are over. Ashante Jones, who has been living in a tent on Division Street for 90 days, said he doesnt intend to move. But Jones, 39, said the uncertainty surrounding the potential sweep has been unsettling, and that communication from the city has been inadequate. Its dangerous, Jones said. How are you going to be responsible for the people in the community, and you dont have any type of communication going on? Eddie Tennessee Tate hunched over a broom as he swept the dusty sidewalk near his tent by Harrison Street. The 50-year-old suspected a forcible removal was coming, but that authorities would time it to limit public scrutiny. Only reason why they didnt do it this morning is all the media, Tate said Friday. They dont want to look like the bad guys. If authorities do arrive to enforce the notice, he said hell fight it. I am not going to move until they come up here and force me to move, Tate said. I got news for them. I aint going nowhere. At the same time, other longtime street denizens like Brian Robinson were ready to leave. I don't know what to think, and I don't know what to really do about it except go with the flow, I guess, said Robinson, 52, as he stood outside in the cold near his tent. Heather Brown, 32, and Travis Perot, 34 high school sweethearts from Redwood City who fell on hard times piled their belongings onto a cart and were looking for new digs with their 10-month-old puppy, Baby Belle. Everyone is scattering, Brown said, explaining that losing the couples tent was an unappealing option. Its either a tent or no roof at all. On Friday a new tent was in the neighborhood, set up by volunteers to provide support for the campers. Free bananas, muffins and, by morning, hot coffee and oatmeal, were available to anyone who was in need. There were also phone chargers and a portable toilet. Benjamin Headrick, who was heading to work as a house cleaner Friday morning, has been living in a tent just up from the impromptu support station. In his opinion, responsibility for the situation under the freeway belonged squarely on the shoulders of San Franciscos elected officials. This is the result of mayor after mayor, electoral vote after electoral vote. Its everywhere, and when it trickles down, this is what you get, he said. How many empty buildings are there along Market Street right now? There are 6,000 homeless people, but all the mayor wants to talk about is new building and development. Jenna Lyons, Peter Fimrite and Kale Williams are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jlyons@sfchronicle.com, pfimrite@sfchronicle.com, kwilliams@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JennaJourno, @pfimrite, @sfkale If you missed it ... In a week when Facebook decided it liked Like but wanted to see other emojis, we also saw: MythBusters aired its Reddit-themed show, relying on ideas from the sites users. Those behind the Discovery Channel show arent done with Reddit, though; co-host Adam Savage tweeted that he will host an Ask Me Anything session Thursday on Reddit. Speaking of Facebook, CEO Mark Zuckerberg conceded Friday that the company didnt do enough until recently to police hate speech on its site in Germany. This came the same week that he sent out a memo lashing out at employees who crossed out black lives matter on Facebooks signature walls in Menlo Park and replaced the words with all lives matter. There are specific issues affecting the black community in the United States, coming from a history of oppression and racism, Zuckerberg wrote. Black lives matter doesnt mean other lives dont its simply asking that the black community also achieves the justice they deserve. Twitter had fun after ex-NBA players Oscar Robertson, Stephen Jackson and others said, basically, that the potentially record-setting Warriors arent all that good. Even Warriors center Andrew Bogut got into the act, tweeting: My under 14 team in Melbourne Australia would have beat these @warriors 109-99. Fat Jimmy would have locked down @StephenCurry30 !!!! The Daily Briefing is compiled from San Francisco Chronicle staff and news services. See more items and links at www.sfgate.com. Twitter: @techbriefing This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate San Antonios Metropolitan Health District said Friday that it is waiting for test results for 22 patients to evaluate whether any of them have the Zika virus. So far, the number of confirmed Zika virus cases in Bexar County has not changed for about 10 days. Only three cases have been confirmed here so far. Another patient in San Antonio, a pregnant woman, learned Feb. 18 that she did not have the virus. She is the only person in Bexar County to test negative so far. Texas has reported 13 confirmed cases statewide seven in Harris County, two in Dallas County, one in Travis County and the three cases in San Antonio. Nationally, 107 Zika cases have been confirmed in 24 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. All of those patients caught the virus while traveling outside the continental United States, except for one in Dallas County who was diagnosed after having sexual contact with a sick person who had traveled to a country where the Zika virus is present. Nine of those patients confirmed to have the virus were pregnant at the time, the CDC said Friday. Three of those women have since had their babies, and one of the infants was born with a brain defect. For expectant mothers, Zika presents a special danger, because the virus can spread from pregnant women to the babies in their wombs. The virus was deemed a global public health emergency Feb. 1 after doctors suspected that it may be causing birth defects in South America. In Brazil, the illness has been linked to a spike in the number of babies born with microcephaly, which causes underdeveloped brains. Metro Health will not say whether any of the 22 people waiting for their test results in Bexar County are pregnant. The public health agency also will not reveal those patients genders or any details about their cases, saying that could violate their privacy. Four of five people infected by the virus wont show symptoms. Those who do typically experience only mild discomfort, such as rash, joint pain, aching muscles, headache, low-grade fever and red eyes. The symptoms disappear within a week. Florida has had the most confirmed Zika cases so far among U.S. states. The Florida Department of Health reports 37 confirmed cases there, three of them in pregnant women. The state of New York has had the second highest number of Zika cases, 17 in all, according to CDC statistics. pohare@express-news.net The Associated Press contributed to this report. File Photo/Hearst Connecticut Media Two men were charged Friday in the slaying of a 22-year-old San Jose mother, whose gunshot-riddled body was discovered in a remote area of Fremont. Stacey Aguilar was shot dead in a car outside a house party she and her boyfriend, Esmid Valentin Pedraza, attended in Hayward on Feb. 13, police said. For days, family and authorities searched for Aguilar before officials last weekend found her body, which detectives said had been rolled down a hillside near Morrison Canyon Road. Police turned to the public Friday after reaching a dead end in the search for a woman whose 80-pound pit bull attacked a man playing fetch with his dog in Golden Gate Park earlier this month. On Feb. 8 about 9:30 a.m., the man was bending over to retrieve his dogs ball when the pit bull ran over and clenched his teeth down on the mans calf. The man fell to the ground and a struggle ensued, police said, with the dog biting the mans arm, the man punching the dog, and the dog then biting his other arm. Everyone's dreamed of finding that one great loophole that (mostly) legally yields untold riches at the expense of some corporation's ignorance. You may not have lived that dream, but now you can live vicariously through those who have. Reddit user Ninjalord5 recently asked users to reveal the biggest loophole they've found and how they "exploited the hell out of it." The answers do not disappoint. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD A Stamford jury this week awarded $10.8 million to a local doctor who suffered a massive stroke after being pushed too hard by a personal trainer at the Old Greenwich Equinox gym. The award came after a 14-day civil trial at the Stamford courthouse that included testimony that could be every would-be athletes worst nightmare. It was good to see that the jurors really understood what the case was about, that safety always has to come first, said attorney Victoria de Toledo, who represented Greenwich Dr. Chetan Vaid. I thought the good guys do sometimes finish first and Dr. Vaid, through and through, is one of those good guys. Vaid, 42, a busy primary care physician, had recently joined a gym in 2011 with the hope of gaining some muscle weight, de Toledo said. He was working out with his personal trainer, Joe Dominguez, at the gym on Old Track Road when Dominguez told him to get on a rowing machine with race simulator and pull hard. Dominguez set the machine at its highest level of resistance. Vaid rowed as told for one or two strokes, but felt something was wrong and stopped. Getting up from the machine, he felt dizzy and his vision blurred. Dominguez told him to take a water break, but almost immediately he told Vaid to begin some pushups with his feet elevated in suspension straps, de Toledos complaint said. A few pushups later Vaid asked to stop because his vision was still blurred and he continued to feel dizzy. But Dominguez, who during a deposition insisted he was the number 1 trainer in the gym and in the top 25 at the entire company, urged him to finish up the routine with some light bench presses, de Toledos complaint says. With his vision becoming more blurry, Vaid tried but insisted that he stop. After Dominguez helped stretch him out, Vaid went home. Not feeling better there, he went to the Greenwich Hospital emergency room. There at the hospital, Vaid experienced a left-sided facial droop, left arm weakness and slurred speech. A CT scan revealed that he had a carotid artery dissection, meaning a blister-like delamination occurred between the outer and inner walls of the artery, causing a stroke. De Toledo said at the time Vaid, who was seeing 15 patients a day, had joined the gym to become healthier, and believed that his personal trainer was an expert using the machines at the gym. But that, she said, was not the case. The whole point of this case was about a company, which may be reflective of other commercial gyms, that states their company cares about results first and safety second, de Toledo said. Day of deliberations She said that Equinox was insistent that their personal trainers book as many personal training sessions as possible and get results for their clients because revenue was the bottom line. It is just scary that safety was a far second and results were the number one priority, she said. After one day of deliberations, the jury in the case presided over by Judge Charles Lee awarded Vaid nearly $11 million, plus interest. Two years ago, de Toledo, who tried the case with attorney Betsy Ingraham, said she offered to settle Vaids case for $1.25 million, but the offer was not taken up by Equinox. As a result, the plaintiffs in the case must pay an additional $2 million in interest on the entire judgment. The defense lawyer for Equinox in Greenwich declined comment. We dont comment on litigation, said John Cannavino Jr. on Thursday Vaid declined comment for this article. De Toledo said she believed that Dominguez, who was terminated from the gym two years after the incident with Vaid, cared about his clients and wanted to get results for them. But she said Equinox did not give him the training to get those results safely. Where the rowing machine was concerned, Dominguez admitted on the stand that he figured out how to use the machine on his own and had not been trained on the device. Unfortunately for Dr. Vaid, Mr. Dominguez guessed wrong on how to use the equipment, she said. Vaid is still recovering from the stroke. After a few years of rehabilitation, he worked himself back into a medical practice. He was determined not to let this do him in, de Toledo said. Chetan Vaid was determined to get back a piece of his life and do what he loved to do, which is to help people and treat patients, she said. Far from his usual patient load, Vaid is only seeing about one patient per week. He is meticulous in what he does now. Now he knows what its like on the other side, being injured and a patient and he is working hard to pull himself back up and has the perspective and compassion that a lot of other people may not have because they havent gone through what he has gone through, de Toledo said. jnickerson@scni.com; Connecticut might be a liberal Northeastern state, but the body count of minority men who have died from encounters with law enforcement leaves civil rights leaders with a bitter, red-state taste in their mouths. The state is not Ferguson, Mo., or inner-city Baltimore, where systematic, often-fatal police encounters have provoked violent local reactions and national movements, including Black Lives Matter. But the latest fatality involved a black man who was hit by a stun gun when a state trooper and a West Haven cop were trying to help an emergency crew remove him from his wrecked car following a crash on Interstate 95 in West Haven last week. One of the shots struck the man Thomas Lane, of Ansonia jolting his body with electricity as he sat injured in the crumpled vehicle. Lane later died at the hospital, bringing the number of minority fatalities in similar confrontations in the state to at least 12 over the last decade. Lane, 37, grew up in Stamford, and his funeral was held Saturday morning in that city. More Information See More Collapse Scot X. Esdaile, president of the Connecticut NAACP, said his organization will not tolerate police incidents like the one with Lane, and he is not optimistic about a state or local probe. Thats the elephant in the room, he said. How will a prosecutor investigate police he deals with daily? He said states attorneys in Connecticut have their own fiefdoms. Theyre not accountable to the public, they are not elected. They are not even accountable to the Chief States Attorney. The state NAACP wants federal investigators to probe the incident. Police transparency But while the NAACP is launching its own investigation, state and local police have withheld details of the encounter. State Police said that Lane was combative to first responders, breaking the fingers of one firefighter and using broken glass from his destroyed vehicle in an attempt to hurt himself. Darnell Crosland, a Norwalk lawyer who represents the Lane family, said he was shocked when he heard of how this incident unfolded and the stun guns were used. Im expecting to hear two people were shot and there was a high-speed car chase, he said. Not a horrific motor vehicle accident where the person is badly injured and screaming for help because of the smell of gasoline all around after his engine tore away from his Jeep. The NAACP is calling for greater police transparency and a statewide purchase of cameras that can be attached to stun guns, which can also be purchased new with the video technology. Connecticut is just a few weeks away from getting a close, first-in-the-nation look at stun gun use by the states law-enforcement agencies. Police drew the weapons more than 600 times in 2015. Any loss of life is too much loss of life, said Gov. Dannel P. Malloy last week, admitting he had not been briefed on the fatality. Any loss of life is worthy of discussion. I have never shied away from talking about race, nor will I ever shy away from talking about race. I do believe that we can do better and we should always hold ourselves to the highest possible standard. David McGuire, legislative and policy director for the ACLU of Connecticut, who participated in a New Haven news conference with Esdaile on Friday, said Lanes death comes at a time of increased police scrutiny and distrust of police in minority communities, who want greater transparency. If this was caught on a Taser camera, wed already know what happened, McGuire said in a phone interview. But we have a lack of information. The point Scot made is that the departments need to release information as quickly as possible to ease tension in the community. Video evidence State Rep. Bruce Morris, D-Norwalk, who leads the legislative Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, said last week that it is too early to jump to conclusions. He said that if the responding police had body cameras, there would also be video evidence of the deadly incident on I-95. Video helps exonerate those charged with protecting us, or shows whether they abused force, Morris said. We always have to be fair-handed. No one wants to jump to any conclusions. Id rather have an officer use a Taser than a gun, because when they pull the trigger of a gun, theyre supposed to shoot to kill. So theres no margin of error when that is the final objective. Veteran state Rep. Stephen D. Dargan, D-West Haven, co-chairman of the legislative Public Safety Committee, said Friday that he wants to bring all sides together, from law enforcement to the NAACP and the ACLU. Noting that his committees legislative deadline is two weeks away, Dargan said the sooner they all meet, the better. If we can improve the system, we should always look at it, Dargan said. Over the past few years, weve had a good working relationship. In order to accomplish anything, you need all the stakeholders in a room to see what those issues are and move forward. Ill reach out to these groups. Two years ago, the General Assembly approved legislation requiring police departments throughout the state to provide reports on stun gun use to the state Office of Policy and Management, which contracted the Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy at Central Connecticut State University to compile the report. Andrew J. Clark, director of the institute, said Friday that by the time of the Jan 1 deadline to report, police from around the state had sent details on hundreds of stun gun-response incidents in 2015. We are in the process of analyzing the information gathered thus far and will be issuing a report, with recommendations, in early April, Clark said. It is important to note that Connecticut is the first state to collect Electronic Control Weapon data statewide, and to our knowledge, an analysis of this type of information has not been done before. We anticipate the report will shed some light into the context in which ECWs are used, especially as pertains to departmental policy, as well as the outcome of their usage. We believe this will be particularly useful to the state as it contemplates the gathering of additional ECW data. Officers in Connecticut last year fired stun guns at blacks and Hispanics at a higher rate than at white suspects, and warned but didnt fire at white suspects at a higher rate than they did blacks or Hispanics, according to preliminary data from the nations first statewide accounting of the weapons use by police. The Associated Press recently reported that police detailed 641 stun gun-related incidents last year in Connecticut, including 437 firings of the stun guns. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ANSONIA Pasquale Battaglia never expected any credit for the years he spent with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. But on Friday, the six medals he earned were brought, framed, to Ansonia City Hall by U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal. Unfortunately, Battaglia, known as Pat the TV man for his 50 years of operating a television repair service on Beaver Street, wasnt for the ceremony. He died last Aug. 21, two months short of his 100th birthday. It would have meant the world to him to be here receiving the medals from a man (Blumenthal) he so admired, said Joanne DaSilva of Seymour, Battaglias niece, fighting back the tears. This is an honor for all of us. Blumenthal brought a box containing the six citations which include the Army Good Conduct, Honorable Service, European-Africa-Middle East Campaign, World War II Victory and Army of Occupation medals. The medals, along with an array of photographs Battaglia kept from his World War II days, will be hung in City Hall for a year, Mayor David Cassetti said. After that, he said, we will donate them to the library, where they will be kept on display. During a brief ceremony Friday morning, Blumenthal, a Vietnam era veteran and the father of a U.S. Marine, said events like this are the ones Im most proud of. These medals pale in comparison to the role (Battaglia) played and the bravery he showed, Blumenthal. Im often asked about the World War II generation. They didnt fight for medals. They didnt care for medals. And when they came home, that care was for their family, their community and their country. After speaking with the family, Blumenthal called Battaglia a son of Ansonia and the Valley. He loved Ansonia. He was most at home here. And when he served in World War II, he sought out troops from Ansonia and the Valley. And in his 99 years, Battaglia saw life change in the Valley, from the horse and buggy he grew up riding to owning one of the first Model A Fords in 1931. In between, he helped run the family grocery store on Central Avenue and sold fruits and vegetables with his father from a wagon. After the war, Battaglia studied at the Connecticut School of Electronics, where learned TV repair in the days of tubes and transistors. He operated Pats TV on Beaver Street for 50 years. My grandparents and my mother were his customers, Cassetti said. They would bring me there. And it was there Cassetti, DaSilva and her sister, Janice Easter of New Britain, would sit enthralled, as Battaglia told war stories. I have his book in my head, DaSilva said. I just have to write in now. mmayko@ctpost.com, 203-330-6286 NEW YORK The government reported Friday that Zika infections have been confirmed in nine pregnant women in the United States. All contracted the virus overseas. Three babies have been born, one with a brain defect. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is also investigating 10 additional reports of pregnant travelers with Zika. The Zika virus spread mainly by mosquito bites is epidemic in Latin America and the Caribbean. The virus causes mild illness or no symptoms in most people. But in Brazil, officials are investigating a possible link to babies born with unusually small heads, a rare birth defect called microcephaly that can signal underlying brain damage. Since August, the CDC said it has tested 257 pregnant women for Zika; eight were positive and a state lab confirmed a ninth. Two pregnancies ended in miscarriage, but its not clear if the Zika infection was the cause. Two women had abortions. Two are continuing without reported complications. In its report Friday, the CDC did not give the womens hometowns; state health officials have said there were two pregnant women with Zika in Illinois, three in Florida and one in Hawaii, who gave birth to a baby with microcephaly. That mother had lived in Brazil early in her pregnancy. The health agency said the nine women had all traveled to places with Zika outbreaks American Samoa, Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Samoa. Those destinations are among the 30 places now on the CDCs Zika travel alert. It recommends that pregnant women postpone trips to those areas. While the link between Zika and the birth defect has not been confirmed, the possibility has prompted health officials to take cautionary steps to protect fetuses. Research is also under way into a possible link between Zika and a paralyzing condition in adults called Guillain-Barre. So far, more than 80 Zika infections have been diagnosed in the U.S., and all have involved people who traveled to outbreak regions. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK The trademark spat that is prompting the National Park Service to change the names of a handful of treasured sites at Yosemite, including the Ahwahnee Hotel and Curry Village, has taken a startling turn to the parks gift shops. Merchandise embossed with the name Yosemite National Park, from T-shirts to coffee mugs to pens, will be pulled from store shelves this week because of claims by the parks outgoing concessionaire that it owns the name for commercial purposes, according to the parks new operator, Aramark, which is based in Philadelphia. Aramark officials, who on Tuesday take the reins of Yosemites many hotels, restaurants and shops from longtime management company Delaware North, plan to begin selling souvenir items with the name Yosemite instead of Yosemite National Park. While the switch may be small, it follows the Park Services decision last month to rename five famed sites that Delaware North also claims rights to, and the move is likely to heighten public outrage over the unpopular changes. No one should be able to steal the name of a national park, said Lisa Polm of Clovis (Fresno County), after being told by a reporter Friday at Yosemites Village Store that many products would soon be swapped out. This is terrible. Polm was eyeing a bright pink tee with a rustic Yosemite National Park imprint. It was among dozens bearing the contested name in combination with other designs and passages like May the forest be with you and I made it to the top (of) Half Dome. 50% discount Much of the merchandise, like in most shops at the park, is discounted 50 percent through Monday to move the inventory. Delaware North declined to speak with The Chronicle about the souvenirs, offering instead a general statement by email. Our associates are preparing merchandise for the new concessioner as one would expect in a transition, wrote spokeswoman Lisa Cesaro. The squabble over the park names goes back two years when the Park Service began soliciting bids for a new concessions contract. Delaware North, which has held the contract for 24 years, told the Park Service that it wanted $51 million for its intellectual property, including the names, if another concessionaire was selected. Delaware Norths claim to the intellectual property is based on its initial 1993 agreement with the Park Service. The company was required to buy the assets of the previous concessionaire, which owned several visitor facilities, and then turn physical structures over to the Park Service and sell intangible property to any successor. The contract, however, did not spell out the details of the intangible property, giving rise to the current issues. Park names trademarked Delaware North has since registered trademarks for several park names, including Yosemite National Park. That name was accepted on grounds that the company, by contract, was the exclusive purveyor of park products, according to legal documents. The trademark applies only to merchandising and does not affect the parks name. In June, Delaware North lost its bid for the concessions contract to Aramark, a 15-year deal worth an estimated $2 billion. The company has since sued the Park Service for not requiring the new operator to buy its intellectual property. The Park Service contends the value of the property is contingent on Delaware North having the contract and is now worth no more than $3.5 million. To prevent further legal tangles, the Park Service announced last month that five sites trademarked by Delaware North will be renamed after the company departs on Monday. The Ahwahnee Hotel will be changed to the Majestic Yosemite Hotel, Curry Village to Half Dome Village, Badger Pass Ski Area to Yosemite Ski and Snowboard Area, Wawona Hotel to Big Trees Lodge and Yosemite Lodge at the Falls to Yosemite Valley Lodge. Collectors item Chelsea Schultz, who was visiting Yosemite from Australia, said shed heard about the site names disappearing its big talk in the park but she wasnt aware that her newly purchased jacket is also likely to become history. Its disappointing, she said, wearing her half-price Yosemite National Park coat and realizing it might soon be a collectors item. Thats really a small concession, though, she added. Hopefully, theyll be able to use the name again. Despite the trademark, Delaware North is not the only company selling merchandise with the Yosemite National Park label. A quick online search shows that several vendors offer such products, from the North Faces Yosemite National Park tri-blend tee for $25 to dozens of similar shirts from smaller Amazon sellers. Its unclear whether Delaware North intends to act on cases of potential trademark infringement. Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander Sempra LNG San Diego-based Sempra Energy said it signed a deal with Australia's Woodside to advance the development of the proposed Port Arthur liquefaction facility. The project development agreement signed through Sempra LNG & Midstream, expands on the memorandum of understanding signed by the two companies in June 2015. The state Supreme Court opened the door late Friday to Gov. Jerry Browns plan to circulate an initiative for the November ballot that would limit the prosecution of juveniles as adults and potentially shorten sentences for some adult prisoners. In response to a lawsuit by prosecutors, who oppose the measure, a Sacramento County judge on Wednesday prohibited Attorney General Kamala Harris from issuing a formal title and summary, required before signature-gathering can begin. Judge Shellyanne Chang said district attorneys had presented evidence showing that Brown had bootstrapped his prison-sentence proposal onto an existing initiative on juveniles without giving the public 30 days to comment, as required for new initiatives. But late Friday, the last day for Harris to approve circulation of initiatives for the November ballot, the states high court issued a temporary stay that allows her office to resume work on the initiative. In response to the order, Harris issued a title and summary for the initiative calling it Criminal Sentences. Juvenile Criminal Proceedings and Sentencing and cleared it for circulation. It will need 585,407 valid signatures to make the ballot. The courts order, signed by Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, suspends Changs ruling while the justices can review arguments by the prosecutors and Browns lawyers. If the court ultimately agrees with the district attorneys, signature-gathering would halt. The initiative would repeal part of a 2000 ballot measure that allowed prosecutors to charge defendants as young as 14 in adult court for serious crimes. It would not prohibit such prosecutions, but would restore a previous law that required a Juvenile Court judge to review each case and decide whether the juvenile should be tried as an adult, based on the youths actions and background. Youths prosecuted and convicted in adult court can be sentenced, like other criminals, to terms of up to life in prison, though not to the death penalty. Those sentenced in Juvenile Court must be freed at age 23. The other part of the initiative would allow inmates convicted of certain nonviolent crimes, with good behavior in prison, to apply for parole after serving their full sentence. The California District Attorneys Association argued that Brown had sidestepped the mandatory public-comment period by hijacking an initiative on juvenile crime that previously had been submitted for public comment. Browns lawyers contended the measures addressed the same general subject and no further comment was needed. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Beirut A cease-fire brokered by the United States and Russia went into effect across Syria on Saturday, marking the biggest international push to reduce violence in the country's devastating conflict, but the Islamic State group and al-Qaida's branch in Syria, the Nusra Front, were excluded. The cease-fire aims to bring representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition back to the negotiating table in Geneva for talks on a political transition. The U.N.'s envoy, Staffan de Mistura, announced that peace talks would resume on March 7 if the cessation of hostilities "largely holds." If it does, it would be the first time international negotiations have brought any degree of quiet in Syria's five-year civil war. But success requires adherence by multiple armed factions and the truce is made more fragile because it allows fighting to continue against the Islamic State group and Nusra Front, which could easily re-ignite broader warfare. The Syrian government and the opposition, including nearly 100 rebel groups, have said they will abide by the cease-fire despite serious skepticism about chances for success. Speaking to reporters in Geneva after the truce took hold at midnight, de Mistura said initial reports indicated that within minutes both Damascus and the nearby rebel-held town of Daraya suddenly "had calmed down." He said there was a report of one "incident" that his team was investigating but did not give details. Opposition activists on the ground also reported early adherence to the truce. Mazen al-Shami, an activist near Damascus, said an opposition-held eastern suburb of the capital known as Eastern Ghouta was "quiet for the first time in years." The Ghouta region, which includes the sprawling suburb of Douma, has been the scene of intense fighting during Syria's conflict. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Hackers compromised a UC Berkeley computer network containing the financial data of 80,000 people, the university said Friday, exposing both Social Security and bank account numbers of students, alumni, employees and former employees. The data breach occurred in the Berkeley Financial System, which is used to manage purchasing and nonsalary payments on campus. Those affected were mostly people who received electronic fund transfers, such as financial aid awards and work-related reimbursements, said Janet Gilmore, UC Berkeley spokeswoman. Vendors whose financial information was in the system for payment purposes also were affected. There is no evidence that any of the exposed information has been illegally copied, university officials said, but the hack, which occurred Dec. 28, has put that sensitive data at risk. UC Berkeley was in the process of shoring up a sensitive piece of commercial software connected to the financial system and to the Internet when the attackers struck. The intrusion was discovered shortly after. The university is alerting those affected now after recently concluding its forensics investigation. We (looked) at all the available evidence of what the attackers did, and as we looked at that, we dont see any evidence that these are the kinds of attackers that did access the data, or did anything to take that data, Paul Rivers, UC Berkeleys chief information security officer, said in a media briefing Friday. However, in an abundance of caution, we dont want to depend on our judgment alone, he said. We want to be transparent and (let people) make their own choice on how they should respond. Hacked after Christmas After the hack occurred on the Monday after Christmas, Rivers said, his team quickly caught wind of the breach. For the next several days, he and his team took action, with some working around the clock. We took forensic copies of the entire system, Rivers said of the start of the investigation. We did not simply just pull the power. The university also alerted law enforcement officials, including the FBI. On Friday, the university began sending letters to those affected by the breach, suggesting they be alert to signs of any possible misuse of their information. It also offered them a year of free credit-monitoring services. Its unclear exactly how much those services might cost UC Berkeley. This latest incident, the third largest such breach affecting the university in recent memory, exemplifies the complexity of protecting such academic systems. Its a very challenging environment, said Rivers. This is historically a very open environment, so well have to see how to balance that into the future. Cant close this down But, he added, he cant treat campus network security like the systems inside of a bank, or a tech company. We cant (just) close this down and operate it as if it were a corporation, Rivers said. The incident offers a window into how the university handles such situations. The action that led to the breach, patching complicated software, is a process that can take weeks to test and install properly. Rivers said the university is trying to shorten that time frame. Fixes need to be even faster We must find a way to, even though were in the process of patching this system, he said. We need to be even faster about getting these (fixes) deployed. He did not offer an estimate of when those changes could occur, exactly what they would be, or how hed accomplish his goals. The campus data security chief is wary of how much he says publicly, fearing tipping off others who might attack campus computer systems. San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Nanette Asimov contributed to this report. SAN JOSE (BCN) Crews have knocked down a four-alarm fire in downtown San Jose this afternoon that caused "considerable" damage to three Victorian-style homes, a fire spokesman said. A report of a fire in the 400 block of Auzerais Avenue came in at about 12:10 p.m., fire Capt. Christopher Salcido said. When firefighters arrived they found heavy smoke and flames coming from a single-story home, which prompted for a second-alarm response, Salcido said. The blaze spread to two neighboring homes and construction material behind the first residence, he said. The fire was upgraded to three alarms and then to four alarms before 1 p.m., Salcido said. Firefighters knocked down the blaze at about 1:30 p.m., he said. The homes are northwest of the interchange between state Highway 87 Interstate Highway 280. Crews remained at the scene conducting extensive overhaul operations this afternoon, he said. No injuries were reported. The American Red Cross was called to assist 12 adults displaced by the fire, according to Salcido. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Ever since Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez allegedly shot and killed Kathryn Steinle on a warm July evening as she strolled along Pier 14 with her father, San Franciscos sanctuary city policy has enraged swaths of the rest of America. Lopez-Sanchez, you see, had been convicted of multiple felonies and deported five times. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would have deported the Mexican national if he had not been handed over to the San Francisco Sheriffs Department on a decades-old marijuana charge. When the city dropped the moldy case, then-Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi released Lopez-Sanchez without notifying ICE. He said he was being true to a 2013 sanctuary city ordinance that directed law enforcement not to cooperate with detainer requests except for individuals with a violent felony conviction in the last seven years. Weeks later, Lopez-Sanchez allegedly shot Steinle with a gun stolen from a federal agents car. Claiming that the shooting was an accident, Lopez-Sanchez has pleaded not guilty. City Hall refused to kill the 2013 sanctuary city policy. If conservatives want something, the Board of Supervisors will block it. Citizen safety be damned. The Republican Congress is not of like mind. The new chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees the Department of Justice, Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas, is poised to use Congress power of the purse to withhold federal law enforcement funds from sanctuary cities. He told me, There will be no more Kate Steinle murders, if I can help it. U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch is on board. Wednesday she told the subcommittee that the Bureau of Prisons will transfer released federal inmates who are undocumented and due for deportation directly to ICE not to sanctuary cities, unless the sanctuary agrees only to release the inmate to ICE. Culberson had nothing but praise for Lynch for doing the right thing. Center for Immigration Studies Policy Director Jessica Vaughan is less impressed. She sees a very narrow response to what went wrong in the Steinle case that doesnt address the real problem: state and local policies of obstruction. Most criminal aliens are in state and local custody instead of federal prison. On Tuesday, Lynchs shop sent Culberson a letter that stipulated that local and state governments have to certify that they comply with applicable federal laws to qualify for federal grants such as the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP), which reimburses local governments for some costs of incarcerating undocumented immigrants. San Francisco stands to lose about $170,000 from the alien assistance program alone. As a believer in the rights of local governments, Culberson told me, he supports San Franciscos right to abstain from ICE enforcement. But if San Francisco chooses to release illegal aliens and turn them loose on the streets, dont even ask for SCAAP funding. The Department of Justice letter was news to City Hall. We have no information that would suggest any of our federal funding is at risk and Mayor Lee stands firmly behind our Sanctuary City laws, Lees spokeswoman, Christine Falvey, told me in an email. Those two clauses contradict each other: If City Hall doesnt cooperate with ICE except in cases with recent violent felons, then the city stands to lose federal funds. I cant speak for the city, Eileen Hirst, chief of staff to the new sheriff, Vicki Hennessy, told me. She can only speak for the Sheriffs Department. And: If, in fact, the city loses this money, it will be up to the people who make the budget the mayor and the Board of Supervisors to decide if and how the money will be replaced. Sanctuary cities across the country will have to make similar choices. But when you think about it, if elected officials dont mind risking the safety of their citizens, surely they wont mind the loss of federal money. President Obamas executive orders stay immigration enforcement for some 4 million undocumented immigrants who otherwise play by the rules. San Francisco, however, doesnt care if undocumented immigrants play by the rules. Lopez-Sanchezs long rap sheet reveals an undocumented resident who did everything but work hard and play by the rules. Thats not to say San Francisco pols dont believe in rules. When undocumented immigrant Pedro Figueroa-Zarceno, 31, announced that San Francisco police had referred him to ICE after he reported his car stolen, the department launched an investigation on the police, not Figueroa-Zarceno, who was facing a 2005 deportation order and was convicted of drunken driving in 2012. Its absurd that the city is investigating the cop who did the right thing, quoth Vaughan, instead of the illegal alien, whos here in defiance of the law. Debra J. Saunders is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: dsaunders@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DebraJSaunders What about medical marijuana? If the House Appropriations Subcommittee is ready to withhold funds because San Francisco will not comply with federal immigration enforcement, will the committee also withhold drug law enforcement funding in light of Californias 1996 medical marijuana law? MANILA Japan will sign an accord with the Philippines to allow Tokyo to supply military equipment to Manila, the first such Japanese defense pact in a region where both have expressed alarm over Chinas island-building and other aggressive acts in disputed waters. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Saturday that the agreement hell sign on Monday with the Japanese ambassador in Manila is not directed against any country but seeks to address gaps in the underfunded Philippine militarys capabilities. The Asian allies began stepping up defense cooperation even before the disagreement in the West Philippine Sea, Gazmin said, using the name the Philippine government has adopted for the disputed South China Sea, where its territorial conflict with Beijing has flared in recent years. The Asian neighbors have openly brought their security and political ties to new levels, including by holding joint naval search and rescue drills near the disputed South China Sea last year that angered Beijing. Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have exchanged visits and vowed to intensify defense cooperation, sparking talks about a possible security pact that will allow Japanese forces to hold larger drills with Filipino troops in the Philippines. Japans Emperor Akihito paid his respects last month at war memorials in the Philippines, where the largest number of Japanese invasion troops perished outside their homeland in World War II. Last year, Japans parliament approved contentious legislation that enhances the role of the countrys military by loosening post-World War II constraints, reinterpreting the Japanese constitution and fundamentally changing the way it uses its military. For the first time since the end of the World War II, Japans military can now defend its allies even when the country isnt under attack and work more closely with the United States and other nations. The legislation has sparked protests and debate about whether Japan should shift away from its pacifist ways to face growing security challenges. Gazmin said there has been no discussion on what defense equipment Japan can provide, but added that the Philippine military currently needs to upgrade its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. KINGSTON, Jamaica The opposition narrowly won Jamaicas parliamentary elections Thursday, defeating the party led by the first female prime minister to govern the largest English-speaking country in the Caribbean. Preliminary results from the Electoral Commission showed the Jamaica Labor Party capturing 33 spots in the 63-seat Parliament, enough to form a government. With discontent high among Jamaicans over high crime and a poor economy, turnout was around 47 percent. The leader of the Jamaica Labor Party, Andrew Holness, was greeted by cheering supporters as he arrived at party headquarters in the capital following the announcement of the results in a hard-fought fight with the Peoples National Party of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller. Holness, ready to form a government as the new prime minister, pledged to create jobs and grow the economy while improving education and health care. Simpson Miller became the countrys first female leader in 2006. That first term ended in 2007, but she returned as prime minister in 2011 amid a shrinking economy and one of the highest levels of debt relative to GDP in the world. Her government negotiated a $930 million aid package with the IMF. The Jamaican dollar has declined, the cost of living has gone up and wages have been stagnant. Many Jamaicans are also fed up with one of the highest homicide rates in the world, mostly blamed on gangs. The country had at least 1,192 slayings in 2015, a roughly 20 percent increase from the previous year. By comparison, Chicago, which has roughly the same population as Jamaica at 2.7 million, had 468 killings in the same period. LOS ANGELES: The release date of Indian actress Priyanka Chopra's Hollywood debut "Baywatch" has been set as May 19, 2017. The film's principal photography has already begun, Paramount Pictures has announced. The American studio made the announcement on Friday via a statement, adding that the movie will be shot in Miami and Savannah. "Baywatch" iS the film version of the popular 1990s TV series of the same name. And Priyanka, who has garnered success on the international fiction TV space with "Quantico", will be seen in a negative role in the movie. The film has an eclectic star cast with names like Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron. "Horrible Bosses" fame director Seth Gordon is directing the film from a screenplay written by Damian Shannon, Mark Swift and Barry Schwartz. Beau Flynn, Ivan Reitman, Michael Berk, Doug Schwartz and Greg Bonann, creators of the iconic "Baywatch" television series, are producing the venture. "Baywatch" follows devoted lifeguard Mitch Buchannon (Johnson) as he headbutts with a brash new recruit (Efron). Together, they uncover a local criminal plot that threatens the future of the Bay. And Priyanka is on board to play the bad guy in the film. The film will be released in India by Viacom18 Motion Pictures. Read Also: Aligarh': Hauntingly Evocative 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' - Mishmash Of Genres BENGALURU: The latest Bollywood release Neerja' has been creating a buzz in the country. The Sonam Kapoor starrer is critically acclaimed for its gripping narration of the real-life incidence. The movie is a biopic of Neerja bhanot, who sacrificed her life while evacuating more than 300 passengers from the hijacked Pan Am Flight 73 at the Karachi airport. Here are the five life events of the brave-heart Neerja Bhanot, as reported by the Top10Wala. Early life: Neerja was born on 7th September 1986 in Chandigarh to a Mumbai based journalist Harish Bhanot and wife Rama Bhanot, she did her early schooling in the same city and later moved to Mumbai with her parents and pursued further education there. College, Modeling and Marriage: She spent her college life in St. Xavier's College where she also got into modeling profession by signing assignments. In 1985, she got married, arranged by her parents and flew to Gulf to live with her husband. Unfortunately, she became the victim of dowry torture, which eventually resulted in Neerja returning to India. Career: After returning to India she decided to repulse her adversity and applied for the flight attendants job with Pan Am airlines. To her merry, she was one among the 80 selected candidates for the job out of 10, 000 applicants. Hijack: On 5th September 1986, the Pan Am flight that carried Neerja and passengers was headed to New York form Mumbai, by way of Karachi and Frankfurt. After taking off, the plane landed at Karachi, where five terrorists boarded the plane and hijacked it. The objective of the terrorists was to crash the plane in Israel. Realizing the slipping-out situation, Neerja alerted crew and passengers of the flight. The terrorists asked Neerja to collect all the passports from passenger to find out American citizens, but she along with her staff hid 40 American passports to shun the further barbarous acts terrorists. After 17 hours of seize, terrorists opened firing. Understanding the situation, Neerja opened the emergency gates and helped all the passengers to get away from the confinement. When Neerja opened emergency doors she could have saved her life by escaping, but she refrained and let passengers flee, eventually she was spotted by the terrorists and was shot dead. Since that day she is being referred as hijack heroine. After Death: In order to honor her superhuman sacrifice, the Government of India, posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra Award (India's highest gallantry award for bravery in the face of the enemy during peace time) and Neerja became its youngest recipient. In 2004 the Indian Postal Service released a stamp commemorating her. The Mumbai municipal corporation paid homage by naming a chowk after Neerja Bhanot in the city and in 2007 she was awarded Justice of Crown by the U.S government. Read Also: Luxury on Wheels: Here are the Best Cars that are High on Luxury Hits & Misses that Rocked the India Bike Week 2016 AX039_7A50_9.JPG Borough President James Oddo announced that he will join The ROLE Call to host the NYC Fatherhood and Family Enrichment Conference on Saturday, April 9, at Port Richmond High School. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Borough President James Oddo has partnered with the R.O.L.E. Call to host the NYC Fatherhood and Family Enrichment Conference. The free conference will take place Saturday, April 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Port Richmond High School. The R.O.L.E. (Responsibility, Opportunity, Leadership, Education) Call's mission is to increase "fatherhood engagement" by providing training and resources to fathers, single mothers, young men and women without fathers, and absentee fathers looking to reconnect with their children. The R.O.L.E. Call also connects children with a responsible male adult for guidance and mentoring. "This event emphasizes the importance and influence of fatherhood and families in a child's life, which we know is so important for a child's development," Oddo said. "We are excited to partner with Andre Harrison and his organization on this conference, which will help parents, educators and members of the Staten Island community learn about the resources and tools that are available to help local families." Some of the topics will include fatherhood engagement and involvement, positive co-parenting, new fathers workshops, child support information and family financial planning. Workshops will also be provided for members of the Spanish-speaking community as well as for parents of children with autism. For more information on the workshops, email therolecall@gmail.com or call 718-971-6682. The event is free, but attendees must pre-register here. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Island flag artist Scott LoBaido took the stage to do a live painting performance at the NYPD "Superman" Benefit Concert on Thursday night, Feb. 25. The benefit was held at the Capitol Theatre in Westchester, N.Y., at 8:30 p.m. in tribute to NYPD Detective Joseph Lemm, a staff sergeant in the Air National Guard who was killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan before Christmas 2015. The NYPD Superman Benefit was for Lemm's family, including his wife and two children. LoBaido painted an American flag on a canvas and announced that although his art is usually auctioned off for donations, the painting would go to Lemm's family. "I put something under the canvas," LoBaido said in an interview Friday. "Last night I peeled the image of Joseph Lemm, a black-and-white portrait of him in the Superman shirt with the flag in the background. It was a very emotional piece." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The rectory at St. Phillip's Baptist Church was filled with music, dance and military honors Friday night during City Councilwoman Debi Rose's annual Black History Month celebration. "As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the formation of the 369th Infantry Regiment, as well as the 75th anniversary of the U.S. entry into World War II and the formation of the Tuskegee Airmen, I wanted to recognize Staten Islanders who have served their country in the armed forces," said Rose (D-North Shore). Unable to attend the Port Richmond event because of recent knee replacement surgery, Rose shared a pre-recorded message to the community via TVs inside the church rectory. Staten Islanders from the 369th Veterans Association were honored. The 369th Veterans Association -- which takes its name from the 369th Infantry Regiment, an African-American New York National Guard Unit also known as the "Harlem Hellfighters" -- was organized in 1954 by veterans of World War II and the Korean Conflict with the aim to assist black veterans and their families. Honored also was veterans advocate Westley Thomas, a native Staten Islander, Port Richmond High School graduate and author, who was a sergeant in the Vietnam War. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1965 -- a love of watching war movies as a child inspired him to serve. "Much like black history, our veterans represent living history, which is timeless," said Rose in her recorded message. "Due to the sacrificial seeds that our veterans planted in the past, we are able to enjoy the fruits of freedom today. It is beyond important to honor their sacrifices as well as their spirit to serve, no matter the cost." "It's very overwhelming," Thomas said about being honored in his hometown. "I know where I've been and I know what I've done, but to be back here and honored in the community ... I'm elated," he said. The Curtis High School Jazz Band, Brighton Heights Reformed Church Youth Orchestra, Brandon Stradfor, Sylvia Cunningham, Dyverse and St. Phillip's Youth Gospel Choir provided song, dance and spoken words for the evening. Also in attendance were representatives from the Public Advocate's office, Civilian Compliant Review Board, City Comptroller's office, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Staten Island Mental Health Society, Assemblyman Matthew Titone (D-North Shore) and State Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn). potholes.jpg South Shore residents cite parts of Hylan Boulevard when tallying Staten Island's record number of pothole claims per capita in the city over a six-year period, according to a report from Comptroller Scott Stringer. (Advance file photo) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- South Shore residents won't have to put up with dangerous roads or devastating flooding along Hylan Boulevard endlessly. The New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) confirmed that the much-anticipated Storm and Sanitary Sewer project -- spanning Nelson, Robinson and Arbutus Avenues in the Great Kills, Huguenot and Eltingville areas -- is set to begin within the next few months. The first phase of the project is aimed at reducing significant flooding to low-lying South Shore neighborhoods. Following the storm sewer installations, treacherous roadways along Hylan Boulevard -- littered with cracks and potholes -- will be fixed and the streets repaved. "[The project] is anticipated to commence in the spring," DDC spokeswoman Shavone Williams told the Advance Friday. "National Grid is currently on site relocating their gas mains." Borough President James Oddo announced the news on Facebook Wednesday morning, saying the project has been awarded to a contractor and work is scheduled to start soon. A DDC document, provided by Oddo, states that all sewer work and street repairs must be made by Oct. 21, 2018. Williams said the contractor selected is JR Cruz Corporation, a company stationed in Matawan, New Jersey. For months now we have been trying to explain to frustrated drivers why there are two sections of Hylan Boulevard that... Posted by Staten Island USA on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 "For months now we have been trying to explain to frustrated drivers why there are two sections of Hylan Boulevard that still have not been resurfaced," Oddo wrote. Oddo said the goal was to avoid being "fiscally irresponsible" while addressing the separate repair needs -- holding off the street repaving while the sewer project's contractors were sought out. "I am happy to report that the city has provided the contractor on the Robinson Avenue project with a notice to commence work, which will be happening soon," Oddo said. "When this project is completed, this stretch of road will be fully resurfaced, to join almost every other section of Hylan Blvd. that has been resurfaced since 2010." City Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore) told the Advance he's pleased to hear that local residents will soon be able to drive along safer streets. "A part of Hylan Boulevard was unable to be completed during the initial paving process," he said, "but there is a light at the end of this tunnel. "This huge project will not only equip people with adequate sewer draining systems to combat flooding, but also repave streets that were significantly damaged during Hurricane Sandy years ago." Borelli added that he's working with officials to ensure that the construction and storage of materials does little to disturb commuters during the process. "Typical lane closures will be necessary to perform the work, along with the possibility of street closures and/or detours," said the spokeswoman. "DOT permits will allow the storage of some materials in the street, however, the contractor is in the process of looking for a storage yard." The spokeswoman said the Storm and Sanitary Sewers project is expected to be completed "within the next two years." Road work in these areas is imperative with the dreaded "pothole season" upon us. CITY HALL -- Staten Island University Hospital is moving to close a psychiatric unit in Ocean Breeze. Last week the hospital asked the state for permission to consolidate two inpatient psychiatric units at the South campus. No one is currently staying in the 29-bed unit at the North campus on Seaview Avenue. The proposed closure is part of a broader shift in the health care industry away from inpatient treatment and toward community-based outpatient services. The number of people admitted to the two SIUH inpatient psychiatric units decreased by about 50 percent since 2011, spokeswoman Arleen Ryback said. "Providing care in a single site serves to enhance quality, target specialized treatment, and provide coordinated Psychiatric, Chemical Dependency and medical care," Ryback said. In the last two years there have only been 35 to 40 patients across both units every day, and that number further decreased to between 25 and 30 since January. The remaining inpatient psychiatric unit has 35 beds. SIUH prefers to deliver treatment in outpatient settings and keep time staying overnight at the hospital to a minimum, depending on individual needs. "In this, high intensity inpatient care, which can be disruptive and presents challenges to patients and their families, must be clinically appropriate," Ryback said. "Therefore the Hospital seeks to provide the least restrictive, humane Psychiatric care which deemphasizes inpatient care and provides for a continuum of Psychiatric services with an emphasis on multi-specialty outpatient services." The hospital is not looking to decrease the number of available substance abuse beds, already separate from the inpatient psychiatric units. UNIT EFFECTIVELY CLOSED ALREADY While there are no longer patients being treated in the unit that would be closed, the state has only just started reviewing the hospital's proposal. "The Office of Mental Health reviews every application for inpatient psychiatric bed closures under a comprehensive 'Prior Approval Review' process," state spokesman Benjamin Rosen said. The application will be examined by the agency's central office, New York field office and the Mental Hygiene Directors in the city and on Staten Island. The 20-day review allows for the state to clarify any issues, make recommendations and coordinate plans about the closure. The State Behavioral Health Services Advisory Council will then look the proposal, which has to be approved by Mental Health Commissioner Ann Marie T. Sullivan. There's no specific timeframe for how long that might take. Borough President James Oddo said in a statement that he will monitor the process closely. "It is obviously troubling whenever you hear that any services are being reduced," Oddo said, "but the reality is that SIUH is saying that these beds are not needed based on the patient numbers at this facility and the one at their South Site, which they are not seeking to close." CONCERNS OVER PROPOSAL The New York State Nurses Association will hold a town hall on the proposed closure Monday, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the College of Staten Island Recital Hall at the Center for the Arts. Patricia Kane, the union's treasurer, has been a nurse at SIUH North for three decades. She said the hospital gradually stopped sending new patients to the unit over the last few months. The patients have been directed to SIUH South or Richmond University Medical Center. "This unit was for when someone is a danger to themselves or others -- they also did do detox there sometimes," said Kane, who lives in Westerleigh and works in the open-heart operating room at the hospital. "A lot of people who need this level of care end up homeless and many of them end up incarcerated." The union said 21 nurses were assigned to the unit. Three retired and the rest will be retrained for other work at the hospital's North campus. The unit is located at the state-run South Beach Psychiatric Center but is operated by SIUH. The state leases space to the hospital. The inpatient psychiatric unit at SIUH South is located on the second floor of the Prince's Bay location at 375 Seguine Ave. It's unclear what the space will be used for if the closure becomes official. 'IT'S A BUSINESS DECISION' The overall move away from inpatient care is because of new technologies, reimbursement rules and payment structures. Ryback said the hospital has already started crafting new outpatient programs as an alternative to inpatient behavioral care. These include new clinics for Dialectical Behavior Therapy and bipolar disorder, as well as an integrated medical psychiatry program that opened in 2014. The hospital is also crafting new clinics for post-traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia. Monitoring of psychotropic medication use and other indicators have increased and a psychiatric residency training program was established. Kane still worries that outpatient mental health services on Staten Island aren't adequate just yet. She thinks that the hospital wants to close the unit because many of the patients who got short-term acute care there didn't have insurance. "It's a business decision -- it's a business," Kane said. "We're used to that." Man shot in Castleton Corners Police investigate on Manor Road in Castleton Corners after a shooting. (Staten Island Advance/Jon Reyes) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The gunman who shot a 55-year-old man in the ankle outside of Chase Bank in Castleton Corners on Friday remains at large, an NYPD spokeswoman has confirmed. The spokeswoman said it is an active investigation, the motive for the shooting is unknown, there are no leads and no arrests have been made at this time. The victim was exiting the bank when he heard a gunshot, felt pain in his ankle and realized he had been shot, the spokeswoman said. The bank branch at 754 Manor Road is located in a shopping center across the street from the Todt Hill Houses. The victim was transported by EMS to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries, according to an FDNY spokesman. Willie Peterson, who was attempting to use the bank ATM, but was unable to due to the police investigation, expressed concern the shooter remained at large. "Especially since I have daughters, that's my biggest concern, he said. "If something happens to one of my daughters, I'm not going to take it very well." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Matrix Development Group, a New Jersey-based developer and investment firm, is in the process of purchasing more than 200 acres of industrially zoned land -- formerly earmarked for an 82,500-seat NASCAR racetrack before it was derailed by public skepticism and political opposition -- in the West Shore Green Zone. Two hundred of the site's approximately 650 acres has been remediated by Staten Island Marine Development (SIMD), which owns the property and will be selling it to Matrix for development of an industrial park, said Joseph S. Taylor, president and CEO of the Cranbury, N.J.-based Matrix Development Group, one of the largest mixed-use developers in the central New Jersey area. Taylor said Matrix will soon be closing on the sale of the property and expects to start construction in the summer. The first phase of the project will take about one year to complete, he said at an editorial board meeting with the Advance on Friday. SIMD's remediation included raising the site by up to nine feet above the flood zone and completing a full environmental review of the site, said Taylor. "SIMD is creating a platform for what will be 3.5 million square feet of distribution logistics space," he said. "The advantage of the site, and most important, the distinguishing characteristics of the site are that it's in the elbow of Routes 278 and 440. It has better access from major highways into the park (the site) than any park in the entirety of New Jersey. So we are excited about that," he added. Taylor noted that the site's location nearby New York Container Terminal makes it a prime site for light manufacturing uses. The site is already in a manufacturing zone. While Taylor wouldn't cite the price tag of the property, he said his company will not be seeking any government funding or grants to complete the project. The first phase of the project includes two warehouses of 975,000 square feet and 450,000 square feet, including 5,000 to 10,000 square feet of office space. Both buildings can include several tenants, Taylor said. The site will include interior privately owned, privately built sewers and other infrastructure, said Taylor. BROOKLYN BREWERY NOT ON SITE Brooklyn Brewery formerly expressed interest in the site to build a distribution facility. Taylor said the brewery will not be leasing space at this particular site in the future. However, Borough President James Oddo said the brewery is looking at other locations on Staten Island for its facility. SIMD didn't immediately return Advance calls about the project. Taylor said Matrix has been working with SIMD "off and on for over two years to acquire some or all of the distribution portion of this assemblage." The 650-acre site includes more than 350 acres of wetlands that can't be built upon, and an additional 100 acres still owned by SIMD. JOB CREATION In addition to at least 1,600 construction jobs over the course of two years that will be created to build the project, Taylor estimated that at least 1,800 jobs, from assembly to light manufacturing positions, will be created, said Taylor. He said several companies have expressed interest in the site. TRAFFIC PATTERNS Taylor said there are two to three different routes each way from the surrounding roads in and out to 278 and 440. "The truck traffic at peak hour will be plus or minus 75 (trucks)," said Taylor. "By and large these parks are very low traffic generators." FOLLOW Tracey Porpora on By clicking Agree, you consent to Slates Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and the use of technologies such as cookies by Slate and our partners to deliver relevant advertising on our iOS app to personalize content and perform site analytics. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about our use of data, your rights, and how to withdraw consent. Agree This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted. Thank you for visiting the Daily Journal. Please purchase an Enhanced Subscription to continue reading. 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Some families enjoyed the dodgem cars or had their hair blown back by more gravity-defying rides, but the Van Ballegooyen clan of five had their locks chopped off. From left, Chloe Heycox, of Harrison, Lucinda Ovin, of Casey, and Zarah Heycox, of Harrison, each 4, had their faces painted at the show on Saturday. Credit:Jeffrey Chan Eldest child Matisse, 14, said she wanted a shorter hair cut and thought "why not shave it all off, and do it for a good cause". Mother Rowena, after initially backing out, got on board and on Saturday morning the two were joined by Matisse's dad, Jason, sister Abby, 8, and brother Eli, 6, for the Shave for a Cure fundraiser for the Leukaemia Foundation. I've never admired tolerance as a virtue. It ranks well behind compassion, understanding and empathy, let alone encouragement and fellow-identification. When Australians pride themselves on being a tolerant people, what they are praising in themselves is often far closer to apathy they simply don't care very much about what they are tolerating. When something actually impinges on our daily lives, we soon find tolerance is a thin veneer. But however substandard tolerance may be as an attitude, it is very much superior to its opposite. I fear very much for the tenor of the debate about same-sex marriage in the coming plebiscite promised by the federal government. Recently many people were offended by the Australian Christian Lobby seeking to repeal vilification laws for the duration of the debate. I thought the idea misguided because it implied that those opposed to same sex marriage were wanting to vilify, but the request is understandable when the Catholic Archbishop of Hobart faces discrimination action for advocating the current law. Opponents of same-sex marriage can and must make their arguments without contempt or vilification. Those who are Christians must do much more than tolerate LGBTI people, many of whom are also Christians they must love them as themselves, and wish only the best for them. At the very least, this demands respect and simple human decency. Governments routinely hold inquiries into controversial matters for reasons other than those they care to admit; to buy time, to provide ballast for tough decisions, to get issues off the front page. This serves a political purpose but is a waste of the public's time and money. We are not sure exactly what the NSW government hoped to achieve with its recent inquiry into puppy factories, but it appears to have been a major waste of effort in terms of what the public wants a swift end to the inhumane industrial-scale production of family pets. For a start, the inquiry's key recommendation was nothing the government hadn't been asked to do. In 2012, the Companion Animals Taskforce recommended NSW create a system to license dog breeders. Instead, the government decided to redesign and upgrade the companion animal registration system so that breeder details would be captured when animals were micro-chipped. And on Friday, in response to the puppy factory inquiry, the government announced that while it supported licensing in principle, in practice it would ignore the recommendation again, and continue working on its upgraded and digitised registration system. Conditions inside puppy farms can be squalid and confined. Credit:RSPCA To be fair, this upgraded system has much promise. It will bring significant benefits to consumers by creating a new one-step online identification and registration process. Owners will be able to update their details online. Right now, no one knows who, where or how many people breed dogs in NSW. Under the upgraded registration system, each breeder will be given an ID number and their breeder information will be added to the registry when litters are micro-chipped. Over time, a picture of the industry will form: establishments breeding suspiciously large numbers of dogs or whose dogs frequently end up in the pound will be flagged. Australia would send its own satellites into space to monitor military movements in the Asia-Pacific under a bold plan being considered by the Australian Defence Force. The Defence White Paper, released last week by the Turnbull government, says that access to space intelligence will become increasingly important over coming years. The paper flags that Australia will spend an extra $3 to $4 billion on enhanced satellite imagery capability as well as up to another $2 billion on space situational awareness systems and radars out to 2039. The winter blues are no laughing matter. Illustration: Robin Cowcher "We're not far enough south. The latitudes in which you normally see seasonal affective disorder are apparently those which are quite extreme. In my reading of the literature, it doesn't really start to appear until you're going above 70 degrees north or below 70 degrees south in latitude." Depending on which continent you were on, that far north would put you at the top of Finland or next door to Sarah Palin in Alaska. Down south, you'd be in Antarctica. Yet seasonal affective disorder, in popular discourse at least, is very much a condition of middle-income earners in the middle latitudes. A 2007 survey recorded a rate of 20 per cent in Ireland. A 2004 study in the Netherlands plumped for 10 per cent, and even sunny Florida claims a rate of 1.4 per cent. A 2006 estimate for Australia suggested a proportion of around one-in-300, or 0.33 per cent. Modest though that may be, it still raised the eyebrows of a few epidemiologists and psychiatrists. An earlier study, published in 2000, examined all Tasmanian hospital admissions for schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder over a six-year period. If SAD was a real thing, the scientists reasoned, then admissions should be higher in winter than in summer. They found nada. That study, led by psychiatry professor Ken Kirkby, foreshadowed the much bigger Alabama one published in January. The US team, led by Professor Steven LoBello, quizzed more than 34,000 people with histories of depression, and asked them at various times of the year to describe their symptoms. Once again, there was no difference between the rates of summer and winter blues. The researchers delivered a forceful conclusion. "The idea of seasonal depression may be strongly rooted in folk psychology, but it is not supported by objective data," they wrote. "Consideration should be given to discontinuing seasonal variation as a diagnostic modifier of major depression." Professor Philip Boyce, professor of psychiatry at the University of Sydney's Westmead Clinical School, isn't prepared to go that far. The US study's methods, he suggested, might may have been too crude to pick SAD's subtle effects. In the 1980s Boyce worked with SAD's first champion, Dr Rosenthal, of the American National Institute of Mental Health. He has written several papers on the subject as well as on seasonal aspects of other conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome. Boyce and others see SAD as closely related to sleep problems: a form of circadian rhythm disorder (not unlike insomnia) where the brain's "natural" sleep cycle falls out of phase with the external day-night cycle. This can be due to a lack of daylight hence its presence during long polar winters. One successful approach to treating both sleep disorders and depression arising from lack of exposure to sunshine is through measured exposure to artificial bright light. Boyce said rumours of the demise of SAD were exaggerated. However, he agreed with the Auburn University researchers that diagnosis is sometimes confounded by events tied more to the calendar than the weather. "They wondered whether it was all due to anniversary or specific life events," he said. "Of course, that's feasible. You have to take that in account. In the northern hemisphere it always onsets around Christmas time, which can be a stressful event for people." The Baird government has been asked to set up an inquiry into the management of a mega rubbish dump on top of Mangrove Mountain, which residents claim has been leaching contaminated water and potentially putting the Central Coast water supply at "great risk of contamination". A 163-page dossier of documents and photographs has been sent to Premier Mike Baird, and Environment Minister Mark Speakman outlining concerns about a string of licence breaches at the landfill facility during the past 10 years some of which include the inadequate measurement of toxic contaminants at the site. Residents have warned leachate and stormwater run-off from the mega dump at Mangrove Mountain is endangering the regional water catchment area. The dossier compiled by the Mountain Districts Association has warned the Environment Protection Authority and the Gosford City Council have failed their responsibilities in regulating the site. The submission said water containment ponds at the site were "manifestly inadequate" to deal with leachate and stormwater run-off. A 20-year-old man who was one of three males who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in a western Sydney park will be eligible for parole early next month. The incident, which occurred in a dimly lit park in Doonside in February 2014, sparked tensions between African and Pacific Island communities and led to reports of retaliatory violence. Bill Colbourne Reserve in Doonside, where the assaults took place. Credit:Emma Partridge Last week the man, known for legal reasons as MA, was sentenced to a maximum of three years and eight months' jail after he pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated sexual intercourse with a person aged between 14 and 16 years. He was sentenced to three years' jail for each offence, to be served concurrently. With time served on remand, he will be eligible for parole on March 6 after serving a minimum two-year sentence. A middle-aged man spat in a baby's face and then ran off only to be hit by a car in a bizarre unprovoked incident in an inner Sydney street. The four-month-old child was being pushed in a stroller on Crown Street in the inner Sydney suburb of Surry Hills about 5.30pm on Saturday when the man leant inside the pram and spat, police said. The child's grandfather then chased the man who ran away but collided with a car on nearby Foveaux Street. The man got up and ran off again and was last seen heading south along Crown Street, a police spokesman said. Police conducted patrols of the area but were unable to locate any trace of the man who is described as Caucasian, aged in his early 40s, with a slim build and bald head and was last seen wearing a tie-dyed shirt and shorts. Most people support surrogacy for medical reasons, such as a woman being born without a uterus, but fewer believe it should be available to older women, or those simply wishing to avoid pregnancy. Most people thought surrogacy should be available to men whose partners had died, but had frozen embryos in storage. There is pressure on the government to legalise commercial surrogacy, with more than half the survey respondents with a view on the issue saying the existing ban on compensated surrogacy is unjustified. Altruistic surrogacy is the only kind now allowed in Australia. But Professor Tremellen and Mr Everingham cautioned that even if commercial surrogacy was legalised here, some Australians will continue to travel overseas for surrogacy, because it is cheaper in some countries. Those who support commercial surrogacy in Australia are most likely to say that the actual sum should be determined by negotiation between the surrogate and commissioning parents, with no fixed maximum. The submission suggested capping payment at $56,000 (the average full-time pre-tax wage for the duration of pregnancy) "to avoid excessive monetary incentivisation, and stop the wealthy from dominating the market for available surrogates". People thought surrogates should be paid more if they suffered a major complication that resulted in a chronic health issue after the baby was born, if there was a major complication during pregnancy or birth that required more than a week off work, or if the surrogate was carrying twins. Harder than saying sorry for the wrongs committed long ago is to recognise and stop new harms being inflicted today. As the NSW Parliament delivered its historic apology to the original 1978 Mardi Gras marchers, who were bashed by police as young men and women, the message came through again and again look at what is happening now. Safe Schools hasn't been going long enough for a study which examines the impact of policies, strategies and actions on any group of people. The ostracising language that causes so much pain to gay and lesbian teenagers and school children has recently exploded into the limelight from the mouths of politicians. On the same day as the NSW apology, in Federal Parliament, Liberal MP George Christensen compared the Safe Schools anti-bullying program to "grooming" for paedophiles. An Australian couple who used a surrogate in California to carry twins for them a decade ago told the inquiry their children were aware of this arrangement, and understood the reasons why. "It never was, nor never has been, a defining or really relevant aspect of the relationship we all have." The couple liken surrogacy to the way they pay people to babysit their children now. "We paid our surrogate to babysit our children before they were born," the parents are quoted in a submission to the inquiry. "Our surrogate termed herself 'their oven' and our children say 'we grew in our surrogate's stomach as mum's was broken'." But one person who was conceived by donor insemination in the early 1970s told the inquiry that surrogacy was similar to donor conception and adoption in that "a biological connection is severed". This person said they had been negatively affected by being donor conceived and warned there would be children born from surrogacy arrangements whose emotional and physical wellbeing would suffer as a result of their life being commoditised. "I know that money exchanged hands ... when the sperm was obtained to conceive me," they wrote. "It disgusts me that my conception could be treated in this way, and that money was involved in order for me to exist. People are not for sale, but in this case I was." Survivors of adoption said children born via surrogacy, donor conceived or adopted shared deep feelings of abandonment, identity and genetic bewilderment and "being born specifically to be given away". "The consequences of being adopted for many are that they feel that they were traded as a powerless commodity, and can result in low self-esteem and a sense of rejection and worthlessness," Jo Fraser, secretary of the Association of Relinquishing Mothers, wrote in her submission. "Imagine how much this is exacerbated if the relinquishment, or trading, of the child is premeditated and carefully planned in fine detail?" But the former surrogate said surrogacy was not the same thing as adoption. "Surrogacy is the coming together of a team to produce something extraordinary," she writes. "Children born of surrogacy don't yearn for their 'birth mothers'. "This has been shown by interviews with children born of surrogacy who have grown to be independent, well adjusted children who appreciate how they came to be and whose story of birth doesn't define who they are." Surrogacy experts including judges, lawyers, academics, and parent advocates, are calling on the Federal Government to make Australia's surrogacy laws consistent across all states and territories. Church groups want all forms of surrogacy outlawed in Australia, arguing it is unjust to children and exploitative of women who act as surrogates. Many submissions to the inquiry, including that from the Australian Association of Social Workers, warned that international commercial surrogacy can create problems for children later in life when they want to know about their cultural heritage and identity. Some surrogacy advocates believe surrogates here should be paid for carrying someone else's baby, as they are in certain overseas jurisdictions. They want the Government to introduce a regulated domestic compensated surrogacy system, which provides for thorough screening of all parties involved, a cap on payments, and enables any child born via surrogacy to access details of the arrangement when they turn 18. There are also calls for Medicare to cover assisted reproductive treatment for surrogacy arrangements, where there is a medical reason preventing a woman from carrying a baby to term. Voices outside the womb Surrogate "That moment when a child is handed over to their true intended parents is an electric and natural moment. You are not 'giving up' a child. The child you have grown and birthed is simply being united with their real family." Same sex parents of four children born via commercial surrogacy arrangements in California "Each of our surrogates told us that they did not regard themselves as giving away a child of their own they were bringing into the world a child that would otherwise never have existed. They breathed life into the dreams of an infertile couple, and created a human life from those dreams." Heterosexual parents of twins born via commercial surrogacy arrangement in Mumbai because embryos never implanted in the woman's uterus "The drive to have children is overpowering. We looked into every possible way we could have children. The only way was international commercial surrogacy and we did it." Heterosexual parents of two children born via altruistic surrogacy in Australia after they lost a daughter at birth "We had 'Tummy Mummies' help 'bake our babies'. They both looked at it as babysitting for the nine months . . . One day [our children] will be old enough to understand the lengths we went to create our family, but for now they know they have 'Tummy Mummies' and that is their normal. We are very open about their creation and will continue to be." Donor conceived person All Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast beachs are closed due to abnormally high tides and dangerous surf but the South-east's coasts are parked out with sightseers. Authorities were bracing for high tides about 11am on Saturday, varying from 1.35 metres on the Gold Coast Seaway to 2.28 metres at Noosa, being whipped up by large swells from ex-cyclone Winston Strong. Some surfers are taking on the wild conditions but surf life savers have warned against it. Credit:Chris Hyde Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Ken Bernard said a severe weather warning had been issued for Saturday but the conditions were likely to to improve marginally on Sunday, as winds dropped. While the Safe Schools LGBTI resources debate rages on, a new Queensland group has turned the focus on religious instruction in state schools and whether it still has a place. Under the Education General Provisions Act, Queensland's state schools make available up to one hour of curriculum time a week for the provision of religious instruction to students. Parents can withdraw their child from the class by writing to the principal, with most objectors granted a free study period instead. With concerns growing the State's curriculum is overcrowded, the Secular Public Education group believe they have one solution scrap religious education from being taught during schools hours. The East West Link could soon be revived by the state government's new infrastructure planning body, despite Daniel Andrews spending $1.1 billion of taxpayers' funds to rip up the contract. In a move that could prove politically damaging for the government, Infrastructure Victoria - an independent body created by Labor to "take the politics out of infrastructure planning" - has not ruled out the controversial road forming part of a 30-year strategy that will be handed to the Premier at the end of the year. The agency will spend the next few months seeking the community's input to determine what kind of infrastructure the city needs to keep pace with population growth. Asked what would happen if the community overwhelming decided it needed the East West Link, Infrastructure Victoria chairman Jim Miller replied: "Everything is on the table." Daniel Andrews could be heading back to the future on East West Link. (Digitally altered image) "We're very open-minded, we're evidence-based. So the team is furiously gathering the evidence to say, on any of the options, what's the case that justifies that option?" the former Macquarie Capital executive director told The Sunday Age. "We're very focused on trying to deliver something that actually will be used ... and because people perceive it as the right way to go. That's what's driving us." Infrastructure Victoria was set up with bipartisan parliamentary support last year ensure the state has a steady pipeline of projects to meet its short, medium and long-term needs. Its 30-year strategy will not only recommend new projects (such a road linkages and health facilities) but also look at how existing infrastructure could be better utilised (for instance, installing high-capacity signalling on the train network). The agency is also pushing for a sensible debate on how best to fund infrastructure including by taking on more state debt and is researching the effectiveness of cost-benefit ratios, which tend to be heavily relied upon to prove that projects stack up when other factors should also be taken into account. "If you have a solution which is more expensive but you do it because it has greater social and environment benefit, how do you pick that up?" Mr Miller said. A man driving a Mercedes allegedly stalked a teenage girl along suburban streets in Melbourne north, stopping three times to try to get her into the car. Police are appealing for information and witnesses who might have seen the driver of a white Mercedes attempt to lure a girl into the car on McColl Street, Reservoir. The facial composite image released by police of a man who allegedly stalked a teenager in Reservoir on January 18. Credit:Victoria Police. Investigators say the Reservoir girl, 16, was walking along McColl Street about 4.20pm on Monday, January 18, when the man pulled up and tried to coerce the girl into the car. He then followed the teen along the street, getting out three times, while he continued to harass the victim. The terrified girl turned off McColl Street, possibly down Malpas Street. The man was last seen driving north up Donald Street. The man is described as of African appearance, in his late 20s to early 30s, about 180 centimetres tall with short dark brown hair and a black goatee. He was wearing a black T-shirt with white writing and black baggy jeans. Police on Saturday released a facial composite image of a man they believe may be able to assist with their investigation. The public are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report to crimestoppersvic.com.au. Police are investigating if there are any possible links between two recent incidents of women being stalked in Melbourne. On Saturday, a woman in Point Cook was followed by a man in a vehicle. Victoria Police spokeswoman Natalie Webster said the 34-year-old Point Cook woman was walking along Jamieson Way at 9.30am on Saturday when she noticed an older model grey Ford station wagon parked on the side of the road. "As she walked along the street, the male driver started following her slowly in his car," Ms Webster said. "A few minutes later he turned into a driveway ahead of her and told her to get in the car." She said the woman walked around the car and kept going and the man continued to follow her in the vehicle, yelling out aggressively. "She spotted a couple walking their dog ahead and ran to them," Ms Webster said. "The couple then escorted the woman home and she contacted police." Ms Webster said the man was described as being perceived to be African in appearance, aged between 30 to 40 years old with a gaunt face. "At the time he was wearing a bright blue jacket and was the only occupant of the car," she said. Police are looking at whether there are any links between this incident and a stalking incident in Reservoir recently. Police are investigating after women stalked in two separate incidents. Credit:Erin Jonasson In January, a man of African appearance tried to follow a teenager in his white Mercedes before trying to coerce her into getting into his car. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au Jakarta: The Australian Ambassador to Indonesia says he hopes two teachers from a prestigious international school in Jakarta will be acquitted of the sexual abuse of preschoolers in line with a decision by the Indonesian High Court last year. Canadian teacher Neil Bantleman and Indonesian teacher's aide Ferdinant Tjiong are back behind bars in Jakarta after last week's shock decision by the Supreme Court to reinstate their prison sentences on appeal. Hoping for acquital: Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Paul Grigson. Credit:Tatan Syuflana Ambassador Paul Grigson said the two teachers from the Jakarta Intercultural School had been acquitted by the Indonesian High Court in 2015. "We hope due process is followed and a similar verdict is handed down," he said. Brazilian police seek arrests of Samarco executives over dam disaster BHP, Vale must pay for burst dam environmental damage, court rules Brasilia: Brazil's government and mining company Samarco Mineracao SA will announce on Monday the settlement of a lawsuit for damages caused by a deadly dam spill at a mine in November, Brazilian Attorney-General Luis Inacio Adams said on Friday. Officials and executives met on Friday to finalise the deal that the attorney's-general office said was 95 per cent complete. A rescue worker searches for victims at the site of the dam disaster in Brazil in November last year. Credit:AP On Thursday, Brazil's O Globo newspaper published a column saying Samarco, a joint venture between Vale and BHP Billiton, had committed to provide 4.4 billion reais ($1.5 billion) between 2016 and 2018 and additional funds for another seven years. A source close to the negotiations confirmed the figures were being discussed but said nothing had been signed yet. The amount would be much less than the 20 billion reais the government was originally seeking when it first filed the lawsuit. Regarded as Brazil's worst environmental disaster, the burst tailings dam killed 19 people, forced hundreds to leave their homes and polluted one of the country's main rivers. In response to the O Globo report, BHP said on Friday talks were continuing and no agreement had yet been reached. "Significant progress has been made with the negotiations, and we are hopeful that an agreement will be reached," it said in a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange. Conservative Islamic newspaper Republika soon picked up on the story with a front-page article titled "LGBT poses serious threat", and what support group member Luna Siagian describes as a "witch-hunt" began. A drag queen performs in a nightclub in Jakarta in 2013. Credit:Michael Bachelard Research, Technology and Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir joined in the debate, initially stating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students on campus corrupt the nation's morals, before later clarifying he meant only those that were publicly "affectionate". An MP from the Prosperous Justice Party, Muhammad Nasir Djamil, also commented, saying "LGBT groups cannot thrive and be given space. Especially given they have entered campus through academic space." People gather at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque at dusk in Banda Aceh, Aceh province, Indonesia. A local law that makes gay sex punishable by public caning took effect in October last year. Credit:AP Speculative articles were written about the group's members, including a profile piece in Republika about co-founder Firmansyah's sexual orientation. Members were cyber-bullied, and wild rumours circulated online linking them to criminal activities. Siagian received multiple messages daily criticising her about her sexuality. A collection of gay emojis that were made unavailable in Indonesia The media exposure of the group led some members to be interrogated by their parents. One of the co-founders was kicked out of home, says Siagian. "They treated us like we have a mental illness, prone to instability even psychopaths," she says. "I want people to be more sexually knowledgeable. People are very hesitant about even calling things penis and vagina it makes sexuality a taboo thing. I want people to be able to talk more openly about these things." There are no national laws prohibiting homosexuality in Indonesia, but the local government of Aceh has implemented Sharia law and criminalised homosexuality. Across Indonesia discrimination is common. "Indonesian society generally sees lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex as 'sakit' or not normal," says Professor Baden Offord, who teaches human rights at Curtin University. "Discrimination is mainly because of religious, social, cultural and state sanctioned attitudes that are in some places based on tradition, on proscriptions against homosexuals by Imams and Islamic law, or simply by the state's focus on the family as the basic unit of society." In March 2015, Indonesia's top Muslim clerical body, MUI, issued a fatwa proposing same-sex behaviour be punished by caning or even the death penalty, and labelling it a "disease" that can be cured. It also issued a fatwa prohibiting Muslims from joining any groups that promote LGBT rights. The Islamic Defenders Front is regularly involved in shutting down such advocacy groups and the events they run. Lini Zurlia, who describes herself as a queer feminist, is a member of Arus Pelangi, one of more than 120 LGBT advocacy groups based in Indonesia. Zurlia was present when members of the Islamic Defenders Front, accompanied by police, turned up at an Arus Pelangi workshop in Jakarta, and ordered them to shut it down. She says they have learnt to expect such things can happen, yet they still try to keep the community together. Originally from a small village in South Sumatra, Zurlia has not yet come out to her conservative Islamic family, and does not know how to do so. "If they knew, they would reject me, as an adulterer, as a member of the family." Zurlia says it is quite easy for her to hide her identity, but transgender people are easily identified and often prevented from getting jobs. Many end up homeless and/or working as prostitutes. Chusnul Chasanah, from the Jakarta-based Centre of Law and Policy Study, says the discrimination is based on a misinterpretation of the country's morals, laws and religions. She says respect for differences is one of the most important moral teachings in the Koran. The 1945 Constitution also provides for respect of all Indonesians based on difference, which includes people of different gender and sexual orientations, she says. Along with the non-governmental organisations, there is increasing support from the Human Rights Commission. Commissioner Muhammad Nurkhoiron says lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are guaranteed protection under the Constitution and President Joko Widodo's "Nawa Cita" the President's nine point agenda. "One of the priorities [of the commission] is to ensure the state conduct their duty to respect, protect and fulfil lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights." The commission is compiling its first Minority Rights report, that will make recommendations to the government on the state of minority rights, including those of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. He says it will become an annual report, monitoring the progress and setbacks of fulfilling those rights. Despite having their groups and events regularly targeted by authorities, LGBT groups say Jakarta and Bali are "heaven" in comparison to the smaller villages around the archipelago. They say they are able to go about their daily lives, as long as they are not publicly affectionate. "There is a vast gap between the norms and opinions that Indonesians express in public and the way they behave in their daily lives," says Elizabeth Pisani, a journalist and epidemiologist who has spent more than 28 years in Indonesia. "Whatever the moral panic of the day, most Indonesians are extremely 'live and let live' in their daily lives. They don't want to be forced into taking a position, they don't want to have things stuck in their face," she says. Tegar Ramadan was one of the gay men pictured in the LGBT Peer Support Network brochure. He believes as people become more aware of different sexual orientations and gender identities, they will become more accepting. "I was afraid before I decided I would fight for my rights. I was afraid of being visible, political for this matter because that would attract attention," he says. PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will meet in a plenary public session on February 29th. The plenary public meeting has been scheduled for Monday at 10.00am in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelmina Straat #1 in Philipsburg. The agenda point is the draft National Ordinance to establish the National 2016 Budget. Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg. The parliamentary session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 120, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the Internet www.pearlfmradio.com and via www.sxmparliament.org. QuikFlo Announces Submissions for Non-Dilutive Funding Applications CALGARY, ALBERTA (Marketwired) 02/26/16 QuikFlo Health Inc. (QuikFlo or the Company) (TSX VENTURE: QF)(FRANKFURT: 1QF) is pleased to announce that the Company is currently in the process of submitting applications for non-dilutive funding of approximately $1.6 MM over two years. In addition, the Company will be taking advantage of smaller grant opportunities that may be available from time to time. The funding applications cover the research and development process of QuikFlos first product of an automated image analysis program for stroke triage. The development process of QuikFlos software is broken down into the following tasks and milestones: The commercialization of QuikFlos software may take a number of different forms: The Company has a reasonable expectation of receiving at least some of these grants, based on the academic track record and the success of prior research grants that were provided to its co-inventors through their work at the University of Calgary. However, the success and timing of such funds are not assured. Vinny Jindal, the Companys President and CEO stated: These non-dilutive finds allows us to accelerate the development of our technology. In parallel, we are continually seeking other significant non-dilutive funding. About QuikFlo QuikFlo Health is a medical software company developing innovative solutions for the analysis of medical images. Our primary focus is on improving outcomes for stroke patients, where existing time delays are solvable through more efficient triage based on rapid, accurate analysis of medical images. Further Information For further information relating to the Company or this release please visit or . Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward looking statements and information are based are currently reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the Companys ability to identify and complete suitable acquisitions to further the Companys growth, the suitability of the key members of ongoing management and the board of directors, the biomedical and technology sectors in general such as operational risks in development, research and regulatory delays or changes in plans with respect to research projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of the market; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to costs and expenses; health, safety and environmental risks; marketing and commercialization; loss of markets; competition; ability to access sufficient capital; failure to obtain required regulatory and other approvals and changes in legislation, including but not limited to tax laws, and government regulations, and other risks identified in the recent information circular available on . Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, timelines and information contained in this news release. No undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Contacts: QuikFlo Health Inc. Vinny Jindal President and CEO 646.526.9628 QuikFlo Health Inc. Investor Relations 647.980.7541 Thanks free. I'm actually feeling a little better, took some Aleve. As for the refugee crisis, I have compassion for them however, I do believe that many of them have a hidden agenda. Here, across the pond, people are upset that our government wants to bring some in. I happen to agree with these people. I feel that we should take care of our own before we help others. There are so many US veterans here who are homeless and have a horrendous time trying to get health care that was promised to them. I'm not sure how true it is but I've heard that the government wants to give them free housing and give them money. We are fortunate over here. Unlike Europe, they have to cross an ocean to try and get here. Seeing the way some of the refugees are acting in Europe, I understand that is just a part of the refugees, I do worry about what could happen here. I hope tomorrow goes smooth for you free. Jan. 6 committee subpoenas Donald Trump The extraordinary move puts the panel, which the former president has repeatedly criticized as political, into a legal confrontation with Trump. Oak Creek to host outdoor 2022 World Cup watch party A partnership between Morans Pub in South Milwaukee and the city of Oak Creek will offer residents food, drinks, music and games on Nov. 25. Welcome to SwanseaOnline - your home for the best news, sports and what's on coverage of the city. Never miss a Swansea story with our daily newsletter Sign up to comment on our stories here Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Swansea City news | Ospreys news | InYourArea Anime Japan 2017 1st Burst: 18 Jan 31 March 2016 2nd Burst: 1 April 30 June 2016 3rd Burst: 1 July 30 September 2016 4th Burst: 1 October 31 December 2016 DRAW SNAP FILM Anime in myLife is back! The campaign was introduced by ANIPLUS since June2015 to encourage anime lovers to share their passion for anime and be rewardedfor their talent. Simply showcase your enthusiasm for anime by submitting a drawing,photo or short clip to stand a chance to win attractive prizes.Following the overwhelming response from last year, the grand prize winner forAnime in myLife 2016 will be treated with a trip to Tokyo, completed withaccommodation and a pair of admission passes toIn 2015, more than 2000 entries were received from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia,Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.Austein Adikoesoemo from Indonesia won the Grand Prize last year and attended Anime Asia Festival in Singapore with his partnerGarry. , said Austein.ANIPLUS is also giving away other fabulous prizes quarterly, which includeand limited editionThere are four submission bursts:Celebrate your passion for anime through any of the three categories:Be it a pencil or a stylus, show us your artistic skills as you re-create thecharacter of your choice or create a new character! All forms of fanartare welcome!Photograph an image that captures your love for anime! From yourproud figurine collection to your cool cosplay moment. As long as yourphotograph is related to anime, youre good to go!Showcase your talents through song, instrument or dance and recordyour moment in the spotlight. Or you could simply do a room tour andimpress us with your dedication to anime!Every quarter, there will be two winners from each category and top entries from allbursts will be competing for the Grand Prize.For more information, visit: http://www.aniplus-asia.com/anime/ Submit your entry now! Earlier today Donatella Versace declared a new golden age for modelling when she announced that Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner were to star in her latest show. Name checking the models at a press conference, which took place hours before her autumn 2016 showcase, the designer cited the Nineties hey day of Linda Evangelista and Naomi Campbell before declaring "supermodels are back". Versace, who also announced Hadid's involvement via her brand's Instagram feed, is wise to the power of this new digitally aligned era for modelling and the benefits of associating her collection with the most famous faces on social media. She is also aware that the likes of Hadid, Jenner and Karlie Kloss - who also walked in the show - are the perfect ambassdors for the Versace brand as it is in 2016. 2016 Getty Images While Versace was once considered the go-to label for women seeking a step-by-step guide to sex appeal, it is now the place for youthful power dressing - albeit with a sexually charged edge. Citing a strong, empowered woman who makes no apologies for her existence, Versace's latest collection is all about women who, like Hadid and Jenner, ooze with confidence. "It's incredibly important to be courageous" said the designer ahead of her show, confirming that while the Versace of old was about women who play hard, this collection is for women who work hard too. For the clothes on offer this meant a more casual offering than Versace's usual, with ski pants, blazers and duffle coats among the key pieces. The vibe was sporty with seductive edge. Forgoing her usual flowing gowns - Versace said she prefers to focus on those within her haute couture offering - the show was heavy with thigh-high skirts and dresses. Experimenting with the idea of separates as eveningwear, Versace unveiled blouses printed with the house's signature baroque print alongside a sequin trimmed knitted sweater. EPA/Daniel Dal Zennaro Printed t-shirt dresses, cut looser to allow movement, are certain to bring new fans to the label while a series of sheath dresses which featured zips which can be undone to reveal flashes of skin looked set to appease the typical Versace woman. Versace also played with the stereotypical idea of office dressing. Combining mens shirting fabrics with silk, the designer unveiled blouson shirts and exquisitely cut blazers. It was her own take on boardroom chic and it worked marvellously. But it was the coats in this collections that showcased Versace's true clout as one of Italy's leading luxury labels. Relying on innovative techniques such as patent lacquered shearling and woven instarsia, Versace debuted an outwear collection that was of supreme quality. One pastel pink contrast collar shearling jacket, modelled by Versace favourite Kendall Jenner, was among the winning pieces on the catwalk. B eing gay and Muslim is like trying to decide whether to cut off one arm, or the other, says the founder of Europes first inclusive mosque. Dr and Imam Ludovic-Mohamed Zahed told the Standard that being gay is not sin but that the rejection of LGBT Muslims is modern and new in Islam. Imam Zahed said: It has to do with colonisation, complexes and the fact that Arab Muslim societies are in turmoil and are looking for very macho identities to push forward. But it has nothing to do with Islam as spirituality, because our tradition is much more peaceful in terms of dealing with sexuality and gender identity. Zahed said reactions to him being a gay Imam and setting up an inclusive mosque in France have been much more positive than we expected. He added: We had many people telling us we are dirtying up Islam, but we had many more people telling us you are the true Islam. Dominic Arnall, who works for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights charity Stonewall, believes events such as Februarys LGBT History Month celebrating religion means the future looks bright for gay people of faith. Arnall said: There are a number of excellent groups springing up, based here in London, all of which are specifically seeking to support LGBT people of faith. Blogger Asad Dhunna said: Growing up gay and Muslim in London is a little bit tricky, but I actually do not think there is a better place to do it I feel quite open and free here. What needs to change in the future is more people having the confidence to speak up and more people thinking it is okay to be gay and Muslim. If you grow up in a traditionally Muslim area, lets say East London for example, and you are coming out, it can be quite difficult because you might pop along to Shoreditch or over into Soho and you see a completely different world, then go home and think how do I even begin to put this together? Dhunna praised initiatives in the capital such as Inclusive Mosque, which is currently seeking to establish a space in London for gay Muslims to pray. Dhunna said: That is one of the great things about this city - I cannot imagine somewhere else where you could go hey, lets make a mosque where everyone can pray. A ctress Salma Hayek is in mourning after her dog was shot dead on her ranch in the US. The 49-year-old used Instagram to post an emotional tribute to the treasured German Shepherd, which she said didnt deserve a slow and painful death. Authorities in Washington State, where she owns the large property, are searching for the mystery shooter following the incident on February 19. The Mexican-American star wrote (in Spanish as well as English): I haven't posted for a week as I been mourning the death of my dog Mozart, who I personally delivered out of his mother's womb. He was found dead in my ranch last Friday with a shot close to his heart. I am hoping that the Washington State authorities do justice to this wonderful dog whom in 9 years never bit or attacked anyone. He loved his territory and never strayed away...he was the most loving and loyal companion. He didn't deserve a slow and painful death. The animal lover is well-known for her fondness of pets. Speaking on the Ellen DeGeneres show in October 2013, she said revealed she had five horses, four alpacas, one cat, eight dogs, one hamster, five parrots, two fish, and bunny rabbits as well as chickens and turkeys. A CCTV image has been released of a man detectives want to speak to in connection with two knifepoint robberies at a bookmakers in east London. Both robberies took place at Coral in The Portway, Stratford, with the first on November 24 and the second on December 4. A Metropolitan Police Service spokesman said on both occasions, a staff member was en route to bank takings when they were robbed at knifepoint. A total of 7,500 is said to have been taken. The suspect is described as a black man who was wearing a black balaclava with grey vertical stitching up the middle, a black Nike puffa-style jacket and black Nike Air Force 1 trainers with white soles. Anyone with information should call the Flying Squad on 020 8345 1400 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting crime reference 5334676/14. A 250,000 reward has been offered in the hunt for the killers of a much-loved village goose that was targeted in an apparent drive-by shooting. The animal is said to have been cruelly shot dead near to the pond in Sandon, Hertforshire, where he lived for 11 years. A man reportedly leaned out of a 4x4 an opened fire in broad daylight last Sunday. The incident sparked outrage in the rural village where the goose appears on a welcome sign. It led to national coverage in the press and during broadcaster Jeremy Vines BBC Radio 2 show on Friday one listener a Peter Hunt - even texted in to pledge 250,000. Resident Gay Ayton told the Hertfordshire Mercury the small village was in shock, adding: "It's spineless and so irritating. We've always had a goose. He is very protective of the ducklings." Hertfordshire Police are assisting the RSPCA with an investigation. Speaking to the local newspaper, a spokesman said it was unable to confirm how the goose died but officers were considering exhuming the body to find out. F riends of a London doctor critically injured when he was hit by a lorry in Las Vegas say he could be flown back to the UK within days. Nearly 200,000 has been donated as part of a global fundraising campaign launched by loved ones as Dr Sebastian Kola-Bankole, from Camden, fought for his life in hospital. Friends hope to put the money towards the costs of his expensive US medical treatment and repatriation back to the UK. Relatives of Dr Kola-Bankole have been unable to find any record of travel insurance and doctors cannot ask him because of the extent of his injuries. So caring: Dr Sebastian Kola-Bankole from the Royal London Hospital, Since being knocked down by a truck on the Las Vegas Strip yards from the Hard Rock Hotel, the 35-year-old NHS doctor has undergone several operations on his spine, ears and arteries and has three broken vertebrae in his neck. But on Saturday, close friend Dr Pawandeep Sarai said he had been woken from his induced coma and was moving, blinking and smiling. The 32-year-old, who works at Lister Hospital in Stevenage, said doctors in Las Vegas believed he was showing meaningful signs of recovery. Dr Sarai added: In his arms and legs movement may well be affected, but he has some movement. Its really hard to say whether thats going to improve. Friends and family, including many at his bedside in the US, are relieved and hopeful, he said. A gofundme.com page was set up last Saturday following the incident on February 15. In less than three days it had racked up more than 100,000 thanks to the generosity of donors around the world. It was originally thought repatriation would have to wait for weeks, but the pace of his improvement has led doctors to indicate he could be on a flight back to London by the end of the week. It would see him flown to London where he is set to be ferried in an ambulance to hospital. Experts have to be paid to accompany the patient for the lengthy journey on a specially kitted-off aircraft. T he mother and sister of murdered Josh Hanson will today take part in a skydive on what would have been his 22nd birthday. Josh Hanson, 21, from Kingsbury, was stabbed in the neck while at RE Bar in Eastcote on October 11 last year. He died at the scene and a post-mortem examination gave a cause of death as haemorrhage, inhalation of blood and an incised wound to his neck. The clubber would have turned 22 today and to pay tribute, his mother Tracey and sister Brooke will embark on a skydive. His mother explained: Two years ago, Josh did a skydive to raise money for a girl in America who needed an operation, and he was so brave. It was suggested that a skydive would be a great way to celebrate his birthday this year. I am excited to feel closer to Josh through the skydive, but I am also petrified. Josh Hanson skydive Ms Hanson said every day was a living nightmare and she was not sure how to cope knowing her amazing son would not be able to celebrate his birthday. She said: Last year for Josh's 21st birthday I made a special Oreo cake and he loved it. This year I have had a similar cake made with Josh's face on it. Missed: Josh Hanson was 21 when he was fatal stabbed outside a bar in Eastcote / Metropolitan Police This is surreal; I have never put my children's faces on cakes because they have always been there with me. Joshs sister, Brooke said she was nervous about completing the skydive but said it was a privilege to take part in the challenge in her brothers memory. Officers investigating Mr Hansons death are continuing to appeal for the whereabouts of Shane OBrien, 27, from Ladbroke Grove, who is being sought in connection with the murder. Wanted for questioning: Shane O'Brien / Metropolitan Police Detective chief inspector Noel McHugh, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: Our work to locate and arrest OBrien; and anyone who may be assisting him, continues. We remain totally focused on the investigation and achieving justice for Tracey, Brooke and all of Joshs family and friends. However long it takes, we are not going to give up. As with any investigation, the public are our eyes and ears. People will have seen and heard things about where O'Brien is. I would appeal to anyone who may be contemplating whether they should make that call to the police to do the right thing and make the call. A 10,000 reward is available for information leading to OBriens arrest and prosecution. OBrien is described as a white man, 6ft tall and of muscular build. Police said he should not be approached and any sightings should be reported immediately on 999. A man who died three days after being hit by a car in south London has today been named by police. George Beresford, 21, from Purley was hit by a BMW in Ingleboro Drive at about 1.25am on Sunday, February 7. He was taken to a south London hospital by paramedics but died on February 10. An inquest into Mr Beresfords death has been opened and adjourned, a Metropolitan Police Service spokesman said. One person was arrested and later bailed to attend a south London police station in June. Detectives investigating the crash are urging witnesses to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit at Catford Traffic Garage on 020 8285 1574. T he sister of murdered teenager Alan Cartwright has told of her devastation that her new baby sister will not be able to meet her younger brother. Today marks the one year anniversary of the death of the 15-year-old, who was knifed in the chest as he cycled along Caledonian Road in Islington with two friends. The unprovoked attack by Joshua Williams, 18, who was jailed for a minimum of 21 years on September 18, was over in just a matter of seconds. Williams tried to steal Alans bicycle before fatally stabbing him in the chest. The teenager staggered a few hundred yards before collapsing outside Cally Pool. Stabbed to death: Alan Cartwright was killed as he cycled with friends in Islington His sister Cherrie Ives, 22, today told the Standard how difficult the year has been since her brothers death and the birth of her baby sister, Emily, who was born just weeks after Alan was murdered. She said: It is really odd because obviously her big brother was meant to be here when she was due to be born. She will know about her brother in good time, it is just really strange. She has blue eyes just like him. The hardest thing to deal with since Alans death, Miss Ives said, is knowing that she will never see him again, adding: You expect him to walk in the door or get a phone call. I am still coming to terms with that, she said. Now I say do you remember when Al did that talking about him in the past tense is hard. CCTV of moment Alan Cartwright was stabbed Occasions such as family birthdays, what would have been Alans 16th birthday in June and Christmas have also been difficult to cope with. Miss Ives said: [Christmas] was like a normal day for us. We didnt do anything special. We still had Christmas dinner and we still had a place for Al set at the table. But instead of seeing him there, we went to the cemetery. It was hard when it was his 16th birthday, when it was my birthday, my mums and my nans. I just try and put it to the back of my mind so Im not solely focusing on that because they are special days and I dont want to remember he is not here. Miss Ives said she and her family have been taking it day by day since Alans death, adding: We are still strong and getting by. Alan was one of 15 teenagers whose lives were claimed by knife crime in 2015. A vigil is being held outside Cally Pool on Saturday one year to the day of Alans death. The teenagers family will hold a two-minute silence, release balloons and lanterns and Miss Ives said she will let off a single firework to mark the one year anniversary. People who want to attend the vigil are asked to arrive before the two-minute silence begins at 7.30pm. T ens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of London to show their opposition to the renewal of Trident. Anti-nuclear protesters from across the UK armed themselves with placards and banners as they braced the bitter winds whipping around the centre of the capital to spread their message. Demonstrators met at Marble Arch this morning before beginning their march along Park Lane and via Hyde Park Corner, Piccadilly, Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street, St James Park and Pall Mall. Among those leading the front of the march, which ends in Trafalgar Square, was SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon. The march, organised by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), aims to show the Government how many are opposed to the replacement of Britain's nuclear weapons system. The CND want to see the money used for Trident invested in housing, healthcare and education and want "a world without nuclear weapons". The Ministry of Defence has estimated acquiring four new submarines to carry the Trident deterrent will cost 31 billion over the course of the 20-year procurement programme, with a further 10 billion set aside to meet any additional unexpected cost increases. Addressing the crowd as the rally continued to gather in Trafalgar Square, Ms Sturgeon described Trident as "immoral" and "impractical". She said: "It is the norm in the world today to be nuclear-free. It is the exception to the rule to possess nuclear weapons, let that ring out loudly and clearly. "The use of nuclear weapons would bring about human devastation and suffering on an unimaginable scale." She said the SNP would be making Trident a political issue at forthcoming elections. Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas described nuclear weaponry as "a cold war relic". She said: "To contemplate using nuclear weapons is both illegal and immoral." Saturday's demonstration is believed to be the largest of its kind for a generation. Additional reporting by Press Association. A young man is in a serious condition in hospital after two cars were involved in a collision in south-east London. Police were called to Wellington Avenue, Sidcup, shortly after 3.15am on Saturday after reports of a crash. Paramedics from London Ambulance Service and firefighters from London Fire Brigade were also called to the scene. The roof of one of the vehicles involved in the crash was cut off by firefighters and the passenger in the car was airlifted to hospital. A Metropolitan Police Service spokesman said the passenger was believed to be a man in his 20s and his injuries are not deemed to be life threatening. The two drivers suffered minor injuries, the spokesman added. No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing. Anyone with information should call police on 101. J eremy Corbyn today joined thousands of demonstrators in central London to call for an end to the UK's nuclear deterrent. Crowds marched through the capital before gathering in Trafalgar Square for the biggest demonstration of its kind for a generation. Anti-nuclear protesters from across the UK armed themselves with placards and banners as they braced the bitter winds whipping around the city to spread their message. The group - estimated by stewards to run into "many tens of thousands" - were joined on the marches by SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon and her Plaid Cymru counterpart Leanne Wood, with organisers hoping the event would send a strong message of growing support against renewing the nuclear weapons system. Rallying cry: Jeremy Corbyn addresses the crowd gathered in Trafalgar Square / PA The Ministry of Defence has estimated acquiring four new submarines to carry the Trident deterrent will cost 31 billion over the course of the 20-year procurement programme, with a further 10 billion set aside to meet any additional unexpected cost increases. But critics say that money could be better spent elsewhere on public services bearing the brunt of cuts. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn addressed protesters after returning from a hustings in the north of England. Rally: MPs took part in the march through London on Saturday / Dan Kitwood/Getty Images He said: "If a nuclear war took place there would be mass destruction on both sides of the conflict. "Everyone should think about the humanitarian effects on people across this globe if they're ever used. "We live in a world where so many things are possible. Where peace is possible in so many places. You don't achieve peace by planning for war, grabbing resources and not respecting each other's human rights. "Today's demonstration is an expression of many people's opinions and views. I'm here because I believe in a nuclear-free Britain and a nuclear-free future." The Labour leader favours unilateral disarmament but faces a showdown with some of his shadow cabinet, including shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn, who said he believed in multilateral action. The shadow cabinet has yet to decide how it will handle any Commons vote on Trident, expected later this year, ahead of the recommendations of a review of the party's existing support of renewal led by unilateralist shadow defence secretary Emily Thornberry. The Metropolitan Police said it made no arrests in connection with the demo. A man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison and 2,000 lashes for posting hundreds of messages on Twitter about being an atheist. Religious police in charge of monitoring social networks in Saudi Arabia found more than 600 tweets denying the existence of God, ridiculing Koranic verses, accusing all prophets of lies and saying their teachings fuelled hostilities. The Al-Watan online daily reported a 28-year-old man admitted being an atheist and refused to repent. He reportedly said what he wrote reflected his own beliefs and that he had the right to express them. The man, who was not named in the Al-Watan report, was jailed for 10 years, sentenced to 2,000 lashes and fined 3,800 [20,000 Saudi riyal]. LINCOLN The Nebraska Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a Lancaster County woman who suffered a severe shoulder injury after a deputy threw her to the floor and handcuffed her during a confrontation in her home. The high court on Friday reversed a decision by Lancaster County District Judge Robert Otte, who had dismissed the womans lawsuit against the deputy. Fridays action means the woman, who is the widow of a former Nebraska State Patrol officer, will now get the opportunity to make her case. The Supreme Court said it viewed the facts in a light most favorable to the plaintiff, as is required at this stage of an appeal. The court determined the evidence suggests that Lancaster County Deputy James Roark may have violated the constitutional rights of Marilyn Waldron, then 78, during the 2012 incident. Roark and another deputy barged into the home to arrest Waldrons grandson on a misdemeanor warrant for missing a court date on a disturbing the peace charge. The deputies testified they knew the grandson and had reason to believe he wanted to commit suicide by cop. The deputies arrived in an unmarked vehicle and were wearing plain clothes when Roark rang the doorbell. After Waldron opened the door, Roark did not identify himself, show a badge or display a copy of the warrant, but he pushed his way inside, according to the Supreme Courts opinion. The deputy then identified himself as an officer and drew his handgun, but he did not respond to Waldrons demands to show a badge or the warrant. The second deputy told her to stay put while they searched the home for her grandson. Yelling, Waldron followed Roark into the basement. There, the deputy threw the 5-foot, 1-inch, 145-pound woman to the floor, breaking her glasses, according to the Supreme Courts opinion. He then kneed her in the back and pulled her arms, handcuffing her behind her back. She complained of severe pain in her right shoulder and was able to slip out of the cuffs, but the deputy restrained her again. The woman, who had no prior criminal record, was arrested and later charged with false reporting. After Waldron completed a diversion program, the charge against her was dismissed. The grandson was arrested without incident, according to the opinion. Waldron filed the lawsuit in 2013, and it was dismissed by the lower court judge, who found the deputys entry into the home without identifying himself was constitutional because he had reason to believe a delay would give the grandson time to arm himself. In addition, the district judge said the deputys use of force was reasonable because Waldron ignored the deputies orders and resisted while being handcuffed. The Supreme Court said when viewing the facts in a light most favorable to Waldron, the deputys actions may have constituted unlawful entry into the residence, in violation of the Fourth Amendment. Prior rulings have generally required police to identify themselves and be denied admittance before they force their way in. Roark did not identify himself first and never did comply with Waldrons demand to see his badge. The Supreme Court also ruled it was questionable whether the deputy used excessive force when arresting the woman. WASHINGTON The Obama administration is trying to rally support for an additional $1.1 billion to deal with Americas rising opioid addiction. Most of that money included in the presidents budget request would go to cooperative efforts with states to expand access to medication-assisted treatment for those hooked on opioids. That class of drugs includes prescription painkillers and heroin. States would receive the money based on the severity of their problem and the strength of their plans to respond. We know that we have a significant gap between those who need treatment for opioid use disorders and those who get it, Michael Botticelli, director of National Drug Control Policy, told reporters at a Monday briefing. Parts of Appalachia and New England have been overwhelmed with an epidemic of abuse. Nebraska and Iowa have not seen the same level of problems, but that doesnt mean theyve been immune. Steven Lukan, director of the Iowa Governors Office of Drug Control Policy, said his state started seeing a rise in opioid problems years ago. Fatal opioid overdoses reached a level of 77 in 2013. In an encouraging sign, that number dropped to 42 in 2014. Still, Iowa officials arent ready to celebrate just yet. Its too early to tell whether that was a fluke. Lukan stressed the importance of getting leftover drugs out of medicine cabinets. Iowa has kiosks across the state where people can drop off leftover drugs and has hosted take-back events. Ten such events over five years collected about 30 tons of medicine. Theres just so much supply out there, Lukan said. The problem with all that supply is that people get hooked on painkillers by taking leftover medicine from family and friends. In some cases, they run up against the fact that prescription drugs are expensive and ultimately find that its easier and cheaper to start using heroin. Botticelli pointed to the importance of take-back programs and to educating those with the prescription pad. There has been a renewed push to require doctors and dentists to undergo training in pain management and addiction before graduating from school. Iowa also is one state that has implemented continuing education requirements for doctors to raise their awareness of addiction issues. Botticelli said those kinds of steps are important, even for states not as affected by the current crisis, so they can get ahead of the problem. Nebraska already has received a couple of federal grants to help prevent the abuse of prescription drugs, and the Legislature approved a bill last week that would close loopholes in Nebraskas prescription drug monitoring program. Iowa is looking to bolster its drug-monitoring program, with legislation intended to make it easier to access. Those monitoring systems allow physicians to see if someone has been doctor shopping, going to multiple providers in search of drugs. They can have an intervention at that time and try to counsel you, Lukan said. Much has been said about the anger among the American public. Its the defining emotion of the presidential election. People are angry that theyre out of work, theyre angry that their jobs have gone overseas, theyre angry that the robber barons on Wall Street bankrupted our economy and got away with it. Theyre directing much of it at Congress, at the so-called establishment. This is largely why candidates Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders have done so well. Both candidates appear angry themselves, channeling their bases frustrations. I said a few weeks ago that the state of the union was stubborn. And that same stubbornness I mentioned is one major cause for all this vitriol. The dispute over the Supreme Court Justice appointment in the wake of the death of Justice Antonin Scalia is a prime example of what is driving people away from anyone who represents the establishment. On one side you have the Senate Republicans, who have vowed to block any candidate that President Barack Obama appoints. Nevermind that its his right, as defined in the U.S. Constitution. Article Two of the Constitution clearly states that the President shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ... judges of the Supreme Court. Though it came as something of a surprise when Scalia died at age 79, someone might have asked him what he would say the president should do in the event he died. The numerous tributes and eulogies after his death unanimously praised him as a strict Constitutionalist and originalist, so it follows that Scalia probably would have wanted the President to adhere to the Constitution. So thats one argument against Republican obstructionism: the very judgeship nomination theyre attempting to stonewall was left vacant by someone who likely would have sided with the original language in the Constitution. Yet the Democratic side is not without their own partisan childish behavior. Yesterday, CNNs Manu Raju reported that the White House was vetting a Republican, Brian Sandoval, to fill Scalias spot. Sandoval is the current Republican Governor of Nevada. The news broke the day after Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he wouldnt even meet with a nominee until the next president is elected. Sandoval is a former federal judge and considered a moderate Republican. Although he was already unanimously approved by the Senate when George W. Bush brought him up in 2005 for a district court judgeship, appointing him would be a divisive move among current Republicans and directly against the ideology of progressive Democrats. It very well could be that the White House doesnt genuinely intend to appoint a Republican. It could be a test. They might be trying to draw out the Senate Republicans to expose them as non-compromising and bullheaded. And if thats the case the Democrats brand of partisan nose-thumbing is just as juvenile as the behavior of their counterparts. Even though this could be read as Obama trying to compromise with the GOP (I dont believe it is, I expect hell nominate a Democrat) it doesnt seem to matter to the Senate Republicans who the nominee is, no matter how far right or left he or she stands. According to Raju, he spoke with Nebraskas own Sen. Deb Fischer and she told him directly its not about the person, its about the president and the voters having a choice this November. It doesnt get more stubborn and obstructionist than that. For one, Obama isnt even really a lame-duck president yet. That term is typically applied to a president who serves out his remaining days in office once a new president is elected in November until Jan. 20, when the next president is sworn in. What this whole fight tells the public is that Washington will continue to play partisan games with each move, no matter the cost to the public. They are more concerned with winning every single petty battle while the American people feel unrepresented and left hanging. This is just one more example why the majority of the public is mad. We elect our politicians to lead and represent us. We dont elect them to spend every waking moment in Washington throwing temper tantrums when they cant get their way. Its no wonder the country is so angry. Countries & Areas Search for country or area A Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan B Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi C Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Cote dIvoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia D Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic E Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia F Fiji Finland France G Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana H Haiti Holy See Honduras Hungary I Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy J Jamaica Japan Jordan K Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan L Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg M Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique N Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway O Oman P Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Q Qatar R Republic of the Congo Romania Russia Rwanda S Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria T Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu U Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan V Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Y Yemen Z Zambia Zimbabwe A missile fell on Friday, in the perimeter of the Kandahar military base of Afghanistan; there were no victims or material damages, the National Defence Ministry (MApN) informs. "On Friday, February 26, an alarm was triggered for missile attack in the Kandahar military base of Afghanistan. According to the first data, around 17,45 Romania's time, a missile fell in the base perimeter. The incident did not result in any victims or material damages," the National Defence Ministry informs in a release to AGERPRES According to the MApN, the entire base staff took shelter, according to the procedures, in the specially fitted areas."The the National Defence Ministry is constantly monitoring both the conduct of the missions by Romanian military and the measures and security procedures in the respective cases. Romania has approximately 600 servicemen deployed to Afghanistan," the MApN release also reads. Michael Uthoff has retired as executive director of Dance St. Louis, the organization announced Saturday. Uthoff, 72, will remain in his other position as artistic director through the end of the 2015-2016 season. After that, he will continue with Dance St. Louis in an advisory capacity. He joined the organization in 2006, succeeding executive director Sally Brayley Bliss. I am truly, truly thankful for having 10 years to do things that I hadnt done, Uthoff said, adding that relinquishing his posts doesnt mean Ive retired from life. And Im not retiring from my love for dance at all. A native of Chile, he is also a choreographer and a former principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet. The upcoming Dance St. Louis season, starting in the fall, is pretty much what I had suggested it should be, Uthoff said. In a statement, Jennifer Davis, board president of Dance St. Louis, praised Uthoff for his leadership. Michaels innovation brought great creative energy to Dance St. Louis during the past 10 years, she said. That approach, she added, helped generate a new awareness and passion for high-quality dance, with both local companies and audiences who have enjoyed Dance St. Louis presentations from around the world. The board has appointed Janet Brown as interim executive director. Brown has been the organizations operations and education director since 2006. We look forward to a seamless transition working with Janet Brown, as we continue to celebrate our 50th season, and prepare for the next 50 years of Dance St. Louis, Davis said in the statement. During his time as artistic and executive director, Uthoff created two annual events: the Spring to Dance Festival, held during the Memorial Day weekend and featuring 30 prominent dance companies, and New Dance Horizons, a showcase in which local companies and nationally known choreographers premiere new work. Have you read Jason Berrys book? He wrote about the Gauthe case, an abuse survivor asks the team of investigative reporters featured in a movie. It is just a single line of dialogue from Spotlight, up for Best Picture and five other Academy Awards on Sunday, but the line could be a movie in itself. Its an allusion to an entire unknown chapter in the history of the Catholic Church sex abuse scandals: the role of the National Catholic Reporter in first uncovering the clerical conspiracy to shield abusing priests. The survivor, Phil Saviano as portrayed by Neal Huff, holds up a copy of Berrys 1992 book, Lead Us Not Into Temptation: Catholic Priests and the Sexual Abuse of Children, which expanded on Berrys reporting for the Times of Acadiana in partnership with NCR. The June 7, 1985, edition of NCR was earth-shattering. Berry whose child had recently been baptized Catholic published a lengthy piece on the Rev. Gilbert Gauthes sexual crimes and their concealment by the highest clerical authorities in Gauthes diocese in Lafayette, La. In the same issue, reporter Arthur Jones detailed the concealment of pedophile priests in the U.S., and NCR wrote an editorial accusing American Catholic bishops of systemic inaction and silence. The concealment of pedophiles reminded me of the Watergate coverup, Berry said in a recent essay, recalling how he felt when he first dug up reports of guilty priests other than Gauthe being shuffled around the Lafayette diocese. In its 1985 expose, NCR laid bare the two essential outrages of the crisis: the scope of the abuse and the magisterial heights from which it was concealed. Berrys and Jones reporting in that issue loosed a flood of testimonials from abuse survivors throughout America, many of which were later reported for the first time. By the time The Boston Globe succeeded in bringing the scandal to the attention of the entire world, NCR had been doggedly covering the story for 17 years, often alone. Secular publications, including The New York Times and The Nation, wouldnt go near the topic. Even the rest of the Catholic press stayed silent. NCR is an independent, nonprofit publication, staffed by lay people, neither owned nor controlled by the Catholic Church, with a paid circulation of about 35,000. What it lacks in scale, it makes up for in editorial independence, expert reporting and risk-taking in pursuit of the truth. Berry said recently that without NCRs financial backing, he would not have had the finances to finish his investigations. The story might have taken many more years to come to light, he said, or might never have come to light at all. Because of its refusal to back down in its coverage of the crisis, NCR lost a prominent board member and droves of subscribers, and suffered intense pressure from civil and church authorities. Spotlight and the events it dramatizes deserve every bit of attention and praise they are receiving. But it is important to remember the limits of cinematic storytelling. Feature films cannot possibly convey the full scope of historical events. By condensing whole groups of people into a few composite characters, and reducing conflicts to a binary struggle between good and evil, filmmakers sacrifice fact for story, and leave us with a kind of after-image of the truth. Spotlight understandably stays close to the crisis as it unfolded in Boston, getting its narrative drive from the struggles of the Globes investigative team. The film does make passing references to the earlier work of smaller Boston publications, The Phoenix and The Patriot Ledger, but it leaves out the crucial fact that it was a vigilant Catholic publication, NCR, which first told the truth about an issue that would transform the Catholic Church and the lives of its members around the world. NCRs work embodies the virtues of robust print journalism, especially investigative reporting. Though most Americans get their news from TV and the web, 61 percent of substantive new information in the media still originates from the newsrooms of print publications, according to a 2010 Pew study of the media ecosystem. And in an era when economic pressure has forced general interest publications to lay off their specialty reporters, we need niche publications such as NCR more than ever, to pursue the truth and provide context and deeper understanding when crises become common knowledge. William F. Baker, director of the Bernard L. Schwartz Center for Media, Public Policy and Education at Fordham University, is a voting member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. This commentary first appeared in USA Today. WASHINGTON Women who inserted a vaginal ring coated with an anti-AIDS drug once a month were partially protected against HIV infection, researchers said last month as they released long-awaited results from two large studies in Africa. The ring proved safe although the protection was modest, reducing overall HIV infection by less than a third. Surprisingly, the ring worked far better in women 25 and older, leaving researchers wondering if the youngest women, who got little to no benefit, simply didnt use the device properly. Women make up more than half of the nearly 37 million people worldwide living with HIV, most of them in hard-hit Africa, and scientists have long sought tools to help them protect themselves when their partners wont use a condom. Despite questions, the studies raise, the nonprofit International Partnership for Microbicides said it considered the results promising enough to seek appropriate regulatory approval for wider use in parts of Africa. You cant just say, Until something is perfect, were going to wait, said Dr. Zeda Rosenberg, founding chief executive officer of IPM. We have to give women options. For a woman to have a prevention tool that she can control is an incredibly important goal, added Dr. Jared Baeten of the University of Washington, who led a National Institutes of Health-funded study of the ring. I want rings, pills and other strategies to be on the shelf for women so they can make choices for whats going to work for them. Aside from condoms, HIV prevention tools include taking a daily anti-AIDS pill. That so-called pre-exposure prophylaxis isnt widely available in poor countries, and other attempts at HIV-blocking vaginal gels havent yet panned out. But the age disparity found in the vaginal ring studies is so puzzling that the NIH plans to consult with outside experts on next research steps. Its going to be absolutely critical to determine if the younger women really didnt follow instructions, or if there was some biological difference, cautioned Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of NIHs National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Vaginal rings are sold in the U.S. for birth control, but the anti-AIDS version tested in Africa contained no contraception. Instead, it slowly oozes an experimental virus-blocking drug named dapivirine into the surrounding vaginal tissue. Women would replace the ring once a month, when it was time for another dose. Two studies involving more than 4,500 women in Africa are comparing women who used the dapivirine ring with those given an identical-looking but drug-free version. It offered modest protection, reducing by 27 percent to 31 percent the participants overall risk of HIV. But closer inspection of the large NIH-funded ASPIRE study in Malawi, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe turned up something odd. Ring users who were 25 and older were 61 percent less likely to be infected while those ages 18 to 21 essentially got no benefit, Baeten said. Though the ring is designed to stay in place for an entire month before being replaced, there are signs that the younger women didnt use it as regularly, said Baeten, whose results also were published online in the New England Journal of Medicine. He said women had to get comfortable with the how to use a device theyd never seen before, but those who used the ring continuously saw protection that continued throughout the 2-year study. The ring must be used consistently to achieve protection, the IPMs Annalene Nel said as she discussed the second study, called the Ring Study. Conducted in South Africa and Uganda, that study likewise showed a trend toward greater protection for women over 21, she said. Though that study isnt completed yet, the IPM said South African regulators asked researchers to switch all the remaining study participants to the dapivirine-coated ring rather than the placebo version. Early studies of those daily anti-AIDS pills also found less protection in younger people, who did better at sticking with the tablets only after their effectiveness was proven, said Mitchell Warren, executive director of AVAC, which advocates for a range of HIV prevention tools. He said there was a global imperative to answer remaining questions about the ring. HAZELWOOD Three men were charged with murder Friday in last weekends fatal shooting of an Illinois woman on a highway in Hazelwood. The men were arrested without incident in the death of Emma King Wallace. Wallace, 37, of Centralia, was killed Sunday on Interstate 270 near North Lindbergh Boulevard. She and her friends were believed to have just left a nightclub. Tony T. Bailey, 21, and Jerrod Corley, 25, both of the 10000 block of Dorothy Avenue in Riverview, and Leroy Coleman, 20, of the 3500 block of Colonial Avenue in Beverly Hills, were charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault, armed criminal action and shooting from a vehicle. They were being held Friday without bail. Coleman was arrested Sunday on unrelated drug and unlawful use of a weapon charges from 2015. But police have said he is a suspect in a carjacking Feb. 19 in which three children were sleeping in the backseat of their familys car while their father shopped inside a Schnucks store. Police believe Coleman forced the childrens mother out of the vehicle at gunpoint, kidnapping the children before letting them go and fleeing in the stolen vehicle. In the incident Sunday, Wallace was riding in the front passenger seat of a Jeep about 2 a.m. when shots were fired from a stolen Mercedes-Benz that pulled alongside. The Mercedes was recovered shortly after the shooting, abandoned on Target Drive off of New Halls Ferry Road in north St. Louis County. Police said it had been taken in a carjacking at a Sauget gas station about 10:30 p.m. Saturday. The three others in the Jeep with Wallace were two men and a woman. They were all wounded, although police did not give details about the extent of the injuries. The male driver took them to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Hazelwood Lt. Mike Brady, deputy commander of the Major Case Squad, said the shooter had had a previous dispute with one of the men in Wallaces group stemming from an incident that happened about a year ago. He wouldnt elaborate on the nature of that incident but said Wallace had been dating one of the men riding inside the targeted car. These two crossed paths and it ignited, Brady said. There was nothing that happened in the bar at all. Two of the other victims have been released from the hospital, but a third remains. Wallace worked at a McDonalds restaurant in Nashville, Ill., and as a hairdresser for area funeral homes. She was the mother of two sons, ages 11 and 16, and lived across the street from her mother. Its just unbelievable what happened, said a cousin, Malena McGee, who grew up in Centralia. Emma was just a loving person. She was like a living legend in our town. Theres nobody she wouldnt welcome in our town. She had an open home to all of her cousins, sisters, aunts. McGee, who now lives in Milwaukee, said Wallace had told her family Saturday that she was going to a mall to get her nails done in preparation for a concert the next night. McGee said Wallace was out with her boyfriend and two others. We dont know what happened, McGee said We just want to know the truth. Major Case Squad investigators told reporters early on that they believed the victims, friends in their 20s and 30s, had just left Jays Classic Bar & Grill, 7217 North Lindbergh Boulevard. A funeral for Wallace will be at 1 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 27, 2016) at New Bethel Baptist Church in Centralia. Visitation is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Friday (Feb. 26, 2016) at Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home in Centralia. BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS Two men with big arms and sweat-stained shirts wheeled the piano into the living room of Yvette Martins home on Norchester Drive. She had cleared a space along the far wall, where a console table used to sit. The piano was barely recognizable, its appearance greatly enhanced from just a few weeks earlier. The 65-year-old piano had fallen on hard times. Its future did not look promising. But on this warm Saturday in February, it emerged from under moving blankets looking like new. And the pianos sound? Mellow and warm, said Royce, Martins 16-year-old son, as he played Scott Joplins Elite Syncopations. His mother sat on the couch, shaking her head. From nothing to this, Yvette Martin said of her sons playing, which started just under two years ago. I cant even explain it. Its such an amazing story to me. The piano that had seemed headed for the landfill 18 months ago was now in the hands of a promising young musician who wanted to advance what his teachers have called through-the-roof talent. But buying a piano was out of reach for the Martins. I really want to play, Royce told his mom time and again. OK, Royce, but we dont have that kind of money for that. We just dont have that money. If God wants you to have it, it will happen for you. In need of attention The Janssen console piano, built in 1950, sat in the Granite City home of Suzanne and Michael Halbrook for about 12 years. It was given to them by a friend who knew that Michael was music director at his church and thought it could be of value to him. The Halbrooks didnt want to turn away a free piano, but as soon as they got it they realized it was in need of some attention. The keys didnt work that great; it wasnt tuned the best, Suzanne Halbrook said. It did its job when it had to, but it was not the best. Less than a year ago, the Halbrooks got a digital piano, leaving the fate of the old Janssen uncertain, especially with their musically inclined sons, 10 and 8, more interested in the flute and violin. Michael Halbrook used to work at Rodgers Townsend, an advertising agency in downtown St. Louis. He knew that agency co-founder Tom Townsend had started a program pairing unwanted pianos with those who would like one but for whom the cost was out of reach. The Halbrook piano made its way into the Pianos for People program in October 2014. It was in such poor shape that it was relegated to a back room often referred to as the morgue. I could do that The desire to play piano erupted in Royce Martin. In March 2014, the teen was watching music videos with his sister. John Legend was at the piano playing his hit All of Me. I could do that, Royce told his sister, Rachelle. Rachelle, now 17, had an electric keyboard she requested for Christmas, but I didnt connect at all, she said. Royce began pecking. It wasnt providing the sound that Legend made in the piano-centric ballad that has become a wedding staple. But it didnt stop Royce from trying. Royce attends Grand Center Arts Academy, a charter school in midtown St. Louis that draws youths with interest in visual and performing arts. The sophomore lives during the week with relatives in the city, allowing him to attend the school. At the academy, across the street from Powell Hall, home to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Royce was playing percussion instruments in band but asked if he could start playing piano. Soon, he was coming into school on Mondays playing songs he had memorized from the radio over the weekend. He watched YouTube videos focusing on the hand movements of piano players. He began writing his own music. When he practices, it is for hours at a time, said Damen Martin, Royces orchestra teacher and no relation to the teen. Any time I walk down the hall and I hear the piano and its substantially good, I say: Its either Royce or a teacher. He is one of the few students here who has a real gift. Prodigy status. Change in priorities The nonprofit Pianos for People, on Cherokee Street, was formed in December 2012 to honor another young talent. Two years earlier, Alex Townsend, a student at the Savannah College of Art and Design, was killed in a car crash. He was 21. His father, Tom Townsend, who had built one of the areas largest advertising agencies, saw what can happen when a teen who never quite fit in was allowed to express himself in imaginative ways. Alex was like a lot of young, creative kids who have years in middle school and high school where they are the round peg in the square hole, Townsend said. Not being an athlete and not being a straight-A student, his world was creating things. Alex, who was studying graphic design, played piano and drums. His father co-founded Pianos for People with Patricia Eastman, Alexs piano teacher when he was a boy. Creating a program like Pianos for People was something Townsend, a blues and jazz pianist, had long wanted to do, but my advertising career had me very, very busy. When Alex died, priorities changed. Townsend took time away from the advertising agency to teach at Savannah College. He started an annual arts and music festival in Savannah in honor of his son. Saturday marked the sixth year. Townsend looked more deeply at a way to match unwanted pianos with those who could not afford them. You dont follow an event like that without some change in your life, said Townsend, who left the agency in June 2014. I said, Im going to do that piano thing Ive always wanted to do and started looking for others who might have interest. 2,000 working parts A charity centered around used pianos is rife with potential problems. For starters, it involves a massive instrument, difficult to move. Townsend needed someone familiar with pianos to help with pickup and delivery. He called Jackson Pianos in the Central West End. Owner Joe Jackson said he was happy to help with the heavy lifting but stressed that the donated pianos would need some work. A piano is huge and incredibly complex, with more than 2,000 working parts, Jackson said. Piano repairs can cost several hundred dollars. Giving a free piano to a family with limited means without refurbishing it first is just passing trash along, he said. Its a recipe for failure. Jackson said he would assist with repairs, as well. Jackson Pianos does the work at a reduced cost as its contribution to Pianos for People. At his shop, Jackson maintains a kind of hierarchy, based on the condition of pianos. Those in bad shape tend to fall to the bottom of the donation list. We keep some instruments around like organ donors and harvest pieces from them, he said. These pianos are kept in a cluttered, windowless room in the back of the shop, a place Jackson refers to as the morgue. The old Janssen donated by the Halbrooks landed there. It was saved from being picked apart but sat neglected for more than a year as Jackson focused on other donated pianos that needed less attention. This month, Jackson turned the light on in the morgue. It was time for the old Janssen to shine. He installed a new base bridge. The hammers were reshaped, the action recalibrated and the pitch of the harp corrected. And after a good cleaning and a tuning, it was ready for its budding prodigy. Free lessons Pianos for People has now donated about 150 pianos. Delivery has slowed in the past year to about two a month from one a week, so the nonprofit could shift some of its expenses toward offering free piano lessons. Since the fall of 2014, classes have been offered to all ages in a renovated storefront on Cherokee. Like the piano donation program, eligibility for lessons is based on household income. With an annual budget of $130,000, Townsend said Pianos for People could not keep up the renovation and delivery pace while starting a piano lessons program. As a result, the nonprofit has put a temporary hold on accepting pianos. The classes offered to about 80 people of all ages are a natural progression of the nonprofits mission, Townsend said. If kids have a piano but no access to lessons, the instrument likely will become little more than another piece of furniture. A piano from the program landing in the hands of someone like Royce is just what Townsend intended. A lot of what this is about is getting music as an option in front of young people before they find themselves without something that feels good to believe in. A beautiful journey Royce says he cant stop thinking about music. It keeps him awake at night, and it has recently been a challenge to concentrate on his schooling. But there is so much music to learn, and to create, he said in his defense. He loves classical, especially Beethoven, and has recently been listening to Benny Goodman and jazz pianist Oscar Peterson. He also admires the construction of classic rock songs. To make his point, he begins playing Hotel California by the Eagles on a piano in the lobby of his school, his floppy hair trying to find the rhythm. My mom wishes Id play more gospel, but gospel and classical dont mix, he says with a slight smile. He is proud of how far he has come and cant wait to see where more practice takes him. I wish I had more time. If I can learn this much in two years, imagine where Ill be in five years, Royce said. After a beat, he begins to play an original composition. Its called A Beautiful Journey. Royces mom cant believe his passion. All he wants to do is play. He tells me: Mom, Im going to be the next Beethoven. I tell him: If you have the mindset, you will be. It was Damen Martin, Royces orchestra teacher, who found out about Pianos for People and encouraged Royce and his mother to apply. He has seen the talent unfold. Now, with a piano in his home, Royce has created anticipation in those watching him blossom. This piano is going to change his life. ST. LOUIS COUNTY One year to the day after Tom Schweichs suicide sent shock waves through Missouri politics that are still being felt, the chairman of the state Republican Party vowed Friday that the wounds of the contentious GOP gubernatorial nominating campaign would be healed immediately after the Aug. 2 primary. The Missouri GOPs annual Lincoln Days convention this weekend at the Sheraton Westport Chalet brings together Republican officials and activists from all over the state to rally the troops and brainstorm on election-year strategy. State Republican Chairman John Hancock noted in remarks to Fridays dinner gathering that weve had a little trouble coming together after the primary was over. The in-party fight has also included anonymous and perhaps illegal negative digital ads, and secretly recorded phone calls between two candidates. But Hancock told the crowd that he met Friday with all four GOP gubernatorial candidates, and they all pledged to meet the Thursday after the primary election to show unity behind whoever wins. The opening day of the two-day gathering took place on the one-year anniversary of the suicide of Schweich, a leading GOP gubernatorial candidate who shot himself after alleging that Hancock and other Republicans had engaged in a smear campaign against him. Neither Hancock nor other speakers mentioned Schweich or the continuing controversy surrounding his death. Two gubernatorial candidates, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder and retired Navy SEAL Eric Greitens, addressed the assembly. The remaining two, former Missouri House Speaker Catherine Hanaway and businessman John Brunner, were scheduled to speak Saturday night. Kinder, who in the past has campaigned in urban and minority areas not usually targeted by Republicans, urged the others to do the same, saying Democratic policy failures were glaring in those neighborhoods. Go into the precincts where Republicans dont usually do that well and ask for the vote, he said. It can be done we can take our campaigns to those precincts. Greitens highlighted the need for ethics reform in Jefferson City addressing a room that contained some of the very state lawmakers who have gutted pending ethics legislation in recent days. He chided the consultants and the lobbyists and the insiders who have hijacked state government. People want us to restore faith in government, he said. Hanaway, listening from the audience, said her remarks on Saturday would focus on law-and-order issues that have been a central theme to her campaign. We have to have safety in our streets whether its the riots in Ferguson, the rising murder rate in the city of St. Louis or the unrest at the University of Missouri, she said. We have to have a governor who supports law enforcement. Brunner said he would use his remarks to hammer at his message of the need for an economy-focused administration in Jefferson City. The No. 1 issue in Missouri is jobs and the economy, he said. If you have jobs, you provide hope. Thats the answer to Ferguson, thats the answer to the entire state. Brunner and Greitens in particular have been at odds on the campaign trail, with Greitens alleging Brunner is behind anonymous smear ads against him, and Brunner catching Greitens on tape in an angry, arguably threatening phone conversation with him. The eventual GOP primary winner will most likely face Democratic Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster in the Nov. 8 general election. Fridays keynote speaker was U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark. Cotton joked that he supports Bernie Sanders as the Democratic presidential nominee over Hillary Clinton, because in choice between two socialists . . . wouldnt you rather choose the socialist whos not facing multiple FBI investigations? The convention continues Saturday. JEFFERSON CITY If you drive a car or buy alcohol, you probably need a photo ID. So shouldnt you have one to vote? It depends on whom you ask. Partisan divisions are clear as the Missouri Senate takes up a proposal to require photo ID at the polls. The bill passed out of the GOP-dominated House in January on a party-line vote. While Republicans say requiring photo identification is necessary to ensure integrity at the ballot box, Democrats characterize the proposals as an attack on minorities, students and poor people voters less likely to have a valid ID and more likely to support Democrats. The Missouri Secretary of States office estimates that 225,000 registered voters in the state lack a photo ID. Strict photo voter ID bills are popular in GOP-controlled states. A new study out of the University of California, San Diego suggests that the strictest voter ID laws can reduce participation of strong liberals by up to 10.7 points compared with states without the laws. (Participation among strong conservatives also drops, but only by 2.8 points, the researchers found.) Courts rulings on voter photo ID laws have been mixed. A photo voter ID bill was signed into law in Missouri in 2006 by then-Gov. Matt Blunt, a Republican, but the state Supreme Court struck it down, saying it represented a heavy and substantial burden on voters. Laws in Pennsylvania and Arkansas have also been struck down by state courts. The U.S. Supreme Court, on the other hand, has allowed laws in Texas, Indiana and Wisconsin to take effect. (The 2011 Texas law is undergoing another court challenge but is still being enforced.) Confusion over new rules has also led to problems. A study from the University of Houston and Rice University suggests that confusion over Texas law reduced turnout among Hispanics in the 2014 midterm elections. But backers of Missouris proposal say theyve woven in enough protections to avoid confusion and have exempted certain groups more likely not to have IDs. I want to make sure there is enough provisions and safeguards in there to where we can make sure that everyone that is eligible to cast a ballot can, said state Rep. Justin Alferman, R-Hermann and the bills sponsor. There is not a single voter ID bill in the entire United States that has been as thought-out as this bill has. Alferman says his bill creates exemptions for people with physical or mental disabilities, people born before 1946 and people with religious beliefs against having their photos taken. In addition, the state would pay for IDs and any source documents such as birth certificates needed to obtain one. The state would also pay to advertise the new law, to avoid confusion at the polls. The estimated cost over three years: $16.6 million. Alferman disputes the price tag. He says the 225,000 head count of voters without ID is inflated and outdated, coming from Secretary of State Jason Kander, who is a Democrat. Still, Democrats use the cost to illustrate how the state may spend millions on a problem that studies suggest doesnt really exist. Rep. Mike Colona, D-St. Louis, took issue with it in January on the House floor when Republicans used their veto-proof majority to muscle the bill along to the Senate. Wheres the money going to come from? Colona asked. Do you want to take it from education? Do you want to take it from mental health? ... Do you want to take it away from the Department of Conservation? A team of journalists at Arizona State University studied in-person voter impersonation fraud cases in which someone pretends to be someone else at the polls in 2012. They found only 10 cases nationwide since 2000. Another researcher, Justin Levitt, at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, counted only 31 credible cases out of more than 1 billion ballots cast between 2000 and 2014. Regardless, the Senate could take up Alfermans bill as early as next week, where state Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, has vowed to lead a filibuster to stop it. This years proposal comes in two parts. Alfermans bill will need to win passage of its own but will go into effect only if voters approve a constitutional amendment requiring voter photo ID. The House has sent a resolution to the Senate, that, if passed, would put the proposed amendment on the ballot. Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, would then decide to place the question on either the August or November ballots. Nasheed, who believes voter ID bills are designed to drive down black voter turnout, said that putting voter ID on the ballot would have the opposite effect. If they pass this, theyre going to see a higher percentage of black voters turn out, Nasheed said. Its going to backfire. The measures are House Bill 1631 and House Joint Resolution 53. MOSHAV UDIM, Israel The death of Samuel Willenberg, 93, marks the passing of the last known survivor of the daring revolt at Treblinka, the notorious death camp in occupied Poland that is perhaps the most vivid example of Nazi Germanys attempt to destroy European Jewry. But the death of Willenberg, who was buried Monday, also symbolizes a looming transition in the field of Holocaust commemoration, as historians and educators prepare for a world without survivors and the challenge of maintaining the memory of the Nazi genocide without the aid of those who witnessed it. Willenberg, one of just 67 men known to have survived Treblinka after a revolt, devoted his final years to preserving the memory of more than 875,000 people systematically murdered in a one-year killing spree there at the height of World War II. He was a frequent public speaker, wrote a book that was translated into eight languages and led dozens of youth missions to the remnants of the destroyed camp in Poland. Later in life, he took to sculpting to describe his experiences, and his bronze statues reflected what he saw prisoners standing on a train platform, a father removing his sons shoes before entering the gas chambers, a young girl having her head shaved, and prisoners removing bodies. It was his lifes mission. He saw himself as the echo of the murdered, as their loudspeaker. He lived it daily and in many ways he never left Treblinka, said Gideon Greif, chief historian of the Shem Olam institute, who knew Willenberg well. He was committed to making sure that the voices of the victims were not forgotten ... and now that personal element is gone. Hundreds paid homage at Willenbergs funeral in central Israel, including dignitaries from Israel and abroad who recognized the watershed moment of his passing. In his eulogy, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin called him a symbol for an entire generation of heroic Holocaust survivors. Though Israeli authorities say Willenberg was the last survivor to escape in the revolt, the Times of Israel website interviewed a man in Sweden, Leon Rytz, 89, who also says he escaped the death camp at a different time. Contacted late Monday night, Israels Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, which compiles survivor testimonies, said it was not immediately familiar with that case and would look into it. More than 70 years after the war, the window is rapidly closing on the survivors ability to relay their stories. About 180,000 elderly survivors remain in Israel, with a similar number worldwide, but more than 1,000 die each month, and experts predict that within seven years none will be well enough to share anything of significance. That prospect has become the central challenge of Holocaust institutes around the world. An oral history of testimonies has been collected and filmed, original items have been restored and exhibited, and descendants are receiving training on how to carry on their parents stories. There is a huge added value to hearing survivor testimony firsthand, said Naama Egozi, a trainer of teachers at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorials International School of Holocaust Studies. You can read a book or watch a movie, but there is just no substitute to someone who can say I was there. Sheer chance Willenberg was among the most powerful of these witnesses. With a booming voice and a storytellers charisma, he recounted his ordeal in detail in a wide-reaching interview with The Associated Press in 2010, tearing up on several occasions. His two sisters were murdered at the camp, and he described his own survival as sheer chance. It wasnt because of God. He wasnt there. He was on vacation, he said. Along with the lesser known Belzec and Sobibor camps, Treblinka was designed with the sole intention of exterminating Jews, as opposed to others that had at least a facade of being prison or labor camps. Treblinkas victims were transported there in cattle cars and gassed to death almost immediately upon arrival. Only a select few most of them young, strong men such as Willenberg, who was 20 at the time were assigned to maintenance work instead. In all, the Nazis and their collaborators killed about 6 million Jews and others during the Holocaust. The death toll at Treblinka was second only to Auschwitz a concentration camp where more than a million people died in gas chambers or from starvation, disease and forced labor. Stays in my head On Aug. 2, 1943, Willenberg joined a group of prisoners who stole some weapons, set fire to the camp and headed to the woods. Hundreds fled, but most were shot and killed by Nazi troops or captured by Polish villagers who returned them. The survivors became the only source of knowledge about Treblinka, because the Nazis all but destroyed it in a frantic bid to cover their tracks. All that remains today are a series of concrete slabs representing the train tracks and mounds of gravel with a memorial of stone tablets representing lost communities. Willenberg was shot in the leg during the escape and kept running, ignoring dead friends in his path. He said his blue eyes and non-Jewish look allowed him to survive in the countryside before arriving in Warsaw and joining the Polish underground. It never leaves me, he said in 2010. It stays in my head. It goes with me always. Captured Boko Haram men report growing morale problems. Many members oppose the current strategy of carrying out bombing attacks against any target that can be reached. Until late 2015 the Boko Haram mainly attacked the security forces, government officials, non-Moslems and non-religious schools. All those targets are now much better protected and Boko Haram leadership goes after targets it can reach rather than suffer a lot of failed attacks. Now the victims tend to be Moslem women and children and that has caused more Boko Haram men to criticize their leadership (a dangerous move) or desert (also dangerous but less so). Going after the corrupt government and non-Moslems attracted a lot of recruits, and still does. But over a year of defeats and much improved security around acceptable targets has left Boko Haram with few alternatives to targeting whatever victims they could hit This often includes market places or refugee camps and a disproportionate number of victims are women and children. The raiding and looting is one thing, because even Holy Warriors have to live. But killing Moslem women and children has always been a hard sell for Islamic terrorist leaders and is usually a warning sign that a particular Islamic terrorist group is on its way out. Thats because this mindless mayhem means it can no longer get enough new recruits to replace losses and also turns helpful civilian populations into hostile ones. This is what happened to al Qaeda in Iraq during 2005-7 and the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan a little later. It happened to al Shabaab in Somalia about the same time and to Islamic terrorists in Egypt and Algeria during the 1990s. This pattern keeps repeating itself because the leadership of Islamic terror groups tends to be the most fanatic and ruthless members who also have some leadership skills. But the bulk of their followers are less psychotic. Islamic terrorist leaders do not believe in history, only what they interpret as the will of God. Another source of plunging morale is how Boko Haram recruits a lot of its current suicide bombers. These are often kidnapped teenage girls who are brainwashed into believing that God wants them to be suicide bombers and that this will get them right into the afterlife paradise. Those who resist this indoctrination are killed, often in front of other young women. It is one thing for a young Moslem man or woman volunteering to be a suicide bomber, but this brutal method of coercing and using girls who remind many young men of their sisters or cousins has backfired within Boko Haram. There are enough (from a few hundred to a few thousand) very active Boko Haram still roaming the countryside in the northeast to prevent most of the nearly three million refugees from returning home and reviving the local economy. Tracking down and killing or capturing the remaining Boko Haram is a time-consuming, tedious and dangerous process. The non-refugee population up there is usually guarded by local self-defense volunteers. These groups are a good source of intel but are also believed to be killing locals suspected to being Boko Haram supporters. Many Moslems in the northeast still believe in the idea of Boko Haram (Islamic zealots eliminating the corruption and non-Moslems from the northeast) but tend to keep quiet about it. These supporters comprise less than ten percent of the population but are essential sources of information and other support for the remaining Islamic terrorists out there. It is getting ugly, as it usually does in situations like this. As long as people keep hearing of Boko Haram raids and bombings the bad behavior will persist. Boko Haram is definitely not doing well, and there are pictures to prove it. The air force and the United States have been carrying out intense aerial surveillance in northeast Nigeria (especially Borno state) for over a year and can find no evidence of large Boko Haram camps and not a lot of smaller ones. This is why the government, in late 2015, declared Boko Haram defeated. Technically, that was true. Boko Haram had lost most of the territory it controlled in northeast Nigeria, lost all its large bases and suffered heavy personnel losses. Boko Haram leadership knew that they had to demonstrate that the Islamic terrorist organization was still around and the best way to do that was to carry out spectacular attacks that killed a lot of people. That got attention in the media, which is what Islamic terrorist groups need for recruiting and fund raising. As diminished as Boko Haram was it could still kill people and stay in the news. That embarrassed the government and made it clear that defeating Boko Haram was not enough. Near total destruction was required and that would take longer. This was especially true as long as the widespread corruption found all over Nigeria persisted. The government admits that Boko Haram will remain a threat in the northeast through the rest of 2016. And the implication was that the mess up there could linger for years. Many Nigerians see corruption as being the major problem with the military ineffectiveness against Boko Haram. When this corruption problem is actually measured Nigeria finds that, while it is not the most corrupt nation in the world (that would be a tie between North Korea and Somalia) Nigeria is among the 40 most corrupt nations on the planet. Nigeria is 136 on the list of 175 nations. In 2013 Nigeria was 144, so there has been some improvement. Corruption in this Transparency International Corruption Perception Index is measured on a 1 (most corrupt) to 100 (not corrupt) scale. The three most corrupt nations have a rating of 8 and the least corrupt (New Zealand and Denmark) are 91. African nations are the most corrupt, followed by Middle Eastern ones. February 24, 2016: In the northeast (Borno state) soldiers defeated a Boko Haram attack on a refugee camp using three suicide bombers and over fifty gunmen. The suicide bombers were stopped before they could cause a lot of casualties and 23 of the gunmen were shot dead before the rest fled. One soldier was killed by gunfire. In the south, off the coast, the navy regained control of an offshore oil well supply ship that pirates had just taken. The pirates managed to escape, taking two captives (a Russian and a Nigerian) with them to hold for ransom. Since 2013 Nigeria has replaced Somalia as the scene of most annual pirate attacks. February 20, 2016: In the south, off the coast, the navy recaptured an oil tanker that pirates had just taken. One pirate was killed by the armed sailors and six arrested. Two of the pirates managed to escape, taking two captives (a Pakistani and an Indian) with them to hold for ransom. February 19, 2016: In neighboring Cameroon four Boko Haram suicide bombers made two attacks. The one on a market left 22 dead and over a hundred wounded. The second attack, on a school, failed when the two bombers were detected and responded by detonating their explosives and killing only themselves. February 17, 2016: In the northeast (Borno state) troops found and raided a mobile marketplace operated by Boko Haram. Sort of a thieves market where the Islamic terrorists sold off stolen goods they did not need. This includes a lot of consumer goods, livestock and slaves. This raid left over twenty Boko Haram dead and several others captured. Troops also found and liberated 195 Boko Haram captives. This is the third such Boko Haram market the security forces have found and shut down so far in February. These mobile markets are great in theory but only work if those (mainly criminals or corrupt officials) invited to come and buy or trade keep quiet. That does not happen and worse, the security forces are always looking for these markets and have rapid reaction forces ready to move before the mobile markets can move or disperse. Sometimes the markets are not mobile but traditional rural markets that have been temporarily taken over by Boko Haram and local criminals. While there are obviously some local criminals who are fine with this there are just too many civilians who are not and willing to inform the security forces. February 14, 2016: Somalia admitted that Boko Haram had some members who were trained in Somalia by al Shabaab. It was not made clear if this was still going on. Probably not because Al Shabaab and Boko Haram have gone in different directions. Boko Haram has aligned itself with ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) while al Shabaab remains loyal to ISIL arch-enemy al Qaeda. Moreover in early 2015 defectors and captured al Shabaab members reported that that groups leaders were dismayed that other Islamic terror groups like ISIL in Syria and Boko Haram in Nigeria are crowding al Shabaab out of the media. Al Shabaab needs that media attention for fund raising and recruiting, both of which were (and still are) in decline for other reasons as well. Al Shabaab is seen as less attractive to Somali expatriates seeking to become Islamic terrorists. In part thats because al Shabaab made itself very unpopular inside Somalia because of how the mistreated civilians, many of whom had kin in the West. This unpopularity made it easier for the UN and AU to get a peacekeeping force in and build a new Somali Army and government. February 11, 2016: In the northeast (Borno state) troops from Cameroon, in cooperation with Nigeria, crossed the border and spent three days fighting a large number of Boko Haram who had set up a number of supply, training and support (bomb making and suicide bomber indoctrination) operations 10-20 kilometers from the border. Over 160 Boko Haram members were killed, as well as two Cameroon soldiers. Several hundred captives (Nigerian and Cameroonian) were freed (after giving what information they could about Boko Haram operations). Many of these Boko Haram had been operating inside Cameroon but were chased out. The Cameroon security forces knew that the surviving Islamic terrorists would come back in if they got the chance but after exchanging intelligence with the Nigeria the Nigerian government allowed Cameroon to send in its troops to deal this this group. Despite this operation Boko Haram still gets into Cameroon, usually to carry out suicide bomb attacks on civilians. These attacks are not as frequent as they used to be but enough to convince Cameroon to keep a large force of troops and police in the thinly populated north. February 9, 2016: In the northeast (Borno state) three Boko Haram female suicide bombers were sent into a refugee camp to kill as many people as they could. Two of the bombers did so, killing 58 and wounding even more. The third suicide bomber hesitated and was arrested. She provided information that prevented other Boko Haram suicide bombings. One reason the Russians have combat troops in Syria is because this gives Russia a chance to put its post-Cold War military to the test. What the Russians are preparing for is the possibility of clashes between Russian and NATO forces in Eastern Europe. Both NATO and Russia are not sure how their respective post-Cold War forces would do against each other. Most East European nations are preparing for the worst and paying close attention to whatever Russia does in Ukraine and Syria. The most likely targets for Russian invasion are three small nations (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) on the south coast of the Baltic Sea between Russia and Poland. In the 18th century the Baltic States were forcibly incorporated into the expanding Russian empire. They became independent after World War I (1914-18) but were taken over again in 1940. It wasn't until 1991 that the Baltic States regained their independence and they are determined to keep things that way. The Baltic States have only 6.3 million people and fewer than 60,000 active duty troops. Well aware of their vulnerability the three Baltic States along with neighboring Poland joined NATO in 2004. This was done in the hope that the mutual defense terms of the NATO alliance would dissuade Russia. It did that, but it also angered many Russians. Government leaders there, like Vladimir Putin, considered it an act of NATO aggression. All three Baltic States are rapidly upgrading their armed forces and building a reserve army (like Switzerland, Sweden and Israel use) so that in the event of a Russian invasion (or threat of one) enough armed and trained personnel would be deployed to make Russia think twice about going in. The modernization and build up is also considered aggressive by the Russians because given the forces available to Russia and NATO 50,000 or more trained and organized reservists in the Baltic States makes a big difference. In effect, now that Russia has threatened the Baltic States enough to trigger a modernization and expansion of Baltic States forces and for NATO to revise its joint defense plan for the Baltic States, the chances of Russian success are declining. That is why Syria is so important to Russia. The Russian problem is that while they, and all other European nations greatly reduced their armed forces after the Cold War ended in 1991, Russian forces were hurt most of all. The forces of the now defunct Soviet Union were, by the end of the 1990s, were reduced to 20 percent of their Cold War size. Worse, very little new equipment was purchased for about 15 years after 1991. And a lot of the Cold War era weapons and equipment were questionable even when new. Not only had Russian forces shrank but they had less training (no money for it) and less capable officers (the best ones left for more lucrative and fulfilling civilian jobs). Since 2005 Russia has been trying to modernize its forces while also providing adequate training and better leadership. It is questionable if the Russians have succeeded. The ground forces can only muster about 55 brigades, compared to 175 divisions (each the equivalent of about two current brigades) and over a hundred reserve divisions in 1990. The Russian reserves disappeared in the 1990s, along with their weapons and equipment. A new, smaller reserve force is now being developed. Military simulations (wargames) of a Russian invasion of the Baltic States indicates that if everything went in Russias favor the Russian troops would overrun the three Baltic States in two or three days. This assumes that NATO only gets about a weeks warning that the Russians are massing forces (20-25 brigades and several hundred aircraft) on the borders of the Baltic States. NATO already has about a dozen infantry brigades ready to be rapidly (by air) moved to the Baltic States in an emergency. Heavier brigades, with tanks and other armored vehicles would take longer to reach the area. The Russians would seek to occupy the Baltic States, and defeat twenty or so combat brigades of the Baltic States and NATO within a few days. This would require Russian air power to be capable of neutralizing NATO air power for a few days. That is a major unknown and one reason Russia has several dozen of its newest warplanes in Syria operating under wartime conditions. But it is still unclear if Russian aircraft and anti-aircraft systems could defeat NATO air power. Russia is also testing new artillery, other weapons, communications and electronic countermeasures gear. All would be used for a go at the Baltics and Russian or NATO simulations of such an attack are much more accurate if you know how new Russian equipment and forces perform under fire. In one area of military innovation Russia has surpassed the United States; reducing bloated and counterproductive general staffs. These are the organizations that do the planning for and senior management of the armed forces. Historically these military bureaucracies, like any large-organization bureaucracy, tend to keep growing unless periodically pruned to an efficient size by a leader forceful enough to get that done. Thus in 2008, after more than a decade of post-Cold War effort Russia managed to reduce the size of their Stavka (general staff of the armed forces). Many senior officers predicted disaster but were dismayed to discover that the August invasion of southern neighbor Georgia (a success) was done with a tiny staff organization put together just for the Georgia operation. The Stavka was not given this task because the Stavka was in the midst of a major downsizing which included moving many of the remaining personnel to new locations. Even in the best of times the Stavka was too bloated with departments and senior generals who could, and often did get in the way. The former KGB (secret police) officers running the government after 1991 were accustomed to moving faster with fewer people and they planned and carried out the Georgia operation the lean KGB way to get it done in time and to make a point to the critics of the Stavka downsizing. At the end of the Cold War the Stavka had grown to nearly 10,000 personnel. Thats more than ten times larger than it was during World War II and many noted that the larger Stavka was far less effective than the leaner wartime version. For more than a century, the plans and operations of the Russian armed forces have been created by the general staff, or Stavka. The Stavka has always been a planning and "thinking" operation but since the end of World War II it became bloated and a bit retro. At the time the Soviet Union imploded in 1991, there were already calls for "doing something" about the Stavka. In 2007 the Russian government finally ordered a long delayed reorganization of the Stavka, something many officers, and civilian military analysts had been urging for some time. But traditionalists were aghast at the loss of thousands of highly skilled (and many high ranking) officers and civilian experts. The exact size of the Stavaka is a state secret, but the best Russian estimates were that his bureaucracy had as many as 10,000 people on the payroll before the downsizing. Meanwhile in the United States a bloated Stavka was quietly emerging. Worse the civilian dominated Office of the Secretary of Defense staff was headed towards a current size of nearly 5,000 people. The actual American Stavka, the Joint Staff was now about 4,000 personnel. This two headed Stavka was not only as large as the pre-downsizing Russian Stavka but less efficient. That was because the Department of Defense staff and the Joint Staff were often competing and coming up with different answers to the same question. There is a downsizing movement building in the United States but the fact that the American Stavka is two bloated and dysfunctional organizations that also compete (usually unsuccessfully) with each other means that downsizing is more difficult to get done. China is apparently preparing to increase economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea. This is in response to recent North Korean missile and nuclear tests and North Korea ignoring Chinese criticism and advice. China is apparently now cracking down on North Korean use of Chinese banks. China has long tolerated North Korea using Chinese banks to avoid a growing list of international sanctions. In northeast China, where a lot of this illegal banking takes place, North Korean bank accounts are being emptied. Some of the cash is being switched to accounts owned by locals who have no obvious connection to North Korea. But a lot of the cash is staying cash and despite the risk of theft or getting caught by the Chinese police, North Korea is preparing to use cash transactions despite China now enforcing banking sanctions. China and Russia both agree that North Korea having nukes is a bad thing but China is more concerned about this than Russia or anyone else. China long refused to back the strict UN sanctions on North Korea believing it could persuade North Korea to behave and fix its economy. The United States has been increasingly public in its criticism of the Chinese approach. Since 2015 China has, with little fanfare, been acting on the American requests. This included more public criticism, via state controlled media, of the North Korean leadership. China quietly cracked down on some of the illegal trade with North Korea resulting in overall trade declining 15 percent in 2015. That did not seem to have any impact. Then in late 2015 China announced that if North Korea continued work on its nuclear and ballistic weapons programs North Korea could no longer depend on support from China if North Korea got involved in a war. To emphasize that point China quietly increased cargo checks and border security on the North Korean border with an emphasis on stopping the North Korean smuggling of weapons and technology that is normally tolerated. North Korea may be able to ignore Chinese criticism but they cannot ignore the special kinds of economic pain China can inflict. So far this year North Korea has responded with another nuclear test and another long range ballistic missile test. There are limits to what can be done. China could cut off all trade, which would cause a major economic crisis in North Korea and China would have to clean up the mess if there were a political collapse in North Korea. Chinese trade is essential for North Korea. While that trade only amounts to about five billion dollars a year, it is over 70 percent of North Korean foreign trade. An even bigger problem is that China has not shipped any petroleum products to North Korea for two years. There has been some smuggling, but China since has been the major source of oil for North Korea since the 1990s. This fuel embargo created major problems for the economy and the military. Officially the North Koreans have not backed off because of these Chinese moves. Unofficially there have been a lot of secret negotiations going on between North Korea and China. Both countries know that they need each other and want to reach some sort of deal but so far the North Koreas see nukes and ballistic missiles as essential for the survival of the ruling Kim dynasty. As a side effect of the North Korean mess China is becoming more hostile to South Korea over missiles defense. Because of the latest North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile tests South Korea has sped up its efforts to obtain and put into service the American THAAD anti-missile system. China and Russia joined North Korea in opposing THAAD. South Korea wants THAAD for protection from North Korean missile attack and has openly rejected Chinese objections, even though China has hinted that failure to drop THAAD might result in less trade with China. That was a signal to South Korean voters to carefully consider the cost of defying China. The Chinese will not come right out and say it but they object mainly because THAAD would also make South Korea less vulnerable to intimidation by Chinese ballistic missiles. South Korean voters understand that so the economic threats are having less impact that China expected. South Korean public opinion polls show voters are even more enthusiastic about the high tech and very expensive (over $100 million per launcher and associated equipment) THAAD system now that North Korea has launched another ballistic missile. South China Sea Arms Race China quietly installed a battery of HQ-9 long range antiaircraft missiles on Woody Island in the South China Sea. The HQ-9 is roughly equivalent to the U.S. Patriot. This is a Chinese designed and manufactured system what was introduced in 2001. While never used in combat it has been noted that HQ-9 appears to have benefitted from data stolen from similar American and Russian systems. The radar apparently derived much technology from that used in the Russian S-300 system. The HQ-9 missile has a max range of about 100 kilometers, weighs 1.3 tons and has a passive (no broadcasting) seeker in the missile. This deployment is apparently an answer to increasing American flights through international air space in the South China Sea that China now claims as Chinese territory. While the presence of the HQ-9 will probably not stop American military flights, commercial aircraft will probably comply with Chinese demands that they ask for permission before flying through the South China Sea. To emphasize that point China also began operating navy warplanes (J-11s and JH-7s) from the air strip on Woody Island. Throughout 2015 the airstrip and facilities on Woody Island were upgraded to handle warplanes. China has also been training its marines to operate in the South China Sea. Chinese marines are not stationed where they could be used for an invasion of Taiwan but in the south, where they can grab disputed islands in the South China Sea. China has also amassed a large fleet of navy and coast guard ships and aircraft in the area. A more public reaction to refusal of foreigners to acknowledge Chinese claims on the South China Sea was seen on February 7th when the Chinese military was ordered to a higher alert level. This is rarely done, especially during the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year in the West). Inside China this higher alert level during the biggest national holiday was seen more as a warning to the military to cooperate with the anti-corruption effort the government has imposed on the military. Corruption and slowed economic growth are the biggest threat for most Chinese and the government is trying to fix both problems without letting it become too obvious that government mismanagement is the main cause of all these problems. Despite all this American military commanders in the Pacific have gone on record that the United States considers North Korea, not China, the biggest military threat in the region. China considers the United States a more immediate threat than North Korea which, no matter what it does, is still a miniscule military threat to China. Other nations bordering the South China Sea are more concerned about the Chinese threat and look to the United States for help. Despite the priority attached to the North Korean threat American military leaders point out that the biggest problem with China is not the growing quantity of Chinese ships and warplanes but the increasing quality of those systems. This is being used to pressure the American government to get into an arms race with China to maintain or improve the American (and Western) military tech advantage. An example of this is the fact that China is developing two stealth warplanes. The 25 ton J-31 first flew in 2012 and the 32 ton J-20 in 2011. There are eight prototypes of the J-20 and apparently at least one pre-production model. Both the J-31 and J-20 are expected to enter service by the end of the decade. Japan is also developing a stealth fighter which, if it is completed, wont enter service until the late 2020s. Russia is developing one as well and hopes to have it in service by the end of the decade. Meanwhile the United States has had stealth warplanes since the 1980s and is the only nation with operational stealth aircraft as well as combat experience with this tech. Counter-Terrorism In southwest Pakistan (near the Iran border) several hundred additional police and soldiers have recently arrived to provide more security for the growing Chinese workforce in Gwadar, a city of 100,000 and site of one of the biggest construction projects in the country. Pakistan has assured China that there would be no terrorist violence against Chinese working on upgrading the port of Gwadar. This is a key part of the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This project began in 2013 when China agreed to spend $18 billion to build a road from Gwadar into northwest China. This will require drilling long tunnels through the Himalayan Mountains on the border (in Pakistani controlled Kashmir.) The road and a natural gas pipeline are part of the larger CPEC project. This will make it much easier and cheaper to move people, data (via fiber optic cables) and goods between China and Pakistan. China also gets a 40 year lease on much of the port facilities at Gwadar, which India fears will serve as a base for Chinese warships. The thousands of Chinese coming into Pakistan for this project will be prime targets for Islamic terrorists and tribal separatists in Baluchistan (southwest Pakistan). The people in Gwadar will benefit greatly from the construction and the expanded port. Because of that Pakistan is recruiting another 700 local policemen, whose intimate knowledge of the area will be key in keeping the peace. These new police will serve in a unit dedicated to keep the foreign (mainly Chinese) workforce safe. February 24, 2016: China and the United States agreed on new sanctions against North Korea. This agreement was the result of meetings and negotiations that began shortly after the January 6th North Korean nuclear test. In the past China has made a show of reluctantly going along with more sanctions on North Korea but this time China is making it clear that it is behind the latest round of sanctions and responsible for suggesting some of them. The message to North Korea is that China will not look the other way on any of these new sanctions, or most of the existing ones either. February 8, 2016: In northwest India the first joint military exercise between Chinese and Indian troops took place. Thirty troops from each country spent the day doing joint disaster relief chores. The object of the drill (aside from the diplomatic benefits) was for both sides to discover and eliminate any differences in procedures that would disrupt future joint operations along the border area. Earthquakes are frequent in the area as are avalanches. February 2, 2016: Two Chinese warplanes entered South Korean air space near Suyan Rock (also called Ieo Island or Ieodo). The Chinese pilots apparently soon noted their error and left before South Korean jets could arrive to challenge them. China later denied that the incident even happened and none of their aircraft violated anyones air space. Ieodo is actually a submerged (nearly five meters under water) rock in the East China Sea that is 150 kilometers from South Korea and 245 kilometers from China. In 1987, South Korea built a warning beacon on the rock, which is a navigation hazard to large ships. South Korea officially claimed Ieodo in 1951 and China officially challenged that claim in 1962. In 2006 the Chinese agreed not to challenge South Korean claims to Ieodo, which are supported by the international community. But in 2008 China renewed its challenge apparently as part of a more general campaign that included claims to all of the South China Sea and large chunks of India. So far ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) has been kept away from oil facilities and major cities by local militias. While ISIL currently controls only a few towns along the coast they are expanding wherever they find little resistance. Thus over 500 kilometers of the 1,800 kilometers long coast is now under ISIL control or threat. ISIL has about 6,000 fighters in those places. That force is growing because of local and foreign recruits. A large number of Libyans (several percent of some four million people left in the country) who still believe Islamic terrorism will fix all the problems in Libya and that ISIL is the best practitioner of this savage and ultimately futile strategy. Nearly all older Libyans realize ISIL is a dead (and deadly) end but many teenagers are still believers. These pro-ISIL teenagers are often found at the many mosques in the country run by radicalized clergy. In some areas the radical clergy have been arrested or killed and radical mosques turned into moderate ones or destroyed if conversion was difficult. Islam is still important for most Libyans but there is a growing intolerance of the more radical forms. So many of the most radical Libyans are flocking to Sirte and other places under ISIL control. In addition it appears that ISIL is directing many of its new recruits to Libya instead of Syria. Officially ISIL describes their Libyan operation as just another province in their Islamic state. But in fact Libya is the largest concentration of ISIL personnel outside of the 20,000 in Syria and Iraq. Libya is also where an unusual number of key ISIL personnel (leaders, tech experts, trainers) are showing up. The reality is that ISIL is establishing another relatively secure base in Libya, one that could serve as a backup headquarters if the core of the current caliphate in Iraq and Syria is lost. ISIL also has franchises in nine other countries but none as strong and secure as Libya. ISIL is trying to seize oil fields and export terminals so that it can try and raise cash by smuggling oil out. Actually doing that has proved very difficult but ISIL needs the money. ISIL, as a whole, is suffering from a severe cash shortage. ISIL personnel in Syria and Iraq report pay cuts of up to 50 percent and many are not getting paid on time. The reason for that is increasing air attacks on revenue producing operations (mainly oil pumping and smuggling) in Syria. In 2014 ISIL seized huge (over a billion dollars) amounts of cash and access to many salable items like antiquities and slaves. This helped ISIL operate and expand. The many nations fighting ISIL soon figured that out and went after those sources of income. By the end of 2015 ISIL was feeling the effects and the Libyan operation was ordered to pay its own way. In Libya this is being done via theft, extortion and smuggling (mainly of illegal migrants into Europe). Obviously one way to limit ISIL growth in Libya is to attack the income producing activities. That is difficult because a lot of the smuggling is protected from attack by the presence of the illegal migrants. On land ISIL is also using human shields to gain some protection from the growing number of Western air attacks. The human shields wont work if Arab warplanes get involved. So far that seems unlikely as Tunisia, Egypt and Algeria have all refused to attack any targets in Libya and instead reinforce their border security and internal counter-terrorist operations. This has worked for these nations so far and they dont want to get involved in a neighbors civil war. The neighbors do not oppose other nations (especially Western) from bombing Islamic terrorists in Libya. These Arab nations will assist in preventing ISIL from smuggling any captured oil out of Libya. ISIL has made it clear that it will continue trying to capture Libyan oil fields and export ports intact and use them. Preventing that is something everyone (including most Libyans) can agree on. Despite the growing importance of Libya ISIL still considers Syria its primary concern. About two-thirds of ISIL resources are devoted to the war in Syria, the rest to Iraq. ISIL is losing everywhere but shows every sign of fighting to the end. ISIL has been losing territory (mainly in Iraq) and personnel. Its personnel strength in Iraq and Syria has declined about 20 percent (to some 20,000 members) since early 2015. The losses in Iraq and Syria are from casualties, desertions and fewer foreign volunteers. Many of those missing foreign volunteers intended to join in Syria but instead were told to head for Libya. Military commanders in the forces loyal to the Tobruk government have admitted that French, British and American special operations troops are operating in Libya. These admissions are later officially denied but it is no secret that some Western special operations forces have shown up in eastern Libya, especially around Benghazi. France and Britain admitted they have some forces in Libya and the U.S. admitted that its special operations forces have been in Libya for specific missions but did not stay like the French and British operators. Apparently the British forces have been there since late 2015 and the French began showing up in January 2016. A majority (51 percent) of the members of the parliament (in Tobruk) said they would vote to approve the new unity deal (Government of National Accord or GNA) arranged by the UN. But a vote on that was not held because many of the pro-unity members say they have received death threats from parliament members who oppose the deal. Greed, corruption and factionalism has been key in preventing the formation of a national government or dealing with the growth of Islamic terrorism (and calls for turning Libya into a religious dictatorship). If the parliament does vote to approve the GNA the rival government in Tripoli (dominated by Islamic conservatives) must also approve the deal. Many Western and Arab nations are willing to intervene militarily against ISIL in Libya but only once the GNA is approved and the new national government formed. So far not enough Libyans have united to get the GNA approved. Meanwhile many Libyan leaders are well aware that ISIL will continue to exist and expand in Libya unless there is a powerful offensive to clear them out. That requires a united Libya and some foreign assistance. None of that will be available without the GNA. It is feared that Libya will go through the same process Somalia did; several decades of chaos before the factions decide to cooperate. That process is not unique to Libya and Somalia but most of the rest of the world has already passed through the phase of social development. What makes Libya a special case is that it has the largest oil reserves in Africa. Thats $5 trillion worth in the form of 77 billion barrels of oil plus the equivalent of ten percent more in the form of natural gas. Analysts at the National Oil Company calculate that Libya has lost $68 billion in oil income since 2011. Currently only about 400,000 barrels a day is being refined for local use or exported. That is a quarter of what production was in 2011. Without increasing oil production Libyans face widespread starvation within a year or two (as cash reserves are exhausted). Italy admitted it has allowed American UAVs to operate from an Italian air base since late 2014 but has restricted those UAVs to surveillance missions and even those must be only for defensive purposes. Many Italians oppose any use of force against Islamic terrorists in Libya, especially if that involves U.S. aircraft operating from Italian bases. All this is a common attitude in West Europe but it strongest in Italy. The Americans continue trying to get Italy to allow armed UAVs to operate from Italy for operations against ISIL in Libya. The stronger ISIL gets in Libya the more likely Italy will allow armed UAV missions against ISIL in Libya, but in a case by case basis. February 25, 2016: The UN released a report detailing the war crimes it knows have taken place so far in Libya. This includes numerous instances of murder (of prisoners or assassination of opponents), rape and torture. No group was innocent but the Islamic terrorist organizations were the worst offenders. February 24, 2016: Local forces finally succeeded in driving ISIL out of Sabratha, a coastal city 66 kilometers west of Tripoli and about the same size as Sirte. ISIL has controlled parts of Sabratha since mid-2015 but no one has controlled all of Sabratha since 2011. There has been constant fighting, especially with ISIL. The various local militias in Sabratha united, got reinforcements from other militias in Tripoli and began a coordinated surprise attack on ISIL positions yesterday. The militias are now hunting for any stray ISIL members who did not flee. This offensive took advantage of the destruction (by a U.S. air strike) of a major ISIL base in the city on the 19th. Pro-Tobruk forces are also succeeding in pushing newly formed ISIL groups out of the eastern city of Benghazi. This success in Sabratha and Benghazi shows that Libyans can defeat ISIL. In Benghazi some of the army commanders credited French assistance for the recent successes against ISIL. February 19, 2016: American F-15Es operating from an airbase in Britain used smart bombs to destroy an ISIL training camp outside the coastal town of Sabratha. The main objective of this dawn attack was to kill ISIL leader Nureddine Chuchane, who is believed responsible for organizing two terror attacks in Tunisia during 2015. One of those attacks killed 30 British tourists and that did a lot of damage to Tunisias tourism industry. This attack was made possible by Tunisia and Britain, as both nations wanted Chuchane dead. It appears that Chuchane did die in the attack, along with more than 40 other ISIL members and recent recruits. Serbia later said that two of their diplomats, being held for ransom by ISIL (after being kidnapped in Tripoli last November), were also killed by the air strike. The United States examined the Serbian evidence and denied the claim. JCPenney (NYSE: JCP) announces the launch of its new value proposition, "Get Your Penney's Worth(TM)." The idea reinforces how the Company is on a mission to ensure every shopping trip in stores and at jcp.com is worth the customer's time, money and effort. The brand promise will be unveiled through a spring marketing campaign, which includes the introduction of "Penney Days," a unique promotion that makes select items from the Company's assortment of private brands available for just a penny. The virtues behind "Get Your Penney's Worth" will be adapted into an enhanced customer service model for associates, as well as influence the shopping experience in stores, online and on mobile devices. "We want to be the shopping mecca for the modern American mom, which means we need to dimensionalize the idea of worth. We know our customers live very busy lives and we want every trip and interaction at JCPenney to be worth her time, her hard earned money and her effort," said Mary Beth West, chief customer and marketing officer for JCPenney. "The launch of this new brand promise underscores our strategic focus on building private brands and revenue per customer to create sustainable loyalty. If JCPenney can help her discover the things she loves more easily, innovatively and consistently than anyone else, we know she'll come back for more." JCPenney will introduce its value message through a robust marketing campaign that will kick off with a 30-second broadcast spot, airing on cable and network television beginning Feb. 28. To reach Hispanic audiences, a Spanish language version with the tagline "Donde Tus Penney's Valen" will broadcast on popular Hispanic channels. A complementary logo, designed with a handle to resemble a shopping bag, will be positioned alongside the JCPenney logo in broadcast media, print ads and digital marketing. As part of the new campaign, the Company's marketing will feature items that are deemed "perception shifters." Research showed that many consumers underestimated the selection of quality brands and merchandise available at JCPenney such as Levi's, Nike and KitchenAid, as well as the style and value offered by private brands, including Worthington, Liz Claiborne and Stafford. These perception shifters will be highlighted in national magazine ads showcasing the Company's fashion and home collections this spring. Power of a Penny To introduce shoppers to the quality and style associated with its private brands, JCPenney will host its first weeklong Penney Days event starting Feb. 28 in stores and at jcp.com. Customers will have the opportunity to buy a regular priced Arizona brand apparel or accessory item and purchase another Arizona apparel or accessory item for just one penny. Upcoming Penney Days will demonstrate the purchasing power of a penny by featuring unique in-store items for one cent with no additional purchase required, while supplies last. JCPenney will host Penney Days throughout the year to drive customer excitement and showcase the Company's broad assortment of private brands that offer the perfect blend of style, quality and value. The Company will promote Penney Days through its weekly sales circulars, digital marketing and via 15-second television spots. JCPenney will also launch a social media campaign reminding users of the power of a penny. All campaign elements will be supported by the hashtag #SoWorthIt. Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to a statement from his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko after a session of the Supreme State Council of Russia-Belarus Union State in Minsk, Belarus, February 25, 2016. REUTERS/Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik/ By Denis Dyomkin and Lidia Kelly MOSCOW (Reuters) - All parties expected to take part in a cessation of hostilities in Syria have said they are ready to do so, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, warning the peace process would be difficult nonetheless. The "cessation of hostilities," brokered by the United States and Russia, is due to take effect at midnight (2200 GMT on Friday). "Today by midday Damascus time all warring sides in Syria had to confirm to us or to our American partners their agreement to adhere to a ceasefire," Putin told a meeting of the FSB security service in Moscow. "That information has already reached us," he said, adding that from Feb. 27, Syrian government forces, Russia and the U.S.-led coalition would not strike any armed groups which had signed up. Putin stressed that combat actions against Islamic State, the Nusra Front and other groups would continue. "I would like to express the hope that our American partners will also bear this in mind ... and that nobody will forget that there are other terrorist organizations apart from Islamic State," he said. The U.N. Security Council is expected to vote on a resolution to endorse the planned halt in hostilities later on Friday. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday he expected the U.N. Security Council to back the resolution, but cautioned that nobody could give a 100 percent guarantee that the ceasefire plan would be implemented. He warned Washington against coming up with alternative ideas for Syria. "Within the U.S.-led coalition there should no ambiguous talk about any Plan B, about a ground operation being planned, or about the creation of some buffer no-fly zones, which have long been recognized as absolutely unacceptable, Lavrov told a news briefing. (Additional reporting by Jack Stubbs/Jason Bush; Writing by Dmitry Solovyov; Editing by Andrew Osborn) By Allison Lampert and Andrea Shalal MONTREAL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A proposed Canadian government bailout of Bombardier Inc's new CSeries jet manufacturing program would reduce the company's stake in the money-losing aircraft, taking it off the plane maker's books and boosting results in the short-term, two sources familiar with the matter said. The federal government is considering a deal that would give Canada, the Quebec government and Bombardier each a one-third stake in the CSeries, which would be carved out as a separate joint venture with its own board, said the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks are confidential. Currently, Bombardier controls 50.5 percent of the CSeries and Quebec 49.5 percent. Federal officials familiar with the situation stress it is too early to say whether a separate CSeries board would be part of a bailout of Bombardier. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said his Liberal Party government would announce a decision before the federal budget on March 22. Such a deal would allow Montreal-based Bombardier to alter the way it accounts for the CSeries business, which is costing at least $5.4 billion to develop and launch and which the company doesnt expect to generate returns for another four years or more. The proposed structure would have a positive effect on the parent company's cash flow and earnings per share for the next three to four years, said one of the sources. The company has forecast 2016 revenue of $16.5 billion to $17.5 billion. Those figures bake in anticipated revenue from about 10 CSeries jet deliveries this year, according to one analyst. The loss of revenue because of deconsolidation would be more than offset by a reduction in CSeries costs and its cash burn rate in the parent company's accounts. Canada is leaning toward matching Quebec's $1 billion CSeries injection of funds through a deal that could give the federal and provincial governments joint majority control of the 100-150 seat jet program. The first of the jets, the smaller version, is entering service in 2016 after years of delays and cost overruns. New jet programs typically take years to sell and deliver enough planes to break even and recover sunk development costs. CASH DRAIN The federal government is not expected to invest directly in Bombardier itself, as opposed to the CSeries program, and there is no expected change to the company's dual class structure that favors the founding Bombardier-Beaudoin family, both sources said. Within the government, there are some concerns about the parent company's shareholding structure, which gives the family a roughly 54 percent voting stake, said a person familiar with Ottawas approach. The founding family has pushed back against any changes to the companys governance, he said. A key member of the family, Bombardiers previous Chief Executive Pierre Beaudoin, launched three different plane programs at about the same time and the resulting draining of the company's cash is a major reason for its current problems. The investment model, proposed by Quebec and supported by Bombardier, would give the federal and provincial governments a combined four seats - provided Canada matches the province's $1 billion investment - on the seven person CSeries board, Reuters reported on Wednesday. Bombardier itself would only be able to nominate three of the seats, putting the company's representatives in a minority. On Thursday, Quebec Transport Minister Jacques Daoust confirmed the Reuters story during an interview on Canada's RDI television. If we had a new player joining us, we could imagine having seven board seats, Daoust said. The new partner and us would control the company. This is certainly a scenario that is being explored now, because we couldnt imagine investing two-thirds of the funds and having a minority on the decision-making front. Quebec has argued that the governments' majority position on the CSeries board should assuage federal concerns over the company's governance. The governments would act as shareholders and not participate in the day-to-day operations of the plane program, one of the sources said. The deal would also allow Bombardier to buy back the governments' shares in the CSeries at a later date, as is already the case with the agreement between Bombardier and Quebec. "The last thing you want are governments to run the program," said the second source. A spokeswoman for Bombardier declined to comment. Bombardier received a boost in February when the company secured its first order in 16 months. That was for up to 75 CSeries jets to be supplied to Air Canada. Bombardier has faced fierce competition from plane-making rivals Boeing Co (NYSE: BA) and Airbus Group SE (NYSE: AIR) which have adapted new engines to their respective narrow-body jets. That has helped them compete with the fuel-efficient CSeries. They have also been able to undercut Bombardier's pricing by discounting their older Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 models, which are late in their life cycles and can be built at a comparatively lower cost. (Additional reporting by Euan Rocha in Toronto, David Ljunggren in Ottawa and Tim Hepher in Paris; Editing by Amran Abocar and Martin Howell) By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Luke Baker GAZA (Reuters) - A senior leader of the Islamist group Hamas said the Palestinian movement was not seeking a new war with Israel and insisted a network of tunnels it is digging, some of which have reached into Israel in the past, was "defensive". Speaking to members of the Foreign Press Association in Gaza, Mahmoud al-Zahar, a medical doctor seen by many as a hardliner, suggested the prospects of reconciliation with the rival Fatah party of President Mahmoud Abbas were slim, despite years of international efforts to forge unity. "I think nobody here in the region is looking for a war," said Zahar, 71, who has survived two Israeli assassination attempts, one of which, in 2003, killed his son. "We are not looking for any confrontation with Israel, but if they are going to launch an aggression we have to defend ourselves," he told reporters late on Wednesday. Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007 after a brief civil war with Abbas's forces. It maintains strict security over the coastal territory, where more than 1.9 million people live. Zahar is one of Hamas's founders and one of its most senior figures in Gaza, regarded as close to the military wing. The movement has, since its founding in 1987, advocated the destruction of Israel, seeing all of historic Palestine, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean, as its land. However, some of its leaders have indicated in recent years that they would accept a Palestinian state in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, captured by Israel in a 1967 war, in return for a long-term truce with their neighbor. Israel regards the truce idea as a ploy and will not negotiate with Hamas, which the EU and United States list as a terrorist group. Asked why Hamas was building tunnels, Zahar said they were defensive and suggested they were nothing against the might of the U.S.-supplied Israeli military. "You are speaking about tunnels? You are not speaking about F-35 (fighter planes)? You are not speaking about the nuclear bomb in Israel... The tunnels are a matter of self-defense," he said. Hamas's armed wing has lost 10 fighters this year in tunnel collapses. In strongly worded speeches, the group's leaders have pledged to pursue the tunnel building, prompting alarm in Israel, which has stepped up efforts to find the tunnels and stop them reaching its territory. The heightened tension on both sides has fueled fears of another war, which would be the fifth since Hamas won Palestinian elections in 2006. The last war, in July-August 2014, left more than 2,100 Palestinians dead, most of them civilians, while 73 Israelis, nearly all soldiers, were killed. INTERNAL SPLIT With an Israeli-Egyptian blockade on Gaza making it difficult for goods and people to move in and out of the territory, Hamas and Fatah have made efforts to reconcile their differences and form a functioning unity government. Yet the latest round of discussions in the Qatar capital Doha has become bogged down, despite early signs of progress, and Zahar gave the impression that a deal was some way off. He said Abbas and Fatah were not sincere about achieving reconciliation, a charge Fatah threw back. He also vowed that his group would never recognize the state of Israel, which Abbas and Fatah have done and want Hamas to do. "They (Fatah) have no will to achieve an agreement. There is no intention," he said. The blockade on Gaza and the breakdown of relations with Fatah have created huge strains on the economy in Gaza. Since Fatah controls the budget from the West Bank, it has so far resisted making payments to security forces and other state employees in Gaza who were hired by Hamas since 2007. As a result, Hamas is heavily dependent on support from abroad, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Iran. While Saudi and Iran are at odds, Zahar said Hamas was not taking sides. "We are looking to have good relations with everybody," he said. "We will not play any factor or element in the internal or external confrontation between these countries." (Editing by Hugh Lawson) JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A Sudanese migrant who stabbed and wounded a soldier in Israel two weeks ago was motivated by Islamic State ideology, the Shin Bet internal security service said on Thursday. It was the first such attack by an African migrant during five months when Palestinians have intensified anti-Israeli street attacks including stabbing, shootings and car ramming. The Sudanese assailant, Kamal Has, was shot dead after he wounded the soldier in the town of Ashkelon on Feb. 7. The bloodshed has been fueled by factors including a dispute over Jerusalem's a-la's mosque compound and the failure of several rounds of peace talks to secure the Palestinians an independent state in Israeli-occupied territory. In a statement, the Shin Bet said Has san was a devout Muslim and that investigators found photos of "Islamic State loyalists taken in locations around the world" on his cellphone. "It looks like the attack was inspired by ISIS," the statement said, stopping short of alleging that Has had received direct instructions from the group. Since October, Palestinian street attacks have killed 28 Israelis and a U.S. citizen. Israeli security forces have killed at least 168 Palestinians, 111 of whom Israel says were assailants, while most others were shot dead during violent anti-Israeli protests. What constitutes genuine Islamic State action outside its Middle East fiefdom is a question bedeviling security agencies worldwide. Israeli security services, like many around the world, are concerned by the prospect of "lone wolf" attacks by assailants influenced by Islamic State and its powerful social media outreach. Last year, the Shin Bet arrested several Israeli Arabs it said were trying to form an armed cell under orders from two fellow citizens fighting with Islamic State in Iraq. Israel faces more active threats from armed Palestinian factions like Hamas, as well as from Hezbollah guerrillas in neighboring Lebanon, though officials point to Islamic State affiliates in the Egyptian Sinai as having the potential to launch cross-border attacks too. (Reporting by Jeffrey Heller; Editing by Ruth Pitchford) RIGA (Reuters) - A Latvian court on Friday sentenced an ethnic Russian resident to six months in prison for launching an online petition calling for the Baltic state to merge with Russia. Latvia was forcibly incorporated into Stalin's Soviet Union in 1940, during World War Two. It regained independence when the Russian-dominated Soviet Union broke up in 1991, aligned itself with the West and remains deeply wary of Russia next door. Maksim Koptelov, a 31-year-old-film director, was sentenced for calling for an end to Latvian independence, a crime punishable by up to three years in prison. Koptelov, who is one of around 160,000 ethnic Russians in Latvia without citizenship, denied the crime and will launch an appeal, his lawyer Ilona Bulgakova said. "He didn't mean it seriously ... He wrote and asked people not to take it seriously because it is a joke," she said. "There has to be a clear, specific call [to terminate the independence of the state], but in this case... it was not there." Independence is a very sensitive subject in Latvia, occupied by the Soviet Union for 50 years and where a Russian-speaking minority make up around a quarter of the 2 million population. Moscow has said it has the right to protect ethnic Russians in its former territories, including Latvia. (Reporting by Gederts Gelzis; Editing by Simon Johnson and Mark Heinrich) Niger's incumbent President Mahamadou Issoufou speaks to journalists after voting during the country's presidential and legislative elections in Niamey, Niger, February 21, 2016. REUTERS/Joe Penney By Abdoulaye Massalaki NIAMEY (Reuters) - President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger fell short of an outright majority in the Feb. 21 election, according to provisional results on Friday, meaning he now faces a run-off against jailed opposition leader Hama Amadou. Issoufou will bid for a second term on March 20 on a promise to clamp down on Islamist militants in what is one of the poorest countries in the world. His opponent is a former prime minister who came second to Issoufou's 48.4 percent with 17.8 percent. Amadou has been in prison since November on charges relating to baby-trafficking. He says he is innocent and a victim of political repression. Critics say Amadou's imprisonment is part of a crackdown by the government over the election season. The government says it respects the law and such criticisms are politically motivated. Following the results, Issoufou congratulated the people of Niger for the peaceful election. "I also salute my adversaries in the first round and congratulate them for the quality of the debate," he told journalists. A coalition of four parties agreed before the election to back the candidate that came second in a bid to defeat Issoufou. Those parties gained a cumulative vote of about 38 percent, though it was unclear which side had an advantage ahead of the second round or how Amadou would campaign from prison. Turnout was nearly 67 percent, the National Electoral Commission said. Niger is under threat from Nigeria-based Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has staged a series of cross-border attacks in the southeastern Diffa region, forcing the government to impose a state of emergency there. Niger produces uranium and oil but is ranked last in the U.N.'s Human Development Index and has one of the world's highest fertility rates. The country ranks 114 out of 142 in the 2015 prosperity index run by the UK-based Legatum Institute. Issoufou, born in 1951, won an election in 2011, a year after a coup. (Writing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg; Editing by Louise Ireland) Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest outside the headquarters of Cumhuriyet newspaper whose editor-in-chief Can Dundar was arrested on charges of espionage and terrorist propaganda, in Istanbul, Turkey, November 29, 2015. REUTERS/Osman Orsal By Humeyra Pamuk ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey's top court ruled on Thursday that detaining two journalists from an opposition newspaper had violated their rights, and the newspaper's acting editor-in-chief said their release was expected soon. The arrest of Can Dundar, editor-in-chief of Cumhuriyet, and Ankara bureau chief Erdem Gul last November drew international condemnation and revived concern about media freedom in Turkey under President Tayyip Erdogan. They were detained after the publication of video footage purporting to show the state intelligence agency helping to send weapons to Syria. They could have faced life sentences without parole if convicted, their lawyers had said. "The constitutional court has ruled that there is a rights violation. An immediate appeal will be made ... We are expecting their release," Tahir Ozyurt, Cumhuriyet's acting editor-in-chief, told Reuters. In the ruling, the court said the arrest of the journalists was "not lawful" and violated their individual freedom and safety, adding "the ruling should be sent to the relevant court to overturn this breach". Cumhuriyet's managing director Akin Atalay told Reuters that under normal circumstances the two would be released later on Thursday after the constitutional court ruled rights had been violated but their release might be delayed to Friday because the court that would order their release was already in session. The two were charged with intentionally aiding an armed terrorist organization and publishing material in violation of state security. Cumhuriyet published photos, videos and a report last May that it said showed intelligence officials transporting arms to Syria in trucks in 2014. Erdogan, who has cast the newspaper's coverage as part of an attempt to undermine Turkey's global standing, said he would not forgive such reporting. He has acknowledged that the trucks, which were stopped by gendarmerie and police officers en route to the Syrian border, belonged to the MIT intelligence agency and said they were carrying aid to Turkmens in Syria. Turkmen fighters are battling both President Bashar al-Assad's forces and Islamic State. (Additional reporting by Melih Aslan; Writing by Nick Tattersall; Editing by David Dolan and Hugh Lawson) Mine Counter Measures Mission Detachment sailors prepare the Remote Multi-Mission Vehicle (RMMV) during reliability testing near Palm Beach, Florida May 23, 2013, in this picture provided by the U.S. Navy. The RMMV, an unmanned minehunting vehicle develop By Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said on Friday he was not satisfied with the reliability of the remote mine-hunting vehicle being developed by Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE: LMT) and would look for alternatives. In October the Navy ordered an independent review of the Remote Minehunting System. The system has faced criticism recently from some lawmakers and defense officials. A joint statement by Navy officials to a House of Representatives subcommittee on Thursday said the review team recommended not purchasing the second round of low-rate initial production of the system. Captain Thurraya Kent, a Navy spokeswoman, confirmed that the Navy had stopped procurement in line with the review team's recommendation. "So we've got 10 of these, we're going to upgrade them to make them more reliable, but it's not a long-term answer," Mabus said at a Washington think tank. Lockheed Martin spokesman John Torrisi said in an emailed statement that the system found mines at a faster rate than required, but a joint Navy and Lockheed team concluded that reliability issues were caused by "mission package integration issues, vehicle configuration and maintenance shortcomings." Mabus said the Navy would likely move to an unmanned surface vehicle and in the long run to an unmanned, underwater vehicle. (Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Tom Brown and Leslie Adler) Ferdinand Ambach during his sentencing for the manslaughter of Auckland grandfather Ronald Brown. A Hungarian tourist who killed an Auckland man by shoving a banjo in his mouth has been deported from New Zealand. Ferdinand Ambach served eight years of a 12-year sentence for the brutal killing of Auckland pensioner Ronald James Brown. The divemaster, who was in New Zealand on a tourist visa, escaped a murder conviction by successfully using the provocation defence. Ambach argued the victim, a gay man, provoked him by making an unwanted sexual advance. READ MORE: * Provocation defence to be scrapped * Tourist who killed with banjo jailed for 12 years * Weatherston's parents claim he was provoked Police found Brown, 69, lying on stairs of his Onehunga flat on December 7, 2007 with part of a red banjo shoved down his throat. Brown suffered serious head injuries and had been repeatedly bashed with the instrument and bludgeoned with a dumbbell. He died two days later in hospital. During his High Court trial in 2009, Ambach's lawyer Peter Kaye said Brown may have attempted to rape Ambach, triggering a "monstrous rage" which caused him to lose self-control. Ambach was sentenced to 12 years in prison for manslaughter with a minimum non-parole period of eight years. His acquittal of murder were among the cases which led the Government to outlaw provocation as a defence. Dunedin man Clayton Weatherston unsuccessfully claimed provocation during his murder trial the same year. Weatherston was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years in jail for murdering Otago University student Sophie Elliott. Ambach appeared before the Parole Board for the first time on December 17. In the recently released decision, the Parole Board found Ambach was ashamed of what he did and felt genuine remorse. The Parole Board said naivety and alcohol abuse caused the offending. "He has demonstrated extremely good behaviour [in prison]. There have been no incidents of violence." Ambach's English had improved and he had been in counselling. The Parole Board did not consider Ambach a risk to the community. He was released on February 17 for immediate deportation to Hungary. Ambach can not return to New Zealand during his parole period, which ends on December 9, 2019. Kaizuka Eatery and Garden Bar was issued a full on-licence in March 2014 and operated on the licence for about six months before a visit from council licensing officers. The owners of a Christchurch bar locked in a stoush with the city council will close their doors with a "bitter taste" in their mouths on Sunday. Kaizuka Eatery and Garden Bar co-owner Dwayne Vaughan remains embroiled in a dispute over the number of car parks on his site. He said complying with the Christchurch City Council's advice to hire a planner would be "admitting failure". STACY SQUIRES/FAIRFAX NZ Kaizuka owner Dwayne Vaughan, pictured with wife Tiffany, says his business is no closer to resolving car its parking and liquor licencing issues. On Thursday, Vaughan said the decision to close was "gutting". READ MORE: * Owners 'disgusted' with council * 'Tangled web of red tape' * Kaizuka ordered to pay employee * 21 car parks needed * Situation 'messy', case manager appointed "We've given staff notice that our last day is on Sunday. [It's] gutting but you've got to move on," he said. It had not been decided whether the business would be sold, Vaughan said. Dwayne and Tiffany Vaughan had been locked in battle with the council over the issues for more than a year. The council said the bar likely needed to create 21 extra car parks to operate within the rules of the City Plan, but the Vaughan's believed that was "unachievable". Council licensing and compliance manager Fiona Proudfoot said council had worked with Kaizuka's owners to try resolve the issues. Plans supplied by the council showed a reduced section of the bar could be used for the sale and supply of alcohol. "Although there is a defined area under the alcohol licence this does not prohibit other areas being utilised for dining," Proudfoot said. Dwayne Vaughan said a case manager was appointed to look into the issues, who advised him he needed a planner. Doing so would not guarantee a consent to use the entire bar. Making the call to employ a planner would be "admitting failure", Vaughan said. "I gave up at that point. I have a really bitter taste in my mouth regarding council; It's been hideous." Kaizuka was still in the same situation it found itself in when the saga started, he said. Matthew Stevens, of Lower Hutt, was lured to his death in a deadly ambush in 2014 when he was just 32- but why? How did a nice, young man from Lower Hutt wind up in the crosshairs of a skinhead crew? Talia Shadwell has covered the case from the day Matt Stevens was found slain on a hill road - and learns he may simply have dated in the wrong circles. Matthew Vincent Stevens was his parents' miracle. Chrissie and David Stevens had tried for nine years to have a baby and were overjoyed at the arrival of their firstborn son in 1982. SUPPLIED Matthew Stevens' parents tried for nine years to have him. Eighteen months later the toddler with the radiant smile was joined by a sister, Emma. The pair became the best of friends - "Matt was such an awesome big brother to me, every time I needed him he was always there. I absolutely adored him," she recalled. One cool spring night, Matt walked out of the family home he still shared with his parents, wearing dark jeans and a black jacket, and headed out. SUPPLIED Matthew Stevens was a keen footballer, when he attended Wellington High School. "I'm only going to be an hour, Mum," the 32-year-old called out to Chrissie. "I'm just going to help someone." FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2014: 1.22am A police officer contemplated a white Toyota Corolla perched awkwardly on the edge of a bluff northwest of Upper Hutt. SUPPLIED Stevens was about 22 when he performed his first parachute jump. The car's bonnet was lodged at an odd, left-leaning angle against the flaxen scrub that lines Paekakariki Hill Road's summit. Below the car's front wheels, dense undergrowth spilled 300 metres down the dark gully towards State Highway 1. The driver was nowhere to be seen. SUPPLIED Matthew Stevens and younger sister Emma Stevens were the best of friends, who shared a love of the outdoors. He would give his younger sister advice and draw pictures for her. Suspecting an abandoned crash scene, the officer wound emergency scene tape around the car, and journeyed off into the night to find out where its owner was. Six hours had passed by the time Andrew Fleming was driving over the morning-fog dusted hill. As he rounded the summit, he noticed people standing at the bend peering downhill at a white car, covered in emergency tape, that looked as if it had run off the road. MAARTEN HOLL/ FAIRFAX NZ The site on Paekakariki Hill Rd where Matthew Stevens' body and car were found. What caught Fleming's attention was how they were staring beyond the car, at something he could not see. "I slowed down to see if I could help... I really didn't see anything there, but to me they looked white as - like they had seen a ghost." "I tried to speak to those guys but they didn't even turn around." KEVIN STENT/FAIRFAX NZ Matt Stevens' killer Stuart Graham Wilton. At 7.31am a caller phoned 111, telling the operator they had found a body on the hill road. The Stevens family were about to get the worst news of their lives. THE NICE GUY FROM LOWER HUTT ROSS GIBLIN/ FAIRFAX NZ Kelly Leigh Crook was jailed for causing grievous bodily harm to Stevens with intent to injure him, and with being an accessory after the fact to his murder. The Stevens children's summers were spent gambolling about the family pool, sliding in and out of the water, their dark hair glistening as they basked in the lingering Hutt Valley heat. The family would hike the Rimutaka Forest Park in the holidays, and the siblings continued the tramping tradition long into their adult years. He played guitar and football at Wellington High School. KEVIN STENT/FAIRFAX NZ Darrin John Wilkie-Morris was jailed for injuring Stevens with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and being an accessory after the fact of the murder. "He was born with natural rhythm and had a great love of music," Emma said. "He was creative and would always share his talents with others, whether it was bringing mates together for a jam or painting me a picture with a note of love and encouragement." Family and friends recalled the kind of guy who would buy lunch for his friends when they forgot theirs. The family photo albums feature a range of Matt Stevens alter egos - Elvis, a Yankee soldier - he enrolled in a performing arts course when he left school and got extra roles in Avatar and King Kong. SUPPLIED Couple Darrin Wilkie-Morris and Kelly Crook, in a picture posted online the day after Stevens was killed. Later, he began a career as a house painter. A devout young man, he travelled to the Philippines as a missionary. "He had such a big heart and beautiful soul," his sister said. "He was gentle, caring, thoughtful and funny, and always brought a lightness to any heavy situation." THE TAINTED HOUSE AND THE MISSING SHOE Matt had been living at home with his parents in a sleepout annexed to the property on Thursday November 27, 2014. He was weeks away from graduating a truck driving course when Kelly Leigh Crook sent him a message over Facebook about 6pm. She invited him over to her flat at Oxford Tce, in Epuni, Lower Hutt. About 10pm said goodbye to his mum and hopped into his car. Half an hour later CCTV captured him walking out of the High St, Lower Hutt Countdown supermarket with a six pack. Peculiar, his sister later reflected, as she had never known him to drink beer. In the weeks after detectives launched their homicide investigation, the family could not come up with a single theory of why anyone would have wanted him dead, they said. "We didn't know why anybody would do this to him." As Stevens was mourned in a funeral attended by 300, investigators led by Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Sears had already begun building a picture of his final movements. Stevens' body was in scrub in front of his car, invisible to the officer visiting the scene in the dead of the night. He had three stab wounds in his torso, and a brown leather shoe was missing from his left foot. Detectives found traces of blood in his car, but not enough to suggest he was killed in it. Toxicology tests could not establish whether Stevens had even been drinking before he died. Police focused immediately on Crook's Oxford Tce place, where Stevens had been heading. For days, forensic tents swamped the perimeter of the two-storey brick and weatherboard flat. Forensic workers carrying luminol bags toiled away along with detectives, who marked out a tyre pattern on the grass at the front of the property. They pored over Stevens' Toyota and a blue tradesman's van they had seized. Overnight, police officers took towels from the house's clothesline and carried them away in evidence bags. On December 13, two weeks after Stevens' body was found, police arrested and charged Crook. "Soulless bitch," someone muttered from the public gallery at the dark-haired young woman, now 29, with three stars tattooed above her eye, who stood in the dock. The police also charged Stuart Graham Wilton, now 28, and five days later a third man, Crook's boyfriend Darrin Wilkie-Morris, 25, upgrading all three's charges to murder. Wilkie-Morris bore a swastika tattoo on one hand and another, reading "chaos skins" above his eyebrows. A childhood friend described him as a skinhead, mixing in white pride circles. He had grown up with Wilton and Crook, in the Heretaunga area of Upper Hutt. Crook, the High Court at Wellington heard, had a turbulent adolescence and a string of "bad relationships." But unlike Wilkie-Morris, neither she nor Wilton had violence on their criminal records. All three denied the crime and the case looked set to head to trial. WHY WAS MATT STEVENS TARGETED? There has never been any clear motive for what the trio did. Nor is there an official explanation for why Stevens agreed to visit Crook on November 27. The trio ditched their not guilty pleas and admitted to the scenario, summarised in court, involving Crook luring Stevens for drinks at her place. She lived with her boyfriend, and Stevens told her he was anxious about Wilkie-Morris being there as he had been making violent threats. Crook lied to Stevens, promising him he was out of town. In reality, she was sending messages to Wilkie-Morris and Wilton, who were circling around Lower Hutt, in their car, receiving updates from her on Stevens' movements. Shortly before 11pm, Stevens joined Crook and the pair began to drink upstairs. Soon after Wilkie-Morris, armed with a hammer, and Wilton, carrying a knife, showed up, along with another person who has never been publicly identified. The pair stormed upstairs to confront Stevens. Wilkie-Morris smashed Stevens in the head and knee with a hammer, and Wilton stabbed him three times, piercing his heart. A little girl heard the commotion and came out of a bedroom to see Stevens lying dead at the foot of the stairs, with Wilton standing over him holding a bloodied knife. The trio put Stevens' body in the back of a van and used towels to clean up the areas of the house where his blood had been spilled. Crook drove the van, with Wilkie-Morris riding passenger, and Wilton following in Stevens' car. All three rolled Stevens' body off the cliff, pushing his car after him then returned to the crime scene to continue cleaning. Wilton had been the first to cop to the crime, and will have to serve 11 years behind bars for the murder before he can bid for parole. Wilton's lawyer told the court he claimed he never meant to kill Stevens. Crook went down next, for three years and four months. Her lawyer said she admitted luring Stevens into the ambush, but she claimed she didn't know the other two were bringing weapons, and how she only helped with the cover-up - for which she was convicted - because Wilton had threatened her. Wilkie-Morris, the last to be jailed this week - for five years and one month for his part in the planning and cover-up - showed no remorse at all, a judge noted. The trio's motive for the ambush that night, like Stevens' shoe, was still missing. Throughout the case there was no suggestion on paper, or from any sources with knowledge of the case, that Stevens was paying a romantic visit to Crook that night. Instead, messages between them are understood to suggest only that Crook asked Stevens to catch up and that with some trepidation - he agreed. It has since emerged Stevens had very briefly dated one of Wilkie-Morris' sisters whom he had met at a party. It is understood conversations played out online revealed the Stevens' fling with Wilkie-Morris' sister had ended "acrimoniously" which is suspected to have fuelled Wilkie-Morris' threats and possibly the idea of carrying out "a vengeful act." The woman was interviewed by police, but has not been suggested to have had any knowledge of her brother's ambush plot. Wilkie-Morris had only been out of prison three months when the trio hatched the plot to ambush Stevens. In 2008, an old mate of his had got an $8000 cash loan to buy a car. Wilkie-Morris and friends hatched a plan to relieve him of the money. They offered him a ride to pick up the car, but instead got him drunk and drove him to a Kapiti Coast beach, not far from where Stevens' body was later dumped. They had a woman in the group promised their target sex to lure him out of the car and into a bush. He got out of the car to relieve himself instead and when he came back they took his money and bashed him until he pretended to be dead. Wilkie-Morris was cited as the ringleader of the ambush, and delivered the punches that caused his victim's head injuries. They left him for dead on the roadside. 'AN IRREPLACEABLE TREASURE' The Stevens family may never know why their beloved was killed. Soon, they will move away from their Hutt Valley home of 30 years. The police can't know for sure why he was ambushed that night, as the case never went to trial where motives would have been explored, Sears reflected, calling it a "senseless" crime. "Our investigation, our background checks, absolutely confirmed Matt Stevens was a nice guy from a nice family who died - we've certainly got nothing to suggest he was tied up with bad people." "The only people that would be able to tell us why they did what they did on that day are the defendants and they haven't told us." Matt Stevens is buried at Makara cemetery, where his grave overlooks Wellington's rugged South Coast. The wreckage of the fishing vessel FV Marina was found in Breaksea Sound, Southland. A man who died in a boating accident in Southland was the cousin of road worker George Taiaroa. The bodies of Matenga Taiaroa and crew member Jim Hanson were found in the wreckage of fishing vessel Marina in Breaksea Sound on Friday. Taiaroa, 81, lived in Otakou, a small fishing village about 25km from Dunedin at the eastern end of the Otago Peninsula. His son, Teone Taiaroa, who lives in Otakou said his father and Hanson were planning on fishing the tuna season on the West Coast. READ MORE: * Bodies of two men found off Southland coast * George Taiaroa murder accused named But on their way to Westport, their boat had a breakdown and they spent two to three weeks in Picton. By the time they got to Westport, they were too late for the tuna season and decided to return to Otakou. It was unclear what had caused the boating accident, Teone said. Teone described his father as a "go-getter". "He lived a full and happy life. He died doing what he loved doing - sailing on the sea." Teone said his father enjoyed the independence of being on the ocean. "There's a certain freedom once you're out there away from all the distractions on land." Both Matenga's brother and grandfather had also died at sea, Teone said. Relative Tahu Potiki confirmed that Taiaroa was a cousin of road worker George Taiaroa, who was killed in a shooting close to three years ago. Taiaroa had purchased the Marina boat just over a year ago to go out fishing in. "He was a fisherman most of his life. Even at the age of 81 he didn't want to sit at home." Potiki said Taiaroa was his father's first cousin. "He was a nice guy, pretty down to earth. "He didn't like being off his feet." Taiaroa was a well respected elder of Kai Tahu ki Otakou, Potiki said. Matenga and his brothers were all cousins of the Ellison family, who launched Otakou Fisheries in the 1940s. Senior Sergeant Darryl Lennane, of Southern Police, said one of the bodies and the boat wreckage were discovered on Friday afternoon. A search operation was then launched and the body of the second man was located later in the day. The matter has been referred to the coroner, Lennane said. Te Anau-based Southern Lakes Helicopters were called into help with the search and rescue operation. A spokeswoman said two of its helicopters were involved in the search, but she could not confirm any more details about the incident. The NZ Rescue Coordination Centre in Wellington took charge of the wider search, she said. Breaksea Sound is located on the southwest coast of the South Island. It cuts into Fiordland National Park near Resolution Island. On Saturday, police urged anyone who saw the FV Marina in and around Breaksea Sound or if anyone had spoken to the men on board the ship while they were in the area to contact Senior Constable Grant Nimmo on 021 191 5162. Police said they expected to release more information on Sunday. The FV Marina was involved in another tragedy in 1999 which claimed the life of fisherman Barry Wells after it rolled in Tasman Bay. A family member of Wells' posted a statement to Facebook on Saturday morning saying her thoughts were with the families of the men lost in the latest tragedy. "Our family vessel was meticulously maintained by skilled seamen whom are leaders in their fields and very well respected within the industry," she wrote. "I'm very proud of my links to this industry and have great respect for all those who risk their lives every day to put food in our mouths and support their families." Ambitious super electric car manufacturers Vega to upgrade performance View(s): Sri Lankas first super electric car manufacturers Vega, plans to upgrade some of its performance features similar to that of the performance of world-renowned Lamborghini and Ferrari cars. The Vega super electric car which is designed to accelerate from 0 to 100 km per hour in 3.6 seconds will be modified to accelerate the same in 2.1 seconds similar to that of the acceleration of Lamborghini. The car has a top speed of 240 km per hour. The weght of the car is 1500 kg, will be reduced by 400 kg using a different kind of material for the body panel using Nano technology. These comments were made by Codegen Research Scientist, Beshan Kulapala to the Business Times on the sidelines of the WSO2Con Asia 2016 conference at the Waters Edge in Colombo last week. Delivering the keynote speech on the challenges and opportunities of the project, Mr. Beshan stated that the name Vega is derived from the Sinhalese word Vegaya which means speed. He said its teamwork of 23 interns and trainee students from local universities around the country coming from different backgrounds. All students are extraordinary youngsters with brilliant knowledge and talent. Everything necessary for the car is manufactured in-house. There is a motor controller with 600-watt power and 50 micro-controllers. Vega has set up 15 charging units within Colombo and is looking forward to set up more island-wide, he added. Codegen President and CEO Harsha Subasinghe at the conference said, Some of the performance increase features includes all wheel drive capability, use space grade materials and establish standards for fast charging. Using Nano-technology we are expecting weight reduction, superior strength and easy to manufacture.Vega is also planning to upgrade to Nano technology based graphene super capacitors, energy storage for super charging stations and battery replacement for electric buses and trains. With regard to autonomous navigation we use software expertise for automobile sector, complete access to hardware and firmware and artificial intelligence based software for automobiles. In terms of formula-e racing, Vega is looking forward to develop the cutting edge technology and promote Sri Lanka an automobile technology development centre, he noted. Iran- Sri Lanka talks end well with further cooperation proposed View(s): The 11th Session of the Sri Lanka Iran Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation organised by the Department of Commerce with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce concluded in Colombo on Wednesday. The Sri Lanka delegation was headed by the Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen and included officials from the key ministries while the Iranian delegation was led by Minister of Energy of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hamid Chitchian wit officials from Irans Ministries of Energy, Foreign Affairs, Oil, etc. Minister Bathiudeen welcoming the Iranian delegation said that the new unity government led by the Sri Lankan President Maithiripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has assured global confidence of Sri Lanka. The new government will set the stage for the next economic development by introducing major changes in many sectors. He said the establishment of the joint Commission for Economic Cooperation, between the two countries at ministerial level in 1987, added a further significance for cooperation for development and strengthening the relations in the areas of trade, economic and technical cooperation. The Minister said that since international sanctions on Iran were lifted from last month, the 11th meeting of the joint Commission has created more opportunities to refresh bilateral relations between the two countries. The balance of trade between the two counties has continuously been in favour of Iran over the years and after 2013 it changed in favour of Sri Lanka. Minister Chitchian said the views expressed by both delegations will strengthen the cultural, bilateral and political relations that will bring about a positive effect on economic cooperation and to identify business opportunities and investment between the two friendly countries. He said that expanding political, economic and cultural cooperation between Iran and Sri Lanka is one of the most important milestones of the Iranian Republic and a special emphasis will be laid to develop the tourism and the health sector. (JJ) Mars recalls chocolate bars from 55 nations including SL View(s): THE HAGUE, (AFP) Chocolate giant Mars on Tuesday ordered a massive recall of Mars and Snickers bars from 55 countries after a piece of plastic found in one bar was traced back to its Dutch factory. As far as we know there are 55 countries involved, Eline Bijveld, Mars corporate affairs coordinator for the Netherlands told AFP. The recall only involves the products that are made in the Netherlands, at the Mars factory in the southern town of Veghel. The move comes after a customer found a red piece of plastic in a Snickers bar bought on January 8 in Germany. After he complained to Mars, the plastic was traced back to Veghel which determined that it came from a protective cover used in the plants manufacturing process. We are currently investigating exactly whats happened, but we cannot be sure that this red piece of plastic isnt in any other of our products from the same production line, Bijveld said. So the food giant has decided in a voluntary fashion and out of precaution to issue the recall which covers mostly European nations including Holland, Germany, France and Britain. It also spreads further abroad to some countries like Sri Lanka and Vietnam, but does not extend to the United States, she said. It is the first time that Mars has had to recall products made at its Veghel factory, opened in 1963, which employs some 1,200 people. More than 100 foreign investors for March Sri Lanka Investment Business Conclave View(s): The upcoming Sri Lanka Investment and Business Conclave, has attracted 100 plus overseas investors with the largest group expected to come from Kuwait, numbering over 20 investors. The 3-day conclave on March 8-10 will see investors from countries such as Australia, Bangladesh, Bahrain, China, Canada, Egypt, Germany, Georgia, Kuwait, Maldives, Pakistan, South Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, Vietnam and Lesotho, organisers Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) said in a media release. Infrastructure development, export manufacturing and agriculture, local Knowledge Services, Power and Energy, and Tourism and Leisure sectors are the areas, the majority of the investors are keen to find opportunities, it said. Avic International Hotels Lanka Ltd Astoria is the Platinum sponsor of the event, while Indocean Developers Private Limited is the Gold Sponsor. The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Convention Bureau; HayleysAdvantis Ltd; Zam Gems Pvt Ltd are the strategic partners of the event. Sri Lankas monorail plan shelved; light rail on the cards By Bandula Sirimanna View(s): View(s): The Government has abandoned the widely anticipated monorail system for Sri Lanka and instead opted for light rail in the short run as a remedy to heavy traffic congestion in Colombo, official sources revealed. Light rail is a metropolitan electric railway system which operates single cars or short trains along exclusive right of way at ground level, aerial structures in subways or occasionally on streets and to board and discharge passengers at track or car floor level. Monorail is an elevated system in which the track consists of a single rail. The Economic Management Committee (EMC) appointed in January under a directive by the Prime Minister has decided to recommend this system since the Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka clearly indicated that light rail was the feasible transport mode for the Colombo city. According to official documents, Minister Ranawake has informed the committee that light rail is cheaper in maintenance when compared with mono rail. Under a Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) study, an overhead light rail system was suggested as the more cost-effective option rather than a standard size mass rapid transit (MRT) rail for the Colombo-Malabe corridor with an off-shoot to Kotahena. Advisor to the Ministry of National Policy Planning and Economic Affairs R. Paskaralingam, had brought to the notice of the committee that JICA concessional funding is available for transport sector development and it has made a request from the Sri Lanka government to decide on whether assistance is required for monorail or light rail, EMC minutes revealed. Accordingly a decision has been taken by the committee to go for light rail instead of monorail as traffic at each of seven corridors in Colombo is not sufficient for monorail. Recently a contract was signed between the Airport Express Air & Rail Company (Pvt.) Ltd. of Malaysia and the Government of Sri Lanka to start an Electric Train System between Negombo and Colombo. AEARC is spending a sum of around US$5 million to carry out a detailed feasibility report on the whole project. The construction work will be implemented once the green light is obtained for the commencement of the proposed project by the Sri Lankan Government. The proposed project comprises 42 km stretch of rail track between Negombo and Colombo Fort- Public transport and integrated transport model. The economic viability for a commuter light rail with the head way of five minutes, establishing passenger nodal point at Dematagoda, which has a high number of transfers with feeder services (bus based), is a better option for Colombo, a senior Finance Ministry official disclosed. Mega teledrama in NPC: Serial row over corruption charges View(s): Though the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) earned a name for passing a record number of resolutions in the recent past, this week the councillors were at loggerheads when Chief Minister C.V. Wigneshwaran moved a resolution against a resolution that had already been passed. He claimed that the reason for submitting his own resolution was that one of the provincial ministers had been falsely accused of corruption charges. At a previous council sitting, a resolution was passed against Ponnuthurai Ayngaranesan, Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Services. The resolution made eleven corruption charges against him. The council decided that there should be a full probe. The resolution alleged that the minister was involved in a fraud amounting to Rs. 40 million. This week, Chief Minister Wigneswaran moved a resolution requesting the council to remove the earlier resolution from the councils Hansard since he believed the allegations were baseless. Mr. Wigneswaran informed the council that the minister had written a letter, explaining the issues and as Chief Minister he had a right to intervene. The debate over the Chief Ministers resolution went on for two hours. There were heated arguments between two factions. One of the councillors quipped that the council sittings had become like an Indian mega serial drama a never ending action-packed episode. The debate on the resolution ended without a decision like in the teledramas. Ravi-Kabir bout: Malik the referee Minister Malik Samarawickrema played the role of a broker to iron out official issues in the ministries held by his colleagues Kabir Hashim and Ravi Karunanayake. The two feuding ministers met informally at the Kotte Parliamentary complex on Friday. Among the key issues are appointments to several boards (now under Minister Hashim) when they were previously under Minister Karunanayake during the 100 day National Unity Government. After Minister Hashim inherited them, it is alleged that some chairpersons and directors appointed by Mr. Karunanayake had refused to resign. Contrary to arguments that were expected between the duo, the talks had gone off smoothly with each explaining his position. Now the trio have decided that another round was necessary before Prime Minister Wickremesinghe is informed of a stalemate, compromise or solution, as the case may be. This meeting would also be to clarify issues and sort out matters that have dragged on since August last year. Troops rush to rescue baby elephant That a baby elephant fell into an unprotected well in a jungle near Polonnaruwa and could not be rescued was cause for concern for Sustainable Development and Wild Life Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera. He pondered over what to do one morning as he attended the funeral of R.S.Herath, father of former Media Ministry Secretary Dr. Charitha Herath. The funeral was at Kamburugoda in Kuliyapitiya. It seemed that both he, and the baby elephant were lucky. Turning up at the same time was President Maithripala Sirisena. After he paid his respects to the late Mr. Herath, Minister Jayawickrama Perera told his story to the President. The President soon went to a room in the house and was busy making telephone calls. The first call was to Polonnaruwa District Secretary (Government Agent), S. Senanayake who was told what had happened. Unlike a human being, President Sirisena said, elephants could not talk. Hence they could not express their suffering, he pointed out. The next call went to Army Commander Lt. Gen. Chrisanthe de Silva. The Commander in chief directed the Army Commander to take immediate steps to send troops to assist in rescuing the baby elephant. Within hours troops helped by a backhoe rescued the trapped elephant. The good news reached the President when he returned to Colombo. On astrological advice, Rajithas bypass delayed by a day Astrological considerations prompted the family members of Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne to put off heart surgery scheduled for Wednesday at a Singapore Hospital. The bypass surgery was carried out on Thursday morning and Minister Senaratne was reported to be in good condition yesterday. His son Chatura, Gampaha District UNP Parliamentarian, has been in touch with both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe giving them regular updates on his fathers condition. The minister is due in Colombo next week. Monopoly maroons marine surveyors at Hambantota Marine surveyors with valid permits to the Hambantota Port were told early this week that they had been barred from the area. Coming to their aid was an obliging number two at the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). He directed that the men be allowed to do their work or ships at the port would be delayed. The move came after one sole agent with strong connections to a politico succeeded in getting the monopoly to operate. Now, they are waiting for the boss to arrive to sort out matters. PM moves with a torch The countrywide power blackout on Thursday forced Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to use a torchlight at Temple Trees, while moving in some dark rooms in his official residence. He told MPs in Parliament during an informal chat that the power generator at his Fifth Lane residence was also broken and needed repairs. Thajudeen killing: Key suspects to be arrested soon Detectives probing the death of ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen in a high profile case have made some startling discoveries. The young rugby star had been assaulted and tortured in many ways making him virtually lifeless, investigations reveal. It is only thereafter that the perpetrators of the crime, it is alleged, decided to murder him for fear he would otherwise have not survived the injuries. Some key arrests are to be made by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) detectives any time now, said a source familiar with the probe, now that the court has also said that the death of the ruggerite appeared to be a murder. Envoy Amunugama rapped for lapses Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has rapped Karunatilleke Amunugama, Sri Lankas Ambassador in Germany, over the unsatisfactory arrangements made for President Sirisenas visit there last week. The reprimand came after more details emerged of lapses during the three-day visit. It has also come to light that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had to personally restrain an official photographer in the Presidential entourage as he tried to walk ahead of her and the President. Rajapaksa paints himself into a corner; plans for new party put on hold By Our Political Editor View(s): View(s): Breakthrough in Thajudeen case, key persons likely to be arrested, Rajapaksa family members also face prison terms Joint Opposition leaders now holding talks with SLFP ministers after Speaker agrees to grant some privileges PM orders full probe on Thursdays worst-ever blackout; sabotage suspected; plans to ensure energy for mega development drive The worst power disruption in the country in recent decades will cost the Government an estimated Rs. 600 million or Rs. 200 million an hour, according to reports reaching Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Thursdays countrywide blackout also caused severe damage to the Norochcholai Lakvijaya power plant preventing it from supplementing power demand during peak hours to meet the shortfall from the national grid. As a result, since Friday, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has been compelled to resort to unannounced power cuts in outer areas and it has appealed to consumers in metropolitan Colombo to cut down on the use of electrical appliances. Power is yet to be restored to some outer areas. The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PCUSL), a statutory body, has asked the CEB for its power cut schedule to keep consumers informed. However, the PCUSL has been told that there were no such cuts. More details of how the country was without electricity for three hours appear elsewhere in this newspaper. Premier Wickremesinghe, who is making a personal study of the adverse impact of the blackout, is to appoint a high powered Committee to probe the matter. It will also ascertain why existing mechanisms to cope with lightning after it occurs were not utilised and whether there was any attempted sabotage. The composition of the committee is now being worked out and will be announced in the coming week. The Governments concerns have been heightened by fears that new development plans now approved or in the pipeline would be hampered by a repeat of such occurrences. Already the power shedding for as much as six hours a day is causing serious concern. We found that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB)s future projections were completely off the mark. Even before the blackout, the Power Consultation Committee of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs was discussing this matter. This was after the CEB had placed its projections, Premier Wickremesinghe told the Sunday Times. Hectic worldwide inquiries are being made to obtain help to prevent any further blackouts and ensure a stable supply until projects are evolved to increase supply. A Government source said the present situation in the electricity sector could not go unchecked. He said that the hydro storage capacity was 1100 gigawatt hours. It was now 700 hours and power cuts would become inevitable if it fell to the 300 hour mark, he warned. It was imperative, the source argued, that the existing supply and distribution systems are not disrupted whilst the Government plans to expand power production. The blackout on Thursday came as perceived threats on the Government from different quarters in the Opposition began to somewhat recede. One was the demand by the joint opposition to be recognised as the main Opposition in Parliament. The group, of which Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) leader Dinesh Gunawardena is head, claims it has 51 MPs including those backing former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya who this week made clear he had no authority to recognise the group as the main Opposition in Parliament, however, granted other privileges to this group. It came after Jayasuriya had consulted both President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Such privileges, Jayasuriya told the Sunday Times, included allocation of time for its members almost 55 per cent to raise questions at adjournment as well as being made members of parliamentary committees including COPE and the Public Accounts Committee. He said there were 40 members in this group. Dinesh Gunawardena, the leader of the group is to function as de facto deputy leader of the UPFA. Gunawardena told the Sunday Times, in the light of the accord reached with Speaker Jayasuriya we will not press ahead with our claim to be the main Opposition in Parliament. He has accommodated most of our requests. In essence, the move shuts the door on Rajapaksa becoming the leader of the joint opposition in Parliament. Since the group made the demand to be the main Opposition, Government leaders were suspicious that the move may be a ploy to ensconce Rajapaksa as leader of the joint opposition. That is not to say relations between the joint opposition and the pro-Maithripala Sirisena members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) were on the mend. SLFP General Secretary Duminda Dissanayake sent out a letter of warning to MPs. He conveyed the partys Central Committee decision that no member of the party should help or contribute in any way for the formation a group or work against the interests of the party. However, that has also not deterred the joint opposition members from joining their SLFP counterparts (in the UPFA) to seek a common stand on the proposed new Constitution. A group led by Dinesh Gunawardena has been meeting an SLFP team including Ministers John Seneviratne, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Susil Premajayantha and Faiszer Mustapha to discuss matters relating to the Constitution. This is how amendments to the original resolution moved by Prime Minister Wickremesinghe were formulated. The SLFP amendments have now been incorporated into the one issued on December 21 last year and moved in Parliament by the Premier and seven other ministers. It will go before the Cabinet of Ministers for approval next week. Ahead of that, the SLFP Central Committee will examine it. A vote on the resolution will be taken in Parliament on March 9. Earlier, the Governments UNP segment had accepted a proposal of the joint opposition to delete the word new from the words new Constitution in the resolution. Another change it suggested and now included is that the Constitutional Assembly shall have the powers of a committee of the whole House. Premier Wickremesinghes resolution already tabled in the House had 39 clauses. The SLFP document contains only 32. From here too, a pruned down final version may end up with some 24 clauses, according to government sources. In terms of Premier Wickremesinghes resolution, if two thirds of the Constitutional Assembly does not approve the resolution on the draft Constitution, the Constitutional Assembly and the Committees referred to in this resolution shall stand dissolved. However, the SLFP resolution, which the Government said it would accept, notes: If a simple majority of the Constitutional Assembly does not approve the resolution on the Draft Constitution, the Constitutional Assembly and the Committees referred to in this resolution shall stand dissolved. Most of the deletions relate to detailed procedures with regard to the work of the Constitutional Assembly. Premier Wickremesinghe reiterated that with the passage of the resolution, Steering Committees would be appointed. It is these Committees that will receive reports from different Sub Committees, and later submit a final report and a draft resolution on the draft Constitution. The privileges offered to the joint opposition have ensured that its members are taking part in the process to formulate a new Constitution. For the pro- Rajapaksa faction, the situation appears somewhat different. Their leader made all plans to form a new political party and launch a membership drive in the wake of what he believed was impending local council elections. However, such elections are now not forthcoming, not until next year. Even Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Faiszer Mustapha who just a week ago announced such polls would be held in June has now backtracked. He is now saying that polls will not be held until delimitation work now under way to re-define wards is completed. But he did not give a time. It was clear from the beginning that the Sirisena-led SLFP wanted the elections delayed until it was able to get its act together vis-a-vis the party dissidents who were with Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa supporters As a result, Rajapaksa who opened a political office at Jayanthipura in Battaramulla as a prelude to launching a new political party, has put matters on hold. One issue that is facing the proposed new party is who should be its leader. Suggestions that the leader should be a member of the Rajapaksa family have not met with approval of close supporters. On the other hand, Rajapaksa, who wants to remain the de-facto leader is not in favour of the leadership going to any outsider. Be that as it may, a build-up of political activity with no local polls in sight would only dissipate the pro-Rajapaksa group resources and drive away its supporters. The question of supporters has become a critical issue. If there were crowds around Rajapaksa and his family members in the Kaduwela Magistrates Court on past two occasions when his son Yoshita was remanded, numbers have dwindled since. When Yoshitha Rajapaksa, accused of money laundering, was brought to Court by Prison guards, this week there were only a small group of MPs present. The fact that more members of the family and even aides are facing investigation or arrest has added to this situation. On Friday, Police Special Task Force (STF) commandos assisted detectives of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to dig a three and half acre land belonging to Major Neville Wanniarachchi. He has been attached to Rajapaksas personal security detail. The search was conducted after a tip off that weapons and large quantities of jewellery were hidden underground at this land in Weeraketiya. It drew a blank. Major Neville has been assigned to Rajapakasa and is also the subject of investigations by the Commission to Probe Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). He has been questioned by CIABOC officials over the reported possession of fuel stations, property and the sale of a permit to generate wind power in Puttalam. He has served Rajapaksas security contingent from the rank of a Sergeant in the Army. Thajudeen probe CID detectives were busy yesterday making arrangements for the arrest of persons linked to the alleged murder of Wasim Thajudeen, a former national rugger player. This was after Colombos Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris declared on Thursday that the ruggerites death appeared to be a murder. In what seems to be one of the tough cases for them, CID detectives made breakthroughs with foreign help. One instance was with the help of British experts who came to Sri Lanka to retrieve phone call records from a mobile operator. They have been able to obtain more than two vital conversations linking one of those who was allegedly involved and a young politician. In these conversations, matters relating to the incident had been discussed. Among those likely to be arrested are a politician, personnel of the notorious Presidential Security Division (PSD), a onetime powerful Police officer, Army security personnel once attached to Rajapaksa and a young politician. Highly placed Police sources said yesterday that there was evidence to confirm that Thajudeen was badly tortured the day before it was claimed that he reportedly died in an accident. As the new political developments play out, it is becoming increasingly clear that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has painted himself into a corner. Plans for him to play a key role through the new joint opposition, his proposed new party and a campaign have been put on hold. Local elections where he and his group wanted to make a mark have been put off on the grounds of problems relating to the drawing up of new local council wards. Rajapaksas immediate and extended families are under investigations with possibilities of custodial sentences (prison terms). His associates are being questioned for various indiscretions during the tenure of the previous administration. The push for control of the Opposition benches of Parliament by the pro-Rajapaksa faction in the UPFA has been stalled. For President Sirisena, the leader of the (SLFP), straining as he is to consolidate his leadership in his party, he has manage to arrest the haemorrhaging of the party, check the Rajapaksa cavalcade for now giving him more of a chance to ensconce himself in the saddle of the SLFP. Spa a thought for the minister, will you View(s): This country has been independent for nearly 70 years. Yet no minister in all that time had opened a health spa for the benefit of the nation at state expense that is. Some say this is absolute gall. Still others say it is innovative genius. Those who hold the latter view say there is sufficient evidence to prove the urgent need to open spas in every electorate so that ministers, deputies and assorted types who enter parliament could be given free head massages to stimulate thinking and revive what seems like atrophied organs that have stopped showing the power of thought. What goes on in parliament today in the name of intelligent debate and educated discourse is proof enough that some kind of anatomical flush system is needed to cleanse the thinking processes of our law makers. After all they are honourable men, all honourable men (and women) in the words of Mark Antony and spend hour upon hour at Diyawanna Oya dedicated to the service of the nation. Surely they deserve careful looking after and nurturing. If a news story I read the other day is true and accurate, an unnamed Minister has spent funds of his unnamed ministry to open a spa so as to protect the health of the nation while the Health Minister is otherwise engaged in fighting the doctors and advisers on pharmaceuticals and other things that matter to the health of our ancient nation. Moreover with the Health Minister busy doubling up as cabinet spokesman also he has little time to worry about the general health of the people when there are such urgent matters to attend to like a good squabble over a private medical college. So when an unnamed Minister from an unnamed ministry decides to step in and do something constructive like providing therapeutic conveniences there is hardly a word of praise for such enterprising endeavours. Obviously the Minister, whoever he may be, is obviously self-effacing, fighting shy of publicity and not wishing to be showered with bouquets for such dedicated service to the nation. After all that is his task according to the job description though he might have strayed from the straight and narrow on this occasion. The problem is that it is difficult to fathom whether he has in fact exceeded what was required of him and has used state funds for purposes other than what they were originally intended. I mean there is enough precedent in this regard. Funds allocated to various ministries have not always been used for the job at hand but for underhand jobs that have truly made this country the miracle of Asia in that it has somehow survived all these tribulations. Just the other day the New Zealand Prime Minister John Key described Sri Lanka as the shining light of the Asian region. Well I dont wish to denigrate a foreign leader who has just promised to improve our bovine industry so I will desist. If however one might digress for a moment, it is indeed an industry that needs improving, seeing that the bulls and cows we have and some revere, create such public disorder that it turns into a veritable who-dung-it which not even our megapolis will solve. It is, of course, not in our culture to upbraid visitors to our home. It was only recently our President reminded all that he will not allow our ancient culture to be debased by undesirable foreign influences. But I did hear some wag say that if we are a shining light in the region as our visitor publicly claimed, it must be because the others have switched off their lights and gone to sleep. The Sri Lankan people were so thunder struck by these Key words that before they could recover the country was struck by lightning or so the Electricity Board said initially- and the shining lights of the Asian region went out all over the island. Anyway why quarrel over the words of one visiting leader except to ask what other Asian nations would think about Mr. Keys words that seemed to imply that the other chaps in this region are in the dark. Maybe, just maybe, he was referring to the innovative skill of our unnamed Minister who, if true, has taken the trouble to open a spa in the hope of building a healthy nation and controlling, if not eliminating, obesity particularly among some of our politicians who seem to gain in girth what they lose in brain power providing a clinically-interesting juxtaposition. For whatever it is worth I am going to hazard a guess. This Minister, who unfortunately remains unnamed for reasons known best to that reporter, must be an aficionado of the classics. He is surely the kind of man who could crush the loquacious Weerawansas and the pretentious Gammanpillas with a few words from the works of Juvenal, that Latin poet and satirist or turn on the oratorical skills of a Cicero. That should be sufficient to sow confusion in the serried ranks of opposition parliamentarians, some of whom apparently turned their backs on public examinations early in life. As a faithful follower of Juvenal whose words mens sana incorpore sano(meaning a healthy mind in a healthy body for those untutored in the classics) probably still ring in the Ministers ears as he has set out to recuperate the once healthy bodies that contained otherwise healthy and well groomed minds. As sparring partners (if one might resort to pun) he or someone on his behalf has hired the feminine kind (some might add feline but never mind) who, it might be claimed, have been so well trained in the therapeutic arts and sciences that they could reduce in a month or two a sumo wrestler to the size of an emaciated former parliamentarian struck down by political outage. To ensure that this spa functions with maximum efficiency and the feminine therapeutists do not linger on the job the minister has thoughtfully placed his wife in charge of managing the spa, if the media report is true. Not only that. It appears that the wife is paid a lower salary than any of those hard working girls who have been employed without even a by-your-leave from the Constitutional Council. Nepotism and cronyism would have been farthest from the Ministers mind which must have gone through a power flush to rejuvenate his thinking process, when he put his wife in charge as manager and recruited therapeutists bypassing the tender process, if you get what I mean. But those who do not understand the Ministers intention to make Sri Lanka not only a shining Asian country but also experiment with a novel idea that could be replicated throughout our island nation if not the region in which we are shining examples. It is unfortunate, if the report is true, that the Ministers efforts to spread the good word and worthwhile cause are likely to come to nothing if ministry funds are limited to such pre-determined projects as the megapolis which, if it is anything like the other police, will be left to pick up bodies and pieces. Why, for heaven and our sakes, is the clamorous joint opposition strangely silent? It demands everything, even a few minutes here and a few there. So why not a spa! Like charity it should germinate at home, right in the middle of the Diyawanna Oya. Sri Lankas brutalisation of innocents View(s): It is becoming increasingly more difficult to pretend that sexual violence is not on the rise in Sri Lanka. In past weeks alone, particular incidents included the rape and murder of a thirteen year old girl in Vavuniya as well as another teenager in Mawathagama while a six year old boy was sexually abused and killed in Sampoor. Efforts to enforce tougher sentencing These are poignant and outrageous cases which reverberate in the public conscience as much as the murders of little Seya Sadewmini from Kotadeniyawa and Vidhya Sivaloganathan from Pungunduthivu. There are countless other unnamed innocents. The problem is that isolated cases lead to public anger which then fades away. Meanwhile, the crisis of sexual violence continues even as state authorities remain lethargic. The failure of the system is evidenced at all levels. In the first instance, there is an absence of proper police investigations with little forensic analysis or basic law enforcement skills being employed. Examples of those wronged are many, the latest being the schoolboy who was unjustly imprisoned on suspicion of involvement in Seyas murder. Meanwhile, the peculiar tradition of unarmed suspects being shot while in police custody continues. This week, it was reported that the Ministry of Justice is contemplating issuing guidelines to be followed by judges in the sentencing of sex offenders. Relevant there to is an extraordinary precedent set by the Supreme Court some eight years ago that mandatory sentences for rape amounts to an unconstitutional restraint on the High Courts judicial discretion in sentencing. This practice of High Court judges imposing suspended or reduced sentences became entrenched in consequence. Ironically, even where a High Court hands down the required minimum sentence in an exceptional instance, the Supreme Court has intervened to reduce the severity of the punishment. An improvement of the judicial function That said, it is not a pure question of lenient sentencing which is at the core of the problem. The judicial function itself has become of concern. There appears to be an inability to understand fundamental legal principles in regard to crimes of sexual abuse. This judicial timorousness is even more pronounced where sexual violence is manifested during conflict. As of now, our most rigorously reasoned judgment laying down clear jurisprudential principles in this regard dates back to the 1970s when Premawathi Manamperi was abused and killed during the first Southern insurrection. Only rare exceptions to a general unwillingness to venture into this thorny terrain have been evidenced by the superior courts. One such instance was when the Supreme Court upheld the convictions of soldiers for the rape and murder of Krishanti Kumaraswamy in the 1990s. But in general, the trend has been negative. This is despite several High Courts taking bolder decisions in these cases to little avail however as their findings are quashed on appeal. Then again, the issue is not the judicial function alone. In another rare positive outcome in the recent Vishwamadu rape case where two soldiers were sentenced by the Jaffna High Court for abuse of internally displaced women, the women went through considerable trauma within the court room itself. The education of judges, lawyers and prosecutors in regard to the appropriate handling of sexual violence cases remains a priority. Ensuring a good legislative scheme Meanwhile, many of these cases fall through the cracks due to the victimization of the complainants. In the few cases where there are witnesses, they are subjected to extreme intimidation. With all the goodwill in the world, it is difficult to believe that Sri Lankas Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act (2014) will remedy this in any significant respect. Crucial thereto is the requirement that the Authority established under this law is led by independent and competent individuals including state officers untouched by past scandals of subverting justice. We see no such reassurance however. Its protection division is drawn from the normal police cadre which is unacceptable. How can victims expect the police to protect them when the victimization emanates from the police itself in most instances? This is basic commonsense surely. Following the 2012 rape and murder of Indias daughter Jyoti Singh, India passed new legislation in 2013 which strengthened punishment of sex crimes. The law also covered violations such as stalking, voyeurism and lewd expressions. Importantly a tough clause made non-registration of a rape or sexual violence complaint by the police, a criminal offense. Hospitals were mandated to have a designated room for forensic and medical examination. If the victim was female, the presence of a female attendant was necessary. These are measures which amount to the bare minimum that state authorities are called upon to observe. Even these responses have been castigated by Indian lawyers as insufficient. A sterner state response was called for. Legislation was proposed mid last year to try minors charged with rape and murder in regular courts along with adults. Addressing a complex problem Across the Palk Strait, have we become so deaf to injustice that the brutalization of innocents no longer concerns us? Sri Lankas crisis of sexual violence is not limited to the former war theatre. It does not draw its origins only from conflict. This is a complex and multi-layered problem brought about by the breakdown of the Rule of Law and aggravated by protracted war. During the epidemic of rapes in Kahawatte some years ago, villagers reported to fear governing every aspect of their lives with adults staying away from working at tea and rubber estates while children were prevented from going to school. In the North and East, such fears are still evident with villagers fearing state authorities rather than going to them for redress. And when the State abstains from its task of protection of citizens, community anger takes over. Public protests were evidenced this week in Vavuniya as residents engaged in a hartal over the rape and murder of a thirteen year old teenager. Assuredly these are not systemic weaknesses that can be addressed by patchwork measures. The increase in sexual violence against those vulnerable needs to see a concerted effort at all stages of the justice system as well as the health and social service sectors. One can only hope that enlightened realization in this regard will inform a national effort very much sooner rather than later. Beauties on board the Colombo City Tour View(s): Marina Alekseychik, the winner of 2015 Mrs. World title together with the finalists of the Mrs Sri Lanka pageant for Mrs World hopped on board the Colombo City Tour open deck double decker to enjoy a thrilling ride around the city last week. Being her first visit to Sri Lanka, the reigning Mrs World together with her husband witnessed the beauty of Sri Lankas premier city on the Colombo City Tour with an insight to its history and heritage sightseeing the important places. They also travelled to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte to enjoy a wonderful boat ride in the Diyawanna Lake admiring the natural beauties and the picturesque setting of the Parliament complex. Colombo City Tour operates daily tours on weekdays and morning and evening tours during weekends which also includes boat rides on the Diyawanna Lake. Cinematic promotion of Sri Lanka Updated Sri Lanka travel directory ready View(s): View(s): The updated version of Sri Lanka the travel directory, featuring comprehensive audio-visual details needed for tourists has been released by film producer Ranjith Perera. The first of its kind produced in DVD format comes in parallel to an internet travel directory comprising high quality video clips. First released in 2010, the latest DVD is comprised of the latest updates over the last five years. The DVD, The Sri Lanka Travel Directory provides the traveller with complete information and data relating to Sri Lanka tourism including its history, archaeology, religious, cultural and social angles in addition to leading accommodation in the respective tourist sites. It also has over 20 short video documentaries about different historical sites such as Anuradaphura, Sigiriaya, Polonnaruwa, Galle, Kataragama and many others. It also contains useful information related to tourism and related businesses, tour operators, car services. A complete audio-visual format done with high definition camera system, the DVD is aimed at promoting Sri Lanka and its history, culture and tradition. This is a digital promotion of Sri Lanka and it was the only audio-visual directory available for the promotion of the country, said Ranjith Perera who with his long experience in cinema and television industry took a novel initiative to promote the country. It also will be a handy guide for all the tourists who visit Sri Lanka, he added. Scripted by Prof. K. D. Paranavitana, design concept and audio-visual editing is by Suresh Ranga Weudagedara and Ranjith Perera produced it for Winson Films. The DVD documentary is also to be used for promotion of Sri Lanka at international travel promotion such as World Travel Mart. - Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana Words on the Mount View(s): Words on the Mount, the virtual literary festival of Mount Lavinia, to commemorate the 210 year history of Mount Lavinia Hotel, to be held on 8th and 9th July. The event seeks to promote Sri Lanka as a tourist destination with a rich literary history and colonial legacy. To that end, the iconic hotel will be hosting a number of writers who have a special connection to the island. The guests for Words on the Mount include: winner of the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best Novel in 1994 Louis de Bernieres, thriller writer and award-winning television producer Peter Grimsdale, writer and broadcaster Stephanie Calman and author Rohan Candappa. A special part of the 210 celebrations will be the launching of the Second Edition of the book Mount Lavinia, the Governors Palace, whose author Shevanthie Goonesekera is also curator for Words on the Mount. Elaborating on the objective of celebrating the written word at Mount Lavinia Hotel, Shevanthie noted, We want something new, to be challenged, to be innovative. To promote another generation of writers in the country and inspire the creativity of Sri Lankans to do new things. The first day of the event will be invitation only and accommodate around 150 people. The second day will be open to the public but guests will have to register free of charge before attending. During the course of the event Louis de Bernieres will introduce his new novel, The Dust That Falls From Dreams. Part of a trilogy set during the First World War, Louis first book ends in Sri Lanka. Louis has a very special connection to the island which he will reveal during his visit to Mount Lavinia. $1b IMF loan linked to more taxes View(s): The Government is looking at a one billion US dollar standby loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to tide over a looming economic crisis. Grant of this facility, a high ranking Government source said yesterday, would make it mandatory to heed to a string of conditions. They include revisions in key areas like the Nation Building Tax (NBT), personal taxation and Value Added Tax, the source said.The NBT was raised from two to four per cent in the 2016 budget proposal but it was later stalled. Personal taxation limits were raised recently from Rs. 750,000 to Rs. 2.4 million. The Value Added Tax now stands at 11.5 per cent. These are likely to face an upward revision if the IMF facility is obtained. The source said negotiations were underway and the amount to be obtained would be subject to approval by the Cabinet of Ministers. The source revealed that the loan has become imperative in the light of the current situation and both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe have acknowledged it. International financial organisations have in recent months commented on Sri Lankas financial situation. A World Bank report on Ending Poverty and Promoting Shared Prosperity, released late last year and re-issued this week notes that low and declining revenues have critically impacted on Sri Lankas fiscal position. The report says: Sri Lanka now has one of the lowest tax revenue to GDP ratios in the world, reflecting a decline from 24.2 per cent in 1978 to 10.7 per cent in 2014. The major causes of this decline are low increase in the number of tax payers, reductions in statutory rate without commensurate efforts to expand the tax base, inefficiency in administration and numerous extensions. In particular, since the introduction of a value added tax (VAT) in 2002, successive changes in the tax regime have led to over 500 types of exemptions for a wide variety of goods. There are also over 40 broad types of exemptions on corporate and personal income tax depending on the source of income and the type of taxpayer. Administration is complicated by lack of co-ordination among entities collecting revenue as well as the Board of Investment which provides incentives. No tax expenditure analysis is conducted before or after the introduction of incentives CAA to monitor freeze on Mars products View(s): The freeze on the distribution and sale of a particular stock of Mars chocolates recalled by the parent company from 55 countries including Sri Lanka will be closely monitored by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA), an official said. CAA Director Chandrika Thilakaratne said they had received a letter from Stassen Group, the local distributor, stating it was recalling Mars, Snickers, Milky Way bars and Celebrations chocolates manufactured from December 05, 2015 to January 18, 2016. We will deploy our officials to ensure that these chocolates are not distributed or sold and action would be taken against offenders, the CAA chief said. On Tuesday, the parent company, Mars Inc., said it had recalled chocolate bars and other products in 55 countries, due to choking risk after a consumer in Germany complained she found red plastic in a Snickers bar and sent it back to the company. Mars has made a precautionary decision to voluntarily recall a selection of Snickers, Mars, Milky way and Celebrations products produced in the Netherlands factory. The voluntary recall concerns only specific products that were manufactured at the Netherlands facility during a limited production period from December 5, 2015 to January 18, 2016, Mars International India Pvt. Ltd said in a response to a query from the Sunday Times. The CAA Director said they have also informed the Customs also about the withdrawal of the particular batches. Commemorative stamp for DR View(s): A commemorative stamp was issued to mark the 130th birth anniversary of D.R.Wijewardena at a function on Friday. Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Minister Gayantha Karunatillake was the chief guest. The event organised by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited was attended by several dignitaries including diplomats and media personnel. State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardena also spoke on the occasion while a panel discussion too was held to mark the event. Deal with India, fear not, take a leap: Minister tells professionals View(s): The Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) is only one of several free trade deals the Government is looking at, Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama said in an interview with the Sunday Times. He said such agreements were an essential component of development, particularly employment creation and revenue generation. Excerpts from the interview: Q: Once the proposed ETCA is signed, what are the practical changes that will take place? A: There will be more people coming in and setting up factories because they know that they have a market (India). Even the Chinese would prefer us to have a free trade agreement with India so that Chinese companies can set up their factories here, use our labour and then export to India which is a huge market. That market is opening up for them (via Sri Lanka). We will be a hub, in the centre. We can be what Hong Kong is to China or Singapore is to Malaysaia. Q: Are you concerned about protests against the ETCA? A: Im not concerned because theres nothing to protest about. They dont know whats coming in; neither do we know what the final agreement will be. Thats a matter to be discussed. The final agreement will be placed before Parliament. It will be open to everybody. I dont think people need to be afraid of this agreement. It will be better for this country. The protests are for political reasons. There are some political parties which feel they will have no place if the country develops. They have always been misleading people to get their votes. If people are happy and have better jobs, they will not be interested in these parties. Q: Will the Government sign similar agreements with other countries? A: We are negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with China, we are deepening our agreement with Pakistan, and we are looking at Turkey, Singapore and other countries. Q: When you say you are deepening Sri Lankas agreement with Pakistan, do you envisage a deal similar to the ETCA? A: We are looking at it. We have not discussed the details yet. Maybe some more goods can be opened up. During the visits of Pakistans Prime Minister and Commerce Minister, they wanted us to deepen the agreement and encourage more trade between the two countries. What we must realise is that ours is a very small market of 20 million people. With that, if we look only inwards, we cannot generate more employment. Q: Are you saying we have reached saturation point? A: I think that if we want to create more jobs, better paid jobs, and improve the living standards of our people, then we have to look at the world. China, India and Pakistan give us a market of almost three billion people. We have to look outwards to export our goods. We have to start manufacturing for export. Our export industry has been stagnating. It is worth only US$ 11 billion hardly anything. When we look at Vietnam, even after the war, it has an export industry worth almost US$ 150 billion. Vietnam is signing an agreement with 12 other countries on the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership). That means it can export to all those countries duty free. Q: The IT industry fears that Indian professionals will flock the Sri Lankan market and take up entry-level jobs. A: Its not the fear of the industry. The industry is aware of its requirement. Its the fear of the workers. Some people in the industry are supporting this (ETCA) but they want to have some controls regarding salaries, qualifications and issues like that. When Chinese (companies) developed infrastructure in Sri Lanka, they brought Chinese workers. Everybody working on the port was Chinese; everybody building the roads was Chinese. Nobody objected to it. They work and they go back. But that kind of thing wont happen here. We are also concerned about foreigners flooding this country. It will not happen. Q: Will the ETCA make Indian jobs available to Sri Lankans? A: Yes, absolutely. That is why we are saying let us not have restrictions in that sense; that we have some opening so if our people want to go there, they can. There are plenty of jobs. When India opened up under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, there were protests from big industrialists including the Ambanis and the Mittals. Look where they are now. Ten out of the 100 richest people in the world are Indians because they found they had to make themselves more competitive. They have acquired big companies in the United States and Europe now. This happened because the economy opened up. I dont think we have to be afraid. But our industrialists need to be more competitive. They will have to learn. Look at the apparel industry. It has not restricted anybody from coming here and now almost 45 percent of our exports are apparels. We want other industries also to come up the same way. Q: You say the ETCA will encourage foreign companies to invest in Sri Lanka. What is preventing them from doing it now? A: One is the political climate we had before. Now the climate is changing. We have to ensure that there is sufficient goodwill for them to come. And we must ensure investment protection. All these things will be covered by this economic cooperation agreement. Fishermen on both sides of the Palk Strait to hold protests tomorrow View(s): Both Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen will hold separate protests tomorrow in front of the diplomatic missions in Chennai and Jaffna calling for their demands to be met in the longstanding fishing issue between the two countries. The Indian fishermen will demand that Sri Lanka stop arresting their fishermen and detaining their boats, while Lankan fishermen will demand an end to poaching by their Indian counterparts.The protests coincide with the proposed visit by Sri Lankas Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera to New Delhi following an invitation extended to him during the recent Indo-Lanka Joint Commission meeting in Colombo. Minister Amaraweera told the Sunday Times he would take up with the Indian delegation the destruction of marine life in Lankan waters by Indian boats and the steps taken by the Sri Lankan Government to ban harmful methods of fishing by local fishermen. Our initial discussions would focus on Indian bottom trawling. We cant accept this mode of fishing at any cost, he said. The Tamil Nadu fishermen who launched an indefinite strike from Friday will stage their protest in front of the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission office in Chennai. Rameshwaram Mechanical Fisheries Craft Association President N. Devadas told the Sunday Times that in addition to demanding that the Indian Government ensures that fishermen wont be arrested by the Lankan Navy, they would also demand that they be allowed to fish in Lankan waters as they had a traditional right to do so. Pointing out that they were facing hard times because of their ongoing agitation and the 45-day mandatory ban on fishing coming into effect in April, Mr. Devadas said, both governments should look at their issue in a humanitarian way. Meanwhile, in Sri Lanka, northern fishermen will hold a protest in front of the office of the Consulate General of India in Jaffna, supporting the Lankan Governments actions and diplomatic efforts to stop illegal fishing by Tamil Nadu trawlers and the use of unauthorised fishing methods by local fishermen from other parts of the country. Fishermen from Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar and Mullaitivu will take part in tomorrows protest. Hindu Affairs Minister to present Bill to stop animal sacrifice View(s): Hindu Religious Affairs Minister D.M. Swaminathan says he will shortly present legislation in parliament to ban animal sacrifice in Hindu shrines islandwide.He said the relevant Bill tilted, Prevention of Animal Sacrifice in Hindu Shrines is presently being drafted by the Legal Draftsmans Department. A Cabinet paper to introduce the legislation was approved this week. He said, many animal rights groups had also called for the ban on animal sacrifice practiced in several kovils including the Munneswaram Badra Kali Amman, in Chilaw. Jaffna Railway Station: On a fast track to success View(s): The Jaffna Railway Station has turned to be one of the main out hubs for transportation between the north and the south. Over 1,200 passengers pass through the station daily with four trains from Kankesanthurai (KKS) to the south and back to KKS. The intercity train has turned out to be the most popular train between the two destinations with most seats being booked on a regular basis. The station is one of the best maintained stations in the country after the Bank of Ceylon sponsored the reconstruction of the station. After the war, this is one of the best transport facilities available, says the Jaffnas chief Station Master K. Preadeepan. Mr. Pradeepan himself who joined the railway service in 1993 has worked in several stations in the south including Colombo and is fluent in Sinhala. I have worked more than five years in Colombo alone. The staff members there are like my brothers and sisters. Most of my service period has been with them, says Mr. Pradeepan. In addition to the transport facilities the railway station also provides rooms for the travellers, located on the upper floor of the station. We have family rooms at Rs. 2,500, double rooms at Rs 1,500 and single rooms at Rs. 850 with taxes. The rooms are usually full up, he said. (Additional reporting by S.Rubatheesan and N. Lohathayalan) Key issues taken up at inaugural US-Lanka Annual Partnership Dialogue in Washington Foreign Minister Samaraweera and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Shannon lead respective delegations View(s): View(s): The inaugural U.S.-Sri Lanka Annual Partnership Dialogue was concluded in Washington DC on Friday with discussions on key topics including economic cooperation, security cooperation, international and regional affairs and other issues of mutual interest. The Partnership Dialogue is a regularly planned policy consultation designed to advance our common agenda and opportunities for cooperation across the full range of bilateral and regional issues, a statement from the State Department said. The United States looks forward to broadening and deepening its relationship with Sri Lanka on the basis of these candid and constructive conversations, it said. The bilateral cooperation mechanism which elevates the relations between the two countries to the next level was first mooted during the US Secretary of State John Kerrys visit to Sri Lanka in May last year. Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon led the respective delegations. Discussions focused on democratic governance, development cooperation, people-to-people ties, international and regional affairs and other issues of mutual interest. Ahead of the partnership dialogue, Minister Samaraweera met with Secretary Kerry at the State Department. While appreciating the governments very impressive continuing steps towards reconciliation, Secretary Kerry said efforts to try to address regional issues, and most importantly, to make peace in the country are very, very significant. Weve had an ongoing dialogue. This is the eve of a Strategic Dialogue with Sri Lanka, we very much look forward to defining the roadmap ahead for continued progress, he said. Minister Samaraweera said that the inaugural meeting of the U.S.-Sri Lanka Partnership Dialogue will further strengthen and broaden the relationship between the two countries. And this has elevated what has always been a very cordial relationship to what I would call a very special friendship between the United States of America and Sri Lanka, he said. A day before the partnership dialogue, a discussion at the U.S. Institute of Peace, co-sponsored by the Heritage Foundation, hosted Minister Samaraweera where he gave a talk on the topic of Advancing Reconciliation and Development in Sri Lanka. In her introductory remarks, Nisha Biswal, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Affairs noted that through this Partnership Dialogue, we are establishing a forum to engage and advance all aspects of our relationships in a comprehensive discussion that brings together the strategic and security components, the democratic governance and human rights agenda, as well as the economic challenges. Lingering sore in a fast-healing Jaffna View(s): Its a showpiece of human misery and suffering in this northern capital where the ravages of a near three decades of separatist war have almost disappeared. Nestled amidst lush green tobacco and onion fields in Chunnakam, eight kilometres away from this town, are rows of small houses. Rusty zinc sheets form the roof as well as walls. Some are also made of flattened old tar barrels. For 15 long years this refugee camp has been home for 112 families. Seven toilets are shared by the more than 400 inmates here, one for every 58 people. We queue up every morning to use them, says 30 year-old Jenishwaran Jenita. The daughter of a well to -do fisherman who once owned a trawler, she epitomises the travails of those in this camp. She has been displaced since she was five years old. Now living in the camp, abandoned by her husband, she and her two children depend on her brother, a mason, for their livelihood. State assistance in the form of rations was only available until 2000, she said. The refugees in this camp, like in 37 others dotting this peninsula, are mostly displaced fisher-families from Myliddy the fishing village now at the centre of a tug of war between Tamil groups and the Government. The land where they lived was taken over to ensure security for aircraft using the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) runway. Since then, a number of other important security installations have come up in this stretch which juts into the sea where there is a fishing pier. The Government wants to pay compensation to the land owners. In fact it had been agreed to by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. However, most Tamil groups insist that compensation will not help. They want the SLAF runway re-located in the Kilinochchi area and argue that was the only way those displaced could resume fishing activity. The debate goes on. Prolonged life in the refugee camp has spawned a new generation refugee children. They are at a school meant only for the displaced. For these children education is limited. There is no extracurricular activity including sports. They are blissfully unaware of how other schools function. They told me it was just a case of sitting in a makeshift classroom for a few hours, sometimes learning and other times chatting. The Chunnakam Refugee Camp has been the cynosure of the Colombo based diplomatic community. So much so, even the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussain was a VIP visitor just weeks ago. He learnt how the camp gets flooded during rains and runs out of water during drought. After the visit Zeid was to declare that lands which can should be swiftly given back. He said a lingering sore will have been cured once and for all. A military official in the district, however, argued that the governments acknowledgement of humanitarian concerns have led to the release of large extents. Among those remaining include those that could affect national security considerations. He spoke on grounds of anonymity since they are not authorised to speak to the media. Jenita said the displaced were allowed to visit their original homesteads for the first time in December last year. President Maithripala Sirisena promised during a visit that our lands will be returned. We hope he will keep to his promise, she declared. Also driven to poverty is 60 year-old Thavagnanam Padma. She lived near the Myliddy fisheries pier and her husband led a labour force of 60 persons. He carried out contract work for fishing vessels. Our only source of income now is my 30 year-old daughter who works as a labourer. She earns Rs. 400 a day and eight members in our family eke out a measly existence, she said. This, she said, meant having to be frugal on food with no money for any other activity. She lamented that foreign visitors come, see our plight and assure that help would arrive. We have waited so long but nothing has happened. N. Nagendraseelan, a retired teacher who is Secretary of the Valikamam North Resettlement and Rehabilitation Committee (which covers Myliddy) said The persons living in this camp face hardships daily. They do not have enough money for food. The Government no longer provides them free rations. Their main livelihood has been the fisheries industry and today they live in camps closer to agricultural areas. The conditions are worse in some of the camps. They sleep in open areas as they do not have space inside. Added Mr Nagendraseelan There are some who have been born in refugee camps and now living as adults. Children do not have a place to move around, leave alone space to play. Outside the refugee camps, it is a different story. Agriculture is booming. It is a good time for vegetable cultivators, said Sivakanthan Sinniah, a vegetable dealer in Tirunelveli. He said whilst some of the produce is sold in the peninsula, the balance is transported to the wholesale market in Dambulla. He said the harvest of spring onions in particular has been very good. Most farmers, he added, were going for this crop which takes only three and a half months to grow. The onions fetched anything between Rs. 40 to Rs. 60 a kilo as against Rs 100 in Colombo.There is also a great demand for bananas, says farmer M. Paramalingam in Tirunelveli. He said traders from other parts of the country were now coming in lorries to purchase them. He added that they have a variety of bananas to offer them. The agricultural boom here has a flip side. Most of the produce still do not reach Colombo, a move which could lower prices and provide consumers with better quality. The railway is yet to gear itself to introducing more goods trains to move stocks. Over 1,200 passengers pass through the Jaffna Railway Station a day. Four trains each from Kankesanthurai to the South and vice versa operate through this station, Station Master Pradeepan said. Trains have become the most popular mode of transport for travellers from the south. For a fast developing Jaffna, the sore point still remains the refugee camps and the untold hardships their inmates undergo. They need the Governments priority attention. Then the visits of diplomats will no longer be to see the horrible conditions in the camps but how much this peninsula has progressed. National Anthem: Tamil version not new to Jaffna Well before sections raised issue over the singing of the National Anthem in Tamil, the Tamil version was being played in state institutions, including the District Secretariat, in Jaffna. The anthem continues to be played in Tamil, but has raised issues whether it should be played in both languages as all state institutions in Sri Lanka consists of all communities. To overcome this dilemma, some institutions have opted to play only the music instead of singing the National Anthem in either Sinhala or Tamil. J. Dadallage, Secretary to the Public Administration and Management Ministry, told the Sunday Times that there have been no circulars issued instructing on what language the national anthem should be sung. We have allowed both languages irrespective of the ethnic composition of the district. Currently Sinhala and Tamil versions of the anthem are being sung in many government departments. In some offices the recorded tune is played giving the liberty to the staff to sing the anthem in their mother tongue. High Court Judge gives Uni students a lesson on law and order Increasing incidents of gang fights, clashes among youth and cases of public harassment have prompted a judge in Jaffna to request students to comply with the laws both within the university premises and without to ensure a better society. Today in Jaffna, there are incidents of gang fights, child abuse, public harassment cases and violent activities being reported. If any issues erupt, dont turn to violent protests. We dont like to see university students languishing in cells. You are our future leaders Jaffna High Court Judge M. Elancheleyan said at an event to mark the aluminum jubilee of the Department of Law, University of Jaffna last Sunday at the Kailasapathy Auditorium. He said priority should be given to eliminate social injustices and crimes.The Judge said while giving verdicts for cases which have dragged on for years the courts should pay attention to social injustice too. The society should be protected first at any cost, he said. Now, with the help of my fellow magistrates in the district, the distribution of Kerala cannabis in the city has been put an end to, he said. If any of you graduates are found guilty or convicted by a court you would not be able to join the government service, thats why our magistrates and lawyers are trying to settle the cases, he said. Pointing out that now ragging inside the universality premises is an offence, the High Court Judge said the students should maintain law and order. When we were students it was not an offence, so we did it, but not now. Constitutional Reforms committee wants more time in Jaffna The Public Representations Committee on Constitutional Reforms plans to return to Jaffna for a second time due to a large number of requests, a senior official said. The committee conducted two days of sittings in Jaffna on February 15 and 16. Issues concerning resettlement, lands, rights of disabled persons, womens rights were among the subjects on which representations were made. Committee chairman Lal Wijenayake told the Sunday Times though the committee has concluded its public sittings in all the districts, it has decided to hold sittings again in Jaffna considering the requests made for further submissions. We could not hear all the cases in two days, he added. Earlier this month at least 158 persons appeared before the committee submitting their oral and written submissions to the committee. Five political parties, trade unions, and a number of womens organisations put forward their proposals. Mr. Wijenayake said the committee has received some of the valuable proposals from the Jaffna sittings including a concept of Right to Live for the disabled people. We were surprised to hear some of the original ideas from the people. A group advocating for the rights of the disabled people argued it should be included into the Fundamental Rights with other amendments, he said. Everyone needs long lasting peace with national reconciliation. There were different views from people in the north and south on how we are going to achieve that, Mr Wijenayake said. He said the views of the victims of the three decade-long war should be included in the new constitution- making process although the war ended seven years ago. People were very keen to make submissions, some that didnt even come under their purview. Land issues, disappearances, caste issues were all brought to our attention, he said. New Port City deal within weeks View(s): New Port City deal within weeksThe Government will go ahead with the Chinese-funded Colombo Port City but is negotiating with the Chinese builders to reduce the scale of the reclamation site to reduce environmental damage, a Minister said. We are having discussions, said Malik Samarawickrama, Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade. The Government has decided to go ahead with it. There are minor changes to the agreement. One is that land will not be given out on a freehold basis but on a 99-year lease. I think both parties have agreed to this, he explained. We are also looking at reducing the extent so that there will not be an environmental impact. This is being discussed and we hope to finalise it in a couple of weeks. China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd, the builder, was receptive to the idea of reducing the scope. But it is also looking at how practical it is because the designs have been done on a certain basis so they also have to see what effect it will have if the extent is reduced, the Minister said. They are discussing it and looking at how they can revise it, he added. Within a couple of weeks we should find a solution. The construction of the Colombo Port City was suspended in March last year amid questions over its environmental impact and the geopolitical implications of giving out land to the Chinese investor on a freehold basis. Minister Samarawickrama indicated that the Government was also pursuing other projects with China, including a 1000-acre economic zone in Hambantota. He said he would visit China next week. These are things that should have been done concurrently with the port and airport, he said. You dont set them up and then look and see whats going on. At the moment we are just repaying loans and interest on these huge white elephants which we are now trying to convert to useful operations. We will probably have a 1000-acre economic zone there, he explained. Then we can use the port and the airport. We are also looking at how we can make the airport commercially viable. We are looking at whether we can have a joint venture tie-up where the people can use the airport, make it a hub. Similarly, we are discussing with the Government of Singapore to develop the City of Trincomalee where we can use the port, he revealed. There, again, we want to have an economic zone with Singapore, Japan, India and other countries. Those are the areas we are concentrating on at present, in addition to regaining the GSP Plus which we should get by the end of the year. There was tremendous goodwill towards Sri Lanka among the international community, Minister Samarawickrama said. It is just about five months since the new Government was formed, he said. With the background that had been there for the past 10 years or so, its not easy to change the mindset of the people. But I can say that when we visit Europe or any other country now, theres a huge goodwill factor.People are very receptive, people welcome Sri Lankans and theres a huge goodwill factor, he reiterated. But that goodwill must now transform into economic benefits. It wont happen overnight but over a period of time. Im sure that we will reap the benefits. President, Premier, Finance Minister to hold crisis talks tomorrow over fertilizer issue By Kasun Warakapiriya View(s): View(s): Government leaders, including President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, will hold a crisis meeting tomorrow to find an urgent solution to the fertilizer issue, Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake said. He said his ministry arranged the meeting as farmers from several parts of the country were complaining about a fertilizer shortage. The minister said the shortage was artificially created by traders who had hoarded stocks, expecting a price increase. These traders make farmers pay more for subsidised fertilizer, he said. The minister urged farmers to inform the ministry and Consumer Affairs Authority if any trader was hoarding fertilizer stocks and warned that tough action would be taken against the offenders.Meanwhile paddy and vegetable farmers said they were badly affected by the shortage of fertilizer and the Governments policy decision to stop subsidising fertilizer. Vegetable farmer W. Rupasinghe said many famers had to share or borrow fertilizer to cultivate their crops. He accused the Government of resorting to various ruses to force the farmers to give up cultivation and sell their land to companies. Singapore experts to restructure Foreign Ministry View(s): Sri Lankas Foreign Ministry is set to be restructured with the assistance of Singapore government experts, official sources revealed. A proposal to restructure the ministry and capacity building in anti-corruption measures has been endorsed by the Cabinets Economic Management Committee (EMC). The ministry has sought the approval to obtain assistance for staff training from Indian experts. But the committee, at a recent meeting, has given approval to limit it to Singapore assistance. Singapore has agreed to help Sri Lanka restructure the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following talks held between Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and his Singapore counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan last year. The ministry will be restructured administratively and prudently as any other institutions to enable it to meet the countrys growing role in its environs shifting from the old British system of carrying out its functions, according to EMC documents seen by the Sunday Times. Even the British Ministry of External Affairs has shifted from its system of administration in the face of new trends and challenges of the new world. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be restructured to further strengthen and rationalise its foreign services and promote its role towards economic and commercial diplomacy, a senior official of the ministry said. It has taken the administrative structure of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Singapore and various other foreign ministries for its study to formulate a restructuring plan of the Sri Lankan ministry, he said. According to Deputy Foreign Minister Harsha de Silva, the Government has directed Sri Lankan diplomats in missions abroad to re-channel their efforts, energies and resources to improving the countrys commercial interests worldwide. A new strategic direction has been laid out for the countrys Foreign Service through economic diplomacy. This plan had been designed to put trade and commerce at the helm of foreign policy. The aim is to improve the countrys declining trade and investment performance which is the key to the future prosperity of the people.Sri Lanka will be using economic diplomacy to expand exports, bring in investments, boost growth and take local firms abroad. To attract foreign direct investments, measures will be taken to use state apparatus, diplomatic missions and state agencies, the ministry official said. A system is to be devised making each line ministers, ambassadors and officials responsible for the attraction of foreign investments. Stop wasting, share more View(s): Some of us have forgotten that we had mothers milk when we were babies. A fathers protection is gradually decreasing. Wedding expenses have skyrocketed. Divorce cases at courts are increasing in number. Siblings are fighting amongst each other. Even neighbours had difficulty in living in good fellowship. The Lord Buddha preached about equanimity. Most people are selfish but they are unaware that selfishness does not bring lasting happiness to them or others. We see a significant increase in the elderly population and many of these elderly parents are seeking refuge in homes for the elders. This is a sad new trend in our country. Not many people have realised the gravity of this issue. We see a desperate decline in the number of people who work for the common good in their job or their profession. There are a few who show the way and even if they set the example, only a few follow them. Today, we are talking about making Colombo beautiful. To make it beautiful is not so difficult, the bigger challenge in to maintain the beauty. For instance, see how the dengue mosquito is ruling over us, largely because we do not properly maintain our surroundings. We have been abundantly blessed by Mother Nature but our health conditions are generally poor. According to our doctrine, good health is the greatest gift. Are we to expect it from the State? No, it has to come from within us. Because of the fear and insecurity experienced by the people, they lost faith in President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The development promises made then are being implemented now in Greater Colombo. For this, Army Headquarters and other security institutions had to be shifted out. There are reports that contractors are not being paid for work done at state institutions, resulting in hardships. Therefore, we may have to seek foreign contractors on account of this. It is also reported that the Government does not have funds to increase salaries of public servants as promised. On the other hand, people complain that though a reasonable salary is paid, the service provided is poor. The fountain must be protected if we need water. Since the paddy produced by us has dropped in quality, we cannot store paddy or rice for long. So we have to sell the harvest quickly. It is reported that the price of paddy has come down to Rs. 17 a kilo. From our rice to vegetable products there is no proper plan for the future. Emphasis is not given to local production. Most things are imported. Insurance is there to protect people in trouble and in need. But rogues and opportunists have got in and are destroying the insurance industry. So we see a downward trend in this and other sectors. The Cost of living is today sky high. We spend a quite a lot at the birth of a child. Though the priceless mothers milk is freely available, infants are fed with powdered milk. No wonder the cost of living is high. We must not close our eyes to these but be vigilant. Since rubber prices are low the trade is at an abysmal level. The tea industry is in a similar crisis. Those who venture abroad are also in trouble. Most people are left with little or no choice. When the country is in such a state everyone must think wisely and do our duties honestly and efficiently. We must put away our political, caste and creed differences, and bring about unity in diversity. We must speak the truth to put away divisive or harmful ideas we may have. We need to rise to the occasion to unite everyone including the wise and ignorant, and those who are capable or incapable. Journalists and the media especially need to be committed to the principle of unity in diversity. Time is important to everyone. Instead of wasting several hours on meaningless programmes on Radio and TV, more time should be allocated for educative programmes on key issues such as agriculture and health care. Competent media personnel should take the lead. We must stop wasting valuable time on gossip and jokes. Recently I heard that in prison, inmates share their meals with others. This is a good culture. Why cantthat be continued in real life when they come out of prison? Governance is not sending people to jail or detention. It is the responsibility of the clergy, those in authority and all others to protect the people through careful planning. The Navam Perahera is an experience in sharing. Some helped in cash, others in kind and contributing their labour. Everyone, all nationalities, people of all races and religions, and foreign tourists watched the Perahera. Not a single untoward incident took place. There were hundreds of dancers some of them experienced and capable, others novices. But all of them did their duty well. Thousands of people watched the perahera and went home happily. This gave us the inspiration to make a decision to have a small perahera at Gangaramaya at every full moon Poya at 7 pm. In this way, we can promote the talents of young artistes. We do not need much money for this monthly perahera. If a person could sacrifice one meal for a month and donate that money, it will go a long way to promote our culture and also help the tourism industry. Those who wish to cooperate could write to us. Take some steps to educate the people on the need to have a sustainable development plan for our country. With religions leaders showing the example, we need to cut down waste, share more and develop the land. Please keep us informed about your activities. Take good care of our children. Try to overcome weaknesses and be strong. Stop wasting whether it be food, money or time. Give more time for the development of your mental powers and religious discipline. Do not get into debt. Settle outstanding debts. Dont try the impossible. Do what is possible but do it right. Cast away hatred, cultivate peace. Avoid litigation, keep away from courts. Share good things with others. If we live foolishly we will degrade our country and our heritage. Let fear and sadness pass away and let us be in good health. This is the blessing of the Navam Perahera. A grateful thanks to all those who helped us and came to watch the perahera. Galboda Gnanissara Thero, Gangaramaya Podi Hamuduruwo Gangaramaya, 61, Sri Jinarathana Road, Colombo 02, Telephone 2435169, 2327084 The Lankan who does politics the Australian way By Dhananjani Silva Chandra Daya Bamunusinghe, the boy from Panadura is now Deputy Mayor of Hume City Council in Victoria View(s): View(s): Gowing up in Arukgoda, Panadura with his parents being ardent supporters of two mainstream political parties, young Chandra Daya Bamunusinghe was exposed to a daily dose of opposing political views. The Sri Lankan-born engineer is currently the Deputy Mayor of the Hume City Council in Victoria. Hume is one of the largest and fastest growing city council areas in Victoria with a population of about 190,000 of which the Sri Lankan population amounts to about 2%, according to Chandra. People from 140 different countries, belonging to every faith, speaking different languages live here but people live in harmony. There is no discrimination on the basis of race, colour, or disability, says Chandra who has been living in the Hume Council area for 25 years. Back on his annual holiday in Sri Lanka recently he spoke of his childhood influences and the politically attuned nine-year-old who gave a speech to his village friends with a half blue and half red flag he had made to represent the Samagi Peramuna led by Sirimavo Bandaranaike. After his secondary education at Alubomulla Maha Vidyalaya, he entered the German Technical Training Institute to follow a four year course in Engineering. Migrating to Australia, Chandra joined the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology to follow a diploma in mechanical engineering and later found employment at Qantas as an Aircraft Engineer. It was during the 1988 General Elections in Australia, that Chandra felt the need to support the Australian Labor Party (ALP). The late Gough Whitlam of ALP became the Prime Minister in 1972. He declared multiculturalism, gave womens rights, implemented a universal medicare system, he says explaining his reasons for supporting the ALP. Having supported the former Senior Minister and one- time Opposition Leader, Simon Crean during the 1988 General Election, from 2006 onwards Chandra supported former Victorian State MP Liz Beattie who was one of his political mentors. Meanwhile he was actively involved in community work and in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the community, the Victorian Government bestowed on him the Meritorious Services to the Community Award in 2007. When the Hume City Council election came up in 2012, Chandra was requested by the Sri Lankan community to contest the Council elections. Chandra was the only Sri Lankan in the fray among the 22 who were contesting. It was a three month-long tough election campaign distributing leaflets, doing radio interviews and door to door campaigning etc. Accepting donations is allowed but any donation over Australian $500 has to be declared. Candidates have to declare if they have a criminal record too, he adds. In the end, Councillors who are not corrupt and who have a proven record of serving the community become the peoples choice, says a proud Chandra. In his time as Councillor, Chandra was able to do a lot of community service, including for the Sri Lankan community, he says. In October last year he contested the Mayoral Elections through the Councillors vote and was appointed Deputy Mayor of the Hume City Council. Elaborating further on the Australian model of governance, Chandra, who had been one time Advisor to the former Australian Immigration Minister Chris Bowen, says there is a lot of transparency. The public is allowed to attend the Council meetings to listen to the proceedings while the Council Budget is made public four weeks prior to the vote so as to allow public submissions. Expenses of each Councillor, are published in the newspaper which is distributed to all household in the council area, free of charge. The law is not tough, but the Rule of Law is implemented, he stressed adding that the system has no place for corrupt people to come into politics. Remembering a patron of the fine arts By Prof. Sarath Chandrajeewa PROFESSOR SENAKA BANDARANAYAKE View(s): View(s): Prof. Senaka Bandaranayake (1938-2015) was famous as a university professor who could be seen at both professional and amateur art exhibitions. He would walk around at these exhibitions, question, criticize and appreciate the works of visual art. Among university professors of other disciplines not related to visual arts, he had the most sensitive nature towards visual arts. He was a great scholar and an archeologist. He was duly respected by all students. Although his service towards his field, archeology is immeasurable, his contribution towards Sri Lankan visual arts is also invaluable. The book he had co-authored with Gamini Jayasinghe in 1986, The Rock and Wall Paintings of Sri Lanka has since been a handbook on Sri Lankan frescoes and wall paintings to all scholars, students and artists. This book is source material for this subject. If we evaluate the contribution of this work to the subject of visual art, it can be equaled to Dr. Ananda K. Coomaraswamys contribution towards Sri Lankan craft, by publishing Mediaeval Sinhalese Art, the repository of applied art in Sri Lanka, in 1908. He had been collecting visual art work of contemporary painters from 1990 for the Presidential Collection of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka when former President Chandrika Bandaranaike was in office. The selected paintings are now at the Presidential House. Information regarding this collection has been recorded in Contemporary Sri Lanka Art The Presidential Collection published by the Presidential Secretariat in 2008. He, together with his wife Manel Fonseka authored a book in 1996 titled Ivan Peries Paintings: 1938-88 regarding painter Ivan Peries, a member of the 43 Group thus, filling a void in Modern History of Art in Sri Lanka. He did a great service to Sri Lankan contemporary art by publishing Sri Lankan Painting in the 20th Century co-authored with Professor Albert Dharmasiri in 2009. This book has greatly influenced young and upcoming artists especially as there are no museums to showcase modern art in Sri Lanka. He had also written various articles on visual art and crafts. Articles he had written for the Mawatha magazine at a certain time have opened the way to think again of the culture of this country. The Post Graduate Institute of Archeology of the University of Kelaniya, which he was the founder, has paved the way for visual art graduates also to research on artifacts relating to archeology. He was the foremost person in the effort of upgrading the Institute of Aesthetic Studies of the University of Kelaniya, which had a long history in art education in Sri Lanka, to a fully fledged university. During this period his cousin Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was the president of the country. The other members of the committee which had been formed to make a report on this matter were Professor Tissa Kariyawasam and Professor Walter Marasinghe. The draft to establish the University of the Visual and Performing Arts by upgrading the Institute of Aesthetic Studies was drawn aimed at Professor Bandaranayakes vision and objectives. The University of the Visual and Performing Arts gained independent university status on July 1, 2005, mainly due to his direct involvement. Following in the footsteps of pioneer archeologists H.C.P. Bell, Senarath Paranavithana, Charles Godakumbura, Raja de Silva and Roland de Silva, Prof. Senaka Bandaranayake who had worked tirelessly for Archeology in Sri Lanka, has contributed greatly in making Sigiriya a UNESCO world heritage site. This includes establishing Sigiriya Museum too. Though he had held various posts as, head of the Archeology Department of the University of Kelaniya, Vice-Chancellor of the same university, Sri Lankan High Commissioner in India and UNESCO Sri Lankan Representative in France, in this article he is appreciated as a beloved professor with a sensitive nature towards fine arts in Sri Lanka. (The writer is the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Visual and Performing Arts.) Update 11am: A man has fallen overboard from a ship berthed in the Port of Tauranga. The man, believed to be a Chinese national was a deckhand on the ship. He fell 10 metres from the ship into the harbour and did not resurface. The incident occurred at 9.21am today. Anna DAngelo used to struggle in life but thanks to her practice in Nichiren Buddhism she has turned her life around. A member of Tauranga Soka Gakkai International Buddhist group, Anna now invites Tauranga residents to three free consecutive Buddhism workshops starting tomorrowat Otumoetai Plunket Room from 3pm-4pm. Eccentric? Guilty! Or obsessed? Mmm probably not. But he is an old cop. And he does collect hats. Police hats and helmets. And they line his double garage in Bethlehem. Times were hard for Bee. Shed lost 1.5kg, she had developed a skin irritation. But worse the starving Beagle had resorted to nicking and eating cat biscuits. And Bees a proud beagle dog. But needs must. Because Bee had been on the run for 22 days. She was lost, hungry and miserable and shed made everyone else miserable. But right now shes asleep on my lap as I am driving back to Auckland, says Bees mum Melissa Taylor. Probably not driver-wise but there was some serious reconnection required. Because I grew up on a farm with animals all around. None of them were pets. Then Bee came along and she was very different. I had a helluva a year last year and Bee was with me throughout. Now roles were reversed. Minder became the minded. But lets go back to the start. It was a dumb, impetuous doggie thing Bee did. She was visiting a kiwifruit orchard near Athenree with a foster family three weeks ago when she took off. Probably a new setting, new things to do, new places to explore. All very exciting and Bee was off and gone. I was in America trying to have a holiday. I was devastated to hear about Bees disappearance. It put a dampener on things. Later that devastation would cause a major overhaul of travel plans, a holiday cut short. Expensive and painful. Then a family went into crisis mode. From Auckland Melissa Taylors mother Donna Best launched a publicity campaign. Newspaper, news websites, radio stations anyone who was prepared to listen. Lets get Bee home safely. Even this cynical hack leapt into print for a lost dog. Search parties went out neighbouring orchards and properties were scoured by friends, family, colleagues and concerned people, doggie people. But as time passed and Bee wasnt found, the story went off the boil, media interest waned. A special attachment between a young woman and her dog brought Melissa on a mercy dash back to New Zealand. A young couples US experience was abandoned for Bee. Melissa landed in Auckland 4.30pm last Friday. At 5pm the phone rang. Would you believe it? Melissa was dumbfounded. Half an hour in the country and shes been sighted. At first light the following day Melissa and boyfriend Sam headed to Katikati and set up camp. We searched for two days. Four properties around where Bee had last been seen. We gave it everything. But they had to creep off home crestfallen to Auckland. Then Monday at 10am, like a scene that would have comfortably edited into Milo and Otis Bee wanders out of the bush on a property that had been thoroughly searched the previous day. The woman was standing there hanging out the washing. Bee just wandered past her into the laundry and began eating the cat biscuits. Bees a city dog. No living off the land for her. Cat biscuits were better than no biscuits. Back in the car. Back to Katikati. Back to Bee. Shed been found up the same drive and only two properties away from where she had done a bunk. She had been right there but at the same time nowhere to be found for 22 days. And she missed her 1st birthday. She looked remarkably clean for a dog that had been roughing it. One-and-a-half kilograms lighter and skin irritation but she was pretty happy to see me. Her tail was wagging, says Melissa. Western Bay of Plenty District Council animal services officer Betty Hall summed it up nicely. I wish I could interrogate that dog, find out where she had been and how she got by. For Betty, who sees a lot of animal hardship, a lot of abuse, this is an uplifting story. To see how committed this family was to get their dog back is inspiring. Shes talking about the publicity campaign, the countless days in the field searching, the travel. Its certainly very refreshing. Perhaps Melissa is having a quiet word with Bee. Do you understand the sacrifices, the lengths people went to? But Melissa tells us Bee is living it up. So perhaps not. But they are very, very thankful. Fish & Game are slamming a Government consultation document on freshwater, warning it will weaken environmental protections already in place. Theyve also labelled the Next steps for fresh water: Consultation document as a smokescreen which they believe undermines the Resource Management Act and water conservation orders. Released on Friday, the document puts forward 23 initiatives to improve New Zealands freshwater quality. Fish & Game chief executive Bryce Johnson says the document is a win for agriculture and a defeat for the environment. This document is all about furthering water-based development at the expense of the environment. There is no solid reference to recreation, food gathering or making rivers swimmable, says Bryan. Two initiatives specifically in Fish & Games crosshairs are national regulations to stop stock accessing waterways, and amending the Resource Management Act in regards to water conservation orders. Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says national regulations are needed to prevent stock accessing waterways because regional councils make their own rules but most have not done so. These proposed regulations set a clear timetable starting with all dairy and pig farms by July 2017, and progressively including dairy support, beef and deer farms relative to steepness of country by 2030. But Bryan feels these time frames are completely out of step with public sentiment, saying the recent outcry over cattle in Lake Taylor in Canterbury demonstrates Kiwis thinking on this issue. Cattle dont have to be fenced out of water until 2030. Dairy cattle arent completely excluded from our waters until 2025. This will just create a water pollution legacy for future generations. The present plan is nothing more than continuing the environmental subsidy to farmers by leaving taxpayers and ratepayers to pick up the hefty bill to clean up agricultures mess. Hes also shocked the Government is looking to amend the RMA to allow the Environment Minister to delay water conservation orders applications if they conflict with regional planning processes. The document states that because orders are not well integrated into regional planning it creates duplication of effort. We propose to amend the RMA toensure WCOs are better integrated into regional planning processes, the document reads. We also propose to allow councils to recommend to the Minister for the Environment that [an order] be created over a water body that they have identified as having outstanding values during regional planning. Bryan says water conservation orders are the equivalent of National Park status for waterways, but the Government wants to change the law to make them subservient to regional planning processes. The very process the orders were created to sit above. This proposal would be the beginning of the end for water conservation orders, completely reversing the hierarchy of the present law, says Bryan. Public submissions on the Next step on freshwater: Consultation Document are now open and close April 22. To view the consultation document or to make a submission visit the Ministry for the Environment website at: www.mfe.govt.nz/node/21620 A leading authority in dementia care says more needs to be done to raise awareness and understanding of the disease. Bupa global director of dementia care Professor Graham Stokes the keynote speaker at a conference on dementia says Rotorua showed their desire to create a dementia inclusive community with the large number of people turning up to listen on Wednesday at the council. Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick also met with Graham where they discussed the civic responsibility so we all own dementia and can support those living with the disease. The talk hosted by Rotorua Lakes Council and Bupa saw more than 100 people from the community. It is great to hear 100 people came from the wider region because it is very special when we get someone like Prof Stokes to come and talk in our community, Steve says. Graham says more needs to be done to raise awareness and understanding of dementia a disease that is set to double in the next 35 years. Supporting people living with dementia in the community starts with understanding the challenges. It takes everyone to make a difference from education in schools, environment design in supermarkets to workplace training to support people living with dementia. Its often the very simple things we can do, understanding the families who are going through this phenomena, understanding the rates of dementia which are growing very very rapidly in all communities and then knowing how we should be making ourselves fit for purpose for a future where a lot of people with dementia will remain in their own homes, Steve says. Hospitalisation is not the answer for these people. We need to understand what dementia is about and understand the progress of dementia for patients and sufferers and then their families. With ageing populations worldwide and the numbers of people living with dementia set to rise everywhere, dementia truly is a global challenge Steve says. By 2050, 147,359 New Zealanders will have dementia more than 2.6 per cent of the population, and more than triple the current numbers. Of the total, 87,145 (59 per cent) will be female and 60,214 (41 per cent) male. Annual incidences (onset) of dementia will also more than triple, to 41,088 new cases by the year 2050. It was delightful to meet Prof Graham Stokes and to have him come and speak in our community about the impact of dementia on both sufferers and their family members and what we could start to consider if we were going to ever be a dementia friendly community, Steve says. Graham is the Global Director of Dementia Care at Bupa, an author and clinician who is also an internationally recognised authority on dementia care practice and policy, clarifies the current situation. People are living longer and countries having to cope with rapidly ageing populations. At the moment, only around half of people living with dementia in high-income countries actually get a diagnosis. In developing countries, its only around 10 per cent. While these numbers should improve slightly in the next few decades, the reality is that countries with emerging economies will have huge numbers of people living with dementia, of which the vast majority will remain undiagnosed, Graham says. This puts an enormous strain on families and communities, as they wont have access to the support they need. According to Graham, many people believe dementia will strike later in life, however, people can begin developing the disease in their mid-40s. While improving the ability for early diagnosis is a priority, its also important for the community to learn how to support people with dementia. Former Syracuse Police officer Tom Connellan arrested Tom Connellan chats with John Katko in 2014 before a news conference at Forman Park in Syracuse where several police unions endorsed the former federal prosecutor and congressional candidate. Connellan later became Katko's second-ranking congressional staffer. Tim Knauss | tknauss@syracuse.com WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. John Katko said Friday he learned his top staffer in Syracuse - Tom Connellan -- was under investigation when Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick told him privately in December. Fitzpatrick pulled Katko aside Dec. 14 after a joint news conference about the congressman's bill to crack down on the sale and distribution of synthetic drugs. Katko said the DA told him that Connellan was the subject of an investigation, but provided no other details. Katko said he knew it had to be serious. "Being a former prosecutor, I understood immediately the importance of what he was telling me," Katko said in an interview Friday night after Connellan was charged with grand larceny related to payroll claims for two previous jobs he is accused of working at the same time. The next day after Katko's meeting with Fitzpatrick, Dec. 15, Connellan was placed on unpaid leave from his $70,000-per-year job as the congressman's district director in Central New York. "It was clear to us that the only route we could take, and should take, is to put him on unpaid leave immediately," Katko said of Connellan. About two weeks later, Katko and Connellan met again to discuss his future with the office. "We had a good discussion, and it was clear that (the investigation) wasn't going away and it was going to linger," Katko said, adding Connellan submitted his resignation at the end of the meeting. "We wanted to make sure we held our place to the highest standards." He added, "We purposely distanced ourselves." Katko had declined until Friday's interview with Syracuse.com to make any public comments about the reasons behind Connellan's departure. Katko never made an announcement about the resignation, which became public 10 days later. Katko said he did not speak with Connellan after his arrest Friday, nor had they spoken about the case in any depth since he left the congressional office. The two became friends in 2003 when Connellan, a Syracuse police sergeant, headed the Syracuse Gang Violence Task Force. Katko was assigned to the task force as the chief organized crime prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Syracuse. In 2014, when Katko campaigned for Congress against former Rep. Dan Maffei, D-Syracuse, Connellan was a visible presence when it came to endorsements from law enforcement. Connellan helped organize a news conference in which the unions representing Syracuse police, Onondaga County sheriff's deputies, and New York state troopers endorsed Katko. Asked about his feelings Friday to see a friend face felony charges, Katko said, "The facts are what the facts are. My solemn duty is to take care of this district. What my feelings are - that's irrelevant." Katko said he believes his office properly vetted Connellan before hiring him as district director. "There was no indication of any wrongdoing whatsoever," he said. Contact Mark Weiner anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 SYRACUSE, NY -- When State Police issued an Amber Alert on Sunday morning to advise Central New Yorkers to be on the lookout for a 21-month-old girl and her father, investigators added an additional line: "The suspect has a history of mental health issues and is emotionally unstable." Syracuse police, however, would say - the same day as the alert went out - that the man, Ryan Lawrence, 24, had no history of mental illness. The question of Lawrence's mental state was on the mind of many Central New Yorkers this week as they tried explain to the unexplainable: Why would a seemingly loving father, as police allege, suddenly abduct and kill his 21-month-old daughter and toss her into Onondaga Creek. Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard learned, in looking into these conflicting statements about Lawrence's mental health, that Syracuse police on more than one occasion had contact with Ryan Lawrence. Ryan Lawrence booking photo Syracuse police said those run-ins with police do not indicate a mental illness and never resulted in an arrest. Syracuse police's concern about Lawrence's mental state came from information provided to police Saturday by Lawrence's wife, Morgan, and from a message he left her, Syracuse police spokesman Sgt. Richard Helterline said. Morgan Lawrence called police Saturday night after her husband and their baby, Maddox, disappeared. State Police - who are responsible for issuing Amber Alerts - said Thursday that it was information Syracuse police provided, specifically "previous contacts they had with the suspect", that alerted investigators to his history of mental illness, according to State Police spokesman Beau Duffy. And whatever the information was about those previous contacts concerned investigators about possible dangers to officers and the public and prompted the warning's inclusion in the Amber Alert, Duffy said. "Syracuse Police provided us with information about previous contacts they had with the suspect, which alerted our investigators to a history of possible mental health issues," Duffy said. "We added that to the Amber Alert out of concern for the safety of the public and law enforcement." Police spokesman Sgt. Richard Helterline said Friday that police had prior contacts with Lawrence but that none of them indicated mental illness. He said there were "a few" such contacts but that they all happened more than a year ago and did not result in Lawrence being named a suspect or being arrested. He declined to describe what the contacts were. Duffy said investigators added the "emotionally unstable" portion to the news alert because Lawrence threatened to harm himself and the child. As for the "history of possible mental health issues," Duffy late Friday said in an email saying "our investigator may have made an assumption" it was based on the previous contacts with police. Helterline said in an email that State Police might have based the "history of mental health issues" statement entirely on what Morgan said, not on prior contacts with police. "It may have just been a way to explain that (State Police) were told that (Lawrence) may have had some past issues, per his wife," he said. "We based our request on information we were provided in the investigation. This information was transferred to them to see if it met the criteria for an Amber Alert." Helterline also said that, as far as he knows, Lawrence has never been diagnosed professionally with a mental illness. Syracuse police did not mention a history of mental illness in a news alert early Sunday about the abduction, and police have repeatedly said at news conferences since that Lawrence had no history of mental illness. District Attorney William Fitzpatrick told a local TV news station that he also had no evidence of mental illness. He suggested Lawrence may have killed his daughter out of "jealousy" for attention she received when she suffered from cancer. ONONDAGA, N.Y. -- Firefighters from nine departments spent hours Friday battling a stubborn and devastating Nedrow house fire. Around 4:40 p.m. firefighters were called to 203 Rockwell Road, between Thompson Road and Macon Street. Stephanie Wucher and her daughter were down the street picking up dinner from Chinese food restaurant when they walked outside to get in their car and saw the house engulfed in smoke. "It went up quick," she said. The Nedrow Fire Department is about a block away from the fire. But Tim Nelson, a deputy coordinator for Emergency Management and a South Onondaga fire chief, said the single-family 2 1/2 story house was fully involved before firefighters arrived. All the occupants of the house had gotten out unharmed. County property records list the owners of 203 Rockwell Road as Shawn and Casie Cook. The fire was already venting through the roof and part of the second floor was beginning to collapse when crews arrived, Nelson said. "It was basically an outside attack from the get go," he said. The Onondaga County Water Authority cranked up water pressure in the area. Firefighters sprayed water on the fire from several ladder trucks and hand lines as huge plumes of smoke shot up from the house. Nine departments eventually responded to the fire. EAVES Ambulance set up a heated rehabilitation tent with hot drinks for the firefighters working in the bitter cold. Though the fire was all but out after an hour flare-ups continued to be a problem, particularly in the attic. "There's still fire in the walls that we can't get to and unfortunately we're unable to get inside the structure because of the floor collapses," Nelson said. "So everything we're doing has to be from the outside," Firefighters remained at the scene several hours after the fire began, flames that popped up with more water. The cause of the fire is under investigation. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A man was stabbed early Saturday afternoon outside of a North Side store. Emergency responders rushed to the 800 block of Butternut Street at 12:43 p.m. after a a caller reported a man had been stabbed and was bleeding, said Sgt. Richard Helterline, of the Syracuse Police Department. When police arrived, they learned the victim had left and was possibly on his way to a hospital. A man arrived at St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center soon after with what appeared to be stab wounds, Helterline said. The 22-year-old man was stabbed twice in the lower back, Helterline said. His injuries are not considered life-threatening. After the stabbing, officers used police tape to block off the sidewalk and part of Butternut Street in front of Phone Express. One officer stood watch as another officer photographed splatters of what appeared to be blood on the sidewalk and street. Pedestrians stopped near the intersection of Butternut and South Alvord streets to watch as police investigated the stabbing. Some motorists slowed as they drove past the scene, asking what happened before driving on. Helterline said the victim would not provide police with information about the incident. Aside from learning the suspect may have been a man with braided hair, Helterline said a more detailed suspect description wasn't available. Police asked anyone with information about the incident to call (315) 442-5222 or submit an anonymous tip through the SPD Tips app. The Syracuse Fire Department and Rural/Metro Ambulance were also dispatched to the scene, Onondaga County 911 dispatch logs show. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A man drove himself to a Syracuse hospital after getting shot in the nose, police said. The Syracuse Police Department rushed to the 300 block of Putnam Street around 8:55 p.m. Friday for a reported shooting, said Detective George Hack. When police arrived, they learned the victim had driven himself to Upstate University Hospital for treatment. The victim, a 21 year old man, was shot in the nostril, Hack said. His injuries aren't considered life-threatening, Hack said. The man was unable to provide a suspect description, Hack said. Police asked anyone with information to call (315) 442-5222 or submit an anonymous tip through the department's SPD Tips app. Chris Pizzello/AP Oscars flashback: The best dressed women of the century Of course the winners matter on Hollywood's biggest night. But let's be honest: The real fun at the Oscars begins on the red carpet. With that in mind, we've rounded up some of the best-dressed women to appear at the Academy Awards since 2000, including Cate Blanchett, Lupita Nyong'o, Anne Hathaway, Beyonce and Angelina Jolie. Click through these slides for some of the most iconic Oscar looks of the century. Don't Edit Chris Pizzello/AP Angelina Jolie in Marc Bouwer Angelina Jolie arrived on the Oscars red carpet in a white satin Marc Bouwer dress 2004 that managed to invoke Marilyn Monroe's iconic "Seven Year Itch" dress without feeling stuck in the past. Cosmo named it one of the top Oscar dresses of all time. White and satin can be "mercilessly unforgiving," the magazine noted, "But the dress drapes on her curves and shows off her assets in all the right ways." (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Don't Edit Chris Pizzello/AP Beyonce in Atelier Versace Beyonce embraced her Sasha Fierce alter ego but added a dash of Old Hollywood glamour in Atelier Versace's black silk velvet strapless "Siren" gown on the 2005 Oscars red carpet. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Don't Edit Chris Pizzello/AP Anne Hathaway in Marchesa Anne Hathaway and stylist Rachel Zoe have proven a formidable awards-season pairing, with the actress 2008 and 2009 looks instantly landing on best-dressed lists. Here, Hathaway walks the 09 red carpet in a scarlet one-shoulder Marchesa gown. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Don't Edit Chris Pizzello/AP Anne Hathaway in Armani Priv The next year, Hathaway wowed in an ivory column dress covered in iridescent paillettes. "This mermaid-style Armani Prive that the actress wore to the 2009 Oscars was a big "win" in our book!" raved E!'s Fashion Police. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Don't Edit Don't Edit Jordan Strauss/AP Lupita Nyong'o in Prada Lupita Nyong'o had a true Cinderella moment (and spawned a Disney mashup meme) in 2014, when the Kenyan actress arrived at the Oscars in a Nairobi blue gown. "We're pretty sure there was a collective gasp around the world when the first time nominee stepped out of her limo in a pale blue custom-made Prada gown with Fred Leighton headband and jewelry," E! gushed. Nyong'o capped the night by winning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "12 Years a Slave." (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Don't Edit Kevork Djansezian/AP Salma Hayek in Versace Salma Hayek, known for her bold choices on screen and behind the scenes, wore a jewel-toned Versace for her duties as a presenter at the 2006 Oscars, prompting the red carpet observers at PopSugar to exclaim over the petite actress and producer: "Even in a floor-length gown, Salma still sizzles!" (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian) Don't Edit Kevork Djansezian/AP Helen Mirren in Christian Lacroix For a woman of a certain age, Helen Mirren often outshines younger actresses on the red carpet no small feat in an industry slavishly devoted to youth. Her 2007 Oscars look was no exception: "She stunned in a champagne-colored Christian Lacroix gown with a flowing chiffon skirt and delicate bead-encrusted bodice," In Style noted. Champagne was a fitting choice, as Mirren went on to win Best Actress for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in "The Queen." (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian) Don't Edit Chris Pizzello/AP Katherine Heigl in Escada Katherine Heigl notched a win for best dressed in 2008 in a crimson Escada goddess gown that Cosmo called out for appearing effortlessly glam: "We love the way she looked totally relaxed in the dress, as if she'd been wearing it to lounge around in all day and just happened to show up at the Academy Awards." (AP Photo/ Chris Pizzello) Don't Edit Kevork Djansezian/AP Penelope Cruz in Versace Penelope Cruz's 2007 feathered confection by Atelier Versace landed at No. 15 on a list of the most iconic red carpet gowns of all time, noted the UK's Daily Telegraph, while Vogue simply described the pale pink ballgown as "stunning." (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian) Don't Edit Don't Edit Matt Sayles/AP Jennifer Lawrence in Calvin Klein Still a bit of an ingenue in 2011, Jennifer Lawrence marked herself as a red carpet force to be reckoned with in a flawlessly simple Calvin Klein gown, accessorized with a sparkly clutch, diamond earings and a single bracelet. "Now that's how you do red on the red carpet!," HuffPo gushed. Don't Edit Jordan Strauss/AP Cate Blanchett in Armani Prive An A-List actress, a top stylist and $18 million in jewels equal an unbeatable Oscars moment, as Cate Blanchett proved in 2014, when she wowed in this Armani Prive gown and Chopard jewelry. Blanchett owed her oppulent look to Elizabeth Stewart, who earned the top spot that year on The Hollywood Reporter's list of the 25 Most Powerful Stylists. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Don't Edit Kevork Djansezian/AP Cate Blanchett in Armani Prive Cate Blanchett and Armani go way back. Her choice of the couturier's Swarovski crystal mesh Armani Prive gown in 2007 put the Australian actress on best dressed lists across the globe. Cosmo called the choice "impeccable," going on to note how "this one-shouldered gunmetal gown clings to her fabulous body like it was painted on, and the delicate and elegant hair and makeup complete the look without distracting us from the dress." (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian) Don't Edit Chris Pizzello/AP Zoe Saldana in Givenchy Hot off her starring turn in "Avatar," Zoe Saldana made a daring choice for her 2010 Oscar dress. Saldana walked the red carpet in a Givenchy Couture look straight from the Paris runway. "The voluminous gown has it all," wrote Elle's Violet Moon Gaynor. "Sparkle, ombre, countless floating layers of tulle, and pops of saturated color. Amongst the sea of black and metallic, this show-stopper topped my best-dressed list." (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Don't Edit Chris Pizzello/AP Cameron Diaz in Oscar de la Renta Cameron Diaz made the most of her fresh-faced beauty in 2010, pairing Cartier jewelry with a glam golden gown. In Style noted that the A-Lister, who has had some hot-mess moments on the red carpet, "looked ethereal in a metallic embellished Oscar de la Renta gown that swept the floor." (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Don't Edit Don't Edit Laura Rauch/AP Halle Berry in Elie Saab Halle Berry's look was on point when she won a Best Actress Oscar in 2002 for her role in "Monster's Ball." The burgundy Elie Saab gown became synonymous with Berry's brand of sex appeal and remains one of the most recognizable red carpet gowns of all time. As Cosmo notes, the dress was a perfect choice because "it shows off Halle's best parts, while the strategic embroidering still leaves something to the imagination." (AP Photo/Laura Rauch) Don't Edit Laura Rauch/AP Charlize Theron in Gucci In 2004 Charlize Theron looked radiant on the red carpet, and even more so later in the night when she accessorized with an Oscar for Best Actress. As Us Weekly observed, Theron "showed off her incredible body (and super bronzed skin!) in a dazzling beaded Gucci gown." (AP Photo/Laura Rauch) Don't Edit Laura Rauch/AP Hilary Swank in Guy Laroche Hilary Swank made fashion insiders swoon when she appeared at the 2005 Oscars in a backless midnight-blue gown by Guy Laroche. Swank, who went on to win a Best Actress statuette that night for "Million Dollar Baby," notched a spot on many a best-dressed list that year. Her dramatic choice "proved you don't need sequins to stand out on the red carpet," Us Weekly noted. (AP Photo/Laura Rauch) Don't Edit Kevork Djansezian/AP Julia Roberts in vintage Valentino Vintage gowns can sometimes appear dated on the red carpet. Not so for Julia Roberts, whose 2001 choice of a breathtaking velvet-and-satin Valentino frock from the designer's 1982 collection perfectly captured the enduring appeal of Old Hollywood as Roberts accepted her Best Actress Oscar for "Erin Brockovich." (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian) Don't Edit Chris Pizzello/AP Keira Knightley in Vera Wang It all could have gone so wrong: Twisted taffeta, one-shoulder, a fishtail hem, and all that ruching! But Vera Wang's custom creation for Keira Knightley brought together these unlikely elements in a red carpet vision for the ages. The Oscar-nominated actress topped off her breathtaking plum-colored gown with a Bulgari statement necklace, making her a standout on the 2006 red carpet. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Don't Edit Don't Edit Kevork Djansezian/AP Marion Cotillard in John Paul Gaultier Marion Cotillard turned to Gaultier, a frequent choice for the French actress, for her 2008 gown. The frock, based on a black-and-gold gown from the designer's runway collection, was transformed into ivory for the Oscars and accessorized with Chopard jewels and a Swarovski bag. Please forgive the pun, as In Style is spot on in its observation of the Oscar nominee's look: "There may be too many fish in the sea, but not a one of them could make Neptune more jealous than Marion Cotillard in this 2008 stunner." (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian) Don't Edit Chris Pizzello/AP Michelle Williams in Vera Wang When Oscar-nominee Michelle Williams walked the red carpet in 2006, the "Brokeback Mountain" actress unlocked a world of possibilities with her unforgettable Vera Wang gown. We're used to seeing marigold and its cousins during awards season now, but at the time Williams "awakened many to the striking quality of a mustard hue," E! said when it named the gown among the best Oscar dresses of all time. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Don't Edit Matt Sayles/AP Mila Kunis in Elie Saab Mila Kunis' romantic lilac chiffon gown with lace details from Elie Saab inspired many a prom gown when the "Black Swan" star wore it to the 2011 Oscars. In naming her to its best-dressed list, Glamour magazine called Kunis' choice "envelope-pushing yet elegant." (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Don't Edit Laura Rauch/AP Naomi Watts in Versace Naomi Watts, a 2004 nominee for Best Actress for "21 Grams," appeared radiant on the red carpet, accessorizing her intricate gown with gorgeous teardrop earrings. Watts "glowed in a rhinestone-encrusted Versace gown that highlighted her peaches-and-cream complexion," People observed, earning a spot among the year's best dressed. (AP Photo/Laura Rauch) Don't Edit Kevork Djansezian/AP Nicole Kidman in Balenciaga Nicole Kidman's 2007 outfit for presenting at the Oscars, a floor-grazing Balenciaga ball gown, reads as a case study in awards season style. "If you're looking to stand out on the red carpet, take notes," Glamour said when it named the stunning crimson frock among Kidman's bravest fashion choices. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian) Don't Edit Don't Edit Jordan Strauss/AP Sandra Bullock in Alexander McQueen A 2014 Best Actress nominee, Sandra Bullock handily won the red carpet if not the golden statue in this deep blue silk creation. "The 'Gravity' star stomped all over the likes of Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron (metaphorically, of course) in a navy Alexander McQueen gown that took our breath away," HuffPo gushed, saying Bullock had upped her game considerably even over her 2010 Marchesa look, also a hit with fashion experts. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Don't Edit Matt Sayles/AP Sandra Bullock wearing Marchesa The 2010 Oscars belonged to Sandra Bullock, in part due to her Best Actress win for "The Blind Side," and in part for acing the red carpet in this elegant golden gown. Bullock told People that her stepdaughter helped select the Marchesa dress, then deflected praise for her stunning choice when interviewed by The Daily Mail. "It's the dress that looks fantastic, not me," she told the UK newspaper. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Apple Encryption Protests Protesters hold up signs and their phones during a rally in support of data privacy outside the Apple store Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, in San Francisco. Protesters assembled in more than 30 cities to lash out at the FBI for obtaining a court order that requires Apple to help unlock an encrypted iPhone used by a gunman in December's mass murders in California. (Eric Risberg / AP) The writer, a resident of Syracuse, is the temporary county chair of the Onondaga County Libertarian Party. By Shawn Hannon The Post-Standard published an editorial Feb. 19 calling Apple's opposition to an order from the U.S. government to build a "backdoor" into the iPhone a "red herring." The editorial lists five reasons why Apple's concerns are misplaced "in this case." The editorial board is wrong. Apple is doing right by the American people, their customers and their own company. "Red herring" is a term that more aptly describes the government's position, being as how the phone's password was reset while in their possession. This letter will focus on the economics and civil rights that comprise this issue. The editorial ignores entirely the fact that Apple has already been complying with all of the government's requests when able. It also ignores very real constitutional issues. For years, Congress has been pressured to revise the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act to deal with the increased use of encryption in Internet-based devices. Thus far Congress has refused to do so. It would be wrong for the FBI to use the courts to go around Congress. Congress is the constitutional body charged with writing law; the courts are charged with interpreting law. This is the way the founders designed the federal government, and this is the way it should remain. As they have done in the past, the feds are using terrorism as a bogeyman to gain access to a technology which would allow them to open any and all locked iPhones. Time and again, the feds show that they do not like to be hindered by the Constitution. Further, with the rise of cyber-security issues such as those listed here, consumers are demanding greater protection from those who would want to steal valuable information. Apple's latest operating system (iOS 8) has taken a significant step forward in meeting this demand. To create a "backdoor" into this system, Apple would effectively be creating security vulnerabilities that do not currently exist. Their customers would again demand that these vulnerabilities be remedied, and Apple would be compelled to oblige or risk losing customers. A main attraction of Apple products is continual increase in quality along with continual decrease in cost. If the government were to force Apple to create a back door, the need to remedy the subsequent vulnerabilities would undoubtedly add cost to their production process. This cost would necessarily be passed along to the customer. Apple doesn't want this, and their customers certainly don't want this. Another problem that the editorial overlooks is the setting of a very bad precedent. If Apple were to be compelled to unlock this particular phone, where do the requests end? The Manhattan District Attorney has stated that his office had collected 74 iPhones over a six-month period that it had been unable to unlock. Extrapolate those numbers across the entire U.S., and Apple would have to open a whole new division just to keep up with the prosecutorial demands. Again, this would vastly increase Apple's internal costs which would have to be passed along to their customers. Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying, "those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Franklin certainly was a wise man. Fear should not compel people to give up liberty so quickly, for as has been seen throughout history, once liberties are given up, they are immensely difficult to get back. Complete security is an illusion. We will never be 100 percent safe. If people desire complete security, they should allow the government to lock them in a concrete and steel-barred cell where no one could ever get to them. Of course, no one wants this because they would be giving up precious freedom. The best way to reduce the threat of terrorism is not through giving government all-seeing, all-knowing powers. It is for the U.S. government and the U.S. military to cease its constant militaristic interventions overseas. These interventions create more terrorists than they kill and inspire blowback like we saw at San Bernardino. While that attack was tragic and sorrowful, the only way to truly honor the victims would be to attempt to understand what led to it in the first place. It would be wrong to double down on hate and fear-inspired militarism that results in scores of completely innocent people being killed at the hands of the U.S. government. It would be right to imagine the shoe on the other foot, and to live by the Golden Rule. Teacher Killed-Massachusetts Tom and Peggie Ritzer remain in Salem Superior Court in silence after the sentencing of Philip Chism in Salem Superior Court, Salem, Mass., Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Chism was convicted of first-degree murder, rape and robbery in the Oct. 22, 2013, slaying of the Ritzers' daughter, teacher Colleen Ritzer, 24, of Andover, Mass. (David Le/The Salem News via AP, Pool) SALEM, Mass. -- A teenager who raped and killed his high school math teacher was sentenced Friday to life in prison with eligibility for parole in 40 years -- a possibility of freedom that drew angry criticism from the victim's parents. The 2013 slaying of Danvers High School teacher Colleen Ritzer by Philip Chism in Massachusetts was "brutal and senseless," Salem Superior Court Judge David Lowy said as he pronounced the sentence. "Colleen Ritzer lived a life of quiet heroism," the judge said. "The crashing waves of this tragedy will never wane." Chism was 14 when he followed Ritzer, who was 24, into a school bathroom, strangled her, stabbed her at least 16 times and raped her. His lawyers acknowledged he killed her but argued he was mentally ill, a contention rejected by the jury. He will serve life in prison with the possibility of parole in 25 years on a murder charge, but he received 40-year concurrent sentences on rape and robbery charges. The net result will leave him eligible to be paroled in 40 years, when he would be in his 50s. Ritzer's parents said Chism should never have a chance to leave prison on parole. Her mother, Peggy Ritzer, called the sentence unacceptable. She blamed the state Supreme Judicial Court, which ruled in December 2013 that juveniles could not be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors had asked that Chism stay in prison for at least 50 years. Defense attorney Susan Oker asked for a sentence that would make Chism eligible for parole no later than age 40. She cited scientific studies that said a juvenile brain is not fully developed. During the earlier sentencing hearing, Ritzer's parents, siblings, colleagues and lifelong friends on Friday described a young woman who loved her job, her students and her life and who never had a negative word to say. Many of them wore pink, her favorite color. Peggie Ritzer said her daughter's death had left her "so very broken." "Now I isolate myself from people I love because pretending to be happy is so difficult," she said. "He is pure evil, and evil can never be rehabilitated." Tom Ritzer said he felt as though he had failed his daughter. "I didn't protect Colleen," he said. "A dad's job is to fix things. I would do anything I could if I could fix this for Colleen." Chism's mother, Diane Chism, cried quietly as he was sentenced. Earlier Friday, she released a statement expressing her condolences to Ritzer's family. "Words can't express the amount of pain and sorrow these past 2 1/2 years have been," she said. "However, there is no one who has suffered more than the Ritzer family. My utmost esteem, prayers and humble respect is with them today as they continue their journey to heal." Philip Chism gets life for murder of Colleen Ritzer, will spend at least 40 years in prison At trial, the defense said Chism wasn't criminally responsible for his actions. A psychiatrist who testified for the defense said Chism, who had just moved to Massachusetts from Clarksville, Tennessee, was hearing voices and was in the throes of a psychotic episode when he killed Ritzer. Chism was convicted of raping Ritzer inside the bathroom but was acquitted of a second rape, committed with a tree branch in woods near the school where he put her body. He also was convicted of armed robbery for stealing Ritzer's credit cards and underwear. 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George Bresett By Lamaur Stancil of TCPalm INDIAN RIVER COUNTY Moonshine may be more well known to folks in Hazzard County than Indian River County, but law enforcement officials Thursday charged an Indian River man with selling the illegal spirit out of his home, where he said he operates a business called Speedy's Taxidermy. State officials said the taxidermy is a fictitious, expired corporation. George "Speedy" Bresett, 49, of the 800 block of 28th Avenue, Vero Beach, was charged with felony sale and possession of the high-proof distilled alcohol beverage sometimes known as white lightning or hooch. He posted $1,000 bail at the Indian River County Jail. The incident didn't involve Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane of the fictitious Hazzard County Sheriff's Office in the "Dukes of Hazzard" television show that debuted in 1979, in which the main characters were on probation for transporting moonshine. Instead, agents with the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco made the bust in Indian River County following a six-month investigation. State officials said the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco have investigated 152 cases involving allegations of an illegal moonshine distillery since 2011. On the Treasure Coast, a Martin County man was charged with possession of a moonshine still three years ago. The law distinguishes between distilled moonshine, which is illegal, and home brewing beer, which, if it meets the conditions not requiring regulation and licensing, is legal in the state. Bresett said he and his buddy make the spirit and he always keeps at least five gallons on hand, according to the arrest affidavit. He offered three varieties: straight shine, apple shine and lemonade. State statutes outlaw the sale of untaxed alcoholic beverages. Possession of less than a gallon of moonshine is a misdemeanor, while possessing more than a gallon is a felony. According to the affidavit, a tipster provided authorities with Bresett's name and address. A state special agent surveilled Bresett's home in June. The agent followed up in October by sending a text message to Bresett to ask for some moonshine. The two agreed to meet Nov. 24 at a gas station in the 800 block of U.S. 1, Vero Beach. The officer paid $130 for five Mason jars filled with three varieties of Bresett's moonshine. They met again on Dec. 4 and the undercover agent bought $200 worth of moonshine. The former ice plant, then fruit packing and fertilizer plant before it burned to the ground in 1928. SHARE By Alice L. And Greg E. Luckhardt Fire is necessary for man's existence in a civilized world, but uncontrolled or sparked by accident, it can be devastating, often destroying vegetation, structures, personal possessions, even whole neighborhoods, woods and towns. Unfortunately, Martin County has not been without such tragedy, devastation and personal or monetary loss, some of which is briefly described herein. Fire destroys the ice, canning and fertilizer plant building On the north shore of the St. Lucie River, near the railroad bridge and tracks, was a parcel of land originally homesteaded by Albert Stypmann, at the turn of the 20th century, on which he had built a two-story structure. The building was eventually sold, enlarged and converted into an ice manufacturing plant. But by 1912, a fruit-packing business, the Florida Freezer and Fertilizer Company, was established there. The owners, R.A. Hammond and Harry Dutton of Boston, invested an estimated $300,000 in machinery and in enlarging the building, which occupied about 300 feet along the river, with a five-story structure in the center, about 100 feet square. A single-story wing of the massive building measured about 150 feet with a 50-foot brick engine room at the opposite end. The plant, which produced ice, purchased fish locally and shipped the frozen, prime edible fish out of state, grinding the unusable portions into fertilizer. Sharks, however, often destroyed the fishermen's nets in an effort to get at the catch for a tasty meal. The situation would prove to be unprofitable for Hammond and Dutton who lost ownership of the plant, which would then basically be abandoned. In the 1920s Carroll Dunscombe used it as a pineapple packing plant. Many structures in Stuart were damaged or destroyed in the hurricane of August 1928, but the cold storage and fertilizer plant was left mostly in ruins by a fire a month later on Sept. 12. Equipment and nearby train freight cars were reduced to burned rubble; the heat even melted glass and twisted the railroad switch track. A second hurricane Sept. 27, 1928 totally destroyed the remains of the mighty structure. Ricou house fire Fire at the Ricou Home in Jensen Pioneer settler, Ransom Ren "R.R." Ricou, born in 1867, had a grand two-story house in Jensen, built in 1899 on five acres he had purchased from John Jensen. Ransom and wife, Jessie Gertrude, raised the couple's children in the home as he made a very good living in the fishing industry. R. R. Ricou and Sons Company was one of the largest wholesale and retail fish businesses on the east coast of Florida. In late December 1924, Ransom contracted an illness from which he did not recover and died Jan. 7, 1925. A few years later, the home was remodeled, stuccoed and a red tile roof installed. Tragically, a fire broke out in the early morning hours of Monday, April 15, 1929 and the entire home and furnishings were destroyed. The Stuart Fire Department managed to save two nearby residences, homes of Warner B. Tilton and Joseph J. Pitchford. Even though family members, unharmed, were in the house at the time, it was never determined how the fire started. Landmark Olds-Schroeder home, Sewall's Point, destroyed by fire One of the oldest buildings on Sewall's Point, constructed around 1890 as the family home of Hiram Eugene Olds, was later a residence for William Schroeder of Ohio, who had wintered there since about 1917. In earlier years the house had served as a post office, due to a dock that was convenient for mail delivery; Hiram's son, Anson J. Olds was postmaster. The building had also been a store for pioneers of Waveland and Sewall's Point. Hiram Olds died in 1907 and the son sold the home in 1916 to William Schroeder, who then had it remodeled; Anson built a residence south of the former Olds property. The Schroeders lived in the house during the winter months for a decade, William's wife dying there in 1926. He had not been back to the house for a number of years when in the afternoon of Sunday, Feb. 5, 1933, a fire started in the home, cause unknown. Due to a strong wind, it spread very quickly, even burning about ten acres of surrounding vegetation. Stuart Fire Chief Roscoe 'Bus' Bell and volunteers had tried to save the house, pumping water from the river, but to no avail. The Sewall's Point landmark was destroyed. Tragedy at the Gilson home On Thursday, March 30, 1933, there was an explosion from a kerosene stove at the John W. Gilson home on the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. Around noon, father and son, John A., born in February 1863 and John W., born in July, 1892, while preparing a meal, had just stepped out onto the porch. The blast had caused a fire that would eventually reach the roof before being put out with assistance from neighbors and water from the river. Home furnishings were charred or burned, clothing and linen destroyed. John W. Gilson, a resident of the area since 1930, was the brother of Clair Gilson, famed inventor of the circular slide rule. John was also an inventor and craftsman, making fine wooden tackle boxes and producing a magnetic hurricane chart, a novel type of gridded map printed on sheet metal for tracking tropical storms. Disaster at the FEC Freight Depot in Stuart R.L. Beville, Stuart's first railroad agent worked out of a little station that had been moved from across the river at Goslingville (Wa-Wa) to the south bank of the St. Lucie on what would be Flagler Avenue. It was used as an office, baggage station and waiting room. In 1903, a Florida East Coast freight depot was constructed on Railroad Avenue (Flagler) near the water's edge, the location from which carloads of pineapples and fish were shipped north. A separate passenger depot was built in January 1913, across from the Feroe Building at the corner of St. Lucie and Railroad Avenues. In 1914, the freight depot was enlarged, with three times more space available to accommodate the growing community. At that time, Supervisory Agent Daniel Edwin Wynne and wife, Esther, residents of Stuart since about 1906, was the FEC freight agent in charge of the express office, serving until his death July 1, 1927. By January 1933, construction for the new St. Lucie River Bridge (Roosevelt) had begun with train carloads of materials arriving and being stored at the freight depot and warehouse. Around noon, Monday, July 10, 1933, FEC freight agent, Henry Albert Kling, went to attend to some business at the express office. The whistle had just blown signaling lunch break for the bridge workers when W.E. Leach, a paving contractor, noticed smoke and flames at the freight depot. He telephoned the Stuart Fire Department, then he and other workers attempted to battle the blaze, but drums of oil and tar waterproofing material in storage at the warehouse had burst into flames, making the task of extinguishing the fire almost impossible. All records and way bills at the freight office were lost; the entire contents of the warehouse went up in smoke. Some of the equipment and building materials for the bridge stored in the warehouse were destroyed. Several of the freight cars on side tracks were moved, but one loaded with 600 sacks of cement was damaged from the heat and water. The loss was estimated at $50,000 and would delay bridge construction. The cause of the fire was never determined. Only one injury was reported, V. H. Dillard, steel foreman on the bridge project, suffered from burns to the hands and smoke inhalation. Ironically, Stuart's Fire Chief, Roscoe Bell and three other firemen were attending a fire school in Daytona, but Chet Homan, a former fire chief and Frank Alford, substitute chief, with volunteers were available to handle the situation. Stuart's passenger depot was torn down in 1967. Costly mistake causes Rio Fishing Company fire It was a Saturday afternoon, April 11, 1936, when a worker for the Rio Fish Company went into a fuel storage building to get some gasoline. The room was dark and the employee thinking he was stepping in oil from a possible leaky oil drum, searched for a wrench to tighten the tap. He struck a match for some light and immediately the oil ignited and the stored gasoline exploded in flames. The building and another structure had burned to the foundations by the time the fire department got the blaze under control. The two buildings, six drums of gasoline, a thousand fishing corks, five coils of rope, fishing nets and supplies were all destroyed. Circular slide rule foundry burns In 1927, Clair A. Gilson and family from Michigan had settled near Stuart, purchasing a parcel of wilderness acreage on the North Fork of the St. Lucie River, about five or six miles up river from town and at that time was accessible only by boat. A home was built as was a metal foundry in which to manufacture Gilson's inventive circular slide rule which was a very successful enterprise. The precision instruments were produced by the family at the little factory in the woods and shipped to laboratories, businesses and banks around the world. The remote site was near the end of rural Murphy Road on a sand trail, later to be named for Gilson. On a Tuesday afternoon, July 20, 1943, a hot flue ignited some wood in the slide rule factory. Clair's son, Stuart Gilson immediately drove to town to notify the fire department. Chief John Mann and volunteers raced to the remote location, but unfortunately arrived to find the Gilson frame and sheet metal building totally engulfed in flames. Clair estimated the loss at about $1,000. Alice L. Luckhardt is a freelance historical researcher and writer, member of the Board of Directors for the Stuart Heritage Museum and researcher for the Elliott and House of Refuge. Greg Luckhardt, a native of Stuart and 1967 MCHS grad, is a former science teacher, retired businessman and member of Stuart Heritage Museum. They are Martin County's Historic Preservationists for 2013. They can be contacted at: gandavignettes@gmail.com This story is contributed by a member of the community and is neither endorsed nor affiliated with TCPalm. Florida East Coast Railway bridge over the St. Lucie River (File Photo) SHARE By Lisa Broadt of TCPalm Martin County finally will get its hands on a detailed inspection report of the St. Lucie River railroad bridge in Stuart. The U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday launched a tool on its website that "allows states and municipalities to request inspection reports for rail bridges in their communities." In the two years since All Aboard Florida announced it would send 32 trains a day through the Treasure Coast, Martin County has unsuccessfully fought to obtain safety information about the 75-year-old drawbridge owned by Florida East Coast Railway. The railroad, however, has resisted, insisting its safety information is propriety and denying the county's multiple requests for inspection reports. Officials of both Martin County and Florida East Coast Railway on Friday could not be reached for comment on the Department of Transportation announcement and how they would respond. Struggles similar to Martin County's have played out across the country, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. "The Federal Railroad Administration has repeatedly urged railroads to be more responsive and more transparent with state and local leaders concerned about the condition of their local railroad bridges," Administrator Sarah E. Feinberg said in a news release Friday. Feinberg previously has said that when the administration is asked about bridge safety, it's frequently because the public or an elected official had become concerned about a bridge, tried to get answers from a railroad and were "ignored or put off." Under the new railroad administration guidelines, railroads have 30 days to respond to bridge-inspection report requests. Local governments can expect to see the reports within 45 days, according to the railroad administration. Inspection reports will contain information including the date of the bridge's last inspection and a general statement on the bridge's condition. Special to Treasure Coast Newspapers A Torino-area resident who fought against a proposed drug rehabilitation facility in his neighborhood has launched a bid for a seat on the Port St. Lucie City Council. Armando Rodriguez filed paperwork Thursday to join the crowded field vying for the District 2 seat. He will face off against school principal and former School Board member John Carvelli, businessman Robert L. Joseph and sales manager and former mayoral candidate Chauncelor R. Howell. Rodriguez appeared before the City Council in June 2014 representing about 200 neighborhood residents who opposed the hiring of Pam Booker as city attorney. The residents were angry that Booker had advised the council to reverse its denial of the rehab facility. The council had refused development approval of the facility, drawing a discrimination lawsuit from the developer. Booker said the city's chances of prevailing in the suit were almost nil and advised approving the facility. Rodriguez argued unsuccessfully the city should conduct a nationwide search for an attorney, but the council voted unanimously to hire Booker. According to the developer, construction is due to start this month on the Torino Addiction Treatment Campus and be complete by December. City Council members serve four-year terms and are paid $32,582 per year. The Chicago Board of Education on Wednesday voted unanimously to make computer science a graduation requirement for all high school students beginning with next years freshmen. Chicago Public Schools has become a national leader in computer science education since Mayor Rahm Emanuel launched the Computer Science for All initiative for grades K-12 in 2013, the board said. The five-year plan aims to make computer science a core subject taught in schools. It includes a partnership withCode.org to provide the curriculum and prepare teachers. The White House last month launched a nationalComputer Science for All program. Exposing students to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, education early will provide critical skills and training for success in their careers and in life, CPS said. Demand for computing skills will be greater than the supply of qualified job takers, according to CPS. That will create a gap of 1 million job openings by 2024. While there were nearly 600,000 job openings in computing, universities produced fewer than 40,000 computer science graduates last year, the board said. To help close that gap, Chicago public school students will be required to complete one credit of computer science education as half of the two-credit career education requirement. Rahm Emanuels decision to require computer science in Chicago Public Schools should be lauded. These young men and women will now have the benefit of access to a discipline that would have simply been out of reach before, said Colleen Ganjian, president ofDC College Counseling. Education Sound The boards decision will produce long-term gains, she told TechNewsWorld. If students choose not to pursue computer science after high school, the exposure will make them stronger candidates in the college admissions process. It also will introduce them to a variety of other career paths. Schools need to embrace STEM to meet growing demand for better career training. Theres an increasing necessity for schools nationwide to better prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow by encouraging STEM, according to Sidharth Oberoi, president ofZaniac. Providing exposure to students at a younger age is key to enabling better decision-making for individuals when they reach college or enter the workforce. The more extensive knowledge a student has, the greater the opportunity he or she has for higher salaries as well as the potential to have a larger impact on the betterment of society, he told TechNewsWorld. Computer science education is an essential ingredient in the STEM formula and in todays education, noted Stephen Nichols, CEO ofGameSalad. It allows for experimentation and rapid iteration and provides students with a platform to utilize and learn the fundamental concepts of software development and programming. A true computer science education will foster creativity and enrich the lives of students around the world and help set them up for future success, he told TechNewsWorld. STEM Plus One Eagle Academy Public Charter School took that concept further by expanding the STEM concept to include the arts in its STEAM curriculum. STEAM Exploratorium is designed to challenge young students to create, solve problems, experiment, test, adapt, collaborate, explain and develop a sense of curiosity as they learn skills and strategies for the challenges of the 21st century, according to Executive Director Cassandra Pinkney. The process fosters engineering and technological literacy among students an all-important skill set in tomorrows world, she told TechNewsWorld. School officials are adamant about exposing students to STEAM while they are young and curious, Pinkney said. The goal is to inspire students to continue pursuing the sciences throughout their academic and professional careers. Essential Component The Chicago school boards action requiring computer science credits is important in furthering the intent of the Computer Science for All initiative. It will go a long way to increase the number of STEM candidates, noted Steven Rothberg, president ofCollege Recruiter. The more students who are exposed to science, technology, engineering and math courses in high school, the more students who will choose to major in those fields in college, whether they attend a one-year technical/vocational school, a two-year community college or a four-year university, he told TechNewsWorld. Exposure to computer science is critical before students enter college. In order for the U.S. to successfully compete in a global market economy, schools must present technological and computer skills early on, according to J. Luke Wood, associate professor in theCommunity College Leadership program at San Diego State University. This move sets Chicago as a national leader in preparing students for readiness in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Our nation is not prepared to compete in the emerging world economy. Our ability to do so cannot solely rely upon bringing in talent from other nations, he told TechNewsWorld. That will require our nation to better prepare students who have been historically underrepresented and underserved in education, Wood said, particularly students of color. AT&T on Friday announced plans to start testing 5G technology, with a possible limited commercial rollout before the end of 2016. 5G offers the promise of besting the speeds of todays fastest wireless networks by a factor of 10 to 100, through the use of millimeter waves, network function virtualization, and software-defined networking. Through a collaboration with Ericsson and Intel, AT&T will be ramping up its efforts to bring 5G to market starting in the second quarter of this year. The planned tests follow extensive research, patent filings, and the development of software-defined networking, which allows AT&T to update systems without touching the hardware a faster, more efficient method of introducing new versions of programs and technology, the company said. Bumps in the 5G Road The race to 5G isnt without its challenges, however. Its no small feat to create a working fixed broadband network that delivers at least a gigabit of speed to consumer and business customers. Some of the things AT&T will be testing for are power and performance in rain or other disruptive weather conditions, like cold, said Fletcher Cook, AVP of global media communications at AT&T. If it goes well in the summer, you could start seeing point-to-point limited commercial availability for limited fixed broadband soon after, he told TechNewsWorld. However, that isnt for the wireless phone, wide-area network type 5G, Cook pointed out. Thats much longer term, because we have the standards that need to be sorted. AT&T is working diligently with IEEE to establish uniform standards, he said. The standards piece is the biggest hurdle. Identifying how networks between carriers will work and how those standards are set are two things weve got to figure out. Driving Forces Advances in new technologies, coupled with the rise in using smartphones for bandwidth-gobbling video consumption, are propelling AT&T and other companies to get 5G networks up and running. The combination of connected cars, the Internet of things, speed, and new technology like virtual reality is driving this, Cook said. Marketing agencies also are jumping on the new tech bandwagon. Ever since CES, especially, the stage has been set for 2016 to be the year virtual reality becomes a household name, Cook noted. Its become a checkbox for marketers and creative directors to have in their marketing strategies. For example, there are a lot of Fortune 500 brands that are making content for YouTube360, Facebook360 and Little Star; this is a new way to get their message out. The trick will be finding enough bandwidth to seamlessly deliver all that content. As more and more people are investing in affordable means of watching VR content like Google Cardboard which requires only a viewer (priced as low as US$6.99) and a smartphone the demand for faster speeds and more bandwidth is growing exponentially. Streaming a lot of virtual reality content requires a lot of bandwidth, observed Austin Mace, CEO of Subvrsive. The introduction of a 5G network would definitely accelerate the mass adoption of virtual reality because it gets content to people faster, he told TechNewsWorld. One of the biggest bottlenecks we face in live-streaming VR content is data speeds, so I can see this really alleviating that. Canadian carrier Telus has confirmed an approximate release date of the Android 6.0 Marshmallow software for a number of Android devices. Samsung has started rolling out Android 6.0 Marshmallow to the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge from mid-February but individual carriers are yet to confirm a software update release date for their versions of the Samsung handsets. The Korean company has not announced the Android 6.0 Marshmallow roll out date for other Galaxy devices. "Samsung Electronics plan to provide the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update starting with Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge on February 15, 2016, and other GALAXY devices will soon follow," says Samsung. Canadian carrier Telus has laid down an estimated timeline when it plans to release Android 6.0 Marshmallow to its version of smartphones. According to Telus, Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note 5 owners on the carrier should expect to receive the new operating system on March 9. The Nexus 6p comes running on Android 6.0 Marshmallow but on March 9, Telus will issue a security update for the Nexus smartphones. Telus will roll out the software update for the Galaxy S6 edge and LG G3 on March 16 while Galaxy S6 owners will have to wait slightly longer as Telus plans to roll out Android 6.0 Marshmallow on April 13. It is highly likely that rival carriers in Canada as well as other in the U.S. will also roll out the new operating system nearly at the same time. According to a previous report the Galaxy Note 5 in places like Cambodia has already received Android 6.0 Marshmallow via Samsung Smart Switch but an over-the-air update is still awaited. Android 6.0 Marshmallow will bring in a number of new features that will attract Galaxy device owners. The operating system offers a few battery saving features, improves user control over apps and introduces some enhanced security features. "No need to give apps access all the time. Android Marshmallow lets you define what you want to share and when. Turn permissions off at any time, too," says Android. Apart from the regular Android 6.0 Marshmallow software update, Samsung has also announced a number of new features that the operating system will bring to Galaxy devices. "With the release of Android 6.0 Marshmallow for Samsung's Galaxy devices, a whole host of new and improved features are now available. Two of the most useful are Samsung Internet 4.0, which offers better privacy and functionality from the native Samsung browser than ever, and Cross App, which lets people access their most useful apps while inside the messaging program," says Samsung. It remains to be seen if Telus will keep up with the expected timeline and releases Android 6.0 Marshmallow to devices as suggested on its website. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Update: latest amendments modify the aforementioned LTE compatibility list. The Mi 5 actually plays well with 4G FDD-LTE bands 1, 3 and 7, as well as TDD-LTE 38, 39, 40 and 41. From the 3G bands, TD-SCDMA works with bands 34 and 39, WCDMA has bands 1, 2, 5 and 8 and CDMA 2000 has bands BC0 and BC1. The bands for 2G GSM are 2, 3, 5 and 8 and for 2G CDMA 1X are BC0 and BC1. You can learn more about supported network bands from Xiaomi's website. Xiaomi used its stage time at the 2016 Mobile World Congress to showcase the Xiaomi Mi 5, and recent LTE band support info could be very interesting to U.S. citizens. In a long Q&A list on the official MIUI website, Xiaomi detailed aspects about its latest smartphone, including information about the 4G LTE. According to the answers that Xiaomi provided, the Mi 5 supports a large number of LTE bands: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7/ 8/ 12/ 13/ 17/ 18/ 19/ 20/ 25/ 26/ 27/ 28/ 29. However, the OEM notes that there are a few 'uncertain' LTE bands: 38/ 39/ 40/ 41. What this means is that a Mi 5 could work with any SIM from the major U.S. carriers, whether we are talking about Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T and T-Mobile. The amended network bands, however, cast doubts on the Mi 5's compatibility with all U.S. carriers. It should be mentioned that Xiaomi did not release any U.S. availability date so far, but fans of the device will find ways to import it. The company hinted at the MWC that overseas availability is not excluded, but for now its main focus is the Chinese market followed by others within the Southeast Asian region. The company took its time before releasing the Mi 5. Mobile enthusiasts expected to see the handset last year, but the manufacturer decided to wait so it could pack the Snapdragon 820 SoC under its hood. Looking at the specs of the Xiaomi Mi 5, we find quite a strong configuration. The screen is a 5.15-inch that can display 1080p resolutions. The processing power comes from the aforementioned Snapdragon 820 64-bit quad-core processor, which gets backed by 3 or 4 GB of RAM, depending on the model. There are two variants of the handset: the standard version's design is made of metal and glass, and comes with a combo of 3 GB RAM and 32 or 64 GB of storage. The premium variant of Mi 5 is the Ceramic special edition, holstering 4 GB RAM and a hefty 128 GB of storage. Should you search for it, the model is named Xiaomi Mi 5 Pro. The Mi 5 variants show small differences in the CPU clock, GPU speed and LPDDR4 RAM, but all in all, each is a powerful device. Internal memory can be expanded via a microSD slot and the Mi 5 benefits from a USB type-C slot. Quick Charge is one of the main features of the Mi 5, allowing users to stock up on almost full battery life in only an hour. If you are into mobile photography, note that the Mi 5 contains a combo of a 16-megapixel main camera gifted with four-axis optical image stabilizer and a 4-megapixel selfie snapper. The standard will be available in three color options: white, black and gold. Meanwhile, the Mi 5 Pro only comes in black. On Tuesday, Xiaomi will start selling the Mi 5 in China and promises that other global markets will get the device in a timely fashion. Xiaomi pointed out another important aspect about the new flagship phone. The Mi 5 comes with a locked bootloader that the company advises users to keep on. "This is to protect your device data security and protection. This is done to better incorporate with 'Mi Cloud' services to 'locate your device,' in the unfortunate event if you lose your Mi 5," the company says. The Mi 5 (32 GB) will be sold for 1,999 yuan ($305), the Mi 5 (64 GB) will cost 2,299 yuan ($352) and the Mi 5 Pro (128 GB) will ask you to shell out 2,699 yuan ($413). 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Subway vows to add antibiotic-free chicken sandwich to its menu, being the largest chain of its kind to deliver on a promise to serve chicken without antibiotics at locations across the country. Its rotisserie-style chicken sandwich, the first antibiotic-free sandwich, will be available on March 1. On Oct. 20, 2015, Subway said it will elevate its current antibiotic-free policy by serving chicken raised without antibiotics. The transition covers more than 27,000 U.S. restaurants in the company's aim to provide high-quality and affordable menu items for their customers. The company also promised to remove artificial flavors, colors and other preservatives from all its sandwiches, soups, cookies and salads by the end of 2017. "Today's consumer is ever more mindful of what they are eating, and we've been making changes to address what they are looking for," Dennis Clabby, executive vice president of Subway said [PDF] in a press release. By April 1, all of Subway's chicken strips will be free of antibiotics. The company chose to start off with chicken for practical reasons because it is quicker to raise than other animals. The company's goal is to complete an antibiotic-free menu by 2025. In the next two to three years, they will start serving antibiotic-free turkey. McDonald's promised to serve antibiotic-free chicken last year but they are still in the process of coordinating with suppliers. Antibiotic Use In Poultry Recently, antibiotic use in poultry raised concerns on public health. The rampant use of antibiotics in poultry is putting human health at risk, which may lead to difficulties in treating antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports a 23 percent increase in antibiotic use on poultry in the United States between 2009 and 2014. Antibiotic overdose in livestock adds up to drug resistance and development of superbugs, which are very hard to treat. This reduces the effectiveness of antimicrobial drugs for treating human diseases. Antibiotic-resistant bugs cause more than 2 million diseases at about 23,000 deaths every year in the United States. Improving antibiotic use could save about 37,000 lives from superbugs over five years. Photo: Mike Mozart | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Windows 10 Mobile has yet to roll out for existing devices, but Microsoft has now offered a few more details. Specifically, the company notes that a number of Windows Phone 8.1 devices will first have to receive firmware updates, and only after that will they be able to get the new Windows 10 Mobile update. We're still not closer to getting a specific release date for Windows 10 Mobile, but at least now, the Microsoft representative offered a few more tidbits of information. So far, nearly all Windows Phone updates gracing Lumia handsets came bundled with firmware updates. Windows Phone 8.1 came with Lumia Cyan and Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 came with Lumia Denim, but Windows 10 Mobile will reportedly not come with any firmware update bundled. This means that Windows Phone 8.1 devices will get firmware updates separately. These updates will arrive at the same time as Windows 10 Mobile for some devices, while for others, they will come before Windows 10 Mobile. "For existing 8.1 devices, Win10 update is going to be only SW update, but in order to fix [a] few issue[s], there will be FW updates for some devices which are still based on 8.1 SW before they can receive [the] Win10 update," a Microsoft spokesperson tells Neowin. "Right now we have not communicated what 8.1 devices will get updated and when but please have the latest SW on all your 8.1 [devices] in preparation of Win10." The company has still not offered a specific release date for its new OS, but Windows Phone users are getting increasingly frustrated. Windows 10 Mobile was expected to roll out for existing Windows Phone devices back in December 2015 but faced delays. It was then expected to arrive in January of this year, but subsequent reports revealed another delay, this time until February. More than halfway through February, Microsoft Mexico announced that Windows 10 Mobile would start rolling out on Feb. 29, only to later admit that its announcement was off. It remains to be seen when Windows 10 Mobile will finally start reaching Windows Phone 8.1 devices, but Microsoft is staying mum on the matter. We'll keep you up to date as soon as more information becomes available, so stay tuned. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Apple is expected to launch a new 4-inch iPhone in March. According to new reports, the smartphone will be named iPhone SE and a case maker's design drawings show it will use the iPhone 5s' design and not the iPhone 6s as previously reported. Samsung just launched its 2016 flagship smartphones at Mobile World Congress and the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge have been well received by the tech community for their top of the line specs, updated water-resistant design, and the welcomed return of a microSD expansion slot. The handsets are currently available to preorder from all major U.S. carriers and will be released worldwide on March 11. Since the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge will be directly competing with Apple's iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, Samsung took a page out of Apple's playbook and used a smaller 5.1-inch screen in the Galaxy S7 and 5.5-inch display in the Galaxy S7 Edge, unlike last year's Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, which both feature 5.1-inch displays. While Samsung is preparing to release its new smartphones, its biggest rival, Apple, is also in the midst of launching a new iPhone. We reported in early January that Apple was planning to release a new 4-inch iPhone that would officially be named "iPhone 5e" and while some reports claimed the device would feature a design similar to that of the iPhone 6s, other reports claimed it would be more of an upgraded iPhone 5s and would be named "iPhone 5se." Sources now claim it will actually be called "iPhone SE" and gets its design influence from the iPhone 5s. 9To5Mac posted images from a third-party case maker's design drawings for the new 4-inch iPhone, which shows the smartphone will look nearly identical to the iPhone 5s and have its power button moved to the right side of the device. Sources have also told the site that Apple has settled on a name for the new device. Apple has reportedly decided to drop the "5" from the new 4-inch iPhone's name and will officially call it "iPhone SE," for special edition. Sources claim Apple does not want to confuse customers by bringing back an iPhone 5 model during the "iPhone 6" life cycle. The iPhone SE is expected to be unveiled in March alongside a 9.7-inch iPad Pro and will replace the iPhone 5s as Apple's entry-level iPhone. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Mars is likely the next extraterrestrial target for humans to visit in the coming decades, but such a journey would take around nine months to arrive using standard chemical rockets. Now, a NASA physicist has proposed a revolutionary laser propulsion system that would complete the trip in just 30 days. Refinements of this theory suggest the time for a journey to the red planet could be reduced to just three days or perhaps a mere 30 minutes. Chemical propulsion systems currently in use are dependent on the relative positions of Earth and Mars to deliver payloads in a reasonable amount of time. Still, such a manned mission would require 260 days to shuttle humans to our nearest planetary neighbor. A proposal describing a method to bring a payload to Mars in just half an hour was described at NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) conference held in October 2015. Such a craft would be launched into space where a large solar sail would be deployed. An immensely powerful laser orbiting Earth would fire a beam directly at the sail, propelling the vehicle. With little resistance, such a craft could quickly accelerate to a significant portion of the speed of light. Theoretically, a vehicle using this design could accelerate to 45,000 miles per second (25 percent of the speed of light) in just a few minutes. "We propose a roadmap to a program that will lead to sending relativistic probes to the nearest stars and will open up a vast array of possibilities of flight both within our solar system and far beyond... These systems can be propelled to speeds currently unimaginable with existing propulsion technologies. To do so requires a fundamental change in our thinking of both propulsion and in many cases what a spacecraft is," Philip Lubin, a physics professor at the University of California Santa Barbara, wrote. Using light to push a spacecraft along to its target is not the only futuristic propulsion system being devised. Researcher Ryan Weed is currently developing a system of rockets powered by antimatter that could send spacecraft to Mars in just a few weeks. A variety of nuclear-powered spacecraft have been proposed over the last few decades, including some designs that would utilize the power of atomic weapons to propel humans and cargo deep into space at speeds far beyond that which is currently possible. The Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application (Nerva) was a plan devised decades ago, which would have utilized an atomic-powered engine to ferry human space travelers to Mars. This plan was shelved by the U.S. Government in 1972, and was never revived. Orion was another early design for futuristic spacecraft, utilizing nuclear weapons to propel the vehicle. Project Daedalus was also once proposed as a means of carrying humans to other planets in our solar system and beyond. Researchers envisioned the craft reaching a top speed of 12 percent of the speed of light, driven by engines employing nuclear fusion. Unlike these earlier designed, the new proposal delivered by Lubin would not require the spacecraft to carry fuel, greatly reducing the mass of the vehicle as well as cost. Details of how laser propulsion could be used to reach Mars in as little as 30 minutes was published in the Journal of the British Interplanetary Society. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Drone of adventurous photographer Bradley Ambrose was able to film the world's largest lava lake inside Congo's Mount Nyiragongo - an active volcano. The images were all breathtaking and the video was able to capture the lava lake in its hot and fiery form. The Climb Ambrose is not new to the volcano-climbing scene. In fact, he has made descents into different volcanoes in other parts of the world. He said he and his colleagues are protected by a safety line to prevent them from falling so he was not nervous. However, his recent experience in Mount Nyiragongo entailed apparent dangers considering it is an active volcano. Ambrose and five other adventurers climbed about 12,000 feet to the top of the volcano. Aside from his usual gear and safety apparel, he also carried a drone in the hopes of getting amazing shots. True enough, he was able to capture raw pictures of the molten beauty that is Nyiragongo's caldera. He stood on the edge and took the pictures from above, thus capturing the entire ring of fire. Ambrose explains further that he flew the drone over where his team stayed, just above the initial descent point. He had heard reports of drones falling from the sky while above the crater and he does not want to risk losing his. All in all, he was satisfied with his photos. "I'm really glad I was able to get these pictures," he says. The fearless team has been supporting Japanese experts who are studying the volcano. Ambrose is a well-known storm chaser and is also an award-winning photographer. Dangers Of Climbing Mount Nyiragongo can erupt anytime because it is considered active, says volcanologists. Even with the absence of eruption, active volcanoes can still cause tremendous hazards and even death. For example, people can get killed with carbon dioxide toxicity, which the locals call "mazuku" or evil winds in Swahili. Children appears to be the most at risk, with reports of mazuku killings in children even recently. Mount Nyiragongo last erupted in 2011, but the last major explosion was in 2002, which killed 147 people. The lava flowed through the city of Goma and the shores of Lake Kivu. About 13 percent of Goma was wrecked and approximately 12,000 to 15,000 houses were wiped out. The toxic gases can also heavily seep from the grounds. Since there are no winds to move it, this can be deadly for humans and the environment. About Mount Nyiragongo Mount Nyiragongo measures 3,470 meters (11,385 feet) above sea level. It is specifically located in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The volcano's primary crater measures approximately 2 kilometers (6,562 feet) in width and commonly contains the vast lava lake, which may reach 600 meters (2,000 feet) in depth. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Apple's unveiling of the iPhone 5se has reportedly been pushed back to March 22, the same day as the FBI hearing at a court in Riverside, California. The Cupertino brand has a legal run-in with the government regarding an iPhone owned by one of the San Bernardino shooters. Investigators are requesting the company to build a backdoor of sorts to bypass the device's security measures, and a federal judge ordered Apple to comply with the authorities' demand soon after. The latest Apple-related news comes from South Korean website UnderKG. According to an unidentified source it cited, the reveal of the iPhone 5se has been pushed back a week. Apple employees were also advised to keep March 22 free for the presumed event. For those who don't know, the iPhone 5se was originally scheduled to make a public appearance on March 15 and hit the shelves three days after on March 18. If the report holds true, then the smartphone will probably become officially available on March 25. The legal kerfuffle that Apple faces is the likely reason why the company needs more time to get things ready, but it does seem odd how it's on the same day as the court hearing. One interesting theory here is that Apple deliberately let the schedules coincide to take some attention off the case and shift it to the new iPhone. At any rate, Apple CEO Tim Cook and the company's employees will be up and about on the fateful day. Of course, that's just pure speculation at this point. As a reminder, the iPhone 5se is expected to house iPhone 6-level components, such as an A8 chip under the hood, and sport the size of an iPhone 5, measuring at 4 inches. It's also believed to have some of the latest Apple features, including Apple Pay. On that note, there's even a possibility that the upcoming device will be a cut above the iPhone 6, as some rumors indicate that it could have an A9 chip instead, the same processor found in the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. Also, Apple is purportedly going to showcase the 9.7-inch iPad Air 3 with the Smart Connector and a four-speaker system at the event, including the Apple Pencil. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Mark Zuckerberg admits that the world's biggest social networking site did not handle hate speech against migrants in Germany well enough. However, he understands that Facebook needs to do a better job and stamp out hate speech on the social media site. Back in September, Zuckerberg personally met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to talk about the issue concerning the Neo-Nazi hate speech versus migrants and refugees in Germany over the social media. Just last Friday, Zuckerberg once again paid a visit to Germany and had a meeting with Merkel's chief of staff. The meeting, held at a town hall event in Berlin, "really highlighted how much [Facebook] needed to do" in the country. Facebook has been criticized for its slow response in combating violent anti-migrant postings on the social networking site. "Hate speech has no place on Facebook and in our community," said Zuckerberg. "Until recently in Germany, I don't think we were doing a good enough job. And I think we will continue needing to do a better and better job." He said there are still a lot of things to do about this pressing issue in Germany and that the company had heard the message "loud and clear." The chief executive said the company talked with its partners in Germany to come up with an initiative plus it also employed 200 people in an effort to counter violent posts on the site. Additionally, he underscored that Facebook has already learned to consider migrants as a class of people who need more protection from "hate speech" on the Web, very much like what it does to other racial minorities. Zuckerberg went on to say that learning more about the law and culture of Germany has contributed in modifying Facebook's approach on this issue. "This is always a work in progress," he said. "I'm not going to claim up here today that we're perfect, we're definitely not." Jonas Umland, the student who questioned the CEO with regard to "hate speech," in the meantime, seemed satisfied with Zuckerberg's response. The student told Reuters after the event that he found it good that the chief executive mentioned that there was room for improvement. However, he thinks that Zuckerberg did not lay down particular measures the company would take regarding the problem. "I found him very likeable," Umland said. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Popular video blogger Charlotte Eades, who inspired a lot of people through her videos, died on February 25. Her parents shared an emotional final video on her YouTube channel saying that she died in the hospital. The inspirational video blogger, who documented her battle with terminal cancer through a series of videos, succumbed to brain cancer at the age of 19 years old. "It is with regret that this will be the last YouTube video for Charlotte," said her mother in the video. "Charlotte passed away peacefully at 1.03 pm in our local hospital in Brighton. She fought until the last minute and my husband managed to get there 15 minutes before she passed away," she added. Charlotte's Journey Charlotte received the diagnosis of inoperable brain cancer in July 2013, on the same day she was supposed to attend her school prom. Since she was diagnosed, the teen from Brighton in the United Kingdom, captured all her moments through a series of video posts. This was her way of helping herself and many others who are battling the disease. She supported a charity called "Stand Up To Cancer" and in her video posts, she openly discussed her treatments like radiotherapy, operations and chemotherapy. Calling the tumor as the "Terminator," Charlotte opened up on her ordeal with the tumor and the pain she had to go through during treatments, hoping that her blog will help people especially those suffering from cancer, to open up about the disease. In an update on February 19, Charlotte's family said she was re-admitted to the hospital. She had chest infection, a collapsed lung and restarted chemotherapy. In the thanksgiving video, her mother said that during Charlotte's final month, she was no longer able to walk, talk, and use the bath without a lot of assistance. She Inspired Many People Charlotte managed to inspire a lot of people, both those who are also suffering from cancer and those who are not. After her passing, people not only in the UK but also those around the world paid tribute to her battle in social media sites. Thanks for the lovely comments particularly about Charlotte Eades. Such a determined smart beautiful young lady taken far too soon x x x Matthew Wright (@Matthew_Wright) February 26, 2016 RIP Beautiful. Charlotte Eades! Your legacy will live on forever pic.twitter.com/Btp0fodkz3 Rachel (@rachelweller202) February 25, 2016 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Earlier this month, a group of former and current students from the University of California Berkeley filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging the Internet firm of scanning the educational Gmail accounts of the school to gather analytics data. It seems that UC Berkeley's cyber troubles do not end there, as officials of the school have sent out warnings to about 80,000 people due to a hacker attack on its system which stored sensitive data. The people are composed of former and current faculty, students, staff and vendors, who may have had their bank account information and Social Security numbers compromised. According to a UC Berkeley statement, an individual hacker or a group of hackers were able to infiltrate computers part of the Berkeley Financial System, or BFS, in late December 2015. BFS is a software which the school uses for financial management purposes, including making purchases and other payments aside from salaries. The hackers were able to gain access to the computers through a vulnerability which the university was fixing at the time of the incident. "The security and privacy of the personal information provided to the university is of great importance to us," said Paul Rivers, UC Berkeley chief information security officer, who added that the institution has improved its security in protecting the compromised information. While no definite evidence has so far been acquired to say for sure that hackers were able to access, extract and use the sensitive information, UC Berkeley is informing the individuals that could have been affected by the cyberattack so that they would be on alert for signs that their information is being used wrongly. The school has also extended credit protection services to these individuals for free, which includes one full year of credit monitoring and insurance for identity theft. The individuals will also be assisted in monitoring their own accounts. The affected individuals are made up of about 57,000 former and current students, 18,800 former and current staff, including student workers, and 10,300 vendors. The numbers add up to more than 80,000 people, as the school noted that individuals could belong to multiple categories. Alarmingly, the figures represent about 50 percent of UC Berkeley's current students and 65 percent of the current staff. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Android N is still under wraps at the Google headquarters, but the Android Developers Blog may have already given out an unofficial early look at the upcoming operating system. The so-called pair of leaked screenshots shows that there's a hamburger menu at the upper left corner of the Settings menu of an unreleased Android version. Needless to say, that's not a part of Marshmallow, and as logic dictates, that's clearly the Android N well, here's hoping that it is, at least. To look at things more rationally, it could just be Google testing out a feature that'll be taken out of the equation at the official launch of the software. That reasonable assumption is based on the history of the Android M Previews. Long story short, there's more or less a chance that this could be how Android N will somewhat look like. Another takeaway from the post is that official support for day and night themes is finally going to roll out with Android 7.0, which was outlined in detail on the Android Support Library 23.2 blog post. However, the bigger piece of news is the fact that the screenshots were taken on a Nexus 5, and that could only mean one thing: Android N could land on the smartphone this year. Of course, the navigation drawer isn't exactly why Android N is making the headlines. Notable features include Split Screen and Multiwindow and improved tablet and stock stylus support, according to the people behind the Pixel C. It's also worth noting that the latest Android version will start using OpenJDK instead of Oracle's Java API. Google is expected to reveal Android N at the Google I/O 2016, an event that's going to be held at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in the company's hometown of Mountain View sometime in May. Aside from Android N, other products that are believed to make an appearance at the conference are Project Tango, new and improved Google Cars, Android Wear updates, details about the Nexus 7 and Project Ara and a monocle-shaped Google Glass. Interestingly, Google CEO Sundar Pichai is handing over the task of naming the latest Android version to the public via an online poll. All we can do right now is wait, but nevertheless, these details have done their part in shaping the Google I/O 2016 into one heck of an anticipated event. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Foxconn, an Apple supplier, was reported to have agreed to acquire struggling Sharp for a price of $6.2 billion. While Foxconn was previously only interested in acquiring Sharp's liquid panel display business, a recent report revealed that the purchase would rather be for the whole company. There were reservations in the deal before Sharp agreed to Foxconn's offer, as the Japanese government hoped to keep the company's technology within the country, and so preferred for Sharp to agree to be purchased by a Japanese entity. It would seem that these concerns were set aside in the agreement between Foxconn and Sharp. However, new details have emerged that somehow further complicate the matters concerning the acquisition. The two companies are said to have agreed to extend the deadline for discussions regarding the purchase, as "new material information" has arisen. The extension will be for an additional one to two weeks, as Foxconn will take time to review the information that was not revealed to the company during the negotiations for the acquisition. The undisclosed detail is said to be liabilities of Sharp amounting to 300 billion yen, which is equivalent to $2.7 billion. The amount is almost twice that of the 160 billion yen capital of Sharp and much higher compared to the liabilities of only 100 billion yen that Foxconn thought Sharp had when it conducted its due diligence for the deal. Sharp said in a statement that the company has disclosed its liabilities to Foxconn. Nevertheless, the deal could be in jeopardy as Foxconn did not expect the liabilities at such a level for Sharp. In fact, creditor banks of the company also said that they did not know that Sharp had such liabilities. A cancellation of the deal would further tarnish the history between the two companies, as back in 2012, Foxconn already agreed to acquire a stake in Sharp before deciding not push through with its plan. However, if Foxconn is able to work around the situation and continue to acquire Sharp, it would become a more valuable Apple supplier as it could use Sharp's assets to mass produce OLED displays by 2018, which fits the timeline for Apple to adopt the displays to be used in its iPhones. As such, Foxconn would move up from only assembling Apple products to manufacturing parts for Apple, allowing Apple to lessen its reliance on rival Samsung for certain components. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Xiaomi's eagerly anticipated Mi 5 has just been unveiled at the 2016 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, but it already has undergone a teardown treatment, thanks to IT168. There is no doubt that this brand new phone has received positive initial feedback from the technology press, thanks to its stylish design, low price tag and noteworthy specs under the hood. In spite of having a slim shell, measuring only 0.29 inch, engineers from Xiaomi have managed to successfully pack in the components of this top-end device. Do note that the phone IT168 tore down is the ceramic model, not the 3D glass version. Without further ado, here is a glimpse at what is inside the new flagship Android smartphone from Xiaomi. 1. The phone does not come with a removable back cover. As such, the technicians who carried out the teardown had to use a suction cup to remove it. 2. Upon opening the ceramic back panel of Mi 5, the technicians noticed a few screws covered with stickers. Note, though, that removing these stickers will void the phone's warranty. 3. The phone's components are laid out in three stages. One can easily dismount the portion below and above the battery by simply removing the screws. 4. The phone's PCB board is supported by a metal frame. 5. The Snapdragon 820 chipset of Mi 5 is coated with thermal gel to keep it cool. There's no extra cooling equipment found, implying that the chipset from Qualcomm is heat efficient. 6. Technicians say that removing the Mi 5's 3,000 mAh battery is easy. Again, the process will remove the phone's warranty. 7. The teardown shows that the phone lacks a microSD slot. However, this handset supports dual SIM 4G LTE as confirmed by the teardown. 8. The NFC chip is also seen in the teardown. 9. One of the teardown photos shows the Synaptics IC. While it says that it is the fingerprint sensor, Gizmochina believes that the chip is the touch controller. Previously, Tech Times delved into early reviewers' first impressions of the Xiaomi Mi 5. If you wish to know more about the phone's innards, here is the full gallery of the teardown photos. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. It's way too early to set out the cookies and milk. Apple CEO Tim Cook has indicated that it isn't even time to start talking about the Apple car. Apple hasn't tried to hard to cover up the fact that it has been working on an electric car, which is likely due in large part to several telltale acquisitions and research in battery technologies. Recently, during the company's annual shareholders meeting, someone tossed a hook into the waters with the hope that Cook would at least acknowledge the bait and that, he did. It was the first time Apple acknowledged its electric vehicle ambitions, though Cook gave nothing in the way of details. Here's what he said when a shareholder questioned him about the car: "Do you remember when you were a kid, and Christmas Eve, it was so exciting, you weren't sure what was going to be downstairs? Well, it's going to be Christmas Eve for a while," Cook said. Previously, Cook had flat-out dodged the car question. However, this time, at least he indicated that something is in the works. With the amount of man- and woman-power it'll take to develop the Apple Car, which could even be self-driving, Cook set the tone for new details that may leak about its efforts. The covert operation, believed to be code named "Project Titan," has a staff that reportedly numbers around 600 members. So, even if some fuzzy shots of an Apple Car prototype appear on one of California's communal proving grounds, Cook is letting analysts and shareholders know more than one Christmas may pass by before the eve of the car's arrival. Even a year ago, estimates for the Apple Car's arrival were set at 2020. However, the Project Titan unit was believed to be at 200 strong back then. That estimate was for an electric vehicle. An autonomous electric vehicle could be much further away than that. Whatever the case, the tech industry will have keep peeking through keyholes for any hope of finding out more about what the elves at Cupertino are up to. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. While teleportation is far from being a reality, studying how the brain would respond to it is something equally interesting. Neuroscientists from the University of California, Davis conducted an experiment and it yielded results that challenge existing understandings. Lead author Arne Ekstrom says the concept that sensory input is a basic factor that dictates how people perceive space has been dominant for numerous decades. "Our results fundamentally challenge this viewpoint and thus require revision of models we have assumed to be correct for quite some time," she says. Simulating Teleportation For the experiment, the researchers involved three patients diagnosed with seizures. They documented the electrical nerve activity of the subjects via electroencephalography (EEG). While at it, the participants were subjected to a virtual reality experience of teleportation. Such measure enables them to experience how movement goes in space without visual or self-motion prompts. The predominance and extent of low-frequency neural activity in the part of the brain called hippocampus, which is responsible for spatial navigation, remains unchanged. This means that sensorimotor processing is not a vital ingredient to derive navigation. Looking at the numbers of prevalent oscillations or swinging movement during teleportation, the researchers found spatial data that have the ability to categorize the distance of teleportation. The results show that sensory data associated with movement is not necessary to generate low-frequency oscillations in the hippocampus while navigating. Confirming Findings The researchers conducted further experiments to ensure that oscillations during teleportation were really associated with movement. They conducted a control trial, wherein participants were studied during fake teleportation scenarios. As expected, hippocampal oscillations plummeted. Mystery Never Stops The greatest mystery now is the specific information contained in the recorded oscillations. The researchers have not figured out that one yet and it looks as if no will be able to do so in the near future. The study was published in the journal Neuron. Photo: Kevin Simpson | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. There are now 107 reported cases of Zika virus among United States travelers who returned from Zika-infected countries and 40 locally acquired cases in U.S. territories, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has revealed on Friday. This count does not include 117 diagnosed Zika virus cases in Puerto Rico, reported to the health agency after they already released the numbers above. This makes Puerto Rico the most affected area, according to CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden. There are now nine confirmed Zika virus cases among pregnant women in the country who have returned from travel to Zika-infected locations. Ten more reports of the virus in this group are being investigated. The CDC also advised pregnant women against traveling to the Summer Olympics to be held in Brazil, which aligns with its existing recommendations for those expectant mothers to postpone traveling to areas of transmission. The CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report contains more information about these existing Zika cases. Frieden clarified the potential role of Zika in miscarriages, which two women opted for. "It's important to note that 10-20 percent of all pregnancies end in a spontaneous miscarriage, so the fact that [Zika is] present doesn't necessarily mean that it caused them. However, its presence in the placenta is certainly suggestive that it may have, he explains. A baby, whose identity or location remains undisclosed, was born with severe microcephaly, a birth defect characterized by unusually small heads and potential brain damage. In January, the Hawaii health department reported an Oahu-born infant with the condition. The CDC has tested 257 pregnant women for the virus since August 2015. The nine confirmed individuals all visited places badly hit by Zika, namely Brazil, American Samoa, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Samoa. A separate CDC report also noted two confirmed and four likely sexually transmitted cases of the virus those infected are 19 to 55 years old, some are pregnant. Transmission in a number of the cases was through condomless vaginal intercourse. It remains unknown how long Zika stays in semen. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration has granted the emergency use of a new CDC test for the virus. The Zika MAC-ELISA, a blood test that detects antibodies four days to 12 weeks after the initial symptoms. The test, however, can yield false positives if someone is struck by a related virus, for example, dengue fever. This makes additional screening important in order in the event of a positive or inconclusive test in order to confirm a Zika case. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Aboriginal Australian men were in isolation for 50,000 years since their initial settlement, a new DNA sequencing study found. The findings challenged the previous hypothesis suggesting the arrival of early inhabitants from India about four to five thousand years ago. The Y chromosome is handed down from father to son. The first complete Y chromosome sequencing study found no evidence of ancient migration. Instead, it revealed a nearly 50,000-year isolation. The modern humans who arrived in Australia almost 50,000 years ago were one of the earliest groups who settled outside of Africa. They founded the ancestry of today's Aboriginal Australians. When the dingos (native dogs) arrived in Australia 5,000 years ago, there were also documented changes in language and stone tool usage. Experts began to question if these are linked to genetic changes with the population. Previous studies suggested that the changes could be associated with the arrival of Indian populations around the same time. The research team included scientists from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (UK), La Trobe University (Australia) and other Australian institutes. Working closely with Aboriginal Australian communities, they sequenced the Y chromosome DNA of 13 male participants. "The data show that Aboriginal Australian Y chromosomes are very distinct from Indian ones," said study's first author Anders Bergstrom, stressing that the new study disproved the previous Y chromosome research. "Instead, the results are in agreement with the archaeological record about when people arrived in this part of the world." Dr. John Mitchell from Melbourne's La Trobe University shared the team returned the results to the participants prior to the scientific paper's publication. Mitchell stressed the importance of years of engagement and collaboration with the Aboriginal communities. "As an Aboriginal Elder and cultural consultant for this project I am delighted, although not surprised, that science has confirmed what our ancestors have taught us over many generations, that we have lived here since the Dreaming," said Lesley Williams, who liaised the research team with the Aboriginal community. To entirely rule out other genetic influences, researchers must go beyond the Y chromosome and conduct a complete DNA sequencing study. More study is required to answer the open questions about the dingo's arrival in Australia or why other early settlers such as the Polynesians didn't settle on the same continent. The new study was published in the Current Biology journal on Feb. 25. Photo: Corey Leopold | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Numerous species of bees, butterflies and other pollinators are fast hurtling towards extinction and hundreds of billions of dollars worth of food crops will be affected if nothing is done about it, a new report from the United Nations has warned. The more than 20,000 species of pollinators play a critical role in the annual food supply. But two of five species of bees, butterflies and pollinating critters are on the way to becoming extinct, with their vertebrate counterparts, such as bats and hummingbirds, only slightly better off with one out of six facing extinction. "Without pollinators, many of us would no longer be able to enjoy coffee, chocolate and apples, among many other foods that are part of our daily lives," says Simon Potts, biodiversity and ecosystems professor at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. Potts is also the co-chair of the two-year assessment by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). More than 75 percent of food crops worldwide greatly depend on pollination by insects and other animals. Global crops directly affected by these pollinators amount to $235 billion to $577 billion, with a 300 percent increase in volume of agricultural production that depends on pollination in the last half century. The problem is one cannot pinpoint a single culprit. "Their (wild pollinators) decline is primarily due to changes in land use, intensive agricultural practices and pesticide use, alien invasive species, diseases and pests, and climate change, says IPBES vice-chair and renowned British ecological scientist Robert Watson. Among the more controversial ones are neonicotinoid insectides, which threaten pollinators around the globe but whose long-term impacts remain unknown. A groundbreaking study showed they negatively affect wild bees, but the consequences for honeybees was less conclusive. The assessment report, released on Feb. 26 and which analyzed many existing scientific studies, gained approval from a congress of 124 member nations in the fourth plenary meeting of the IPBES in Kuala Lumpur. The matter with dwindling pollinator populations is deemed fixable, and actions can be done on the local level. "There are relatively simple, relatively inexpensive mechanisms for turning the trend around for native pollinators," argues co-author David Inouye from the University of Maryland, who added that England already had two wild bumblebee species become extinct while the United States lost one. Among the challenges, particularly in the United States, is that massive portions of farmland are devoted to a single crop, or the practice of monoculture. Wildflowers, the food for these pollinators, are fast disappearing. Grasslands are also gracious hosts to wild pollinators, yet in Europe 97 percent already disappeared since the Second World War. The report made several recommendations to protect pollinators, including creating diversity in agricultural and urban landscapes, supporting traditional crop rotation and related indigenous practices, knowledge exchange between farmers and experts and enhancing pathogen control in bee husbandry. As we work towards food security, it is important to approach the challenge with a consideration of the environmental impacts that drive the issue, says Achim Steiner, the executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme. Photo: Natesh Ramasamy | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Mophie has announced a juice pack for the new Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge that can be charged wirelessly. Mophie makes smartphone cases for a variety of handsets available in the market, but it seems the S7 lineup is getting a special treatment as the battery pack for the Samsung flagships are the first that can be charged wirelessly with a charging mat. "The new wireless charging feature is compatible with Qi and other charging standards, including Samsung's wireless charge pads," says Mophie. "Designed for edge-to-edge protection, the juice pack uses Mophie's proprietary Impact-Isolation System which adds extra cushion to the edges and corners of the protective case for unrivaled support." Customers will be able to charge the case as well as the mobile phone without taking off the case. However, users will need a traditional microUSB cable for dual charging. Mophie suggests that the new juice pack for the Galaxy S7 will provide about 11 additional hours of talk time, 4 extra hours of web browsing, up to 7 more hours of watching videos and nearly 28 additional hours of listening to music. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S7 edge juice pack adds up to 13 hours of talk time, 5 extra hours of web browsing, up to 11 hours of additional video playback and 40 more hours of music playback. A 3,000 mAh battery powers the Galaxy S7 while a bigger 3,600 mAh battery fuels the Galaxy S7 edge. Both batteries are bigger than their predecessors so they should provide more usage time to customers. Samsung has launched the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge in two models: one running on Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and the other on Samsung Exynos 8890 chipset. Qualcomm suggests that Snapdragon 820 improves the battery life of handsets, which means that the latest Samsung offerings will lengthen usage time. Both the handsets also run on Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system, which brings a number of battery-preserving features such as Doze and App Standby modes. Customers looking to purchase a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge should already expect long-lasting batteries. Nevertheless, the juice pack is surely good news for heavy users who love to do multitasking, video and audio playback and gaming on their smartphones. Mophie has confirmed that the juice pack will have a price tag of $99.95 and will be available in black. The battery case for the Galaxy S7 will also be available in gold hue. The case maker has not confirmed the release date of the battery packs. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Research on how long term space travel will impact human health will kick into high gear next week as NASA astronaut Scott Kelly comes back to Earth after an 11-month stay at the International Space Station. NASA Twin Study As Scott stayed in orbit, he left behind his identical twin brother Mark Kelly, a retired astronaut. By involving the twin brothers, who are genetically identical, in a landmark twin study, NASA can study how long-duration space flight can impact the body and mind with Mark as the control. "NASA has selected 10 investigations to conduct with identical twin astronauts Scott and Mark Kelly," NASA said. "These investigations will provide broader insight into the subtle effects and changes that may occur in spaceflight as compared to Earth by studying two individuals who have the same genetics, but are in different environments for one year." Researchers involved in the twin study wanted to know how extended space flight influences, among others, a person's cognition, physiology and microbiome and Scott's soon-to-end ISS mission would provide researchers with a chance to compare several health aspects of the Kellys. Scott and Mark had their cardiovascular function, visual acuity and other things tested over the past several months. Scott also took blood and urine samples that would be brought back to earth for comparison. Scott's samples from the ISS have been stored and will arrive on a returning SpaceX capsule about a month following his return. Preparation For Manned Mars Mission The twin study aims to help NASA make the necessary preparations for the planned manned mission to planet Mars. Brinda Rana, a researcher from the UC San Diego School of Medicine, said that by studying how the space environment affects the human body at the molecular level, NASA can identify risk factors and countermeasures to deal with potential health issues that may arise as a result of prolong space travel such as a mission to Mars. Effects Of Space Travel Traveling through space is believed to produce possibly adverse side effects on the body due to radiation exposure, microgravity, isolation, elevated carbon dioxide and confinement and a better understanding of these may help NASA make the necessary preparations for longer space travel. A trip to Mars, for instance, may last several months. "Our bodies are adapted to a 1g environment in which gravity pulls the blood toward the feet," Rana said. "In space, with nearly zero gravity, the blood and other fluids in the body shift upwards toward the upper body around the heart, the neck and the head. This fluid shift may cause changes in brain pressure and vision, which have been observed in some astronauts. Medical Applications Researchers said that knowledge from the twin study may also have medical applications on Earth. The findings, for instance, may shed more light on traumatic brain injury, glaucoma, atherosclerosis and bone loss. Scott Kelly is set to return to Earth on March 1. His stay at the ISS is the longest an American lived in space. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Volkswagen has until March 24 to state whether it has a definitive fix to the status of the emissions issue which led the German automaker into a global scandal and numerous lawsuits. Charles Breyer, U.S. District Judge in San Francisco, says Volkswagen should soon be able to provide an update on the fix given the fact that it will be six months since the company admitted in September 2015 that it used "cheating" software. Volkswagen admitted that the software was installed with the intention to curb emissions test results in order to pass U.S. regulations. As Reuters reports, Breyer believes six months is long enough for the automaker to find out if the emissions issue is fixable or not. He also believes that it is an ongoing problem. Volkswagen actually had a fix and even came up with a proposal last month which the company submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Since the automaker's proposal was deliberately turned down, it has yet to reach an agreement to launch a recall program involving almost 600,000 affected cars in the United States. The company's recall in Europe wherein 8.5 million vehicles are involved is now underway. Volkswagen is currently facing a $46 billion lawsuit filed by the U.S. Justice Department last month for the charge of violating the environmental laws in the United States. As a result, the company, along with its Porsche and Audi brands, have been banned from entering the U.S. market with new 2016 diesel car models. More than 500 car owners and dealers in the United States have also filed lawsuits against the carmaker. Their allegations state that the company had knowingly compromised its diesel cars in order to pass the government-regulated emissions tests and that it participated in the fraudulent marketing of the models in the nation. These class-action lawsuits against the carmaker are just the icing on the cake, as the company also faces high costs incurred from recalls and regulatory fines that are issued by the affected countries. Robert Giuffra, Volkswagen's legal representative, told Breyer at the court proceeding that the carmaker is doing some progress in coming up with a settlement agreement with the Justice Department, EPA and CARB. When asked about the details of the settlement, Giuffra declined to discuss the specifics following the advice of the Justice Department. Volkswagen had to postpone the announcement of its 2015 results and had to delay its annual shareholders' meeting because of the difficulties involved in determining the exact price it had to spend on the scandal. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. AT&T is suing the local government in Louisville and Jefferson County, Kentucky, in order to block a new ordinance which should let Google Fiber use the utility poles. The complaint filed in by AT&T notes that the ordinance of the Louisville/Jefferson County (LJC) holds no ground as it is nullified by the pole attachment regulations of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). AT&T points out that the Kentucky law makes the Public Service Commission the only authority able to oversee pole attachments. "The recently passed 'One Touch Make Ready' Ordinance is invalid, as the city has no jurisdiction under federal or state law to regulate pole attachments," AT&T says. The company goes on to add that Google may use AT&T's poles as long as it subscribes to the Commercial Licensing Agreement, a move that happened in other locations. AT&T mentions that the lawsuit has nothing to do with Google per se, as it is about a perceived extension of authority from the Louisville Metro Council. It should be noted that AT&T plans to deploy its own fiber optics network in Louisville. The ordinance allows companies to re-position AT&T's wires without notification, provided that they do not interrupt AT&T's services. Policies such as the One Touch Make Ready are destined to accelerate deployments that need to simply move some wires in order to accommodate new ones. Additionally, it permits Google to install wires in spite of AT&T's lack of response to solicitations or even if AT&T rejects Google's request to place new lines. Another upside of the ordinance is that it should limit the distress caused by new installments. While the former procedure said that each contractor was only allowed to re-position its own equipment, now any crew can do so, provided it keeps the data flow running. "[The ordinance] will reduce disruption in neighborhoods as Google [...] installs thousands of miles of new fiber-optic cable throughout Jefferson County," WDRB writes. AT&T has a different take on things. "[Other contractors] temporarily seize AT&T's property, and alter or relocate AT&T's property, without AT&T's consent and, in most circumstances, without prior notice to AT&T," the complaint reads [pdf]. The majority of poles used for fiber optics networks belong to AT&T or Louisville Gas & Electric. Greg Fischer, the Mayor of Louisville, firmly backs the deployment of Google Fiber in his city. We will vigorously defend the lawsuit filed today by ATT; gigabit fiber is too important to our city's future @googlefiber Mayor Greg Fischer (@louisvillemayor) February 26, 2016 Louisville is one of the 11 cities where the company aims to implement broadband-ready data networks. By having an additional Internet Service Provider, Louisville citizens could actually receive better services from all the existing networks. Even if Google refrained from making any official commentary, a blog post addressed the issue. The company confessed its disappointment at AT&T's efforts to stall the broadband expansion in Louisville. The blog post goes on to explain why the ordinance is a good idea in terms of execution times and human resources. Whereas earlier it was required for multiple teams to come and re-position or install wires, now all the work can be managed by one team. Previously, Time Warner Cable (TWC) also made a plea to city officials, accusing potential disruptions in its services as a consequence of Google Fiber deployment. The city council rejected both TWC's and AT&T's pleas, but it now seems that Google's victory could be short-lived if AT&T has its way. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. $100,939 : This is what it would cost Apple to help the FBI hack the San Bernardino shooters iPhone In court documents filed on Thursday, Apple disclosed that it would cost them about $101,000 in labor costs to create a back door into one of its iPhones in order to help the FBI hack it. However, it is likely that it would be spending millions more to avoid this hack from precariously seeping into the open. Apple has received orders from a federal magistrate-judge to create code that can enable the FBI break into the iPhone 5C of a San Bernardino shooter. While the company is fighting the order, it has predicted the whole process to develop a new version of its operating system, which an Apple employee has nicknamed GovtOS. Apples manager of user privacy, Erik Neuenschwander, confirmed in court papers, All told, I would estimate that the process of designing, creating, validating, deploying GovtOS would take two to four weeks. The company said in a court filing that the effort would take six to ten Apple engineers and employees dedicating a very substantial portion of their time. According to Apples filing, the effort would include rock star engineers from Apples core operating system group, a project manager, one quality assurance engineer, and a document writer. Using salaries from salary-tracking website Glassdoor, here is the prospective cost. First, here are the salaries that are used: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average senior software engineer at Apple makes $147,049. Average project manager at Apple: $108,059. Average software quality assurance engineer at Apple: $102,857. While the Document writers at Apple were not included in Glassdoor, the average technical writer makes $71,950. Now contemplate how many of those workers Apple would require: Taking into consideration, Apples maximum estimate is right, this would take seven software engineers and three other employees. They would work four weeks, full-time. This nightmare dream team of employees working full-time to create a big back door something CEO Tim Cook calls a cancer would only cost the company $100,939. CNNMoney shared its estimate with Apple, but the company refused to comment. Even if those software engineers were some of the highest-paid ones at Apple, the whole hacking project would still cost less than $200,000 a minute glitch for a company with $216 billion in cash. Then again, Apple does say that the team effort is only an approximate. The company said in its court filing Thursday that It has never been done before. No operating system currently exists that can accomplish what the government wants, and any effort to create one will require that Apple write new code, not just disable existing code functionality. However, there is more to it. Apple makes clear that making this cancerous code poses a giant threat for the company. Apple would probably stock its hacking department in a new, highly-fortified containment lab to keep this hack from ever leaving Apples premises. In a court declaration, Apple lawyer Lisa Olle said the company would likely build one or two secure facilities similar to a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility. Apple didnt provide any cost approximates, so CNNMoney consulted with licensed experts who build SCIFs. They said it would cost $25 million to build a new one. For two? Thats $50 million. The company says it would also spend additional time putting to an end to every line of code in GovtOS and carefully safeguarding any logs that led to its manufacture. In its court filing, Apple didnt provide any estimates. It is not just about dollars and cents, particularly when the U.S. government has already offered to repay Apple for every penny spent. However, the important question is whether this one-time effort for the FBI or new legal precedent as claimed by Apple would generate requests from law enforcement agencies all over the country. Yes, certainly. There are 175 criminal cases in which Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said he would want to compel Apple to help the law enforcement agencies to unlock an iPhone as well. In court documents, Apple says the burden will multiply if it has to abolish this malicious code and restructure it every time when there is a request. However, this is an acute numbers exercise. While Apple is actually fighting this case on civil rights grounds, it states that the government cant be conscripted to do the governments bidding and make everyones iPhone crippled and insecure. Source: CNN Money We've noticed you're adblocking. We rely on advertising to help fund our award-winning journalism. We urge you to turn off your ad blocker for The Telegraph website so that you can continue to access our quality content in the future. Thank you for your support. Haiti's diplomat Rodrigue welcomed the imposition of sanctions, although he stressed that more measures are needed to restore security in his country. | Read More Vice President on two-day tour to Hyderabad Hyderabad, Feb 27 (INN): Vice-President of India Hamed Ansari will visit Hyderabad on a two-day tour from March 5. GAD Principal Secretary Aadhar Sinha held a meeting in the State Secretariat on Saturday to review arrangements for the Vice-President's visit. He directed the officials to make fool-proof arrangements during the VP's two-day tour, especially security and cleanliness. According to sources, the Vice-President will arrive at Begumpet Airport on March 5 at 3.50 PM. He will participate in the 29th National Maha Sabha of Rythu Sangham in RTC Hall. He will also inaugurate the national seminar on "Public Investment & Subsidies In Agriculture Input and Upliftment of Agrarian Economy". The next day, Hamed Ansari will review the restoration works being done by Aga Khan Foundation at Qutub Shahi Tombs. The review meeting was attended by senior officials including Principal Secretary (Home) Rajiv Trivedi, Inspector General Mahesh Bhagwat and Director Protocol Arvind Singh. News Posted: 27 February, 2016 Here's a little piece of trivia you might not know: in the 43-year history of the Victorian Ombudsman's office, only two state governments have challenged its power to investigate a political scandal referred by the parliament. Both happen to be Labor governments. The first took place six years ago, when John Brumby's team tried to stop the then Ombudsman, George Brouwer, from examining a sham consultation process for the redevelopment of Melbourne's historic Windsor Hotel. As it turns out, that attempt didn't go too well. Illustration: Matt Davidson. The second will take place early next month, when the Andrews Government heads to the Supreme Court in the hope of stopping Brouwer's successor, Deborah Glass, from probing claims that Labor misappropriated taxpayer funds as part of its 2014 election campaign. The so-called "rorts-for-votes" scandal was a fairly low key affair until Daniel Andrews' right-hand-man, Gavin Jennings, wrote to the Ombudsman to politely inform her that she didn't have the legal right to start sniffing around. Tropical Cyclone Winston has ravaged Fiji, with hundreds of homes flattened, more than 40 dead and reports of entire villages swept from islands. Approximately 50,000 people are sheltering in evacuation centres. The international response to this disaster has been swift, as it must be, and the Pacific holds a special obligation on Australia to act as the wealthiest country in the neighbourhood. In addition to airlifts of relief supplies, Australia's naval flagship, HMAS Canberra, is expected to arrive off Fiji in the coming week to ferry goods to locals reeling from the destruction and help restore water supplies. Every assistance should be offered. Terrible storms are a sad feature of what can too easily be mistaken as a tranquil life in the Pacific. Vanuatu suffered the destruction of Cyclone Pam last year and modelling for the effects of global warming predicts severe weather events will become more frequent. The United Nations believes the storm that struck Fiji on February 20 and 21 to be the most devastating to have ever hit the South Pacific. In the worst affected areas, entire crops have been destroyed, adding to the economic cost of the cyclone. Fiji will need sustained help during what is expected to be a long and difficult recovery. The challenge would be daunting enough without Fiji's history of political fragility and difficulty in living up to the nation's democratic ideals. The country's present Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, seized power by coup in 2006, the fourth military takeover in Fiji since 1987. The country was subsequently suspended from the regional Pacific Islands Forum and Mr Bainimarama's prevarication over a return to democracy saw his regime diplomatically ostracised from Australia and New Zealand. The impasse only ended in 2014 after an election was finally held and the Coalition government in Australia signalled a willingness to tolerate Mr Bainimarama's continued leadership of the country. But in the months leading up to Cyclone Winston there have been worrisome signs that Mr Bainimarama's authoritarian instincts have not been quelled. He has moved to ban an opposition political party on what appears the spurious grounds of accounting irregularities, preventing its members from taking their seats in Parliament. He has also accused overseas dissidents of fomenting political unrest and at home jailed more than 50 people accused of sedition. It is only natural to be wary about such serious allegations, given Mr Bainimarama's past willingness to meddle in the courts and abrogate the constitution. Good public policy is best shaped by the dispassionate analysis of what in practice has worked, or not. Policy based on common assumptions and popular sentiments can become a recipe for mistaken prescriptions and misguided interventions. Nowhere is this divorce between rhetoric and reality more evident than in the formulation of global drug policies, where too often emotions and ideology rather than evidence have prevailed. Initial trends show that where cannabis has been legalised, there has been no explosion in drug use or drug-related crime. Credit:Getty Images This year, between April 19 and 21, the United Nations General Assembly will hold a special session on drugs and the world will have a chance to change course. As we approach that event, we need to ask ourselves if we are on the right policy path. More specifically, how do we deal with what the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has called the "unintended consequences" of the policies of the past 50 years, which have helped, among other things, to create a vast, international criminal market in drugs that fuels violence, corruption and instability? Globally, the "war on drugs" has not succeeded. Some estimate that enforcing global prohibition costs at least $US100 billion ($139 billion) a year, but as many as 300 million people now use drugs worldwide, contributing to a global illicit market with a turnover of $US330 billion a year, one of the largest commodity markets in the world. A few years ago, on an Arthurian trail, I visited the Morvan region of Burgundy, in eastern France. Radiating from the ancient hilltop town of Avallon - once an important Druidic site, and fingered by historian Geoffrey Ashe as the real "Avalon" of legend - we discovered a surprising area with an otherworldly feel, with its winding roads, deep green woods, mossy "fairy" rocks, healing salt springs and air of seclusion. The Life of Elves by Muriel Barbery. It was easy to imagine the "real" Arthur and his men vanishing here, tended by the all-female order of Gallo-Roman healers at the Fontaines Salees; easy, too, to imagine that an enchantment far older even than them lingers deep within this timeless countryside. This is the area where part of Muriel Barbery's latest novel is set, in that secretive, beautiful, green Burgundian countryside of rushing streams and deep woods. There are references to returned soldiers and "the last war" but these do not fix it in time, though it could be after World War I, or World War II. The vagueness is necessary, for this is a world that is removed from factual history but operates on its own intimate terms. Barbery's portrayal of that world is tender and lyrical, and there were moments when I caught my breath in delight at a phrase or an image but, alas, as with so much of this novel, the author so overdoes the gold and green glaze she paints over the story that in the end one can only see the glaze and not what's going on beneath. The story begins with Maria, a little child of mysterious "Spanish" origins who appears in a blizzard and is taken into a local family. From then on, the village is blessed; the weather is fair, harvests are good, game is plentiful and a harmony settles over the little world like a good fairy's enchantment. Or rather, an elf's, for soon we are introduced to the notion that the elemental beings known as "elves" are creating living points of imaginative grace to offset a coming war in both dimensions, the human and the elvish. Maria, with her "natural magic" is one of those points; far away in the Abruzzo region of Italy, another little girl, Clara, with an almost supernatural gift for music, is another. The two girls become aware of each other through dreams and visions; while the elves work through them to prevent destruction, in alternating scenes set in France, Italy and in elvish councils. Critics and readers in France have expressed surprised disappointment that this, Barbery's first novel since the phenomenally successful The Elegance of the Hedgehog, should be centred around such fantastical, fairytale-ish elements. It's true that the French are not overly familiar with the kind of literary fiction crossed with fantasy that is exemplified by such English-language authors as Susanna Clarke, Robert Holdstock and David Mitchell. To my mind, however, Barbery's earlier novel was a fairytale, despite its modern Parisian setting. Snake goddess, 1980, from Flamingo Park, Sydney. Designed by Jenny Kee and knitted by Jan Ayres. Credit:National Gallery of Victoria They were a revelation after almost two centuries of what Di Trocchio calls "English via Paris" fashion. "News about fashion came by a constant exchange of letters and newspapers from 'home'," she says of the earliest days of European settlement. Every morsel was ravenously adopted. "Australians have always been incredibly receptive to international ideas ... I think it's a thirst, a hunger to be involved and connected to the rest of the world." In 1805, for example, a convict seamstress (any woman who could cut a frock pattern by eyeballing a newspaper illustration was in hot demand) ran up a particular, gobsmackingly lovely pale Indian muslin empire dress with hand-embroidered pattern of silvery floral sprigs, for one Anna Josepha King. Jenny Bannister's Je suis mod deluxe 1980. Credit:National Gallery of Victoria At the time, according to Di Trocchio, modes were occasionally copied with a decorative local touch: a cockatoo feather here, platypus fur there, here a wattle, there a kangaroo, (what academic Margaret Maynard describes in the exhibition notes as: "A characteristic colonial waywardness of taste"). But, not this one. This one was tres chic. It is the oldest dress in the exhibition, and probably the country. In 200 Years of Australian Fashion, the flimsy femininity and simple elegance of Mrs King's frock, with its short, bust-puffing, decollete-enhancing bodice and slipper-grazing skirt, is exhibited in fascinating contrast to the robust corsetry, ostentatious ruffles, bows and buttons, enormous crinolines and elaborate bustles that evolved in its wake. A new generation of visionaries, makers and designers was feeling empowered by the social climate. The "tall, dark-haired and vivacious" Mrs King was 40 and well known for kicking up her heels. Her husband was Philip King, governor of the baby colony from 1800 to 1806, but she wasn't high born by any English standard. But in this dress, she was everything she wanted to be: the height of fashion, youthful, feminine, a woman of the world, and queenly among the rabble of convict and social-striving free settlers in Sydney. Fashion could imply all it does today, and more, in Anna Josepha King's colonial orbit, and the flow of international trends into the colony strengthened and became more sophisticated in the years that followed. In 1878, a certain Madame Weigel of Melbourne began publishing a paper pattern catalogue (Di Trocchio describes it as "the first fashion magazine") making it even easier to copy modes from "home" (as England was known). By the 1930s, passion for Parisian fashion was cranked to the max. Australian cities bristled with French-style fashion salons. In department stores and boutiques they peddled Parisian modes by appointment and at a packed calendar of glamorous soirees. The designs were copied under license, or just copied. (And, no shame or mischief about this practice is evident in the historic records.) So besotted with the French were Australians that, from 1946, barely a year after the years of deprivation and dull, militaristic modes of World War II, the Australian Women's Weekly bankrolled regular planeloads of glamorous Parisian originals; Patou, Balmain, Fath, Dior, Lanvin, among them, models included, to sate them. "Parisian fashions for all!" was David Jones' 1948 slogan. The store collaborated with Christian Dior to fly his entire New Look collection from Paris, with seven house mannequins to walk it, for a calendar of soirees in its Sydney flagship. Back in 1929, couturier Mavis Ripper had been a lone voice for "original Australian" designs. Two decades later, her idea was gaining patchy traction. Couturiers Beril Jents and Hall Ludlow fired up the notion of an Aussie aesthetic through the 1950s and, by the 1960s, momentum gathered around names such as Norma Tullo, Prue Acton and Carla Zampatti. These first genuine legends of Aussie fashion sold collections overseas; early proof the flow of fashion was switching. The local rag trade however, still thrived by aping (garment samples from Europe and the US, habitually picked apart and copied), or making under licence to international fashion houses. Linda Jackson and Jenny Kee wearing Jackson?s Tutti Frutti dress in 1975. Photo: Ann Noon Credit:Ann Noon Then came the 1970s. Jenny Bannister booked into fashion school in 1972. Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson returned from travels, met, clicked, and launched their first collaborative fashions the next year. And, in 1976, June McCallum arrived, mid career from some of London's top magazines, to edit Vogue Australia. She remembers revolutions going off in all directions; lifestyles, food, women's work, finances... "There was a lot happening." But, most interesting, she remembers a distinctly Australian aesthetic was crystallising and, not only that, "(Australian) fashion was becoming less dependent on overseas trends". This was music to McCallum, who planned "to knock the French and Italian Vogues off Australian coffee tables" with a magazine as sophisticated as Vogue ever was, but also, uniquely Australian. She assigned photographers Patrick Russell and Monty Coles, recently arrived from England, to "get the look" she wanted, a look that would depict an iconic Australian style, in an iconic Australian way. "It was like arriving on the edge of the world," Coles remembers of his arrival from England. "All the photographers at the time were using orange filters; maybe to warm up the colours, but I don't know why. The harshness was what was Australian." Coles left the orange filters at home and often shot on locations where the colours were bleached and dirt and dust and wind dominated. One, the sand dunes where Mad Max was filmed, was particularly perfect in a particularly Aussie way. "A hot, kind of limbo place; hard natural light, hard shadows. Very Australian." Coles' assignments ran the gamut of Australian style at the time, from the breezy freshness of neo-classic brands Simona and Trent Nathan, to the vivid iconoclastic designs of Jenny Kee, Linda Jackson and their expanding band of followers. "Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson were leading the way," McCallum recalls. "They designed these pieces that were so covetable and flamboyant and fresh. There was a lovely feeling of being creative but, not in a parochial way ... there was a lot of clever designing behind it." Kee and Jackson's original print patterns were inspired by Australian flora, fauna, land and sea and skies but, also key to their explosive success, was their resonance with familiar ideas from Asia, Africa, New Guinea, Europe and Indigenous communities in outback Australia. The result was clothes not seen before: vivid, graphic, often handpainted, with lush, fastidiously finished layers, but connected at some cerebral level, to the rest of humanity. They defined a new kind of luxury and, for the first time, an "Australian" aesthetic. "We'd both been travelling and got back with fresh eyes," Jackson says of her return to Australia in 1972 after a year in Papua New Guinea. "And we plugged into the beauty of this country." It had been done before, in art (Margaret Preston, Arthur Boyd, Sidney Nolan) but, only haphazardly, with a sense of gimmick, in fashion. "We looked around and thought why NOT be inspired by waratah, or by opals, or the Barrier Reef?" Their collaborations with other artists jeweller Peter Tully, for example, and artist David McDiarmid added layers and texture to their work. "We were multi-media artists before there was even a word for it," says Jackson. Fashion designers Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales from Romance was born and Jenny Kee collaborated for a 2012 fashion show. Credit:Nick Moir By 1986, Australian fashion the colourful, artful, artisanal kind was unique and peaking. Kee, Jackson and Bannister were in a mixed bag of Aussie icons including Prue Acton, Hall Ludlow and Country Road, invited to Australian Fortnight by Neiman Marcus stores in the US. And three years later, in 1989, they joined the most significant celebration to date of Antipodean fashion. London's Victoria and Albert Museum invited June McCallum and Vogue Australia to collaborate on its first exhibition of contemporary fashion. Ever. And, they wanted it to be Australian fashion. "British Vogue was furious!" says McCallum, laughing. She commissioned 52 studio-based designers to exhibit in Australian Fashion: The Contemporary Art. Among them were Kee, Jackson and Bannister, as well as Kara Baker, Gavin Brown, Susan Cohn, Dinosaur Designs, Peter Morrissey, Leona Edmiston and Fiona Scanlan. The show was a hit, but timing not terrific. After a summer season at the V&A, it toured to its final destination at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney and its stars hunkered down for one of the worst recessions in Australia's history. Fashion commentators have described what came next as "when the world went black". The Japanese moved their sombre, intellectual aesthetic just right for the global mood onto the runways of Paris, and colour drained from fashion almost entirely. (This was also the decade Melbourne acquired its taste for black, and hasn't surrendered it since.) Labor volunteers have been caught on hidden cameras bragging about using Australian taxpayer funds to work on a US presidential campaign and interfering with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton campaign signs. In a video posted online by the conservative undercover campaign group Project Veritas Action, four Australians are recorded saying they received taxpayer funds for flights, accommodation and daily expenses while organising for Democratic senator Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign, a possible breach of US election law. Former Australian National University Labor Club president Ben Kremer is identified in the video trying to remove campaign signs for Republican candidate Donald Trump in Manchester, New Hampshire, acknowledging in the secret recording that the tactics were not legal. "F--- you, Donald," he says in the video. "I think you've got to look very carefully about fairly long campaigns," Mr Howard told Fairfax Media, amid mounting speculation that on the day after the May 10 budget Mr Turnbull will call a July 2 election. The former prime minister cited Bob Hawke's experience in 1984, when he went into a 10-week campaign with soaring approval ratings and suffered a 2 per cent swing and lost a swag of seats. John Howard has warned Malcolm Turnbull to think "very carefully" before calling a July 2 double dissolution election that would involve an unusually long 7-week campaign. Mr Howard and Mr Turnbull will address a dinner of almost 650 at Parliament on Wednesday to mark the 20th anniversary of Mr Howard's 1996 victory that ended 13 years of Labor rule and set up the last long-term national government. John Howard and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during the filming of an ABC production. Credit:PM's Office All key figures in the Howard government aside from Alexander Downer, who is in London as Australia's high commissioner to Britain, and Nick Minchin will attend. Peter Costello, who was treasurer for the four terms of Howard's rule, will also address the gathering, as will Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. Well-placed sources insist Mr Turnbull is still inclined to go full term, with the election likely in September. He is also expected to announce his tax package before the budget. "You should expect ... I am certainly expecting the election to be held in the normal time, which is in August, September, October," Mr Turnbull told reporters on Friday. "I think the general rubric is before or after the footy finals. But that's the usual timing, that's what you should expect." There she stood in the frenzied mosh pit, amid flailing arms, flying beads of sweat and the growling ecstasy of the mob, threshing like trawler bycatch. As a teenager in Jakarta, Dea Arida was never allowed to go to hardcore punk gigs, her protective, strict parents considering them dangerous and corrupting. But Australia is a long way from home. Here, for the first time, Dea could immerse herself in the punk band scene. For the first few years, she methodically removed her Blu-Tacked ticket stubs from her bedroom wall each time her parents came to visit. By 2014, when her 14-year-old sister visited, Dea was ready to come out as a hardcore fan. "I took my sister [to the mosh pit] to prove a point to my parents," Dea says. "Gigs here are safe." And Dea's boyfriend came, too. New country, new rules. As Dea was leaving to study at Melbourne University five years ago, her worried parents showered her with advice. Don't let guys stay over. Maintain your Catholic faith amid Australia's secularism. Avoiding alcohol didn't even need to be said. Dea listened. But she was nursing a secret. "It wasn't something I told my parents, but the liberal nature of Australia was a reason I came," she says. "Here, you don't have to conform to your peers as much. There's a lot of freedom." Zongyi Fu from China. Credit:Bonnie Savage International students are our hidden migration boom. More than half a million most from Asia live here as temporary Australians while they complete their degrees. Many play it safe, sticking close to friends from the same cultural background. Loneliness and isolation are common. But for the more daring, Australia is a liberal playground: a place without family pressure, with far fewer rules, and where drinking and partying are rites of passage. "Most international students are from an upper middle-class background," Dea explains. "So they're very sheltered and privileged at home. Here, they are finally free. They can try things not condoned at home. At home, my friends can't go on dates wearing shorts, let alone be alone in a room with a boy. Here, it's much more casual. People might even experiment with their sexuality. But then going home is hard." A date for the federal election is yet to be set but childcare workers launched a pre-emptive campaign on Saturday, door knocking hundreds of homes in marginal electorates across Australia to declare their frustration with inaction on their wages claim. Hundreds of early childhood specialists hit the streets on Saturday to draw attention to their poor pay which they say deserves a federal government subsidy to bring their wages into line with similar professions. Mel Gatfield, Assistant Secretary of NSW Branch United Voice (left), with early childhood teacher Brigitte Mitchell (right) and her mother in Burwood on Saturday. They were door knocking to raise support for higher wages. Credit:Fiona Morris The campaign was organised by union United Voice which has told a federal Senate inquiry that improved wages are crucial for a quality early childhood sector. United Voice assistant national secretary Helen Gibbons said the country's 153,000 childcare workers, many of whom earn less than $45,000 a year, deserve pay matching their skills and responsibilities. A 41-year-old man has been charged after an alleged assault on two men in Sydney's CBD on Saturday morning. Police were called to the scene at a McDonald's restaurant on the corner of Pitt and Park Streets about 12.30am. CCTV vision of the incident shows a man approaching the corner, carrying a takeaway food bag, before he is knocked to the ground by a punch thrown by another man standing behind the wall. Queensland Health authorities are undertaking a second mosquito control response, after a Townsville resident returned to North Queensland with symptoms of Zika. While all cases in Queensland - with this being the ninth case - have been imported, authorities have begun pest control spraying in areas where a positive case is returned where the mosquito which carries the virus, the Aedes aegypti, is also present. Mosquito spraying has begun at a second site in Queensland after a man showed symptoms of the Zika virus. The first of those cases occurred on Wednesday, when a Rockhampton fly-in fly-out worker returned from South America. Authorities began a similar response in Oonoonba in Townsville on Friday afternoon, after a recently travelled resident began showing symptoms of either Dengue Fever or Zika virus. Chances of infection in this case are thought to be quite low, with the person assuring authorities he was only in the area for a few days. Malcolm Turnbull's decision to examine the program came after conservative MP Cory Bernardi used a party room meeting on Tuesday to call for it to be defunded, claiming it was being used to "indoctrinate children into a Marxist agenda of cultural relativism." But those who have actually been involved the program couldn't disagree more. The aim, they say, is to promote acceptance of LGBTI people (who are 14 times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers) and to give students and teachers awareness about gender and sexual identity issues. "Professional development days for staff is so valuable because that's when things turn around," says Melba College teacher Marg Henley, who has been involved in the facilitating the program since it began. "When you present the research, that's when they say: "oh I hadn't realised that before." If you want a sense of the program's effectiveness, consider this. Students who spoke to The Sunday Age reported feeling more comfortable simply because their school had signed up. One school, in Melbourne's west, reported that in the two years since joining, language occasionally used by students had gone from "extremely homophobic" to no homophobic commentary at all. And then there were other positive signs of acceptance: a proliferation of student groups that focus on challenging homophobia; more transgender students being open about it in school (from one person to 54 within six years); an increase in the number of private schools taking part in the program (41 in Victoria); and a rise in the number of students overall (more than 300,000 in Victorian government schools alone). For some, it's enough for a few beers after a hard day at work; for others, it's the value of a house in the suburbs. More than $100 million is tucked away in state government coffers waiting to be collected but 1.5 million Victorians are unaware that they are sitting on a windfall. Illustration: Matt Golding The largest chunk of unclaimed money is $600,000 that belongs to two lucky residents in Hawthorn. About $100,000 is also awaiting collection from a man in Trentham; a Kinglake couple are the owners of $53,000 in unclaimed cash; and a bloke in Portland is entitled to $49,000. An 18-year-old man has been charged with murder over the death of Ballajura boy Kuol Akut. He died in hospital from injuries he received in Hainsworth Avenue, Girrawheen, on Friday February 19. Murder victim Kuol Akut. Credit:WA Police Police say the 18-year-old, who is also from Balga, was arrested and charged on Friday. He is due to appear before the Perth Magistrates Court on Saturday. Mr Akut's family fled war-torn South Sudan in 2004 when Mr Akut was six-years-old for "a safe life and a good education", his uncle told a media conference on Tuesday. New Delhi: India is close to becoming the world's sixth country to put a nuclear-armed attack submarine into operation, a move that would give it a leg up on neighbouring Pakistan and intensify a race for more underwater weapons in Asia. The 6000-tonne Arihant, developed over the past three decades under a secret government program, is completing its final trials in the Bay of Bengal, according to a senior navy officer who declined to be identified because he's not authorised to speak about the program. The vessel will be operated by the navy yet remain under the direct control of India's Nuclear Command Authority headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The deployment would complete India's nuclear triad, allowing it to deliver atomic weapons from land, sea and air. Only the US and Russia are considered full-fledged nuclear triad powers now, with China and India's capabilities still largely untested. India's move may prod China to bolster its undersea arsenal and assist nuclear-armed allies Pakistan and North Korea in developing similar technologies. That risks potentially more dangerous altercations in Asia's waters, where territorial disputes have contributed to a region-wide naval build-up. Along with musical-theater mainstays like Ramin Karimloo, Anthony Warlow, and Colm Wilkinson, John Owen-Jones is part of a fraternity of actors who have spent much of their careers alternating between starring roles in The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables both on Broadway and in the West End. In Owen-Jones' case, the two roles have kept him busy since 1998 when, at the age of 26, he became the youngest actor ever to play the role of Jean Valjean, taking over in the London production. With his starring role in Les Miserables, Owen-Jones has said he fulfilled a longtime dream to take on Valjean, and it would seem that his passion for the role was well placed. His Les Miz career led him to the 2006 Broadway revival, taking part in the "Valjean Quartet" at the show's milestone event Les Miserables in Concert: The 25th Anniversary, and originating the role of Jean Valjean in Laurence Connor and James Powell's reimagined revival. The show has even proved important in Owen-Jones personal life. Not only did he meet his wife, who was working backstage as a dresser, during that first London run, but Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's classic musical has also afforded opportunities for Owen-Jones to take his two children around the world. This coming spring and summer, for instance, the whole family will have the opportunity to take an educational trip to New York City, where Owen-Jones will reprise his role in the 25th-anniversary Les Miserables, where he will help to close the Broadway production. TheaterMania caught up with Owen-Jones shortly after his return to New York City to discuss how he became a go-to Valjean and what he looks forward to about going back to the role. John Owen-Jones will take over as Broadway's newest Jean Valjean beginning March 1. (photo courtesy of The Publicity Office) Why is it important to you to bring your family with you? It's a choice you make reallyI'm not one of those guys that's gonna go after something and pursue it to the cost of everything else, because I'd have no one to share it with at the end of the day. So it's very important to me that my family travel with me, share my successes and obviously, some of my failures. Because when I was a kid growing up in a small town in Wales, I knew I wanted to see the world, but I also didn't want to see it on my own. Was performing in Les Miz always a dream for you? When I was growing up, I was part of a youth theater, and we did all sorts of different thingsbut I knew what I enjoyed most was singing and acting through song. And one of the most satisfying ways of doing that is playing one of the greatest lead roles in musical theater, and that's Jean Valjeanit's an iconic role in an iconic showSo I guess I want to do that because it's the biggest and the best. Did you grow up knowing you wanted to be a performer? No, not at all. My father is a butcher, and I was gonna go into the family business and become a butcher and then I thought maybe I'll be a doctor. And I kind of fell into performingI remember when I said to my dad, I said, "I'm gonna try this, I'm gonna give it a go." He said, "Well, you've got to have something to fall back on," of course. And I said, "Well look, why don't I try it for five years, and if I've not made any kind of success of myself, then I'll come back and be a butcher." And within a year of leaving drama school I was working in the West End. So I haven't really looked back. How have you made your mark as Jean Valjean? I guess it's just committing to quality of work. I've been to see shows where actors haven't given one hundred percent, and I felt cheated because I paid a lot of money for that ticket. And I vowed a long, long time ago never to be like that. So every time I step onstage, I give everything I can. And I think maybe that's the key. It is so much more exciting when you see somebody act something and connect with a story. What are you looking forward to singing? I love singing "Bring Him Home." I never get bored of that. But in this production particularly, I really enjoy the simplicity and the acting challenge of "Who am I?"...That's the one I really look forward to doing. In fact I'll be rehearsing that this afternoon. Is it easy to fall back into the role? I sang through the whole score yesterday, and what's amazing is, having not sung the show for five years, it all came flooding back. I've just finished playing Phantom on the West End, which is a very different singing role. Your voice has to drop like an octaveand suddenly I've got to kind of push everything back up again for Les Mizso it takes a whileBut when I sang it yesterday[and it] poured out and I'm like, "[sigh of relief] Oh great." So I'm even more excited now that I know I can still sing it. What are you most looking forward to about Les Miz? I watched some of the show last night and the audiences were going crazy, so I'm really looking forward to feeling the Les Miz love. There's got to be reason why it's run for so long, and I guess it's one ofthose [shows] that no matter where you are in your life, there's something in that story that will touch you and resonate with you. Hillary Clintons firewall is about to be tested. As the Democratic race moves to Nevada and South Carolina, the loyalty that she and her husband built with the black community over decades is being challenged. Bernie Sanders had a strong finish in Iowa and a big win in New Hampshire, the fifth and fourth whitest states in the country, but he polls in the single digits against Clinton with minorities, who are more than half of the Democratic electorate in key states, a disparity in voting along racial lines that is central to Clintons ability to win the nomination. I do think her support in the African-American community is very strong and instinctive and emotional, Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg told the Daily Beast. Theres too much history to think that can be casually dislodged. Sanders began as a protest candidate appealing to young people and intellectuals, but he has shown that he can win working-class whites and single women, constituencies where Clinton should have the edge. And by meeting with the Rev. Al Sharpton in New York the morning after New Hampshire, Sanders signaled hes going to contest Clintons presumed primacy with African-Americans, though checking the Sharpton box could complicate his push for working-class whites. The stark divide along racial lines in the Clinton versus Sanders contest is reminiscent of the 1968 battle between Minnesota Senator Eugene McCarthy, whose anti-war campaign attracted thousands of Get Clean for Gene young people to New Hampshire, and New York Senator Robert Kennedy, who after entering the race late was able to bring together blacks and working-class Catholics in what would have been a dream coalition if an assassins bullet had not struck him down on the night of the California primary. In the general election, too many disappointed Democrats stayed home, and Republican Richard Nixon won election on a law and order theme, but the memories of 68 hold lessons relevant for today. Like Bernie, [McCarthy] was a one-issue candidate, it was all about the Vietnam War, says Norm Ornstein now with AEI, the conservative tank, who recalled, as a young man of draft age, hearing McCarthy speak on Capitol Hill. He captured the imagination of young people, especially those who were 1-a or about to be. Our lives were on the line. If it werent literally for the luck of the draw and the lottery, I would have been in a very different position. You saw a level of activism then that was about the draft. Kennedy was against the war too, but he could also relate emotionally to black Americans. As attorney general, his Justice Department had led the way in prosecuting for civil rights. He was on his way to Indianapolis on April 4, 1968 when he learned that Martin Luther King, Jr had been assassinated. Without hesitation he went into the heart of what was then considered the citys ghetto to break the awful news to the heartbroken residents in a speech that lives on as the best of politics. With Kennedy gone, the party nominated Vice President Humphrey, who had waited too long to break with LBJ over the war. A Democratic senator recalled to the Daily Beast that he didnt care as a young man then that Humphrey had courageously championed civil rights at the 1948 Democratic Convention. It was the Vietnam War that mattered in 1968, not the past. The senator said he understands why young women today arent moved by Clintons long experience fighting for womens rights. Women are crushing young men today, he said. Women are the majority in law schools and medical schools, and they want to know what Clinton will do in the here and now on student loans, and LGBT rights, and they want to hear big, bold ideas, not small pragmatic ones. This senator has endorsed Clinton, believes she will win, and thinks voters of color might react to Sanders hearkening back to his record of fighting against segregated housing as a student at the University of Chicago 50 years ago with the same lack of interest young women have given Clintons resume. As if on cue, the Clinton campaign organized a call with New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, who told reporters that Sanders, during his 26 years in Congress, has been missing in action on issues of particular interest to the black community, like gun violence and social justice. He said, Hillary Clinton has been at the dance since the very beginning of her career while Sanders is a new arrival at the dance who has no credibility for things he is now saying at the twilight of his career. The battle of the endorsements was well underway with Sanders getting the backing of singer Harry Belafonte, a long time civil rights activist, and Clinton winning the support of the Congressional Black Caucus PAC, and civil rights icon John Lewis. Endorsements matter on the margins and however many establishment figures Clinton collects, they cant compensate for the pressure Clinton must be feeling to adjust and make big changes to counter Sanders. Greenberg remembers how the Kennedy coalition came together. He was a student at Harvard and working with the Kennedy campaign on targeting and scheduling based on a computer model he and other students had developed that analyzed voters in every county by income, religion and race, using the data to determine where Kennedy should go next to maximize his votes. His ability to win black votes and to bring people together was real, says Greenberg. Its what animated us. In 68, it felt like everything was coming apart, Greenberg recalls. There was the war, civil rights, huge social and economic changes, and the sexual revolution as well. You had to be at the table with big, bold ideas. He argues that today is comparable with economic inequality and anxiety, fears about terrorism, and huge cultural and demographic changes. This is also a period of big disruption, he noted, or we wouldnt be seeing such a populist outcry for Sanders and for Donald Trump. By winning white working-class voters and making inroads with minority voters, Sanders is moving beyond an elite and generational candidate, and forcing Clinton to address reform in a much bolder way, says Greenberg, who was the Clintons pollster in their first bid for the White House in 1992. Clinton says shes a progressive who gets things done, and that she wont make promises she cant keep, a message while admirable is not inspirational. This is not a practical election, this is a change election, says Greenberg. And so far it is Sanders who has capitalized on the hunger for change, while Clinton has relied on her long history of championing liberal causes to resonate with voters, many too young to appreciate what she fought for. Sanders began the way Gene McCarthy did in 68 with support that was educated and young, and with a focus on the economy, the issue that matters most to these voters. The coming weeks will tell us whether Clinton can revamp her message to meet the moment, and whether she can continue to win minority voters with the same spirit of hopefulness that Robert Kennedys too short candidacy symbolized. Otherwise, she risks that mantle being grabbed by Sanders. No one wants anything bad to happen to two beautiful, flawlessly-orthodontured white people who named their children Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel. Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck probably assumed that the worst misfortune to ever befall them would be the fact that they inadvertently named their middle child after a string of high-end Italian restaurants in New York City where middle school mean girls go to share a pizza six ways and talk about their latest crushes. Little did Hollywoods most inoffensive couple know that they were about to get smacked upside the face by a kween named Christine Ouzounian. For those of you who werent avidly following nannygate, Ouzounian used to take care of Garner and Afflecks kids. To phrase it tactfully, Ouzounian is a former nanny in the same way that Monica Lewinsky is a former White House intern. The 28-year-old allegedly embarked on a sexual relationship with Affleck in the crucial period after separation, but before divorce. Its during this difficult time that an A-list husband often pursues a comfort that money cant buy him, by seducing somebody that he is already paying to act as a maternal figure for his impressionable young children. Celebrities, theyre just like us: horrible. Naturally, Bennifers official split on the heels of nannygate sparked a worldwide condemnation of a powerful man reaching for the conveniently placed hired help as if she were a particularly shiny fruit bowl or easily pocketed hand soapkidding, a lot of people called Ouzounian a slut and now Ben Afflecks Bruce Wayne. Apparently, you have to literally be Nick Dunne from Gone Girl to face any repercussions from lying to your wife and giving up on your marriage. Luckily, Ouzounian quickly proved herself to be the super(other)woman that Gotham deserves. In the wake of her scarlet letter branding, the Arizona State University graduate milked her free press like a Vine star on Ellen. Not since the Kardashians decided that childbirth was fair game for reality television has one womans pain (fired from her job, dumped by her boss, mired in scandal) been so pleasurable to watch. Not only did Ouzounian rack up a $12,000 bill after six days at The Hotel Bel-Air, where her former employers bankrolled her in a mistaken attempt to keep her out of the spotlight; she also showed up at Afflecks house in the middle of the night with a bottle of Veuve, just as the movie star and his PR team were busy insisting that Affleck did not have sex with that nanny. But Christines stride of pride didnt end there. She was photographed on a private plane with Tom Brady, Bradys Super Bowl rings stacked on her delicate fingers. She dined outside at Hollywoods most buzzworthy restaurants, and made paparazzi salivate with a well-timed bikini romp. As any unpaid social media intern will tell you, Instagram is a great, cheap way of repeatedly hitting the general public over the head with your curated brand. Bennifer II may have had the best PR team that money can buy, but Ouzounian maintained the kind of social media account you could really see yourself sharing a bottle of Pinot with. In the midst of the scandal, she ostentatiously Instagramd a flawless solo paparazzi pic, captioned, Shes just a girl and shes on fireAlicia Keys. Take R&B icon Alicia Keys, mix her with a known adulteress and a self-published power stance, and youve got strong Hester Prynne with a smartphone glam. All this is to say that Christine Ouzounian is the kind of girl youd want to get drunch with. Jennifer Garner, on the other hand, is the last person youd want to run into in the morning when youre still wearing your clothes from last night. Garner further illustrated this binary in a new exclusive interview with Vanity Fair, where one of the most respected public mothers in America dished on her self-named year of wine. The quotes ranged from predictable to vaguely charming. Garner explained that, It was a real marriageIt wasnt for the cameras. And it was a huge priority for me to stay in it. And that did not work. And then she got into it. On the nanny: We had been separated for months before I ever heard about the nanny. She had nothing to do with our decision to divorce. She was not a part of the equation. Bad judgment? Yes. Its not great for your kids for [a nanny] to disappear from their lives. Months later, shes still assessing the damage. I have had to have conversations about the meaning of scandal, she says, with her children. On unplugging from tabloid drama: Ben says, Oh, you just dont care, and I say, No, its the opposite. It hurts me so much, and I care so much, she says, choosing to not give a shit how the divorce looks to the outside world. I cannot be driven by the optics of this. I cannot let anger or hurt be my engine. I need to move with the big picture always on my mind, and the kids first and foremost. On Ben: Hes the love of my life. What am I going to do about that? Hes the most brilliant person in any room, the most charismatic, the most generous. Hes just a complicated guy. I always say, When his sun shines on you, you feel it. But when the sun is shining elsewhere, its cold. He can cast quite a shadow. On Ben and The Truth: Hes still the only person who really knows the truth about things. And Im still the only person that knows some of his truths. On returning to sex scenes: When you havent been kissed for over eight months, she says, its strange. But its my job. Its nine in the morning and you think, I could really use a shot of alcohol. On dating again: I dont know. Its just that [from] everyone that I know that is dating it just seems, well. Men dont call anymore. I want flowers; I dont want to text. What does that make me? What kind of dinosaur am I? On Ben Afflecks huge Phoenix tattoo: One thing is for sure: she refuses to claim responsibility for the midlife-crisis tattoothe rising phoenixthat takes up her estranged husbands entire back, as seen in photographs. You know what we would say in my hometown about that? Bless his heart. A phoenix rising from the ashes. Am I the ashes in this scenario? Garner says with a wink. I take umbrage. I refuse to be the ashes. Classic Garner, glossing over a traumatic period in her life with grace and poiseso very un-Christine Ouzounian. Mr. Dickey? This is Jim Angleton. I looked at the phone. I wasnt sure what to say. This was 1978. I was a 26-year-old reporter on the Metro desk of The Washington Post, and James Jesus Angleton was the most famous, or infamous, spy in America. Angleton had been forced to resign from the Central Intelligence Agency more than three years earlier after two decades running its counterintelligence operations. In news reports and in outright fiction, Angleton was portrayed as amazingly eccentric and wildly paranoid, the mastermind who kept American intelligence operations safe from Soviet moles, and the madman whose sick-think destroyed careers and paralyzed the agency with his obsessive hunt for traitors. Indeed, there were some who said hed done so much damage that Angleton must be the mole. His name became part of every enigmatic event of the 1960s, including the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the subsequent murder of one of his mistresses (the ex-wife of another CIA man). What seemed to be certain was that over the years Angleton had come to believe there was a monster plot by Moscow to deceive the United States at many different levels, wheels turning in wheels, a wilderness of mirrors, as he would say, taking a line from T.S. Eliots poem Gerontion. But what could he possibly want from me? Angleton was interested, he said, in a story Id been covering: the trial of an alleged Vietnamese spy named David Truong and his American accomplice, Ronald Humphrey, an employee of the United States Information Agency. The Vietnam War had come to its messy, humiliating end three years before with the fall of Saigon, but the wounds of that defeat were still carved deep into the American psyche, and the Truong case seemed at the time an awkward, and rather pitiful, attempt to win something back. But this was pretty small potatoes. Why would that interest the man known around the agency as Mother? In Eliots poem, the line after the wilderness of mirrors asks What will the spider do? Of course, one wanted to know. And so, a few days later, I met the master-spy at one of his favorite haunts in D.C., the Army and Navy Club on Farragut Square, a sea of white tablecloths amid an opulent 19th century decor, with a bar, in those days, at the far end of the room. His appearance was as it had been described in countless caricatures: gray on gray, with gray hair, grayish skin, a gray suit. His build was tall and lanky but slightly stooped, and he had long, thin fingers. He was, indeed, a little spidery. His glasses were heavy-framed, and they were worn, one might think, as much for their symbolic weight as for their optical correction. The hour was, I believe, about 1 oclock, and apparently Angleton had not made a reservation. All the tables were filled. So, we started drinking. Angletons poison may have been whiskey. I know it was hard liquor, because I was trying to keep up with him and the afternoon grew rather foggy rather quickly. My poison was scotch on the rocks. A real mistake. The drinks kept coming; the food did not. I switched to scotch and soda. And glasses of water. I had a Coke. But it was too late. Mother asked me about the spy case I was covering. What was interesting about Truong, the personable son of a former South Vietnamese presidential candidate whod run on a peace platform in 1967, was that hed positioned himself in Washington as a voice of sanity in an increasingly insane war. He seemed to know anybody who was anybody in D.C. who had an interest in Vietnam. Angleton started talking about William Colby, who had been the Saigon station chief, head of the agencys Far East Division, and director of the by-then infamous Phoenix Program that sought to attack and destroy the political infrastructure of the Viet Cong, as the CIAs in-house history puts it. President Richard Nixon appointed Colby Director of Central Intelligence in 1973. In 1974, to end the great mole hunt, Colby fired Angleton before, he, too, left the agency in 1976. Obviously, Mother wanted to see if there was some dirt he could use against his former enemy within. How well did Colby know David Truong? Did he know him at all? I didnt have the answer. I dont think I was much help and I didnt really want to be. For a journalist, especially in those post-Watergate days, the CIA was the enemy, and the idea of sharing information with spies, current or former, was pure anathema. So, rather quickly, what had started as a polite dialogue there in the Army and Navy Club bar became an almost seamless Angleton monologue about Colby and how he had betrayed not only Angleton, but Angletons people, and was leaving America blind to its enemies. By the time we sat down to eat, the drinking was taking its toll not only on my brain but on my bladder, and I was looking for a chance to excuse myself. But none came. The monologue continued, as I say, seamlessly, until Angleton, without breaking stride, said, You know, Prince von Hohenstaufen of Bavaria used to say that you could judge a mans mettle by how long he could hold his water. Hed read my pain, and I hadnt passed the test. When I came back into the dining room, I saw that it was empty. We were the last people there. And Angleton, the sick-thinking son of a bitch, was sitting right where I had left him, his back to the room full of empty tablecloths, holding a Virginia Slim cigarette in those spidery fingers. Gray on gray on gray. Five or six years later, after a stint in Central America covering the CIAs wars, and then on assignment in the Middle East, where I began to explore that regions vast universe of untrue facts, I was much more familiar with the kinds of people and the ways of thinking that Angleton represented. They were a dying breed, in fact, and their greatest skill, the collection and analysis of human intelligence was a dying art. The big moneythe almost unfathomably huge moneyspent by the American intelligence community went on satellites and electronic snooping of various descriptions. Serious intelligence gathering was supposed to come through technical means. The people part of the CIA was withering away, except, perhaps, for covert ops of the kind Colby had favored. As his son told a conference at the Wilson Center in Washington in 2012, My fathers favorite expression was, March towards the sound of the guns. Get into the action. If theres a battle going on, go to it. The sort of mind games that fascinated Angleton were left to conspiracy theorists, novelists, and screenwriters to play with, which is why, from Edward Jay Epsteins Legend to Ben Macintyres A Spy Among Friends so many fascinating books continue to be written that touch on Angletons career. (In fact, the CIAs in-house historian, David Robarge, has reviewed several of them on the CIA website.) In one way or another, what all of them show us, although only a handful do so directly, is that Angleton the spy was essentiallyand I use the word advisedlya poet. Or, perhaps better said, a poet manque. His mind worked like that of a literary critic teasing meaning out of language that others might miss, or that might not be there at all. There is no matrix that can explain the largely subjective and instinctive logic involved, and, like many a literary critic, Angleton fell prey to his own desire to develop an overarching theory, in his case an aesthetic of espionage. Angleton s personal background was multilingual and multicultural. He was born in his fathers home state of Idaho (perhaps the original source of his famous interest in fly fishing); his mother came from Mexico (hence his middle name, Jesus, which is not uncommon in Latin America); and he spent much of his youth in Europe, first in Italy, where his father was making something of a fortune as an executive with the National Cash Register Company, and then at Malvern College, an elite British boarding school. Angleton went to Yale in 1937, as World War II loomed on the horizon, and while still an undergraduate, he and his roommate Reed Whittemore started a small but internationally important literary magazine called Furioso with the encouragement of and contributions by Ezra Pound, William Carlos Williams, and e.e. cummings, among many others. (Years later, CIA director Richard Helms would note that the anglophile Angletons sartorial resemblance to T.S. Eliot was not entirely coincidental. Whittemore, for his part, went on to become one of the poets laureate of the United States.) Michael Holzman, in the 2008 study James Jesus Angleton, the CIA, and the Craft of Intelligence, looks in depth at the impact on Angleton of the New Criticism in the 1930s, a school of analysis fascinated with, as one important work by William Empson put it, seven types of ambiguity. (As Empson defined ambiguity it was any verbal nuance, however slight, which gives room for alternative reactions to the same piece of language. Its little wonder that Colby, and others, eventually found Angletons explanations of Soviet plots very hard to follow.) During World War II, Angleton joined the OSS, the forerunner of the CIA, and was one of the very, very few members of that organization given access to the Ultra secret, the material collected after Enigma broke the German codes. He was also shown the workings of the great British deception called Double-Cross, using fake or turned agents to misinform and mislead the Nazis. His instructor in such massive deceit: a brilliant young operative in the British Secret Intelligence Service named Kim Philby. Harold Adrian Russell Philby, whose father, a famous explorer of the Arabian peninsula, had nicknamed him Kim after Rudyard Kiplings boy-spy in the Great Game, has without doubt the greatest literary value of any secret agent in history, and it is at their first point of contact that the Ur-Narrative of Angletons career usually begins. While working in fact for the Soviets, Philby rose very close to the top of the British secret service, betrayed many sources and contacts who subsequently were killed, and eventually was exposed as the most famous mole in the 20th century. Without Philby, John Le Carres works would be much less interesting. In Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy he was the model for Bill Haydon (Colin Firth in the recent movie). More recently, Robert Littells novel, Young Philby, explores the question of the spys allegiances and motivations in both fact and fiction, and Ben Macintyres A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal takes another close and compelling look. The core question when it comes to Angleton is how could he not have known that Philby once had, and might still have had, communist sympathies. In retrospect, it is increasingly clear that Angleton did know somethingmaybe more than somethingbut either ignored what he knew (the most common judgment) or used it in ways the world is still trying to figure out. In 1934, fresh out of Cambridge, Philby had gone to Vienna and joined in the street fighting against the rising power of the Nazis. In those days, the socialists and communists often defined themselves as anti-fascist, but Philby went a bit beyond that. He married Alice Litzi Friedman, a young divorcee deeply committed to the Soviet Communist cause, and through her contacts he eventually met Arnold Deutsch, an associate of the radical sex therapist Wilhelm Reich who invented what later was parodied as the orgasmatron. More importantly, Deutsch was a Soviet operative who recruited and ran Philby for several years. Kim and Litzi did not stay together for very long. He went off to Spain, where he did his best, working as a freelance journalist, to impress people with his fascist sympathies, then he joined the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and started working his way up. In 1946 Philbys then-partner, Aileen Furse, was pregnant with their fourth child and he told his friends and his British employer he was going to marry her. According to Ben Macintyre, that news came as a shock to Angleton, who had thought they already were married. Whether Philby told the American why hed waited so long to wed the mother of his children is not clear, but he did approach the deputy director of MI6, Valentine Vivian, according to Macintyre, and explained that, as an impetuous youth, he had married a left-wing Austrian, whom he now planned to divorce in order to make an honest woman of Aileen. The revelation does not seem to have given Vee-Vee a moments concern. There are multiple levels of ambiguity here, but one can suppose that Angleton got pretty much the same version as Vee-Vee in 1946: Philbys connection with Litzi and her communism were youthful indiscretions. Then, in 1949, Philby was assigned to Washington, D.C., where Angleton was, by then, running CIA ops around the world. For two years, over well-lubricated lunches at Harveys Restaurant, they met to exchange information as official liaisonsCIA and MI6and also as old friends. By then, among Angletons other accomplishments, he had managed to get control within the agency of the Israeli account, which he considered a valuable source, not least, of information about the Soviet Union. Admiration for the Jewish state became an obsession with Angleton, who fell captive to the magic of Israeli intelligence, wrote Dan Raviv and Yossi Melman in their 1990 history of the Mossad, and such was the debt of gratitude felt by the Israelis that in November 1987, after Angletons death, Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek and then-Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin dedicated a memorial corner of a park not far from the King David Hotel where there's an inscription in English, Hebrew and Arabic: IN MEMORY OF A DEAR FRIEND, JAMES (JIM) ANGLETON. As Kollek reminisced that day, he talked about how he first met Angleton while on a tour of CIA headquarters in 1950. Minutes later, he said, he happened to bump into Philby. Amazed, he hurried back to Angletons office and asked him, What is Philby doing here? Kim is a good friend of ours and is the British MI6 representative in liaison with the CIA, Angleton replied. Kollek was stunned. As a young Austrian socialist fighting the fascists in Vienna, Kollek had known Philby very well and knew his communist sympathies. Indeed, in 1934 Kollek was one of a handful of witnesses at Philbys marriage to Litzi Friedman, a Jewish Communist, he told Angleton. Yet Angleton seems to have taken no action. Not telling anyone. Not putting it in the file was par for the course with JJA, according to the CIAs official historian of Angletons counterintelligence career (as quoted by Anthony Cave Brown in his Philby biography). Angleton was the sort who tucked information away in his hip pocket for future use. Not telling anyone. Not putting it in the file. As for those long lunches with Philby, Angleton is said to have destroyed whatever records, if any, were kept. Of the many, many writers who have tried to make sense of all this, the most intriguing, to my mind, is Ron Rosenbaum, who wrote about the Angleton-Kollek-Philby relationship in Harper s Magazine back in 1983, four years before JJAs death and Kolleks public revelation. Rosenbaum explored all the possible permutations and combinations of spy vs. spy: Angleton knowing Philby might be a Soviet mole; Philby knowing Angleton might know... Was Angleton really Philbys dupe, or vice versa? Or were they both so deep into the pleasures of ambiguity that they felt less loyalty to their employers of record than to the game itself? Philby came under official suspicion in 1951, when it appeared he might have tipped off two old Cambridge buddies in his spy ring, Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean, that their covers were blown. They escaped to Moscow and Philby looked like he must be the third man, but nothing was proven. This was at the height of McCarthyism in the United States, and Angleton defended Philby from suspicious American colleagues, suggesting he was the victim of a witch hunt that could damage relations with Kims still extensive circle of friends and supporters among the British elite. Although Philby was removed from his previous sensitive position, he stayed on the MI6 payroll for the next dozen years, moved to Beirut, and worked as a journalist there for the Observer and The Economist. Not until Philby partially confessed, then escaped to Moscow in 1963, did Angleton admit that Philby must have been a Soviet agent all along. But, again, Angleton must have known before that, even if somehow hed ignored the Litzi Friedman connection for all those years. The Philby case had been exhumed in 1962, according to MI5 spycatcher Peter Wright, because of information supplied by a KGB major, Anatoliy Golitsyn, who defected in 1961 to the Americans to Angletons shopwith information about a Soviet ring of five spies recruited in the 1930s in Britain. That was precisely what heated up the cold case of Burgess, Maclean, Philby, and their friends. Golitsyn was Angletons all time favorite Soviet defector. The KGB veteran was demanding and capricious, but had a literary and historical intellect that fascinated the poetic chief of CIA counterintelligence. Golitisyn said he had attended a meeting in 1959 with 2,000 other operatives and heard the outlines of a KGB strategy to affect the fundamental reasoning power of the enemy. Double agents planted deep inside the Western services were at work vetting and approving intelligence about the Russians that was in fact planted by the Russians. The Ring of Five involving Philby, which Golitsyn had exposed, was just a small part of the picture, he said. And Golitsyn warned there would be new defectors who would try to discredit his revelations. Thus the monster plot was revealed, and the decade-long disastrous mole hunt began within the CIA, turning agent against agent, analyst against analyst, and discrediting one new defector after another, some of whom were treated abominably. Angleton could see in the midst of this that everything and nothing was explained by Golitsyn's stories, all was ambiguity, but Angleton had found that overarching framework, that aesthetic, that he sought. And he clung to it until he died. Ron Rosenbaums most intriguing theory? The KGB, with Philby in Moscow to help after 1963, made a conscious decision to target the mind of James Angleton. If so, the strategy seems to have been a success. By the time I met him for that long liquid lunch, his brilliance could no longer disguise his madness. Today, the American intelligence community is still trying to come to terms with Angletons legacy. In 2012, Georgetown Universitys Bruce Hoffman and the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., organized a day-long conference that brought together Angletons defenders and critics. Opinion was divided, Hoffman told me. Almost three decades after his death, people are still debating. If there was a consensus its probably that he was a genius and was effective in the 50s and 60s, but as he relied on drink more and more, he really did become delusional and went off the rails. Within the agency and the U.S. government, it was not until the shock of the 9/11 attacks that the value of humint once again was accepted. But the way that was played by the Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld faction of the George W. Bush administration was almost as demented as anything Angleton had conjured. Amid oracular statements about unknown unknowns, bad judgments about bad intelligence led to the disastrous Iraq war: garbage in, carnage out. And, watching this, the man who rose from the ranks of the KGB to rule post-Soviet Russia, President Vladimir Putin, bided his time, built up his strength, and began whats being called hybrid warfare to rebuild the Russian empire and discredit the United States on fronts as varied as Ukraine and Syria. Although there are military components, the greatest triumph of Putins policy has been to play Washington against itself, working with it in some places, against it in others, until it sometimes appears the Americans have lost track of what side the Russians are on, and, indeed, what side they are on. We are wandering again, it would seem, in a Russian-made wilderness of mirrors. I went to the most famous battlefield in Western History, and had a surprise. Not a good one. It is a stomp, well off the path, to get to Cannae. The main train lines in Italy run up and down the coasts. Going inland, particularly in southeast Italy, is somewhat more episodic. My train had two cars. At the fourth stop, Battle, I got off. A Bryan man faces several charges after three law enforcement agencies executed a narcotics search warrant on Thursday. According to authorities, a narcotics search warrant was issued at a Bryan home by Bryan police, College Station police and the Brazos County Sheriff's Office. Officials say during the past two weeks, there had been activity consistent with drug sales at the home in the 1400 block of Cassib Street. Authorities say Hector Ocampo, 23, had a digital scale, cash, marijuana and cocaine in the home. Police say they also found a semiautomatic pistol, but as Ocampo was convicted of a felony charge, he cannot be in possession of a firearm. College Station police arrested Ocampo on an evading arrest charge after authorities say an officer stopped Ocampo on Texas Avenue on Feb. 18 and he ran from police. Ocampo is charged with manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance, more than four grams, but less than 200, which is a first-degree felony punishable by five to 99 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. He is also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, which is a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000 and evading arrest with a previous conviction, which is a state jail felony punishable by 180 days to two years in a state jail and a fine up to $10,000. Ocampo is also charged with possession of marijuana, which is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. Ocampo is being held in the Brazos County Detention Center on $27,000 bond. Dr. Timothy C. Hall August 29, 1937 - February 23, 2016 Dr. Timothy C. Hall, Senior Distinguished Professor of Biology and Director of the Institute for Developmental and Molecular Biology at Texas A&M University, passed away on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at the age of 78. Dr. Timothy Hall's remarkable life will be celebrated and honored at 10 a.m. April, 2, 2016, at the Biomedical Science Building East (BSBE) Room 115, on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Services are in the care of Callaway-Jones Funeral Home and Crematory. Tim was born in Darlington, England, and he spent much of his youth traipsing across the Yorkshire Dales exploring the local flora and fauna. He often attended evening lectures organized by the Royal Society, taking in the trailblazing insights of Sir Lawrence Bragg, Francis Crick, Jim Watson and other luminaries that encouraged and expanded his scientific interests. After high school Tim flew fighter jets for the Royal Air Force for a few years in England and Canada. His meritorious service and skill was rewarded with the Sword of Honour for being the top pilot in his class. Following his service in the RAF, Tim enrolled in the University of Nottingham, where he earned his B.Sc. degree in botany (first class, with honors) in 1962 and his Ph.D. in plant physiology in 1965. He then moved to the United States, and after a one-year postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Minnesota-St. Paul, he accepted a faculty position at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. During his 16 years in the Department of Horticulture at Madison, Tim became one of the founders of the field of plant molecular biology. Texas A&M University hired Tim away from Wisconsin in 1984 to become head of the biology department. Tim's move to Texas was noticed throughout his field, and his arrival gave the Department of Biology and the entire campus instant credibility in molecular biology and biotechnology. His Herculean efforts to improve the life science research enterprise created benefits across the campus. After stepping down as department head in 1992, Tim devoted much of his time to research, earning the prestigious JoAnn Treat Award for Research in 2010. He also enjoyed sharing his passion for plants by teaching BIOL 101: Introductory Botany to 150 students each fall. Although Tim earned many national and international accolades during his career, he considered his 2004 Professor-of-the-Semester Award from the Chi Omega Sorority one of his most treasured honors. Tim was an integral part of the Department of Biology at Texas A&M University for over 31 years, and although he built an amazing scientific, educational, and administrative legacy that will last through the ages, he will be missed as a wonderful colleague, mentor and friend. Tim was preceded in death by his first wife, Sandra. Tim is survived by his three children, Anna Hall Owen ('89), of Canon City, Co., Liza Bryony Boone and her husband Roger, of San Marcos, and Peter Hall ('93) and his wife Beth, of Haslet; five grandchildren, Michael Hall Owen, twins Lance Boone ('16) and Colin Boone ('16), Madeline Hall, and Miles Hall; and seven great-grandchildren, Gabriel, Lauren, Trystyn, Gryffyn, Destyn, Victoria, and Raeleigh; and his wife Sunee. The Hall family would like to thank the physicians, nurses, and staff of St. Joseph's Critical Care Unit for making Tim's last few days peaceful. In lieu of flowers or other offerings, his family has requested that donations be made to the Timothy Hall Memorial Fund, which will benefit the Department of Biology that he loved so much, in care of the Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77840-2811. Cards, letters and other written forms of condolences may be addressed to the Timothy C. Hall Family in care of the Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3258. Express condolences at CallawayJones.com SHARE By Gleaner Staff Kyndle will host its next Tech Tuesday luncheon on March 1 and the topic will center around examining cybersecurity threats and provide tips that will allow businesses to improve security. The presentation will be made by Michael Ramage, director of the Center for Telecommunications Systems Management at Murray State University. Ramage earned a Master of Science from Murray State University and holds an Information Assurance Graduate Education Certificate from Purdue University. He is pursuing his doctorate of philosophy in technology management from Indiana State University. Ramage will focus on four topics related to cybersecurity that include: examining the mind of a hacker, overview of current threats in cybersecurity; how to use passwords to improve your business's security position and lastly he will provide tips; tools and actions to improve security. At the end of the luncheon, Kyndle will give away one free year of Microsoft Office 365. Tech Tuesday, which takes place every month, is free to Kyndle stakeholders. It will start at noon in the training room at the Kyndle offices on the fifth floor of the Soaper Building at Second and Main streets. For reservations, contact Kyndle at info@kyndle.us or 270-826-7505. JASON CLARK / THE GLEANER Richard Yingling of Manassas, Va., plays John Henry as the Henderson Area Art Alliance presents the Lexington Childrens Theatres production of The Legend of John Henry Friday at the Henderson Fine Arts Center on the campus of Henderson County Community College in Henderson. About 700 fourth grade students from Henderson County and area home-school students attended the production. SHARE JASON CLARK / THE GLEANER Tyrell Ruffian of Atlanta, who plays Elijah McCoy in the Lexington Childrens Theatres production of The Legend of John Henry takes time to speak to home school student Cameron Malone, 6, of Owensboro after the show Friday at the Henderson Fine Arts Center on the campus of Henderson County Community College in Henderson. About 700 fourth grade students from Henderson County and area home-school students attended the production. JASON CLARK / THE GLEANER The cast of Lexington Childrens Theatres production of The Legend of John Henry answers questions from students after their performance Friday at the Henderson Fine Arts Center on the campus of Henderson County Community College in Henderson. About 700 fourth grade students from Henderson County and area home-school students attended the production. By Abbey Nickel, abbey.nickel@thegleaner.com / @abbeynickel Lexington Children's Theatre actors Amanda Nifong and Richard Yingling have come to expect being asked if they're "dating in real life" by their student audiences after every performance. Their presentation of "The Legend of John Henry" at the Henderson Fine Arts Center on Friday morning, was no exception, as nearly 550 Henderson County fourth-graders squirmed and giggled in their seats as one brave classmate raised her hand and asked that exact question. "No, we're not," Yingling laughed. "But we do get asked that a lot." Nifong and Yingling were joined on stage by actors Chase Brantley and Tyrell Ruffin for a 55-minute performance of the folklore legend that centers around the man vs. machine tale of John Henry, a steel-driving, larger-than-life figure whose superhuman strength is tested when he faces a steam-drilling machine near the end of the performance. Henry's strength is illustrated in his ability to forge steel and even outrun a horse, a scene that many of the fourth-graders found particularly humorous. "That was probably my favorite part," Journi McElroy, 9, from East Heights Elementary, said. "I laughed really hard at that." Before the actors held a short question and answer session with their young audience, which also included some local home schooled students and their parents, they each introduced themselves and summarized why they chose to go into theater. "Through theater, we are able to escape from the outside world for just one day, or just one night," Ruffin said. Samara Walters, 10, from Jefferson Elementary School said she was impressed by the amount of work that went to preparing both the stage and the actors for the performance. "It just shows you how hard they worked on it," Walters said. Both Walters and McElroy said they were able to identify with the actors on the stage. Walters said she previously was in a choir performance on the same stage, and McElroy was involved in a dance routine that performed at the fine arts center. "That makes it even cooler," McElroy said. The special student showing was presented by the Henderson Area Arts Alliance. As students filed out of the building to get back on the line of buses that awaited them after the show, actors offered handshakes and goodbyes. And on more than one occasion, students asked the actors for their autographs in return. SHARE By Gleaner Staff John Paul II Catholic School in Morganfield will host an open house for all prospective families from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 6. The school will be open for tours and teachers will share information about the classes they teach. Volunteers will also provide information regarding the many programs offered at John Paul II. Information regarding registration will be available to those who are interested in enrolling their children for the 2016-17 school year. The school offers a comprehensive program for preschool 3- and 4-year-old students, child care services are provided for preschool 3- and 4-year-old students from 7 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. each day if needed. There is also a comprehensive academic program for kindergarten through eighth-grade students, according to a news release. Application for student loan forgiveness plan is available: Here's what to know I cringe every time a liberal politician blames the banks for the mortgage crisis and consequent recession beginning in 2007. Socialist presidential candidate Bernie Sanders also chimed in with this phony claim during his victory speech in New Hampshire on February 9, 2016, and again in the next debate. Hillary Clinton recently dubbed the problem as Wall Street wrecks main street, and has vowed to break up the big banks if necessary. In other words, the political establishment wants us to believe the problem was caused by private sector risk taking and greed. This is not true. The problem was caused by our own government. Here again we are being lied to and intentionally misled by people who seek political gain. Actually, we need to call it Congress wrecks main street and proceed from there. First of all, while a limited number of errors in judgment were made in the private sector, caused in part by failure of full disclosure by government entities, such were minor factors and would not, alone, have created the crisis. Here are the facts: The mortgage meltdown would not have occurred except for the ill-advised affordable housing laws and policies advanced by the U.S. Congress and its Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs), including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, starting in about 1992. The role of the federal government in this regard has been thoroughly analyzed and documented by Peter J. Wallison in his book titled Hidden in Plain Sight, published in 2015 by Encounter Books, New York, N.Y. Here is why the blame rests with Congress: These so-called affordable housing policies required relaxation of mortgage underwriting standards, including down payment requirements, debt-to-income ratio, and credit history, while at the same time promoting vast expansion of the mortgage market. In short, people were granted loans to purchase homes without adequate regard for ability to pay and lending agencies were pressured to participate in the program and expected to support the policies. Over time, all of this resulted in the creation of millions of subprime mortgages that many borrowers were unable to afford; prior to this, the mortgage market was based on sound standards and strong. Hence, many such mortgages eventually went to default and homeowners just walked away from the properties. In turn, securities based upon these mortgages lost value, resulting in massive losses for investors and lending agencies as well as significant collateral economic damage, including sharp declines in home values, job losses and, of course, seven years of general recession. While expansion of opportunities for homeownership is a desirable goal, the disastrous policy utilized is quite a different matter. In order to divert the blame away from themselves, members of Congress and their political operatives immediately started blaming the banks. Democrat Rep. Barney Frank, a big promoter of affordable housing, led the charge. However, he later had to admit in a TV interview in 2010 that he made a mistake, and I quote: I hope by next year well have abolished Fannie and Freddie it was a great mistake to push lower income people into housing they couldnt afford and couldnt really handle once they had it. I had been too sanguine about Fannie and Freddie. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg addressed the issue in the following manner: It was not the banks that caused the mortgage crisis. It was plain and simple, Congress who forced everybody to go and give mortgages to people who were on the cusp. So, it was actually the blunders of Congress, and not the banks, that were principally responsible for destroying the mortgage market, employment market and the economy, and driving down the value of investments and retirement funds that millions of people worked hard to accumulate. Also, this lie was initially used as a pretext to impose new unnecessary and damaging restrictions on the financial sector and has since been used repeatedly by unscrupulous politicians to bash banks in order to curry favor with voters. This is all just one more reason why people should be extremely angry about the dishonest, incompetent Washington political establishment. It is also an example of why people must pay more attention to what these people are doing to our lives, our families and our savings and retirement plans. I was sad that the late Supreme Court Associate Justice Anton Scalia recently died on a Texas ranch. A suitable time of mourning has passed. It seems to me that the document, the U.S. Constitution, should be applied and partisan quibbling should cease. While I dont support hardly any of President Obamas policies, he does have one legitimate constitutional power vested in him: the power to appoint people to fill vacancies to courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, with the conjoined duty with the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate. My viewpoint is: Let the process begin now. That doesnt mean that any nominee is automatically approved. The Senates duty is to scrutinize it in a timely way and then vote the candidate up or down. Chances are President Obamas initial prospective nominees would be considered too liberal and activist. The Senate should simply reject (by vote) any unworthy prospect. Then, President Obama could submit another name and then another. If I were the president: Id choose someone with middle ground, perhaps a former nominee made by former president George W. Bush to a lower court who previously won easy confirmation. While the Obama administration might hope for an ultra-liberal, they would be smarter to do a trade-off for a moderate. I realize this is unlikely. But we have three branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial. Leaving the chair on the U.S. Supreme Court vacant until a new president is sworn in is far too long. It would engender lots of 4-to-4 ties. Lets get our government fully staffed again. It can be done if those involved sought honorable compromise. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dewanti A. Wardhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 27, 2016 Despite support from residents to run independently for a second term, Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja has dropped hints that he is seeking to participate in the 2017 gubernatorial race under the banner of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). Ahok acknowledged that running independently would be difficult, even if the number of residents' identity cards collected exceeded one million. A group of his supporters calling themselves Teman Ahok (Friends of Ahok) began to collect ID cards on behalf of the governor, seeking to gather enough support for him to run independently for a second term. As of Friday, they had collected 735,316 ID cards. Independent gubernatorial candidates in Jakarta must collect roughly 532,000 ID cards, about 6.5 percent of the city's population. During verification, some ID cards may not be valid and thus Ahok asked his supporters to collect one million cards 'to be safe'. A recent survey by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) found that more than half of the respondents supported Ahok to run independently in the 2017 gubernatorial elections. 'Running independently isn't easy. It's not just a matter of ID cards, there are many other issues as well. Besides, one million ID cards is a lot of work,' Ahok said. Instead, Ahok hinted that he had secured support from the PDI-P and said that he sought incumbent deputy governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat to accompany him for a second term, explaining that he had good chemistry with Djarot. Ahok said that PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, the party's decision-maker, had given him the green light to participate in the race with Djarot. 'If Teman Ahok collects one million ID cards, I must appreciate their efforts. However, it would be nice to join the PDI-P. Bu Mega has also given me permission to partner up with Pak Djarot and I trust her,' Ahok said. Ahok said that he would arrange a meeting between his supporters and Megawati to discuss the gubernatorial elections, as he preferred to seek PDI-P support. Djarot, 53, was East Java's Blitar Mayor from 2000 to 2010, where he was known to have strongly opposed the construction of malls and minimarkets in support of micro, small and medium entrepreneurs. Aside from Djarot, Ahok mentioned several other names, all of whom were civil servants, such as Financial and Asset Management Board head Heru Budi Hartono, city secretary Saefullah, assistant to governor on spatial planning and the environment Oswar Muadzin Mungkasa, and retired civil servant Sarwo Handayani. Separately, PDI-P Jakarta branch deputy chairman Pantas Nainggolan said that no official decision had been made by the party in regards to the 2017 gubernatorial elections. Pantas refused to reveal party discussions with regard to the elections. However, as Megawati was a big influence, he said that decisions must be given the go-ahead by the chairwoman. If Djarot were to run for a second term as Ahok's deputy, party members 'would have no problem,' Pantas admitted. He confirmed that Ahok has had several meetings with Megawati, but none of those meetings specifically discussed the gubernatorial elections. 'The members and I would have no problem if Djarot is chosen as Ahok's deputy governor candidate for the 2017 elections. If that decision were made, then I'm sure that it would be made in the best interest of the people, not only for the party. But, so far, no decisions have been made,' Pantas said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Grace D. Amianti (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar Sat, February 27, 2016 In its investigations into tax evasion, the Tax Office often hits a wall as it tries to cope with the banking rule on 'confidentiality of customer data', experts have said. The rule, stipulated in the Banking Law, aims to protect the privacy of customers' data in the banking industry, but in doing so it often thwarts efforts by Tax Office investigators to audit bank accounts of disobedient taxpayers, according to University of Indonesia tax expert Darussalam. Against this backdrop, the Finance Ministry's directorate general of taxation should be given greater authority to strengthen its inspection into the accounts of suspected tax evaders, the researcher said. He added that a study conducted in 37 countries showed that more lenient rules on banking secrecy would encourage taxpayer compliance, as the state had more authority to inspect tax reports. According to Darussalam, 13 of the 37 countries in the study have adopted a global initiative called the Automatic Exchange of Information and Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS), under which respective tax authorities exchange information, including data from taxpayers' bank accounts under investigation. The initiative will enter force in 2018. Meanwhile, Indonesia, he said, had shown leniency toward taxpayers, allowed them to 'self-assess' their tax obligations, but did not provide the state with a mechanism to ensure they fully complied with tax regulations. 'I am one of those who very much support the opening of bank customer data for the purpose of audit on taxpayers, because the government needs a stronger tool if it wants to improve tax revenue,' he said at a Tax Office press conference in Bali on Thursday. During the same event, Yustinus Prastowo, executive director at the Center for Indonesian Taxation Analysis, expressed a similar view that a strong and accurate data basis would strengthen the Tax Office's authority and ensure higher compliance by taxpayers. Aside of leniency on bank secrecy, he said the tax office would also need to support the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) in reporting irregularities of tax-related transactions in bank accounts, besides its main task of monitoring corruption-related transactions and money laundering. The tax target for 2016 is set at Rp 1.36 quadrillion, which is 28.2 percent higher than the Rp 1.06 quadrillion in revenue achieved last year. Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said Indonesia would be an early adopter of the Automatic Exchange of Information agreement in September 2017, as the government planned to amend some laws, such as the General Taxation System (KUP) Law and the Banking Law in order to abolish the banking secrecy principle. Under the existing laws, the Tax Office is allowed to access a taxpayers' bank account details only with approval from the finance minister and Bank Indonesia (BI) governor. With banking supervision being transferred to the Financial Services Authority (OJK) from BI, the chairman of OJK takes over the authority to grant the account access from the BI governor. Nevertheless, the procedure often takes six months or more. The Tax Office is expecting to cut red tape in an upcoming bill on the taxation system, which is expected to be deliberated this year, according to Irawan, a director for taxation regulation with the Tax Office. 'We are proposing in the taxation system bill that we will be only required to request permission from the tax director general and any of the OJK directors in charge of banking supervision,' he said. -------------------- To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Brandon Bailey (The Jakarta Post) Cupertino, California Sat, February 27, 2016 Apple CEO Tim Cook got a standing ovation Friday at his first stockholder meeting since his company's epic clash with the FBI unfolded. He defended the company's unbending stance by saying: "These are the right things to do." On Thursday, the tech giant formally challenged a court order to help the FBI unlock an encrypted iPhone used by a murderous extremist in San Bernardino, California. Federal officials have said they're only asking for narrow assistance in bypassing some of the phone's security features. But Apple contends the order would force it to write a software program that would make other iPhones vulnerable to hacking by authorities or criminals in the future. Major tech companies are rallying to Apple's cause, and now plan a joint "friend of the court" brief on its behalf. Facebook said it will join with Google, Twitter and Microsoft on a joint court filing. A Twitter spokeswoman confirmed that plan, but said that different companies and trade associations will likely file "multiple" briefs. Apple filed court papers on Thursday that asked U.S. Magistrate Sheri Pym to reverse her order on the grounds that the government had no legal authority to force the company to weaken the security of its own products. The company accused the government of seeking "dangerous power" through the courts and of trampling on its constitutional rights. The dispute raises broad issues of legal and social policy, with at least one poll showing 51 percent of Americans think Apple should cooperate by helping the government unlock the iPhone. The FBI and other law-enforcement agencies insist they need to get into the phone in order to run down every lead in the San Bernardino shootings, which were at least partly inspired by the Islamic State extremist group. But skeptics have questioned whether this particular device ' a work phone issued by one shooter's employer ' is likely to contain much useful information. Both assailants took care to destroy their personal phones prior to the massacre. Some police officials acknowledge similar doubts. "If they went out of their way to destroy the other phones, there's a pretty good chance there may not be anything of value," said Jarrod Burguan, San Bernardino's police chief. "This may be a whole lot of saber rattling and back and forth for nothing." Burguan, however, believes police still have "a duty and a responsibility" to make sure there's no useful evidence on the phone. It's unclear how the controversy might affect Apple's business. Analysts at Piper Jaffray said a survey they commissioned last week found the controversy wasn't hurting the way most Americans think about Apple or its products. At least one shareholder at Friday's meeting voiced support for the company's stance. "Apple is 100 percent correct in not providing or doing research to create software to break into it," said Tom Rapko, an Apple investor from Santa Barbara, California, as he waited in line to enter the auditorium at Apple's headquarters. "I think if you give the government an inch, they'll take a yard." Cook offered only brief remarks about the FBI case, and most questions from shareholders concerned other aspects of Apple's business. But the CEO won praise during the meeting from the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Cindy Cohn, executive director of the Internet rights group the Electronic Frontier Foundation. "We applaud your leadership," said Jackson, a longtime civil rights leader and former adviser to Martin Luther King, Jr. "I recall the FBI wiretapping Dr. King in the civil rights movement," Jackson added. "We cannot go down this path again. Some of us do remember the days of (former FBI director J. Edgar) Hoover and McCarthy and Nixon and enemies lists." Apple's share price has seen little change since the issue erupted in the news last week. Overall, though, the company's stock has declined in recent months over worries that iPhone sales were slowing around the world. A hearing on the iPhone legal dispute is scheduled for next month.(bbn) Associated Press writers Eric Tucker and Tami Abdollah in Washington, Amanda Lee Myers in Los Angeles and Bree Fowler in New York contributed to this report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Sat, February 27, 2016 Teacher Ferdinant Tjiong was asleep with his wife and two children when state prosecutors came pounding on a window near their bed at 2 a.m. on Thursday. It was a predawn arrest of a teacher who had been found guilty without evidence, before being acquitted and then, in a cassation case at the Supreme Court, convicted again. Tjiong and his Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS) colleague Neil Bantleman, a dual citizen of Canada and the UK, were sentenced Wednesday to 11 years' imprisonment each for abusing three kindergarten students at the prestigious South Jakarta school. There is no need to question the integrity of the judges, especially justice Artidjo Alkostar who is known for having heightened the prison terms of many corrupt officials, but like it or not the guilty verdict of the two JIS teachers has raised concerns about justice and legal certainty in the country. If left unaddressed, the concerns, which have been clearly expressed in statements of disappointment at the verdict, will lead to skepticism and eventually distrust. What matters in the case against Ferdinant and Bantleman is that the police lacked solid evidence, but the South Jakarta District Court, after a string of hearings held entirely behind closed doors because the case concerned children, convicted the defendants anyway in April last year when public pressure mounted for their imprisonment. Later in August, the Jakarta State Administrative High Court overturned the lower court's verdict, acquitting the two teachers on the grounds that the South Jakarta District Court had failed to study the case thoroughly. The high court's decision seemed to confirm flaws in the due process of law, such as the lower court's failure to take into consideration medical records from a number of Jakarta and Singaporean hospitals that discovered no indications of sexual abuse. It found the two teachers guilty based on the statements of the three students as victims. Indeed, the police and state prosecutors in separate trials for the two teachers and four cleaners, who were eventually also convicted, failed to present forensics examination reports that confirmed the three boys were really assaulted. The complexity of the sex assault case was felt when the mother of one of the victims filed a civil lawsuit against JIS, cleaning services company PT ISS Indonesia and the Culture and Education Ministry, demanding US$125 million in damages, but the court dismissed the legal move on technicalities. The verdict came less than a month after the Singapore High Court awarded material compensation to JIS and the two teachers in a defamation case against another mother in the case. The court ordered the mother to pay S$130,000 in damages to Bantleman and Ferdinant and S$100,000 to JIS and its principal. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court's verdict must be respected, but the Indonesian justice system allows both Ferdinant and Bantleman to keep fighting for justice, especially because of the lingering questions about evidence. The two look certain to file a case review, which is necessary not only to prove their innocence, but also to ensure that justice is served. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Sat, February 27, 2016 When I was still studying sociology in college, I asked my lecturer in social movement and civil society class, why the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) was successful in the UK in the 1970s when clearly there is a long history of anti-homosexual laws in the UK. I also supported my question with an argument of why GLF's success seems quite bizarre to me, keeping in mind that Christianity has a long history and strong influence in UK government and society. My lecturer explained to me that the values that develop in society and the values that the government upholds are not always the same and that society and the state in the UK have different views regarding homosexuality. My lecturer's answer perplexed me even more, because in 1970s UK, homosexuals were not only oppressed by the state, being branded 'unnatural, indecent and criminal', but also by groups in society, such as the Church that condemns homosexuality as 'immoral and sinful' and also by the medical profession, classifying homosexuals as 'sick' and 'in need of treatment'. Gays were sacked from their jobs, arrested for kissing in the streets and denied custody of their children. Amazingly, 30 years later, the GLF has come a long way in completing their mission, and that is to make people realize that homosexuals are not criminals, evil, sick, etc.; they just have a different sexual orientation to heterosexuals. Comparing the GLF in the UK and the LGBT movement in Indonesia, there are some differences that need to be taken into account. First, the GLF did not face religious hard-line groups that use violence to fight anyone that is not in line with their point of view. In Indonesia, there are some hard-line Islamic groups that could go berserk if lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Indonesia started forcing their views on society. If Ahok, the Christian governor of Jakarta, could anger the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), then it is very possible that the LGBT movement could infuriate this hard-line group as well. Secondly, the culture of Christianity in UK society has gradually become permissive of homosexual sex, whilst the culture of Islam in Indonesia's society is quite firm in opposing homosexual sex. Anonymous Jakarta Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Agnes Anya and Corry Elyda (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 27, 2016 Abdul Aziz, also known as Daeng Aziz, is the epitome of a Jakartan underbelly boss, notorious for driving the shady business of the Kalijodo red-light district, the elephant in the room that pays the rent. But Aziz's venture and the tales of Kalijodo, among the oldest brothel districts in Southeast Asia, the bizarre love child born of a union between organized crime and a corrupt bureaucracy and law enforcement system, is about to come to an end. That is after the police had Aziz arrested for an alleged offense that may disparage his infamous profile. The arrest is based on a charge that one of Aziz's Kalijodo clubs was allegedly involved in electricity poaching, causing state electricity firm PT PLN to suffer around Rp 500 million (US$37,590) in losses. After weeks of campaigns by Aziz to oppose the Kalijodo clearance, scheduled for Monday, the police arrested the native of Makassar, South Sulawesi on Friday afternoon in a modest lodge in Central Jakarta. Wearing a white T-shirt and pants, the tired-looking Aziz succumbed to the escort of a dozen officers in plain clothes. Aziz's bodyguards were not present during the arrest. 'DA [Daeng Aziz] is now in the custody of the North Jakarta Police for allegedly stealing electricity,' the precinct's chief, Sr. Comr. Daniel Bolly Hyronimus Tifaona, said. Daniel said that PLN had reported Aziz to the police after his club, Kafe Intan, the biggest in Kalijodo, had for years been stealing electricity from nearby poles. If found guilty Aziz could spend seven years in prison for violating the 2009 Electricity Law. Aziz's lawyer Razman Arif Nasution denied the charge against his client, saying that the arrest was engineered to pave the way for Kalijodo's clearance. 'The police should not be involved in politics. The charge is just unacceptable,' he said. The Jakarta Police have also planned to charge Aziz with human trafficking offenses for allegedly employing girls as prostitutes in his clubs in Kalijodo, located on the border between West and North Jakarta. The arrest is unprecedented in Kalijodo's history, where club owners have been notoriously immune from any prosecutions because of their alleged links with corrupt authorities. While prostitution is illegal, many of the brothels are located just 20 meters from the local district office and 100 meters from a police station, lending credence to allegations that Kalijodo is a source of income for many bureaucrats and police officers. From as long ago as the turn of the 18th century, tales of the beauty of the women strolling through Kalijodo, meaning the 'River of Destiny', have been depicted in many records of the Dutch colonial era. During the district's lifetime, Aziz had not come into prominence until the early 1990s. Up until that time, several ethnic gangs feuded for control, but only three managed to survive: the Mandar, Makassar and Banten. The Makassar gang crowned their new 'godfather', Aziz, in 1994 after their previous leader, Leang, was believed to have been killed by the Mandar in 1993. In 2002, several media outlets reported a notorious act by Haji Aziz who pointed a gun at the then Penjaringan Police chief, Adj. Comr. Khrisna Murti, during a brawl with the Mandar in which members of that ethnic gang allegedly killed Aziz's younger brother. Khrisna is now the Jakarta Police's director for general crimes and has recently been at loggerheads with Aziz after the latter opposed a plan by Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama to evict the residents and businesspeople from Kalijodo. Calls for the eviction gained traction after a traffic accident that left four people dead on Jl. Daan Mogot in West Jakarta in early February. The crash had been caused by a drunk driver who had just engaged in a drinking binge in a Kalijodo club. Opposing the evictions, Aziz and representatives of the residents visited the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) and the City Council on Feb. 15 to register their pleas against the plan. He even made a plea to councilor and alleged former fellow underworld boss Abraham 'Lulung' Lunggana to overturn the plan. In a coordination meeting between Ahok and Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian on Friday, both agreed to move forward with ending for good Jakarta's oldest brothel district on Monday. 'About 5,000 joint personnel will participate in the operation,' said Tito. ------------------- To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Sat, February 27, 2016 JAKARTA: The Depok administration in West Java said it would allow a few 'positively behaved' street musicians to operate in the city through the issuance of 'busker cards'. Deputy Mayor Pradi Supriatna said on Thursday that the move would be made to give a chance to talented musicians to develop their skills and improve the image of the municipality through music. Later, the cards will become licenses for street musicians to be able to operate in the city. To get the card, an individual should demonstrate 'good behavior' and entertaining skills. The administration will team up with the Street Musician Institute (IMJ), which proposed the idea, to realize the plan. The IMJ, in this case, will train street musicians before they are given cards. 'The most important thing is that the card should be given only to entertaining buskers, who were previously trained by the IMJ,' he said as quoted by wartakotalive.com. 'This idea was never been executed in other areas. This will be a good and fresh idea.' According to a 2012 Depok bylaw on public order, both busking and giving money to buskers are forbidden. The bylaw was issued in response to the growing number of street musicians in the city, many of whom reportedly demanded money by force. IMJ previously criticized the bylaw, saying it was unfair to ban all street musicians from operating in the city because some of them were entertaining and had earned money with good behavior. 'With the cards, street musicians are no longer considered illegal or violating public order as stipulated in the bylaw. The administration will list some places where it is legal for them to perform,' said IMJ chairman Andi Malewa. 'So far, they only perform in public transportation and around traffic lights, [but with the new policy] they can perform in other places such as malls and hotels.' Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Sat, February 27, 2016 JAKARTA: The Pulogadung Police have arrested a 28-year-old man named Tono for allegedly distributing methamphetamine, a business that according to the police had earned the suspect Rp 5 million per day (US$374). Pulogadung Police head Comr. Cahyo said Friday that Tono was nabbed in Kayu Putih, Pulogadung, East Jakarta, after a cop tailed him for weeks. 'Our officers then arrested him and found a small package of methamphetamine in his pocket,' he said as quoted by tribunnews.com. The officer raided Tono's house and seized another 75 methamphetamine packages and scales. Cahyo said Tono admitted that he had been a drug dealer for a year to meet his daily needs. 'He was previously a drug user but he wanted to raise his 'status' to being a drug dealer,' Cahyo said. He went on to say that the suspect would be charged under the Narcotics Law for drug distribution, which carries a life sentence as the maximum punishment. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Depok Sat, February 27, 2016 DEPOK: Five students at SD 06 Kalibaru state elementary school in Depok, West Java, were injured after the roofs of four classrooms fell on them. Sukmajaya Police chief Adj. Comr. Supriyadi said on Friday that the accident occurred at 7 a.m. after some students had entered the classrooms. Supriyadi said that three second graders ' Siti Nur Azizah, Muhammad Fadli and Muhammad Fardhan ' and two first graders ' Audia Kamila and Juhriatul Aini ' received minor injuries to their heads. 'They were brought to a nearby hospital,' he said, as quoted by antaranews.com. He said the police were now investigating the cause of the incident as the classrooms had been renovated only six years ago. 'The students will not be allowed to come to school for awhile,' he said, adding that studies would start again on Monday at a junior high school building nearby. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Sat, February 27, 2016 JAKARTA: The Jakarta Police will arrest a woman named Rianti from South Tangerang, Banten, for allegedly killing a 2-year-old boy, Marvel, her boyfriend's son. The Jakarta Police's teenagers, children's and women's subdirectorate head Adj. Sr. Comr. Suparmo said that Rianti had been taking care of Marvel after her boyfriend, Ray, divorced from his wife. He added that Marvel died after he was hospitalized for nine days. He had been buried before the police decided to carry out an autopsy after suspicions emerged that he was possibly murdered. 'The autopsy result shows that Marvel suffered from severe bleeding inside his head because of a concussion,' Suparmo said on Friday, adding that Rianti and Ray, along with Marvel, had lived together in a rented house. He further said that the police had also questioned three witnesses, including Ray, his former wife and a neighbor, regarding to the alleged abuse. The police will arrest Rianti and charge her under the 2000 law on child abuse, which could lead to a maximum nine-year imprisonment, and under the Criminal Code for manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ina Parlina (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 27, 2016 The Judicial Commission (KY), the external judicial supervisory body, has elected its commissioner Aidul Fitriciada Azhari as its new chairman and Sukma Violetta as deputy chairwoman for 2015 to 2020, a decision that many expect to help improve relations between the commission and the Supreme Court (MA). Aidul has a background in academia and Sukma is a former public attorney and a former assistant to the Attorney General's Office (AGO) reform team. Relations between the KY and the Supreme Court deteriorated in recent years, amid ongoing internal reform at the MA, which started in the early the 2000s. Critics said the country's highest court's resistance to external supervision, formally conducted by the Judicial Commission, was partly responsible for the failure of its reform, while the absence of clear guidelines and better indicators of the pros and cons of each internal reform measure was considered another factor. KY spokesman Farid Wadji expressed optimism that with the new leadership, the commission could deliver a better performance in the future. 'The election process reflected commissioners' support for democracy. [I] hope it can bring a new positive energy to all elements of the KY,' Farid said on Friday. In an apparent effort to weaken the KY's authority, a number of Supreme Court justices, along with a court clerk, won a judicial review petition in October that scrapped the commission's role in selecting judges for district courts, religious courts and state administrative courts. The ruling allows the Supreme Court to select judges for those courts without being accountable to other state bodies and leaves the commission with only the authority to monitor judges and help maintain their credibility. The recent arrest of a Supreme Court non-judge official for allegedly accepting bribes has not only exposed possible rampant corruption within the country's highest judicial institution, but has sparked questions about its ongoing reform. As part of its reform, the Supreme Court has issued a number of internal regulations on public information and one-day publishing of rulings. A number of anticorruption and legal campaign groups, including the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI), Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) and the Indonesian Legal Roundtable (ILR), expressed hopes that the new KY leaders would bring on board better ties with the MA and negotiate new terms for external supervision. 'We do hope the new KY chairman is able to play a more active role in maintaining judicial independence and go to greater effort to stamp out judicial 'mafia' practices at all levels of court, including the Supreme Court,' said activist Julius Ibrani on behalf of the three groups. ICW identified an increasing number of acquittals of corruption defendants at various local corruption courts last year. According to ICW, 68 people out of 564 corruption defendants were cleared of charges in 2015, while only 28 corruption defendants were acquitted in 2014. Other big challenges for the new KY chairman, Julius said, were broaden its monitoring role and building better relations with the MA. The coalition, however, also criticized the KY chairman election mechanism, saying it failed to provide a big enough chance for public participation in scrutinizing the candidates' agendas. Voting started after an open session where all candidates, who are the six commissioners, presented their visions to the floor. Only commissioner Joko Sasmito, a former military judge, declined to have himself nominated. Soon after his election, Aidul said his office would focus on empowering judges in terms of their capacity, integrity and welfare, as well as building better communications with the Supreme Court. ------------------- To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 27, 2016 A Myanmar law enacted in 1982 denied the Rohingya people citizenship, thus rendering them stateless and vulnerable to discrimination. In a country of 20 million people, most of whom are Buddhist, the Rohingyas are the largest Muslim minority with 1.5 million people living in the Rakhine state located west of Myanmar, also known as Burma. They came into the media spotlight during a refugee crisis in 2015, during which thousands fled the country by rickety boats via the waters of the Malacca Strait and Andaman Sea to escape to Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Thejakartapost.com recently spoke to Tun Khin, president of the Burmese Rohingya Organization UK (BROUK), which has long been advocating for the restoration of the rights of the people whose situation he said was only growing worse each day. Tun Khin called for the international community, in particular member countries of ASEAN, of which Myanmar is a member, as well as the UN to come with stronger action to pressure the Myanmarese government, particularly when the National League for Democracy (NLD) government comes in April. Although he now resides in London, Tun Khin is highly anticipating the transformations expected to be forged by the new government led by Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, adding that the people of Myanmar have voted for hope, not hate. However, he voiced disappointment at Suu Kyi, who has so far not provided any evidence in taking action toward addressing the issue of the Rohingya people. "Actually, it is a very tragic moment for the Rohingya because she is not speaking up. Rohingya people strongly supported her as she is trying to build human rights and democracy. But we have to wait and see, but we are cautiously optimistic," Tun Khin said. Suu Kyi standing up for the rights of the Rohingya will instill more confidence in democracy and human rights activists to add their voice and push for change in the country, said Tun Khin. Tun Khin said the NLD should immediately address the issue and lift the restrictions imposed on the Rohingya people. He also urged neighboring countries to be more proactive in restoring the rights of the oppressed population. Meanwhile, Lilianne Fan, international director of the Geutanyoe Foundation, which provided humanitarian assistance for the Rohingya refugees who arrived in Aceh, said that awareness of the Rohingya issue should be heightened in the region. She expressed concern that people were more informed about issues of further regions, such as in the Middle East where the Palestinians were stateless, in comparison to the problems that are right at their doorstep. "For the Rohingyas, this is our Palestine," Lilianne said. She viewed Indonesia as having shown exemplary leadership in terms of conducting a humanitarian response for the refugee crisis last year where Acehnese fishermen were involved in rescuing 1,807 people from stranded boats. Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals stranded in the Andaman Sea were rescued on three occasions between May 10 and May 20, last year, in rescues off North Aceh, Langsa and East Aceh. In recognition for their actions, the foundation has nominated the Acehnese fishermen for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) 2016 Nansen Refugee Award. Since the rescue,, foundation have been working in providing psycho-social support for the survivors who she said have faced severe conditions throughout their journeys on the boats including starvation, exploitation and violence. "They have been through such severe trauma," Lilianne added. The Rohingya people flee from their land because they can't survive there, she said, but oftentimes they encounter human traffickers at sea who hold them on what is dubbed as "floating camps", in which they are held. According to Lilianne, the migrants suffer appalling conditions for extended periods of time. Lack of food lead to fights over what little morsels are available, some women have also confessed to being sexually abused, while the children often witness the violence that unravel on the boats. Once they arrive onshore, the journeys have evidently had serious psychological impact on the people, she said. On her visit to the camps, Lilianne saw that during the time children were given the chance to draw, the images they illustrate would reflect their traumatized state of mind, including drawing depictions of death and violence. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Kuching, Serawak Sat, February 27, 2016 Some 350,000 Indonesians, more than half of them illegal workers, continue to live in the Malaysian state of Serawak even though they face various problems, including some that endanger their lives. The problems range from irksome ones like late payments to more serious problems like being killed either by wildlife or by other people, said Indonesian Consul General for Sarawak Jahar Gultom. The Indonesian consulate general recorded that every year on average 200 Indonesian workers died in Sarawak. "Cases of being eaten by crocodiles when examining a river, or working on disputed land and being killed by a party to the dispute have occurred more than once or twice," Jahar told thejakartapost.com. Sarawak has 135 palm oil companies, and the workers are mostly Indonesians. Indonesians account for 80 to 90 percent Indonesians of the total workforce. It is unclear about the legality of Indonesian workers in these companies. "Some arrive legally at the beginning, but due to the harsh treatment by the companies they move to other companies then they become illegal. Some are invited by their relatives or friends who are already working in Sarawak," Jahar explained. Working illegally is easier, because there is no need to undergo processes such as ability tests or health checkups. the cost of getting a work permit is Rp 800,000 (US$ 59.57), this does not include wages cut by agencies to pay for their services. Agencies usually aim for Rp 3 million from each worker. The minimum salary is RM 800 (around Rp 2.4 million), compared with Jakarta's minimum wage which is Rp 3.1 million, and in July 2016 will be increased to RM 900. However, performance-based workers like fruit collectors can receive up to RM 2,000 per month, based on how much fruit they collect. The consulate has not renewed illegal workers' visas since December 2014. Instead it provides Passport-Like Travelling Letters (SPLP) that expire in two months, to make them go back to Indonesia and obtain documents needed to become legal workers again. "In July 2015 an evaluation of the program showed it was not working well. Instead the workers went back to the companies telling them their licenses got renewed and after two months around 700 people went to the consulate asking to extend their SPLPs, while the document cannot be extended," Jahar said. In 2016 the Sarawak consulate will adopt a different approach. It will stage the Indonesian Migrant Workers Awards with cash prizes for workers who perform the best. The awards will take place in Kuching in April and are expected to be a biennial event. Hopefully the Indonesian workers will be motivated to perform better and especially get legal status. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Farida Susanty (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 27, 2016 The Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI) has reinstated its support for the newly passed public housing savings (Tapera) program, pinning its hopes on the new system to help the country's workers afford housing. 'We regret the Indonesian Employers Association [Apindo] stance that opposes the facility to purchase housing through Tapera. Housing is a primary need that is becoming a luxury for workers now,' KSPI chairman Said Iqbal said on Friday. He referred to Apindo's public rejection of the program on fears of additional employment burdens, which have reached more than 30 percent of wages, according to the association. The union holds the view that the funding program would be able to gather Rp 2.7 trillion (US$201.8 million) monthly from around 44.4 million formal workers in the country, equal to around Rp 32.4 trillion yearly. With the expected funds, the union has suggested that the government tackle at least 10 percent of the housing backlog among the country's workers each year from the beginning of the Tapera program, aiming to fulfill the need for housing in 10 years. However, Said asked the government to make the percentage of monthly wages set aside for the fund ' which remains undecided ' proportionate between employees and employers, with 1.5 percent each. The figure was different to an initial cut stipulated in the bill, which was then removed to be stipulated in an upcoming government regulation, at 2.5 percent of monthly wages from workers and 0.5 percent from employers. The government, along with the House of Representatives, on Wednesday deliberated the Tapera bill becoming law, pending approval from President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo. The law aimed to gather the financing needed to provide housing for low-income people nationwide, with a backlog of around 15 million currently, according to the ministry's data. Formal workers and individuals with salaries above the minimum wage are obligated to join the program, while workers with salaries below the minimum wage and informal workers can join voluntarily. The program is expected to gather Rp 50 trillion to Rp 60 trillion in the first five years and will be merged with the ministry's housing loan liquidity facility (FLPP), which could add Rp 33.3 trillion. However, with the current system, Apindo remained skeptical about the role of the program in providing housing for workers, as currently only certain workers are prioritized for financing through the housing program and there is a lengthy wait to gather sufficient funds. Those eligible to apply for the housing support have to qualify as low-income people, who do not possess a home have held membership for a minimum 12 months. 'The people who will get it are not guaranteed to be those who pay; they will not know for whom the money is used. Nobody knows,' Apindo vice chairman Suryadi Sasmita said on a separate occasion, adding that workers who already had homes would also be burdened by the cut. Apindo remained firm in its stance to file a judicial review with the Constitutional Court, with the initial goal of pushing the government to amend the law. They also demanded a single pool of housing funding instead of several programs that overlapped, as is the case with the Workers Social Security Agency (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan), which gathered an estimated Rp 36 trillion from its pension fund (JHT) for housing. The Public Works and Public Housing Ministry's director general for housing finance, Maurin Sitorus, defended the government's system of gathering funds for low-income people from workers, saying the government lacked funds for housing finance. 'For the Rp 30 trillion belonging to the BPJS, if the housing cost is Rp 500 million, it can only finance 60,000 houses,' he said. -------------------- To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Corry Elyda (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 27, 2016 The city administration long ago came up with the idea of implementing electronic road pricing (ERP), a plan that has been put off numerous times due to various complications. Jakarta Transportation Council (DTKJ) chairwoman Ellen Tangkundung said in a discussion recently that the project, first instigated in 2006, would need to go through many stages before it could be materialized. Ellen said that when the plan was reintroduced in 2013 by then Jakarta governor Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo, ERP did not have a legal umbrella. 'Hence, the central government and the city administration needed to make one,' she said. She added that it took at least two years for the two institutions to complete the necessary legal instruments, in the form of a law, a government regulation and a bylaw. They were finished in 2014. 'Now, the city is finalizing the bidding documents,' she said. The Jakarta administration has turned to the ERP system because its three-in-one scheme enacted in 1994 has proven ineffective at easing traffic congestion. Motorists cheat the system by paying people known as jockeys to increase the number of passengers in their cars. When the ERP plan was first initiated, the city administration was confident that the project could be implemented in early 2014. However, the process has been much slower than expected. Dozens of seminars and meetings were held with all stakeholders including the Jakarta Police, parties whose businesses may be affected and the project's investors. The city has also started on other supporting policies like restricting motorcycle traffic on Jl. MH Thamrin, Central Jakarta, one of the roads where ERP will be implemented. Initially, ERP will be implemented on Jl. Sudirman, Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. Rasuna Said in South Jakarta. In 2014, two out of the three companies vying to provide the ERP technology ' Sweden-based road telematics company Kapsch TrafficCom and Norway-based company Q-Free ' installed prototypes of ERP gantries on Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Rasuna Said, respectively, to show that their products were suitable for Jakarta's harsh weather and traffic. However, the city administration has still not even conducted bidding for the project. The Jakarta Police have also not finished recording Electronic Registration Identifications (ERI) to be used as a database for ERP. Ellen, a transportation expert from the University of Indonesia, said ERP was quite a complicated program. 'All aspects, including the payment system, the pricing, the cooperation scheme overseen by the city administration and whether any exceptions should apply to certain types of vehicle plates, need to be finalized before announcing the winner,' she said, adding that those aspects could not be changed after the city determined the winner. Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama previously pledged that he would announce the winner of the project this year. A Q-Free consultant Usamah Said, said that he did not understand the delay. 'The project will be solely run by the winner. The city administration will not spend a dime,' he said, adding that the project would follow a build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme. 'The clock is ticking. Even if the winner is determined next month, it takes one year for the company to prepare for the operation,' he said. Usamah said that he was afraid that the city would delay the project further, considering that Ahok might take leave or even resign to run for the 2017 gubernatorial election in July. The consultant also complained about a lack of knowledge of the project from new city officials. 'The city administration keeps changing the officials who are in charge of the program. Each new official will ask the same questions and we have to start from the beginning,' he said. Jakarta Financial and Asset Management Board (BPKAD) head Heru Budi Hartono said that the ERP system was complex and that the city administration needed to thoroughly prepare before beginning the project. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Sat, February 27, 2016 JAKARTA: Deputy speaker of the House of Representatives Fadli Zon has criticized Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Minister Marwan Jafar for being arrogant in calling for the sacking of national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia's president director. Marwan went on a Twitter rant on Wednesday after missing his flight to Yogyakarta, making him late for a seminar. He experienced a short delay with his next flight also. When he finally arrived in Yogyakarta, in his speech at the seminar, Marwan said that State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno had to replace president director of Garuda M. Arif Wibowo. 'Garuda Indonesia has been suffering from for a long time now, although it has been protected by the government. I will ask my colleague Minister Rini Soemarno to sack the president director,' Marwan said as quoted by local media in Yogyakarta. Fadli said that it was Marwan's own mistake that caused him to miss the flight and that he should have arrived earlier at the airport. 'It's over the top to ask for Garuda's president director to be replaced. No need to do that and he [Marwan] should not throw a tantrum,' Fadli said as quoted by tribunnews.com. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Sat, February 27, 2016 JAKARTA: President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo is scheduled to visit Belitung Island in Bangka Belitung province on March 9 to view the total solar eclipse that is expected to be visible from the island that day. Bangka Belitung Governor Rustam Effendi said that he had worked with the Tourism Ministry to arrange the visit. 'We are optimistic that the President will be here for the extremely rare natural phenomenon,' he said as quoted by Antara. The total solar eclipse, expected to last a little over two minutes, will be visible from Bangka Island at 6 a.m. and Belitung Island at 6:21 a.m. The Indonesian government has scheduled various events and total solar eclipse tours in Bangka Belitung on March 9. Indonesia will be one of few areas to see the total solar eclipse. The rest of the viewing points for it are total across the Pacific, heading toward Guam. Indonesia last experienced a total solar eclipse in 1988, which was visible from Bangka Belitung and South Sumatra. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Indra Budiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 27, 2016 Tracy Bantleman and Sisca Tjiong know that a judicial review into their husbands' convictions in a child sex abuse case would be the last legal resort available to acquit them of all charges and hope that new evidence will free them. Tracy, a Canadian, insisted that her husband Neil Bantleman and Sisca's husband Ferdinant Tjiong did not commit any sexual abuse of students at the Jakarta International School (JIS) as charged and she described the latest Supreme Court verdict that overturned their acquittals as an 'inhumanely ridiculous and absurd decision'. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Tracy said she expected that the judicial review process would be carried out with a more careful and sensible sense of justice. 'The next step for us is a judicial review and I do hope that the people in charge will carry out a thorough and careful examination,' Tracy said. On Wednesday the Supreme Court overturned the acquittals of Bantleman and Ferdinant and ordered each to serve 11 years in prison and pay Rp 100 million (US$7,476) in fines, or serve an additional six months imprisonment. Following the verdict, officers from the South Jakarta Prosecutor's Office, one of them carrying a gun, immediately picked up Ferdinant from his house, at around 2 a.m. on Thursday, an action which Sisca claimed was similar to police treatment of a terrorist group member. Meanwhile, Bantleman was picked up by officers at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang as he quickly returned from a holiday in Bali after hearing about the verdict. The decision is the latest turn of events in the abuse case that lead to a guilty verdict and a 10-year sentence imposed by the South Jakarta Court on April 2, 2015, before it got annulled by an acquittal decision by the Jakarta High Court on Aug. 14. JIS case irregularities 1. Judges have continually blocked information access by preventing any parties from providing information to the public. 2. The 'magic stone', a drug that prosecutors and police claim was used by the teachers to prevent their alleged victims from feeling pain during the alleged assaults, never existed. 3. A 'secret room', which according to the mother of one alleged victim was one of the crime scenes, was actually a filing cabinet room where the school's administration staff used to gather. The room was demolished during renovations in June 2013. 4. A medical test in Singapore in May 2014 revealed that the rectum of one of the alleged victims showed no signs of sexual abuse and it was emphasized that this should be considered a major piece of evidence. Based on Indonesian law, a judicial review is the last legal option available to challenge a court decision and could be used if the previous verdict had been made based on counterfeit evidence, or if the justice committed an error in making the ruling, or if any new evidence is found. Patra M. Zen, a lawyer representing Ferdinant and Bantleman, said he was still pursuing a new lead that he believed could be presented as new evidence for the judicial review. 'I recently got information that the mother of the first victim had her son undergo a medical examination in Belgium to check if he was really assaulted. The medical result, of course, showed no abuse,' Patra told reporters. The medical examination, Patra said, was carried out in November 2015, three months after the Jakarta High Court acquitted his clients. He said that if he could get his hand on the official medical results, it would help prove his claim that Bantleman and Ferdinant were innocent. Patra went on to say that he has yet to receive a copy of the Supreme Court verdict, but emphasized that error in judgment in the verdict would also be presented as reason to support the judicial review. The controversial case has been under international spotlight with foreign representatives expressing that it would have a serious effect on the international community's view of the Indonesian justice system. British ambassador to Indonesia, Moazzam Malik, was the latest to voice his concern about the Supreme Court decision, saying that, 'Yesterday's development adds to serious questions about transparency and consistency on the rule of law in Indonesia.' Previously, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion said that his government was deeply dismayed and shocked by the unjust verdict. US Ambassador to Indonesia Robert Blake also expressed his disappointment saying, 'It is not clear what evidence the Supreme Court used to overturn the high court's decision.' ------------------- To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tama Salim and Margareth S. Aritonang (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 27, 2016 Amid intense media exposure of allegations of money politics ahead of the Golkar Party munas (national congress) in April, a new camp has emerged to campaign for a clean leadership election in the notoriously corrupt political party. Indra Bambang Utoyo, Golkar veteran and co-chairman of the party's central executive board (DPP), announced his candidacy for the Golkar chairmanship on Friday, in spite of the overwhelming strength of frontrunners, former House of Representatives speaker Setya Novanto and current House Speaker Ade Komaruddin. Indra becomes the 19th candidate to enter the race, joining a list of powerful Golkar figures that includes Ade, Setya, senior politician Idrus Marham and South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo. Indra said he was motivated to join the race because he considered the party to be in dire straits thanks to smear campaigns and allegations of rampant vote-buying that had further sunk the party's reputation, barely recovered as it was from a year-long split. Indra said the public was fed up with Golkar's ongoing dispute, which had been colored by infighting and political backstabbing, culminating in the party's severe loss in the 2015 simultaneous regional elections. He also lamented the shift in party ideology, accusing party members of becoming increasingly liberal and individualist, causing prospective leaders to depend on money to gain victory. 'Anything and everything becomes transactional, and this has infiltrated Golkar. We can't let this continue,' Indra told reporters during a press conference on Friday, positioning himself as the party's new hope. As for allegations of vote-buying, Indra said he supported any move made by regional branch leaders to expose such illicit practices. In the lead-up to the Golkar congress, slated for April this year, Ade and Setya, two of the strongest candidates in the race have become victims of smear campaign. Setya, who was recently embroiled in an ethics case and dismissed from his role as House speaker, was accused on social media of falsifying his signature during Tuesday's plenary session because he was in fact traveling out of town campaigning. An alleged photograph of his signature was circulated online just days after House Speaker Ade was accused of vote-buying during a trip to Sulawesi and of receiving gifts in the form of a jetride for the trip. Both sides have denied any involvement in the incidents, but have levelled thinly veiled accusations at each other. In the meantime, sources from within the party have told The Jakarta Post that a number of candidates, including Ade, Setya, party executive Idrus Marham and lawmaker Azis Syamsuddin, have been engaged in a vote-buying scheme to get support in the leadership race. Azis, Ade and Setya have reportedly doled out S$1,000 (US$712.50) to $10,000 in cash to regional branch leaders in exchange for declarations of support, a party member said on the condition of anonymity. Bambang Soesatyo, a staunch supporter of Ade and a member of his campaign team for the national congress, denied the allegations, which he referred to as slander. 'This isn't about the commitment [to remain clean]. There simply isn't any money at all to go around,' he told the Post. Meanwhile, Mukhamad Misbakhun, another supporter of Ade, insisted that there had never been any mention of money in the House speaker's trips to the regions. Setya's camp did not return numerous calls from the Post. Separately, political analyst Gun Gun Heryanto of Jakarta State Islamic University (UIN) said it was no longer a secret that any political party event on the national scale would involve money politics. ------------------- To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anggi M. Lubis (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 27, 2016 Indonesia should not worry about Australia's plan to significantly increase its defense spending ' which has drawn fire from China ' and should see the mounting budget as an opportunity to cooperate in enhancing regional security. Australia is set to boost defense spending by nearly A$30 billion (US$21.6 billion) over the next decade, seeking to protect its strategic and trade interests in the Asia-Pacific as the United States and its allies grapple with China's rising power. In its 20-year plan, Australia aims to bolster its naval strength with more submarines and warships as part of a military buildup it said was needed to maintain peace in the region. Australia said it would maintain its strong alliance with the US and develop partnerships with several strategic countries, stating that its relationship with Indonesia was vital and saying it envisioned the archipelago would be the 'biggest military spender in Southeast Asia by 2035'. Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Ministry spokesman Agus Barnas said on Friday that the neighboring country's increased spending should not be seen as a threat as all nations had their own interests. Indonesia has also increased its defense budget. However, Agus added, all countries needed to respect the sovereignty of other countries in conducting defense activities. 'We see the increase in Australia's spending as a positive plan that will help enhance regional security,' he told The Jakarta Post. Given the two countries' strong defense partnership, Agus hoped the increased budget would lead to deeper collaboration. In a defense white paper, Australia said: 'We will continue to deepen our defense partnership with Indonesia through: navy, army and air force cooperation; expanding our comprehensive pattern of training, exercises, and operations; more frequent policy and planning dialogue; and intelligence exchanges.' It also emphasized the need to 'secure northern approaches and proximate sea lines of communication' and for 'a secure nearer region, encompassing maritime Southeast Asia and South Pacific' among its strategic interests. 'We will build on the strong foundation of our defense relationship to support Indonesia as it modernizes its defense forces,' the report added. Indonesia and Australia's existing security relationship encompasses the framework set out in the 2006 Lombok Treaty, the 2012 Defense Cooperation Arrangement and the 2014 Joint Understanding on Intelligence Cooperation. International expert Iis Gindarsah from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said the increase in Australian military spending reflected worries on security developments in the region and indicated that the country aimed to play a bigger role in global security. 'Australia's higher defense spending reflects its regional security concerns and ambition to become a military power in the Western Pacific.' For Australia, maintaining stable defense ties with Indonesia was important not only for counterterrorism purposes but also to ensure free and safe navigation through Southeast Asian commercial sea lanes, he said. Australian defense spending will rise to A$195 billion, 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), by 2021-2022, as the country buys new equipment including frigates, armored personnel carriers, strike fighter jets, drones and submarines, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Thursday. The strategic defense plan was designed with the changing nature of regional security, particularly China's economic and military rise and an increased US focus on the Asia-Pacific, in mind, Turnbull said. Following the plan, Chinese officials said they were 'seriously concerned' by an Australian strategic evaluation of the South China Sea and warned Australia against compromising the stability of the Asia-Pacific region. ------------------- To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Corry Elyda (The Jakarta Post) Sat, February 27, 2016 Contract workers from subdistrict offices and agencies, in their signature orange uniforms, have become the busiest people during the rainy season as they are on the front line of the city administration's efforts to immediately handle floods. In some parts of the city that are usually heavily inundated after incessant rains like on Thursday night, floodwaters were nowhere to be seen. Instead of floods, people in orange uniforms were seen trying to make way for the water to flow into the drains, as witnessed in Palmerah, Central Jakarta. Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama said at City Hall on Friday that the workers, dubbed the 'orange troops', and the pumps had major roles in keeping the capital above water. 'Our focus is making sure that all drains are connected. No garbage is allowed in our sewage system,' he said. Ahok said that the orange troops help manage the drains to keep them clean and would immediately respond when residents report any inundations. He gave as an example the drains near the National Monument (Monas) park in Central Jakarta. 'The workers previously found a truckload of cable jackets inside the drain on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan,' he said. Water Management Agency head Teguh Hendarwan said that the cable jackets were the remains of electrical cables whose copper had been removed by thieves. In a bid to improve the cleanliness of an area, Ahok gave the authority to subdistrict office heads to have dozens of workers help them maintain their areas. The job descriptions of the workers range from collecting trash, sweeping roads and cleaning drains to topping trees. Besides those who work under the command of the subdistrict offices, agencies like the Water Management Agency and the Sanitation Agency also have task forces to handle more complicated problems. Ahok said that some areas in Jakarta were still inundated after Thursday night's downpour because, for example, of broken pumps. Dozens of roads, mostly in West Jakarta and North Jakarta, were inundated with up to 40 centimeters of water last night. As of Friday, smartcity.jakarta.go.id recorded at least 594 reports of flooding. However, most of the reports had been followed up by the officers. Ahok said that he encouraged residents to keep reporting any inundations in their areas through the monitoring app Qlue, so the officers could respond to them quickly. He said that the inundations in the northern part of the Jakarta would likely continue as a result of the rising sea level in addition to the fact that 40 percent of the city's land was under sea level because of incessant subsidence. 'Therefore, we will build embankments along the Jakarta coast and rivers,' he said, referring to the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD) phase A. The governor said that the city had called for tenders on the project, adding that it was to be finished in 2017. The city administration, the central government and the private developers that got the concession to create 17 artificial islets will build a 93-kilometer embankment along the Jakarta coast and rivers to block seawater. Teguh said his 262 task forces as well as the workers from the subdistrict offices would stay on alert during the rainy season to ensure any inundations would quickly recede. Teguh said that his personnel kept dismantling constructions above the drains as well as opening clogged drains, especially on road crossings, so the water could flow better. 'The main reason of inundation is that the water cannot flow,' he said. He said that places with heavy inundations, like Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta, needed more advanced solutions, like creating a water reservoir. ' JP/Corry Elyda Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Matias Sinaga (The Jakarta Post) Surabaya Sat, February 27, 2016 It is noble to take responsibility for some of the failures in one's department. But to make a decision in which others have to solve the cause of your failure is irresponsible and, hence, unacceptable. This seems to be the case regarding the Culture and Education Ministry. Responding to the 2015 Education First (EF) English Proficiency Index's (EPI) finding that Indonesia suffered from a decline in English proficiency, the ministry's training and courses development director Yusuf Muhyiddin pledged in November to push for the use of English in offices and institutions ' as if many of the staff in such places were native speakers of English, or, at least, bilingual. Not long afterward, the Research and Technology and Higher Education Ministry came up with a policy requiring university lecturers to teach bilingually. This means that the decline in students' English proficiency, which surely starts in junior high school and senior high school, is to be handled at universities. Worse, its handling will be entrusted to lecturers. This not only is irresponsible but is also wrong. Bilingual instructions need bilingual instructors. And to understand them, students must have a certain level of English. It is for this reason that international tertiary institutions which apply a bilingual curriculum require their prospective students to gain a certain score in English test such as IELTS, TOFEL or the new Pearson's Computer-Based Academic (English) Test. This policy is surely based on the assumption that university students in Indonesia have the required level of English to understand lectures in English and that the lecturers assigned to teach bilingually are bilingual. At least, they must be capable of conveying instructions in English. However, none of this seems to be true of Indonesian universities and students. Many lecturers do not speak English well enough to lecture in English, let alone bilingually. Some lecturers assigned to teach English as a basic subject are not even capable of speaking English. Recently, for example, a lecturer teaching English in a public university in Surabaya became an object of ridicule among some of his new students when he said at the beginning of his class, 'Don't become late. OK?' His students immediately lost trust in him and in the subject he was supposed to teach. Professional assignments such as English proficiency enhancement are best left to the specialists, for improper teaching can lead to failure, even deterioration. Isn't this the case in our formal schools? Many Indonesian students mispronounce words because of the improper teaching of English. Perhaps it comes from hearing participants on TV talk shows say words confidently but wrongly. Language teachers are responsible for improving and developing students' fluency and accuracy. For this, teachers need 'language awareness', which enables them to correct students' mistakes along the way. And to be able to do so, teachers must have a certain level of English. In other words, a language teacher not only needs to be aware of the English produced by his students, but must always use correct English himself. Failing to do so means a two-fold problem ' not ensuring correct language exposure and reinforcing incorrect language production on the part of the students. A language teacher who fails to do this is a failed teacher. Here lies the difference between a language teacher and a bilingual one. This is the very reason why international tertiary institutions apply the policy mentioned above. They do not want to be bothered by the inadequate use of English by their students and the task of correcting their English once they are accepted. And even if they do, they do not have its subtlety. Therefore, instead of shifting the responsibility of improving students' English to universities and lecturers, why not retrain school English teachers and upgrade those whose English is inadequate to teach English in English? Yusuf's directorate could design such a training course and make existing teachers attend it. If his office does not have the resources to run the course, he could offer it to other parties. And once such teachers are ready, they could be made to teach English in English. As for universities, they could be assigned to design and run English programs for their students whose English needs upgrading. Almost every big university in Indonesia has a language unit. At present, they are only tasked with designing and running English tests that students have to take at the beginning of their study and upon completion (those who do not pass the required level at the beginning have to retake the same test prior to finishing their study). If universities are short of trainers, they can simply recruit lecturers whose English is good enough. And if there are not enough lecturers fit to be involved, universities could seek outside help. Yusuf's department could assist in this and monitor progress. Small universities that do not have the luxury of a language unit could be pushed to establish one in collaboration with other established universities or language schools. ________________ The writer is coordinator of studies and teacher training at English House Surabaya. The views expressed are his own. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dylan Amirio (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, February 27, 2016 A week after President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo visited Silicon Valley, the Indonesian Communication and Information Ministry announced plans to force all foreign over-the-top (OTT) content providers to establish permanent businesses here or face the risk of being blocked in the country. Communication and Information Minister Rudiantara asked tech giants, such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter, to comply with the regulation by either establishing their own local entities, partnering with local telecommunications operators or establishing joint ventures with local firms. 'It comes back to concerns regarding consumer protection and leveling the playing field. We need to know what happens with the data they send outside of Indonesia and we also wish to allow Indonesia to be more competitive in the global market,' Rudiantara said Friday. Referring to both Twitter and Facebook, which already have offices in Jakarta, Rudiantara has said that such firms must have a legal entity and permanent business status so that they are accountable to answer customer complaints. By initiating a local presence policy, Indonesia also expects to be able to recover millions of dollars in lost taxes, as companies that do not have their own local entities are not bound by an obligation to pay taxes. To date, Japanese messaging app LINE is the only firm to have reportedly agreed to adjust to the policy. Pending discussion with related stakeholders, the ministry will likely issue an official decree on the matter by the end of March, with assistance from the Finance Ministry. Rudiantara claimed to have discussed the matter during his visit to Silicon Valley in the US with Jokowi, but declined to detail any company response. During Jokowi's US visit, from Feb. 17 to 19, the President played zero-gravity ping pong with Facebook's co-founder Mark Zuckerberg and met with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, spreading the word that Indonesia was serious about expanding into the digital economy. In a meeting with Zuckerberg, Jokowi welcomed Facebook's contribution to the development of the Indonesian digital economy. Meanwhile, commenting on the ministry regulation, IT observer Heru Sutadi said that the government was doing the right thing by requesting that foreign OTTs establish local entities, saying that it strengthened the notion of sharing wealth generated by the digital economy. 'The country risks losing a large amount of tax money each year because those who pay to advertise on such social media outlets are technically free from any tax obligation,' he said. If the government does follow through with its plan to block the sites, they must be able to properly and carefully explain the decision to the public, he added. Last week, the ministry stunned the nation's bloggers with a plan to block social media and microblogging site Tumblr due to the staggering amount of pornographic material available on the site. However, the ministry backtracked on the decision a few days later due to the intense furor voiced by Indonesian Tumblr users. Internet observers and bloggers questioned both the government's decision to block the site and its ability to govern the internet. Other countries to have recently made the news over a similar restriction of social media sites include Bangladesh, which blocked Facebook and WhatsApp at the end of 2015 for a period of 22 days due to 'security issues'. Facebook also notably ran aground in India recently when the country decided to block its more 'affordable' Free Basics program over net neutrality issues, claiming that the service merely emphasized the gap between India's rich and poor. During the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Wednesday, Zuckerberg expressed disappointment over India's decision to block the service. 'It is a major setback for India,' he was quoted by Bloomberg as saying. Zuckerberg said that his company and the internet.org coalition of tech companies founded by Facebook would continue to try to find other ways to bring the estimated 1 billion people in India, who lack consistent internet connectivity, online. ------------------- To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Intan Paramaditha (The Jakarta Post) Sydney Sat, February 27, 2016 The LGBT debate in Indonesia today speaks volumes about different kinds of fear. It reflects the fear of the dissolution of heteronormative values and national morality, which, since the Reform Era, have been embedded within a conservative interpretation of religion. It also tells about the anxiety regarding the idea of the nation, now experienced as wildly heterogeneous and elusive rather than cohesive. Entangled in these fears is another fear: the fear of gerakan (movement). In his 2004 article, anthropologist Tom Boellstorff examines an attack perpetrated by the Ka'bah Youth Movement Muslim group on an LGBT event in Kaliurang, at the foot of Mt. Merapi in Yogyakarta. He coins the term 'political homophobia' to describe the emotional rage that emerges in response to a threat to normative masculinity that represents the nation. Changes have happened since Boellstorff published the article. Political homophobia is not only expressed on streets but also in the towers, exemplified by the controversial (now withdrawn) statement of Research, Technology and Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir, who called for LGBT communities to be banned from campuses. Boellstorff's article, however, remains relevant to remind us that sexuality is never a matter of sex per se. In Indonesia especially, it projects desire and fear in ways that illuminate how the nation is envisioned. Which bodies represent the nation? Who has the right to claim national belonging? In the context of the nation, the phrase Gerakan LGBT (LGBT Movement) is often used to signify the national limit. Gerakan suggests transgression of a safe zone, a space when a harmless entity that we can 'tolerate' transforms into a national other. Activist Fahira Idris states that LGBT in Indonesia has metamorphosed from 'individual acts' into 'a massive and organized movement.' Similarly, Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil says he has no problem with the private matters of LGBT individuals. What concerns him is when LGBT communities promote their movement through social media. The fear of Gerakan LGBT is precisely the fear of what is stipulated in Article 28 of the Constitution, 'the freedom to associate and to assemble.' It is the fear of publicness. There are deceitful and conspiring ghosts that we cannot fully capture when we translate gerakan as 'movement'. We have been trained to be suspicious of gerakan. Something is always lurking underneath, ungraspable, threatening there. Gerakan in Indonesian induces a memory of disturbance. The government used the term Gerakan Pengacau Keamanan (Security Disturbing Movement) to stigmatize separatist movements as mobs endangering the nation. Our memory is filled with film, museum, and textbooks on the Sept. 30 Movement, which refers to an aborted coup attempt by the Indonesian Communist Party. The New Order then instilled the fear of remnants of the communist party through the acronym OTB, Organisasi Tanpa Bentuk (organization without form). A strange term indeed, and it must be understood in how Indonesians imagine a specter, which is formless, but can take on any form: woman, child, your neighbor, etc. Therefore every gerakan has the potential to morph into an OTB. LGBT movement might appear as a fight against discrimination, but something may be hidden underneath: a grand design that threatens national unity. Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu calls the LGBT movement as a latent threat: 'It's dangerous as we can't see who our foes are.' The fear of gerakan is therefore the fear of the unknown. Gerakan politik (political movement) is a treacherous hybrid creature as we have learned to distrust both words: gerakan and politics. Therefore, the 1998 student movement was a moral rather than political movement because politics is about ambition, not conscience. Politics is not normal, hence the Soeharto government 'normalized' the student movement through the Normalization of Campus Life (NKK/BKK) program. For a long time, normal meant depoliticized. And alas, LGBT movement is anything but normal, in both the heteronormative sense and the New Order-esque paradigm of politics. Is the LGBT movement political? It certainly is, and there is no reason why it should not be. There is no way to change perspectives in society without political goals. How could groups bring attention to the assault of LGBT people or the corrective rape happening to lesbians if the language in legal terms had not changed? Thus, in the 2008 Pornography Law, homosexuality is included in the deviant acts of sexuality Unfortunately, anti-LGBT groups have failed to grasp what Dede Oetomo and his group GAYaNUSANTARA have done for decades. The political goals of the LGBT movement have been falsely framed as 'LGBT propaganda', which means advertising an 'LGBT lifestyle' (often described as hedonistic and hypersexual), or in Minister Nasir's term, having sex or showing affection on campus. Confining LGBT issues to the private realm seems to be a safe middle ground for everyone. By proclaiming that they have no problem with non-normative sexualities as long as they remain private, anti-LGBT activists and public officials will sound 'tolerant', if not less homophobic. On the other hand, those who are sympathetic toward LGBT groups prefer to call attention to urgent matters (e.g. research facilities at universities) rather than private sexual orientation. 'There is nothing more public than privacy,' as Michael Warner and Lauren Berlant put it. Sex in Indonesia is not, and will never be, a private matter. The state has the authority to regulate, and hence to make public, all things we want to consider private. In a time when the contestation of legitimacy is fierce, as shown by the recent Indonesian Psychiatric Association statement that categorizes LGBT people as sufferers of mental disorders, institutions of higher education should strategically deploy their influential position and take a position of intellectual integrity. They should, in the tradition of critical thinking, unpack what the LGBT movement is, why it emerged and why it is feared. They should ensure a space for intellectual public discourse on the LGBT movement instead of participating in the recreation of a normalized, depoliticized civil society. An analysis of the gerakan should begin by acknowledging its right to be in the public instead pushing it to the private realm. As we have learned from the OTB scare, what is invisible creates more fear: the fear of a formless specter. _________________ The writer, who gained a PhD from New York University, is a fiction author and scholar focusing on media, culture and sexual politics. She teaches at Macquarie University, Sydney. (lead article) Washington, Moscow talk truce as Syria slaughter grows For the second time this month, Washington and Moscow announced agreement Feb. 22 on a cessation of hostilities to go into effect soon in Syria. At the same time Russian warplanes, along with ground forces from Hezbollah, Iranian special forces and troops of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, continued to pummel areas held by Assads opponents. Building on their nuclear accord with Tehran, the Barack Obama administration has charted a course toward a longer-term bloc with Moscow and Tehran in an effort to achieve some stability to uphold U.S. imperialisms interests in the region, at whatever cost. Secretary of State John Kerry said Moscow was playing a constructive role. To facilitate the deal, Washington cut support for Syrian opposition forces it was backing, saying they were not successful in pressuring Assad. The previous cease-fire deal was scheduled to go into effect Feb. 19. However, Moscow, Assad and their allies stepped up murderous assaults against opposition forces in Aleppo and Homs in the north, in Daraa in the south and in Kansabba in Assads home Latakia province. Russian military spokesmen said they bombed 1,593 terrorist targets that week. Russian jets hit hospitals in Idlib province operated by Doctors Without Borders, killing more than two dozen patients and medical personnel. Representatives of the group and opposition spokespeople say hospitals, schools and bakeries have all become targets, with the goal of terrorizing the population. Speaking for the Assad regime, Bashar al-Jaafari said Doctors Without Borders was a branch of French intelligence and was responsible for the bombing because they did not consult with the Syrian government. Washington will let all this pass if the result is a stronger government with control over more of the country. The latest cessation, announced by Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, is set to go into effect Feb. 27. Assad said he would go along, but continue to attack terrorists. The opposition forces High Negotiations Council said Feb. 22 it accepted the deal. Washington pivoted its Mideast policy to a bloc with Moscow and Tehran turning away from traditional allies in Ankara, Riyadh and Tel Aviv as the old world order in the region, put together by the imperialist victors in World Wars I and II, came apart. Looking for ways to reassert their interests, the rulers of Saudi Arabia and Turkey have pushed for opening ground operations in Syria against the Assad regime. But they recognize they have little power without Washingtons assent. Riyadh began military exercises this week with Arab Gulf state allies, Egypt, Sudan, Morocco, Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan and Malaysia. The price paid by the Syrian people for decades of brutality by the Assad regime and the recent maneuvers of imperialism and Moscow are enormous. Nearly half a million Syrians have been killed. More than half the population has been uprooted from their homes. Kurds fight for a homeland Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) have taken advantage of Russian airstrikes to seize territory from al-Qaeda and other Islamist forces in northern Syria, advancing the Kurdish peoples fight for a homeland. They have been shelled by the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who aims to prevent establishment of a Kurdish state on Turkeys border. This increases tensions between Ankara, a member of the U.S.-led NATO alliance, and Washington, which backs the YPG with airstrikes in its battles against Islamic State. The Turkish government warned Moscow after a Feb. 17 deadly suicide bombing that killed 28 people in Ankara, and accused the YPG of carrying it out. The YPG denies this slander. The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks, a split-off from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey, claimed responsibility for the bombing. The imperialist powers who carved up the Mideast after World War I, creating new countries under their domination, consciously denied a homeland to the oppressed Kurdish people, who number some 30 million in Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. The Erdogan government has been waging an assault on the Kurds, in the name of fighting PKK terrorism. The PKK launched an armed struggle against the government in 1984. Its Stalinist-trained leadership carried out bombings and other acts targeting civilians, causing unnecessary casualties, weakening support for the group and giving a series of Turkish regimes the pretext to attack the broader Kurdish population. Tens of thousands were killed over three decades. A 2013 PKK-initiated cease-fire ended in July. Ankara has since launched a synchronized war on terror in the countrys Kurdish southeast. Turkish forces have put cities under siege, killed hundreds, including many civilians, and displaced several hundred thousand. Islamic State As Arab Spring popular mobilizations brought down Middle East regimes from Egypt to Tunisia in 2011 and opened the civil war in Syria, there was no revolutionary working-class leadership to chart a course to power. The exhaustion of any capacity for leadership from bourgeois nationalist forces from Baathist parties in Syria and Iraq to the Palestine Liberation Organization and Hamas and the crippling effects of decades of class-collaborationist misleadership by Stalinist currents such as the Syrian Communist Party, have left a vacuum of leadership. In this context, Islamic State, a reactionary current that aims to establish a caliphate ruled by Sharia law, has had room to seize large areas in Iraq and Syria. Kurdish forces have succeeded in pushing IS back, including retaking Kobani, Syria, in a bloody battle last year. Islamic State has been unable to wipe out all resistance in territory they control. Opponents of Assad whose territory has been occupied by Islamic State founded Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, in ISs self-proclaimed capital in Syria. They document the horrors of IS victims burned to death or beheaded, the enslavement of women and other forms of barbaric oppression. And they report on resistance in IS-controlled territory. Western powers have held a lot of meetings, made speeches and done nothing, Abdalaziz Alhamza, a 24-year-old leader of the group, told the New York Times Feb. 20. We do not believe the West will help. Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home (front page) Woodfox is finally free after decades in solitary Use victory to fight against prison barbarism! Left, Militant/Betsey Stone When Albert Woodfox walked out of prison Feb. 19, his 69th birthday, he had spent more than 43 years fighting his frame-up conviction for murder, isolated in a 6-by-9-foot cell for 23 hours a day. I can now direct all my efforts to ending this barbarous use of solitary confinement and will continue my work on that issue here in the free world, he said in a statement. Woodfox, Herman Wallace and Robert King became known as the Angola 3 as a result of a decades-long international campaign for their freedom. In the early 1970s all three were part of one of the first prison chapters of the Black Panther Party. They organized hunger and work strikes for better conditions at the notorious Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola. Woodfox and Wallace were placed in solitary in April 1972, following a riot in which prison guard Brent Miller was killed. They were framed up and convicted in 1974 for Millers death, despite a lack of evidence and several witnesses who said they were not at the murder scene. With the exception of a three-year period for Woodfox, the men were kept in solitary for the entire time. A district judge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, overturned Wallaces conviction Oct. 1, 2013, and granted his immediate release. Three days later Wallace died of liver cancer. Kings separate conviction for killing a fellow inmate in 1973 was overturned in 2001 and he was released after spending 28 years in solitary. Over the course of four decades, Woodfoxs conviction has been overturned three separate times for a host of constitutional violations. In June last year Federal Judge James Brady ordered his immediate release. An appeals court reversed that order in November. That ruling was on appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court when the news about Woodfoxs release broke. Although I was looking forward to proving my innocence at a new trial, concerns about my health and my age have caused me to resolve this case now and obtain my release with this no-contest plea to lesser charges, his statement said. He pled no contest, which is not an admission of guilt, to charges of manslaughter and aggravated burglary and was freed on time served. The three men always maintained their innocence and pointed to the political nature of their frame-ups. They pinned it on us, because we were militants, we were fighters, we were members of the Black Panther Party, King told the Militant after Wallaces death. We wanted to bring consciousness to our fellow prisoners that we are protected by due process, the 14th Amendment and other constitutional grounds. In a 2008 deposition, Angola warden Burl Cain stated why he thought Woodfox should remain in solitary. The thing about him is that he wants to demonstrate. He wants to organize. He wants to be defiant. I would not want him walking around my prison because he would organize the young, new inmates. I thought my case, then and now, was noble, Woodfox said in an earlier statement on the Angola 3 website. They might bend me a little bit, they may cause me a lot of pain, they may even take my life, but they will never be able to break me. Along with King and Wallace, Woodfox brought a civil lawsuit in 2000, which is still pending, challenging the constitutionality of the state of Louisianas use of indefinite solitary confinement. In September last year a settlement was reached in a class-action lawsuit initiated by a group of prisoners against the state of California. The prisoners were leaders of three hunger strikes against indefinite solitary confinement that included up to 30,000 inmates and put the national spotlight on the conditions prisoners face. If fully implemented the settlement will substantially reduce the number of prisoners in isolation. At any one moment 80,000 people are held in solitary confinement in the U.S. prison system. Related articles: Step up fight to end barbaric solitary Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home (front page, SWP campaign statement) Step up fight to end barbaric solitary! The following statement was issued Feb. 23 by Alyson Kennedy, Socialist Workers Party candidate for U.S. president. The Socialist Workers Party celebrates the release of Albert Woodfox, one of the Angola 3, after more than 40 years in solitary confinement, and calls on workers to use this victory to redouble our efforts to win freedom for Oscar Lopez; Leonard Peltier; Mumia Abu-Jamal; Mondo we Langa and Ed Poindexter, known as the Omaha 2; Oregon cattle ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond; and others thrown behind bars by the U.S. ruling families. Woodfox walked out of prison Feb. 19 unbroken, vowing to step up his efforts to ending this barbarous use of solitary confinement. This is a victory for the working class. Socialist Workers Party candidates across the U.S. will join in stepping up the fight against cop brutality, frame-ups and solitary confinement, to tell the truth about prison conditions and to win solidarity for all our brothers and sisters behind bars. While Woodfox may have spent more time in solitary confinement than any other prisoner in the U.S., his case is not unique. There are an estimated 80,000 federal and state prisoners in solitary. And this doesnt include those in local jails and immigration prisons. Oscar Lopez, a fighter for independence for Puerto Rico jailed in the U.S. for more than 34 years, spent his first 12 years in solitary confinement. The Cuban Five, revolutionaries framed up by the U.S. government, were put in isolation their first 17 months in prison. All of the Five whose crime was working to stop violent attacks against the Cuban Revolution are now back in Cuba. The jailers want to destroy you, said Rene Gonzalez, one of the Five. They want to break your physical, moral, and mental integrity. But they couldnt break the Cuban Five, Lopez or Woodfox. This victory is a boost to the thousands of prisoners in California who through hunger strikes and protests have pushed back the torturous use of solitary confinement there. The United States has 4.4 percent of the world population but 22 percent of the worlds prisoners. There are 2,984 people on death row and the vast majority of those behind bars are from the working class. Some 40 percent are Black. The Socialist Workers Party candidates encourage everyone we meet to read and use the new Pathfinder book The Cuban Five Talk About Their Lives Within the US Working Class. In it they explain what is meant by Ramon Labaninos conclusion, Its the poor who face the savagery of the US justice system. Through the course of making their revolution, Cubas working people dismantled the police, courts and prisons of the U.S.-backed Fulgencio Batista dictatorship. In their place they began to put together a new society, becoming new men and women capable of running their country in their own interests and extending solidarity to workers and farmers worldwide. (front page) Teamster airline mechanics say no to Uniteds concession demands Militant/Tom Tomasko SAN FRANCISCO As part of a national day of action, some 400 Teamster airline mechanics and supporters rallied Feb. 19 by the United Airlines maintenance base here against company concession demands. Nine thousand mechanics across the country rejected Uniteds final offer by a vote of 93 percent Feb. 16. Their contract expired three years ago. The protest here was organized by a volunteer action team of 103 workers, said Teamsters Local 856 Vice President Rudy Gonzalez. Workers say the main issue is the company demand for a two-tier wage scale. The workers have not received a pay raise in four years, according to Teamsters business representative Mark Desangles, and the company is demanding steep increases in health costs. Workers also want a defined pension. In the 2002 United bankruptcy their pension was replaced with a 401(k) plan. Supporting the mechanics to win a good contract benefits all workers, Patricia Hernandez, a janitor and member of Service Employees International Union Local 87, told the Militant. The union is the power. That is why 80 of us are here. The rally also drew workers from the Amalgamated Transit Union, UNITE HERE Local 2, International Association of Machinists, flight attendants and others. There were a lot of IAM guys out there said Robert Rubio, a forklift driver at the United maintenance base and member of the Machinists. Our contract is also up. A lot of IAM people are looking at the Teamster action as an example. Another national day of action will occur Feb. 26 at eight U.S. airports. Eric Simpson contributed to the article. (front page) Cuba says, Return Guantanamo! as Obama plays politics on prison When President Barack Obama visits Cuba March 21-22, the Cuban government will raise two key outstanding matters, Josefina Vidal, head of the North America Bureau of Cubas Foreign Ministry, told the press Feb. 18. Lifting the embargo and the return to Cuba of the territory illegally occupied by the Naval Base at Guantanamo. At a Feb. 23 news conference President Barack Obama, in the name of offering a plan to close the notorious U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, in fact made clear he has no intention of shutting it. Ive been working for seven years now to get this thing closed, the president complained. He blamed the Republican majority in Congress for blocking him from carrying out his 2008 campaign pledge to close the prison during his very first year in the White House. If we dont do whats required now, Obama said, I think future generations are going to look back and ask why we failed to act. The president neglected to mention that during his first two years in office the Democratic Party had wide majorities both in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Since January 2002, 780 alleged enemy combatants have been sent to Guantanamo, captured or kidnapped by U.S. allies often in exchange for a U.S. bounty. Obamas plan would still keep at least 56 of the 91 remaining prisoners at Guantanamo languishing in prisons in the United States, subject to military commissions or federal courts, he said. Everything from the initial arrests, torture and the trampling on the most basic democratic rights of those held at the prison camp along with the more than century-long violation of Cuban sovereignty has made Guantanamo a symbol of U.S. imperialist arrogance, brutality and hypocrisy around the world. The U.S. military has occupied the 28,000 acres of land that surround Guantanamo Bay since 1903. Washington has used the base to intervene in the affairs of Cuba, nearby Haiti and the Caribbean to protect capitalist interests. Since working people, under the leadership of Fidel Castro and the July 26th Movement, overthrew the U.S.-backed dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista in 1959, the U.S. Treasury has continued to send an annual rent check for $4,085, which the revolutionary government refuses to cash. Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders hailed Obamas Feb. 23 statement. Neither said a word about returning Guantanamo to Cuba. Administration officials have repeatedly said they dont intend to do so. Republican candidate Donald Trump responded to Obamas Feb. 23 statement by saying he would keep the prison open and load it up with some bad dudes. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio each said shutting it down would lead to returning Guantanamo to Cuba. From the beginning the Socialist Workers Party has denounced the torture, beatings and humiliation the prisoners are subjected to in the name of national security, Socialist Workers Party presidential candidate Alyson Kennedy said Feb. 23. The U.S. economic war against Cuba has failed to bring down the socialist revolution. Now the U.S. rulers hope to undermine it through other tactics. This is a good time to step up actions in support of the Cuban Revolution and demand the return of Guantanamo Bay to Cuba and the complete end of the U.S. embargo, Kennedy said. (feature article) Book on US class struggle has many lessons on battle against political repression Havana International Book Fair event presents 50 Years of Covert Operations in the US: Washingtons Political Police and the American Working Class HAVANA Amid heightened interest here in politics in the United States, one of the presentations at this years Havana International Book Fair featured the new Pathfinder Press book, published simultaneously in English and Spanish, 50 Years of Covert Operations in the US: Washingtons Political Police and the American Working Class Speaking at the Feb. 13 event were long-time Cuban revolutionary leader Ramon Sanchez-Parodi and Mary-Alice Waters, president of Pathfinder and a member of the National Committee of the Socialist Workers Party in the United States. Sanchez-Parodi headed the Cuban Interests Section in Washington, D.C., for 12 years from its opening in 1977. He writes often in the Cuban press on U.S.-Cuban relations. 50 Years of Covert Operations in the US, by Larry Seigle, Farrell Dobbs and Steve Clark, traces the expansion of the U.S. rulers political police and the struggle against it. It focuses especially on the period from the 1930s labor battles and Washingtons preparations to enter World War II through the Watergate crisis, which exploded in 1973, and the Socialist Workers Partys successful lawsuit against the FBI and other political police agencies. Sanchez-Parodi said 50 Years of Covert Operations in the US contains many lessons, many explanations of the political situation in the United States. He emphasized the significance of the 1973 SWP lawsuit against FBI spying and harassment. The Socialist Workers Party wasnt defending itself against government charges, which is more often the situation confronted by the workers movement. In this case, a communist workers organization was accusing the government accusing it of violating the U.S. Constitution. Even more interesting, Sanchez-Parodi added, is the fact that, after more than 12 years, the [federal court] judge ruled in favor of the Socialist Workers Party. Fight for political space Sanchez-Parodi said this is a good lesson of what can be done of the battle that must be waged to win space and protect yourself against political repression by the dominant sectors in the United States. In 1987, he noted, the federal court with jurisdiction over the case issued an injunction that prohibited any use of documents and other information obtained surreptitiously and unconstitutionally by the FBI and other U.S. police agencies. It declared unconstitutional [the use of agents] infiltrating the party, spying on it, and burglarizing its headquarters and the homes of its members. Judge Thomas Griesa also ordered the government to pay financial compensation for damages caused and costs incurred, setting a precedent that has been used in many other cases. Sanchez-Parodi said that despite Washingtons claims to be a champion of liberty and equality, the U.S. rulers have always sought to protect their class interests by attacking the rights of working people. 50 Years of Covert Operations in the US describes how, during the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Franklin Roosevelt administration took steps to suppress the growing influence of the workers movement and unions, he said. As inter-imperialist contradictions sharpened and [the second world] war was imminent, the Roosevelt administration needed to crack down on any movement of social protest by workers. The Cuban leader highlighted the federal governments first use of the infamous 1940 Smith Gag Act to frame up and imprison leaders of the Teamsters union and the Socialist Workers Party. Washingtons goal was to silence the labor vanguard in the workers movement that opposed the goals of U.S. imperialism in World War II. During the postwar witch-hunt, Sanchez-Parodi added, the Smith Act was also used to frame up leaders of the U.S. Communist Party in 1949. As the U.S. government waged an anti-labor offensive at home, it used its military to defend imperialist interests around the world, from backing Fulgencio Batistas 1952 military coup in Cuba to its wars against the Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese revolutions. He noted that for several weeks in 1952 Washington did not recognize the Batista regime, until it publicly announced it had broken its ties with the pro-Moscow Popular Socialist Party and with the Soviet government Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the subsequent U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, he said, Washington has used the Patriot Act and other measures to vastly expand the use of its political police. US govt target: labor movement Waters noted thatwas one of three books Pathfinder was presenting at the Havana book fair, each of them about the class struggle in the United States. The other two were the Spanish translation ofby Farrell Dobbs and a new title in both English and Spanish,. (The full text of Waters remarks is printed on the facing page.) Discussing 50 Years, Waters said the book explains how in the late 1930s Washington targeted the Minneapolis Teamsters union and the Socialist Workers Party because they were helping lead the expanding strength and rising political consciousness of a component of the industrial union movement centered in the upper Midwest. Within a few years the union had organized a quarter million truck drivers and warehouse workers across an 11-state region. The ruling class was alarmed about this development and the success of the working-class vanguard in organizing political opposition within the labor movement to Washingtons imperialist war aims. Like Sanchez-Parodi, Waters underscored why the questions taken up in this book are important for today. The U.S. national security apparatus has undergone a massive expansion over the 15 years since 9/11 and its intrusion into every aspect of our lives is hated by the working class, said Waters. And theres nothing reactionary about that. In fact, she noted, that is one of the elements driving support for the presidential candidacy of Donald Trump. He plays on the anxiety and fear generated by the smoldering depression conditions U.S. workers have known for almost a decade, the insecurity generated by the unraveling of the imperialist world order, and the policies of the Obama administration that serve the interests of the giant insurance companies and other capitalist financial institutions. Waters concluded that communist workers in the United States and other countries welcome the opportunity in the streets, in the factories, and on the picket lines to join in the growing debate and search for answers among working people in face of this capitalist crisis. Sanchez-Parodi agreed, saying, The struggle continues. And this book offers many ideas and experiences that need to be studied, discussed and applied in todays context. Related articles: Governments expanding security state is hated by workers Cuba says, Return Guantanamo! as Obama plays politics on prison Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home (feature article) Governments expanding security state is hated by workers The following talk was presented Feb. 13 at the Havana International Book Fair. Copyright 2016 by Pathfinder Press. Reprinted by permission. Subheadings are by the Militant. Thank you, Roger [Calero]. And a special thank-you to companero [Ramon] Sanchez-Parodi for joining us today to present 50 Years of Covert Operations in the US: Washingtons Political Police and the American Working Class. It is an honor to hear from a comrade with his depth of experience on the front lines of battle against Washington. As we are all aware, its a battle that has taken on new and even more challenging forms in the last year. The objectives of the imperialist power to the north remain unchanged, while the historical stakes are as great as ever. Speaking for myself I can say that I have more than once benefited from Ramons thoughtful insights into class politics in the US and adjusted my thinking as a result. Books on US class struggle Pathfinder Press is presenting three new titles at the Havana book fair this year, each of them about the class struggle in the US. Later this afternoon, together with companeros from the World Federation of Trade Unions and the CTC [Cubas trade union federation], we will be talking about Politica Teamster [Teamster Politics] by Farrell Dobbs, drawing lessons for today from the most advanced, interconnected battles of the US working class organized and fought during the decade of the Great Depression. Next Thursday we will be presenting a very special book, The Cuban Five Talk About Their Lives Within the US Working Class. The cover with a painting by Antonio Guerrero features the words of Ramon Labanino, Its the poor who face the savagery of the US justice system. In this book-length interview, given to Pathfinder last August, the Five Heroes of the Republic of Cuba talk about their experiences during the sixteen years they were part of the seven million working people in the US who are either behind bars or living under some form of police-supervised release such as Rene [Gonzalez] faced even after serving every single minute of his fifteen-year prison sentence. Their account is a powerful indictment of the capitalist system and the ways in which it destroys human beings, as Ramon so correctly emphasizes. 50 Years of Covert Operations in the US, the third book in this trilogy, focuses on the class struggle in the US from a different angle. It traces the expansion of Washingtons political police starting in the years following the first imperialist World War and the victory of the October 1917 Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, when the rulers targeted the newly formed communist movement as well as the anarcho-syndicalists. The book concentrates, however, on the years between the mid-1930s, when the FBI was created by the Democratic Party administration of President Franklin Roosevelt, and the 1970s, when the Watergate crisis exploded, leading to the 1974 resignation of President Richard Nixon. In the closing years of the 1930s, one of the great concerns of the US capitalist class was the expanding strength and rising political consciousness of a component of the industrial union movement, centered in the upper Midwest, and led by the truck drivers union in Minneapolis, the Teamsters. The biggest worry for the rulers was the effectiveness with which they were expanding unionization of drivers and warehouse workers throughout an enormous eleven-state region of the country, setting an example and helping other fighting unions. On that solid foundation of struggles, they were organizing political opposition within the labor movement to the imperialist war aims of Washington. Thats why they were framed and imprisoned, as 50 Years of Covert Operations in the US explains. Witch hunt targets labor upsurge The book describes the rapid growth and consolidation of Washingtons national security apparatus in the years following the military, political, and economic victory over its capitalist rivals in World War II both foes and allies alike. The postwar anticommunist witch hunt, often referred to as McCarthyism, was not directed first and foremost at artists and writers or communist spies, although that is a popular misconception in the US and elsewhere, including weve discovered here in Cuba. The first objective of the witch hunt was halting and then rolling back the gains of the powerful labor upsurge of the 1930s and integrating the labor bureaucracy more seamlessly into the imperialist state apparatus. In that, the bosses and their government were successful. 50 Years of Covert Operations in the US contains a wealth of information about the US class struggle that we hope will be of interest and of use to readers here in Cuba as elsewhere. Some of the most interesting documentation it presents especially testimony by ranking US Justice Department officials, as they seek to provide legal cover to government policies that violate rights guaranteed by the US Constitution and its first ten amendments is the product of a lawsuit brought by the Socialist Workers Party against the US government and its various secret police agencies. These include the FBI, CIA, Military Intelligence, and what today is well known as the National Security Agency. The SWP suit was filed in 1973 at the height of the Watergate crisis. The scandal exploded when it came to light that the Nixon White House had orchestrated wiretapping, burglaries, and other illegal measures against its domestic rivals in capitalist politics. The roots of the Watergate crisis lay elsewhere, however. Above all, the conflict revealed the deep divisions the birth of fear within the US ruling class in face of two powerful developments. The first was the mass Black proletarian-led movement that had brought down the system of Jim Crow segregation in the US. It was a genuine social revolution. The second was the way the social dynamic of that victory was accelerating in tandem with growing actions in the streets by millions against the US war in Vietnam. The repercussions even began to disintegrate military discipline within the US armed forces, and fear among the imperialist rulers increased. At the time, the entire liberal and left bourgeois political spectrum in the US was calling for Nixons impeachment. The SWPs response was different. Instead of that, we said, lets use the US rulers crisis to bring into the open their decades of covert operations, to educate the working class and our allies and fight to open political space to fight to defend our class interests. It will be no advance to simply replace one chief executive of the ruling class with another of their choosing. A victory for the working class That is the course we followed, winning broad political support in the process. The final rulings by a federal court judge were not handed down until a decade and a half later. The right to a speedy trial is an empty promise in US federal courts, as our Five Heroes can attest! In the end, however, the judge rejected the arguments put forward by the government attorneys in defense of decades of disruption and spying on the Socialist Workers Party and Young Socialist Alliance. He issued an injunction saying that no document obtained by the government in ways that violate the US Constitution and Bill of Rights can be used, released, or disclosed by the FBI or other federal police agencies. It is a ruling that stands to this day, one that helps keep open political space for working people and their organizations to speak, organize, and act, to fight on our own terrain, not theirs in the factories, on the picket lines, and in the streets. It helps us all to defend ourselves against curtailment of constitutional rights against government abuse. That is where I want to end on the importance of these questions as part of the class struggle in the US today. The US national security apparatus has undergone a massive expansion over the 15 years since 9/11, facilitated by technological advances embodied in the Internet and spread of what is called social media. Concerns about this among workers and others is one of the elements driving support for the presidential candidacy of Donald Trump, for many years a Democrat, now running as a Republican (and, yes, marked by New York values the entire time, as the Texas-Cuban has taunted him). Some on the left in the US think Trump speaks for a deeply reactionary, even fascist, development among sections of the working class. That is a gross misreading. There is no growing ultrarightist, much less fascist, movement in the US today. The direction of motion among capitalist parties and politicians is to the left in bourgeois terms, not to the right. That motion, among other things, has been registered in the bipartisan shift toward opening diplomatic and trade relations with Cuba. Most people here in Cuba are surprised when we explain that we have no more difficulty selling our press and talking working-class politics with those who attend large Trump election rallies than we do engaging in the same communist propaganda work at Bernie Sanders election events. The ever-expanding surveillance of and intrusion into every aspect of our lives by Washingtons national security apparatus is hated by the working class. As are arbitrary executive actions and regulation. And theres nothing reactionary about that. Smaller government has been a cornerstone of the communist program from 1848 to today. Reaction to smoldering depression It is not Trumps crude anti-Mexican, anti-Muslim invective that accounts for his showing in initial primaries. It is his slashing attacks on the hypocrisy, lies, and manipulations of the political establishment. It is his success in casting himself as an outsider. Above all, it is his ability to play on the anxiety and fear generated by the smoldering depression conditions US workers have known for almost a decade, and the feeling of helplessness in face of an imperialist world order that is coming apart at an accelerating pace. It is the heroin epidemic that is devastating working-class families across the US. It is the deliberately manipulated and camouflaged size of the scourge of unemployment. It is the scandalous lack of medical care and help for young workers who have been torn apart mentally and physically as cannon fodder for Washingtons military actions in the Mideast. It is the numbing and terrifying disregard for human life that marks the spreading class conflicts in the Mideast and beyond. The ancient mandarin curse, May you live in interesting times, is for revolutionaries, for communists, a tremendous opportunity and responsibility. And that is what we in the Socialist Workers Party will be oriented to, in the streets, factories, and on picket lines. There are no large-scale labor battles today, no powerful social protest movements. There are many signs of growing resistance, however. There are strikes, fights against employer lockouts, and actions for a $15 minimum wage and a union. There are protests against cop killings that have pressed the rulers, for the first time in many years, to hand down indictments and firings in a number of prominent cases, putting a leash on police violence to some degree. Above all, there is an unprecedented economic and social crisis unfolding across the capitalist system worldwide. When that crisis breaks, as it will sooner or later, the kind of class battles at the center of the books we are discussing here today will explode once more. Fifty-five years ago, on the eve of the battle of Playa Giron, Fidel confidently assured the Cuban people, There will be a victorious revolution in the United States before there is a victorious counterrevolution in Cuba. He was right then, and the line of struggle he laid out more than five decades ago remains our common guide to action. We can only add that the political capacities and revolutionary potential of workers and farmers in the US are today as utterly discounted by the ruling powers as were those of the Cuban toilers. And just as wrongly. Independent coverage and analysis of Greece and the region by John T. Psaropoulos Chinese tour company employees claim money stolen from Phuket bedroom, Thai tour guide key suspect PHUKET: Three Chinese nationals employed by a local tour company filed a report this morning that B82,000 and 10,000 Yuan had gone missing from their Phuket residence. Chinesecrime By Eakkapop Thongtub Saturday 27 February 2016, 02:14PM Wichit Police received and filed a complaint this morning at 9am from the three Chinese nationals who were named as Ms Weiwei Pan, 33, of Guangxi, Ms Wei Chen, 34 of Sichuan, and Mr Zheng 26, of Hunan. Ms Wei and Mr Zheng claimed that the money that went missing from their residence at Phuket Villa Suan Luang housing estate had belonged to them, and had gone missing sometime last night if not early this morning. They suspected it had been stolen from their respective wallets, allegedly kept in the bedroom that Mr Zheng slept in by himself. According to the police report filed, Ms Wei lost B7,000 and 5,000 Yuan (about B27,000) from a wallet kept in the room of Mr Zheng; Mr Zheng himself also reported that B75,000 and 5,000 Yuan had been taken from his own wallet, also kept in his room. The two Chinese women reportedly slept in a separate room but did not clarify why Ms Weis wallet was kept in Mr Zhengs room, which was reportedly not locked, while he slept there the previous night. All three Chinese nationals gave testament that the money was discovered missing when they woke up this morning at about 8am, but were unable to provide police with anything more than suspicions. The Chinese told police that they were suspicious of a Thai man who also resided in the house with them, who had reportedly left the house early this morning for a duration of about 30 minutes, before the money was discovered missing. Police questioned the Thai man, named as Mr Thachapol Jitbrasong, 58, of Phuket, who said he is a guide who works with Pacific Tour, the same company that employs the Chinese nationals, and specializes in making reservations with local companies for Chinese group tours. Mr Thachapol, who reportedly slept on a sofa in the living room of the house, told police that he left the house this morning to visit a watchsmith to repair his watch, but did not know anything about the missing money. The investigation is ongoing. In Loving Memory of Phukets staunchest supporters, Dirk Naumann Last Monday, February 15, saw the quiet passing of one of Phukets staunchest supporters, former German honorary consul Dirk Naumann, who succumbed to a long battle against cancer. He was 74. By The Phuket News Saturday 27 February 2016, 12:51PM Dirk (left) was known for his love of art, a love which he chose to devote much of his later life too. While his death triggers a certain sadness in all who had the chance to know him and who will continue to benefit from his legacy, The Phuket Newswould like to take this opportunity to remember his rich life, and to underline that legacy, one that has set Phuket in the right direction at the start of the 21stcentury. Born on January 28, 1942 in Hamburg Germany, Dirk grew up with his mother and grandparents, as his father had been reported missing in WWII. He went to school in Hamburg, did an apprenticeship at the German Pharmaceutical Company Boehringer Ingelheim and continued on to Management Training at Geigy (UK) Ltd, in Manchester UK. Dirk did his National Service in wireless communications and excelled at Morse Code. Dirk first came to Thailand in 1966, sent here by the German pharmaceutical company, Boehringer Ingelheim, and became the MD of Boehringer Ingelheim (Thai) Ltd at the unprecedented age of only 23. In 1972 he left Thailand to return to Boehringer in Germany, where he was the Senior Product Manager for Heart and Circulation Products until 1974. During this time, in 1971 and 1972 he was first the secretary and later the Vice-President of the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce. From 1974 to 1977 he was the Regional Manager Europe and Asia at Dr Maddaus & Co, in Cologne, Germany. In 1977 he moved to the Philippines and became the Vice President for Marketing at Zuellig Pharma Corp in Manila. From 1978 to 1980 Dirk was the Funding President of the German Speaking School in Manila. Dirk finally returned to Thailand in 1982 where he held the position of Chief Executive of Zuellig Pharma Ltd, Bangkok, until 1998, when he became President of Metro Drug Inc of the Zuellig Group in Manila from 1999 until 2000, and was Non-Executive Chairman of Zuellig Pharma Ltd in Bangkok until 2003, having acutally retired from work in 2001. From 1988 to 1990 he was the President of the Pharmaceutical Producers Association in Bangkok and from 1992 to 1993 President of the Rotary Club of Bangkok South. From 2007 to 2011 Dirk was Chairman of the Board of Parazelsus (Orient) Ltd, in Singapore. Dirk recieved the Order of Merit Award from the President of the Federal Republic of Germany in 2009. Dirk had a keen interest in Art and lived his passion by opening an Old Maps and Prints Gallery in River City in Bangkok in 1996 together with a friend. It was here that he met Khun Somporn Zhu Trakarnboonchai, a talented interior designer and silver and art dealer, whom he married November 1, 2007. A few years into retirement, in 2002, Dirk was approached by the German Embassy to be appointed as Honorary Consul, an appointment which he proudly accepted and which came with the responsibility of looking after the interests of some 4,500 Germans throughout Southern Thailand from Chumphon province, all the way down to the Malaysian border, including Koh Samui and Phuket, and everything in between. Luckily for all of us, Dirk took his role seriously and was sure to use his influence in a positive way, for the benefit of not only German citizens, but for all the tens and thousands of expats in Phuket likewise, and most certainly, the hundreds of thousands of Thais who make a living doing business with international clientele here. During his 12 years as Honorary Consul, Mr Naumann, built a firm reputation for talking straight, raising serious issues in Phuket with high-level officials. Among the main issues that he effectively brought out onto the open discussion table and thus to the direct attention of the government include recurring issues with violent, aggressive, scheming and cheating jet-ski, taxi and tuk tuk operators, as well as as waste-water pollution, all issues of which stood, and still stand, to cause great damage not only to the reputation of Phuket, but to the income and wellbeing of all of its residents Thais and foreigners alike. But dealing with officialdoms early stages of denial and anger werent without stresses and many of long, heated negotiations and discussions resulted in what may have seemed at the time as pure face-saving incompetence. And today, as it starts to become clear that the government has made the transition from denial to acceptance that these issues which Dirk worked so hard to underline in fact are real and are a big threat to Phuket if continued to be left unaddressed, we all have Dirk to thank today for this slow-but-certain change in policy. But the changes still have a long way to go, as Dirk underlined in an interview with The Phuket News on the announcement of his retirement as Honorary Counsul two years ago. The pollution of Phukets waters were especially a sore point with Dirk, as the ocean was one of the main reasons why he moved to Phuket in the first place. When I came 11 years ago, my primary objective was to sail, because I loved the sea, beaches and the sun, he said back then. But when a fellow German came to Phuket in 2007 and conducted independent testing of the water and informed Dirk that almost all of the beaches in Phuket were unsafe for swimming, Dirk stopped swimming off Phukets shores from that day on, and commited himself to raising the issue with local authorities, often hitting brick walls. And thats where he effectively used international media to bring serious attention. He was instrumental in helping set up and assisting two separate German TV programme makers to visit to investigate water pollution levels, one of which was Wir Retten Ihren Urlaub(We Save Your Holiday), which caused a Public Relations scare among Thai tourism promoters in 2011, but with good reason. The Phuket government just does not have enough funds to fix the problems, says Dirk. The central government, in fact, has never allocated sufficient funds, regardless of whether Abhisit or Shinawatra [is in charge], they only take, take, take. Now the scars on the Phuket environment are very evident and horrendous. Dirk said. In parting, Dirk has left us with a treasure chest of valuable advice for effecting positive change in Phuket. There needs to be proper studies done, proper statistics [gathered], its not just about visitor numbers. We need to look at how much the Russians and Chinese are actually spending, and how many Phuket restaurants, owned by Phuket people, they are going to! Chinese buy food at 7-Elevens and go back to their Chinese-owned hotel and play mahjong. They dont spend money or stay for the same kind of nights in hotels like the Europeans did. People will one day wake up: the Europeans are leaving and finding other places like Bali, the Australians are leaving, and the Russians and Chinese will eventually leave. The congestion and pollution will eventually take its toll. It is for this reason that Dirk believed it is the duty of media in Phuket to never shy away from pointing out the negative aspects of life here, the elements that he says are destroying Phuket without destroying Phuket as a tourist destination. This he says is, of course, a delicate balance. Although he believes that Phuket is not yet at the point of no return, he says the island is still headed down the same unsustainable road it has been ever since being discovered as a tourist destination. Although Dirk was critical of many things that were not as good as they could be, that didnt mean he ever stopped caring about Phuket or Thailand. In fact, it was quite the opposite. He actually loved this place, his adopted home, particularly the freedom that living in Thailand gave him. It is the one country where you are truly free. Free to succeed and equally free to fail. NO ONE will stop (or assist, for that matter) you going either way. Up or down, it was your choice." This freedom he used over the last nearly 35 years to put several students through university. He also saw his role as Honorary Consul as a way of giving back something both to Thailand and to Germany. This is where he chose to live his final years... days. Why do I still love Thailand? he said, Its very easy for me. Its very warm and I like the food and the people. And I love the mai pen raiattitude I like this attitude a lot. His final years of retired life were spent the way he had intended, in the company of loved ones. Dirk is survived by his wife, Zhu Naumann, his three daughters, including Marlene Howels, Johanna Probert, Anette Jimenez Hoechstetter, and two grandchildren, Isabella Probert and Timoty Jimenez Hoechstetter. Across the country, Canadians are toasting the Oscars and the nominated films that were shot here. Heres how different cities could celebrate their locally made contenders. Calgary The film:The Revenant The nominations: 12 The locations: The harrowing Leonardo DiCaprio-starring adventure was shot in Calgary and Kananaskis, Alta., as well as Burnaby and Squamish, B.C. The parties: The place to be is Flames Central, where I.A.T.S.E. Local 212 is holding a party to celebrate the crew members who worked tirelessly on the film. The awards gala will be splashed across 100-plus screens for the more than 350 industry guests expected. It perhaps goes without saying that if The Revenant wins, you will hear them roar. The whole place will light up, said local president Damian Petti. Many hundreds of Canadians and Albertans worked on this project, and the bias will be as strong as it can be in favour of The Revenant. Hamilton/Pickering/Toronto The film: Spotlight The nominations: 6 The locations: Few realize that the Boston-set journalism procedural actually shot many scenes in Ontario, also home of course to best supporting actress nominee Rachel McAdams. The interior of the Boston Globe is actually an old Sears building on Islington Ave.; the exterior of the police station featured early on was shot in the Junction; Mark Ruffalo and Stanley Tucci chow down at the Golden Diner on Carlton St.; Michael Keaton has drinks at the Park Hyatts Roof Lounge; and the courtroom scenes were captured at Hamiltons John Sopinka Courthouse. The parties: Root forMcAdamsata free bash at the Revue Cinema, not too far from where she shot scenes at St. Pauls Anglican Church. Or head to a free-to-the-public viewing party at Innis Town Hall at U of T, the same campus where Liev Schreibers newspaper editor stared down Cardinal Bernard Law and Ruffalos conflicted journalist watched a childrens choir. Montreal The film: Brooklyn The nominations: 3 The locations: TheQuebec hub was an elegant stand-in for the broad streets and sterling department stores of 1950s Brooklyn. The boarding house where Saoirse Ronans fresh-faced immigrant comes of age is actually the Memorial Chapter House for the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity on Stanley St. The parties: Cinema du Parcis maintaining its annual tradition with a free Oscars screening. If youre in the mood for some of the Old Montreal flavour that coloured Brooklyn, perhaps an appropriate bet is the Rosewood Montreal, where attendees are encouraged to get glammed up for an evening of Oscar-worthy debauchery. Toronto The film: Room The nominations: 4 The locations: The Lenny Abrahamson-directed Irish-Canadian drama about a 5-year-old and his mother escaping from a life of confinement shot a skating scene at Nathan Phillips Square, a hospital scene at Bridgepoint Health and a restaurant scene at Etobicokes Apache Burgers. The parties: ThereareexcitingOscarparties all over town Drunk Feminist Films and the Royal Cinema are teaming for a raucous event, Cinecycle has a steampunk costume bash, and the Bloor Cinema is rolling out a red carpet but another option is to head to Apache Burgers for takeout and watch from the comfort of your own home. Because after all, what says Room like staying in? SHARE: Up under this guys arm, squeeze by that womans butt, then negotiate a skinny aisle like two trains on the same un-switched track back away and let the other person pass. Its never been an easy thing, browsing among the higgledy-piggledy stacks of inventory piled nine feet high to the ceiling at Open Air Books & Maps. Even more of a mosh-pit now that faithful customers have learned the Toronto book bijoux is shuttering forever within a few weeks, bringing a crush of buyers and browsers to the cramped cellar at the corner of Adelaide and Toronto Sts. Yet another victim of anonymous, greedy numbered-company property ownership. Jeff Axler, proprietor, got the notice just before Christmas. There was no opportunity to even haggle over a rent increase to the current $2,400-a-month plus one-shot increments. Thrown out by the landlord, he sighs. Be gone by April 1 and thanks for your patronage. What will become of the space is unknown, but the owners have title to a chunk of real estate on the block. One more ugly-as-spit condo development? As if the neighborhood isnt already glutted with them. Thirty years, Open Air Books & Maps has occupied this location, and a decade previously in another building nearby. Those of us with wanderlust, itchy feet, are addicted to the joint as the go-to choice for a vast selection of books on travel and natural history, from the popular to the obscure and out-of-print; for maps of off-the-beaten-path places; for gadgets. Fifty-thousand books on the premises, a treasure trove of reading and perusing, from paperback to coffee-table glossies. Over the years Ive bought hundreds, with titles such as The Island of the Colorblind, Baghdad Sketches, The Blessings of a Good Thick Skirt Women Travellers and Their World. Entering through the heavy black wooden door, the basement hidey-hole looks chaotic, but Axler can put his fingers on whatever is sought. There is a method to the madness. Herodotus, I asked Friday, looking for a work by the Greek writer widely regarded as The Father of History. Sold my last copy last week, Axler informs regretfully. An adventurer himself, Axler has visited nearly 70 countries, once swapping a carton of cigarettes for lodgings in Myanmar. He counts India, Vietnam, Liberia and Papua New Guinea as among his most intriguing sojourns. The store was an undertaking born of his own interest and a gap in the marketplace. Back then, the industry wasnt so dominated by big book chains. I saw that the best way to go was more specialized. The Golden Era for bookstores would have been in the late 80s, early 90s. Pre-Amazon days, as online shopping has obliterated the independent bookstore field. Though Open Air Books & Maps, as a niche emporium, was somewhat protected from the big-footers. The obvious travel guides are accounted for, but Open Air Books & Maps specializes in the esoteric, the niche, the literature of travel writing, memoirs. When headed for far-away places, I still come here first, schlepping a heavy sack of books around the planet rather than rely on Kindle or the like. I want a thing I can leaf through, settle on my chest in a train sleeper, dog-eared and stuffed with notes. And real maps that unfold, however clumsily, rather than apps on a smartphone. My idea of bliss is a mid-week day off an hour or two browsing the stacks, sushi lunch next door at Nami Restaurant, and an afternoon movie down the street. I inch my way around the constricted quarters, dipping into a William Dalrymple here, a Paul Theroux there, inhaling the aroma of pressed pages, sneezing at the disturbed dust. In a corner, I crouch over Wayward Women: A Guide to Women Travellers over the centuries, and feel kinship with adventuresses long dead, free-thinkers and eccentrics who broke all the rules of female etiquette: British explorer Freya Stark; Gertrude Bell, archeologist (and spy) who helped establish the modern state of Iraq; Annie Londonderry, first woman to bicycle around the world (in the late 19th century); irrepressible crusading reporter Nellie Bly. Books have been flying off the shelves here in recent weeks as long-time patrons come by to say farewell and stock up on the deeply discounted fare. Axler is unsure what hell do with the left-over inventory. Libraries dont seem that interested; Ive asked around. Im thinking about donating to prisons though obviously their readers arent going to be travelling any time soon. Books can take anyone beyond four walls. Axler might put what isnt purchased into long-term shortage and sell via an online site. He cant take any more books home because the wife wont allow it. I feel like a tunneler in a prisoner-of-war camp, in reverse, sneaking books in. Staff hug and cry with long-standing customers. I didnt tell people at first that we were closing, says Axler. I didnt want it to be a three-month funeral. But its emotional a lot of wear and tear on my soul. I bring an armful of books to the cash register: Nothing Ever Happens to the Brave: The Story of Martha Gellhorn, The Rise & Fall of the British Empire, Lonely Planets Guide to Rio de Janeiro, My Life in France by Julia Child, and Eric Newbys What The Traveller Saw. That ought to keep me for a few weeks. And then what? I am forlorn. Bon voyage, my dear old friend. Rosie DiManno usually appears Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. SHARE: What colour is Toronto? Syrian refugee children will have the chance to decide, with a new colouring book created to let them shade in images of the city they now call home. With captions in Arabic and English, the collection of drawings some intricate, some whimsical feature points of interest from the Royal Ontario Museum to the Toronto Islands, Grenadier Pond to the Toronto Zoo, from Lake Ontario to Canadas Wonderland, all ready to be brought to living colour by young newcomer hands. The sketches were donated by some 30 Toronto artists as a way to give Syrian refugee families a visual introduction to the city, said Rafi Ghanaghounian, one of three arts supporters who spearheaded the Welcome to Toronto colouring book project. The idea is that while kids are colouring, theyre exploring the images and learning about the city and also getting a little English as well, said Ghanaghounian, who organized the book with fellow art supporters Andrea Pearce and Nicole Baillargeon, following the lead of a Windsor high school teacher who created a similar colouring book for that citys Syrian refugees. He and his partners call their arts group Keep 6 (named for the five senses, plus a persons own experience of art.) It made sense to me to do something for refugees; my grandparents escaped from Armenia just before the Armenian genocide they spent their days in the hills and ended up in Iraq, said Ghanaghounian. Then my own parents escaped from Iraq just before the war with Iran and we moved to Canada in 1979 when I was 8 because they had heard about this guy Pierre Trudeau who was letting people in. Its interesting that now a second Trudeau is welcoming immigrants to Canada. The images are as varied as the artists who created them and yet a surprising number feature a raccoon, including one called Breakfast time with pancakes and Mr. Raccoon in which a family is enjoying pancakes and maple syrup while a masked four-legged thief plucks a cupcake through the open window. Several images of families having picnics in the park, at open-air concerts feature women wearing head scarves. One image called Meet the Girls of Toronto features eight girls with very different styles, from miniskirts to overalls. Another titled There Are Many Joys of Winter in the City features skaters in toques and hockey skates sipping hot chocolate and one is a raccoon. There are simple child-friendly images, and intricate illustrations especially one of High Park that would engage a more mature artist. But one drawing of surfers in the tidal waves of Lake Ontario might raise false hopes among young Syrian surfers. Keep 6 has had 1,000 copies of the colouring book printed and plans to sell about half of them for $20 each to cover the printing costs, with any proceeds going to COSTI Immigrant Services, which has been key in settling so many of the newcomers. But every time someone buys a book, we will give one as a gift. So buy a book, and you give a book, said Ghanaghounian. The Welcome to Toronto colouring books will be available online from the website Keep6.ca and at the Spacing Store at 401 Richmond St. W. They also will be available at the book launch Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Gladstone Hotel. An Arabic music group, Nomadica, will perform and COSTI will bring several Syrian refugee families. We hope to celebrate the journey they have made, said Ghanaghounian, and the journey they will continue to make here. SHARE: Re: Beyond belief, Insight Feb. 21 Beyond belief, Insight Feb. 21 Thanks to reporter Amy Dempsey for her informative feature on the life and ministry of the Rev. Gretta Vosper. I dare say that if the wider public knew what Gretta means by the word atheist, a very high percentage of clergy and parishioners would find themselves on the same page. By atheist she simply means that she no longer believes in a theistic definition of God, which sees God as a physical being who resides somewhere up there or out there beyond the clouds and who rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked and who intervenes in the world to perform miraculous deeds from time to time. As a retired minister of the United Church of Canada, I know very few clergy who still adhere to this primitive, pre-Capernian, pre-Darwinian, pre-Freudian view of God and the world. After attending services at Grettas West Hill United Church, I have found it very uplifting, life-affirming and exemplary of what it surely means when Jesus said, I have come that you may have life; life in all its fullness. Rev. Jim Thompson, Ramara Thank you for Amy Dempseys thoughtful and well-researched article about Gretta Vosper. I have been a part of the congregation for just a few years, but am consistently impressed with Grettas honesty, courage and openness. I appreciate that the word atheist is often misread, and Ms Dempseys article clarifies a difficult concept, and puts Grettas position in context. Elaine Sidhu, Scarborough As a Christian, this whole matter has caused me to reflect upon the nature of my faith. What I find so fascinating about all this is not the fact that an ordained United Church minister describes herself as an atheist and wants to continue ministering, but rather the peoples responses to this. Regardless of how progressive of a reputation the United Church has, even this circumstance would raise some eyebrows. To many Christians just the mention of an atheist minister already raises red flags the term itself sounding like an oxymoron. But there are those in her congregation who continue to support her. Is it so wrong to want to stand with the people who seek guidance from you? I think that with this matter, its causing people to question what makes someone a Christian. Just because Gretta Vospers doctrinal beliefs may not conform to the norms of Christianity, should this be enough to cease her duties as a minister in a Christian church? Her unorthodox approach may not be such a bad thing if it is invoking deep spiritual thought within her congregation. If she were to get dismissed, I cant say it would be all that unprecedented, but it seems like shes formed a good relationship with those in her congregation and dismissing her wouldnt be great for those people. Though I do not exactly agree with her beliefs, this controversial matter is shining light on a new perspective to see Christianity. Jeremy Tobing, Ajax For many years, the United Church has recognized individuals who are poorly trained, or who do not hold to the main teachings of the faith, as ministers. That is why they have been labeled as liberals among the Christian community. They pretend to teach from the Bible while not believing it to be true. Unfortunately, most religious colleges and universities are also filled with liberal teachers teaching from text books that deny the basic truths of the faith. That this woman has declared herself to be an atheist doesnt really separate herself from many of her colleagues since you have to believe those truths (which she has denied) in order to be a Christ follower. As in anything, to be labeled a true follower, one who believes must accept the teachings of Scripture. To deny them puts you outside of the realm of being a Christian teacher or pastor. Until the United Church brings in serious renewal and a commitment to the fundamental truths, then one can only regard their ministers like the description Jesus gave of the Pharisees, white washed tombs. They have the look of something clean and good on the outside but are dead inside. Gary Crosbie, Halton Hills A Christian minister can no more be atheist than a communist can be a Christian. The Rev. Gretta Vosper should do the right thing by leaving the United Church and joining a charitable organization. William Bedford, Newmarket My husband and I joined West Hill United Church in spring 2015, following an article in the Star. We had been waiting for a spiritual community with a sane and helpful approach to life. Gretta Vosper teaches kindness, fairness, forgiveness, attention to native issues, and love. What, in this wonderful, crazy, chaotic, beautiful world could possibly be more important? Patricia Lycett, Bowmanville Gretta Vospers definition of atheism is confusing. She apparently still believes in God just not that God. I would find her story more compelling if she were simply to come forward and say that she doesnt believe in God period. George Parker, Cobourg This article was absolutely phenomenal. Being an atheist myself I was skeptical. Shes a minister but shes also an atheist? It seemed very contradictory but what she stands for is almost revolutionary. Changing such a widely practised religion into a modernized teaching that incorporates open-mindedness while keeping traditional faith figures is an amazing feat and I dont think people realize that. If she succeeds with her modernization of Christian practices, I wouldnt be surprised if other people begin to do the same with other religious practices and it becomes a huge movement. This could possibly be a giant step forward for world peace; eradicating extremism and installing inclusive, open-hearted nature. The beginning of a new era for religion. Kimberley Urquhart, Ajax I support Rev. Gretta Vosper. It is good to test the limits of our beliefs and open up our minds. When I was younger, I moved from the Anglican church to the United Church because of people like Rev. Gretta Vosper. Many of humanitys problems are due to people having rigid, closed minds. Religious dogma is a prime example. It is a scourge that should have been eradicated long ago. From my perspective, Rev. Gretta Vosper is a loving honest leader in a Christian church. The number of people who are turning away from their historical family religious teachings is growing. Religions are slowing dying an ignoble death. I support the concept of religions and communities having congregations, but I do not believe that religious dogma ever served humanity. Religions tend to be self centred, self serving and exclude the rest of humanity. It is their way or the highway. The author, Neale Donald Walsch, in his Conversations with God books stated what I believe Rev. Vosper is trying to message, Ours is not a better way, ours is merely another way. She is attempting to expand our minds to see God in a different light. It is up to each of us to make up our own minds, decide who we want to be and have our own beliefs. This is where people tend to hit a wall. People have a nasty habit of demanding that everyone else must believe as they do. There are countless items reported in the news where people of one belief or another (whether religious based or not), demand that laws and rules be changed to suit their beliefs. So much for religious freedom! I do not believe that people who were raised in a specific religion and will not vary their thoughts from what they have been told, have any beliefs at all. All they have is what they have been told. They are just parroting what their religion tells them. This is not belief, it is memorization and regurgitation. Many people like to say it is belief but it is not, it is brainwashing. For me, true belief only comes after opening up to other ideas and beliefs - it is self created. I give Rev. Gretta Vosper and the United Church high marks and credit for endorsing an open dialogue. I just hope the United Church recognizes the truly world changing step it would be to allow Rev. Gretta Vosper to continue in her role. Martin Campbell, Toronto Some years ago I applied for three administrative jobs for which I was eminently qualified. One was with Redpath Sugar; one with Phillip Morris Tobacco and one with The Toronto Blue Jays. During the interview at Redpath I was offered coffee. I did not take sugar in my coffee. I did not get the job. At Phillip Morris I was offered a cigarette. I do not smoke. I did not get the job. The manager of The Blue Jays asked me if I was a baseball fan. I said I knew very little about baseball. I did not get the job. All these managers were absolutely right not to hire me. You do not hire people who dont believe in your product. Gretta Vosper should be given some other job in the United Church: it is ridiculous to keep her on as a minister. Cathy White, Toronto I read the three-page spread devoted to the atheist pastor. I would like to ask if you could do a three-page spread on the Christian couple who went to Uganda under Idi Amin and now have built an incredible legacy of saving the lives of so many in that decimated country https://vimeo.com/watoto . Jennifer Kiyonaga, Toronto Congratulations on the article about Gretta Vosper. It is balanced and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking. Amy Dempsey has followed the highest standards of journalistic writing. I am a relative newcomer to West Hill United Church, since 2015. I have been an atheist quite comfortably since my mid-20s, about 50 years ago. I was not in search of any spiritual guidance or support. My concern was that religious fanaticism has been on the rise in the last two decades or so. After reading Vospers book Amen, I was curious enough to check out West Hill. From that very first visit, I have felt welcome by Vosper and the church attendees. In the West Hill Church ministered by Vosper, I find people who are sincerely practising the Christian ideals of love and forbearance, trying to understand the many challenges in the world and on our planet, and doing what they can here and now as responsible Canadian and world citizens. They can do this and should do this within the United Church because the church, I would like to think, is open and inclusive. It can encompass ministers like Gretta and people like me who do not believe in the supernatural but want to be truly human and humane human beings. This is a real community. In September of last year, I wrote to the leaders of the United Church in charge of the review of Vosper. The following is an excerpt from that letter which may or may not be of interest to you or Amy Dempsey. . . . My knowledge of the United Church comes down to two items. One, it was formed with the union of two Protestant denominations in 1925, which meant that dialogue and exploration of differences were part of your tradition. Two, what I learned about Rev. James Endicott, a one time Moderator of the United Church, when I was a student at University of Toronto in the 1960s and 1970s. Even though I was already an atheist then, I was impressed by Rev. Endicotts wisdom and compassion for the Chinese people in the 1940s and beyond. He understood the Chinese people and realized that the Chinese Communists were far more helpful to the people, especially the poor, than the Nationalist Party supported by the United States government. He reached out to the Chinese Communists while world powers condemned them. Rev. Endicott saw that a quarter of humankind should not shut out of the world community simply because of differences in political ideologies held by the world leaders. (This was important to me as a Canadian of Chinese ancestry). He was, of course, condemned by world leaders including John Diefenbaker and Lester Pearson. He was also criticized and denounced by his colleagues in the United Church. World events eventually vindicated Rev. Endicotts foresight and action. What also impressed me was the integrity and honesty of the United Church. It later formally apologized to James Endicott for its denunciation of him decades earlier. The United Church to me, an outsider, is that it allows trailblazers like James Endicott and Gretta Vosper to make choices and take actions where their insights and honesty would lead them. Its ministers could reach out and embrace communists at a time when the latter were more or less considered satanic, or atheists when knowledge of our world and the universe/multiverse calls into questions our earlier beliefs, and when the rest of the world seems to be consumed in religious strife or strife instigated by religions directly or indirectly. . . . Wei Djao, Toronto SHARE: Re: Young grads must brush up on skills, schools told, Feb. 22 Young grads must brush up on skills, schools told, Feb. 22 Ive taught at a Toronto community college for the past 10 years, and have come to the alarming conclusion that recent cohorts of students represent the first certifiably post-literate generation. At least, the first in several centuries. A broad disinclination to pick up a book without being compelled to do so, alongside a stubborn disinterest in any concept of a shared general knowledge, might be blamed on any number of factors. But when a teacher has to pause to explain a passing reference to World War II, for example, since there will inevitability be people in the class whove never heard of it, despite their having spent almost 20 years in school already, an uneasiness begins to set in. Perhaps these kids early schooling let them down, in which case we have a conveniently blameworthy excuse for the present epidemic of unconcerned know-nothingness that begins already to define our culture. Or perhaps their parents let them down, by never expressing an interest in literate pursuits themselves and consequently establishing the model of obliviousness that their children cant help but emulate, since its the only example they know. I believe, on the other hand, that its simply indicative of a process of atomization. How can we maintain a collective adherence to a hard-fought ideal like universal literacy when collective enterprises of any sort are routinely smeared by a ruling corporate media thats hopelessly reliant on the dumbest common denominator for its profits and its successes? Just listen to local talk radio for five minutes, or for at least as long as you can stand it. Youll be treated predictably and in rapid order to a breathless rundown of the current hit parade of a carefully-tended backlash, all centred on a visceral dislike of unionism, pedestrians, bicyclists, teachers, general dissent, income redistribution, and any other concept redolent to any degree of collective social progress, even as it applies to the former generational achievements of our parents and grandparents, the fruits of whose efforts to establish an ethic of universal citizen potential and prosperity we can only thank for our own present, if now fading, economic privilege. The motto for this cultivated fake outrage could very well be: I lash back; therefore I am. If we want kids to start picking up books again, the only thing that might yet forestall our slide into what Jane Jacobs called the Dark Age Ahead, then we better do what grownups are supposed to do and lead by example. Assuming were not all screwed already, that is. George Higton, Toronto The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) should read its own research before it embarks on its new groundbreaking pilot project. HEQCO, we are told, has surveyed executives and been told that postsecondary education graduates are deficient in soft or essential skills. HEQCO thus plans to pilot an online skills test for students. Yet HEQCO itself published research (November 2014) that suggests that college and university graduates have the right skills for the labour market. Some 86 per cent of the employers said they were generally satisfied with the employees they hired and 90 per cent believed that their new employee had the necessary skills for the job. The problem for new graduates, the research continues, is not a lack of skills, but a lack of work experience: A study of Canadian job ads found that employers posting entry-level positions expected applicants to have up to two years of work experience. The bright, motivated, and highly skilled graduates whom I know are desperate for a chance to prove themselves in the working world, but all too often are stuck in low-wage jobs or unpaid internships. They dont lack skills; they lack good job opportunities. Kate Lawson, associate professor and chair, Department of English, University of Waterloo This article outlines a problem that is not new. Back in the late 1990s the Ontario government introduced a new section in the provincial report card called Learning Skills and Work Habits. Mirroring calls by business and other organizations in Canada and the United States the provincial government called for teachers in K-12 to assess as best they could responsibility, organization, independent work, collaboration, initiative and self regulation. These competencies are defined but there are a number of challenges to assess in K-12 contexts. Perhaps most important is the reluctance of many teachers that I have talked to in the high school grades to give these serious notice since they are not given percentage grades. Here are two suggestions for helping high school teachers take these ideas more seriously. First of all, talk to K-8 teachers and visit a class or two to see the importance of these skills in action. Secondly, design learning tasks that, in addition to curriculum expectations and learning outcomes, show teachers and students the importance of these competencies. For example, the power of bringing different perspectives and experiences to bear when students work in teams to solve complex problems as occurs in the world outside of school. John J.C. Myers, curriculum instructor, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto One would think that with more than 25 years of education reform efforts, including major curriculum reforms and testing, this would no longer be an issue especially at the post-secondary level. Students who cannot read, spell, use proper grammar, or do basic arithmetic will face many obstacles as they progress through school, until they reach a point where the buck finally has to stop. Various lavish government agencies, such as the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat, have been established to rectify the problems of lack of basic skill fluency in Ontario students. Math is a perfect example of a skill that has been trending down in the last decade or so. Whatever they are doing is just not working. The problem continues to be a focus on higher order skills in the primary grades and not enough on fundamentals. We expect students to run before they can even crawl. Rather than test students at the post-secondary level, lets make sure that students are fluent in basics skills before they face more challenging tasks. Prevention is easier, and cheaper, than the cure. Doretta Wilson, executive director, Society for Quality Education Poor basic literacy is nothing new. Middle schools blame primary schools. High schools blame middle schools. Universities/colleges blame high schools. And businesses blame universities/colleges for pushing out students with poor basic literacy. Test them all is the constant mantra. I suggest, that everyone take their responsibility seriously at all levels. Once you have a student with poor skills, deal with it. Testing may help in identification but is not the solution, especially if it leads to exclusion. Further, dont put down the humanities for the sake of creating business-ready students. As owner of a software company, I can tell you that being a techno-savvy graduate is not enough to succeed. Fraser Shein, Toronto My experience as a young person with a graduate arts degree who has recently been in the job market is that there is more to this picture than what your article alludes to. Although I agree that many university graduates are poorly equipped to explain the value of their education to prospective employers, these surveys may also indicate that corporate screening and hiring practices eliminate the candidates with skills they are actually looking for. I suspect that many of us were served coffee this morning by baristas with university degrees and impressive soft skills who will never get an interview with one of the participant organizations in HEQCOs 20 surveys. Yacine Dottridge, Toronto Are you telling me that our debt-soaked university grads who have endured sardine can lectures and endless multiple choice exams and quizzes, that they are deficient in literacy and numeracy skills coupled with their poor problem solving abilities and inadequate social skills as required by our employers? What a scam of higher learning devised by Ontario universities who have inflicted such a tragedy on the minds of our future waiters/waitresses and Uber drivers. Your article made me feel so fortunate that I received my masters and doctorate degrees from Trinity Pacific of the Cascades university for only $200 in 1997 and avoided this humiliating, psychosis for life. Mike Zichowski, Thornhill Why is this happening? Because you need a mark of only 50 per cent to get an Ontario high school credit and if you do not take any math-related courses in college or university, your math skills will be weak. And the short forms and symbols in texting where a full sentence is never written leaves ones literary skills equally lacking. Hello to our no one ever fails or gets held back education system. Eileen Herbert, Barrie SHARE: No one in the GOP presidential field wants to touch a former KKK leader's endorsement of Donald Trump -- not even Trump himself. David Duke, a white nationalist and former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard, urged listeners of his radio program to volunteer and vote for the Republican frontrunner this week, "Voting for these people, voting against Donald Trump at this point is really treason to your heritage," he said on the David Duke Radio Program, referring to Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, whose parents both come from Cuba. He encouraged his audience to lend the Trump camp a hand: "Go in there, you're gonna meet people who are going to have the same kind of mindset that you have." The comments, first reported by BuzzFeed, made waves in the media. But the candidates themselves have kept a distance -- even when using everything else at their disposal to attack the Republican frontrunner. At the Republican presidential debate Tuesday, aired on CNN, Florida Senator Rubio unloaded on Trump with a flurry of attacks, going after the boisterous billionaire's business record, hiring practices, bankruptcies and litigation record. Texas Senator Cruz joined the fray, too, doubling down on Rubio's comments over Trump University lawsuits and painting Trump as unfaithful to the conservative cause. But when it came to the issue of the Duke endorsement, of which much was made in the media, candidates steered clear. While to the outside observer, the KKK ties, however loose, may appear a big deal, Rubio and Cruz seem to view Trump's business dealings and questionable credentials as a member of the conservative movement as much stronger grounds for attack, especially in a Republican primary contest, explained Dave Hopkins, political scientist at Boston College and co-author of the 2011 book Presidential Elections: Strategies and Structures of American Politics. "A lot of people don't even know who David Duke is, so it's hard to explain to a debate audience why they should care," he said. "In addition, Trump's support from white supremacists is due to his hard line on immigration and terrorism, and his Republican rivals are currently trying to compete with him on those issues. Attacking from 'the left' is usually a rare strategy in the Republican primaries." Jon Ralston, a journalist who covers Nevada politics and writes for the Reno Gazette-Journal, echoed that voters are unlikely to know who Duke is, adding, "Other attacks [were] designed to resonate with voters who can easily grasp allegations of fraud (Trump University) and old Democratic support and positions." Rubio and Cruz also likely calculated that the Duke endorsement may be too simple for Trump to brush aside, explained Jonah Goldberg, National Review senior editor and fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. "It's too easy for Trump to deflect (they endorse me, I don't endorse them) and paint it as an attempt to call Trump's supporters racist," he said. "That would play bad with the base." Trump proved Goldberg right on the deflection front Friday when asked about Duke's backing while unveiling an endorsement from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. "I didn't even know he endorsed me," Trump said. "David Duke endorsed me? Okay, alright. I disavow, okay?" This week isn't Trump's first brush with less-than-savory characters. In January, he retweeted a message from a Twitter user with the handle @WhiteGenocideTM, and a white nationalist group made robo-calls backing him in Iowa. Despite regulatory hurdles designed to discourage the practice, some companies control enough of their respective markets that raising prices won't hurt them. Analysts at Morgan Stanley say that assessing a company's pricing power is one of the cornerstones of bottom-up investment research. While the consumer pricing index (CPI) rose slightly in January, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, Morgan Stanley's report notes that "core goods prices are largely determined by external developments." As a result, Morgan Stanley pooled the opinions of its U.S. analysts to identify stocks rated as overweight or equal-weight that the analysts expect to exercise their pricing power in the near term. The firm's team came up with 18 names that "includes health care companies that focus on innovation (e.g., Bristol-Myers (BMY) , biotechs), ones that have recurring revenue models with a value proposition that emphasizes location (e.g. telecom towers, Extra Space Storage (EXR) , Equinix (EQIX) ), ones that possess strong brands in growing categories (Starbucks (SBUX) , L Brands (LB) ), and some that offer consumables with low demand elasticity (tobacco, Constellation Brands (STZ) , Sally Beauty (SBH) ). We decided to pair Morgan Stanley's analyst notes with the technical analysis from our own resident chartist Bruce Kamich. Kamich pulled the top seven stocks out of the list whose charts show the strongest fundamentals and the most promise. "The rest of the list is just okay. They might turn out to be buys later, but right now they don't do anything for me," Kamich said of the stocks left off the list. Media giant Comcast (CMCSA) made Kamich's cut. The company made a big move when it purchased NBCUniversal from GE (GE) for $16.7 billion in 2013. There were concerns the cable provider's ownership of NBC would create a conflict of interest, but U.S. regulators disagreed with that sentiment when they allowed the purchase to come through. Morgan Stanley: "For NBCU, we believe Comcast can continue to close the 'monetization gap' between itself and peers, supporting above-average affiliate fee and retrans growth in Cable Networks and Broadcast, respectively. More broadly, we see potential upside to estimates in both Cable and NBCU and think shares can work simply by delivering on consensus estimates alone given the current valuation (~6x Cable EV / fwd. EBITDA). In Cable, we are positive on CMCSA's broadband growth story and see improved results in video given X1. We expect programming cost growth to slow as it exits a content cost bubble by '17E, while capital intensity should fall over time as investments roll off. For NBCU, we see potential upside from the Olympics in '16E and continued momentum in Parks," wrote analyst Benjamin Swinburne. Kamich: "Shares of CMCSA have largely traded sideways in the past 12 months, basically in a $10 range. More recently CMCSA is getting poised for a move higher," Kamich wrote. "The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) oscillator is poised to cross lines from below the zero line generating a "cover shorts" buy signal. The 40-week moving average shows a slight downward slope but prices for CMCSA are right on it and could close above it fairly easily." Constellation Brands has a wide variety of brands that it distributes. The company owns over 100 brands of wine, beer and spirits including Corona, Negra Modelo and Robert Mondavi. Morgan Stanley: "We believe STZ will exhibit strong pricing power over the next 12 months, but also longer term in its beer business (two-thirds of total profit) for a few key reasons: (i) post a multi-year convergence of STZ price gaps relative to the industry (from a 45% premium in 2010 to a mid-30% premium currently), we believe the company has ample room to increase pricing given market-share momentum across the portfolio supported by greater brand reinvestment and demographic tailwinds," wrote analyst Dara Mohsenian wrote. Kamich: "This longer-term chart of STZ, above, should make you forget the small "flaws" seen in the short-term chart. You can't miss the strong uptrend here with prices above the rising 40-week moving average. The OBV line is positive on this time frame. Last, we see no bearish divergences between the rising prices and the momentum study. A slowing momentum picture can foreshadow a weaker price picture but that is not an issue on STZ now." Equinix is a networking company that provides data center offerings. The company's price target was recently upgraded to $345 from $325 by analysts at RBC Capital. Analysts at William Blair also recently upgraded the company's stock to outperform. Morgan Stanley has a price target of $268. Morgan Stanley: "Equinix operates data centers in premium locations in most global financial hubs; customers need to locate in Equinix facilities to access ecosystems of other financial services, network, and cloud providers," wrote analyst Simon Flannery. "Evidence of this pricing power can be seen in rapid growth in interconnections, which demonstrates the need to be connected in that data center." Kamich: "Things look pretty good in this chart of EQIX, above, aside from a short-term break below the rising 200-day moving average. The OBV line has been rising the past twelve months telling us that buyers of EQIX have been more aggressive than sellers. The MACD oscillator is positive and poised to move back above the zero line for an outright buy signal." Philip Morris International (PM) has a 39% market share in the EU in 2014. The legacy cigarettes maker has a worldwide market share of 15.6%, excluding China, it has an international market share of 28.6%. Morgan Stanley: "We believe PM will exhibit pricing power over the next 12 months and have room for continued pricing growth beyond this year. Over the past 12 months, the Global Tobacco industry exhibited improving results following a period of "depressed" growth during 2013-14," said analyst Matthew Grainger. "For PM, we see ample pricing opportunity over the coming years, as its pricing momentum has meaningfully accelerated in 2015. PM's recent commentary during its 4Q15 conference call indicated that the company experienced "strong pricing across all regions" and was a key aspect of its favorable 2016 outlook." Kamich: "Working on a textbook of chart patterns? Consider this longer-term chart of PM, above, for its great looking base pattern. Prices are just now breaking out above the "neckline" drawn across the $91 level. Notice the two years (yes years) of a rising OBV line. Prices are above the rising 40-week moving average and the MACD oscillator is in a bullish configuration, rising above the zero line." Fellow cigarette maker Reynolds American (RAI) also made the list of companies that could exercise pricing power in the near term. Morgan Stanley: "Our recent cigarette affordability deep dive suggests a substantial pricing opportunity in the U.S. US tobacco industry pricing has been meaningfully stronger than expected during the past 12-18 months, increasing 5-7%. In 2016, we expect RAI to continue to realize solid 4%-5% underlying pricing (enhanced further by positive mix associated with Newport)," said analyst Matthew Grainger. Kamich: "Another great looking and rare in this market environment uptrend on this chart (above) of Reynolds American. Prices are above the rising 50-day and the rising 200-day moving average. The On-Balance (OBV) line has been confirming the higher prices the past year. Volume is higher on days when RAI closes higher. The MACD oscillator is above the zero line and rising -- a bullish set up." Sally Beauty Holdings is a beauty supply retailer and distributor has a consensus analyst recommendation of Buy from the 16 firms that cover the company. Morgan Stanley: First, on the cost of good sold side, SBH is seeking better terms from its suppliers. Given that SBH sells a significant portion of private label (50% of products), SBH is seeing success. This started to show in the December-quarter (F1Q) results and should continue throughout the year," said analyst Simeon Gutman. "Second, SBH is raising prices to consumers. Thus far, this has been highly successful and according to the CEO, they are just 5-10% underway. What helps SBH with pricing power is very low average ticket and basket sizes. Typically, baskets are $20-$30 with three to four items." Kamich: "Overall this longer-term chart of SBH is neutral, but it is turning topside, in my opinion. Prices are above the 40-week moving average but the 40-week average has yet to turn up. The OBV line is in a broad sideways trend but up since November. Last, the MACD oscillator is positive and crossing above the zero line." Sherwin-Williams (SHW) develops paint coatings and related products. The company is one of the leaders in the industry, has a $27.3 billion market cap and is part of Forbes' list of the biggest 2000 companies in the world. Morgan Stanley: We expect Sherwin-Williams to exhibit pricing power as we continue to move through a period of sustained raw material deflation," said analyst Vincent Andrews. "Sherwin retained price in 2015 so as to drive +280 basis points of incremental gross margin gains, and we expect the company to benefit further in 2016 as the coatings raw material environment remains similarly accommodating. Sherwin's pricing power relates to its control of its own distribution, as well as its outsized leverage to professional painting contractors." Kamich: "There is a lot of promise in this longer-term chart of SHW. While prices have been edging down in the past year, the OBV line has been going up the past three years! Prices are just now going above the 40-week moving average and the MACD oscillator is going in the right direction to confirm the price strength," wrote Kamich. Apple (AAPL) is gearing up for a long battle with the government over encryption in a case that could land in the U.S. Supreme Court, one legal expert said. Apple has filed a brief that argues for dismissal of a court order requiring it to assist the FBI in the investigation into the San Bernardino shootings by writing new software to be used to access one of the shooter's iPhones. In its filing, Apple argued that the court order places an undue burden on the company, and violates its rights under both the First and Fifth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. "There are a couple of prongs to Apple's arguments that I think are interesting," said Matt Larson, Litigation Analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence. "They're raising constitutional arguments as to whether this compels speech in violation of the First Amendment, and whether it also violates them of certain due process rights," he explained. "Those constitutional issues are maybe more placeholders for appellate arguments down the road. I'm not sure how much those are going to sway the magistrate judge that the case is before right now, but Apple is certainly teeing this up to be a big constitutional battle." The next step in the case will occur by March 10. That's the date U.S. attorneys are due to respond to Apple's filing. "The government is obviously going to play up the security concerns. There is precedent that technology companies have to help the government execute these kind of search procedures," said Larson. "The government is going to try to show that this isn't necessarily an overly burdensome exercise for Apple." Larson believes it's possible that the case will go all the way to the Supreme Court. "I don't see either party backing down," said Larson. Alicia and James Ditty hug during a candlelight vigil at Heritage Park in Hesston, Kan., on Friday. Feb. 26, 2016. On Thursday, Cedric Ford, an employee of Excel Industries in Hesston, allegedly entered the factory and killed three people and wounded over a dozen others. Slayton works at Excel but wasn't in the building at the time of the shooting. (Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle via AP) Recover your password. A password will be e-mailed to you. But the tribe has a long way to go Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) was informed Friday afternoon that Baruch College President Mitchel Wallerstein has decided to alter the spring graduation ceremony time to 4 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. on Friday, May 27th 2016 in an effort to accommodate Sabbath observers. The decision came after thoughtful consideration and a large outcry of nearly 1,400 students in the form of a petition, created by January graduate Renee Shemesh, and a personal letter to the president from Assemblyman Hikind urging Dr. Wallerstein to do the right thing and allow all students to attend graduation. Im thrilled that Baruch College responded to the outcry of its Jewish student body and took swift measures in resolving the situation, said an elated Hikind. This goes much further than graduation; its about standing up for your rights and not backing down. Thanks to Renees bravery and her petition, all Sabbath-observing students can enjoy their graduation at Baruch without being deprived of the joy and celebration. Hikind extended his praises to President Wallerstein, who acted quickly in rectifying the dilemma. In modifying the spring commencement time for the Jewish student body, the President sends a clear message that every students graduation is just as important as the next, and acts as a reminder to be culturally sensitive, he said. Im proud that Baruch College exemplifies that message. Renee Shemesh, who recently graduated at Baruch College in January but will walk in the spring, submitted her petition on social media Wednesday and by Friday morning had 1,375 signatures in favor of changing the time or date of the ceremony originally slated for 5 p.m. on Friday, May 27th 2016. Im so happy of the resolution because its the respectful thing to do. It was handled in the right manner on both sides, Shemesh told Hikinds office. The petition was made to show Baruch how much students, their families, and friends care about this issue. Once I posted the petition online and spoke about it openly, many students reached out to me about their concern and how they were unaware of what steps to take. They were glad that I pushed for this, and I am extremely honored to be a help to the students graduating with me this spring. We worked really hard for this moment. Graduation is an experience we will never get back. Now is our time to shine with all of our friends and family and, thankfully, we are able to celebrate in the right way. Added Hikind: This was about doing the right thing, and allowing every student equal opportunity to attend and enjoy their graduation. Without having to rush home before Shabbos, everyone will be able to better enjoy the celebration of a lifetime achievement. (YWN Desk NYC) When Aureus Mining chief executive David Reading listed the company on AIM in April 2011, he had an ambitious but credible plan to create the first commercial gold mine in Liberia. Today, the mine is in production but the firm is in tatters. Listed at 115p, the shares are now 4p and the business is effectively up for sale. The groups fall from grace is miserable for Reading and his team, but it is also desperate for investors. Midas recommended Aureus shares in October 2013, when they were 30p and suggested that shareholders hold on to their hats, after the stock fell to 24p in May 2015. Under pressure: Aureus Mining chief executive David Reading Since then, the shares have gone from bad to worse. Pummelled by the Ebola virus, Aureus then encountered problems with its equipment. Production, expected to be 60,000 ounces in 2015, was little more than 17,000 ounces. Such a shortfall imposed severe pressure on Readings cash position. He was forced to issue 8.2 million of new equity at 5p a share last November and last month had to delay the companys first debt repayment to its banks. A financial adviser, Canadian group RBC Capital Markets, was appointed to undertake a strategic review of Aureus, which means the firm is up for grabs. Ironically, the for sale sign has been hoisted just as gold has started to rise in price and Aureus has pretty much ironed out its production problems. Last week, the group announced production of 5,478 ounces for the whole of January and 5,523 ounces for the first two weeks of February. Later this week, production figures for the whole of February should show further improvements, making it highly likely that Aureus will have produced more gold in the first two months of 2016 than in the whole of last year. Shining: The gold price has risen from just over $1,050 an ounce on January 1 to more than $1,230 today The increase in production comes as the gold price has risen from just over $1,050 an ounce on January 1 to more than $1,230 today, buoyed by a growing appreciation of golds status as a safe haven in difficult times. All of which makes Aureus a relatively attractive business to potential bidders. Capitalised on the stock market at a lowly 17million, the group has 1.14million ounces of proven reserves at its New Liberty mine in Liberia, worth more than 1billion. Production costs, including staff wages, head office expenses and the price of recovering and processing the ore, amount to about 730million and the group has outstanding debt of almost 80million. Simple maths therefore, would suggest Aureus could be worth nearly 200million. Of course, a company in distress is not in a position to be too demanding and, if a buyer emerges, the offer price will almost certainly be considerably less. But, interested parties are circling and indicative bids are likely to be submitted by the end of March. Forecasters have been predicting a slowdown in the smartphone market for months and at the beginning of this year, Apple chief executive Tim Cook admitted that he expects iPhone sales to fall in the three months to March. If true, this would be the first decline since the phone was launched nearly nine years ago. Such predictions do little for Laird, the British electronics company whose single biggest customer is Apple. Over the past year, its shares have slipped back from a peak of 400p to 332p today, but the fall is overdone and the stock should bounce back. Laird chief executive David Lockwood unveils 2015 results later this week and some of the Citys more thoughtful analysts expect the company to deliver a near 9 per cent increase in revenues to 631 million, a 14.5 per cent rise in profits to 72.4 million and a 5 per cent hike in the dividend to 12.5p. Tuned in: Laird is making antennae for the Rio Olympics That is in a year when smartphone sales have been under pressure. A number of reasons lie behind the groups resilience. First, Laird is not just about smartphones. The business makes materials that protect electronic components from heat and electromagnetic interference, so that gadgets such as iPhones do not burn users or give them electric shocks. Apple and Samsung are big customers, but they are not the only ones. Laird also provides materials used in the roll-out of 4G and 5G telecoms networks and it works with a range of industries, such as vehicle manufacturers, medical equipment makers and consumer goods firms. In the US, for example, many hospitals offer creche services so that new mothers can sleep at night. To ensure that the right baby is given to the right mother in the morning, both are given special electronic ID wristbands designed by Laird. The group also provides materials used in CT scanners and other sophisticated medical kit and Lockwood is keen to develop this side of the business. Decline? Apple boss Tim Cook may see iPhone sales slide Laird also designs antennae that enable wi-fi internet to work. Its aerials are on the Empire State Building in New York so that tourists can use the internet while admiring the view. The group was responsible for the antennae at the London Olympics and it has just been commissioned to do the same job at the forthcoming Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Some of Lairds biggest customers are car makers, such as Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Ford and BMW, as the group supplies aerials that allow drivers to use digital radio, satellite navigation and blue-tooth technology. Smart cars are all the rage and the number of available technologies is only likely to increase, as more vehicles become equipped with facilities such as assisted parking, automatic emergency braking and cruise control. Laird is also likely to benefit from the internet of things essentially the increased use of wireless technology to make life safer, easier and more efficient. Tall order: Laird has aerials on the Empire State Building The group already supplies hospitals with kit that allows staff to monitor drips electronically. It supplies industrial vending machines with technology that shows when a certain number of products have been sold and may need to be replenished. It provides exceptionally robust antennae used by police vehicles, ambulances and huge agricultural vehicles. And it works with a variety of industrial and commercial customers, providing wi-fi connectivity for everything from teleconferencing in offices to sophisticated machine monitoring in high-tech manufacturing sites. In 2015, 4.9 billion devices were connected to the internet and that figure is expected to reach 25 billion by 2020. Laird is at the heart of this digital explosion and Lockwood is determined to reap the benefits, remaining in the vanguard of technological development and ensuring that the company retains its reputation for quality. Success story: Rightmove has raised its dividend by almost a quarter Online property giant Rightmove raised its dividend by nearly a quarter yesterday after delivering its 15th consecutive year of growth since its birth. The company, whose website advertises one million homes for sale or to rent, said revenues rose 15 per cent to 192.1million last year. Profits jumped 12 per cent to 137.1million as the number of visits to the website rose by 18 per cent to a record 1.3billion. Rightmove, which was set up in 2000, raised the dividend for the year from 35p a share to 43p a share but the stock fell 144p, or 3.68 per cent, to 3771p. We continue to break records at the start of 2016 having already generated over nine million leads for our customers, said chief executive Nick McKittrick. The Rightmove figures came as a report from the Land Registry showed that in January house prices recorded their biggest monthly jump since June 2002, rising by 2.5 per cent. The 4,732 increase in the average property value compared with December pushed the average house price in England and Wales to 191,812. Peter Rollings, chief executive of estate agent Marsh & Parsons, said: First-time buyers and buy-to-let investors are moving at a brisk pace, and while they continue to grossly outnumber properties for sales, house price growth will persist through the wider political uncertainty. The chief executive of BT warned this weekend that quitting the EU could drag business back to a bygone era of import taxes and regulations. Gavin Patterson, who last week signed a public letter calling for Britain to stay in the EU, said the 28-member group gave UK business added protection in a harsh and unforgiving world. He told The Mail on Sunday: Critics complain of EU bureaucracy and rules. They miss the big picture the opening of EU markets to whichever companies can offer the best prices, services and products. In: Gavin Patterson is calling for Britain to stay in the EU as he says it gives UK business added protection Rival firms in other countries sometimes try to lock us out. Its usually easier for them to try that on if theyre based in a non-EU country. When that happens, there is no doubt UK companies are helped rather than hindered by British membership of the EU. It is one thing to have the British Government batting for BT as it has been. It is even better when the EU, representing 28 governments and half a billion people, puts its weight behind demands to sort things out. Patterson pointed out that EU regulations would continue to affect British exporters to the region even if the UK pulled out. What business leader would try to run his company by unilaterally giving up a place at the table where crucial deals are struck? he asked. Its hard to remember an era when we had to worry about import taxes and regulatory hurdles thrown in the way of trade between countries that are now longstanding members of the EU. That was a bygone era, thankfully and thanks in large part to the EU, with its focus on minimising trade barriers. Patterson and his chairman Sir Michael Rake were among the bosses of 36 FTSE 100 companies who came out in favour of staying in the EU in the letter last week. The Mail on Sunday has been running its own rolling survey of FTSE 100 companies. It can be revealed that bosses at 45 of the FTSE 100 companies have now publicly said they are in favour of remaining in the EU. The remainder have not commented and a number of these have stated they have no intention of ever doing so. Lloyds Banking Group is to hold a board meeting on April 14 to debate the issue. The banks chairman Lord Blackwell has been a vocal Eurosceptic, while its chief executive Antonio Horta Osorio has maintained a neutral position on the issue. Royal Bank of Scotland is wielding the axe over 200 more jobs as it unveils a 2billion loss for 2015. The state-owned bank is cutting staff at its commercial banking unit, which handles large loans. This follows The Mail on Sundays revelation two weeks ago that the bank had warned 400 staff of possible redundancies. The cuts are part of the banks drive to lower costs, but it claimed the change would provide a more efficient service. Job cuts: Staff at RBS commercial banking unit handling large loans will be affected The 200 jobs include 140 commercial managers, 45 area lending managers and 15 senior lending directors. The commercial banking division handles 12,000 of RBSs biggest business customers providing loans of more than 250,000. Many will now be handled by the business banking arm, which previously handled smaller borrowing. An RBS spokesman said: As part of our drive to simplify our business, we are moving a number of customers into our business banking division, where we believe they will receive a more efficient service. Unfortunately this will result in some job losses. We are working to support staff affected. RBS, which is 73 per cent owned by the Treasury, revealed on Friday huge payouts on compensation for missold payment protection insurance and 2.9 billion in restructuring costs, which led to the larger than expected total loss for 2015. Savers have pulled a huge 1.7billion out of cash Isas in the last six months figures from the British Bankers' Association show, as popularity of the tax-free vehicle crumbles. That compares to 4.4billion that poured into them in the same six-month period between August 2014 and January 2015, the data shows. In the past savers would pile cash into these accounts in what was dubbed Isa season. However experts believe it unlikely we will see anything like the same level of inflows this year, as rates remain pitiful and changes to savings accounts make them a viable alternative. Between October 2010 and July 2013, the amount of money put into cash Isas grew every month, according to figures from the British Bankers' Association. The growth reflected their huge popularity among savers. Cash Isas: Data shows billions have been withdrawn from the tax-free vehicle with a new personal savings allowance coming into play from April However since then it has been a mixed bag, with increasing spells of net reductions in Isa deposits, punctuated with growth at only certain times, for example in April and July 2014 when the new 15,000 limit was introduced. The 551million withdrawn in December was the biggest on record, statistics from Britain's biggest banks show, while 531million last month was also one of the largest. The dramatic drop in cash Isa money is likely to be caused by three factors. Firstly, rates have dropped like a stone. As the graph below shows, normal fixed-rates have offered a higher rate of interest compared to tax-free rivals since July 2015, a dramatic switch compared to previous months. Where once the fixed-rate Isa paid, on average, 0.44 per cent more than fixed-rate bonds, today they pay 0.13 per cent less, the research from independent rate checking website Savings Champion shows. Secondly, the personal savings allowance comes into play from April. It means a basic-rate taxpayer can earn 1,000 interest a year without having to pay tax. Higher-rate taxpayers will be able to earn 500 interest. Susan Hannums, director at Savings Champion.co.uk, said: 'If providers are already losing interest in cash Isa savers, savers will shortly follow. 'If rates don't improve, there's little indication that savers will see the point in utilising their cash Isa allowance, even though it is in addition to their personal savings allowance. And where does this leave those with existing cash Isas, if rates continue to look less appealing?' CASH ISAS 2015/16 January 2016: -531m December 2015: -551m November 2015: -485m October 2015: 29m September 2015: -103m August 2015: -59m Total withdrawn: 1.7bn CASH ISAS 2014/15 January 2015: -15m December 2014: 676m November 2014: 736m October 2014: 915m September 2014: 597m August 2014: 1.45bn Total added: 4.4bn Currently, savers in the best easy-access account - one from RCI Bank that pays 1.55 per cent - would only breach the personal savings allowance with more than 64,516 for a basic-rate taxpayer, or 32,258 for a higher-rate taxpayer, Savings Champion says. The current best easy-access cash Isa rate is lower at 1.45 per cent. It says savers could have amassed 86,280 in cash Isas over the years without including interest earned. With average interest included, this could be closer to 100,000, fully tax-free. Susan adds: 'In the short term, while rates are low, opting to use the personal savings allowance before using your cash Isa may be the better option. 'However, if and when rates do eventually start to rise, the amount at which savers can save tax-free will diminish, if they are only utilising the personal savings allowance.' Another factor for lower amounts in cash Isas is likely to the be emergence of interest paying current accounts. Emma Jones, founder of fast-growing small business group Enterprise Nation, has said being in the EU is beneficial for its members and in its poll, which ended yesterday, more than 60 per cent said they would be voting for the UK to remain. Jones, who set up the support group in 2006 and became one of eight co-founders of StartUp Britain, a national campaign to encourage people to set up firms, in 2011, said: We believe the UKs membership of the EU brings lots of benefits to small firms and well be taking some on trade missions to EU countries to prove that point. John Longworth, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: The business community is divided still and it varies according to the type of company. Mission: Emma Jones says being in the EU brings lots of benefits to small firms Those that export only to Europe are very much in favour of staying in the EU. Those that export only to the rest of the world are very keen to leave. If you export to the rest of the world you have all the burdens of the EU, making you uncompetitive in the world market. If you export just to Europe you dont want the disruption of leaving. He added: Its really a choice now between what is essentially an unreformed European Union and leaving. Thats as good as theyre going to get. PRESIDENT OBAMA WRITES A POST FOR SCOTUS BLOG You cannot have missed the fact that even before Justice Antonin Scalia's body was cold, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced that the Senate will not fulfill its constitutionally-required duty to advise and consent on the president's nomination of a replacement for Scalia. A couple of days ago, President Barack Obama wrote a post for the highly-respected Scotusblog about the criteria he is using to select his nominee. In part, he writes, ...the third quality I seek in a judge is a keen understanding that justice is not about abstract legal theory, nor some footnote in a dusty casebook. Its the kind of life experience earned outside the classroom and the courtroom; experience that suggests he or she views the law not only as an intellectual exercise, but also grasps the way it affects the daily reality of peoples lives in a big, complicated democracy, and in rapidly changing times. You can read the president's entire post at Scotusblog. Does anyone know if there is a legal remedy when elected federal officials refuse to comply with the requirements of their job? I know what would have happened to me if I had refused to do my job back when I was working. 106-YEAR-OLD FULFILLS DREAM TO VISIT THE WHITE HOUSE Virginia McLaurin is so excited to meet President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama that she can hardly contain herself. She's just delightful. WHAT GLOBAL WARMING LOOKS LIKE IN YOUR STATE In reports released this week, scientists confirmed that the seas are likely rising faster than at any time in 28 centuries. That's 28 CENTURIES in case you were reading too fast. The findings, reports The New York Times, are yet another indication that the stable climate in which human civilization has flourished for thousands of years, with a largely predictable ocean permitting the growth of great coastal cities, is coming to an end. Meanwhile, where I live the crocuses and daffodils have been in bloom for at least two weeks and Climate Central reports ...that winters are warming fastest from Montana to Florida, springs are cranking up the quickest in the Southwest, and...there are only three instances of cooling. The Dakotas and Iowa are cooling ever so slightly in summer. Climate Central has provided this interactive map on which you can check out how your state is doing: JOHN OLIVER ON ABORTION Abortion is theoretically legal in the United States, but some places make it, in any practical sense, impossible. Here is John Oliver on his HBO program, Last Week Tonight on that very topic: What would we do without John Oliver. FOUR BITCHIN' BABES SING OH NO That's what they call themselves, Four Bitchin' Babes and you'll quickly realize that they understand exactly what you and I go through each day. The Four Bitchin' Babes have been touring and releasing CDs and DVDs for 25 years and I never heard of them until now. Find out more here. DANNY AND ANNIE This week, TGB reader Tom Delmore emailed the StoryCorps animation titled Danny and Annie, a real-life couple who narrate the film about their 25-year marriage. I had posted this video way back in 2010, but I loved watching it again so here it is a second time. Stick around; I've got more for you about it afterward. As I poked around the StoryCorps website looking for information I might want to pass on to you, I discovered there is a bittersweet Part 2 to Danny and Annie. Here it is: CONTEMPLATION Before I shut down The Elder Storytelling Place website, Henry Lowenstern was among the regular contributors in his case, limericks or what I always thought of a ditties which, apparently, fall out of his mind onto paper or screen at the slightest motivation. He recently sent this one, titled Contemplation, with a Hi, how are you, Ronni email. Each memorial service I attend for a neighbor or a friend makes me wonder what will be my legacy when my life comes to an end. Ain't it so for all of us at our age. HOUSE OF CARDS RETURNS FRIDAY 4 MARCH Any Netflix subscribers out there who are House of Cards fans like me? Whether you are or not, you may recall that this series starring Kevin Spacey as President Frank Underwood was the first to make all episodes available at once. If binge watching was a minor passtime before House of Cards came along, it became a big-time meme after the release of the first season. I was less enthusiastic about the most recent season but I'll certainly give a try next Friday or Saturday. Here's the trailer for the new season: AIRPORT K9 The Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City, Michigan, employs a dog named Piper. Yes, employs him to keep the birds away from aircraft. The Cherry Capital Airports operations director Dan Sal told Mlive that Piper has been better than pyrotechnics at keeping wildlife away since the snowy owls he chases 'seem to remember' him and stay away. reports Travel+Leisure. 'Though rare, dogs are one of the most effective methods of wildlife mitigation at airports...' Here is a compilation video of Piper on the job at Cherry Capital: There's a lot more about Piper at the airport's website. * * * Interesting Stuff is a weekly listing of short takes and links to web items that have caught my attention; some related to aging and some not, some useful and others just for fun. You are all encouraged to submit items for inclusion. Just click Contact in the at the top of any Time Goes By page to send them. I'm sorry that I won't have time to acknowledge receipt and there is no guarantee of publication. But when I do include them, you will be credited and I will link to your blog IF you include the name of the blog and its URL. Editor, I owe my growth as a teacher to Manzini Nazarene High School where I worked for 10 years. Their strong quest for excellence in performance is second to none. It is on such a line that I will forever be indebted to that school. I have said it before and am saying it now; any institution is as good as its leadership. Nazarene for so long has been a personification of excellence. The consistency on results and a winning culture is the end product of effective leadership and team work. To sustain such a spirit is no childs play. This is one school that boasts of producing most of the prominent people in the country, Prime Minister Dr S. Dlamini included. The legacy of the school will never be debatable even beyond this life. This has been the case irrespective of who is at the helm of the school. In music it has been a force to be reckoned with and almost a god at such. The recipe of such is as a mystery as KFC recipe. Nazarene has gone through an administrative shift from the previous Head teacher Mr L.F Mabundza to Mr S. M Nkambule. In most schools, change in administration has a tendency to rock the boat with negative repercussions. In a unique way this was never the case, and it is such a fortunate endeavour that schools undergoing an administrative shift needs. Excellence and success should be a culture for schools rather than individuals, as it has been the case with Manzini Nazarene High School. Rightly so Im boasting to have been part of the schools history over the past 10 years. The hardworking calibre of teachers is a marvel to watch. It is a good tendency that when a teacher transfers from one school to another, he or she will rub some of the healthy cultures from his previous school to the current one. May I take this opportunity and thank the TSC for appointing me as an acting deputy of Sigombeni High School, under an equally hardworking acting Head teacher Joyce Ndzinisa from St Marks High School. One would think what a switch! It is an excellent and an effective strategy by my employer to cross-pollinate teachers from the so-called performing schools to the worse performing schools. This is aimed to bail out the Swazi children. That is why I support the belief that it is time schools administrators should rotate schools on performance basis. We dont want a situation where if a school is under a spell of poor leadership, that means those learners should suffer forever. Many of my colleagues and friends think its a bad decision to transfer even for a promotion from schools such as Nazarene or St Marks to Sigombeni. My take is, should TSC pretend as if things are normal when a school is developing a history of dismal failing? Should those Swazi childrens future be forever in jeopardy just because teachers in performing schools should always be in such schools. I mean, I see no better mitigating factor than this that, in a worse performing school the TSC plants teachers from schools such as Nazarene and St Marks as is the case with Sigombeni, which will never be the same. This is prudency on the side of the ministry to curb the high failing rate in schools that have suffered so much in the hands of poor leadership, and sadly to the detriment of the learners future. The ugly reality of poor leadership in some schools is its negative repercussions as it has the tendency to put the functioning of schools into a halt. This jeopardises any future prospects for the young souls. Transferring teachers to non performing schools gives them a platform to bring much needed change and step out from their comfort zone to cultivate virgin grounds. There is no sweet thing than teaching pupils who are hungry to learn, who know they are in the fringes of society and are judged as failures. Real teachers should be ready to up their sleeves and take a dip in the mud if that is what it takes to save the poor performing schools. I trust inspectors are all over non performing schools in an attempt to discover core reasons behind last years disastrous results, especially from the bottom 50 schools. In these schools there are Swazi children who need all the help we could give to save them from failure. I hope government is ready to offer assistance where it can. My fear is beyond the current performance, but on the society that will emerge from such a situation. I fear this will create a dysfunctional society that will languish in the doldrums of permanent dependency and poverty. Collected efforts are needed to bail out; Ngcoseni, Lozitha and Sigombeni. The children are hungry for a chance and teachers dedicated on their jobs. Vincent Nxumalo Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Madina Toure A 6-year-old girl nearly drowned in a pool at Spa Castle in College Point last week, the NYPD said. At about 1:45 p.m. last Friday, the girl was found unconscious and unresponsive, submerged in a hot tub at the establishment at 131-10 11th Ave., according to a police spokeswoman. She regained consciousness after CPR was administered and was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian/Queens in Flushing in stable condition, the spokeswoman said. Stephanie Chon, Spa Castles chief operations officer, said the girl was pulled by a patron from a jet pool in a posted no swimming zone and that CPR was initiated by a certified staff member. Our thoughts are with her family at this time, Chon said. Chon said the incident is currently being investigated. Our team is well trained to follow safety protocols and patron safety precautions are clearly posted, including requirements for adult supervision of children, she said. We strive to do everything we can to make sure that our customers remain safe in our facilities. The city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said it would conduct a facility inspection and a thorough review of Spa Castles policies and procedures. If at any point in our investigation we find a health hazard at this facility, we will order closure of any water feature that does not meet safety standards, a spokeswoman said. The spas Manhattan location was closed on Jan. 13, 2015 for operating the facility without a permit, the Health Department said. But the business applied for a permit for the Manhattan facility, which was issued on June 11, 2015. State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) said he previously asked the mayor to put together a task force of all the necessary agencies to investigate spa and other related establishments, but never heard back. Despite following up, I never got an answer from the guy and thats really disgraceful, he said. The mayors office could not be reached for comment. College Point residents have complained about the spa because of its closeness to residential homes, the buildings height, its hours of operation and traffic concerns. The property has had 10 complaints, according to the city Department of Buildings profile. The only open violation, issued in January 2015, concerns an illegal curb in front of the establishment. The site also has one open May 2012 DOB violation for failing to file a benchmarking report of energy use. In December 2014, Forest Hills resident Hock Ma, 80, who was visiting the establishment with his family, died after he was discovered unconscious and unresponsive in a jacuzzi. The Health Departments investigation concluded that Ma, who had pre-existing medical conditions, suffered from cardiac arrest while spending close to an hour in a high temperature environments, exceeding the recommended time of 20 minutes for a healthy person. He fell unconscious while lounging in a pool with other patrons, who did not recognize that the victim was in distress until he began to slump over, according to the Health Department. The agency said the medical examiners office concluded that the cause of death was natural and that there was no evidence of submersion or drowning. Jasna Samic Recently it was suggested to forbid carrying all religious signs in the Bosnian courts. In the connection with that, I am following a \lament" over the Hijab ("mahrama", headscarf) for days and cannot believe to which extent the totallitarism started governing in Bosnia (especially Sarajevo), and to which degree the woman\s hair became the main enemy against freedom and democracy, to which measure those ladies hiding their hair started ruling this newly folkloric society, and how much primitivism succeded to force their prescriptions, their democracy and their concept of faith and religion (without real understanding), to which level the primitivism and a lack of knowledge cause a fier to all those who do not accept their rules (which are arrogantly by principle of opposite logic called the democratic ones). For days, those "democrates" are calling me a"fashion fashista from the West", because I am against "Hijab", that "every Muslim\s duty". That is why I would like to point out and strongly underline that "Hijab" does not have any connection with a headscarf, especially the way it is being wrapped around the head these days. The expression "Hijab" in Quran means "the veil hiding God"; in another words one can never see and get to know God, because our intellect is too weak for it. This is a well known fact to all teachers (Hodjas) who work in religious schools -"Madressa" in Bosnia, but why they do not say it openly so ? Is it convenient for them that a female person stays as an inferior human being to them? When I was studying Sufism, I myself respected that rule when going to the tekke pf Sinan Agha of Sarajevo. After all, one sincere and poetic explanation for hiding women\s hair was given to me by the rare islamic democrat and authority, the former Sheikh at Sinan\s tekke, Fejzulah Hadzibajric: "When Angels came down from the sky they got lost in women\s hair, that\s why it has to be hidden". But what are Angels, or where they are? Most probably they too deserted, or are exiled from today\s neophyte society giving a space to Iblis (and Sotona). A public wearing of headscarfs, especially "Niqab"(black Saudi Muslim gowns which cover completely woman\s body and face) are the first signs of not obeying to God (Muslim= a person who is submissive to the only God= al-Lah), but of female repentants to males; those are clear signs or warnings to a reinstitution of slavery, especially for women who were oppressed by men from the beginnings of monoteistic religions. Wearing a headscarf ("mahrama" ) and hiding of woman\s hair is not only an islamic obligation, even so in its origin itself. Is it necessary to emphasize that Islam is the youngest monoteistic religion? It is well known fact that women are hiding hair and face with a veil in Catholicism, or shaving head and wearing wigs in Judaism. Those habits (and today even more so hiding the whole female\s body) are transferred from Orient to Balkans and that it could be partially related to Hadiths (Muhammad\s tradition and behaviour) which are quite often apocriphal Even if something is being written in Quran (but it is not) about hiding women\s hair, do not forget that Islam is expecting from believers, as well as from women too, an ultimate humbleness and contrition, to be delicate, not to show off with own religion. In another words by Islam a person who does not go to mosque is not less Muslim than one who does, not to mention a woman who does not wear the headscarf. Is there a chance nowadays that the Bosnian women go further away from those Middle Age darkness from their own deliberate choice to be a slave to a totalitarian male? I am afraid there is no chance for it to happen. Talking about this phenomenon it is important to say that (in this case in the most radical shapes of religion and Islam) it is a manipulation of broad people joined with foreign currencies, i.e. Saudi Arabis "dukats". It is a well known fact that today\s Islam is imported directly from Saudi Arabia and that Wahabi and Salafits have more and more success in the whole world in general, so in Bosnia too. Sarajevo is looking today less like some democratic european secular city, and more looks like a Bedouin village in the middle of a dessert, where a woman is a priori excluded from society and whose primary role is to give a birth to males. First Karadzic and Milosevic opened the door to this foreign Islam in Bosnia by ethnic cleansing (during the war 1992-1995), and after them Izetbegovic with his ambivalent relationship with the state and his weakness towards the extreme Islam and Muslim country money. Further, it is well known that the first sign of the extreme Islam- Wahabism and Salafism is headscarf ("mahrama") , which is wrongly called "Hidjab\ ; after that the other symbols come easy such as "Niqab" (wrapping of women in total black clothes), than male short beards plus short trousers, next to expect would be the excision or clitorydectomia in women, supression of music and paintings (which is a haram in Islam), than closing of public schools, burning books and the accepting completely the macabre ideology of the Daesh. This ideology is glorifying death, submission to a male Muslim and hatred towards West. Although there are many reasons for which West could be criticized and regardless how much it is responsibility of the "black Islam", it can be concluded that still much more rights exist at West than in other countries. Long time ago it was said by Churchill: Democracy is not good, but there is nothing better than that . If we can further comment that Muslim in western countries for ex. in France were humiliated, why this radical Islam is gaining more and more success in Bosnia ? Why it is not possible to say anything against such Islam? How come that these foreigners from Saudi Arabia have such a power at Balkans ? What is typical for western countries, it is a hypocrisy in connection with those questions. In Bosnia, this hypocrisy is caused by fear. It is very symptomatic that many Bosnian women who do not agree wearing headscarf , Hijab, ("mahrama"), even more so with this religious exhibitionism at public places (schools, courts etc.) do not have a courage to express their opinion publicly. Yes, those big believers and those satellite followers became so powerful and aggressive that everybody else pertaining a different opinion is being called fasist, non tolerant or scary person. That is being known as a reverse logic or paranoia. We have already seen that before and during the aggression on Bosnia in the 90th, when it was not possible to say anything against extreme Serbs, because you would be labelled as Serbs ennemy. The situation is very similar, except that now we have more and more extreme Muslims who are being identified by all those who do not believe to be extreme, but accusing the others of the same. Christians are scared of not being called "islamophobic" and they are silent. Therefore the slavery to a primitive male, mafia guy or corrupted leaders is being spread in Bosnia. Is it necessary to quote the famous writer who said that the tolerance against non tolerance equalls a crime? The Bosnian society should have decided about the existence of Sharia (in which case almost all politicians should loose both arms), or of a real secular country where finally religion would be separated from the state and consequently all religious signs would be removed from public places. Photo: Jasna Samic Editor Note: Specialist of Oriental languages and civilizations, Jasna Samic taught at the Universities of Sarajevo and Strasbourg, was a Director of research associate to CNRS. She is author of many books written in Bosnian and French. Cindy Thomas/Special to the Times Record News Water lines go in to support a new travel center along U.S. Highway 287 across from Four Stars Auto Ranch in Henrietta. The center will include a convenience store with gas pumps and multiple restaurants to serve travelers. SHARE By Cindy Kahler Thomas, Special to the Times Record News Henrietta has been growing faster than its housing capabilities, but a new apartment complex should provide a remedy in 2016. Abbington Vista, with 48 apartment units, is expected to break ground this spring, according to the Director of Economic Development Rick Langford. The State of Texas awarded the developer $5.46 million in incentives to the Rea Ventures Group, of Atlanta, to construct the new apartment community. Rea Ventures Vice President of Development Sean Brady credited the town's excellent school system and "an exceptional leadership team" for the company's decision to invest in Henrietta. "They are clearly pro-growth," he said. "We see a bright future ahead for Henrietta, and we hope our new development will support even more jobs and investment in the community," Brady added. Brady noted that "a number of new retail and manufacturing jobs are moving to the area." One of those manufacturing companies is Triangle Brick Co., which is expects to complete its new facility this spring. The open house will take place in May, Langford said. The operation will bring 45 jobs and have the capacity to produce 100 million brick equivalents a year. Triangle Brick is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. Langford also pointed to new home construction that picked up in 2015. Five projects have recently been completed, and another is just beginning. So far, he said, sales have been good, which will likely spur on even more building. Construction has also begun on a new travel center that will house a convenience store, a Texas Best Smokehouse, a Taco Loco and another free standing franchise restaurant. The travel plaza will be located on U.S. 287 across from Four Starts Auto Ranch. Victron Energy is the company behind the travel center, and predicts 32 jobs will be created once the businesses are up and running, hopefully in October. Another big change for this Clay County city will be in summer activities. The old Henrietta pool has been demolished, and a new one will open in June at the same location. The old pool hadn't been used for years due to the drought. "It will be replaced with a pool that is 80 percent larger than it was," Langford said. There will also be a shallow end for small children, which the old pool didn't have." He said $506,000 has been allocated for this project. SHARE Collin Joyce, Wichita Falls I am proud to say that I am from Wichita Falls and that I will be casting my ballot for Sen. Bernie Sanders this upcoming Tuesday in the Democratic Primary. I will be casting my ballot for Sen. Sanders because everyone's daughters and sons should be able to attend college without worrying about accruing crippling debt. We, as a society, do not think that it is absurd to invest in K-12 education. Therefore, let's provide free college level education that will equip all the youth in our area with the proper tools and knowledge necessary to better our own local community. If elected, Senator Sanders will FIGHT FOR OUR YOUTH, so they can receive a quality college education without amassing crippling debt. I call upon all of you reading this to make an investment in our community and children by casting your ballot for Senator Sanders in the March 1 Democratic Party Primary. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Colonie Four people are charged with trying to use phony credit cards to make purchases, and police say a machine to make fraudulent cards was found in their motel room. The four, all New York City residents, were arrested Wednesday. Police were called to Colonie Center at 4:01 p.m. when Jazzminisha Williams, 28, and Calvin A. Bell, 25, were trying to buy gift cards in Sears using multiple credit cards. When they left the store, they got into a black Toyota Corolla in the mall lot. Some of the cards the Bronx residents were using were being denied, which police described as an indication of potential fraud. Two other men, Darren G. Wright, 28, of Queens Village and Ronald Q. Heggs, 25, of Queens allegedly left the Corolla and went into Sears. They too tried to use multiple credit cards to make purchases in Sears, police said. The car was stopped by police, and Wright and Heggs were also stopped. All four were taken to the Colonie Police Department and charged after police say they confirmed they had counterfeit credit cards. More than 20 cards were found on the four of them, police said. A search of their motel room at the Motel 6 in Albany found more counterfeit cards, a device to import data to blank cards, a card embosser and blank credit cards, police said. Search warrants were also executed on the 2016 Corolla and a 2015 grey Hyundai, both cars they had rented. More counterfeit credit cards were found, Colonie police said. Colonie police said they are investigating where the credit card information was obtained. All four were charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument, a felony, and police say additional charges are pending. The four were arraigned in Colonie Town Court and sent to the Albany County jail without bail. They are due back in court Monday. Albany Three schools from in and around the Capital Region demonstrated enough academic progress this year to be taken off the state's struggling schools list, but seven more were identified Friday as priority schools in need of intervention. Hackett Middle School in Albany, Hamilton Elementary School in Schenectady and the William B. Tecler Arts in Education Magnet School in Amsterdam will be released from receivership at the end of this school year for demonstrating progress over the year. Under the state receivership law, district superintendents were directed to turn things around at their chronically low-performing schools and given unprecedented authority to fire staff, overhaul curriculum and extend the school day or year. Overall, 144 schools were identified as struggling or persistently struggling last July by the state Education Department, and given two years (one for persistently struggling schools) to boost performance. If they didn't demonstrate progress in that time frame, the state could appoint an outside receiver to take over the school. More Information Area grades The state Education Department released its list of priority schools on Friday. A total of 188 district schools and four charter schools were listed. Eleven schools from in and around the Capital Region were listed. Three area schools emerged from receivership while 4 remain. OUT OF RECEIVERSHIP 1. Hackett Middle School, Albany 2. Hamilton Elementary School, Schenectady 3. William B. Tecler Arts in Education Magnet School, Amsterdam STILL IN RECEIVERSHIP 1. Albany High School 2. Schuyler Achievement Academy, Albany 3. Lincoln Elementary School, Schenectady 4. P.S. 2, Troy PRIORITY SCHOOLS 1. Thomas O' Brien Academy of Science and Technology, Albany 2. Giffen Memorial Elementary School, Albany 3. Arbor Hill Elementary School, Albany 4. Sheridan Preparatory Academy, Albany 5. Albany High School 6. Schuyler Achievement Academy, Albany 7. Lincoln Elementary School, Schenectady 8. William C. Keane Elementary School, Schenectady 9. Carroll Hill School, Troy 10. P.S. 2, Troy 11. McNab-Meco School, Gloversville See More Collapse In addition to the three schools in the region, 66 others in New York will be released from receivership. Ten receivership schools will cease to operate next year as a result of merger or closure. "We are encouraged by the large number of schools and districts whose hard work these past several years has resulted in improvements in their accountability status," said Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia. "We are particularly pleased by the turnaround that has taken place in some of the state's schools that have been struggling for many years. But there remain far too many schools where far too many students are not achieving state standards. We're committed to working with these districts to improve the outcomes in their schools." A total of 188 district schools and four charter schools were identified as priority schools on Friday. Priority schools are New York's lowest performing schools that have either failed to demonstrate progress on the state's English and math tests, or that have persistently low graduation rates or both. Receivership designations were based on last year's priority schools. In the Capital Region, 11 schools have been designated priority schools, including the four that were designated last year and placed in receivership: Albany High School, Philip J. Schuyler Achievement Academy in Albany, Lincoln Elementary School in Schenectady and P.S. 2 in Troy. Seven schools are newly designated: Thomas O' Brien Academy of Science and Technology, Giffen Memorial Elementary School, Arbor Hill Elementary School and Sheridan Preparatory Academy in Albany, as well as William C. Keane Elementary School in Schenectady, Carroll Hill School in Troy and McNab-Meco School in Gloversville. School leaders said Friday they were unsure what the priority designation would mean for their schools, adding it was unclear whether priority schools would automatically be placed into receivership. "Now we have these four new schools on a list, but we're not exactly clear what their categorization means," said Albany school board President Kenny Bruce. "I met with a representative from the state Education Department and they were not sure when they will have complete guidance on that this year. Last year the receivership designations came over the summer." The department said Friday that newly identified priority schools are required to implement a school reform model by no later than the 2018-19 school year. New York was required to identify new priority schools by March 1, 2016 under an Elementary and Secondary Education Act waiver from the U.S. Department of Education last June. bbump@timesunion.com 518-454-5387 @bethanybump THE ISSUE: Evidence casts doubt on three students' claims of racial violence. THE STAKES: This should not end an essential conversation on race. More Information To comment: tuletters@timesunion.com or at http://blog.timesunion.com/opinion See More Collapse The question of whether three University at Albany students fabricated a report of a racially motivated attack remains just that a question, for now. Unfortunately, the fallout is already becoming apparent. And so, once again, the campus, the community and, really, in the increasingly small world we live in, the country, are in danger of rushing to judgment. Let's try it differently. News that three black students who had claimed to have been assaulted and taunted with racial slurs on a bus Jan. 30 have instead been charged themselves with misdemeanor counts of assault and filing a false report has quickly sparked a backlash. At least one student has publicly demanded the school's president apologize. And social media, which helped spread the initial claims nationally, is now buzzing with an all-too-familiar strain that this somehow proves racial bias in America is exaggerated. UAlbany President Robert Jones' reaction to the incident was both measured and thoughtful. Dr. Jones, who was away when the allegations surfaced, quickly sent an email to students and faculty stating that if the people responsible were UAlbany students, the school would hold them "fully accountable for their behavior," adding that he was "deeply concerned, saddened and angry about this incident." A campus rally supported the alleged victims; two days later, Dr. Jones followed up with a statement urging the community to reserve judgment and "to keep talking respectfully with each other in the classroom, on the campus, and in social media." In hindsight, one might fault Dr. Jones for not conditioning his initial statement on the young women's allegations being true. But it's hard to fault his intention to assure the UAlbany community that such serious allegations are taken seriously or his call for civility. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. Credit Albany police and District Attorney David Soares, too, for reaching out to black leaders when the students' story began to fall apart, to explain the doubts. Yet, predictably, this episode is being cast by some in much the way the false charges of gang rape at Duke University and the University of Virginia were in recent years that not only was the initial story apparently untrue, but the whole notion of racial violence is overblown. That's absurd. One has only to look at outbursts of race-based violence, like last year's shooting of nine African-Americans in a South Carolina church, or the disparate, abusive and sometimes deadly treatment of black citizens at the hands of police, or the lingering affection among surprising numbers of white Americans for the racist symbol that is the Confederate flag, to see that this is about more than political correctness. But it's also a reality that every false report sets this discussion back, feeding the agendas of those who, whatever their motives, prefer to deny it, and the doubts of those who would rather not believe it. All the more reason that these young women, if they did make this story up, must understand the harm they've done. And all the more reason that, whatever the outcome of this episode, we can't let it silence the crucial conversation. Thurles Fairtrade Town Committee are all set to host the annual Fairtrade Fortnight which runs from Feb. 29th to March 13th. A series of events have been organised to mark the fortnight and Chairman of Tipperary County Council, Councillor Seamus Hanafin has endorsed the initiative. I would encourage all the people of Tipperary to renew their support for Fairtrade during the two weeks February 29th to March 13th which has been designated Fairtrade Fortnight and to ask all retail outlets to stock Fairtrade Products. By switching to Fairtrade for their regular shopping for products such as Teas, Coffee, Sugar, Chocolate bars, Bananas, Cotton Goods etc. Tipperary people make a difference to small producers in developing Countries. The Fair Trade model has been shown to be effective and to assist its target group. Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel, Nenagh, Roscrea, Thurles, and Tipperary Town have all achieved Fair Trade Status. Cahir, Clonmel and Templemore have worked in the past to achieve this status and I would urge all other areas to get involved in this very important and worthwhile venture, Cllr Hanafin said. The following events have been organised in Thurles during Fairtrade Fortnight. Jose Omar Rodriguez Romero just Omar to his friends a 4th Generation coffee producer, coffee lover, and resident of the village of Capucas, San Pedro de Copan, Honduras, accompanied by a representative from Fairtrade Ireland, will give a talk in LIT Thurles Campus on the benefits Fairtrade has brought to his communityon Thursday March 3rd at 10.45. The general public, schools are more than welcome to attend. A big breakfast in conjunction with the Credit Union will be held where any members or visitors will be invited to taste Fairtrade bananas, tea and coffee, and cakes made using Fairtrade products where possible on Thursday March 10th between 10 and 12. [February 26, 2016] IKEA Wins Prestigious Gold iF Design Award The RIGGAD LED work lamp with wireless charging wins within the best overall product design and lighting category. BURLINGTON, ON, Feb. 26, 2016 /CNW/ - Today IKEA's RIGGAD LED work lamp was announced a winner of the prestigious iF DESIGN AWARD 2016 amongst more than 5000 top class entries from 55 countries. For over 60 years, the iF DESIGN AWARD continues to be an internationally coveted honour from the International Design Forum in Hannover, Germany. The international high profile jury assessed entrants on quality, workmanship, choice of materials, innovation, environmental friendliness, functionality, ergonomics, intuitive use, safety, brand values and, of course, design excellence. "We are very pleased, that IKEA's RIGGAD work lamp has been selected for the iF Design Award 2016," says Tina Husted, sales leader lighting of IKEA Canada. "The RIGGAD is a good example of dual function with smart design for small spaces. It combines simplicity with functionality and uses an environmentally friendly LED light source." Consumer studies show that many people see charging their mobile phone as a negative must-do. That is why IKEA developed RIGGAD, a lamp that charges your phone while you work. The ambition was to both reduce people's stress of running out of battery life, and the amount of cables on their desks. "I waned the charger to blend in easily to make charging a natural part of your home, but it was equally important that it was easy to use. The result is a charging pad with a simple yet interesting design," says David Wahl, designer at IKEA of Sweden AB. Equipped with an adjustable arm and head, RIGGAD offers focused lighting. The work lamp has a charger puck hidden inside the lamp base and one built in USB port. When placing a phone on the base of the lamp, the lamp starts charging it. The RIGGAD work lamp is one of many products in the new wireless charging collection by IKEA. The products in the collection use Qi certified technology, a third party global interface standard for inductive electrical power. Most mobile manufacturers work with this standard today and produce Qi enabled devices. Phones that are not Qi enabled can also be charged when used with the wireless charging cover, VITAHULT. ABOUT IKEA CANADA IKEA is a leading home furnishing retailer with 375 stores in more than 50 countries worldwide, which are visited by 884 million people every year. IKEA Canada has 12 stores, with recently announced plans to open a 13th store in Halifax, Nova Scotia in late 2017, an eCommerce virtual store, Pick-Up and Order Points in Quebec City, Quebec and London, Whitby and St.Catharines, Ontario with two additional Pick-Up and Order Points opening spring 2016. Last year, IKEA Canada welcomed 25 million visitors to its stores and 75 million visitors to its stores and 75 million visitors to the IKEA.ca website. Founded in 1943, IKEA's business philosophy is to offer a wide range of products of good design and function at prices so low, the majority of people can afford them. For more information on IKEA, please visit: www.IKEA.ca. About iF DESIGN AWARD The iF DESIGN AWARD was founded in Germany in 1953. The aim was to draw attention to particularly well-designed industrial products. Today it is one of the world's most prestigious design awards. This years iF jury assessed 5,295 entries by 2,458 participants. More information can be found at www.ifdesign.de. Notes to editor Please visit the IKEA Media Room to view and/or download all of our latest media kits: http://www.ikea.ca/mediaroom SOURCE IKEA Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] EU nations bordering the Mediterranean rallied around Greece, the epicenter of the crisis, during a meeting in Cyprus Foreign ministers from EU nations bordering the Mediterranean rallied around Greece, the epicenter of the crisis, during a meeting in Cyprus. Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides speaking on behalf of colleagues from France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Malta and Greece said decisions on how to deal with the migrant influx that have already been made by the 28-nation bloc cannot be implemented selectively by some countries. "This issue is testing our unity and ability to handle it," Kasoulides told a news conference after an EU Mediterranean Group meeting. "The EU Med Group are the front-line states and we all share the view that unilateral actions cannot be a solution to this crisis." Kasoulides urged EU countries to enact all EU decisions on immigration so there "will be no unfairness to anybody." Unanimous support Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias blasted some European nations for imposing border restrictions on arriving migrants, saying that police chiefs are not allowed to decide to overturn EU decisions. He said Mediterranean colleagues were "unanimous" in their support for Greece's position on the refugee crisis and that there was "clear criticism to all those who are seeking individual solutions at the expense of other member states." The Greek government is blaming Austria a fellow member of Europe's passport-free Schengen Area for the flare-up in the crisis. Austria imposed strict border restrictions last week, creating a domino effect as those controls were also implemented by Balkan countries further south along the Balkans migration route. Greece recalled its ambassador to Austria on Thursday and rejected a request to visit Athens by Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner. The United Nations secretary-general expressed "great concern" Friday at the growing number of border restrictions along the migrant trail through Europe. Source: AP RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance (CHIA) is a congressional caucus designed to raise awareness of the importance of the trilateral relationship among Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, which has yielded important political and national security benefits for Leaders of the Greek American and Jewish American Communities, along with 25 members of Congress and the Ambassadors of Greece, Israel and Cyprus, gathered on Thursday, February 25 on Capitol Hill, in celebration of the third anniversary of the Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance (CHIA), greeknewsonline.com reports. A congressional caucus designed to raise awareness of the importance of the trilateral relationship among Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, which has yielded important political and national security benefits for the U.S. and the region and encourage for the U.S support for its goals. Anniversary reception The anniversary reception, jointly sponsored by AJC and HALC and it was the conclusion of a 24-hour long joint advocate activity from members of both the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC) and the American Jewish Committee (AJC) to promote to the members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate a bilateral letter on Cyprus, to Vice President Joe Biden, as well as other issues of mutual concern. They had meetings with more than 50 Congressional offices. Senators Ron Kirk of Illinois and Robert Menendez of New Jersey were the first to co-sign the letter on the Senate side, while the co-chairmen of CHIA, Gus Bilirakis and Ted Deutch circulated the letter from the House side. The idea for the Congressional caucus, now more than 50 Members strong, was born three years ago at a meeting between leaders from AJC and the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), with Representatives Gus Bilirakis and Ted Deutch. In its first three years, this group has grown to include a group of members intent on strengthening the relationship between these indispensable allies who share our core democratic values and security interest, Gus Bilirakis said. Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report The governments in the Gulf region aim to adopt the 'Smart Cities' plan as part of their new housing projects being implemented in the region, said a report. This is in line with the policy of rationalization in the region, reported the Arab News, citing a senior Kuwait minister. Adopting the Smart Cities plan within the new housing projects in the GCC countries is aimed to rationalyse energy usage at large, stated Yasser Abdul, Kuwait's Minister for Housing Affairs. "The issue will be discussed in the next Gulf ministerial meeting," he added. The minister said his GCC counterparts will exchange plans from other ministries such as the Planning Ministry for greater unification in program development, according to the report. "The plans will be considered within the framework of the regional structural plan, as well as each country's vision for sustainable electricity use," said the minister. The overall goals include saving energy, and using modern technology to overcome the existing problems in the health and transport services," he added. India has approved a $150 million credit line for the development of Iran's Chabahar port, the government said in a statement. The port in southeast Iran is central to New Delhi's efforts to circumvent arch-rival Pakistan and open up a route to landlocked Afghanistan where it has developed close security ties and economic interests. Under the agreement signed last year between the two countries, India will equip and operate two berths in the first phase of development at Chabahar Port and extend a credit line of $150 million through its external lending arm. Both berths will commence operations within 18 months of the signing of a final contract, the statement said. India will make a capital investment of $85.21 million and annual revenue expenditure of $22.95 million on a ten year lease following which the ownership of equipment will be transferred to Iran. New Delhi and Tehran agreed in 2003 to develop Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman, near Iran's border with Pakistan, but the venture has made little progress because of the sanctions over Iran's atomic programme. Western nations last month lifted some of those sanctions.-Reuters Syrian rebels in the country's northwest said they came under attack from government ground forces at 4 a.m. (0200 GMT) on Saturday in what they called a breach of the cessation of hostilities plan that came into effect at midnight. Three fighters from the rebel Second Coastal Division were killed while repelling the attack in the Jabal Turkman area near the Turkish border in Latakia province, Fadi Ahmad, spokesman for the affiliated First Coastal Division, told Reuters. The Syrian military could not immediately be reached for comment. The Syrian government has said it will respect the agreement drawn up by Russia and the United States, but that it will continue to fight the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and Islamic State which are not covered by the deal. "It is a violation (of the agreement)," Ahmad said, describing the attack as a ground assault with no air strikes. "Currently, the regime has halted the attack," he added. The First and Second Coastal Divisions are part of a loose alliance of rebel groups known as the Free Syrian Army. Northwestern Syria is one of the areas where the Nusra Front operates near rebel groups that have approved the cessation of hostilities. Ahmad said the positions attacked on Saturday are controlled by his group, and the Nusra Front has no presence there. Nusra has called for an escalation of attacks. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there was calm in many parts of the country shortly after midnight when the agreement came into effect. Also state TV reported that at least two people were killed when a car bomb exploded at the entrance of a town in the Syrian province of Hama on Saturday. The explosion occurred hours after a cessation of hostilities came into effect in Syria as part of a US and Russian plan.-Reuters Saudi Arabia said on Friday it had blacklisted four companies and three Lebanese men for having links to Lebanese Shi'ite Muslim militant group Hezbollah, a close ally of Riyadh's arch regional adversary Iran. "The kingdom will continue its fight against the terrorist activities of the so-called Hezbollah with all available means," the Saudi Interior Ministry said in a statement carried by the state news agency SPA. The Sunni Muslim kingdom last week suspended aid worth $3 billion to the Lebanese army over the Beirut government's failure to sign up to statements condemning attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran. The ministry identified the four companies as Vatech SARL, Le-Hua Electronics Field Company Limited, Aero Skyone Company Limited and Labico SAL Offshore, and the men as Fadi Hussein Serhan, Adel Mohamad Cherri and Ali Zeaiter. The statement did not elaborate. It was not known what effect Riyadh's blacklisting had on the companies' activities or whether they had business in the kingdom. Saudi officials could not immediately be reached for comment. Last year, the US Treasury Department sanctioned the same firms and men as "Hezbollah procurement agents...responsible for providing material support to enhance the group's military and terrorist capabilities". US-allied Saudi Arabia has also warned its citizens on Tuesday against travel to Lebanon, citing safety concerns. In Lebanon's tangled political scene, Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies are staunchly opposed to Hezbollah, which is part of the governing coalition and also has a heavily-armed militia. Hezbollah is playing a crucial role in neighbouring Syria's civil war, fighting alongside President Bashar Al Assad's forces against rebels who are backed Sunni Gulf Arab states. Relations between Shi'ite Iran and Saudi Arabia hit a new low last month when Saudi authorities executed Saudi Shi'ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, along with three other Shi'ites and 43 members of Al Qaeda, on terrorism charges. Protesters then assaulted Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran, leading the kingdom to cut relations with the Islamic Republic.-Reuters Invest Northern Ireland has announced the official entry of the Water Within, a water brand owned by Ballyclare-based Antrim Hills at Dubai Duty Free, the emirate's airport retailer. With this move, Water Within has become the only water brand from Northern Ireland to be launched at Dubai airport. Speaking at the launch, Invest Northern Irelands CEO Alastair Hamilton said: "This is a very important contract for this family-owned business and will see the Water Within range on the shelves of one of the leading airport retailers in the world." The company's first export business in the UAE, was sealed with Dubai Duty Free as part of a visit programme to the UAE. The company was first introduced to Dubai Duty Free by Invest NI at Gulfood in 2014 and Water Within is now the only water brand from Northern Ireland available in this market," noted Hamilton. According to him, relationships are a very strong part of the Middle East culture and Antrim Hills has invested a lot of time to develop these and win this significant business. "This new contract is a further example of the scale of business opportunities in the UAE for Northern Ireland companies prepared to invest in growth in international markets and puts this company in a strong position to secure further business in this market," he stated. Peter Geary, CEO of Antrim Hills, said: "Over the last number of years we have worked hard to develop our brand and communicate the uniqueness of its natural artesian source." "Working closely with Invest NI and the in-market advice we have received from its team in Dubai has been immensely important to our business over many years," stated Geary. "This overall support, coupled with our success in achieving highly sought-after ESMA accreditation in the form of the Emirates Quality Mark, has enabled us to gain new customers in the UAE and explore opportunities in many other international markets," he added.-TradeArabia News Service A consortium of Canadian and Kuwaiti investors has signed an agreement with American fund Global Infrastructure Partners to acquire London City Airport in a deal that is reported to be worth nearly 2 billion ($2.8 million), said a report. The airport, which is located in the Royal Docks, in the London Borough of Newham, is a highly attractive infrastructure investment in the UK. It is the closest air hub to the financial capital of Europe. The consortium includes Alberta Investment Management Corporation, Omers, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan (OTPP) and Wren House Infrastructure Management Limited, the infrastructure investing arm of the Kuwait Investment Authority. All of these international infrastructure investors have a proven track record, which will bring significant financial and operational expertise to London City Airport, said a statement from Alberta Investment Management Corporation. The price paid has not been disclosed, but the airport's value has been put at about 2 billion, reported local media. London City Airport represents a unique opportunity to invest in an integral part of the London airport system and offers a service proposition based around location, convenience, speed and customer service. Located near Canary Wharf in London's Docklands, it is popular with bankers and city professionals because of its proximity and its small size. It is also easily connected through the Docklands Light Railway service to the airport, as well as road links. Since the acquisition of its controlling stake by Global Infrastructure Partners in 2006, London City Airport has successfully grown passenger numbers from 2 million in 2005 to 4.3 million in 2015, with an 18.3 per cent increase in the last year alone. The consortium members said they were committed to the responsible, long-term ownership and development of London City Airport to ensure its continued strong position and reputation as a key airport for London. They have proven experience as long-term owners and operators of UK and European airports, as evidenced by selected members current ownership of Belfast International Airport, Birmingham Airport, Bristol Airport, Brussels Airport and Copenhagen Airport, and historical investments in Rome Airport and Sydney Airport. The consortium has a strong track record of investing in and growing excellent businesses, maintaining good relationships with customers, staff, management, regulators and other stakeholders, said its spokesman. "Working together with management and local authorities, the consortium will support the enhancement of facilities and build on the airports successful track record," he stated. He described London City Airport as a premium infrastructure company, operating in a very attractive market. "We look forward to working closely with the airports strong management team to achieve the businesss full long-term potential," stated the spokesman. "Our investment and support will foster a mutually beneficial relationship between the airport and its airlines, passengers and employees, while ensuring a positive economic impact for all of London and the local community, in particular," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Turkish Airlines has announced plans to launch its flight to Bogota (Columbia) and Panama (Panama) in May as part of its Americas expansion strategy. With this addition, the number of flights from the Turkish flag carrier to the Americas will hit 14 and in terms of destinations, the figure will rise to 15 with the launch of Atlanta right after. Istanbul Bogota Panama (BOG-PTY) Istanbul flights are planned as three flights per week and will be launched on May 4.-TradeArabia News Service The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a United Nations specialised agency, has expressed confidence in the recovery of tourism in Egypt and dubbed it as a safe, attractive and leading travel destination. A United Nations specialised agency, UNWTO plays a decisive and central role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. It serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism know-how. "Tourism is a critical contributor to Egypts GDP, employment, foreign currency earnings and investment," remarked UNWTO secretary-general Taleb Rifai during his recent visit to the country. He was in Cairo to attend the Egypts Tourism 2016 Conference Planning for Growth. Addressing the gathering, Rifai said there was a strong pent up demand for tourism to Egypt, from source markets, both within and outside the region. We should never forget that Egypt is one of the worlds most remarkable tourism success stories. Over the last decade, the number of visitors to Egypt practically tripled and so did the exports generated by international tourism. Egypt is, and will continue to be, despite all challenges, a leading tourism destination, he added. Calling upon the international community to support Egypts tourism, Rifai said: "Supporting its recovery is like supporting the future of Egypt and that of its people and promoting peace and stability." He later met the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and Minister of Tourism, Hisham Zaazou. "Egypt has undertaken strong initiatives in terms of communications with the competent authorities and public opinion in source markets on safety and security issues, unlocking the support of airlines and tour operators, incentivising demand and engaging key players in Egypt in these concerted efforts," stated Rifai after the meeting. "I trust these actions will herald results in restoring confidence and accelerating the recovery of tourism to Egypt," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Tribune News Service Patiala, February 26 On a call given by the All India Banks Officers Confederation (AIBOC), over 600 officers from different banks gathered outside the head office of the State Bank of Patiala (SBoP) and held a massive demonstration to show resentment against the management for alleged attacks on trade union rights. Chaman Singla, Joint General Secretary of the AIBOC and General Secretary of the Associate Banks Officers Association (ABOA) unit of State Bank of Patiala, while addressing the gathering, said the confederation was now on warpath with the management of Dhanlaxmi Bank for unceremonious terminating services of PV Mohanan, General Secretary of Bank Officers Organisation and vice-president of the All India Bank Officers Confederation. He said the bank management had attacked the trade union and violated its rights. He said the Kerala Home Minister had already directed the Danlaxmi Bank management to find a solution to the problem. Singla said a number of issues were pending at the Indian Banks Association (IBA) level due to which the officers in public sector bank were facing hardships and stress. He said guidelines issued in regard with compassionate appointment, posting of lady officers and those by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) were being violated by the bank managements. Besides, the new medical insurance scheme was in violation with the agreement reached between the IBA and the trade unions in the 10th Bipartite Settlement. He said the trade union were also seeking formulation of strict laws to check NPAs of banks as these were squeezing the profits and were a threat to the existence PSBs. He said the AIBOC and its affiliates would observe a one-day strike on February 29 during which over 2.5 lakh bank officers in the country would boycott work. Other trade union leaders who addressed the gathering included Jagjit Singh, president, AIBOC (Punjab); Rajiv Sirhindi, secretary, AIBOC (Punjab); Harinder Gupta, SBI; Harbagh Singh, SBI; GS Dhillon, JP Gupta, Binay Sinha and SK Malik. New Delhi, February 27 A large number of National Students Union of India (NSUI) activists today protested outside the residence of Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani. They demanded her resignation for allegedly spreading blatant lies on the events surrounding death of Dalit student Rohith Vemula. National president of the NSUI Roji M John said, We condemn the manner in which Smriti Irani twisted the facts related to Vemula's case and gave a highly dramatic speech full of lies. We want to remind the HRD Minister that Parliament is not a television set where she can make such speeches without checking the facts. Many members of the NSUI were detained at the Tilak Marg police station and were later released. Smriti Irani, this is not a serial, this is a real life. Bring out the facts, don't fabricate them, said Rohiths mother. TNS Tribune News Service Srinagar, February 26 Kashmiri separatists leaders today staged pro-Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) protests and sought release of SAR Geelani and other student leaders of the university for participating in a function held on the third death anniversary of hanged Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. The protest march was, however, foiled by the police. Various separatist leaders tried to take a march towards the city centre which was not allowed by the police. Several leaders were detained by the police. The call for the protests was given by Hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Geelani against the arrest of SAR Geelani and other student leaders. Meanwhile, clashes broke out in old city after Friday prayers. The clashes between the youth and the police were reported from volatile Nowhatta area. Police fired several teargas shells to disperse the protesters when they tried to take a march after offering Friday prayers at Jamia mosque. The clashes later spread to Gojwara and Rajouri Kadal. Some of the youth were detained by the police during the clashes. Earlier, the chairman of the moderate Hurriyat, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, while addressing the Friday gathering said the unrest in Kashmir was due to hard policies of the Government of India. He said it was unfortunate that those who talk about the Kashmir resolution these days were being declared an anti-national. Kashmir issue is reality and the voices for its resolution will get louder with each passing day, he said. United Nations, February 27 India has approached the UN to include Jaish-e-Mohammad chief and Pathankot terror attack mastermind Masood Azhar in the Security Council's sanctions list, strongly emphasising the urgency to take action against him. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin wrote to New Zealand Ambassador Gerard Jacoubus van Bohemen, the Chair of the 1267 al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee, on Friday submitting India's request that the JeM chief's name be included in the committee's sanctions list. Armed with strong evidence of the outfit's terror activities and its role in the January 2 Pathankot attack that killed seven Indian soldiers, India told the UN Sanctions Committee that not listing Azhar has clearly demonstrated how it and other countries in South Asia continue to face threats posed by the terror group and its leader. India has called for immediate action to be taken to list Azhar under the al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee saying it was the committees responsibility to protect UN nations and its citizens from terror groups like the JeM and its leaders. Listing Azhar will prove that the global community is committed to tackling the scourge of terrorism and will help protect Indian citizens and those of other countries from the terror threats posed by him and his outfit, India said. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said in New Delhi that it is a "great anomaly" that the organisation JeM is listed but its leader is not. India also said that Pakistan had taken action against several individuals belonging to the Jaish after the Pathankot attack. The UN had banned JeM in 2001 but India's efforts to ban Azhar after the Mumbai terror attack did not fructify, as China one of the five permanent members of the UN group with veto powers did not allow the ban apparently at Pakistans urging. A new list of 11 individuals and one organisation linked to terrorism in India was submitted by New Delhi to the sanctions committee on February 18. JeM has been accused of having been behind the predawn strike at an airbase of the Indian Airforce in Pathankot on January 2. Eight people all five terrorists and three military men were killed in the operation that lasted two days. Agencies Kathmandu, February 27 Nepal Prime Minister K P Oli has said that his visit to India helped in "improving" the ties which had "soured" during the anti-Constitution stir even as the agitating Madhesi front called it a "complete failure" and warned of fresh protests if their demands are not met. "Earlier the relations between the two neighbours had soured during the Madhes agitation but my visit has helped improve the relations between the two countries," Oli said, addressing a mass gathering in Bhairahawa yesterday. Terming his visit as "fruitful", the Prime Minister said, "As we have no misunderstandings now, our focus will be on implementing the seven-point deal." He also appealed to the agitating Madhes-based political parties to join the government. "As we have delivered the Constitution, now is the time to focus on development. So, I call on the agitating leaders and Nepali Congress to join the government and participate in the nation building process," he said. Oli, however, said that any demand against the national interests will not be addressed. Meanwhile, the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) today held a meeting here to review its protest programmes. It set up a seven-member secretariat to chalk out new strategies and additional protest programmes. In a statement after the meeting, UDMF termed Oli's recent visit to India as "complete failure" and said Prime Minister committed a mistake as he made the visit without taking any agenda. The Madhesis, which had announced withdrawal of their protests, including the border blockade earlier this month, warned that they would resort to fresh protests if the government did not address their demands promptly. The Madhesi front decided not to sit for talks until the government comes up with a concrete roadmap to address its demands. In the meeting, it also decided to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister to put up pressure on the government. Madhesis, who are largely of Indian-origin, led a nearly six-month-long violent protest over better representation in the Parliament and the federal structure of the new Constitution that divides their ancestral homeland that claimed over 50 lives before being called off unexpectedly. Nepal had alleged that the blockade in its southern border with India was imposed by Indian authorities backing the agitation led by Madhesis, a charge India had vehemently denied. PTI Ananya Panda To us, who hail from the land of Gandhi, the initial lessons in Gandhi and Gandhian philosophy come early on. But to actually see the place that witnessed his transition from Mohandas to Gandhi is a different experience, or so say these youngsters who recently visited South Africa to commemorate 100 years of Mahatma Gandhis return to India. Organised by Gandhi Peace Mission, the orientation exercise was a part of the various efforts to make youth reconnect with Gandhi and his values. The week-long journey undertaken by a team of 30 persons, comprising students, academicians and activists, culminated at Rajghat in New Delhi where 20th centurys Satyagraha propagator sleeps symbolised by the eternal flame at the Gandhi Samadhi inspiring people across generations and nationalities. The team travelled to Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Phoenix Ashram, Gandhi Square and Constitution Hills in Johannesburg. The delegates were in the Capital earlier this month to share their experiences. They say they returned rich. We visited the place where Mohandas was transformed into Mahatma Gandhi. I must say all of us imbibed many things. I learnt two things: time management and patience, says Amal Damodaran, a student of Calicut University, while sharing his tryst with Gandhis life and memoirs. What caught the attention of Swathy CS, a class XI student from Kollam, were Gandhis views on foreign policy, which are not much-talked about. Referring to one of his messages, Swathy says, Gandhi has said that India must grow, but not to endanger anyones existence, thus promoting co-existence as the key element of his foreign policy. Indias objectives should be in conformity with the development of the other nations and it should go on to be a model for other countries. She says that while all of them learnt something, they may not have been able to grasp the profundity of Gandhi. What we have learnt is not confined to his philosophy, but extends to a larger aspect of how we should carry it forward, she asserts. Chairperson of the Indian Council for Gandhian Studies, Prof N Radhakrishnan, who led the team, says, The journey marked the 100th anniversary of Gandhis return to India in 1915. It aimed at enabling the youth to rediscover Gandhis vision of life and what he left for the generations to come. Sharing more on the peace mission, Prof Radhakrishnan, who is also former director of the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, observes, Gandhi believed women empowerment is not something to talk about, but to practice. This, too, was an orientation programme where we wanted students to learn by experiencing Gandhian philosophy, which is why we call it learning while travelling. Among notable things on the tour were two exhibitions at Phoenix. One pavilion was recreation of Gandhi Ashram reflecting Gandhis contemporary relevance. It had several exhibits on his views on the legal profession and his experiences as a young lawyer; how he began Satyagraha; and the difficulties he faced in South Africa. These exhibits also chronicled the events from 1893 to 1915 when he returned to India to lead the nations march to freedom. The other pavilion evaluated his influence on contemporary South African movements in the 20th century and thereafter. It offered a glimpse into how Albert Lutuli, a prominent freedom fighter and tribal activist, who followed Gandhi and his vision much before Nelson Mandela came into the picture, rose to become an important voice in one of worlds major freedom movements and struggle against apartheid, contributing immensely in changing the scenario of educational and cultural rejuvenation in South Africa. A yet another pavilion showcased Mandelas fight against apartheid and how the country reached Truth and Reconciliation Commission to deal with wrongdoings of the past after abolition of apartheid in the 1990s. It was the first such exercise to make both young and old aware of the formative influences on Mahatma Gandhi. Another team, including students from GEMS, Gurgaon and Hoshiarpur, headed for South Africa on February 21, says Prof Radhakrishnan. Asked if Gandhi is relevant to the modern times and Prof Radhakrishnan says, India currently doesnt have any other viable and pragmatic vision except Gandhis. It offers a composite view of the reality and ensures justice for all. Ranjita Biswas In this age of fast-moving cars, intercontinental flights and superfast trains, where does the poor donkey, a transport system of yore, stand? But thats what you will encounter in Mijas, a pretty little village pueblo, perched on a hillock. It is near the famous Costa del Sol beach areas off Malaga city. Though you can see cars going up and down the meandering lanes of the town between the pristine white buildings, the donkey taxi is quite popular too. And, of course, its a magnet to tourists looking for something different in this digital age. Malaga is in the Andalusia region in southern Spain. Mijas, near another famous resort city Marbella, is about 45 minutes drive from there. A day trip to both the places can be planned from Malaga to get a taste of Costa del Sol. A statue of a donkey greets as you alight in front of the tourist office located at a lower level and the burro taxi stand is just across. Its reminiscent of the early 1900s when the beast of burden doubled as a mode of transport to go up the hilly roads. When tourists started visiting this area from other parts of Europe, they often took back as souvenir a straw donkey. Times have changed but Mijas has retained the donkey burro taxi as a salute to the old days, and obviously, as a tourist attraction. As the story goes, in the 1960s when the farmers returned home with their donkeys, they were often accosted by tourists requesting to be photographed with them, and also, if possible, give a ride. The farmers soon found out that the rides with some tips worked out better as earnings than toiling hard in the farm. So they decided to introduce it as a formal taxi service. Today they also need to have licences to operate their donkey-pulled carts. The donkeys are profusely decorated with colourful gear. For one visiting from India, they would seem like the ceremonial garbs elephants and camels are dressed up with during festivals. The ride introduces the visitor to the pretty village with cobbled stones skirted by attractive houses with hanging baskets of multi-coloured geraniums which contrast with the white walls of the houses. At corners, you will discover little shops, restaurants, bars where locals hang around generally exuding an atmosphere of easy-goingness which is perfect for a holiday. The charm of Mijas has enticed artists and writers for ages. There are quite a few good galleries. The Contemporary Art Museum, opened in 2013, is considered as the sixth most important Picasso museum in the world with the second largest collection of his ceramics. Works by his contemporaries are also there. However, there have also been concerns of animal lovers about the condition of the donkeys. Now the city fathers have endorsed the standards set down by El Refugio del Burrito, a non-profit association working to improve the conditions for donkeys and mules in Spain, also a subsidiary of The Donkey Sanctuary, a non-profit charity based in the UK. Kate Townshend Peek inside any wardrobe in the country and, as well as the gateway to Narnia, you might also reasonably expect to find a T-shirt or two. But this most egalitarian of clothing items is no stranger to controversy, be it well-intended or simply stupid. In recent weeks we have lauded an LGBT protester and entrepreneur in Burma who prints T-shirts with Gay is ok on them (in a country where it decidedly still isn't); rowed over whether an Australian bakery making employees wear We've got the best buns in town across their chests is sexist; reminisced about French Connection's decision to resurrect its 1990s FCUK branding for 2016; and seen a 20-year-old Egyptian man mark his second year in detention, without charge or trial, for wearing a Nation without torture T-shirt. We have also stared incredulously at the news that teenagers in Arizona grouped together to (almost) spell out a racial slur during their senior class photo, and then posted it on social media. Since the backlash to the last of these a petition on change.org is rapidly gathering signatures from around the world asking for the girls to be expelled and for the school's principal to resign the girls have not said publicly whether their stunt was motivated by anything more than attention-seeking in the most distasteful extreme. But it's not too far removed from the kind of thing that John Bercow, speaker of the House of Commons, reacted against in his 16-page update to House etiquette. In the revision, he specifically prohibits the wearing of clothing with logos or slogans, a response no doubt to high-profile offenders albeit ones with important points to make, whether provocative or persuasive including Caroline Lucas (No more page three) and Harriet Harman (This is what a feminist looks like). Steven Fielding, professor of political history at the University of Nottingham, says politicians employ the slogan T-shirt precisely because its attention-grabbing nature tends to yield results, When Caroline Lucas wore her No more Page Three T-shirt, it got her attention and press coverage and it got people talking. People don't always listen to politicians speeches, but they can relate to a T-shirt. These new rules are ironic, really, because John Bercow is the speaker who has always been keen to get politicians back in touch with the public. T-shirts have a long history as objects of protest and political point-scoring. US presidential candidate Thomas E Dewey was an early advocate, in 1948, when he produced a dew it for DeweyT-shirt to support his campaign. And although the shirt didn't land him the job, it did have enough of an impact for Dwight D Eisenhower's supporters to adopt similar tactics four years later (I like Ike). Now it's impossible to imagine a campaign without seas of Ts, be they Bern baby Bern, Hillary is my home girlor, on the other hand, I ain't voting for Monica's ex-boyfriend's wife. In the 1970s and 1980s, the slogan T-shirt was put to rather more rock'n'roll use, with designers like Vivienne Westwood and Katharine Hamnett spotting the opportunity to challenge the establishment rather than support it. Hamnett, in particular, became famous for a kind of sartorial activism, with slogans ranging from the general (Choose life) to the historically specific (Stop war, Blair out). On one notable occasion, she even wore one of her own T-shirts, making an anti-nuclear statement 58 per cent don't want perishing during a meeting with Margaret Thatcher, apparently causing the then-Prime Minister to make a noise like a chicken. More recently, we've had the Fawcett Society's This is what a feminist looks like design a clever way to challenge prejudices surrounding feminism while also recruiting a veritable army of on-message supporters to spread the word. For a period, being photographed in one of the T-shirts became de rigueur for any celebrity worth their salt, as much an essential component of fame as claiming to be totally normal, really in interviews. It doesn't look like any of us are going to be getting our slogans off our chests any time soon. But as the backlash against the students in Arizona continues 50,154 and counting those girls must be wishing that they could escape into Narnia themselves. The Independent BD Kasniyal Pithoragarh, February 26 A farmer of Papdeo village tried to set himself ablaze in the presence of state Cooperative Minister Yashpal Arya at a function in Pithoragarh town today. The farmer identified as Prakash Verma (56) has been demanding pastureland for his village. The minister was here to inaugurate a three-day cooperative fair. The farmer later said he wanted to draw the attention of the state government towards the villagers demand. Though former Chief Minister Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri had sanctioned a pastureland for the village, the state government failed to hand it over to the villagers till day, said Verma, who was saved by the police present on the spot. Later, the minister inaugurated the cooperative exhibition in which several cooperative societies from Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Champawat and Almora are participating. Besides, cooperative ventures from the plains of Uttarakhand as well as Uttar Pradesh are also taking part. Yashpal Arya, while addressing the gathering, said 10 district cooperative banks and state cooperative banks had been linked with core banking facilities in the last four years. We have also opened over 50 branches of cooperative banks in the state and have developed over 758 Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) into multipurpose centres to strengthen them, he said. Tehran, February 27 The first results from Iran's parliamentary election today showed a split of seats among conservatives, reformists and independent candidates, media reports said, after turnout of around 60 per cent. Coming just a month after sanctions were lifted under Iran's nuclear deal with world powers, the outcome of yesterday's vote is being seen as a de-facto referendum on President Hassan Rouhani. Read: Big turnout as Iran votes to shape post-sanctions era A political moderate, Rouhani is hoping his alliance with reformists, called The List of Hope, can curtail conservative dominance of parliament, improving his chances of passing social and political reforms. Early results, published by the semi-official ISNA news agency quoting electoral officials, suggested no one faction would win a majority. Out of 27 constituencies less than 10 per cent of the total eight went to conservatives, four to reformists and eight to independents, with others set to go to a second round because no candidate won 25 per cent of the vote. The high number of independent winners could suggest a partial shift away from Iran's sharply factional politics towards the middle ground. If that trend continues when more seats are declared it may be because voters reacted to the high number of reformist candidates who were not allowed to compete in the elections, a reform-minded analyst said. "They may have been more inclined to vote for people they know rather then for candidates strictly identified as conservatives or something else on a list," Saeed Laylaz told AFP. Based on unconfirmed reports, he predicted a strong showing for the List of Hope, comprising moderates and reformists. "What is for sure is that there will be less conservatives from the hard right in the next parliament. It won't be easy for them," Laylaz said. Around 60 per cent of voters cast ballots - 33 million out of 55 million eligible voters - the interior ministry said. Polling stations were kept open late yesterday to allow millions of latecomers to participate. As well as electing 290 MPs the electorate was voting for a new Assembly of Experts - a powerful 88-member committee that monitors the work of the country's ultimate authority, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. There were no results for the Assembly of Experts election by this afternoon. AFP Damascus, February 27 Guns fell silent across Syria on Saturday after a landmark UN-backed ceasefire came into effect, the first major truce in five years of civil war that have claimed more than 270,000 lives. On the stroke of midnight, firing stopped in suburbs around the capital and the devastated northern city of Aleppo, AFP correspondents said, after a day of intense Russian air strikes on rebel bastions across the country. Monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was quiet in the north of Latakia province and in the central provinces of Homs and Hama. "I may be up late tonight and hope I won't be wakened tomorrow by the sound of airplanes," Mohammed Nohad, a resident of Aleppo's southern rebel-held district of Al-Kalasseh, said. The nationwide cessation of hostilities would be the first pause in fighting since Syria's civil war broke out in 2011. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said peace talks would resume on March 7 if the ceasefire agreement holds and more aid is delivered a key sticking point in negotiations for a truce. Fighting appears to have "calmed down", although one incident is being investigated, and a special task force will meet today to monitor the fledgling ceasefire, he told reporters in Geneva. Previous attempts to end the fighting have failed and Russia and the US, which back opposing sides in the fight, have warned that applying it on the ground will be difficult. Analysts have also questioned whether it can be effective on Syria's complex battlefields, as the truce does not include jihadists from the Islamic State group and Al-Nusra Front. Intermittent clashes between pro-regime forces and both groups continued after the ceasefire began, the Observatory said, as well as fighting between jihadists and Kurdish forces. "I can't hide the fact that I'm happy the war has stopped, even for a few minutes," 24-year-old regime soldier Abdel Rahman Issa said from the battlefield Jobar area on the eastern outskirts of Damascus. "If it continues like this, maybe we can go home." Less than an hour before the ceasefire, the UN Security Council gave its unanimous backing to the truce in a resolution drafted by the US and Russia. US Ambassador Samantha Power acknowledged there was "some scepticism" as to whether the ceasefire would last, but said it offered the "best chance to reduce the violence". A spokesman for Turkey's presidency expressed worries over the ceasefire "because of the continuing Russian air raids and ground attacks by forces of (President Bashar al-) Assad". Russia began air strikes in Syria in September saying it was targeting "terrorists", but critics have accused Moscow of hitting rebel forces in support of the regime. Syrian rebel group says 3 fighters killed in government ground attack Saturday A Syrian rebel group in the country's northwest said it came under attack from government ground forces at 4 am (0200 GMT) on Saturday in what it called a breach of the cessation of hostilities plan that came into effect at midnight. Three fighters from the rebel First Coastal Division were killed while repelling the attack in the Jabal Turkman area near the Turkish border in Latakia province, Fadi Ahmad, the group's spokesman, told Reuters. The Syrian military could not immediately be reached for comment. The Syrian government has said it will respect the agreement drawn up by Russia and the United States, but that it will continue to fight the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and Islamic State which are not covered by the deal. "It is a violation (of the agreement)," Ahmad said, describing the attack as a ground assault with no air strikes. "Currently, the regime has halted the attack," he added. The First Coastal Division is part of a loose alliance of rebel groups known as the Free Syrian Army. Northwestern Syria is one of the areas where the Nusra Front operates near rebel groups that have approved the cessation of hostilities. Ahmad said the positions attacked on Saturday are controlled by his group, and the Nusra Front has no presence there. Nusra has called for an escalation of attacks. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there was calm in many parts of the country shortly after midnight when the agreement came into effect. Car bomb attack kills two people in Syria's Hama province: State TV At least two people were killed when a car bomb exploded at the entrance of a town in the Syrian province of Hama on Saturday, state television reported. The explosion occurred hours after a cessation of hostilities came into effect in Syria as part of a US and Russian plan. AFP/ Reuters Washington, February 27 The White House has pressed Chinese President Xi Jinping to expand his non-militarisation pledge to cover the entire South China Sea, despite Beijing's recent military activity in the area. Daniel Kritenbrink, senior director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council, spoke amid rising tensions between the two countries over China's deployment of surface- to-air missiles, radar gear, air strips and fighter jets on an islet there. During a state visit in September, Xi insisted that "China does not intend to pursue militarisation" in the Spratly Island chain known as Nansha in Chinese. The islands are claimed in part or whole by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. "We think it would be good if that non-militarisation pledge, if he (Xi) would extend that across the entire South China Sea," Kritenbrink told a forum at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies yesterday. "We're going to encourage our Chinese friends and other countries in the region to refrain from taking steps that raise tensions." China claims almost the whole of the area through which a third of the world's oil passes while several other littoral states have competing claims, as does Taiwan. "This is an incredibly important waterway through which much of international trade flows," Kritenbrink said. "We are concerned that China has taken a number of unilateral steps over the last several years that we think raise tensions in the region and are destabilising." The Asian giant is using dredgers to turn reefs and low- lying features into larger land masses for runways and other military uses to bolster its claims of sovereignty. Earlier this week, US Pacific Command chief Admiral Harry Harris warned that China was changing the "operational landscape in the region." He has called for more flyovers and patrols. "Short of war with the United States, China will exercise de facto control of the South China Sea," Harris said. Kritenbrink also urged China to respect an international court's decision due later this year on Manila's dispute with Beijing over territorial claims in the South China Sea. Kritenbrink said he expected the upcoming ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration to be "extremely important" because it will mark the outcome of a process that allows countries to use peaceful legal means to pursue disputes. China does not recognise The Hague-based court's authority, but it has ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea at the center of the case. "When that ruling comes out, it will be binding on both parties," Kritenbrink said. "That will be an important moment that all of us in the region should focus on." AFP Pairs of light- and medium-duty trailers, like these horse transporters, will be seen more often on interstate highways, thanks to the federal FAST Act. Photo: NATM A trailer to most of us means something thats part of a heavy combination vehicle, including the ubiquitous 18-wheeler. They are usually what I write about here. But of course, there are also light- and medium-duty trailers used by tradesmen, consumers and enthusiasts. They have to get from factories where theyre built to dealers and customers; sometimes theyre hauled on flatbeds or lowboys, but theyre also towed by specialized haulers using heavy pickups. Like big rigs, those vehicle combinations are subject to state length restrictions, or were, until recent passage of the federal FAST (Fixing Americas Surface Transportation) Act. Many state laws restricted towing of light- and medium-duty trailers to a single unit, according to the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers. Eight states allowed a truck to tow two trailers, but allowable lengths varied and none of the eight were contiguous. Often drivers would be able to tow two trailers through one state, but then have to drop a trailer to get it to a dealer in a state that didnt allow tandem deliveries, said Pam OToole Truesdale, the associations executive director. They would then have to go back and pick up the trailer, so that they delivered one at a time in that specific state. The inefficiencies were frustrating to NATM members, so they and association staffers worked for years to educate members of Congress about it. They got Congress to include a provision in the FAST Act that legalized tandem towing in all states, and liberalized combination length. This legislation allows tandem delivery up to 82 feet on interstate highways and includes reasonable access to interstate highways, she said. This law supersedes state length limitations. That sounds familiar to folks who lived through changes brought by the federal Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982. It dictated "reasonable access" to interstates for longer semitrailers and twin 28-foot pups throughout the United States, including states that had outlawed them. Drivers pulling such combinations need CDLs, and they're usually owner-operators. New light- and medium-duty trailers are transported empty, so while they can be large, theyre not very heavy. And most have brakes, so stopping power should be more than sufficient. About 25 percent of Tulsa County sheriff candidate Vic Regalados well-funded campaign can be linked to a Rogers County business that is involved in manufacturing and assembling equipment for the oil and gas industry. Monetary contributions totaling $42,050 of Regalados $155,000 war chest in mid-February come from employees of ISTI Plant Services and their spouses or housemates, as first reported on local website batesline.com. All but one of those donors have given a maximum contribution or nearly so to Regalados campaign. And based on the addresses provided by each donor, it appears four of the pairs and one of the individuals live outside Tulsa County. Regalado and his campaign didnt answer questions from the Tulsa World on Friday regarding the donations connected to ISTI Plant Services. The Regalado campaign released a statement that said in part, We accept and report these contributions in full compliance with the ethics rules, and we are thankful for such broad support. Several of the ISTI Plant Services employees listed in Regalados donations are in leadership positions, including three supervisors, a manager, the chief financial officer and the chief information officer. The other job titles listed by the donors are purchasing, construction and compliance. Ten of the donors gave the maximum $2,700; six more gave $2,500; and the CFO gave $50. The maximum contribution an individual donor can make before each election is $2,700 as long as the candidate is on the ballot. Our campaign is honored to have received a wide range of support from law enforcement, business leaders, and average Tulsans, from throughout the county and Tulsa region, Aaron Brewer, Regalados campaign manager, said in a prepared statement. Regalados campaign has raised $155,120 in donations and in-kind contributions, more than all of the other candidates combined. ISTI Plant Services is based out of the Tulsa Port of Catoosa. The companys website states it has more than 800 employees and provides turnkey mechanical general contractor services for oil, natural gas and petrochemical facilities. All of the donations tied to ISTI Plant Services came on Feb. 12, except for two people who gave $2,500 each Feb. 15, the last day covered by the latest filing period for campaign finance reporting. Regalado failed to file campaign finance reports in January despite raising or spending more than $1,000 during the period covered by that filing report. Election officials have attributed confusion over deadlines to a new law and the impromptu nature of a special election. PAC problems In a separate matter, a political action committee that made the maximum contribution to Regalado doesnt appear to be registered in state or federal databases that keep tabs on PACs. A Tulsa World reporter and a compliance officer with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission were unable to locate ECH, which Regaldos campaign lists as a PAC providing engineering and environmental guidance. Regalados finance report fails to list the PACs identification number as required in Oklahoma Ethics Commission rules, as well as the identification number of another PAC that gave to his campaign. That ECH PAC gave Regalado $5,000 on Jan. 22, which is the maximum contribution a PAC can make before each election as long as the candidate is on the ballot. If they are a state-formed PAC and they are (doing any activity as a PAC), they definitely need to be registered with us, said Darci McKee, a compliance officer for Ethics Commission. The finance report lists an address for ECH at a law firm in Oklahoma City. Regalado reported a total of $7,000 in donations from PACs. The ROI PAC listed in Regalados campaign finance report as involved in oil and gas exploration gave $2,000. ROI is registered in Oklahoma as Retain Our Incumbents. The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services has brought back a former superintendent at its School for the Blind to fill that role on an interim basis. Larry Hawkins, who served as the Muskogee schools superintendent for 18 months in 2010 and 2011, will take over beginning March 1. Even though Ill only be back at the School for the Blind until the permanent superintendent is selected, I share their strong commitment to student success and believe that OSB is the states premier educational and resource center for students who are blind or visually impaired, Hawkins said. I love OSB, and Im excited to be back in Muskogee and eager to work again with friends at the school and in the community. Hawkins previously served 11 years as superintendent at the Oklahoma School for the Deaf. Hawkins, who also has worked with people who are deaf-blind, earned his superintendents certification in 2000. His selection as interim superintendent is the first major move by Noel Tyler, interim executive director of the department. Tyler was chosen to step in for former Executive Director Joe Cordova after he resigned earlier this month amid controversy surrounding his pick to fill the School for the Blinds superintendent position. On Feb. 1 it was announced that Cordova had selected Christine Boone to be the permanent superintendent. Boones appointment drew criticism from parents and others with ties to the school, who questioned her lack of traditional education credentials. State lawmakers brought attention of the controversy to the governor. Boones hiring was rescinded at the same time Cordovas resignation was accepted. I took a week off this month and was about as far off the grid as Ive been in awhile. Meanwhile, our staff photographers were out making some of the best pictures of the month. I had fun getting back to work and re-acquanting myself with all the photographs that were turned in while I was on vacation. Its been a busy month. Weve photographed political rallies, grass fires, high school and college sports, and just about everything in between. My favorite one is a quiet moment in the midst of a chaotic situation. Carlton Silter uses a garden hose to soak his yard while the smoke from nearby grass fires obscures the afternoon sun. In a video that World photographer Mike Simons recorded, Silter said this may be futile against the approaching flames, but it sure feels good to try. Here are a few of my favorites, but there are many more online. Just in case you found yourself a little off the grid sometime this month. Calvin Riggs takes to the air during a skateboard maneuver at the river skatepark in Tulsa on Feb. 21 during BlindSide SkateShop's first Riverside Roast competition. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World Lily Rhodes, 15, tries out her new top-of-the-line prosthetic arm at Hanger Clinic in Tulsa on Monday. Rhodes was one of the teens injured in the Keystone Lake UTV crash in May, and she received the prosthetic arm thanks to the combined efforts of Insurance Commissioner John Doak, CPO Scott Stromberg at Hanger Clinic and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World Supporters cheer as Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders addresses a crowd during his rally at the Cox Business Center on Wednesday. IAN MAULE/Tulsa World Gracie Adams, a first-grader at St. Mary's Catholic School, listens after getting ash on her forehead, during an Ash Wednesday service at St. Mary's Catholic Church. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World US drama Satisfaction, starring Aussie Matt Passmore, has been axed after 2 seasons. The series about a couple whose marriage detours into the world of escorts, is the second starring vehicle for Passmore, following The Glades. The Hollywood Reporter notes the news is no real surprise after it was quietly moved to Friday nights for its second season. Executive Producer Sean Jablonski (Suits, Nip / Tuck) has recently signed a deal with Netflix as exec producer and co-showrunner on upcoming drama Gypsy. Season 2 is currently airing in Australia on Showcase. The directors of buzz-worthy documentary Making a Murderer are considering more of the Steven Avery saga. The 10-part Netflix series revolved around questions about the judicial process behind Steven Averys 2005 conviction for the murder of photographer Teresa Halbach, as well as the related convictions of his nephew Brendan Dassey. Directors Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos have spoken to Averys new lawyer, Kathleen Zellner, about the prospect of filming and have continued to record their conversations with Avery. From our perspective this story is obviously not over, Ricciardi said. Its real life and (Averys and Brendan Dasseys) cases are both still pending. We have no idea when the magistrate will make a decision in Brendans case. We do know that two potential outcomes are that the judge could order Brendans release or he could order a new trial. So we are on the edge of seats about that. To the extent that there are significant developments, we would like to continue documenting this (case). Both Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos will be in Australia for talks next month. Source: Variety Hi, my name is Scott C. Waring and I wrote a few books and am currently a ESL School Owner in Taiwan. I have had my own UFO sighting up close and personal, but that's how it works right? A non believer becomes a believer when they experience their first sighting. You witnessed it, your perceptual field changes, so now you need to share it. I created this site to help the UFO community get a little bit organized. I noticed that there was a lot of chaos when searching for UFO sighting reports, so I hope this site helps. I wanted to support those eyewitnesses who have tried to tell others about what they have seen, yet were laughed at by even closest of friends. More and more each day the governments of the world leak bits and pieces of UFO information to the public. They have a trickle down theory in hopes of slowly getting citizens use to the idea that we are not alone in universe and never have been. The truth is being leaked drop by drop until one day we look around and find ourselves neck high in it. The discovery of alien species in existence is the most monumental scientific event in human history, suppression of that information is a crime against humanity. About me: I live in Taiwan. I OWN MY OWN ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND ONCE HAD 5 SCHOOLS. Am Former USAF at SAC base (flight line). Age: 42 Educ: BA in Elem ed. Masters in Counseling ed. I had two UFO sightings, (30+bus size orbs) in military and in 2012 personally saw the UFO over Taipei 101 building on New Years Day (and recored it). The militants of the illegal armed groups continue violating the ceasefire and launching attacks on the ATO positions in eastern Ukraine. According to the ATO Headquarters press center, the number of attacks traditionally increases in the evening. In Donetsk direction, the enemy used small arms, heavy machine guns and grenade launchers to shell Ukrainian strongholds near Zaitseve (67km north-north-east of Donetsk), Novhorodske (34km north of Donetsk) and Luhanske (59km north-east of Donetsk). In addition, the militants fired from 82mm and 120mm mortars at the Ukrainian positions outside Zaitseve. In Mariupol direction, the Russian mercenaries used heavy machine guns and grenade launchers to launch attacks on the ATO positions near Marinka (35 km south-west of Donetsk) and Novotroitske (32km south of Donetsk). ol The Polish government is in the process of developing a new vision of cooperation with Ukraine, in particular, in the economic field. Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland Deshchytsia said this in an interview with Ukrinform correspondent. "As far as I know, the Polish government is developing its vision of cooperation with Ukraine on the basis of the recently adopted program of strategic development. The Polish delegation of the Ministry of Development together with representatives of the Polish Agency for Information and Foreign Investment will visit Ukraine in the coming weeks for the possible elaboration of new forms of cooperation," Deshchytsia said. The Ukrainian diplomat noted that both countries need to focus on the already reached agreements, in particular, on the Polish loan for infrastructure development on the Ukrainian-Polish border worth EUR 100 million. ol The Estonian government has allocated EUR 105,000 within the project of protection of the rights of Crimean Tatars through the public diplomacy means. Vice-Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Oliver Loode said this on the air of Ukrainian Channel 5. According to him, the project was launched by the Estonian Institute of Human Rights, the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people and the United Nations and is intended to acquaint the West with the issue of Crimean Tatars. "The Estonian Institute of Human Rights has initiated the project to strengthen the position of the Crimean Tatars in the European Union and in the western world as a whole. It also includes the system of the United Nations and various international organizations," Ukrayinska Pravda online Ukrainian media outlet quotes him as saying. He stressed: "It is important for the international organizations and states to know about the Crimean Tatars, their history and identity." ol At the second anniversary of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress once again calls on the international community to provide Ukraine with defensive weapons. This is noted in the UCC statement. "We call on the leaders of Canada, the United States, and their NATO allies to provide Ukraine with the defensive weapons it needs to defend its territory and Ukraines civilian population from Russias attack," reads the statement. The organization also emphasized the need to expand the sanctions against Russia. "We urge to increase the sectoral sanctions against Russias defense, energy and financial sectors, in particular banning Russia from the SWIFT international banking system, the Congress stresses. Another necessary step is to increase training of Ukrainian military personnel. "The UCC underlines its complete solidarity with the people of Ukraine as they bravely battle Russias invasion of their country," the Ukrainian Canadian Congress sums up. ol The national marches-protests against Russian aggression in Ukraine will take place in Italy, France, Greece, Spain and Portugal on February 28. This is reported by the Ukrainian World Congress, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "Unfortunately, we can still hear the voices in support of Putin and the calls for lifting of the European sanctions against Russia in different European countries. The Russian propaganda is spread through the media. In this situation, the Ukrainian community cannot stand aside and wants to express its vision, the vision of the people who have become the main victim and the target of Putin's regime," reads the statement of the Congress. The members of the Ukrainian community in these countries and not indifferent citizens will walk along the central streets of their capitals to draw attention to the Russian crimes. "We invite all the media to give a voice to this protest and to inform about the current situation in Ukraine," the Congress adds. ol The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Ministry of Human Capacities of Hungary signed the educational exchange program for 2016-2018. This is reported by the press service of the Education and Science Ministry of Ukraine. The document envisages the allocation of scholarships to the Ukrainian students in Hungary and to the Hungarian students in Ukraine. The agreement provides for the annual provision of one hundred scholarships for the Ukrainian students to get higher education in the universities of Hungary," reads the statement. ol No, madame, Im sorry. I dont smoke, replied another team member. Throughout the mission, others would ask for lighters. In this besieged town, lighters are a rare and expensive commodity. We have to make fire to cook or burn wood for warmth, said one woman. Our homes are damaged, the windows have all been blasted out. It gets very cold here at night. You should spend the night here and feel it for yourselves its unbearable, said another woman, as she called her children to walk back home. As the night wore on and 10 trucks were left to be unloaded, the operation continued in the dark. It is what the United Nations does in the Syrian Arab Republic. Access to such locations is rare. Once in, the team stays until the last box of humanitarian aid is delivered. Stuck We havent had electricity for many years, said Udai*, 9. We have a fridge at home, but I have never seen it work. A girl, 13, began to cry. Can you take her to her parents? a man asked the UNICEF team. She was visiting her older sister, my wife, when the road was blocked. She is fine. She is healthy. But she misses her parents. A woman chimed in, Not only her. There are many people stuck here like her, including myself. End of the mission By midnight, only those who helped unload trucks and a few others remained. Nader, 12, watched men standing in line to transfer food rations from a truck into a storage facility. He was wearing a thin pullover. This is not cold weather, he said. It was really cold when it was snowing here this winter and even colder the previous winter. But then I had a warm coat, and now its too small, so my younger brother wears it. *Names have been changed to protect childrens identities. During this mission, UNICEF delivered 16 trucks loaded with 8,000 winter kits. Each kit is for one child and includes a winter jacket, trousers, a woollen sweater, thermal underwear, socks, gloves, a hat and a pair of shoes. The aid consignment also included 7,300 packs of 24 diapers. During the first convoy to Moadamiyeh a few days earlier, UNICEFs priority was to deliver urgently needed health and nutrition supplies. On the same day as this mission, another UNICEF team joined the United Nations inter-agency convoy delivering aid to Kafr Batna. The United Nations had not been able to enter the besieged town with humanitarian assistance since May 2014. As Kafr Batna has a population of 39,000, including about 17,000 children, UNICEF prioritized delivery of critical health and nutrition supplies in this breakthrough first convoy. Building on the five United Nations inter-agency convoys the previous week, UNICEF and its partners have delivered support to more than 100,000 people in besieged communities during the month of February. However, more than 4.6 million people more than two million of them children live in hard-to-reach locations across the country, including 486,700 in besieged locations like Moadamiyeh and Kafr Batna. As the deadline for a national cessation of hostilities nears this Saturday, UNICEF and partners are urgently calling for unimpeded, unconditional and sustained access to all 13.5 million people in need across the country. The North Carolina Tar Heels (7) are in the driver's seat in the ACC and can do themselves a huge favor by beating the Virginia Cavaliers (3) on the road. Virginia currently sits two games out of first, while Louisville and Miami (each one game back) play each other earlier in the day. North Carolina has been up-and-down of late, winning four of seven, and hope to close out their season atop the ACC. Tipoff: 6:30 p.m. ET in Charlottesville, Va. Spread: Virginia -4 TV/live steam online: ESPN/WatchESPN Listen live: TuneIn Radio Saturday's ACC clash promises to be a classic showdown of offense against defense, as the Tar Heels are averaging about 84 points per game (ninth in the nation), and the Cavaliers are allowing about 60 points per game (third in the nation). North Carolina wraps up its season next weekend in Durham, but will return home to play Syracuse before that. Its path to staving off Miami, Louisville, and Virginia for the ACC regular season title is simple: win out. Doing so would also help them earn a one-seed for the NCAA Tournament, which is also not out of reach for Virginia. All the latest Uttoxeter news Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. The Houston Astros are casting a wide net in an attempt to shore up their bullpen for the 2016 season. After bringing in young fireballer Ken Giles from the Philadelphia Phillies via trade, they have invited 10-year veteran left-handed relief pitcher Neal Cotts to compete for a roster spot as a non-roster invitee participating in the major league camp (as reported by Brian McTaggart of MLB.com) Cotts' Career Cotts has been a career middle-reliever, left-handed specialist with just four career saves, but amassing over 50 games the past three seasons. Cotts will turn 36 in just a month and adds to the veteran presence of the current Astros bullpen, which includes Luke Gregerson (32 years old), Pat Neshek (35), and Tony Sipp (32). He pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins in 2015, with a respectable earned run average of 3.41. Houston Astros fans are familiar with Cotts from their matchup in the 2005 World Series, in which Cotts appeared as a left-handed specialists in all four games of the Chicago White Sox sweep of the Astros, retiring four of the six batters he faced with no runs allowed. Cotts career was almost derailed by injury between 2009 and 2012, in which he failed to make a major league appearance due to hip and arm problems which led to ineffectiveness. Neal Cotts helped the Chicago White Sox sweep the Houston Astros in the 2005 World Series | Photo: AP Chances Of A Roster Spot Cotts will likely be competing for a second left-handed middle-relief spot in the Astros bullpen to back up Tony Sipp. The question is whether or not the Astros will go with two left-handed pitchers given their deep corps returning from 2015. Giles, Gregerson, Neshek, and Sipp are all but guaranteed roster spots. Newcomer Will Harris led the relief corps in earned run average last season at 1.90 and fourth-year pitcher Josh Fields had the highest strikeout-per-inning ratio of the 2015 pen. Cotts best chance to make the team would probably to be much-needed depth in case of injury or if Harris or Fields cannot replicate their 2015 success. The other candidate for second left-handed option is Kevin Chapman, who has been with the Astros and their AAA affiliate for three seasons, but appeared in only 3 games in 2015. Last season, the Astros acquired Oliver Perez for a second left-handed option through the stretch run and into the playoffs. In what was a very crazy qualifying day from the Atlanta Motor Speedway, it was Kurt Busch who was able to get the pole for the Folds Of Honor QuikTrip 500. The race will begin around 1 P.M. EST on Sunday, February 28th. Round 1 Round 1 was a very crazy and unexpected round for some of the drivers. Drivers such as Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney had to try to battle through their cars being very lose throughout their laps. It affected Logano so badly that he was unsuccessful in trying to advance to round 2. Logano will start 27th for the race on Sunday. Chase Elliott, Daytona 500 pole winner, was in a good position to move on to round 2 as he clocked a good lap that was able to put him into the 23rd position with the top 24 advancing. However, Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney both had to come back out on to the track to run another lap, and both were able to bump into the top 24 and advance to the 2nd round. That bumped Chase Elliott to 25th, which is where he will start for the race on Sunday. Kyle Busch clocked one of the quickest laps of the weekend, and led the first session of qualifying. Round 2 The top 12 in session two went on to advance to round 3. Notable names that were unable to move onto round 3 were Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, and Kyle Larson. Jamie McMurray ran an amazing lap that helped him lead the second session, and moved him on to the third session. Jeff Zelevansky- Getty Images Round 3 Round 3 seemed to be the round for the Busch brothers. However, after qualifying, the pole winner Kyle Buschs pole winning lap time was disqualified. Therefore, that moves Kurt Busch to the pole, and bumps Jamie McMurray to the front row as well. McMurray will start 2nd. That is very unfortunate for Kyle Busch, as he looked very impressive in qualifying, and now he will have to come up through the field. Busch failed post qualifying, and NASCAR said it was something to do with the rear of Buschs car. Look Ahead To The Race As some of the drivers seemed to find out during qualifying, they will be battling with a loose car at times during the race on Sunday, which will be something to watch for in the race. Watch for those notable drivers that are starting back in the field a little to try to work their way up the field quickly. Those drivers are not used to being back in the pack to start the race. Check for live updates on the @NASCARonVAVEL Twitter account during the race. CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR Shane Prukop puts all his energy into playing the French horn as John MacLean (left) waits his turn during the Music Vans visit to Mira Monte School in the Ojai Valley on Friday. SHARE CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR The Ojai Music Festivals Music Van makes an appearance Friday at Mira Monte School in the Ojai Valley on Friday. CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR The trombone proves popular as the Ojai Music Festivals Music Van makes an appearance at Mira Monte School on Friday. CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR Greta Callahan blows into a trumpet as the Ojai Music Festivals Music Van makes an appearance at Mira Monte School on Friday. CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR Students play the trombone as the Ojai Music Festivals Music Van makes an appearance at Mira Monte School on Friday. The van is part of the festivals BRAVO program. By Claudia Boyd-Barrett, Special to The Star The noise emanating Friday from the multipurpose room at Mira Monte School in the Ojai Valley sounded like a wild orchestra. From within the room came a cacophony of trombones, crashing cymbals, a xylophone, a snare drum and the deep, low notes of a cello. A gaggle of fourth-graders inside hopped among tables piled with instruments: drums, bells, violins, clarinets, flutes, cellos, a guitar, trumpets, a French horn and others. With the help of adult volunteers, the youngsters picked up the instruments and tried to blow, bang, strum or stroke each one to get a sound. "This is really cool," gasped Sol Limon, 10, putting down a trombone he'd spent several minutes blowing on. "I'd never played an instrument, only piano. I'd never played anything else. This is a new experience for me." The occasion marked the middle of a two-week tour of elementary schools by the Ojai Music Festival's Music Van, a mobile classroom with orchestral instruments. The van and dozens of volunteers with the festival's BRAVO education program are visiting elementary schools in the Ojai Valley, Ventura and Santa Paula to offer children a hands-on introduction to the instruments. BRAVO Education Coordinator Laura Walter said the annual tour gets children excited about music and helps them decide which instrument to learn to play when they enter band programs in the higher grades. Learning to play an instrument has been shown to benefit children's brain development, she said, and it's important to get them interested in music early on. "It's to give them an introduction to what playing an instrument would feel like, what it would sound like, and they all get to find their favorite instrument," she said. "A hands-on learning experience is what impacts children." The music van this year will visit 12 schools, including Grace Thille Elementary in Santa Paula. It's the program's first visit to Santa Paula, and it coincides with the Ojai Music Festival's plans to organize a community street party in the city this summer. Mira Monte teacher Petra Battleson said her fourth-graders would be asked to choose their preferred instruments for fifth-grade band. She said she's seen the program in action for several years and loves the enthusiasm it generates in her students. "It's amazing for them to get to try out all these instruments at once," she said. "They come out totally excited about the instruments, plus they can get to try something out they didn't even know existed before." For Madison Reyes, 9, trying out a violin, a guitar and a trumpet got her thinking about the pros and cons of each instrument. The guitar hurts your fingers, she said. The violin is fun, but you have to know how to move the bow. The trumpet? Once you learn how to blow through the mouthpiece, it's not so hard, she concluded. "It's nice that they come here," she said of the van. "They're helping us learn what we want to do in fifth and sixth grade." ANTHONY PLASCENCIA/THE STAR John Heubusch (center), executive director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum, watches as an angel from the workshop of 17th century artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini is removed from its crate while Monsignor Luis Manuel Cuna Ramos, who is responsible for Vatican archives, explains the historical significance of the piece. SHARE ANTHONY PLASCENCIA/THE STAR Jennifer Torres (right), registrar for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum, and Evergreen Exhibitions technician Stacey Savatsky unpack a reliquary believed to contain bone fragments of saints for the upcoming exhibit, Vatican Splendors: A Journey Through Faith and Art. ANTHONY PLASCENCIA/THE STAR A 17th century painting by Guercino titled The Virgin Mary and Infant Jesus and Book in Hands rests on a table at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum on Friday, where three crates carrying Vatican pieces were unpacked for the upcoming exhibit, Vatican Splendors: A Journey Through Faith and Art. ANTHONY PLASCENCIA/THE STAR A reliquary containing bone fragments of Saints Peter and Paul, as well as relics of several other saints, rests on a table at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum on Friday, where three crates carrying Vatican pieces were unpacked for the upcoming exhibit, Vatican Splendors: A Journey Through Faith and Art. ANTHONY PLASCENCIA/THE STAR An angel from the workshop of 17th century artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini rests on a table at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum on Friday, where three crates carrying Vatican pieces were unpacked for the upcoming exhibit, Vatican Splendors: A Journey Through Faith and Art. By Michele Willer-Allred, Special to The Star Centuries-old, one-of-a-kind artifacts from the Vatican in Rome were unveiled Friday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum in Simi Valley, where officials are getting ready for a new temporary exhibit that will open March 6 and run through August 28. "Vatican Splendors: A Journey Through Faith and Art," comprises one of the largest Vatican collections ever to tour the United States. It includes a collection of historical and religious objects, some of which date to the first century, as well as works of art by Michelangelo and others. Some of the items are never on view to the general public, not even in Rome, according to museum officials. "It's one of the most unique and special exhibits we've ever had at the library," said John Heubusch, executive director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. "None has been as extraordinary as this one." The Reagan Library is the only West Coast destination and only one of two destinations the other is Philadelphia that will show the exhibit this year. After it leaves the Reagan Library at the end of August, it will return to the Vatican; it can't be absent for more than one year. Items in the collection include mosaics, frescoes, paintings and sculptures by Renaissance masters, precious objects from the Papal Mass, historical maps and documents and other items. The exhibit is organized in conjunction with Congregazione per l'Evangelizzazione dei Popoli of the Vatican city state. The 10,000-square-foot exhibition space is being kept largely a secret from the public until its opening, but three artifacts were at a media-only event held Friday. Workers from Evergreen Exhibitions carefully opened the crates and with gloved hands removed the items, which included two works of art from the 17th century an angel from the workshop of Gian Lorenzo Bernini and an oil painting by Guercino of the Virgin Mary with infant Jesus. A reliquary containing bones believed for centuries to belong to Saints Peter and Paul, as well as relics of several other saints, was also unveiled. "The beauty and richness that you see in the design and material in this reliquary and other art works, you will see in the exhibit," said Monsignor Luis Manuel Cuna Ramos, an ordained priest and director of the Congregation for the evangelization of People's Archives. "We are lucky enough to get to uncrate the whole show as part of our work here, which is a bit like unwrapping presents on Christmas morning," he added. This is the first time the exhibit is being shown at a presidential library since it started traveling in 2002. Melissa Giller, chief marketing officer for the Reagan Foundation, said there's already been a "huge interest" in the exhibit, especially from churches and other faith-based groups. She said more than 10,000 tickets have already been pre-sold for the exhibit, but that number is spread out over the entire six-month run. "So, there's nothing stopping anyone from coming out," said Giller, adding that visitors can buy tickets on the day of their visit as well as on the Reagan Library website. Tickets to see the exhibit, as well as the museum and the Air Force One Pavilion, will be $29 for adults, $26 for those 62 and older, $19 for those 11 to 17 years old, and $16 for children ages 3 to 10. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For more information see www.ReaganFoundation.org/VaticanSplendors. SHARE COURTESY PHOTO Cody Barnes By Tom Kisken of the Ventura County Star After surrounding a vehicle and calling out its driver at gunpoint, Ventura police arrested an armed suspect in a Nevada attempted murder case late Friday. Police said they received a call from Nevada's Nye County Sheriff's Department at 9:45 p.m. Friday about Cody Barnes, 21. The Nevada resident was a suspect in the alleged attempted murder of his girlfriend, according to Nye County officials. She survived without injuries. Ventura police said they were told Barnes was in Ventura. He was considered armed and dangerous, according to a Facebook alert posted by Nye County officials. Ventura police found the suspect's truck unoccupied at 1245 S. Petit Ave. near an apartment complex, Ventura police Sgt. Brian Hewlett said. A surveillance team reported the vehicle was leaving and patrol units followed. The truck was stopped at Telephone Road and Cachuma Avenue, police said. Barnes, armed with a handgun, was arrested without incident, Hewlett said. Barnes is being held in county jail and is expected to be extradited to Nevada, authorities said. SHARE CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Jeffrey Korber, of Laguna Beach, was found dead in a Ventura storage unit in June 2013. By John Scheibe of the Ventura County Star A Ventura woman is facing charges of conspiracy to commit a crime in connection with the death of her former boyfriend. Police found Jeffrey Korber's body stuffed inside a freezer at a self-storage facility in Ventura in late June 2013. A grand jury indictment charging Mary Francesca Hannan in the case was unsealed Friday in Ventura County Superior Court. She faces charges of conspiracy to commit an act injurious to public, conspiracy to commit a crime and accessory after the fact. The indictment comes more than two years after Hannan's son, Michael Bresnak, was arrested in connection with Korber's death. Attorney Richard Hanawalt, who is representing Hannan, asked Superior Court Judge Bruce A. Young on Friday if Hannan's arraignment could by delayed because he needed time to look at the indictment. Young agreed to Hanawalt's request and set her arraignment for 9 a.m. March 9. The indictment had been sealed before Young gave copies of it to Hanawalt and Bill Karr, a senior deputy district attorney with Ventura County. Hannan remained free, having earlier posted bail of $20,000, Young said. The indictment alleges Hannan took part in wrapping Korber's body with plastic, duct tape and rope. It also alleges she took part in obtaining the freezer in which police found his body at the Ventura Mini Warehouse in mid-2013. The indictment alleges Hannan participated in moving the freezer to the storage unit, kept keys to the freezer and paid the bills for the storage unit where the body was kept frozen for more than two years. The indictment contains two other counts, including that Hannan conspired to have Korber's remains moved from the storage facility so they could be buried somewhere and that she concealed Korber's death from police to help herself and her son avoid arrest and prosecution in connection with his killing. The indictment was made public a week after Anne Spillner, a senior deputy district attorney, told jurors in opening arguments on the first day of Bresnak's murder trial that Hannan had told a Laguna Beach police detective that Korber had come to live with her at her Ventura home in fall 2010. Hannan, an attorney, also told the detective that Korber, who had been her boyfriend at one time, had been doing some clerical work for her legal practice. Investigators became concerned about Korber's whereabouts in 2011 after his car was found abandoned at Los Angeles International Airport. Korber's family had been worried about his safety and whereabouts for some time, Spillner said. Spillner told jurors that when the Laguna Beach detective asked Hannan about Korber's whereabouts, she responded by saying she'd watched him get in his car in March 2011 and drive away, headed for a new job in Florida. Spillner said that in fact, Hannan knew at the time that Korber was no longer alive and that she withheld this information from the detective. With no more information to go on, investigators closed the case on Korber's disappearance in January 2012. They reopened it 18 months later, shortly before Korber's body was found. Bresnak later was arrested in connection with Korber's death. Hannan told the detective that tensions grew between her and Korber because he wanted higher pay to work for her. Hannan said she felt Korber wasn't doing a good job, Spillner told jurors on Feb. 19. Investigators reopened the case after a San Bernardino County woman contacted the California Highway Patrol in 2013, saying Bresnak had put a body in a freezer more than two years earlier, Spillner said. The woman, identified in the indictment as "Gabby," told authorities Bresnak had called her and asked to bury a body on her large desert property, Spillner said. The woman told Bresnak she wouldn't allow him to dump a body there, but became fearful after Bresnak persisted and continued to call her with the same request, Spillner said. The indictment alleges Hannan also went to Gabby for help in dumping the body. Spillner told jurors Feb. 19 that investigators recorded many of the conversations Hannan had with her son while he was in jail. In at least one such conversation, Hannan is alleged to have told Bresnak that she was upset with his telling others about Korber's death as he reached out for their help in getting rid of the body. SHARE Is Hillary Clinton ready to rumble against Donald Trump? The nation and the world had better hope so. The question is premature but not unreasonably so. Perhaps Bernie Sanders will stun Clinton in the South Carolina Democratic primary this weekend and then pick off a couple of delegate-rich Super Tuesday states. Maybe Trump's main challengers, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, will start training heavy fire on the guy who's running away with the Republican nomination. Such things are possible but do not seem very likely. The Democratic Party's process of selecting convention delegates is less democratic than the GOP's; elected officials who serve as "superdelegates" and who constitute the party establishment give Clinton a substantial built-in advantage. Sanders' big victory in New Hampshire, sandwiched between defeats in Iowa and Nevada, hasn't been enough to start any kind of Obama-style stampede. If Clinton does as well as pollsters expect in the next few primaries, the Democratic race could effectively be over by mid-March. Her challenge then would be to figure out why turnout in her party's primaries has been relatively anemic and fix the problem. Scaring Democrats and independents to the polls should be easy if Republicans continue on their present course, which is toward some unexplored realm that ancient mapmakers would have labeled "Here Be Monsters." Trump's win in the Nevada caucuses was dominating: He finished with 46 percent, tallying more votes than Rubio and Cruz combined. Rubio and his supporters were left trying to spin a second-place finish, with just 24 percent, into some kind of moral victory. His argument that more than half of GOP voters favored someone other than Trump does not even rise to the level of sophistry, given that more than three-quarters of voters favored someone other than Rubio. As for Cruz, there wasn't much he could say at all, except perhaps a quiet prayer that what happened in Vegas would stay in Vegas. Entrance polling showed that Trump beat Cruz among evangelical Christian voters and self-identified conservatives. If Cruz cannot win these segments of the base, what exactly is the point of his campaign? Perhaps the most ominous sign for those who oppose Trump is that Rubio and Cruz are spending most of their time and money attacking each other rather than aiming at the front-runner. Rubio believes that if he can make the race a one-on-one contest against Trump, he can win. Cruz has the same strategy. But this logic is flawed. Polls show that Trump is the second choice of substantial numbers of Cruz and Rubio voters. If one of them drops out, the other will get a boost but so will Trump. Cruz might win his home state of Texas on Tuesday. Rubio and John Kasich might win their home states Florida and Ohio, respectively two weeks later. But Trump seems poised to roll up delegates almost everywhere else and amass what could be an insurmountable lead. The Republican Party doesn't have superdelegates; officials play no special role. It is pointless to call for some kind of Trump-blocking backroom deal that nobody has the power to make. And deus ex machina is a plot device in bad novels, not a viable strategy. If Republican primary voters want Trump, they will have him. So a Clinton-Trump matchup is not only thinkable at this point. It looks almost probable. See? I'm guilty of what I warn against. I wrote "almost" because it is so hard to view this campaign as it is, rather than as I might think it should be. Clinton would be seen, at least initially, as the prohibitive favorite. But she had better not bring a knife to a gunfight. The biggest challenge for her campaign would be to recognize what Rubio, Cruz, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie and the rest of the Republicans failed to see: To beat Trump you have to go after him just as viciously and cleverly as he goes after you. Refusing to descend to his level is a grave mistake. You have to get down and dirty, get under his skin, call him names. You have to worry less about running a campaign the nation can be proud of and more about running a campaign that wins, even if it wins ugly. Desperate times require desperate measures. Eugene Robinson's email address is eugenerobinson@washpost.com. He writes for The Washington Post Writers Group. SHARE It's not going to be easy to stop Donald Trump from winning the Republican nomination and probably then losing to the trick-a-day, policy-confused Hillary Clinton or doing something else to make us tremble. He could actually come to occupy the White House and then unleash hoards of his promised barbaric errors. The erasure of his chances, which is nothing short of a duty for those who have closely examined him, will also be arduous. In addition to Ben Carson and John Kasich joining the 12 who have already skadoodled from the race, we need to have as many as feel right about it to become actively involved in promoting the candidacy of the exuberantly special Marco Rubio. They need to speak up loud and clear for him, to enunciate carefully why he is a better choice than Trump or even the somewhat less worrisome Ted Cruz. This won't be easy. It can mean shoving ego aside, of humbling themselves a tad, but there's a reason they should act: wanting what's best for America instead of what most heightens sense of self. Simply following the example of Jeb Bush, who said hi, ho away he goes after being trounced in South Carolina, isn't enough because it is uncertain how many of those votes will float in Rubio's direction. For sure, it's thought by some that the best Trump's zaniness-laden marketing skills can accomplish is to win about a third of all votes, but there are other statistical investigations that indicate otherwise. That's why it's crucial for some to keep campaigning even when it's for someone else, although dropping out is step one even when it comes to someone as well-qualified as Kasich. He was in the House of Representatives for 18 years, serving in major positions and learning how D.C. works. He is in his second term as the enormously successful governor of Ohio. Unlike Cruz, whose often deceptive, self-advertising, overwrought stances have never accomplished boo in Washington, he tells the truth, shines with goodness, works with others and gets things done. Despite a surprise showing in New Hampshire, however, he does not have a chance in this race and could do a world of good by leaving the campaign and pushing hard for Rubio, who fares much better and seems mostly in tune with his views. While Rubio should promise them nothing for their support and they should give it without expectations, some of these ex-candidates could play important parts in a Rubio administration. It's not the least bit hard to imagine Bush as a terrific secretary of defense or Chris Christie as an outstanding attorney general. Carson could be a surgeon general of exceptional merit and here's who Rubio's running mate should be: Kasich, whose experience would counterbalance Rubio's relative inexperience, one of his negatives. He has others, and even I do not agree with all his positions, but I also honestly believe he has the demonstrated character and intellect to give us a unifying 21st century administration that could make us more secure, boost the economy, lift spirits and reinvigorate a wilting exceptionalism. That's a positive message that ought to be preached, but there's an honest, not so comfortable message about Trump that needs spreading, too. I am not talking about something evil, as when President Barack Obama's supporters as much as accused Mitt Romney in 2012 of killing a woman in a grotesquely misleading TV ad. There can be factually accurate, calmly stated expositions of a candidate who openly calls for the families of terrorists to be killed, who advocates policies that could put hundreds of thousands out of work, who is one day for the Obamacare mandate and the next day isn't. The list is long to the point of exhaustion, but information counts, America counts and some of Rubio's former opponents must therefore stand up and do the right thing. Jay Ambrose is an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service. Readers may email him at speaktojay@aol.com. SHARE The entrance to the Ventura Harbor has been open for more than a week now, and the Coast Guard has lifted the safety zone. With mariners again able to freely enter and leave the harbor, it seems an appropriate time to reflect on what caused the closure and on the successful collaborative effort to get it reopened and provide a more thorough dredging operation than in the past. In late December and early January, coastal storms attributed to El Nino caused shoaling (deposits of sand creating shallow water) in the entrance. Its depth, normally 40 feet, shrunk to 13 feet. The channel width, normally 300 feet, became a narrow 40 feet. As a result, the Coast Guard, in collaboration with the Harbor Patrol, initiated a safety zone Jan. 22 that restricted vessel traffic. The Army Corps of Engineers hired Manson Construction to remove nearly 900,000 cubic yards of sand from the entrance and sand trap. That work is still underway. The 2016 federal omnibus appropriations bill included $4.8 million for our current dredging project. The Ventura Port District is grateful to Rep. Julia Brownley, who worked hard in Washington to coordinate with the Office of Management and Budget and the Corps of Engineers to secure an additional $2.5 million to assure adequate dredging. Without this extra funding, the Corps could not fulfill the federal dredging obligation at the entrance. On Feb. 18, The Star had an extensive article with photos on the erosion of beaches north of the harbor. Guess where much of that sand ended up? In our harbor entrance. More than 210,000 cubic yards accumulated in the entrance since Dec. 28. But thanks to a team effort, dredging operations were underway less than 45 days later. Our successful dredging would not have been possible without the full engagement of the Corps of Engineers, the commitment of the leadership in its Los Angeles District and South Pacific Division offices and its engineering staff. Congress first authorized federal maintenance of the Ventura Harbor in the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1968. The Ventura Port District works closely with the Corps and dredging contractors each year. I also want to acknowledge Ventura Port Commissioners Greg Carson and Ev Ashworth for their time and effort meeting with General Manager Oscar Pena and district staff and dredging consultant Richard Parsons. Special thanks go to Harbormaster John Higgins and the Ventura Harbor Patrol for all the planning and implementation of a successful public safety effort. I am proud to report there have been no recent boating accidents or personal injuries at our entrance. We always hope for clear weather and calm seas but wanted Ventura County to know we were well served by Rep. Brownley and the Corps of Engineers. We also thank our commercial fishermen, charter operators, mariners and other harbor-dependent businesses for their cooperation and understanding during this unusual event. Jim Friedman is chairman of the Ventura Port District Board of Commissioners. SHARE On Sept. 2, 2011, two employees of the mosquito and vector control district where I work told me they had found a mosquito Aedes albopictus that was supposedly eradicated from Los Angeles 10 years earlier. Aedes albopictus ("albos" for short) keeps vector control officers up at night, especially with the attention that the mosquito-borne Zika virus is garnering as it moves through Brazil, Latin America and the Caribbean. Mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, including albos, are the ones in the U.S. capable of transmitting chikungunya, dengue and the Zika virus, all of which cause serious human diseases. Worse, these black-striped mosquitoes are not shy about their love for humans. They prefer feeding on us and bite relentlessly during the day, enhancing the risk that they will spread viruses from the infected to the uninfected. In 2001, Aedes albopictus, also known as the "Asian tiger mosquito," arrived in California as a stowaway in shipments of popular plants marketed as "lucky bamboo." Getting rid of that infestation took a massive effort by multiple agencies. Regulations were enacted to ensure "lucky bamboo" was no longer shipped in standing water. For the next three years, no one found Aedes albopictus. We surmised that Southern California's climate was too inhospitable for them to easily gain a foothold, and the pressure we exerted on them caused their demise. We were very wrong. Because of our relative success in 2001, we started fighting 2011's infestation brimming with confidence. But when spring came, albos emerged with a vengeance. Although we tried everything, they doubled their range every year after that. Toward the end of 2014, the fight against Aedes albopictus took an ominous turn when Aedes aegypti was discovered in Commerce. Its biology is similar to Aedes albopictus, but Aedes aegypti is the most versatile vector of all when it comes to transmitting human diseases. Still, it's unlikely that a widespread epidemic like Zika will occur in the U.S. The viruses are not transmitted when Aedes aegypti and albopictus stop biting during winter, and the viruses cannot live in hosts other than humans. This means chikungunya, dengue and Zika viruses must be introduced to mosquitoes each year by infected humans. The mosquito-borne virus that we should really worry about is West Nile. Unlike Zika, West Nile lives primarily in birds and is continuously present, ready to infect humans. Last year there were 299 cases in Los Angeles County and 22 deaths. These numbers are high especially for a disease that doesn't get much press but there may have been as many as 7,000 cases of West Nile in Los Angeles last year. Our biggest challenge will be getting people to change their behavior. No agency's budget is sufficiently large to hire enough workers to get into everyone's backyard. We must motivate residents to remove all the sources of water on their properties that may produce mosquitoes. This time, we might get lucky. Californians are not used to mosquitoes, and the ferocious daytime bites of Aedes aegypti and albopictus will interrupt our famous outdoor lifestyle, making people uncomfortable enough to take action. Kenn Fujioka is district manager of the San Gabriel Valley Vector Control District and president of the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California. He wrote this column for Zocalo Public Square. SHARE Jim Murray, my writing hero, once told me he regretted his modesty in not doing a column about his memoir when it came out. This lesson, combined with numerous readers of this space asking me about the meaning behind the title of my new book of essays, "Strawberries in Wintertime," leads me to shamelessly share the back story. In my boyhood, I fondly remember picking wild blackberries and raspberries on humid summer days at a weekend cabin in rural Ohio. My two older brothers, younger sister and I filled pail after pail with ripe berries and nearly as many berries went directly into our mouths as into the buckets. So plentiful were the blackberries, especially, that my dad made wine with them. Once. Not only did the blackberry vino prove undrinkable, Mom's pots and pans were stained purple beyond ruin in the process. Still, wild blackberries and raspberries, and store-bought strawberries, in summertime were always a delicious treat. Too, an expected one. Berries in the wintertime, in the Midwest, however, are something I cannot recall from my youth. I am sure they were available at the supermarket in the 1960s for a premium, but Mom never brought them home. So it was a magical winter indeed when my family took a Christmas vacation to Ventura in 1971 and spent a week at the charming Solimar beach house of family friends. I had never before seen the ocean in person, much less bodysurfed and built sand castles or explored tidal pools at low tide and chased a "grunion run" under a full moon's high tide. And here is something else magical: fresh strawberries in wintertime! Instead of by the bucketful as with Ohio blackberries, we enjoyed Southern California strawberries by the "flat" topless box containing a dozen plastic pint baskets with a bonus pint piled atop. I am guessing, but I imagine the price for the entire overflowing flat from a roadside farmer's stand in Saticoy for California was then, as it remains today, the nation's leading producer of strawberries wasn't much more than the cost of a single pint basket in a Midwest grocery store in December. The temptation during the drive from the farmer's stand back to the beach house was too tempting to resist. In the car, en route, I ate crabapple-sized strawberries by the handful, by the mouthful, sweet red nectar dripping down my chin. The following summer we moved from Columbus to Ventura and strawberries became a year-round fare. Still, in my mind they have remained a special treat in wintertime. Hence the title of my newest book, as I hope each offering will make the reader smile and want to devour another. Indeed, over the years "Strawberries in Wintertime" to me has become a metaphor for an unexpected pleasure in any season. For example, meeting my wife at a college Christmas party was certainly a strawberry-in-wintertime event and so was having John Wooden befriend me a few years later in springtime. A surprise birthday party, even in summer, is a strawberry in wintertime and so is a planned trip in autumn that proves to be magical at every turn. The point, I suppose, is that by paying attention and having the right frame of mind, our own strawberries in wintertime can fill a "flat" to overflowing no matter what page the calendar shows. Watching an elementary school play or a Broadway show, cheering at a youth track meet or an Olympic race, building a sand castle or visiting a castle in Ireland, can all be strawberries in wintertime. Bumping into an old classmate or finding an email in your inbox from a friend you haven't heard from in years, these too are strawberries in wintertime. When I think back to my first visit to Ventura, or in fact any time I stroll on the beach or dive into the surf, I am reminded of this advice from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air." In my mind, he should have added: "And eat strawberries in wintertime." SHARE Five feet may not seem like much. But at the Port of Hueneme, it is worth up to $28 million. The Oxnard Harbor District, which operates the port, announced this week that it had finally signed a deal with the Army Corps of Engineers to deepen the port from 35 to 40 feet. That project will allow substantially more cargo to be brought into the commercial facility, which should result in more jobs, more taxes and more revenue from this key driver of our local economy. Before this announcement, the Harbor District had been putting together the pieces to be able to handle the additional cargo. First was the development of the Ventura County Railway to connect the terminal to the main Union Pacific rail line. Most cargo is and will continue to be hauled in and out of the port by truck. But use of trains could greatly increase the ability to move more cargo. This year Genessee & Wyoming, operator of the railway, will start running test trains on the line to make sure it is clear and safe in anticipation of freight traffic in the future. Another key leg was a transportation investment grant that will be used to prepare the berths, wharves and on-dock improvements to allow the port to increase cold storage and cargo handling once the goods reach shore. All of this was made possible thanks to money provided by your federal government. The transportation investment grant was a $12.3 million pot of money from the U.S. Department of Transportation, awarded as part of a highly competitive process. The deepening of the port itself will be paid for partially by the Corps of Engineers, which will kick in $5.2 million of the $48 million project. The port will pay the remainder. All of this means a more secure future for the port. It still won't be able to fully compete with the big guys in Los Angeles and Long Beach, which have far deeper ports that can handle much larger cargo ships and oil tankers. But this does solidify the Port of Hueneme as a key player in the movement of goods in and out of our country. A tip of a hat and a thank you to all the folks involved in making this 20-year dream come true. Rodeo fans looking for transportation to and from the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) will have the option to utilize complimentary shuttle bus service with routes from the Las Vegas Convention Center and NFR official host hotels on the Las Vegas Strip and Downtown to the Thomas & Mack Center. From Thursday, Dec. 2 through Saturday, Dec. 11, shuttle buses will pick up in front of the NFR Cowboy Christmas Gift Show located at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This One Way Only route will serve as the Rodeo Express Shuttle and will run from the Las Vegas Convention Center North Hall directly to the Thomas & Mack Center. Also beginning on Dec. 2, the NFR Shuttle will begin complimentary routes to and from the NFR sponsor hotels. The hotels include: Excalibur, Sams Town, MGM Grand, Hooters Casino Hotel, Tropicana, The Orleans, Las Vegas Hilton, Circus Circus, Golden Nugget, Monte Carlo, Aria, Palace Station, Treasure Island (TI), The Mirage, Wynn, Stratosphere, Gold Coast, Alexis Park, Hard Rock Casino, South Point, and Silverton Lodge. Research from our transportation partners indicates that one in every four rodeo fans now utilizes the NFR Shuttle buses, said Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events. Due to the increased traffic and parking congestion at the Thomas & Mack Center, we encourage fans to consider this mode of transportation. We have seen increases in ridership each year we have offered this service, and we expect that trend to continue again this year. The weekday performances of the Wrangler NFR begin at 6:45 p.m. (PT). For those performances, the NFR Shuttle buses will begin pick ups at 5 p.m. (PT) and include return service until 10:30 p.m. (PT). The weekend performances of the Wrangler NFR begin at 5:45 p.m. (PT). For those performances, the NFR Shuttle buses will commence pick ups at 4 p.m. (PT), with return service to the hotels until 9:30 p.m. (PT). There is no shuttle bus service during the actual rodeo performance. Rodeo fans are urged to utilize the NFR Shuttle buses for round-trip transportation. In addition, fans are asked to allow approximately 15 minutes for traffic conditions from each hotel pick-up point. The NFR Shuttle routes and pick-up points are as follows: Route #1 Express Shuttle NFR Cowboy Christmas Gift Show Las Vegas Convention Center North Hall Route 2 Excalibur Rear Circle Route 3 Sams Town Atrium/Valet Entrance Route 4 MGM Grand West Wing Valet Entrance Hooters Casino Hotel Front Door Valet Tropicana 5000 Wing below main Entrance Route 5 The Orleans Valet Entrance Route 6 Las Vegas Hilton East Entrance Door Circus Circus Front Door, Las Vegas Blvd. side Route 7 Golden Nugget Carson Street Tower Entrance Route 8 Monte Carlo Main Entrance Aria Tour Bus Lobby Below Main Valet Route 9 Palace Station East of Main Valet Entrance Route 10 Treasure Island (TI) SW Curb, Sirens Cove Blvd. The Mirage North West Valet Route 11 Wynn South Tower Bus Pickup Loop Stratosphere Curb Outside Tour & Travel Lobby, West Side of Hotel Route 12 Gold Coast Valet Entrance Route 13 Alexis Park Main Entrance Hard Rock Casino Main Casino Tower Entrance (Harmon) Route 14 South Point Main Valet Entrance (outside of the Porte-Cochere) Silverton Lodge Main Valet Entrance For additional information and specific pick-up times, please visit www.NFRexperience.com. No single characteristic of a wine lover proves more important in the long run than curiosity. If you love wine, but arent curious, youll never truly experience the wonders of what the wine world has to offer. If, on the other hand, you like nothing more than trying new things, not only will you never get bored with wine, youll be continually rewarded with pleasure. And its not just new things you should try. Sometimes you should try old things, too. And that is why you might be interested in one of the most unique wine events ever held in San Francisco. On Saturday, March 13th, the San Francisco Wine School will put on a full day program entitled The Cradle of Wine Civilization. A combination of seminars and tasting, this event will highlight the worlds most ancient winemaking techniques and how they have evolved into the wines we know today. Youll hear from the worlds foremost wine archeologists and wine historians, and get a chance to taste wines from Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, and Palestine. Ive met and listened to many of the experts presenting at this conference, and tasted more than a few of the wines, and I can guarantee youre in for a treat if you attend. The event, put on by The San Francisco Wine School, begins at 10 AM with a lecture on the origins of winemaking, and is followed by guided tastings, a tasty sounding lunch, and more tastings and lectures in the afternoon. The event concludes with an ancient beer reception that evening. If youre a student of wine, either formally or informally, youd be hard pressed to find a more rewarding way to spend a Sunday than immersing yourself in the very beginnings of how mankind began our love affair with the fruits of the vine. I highly recommend it. The Cradle of Wine Civilization March 13, 2016 10 AM to 6:30 PM The San Francisco Wine School 415 Grand Ave #301 South San Francisco, CA 94080 Tickets for the full day event are $175, or if you just want to attend the walk-around tasting and the beer happy hour, that will run you $45. Tickets should be purchased in advanced online. Iraqi migrants walk towards the transit centre near Gevgelija at the Macedonian-Greek border after being turned back by the police from the Macedonia border with Serbia, on Feb 26, 2016. (Photo: AFP/Robert Atanasovski) LJUBLJANA: Four Balkan countries on Friday (Feb 26) announced a daily cap on migrant arrivals, deepening the crisis gripping the European Union, as Brussels warned of "disaster" if an upcoming summit with Turkey failed. Slovenia and Croatia, which are European Union members, as well as Serbia and Macedonia, said they would each restrict the number of migrants allowed to enter their territory to 580 per day. The clampdown follows moves by Austria last week to introduce a daily cap of 80 asylum applications and let only 3,200 migrants transit the country each day. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday voiced concern over the rising wave of border restrictions in the Balkans, saying they ran contrary to the international refugee convention. He called on "all countries to keep their borders open, and to act in a spirit of responsibility sharing and solidarity, including through expanding legal pathways to access asylum," according to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. The caps on migrant arrivals have fuelled a bitter diplomatic row between Athens and Vienna and hand-wringing in Brussels. Greece accuses Austria of unleashing a domino effect of border restrictions along the migrant trail that has led to a bottleneck on Greek soil. Austria, in return, accuses Greece of failing to properly police the bloc's external borders and letting too many migrants continue their journey to northern Europe. The tighter controls have left thousands of people -- including many children -- stranded in Greece, as Europe's worst migration crisis since World War II shows no sign of abating. Close to 120,000 migrants have already arrived in Europe so far this year, according to the latest figures from the UN refugee agency. They add to the one million who made the perilous journey in 2015, mostly across the Aegean Sea from Turkey to the Greek islands. ESCALATING CRISIS The influx has boosted populist parties across Europe, bitterly divided the EU's 28 member states and thrown the future of the cherished passport-free Schengen zone into doubt. The EU told Austria last week that limiting asylum claims was "plainly incompatible" with European laws and a European Commission legal opinion seen by AFP said it was illegal for countries to let asylum seekers transit through their territory. Slovenia said the new daily limit on migrant numbers was in line with a deal reached on February 18 between police chiefs of Austria, Croatia, Serbia and Macedonia. But Austria on Friday said no specific figure had been agreed upon at the meeting and declared each country determined its own border policy. The EU on Friday pushed for a deal with Turkey - the key gateway for migrants arriving in Europe from the Middle East - to be discussed at a special summit in early March. Under the proposal, agreed last November but yet to be implemented, Turkey would seal its borders to curb the flow and then fly refugees to Europe for resettlement, in exchange for 3 billion (US$3.3 billion). "If there is no convergence and agreement (with Turkey) on Mar 7, we will be led to disaster," EU migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos warned on Friday. EU president Donald Tusk will visit the Balkan states next week seeking to heal deep divisions over how to tame the migrant crisis, his office said Friday. THOUSANDS STRANDED Thousands of refugees have been left stranded in Greece after neighbouring Macedonia denied all passage to Afghans and ramped up document controls for Syrians and Iraqis. On Friday, there were some 4,000 people waiting to cross at the border post of Idomeni, local police said. Greek authorities have been regulating the flow of refugees but hundreds have set out on foot for the border, determined to continue their journey despite being told they will be turned back. The government said efforts were under way to house migrants on the islands where they land by boat from neighbouring Turkey until the border situation is resolved. "We are trying to slow the flow (to the border) until a solution is reached," a migration ministry source told AFP. Albania has warned that a growing number of migrants are seeking to transit its country as other routes on the trail are closed or restricted. Separately on Friday, Germany said it was unable to locate some 130,000 people, or nearly one in seven, of those who had requested asylum last year. They may have returned to their home countries, travelled on to another nation, or gone underground, Berlin said, adding that some people may have been registered multiple times. Doctors at Cam Ranh General Hospital in Khanh Hoa Province successfully performed a minor surgery to remove a six-centimeter leech from the nose of Pi Nang L., Nguyen Hong Quang, director of the infirmary, said on Friday morning. On Thursday, surgeons opted to conduct an endoscopy to study the patients nose after listening to the victim and discovering a long creature tucked in his nasal cavity. L., 47, living in Ninh Thuan, a neighboring province of Khanh Hoa, began showing cold-like symptoms that included a runny and stuffy nose on February 11. After experiencing a nosebleed, L. realized the need for diagnosis and medical treatment and thus departed to Cam Ranh General Hospital on Thursday. During an earlier health check in his home district for the same problem, L. was diagnosed with sinusitis, a sinus condition that causes mucus, nasal stuffiness, sneezing, and itching. It was not until general practitioners at Cam Ranh General Hospital carried out the endoscopy that L. learned there was a leech living in his nose. The six-centimeter-long and one-centimeter-wide leech remains alive, doctors said. The creature is believed to have found its way into L.s nose while he washing and drinking by a stream during farming. Cao Duc Phat, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development asks the Department of Livestock Production to submit a national technical standard for raw milk for approval by June this year. - Photo Vnexpress Cao Duc Phat, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said at a meeting with TH True Milk Corporation in Ha Noi on Tuesday that he had asked the Department of Livestock Production to submit a national technical standard for raw milk for approval by June this year. Phat said the issuance of the standard will not facilitate the school milk programme but also promote domestic dairy production. The school milk programme is meaningful as it helps in improving and enhancing Vietnamese children's stature and intelligence. The agriculture ministry will co-ordinate with the Ministry of Health and relevant agencies in issuing mechanisms to push up the programme with a pilot programme in Nghe An Province and then expanding to other provinces and cities. At the meeting, participants addressed obstacles relating to mechanism and financial resource for school milk programme implementation and proposed solutions to push up the programme. Thai Huong, chairwoman of TH True Milk Group, suggested that it was necessary to make clear the difference between the concept of sterilised fresh milk and reconstituted milk. This would not only benefit consumers a lot and improve the stature of Vietnamese children in the future but also create favourable conditions for enterprises when investing in the agricultural sector in general and the dairy industry in particular. Nguyen Quang Thao, head of Food Security and Hygienic Department, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, urged the Ministry of Health to clarify the concepts so that consumers can choose the right products. In December last year, the city government wrote to the Prime Minister seeking approval for the investment plan as National Highway 22 is a major road that connects localities in the Southern Key Economic Zone of Vietnam and some other ASEAN nations but it is narrow. The city said National Highway 22 plays a vital role in fueling economic development in the Southern Key Economic Zone and facilitating cargo transportation from the southeastern and southwestern provinces to Cambodia and other ASEAN nations through Moc Bai border gate in Tay Ninh Province. Therefore, it is urgent to upgrade and expand the highway. The Prime Minister told HCMC to closely work with the Ministry of Transport, Tay Ninh and relevant agencies to implement the road expansion project in accordance with the prevailing regulations. The ministry has thrown support behind the HCMC governments proposal to find only one investor for the project. The reason is that if the project is carried out by two investors, there should be two toll stations on the 58-kilometer road. The current regulations require the minimum distance between two BOT tollgates to be 70 kilometers. A Syrian man walks along a street damaged by shelling in the neighbourhood of Jobar, on the eastern outskirts of the capital Damascus, on Feb 24, 2016. (Photo: AFP/Abdulmonam Eassa) DAMASCUS: A landmark UN-backed ceasefire came into effect at midnight in Syria on Friday (Feb 26) - the first major truce in five years of civil war that have claimed more than 270,000 lives. On the stroke of midnight, guns fell silent in the Damascus suburbs and the devastated northern city of Aleppo, AFP correspondents said, after a day of intense Russian air strikes on rebel bastions across the country. Russia and the United States, the sponsors of the ceasefire deal, have warned that applying it will be difficult in a country that has been torn apart by a conflict that broke out in March 2011. Before the 2200 GMT ceasefire, US President Barack Obama had warned Damascus and its key ally Moscow that the "world will be watching". UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said Syria peace talks which collapsed earlier this month in Geneva would resume on Mar 7 if the ceasefire holds and more aid is delivered. Less than an hour before the ceasefire, the UN Security Council gave its unanimous backing to a resolution drafted by the US and Russia, demanding that it be upheld. Both President Bashar al-Assad's government and the main opposition body have agreed to the ceasefire - which allows fighting to continue against the Islamic State group and other militants. The agreement is the biggest diplomatic push yet to help end the bloodshed, but it has been plagued by doubts after previous peace efforts failed. Members of the 17-nation group backing the process were meeting in Geneva to work out further details of the so-called "cessation of hostilities". The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said Russia and the government had launched a wave of attacks on non-militant rebel areas before the deadline. "It's more intense than usual. It's as if they want to subdue rebels in these regions or score points before the ceasefire," Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said. RUSSIAN AIR STRIKES He also said at least 40 members of the government forces had been killed battling rebels in northern Latakia province, Assad's heartland, in the 24 hours before the ceasefire. Russia launched air strikes in Syria last September saying it was targeting "terrorists", but critics have accused Moscow of hitting rebel forces in support of Assad. The Observatory said there had been Russian strikes on rebel bastions including the Eastern Ghouta region outside Damascus, northern Homs province and the west of Aleppo province. There were at least 26 air strikes on Eastern Ghouta including 10 on its main city of Douma which was facing heavy government shelling, it said. Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted Moscow would continue targeting "terrorist groups". "The decisive fight against them will, without doubt, be continued," Putin said in televised remarks. "We understand fully and take into account that this will be a complicated, and maybe even contradictory process of reconciliation, but there is no other way." The intensified attacks prompted Turkey, a key supporter of opposition forces, to express worries over the viability of the ceasefire. "We are seriously concerned over the future of the ceasefire because of the continuing Russian air raids and ground attacks by forces of Assad," presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told reporters in Ankara. US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Washington had received assurances from Moscow that it would not bomb the "moderate opposition" after the truce. "I don't know how to put it any better than saying: 'It's put up or shut up time,'" he told reporters. The complexity of Syria's battlefields - where moderate and Islamist rebel forces often fight alongside militant groups such as the Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Nusra Front - has raised serious doubts about the feasibility of a ceasefire. 'BEWARE THIS TRICK' Al-Nusra's chief Mohammad al-Jolani on Friday urged Assad's opponents to reject it and instead intensify attacks on the government. "Beware of this trick from the West and America," he said in an audio message. "Negotiations are the ones conducted on the battlefield." Diplomats are reported to be working to define areas that will fall under the partial truce and to set up monitoring mechanisms. International Committee of the Red Cross chief Peter Maurer told AFP in Damascus he hoped the ceasefire would open up previously inaccessible areas. "Humanitarian deliveries must not depend on political negotiations but must be allowed to continue and increase regardless of any truce or ceasefire," he said. Syria's top opposition grouping - the Riyadh-based High Negotiations Committee (HNC) - said Friday that 97 opposition factions had signed on "to respect a temporary truce", but reiterated that it was only agreeing to an initial two-week period. It said Damascus and its allies must not continue attacking rebel forces "under the pretext of fighting terrorism". The HNC said any new bombing of the rebel-held town of Daraya in Damascus's southwestern suburbs would violate the agreement after the army said it would exclude it from the ceasefire because forces there included Al-Nusra fighters. Russia and the United States are on opposing sides of the conflict, with Moscow backing Assad and Washington supporting the opposition, but have made a concerted push for the ceasefire to be respected. Iran, another key Assad ally, has said it is confident the government will abide by the agreement. In Washington on Thursday, Obama put the onus firmly on the government and Russia. "The coming days will be critical, and the world will be watching," he said. Cameroon's military said Saturday that its forces had freed several hundred hostages and killed about 100 Boko Haram militants in a joint operation with Nigerian troops. Military commanders said the combined force also had liberated the northeastern Nigerian town of Kumahe, near the Cameroonian border, during a three-day operation against the militant group. The Reuters news agency quoted Cameroonian Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary as saying two Cameroon soldiers had been killed and five others wounded. There were no independent accounts to confirm the report, which came as U.S. envoys have been conferring with Nigerian military officials about the possible deployment of U.S. military advisers to the region. A U.S. official told VOA on Friday that the talks were "ongoing" but that no decision had been made. The New York Times reported Friday that a U.S. assessment team recommended the placement of dozens of noncombat advisers in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, "to help Nigerian military planners carry out a more effective counterterrorism campaign." The United States already has about 250 military personnel in Cameroon, most of them running a drone operation to monitor Boko Haram operations in the remote region. Nigeria has struggled for nearly seven years to stop deadly raids and suicide bombings by Boko Haram Islamists, who say they want to create a strict Islamic state in northern Nigeria. The group, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State militant group, has also struck repeatedly in Cameroon, Niger and Chad. Finance officials of the worlds 20 biggest economies meeting in Shanghai promised Saturday to use all policy tools available to promote global growth and avoid competitive devaluations of their currencies to boost exports. At the end of a two-day conference in the Chinese business hub, finance ministers and heads of central banks in the Group of 20 (G20) issued a statement acknowledging that vulnerabilities have risen in the global economy, including volatile capital flows, the European refugee crisis and the possibility of a British exit from the European Union. Moderate growth in advanced economies The statement said that growth should continue at a moderate pace in advanced economies and remains strong in developing countries. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew welcomed the agreement to avoid the devaluation of currencies and urged governments to push ahead with reforms. "We need to redouble our efforts to boost global demand, rather than rely on the United States as the consumer of first and last resort," he said. "It's also important that all G20 honor their commitments to refrain from competition devaluation and to not target exchange rates for competitive purposes." Fragile recovery International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde urged the group to take collective and deliberate actions to avoid a derailment of the economic recovery. "Our conclusion, which I shared with the members of the G20, is that without collective deliberate action on the part of policy members, and implementation, there is a risk that the recovery could derail. So my sense is that there was in the room, a renewed sense of urgency, and a renewed sense for collective action," she said. Consequences of possible 'Brexit' British Finance Minister George Osborne said that the G20 closing statement's reference to unease over Britains possible departure from the EU emphasized its potential consequences. A possible vote to withdraw is among the biggest economic dangers this year, Osborne said. If that's their assessment of the impact on the world economy, imagine what it would do to the U.K. A significant boost for Prime Minister David Cameron and Osborne, came when Lew expressed strong U.S. support for Britain's continued membership in the EU. Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the G20 conference, officials of the BRICS group Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa signed an agreement Saturday to locate the headquarters of the New Development Bank (NDB) in Shanghai. Haiti's provisional president has appointed reputable economist Fritz Jean as the new prime minister, a senior official said, in a step forward for the impoverished Caribbean nation that is trying to quickly hold a delayed presidential election. Anthony Barbier, a top official at President Jocelerme Privert's palace, said the president had signed an executive order appointing Jean, a former central bank governor. "I can confirm that President Privert has signed the executive order appointing Fritz Alphonse Jean as prime minister," Barbier told Reuters. Jean's job will include helping create a balanced election council supported by Haiti's fractious rival political parties, a key step needed to hold the election set for April. A runoff election due on Jan. 24 was cancelled amid violent protests, and after the opposition candidate said he would not take part because of widespread fraud in the first round. Privert is meant to hand over power to an elected president in May. The International Organization for Migration reports a sharp increase in the number of sub-Saharan Africans making the dangerous sea journey from Libya to Italy. But the organization says a deadly new trend is developing on board the boats that smuggle these migrants. The International Organization for Migration calls death by asphyxiation on board smugglers boats sailing from Libya to Italy a horrific new trend. The latest incidence came to light in the last few days when more than 1,000 migrants were rescued at sea and brought to two different Italian seaports. IOM spokesmen, Itayi Viriri says among those brought ashore by rescuers were five bodies three women and two men from Sub-Saharan Africa. They apparently had died from asphyxiation during the journey. The vessels that they are being put on are quite overcrowded. So, whereas normally you hear of migrants drowning in large numbers, now we are seeing more and more being squashed in these vessels that they are being put into, he said. VOA Special Report: Adrift The Invisible African Diaspora Nothing stopping smuggling gang in Libya Viriri says these migrants are extremely vulnerable because there is no real authority in Libya to stop the smuggling gangs from putting people on overcrowded boats. IOM estimates nearly 9,000 migrants have arrived by sea in Italy since the beginning of the year. It says most making this dangerous crossing originate from Sub-Saharan Africa, in particular Nigeria, Gambia, and Mali. Viriri tells VOA African migrants pay the smugglers between $600 and $800, which is about half the amount paid by Syrians and other migrants from the Middle East, Bangladesh or elsewhere. He says Africans suffer discrimination as a consequence of this unequal pay scale. In those cases, where you have other nationalities, other than Sub-Saharan nationalsyes, based on how much they pay, they are put in the hold and those who pay more are put up on, maybe what could be safer, upper decks, he said. IOM says the exodus of refugees and migrants into Europe continues unabated. According to the latest figures, more than 120,000 have arrived in Greece and Italy so far this year. This far exceeds last years figure of 100,000 arrivals by June. Authorities in Somalia say the death toll from two explosions near a Mogadishu hotel late Friday has risen to 25 people. Duniya Ali Mohamed of Media Hospital told VOA that eight of 34 people admitted to the hospital died of serious wounds sustained in the blasts. Three more bodies were pulled out from houses damaged by the massive car bombs near the SYL hotel. Nearly 60 others were wounded in the attack, in which gunmen also forced their way onto the hotel grounds and traded fire with security guards. The hotel is located across the street from Somalia's presidential palace, Villa Somalia, and is frequented by government officials. Al-Shabab claims responsibility Islamist militant group Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attacks. Security sources say that the militants used more than 200 kilograms of explosives in the first bomb, which struck a checkpoint. Dahir Amin Jeesow, a Somali lawmaker who was in the hotel, described the explosion as "the most powerful, the loudest he has ever witnessed in Mogadishu used by Al-Shabab." Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has condemned the bombings. Al-Shabab, which has links to Al-Qaida, carries out frequent attacks in Somalia, often targeting government officials and African Union troops. The Islamist militant group controlled most of southern Somalia as recently as 2010 but was pushed into the countryside by AU and Somali government forces. A financial crisis in Moldova, one of the poorest countries in Europe, has exposed deep-rooted corruption that is boosting pro-Russia parties and threatening Moldova's stability. Monthslong protests around government buildings have raised comparisons with the uprising in neighboring Ukraine. Western backers are withholding financial support until the government makes much-needed reforms, but vested interests are slowing progress and exploiting geopolitics. Protesters in front of Moldova's government building have been collecting signatures calling for snap elections, direct election of the president and elimination of immunity for lawmakers. They say the government is corrupt and controlled by influential oligarchs, a charge Prime Minister Pavel Filip denied in an exclusive interview Friday with VOA. "We have sound minds. We wouldn't take on this responsibility if someone from the shadows would be controlling and capturing the state," he said. But he admitted Moldova officials need to take action to regain public trust. "Polls also show that people's support level is very low, which means that if we have snap elections now, many of these parliamentary groups would not find themselves in the future parliament," Filip said. Financial support frozen Moldova was plunged into crisis after the disappearance of $1 billion one-eighth of the country's gross domestic product from banks. Western backers have frozen financial support until reform targets are met. "We see that there is really now a need to turn the country around and get the reforms done," said Pirkka Tapiola, European Union ambassador to Moldova. "Because without that, the country will not be able to deliver to its citizens what they deserve and what they expect." Filip said he and other Moldova officials hope to improve "as soon as possible the relations with the EU countries." He said his country is counting on resumption of Western support. The International Monetary Fund has a mission in the capital, he said, and "we are having conversations ... to regain a normal relationship that we had a few years ago." Filip said a signed agreement with the IMF is "a priority," not just because of financial support from that organization. "A relationship with IMF would also mean that there is stability in Moldova. It also unlocks many other funding from foreign partners," he said. When Moldova signed an association agreement with the European Union in June 2014, it chose "the European path," Filip said. That means "we have to work well internally, to develop the country's economy from the inside so that it becomes attractive for investors and for its citizens," including those who've gone abroad. Europe or Russia? But Moldovans also are feeling pressure to look east. "Unfortunately, lately Moldova's politicians ... have put the citizens in front of a choice: Do you want to go toward Russia or Europe? Because it is simpler to ask this question and it is simple to make a choice," Filip said. "From my point of view it is absolutely wrong, because Moldovan citizens have to be united around other types of ideas first of all, around the idea of economic development." Pro-Russia parties are gaining support as some exploit Moldova's flirting with the West. Protest camps established last September raised comparisons with Ukraine's uprising, though all sides are so far showing restraint. "It's really not about the Russians here. The Russians are not the problem. The problem is domestic," said U.S. Ambassador to Moldova James Pettit. "The problem is homegrown. That doesn't mean that there aren't external powers who might take advantage or who might prefer to see one result over another result. But, again, we do not want to intervene in the internal affairs of Moldova." Meanwhile, vendors across from the government house sell "Martisor," traditional handicrafts meant to mark a new beginning. Opposition lawmakers released tear gas in Kosovo's parliament and protesters outside threw petrol bombs in an unsuccessful attempt to stop Hashim Thaci, who they say gave too much power to ethnic Serbs, from being elected president. Twenty-one officers were injured in the streets of Pristina during Friday's session when police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters. Thaci, 47, helped to clinch an EU-brokered agreement in 2015 that gives a small Serb minority more power over local government decisions and raises the possibility of financing from Belgrade. With 71 votes in a 120-seat parliament, he will be Kosovo's fourth president and serve five years in the largely ceremonial role. Four hours into Friday's session, led by Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo, opposition lawmakers threw three tear gas canisters in the chamber, prompting the speaker, Kadri Veseli, to eject 11 MPs. An hour later, tear gas was thrown again, but the choice of Thaci was approved despite a delay. "I will always work to serve the country, all its citizens and respect the constitution," Thaci told the parliament after the vote. Born and raised in the hard-line region of Drenica, Thaci led the guerrilla insurgency against Serbian forces in 1998-99. He served as Kosovo's prime minister when it declared independence in 2008. But in a 2011 Council of Europe report he was identified as a leader of a group that had committed war crimes against Serbs and had harvested organs from Serbs captured in the 1998-99 Kosovo war. Thaci has denied the accusations. Serbs driven out Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, almost a decade after NATO airstrikes drove out Serbian security forces accused of killing and expelling ethnic Albanian civilians during a counterinsurgency war. Many Kosovo Albanians believe last year's accord with Serbia could erode that hard-won sovereignty, though its status is unclear after a Kosovo constitutional court ruling in December that parts of it breach the country's laws. Opposition parties have been protesting for four months against the deal with Serbia and have staged street protests, repeatedly thrown tear gas in parliament, clashed with police and last month set a government building on fire. "Our protests will not stop. They will get bigger," Visar Ymeri, leader of the biggest opposition party, Vetevendosje, said at a news conference. Air strikes by a Saudi-led Arab coalition fighting Iranian-allied Shi'ite forces in Yemen killed at least 30 people Saturday at a popular market northeast of the rebel-held capital, Sana'a, Yemeni security officials and residents said. The strike in the Nihm district killed mostly civilians and left burned bodies strewn over the area. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters. The Saudi-led coalition is fighting Houthi rebels and forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh in a bid to restore the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Aid and rights groups again urged Western countries Friday to stop selling arms to Saudi Arabia. Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch accused the coalition of using U.S.-supplied cluster bombs. A United Nations panel of experts says the coalition has carried out 119 sorties that violated humanitarian law, and called for an international probe. The U.N. says the fighting in Yemen has killed more than 6,000 people since March 2015. A South Sudan court will soon begin hearing a case in which senior officials in President Salva Kiirs office have been accused of stealing millions of dollars from state coffers and forging the presidents signature, according to Ateny Wek Ateny, presidential spokesman. South Sudanese citizens have expressed shock following reports that officials working in the office of the president are accused of stealing public funds, which could have been used to take care of citizens displaced by the countrys conflict. An investigation concluded that President Kiirs signature was forged on documents that ordered the withdrawal of funds from the Central bank on several occasions. Millions allegedly withdrawn Millions of dollars, as well as millions of South Sudanese pounds, were allegedly withdrawn with the forged documents. Local media reported that the scandal has become an embarrassment to the president and his administration in Juba. Ateny disagreed. He says senior officials in the presidents office implicated in the scandal would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. They include the chief administrator and the executive director, both at the office of the president. It is however unclear the role the two played in the scandal, although they were named as being part of the scheme. The chief administrator and the executive director have worked with Kiir for at least 7 years, even when he was the first vice president of Sudan, before South Sudan became an independent country, according to Ateny. They are currently detained as they await trial. A lieutenant at the office of the president for a very long time started to forge documents in which he also forged the signature of the president and forged a number of stamps in the office of the president including the coat of arms. He had been operating until it was recently found [out] that he might have siphoned a lot of million dollars.But, the investigation has not yet disclosed as to how much monies were taken as a result of that forgery, said Ateny. Lack of transparency Opponents say Kiir is to blame for not implementing measures in the office that ensure transparency, due diligence, as well as enforced checks and balances. They also said the scandal echoes their concerns that the government in Juba is way over its head in the countrys governance. You cannot blame the president in this case simply because the president is neither the account officer nor the deciding factor on this issue, said Ateny. Critics say it is unlikely the accused would receive a fair trial because of the sensitive positions they occupied in the presidents office and the potential political implication for Kiir. Ateny disagreed, saying the judiciary is independent, adding that the president wants to ensure due process. He also denied media reports that family members of the accused have asked Kiir to pardon them. None of their family members have come to President Salva Kiir to forgive them. They know this is the process of the law; the investigation has been concluded and now it is the turn of the court of law to decide, said Ateny. The Syrian cease-fire has brought relative calm to much of the country for the first time in years. The U.S.-and-Russia-brokered truce that began Saturday was not without some incidents of violence, but the U.N. envoy for Syria says the first day of the cease-fire was "quite reassuring." Staffan de Mistura said some episodes of violence were expected after five years of conflict. He added, however, that "the first night and first day certainly gave the impression that everyone is serious in their commitment to keep on going with this cessation of hostilities." The truce, brokered by the United States and Russia, took effect at midnight Friday Damascus time (2200 UTC). The Syrian oppositions umbrella group, the High Negotiations Committee, said in a statement that 97 groups promised to take part in the cease-fire. The truce does not apply to Islamic State and the al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front terror groups. Obama: IS losing ground U.S. President Barack Obama said Saturday in his weekly address the Islamic State's territory in Syria is shrinking. He said the number of fighters on the battlefield is dwindling and it has become harder for the jihadists "to recruit and replenish their ranks." The United States is working with "partners around the world" to discredit the ideology the Islamic State uses "to radicalize, recruit and inspire people to violence," Obama said. Less than an hour before the temporary truce went into effect, members of the U.N. Security council unanimously endorsed the deal in New York. The cessation of hostilities applies to all of Syria, except for areas where the so-called Islamic State and another armed group, Jabat al-Nusra, operate, as well as terrorist groups already designated by the Security Council. Responsibility for addressing violations falls to the United States and Russia, co-chairs of the International Support Group for Syria (ISSG) not the U.N. Obama said the United States will do everything it can to make the agreement hold. On Friday, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the United States has received assurances from Russia that it would not launch strikes against the "moderate opposition" in Syria after the truce took effect. He called it "put up or shut up time" for Russia to show whether it is serious about stopping the fighting. More than 20,000 Russians marched through central Moscow Saturday to honor the memory of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, who was killed in the shadow of the Kremlin one year ago. Some marchers carried Russian flags, some placards, flowers and Nemtsov's portraits. Others chanted: "Russia will be free" and "Russia without Putin." People also brought flowers and candles to the Bolshoi Moskvoretsky Bridge near the Kremlin walls where the 55-year-old Nemtsov was shot dead. US ambassador lays wreath U.S. ambassador to Russia John Tefft joined the mourners to pay tribute to Nemtsov and laid a wreath at the site with a ribbon saying "From the American people." "I am here this morning with my deputy and my staff representing the president and the people of the United States to honor the memory of a man who we knew as a government official, as a politician and, for many Americans, as a friend," Tefft said. "We are here today to honor his memory, the values for which he stood and to express our hope for the future that some of the dreams that Boris Nemtsov had will come true in Russia." WATCH: Russians Protest on Anniversary of Nemtsov Slaying Russian authorities permitted the opposition to hold the march through the city center, but refused to allow a memorial march or a permanent marker at the bridge. His allies have struggled to maintain a makeshift shrine there. Mikhail Kasyanov, a former Russian prime minister and leader of the opposition Parnas Party, said that authorities did not allow the march to the bridge, fearing the symbolism of the murder place. "I see that Muscovites supported our call [to join the march] and that Boris Nemtsov is becoming a symbol of our struggle," he said. "Authorities did not allow us to march to the bridge, because they are afraid of a symbolism of Boris's murder place. But we already call the bridge after him, we call it "Nemtsov Bridge" and we will succeed in mounting a memorial plaque at the scene of Boris's murder." Memorials often removed Kremlin supporters frequently remove the flowers and break the portraits attacks that volunteers say are sometimes aided by nearby police. The assassination of Nemtsov is not solved, Kasyanov said earlier in the week. Only the perpetrators were found, not the paymasters and the organizers of this defiant crime. WATCH: Russian opposition leaders targeted year after Nemtsov's assassination Russian opposition leaders and supporters say that even if President Vladimir Putin was not directly involved in Nemtsov's killing, he bears responsibility for encouraging a truculent authoritarianism. Opposition leader Ilya Yashin said that Nemtsovs killing was a terrorist act aimed at threatening those who disagree with Putins politics. "Nemtsov's murder is a terrorist act, it is a demonstrative murder aimed at frightening the Russian society, at least the part which disagrees with Putin's politics. And it is very important for us to demonstrate terrorists, murderers, those villains that they will not succeed in trying to intimidate us." Moment of silence refused On the eve of the anniversary, one of the few independent lawmakers in the Russian parliament's lower house, the Duma, proposes that deputies observe a moment of silence in Nemtsov's memory but the majority refused. Nemtsov, who was a former deputy prime minister during Boris Yeltsins presidency and became a fierce critic of Putin, was shot in the back shortly before midnight on February 27, 2015, as he walked across the bridge with a companion. Trial set for later this year Several Chechen men were arrested shortly after the murder, including five people who are due to go on trial later this year. The suspected killer served as an officer in the security forces of the Moscow-backed Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov. The official investigation has not identified those who ordered the killing. Some Russian opposition activists have criticized the Kremlin for its failure to track down the mastermind. Earlier this week, Yashin released a report accusing Kadyrov of involvement in Nemtsov's killing and demanded his resignation. Kadyrov, whose term expires in early April, rejected the accusations. Putin has relied on Kadyrov to stabilize Chechnya after two separatist wars, making him effectively immune from federal controls. The United Nations says it is eagerly awaiting Pakistan's solution on the status of around 1.5 million Afghan refugees in the country, insisting they continue to need asylum and protection. Pakistan hosts an additional estimated one million Afghans living as illegal economic migrants. The refugee population is the worlds largest long-term displacement, according to the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR). Most of them fled decades of conflict in Afghanistan. UNHCR wants Islamabad to renew the so-called Proof of Registration (PoR) cards for registered Afghan refugees because they expired in December but were granted six month extensions by the host government until June, 2016. Host communities complaining Host communities, particularly those in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where most of the Afghans are settled, have lately stepped up complaints and demand the refugees be repatriated, citing security and economic reasons. The uncertainty surrounding their legal status, Afghan refugees allege, has encouraged Pakistani police to increasingly harass them and force them to pay financial bribes to avoid detentions. During his trip to the Pakistani province on Friday, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner George Okoth-Obbo, said his agency is in contact with authorities to seek resolution to the crisis, hoping the federal government will soon announce its decision. This is a matter that is before the cabinet of the [Pakistani] government. It has not been decided. We understand that a decision will be made soon. So, we are very eagerly awaiting those decisions and hopeful that those decisions will create a platform for us to move forward," said Okoth-Obbo. He said UNHCR believes that registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan still continue to need asylum and protection and that is the importance of the PoR because it is a document that validates and legitimates their presence in this country in a way that enables them to receive protection in a predictable manner. Lack of financial assistance Pakistani officials cite a lack of international financial assistance and lately alleged involvement of Afghans in terrorist attacks in the country for the pressure host communities are putting on the government for sending the refugees back to their homeland. But Okoth-Obbo reiterated that Afghans should not be forced to leave the country and emphasized the need for enhancing and supporting ongoing UNHCR voluntary repatriation programs for refugees. Imran Zeb, Pakistans chief commissioner for Afghan refugees, say his country has hosted the community for over 35 years and the government is determined to protect their dignity and honor. We will continue to host refugees in this country until the time we have a conducive environment in Afghanistan that would allow refugees to go back in a manner that their returns are sustained, Zeb asserted. Voluntary repatriation of Afghans from Pakistan under the UNHCR-funded program has slowed down in recent years because of the deterioration in security conditions in Afghanistan and economic challenges facing their country in the wake of declining foreign assistance. A U.S. member of Congress who had been banned from traveling to China for his human rights advocacy visited Shanghai recently. He told VOA that in his speech at New York University's Shanghai campus, he expressed his concerns about China's human rights problems. "I touched on many of the key issues from Liu Xiaobo to religious freedom to forced abortion and gendercide the killing of little girls simply because they happen to be little girls, and made an appeal on that one," said Chris Smith, a Republican congressman from New Jersey. "Rally around the girl child from the standpoint of protection, there is a huge gap, disparity between the males and females in China, far more males than girls or women," he said. "The three most dangerous words today in China are 'it's a girl,'" he added. WATCH: Congressman Smith discusses his trip Forced abortions, gendercide persist Hours before the interview, Smith met the visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and raised those human rights issues, including gendercide. "It's in China's interest to do an aggressive affirmation of women and girls, of the value of the girl child inside the womb, because right now she is being slaughtered en masse, systematically destroyed," he said. Smith said in his speech he also talked about religious freedom. "President Xi Jinping talks about the Sinification of religion, which means no contacts with other countries or inter-religionists from other nations," he said. "And you also will have to, as a recognized religious body, comport and conform with the Chinese government agenda. That's not what people of faith are supposed to do." Smith raised the case of the imprisoned Bishop Su Zhimin with Chinese officials. "I met Bishop Su in 1994, in a small Beijing apartment," Smith said. "He celebrated Mass. We had a long conversation about what was it like for him when he was in prison suffering for his Christian faith. And I was in awe of this man who had no guile, no anger. His eyes were crystal clear. He looked you in the eyes and he says 'I pray for my captors.'" Bishop Su remains missing Smith said Su Zhimin had been missing for more than a decade. "We don't know if he's dead or alive," he said. In his speech in Shanghai, Smith told the Chinese audience that if China's human rights practices worsen, it would hurt U.S.-China relations and the Chinese people. The congressman said that China is emerging as a world power, but when China adopts new laws and takes actions to silence dissidents, it will only damage China's international prestige, causing estrangement between the Chinese people and the international community. Smith has long been concerned about China's human rights situation. He has presided more than 50 congressional hearings on the issue. The Chinese government blacklisted him, repeatedly rejecting his visa applications. But this time he was invited by New York University Shanghai. The invitation came a few years after a controversy involving the university's decision to stop supporting a Chinese dissident. In 2012, blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng fled house arrest, and entered the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. He later was allowed to leave China when Beijing and Washington reached an agreement. Academic freedoms Chen was funded by New York University when he first came to the United States. He left the university a year later, saying it was because the school was under pressure from the Chinese Communist Party, which raised concerns about safeguarding academic freedoms for American universities that want to establish campuses in China. Jeffrey Lehman, vice chancellor of New York University Shanghai testified at a congressional hearing that Congressman Smith convened last June. Lehman maintained that the university's branch campus in China enjoyed full academic freedom. "If it would become impossible to operate with academic freedom, NYU would close down its Shanghai campus," he said. Lehman also invited Smith to visit the Shanghai campus. In the past, Smith had been repeatedly refused a visa by the Chinese government. This time, the congressman was granted a visa at the last minute. The U.S. has put off the retirement of a 1970s era fighter plane, citing its effectiveness in the fight against the Islamic State military group among the reasons for keeping the jets flying. The A-10 Thunderbolt, nicknamed the "Warthog," is a close-support aircraft designed in the early 1970s to counter Soviet armored forces. The twin-engine jet is not fast, but is able to engage a wide variety of ground targets with its main gun, a 30mm cannon, as well as missiles, rockets and other munitions launched or dropped from wing pylons. The plane is also extremely durable and can withstand considerable damage from ground fire and keep flying. Major role in Iraq War, Afghanistan The A-10 was first used in combat during the 1991 Gulf War, destroying thousands of Iraqi tanks, armored vehicles and artillery pieces. It has played a role in most major U.S. military action since then, including the Balkans conflict in the late 1990s, the Iraq War and Afghanistan. The U.S. Air Force has called for retiring the A-10, citing budget savings and saying the aircraft's role can be filled by newer, more versatile planes. But the 2017 Defense Department budget says the Warthog will keep flying at least through 2022. Efficient in combating IS This week, U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told Congress the A-10's usefulness combating IS in Iraq and Syria is one reason the Pentagon wants to keep the plane. "I saw some of the A-10s that are flying bombing missions against ISIL when I was at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey last December, and we need the additional payload capacity they can bring to the fight," Carter told a House Appropriations subcommittee on Thursday. "We're pushing off the A-10's final retirement until 2022 so we can keep more aircraft that can drop smart bombs on ISIL." ISIL is another acronym for Islamic State. Sen. John McCain, a long-time supporter of the A-10, said earlier this month he was pleased the Warthog would remain in the U.S. arsenal. I look forward to seeing our A-10 pilots continue to make important advances in the fight against ISIL in the Middle East, boosting NATOs efforts to deter Russian aggression in Eastern Europe, and supporting vital missions for U.S. national security wherever they are needed, McCain said in a statement. The deadline for Zambias voter registration is approaching Monday amid a controversy over a sharp hike in the filing fee for presidential candidates. The south-central African nation's electoral commission announced in early February that it would increase the filing fee to $6,589, up from $1,000. Nominations will be accepted May 30 through June 3 for the general election, scheduled for August 11. Wynter Kabimba, a candidate for the opposition Rainbow Party, condemned the fee as exorbitant. "We in Rainbow Party are left wondering, what is the purpose?" local media quoted Kabimba as saying on a local radio program this week. Using an acronym for the commission, he asked, "Since when did ECZ become a money-making machine you know, a profit-making organization? It was not established for that purpose." Elections director Priscilla Isaac disagreed, saying the electoral commission received significant public support upon learning its rationale for the fees. Each presidential candidate is entitled to a free copy of the voter list, which otherwise costs $16,000, according to Isaac. She also said the commission provides "one representative for each presidential candidate to witness the printing of ballot papers." Last years ballots were printed in South Africa, "and we spent close to $11,000 in terms of airfares and upkeep, she said, calling the $6,589 nominating fee a comparatively "small contribution to this expense." Voter registration The commission plans to extend voter registration hours Monday, anticipating a last-minute surge, Isaac said. She said the commission had set a target of 1.7 million new voters, with more than more than 1.5 million registered as of mid-December. A new tally is to be available after Monday. The nation of more than 15 million people had registered at least 5 million voters before the 2011 general elections, according to the Zambian Analyst blog. Isaac said the total number of eligible voters won't be known until the register is certified July 31. First, the commission must prepare a provisional roll that she said would be presented to the public in May so voters could make any needed corrections. The U.S. government is providing $3.8 million in support of the August elections, its ambassador to Zambia, Eric Schultz, said in a radio interview earlier this week, according to the Lusaka Times. The U.S. supports transparency in elections. Nine pregnant women who traveled from the U.S. to countries with Zika outbreaks contracted the virus and that one of them had a baby born with severe microcephaly, an abnormally small head that often is related to a host of developmental delays, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. Of the other eight women, two had miscarriages, two aborted their fetuses after MRIs and ultrasounds showed evidence of brain malformation, two had healthy babies, and two other women are still pregnant with apparently healthy babies. "We did not expect to see these brain abnormalities in this small case series of U.S. pregnant travelers," said Dr. Denise Jamieson, who's helping lead the CDC's Zika response. Her comment came during a telebriefing on Zika held Friday by the CDC. The CDC is following 10 other pregnant women. Dr. Tom Frieden, head of the CDC, said that while a direct connection between Zika and microcephaly is not yet proven, "the evidence is getting stronger and stronger" that there is one. If so, this would be the first time a mosquito-borne virus would be responsible for causing birth defects. Frieden emphasized that proving a Zika-microcephaly connection is complicated, as there may be other factors involved, as well. Doctors believe microcephaly occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy when babies' brains develop. It is not known if Zika causes miscarriages, but Frieden noted that up to 20 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage under normal circumstances. Sexual transmission While mosquitoes are the primary vector for Zika infection, the CDC has confirmed six cases of sexual transmission of the virus from men to their female partners. It also is investigating 14 reports of the Zika virus that may have been transmitted through sex, including to pregnant women. Frieden said the agency did not anticipate so many cases of sexual transmission. Doctors don't know how long Zika remains in the semen, and Frieden said the report underscores the importance of proper condom use. Frieden added that the CDC has developed a test for Zika and is sending it to public health laboratories in the U.S. and its territories, including Puerto Rico, where the virus is spreading. One of the unknowns is whether an apparently healthy baby, born to a woman who had the virus during pregnancy, will remain healthy or if the virus will cause problems in years to come. Doctors also addressed the issue of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a form of paralysis linked to the virus that can be deadly. Guillain-Barre is also associated with other viruses such as West Nile. Frieden said it is "almost certainly related" to Zika. The CDC is working with the Health Ministries of Colombia and Brazil to learn more about the complications of Zika. Data on Guillain-Barre has been collected in Brazil, and research on the link with microcephaly is ongoing in both countries. The studies are expected to be completed by April. Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, the world's oldest leader, hosted a lavish public event in the southeastern city of Masvingo Saturday to celebrate his 92nd birthday. Thousands of Zimbabweans are traveling to the celebration Saturday to feast on game and beef, in what has become an annual event at the historic Great Zimbabwe Monument, ruins of a historic settlement of Bantu and Shona tribes that is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Mugabe released a bouquet of 92 balloons at the celebration. Critics say celebrations inappropriate But critics of Mugabe say the feast and festivities, just the latest of a string of celebrations this week, are inappropriate, given that many in Zimbabwe live in poverty and hunger. The government in Harare recently declared a state of disaster for parts of the country due to drought and the poor economy. Masvingo, ironically, is one of the areas worst-hit by the drought. Given the president's advanced age, Zimbabwe's political community is divided over what will happen after his death, as he has refused to name a successor. Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwe is seen as the likely next president. But Mugabe's wife Grace, who is several decades younger than her spouse, has been pursuing her own political ambitions and could be a rival to Mnangagwe for the presidency. Some Zimbabwean lawyers have praised the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for planning to set up a permanent High Court station in Mutare, Manicaland province, saying it may go a long way in clearing 137 outstanding cases. Speaking at the official opening of the 2016 legal year in the region, Justice Charles Hungwe, said the setting up of a High Court station in the city would play a critical role in delivering justice to local people. Justice Hungwe also noted that the JSC was also planning to set up a High Court station in Masvingo. He said such a move would address the perennial backlog of criminal trials. He said a High Court should ideally be manned by at least two, if not three judges, if theses courts are to fully discharge their functions. Justice Hungwe said a circuit court deals only with criminal trials and on an exceptional and rare basis, urgent matters. He said setting up of a fully-fledged station has always been considered a high vale investment. The announcement by Justice Hungwe was hailed by Mutare lawyers, who said it was a step in the right direction. Blessing Nyamaropa of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said a permanent High Court base would enable local people to easily access justice. "It's a very welcome move for us to have a permanent High Court in Mutare. It will be easy for people to have access to justice." Another senior Mutare attorney, Rangarirayi Mubata, said the setting up of a High Court station was overdue. "We have said it before that such a move is long overdue. It will be good for business and for clients," he said. David Tandiri, of Tandiri Law Chambers, added that efforts being made by the JSC would be convenient for witnesses, the accused, court officials and lawyers. "We are of that idea because people of Manicaland have the right to access justice." Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister, Mandi Chimene, hoped that the establishment of permanent High Court structures would also enable journalists to write detailed stories about justice delivery in the region. Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe celebrates his 92nd birthday on February 27, with no signs of relinquishing power. But it seems his party is split on what the future holds for him and the ruling Zanu-PF. Mugabe made an unannounced State of the Nation address last week, during which he condemned two factions within his ruling party that seem to be angling to take over. We must not have the fights and quarrels that appear to be taking place now. Lets work for our people to survive. Lets remain united. So those who are saying we belong to this faction or that faction, I say to them shut up," Mugabe scolded, adding "You belong to Zimbabwe. Shut up and let us not hear any divisive voices from you - the G40s or what you call Lacoste, whatever. Shut up! The two factions Mugabe alluded to are headed by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa - who is sometimes referred to as "Lacoste" and his wife, first lady Grace Mugabe, who is sometimes referred to as "G40." Since the address, not much has changed. According to Nyamutatanga Makombe, an independent political analyst, Mugabe may weather the storm if he clearly shows his preferred successor. But "if he continues trying to balance out the two factions, it might cost him ultimately." "His power is dwindling because we do not know where those who used to support him stand given the configurations at the moment," Makombe said. "The other storm brewing around him is his age. People might also be taking a queue from his age. That is why there is this dog fight. Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since its independence from Great Britain in 1980, has refused to indicate when he will step down. At the Africa Union summit in January, he said he would continue to lead his country until God asks him to "join the other angels." At his 92nd birthday party in Masvingo, an impoverished area about 350 kilometers south of Harare this weekend, the issue of who will succeed him might not be discussed officially, but it will remain on peoples minds. Analyst Makombe questions the need for a large birthday celebration, particularly in an area where hunger is pervasive. "Any normal thinking political party could have said we are not going to hold them [celebrations] this year," he noted. "We are talking here of massive hunger where people are going to be celebrating with cakes, blowing balloons, even the government itself has sent an SOS, have declared a state of emergency. At one entry level people are celebrating, and the other level people are suffering. Jasmail Mhlanga, 64, one of those scoffing at the $800,000 birthday bash, also thinks the lavish party is a bad idea, given the state of the economy and the "people who are suffering." He suggested Mugabe show empathy and forego the celebration. "He fought for this country, but the fighting goes on. We won on the political front. We want to win on the economic front," Mhlanga said. "He must be wise enough to show regard to what is happening to the economy. Its like I know you have been hungry for two-three days, and I eat nice food in front of you, how do [would] you feel? The Mugabe government has made an international appeal for $1.6 billion to import grain for about three million citizens facing hunger. Mugabe's Zanu-PF party has defended the planned elaborate birthday bash, saying it should go ahead for the iconic and selfless leader who has made many sacrifices for his nation. Niger is headed toward a presidential run-off election, after current President Mahamadou Issoufou fell short of a majority in the first round of voting. Provisional first-round results released Friday show Issoufou winning 48.4 percent of the vote. Former prime minister and opposition candidate Hama Amadou was second with 17.8 percent. Issoufou, who is seeking a second five-year term, predicted before the February 21 election that a runoff would not be needed. Amadou finished second, despite conducting his campaign from prison. He was detained in November on charges of taking part in a baby-trafficking scheme. He has said the charges are politically motivated. Earlier this week, a coalition of opposition parties dismissed the official tally as a fraud. Coalition head Amadou Cisse said Tuesday the government invented "thousands of polling stations" to skew the outcome. Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump has won the endorsement of one of his formal rivals, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who says Trump had the best chance to win the November election. Christie's announcement Friday made him the first major party figure to endorse the billionaire real estate mogul. Speaking at a news conference in Texas ahead of a Trump rally Friday, Christie said Trump has the best chance of beating the leading Democratic presidential contender, former U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton, in the presidential election. He said, "There is no one who is better prepared to provide America with the strong leadership that it needs both at home and around the world," than Trump. The endorsement could give Trump a boost ahead of next week's crucial Super Tuesday nominating contests in which 12 states hold primaries or caucuses. It comes a day after a Republican debate that turned into a shouting match as the candidates tackled issues such as illegal immigration, U.S. policy in the Middle East and transparency of candidates' tax records. During the debate, Trump repeated his claim that he would make Mexico pay for the wall he has proposed building on the southern U.S. border to curb illegal immigration, and because of objections from Mexican officials on the issue, Trump said, "The wall just got 10 feet higher." His closest rivals, Florida Senator Marco Rubio and Texas Senator Ted Cruz, accused Trump of using illegal immigrant labor in some of his high-profile building projects. Both said Trump was forced to pay a $1 million fine for hiring illegal immigrants. Both Rubio and Cruz stated their willingness to make public their tax records and criticized Trump for demurring on the issue. Trump said he would publish his tax records a common practice for U.S. presidential candidates only after what he called "a routine audit." The flamboyant Trump, who has never held elective office, has won three straight primary election contests in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. An online Bloomberg Politics poll released Thursday found the twice-divorced Trump with 37 percent of the vote in seven southern states, home to some of the nation's most conservative voters. Both Rubio and Cruz have sharpened their attacks on Trump in recent days, with Rubio contending that Trump's "Make America Great Again" campaign slogan is empty rhetoric without many specific policy proposals. Two other candidates, Ohio Governor John Kasich and former neurosurgeon Ben Carson, remain in the race and were on the debate stage Thursday. The debate was the first without former Florida governor Jeb Bush, who dropped out after a disappointing fourth place finish last weekend in South Carolina. Cruz, a conservative agitator in Washington against Republican and Democratic leaders, on Wednesday attacked Rubio and Trump as "Washington dealmakers." He said Rubio had collaborated with Democrats on immigration policy changes that Congress ultimately abandoned, while Trump has made campaign donations to Democrats in past elections and at times supported their policies. Cruz is looking to win his home state of Texas on Tuesday and do well in other nearby states in the southern part of the country. Surveys, however, show Republicans favoring Trump in those states and pulling close to Cruz in Texas. Rubio also faces a key contest in the southeastern state of Florida, his home state, on March 15, the same day Kasich is on the ballot with the other candidates in Ohio, the Midwestern state he governs. Trump has predicted he will face off with Clinton to replace President Barack Obama, whose eight-year tenure in the White House ends in January. Clinton has won two of the three Democratic state contests over her remaining rival, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist. Clinton, the country's top diplomat from 2009 to 2013, is favored in Saturday's primary election in the Atlantic coastal state of South Carolina and the two are battling in 11 states on Tuesday. The Morgan Tsvangirai-led opposition Movement for Democratic Change on Friday strongly condemned President Robert Mugabes move to donate 300 cattle to the African Union (AU) Foundation. MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu said the president was well aware that Zimbabwe was gripped by a severe drought which has already claimed thousands of cattle while millions of people need food assistance. At the end of his tenure as AU chairman, President Mugabe promised to donate the cattle as a way of dissuading the African continent from over-reliance on western donations, which he claimed came with strings attached. The state-controlled Herald newspaper reported Friday that AU deputy chairperson Erastus Mwencha arrived in the country Thursday to receive the beasts, which were sourced from well-wishers. Gutu told Studio 7 they were dismayed by the presidents choice that he likened to that of a father rushing to extinguish a fire about to destroy a neighbors home while his granary is already in flames. Its difficult to challenge (this move), you cant even go to court to say why did President Mugabe and his Zanu PF party decide to give cattle to the AU, but its like a father or a mother who, instead of feeding their own starving children go next door to provide food to the children of the next household, said Gutu. Final Communique of the Third Session of the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum at the level of Foreign Ministers The Third Session of the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum at the level of Foreign Ministers was held on 26/02/2016 in Moscow. The meeting was headed by H.E. Mr. Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (host country), H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (Current Chair of the Arab League Ministerial Council), and H.E. Dr. Nabil Elaraby, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States. The Members of the Forums Mechanism at LAS: H.E. Mr. Ziad AlMajali, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Moscow (Former Chair of the Arab League Ministerial Council), H.E. Mr. Waheed Mubarak Sayyar, Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry of the Kingdom of Bahrain for Regional Affairs and GCC (Next Chair of the Arab League Ministerial Council) H.E. Mr. Tarek ElKouny, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Representative of Arab Republic of Egypt to LAS (Current Chair of the Arab Summit). Their Excellencies Mr. Abdelkader Messahel, Minister of Maghreb Affairs, the African Union and LAS of the Peoples Democratic Republic of Algeria, H.E. Mr. Yousif bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister responsible for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, H.E. Mr. Mohammed Al-Dairi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the State of Libya, H.E. Prof. Ibrahim Ghandour, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Sudan, H.E. Mr. Abd El Malek El Makhlafy, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Yemen also attended the Third Session of the Forum. The Ministers reviewed the outcome of the Second Session of the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum, held on 03/12/2014 in Khartoum/ Sudan, and the Action Plan that aims at the implementation of the Forums principles and objectives; and welcomed the existing dialogue and cooperation between both sides. Ministers also discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and the region, a number of pressing international issues of common concern, the bilateral and multilateral relations related to political, economic and cultural issues between Member States of LAS and the Russian Federation to strengthening ties and cooperation and build a true partnership between both sides, through capacity-building, innovation, technical and cultural exchange. Taking into account the need to work on the implementation of the Joint Plan of Action 2016-2018, to facilitating the coordination of regional visions on international issues and support the implementation of cooperation programmes in sectoral areas, and agreed to: Regional and International Issues Stress the need for strengthening political dialogue aimed at coordinating common positions in the international fora, within the frame of respecting principles of international law and international legitimacy, relevant principles and purposes of the Charter and Conventions of the United Nations, and the pivotal role of the UN and Security Council to resolve disputes, safeguarding international peace and security. Affirm their commitment to the promotion and respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, taking into account the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds. Stress the need for full respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of countries, the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs and good-neighborly relations, call for the settlement of outstanding issues and crisis through peaceful means and comprehensive dialogue. 1. Reiterate their unwavering commitment to resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict with the full realization that the materialization of the two-state solution is a cornerstone to peace, security and prosperity in the Middle East region, and that it shall not be undermined by the current challenges in the region. They agreed that the current situation cannot be prolonged, and acknowledged that any escalation of the current dire situation will have unprecedented repercussions. Emphasize the urgency of increased international efforts to have comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the universally recognized international legal framework including respective 224, 238 UN Security Council Resolutions, the Madrid principles and the Arab Peace Initiative, to safeguard the two-state solution that will lead to the materialization of the independent and sovereign State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital based on the pre-1967 borders. The Arab Minsters commended the efforts exerted by the Russian Federation within the Quartet to maintain its central role in the peace efforts, and expressed their support for its full participation in those efforts. Call on the current Israeli government to withhold all its illegal and provocative actions and human rights violations. Express their deep concern over the continuous Israeli de-facto actions and regulations in and around Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif and throughout East Jerusalem that aim at changing the status quo in the city altering the demographic, religious and historic nature of the city. Reiterate their position that the continuous building of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories is illegal and constitutes a grave breach of International Law and an immense danger towards the realization of a contiguous and viable Palestinian State. While rejecting the terrorist acts, condemn Israeli illegal practices against unarmed Palestinian civilians in the occupied territories by using excessive and unjustified force, imposing prolonged administrative detention, committing extra-judicial killings upon suspicion especially against children. Call on the Israeli government to refrain from providing political and logistical support to violent settlers and their atrocities against Palestinians and their private property as well as Islamic and Christian holy sites. Value the significant role being played by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in the Holy city of Jerusalem and its custodian role in the holy sites as specified in the agreement signed between His Majesty King Abdullah II, the King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and His Excellency Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the State of Palestine and strongly urge the Israeli government to abide by the status quo in Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif. Reiterate their deep concern over the grave humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip resulted from the illegally imposed Israeli closure and hindering reconstruction efforts, aggravating the living conditions for the population. Agree on the urgency to immediately lift the closure and all restrictions imposed on humanitarian aid and construction materials that are indispensable for reconstruction efforts. Commend the current inter-Palestinian reconciliation efforts, and acknowledge the importance of formulating a government working under the umbrella of P.L.O. political platform. 2. While welcoming all efforts in combatting terrorism in full recognition of the UN central role and in accordance with the UN Charter reaffirm the will to remain united in combatting terrorism and to work together to prevent and suppress terrorist acts through the full implementation of the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, in particular 2170 (2014), 2178 (2014), 2199 (2015) and 2253 (2015) and UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy, support the efforts of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) towards reaching a consensus on the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), at the earliest. Condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, reaffirming that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivations, and reject associating terrorism with any religion, culture or ethnic group, emphasize the need for concerted regional and international efforts to combat terrorism and to address factors conductive to its spread, eliminate the sources and any kind of support of terrorism and violent extremism including its funding, as well as combating organized cross-border crime. Strongly condemn the kidnapping of innocent civilians, such as Qataris, Egyptians and Russians, and demand their immediate and unconditional release. Support the activities of the United Nations International Center for Counter-Terrorism under the auspices of the United Nations, with the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Late King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Welcome the efforts undertaken by LAS towards the adoption of comprehensive and coordinated tactics at both national and regional levels to combat terrorism. Support the initiative put forward by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to establish a large-scale anti-terrorist front based on international legal standards and the UN Charter and operating with the consent and in close coordination with regional states that bear the brunt of burden in resisting terrorists and extremists. Welcome counterterrorism efforts undertaken by various international fora, including the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF) under the auspices of the UN. Welcome the International Center of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism in Abu Dhabi, and the Centre to Tackle ISIL on Social Media in Abu Dhabi. Commend the work of the Africa Center for Studies and Research on Terrorism in Algeria, and take note of the outcome of the International Conference on Fighting Extremism hosted by Algeria on 22-23 July 2015 and the initiative launched by the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt at the High Level of the 70th Session of the UNGA titled Hope and Action for a New Direction (HAND) to counter Extremism and Terrorism. Welcome the outcome of the International Conference on Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Fighting Extremism hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain in November 2014, and the outcome of the workshop on Charitable Donations and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Violent Extremism hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain in November 2015. Value the importance of the Valdai Discussion Club activities under the topic Societies between War and Peace: Overcoming the Logic of Conflict in Tomorrows World hosted by the Russian Federation in October 2015 and its Special session Middle East: to break the cycle of violence with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin delivering a speech on the most pressing and challenging threats facing the world and the Middle East in particular today. Praise the conference The Middle East: From Violence to Security held under the auspices of the Valdai Discussion Club hosted by the Russian Federation in February, 2016. Commend the outcome of the consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the General Secretariat of the OIC held in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in January 2015 on the issue of combatting terrorism, extremism and organized crime and welcome the forthcoming consultations in Moscow, Russian Federation in March 2016. 3. Strongly stress the need to preserve the unity, sovereignty, territorial integrity and stability of Syria and the importance of reaching a political solution to the crisis that preserves the lives of Syrians and leads to cessation of hostilities on the basis of the UN Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015) and the agreements adopted by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG). Hail the Joint statement of the Russian Federation and the United States of America as co-sponsors of ISSG on the terms of cessation of hostilities in Syria, as a unique chance to end the conflict and destruction in Syria. Call on all Syrian parties to abide by this agreement. Terrorist groups that are designated by the UN Security Council should be fought categorically. Strongly condemn all terrorist acts targeting Syria and committed by Da`esh, Al-Nusra Front and other terrorist groups as designated by the UN Security Council involved in the killing and genocide, forced displacement of the Syrian people being targeted on a religious or ethnic basis, destruction of monuments, shrines, churches, mosques and cultural heritage sites, which are all considered as crimes against humanity. Reiterate condemnation of all practices that would threaten the territorial integrity of Syria and its social cohesion. Pay tribute to the UN efforts, international organizations, countries including Kuwait, to alleviate the humanitarian suffering of Syrian people. Urge them in this context to continue providing support and assistance to Arab neighboring countries of Syria: Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon, in addition to Egypt and Sudan for hosting Syrian refugees. 4. Reaffirm commitment to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Libya, in accordance with the principle of non-interference in its internal affairs. Express deep concern on the expanding activities of terrorist groups in the country, extend support to the ongoing political process and the efforts made in this regard by Martin Kobler, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Libya. Welcome the Sokhirat Agreement on political solution to the crisis in Libya that was initiated by most Libyan political forces in July 2015, and appreciate the efforts of the Kingdom of Morocco in facilitating this agreement. Welcome the signing of Libya Political Agreement (LPA) on 17 December 2015, endorsement of the agreement by UN Security Council Resolution 2259 (2015). Call upon the House of Representatives to endorse the Government of National Accord and its establishment in the capital Tripoli. Call upon all Libyans to support full implementation of LPA and UN Security Council Resolution 2259. And note the efforts exerted by the neighbouring countries to Libya to facilitate the Intra Libyan dialogue. 5. Affirm their full commitment to safeguard the unity and territorial integrity of Yemen, and respect for its sovereignty and independence, to reject interference in its internal affairs, to stand by the Yemeni people and their aspirations for freedom, democracy and social justice. Reaffirm the relevant Security Council Resolutions, especially UN Security Council Resolutions 2201 (2015) and 2216 (2015). Call upon all Yemeni parties to settle disputes through dialogue and consultation and to facilitate humanitarian assistance operations in this regard, take note of the establishment of "King Salman Center for Charity and Humanitarian Relief". Express deep concern about dire humanitarian situation in Yemen which continues to worsen. Affirm the importance of implementing the GCC initiative and its implementation mechanisms and the outcomes of the Comprehensive National Dialogue Conference and asserted support for the United Nations efforts and the role of its Special Envoy to Yemen. 6. Stress the need to respect the national unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Lebanon, and call on Israel for immediate and unconditional implementation of UN Security Council Resolution (1701). Condemn all criminal acts, terrorist groups and bombings, which targeted a number of Lebanese areas, causing death of innocent civilians; rejecting all attempts leading to incite strife and to undermine coexistence, civil peace and national unity and destabilizing security and stability of Lebanon. Reaffirm support for Lebanon and its institutions, particularly the Lebanese army, in confronting the attacks undertaken by terrorist groups. Call upon the international community to support all efforts to resolve the Lebanese crisis through comprehensive political dialogue and national consensus to maintain stability and safety in Lebanon. 7. Strongly condemn all terrorist acts targeting Iraq committed by "Daesh" and other terrorist groups involved in the killings and genocide, forced displacement to components of the Iraqi people and targeting them on a religious or ethnic basis, destruction of monuments, shrines, churches, mosques and cultural heritage sites, which all considered as crimes against humanity. Reiterate condemnation of all practices that would threaten the territorial integrity of Iraq and its social cohesion. Express support for the Iraqi Governments efforts to achieve national unity among Iraqi people, urging the international community to provide every support to the Iraqi Government in its fight against terrorism, emphasize the importance of adhering to respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, political stability and national unity of Iraq; reject interference in its internal affairs. Support Iraqi proposal to convene an International Conference to support displaced people in Iraq and reconstruction of liberated areas. Condemn the Turkish Government violation of the Iraqi sovereignty and its military incursion into Iraqi territory; call for the withdrawal of its forces from Iraqi territory immediately and respecting the rules of good-neighbourhood between the two countries. 8. Emphasize the importance that relations between Arab States and the Islamic Republic of Iran be based on the principles of good-neighbourhood, non-interference in internal affairs, respect of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, resolution of disputes through peaceful means, according to UN Charter and International Law and renouncing of and refraining from the use or threat of use of force or provocations that might undermine confidence and threaten security and stability in the region. 9. Emphasize their support for a peaceful solution between Iran and the UAE over the three islands Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, including direct negotiations between the two parties. 10. Express their regret that a conference on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction did not take place in 2012 as agreed at the 2010 NPT Review Conference, and reaffirm that it is necessary to put efforts aimed at holding the conference. Express also their regret at the failure of the 2015 NPT Review Conference in adopting its final document including a decision on the Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction. Reaffirm the importance of Israels accession to the NPT as soon as possible and the placement of all its nuclear facilities under the IEAE comprehensive safeguards. 11. Welcome the National Dialogue Conference which was launched in Khartoum and call upon the armed movements to stop fighting and engage in this National Dialogue, in response to the initiative of the President Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir. Call upon the international concerned parties to fulfill their obligations to support economic development and sustainable peace in Sudan. Call for lifting of the unilateral economic sanctions imposed on Sudan, which hinders achieving the goals of sustainable development and constitutes a violation of the rights of the people of Sudan to development. 12. Express support to the efforts by Federal Somali Government in implementing "Vision of 2016" noting the importance of building the Somali state institutions, and respond to urgent humanitarian needs, and invest in human capacity building, promote long-term solutions in the context of the Federal Government priorities so as to ensure stability in the areas that have been recovered from Al-Shabaab terrorist group, and secure the supply and humanitarian access to new regions liberated. Emphasize that political progress must continue as part of a comprehensive approach to peace-building in Somalia, and that the protection and promotion of human rights and protection of the most affected groups by armed conflict -including women and children- must be a top priority. Express their support for the initiative of the State of Kuwait for the establishment of international donor conference on education in Somalia. Thank the African Union and the Arab League for their permanent commitment toward Somalia, praising the role of the Somali National Army (SNA) and the forces of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in order to achieve peace. Welcome the extension of the UN Security Council delegating the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and AMISOM to support the Federal Government in Somalia. Stress the importance of strengthening consultation and cooperation among representatives and envoys of the UN and the Arab League in political, security, humanitarian and reconstruction areas. 13. Commend the recent positive developments in the democratic transitional process in Egypt, and fulfilling the third phase of the roadmap in organizing legislative elections. Support Egypts efforts led by the President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to confront the challenges facing it. 14. Express appreciation for the positive steps achieved in Tunisia in democratic transition through the adoption of a new Constitution and organization of legislative and presidential elections under national consensus, and welcome the award of Nobel Peace Prize for 2015 to the National Dialogue Sponsor Quartet, for its efforts in securing the transitional phase in under national consensus, emphasize the need for supporting Tunisia in this crucial moment of its history. Emphasize the need to support and assist Tunisia in its endeavors to gain its development and security prospects. 15. Stress the need to activate dialogue among civilizations, cultures and religions as a strategic option, including seeking to preserve national identity and cultural privacy, respect for cultural pluralism, so as to contribute to the restoration and deepen concepts of peace, security and justice, promoting the values of tolerance and respect, increasing mutual understanding among the various nations and peoples, confronting all forms of violence and religious extremism, addressing racist manifestations and racial or religious discrimination. Reaffirm their support for programs and activities notably those carried out by the Group of Strategic Vision Russia-Islamic World related to the values of dialogue, cultural and civilizational interaction that contribute to better knowledge and mutual understanding among Russian and Arab peoples, enrich knowledge about the Arab and Russian civilizations and their commonalities, in order to provide a solid popular ground to expand and deepen the Arab-Russian strategic cooperation, based on comprehensive cooperation and common development. Welcome the Award of the Organization for Coexistence between Religions and Civilizations to H.M. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa King of Bahrain, for his contribution and role to the promotion of meaningful dialogue among religions and cultures, mutual respect among peoples and communities, confidence building and understanding, repudiation of hatred; express appreciation to the Kingdom of Bahrain for hosting the Dialogue among Civilizations and Cultures Conference, from 5-7 June 2014, and welcome the outcome contained in the "Bahrain Declaration". Also appraise the role of the King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue. Commend the Lebanese participatory multilateral formula based on equality between Muslims and Christians, coexistence and dialogue among religions; and condemn its cultural opposite represented by terrorist groups, i.e. "Daesh and Al-Nusra Front" as well as those designated as terrorists by the UN Security Council and their crimes against humanity, safeguarding minorities as original and essential components of the social fabric of the countries of the region, and the need to safeguard their rights and values the role of the Lebanese Diaspora in strengthening relations among peoples and nations, particularly in economic and trade areas, notably between Russia and Arab States. Praise the outcome of the Group of Strategic Vision Russia-Islamic World meeting held in Moscow, Russian Federation on June 11-12, 2015 and the negotiations on its sidelines between H.E. Mr. Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Mr. Iyad Ameen Madani, Secretary General of the OIC. Bilateral cooperation 16. Adopt the Joint Plan of Action 2016-2018, and call for its operationalization, to implement the principles, goals and objectives of the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum. The Joint High Officials Committee is entrusted with monitoring of the implementation of the Plan of Action and submitting regular reports on the progress achieved. 17. Emphasize the importance of strengthening and developing bilateral and multilateral parliamentary cooperation, and in this context consider convening meetings between the Arab Parliament and the Parliament of the Russian Federation to discuss future cooperation. Welcome the annual International Parliamentary Forum organized by the Russian Federation, which was held in Moscow 2015 and also welcome the exchange of visits between the Arab and Russian Parliamentarians. 18. Stress the need to strengthen mutual cooperation and benefit from the leading Russian expertise in scientific research through holding seminars and workshops. Stress the importance of cooperation in the fields of human resources, science and technology for economic expansion. 19. Welcome the growing economic cooperation between the Member States of LAS and the Russian Federation, encourage operationalization and promotion of such cooperation, underscoring that there is tremendous potential for increasing the volume of bilateral trade and investment, particularly in the areas of industry, agriculture, food security, water resources, banking and finance, oil and gas, power and renewable energy as well as nuclear energy, transport, tourism and communications, in addition to cooperation in various areas, such as the environment, technology transfer and other. Adopt the proposals for development of Arab-Russian Business Forum mechanism as fundamental framework for activities of the Arab-Russian Business Council. Welcoming the outcome of Russian-Gulf Business Forum, held in Bahrain on 14-15 December 2014 as well as of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, held in the Russian Federation on June 18-20, 2015 and its Session Russia-Middle East: New Opportunities for Investment Cooperation. Emphasize the importance of promoting cooperation in the field of Islamic finance. Therefore, took note of the outcome of the 5th St. Petersburg International Legal Forum hosted by the Russian Federation in May 2015 and its Special session Strategic Approach to Islamic Financial Instruments. Took note of the outcome of the 7th International Economic Summit of Russia and OIC countries held in the Russian Federation in June 2015 urge officials and business communities to participate in its 8th Session to be held in Kazan, Russian Federation on May 19-21, 2016 as well as in the IFN Forum Russia and CIS: Realize Potential and Exploring Islamic Finance Opportunities in a Promising New Markets to be held in the Russian Federation on March 15, 2016. 20. Emphasize the importance of developing agricultural cooperation between the Member States of LAS and the Russian Federation; urging officials and business communities to participate in the Arab-Russian Forum for Agriculture and Food Security, to be held under the programme of work of the International Exhibition of Agricultural in Morocco in 2016. 21. Stress on the importance of consolidating cooperation between Arab and Russian side in the field of conservation of environment and climate change issues. Welcome the hosting of the Kingdom of Morocco to conference of the parties in the UN framework agreement on climate change in its session (COP-22), which will be held in Marrakech, November 2016. 22. Emphasize the importance of developing touristic ties between the Russian Federation and the Member States of the League of Arab States, stressing the need for further enhancing cooperation among relevant organizations and agencies and for sustained efforts on all levels to ensure the security of tourists. 23. Express support for developing cultural cooperation, including enhancement of ties between relevant organizations of the Russian Federation and the Member States of LAS, holding festivals, fairs and exhibitions on a reciprocal basis. Stress the importance of preserving the Russian and the Arab cultural and historical heritage. 24. Call for an increased educational cooperation, including through enhancement of ties among universities and other higher education establishments, participation in international scientific and cultural meetings to take place in the Russian Federation and the Arab states. Note the importance of the development of scientific and technical cooperation between the two sides, as well as cooperation in the field of space science and technology, including the exchange of experiences, visits, joint scientific researches, technological projects. 25. Express gratitude and appreciation to the Russian Federation for its cordial hosting of the Third Session of the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum, warm reception, generous hospitality and good organization of this session. 26. Hold the Forth Session of the Forum during 2017 in an Arab Member State to be determined. Photo: Buffalo Films Ciro Guerras Embrace of the Serpent, which is nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, is not just a movie about the jungle in this case, the Amazon. Its a movie of the jungle. The first-ever nod of its kind for a Colombian feature, Serpent has drawn comparisons to both Apocalypse Now and Werner Herzogs Fitzcarraldo. The resemblance to those famous jungle epics comes with good reason: Be it Kurtz-like messiahs leading twisted acolytes, one-armed rubber slaves begging for death, or a psychedelic ceremony that makes an ayahuasca trip seem like a cheap amusement park high, Guerras jungle transforms everyone and everything it touches. The further upstream you venture, the weirder things get. The film eschews familiar perspective at every turn. Its a slow-paced, turn-of-the-century parable, shot in stark black-and-white 35mm. The cast was populated by actors plucked from nearby farms and river tribes, many of whom had never before encountered a camera. Its press kit reads like an eco-Marxist manifesto. Even among its Academy competition movies that hail from France, Denmark, Hungary, and Jordan Serpent seems like an outlier. Thats no surprise, given the movies origins. Guerra spent eight weeks filming in a remote section of the Colombian rain forest, where any simple task, like replacing the batteries to an audio recorder, could easily morph into a daunting, week-long expedition and thats assuming the weather cooperated and the plane was working. In other words, problems were to be expected. What the 35-year-old Colombian director wasnt anticipating, however, was the total absence of any damaging setbacks. Guerra and his crew made it out of the jungle unscathed. Nobody even suffered a snakebite. In a recent interview, Guerra gave Vulture a few pointers on how to survive such a grueling setting, with a crew of 40 people in tow, all while navigating the customs and prohibitions set by local tribal leaders and, oh right, making an awards-caliber movie. Explain Yourself to the Locals Guerra set out to make allies of the Amazonian communities before shooting an inch of film. We wanted to avoid bringing the logic of a foreign production into the jungle, he says. He and the films primary researcher trekked deep into Vaupes, an obscure region of Colombia, to meet a prominent healer whose support was needed for the projects success. The pair explained their intentions to him, and he promptly relayed their pitch to the jungle itself. He explained our intentions to the forest, Guerra said. If the jungle said, No, and if the jungle hadnt assisted us, then this movie would not have been made. Once the surrounding communities committed to the project, Guerra said, they went all-in. Getting to a place of mutual trust between the seven distinct tribes of the region required a series of ceremonial rituals, the details of which Guerra would not relay to me over the phone. (It would not be proper.) But they were sacred ceremonies, he says, which, for a majority of the tribes in the Southern regions of Colombia, means drinking DMT-filled ayahuasca, a brew extracted from the caapi vine. Master Caapi is mentioned frequently throughout the film. Hire a Shaman Even productions outside of hostile landscapes could use help warding off pestilence and disharmony. When the tribespeople offered up their paye, or shaman, to protect the shoot, Guerra immediately agreed. They offered us their spiritual protection, he says. It wouldve been suicidal to go on without [it]. Guerra credits Serpents miraculously accident-free production along with the absence of jaguar maulings, ruined shots, or theatrical on-set egos to the shaman on staff. Until the shaman began performing daily protection rituals, Guerra says, 50-hour-long downpours were the norm. Once filming commenced, however, the skies would only open during lunch breaks and whenever the light was no longer suitable for filming. This pattern held for the entirety of the shoot. Learn to Live With Uncertainty The sense of fear that comes from working in the jungle wears on you every day, every hour, every single minute, Guerra says. Just one week into production, he suffered a breakdown. The enormity of their task, he explains, crashed right down on him: Every shot, every scene was so demanding, so exhausting. We were at the mercy of things that were greater than our tiny ensemble. But eventually, the mental fog broke. You have to let go, he says. You realize what youre doing is ridiculous. In a cross-pollination of tribal mysticism and Zen mindfulness, Guerra watched as his crew became gung-ho. Even the jungle began to help,collaborating with them during the shoot. Numerous scenes in the movie such as the ones in which dozens of white butterflies swarm the characters were actually moments of serendipity between nature and actor. Or, as Guerra would say, moments when the jungle offered its presence. The jungle, however, is not listed in the credits. Shoots Are Very, Very Slow Guerra frequently invokes the idea of bending himself to the jungle, but the concept only begins to make sense when he describes the pace of the shoot, about as rapid as a lazy river. Because the majority of the film centers on two actors traversing the river via canoe, Guerras crew generally operated as a five-boat flotilla (including the makeup boat), which forced them to synchronize every single shot. It was a most painful dance, he says. For every 30 seconds of usable film, the crew labored for roughly one hour. But as Guerra points out, not even that was in their control: Do you know how far out one can hear a motorboat on the Amazon river? he says. From two miles out. Any man-made sounds on the water required the cast and crew to halt until any audible reminder of the modern world had disappeared down river. The Locals Will Laugh at You Filmmakers dont typically break out into fits of hysterical laughter over the sheer act of their work. This is not the case for tribal people working alongside the production. Theyre just laughing at you all the time, Guerra says They find the whole process extremely funny and extremely amazing. To date, Guerra hasnt figured out what they found to be so funny, even though their laughter was a constant on the set. It can be strange to be laughed at all of the time, he says. You realize after some time that youve started laughing at yourself, too. Dont Tempt the Jungle Twice Guerra seemingly cracked the code of the jungle a feat that drew a tart dismissal from Werner Herzog, whose work in the jungle is more notable for its flotsam-like efficiency. But unlike Herzogs repeated incursions, Guerra has no plans to return for seconds. The entire production was so beautiful, but it couldve gone wrong in so many ways, he says. Its a risk you cannot take twice. Will J.J. Abrams accept shipping requests? Photo: Lucasfilm Before The Force Awakens, the Star Wars universe was about as straight, and as male, as your average list of American presidents (not counting Buchanan), but J.J. Abrams wants that to change. When I talk about inclusivity its not excluding gay characters, its about inclusivity so of course, Abrams said at the U.S.-Ireland Alliance Oscar Wilde Awards on Thursday when asked if the franchise might include a gay character in the future. To me the fun of Star Wars is exploring the possibilities, so it seems insanely narrow minded to say that there wouldnt be a homosexual character in that world (Just one, J.J.? Wouldnt they be lonely?). Abrams has already diversified the Star Wars universe significantly with the addition of female and black leads in The Force Awakens, but he has stepped aside to make way for Rian Johnson and Colin Trevorrow to direct future installments (Abrams remains an executive producer, though who knows if he can queer the universe from afar). Recent tie-in novels have done some of the work already by featuring gay leads. Plus, if some fans have any say in the backstory of Oscar Isaacs Poe Dameron, we may have a gay Star Wars hero already. To quote the wrong space franchise, make it so. Photo: Monica Schipper/Getty Images Halfway through writing and recording her third album 99, out today, February 26, Santigold came to the realization that the record was becoming centered on a singular theme: the notion that everything in modern culture is a finely curated, assembled package. Instead of fighting against it, the Philadelphia native embraced that ethos, crafting a buoyant, exuberant pop album that criticizes the look-at-me generation by participating in it. (She took a literal approach with the album art, which features her likeness shrink-wrapped alongside a mess of sneakers, rings, and license plates.) Working with a new team of producers including Rostam Batmanglij, Hit-Boy, and Patrik Berger, as well as familiar collaborators like Dave Sitek and John Hill, the 39-year-old crafted a sound much brighter than past records (2008s Santigold, 2012s Master of My Make-Believe), in part thanks to the birth of her first child, Radek, who came into the world a few songs into the recording process. The resulting project is erratic and challenging, one chain-linked together by an optimistic tone that celebrates the superficial state of society, even while reprimanding it. Was there a specific moment that made you realize that everything is a sort of package and is marketing, in a way? It wasnt a moment. It was my experience of being an artist that didnt really start out in this era of constant self-promotion. The rate of consumption now is ridiculous. Grappling with a lot of those issues, I started writing songs about it. My songs are always cathartic. I need to pour out anything Im feeling. Then halfway through, when it was time to figure out what the record was about, I realized I was writing a lot about feeling like a product and this weird absurdity of hyper-consumption and narcissism and everyone being so into the buying and selling of images. On social media, its the fake inversion of everything, the Photoshopped version of reality, and as an artist, youre supposed to be constantly putting up that version of yourself, but it covers every facet of your life. Then I had my son and had this pure, joyous energy at home, and when I had to leave to go work on music, I wanted to stay in that energy. Really, the things that Im talking about are so absurd that you can actually laugh. Thats the approach I took. Even with the album cover, literally me climbing into a bag and shrink-wrapping myself its extreme. Self-promotion has sort of become the de facto form of marketing these days. Does that turn you off? It turns me off, but its also par for the course. You can be turned off and thats what Run from the Races is about and you can stand on the sidelines like, This is whack! and watch it all go right by you. Or you can figure out a way to talk about it. It seems that thats the most effective way right now, is to play in it. Like back in the 90s, artists would get a lot of shit if they put their songs in a commercial. Now, its the new way because music on the radio is so cookie-cutter and theyre playing the same songs back-to-back of hardly any artists. Then as an artist of my kind, the main way that youre going to get your music heard by a broader audience is through commercials, movies, video games The other realities are that people arent buying music anymore, theyre streaming. We arent getting the fair deal on the streams. You have a full-time job making music, and in addition to doing that and touring and making it successful, you have to figure out how to make a living on the side. Even if you get enough money to do your content, Ive been scrambling to get the money to get videos out. So you end up getting these brand partnerships, and they want you to put their products in the video. Ive turned that into part of the art. Usually in the past, you do it in the most subtle way possible. Ive been doing it in the most blatant way possible, because that to me is part of the conversation Im trying to have. To me, art is about revealing exactly whats going on, in your face, so people can have a chance to look at it and reflect. Have you been worried at all that by holding up a mirror to this hyper-consumptive economy, you open yourself to critique for engaging in that exact behavior? If they do, they miss the whole point. Theres a tongue-in-cheek attitude to what Im doing. Im doing it, yes, but Im like, this is what Im needing to do. The argument at this point about selling out is gone. Its outdated. For me, I figured out a way to do it and feel like Im okay with it because Im not compromising my art at all. I feel okay in doing these crazy partnerships because I made that whole process what the art is about. This is the first time that you were pregnant while you were recording a project. Did that have any effect on how you approached songwriting or your collaborative process? How did it manifest itself in the actual end product? Theres a certain lightness to the record and a playfulness thats partially due to the fact that I just had a baby. The two songs I wrote and recorded while I was pregnant are the darker songs on the record, which were Outside the War and Run the Races. I was brewing something inside. Honestly, I was at my friend Ians studio and he brought a mattress in, and I literally laid out on the mattress with my Great Dane next to me, eating endless dark chocolate and writing these crazy songs. When I recorded, I was nine-and-a-half months pregnant. I could barely sing, so I was singing in these crazy voices. Once I had the baby and went back in the studio, which was really soon, I started playing around, and there was just a lightness and playfulness to it. I wanted to continue the energy I had going on at home. Plus, I had set out to have a fun experience making this record, and I brought it to the idea of working with new producers, and once it got down to the songs, it was about keeping them light. Were talking about these issues that arent necessarily light, but I felt like that energy was going to help me get this message across. On your upcoming tour, are you bringing your son along? Yeah. Hes coming. I just bought him this Lego tour bus. I found it online. Its for girls, but it was awesome. Its called Lego Friends Pop Star Tour Bus. Because he came on tour for a week last summer. We did five different countries in Europe in seven days, and he loves airplanes, loves tour buses, and loves music. He has his own little noise-cancellation headphones and puts them on. Hes like, Headphones! and dances. Photo: Universal Pictures Each month, several films and TV shows leave Showtimes catalogue. We provide a list of titles leaving the platform so you can watch them all before theyre gone forever (or just available on a different site). For more comprehensive coverage of the best titles available on Showtime and elsewhere, check out Vultures What to Stream Now hub, which is updated throughout the month. Roughly enough for a barrel: Twelve Monkeys (1995) A high conflict time-travel story with strong actors (Brad Pitt! Bruce Willis!) made on a relatively modest budget, Twelve Monkeys is the kind of risky bet of a film that you rarely see anymore. Its earnest and fun in an especially 90s sort of way, unencumbered by the sprawling seriousness of so many recent big sci-fi movies. Also, Brad Pitt! Leaving March 14. Sublime: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007) This inspiring film is based on Jean-Dominique Baubys memoir about his life after a massive stroke that left him paralyzed nearly everywhere except for his eyes. Director Julian Schnabel turns Baubys attempts to communicate with the rest of the world he wrote the book by communicating in blinks into a celebration of the beauty of that world. Leaving March 15. If youve ever dreamed about running away from it all: The Station Agent (2003) Tom McCarthy (the director behind Spotlight) made his first feature by turning his friend Peter Dinklage into a leading man. Its a whimsical tale about a man (Dinklage) who moves to rural New Jersey and befriends a Sundance-ready collection of quirky characters. Bobby Cannavale and Patricia Clarkson fill out the rest of a strong cast. Dinklage says people still tell him how much they loved the film (though they dont usually get the name right). Leaving March 22. Full list of titles leaving Showtime Twelve Monkeys (1995) (March 14) The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007) (March 15) Philomena (2013) (March 21) The Station Agent (2003) (March 22) Delivery Man (2013) (March27) Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013) (March 28) Captivity (2007) (March 31) Nacho Libre (2006) (March 31) For more details on the best film and television available online, consult Vultures What to Stream Now hub. Employees filled nine white oak barrels Friday with Blue Corn Whisky, the first liquor distilled at Balcones Distilling Co.s new digs on 11th Street. Now comes the wait. It may take two or three years before that bourbon whiskey is ready to be bottled and sent out into the world. But by that time, Balcones officials hope to be in the next phase of expansion and on the way to slaking the pent-up international demand. The $14.5 million distillery, created in the old four-story Texas Fireproof Storage building, has been in testing phase for the last few weeks as distillers worked to replicate the craft spirits they produced in the tiny building under the 17th Street railway viaduct. The distillery has a tasting room and gift shop and will likely begin tours on a limited basis after the official public opening in April, officials said. The centerpiece of the new building is a set of four-story copper Forsyths stills imported from Scotland, but it also includes larger-scale fermentation tanks and bottling equipment that will allow the company to pick up its production pace. I think the next stage is going to be getting used to the new equipment and figuring out the best way with the new stuff to make the products weve been making, production manager Jared Himstedt said. And the next step after that is the really fun part, figuring out what else we want to make and figuring out ways to do things better. Increasing production The nine barrels the distillery produced Friday would have taken a weeks work at the old place, and Himstedt estimates the new plant will initially quadruple the old plants production. A second set of stills is expected to be added in 2017, with the possibility of doubling capacity again. It seemed like a huge jump to move here, and sometimes it still does, Himstedt said. But we were only filling 11 or 12 percent of our orders. As big as it feels, its probably not going to be enough. The demand can be attributed to the rapid expansion of the crafts spirit market in general and to the continuing critical success of Balcones in particular. The company has won national and international competitions for several years, and this week four of its products won top prizes at the World Whisky Conference in Boston. On a tour of the distillery Friday, Balcones president Keith Bellinger said the key to continued success is not skimping on quality. Whiskey has been made the same way for hundreds of years, Bellinger said while standing on a platform several stories high atop the outdoor fermentation tanks. Where we can differentiate is the quality of our grain and how we run our stills. He said that means using blue corn from New Mexico and other grain from small, select growers. He said the company is working with Texas farmers to source barley and rye for upcoming releases. We are having people coming to us, he said of the suppliers. They want to be a part of our success. Himstedt said the old distillery at 17th Street will continue to be used in the short term for specialized spirits. He said the larger scale and increased sophistication of the new distillery actually gives him the chance to fine-tune the flavor profile of the whiskey. For example, the new distillery has temperature controls on its fermentation process, allowing distillers to adjust the temperature a few degrees to control the sweetness of the spirit. Also, having a large number of barrels of whiskey gives him more control during the blending process. After the spirits age in barrels, Himstedt and other employees take samples out of about 300 barrels and blend them to get the right balance of flavors. Gradual growth Himstedt said the demand for Balcones whiskey might seem to justify an even larger facility, but gradual growth was the goal. In going from the size we were, we thought a lot about the work environment and the culture and the danger of becoming a manufacturing plant as opposed to a creative place where people know each other, he said. Himstedt said he expects the craft spirits market to continue to grow, following the trajectory of the craft beer market during the past few decades. He said Balcones will now be one of the larger craft distilleries, and he expects spirits enthusiasts will flock here to visit the distillery and its tasting room. Bellinger said tours will be offered on a limited basis starting this spring and should expand this fall. He said he expects spirits enthusiasts from around Texas will make a road trip to Waco, and he hopes to capture some of the throngs of people coming to the Magnolia Market at the Silos a few blocks away. With Magnolia, I can see a relationship, where husbands drop their wives off over there and come over here or vice versa, he said. A biker indicted in the Twin Peaks shootout who was denied an early trial setting last month because prosecutors said they were not ready for trial is asking a Waco appeals court to order a judge to set a speedy trial date in his case. Houston attorney Paul Looney, who represents Cody Ledbetter, a member of the Cossacks motorcycle group, filed a petition asking Wacos 10th Court of Appeals to order 19th State District Judge Ralph Strother to set a trial date for Ledbetter. Ledbetter, of Waco, is one of 106 bikers indicted in November on first-degree felony engaging in organized criminal activity charges, with underlying offenses of murder and aggravated assault. Prosecutors say those indicted are members of criminal street gangs who attended the May 17 meeting of a biker coalition at Twin Peaks as a show of force. Nine bikers were killed, some shot by police, and dozens more were injured. Looney unsuccessfully argued last month that the indictment against Ledbetter should be quashed because the language in the charging instrument is overly vague and not specific enough to inform defendants what they are accused of doing. Looney then asked Strother to essentially move Ledbetter to the front of his already busy trial docket because he is ready to go to trial while others arent and the delay is causing Ledbetter serious and long-standing harm. I filed the petition to get Judge Strother to set a trial date and then we get to argue whether or not it was quick, Looney said Friday. The bottom line is the law says that when a defendant requests a trial, one of a speedy nature, he has the right to go ahead of others who are not making a similar request. That is a right. It is not something where he has to get lucky to get a speedy trial date. He has a right to a speedy trial date. At last months hearing, Looney characterized Ledbetter as a crime victim and said his indictment and wait for trial are preventing him from applying for state crime victim compensation because he witnessed his stepfather, Daniel Diesel Boyett, get killed in the shootout at Twin Peaks. The only defendant As far as I can tell, my client is the only defendant on the judges whole docket who is requesting a speedy trial, so yes, he should go first, Looney said. In my entire career, I have never had a judge deny a trial date when I asked for one. I dont give a damn if the state is saying it is not ready. If they didnt have their evidence in a condition for going to trial, then they should have waited to get an indictment. McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna did not return phone messages seeking comment for this story. Michael Jarrett, Reynas first assistant, argued last month that the local courts have systems and procedures in place and Ledbetter has no right to change the system by putting his case ahead of others. Jarrett also told the court that the investigation of the complex case by the DAs office and state, federal and local authorities is still in its infancy stage as far as being ready to go to trial. Jarrett said prosecutors have produced thousands of pages of discovery to defense attorneys but are still waiting for analysis of cellphone, DNA and ballistics evidence and the examination of thousands of biker Facebook posts, including ones by Ledbetter. The term of the grand jury that returned indictments against the 106 bikers was extended through March to continue the Twin Peaks investigation. Authorities initially arrested 177 bikers. No date has been set for the Twin Peaks grand jury to return. A McLennan County judge ruled that a law used to jail a man for posting nude photos of his ex-wife on bogus Facebook profiles is overly broad and unconstitutional. While 19th State District Judge Ralph Strother said in his opinion that Billy Mack Maddison perhaps would have benefited from an old-fashioned talk behind the woodshed, the judge ruled that the online impersonation statute improperly criminalizes speech protected by the First Amendment. Maddisons attorneys, Mark Bennett and Nina Patterson, challenged the constitutionality of the statute at a hearing last week in Strothers court. The judge issued his ruling Thursday evening. Bennett, who specializes in First Amendment law, said Strothers ruling marks the fifth time in his 25-year career that a judge has found a statute unconstitutional. It is the right decision, Bennett said. The statute is written way too broadly. It covers a lot of speech that is protected. I would say all the speech that is forbidden by the statute is protected by the U.S. Constitution. So the judge made the right call. McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna, whose office argued that courts must presume a statute is valid and that the Legislature did not act unreasonably or arbitrarily, did not return phone calls Friday from the Tribune-Herald. It was unclear Friday whether Reyna intends to appeal Strothers ruling to Wacos 10th Court of Appeals. Maddison, 40, was indicted in September 2014 on the third-degree felony. The indictment alleges that in March 2014, Maddison used the name of his ex-wife to create a Facebook profile with the intent to harm or defraud or intimidate or threaten her. A complaint to support Maddisons arrest in May 2014 says that Maddisons ex-wife reported to McLennan County Sheriffs Office Detective Brad Bond that Maddison used nude photographs of her to create Facebook profiles and sent friend requests to her friends and family. The first profile used her name and a second one used the name of a man. Both profiles featured nude photos of the woman, the complaint alleges. The woman told the detective she took the photos and sent them to Maddison, who has misdemeanor convictions for harassing the same woman in 2010 and for assaulting a man in 2000. In reaching his ruling, Strother wrote that the harm, as defined in the statute, is so vague and overly broad that it is impossible to guess its meaning. The court realizes that with the advent of social media and modern digital communication there is great opportunity for individuals to perpetuate mischief that can result in falsehoods and hurt feelings, the judge wrote. But that has always been the case. A statute that seeks to prevent such speech must be narrowly drawn and serve a compelling state interest. Section 33.07 fails on both fronts. Strother acknowledged that while Maddisons conduct may well be morally and socially reprehensible, the case does not belong in the criminal justice system. This is good news to people who believe in free speech, Bennett said. The state has tried to criminalize all harm, including embarrassment, and we cant tolerate the state criminalizing the sort of emotional harm that is part of our everyday lives. It is political correctness run amok. Destiny Fernandez became a homeless student while attending University High School after police conducted a drug raid on the home where she lived. She floated from couch to couch, never sure where she would end up next. Desperate to belong, Fernandez said, she would always wear her cheerleading uniform or school T-shirts to school. I would go to high school and I would slap a smile on my face and I would pretend that everything was OK, she said. Fernandez, now 23, sits on the board of directors for a new nurturing center for unaccompanied youth called The Cove, which has scheduled a pilot program to begin this April. The board finalized a lease agreement this week for a 2,600-square-foot building to provide a haven for unaccompanied students who attend Waco High School or University High School. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act defines homeless students as those who are transient because of a lack of housing or economic hardship, or have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings. The Cove will be open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and will only serve the Waco Independent School District, which averages about 1,200 homeless students per year. The building is outfitted with three bathrooms, one with a shower; a large dining room; kitchen; living room; computer area; and multiple study rooms. The building also has a laundry room with a washer and dryer, with space for another set. These simple accommodations will go a long way to protecting and supporting students who dont have any support at home, said Cheryl Pooler, the Coves chairwoman and Waco ISDs homeless liaison. People are more willing to allow students to stay at their homes if they arrive clean and fed, Pooler said. I have literally had students who have traded their body for money for the laundry or a shower, she said. Volunteers sought Even as the board finally realizes its dream of seeing the nurturing center open, its asking the community to step up even more as they look for volunteers to outfit the building with furniture and provide meals during the week. We want it to look not only like a nurturing place but also like they can have a little cohort of friends and enjoy a healthy hot meal, board member Rosemary Townsend said. The students will be selected for access to The Cove through Waco ISD, which currently has about 90 homeless high school students. We will not be taking students who will be walking in off the streets, Pooler said. Students must be enrolled in school to gain access to The Cove and will be transported there after school on a district bus. Transportation from The Cove is still being discussed. Waco ISD officials have been visiting churches in order to recruit volunteers for the center, and people have already come forward to donate their time. Renee Lewis, a member of the First United Methodist Church of Waco, said when she heard Superintendent Bonny Cain speak of the struggles these high school students face she cried and knew her family would step up to help. Lewis said that one of her three children is adopted, and she cant imagine where he would be living if they hadnt taken him in. They were put on this earth for a purpose, she said. They just need the support to get to that purpose. For more information on volunteering or donating to The Cove, email elisa_jelley@baylor.edu. Congressional candidate Ralph Patterson twice lost the authority to operate his business by failing to pay franchise taxes and failed to disclose ownership interests in his information technology company on House ethics reports. Questions about Pattersons business practices and official reporting of his assets have arisen as the days count down to Tuesdays primary election. Patterson, 58, former chairman of the McLennan County Republican Party, is challenging U.S. Rep. Bill Flores, R-Bryan, in the Republican primary race for the District 17 seat, which also includes Kaleb Sims, a 38-year-old Groesbeck businessman. During the campaign, Patterson has touted his leadership of a multimillion dollar IT business called LAN-ACES Inc., which his website describes as a privately held Texas company that is dedicated to providing personal and group productivity solutions for all types and sizes of companies and networks. According to Texas Secretary of State records, Patterson lost his charter to do business because of tax forfeitures in 2002 and 2005. While the records dont indicate how much was owed, they show the charter to LAN-ACES was reinstated almost six months later in September 2002. In the second instance, records show the charter was not reinstated until almost seven years later, in October 2011. In response to questions about the loss of his business charter, Patterson said in an email, I reinstated the business charter. No taxes were owed. Patterson refused to answer questions Thursday and Friday regarding his connection to LAN-ACES, which he said he founded, or whether he still owns it; is president and someone else owns it; or whether he is a director or part-owner. But Pattersons campaign ads refer to his business and he implies he owns the company at campaign appearances across the district. Patterson did not disclose the value of his business on personal financial disclosure forms filed with the House Ethics Committee. Under House Ethics Committee rules, Patterson is required to disclose ownership interests in privately held companies or other business entities and to provide valuation of the business or businesses. If Patterson no longer owns LAN-ACES, he would not be required to file disclosures about the company. Income sources In Pattersons report dated Jan. 24, he lists two sources of assets and unearned income with a total value ranging from $2,000 to $30,000. He disclosed earned income of $306,000 in 2015, but does not disclose a bank account or other assets that explain where Patterson can draw cash. Pattersons Federal Election Commission campaign finance report discloses he loaned his own campaign $209,300. Patterson only said, the House report is complete, when asked about his disclosure statements. Pattersons FEC report also was filed two days past the Feb. 18 deadline, subjecting him to a possible fine of $3,700. Patterson filed an amended FEC report on Thursday. We Texans believe in a strong set of values integrity, honesty, transparency, following the law and paying our taxes on time, Flores said. These revelations call into question Mr. Pattersons trustworthiness and his commitment to these basic Texas values. Central Texans deserve a congressional representative who will take these Texas values to Washington. A young friend wrote on his Facebook page, Religion is still the opiate of the masses. He got some interesting responses. One person agreed with him. Another wrote, It cant be. If it was, I would take it for recreational purposes. Of course the statement originated with Karl Marx when he was developing the Communist Manifesto, the philosophical foundation that would eradicate religion in Russia for 75 years. When I visited Moscow and Lenins tomb 17 years ago, the hopeless despair left in atheisms wake was palpable. My first inclination, like many, is to jump to the defense of religion. But that might not be the most thoughtful response. After all, religion killed Jesus. The Roman government reluctantly carried out the crucifixion only after Pilate had repeatedly tried to release Jesus concluding, I find no fault in him. It was the religious leaders of Jerusalem who incited the crowds and demanded Jesus be crucified. Mankind is incurably religious. Every culture on every continent has spawned religion. And, more often than not, the results have not been good. 9-11 and the Twin Towers serve as monuments to the deadly effects of Islamic Jihad. ISIS has terrorized the world. The Hindu caste system of India consigns millions to poverty without hope. The Christian religion can also become corrupt, self-serving and self-absorbed. Perhaps Dan Browns novel, The Da Vinci Code, found credibility with so many because they suspect that religion can become vicious if its survival is threatened. The mentally unstable often use religion to justify atrocities against the innocent. We cannot forget the 909 people, including women and children, who voluntarily drank cyanide out of religious devotion to Jim Jones in Guyana in 1978. Sometimes religion is not just an opiate, it is a poison. Jesus, on the other hand, makes people less selfish, more generous, fills them with hope and leads them to sacrificial efforts to help others. Jesus transformed a little Albanian girl named Agnes into Mother Teresa who spent her life living among the poor of Calcutta and caring for them. Faith in Jesus made William Wilberforce the leader of reform in England to abolish slavery in the British Empire. Faith in Jesus Christ changed a backwoods playboy from North Carolina into Billy Graham, who preached grace and forgiveness to millions. Faith in Jesus Christ catapulted Martin Luther King Jr. from the backstreets of Atlanta into the forefront of the Civil Rights movement. The list goes on. Jesus Christ goes beyond religion. He transforms us into better people and the world into a better place. Bill Tinsley reflects on current events and life experience from a faith perspective. Visit www.tinsleycenter.com. Email bill@tinsleycenter.com. Full disclosure: I am a humble Democrat (feel the Bern!) in a realm of Republicans. But were all in this together, so lets talk about the man the Republican establishment assumed would beat himself but who has ended up beating them. Next week Donald J. Trump may well beat Ted Cruz, Texas (via Canada) very own Machiavelli, unless Ted begins attacking the pope, women, Hispanics, Chinese and especially Muslims with equal passion. But lets talk about the real elephant in the room: the savvy power that a certain brilliant carnival-barking, snake-oil selling casino magnate has over angry and frustrated white Americans who, with nostalgia, respond to his vow to make America great again. Nobody should underestimate this confidence-man: Hes very smart, zestfully energetic and full of charming braggadocio. Trump is clearly inspiring good people primarily because of his bold stands on two main fear-generating issues: illegal immigration and national security. Trumps formulaic chant is that America is no longer great and that Americans need to work to recover that lost greatness. Our enemies are everywhere but especially in Mexico: When Mexico sends its people, theyre not sending their best. Theyre sending people that have lots of problems and theyre bringing those problems to us. Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists. And some, I assume, are good people. So the magical solution is simply to build a great wall: I will make Mexico pay for it. Believe me. They will pay for it because they have really ripped this country off. They have really taken advantage of us both economically and at the border. They will pay for that fence. People love this. The main idea is that other people who do not look like us are taking from us what belongs to us. Trump looks to what Baylor University associate professor of religion Jonathan Tran calls a vanishing horizon of the past which can be secured as promised by whatever means necessary. But The Donalds campaign promises are empty because the problem is not primarily about border control but that desperate people are willing to risk death to come here. Prevention through deterrence doesnt work when people have nothing to lose; there is no deterrence. Empathy poses this question: If you were in their hellishly desperate situation, wouldnt you do exactly what theyre doing? In recent years, at least 40,000 people about eight people a day have died as refugees trying to reach richer, safer nations. More than 6,200 of these deaths have happened along the U.S.-Mexican border. And this number does not even include everyone who dies before he or she gets to the border or who faces rape, robbery, extortion, kidnapping and other violence and survives. Till creative solutions that get at the root of this problem are implemented, the numbers of men, women and children who suffer and die will only increase. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells followers to take in strangers, feed the hungry and visit those in prison (detention centers). We know what Donald Trump would do. Maybe we need to ask a different question: What would Jesus do? A. Christian van Gorder is an associate professor of religion at Baylor University. He teaches introductory courses on world religions. Sunday we recommended that Central Texas Republicans vote as their Republican presidential nominee Ohio Gov. John Kasich, 63, who has significant experience not only on Capitol Hill as a deficit-busting congressman from the Gingrich days but also as a governor who cut taxes and produced a budget surplus. He placed the health concerns of poor people above partisanship by expanding Medicaid, tailored to the specific needs of his state. And to accomplish much of this, he reached across the aisle. Tuesday we pressed parents and others to join transformation committee meetings at J.H. Hines Elementary School, South Waco Elementary School and Indian Spring Middle School to bolster relations between their neighborhoods and the academically troubled schools in them. If these alliances are successful, closure of these schools by state officials can be avoided. If not, both the schools and the neighborhoods will share in the blame. For the record, we were enormously encouraged by Tuesdays attendance. Wednesday we praised the State Commission on Judicial Conducts clearing of McLennan County Justice of the Peace W.H. Pete Peterson of judicial misconduct in his handling of defendants in the deadly Twin Peaks shootout. That said, the commission advised him to improve his protocol. We, the voters, are like those circle flies you cant fool them and you cant fool us any longer, either. Fred Kotter Patterson vs. Flores Prior to the 2014 election, I called U.S. Rep. Bill Flores Bryan office and asked what Flores stance was on illegal immigration. An aide advised me that Rep. Flores was the representative for all people in his district Democrats, independents and Republicans and if I expected pushback, I should contact my local Republican Party officials. Making sure the people within Flores district get all the government services they are entitled to is not the primary reason conservative Republicans vote for the Republican candidate in my district. I expect Rep. Flores to push back against the failing policies of this administration. If not, what in the Sam Hill do I need Bill Flores for? Now that he is involved in a primary against a real conservative opponent, all of his expensive campaign mailings point to his suddenly strong opposition to Obamas lawless policies that encourage illegal immigration, which he now conveniently realizes he should be opposed to. Like any good politician who wants to be re-elected, he must now put on his re-election mode hat by saying what the people who would re-elect him want to hear. That, Mr. Flores, is precisely why the Beltway Boy establishment Republicans like you are getting pushback from voters. Throwing the bums out and doing what you espouse in your mailings would be a good place to start! When it comes to pushback, you represent me, a conservative Republican not the liberal, socialist Democrats you carefully tried to include in your constituency. I cant hold my nose any longer. The lack of pushback has its consequences. We, the voters, are like those circle flies you cant fool them and you cant fool us any longer, either. Fred Kotter, Marlin n n n TEXPAC, the political advocacy arm of the Texas Medical Association and the McLennan County Medical Society, announces our endorsement of Rep. Bill Flores in his bid for re-election to Texas 17th congressional district, which he has served since 2011. McLennan County physicians know that this election affects our ability to provide the best and most compassionate health care to our citizens and Congressman Flores will continue to stand strong in Washington for the interests of both patients and physicians. He used his leadership to help fix the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula that had caused constant Medicare payment crises, thus now ensuring better access to care for patients. Representing almost 500 physicians, McLennan County Medical Society leadership chose to endorse Rep. Flores based not only on his support of the Medicare SGR fix but also his understanding that government red tape only interferes with the patient-physician relationship and does not create better care. He has made the effort to learn the issues that are important to medicine and he understands that physicians are small-business men and women and should be treated as such in their practices. The physicians of McLennan County encourage our colleagues, patients and all citizens to re-elect Congressman Bill Flores. He has also been endorsed by the Texas Medical Association, representing over 48,000 physicians in the state. Tim Martindale, MD, McLennan County Medical Society president n n n My wife and I have voted for Bill Flores in each one of his elections for Congress. Now he is running for re-election and running commercials stating he is for conservatives. Mr. Flores crossed the aisle and voted with Democrats for the omnibus bill giving President Obama free rein in all he wants . This is not 100 percent conservative. I am 100 percent conservative, but I believe in being fair. Fred Khoury, Waco n n n Ralph Patterson, candidate for Congress, knows only how to throw rocks. Thats how he spent his time as chairman of the McLennan County Republican Party. Lets leave him on the rock pile and support Congressman Bill Flores, who is a builder, not a divider. Jenny Taylor, Waco n n n I am confused. I do not understand Rep. Bill Flores television ad. He seems to be running against President Obama. Mr. Flores says that he told President Obama what to do about a border fence and the president did not do it. Therefore, Mr. Flores says, we should re-elect him as our representative. Mr. Flores does not mention anything that he has done, only his failure to make the president do what Mr. Flores says. Apparently, he is running on his failure. Does Mr. Flores realize that he is not running against the president? I am confused. Hal Ritter, Woodway n n n One race Im trying hard to figure out is Ralph Pattersons to unseat our congressman. I guess since Patterson succeeded in disrupting the Republican base in McLennan County as our party chairman, he is looking for a bigger job in which to cause more dissension the job that is being done with integrity and honor by Bill Flores. The things Bill promised us when he ran for office are things he has done or certainly tried to do. He does not run Congress all by himself. His vow to care for veterans is one he has kept. He does not head the Department of Veterans Affairs but he is well known there and will work for veterans in our district if you call his office and ask for help. He has served us with distinction. We will re-elect Bill Flores. It would be worth looking into Mr. Pattersons legacy to see the harm he has done to the McLennan County Republican Party since he arrived on the local scene. For instance, working behind closed doors, he helped remove from the election slate Kristi DeCluitt, a lady JP who had been elected three times by the citizens in her district. Apparently she displeased Mr. Patterson. He threatened people if they disagreed with him and called them poison and attendance dropped in half. Thats what kind of a man he is: Mr. My Way or the Highway. We do not need any more of Mr. Pattersons backroom politics here in McLennan County or in Washington. He is divisive, threatening and rude. We do not want or need Ralph Patterson. We are also fortunate to have Jon Ker running for Republican Party chairman. This will certainly put a new welcoming face on our party. He is a man of proven class, integrity, honored by all who have been fortunate enough to know him. He is a local attorney, a retired Army colonel and Green Beret. Also he speaks clearly and truthfully and we are glad to have a man of his character to lead our local party. He will immediately repair the chaos left by Ralph Patterson. Ann Ammon, Waco Patrick Norman Pat Chapman is a 34-year-old, Caucasian male who was last known to be in Piedmont which is near the area of Greenville, Missouri on May 10, 2020. Pat had stayed the night with a friend and his wife at their home. In the early morning when the friend woke to go to work. Pat was gone in his own Burgundy color 1995 Ford Escort. That is the last anyone was known to have seen him. The vehicle was later recovered on May 29, 2020 in Mill Spring, Missouri. Christopher Adderley by Adrian Gibson The tale of the death of Christopher Prescott Adderley, affectionately known as Scottie, in a prison in Port-de-Paix, Haiti, is a harrowing tale of negligence, a callous disregard for the pleas of a distraught mother by the Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and has, in the aftermath, left a family grieving and in pursuit of answers. Adderley, a 34-year-old father of two, was a pilot who had flown with Southern Air, Pineapple Air and Region Air. His mother, Sharon Rosemary Adderley, told me that on February 15, 2014, Scottie left the Stella Maris airport in Long Island for Haiti. He left onboard a Piper Navajo (N6739L) purportedly to pick up a friend and fellow pilot, Hughie Gray. His family and friends contend that he had borrowed the plane from a friend and that the plane had not been stolen. That was the last time he was seen alive. Based on my interviews with Gray, his mother and close friends, Scottie crash landed in bushes slightly off the runway at an airport in Cape Haitien. The plane skidded off the runway and crashed into a house. Before leaving Long Island, he purportedly flew the plane to the airport in Deadmans Cay for repairs as the brakes were not functioning properly. The brakes, I am told, malfunctioned during their landing in Haiti. Both men survived the crash but were immediately arrested, interrogated and later charged with the trafficking of illicit drugs. According to Mrs Adderley, that began a nightmare which culminated in the death of her son. She said that there were occasions when, on making inquiries about his wellbeing or requesting the intervention of the MOFA, she was made to feel about as welcome as a fungus. On March 9, 2014, Mrs Adderley, affectionately known as Rosemary, wrote a letter to Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell. In her emailed letter captioned Detention of Christopher Prescott Adderley in Haiti, she wrote: My son is a Pilot by profession. I last saw my son on Saturday 15th, February 2014. It is my understanding that he piloted an aircraft into Haiti on Saturday 15th, February 2014. He was scheduled to return on the same date with passengers. I was informed by a friend of his, that he is detained in Haiti. I was also advised that the plane developed mechanical difficulties, resulting in it crash landing. I have received communications from my son through Mr Anderson (Deputy Bahamian consulate in Haiti) for which I am grateful. Unfortunately, I have not spoken directly to my son and I am unable to ascertain why he is being detained. Today completes twenty days of his detention and according to the sources available to me he has not been formally charged with any offences. In addition to his detention, I am also extremely concern about his physical and mental conditions as a result of the alleged plane crash. It is also my understanding that the aircraft is a private aircraft owned by a Bahamian ... It is obvious that the information provided is coming from several unsubstantiated sources, which elevates my frustration and concern ... As a result of the circumstance, I seek your urgent attention and formal assistance in bringing closure to this matter. Mr Mitchell, rather than reassuring her and pledging to address the matter urgently, nonchalantly responded the next day, telling her that he would pass the information on to the Permanent Secretary (PS) at Foreign Affairs and then urged her to follow up with him at 3284500. The PS never called Rosemary and, though she attempted to reach him on numerous occasions from her homestead in Long Island, she was unsuccessful. Rosemary emailed another letter to Mr Mitchell on March 27, 2014. In that letter, she pleaded for his urgent attention to her sons incarceration. She wrote: Since my e-mail to you sir I have found out that Christopher and another pilot (Hugh Gray ) are being held in Port au Paix detention centre. I have also learnt that both pilots were forced into making and signing statements under pressure from the authorities there. Sir, I am asking your assistance in finding out the charges/offences of these two pilots. At present, I am aware that both my son and Hugh are adults but as a mother I (am) very much concern(ed) about what is happening with them in Haiti. As a result of the circumstance, I seek your urgent attention and formal assistance in this matter, she pleaded. This time, Mr Mitchells response was more comprehensive. He told Mrs Adderley: This matter has received and is receiving attention. You are aware of this thru your representative and numerous calls and notes sent to you by various parties. You should also have been advised that our advice is that under the Haitian system a prosecutor can hold you indefinitely until they charge or release you so long as an investigation is on going. Your son has received consular visits and the information I have received is that he is as well as can be in his circumstances. I receive updates from time to time. If you have other information you can let me know. You can contact the embassy in Haiti directly. You should contact a lawyer. I am now advised that he has been charged before a court that certain admissions were made and that a further hearing is to take place. Again you may contact the embassy directly. That is the complete picture at the moment. In another email, he said: I am advised that he appeared before an investigating magistrate and that our consul was present. Your son alleges that he made certain statements in exchange for release. We are investigating that matter. By January 2, 2015, Mrs Adderley - who felt that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was being too hands off and seemingly uninformed or unconcerned about the state of the two Bahamians locked up abroad - again wrote to Mr Mitchell. In that emailed letter she wrote: Mr Mitchell, emailing you is my last resource to find out how my son is doing in Haiti. I tried calling the number that you told me to call (3284500), I am unable to get through to it. As a result of me residing in Long Island I am unable to visit the office. I am begging you sir to please if it is possible, let me know how he is doing. I have not been in contact at all with him for three weeks. I have received unofficial information that he is very sick. I am very grateful of all that you and your ministry have done for him and his friend Hugh Gray thus far. Thank You Sir for your cooperation in this urgent matter. Mr Mitchell, to the obvious grief of this mother, only replied: ambassador rolle are you able to address this. fm Mrs Adderley never heard from Mr Mitchell again ... until after Scotties death eight months later. Scottie died on September 22, 2015. His mother was informed of his death, by Mr Anderson, the next day. His body was subsequently flown to the Bahamas. One week later, his co-accused Hughie Gray - along with two Haitian police officers - were all exonerated. Mr Gray, who is back in the Bahamas, told me about their experience. According to him, they were transferred from one prison to another during their detention in Haiti. They were first housed at a prison in Port-de-Paix, then on to Port-au-Prince, then to Port-de-Paix, then Gonaives, then to Saint-Marc and back to Port-de-Paix. He said that they were questioned by Haitian officials and the Drug Enforcement Agency of the US Federal government. They spent 10 months in a prison in Port-de-Paix before they were formally brought before a court. He said he remained in contact with deputy consul Mr Anderson in an effort to encourage the Bahamas government to intervene to discover what took so long for them to be taken to court. He stated that after they were taken to court, they were moved between prisons in Gonaives and Saint Marc. Saint Marc was described as hell on earth and he told me that, whilst in Gonaives, the water was contaminated and the sewer freely flowed past their cells. He said they could not bathe. Mr Gray said that before Scotties death, a date for a final hearing had been set down for a verdict to be rendered by the court. Given that, they were transferred back to Port-de-Paix and 10 days after their arrival, Scottie died. Scotties foot started to swell up in Gonaives, Mr Gray said. The doctor told him that he had blood clots. They wrote him a prescription to buy pills. But, the foot didnt go down. We heard that Mrs Adderley had contacted the Consul to check on Scottie and his foot. Our lawyer came to check on him. I had a cell phone. I spoke with the deputy Consul. I was asked by him to check on Scottie, he said. When we got to Port-de-Paix, Scotties foot continued to bother him. He ended up taking pain killers. But he was still in pain and he kept complaining. He asked one of the prison officers to see a prison doctor but the doctor only told him that his foot was infected and gave him a cream for his foot. He couldnt sleep and if he did it would be for five minutes. He stopped eating at one point or would sometimes only take two spoonfuls of food. So he wasnt sleeping or eating. I soon noticed a green dot on his foot. This was all in the space of 10 days. He had dried-up blood around a cut on his foot. He didnt know how the cut got there. Things started to get real bad and he started to have a fever. We (his cell mates) would bathe him every morning and every afternoon to keep him cool. I hired a young fella who was in the cell with us and he would help to bathe him or get whatever he needed so that he didnt walk on that foot. Mr Gray said that Scottie soon requested to see a doctor again. He saw the doctor, who cleaned up the cut. He told me that he was given a needle. He said that the doctor stuck it directly into the cut and he told me that the doctor asked him if he felt a burning sensation and how far the burning was felt. Chris said he told the doctor that he could feel it up to his knee and he said the doctor told him that the clot or whatever went far, he said. A day or so later, the green dot now covered his entire foot. I called the prison officers to see his foot. They were scared and all said that it didnt look good. We bathed him and he got dressed to go to the hospital. He was taken out of the cell around 7am. From 7am to 1pm he didnt go anywhere. When I saw him again that day, he was not himself and he was lying on the floor, burning up with the fever. We took him to the shower and bathed him in cold water. He was shaking and his eyes were rolling. I asked to use the phone but no one would give me the phone. I was trying to reach our embassy but I was told to wait. The prison staff was clearly afraid. I went back to be with Chris. The prison officials never took him to the hospital. He was taken back to the cell by two men. I then made up my mind that I would put something in his belly that night and so I paid one of the prison cooks $30 to cook some soup. I started spoonfeeding him water. When the soup came, I allowed it to cool down and I gave it to him. But, after the first spoonful, he took no more. He was just lying there in my arms and breathing hard. I let him relax but I could feel that he still had a high fever. Shortly after, I heard Chris took a deep and long breath. That was it! As he lay there, all I could think about was his children, his little girl, he said. The prison went into an uproar. Everyone was running around. They said that they needed the Commissaire, a judge and representatives from the UN to come by and see his body before they could do anything. They then took him away. I asked to use the phone. I was denied for two days and no one wanted to allow me to use the phone. He died on September 22nd and I was finally able to speak to the Consul for the Bahamas on the 24th, he recalled sadly. Mr Gray said that they had court on October 7 and again on October 16. He said that at that time, a judge ruled that he was to be immediately released. He was taken by Mr Anderson to his official residence in Port-au-Prince, remaining there for three days before being flown to Cape Haitien and then to Nassau. He said that the Judge held that they were wrongly charged and detained. Rosemary Adderley met with Haitian officials at the Haitian Embassy in Nassau on December 11. They promised her an investigation into her sons death but she has yet to hear from them. Hurting and frantically in search of answers, she reached out to Mr Mitchell in a letter written on December 21. The letter was taken to the MOFA. In that letter, she told him: It is with great sadness that I write you this letter concerning the untimely death of my son and the circumstances surrounding his death for which our family has yet to find answers or resolution. I write you as a mother in the troughs of grief, as a Bahamian citizen wanting to know what happened to a fellow Bahamian - my dearest son - whilst incarcerated in a Haitian prison. Mr. Mitchell, I write to request the Bahamas Governments - i.e. the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all interested parties - intervention and investigation into this matter that, by all accounts and the account Hugh Gray, involves questionable, even unscrupulous and seemingly unlawful circumstances, concerning my sons death at the prison in Port-au-Paix. I have recently visited the Haitian Embassy and met with one Mr Claudy Blaise. Mr Blaise has pledged to assist but he has also advised me to pursue this matter via your ministry and that, it appears, would also create and foster an official undertaking between our government and the Haitian government in launching an investigation into Christophers death. Bahamas Consul Mr Anderson, on the 23rd of September, 2015 pledged to me - as he gave me his condolences - that the Bahamas government will conduct a full and comprehensive investigation into my sons death and all of the circumstances leading up to his death. This far, we have not gotten any further response or update related to the same. During Christophers incarceration and trial in Haiti, our family spent many thousands of dollars on his defence and upon requests by Haitian government officials for monies for various reasons. Much of that money was sent via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and transferred to the parties involved by Bahamas Consul Mr. Anderson himself, she wrote. She received no reply. Given that, she wrote Mr Mitchell an email on January 30, 2016, telling him that she was desperately in need of answers and that her family had been tattered and torn by her sons tragic death. Mr Mitchell responded, saying: My understanding is that you are in touch with the Bahamas emeasly (embassy) in Haiti and they are following up on the matter. I thought you were aware of this. I will copy them on this matter. I regret the confusion and delay. Not only was Mrs Adderley not aware of this, but - to this date - besides a January 15th, 2016, letter finalising expressing their condolences and promising that MOFA will look into this matter, she has yet to receive answers. Mrs Adderley told me that she - along with Hugh Gray Sr - sent more than $20,000 to Haiti to pay for legal fees and bribes requested of them. These funds were all sent via the MOFA. I have been asked to withhold some of the information concerning this matter. However, one can hardly conclude that the MOFA has truly fulfilled its mandate in representing the interests of Bahamians locked up abroad. I have read communications between Mrs Adderley and MOFA officials pleading and begging them to take a private doctor to her son and/or ensure that he attends hospital as she had received several phone calls, from friendly prison guards, that her son was not doing well. On one occasion, one of the officials on the ground in Haiti responded that because it was a long drive, he would not be going. Disgraceful! The Bahamas MOFA could learn a lot from the US State Department, particularly relating to the treatment and assistance of its citizens who are incarcerated in foreign jurisdictions. Where was the effort to ensure that these Bahamians were afforded due process under Haitian laws? Why were their conditions not more closely monitored? Why were they not in contact with prison officials to ensure that these men were treated according to internationally accepted standards of human rights? _________________________________________________________ First published in the The Tribune under the byline, Young Man's View, here View Adrian Gibson's archive here Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 26, 2016 | PADUCAH, KY By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 26, 2016 | 05:19 PM | PADUCAH, KY Thanks to a new partnership with the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing, Baptist Health nurses can obtain a bachelor's degree in nursing in as little as one year from the comfort of their own homes, and on a schedule that fits their lives. The joint venture was announced Friday at a noon press conference at Baptist Health Paducah. We are excited to work with Baptist Health to offer our online, accelerated RN to BS in nursing degree, said Dr. Roberta Harrison, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Programs at SIUE School of Nursing. This is a great opportunity to reach more working nurses throughout Kentucky to offer our affordable, progressive and innovative online program. The program is offered in a flexible, entirely online format to accommodate the needs of working RNs. Dr. Laura Bernaix, Interim Dean of the SIUE School of Nursing, said the program was designed for nurses working in the industry. Our program offers the working RN a contemporary, easily accessible and affordable format for obtaining their baccalaureate degree in nursing, said Bernaix. Unique to its design is the technical and instructional support that is available to meet the individual needs of each student. We are proud to announce this exciting partnership with SIUE, said William A. Brown, president of Baptist Health Paducah. This is a wonderful opportunity for our nurses, who can continue their education while working and providing the best healthcare possible for the patients we are privileged to serve. Visit the Baptist Health Partnership website http://www.siue.edu/corporate/baptist/ for additional details. By Kentucky Heritage Council Feb. 26, 2016 | 02:50 PM | PADUCAH, KY A Paducah apartment complex is one of eleven sites in Kentucky that the National Park Service has approved for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. California Apartments on Clay Street is a private neighborhood made up of Gunnison Home duplexes. Constructed in 1952, the complex comprises 36 one-story duplex buildings. The project was financed by the Federal Housing Authority specifically for the workers of the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. The complex was determined significant within the historic context, Residential Housing Related to the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Paducah, 1950 to 1955. According to the author of the nomination, Melinda Winchester with Winchester Preservation, all of the buildings display a uniformity of basic form and materials consistent with Gunnison Home design models. All the units retain their identifying Gunnison features of the sheet metal chimney, metal shutters and metal flower boxes. The site plan has not been altered from its original configuration, and the sidewalks, interior courtyards and mature trees remain intact. It was designed by developers Omar Goetz, Prewitt Lackey and Heath Wells, who created New Home Constructors Inc. as approved builders through the Atomic Energy Commission. Another western Kentucky addition to the National Historic Register is in Hickman County. First Christian Church, 201 N. Washington St., Clinton was nominated by Sarah Bowman, owner, and Marty Perry, KHC National Register Coordinator. The church embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction, in this case Romanesque Revival. The church is constructed of brick and dates to 1899. According to the authors, This building is the only instance of Romanesque style recorded in the county Its masonry material, chunky proportions, and heaviness of detail impart a solidity to the building [that] offers the local population a design that seemed sophisticated relative to others on the local landscape. For a church group intent on announcing the solidity, wealth and social prestige of their congregation, the Romanesque Revival design provided those messages. The buildings significance was evaluated within the historic context Romanesque Revival Buildings of the Jackson Purchase Region, 1875-1925. The Kentucky Heritage Council/State Historic Preservation Office administers the National Register program in Kentucky and provides administrative support to the Kentucky Historic Preservation Review Board, which is charged with evaluating National Register nominations prior to their submission to NPS. The review board is made up of 11 members appointed by the governor and meets twice a year. Owners of National Register properties may qualify for state and/or federal tax credits for rehabilitation of these properties to standards set forth by the Secretary of the Interior, as certified by the Kentucky Heritage Council, or by making a charitable contribution of a preservation easement. National Register status does not affect property ownership rights, but does provide a measure of protection against adverse impacts from federally funded projects. Other new historical sites across the state are Sroufe House, Dover; Bell House, near Edmonton; the Clel Purdom House, Lebanon vicinity; Charles Young Park and Community Center and Peoples Federal Savings and Loan Association, Lexington; Klotz Confectionary Co. and Louisville Cotton Mills Administration Building, Louisville; Morehead C & O Railway Freight Depot, Morehead; and the Felix Grundy Stidger House, Taylorsville. Kentucky has the fourth-highest number of listings among states, at more than 3,300. Listing can be applied to buildings, objects, structures, districts and archaeological sites, and proposed sites must be significant in architecture, engineering, American history or culture. Detailed nominations with high-resolution photos are available at www.heritage.ky.gov/natreg/. An agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, the Kentucky Heritage Council / State Historic Preservation Office is responsible for the identification, protection and preservation of prehistoric resources and historic buildings, sites and cultural resources throughout the Commonwealth, in partnership with other state and federal agencies, local communities and interested citizens. They can be found online at www.heritage.ky.gov . Other recent National Register listings: Fayette County Charles Young Park and Community Center, 540 E. Third St., Lexington; authored by Randy Shipp, historic preservation specialist with Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. Acquired in 1930, Charles Young Park was the second parcel of land purchased by the city to serve the recreational needs of the African American community. Its namesake, Col. Charles Young, was born into slavery in Mays Lick in 1864 and went on to become the third African American graduate of West Point, the first African American U.S. national park superintendent and the first African American to achieve the rank of colonel. According to the author, In Kentucky towns, African Americans erected a community that stood alongside the community of whites, in which most of the same activities occurred The area listed is 2.6 acres, with two contributing buildings erected in the mid-1930s and one contributing site. These include the community center, a one-story, brick veneer, side-gable building on a raised, cut-stone foundation with a rear addition featuring a gymnasium and stage; and a one-story brick restroom. The remaining site consists of open green space, a paved, multi-use ball court and playground area. It was nominated under Criterion A, property associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history, and Criterion C, embodying the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction. Its significance was evaluated within the historic context African American Neighborhoods in Lexington, 1865-1965. Peoples Federal Savings and Loan Association, 343 South Broadway, Lexington; authored by Sarah Tate, historic preservation consultant. Constructed in 1961-62, this iconic bank building was designed by Lexington architect Charles Bayless of the Firm Bayless Clotfelter & Associates. At the time of its construction, according to the author, the building stood on the periphery of the historic downtown area of Lexington, a city which emerged in the early-19th century as a regional center of culture, agriculture, commerce and education. The bank features a concrete foundation, concrete block walls with aqua-colored glazed brick veneer, and a precast folded-plate concrete roof. The building was nominated under Criterion C for its high artistic merit, and evaluated within the historic context Mid-Century Modern Movement in Lexington, 1955-1965. This building provides a rare example of a highly intact mid-century modern building with formal characteristics associated with several offshoots of the International Style, the author writes. In this nomination, the style is being defined as Neo Expressionism, and Streamline/Populuxe Modern. Jefferson County Klotz Confectionary Co., 731 Brent St., Louisville; authored by Joanne Weeter, historic preservation consultant. Klotz Confectionary was built in 1937 as a candy manufacturing plant, which continued to function until the companys closing in 1967. The two-story brick building with concrete block addition was nominated under Criterion A. According to the author, the building conveys important information about how one midsize American city provided wholesale candies to a regional market in the early 20th century. This building helps tell the story of how the sales of candies expanded from a single store production and retail operation into an industrial manufacturing process. Its significance was explored within the historic context The Wholesale Candy and Confection Business in Louisville, 1890-1965. Louisville Cotton Mills Administration Building, 1318 McHenry St., Louisville; authored by Joseph C. Pierson of Pinion Advisors. The industrial complex was listed in the National Register in 1982, and this boundary increase includes the addition of a single structure, the Administration Building, which having been constructed in 1936 was not 50 years old at the time of the original listing and thus did not qualify at that time. The Administration Building is a single story, Art Deco-style commercial building constructed of brick with stone detailing along the roof line, beneath the windows and along the foundation. It was nominated under Criterion A, significant within the historic context Textile Industry in Louisville, 1880-1970. Louisville Cotton Mills was the first cotton mill in Louisville and remained so until it closed in 1967. According to the author, It survived the shift in textiles from wool to cotton, the contraction and migration of the industry from the North to the South, the Great Depression, and the major changes in American consumer habits after World War II. Marion County Clel Purdom House, Lebanon vicinity; authored by Suzanne Coyle, Ph.D., owner. Constructed in the Italianate style in approximately 1884, this two-story, frame house includes Italianate features such as overhanging eaves with decorative brackets and tall, narrow windows. The house is clad with weatherboards and sits on a stone foundation. The house was nominated under Criterion C and evaluated as significant within the historic context Italianate Style in Marion County. According to the author, The development of Italianate architecture in the early 19th century flourished in urban areas where economic growth was often reflected in the architectural design of the city. Small towns such as Lebanon, and rural areas of Marion County, might imitate those urban signs of economic prosperity, though at a later time than they first appeared in those cities. Use of the Italianate architecture then became a sign of economic status and cultural savvy in Marion County. Mason County Sroufe House, 2471 Mary Ingles Highway, Dover; authored by Catherine Bache of Louisville. This listing includes a secondary brick building as well as the painted brick house, constructed in 1800, expanded during the antebellum period and again in 1975. According to the author, The resource is being interpreted as a well-documented instance of a planned escape of three of the farms enslaved workers. The property was listed under Criterion A, and the period of significance is a single year, 1864, during which a neighbor across the Ohio River, John P. Parker, assisted Celia Brooks, her husband and baby to escape from bondage under the owners of the house, Sebastian and Mary Ann Sroufe. The author cites a story from Parkers autobiography that has also been well documented by others as verifying her argument for listing the site as significant within the historic context Underground Railroad in the Borderlands of Kentucky and Ohio. While Camp Nelson in Jessamine County is considered by NPS to be the first National Register listing in Kentucky associated with historic events related to the Underground Railroad, the Sroufe House is the first Kentucky residence to be listed for this association. According to the author, Unlike the typical narrative of an Underground Railroad claim, part of the significance of the Sroufe House episode is that the story does not depict the Sroufe family as abolitionists or as sympathetic to the cause of liberating enslaved people. In this instance, the Sroufe House gained its association with the Underground Railroad in opposition to the owners interests. Metcalfe County Bell House, 7310 Columbia Road, Edmonton vicinity; authored by Janie-Rice Brother, senior architectural historian with the Kentucky Archaeological Survey. The Bell House was constructed between 1907 and 1909 for Curtis A. Bell and his wife, Cora, and designed by Albert Killian of Owensboro. A native of Adair County, Bell was a merchant and farmer and his wife was the daughter of a locally prominent merchant, farmer and lumber dealer, J.H. Kinnaird. According to the author, Kinnaird financed the building of the structure, a 2-story frame house clad in clapboards with vertical wood siding and a distinctive two-story tower a merging of Queen Anne and classical styles. The house was listed under Criterion C, evaluated within the historic context Architecture in Metcalfe County, 1880-1910. According to the author, the house itself embodies the vernacular traditions persistent in Kentucky, where popular national styles remained relevant for years after they passed out of favor in more urban areas. But at the same time, the attention to detail, and the high style of finishes in the house set it apart from all other houses built in the same time period in the local architectural arena. The Bell House is significant locally as a rural architect-designed dwelling in the Free Classic style. Rowan County Morehead C & O Railway Freight Depot, 130 E. First St., Morehead; authored by Gary D. Lewis, president of the Rowan County Historical Society. Constructed in 1881 by the Elizabethtown, Lexington and Big Sandy Railway in Morehead, this depot was later acquired by the Chesapeake & Ohio (C & O) Railroad. According to the author, this stick, or Prairie-style frame building served as a passenger depot as well as a freight depot until about 1910 when a brick passenger depot was built nearby. Today the depots original wooden structure is intact and the building remains in its original location. According to the author, the depot played an extremely significant role in local transportation, commerce, communications and social affairs of Morehead and Rowan County. This nomination acknowledges and relies on the tremendous transportation, economic and social changes brought about by the C & O Railroad in our area. It was nominated under Criterion C as a type of construction and for a design that influenced future C & O Railroad depots, and evaluated within the historic context Development of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad in East Kentucky, 1870-1940. Spencer County Felix Grundy Stidger House, 102 Garrard St., Taylorsville; authored by Arnie Mueller, vice president of the Felix Grundy Stidger Historic Preservation Foundation. The listing of this home in the National Register stands out in that the nomination was submitted under Criterion B, property associated with the lives of persons significant in our country's past, a rarely used designation. Felix Grundy Stidger (1836-1908) was a spy for the Union Army during the Civil War, and the defined period of significance for the homes listing, 1864-65, spans the two years he was actively engaged as a spy. Stidger traveled extensively during this time, and the covert nature of his work makes it hard to associate any other particular places with this role. The saddlebag-plan log house features a stone foundation, gable roof and central chimney. Today the building is in poor condition, yet because of its association with an important person, this did not preclude listing. The house was evaluated within the larger historic context Spying in the U.S. Civil War, 1861-1865. According to the author, approximately 390 known spies worked for both the North and the South throughout the war, including 43 women. Approximately 50 men and women on both sides were eventually executed, and some spies went on to successful careers, such as James A. Garfield, the 20th U.S. President. Following the war, Stidger relocated to Chicago, where he lived until his death. Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 24, 2016 | 06:10 PM | GOLDEN POND, KY Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area offers public school districts within 100 miles an opportunity to receive an Educational Field Trip Grant for the 2016-2017 school year. Educators must apply by April 30.The Educational Field Trip Grant assists schools in covering costs for transportation; facility admission fees at Woodlands Nature Station, Homeplace 1850s Farm, and Golden Pond Planetarium; program costs; and dorm rental at Brandon Spring Group Center during the 2016-2017 school year. Grant amount awarded to schools is based on:Schools matching fundsNumber of studentsIncome level of families in applicant school (as represented by free and reduced lunch percentage)Programs the school plans to participate in at Land Between The LakesAll educational programs are designed to support Kentucky and Tennessee State K-12 curriculum guidelines for science, social studies, and arts and humanities. Our programs offer students a hands-on experience to connect with nature, the stars, and history in support of classroom teaching, said Sharon Waltrip, Program Manager for Environmental Education. A field trip is an excellent opportunity for students to gain an understanding of and appreciation for science and history, as well as the outdoors. It is an experience that will last a lifetime!The grant program is sponsored by the Forest Service, Friends of Land Between The Lakes, Calloway County Homemakers, Bicentennial Volunteers, the Johnston-Hanson Foundation, and others.For more information about the Educational Field Trip Grant, visit https://friendsoflbl.org/school-field-trip-grant-program/ or call 270-924-2091. By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 26, 2016 | 01:06 PM | KEVIL, KY A Kevil pair face assault and drug charges after police executed a search warrant on Thursday. On Monday, Kentucky State Police received a call from the McCracken County Sheriffs office about a woman who had been assaulted on Feb. 19 in Ballard County. KSP drug enforcement and special investigations detectives obtained a search warrant for a home on County Line Road in Kevil. During the search Thursday they reportedly found a set of brass knuckles and three firearms, including a rifle and two handguns. Trace amounts of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, cannabis and ammunition were also found and seized. Police also seized six additional handguns and ammunition from a local business. Police charged 36-year-old Jerry Compton, Jr. of Kevil with two counts of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, assault, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Also charged was 28-year-old Shranda Smith of Kevil with complicity to assault, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Smith was also served with an unrelated outstanding warrant out of Graves County for bail jumping. Both suspects were booked into the Ballard County Jail. By Rep. Richard Heath Feb. 26, 2016 | 05:40 PM | FRANKFORT, KY This week in Frankfort, your elected House Republicans worked hard to promote something we all should value, transparency in government. Our caucus attempted to bring the first reading on Senate Bill 45. It would require public disclosure of all retirement benefits for all current and past legislators. SB 45 passed the Senate earlier this session by a margin of 38-0, with all members voting. Unfortunately, the bill did not enjoy the same success in the House and we have not had an opportunity to have discussion on the floor.It is important for Kentuckians to have the ability to know what their elected officials are doing in Frankfort, and that includes the public pensions they will be collecting. Public pension transparency remains a priority of mine, and I will work to see positive action toward that end.On a high note, the Senate passed the first House Bill of the 2016 Regular Session this week. House Bill 175 is sponsored by Rep. Michael Meredith, a Republican from Brownsville. HB 175, a peace officer bill, passed unanimously and will now head to the Governor for signature. It will be only the second piece of legislation signed into law by the Governor so far this session.The budget process seems to go on forever, perhaps too long for many. But the work of our subcommittees, which has been ongoing for several weeks now, is a reminder that the process is working as it should.The Executive Branch budget is typically not voted on by the House budget committee until after the first week of March, as was the case during the 2012 and 2014 sessions. That is expected to be the case again this session. The budget subcommittees are expected to meet up to that point.Education is always at the top of our list for funding in a budget session. This year is particularly challenging with the more than $30 billion pension liability Kentucky faces. K-12 education comprises around 44 percent of all state General Fund spending, with postsecondary education claiming a share of around 14 percent. The next largest share of General Fund spending goes to health careor, specifically, state Medicaidwhich claims around 13 percent of General Fund appropriations as we strive to meet the health needs of our citizens.Given our attention to health care, it is not surprising when legislation designed to improve health care delivery in the Commonwealth receives support in the House. And such was the case last Monday when the House voted 94-0 to approve House Bill 163. This bill would create a new Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) law for Kentucky to improve the process by which registered and practical nurses both in our state and other states that are party to the NLC can practice in any NLC state under a multistate license. HB 163 now goes to the Senate for consideration.In other news, Representative Tipton filed a bill this week to remove the term GED from the Kentucky High School Equivalency Test. House Bill 432 would remove GED from the statutes and replace it with High School Equivalency Diploma. Since the general term is in the statute, Kentucky is limited from using other versions of the tests, even as there has been an 85% drop in pass rates over the last two years.This reduction in GEDs issued is largely the result of tougher test standards implemented in 2014, after the testing company Pearson bought the test and aligned it with the controversial Common Core Education Standards. This bill would have the effect of improving competition by opening up the market, and remove the obstacles that prevent Kentuckians from succeeding in life.As always, I welcome your comments and concerns on any issues facing our Commonwealth during the 2016 Regular Session. I can be reached through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181, or you can contact me via email at richard.heath@lrc.ky.gov. You can keep track of committee meetings and potential legislation through the Kentucky Legislature Home Page at www.lrc.ky.gov. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/02/2016 (2429 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. SASKATOON A group hopes to have the Wanuskewin Heritage Park in Saskatoon designated as a United Nations World Heritage site. Chief Felix Thomas of the Saskatoon Tribal Council says to achieve that goal the park will need to expand and be improved. The plan also calls for re-introducing a small herd of bison to the park, which is designed to advance understanding of Northern Plains Indigenous peoples. If the groups application is successful, Wanuskewin would become Saskatchewans first U.N. heritage site. Canada is home to 17 such sites including Albertas Dinosaur Provincial Park, the Viking settlement in Newfoundland and part of Quebec City. The application will be managed by Parks Canada and the process could take up to 10 years. (CKOM, CJWW) Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/02/2016 (2429 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. MONTREAL A big buyer of Bombardiers CSeries planes says it intends to streamline operations by using a single fleet of Embraer aircraft, heightening doubts about the fate of its firm order with the embattled Canadian transportation giant. The chairman of Republic Airways Holding Corp. said in a bankruptcy court filing that its restructuring plan includes operating Embraer E170/R175s under a single operating licence and moving up plans to unload its Q400 turbos. Republic expects to sell its remaining related assets and complete the wind-down of its smaller regional jet and turboprop aircraft, Bryan Bedford said in a 70-page filing Thursday with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. The airline, which provides regional service for larger U.S. carriers, filed for relief under Chapter 11. It reported US$3.56 billion in assets and US$2.97 billion in liabilities. Bedford said the company has attempted over the last several months to restructure its operations to address a loss of revenue from the grounding of aircraft due to a shortage of pilots. Republic is the only U.S. airline to have made a CSeries order. In 2010, it placed a firm order for 40 CS300 planes and options for 40 more of the aircraft, represent 16 per cent of the CSeries firm orders. Bombardier (TSX:BBD.B) spokesman Marianella de la Barrera said the Montreal-based manufacturer has spoken with Republic since the filing but has no new information about the fate of the CSeries order. We have a firm order in place and see no immediate impact (from the filing), she said in an interview. She declined to confirm an analysts report that Republic had stopped making pre-delivery deposit payments. Industry observers have long questioned the viability of the order with Republic since it changed its business model. The planes were originally intended for former subsidiary Frontier Airlines. But that was sold in 2013, leaving the 120- to 160-seat planes too large for its remaining operations. Walter Spracklin of RBC Capital Markets said Republic has several options to rid itself of the CSeries order, but can ask a judge to cancel unprofitable contracts without penalty. That would switch the onus in placing the aircraft back onto Bombardier, he wrote in a report. Republics first CSeries planes were slated to be delivered starting in the second quarter of 2015 through 2017. The CS100 is expected to enter into service in the coming months, followed about six months later by the CS300. Republic said it hasnt entered into financial commitments for the planes because of delays in the CSeries and general uncertainties. De la Barrera added that Bombardier has no exposure to Republics plans to speed up the disposal of its leased Q400s. Republic began last year to shed its 31 Q400s by subleasing 24 of the 71-seat planes to Flybe. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/02/2016 (2429 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. WINNIPEG The provinces agreed Friday to co-operate with and support a national inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women. Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett called the commitment an important step forward, as she emerged from a two-day meeting involving federal and provincial ministers as well as aboriginal leaders and victims families. This is something that has worried a lot of the indigenous leadership and all the people who were worried that we could end up with a jurisdictional squabble that meant that really important issues like policing and child welfare would not be able to be properly dealt with. President of the Metis National Council Clement Chartier speaks at the final news conference of the second national roundtable on missing and murdered aboriginal women in Winnipeg on Friday February 26, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski The commitment means child welfare, policing, education and other areas that are fully or partly under provincial jurisdiction will be examined when the inquiry starts up. The (agreement) is to co-operate on providing access to all of our information, to our organizations, to our institutions, Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger said. Details of the inquiry such as its scope, cost and who will lead it have yet to be worked out. The governments also issued a joint four-page document that, in broad terms, commits them to improve the social and economic conditions faced by aboriginals. The agreement contains 20 commitments including: supporting the development of anti-racism training programs for civil servants. implementing a Canada-wide awareness campaign to change public perceptions about violence against indigenous women. acting on Truth and Reconciliation report recommendations such as giving First Nations more of a say in child welfare. creating a common set of performance measurements to track the socio-economic gap between Indigenous persons and non-aboriginals. Whether its high-school leaving, or whether its shelter-occupancy or poverty indicators, theres many things we know we need to get going on, Bennett said. Aboriginals leader said they were pleased with the meetings outcome, but were waiting to see concrete results. Efforts to prevent and address violence against indigenous women and girls do not start and should not end with a national inquiry, Shane Gottfriedson, a regional chief with the Assembly of First Nations, said in a written statement. Today is an example of political commitment and now we must see that commitment turn into action. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/02/2016 (2429 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. They believe he got away with murder. But the family of a Winnipeg homicide victim hopes to still prove it in the form of a unique legal application that will put a high-profile case back into the spotlight. Drake Moslenko, 30, walked out of court a free man in June 2014 when the Crown abruptly announced a stay of proceedings on a first-degree charge for the June 2012 parking lot slaying of his girlfriend, Kaila Tran. Kaila Tran The man Moslenko allegedly hired to carry out the deadly attack, Treyvonne Willis, was found guilty of first-degree murder last year and given an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for at least 25 years. He admitted to ambushing and repeatedly stabbing Tran, 27, in exchange for getting off the hook from an unpaid drug debt. Moslenko hit a major milestone last summer when the one-year deadline for the Crown to re-instate the charge against him came and went. Moslenko has since cashed in on a $50,000 life insurance policy Tran had taken out, naming him a beneficiary. He is also seeking access to what he believes is his portion of a second policy in Trans name valued at $165,000. That application is remains tied up in the courts. None of this is sitting well with Trans family. Theyve launched a new court battle, that in the form of a wrongful death lawsuit, seeks to have a civil court do what the criminal courts couldnt and find Moslenko culpable, then order him to pay financial damages. They hope the different legal test guilt on a balance of probabilities in civil court instead of criminal courts beyond a reasonable doubt will work in their favour. Its essentially the same path the notorious O.J. Simpson case took in the United States. If the gloves dont fit, you must acquit allowed O.J. to walk free after the eight-month criminal trial. But two years later, a civil court jury ordered Simpson to pay the families of Nicole Simpson and Ronald Goldman millions in punitive damages. That type of road to justice is rare in Canada, said David Deutscher, a University of Manitoba law professor. Its not unprecendented but it happens very rarely, he said. Its common sense. How many times do you have a situation where charges are dropped or the person is acquitted in criminal court and a subsequent civil suit is undertaken in order to take advantage of a lower burden of proof. The classic case, of course, is O.J. Simpson. For a civil case, the burden of proof is simply guilt is more probable than not, Deutscher said. There is significant evidence that Moslenko hired or otherwise coerced Willis to kill Kaila, the victims sister, Tiffany Tran said in an affidavit recently filed in Court of Queens Bench. Moslenko is the lynch pin in the murder plot. There is no other connection between Willis and Kaila. Without Moslenko, Kaila would not have been stabbed to death 21 times. The end of a couple' s relationship is believed to be the motive behind a murder-for-hire plot. The family claims the lead homicide detective assured family members the charge against Moslenko would be re-instated after it collapsed at the preliminary hearing. I am informed by Det.-Sgt. (Miles) Riddell and I verily believe that the City of Winnipeg police believe that Moslenko had Willis kill Kaila so he could recover the insurance proceeds under the two policies, the affidavit states. Moslenko is attempting to have this lawsuit dismissed immediately on the grounds it wasnt filed within the appropriate time frame of two years from the date of offence. Trans family takes the position it is based on new information, which only recently surfaced. A hearing on this issue is set for March 8. One of the key points of the lawsuit is a claim that police and the Crown have a videotaped statement from Willis in which they say he directly implicates Moslenko in the killing. The taped statement was never used against him in court. The family claims police also obtained text messages between the two men, shortly after the killing, which were also kept out of the case. I do not understand why the Crown elected not to use that evidence at trial, Tiffany Tran wrote. (Crown attorney Daniel) Chaput advised me, and I verily believe, that in the second statement Willis told police that Moslenko hired him to kill Kaila. I am further advised by Mr. Chaput and I verily believe that the Crown has elected not to rely on this statement at this time. Moslenkos name came up several times during the trial against Willis. Police repeatedly tried to get him to implicate Moslenko during a lengthy videotaped interrogation that was shown to jurors. But he refused to budge, insisting he and his family would be in danger if he started dropping names. Police suggested Moslenko arranged the hit. Willis denied that. He also said he was never told why Tran had to be killed. Wayne Glowacki / Winnipeg Free Press Members of the Winnipeg Police Identification Unit gather evidence at a scene in the 100 block of Clayton Drive. I just knew she had to be dealt with, and that was it, Willis told police. I deal with some bad people. I had to do what I felt necessary at the time. During the Willis trial, the Crowns key witness pointed an accusatory finger in Moslenkos direction. Tremaine Sam-Kelly told court Moslenko knew about the murder plot against Tran, who was going to be targeted because she was a snitch against her boyfriend. He said Willis was offered a way out of a massive drug debt if he carried out the killing although Sam-Kelly didnt say who made the offer to Willis. (Willis) said he didnt have any options. He decided to do a favour for somebody else. He said I gotta rub somebody out in order to get paid, Sam-Kelly testified. (Willis) said if we get rid of her, he can give me the money. The boyfriend. He said the plan involved stealing items such as Trans bank cards and even her car, which Moslenko would ultimately use to give money to Willis against his debts. In their civil court affidavit, Trans family said testimony from Sam-Kelly can only lead to one conclusion. At no time during the Willis trial did either the Crown or the defence ask Sam-Kelly who the boyfriend was. Kailas boyfriend at the time she was murdered was Moslenko. She was not dating anyone else. She had been in a relationship with Moslenko for approximately four years. Everyone in their respective social circles knew that Kailas boyfriend was Drake Moslenko, the family says. As well, the family said Tran had recently discovered Moslenko was cheating on her and planned on ending her relationship, and possibly moving west to Alberta, in the days before she was killed. Witnesses reported seeing Moslenko at the scene following the attack on Tran, sobbing and holding her hand as she lay on the ground bleeding to death. Some described his conduct as dramatized and seemingly scripted. Transcripts of the preliminary hearing show there was never direct proof or physical evidence Moslenko was involved in a plot to kill Tran. The Crowns case against him crumbled when it lost a crucial legal ruling near the conclusion of the pre-trial hearing. Judge Michel Chartier rejected the Crowns arguments that would have seen hearsay admitted into evidence against Moslenko. Prosecutors alleged the hearsay comments implicated him in a common design to kill Tran, when combined with circumstantial evidence. This involved statements made by Willis about Moslenko to Sam-Kelly, who wasnt being charged but was considered by the Crown to be an unindicted co-conspirator in Trans killing. Those alleged comments were considered presumptively inadmissible hearsay in law because they involved what Moslenko was suspected of having said to Willis when Sam-Kelly was not present. Sam-Kelly told police he was present at the scene of the killing to give Willis emotional support. But anything Sam-Kelly had to say allegedly implicating Moslenko was barred from evidence. Willis is now appealing his conviction, claiming his trial was unfair based on several rulings by the judge including whether his videotaped confession was voluntary. A hearing date has yet to be set. mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/02/2016 (2429 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA A former Winnipeg MP who tried to get his government to legalize doctor-assisted suicide says a report by a parliamentary committee advising the government how to proceed offers a great foundation for a future law. Its a very thoughtful report, said Steven Fletcher, who lost his seat as the Conservative MP for Charleswood-St.James-Assiniboia last fall and is now seeking a seat in the provincial legislature. The report is from a special committee of MPs and senators, which studied the issue to advise the Liberal government how best to implement a Supreme Court ruling from 2015 that struck down the ban on assisted suicide. Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press files Former Conservative MP Steven Fletcher. The report made a number of recommendations, including: assisted suicide should be available to people suffering from psychological conditions as well as physical ailments; people diagnosed with degenerative illnesses such as dementia should be able to make requests for help to die in advance; and the government should consider extending the right to mature minors. Other recommendations include allowing medical assistance to die only for those eligible for publicly funded health-care services, requiring a request for help to die be in writing and witnessed by two people who have no conflict of interest with the patient, and that a request must be approved by two independent doctors. They also recommended provinces work with medical regulatory bodies to develop a process to allow doctors to refuse to aid a patient to die but require them to refer the patient to another doctor. Fletcher said the committee took a broad approach to regulating assisted dying, which was what he recommended when he made a presentation to the committee in late January. But he said how the government turns the recommendations into legislation remains to be seen. Fletcher, who was paralyzed from the neck down in a 1996 car accident, became an outspoken advocate for doctor-assisted suicide and introduced two private members bills on the issue in 2014. Those bills never made it to debate. The Council of Canadians with Disabilities is unhappy with most of the report. Dean Richert, co-chairman of the councils ending of life ethics committee, said the recommendations dont include definitions of what conditions are eligible, which will leave it up to individual provinces, or even individual doctors to decide who is eligible to get help to die. Youre going to have a patchwork approach, which is exactly what the committee said it didnt want, he said. The inclusion of minors and the lack of a review board to go over requests to die are also disappointing. He intends to write to federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould to note his concerns. Liberal MP Rob Oliphant, co-chairman of the committee, said the Conservative MPs are opposed to medical assistance in dying and apparently think the Supreme Court was wrong. He suggested their approach to find ways to restrict it as much as possible would not have passed muster with the top court. While I respect their deeply held convictions, I also recognize that the charter protects all Canadians, and we had to ensure that our recommendations would respect both the letter and the spirit of the court ruling, Oliphant said. The New Democrats supported the majority report but also urged the government to provide improved palliative care for those under federal jurisdiction, such as aboriginals, veterans and members of the Armed Forces. Wilson-Raybould said she hopes to have draft legislation ready for cabinet within a couple of weeks. She promised to engage further with Canadians on this very sensitive and important issue. with files from Canadian Press mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/02/2016 (2428 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Theyve received letters of support from teachers, neighbours and lawyers to bring them to Winnipeg as well as offers of jobs, housing and money if theyre allowed into Canada. Yet, the family of a military interpreter being hunted by the Taliban in Afghanistan is running out of options. The Safi family now feels like they have only two choices get killed by the Taliban or leave and drown on the boat to escape, said Karen Gillies, who is helping Mohammad Safi try to get his family here. Safi worked as an interpreter for the Canadian military in Afghanistan for nearly five years. When he received death threats from the Taliban, the Canadian government in 2012 brought Safi and his pregnant wife to safety in Canada. On Dec. 9, his parents, siblings and their children in Kandahar were attacked by the Taliban, and their home was destroyed. All 16 family members got away. Theyve been forced to split up on the run, heading to Kabul, Jalalabad and Kapisa province in Afghanistan looking for safe places to stay where they can find work, said Safi. Its a hard life, said Safi, who works as a gas fitter in Winnipeg and last spoke to family members two weeks ago. Theyre refugees in their own country. The problem is, they dont meet the definition of a refugee. They havent yet left Afghanistan and taken refuge in a third country where theyre registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Theres no way for Safi to privately sponsor them to come to Canada as refugees, said Gillies, whos been making inquiries and emailing Safis MP, Dan Vandal, and the federal Immigration Department to no avail. I know this is government, and rules are rules, said Safi, who received glowing letters of recommendation from his bosses in the Canadian Forces in Kandahar from 2008 to 2011. He was a key member of the team, Maj. G.R. Hamilton-Brown wrote Sept. 15, 2008, who always demonstrates loyalty and respect toward his supported commander, and his services are very appreciated. Safi was the key translator of two insurgent booklets that were seized, the major wrote. Because of his commitment to the Canadian troops in Afghanistan, Safi became a Taliban target. Now the extremists are gunning for his family, said Gillies. His family is in danger because of his involvement with the Canadian Forces, she said. The fear now is theyll leave Afghanistan and make their way to a risky raft in the Mediterranean or be killed by the Taliban before they get that far, she said. I believe Canada has to step up to the plate and rescue these people. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/02/2016 (2428 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Brian Bowman campaigned for office on a promise to make city hall more open and transparent. In light of that, the mayor must explain why he wants to take a wrecking ball to the Public Safety Building. During his state of the city speech this week, Bowman vowed to demolish the soon-to-be-decommissioned home of the Winnipeg Police Service, along with the shuttered civic parkade, and redevelop the site in consultation with artists, architects and Exchange District residents. Id like to see things move as quickly as possible, but we also want to make sure we get it right, Bowman told reporters following his speech Thursday. Its just a tremendous opportunity that I really wanted to amplify as a community, we really want to have everyone engaged as possible. KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS files Will anyone at city hall be brave enough to defy the mayors intent to demolish the PSB? Community consultations are great, but the mayor is ahead of himself. To date, nobody has demonstrated the need to knock down one of Winnipegs most unusual buildings, let alone demolish it in a hurry. Later this year, the police will move out, leaving the six-storey, 1966 structure empty. It also needs an exterior makeover because the Tyndall-stone cladding is falling off. Bowman, however, claims the entire building is beyond repair, citing unnamed engineers. Im a strong proponent of heritage preservation in our downtown. Unfortunately, that is just not going to be a good use of funds, the mayor said. As well, its my understanding its not structurally sound. To date, no public report has rendered such a verdict. Only the neighbouring parkade, which the Sam Katz administration allowed to fall apart despite repeated warnings, has been declared too decrepit to fix. Instead, the PSB appears to be facing a death sentence solely because it will soon be vacant. This is due to the questionable actions of the previous administration at city hall, which misled council into approving the purchase and renovation of a new police headquarters by suppressing cost estimates for the renovation and expansion of the Public Safety Building. Documents obtained by the Free Press show city officials were told in 2009 it would cost roughly the same amount of money ($184 million) to renovate the PSB and expand it (over the demolished civic parkade) than it would cost to buy the Canada Post building and transform it into a new police HQ ($180 million). Council was not given this information before it approved the Canada Post option, which later ballooned in cost to $214 million and left the city owning a mostly vacant Graham Avenue office tower as well as the PSB. Given this apparent deception, its incumbent on Bowman to right this historic wrong and do everything within his power to find a new use for the PSB. To knock down and pave over one of the greatest mistakes of the Katz era would not amount to righting the historic wrong. There are many Winnipeggers who consider the PSB ugly, but esthetic considerations are irrelevant. During the 20th century, many cities knocked down old neo-classical buildings because they, too, seemed ugly at the time. It would be foolish to make the same mistake with a modernist structure. The PSB is not just any modernist building. Its a dramatic example of brutalism as well as a key piece of an architectural ensemble that includes city hall and the Centennial Centre complex across Main Street. Knocking down the PSB without trying to find a new use for it would be tragic. Yes, adaptive reuse is costly, but it would be cheaper to renovate the PSB as a civilian facility than it would have been to fix it for police, who require protection from bullets and grenades. If you knock down the building, there are limited uses for the site, thanks to a 1875 land-donation caveat that demands some form of public use. Would nearby Red River College desire the building? If that avenue has been exhausted, the city should say so. Its not acceptable to declare the building unsafe without presenting the evidence. It isnt cool to say there are no viable redevelopment options without demonstrating the city took pains to explore any. Bowman said a report about the PSB is coming, but now that hes promised to knock it down, would any city administrator get in his way? In 2009, no one at city hall was brave enough to say there was a viable alternative to buying and renovating the Canada Post building. In fact, city hall fought to keep this information secret. Bowman has promised to be more open. If the PSB comes down under his watch, there better be a rationale. bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 27/02/2016 (2428 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Dont run with scissors, kids and dont put your arm through a door with wired glass, or jam your head between the rungs of the climbing wall in the gym. Manitoba schools received two more hazard warnings this month to avoid injuries that have occurred elsewhere. Ontario has already paid $5.8 millions in claims for injuries involving wired-glass doors, said Darren Thomas, risk manager of the Manitoba School Boards Association. Boris Minkevich / Winnipeg Free Press Students can be injured by doors that include wired glass. Students have sometimes put their hands through the glass when opening doors. Weve had incidents where the wired glass is broken not major injuries, Thomas said Friday. Theres an inclination to push on the glass. Thomas said wired glass is designed to resist intense heat, stay in place during a fire and slow down the spread of a fire. But its not as strong as plain glass. Recently, the Canadian Glass Association released a statement that traditional wired glass should not be used in locations subject to human impact. This would include doors in schools that contain wired glass where human traffic is located, Thomas told school divisions this month. At this time, there is no legislation required to remove or retrofit existing buildings. However, we recommend that all schools evaluate their wired-glass locations to determine where potential impact and injury locations might occur. Thomas said the priority is to remove wired glass from heavily used doors, such as main exits. There are some schools where its wired glass everywhere, but only 20 per cent may be used enough to be a hazard, he said. Thomas advised schools to post signs urging staff and students to use push bars to open wired-glass doors, rather than pushing on the glass. The United States removed wired glass for human-impact locations in 2006, and it is no longer used in most countries; Canada being one of the last to still allow its use. He said lawsuits are occurring, and Ontario school boards have already paid out more than $5.8 million in claims. The Winnipeg School Division pointed out Friday that national building standards require wired glass where there is a fire separation wall. The WSD building department is replacing, as the need arises, any wired glass in situations where there is no need for a fire rating with laminated glass. We have not had any wired-glass-related injuries reported, a division official said. Meanwhile, Thomas has recommended schools remove the centre rung in the three rungs at the bottom of indoor climbing structures in their gyms. There was an incident at a school where the student got entangled in the three rungs right up to the head, he said. The teachers kept the student calm and managed to extricate him, said Thomas. He wouldnt name the school. There are a lot of them in elementary schools, Thomas said. The bottom half of the frames are a set of three bars the spacing on these bars is 3.5 inches or less, which pose a significant hazard for kids heads to get trapped. Applying outdoor playground Canadian Standards Association rules, this spacing is not allowed. We are aware that there have been a few children who have been stuck in these bars during gym class, and the solution to this is to remove the middle bars, which some school divisions have already done, Thomas said. nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca The Hiawatha Valley Audubon Society Program will host David Schmidt, a southeast Minnesota representative for the Nature Conservancy, at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, at the Winona Friendship Center, 251 Main St. in Winona. Schmidt will give an overview of the organization, discussing their goals and process for land acquisition. He will highlight parcels in the region that are now open to hiking and birding, as well as some exciting volunteer opportunities. The program will be followed by a brief business meeting and coffee and treats. Programs are free and open to the public, and new members are always welcome. For more information, contact Scott Lowery at blowery2@hbci.com or 507-689-4532. Swanson: Hospitals cant bill sex assault victims for exams ST. PAUL, Minn. Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson sent a letter to Minnesota hospitals to remind them they arent allowed to bill sexual assault victims for forensic exams. The letter comes after a study by the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault found that some Minnesota hospitals may be billing patients for sexual assault exams or associated fees. PUC approves route permit for planned Minnesota Power line ST. PAUL, Minn. State regulators have approved a route permit for a 500-kilovolt line to carry hydroelectric power from Manitoba to northeastern Minnesota. The Public Utilities Commission on Friday backed Minnesota Powers Great Northern Transmission Line. The utility says the line is a key part of its strategy for reducing carbon emissions and getting a third of its power from renewable sources. Minnesota Power estimates the cost at $560 million to $720 million. Black Lives Matter cancels protest at Crashed Ice event ST. PAUL, Minn. Organizers for Black Lives Matter St. Paul announced Friday that they will cancel a planned protest at Saturdays Red Bull Crashed Ice event, saying they believe their demands have been addressed after speaking with Mayor Chris Coleman and others. The groups demands included the firing of St. Paul police Sgt. Jeffrey Rothecker over a Facebook comment about running over protesters. Rothecker has since resigned, but the group had previously said the protest, which it called a nonviolent shutdown action, would continue if other demands werent met. Inquiry on officers Facebook posts handed to outside firm ROCHESTER, Minn. The investigation into a Rochester police officer who was suspended after allegedly posting offensive images is being turned over to an independent, outside firm, the citys police chief said Friday. Chief Roger Peterson also said the departments professional standards manager, Scott Hildebrand, will be placed on paid leave until the investigation is over to avoid a potential conflict of interest. Wisconsin seeks to challenge FCC inmate calling rate cap MADISON, Wis. Wisconsin and seven other states are seeking to join Oklahoma in challenging a new Federal Communications Commission rule limiting the amount local jails and state prisons can charge inmates for phone calls. The FCC voted to impose the $0.11 per minute cap in 2015 to address what it calls prohibitively high charges on inmate calls. But sheriffs and states say the rate limits are too low to cover security-related costs for inmate calling systems. Lands End apologizes for feature on Gloria Steinem DODGEVILLE, Wis. Wisconsin-based retailer Lands End is apologizing to customers for featuring an interview with feminist and political activist Gloria Steinem in its spring catalog and has removed references to her from its website. The company removed a feature on Steinem from its website after customers complained about her support for abortion rights. Police: Speed, alcohol likely factors in fatal crash BROWN DEER, Wis. Police say speed and alcohol were likely factors in a car crash that killed a 3-year-old girl and injured two others in a Milwaukee suburb. Rmoni N. Little-Smith died at a hospital of blunt force head inuries after being thrown from the vehicle. Authorities say she was not restrained. The driver was under the influence and driving more than 90 mph at the time of the crash. BARABOO Love seems to be all we talk about during February leading up to and following the intimate dinners, Valentines Day parties and as we exchange tokens of affection all month long. While the thought of love brings a smile to our lips and a flutter to our hearts, for millions of Americans particularly women and girls love is dangerous. February is teen dating violence awareness month. The hope is that the more discussion and education that happens, the fewer young men and women will be subjected to abuse at the hands of a romantic partner. What is dating or domestic abuse? Abuse does not always result in a visible injury or scar, says Dr. Kyle Martin, an emergency room physician at St. Clare Hospital. Any attempt to control the behavior or emotions of a romantic partner is abuse. Any attempt to diminish or prevent their free choice is abuse. Victims be they a man or woman, young or old do not cause the abuse. There is nothing a victim can say or do to excuse abuse. Abusers are solely responsible for their actions. Dating and domestic violence take many forms: Physical abuse: slapping, hitting, punching, kicking, physical restraint, aggravated assault, forcing someone to take drugs and any other attempts to physically control a romantic partner are abuse. Sexual abuse: sexual activity following a physically abusive incident, threats of infidelity, coerced sexual acts, forcible intercourse and other attempts to control a romantic partner through sexual means are abuse. Emotional abuse: extreme displays of jealousy, possession, intimidation, blaming a victim for the abusers problems, degrading and/or disrespectful behavior and comments, withholding communication, social isolation from friends or family, threats of physical or sexual abuse and any attempt to emotionally control a romantic partner are abuse. Verbal abuse: name-calling, yelling, criticisms of appearance, actions or beliefs, public humiliations all constitute abuse. Economic abuse: any attempt to use money as a tool to control the behavior of a romantic partner or get what they want is abuse. What are the health implications? Every year millions of women and girls are treated for health issues related to dating and domestic violence. Aside from acute medical needs like broken bones, cuts, bruises and other physical injuries, dating and domestic violence leaves victims with invisible wounds, as well. Dating and domestic violence doesnt always result in a physical assault, Martin said. Emotional abuse is very dangerous and will leave a victim feeling worthless. It takes a serious toll on a young girls emotional and mental well-being. According to the Centers for Disease Control, teens who suffer dating violence are more likely to have problems with alcohol and drugs, develop eating disorders, engage in promiscuous behavior, have thoughts of suicide and display violent conduct. Additionally, anyone who suffers from emotional, physical or sexual abuse is more likely to develop mental health issues including depression, panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder. The mental health implications of dating and domestic violence are significant, Martin said. Every year dating and domestic violence results in 18.5 million mental health care visits in the United States. These visits are in addition to the millions of visits victims make to emergency departments and urgent care centers for the physical damage of abuse. How young does it start? For many parents, its hard to remember that with dating come very grown-up problems, including dating violence. The cycle of abuse can begin very early, says Shannon Barry, executive director for Domestic Abuse Intervention Services. For some, theyve witnessed or experienced violence at home and continue the cycle in their own relationships. For others, it begins slowly and builds with time. Abuse is a vicious cycle and can be difficult for a victim to identify the problem until it is too late. Barry says young women between ages 16 to 24 experience the highest rates of relationship violence, which is why its important to empower young men and women with the tools they need to build and nurture healthy, loving relationships free of violence and pain. In 2014 the NO MORE project a group dedicated to ending dating violence surveyed high school boys and girls about their dating experiences. Nearly 1.5 million high school students admitted that a romantic partner had intentionally hit or physically harmed them in the past year. While the number is startling, it does not account for the teens who are too afraid to report their abuse. Why is abuse under-reported? Its well documented that most victims will not report the abuse. Studies show that more than 33 percent of women treated for violent injuries in emergency departments were hurt by an intimate partner. Of those women, fewer than five percent are identified or labeled as abuse victims. The tragic reality is that less than 20 percent of victims seek medical treatment for their injuries, Martin said. Victims are hesitant to answer questions and may feel that their injuries are their own fault. Even though nothing could be farther from the truth, it can prevent proper treatment and reporting of serious, sometimes life-threatening situations. The hesitation to report abuse and receive treatment is a sensitive issue. Many women view their abuse as a personal matter or believe it to be a one time thing. There is also a very real fear that reporting abuse or violence will result in more violence. Others dont trust law enforcement agencies and fear becoming involved in a justice system they believe to be unfair. Fear of losing independence or status can also hinder reporting. DAIS advocates know that many teens resist seeking help from their parents and other adults. At this developmental stage teens are typically struggling for independence and want to solve problems themselves or with their peers, says Barry. They fear that if they told of their abuse, their parents would curtail their newly gained independence and control their future decisions. DAIS knows that many teens may resist seeking help from their parents and other adults, and believes it is paramount that teens know they are not alone, that they know they are believed, and that they know what resources are available. Who is at risk? Dating and domestic violence knows no boundaries. Victims can be any age, gender, sexual preference or ethnicity. Victims come from all backgrounds rich, poor, middle-income, educated or not. Domestic violence touches us all. According to DAIS, national crime data shows African-American women are three times more likely to be murdered by a current or former romantic partner than members of any other racial background. Hispanic women are more likely than non-Hispanic women to be sexually assaulted by a current or former romantic partner, but are less likely to report this abuse. As many as 41 to 61 percent of Asian women report experiencing physical and/or sexual violence by a romantic partner during their lifetime. How can adults help break the cycle? It might sound simplistic, but by creating an open line of communication and talking about mundane, everyday life can help children and teens feel safe talking about sensitive subjects like dating, sex and potential abuse. By talking you can also pick up on their cues that something is bothering them. Talk to your children, Martin said. He recommends other ways you can keep dating violence in check: Set and enforce curfews including curfews or limitations on online communication and when texting should stop each night. Request that your teen introduce you to who they are dating and that you know details about the date like who is driving, if the date is a group activity, etc. Be open with your teen about what a healthy relationship looks and feels like. This includes making sure your own interactions with your partner and children model respect. A Baldwin man will serve 10 years in prison for raping a mentally disabled woman on multiple occasions in 2012 and 2013. I think the terms terrorism and terrorist are overused in this society, Sauk County District Attorney Kevin Calkins said in court Friday. But I think there is no other term to describe what Mr. Hayes did to (the victim) in this case. In November, a jury found 28-year-old Dylan T. Hayes guilty on four felony counts of second-degree sexual assault with the use of force, as well as misdemeanor charges of battery and disorderly conduct. Prosecutors charged that Hayes sexually assaulted the woman on four occasions between November 2012 and January 2013 in Sauk County. Several instances included forced sodomy, and others included the use of restraints and sex toys. Speaking to Sauk County Circuit Court Guy Reynolds, Hayes maintained his innocence. He alleged that his trial was unfair because certain witnesses were not produced and the judge did not allow the jury to hear evidence that demonstrated inconsistencies in the victims statements. I prayed the truth would set me free today, but that is not the current blessing, Hayes said. Your honor, I stand before you today an innocent man. Calkins recommended the maximum 40-year prison sentence against Hayes, who he described as unremorseful and irredeemable, and an additional 16 years of community supervision upon release. He cited a history of legal troubles that dates back to 2004, and includes 11 criminal convictions. To highlight Hayes lack of empathy, Calkins quoted from a recorded jailhouse conversation the defendant had with his mother and brother in which he laughed and bragged about the sexual power he had over the victim. The conversation took place in the midst of the jury trial. It was particularly cruel and disgusting, and clearly without her consent, Sauk County Circuit Court Judge Guy Reynolds said about one of the incidents, in which Hayes injured his victim with a sex toy. But he said Calkins recommended sentence, which would have kept Hayes under community supervision until he was 88 years old, overlooked the complexities of the case. Although the crimes were extremely serious, Reynolds pointed out that the victim and defendant had an on and off relationship, and were sexually involved at the time of the rapes. Several of the instances began with consensual sex and morphed into assault scenarios, Reynolds said. And the victim admitted that certain sexual acts that she asked Hayes to stop were activities that she had consented to on prior occasions with the defendant. Those were points also made by Hayes defense attorney, Jason Gonzalez of Madison, who recommended a five-year prison sentence followed by 10 years of community supervision. Reynolds said that recommendation did not recognize the seriousness of the crimes. The 10-year prison sentence he imposed on Hayes will be followed by an additional 13 years of community supervision. Hayes will have to register as a sex offender, and may have no further contact with the victim. He also must participate in treatment programs as recommended by the state Department of Corrections. The battery and disorderly conduct convictions against Hayes stem from an instance in which he pinched the victims arm, and another instance in which he threw a cell phone at her. Because he allegedly threatened violence against the victims dog on one occasion, Hayes also may not have any pets after his release unless he is authorized to do so by his probation agent. His name isnt DiCaprio, Stallone or Damon, but a Baraboo man will walk away from Sundays Academy Awards with as big a smile as any movie star who goes home with an Oscar. Jayson Moyer is a Buddhist Theravada monk as well as a Cannes award-winning producer and director. He is headed to Los Angeles for the Oscars, but he isnt looking to carry home a golden statuette. Instead of a film reel, hell have his hand-cranked and hand-roasted coffee in tow. Moyer owns and operates Lodge Coffee Roasters, which he runs out of a converted garage in Baraboo. His coffee will be distributed as a gift to celebrities in swag bags. I thought it was going to be my film career, not my coffee career, that got me to the awards. But I am grateful. Its not every day that a producer contacts you, after hearing about your killer coffee, and offers to have your product be part of the Academy Award nominees celebrity luxury gifting suites. Moyer went into coffee beast mode when he only had three days to have his coffee ready for the event. He cranked out more than 100 pounds of coffee and nearly 200 specially designed bags for his prized beans. From films to beans Moyer describes his transformation from his former path as a commercial film director/producer and editor to coffee roaster as an amazing experience. His past profession has a lot to do with timing and is measured in seconds just like coffee roasting. Being an editor has allowed me to understand the importance of each second and the power that it has, he said. There is a flavor difference in 15 seconds when roasting coffee, just as the seconds in editing film. After living in Asia and enjoying extensive world-wide travel for almost two decades, Moyer returned to his hometown to help care for his aging grandmother. The tactile way he hand-crafts his coffee echoes the way he approaches film projects. When I was living in the Philippines I created an agency boutique with other directors. I wanted our company to have a hands-on approach. This was quite opposite than the glossy, flashy, in-your-face style that is alive and well in Asia. I made screen prints with our logo, and hand-printed each envelope, and every piece of branding. I loved it. I desired to have our clients know that even with our packaging, envelopes and branding we took a hands-on approach. Living in Asia turned him into a coffee drinker he had never liked the taste before. My world was turned into a land of rainbows and unicorns when I first had a hot Vietnamese coffee, he said. Moyer adopted the ritualistic approach to making coffee. Before long he started roasting coffee in 0.7-pound increments with a whirly pop on a stove. When friends began demanding more, Moyer built a five-pound roaster and now has a 10-pound roaster and an online store. My experience as a Buddhist allows me to become acutely aware of my senses and rely on them to see the change in the vapor and smoke, to smell the subtle changes as the beans start their roasting process, to feel the beans lighten as the water is evaporating and the sound of the beans as they start to pop in the cracking process, Moyer said. It is all in a name The opportunity to end up in the celebrity swag bags for Oscar events has launched many brands. Moyer is hoping his brand will take an enormous leap with exposure to a large and powerful audience. But coffee isnt his only venture. Moyer intends to write a book and perhaps a screenplay that would be a fictionalization of his life. While back in Baraboo for the past three years, he has worked with childhood friend Ryan Ramnarace. Ramnarace helps run Lodge Coffee Roaster, and his little sister Keisha Mrotek, who lives in Santa Barbara, does hand-carved designs for the coffee bags. I have known Ryan since I was 3 years old because our moms were best friends and my baby sister is a talented artist. It is like my two worlds have come together, Moyer said. While I have traveled the world and been in the company of celebrities before, it is a unique experience to be invited to something like this living in Baraboo. Teel Plastics of Baraboo was one of six companies to win a Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Award on Thursday. Judges named the longtime local plastics maker the top mid-size manufacturer in the state. Teel serves customers in a variety of industries, including the health care, water management, oil and gas, cosmetics and automotive sectors. Its community involvement, financial stability, operational efficiency and recent growth won raves from judges. I felt we had a good chance, Teel President Tom Thompson said. I feel really good about what weve done at Teel, about the story we have to tell. Winners were honored at a black-tie ceremony in Milwaukee. For 28 years, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce has recognized firms that demonstrate a commitment to business excellence. The success of these companies proves that manufacturing is alive and well and continues to be a pillar of Wisconsins success, said Kevin Heppner, managing partner at Baker Tilly, one of the program sponsors. These manufacturers are the backbone of our economy, and when they are strong, other industries will succeed as well. Thompson said the award provides valuable exposure for Teel, both to potential customers and prospective employees. Itll let more people know about Teel and draw even more business, he said. Theres a lot of advantages. Teel has doubled its net income in three years and plans to add 50 to 70 employees. Its collaborative approach to the design and development of products treating customers as partners has fostered heightened problem-solving, communication and customer satisfaction. Thompson said the award will celebrated throughout the company, from executive offices to the factory floor. They should be very proud of that success, he said. Companies were evaluated by their growth, technological advances, product development, environmental sustainability and operational improvement. Winners were selected among 38 nominees by an independent panel of judges. Wisconsin manufacturers are responsible for sustaining our local economies, said David Krutz, managing partner at Michael Best & Friedrich, another sponsor. Their commitment to quality leadership in their industries and dedication to their teams continues to provide countless opportunities for individuals and families in Wisconsin to prosper. Teel was one of seven firms competing in a category for manufacturers with 100-300 employees. The company has seen considerable growth in demand for custom products, such as laboratory sample bags, and products made via extrusion. The 40 new jobs it added last year pushed its labor force to 258, with further hiring planned for this year. Teel was established in 1951 as Insemikit, and now has three manufacturing facilities in Baraboo. In 2007, Teel broke ground on a 150,000 square-foot headquarters in its 80-acre Gateway Business Park off U.S. Highway 12. Lonnie Sutton Lonnie Leon Sutton, Sr., 95, of Baraboo, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, at St. Clare Meadows Care Center surrounded by his family. He was born on March 18, 1920, in Centerville, Missouri, where knowing how to shoot and hunt was a daily routine if you wanted something on the table for supper. He married Audrey Mae Boettcher and they had six children. After the war they moved to Wisconsin. Lonnie was a veteran of the United States Army serving his country during World War II. He was well known for his trap shooting and coon hunting days. His children will tell you growing up, on a night after a hunt, there was always a line of raccoons on the sidewalk as you entered the home. He always had a deer stand that was above the average with many amenities and hunted until 2015. He always got his tag filled and enjoyed his venison with many a friend. He was a wonderful mechanic and his children will tell you he could fix anything. Lonnie left a legacy to not only his family but to all of the people who knew him. He was a go-to man and could be counted on to help any and all. The saying he would give you the shirt off his back certainly applied to Lonnie. Not that he was not a horse trader when it came to making a deal. Lonnie leaves behind three daughters, Priscilla (Ray) Helms, Lonita Schulze and Janice (Bob) Palmbos; two sons, Lonnie (June) Sutton Jr. and Michael Sutton; 13 grandchildren, Bryan Schepp, Natalie Darby, Blaine Schepp, Mark Melby, Jane Wigen, Ann Allen, Steve Schulze, Beth Ann Chambers, Jayne Platts, Regina Lindner, Tom Sutton, Christina Newell, and Megan Sutton; as well as 29 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; sister, Elisabeth Eudy; son-in-law, Ben Schepp; and friend, Ruth. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Audrey; daughter, Sondra Schepp; brother, Leonard; sisters, Ola, Nola and Bernice; and grandson, Brent Schepp. He led a great, long life and will be missed by his family and friends. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 2, 2016, at Redlin Funeral Home with Pastor Karen Hofstad officiating. Visitation will be held from 11:30 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. Inurnment will follow at Walnut Hill Cemetery, where military rites will be conducted. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at St. Clare Meadows Care Center and St. Clare Hospital. The Redlin Funeral Home is assisting the family. MIDDLETON The Portage Daily Register won second place in the General Excellence category for its work in 2015 and several staff members received individual and team honors, led by reporter Lyn Jerdes first-place award in local government coverage. The awards were received during the Wisconsin Newspapers Associations annual banquet Friday night at the Madison Marriott West in Middleton. Jerde also placed second in environmental reporting. The Daily Registers report on the recovery of a boy who was found locked in a closet in 2007 of a Portage home, emaciated and abused, was cited in two categories, both second-place honors: enterprise/interpretive reporting and best ongoing/extended coverage. The in-depth piece Far From Broken was reported and written by former Daily Register reporters Jen McCoy and Shannon Green. In investigative reporting, the Daily Registers Jonathan Stefonek received second place for his piece on problems at Columbia Correctional Institution. Columnist Erika Gerhardt Obois received honorable mention for her Keeping It Real series of columns, which also are published in the Daily Registers sister publications in Capital Newspapers in Baraboo, Juneau County, Reedsburg, Sauk City and Wisconsin Dells. Im extremely proud of our staff and the high-quality work they produce and these awards are a well-deserved acknowledgement, said Daily Register Editor Kerry Lechner. In addition to the news awards, the Daily Register won first place in best niche publications for the Columbia County Travel Guide and third place in that category for the Honor Our Soldiers section, and an honorable mention for Holiday Happenings in the advertising special section category. The Daily Register competed in the circulation category for daily newspapers up to 9,999. The 2015 Wisconsin Newspaper Association Better Newspaper and Advertising contest was judged by members of the Minnesota Newspaper Association. Daily Citizen staff members earned a number of awards in the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest. The Daily Citizen continues to provide the most thorough news coverage in Dodge County, said general manager Scott Zeinemann. Our staff is dedicated to serving the community in print, on the Internet and through social media. Reporter Ben Rueter earned a first place in the Digital Project Limited Duration or Single Story category for his three-part series Downtown at the Crossroads. The three-part series focusing on Beaver Dams changing downtown was published in November 2014. It had numerous web components including audio interviews, interactive graphics and maps. The series can be found by searching downtown at the crossroads at wiscnews.com/bdc. The series also earned Rueter a honorable mention in the Enterprise/Interpretive Reporting category. Sports Editor Dan Larson earned a second place award in the Sports News Story category for a story that ran June 13-14, 2015 about the Waupun Girls Softball Team winning a state championship semi-final game with a seventh inning rally. Assistant Editor Ken Thomas won a second place in the Local Column category. Editor Aaron Holbrook won a second in Editorial Award. Lifestyles Editor Amanda Lutey won a third in the Feature Story category for Waiting for Justice that ran Oct. 13-14, 2014. The story was about a Randolph woman who is waiting for the outcome of criminal charges against another driver as she recovers from severe injuries from a crash. The Daily Citizen competed in the circulation category for daily newspapers up to 9,999. The 2015 Wisconsin Newspaper Association Better Newspaper and Advertising contest was judged by members of the Minnesota Newspaper Association. In addition, Holbrook became president of the Wisconsin Associated Press Editors Association during a meeting held in conjunction with the WNA convention in Madison. The use of the U.S. military overseas seems to have become so commonplace that the Barack Obama administration can bomb a country with no congressional input and very little media interest at all. Such was the case on Feb. 19, when the U.S. military killed some 49 people in a bombing run near Tripoli, Libya. We had to bomb Libya, we are told, because Libya has become a hotbed of ISIS activity. The group has been moving training facilities into the country, taking advantage of the chaos. Ironically, it was five years ago this week that the Arab Spring uprising began in Libya an uprising that was supported by U.S. military force and led to the overthrow of the Libyan government and the murder of its leader, Muammar Gaddafi. We were told that the U.S. had to intervene to overthrow Gaddafi so that democracy and human rights could flourish, yet five years after the U.S.-led intervention no one would argue that the country is better off. Instead of bringing Libya democracy, U.S. intervention brought Libya ISIS. So now the U.S. has to go back and bomb Libya some more to take care of ISIS. Will this work? No. Logic tells us you cannot do more of what caused a problem and expect it to fix the problem. As Middle East analyst Hillary Mann Leverett observed after last weeks U.S. attack on Libya, the problem is, for each one of these targeted killings, what we have seen in the data is that at least two more people sign up to join. The U.S. has made a habit of lecturing other countries about the need to follow the rule of law, yet this seems to be a matter of do as we say, not as we do. How else can we explain a U.S. attack overseas with no Congressional input? Certainly there was no Congressional authorization for the Feb. 19 bombing. The Administration claimed that its authority came from the 2001 authorization to use military force against al-Qaeda in retaliation for the attacks of 9/11. But ISIS did not even exist on 9/11. How can the 2001 authorization be twisted to include bombing Libya in 2016? Libya has been in chaos since its 2011 liberation, but the countrys interim government strongly objected to the U.S. bombing, claiming they were not consulted before the U.S. attack. They called U.S. air strikes a violation of Libyas sovereignty and of international law. They have a point. But the most important point we must learn from the destruction of Libya and of Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and so on is that U.S. interventionism has been a complete failure. Hundreds of thousands have been killed in the last 15 years, societies have been broken apart, economies have been destroyed, and property has been flattened. There are no success stories. The neocon plan to remake the Middle East has only succeeded in destroying the Middle East. As a consequence, we are far less safe than before the war on terror was launched. ISIS and other terrorist groups have expanded their territory and have even been able to attack in Europe and the U.S. Our currency has been debased to pay for the trillions of dollars spent in this no-win war. The connected elites have gotten rich while the middle class has gotten poorer. Intervention has failed. It is time to stand up to the neocons and their liberal interventionist collaborators and say no more! PORTAGE Looking for a primary care physician who specializes in adults? Have you considered seeing an internist? Similar to a family medicine physician, internists also take a preventive approach to disease and the promotion of health and wellness. The difference is that internists specialize in the care of patients 18 or older. Now you may be wondering if any adult can see an Internist, and the answer is yes. Deciding who you can choose for a primary care physician may be confusing, but like family physicians, internists are there to care for patients from regular office visits and check-ups to more complex health issues. Internist Dr. Adriana Arguello has joined Divine Savior Healthcares primary care provider team. She provides the following care and services: acute and chronic medical problems health maintenance, screenings management of multiple problems and medications multiple disease processes and pharmacology long term relationships with patients Like the other generalists specialties, internists arrange consultations with other physicians and conduct preoperative evaluations for surgical colleagues. Arguello joined Divine Savior in 2015, providing new internal medicine services to patients in the community. I chose internal medicine because I was interested in caring for the acute and chronic illnesses seen in adults, she said. I was (and I always will be) attracted to the intellectual challenge of providing comprehensive care to many patients. I have had the opportunity to participate in the continuity of care of my patients and to stress the importance of prevention as the key to maintain health and well-being. Arguello stressed the importance of preventative care in the work she does every day and gives us insight on one of her favorite topics, diabetes. Diabetes does not define people, she said. Going forward, the word diabetic will no longer be used when referring to individuals with diabetes in the Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes. The term diabetic should be used as an adjective for complications related to diabetes (e.g., diabetic retinopathy). Every year the American Diabetes Association publishes a guideline intended to provide general treatment goals, and tools to evaluate the quality of care. The ADA revised the screening recommendations, and the recommendation is now to test all adults beginning at age 45, regardless of weight. Testing is also recommended for asymptomatic adults of any age who are overweight or obese and who have one or more additional risk factors for diabetes (cigarette smoking, hypertension, obesity, albuminuria, dyslipidemia, or a family history of CHD). The ADA also recommend to consider aspirin therapy in women 50 and older (before, the cutoff was 60). A recommendation was also added to address antiplatelet use in patients aged 50 years with multiple risk factors (cigarette smoking, hypertension, obesity, albuminuria, dyslipidemia, or a family history of CHD). Heres what Arguello recommends for those with diabetes: Adults with diabetes should perform at least 150 minutes each week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity (5070 percent of maximum heart rate), spread over at least three days per week with no more than two consecutive days without exercise. All individuals, including those with diabetes, should be encouraged to reduce sedentary time, particularly by breaking up extended amounts of time (90 minutes) spent sitting. In the absence of contraindications, adults with type 2 diabetes should be raged to perform resistance training at least twice per week. Portage hasnt seen the last of Penny Kiefer. Shell still be selling cards and calling numbers at the Portage Kiwanis Clubs Columbia County Fair bingo games. Shell still be dishing up food, and greeting guests by name, at Portages monthly Sharing Suppers. She still plans to hold onto her many community commitments and activities. She just wont be wearing her blue serge police uniform. After almost 38 years with the Portage Police Department as a dispatcher, as the departments first female patrol officer and as a patrol lieutenant Kiefer is stepping down from the Portage Police Department. Nobody wishes it werent so more than Kiefer. An injury that she sustained 15 months ago has made it impossible for her to continue, according to Kiefer. She said she fell down during an ambulance call on Nov. 29, 2014, and in January underwent surgery on her rotator cuff and bicep. At a recent marksmanship test, she said, she couldnt qualify to remain a police officer. I couldnt keep the gun up for one-handed shooting, she said. Police Chief Ken Manthey said Kiefers last day on the job, which is today, will proceed without fanfare or a farewell party, because thats the way she wants it. Kiefer, according to Manthey, is not one to call attention to herself. Penny has a servants heart, he said. She has devoted her entire adult life to serving others. Any count of the ways that Kiefer has served Portage is bound to be incomplete. Manthey offers a partial retrospective: Leading one of Wisconsins most active TRIAD/SALT (Seniors and Law Enforcement working Together) organizations, offering older people education on topics such as identify theft, scams and other law enforcement issues. Making blankets, hats and mitten for law enforcement and Health and Human Services workers to give to children who suffer abuse; she also makes sure that each squad car has teddy bears, blankets and books for children caught in tough law enforcement situations, such as witnessing a crime. Taking charge of the PPDs annual open house. Serving as the PPDs liaison to the Salvation Army, which helps her secure vouchers for people in need. Serving as the departments liaison for the Columbia County Coordinated Community Response to Domestic Abuse Coalition. Overseeing the departments annual bike rodeo, where youngsters practice safe riding skills, get free helmets and get their bikes serviced for free. Serving on the board of the Columbia County Aging and Disability Resource Center, and working with ABC Connections to help seniors get access to the services they need. Representing the department on the Columbia County Highway Safety Commission, which meets quarterly to address hazardous road situations. Participating, from her teen years, in Kiwanis starting with the Portage High School Key Club and continuing today with the Portage Family Skate Park project. Participating in the citys current efforts to create a dementia-friendly community. Volunteering at Portages monthly free Sharing Suppers. Plans for future Ask Kiefer what the next chapter of her life holds, and shell say she knows just one thing for sure. I need to work, she said. Im looking for something where I can have a lot of contact with the public. I want to be out working with the public in some way, shape or form. She said shes had offers and suggestions from many friends, but doesnt yet know which opportunity will turn out to be the path shell follow. One thing Kiefer said shed like: To have free time in the summer to spend with her two granddaughters. Manthey said he expects Kiefer will continue with many of her activities to serve the community that shes called home all her life. Big shoes to fill Meanwhile, however, the department needs a new patrol lieutenant. Manthey said the citys Police and Fire Commission is advertising for the post, and he expects there will be many able candidates, both from within the PPD and from outside. But none of them will, in the strictest sense of the word, replace Kiefer. She is leaving some big shoes to fill in our department, he said. Karl W. Wenzel Karl W. Wenzel of Pardeeville went home to be with his Lord Jesus Christ on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. Karl was born July 9, 1930, in Sauk City, the son of William and Elsie (Post) Wenzel. His first seven years of public school was in a one-room country school near Witwen. In 1943, the family moved to Pardeeville and in 1948, he graduated from Pardeeville High School. After graduating from high school, he attended Madison Business College and went on to be an auditor with the Office Inspector General, U.S. Department of Agriculture and later with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. On May 27, 1949, he was united in marriage to Donna J. Barden at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pardeeville. After working in Indiana and Illinois for several years, Karl transferred to Wisconsin and lived on a farm near Pardeeville. He was an active member of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pardeeville, where he served in various positions. He also was on several local boards and committees serving the community where he lived. He was especially proud to have served 25 years on the Board of Directors of the Adams Columbia Electric Cooperative. During this time, he had the opportunity to serve on several state and national committees and boards associated with the rural electric program. In his retirement, he enjoyed playing his clarinet in the Friesland Community Band for over 30 years. Karl is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Donna, of Pardeeville; son, Steven (Trish) Wenzel of rural Pardeeville; daughter, Karla (Dennis) Rohbeck of rural Pardeeville; and son, Dr. William (Denise) Wenzel of rural Baraboo; nine grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Kenneth; and sister-in-law, Jane. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pardeeville, with the Rev. William Runke officiating. Interment will follow at Comstock Cemetery in the town of Marcellon. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Grasse Funeral Home in Pardeeville. Visitation will also be from 10 a.m. until the time of services Tuesday at the church. Grasse Funeral Service of Pardeeville (www.grassefs.com) is serving the family. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page A pregnant woman in LA has been confirmed to be carrying the Zika virus, which could affect the birth of her child Has Zika virus traveled to the United States? A pregnant woman in Los Angeles who had been traveling abroad tested positive for the Zika virus after returning home. While Zika exhibits no symptoms, it is likely that infected mothers will give birth to babies suffering from a defect that results in an abnormally small head. According to the Los Angeles Times, this is the second confirmed case of Zika virus in the country. In both cases, the infected person had been traveling outside the country and then returned home with the virus. In late January, the first case was reported. A young girl from Los Angeles Country became infected after returning home from El Salvador in November. The virus causes no symptoms and is not a danger in and of itself. However, pregnant women who contract the virus have a high risk of microephaly, a birth defect that causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads. Such cases have been studied at length in Brazil. Zike virus has begin to spread to other countries in the Americas, so authorities are recommending that pregnant women postpone travel, especially to infected areas, until their baby is born. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has also advised travelers take caution when in other countries with regards to mosquitos and mosquito bites, as Zike is typically transferred via mosquito bites. People can reduce the spread of Aedes mosquitos by eliminating sits around their homes where mosquitos may breed by getting rid of containers and any other sites where water may collect and mosquitos lay their eggs, officials said in the news release. Samsung has its eyes on acquiring a part of Tidal, the music streaming company bought in 2015 by music mogul Jay Z and partners. Although its current value is estimated at $100 million, and is worth nearly double the $56 million purchase price, Tidal is said to be experiencing pressure. According to thenet.org, a financial [] Samsung has its eyes on acquiring a part of Tidal, the music streaming company bought in 2015 by music mogul Jay Z and partners. Although its current value is estimated at $100 million, and is worth nearly double the $56 million purchase price, Tidal is said to be experiencing pressure. According to thenet.org, a financial partnership with a company of Samsungs magnitude would help it a lot. Talks had previously stalled but, Samsung has reengaged, the negotiations. However, neither Tidal or Samsung would confirm the validity of the negotiations. Samsung would only say it is their policy not to comment on rumors or speculation. Part owners of Tidal include, music artists, Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, J. Cole and Madonna. All have declined to publicly comment about a possible hook up with Samsung. Apparently, Samsung is not the only corporation interested in the Tidal acquisition. Supposedly, Google and Spotify are also courting Tidal in hopes of teaming together. However, Samsung may be a top contender due to its long standing relationship with Jay Z. Samsung reportedly sponsored Rihannas ANTI campaign and tour for $25 million. It also previously partnered with Jigga on Magna Carta Holy Grail. That sponsorship was $20 million, and the Korean tech company also paid $5 million to give away copies of the Magna Carta Holy Grail album, to one million subscribers of a certain series of Samsung phones, a full three days before it officially went on sale. Although it may be seeking a financial partner to help it along, the streaming service has garnered huge success from Rihannas ANTI. Tidals subscriptions also doubled with the release of Kanye Wests The Life of Pablo. Jay Zs company acquired Tidal from Aspiro for last year. Windscreen Damaged After Male Jumped On & Walked Over Vehicle This article is old - Published: Friday, Feb 26th, 2016 A windscreen has been damaged after a male was seen jumping onto the vehicle yesterday evening. The incident took place at a car park of a supermarket in the Crescent Road area of Wrexham at around 6:40pm on Thursday 25th February. Offenders were seen pushing trolleys into cars on the car park, with one male jumping and walking over a vehicle. The windscreen of a grey/silver Nissan Qashqai has been left with a cracked windscreen as a result of the incident. If you saw anything suspicious, or have any information relating to this incident please contact North Wales Police by dialling 101 quoting the reference number RC16027666. Alternatively, you can provide information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers Wales telephone 0800 555 111. In a filing Thursday, US tech giant Apple laid out its case against a court order to bypass the security features of a phone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters. The company claims that its First Amendment rights are being violated and accuses the government of attempting to conscript the company into spying on the population, a move it called unprecedented. While government officials have claimed that the court order is narrowly focused only on Syed Farooks phone, in reality the case has been seized upon by the federal government to renew its offensive against encryption technology, which it views as an intolerable restraint on its spying powers. Even the San Bernardino police chief has admitted to the press that Farooks iPhone, a work phone issued to him by the county, probably contains nothing of any value. This is not a case about one isolated iPhone. the court document filed by Apple reads. Rather, this case is about the Department of Justice and the FBI seeking through the courts a dangerous power that Congress and the American people have withheld: the ability to force companies like Apple to undermine the basic security and privacy interests of hundreds of millions of individuals around the globe. Apple lawyers accused US officials of lying by claiming that the court order is limited in scope. The government says: Just this once and Just this phone. But the government knows those statements are not true, the filing states. If this order is permitted to stand, it will only be a matter of days before some other prosecutor, in some other important case, before some other judge, seeks a similar order using this case as precedent. Once the floodgates open, they cannot be closed. Apple revealed in an earlier filing on Tuesday that it is facing requests from the US Justice Department to unlock twelve other phones. Apple CEO Tim Cook defended the companys position in an interview with ABC News, arguing that the FBI was asking it to develop the software equivalent of cancer. This case is about the future. Can the government compel Apple to write software that we believe would make hundreds of millions of customers vulnerable around the world? Government claims of restraint are further belied by the fact, reported by the New York Times on the same day as Apples filing, that the Obama administration is planning to make it easier for the National Security Administration to share communications gleaned from dragnet surveillance with other spy agencies. The move would relax previous internal restrictions on sharing raw, unprocessed data containing the names and personal information of US citizens which the NSA is, at least in theory, required to scrub before passing along to other agencies such as the FBI or CIA. The new system would permit analysts at other intelligence agencies to obtain direct access to raw information from the N.S.A.s surveillance to evaluate for themselves, the Times wrote. The move exposes as a fraud the cosmetic reforms of government spying, billed as restraining the size and scope of dragnet surveillance, that were enacted after the revelations by Edward Snowden in 2013. Moreover, the administration reserves the right to make these proposed rule changes secret. Robert Litt, the general counsel for the Director of National Intelligence, declined to provide the Times with a copy of the proposed rule changes and declared that they would only be released to the extent consistent with national security. Apples opposition to the court ruling, based on the 18th century All Writs Act, is motivated by business considerations. The company has made clear that it is perfectly willing to work with the government in providing data, including the massive amount of information stored in iCloud backups. It is concerned that a public requirement that it program a backdoor to its security features will severely undermine its customer base, both in the US and internationally. A group of major technology firms including Facebook, Google and Twitter plan to file amicus curiae briefs in support of Apples court case. While Microsoft has not announced whether it will file an amicus brief, Microsoft president Brad Smith told a congressional hearing yesterday that the company wholeheartedly supports Apple in its court fight. However, Microsoft founder Bill Gates came out publicly on the side of the FBI in a recent interview with the Financial Times . This is a specific case where the government is asking for access to information, Gates told the leading newspaper of world finance. It is no different than [the question of] should anybody ever have been able to tell the phone company to get information, should anybody be able to get at bank records. Gates later partially walked back his statements after they produced a public backlash. However, given that not only Microsoft but all of the corporations planning to file amicus briefs, in addition to Apple itself, have cooperated for years with other government spying initiatives, as revealed by Edward Snowden, no confidence can be placed in their ability or willingness to carry out a defense of their customers basic democratic right to privacy. The political and media establishment continued to press for Apple to back down from their legal challenge. Thursdays Republican presidential debate provided the occasion for bellicose rhetoric directed at the multinational corporation, with Marco Rubio declaring that Apples brand is not superior to the United States of America. Washington Post columnist David Ignatius penned a column on Wednesday that argued that Apple is fighting a futile battle that would erode both privacy protections and global market share [of US technology companies]. The real aim of the governments burgeoning surveillance apparatus is not terrorism, but incipient social opposition to the policies of the ruling class. As the United States prepares for a massive escalation of military violence, it is at the same time intensifying the assault on democratic rights at home. A week-long strike by several hundred workers at a stainless steel factory in Guangzhou, southern China, ended on Wednesday after riot police were called and the workers were threatened with arrest. The strike, which closed the factory of 2,000 workers, highlights the growing resistance of Chinese workers to attacks on jobs, wages and conditions. The industrial action broke out at Ansteel Lianzhong Stainless Steel, which is one of the top three suppliers of stainless steel in China, with a capacity of two million tonnes per year. The workers demanded redundancy payments and a new contract after the company announced on February 15 it would institute a performance-based pay system that would have significantly reduced workers pay. The union covering the factory, part of the state-run All China Trade Union Federation, agreed to the deal without the consent of workers. As the strike developed, a large number of police wearing riot gear arrived with buses for mass arrests and blocked the factory gates. On the third day of the stoppage, the strikers rejected a union offer to return to the previous wage system. One worker told the Chinese Labour Bulletin: How can we trust the company now? How do we know they wont do these things again? On Tuesday this week, the police issued a notice declaring the strike illegal and warning of arrests, saying the workers had been incited and seduced. The company gave written warnings to 100 workers. At the same time, the management agreed to abandon the new pay system and offered a temporary bonus of 100 yuan ($US15) per day for those who resumed work. Workers returned to their jobs the following day. The factory opened in 2006 with, according to the companys web site, the worlds most advanced cutting edge technology. It is the only integrated stainless steel facility in southern China. The plant, however, has failed to make sufficient profits and last year its owner, the Taiwan-based E United Group, sold a controlling stake to Chinas state-owned Ansteel Group. The new owner started with layoffs and enforced annual leave, paid at 80 percent of the statutory minimum wage of 1,895 yuan ($295) per month. A worker, quoted in the Washington Post, said: You just cant live in Guangzhou on the money they are paying if you were to get a bowl and beg under the overpass, you would earn more. The strike at Lianzhong is part of a rising tide of industrial disputes across China. The China Labour Bulletin, which tracks the limited publicly-available information, reported 503 strikes in January. That was a sharp increase from 421 strikes last December, which was itself part of a rising trend. There were 2,774 strikes and protests during 2015, compared with 567 for all of 2011 and 2012 combined. Most conflicts are over non-payment of wages, a practice now spreading from the construction industry to manufacturing, mining and services. Mass layoffs throughout the steel and coal industries are now government policy. The State Council, Chinas equivalent of a government cabinet, announced a plan in January to shed a million jobs over three years. Before the announcement, Ernan Cui, a Beijing-based researcher at Gavekal Dragonomics, suggested: [I]t is not implausible that these two sectors [coal and steel] could lay off one million workers in 2016. These job cuts come on top of an estimated 1.44 million jobs lost in those industries since 2013, eliminating many of the jobs created in the Beijing governments stimulus-driven boom following the 2008 global financial breakdown. To deal with the proposed layoffs, the government has announced it will set aside 30 billion yuan ($US4.6 billion) for training and job seeking over the next two years. Beijing fears a mass movement of the working class in reaction to its program of austerity and further pro-market restructuring. The cuts in steel and coal are part of a government move against so-called state-owned zombie companies, which have millions of employees but are not generating profits. Yang Weimin, deputy director of the Office of the Central Leading Group on Financial and Economic Affairs, told a forum in Beijing last year: The pain is inevitable, but it is a necessary part of the leaderships shift to supply-side reform next year. Supply-side reform is the term used for attempts to reduce overcapacity in key industries which is driving down prices and profits. In the case of steel, China produces over 800 million tonnes per year, or almost 50 percent of world output. Prices for steel products have halved since 2013 on the back of a world glut, with global production running at only 69.7 percent of capacity. Last year, Chinese steel companies lost 64.5 billion yuan, more than double the 22.6 billion yuan in profits they had made in 2014. The situation is similar in coal mining. World prices have dropped by half from their peak in 2011. The China Coal Industry Association estimates that more than 90 percent of Chinese operators are running at a loss. China has 11,000 coal mines, capable of producing 5.2 billon tonnes per year, according to the Xinhua news agency, but produced only 3.2 billion tonnes last year. One of the Ansteel Lianzhong Stainless Steel strikers, quoted by the Washington Post, summed up the prospects confronting Chinese workers. I thought if I could keep working hard, I could get a decent job and have my kid with me. My dream is just to be together with my family. But now even that dream is clouded with uncertainty. While the riot police ultimately were not used in this strike, the Beijing regime is on a collision course with the working class as it seeks to impose the burden of the global slump on workers, pay off mounting debts and maintain profitable returns for investors. Since Jason Dalton, a 45-year-old insurance adjuster and Uber cab driver, randomly opened fire on eight people, killing six, in multiple locations in Kalamazoo, Michigan last weekend, at least three additional mass killings have occurred in the US. Shootings in Kansas, Washington state and Arizona have resulted in the deaths of 14 people. On Thursday evening, Cedric Larry Ford, 38, went on a shooting spree, killing three people and injuring fourteen others in an area approximately 35 miles north of Wichita, Kansas. The attack ended when Ford was killed by police after he opened fire inside the Excel Industries lawn equipment factory in Hesston, where he was employed in the paint shop. According to the official police account, the shooting spree began around 5 p.m. when Ford fired on two vehicles at an intersection in the city of Newton, injuring one of the drivers. He then drove towards Hesston, opening fire on oncoming vehicles until he and another motorist crashed in a ditch. Ford proceeded to shoot the other driver in the leg and drove his vehicle to the Excel factory, where he carried out the assault on fellow employees. Workers described a scene of confusion as Ford, armed with an AK-47 assault rifle and a hand gun, first shot an employee in the Excel parking lot and then entered the factory. He fired on those in the front office area of the facility, killing three people and wounding 12 others. I heard some popping noises, but I thought it was just a drill, Tim Kasper, a laser operator, told the Wichita Eagle. Then I heard a three-round burst and I knew it was something real. I got out of there quick. People were running and panicking. It was chaos. Kasper reported that his friend and coworker, with whom he had just been chatting, was killed after being shot in the head by Ford. Its pretty unnerving, Kasper stated. Things can change fast. It was just a normal day before that. Jason Hershberger, a worker on the plants mower assembly line, recounted to the Wichita Eagle how he and other workers placed a fellow worker who had been shot in the back by Ford onto a wooden pallet and drove the worker out of the factory on a motorized cart. The attack ended approximately half an hour after it began when a Hesston police officer opened fire on Ford, killing him inside the factory. According to police, Fords rampage began after he had been served with a protection of abuse order requiring him to stay away from his girlfriend, who had accused him of assault. In a petition for the restraining order filed in Sedgwick County court on February 5, a woman who described herself as Fords live-in girlfriend, described how Ford had placed her in a chokehold after an argument. He is an alcoholic, violent, depressed, she wrote. Its my belief he is in desperate need of medical & psychological help! Photos apparently posted by Ford on Facebook show him posing with a handgun and an AK-47. A video posted on social media shows Ford firing dozens of rounds from an AK-47 into an empty cornfield. Ford, originally from Miami, Florida, had a long history of encounters with the police and criminal convictions dating from the time he was a teenager. When he was 18 years old, Ford was charged with carrying a concealed firearm. Over the next several years of his life Ford was convicted on charges of battery, drug possession, grand theft and multiple parole violations. He received a misdemeanor conviction for engaging in a brawl in 2008. Mass shootings happen with such regularity that the horror in Kansas was met by a perfunctory statement from President Barack Obama warning that Americans cannot become numb to such violence. On Friday, police in Belfair, Washington responded to a 911 emergency call from a man who reported that he had killed his family. According to the police, the man shot and killed himself after hours of negotiations. When police entered the home, they found the man and four of his victims. A twelve-year-old girl survived the attack and was taken to a local hospital. A neighbor told the Associated Press that he heard gunshots the previous night. He also told the press that his neighbor had operated a heating and air conditioning contractor business. Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, 26-year-old Alex Buckner was shot and killed by police in Phoenix, Arizona after shooting and killing his father, mother and two sisters and setting their home on fire. Buckner had previously been arrested for public intoxication and shoplifting sleeping pills. A family member told the Arizona Republic that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. According to the Gun Violence Archive, so far this year there have been 34 mass shootings, defined as incidents in which more than four people have either been killed or injured by a person with a firearm. At least 51 people have been killed and a further 135 injured in such incidents. Another count by the Gun Violence Archive found at least 191 incidents in which at least one person was injured or killed by gunfire so far this year. That such mass shootings and killings take place with such regularity in the United States is a reflection of a society riven by economic inequality and mired in a deepening social crisis, compounded by endless cuts in welfare programs and mental health services. The mounting social contradictions of American society, amplified by a sclerotic, right-wing and antidemocratic political system and the absence of any mass organizations that speak for working and oppressed people, leads highly vulnerable and psychologically damaged individuals to crack and resort to irrational individual violence directed against themselves as well as others. Asia Korean airline pilots vote for strike Unionised pilots at Korean Air, South Koreas flagship airline, overwhelmingly voted last week for strike action in a dispute over a new work agreement. Korean Air claimed that the vote was illegal, citing technical reasons. Korean Pilots Union (KPU) and the New Korean Air Pilot Union members are demanding a 37 percent pay increase. The company has offered just 1.9 percent. A KPU spokesman said pilots pay had been suppressed for several years. The average annual salary of 2,340 local pilots at Korean Air is around 100 million won (US$81,000), far lower than at Chinese airlines, which pay 200300 million won. According to the unions, last year 140 pilots left to join other companies in China and the Middle East on salaries up to three times higher. Last time Korean Air pilots walked out was in 2005 when they struck for four-days over inadequate rest breaks on long-haul cargo flights. South Korean food delivery drivers maintain five-month strike Forty contract delivery drivers for the food processing company Pulmuone, have been on strike since last September to demand a fee increase and union recognition from subcontractors Daewon and Seoul Garam Logistics. The drivers own their vehicles and are members of the Korean TruckSol union, a unit of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU). They claim to have not had a fee increase for 20 years. The KCTU has kept the strike isolated while the International Transport Workers Federation and International Union of Food, Agricultural and Hospitality Workers issued a series of bogus appeals for negotiations with Pulmoune. Cambodian garment workers walk out Around 2,000 workers from the Malaysian-owned Global Apparels garment factory in Phnom Penh walked out on Wednesday and demonstrated outside the factory after management said it would be axing 500 jobs in the coming months. A spokesman from the Collective Union of Movement of Workers said that 100 jobs were recently eliminated after the company decided not to renew fixed-term contracts. Workers demanded that the 100 sacked workers be reinstated and that all fixed-term contracts be renewed when they expire. It is common for factories not to renew short-term contracts before a worker reaches two years of employment in order to avoid paying termination entitlements. Pakistani paramedics protest over arrests Paramedics at Chandka Medical College Hospital in Larkana, Sindh province, boycotted duties on Monday to protest the arrest of health workers who had been demonstrating against alleged corruption and mismanagement. The peaceful demonstrations against the medical superintendent were forcefully ended by the paramilitary Rangers, a section of the military, who arrested about 50 demonstrators. Paramedical Staff Association members demanded the release of the detained workers. The hospital outpatients department was closed during the strike. The Pakistani government is increasingly using the military against protesting workers. Earlier this month the police and paramilitary attacked Pakistan International Airlines workers in Karachi, killing two strikers and injuring a dozen more. Hyderabad water utility workers strike Hyderabad Development Authority Employees Union members closed the citys water filtration plant for six hours on Wednesday in protest against non-payment of their monthly salaries and other benefits. The plant supplies Hyderabad with 30 million gallons of water per day. An official from the Water and Sanitary Agency met union officials and assured them that finances to cover five months wages and the pensions of retired workers had been allocated by the Sindh government. Workers have threatened to close down all reservoirs if their wages are not paid. India: Rajasthan judicial workers strike called off A nine-day strike by 13,500 employees at subordinate courts in Rajasthan was called off on Tuesday after the state government and the Rajasthan Judicial Employees Union reached agreement on most of the workers demands. All subordinate courts (courts below the high court) were unable to proceed with hearings during the strike. The workers had walked out on February 15 over 19 claims. Their main demand was for pay increases and promotions recommended by the Shetty commission and agreed by the Supreme Court in 2010. Telangana school noon-meal workers protest For the second time this month, noon-meal workers in Nizamabad, Telangana demonstrated outside the Collectors office on February 22 over several demands. The workers want the minimum wage, immediate payment of six months outstanding salaries, job permanency and for the government to pay agency bills on time. Workers also complained that the rate paid by the government for each school child was insufficient, forcing the noon-meal workers to run their services on borrowed money from loan sharks. Kerala veterinary workers strike Around 1,400 veterinary surgeons across Kerala walked out on an indefinite strike on Monday demanding rectification of anomalies in the Pay Commission recommendations. The Kerala Government Veterinary Officers Association, which is affiliated to the Indian Veterinary Association, organised demonstrations at all district headquarters. The veterinary surgeons want restoration of pay parity with allopathy doctors. They said parity was removed a few years ago, then made worse by the Pay Commission recommendations which have further reduced their pay. Australia and the Pacific Queensland Catholic school teachers walk out More than 8,500 teachers in over 240 Catholic schools in Queensland struck for 24 hours on Thursday over a proposed new work agreement. The Independent Education Union (IEU) and the Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC) have been in negotiations over a new enterprise agreement since April last year. The QCEC has offered a 2.5 percent pay increase but the union wants a 3.25 percent rise and for the commission to address long-standing pay disparities between Catholic schools in New South Wales and Queensland. A union representative told the media that some teachers in Queenslands Catholic schools are paid $6,792 a year less than their New South Wales colleagues. Other issues include workload, preparation time and multimedia work. Thursdays strike was the eighth stop-work action since the middle of last year. Rallies were held in cities across the state, with about 1,000 demonstrating in Brisbane. The teachers have also banned some administrative work. Teachers in Mackay will stop work for the day on March 1. Australian pharmacists stop work Pharmacists employed by National Pharmacies in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia walked off the job for an hour on Tuesday in a dispute over a new enterprise agreement. According to their union, the Professional Pharmacists Australia, the company wants to slash Saturday penalty rates and introduce a two-tiered wage scheme. The union claims that this will lower pay for new pharmacists by $4 an hour. Currently, pharmacy graduates receive a median starting annual salary of $44,300, the lowest of all graduate salaries. While negotiations are continuing, the union has threatened to call 24-hour stoppages if the deadlock is not resolved. New Caledonia nickel smelter workers strike SLN nickel workers in the French Pacific island colony of New Caledonia went on strike on February 19 after management announced possible job losses, which they claim were due to a slump in the price of nickel. Production at the smelter in Noumea has ceased. The main union on site said that while no dismissals have been announced about $US6 million will be cut from salary allocations, which could mean 150 jobs cut. Nickel is New Caledonias principal export earner. The announcement comes one month after the Queensland Nickel refinery in Australia was put into voluntary administration, directly threatening the jobs of almost 800 refinery workers. Queensland Nickel takes all of New Caledonias nickel. The New Caledonian government has officially declared a crisis in the industry. This allows for the release of money from the countrys Nickel Fund, which was established in 2009 to help assist mining companies maintain profits and cope with a crisis. Thomas Rauscher, the right-wing professor at the University of Leipzig, has met with opposition from both students and faculty. Both the student council and the teaching staff of the law department have published statements that sharply criticize racist remarks by the professor. The university management has also distanced itself from Rauscher. Since November, Rauscher, who occupies the chair for private international law, has been posting openly racist tirades against refugees and migrants several times a week on the social media site Twitter. On January 11, he wrote: What does not belong together cannot be reconciled. Europe to the Europeans. Africa to the Africans. Arabia to the Arabs. Twelve days earlier, he called for a cultural war against dark skinned people: It is natural to defend oneself when ones own culture is in decline. The fearful white man should take up arms! In response to the events on New Years Eve in Cologne, he combined social chauvinism and obnoxious racism by denouncing Banlieue hordes from Maghreba reference to the African migrants living in impoverished Parisian suburbs. On New Years Day, he had already accused all Muslims of terrorism and warned about the destruction of Germany, writing, There is no peaceful Islam. Jihad is the task of these people. Germany will destroy itself with well-meaning confusion. Rauschers hatred for refugees knows no bounds. Referring to the thousands of refugees drowned in the Mediterranean, he wrote about a dinghy nightmare that should be countered by 50 patrol ships. He compares his critics with Nazis and with the Inquisition, who practiced thought control. As a non-homosexual man over 50 he sees himself in a role similar to coloured people in the US in the past. Rauscher repeatedly solidarizes himself with extreme right-wingers such as the Alternative for Germany politician Bjorn Hocke and the Pegida group in Dresden. JE SUIS PEGIDA! [I am/am a follower of Pegida], he tweeted in January 2015, shortly after the attacks on the newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris. He has repeatedly demanded the resignation of the German chancellor, whom he accuses of destroying Germany. Student representatives of the law department at the University of Leipzig referred to some of these tweets in a Facebook post on February 1. Since then, opposition to the racist professor has been forming among students and staff at the university. Johannes Tunger from the student council in Leipzig told the WSWS: After we found out about Rauschers Twitter posts, we immediately sat down together and decided to publish a statement. We have made our position clear, that these claims are incorrect because they oppose the open world view we stand for. In the statement, the student representatives explain that Rauschers positions contradict their guiding principles. The student council stands for a university that is open to the world in a pluralistic, solidly united society, it says. The student council representative for anti-racism, Marcus Adler, sees a connection between Rauschers propaganda and the growth in xenophobic violence: Anyone who, in the time of increased racist attacks on refugees, migrants and asylum lodgings, makes a call on social networks on the Internet for the defence of the white man is on the same level, at least ideologically, as the people who carry out these acts. That Professor Thomas Rauscher holds the post of foreign affairs officer in the law faculty is simply cynical. Tunger also sees a direct connection between the strengthening of right-wing extreme parties and organizations such as Pegida and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the openly right-wing behaviour of the professor. That is no longer a single case, he said. He identifies nationalist tendencies in other parties, but thinks that the AfD is the sharpest expression of this development. The academic staff of the law faculty have joined the students and also published a statement on the racist claims of the professor. It reads: The social responsibility of the universities obliges us in current socio-political debates such as the one on the refugee issue to discuss in a respectful and factual manner and refrain from broad generalizations. Therefore, we decisively oppose every form of xenophobia and intolerance. Professors in other departments have not responded to Rauschers statements. The university management has said it regrets his statements and is decisively against intolerant and xenophobic ideas. At the same time, it says that it will not take further action against the racist professor: As long as he speaks as a private person, however, we have to live with it. Rauschers inhumane and xenophobic tirades are not new. When he ran as a Free Democratic Party candidate for parliament in 2013, he declared: When one can no longer expel illegal (refugees) without do-gooders protesting, then that is the occupation of the EU by Roma and refugees. Rauscher says that he is politically close to the Christian Social Union party (CSU), while, with regard to economic policy, he still supports the neo-liberal FDP. His current radicalisation is an expression of a basic tendency. There is a new right-wing current developing in German academic circles, which is increasingly loud and represents the re-emergence of the most reactionary traditions of thought in Germany. The philosopher Peter Sloterdijk accuses the government of abandoning the country to being swamped by yielding up sovereignty. His intellectual apprentice Marc Jongen, who teaches at the State University of Design (HfG) in Karlsruhe, is deputy state chairman of the AfD in Baden-Wurttemberg and is drawing up the philosophical foundation for a right-wing extremist party based on the nostrums of Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger and Carl Schmitt. The Goethe and Heidegger biographer Rudiger Safranski accuses the government of infantile unworldliness on account of its refugee policy and demands the cordoning off of German borders. He denies that human dignity is inviolable and speaks in favour of a strong state that would oppose the dominance of Muslim immigrants. Professors at the Humboldt University in Berlin have played a pioneering role in the shift to the right at universities. Jorg Baberowski, chair of the Department of Eastern European History, downplays the crimes of the Nazis in his historical writings and regularly propagandizes against refugees in interviews and newspaper articles. He claims that refugees are disrupting the very continuity of Germany. In his newest book, Spaces of Violence, he pleads for police state measures and war. The political scientist Herfried Munkler claims that Germany must become the taskmaster and the hegemon of Europe. He repeatedly advocates new wars and military interventions all over the globe. He has also spoken disparagingly about refugees. The cause of this shift to the right in sections of the intelligentsia and the formation of right-wing networks is to be found in the extreme sharpening of the social and political situation. The return of German militarism and growing social inequality in Europe are meeting with opposition in broad layers of the population. Carrying such policies demands not only authoritarian measures, but also ideologies that prepare and justify them. Anti-enlightenment and irrationalist ideas, with all their reactionary consequences, are coming to the fore once again, just as they did prior to the First and Second World Wars. This is why it is significant that students are increasingly standing up against such right-wing tendencies and figures at German universities. Jongen has encountered just as much opposition at HfG as his Islamophobe party colleague Hans-Thomas Tillschneider at the University of Bayreuth. At Dresden Technical University, students have distributed fliers against the Pegida sympathizer Professor Werner Patzelt. However, protesting students at other universities are quite often subjected to repression from academic departments and the university management. When students at Rostock University criticized teachers in the history department, such as Professor Egon Flaig, because of their right-wing extremist and anti-Islamic positions, the university pressed charges. The press officer at the university, Ulrich Vetter, announced legal action in an exclusive interview with the far-right newspaper Junge Freiheit . When the students behind the Munkler-Watch blog and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) criticized Professors Munkler and Baberowski last year, leading bourgeois newspapers throughout Germany stepped into the fray. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Der Spiegel, the Suddeutsche Zeitung and others defamed the critical students and defended the right-wing professors. Rauscher was also among those who attacked the students. Because students published the Munkler-Watch blog anonymously, he declared their right to freedom of opinion null and void. The authors of this blog earn for their cowardice the common disdain of the academic world. However, what should one expect from a world in which values such as freedom and openness, in which secret denouncers are celebrated as whistle blowers, wrote Rauscher on the online portal of the FAZ . It is therefore all the more significant that faculty and students at the University of Leipzig are opposing Rauscher and are no longer prepared to tolerate his right-wing tirades. Senior military figures made an extraordinary intervention this week to demand that the UK remains a member of the European Union. The call came just days after Prime Minister David Cameron announced that a referendum on British membership of the EU would go ahead June 23. The 13 officials include four former heads of the armed forces, as well as two former heads of the army and two of the navy. Also signing was General Sir Richard Shirreff, the former Deputy NATO Commander. The signatories boast, [W]e have led the Royal Navy, Army, and Royal Air Force, or held other senior positions in the military. We have served around the world and in almost every conflict in which Britain has been engaged since the Second World War. The commanders have served in France, Aden, Malaysia, East Africa, Falklands, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Iraq, the Caribbean, Germany and Cyprus. Their letter states, We are particularly concerned with one central question: will Britain be safer inside the EU or outside it? The 13 state bluntly that their main concern is that a Brexit (British exit) from the EU would jeopardise the United States-led NATO alliance and its agenda of militarism and war, especially directed against Russia. The letter reads, Nato, of course, is and will remain the most important alliance for maintaining Britains national security, particularly when we need complex military capabilities. But the other, increasingly important pillar of our security is the EU. Europe is facing a series of grave security challenges, from instability in the Middle East and the rise of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, to resurgent Russian nationalism and aggression. The 13 continue, Britain will have to confront these challenges whether it is inside or outside the EU. But within the EU, we are stronger. EU membership was critical when the UK helped to force the Iranians to the negotiating table through EU-wide sanctions, or made sure that Vladimir Putin would pay a price for his aggression in Ukraine. [Emphasis added] The letter concludes, as the Prime Minister himself has said, the EU today is a tool through which Britain can get things done in the world. Britains role in the EU strengthens the security we enjoy as part of NATO, adds to our capability and flexibility when it comes to defence co-operation and allows us to project greater power internationally. In a dangerous world, it helps us to safeguard our people, our prosperity and our way of life. We therefore believe strongly that it is in our national interest to remain an EU member. Following up on the letter, Lord Dannatt, a former Head of the British Army, told Rupert Murdochs Sky News, I think if you look around the world at resurgent Russia and what Mr [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is trying to do this is not a time for Europe to start to fragment, for countries to decide for their own reasons to leave the European Unionand that in itself runs the risk of unpicking NATO, which has been that very successful defensive alliance which the defence of this country has rested on since the end of the Second World War. These statements are a testament to the role of the EU as a body that serves the militarist agenda of the main European powers. The US has quadrupled its budget for forces in Europe to $3.4 billion, with half of this to be spent on heavy brigade armour and artillery in Western Europe. Earlier this month the British government announced it was sending five warships and 530 naval personnel to join NATOs maritime arm which will be located in the Baltics, the North Atlantic, the North Sea and the Mediterranean. In a threat aimed at Russia, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said, 2016 will see a particular focus on the Baltic region with our ships sent there as part of the Maritime Group... The military intervention was organized by the Conservative government of Prime Minister David Cameron, to reinforce the Remain campaign for the June 23 referendum. One of the signatories, General Sir Michael Rose, a former commander of the SAS Special Forces brigade, later made clear that there is also support for a Brexit within the military based upon a different estimation of the risks and benefits of tying the UK into Europe. Rose complained that his name had been added to the letter even though he was not supportive. He had doubts about the wisdom of using military officers for a political campaign and put on record his disagreement with those calling for the UK to remain in the EU. Sovereignty and security are intrinsically linked and in recent years weve seen the EU erode our sovereignty, said Rose. The government was later forced to apologise to Rose for including his name. Both the Remain and Leave campaigns are based on a militarist agenda, but the Leave campaign is particularly opposed to the ongoing discussions on the formation of a European Army, fearing this would undermine British imperialisms strategic position, above all its alliance with Washington, as France and Germany emerge as more assertive military powers. Last week, Leave supporter and former Tory defence secretary, Liam Fox, said, The day after we were to leave the European Union, Britain still has a permanent seat on the [United Nations] Security Council, and were still in NATO. Were still the worlds fifth biggest defence budget, weve still got a special relationship with the US, were still in the G7, were still in the G20, were at the centre of the Commonwealth The intervention of the military officers in the EU referendum in defence of the UK national interest follows on from statements of opposition to Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn for his professed stance against using nuclear weapons. Just eight days after Corbyns election in September last year, an unnamed serving British general told the Sunday Times that if Corbyn came to power, There would be mass resignations at all levels and you would face the very real prospect of an event which would effectively be a mutiny. On November 8, Britains current head of the armed forces, General Sir Nicholas Houghton, in a clear breach of constitutional principles, made an extraordinary public declaration that Corbyns refusal to authorise a nuclear strike would worry me if that thought was translated into power. Washington is strongly opposed to an EU withdrawal and has also intervened directly on questions of UK military policy against Corbyn. Earlier this month, US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter said to the BBC that Britain retaining the Trident nuclear missile system was vital, as it plays an important part of the structure of NATO, and helps the UK continue to play that outsized role on the global stage that it does because of its moral standing and its historical standing. Its important that the military power matches that standing and so were very supportive of it, he added. The US want to have the [Trident] program for our own purposes, he explained, emphasising that We have independent authorities to fire the weapons. The highly public move by the highest-ranking military personnel onto the political scene has ominous implications for democratic rights. It is testament to the decomposed nature of British democracy that both the Remain and Leave campaigns hail so monotonously. The author also recommends: The UK military, Jeremy Corbyn and the threat of dictatorship [11 November 2015] The US Air Force launched a Minuteman 3 nuclear missile from an underground bunker on the California coast late Thursday night, the second such test firing of an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in the space of just one week. The missile, which hit a test range in the waters of the Kwajalein Atoll, some 2,500 miles southwest of Honolulu, normally carries three independently targeted warheads, each with 20 times the destructive power of the bombs that killed as many as 350,000 people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. For Thursdays flight, it carried a bundle of test instruments. To ensure that the political significance of the back-to-back launches (there have been just 15 such tests since 2011) was lost on no one, Robert Work, the US deputy secretary of defense, gave an interview on Thursday specifically naming Russia and China and describing the test firings as a signal that we are prepared to use nuclear weapons in defense of our country if necessary. This highly unusual and extremely provocative declaration of Washingtons readiness to wage a nuclear war came amid rising tensions with China in the South China Sea and Russia in both Syria and Eastern Europe. The nuclear threat has been accompanied by brazen saber-rattling by top Pentagon officials testifying before the US Congress in support of increased US arms spending. This included testimony Wednesday before the House Armed Services Committee from Admiral Harry Harris, head of the US Navys Pacific Command, who called for a major escalation of US anti-Chinese naval operations in the South China Sea and charged that Beijing is seeking hegemony in East Asia, a strategic imperative that Washington itself is determined to attain by military means. Even more incendiary were the remarks delivered to the same congressional panel Thursday by Gen. Philip Breedlove, NATOs Supreme Allied Commander in Europe and chief of the US European Command. Breedlove described Russia as resurgent and aggressive, charging that Moscow had chosen to be an adversary and poses a long-term existential threat to the United States. The US and NATO must take a 360-degree approach to securityaddressing the full spectrum of security challenges from any direction and [ensuring] we are using all elements of our nations power, Breedlove said. In stressing all elements of US power, the Air Force general was referring to the Pentagons nuclear arsenal. Breedlove lashed out at Russias five-month-old intervention in Syria, which he said had wildly exacerbated the problem, presumably by disrupting Washingtons attempt to secure regime change through a war in which Al Qaeda serves as Americas main proxy force on the ground. He went so far as to accuse Moscow of weaponizing the wave of migrants driven to seek refuge in Europe by the US-orchestrated civil war in Syria and its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. To counter Russia, Eucom [the US European Command], working with allies and partners, is deterring Russia now and preparing to fight and win if necessary, Breedlove declared. There is more than a whiff of madness in Breedloves remarks. For the top US commander in Europe to talk openly of preparing to fight and win against Russia smacks of an invitation to a nuclear holocaust. Breedloves remarks were supplemented by those of US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, who told the House Appropriations Committee that supposed nuclear saber-rattling by Moscow had called into question the Russian leaderships commitment to strategic stability and whether they respect the profound caution that nuclear-age leaders showed with regard to brandishing nuclear weapons. As recent events have shown, Washington itself shares no such commitment or caution. With some justification, Russias Defense Ministry linked this kind of bellicose rhetoric to the debate over the US military budget, remarking that the same tide rises every year. However, it would be a dangerous error to underestimate the advanced preparations being made by Washington for global war in general and for a military confrontation with Russia in particular. This years proposed Pentagon budget includes $3.4 billion for the European Reassurance Initiative, quadrupling last years funding. The huge sum is to pay for the continuous rotation of brigade-size units of US combat troops in and out of the former Soviet Baltic republics as well as three eastern European countries, in what amounts to a permanent military siege of Russias western borders. In addition, it will fund the prepositioning of US military hardware, including tanks and heavy artillery, in the same area to allow for the rapid deployment of far larger military units. It will also go toward increased training and more weaponry for the collection of rabidly anti-Russian states in the region. For the past two years, seizing on the crisis provoked by the Western-backed coup in Ukraine and Russias subsequent annexation of Crimea following its approval by a popular referendum, Washington and its allies have carried out an increasingly provocative military buildup whose aim is the intimidation, subjugation, and, ultimately, dismemberment of the Russian Federation. This has included the creation of a rapid reaction force that can draw on 40,000 NATO troops. It has also involved an unprecedented series of military exercises within striking distance of Russias borders. A pair of think tanks that are intimately connected to the US military and intelligence apparatus have issued back-to-back reports supporting this buildup. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) issued a report earlier this month that was commissioned by US Army Europe. It argued that a dramatic shift in both the European and transatlantic security paradigm requires a reevaluation of a full range of measures required for the United States to best deter Russia from similar acts of adventurism in and around alliance territory. On Friday, the Atlantic Council, a virtual arm of NATO, came out with a report, entitled Alliance at Risk: Strengthening European Defense, which argued for a major military buildup throughout Europe. Directed at shaping the discussion at the NATO summit scheduled to be held in Warsaw in July, it declares, Strengthening European defense will provide resources to help deter the threat from the East and prevail over the dangers from the South. Drafted by top political and military figures, the report reviews the military status of Britain, which it describes as hollowed out, as well as France, Germany, Norway, Italy and Poland. The section on Germany decries the strong anti-militaristic streak within the population and argues that political leaders and commentators need to persuade and educate the public on the importance of a stronger defense posture. Most chilling is the section on Poland, drafted by Tomasz Szatkowski, the undersecretary of state in the Polish Ministry of National Defense, who argues for Warsaws development of a nonnuclear deterrence against Russia that would consist of new capabilities, such as longer and more powerful warheads on cruise missiles, new types of weaponry (e.g., microwave technology), and offensive cyber capabilities and subversive oriented Special Operations Forces. Behind the scenes, without anything being said to the people of the United States or the world, US and NATO officials have been discussing changes in the Western nuclear posture and rules of engagement on the pretext that Moscow has violated the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), an allegation that Russia has denied. To prepare for aggressive nuclear war, the Obama administration has developed a $1 trillion nuclear weapons modernization program that envisions the deployment of new generations of long-range bombers, nuclear submarines, ICBMs and cruise missiles over the next 30 years. In the fiscal year 2017 Pentagon budget now under discussion, the administration has requested $9.2 billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration, a division of the Department of Energy, for the development of Washingtons stockpile of nuclear warheads. The appearance of the Republican presidential candidates Thursday night in Houston, Texas was described by CNN as a debate. But there was no actual debating, in the sense of a discussion of issues or the offering of contrasting political programs. Instead, viewers were confronted with a repulsive display of the degraded state of official politics in the United States. The three leading candidatesbillionaire demagogue Donald Trump, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, and Senator Ted Cruz of Texasengaged in a barrage of name-calling, mudslinging, insinuation and insult that marked a new low in an already dismal series of such political freak shows. Rubio set the tone with a series of prepared attacks on Trumps business career, baiting him as an employer who hired illegal immigrants despite the real estate moguls current posture as the arch-hater of immigrants. (Trump advocates deporting 11 million undocumented immigrants). None of the candidates criticized Trumps fascistic proposals to bar Muslims from entering the US or his support for waterboarding and other forms of torture. Trump responded in kind, insult for insult, and generally fell back on boasting of his personal wealth as the ultimate answer to all criticism. From there, the debate descended even further into the realm of reality television, with simulated rage, threats and bombast pitched to the most backward and demoralized elements in American society. Not only the candidates, but the CNN moderator, the reactionary pro-war hack Wolf Blitzer, and the audience, which responded to the verbal brawl with shrieks and catcalls, contributed to the demeaning spectacle. American bourgeois politics has never been particularly edifying. However, Thursdays spectacle marked a new low, a fact that was acknowledged even by some veteran media commentators. Bob Schieffer of CBS observed, I thought things couldnt get lower than theyd already reached in this campaign. I mean, the political discourse, but last night it went even below where I thought it could possibly go. I mean, no discussion of the issues, but people arguing, screaming, hollering. It was like kids out behind the barn rather than a political debate. The degraded character of Thursdays event did not stop the media from treating it seriously afterwards, hailing Rubios performance as a stunning political comeback. This was a prearranged narrative. The Republican Party establishment is belatedly trying to check Trumps momentum after his surge to frontrunner status, winning three of the first four contests and leading in most polls for 15 more statewide primaries and caucuses in the coming week. Senator Lindsey Graham, who pulled out of the presidential race in the fall after failing to attract support in the polls, told a charity fundraising event in Washington Thursday night that Trumps lead in the primaries and polling meant, My party has gone batshit crazy. But the endorsement of Trump Friday by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who dropped out of the presidential campaign just over two weeks ago, is a signal that the Stop Trump movement is getting little traction. Trump is expected to sweep the Super Tuesday contests and is now favored to clinch the nomination before the end of March. The level of discourse continued downwards in the 24 hours after the debate. Rubio accused Trump of being a con artist and suggested that he had wet his pants during the debate. Trump called Rubio a nervous Nellie, a lightweight and a choker. Trump also threatened the media at a press conference, declaring that if he became president, Im going to open up our libel laws so when they write purposely negative and horrible and false articles, we can sue them and win lots of money So that when the New York Times writes a hit piece, which is a total disgrace, or when the Washington Post, which is there for other reasons, writes a hit piece, we can sue them and win money One of the three, Trump, Rubio or Cruz, will likely become the Republican presidential nominee and potentially the next US president. The background of each of these individuals testifies to the decline in the caliber, even by American political standards, of the personnel advanced by the US corporate-financial elite to fill its most important government position. Trump is, as he endlessly proclaims, a billionaire, who made his fortune servicing the personal needs of the wealthy through hotels, luxury apartments, resorts and casinos. After a series of financial near-disasters, including four corporate bankruptcies, he cemented his position, both monetarily and as a celebrity, through The Apprentice and Celebrity Apprentice reality TV programs, in which Trump as CEO hired high-level assistants from a list of applicants. It was there that he perfected the bullying, blowhard persona that is currently on display at campaign rallies and debates. Cruz and Rubio are both first-generation Cuban-Americans who took slightly different paths. Rubio graduated from the University of Miami law school and went straight into local Republican politics, dominated by the fascistic anti-Castro exile milieu. He moved up from city commissioner to state representative before being chosen as House Speaker under then-Governor Jeb Bush. Cruz came from a Texas milieu of ultra-right Christian fundamentalism and went straight to the highest levels of the Republican Party in Washington. After graduating from Harvard Law School, he clerked for Chief Justice William Rehnquist before working on the House Republican effort to impeach President Bill Clinton. Soon after, he participated in the Bush campaigns efforts to halt vote-counting in Florida in the 2000 elections, which led to the Supreme Courts notorious Bush v. Gore decision handing the White House to the loser of the popular vote. Denied a leading position in the Bush administration, he moved back to Texas to become solicitor general. Both Rubio in 2010 and Cruz in 2012 were elected to the US Senate as challengers to the candidates favored by the Republican Party establishment. Both had the backing of the ultra-right Tea Party faction. The two first-term senators began planning presidential bids almost as soon as they arrived in Washington DC. They have each raised tens of millions in campaign funds from hedge fund investors and other billionaires. Even by the meager standards of American two-party politics, the 2016 presidential campaign has been a demonstration of the staggering decay in the intellectual and moral level of the political representatives of the American ruling elite. This is true of the Democrats as well as the Republicans, although it takes somewhat different forms given the different roles the rival parties play in manipulating popular sentiments and allowing a narrow financial aristocracy to rule over a complex mass society of more than 330 million people. The process has gone furthest in the Republican Party, which over the past four decades has become the main repository for what is most foul, bigoted and backward in American life. This was acknowledged in a remarkable column published in the Washington Post Friday by Robert Kagan, the neoconservative who was one of the leading apologists for the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the war crimes committed by the Bush administration. Kagan now declares that the only choice will be to vote for Hillary Clinton. Trump is no fluke, Kagan writes. Nor is he hijacking the Republican Party or the conservative movement, if there is such a thing. He is, rather, the partys creation, its Frankensteins monster, brought to life by the party, fed by the party and now made strong enough to destroy its maker. He described Trump as tapping the well-primed gusher of popular anger, xenophobia and, yes, bigotry that the party had already unleashed. Kagan voices the mounting concern in ruling circles, Republican and Democratic alike, that the two-party system is fracturing and the reactionary, militaristic and authoritarian views advanced by Trump, all too openly and crudely, will provoke popular revulsion and completely discredit the entire political structure. Kagan is wrong in stating that Trump is simply the Frankenstein creation of the Republican Party. He is, rather, a particularly naked expression of the criminality, parasitism, backwardness and moral degradation of the financial aristocracy that presides over American society and runs the political system and media. The Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association (TNGEA), a coalition of 68 public sector unions, has called off a 10-day strike of over 200,000 government employees in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu without winning a single demand from its 20-point charter of claims. TNGEA officials attempted to justify the betrayal, claiming that their directive was only a temporary withdrawal of strike. The decision to end all industrial action was made by union officials at a TNGEA executive meeting last Saturday. Rank-and-file members of the union had no input or vote on the arbitrary decision. TNGEA general secretary R. Balasubramanian told the media: Government employees will be involved in election work, teachers in school exams and pulse polio [immunisation] We will wait for some more months for the government to react to our demands and after that we will decide. Other major unions involved in the strike, including the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and the All Indian Trade Union Congress (AITUC), called off all industrial action in line with the TNGEA directive. The CITU and the AITUC are affiliated to the Stalinist parliamentary partiesthe Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM and the Communist Party of India (CPI) respectively. The CPM, which politically dominates the TNGEA, openly backed the betrayal, claiming it was a voluntary decision. Theekathir, the CPMs Tamil daily, declared: The government employees and teachers withdrew the strike for the benefit of the public [The workers] said they will work more to compensate for the impact of the strike. This declaration is [an example of] the high culture of the workers. Tamil Nadu government workers began their walkout on February 10, demanding abolition of the contributory National Pension Scheme (NPS), along with higher wages, the filling of all vacancies in government departments, and various other claims (see: India: Over 200,000 Tamil Nadu government workers on indefinite strike). In 2003, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) sacked 200,000 striking government workers. Facing state elections in AprilMay this year, she adopted a different tactic and directly used the unions to divide workers and shut down the strike. On February 9, a day before the strike began, Jayalalithaa sent a ministerial delegation to begin discussions with union officials. The Joint Action Council of Teachers Organisations (JACTO), which represents primary school teachers, higher secondary school teachers and higher secondary and school headmasters, decided not join the state-wide walkout. On February 19, as the strike continued and protests began spreading throughout the state, the government suddenly announced some meagre concessions. These included: an increase in the monthly pension for Anganwadi (child care) and nutritious meal scheme workers from 1,000 to 1,500 rupees ($US15 to $22); retirement benefits for nutritious meal scheme workers lifted from 50,000 to 60,000 rupees ($726 to $871); and retirement benefits for cooks and cooking assistants to be increased from 20,000 to 25,000 rupees ($290 to $363). In response to strikers demands for the abolition of the NPS, the chief minister promised to establish a committee to study the new scheme in detail and submit a report. TNGEA leader Balasubramanian immediately welcomed Jayalalithaas promises and backed the bogus government investigation into the NPS. Attempting to bolster illusions in yet another state government committee, he suggested that the chief minister could have also announced a committee on the 7th pay commission, a reference to workers demands for a pay rise. When Jayalalithaa sacked 200,000 striking state government employees in 2003, the CPM and CPI responded with perfunctory condemnations and directed the sacked employees into futile legal appeals. During the 2011 state elections, these Stalinist parties backed Jayalalithaas AIADMK. Now under conditions of growing hostility to the AIADMK and the Dravida Munnethra Kazhagam (DMK), Tamil Nadus main bourgeois parties, the CPM and CPI have established another political trapthe so-called Peoples Welfare Front (PWF). This formation, which involves alliances with right-wing regionalist and caste-ist parties, such as the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, is running candidates in the forthcoming state elections. The PWF is a desperate attempt to politically demoralise the working class and keep it tied to the bankrupt parliamentary framework (see: Indian Stalinists form pro-imperialist Third Front in Tamil Nadu). World Socialist Web Site reporters last week spoke to several state government workers from Ezhilagam in Chennai about the unions betrayal of the state-wide strike. Moorthy said: I am not happy about calling off the strike. This is not a temporary withdrawal of the strike, as the union leadership claims, but a permanent one. The truth is that unions have capitulated to the AIADMK government. Like Jayalalithaa, the unions say the same thing but with a somewhat different tonethat they had to call off the strike because of the elections and that the people are suffering, etc. Saleem, a revenue department worker, said: Im not a member of the TNGEA. Though the TNGEA is not formally affiliated with any political party, it is influenced by the CPM and important office bearers of the union are members of the CPM. Workers know all about this. The striking workers were shocked when they heard about withdrawal of strike by the union leadership under conditions where none of our main demands were accepted by the government. Asked about the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in New Delhi, Saleem said there were no differences between the two national partiesthe BJP and the Congress. None of them are for the people. They alternate in government because there is no other real alternative political party. On the NPS, Saleem said: Its a fraudulent scheme. So far 1,500 workers retired and died but they werent paid a single paise [cent]. The money deducted from workers salary packages for the future pension scheme is rolled into the share market. When it is wiped out in the share market, we wont get any money! ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia lawmakers churned through dozens of bills ahead of a key deadline. Monday marks the 30th day of the 40-day legislative session. Bills must pass at least one chamber by that date to remain viable for the year, so members generally rush to pass their own bills before the deadline. The House on Friday backed a bill preventing people who do not have U.S. citizenship from serving on any local government board or commission. The Senate backed measures cutting down on the number of tests that students must take and the influence of those results on teachers' performance reviews. Senators also backed stricter language requiring state agencies to verify whether cities comply with federal immigration authorities. Those that don't comply, sometimes called "sanctuary cities" by opponents, would lose state-funded grants. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, left, smiles as he stands with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie before a rally in Fort Worth, Texas, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/LM Otero) There are quite a few Israelis who, ever since this government was sworn in, have been caught in a dilemma: Should they resign from their public roles in protest of government actions that are opposed to their conscience and worldview? Or stay and try to minimize the damage? The question has now been laid at the feet of senior state officials, as well as members of public committees and national institutions. The answer is not simple: On one hand, they see their responsibility, mission, habits, influence, power; on the other hand, the daily actions of the government new bills, embarrassing nominations, and inflammatory rhetoric. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Weve gone from having a hostile government to a foreign government, said former Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kollek after the Likud victory in the 1977 elections. If he were alive today, he would of course say: Weve gone from a hostile government to a dissolute government. Six professors announced on Sunday that they were resigning from their positions at the Israeli Council for Higher Education (CHE). Their resignations were meant as a protest against personal decisions taken by the councils chair, Education Minister Naftali Bennett (Bayit Yehudi). It was accompanied by a petition bearing the signatures of 1,500 academics. Because the council legally must have at least 19 members, and the resignations left 16, the move essentially paralyzed the CHE. Battles in academia are usually only of interest to professors. But this battle is different: it affects the cash flow of billions of shekels from the state budget, the financial solvency of universities, the well-being of hundreds of thousands of students, and most of all, the quality of research that can be conducted at these universities. MK Naftali Bennett (Photo: Lior Paz) The root of the crisis can be traced to Bennett's decision to appoint Professor Yaffa Zilbershats from Bar-Ilan University to head the HCE's Budgetary Committee. Zilbershats replaced Manuel Trajtenberg, who went into politics. Her appointment was seen as an insult to the position Zilbershats is not a tenured professor and and as a sectarian appointment: the national-religious sector and its political party seeking to gain another position of power. In the second phase, Bennett pushed out Professor Hagit Meser-Yaron, deputy chairman of the Education Council. The third stage was replacing her with Doctor Esther Yadmani, whose academic ranking is far lower than the expected standards such an senior and influential a position in the academic establishment. Bennett's opening moves won the approval of the CHE. There was some protest, but there was no rebellion. The appointment of Yadmani was one step too far. "I've had it up to here," one of the professors who didn't resign told me. Bennet has to hurry up and appoint new members to the council. He might pick them from the list of Bayit Yehudi party activists, or, alternatively, he can ask university presidents to provide him with candidates. The decision is in his hands. The best candidates may refuse especially after the collective resignations of their colleagues, they won't want to look like collaborators. Either way, the new candidates will certainly not be more loyal to the quality and independence of higher education than those who resigned. And here lies the dilemma; the resignations were meant to shock the establishment, but may well bury it. Bennett is not the average religious-nationalist politico. He is not known as someone who hides within the religious-nationalist bubble, or as someone who seeks to conquer positions of power in the party at any price. Nevertheless, his moves are dragging him towards this corner. The question is where he will go from here, whether he will explort the resignations in order to restart his relations with the academic institutions, or alternatively, dig into his position. Ever since the rumor spread among the religious-nationalist sector that it is the new elite, the vanguard, the cutting edge of Israeli society, there is no limit to their expectations. Instead of demanding their fair share, some expect to receive everything and right away. They hold the keys to the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Education, and the courts;some even sought to make make the entire IDF religious to turn the Israel Defense Foces into the army of God. This crazy idea returned and hit them like a boomerang; now there are those amongst them who are requesting to appropriate for themselves Israel's research and science. A Syrian rebel commander said on Saturday that government shelling had stopped in some parts of Syria but continued elsewhere in what he described as a violation of a cessation of hostilities agreement that came into effect at midnight. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Fares Bayoush, head of the Fursan al-Haqq rebel group which fights under the banner of the Free Syrian Army, told Reuters that continued violations could lead to a collapse in the agreement. "There are areas where the bombardment has stopped but there are areas where there are violations by the regime such as Kafr Zeita in Hama, via targeting with artillery, and likewise in Morek in northern Hama countryside," he said, adding that FSA groups remain committed to the truce. Bayoush said it was normal for violations to take place in any truce but the other side should halt them if it was serious about the agreement. Assad supporters (Photo: AFP) Syrian rebels in the country's northwest said they came under attack from government ground forces at 4am (2am GMT) on Saturday. Three fighters from the rebel Second Coastal Division were killed while repelling the attack in the Jabal Turkman area near the Turkish border in Latakia province, Fadi Ahmad, spokesman for the affiliated First Coastal Division, told Reuters. "It is a violation (of the agreement)," Ahmad said, describing the attack as a ground assault with no air strikes. "Currently, the regime has halted the attack," he added. The First and Second Coastal Divisions are part of a loose alliance of rebel groups known as the Free Syrian Army. Northwestern Syria is one of the areas where the Nusra Front operates near rebel groups that have approved the cessation of hostilities. Ahmad said the positions attacked on Saturday are controlled by his group, and the Nusra Front has no presence there. Nusra has called for an escalation of attacks. In the Eastern Ghouta near Damascus, government forces reportedly dropped two barrel bombs and opened fire on positions of the Syrian rebel group Jaish al-Islam. Citing field reports from the group's commanders, Jaish al-Islam spokesman Islam Alloush told Reuters that in one incident government forces trying to advance "were dealt with with machine guns". The Syrian military denied having breached the ceasefire. The Syrian government has said it will respect the agreement drawn up by Russia and the United States, but that it will continue to fight the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and Islamic State which are not covered by the deal. On its part, Syria's state-run news agency reported that armed groups have fired several shells on residential areas in Damascus. SANA reported the shells were fired by "terrorist groups" entrenched in Jobar and Douma, both opposition-held suburbs of the Syrian capital. Meanwhile, six people were killed and several wounded in two attacks by suicide bombers in Syria's Hama province on Saturday, state television reported. Syria's state news agency said a bomber driving a car loaded with explosives blew himself up in the early hours, killing two people on the edge of the town of Salamiya. Another suicide bomber on a motorbike struck at the entrance to the village of Teeba, killing four people, soon afterwards. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the car bombing. The group said in an online statement that one of its fighters had driven a car loaded with explosives to a Syrian army gathering in the area and blown himself up among them, killing 20 people and wounding 35 others. "The car bomb attack is not a breach to the truce because it occurred in an area where the cessation of hostilities agreement does not apply," Rami Abdulrahman from the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told Reuters. ISIS fighters also stormed a northern border town of Tal Abyad that was captured months ago by Kurdish fighters, according to Talal Sillo, a spokesman for the predominantly Kurdish Syria Democratic Forces. The fighting began after midnight Friday and was still ongoing, Sillo said. Tal Abyad that has been held by Kurdish fighters since July. The Observatory also confirmed the fighting in Tal Abyad. The Aamaq news agency, which is affiliated with the extremist group, reported that ISIS fighters launched a "surprise attack" on several areas in northern Raqqa province, where Tal Abyad is located. But the report did not provide further details. Sillo told The Associated Press that SDF fighters "will finish the operation today." Calm in most areas as fragile ceasefire starts The Observatory said there was calm in many parts of the country shortly after midnight when the agreement came into effect. The United Nations said it expected breaches in the temporary truce and urged restraint in curbing any new outbreaks of fighting. "Let's pray that this works because frankly this is the best opportunity we can imagine the Syrian people has had for the last five years in order to see something better and hopefully something related to peace," said UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura. Nusra Front, one of Syria's most powerful Islamist rebel groups, on Friday urged insurgents to intensify their attacks on President Bashar Assad and his allies, adding to dangers facing the agreement. Fighting raged across much of western Syria right up until the cessation came into effect, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. There was calm in many parts of the country shortly after midnight, it said. Destruction from fighting south of Damascus prior to the agreement (Photo: AP) "In Damascus and its countryside ... for the first time in years, calm prevails," Observatory director Rami Abdulrahman said. "In Latakia, calm, and at the Hmeimim air base there is no plane activity," he said, referring to the Latakia base where Russia's warplanes operate. Some gunfire had been heard shortly after midnight in the northern city of Aleppo, and there were some blasts heard in northern Homs province, but it was not clear what had caused them, Abdulrahman said. The United Nations unanimously demanded late on Friday that all parties to the conflict comply with terms of the plan as part of efforts to end a war that has killed more than 250,000 people and driven 11 million from their homes. De Mistura said he intends to restart peace talks on March 7, provided the halt in fighting largely holds. On Friday, at least 40 government soldiers and allied fighters and 18 insurgents were killed in battles and air strikes in Latakia province, the Observatory reported. Six people were also killed in an air raid in western Aleppo province in the hours before the halt, it said. Near Damascus, dozens of air raids hit the besieged suburb of Daraya. Rescue workers said at least five people were killed in Douma, northeast of the capital. Fighting in Douma prior to agreement (Photo: AFP) Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed on Friday that combat actions against Islamic State, the Nusra Front and other groups the Syrian government regards as terrorists would continue. The United States said it was time for Russia to show it was serious about halting fighting by honoring a commitment not to strike Syrian groups that are part of the moderate opposition. 'End this horrendous conflict' The cessation agreement has not been signed by the Syrian warring parties themselves and is less binding than a formal ceasefire. A halt in fighting is desperately needed to get aid to besieged areas of the country. Some relief has got to these regions in a series of localized agreements this year, but the United Nations demands unhindered access to all Syrians in need of help. The Red Cross called for an end to the conflict in which most regional and world powers are now involved. "It is time for the warring parties to end this horrendous conflict and for the world powers who can influence the situation to act decisively," its President Peter Maurer said in a statement. Assad supporters (Photo: AFP) "The most urgent thing is to increase humanitarian aid ... Humanitarian deliveries must not depend on political negotiations," he said. The United Nations describes the cessation as something that would precede the more formal ceasefire it is hoping to establish at some future date. Peace talks collapsed earlier this month before they began, and Damascus and Moscow intensified assaults in the north and northwest of the country. Moscow's intervention in the war in September with an air campaign has helped Assad's forces and their allies recapture territory, notably in Aleppo and Latakia provinces. Douma (Photo: Reuters) Rebels have advanced elsewhere, including in Hama province, but fighting has largely tipped in favor of Damascus, which is also backed by Lebanese Hezbollah and Iranian fighters. Saudi Arabia, which supports insurgents, has said it is willing to send its forces into Syria to fight Islamic State, and Turkey, another Assad opponent, wants ground troops deployed but has denied plans for unilateral action. The Syrian government has said the cessation plan could fail if foreign states supply rebels with weapons or insurgents use the truce to rearm. The main Saudi-backed opposition alliance, which has deep reservations, said it would accept it for two weeks but feared the government and its allies would use it to attack rebel factions under the pretext that they were terrorists. The US-backed Kurdish YPG militia, which is battling Islamic State in the northeast and Turkish-backed rebel groups in the northwest, said it would abide by the plan, but reserves the right to respond if attacked. Fighting between the YPG and Islamic State continued in Raqqa province, the Observatory said. The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Maj.-Gen. Yoav Mordechai, stressed on Friday that there are no negotiations with Turkey on the construction of a sea port in the Gaza Strip. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Speaking to Saudi media, Mordechai said any possible agreement on the construction of a sea port in Gaza will be reached with the Palestinian Authority and not with Hamas. Israel and Turkey have been holding talks on normalizing ties after a 2010 IDF raid on the Mavi Marmara, part of a flotilla trying to break the blockade on Gaza, left 10 Turkish citizens dead. COGAT Maj.-Gen. Yoav Mordechai (Photo: Haim Tzah, GPO) The COGAT's statements came in response to a series of comments and declarations made by Hamas officials over the past few weeks, claiming that the construction of a sea port in Gaza was part of the reconciliation talks between Israel and Turkey and that the sides were not far from reaching an agreement on the issue. The latest Hamas official to make these claims was Khalil al-Hayya, who claimed on Thursday that the only obstacle left in the way of Jerusalem and Ankara reaching an agreement on the normalization of ties was the Turkish condition to lift the Israeli blockade over Gaza. Al-Hayya tied that to the construction of a sea port in the Strip. The fact Israel has set a condition that a future Gaza sea port will be controlled and managed by the Palestinian Authority creates a problem for Hamas, as it will force it to reach its own reconciliation agreement with Fatah, which rules the PA. So far, Hamas has rejected out of hand the condition to give the PA control over Gaza's border crossings, including a sea port, as it would detract from the organization's power in the Strip. Reconciliation talks between Hamas and Fatah have been stagnant even after the latest round of talks held in Qatar last month. A Palestinian official told Ynet recently that the top officials in the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah are not putting their hopes in the Qatari effort to restart the reconciliation talks. A Fatah delegation arrived to the talks merely out of respect to the Qataris, and not because they see any importance in the process. A smell of spray paint drowns out the odour of fresh fish and meat as night falls on bustling Mahane Yehuda, a food market that is one of Jerusalem's most popular shopping sites. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter From early morning until late evening, the Israeli market's narrow, covered alleys are packed with local shoppers and tourists pushing their way past packed stalls in search of the best fresh produce or juicy kebabs. Solomon Souza hard at work at Mahane Yehuda market (Photo: Reuters) But after dark, when the stall owners shut up shop for the night and roll down their metal shutters, the closed storefronts become a personal canvas for 22-year-old artist Solomon Souza. In the past year, Souza, helped by his friend, Berel Hahn, who came up with idea, has painted about 140 shutters with graffiti-style murals of characters that have inspired him, ranging from biblical heroes to former Israeli prime ministers. Souza's tools for this night's job are about a dozen spray-paint cans and his smart-phone. His glance alternated between the phone, depicting Lucy Aharish, a popular Arab-Israeli news anchor, and the three-meter-high (10 feet) version of her he was creating, one spray at a time. Solomon Souza with two of his shutter-portraits at Mahane Yehuda market (Photo: Reuters) Mahane Yehuda market, which over years has experienced a number of deadly Palestinian attacks against shoppers, is also one of Jerusalem's hottest night spots, with bars open and music echoing through the walkways until dawn. Souza lifts the face mask he wears against the fumes, the straps of which squish down on his skull cap worn by Orthodox Jews. "I've had nightmares about this," the former Londoner, said softly with a smile. "So many shutters." Images of portraits painted by Solomon Souza at the Mahane Yehuda market (Photo: Reuters) Souza and friends who help him, seek out store owners to get permission to paint their shutters, but sometimes they approach him and may ask for a painting of someone specific, such as a famous rabbi or family member. Others have given him free rein. A few stalls down from Aharish's portrait, Souza chose to paint Si Ali Sakkat, a former mayor of Tunis who helped save Jews during the Nazi Holocaust. Souza works for free and said he looks to share his sources of inspiration and to add life to the market. He hopes to bring in other artists to help fill the remaining 200 or so shutters. News / International by Telegraph UK A photograph has emerged showing a British citizen whose claim on a white Zimbabwean's farm saw him evicted last month smiling next to Grace Mugabe during a visit to the orphanage she runs.Dr Sylvester Nyatsuro, 57, was one of thousands of Zimbabweans who left the country during the height of the political unrest after 2000 and now runs an NHS slimming clinic in Nottingham.Last September, he and his wife Veronica went to Kingston Deverill, a tobacco farm 145 miles north of Harare which is owned by Philip and Anita Rankin, with a letter from the government allocating the land to him.When the Rankins refused to leave, settlers moved into a cottage on the land using a car registered to Dr Nyatsuro.In January, a warrant was issued for Mr Rankin's arrest and days later, a large contingent of police broke into the property and dragged him away by force, loading his furniture onto lorries sent from Harare. Mr Rankin was released several hours later but has not returned to his farm.The raid was one of the most dramatic and heavy-handed in recent memory and baffled Zimbabwe's dwindling band of white farmers.Mr and Mrs Rankin maintain the farm they bought after independence in 1980 had already been whittled away by successive land claims and had now been gazetted by the government as immune to any further land claims.A lawyer acting for Dr Nyatsuro told The Telegraph he never specifically requested the Rankin's farm but had simply applied for a farm to settle on under Zimbabwe's land reform programme.He denied any knowledge of the police action which Mr Rankin's lawyers have declared unlawful since a court process was ongoing and that any political influence had been brought to bear."It is our understanding that many Zimbabweans regardless of political affiliation benefited from the land reform programme," Fungai Chimwamurombe, a Harare-based lawyer, wrote in a legal letter to the Telegraph last month."We are not aware of their relationship status with the president and indeed the basis used for them to benefit from the programme."Police sources told the Telegraph that Dr Nyatsuro and his wife, who works as a receptionist at the Willows Slimming Clinic he runs in Carlton, Nottingham, had ties to Grace Mugabe.In a series of photographs taken during a visit to Mrs Mugabe's Mazowe Orphanage which is thought to have taken place in March last year, the smartly-dressed couple are pictured smiling at the camera alongside another unidentified couple and Mrs Mugabe.In others, they are seated with children on their knees and a suitcase of new presents open nearby which the children appear to be unwrapping.A spokesman for the First Couple could not be reached for comment and Mr Chimwamurombe and the Nyatsuros did not respond to requests for comment.Kate Hoey MP, chairman of the All-Party Group on Zimbabwe, said the photograph appeared to suggest a possible reason for the Nyatsuro's expedited claim.A Foreign Office spokesman in January voiced concern that the seizure of the farm "did not follow the process as described by the constitution"."We are aware of the allegation that the beneficiary of this farm may be a British citizen," added the spokesman. "We will consider what further action to take."It is understood that James Duddridge, Africa minister, has asked the Home Office to look at whether Dr Nyatsuro could have his citizenship stripped were he to push ahead with his claim.However, Don Flynn, an immigration expert from the Migrants Rights Network, said unless Dr Nyatsuro had retained his Zimbabwean citizenship, the UK would not be allowed to make him "stateless" under human rights legislation."The general rule in African countries is that they don't recognise dual citizenship," he said. "If a Zimbabwean national becomes a citizen of another country, he would lose his Zimbabwean citizenship."Dr Nyatsuro was born in eastern Zimbabwe and was head boy at Nyatsime College, a private school in Chitungwisa, a dormitory town adjacent to Harare.He studied for his medical degree at the University of Zimbabwe and graduated in 1997. He is thought to have worked at Parirenyatwa Hospital, Harare's main state medical facility which was once renowned as a world class hospital but starved of cash during Zimbabwe's economic downturn.When he moved to the UK in 2000, he registered to operate as a GP with the NHS.He has no record of any political activity in Zimbabwe but like tens of thousands of people, left as Zanu-PF began persecuting members of the new opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change.Once in the UK, which became colloquially known as Harare North among emigrants, many Zimbabweans claimed political asylum although it remains unknown if Dr Nyatsuro was among them. Last year the diaspora, mainly from the UK and South Africa contributed half foreign investment into Zimbabwe.Today, Dr Nyatsuro drives a BMW four by four and lives with his wife and their three children in a 700,000 five-bedroom house.Meanwhile in Zimbabwe, the court battles over the Rankin farm continue. This week, a court ruled that the farm invaders living on Mr Rankin's farm should leave and he should be allowed to return pending the outcome of a trial to determine whether the farm can legitimately be claimed under the reform programme.He told the Telegraph he had not yet packed his bags to return. "I'm very much in limbo and don't really know what the future holds," he said on Friday. "No one has enforced the order to remove the invaders at the moment. It would have to be the local police with the sheriff but they are the ones who evicted me."I am tired of all these court cases and running out of money. I don't know which way is up right now." The IDF has been searching the Gaza border area at the Eshkol Regional Council on Saturday morning after reports were received of four people who were seen crossing the border fence into Israel. The heavy fog that covered the area has made the search efforts difficult. Residents of some of the communities in the area were asked to stay indoors while searches were ongoing. Route 232, which was closed for traffic earlier in the morning, was reopened, but roadblocks were posted along it. Police arrested a Beit Shemesh resident earlier this week after he caused a disturbance on an El Al flight from Warsaw to Tel Aviv because a movie being screened on the plane was "immodest" in his opinion. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The 36-year-old ultra-Orthodox man informed flight attendants that he refuses to watch the film, and forcefully pushed the screen away, causing damage. He also attacked passengers who commented on his behavior. Police officers who arrived at Ben-Gurion International Airport arrested him after he deplaned and took him in for questioning. The Beit Shemesh man "There were some passengers on the plane who decided not to watch TV on the plane," one of the passengers recounted. "There was one who forcefully pushed the screen (coming down from the plane's ceiling - ed.) and really broke it. I think he must've thought all of the other screens will also close, but that didn't happen. At this point, a ruckus broke out and people started yelling at him. He claimed this was 'secular coercion' and would not calm down. He was really upset and later jumped on another passenger who told him off." This behavior persisted throughout the flight and close to landing time, when the screens came down again, the Beit Shemesh man "yelled on the plane that he could not stand it that movies are being watched. He said these were immodest films." Another passenger said the Beit Shemesh man boarded the plane late with a group of other passengers, and that is why the airline could not seat them away from the screens. "Their behavior is just rude. They were late and made exaggerated demands," he said. "The El Al flight attendants behaved in an exemplary manner. They remained level-headed, calmed things down, and called the police, as procedures dictate." A third passenger said that "A group of ultra-Orthodox passengers came on the plane with a lot of 15 year olds. At first they caused a disturbance over the seating arrangements - they would not sit next to women. They didn't exactly have places to sit that matched their wishes, and they were arguing until the last moment. They would not sit next to a woman under any circumstance." She went on to say that "the flight attendant told them that the plane won't move until everyone is seated. After a lot of arguments, seats were found for them." The Beit Shemesh man, she said, "started pushing all of the screens back up, people were shocked. I already saw what movie was being screened and I asked, 'Why are you closing them?' and he said, 'God is the Almighty, and he will preserve us.' Nothing we tried helped and he closed everyone's TVs, using a toothpick to keep the screens locked in. A fight almost broke out there." This isn't the first time Israeli passengers caused disturbances on flights. An Israeli man was caught smoking in the bathroom stall of an Austrian Airlines flight from Vienna to New York, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing in Canada. He swore at the flight attendants and demanded to be served alcohol. Two strong passengers had to restrain him and cuff him. The passenger told investigators that he took a sleeping pill and drank several glasses of wine and that he could not remember what had happened. A year ago, an Israeli woman on an Israir flight to Varna verbally attacked one of the flight attendants during an argument over her desire to purchase duty free chocolate while the flight attendant was busy with another passenger. Two of the passenger's relatives also joined the argument, swearing at the flight attendant, with one of them threatening to hit the flight attendant. El Al said in response to the Warsaw-Tel Aviv flight incident that "El Al will not accept violent behavior of any kind during its flights, and that is why police was called." Upon hearing an unexpected knock on the door, the family members look at each other, trying to remember if they invited someone over. They wait - perhaps it's a mistake - but then more knocking is heard, and they get up to open the door. "Good evening, you may not feel this, but war is on the way." Undoubtedly a strong opening statement. And now what? Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter While most of the country enjoys relative quiet - sometimes disrupted by stabbing attacks - the residents of the Gaza border communities have been living in a state of war for years now. Even when rockets and mortar shells are not raining down on them, they know it's only a matter of time before violence resumes: The IDF's abysmal assessments, knowing that several dozens of terrorists are digging their way to their homes, the odd rocket. They've had enough. The volunteers from the Gaza border communities getting their message out (Photo: Dana Kopel) Before another round of fighting can begin, they've decided to try and explain their reality to those living further away from the frontline. Their goal is to recruit support for some sort of action, whatever it may be, by the government. They plan to do that by going door-to-door in order to bring the winds of war to every home, as well as setting out to main spots around the country to collect signatures on a petition in support of a diplomatic move, done alongside military operations against terror organizations. We've recently joined them at their stalls across the country and during their door-to-door campaign in Givatayim and Tel Aviv. On the surface, convincing people was not hard: Not even a single person was found, on the left or right, who thought the Israeli government was doing anything to stop Hamas from gaining more power, or to prevent the next round of fighting. The problem is that even in the heart of Tel Aviv, most of the people they encountered supported violent solutions to the situation. Activists from The Movement for the Future of the Western Negev and Darkenu (formerly known as V15) do not support violent solutions, which led to many arguments discussions that led them to despair. Kill or be killed Adele Ramer, an English teacher from Kibbutz Nirim, has experienced several difficult situations in her life. As a resident of the western Negev, her family and her have been suffering for years now from rocket fire coming from above, and can feel the tunnels being dug below - and yet they remain optimistic. But when she was standing on Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv this week, she felt embarrassed. "Do I bother you?" she asks two men having a conversation. "My only problem with you is that you live in an area that's part of the State of Israel, and you can't be so left wing," one of them answers. Adele raises an eyebrow. "Perhaps I should move to Ashkelon? But rockets fall there as well. Perhaps I'll move to Ashdod. Ah, but there as well..." "No, no, no, under no circumstance should you move," the man, embarrassed, says. "I just have a problem with people complaining about the situation but voting Meretz." Photo: Yariv Katz "So far, the right wing hasn't provided us with solutions," Adele responds. "We're here to ask the government to at least present us with a solution, do something! Besides, do you think the country is divided into right wingers who don't want rockets to fall on them and Meretz voters who do want rockets to fall on them?" "We need to reach an agreement with the Egyptians, and make all the Palestinians leave through..." "Does this seem practicable to you? Logical? Ethical? Causing 2.5 million people to leave their homes?" "Yes." The conversation is at a dead end. Both sides agree to disagree, shake hands, and say goodbye. "I moved to the Negev because of the situation, to show solidarity. But this is also about the quality of life," another man Adele stops on the street tells her with enthusiasm. "If you're like us living in the western Negev, then you know the next war is coming. What can we do?" "Hit them hard. Once and for all." "We've done it already. We do it every year. Does it work?" "No, not really. But maybe this time we can uproot (terrorism)." "But that's what they say every time!" Adele says in anger, raising her voice for the first time. "Look, I'm on your side. Whatever you decide, I'm in favor. The government, excuse my language, is impotent." Despite the disagreements, he signs the petition, perhaps only in an effort to politely end the conversation. Photo: Dana Kopel The volunteers seem confused. This isn't the reception they expected at the bastion of the white left-wing. Instead of bouquets and conversations about the end of the occupation, they're being confronted over creative ways to turn Gaza into a parking lot. We turn from Rothschild Boulevard to Allenby Street. Right on the corner, Adele sees a dusty clocks store, one that still sells walkmans and video tapes. She decides to go inside. The store owner is busy reading through a large pile of newspapers. There must not be such a large demand for alarm clocks and video tapes these days. "We need to destroy their television, their broadcasting stations, their propaganda. If there's no media, there's no way to get information across, and then there's no incitement. And the electricity, too. Take down everything," he says. "But then everything will blow up in our face," Adele tries to argue. "Two million people will simply head for the border fence. What are you going to do, kill them all?" "Well, and what do you think they do in Syria these days?" "Do you really want us to be like Syria?" "If you don't get them, they'll get you. Do you want to die?" "I believe most people living in Gaza want what I want - to live." "They don't. They want you to die. What year did you come to Israel? I've been here since 1943, and they've always wanted to throw us out to sea. You have to understand their mentality. They need someone to control them. That's it. There're no solutions. Kill or be killed." Between anemones and Qassam rockets Adele and her fellow volunteers knock on the door of an apartment building in Givatayim. "Who's there?" a voice on the other side of the door asks. Adele responds. Quiet on the other end. The woman on the other side of the door, Rina Ram, is wary of opening the door to strangers. Eventually, she gets up and opens the door only a little bit, trying to understand what exactly do the three people standing outside in white shirts that say "We're all with the Gaza border communities" - one of them even wearing sandals in the middle of winter - want from her. "Hello," Adele says. "We're from the Gaza border communities, and we've come to ask for your support." After the exchange of a few more pleasantries and a short ideological discussion, not only did Rina sign the petition, but also insisted on bringing them something cold to drink, and later even relented and agreed to have her photo taken with their sticker, promising to put it on her car. Rina Ram (Photo: Yariv Katz) "What I think will happen is that the tunnels will reach all the way here," Rina says. "The solution, in the coming decade, is a security solution. We need to exercise a firm hand with them, the carrot and stick method." "So according to what you're saying," one of the other volunteers, Gali, jumps in, "I am guaranteed to become a refugee in my own country every two years and move from one friend's home to another." Rina: "It's delusional to think that if you throw money at the problem, it'll pass." In hindsight, Rina turned out to be a relatively hard nut to crack in Givatayim. The rest may not have felt like war was just around the corner, but they at least tried to express solidarity with the volunteers. One floor up, Michal Haim opens her door to the volunteers. "I keep hearing on the radio that (Gaza border residents) can hear the digging (of tunnels), and my heart goes out to them," she explains. "It's very frustrating that they live inside Israel, but we still need to be worried about them." "My daughter is 32 years old and still afraid to leave the house," Adele responds emotionally. Photo: Yariv Katz Later, she talks about meeting many people who were evacuated from Gush Katif (area of Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip evacuated in 2005 - ed.) during the "Red South Festival." She asks them to sign the petition as well. "The only ones I'm having a hard time with are those among the evacuated who tell me I deserve every rocket I endure," she says. At every opportunity, whether it's canvassing door-to-door, during "Red South Festival" events, and at the movement's stalls at the Friday market in Sderot, the volunteers ask for support to their demand for another solution - one that combines military action with a diplomatic arrangement, with Hamas. They recruit to their cause top IDF officers, and even politicians like Naftali Bennett, who recently surprised many when he said he was more or less in favor of the "reconstruction in return for quiet" formula. In addition to Adele - the teacher, medical clown and masseuse - there are also David Drori, the dairy farmer from Kibbutz Sa'ad, and Gali Basodo from Sderot, who is part of the governing council of the Movement for the Future of the Western Negev. When I try to understand the difference between the Gaza border area and the western Negev, she tells me frankly, "The western Negev is anemone flowers, the Gaza border area is Qassam rockets. Our goal is to get everyone to join us in demanding the prime minister to present a clear plan. To look us in the eye and tell us what his plans are for our future." She turns to Ariel, a guy from Givatayim whose ex-girlfriend is from Kissufim. Ariel doesn't shrink back. He stops his bike, and like every other Israeli, he obviously has his own ideas. "I have a solution!" he declares. Photo: Dana Kopel "Well?" the three dreamers from the Gaza border area ask. "But it's not practical." "Everyone has impractical solutions," Gali tells him. "Come on, let's hear it." "Will you allow me to destroy the entire Gaza Strip, make it into a parking lot, and transfer everyone to Egypt?" he smiles, knowing well this isn't what the three volunteers mean when they ask for a solution. "If I were the prime minister, I wouldn't let them off easy. Gaza is small - every rocket that falls, I say we take over another area. There's no future for that area, and there will never be peace." 'I feel sorry for you' Outside the Givatayim mall, a pleasant taxi driver approaches them. "What party are you from?" he asks. "We're not a party." He takes a sticker, gladly puts it on his car and declares: "Bibi can't find a solution for Sara (his wife - ed.), so you expect him to solve the country's problems? I feel sorry for the people living in your area, ma'am, I really do." Photo: Yariv Katz Polly Bronstein, the head of the Darkenu Movement, carefully chooses her words. "We have no time to waste," she says. "Everyone knows the next round of fighting is just around the corner and threatens us all, and primarily the residents of the Gaza border communities. We're all loving citizens, willing to carry the burden and know how to show endurance, but, at the same time, we demand to see a government initiative for a long-term solution to the rocket and tunnel threats in Gaza." Back in Tel Aviv, Adele stays optimistic. The volunteers decide to give it one more go. One of them points to two hipsters sitting at a bar and smoking cigarettes. "Is this... a left wing thing?" the younger of the two asks hesitantly. "We've had signatures from people on the right, the center, and the left. What do you think could be the solution to the situation in the western Negev?" "Legalization. That's the only solution for the Middle East." A group of BDS supporters disrupted a lecture by two Israeli students at the University of South Florida earlier this week. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter One of the protesters was Tariq Abu Khdeir, who was beat up by Israeli police officers when he was 15, and whose cousin Mohammed Abu Khdeir was murdered by extremist right-wing Jews in 2014 The Israeli students, Shir and Yitzhak, gave a lecture to American students on behalf of StandWithUs, an organization working for Israeli hasbara (public relations) abroad, in order to "present the humane side of the IDF." During the lecture on Wednesday, some 25 supporters of the boycotts, divestment and sanctions campaign against Israel entered the lecture hall waving Palestinian flags and banners, interrupted the lecturers, and shouted at them. BDS supporters disrupt StandWithUs lecture (: stand with us) X "As part of the organization's (StandWithUs) program, IDF reservists go abroad and tell their personal stories," said Shir, a student of Political Science and Communications at Tel Aviv University, who served in Military Intelligence. "When we got to the University of South Florida, we encountered serious disturbances. Two minutes after I started talking, the Palestinian activists got up and left, and then came in again, and left again. They tried to interrupt us in whatever way they could. They came in with Palestinian flags and banners. They had no interest in having a dialogue with us." Yitzhak, a civil engineering student at the Technion, added: "They had no interest in listening to us. They didn't stop going out and coming back in, in an effort to interrupt, and when one person got up during the Q&A and started with 'I respect you,' one of the activists called out 'How dare you say this?' and shouted at us, telling us we're murderers and child killers. Police forces that were there had to take him out. BDS activists disrupt pro-Israel lecture (Photo: StandWithUs) "Later, another person got up and asked us if we recognized him. We didn't. The activists then presented a large photo of him after he was beaten. That activist was Tariq Abu Khdeir, and the photo was of him after he was beaten by the Israel Police." Abu Khdeir, who lives in the US, was 15 years on when he came to visit relatives in the Shuafat neighborhood in Jerusalem and beaten by police during detention. Shir and Yitzhak at the University of South Florida (Photo: StandWithUs) "We told him we were sorry for what he went through, and that we were sure whoever did this received the punishment they deserved , because Israel is a democratic state. In addition, we told him it was a shame he didn't hear our story, too, and that there are people murdered by terrorists every day on the Israeli side, and that what happened to him was not a good representation of the situation in Israel. After that, the conversation turned very violent," Yitzhak said. Shir added that "When we left and walked to the cars, they waited for us outside. A group of people holding banners and flags and shouting at us: 'Murderers, immoral, terrorists, how do you sleep at night?' Police had to escort us to the car." Over 2,000 hikers participated in the fifth annual Yavne'el March on Saturday morning, calling on the government to work to return IDF soldier Oron Shaul, who was killed during 2014's Operation Protective Edge and whose body was snatched by Hamas Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Israelis from all over the country, particularly from northern Israel, as well as Shaul's family members and soldiers from the Golani Brigade - where Shaul served - joined the march. Many wore T-shirts with Shaul's photo and stickers calling for his return. Marching for Oron Shaul (Photo: Elad Gershgoren) Mother Zehava was very emotional by the gesture. "All of the people of Israel should know that all of these people have come here to bring Oron back. I want all of the people of Israel to know that Oron went to defend the homeland that he loved so much, and right now he is being held by Hamas," she said. Marching for Oron Shaul (Photo: Elad Gershgoren) Zehava also turned to the government: "Come on, the Israeli government and the defense minister - do it. Don't let us wait so long, I'm counting on you." Zehava's cousin, Ze'ev Eliyahu, was also touched by the show of solidarity. "I also came to show my support and I hope the message is passed on, and we'll get to see Oron return to his mother soon," he said. Many of the marchers were employees of the Israel Discount Bank, where Zehava worked before retiring. "It's emotional to see the people of Israel united like this," said Ortal from Kiryat Haim. "It's a very beautiful, unifying thing, and I hope this affair also comes to an end and we can leave this behind us." Egyptian parliamentarian and TV personality Tawfiq Okasha caused a firestorm last week he invited Israeli Ambassador to Cairo, Haim Koren , to his house for dinner on his TV program. His fellow Egyptian parliamentarians have called for him to be ousted and described him as a "traitor" and a "collaborator" with Israel. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Okasha released photos of the extraordinary meeting with the Israeli ambassador, prompting even more criticism. Israeli Ambassador to Egypt, Haim Koren, with Tawfiq Okasha However, Okasha has not backtracked. "I recognize the State of Israel and all of our agreements are consistent with my world view," he told Egyptian newspaper Al-Tahrir. He also said he may meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu soon, quite possibly in the next two weeks. A major Egyptian pundit harshly criticized Okasha: "Forget about traveling to Israel to meet your friend Netanyahu." He also asked Okasha's constituents and any Egyptian who see him on the street "to spit in his face." Mustafa Bakri, an Egyptian journalist leading the anti-Okasha campaign tweeted that "Tawfiq Okasha welcoming the enemy Israeli ambassador at his house is a scandal, without exception." He added that "the Camp David Accords are no excuse for him and others like him to meet with the Zionist ambassador while ignoring the blood of those slain in the homeland and Islamic nation." Bakri, who is now a highly coveted interview subject, also accused Okasha of planning to visit Israel. However, an Egyptian news outlet has already published photos of Okasha and his program's team visiting Israel. According to the Egyptian media, 100 parliamentarians have asked the speaker of the parliament, Dr. Ali Abdel-Al, to expel Okasha from parliament. Mahmoud Badr, an Egyptian parliamentarian said, "He belongs not in the Egyptian parliament, but rather in the Friends of Israel Union or in the Knesset." Samir Sabri, an Egyptian lawyer, has filed an official complaint with the Egyptian attorney general for state security. He demanded that the state strip Okasha of his parliamentary immunity, bar him from leaving Egypt, and hold him on trial for collaborating with a foreign nation. The Egyptian press has been investigating Okasha's past. One report claimed that his uncle, an Egyptian officer, was executed for spying for Israel. It appears that the controversy over Okasha will not die down anytime soon. A rare Foreign Ministry opinion issued recently argues that the price tag phenomenon inflames and increases anti-Semitism against the Jewish people and exacerbates the delegitimization campaign against Israel. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The statement further says that it appears to the world as though Israel has no motivation to find and prosecute those guilty of hate crimes. Aftermath of arson fire at the Church of the Multiplication (Photo: Avihu Shapira) Foreign Ministry Spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said regarding the opinion that Israel pays the price for price tag acts. Their actions constitute a terror attack on our collective image. The opinion was submitted to the Jerusalem Magistrates Court, where indictments were issued against three teenagers who allegedly sprayed hate speech against Christians on the doors of Dormition Abbey. The Jerusalem Districts Attorney Office submitted the ministrys opinion in this context to claim that such actions cause severe damage to Israels global position. The opinion, signed by Sharon Regev, director of the Department for Inter-religious Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the desecration at Dormoition and at the Via Dolorosa stops caused damage to Israels image and caused damage to its foreign relations and its recognition as a democratic state in which there is freedom of religion and freedom of worship for all communities. These acts strengthen the media narrative about violence by Jewish extremists and religious intolerance in Israel." Furthermore, says the ministry, the prevailing opinion among many in the world is that Israel has no motivation to deal with the phenomenon. The accumulation of hate crimes against religious institutions in Israel, and especially the criticism aimed at Israels impotence in finding and prosecuting those guilty of these acts, has had a negative impact globally. The claims we have heard reflected a sense that the Israeli government allegedly does not actually want to deal with these events to the full extent of the law. The document invokes numerous condemnations and international media references to church vandalism. It also states that Palestinian emissaries have used the vandalism incidents to criticize Israel. "The international, Arab, and Christian presses have increasingly covered these incidents and the US State Department's 2014 'Country Report on Terrorism' referenced them, reads the opinion. "The accumulation of racist and destructive attacks against German religious institutions harms Israel's foreign relations and more specifically its important relations with Germany and the entire Catholic world, it adds. The Foreign Ministry document specifically mentions the vandalism of the Church of Multiplication in June 2015 and the arson fire at a seminar building belonging to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. "Following these incidents, the German government sent the Foreign Ministry an official letter through its embassy in which the embassy expressed its utmost concern for the damaging incident and attack at Dormition Abbey and the church at Tabgha and demanded an investigation in to the incident, and the capture and prosecution of the guilty, it says. A senior official from Chancellor Angela Merkel's office raised the malicious graffiti at Dormition Abbey and the question of security the Christian institutions with the Israeli ambassador to Germany in a recent meeting. He told the ambassador, "Top officials in the Catholic Church within and outside of Israel have strongly condemned the incidents and harshly criticized Israel. The official added that vandalism stands as an obstacle to strengthening relations and dialogue between Judaism and the Catholic Church. Wadia Abu Nasser, an advisor to the Catholic Bishops' council, said: "This phenomenon is widespread and has not been dealt with by the authorities and police." Attorneys for the suspected Dormition Abbey vandals argued that the incident was blown out of proportion and that it appeared to be unruly adolescent behavior. Avichai Hajbi, representing the accused, said: "I have not found that the attorney general issued a similar opinion in cases in which synagogues were burned or had Molotov cocktails thrown at them. This development proves nothing more than panic and discriminatory administration on the part of the prosecution, when it is clear that this was an incident caused by unruly adolescent behavior nothing more and nothing less. An 81-year-old woman from Jerusalem may set a legal precedent regarding religiously-motivated gender segregation in Israels public spaces. A lawsuit filed by Renee Rabinowitz against national airline El Al, first reported in the New York Times on Friday, centers on the airlines decision to ask her to move seats because an ultra-Orthodox man refused to sit next to a woman. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter This issue is very important to me, and thats why it was important for what happened to me to be published, Rabinowitz told Ynet. This is behavior that systematically harms womens dignity, and action must be taken so incidents like this dont reoccur, she said. Its a principle. Rabinowitz, who moved to Israel from the United States about a decade ago, said she is not opposed to the ultra-Orthodox. Born in Belgium, her family fled the Nazi occupation in 1941, and received a religious education. She said she married rabbis twice and she still observes the Shabbat. Whats more, one of her grandsons is ultra-Orthodox. The ultra-Orthodox populations idea is wonderful, as long as they dont tell me what to do, she said. Despite all my accomplishments and my age is also an accomplishment I felt minimized, Rabinowitz told the New York Times. Rabinowitz, who walks with a cane, agreed to move to a better seat that was closer to first class. For me this is not personal, Rabinowitz told the newspaper. It is intellectual, ideological and legal. I think to myself, here I am, an older woman, educated, Ive been around the world, and some guy can decide that I shouldnt sit next to him. Why? News / Local by Staff Reporter Members of the Zimbabwean Prison and Correction Service have been nabbed for allegedly stealing $51 000 from their staff canteen whilst the forth one is on the run.According to Chronicle, the four are alleged to have siphoned the cash from the canteen where they were responsible for buying and selling of goods over a period of one year.The scam was exposed after a ZPCS internal audit conducted in December.Sources from the prison identified the four as Alwerd Smuskwe, 43, Stanley Mashingaidze, 35, Edward Tabarira, 38, and Edson Manjekwa who is on the run.ZPCS regional public relations officer for Matabeleland, principal prison officer Garainashe Moyo said the issue is still under investigation. News / National by Stephen Jakes ZimFirst leader Maxwell Shumba has accused former Vice President Joice Mujuru of confusing the people by using his party names."For how long should we continue to swat this fly?" Shumba said.Mujuru's party is called Zimbabwe People First a name almost similar to ZimFirst led by Shumba."We currently are inundated with questions from concerned people who are confused with the names which have taken Zimbabwean politics by storm-both ZimFirst names-People First which the Mujuru Party is using and Zimbabwe First. This issue has become a big distraction to our activities," he said."It's very sad and unfortunate that she decided to come into opposition politics riding on our back."Shumba said their answer to those who are confused and are asking the questions surrounding the names was that 'People First and Zimbabwe First are one and same."They are intellectual and legal properties of Zimbabwe First. We will stop her from using it period. The time and place to so are our choosing. We do reserve the right to act in any shape and form to stop her from riding on our back' There you have it," Shumba said. News / National by Stephen Jakes Harare Residents Trust has claimed that the Senior Principal Director in the Office of the President and Cabinet, S. Mhlanga, says Zimbabwe is still stuck in the 1951 governance systems that is why it is failing to move forward in terms of economic progress."The Senior Principal Director in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Mr S. Mhlanga told delegates to a stakeholders meeting by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing that Zimbabwe's systems of Governance are stuck at 1951, meaning they are 65 years behind," the trust said.He reportedly urged the local authorities to try as much as possible to cut down on the length of time taken to complete basic processing of documents, for example, approving of plans, and advertising in newspapers.Mhlanga is said to have questioned the rationale of keeping on the council's regulations and by laws the requirement to advertise in newspapers when most people have no access to newspapers.He also reportedly asked why it was necessary to wait for 28 days in some instances simply to have one process of signing a document done."Most of the requirements are archaic," the trust said. News / National by Stephen Jake Gwanda Senator Bheki Sibanda has said the punishment of most ministers for corruption have proved to be their dismissal from the potfolios which he said does not match their offence.Speaking during senate Sibanda said he believe that the negative performance of the economy is due to a 'laissez faire' attitude, corruption, our failure to listen to each other and also due to incompetence."If you wrote an examination ten times and did not pass it eight to ten times, you have failed to do your job," he said."It was also raised during debate that we need to prove that there is corruption in this country. I urge all Senators to regularly refer to the Auditor-General's Report on the goings on at Air Zimbabwe, the Willowgate scandal where it was explained that the Ministers were punished by being demoted. I am sorry that most of us in this country believe that the punishment did not equal the offence"Sibanda said he also believe that they cannot question the existence of corruption in this county after the Vice President and Chief Justice of this country participated in an anti-corruption launch."In 'IsiNdebele' we say that, you cannot query whether a goat is male or female because it is obvious. Therefore, I do not see any reason why anybody should be asked to prove that there is corruption in this county," he said."Now, I will move on and talk about the issue of questioning the usefulness of the GNU (Government of National Unity). I will not argue the case for the GNU as I did not actively participate in the GNU. Those who participated in the GNU have put a clear case about how helpful the GNU was. I will only quote what the President said. The President in an interview with CNN said, "The Inclusive Government is a real power-sharing agreement, do not denigrate it."He said what are the future prospects of our economic thrust?"I want to believe that it is within the capacity of Zimbabweans to re-engineer and redirect this economy. We are capable, history says we are capable, as we have overcome numerous problems to deal with issues in this nation. I insist that unless we put our heads together, come together and recognise that the Zimbabwean society is bigger than the three to four political parties that may be involved, we are not likely to get out of this economic quandary," he said."I therefore urge that my two suggestions that we should get together sit down and explore all the possibilities about redirecting our economy. I will skip the second suggestion but having made those observations, I would like to propose that this Senate adopts the Motion that I raised and once again I would like to sincerely thank the entire Senate and encourage the Senate to engage in more robust debate each time issues of national importance are raised." They roam around in the background, sometimes in the open, but are always on call. Whoever you want: plain-clothed police officers, intelli... New York: In the wake of global warming and considering the fact that it takes Mother Nature 1,000 years to grow a forest, researchers have created the world's first cyberforest to help predict the effect of climate change. Researchers at Washington State University Vancouver created the first computer simulation that grows realistic forests down to the branches, leaves and roots of individual trees. The model, which they called LES, uses recent advances in computing power to grow 100100-meter stands of drought and shade tolerant trees that can then be scaled up to actual forest size. We call our model LES after the Russian word for forest, said Nikolay Strigul, assistant professor at Washington State University (WSU) Vancouver, who grew up in Russia and came to the US in 2001. Strigul says it is a tool that forest managers can use to create 3D representations of their own forests and simulate what will happen to them in the future. The model is unique in several ways. First, it is the only forest-growing simulator that creates intricate root systems and canopy structures for each tree. Previous forest simulators could either grow one or the other. Below ground, the roots of different trees in LES compete for water resources in each pixel of the model. Above ground, the leaves in each trees canopy compete for sunlight in a similar fashion. Over time, the trees canopies change shape to expose their leaves to more sunlight. The researchers use a combination of data from the US Department of Agricultures Forest Inventory and Analysis Program and other forestry databases, as well as aerial reconnaissance from UAVs, to customize their model to particular forests. The simulator lets scientists project how changing climate conditions will impact forests over thousands of years. In cooperation with the US Forest Service, we developed a method where we fly drones around a forest and take pictures and gather other imaging information, said Jean Lienard, a mathematics postdoctoral researcher at WSU. We use this data to develop 3D models that have real distributions of space and ecological features, Lienard added. They found that climate change is leading to more frequent drought, warmer weather and other varying natural conditions in large parts of North America. Researchers hope their model can help predict if forests are at risk of desertification or other climate change-related processes and identify what can be done to conserve these systems. The research has been published in the journal Royal Society Open Science. Panaji: Amid allegations of land acquisition by the Opposition, the BJP in Goa on Saturday said that it stands by the state government's decision to hold Defence Expo in the state. "There is no opposition for (holding) Defence Expo in the state. Only few people are trying to create problems. But majority of the people want Defence Expo to happen," Goa BJP unit president Vinay Tendulkar told PTI. BJP workers have decided to scuttle the opposition as the event would span only for four days and it is temporary in nature, he said. Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar yesterday said the government was determined to hold the event at Betul village under any circumstances. "When Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar visited the site at Betul village, the party workers had gathered in large numbers. The workers were from the constituency where the event is planned," Tendulkar said. He said the state government has already made it clear that the structures that would be put up will be of temporary nature and would be removed after the event. "There is no issue of land acquisition. The opposition for the project is baseless," he said. Defexpo 2016 is scheduled between March 28-31. Agitators led by Goa Congress chief Luizinho Faleiro, local legislator Chandrakant Kavlekar and Independent MLA Vijai Sardesai and several NGOs have been opposing the decision to hold Defexpo in the state, claiming that the locals were not taken into confidence. The Opposition leaders have been thwarting the construction work at the site. New Delhi: For decades, members of Nehru-Gandhi family have been revered in textbooks read out in schools across the country. And now, the Gandhi scion too has found a space in this section. A class 5 CBSE English guidebook, which is prescribed by several schools across India, has a passage on Rahul Gandhi which glorifies his persona. The passage in the book titled Together with English (CCE-based 5) reads, Part of the fifth generation of India's most revered, influential and charismatic political family, Rahul Gandhi is also , like sister Priyanka, natural at public life. The low profile Rahul surprised the nation with his energy, humility and charisma when he plunged into electoral politics. Sceptics wondered whether this young man, who had spent most of his life in the US and Britain would be able to adjust to rough-and-tumble of Indian political life. But not only did the young Rahul take to politics like proverbial duck to water, he also exhibited impressive confidence and maturity. Today, he is very much part of the Congress party's new crop of bright young politicians. The book has been written by Meera Wadhwa and published by Rachna Sagar Pvt Limited, Delhi. Deepshikha Shrivastav, Principal of Rajhans Vidyalay (CBSE), Andheri told DNA, CBSE doesnt prescribe any book up to class 8. So, schools are free to select their books from private publishers. Moreover, this is a guidebook which we dont prescribe. Another principal termed the book as fiction. Speaking to DNA team, the officials of Rachna Sagar publication admitted that the book is widely being used but refused to comment further. Our director will call you after sometime, said an editorial desk member. However, there was no communication from the publication. Twitter was abuzz when the page from the guidebook went viral. Here's how the Twitterati reacted: CBSE made Rahul Gandhi a national hero!!! (lol-wa) #Tributes2Ramsevaks pic.twitter.com/qhwMV4xbiz Darshan Tamuli (@thehangoverpoet) February 27, 2016 Bhopal: Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh on Saturday again chose to target Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani, this time over her choice of party and said that before joining the BJP she approached the Congress Party for membership. Irani is caught in a number of controversies over her statements in Parliament this week. The AICC general secretary alleged that she was in touch with several senior AICC leaders at that time. He, however, did not reveal any further details. "I have confirmed information that she came to Congress party leaders because she wanted to join the organisation. She cannot deny it. We are surprised that the woman who used to demand Narendra Modi's resignation from chief minister's post after Gujarat riots is today such a devotee of the Prime Minister that she says anything and gets away with it," TOI quoted Singh as saying. Singh was in Bhopal on Saturday to appear before a local court after he was served an arrest warrant in a recruitment case. "The HRD minister on 25 Dec 2002 had vowed to a hunger protest on Atal Bihari Vajpayee's birthday because she wanted action taken against Narendra Modi. Today, she is teaching us religion and patriotism. We want to know if she is the HRD minister or minister for religious endowments," he was quoted as saying. Earlier, the Congress leader had also targeted Smriti Irani over her educational qualification saying that "We have an HRD minister whose educational qualifications changes with every election nomination affidavit. The Prime Minister tweeted Satyamev Jayate after Smriti Irani's speech in Parliament. May we now please have the Satyamev Jayate about her educational qualifications?" News / National by Stephen Jakes Zanu PF MP Psychology Maziwisa has mocked MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu for trying to defend his leader Morgan Tsvangirai over the issue of loose morals after pictures of him with skimpily dress women was exposed on the social media."Whenever Obert Gutu is called upon to defend his party's mistakes and Mr Tsvangirai's often scandalous behaviour, history warns us to be extremely cautious. For the fact is that Gutu is in the habit of lying - and usually catastrophically so," he said."With a shameful and breath-taking arrogance, the MDC-T's hapless and incompetent spin doctor denied yesterday that the pictures of his party leader posing with erotic women were genuine. But as so often happens when one takes propaganda a little too far, Gutu's attempted cover-up went horribly wrong."He said the MDC-T leader admitted the photos were authentic."For Mr Tsvangirai himself, this has been a professional and personal calamity. It is now obvious that he is unable to honour his promise to the people of Zimbabwe that he is capable of being a 'morally upright and exemplary' opposition leader," said Maziwisa."But this has been especially embarrassing for Obert Gutu. Long regarded as the worst spokesman in the history of the MDC-T, he has been further exposed as a habitual liar who should now be presumed to be lying whenever his lips are moving." New Delhi: Amid ongoing fiasco over the anti-national sloganeering in the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University , the new posters in the university campus attacked Indian government on the Kashmir issue and termed the country as a 'jail of different nationalities'. Reports suggests that the posters were put up on Saturday night. These poster are likely to add to the ongoing controversy over the anti-India and pro-Afzal Guru sloganeering in the university campus row. Police are interrogating the xerox shop owners outside the university campus to trace the persons behind these posters. The prestigious university has been at the centre of the controversy after a video of the event went viral in the media. The video shows a group of students shouting anti-India slogans. So far police have arrested JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar and two other students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya have been taken under custody by the police over sedition charges. Another JNU student Ashutosh, also wanted in the sedition case, surrendered before the police on Saturday. New Delhi: A local court here on Saturday extended the police custody of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, arrested in sedition charges for allegedly raising "anti-India" slogans, by two more days. The Delhi court had on Wednesday sent the duo to three-day police custody, even though the police had asked for a seven-day custody. Umar and Anirban had earlier moved the High Court seeking protection in order to surrender but the court, while directing the students to surrender, adjourned the hearing for protection till Wednesday. Refusing to grant interim protection against arrest for a day, the Delhi High Court had asked Umar and Anirban to inform it about the date, time and place where they wish to surrender. Both the students had surrendered before police in the midnight on Tuesday outside a gate of the university. A case against Khalid and Bhattacharya was registered at Vasant Kunj police station. Kanhaiya was arrested in a sedition case on February 12 after the event held on the university campus against the execution of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. He allegedly shouted anti-India slogans at the event. Belgaum: Addressing a huge farmers' rally here in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that unlike his predecessors his ministers were able to firmly deal with the issue of corruption and even the Opposition didn't get any opportunity to point finger at his government. When I took power in Delhi, the entire country was suffering because of corruption, but today due to our good governance even our opposition hasn't made made any allegation of corruption against us, Modi said. Lauding his government's achievements, the prime minister said that the entire world is today looking up to India as a ray of hope. He said that despite recession in major economies of the world, India has been able to grow at a fast pace. BJP MP BS Yeddyurappa was also present at the rally. His meeting with the farmers is part of the efforts to address the needs of farmers and tell them about his government's flagship programme for farmers Prime Minister Fasal Bima Yojana. Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the prime minister's address at the Shigoan in Angadi Technical Institute College grounds. He also underscored the need for interlinking rivers for better water management. If we promote agriculture, manufacturing and service sector simultaneously, we can overcome any crisis, he said. Bhopal: Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh was on Saturday granted bail by a court here in connection with an alleged recruitment scam at Assembly Secretariat here which took place when he was Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Singh appeared before the Special District and Sessions Judge Kashinath Singh. He was accompanied by MP Congress president Arun Yadav, former Union Minister Suresh Pachouri and his lawyer Vivek Tankha at around 11.30 am. Special District and Sessions Judge Kashinath Singh had on Friday issued the warrant after the Congress general secretary, an accused in the alleged scam, did not turn up in the court where a 169-page supplementary chargesheet was filed yesterday. Talking to news agency ANI, Singh had on Friday announced that he would surrender before the court on Saturday. The Madhya Pradesh Police can arrest me if they want, added Singh. Earlier today, the Congress leader tweeted: BJP wakes up after 20 years to file a case against me where there is no charge of corruption. Bound to happen after I took up VYAPAM scam. digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) February 27, 2016 Makes my resolve stronger to fight these forces of Fascism. digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) February 27, 2016 The Rajya Sabha member was summoned by prosecuting agency the MP Police - to attend the court proceedings. The seven other accused, including KK Kaushal and AK Pyasi - who appeared in the court - were granted bail after they furnished a personal security bond of Rs 30,000 each. Kaushal and Pyasi were employees of the Secretariat. The Court has fixed March 14 for hearing. Ahead of filing the chargesheet last year, police had grilled the veteran Congressman for five hours in connection with the scam. The scam pertains to alleged irregularities in recruitment in MP Assembly Secretariat here between 1993 and 2003 when Singh was Chief Minister. Last year, Singh had reportedly told investigators that all recruitments in the Secretariat during his tenure were done with the approval of State Cabinet and as per prescribed rules. The accused have been charged with forgery, cheating, conspiracy and misuse of office as well as offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. (With PTI inputs) Chandigarh: Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi convenor Arvind Kejriwal, who is on a five-day visit to Punjab, faced protest, black flags and 'Go Back Kejriwal' posters on Friday. Hundreds of Shrimoni Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers staged protest at Teja Ruhela, Paakan and Mhatam Naar village in Fazilka. As per reports, the protest was held against the Delhi CM for allgedly backing JNU students, accused of raising anti-national slogans. However, Kejriwal, who later visited the residence of Bheem Tank, a Dalit youth who was murdered, was given a warm welcome by BJP state secretary Sandeep Rinwa. Despite the protest launched by SAD and BJP parties, Kejriwal's public meeting attracted huge crowd, that cheered for him. According to a report published in Indian Express, AAP leader Bhagwant Mann tagged the protestors as 'Goons of Punjab deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal'. Addressing to people, Kejriwal reportedly said that 'similar goons were hired by BJP to cause disruptions to AAP during Delhi Assembly polls'. He also attacked Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and accused him of organising protest against him during his Punjab visit. Let Sukhbir Badal organise protests against me. He will see the miracle in 2017 polls, when there will be no opposition (for AAP) at all in the Vidhan Sabha, Indian Express quoted Kejriwal as saying. New Delhi: Dharamvira Gandhi, one of four AAP MPs from Punjab, says he won't support the party if it inducts "corrupt and tainted leaders" from other parties for the Punjab assembly polls. His statement comes at a time when Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal began a five-day tour of Punjab on Thursday to oversee the election preparations. "I can see Punjab is ready for change. I, along with my people, will not allow the tyrannical rule of the Akali Dal-BJP combine and the perennially corrupt Congress to make a comeback," Gandhi, 64, told IANS. "At the same time, I will see to it that my party puts up good and clean candidates and that volunteers are respected. We will not allow corrupt turncoats to dominate the scene," the Patiala-based Gandhi added. "If people with dubious economic and political background are given plum posts in AAP ignoring volunteers, we will oppose them," he added. A cardiologist by profession, Gandhi was one of the four AAP candidates elected to the Lok Sabha in 2014. All four winners -- from among the about 400 the AAP fielded nationwide -- came from Punjab. But Gandhi fell into Kejriwal`s bad books as he moved closer to AAP leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan who were later expelled from the party. Initially designated leader of the AAP group in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi was suspended from the party`s primary membership in August when he attended a meeting of disgruntled party activists. Gandhi told IANS that the onus of taking him along in Punjab lay with the AAP leaders who he says suspended him on frivolous grounds. "It is they who suspended me from the party on the plea that I attended a volunteers` meet organised in Amritsar against certain policies of the party. "To go there and listen to volunteers is my fundamental right. They are not from other parties but our people. It is my right as a member of a party and as a concerned citizen to listen to those who worked day and night for us," he said. "It was not a secretive gathering. There were 3,000 volunteers who had a lot of questions about the functioning of the party and its leadership. I went to listen to their grievances and find a solution. Just because I went there, they (AAP) suspended me in a knee-jerk reaction. For six long months, they have neither expelled me from the party nor have they taken me in. This shows they are on weak ground," said a visibly upset Gandhi. The AAP plans to contest elections to the 117-member Punjab assembly in what will be its first major electoral battle after it was swept to power in Delhi in February last year. Kejriwal has claimed the AAP is poised to sweep Punjab amid speculation that some leaders of the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party may shift to the AAP. Gandhi said: "Let them practise Swaraj, the core of the ideology on which AAP was built, I will be with them. "Let them have transparency and accountability in the party, let them choose candidates through a democratic process, I will support them. "But if they don`t do it, I cannot support turncoats." Gandhi also hit out at Kejriwal loyalist Sanjay Singh, who is overseeing the AAP in Punjab. "Sanjay Singh and Durgesh Pathak have no business here. Punjab belongs to Punjabis as Delhi belongs to people there. Every party has observers. They (observers) come for two days and go back. But here these guys have put up permanent camps in Punjab. "If representatives of a region don`t have autonomy in party affairs, how will they function in a diverse country like India then?" Gandhi asked. The MP also said he won`t meet Kejriwal during his Punjab trip. "Why should I go and see him when no one has approached me or even bothered to inform me?" Zee Media Bureau New Delhi: NASA's space telescope Hubble was launched into space in 1990. 26 years later, the largest space telescope still remains in operation. With its 2.4-meter (7.9 ft) mirror, near ultraviolet, visible and near infrared spectra, Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has sent back extremely high-resolution images with negligible background light. Hubble has recorded some of the most detailed visible-light images ever, allowing a deep view into space and time. Many Hubble observations have led to breakthroughs in astrophysics, such as accurately determining the rate of expansion of the universe. This time, NASA has released another image beamed back by Hubble, which shows a bright and shining Wolf-Rayet star, also known as WR 31a, located about 30,000 light years away in the constellation of Carina (The Keel). But that's not all! The star seems to be enclosed in a distinctive blue bubble, called Wolf-Rayet nebula. According to NASA, the bubble is an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen, helium and other gases. Created when speedy stellar winds interact with the outer layers of hydrogen ejected by WolfRayet stars, these nebulae are frequently ring-shaped or spherical. The bubble estimated to have formed around 20,000 years ago is expanding at a rate of around 220,000 kilometers (136,700 miles) per hour! Muzaffarnagar: Hundreds of people from backward classes community took out a silent protest march here today demanding withdrawal of reservations given to Jats in Uttar Pradesh. People, under the banner of Backward Action Morcha, took out the march from Pal 'dharmshala' to the collectorate and submitted a six-point memorandum, addressed to the President, to the district collector. They also demanded action against those involved in violence during the pro-reservation stir by the Jats in Haryana and said they should booked under sedition law. They demanded enhanced security for BJP MP from Kurukshetra Parliamentary constituency Raj Kumar Saini, who had disapproved reservation fro Jats. Among those who participated in the protest included were lawyers, former Samajwadi Party district president Satyendra Saini and former Gram Pradhan Narendra Saini among others. Mathura: Vishva Hindu Parishad leader Pravin Togadia on Saturday demanded the central government pass laws providing for death penalty for cow slaughter and to build Ram Temple in Ayodhya. "Notwithstanding the pendency of the case (regarding the Ram Temple issue) in the court, the union government should pass a legislation for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya," the International Working President of VHP said. Speaking after inaugurating a religious programme in Vrindavan, Togadia also said the central government should enact a law for punishing cow slaughter with death penalty. He appealed to the Muslim community if they are aware of the elements who involve in cow slaughter they should disclose their names so that innocent people don't get harassed. On the JNU row, the VHP leader said, "the problem came up since no action was taken against anti-national elements in Kashmir. Unless stern action is taken against such elements, the problem may arise in other parts of the country." "Afzal (Guru, the Parliament attack convict) was an anti-national and a traitor and those supporting him should be hanged," he said. On the recent killing of a VHP activist in Agra, he said government should take stringent action against those involved in the attack. He said the 10-day pro-reservation protest by the Jat community in Haryana was a result of wrong economic policies of the government and "unless job opportunities are provided to the youths such demands may come from other sections of the society as well. Dhaka: A Bangladeshi court today sent three members of a banned Islamist group, who were arrested in connection with the brutal killing of a head priest of a Hindu temple, to 18-day police custody for their interrogation in the case, the latest incident of violence targeting religious minorities in the Muslim-majority country. With the arrest of the three members of the outlawed Jamaat'ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), including the mastermind of the assault, during raids in Panchagarh and Nilphamari districts yesterday, police claimed to have completely solved the murder case. "We have been able to completely crack the case," police's deputy inspector general for the region Humayun Kabir told media, adding that they directly carried out the murder of the priest. The three JMB activists ? identified as Alamgir Hossain, 35, Harez Ali, 32 and Ramzan Ali, 22 ? were produced in a Panchagarh court under heavy security and were remanded in 18-day police custody for questioning. So far, six persons have been arrested in connection with the killing. Three others who were arrested earlier were placed under 15-day custody for interrogation. "No lawyer appeared at the court to defend the three," a journalist in Panchagargh told PTI as he was reached in Dhaka by phone. The chief priest of Hindu temple Sri Sri Shantu Santo Gaurio, 50-year-old Jagneshwar Roy, was slaughtered on February 21 in Sonapota village, near the border with India, in a pre-dawn attack by the assailants who also injured two Hindu devotees before fleeing on a motorbike. The Islamic State had claimed the brutal killing of the priest. However, police dismissed the claim and said that JMB operatives committed the murder. The priest's murder was the first attack on a Hindu priest and the fifth assault on minority religious communities including Shia Muslims and liberal Sufi preachers in the past six months by suspected Islamists. Hindus make the Sunni-majority country's largest minority with nearly 10 per cent of the total population of 160 million. News / National by Stephen Jakes An official from the City Health Promotions department Mrs Chipunza has embarked on educating residents on the symptoms and prevention of typhoid. Residents are concerned with the smelly water from the City of Harare, the inconsistent refuse collections.Harare Residents Trust reported that it held a community public meeting to facilitate residents' engagement on the latest typhoid outbreak."An official from the City Health Promotions department Mrs Chipunza educated residents on the symptoms and prevention of typhoid. Residents are concerned with the smelly water from the City of Harare, the inconsistent refuse collections. Ward 29 Councilor Thomas Chineka told residents that Council water is clean and safe for consumption, and the smell and colour changing was probably becuase of the treatment chemicals and the rust along the distribution network," the Trust said."The HRT Director Mr Precious Shumba said the organisation was founded on the strength of prayer and fasting with a lot of people having coming together at different places, Mutoko and Bindura mountains. These key principles and values of faith in God drive the work of the HRT.""So every leader within the HRT structures must have this grounding that whatever we do, we must trust that human beings can only do something, but God decides everything,"Shumba said."The leadership of the HRT understands this value and are urged to remain humble all the time, and never at any point boast about anything, because God wants people who demonstrate love and humility. Leadership in the HRT must be directly connected to the heart of God and therefore will see, think and hear the things God wants them to do. Remain committed to serving the people from diverse backgrounds and experiences."The HRT's mandate is to equip the citizens with knowledge and understanding of their duties, obligations and rights to society, including their relationship with various levels of Government from local to national. Toronto: A Canadian court has stopped the extradition of a woman and his brother to India to face trial for the honour killing of her daughter over concerns that they may not get justice in the country. Malkit Sidhu and brother Surjit Badesha, accused in the slaying of Jaswinder Kaur Sidhu, have been granted a judicial review by the British Columbia Appeal Court of the extradition order on grounds that they may not receive a fair trial in India, CBC news reported. In its judgment released on Friday, the court said that, in the light of India's human rights record, it was not reasonable to accept India's assurances over the future health and safety of the accused. Canadian-born Jaswinder Sidhu was found dead, her throat slit, in Punjab in 2000. She was 25. Her mother Malkit, 65, and uncle Surjit, 70, were arrested in 2012, suspected of a so-called "honour killing". They are accused of killing Jaswinder after she married Mithu Sidhu, a rickshaw driver she had met in India a few years earlier. Her family did not approve of the match. Jaswinder and her husband were attacked as they rode a scooter in a village near Sangrur, Punjab, in June 2000. Her husband was severely beaten and left for dead while she was kidnapped and later killed. Her body was left in a canal. Investigations in India confirmed that the murder was an honour killing plotted by Jaswinder's mother Malkit and her uncle Surjit while the duo were in Canada. Former justice minister Peter MacKay ordered their surrender to face charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, conditional on assurances from India that they would not face the death penalty, that their health and safety would be protected in custody, and they would get consular access. In January 2015, MacKay wrote to the accused's counsel, saying he had received assurances from India, and that he considered them satisfactory. That decision was then appealed. Bangkok: A car bomb detonated outside an urban police station in Thailand`s restive south Saturday, injuring at least seven people and offering a reminder of the region`s simmering violence as the ruling junta eyes full peace talks with the insurgents. The explosive, hidden inside a passenger car, was set off in the middle of the day in the capital of Pattani province, one of three Muslim-majority states wracked by rebellion in the kingdom`s southern tail. "The bomb was put in a Honda Jazz, which was stolen from a nearby village this morning," provincial police commander Major General Thanongsak Wangsupa told AFP. More than 6,000 people have died in 10 years of near-daily violence between state security forces and the loose network of Muslim insurgents, who are seeking greater autonomy from Buddhist-majority Thailand, which annexed the region a century ago. Saturday`s bomb injured at least six police officers and one civilian and sent plumes of black smoke streaming into the sky. The wounded have been hospitalised for burns and other critical injuries from the explosion, emergency workers said. Thailand`s military, which seized control of the entire country in a 2014 coup, has been reaching out to some representatives from the shadowy insurgent network in an effort to start full-scale peace talks. Similar negotiations spearheaded by the former ousted government faltered amid criticisms that they did not include representatives from all of the militant factions. Details on the internal workings of the insurgent network are scant, as the groups rarely make public statements or claim responsibility for their attacks. Critics have cast doubt on the junta`s peace efforts, pointing to routine human rights violations in the region that have bred a deep mistrust of the military among locals. The region has been governed by emergency laws for the past decade that grant authorities sweeping powers to arrest and detain suspects without warrants. In a report released earlier this year, rights groups accused the army of torturing scores of detainees with impunity in its efforts to extinguish the rebellion. The report`s researchers said the situation has deteriorated since Thailand`s 2014 coup. Washington: Ahead of next week`s "Super Tuesday" nomination contests in 11 states, Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump got a significant boost with the surprise endorsement of New Jersey governor Chris Christie. Christie`s bombshell on Friday, which may well change the dynamics of the Republican race came a day after Trump`s two main rivals - Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz - ganged up against him in a CNN debate that turned into a virtual brawl. Hours later, Maine`s Republican governor Paul LePage, who was a supporter of Christie before he ended his presidential bid, also announced his endorsement of Trump. Christie`s announcement robbed Florida senator Rubio, who is trailing Trump by about 20 points in his home state, of whatever momentum he might have gained from Thursday`s feisty debate exchanges with the frontrunner. Christie, who dropped his presidential bid earlier this month after his poor performance in New Hampshire, showed up unannounced at a Trump event in Fort Worth, Texas to endorse the real estate mogul. Christie, who had tormented Rubio in a previous debate, again hit out at him as he announced his support for Trump, who he said was destined to win the Republican nomination and was the best person to slug it out with Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton. Trump accompanied his rollout of Christie with a stream of invective against Rubio as their debate night brawl spilled onto the campaign trail. Trump branded Rubio a "low life," "a nasty little guy," a "basket case" and "a choker" who sweated so much he had to put makeup on with a trowel. Rubio, in turn, suggested Friday morning that Trump was a "con artist" who was worried about wetting his pants and mocked his spelling before a delighted crowd in Texas. Asked about whether he would consider Christie as his running mate should he win the nomination, Trump said he didn`t "want to discuss that," but added: "He`s certainly got the talent." Trump has previously said that he would pick a running mate with political experience, and not someone from the private sector like himself. The New York Times, which too came under attack by Trump as "dishonest" and "the absolute worst,", dismissed "the bombastic governor`s" announcement as a "Bully Bromance" even as it acknowledged how it might give a significant boost to Trump. The Washington Post, which Trump alleged had been bought by Amazon founder and chief executive Jeffrey P. Bezos "to have political influence," asked in an editorial: "Is Mr. Trump a threat to democracy?" Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, multiple polls show Hillary Clinton with a dominant lead over rival Senator Bernie Sanders in the South Carolina primary on Saturday. Clinton played up her allegiance to President Barack Obama at a rally and pledged to continue fighting for tougher gun laws. Sanders also held two rallies in South Carolina, but black women, a crucial demographic that helped lift Obama over Clinton in 2008, appear to be leaning heavily toward Clinton this time, the New York Times said. Attica: More than 5,000 people were trapped at the Idomeni camp on Greece`s northern border with Macedonia on Saturday after four Balkan countries announced a daily cap on migrant arrivals. The buildup began in earnest last week after Macedonia began refusing entry to Afghans and imposed stricter document controls on Syrians and Iraqis, slowing the passage of migrants and refugees to a trickle. And the situation looked set to worsen significantly after Slovenia and Croatia, both EU members, and Serbia and Macedonia said they would restrict the number of daily arrivals to 580. The tighter controls have left thousands -- including many children -- stranded in Greece, as the bloc`s worst migration crisis since World War II shows no sign of abating. By Saturday, some 5,500 people were stranded at Idomeni, local police said, with another 800 gathered at another provisional camp some 20 kilometres (12 miles) away. Since Thursday night, only 150 people have crossed into Macedonia, officials said, putting the total number of refugees and migrants currently on Greek soil at around 25,000. Tensions were running high along the border with some 400 people protesting by the Idomeni crossing early on Saturday, demanding that the Macedonian authorities let them in. Friday`s announcement by four Balkan states came a week after Austria said it would only allow 80 people claim asylum per day, and also pledged to limit the daily number of people crossing the country to 3,200. The move has sparked a bitter spat between Athens and Vienna, with Greece fearful it would trigger a domino effect, leaving thousands stranded on its territory. Austria has repeatedly accused Greece of failing to police its borders properly and allowing an excessively-high number of migrants to continue their journey northwards to western Europe. "Europe can`t be indifferent to those of our partners who don`t respect their obligations," Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos said on Saturday, referring to the border restrictions. Last week, the EU told Austria that limiting asylum claims was "plainly incompatible" with European and international laws. "It`s not our vision to become the subsidised border guards of Europe," deputy prime minister Yiannis Dragasakis said Friday. In a bid to regulate the flow of refugees until the border situation is resolved, Greek authorities are trying to house them on the islands where they land by boat from neighbouring Turkey. On Saturday morning, another 437 people landed in Pireaus port, Athens News Agency said. Washington: The Democratic presidential nomination race shifts to South Carolina on Saturday, with Hillary Clinton banking on the black vote to beat Bernie Sanders and gain momentum ahead of the multi-state "Super Tuesday" contests next week. But in a blow to Clinton on the eve of the vote, Sanders picked up the endorsement of former labor secretary Robert Reich -- who served under president Bill Clinton. "I have the deepest respect and admiration for Hillary Clinton, and if she wins the Democratic primary I`ll work my heart out to help her become president," Reich said in a statement. "But I believe Bernie Sanders is the agent of change this nation so desperately needs." Clinton leads in the delegate count at this early stage, winning two of the first three nomination contests -- in Iowa, narrowly, and then in Nevada. And in South Carolina, where a little more than half (55 percent) of voters in the 2008 Democratic primary were African American, Clinton is favored to win. Team Clinton -- former president Bill, daughter Chelsea and Hillary -- campaigned heavily Friday at churches, coffee shops and universities to ensure a victory. "She`s battle-tested and can beat the Republicans in November. That`s important to the question of electability," Chelsea Clinton told students at the College of Charleston. She acknowledged Democrats probably won`t take back the House of Representatives, "so we have to have a president who knows when to stand your ground, but also knows how to find common ground." The candidate, meanwhile, shared a light moment with bridegroom Joe Schreck and his 10 groomsmen at a Charleston cafe, where they had just ordered a round of Bloody Marys. "I love having men at my feet," Clinton joked as they posed for a group photo, a few of the men kneeling around her. Some Clinton supporters say Senator Sanders, a transplanted New Yorker and self-declared democratic socialist who now represents Vermont, is little known in the south. "He hasn`t been in the eye of the public as long as Hillary has," said health insurance worker Olivia Brown, 26. Her mother, 57-year-old science teacher Sharon Williams, added that Clinton is a "household name." "She doesn`t give up. She has a very strong fighting spirit. She`s able to always pull along, to find another way to come back and restart her goals." Clinton, 68, once the clear-cut favorite, now seems at times to be sputtering against the upstart Sanders. In South Carolina, her campaign is hammering the message that she is the only candidate who can break down barriers still preventing minorities from getting ahead. She notes specifically the cost of college education and the need to reduce the disparity between prison sentences meted out to young black offenders and those given to young whites. "Right now there are barriers, economic barriers, health barriers, education barriers. We also have to be honest about systemic racism, which is still a problem in America," Clinton said at a town hall in North Charleston.Sanders, 74, was in South Carolina Friday for a rally and concert but his prospects in the state are poor and he has invested few resources here. Instead, he is focusing on states like Ohio and Minnesota that vote in March, when a whopping 45 percent of the delegates who will attend the nominating convention are up for grabs. That means Reich`s endorsement may have come at just the right time. "He`s leading a movement to reclaim America for the many, not the few," Reich said of Sanders. Since he entered the campaign last year, Sanders has made up some lost ground with minorities in terms of face and name recognition. Some high-profile African Americans have endorsed him, such as film director Spike Lee and the rapper Killer Mike. The former first lady`s ties with black Americans, while solid, are not without blemishes. One supporter of the "Black Lives Matter" movement criticized Clinton at a private event Wednesday for defending in 1996 her husband`s policies that led to a disproportionately high incarceration rate for young African Americans. Her refusal to publish the text of paid speeches she gave to Wall Street banks and investment firms has also become an issue for some voters. Another sore point for the Clinton campaign is the FBI investigation into her use of a private email server during her tenure as secretary of state. But the candidate said she was not worried. "I am, you know, personally not concerned about it, I think that there will be a resolution on the security inquiry," she told MSNBC. Polls carried out through last week gave Clinton a clear advantage in South Carolina: about 56 percent compared to 28 percent for Bernie Sanders. Things are less clear for Super Tuesday. Clinton is ahead in most of the 11 states that will hold Democratic nominating contests, but Sanders has the edge in Massachusetts and his adopted home state of Vermont. Marilyn Nevalainen was just 15 years old, and pregnant, when she left Sweden with a jihadist recruit, though she did not realise what a mistake she had made until she was in Iraq. Desperate, she called home from the Islamic State stronghold of Mosul in northern Iraq begging for help, and was ultimately rescued by Kurdish forces. On Friday, foreign ministry spokeswoman Veronica Nordlund told AFP that Nevalainen, who is originally from the southwestern Swedish town of Boras, has "returned to Sweden with her family". She landed Thursday in Stockholm with her parents, who had travelled to Iraq several times over the past eight months to try to bring her home, according to regional newspaper Boras Tidning. Police said her boyfriend, a Moroccan who reached Sweden as an unaccompanied minor three years ago, was dead. Kurdish forces rescued the girl near Mosul on February 17, according to a statement from the Kurdistan Regional Security Council. Nordlund would not reveal many details of the rescue, though she confirmed it was the result of "collaboration between the Swedish authorities and foreign governments". In an interview broadcast this week by TV channel Kurdistan 24, the Swede said in broken English that she met her boyfriend in 2014 and that he became radicalised after watching IS videos. "Then he said he wanted to go to ISIS (another acronym for IS) and I said, `Okay, no problem,` because I did not know what ISIS meant or what Islam was," she said. She was pregnant when they left Sweden in May 2015, taking trains and buses across Europe until they finally crossed the border from Turkey to Syria. They were then driven by IS jihadists to Mosul."In my house we had nothing, no electricity, no water, nothing. It was totally different from how I lived in Sweden, because in Sweden we have everything, and when I was there I did not have anything, did not have any money either. It was a very hard life," she said. "When I got a phone, I started to contact my mum and I said I wanted to go home. She contacted the Swedish authorities," she told Kurdistan 24. Swedish media has published desperate text messages she sent her mother while she was stuck in Iraq. "I`m going to die in a bombing or they`re going to beat me to death or I`m going to kill myself mum, really, I don`t have the strength to go on," she wrote. According to Swedish media reports, she gave birth to a son in Iraq. She and the child returned to Sweden together. Her boyfriend, Moktar Mohammed Ahmed, a Moroccan, had come to Sweden alone in August 2013 at the age of 17. "He had been a suspect in a burglary in Stockholm," Ulf Hoffmann, a police investigator, told AFP. The young man, also suspected of drug crimes, was dead, Hoffmann added, without specifying how he had died. In a video posted on the Internet, undated and unauthenticated, Ahmed gives his age (born July 8, 1996) before declaring his hatred of the Swedish "racists". The man`s flight from Sweden coincided with an international arrest warrant issued against him. IS took over Mosul and other parts of Iraq in a lightning offensive in 2014. It has since suffered several setbacks as it faces Iraqi and Kurdish forces on the ground, as well as a US-led aerial campaign. The jihadists also control large swathes of Syria. The group has committed horrific abuses against the civilian population in both war-torn countries, including kidnapping and forcing thousands of women and girls into sexual slavery. je-gab/ser/cah Kabul: In the second deadliest bomb blasts in the Afghan capital, a suicide bomber targeted security forces in PD2 police headquarters here on Saturday evening killing at least nine and injuring thirteen. According to Pajhwok Afghan News, the wounded people and many dead bodies have been immideately rushed to the nearest hospitals. The Pajhwok Afghan News further reported that many ambulances were seen rushing inside the affected area and taking injured people to the nearest hospital. The attack comes hours after at least 10 people were killed and over 40 injured in a suicide bombing in Afghanistans eastern province of Kunar today. A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle detonated his explosives in a market in Asadabad, the provincial capital, 10 people were killed and over 40 were injured, Ghani Mosamem, spokesperson for the provincial governor, as per AFP. Kunar is a restive and remote province that shares a long border with neighbouring Pakistan -- which the Afghan government has accused in the past of harbouring Taliban militants. Delegates from Afghanistan, China, the US and Pakistan met in Kabul last week for a fourth round of talks aimed at forming a path back to the nascent peace process, which was interrupted by last summers announcement that Taliban leader Mullah Omar had died. The fresh peace initiative comes as the insurgents wage an unprecedented winter campaign of violence across Afghanistan, underscoring a worsening security situation, more than 14 years after they were driven out of power by US-led Nato forces. Since the start of the new year, Kabul has seen at least four bomb attacks. A group of unidentified insurgents also targeted the Indian consulate in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif in January. The attacks have coincided with renewed efforts to revive the peace process with the Taliban which broke down in July. A meeting of Afghan, Pakistani, Chinese and US officials is planned in Islamabad next week to lay the ground. (With Agency inputs) Moscow: Russian war planes will not carry out any air strikes in Syria on Saturday in order to support a nascent cessation of hostilities and to avoid accidentally bombing the wrong targets, the Russian defence ministry said. A ceasefire agreement entered into force at midnight under a U.S.-Russia plan which the United Nations has called the best hope for peace in the five-year conflict. "Given the entry into force of the U.N. Security Council resolution that supports the Russian-American agreements on a ceasefire, and to avoid any possible mistakes when carrying out strikes, Russian military planes, including long-range aviation, are not carrying out any flights over Syrian territory on Feb. 27," the defence ministry said. Sergei Rudskoi, a lieutenant-general in the Russian air force, told reporters at a news briefing that Moscow had sent the United States a list of 6,111 fighters who had signed up to the ceasefire deal and a detailed list of 74 populated areas which should not be bombed. Rudskoi said hostilities on the ground had been halted in 34 areas mainly in the Hama and Homs provinces. The Kremlin has made clear that the temporary truce does not apply to Islamic State and al Qaeda affiliate the Nusra Front. Masvingo: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, the world`s oldest leader, hosts lavish celebrations to mark his 92nd birthday on Saturday at a time of severe drought and increasing friction over his succession. Tens of thousands of party loyalists, officials and members of the public are expected to attend a day of concerts, street parades and parties in Masvingo in the south-east of the country. "Organisers have been working flat-out to ensure the celebrations are a success," Simon Khaya-Moyo, spokesman for the ruling ZANU-PF party told AFP. "Everything is in place and we are looking forward to tremendous events." Mugabe, who turned 92 last Sunday, has ruled for 36 years during an era marked by vote-rigging, mass emigration, accusations of human rights abuses and economic decline. On his actual birthday, state media poured praise on his leadership since independence from Britain. In its 16-page special supplement, the Sunday Mail said on its front cover: "Thank You Bob, We now have a voice, since 1980". The main party on Saturday will be held in a large tent at the Great Zimbabwe ruins, a UNESCO world heritage site that was built in the 13th Century as the headquarters of the Munhumutapa empire. Cattle and wild game will be slaughtered for the feast, with organisers claiming that as many as 50,000 guests are expected. The scale of the celebrations, costing a reported $800,000 this year, attract annual controversy in Zimbabwe, which recently declared a "state of disaster" due to the drought and widespread food shortages."There is very little to celebrate for a 92-year-old who has presided over the collapse of the economy, reducing the country to a nation of vendors and beggars," Takavafira Zhou, a political analyst at Masvingo State University, told AFP. Canberra: An icebreaker carrying researchers that ran aground off the coast of Antarctica was freed by crew today and was afloat again, the Australian government said. Some 37 researchers on board the Aurora Australis were taken safely ashore yesterday via a barge. The ship's crew stayed behind and used a combination of internal ballast transfers and work boats during a rising tide to refloat the ship, the Australian Antarctic Division said in a statement online. The icebreaker got stranded after it broke its mooring lines during a blizzard on Wednesday and ran aground on rocks in Horseshoe Harbor. The ship was in the vicinity of Mawson research station, where crew will inspect the ship for damage. There was no sign of oil pollution, the statement said. The Australian Antarctic Division said it was consulting with other national Antarctic programs to figure out a way to transport the researchers back to Australia. On Friday, a spokesman for the US National Science Foundation told the Times Union of Albany that a ski-equipped cargo plane from the 109th Airlift Wing would fly 1,400 miles (2,250 kilometers) across Antarctica to retrieve the researchers if weather permits. (AP) News / National by Staff reporter President Robert Mugabe has warned misguided youths who are going to the extremes of denigrating party leaders including the First Lady, Dr Grace Mugabe, saying they will face the full wrath of the law.Speaking at the Great Zimbabwe monuments in Masvingo this Saturday afternoon during his 92nd birthday celebrations, President Mugabe said it is uncultured for the youths to speak bad about the wife of the head of state.He said it is also a disgrace to note that some of the youths are being paid to peddle falsehoods to foreign media about Dr Mugabe.President Mugabe also warned some political bigwigs who are taking advantage of the challenges affecting the youths to abuse them in their pursuit of selfish interests.""We cannot have such misguided youths, they have to be disciplined and respectively. Even us senior party members must stop to work behind the scenes with youths playing our games, that is not the way to get to power. Factionalism is coming from the so called 'Party Gurus,' who abuse the youths," said Mugabe.The President however thanked the Zanu-PF Youth League for promising to take appropriate measures against unruly elements in their midst.In his speech, Mugabe also touched on various issues including the rampant abuse of children, saying there should be tougher punishment against offenders.On the current drought, President Mugabe said it is unfortunate that the country is experiencing the same drought as in 1992 that saw some trees just drying up.He however, assured the nation that the government will do its best to save its citizens from hunger.President Mugabe thanked the whole nation for celebrating with him his 92nd birthday.This year's 21st February Movement celebrations are being held under the theme, 'Youths Celebrating an African Icon Through Enhanced Productivity.' Damascus: Guns fell silent across Syria on Saturday after a landmark UN-backed ceasefire came into effect, the first major truce in five years of civil war that have claimed more than 270,000 lives. On the stroke of midnight, firing stopped in suburbs around the capital and the devastated northern city of Aleppo, AFP correspondents said, after a day of intense Russian air strikes on rebel bastions across the country. Monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was quiet in the north of Latakia province and in the central provinces of Homs and Hama. "I may be up late tonight and hope I won`t be wakened tomorrow by the sound of airplanes," Mohammed Nohad, a resident of Aleppo`s southern rebel-held district of Al-Kalasseh, told AFP. The nationwide cessation of hostilities would be the first pause in fighting since Syria`s civil war broke out in 2011. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said peace talks would resume on March 7 if the ceasefire agreement holds and more aid is delivered -- a key sticking point in negotiations for a truce. Fighting appears to have "calmed down", although one incident is being investigated, and a special task force will meet Saturday to monitor the fledgling ceasefire, he told reporters in Geneva. Previous attempts to end the fighting have failed and Russia and the US, which back opposing sides in the fight, have warned that applying it on the ground will be difficult. Analysts have also questioned whether it can be effective on Syria`s complex battlefields, as the truce does not include jihadists from the Islamic State group and Al-Nusra Front. Intermittent clashes between pro-regime forces and both groups continued after the ceasefire began, the Observatory said, as well as fighting between jihadists and Kurdish forces. "I can`t hide the fact that I`m happy the war has stopped, even for a few minutes," 24-year-old regime soldier Abdel Rahman Issa said from the battlefield Jobar area on the eastern outskirts of Damascus. "If it continues like this, maybe we can go home."Less than an hour before the ceasefire, the UN Security Council gave its unanimous backing to the truce in a resolution drafted by the US and Russia. US Ambassador Samantha Power acknowledged there was "some scepticism" as to whether the ceasefire would last, but said it offered the "best chance to reduce the violence". A spokesman for Turkey`s presidency expressed worries over the ceasefire "because of the continuing Russian air raids and ground attacks by forces of (President Bashar al-) Assad". Russia began air strikes in Syria in September saying it was targeting "terrorists", but critics have accused Moscow of hitting rebel forces in support of the regime. Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said the agreement could be "a turning point" in the war, even as Russian planes launched a wave of attacks on non-jihadist rebel areas before the deadline. The Observatory reported Russian strikes Friday on rebel bastions including the Eastern Ghouta region outside Damascus, northern Homs province and the west of Aleppo province. The head of the Britain-based monitor, Rami Abdel Rahman, said at least 40 members of the regime forces were killed battling rebels in northern Latakia province. Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted Moscow would continue targeting "terrorist groups". "The decisive fight against them will, without doubt, be continued," he said in televised remarks. "There is no other way."Moscow backs Assad and Washington supports the opposition, but both have made a concerted push for the ceasefire to be respected. Speaking in Washington on Thursday, President Barack Obama put the onus firmly on the regime and Russia, saying the "world will be watching" whether they keep to the truce. US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Washington had received assurances from Moscow that it would not bomb the "moderate opposition" after the truce. "I don`t know how to put it any better than saying: `It`s put up or shut up time,`" he told reporters. Iran, another key Assad ally, has said it is confident the regime will abide by the agreement. But rebel groups on the ground have been less optimistic, and Al-Nusra`s chief Mohammad al-Jolani on Friday urged regime opponents to intensify their attacks. "Negotiations are the ones conducted on the battlefield," he said in an audio message. Syria`s top opposition grouping, the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), said Friday that 97 opposition factions had agreed "to respect a temporary truce", but only an initial two-week period. It said Damascus and its allies must not continue attacking rebel forces "under the pretext of fighting terrorism". The HNC said any new bombing of the rebel-held town of Daraya, southwest of Damascus, would violate the agreement after the army said it would exclude it from the ceasefire because forces there included Al-Nusra fighters. Daraya was reported to be calm at midnight. Beirut: Fighting appeared to stop across most areas of western Syria on Saturday after a landmark "cessation of hostilities" came into effect under a US-Russian plan which warring sides in the five-year conflict have accepted. If the temporary halt in fighting holds, it will mark the first time world powers have been able to negotiate a pause in the civil war. Under the fragile agreement, Syria`s government and its enemies are expected to cease fighting so aid can reach civilians and peace talks can resume. A monitoring group and the United Nations reported only isolated fire in western Syria after the temporary ceasefire began at midnight on Saturday (2200 GMT Friday). The United Nations said it expected breaches in the temporary truce and urged restraint in curbing any new outbreaks of fighting. "Let`s pray that this works because frankly this is the best opportunity we can imagine the Syrian people has had for the last five years in order to see something better and hopefully something related to peace," said U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura. Damascus and its ally Russia, as well as a range of insurgent groups fighting against them, have said they would take part in the plan. The temporary truce does not apply to Islamic State and al Qaeda affiliate the Nusra Front, and the Syrian government and Moscow have said they will not halt combat against those militants. Other rebels seen as moderates by the West say they fear this will be used to justify attacks on them. Nusra Front, one of Syria`s most powerful Islamist rebel groups, on Friday urged insurgents to intensify their attacks on President Bashar al-Assad and his allies, adding to dangers facing the agreement. Fighting raged across much of western Syria right up until the cessation came into effect, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. There was calm in many parts of the country shortly after midnight, it said. "In Damascus and its countryside ... for the first time in years, calm prevails," Observatory director Rami Abdulrahman said. "In Latakia, calm, and at the Hmeimim air base there is no plane activity," he said, referring to the Latakia base where Russia`s warplanes operate. Some gunfire had been heard shortly after midnight in the northern city of Aleppo, and there were some blasts heard in northern Homs province, but it was not clear what had caused them, Abdulrahman said. The United Nations unanimously demanded late on Friday that all parties to the conflict comply with terms of the plan as part of efforts to end a war that has killed more than 250,000 people and driven 11 million from their homes. De Mistura said he intends to restart peace talks on March 7, provided the halt in fighting largely holds. On Friday, at least 40 government soldiers and allied fighters and 18 insurgents were killed in battles and air strikes in Latakia province, the Observatory reported. Six people were also killed in an air raid in western Aleppo province in the hours before the halt, it said. Near Damascus, dozens of air raids hit the besieged suburb of Daraya. Rescue workers said at least five people were killed in Douma, northeast of the capital. Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed on Friday that combat actions against Islamic State, the Nusra Front and other groups the Syrian government regards as terrorists would continue. The United States said it was time for Russia to show it was serious about halting fighting by honoring a commitment not to strike Syrian groups that are part of the moderate opposition. `End this horrendous conflict` The cessation agreement has not been signed by the Syrian warring parties themselves and is less binding than a formal ceasefire. A halt in fighting is desperately needed to get aid to besieged areas of the country. Some relief has got to these regions in a series of localised agreements this year, but the United Nations demands unhindered access to all Syrians in need of help. The Red Cross called for an end to the conflict in which most regional and world powers are now involved. "It is time for the warring parties to end this horrendous conflict and for the world powers who can influence the situation to act decisively," its President Peter Maurer said in a statement. "The most urgent thing is to increase humanitarian aid ... Humanitarian deliveries must not depend on political negotiations," he said. The United Nations describes the cessation as something that would precede the more formal ceasefire it is hoping to establish at some future date. Peace talks collapsed earlier this month before they began, and Damascus and Moscow intensified assaults in the north and northwest of the country. Moscow`s intervention in the war in September with an air campaign has helped Assad`s forces and their allies recapture territory, notably in Aleppo and Latakia provinces. Rebels have advanced elsewhere, including in Hama province, but fighting has largely tipped in favour of Damascus, which is also backed by Lebanese Hezbollah and Iranian fighters. Saudi Arabia, which supports insurgents, has said it is willing to send its forces into Syria to fight Islamic State, and Turkey, another Assad opponent, wants ground troops deployed but has denied plans for unilateral action. The Syrian government has said the cessation plan could fail if foreign states supply rebels with weapons or insurgents use the truce to rearm. The main Saudi-backed opposition alliance, which has deep reservations, said it would accept it for two weeks but feared the government and its allies would use it to attack rebel factions under the pretext that they were terrorists. The US-backed Kurdish YPG militia, which is battling Islamic State in the northeast and Turkish-backed rebel groups in the northwest, said it would abide by the plan, but reserves the right to respond if attacked. Fighting between the YPG and Islamic State continued in Raqqa province, the Observatory said. Damascus: Fighting subsided across much of Syria Saturday as the first major ceasefire of the devastating, five-year war appeared to broadly hold despite sporadic breaches in parts of the battle-scarred country. The truce, brokered by Washington and Moscow, is seen as a crucial step towards ending a conflict that has claimed 270,000 lives and displaced more than half the population. It faces formidable challenges including the exclusion of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group and al Qaeda`s Syria affiliate Al-Nusra Front, which control large parts of the country. "Honestly, I was surprised that the calm lasted through the night," said Ammar al-Rai, a 22-year-old medical student in Damascus. "I think this is the first time we`ve woken up without the sound of shelling." UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said peace talks would resume on March 7 if the ceasefire prevails and more aid is delivered -- a key sticking point in negotiations. A special international task force, co-chaired by Moscow and Washington, was due to meet behind closed doors in Geneva on Saturday to monitor the truce. De Mistura said it was important that any incidents are "quickly brought under control" and a military response should be the "last resort". Russia, which has waged nearly five months of intense air strikes against rebels in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, said it had halted bombing in all areas covered by the truce. Moscow has vowed to keep striking IS, Al-Nusra and other "terrorist groups", but said it would ground all its warplanes in the Syria campaign on the first day of the truce to avoid potential "mistakes".EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the lull in fighting was "the first chance to put an end to violence on the ground and should not be missed". "If it holds, it will create the conditions for full, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Syria," she added. Among the limited ceasefire breaches, state media said "terrorist groups" fired a number of shells on Damascus but caused no casualties. Rebels also accused the government of intermittent "truce violations" in parts of the country. In Aleppo, Syria`s second city, two people were killed and four wounded when shells hit the majority-Kurdish neighbourhood of Sheikh Maqsud, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor. Syrian state media said one person was killed by sniper fire in the same district. Aleppo city is now almost completely encircled by pro-regime troops after a massive Russian-backed offensive that has caused tens of thousands to flee in recent weeks. But on Saturday, children played in parks. "I hope the truce continues even for a limited time so we can get back part of our old lives from before the war," said Abu Nadim, a father of four. Jihadists attacked the border town of Tal Abyad in Raqa province, sparking clashes that killed at least 45 IS members, 20 Kurdish militia fighters and two civilians, the Observatory said. US-led coalition warplanes launched at least 10 air strikes to try to drive back the jihadists, the monitor reported. Twin suicide bombings meanwhile killed six people outside the town of Salamiyeh in Hama province, where IS is present, state news agency SANA said.The complexities of a conflict which escalated from anti-government protests into a full-blown war drawing in rival world powers make brokering a lasting halt to the fighting a huge challenge. Assad has been bolstered by the support of Russia and Iran while the West, Turkey and Gulf states back rebel groups. "The pressure being placed by Russia and the US on regional actors is such that many of these regional actors can`t reject the political process entirely," said Firas Abi Ali, an analyst for IHS Country Risk in London. "This is putting them in a bind where they`re compelled to behave as if they`re part of the process regardless of what they actually want from it." Syria`s top opposition grouping, the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), said Friday that 97 opposition factions had agreed to respect the truce, for two weeks initially. In a particularly encouraging sign, a commander in the hardline Islamist faction Ahrar al-Sham said his group -- allied with Al-Nusra -- had not conducted any military operations since the truce started. "But the ceasefire is stillborn, because it began with violations from the regime. It will be very difficult for the ceasefire to hold," Hussam Salameh warned. United Nations: The United Nations Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution to demand a halt to the fighting in Syria. The adoption on Friday coincided with the scheduled implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement reached by Russia and the US, Xinhua reported. According to the deal, the halt was to begin at midnight (Damascus time) on Friday in the middle of the council session. "It`s zero hour, Damascus time," Japanese Ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa said as the clock struck within a minute of the scheduled starting time. The new council resolution welcomed a February 11 statement from the 17-member International Syrian Support Group (ISSG) that seeks humanitarian aid access to Syria and a halt in fighting. The resolution also demanded the implementation of a previous council resolution on Syria adopted on December 18, 2015, which called for an end to attacks on civilians and infrastructure as well as a political settlement of the crisis. Before the resolution was voted on, Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy for Syria, spoke to the 15-member panel via teleconference from Geneva. "This council meeting has a special significance on this exceptional day and night for the Syrians," he said. "We now have specific obligations for ISSG members and for Syrians to fulfill," the envoy said. "There is a mechanism to that effect. There is an agreed set of actions and an immediate timeline." "We are now at a crossroad -- we have the possibility to turn the page in the Syrian conflict -- after almost five years of one of the bloodiest conflicts in recent years," de Mistura said. "It is potentially a historic junction to bring an end to the killing and destruction and to start a new life and hope for the Syrians," he said. De Mistura also announced that a new round of Syria talks will be held on March 7. The UN-mediated Syria peace talks, aimed at brokering a political solution between Syrian warring factions -- Syrian president Bashar al-Assad`s government and opposition forces -- halted on February 3 after parties failed to see eye to eye on a number of issues. US Ambassador Samantha Power was the first to speak after the 15-0 vote at the UN Security Council. "The resolution we have just adopted... offers a genuine opportunity to pause, at least in part, the fighting in one of the most brutal conflicts the world has seen in a generation, and it`s our best chance to reduce the violence," she said. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said the measure "must be strictly implemented and without any preconditions" and "the process of implementation itself must be monitored reliably." Washington: The White House has pressed Chinese President Xi Jinping to expand his non-militarisation pledge to cover the entire South China Sea, despite Beijing's recent military activity in the area. Daniel Kritenbrink, senior director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council, spoke amid rising tensions between the two countries over China's deployment of surface- to-air missiles, radar gear, air strips and fighter jets on an islet there. During a state visit in September, Xi insisted that "China does not intend to pursue militarisation" in the Spratly Island chain - known as Nansha in Chinese. The islands are claimed in part or whole by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. "We think it would be good if that non-militarisation pledge, if he (Xi) would extend that across the entire South China Sea," Kritenbrink told a forum at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies yesterday. "We're going to encourage our Chinese friends and other countries in the region to refrain from taking steps that raise tensions." China claims almost the whole of the area - through which a third of the world's oil passes - while several other littoral states have competing claims, as does Taiwan. "This is an incredibly important waterway through which much of international trade flows," Kritenbrink said. "We are concerned that China has taken a number of unilateral steps over the last several years that we think raise tensions in the region and are destabilising." The Asian giant is using dredgers to turn reefs and low- lying features into larger land masses for runways and other military uses to bolster its claims of sovereignty. Earlier this week, US Pacific Command chief Admiral Harry Harris warned that China was changing the "operational landscape in the region." He has called for more flyovers and patrols. "Short of war with the United States, China will exercise de facto control of the South China Sea," Harris said. Kritenbrink also urged China to respect an international court's decision due later this year on Manila's dispute with Beijing over territorial claims in the South China Sea. Kritenbrink said he expected the upcoming ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration to be "extremely important" because it will mark the outcome of a process that allows countries to use peaceful legal means to pursue disputes. China does not recognise The Hague-based court's authority, but it has ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea at the center of the case. "When that ruling comes out, it will be binding on both parties," Kritenbrink said. "That will be an important moment that all of us in the region should focus on." Patricia Araujo (L), 23, who is seven-months pregnant, stands next to children as they pose in front of their stilt house, a lake dwelling also known as palafitte or 'Palafito', in Recife, Brazil, February 8, 2016. REUTERS/Nacho Doce Latin America and the Caribbean make up the only region that managed to reduce inequality during the first decade of this century, according to the UN Development Program. Since 2000, the population in poverty has fallen from nearly 42% of the region's almost 600 million residents to just over 25% "in absolute terms, this translates to at least 56 million people lifted above the poverty line," according to Americas Quarterly. Moreover, 82 million people in the region were hauled into the middle class from 2000 to 2012, and the region's Gini coefficient, a measure of inequality, improved, falling to 51.8 in 2012 from 55.6 in 2003. But many of those workers whose economic status has improved are now imperiled by the economic headwinds that have struck the region. The largest group of the region's workers, the 38% who make $4 to $10 a day, are vulnerable and at risk of slipping back into poverty, according to the World Bank. A December 2014 paper from the World Bank found "stagnation in the pace of reduction of income inequality in Latin America since 2010." The paper singled out Mexico and parts of Central America for increases in inequality, noting that Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia had seen a slowing rate of inequality reduction. And slowing or reversed poverty reduction could bring even more inequality to a region that already has 10 of the 15 most unequal countries in the world. Brazil poverty slums poor favela And as research has shown, a higher level of economic inequality is linked to a higher level of violence. A paper published in 2014 examining the Mexican drug war found that from 2006 to 2010, "an increment of one point in the Gini coefficient translates into an increase of more than 10 drug-related homicides per 100,000 inhabitants." Story continues This relationship wasn't found to exist before 2005, only after Mexico's war on drugs started in 2006. This is "likely because the cost of crime decreased with the proliferation of gangs ... which, combined with rising inequality, increased the expected net benefit from criminal acts after 2005," according to the paper's authors, emphasis added. Poor workers in Mexico If this finding holds for the region at large, it may augur an increase in violence in what is already one of the world's most deadly regions: In 2012, 13 of the world's 20 highest homicide rates belonged to countries in the region, according to the UN. As of 2015, Latin America and the Caribbean was home to 41 of the 50 most violent cities in the world. The region accounts for one-third of global homicides, despite being home to just 8% of the world's population. More inequality, more violence Inequality, with its link to violence, remains a persistent problem for Mexico in particular. A 2015 report found that 2,540 of Mexico's nearly 125 million residents held 43% of the country's individual wealth. "In the most unequal economies, poor people tend to receive fewer benefits from economic growth," according to El Daily Post. More worryingly, in a "more unequal setting, the higher the rates of violence," America's Quarterly notes. Mexico Oaxaca child poverty And in 2015, Mexico experienced its first increase in homicides since 2011, with a rise of 7.6%, reversing declines the country had seen over the previous two years. The north-central Mexican state of Zacatecas is perhaps the best example of what this trend may look like. From the end of 2008 to the beginning of 2015, Zacatecas saw income inequality worsen the most in Mexico, driving its Gini coefficient up to 0.428 from 0.403 the fourth highest of Mexico's 32 states at the beginning of 2015, according to the think tank Mexico Como Vamos. Homicides in Zacatecas Mexico Over that same period, the number of intentional homicides (i.e., deliberate killings) in the state rose consistently, from 74 in 2008 to nearly 300 in 2015, according to government data. And there are signs that a rise in violent deaths has a cooling effect on economic opportunity. For every increase of 10 percentage points in homicide rates in Mexico, "you see an increase in unemployment in that region of half a point," said Viridiana Rios, a Harvard Ph.D. and research fellow at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. "Unemployment currently in Mexico is 5%, so for each 10 points of increase in the homicides rates, you see half a point extra on unemployment. That's pretty significant," Rios added at a conference on Mexican security at the Wilson Center in late January. 'V irtuous and vicious circles' Violence and economic troubles are not uniform in Mexico. Aguascalientes state, just south of Zacatecas, had about one-fifth the number of intentional homicides as Zacatecas in 2015, while Mexico state, further south, had almost 10 times the number of intentional homicides last year. Moreover, some Mexican states have done quite well economically recently, like Aguascalientes, whose gross domestic product grew 14.2% in 2014, while Mexico state's grew just 1% over the same period. And in Mexico, as in much of the region, divergent trends in growth "threaten to aggravate already deep economic divides, creating virtuous and vicious circles in terms of infrastructure, education, and opportunities," wrote Shannon O'Neil, the senior fellow for Latin American studies at the Council on Foreign Relations' Civil Society, in June. NOW WATCH: Affluenza teen and his mother detained in Mexican resort town More From Business Insider By Simon Webb VIENTIANE (Reuters) - Southeast Asian nations expressed serious concern on Saturday about growing international tension over disputed waters in the South China Sea. China claims most of the sea but Southeast Asian countries Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam have rival claims. Friction has increased over China's recent deployment of missiles and fighter jets to the disputed Paracel island chain. "Ministers remained seriously concerned over recent and ongoing developments," the 10-members Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) said in a statement after a regular meeting of the group's foreign ministers in Laos. Land reclamation and escalating activity has increased tensions and could undermine peace, security and stability in the region, ASEAN said in the statement. The United States has criticized China's building of artificial islands and facilities in the sea and has sailed warships close to disputed territory to assert the right to freedom of navigation. On Friday, the United States urged China's President Xi Jinping to prevent the militarization of the region. Vietnam, which accused China of violating its sovereignty with the missile deployment, echoed the U.S. call on Saturday. "We call for non-militarization in the South China Sea," Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh told reporters after meeting his ASEAN colleagues. "We have serious concerns about that," he said, when asked about China's increasing military activity in the region. The group agreed to seek a meeting between China and ASEAN's foreign ministers to discuss the South China Sea and other issues, Cambodian Minister Hor Namhong said. China's maritime claims are ASEAN's most contentious issue, as its members struggle to balance mutual support with their growing economic relations with Beijing. China is the biggest trade partner for many ASEAN nations. Neighbors Vietnam and China compete for influence over landlocked Laos, which has no maritime claims but finds itself in the difficult position of dealing with neighbors at odds over the South China Sea. Laos is tasked with finding common ground on the issue as the ASEAN chair in 2016. "The South China Sea issue is a headache that Laos would really rather not have to deal with," said one Western diplomat in Vientiane. Thongloun Sisoulith, Laos Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, played down the challenge. "We are a close friend of Vietnam and China, we try to solve the problems in a friendly way," he told Reuters on Saturday. "We are in the middle, but it's not a problem." Barack Obama is set to become the first U.S. president to visit the country in September to attend an annual summit hosted by the ASEAN chair. (Editing by Catherine Evans) [Colombian Jaqueline Vasquez Sanchez stands with her children, niece and long-lost sister Lorena Sanchez (L-R) at a news conference held after the two sisters, who were separated in 1985 during the Armero volcano tragedy, were reunited in Bogota, Colombia. The sisters were reunited after 30 years thanks to Facebook and DNA testing. REUTERS/John Vizcaino] Two sisters have been reunited for the first time this week after an avalanche separated them more than 30 years ago. In 1985, Jaqueline Vasquez Sanchez and Lorena Sanchez were only children when a volcano erupted and started an avalanche that destroyed their hometown of Armero in Tolima Department, Colombia, killing at least 20,000 people, Fox News reports. The two sisters survived the disaster but neither one knew the others fate and eventually, they were adopted by different families. Both sisters spent years looking for each other. Through the help of DNA testing, a Facebook campaign, and a foundation set up to help victims of the disaster, the two sisters found each other, BBC reports. Im excited, nervous, everything because suddenly, you dont know if you are going to be rejected or something, Jaqueline told the news outlet. Its something that you find within this: joy, I wonder if she will love me. Its difficult. Its difficult to explain this moment. They were reunited for the first time on Thursday, both in their 30s and with their own children. It was a beautiful and sad because its been 30 years since the tragedy happened that Ive come to find out what happened to my sister, Lorena told BBC. So I have to catch up with 30 years of her life and she has to do the same with me. News / National by Staff reporter President Mugabe today mocked opposition parties, MDC and former Vice President Joice Mujuru's Zimbabwe People First, saying with the former having split several time, it is not long before the later splits from "People First, to People Second, People Third and People Fourth."Mugabe was speaking at his birthday bash which took place at the Great Zimbabwe monuments in Masvingo.Mugabe also condemned hate speech against the First Lady, Dr Grace Mugabe and other party members.Mugabe also noted indiscipline amongst some Zanu-PF youths and he said, "We can not have such misguided youths, they have to be disciplined and respectively. Even us senior party members must stop to work behind the scenes with youths playing our games, that is not the way to get to power." The eviction of at least 1,000 migrants from the 'Jungle' refugee camp in Calais could start within hours, after a legal ruling. A charity has said the demolition of half of the shanty settlement, which is home to thousands of people trying to reach the UK, may begin as early as Friday after the go-ahead was given by a French judge. :: Take A 360 Look At The Calais 'Jungle' Camp On Sky News' Facebook Page Save The Children told Sky News it hoped the clearance did not start immediately, arguing there was not enough alternative accommodation for those who would be displaced. The area cannot be razed entirely because the court ruled common social areas such as schools, churches and mosques must be kept. But Caroline Anning of Save The Children said: "What's the point of community infrastructure without a community?" :: Immigration Rises But PM Says He Can Hit Target The official deadline for migrants to leave the southern, most populated part of the camp expired on Tuesday. The authorities have said they will use force if necessary to move them to other accommodation in a nearby container park and reception centres across France. But aid agencies say more than 3,000 people live in the area and there are not enough beds available. :: What 'Jungle' Migrants Really Want From UK Repeated attempts by migrants from the camp to get through the Channel Tunnel or stow away on lorries to reach Britain have caused continuing disruption on the vital transport link. The site has also been a source of tension with the local French population and forced the police to maintain a large presence in the area. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has said the removal of migrants would be gradual and insisted there were sufficient places either in the region or elsewhere in France. Calais mayor Natacha Bouchart said: "I am satisfied by this responsible decision which will allow the progressive dismantling of the southern part of the Jungle to proceed over the next three weeks." Story continues Belgium has stepped up checks at its nearby border amid concerns evicted 'Jungle' residents may enter the country to try to reach the UK through the Belgian port of Zeebrugge. The move comes as Brussels' migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos warned the EU had 10 days to stem the flow of migrants into Europe or run the risk that "the whole system will completely break down". He was speaking after the bloc's interior ministers met to find a solution to the migration and refugee crisis. With temporary border controls now in place at a number of borders within the Schengen open border zone, a central pillar of the EU project - free movement - is threatened. Rumble This video shows the incredible behaviour of a caring mother elephant on high alert, quickly stopping her adorable baby which was curiously straying away from her towards a vehicle full of safari tourists. Going on safari in the Kruger National Park is a life changing experience. Driving around multiple tarred roads, slowly scanning a massive area of wilderness is all part of the thrill. You never know what will be around the next corner or what animal will suddenly appear from the bush onto the road. Its an exciting experience and one of the must-see animals for most tourists are elephants. Not only are they the largest land mammals on our planet and fairly intimidating, elephants are also one of the most intelligent and emotionally intelligent animals that roam this planet. Seeing these giants in the wild is always a sight to remember. The video shows an incredible moment filmed in the Kruger National Park when a safari vehicle full of tourists found a large elephant cow and her adorable calf next to the road. The safari vehicle stopped and it looked like the mother elephant and her baby wanted to cross the road. The baby elephant was the cutest thing alive in the wild right at that moment. While the elephant cow remained focussed on crossing the road, her baby took notice of the safari vehicle and curiously started straying away from its mother towards the vehicle. The caring mother elephant immediately went into high alert and quickly took her trunk and stopped her baby from going any closer to the safari vehicle. The mother elephant gently used her trunk to guide her baby back and into the right direction. It was incredible to see how quickly the elephant cow became protective over her baby. The elephant calf listened to its mother and in a well-behaved manner, walking on the opposite side of its mother, continued to focus and follow its mother as it should. This is crucial for the survival of the calf in the wild. The gestation period of an elephant is twenty-two months, so it is very understandable that an elephant calf is seen as a huge investment and there will always be a mother around, ready to protect her calf from any potential danger. Even though the tourists were not a direct threat, the mother elephant knows all to well that there are humans that still pose a danger for them in the wild. The mother of such a small calf is definitely not something to mess with at all and its best never to get too close to a mother and her calf. Dany Villanueva, the brother of a man killed by police in 2008, will be allowed to stay in Canada because of the risks he would face in his native Honduras. Villanueva was facing deportation after pleading guilty to a 2006 armed robbery. This week, he received a letter from a representative of federal immigration minister John McCallum, confirming that his request for a pre-removal risk assessment was accepted, his lawyer Stephane Handfield said. Federal authorities decided that the risk he faces in Honduras is greater than the danger he poses to Canadian society, Handfield noted. Villanueva is the brother of Fredy Villanueva, who was gunned down by a police officer at a Montreal North park in August 2008. He was charged again with armed robbery in 2008, just weeks prior to Fredy's death, but was acquitted in 2011. Villanueva's lawyer sees this decision as evidence of a "new attitude" in the immigration department since the election of the new Liberal government. "It's like night and day," Handfield said. The Italian Senate has approved a bill recognising same-sex civil unions - but gay rights activists have criticised the draft law as being watered-down. Italy is the only major western European country which does not legally recognise civil partnerships. The vote passed by 173 to 71, after the original text was amended following the government's failure to get it through last week. The amendment saw the removal of a provision which would allow same-sex partners the right to adopt their partner's children, following pressure from some politicians in the majority Catholic country. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi resorted to a confidence vote to get the bill passed and would have had to resign if he had lost. He called the vote a "historic event for Italy" and added on his Facebook page: "Hope has won against fear. Courage has won against discrimination. Love has won." Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said the removal of the adoption provision was a "great gift to Italy" and a "victory for common sense". He added: "We are preventing a revolution against nature." But some campaign groups said the bill had been diluted too much. "Today the Senate is preparing to write a dark page in the history of civil rights in our country by approving a law which ... completely ignores the existence and demands of gay couples' children," they said in a joint statement signed by over 30 groups. The bill gives same-sex couples the right to receive a deceased partner's pension, to take a partner's name, inheritance rights and next-of-kin rights in medical emergencies. A final vote on the full text of the law is expected within two months and is seen as a formality. By Jon Herskovitz AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - North America's monarch butterflies are on a rebound and the number of the plucky orange and black creatures, which gather in Mexico before flying north to Canada, could soon stand at around 150 million, a new survey showed on Friday. The survey from a scientist at Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is the second this month to show the numbers on the mend, but the population is still well below a high in the 1 billion range two decades ago. The monarch's recent comeback is due to favorable weather and the planting of more milkweed, an important plant to keep numbers up on its migration route, the NRDC survey said. "Today's news provides a hopeful indication that we are helping them head in the right direction and curbing the loss of this magnificent butterfly. But we must be careful not to declare victory too soon," said Sylvia Fallon, a senior NRDC scientist. She based her findings in large part on studies showing areas where the butterflies congregate when they spend the winter in Mexico's Oyamel forest. They have suffered mightily over the years from the expansion of farmland, sprawling housing developments and the clear-cutting of natural landscapes along their migration path, experts say. Monarchs lay eggs only on milkweed plants, which grow wild throughout the United States. But the milkweed, on which their larvae feed, can cause stomach problems for cattle that eat it, so ranchers and farmers destroy it, NRDC researchers said. The butterflies congregate in Mexico and then go through several generations as they fly north on their long migration to Canada. Their plight has become an international issue. In February 2014, the United States, Mexico and Canada agreed to set up a joint task force to protect the butterflies. While an estimated 1 billion monarchs migrated in 1996, only about 35 million made the trip in 2013, according to Marcus Kronforst, a professor of ecology and evolution at the University of Chicago who has studied monarchs. (Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Tom Brown) Opinion / Columnist The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi has handed over 300 herd of cattle to the African Union (AU) Commission at Vhuka Farm in Karoi this Friday.The handover follows the pledge made by President Robert Mugabe of 300 herd of cattle towards the AU Foundation in June last year.This is the herd that President Mugabe pledge to the AU while in South Africa last years," Cde Mumbengegwi said.Receiving the cattle on behalf of the AU Commission Deputy Chairperson, Dr Erastus Mwencha said the donation by President Mugabe will go a long way in capacitating the foundation."We know President Mugabe as a man of his own word and as an AU family we are happy at this gesture," he said.Zanu PF National Political Commissar, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere said such pledges will assist in support of various programmes which will strengthen the continent, while Cde Jimayi Muduvuri who co-ordinated provincial mobilisation of the herd of cattle, said the gesture by Zimbabweans is recommended and shows unity of purpose.During President Mugabe's leadership of the AU, the continental body adopted a number of resolutions that are aimed at ensuring that the continent becomes self-sustaining and the setting up of this fund is seen as one of the steps towards attaining this goal. Russians have marked one year since opposition politician Boris Nemtsov was gunned down just metres from the Kremlin. A memorial march took place through Moscow and mourners laid flowers and candles at the scene of his murder. Other commemorative events were also scheduled across the country and abroad. Mr Nemtsov, a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was shot four times in the back just a day-and-a-half before he was due to lead a protest against Mr Putin's rule. The 55-year-old, a former deputy prime minister in Boris Yeltsin's government, had been walking across the Moskvoretsky Bridge with his Ukrainian model girlfriend when he was killed. Among those who paid respect was US ambassador John Tefft, who laid a wreath with a ribbon saying: "From the American people." He said he had come to "honour the memory of a man who we knew as a government official, as a politician and, for many Americans, as a friend". He added: "We are here today to honour his memory, the values for which he stood and to express our hope for the future that some of the dreams that Boris Nemtsov had will come true in Russia." The commemorations were not without controversy however. Dmitry Gudkov, one of the few independent voices in the Russian parliament's lower house, said the suggestion of a moment of silence in Mr Nemtsov's memory was refused by most other deputies. While the march was allowed to go ahead, people were forbidden from marching to the bridge where Mr Nemtsov's supporters tried to maintain a shrine to him. Five Chechens are awaiting trial for what prosecutors say was a contract killing planned over many months. But Mr Nemtsov's family blame Chechnya's Moscow-backed strongman Ramzan Kadyrov and the Kremlin itself, saying authorities have failed to bring the masterminds of the killing to justice. By Alex Dobuzinskis and Curtis Skinner (Reuters) - A gunman killed three people on Thursday at a manufacturing plant in central Kansas where he worked and wounded 14 others, in a shooting spree spanning several miles that ended when a lone officer killed the suspect, authorities said. While many of his victims were coworkers, overall the attacker appears to have opened fire at random, said Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton of the mass killing that struck fear in Hesston and the town's major employer, a lawnmower manufacturing company. "This is a horrible situation my friends, just terrible, Walton said at a news conference, adding at least five of the 14 wounded were in critical condition. Some of the shooter's motives had emerged, but the sheriff declined to provide more details except to say the attack was "not terrorism." "There were some things that triggered this particular individual," he said. The Kansas shootings come after a Michigan man who worked as a driver for car-hailing service Uber [UBER.UL] was charged with killing six people during a shooting rampage this past weekend. In December, a husband and wife shot to death 14 people at a workplace holiday party in San Bernardino, California. The couple, who died in a shootout with police, were inspired by the militant group Islamic State, FBI officials said. A number of mass shootings in the United States have elevated gun control as a campaign issue in the November U.S. presidential election. The Kansas attacker, who was armed with a .223-caliber assault-style rifle and a pistol, was driving a car when he began his attack about 9 miles (14 km) southeast of Hesston in the town of Newton, where he shot a man in a truck, Walton said. The suspect then drove to a nearby intersection and shot another driver in the leg, before stealing that victim's car and driving over to Excel Industries, his work site, where he shot a person in the parking lot, Walton said. The gunman entered the plant, where he had been scheduled to work and where over 100 employees were beginning the day's second shift, and he opened fire on his co-workers, killing three, the sheriff said. Other employees fled in panic. The first responding officer traded fire with the gunman near the building's paint room, striking him dead, Walton said. "Even though (the officer) took fire, he went inside of that place and saved multiple, multiple lives a hero, as far as Im concerned," the sheriff said. The gunman was killed 26 minutes after the first shooting was reported in Newton. A dispatcher with the Sheriff's Department had identified the shooter as 38-year-old Cedric Ford and local television stations also reported that was the shooter's name, citing witnesses. But Walton declined to identify the suspect, saying his identity would likely be released on Friday. Meanwhile, police were positioned outside of the suspect's home in a tense standoff with his roommate, who refused to allow them to enter to investigate, the sheriff said. Paul Mullet, the president and chief executive officer of Excel Industries Inc, confirmed to reporters the shooter was an employee, and said the company would take care of its affected workers. (Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles and Curtis Skinner in San Francisco, Sharon Bernstein in Sacramento and Kevin Murphy in Kansas City, Missouri; Editing by Bernard Orr and Lisa Shumaker) By Gary Robertson RICHMOND, Va. (Reuters) - Violent thunderstorms and tornadoes lashed the U.S. Southeast and mid-Atlantic region on Wednesday, killing at least four people in Virginia a day after twisters claimed three lives along the Gulf Coast, authorities said. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned of tornado activity along a line of storms stretching from Raleigh, North Carolina, north to parts of Virginia, Maryland and the Washington, D.C. area. "We're swamped with tornadoes on the ground here," said Weather Service forecaster Brandon Dunston in Raleigh, North Carolina. Three people were confirmed dead in Waverly, Virginia, a town of some 2,300 residents about 45 miles southeast of Richmond, the state capital, where at least three structures sustained heavy damage in a mid-afternoon storm, state police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said. State police later said the three victims - two men, aged 50 and 26, and a 2-year-old boy, were killed when their mobile home was demolished in the storm. Their bodies were all found about 300 yards (meters) from the trailer site, police said. The body of a fourth person, an adult male, was recovered late on Wednesday in the Evergreen community of Appomattox County, near Lynchburg, after a funnel cloud was reported over the area, police said. Two highways leading into Waverly, U.S. Route 460 and State Route 40, were left impassable by heavy debris from the storm, state police said. Authorities also were responding to widespread reports of local flooding. Virginia state police reported severe storm damage and numerous injuries in the riverfront Essex County town of Tappahannock, northeast of Richmond, and in Appomattox County. Richmond station WWBT-TV reported more than 20 people injured in Tappahannock, some possibly trapped in storm wreckage. And seven people were hurt, two seriously, in the Evergreen community, state police said. Tornado watches were posted through much of Virginia, and Governor Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency to hasten delivery of disaster relief to stricken areas. A storm earlier on Wednesday destroyed a mobile home in Wayne County in central North Carolina and wind gusts of up to 53 miles per hour were reported at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport in South Carolina, the NWS said. Just north of Oxford, North Carolina, near the Virginia border, high winds damaged several houses, one of them blown "completely apart," Granville County Sheriff Brindell Wilkins said, adding that power outages were widespread. He said a number of people suffered minor injuries. Schools in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida canceled classes or shifted hours ahead of severe weather forecasts. Wednesday's severe weather came as rescue teams combed through debris left by several tornadoes that pummeled southern Louisiana and Mississippi on Tuesday, claiming at least three lives and injuring dozens more. Among the hardest hit was the Mississippi River hamlet of Convent, Louisiana, about 60 miles west of New Orleans, where a mobile home park was largely demolished. In neighboring Assumption Parish, more than 100 homes and businesses were damaged and several were destroyed, authorities said. Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for two counties lashed by a tornado on Tuesday night. Several people were injured and about 70 homes damaged when a tornado ripped through Pensacola, Florida, local media reported. (Reporting by Colleen Jenkins in Winston-Salem, N.C.; additional reporting by Harriet McLeod in Charleston, S.C. and Letitia Stein in Atlanta; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe, Tom Brown and Andrew Hay) By Louis Charbonneau and Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States presented a draft Security Council resolution on Thursday it negotiated with China that would dramatically tighten existing restrictions on North Korea after its Jan. 6 nuclear test and create the toughest U.N. sanctions regime in over two decades. The draft, seen by Reuters, would require U.N. member states to conduct mandatory inspections of all cargo passing through their territory to or from North Korea to look for illicit goods. Previously states were only required to do this if they had reasonable grounds to believe there was illicit cargo. The United States used the nearly two months of bilateral negotiations that at one point involved President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart, diplomats said, to win China's support for unusually tough measures intended to persuade its ally North Korea to abandon its atomic weapons program. The proposal would close a gap in the U.N. arms embargo on Pyongyang by banning all weapons imports and exports. There would also be an unprecedented ban on the transfer to North Korea of any item that could directly contribute to the operational capabilities of the North Korean armed forces, such as trucks that could be modified for military purposes. Other proposed measures include a ban on all supplies of aviation and rocket fuel to North Korea, a requirement for states to expel North Korean diplomats engaging in illicit activities, and blacklisting 17 North Korean individuals and 12 entities, including the National Aerospace Development Agency or 'NADA', the body responsible for February's rocket launch. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power told reporters the new measures, if approved, would be "the strongest set of sanctions imposed by the Security Council in more than two decades." Several council diplomats predicted a Saturday meeting to adopt the draft but Russian deputy U.N. ambassador Petr Iliichev told Reuters Moscow needed time to study the draft and the earliest likely vote would be next week. The draft was the result of seven weeks of tough negotiations between the United States and China, North Korea's neighbor and main ally. "This is a very robust resolution," a U.S. official said on condition of anonymity. "Clearly this took a long time ... it was a difficult process." DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CHINA, U.S. North Korea has been under U.N. sanctions since 2006 because of its multiple nuclear tests and rocket launches. China and the United States had differed on how strongly to respond to Pyongyang's most recent test, with Washington urging harsh punitive measures and Beijing emphasizing dialogue and milder U.N. steps confined to non-proliferation. The Global Times, an influential Chinese tabloid published by the ruling Communist Party, said in an editorial that North Korea "deserves the punishment" of new sanctions, but China should "cushion Washington's harsh sanctions to some extent." "China insists the sanctions should focus on striking North Korea's ability to continue developing nuclear weapons. It is the fundamental difference between China's policy and that of the U.S., South Korea and Japan. China holds unswerving goodwill toward North Korea, which Chinese society hopes Pyongyang can understand," it said. Diplomats said a sharp tightening of restrictions was necessary since Pyongyang has proved its determination to flout at all costs attempts at constraining its nuclear and missile programs. They said they hoped the latest measures would make it harder for North Korea to continue with that policy, keeping up the pressure on the country's leadership without making the country's impoverished population any poorer. "Pyongyang has prioritized the pursuit of these massively expensive programs over absolutely everything else," the U.S. official said. "So is New York action going to automatically convince the regime's leaders to cease? I think were realistic on that point." However, he added that "this resolution will be felt, it will have an impact ... The DPRK (North Korea) have never been subject to the kind of pressure that is in the resolution." Power said the measures were aimed at the country's leadership, and "careful not to punish the North Korean people." In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing on Thursday: "We hope and believe this new resolution can help effectively constrain North Korea from further developing its nuclear missile program". There will also be further restrictions aimed at making it more difficult for North Korea to press ahead with its nuclear and missile programs. Pyongyang is currently banned from importing and exporting nuclear and missile technology and is not allowed to import luxury goods. The list of banned items will be expanded. The U.S. official said one of five annexes to the resolution lists 31 ships owned by North Korean shipping firm Ocean Maritime Management Company Limited, which will be blacklisted. Also new, countries will be required, not just encouraged, to freeze the assets of North Korean entities linked to Pyongyang's nuclear or missile programs and to prohibit the opening of new branches or offices of North Korean banks or to engage in banking correspondence with North Korean banks. (Additional reporting by James Pearson in Seoul and Ben Blanchard and Michael Martina in Beijing; Editing by James Dalgleish and Michael Perry) By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations special envoy for Yemen said on Wednesday he was unable to call another round of peace talks because the warring parties are deeply divided over whether there should be a ceasefire to coincide with a new round of negotiations. During the first round of talks in Geneva in December, the parties agreed on a broad framework for ending their war but a temporary one-week truce was widely violated. A second round of talks was set for Jan. 14, but has been indefinitely postponed. "Deep divisions persist that prevent me from calling for the next round of talks," U.N. Yemen envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed told the U.N. Security Council. "I have not, unfortunately, received sufficient assurances that a new cessation of hostilities, should I call for one, would be respected." "We cannot delay these talks, in my view, beyond the month of March," he told reporters after the briefing. A Saudi Arabia-led coalition began a military campaign in March to prevent Iran-allied Houthi rebels and forces loyal to former Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh, from taking complete control of Yemen. The United Nations said more than 6,000 people had been killed in the past year, of which about half were civilians. U.N. sanctions monitors said in a report last month that the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthi rebels have targeted civilians and that some of the attacks could be a crimes against humanity. "Yemen has suffered greatly, and its people have withstood an unspeakable tragedy," Ould Cheikh Ahmed said. "The country's infrastructure is destroyed; families dispersed, and its social fabric torn apart. This is a critical and most difficult phase. With every passing day, more and more Yemeni lives are lost," he said. Ould Cheikh Ahmed called on the Security Council to help push for a recommitment by the parties to a cessation of hostilities leading to a permanent ceasefire. U.N. aid chief Stephen O'Brien told the Security Council on Tuesday that the Saudi-led coalition and Houthi rebels are both restricting humanitarian aid access in the impoverished country where more than 80 percent of people need help. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Bernard Orr) Tributes have been paid to two British sisters who died at a waterfall in Vietnam. Beth Anderson, 24, and Isobel Squire, 19, were found dead with former Royal Navy sailor Christian Sloan at the Datanla waterfalls, near Dalat, in the country's central highlands. The three UK backpackers were swimming near the waterfall when they were swept over a 60ft precipice, say local reports. Their bodies were recovered downstream and taken to Ho Chi Minh City, 100 miles south of Dalat. The sisters' family said in a statement: "Two bright lights have gone out. "They shone brightly for 24 and 19 years for everyone who loved and adored them and everyone who came into contact with them. "Sisters, Beth and Izzy were living a life of adventure and did so, right to the end." Vo Anh Tan, deputy director of the company which manages the tourist spot, said they were not with an official guide and did not use proper safety equipment. The guide - named by Vietnamese news website Tuoi Tre as 26-year-old Dang Van Sy - is being questioned by police. He reportedly told officers the three Britons were wearing life jackets when they were swept away by a strong current. He said he tried in vain to revive them. Le Viet Luc, director of a company that runs tours to the site, said: "They fell into the stream of this waterfall and died after being hit by violent waters." Ms Squire and Ms Anderson were half-sisters from the Ecclesall area of Sheffield and had been backpacking in Asia for seven weeks. A man travelling with Mr Sloan, 25, from Kent, said he is "devastated" by the accident. James McGlashan, who reportedly did not go on the waterfall trek because he was unwell, thanked friends and well-wishers for their support. "Thank you for all the messages flooding in, have just stopped in the ambulances for a toilet break so only have wifi for 10 minutes but will try and get back to everyone once I get to Ho Chi Minh City," he wrote on social media. Story continues "Thank you for all your support. Devastated RIP Sloan." Mr Sloan's family said his death is "a very sad loss to us" and he "lived for life". They added: "He was a very popular young man, formerly in the Royal Navy, who had many, many friends not just locally but around the world." Opinion / Columnist The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Deputy Commissioner General -Human Resources, Levi Sibanda has read a riot act to corrupt police officers whom he said will face the wrath of the law.Speaking at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Awards of Excellency in Policing 2015 ceremony in Harare this Friday, Deputy Commissioner General Sibanda expressed displeasure at some unprincipled police officers who are involved in corrupt tendencies.The reading of the riot act comes a day after a police officer from the Police Protection Unit (PPU), Kudzanai Kwashirai (34) was arrested yesterday for allegedly mounting a fake roadblock and extorting US$142 from unsuspecting motorists.He appeared in court today facing charges of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.His alleged accomplice, Tawanda Nyamutamba is on the run.Deputy Commissioner General Sibanda called on the police officers to unite and exhibit team spirit and hard work if they are to crack down on criminals and reduce crime in the country.The first price for the CID Awards of Excellency was scooped by CID Homicide Harare, followed by CID Homicide Masvingo and CID Homicide Bulawayo on second and third place respectively. As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ LOS ANGELESAVN Award winner Dani Daniels has signed on to join the cast of Axel Braun's The Empire Strikes Back: An Axel Braun Parody, currently seeking crowdfunding through Indiegogo.com. The Indiegogo campaign for the project, which has a fixed funding goal of $500,000, has topped $5,000 after its first five days, and will continue until April 22. If the goal is reached, the movie will be released online free of charge forever. Daniels' role in the movie, should it come to fruition, will be Toryn Farr, a communications officer for the Rebel Alliance who coordinates the defense of the ice planet Hoth. "Being a Star Wars nerd myself, I am beyond excited to be a part of The Empire Strikes Back XXX," Daniels said. "Axel is an incredible legend, and i can't wait to see the nerd-gasm porn film he creates." She continued, "I can't believe he offered me a parteven though I should have been Chewbacca, since I totally have the bush for it. I can't wait for the true fans to donate and see it when it's done." Commented Braun, "I am absolutely thrilled to have Dani in the cast. She's a terrific performer and a gifted actress, and she's definitely a fantastic addition to our already stellar cast." The cast already in place for the movie includes Allie Haze, Lexington Steele and Seth Gamble, all returning from Braun's Star Wars XXX, as well as new additions Riley Steele, Carter Cruise, Aiden Ashley and Asa Akira, on special loan from Wicked Pictures. For more on the Indiegogo campaign for The Empire Strikes Back XXX, click here. The movie is scheduled to begin production June 1 and continue for 28 days in California, Nevada and Alaska. The target release date is September 30, 2016. LOS ANGELESAbigail Mac is all over the place right now. The new issue of Hustler. A new Bang Bros scene. Jacky St. James latest movie. And shes going to be heading to San Francisco next week. The Bang Bros scene is with Jordan Ash and appears in their "Big Mouthfuls" section. Abigail calls it a very wild and messy scene with some great dick sucking. Jackys new movie, A Lesbian Romance 2 (New Sensations), features Abigail and Aubrey Star. The latter is Abis personal massage therapist and Abigail confesses her feelings for the well-handed beauty and the two enjoy a passionate scene together. Readers will find Abigail in the May issue of Hustler, which is on stands now. Its a spread of Abigail and Ariana Marie shot by Tammy Sands. We have a very naughty picnic, Abigail teased. Next week she will be off to San Francisco where she and Alexis Monroe will be co-headlining at New Century. Fans may follow Abigail Mac on Twitter. Shes also on Instagram, Chatstar, and YouTube. Her official website is AbigailMac.com. Her Clips4sale store is here. For feature bookings contact alistfeatures.com. Athens (AFP) - Some 6,500 people were stuck at the Idomeni camp on Greece's northern border with Macedonia on Saturday after four Balkan countries announced a daily cap on migrant arrivals. The build-up began in earnest last week after Macedonia started refusing entry to Afghans and imposed stricter document controls on Syrians and Iraqis, slowing the passage of migrants and refugees to a trickle. The situation looked set to worsen significantly after EU members Slovenia and Croatia, as well as Serbia and Macedonia, said they would limit the number of migrants entering each day to 580. The tighter controls have left thousands -- including many children -- stranded in Greece, as the bloc's worst migration crisis since World War II shows no sign of abating.Late on Saturday, some 6,500 people were stranded at Idomeni, according to Athens News Agency. Macedonian authorities opened the Idomeni border crossing on Saturday afternoon and dozens of migrants were allowed to pass through, with local Greek police sources saying 300 were expected to cross the frontier by the end of the day. More than 20,000 refugees and other migrants are currently on Greek soil, according to the office of Migration Minister Yiannis Mouzalas. Tensions had run high along the border earlier in the day, with some 400 migrants staging a protest demanding entry to Macedonia. - 'Open the borders' - Friday's announcement by four Balkan states came a week after Austria said it would only allow 80 people to claim asylum per day, and also pledged to limit the daily number of people passing through the country to 3,200. The move has sparked a bitter spat between Athens and Vienna, with Greece fearful it would trigger a domino effect, leaving thousands stranded on its territory after crossing by boat from Turkey. Austria has repeatedly accused Greece of failing to police its borders properly and allowing too many migrants to continue their journey towards northern Europe. Story continues In a bid to regulate the flow of refugees, Greek authorities are trying to house them on the Aegean islands where they land by boat from Turkey. Last week, the EU told Austria that limiting asylum claims was "plainly incompatible" with European and international laws. On Saturday, some 3,000 people marched in Brussels demanding "safe passage now" for migrants while smaller demonstrations drew hundreds in Paris and other European cities. Some marchers symbolically wore life jackets and blankets in a bid to highlight the dangers migrants face trying to cross the Aegean Sea to Europe. "Nowhere is it written in the Geneva Conventions that one can close borders to refugees -- quite the contrary," the Belga news agency quoted protester Beatrice Dispaux saying. "These people need help and shelter and we can give them that. The situation is critical, the politicians must act urgently." Several rallies were held across Germany while a Belgian group of associations said some 100 cities across Europe and beyond were holding marches in support of migrants. About 200 protesters gathered in Paris, while marchers in the northern German city of Hamburg carried Afghan flags and banners reading: "No nation, no border". Moscow (AFP) - Thousands of Russians marched through Moscow and Saint Petersburg on Saturday in memory of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov who was gunned down near the Kremlin a year ago in the highest-profile assassination of Vladimir Putin's rule. On a bright sunny afternoon opposition supporters thronged the streets in the Russian capital amid heightened police security as a helicopter hovered overhead. Some marchers carried Russian flags, placards, flowers and Nemtsov's portraits. Others chanted: "Russia will be free" and "Russia without Putin." Some 20,000 joined the march including Nemtsov's allies -- top opposition leader Alexei Navalny and former prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov, according to AFP journalists. Moscow police, which are often accused of downplaying the popularity of opposition events, said 7,500 showed up. Many protesters said the situation in Russia had got worse since the opposition politician's murder. "Aggression and xenophobia have gone through the roof," Anastasia Osipova told AFP. "Over the past year things have become so much worse, both when it comes to the economy and freedom of speech," said the 20-year-old, clutching an EU flag. "The authorities, this regime killed Nemtsov," said Yevgeny Mishchenko, 41. "The economic situation is worsening. Support for the authorities is crumbling. This will all end in a civil war, like a hundred years ago." Russians also formed a huge line to lay flowers at the Great Moskvoretsky bridge where Nemtsov, a jovial 55-year-old with a mop of black curly hair, was killed. US ambassador John Tefft was among those who came to pay their respects earlier Saturday, laying a wreath with a ribbon saying "From the American people." Some said they would come to the makeshift shrine shortly before midnight, the time the politician was gunned down. - 'Russia's nightmare' - In Putin's hometown of Saint Petersburg, some 4,000 people turned out to honour Nemtsov. Story continues "Putin is Russia's nightmare", one placard read, while some chanted "Putin get out." "The authorities should know there are opponents," Varvara Mikhailova, 24, said in the former imperial capital. "If we protest, something will change." Russia's annexation of Crimea, fighting in Ukraine and Moscow's confrontation with the West have left the country deeply polarised. Most of the population -- who critics say have been under the spell of pro-Kremlin propaganda -- support Putin despite mounting economic troubles, while a minority says Russia is hurtling towards catastrophe. Smaller commemorative events took place across Russia, while in London, Nemtsov's eldest daughter Zhanna paid tribute to her father with the launch of a foundation in his name. Backed by ex-tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, an opposition leader who spent a decade in prison, the Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom aims to continue Nemtsov's mission of bringing democracy to Russia. Britain's Europe Minister David Lidington urged Moscow "to ensure that those responsible for this appalling crime are brought to justice." On the eve of the anniversary, lawmaker Dmitry Gudkov, one of the few independent voices in parliament, suggested that deputies observe a moment of silence in Nemtsov's memory but most of his colleagues refused. Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister in the government of Boris Yeltsin, was gunned down on February 27, 2015, while walking across a bridge a short distance from the Kremlin and Saint Basil's Cathedral with his Ukrainian model girlfriend. - 'Who dared?' - Putin, whose rule has seen the steady suppression of independent media and opposition parties, promised an all-out effort to catch the killers. "Who dared?" a furious Putin asked his aides after Nemtsov was hit in the back by four fatal shots, the opposition Novaya Gazeta said. Within weeks five men -- all Chechens from Russia's restive North Caucasus -- were arrested and charged with murder. The detainees, including Zaur Dadayev, a member of a Chechen interior ministry battalion accused of being the gunman, are now awaiting trial for what investigators say was a carefully planned contract killing. Nemtsov's family and allies insist the authorities have failed to bring the masterminds to justice and point the finger of blame at Chechnya's Moscow-backed strongman Ramzan Kadyrov -- and the Kremlin itself. This month, men who were apparently from the North Caucasus threw a cake at opposition activist Kasyanov and shouted threats at him. The Kremlin downplayed the attack, saying it should not be linked to Kadyrov. Two weeks later unidentified attackers threw a cake at Navalny. Both attacks took place after the Chechen strongman posted an Instagram image of Kasyanov in the crosshairs of a sniper's rifle and called the opposition "enemies of the people." "They are trying to make the harassment of the opposition look like a farce but this does not mean that directors of the cheap comedies would refuse more brutal genres," said liberal daily Vedomosti. News Microsoft Preps for RSA with Azure and Office 365 Security Improvements Microsoft provided an update on its enterprise security solutions today, just before the RSA security conference, which happens later this month. Expect a heavy cloud emphasis from Microsoft at RSA. Cloud-enabled security hangs over its entire agenda, as shown in this blog post. A few new cloud security developments were highlighted today in an announcement by Bret Arsenault, Microsoft's chief information security officer. The new developments include Azure Security Center improvements, a coming preview of Azure Active Directory Identity Protection, and a preview of a new Operations Management Suite dashboard. There also are a few Office 365 security improvements arriving this year. Microsoft has been using its cloud datacenter capabilities to improve security for organizations, Arsenault noted. It's used to get "real-time insights," to correlate threat intelligence data and use "predictive intelligence" information to help ward off threats. It's done, in part, using Microsoft's "intelligent security graph" technology for collecting data, as well as machine-learning technology. Microsoft is also collaborating with security solution partners on Azure security protections. These efforts were kicked into high gear not long after Satya Nadella took the CEO helm at Microsoft. For an overview of Microsoft's cloud and operational security shift, see this January Redmond article. Microsoft has been evolving its Trustworthy Computing effort into a kind of security-as-a-service approach. Azure Security Center Preview Improvements Much of Microsoft's security announcements today centered on Azure Security Center, which is still at the preview stage after its debut in December. Azure Security Center offers monitoring tools, threat intelligence via machine learning and alerts via dashboards. Arsenault indicated that organizations now will be able to configure policies for the Azure Security Center based on Resource Groups. Previously, IT pros only could set policies across the whole subscription. This change will let organizations set policies based on particular workloads, he explained. In addition, Microsoft has integrated advanced threat detection capabilities into the Azure Security Center. Crash events are automatically collected from Azure virtual machines. The data get analyzed and an alert is sent to organizations if a virtual machine has been compromised, Arsenault explained. Analytics have been added for "SSH brute force attacks" on Linux virtual machines. It's also capable of detecting RDP brute force attacks on Windows virtual machines. IT pros get the details via a Power BI-based dashboard, which can be customized to mash up other logged data. Microsoft plans to expand its partner support for Azure Security Center in "the next few weeks," according to its announcement. The Azure Security Center preview already allows organizations to add Web application firewalls and antimalware software from third-party software makers. Microsoft is adding a new partner add-on category called "next generation firewalls" in coming weeks. These next-generation firewalls will be "virtual appliances" from vendors such as Cisco, Check Point and Fortinet, according to an Azure blog post. The Azure Security Center itself will alert users when a next-generation firewall is recommended. Also, Microsoft's roster of Web application firewall vendors will be expanding. Imperva solutions will be added on top of Microsoft's current partners, Barracuda, F5 and Trend Micro. Microsoft provides a demonstration of its Azure Security Center in this Channel 9 video. The costs, if any, for Azure Security Center haven't been determined yet. Likely they'll be based on "nominal" Azure storage and egress costs, according to Tom Shinder, a Microsoft program manager for Azure security. Azure AD Identity Protection Preview Microsoft is planning to release a public preview next week of its Azure Active Directory Identity Protection solution, which tracks the compromised credentials of user accounts. It does so by pulling authentication request information, analyzing the data and then issuing login risk scores. The Azure Active Directory Identity Protection service uses machine-learning processing of more than 14 billion authentications to pull out this information, which takes up 10TB of data space per day, according to the Azure blog post. It uses signals from Microsoft's applications and data from the Microsoft Security Response Center, as well as Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit. OMS Security and Audit Preview Microsoft announced today that it has improved the Security and Audit dashboard within its Operations Management Suite (OMS). The OMS is Microsoft's management service that works across different cloud platforms. This improved Security and Audit dashboard is being rolled out as a preview feature of OMS' Log Analytics capability. Some features will be available today and others will be available "over the coming weeks," according to a Microsoft server and cloud blog post. This Security and Audit preview release shows identity and access information, networking data, malware assessments, and update assessments. It can graph data over specific time periods, such as 24 hours or weekly, or a custom time period can be specified. It can link its reporting to the Azure Security Center. Office 365 Cloud App Security Microsoft has further developed its Office 365 Cloud App Security solution and is planning a "general availability" product release in April. This service uses technology Microsoft acquired when it bought cloud security firm Adallom to secure data associated with software-as-a-service (SaaS) apps. It shows which SaaS apps are used, user activity, compromised accounts and "anomalous behavior." It can be used to add security to services such as "Box, Dropbox, Salesforce and Office 365," according to an Active Directory team blog post. The Adallom technology will power three forthcoming Office 365 management capabilities that will be offered under E5 subscription plans. The capabilities include "advanced security alerts," "cloud app discovery" and "app permissions," which will be added in Q3 of this year, according to an Office blog post. Office 365 Customer Lockbox Customer Lockbox, which provides a means for organizations to approve Microsoft's access to Office 365 tenant data, was announced at last year's RSA security conference. Microsoft has been gradually rolling it out for various Office 365 services. It reached "general availability" release status for Exchange Online back in December. Today, Microsoft announced that Customer Lockbox will begin rolling out for its OneDrive for Business and SharePoint Online services in Q2 of this year. The Russian military said its warplanes suspended all sorties over Syria on Saturday in line with a ceasefire deal brokered by Russia and the United States, to avoid any "bombing mistakes". The Russian and American militaries also exchanged maps of Syria, while fighting stopped in 34 Syrian settlements, the military said. "Russia's air force fully halted bombing in the green zone," a senior representative of the General Staff, Sergei Rudskoi, told reporters, referring to the areas and armed groups that expressed interest in observing the ceasefire deal. He added that "on February 27, sorties of the Russian aviation in Syria including long-range aviation, are not being carried out". He said this was being done to rule out "any possible bombing mistakes" and in accordance with a UN Security Council resolution. A ceasefire agreement brokered by Moscow and Washington called for the cessation of hostilities from 2200 GMT Friday between Russian-backed Bashar al-Assad's forces and opposition groups. The deal does not however include the Islamic State and Al-Nusra Front jihadists. Rudskoi said 17 armed groups -- those who fight alongside regime forces or independently -- contacted Russia's ceasefire coordination centre at the Hmeimim airbase and pledged to honour the ceasefire deal. He also said that within the framework of the ceasefire deal the Russian and US militaries exchanged maps of Syria. - 'In full control' - Rudskoi said more than 6,000 fighters had joined the truce deal, saying the Russians handed their lists to the US counterparts. He added that the Americans also received a list of 74 settlements and areas which should not be bombed. "During consultations we received a similar map prepared by the American side," Rudskoi said. "We've made the first step on the path to halting fighting on Syrian soil," he added. "We are honouring an obligation to observe the ceasefire in full. However it does not mean that ISIL and Jabhat al-Nusra jihadists can breathe a sigh of relief," he said, referring to the Islamic State and Al-Nusra Front by other names. "We are in full control of the situation across the whole of Syria," he said, adding that Russian forces were using at least 70 drones and space surveillance for monitoring purposes. Speaking by video link from the Hmeimim airbase, Sergei Kuralenko, head of Russia's coordination centre in Syria, said fighting had stopped in 34 Syrian settlements. "Work to rebuild Syria is being carried out round the clock," he said, adding that humanitarian aid was being sent to the areas where the ceasefires have taken hold. Over the past two days, 2.5 tonnes of food supplies have been sent to two settlements in the provinces of Homs and Latakia, Kuralenko added. Moscow launched a bombing campaign in Syria in September, saying it needed to target jihadists before they cross into Russia, but the West has accused it of targeting moderate rebels. Thirteen Dutch hikers have been found in good health by rescuers on snowmobiles after being stranded in the mountains of central Norway, where helicopters were unable to reach them because of blizzards and worries about avalanches, police said Friday. The hikers, aged between 25 and 40, had been stranded in a mountain valley about 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) high around 400 kilometers (about 250 miles) northwest of Oslo, they said. They started from the village of Bjorli on February 21 and are scheduled to return on Saturday, police said. "Several hikers have sent distress messages via satellite during the morning of Friday," Atle von Obstfelder, an operations chief for the Norwegian police's mountain rescue service, told AFP by phone earlier. "A friend (of theirs) in Holland received a call that they were okay at about 1530 yesterday (Thursday), so something happened today (Friday) but we don't know when exactly, and we don't what." Helicopter rescues were attempted twice on Friday, but pilots were forced to turn around because of poor visibility and concerns about triggering avalanches, he said. They have seen bloodshed and death in Colombia's jungles but for some women rebel fighters, the greatest pain was being forced to abandon their children. Wearing green combat fatigues, Rosmira, 29, sits with a group of her sisters-in-arms at a secret mountain camp, where AFP was exceptionally granted access by commanders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). In a half-century-long conflict that has left countless orphans and widows, these are a lesser-known group -- women who chose to become mothers without laying down their arms. Forced night marches have left bags under Rosmira's eyes which she tries to hide with makeup. Trained as a soldier from the age of 11, she has a harrowing gaze. But her voice is surprisingly soft as she tells her story, sitting in the camp in the northwestern region of Magdalena Medio. "When I handed over my daughter, I felt like I had lost half of myself," she said. Although the FARC has admitted that children have served in its ranks, it has a strict rule against warriors raising their own children in the combat zone. Rosmira and her partner knew that, but wanted to have a child anyway, even though they are both fighters enlisted to the Marxist rebels' cause. "I thought about it a lot before having the child because I always knew I would have to be separated from it due to our circumstances," she said. - Permission to be parent - The Colombian government, citing testimonies from FARC deserters, accuses the group of overseeing the rape of female recruits and forced abortions. The FARC says it allows abortions as a "last resort." The procedure is illegal in most cases in Colombia. But Rosmira and some of her companions say they were in consensual relationships and chose to become mothers, even though they knew their commanders would insist the children be sent away. "We asked for permission and the high command accepted. And I had a daughter," Rosmira said of herself and her partner. That was three years ago. Rosmira cared for the baby for two months but then had to return to the front where the FARC maintains an armed confrontation with the Colombian government. Her daughter is being raised by relatives of the father, from whom Rosmira recently separated. She sees the girl from to time -- and now hopes the visits will be become more regular. Now that the FARC is aiming to sign a peace deal with the government, mothers like Rosmira are hoping to be able to travel to see their children without fear of being captured or killed. Manuela, 25, has an eight-year-old daughter whom she hasn't seen for a year. When she does see her, the girl complains about her mother's long absences. With a glimpse of possible peace, Manuela is now planning for a more normal life. She wants to become a dentist and be with her daughter. "You want your children not to look at you with fear and mistrust for being a warrior." - Loving arms - The FARC and the government hope to sign a deal on March 23. What started in the mid-1960s as a peasant uprising against the government, and ground on for decades between various armed groups, could nearly be over. Lingering disagreements over disarmament and other points in the negotiations still risk delaying the accord, however. Colombia's half-century conflict has killed 260,000 people and displaced 6.6 million, according to the United Nations. The Colombian Reintegration Agency, a body that works with demobilized fighters, estimates that nearly half of combatants in the conflict who lay down their arms have children. For the past seven months, a ceasefire has held as peace talks hosted in Cuba have advanced. That has enabled female warriors to visit their children, and some combatants to receive visits from their own mothers. Lidia Rosa Rojo, 55, made the most of the lull in fighting to travel to the camp where her son was serving and embrace him. Three of her other children have been killed fighting in the conflict, she said. "All I hope for from the peace accords is that some day my son will be free so I can see him regularly." By Samia Nakhoul TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran started counting tens of millions of votes on Saturday after hotly contested elections that could see reformists speed up Tehran's opening to the world or long-dominant hardliners reassert the Islamic Republic's traditional anti-Westernism. The twinned elections for parliament and a leadership body called the Assembly of Experts are seen by some analysts as a potential turning point that could shape the future for the next generation, in a country where nearly 60 percent of the 80 million population is under 30. http://tmsnrt.rs/20VK0vG The elections are the first since Tehran agreed with major powers to curb its nuclear programme, leading to the removal of most of the stringent international sanctions that have paralysed the economy over the past decade. Turnout was heavy. Polling was extended five times for a total of almost six hours, because so many people wanted to vote. First partial results are not expected until Saturday and a clear outcome may take days to emerge, although conservatives normally perform well in rural areas and young urbanites are seen as favouring more moderate candidates allied to President Hassan Rouhani. Supporters of Rouhani, who championed the nuclear deal, are pitted against hardliners close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni. They are deeply suspicious of detente with Western countries, seen as adversaries implacably opposed to the 1979 revolution that toppled the Shah. MOUSAVI VOTES Authorities had promised that all Iranian would be able to vote and on Friday opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi and his wife voted for the first time since being put under house arrest in 2011, an ally of Mousavi's told Reuters. Among other voters at a polling station in Khorasan square, a working class neighbourhood in Tehran, Mahnaz Mehri, a 52-year-old mother of four, said she was voting for reformists because they had a better vision for the economy and foreign policy. In Meydan Beheshti square, a mainly conservative neighbourhood, Reza Ganjialilu, a 28-year-old employee at an electronics shop said he did not favour the reformists. "I have a duty to my country. This group of people (conservatives) are the best. Our main concern is preserving our religion, ideology, not just the economy," he said. Iran, which has the world's second largest gas reserves, a diversified manufacturing base and an educated workforce, is seen by global investors as a huge emerging market opportunity, in everything from cars to airplanes and railways to retail. For ordinary Iranians, the prospect of this kind of investment holds out the promise of a return to economic growth, better living standards and more jobs in the long run. An opening to the world of this scale - and Rouhani's popularity - have alarmed hardline allies of Khamenei, who fear losing control of the pace of change, as well as inroads into the lucrative economic interests they built up under sanctions. BUSY POLLING Both camps appeared successful in getting supporters out to vote. Although extensions of voting are common in Iranian elections, many were surprised to see polling as busy in the evening as it had been in the morning. State television said voting booths in other cities were still packed mid-evening. Influential former president Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, allied to Rouhani, called on election authorities to protect people's votes. "You should show our people that their votes will be preserved and are in safe hands," he said. Asked what would happen if reformists did not win, he told Reuters: "It will be a major loss for the Iranian nation." Rouhani wants to cash in on the popularity he gained from the nuclear deal to help his supporters wrest parliament from the hardliners who control it and possibly help him win a second presidential term in elections next year. Although Iran's foreign policy is dictated by Khamenei, the outgoing conservative-dominated parliament strongly opposed making any meaningful concessions to the West during the nuclear negotiations and some lawmakers called Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif a "a traitor". At stake is control of the 290-seat parliament and the 88-member Assembly of Experts, the body that has the power to appoint and dismiss the supreme leader. Like the parliament, the assembly is in the hands of hardliners. During its next eight-year term it could name the successor to Khamenei, who is 76 and has been in power since 1989. (Additional reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin and Parisa Hafezi; Editing by William Maclean and Louise Ireland) Japan and the Philippines are to sign an agreement as early as next week to promote technological cooperation, a move that would allow Tokyo to transfer some war-fighting equipment to Manila. The two governments have been holding working-level talks on the matter since a broad agreement was reached at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November last year, NHK reported. The deal is the first of its kind between two Asian countries, although Japan has a similar standing agreement with the US, Australia, Britain and France. Manila has shown an interest in adopting training aircraft used by Japans Maritime Self-Defense Force, with an eye toward surveillance and patrol activities in the South China Sea as the Philippines continues to be locked with China in a sovereignty dispute over several islands. Observers say the Japanese government is apparently aiming at keeping China in check after the latter reclaimed a disputed island, built an airstrip and installed radar systems and surface-to-air missiles. In late November, Manila and Tokyo broadly agreed on a pact for the transfer of defense equipment and technology, a move likely spurred at least in part by mutual concern over Beijings massive land-reclamation projects. Once inked, the pact would allow Tokyo to send Self-Defense Forces equipment to the Philippines. Despite being one of the most vocal opponents of Beijings territorial claims in the South China Sea, Manila is considered ill equipped to challenge Chinas moves and has looked both to Tokyo and Washington in an effort to alleviate this shortcoming. Japan has already agreed to supply the Philippines with a low-interest loan to purchase a fleet of 10 patrol vessels and has reportedly received requests from President Aquino for larger coast guard patrol vessels and PC-3 submarine-hunting planes. Media reports have also said that Japan hopes to donate three used Beechcraft TC-90 King Air aircraft, which it uses to train military pilots and can be fitted with basic surface and air surveillance radar. These moves have been in lockstep with Washington, which has also scaled up its assistance to Manila as part of its so-called rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region. Experts say Japan hopes that by providing aircraft, ships and other gear, it can help beef up the Philippines maritime surveillance abilities as a way to check Chinas growing territorial ambitions in both the South and East China seas. NHK, UPI Ice Cube Wants To Run His Own Studio Because Hollywood 'Isn't Cool Enough' Trending News: Ice Cube Disses Hollywood For Not Being Cool Enough Why Is This Important? Because Hollywood is that awkward try-hard dude at the party . Long Story Short Rapper/actor Ice Cube wants to start his own studio because Hollywood "ain't cool enough yet." Long Story Ice Cube has been in a lot of bad movies. I mean A LOT of bad movies. But with the recent success of Straight Outta Compton, he's ready to blow up the whole movie biz. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the rapper/actor had this to say about Hollywood: It aint cool enough yet, said Ice Cube in an extensive interview. I mean, its still got gatekeepers. Its got gatekeepers everywhere. Cool people still have a hard time showing what they got in Hollywood. And Ive been fighting my whole career to show a different side. But theres not enough Ice Cubes out there. Theres not enough Ice Cubes getting a chance to do their thing. The world needs more Cubes dammit! Give the world more Cubes! Who'll be the one to fix that? Ice Cube, of course. Im ready to run a studio," said O'Shea Jackson Sr. Ice Cube's real name. "Im ready to green light movies, and be in it to win it. If Hollywood were a person, it'd certainly be covered with bruises and scrapes right now and not undeservedly. Besides this critique from Ice Cube, The New York Times published statements from a long list of non-white, non-male actors about their experiences with poor treatment in the biz earlier this week. There's also the big grey cloud that hovers over Sunday's Oscars, #OscarsSoWhite (a boycott that Ice Cube himself is participating in) Will these critiques end up leading to significant change in the industry, as actors like Ice Cube want, or is Hollywood too much of a cranky old white dude to evolve with the times? Own The Conversation Ask The Big Question Will #OscarsSoWhite and the heavy criticism currently being propelled at Hollywood eventually force the industry to change? Disrupt Your Feed "F*ck Hollywood" a "F*ck Tha Police" remix by Ice Cube coming in 2017? Drop This Fact In January, when asked whether he's upset about Straight Outta Compton being snubbed at the Oscars, Ice Cube said: "It's like crying about not having enough icing on your cake. It's just ridiculous." By Abdoulaye Massalaki NIAMEY (Reuters) - President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger fell short of an outright majority in the Feb. 21 election, according to provisional results on Friday, meaning he now faces a run-off against jailed opposition leader Hama Amadou. Issoufou will bid for a second term on March 20 on a promise to clamp down on Islamist militants in what is one of the poorest countries in the world. His opponent is a former prime minister who came second to Issoufou's 48.4 percent with 17.8 percent. Amadou has been in prison since November on charges relating to baby-trafficking. He says he is innocent and a victim of political repression. Critics say Amadou's imprisonment is part of a crackdown by the government over the election season. The government says it respects the law and such criticisms are politically motivated. Following the results, Issoufou congratulated the people of Niger for the peaceful election. "I also salute my adversaries in the first round and congratulate them for the quality of the debate," he told journalists. A coalition of four parties agreed before the election to back the candidate that came second in a bid to defeat Issoufou. Those parties gained a cumulative vote of about 38 percent, though it was unclear which side had an advantage ahead of the second round or how Amadou would campaign from prison. Turnout was nearly 67 percent, the National Electoral Commission said. Niger is under threat from Nigeria-based Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has staged a series of cross-border attacks in the southeastern Diffa region, forcing the government to impose a state of emergency there. Niger produces uranium and oil but is ranked last in the U.N.'s Human Development Index and has one of the world's highest fertility rates. The country ranks 114 out of 142 in the 2015 prosperity index run by the UK-based Legatum Institute. Issoufou, born in 1951, won an election in 2011, a year after a coup. (Writing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg; Editing by Louise Ireland) The Philippine embassy in Riyadh yesterday urged Filipinos to remain calm amid the worsening conflict between Saudi Arabia and Syria. There is no reason to be concerned about the security of Filipinos in Saudi Arabia, the embassy said. The conflict between Saudi Arabia and Syria has triggered fears for the safety of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East. There are around 1.2 million Filipinos in Saudi Arabia. The embassy said it would provide regular updates on the situation in Saudi Arabia as the need arises. The embassy issued the statement after OFW groups appealed to the government to prepare them for repatriation if the security situation in the Middle East worsens. Saudi Arabia said it is prepared to deploy ground troops to Syria to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant if US-led coalition leaders agree to the offer. Meanwhile, thousands of illegally deployed and overstaying OFWs in Kuwait face deportation, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said yesterday. POEA chief Hans Cacdac said the Kuwaiti government is implementing a crackdown on illegal foreign migrants, including OFWs. Those who will be caught by security personnel will be deported and banned from returning to Kuwait, Cacdac said. Cacdac, however, said the Kuwaiti government is offering an amnesty for illegal foreign workers. Residency law violators will be allowed to pay their fines so they can either legalize their status or leave the country without being blacklisted, he explained. Cacdac said only foreign workers who would avail themselves of amnesty would not be deported and be allowed to return to Kuwait. He advised undocumented Filipino workers in Kuwait to hasten the rectification of their illegal status. The Philippine embassy in Kuwait has issued guidelines on the amnesty program, Cacdac said. There are around 6,000 undocumented Filipinos in Kuwait. With Mayen Jaymalin By Jutarat Skulpichetrat BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's controversial Tiger Temple, dogged for years by talk that it supplies the black market and mistreats its animals, is fighting to keep the big cats after wildlife authorities rejected a bid to extend a zoo license that expired in 2013. The Buddhist temple, home to more than 100 tigers, has been investigated for suspected links to wildlife trafficking and wildlife activists have accused it of illegal breeding of the animals. Thai wildlife authorities have sent ten of the temple's tigers to a wildlife sanctuary. But the temple, which bills itself as a wildlife sanctuary, has denied links to illegal trafficking, and wants to hold on to its tigers. "This is their home. They are happy here," said Supitpong Pakdijarung, an official of the foundation that runs Wat Pa Luang Ta Bua, as the temple is known in Thailand."The government has to find a budget to take care of them," Supitpong, the body's deputy chairman, told Reuters. "Here, the money comes from donations. It is about giving and generosity." Supitpong denies accusations that tigers bred at the temple have been sold on the black market. But the allegations of mistreatment of tigers had dented Thailand's tourism image, said Teunchai Noochdumrong, director of the country's Wildlife Conservation Office. "The world is looking at us," he added. "The temple did not allow officials to enforce the law. The temple has affected Thai tourism." In the past, attempts by wildlife officials to inspect the tigers have been blocked by the temple and its abbots. Thailand has long been a hub for illegal wildlife trafficking, as a place where everything from exotic birds to reptiles, and even bears, is for sale, driven by international demand for exotic meats and rare pets. Successive governments have launched campaigns to curb the trade in illegal wildlife, but with varying degrees of success. One visitor to the temple said the tigers should be left there, rather than being confiscated. "These animals are used to being around people," said Victoria Carpenter, an American tourist. (Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) By Steve Anderson, Contributing Writer Share It's been another major week for call center services, and the public face of a huge number of companies has brought with it fresh opportunities, challenges, and a big load of new developments to go with them. With all that news, it's a good thing we've got a weekend on hand to better manage the flow, and to that end, we'll boil down all the biggest events of the week into a super-concentrated package with our Week in Review coverage! First, good news for Colorado Springs StarTek employees; a planned layoff at the Colorado Springs call center has been reversed due to changes in the market. Where previously, 175 employees were set to be laid offoriginal plans called for 230, and around 50 left voluntarilynow there is potential afoot to retain all the potential losses thanks for some firms needing more call center help. Next, we had a look at how biometrics can be a huge help to victims of phone phishing, a somewhat overlooked potential field for criminals given the increasing numbers of data-related breaches. Phone (News - Alert) scams are still alive and wellperhaps more so thanks to decreased scrutiny in the wake of all the data breachesand that may be an opportunity for biometrics to step in and protect users with highly-specific security protections, allowing potential fraud to be spotted in advance. A new contact center in Florida was our next shot of news, as iQor opened up the center in question. A customer contact solutions provider, iQor (News - Alert) offers support in technology, logistics, and several other fields for potential users. The company is expected to hire 600 customer interaction professionals and quartering them in a 48,000 square foot space, thus making iQor one of the largest employers in Pompano Beach, where the center is set to be located. Then, home furnishing website Wayfair stepped in with plans for multiple new call centers in Maine. Targeting Brunswick and Bangor, Wayfair represents just another in a string of new call center developments the state is undertaking, with the two operations representing nearly 1,000 new call center jobs coming to the field. Reaction is mixed, with some happy to see the new jobs and others less so, but the multiplier effect of new jobs should be welcome. Finally, Comcast made a move on the call center front, looking to fill 50 new call center positions. The beleaguered company connected to Goodwill to offer a hiring event for the new positions. Comcast (News - Alert) is said to be looking for candidates with ...outstanding persuasion ability, and may be conducting initial interviews with candidates at the event itself. That was the week that was in call center services, and from the biggest firms to the smallest, the public face of the company got plenty of new wattage in its collective smile. A call center renaissance is said to be underway in the United States, and that means new jobs. That also means new developments, and our global online community is ready as ever to intercept and bring back all that news here for us to consider. So join us back here next week for all the latest from this growing sector, and every weekend for our Week in Review coverage! By David Alexander VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (Reuters) - Senior U.S. defense officials voiced concern about North Korea's nuclear ambitions on Friday as they toured American missile defense sites a day after watching the military test-fire its second intercontinental ballistic missile in a week. Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work and Admiral Cecil Haney, combat commander of U.S. nuclear forces, said they were confident American missile defenses could counter the nuclear threat from Pyongyang despite a mixed record of success in testing. "I think when you look at what its designed for, and thats a North Korean type problem, I think (I have) a very high confidence that we would have the capability," Haney said after visiting a nondescript metal building where workers assemble the ground-based interceptor at the heart of the defense system. Their remarks were a second day of messaging North Korea about its nuclear ambitions. Work said the test-firing of the unarmed Minuteman III missile on Thursday night was aimed at demonstrating the reliability of U.S. nuclear arms to potential nuclear rivals like Russia and North Korea. The tour of missile defense facilities was another signal to Pyongyang, which recently detonated an underground nuclear device and tested a rocket in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. "North Korea as a whole (is) very, very problematic in terms of their thirst to have a nuclear capability," Haney told reporters, citing Pyongyang's indifference to Security Council resolutions and its provocative attacks on South Korea. The United States currently has 30 ground-based interceptor missiles to target and destroy nuclear ballistic missiles while they are still in space. Four of the interceptors are at Vandenberg and the rest at Fort Greely, Alaska. The U.S. military is building another 14 interceptors at a cost of nearly $1 billion to be installed at Fort Greely by the end of 2017, fulfilling a pledge by former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in 2013 after Pyongyang threatened a pre-emptive nuclear strike on the United States. The deputy secretary said on Friday the ICBM test-shot late on Thursday was viewed as a success because of its proximity to the target near Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific. The military does not generally disclose how close the missile lands to its target. Work said it was the eighth consecutive successful test of a Minuteman III and the 27th consecutive successful missile test in the nuclear force, including air-launched cruise missiles and submarine-launched missiles. (Reporting by David Alexander; Editing by Tom Hogue) The White House has pressed Chinese President Xi Jinping to expand his non-militarization pledge to cover the entire South China Sea, despite Beijing's recent military activity in the area. Daniel Kritenbrink, senior director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council, spoke amid rising tensions between the two countries over China's deployment of surface-to-air missiles, radar gear, air strips and fighter jets on an islet there. During a state visit in September, Xi insisted that "China does not intend to pursue militarization" in the Spratly Island chain -- known as Nansha in Chinese. The islands are claimed in part or whole by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. "We think it would be good if that non-militarization pledge, if he (Xi) would extend that across the entire South China Sea," Kritenbrink told a forum at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "We're going to encourage our Chinese friends and other countries in the region to refrain from taking steps that raise tensions." China claims almost the whole of the area -- through which a third of the world's oil passes -- while several other littoral states have competing claims, as does Taiwan. "This is an incredibly important waterway through which much of international trade flows," Kritenbrink said. "We are concerned that China has taken a number of unilateral steps over the last several years that we think raise tensions in the region and are destabilizing." The Asian giant is using dredgers to turn reefs and low-lying features into larger land masses for runways and other military uses to bolster its claims of sovereignty. Earlier this week, US Pacific Command chief Admiral Harry Harris warned that China was changing the "operational landscape in the region." He has called for more flyovers and patrols. "Short of war with the United States, China will exercise de facto control of the South China Sea," Harris said. Kritenbrink also urged China to respect an international court's decision due later this year on Manila's dispute with Beijing over territorial claims in the South China Sea. Kritenbrink said he expected the upcoming ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration to be "extremely important" because it will mark the outcome of a process that allows countries to use peaceful legal means to pursue disputes. China does not recognize The Hague-based court's authority, but it has ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea at the center of the case. "When that ruling comes out, it will be binding on both parties," Kritenbrink said. "That will be an important moment that all of us in the region should focus on." By Ian Simpson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington on Saturday is set to launch its long-delayed streetcar line, the first in the U.S. capital since 1962 and part of a nationwide trolley revival. The start of service on the $200 million, 2.4-mile (3.9-km) line marks the end of more than a decade of planning and construction marred by blown deadlines and rising costs. The six-car service will link Union Station, the city's train terminal, to Benning Road in northeast Washington along H Street, a gentrifying corridor of restaurants, stores and apartment buildings. I want to thank the residents of the H Street and Benning Road communities for their patience during the construction and testing of the system," Muriel Bowser, the fourth District 16 of Columbia mayor to have a hand in the project, said in announcing the launch. Bowser has said rides will be free, at least initially. The H Street line is part of a streetcar system that a 2005 District transportation plan said would reach 25 miles (40 km) by 2030 and cost $1 billion. The first leg was supposed to open in 2006. But cost overruns and delays have plagued the project, and the system has been scaled back under Bowser to about a third of that size. District Transportation Director Leif Dormsjo, brought in by Bowser last year, said in a statement, "After years of overspending, mismanagement and lack of direction, we made it happen. Despite the headaches, Washington is part of a growing number of cities that turned to the railed vehicles for transportation. Five cities, including Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta, have started service in the last five years, according to the American Public Transportation Association. New York is planning a 16-mile (26 km) line, and U.S. streetcar ridership rose last year to 50.84 million trips, a 3.4 percent increase, the Federal Transit Administration said. But in a sign of opposition, Arlington, Virginia, a Washington suburb, canceled two projects in 2014 after residents protested against the $550 million cost. (Reporting by Ian Simpson Editing by W Simon) RIYADH (Reuters) - Yemen's Gulf-backed government accused the Lebanese Shi'ite Muslim militia Hezbollah on Wednesday of training Houthi forces, fighting alongside them and planning attacks in Saudi Arabia. Yemen's government and its Gulf partners have long accused Hezbollah's ally Iran of backing the Houthis and seeking to transform the group into a replica of the Lebanese militia to use as a proxy against its main regional rival, Saudi Arabia. Its latest assertion, in a statement carried by official media, is based on "many documents and physical evidence", found in military positions abandoned by the Houthis, which it said Hezbollah would not be able to deny. Both Iran and Hezbollah reject accusations they have provided military aid to the Houthis. A video recording that Saudi officials gave to Reuters and other media and purported to show a Hezbollah operative with the nickname "Abu Saleh al-Libnani (Lebanese)" sitting in a tent discussing tactics with Houthi fighters last summer. Most of the video was muted, but during one of the brief segments with sound he was shown saying "I have a special operation in the heart of Riyadh". Asked by one of those listening if it would be a suicide operation, he answered "maybe a suicide operation. What we do is suicide operations." Reuters could not independently verify the content of the video or the identity of the man named as Abu Saleh, who spoke in Arabic with a Lebanese accent. Saudi Arabia is leading an Arab coalition against the Houthis and forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh in a bid to restore the internationally recognised government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Although both Iran and Hezbollah have given vocal support to the Houthis, dismissed Hadi's government as illegitimate and condemned Saudi involvement in the civil war, they deny giving the group military aid. (Reporting by Angus McDowall; Editing by Dominic Evans) For more about my academic work, please see my website I'm Rebecca Farnum, an American studying in the United Kingdom. This blog is so titled because "Bex" is a common nickname for Rebecca in Britain. SWNS

Americans are still waiting for their Goldilocks moment four in five say theyve never found their perfect fit for certain items.

According to a new poll of 1,000 people 250 lbs and over and 1,000 people under 250 lbs, 52% struggle to find clothing, mattresses (40%) and bathtubs or shower enclosures (38%) that fit their body types.

In fact, about two-thirds (67%) find themselves struggling frequently with finding items that fit their body size needs.

This was especially true for those 350 lbs and over, as 41% admit they always struggle, compared to only 23% of those under 250 lbs.

Despite frequency, almost three-quarters (74%) of all respondents find themselves feeling frustrated when they are searching for an item that accommodates their needs.

Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Big Fig Mattress, the survey asked respondents how they go about their everyday lives despite challenges they may face because of their body type.

Results found that seven in 10 respondents feel less confident when they struggle with finding items that fit their size needs.

When asked about other emotions respondents experience, those 250 lbs and over are more likely to feel set apart from others, citing embarrassed (59%) and isolated (53%).

While those who are under 250 lbs tend to lean towards disappointed (51%).

Even so, those 250 lbs and up were more optimistic than those under (35% vs 23%).

The average respondent has crossed off about five brands or retailers because they dont carry products that meet their physical needs.

However, for those who are 250 lbs and over, 72% have eliminated between three and eight stores.

Almost one in five (18%) of those under 250 lbs cited that all stores carry their size, compared to only 2% of those who are 250 lbs and up.

"This survey makes it clear that the 'all' part of 'one size fits all' couldn't be further from the truth," said Jeff Brown, president, Big Fig Mattress. "Almost two in five respondents haven't found something that they felt was made for them. Everybody and every body deserves a long-lasting and comfortable mattress to support a good night's sleep, regardless of your size."

Products made for all body types are an issue no matter what the product, with respondents needing to stand on furniture to reach something (46%) or finding that clothing is either way too long or too short (46%).

And ill-fitting items arent just an inconvenience, 61% of respondents say that clothing, vehicles (59%) and mattresses (50%) that arent made for their body type have a big impact on their quality of life.

More than half of those 250 lbs and over (53%) believe their life is more difficult than for someone who is considered normal sized.

But that doesnt mean respondents are only dwelling on the negative almost half (44%) frequently make light of their struggles.

When asked how they do so, respondents outlined things like, I speak to myself. I'm beautiful and special. I'm impeccable," and Remind myself that if this is the biggest problem I have, then I am doing just fine in life."

The survey also asked about relationship status and how respondents are navigating integrating their lifestyles with another uniquely sized person.

Seventy-four percent of all respondents are in a relationship and living with their significant other.

Almost half (45%) are mixed-size couples, meaning they have a noticeable difference in body size or type.

Because of this, couples face challenges like finding a place to live that accommodates both people (40%), struggling to share a mattress comfortably (40%) and having items that one person uses but the other never would such as step stools (34%).

In the end, more than two-thirds (68%) of all respondents agree that its difficult to navigate a one size fits all world when people have varying body types.

We believe and support being body positive, in body acceptance, and in making positive life choices, noted Brown. Bigger figured people deserve the same level of quality products and choices as everyone else. Its important to accept that all bodies are different and require more from product manufacturers, and I think the data makes that clear.

MOST DIFFICULT ITEMS TO FIND FOR A SPECIFIC BODY TYPE

  • Clothing - 52%
  • Mattress - 40%
  • Bathtub/shower enclosure - 38%
  • Chairs/couch - 35%
  • Bike/scooter - 34%
  • Vehicle - 31%

Survey methodology:

This random double-opt-in survey of 1,000 Americans under 250 lbs and 1,000 Americans 250 lbs and up was commissioned by Big Big Mattress between September 8 and September 21. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).

By Jane Wardell and Colin Packham SYDNEY (Reuters) - Downed power lines and flooding are hampering relief efforts in Fiji after one of the most powerful storms recorded in the southern hemisphere tore through the Pacific island nation, flattening remote villages and killing at least five people. Harsh winds and torrential rains tore up homes and cut power, water and communications links across the nation of about 900,000 people, although Suva, the capital, escaped the brunt after the storm changed direction at the last minute. Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama confirmed the death toll and declared a 30-day state of emergency, with schools ordered to shut and a nationwide curfew extended until Monday morning. "When we are able we will provide timelines for the return of water and power," he said, adding that electricity supply to some areas had been deliberately cut to avert further damage. The archipelago of about 300 islands hit late on Saturday by tropical cyclone Winston, which packed winds of 230 kph (143 mph) that gusted up to 325 kph (202 mph). Businessman Jay Dayal, who lives near Rakiraki, on the north coast of Fijis main island where the cyclone hit land, said the storm damage was extensive. "I wouldn't be surprised if people are now starting to go without food," Dayal told Reuters. "It looks like a different country, it doesn't look like Fiji." Humanitarian agencies warned Fiji may be facing a potential health crisis, mainly due to the lack of electricity. Low-lying river areas where hundreds of people live in tin sheds are also particularly vulnerable, aid workers said. "We need electricity to ensure pumps are working and for sterilization," Raijeli Nicole, an official of aid agency Oxfam, told Reuters by telephone that flights have been scheduled on Sunday to assess damage in remote areas. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE An elderly man died on Koro Island when a roof fell on him, authorities said. In a nearby village, 50 homes were reported to have been destroyed. "Some villages have reported that all homes have been destroyed," Jone Tuiipelehaki of the United Nations Development Program tweeted late on Saturday. People flocked to 758 evacuation centres on Saturday, while tourists hunkered down in hotel ballrooms and conference rooms in coastal areas. "The images that we're starting to see roll in are terrifying," Alice Clements, a UNICEF official based in Suva said by telephone, describing visuals of a car on a building roof and a small plane nose down in debris. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who offered to send a P-3 Orion aircraft to help in the relief effort, said about 1,200 Australians were registered as being in Fiji, although there could be many more. Australians are frequent travellers to the archipelago, which gets around 340,000 tourists each year. Airlines Virgin and Jetstar on Saturday suspended flights to Fiji, and the national carrier suspended all flights. (Additional reporting by Colin Packham in SYDNEY; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Miral Fahmy) By Georgina Prodhan and Klaus Lauer BERLIN (Reuters) - Prominent Germans appeared starstruck by Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg on a visit to Berlin on Thursday even while talking tough about the social network's record on data protection and hate speech. Zuckerberg is on a charm offensive in Germany, where the company he co-founded has faced criticism for months from politicians and regulators over its privacy practices and a slow response to anti-immigrant postings by neo-Nazi sympathisers. The 31-year-old entrepreneur met Chancellor Angela Merkel's chief of staff, told journalists about his vision for the future of Facebook and received an award from publisher Axel Springer while avoiding controversial topics. Merkel adviser Peter Altmeier told journalists after the meeting that Zuckerberg had understood the importance of removing illegal content from the Internet. Afterwards, he posted on Twitter about "a really good conversation with a man who changed the world", publishing a picture of the two together. Max Schrems - the Austrian law student who has fought multiple lawsuits against Facebook including one that sank the Safe Harbour agreement on transatlantic data transfers - contrasted the approach of European governments with the way the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has demanded Apple unlock an iPhone at the centre of a criminal investigation. "The only thing that's mind-blowing to me is how European governments 'negotiate' and 'ask' these companies to comply with the applicable law. In Germany it's hate speech and privacy, in the UK it's taxes - but they don't treat them like a subject to its law, but another nation state," he told Reuters. Zuckerberg disarmed his audience while collecting a Springer award for entrepreneurial spirit awarded for the first time this year, talking of his predilection for grey T-shirts and expertise in changing diapers. "I got it down to 20 seconds," he told an audience that included his wife Priscilla Chan, senior executives of Facebook partner Samsung Electronics, and publishing heiress Friede Springer. Springer CEO Mathias Doepfner took what he called a contrarian view on hate speech, saying he did not believe it was the role of social networks to police what was said in their communities, a job he believed belonged to publishers. Facebook's rules forbid bullying, harassment and threatening language, but critics say it does not enforce them properly. It has hired a Bertelsmann business services unit to monitor and delete racist posts on its platform in Germany. Doepfner, whose company has taken Google to court for refusing to pay newspaper publishers for displaying their content online, praised Facebook's Instant Articles feature, which displays publishers' news articles within the Facebook mobile app, with their permission and sharing the benefits. He said he did not want to discuss the issue of data privacy and data security. "That's too complicated; I don't want to get into that tonight," he said. It was left to Martin Schulz, president of the European parliament, to address the more thorny issues, offering Zuckerberg a debate that he said would benefit both sides. "We in Europe have something to learn from you, namely your engaging sense of optimism and your inspiring vision of the future. You can show us how to reach for the stars,' he said. "In return, we will share with you our long experience of cultural diversity and show you that a sensitive approach to the use of data and the protection of copyright are fundamental components of our society." Zuckerberg may have to address such questions on Friday, when he will answer questions from the public at a town hall meeting. He does not plan to take questions from the press and has not done so throughout his visit to Berlin so far. (Reporting by Klaus Lauer and Reuters TV; Writing by Georgina Prodhan; Editing by Louise Ireland and Tom Brown) LILONGWE (Reuters) - Malawi will cut the benefits enjoyed by cabinet ministers and top civil servants as the government works to rein in spending due to a foreign aid freeze and weak tax revenue, the finance minister said on Saturday. International donors, led by Malawi's former colonial ruler, Britain, halted direct aid to the southern African nation in 2013 over the so-called "cashgate" scandal in which senior government officials siphoned millions of dollars from state coffers. "Cabinet has decided that the Treasury and the Office of the President and Cabinet should review the various perks, including travel, vehicle and fuel entitlements for minister and senior public servants that should be scaled down," Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe told Reuters. He spoke a day after outlining plans to trim the 2015/16 national budget to 906 billion kwacha ($1.23 billion) from 929 billion kwacha previously because of the failure to meet revenue targets in the first half of the year. Like many of its neighbours, Malawi is also grappling with a steep devaluation of its kwacha currency that has been fueled by the aid suspension and declining export earnings from the key tobacco crop. British High Commissioner to Malawi Michael Nevin told Reuters the proposed budget cut was "a bold move" aimed at improving the economic prospects of the country, which previously relied on aid for 40 percent of its budget. (Reporting by Mabvuto Banda; Editing by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo and Helen Popper) (Reuters) - Elections on Friday for the body that selects Iran's supreme leader could be the last hurrah for Iran's best known political grandee, former president Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who has loomed large in the history of the Islamic Republic. If Rafsanjani is unable to muster the votes to secure his seat on the Assembly of Experts, it could signal the beginning of his exit from political life in Iran. Few have wielded such influence in modern Iran as the 81-year-old, but since 2009 he and his family have faced criticism from hardliners over their support for the opposition movement which lost that year's disputed election to former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He has also rankled hardliners in the lead-up to this year's election to the assembly and parliament by openly criticizing the Guardian Council, the body that vets candidates, for their large-scale disqualification of moderates. For the Assembly election, Rafsanjani - known in Iran as 'the shark' for his smooth, unbearded face and his political guile - has allied himself with a moderate bloc of candidates which includes President Hassan Rouhani. This bloc could play a key role in facing off against the hardliners who are likely going to dominate the 88-member Assembly, which serves for eight years. For many ordinary Iranians, Rafsanjani, born into a wealthy pistachio farming family, has been a figure of suspicion and grudging respect for amassing a vast fortune. He lost a presidential election in 2005 to Ahmadinejad, the little known mayor of Tehran at the time, a defeat that indicated a resentment towards Rafsanjani as part of the elite and the perception he served few interests other than this own. "Rafsanjani doesn't have a good track record," said Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the U.S.-based International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. "I don't think Iranian people have heard much of where he is. Hes the tossup." If he does win a seat, Rafsanjani could use his political clout within the assembly - he was leader of the body from 2007 to 2011 - to influence the choice of the next supreme leader as he did in 1989 when Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was selected. "Rafsanjani is above all a pragmatist, a problem solver. He looks for ways to get things done," said Shaul Bakhash, a professor of Middle East history at George Mason University in Virginia. FIGURE OF SUSPICION Rafsanjani is remembered above all for persuading the ailing founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, to accept a peace deal after eight brutal years of war with Iraq and save Iran from imminent collapse. Within a year, Khomeini was dead. The Assembly of Experts appointed then-president Khamenei in a move orchestrated by Rafsanjani, largely, experts believe, because he thought he could influence him. After Khamenei assumed the position of supreme leader, Rafsanjani was elected president for two terms. The rivalry that ensued goes back to before Iran's revolution and is marked by vastly contrasting outlooks. Rafsanjani believed reform was the key to an enduring Islamic state while Khamenei feared it could hasten its demise. Had it not been for Rafsanjani, Khamenei would have never become supreme leader. Those close to Rafsanjani say he rues the day he helped anoint Khamenei, said Karim Sadjadpour, Iran expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington. They are the epitome of frenemies, he said. As well as holding the position of head of the assembly until he was stripped of the post, Rafsanjani serves as the head of the Expediency Council, a body which is intended to resolve disputes between the parliament and Guardian Council. His term as head of the Expediency Council will finish next year. REVOLUTIONARY AND PRAGMATIST Rafsanjani has been described as "a pillar of the revolution" but his well-documented pragmatic policies economic liberalisation, better relations with the West and empowering Iran's elected bodies - appeal to many Iranians. In 2009, he incurred the wrath of hardliners by declaring the country was in crisis and calling for the immediate release of political prisoners and freedom of the press. In December, he broke a taboo by mentioning that a group had been formed within the assembly to examine who could serve as Khamenei's replacement. In the same interview he also mentioned that he had supported the idea of a council of clerics ruling the country. The leadership has put pressure on Rafsanjani through the arrest of his daughter Faezeh in 2012. Found guilty of anti-government propaganda after openly backing the opposition in 2009, she was jailed for six months. Two days later, Rafsanjani's son Mehdi was imprisoned when he returned to Iran after an absence of three years. Mehdi was sentenced to 10 years on corruption and security charges and began serving his time in Evin prison last summer. Still, Rafsanjani is a skilled behind-the-scenes operator in the labyrinthine world of Iranian politics and may have a final chance at transforming the system he helped build. Saeed Leylaz, a Tehran-based political analyst who worked as an advisor to former president Mohammad Khatami, pointed out that while Rafsanjani lost his position as head of the assembly, in the last election he "won with an indisputable majority". (Writing by Babak Dehghanpisheh; Editing by William Maclean and Sonya Hepinstall) Sky News It was one of those days "you think has been made up", a former Conservative adviser told Sky News last night. As MPs voted on a Labour motion to ban fracking, reports began to emerge of "bullying" and "manhandling" outside the no lobby. Tory MPs "went to bed crying", Labour MP Chris Bryant told Sky News on Thursday morning, adding that they had been "intimidated and bullied". A federal judge has dismissed nearly all of a lawsuit against Bank of America Corp (BAC.N) and US Bancorp (USB.N) that held them liable for losses on roughly $6.8 billion in toxic mortgage securities that helped sink five federal credit unions. In a decision made public early Friday morning, U.S. District Judge Katherine Forrest in Manhattan rejected claims by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) that the banks failed in their roles as trustees for 98 residential mortgage-backed securities trusts. Forrest said the NCUA lacked standing to sue over 89 trusts because the right to sue had been previously assigned, leaving the regulator with only an interest in payment streams. The judge also dismissed claims that the banks breached their fiduciary duties or acted in bad faith with the other nine trusts. The only surviving claims are those of breach of contract on the nine trusts, which the banks did not seek to dismiss. NCUA spokesman John Fairbanks said the regulator is reviewing the decision. Bank of America spokesman Lawrence Grayson and US Bancorp spokesman Dana Ripley declined to comment. The lawsuit is one of many in which the NCUA has sought to recoup losses on mortgage securities bought before the financial crisis, and which led to the 2009 and 2010 failures of the Constitution Corporate, Members United Corporate, Southwest Corporate, U.S. Central and Western Corporate credit unions. For several years, the Network of Latino Credit Unions and Professionals (NLCUP) has hosted a reception and networking event that has now become a tradition during CUNAs Governmental Affairs Conference. This year the reception had a very special connotation: to celebrate the national expansion of Juntos Avanzamos (Together We Advance), a Hispanic outreach program started by the Texas Credit Union League around 10 years ago with the objective of bringing together credit unions committed to meeting the needs of Hispanic consumers. On September 22, 2015, the Cornerstone Credit Union League and the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions announced a partnership to bring the program to interested credit unions across the country. Since that announcement, the initiative has rapidly grown and now counts with 45 participant credit unions in AZ, CA, CO, IA, NM, OK, TX, WA and the District of Columbia. The effort is generating strong interest in the industry and is projected to double the number of participant credit unions by the end of 2016. Although the effort is going through a controlled roll out that initially focuses on the Southwest region, where the Federation is working closely with the Mountain Credit Union Association (AZ, CO and WY); the Credit Union Association of New Mexico and the California and Nevada Credit League; the program is open to credit unions from all over the country. Earlier this month, the Iowa Credit Union League announced its support and is now actively promoting the effort. Other state Leagues and Associations have expressed interest and are expected to join the program soon. Two key partners on Juntos Avanzamos national expansion are the Network of Latino Credit Unions and Professionals -NLCUP, which represents well recognized Hispanic leaders in the credit union movement, who bring their expertise and experience to the effort and Coopera, a consulting firm specialized on helping credit unions better meet the needs of the Hispanic community and that over the last 10 years, has become a go to resource for the industry in this space. Given its financial inclusion mission and focus, the Federation has been historically involved in a number of important developments to connect the credit union industry with the Hispanic and immigrant markets. For a number of years, it hosted and then supported a series of Latino Credit Union Conferences; it also played a role in the forming of NLCUP. The Federation has also actively promoted the acceptance of the Matricula Consular and worked with NCUA to obtain regulatory approval of other alternative ID, such as Municipal IDs being issued by some municipalities. Juntos Avanzamos is designed to assess the capacity and commitment of credit unions interested in serving the Hispanic market to ensure that they have adequate policies and procedures; as well as relevant products and services to meet the financial needs of this rapidly growing and vastly underserved demographic. Once the credit union demonstrates their capacity to serve the Hispanic community, they are recognized for their efforts through a comprehensive public relations initiative: a Proclamation Ceremony and a Juntos Avanzamos flag that is flown at the credit union. Border FCU (TX) and DGFCU (DC) were officially welcomed to the program and presented with a Proclamation stating their commitment to the Hispanic market and institutional readiness to meet its needs. The Juntos Avanzamos designation solidifies the work that Border Federal Credit Union is doing in our community. Juntos Avanzamos is a powerful tool that we plan to use to promote financial services as we reach out to Hispanics. Being an integral part of our communities, BFCU is constantly engaging in programs, just like this, with the ultimate intent of getting our community to become better stewards of their finances. I highly encourage my credit union peers to apply for the Juntos Avanzamos designation as they reach out to the Hispanic market. Credit unions are the perfect fit for Hispanics and the Juntos Avanzamos tool facilitates the process of serving this growing minority group. And, on behalf of NLCUP, I congratulate the Cornerstone Credit Union League, the Federation and other affiliated associations for the work they are doing in promoting this program among our credit unions. Now is up to other credit unions to submit their applications and join us in being part of our Juntos Avanzamos group, says Maria Martinez, President/CEO of Border FCU. Credit unions that enter into the program demonstrate their ability to serve the Hispanic marketplace by gearing up their operations, products, strategies for serving, and board/staff support relative to this initiative. Staffing bilingual tellers, maintaining a physical presence in the Hispanic community, and providing relevant products and access to affordable credit and financial education opportunities. everyone in our branch is fully bilingual and bicultural. That gives us a strong connection to and understanding of our community and their needs says Ana Maria Roig, Manager of DGEFCUs ACCESO Branch. Juntos Avanzamos is the standard that will ensure a more consistent experience for Hispanic consumers across the growing number where the network is gaining a presence. The standardization of policies and procedures will greatly reduce inconsistencies across markets and is expected to tremendously help credit unions build relationships with community based organizations serving this demographic, many of which find it challenging to identify credit unions that are responsive and interested in meeting the needs of this population. Juntos Avanzamos will become the conduit to connect credit unions serving the Hispanic community to the growing network of partners interested in working with our industry. For instance, the Federation already works closely with Catholic Charities (a huge network of community based organizations that serve more than 9 million people) and the National Council of La Raza. We also have a formal relationship with Cities for Citizenship, a coalition of municipalities that are committed to linking up immigrant communities with the financial mainstream. The Federation is also formalizing collaborations with the Mexican consulate network, which has 50 offices throughout the country and thats eager to connect Mexican immigrants with socially responsible financial institutions. This is a terrific opportunity for the Federation to unify forces with leading partners within the credit union industry to promote financial inclusion within the Hispanic and immigrant communities, both of which are in desperate need of affordable and accessible financial services and asset building opportunities that credit unions are best positioned to offer, says Cathie Mahon, Federation President/CEO. Dick Ensweiler, President/CEO of Cornerstone Credit Union League adds: The opportunity to truly reach out and serve the unserved or underserved is what drives Juntos Avanzamos. This program provides insights products, programs and aptitudes necessary to appeal to the Hispanic/Latino marketplace. This demographic is young, growing and populated by hard working, God fearing, family oriented and loyal people who are precisely those credit unions should be serving. Proving them with lifeline services initially, and increasing their awareness that credit unions can make a difference in all aspects of their financial lives is consistent with our challenge of serving all consumers, especially those of modest means. We are excited by the energy and momentum that is picking up around the national Juntos Avanzamos designation. We look forward to continuing being a resource to credit unions thinking about the designation and those that already have it and are looking to grow their Hispanic growth programs says Miriam De Dios Coopera President/CEO. The California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues are very pleased to be partnering with the Federation on the Juntos Avanzamos initiative to help meet the financial needs of the Hispanic communities in California and Nevada. We are excited that we have six credit unions in California that are already certified as Juntos Avanzamos credit unions. And we are looking forward to seeing many more of our member credit unions obtain the Juntos Avanzamos designation, demonstrating their commitment to serving this growing but underserved market, says Larry Palochik, EVP CCUL. The Network of Latino Credit Unions and Professionals understands the critical need to bring financial services to the underserved and so do the Credit Unions of New Mexico. We both are committed to financial inclusion for all, rather than some, and we believe it is a necessity and very important work, and it perfectly aligns with the values we hold to as a movement. Were excited about our participation in Juntos Avanzamos and look forward to working with the Federation, NLCUP and the rest of the credit union partners said Paul Stull, President and CEO of CUANM. This has been a tremendous opportunity for our Iowa credit unions to grow. For the past 10 years, weve been privileged to have Coopera helping credit unions grow their Hispanic market and now are excited for this new collaboration with the Federation, leagues, NLCUP and Coopera to help grow the Juntos program. We are excited to announce our first Juntos designated credit union, Community 1st Credit Union in Ottumwa, Iowa who will be celebrating their proclamation designation on May 5, 2016. We encourage other leagues to get involved in the process says Murray Williams, Acting President/CEO of the Iowa Credit Union League. Carla Decker, President/CEO of DGEFCU says: Our credit union is honored to receive the Juntos Avanzamos designation in recognition of our mission of community development through financial inclusion. We are particularly proud to receive this distinction when ACCESO, our community branch, celebrates 10 years of dedicated service to the Hispanic community in the Washington, DC metro area. NLCUPs leadership recognizes the importance and the value that Juntos Avanzamos brings to serving the Latino Community, and is committed to playing an active role in supporting, promoting and sharing best practices and experiences with participant credit unions says Carlos Calderon President/CEO of OASFCU and NLCUP Co-Chair. We envision Juntos Avanzamos as a platform that will help credit unions across the country connect with the Hispanic population and meet the needs of this vastly underserved community. Hispanics is where our historical mission of serving people of small means overlaps with a tremendous business opportunity that will propel our industry to its next phase of growth and relevance said Pablo DeFilippi, VP Membership and Business Development at the Federation. Click here for a list of Juntos Avanzamos credit unions and here to download the JA Application. For more information about this program, visit www.cdcu.coop/initiatives/serving-underserved-markets/immigrants/ or contact Jason Chang at jchang@cdcu.coop CANNONFIRE is back! From 2004 to 2021, the original CANNONFIRE blog kept finding ways to irk nearly everyone on nearly every side of nearly every issue. Last year, Google shut down the site. Why? Dunno. The banishment occurred without warning. Despite numerous inquiries, Google refused to explain or to rescind its edict. The shutdown may have some connection to the compromising of my email. (Damn hackers!) Or maybe it has some connection to my history as a surly, unclassifiable oddball. But now the site is back. Don't ask me why or how. Resurrection is a mysterious business and this one is particularly confounding. Revival came only when a reader calling herself Faust -- I'm not making this up -- employed incantations and conjurations unknown to mere mortals and thereby compelled the gods of Google to raise the dead. I owe this female Faust much. As a notable 18th century highway commissioner once said: Das ewig weibliche zieht uns hinan. The site may migrate to another platform in the future. Google's capriciousness has injured my trust. My name is Joseph Cannon. That's the name I've used professionally throughout this century; feel free to call me Joseph or Joe. I've decided to use my former name -- my 20th century name, if you will -- when writing about true crime and other non-political topics. Why? Reasons. If Google can be mysterious and capricious, so can I. Email: cannonfire [at] vivaldi [dot] net Rules for comments: Do not insult the host. Try to stay on-topic. The Brainwashing of My Dad - World Premiere Date: Saturday, March 05, 2016 Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Event Type: Screening Organizer/Author: Sue Wilson Location Details: Camera 12 Cinemas, 201 S. 2nd, San Jose Filmmaker Jen Senko seeks to discover why her WWII veteran fathers personality radically transformed from that of a non-political Kennedy Democrat to an angry right-wing fanatic after his discovery of Talk Radio and Fox News. She pulls back the curtain on the wizards behind the right-wing media phenomenon, and through interviews with Noam Chomsky, David Brock, Jeff Cohen, George Lakoff, Claire Connor, Dr. Kathleen Taylor, Frank Luntz and others, uncovers the true story of the behind-the-scenes strategies designed to shift the national discourse to the Right. Senko will appear with the film for the March 5 and 6 screenings to answer questions and announce an action you can take to restore sanity to media. Additional screening March 9. ***note: if the Premiere does well, this film could go Michael Moore big, which is how we can effect change. There will be many actions to follow. We'd appreciate your support. The religious development coalition Jubilee USA is launching radio spots focused on Puerto Rico's debt crisis ahead of "Super Tuesday" presidential primary elections. The religious development coalition Jubilee USA is launching radio spots focused on Puerto Rico's debt crisis ahead of "Super Tuesday" presidential primary elections. The radio placements will air on 125 stations in the "make or break" state of Texas asking the presidential candidates to address the crisis in the US Territory. Puerto Rico's government is $72 billion in debt and closed 200 schools, cut health care and used pension funds to make debt payments. Puerto Rico's 3.5 million residents - nearly half of whom live in poverty - are US citizens and are eligible to vote in the US presidential primaries. The debt crisis helped push 10% of the island's population to leave for the US mainland over the past decade. Many of those citizens will vote in primaries on Super Tuesday in states like Texas and in later contests, particularly in Florida, Pennsylvania and New York."Puerto Rico's crisis impacts the race to the White House," said Eric LeCompte, Jubilee USA's executive director. LeCompte works with Puerto Rico's religious leaders to advance solutions to the crisis. "We've heard the island's crisis discussed during the presidential debates and now we are seeing growing concern about Puerto Rico on the campaign trail."Congress is currently debating solutions to Puerto Rico's crisis, including granting the island the same access to Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection available to all 50 US states. Candidates Hillary Clinton, Jeb Bush, Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley publicly supported bankruptcy protection on the campaign trail. O'Malley and Bush both addressed the crisis during televised debates but both have since dropped out of the race. Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, battling for first place in Texas, have been less vocal on the Puerto Rico crisis during the campaign. Marco Rubio says he is against extending bankruptcy to Puerto Rico. The radio spot says, "as Congress debates extending bankruptcy rights to Puerto Rico, perhaps we should ask presidential candidates where they stand on giving these US citizens the same protections as all other Americans.""Puerto Rico should have equal access to bankruptcy protection under US law," noted LeCompte, who advocated for bankruptcy while testifying before the House Natural Resources Committee at a hearing on Puerto Rico February 2. "Presidential candidates and lawmakers from both parties support bankruptcy for Puerto Rico."The radio ads cite increased austerity measures on the island, including cuts to health care "in the face of an epidemic." Puerto Rico cut health funding by $42 million last year but is now battling the Zika virus that is spreading on the island. More than half of Puerto Rico's children live in homes that receive government assistance."Super Tuesday can help shine a spotlight on the tragedy that's unfolding right now in Puerto Rico," stated LeCompte. "Our leaders have a moral obligation to act."Jubilee USA Network is an alliance of more than 75 US organizations and 550 faith communities working with 50 Jubilee global partners. Jubilee's mission is to build an economy that serves, protects and promotes the participation of the most vulnerable. Jubilee USA has won critical global financial reforms and more than $130 billion in debt relief to benefit the world's poorest people. http://www.jubileeusa.org String of terrorist murders of elderly Muslim men in Britain; Maz Saleem whose elderly father was murdered in Birmingham 2013 discussing the murder of former Imam Jalal Uddin in Rochdale last week, also Muslim Mushin Ahmed murdered in Rotherham last August; her father Mohammed Saleem murdered in Birmingham by a Ukrainian neo-Nazi hate crime and racism, media coverage of her father compared to Lee Rigby; Two arrested on suspicion of murdering former imam Jalal Uddin in Rochdale12:25, 22 FEB 2016 UPDATED 12:25, 22 FEB 2016BY PETE BAINBRIDGEA 21-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy have now been detained in connection with the 64-year-old's death last weekPolice have arrested a teenager and a young man on suspicion of murdering Jalal Uddin in Rochdale .The former imam, 64, died from a head injury after he was found in a playground in the Wardleworth area of the town last week.A 21-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy have now been detained on suspicion of murder in connection with Mr Uddins death.They were held at an address on Ramsay Street in Rochdale, police said . A Vauxhall Astra was also seized as part of the investigation. Both suspects remain in custody for questioning.Its believed Mr Uddin was attacked shortly before 9pm last Thursday, February 18. He was taken to hospital but passed away a short time later.....We are continuing to appeal for anyone with information to come forward and following extensive analysis of CCTV, we now know that Jalal walked into the park from the South Street entrance at 8.41pm before he was then found injured seven minutes later by a member of the public."We are keen to speak to anyone who saw anything suspicious in the South Street area around this time, no matter how big or small you believe it may be.Anyone with information should please contact officers at GMPs Major Incident Team on 0161 856 4711 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. Video of jounalist Mohammed Al Qeeg and the International Federation of Journalists: Worldwide call to demand Netanyahu to release journalist on hunger strike Call for Action Save Palestinian Journalist Mohammed Al Qeeq & International Federation of Journalists: Worldwide call to demand Netanyahu to release journalist on hunger strikePublished on Feb 18, 201633-year-old journalist, Mohammed al-Qiq, is on hunger strike since November 25 2015, in protest against his imprisonment without charges or trial in Administrative Detention by Israel. Al-Qiqs health has deteriorated to the point of facing imminent death. His Wife Journalist Fayha Shalash is calling on Journalists around the world and activists to act now to save her Husbands life, any action will make a difference.#FreeQeeq #MohammedAlQeeq #StopADInternational Federation of Journalists: Worldwide call to demand Netanyahu to release journalist on hunger strike Prisoners Mohammed al-Qeeq NewsFebruary 17, 2016ifjlogo_largeThe International Federation of Journalists issued the following statement calling for freedom for imprisoned Palestinian journalist Mohammed al-Qeeq. IFJ, the worlds largest organisation of journalists, represents around 600.000 members in 139 countries across the world. The IFJ promotes international action to defend press freedom and social justice through strong, free and independent trade unions of journalists:The IFJ called today on its affiliates worldwide to join their sister union in Palestine, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, to demand that the Israeli authorities release journalist Muhammad al-Qiq who entered his 83rd day on hunger strike.According to his family, al-Qiq currently hospitalised at the Emek Medical Center in Afula is at risk of heart attack, stroke or total organ failure as he has been taking only water and refused all treatments.Mohammed is now in a critical situation and the IFJ calls on journalists unions and their members worldwide to join forces with his wife Faihaa and the union to save his life, said IFJ president, Jim Boumelha.Following complex arguments in high court throughout the last fortnight, his lawyers announced refused transfer to a hospital under Israeli authority and requested that he be transferred to a hospital in Ramallah.Al-Qiq, a news reporter for Saudi channel Al Majd, has refused food and medical treatment since November 24, three days after he was arrested. He went on hunger strike to protest a six-month sentence under Israels controversial administrative detention law allows authorities to detain individuals indefinitely without charge or trial if they are deemed a security threat.Israels defense minister can still intervene at this stage and release Mohamed from detention, added Boumelha.The IFJ urges all IFJ unions to:1) write immediately to the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to demand that Mohamed is set free forthwith.2) Write to their governments and involve members of their parliament asking that they urge embassies of Israel to communicate to their Prime Minister the request to free Al-Qiq.3) Participate in any activity, demonstrations and pickets to help save his life. Skip Schiel is a Cambridge-based socially engaged photographer and teacher who has produced many justice presentations from Hiroshima, environmental and racial justice, to poverty and oppression here and abroad.In 2015 Skip spent 3 months in Israel and Occupied Palestine and produced 5 powerful photo-movies. SJC has chosen is The Freedom Bus Ride thru the West Bank which highlights a cross section of oppression and resistance in key sites such as Tuwani, Bil'in and Nabi Saleh. One reason we chose this is the Black Lives Matter Movement powerfully connects to the Palestine Freedom movement.Web Site http://teeksaphoto.org Sponsored by the BFUU Social Justice CteeSuggested donation $5-$20. No one turned away.Wheelchair accessible.Ph:510-275-4272For occasional email notices of peace/eco/social justice alerts and related events at BFUU, send any email to:For weekly notices of BFUU services etc. go to: Warming Center 'Director' Uses Fake Sockpuppet Accounts to Woo TBSC on Facebook by Take Back the Warming Center! Brent Adams, who calls himself the 'director' of the Santa Cruz Warming Center, revived his fake sockpuppet account on Facebook named 'Dawn Roquel'. Adams first created the fake account 'Dawn Roquel' in 2013 to drum up support for the Warming Center project he had just started working on. Adams posted as 'Dawn' in a discussion group on Facebook. 'Dawn' claimed he had volunteered at the Warming Center and he sang its praises to a group of skeptical TBSC members, many of whom knew it was Brent Adams the whole time. They mocked him for using a sockpuppet, but Adams remained unshaken and continued to post as Dawn Roquel. Adams also used 'Dawn Roquel' to attack his political enemies, such as Steve Pleich of the Homeless Persons Legal Assistance Project, who is someone Adams also views as a 'rival'. This week Brent Adams used the accounts of 'Dawn Roquel' and 'Homeless Outside in Santa Cruz' to attack the Freedom Sleepers and to court Take Back Santa Cruz on Facebook. The Freedom Sleepers are homeless people protesting at city hall to eliminate the camping ban. One Freedom Sleeper was angered and posted this to Dawn Roquel's Facebook page: "Look, Brent and your three accounts, How can anyone take You Seriously when you behave like this?" The attack, in the form of a meme and other statements, was first posted on the 'Homeless Outside in Santa Cruz' Facebook page which Brent Adams now claims is officially connected to the Warming Center program and the Sanctuary Village group, two charities that say they aim to help homeless people. Simply put, Brent Adams, as a poverty pimp, stands to profit from the camping ban remaining in place. Sometimes he acts like he opposes the camping ban as an act to appeal to homeless advocates who he needs money from. The attack on the Freedom Sleepers by Adams and his anonymous sockpuppets is in support of Take Back Santa Cruz. Brent Adams has strong ties to Take Back Santa Cruz. Adams said the Freedom Sleepers should stop protesting because the city council will soon vote on changes to the camping ban. He said all critique of TBSC must end because there are TBSC members on the city council. TBSC is responsible for a ton of new anti-homeless laws passed by the city council, and the hateful rhetoric used by members of the group has affected many people TBSC targets, homeless and not homeless. Because of their actions, some compare TBSC to an anti-homeless hate group. 'Dawn Roquel' posted the anti-Freedom Sleepers and pro-TBSC meme on his fake Facebook page. Adams posted the following statement to 'Homeless Outside in Santa Cruz' to try and silence the Freedom Sleepers: "One would think that if the group is hoping that the ordinance change is successful, divisive language prominently displayed at the FS protest reading, 'Take Back Santa Cruz are abusive fascists" would run counter to the earnest effort by some to appeal to the various swing voters on the council. Councilperson Noroyan is that swing voter and she is a TBSC member and opinion leader. If so many weeks of FS protest is finally coming to focus on a single council person's vote, we encourage you to soften the divisive rhetoric until after the voting series is complete otherwise'. When reading the entire passage the above post is taken from, Adams uses the pronoun 'we' as the voice of 'Homeless Outside in Santa Cruz', but Brent Adams is the only person posting to that account. Adams likes to pretend he is a part of a team and he will use the pronoun 'we' to make it appear like a group is posting. It really is him alone voicing his own opinion. When Brent Adams works hard to silence the voices of homeless Freedom Sleepers, he is silencing all homeless people. Announcing Community and Labor Alliance in Support of the E12th St. Peoples Proposal by E. 12th Coalition Unions and Community Organizations call for the City of Oakland to maximize affordable housing for Oakland's working families and ensure good project labor standards that benefit workers. Oakland, CA A growing alliance of unions and community organizations are demanding that the City of Oakland support the E.12th St. Peoples Proposal for 100% affordable housing. Working families are being pushed out of Oakland at an alarming rate with Black, Latino and Asian families being hit the hardest. During this housing crisis the City of Oakland has an urgent responsibility to prioritize the Peoples Proposal and maximize the production of affordable housing for working families at E12th St. and across Oakland. The City also has a responsibility to expand economic opportunity for working families and ensure high-road labor standards, said Dunya Alwan with the E 12th Coalition, the leading community group behind the proposal. The three competing proposals will be presented at a public meeting of the Community and Economic Development Committee on February 29th at 4:30pm at Oakland City Hall. The E.12th St. People's Proposal is a model for equitable, community-driven development that maximizes affordable housing for working families and champions good wages, high-road labor standards and strong targeted local hire provisions. The People's Proposal was created through a community-driven design process, it is the proposal with the largest number of affordable units (133 mixed-income affordable units, approximately 25% more than the other proposals), and it supported by several of Oaklands largest unions and over two dozen community organizations. This growing alliance of supporters includes SEIU 1021, California Nurses Association, Oakland Education Association, Urban Strategies Council, Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, Causa Justa::Just Cause, Oakland Community Organizations, People of Color Sustainable Housing Network, Urban Habitat, and many more. According to Trish Gorham, President of the Oakland Education Association "Oakland teachers, students, and their families need stable, affordable, and livable communities. The City of Oakland must prioritize more affordable housing units throughout the city rather than soulless towers of privilege that diminish community. The Oakland Education Association supports the goals of the People's Proposal and we urge the city to adopt it." -MORE- Satellite Affordable Housing Associates (SAHA), the nonprofit developer that has partnered with the Peoples Proposal has committed to high-road labor standards. A Peoples Proposal is the only 100% affordable proposal for the E 12th parcel. It is also the proposal with the greatest number of affordable units, and we have maximized occupancy density and units for working families. In addition, we have committed to working with labor to ensure good project labor standards, explained Eve Stewart, Director of Housing Development at Satellite Affordable Housing Associates (SAHA). Our proposal has broad community and union support. This proposal was designed by community members and we have hundreds of residents and dozens of organizations across Oakland who are rooting for this project to be built. There is a clear mandate from the community to build a 100% affordable development on public land, said Dunya Alwan from the E 12th Coalition. Community opposition to the other proposals - one from UrbanCore and the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation, and one from BRIDGE Housing - has grown over the past months. The two other proposals on the table are both primarily luxury apartment towers, one with a segregated building of affordable units on the side. That is not what should be built on public land, and not what Oakland residents need, said Kiernan Rok from the E 12th Coalition. The two luxury tower proposals would both exacerbate already rising housing costs in the area. If the Oakland City Council truly cares about racial and economic equity and the accelerating displacement of Black, Latino, Asian and other working families, they will prioritize A Peoples Proposal for East 12th Street. But they shouldnt stop there, the City of Oakland has an urgent responsibility to pass bold and comprehensive policies that ensure the right of working families to live and thrive in Oakland, said E 12th Coalition member Tia Hicks. She added, during this housing crisis, the City of Oakland has an ethical responsibility to prioritize A Peoples Proposal over luxury development. Under the Surplus Lands Act, the City also has a legal responsibility to prioritize the proposal with the most affordable units at the deepest levels of affordability, and that is A Peoples Proposal. Its time for our elected officials to side with their constituents, and we would like to thank the Council Members who are already helping move A Peoples Proposal forward. ### This Week in Palestine, February 26th, 2015 by IMEMC Welcome to this Week in Palestine, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, http://www.imemc.org , for February 20, to the 26, 2016. Listen now: Copy the code below to embed this audio into a web page: Palestinian hunger striking journalist detained by Israel wins his release; in the meantime a youth was killed by Israeli army gunfire this week. These stories, and more, coming up, stay tuned. The Nonviolence Report Lets begin our weekly report as usual with the nonviolent activities organized in the West Bank. one youth and a journalist were injured, in addition scores of protesters were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation as Israeli troops attacked nonviolent protests organized in West Bank villages. IMEMCs Majd Batjali with the details : One Palestinian was shot with a sponge-tipped bullet, Friday, and many suffered the effects of teargas inhalation, after Israeli soldiers assaulted the weekly nonviolent protest against the Wall and settlements, in Nilin village, west of Ramallah. Also near Ramallah, a Journalist working for Kuwaiti TV was injured and many others were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation when troops attack the weekly anti wall and settlement protest in Bilin village. At the nearby al Nabi Saleh village, troops attacked protesters at the village entrance. Israeli soldiers fired several rounds of rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas at protesters and nearby homes. Many residents suffered effects of tear gas inhalation as a result. In Kufer Kadum in northern West Bank, one youth was hit in the head with a tear gas bomb meanwhile many residents were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation as Israeli troops attacked the weekly protest there. Troops later stormed the village and fired tear gas into residents homes, Israeli soldiers attacked, Friday, dozens of Palestinians, accompanied by Israeli and international peace activists, holding a nonviolent protest, demanding Israel to reopen the Shuhada Street, in Hebrons Old city. The attack caused several injuries due to tear gas inhalation. Israel closed the Shuhada Street in 1991 after Israeli terrorist Baruch Goldstein stormed the Ibrahimi mosque and opened fire on the worshipers, using his Israeli-issued automatic rifle, before the worshipers managed to kill him. By the end of the year 2000, Israel prohibited the Palestinians from even walking in the Shuhada Street, and only allowed the nearly 600 settlers, who illegally reside there, to use the street. Israel also closed more than 500 Palestinian stores in the heart of Hebron city, and installed at least 100 roadblocks, and iron gates, in the Old city, while the settlers have unrestricted freedom of movement. For IMEMC News this Majd Batjali. The Political Report Various Palestinian bodies denounced the assassination of a Palestinian man in Bulgaria this week. At the political front, talks between rival Hamas and Fatah parties are underway, in an attempt to reach a unity deal. IMEMCs Rami Al Meghari has more: Senior Hamas leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniya, said Friday that his party is keen to reach a unity deal with the rival Fatah party of Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, on basis of partnership. Haniya was speaking Friday ,to crowds of supporters in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, hours after news reports suggested killing of a Palestinian man at the Palestinian Authority's embassy in Bulgaria. The Hamas's figure believed that a shortfall on security arrangements was the reason behind the killing. Omar Alnayef, 51, was found killed earlier on Friday. The victim is linked with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and was reported to have been wanted by Israel. In the meantime, unity talks between the rival Hamas and Fatah parties have been resumed in the Qatari capital of Doha. The talks are intended at cociliation and are meant to end an eight-year-long split between the two major Palestinian parties. In other news, Israeli cabinet has been discussing possibilities to set up a sea port for the coastal Gaza enclave. Establishing a sea port was referred to during Egyptian-mediated ceasefire talks of 2014's Israeli war on Gaza, between Israel and the Islamist Hamas party. For Imemc News, I am Rami Almeghari in Gaza. The West Bank and Gaza Report This week one youth was killed more than 20 others injured during army attacks targeting Palestinian protesters in the West Bank. Meanwhile in Gaza a child was killed by an unknown explosion. IMEMCs Ghassan Bannoura Reports: A Palestinian youth was killed on Friday by Israeli army gunfire during clashes near the illegal Israeli settlement of Beit Eil at the northern entrance of Ramallah city in central West Bank. The Palestinian health ministry did not name the youth until the time of this report. At least 20 Palestinian were injured on Friday during clashes between Palestinian youth and Israeli troops all over the West Bank. Earlier in the week, a group of unknown gunmen assassinated a former political prisoner and a senior security leader, in Sielet al-Harethiyya town, south of the northern West Bank city of Jenin. Ayman Jaradat, 40, was shot and seriously injured, and died from his wounds in the Jenin governmental hospital. Jaradat was held by the Israeli army for 23 years before he was released under the Shalit Prison Swap Agreement. Moreover, this week Israeli forces conducted at least 75 military invasions targeting West Bank communities. During these invasions Israeli troops kidnapped at least 86 Palestinian civilians, including 19 children. In other news, a deal was reached between hunger-striking Palestinian journalist, Mohamed Al Qieq lawyers and the Israeli army to release him in March 2016. The deal ended Al Qieqs 94 days of hunger strike he began last November shortly after being kidnapped from his home in Hebron city by Israeli troops. Al Qieq, who is a Palestinian journalist working for Saudi TV station, was protesting Israels administrative dentation, a policy the army uses to keep Palestinians in military prisoners for long time without charges to trial. The deal says that Al Qieq will be released in March 21 and that Palestinian doctors will supervise his recovery in the Israeli hospital he is being held at. Elsewhere, a Palestinian child was killed and another seriously injured, on Friday, after an explosive device detonated in the Jabalia area of the northern Gaza Strip. Moreover, eight youth were injured by Israeli live gunfire, one seriously, when Israeli troops attacked on Friday protesters near the Israeli Gaza borders. Earlier in the week, Israeli troops opened fire at Palestinian farmers close to the southern borders of the Gaza Strip on Sunday and Tuesday of this week. The army gunfire forced farmers to leave their lands. Moreover, on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, Israeli navy attacked Palestinian fishing boats near Gaza city shoreline forcing fishermen to go back to shore. Damage to some boats was reported. For IMEMC News this is Ghassan Bannoura. Conclusion And thats all for today from This Week in Palestine. This was the Weekly report for February 20, to the 26, 2016. From the Occupied Palestinian Territories. For more news and updates please visit our website at www-dot-imemc-dot-org, This weeks report has been brought to you by Maher Qasiess and me Eman Abedraboo- Bannoura. The Facebook group is a closed dialogue. According to the Facebook policy link " We initially created this Facebook presence as a closed group to minimize spam and encourage frank speech. As we have grown, we have come to realize the need for gentle reminders to stay on point. The goal of public safety should remain at the center of all page activity." The following thread is an example of just some of the "frank" speech and personal attacks on any voice of dissent. In addition to marking the three year anniversary of the tragic deaths of two Santa Cruz Police Officers, it also marks a dark episode when a man served 18 days in jail for a crime he did not commit. February 26 marked the three year anniversary of a tragic deaths of two beloved Santa Cruz Police Officers. On Feb 26 2013 Santa Cruz Police Officers Butch Baker and Elizabeth Butler were killed in the line of duty. It would mark the first deaths in the Department history.Subsequent to the tragedy, the community came together and mourned and supported the Santa Cruz Police Department at various memorials . A larger public memorial was held in San Jose HP Pavilion on March 7. The community was in a state of mourning.At one of the community memorials , a sharp-eyed Take Back Santa Cruz member saw what looked like to be a homeless man stealing from a memorial of flowers and other gifts which were left by the public. The man, Kenneth Maffei, was arrested and jailed for 18 days , despite having evidence on his person to corroborate his story. Despite what the Take Back Santa Cruz member saw, he had a receipt for the flowers that he was supposedly stealing. Truth would reveal that the man was neither homeless nor guilty of theft. Maffei was near the incident when Baker and Butler were killed on Feb. 26 so he del t compelled to attend the memorial to pay his respect.In a Sentinel story published upon the dismissal of charges and release of Mr Maffei, "This case was a classic 'rush to judgment' -- from the arrest, to the high bail (at arrest), to the harsh judgments in the media," Biggam said. "Mr. Maffei has been demonized and has served 18 days in jail for a crime he did not do."Yes, these are difficult and sensitive times in our community, and I understand people's concerns. But we need to address those concerns with facts, not fear, and with fairness, not prejudgments."Maffei was nearby when Baker and Butler were killed by a suspect Feb. 26. He went to the street-side memorial to pay his respects, Biggam said.Another defense attorney, Jack Lamar Jr., came to court with a letter from Erika Hearon of the Davenport Resource Service Center stating Maffei had been a "valuable volunteer" for several years.Biggam said Maffei was not a "transient," as police stated, but has lived in Santa Cruz for 31 years.The defense found a receipt for the flowers among Maffei's belongings in County Jail, Lamar said. In the following thread from the Take Back Santa Cruz Facebook page you can get a feeling for what an electronic age lynch mob looks like. It comes complete threats of violence toward Maffei, an alleged police officer calling him an A hole on behalf of the SCPD, and shouts to screen people using Homeless Service Center, despite the fact that Maffei wasnt homeless. Theres name calling, posting of Maffeis personal information, and a call to fill the courtroom when hes scheduled to stand in front of the judge. Of note is a City Council member participating in the dialogue and when a commenter tries to point out that the conversation is heading in a dark direction, that person is attacked. Note the comments near the end of the thread. This entire episode should be alarming to every citizen who puts faith in the judicial system and the presumption of innocence. Take Back Santa Cruz has an amazing ability amplify the angry mob , the meanest, most hateful voices in the room in a closed echo chamber of a conversation. It is important to note that the person who submitted the original post for approval is no longer a member of the Facebook group. Undefeated Cathryn Sophia Scores Davona Dale Victory: An appreciative crowd applauded enthusiastically as undefeated Cathryn Sophia returned to the Gulfstream Park winners circle following her seven-length triumph in Saturdays $200,000 Davona Dale Stakes (G2). In just four career starts, which she has won by a combined 41 lengths, Cash is King LLCs 3-year-old filly has already developed an adoring fan base. While handily dismissing five other 3-year-old fillies in the one-mile Davona Dale, the 1-5 favorite showed herself to be filly with rare talent, as well as star quality. Its crazy. Ive had some nice fillies over time, but to have a horse like Smarty Jones and to have a filly like this, it doesnt happen, not for a guy from Parx, said Servis, who saddled Smarty Jones for victories in the 2004 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1). Its very exciting. I think shes just now coming into herself. Timing-wise, May might [be her time]. In establishing herself as a prime candidate for the $200,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2; April 2) and the Kentucky Oaks (G1; May 6), Cathryn Sophia once again proved to be in a class by herself. Following up a maiden score by 12 lengths at Parx, a Gin Talking Stakes win by 16 lengths at Laurel and a Forward Gal (G2) romp by 5 lengths at Gulfstream, the daughter of Street Boss broke alertly from the starting gate to assume a stalking position between horses along the backstretch, as Dearest and R Girls a Charmer went on to vie for pacesetting honors. Jockey Javier Castellano opted to ease Cathryn Sophia back behind the leaders, who were aggressively (and briefly) challenged along the rail by 107-1 longshot Bagema. Cathryn Sophia launched a three-wide bid around the far turn under a motionless Castellano and proceeded to take the lead leaving the turn into the homestretch, never to be threatened while drawing away to victory under a hand ride. I really liked the way she did it. It was really impressive. It was the first time I rode her. She did it really easy. I liked the way she started the first quarter mile. She was never rank or anything like that. I covered up behind horses, and when I asked her she took off, said Castellano, who picked up the mount from an injured Joel Rosario. I can put her in the best, top quality horses in the country the way she did it. Cathryn Sophia ran the one-turn mile in 1:36.6. Lewis Bay, who loomed boldly under Irad Ortiz Jr. leaving the turn into the homestretch before the winner pulled away, finished second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Dearest. While winning her third straight stakes victory and second straight Grade 2 event, Cathryn Sophia earned $122,760 to increase her bankroll to $335,520. Today, I think was probably, to me, her most impressive race. She trained well going into the race. It was only her fourth start. I think theres a lot more there, Servis said. Shes showed me a little more every time. Today, she was push-button. While easily stretching out to a mile Saturday, Cathryn Sophia has instilled confidence in her connections that she will successfully negotiate two-turns. I was concerned today about the distance a little bit, and obviously, the way she ran, I feel a whole lot better. She galloped out super, Servis said. Javier thinks shell get the two turns, no problem. I feel pretty good now. Cash is King LLCs Chuck Zacney shared his trainers feelings. I was nervous going into race. The pool got a little deeper with talent and she showed her ability today. Talking to Javier after the race he said he had complete control and when he asked her she took off, Zacney said. She was very impressive again. We love Florida and five weeks from now is [the Gulfstream Park] Oaks. That will be her next for her. Source: Gulfstream Park Birmingham, AL Veteran attorney Jere Beasley, from the Beasley Allen firm, publicly called upon Johnson & Johnson (J&J) to post on its corporate website all the evidence presented in the Jackie Fox wrongful death suit that linked Veteran attorney Jere Beasley, from the Beasley Allen firm, publicly called upon Johnson & Johnson (J&J) to post on its corporate website all the evidence presented in the Jackie Fox wrongful death suit that linked J&Js Baby Powder product to ovarian cancer. They took a deposition from her the month before she died, says Jere Beasley. This is important that the public see this information, says Jere Beasley. There are internal documents from Johnson & Johnsons own toxicologist in 1997 warning the company about Baby Powder and cancer.On October 6, 2015, Jackie Fox, a 62-year-old woman and longtime user of Johnsons Baby Powder, died of ovarian cancer in Birmingham, Alabama. After being diagnosed and learning about the possible link to the powdered talc mineral combined with perfume and known as Baby Powder, Fox filed a wrongful death suit.And they asked her if she was doing this for the money! says Beasley. She told them no. She wanted people to know what the risk was here. It wasnt about the money.Beasley says he has never seen a jury listen as carefully as they did in this case. When the trial was over, the judge told the jury they could start their deliberations in the morning, says Beasley. But they wanted to get started right away and five hours later at 10:30 that night, they came back and they awarded Jackies family way more money than we had even asked for!The jury awarded the family of the late Jackie Fox $10 million in compensatory damages and $62 million in punitive damages.Beasley believes it was the companys internal documents that convinced the jury. The internal documents are as bad as I have ever seen. You look at those documents and they show Johnson & Johnson knew exactly what was going on, he says.The companys own toxicologist wrote to the company safety director in 1997 and said (I am paraphrasing now) that you are not going to like what you hear, but you have a problem. The lions share of the evidence is against us and theres more to come.The firms website has had hundreds of thousands of hits since the verdict was announced, and Beasley says the firm already has 10,000 individual inquiries from people who believe they may have a cancer case against Johnson & Johnson and its Baby Powder product.The scientific evidence connecting talc to ovarian cancer is mixed and far from conclusive. Some studies show a link and others do not make the same connection. The studies have been criticized for a number of reasons including memory. People may not give accurate information about how much talc they used during their lifetime.J&J disagrees with the verdict and the claim baby powder poses a health risk. Its website says that the safety of talc is based on a long history of safe use and more than 30 years of research by independent researchers, scientific review boards and global authorities. It also says that The U.S. Centre for Disease Control (CDC)has not identified talc as a risk factor for ovarian cancer. It also notes that its Baby Powder talc does not contain asbestos as is commonly believed.Beasley says they are expecting that Johnson & Johnson will appeal the $72 million verdict. Top Class Action Lawsuits Pulp Reality at Walmart? If this is true, it has to be some kind of new loweven for Walmart. The discount retail behemoth got hit with a proposed consumer fraud class action this week, over claims its in-house brand of allegedly pure grated parmesan cheese contains a significant amount of fillers such as wood pulp. OMG. So, in the spirit of, well, less is morelets cut through the filler and get to the allegations. Filed by Marc Moschetta of Dutchess County, New York, the Walmart parmesan cheese complaint states that the labels on Walmarts Great Value brand grated parmesan cheese contains 100 percent parmesan cheese, and is false. The cheese is sold at Walmart stores across the US. Are you sitting down? According to the suit, independent lab testing on the cheese product has shown it contains significant quantities of adulterants and fillers and between 7 percent to 10 percent of the cheese is made of cellulose, a filler and anti-clumping agent derived from wood pulp. Defendant makes only one marketing representation on the label: the product is 100% grated parmesan cheese [and] consumers, including plaintiff, reasonably rely on the label and believe defendants statement that the product consists of 100% parmesan cheese, court documents state. Because the product does in fact contain fillers and substitutes, the 100% parmesan claim is literally false and is also misleading to consumers. Moschetta stated that Walmarts sale of the grated cheese was executed through deceptive marketing, labeling and advertising and the retailer has violated New York business laws, various consumer protection laws in a majority of the contiguous US, breached an implied warranty and benefited from unjust enrichment. The complaint is seeking certification of both a nationwide class and a New York subclass of consumers and that Walmart be ordered to pay unspecified treble damages and punitive damages. The case is Moschetta v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., number 7:16-cv-01377, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. O Lord, wont you Give me a Clean Diesel Car? Mercedes, seemingly the only automotive maker not be sued for defective airbags, ignition switches and/or uncontrolled accelerationto name but a few issues among the litany of defective automotive class actions currently winding their way through the courts, found itself on the end of a consumer fraud class action lawsuit this week. What for, you ask? Allegations the company knowingly programs its Clean Diesel vehicles to emit illegally high levels of nitrogen oxide. Specifically, the Mercedes emissions lawsuit claims that like Volkswagen defeat devices certain Mercedes models contain a device that causes the vehicles to violate US emissions standards when run at cooler temperatures, making them less environmentally friendly than advertised. The lawsuit was filed by a Mercedes owner in Illinois, who claims the automaker uses the device in its BlueTec cars to turn off a system meant to reduce nitrogen oxide in its exhaust. The law firm representing the plaintiff said in a statement that on-road testing had shown Mercedess Clean Diesel cars produced average on-road NOx emissions that were 19 times above the U.S. standard, with some instantaneous readings as high as 65 times more than the US limit. According to the complaint, the device in Mercedess diesel models turns off pollution controls at temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 Celsius), allowing the autos to violate emissions standards. Further, according to a study done by independent testing agency TNO for the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, in real-world testing, the Mercedes C-Class 220 emits more nitrogen oxide than measured in laboratory results. Mercedes never disclosed to consumers that Mercedes diesels with BlueTEC engines may be clean diesels when it is warm, but are dirty diesels when it is not, according to the complaint. Mercedes never disclosed that, when the temperature drops below 50 degrees, it prioritizes engine power and profits over people. The lawsuit also contends that even if Mercedes is able to make the cars compliant with emissions standards, those who drive them will suffer harm because the vehicles wont perform as promised or advertised. The plaintiff is seeking to represent a nationwide class of includes all US-based residents and entities that bought or leased an affected vehicle as of this month, and a court order compelling Mercedes to recall the affected models or replace them for free, in addition to unspecified damages. Among the enumerated models are Mercedess ML320 and 350 sport utility vehicles, its E- and S-Class cars, and GLE crossovers. The lawsuit is Lynevych v. Mercedes-Benz USA, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey. Top Settlements Pyrrhic Victory for Talc Powder Ovarian Cancer Victim. Heres a stunnerin more ways than oneand its just the beginning for J&J. This week saw $75 million in damages awarded against the company in a lawsuit suit alleging the talcum powder Jacqueline Fox used caused her to develop ovarian cancer. Fox claimed that for over 35 years she had used baby powder made by J&J and another talc product for feminine hygiene until she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She passed away at the age of 62, on October 6, 2015. Her case was heard by a jury in St. Louis, Missouri, and is just one of more than 60 cases consolidated into a single suit alleging cancer caused by talcum powder. During the trial, Foxs attorney presented a document which revealed J&J knew their talcum powder was causing cancer. The letter, dated from 1997, was by a former J&J consultant and it warned the responses by the company to findings from no less than nine scientific studies could result in the talc industry being compared to the cigarette industry. While the jury found 10-2 against J&J on claims of failure to warn, negligence and conspiracy, it did not find talc manufacturer Imerys Talc America Inc, another defendant, liable. Another woman is scheduled to go to trial on April 11, 2016. Attorneys for Fox said that J&J is currently facing hundreds of lawsuits over talcum powder use. Lawsuits have been filed against some talc companies alleging talc powder contains asbestos and consumers were not adequately warned about the risk of asbestos in talc powder. Although home talcum products are supposed to be asbestos-free, there are concerns some talcum products still contain asbestos. Furthermore, it can take decades for exposure to asbestos products to result in mesothelioma and other illnesses, meaning people who were exposed in the 1970s may still be diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses. OkSo, thats a wrap folks Cocktails are in ordersee you at the Bar! Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have developed a fast, inexpensive and highly accurate test to screen newborns for cystic fibrosis. The new method detects virtually all mutations in the CF gene, preventing missed diagnoses that delay babies' ability to begin receiving essential treatment. A paper describing the new test published online Feb. 1 in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics. Cystic fibrosis, which causes mucus to build up in the lungs, pancreas and other organs, is the most common fatal genetic disease in the United States, affecting 30,000 people. To develop the disease, a child must inherit two mutated copies of the CF gene, one from each parent. Newborns in every U.S. state have been screened for CF since 2010, but the current tests have limitations. "The assays in use are time-consuming and don't test the entire cystic fibrosis gene," said the study's senior author, Curt Scharfe, MD, PhD. "They don't tell the whole story." Scharfe was a senior scientist at the Stanford Genome Technology Center when the study was conducted and is now associate professor of genetics at the Yale School of Medicine. "Cystic fibrosis newborn screening has shown us that early diagnosis really matters," said Iris Schrijver, MD, a co-author of the study and professor of pathology at Stanford. Schrijver directs the Stanford Molecular Pathology Laboratory, which has a contract with California for the state's newborn CF testing. Advantages of early diagnosis, medical attention Prior studies have shown that newborn screening and prompt medical follow-up reduce symptoms of CF such as lung infections, airway inflammation, digestive problems and growth delays. "When the disease is caught early, physicians can prevent some of its complications, and keep the patients in better shape longer," Schrijver said. Although classic CF still limits patients' life spans, many of those who receive good medical care now live into or beyond their 40s. advertisement In the current test, babies' blood is first screened for immunoreactive trypsinogen, an enzyme that is elevated in CF cases but also can be high for other reasons, such as in infants with one mutated copy and one normal copy of the CF gene. Since the majority of infants with high trypsinogen will not develop CF, most U.S. states follow up with genetic screening to detect mutations in the CF gene. California, which has the most comprehensive screening process, tests for 40 CF-causing mutations common in the state. (More than 2,000 mutations in the CF gene are known, though many are rare). If one of the common mutations is identified, the infant's entire CF gene is sequenced to try to confirm whether the baby has a second, less common CF mutation. The process takes up to two weeks and can miss infants who carry two rare CF mutations, particularly in nonwhite populations about whose CF changes scientists have limited knowledge. DNA from dried blood spots The Stanford-developed method greatly improves the gene-sequencing portion of screening, comprehensively detecting CF-causing mutations in one step, at a lower cost and in about half the time now required. Stanford University is exploring the possibility of filing a patent for the technique. To enable these improvements, the team developed a new way to extract and make many copies of the CF gene from a tiny sample of DNA -- about 1 nanogram -- from the dried blood spots that are collected on cards from babies for newborn screening. "These samples are a very limited and precious resource," Scharfe said. The entire CF gene then undergoes high-throughput sequencing. This is the first time scientists have found a way to reliably use dried blood spots for this type of sequencing for CF, which typically requires much more DNA. "In our new assay, we are reading every letter in the book of the CF gene," Schrijver said. "Whatever mutations pop up, the technique should be able to identify. It's a very flexible approach." In order for the new test to be adopted, the molecular pathology lab needs to train its staff on the new procedure and run thorough validation studies as part of regulatory and quality requirements to show that the reliability of the test in a research setting will be maintained in the larger-scale clinical laboratory. California newborn screening officials will then have the opportunity to decide whether they want the new test to replace the current method. Schrijver expects the process will take less than a year. "Regardless of how the state decides, the new technique can be widely adopted in different settings," she said, noting that the technique could also be used for carrier and diagnostic testing and to screen for other genetic diseases, not just CF. "Ultimately, we would like to develop a broader assay to include the most common and most troublesome newborn conditions, and be able to do the screening much faster, more comprehensively and much more cheaply," Scharfe said. A wise investor plays the financial market by maintaining a variety of stocks. In the long run, the whole portfolio will be more stable because of the diversity of the investments it contains. It's this mindset that resource managers should adopt when considering Pacific herring, one of the most ecologically significant fish in Puget Sound and along the entire West Coast, argue the authors of a recent paper appearing in the journal Oecologia. Just like a financial portfolio contains shares from different companies, the diverse subpopulations of herring from different bays and beaches around Puget Sound collectively keep the total population more stable, the study's authors found. "This paper shows that all of these little subpopulations are important to the stability of Puget Sound herring as a whole," said lead author Margaret Siple, a University of Washington doctoral student in aquatic and fishery sciences. "If you're a manager and you need to invest in multiple pieces of a natural resource, it's helpful to know what the impact will be of diversifying your efforts instead of just focusing on a few spots." Pacific herring swim close to shore to spawn in eelgrass or seaweed, and each subpopulation usually returns to the same area year after year. This life pattern has traditionally created a close relationship between the herring and First Nations peoples and tribes who harvest herring and their eggs on Pacific Northwest beaches, as well as the marine mammals and larger fish that feed on these small, silvery fish. advertisement Siple and senior author Tessa Francis, lead ecosystem ecologist with the Puget Sound Institute at UW Tacoma, analyzed 40 years of herring biomass data in Puget Sound to try to understand how the nearly 21 distinct subpopulations behave and relate to each other. They found that each smaller group varied out of synch with the others -- despite sometimes spawning near each other. They also found that high year-to-year variability, which is common in forage fish such as herring, was dampened by the existence of many distinct subpopulations, buffering the wellbeing of the entire Puget Sound herring population from the failures of any single group. "This paper shows that the local variability of herring helps ensure stability of the population," Francis said. "While biologists have recognized local variation in herring anecdotally, not all management has adapted to the 'local matters' perspective yet. This work shows that if you're interested in overall sustainability of the resource, protecting that local diversity is a good strategy." In Puget Sound, the commercial herring fishery is limited and targets juvenile fish in South and Central Puget Sound, mainly caught to be used as bait in sport fisheries, primarily salmon. Concern about overfishing has resulted in relatively light fishing for herring since around the late 1980s, compared with other regions. The Puget Sound herring stock is managed at a relatively fine scale, meaning all of the distinct subpopulations that spawn at various beaches in Puget Sound are known and counted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. advertisement In Alaska and British Columbia, where the commercial herring fisheries are much larger, management doesn't yet account for what happens among smaller groups at individual beaches. But that local, beach-to-beach level is really how people and other animals most readily interact with herring, the researchers said, so it's important information to consider. "Salmon rely heavily on herring as a prey source. We also know that indigenous people connect to herring locally and are using the resource at a very local scale. Herring beaches are in their villages, they're walking distance from their homes," Francis said. This Puget Sound-focused study comes on the heels of a West Coast-wide effort last summer to bring together everyone who has a stake in Pacific herring -- from tribes, First Nations peoples and commercial fishers to fishery managers, nonprofits and scientists. The goal of the three-day summit in British Columbia was to capture the various roles herring plays in the ecosystem and understand how the species fits into the social, economic and ecological landscape. Now, a smaller working group is tasked with creating a way to bring social and cultural knowledge of herring into actual management of the fishery. As a starting point, the first day of the June summit was dedicated to hearing stories of how tribes and First Nations peoples interact closely with the fish. That intimate knowledge is lost to the existing herring management process, Francis said. "These social metrics are currently not used in fisheries management for herring, and yet herring is the forage fish of the people -- they come to shore to spawn and are tightly connected to people," she said. The working group's first paper that discusses the June meeting and initial findings was accepted in the journal Ecosystem Health and Sustainability this month. The team of about 20 people, the second working group of the Ocean Modeling Forum of which Francis is the managing director, will meet three more times, drawing inspiration from communities in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, and Sitka, Alaska. Ultimately, the group plans to construct a framework that agencies can adopt when they are ready to incorporate human dimensions, such as the cultural significance of fishing, into fisheries management. In one large metropolitan area, arraignment decisions made with the assistance of machine learning cut new domestic violence incidents by half, leading to more than 1,000 fewer such post-arraignment arrests annually, according to new findings from the University of Pennsylvania. In the United States, the typical pre-trial process proceeds from arrest to preliminary arraignment to a mandatory court appearance, when appropriate. During the preliminary arraignment, a judge or magistrate chooses whether to release or detain the suspect, a decision intended to account for the likelihood that the person will return to court or commit new crimes. This is especially important in domestic violence, which is often a serial offense and directed at a particular individual. Arraignments are usually brief, with outcome projections made based on limited data. However, Richard Berk, a criminology and statistics professor in Penn's School of Arts & Sciences and Wharton School, and Susan B. Sorenson, a professor of social policy in Penn's School of Social Policy & Practice, found that using machine-learning forecasts at these proceedings can dramatically reduce subsequent domestic violence arrests. "A large number of criminal justice decisions by law require projections of the risk to society. These threats are called 'future dangerousness,'" Berk said. "Many decisions, like arraignments, are kind of seat of the pants. The question is whether we can do better than that, and the answer is yes we can. It's a very low bar." For domestic violence crimes between intimate partners, parents and children or even siblings, there's typically a threat to one particular person, said Sorenson, who directs Penn's Evelyn Jacobs Ortner Center on Family Violence. "It's not a general public safety issue," she said. "With a domestic violence charge, let's say a guy -- and it usually is a guy -- is arrested for this and is awaiting trial. He's not going to go assault some random woman. The risk is for a re-assault of the same victim." To understand how machine learning could help in domestic violence cases, Berk and Sorenson obtained data from more than 28,000 domestic violence arraignments between January 2007 and October 2011. They also looked at a two-year follow-up period after release that ended in October 2013. advertisement A computer can "learn" from training data which kinds of individuals are likely to re-offend. For this research, the 35 initial inputs included age, gender, prior warrants and sentences, even residential location. These data points help the computer understand appropriate associations for projected risk, offering extra information to a court official deciding whether to release an offender. "In all kinds of settings, having the computer figure this out is better than having us figure it out," Berk said. That's not to say there aren't obstacles to its use. The number of mistaken predictions can be unacceptably high, and some people object in principle to using data and computers in this manner. To both of these points, the researchers respond that machine learning is simply a tool. "It doesn't make the decisions for people by any stretch," Sorenson said. These choices "might be informed by the wisdom that accrues over years of experience, but it's also wisdom that has accrued only in that courtroom. Machine learning goes beyond one courtroom to a wider community." In some criminal justice settings, use of machine learning is already routine, although different kinds of decisions require different datasets from which the computer must learn. The underlying statistical techniques, however, remain the same. Berk and Sorenson contend the new system can improve current practices. "The algorithms are not perfect. They have flaws, but there are increasing data to show that they have fewer flaws than existing ways we make these decisions," Berk said. "You can criticize them -- and you should because we can always make them better -- but, as we say, you can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good." The Penn researchers published their work in the March issue of The Journal of Empirical Legal Studies. Life can be scary when you're a puppy growing up in a shelter. It can be even scarier when you've just been put under anesthesia by a team of humans with sharp tools. That's where Dennis Moses comes in. Facebook/BARCS Animal Shelter Moses is a surgical assistant at BARCS Animal Shelter, in Baltimore, Maryland, but when the surgery's done, he takes it upon himself to comfort the dogs. A video posted to Facebook by BARCS Animal Shelter shows Moses calming a dog named Meesha with kisses and gentle words after she was spayed. As you can see and hear in the video, she needed all the TLC she could get. Dodo Shows Soulmates Dog Goes Everywhere In His Dad's Kangaroo Pouch "I was whispering to her, just singing," Moses told The Dodo. "If you've ever had surgery, you wake up, and you're not sure where you're at," said Moses. "It's a scary thing even for dogs and cats, especially being in the shelter and being that young." In the video, Meesha cries out in confusion about her post-anesthetic state. Moses eases her whimpering by holding her close and softly singing to her. When asked what song he chose to sing to Meesha, Moses said, "'Ten Little Froggies,' it's like a little kids' song I used to sing to my sister." Moses didn't know where Meesha came from. There are so many dogs who come through the operating room each day that he doesn't always know their backstory. He focuses on making sure the dogs' surgeries are done safely and that each dog is comfortable. As you can see in the video above, he does an excellent job. As a 12-to-16-week-old puppy, Meesha was likely found as a stray or surrendered to the shelter by a previous owner, said Moses. But that's all behind her now, because Meesha was picked up on Thursday afternoon and brought to her forever home.

Claudia Lifton

When an animal lover traveled to Thailand to help elephants exploited by the tourism industry, she had no idea she'd come away with an amazing story about changing the life of one very lucky orphaned baby monkey. Claudia Lifton, who is now based in Denver and working for the Factory Farming Awareness Coalition, was on her way to Laos from Thailand to get her visa renewed in 2013, when she was passing through a tiny rural village called Pak Bang. During her night-long stopover, she decided to explore. Claudia Lifton Claudia Lifton "I walked up a hill to a very rural area where not many westerners go," Lifton told The Dodo. When she got to the top, just outside a bicycle shop, she saw something she knew she wouldn't be able to leave behind: a 3-month-old monkey tied up by his neck in a cage. She tried to tell the owners of the shop that the monkey looked terribly sick - and that was just the first of her struggles. "No one spoke English, so I just sat down and wouldn't leave." Claudia Lifton Dodo Shows Foster Diaries Guy Falls In Love With His Little Meatball Of A Foster Dog Claudia Lifton Finally, the villagers brought a man from the village, one of the only people in the whole area who spoke English. It turned out that the family had actually rescued the monkey from a fate even worse than the one he was currently enduring. The family said they rescued the baby from poachers who were going to sell him into the exotic pet trade. "They bought him so he wouldn't be sent to Thailand to be a monkey dancer or a pet for a dumb American," Lifton said. Lifton begged the family who owned the shop to let me take the baby, explaining that he was going to die if he didn't get medical care, but they refused. "I offered them all of the money I had on me, my camera and my iPod, but they said no." Claudia Lifton Claudia Lifton Finally, she had an interesting idea: going absolutely bonkers. From around 9 p.m. to midnight, Lifton staged an absolute fit. "All these people kept coming to the bicycle shop and seeing this crazy person weeping in front of the shop. They probably thought I was a lunatic, which I kind of was." Finally, the people who owned the shop were so embarrassed by the display, they agreed to let Lifton take the monkey in exchange for her $300 camera. But that was just the beginning. Claudia Lifton Claudia Lifton What Lifton would do with this baby monkey, she still had to figure out. She started by naming him Nahuglai, which means "forever loved" in Laos. "But we all call him Hug," she said. After spending a night with the monkey outside the only hostel in town (which wouldn't let her inside with the little monkey gripping her around the neck), she called her mom overseas for help. "I told her that if we didn't find a sanctuary for him, I'd probably end up having to stay in Laos forever." Claudia Lifton Claudia Lifton But finally, Lifton heard from ACRES Wildlife Sanctuary, an organization that had transformed from a zoo to a place that actually could help, rather than hurt, animals. The sanctuary also had a bunch of rescued macaques willing to welcome the little one into their family. Meanwhile, Nahuglai was growing more and more attached to her. Riding in a boat for 10 hours, he managed to throw Lifton's headphones and both her shoes off the side of the vessel. And during a 10-hour overnight bus ride, Nahuglai was clinging to Lifton's face. "Every time I tried to take him off, he'd scream and people got mad, because they were trying to sleep." Claudia Lifton Claudia Lifton When Lifton finally arrived at the sanctuary, she was barefoot and covered in bananas, poop and pee. She also hadn't slept in five days. "But it was all worth it," she said. Lifton still receives updates about Nahuglai, who lives happily with his adopted mother and siblings at the sanctuary. According to people at the sanctuary, he has grown into the spunkiest leader of them all. Claudia Lifton Claudia Lifton Allagash St. Klippenstein. (Deb Lindsey/For The Washington Post) Working for Allagash Brewing sounds like a dream job. You make world-class Belgian-style ales; you get to hang out in lovely Portland, Maine; and the companys culture includes celebrating holidays such as St. Klippensteins Day. Never heard of it? St. Klippensteins, which falls on Dec. 16, is a day for celebrating our love of free ham, potlucks and big stouts, according to Allagash. Free ham? Sign me up. Naturally, theres now a St. Klippenstein beer, and its perfect for the event in question: Its an 11 percent alcohol-by-volume Belgian stout that spent three months in bourbon barrels before its release in February. The beer is the color of dark chocolate, and thats the overwhelming flavor here, along with some coffee, roasted malts and a plummy fruitiness from the Belgian yeast. Some gentle warm vanilla and oak tones are present from the barrel aging. If youre looking for flat-out bourbon notes, though, this is the wrong beer. Its rather silky, and theres only a bit of alcohol warmth at the end. Just dont hold on to your bottle for nine months: This is a beer worth drinking now. Allagash St. Klippenstein. www.allagash.com. About $19 per 750-milliliter bottle. Peter Mondavi Sr., who died last month, was the last of his generation in an American wine dynasty. (2005 file phot by Eric Risberg/Associated Press) Peter Mondavi Sr. died Feb. 20 at age 101. If you like fresh, fruity California white wine, you should raise a glass and thank him. Back in the 1960s, he pioneered cold fermentation of white wines, a now-commonplace technique that protects the fermenting wine from oxygen. Mondavi was the last of the second generation of an American wine dynasty, a family now in its third and fourth generations producing wine in Napa Valley. Although he was always overshadowed by his more flamboyant brother, Robert, Peters contributions to the development of Napa Valley wine were significant. He was the first Napa vintner to invest in barrels made of French oak and among the first to develop vineyards in the cooler Carneros region, famous today for chardonnay and pinot noir. Ironically, the Mondavi family got its start in wine because of Prohibition. Cesare Mondavi, an Italian immigrant, moved his family to California from Minnesota so he could buy grapes to sell to Italian families back east for home winemaking. In 1943, he bought Charles Krug winery. Founded in 1861, it is Napa Valleys oldest operating winery. [Five wines to try this week ] The brothers helped their father build the business into a post-Prohibition-era powerhouse. Peter concentrated on the wine, while Robert handled the marketing. But it wasnt a harmonious partnership, and in November 1965, their quarrels over the direction of the family business reached the breaking point. Their mother, Rosa, who had taken over the winery upon Cesares death in 1959, sided with Peter. Robert left to start his own winery and helped revolutionize the modern California wine industry. His was a soap-opera story of spectacular success, continued family quarrels and ultimate downfall. Robert Mondavi died in 2008 at age 94, a few years after his winery was sold to Constellation Brands. This year, the Robert Mondavi winery will celebrate its 50th vintage. Peter, meanwhile, kept Charles Krug winery in the family. He had begun buying new vineyards in the 1960s when land was cheap, eventually amassing a total of 850 acres of vineyard land. In the past decade, the family invested more than $25 million in replanting most of their vineyards and modernizing the winery, according to Wine Spectator magazine. Peters sons, Marc and Peter Jr., both have children following him in the wine business. Although Peter Mondavi didnt seek the limelight, the industry recognized him for his contributions. In 1986, the Napa Valley Vintners Association named him one of Twelve Living Legends in the Napa Valley. He was the last survivor of that group. Mondavi kept Charles Krug in the family through a period of winery and vineyard consolidation that saw many familiar family wineries sold to larger corporations. Even after he turned over day-to-day operations of the company, including the C.K. Mondavi brand, over to Marc and Peter Jr., the elder Mondavi remained active until well after he passed the century mark. Peter and Robert reconciled late in life. Yet to the end, Peter remained proud that he did not follow in Roberts path, which led ultimately to a corporate takeover that wrested control of Robert Mondavi winery from the family. Asked late in life to describe his proudest accomplishment, Mondavi said: Never losing control of our family winery. If I could, I would tell my father: I did the best I could during the difficult years. I was determined, and we held on. Positano Party Cabana ($2,499) from Ballard Designs. (Ballard Designs) Glamping cabana or sexy velvet chaise? These are some of the choices design shops are offering this spring. Retailers look forward to clearing out their shelves after the winter holidays and bringing out fresh collections just as daffodils start to bloom. Overscale hurricane lamps, chunky straw place mats, wooden cake stands and Easter egg-pastel curtains are of part of the new look. We checked out whats starring in some of the home catalogues that are starting to hit mailboxes and inboxes. Here are some trends that caught my eye. [A flood pushed this family to create its dream basement, spa included] Brenner 20-inch velvet pillow with feather-down insert ($44.95) at Crate & Barrel. (Crate & Barrel) Velvet: Yes, retailers are crushing on velvet for spring. The boho fashion staple is showing up in living rooms and bedrooms. According to Ann Haagenson, Anthropologies merchandise manager for home decor, There is something about velvet that has a big appeal for all seasons. It looks rich and gives a sense of texture. Crate & Barrel is also showing velvet for hot weather. We think velvet is seasonless, says Raymond Arenson, a Crate & Barrel executive vice president. Its a luxurious texture, and luxury is trending in a big way. Arenson likes velvet pillows layered in several hues, and so do I. Anthropologies velvet Darcy daybed ($1,598). (Anthropologie) Victoria daybed ($1,199-$2,279) from Ballard Designs. (Ballard Designs) Daybeds and chaises: The romantic daybed and its cousin the chaise are more often found in vintage and antiques shops, but Anthropologie and other stores have modernized them with clean-lined shapes and fabrics such as leather, rattan and linen. We see them in larger bedrooms, dens and reading rooms, Haagenson says. These pieces represent relaxation, casualness and ease. They can also serve as a stylish guest bed as needed. A tailored model called the Victoria is part of the Ballard Designs spring collection. Paradise Found Ainsworth Bed ($2,998-$3,498) at Anthropologie. (Anthropologie) Petula Salad Plate ($7.95) and Petula Round Platter ($19.95) from Crate & Barrel. (Crate & Barrel) Bold prints and patterns: A dramatic new upholstered bed, the Paradise Found Ainsworth, shows off one of the new bold print textiles at Anthropologie. This fabric design evokes a lush New Orleans landscape, brimming with oversize leaves and water birds in blues and greens. These Pucci-esque print fabrics are sort of like what youd see in fashion on palazzo pants and pajamas, Haagenson says. At Crate & Barrel, the vivid Petula collection features stoneware plates hand-stamped and painted with one large flower in the middle. Lure Patina Bronze Chandelier ($1,339) from Crate & Barrel. (Crate & Barrel) Abalorio Chandelier ($1,298-$1,798) at Anthropologie. (Anthropologie) Glam lighting: Glitzy fixtures are turning up all over the house, in interesting combinations of materials. We have so many more hanging light fixtures now, and people are using them not just over dining room tables but over nightstands, conversation areas and in kitchens, Arenson says. The Crate & Barrel Lure chandelier has rows of giant glass drops that catch light from all sides. Youll see glass, brass and lots of beads, such as on the Abalorio chandelier at Anthropologie, which reflects the designs of traditional jewelry from Jalisco, Mexico. The Positano Party Cabana ($2,499) along with cafe tables and folding chairs, cushions, and string lights, all from Ballard Designs. (Ballard Designs) Glamping-inspired entertaining: At Ballard Designs, a new outdoor collection celebrates glamping, that glamorous trend of exotic safari tents and folding furniture. You can set up your cabana and put a sofa and rug in there. Throw up a string of lights and have a dinner party, says Karen Mooney, senior vice president at Ballard Designs. Youll find folding cafe chairs in fun colors such as orange, pale blue and green. We all have a little bit of bohemian in us. As buttoned up as we are all day, at home we want to be a little more relaxed, and enjoy, Mooney says. With 37 years experience in the field of addiction medicine, I would like to address some of the controversy surrounding buprenorphine (Suboxone-type drugs). Medication-Assisted Treatment with Suboxone-type drugs is right and is life-saving for some patients. Prescribing an opioid medication for someone seeking help for opioid dependency may seem odd and confusing, but when used appropriately, MAT can save lives. There is abundant research to support this. The problem of opioid addiction is enormous. Overdoses are our number one killer in Tennessee and the U.S., exceeding car wrecks. Doctors prescribe opiates too often. America with 5 percent of the worlds population uses 99 percent of the worlds hydrocodone. Tennessee and Alabama lead the nation in opiate prescribing, with nearly three times as many prescriptions per citizen as other states, like California and New York 143 prescriptions per 100 people in Tennessee. Fifty people die from opioid overdoses every day and 2.1 million people are addicted to opiates. Treatment has been shown to be far superior and much more cost effective than incarceration. We have filled our prisons with people who needed treatment, and the problem has grown worse than ever. Buprenorphine (Suboxone-type drugs) is harm-reduction therapy control, not a cure. It takes away the craving and its unique ceiling-effect property protects against overdoses and getting high. Patients, properly selected and followed closely, feel normal and function normally, engage in treatment programs, and participate more fully in family, school and work activities. We often hear from patients that Suboxone-type drugs are like a miracle, and for those who leave behind the addiction lifestyle and develop a healthy lifestyle, this must seem true. But Suboxonetype drugs are not a miracle. Stopping them abruptly will still cause withdrawal and the cravings and addiction behaviors will likely return. Treatment medications must be only part of a comprehensive program to help the patient stabilize, work a recovery program, and live a better life. It is important to understand that medication does not fix chemical dependency. Medication treatment is not an alternative to other care. Counseling, psychosocial support and education in relapse prevention skills all take time to integrate into a persons life. The brain of a chemically-dependent person needs time to heal, to develop impulse control to counter the urge to use drugs. What about Just Say No? Abstinence-based programs (AA, 12-Steps) work quite well for alcoholism, but opiate dependency is another beast. Research has shown that abstinence-only programs lead to relapse in more patients than those treated with medications for addiction. Nora D. Volkow, M.D., director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, testified before congress that buprenorphine-containing medicines, when administered in the context of an addiction treatment program, can effectively maintain abstinence from other opioids and reduce harmful behaviors. She also said, Medication-assisted treatments remain grossly underutilized in many addiction treatment settings, where stigma and negative attitudes are based on the misconception that buprenorphine or methadone substitute a new addiction for an old one. In some patients, the brain chemistry is such that an abstinence-only approach is doomed to failure because the physical addiction is so strong, oftentimes genetic. The patient who is dependent on opiates has a much better chance of recovery with prescribed buprenorphine (Suboxone-type drugs). Well-meaning legislators and bureaucrats in our state have proposed numerous bills and regulations that impede proper standard of care treatment for this terrible brain disease. Failure to understand that addiction is a complicated brain disease, rather than merely bad behavior, allows some to see addiction as a choice. No one chooses to live this horrible, destructive lifestyle. Failure to recognize the difference between the office of an addiction medicine specialist and the scourge of pill-mills is short-sighted, superficial and dangerous. Please, let us not elect and support legislators and appointees who wish to throw out the baby of proper addiction treatment with the bathwater of pill-mills. Research results suggest that long-term care strategies of medication management and continued monitoring produce lasting benefits. Drug dependence should be insured, treated, and evaluated like other chronic illnesses. Treatment decisions on the use of FDA-approved medications for addiction should be made only by skilled physicians. John B. Standridge, M.D * * * It is letters like this that "brainwash" laypeople on drug addiction vs drug dependency. One would read your post and think that all people who take opiods for pain are on greased pole to addiction. This is not true. The DEA, FDA and CDC have hijacked the topic of "Chronic Pain Management". I do agree with the writer that those that become addicted willfully destroy their brains and have limited coping skills. These are the people that are destroying the treatment of legitimate people with chronic pain. These people need to stay out of and away from pain management clinics. This entire topic is disgusting and misguided, causing "Opioidhobia" by misinformed, judgmental and non scientifically trained doctors and many others. Many of these people have no expertise in the area at all. These are the people that are responsible for the increase in heroin on the streets. There are tens of million people suffering from chronic pain that are not addicted at all. Only physically dependent and tolerant which is not the same thing as being addicted. You have "demonized" opioid prescribing. Reading your post "stigmatizes" millions of chronic pain patients that are legitimately prescribed an opiate and takes it "as prescribed" and do not abuse it. Your post is full of "misconceptions". We have enough stress worrying about misguided, biased and incompetent state boards removing the licenses of facilities actually caring for and helping those in chronic pain. Tim Mason * * * Mr. Mason, Wow, you certainly speak your mind. Too bad I have dealt with some members of my own family who have been addicted to opioids. Only one was because of pain management. The others got the pills for self-medication and profit. Hydrocodone abuse/addiction is a very widespread problem, much more rampant than you are apparently willing to admit. When "pain management" pill mills prescribe hundreds of thousands of pills to their customers, something is wrong. Especially when it is a known fact that most of these pseudo-medicos don't even examine the "patients". I realize that there are a lot of people who live with chronic pain. I also know that many of these folks have a legitimate need for opioids. But not everybody who gets a prescription or hydrocodone is in pain. And a true medical doctor should be able to spot the difference. The pill mill quacks can't or don't care. Dr. Standridge's letter was a plea for legislators not to go overboard in trying to combat this plague. It was also an explanation of the problem and treatment methods. I presume that the M.D. after his name means Medical Doctor, so it can be can be taken for granted that he just may know what he's talking about. Ed Bradley East Brainerd * * * After reading Tom Mason's indictment of Dr. Standridge's post - I can't help but wonder where Mr. Mason gets his information and if it is possible he completely misses the point. Nobody wants a single person dealing with chronic pain to suffer for one second. Mr. Mason accuses Dr. Standridge, an expert in the field of addiction and the medical director of a local treatment center, of demonizing the over prescribing of opiates. What Mr. Mason clearly doesn't understand about the over prescribing of opiates - the epidemic began years ago and started, in large part, with illegitimate "pill mills" calling themselves legitimate pain management clinics. Like it or not, Mr. Mason, prescription opiate and heroin addiction has been at epidemic proportions for years and continues to grow. There are a number of excellent documentaries produced in recent years. All explain the situation much better than I can in a couple of paragraphs. Google 'opiate documentaries', Mr. Mason. I think you will be enlightened as to the realities of pain management, prescription opiate and heroin addiction. I hope you will then realize the power of denial and misinformation. Dr. John Standridge, as an expert in science and biology of addiction, is part of the solution. His understanding of addiction and chemical dependence goes far beyond our average doctor. Addiction is his focus - not unlike other doctors focusing on other areas. With all due respect to Mr. Mason - I think I'll listen to the expert on this particular topic. George Parker * * * I couldn't agree with Mr. Mason more. Chronic pain is horrible and the group that experiences it most are those 55 and over who have worked their entire lives in an occupation that takes its toll on the lower back and the knees and feet. Not a doubt in my mind that everyone reading this knows at least 10 people who fit into this category. Here in Tennessee we are those that were raised to do the right thing, the legal thing. We're under a real doctor's care, we don't abuse our scripts and most of us take one tablet in the morning in order to get out of the bed and tend to our responsibilities and one at night in order to sleep through the pain. Most of us have Medicare and have experienced that medication going to the top tier with the highest co-pay simply because of the problems with the drug addicts here. You know the ones, their pictures are on the net for "doc shopping" every week, to get those pills to sell on the streets. I would say the average age of those criminals is under 40 and quite positive none of them have a job because now it's too easy to sign up for assistance, food stamps, medical care, housing etc. The senior? Oh they're working part-time because they're paying rent, they're buying their food, they're paying their utilities, they're paying for their insurance and now they're paying higher co-pays. They don't get raises because the cost of oil is so low....I'm guessing if things continue like they are they'll never get another raise. Forgive me for not feeling sorry for those that have turned an older generation's life into a nightmare. Don't blame it on their doctors, those fine folks are doing the best they can. I've been told by more than one professional that the pain meds they prescribe for their patient are being "taken" by the older kids. Even though the patient desperately needs that med the "kids" are thieves and take them as fast as the patient can get them and if they don't take them they're on the street selling them. You know who you are and you should be ashamed of yourself. All you hear on the news are complaints from young people, college kids that "can't find a job", Black lives Matter and professional protesters, you never hear from the generation that helped build this country and are now slowly dying because they can no longer afford to buy decent food, or freeze to death because they can't turn the thermostat up or die of heat exhaustion because they can't turn the A/C on. The drug addicts and their enablers are turning this country into a slum and the most innocent, the elderly and the infants, are their true victims. As long as the state babysits them and pays them to go get their meds for the day you can pretty well count on nothing changing for the better. I'm done ranting.....for now. Sue White * * * Such hypocrisy. This great and wonderful God-created planet we get to live on has provided us with natural herbs that can benefit a person's quality of life in the event of falling ill. The biggest problem in regards to all this is, we are evil people. We can take anything that is good and misuse it. It's a heart thing. "Krylon" , great product for spray painting. What do some people use it for ? Inhale it into their beautiful pink lungs of soft tissue, of course. You see, spray paint has no medicinal value. Instead it causes irreversible damage to a person's lungs and brain. This sounds familiar to me. Oh yes, cigarettes. Tobacco is another useful plant but evil man has added toxins that are a proven carcinogen that makes a person addicted to their product so they will buy more, all for a buck. These nasty things stink and even the smoke they emit is cancerous. The manufacturer even has to put on the package that the product causes cancer. Users even throw their cancer sticks all over the ground as if they think littering is legal for them. But I digress. What was I talking about, oh yeah , Opioids. The natural herb that makes a person living with daily pain or nausea and panic attacks manageable. Life is tough. It can sucker punch you without warning. Mentally as well as physically. So what am I saying? Despite many many cancers and heart disease that are brought by cigarettes to their users and those around them, the demonization of the word "Opioids" is misguided. Jesus made a really good analogy that I think fits here "We swallow a camel but choke on a gnat." Money provides cigarette dealers to be deemed as legal in the world. So as the cancer patient spends the day vomiting from their "Cemo" it's illegal to give then a natural herb that greatly reduces their nausea. The patient living with daily constant pain from arthritis can't take perhaps what's really needed because, Lord forbid they get addicted - despite it's a long-term condition. This is a cruel society. The adage "Don't punish all for the sins of the few" has no place in the medical field. It's a fact. We have those that ingest bath salts, paint, brake cleaner etc.... El Chapo has nothing on our tobacco dealers. You can't fix stupid. Michael Burns Opioid User THE DISTRICT Armed robbers again target bakery A Northwest Washington bakery that was the site of a violent robbery attempt last month was robbed at gunpoint Friday night. D.C. police said the robbery occurred at 4434 Connecticut Ave. NW. That is the address of Bread Furst, where an employee was knocked unconscious in January when he could not open a safe for would-be robbers. Police said those robbers, one with a gun, entered through a back door. On Friday two men came in through a back door about half an hour after the scheduled 7 p.m. closing time. They got money and fled. Police said one had a gun, the other a stick. Martin Weil Appellate rulings stand in gun law case A federal appeals court announced Friday that it will not revisit some of the strict D.C. gun-registration requirements that it struck down last fall. A majority of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit voted against a rehearing of the case by all the courts judges. The decision upholds an earlier three-judge ruling that knocked down the citys one-gun-per-month law while upholding the governments authority to issue gun regulations that promote public safety. The courts 2-to-1 ruling in September upheld as constitutional many of the Districts registration rules but eliminated the ban on registering more than one gun a month. Ann E. Marimow 18-year sentence for former officer A federal judge on Friday sentenced a former D.C. police officer and pastor to 18 years in prison for sexually abusing two teenage girls who attended his Southeast Washington church. Darrell Best, 46, a 25-year D.C. police veteran, pleaded guilty in October to one count of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, one count of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor and one count of production of child pornography after he photographed one of the girls. U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton handed down the sentence. Best admitted to abusing the girls, ages 16 and 17, one at his office at D.C. police headquarters and the other at his God-A Second Chance Ministry Church. Spencer S. Hsu Suspect arrested in barbershop shooting The final suspect sought in a shooting inside a crowded Barracks Row barbershop that wounded a man and his 21-month-old son this month has been arrested, D.C. police said Friday. Anthony Chambers, 25, of Southeast Washington was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. A D.C. Superior Court judge ordered Chambers detained Friday until a preliminary hearing Monday. Two other suspects have been arrestedon a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon. The shooting occurred Feb. 12 about 1:40 p.m. inside Wrenns barbershop in the 1000 block of Eighth Street NW. Police said that three men dressed in black and wearing masks opened the front door of the shop and that two opened fire. Peter Hermann VIRGINIA Sketch is released in 34-year-old killing Loudoun County authorities released an updated sketch of a man who they say is a person of interest in the 34-year-old slaying of a Fairfax County woman. Thursday was the anniversary of Veronica Hepworths death. The 20-year-olds body was found Feb. 25, 1982, along a driveway on Route 50 near Gilberts Corner, according to authorities. They asked for calls at 703-803-2655. Dana Hedgpeth In this 1991 file photo, Iraqi troops emerge from heavily protected bunker to surrender to gun-toting Saudi soldiers during Operation Desert Storm in southeast Kuwait. (Laurent Rebours/AP) On Saturday, Scott Stump, president and founder of the National Desert Storm War Memorial Association , could not commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Persian Gulf War in Washington. There was, after all, no official Defense Department event scheduled to mark the conflicts cease-fire on Feb. 28, 1991. Instead, Stump, a former Marine who deployed to Saudi Arabia on Dec. 31, 1990, attended a formal event and lunch at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, at the request of Gen. Jonathan Vance, defense chief of the Canadian Armed Forces. Thats right. Canada. When we got the invitation to Canadas official, government-sanctioned 25th anniversary event, the thing hit us with a ton of bricks, said Stump, 49, who lives in North Carolina. You have a country that had 4,000 troops on the ground inviting an American like me to attend their commemoration, yet our country which deployed over 600,000 troops is not doing anything. Lt. Col. Thomas Crosson, a Defense Department spokesman, confirmed that it did not plan any 25th anniversary events to recognize the Persian Gulf War. In this 1991 file photo, Kuwaiti troops wear gas masks and protective suits as they roll through southern Kuwait in an armed motor convoy, the first full day of ground conflict in Operation Desert Storm. (Laurent Rebours/AP) We certainly have not forgotten the efforts and sacrifices of those who served during the Gulf War, he said in a statement. He added that Stumps association which gained preliminary approval to build a memorial near the Mall and boasts former president George H.W. Bush as its honorary board chairman is the only group that has expressed grievances about the lack of any 25th anniversary events. The Persian Gulf War, a U.S.-led effort to oust Saddam Husseins Iraqi forces from Kuwait, was a short war by modern standards. Combat lasted about a month-and-a-half, claiming close to 300 U.S. casualties. But the lack of any Pentagon-sponsored 25th anniversary event reinforces Stumps concern that Desert Storm veterans rarely merit the tributes heaped on other war veterans. Five years ago, I started this organization when I realized my kids didnt know what Desert Storm was and people lumped it together with Operation Iraqi Freedom, relegating it to a footnote in history, Stump said. But if you have a war, shouldnt it be completed as quickly as possible? Ive had some people from other countries ask me, Whats the matter with your country that they dont want to talk about Americas victory? Though the Pentagon hasnt planned anything, some veterans organizations have scheduled their own commemorations. On Saturday, the VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans Association was slated to conduct a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and hold a dinner at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington with guest speaker retired Gen. Martin Dempsey. Army Capt. Michael Meyer, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command in Florida, said it was planning to send a color guard to an event Saturday at a veterans park in Tampa, featuring Brenda Schwarzkopf, wife of the late Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., commander of coalition forces during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. But for Stump, the Defense Department should have planned one major commemoration that would have been open to all veterans, no matter which service or unit they belonged to. Two months ago, the memorial association began asking the Defense Department if it had any plans to commemorate the anniversary. The Pentagon wrote back saying nothing was in the works and suggested that individual military services might hold their own ceremonies, according to emails provided by the memorial association. But after Stump got invited to Saturdays event hosted by the Canadian Armed Forces, and a Newseum reception Thursday hosted by the Ambassador of Kuwait, his organization pressed the Pentagon one more time. Fred Wellman, a board member of the memorial association, sent an email to the Pentagon on Feb. 19, flabbergasted. Up until recently I dismissed the constant complaining by Gulf War veterans that they have been forgotten by the military but frankly at this point its hard to dismiss their complaints, wrote Wellman, a veteran of the Persian Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom. We are ignoring one of the greatest military victories in world history that was led by the U.S. because its just another anniversary? Nothing at Arlington? Nothing at the Pentagon? This cant seriously be the plan still is it? A Pentagon official wrote him saying he had shared Wellmans concerns with higher-ranking brass, and sent Wellman links to stories about the 25th anniversary on the websites of the Air Force, National Guard, and Stars and Stripes. Stump said he was delighted to attend Canadas event on Saturday. And Canada was more than happy to honor the Persian Gulf Wars 25th anniversary. In fact, Saturdays event at the Canadian War Museum wasnt the only commemoration organized by the Canadian Armed Forces, according to spokeswoman Major Indira Thackorie. It was one of seven. An Air Wisconsin plane taking off from Reagan National Airport on Friday morning entered prohibited airspace near the U.S. Capitol and briefly failed to communicate with air traffic controllers, according to authorities. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Capitol Police said officials raised their security level out of an abundance of caution. The Capitol was not put in lockdown, the spokeswoman said, and the alert was lifted once communication with the pilot was established. The Federal Aviation Administration said the incident occurred about 10:55 a.m. when Flight 3803, headed to Toronto, Canada, took off from Runway 1. An FAA spokesman could not say what action was taken. The Air Wisconsin Internet site shows the flight arriving in Toronto 31 minutes late. Officials from Air Wisconsin did not return calls seeking comment. The FAA said the incident is under investigation. D.C. police on Friday announced that officers have made arrests in nine robberies throughout the District over the past week, including a carjacking and several attacks that involved guns or left victims injured. In addition, the U.S. attorneys office said that an 18-year-old man was sentenced on Friday to 30 months in prison for robbing three pedestrians with a pellet gun last fall in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Southeast Washington. Robberies have been of particular concern for police in the District. Such attacks surged in some neighborhoods last year, including Capitol Hill, Trinidad, Brookland, Takoma, Columbia Heights, Petworth and Chevy Chase. This year, police report that robberies are up 40 percent across the District, from 266 at this time in 2015 to 512 in the first two months of 2016. Earlier this year, police formed a task force with Metro Transit Police officers and prosecutors to help combat the surge. [Surge in robberies force residents to alter routines] One of the arrests this past week occurred after a woman was assaulted from behind by three people near Metro Center and had her purse and cellphone taken. The attack occurred about 10:40 p.m. on Wednesday , and police said they arrested two of the three people the next day. The woman was hospitalized for her injuries. Police also made an arrest in a carjacking that occurred about 3 p.m. on Feb. 20 on Massachusetts Avenue in Northwest, near the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Police charged a 32-year-old man with grabbing the drivers keys as he exited his vehicle and then driving off in the car. [Details of robbery arrests from D.C. police] Authorities arrested other suspects in a variety of attacks. Those included an instance where a watch was snatched from someone in Northwest, a case where a cellphone was grabbed from a woman on 18th Street in Northwest and a robbery at gunpoint of a man withdrawing money at an ATM in Northeast. The U.S. attorneys office said Kyree Black, the man sentenced in the Navy Yard robberies, robbed two people at gunpoint in 15 minutes on Oct. 21, 2015 one on L Street SE, the other on K Street SE, both near South Capitol Street. In both cases, phones were taken. The third robbery occurred Oct. 23 on New Jersey Avenue SE. Prosecutors said the victim in that armed holdup was an off-duty police officer robbed of his phone and laptop computer. The officer then arrested the suspect. In a statement, the U.S. attorneys office said one victim appeared in court on Friday and described the robbery as a terrible event. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article misstated the location of the robberies for which Kyree Black was sentenced. They occurred near South Capitol Street, not North Capitol Street, and in the Navy Yard neighborhood, not on Capitol Hill. A dog walker passes by the proposed site of a homeless shelter at 2105 10th St. NW in Ward 1 of the District. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post) The people of Massachusetts Avenue Heights have long loved their neighborhood not for what it has, but what it doesnt. Buffered by the Washington National Cathedral and the vice presidents house, this affluent community of million-dollar homes has stayed small and quiet while developers had their way with busier neighborhoods. But residents now fear that could soon change. Betrayed! longtime resident Jane Loeffler wrote in an email to a neighbor, condemning a District proposal to place 38 homeless families into the neighborhood as part of a plan to close D.C. General Hospital, a former hospital that now serves as the citys largest homeless shelter, and disperse its residents into seven shelters spread evenly across the city. The news has left the neighborhood in utter turmoil, said Loeffler, who is trying to sell her $1.4 million home in Ward 3. What will this mean for property values? What about crime? Bad things do happen around shelters you cant prevent it, she wrote. It goes with the territory. One of the most prevalent and visceral reactions people have when learning their neighborhood will host a homeless community is to fret over property values and crime. In California, 700 Orange County residents flooded a forum in October to convey those worries. In Toronto, residents had the same reaction. In New York, Manhattanites even sued over the matter, which a judge called based solely on speculative fears. More than 40 percent of facilities servicing the homeless face community opposition before opening, a 1997 poll conducted by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty indicated. A man walks near the proposed site of a homeless shelter at 2619 Wisconsin Ave. NW across from the Russian Embassy in Ward 3. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post) But are the concerns warranted? A review of four research papers and interviews with policy experts, economists, housing providers and longtime neighbors of shelters suggests a more complicated narrative. On average, researchers have found supportive housing facilities servicing the homeless and other vulnerable populations rarely lead to higher crime rates or a drop in property values and sometimes even raise the latter if the shelter helps stabilize a distressed community. The findings come with important caveats. Supportive housing is much more prevalent in poor communities, so its impact on affluent neighborhoods is not as well documented. But some factors transcend neighborhood demographics. It is critical that these developments are well-built and well-designed, well-maintained and well-managed, said Ingrid Gould Ellen, an urban planning expert who analyzed how 123 New York City housing facilities affected the surrounding neighborhoods, a few of which were wealthy. If they are run well, she said, supportive housing rarely endangers its host community. We thought . . . Lets take a look and see if there is any basis for these fears, Ellen said. We found there is not. *** If you track todays tension between housing projects and neighborhoods to its origin, you will end up in the 1980s, when a recession disgorged thousands of poor people onto the streets. Before that time, most housing services were limited, faith-based and funded by local authorities or philanthropies. But then amid a homeless crisis and an AIDS epidemic the federal government started pumping money into facilities that cared for the newly vulnerable, helping spark what is a very familiar clash. One popular model was supportive housing. Settled in residential areas, these facilities are different from traditional homeless shelters, where transients wait in long lines to get in. Supportive housing, meanwhile, provides services and individual quarters for residents who may sign leases. District officials say that model is similar to what they are planning for the citys homeless families, who will have their own rooms and receive employment training, health care and financial counseling at the shelters. But community opposition has nonetheless frequently beset these projects, which, in addition to the homeless, also serve the mentally ill, disabled and those affected by disease. So in the late 1990s, federal officials asked the Urban Institute to study whether these concerns had merit. The think tank eventually published two reports, in 1999 and 2002, that looked into the group homes. The studies, based in Denver, found the facilities were usually in poor neighborhoods, where property was cheaper and community resistance less severe. Overall, the 1999 report noted, the 11 facilities studied had a positive impact on house prices in the surrounding neighborhood, even reversing declining property values in the distressed communities. The 2002 paper concluded the difference in the crime rate surrounding the facilities and the rate farther away was not statistically significant. Reports of crime, however, did increase by 30 percent within 500 feet of larger residences that housed an average of 89 people, although it was unclear whether this was because the facility attracted criminals or neighbors started calling the police more often. Anna Santiago, a professor at Wayne State University who participated in the study, remembers the dichotomy between what residents thought a housing project would do and what it actually did. Resident perceptions about crime and property values do not jibe with their experiences after they live nearby these sites, she said. They generally knew about the presence of these facilities. . . . However, they reported little impact on themselves or larger neighborhood well-being. The same thing happened years later and hundreds of miles away in Philadelphia. Laura Weinbaum, an official of Project HOME, which manages 15 supportive housing residences throughout Philadelphia, said her organization decided to get to the bottom of the issue in 2006. That year, residents of a wealthy neighborhood had inveighed against a proposed homeless shelter, fretting over property values and security. We thought that was ridiculous, Weinbaum said. It wasnt our experience. . . . And that was the moment we got mad and said, Were going to push back. So the nonprofit organization asked a local economics firm to analyze all of their sites, which included affordable and supportive housing, and report on the actual impact. I said, I can answer this question, but you may not like the answer, recalled Kevin Gillen, the Philadelphia economist who did the research. But then he returned with the findings: Neighboring properties around the housing facilities had accrued $1,700 in annual value even beyond broader neighborhood trends. Gillen, however, cautioned against extrapolating too much from the research. He studied facilities only in rough neighborhoods, some of which replaced derelict structures of illicit behavior. Anything, he said, would have been better than that, so of course a new facility helped the neighborhood. It is less clear, he added, what would happen in wealthy communities such as the kind that Erik Gutshall calls home. For nearly two decades, Gutshall has lived within 500 feet of an Arlington supportive-housing facility that has 44 beds and serves homeless families. My own experience is that property values have gone up considerably, he said. Weve done quite well in Lyon Park. *** It did not take long for the leaflet to circulate. The same day that Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) announced the addresses of the seven shelters, concerned residents in Ward 1 released a flier that complained that a shelter at 10th and V streets would give rise to problems involving congestion, loitering, safety, decreased property values. At neighborhood meetings, some vented that the Bowser administration was not transparent in how it chose the sites; others fretted about the type of person moving into their communities. In Ward 6, a mother wanted to know whether the city would bar sex offenders and criminals from the shelters and found out it would not. Another resident seethed over what she said she had seen at another neighborhood homeless shelter. There were naked men in the playground where our kids had swings, she said. The [Hurricane] Katrina people came, and they had sex on the sidewalk. When residents hear the word shelter, theyre fearful of what that will mean for their property values, and they think about the 12-hour, low-barrier, low-service model people lining up and coming in for 12 hours, Director Laura Zeilinger of the D.C. Human Services Department said, adding that families spend an average of five months at D.C. General. And [these shelters] isnt it. Its a supportive-housing environment. These are people who are parenting. Such comments have not mollified residents such as Paul Cunningham. He said the proposed shelter could destroy Massachusetts Avenue Heights, representing a radical change in a dictatorial process with no due process. Where, he and fellow resident Brandon Bortner asked, will the homeless people shop for food? The plan will put them in a place where they have to go to Whole Foods, Cunningham said, which is typically not where your homeless people can shop. Both residents expressed certainty it would diminish property values. But no one has done any studies on that, Bortner said. The imbroglio reminded Kathy Sibert, president of an Arlington homeless shelter, of a vicious clash in 2011 over a proposed shelter in the wealthy area near the Court House Metro station. People were worried that the facility, which ultimately opened in October and shelters homeless singles, would attract crime. So far, it has not happened that way. Between October and Feb. 19, Arlington police statistics show the number of crimes committed within a 1,000-foot radius of the shelter 145 was about the same as it is every year. We have not seen an increase in crime in the neighborhood related to the opening of the homeless shelter, Arlington police spokeswoman Ashley Savage said. And what about property prices? In one of the wealthiest spots in the region, no signs of slowdown yet. Aaron C. Davis, Julie Zauzmer and Perry Stein contributed to this report. The 2.2-mile transit line was more than a decade and $200 million in the making. (Ashleigh Joplin,Thomas Johnson/The Washington Post) The 2.2-mile transit line was more than a decade and $200 million in the making. (Ashleigh Joplin,Thomas Johnson/The Washington Post) On a chilly February morning 54 years after the last passengers stepped aboard a streetcar in the nations capital, hundreds of people lined up on a once riot-ravaged stretch of H Street on Saturday to do it again. District resident Jonah Schiffrin, 3, had been reminding his lawyer parents about it all week. At 6:15 a.m. he could wait no longer, and padded into their bedroom to get them moving. I call it Streetcar Day, not Saturday! Jonah said at a packed stop at the eastern end of the line on Benning Road. On the west end, behind Union Station, retired chemical engineer Alan Schneider, 69, was waiting to take another trip. Spectacular! said the Arlington resident, who used to ride them in their earlier incarnation. Great, great, great. Everything I hoped it would be. Now lets hope this expands to a huge system to serve the public. But permeating the euphoric and historic day was a troublesome bit of math for streetcar boosters. On the day the back-to-the-future transit system launched passenger service after more than $200 million and a decade of delays and missteps it took the streetcar 26 minutes to make its way end-to-end on the two-mile line. It took 27 minutes to walk the same route on Saturday, 19 minutes on the bus, 10 minutes to bike and just seven minutes in a Uber. [Your handy guide to riding the D.C. streetcar] 1 of 16 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad The streetcar is off and rolling in D.C. View Photos The system has opened on the H Street/Benning Road track and rides will be free for at least the next six months. Caption The system has opened on the H Street/Benning Road track and will be free to ride for at least the next six months. Feb. 27, 2016 People stand next to the D.C. Streetcar line on the day of its opening ceremony. Keith Lane/For The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. Streetcar lines are being built and considered in communities around the United States, and officials in New York City this month proposed one tying Brooklyn and Queens. Many streetcar adherents including in Portland, Ore., considered the cradle of the modern streetcar push argue that the transit systems are about more than transit. They are intended to make streets and places around them more vibrant by luring development and tying together communities. But while lifes not only about getting places quickly, it is sometimes about that, and the performance of Washingtons streetcars raises questions about the viability and usefulness of the system. Writer and transportation industry consultant Malcolm Kenton, who lives in Washingtons NoMa neighborhood and was out riding with the crowds Saturday, said hes concerned the Districts problems could end up dragging down opinions on what really is a good way to get around. I just hope that the poor management of the initial line wont besmirch the mode in general, Kenton said. He hopes a planned expansion of the current line, to a total of about seven miles, is done with an eye to moving more quickly, including considering dedicated transit lanes or allowing streetlights to turn green when a streetcar approaches. In a rush to get tracks in the ground quickly, the District made a series of design shortcuts. Officials imported elements of Portlands streetcar plans and squeezed the tracks too close to parked cars along H Street, requiring operators to slow down and constantly try to anticipate drivers opening their car doors or trying to pull out from parking spaces. Operators along stretches of Benning Road, where the streetcars run in center lanes away from parked cars, also have speed limits along some stretches that are far below the current top speed on the line, which is set at 25 miles per hour. As the 70,000-pound red-and-gray vehicles lumbered back and forth, stuffed with often-giddy passengers, the realities of slow-speed transit were beginning to dawn on many. Roslyn Holmes, 57, decked out in Redskins flair, including dyed-red hair, joshed along with other customers. Were the Freedom Riders! Holmes said. Free for six months! Streetcar officials didnt get a fare collection system finished in time for the launch, and they said they wanted to spur initial ridership by not charging for a while, anyway. There is no Sunday service. The bus is faster of course, said Holmes, who works as an elderly caregiver. She also bemoaned the systems modest length. Its very short. They could have used the money elsewhere, like developing more homes for the seniors and the homeless, and mental health for the youth, because theyre going crazy. I can walk faster than this, chimed in Ternechue Butler, who worked as an outreach specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. I dont think it can go any faster because of the parking. Cleve Cleveland, general manager of the Districts streetcar operations contractor, said he counts on the streetcars to take about half an hour to run the two-mile route. They average speeds of about 12 to 15 miles per hour, Cleveland said. About the fastest they can make it is 22 minutes, he said, and thats with no traffic, no delays, no stops. Shortly before the first ride, following the booming strains of the Eastern High School marching band, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) reiterated her thanks to the communities and businesses along the line for their perseverance through long years of construction. Speaking on behalf of four mayors and numerous other officials, Bowser said, we are so grateful you stuck it out with us, because this is the start of something big for our transportation mobility system in the District of Columbia. Her transportation chief, Leif Dormsjo, said our plans are now set to extend the line east to the Benning Road Metro station. The system seemed to run smoothly on Saturday, though a side panel of one car scraped along the platform outside Union Station and had to be reattached. And pedestrian safety remains a real concern. A sad-looking young man in a Statue of Liberty costume turned around distractedly on a narrow median that looks like a sidewalk but is posted as a no-go zone. He was promoting Liberty Tax Service just as a streetcar rolled passed him, missing him by inches. The District bought its first three streetcars from the Czech Republic more than a decade ago, and the city planned to launch service in 2006 in the Anacostia area. But that effort was all but abandoned. Officials decided to jump ahead with the H Street/Benning line instead and bought three more streetcars from a Portland company. Construction costs have soared. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) said moments before the streetcar made its first trip: Weve been waiting so long for this streetcar, it feels like magic. Is it really happening? Then, at 10:31 a.m., it did. Stepan Kocourek, 25, a computer programmer from Prague, was there to see it. He heard a week ago that the system was opening with some Czech streetcars, so he made his first trip to Washington to witness the moment. He heads home Monday. For a small, post-communist country like the Czech Republic, its a huge success to run business in the states, Kocourek said. Also, I totally support the thought of green transportation, trolley buses, trams, zero- or low-emission transportation. For me, its amazing to see. Fairfax Countys schools chief told the County Board of Supervisors on Friday that the $1.88 billion in local funding it plans to give the school system in the 2017 budget year falls dismally short of what it needs to keep up with rising costs. Were the county to fully cover Superintendent Karen Garzas desire for higher teacher salaries, improvements to school bus maintenance and reductions in class sizes, it would take an extra $305 million or nearly six times the funding increase county supervisors are weighing. Garza has asked for a county transfer of $1.95 billion which would cover a significant portion of the school systems proposed $2.7 billion overall budget. During a joint meeting that kicked off the latest round of budget negotiations between Fairfax supervisors and school officials, Garza laid out a list of unfunded expenses as part of her pitch for that relatively modest increase over what supervisors are recommending. She said the schools wont be able to replace aging textbooks and out-of-date computers, tools that are important for students in the classroom, without the additional funds. [Fairfax County executive proposes 4-cent tax-rate hike to meet rising costs] With $1.88 billion in funding, Fairfax supervisors are considering what would be a $54.8 million increase to schools as part of a county budget that already would mean increasing property taxes for Fairfax homeowners by an average of $304 next year. Garza in asking for a total increase of $125 million argued that the supervisors proposed increase would barely cover half of what school officials estimate they need to boost employee salaries by an average of 3.3 percent next year. Garza has said the school system a source of pride for the county and a leading draw for its growth is not offering pay that is on par with surrounding districts in the Washington region, leading dozens of teachers to leave the county for higher-paying jobs in recent years. There were 200 teaching vacancies countywide at the start of the school year, Garza said. [Teachers can make $15,000 more by moving to the district next door] That has never happened before in the history of Fairfax County Public Schools, she said, warning Fairfax supervisors that the quality of the countys school system of nearly 187,000 students is steadily wearing down after budget cuts in recent years. She said that cuts to the regions largest school system have, among other things, led to elementary school classrooms with as many as 35 students. Several school board members at the meeting urged county supervisors to raise the property-tax rate even higher. County Executive Edward L. Long Jr. recently recommended a 4-cent increase in the property-tax rate in a budget he presented to county supervisors. We are underfunding education in this county, even if we fund what we requested this year, argued school board member Ryan McElveen (At Large.) Several county supervisors said an expected increase this year in state education funding to local jurisdictions could provide the county with as much as $13 million more than expected. Local officials expect about $405 million in state funding for education along with $42 million in federal funds. Its really important that the state step up and start funding K-12 at the levels that they should, Long said. As in other years, the meeting grew hostile, particularly when Garza and other officials highlighted about $500 million in cuts since 2008, including about 2,175 jobs that were slashed. Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) criticized school officials for engaging in political theater by making it seem as if the school systems budget has been steadily whittled down instead of growing by about $500 million in recent years. I get letters from constituents that are saying, How is it that we can cut the schools budget every year for nine years? Herrity said, calling the school systems depiction of its problems deceptive. How do you cut every year for nine years and go from a $2.1 billion budget to a $2.6 billon budget? he said. Its just frustrating. Garza countered that the school budgets growth has not kept pace with increasing costs. Its frustrating on our side, too, she said. Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, center, shakes hands with Del. Kathleen J. Murphy, D-Fairfax, right, after signing her bill relating to removal of guns owned by persons who have a restraining order against them, one of several gun-related bills he signed during a news conference at the Executive Mansion in Richmond, Va. Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Applauding behind him are, left to right, Sen. Janet D. Howell, D-Fairfax, Sen. L. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe, Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran, ( begind McAuliffe) and Del. L. Scott Lingamfelter, R-Prince William. (Bob Brown/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT (Bob Brown/AP) Declaring the start of a new era, Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) on Friday signed into law a package of gun bills, the product of a deal struck with Republican lawmakers that cost him the support of some of his strongest allies in the fight for gun control. Opponents of the compromise, including Andy Parker, the outspoken father of a television journalist who was killed in southwest Virginia, noted that McAuliffes victory lap came on the six-month anniversary of his daughters shooting. But underscoring what McAuliffe said was the historic nature of the deal, the governor signed the bills in the Executive Mansion, the first time he used the home for this purpose, and hinted at his legacy. Im so proud to announce that a new era begins today here in the commonwealth of Virginia, he said. These new laws will serve as permanent protections for our citizens. They will remain in place when I leave office. The deal would expand the rights of concealed-carry handgun permit holders in Virginia and around the country in exchange for tighter restrictions on domestic abusers and voluntary background checks at gun shows. The reciprocity law reverses a bold step Attorney General Mark R. Herring (D) took in December to revoke the rights of hundreds of thousands of permit holders from 25 states with standards more relaxed than Virginias. Now, the state will recognize the right to carry concealed arms for visitors from nearly all states that issue concealed handgun permits, and Virginians with a permit should be able to carry weapons in those states. [Va. will again recognize concealed-carry permits from other states] Herring has panned that part of McAuliffes deal, and he did not attend the bill signing, though a spokesman for the governor said he was invited. Parker, once an ally of McAuliffe, said he was baffled that the governor, a self-professed dealmaker, would accept laws that many gun-control advocates call lopsided. I am beyond disappointed that Governor McAuliffe, whom I consider a friend, has abandoned his standing as a gun-safety champion to strike a political deal with the gun lobby and that he is signing this legislation on the six-month anniversary of my daughter Alisons death, he said in a statement. [Two journalists die in gun attack] The National Rifle Association, which had two lobbyists in Richmond to help structure the deal, said the new laws in Virginia could bolster its campaign for reciprocity at the federal level. Hopefully, this effort will encourage Congress to pass national right to carry reciprocity legislation as soon as possible, Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement. Brian Moran, McAuliffes secretary of public safety, and Sen. Bryce E.Reeves (R-Spotsylvania) negotiated the deal in secret at the start of the legislative session. Reeves, who has been mentioned as a candidate for statewide office, quoted the late British prime minister Margaret Thatcher: First you win the argument, then you win the vote. Charles Trew of Arlington, an espionage buff, believes that this is where the FBI dug a tunnel to listen in on Soviet diplomats. The Russian Embassy is directly behind the house. (John Kelly/THE WASHINGTON POST) In the 1970s, John Galuardi served as the regional administrator for the GSA in Washington. One of his tasks was to figure out what to do with the land on which the empty Mount Alto Veterans Hospital stood. [Scaling Glover Parks Mount Alto: From VA hospital to Russian Embassy] This encompassed 12 1 / 2 acres between Wisconsin Avenue and Tunlaw Street NW in Glover Park. John was thinking about placing some government buildings there when the State Department announced that it would be the home of the new Soviet Embassy. The property was totally abandoned, and we had just let it deteriorate, John wrote in an email to Answer Man. Why do maintenance when the buildings were just going to be torn down? As it turned out, John had to do a little maintenance after all. One day, some FBI agents came to his office. They asked John to send workers to Mount Alto to cut down three trees on the edge of the property. Russian architects were coming the following week, and the FBI wanted the trees gone. Also: It should not look as if any trees had been cut down. I said, how do you expect me to cover up the sawdust from the chain saws? wrote John. John had a crew cut down the trees and clear the whole site around the buildings. The crew also made it look as if grass seed was going to be planted, covering the area where the trees had once stood. Wrote John: Apparently it worked. Why the sudden FBI interest in arboriculture? Answer Man can only assume that the G-men wanted an unobstructed view of the property, the better to monitor comings and goings. [Diplomatic impunity: Squashing the bugs infesting our embassy in Russia] Last week in this space, we recounted the tortured history of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and how those sneaky Communists crammed it full of listening devices as it was being built. Surely the Americans would never do something so sneaky? Ahem. In January 1980, Soviet officials announced that eavesdropping devices had been found in a new apartment building for embassy workers on the Mount Alto site. An article in Izvestia said the bugs allowed the FBI and CIA to hear every sound, from a word spoken in the drawing room to a whisper in the bedroom or a splash of water in the toilet. That, however, was not the most audacious effort to listen in. When FBI turncoat Robert P. Hanssen was arrested in 2001, Count 2 of his indictment charged that he had revealed to his Soviet handlers the existence of an FBI technical penetration of a particular Soviet establishment, as well as the specific location of the penetration device, and the methods and technology utilized. The penetration device, sources later revealed, was a tunnel under the Soviet Embassy built by the FBI and operated by the National Security Agency. It probably cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Although they of course already knew about it, Russian officials went through the show of summoning an American diplomat in Moscow to explain the tunnel. If these reports prove true, this will be a flagrant case of the violation of generally recognized standards of international law concerning foreign diplomatic missions, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. As it happened, a U.S. official said the FBI-NSA tunnel might have been inspired by the Soviets themselves. In 1978, a tunnel filled with listening devices was discovered beneath the old U.S. Embassy in Moscow. Residents of Glover Park were abuzz. If the tunnel ended under the Soviet Embassy, where did it begin? Some thought the entrance was in a house on Wisconsin Avenue facing the embassys entrance. But that would require tunneling under the busy road. (More likely, that was a place from which the FBI could watch the embassy.) Others thought it was a house on Fulton Street, at the end of Bellevue Terrace, about as close as its possible to get to the Russian compound. Charles Trew, an espionage buff who studied Russian in college, has been obsessed with the house for about 10 years. He lives in Arlington and has visited the spot frequently. No one has ever been home, even on Halloween. Last week, Answer Man visited the house with Charles, who was surprised to see that it has been gutted. A porta-potty sits in the driveway. The roof is gone. One garage door has fallen off its tracks. Charles pointed out the oddly raised wooden floor in the garage at the back of the house, overlooking the embassy. He noted that the garage windows are black glass. Charles said some naysayers believe that since the house sits on a bluff, its too high for a tunnel. He said a tunneling expert told him that when it comes to tunnels, its easier to dig down than across. Im convinced, he said. There simply are no other realistic candidates. In a 2013 presentation at the Spy Museum, David Wise, author of a book on Hanssen, said that wherever the tunnel entrance is, it has been sealed with cement. Calls to the company remodeling the house were not returned. Answer Man contacted the FBI to see whether it wanted to use his column to finally announce exactly which house harbored the ill-fated tunnel. The reply: We have no comment. Twitter: @johnkelly Unlike the FBI and the KGB, Answer Man does not have listening devices at his disposal. If you have a question about the Washington area, you must send it to answerman@ washpost.com. For previous columns, visit washingtonpost.com/johnkelly. McCallie senior Edward Ellis achieved a longtime goal this week when he was named first chair trumpet for the Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association All-State Jazz Band. Edward had previously been selected for the All-East and All-State Bands in January before auditioning for the All-State Jazz Band. Edward has been either the First or Second trumpet in the All-East Jazz band for the last four years, but this is the first time he has made the All-State ensemble, said McCallie band instructor Brent Alverson. Two years ago he was selected as an All-State trumpet player in the concert band, and this year he made it in the concert band/orchestra again as an All-State player, but his passion has always been in the jazz idiom. This is a fantastic accomplishment for this young man. Edward will join sophomore Allen Liu in the All-State performances in Nashville. Allen was selected to be a member of the All-State Orchestra and will be auditioning for his chair placement later in the spring. The All-State performances be held April 13-16 in Nashville in the Tennessee Ballroom at the Opryland Hotel. Edward and the All-State jazz band will perform Friday night, April 15, at 9 p.m. in the Tennessee Ballroom at the Opryland Hotel. In all, five McCallie musicians were selected to participate in either All-East or All-State bands and orchestra. Edward and Allen were both selected for All-East and All-State in band and orchestra, respectively. In addition, senior Chris Zhu and junior Zhelin Zeng earned spots on the All-East 11-12 Red Band, and sophomore Rafael Durand was named to the All-East 9-10 Red Band. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Prince William County Fairgrounds in Manassas, Va. (Cliff Owen/AP) Scott Lynn, a department store clerk in Northern Virginia, is voting for Donald Trump because he expects the billionaire to shake up Washington. Hes crazy, and I think thats what we need right now, said Lynn, 45, as he shopped at a Walmart in Haymarket. Susan Lander, 68, a retired government worker, is drawn to Trump because of his outrageousness. But Lander said she is voting in the Republican primary for Marco Rubio, convinced that the senator from Florida has the best shot to defeat Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton in the general election. Hes a brilliant man, Lander said of Trump. He just doesnt know when to keep his mouth shut. As polls show Trump leading in nearly every state participating in the whirlwind of Super Tuesday Republican primaries and caucuses, Rubio is pouring resources into Virginia, a marquee battleground where he hopes to emerge as a measured alternative to the combative mogul. Count the swipes Republican presidential candidates Marco Rubio and Donald Trump took at each other the day after they butted heads at the Houston CNN/Telemundo debate. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post) Besides airing more than $500,000 in television ads in Virginia this weekend, Rubio plans four stops in the state on Sunday, including Leesburg, the type of affluent Washington suburb he needs to dent Trumps momentum. Even as polls signal Trumps strength in Virginia, recent interviews with more than two dozen voters in Prince William County suggest that some in the electorate are dissatisfied with their choices and that Rubio may have an opportunity to expand support. Thirty miles southwest of Washington, Prince William is the states second-largest county, with an ever-burgeoning population of affluent professionals, government bureaucrats, military officers, evangelical conservatives, immigrants and blue-collar workers. Once reliably conservative, the county has become a bellwether for a state that has turned more moderate, supporting President Obama twice after having backed President George W. Bush. If Trump carries Prince William, it shows he has appeal across a range of Republicans, said Robert Holsworth, a retired Virginia Commonwealth University political science professor. Its up to the other candidates to show that they can appeal across the Republican electorate. In the interviews, voters criticized the candidates personalities, not their policies. Some said Trumps rhetoric is offensive. Some said the demeanor of Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas made them uncomfortable. Others complained that Rubio is too inexperienced. A number of voters said they like Ohio Gov. John Kasich and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson but would not waste their vote on candidates with little chance of winning. Republican votor Rich Bowen, 69, of Manassas, says hes voting for Donald Trump. (Pete Marovich/For The Washington Post) Walking to her car at a mall in Bristow, Natalie Cook, 48, said she despairs when listening to her daughter and husband praise Trump, warning them that he would turn the presidency into a reality show and paint the White House gold. Cruz, she said, seems like plastic and she doesnt know enough about Rubio to commit. As for Carson, a candidate who exudes a mild temperament, she said, I could see him being a yoga teacher. They all just seem so untrustworthy, like they came out of a vending machine, Cook said. I dont know what to do. Jim Hagey, 72, a retired computer systems analyst, was that rare voter who was certain of his choice, saying he would vote for Cruz because hes a constitutional conservative and I consider myself the same. It hasnt been a question who I would support, Hagey said after shopping for groceries at a Harris Teeter in Bristow. Ive been with him since the beginning. Across the parking lot, Tom Joyce, 53, a maintenance worker for the Prince William school system, said he would prefer if Trump would tone down some of his ideas a lot of what he says is what Americans say in private but wont say in public. Joyce said he has supported Trump from the moment the real estate tycoon announced his candidacy and criticized the Affordable Care Act. Hes not a career politician, Joyce said. I know hes a nut, but I also know we can get rid of him after four years if its not working out. Not all voters were willing to excuse the billionaire. Retired veteran Charlie Daniels, 63, who was eating steak and mashed potatoes at a Manassas tavern, said Trumps appearances on the campaign trail strike him as too boisterous. He dishes out a lot, but can he back up what hes saying? he asked. A few seats over, Rich Bowen, 69, a retiree, agreed that Trump needs to go to finishing school and be a little more polished. Choosing a candidate is difficult, he said, because Rubio is too young and Cruz has too many rough edges. Id vote for Ben Carson, but he doesnt have the killer instinct, Bowen said, adding that he also likes Kasich but he cant get a majority together. Shopping at Walmart in Haymarket, Hillary Malsch, 44, an art teacher, also expressed frustration, saying Trumps heated rhetoric makes her uneasy, as does Cruzs history of squabbling with Senate colleagues. That leaves Rubio, Malsch said, although she added: I wish he had more experience. There arent a lot of good options out there. Bill Card, chairman of the Prince William County Republican Committee, said he has detected a measure of enthusiasm among voters for Trump, but he said hes unsure whether they will turn out to vote Tuesday. Theres not as many people who are as personally invested in politics now, Card said. Its hard to motivate people. For Trump, Prince William is an opportunity to demonstrate that he can appeal to a broad spectrum of voters, as he has shown in Nevada, South Carolina and New Hampshire. Virginia is more important for Rubio and Cruz, said Quentin Kidd, a political science professor at Christopher Newport University who said recent polling suggests that Rubio has the most potential. In one survey, more than 40 percent of voters said they approved of Rubio even though only 22 percent said he would get their vote, Kidd said. Ultimately, somebody has to take those voters away from Donald Trump or hes not stoppable, Kidd said. If Rubio doesnt do well in Virginia, I dont know how he can make the case that hes the moderate alternative. Mirroring the electorate, Prince Williams political establishment also is fragmented. Ken Cuccinelli II, the states former attorney general, has been advocating on behalf of Cruz. Rep. Barbara J. Comstock (R-Fairfax), whose district includes Prince William, endorsed Rubio. And Corey A. Stewart, chairman of the Board of County Supervisors, is Trumps state chair. Stewart, who drew national attention nearly a decade ago for his opposition to illegal immigrants, said he completely agrees with Trump on most issues, with the exception of his proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States. I like his tone and his language, Stewart said. Cruz is a dud. Rubio has some charisma, but its the old style Kennedyesque. Hes a smooth talker, but people are done with that. They want a blunt talker. Cuccinelli said he has been calling voters on Cruzs behalf and finds that Republicans have narrowed their choice to Trump or Cruz. I have never encountered someone deciding between Trump and one of the candidates other than Cruz, Cuccinelli said. He said Cruz is the only candidate who can appeal to Trumps supporters, who he worries could abandon the party if the billionaire is not the Republican nominee. In the back of the Nokesville Market, Ed Chapman sipped coffee and longed for an earlier era. Spread out before him were drawing pencils, a sketch book and a photograph of Ronald Reagan that he was using as a portrait model. Reagan was his kind of leader, he said. Strong. Articulate. Mature. The current crop of Republicans pales by comparison especially Trump, whose plan to build a wall along the Mexican border is incredibly stupid, he said. Chapmans choice is Carson, despite his faltering candidacy. I like his life story, Chapman said, and I like what he says. In Manassas, as she ate lunch with friends at a mall, Betty Phillips, 75, said she finds herself enjoying Trumps antics, even as shes put off by his temperament. Rubio is preferable to Cruz, she said, if only because she doesnt like the Texans appearance. Isnt it awful? she asked, laughing. Ive had a hard time. Weve not got very much to pick from. Bobby Daniels Jr., foreground, and his stepmother, Cynthia Daniels, discuss the details of that fateful day when his father was fatally shot in Douglasville, Ga. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post) Bobby Daniels was the neighborhood Mr. Fix-It, the guy you called in search of a hard-to-find tool, or when you werent quite sure how to patch the doorknob-sized hole in your drywall. Some summer days, neighbors say, youd glance out the window to see Daniels on his riding mower, cutting that grass you had let grow a bit too long. But most often Daniels could be found under the awning of his rancher, methodically working on Mr. Brown, his cream and brown, early-90s-model GMC truck. And that is where he was, four days before Christmas, when he got the call: His son Bias had gotten violent at a mobile-home park nearby. The teen was probably high on drugs, had a gun and had taken a security guard hostage. Daniels, a CNN security guard retired from the military, dropped his tools, jumped in his car and beat police to the scene. The city of Lithia Springs is about 20 minutes west of Atlanta. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post) Minutes later, the popcorn crackle of gunfire pierced the air, and Daniels, 48, lay on the ground, mortally wounded by a local sheriffs deputy. As was often the case in the 990 fatal police shootings in 2015, what exactly happened in those crucial moments before the trigger pull is in dispute. There is agreement that when police responded to the scene and began to detain Bias Daniels, his gun was no longer in his hand and had been set down on the hood of the car. Then, he broke free and made a move for the weapon, and the stories diverge on what happened next. Family members say Bobby leapt from his car and tried to knock the firearm away from his son. Police say the father and son both grabbed the gun, struggling over it, with the muzzle ending up pointed at a sheriffs deputy who opened fire. Bobby Danielss dying act, his family insists, was an attempt by an innocent man to keep his 19-year-old son from doing something that could have gotten him, or the officers, killed. They want the officer charged with murder or manslaughter and the video of the shooting released. Their calls for accountability come amid a national push toward policing reform; however, historical and legal precedents make it almost certain that the officer who killed Bobby Daniels will not face criminal charges. Because the deputy saw a gun. Danielss grave is seen at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Ga. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post) Family members say Daniels was trying to defuse a situation involving his son, Bias Daniels. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post) Officers are rarely charged with crimes for on-duty shootings. While no one keeps accurate historical data on police shootings, a Washington Post analysis of what has probably been more than 10,000 on-duty police shootings since 2005 identified just about 70 shootings for which an officer was charged and only two of those shootings were cases in which a gun was recovered at the scene. Last year, the person who was killed had a gun in 569 fatal police shootings. [990 people were fatally shot by police in 2015] In 1989, the Supreme Court established the objective reasonableness standard for assessing a civilian claim that an officer used excessive force in making an arrest. In its decision in Graham v. Connor, the court established a precedent that, for example, an officer who shoots and kills someone did so because he or she perceived a lethal threat that another objectively reasonable officer would also perceive, that shooting is justified. The court also held that the judgment must embody an allowance for the fact that police officers are often forced to make split-second decisions about the amount of force necessary in a particular situation. Policing experts, chiefs and training officers note that in a nation of more than 300 million guns, there is no threat more lethal to law enforcement than the presence of a firearm in the hand of a potential suspect. Our use-of-force training is so wrapped in one issue: the fear of the gun, said Tom Manger, chief of police in Marylands Montgomery County, during a major gathering last month of policing experts in Washington, D.C. That permeates everything we do in terms of training and use of force. Attorneys for Danielss family say he was still begging his son to put down the weapon when officers arrived. Eventually it was set on the hood of a car. But the boy made another desperate attempt to grab the weapon. His father jumped up as well. Then gunshots. Rosa Brown, who has lived in the mobile-home park for six years, says she was sitting on her bed when she heard the screaming coming from outside her window. Put down the gun, put down the gun, was being yelled at a young man standing directly in front of her home. Then she heard the loud boom. I ran straight to the space between my washer and dryer, Brown said, waving her arms in reenactment. This is a trailer those bullets could have come right through the wall and killed me. Bias took off running. The deputies chased him and caught up with him just around the block. Back outside Browns trailer, the boys father lay sprawled on the cold gravel, blood pouring from the hole in his chest. Rosa Brown lives in Arbor Village mobile-home park and could hear screams from her window. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post) That night, with reporters beginning to gather, Sheriff Phil Miller stepped to the microphones and cameras. The leader of a department of 237 sworn deputies, Miller made national headlines in late 2013 when he declared he was banning A&E from filming in his county after the cable network suspended embattled Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson. Last September, Miller hit the news again after purchasing In God We Trust bumper stickers for department vehicles. He has handled four or five fatal police shootings since first being elected to office in 2001, in addition to several deaths in custody at a local prison supervised by his deputies. His deputies that evening had answered the 178th service call in six months at the Arbor Village mobile-home park. A security guard told them he had been held hostage for 45 minutes by a young man with braided hair and a gun. As they spoke, Garrett Daniels, Bobbys nephew and Biass cousin, found the deputies and directed them to the ongoing incident. When they arrived, the deputies found Bias, Bobby and the gun. I think that he could have been trying to help the situation instead of hurting it, but when he pointed the gun at the officers, he was shot, Miller told reporters that night, later calling the slain man a suspect. The account infuriated Danielss wife, Cynthia, and his four other children. Daniels had extensive training with firearms, which he also collected. Among his closest friends, his family insists, were police officers. There is no way, say the Danielses, who describe themselves as yes maam and no maam type people, that Bobby grabbed the gun and pointed it at an officer. Cynthia, left, and her daughter, Shequila Hughley, recount mixed emotions. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post) How do you defeat police-brutality cases? Its to get the general public not to care, said Chris Stewart, an Atlanta civil rights lawyer working with the Daniels family. The quickest way to do that is to have the person depicted as a thug, high on drugs or endangering a police officer. The problem is that their usual narrative doesnt fit Bobby Daniels, he said. Why, the family wants to know, was a man desperately trying to save his son described by the local sheriff to the media as a suspect? Thats my fault, Miller said in an interview with The Post. Everybody wants us to get this information out to them as soon as possible. But the quicker you give out information, the less the likelihood of it being accurate. More than two months after the shooting, another crucial question rests at the heart of the conflicting accounts: Did the Douglas County sheriffs deputies know who Bobby Daniels was when they opened fire? Miller says Deputy James Barber, a military veteran who fired the fatal shot, had no way of knowing whether Daniels was there to help the officers or potentially hurt them. Garrett Daniels said he told both deputies before he sent them to the scene that the father was there, trying to defuse the situation. Finding their suspects gun on the car, Deputy Josh Skinner began to handcuff Bias Daniels, who then struggled, Miller said. Skinner tried to use a stun gun; then Bias broke free and made a dash for the weapon. That is when, according to Millers account, Bobby Daniels leapt from his seat in his car and began struggling with his son over the gun. At some point in the struggle, Miller said, the weapon ended up pointed at Barber, who opened fire. He is ordered to stay in the car and he refuses to, Miller said. There were four deputies there, and not one of them knew who Bobby Daniels was. Family photographs are seen in the home of Bobby Daniels and his wife, Cynthia, in Lithia Springs, Ga. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post) Local reaction to the shooting, just days before Christmas in a city where there are more church steeples than storefronts, was muted. There was coverage on some of the television channels and the big newspaper in Atlanta, but soon the storyseemed to die down. There were no protests in Douglas County, a racially diverse stretch of Georgia that rests along Interstate 20, a dividing line between the black communities surrounding Atlanta and the white rural communities to the north. Local black residents shy away from the sweeping indictments made by minorities in many of the cities where there have been controversial police shootings. Im really proud of the progress weve made, said Kimberly Alexander, who after founding the local NAACP chapter was elected to represent Douglas County in the statehouse. She praised Millers willingness to be forthcoming about the details of the shooting and said she hopes the incident will buoy discussions about getting body cameras for local deputies. Of course, Im going to be concerned about a situation in which a man arrives on the scene to comfort his son and ends up being shot. Its disheartening and disturbing, Alexander said. But we also have to allow for the process to play out. It just doesnt make sense, said Bobby Daniels Jr., the slain mans oldest son, who traveled back to Georgia from his home in Indianapolis to help his family sort out what had happened. The story, from the night of it, has been ever-changing. It just doesnt make sense, Bobby Daniels Jr. says of his fathers fatal shooting. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post) Investigators with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which is handling the probe, say there is some video of the shooting, captured by a surveillance camera installed at the mobile-home park. Danielss children are eager to see the footage, which they hope will prove once and for all that their father died in an act of selfless heroism. On Friday, Danielss family held a news conference again urging authorities to release the video, but state investigators have yet to say when, if ever, the video will be released. Miller, the sheriff, declined to comment on whether he has seen the video evidence. But he predicts his deputy will be cleared of wrongdoing by local prosecutors. Its a very tragic story one where all of the wrong things came together at the wrong time and, as a result, a man lost his life, Miller said. It breaks our heart. Daniels moved his family to a neighborhood just outside Douglasville about four years ago, in pursuit of a quieter life nestled just far enough from the city to have a little green space but not too deep into the Georgia plains. I miss my boo, Cynthia Daniels said, as the family gathered at their home on what would have been Daniels 49th birthday. The folded American flag handed to her at the funeral rests in a living-room cabinet. I just want him to come back through that door. They got married in 1996, pulling up to the courthouse to sign the marriage license in Danielss favorite project, Mr. Brown. Now the old truck sits in the driveway where Daniels left it two months ago, its paint chipped and fading. Cedric Ford, 38, went on a shooting rampage in Hesston, Kan., killing three people and injuring 14 on Feb. 25. Here's what we know about him. (Monica Akhtar/The Washington Post) Cedric Ford, 38, went on a shooting rampage in Hesston, Kan., killing three people and injuring 14 on Feb. 25. Here's what we know about him. (Monica Akhtar/The Washington Post) WASHINGTON Gunman kills 4 in family and himself A gunman killed four people in a home in rural Washington state and fatally shot himself after an hours-long standoff, authorities said Friday. The gunman had called 911 to say he shot and killed his family, Mason County sheriffs Chief Deputy Ryan Spurling said. A girl who survived was taken to the hospital for an evaluation. Authorities negotiated with the man for about three hours before a SWAT team entered the home near Belfair, about 25 miles southwest of Seattle, and found the people dead. The gunman shot himself, Spurling said. Associated Press 1 of 5 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad See the scene after a gunman opened fire at a Kansas lawn mower factory View Photos A gunman killed three people and injured over a dozen others in Hesston, Kan., on Thursday. Caption A gunman killed three people and injured over a dozen others in Hesston, Kan., on Thursday. Feb. 25, 2016 Police guard the front door of Excel Industries in Hesston, Kan., where a gunman finished a rampage that killed three people and injured 14. Fernando Salazar/Wichita Eagle via AP Wait 1 second to continue. CALIFORNIA Homeless camp ordered cleared Homeless people have until the end of Friday to vacate a rambling tent city along a busy San Francisco street declared a health hazard by city officials this week. Sam Dodge, the mayors point person on homelessness, said Friday that about 40 tents remained, down from a high of 140 this winter. The tents have lined both sides of a street under a freeway overpass for months, drawing complaints from residents and businesses. San Francisco has long had a problem housing its homeless, but tensions have been exacerbated by a shortage of affordable housing amid a tech-based jobs boom. This month, a founder of a technology start-up posted a letter to San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee complaining that he shouldnt have to see the pain, struggle, and despair of homeless people on his way to work. The letter, which went viral, was soundly mocked on social media for its whiny lack of sensitivity, but the writer, Justin Keller, is not alone in demanding that the city do more about homelessness. People who live near the tent city, for example, testified at a city hall hearing Thursday that they were afraid to step outside their homes because of aggressive behavior by homeless people. The tents are along Division Street, a multi-lane thoroughfare that divides two rapidly developing neighborhoods, the South of Market and Mission districts. Associated Press Shattered glass and bullet holes are seen at the front door of Excel Industries in Hesston, Kan. (Orlin Wagner/AP) MICHIGAN Ex-lawmakers in sex scandal are charged Two former Michigan lawmakers were charged Friday with felony misconduct in office, the state attorney general announced, after their extramarital affair snowballed into a political scandal when one of them concocted a bizarre cover story about being caught with a male prostitute. Attorney General Bill Schuette said former Republican state Rep. Todd Courser faces three counts of misconduct in office, felonies that are each punishable by up to five years in prison. Schuette said Courser also was charged with perjury for lying to lawmakers under oath, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Former Republican Rep. Cindy Gamrat faces two charges of misconduct. The charges were filed Friday in Ingham County District Court. Courser resigned Sept. 11, hours before he was likely to be kicked out of the GOP-led House. Gamrat was formally expelled from the House the same day. Associated Press Teen sentenced in rape and killing of teacher: A teenager who raped and killed his high school math teacher was sentenced Friday to life in prison with eligibility for parole in 40 years. The 2013 slaying of Danvers High School teacher Colleen Ritzer by Philip Chism was brutal and senseless, Salem Superior Court Judge David Lowy said as he pronounced the sentence. Chism was 14 when he followed the 24-year-old Ritzer into a school bathroom, strangled her, stabbed her at least 16 times and raped her. His lawyers argued that he was mentally ill, a contention rejected by the jury. He received 40-year concurrent sentences on rape and robbery charges. Associated Press Anger over high levels of lead in the water in Flint has led the mayor to declare a state of emergency. Anger over the levels of lead in the water in Flint has led the mayor to declare a state of emergency. Anger over the levels of lead in the water in Flint has led the mayor to declare a state of emergency. Frustrated and desperate, Genesee County health official Jim Henry did not mince words as he demanded information from the city of Flint on a 2014 outbreak of Legionnaires disease that had sickened 45 people in Michigan, killing five of them. In his March 2015 email, Henry noted his previous efforts, which included a Freedom of Information Act request, and warned that another outbreak could be coming as the warm summer months approached. The increase of the illnesses closely corresponds with the time frame of the switch to Flint River water, he wrote. The majority of the cases reside or have an association with the city. . . . This is rather glaring information and it needs to be looked into now. Yet a year later, despite a second outbreak and a total of 87 illnesses and nine deaths, no government agency has tested the water supply for the legionella bacteria that cause the infection, which flourished as the beleaguered citys tap water was being poisoned by lead. [Hope and clean water remain elusive in Flint] Without a scientifically proven match between the bacteria in the water and strains cultured from victims, it is impossible to determine whether the tainted water supply caused the deadly infections, officials have told the public. That could complicate a special counsels efforts to assess criminal culpability for the fatalities and at least one lawsuit seeking damages as well as efforts to protect the public from future outbreaks, experts said. The county health department, two state agencies, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have offered a variety of reasons why Flints water has not been tested, at times pointing fingers at one another. A state health department spokeswoman noted that chlorine is being added to the water to kill bacteria, including legionella. But three experts in the control of Legionnaires disease expressed varying degrees of surprise and dismay that testing still has not been done. It seems likely that the public water supply contributed to the outbreak of Legionnaires disease in Flint, said Ruth L. Berkelman, a professor of epidemiology at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. The public water supply was at risk for multiplication of legionella, and the timing of the outbreak is unlikely to be coincidental. Brian Shelton, owner of PathCon Industries, a Georgia-based company that specializes in preventing Legionnaires disease, said sites throughout the city including private homes should be tested for the bacteria. This is a preventable disease. Its a disease thats transmitted from the environment. Its not transmitted person to person. So the only way to prevent transmission is to know whats going on in the environment, Shelton said. Take a look at the key moments that led up to Flint, a city of 90,000, getting stuck with contaminated water. (Claritza Jimenez/The Washington Post) Flints water was contaminated with toxic lead soon after the city switched to the Flint River as its source in April 2014 and a Michigan state department failed to ensure that anti-corrosive chemicals were added to the supply. That allowed lead to leach from aging pipes into the tap water of the citys 95,000 people, many of whom are still living on bottled water. The magnitude of the crisis has overshadowed the outbreaks of Legionnaires disease, which have resulted in the only deaths so far. The same corrosion encouraged the growth of legionella bacteria, which flourish in warm water that contains flakes of iron a nutrient for the bacteria from aging pipes. The bacteria pose no threat in drinking water. But when water vapor is inhaled or contaminated water is used during invasive medical procedures, bacteria enter the lungs, where they can cause a virulent pneumonia. Cooling towers, showers, fountains and hot tubs are common sources for the spread of bacteria to people. [Flint water crisis victims face big obstacles in court] Genesee Countys 87 cases came in two waves that crested as the weather warmed between June 2014 and November 2015. As they interviewed the victims, public health authorities quickly realized that more than half had been treated on an inpatient or outpatient basis at one of the citys two main hospitals. Some people also received Flint water at home, complicating efforts to determine where they might have been exposed. The bacterias incubation period is about 10 days. Tim Monahan, 58, a carpenter who has lived in Flint for a decade, said he began to feel sick toward the end of June 2014, about two months after the city switched to the Flint River for its water. At the Hurley Medical Center emergency room, his fever registered 104.6 degrees on July 5. He also was having problems with his lungs. Doctors were initially puzzled by his symptoms. But soon enough, they gave him a surprising diagnosis: Legionnaires disease. He lost 20 pounds but recovered after nine days in the hospital. Like others, he suspects that he was sickened by the contaminated water supply and has been frustrated by officials explanation of why it is difficult to link the water with his illness. You cant prove it. Thats what they keep saying, Monahan said. You cant prove it because you didnt do your jobs, people. One group of victims, which includes the family of a woman who died, has sued another hospital, McLaren Flint, over the Legionnaires cases, but Monahan is not part of any lawsuit. He thinks he contracted the infection before he went to Hurley and sees no point in suing the government. The truth is, I survived, he said. There are nine people who didnt. [Flint water crisis reveals government failures at every level] McLaren Flint has since disinfected its water system. Hospital spokeswoman Laurie Prochazka declined to answer questions but said in a statement that we want to assure our patients, visitors, employees, volunteers and community that the hospitals water is safe. Special counsel Todd Flood, appointed in January by Gov. Rick Snyder (R), told reporters last month that he would consider charges including involuntary manslaughter as he conducts his investigation. But two criminal law experts said that assigning responsibility for a death would be impossible without the ability to prove the water caused it. If the prosecutor cannot prove causation beyond a reasonable doubt, charges are not appropriate, said David Uhlmann, a law professor at the University of Michigan and former chief of the Justice Departments environmental crimes section. Floods spokeswoman, Andrea Bitely, said in an email that she could not comment during the probe, but every lead will be investigated. Janet Stout, president of the Special Pathogens Laboratory, a consulting firm in Pittsburgh, thinks it might still be possible to connect legionella bacteria taken from victims to legionella in the water. A state lab cultured bacteria from eight victims too few to show that city water was generally responsible for the outbreaks. But each one could be matched with bacteria found in a home, even after nearly two years, Stout said. Once it takes hold in a water heater, Stout said, legionella can remain indefinitely unless the system is disinfected. For now, it appears that the only water testing was conducted by Stout at McLaren Flint, and by the Virginia Tech University laboratory that revealed high levels of lead in the water last year. The team found no alarming levels of legionella in private homes last August, said Amy Pruden, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the university. But when they took more samples from large buildings, including two hospitals, in October, the researchers found as much as 1,000 times the normal level of legionella bacteria, she said. Pruden agreed that its very difficult for someone sickened by legionella to prove definitively where and when he acquired the disease. Ideally, the CDC should have been called in to do culturing of the patients and the water; then you match the DNA and have a possible source, she said. That didnt happen, she added, which is unfortunate. Alice Crites contributed to this report. A Raleigh, N.C., firm is asking Chattanooga Federal Court to confirm an award of $873,223.20 against the Soddy Daisy-based Global Green Lighting. Sensus officials said arbitration was ordered through the American Arbitration Association and arbiter Sidney Eagles came up with the amount owed by the local firm. Global Green Lighting, headed by Chattanoogan Don Lepard, has been in the news for winning a major contract with the city of Chattanooga for an advanced streetlight system. The contract was canceled by the incoming Berke administration. Mr. Lepard afterward filed a "whistleblower" lawsuit against EPB, but it was dismissed by Circuit Court Judge Jeff Hollingsworth. The new filing in Federal Court says all parties agree on the amount owed. It was noted that Sensus designs advanced metering technologies for various utilities, while Global Green Lighting focuses on streetlight fixtures and demonstrating the products. The two firms agreed to cooperate, and the Lepard firm made pitches to the University of Alabama, the cities of Chattanooga, Cookeville and Jackson and elsewhere. A settlement agreement says Sensus shipped 9,900 SmartPoint units to Global Green Lighting, but has only been paid for 2,940. It is also owed for the use of certain software, it was stated. If Donald Trump speaks for disenfranchised whites, Hillary Clinton speaks mostly to blacks who feel the same. But the differences in how people, left and right, perceive the worlds injustices and the various approaches todays presidential front-runners are bringing to Super Tuesday suggest that we dwell in worlds apart. Black and white, as ever before. On the Democratic side, leading up to the South Carolina primary, Clinton kept a breathlessly demanding schedule in the state, shuttling between cocktail parties and black churches, but spending most of her time trying to remind African Americans that shes always been there for them. (Unspoken: Even though they ditched her for Barack Obama.) Thursday, she had at least four events in different towns and cities, including Florence, where she met mostly black voters in an African American Methodist church. For backup, she brought along New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, who, it turns out, is no ones backup. Hes a front-loaded, earth-moving machine of passion and compassion. As Clintons introducer, he provided all the bona fides she would ever need in any black community. Across the South, candidates are battling for the young black vote with the hope of carrying this important Democratic constituency. Growing support for Bernie Sanders has left many older voters, who favor Hillary Clinton, questioning the political judgement of the younger generation. (Dalton Bennett/The Washington Post) Booker shook the rafters and mesmerized the pews with personal stories of his boyhood. Dont you ever forget where you came from, his mother always said. His soulful soliloquy ebbed and flowed in Faulknerian sentences barely interrupted by commas. He told of trying to wash blood from his hands after a failed attempt to save a young shooting victim. Of another victims mother comforting him as they hugged and he wept, and how she kept rubbing his back and repeating two words, and how those two words got him from the housing projects of Newark to the U.S. Senate. Stay faithful, stay faithful, stay faithful. Clinton has stayed faithful to them, he said. She was here when she wasnt running for president. It is little wonder that Bernie Sanders, who spent relatively scant time in South Carolina, decided his energies were best expended elsewhere. Plus, as Booker reminded everyone, Sanders voted five times against the Brady bill. When Clinton finally got the microphone, she said what everyone was thinking: Wow. Im speechless. Soon enough, she found her wind and sailed through a raft of issues and obstacles she wants to change into opportunities. She touched on prison reform, gun violence, voter registration, student debt. She promised to bring manufacturing jobs back to South Carolina and even talked about climate change and solar power, which, it must be said, failed to bestir. Clinton also mentioned white privilege and the necessity for whites to try harder to hear clearly when blacks speak of problems unique to their community. Around here, we just call that empathy. Meanwhile, in a galaxy far, far away, the least empathic human to gaze across the Rio Grande, Donald Trump, continued preaching his own liturgy, lately distilled to a few repeat-after-me slogans. Like some rock-star hybrid of Liberace and Chris Christie, the latest to endorse the billionaire, Trump invited his fans to sing along. What are we going to build? A wallllllllllll!!!! Whos going to pay for it? Mexicoooooooo!!! What are we going to do? Make America Great Again!!! Trump doesnt even have to perform his own shtick anymore; his fans do it for him. Perhaps this explains his pouty debate performance Thursday night. It just wasnt fun. The only people talking back to him were the liar and the choker, the moguls nicknames for Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, respectively. When you scan Trumps majority-white crowds and listen to his isolationist, nativist message, it isnt hard to imagine segregationist on the list of apt adjectives. Ironically, if we have any appreciation left for the notion, Trump is the furthest removed of any candidate from the everyday people he enlists to make America great again, a broad enough theme to cover whatever one thinks is missing or wrong. The man is, if nothing else, a marketing genius. Every politician says what he or she believes an audience wants to hear, obviously. But when one candidate appeals to inclusion and removing obstacles and the other to exclusion and building obstacles one neednt be a partisan to appreciate the higher road. Though our politics have divided us, most of our issues and our lives are not so black-and-white. Those who play to such divisions while knowing better mining anger and resentment instead of appealing to our better angels have made a Faustian bargain for which there should be no forgiveness. Nor, needless to say, votes. Read more from Kathleen Parkers archive, follow her on Twitter or find her on Facebook. Supporters wait to greet Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Las Vegas on Feb. 22, after his decisive victory in the South Carolina Republican primary. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg) R.R. Reno is editor of First Things. Donald Trump won the white evangelical Christian vote in the South Carolina primary and the Nevada caucuses. This support has been evident for months, causing evangelical leaders to wring their hands. Last year, Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Conventions influential Washington organization, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, wrote a New York Times op-ed headlined: Have Evangelicals Who Support Trump Lost Their Values? Maybe, but the reason so many evangelicals are for Trump is fairly simple to explain. Religious conservatives have been losing a lot lately. This has put them in a rebellious mood. Evangelical Christians have become more well-educated and economically successful over the past two generations. They are not the same as the white working class that has been left behind by our increasingly globalized economy (although theres certainly overlap). Today, a higher percentage of whites with college degrees go to church than whites with a high school degree or less. But in one respect, the evangelical dentist in Greenville, S.C., has a great deal in common with the beer-drinking fellow in South Carolinas Lowcountry who cobbles together a living. Both suspect that Republican Party grandees dont see a future for them in the United States. During the past two presidential election cycles, theres been open discussion about the future of social conservatism in the Republican coalition. The consensus among big-money people on the right is that this once-important group has reached its use-by date. The pillars of the party have tired of disasters such as failed U.S. Senate candidate Todd Akin of Missouri. In the aftermath of Mitt Romneys defeat in 2012, the Republican National Committee issued a postmortem that recommended, among other things, a change of tone, especially on certain social issues that are turning off young voters. That evangelical dentist in South Carolina has become a political liability unless, of course, hes willing to keep his mouth shut in public. The plan was straightforward: turn socially conservative Christians into the African Americans of the Republican Party, a bloc of voters with no place else to go but who can be managed and kept at a distance from the partys new brand. Events have shown that the Republican Party wont spend political capital on causes important to evangelical voters. In 2014, then-Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) vetoed legislation that would have significantly strengthened religious liberty protections in the state. She did so because of an outcry from every sector of the establishment, including the Republican Party establishment. Anyone who missed that demonstration of Republican political priorities certainly saw things clearly last year in Indiana. Again, it was a matter of religious liberty. Again, the Chamber of Commerce wing of the party would not defend legislation when it came under withering attack. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) was blindsided. He had thought, wrongly, that the new strategy was to assure conservative Christians that the party would protect religious freedom while playing down controversial moral issues. But it turns out that if establishment Republicans have to choose between the Southern Baptist Convention and the Human Rights Campaign, they opt for the latter. Thus the support for Trump among evangelicals in South Carolina and Nevada, which, in all likelihood, will hold up elsewhere. Religious conservatives feel they have been pushed aside in todays cultural politics, just as the working class is increasingly sidelined by economic changes. Both are seen as dead weight by an establishment dominated by the creative class. Trump is a brash pugilist. He called former president George W. Bush a liar for saying there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Commentators were shocked. Bush has been a darling of the religious right. Shouldnt this crude broadside undermine Trumps support among evangelicals? No. Theyve voted and voted and voted for candidates put forward by the Republican establishment. Where has it gotten them? Like so many people in Middle America, religiously and socially conservative voters are ready to smash things. They may come to regret their support for Trump. But I dont blame them. Hell, said Alabamas Democratic Gov. George Wallace before roiling the 1968 presidential race, we got too much dignity in government now, what we need is some meanness . Twelve elections later, Wallaces wish is approaching fulfillment as Republicans contemplate nominating someone who would run to Hillary Clintons left. Donald Trump, unencumbered by any ballast of convictions, would court Bernie Sanderss disaffected voters with promises to enrich rather than reform the welfare states entitlement menu Trump already says, I am going to take care of everybody and to make America great again by having it cower behind trade barriers. If elected, Trump presumably would seek reelection, so there would be no conservative choice for president until at least 2024. The Democratic Party once had to defend itself against a populist demagogue. During the 1932 campaign, while lunching at Hyde Park with his aide Rexford Tugwell, Franklin Roosevelt took a telephone call from Sen. Huey Long, who as governor had made Louisiana into Americas closest approximation of a police state. When the call ended, FDR told Tugwell: Thats the second-most dangerous man in this country. Hueys a whiz on the radio. He screams at people and they love it. Who, Tugwell asked, is the most dangerous? FDR, recalling Gen. Douglas MacArthurs violent dispersal of aggrieved military veterans in Washington in July 1932, answered: You saw how he strutted down Pennsylvania Avenue. You saw that picture of him in the Times after the troops chased all those vets out with tear gas and burned their shelters. Did you ever see anyone more self-satisfied? Theres a potential Mussolini for you. Donald Trump cruised to victory in Nevada, building a broad coalition that left his two rivals trailing far behind heading into Super Tuesday. The Washington Posts David Weigel talks about what this means for Trump s chances of securing the GOP nomination. (Alice Li/The Washington Post) Trump, who was a big-government liberal Democrat until he recently discovered he was a conservative Republican, has the upturned jutted jaw, the celebration of energy and the flirtation with violence and torture that characterized the Italian who was a radical socialist until he decided he was a fascist. Trump, however, is as American as Huey Long. MacArthur said all military disasters could be explained by two words: Too late. Too late to discern a danger, too late to prepare for it. The Trumpkins love affair with their hero is too hot not to cool down unless his opponents quickly act on this fact: His supporters like him , not what pass for his ideas, so the way to stop him is to show him to be unlikable. Clintons opposition researchers must be delirious with delight about what they already have to work with. The 2012 Obama campaign had to resort to tendentiousness to present Mitt Romneys impeccable business practices as proof that he was a villain. Read what a conscientious conservative, Ian Tuttle of National Review Online, is finding in Trumps already public record. Then imagine what fun Democrats will have with Trumps career of crony capitalism lubricated, he boasts, by renting politicians. Trumps Republican opponents are running out of days, places and people to stop him. Candidates, voters and other daydream believers rail against the establishment, waiting for this corpse to resurrect itself. But it died 50 years ago, on April 24, 1966, when its house organ, the New York Herald-Tribune, expired. The establishment had been comatose since Barry Goldwater brushed aside its feebly arrogant attempt to derail his nomination at the 1964 convention. Today, the conservative movement should pool its sufficient resources to help Marco Rubio defeat Trump in winner-take-all Florida, where Rubio should spend all of his days and dimes between now and March 15. And to support John Kasich in Ohio. And Trump should be bombarded with questions like these: What are you hiding by refusing to give the public the aesthetic pleasure of examining what you call your beautiful tax returns? Will you at least jot down on a piece of paper your gross income in each of the last three years? And your adjusted gross income on your personal tax returns in the last three years? And how much you paid in federal personal income taxes in those years? And how much each of your companies paid? Will you release the last five years of your personal financial statements these are already prepared that banks would have required you to submit annually in connection with the loans you list on the liabilities page of your financial disclosure report? Trump probably hopes to secure the nomination before releasing pertinent information about his career that supposedly is his qualification for Lincolns chair. Perhaps, like Cole Porter, he knows when a love affair is too hot not to cool down. Read more from George F. Wills archive or follow him on Facebook. US Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton of Washington, DC, looks up at the ceiling as she speaks with students about Black History Month alongside a statue of Martin Luther King, Jr., during a tour of the Rotunda at the US Capitol. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images) We are in the waning hours of African American History month the time set aside each year to reflect on black struggles and sacrifices to achieve Americas promise. My recognition of African American contributions began in the 1940s with annual celebrations of Negro History Week at Stevens Elementary School in my West End/Foggy Bottom community. Our nations capital is also where I experienced first-hand Americas shame. Liberty Baptist Sunday school taught me the Ten Commandments. Civil authority in the city taught me the others. Among them: Thou shalt not attend Grant Elementary School on G Street NW, which was for white children only. Thou shalt not attempt to enter the Circle Theater at 21st and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, where only whites were allowed. Thou shalt never think about dining downtown. Thou can purchase sodas and sandwiches at the drugstore at the corner of 25th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. But thou shalt not sit and eat. Thou must stand at the end of the counter and wait patiently to be recognized. Ah, Washington of my youth a place and time when skin color determined where you lived, attended school, worshiped and worked, and how much you got paid. I learned that lesson as a teenager looking for part-time work. Pick up the Jan. 3, 1960, edition of The Post and what do you see?: BOYS-WHITE Age 14 to 18. To assist Route manager full or part-time. Must be neat in appearance. Apply 1346 Conn. Ave. NW. DRIVERS (TRUCK) Colored, for trash routes, over 25 years of age; paid vacation, year-around work; must have excellent driving record. Apply . . . 1601 W St., N.E. STUDENTS Boys, white, 14 yrs. and over, jobs immediately available. Apply . . . 724 9th St., N.W. Simply stated: If youre black, git back. In our anger and humiliation we turned to Negro History Week to celebrate black achievers such as Mary McLeod Bethune, George Washington Carver, Frederick Douglass, Charles R. Drew, Matthew Henson, Ralph Bunche and Joe Louis. Even as we annually paid homage to our black champions and their victories, we remained in the vise grip of segregation. From a 1948 Segregation in Washington report: Only 30 percent of the residents of the District of Columbia are Negroes, the report said. But Negroes have 70 per cent of the slum residents. It was no accident, said Wendell E. Pritchett of the University of Pennsylvania Law School, who explained in a 2005 paper how the system functioned. This system of segregation was imposed by powerful interests, particularly those in the real estate sector, he wrote. The 1948 Washington Real Estate Board Code of Ethics stated that no property in a white section should ever be sold, rented, advertised or offered to colored people. Segregation was maintained by residents associations, which had organized into the powerful Federation of Citizens Associations that policed the citys racial borders, Pritchett noted, adding: The result was that blacks were forced to pay higher rents in the limited areas to which they had access, and in these areas housing was significantly inferior. Pritchett continued: The damage caused by segregation was exacerbated, the [1948] report concluded, by the on-going urban renewal program that was clearing many formerly poor black areas for middle-class housing restricted to whites. Of the 30,000 new units built during the 1940s, just 200 were available to blacks. Todays millennials are not pioneers. Gentrification of the District got underway decades ago. Why do some of us celebrate African American History Month with moist eyes? Return in time to the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 3rd Street NW in the 1830s. See that brick federal building with its hipped roof, dormer windows and stone keystones? Its called the St. Charles Hotel. It has a special feature. In the basement are six 30-foot-long arched cells, with heavy iron doors and iron rings embedded on the walls. Its a slave pen. Look down at the sidewalk. See the recessed grills to provide light and ventilation for the confined slaves. St. Charles is where the Southern planters stayed when they came to Washington to sell their slave property. A few blocks away, at the southwestern corner of 4th and G streets NW, stands the Washington jail. Thats where runaway slaves were confined. Until emancipation, all slaves were required to obey the curfew law. Getting found on the streets of Washington after sundown without written permission from the master was a one-way ticket to jail. The owner had to be notified to appear before the warden to identify their slaves and pay a fine to reclaim them. From being chained in the basement to abolition, marches, legal assaults against injustice, the White House, the mayors suite, the halls of Congress, the faculty lounge, the judges chambers, the corporate boardroom, the pulpit, the Officers Club and the editors desk. Thats what and why we celebrate today. Read more from Colbert Kings archive. Ellen Bork is senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Initiative and visiting fellow at the Henry Jackson Society. David J. Kramer is senior director for human rights and democracy at the McCain Institute. Members of Russias democratic opposition will march through Moscow on Saturday in memory of Boris Nemtsov on the first anniversary of his assassination. Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister and co-leader of the opposition party Parnas, was shot in the back on a bridge just steps from the Kremlin. The tribute to Nemtsov comes amid escalating threats against his colleagues in the democratic movement. Over the past three weeks, Mikhail Kasyanov, a former prime minister and surviving chairman of Parnas, has received death threats, been assaulted in a Moscow restaurant and had his campaign for the Duma elections in September physically disrupted. Whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is behind the targeting of his critics or simply tolerates it, its time for the Obama administration to break its silence on threats to the democratic opposition and put serious pressure on Putin to stop them. The menacing harassment of Kasyanov follows a familiar and disturbing pattern. On Jan. 31, Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-appointed Chechen strongman, posted an Instagram video of Kasyanov, showing him in the crosshairs of a rifle. The caption read: Whoever doesnt get it will get it! an apparent reference to Nemtsovs murder. It might also have referred to Vladimir Kara-Murza, another democratic opposition leader also pictured in the video, who survived a nearly fatal poisoning in Moscow in May. In January, Kadyrov ratcheted up the propaganda war against the democratic opposition, calling them traitors who should be locked up in psychiatric wards, a threat that carries echoes of Soviet-era repression. Before Nemtsov was killed, Kremlin-sponsored propaganda painted him as a traitor intent on swallowing, strangling and dismembering Russia. He was taunted by stunts such as having a net thrown over his head or being photo-bombed by transvestites. On Feb. 9, Kasyanov was assaulted in a Moscow restaurant by a group of men who made threats and smeared cake on him. Another opposition leader, Aleksei Navalny , was hit with cake on Thursday by two men as he entered the office of his anti-corruption foundation. In todays Russia, such things are not mere pranks but potential precursors to more serious harm. Whether Kadyrov is acting at the direction of the Kremlin remains murky, but two things are clear. Kadyrov is a Putin acolyte. We will gladly fulfill any order, in any spot in the world where our president tells us to go, he told a crowd of supporters in December 2014. And Putin has neither reined in Kadyrov nor distanced the Kremlin from the Chechen strongman. To the contrary, shortly after Nemtsov was killed, Putin gave Kadyrov a presidential award despite the fact that (or because) one of the killers had served in a military force under Kadyrovs command. A report released this week in Moscow, Threat to National Security, by another democratic opposition leader, Ilya Yashin, paints Kadyrov as a threat to Russias national security. But Kadyrov isnt the only problem. On Feb. 12, Kasyanov cut short a campaign stop in Nizhny Novgorod after police allowed provocateurs to disrupt a meeting with local democracy activists, with more violence threatened for the next day. Regional officials told the media not to cover Kasyanovs appearances. Kasyanov plans to return to the campaign trail after the Nemtsov anniversary march. So far, however, the Obama administration has not responded to the recent threats against the democratic opposition. Just as troubling is its grudging, circumscribed implementation of the Magnitsky Act, the primary vehicle for exerting leverage on Putin over respect for individual rights in Russia. The most recent additions to the Magnitsky sanctions list were five low-level Russian officials. No senior Russian officials or members of Putins inner circle have been publicly sanctioned under the act, which imposes a U.S. visa ban and asset freeze on Russian officials involved in gross human rights abuses. Nor has Kadyrov, at least publicly, despite the State Departments assessment that he rules Chechnya through tactics including extra-judicial killings, torture and rape; media reports state that he has been listed on a classified version of the act. At the same time, the Obama administration has told the BBC that Putin is the picture of corruption. For many, many years, Adam Szubin, acting undersecretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, told BBC Panorama, weve seen him enriching his friends, his close allies, and marginalizing those who he doesnt view as friends using state assets. Yet the administration has refrained from sanctioning Putin himself; instead it stubbornly pursues strategic cooperation on Syria, even as Russian airstrikes continue to kill civilians, drive up the flow of refugees and prop up Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. The United States is not alone in this approach. British Prime Minister David Cameron has announced that he will keep calm and carry on with relations with Moscow despite the conclusion of an inquiry in January that Putin probably approved the murder of former spy Alexander Litvinenko in a London hotel. All of this adds up to an alarming situation for the Russian democracy movement. Barring stronger pushback from the West, there will be more threats and, we fear, worse for Kasyanov and his colleagues. Its happened before. We must not let it happen again. AFTER THREE decades in power, Ugandas president, Yoweri Museveni, is acting nervous. On Feb. 18, he won a presidential election with 60.8 percent of the vote; his nearest rival, opposition leader Kizza Besigye, received only 35.4 percent. But Mr. Museveni did not seem reassured. The opposition leader was detained multiple times during the voting and was under house arrest at the time the results were announced. When European monitors pointed to voting irregularities, the president testily fired back, I dont need lectures from anybody on how to organize elections. The Uganda vote was less violent than in previous elections , when opposition leaders were beaten and arrested. Mr. Besigye was able to campaign, although his supporters were harassed. But Mr. Musevenis manipulations were extensive. Before the vote, the ruling party overwhelmed the opposition with spending for such things as vehicles and campaign paraphernalia. Mr. Musevenis party threatened communities, saying if they did not support him, they would lose development aid. And the voting itself was riddled with irregularities. According to the New York Times, many polling stations in Kampala, the capital, did not receive ballots on time, and voting began just hours before the stations were set to close. European monitors noted numerous shortcomings in the process, notably in the areas of neutrality, transparency and the effectiveness of the election administration. Among other things, the Uganda Communications Commission blocked access to social media on Election Day. This poor performance brought a reproach from Secretary of State John F. Kerry, who phoned Mr. Museveni to underscore that Ugandas progress depends on adherence to democratic principles and note that harassment of the opposition calls into question Ugandas commitment to a transparent and credible election process free from intimidation. Was Mr. Museveni listening? He ought to be: Uganda is the recipient of $750 million a year in aid from the United States and is an important ally in regional security. Ugandas election is, unfortunately, just the latest evidence of backsliding on democracy and governance in East Africa. The most serious deterioration has been in Burundi, beset by violence after President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to run for a third term, triggering protests put down by force, with hundreds of people killed. According to Human Rights Watch, most of Burundis independent journalists and human rights defenders have fled the country in the wake of death threats, beatings and possible prosecution on trumped-up charges . In Ethiopia, elections last year were peaceful but entirely uncompetitive; the government continues widespread repression of free expression, and Ethiopian security forces are continuing to violently suppress largely peaceful protests in the Oromia region that began in November. Political opposition and free speech remain severely constrained in Rwanda, and tensions have been rising in Congo. President Joseph Kabila faces a term limit but may attempt to hang on; he has lately cracked down on those calling for proper and timely elections. All told, discouraging signs. The United States can and should speak up for democracy, civil society and decent governance in these nations. As an art installation by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei intended to remind people of the ongoing refugee crisis, the columns of Berlin's Konzerthaus are decorated with life jackets, on Feb. 15. (John MacDougall/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images) The Feb. 16 news article In Europe, refugee crisis inspires art on a large scale, about Ai Weiweis art installation at the Konzerthaus Berlin, failed to mention any life jacket displays in front of the embassies of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait or the United Arab Emirates, whose willingness to take in Syrian refugees appears to be a tightly guarded secret. The Russian and Syrian governments are contributing greatly to the migration crisis. Are there any artistic protests against their actions? If not, why not? Sarah Botsai, Rockville March 5, 2016 Sen. Marco Rubio speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Md. Amanda Voisard/For the Washington Post The U.S. senator from Florida is vying for the Republican presidential nomination. The U.S. senator from Florida is among the candidates vying for the Republican presidential nomination. The U.S. senator from Florida is among the candidates vying for the Republican presidential nomination. In the sprint to Super Tuesday, Marco Rubio is scrambling to parlay his newfound aggression against Donald Trump into enough support at the polls not to be overwhelmed by the suffocating effects of the celebrity moguls insurgent campaign. The result is that, rather than aiming to triumph on the biggest day of the Republican presidential nominating calendar, the candidate seen as the party establishments best and perhaps only chance of defeating Trump merely hopes to hang on. The delegate bonanza known as Super Tuesday, which features contests in 11 states and will award nearly half the number of delegates needed to claim the nomination, will test Rubios strategy of survival and the patience of his backers. The senator from Florida vowed here Saturday that he could lose all 15 of the first primaries and caucuses yet, because of the partys delegate-allocation rules, still wrest the nomination from Trump at the summer convention. I will do whatever it takes, I will campaign as hard as it takes, I will stay in this race as long as it takes, Rubio told a boisterous outdoor rally of 7,000 in this Atlanta suburb. A con artist will never get control of this party. But some party strategists warned that if Trump sweeps the South, where many of Tuesdays primaries are taking place, it may be too late for Rubio, Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.) and the other candidates to stop him. Here is what we know about who is expected to do well when 13 states head to the polls on Tuesday, March 1. (Julio Negron,Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post) Were a month into this thing and Rubio still doesnt have a W, said Chip Saltsman, a veteran operative with experience across the South. Any other cycle, he would be done. What if Marco Rubio wouldve won three out of the first four states? Wouldnt everybody be saying its over? For some reason, Trumps won three out of the four and theyre not saying its over. Ironically, the first key for Rubio in Tuesdays balloting involves cheering for a Trump victory over Cruz in Texas, which would embarrass the freshman senator in his home state and block his path forward. Rubios other goal will be to amass delegates by finishing high enough in enough of the states to justify continuing his campaign. As long as you can say youve got a realistic chance of winning enough delegates to win the nomination, Im not sure I subscribe to the idea that you have to win one of these states, said Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, a Rubio endorser whose state votes Tuesday. Rubios advisers are quick to lay out how he can mathematically prevent Trump from racking up the 1,237 delegates required to secure the nomination and, if necessary, force a brokered convention in Cleveland. Todd Harris, one of Rubios top advisers, said Saturday that he did not believe any candidate would have a majority of delegates at the start of the Republican convention in July. Asked whether Rubio would have more than Trump, he said, Im not prepared to say yes or no to that right now. Harris urged patience and predicted that the race would have many twists and turns. We are being judged based on this anachronistic sort of historical political view of how things have always been done in the past, he said, when everyone who is covering the race or is involved in the race knows that there is nothing about this cycle that is anything like what has happened in the past. Cruz once saw Super Tuesday as the day he would take command because of the preponderance of Southern contests. But following Trumps early momentum, his campaign envisions a scaled-back goal: victory in Texas, victories or close seconds to Trump in other states and overall second in delegates won. Like Rubio, Cruz is hoping to change perceptions that Trump is on a fast march to the nomination. He has a decent lead in the first two minutes of the first quarter so far, Jeff Roe, Cruzs campaign manager, said in an email. The media covers it like its over, but its a long game. What Cruz will argue if he emerges victorious in Texas on Tuesday is that he, not Rubio, is the lone candidate who can defeat Trump. If Marco Rubio is out of the race, we win, Roe said. If we get out of the race, Donald Trump wins, because he gets a ton of our votes. Its really as simple as that. The coalition of voters we have put together is not going to support an establishment candidate like Marco Rubio. The anti-Trump forces are clinging to the belief that even if Trump virtually runs the table on Tuesday, party rules will hold down his delegate haul. In Nevada, for instance, Trump won 46 percent of the vote in last Tuesdays caucuses but only 14 of the 30 available delegates; Rubio got seven, and Cruz six. You have the perception of a front-runner [clashing] with the reality of a delegate count and if youre Rubio and Cruz, you still see a path, longtime party strategist Carl Forti said. That could give Rubio a chance to make up ground beginning March 15, when rules shift to award all the delegates to the winner of each state. Rubio is banking on victories in Florida and possibly elsewhere, though when pressed by reporters here Saturday, he named only his home state. A few well-funded super PACs are mounting a last-ditch anti-Trump assault on the airwaves. The pro-Rubio Conservative Solutions PAC is advertising in many Tuesday states, as well as Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan and Mississippi, which have contests late next month. The groups ad blitz in Florida is statewide and with significant volume, and the spots are almost entirely anti-Trump. There are two candidates with a viable path to the nomination, Marco being one of them, and were going to continue to focus on Donald Trumps lack of credibility and record, said Jeff Sadosky, the super PACs spokesman. But some of the partys biggest donors have become outright fatalistic. Fred Malek, finance chairman of the Republican Governors Association, said even an atomic bomb on Trump could not peel away his core supporters. The people who talk about stopping Trump are smoking something, Malek said. If a bunch of money guys came together and went after Trump, I dont think it would have a good effect. All it would do is damage the potential nominee for our party and it wouldnt deprive Trump the nomination. Rubio is urgently trying to awaken those Republicans who are beginning to become comfortable with the possibility of Trump as their nominee. He posited Saturday that after Trump clinches the nomination, the media and Democrats would descend on him like the hounds of hell. Rubio sees a couple remote possibilities for a surprise win Tuesday, including in Virginia, where he will spend all day Sunday with rallies in four cities. He also has his eye on Minnesota, which has caucuses, making the state more unpredictable. Otherwise, Rubio is zeroing in on overperforming in suburban congressional districts such as those around Atlanta, where he will return Monday, to accrue delegates. Delegates on Tuesday will be awarded proportionally and by congressional district. Central to Rubios survival is framing the contest as a mano-a-mano battle with Trump, which he tried to engineer with his feisty and relentless attacks in Thursday nights CNN debate. To make the race truly one-on-one, however, Rubio must rely on several factors outside his direct control. For one, Cruz is determined to deny Rubio that perch, and their chilly relationship would make an immediate alliance unlikely. Also slowing Rubios efforts is the continued candidacy of Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who since his surprising second-place finish in the New Hampshire primary has attracted some current and former officeholders and establishment donors drawn to his more uplifting and moderate message. Kasich is determined to stay in the race at least until the Ohio primary, on March 15, and his advisers argue that a win there would make Kasich the rightful establishment consensus candidate. Then there is the neutrality of former Florida governor Jeb Bush and 2012 nominee Mitt Romney, not to mention the open hostility of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who savaged Rubio on Friday in his flashy endorsement of Trump. The big question is, can the regular Republican forces get their act together after Trump becomes the clear delegate leader early next week? said Mike Murphy, a longtime strategist who ran the pro-Bush super PAC Right to Rise. Can they get Kasich out and get a well-funded stop Trump and Cruz effort on the air? Otherwise Trump will have a deadly lead by April. Should the battle go to the convention, former House speaker Newt Gingrich said trying to deny Trump the nomination if he is leading in the delegate count is risky. I dont see a path, Gingrich said. This is not the time to get into some last-ditch . . . event that will get the convention to do something the American people dont want. Looming on the outside is Romney, who has aggressively confronted Trump in recent days and demanded he release his tax returns, but so far has not voiced any preference for Rubio. Romneys associates said that his endorsement is not imminent. Republican elites long have assured themselves that Trumps support has a high floor but also a low ceiling of about 35 percent. That thinking was turned on its head by Trumps commanding, double-digit victory margins in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada, as well as by Christies enthusiastic endorsement. Christies endorsement sends a signal to mainstream Republicans that, hey, this guy might be all right, said pollster Neil Newhouse, who advised Right to Rise. Thats a very tough combination for Marco Rubio to overcome right now. Robert Costa in Atlanta contributed to this report. Claudia Ruiz Massieu, Mexicos secretary of foreign affairs, meets with business and community leaders in Tucson on Feb. 2 as part of the inauguration of the new Mexican Consulate. (Mike Moore/Getty Images for Leisure Opportunities) In the sharpest official Mexican government comments to date on Republican front-runner Donald Trump, the foreign minister called Trumps policies and comments ignorant and racist and his proposed wall on the U.S.-Mexico border absurd. When an apples red, it is red. When you say ignorant things, youre ignorant, said Foreign Affairs Secretary Claudia Ruiz Massieu, Mexicos top diplomat. It is impossible to think of a 2,000-mile border being walled off and trade between our two countries stopped, Ruiz Massieu said. It is impractical, inefficient, wrong and, frankly, it is not an intelligent thing to do. As for Mexico paying for Trumps proposed wall, she said: It is not a proposition we would even consider. It is an impossible proposition. Ruiz Massieu spoke Friday evening, capping a week in which two former Mexican presidents told The Washington Post that Trumps policies and growing popularity are poisoning Mexican views of the United States. From the start of his campaign, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has been promising that he will build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and that Mexico will pay for it. Not if these men have anything to say about it. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post) Former presidents Vicente Fox and his successor, Felipe Calderon, who ran Mexico from 2000 to 2012, have said the fact that Trump is winning Republican primaries and is a front-runner for the White House is damaging the image of the United States abroad. [Fox and Calderon take aim at Trump and his stupid wall] Trumps comments, and how well they are playing with voters, are especially alarming in this country, which does more than $500 billion worth of trade each year with the United States and buys more U.S. goods than China and Japan combined. Trumps call for deporting undocumented immigrants and building a massive wall along the length of the Mexican border is a central pillar of his campaign. Millions of Mexicans see it as insulting and racist and say he has specifically targeted Mexicans by saying Mexico is sending its worst citizens to the United States, including criminals and rapists. Mexican officials see Trumps calls for tariffs on cars made in Mexico and his giant wall as a threat to the thriving trade that millions of jobs in both countries depend on. Fox used an expletive rarely heard from a politician in public to reject the idea of Mexico paying for Trumps wall this week. Then Trump demanded Fox apologize for his language. On Friday, La Jornada, a leading left-leaning newspaper, published a cartoon of a furious-looking Trump shouting: I demand respect. Only I can use bad manners and bad words! Trump has become a popular target of scorn in Mexico, where he has been trashed in folk songs and in computer games in which players get to fling shoes, cakes and tomatoes at him. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who was elected to a six-year term in 2012, has largely avoided responding to Trump directly, but he said in a meeting this week with Vice President Biden in Mexico City that building walls only means isolating oneself and ending up alone. Biden was in Mexico for high-level economic talks, which also included the U.S. secretaries of commerce, interior, transportation and energy, and the deputy secretary of homeland security. Bidens comments this week were top news when he told Pena Nieto that Trumps views about Mexico were the exact opposite of the position of the majority of the American people. I feel almost obliged to apologize for some of what my political colleagues have said about Mexico, Biden said. The main message I wanted to say to you is that I understand that you cant poison the well and, at the same time, work out a real estate arrangement to buy the well, Biden said. [Trumps border wall price tag would be a huge portion of the Mexican economy] In an interview late Friday evening in her office, Ruiz Massieu, said Trump does not represent the views of most Americans. It sounds ignorant and racist because it is, she said. We are pretty sure thats not the way most Americans feel. It was a country that was founded on tolerance, on openness, on taking in people from other places and enriching a society by embracing diversity. Thats the way American values are. She said that saying the Mexican American community does not contribute to the United States well-being and growth is ignorant and ignores the facts. She added: History has also shown that when anti-immigrant rhetoric turns into policy or laws, it is a bad idea. You lose money, you lose people, you lose trust. She said the Mexican government would respond to Trumps rise by urging Mexican Americans in the United States to participate and become heard in the electoral process, which is not over yet. Im optimistic that people will stand up for themselves and vote in accordance to their values and their views, she said. For Mexicans and many people around the world, what this has brought to light is that you have to continuously work to remind everyone that it is better to work together, she said. It is better to build bridges than to build walls. Count the swipes Republican presidential candidates Marco Rubio and Donald Trump took at each other the day after they butted heads at the Houston CNN/Telemundo debate. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post) Count the swipes Republican presidential candidates Marco Rubio and Donald Trump took at each other the day after they butted heads at the Houston CNN/Telemundo debate. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post) Marco Rubio and Donald Trump emerged Friday as the principal antagonists in an all-out brawl for the future of the Republican Party, as establishment opposition to the front-runners candidacy started to crumble with a high-profile endorsement by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. During one of the most hectic and consequential days of the campaign, Rubio dramatically escalated his verbal assault of the real estate mogul, branding him a con artist attempting to hijack the party, and the senator from Florida attracted a wave of endorsements. Trump responded with name-calling of his own and by touting the support of Christie, who dropped out of the presidential race after a poor showing in New Hampshire. The row brought into focus the identity crisis gripping the GOP, pitting those eager to embrace the bravado and nativist message of Trump against those who view him as an existential threat who will drive away minorities and moderates. The endorsement by Christie, a former head of the Republican Governors Association, could prompt other establishment Republicans to fall behind the front-runner. This is a real signal to the establishment that they better start thinking in a positive way about how they are going to work with candidate Trump and President Trump, said former House speaker Newt Gingrich. Gingrich, who has not endorsed anyone, said Friday marked the beginning of the end for anti-Trump forces. The rapid escalation in hostility between Rubio and Trump, who had mostly avoided each other for months, sets the stage for a brutal 2 1/ 2 weeks that could determine whether Trump will effectively clinch the nomination by mid-March or the race will drag on, perhaps all the way to the GOP convention in July. 1 of 11 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad Top quotes from the tenth Republican presidential debate View Photos The candidates shared these comments during the CNN/Telemundo debate in Houston. Caption The candidates shared these comments during the CNN/Telemundo debate in Houston. Wait 1 second to continue. A third presidential hopeful, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, embarked on an ambitious campaign swing Friday but was reduced to being a spectator in his home state as Rubio and Trump dueled about 30 miles apart from one another. At the 10th GOP debate in Houston the night before, Cruz was similarly overshadowed as Rubio began his concerted attacks on Trump. Continuing the barrage Friday, Rubio unleashed a string of personal insults that seemed unthinkable when he launched his optimism-tinged campaign in the spring. In essence, Rubio is trying to beat Trump at his own game, at a time when the senator has yet to win a primary contest and faces an extremely difficult path in a series of states seen as friendly to Trump. Rubio spent much of the debate and much of Friday hurling pre-packaged digs at Trumps appearance, intellect and trustworthiness as a businessman. At a morning rally in Dallas, Rubio pulled out his smartphone and ridiculed Trump for misspelled words in his Twitter feed. He suggested there were only two explanations for the mess-ups. Number one: Thats how they spell those words at the Wharton School of Business, where he went, Rubio said. Or number two, just like Trump Tower, he must have hired a foreign worker to do his own tweets. (The misspelled tweets were later deleted and replaced with corrected versions.) Rubio, 44, also highlighted the age gap between him and Trump, 69, saying you start to worry about whether the front-runner could serve as president for eight years. He also accused of Trump requesting a full-length mirror during a break in the debate, maybe to make sure his pants werent wet. And he questioned Trumps toughness by charging that he was the first guy that begged for Secret Service protection. A few hours later in Fort Worth, Trump appeared with Christie at a news conference and a rally. Christie said there was no one who is better prepared to provide America with the strong leadership that it needs than Trump. At the rally, Trump launched a series of character attacks against Rubio, calling him a low-life, a nervous basket case and a nervous nellie. The billionaire also mocked Rubios physical appearance, lampooning his backstage preparations for Thursdays debate. He was putting on makeup with a trowel. I will not say that he was trying to cover up his ears. I will not say that, Trump said. He was just trying to cover up he was just trying to cover up the sweat. Trump also issued another threat against the media Friday, vowing to open up federal libel laws to make it easier to sue news outlets such as The Washington Post and the New York Times. While they are now on the same team, the intense primary campaign in the past year frayed the Christie-Trump relationship, with both candidates taking shots at each other. Christie frequently said Trump was too inexperienced, called Trumps proposal to ban Muslim immigrants ridiculous and said Trumps plan for a border wall makes no sense. Trump responded by accusing Christie of being complicit in a bridge lane-closing incident in New Jersey, which Christie has denied. But Christie showed particular animosity toward Rubio. In the last debate before he bowed out, Christie nearly derailed Rubios presidential ambitions by mocking the flustered senator for repeating canned lines several times. Rubio came in fifth in the New Hampshire primary three days later. Shortly after Christie got out of the race, Trump called the governor and aggressively pursued his endorsement, according to a longtime Christie adviser, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private discussions. According to people on both sides familiar with the talks, Christie and his wife, Mary Pat, made a quiet visit Thursday to Trump Tower in New York, where they met privately with Trump and his wife, Melania, for about an hour, talking through the race and Christies endorsement. After the meeting, Christie alerted a few people in his orbit of his decision but otherwise kept mum, since he and Trump wanted to preserve an element of surprise. Christie confidant William Palatucci followed up his announcement Friday by holding a conference call with New Jerseys Republican leadership, including a number of county GOP chairmen and other power brokers, according to two people familiar with the call. Palatucci urged them to follow him and endorse Trump, calling the businessman the presumptive nominee. Trump also received an endorsement Friday from Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R). Rubio spent months mostly sidestepping Trump, as his strategists wagered that the best possible time to strike him was when the field had narrowed to a one-on-one race. As recently as Monday, Rubio explained to reporters on his campaign plane why he didnt tend to call out Trump by name at his events: Thats how I speak, and thats how my campaigns going continue to be. But it was becoming increasingly clear the campaign didnt have the luxury of waiting for the field to slim down. Trump is on a three-state winning streak and leads in the polls in a slate of Super Tuesday states holding nominating contests on March 1. Rubio has yet to win a state, and his aides are not predicting victory anywhere on Tuesday. It was timing, a Rubio adviser said. When Christie and [Jeb] Bush the other establishment-friendly candidates are still in the race . . . youre playing 12-way chess. You know that Candidate A attacks Candidate B and Candidate C benefits. One of the most memorable moments of Thursdays debate came when Rubio said that if Trump had not received a generous inheritance, he would be selling watches in Manhattan. It was Rubio who first brought the line up during debate preparations, according to a Rubio adviser, and those in the room laughed and encouraged him to use it. Rubio repeated most of his attacks on Trump at a crowded event in Oklahoma City on Friday afternoon. The audience of about 1,000 joined in on the jokes. Hes so cheesy! yelled one supporter after Rubio read a few of Trumps syntax-tangled tweets. But toward the back of the room, some voters who had fallen for Rubio long ago wondered if he would regret trading insults with the mogul. Also on Friday, a super PAC supporting Rubio, Conservative Solutions PAC, released TV ads attacking Trump that will air in March primary states. And a separate nonprofit group, American Future Fund, released ads featuring people who said they were scammed and hurt by Trump University, which Rubio criticized at the debate. Trump has collected by far the most delegates after decisive wins in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. He is the front-runner in most March 1 states, leading some detractors to fear that opponents waited too long to wage a full-fledged strike against him. The one state where Rubio is predicting victory is delegate-rich Florida, which votes March 15 and awards its delegates on a winner-take-all basis. But polls show Trump leading Rubio in his home state by double digits. Why would the people of Florida vote for Marco Rubio when he defrauded them by agreeing to represent them as their Senator and then quit! Trump tweeted Friday. Rubio has taken heat for missing many Senate votes. A 2015 study by Vocativ and Govtrack found Rubio to be the most often absent member of the Senate. Rubio and his campaign have said that a contested convention is a possibility for which they are preparing. If no one wins a majority of delegates after all the states have held contests, the nomination fight would culminate in Cleveland in July. The three top GOP contenders planned to spend the weekend focusing on Super Tuesday states. Cruz spent Friday in Nashville and Virginia Beach and will spend Tuesday night in Texas, where he desperately needs to win after three consecutive third-place finishes. Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), a combative Long Island moderate who has endorsed Rubio, said Friday that he was ready to hit the campaign trail to offer an alternative to the combined pugnacity of Trump and Christie, previewing of the newer, more bitter stage of the race that has just arrived. Where Donald Trump grew up, thats not the real Queens, King said. Hes not a tough guy from an outer borough. I grew up 20 minutes away in another world, and I know theres never been a real tough guy out of Jamaica Estates. Costa reported from Houston and Weigel from Dallas. Jose A. DelReal in Fort Worth, Dan Balz in Houston and Philip Rucker in Washington contributed to this report. What's the job market like for chemists? Dude -- it's always bad.* How bad is it? How the heck should I know? Quantifying the chemistry job market is what this blog is about. That, and helping chemists find jobs. E-mail chemjobber with helpful tips, career questions or angry comments at chemjobber -at- gmail dotcom. All correspondence is kept confidential. (Didn't get an e-mail back? It's okay to try again.) Voicemail/SMS: (302) 313-6257 Twitter: @chemjobber RSS feed here (The Blogger spam filter gets hungry sometimes, and likes to eat comments. You can e-mail me, and sometimes I can get it to cough up your comment. I am always happy to try.) (*For the literal-minded, this is a joke. Mostly.) The unthinkable happened in Syria on Saturday as an internationally mandated truce unexpectedly took hold across much of the country, raising hopes that the beginning of an end to the five-year-old crisis may be in sight. There were scattered skirmishes and bursts of artillery fire across some of the front lines, a car bomb killed two people in the province of Hama, and Syrian government warplanes dropped barrel bombs on a village in Idlib province, without causing casualties. But for the first time in as long as anyone can remember, the guns were almost completely silent, offering Syrians a welcome respite from the relentless bloodshed that has killed in excess of a quarter of a million people. We have not experienced such a thing since the beginning of the revolution, said Maj. Jamil al-Saleh, commander of the U.S.-backed Tajamu al-Izza brigade in the Hama province town of Latamneh. He and his men were taking advantage of the calm to clear the rubble from more than 50 airstrikes in the town during the previous 48 hours, conducted by Russian warplanes in a late blitz apparently aimed at securing maximum advantage before the truce went into effect. There were no planes in the skies of the much-bombed city of Aleppo for the first time in days, and residents there ventured into the streets with newfound confidence, said Ameen al- Halabi, an activist living in a rebel-held neighborhood. The United States, Russia and other powers came to an agreement on a cessation of hostilities in Syria, but the deal was met with caution and skepticism. (Jason Aldag,Ishaan Tharoor/The Washington Post) Today is so different. People feel safe, and you can feel more life in the streets, he said. Russias Defense Ministry told reporters in Moscow that the Russian air force had completely suspended airstrikes over Syria on Saturday to encourage the implementation of the two-week truce. But a ministry spokesman indicated that Russia may soon resume bombardments against those groups not covered by the cessation of hostilities agreement: the Islamic State and the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra. The suspension of the strikes does not mean that Daesh or Nusra Front terrorists may breathe freely. We are in control of the situation all across Syria, said Lt. Gen. Sergei Kuralenko, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State, in comments quoted by the Russian Sputnik news agency. [Cease-fire goes into effect in Syria] This was the first attempt by the international community to bring about a cease-fire since a U.N.-led effort in 2012 collapsed within hours, and expectations were low that this one would succeed. The exclusion of Jabhat al-Nusra was one of the reasons why Syrians had low expectations. Jabhat al-Nusra fighters are scattered across rebel areas, making it hard to distinguish rebel positions from Jabhat al-Nusra ones and increasing the likelihood of bombardments targeting all groups. Both sides to the conflict exchanged allegations of violations, with the Syrian government accusing the rebels of firing shells into the capital city, Damascus, and the Syrian opposition saying the government had infringed the truce in 15 locations by days end. But for the most part, there was simply widespread relief that the bloodshed had paused at all, even if only for a day. Overall, there is a mood of surprise that attacks have reduced significantly, said a statement from the White Helmets civil defense group, which was monitoring the violence nationwide. During a call to the White Helmets team in the southern province of Daraa, one member put on the speakerphone and asked: Can you hear that? It is the sound of birds singing. The calm bolstered hopes that a stalled peace effort to secure a broad settlement to the war may soon be revived. Staffan de Mistura, the U.N. special envoy for Syria, has tentatively set March 7 as the date for the resumption of the talks in Geneva, which collapsed without progress this month. The truce, scheduled initially to last for two weeks, is being officially referred to as a cessation of hostilities rather than a cease-fire because it is not intended to be a permanent solution. That is the goal of the peace talks, which have as their aim the creation of a transitional government that will pave the way for a full end to the hostilities and a long-term solution. There was nonetheless widespread skepticism that the calm will last long enough to give real impetus to the peace talks. [On cusp of planned Syria cease-fire, details on monitoring remain unclear] Much time has already been taken out of a process that was intended to begin in January and was expected to last six months. Turkish officials said Turkey supports the cease-fire and had expressed concern that the wrangling over the implementation of the cessation of hostilities and the delivery of humanitarian aid were detracting attention from the need for a long-term political solution. The big picture has been lost, Ibrahim Kalin, spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, told reporters in Ankara on Friday. Rebel commanders said they feared that the government and its Russian allies would use the lull to regroup and reinforce their positions before resuming offensives. The truce culminates months of advances by the government that have seen the rebels lose vital territory around Aleppo and along the Turkish border in the northwestern province of Latakia, boosting government confidence that it can win the war outright. Nothing has changed, said Capt. Abdulsalam Abdulrazzak of the Noureddine al-Zinki rebel group, speaking from a front-line town west of Aleppo. Russia and the regime consider the truce as a military tactic, not as a preparatory measure for a political solution. In eastern Syria, dominated by the fight against the Islamic State, the war continued uninterrupted. In a surprise setback for Kurdish forces, Islamic State fighters launched an assault against the border town of Tal Abyad, whose capture last summer had been hailed by the U.S. military as a major success. They swarmed through the streets, overran a cultural center and beheaded a tribal leader accused of cooperating with the Kurds before U.S. warplanes intervened to bomb the Islamic States positions. The Kurdish Peoples Protection Units, or YPG, and their local Arab allies grouped under the umbrella of the Syrian Democratic Forces claimed at nightfall to have secured full control of the town. But the incident illustrated the continued danger presented by the Islamic State even to areas from which it has already been ejected, and notably those where mostly Kurdish forces have taken over mostly Arab towns. Karen DeYoung in Washington contributed to this report. Read more: Vladimir Putin finds much to celebrate about Russias role in Syria truce Turkeys increasingly desperate predicament poses real dangers Trapped between airstrikes and locked gate, Syrian refugees are pawns in a wider war Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Afghan National Army soldiers keep watch at the site of a suicide attack in Kabul. (Mohammad Ismail/Reuters) Two separate terrorist attacks killed at least 27 people and wounded dozens Saturday in Afghanistan, and created a powerful explosion that ended a three-week lull in major violence here in the capital. The first attack occurred Saturday morning in Kunar province in eastern Afghanistan, where a suicide bomber approached a tribal Pashtun elder who was walking outdoors. The attack killed the man, who had been leading a local uprising against Taliban insurgents, along with 11 bystanders. Three dozen others were injured. The second attack occurred Saturday afternoon when an explosion tore through a busy street near the gate of the Defense Ministry headquarters in Kabul. Some reports stated that the suicide bomber targeted a bus carrying Afghan soldiers. In a statement, the Defense Ministry confirmed that the attack targeted Afghan army personnel but declined to elaborate further. But Afghan defense officials said 15 people were killed in the attack, including three army officers, three sergeants and five civilian ministry employees. Four other civilians were also killed. Thirty-one other people, including nine army officers, were injured. In a statement, the Taliban asserted responsibility for the attack. The explosion could be heard across Kabul and created a thick cloud of smoke that hovered over the Defense Ministry, which overlooks the Kabul River. It was the first major bombing in Kabul since Feb. 1, when more than a dozen people were killed in a suicide attack at a police recruiting center. The latest violence, which occurred on an unusually warm winter day here, came as Afghan security forces were preparing for what is expected to be another year of intense fighting. The Taliban traditionally launches its spring offensive in March or April after snow melts from the mountain passes. But U.S. and Afghan leaders are also hoping to resume peace talks to try to end the 15-year insurgency. Last week, diplomats from the United States, Afghanistan, Pakistan and China invited Taliban leaders to travel to Islamabad, Pakistan, in early March to meet face-to-face with Afghan President Ashraf Ghanis government. It remains unclear, however, which factions of the insurgency will attend the meeting. And even if talks begin, analysts have warned that the Taliban could increase the tempo of attacks to try to strengthen its negotiating position. Tim Craig contributed to this report. A well-known Chinese rights lawyer has appeared on state television confessing to crimes after a months-long disappearance, the latest case in Chinas widening crackdown on dissent. Zhang Kai had represented a group of Christians who were detained for suspected financial crimes last year after they resisted the demolition of crosses. Heavily Christian Wenzhou, in the eastern province of Zhejiang, was the site of protests in 2014 over a government campaign to demolish crosses. On a news program on state-controlled Wenzhou TV on Thursday night, Zhang confessed to encouraging Christians to come together to protect their rights after the authorities removed crosses from churches. I really regret doing these things, I feel very remorseful, Zhang said. These things violated Chinas law and violated my personal integrity as a lawyer, and they harmed societal structure and national security. Police in Wenzhou could not be reached for comment, and Zhangs exact location was not clear. In Washington, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said: Such confessions are counter to the standards of a rule-of-law society. . . . We urge China to release Zhang and others detained for seeking to peacefully uphold the freedom of religion guaranteed in Chinas constitution. Toner said he did not know if Secretary of State John F. Kerry raised Zhangs case in talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Li in Washington this week. In October, Kerry said Zhang, who had represented Christian groups, was detained shortly before a planned meeting in August with David Saperstein, the U.S. ambassador for international religious freedom, who was visiting China. Suspects accused of crimes in high-profile cases are often shown confessing on Chinese state television. Rights groups have said these confessions, which usually take place long before a trial, violate the rights of the accused to due process. Authorities in the region have said crosses are removed because they violate regulations against illegal structures, but rights groups say demolishing crosses restricts Christianity and religious freedoms. A top Chinese pastor came under investigation last month on suspicion of embezzling funds after he publicly opposed a cross removal campaign. Read more: Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world Communist China officially guarantees freedom of religion, though authorities are sometimes suspicious of religious groups. Experts say there are up to 60 million Protestants in China, divided between official and unregistered churches. Thousands of protesters marched through Moscow on Saturday to commemorate the anniversary of the death of Boris Nemtsov, the liberal opposition leader who was gunned down in a still-unsolved contract killing last February. Nemtsovs assassination sent shock waves through Russias political elite as well as grass-roots opponents of President Vladimir Putin. I came out here for Borya, an affectionate form of Nemtsovs first name, said Vladimir Schemelev, a 52-year-old writer and Uber driver who is from Nemtsovs home town, Nizhny Novgorod. I know who ordered his death. Everyone knows. That man is named Vladimir Putin. It was an increasingly rare public reminder that there remain vocal opponents to Putin in Russia despite his popularity in opinion polls and vaunted status on national television. Alternatively harassed and ignored, Russias pro-democracy opposition has faded into the background as national attention has instead focused on the simmering conflict in Ukraine and Russias military intervention in Syria, as well as an economic recession that has forced Russians to cut back in their daily lives. [Putins biggest foe describes life in the crosshairs] Its a chance for them to look around and say, We are alive and not afraid, said Ekaterina Schulmann, a political scientist and a senior lecturer at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. She said that Saturdays rally would serve as a kind of head count for the liberal and pro-democratic opposition, which will seek new support from those angry about the economy in parliamentary elections in September. Rally organizers estimated 25,000 people attended, while police put the count at 7,500. At the height of the protest movement in late 2011, after vote manipulation provoked public outrage, more than 100,000 anti-Putin protesters surged onto Moscows streets. Nemtsov, a former physicist who rose quickly in post-Soviet politics to the post of deputy prime minister, was known as a champion of democratic reforms and later as a devoted foe of Putin. Once considered a possible heir to Boris Yeltsin, post-Soviet Russias first president, Nemtsov joined the opposition and demonstrated for liberal reform as Putin consolidated power. Analysts expect that the economy rather than the political situation will drive protest sentiment in 2016. There have been small, scattered demonstrations already, including workers protesting cuts at a train factory in Nizhny Tagil, truckers opposed to new road tolls outside Moscow, and workers demanding their back pay at a Sbarro restaurant in Moscow. Vladimir Milov, an opposition activist and president of the Institute of Energy Policy in Moscow, said the opposition was seeking to build its base among social protesters but added not to expect changes overnight. I dont see one big turning point or tipping point, Milov said. But I see an expansion of people who realize whats really going on in this country. The numbers will grow and this will bring forces who demand a change of course in Russia into the mainstream. [In Russia, rhetoric from Putin ally stokes fear of new assassinations] Most of the demonstrators Saturday were veterans of the protest movement, bearing posters with portraits of Nemtsov or placards urging demonstrators to struggle. Some assailed Ramzan Kadyrov, the strongman leader of Russias volatile Chechnya region, whom Nemtsovs closest allies have accused of ordering the assassination. Some former members of a Chechen special forces unit believed to be under Kadyrovs control have been arrested in the slaying of the 55-year-old Kremlin critic, while investigators have complained that others have disappeared or are being shielded from answering questions. On Tuesday, Ilya Yashin, an opposition leader and a close friend of Nemtsovs, released a report called Threat to National Security, in which he accused Kadyrov of corruption, ties to organized crime, complicity in the murders of journalists and building a 30,000-member personal army of fighters. Kadyrov, who published a leaked version of the report on his Instagram, called the report gossip and added: What can Yashin write? Yashin is nobody.x In an interview broadcast Saturday evening, Kadyrov, 39, said he was seeking a successor in Chechnya and was considering resignation, saying my time has passed. Read more: Putin loyalist posts chilling death threat to Russian opposition leader Suspects held in death of Kremlin critic Nemtsov Putin critic, Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov killed in Moscow Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Israelis drink coffee in front of a graffiti depicting film director Steven Spielberg which was painted over a closed shutter next to a home utilities store, at the Mahane Yehuda Market, often called The Shuk on Feb. 24 in Jerusalem. (David Vaaknin/For The Washington Post) A good argument can be made that the soul of Jewish Jerusalem is the old Mahane Yehuda market, known as the shuk. Now it is set to become the largest Jewish portrait gallery in the world. The open-air food mart is a beautiful chaos of jostling capitalism 5 1/ 2 days a week, while at night, it is dark and spooky. A good place to be a rat, or better, a cat. But in the past few years, the shuk has transformed itself into an improbable nightlife hot spot, the narrow alleys and stalls taken over by dozens of micropubs, fish-and-chips joints and live music bars. An Israeli woman drinks beer at a bar as shoppers walk through the Mahane Yehuda Market. (David Vaaknin/For The Washington Post) A vendor throws crushed ice over fish at the Mahane Yehuda Market. (David Vaaknin/For The Washington Post) If there is a slice of hip in fusty Jewish Jerusalem, this is it. And now a prolific street artist and his pal are adding the color. There are about 360 metal shutters that roll down to protect the fruit, fish and bakery stalls at night. Solomon Souza has spray-painted portraits on 140 of them. He has another few months to go and thinks he and other artists will do a couple hundred more. Using spray cans he pulls out of grocery sacks, Souza has painted portraits of Jews, famous and obscure. There is the founding generation of Israel: David Ben-Gurion, featured upside down, and Golda Meir, Menachem Begin and Zeev Jabotinsky (but pointedly no Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat). He has painted famous Jews, such as Albert Einstein, Steven Spielberg, and the medieval philosopher and astronomer Maimonides, and the less well-known, such as Gracia Mendes Nasi, a spice trader and perhaps the wealthiest Jewish woman in the Renaissance world, who helped resettle Jews in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee in the 16th century, making her an early Zionist. There is a portrait of Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street Journal correspondent executed in Pakistan by al-Qaeda operatives in 2002, whose last words were My fathers Jewish, my mothers Jewish, Im Jewish. . . . There is Bob Marley, too. (Babylon, Zion, Rastafarians; it is a complicated connection, but it works. Also, at night, the shuk smells like marijuana; it is not legal in Israel but is tolerated.) Israeli women enjoy at a local bar as they sit in front of a graffiti depicting the late Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. (David Vaaknin/For The Washington Post) An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man passes in front of a graffiti depicting King Solomon. (David Vaaknin/For The Washington Post) Vendors make preparations to close their stall as they pass in front of a graffiti depicting Rabbi Shlomo Ben David Lakein. (David Vaaknin/For The Washington Post) Souza is a 22-year-old transplant from London. Mostly self-taught, he can paint up to four shutters a night. On a recent day, Souza and his crew walked from their nearby home over to the shuk, lugging cans of paint and video equipment. At the Levi brothers falafel shop, they scraped and cleaned the metal shutters as Souza asked his friends whom he should paint. He did not have a plan, but he did have a smartphone. Someone suggested Lucy Aharish, a Muslim Arab Israeli and popular TV news anchor. So uza found a photo of Aharish he liked on Google Images, then put on his gas mask and went to work, a can of paint in his right hand, the phone photo in his left. Souza will not paint a shutter unless shopkeepers give their permission. His artistic partner and the P.T. Barnum of the team, Berel Hahn, prowls the shuk during the day, cajoling vendors to allow their shutters to be sprayed. At first we got a bunch of requests to paint the shopkeepers favorite rabbis, so a lot of the early shutters are old men, which is fine, but our friends said, Hey, where are the women? Wheres everybody else? said Hahn, 26, a transplant from Crown Heights in Brooklyn who wears a gold-sequined yarmulke. People watch artist Solomon Souza as he spray-paints a portrait depicting Israeli-Arab news anchor Lucy Aharish over a closed shutter at the Mahane Yehuda Market. (David Vaaknin/For The Washington Post) Souza painted many grandfathers of todays stall owners; other vendors tell the artist to paint whomever he likes. The pair ask not only for permission to paint, but also for a donation. Many shop owners decline; some offer to buy the paint. This is a labor of love, Hahn said. They want to open a nonprofit gallery in the market to sell T-shirts, coffee cups, posters and refrigerator magnets of the portraits. Hahn said the idea is to paint everybody who helped the Jews get here, to support indigenous Jewish culture. He said one day he had a vision. I saw the shuk exploding at night with color and history. Merchants in the shuk are hagglers. Theyre suspicious, said Shuki Haidu, a tour guide and a friend of the artist. They want to know, Whats the catch? Why are these guys painting shutters for free? They think, Maybe this artist will be famous and somebody is going to steal my shutters? That kind of thing, Artist Solomon Souza (L) and Berel Hahn (R). (David Vaaknin/For The Washington Post) Some of the vendors wanted the art to serve as an advertisement, which Souza and Hahn declined. A coffee shop wanted a painting of coffee. A mobile-phone dealer wanted phones. So Souza painted Samson fighting the lion, and at the very bottom of the shutter, he drew a fallen cellphone. Sara Hannah Ekaireb, 20, a New Yorker spending the year in a religious studies program in Jerusalem, said she comes to the shuk most evenings and enjoys seeing the how the project is taking shape. Its fun to see snippets of Jewish history with this work, she said. Although I think there could be more women. Her friend, Rachel Sneiderman, who moved to Israel from Delaware and will be joining the Israeli army in April, said the shuk is a super cool place to be. Ruth Eglash contributed to this report. Read more: Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world In his novel The Death Ship, a scathing critique of capitalist society, B. Traven describes how Belgian and Dutch border officials secretly deport stateless individuals across the border into the neighbouring country at night. I was not born, had no seamans card, could never get a passport in life, and everyone could do with me what he wanted because I was no one, was not officially in the world, and could consequently not be missed, says Gerard Gales, the protagonist of the book. Ninety years after the publication of the novel, Europe is again witnessing similar scenes, on a far more massive scale. Tens of thousands of refugees who have escaped the hell of war in the Middle East are being deprived of all rights and any shred of human dignity. They are being used as pawns in conflicts between the European states. Barbed wire and guns hinder their onward journey. They are mistreated, detained under barbaric conditions and deported. They are not considered human, and certainly not as being in need of protection. They are treated as invaders, illegal immigrants or criminal foreigners. The Western Balkans summit held on Wednesday was the high point to date of the systematic persecution of refugees seeking asylum in Europe. The Austrian government invited representatives from nine Balkan states to Vienna for the purpose of closing down the Balkan route along which most of the refugees travel from Greece to Central Europe. Greece, where 100,000 refugees have arrived just since the beginning of the year, was not invited to the summit. Its foreign minister described Greeces exclusion as an unfriendly act, and the Greek government recalled its ambassador from Vienna in protest, something without precedent in the history of the European Union. Viennas unilateral action, which also met with criticism in Brussels and Berlin, is only the latest development in a surge of nationalism and xenophobia fuelled by the ruling elites of all the European countries, beginning with Germany. Berlin rejects a blockade of the Balkan route, favouring a European solution. In practical terms, this means, instead of sealing the Greek-Macedonian border, policing the Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey to block asylum seekers seeking to reach Greece on their way to northern Europe. Berlin fears that heavily indebted Greece could implode financially and politically under the burden of the refugee crisis, with incalculable consequences for the finances and cohesion of the European Union. As the Balkan ministers met in Vienna, representatives of the 28 NATO member-states gathered in Brussels to work out the final details of the deployment of NATO assets in the Aegean. From Saturday, naval forces under German leadership will monitor refugee routes around the clock, with people smugglers, (i.e., refugee boats) to be punished just as harshly as terrorists and refugees in distress to be brought back to Turkey. The aim of the military operation is to drastically and sustainably reduce the number of refugees at the Turkish-Greek border, as German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere explained on the sidelines of a meeting with his EU counterparts in Brussels. This is to be achieved in not more than 10 days. Then, a special summit of the European Union and the Turkish government is scheduled to take place, where Ankara, in return for money, diplomatic concessions andsomething that is not openly discussedsupport for its war against the Kurds, the Syrian government and Russia, will be obliged to act as the prison-keeper and border guard for the European Union. This summit is crucial for the German government. A week later, on March 13, three important state elections that could undermine Angela Merkels chancellorship are being held. For this reason, de Maiziere threatened that Germany would seal its borders if there was no agreement at the summit. A competition is underway across Europe to determine who can most brutally deter refugees. It is not difficult to imagine what this means for the desperate people struggling for their very survival somewhere between Kabul, Baghdad, Damascus, Athens and Berlin. Like Gerard Gales in The Death Ship, they are no one and not officially in the world. The much-vaunted European values to which, in the view of some politicians, every asylum seeker must commit in writing boil down to the reality that a migrant without a passport or visa from an EU country is an object that does not merit the protection afforded to animals. The attacks on refugees demonstrate what the European ruling elites plan for their own people. They mesh seamlessly with the austerity measures that have plunged millions into abject poverty in Greece, Portugal, Spain and other countries. Given the unstable economic situation, the growing social and national tensions, and the billions flowing into military spending, further and harsher attacks will follow, and not only in so-called debtor states. The conception that Europe could be united as a progressive and democratic entity on a capitalist basis has always been an illusion. Capitalist private interests, which are closely linked to the nation-state system, cannot be reconciled with the peaceful elimination of borders and harmonious development of the economy and society. The dispute over refugees is only a symptom of the growing national conflicts in Europe. Differences between Europes capitals are now being aired in an aggressive tone, reminiscent of the eve of the two world wars. The recalling of the Greek ambassador from Vienna is just one example. In the German media, the demand of political scientist Herfried Munkler for Germany to become the disciplinarian of Europe evokes great enthusiasm. In its Thursday edition, Die Welt denounced Viennas Western Balkans summit as the reincarnation of the Danube monarchythis time not as an ally, but as an opponent of Germany. The Balkans used to be Viennas sphere of influence, and have become so again since the collapse of Yugoslavia, the newspaper declared. Berlin and Brussels, in contrast, look to Greece and Turkey, Viennas imperial opponents. Those who think in such categories are already planning the next war. In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban accuses the German government of expressing itself gruffly, rudely and aggressively, and of making Europes future and security dependent on the good will of Turkey. In Warsaw, plans for a new version of the Intermarium, a power bloc against Germany and Russia, are being discussed. There are dozens of similar examples. Politics in Europe once again follow the mottos: the national interest first and everyone for himself. While almost all of the European powers are rushing to get involved in the wars in Syria, Libya and Africa, a military conflict on the continent itself is moving into the realm of possibility. The sealing of borders and the mistreatment of stateless individuals, described so vividly in Travens novel, were unmistakable signs of the coming Second World War. The book was published eight years after the guns of the Great War fell silent and a mere 13 years before the German invasion of Poland. Today, the dangers are no less acute. Everything depends on the independent intervention of the working class. The defence of refugees, the struggle against capitalism and the fight for a socialist Europe are inseparable parts of the struggle against war. Long before state authorities publicly acknowledged problems with drinking water in Flint, Michigan, internal emails show that advisers to Michigan Governor Rick Snyder advocated moving the water supply from the polluted Flint River back to the Detroit water system. The revelation is the latest in a damning series of disclosures showing that Snyder and other top state officials were well aware of the dangers facing Flint residents long before raising any warnings or taking any action. Some 100,000 residents of the city were exposed to dangerous levels of lead in their drinking water after Flints state-appointed emergency manager mandated that the city begin drawing water from the polluted Flint River. The city did not treat the water with corrosion control chemicals. As a consequence the Flint River water leached lead from the citys antiquated piping system. On October 14, 2014 Valeria Brader, Snyders top environmental policy advisor, requested the governors office ask Flints emergency manager to move the citys water supply back to the Detroit system, its original water source. This was a full year before the state finally authorized the switch. Braders request came shortly after General Motors asked to disconnect from the Flint water system, complaining that the water was corroding its car parts. The email exchanges followed the issuance of a boil water advisory to Flint residents due to E. coli and total coliform in the water supply. The over-treatment of Flint water with chlorine to kill bacteria led to a further problem, the buildup of trihalomethane, a chlorine related chemical that can cause a range of health problems, including liver disease and cancer. Mike Gadola, Snyders chief legal counsel, agreed with Brader. He wrote in scathing terms, To anyone who grew up in Flint as I did, the notion that I would be getting my drinking water from the Flint River is downright scary. Too bad the [emergency manager] didnt ask me what I thought, though I am sure he heard it from plenty of others. Gadola noted that his mother remained a resident of Flint. Nice to know shes drinking water with elevated chlorine levels and fecal coliform. I agree with Valerie [Brader]. They should try to get back on the Detroit system as a stopgap ASAP before this thing gets too far out of control. The revelations followed the release of 1,600 emails by Snyders office to the Detroit News, with even more emails expected to be made public soon. The exchanges between Snyders closest aides are a further indication of a cover-up at the highest levels of the dangers facing Flint residents. Brader now claims that these concerns were never discussed with the governor. For his part, Gadola is now refusing to respond to questions about internal Snyder administration discussions over the Flint water situation. Gadola currently sits on the Michigan Court of Appeals thanks to an appointment by Snyder. Snyders chief of staff Dennis Muchmore was one of those who received Gadolas email. He told the Detroit News that the proposal to switch Flint back to the Detroit water system was the prevailing view in the governors office. However, the switch was never implemented because of the cost, estimated at $1 million a month. The assessment was you couldnt do it because it was a cost that should have been borne by the system, Muchmore said. In another incriminating email, Muchmore advocated using a $2 million grant the state had given Flint to upgrade its water system to defray the cost of a switch back to Detroit water. Since were in charge, we can hardly ignore the people of Flint, wrote Muchmore in an email to other high level state officials. After all, if GM refuses to use the water in their plant and our own agencies are warning people not to drink it we look pretty stupid hiding behind some financial statement. Then in March, Muchmore wrote another email proposing the state buy bottled water for Flint residents saying, If we procrastinate much longer in doing something direct, well have real trouble. These latest revelations follow reports that health experts warned the state about an outbreak of Legionnaires Disease in October 2014 and its possible link to the Flint water system. However, state environmental officials suppressed the warning, calling local health officials irresponsible. The difficulties facing the Republican Snyder administration have drawn a parade of Democratic Party politicians to Flint. The latest to visit the city was Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a candidate for the Democratic Party presidential nomination, who hosted a town hall meeting Thursday. Sanders has called for Snyders resignation over the Flint water crisis. The focus on the role of the governor, however, is an attempt to deflect attention from the role of the Democratic Party, which, at all levels, colluded with Republican state officials in the cover-up of the dangers facing Flint residents. Indeed, the emergency managers who oversaw the switch to the Flint River were Democrats, as were the Flint mayor and a majority on the city council. Former Democratic State Treasurer Andy Dillon signed off on the switch to the Flint River water supply. The Obama administrations Environmental Protection Agency also played a major role in the cover-up. The top EPA official in Michigan blocked attempts by a subordinate to raise warnings about the lack of corrosion control measures relating to Flint water. Sanders, like his rival, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has no serious policy proposals for addressing the crisis in Flint. Sanders again refused to criticize the response of the Obama administration, which declared a state of emergency in Flint in January, but said the city did not qualify for disaster relief. While rubber-stamping the Obama administrations massive military budget, the Democratic Party, like its Republican counterparts, chokes at providing even token levels of spending for infrastructure upgrades, such as the estimated $1.5 billion needed to replace Flints antiquated piping system. Currently Michigans Democratic senators are sponsoring bi-partisan legislation to provide a paltry $220 million to address infrastructure repairs. The money would not all be earmarked for Flint and includes $100 million in subsidized loans, not grants. Another $70 million would be applied toward financing costs toward up to $700 million in secured infrastructure loans across the US. Even this miserable package faces likely continued delays. Meanwhile, Flint residents face contaminated water that is unsafe for drinking, bathing or cooking. Due to the fact that I live in Illinois which has been carved into districts to ensure Democratic majorities, my vote is mostly useless or a protest vote at best. I wrote about gerrymandering here and the fact that perhaps I live in the most ruthlessly gerrymandered district in the nation (and that is no small feat), the fifth Illinois house district, with our current representative, Ken Dunkin. Recently I have been receiving a series of mailings for Ken Dunkins re-election, which is hotly contested. Currently in Illinois, the Democrats technically have a super-majority, meaning that they can unilaterally issue a budget (more or less) and raise taxes. However, not every Democrat falls into line with Mike Madigan, the speaker of the Illinois house, who is the true leader of the Democratic party in Illinois. Rauner is looking for Democrats who might listen to his message of reform or for some reason or another be amenable to working constructively with him (dont want to speculate too long on why this might be, but you can probably jump to your own conclusion). Dunkin refused to show up for a vote that Madigan thought was crucial in September and conspiracy theories have him aligned with Rauner. Per this article from the Chicago Tribune: More than $2 million, an unprecedented sum for a legislative primary contest, could be spent between Dunkin, who has allied himself with Rauner against Madigan, and Stratton, who is backed by organized labor. This is a ridiculous amount of money to spend on a primary race for a house seat for the Illinois legislature. Given the Democratic machines hold on this part of the city, it is accepted as a given that the Democratic candidate will win so all of the efforts go into the primary. Thus my vote is now a precious commodity. Seemingly every day I get a giant, colorful, nearly insane flyer in the mail with the two candidates attacking each other. Here is a flyer stating that Ken Dunkin was convicted of abusing women and is unfit for office. On the other hand, I receive flyers accusing Stratton of being a shill for Madigan, the behind the scenes despotic ruler of the Democrats who has essentially run Illinois into the ground. Since both candidates are Democrats, there is nary a discussion about businesses, competitiveness, or anything remotely representing capitalism. The only topics are how to get more money from taxpayers to protect the weak, which is apparently the only job of state government. We even received an actual, personal phone call (we still have an old-school phone line) from Stratton where she left a personal message with our name on it on our answering machine. It was not a robo-call (unless it was super sophisticated) because it sounded personal and had our actual name in the conversation. We saved the message and listened to it a couple of times, incredulously. Of course I need to vote for Ken Dunkin. We need this convicted wife beater to not attend the Illinois legislature periodically when Madigan calls in all his favors to try to override the Republicans. We arent asking anything more than for him to just not be present a few times a year thats not too much to ask, apparently. In Illinois, in order to vote in a primary election, you have to select a party ballot. Thus in order to vote for Mr. Dunkin, I need to select a Democratic party ballot. Sigh. This will be painful for me but I dont need to vote for any other Democrats except for Dunkin. Perhaps I will toss one in for Bern because he is the less electable of the Democratic candidates in my opinion and if I cant vote Republican at least I can try to harm the Democrats. Maybe I will scan through the recommended candidates from the Chicago Tribune for the Democratic primary and then vote for all the challengers. Or most likely I will vote for Dunkin and maybe the Bern and walk out. This is the essence of democracy in Illinois, just as our founding fathers intended it to vote for a convicted wife beater on the hope that he will occasionally stay away from voting in the legislature so that Madigan cant override the Republicans. After I cast that vote I likely will have a couple of stiff shots of liquor just to clear my palate from this dirty work. Cross posted at LITGM Top US defence officials made a series of inflammatory statements this week about Chinas activities in the South China Sea, in order to justify the Pentagons accelerating military build-up in the Indo-Pacific and to push for an expanded defence budget. The only conclusion that can be drawn is that advanced preparations are being made for war with China. Speaking at the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday, Defence Secretary Ashton Carter accused China of increasing the risk of miscalculation or conflict between regional countries by its military presence in the South China Sea. Chinese behaviour is having the effect of self-isolation, and its also galvanising others to take action against it, he declared, noting that allies and partners were increasingly working with the US. The South China Sea has been a central focus of the Obama administrations pivot to Asia since US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declared in mid-2010 that the US had a national interest in ensuring freedom of navigation through the contested waters. Washington has deliberately stoked up tensions and exploited longstanding maritime disputes to drive a wedge between Beijing and rival claimants, especially Vietnam and the Philippines. Carter claimed that the US was not out to keep China down but we dont look for anyone to dominate the region and certainly not for anybody to push the United States out. The purpose of the pivot, however, is precisely to ensure the ongoing hegemony of US imperialism in Asia. That requires the subordination of China to Washingtons interests. We are a Pacific power. We are there to stay, he declared emphatically. Carters message was reinforced by General Joe Dunford, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, who told the committee that China was developing capabilities that are intended to limit our ability to move into the Pacific or to operate freely within the Pacific. He insisted that the US had to maintain its competitive advantage versus China which was why we are fielding the most modern capabilities of the [Defence] Department to the Pacific first. As part of the pivot, the Pentagon is planning to station 60 percent of its air and naval assets to the Indo-Pacific by 2020. The US military build-up is already well underway, including the forging of new basing arrangements with Australia, the Philippines and Singapore, as well as the restructuring of US bases in Japan, South Korea and Guam. Under the guise of countering the threat posed by North Korea, the Pentagon is preparing to base strategic assetsthat is, nuclear-capable aircraft and anti-ballistic missile systemson the Korean Peninsula. Admiral Harry Harris, commander of the US Pacific Command (PACOM), made by far the most bellicose comments in testimony to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, and during a press conference at the Pentagon on Thursday. Harris, who took over as PACOM chief last May, has aggressively pressed for supposed freedom of navigation operations to directly challenge Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea. Last October and again in January, US warships deliberately intruded within the 12-nautical-mile territorial limit surrounding Chinese-controlled islets. At his Pentagon press conference, Harris grossly inflated the threat posed by Chinese activities in the South China Sea, declaring: Im of the opinion theyre militarising the South China Sea. They have reclaimed almost 3,000 acres of military bases in the South China Sea. While China has engaged in extensive land reclamation on a handful of reefs in the Spratlys, to claim that it has 3,000 acres of military bases is absurd. A week of congressional testimony was accompanied by what, in all likelihood, were planted articles in the American media highlighting two missile batteries and fighter aircraft on Woody Island, Chinas administrative centre in the Paracels, as well as the possible construction of radar installations in the Spratlys. Even these much-hyped stories fall well short of Harriss hyperbole. To counter China, Harris called for more frequent freedom of navigation challenges to its territorial claims. He urged other like-minded nations to do the same. At present, the Australian government is under considerable pressure from Washington, as well as the opposition Labor Party and internally, to stage its own such operations. Harris also claimed that China would declare an Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the South China Sea, which he branded as destabilising and provocative. In another calculated affront to Beijing, he added: We would ignore it, just like weve ignored the ADIZ that theyve put in place in the East China Sea. When China announced an ADIZ in the East China Sea in late 2013, the Pentagon sent two B-52 strategic bombers into the zone unannounced, deliberately risking a confrontation. Harris explicitly raised the necessity to prepare for war with China, in order to ensure that it does not undermine US military predominance in the Asia Pacific. If China continues to arm all of the bases they have claimed in the South China Sea, they will change the operational landscape in the region. Short of war with the United States, China will exercise de facto control of the South China Sea, he said. Not surprisingly, Beijing reacted sharply to Harriss remarks. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei declared that the admiral intended to smear Chinas legitimate and reasonable actions in the South China Sea and [is] sowing discord, adding: He is finding an excuse for US maritime hegemony and muscle-flexing on the sea. The Chinese regime is well aware that the Pentagons AirSea Battle strategy for war on China is premised on US military dominance in the South China Sea that would enable a massive air and missile attack on the Chinese mainland, supplemented by a naval blockade. However, there is nothing progressive about Beijings response. It involves, on the one hand, seeking an accommodation with Washington while, on the other, engaging in an arms race that only provides the US with a pretext for its massive build-up. Testifying at the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, Harris was quite open about his demands for a greater military arsenal in the Indo-Pacific. He cited the comments of Defence Secretary Carter: We must have, and be seen to have, the ability to impose unacceptable costs on an advance aggressor that will either dissuade them from taking provocative action or make them deeply regret it if they do. Harris insisted that PACOM needed increased lethality, specifically ships and aircraft equipped with faster, more lethal, and more survivable weapons systems. We must have longer-range offensive weapons on every platform. Finally we must have a networked force that provides greater options for action or response. The admiral specifically complained that the US navy was only providing him with about 62 percent of the attack submarine patrols that he needed. Critical munitions shortfalls are a top priority and concern, he said. Munitions are a major component of combat readiness. USPACOM forces need improvements in munitions technologies, production, and pre-positioning, but fiscal pressures places this at risk. Pressing his case before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday, Harris made no bones about the purpose of his demands for greater weaponry and funds. Im comfortable where we are today, but today were not at war, and I think [that is] an important point, he said. In other words, a war with China is precisely what is being prepared. By Michael Isikoff Donald Trumps legal troubles, stemming from his involvement in the now defunct Trump University, erupted into a major issue in the presidential campaign today, with rival Marco Rubio citing it as evidence the Republican frontrunner is a con artist. The developer is being sued in federal court by former students who claim they were defrauded of thousands of dollars in fees. I mean, this is unreal, said Rubio on NBCs Today show. This guy is a con artist. You have a guy who is being sued right now for fraud for Trump University. There are people that borrow $36,000 to go to Trump University And you know what they got? They got to take a picture with a cardboard cutout of Donald Trump. A con artist is about to take over the conservative movement and the Republican Party, and we have to put a stop to it, he added in a separate interview on ABC News. Rubios comments, which echoed remarks by him and Sen. Ted Cruz at the Republican debate Thursday night, followed the disclosure by Yahoo News that Trump is slated to be a witness in an upcoming civil trial in San Diego. A class-action suit accuses the developer of defrauding thousands of students in his unaccredited, for-profit Trump University, which promised to teach them how to get rich in the real estate business. The sharp new attack lines reflect a strategic decision made by the Rubio camp this week that the Florida senator needed to launch a frontal attack on Trump and that the ongoing fraud cases against him there are actually three he is currently facing over the university present the most opportunities. Donald Trump holds a media conference announcing the establishment of Trump University in 2005. (Photo: Thos Robinson/Getty Images) We believe its going to be a fruitful line of attack, one Rubio advisor told Yahoo News Friday. To have a leading presidential candidate being accused of fraud in court in the midst of a campaign is unique in American politics. Story continues Trump, who has strongly denied all wrongdoing and recently hired prominent litigator Daniel Petrocelli to represent him in the San Diego case, dismissed the issue when it came up in the debate and again in a press conference Friday at which he was endorsed by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Christie defended Trump, who claimed he had won most of the lawsuits he has faced over the issue. In fact he has failed in repeated attempts to get the suits dismissed. The San Diego case will be the first to go to trial. And Cruz appears to have made a similar calculation as Rubio, bringing up the potential effect of the cases on Trumps electability. "You know, Marco made reference earlier to the litigation against Trump University. Its a fraud case, Cruz said during the debate, pointing to the likely campaign fallout. "If this man is the nominee, having the Republican nominee, on the stand in court, being cross-examined about whether he committed fraud, Cruz said. You dont think the mainstream media will go crazy on that? As noted by Yahoo News last week, the Trump University case has already intruded on Trumps political schedule. On Dec. 10, 2015, during a day he was making international headlines over his pledge to ban Muslim immigrants from the United States, Trump slipped away to give a closed-door pretrial deposition in the case, according to court filings reviewed by Yahoo News. Exactly what he said in the deposition remains under seal, but lawyers for Tarla Makaeff, a California yoga instructor who is the lead plaintiff in the case, cited portions of his testimony (blacked out in her pleadings) to support their contention that Trump has threatened to ruin her financially and that she needs protection from his retaliation. The case filed by Makaeff and four other plaintiffs revolves around the operations of the school Trump launched in 2005 with a promotional YouTube video, as well as ads that proclaimed, I can turn anyone into a successful real estate investor, including you, Are YOU My Next Apprentice? and Learn from my handpicked experts how you can profit from the largest real estate liquidation in history. The plaintiffs, former students at Trump University, allege they were misled into maxing out their credit cards and paying up to $36,000 in fees (Makaeff claims she forked over $60,000) for seminars in hotel ballrooms and mentoring by Trumps hand-picked real estate experts. The lawsuit alleges the seminars turned into little more than an infomercial and the Trump mentors offered no practical advice and mostly disappeared. The Makaeff case is expected to be consolidated shortly with another outstanding class-action lawsuit over the school accusing Trump of a pattern of racketeering activities. A final pretrial conference has been scheduled by U.S. Judge Gonzalo Curiel with an actual trial expected in late spring or summer. Yet another lawsuit against Trump accusing him of fraud over Trump University has been filed by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and is still pending in the states courts. Trumps lawyers have adamantly denied the charges. None of it is true. No one was defrauded, said Alan Garten, the Trump Organizations general counsel, in an interview about the allegations last year. The people that take these classes go into it with their eyes open. A lot of people did very well [with Trump University]. A lot of people enjoyed it. But like everything else, if people dont put the effort into it, they dont succeed. While it is unclear how long the trial over Trump University will take, both sides have submitted lengthy witness lists: 72 individuals have been identified as prospective witnesses by the two sides. The case shows little sign of being settled. In recent filings, Petrocelli, best known for representing one of the murder victims in a civil suit against O.J. Simpson, identified 965 trial exhibits he expects to use at trial, including PowerPoint presentations, course curriculums, emails, letters, videos and other material. The accounts of several popular microbloggers have been shut down by Sina Weibo for rumormongering, misleading the public and posting remarks that run counter to the Constitution, China's top Internet regulator said Friday. A statement from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) accused the microbloggers, dubbed "Big Vs" for their large number of followers, of ignoring their social responsibilities, abusing their influence, smearing the state honor and disrupting social order. The affected accounts include "luoyameng" "rongjian2001" "yanyuansunhaiying" "wenshanwa" and "jiyun". In total, more than 580 celebrity microbloggers' accounts and illegal public accounts have been shut down, said the CAC. The CAC said it has asked websites to delete more than 2,000 rumors concerning people's daily life, transportation, food safety and public policies. In addition, the statement listed several websites that had been shut down for illegally selling hospital tickets and slandering others. A Chinese counter-terrorism official has pledged to resolutely prevent and crack down on terror and protect citizens' rights in accordance with the country's first counter-terrorism law. The new law, adopted by China's top legislature in December and took effect in January, includes stipulations on preventing, detecting, handling and punishing terrorism, said Liu Yuejin, counter-terrorism commissioner of the Ministry of Public Security. Also, with provisions of the law about international cooperation, China will work with other countries in fighting terrorist forces abroad, to root out the sources of terror at home, Liu said. The new law also encourages participation by the public and spells out protection of citizens' personal and property rights. Liu said the definition of the term "terrorism" in the law was inspired by a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) counter-terrorism convention, and the UN's Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism. According to the new law, "terrorism" is defined as any proposition or activity -- that, by means of violence, sabotage or threat, generates social panic, undermines public security, infringes on personal and property rights, and menaces government organs and international organizations -- with the aim of realizing political and ideological purposes. Liu explained that the word "proposition" refers to systemic terrorism ideas that are already widespread. "It is to deter and punish the circulating ideas and will not criminalize any unuttered state of mind or unimplemented attempts." The law also defines extremism and penalties. The official stressed that the law gives full attention to the balance between cracking down on terrorism and protecting citizens' rights. People or organizations identified as being involved in terrorism can ask for a review of such decision and any limit to personal and property rights must undergo strict scrutiny and approval, Liu said. The law specifically prioritizes the protection of terror victims during emergency response operations, Liu noted. Concerns on freedom of speech Liu refuted the saying that the law infringes companies' copyrights and the people's freedom of speech on the Internet, adding cyberspace has become an important tool for terrorists to organize and implement attacks. In recent cases, most terrorist conducted crimes under the influence of online materials promulgating terrorist thought, and some major cases were initiated and commanded by overseas terrorists through the Internet, Liu said. "Strengthening cyber security administration, and apportioning the responsibility of Internet service providers (ISP) in anti-terrorist efforts are urgent matters," Liu said. The anti-terrorist law has taken into consideration of China's practical conditions and drawn on the experience of other countries, stipulating that telecom operators and ISPs should provide technical interfaces and decryption technology to the authority. "The assessment results showed that the clause has not affected businesses' legal operations. Companies' copyrights or people's freedom of speech have not been infringed either," added Liu. Liu also denied that the law limits the freedom of the press. Current anti-terror situation While describing the country's current anti-terrorism situation as "stable and under control," Liu noted that terrorism is nonetheless permeating further in the country under the influence of international terrorists' activities. "Domestic and overseas 'East Turkistan' forces are stepping up their instigating efforts, and there's a growing tendency for activities that are masterminded overseas, organized online and implemented within the country," Liu said. Liu stressed that "a very few persons with terrorist thinking" are still secretly planning violence and sabotage activities in the country, and violence and terror incidents still occurred occasionally in some parts of Xinjiang. According to Liu, as the law took effect, various departments will innovate anti-terrorism methods, strengthen prevention of and crackdown on violence and terrorism activities while enhancing international cooperation in fighting terrorism. Liu said that previous incidents in the country were mostly conducted through knife and axe attacks, vehicle crashes, arson and bombs, and, in some cases, the offenders have prepared for a long time and were able to escape fast after attacking. Liu noted that some attackers followed instructions from overseas terrorism forces, and some others even organized new groups in a bid to launch fresh attacks while themselves staying off the grid. In response, Liu continued, police have been making huge efforts to build an anti-terror intel system and strengthen supervision over key people, materials and venues, with the goal to prevent such incidents from the sources. According to Liu, Chinese police have busted a "batch" of groups and effectively cracked down on "East Turkistan" terrorism with the help of neighboring countries. Flash A sketch map shows China-Pakistan Railway connecting China's Kashgar to Pakistan's Gwadar Port. [Xinhua] In January 2016, President Xi wrapped up his state visit to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran, releasing further signals to the world on the comprehensive progress and intensive cultivation of China's diplomatic layout. The journey to the construction of "One Belt and One Road" is brimming over with vigor and vitality. In April 2015, Xi paid a state visit to the nation's "Iron Brother" Pakistan. During the visit, the bilateral relationship was upgraded to an all-weather strategic cooperative partner relationship, and both sides confirmed the cooperative blueprint of"1+4," which centers on the China-Pakistan Economic CorridorCPEC, together with the building of Gwadar Port and energy, transport infrastructure and industrial cooperation. Located at the intersection of Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Marine Silk Road, CPEC is known as a flagship project of the Belt and Road initiative. President Xi emphasized "first deployment, then implementation; China will always keep whatever it has said." After Xi's visit, both secretariats of the CPEC joint committee held six video conferences and two working group meetings to implement the deals. In November 2015, China's National Development and Reform Commission and Pakistan's Planning Development and Reform Ministry co-chaired the 5th meeting of CPEC joint committee in Karachi. Both sides reviewed the progress of the key projects over the past year, pushing forward further development of the projects. On January 15, the government of Pakistan decided to establish steering committee of construction of CPEC under the leadership of Prime Minister Sharif. Members of the committee include theCPEC committee chairman, the Federal Planning, Development and Reform minister, the Water and Power minister, the Rail Minister, the Transportation Minister as well as Provincial chief ministers. Under the principle of "one corridor, multiple passageways," the west passageway of the CPEC is preferential, and should be completed by July 15, 2018. Build a true flagship When opening the world map, one could see that the territory of Pakistan looks like a corridor, which connects China and the Arabian Sea. Moreover, it also serves a bridge to associate China with the rest of the world. The connotation of CPEC is constantly enriched and it will play an exemplary role in building up the shared destiny in China's neighboring countries. Since 2015, a number of Chinese ministries and departments have worked together with their Pakistani counterparts to implement projects in construction and priorities project and substantial progress has been made in many aspects. Zhang Baozhong, president of China Overseas Ports Holdings, said both governments have supplied great support in promoting the project. NDRC and Chinese secretariat played a vital role in coordinating and pushing the project, sparing no effort in solving problems. On December 21, a financing agreement of the first coal-electricity integration project, with a total investment of more than $2 billion, was signed in Beijing. On December 22, two road projects, KarachiLahore Motorway and the second phase of the Karakoram Highway upgrading project were signed. These two projects, with contract value of $2.89 billion and $1.315 billion respectively, will be built by China Construction (CSCEC) and China Road and Bridge Corporation. The two projects, once completed, will greatly facilitate travel in Pakistan. On January 10, the construction of the Karot hydropower station along the Jhelum River was commenced by the Three Gorges Corp. It is not only the first hydropower project of the China-Pakistan economic corridor, but the first contract financed by the Silk Road Foundation. With 720,000-kilowatt installed capacity and $1.65billioninvestment, it will provide Pakistan with 3.174-billion-killowat-hour clean energy after completion. The Three Gorges Corp also wins the development rights of KOHALA hydropower station project, which will be comprehensively advanced this year. Other noticeable progress includes the commencement of coal-fire emergency power plant in Qasim Port, the first phase of ZTE Energy solar surface power station, Dawood wind power plant, financing wrapping-up of UEP union energy wind power project, signing of Lahore urban railway orange line project, official launch of Thar coalfield and electricity projects. These achievements reflect the relentless efforts by the CPEC joint commission and both secretariats. It has turned out that CPEC is the most important platform for deepening all-round cooperation between the two countries, and a true flagship project of Belt and Road Initiative. Ambassador of Pakistan to China Masood Khalid spoke highly of the CPEC. "The corridor will help optimize China, Pakistan as well as regional trade and energy cooperation and will benefit 3 billion people in China, South Asia and the Middle East. The corridor will serve as a catalyst for regional economic integration and benefit regional peace and stability." Build consensus in development and prosperity CPEC runs northeastward from Gwadar port to Kashgar in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, which not only represents the important consensus reached by leaders of China and Pakistan, but also reflects the fundamental interests and destiny of both peoples. As a corridor of unity, it will unite peoples in all regions in Pakistan to pursue common prosperity and development. As a result, all the people of Pakistan hope the corridor runs through their own region. Pakistan's former prime minister Shaukat Aziz said that people in every region would agree that the corridor passes through their region in order to enjoy the giant economic benefits. Through reasonable layout of industrial park construction, the corridor will be built into an economic development belt and drive the economic growth of Pakistan. Currently, the total installed capacity of electricity in Pakistan is 23.7 million kilowatts. During the signing ceremony last April, energy projects occupy half of the agreements: 21 cooperative projects in the fields of solar, water, wind, coal and so on, with a total 17.04 million kilowatts installed capacity. In the near future, the largest photovoltaic plant in the world will be built, along with other energy projects, in Pakistan. As a result, the planned energy and infrastructure construction of the corridor will definitely bring Pakistan a thriving future. For example, the Qasim coal-fired power plant in the Qasim port industrial park, will greatly improve the local power supply. Cai Bin, Qasim branch general manager of Power Construction Corp of China,said that he has witnessed the true all-weather friendship and all-round cooperation. Since the signing of the contract last April, all the civil work has been carried out smoothly and would be completed in March. "The speed of the construction was unprecedented, I was deeply moved by the friendship between China and Pakistan." During the ground-breaking ceremony of Qasim power plant, Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif said he hopes each city and each village will be lit with energy from the plant; at the same time, employment opportunity and prosperity would be brought to the entire nation. Historically speaking, Pakistan has provided China an air corridor linking to the world, supporting China's returning to the UN; and now, the economic corridor would penetrate all over Pakistan and bring development and prosperity to each corner of the South Asian nation. Sincerely cooperation The 900-megawatt photovoltaic surface power station, the first such power station in Pakistan is located in Jinnah industrial park, is a priority project of China-Pakistan economic corridor, and was officially launched during President Xi's visit to Pakistan. CPEC, a long-term and systematic project, needs scientific planning and progressive implementation. Cai Bin said the schedule of the construction of Qasim coal-fired power plant had encountered some problems such as the registration of land leasing agreement, electricity delivery and custom clearance. However, NDRC and China Foreign Ministry were helping communicate and coordinate; the problems are believed to be solved satisfactorily. With the construction of the CPEC in full swing, many Chinese engineers and technicians havemade it their mission to "build CPEC, bring benefit to people of Pakistan, and enhance China-Pakistan friendship." Constructorshave become the witnesses of China-Pakistan friendship. A Pakistani proverb says: "Wind not always blow the way as the sailor wishes". CPEC, as President Hussain has said, would not only change the look of Pakistan, but also have a profound impact on the whole region. Project benefits future generations A joint statement signed in last April noted, "The development and planning of CPEC will cover every district of Pakistan, bring benefit to all people of Pakistan, and facilitate the common prosperity of China and Pakistan as well as other countries in the region." CPEC is not only a strategic project, but also a significant project for the interests of people. Chinese enterprises should remember to fulfill their social responsibilities when developing local projects. The image of China is well established after a series of projects involving local people's livelihood are carried out. On November 11, a ceremony was held in Gwadar on the construction of a public primary school, thanks to the funds from the China peace and development foundation. Zhang Baozhong said, "we donate school buses to local schools, set up scholarships, build public primary schools, and plan to build a children's park this year; we approach the local people through public welfare projects, and make Chinese brands win the support of the local people." Flash Polling in Iran's first post-sanctions parliamentary elections concluded on Friday after five voting extensions due to high public turnout. The elections for Iran's Parliament (Majlis) and Assembly of Experts, the first since a nuclear deal last year that ended decades of sanctions against it, started at 8 a.m. local time (0430 GMT) on Friday, started at 8 a.m. local time (0430 GMT) on Friday, as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cast his votes. Iran's Interior Ministry announced the end of voting at 11:00 p.m. (1930 GMT). "The voting should have ended at 6 p.m., but because of a big crowd of voters, we extended the deadline hour by hour. As long as there were people waiting, we would take votes from them," the state-appointed inspector, Ali-Akbar Rezaee, told Xinhua at Tehran's Hosseinieh Ershad polling station. At the early hours on Friday, Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei urged all eligible voters to go to the polls, arguing that doing so will "disappoint" enemies and boost "national sovereignty." Also, President Hassan Rouhani said upon voting that "today's election is an embodiment of the country's political independence as well as the national sovereignty." As the polls opened, Rouhani said "today's political participation means hope for the future of the country and confidence in the establishment as well as the authorities." He added that regardless of the election results, the next legislative bodies, either Majlis or the Assembly of Experts, should serve the interest of the people and the country. The senior Iranian hopeful for the Assembly of Experts and the former president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, told the reporters that "every vote for both elections will influence the future of the country, so everybody should be cognizant of the vote that he or she casts." Mohannad-Hossein Moqimi, the chief of Iran's election bureau, told the state IRIB TV that the elections were held in peace and no security issues were reported. On Tuesday, Iran's Deputy Police Chief Brigadier General Eskandar Momeni said that some 250,000 police officers had been deployed throughout the country to ensure security during Friday's polling. Meanwhile, Iran's Culture and Islamic Guidance Ministry announced that 500 journalists from 29 countries would cover the two major elections. Out of 12,000 registered candidates, 6,229 are competing for 290 seats in the Majlis, or the Iranian Parliament. Iranians will also choose 88 members of the Assembly of Experts out of 166 qualified candidates. The Assembly of Experts, a deliberative body of Islamic theologians, is elected every eight years and charged with electing and removing the Supreme Leader of the country and supervising his activities. According to the Iranian law, Majlis candidates shall win at least a quarter of the votes in the first round of election in each region so as to win a seat in the parliament. Otherwise, a second round of voting is needed. The final results for the two elections are expected to be announced in a week. On Thursday, staff and parents of students at Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District received a letter from Jeffrey Holmes, Superintendent about active shooter swatting calls taking place at multiple school districts across the state. Swatting calls are hoax reports of threats made to police which insight panic. Police say similar types of false threats have occurred at multiple schools across the state Thursday. These threats included 911 calls to police across the state claiming that schools had an active shooter. VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, California Like a giant pen stroke in the sky, an unarmed Minuteman 3 nuclear missile roared out of its underground bunker on the California coastline Thursday and soared over the Pacific, inscribing the signature of American power amid growing worry about North Koreas pursuit of nuclear weapons capable of reaching U.S. soil. When it comes to deterring an attack by North Korea or other potential adversaries, the missile is the message. At 11:01 p.m. Pacific Standard Time Thursday, the Minuteman missile, toting a payload of test instruments rather than a nuclear warhead, leaped into the darkness in an explosion of flame. It arced toward its test range in the waters of the Kwajalein Atoll, an island chain about 2,500 miles southwest of Honolulu. About 30 minutes later the re-entry vehicle that carries the missiles payload reached its target, Col. Craig Ramsey, commander of the 576th Flight Test Squadron, told an assembled group of observers, including Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work and Adm. Cecil Haney, the top nuclear war-fighting commander. The missile test, dubbed Glory Trip 218, was the second this month and the latest in a series designed to confirm the reliability of the Cold War-era missile and all its components. The Minuteman 3, first deployed in 1970, has long exceeded its original 10-year lifespan. It is so old that vital parts are no longer in production. The Air Force operates 450 Minuteman missiles 150 at each of three missile fields in Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota. A few times a year, one missile is pulled from its silo and trucked to Vandenberg, minus its nuclear warhead, for a test launch. Aside from confirming technical soundness, Minuteman test launches are the U.S. militarys way of sharpening the message that forms the foundation of U.S. nuclear deterrence theory that if potential attackers believe U.S. nuclear missiles and bombs are ready for war at all times, then no adversary would dare start a nuclear fight. The credibility of this message can be damaged by signs of weakness or instability in the nuclear weapons force. In 2013-14 the Associated Press documented morale, training, leadership and equipment problems in the Minuteman force, and in January the Air Force acknowledged to the AP that errors by a maintenance crew damaged an armed Minuteman in May 2014. Work said in an interview ahead of Thursdays launch that he sees good progress in fixing the problems in the nuclear missile corps. He also said the Vandenberg test launches are critically important. It is a signal to anyone who has nuclear weapons that we are prepared to use nuclear weapons in defense of our country, if necessary, he said, adding later, We do it to demonstrate that these missiles even though theyre old they still remain the most effective, or one of the most effective, missiles in the world. Constance Baroudos, a defense analyst at the Lexington Institute think tank, sees great deterrent value in the Minuteman test launches. Deterrence basically doesnt work unless the threat is deemed credible, she said. So every time we test ICBMs, we demonstrate not only that the weapons work but also that they are ready to be launched. When those tests are conducted, the Russians, the Chinese and other international actors are watching, and they send a message to a potential aggressor that they not do anything they would regret. WASHINGTON There was a time when gentlemen didnt read other gentlemens mail. That, of course, was when spying was considered a dirty business and some were punished by death for doing so. But without the allies code breakers of World War II, the result might have been considerably different or at least prolonged. The technological revolution has changed the gentlemens unspoken truce. The government not only cant seem to protect its secrets, its unable to persuade one of the nations major corporations to unlock the private communications of a major terrorist even on a limited basis. Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook has decided that it is more important to preserve the privacy of its customers and the principles of a society free of government surveillance than to allow the FBI access to the encrypted messages on the iPhone of a mass murderer. The bureau has possession of the phone Syed Rizwan Farook used before he and his wife unloaded on a banquet hall full of his fellow workers, killing 14 in San Bernardino, Calif., in December. But it hasnt been able to open the devices secrets. A judge recently was persuaded to order Apple to create software that would accomplish that. Apple is challenging that order in court. Apples stance as a defender of security is in many ways admirable. The Big Brother aspects of potentially unfettered government intrusion into our lives make the technological giants concerns real. Americans already must deal with the prospect of less and less privacy in their daily activities. But Farook was a terrorist, motivated by the distorted beliefs that have produced death and destruction by fanatics in the Middle East. This is not just a routine criminal case and it needs to be examined in a different light. How must one deal with the threat of unfettered communications and plots by those who would try to destroy our social fabric if those designated to stop such acts are denied the tools to thwart them? Increasingly sophisticated technology has made that among the most difficult questions we must solve. The answer must come initially not from the courts but from the White House and Congress. President Obama said last year he would not seek legislation to force tech companies to open encrypted data to law enforcement agencies, obviously fearing ultimately unfettered access that would be misused not only by government but by our enemies and competitors abroad. Apple, for instance, sells more of its iPhones in China than in the United States and one of Cooks arguments is that foreign powers would find and misuse the key to the private business of its customers. That may be well and good, but it doesnt solve the current problem of ferreting out those who would harm us who can be linked to the likes of Farook and his wife. There has to be a solution to this quandary. The FBI has said it wanted only to crack the code to this one device. The bureaus defenders argue that the narrowness of the FBI request makes Apples resistance unreasonable if not downright un-patriotic. Donald Trump, the front runner for the Republican presidential nomination has suggested boycotting Apple products until it complies with demands. That hardly seems a viable or fair solution. However, a knowledgeable friend of mine proposes that Apple crack the encryption itself and deliver the contents of the phone to the bureau. No bureau person would be present and the Apple technicians would not be allowed to review the material under strict supervision of the companys top officials. This sounded like a reasonable suggestion, but I am also sure that there would be any number of arguments against it and certainly it doesnt provide a long-term answer. What happens next time? Whether Obama or the next president likes it or not, there needs to be some sort of solution provided by legislation that protects our rights to privacy at the individual and corporate levels while setting up supervised access to information necessary to track and derail those with murderous intent. It is one of the thorniest problems we face and no solution is likely to be infallible. In some instances the price we pay for our freedom from intrusion may be quite high. But it always has been. WASHINGTON Senate Republicans say they will refuse to have a hearing for President Obamas nominee to fill the Supreme Court vacancy. So Democrats on Wednesday took matters into their own hands: They held a hearing all by themselves. A dozen members of the Senate minority assembled on the dais in an ornate hearing room in the Russell Senate Office Building. They used their official nameplates Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Warren, Mr. Cardin and they had cardboard name cards for the witnesses, a quartet of law professors. They put out a media advisory and hung an official-looking sign at the door. They filled the public seats in the audience with staffers and other extras, distributed written testimony for the press and even had a C-SPAN crew on hand to film the proceedings. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, arriving late, made himself at home in one of the empty seats typically occupied by the majority party, prompting Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota, the former comedian, to tattle to Madam Chair. I think Senator Blumenthal is sitting on the Republican side, he reported. Without actual Republicans, the hearing became an echo chamber, as lawmakers lobbed what Madam Chair Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota admitted were softball questions and witnesses gave emphatic concurrence. Are the Republicans violating the Constitution? asked Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii. I would say they are violating the Constitution, replied University of Chicago law professor Geoff Stone. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts piously reminded the audience that for the rest of this year, President Obama is still president of the United States of America. Can I have an amen on that? An amen is about all she can have. Alas for the Democrats, they dont have the power to hold a real hearing. Klobuchar is in charge only of the Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee, a party apparatus that doesnt have real committee powers. Klobuchar herself has been mentioned as one of the possible nominees for the Supreme Court vacancy. But given the way the eventual nominee is likely to be treated, the president might instead consider nominating Klobuchars Minnesota colleague Franken, who isnt a lawyer but can appreciate farce. Democrats have no authority to force the Republican majority to vote on Obamas eventual nominee, or even to hold a hearing. But they think they can make Republicans pay a political price for their reflexive decision not to hold a hearing for an Obama nominee. GOP leaders said Wednesday they would stick to that position even if Obama were to nominate Brian Sandoval, the Republican governor of Nevada. Polls indicate the GOP position which goes well beyond the more defensible position of voting down Obamas eventual nominee both stirs up the Democratic base and offends independent voters. The incoming Democratic Senate leader, Chuck Schumer of New York, said Wednesday that this is going to be the dominant issue for the remainder of the year, overshadowing anything that may happen on the Senate floor. To guarantee that, Democrats will launch all manner of stunts and theatrics. On Wednesday, Democratic staffers and liberal activists assembled an impressive arsenal of props in a Capitol basement and called in reporters. There were six boxes containing, they said, printouts of 1.3 million electronic signatures of a petition demanding action on the Supreme Court vacancy. There were also nine posters telling Senate Republicans to Do your job and Follow the Constitution, along with four U.S. flags, four senators and eight earnest activists posing for photos with the props. A moment of silence for the trees, requested liberal activist Adam Green as they posed with the massive printout. There will, evidently, be little silence as Democrats try to make Republicans own the obstructionist label in November. Senate Republicans are giving a middle finger to the American people and giving a middle finger to this president, Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said at the news conference. That was the unanimous view at the Democrats faux hearing Wednesday afternoon, where witnesses and senators alike talked about the unconscionable and lawless and unprecedented acts of the Republicans. Its tyrannical, declared Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania. (There were no Republicans on hand to point out that Vice President Biden in 1992 took a position very similar to the current Republican stance.) But what recourse do Democrats have other than shouting and hoping for revenge in November? Hirono put the question to one of the witnesses, Georgetowns Peter Edelman: What is the remedy? Guantanamo, he deadpanned. Its a thought.